Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 EU leaders reach agreement on top EU jobs Xinhua) 08:57, June 28, 2024 File photo taken on March 21, 2024 shows President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaking at a press conference during the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen's nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) BRUSSELS, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen's nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. "It is with a strong sense of mission that I will take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council," Costa stated on X. He added that he is fully committed to promoting unity among all 27 member states and focused on implementing the strategic agenda for the next five years approved at the summit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voted against Costa and Kallas while she abstained on von der Leyen's re-appointment. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted against von der Leyen, in favor of Costa and abstained on Kallas, Euronews reported, citing diplomatic sources. File photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas attending the EU special summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen's nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) File photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa attending the EU special summit in Brussels, Belgium. The European Council summit agreed on Thursday to formally nominate Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission. European Council President Charles Michel confirmed the nomination on social media platform X. In addition to von der Leyen's nomination, EU leaders agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as President of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Chinese police have detained 5,846 suspects and seized 638 vessels involved in smuggling on the sea in a special operation since August last year, the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday. During the nationwide operation, police also seized 35,000 tonnes of frozen products, 4,406 tonnes of refined oil, 170 million cigarettes, 3,366 tonnes of agricultural and marine products, 310,000 tonnes of mineral raw materials, and 54,000 units of alcoholic beverages, the ministry said in a press release. With an approach of coordinated strikes on and offshore, police have worked with other departments to crack down on smuggler vessels and their accessories on the shore, while uprooting the organizers of smuggling rings and corrupt officials who sheltered them, the statement said. The ministry pledged to step up coordination with other agencies, strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation, and perfect long-term mechanisms against maritime smuggling crimes. Wisconsin Democrats sought to move past President Joe Bidens halting, raspy performance in Thursdays debate with former President Donald Trump, saying the 81-year-old candidate remained their best hope to defeat Trump in the battleground state this November. Bidens uneven performance, particularly early in the debate, sparked a fresh round of calls by some within his party to consider a different candidate to lead the charge against Trumps bid to reclaim the White House. But Wisconsin Democrats said they were undeterred and instead focused on both candidates records. The fundamental choice in this election is the same today as when we woke up yesterday, Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, told reporters Friday. Last night, one guy needed a lozenge, and the other guy needed a reminder that hes not running for dictator of North Korea, Wikler said, in reference to the former presidents authoritarian rhetoric at times. The debate covered a wide range of topics and included a former president 78-year-old Trump vowing to prosecute members of Congress and even the man he was debating for unspecified crimes. But the overarching theme was the difference between the candidates performance. Tonight was not about Joe Bidens ability to get through an hour-and-a-half debate. Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said in a statement. It was about whether he can make it through another four years as Commander in Chief. Biden demonstrated he is incapable of either. Nervous Democratic candidates who will be down the ballot with Biden in November mostly kept their discomfort to themselves or downplayed it. With control of both chambers of Congress hanging in the balance in November and Democrats defending far more Senate seats than Republicans, both parties understand the stakes. Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is facing a tough reelection bid against Eric Hovde, a Trump-endorsed Republican, distanced herself from Biden and did not answer questions Friday about the debate or calls for him to be replaced at the top of the ticket. Tammy Baldwin is running her own race for the people of Wisconsin, said her campaign spokesman, Andrew Mamo, who later added: Tammy supports the president. Wikler also downplayed concerns raised by some within the party that Biden is too old or infirm for a second term and instead touted the presidents record while noting that he continues to light up big rooms over and over in Wisconsin. Biden has made four trips to Wisconsin this year, while Trump made his third trip to the state earlier this month. President Biden is the only person who has actually defeated Donald Trump before, and Donald Trump didnt give voters any reason to vote for him last night, Wikler said. He lied over and over and over, he doubled down on his terrible positions. The stakes in voters lives are evidently clear. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, a Democrat, also dismissed concerns about Bidens age and debate performance. I think this rhetoric is coming from cable news, because what we saw in the hour after the debate is the Biden campaign had some of its best grassroots fundraising numbers, period, Godlewski said. David Axelrod, a longtime Democratic adviser to former President Barack Obama and CNN senior political commentator, said immediately after the debate that Biden appeared a little disoriented, but added the president did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in, Axelrod said. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN Thursday Biden had a slow start in his first debate with Trump this election cycle, but said the president finished strong. To the extent the 90-minute debate the earliest televised debate in American history continues to play a role in the campaign, Democrats said they planned to make it about Trumps remarks, including the former presidents refusal to condemn the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as his unwillingness to emphatically commit to accepting the results of this Novembers election. Donald Trump is a five-alarm fire for American democracy, thats the shocking reality, Wikler said. Biden and Trump remain dead even in Wisconsin, with both candidates receiving support from 50% of registered voters in the latest Marquette Law School Poll released Wednesday largely mirroring results from Marquettes previous polling. Still neck and neck in Wisconsin Biden leads Trump 51% to 49% among likely voters, well within the polls 4.6% margin of error. All told, the latest survey underscores that voters opinions are largely unchanged from April, when the Marquette poll found 51% of respondents backed the Republican Trump, while 49% supported the Democrat Biden. We expect his race to be extremely close, because this is the land of the nail-biter, Wikler said. But while the race remains close, voter enthusiasm continues to be a concern for Democrats. Among those who said they are very enthusiastic to vote in the June poll, 61% support Trump, compared with 39% for Biden. Respondents who are somewhat, not very and not at all enthusiastic to vote this November lean in Bidens favor. This race is a big question about turnout and what matters here, because Biden has real strength among the voters who are not that engaged, poll director Charles Franklin said Wednesday. Trump has real strength among the people who are really excited to participate. So how does this balance out? Of voters who say they are very enthusiastic to vote, 98% say they are absolutely certain to cast a ballot this fall. Among somewhat enthusiastic respondents, 87% say they are certain to vote, while that certainty drops to 73% for those not too enthusiastic and 67% for those not at all enthusiastic to vote. Heres a path to Joe Biden to lose this election pretty badly, in that hes failed to inspire his supporters, theyre unenthusiastic about him and his campaign, and theyre much less likely to vote than those who are very enthusiastic who overwhelmingly are for Trump, Franklin said. Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by 20,682 votes in 2020, while Trump won the state in 2016 by securing 22,748 more votes than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Presidential debate: Biden, Trump square off in Atlanta, in photos Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, SAGIP Party-List An investigative piece by the US-based journal Politico has cast a spotlight on Miru Systems, questioning the deployment of their voting technology in Iraq and Congo nations supported by US election funding but plagued by technical glitches. More than focusing on technological snafu, the article calls the attention of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to reassess the wisdom of supporting countries using Miru technology. - Advertisement - Even more grimly, the Politico investigative report cited sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on the president of the Congo Election Commission for corruptionstating how he padded a contract for Mirus machines by up to US $100 million which was then deposited into a company he controlled. This scrutiny gains local significance as Miru bagged a sole-bidder contract with Comelec to supply voting equipment for the Philippines 2025 elections. Despite calls for vigilance from election watchdogs and lawmakers, Comelecs lackluster response was: The winners in Congo and Iraq are happy and satisfied with Mirus performance. Really? Amplifying these concerns is the dubious connection between Miru and Russian elections. Miru is openly affiliated with Bauman Moscow State Technical University, a relationship instrumental in the development of election scanners used in Russias contentious 2018 presidential election and subsequently in Iraq, yet another authoritarian regime. Who knowsit might be the scanning technology we will use come 2025. Mirus involvement in Russia reportedly began around 2009 and extended to their recent 2024 presidential elections. It may be recalled that during the March 19 Senate hearing, the company representative boasted on the supply of technology in that Russian electionswhich was marked by Putins sweeping victory for a fifth term. Such ties, ignored by Comelec amid the global pushback against Russian electoral practices, could cast a cloud of doubt over the transparency of the Philippines electoral venture. Filipinos trust in Western-led democratic principles versus their skepticism of Russian and Chinese aggression, as revealed by Pulse Asia surveys, underscores the potential geopolitical conflict in Comelecs choice. A recent survey by Pulse Asia confirmed this, with 80% of Filipinos expressing a desire for the Philippines to work with the United States to counter Chinas increasing belligerence in the West Philippine Sea. Another survey revealed that 61% of Filipinos distrust China, while 58% distrust Russia. Comelec should seriously weigh the wisdom of being associated with a company doing business in Russia even as the administration labors to bolster our ties with the US and western democracies. These unsettling revelations beg one question: Did Comelec even realize that the optical scanners it purchased might have originated from Russia, where elections are reportedly a farce? Proper due diligence should have alerted Comelec to these shady connections that could result to shady elections. The outcome of such due diligence, or lack of it, might not just impact on the credibility of our own elections, but also the nations international repute as a regional beacon of democracy caught in a tense geopolitical landscape. That said, something smells fishy with Comelecs choice. And the smell reportedly reeks from the Philippines all the way to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean, North America, China, and Singapore. Lawmakers from the European Union (EU) and 23 nations across the globe have condemned Chinas aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Their collective condemnation is contained in a statement on Chinese Coast Guard aggression and provocation issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of parliamentarians formed on June 4, 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre. - Advertisement - The alliance aims to help counter the threat of Chinas growing influence to global trade, security and human rights. Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of two Filipino lawmakers who signed the statement, said the declaration was circulated online three days ago. It was signed by 33 parliamentarians from the EU and 23 countries, including the Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Norway, and Sweden, he said. We thank them and appreciate their support for our country, which has been at the receiving end of Chinas intrusive and aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea and inside our own 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Mindanao lawmaker said. The other Filipino congressman who signed the statement is Adrian Michael Amatong of Zamboanga del Norte. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Manila said China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to enforce the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as well as to guarantee peace and stability in the region. In a statement, the Chinese embassy said Chinas position over territorial issues in the region has been consistent and clear, noting that it is in line with international law, including the UNCLOS. We firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, the embassy said. It also said that China is committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation with countries concerned, and would like to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advance the consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region. In their collective statement, the parliamentarians said, We, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, are united in condemning aggressive and provocative behavior by the Chinese Coast Guard around the Spratly Islands. It said China is seeking to impose and enforce no trespass rules around Second Thomas Shoal or Ayungin Shoal, which is inside the EEZ of the Philippines. These rules have no basis in law. On the contrary, in 2016, when asked about the matter, the Arbitral Tribunal established by the United Nations Convention on the Laws Of the Seato which both the Philippines and China are a partyruled that the Shoal was in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, the alliance said. Despite the arbitral ruling, the group said China seems intent to pursue an escalatory path, disrupting Filipino operations in the area, employing violent tactics, and risking conflict by testing the commitment of the United States to defend the Philippines. The parliamentarians reminded Beijing that no international body recognizes their claim of jurisdiction over the Second Thomas Shoal, regardless of the outlandish assertions of the so-called Nine Dash Line. The IPAC applauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines for showing restraint in the face of extreme provocation. They also called on their governments to condemn Beijings disregard for the judgments of legitimate international bodies. Finally, we call upon our governments to express solidarity for the Philippines, who are having to endure persistent and aggressive intrusions from the Chinese authorities, the alliance said. Other lawmakers who signed the IPAC declaration were those from Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Albania, Ireland, Romania, Paraguay, and Czechia. Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Lawmakers from EU, 23 nations condemn Chinas aggression and provocation in WPS. The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday expressed optimism that Timor-Lestes Court of Appeals will deny the appeal that fugitive and expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Arnie Teves Jr. intends to file following the extradition order issued against him. We are very confident that the same decision would be rendered in the motion for reconsideration or the appeal would be denied in due course by the Timor-Leste judicial authorities, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said during a press conference. - Advertisement - Vasquez pointed this out after lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel of Teves, bared plans to appeal the June 27 decision of the appeals court that granted the request of the Philippines to have the expelled congressman extradited. He explained the lawyers of Teves can only file a motion for reconsideration on the decision of the Court of Appeals since Timor-Leste, which only achieved independence from Indonesia in 2002, has yet to fully establish a Supreme Court where the appeal on the extradition decision could be filed. They have a period of appeal of 30 days, Vasquez said, citing Timor-Leste laws. Contrary to the claims of Topacio, the justice official said Teves can no longer seek political asylum in Timor-Leste. Political asylum was the first recourse that was availed of former congressman Arnie Teves. This was denied. They filed a motion for reconsideration. This was denied as well. So to our minds, as lawyers, that is the end of the rope on that particular aspect, Vasquez said. Although the appeals court released Teves from house arrest last week, the DOJ undersecretary said the expelled legislator could still be rearrested by local authorities. As far as we could see it he could be arrested as an undocumented alien, Vasquez said. He reminded that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has already canceled the passport of Teves upon the order of Judge Merianthe Pacita M. Zuraek of Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51. The RTC is handling the case against the former congressman and co-accused over their alleged involvement in the March 4, 2023 shootings in Negros Oriental where provincial governor Roel Degamo and nine others were killed. Meanwhile, Vasquez said the government is preparing for the eventual return of Teves to the Philippines but declined to reveal details where the latter could be detained. He assured that it is incumbent upon the government to ensure that no harm would befall on former congressman Teves. Tokyo hopes pact inked during Manila talks Japan and the Philippines will hold high-level defense talks next month, with both parties keen on signing a Reciprocal Access Agreement that is quite similar to Manilas Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and would allow the countries to deploy troops on each others territory. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will discuss bilateral and defense and security issues affecting the region in the face of an increasingly confrontational China at the July 8 meeting in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. - Advertisement - Ex-defense minister Itsunori Onodera, now a ruling-party member of the Japanese parliament, said Friday he hoped negotiations on the defense pact would make rapid progress at next months meeting. Onodera met with National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to reiterate Japans commitment to a strategic defense partnership with the Philippines. During the discussion with the Ministers and also the National Security Advisor, we believed that concluding the RAA is a very important step because the RAA is the most effective for either having a further collaboration with the Philippines, and to expedite the training with the Philippines as well, Onodera said in press conference on the last day of a five-day visit to Manila. In the next month, the 8th of July, we will have 2+2 meetings. At that time, I hope the RAA will be ratified (signed), he added. The 2+2 talks follow escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea. Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea. We recognize the need to further deepen security and defence cooperation between our two countries, Onodera said. Japan is committed, ready to provide necessary assets to the Philippines to protect Philippine security, added Yoshiaki Wada, another member of Onoderas parliamentary delegation. Tokyo has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manilas efforts to assert its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Tokyos Maritime Self-Defense Force likewise held joint naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and the Philippines in the South China Sea in April. Onodera said Japan was very concerned by Chinas behavior during the latest confrontation between Manila and Beijing off Ayungin Shoal. A Filipino sailor lost a thumb on June 17 when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply a garrison on BRP Sierra Madre, a derelict warship deliberately grounded on the shoal to assert Manilas claim there. We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, or any action that will escalate tension, Onodera said. As this developed, the Department of National Defense hosted the 9th Joint Defense Working Committee meeting between the Philippines and Brunei last week. DND Undersecretary Angelito De Leon said the meeting gave added impetus to the implementation of the 2001 defense cooperation pact between the two countries. With Rex Espiritu With record-high sea temperatures bleaching coral reefs worldwide, reef guards and environmentalists have suggested immediate restoration. This issue affects the Philippines since this archipelago of 115 million people is within the Coral Triangle, a marine area in the western Pacific Ocean which includes the waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. - Advertisement - The Philippines has the Apo Reef, off the coast of Occidental Mindoro within the Coral Triangle, the second largest contiguous coral reef in the world, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Apo Reef Natural Park consists of three islands which are surrounded by lush mangrove forests. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, sea grass and coral reefs are critical to the healthy functioning of the planet, according to environmentalists. Mangroves and seagrass can capture more carbon than forests on land. Healthy coral reefs can absorb wave energy and are home to nearly a quarter of the oceans biodiversity. Coral reefs, some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. The dismal condition of our reefs boldly described as in a rapid decline is further exacerbated by destruction of marine habitats including dump-and-fill projects, destructive fishing practices, pollution, climate change and other anthropogenic pressures. In the Philippines, coral reef fisheries provide livelihood for more than a million small-scale fishers who contribute almost $1 billion annually to the countrys economy. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. The rapidly growing population needs increasing amounts of fish and other marine organisms. Coral reefs, which protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation, provide sources of food and new medicines. As a response to the coral degradation in the country, the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development funded the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restoration Program that started in 2012. We have also passed several laws to protect marine life, including the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and amended Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998. But environmentalists strongly urge there is need for more action. We must avoid touching reefs or anchoring our boats on them since contact with the reef will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill corals, reason we must look for sandy bottoms or use moorings. Our efforts must include building coral resilience as well to threats like climate change. China is scheduled to launch the Tianwen-2 mission around 2025 for asteroid exploration, the Tianwen-3 mission around 2030 to collect Martian samples, and the Tianwen-4 mission also around 2030 to explore the Jovian system, said Bian Zhigang, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration, in Beijing on Thursday. SMDC Good Stays hosted the event Monetize Your Investment with SMDC Good Stays at Lush Residences in Makati City last June 22, 2024. The event aimed to educate property owners on maximizing rental income through SMDCs comprehensive leasing and tenancy management services. Travel Boom Fuels Rental Market Growth - Advertisement - The ongoing upgrade of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is set to boost the Philippines role in international travel. This project aims to increase NAIAs capacity from 35 million to 62 million passengers annually. These improvements are expected to make the Philippines a key hub for tourism, business, and investment, increasing the value of rental properties. With major airlines expanding their services and the Department of Tourisms new plans, tourist arrivals are expected to double by 2028 nearly. This highlights the importance of rental units in good locations, like those managed by SMDC Good Stays. SMDC Good Stays: Simplifying Property Leasing SMDC Good Stays is the official leasing and tenancy management arm of SM Development Corporation (SMDC). It offers a full range of services to make the rental process easy for property owners. These services include daily and long-term leases, property marketing, tenant sourcing, contract preparation, and maintenance. From left to right Sharon May Marcial Senior Assistant Vice President for Project Development and Head of SMDC Good Stays, Sandro Vicente Javier Vice President for Project Development and Head of Makati Projects, Property Guru Mr. Carl Dy, and host Ms. Valerie Tan SMDC Good Stays comprehensive tenant services are designed to ensure a seamless experience for both property owners and tenants. These services include tenant sourcing and screening, leasing management, tenant support, key safekeeping, payment assistance, and maintenance and repairs. Tenant sourcing and screening involve thorough background checks to ensure reliable tenants, while leasing management handles all aspects of the lease agreement. Tenant support provides ongoing assistance, addressing tenants needs and concerns promptly. Key safekeeping manages unit keys, providing easy access for tenants while ensuring security. Payment assistance helps with timely payment of utilities, real property tax, condo dues, insurance, and other related expenses. Maintenance and repairs ensure that properties remain in excellent condition, enhancing tenant satisfaction and retention. Property Guru Carl Dy explained through his 6-Techniques for Unit Rental Success presentation how property owners can benefit from the booming travel industry by using SMDC Good Stays. Investors can achieve a hassle-free rental experience and steady passive income with the professional management services offered by SMDC Good Stays, Dy stated. He emphasized that SMDC Good Stays attracts reliable tenants, prepares units for occupancy, and maintains the property, allowing owners to focus on their returns. Lush Residences: A Prime Investment Hub Lush Residences, located just north of Makatis central business district, offers a unique investment opportunity. The condominium blends nature with city living, providing a tranquil environment amidst the urban complex Its proximity to Makati makes it ideal for professionals, while its green spaces and amenities enhance its appeal. As an investment, Lush Residences stands out due to its prime location and potential for high rental yields. Turnkey Solutions for Investors A key part of the event was the introduction of SMDC Good Home, a turnkey solution for investors. These include unit furnishing packages in partnership with SM affiliates such as Our Home, SM Home, SM Appliance Center, and ACE Hardware. These packages are designed to make the move-in process easy for tenants and ensure units are ready for leasing. The packages include essential furnishings and appliances like beds, sofas, dining sets, refrigerators, and air conditioners. By offering fully furnished and move-in-ready units, these solutions reduce the time and effort needed to prepare properties for rental, increasing their appeal to tenants and maximizing rental value. SMDC Good Stays continues to set the standard for modern living solutions, providing investors with innovative ways to maximize their real estate investments. To learn more about SMDC Good Stays, you may email smdc.leasing@smdevelopment.com, call +63 917 552 5943 or +632 8857 0100 loc 0328, follow on social media at @SMDCGoodStays, or visit the SMDC Good Stays website. Mauritania, a strategically important West African nation, is heading to the polls with nearly 2 million voters set to cast their ballots. The election unfolds against a backdrop of regional instability and pressing economic concerns. Incumbent President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, a former army chief who came to power in 2019, is widely expected to secure a second term. As the current African Union president, Ghazouani has positioned Mauritania as a key Western ally in combating extremism and curbing migration in the volatile Sahel region. The election features seven candidates, including notable anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid. While Mauritania boasts relative stability compared to its coup-plagued neighbors, it grapples with significant challenges. Despite abundant natural resources, nearly 60% of the population lives in poverty, and the country faces criticism for ongoing human rights abuses, particularly the persistence of slavery. Ghazouanis campaign emphasizes security commitments, a message aimed at both regional players and potential threats. However, opposition candidates accuse his government of corruption and mismanagement. As Mauritania navigates this crucial election, it must balance its role as a regional stabilizer with addressing internal issues of poverty, human rights, and the lingering specter of slavery. The outcome will likely shape the countrys trajectory and its relationships with Western partners in the coming years. Zimbabwes capital Harare erupted in violence as opposition supporters clashed with police following a courts decision to deny bail to key political figures. The incident highlights the ongoing tension in the countrys political landscape. Jameson Timba, interim leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and 78 party activists were refused bail after their arrest for allegedly holding an unauthorized gathering. This decision triggered immediate protests outside the courthouse. Police, armed with anti-riot gear, responded forcefully to demonstrators demanding the activists release. Eyewitnesses reported numerous beatings and arrests, with some protesters bundled into police trucks while others fled from baton-wielding officers. The crackdown followed President Emmerson Mnangagwas warning that troublemakers would be dealt with. This heavy-handed response has raised concerns about political freedoms in Zimbabwe. Still recovering from former leader Nelson Chamisas departure, the CCC faces accusations of ruling party infiltration. As the opposition vows to appeal the bail decision, this incident underscores the challenges facing those seeking democratic reform in Zimbabwe. The lawyer representing the accused, Agency Gumbo, expressed disbelief at the bail denial and confirmed plans to appeal in the high court. As Zimbabwe grapples with these political tensions, the international community watches closely, concerned about the state of democracy in the country. 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: Patients with severe asthma initiating biologics exhibit clinical responses and super-responses, but 40 to 50% do not meet response criteria, according to a study published online June 22 in Allergy. Eve Denton, M.B.B.S., from Alfred Health in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues examined responsiveness to biologics in a real-world population of adults with severe asthma. Participants in the International Severe Asthma Registry (ISAR) with 24 weeks of follow-up were categorized as those who initiated or did not initiate biologics. Treatment responses were examined in various domains: forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) increase by 100 mL, improved asthma control, annualized exacerbation rate (AER) reduction 50%, and any long-term oral corticosteroids (LTOCS) dose reduction. Overall, 5.3% of the patients in ISAR met the inclusion criteria for the trial; 2,116 of 8,451 initiated biologics. The researchers found that compared with noninitiators, biologic initiators had worse baseline impairment, despite having similar biomarker levels. Of the initiators, about half or more had treatment responses: 59% AER reduction, 54% FEV 1 increase, 49% improved control, and 49% reduced LTOCS; of these, 32, 19, 30, and 39%, respectively, were super-responses. Compared with noninitiators, biologic initiators more often had responses/super-responses; however, about 40 to 50% of initiators did not meet the criteria for response. "These findings justify further research to determine whether initiating biologics earlierbefore asthma causes irreversible lung damagemay increase the likelihood of achieving a response or super-response," the authors write. Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca and Optimum Patient Care Ltd., which funded the study. More information: Eve Denton et al, Realworld biologics response and superresponse in the International Severe Asthma Registry cohort, Allergy (2024). DOI: 10.1111/all.16178 Journal information: Allergy 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved. 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: Syringes with vaccines are prepared at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans' Community Resource Center where they were offering members and the public free flu and COVID-19 vaccines Oct. 28, 2022, in Lynwood, Calif. Credit: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File With fresh COVID-19 cases bubbling up in some parts of the country, health officials are setting course for a fall vaccination campaign. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday recommended new shots for all Americans this fall. Officials acknowledged the need for shots is not as dire as it was only a few years ago. Most Americans have some degree of immunity from being infected, from past vaccinations or both. COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last month were at about their lowest point since the pandemic first hit the United States in 2020. But immunity wanes, new coronavirus variants keep emerging and there are still hundreds of COVID-19-associated deaths and thousands of hospitalizations reported each week. What's more, health officials have reported upticks this month in COVID-19-associated emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and a pronounced increase in positive test results in the southwestern U.S. It's not clear whether that's a sign of a coming summer wavewhich has happened beforeor just a blip, said Lauren Ancel Meyers of the University of Texas, who leads a research team that tracks COVID-19. "We'll have to see what happens in the coming weeks," she said. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administrationfollowing the guidance of its own panel of expert adviserstold vaccine manufacturers to target the JN.1 version of the virus. But a week later, the FDA told manufacturers that if they could still switch, a better target might be an offshoot subtype called KP.2. At a Thursday meeting at the CDC in Atlanta, infectious disease experts unanimously recommended the updated vaccines for Americans age 6 months and older. The CDC director signed off on the recommendation later in the day. The shots are expected to become available in August and September. Health officials have told Americans to expect a yearly update to COVID-19 vaccines, just like they are recommended to get a new shot each fall to protect against the latest flu strains. But many Americans aren't heeding the CDC's advice. As of last month, less than one-quarter of U.S. adults and 14% of children were up to date in their COVID shots. Surveys show shrinking percentages of Americans think COVID-19 is a major health threat to the U.S. population, and indicate that fewer doctors are urging patients to get updated vaccines. CDC officials on Thursday presented recent survey information in which about 23% of respondents said they would definitely get an updated COVID-19 shot this fall, but 33% said they definitely would not. Meanwhile, the CDC's Bridge Access Programwhich has been paying for shots for uninsured U.S. adultsis expected to shut down in August because of discontinued funding. The program paid for nearly 1.5 million doses from September to last month. "It is a challenge with this program going away," said the CDC's Shannon Stokley. About 1.2 million U.S. COVID-associated deaths have been reported since early 2020, according to the CDC. The toll was most intense in the winter of 2020-2021, when weekly deaths surpassed 20,000. About 1 out of every 100 Americans ages 75 and older were hospitalized with COVID in the last four years, CDC officials said Thursday. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Florida is one of 39 states that is seeing an increase or likely seeing an increase in COVID infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC no longer tracks cases and is relying on ER visits, hospitalizations and wastewater data to gauge the COVID situation. And while nationwide data shows that influenza and RSV levels remain low in the U.S, COVID infections are increasing. South Florida hospitals say they're seeing more people sick with COVID too, though it's not like previous summers. "We're seeing a slight increase in the number of COVID positive patients hospitalized and in the ER but it's not dramatic compared to when we had the surges in the past," said Dr. Paula Eckardt, the chief of infectious diseases at Memorial Healthcare System, the public hospital system in southern Broward County. Here's what to know: What is the dominant COVID variant? COVID's alphabet soup continues to grow. And the most dominant variant in the country is KP.3, which is estimated to make up about 33% of the country's cases, according to the CDC's most recent estimates. It's followed by KP.2, which makes up about 21% of cases. And scientists are closely watching LB.1, which has accelerated this month and could be on track to overtake its siblings soon. All three descend from omicron and are offshoots of JN.1, which fueled much of the country's winter infections. The people most at risk for severe COVID infections continue to be seniors 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised. "There is currently no evidence that KP.3 or LB.1 cause more severe disease," CDC spokesperson David Daigle told CBS News. "CDC will continue to track SARS-CoV-2 variants and is working to better understand the potential impact on public health." Are COVID vaccines still effective? While COVID vaccines should still provide some protection against the virus, studies show that the existing shots appear to be less effective against the currently circulating variants, according to CNN. But new vaccines are expected to roll out in the fall. An advisory committee for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that Pfizer and Moderna update their vaccine formulas for the fall again, similar to how flu shots are updated annually. This time, the FDA wants the new shots to better match JN.1 and its descendants, like KP.2 and KP.3, which are also known as FLiRT variants. (The nickname isn't scientists being funny, rather, it's based on the technical names of their mutations, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health). What is the COVID situation in the country? What about in South Florida? COVID-related ER visits have risen in the past week in the U.S., with a 25% increase in hospitalizations from May 26 to June 1, the most recent CDC data shows. Recent state health data also shows that more people have begun to test positive for COVID in Florida since late May, including in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. It's difficult to say how many people are currently ill with COVID. Remember, COVID testing is no longer the best way to measure the disease spread since test sites are mostly gone and at-home test results don't get reported. COVID hospitalizations remain a key indicator of the COVID situation. At Jackson Health System, Miami-Dade's public hospital system, there was "an all-time low number of inpatient cases" during April and May. The hospital said it began to see an uptick again in June, though it's not enough to affect operations. Memorial Healthcare System in Broward as also noticed a slight uptick in COVID cases recently. But the hospital is not seeing as many sick people as before, and doctors have a better grasp on how to treat patients too, said Eckardt. Like other hospitals, Memorial is also no longer testing every admitted patient for COVID. The hospital says it has 91 inpatient COVID cases, about a 38% increase since the end of May, when it had 66 inpatient COVID cases, according to the most recent data. Tips to stay healthy The scorching heat is likely encouraging people to stay indoors, which could be helping the virus circulate. People are also traveling for the summer. As people start making their July Fourth holiday and travel plans, Eckardt said it's important to remember four key tips: Stay up-to-date with COVID vaccines. Wash your hands frequently. Consider wearing a mask if you're planning to be in a crowded area, especially if you're immunocompromised. If you feel sick, get tested and seek treatment, if needed. 2024 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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: Decreased epithelial detachment in biopsy samples of patients with Crohn's disease compared with controls (**p = 0.006). Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63299-y Remarkable new research by a University of Virginia undergraduate may help explain recurrent Crohn's disease in children and open the door to new ways to treat or even cure the devastating condition. The work is published in the journal Scientific Reports. Crohn's is a debilitatingand possibly life-threateninginflammation of the digestive tract. Symptoms include abdominal pain, weakness, fatigue and malnutrition caused by the body's inability to absorb nutrients. It's most common in adults but afflicts tens of thousands of children in the United States alone. Many of those kids struggle to go to school and find their lives and childhoods greatly disrupted. These children can suffer stunted growth and delayed puberty and may need to have sections of their bowels surgically removed. UVA's new research suggests answers to why children with relapsing Crohn's endure repeated bouts even after appearing to recover. Working under the guidance of the UVA School of Medicine's Chelsea Marie, Ph.D., undergrad Rebecca Pierce found that children with relapsing Crohn's had a persistent disruption of their microbiomesthe collection of microorganisms that lives in our gutseven after inflammation was successfully controlled by treatment. "The relationship between dysbiosis and inflammation is a long-standing question in Crohn's disease. Rebecca leveraged a pediatric cohort at UVA to show dysbiosis was present even when gut inflammation was controlled," said Marie, of UVA's Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health. "Our study suggests that persistent microbial imbalances might be an important factor in the disease course in children." That insight could be key to helping doctors develop better ways to treat or possible even cure Crohn's, said Ning-Jiun "Ninj" Jan, Ph.D., a senior scientist in Marie's lab who helped mentor Pierce. "Currently, the main goal of most Crohn's disease treatments is to manage symptoms. This usually means taking different drugs to address inflammation and encourage healing," Jan said. "However, these are not cures, meaning these drugs need to be taken continuously to prevent relapse. Our study found that though the symptoms have been alleviated the bacterial composition in their guts did not return to normal, which may be why these patients relapse." Crohn's Disease in children Because Crohn's is most common in adults, most research has focused on adult patients. But UVA's new findings shed important light on Crohn's in children. The researchers hypothesized that kids who suffer relapsing Crohn's had persistent inflammation, along with changes in the composition of the bacteria and other microbes in their guts. Scientists have increasingly come to appreciate the importance of these microbes in maintaining good health, and disruptions of the microbiome is increasingly suspected as a major contributor to disease. Pierce, now a medical student at Georgetown University, and her collaborators compared biopsy samples collected from the intestines of children with Crohn's who had gone into remission with samples collected from a control group of children with no signs of Crohn's. The researchers found some big differences, with the children with Crohn's showing significant decreases in bacteria such as Streptococcus and increases in others, such as Oribacterium. (Oribacterium has previously been linked to gut microbiome disruptions.) Further, they observed notable changes in immune cells, such as an increase in the numbers of CD4+ T cells, which play an important role in inflammation. Perhaps counterintuitively, the children with Crohn's also had stronger barriers of epithelial cells lining their intestines. This suggests that existing Crohn's treatments are effective but not fully addressing the underlying issues that drive the disease, the researchers say. "Even in our cohort of pediatric Crohn's patients in remission, we detected persistent microbial imbalances and subtle inflammatory changes," Pierce said. "Current therapeutics have focused on treating clinical symptoms which can leave patients vulnerable to relapse. Our work suggests that incorporating therapies that target the root causes of dysbiosis could lead to improved treatments with fewer relapses." That could lead to new and better Crohn's treatments for both children and adults, the researchers note. For example, doctors might seek to restore balance to the microbiome by using fecal transplants or by administering tailored cocktails of healthy microbes to replace those that have been lost. "Our study suggests that returning the bacterial composition to normal might help prevent these patients from relapsing and possibly cure them of Crohn's disease," Jan said. Marie noted that the new findings were made possible by the culture of collaboration at UVA. "Clinical research is key for improving child health," Marie said. "Rebecca's work brought together experts in infectious disease, pediatric gastroenterology and bioinformatics to address a disease in our pediatric patients at UVA. We are excited to continue this model of collaboration." Understanding the microbiome to prevent, treat and cure disease is a priority of UVA's TransUniversity Microbiome Initiative (TUMI), which brings together researchers from across the university to advance this cutting-edge field of biomedical research. More information: Rebecca Pierce et al, Persistent dysbiosis of duodenal microbiota in patients with controlled pediatric Crohn's disease after resolution of inflammation, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63299-y Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A Finnish study, appearing in the journal Psychopathology, shows that people are commonly given misleading information about depression. According to the researchers, inaccurate information makes it harder for people to understand the causes of their distress. Most psychiatric diagnoses are purely descriptive. For example, a diagnosis of depression is only a description of the various psychological symptomsnot the cause. Yet depression is often talked about as a disorder that causes low mood and other symptoms. Researchers describe this as a form of circular reasoning, which means that psychiatric diagnoses are frequently talked about circularly, as if they described the causes for symptoms. This makes it difficult for people to understand their distress. "Depression should be considered as a diagnosis similar to a headache. Both are medical diagnoses, but neither explains what causes the symptoms. Like a headache, depression is a description of a problem that can have many different causes. A diagnosis of depression does not explain the cause of depressed mood any more than a diagnosis of headaches explains the cause of pain in the head," says Jani Kajanoja, a postdoctoral researcher and a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry at the University of Turku in Finland. This misconception is also perpetuated by mental health professionals, shows a recent study by the University of Turku and the University of the Arts Helsinki. In the study, the researchers analyzed publicly-available information on depression provided by leading international health organizations. The researchers selected the websites of English-language organizations whose information on depression was the most influential according to search engine results. The organizations included the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, and Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities, among others. Most organizations portrayed depression on their websites as a disorder that causes symptoms and/or explains what causes the symptoms, although this is not the case. None of the organizations presented the diagnosis as a pure description of symptoms, as would have been accurate. "Presenting depression as a uniform disorder that causes depressive symptoms is circular reasoning that blurs our understanding of the nature of mental health problems and makes it harder for people to understand their distress," says Kajanoja. The researchers suggest that the problem may be caused by cognitive bias. "People seem to have a tendency to think that a diagnosis is an explanation even when it is not. It is important for professionals not to reinforce this misconception with their communication, and instead help people to understand their condition," says Professor and Neuropsychologist Jussi Valtonen from the University of the Arts Helsinki. More information: Jani Kajanoja et al, A Descriptive Diagnosis or a Causal Explanation? Accuracy of Depictions of Depression on Authoritative Health Organization Websites, Psychopathology (2024). DOI: 10.1159/000538458 Journal information: Psychopathology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Iowa's highest court on Friday upheld the US state's six-week abortion ban, two years after the federal right to the procedure was overturned and with the topic a key issue in the US presidential election. Last year, an Iowa judge placed an injunction on the state's new law banning nearly all abortions after six weeks, the point at which a fetal heartbeat can be detected, after Planned Parenthood and others sued. In a four to three ruling, the Midwestern state's Supreme Court on Friday reversed the injunction, meaning the ban which takes effect before some women even realize they are pregnant, now stands. The back-and-forth comes as the explosive topic of abortion figures prominently in the presidential campaigning between President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Abortion regulation was placed in the hands of the states following the US Supreme Court's June 2022 decision overturning the historic Roe v. Wade ruling that had protected abortion rights nationally. Calling Iowa's ban "extreme and dangerous" Biden said in a statement that "women in every state must have the right to make deeply personal decisions about their health." "This should never happen in America. Yet, this is exactly what is happening in states across the country since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade," Biden said. The United States, already politically polarized, is now split between the states that have banned or significantly restricted access to the procedureand those that have adopted new protections for a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy. In Iowa, writing for the state's Supreme Court majority, Justice Matthew McDermott said that "a right to an abortion, as the historical record shows, is not rooted at all in our state's history and tradition." In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Susan Christensen countered that the "majority's rigid approach relies heavily on the male-dominated history and traditions of the 1800s," and that it ignored "how far women's rights have come." Iowa's ban makes exceptions for cases of rape or incest and in the event of medical emergencies for the mother. Some 20 US states have banned or restricted access to abortion, including medication abortion, since the Supreme Court's ruling. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said Friday it was probing 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice, meant to lower cholesterol. It deepens a scandal that erupted earlier this year when the company said it was looking into five deaths potentially linked to the over-the-counter products after dozens of customers reported kidney problems. Fermented with a mold culture, red yeast rice, or "beni koji", has been used in food, alcoholic drinks and folk medicines for centuries around East Asia. "Even if the direct cause of hospitalization or death was not kidney-related disease, it has become clear that there are a variety of cases, including cases in which beni koji-related products may have caused harm somehow and had some indirect impact," a Kobayashi statement said. Of the five initial deaths under investigation, the company said it now knows one did not consume red yeast rice. "We have received 1,656 inquiries from individuals who have sought medical attention, and have 76 cases under investigation over (a causal) connection to the deaths," in addition to the original four, it said. On March 22, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said it was recalling three kinds of tablets containing beni koji. It later said it had detected a potentially toxic acid produced by the mold at one of its factories, and government officials inspected the firm's facilities. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is a household name in Japan, offering a wide range of health-related products, and the scandal has been top news in the country. On Friday, Kobayashi said it would work to identify the exact cause and scope of the health damageincluding whether organs other than kidneys were harmed. Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday that the health ministry had previously ordered the company to file a daily report on its probe, and demanded more details earlier this month after the number of deaths under investigation didn't change. "But until today, it had not reported the specific number of cases under investigation, and it is extremely regrettable," Hayashi told reporters. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has said it also sold red yeast rice to around 50 other firms in Japan and two in Taiwan. Taiwanese companies preventively recalled 154 products containing red yeast rice in the wake of the scare, the island's health authorities said earlier this year. 2024 AFP This week, China's Chang'e-6 mission brought back the world's first samples collected from the moon's far side. At a press conference Thursday, Vice Administrator of the China National Space Administration Bian Zhigang said that China looks forward to working with more international partners to expand human knowledge and improve human well-being in the field of space exploration. 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: Image illustrating four prognostic scenarios that may be found in liver biopsies when pancreatic cancer is diagnosed before metastasis. (Left to right) Orange: neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), suggesting liver metastasis in less than 6 months. Red: NETs and T cells, suggesting liver metastasis in greater than 6 months. Green: T cells and fatty liver suggesting metastasis to a different organ. Blue: Normal liver with fatty liver suggesting no-evidence of future metastasis. Credit: Vanessa Dudley Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine with an international team have used liver biopsies to identify cellular and molecular markers that can potentially be used to predict whether and when pancreatic cancer will spread to an individual's liver or elsewhere, such as the lung. The study, published in Nature Medicine, proposes that information from a liver biopsya small tissue sample collected for lab analysiswhen pancreatic cancer is diagnosed may help guide doctors in personalizing treatment, such as liver-directed immunotherapies, before cancer cells have the chance to metastasize. Only 10% of people with pancreatic cancer will survive more than two years after initial diagnosis. "If we can predict the timing and location of metastases, that could be a real game-changer in treating pancreatic cancer, particularly patients at high metastatic risk," said study co-senior author Dr. David Lyden, the Stavros S. Niarchos Professor in Pediatric Cardiology and professor of pediatrics and of cell and developmental biology at Weill Cornell Medicine. In 2015, Dr. Lyden and his colleagues discovered that pancreatic cancer cells secrete factors that reach distant organs, most often the liver, to establish a pre-metastatic niche for new tumors to form. To find out how these alterations prime their new location for cancerous colonization, Dr. Lyden collaborated with lead author Dr. Linda Bojmar, an adjunct assistant professor of molecular biology research in pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine and assistant professor of clinical and experimental medicine at Linkoping University in Sweden. Together with researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, including co-senior author Dr. William Jarnagin, co-first authors Drs. Constantinos Zambirinis and Jonathan Hernandez, and the hepatopancreatobiliary team, Dr. Lyden and his team obtained liver biopsies from 49 individuals who underwent surgical treatment for early-stage pancreatic cancer. They also collected liver biopsies from 19 people who underwent a similar operation for conditions unrelated to cancer, for example, removal of benign pancreatic cysts. Liver biopsies reveal early signs of rapid metastasis The researchers then conducted a battery of molecular, cellular and metabolic analyses on these samples to determine whether they could identify hallmarks that precededor potentially preventedsubsequent metastases in the patients. They found that the livers of recurrence-free survivors, who showed no signs of cancer spread after a follow-up period of at least three years, looked much like the livers of people who never had cancer. At the other end of the spectrum were those who developed liver metastases within six months of diagnosisa patient group that has poor prognosis with limited therapeutic options. Their livers were riddled with so-called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), dense tangles of DNA and enzymes released by dying neutrophils, immune cells that are a first line of defense against infection. Because these NETs are strongly associated with future metastases and develop so early in the course of disease, radiological imaging in the near future may be able to detect them and identify patients in danger of this aggressive spread. "These individuals could then receive a full course of chemotherapy, or if the metastases are detected when only a few appear, perhaps the secondary tumors could be surgically removed," said Dr. Lyden, who is also a member of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center and the Gale and Ira Drukier Institute for Children's Health at Weill Cornell Medicine. In addition, he and his colleagues are investigating whether drugs that digest the DNA that forms the NETs could prevent liver metastases. Immune responses in later metastases The researchers identified two other categories of patients in the study: those who would go on to develop later metastases to the liver and those who would have the cancer spread to other sites, such as the lung. Patients whose cancers spread to organs other than the liver showed a strong immune response fighting the cancerprotective T cells and natural killer cells had infiltrated their livers, and many immune-regulatory genes were activated. These individuals who are prone to developing metastases outside the liver may benefit from immunotherapy to boost their ongoing anti-tumor immune response. On the flip side, those whose livers succumbed to later metastases also accumulated immune cellsbut the cells showed signs of metabolic exhaustion. "It's as if the liver was trying to protect itself, but lost the battle in the end," said Dr. Bojmar. The researchers plan to validate their findings in a larger cohort of patients with pancreatic cancer and examine whether this approach could be useful with other newly diagnosed cancers. "We hope to develop a tool for predicting which patients with colorectal cancer will go on to develop liver metastases based on the cellular, molecular and metabolic profiles of their liver biopsies," said co-senior author Dr. Robert Schwartz, associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Authors from multiple institutes throughout the United States and in Sweden and Israel contributed to this study. More information: Multi-parametric atlas of the pre-metastatic liver for prediction of metastatic outcome in early-stage pancreatic cancer, Nature Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03075-7 Journal information: Nature Medicine 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: Study overview. CSF was sampled from 140 controls and 160 participants with AD as defined by their CSF tTau/A 142 ratio. The CSF AD network was used to assess the effect of pharmacologic intervention with ATX on disease-relevant pathophysiology. Key hub proteins from across the network were used to cluster participants into groups on the basis of similarity in their CSF proteomic features regardless of their CSF A and tTau status. Credit: Science Translational Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adn3504 A large team of neuroscientists, biochemists and Alzheimer's specialists affiliated with institutions in the U.S. and Iceland has created a protein map to look for patterns in cerebrospinal fluid that may serve as markers for the onset of Alzheimer's disease decades before diagnosis. In their study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group used high-resolution scanning technology to help uncover the underlying causes of the disease. Alzheimer's disease is associated with a buildup of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the brain. Prior research has shown that scanning and analyzing blood and other biofluids can help detect and confirm an Alzheimer's diagnosis, but doctors are only able to do so once the disease has progressed. Doctors (and their patients) would like a biomarker that suggests the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's when there is still a chance of slowing or stopping it. And that means finding a test that could predict the disease many years before symptoms start. In this new study, the research team has focused their attention on cerebrospinal fluid, suspecting it might hold hints of Alzheimer's long before symptoms arise. The researchers obtained thousands of cerebrospinal fluid samples from 160 people at various stages of Alzheimer's disease development. They then scanned all the samples using tandem mass tag mass spectrometry and analyzed them using SomaLogic's modified aptamer-based SomaScan 7000 assay, creating profiles for each of the samples and then comparing them with one another. That allowed the research team to build maps to search for patterns in multiple types of proteins at the same timetogether, they could provide an early marker for Alzheimer's disease. The team developed 34 modules for use in testing. In testing the modules, the researchers found what they describe as a correlation between Alzheimer's and the genetic risk factor APOE 4a finding that hinted at the discovery of a marker for the disease that could be used 20 years before current diagnosis methods. More information: Eric B. Dammer et al, Proteomic analysis of Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid reveals alterations associated with APOE 4 and atomoxetine treatment, Science Translational Medicine (2024). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adn3504 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine 2024 Science X Network 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: Purdue Pharma's OxyContin, one of the main prescription opioids that stoked the US addiction and overdose epidemic beginning in the early 2000s. The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the Sackler family, which controlled the drugmaker, from future litigation. In a 5-4 ruling, the judges agreed with the Justice Department which argued that the Sacklers, who earned tens of billions of dollars flooding the country with highly addictive opioids, should not gain sweeping legal protection in the controversial deal. The court held that "the bankruptcy code does not authorize this kind of order," with the majority opinion written by Neil Gorsuch and joined by Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Brett Kavanaugh, Chief Justice John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented, in a case where judges defied conservative-liberal fault lines. "The Sacklers have not agreed to place anything approaching their full assets on the table for opioid victims," wrote Gorsuch. "Yet they seek a judicial order that would extinguish virtually all claims against them for fraud, willful injury, and even wrongful death, all without the consent of those who have brought and seek to bring such claims." "If past is prolog," Gorsuch quoted the Justice Department as saying, "there may be a better deal on the horizon." Flawed deal better than no deal? In a blistering dissent, Kavanaugh said, "Today's decision is wrong on the law and devastating for more than 100,000 opioid victims and their families." "The plan was a shining example of the bankruptcy system at work," he continued. "Not surprisingly, therefore, virtually all of the opioid victims and creditors in this case fervently support approval of Purdue's bankruptcy reorganization plan," Kavanaugh said, with a only a "small group" opposed, including some creditors in Canada. What's more, he added, Thursday's decision could have ramifications for cases such as those involving abuse claims against the Catholic Church, which relied on similar deals. The 2022 Purdue agreement, suspended since last August, came after years of negotiations involving officials from all 50 US states. It set aside $6 billion for victims of the opioid epidemic from the 2019 bankruptcy of Purdue, which made prescription painkillers like OxyContin. The settlement gave the families of Raymond Sackler and Mortimer Sackler protection from all future civil claims, effectively protecting their other assets from opioid-related lawsuits. The Justice Department, acting as a bankruptcy watchdog body known as the US Trustee, accused the Sacklers of withdrawing $11 billion from Purdue Pharma over the decade before the company filed for bankruptcy protection. Free-wheeling prescriptions Arguing the case in December, Deputy Solicitor General Curtis Gannon outlined the Biden administration's objections to the deal. "It permits the Sacklers to decide how much they're going to contribute," Gannon said. "It grants the Sacklers the functional equivalent of a discharge." But Purdue Pharma argued rejecting the settlement could lead to years of litigation and leave victims with no compensation at all. "Today's ruling is heart-crushing," Purdue said in a statement, adding however "the decision does nothing to deter us from the twin goals of using settlement dollars for opioid abatement and turning the company into an engine for good." Purdue's bankruptcy filing resulted directly from the massive, country-wide litigation against it and other major drugmakers and pharmacy companies for knowingly fomenting the addiction crisis. Under the March 2022 settlement, the Sacklers were "absolutely, unconditionally, irrevocably, fully, finally, forever and permanently" released from further legal liability. The opioid epidemic has caused more than 500,000 overdose deaths in the United States over two decades, authorities say. Purdue and other opioid makers were accused of encouraging free-wheeling prescription of their products through aggressive marketing tactics while hiding how addictive the drugs are. Facing an avalanche of litigation, in 2021 Purdue pled guilty to three criminal charges over its marketing of OxyContin. 2024 AFP Thirteen state employees with 45 years of public service were honored by the state, including one employee in Burke County. The recipients of the 2024 Richard Caswell Award, who work at eight state agencies, joined the distinguished ranks of long-serving employees who have earned the award established in tribute to North Carolinas first governor, according to a news release from the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. We are grateful for each of the state employees honored today with 45 years of state service, said N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper. Their dedication and commitment to making our state stronger and a better place to live, work and raise a family is admirable. Collectively, the 13 state employees have devoted more than 585 years to public service. Since 2015, 180 state employees have been recognized with the award. Among the honorees is Robert Schwacke, a school psychologist based in Burke County who works with youth in the states correctional facilities. Other honorees include a network technician providing customer service across the state, a braille instructor working with visually-impaired individuals, a State Section 504 coordinator supporting students with disabilities in the classroom, animal health technicians that travel the state caring for wild and domestic animals, several individuals serving the states judicial process in various capacities, the office manager for the Office of State Archeology and medical professionals within North Carolinas finest neurological and developmental medical centers. Honorees that are unable to attend the ceremony at the North Carolina Museum of History will receive their Caswell Award from their agencys leadership in local ceremonies. A journalist takes photos at the opening plenary of the 2024 Summer Davos in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] As an important window for the rest of the world to understand China, the 2024 Summer Davos once again brings the vitality and resilience of Chinese economy into the spotlight. As the world grapples with economic uncertainties and geopolitical shifts, the gathering not only brings cooperation opportunities but also offers insights into China's future economic trajectory. China's robust economic performance has been a key topic for discussion, not least in light of the "China collapse" narrative emanating from Washington. This bad-mouthing notwithstanding, China has been demonstrating strong economic growth, effective policy measures, and resilience in the face of global economic challenges. China's ability to maintain steady economic growth against headwinds has been noteworthy. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that China's GDP grew 5.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2024. China's proactive fiscal policies, coupled with prudent monetary measures, have helped stabilize the economy and stimulate investment. The resilience of the Chinese economy is further evidenced in its robust export performance and the rapid recovery of key industries post-pandemic. Thanks to China's commitment to a high-quality opening-up policy and the deepening of its reforms, a more balanced and sustainable economic structure is taking shape. This structure, focusing on boosting domestic consumption, advancing technological prowess, and enhancing industrial capabilities, is set to steer the Chinese economy out of global economic turbulence. This year's forum has also brought together global leaders, industry experts, and influential thinkers to discuss pressing economic challenges and explore innovative solutions. The emphasis on green development and technological innovation highlights China's commitment to sustainable growth and its leadership in the global transition towards a low-carbon economy. China is now home to more than 400,000 high-tech enterprises and over 100,000 specialized and sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises, which produce new and unique products. At this year's forum, many participants express their strong interest in cooperation with China's hi-tech sector, demonstrating global recognition of China's innovation capabilities. They also have high expectations for China's role in contributing to a more just global economic and technological order. Tanvi Ratna, founder and CEO of the Indian research organization Policy 4.0, told Xinhua that as China becomes more active in artificial intelligence (AI) governance, it will help make AI more equitable. This year's Summer Davos meeting comes at a critical juncture as the world is still grappling with the growth predicament and the persistent threat of protectionism. As global economic challenges persist, it only fractures economic interdependencies between regions and aggravates tensions and conflict to pursue narrow self-interests at the expense of others, or resort to regressive measures like decoupling, disrupt supply chains, and erect isolationist barriers. Such moves risk plunging the world into a destructive cycle where heightened competition for a larger share leads to a diminishing economic pie for all. Over the past years, China's role in global economic governance has become increasingly prominent. As the world's second-largest economy, China's commitment to win-win cooperation is facilitating sustainable economic growth worldwide. With development initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral platforms such as the Summer Davos, China is firmly committed to strengthening international economic cooperation, building infrastructure, and promoting technological advancement on a global scale. The 2024 Summer Davos has brought to the fore the importance of understanding China's economic realities beyond the anti-China rhetoric from Washington. As China continues to develop, it will bring vast opportunities for cooperation, investment and common growth to the rest of the world. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed an additional 7 Digital Credit Providers (DCPs). In a statement released on Thursday, June 27, 2024, CBK noted that the total number of licensed lenders now stands at 58, following the addition of these seven digital lenders. This is pursuant to Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act (CBK Act). This brings the number of licensed DCPs to 58 following the licensing of 19 DCPS announced in March 2024 part of the statement read. CBK stated that it has received over 550 applications since March 2022 and has worked closely with the applicants to review their applications. The Central Bank also disclosed that it has involved other regulators and relevant agencies in the licensing process, including the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. According to the Central Bank, these engagements focused on business models, consumer protection, and the suitability of proposed shareholders, directors, and management. The seven newly licensed loan operators are UbaPesa Limited, Stride Credit Limited, Senti Capital Limited, Progressive Credit Limited, Payablu Credit Limited, Mogo Auto Limited, and Mint Credit Limited. Furthermore, CBK stated that other applicants are at various stages in the process, primarily awaiting the submission of required documentation. The applicants were encouraged to promptly submit the outstanding documentation to facilitate the completion of the review of their applications. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked Kenyans to spare the Members of Parliament who supported the Finance Bill, 2024. Gachagua defended the lawmakers, saying they were doing their jobs and should not face punishment or harassment from the public. The DP emphasized that parties form governments, and elected leaders must support any program presented to parliament. According to Gachagua, MPs have the freedom to exercise their right to vote. I want to ask Kenyans not to punish Members of Parliament for the stand that they took. A government is formed by a political party and once a government has a program in Parliament and decides it is good for the people, Gachagua said. Members of Parliament from that party must tow the line. I dont want you to punish our MPs, they just did what is right in terms of our political formation. The DP further called for restraint from attacking properties owned by these MPs. Allow them to be, to support their government because that is why they were elected as members of the government party. Let us not harass them, let us not abuse them, let us not attack their properties they were just doing what the government wanted and now that the government has decided to do the right thing, we should close that chapter, he said. Gachagua further stated that Kenyans with a problem with any MP should wait for the next general election to vote them out. I empathise with Members of Parliament for their traumatic experiences in and out of parliament. I want to urge our young people that they dont have to destroy property to be heard, the DP said. Haitian gang leader Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier urged community dialogue to help cease violence in the Caribbean nation. The former police officer spoke in a video released to journalists on Tuesday as the first contingent of Kenyan police officers arrived in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Barbecue expressed his belief that the new interim Prime Minister, Garry Conille, can mitigate violence in Haiti through local solutions. We need dialogue today, Prime Minister. Prove to the world that you can make history as someone who did not contribute to the destruction of the country by distributing guns in poor neighborhoods but who now pacifies the country, said Barbecue. He described the premier as a man without a history tainted by gang violence or illegal arms importation, factors blamed for the chaos in Haiti. Initially opposing the presence of foreign law enforcers on Haitian soil, Barbecue reportedly oversaw the withdrawal of some of his gang members from parts of Port-au-Prince, according to reports in local Haitian media. However, he has not rescinded his threats against the support mission, labeling them invaders. The gang leader asserted that the PM was well-positioned to lead the dialogue, citing his popularity among the people of Haiti. I havent heard anyone with guns say you were the one who armed them. Dont listen to traditional politicians who armed the country to destabilise previous governments and now want you to take back the guns by force, he said. The gang leader cautioned the PM against listening to those who previously armed society and are now advocating for disarmament. He emphasized that he would closely monitor the PMs actions aimed at restoring peace in Haiti. You can be the one who will bring peace, retrieve the guns, organise elections, and set the country on the right path, he said. We love this country and want change. If you come for change, we will stay out of your way. But if you do the same things, our guns are already in our hands, Barbecue said. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is concerned about Kenyas situation following violent protests against the Finance Bill 2024. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Julie Kozack, IMF Director of Communications, expressed the financial bodys concern over the tragic events, including loss of lives and property destruction. We are deeply concerned about the tragic events in Kenya in recent days and saddened by the loss of lives and the many injuries. Our thoughts are with all the people affected by the turmoil in the country, the statement read. Kozack emphasized that the IMF was closely observing Kenyas situation while reaffirming its commitment to assisting the country in overcoming its economic challenges. The IMF is closely monitoring the situation in Kenya. Our primary goal in supporting Kenya is to help it overcome the economic challenges it faces and improve its economic prospects and the well-being of its people. We are committed to collaborating with Kenya to achieve robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Since February 2021, the IMF has disbursed over Kes.341 billion to Kenya under the Extended Fund Facility arrangement. The EFF program offers financial assistance to countries to address significant balance of payments issues stemming from structural problems. The IMF sets a longer repayment schedule to enable the country to adjust and implement necessary structural reforms. Nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Bishop Jackson Kosgei has detailed the moment anti-finance bill protestors stormed the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 25. Kosgei recounted that MPs were conducting their business inside the chamber, focusing on voting for the Finance Bill. We were inside the chamber when suddenly, our colleagues from the other side of the house exited, while some of us remained, Kosgei recalled. Within a twinkle of an eye we heard that our young men were already coming through, and everybody now was looking for an escape route. The MP mentioned that he and his colleague MP Rose Museu, who uses crutches, did not manage to escape with the other MPs and decided to face the angry youth. Unfortunately, there is an evacuation route- out of the parliament but is not friendly to the users of the wheelchair and it was getting worse, he said. My sister Museu and I chose to face the young men and took refuge in the private members lounge. Bishop Kosgei further recounted that the youth eventually found them inside, but fortunately, they recognized him and were aware of his stance on the Finance Bill. According to him, the protestors assured him that they were not malicious individuals, as portrayed, but rather citizens advocating for their rights. They came and found us there and looked at me and said we know you are a good man. Please allow us to escort you outside the building because what might happen now inside here is not good for both of you, he said. Kosgei added that the protesters peacefully escorted them from the parliament building. They requested that I allow them to escort me out of the building for my security. They explained that they were not bad people and were only fighting for their rights, Kosgei said. The youth asked if I wanted an Uber. I requested them to lead me to a certain corner, and they walked me to a safe place. I want to thank those young men who saved my life. Kieni Member of Parliament Njoroge Wainaina says he does not regret voting Yes for the Finance Bill 2024 despite incurring millions of shillings in losses following the destruction of his businesses during the anti-Finance Bill protests. On Tuesday, protesters looted and set ablaze part of his supermarket in Kieni, Nyeri County. Speaking to the media, the UDA MP reported losing over Kes.550 million, including stock worth Kes.450 million and equipment like bakery shelves valued at around Kes.100 million. I lost movable stock worth Sh450 million and equipment such as bakery shelves, among others, valued at Sh100 million, the MP told the Standard. The scrap metal dealers are now scavenging for the metallic stands that remained after the inferno, and the employees have been left jobless, he added, noting that his business employed over 350 people. Despite the losses, the Kieni MP insisted he does not regret his vote, believing the Finance Bill would have benefited his constituents. I voted in support of the Bill because the people of Kieni stood to benefit from it being an agricultural zone where our people farm onions, potatoes, eggs and milk will enjoy all the way to the bank because the competition from outside the country would have been reduced with the passage of the bill, Njoroge Wainaina said. The MP also alleged that the vandalism and looting were orchestrated by goons posing as peaceful protesters. Two Kenyans are facing charges for allegedly threatening to kill Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof Njuguna Ndungu and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah following the passage of Finance Bill 2024/2025. Stephen Mwangi Kamau and Kelvin Wafula Bwire appeared before Milimani magistrate Rose Ndubi. Bwire allegedly used his WhatsApp account @advokezadbiadboy to send a message without lawful excuse on June 20, stating Wee Mzee your time is up and you should be dead! to CS Ndungu. Kamau, separately charged, allegedly sent a threatening message to Ichungwah on June 20, stating: I swear if the Bill passes I will plan an accident and you will not survive. Additionally, the two accused faced four other counts related to using derogatory and demeaning language against Ichungwah and President William Ruto. They pleaded not guilty to charges of sending threatening messages to the politicians via their personal WhatsApp accounts. In seeking their release on bond, a defense lawyer argued, These suspects were arrested in the midst of opposition to the passing of the Finance Bill 2024/2025. The entire country is in uproar against the Bill. The court heard that Kamau works as a cook at a Nakuru hotel, earning Kes.6,500, and cannot afford a high bond amount. However, the prosecution urged the court to set a high bond due to the seriousness of the threats against the politicians lives. It was brought to the magistrates attention that, as predicted by Kamau, the CDF office in Ichungwahs constituency was set ablaze. Ms. Ndubi overruled the prosecution and granted each of the two suspects a cash bail of Kes.100,000 or a bond of Kes.300,000., stating that they are individuals of modest means. The matter will be mentioned on July 2, for mention for pre bail report. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula yesterday issued directives to the House following the withdrawal of the contentious Finance Bill 2024. In a statement on Thursday, June 27, Wetangula said he presented the bill to President William Ruto on Tuesday, June 25, for approval. The National Assembly considered and passed the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 30 of 2024) on June 25, 2024, after which I presented the bill to the President for assent, he said. However, he noted that the President referred the bill back to Parliament and provided guidance to all Members of Parliament (MPs). The Presidents Memorandum constitutes rejection of the bill in its entirety and that the decision is informed by the need to reflect the voice of the people of Kenya who have rejected the Bill, he said. Wetangula explained that any member wishing to negate the Presidents reservations or revive any of the 69 clauses of the bill must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the National Assembly, which amounts to 233 members. He referred the bill to the Finance Committee for consideration, as the National Assembly is currently on recess. In a message to all MPs and the public, the Speaker directed the committee to deliberate on the Presidents recommendations and report to the House after the break. The Committee is required to expeditiously commence consideration of the Presidents Memorandum, its reservations and recommendation, and report to the House at the next regular sitting upon its resumption, Wetangula directed. Wetangula further instructed the National Assembly clerks to inform the MPs about the directive and to assist the committee during the review process. Flash A Palestinian child with cancer waits to leave for treatment abroad at the Nasser Medical Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on June 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Health conditions in the Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza Strip keep worsening as residents desperately need health care, a UN refugee agency said on Thursday. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on social media platform X that only a small number of UNRWA health centers remain operational in Gaza. It said that its teams in Nuseirat in central Gaza continue to serve local families, but a severe shortage of medicine and fuel is hampering lifesaving operations. In a separate X post, the UNRWA said piles of waste and sewage surround the Palestinians in Gaza. "Health conditions keep worsening due to crowded shelters, lack of food, water and fuel, minimal access to medical supplies, and summer heat," it said. Twenty-one Palestinian children with cancer left Gaza on Thursday through the Kerem Shalom crossing for treatment abroad, the first time for patients in the strip to leave since the Rafah border crossing was closed in early May, the health authorities in Gaza said. The way in which the patients exited is "difficult and complicated," which "has not been and will not be" an alternative to the Rafah land crossing, Mohammed Zaqout, director general of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, said during a press conference. Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 others were taken hostage. The Palestinian death toll from the conflict climbed to 37,718, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Wednesday. You are here: World Flash A Chinese vessel patrols during the 36th joint patrol of Chinese and Vietnamese navies in Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea, June 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The Chinese and Vietnamese navies concluded their 36th joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf on Thursday. The two sides each sent two vessels for the two-day patrol. The Chinese navy dispatched the two vessels Tongling and Hanzhong. During the patrol, the Chinese and Vietnamese naval vessels shared information on their respective courses, as well as on hydrometeorological, maritime and air conditions via maritime communication. The two sides also conducted joint search and rescue, and signal light drills. The patrol, a routine activity in line with an agreement signed by the two countries in 2005, aims to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. The Institute for Citizens & Scholars has selected Emory College filmmaker David Barba as one of its 2024 Mellon Emerging Faculty Leaders (MEFL). Barba is just the second Emory faculty member to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes exceptional work and a commitment to a diversity of perspectives in any field of the humanities or social sciences. An assistant professor in the Department of Film and Media, Barba works in documentary and fiction films. His current project is a feature documentary that tells the story of three Mexican women brought to the U.S. as children and then deported as adults to Mexico, a country they barely know. David is an inspirational researcher, artist, teacher and mentor, says film and media department chair and associate professor Michele Schreiber. We are thrilled to see him recognized for his excellence as a filmmaker and for his work to foster community and mentorship of our production students, especially those who are Latinx, first-generation and LGBTQ. These are also communities that he speaks to and about in his films. The award, which comes with a $20,000 stipend funded by the Mellon Foundation, will support Barbas final filming and early editing of the documentary, Regreso/Return, this summer. He plans a 2025 world premiere for the film. I am excited that Emory, and now Mellon, recognize filmmaking as research, Barba says. Filmmakers are inspired by an idea, ask questions and find answers through a visual medium. Barbas interest in repatriated migrants stems from trying to define his own Mexican-ness with a bicultural, bilingual upbringing in Mexico City with his Mexican father and Scottish mother. His curiosity deepened throughout his undergraduate study at Stanford University and while earning his masters of fine art degree from Columbia University. Privileged to travel freely between the two nations, he wondered what life would look like for someone forced to return to what was essentially a foreign land. Barba remained intrigued even as he produced several award-winning short films and three feature documentaries, including 2009s Pop Star on Ice, about Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir. That film led to creating and producing a two-season series about the athlete on Sundance TV and Logo TV. Barba decided he was ready to pursue the returnees project shortly after arriving at Emory with fellow assistant film professor Dehanza Rogers in 2019, part of an initiative to grow the departments film and media production offerings. He had just connected with a nonprofit that helped him locate returnee migrants to interview directly when the outbreak of COVID-19 delayed his plans. He ultimately traveled to Mexico in 2022 to record audio interviews with nearly 30 migrants. The film focuses on the three women with the most compelling stories, who battle financial uncertainty, emotional hardship and toxic masculinity as they take charge of their own stories of rebirth. Some are rebuilding lives without any family left in the country. All are separated from their own mothers, who remain in the U.S. What I find inspiring is that these three women are redefining what it means to be Mexican, flourishing and finding meaning in a very different world from where they grew up, Barba says. These are just three stories out of hundreds of thousands of people who are American except for their legal status, he adds. And all of them must find the resilience to rebuild their lives in countries they dont really know. Paula Acocal, who earned Emorys Sudler Prize in the Arts when she graduated in 2023 with a degree in film and creative writing, served as Barbas student researcher on the project. The documentary will credit Acocal as an associate producer for her work. She began by researching grants and eventually completed detailed logistical work, such as finding drone operators and other crew in both the U.S. and Mexico and helping transcribe interviews. Acocal also happened to be visiting family in Mexico when Barba was filming about two and a half hours away, allowing her to serve as a production assistant on site. Not only was it educational, but it provided a very grounded experience for the work I could possibly do, says Acocal, who is now teaching elementary school while also applying and sharing her film skills with organizations focused on gentrification in New York. Gaining access to these skills allows me to do the work and also share what Ive learned with anyone interested in giving back to their community by sharing their stories, she adds. Barba plans to expand his work with the Emory community in the coming academic year. He will be looking for a student researcher to help develop a social impact campaign this fall when he will also teach his Queer Visions course where students examine LGBTQ+ media and create moving-image projects of their own. He plans to share more of the project with Emorys Latin American and Latinx Studies Workshop, a monthly meeting for faculty and graduate students from all disciplines to discuss their research. He shared an early cut of the documentary trailer with the group, who provided feedback and information from their fields. This is a crucial moment for the documentary, Barba says. The Mellon award will allow me to complete filming and share these inspiring stories. You are here: World Flash European Council President Charles Michel (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The European Union (EU) and Ukraine signed a security agreement during a European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit and signed the security pact during a ceremony together with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to the document, the EU and its member states have so far collectively provided nearly 108 billion euros (about $115.6 billion) in assistance to Ukraine. "The EU is determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people with all the necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed," the document noted. The EU also agreed to use the extraordinary revenue stemming from frozen Russia assets to support Ukraine, according to the agreement. The agreement also emphasized that Ukraine should continue its reforms in line with its path towards the EU, and strengthen transparency and accountability measures concerning the assistance received. Von der Leyen pledged on social platform X to keep delivering the weapons, military training and the aid Ukraine needs. "This highlights: we are in for the long haul," she added. It was raining that Tuesday and the University of Virginia (UVA) junior didnt know if she felt all that motivated to go to the internship fair taking place that evening. Choosing to go changed my life, says Sarah Blanton, professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, founding editor of the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation and Fellow of the National Academy of Practice in Physical Therapy. A biology major at UVA, Blanton had determined that she did not want to attend medical school. At the internship fair, Blanton did two things of consequence: she signed up for a physical therapy (PT)/occupational therapy (OT) internship and then glanced over at the hospice table. It was deserted. Nobody was stopping by there. But I was willing to know more, having grown up with dinner-table conversations around hospice, Blanton says. The child of a general surgeon father and nurse mother, Blanton watched her mother help start the first hospice program in Bristol, Tennessee. Much later, as her mother succumbed to lung cancer, she lived out her final days there, with the facility naming both a room and scholarship in her honor. And while my father was a general surgeon, Blanton notes, he was called upon to do a lot of palliative care by virtue of essentially serving as the primary care provider for so many patients. That hospice internship led me to PT, Blanton says. I was just a volunteer, but I would sit with patients and their families. You are so busy in your fourth year of college, but when I was with those patients, everything fell away and I was never more fully present than in those moments. That was when I thought: I want work that does this. It grounded me and always felt like a sacred place. While at UVA, Blanton was leaving a photography class and in a deep discussion about what else? death and dying and did not see the car approaching that would graze her, tearing the meniscus in her right knee. That was her first patient experience of physical therapy, but there would be more each one incredibly instructive to the healer she would become. Two years into her professional practice, she hurt her back, which would continue to require intermittent therapy. The country mouse makes a home in Atlanta Blanton went on to earn a masters and doctorate of physical therapy at Emory, but for a number of years, Atlanta did not feel like home. Raised on South Holston Lake in Upper East Tennessee a reservoir cradled in the Appalachian Mountains Blanton had always reveled in the peace and spiritual uplift the area provided. The beauty she saw in those spaces inspired her to become an award-winning photographer. I love so many different geographies, but we tend to come back to where we have that sense of place and belonging, she says. As she celebrates 34 years at Emory, first as a student and then as a faculty member, Blanton observes: I have been in Atlanta longer than I have been anywhere, but I still feel like a country mouse, having grown up in a small town. In 2014, for the On Being project, Blanton wrote an essay about South Holston Lake titled Thin Places and the Transforming Presence of Beauty, which also features her photography. She quotes the former Harvard theologian Peter Gomes, who explained the concept of thin places: There is in Celtic mythology the notion of thin places in the universe where the visible and the invisible world come into their closest proximity. Mountains and rivers are particularly favored as thin places. But perhaps the ultimate of these thin places in the human condition are the experiences people are likely to have as they encounter suffering, joy and mystery. Throughout her career and life, Blanton has embraced these thin places. Neurorehabilitation, her specialty within PT, allows her to express the values gratitude, curiosity, kindness, sincerity in listening and willingness to be vulnerable that have always guided her. Neurorehabilitation is a deep spiritual place where you are meeting people in their times of vulnerability, and you find them so authentic as you accompany them on that journey. It is very much a privilege. Walking down the hall in Emorys rehabilitation hospital, I would always remind myself that everyone in these rooms is someone whose life has been changed forever and how quickly that can happen to any of us, she says. Beyond having been a PT patient herself, she came to know how it feels to be a family member of someone undergoing therapy. Later in her fathers life, he needed spinal surgery, which Blanton arranged for in Atlanta. During the surgery, he suffered a stroke and was in rehabilitation for a month. My caregiving work was shaped by my clinical experience, and the former was really shaped by being a carepartner for my dad working with my family and recognizing how many people never really asked us how we were doing. That is why my goal in research has always been to foster family-integrated care, Blanton says. According to the scholarly literature, those with disabilities represent the worlds largest minority group. At every turn, Blanton has fought against a historically ableist view of disability and rehabilitation, believing that it is through the engagement of the humanities that we truly transform the practice of physical therapy. Says Marie Johanson, professor of rehabilitation medicine, Leveraging her clinical expertise in neurologic physical therapy with her own visual artistry, Sarah is a pioneer in the field of humanities in rehabilitation. Her work has elevated the Division of Physical Therapy, Emorys School of Medicine and the university internationally by insisting that integrating the lens of humanities into health care is not a nicety but a necessity for the ethical care of patients. Tirelessly pursuing a better lived experience for patients After earning her masters in PT in 1992, Blanton worked at Emory Rehabilitation Hospital from 1992-2000, at which point a tantalizing offer came from Steven Wolf, now professor emeritus of rehabilitation medicine, a towering figure in the field. Groundbreaking research in neuroplasticity revealed a greater understanding of how the brain recovers after a stroke. Wolf asked Blanton to join a landmark study of constraint-induced movement therapy; this was to be the first multisite clinical trial in stroke rehabilitation. The idea behind constraint-induced movement therapy was to restrain, by the use of a soft mitt, the stronger arm following stroke so patients would be forced to use the weaker arm for daily activities. To that point, it was possible to think of PT as a kind of black box, highly dependent on personalized care. What was so exciting was the possibility of creating a standardized protocol that would be easy to evaluate, Blanton says. Nonetheless, leaving her work as a clinician at Emory Rehabilitation Hospital was a big deal for me because I loved being with patients, Blanton reflects. She made that devotion to patients part of the terms on which she joined, signing on as a research coordinator to help with patient recruitment and to learn how to adapt the protocol to the clinic. As interest in constraint-induced therapy grew, Blanton and Wolf joined forces to offer instructional courses internationally. All told, Blanton would earn her doctorate of physical therapy in 1994 and spend six years with the study, then go on to become a Division of Physical Therapy faculty member in 2006. Reflecting on what she learned in the study, Blanton conceived an avenue for her own research. What if I build upon the strategies I used with family members and make it a more structured intervention? she wondered. I could teach family members about the principles of neuroplasticity. I also could guide them to what are called autonomy-supportive language strategies that is, using language to help someone stay motivated. To blunt what Blanton terms the particularly pernicious impact of stroke on approximately 4.8 million survivors in the U.S. who require assistance from often untrained and ill-prepared family members, she developed a theory-based, family-centered innovation called Carepartner and Collaborative Integrated Therapy (CARE-CITE). Employing an interprofessional team that combines findings from rehabilitation therapy and nursing research, CARE-CITE is designed to enhance the therapeutic process by positively engaging carepartners a term Blanton chose instead of caregiver to more accurately reflect the collaborative role she recommends for family members in the home setting. CARE-CITE guides the carepartner in collaborative goal setting and providing autonomy support for the stroke survivor in order to promote motivation and creative problem-solving to improve arm and hand function. We theorize that improving self-management will lead to improvements in both carepartner and stroke survivor health outcomes. This family-centered intervention is a key advancement, moving the rehabilitation field toward stroke care that effectively addresses both survivor and carepartner needs, Blanton says. Gail Jensen, a professor of physical therapy at Creighton University, recalls meeting Blanton more than 10 years ago and finding herself so impressed with not only Sarahs clinical expertise but the depth of her understanding and continued exploration of the lived experiences of her patients. In 2018, through Jensens advocacy and that of other admirers, Blanton was awarded the American Physical Therapy Associations Societal Impact Award. The honor is reserved for individuals who exemplify the compassionate nature of the physical therapy profession by exhibiting a distinguished commitment toward philanthropic initiatives, raising public awareness on key societal issues and demonstrating how physical therapy can be applied to address these issues. Celebrating the arts in the sciences: a family tradition An abiding joy of Blantons life has been the creativity she has encountered and engendered. The appreciation of the arts and humanities in our family was always so rich, Blanton recalls, and credits her father for his humanistic approach to patient care and compassion toward others. His deep knowledge of literature, poetry, religion and music infused his work and his relationship with his patients. Further inspiration came from Blantons high school biology teacher, who not only kindled her lifelong commitment to the discipline but also taught her to use a darkroom. In her senior year, her photography portfolio earned a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, one of the oldest arts competitions in the country for high schoolers. It puts Blanton in good company: Stephen King and other famous artists have won the award over the years. And she has never stopped sharing how she sees the world. In 2010, a photograph Blanton shot Through a Glass Darkly received third place in the Emory Arts Competition. That Scholastic Art & Writing award gave me a sense of self-efficacy. My dad was a prominent figure in Bristol, a Renaissance man. This was one way that I was able to carve out my own unique identity, Blanton observes. It should be no surprise that this same word surfaces when commentators describe Blantons impact. Sarah is truly renaissance she brings our worlds together better than any of us. She is a master clinician, a competent clinical researcher and an extraordinary educator who is able to engage students in much-needed deeper reflection about their learning, says Jensen. Blantons most groundbreaking project to date, the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation (JHR), is in part a valentine to her father. Bringing to life the Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation In partnership with the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship (ECDS), Blanton in 2014 established the JHR the first peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the integration of humanities in rehabilitation sciences and the first rehabilitation journal to collaborate with international disability scholars. Blanton saw the journal as occupying the powerful and transformative intersection of arts and sciences fully in alignment with the values expressed in the One Emory Strategic Framework and the Emory Initiative for Arts and Humanistic Inquiry. Disability rights activists coined the slogan Nothing about us without us during the 1990s. Supporting this goal, the JHR is a rare scientific journal that provides a platform for the co-creation of content with and for people with disabilities, their carepartners and the rehabilitation community. With the JHR, says Jensen, a member of the editorial advisory board, Sarah brings forward, with great respect, the voices of patients, families and caregivers. I do not know of another journal that does that. For those of us in PT, the journal is our north star in providing a much-needed understanding of the human condition; it also makes us better at working together for the well-being of our patients. By adopting a transdisciplinary approach to integrate humanities, disability studies and rehabilitation, along with fostering collaborative community partnerships, the JHR addresses the complex and pervasive health inequities faced by the disability community. Our next goal, says Blanton, is to find funding to enable the journal to be the first publication to engage members from the disability community as editorial staff, providing an opportunity for decision-making and power-sharing to help shape content, evaluate accessibility and broaden readership to more diverse communities. A rich outlet for students and colleagues JHR is a perfect example of the kind of interdisciplinary and public scholarship that we love to support, says Alex Cors, digital scholarship specialist at ECDS. By bringing together scholars and practitioners from different fields and making their work accessible for a broad audience through open-access web publishing, we can help Sarah and her amazing team get their work out to as many interested readers as possible. The journals collaboration with ECDS is ongoing, with students being prime beneficiaries. Normally, two students work together, one coming from physical therapy and one from ECDS. The physical therapy students are subject matter experts whose insights are invaluable. From our side, we train the physical therapy students on all aspects of digital scholarship and digital publishing, Cors says. We have had great experiences with this model, and Sarah is committed to continuing this exchange of knowledge and skills. Stephanie Larson earned her doctorate in English and completed a certificate in bioethics here. She sought work on the JHR after reading the journals incredibly impressive inaugural issue. Still early in her doctoral training when she and Blanton first met, Larson confesses to being a bit nervous. Sarah treated me as though she were meeting a friend and colleague, and the invaluable mentorship that followed has exemplified the humanistic values she has spearheaded, Larson says. For Blanton, the praise must flow both ways because, as she notes, Stephanie had a significant role in shaping the journal. The Frank S. Blanton Jr., MD Humanities in Rehabilitation Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 in honor of Blantons father, and the scholarship has been awarded to eight students, Larson among them. Although we never met, I feel I have come to know Sarahs father through the life Sarah has led as a mentor, researcher, clinician and advocate for the humanities. Whats remarkable about the scholarship is that it isnt just a title or award but an invitation to a community, one that for me has led to lifelong connections. Sarah Caston knows Blanton as a former student, now colleague, and cites the tremendous impact she has had on me, both personally and professionally. She is just one of those rare humans who, along with her brilliance and creativity, possesses a genuinely kind and humble spirit. An assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine and assistant director of clinical education, Caston is currently the journals narrative section editor and says of this shared endeavor: JHR reflects the alchemy of Sarahs vision and heart for many facets of the human experience. Its articles, reflections and resources appear in health education programs and clinical settings across the nation. This work will undoubtedly send ripples of creativity to, and create valuable impact for, future generations. Staying and still striving for disability justice Though occasionally daydreaming about a return to South Holston Lake or the possible joy of life in Boulder, Colorado, or Asheville, North Carolina, Blanton stays in the big city because of the strength of her relationships with colleagues, students, patients and family members. I have flourished at Emory in response to all those who taught me the value of fierce moral courage, visionary leadership, compassion-based clinical care and novel, transdisciplinary ways of thinking. While the academy is often criticized for operating in silos, I have found that a sincere pursuit of humanism through my service, teaching and research has allowed me to transcend those barriers and build collaborative relationships across the university, she says. Above all else, she feels gratitude. As we are working toward being healers, we are being healed ourselves, Blanton notes. Concludes her colleague Marie Johanson: Sarah brings compassion, a finely tuned ear, humility, humor and intellect, and she reminds us that we are both students and teachers on our journeys through life. Emory Universitys Michael C. Carlos Museum offers a variety of enriching programs for children and families throughout the summer. Some of these include SmARTy packs, family guides, select free Sundays and a summer reading program. The Carlos Museum, which is home to one of the largest ancient art collections in the Southeast, contains works from around the world. Visitors are encouraged to pick up a Family Guide to learn more about artwork in the museum during their visit. These guides include an engaging collection of die-cut images of objects and art such as Egyptian painted coffins, Greek vases and sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses. The vibrant images and text on the guides encourage children to look more closely at the artwork in the galleries. The guides include interesting facts and details about the various pieces in the museum. Plus, these guides do more than make a tour of the museum more exciting and educational for children and families they can also be taken home to enjoy later. Family Guides are available at no charge at the information desk on Level One of the Carlos Museum. Children and families who want an even more hands-on visit can borrow a SmARTy pack, which can also be checked out from the information desk at no charge. The bag consists of information and activities related to the art, such as interactive guides, games and hands-on art activities to do in the galleries. SmARTy packs provide a great way for children of all ages to have a more immersive experience at the museum and learn more about the objects on view. Some current activities included in the SmARTy packs are related to work in the African, Greek, Roman and Indigenous Americas art galleries. Participants have the option of completing all the activities included in the pack or just some of them. Several of the SmARTy packs have been adapted for online use as well. Children can keep the activity pieces from the SmARTy packs such as worksheets and return the reusable bag and other items after their visit. Free museum admission will be offered to visitors on select Sundays during the summer, including June 30, July 14 and August 4. The museum is open on Sundays from 12-5 p.m. During the academic year, families can enjoy the Carlos monthly Sunday FUNday program, which offers free admission all-day and drop-in artmaking for families between noon and 4 p.m. Sunday FUNdays will kick off Sept. 1. Get reading with the Carlos Book-loving kids can join the museums summer reading program, Wrapped up in Reading. Each year the museum develops a book list, including childrens picture books, young adult books, graphic novels and more. The Carlos Museum intentionally includes bilingual literature in the selections as well as a range of classic and recently published works. There are so many amazing books written and illustrated each year, and I am always on the lookout for stories that can connect children to the pieces in the museums collections to add to the Wrapped Up in Reading list, says Alice Vogler, manager of the museums educational programs. It is exciting to see what books children gravitate to each summer. Books included on the reading list can be purchased at the Carlos Museum Bookshop. The museum recommends the nonprofit ecommerce site bookshop.org to buy books online. You can even create an account tied to the Carlos Museum Bookshop, and all your purchases will benefit the museum! Many of the books on the list can also be checked out at local libraries. We are lucky to have a wonderful partnership with the Georgia Public Library Service and librarians all over the state to help get the word out about the Wrapped Up in Reading program each summer, Vogler says. Some of them even set up a little display with some of the books on the list in their libraries. The Carlos Museum offers a wonderful selection of fun and educational programs for children and families to enjoy. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5 p.m. and Sundays 12-5 p.m. 00:24 Amid evolving security environment in Lebanon, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the Embassy of India in Beirut is in 'constant touch' with the Indian nationals there and added an advisory has been issued for them as a matter of 'abundant precaution'. MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in response to a query during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, said the advisory is not a 'not a travel advisory' restricting the Indians to travel to Beirut. Some reports had claimed that India has issued a travel advisory for its nationals. "Our embassy in Beirut has issued an advisory. A lot of Indian nationals stay there, work there... there are professionals. As per the information that I have, about 2,000-3,000 people are there. Our embassy is in constant touch with them. We have not issued any travel advisory. We have just said that they should keep in touch with the embassy, so that if there is any incident, we can take action as soon as possible," he said. Lebanon shares border with Israel in south. The MEA said there is an 'evolving situation' in Lebanon. The Indian Embassy had on Thursday shared an advisory in a post on X, saying it is an 'advisory for Indian nationals in Lebanon'. 'In view of the current situation in Lebanon, all Indian nationals in Lebanon are advised to exercise caution and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut through our email address: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or through emergency helpline number +961-76860128,' the embassy wrote in its advisory. Jaiswal during his briefing was asked multiple queries related to the Indians in Lebanon amid the evolving situation in that country. 'Our embassy in Beirut issued an advisory, and that advisory is not a travel advisory restricting Indians to travel to Beirut. That advisory is for Indian nationals who are based in Lebanon, so that they stay in touch with the Embassy, if things... there is an evolving situation there. As a matter of abundant precaution, this advisory has been issued,' he said in response to another query. So that the embassy is 'enabled if there is a requirement' to get in touch with the Indian nationals and 'it can do so at the shortest possible time', he added. He was also asked if 'Israeli action violates Lebanese sovereignty'. 'All nations are sovereign nations, correct. So that is where it is. You are talking about a situation that is yet to develop. As and when the situation develops, we will have a look at it. But, the question right now is... all nations in the world are sovereign nations. They are well within their right to do whatever they want, as a sovereign entity,' the MEA spokesperson said. Israel's latest conflict with Hamas in Gaza began after the October 7 attack on the Jewish state by Hamas militants. Jaiswal was also asked about the Indian nationals in Kenya in the wake of the widespread protests in Nairobi against a contentious finance bill. 'In Kenya, there also we have issued an advisory. There was a protest linked to a local legislation. No Indian has been caught in the violence... no body has been impacted. That advisory still holds good. We have told our national to be cautious, take care of their movements or how they go about in the city. My understanding is that the situation is coming back to normal, it is improving and things are in order as of now,' he said. Kenyan Police had on Thursday clashed with the protesters in Nairobi before planned protests against the bill despite its president's decision not to sign it after the plans triggered deadly chaos in the capital city. -- PTI Kennedy Su, a student at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, makes one of his daily solar observations while attending a summer research experience at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. IMSA student Alain Bedi works with Cori Brevik, associate professor in the School of Physics and Applied Physics. (Photos provided) As solar storms erupt, SIU researchers continue to study the sun by Tim Crosby CARBONDALE, Ill. Scientists are predicting the possibility of solar storms of varying intensity during the next two weeks as faculty and student researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale continue studying the sun with two NASA-funded research projects. Faculty are conducting SolarSTEAM, a $2.6 million multifaceted, national heliophysics project building on research and outreach experiences from the 2017 and 2024 total solar eclipses that hit Southern Illinois. The faculty also are running the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative (DEB), a two-year, $314,000 project that equipped, coordinated and trained more than 80 teams of citizen science observers across North America providing critical coronal data as the moons shadow traversed the continent. The work has continued during the weeks following the eclipse, with SIU welcoming students from the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy attending a summer research experience through the universitys STEM Education Research Center. Two of those students are making daily solar observations, watching the surface of the sun and doing image processing on data collected by the DEB Initiative during the April total solar eclipse. Their work is part of an ongoing nationwide effort to observe the surface of the sun and look for connections between surface features on the sun such as sunspots and white light solar flares, said Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics at SIU and one of the researchers. The work is important in learning more about our sun and solar flares, which can have a significant impact on our life here on Earth. Todays (June 28) solar forecast calls for aurora borealis sighting as far south as mid-Wisconsin as a geomagnetic storm brought on by high-energy particles and magnetism emanating from a sunspot cluster that is rotating to face Earth. The activity is part of solar maximum, an active time during the suns cycle. Increased solar activity such as what we will continue to see through solar maximum over the next year provides a better opportunity for observations to capture useful data, Baer said. Media availability Faculty and student researchers will be at Neckers Science Building in either Room 165 or on the astronomy deck on the roof of the A wing until about 4 p.m. today. Faculty will also be available next week, as well. Media are welcome. Faculty researchers on-hand include: PRNewswire Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], June 28: Labuan IBFC Incorporated Sdn Bhd (Labuan IBFC Inc.), the official marketing agency for Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Malaysia (STEP Malaysia) hosted an event yesterday on wealth management and estate planning structures and solutions in Malaysia and Labuan IBFC, Asia's premier international financial hub at the Sime Darby Convention Centre. Themed Navigating Succession and Estate Planning in Malaysia and Labuan IBFC, the symposium witnessed the participation of more than 200 stakeholders comprising practitioners, investors and professional service providers from the wealth management and estate planning industry as well as representatives from regulatory bodies, government agencies and the media. The event comprised seven informative sessions captained by industry leaders across various segments in the wealth management and estate planning industry, comprising presentations and panel discussions. In his welcome address, Datuk Iskandar Mohd Nuli, Executive Chairman cum CEO of Labuan IBFC Inc. highlighted the potential of Labuan IBFC as a wealth management and estate planning hub. "Labuan IBFC possesses a complete ecosystem to support estate wealth management and estate planning. This includes a robust regulatory framework, adherence to international standards and best practices as well as wealth management service providers that are ever-ready to cater to the needs of HNWIs and families." He further added, "Labuan IBFC's most attractive proposition is the jurisdiction's cost-efficient structures to manage wealth." 2023 was a stellar year for Labuan IBFC's wealth management and estate planning segment. The segment witnessed the establishment of 25 new foundations, with the sector's assets under management experiencing a significant increase to USD817.9 million, corresponding to a 66 per cent rise. Labuan IBFC is currently home to 226 foundations and 11 registered trusts, which highlights the jurisdiction's rising prominence as the region's preferred wealth management and estate planning domicile. "Malaysia and Labuan IBFC offer unique wealth management and estate planning solutions. Our dual legal system caters to the diverse needs of wealth owners of local and international origin, blending both legislative framework with Shariah and common law principles. Our multi-cultural and religious background and strong adherence to family values form the backbone for this rich diversity in our legacy planning considerations to serve the needs of families across generations" said Ms Farah Deba Mohamed Sofian, Chair of STEP Malaysia. The conference closed after engaging and fruitful discussions on estate planning fundamentals and taxation considerations to issues and strategies for family businesses, multi-generational wealth transfer practice in Malaysia, along with highlighting Labuan IBFC's unique wealth and estate planning and management offerings. The event also served as a platform for professionals to have meaningful exchanges on the benefits, challenges and prevailing trends in the wealth management industry. (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) VMPL New Delhi [India], June 28: Khushi Advertising, a specialized player in the OOH industry, launched a pathbreaking marketing campaign for the highly anticipated movie "Kalki 2898 AD". This comprehensive campaign strategically integrates ambient, DOOH, and traditional outdoor marketing with avant-garde innovations, effectively blending elements of mythology and futurism to redefine cinema advertising. The campaign is strategically designed and executed across key markets in India to establish a commanding presence for the futuristic and dystopian movie "Kalki 2898 AD". Spanning 366 units, the campaign covers major cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Lucknow, leveraging a diverse array of media touchpoints such as DOOH, billboards, mall facades, selfie setups, arch gates and airport digitals, the campaign employs innovative approaches like anamorphic displays and pop-out hoardings in Mumbai and Ahmedabad to create a distinctive impact. The entire campaign is designed to ensure maximum visibility, resonating deeply and generating awareness with audiences nationwide. Video Embedded: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZjMimjeeoM&authuser=0 The highlight of the campaign is an innovation at the iconic Mahim Causeway, where a dynamic installation unfolds, showcasing rotating cut-outs of Prabhas, Deepika, and Amitabh Bachchan. Strategically positioned at a bustling intersection visible from Bandra, Mahim, and the Western Express Highway, this installation ensures continuous movement and visibility from multiple angles, captivating the attention of all passing traffic. Beyond spotlighting the characters, the display prominently features the movie's release date. Adjacent to this central installation, a 10x10 hoarding displays cut-outs of the three main characters, enhanced with dynamic lighting effects that accentuate Amitabh Bachchan and highlights the film's title. This blend of motion and illumination creates a visually compelling experience that effectively engages the audience and leaves a lasting impression. Innovative hoarding designs with unique cut-out configurations and strategic lighting effects further enhance visibility and engagement at other key locations. The campaign seamlessly integrates digital platforms, ensuring a cohesive brand presence both online and offline. This campaign not only amplifies the futuristic narrative of "Kalki 2898 AD" but also reinforces Khushi Advertising's commitment to integrated and pathbreaking OOH strategies that set industry benchmarks. Film Producer Swapnadutt Chalasani at Vyjayanthi Movies praises, "Khushi Advertising has adeptly captured the essence of 'Kalki 2898 AD' through innovative OOH strategies, significantly amplifying our narrative reach and impact. Set in the distant year 2898, the film depicts a world depleted of resources, with only the city of Kashi remaining habitable for a privileged few amidst widespread struggle. This ambitious project intertwines Hindu mythology with futuristic themes, particularly focusing on the Vishnu Avatar known as Kalki, marking a significant milestone in cinematic innovation." Vishnu Telang, CEO of Khushi Advertising Ideas Pvt Ltd, emphasizes, "Our strategy is designed to pull audiences into the captivating universe of 'Kalki 2898 AD'. This campaign underscores our commitment to delivering unforgettable and impactful brand experiences. With over 20 years of specialized OOH experience, Khushi Advertising leads in crafting innovative and effective OOH campaigns that elevate brands and captivate audiences, fuelled by our unwavering commitment to creativity and strategic media planning." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 28: The Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Shiv Nadar IoE) has signed a unique partnership agreement with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London to offer a one-year Joint MA in Global Urban Sociology.Considered a first of its kind in equal partnership across the North and the South, the program is designed jointly by faculty in Anthropology and Sociology from both institutions. It is aimed at students who seek advanced learning in an intensive degree program, as well as working professionals who seek added skills in their career paths. The one-year (12-month) MA program will allow students to study in two premier institutions and two contrasting cities. Students will have the opportunity to travel to the UK and India as part of the program, with the first term spent in London at SOAS, the second term spent in Delhi, followed by a dissertation which can be completed on either of the campuses or remotely. They will be registered at both institutions and will have access to resources and facilities from both institutions throughout the program. Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a joint MA by SOAS, University of London and Shiv Nadar IoE.Speaking at the launch of the program, Professor Ananya Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor of Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, said, "This is a significant step for all of us. Having worked in the development world, I have observed people discussing the co-creation of knowledge across borders. However, it's much easier said than done. This partnership is a result of sheer dedication and hard work over the last eighteen months. But the real work starts now. We aim to produce graduates bold enough to have different imaginaries of global collaboration, learn differently, speak differently, and imagine a different world."SOAS, London is ranked 5th in the UK and 12th in the world for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings 2023). Shiv Nadar IoE is India's premier multidisciplinary, research university established in 2011 by Shiv Nadar, one of India's foremost philanthropists and a pioneer of the technological revolution. It is also the youngest university in the country to have been awarded the "Institution of Eminence" status by the Government of India. It is ranked amongst the top 36 per cent of institutions in Asia according to QS Asia 2024. Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS, said, "This partnership is an attempt to find equality in an unequal world. It is also an attempt to make positive interventions in pedagogy and allow us to act as agents in transforming our education system. This is also an attempt to create nuanced knowledge that is global and contextual to the realities of the Global South." This MA specifically seeks to address real-world issues in the context of the most significant transformation of the planet, i.e. urbanization. It is also one of the few programmes in the world to focus on the global sociology of cities and is a response to a worldwide escalation in demand for urban expertise. The curricula include issues like climate change, urban ecologies, digital governance, public health, social infrastructure, city architecture and urban humanitarianisms in addition to urban research design.The programme has a set tuition fee of euro 12,500 which is a fraction of the range usually paid by Indian students in the UK. Competitive financial aid will also be available for the program. Applications to the program are currently open and will be accepted until the 31st of July 2024. The program will commence in September 2024. Interested candidates can apply through this link: please visit: https://snu.edu.in/programs/shiv-nadar-ioe-soas-joint-ma-global-urban-sociology/ (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) Expressing eagerness to India's journey of economic development, Director General of Indo and German Chamber of Commerce Stefan Halusa, said that the German companies have never been more optimistic about their business and business expectations in India. The German embassy officials gathered on Friday to talk about the German India Business Outlook survey conducted by KPMG, a multinational professional services firm. More than 80 per cent of German companies that responded to this survey, expect an increase in revenues in India for the next five years. Almost 74 per cent expect higher profits in the next five years in India." Halusa added citing the report. According to the survey 78 per cent of companies expect rising sales, and 55 per cent forecast higher profits. The company's expectations for the next five years are even more positive: 82 per cent expect an increase inturnover and 74 per cent expect higher profits. The companies assume that the growth rate will be very dynamic: By 2029, 37 per cent of respondents expect sales growth of more than 20 per cent and 25 per cent of them anticipate profit growth of more than 20 per cent. Highlighting a huge number of German companies working in India, he added that around 2000 German companies are currently working in the country as per the database. A lot of companies are working in automobiles, automotive supplies, engineered solutions, electric chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Talking about the challenges the German companies are facing, he added that the complexity of its licenses and changing rules in each state troubles companies especially those that operate from multiple locations in the country. The Bilateral trade between India and Germany reached a new record high of EUR 30.8 billion in 2023. The direct and indirect investment stock held by German companies in India also reached a new record high of EUR 23.9 billion in 2022. As per the German India Business Outlook survey, the companies surveyed are planning to expand their investments in India in the coming years, attracted by the country's low labour costs, political stability, and availability of skilled workers. A substantial 59 per cent of the companies surveyed are planning to expand their investments this 2year. That is 23 per cent points more than in 2021. It observed that the investment intentions of German companies have also increased significantly compared to the previous year. However, The survey highlights the hurdles such as bureaucracy, corruption, and a complex tax system that are hindering the investment intention of these companies. Despite these challenges, German companies are confident about their long-term prospects in India, the survey adds. In the recent edition of the editorial of AHK, Business Magazine of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce STEFAN HALUSA Director General Indo-German Chamber of Commerce mentioned, industrial innovation and workforce development as two key areas where both the companies can collaborate. "India's expanding industrial sector will require a vast pool of skilled workers. Conversely, Germany faces a looming shortage of skilled labour while struggling with educational deficits among its youth," it noted. (ANI) BusinessWire India Ludhiana (Punjab) [India], June 28: Chili's American Grill is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest restaurant at Sunview Plaza in Ludhiana. This marks the 21st Chili's location in India under Trimex Foods Private Limited, and the 22nd across India and Sri Lanka. Situated in the bustling Sunview Plaza, Chili's brings America's favorite casual dining experience to the heart of Ludhiana. The new restaurant offers seating for 144 guests, featuring both indoor and outdoor options, where patrons can enjoy their favorite Tex-Mex dishes in a vibrant atmosphere. The restaurant's design blends contemporary and industrial elements, with charming brickwork and sleek metal frames that create a warm and inviting ambiance. Chili's Ludhiana welcomes guests from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., offering a flavorful menu of Tex-Mex favorites, from sizzling fajitas to handcrafted Big Mouth burgers. Diners can indulge in signature dishes accompanied by refreshing mocktails and fresh juices, all for an affordable price of just Rs. 1200 for two people. With Trimex Foods Private Limited driving Chili's expansion in the region, Chili's is set to become a favorite dining destination in Ludhiana. Follow Chili's India on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/chilis.in) for updates and promotions, and experience the excitement of Tex-Mex cuisine at Sunview Plaza, Ludhiana. (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) The government is working on a policy for the steel sector where the washery route will be applied as the end-route for coking coal thereby reducing the import dependence, M Nagaraju, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal said in New Delhi today. "We are finalising the policy, once approved, we will be able to offer washed coking coal to the steel sector to blend with the imported coal," he added. The washery route refers to the process of cleaning coal to remove impurities like soil, rock, and other non-coal materials. This process, known as coal washing or coal beneficiation, improves the quality of the coal. For coking coal used in steel production, washing helps produce cleaner and more efficient coal, which can then be used in steel plants. By using the washery route, steel producers can rely more on domestic coal, reducing the need for imported coal. Addressing the FICCI workshop on 'Coal Matrix for Indian Metals Industry', he stated that the government will set up 8 coking coal washeries to meet the demand of the steel sector. "By 2029-30, we should have the capacity to produce as much as the country demands for coal and be in a position to supply the coal to other countries," he emphasised. Additional Secretary further added that the Indian coal sector is witnessing robust growth reaching around 1 billion tons of coal production, last year and with a CAGR of 11 per cent in the last 2 years. "Next year, we will produce around 1100 million tons of coal," he added. The government, he said, has launched the coking coal mission with a target of producing 140 million tons by 2030. For the steel sector, Nagaraju stated that the government is working on a policy for the steel sector where the washery route will be applied as the end-route for coking coal thereby reducing the import dependence. "We are finalizing the policy, once approved, we will be able to offer washed coking coal to the steel sector to blend with the imported coal," he added. Highlighting the importance of coal gasification, he asserted that the government has already initiated a scheme with Rs 8,500 crores to support both the private and public sectors to set up coal gasification plants in the country. "There is tremendous potential for the country to venture and diversify coal," he added. Dr Avinash Kumar Mishra, Executive Director (Coal), Railway Board, Govt of India said that coal gasification will take some time to establish itself and Railways will be offering specialized wagons for its transportation. With the increase of production of coal, the dependence on imported coal is likely to come down which will benefit the industry as well. There has been a steep surge in coal availability in the last 2 years which is mostly due to imported coal, he added. Speaking at the workshop, Ashwini Kumar, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Steel, Govt of India said that the Indian steel industry contributes around 2.5 per cent to GDP but has strong backward and forward linkages. "There is a need to develop indigenous technology in coal gasification that will give a big boost to the sector. We can expect robust growth in the medium term in the global steel industry. Despite a slowdown in the global steel industry, the Indian steel industry is in a healthy state, and we expect it to grow at a rate of 10 per cent," he added. (ANI) Flash A Chinese defense spokesperson has voiced strong opposition to the United States and some other Western countries for shifting the blame over the Ukraine crisis. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday when responding to an inquiry concerning the recent G7 Leaders' Communique. Wu pointed out that data shows that over 60 percent of the weapon components and dual-use goods imported by Russia are from the United States and other Western countries. This practice of maintaining trade with Russia while interfering with and undermining normal cooperation between China and Russia is extremely hypocritical, he said. "Instead of reflecting on their own roles in the Ukraine crisis, the United States and other Western countries have repeatedly shifted the blame onto China, which we firmly oppose," the spokesperson said. China has been conducting normal economic and trade exchanges with all countries, including Russia, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, but does not provide lethal weapons to any side in the conflict, while strictly controlling the export of dual-use items, Wu said. China has always stood on the side of peace and the right side of history. It firmly opposes groundless accusations, and will continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, he said. PNN New Delhi [India], June 28: Welcome to Green Rosette, where your dreams blend with nature; every moment is filled with peace and tranquillity. These prime luxury residential plots by K Raheja Corp Homes at the exclusive Raheja Viva in Pune offer a unique living experience and continues to be the ideal choice for Army professionals, IT professionals, and business leaders. Located on Pune-Paud Road, just a short drive from Chandni Chowk, Green Rosette is nestled amid lush green forests, providing a peaceful space that perfectly combines isolation with nature. These luxury plots in Raheja Viva promise an exceptional lifestyle with ready infrastructure, more than 40 world-class amenities, and the best views of the Sahyadri Hills, complemented by vast open spaces and multiple recreational areas. Reasons to explore the beauty of Green Rosette: * Panoramic views of the Sahyadri Hills * Good connectivity to major IT hubs in Pune * Home to over 60 species of birds and around 6500 trees, fostering a thriving ecosystem * Low-density living offering ample personal space and privacy * Ready-to-use 40+ lifestyle amenities with two lavish clubhouses for recreation and leisure * Ready infrastructure with internal roads and all the essential utilities * Low noise levels ensuring a peaceful living environment * Improved Air Quality Index (AQI) for better health * Being a premium plot it has a high potential for appreciation, making it a great investment opportunity * IGBC Platinum certification for a reduced carbon footprint and a commitment to green living Beyond the state-of-the-art amenities, Green Rosette offers direct connectivity to all urban necessities. It is conveniently accessible to social infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, malls, and leisure centres. Top professionals will find it ideal due to its easy access to Hinjewadi IT Park, allowing a perfect work-life integration. Residing in Green Rosette at Raheja Viva is a unique opportunity to embrace an extraordinary lifestyle. With high land appreciation values in Pune, the demand for residential land is strong. These luxury residential plots offer a fantastic living experience, whether as a home or an investment. (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) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28: HDFC Life, one of India's leading life insurers, has launched an important initiative to elevate public awareness about life insurance. For several years, HDFC Life has been actively promoting National Insurance Awareness Day, celebrated on 28th June, through various campaigns. Life insurance is a vital element of financial planning, offering essential security and protection against life's uncertainties. Despite its significance, life insurance penetration in India is strikingly low at only 3.2%, with a substantial protection gap of about 91%. This highlights a pressing need for greater awareness and education on the subject. In response, HDFC Life has introduced the 'Bridge the Gap' campaign. This initiative aims to clarify the benefits of life insurance and inform the public about its importance. Through strategic partnerships and innovative outreach efforts, HDFC Life seeks to educate consumers on the critical role of life insurance. The campaign features a combination of on-ground activities and digital initiatives. Notably, HDFC Life has partnered with ET NOW to produce a series of informative chat shows. These shows feature discussions with HDFC Life leaders and their partners, covering various aspects of financial planning with life insurance, including protection, child plans, and retirement options. Click the link below to watch:https://www.timesnownews.com/special/national-insurance-awareness-day The 'Bridge the Gap' initiative has received a significant response, and HDFC Life is dedicated to expanding its reach to include more individuals under the protection of life insurance. This effort supports the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (IRDAI) goal of achieving 'Insurance for All' by 2047. Speaking on this Suresh Badami, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC Life, said, "Life insurance is essential for financial planning. While most people are now aware of life insurance products, they do not fully assess whether they have sufficient coverage to safeguard their loved ones, for fulfilling their own financial goals or savings for their retirement period. Our 'Bridge the Gap' initiative aims to encourage individuals to assess their responsibilities and take steps towards completely understanding solutions that fully protect them on all these aspects." HDFC Life's 'Bridge the Gap' initiative is not just a campaign but a commitment to reducing the life insurance coverage gap and empowering individuals to secure their financial futures. (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) India's fashion industry is getting recognition globally because of its rich culture and heritage. The thriving Indian fashion industry captivates people worldwide with its mesmerising collections, built on heritage, but ever-evolving and consequently, leaving a mark on the global stage. Notable Indian designers like Rahul Mishra blend traditional techniques with modern aesthetics, gaining international acclaim and gracing the runways of fashion capitals. Mishra's innovative designs are celebrated in global fashion magazines and worn by international celebrities at prominent events worldwide, including the Met Gala, and Cannes Film Festival. In an interview with ANI, fashion designer Rahul Mishra said, "As a brand, we have been showcasing our work for almost 10 years and have participated in Paris Fashion Week with amazing collections since 2014. Following our Woolmark Prize win, we are now presenting our 10th season at Haute Couture Week, which began in January 2020." "I truly believe that none of this would have been possible without India. Every part of our brand and everything we do today is because of the beautiful craftsmanship and the thousands of skilled workers who have collaborated with us. This is not just my brand; it is a community brand created by artisans and the people who have worked on it," shared the ace designer. With increasing demand globally, many Indian designers are set to shine on the world's runways. Amit Aggarwal is celebrated for his innovative designs, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques. His collections debut at prestigious events like India Couture Week and Lakme Fashion Week, featuring elaborate gowns, lehengas, and sarees. The meticulous work invested in each garment is no surprise to those familiar with the Indian fashion industry. Amit Aggarwal, another fashion designer added, "For me, the most important aspect of showcasing something internationally is that it remains rooted in India--the crafts, the skills, the materials we use, and the fabrics we create. However, what is truly important to me is demonstrating that India is not just about traditional craftsmanship. The country is a frontrunner in thinking outside the box and creating something relevant and new for modern times. I believe my work represents what India truly embodies: its rich culture and its contemporary innovations". The haute couture sector, known for its exclusive high-end garments, has seen notable growth. Valued at 1.47261 billion USD in 2021, the industry is projected to reach 1.34566 billion USD by 2028, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 2.3 per cent. Indian designers are gaining recognition in haute couture, benefiting from India's robust textile and apparel industry, as per Business Research Insights. The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) nurtures talent, offers platforms for showcasing work, and promotes India's rich fashion heritage globally. The Chairman of FDCI, Sunil Sethi said, "India is the flavour of the world in so many different areas, but when it comes to fashion, we have seen a very recent change. I am really proud that this change is taking place. For example, people are now participating not only in various fashion weeks around the world but also in trade shows in Paris, London, New York, and even Los Angeles. I am really happy that a wide spectrum of people is traveling all over India, and we are suddenly becoming more prominent as a nation of designers who are actively participating". Indian designers are making waves globally, infusing their culture into international platforms. From New York to Paris, London to Milan, the fusion of tradition and modernity in Indian fashion captivates audiences and critics. With India's robust economic foundation and growing middle class, the fashion industry is poised to become more organized and profitable. (ANI) Taking to her Instagram account on Friday, the actress dropped a stunning picture with a caption that read, "#newlook kisses from #Dubai Missed you guys!!! Lots of love #yourstruly #duggadugga https://www.instagram.com/p/C8w3uxuvYaf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Earlier on Friday, she left her fans confused by mentioning a 'second date of birth' on her Instagram bio, stating "Second D.O.B: 27/02/2023." Speculations arose among fans, with some linking this new date to the heart attack Sushmita Sen survived last year in February 2023. Sushmita suffered a cardiac arrest in February last year and following that, she underwent angioplasty. The 'Aarya' actor informed her fans through social media that she was diagnosed with a 95 per cent blockage in the main artery. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sushmita Sen was last seen in the acclaimed thriller drama 'Aarya' which reignited fervent admiration from fans. In the show, Sushmita plays a tough woman, who goes beyond boundaries to protect her family from the world of crime. The first season was even nominated for the 'Best Drama' series at the International Emmy Awards. (ANI) Jennifer recently shared a touching maternity photoshoot on Instagram, where she proudly displayed her baby bump alongside her 1-year-old daughter, Leila. "Leila, being promoted to big sister," Jennifer captioned the photo, tagging her husband, Nayel Nassar, a professional equestrian. The 28-year-old's joy was echoed by her family, including her mother, Melinda Gates, who commented, "I couldn't be more excited for you, Nayel, and Leila! Love you." https://www.instagram.com/p/C8uMJj7tTgw/ Jennifer Gates, born in 1996, is the eldest of the Gates' three children, followed by son Rory, 25, and daughter Phoebe, 21. Bill and Melinda Gates announced their separation in 2022 after 27 years of marriage, with the divorce finalised in 2024. The Gates family has been expanding in recent years, with Jennifer welcoming her first child, Leila, in March 2023, just before graduating from medical school. Her sister Phoebe, who recently earned a human biology degree from Stanford University, has been making headlines as well, according to Page Six. Phoebe sparked romance rumours with Arthur Donald, grandson of music legend Paul McCartney, after photos of their trip to Paris surfaced in October 2023. While Rory Gates maintains a lower profile, he joined his mother, Melinda, at a White House State Dinner last month, Page Six reported. The announcement of Jennifer's pregnancy has elicited warm wishes and congratulations from fans and well-wishers alike. Jennifer Gates and Nayel Nassar tied the knot in 2021. (ANI) The film, titled 'Painkili' and produced by Fahadh Faasil, began shooting at 9 PM at the hospital. The Human Rights Commission has demanded an explanation within seven days from those who granted permission for the shoot in the government hospital's emergency department. The Ernakulam District Medical Officer and Angamaly Taluk Hospital Superintendent have been directed to provide detailed reports. According to the commission, the emergency room's lights were dimmed, and restrictions were imposed during the shoot. Around 50 people, including actors, were present in the emergency room. Reports claim that the people who came with emergency medical problems could not even enter the premises because of the filming. "It is understood that filming continued even as doctors were treating patients. The limited space in the emergency department exacerbated the situation. A person accompanying a critically ill patient was unable to enter the emergency department. Access through the main gate was blocked, and the crew instructed patients and bystanders to remain quiet during filming. The shoot has been ongoing for two days," the commission said. Health Minister Veena George has also asked an explanation from the director of the health department regarding the incident. (ANI) "Our next schedule is in the UK, and I'm looking forward to an exciting filming experience. 'Badtameez Gill' presents me in a new avatar, which I'm really happy about. This project is significant for me and it means a lot that producers trust my acting abilities and are willing to support films with me in a leading role. I'm committed to giving it my best and showcasing my range as an artist," Vaani shared. She also expressed her happiness about exploring the comedy genre. "I'm also exploring a genre that I haven't had the chance to dive into that much, which is both fun and challenging for me as an actor. Comedy, especially family-friendly comedies that everyone can enjoy together, is a genre I love. I'm thoroughly enjoying shooting for Badtameez Gill," Vaani added. The film also stars Aparshakti Khurrana as Vaani's brother, and Paresh Rawal plays Vaani's father in the film. (ANI) Upon receiving the information, around three fire tenders rushed to the spot. "Around 5.30 am, we received a call regarding a roof collapse at Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. Three fire engines have been rushed to the spot," says an official from Delhi Fire Services. Further details are awaited. The incident occurred when Delhi-NCR was hit by a spell of heavy rains on Friday. Meanwhile, various regions of Delhi-NCR were spotted by intense waterlogging issues. Visuals show that the Govindpuri area of South Delhi and Noida Sector 95 are engulfed in water logging. Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region) received incessant rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning beginning in the early hours of Friday. On Thursday, parts of Delhi received spells of heavy rainfall, bringing much-needed respite from the sweltering heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the weather for the next seven days in Delhi, predicting generally cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain accompanied by gusty winds. As predicted by IMD for June 28, the forecast includes light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures similar to the previous day and wind speeds reaching up to 35 km/h. weather on June 29 is expected to be slightly cooler, with a high of 36C and a low of 28C. The city will likely experience light to moderate rain or thunderstorms with winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h. On June 30, temperatures will drop further to 34C, with moderate to heavy rain and gusty winds. For July 1 and 2, the IMD forecasts thunderstorms with moderate rain, with temperatures steady at a high of 34C and a low of 27C. Wind speeds will continue to vary, maintaining a range of 25-35 km/h. (ANI) Ahead of the upcoming State Legislative Council elections on July 12, the Pune unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) demanded one Legislative Council seat for Pune city. A delegation led by City Unit President Deepak Mankar met with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Mumbai to submit a written demand for the seat. According to NCP leader Deepak Mankar, "As the state will go for Vidhan Sabha polls later in the year in October and Pune city has eight assembly seats out which two are with NCP. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the opponents have shown a lead which has raised concerns among party workers about potential hurdles during seat-sharing talks for the upcoming assembly polls. Therefore, to strengthen the position of the party while going in the election a seat in the council is crucial in forming an effective strategy for the Legislative Assembly elections. He also added, "Local office-bearers are insistent that the party should secure at least one out of the 11 available Council seats. They believe that having a party MLC from Pune is necessary for political leverage and negotiating power during seat-sharing talks with other parties". When asked about the potential candidate from Pune if the seat is allotted, Deepak Mankar said, "I have been in politics for long time. Also, I have good contacts across the state, so, if the opportunity is given, I will take the responsibility to be the Member of Legislative Council, but final decision lies with our top leadership to decide candidate for the MLC post ". While the final decision rests with Ajit Pawar, the party is prepared to accept whatever outcome and continue working towards its goals in the upcoming elections. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), elections on 11 seats of Maharashtra Legislative Council will be held on July 12, as the six-year tenure of the MLCs will end on July 27. The quota to elect one MLC is votes of 23 MLAs. The nomination process has started and the last date to file nominations is July 2. The deadline for withdrawal of the same is July 5. (ANI) According to Circle Inspector B. Venkata Rao at Vizianagaram One Town Police Station, the accused, identified as Devashi Vajiram, has been arrested and remanded into custody. The police are trying to nab the other accused, who are absconding. The Circle Inspector has assured that efforts are being made to arrest the remaining accused soon. More details on the matter are awaited. (ANI) Following the paper leak controversy around the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical undergraduates and cancellation of UGC-NET due to "lack of integrity", Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Friday gave a suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss cases of paper leaks in the conduct of exams, including NEET-UG and UGC-NET. 'I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for 28 June 2024: "That this House do suspend all listed business of the day to discuss the unprecedented cases of paper leaks in conduct of exams, including NEET-UG and UGC NET and the failure of National Testing Agency (NTA)," wrote the Congress MP. Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Examination. The CM urged the PM to abolish NEET and restore the previous system of conducting this exam by state governments. "I am constrained to write to you regarding the recent developments involving the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Examination. The allegations of paper leaks, taking bribes by certain people and the officials involved in the conduct of the examinations, the opening of windows to accommodate certain students to apply for examinations, grace marks, etc. are some of the serious issues that need complete attention and require a thorough, clean and impartial probe. Such instances jeopardise the careers and aspirations of lakhs and lakhs of students who look forward to getting admission into these medical courses," the CM wrote. "Such instances not only compromise the quality of medical education in the country but adversely affect the quality of medical facilities and treatment in the country. In this regard, this is also to point out that before 2017, the states were allowed to conduct their entrance examinations, and the central government also used to conduct its examinations for admission into medical courses. This system was functioning smoothly and without many problems. This was better attuned to the regional curricula and educational standards. The state government usually spends more than Rs. 50 lakh per doctor on education and internships. Therefore, the state should be given the freedom to select medical students through the Joint Entrance Examination," she wrote further. The Chief Minister, in her letter, highlighted that the decentralised system was later changed to a unitary and centralised system of examination (NEET) to take complete control of all the admissions in the country in the medical courses without any involvement of the state governments. Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also called for the scrapping of the NEET examinations. Meanwhile, amid the row over the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) Following the paper leak controversy around the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical undergraduates and the cancellation of UGC-NET due to "lack of integrity," the opposition has been raising demands to discuss the issue of paper leaks in Parliament. Congress MP KC Venugopal on Friday submitted an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the unprecedented cases of paper leaks in the conduct of exams, including NEET-UG and UGC NET, and the failure of NTA. Aam Admi Party leader Sanjay Singh has given a notice under Rule 267 to discuss the NEET issue in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Friday gave a suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to discuss cases of paper leaks in the conduct of exams, including NEET-UG and UGC-NET. 'I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for 28 June 2024: "That this House do suspend all listed business of the day to discuss the unprecedented cases of paper leaks in conduct of exams, including NEET-UG and UGC NET and the failure of National Testing Agency (NTA)," wrote the Congress MP. Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Examination. The CM urged the PM to abolish NEET and restore the previous system of conducting this exam by state governments. "I am constrained to write to you regarding the recent developments involving the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Examination. The allegations of paper leaks, taking bribes by certain people and the officials involved in the conduct of the examinations, the opening of windows to accommodate certain students to apply for examinations, grace marks, etc. are some of the serious issues that need complete attention and require a thorough, clean and impartial probe. Such instances jeopardise the careers and aspirations of lakhs and lakhs of students who look forward to getting admission into these medical courses," the CM wrote. "Such instances not only compromise the quality of medical education in the country but adversely affect the quality of medical facilities and treatment in the country. In this regard, this is also to point out that before 2017, the states were allowed to conduct their entrance examinations, and the central government also used to conduct its examinations for admission into medical courses. This system was functioning smoothly and without many problems. This was better attuned to the regional curricula and educational standards. The state government usually spends more than Rs. 50 lakh per doctor on education and internships. Therefore, the state should be given the freedom to select medical students through the Joint Entrance Examination," she wrote further. The Chief Minister, in her letter, highlighted that the decentralised system was later changed to a unitary and centralised system of examination (NEET) to take complete control of all the admissions in the country in the medical courses without any involvement of the state governments. The Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also called for the scrapping of the NEET examinations. Meanwhile, amid the row over the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held "Corruption" and "criminal negligence" responsible for the Delhi Airport canopy collapse incident at Terminal 1 on Friday morning and also listed several incidents from past "exposing" Prime Minister's claims of creating "World Class Infrastructure". Kharge also alleged that the portion that has collapsed was inaugurated by the PM on March 10. Hours after the incident, which left one dead and several injured, Kharge wrote in a post on X, "Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt." "Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram Mandir leakage, Cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, 13 new bridges falling in Bihar in 2023 & 2024, Pragati Maidan Tunnel submerging, Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat, ... are some stark instances which expose the tall claims by Modi ji and BJP of creating "World Class Infrastructure"! On March 10th, when Modi ji inaugurated the Delhi Airport T1, he called himself "Doosri mitti ka insaan... All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections! ," he added in the post. Paying condolences to victims, Kharge wrote, "Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt." Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also aligned her statement with the party president and highlighted the recent inauguration done by PM and alleged poor quality of work. "Delhi Airport Terminal-1, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March, today its roof collapsed in which a cab driver died tragically. The roof of Jabalpur Airport, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister three months ago, also collapsed. The whole country is saddened by the poor condition of construction work in Ayodhya," said Priyanka. Further, she also questioned the PM for taking responsibility and said, "This is the corrupt model of BJP of "take donations and give business" which has now been exposed. The question is whether the Prime Minister will take responsibility for these poor construction works and this corrupt model?" While debunking Congress's claim that the portion that collapsed was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 10, BJP leader Amit Malviya said the part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009, when Congress-led UPA was in power. "The part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009 when Congress-led UPA was in power. In those days there was no concept of quality check and contracts were given to whoever sent the biggest kickback to the ruling Congress. Sonia Gandhi, who was then the super PM, must answer." Earlier Civil Aviation Minister also clarified that the roof canopy that had collapsed was part of the old structure that was built in 2009. "We are taking this incident seriously...I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old building and was opened in 2009," he said. Notably, the incident occurred when Delhi-NCR was hit by a spell of heavy rains on Friday. (ANI) Following the paper leak controversy around the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical undergraduates and the cancellation of UGC-NET due to "lack of integrity," the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, demanded a discussion on NEET in Parliament, adding that the discussion must happen "respectfully." "Yesterday, all the leaders of the opposition parties had a meeting and it was unanimous that today, we want a discussion on the NEET issue. There should be a discussion on NEET here in the House. I request the Prime Minister that this is an issue of the youth and it should be discussed properly and it should be a respectful discussion. We will do it respectfully. You should also join the discussion, you should also participate because this is a matter for the youth. A message should go from the Parliament that the Indian government and the opposition are talking about the students together," Rahul Gandhi told ANI before entering the Parliament. Amidst uproar from the opposition benches, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon. LoP Rahul Gandhi raised the NEET issue and demanded, along with opposition MPs, that the matter be discussed. Speaker Om Birla insisted that the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address be taken up first. The LoP said, "We wanted to give a joint message to the students of India, on behalf of the Opposition and the Government - that we consider this an important issue. So, we thought that to respect students we will have discussion on NEET today, a dedicated discussion..." Meanwhile, Aam Admi Party MP Sandeep Pathak said, "What happened in NEET is very unfortunate. It has two sides to it - first, the paper leak, and second, the irregularities in marking and institutional fraud. Nabbing one individual will not be enough. NTA, Union Education Minister, and the PM are responsible for this." The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till noon after some members attempted to move to the well of the house. Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday criticized the Central government and Delhi Police for their response to the alleged vandalism at his residence. On the alleged attack at his residence on Friday, Assaduddin Owaisi said, "It has not happened for the first time. Things like this are happening because the Narendra Modi government and the PM himself have radicalised such people. When the PM himself says that Muslims are infiltrators and identify them by their attires, it gives courage to such people". "They put the flag of Israel on my home which shows these people believe in zionist ideology, an ideology that killed 40,000 people and left 12 lakh people homeless in Gaza," he added. Slamming the Police after the alleged attack at his residence, Owaisi said, "Regret is that my house is in front of the Delhi Police, despite if the police does not want to arrest them then what can we say? There are around 100 CCTV cameras in front of my house, what is something big happens someday." Earlier today, Owaisi claimed that some "unknown miscreants" vandalised his Delhi residence with black ink. The AIMIM MP shared this claim on his X handle and wrote, "Some "unknown miscreants" vandalised my house with black ink today. I have now lost count the number of times my Delhi residence has targeted." He further claimed that upon asking about the incident, the Delhi Police expressed their helplessness on this incident. "When I asked @DelhiPolice officials how this was happening right under their nose, they expressed helplessness," he said. The alleged attack on Owaisi comes amid the furore over his "Jai Palestine" slogan during his oath-taking as a Member of Lok Sabha.The five-time MP from Hyderabad concluded his oath with the words, "Jai Bhim, Jai Palestine, Jai Telangana, and Allahu Akbar."Meanwhile, Advocate Hari Shankar Jain wrote a complaint letter to President Droupadi Murmu, urging the disqualification of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi under Article 102(1)(d) of the Constitution of India. (ANI) The Lok Sabha on Friday was adjourned till July 1 amidst Opposition members seeking the acceptance of an adjournment motion to suspend all business and discuss matters related to National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Speaker Om Birla said that he could not allow it as the House was about to discuss the Motion of Thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's joint sitting to Parliament yesterday. With the Opposition not relenting, an uproar continued and the Speaker subsequently adjourned the House till Monday. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, earlier on Friday demanded a discussion on NEET in Parliament, adding that the discussion must happen "respectfully." "Yesterday, all the leaders of the opposition parties had a meeting and it was unanimous that today, we want a discussion on the NEET issue. There should be a discussion on NEET here in the House. I request the Prime Minister that this is an issue of the youth and it should be discussed properly and it should be a respectful discussion. We will do it respectfully. You should also join the discussion, you should also participate because this is a matter for the youth. A message should go from the Parliament that the Indian government and the opposition are talking about the students together," Rahul Gandhi told ANI before entering the Parliament. The LoP inside the Parliament said, "We wanted to give a joint message to the students of India, on behalf of the Opposition and the government, that we consider this an important issue. So, we thought that to respect students, we would have a discussion on NEET today, a dedicated discussion..." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "...On behalf of the government, we have made it clear that we will give detailed information on whatever issue is raised. We assure the members once again that the Government is always ready for discussion. But by halting the proceedings of the House, the tendency adopted by Congress party - of not letting the House function - is not right...I condemn this. I appeal that those should not happen again." Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) The opposition continued its strident pitch on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination with the Congress and other parties demanding a discussion on the floor of the house. With the government insisting on first completing the motion of thanks to the presidential address both houses were adjourned with the Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday, July 1, 11 AM. Taking potshots at Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said "On entering the Well of Rajya Sabha, Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge said, "It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha...There have been such big scams, the NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, and lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this.". The situation escalated further as opposition members stormed the well of the upper house, Expressing shock, Dhankar said, "Honourable Members, today has become so tainted in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition himself has come to the well. This has never happened before. I am pained, I am shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the well, the Deputy Leader will come to the well." No business was conducted in the lower house with the Opposition holding strong on its demand for a discussion on NEET. Newly elected MP Kangana Ranaut, commenting on the scene, criticized the opposition's conduct and said, "You saw their conduct there. Speaker too rebuked them...But it seems that they (Opposition) are not ready to listen to anyone. We are here for the first time and we too were flummoxed as to what has happened...It felt bad to see them not letting anyone speak. Forgetting the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address, they were acting arbitrarily...I don't think such conduct should be acceptable." Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed disappointment that there was no discussion in the parliament on the NEET issue. "There are two germane issues. The first is NEET where you have lakhs of students impacted as a result of the paper leak, and the second is those criminal laws which are to be implemented from 1st July 2024. So, an adjournment motion notice had been given on NEET by the INDIA Alliance partners. I had specifically given a notice concerning the criminal laws, that their implementation must be stopped. Unfortunately, this was not discussed," Manish Tewari said. (ANI) Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in the land scam case on Friday. His party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), is jubilant as Soren prepares to return home, with supporters eagerly anticipating his release. "There is a wave of happiness in Jharkhand. Many people are eager to see him, and we are expecting a huge crowd for his welcome," said Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Mahua Maji, celebrating the Jharkhand High Court''s decision to grant bail to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the land scam case, on Friday. Mahua Maji highlighted the resilience of the party, stating that current CM Champai Soren and Kalpana Soren managed the party well during Hemant Soren''s absence, maintaining high morale despite the challenges. Taking a swing at the NDA, Maji remarked that the "Abki Baar 400 Paar" slogan did not succeed in the recent Lok Sabha elections, implying that their attempts to keep Soren away have failed. She expressed confidence that Soren''s return would reinvigorate the party and bring renewed energy and hope to its supporters. Another JMM MLA Deepika Pandey Singh posted on X "Today, the Supreme Court shattered another dream of the Central Government to murder democracy. By granting bail to former Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren in the land scam case, the Jharkhand High Court has proved that no matter how loudly a lie is spoken, it has to bow before the truth." The bail for Soren also echoed among the INDIA bloc partners with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressing her happiness "Hemant Soren, an important tribal leader, and Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had to resign because of a case, but today he has received bail from the Hon''ble High Court. I am very happy with the great development and am sure that he will start his public activities immediately. Welcome back, Hemant, amidst us," she posted on X. Soren, arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January for his alleged involvement in a land scam and money laundering, is now set to return home. The ED accused Soren of forging official records to acquire large parcels of land worth crores and claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and related documents during their investigation. The arrest and subsequent judicial custody of Soren had led to widespread protests and rallies, with JMM urging supporters to maintain peace amidst fears of presidential rule in the state. Soren''s judicial custody had been extended multiple times, and his petition to attend the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly''s budget session was dismissed by the High Court in February. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accompanied by his wife, visited the temple atop Nilachal Hill and offered prayers to Goddess Kamakhya on Friday after the doors of the historic temple reopened following four days of Ambubachi Mela celebrations. The chief minister was seen offering prayers to the goddess with full rituals. The Kamakhya temple, located at a distance of 7 km from Guwahati, is one of the biggest Shakti shrines in the country. Speaking to mediapersons afterwards, Sarma said, "After the completion of Ambubachi Mela, I came to the temple of Ma Kamakhya today. I bowed down to her and prayed for the peace in the world, India and Assam." The main portal of the historic Kamakhya Temple reopened on Wednesday following the Nivritti performed by the priests of the temple on the last day of the Ambubachi Mela. The annual Ambubachi Mela began on June 22 and after Pravritti, the main door of the temple was closed until Nivritti. The head priest of Kamakhya Temple, Kabindra Prasad Sarma-Doloi, said that last year, around 25 lakh devotees visited the temple during the Ambubachi Mela. Situated on the Nilachal hills, this temple is an important pilgrimage centre for tantric worshippers and Hindus, as per the government of Assam website. Ambubachi Mela is one of the major festivals of this temple. The festival is held every year to commemorate the yearly menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya. Several other pujas are organised in this temple, including Durga Puja, Durgadeul and Madandeul. Some of the other pujas performed in this temple include Manasa Puja, Pohan Biya and Vasanti Puja. (ANI) The National Commission for Women on Friday took note of the alleged attack on a BJP woman worker in West Bengal and has demanded a detailed action report which is to be submitted to the Commission within three days. The Bhartiya Janata Party on Thursday alleged that a Muslim woman named Rosonara Khatun was stripped and beaten in West Bengal's Coochbehar for supporting their party. The incident took place at Ramthenga Market in the Mathabhanga Assembly of Coochbehar district, claimed BJP leader Amit Malviya. "Rosonara Khatun, a member of the BJP's Minority Morcha, was dragged by her hair and subjected to severe physical assault. This brutal incident has shocked the Muslim community. Since the announcement of the election results, she had been in a state of panic and avoided leaving her home. Currently, she is admitted to the hospital," BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote in a post on X. Expressing concern over the safety of women in West Bengal after the attack on the BJP worker, Malviya said, "There is a #Sandeshkhali in every village of Bengal. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Concerns over political violence and safety of women under Mamata Banerjee remains a huge concern". Condemning the incident, the National Commission for Women said that it has directed the police to invoke relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR. "The accused must be arrested promptly, and the victim provided free medical treatment. A fair, time-bound investigation is required, with a detailed action taken report to be submitted to the Commission within 3 days," the NCW wrote in a post on X, mentioning the Kolkata Police.The concern over the alleged attack on Women in West Bengal comes days after the Sandeshkhali violence. Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, had been in a political storm after villagers, mostly women, came out on the streets against the ruling TMC and its strongman Shahjahan, accusing him and his aides of "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion. He was later arrested. Both BJP and Trinamool Congress have been levelling charges against each other over Sandeshkhali. (ANI) China, Vietnam discuss strategic transport infrastructure cooperation Xinhua) 09:00, June 28, 2024 Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses a meeting held by China and Vietnam to discuss strategic transport infrastructure development and cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam held a meeting to discuss strategic transport infrastructure development and cooperation on Thursday in Beijing. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in an address that China is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached between the two parties' top leaders. China is ready to speed up the connectivity of transport infrastructure, promote bilateral economic and trade exchanges, and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Zhang said. Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh said at the meeting that Vietnam is willing to promote bilateral economic ties through transport connectivity, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and boost the two countries' development for the benefit of the two peoples. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Following the paper leak controversy around the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical undergraduates and the cancellation of UGC-NET due to "lack of integrity," Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the discussion must happen within tradition and decorum. "The government is ready for every kind of discussion, but everything should happen within tradition and decorum. When the President herself spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday, it showed the government's intention that we are ready to face any issue... The government's responsibility is towards the youth of the country, towards the students of the country... The government is ready to put forth its side, then what is the confusion? ... We are going to take the strictest action and the CBI is going to catch everyone, we will not spare anyone. A credible high-level committee has also been formed for reform, soon the date of all those exams will also be announced. I also request the opposition to come out of politics and join the discussion," said Dharmendra Pradhan. "We are not going to spare anyone. Those who were in charge of NTA have been removed and the responsibility has been given to senior officials. All this is proof of the government's commitment... I want to appeal to the opposition that they should not confuse the students..." he added. The opposition however is adamant on its demand to enforce a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Under Rule 267 we are demanding a special discussion on it in the House, and after that, we will state our demands." Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda said, "The future of the youth has been spoiled due to the continuous paper leaks in the country. The maximum number of paper leak cases have been seen in Haryana. The paper was leaked in the NEET exam and the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is running away from responsibility. We had brought up a discussion on this and when it was raised in the House, the mike was switched off. If the mike of the Leader of the Opposition is switched off, then there will be anger among other opposition MPs and the same happened in the House. We demand that this issue be discussed." Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) German businesses see India as a very "stable place" to invest, said the country's Ambassador Philipp Ackermann on Friday, while anticipating increased German investment in India after the India-EU Free Trade Agreement resolves tax and tariff "impediments". In an interview with ANI, Ackermann also informed about the possible visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in October this year, during which business relations and trade relations would be on the agenda. Ackerman noted that migration will also be a key item for discussion. Speaking on the sidelines of the release of the German India Business Outlook 2024 survey, Ackerman said, "The survey has given us an impression that German business in India is extremely bullish on India. The surveys found that almost 80% of German businesses want to expand their businesses, want to reinvest, build up more factories, and invest more in India." "The German businesses see enormous potential in the Indian market. It sees the very impressive growth rates of India. That makes them very happy. After elections again, they find it a very stable place to invest," the ambassador expressed. Philipp Ackermann termed the long-pending India-EU Free Trade Agreement a "game changer". He mentioned that no specific deadline has been set for signing the Free Trade Agreement, stating that "it will take some time." "There is no deadline because the FTA relationship is very complicated and it has to take time. We have now seen the ninth round, if I'm not mistaken, which just finished a day or two ago. We are in the process of negotiating the German government is very much behind this," he said "We feel that the FTA is very important for our business; it will be even more so if it is a game changer. So I'm very hopeful that at some stage we come to a conclusion, but don't ask me about the timeline. I think it will take some time," he added. When asked what impact the FTA will have on the Indo-German trade relationship, the envoy said that tariffs and taxes are one of the reasons German companies say might impede investment, and with an FTA, the tariff side will be solved. "For many German companies, an FTA will bring a clear solution and regulation on tariffs and trade and it would be a great gift for their business," he added. The proposed trade deal with the EU is one of the most complex FTAs being negotiated by India. There has been no breakthrough despite several rounds of talks. On June 17, 2022, the European Union relaunched negotiations with India for a Free Trade Agreement, and launched separate negotiations for an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). The mandator also gave details about the possible visit of German chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying the chancellor will travel to Delhi and parts of his cabinet, including the German ministers, will accompany him and sit down with their Indian counterparts to develop coming programmes and projects and the roadmap. "So we expect that to happen in the second half of October sometime. The dates have not been finalised yet. But it is a very, very good moment to sit down, compare notes, and say, Where is this apprenticeship going?" he added. "We will try to develop the future of this partnership during these consultations. Other items on the agenda are certainly business relations and trade relations, but also migration, which is a very interesting issue within and certainly does politics as usual," he said. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former DMK leader Jaffer Sadiq in a drug-related money laundering case. ED interrogated him in Tihar jail where he was lodged in an NDPS case. He was arrested on June 26 after interrogation. ED will seek his remand once he is produced in court. Earlier this month, the court had allowed ED to examine former DMK member Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail. Delhi's Patiala House court had once again granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail and record his statement under PMLA. The agency wanted to interrogate him about drug-related money laundering case. Special NDPS judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi on June 20 granted permission to ED to examine Jaffer Sadiq on June 25 and 26 and to record his statement under section 50 of PMLA. The court had directed the jail authorities to make necessary arrangements. The special public prosecutor (SPP) for ED N K Matta submitted that the ED officers may be allowed to examine the accused. They may be permitted to take the laptop and printer with them so that the recorded statements may be signed and data may be confronted to the accused persons as there is recovery of 50kg of Pseudoephedrine. It was also submitted the accused was examined on May 8 to 10 but the investigation could not be completed. Earlier on May 1, the court had also granted permission to ED to record statements of Jaffer Sadiq and four others in Tihar Jail. The Enforcement Directorate through Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta had moved an application praying for permission to examine and record statements of accused persons namely Jaffer Sadiq, Mukesh PU, Mujeepur Rahaman R, Ashok Kumar and SG Sadanandan (Sathanantham) u/s 50 PML Act, 2002 for 03 days i.e. from 08.05.2024 to 10.05.2024. Noting the submissions, Special Judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi had allowed ED to examine the accused persons and also granted liberty to ED officials to carry their laptops, printers and other required items for recording the statements of above said accused persons. ED had conducted raids at various sites in Tamil Nadu as part of an investigation into drug-related money laundering involving former DMK member Jaffer Sadiq and others. The move came a month after the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Sadiq, who was earlier arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for his alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking case. ED registered its case against Sadiq, a day after the NCB arrested him. As per official sources, the financial fraud probe agency registered the case against the former DMK functionary after the NCB found Sadiq's links with some "high profile" people. In its inquiry, the NCB found that Sadiq spearheaded the network that sourced pseudoephedrine in India and trafficked it to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia marked as food-grade cargo. Officials in NCB believe that the drug syndicate operated by Sadiq had sent 45 consignments over the three years to various countries, containing 3,500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine. (ANI) The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena today convened an emergency meeting of all the concerned agencies of the Delhi government including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFC), Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), National Disaster Management Control (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The meeting was conducted to review the situation arising in the city due to waterlogging, overflow of un-silted drains and the backflow of the clogged sewer lines in the wake of the pre-monsoons in the city. He also reviewed the preparedness and emergency response of the various departments to deal with the situation, considering that the monsoon season is still yet to fully settle. The LG took serious note of the lack of preparedness for the emergency response system in the eventuality of excessive rainfall and resultant water logging across the city. He further stated in the meeting that the desilting works had not been completed and the Flood Control order had not been issued. Additionally, he issued 11 directions for immediate action. Key directions included a 24x7 emergency control room to be established with the control room number to be issued to the public for reporting waterlogging incidents, utilization of mobile pumps, traffic police to issue regular advisories in case of water logging and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to be in regular touch with the counterparts in Haryana and upper parts of Himachal Pradesh to assess the rainfall levels and discharges from the Hathnikund barrage. Earlier today, people wadded through the waterlogged streets in several parts of the city and BJP councillor Ravinder Singh Negi was seen rowing an inflatable boat on the NH9 road as a symbolic protest against AAP. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the Safdarjung observatory in the city recorded 228mm of rainfall which ended at 8:30 a.m. today. According to statistics, this marks the second-highest 24-hour rainfall in June. The city had earlier recorded its highest rainfall which was 235.55 mm on June 28, 1936. (ANI) The body of a 10-year-old girl was found with her head brutally smashed in the Narela area of the national capital on Friday, police said. A PCR call received at the Narela Police Station at 12:29 AM reported a missing girl child from Sec-A6 Narela. Tragically, shortly after the call, the lifeless body of the girl was discovered in an abandoned nearby plot. She was found clothed, with her head brutally smashed. The police team secured the scene of crime. The crime team and FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) team also reached the crime scene. Photographs were taken by the crime team, and exhibits were collected by the FSL Rohini team for further analysis. According to the father of the deceased, his daughter had gone out to play after dinner at around 9:45 PM. When she did not return, the family began a frantic search, leading to the PCR call around 12:29 AM on June 28, 2024. He mentioned that some locals had seen their neighbour, Rahul, leading his daughter towards the plot where her body was later found. Based on the father's statement, a case has been registered under sections 363 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), and 376D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Two suspects, Rahul (20) and Devdutt (30), have been apprehended and are currently being interrogated. Rahul, who works in a rubber cylinder tube manufacturing factory, and Devdutt, employed at an umbrella factory in Narela, are both residents of the same locality. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to uncover the full details of this horrific crime (ANI) Punjab police have busted two separate cross-border drug smuggling cartels being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers, arrested three drug traffickers, and recovered a total of 9.2 kg heroin from their possession. Divulging details of the first operation, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that following reliable inputs, police teams from Chheharta Sahib apprehended two drug smugglers from area of Shiva Enclave in Rajasansi area and recovered 8.2 kg heroin from their possession, a press release by the police said. Those arrested have been identified as Bachitar Singh of village Jathaul in Amritsar and Sunny of Guru ki Wadali in Chheharta. Accused Bachitar Singh was proclaimed offender in a murder case at Gharinda police station in 2021. Apart from recovering 8.2 kg heroin, police teams have also recovered Rs 95,000 money and one electronic weighing machine, besides impounding their Swift car. FIR has been registered under sections 21-C and 23/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar, the press release added. In another case, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that acting on intel inputs, police teams from Ranjit Avenue laid a Nakabandi at Ranjit Avenue Bypass and arrested Amandeep Singh of village Ranian, Lopoke in Amritsar and recovered recovered 1 kg heroin from his possession. Police teams have also impounded his Volkswagen Vento car, in which he was travelling, he added. In this regard, a case FIR has been registered under section 21-C of the NDPS Act at Ranjit Avenue police station in Amritsar. Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that as per preliminary investigations, the accused persons were directly in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers, who were supplying drugs across the state after smuggling from Pakistan via Drones. He said that further investigations are being conducted to probe the backward and forward linkages in both cases to unearth the whole network of drug suppliers, dealers, and their buyers. "Efforts are being made to ascertain the total amount of narcotics procured by the arrested accused persons till date," Dhillon said. (ANI) National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate and MP from Kota, Om Birla, was re-elected as the Speaker of Lok Sabha on June 26, Wednesday, for the second consecutive term. The motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was adopted by the house through a voice vote. The house echoed with 'Ayes' and 'Noes' and the pro-tem speaker, Bhartruhari Mahtab, declared Om Birla as the Speaker of the lower house. The opposition, which had filed K Suresh as the speaker candidate of the INDIA bloc did not press for a division vote. After the INDIA bloc fielded K Suresh as its candidate, the appointment of a speaker became interesting as the election was held for the first time in decades. Traditionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected through consensus between the ruling party and the opposition. The contest between the BJP's Om Birla, a three-time MP from Kota in Rajasthan, and Kodikunnil Suresh, an eight-term parliamentarian from Kerala's Mavelikara, came after the NDA refused to accept the opposition INDIA bloc's demand that the Deputy Speaker's position be left for the Opposition in exchange for its support to the NDA nominee. The NDA, which commands 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, was able to demonstrate its clear majority to ensure that Om Birla returns to the chair he held in the 17th Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 and will conclude on July 3. The 264th session of Rajya Sabha will commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3. On June 27, President Murmu is scheduled to address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament. (ANI) Senior advocate and DMK MP P Wilson met with Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday at Parliament seeking to reconsider the need for enacting the three new criminal laws. The three new criminal laws namely, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 are scheduled to come into effect from July 1. These new laws aim to replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. In a post on X, Wilson said that he expressed the concerns of stakeholders, including the lawyers, advocates associations, and various State Bar Councils about the "unrest caused by these acts." "Additionally, I informed him about the protests seeking to scrap the three enactments," the DMK MP said in the post. Wilson further said that the Law Minister assured to look into the representation. While urging to reconsider the necessity of enacting these acts, Wilson said that there are no substantial changes claiming that it is "old wine in a new bottle." On June 26, the Bar Council of India (BCI) requested all Bar Associations to refrain from any form of agitation or protest at this juncture and assured that it will initiate discussions with the Union Government, represented by the Union Home Minister and the Law Minister, to convey the concerns of the legal fraternity. BCI through media statement stated that the numerous representations received from Bar Associations and State Bar Councils across the nation, expressing strong protests against the newly introduced criminal laws i.e. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA). It stated that, these Bar Associations have signalled their intent to engage in indefinite agitations and protests unless these laws are suspended and subjected to thorough nationwide discussions, including a comprehensive review by Parliament. Concerns have been raised that several provisions of these new laws are perceived to be anti-people, more draconian than the colonial-era laws they intend to replace, and pose a serious threat to the fundamental rights of citizens. Notable legal luminaries such as Kapil Sibal (President, SCBA and Member of Parliament), Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mukul Rohatgi, Vivek Tankha, P. Wilson (Senior Advocates and Members of Parliament), Dushyant Dave (Senior Advocate and former President, SCBA), Indira Jaising (Senior Advocate), along with a large number of Senior Advocates and other Advocates from several High Courts and Trial Courts, have voiced strong opposition to these laws. Several Bar Associations have also called for a fresh examination of the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P)A), apart from having a relook at the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA),asserting that these laws contravene the principles of fundamental rights and natural justice, said BCI. The BCI has requested all Bar Associations to refrain from any form of agitation or protest at this juncture. BCI Chairman and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra said that the council will initiate discussions with the Union Government, represented by the Union Home Minister and the Law Minister, to convey the concerns of the legal fraternity. The BCI will also seek the intervention of the Union Minister for Environment, Bhupendra Yadav, who is an advocate, to mediate in this matter. Additionally, the BCI requests all Bar Associations and senior advocates to submit specific provisions of the new laws they deem unconstitutional or detrimental, to facilitate a productive dialogue with the government. (ANI) Slamming the Mahayuti coalition government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said the state budget is only for "upcoming elections" and is "all jumla." Mahayuti comprises the BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the state budget in the Assembly during the ongoing Monsoon Session and announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin,' a scheme under which all women between 21 and 60 years old will be given Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behna Yojana of the BJP government. Speaking at a press conference, Thackeray said, "You got today the Ladki Bahin scheme but you also think about our boys. Many youths are unemployed today in the state, there are no schemes for the growth of the state or employment." Targeting the government, he said, "This budget is only for upcoming elections. Where is 'ache din', it is all jumla..." However, Thackeray welcomed the decisions taken for farmers in the budget. He said, "They gave relief on electricity bills to farmers. We welcome that." While presenting the budget, Ajit Pawar said, "We are announcing Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1,500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024." Further, Ajit Pawar announced, "We will provide Rs 5,000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra...We will also give a 5 rupee per litre bonus to milk-producing farmers. Govt has increased the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks, now the next of kin will get Rs 25 lakh instead of Rs 20 lakh earlier." Under CM Anna Chhatra Yojana of the Maharashtra government, Pawar said, "We will give three free cylinders every year to all households." The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Thursday (June 28) and will go on till July 12. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls, which will be in the next four months. (ANI) The family members paid floral tributes to the veteran at PV Gyan Bhoomi PV Ghat in Hyderabad. Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao was posthumously conferred with the country's highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, by President Droupadi Murmu on March 30. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in February that Narasimha Rao will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. In a line-up post on X, PM Modi said that, as a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao served India extensively in various capacities. "Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna. As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country's prosperity and growth," the PM said in a post earlier. "Narasimha Rao Garu's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India's foreign policy, language and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage," he added. Born on June 28, 1921, in Karimnagar, Telangana, as an agriculturist and an advocate, Narasimha Rao joined politics and held some important portfolios. He was the Minister of Law and Information, 1962-64; Law and Endowments, 1964-67; Health and Medicine, 1967 and Education, 1968-71, Government of Andhra Pradesh. He was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1971-73 and General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from 1975-76. Since assuming office in 2014, the Modi government has announced Bharat Ratna for Lal Krishna Advani, Karpoori Thakur, Madan Mohan Malviya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika, and Nanaji Deshmukh. (ANI) Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Opposition is demanding a special discussion on the NEET examination issue in the House. "Under Rule 267, we are demanding a special discussion on it in the House, and after that, we will state our demands," Kharge said, speaking to reporters on Friday. Earlier in the day, Kharge stirred a row by walking into the well of the House with other MPs to attract the "attention" of the Chairman while demanding a discussion on the NEET issue. Speaking to ANI on entering the well of the House, the Rajya Sabha LoP said, "It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha..." On the importance of having a discussion on the NEET row, Kharge said, "There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this." The opposition continued its strident pitch on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination on Friday with the Congress and other parties demanding a discussion on the floor of the House. With the government insisting on first completing the motion of thanks to the presidential address both Houses were adjourned with the Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday, July 1, 11 AM. Expressing shock at Kharge entering the well of the House, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said, "Honourable Members, today has become so tainted in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition himself has come to the well. This has never happened before. I am pained, I am shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the well, the Deputy Leader will come to the well." No business was conducted in the lower House with the Opposition holding strong on its demand for a discussion on NEET. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday expressed his displeasure with the Deputy Commissioner of Nalbari for arranging an elaborate food spread during a recent cabinet meeting on June 27 despite clear instructions for a simple vegetarian meal. "In spite of repeated instructions from this office to arrange a simple vegetarian meal during the cabinet meeting held on 27/06/2024 at Nalbari, you have not followed the instruction accordingly. Rather, elaborate arrangements were made for serving the lunch with too many items. I express my extreme displeasure for such action in your part. Henceforth, such instruction should be carried out scrupulously," Assam CM stated in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday. Cabinet meetings in Assam are held in different locations by rotation. (ANI) As several areas of the national capital got waterlogged owing to heavy rains in the early hours of Friday, Delhi Minister Atishi said that several key decisions have been taken to fight waterlogging. Atishi said that a combined Emergency Control Room of all water-related departments like Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Irrigation and Flood Control Department will be formed, which will monitor waterlogging 24 hours a day and take action. The Minister also said that all departments will inspect their Static and Mobile Water Pumps by tonight and ensure that all pumps are ready to pump out water. Every department will form Quick Response Teams, which will be deployed to remove waterlogging at the ground level, she said. Recyclers will be installed in every zone of Delhi Jal Board so that if stormwater drains get filled with water and silt, they can be cleaned. Workers will also be deployed as per the requirement for this, the Minister said. "For the first time since 1936, Delhi has received 228 mm of rain in 24 hours, i.e. 25pc of the total monsoon rainfall (800 mm) in Delhi has occurred in just 24 hours. Due to this, drains have overflowed in many areas, and it took time to drain out the rainwater," Atishi said in a post on 'X'. Following the emergency meeting, Delhi Minister Atishi said in a press conference, "We conducted an emergency meeting regarding the waterlogging issue due to the heavy rainfall. It was chaired by 4 ministers of the Delhi government... It was attended by all the senior officials of the Delhi government. We made several important decisions for the upcoming days." Atishi said that the Delhi government has identified 200 hotspts which are prone to waterlogging. She said that the reason behind waterlogging is excessive rainfall which is more than the capacity of drains. "We have identified around 200 hotspots till the last rain. Out of these, 40 hotspots are under CCTV surveillance by PWD... You have to understand that if Delhi receives rainfall of 228 mm, then it will take time to decrease the water level... Right now, Delhi has received more rainfall than the capacity of the drains. That's why we are witnessing waterlogging at several places...," she said. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that several decisions were taken in the meeting to tackle water logging in the national capital. "The Traffic Police and area representatives have been told to identify the vulnerable areas for waterlogging and make a list of it. The Chief Secretaries have been told to review the list of all the departments... There are a lot of areas that witness waterlogging.It will be constantly monitored," Bharadwaj said. (ANI) The Indian Army has already announced the start of the second phase of the recruitment process for Agniveer Jawans. The recruitment rally will be held in nine districts of Upper Assam namely Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia, at Jaswant Singh Stadium, Missamari Cantonment, Tezpur, Assam. This recruitment process marks a significant milestone in transforming the efforts undertaken by the Indian Army to meet its needs and has been a seamless and efficient selection process in recruiting interested candidates. As the recruitment rally is true, fair, and transparent, the Army urges no candidate to approach any middlemen. As part of the new recruitment system, an online entrance examination was conducted across the country in the first phase in April-May 2024. The results of the shortlisted candidates have already been uploaded on the official website of the Indian Army, www.joinindianarmy.nic.in. Shortlisted candidates can download the admit card from the departmental website to participate in the process. Admit Cards for the rally can be downloaded from the official website of the Indian Army. The Agnipath Scheme in the Indian Armed Forces is a scheme where selected candidates will be enrolled as Agniveers for a four-year period. Based on organisational requirements and policies promulgated by the Armed Forces, Agniveers, after completing their engagement period will be offered an opportunity to apply for enrolment in the permanent cadre. Of these upto 25 per cent of Agniveers will be selected to be enrolled in the Armed Forces as a regular cadre. (ANI) West Bengal's Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday wrote a letter to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), the National Commission for Women (NCW), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and urged the Commission to send a team to West Bengal to investigate alleged post-poll violence in the state. Incidents of post-poll violence poured in from several pockets of West Bengal where BJP workers were allegedly beaten and their offices were vandalised, after the declaration of Lok Sabha 2024 results. "One Hossainara Begum, Vice President, BJP Minority Morcha, daughter of Bajle Rahaman of Vill. Rangamati, P.O. Ramthenga, P.S. Ghoksadanga, Dist. Cooch Behar has been brutally attacked, she was dragged by her hair and subjected to severe physical assault and open her dress in broad daylight by TMC goons on 25th June, 2024. She has been admitted to the hospital, and her condition is alarming," Adhikari stated in all three letters written to NCM, NCW, and NHRC. "This is one of another example of post poll violence in West Bengal where minority ladies are also not getting off physical assault from the ruling TMC hooligans. This brutal incident has shocked the Muslim community," he added. He further requested that to send the investigation team to the spot and inquire into the matter. "I request you kindly to send your investigation team to the spot and enquire into the matter. I am sending the copy of complaint and photograph along with video footage of the victim for your necessary action," he stated in a letter. Earlier on Thursday, Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the Calcutta High Court decision to give the Central Government full discretion to deploy Central Armed Paramilitary Forces in West Bengal to save the victims of post-poll violence and termed the decision "historic." "One more failure of the State machinery has come to the forefront. The Hon'ble High Court at Calcutta in a Public Interest Litigation filed by me to save the victims from post-poll violence, has essentially conferred the entire discretion of deploying Central Armed Paramilitary Forces in West Bengal to the Central Government. I welcome this historic decision of the Court, which will save a lot of lives in this failed State of West Bengal," Suvendu Adhikari said in a post on X. On June 13, West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, was stopped by the police from entering the Raj Bhavan to meet West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose with alleged victims of post-poll violence. Earlier this month, West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari had written to Governor CV Ananda Bose, raising concerns about the All India Trinamool Congress' alleged role in post-poll violence, urging him to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the situation after elections in 2024. In the letter, Adhikari alleged that the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces, stationed after the polls, are not being utilised to control the worsening situation where the ruling party's goons are targeting BJP workers. Meanwhile, local BJP workers alleged that the BJP party office located at Goragacha, Taratala was demolished without any notice from the local administration. (ANI) Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to discuss extensive preparations by the railways for the Rath Yatra in Puri. Vaishnaw said that 315 special trains will run this year, which will be much higher than last year. Along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida were also present in the meeting. "Today I have discussed about the arrangements made by Railways for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri with Odisha Chief Minister and two deputy CMs. This year 315 special trains will run which is much higher than last year. The trains will cover almost all areas of Odisha. Besides the railway, we will make arrangements for the accommodation of more than 15,000 people at Puri," Vaishnaw said. Discussions regarding development and employment in the IT sector were also held between the ministers. "During the visit to Delhi, met the Union Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. During the Modi government, the railway infrastructure in Odisha has undergone significant changes. I discussed in detail for a better system of railways in the state. Along with this, it was also discussed how to create employment opportunities in the state with development in IT sector," Majhi wrote in a post on X. This year the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is scheduled on July 7. The Ratha Jatra or the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The festival encompasses the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt Goddess Gundicha Devi's Temple and culminates with the return journey after eight days. In reality, the festival stretches from the day of AkhayaTrutiya (in April) and culminates with the return journey of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises. Apart from numerous Indian cities, the festival is observed with great fanfare right from New Zealand to South Africa and New York to London.(ANI) The weather department issued an orange alert, predicting heavy rainfall in six districts of Himachal Pradesh from June 29-30. Monsoon set foot in the hill state late on Thursday evening. After the advancement of monsoon in the state, the Indian Metrology Department issued heavy rainfall in the state during the next 48 hours. An orange alert has been issued for Shimla, Solan, Kangra, Chamba, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts on June 29-30. "During the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded. Jubbarhatti recorded 136 mm of rainfall, while Shimla recorded 88 mm of rainfall and two more districts received light to moderate rainfall," said the weather department. "Monsoon arrived in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday and heavy rainfall is likely for the next two days. We have issued an orange alert for six districts of the state on June 29-30," said Harminder Dutta, Weather Scientist, IMD HP. "The six districts include Shimla, Solan, Kangra, Chamba, Sirmaur and Mandi. The monsoon is late by 3 to four days. We consider it normal and it is going to be a normal monsoon this year," said Harminder Dutta, a weather scientist at IMD HP. Richa Gupta, a tourist from Delhi, spoke on the weather conditions in the hill state and said, "It had gotten very hot in Delhi. This was an escape from that heat. It is lovely weather here and we are enjoying ourselves. I have come here with my friends and the weather has made it more beautiful." Earlier last month, IMD forecast the advancement of the monsoon across the state between June 26th and July 1st. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, the senior scientist at IMD HP, said, "Between the dates of June 28 and July 1, the plain areas of Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur, and the Midhills area of the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Solan Shimla, Sirmaur, Kullu and Mandi, and the higher reaches of Kinnaur mist of the places will get rainfall and there is the possibility of rainfall in these areas." "The monsoon will be normal and more than normal this year in the state," Sharma added. (ANI) Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that a veteran politician like Mallikarjun Kharge was ignored and not allowed to speak and hence he was forced to enter the well of the House. "Such a senior leader was not allowed to speak today. On behalf of the Opposition and the INDIA bloc, Kharge was demanding that the discussion of paper leaks and NEET be taken up first. He kept raising his hand to demand a discussion but his attempts were ignored and in the end, Kharge had to enter the well of the House," Ramesh said, speaking in an exclusive conversation with ANI. In response to allegations from the ruling party that Kharge's action is a blot on India's parliamentary history, Ramesh said that the chairman not allowing a senior politician like Kharge speak on such an important issue is actually the "blot". "Today, Kharge kept requesting the Rajya Sabha Chairman to allow him to speak, but he kept ignoring Kharge. This is the blot," Ramesh said. Rubbishing claims by the Bharatiya Janata Party that Kharge is the only Leader of Opposition to enter the Well in the Upper House, the senior Congress leader said that earlier, when Ghulam Nabi Azad was in the Congress party, he sat on the steps leading to the chairman's podium, which is also part of the Well in protest against the abrogation of Article 370. "Today it is being said that never before has an LoP entered the Well. Yesterday's rival has become today's partner. On August 5, 2019, when the Bill on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was brought, at that time, the then LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad had entered the Well in protest. Why do I know this? Because I was sitting beside him," Ramesh said. The Congress General Secretary said that if the Chairman had allowed them, the discussion would have lasted for only a few hours which would have been wrapped up by the Education Minister's statement. "It would have been a 4-5 hour debate, the Education minister would have given a statement and that would be it," Ramesh said. The senior Congress leader said that even after suffering losses in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not learnt his lesson and is still engaging in confrontational politics. "The Prime Minister gives big statements. He is a Prime Minister who speaks about building consensus but in action he engages in confrontation...He has not been able to understand the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He has suffered a political loss, ideological loss, personal loss. But he is running away from it. He is again engaging in confrontational politics and he is the same," Ramesh said. Earlier in the day, Kharge stirred a row by walking into the well of the House with other MPs to attract the "attention" of the Chairman while demanding a discussion on the NEET issue. Speaking to ANI on entering the well of the House, the Rajya Sabha LoP said, "It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha..." On the importance of having a discussion on the NEET row, Kharge said, "There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this." The opposition continued its strident pitch on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination on Friday with the Congress and other parties demanding a discussion on the floor of the House.With the government insisting on first completing the motion of thanks to the presidential address both Houses were adjourned with the Lok Sabha adjourned till Monday, July 1, 11 AM. Expressing shock at Kharge entering the well of the House, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said, "Honourable Members, today has become so tainted in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition himself has come to the well. This has never happened before. I am pained, I am shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the well, the Deputy Leader will come to the well." No business was conducted in the lower House with the Opposition holding strong on its demand for a discussion on NEET. (ANI) Congress party's Rajya Sabha MP, Phulo Devi Netam, was taken away in an ambulance from Parliament after she felt dizzy and fell while protesting in the well of the House over the NEET issue on Friday. She was admitted to the RML Hospital after she felt dizzy and fell. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reached RML Hospital to meet the Congress party's Rajya Sabha MP Phulo Devi Netam. While speaking to ANI Congress, Rajya Sabha MP Phulo Devi Netam said, "I fell after feeling dizzy. My BP was high. Now I am fine." Lok Sabha was adjourned till July 1 over ruckus in the House amid the Opposition's demand for discussion on the NEET issue. After the Lok Sabha got adjourned till July 1 and no discussion could be done on the issue of NEET on Friday, BJP MP-actor Kangana Ranaut lashed out at the leaders in the opposition and said that their conduct was not appropriate. "You saw their conduct there. Speaker too rebuked them...But it seems that they (the opposition) are not ready to listen to anyone. We are here for the first time and are flummoxed about what has happened...It didn't feel good to see them not letting anyone speak. Forgetting the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, they were acting arbitrarily...I don't think such conduct should be acceptable," said Kangana told ANI. Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 out of 720 marks, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud came up with the suggestion that the practice of ceasing judicial work for the rest of the day may be done away with when any member of the Bar passes away. The Chief Justice was speaking at the bicentennial celebrations of the Bar Library at Calcutta High Court. "...I would request a re-think on the part of all of you. Should we be ceasing work because a member of the Bar has passed away. Of course, we respect our friends, our colleagues, and our seniors; sometimes, unfortunately, they are our peers who have passed away untimely. Do we need to affect the wider society at large?" the Chief Justice said. "So much time is lost in courts. When I was appointed as the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, I realised that when references are conducted for deceased members of the Bar, the court would rise for the day after the reference was over. The Bar would insist that after the reference was over there would be no further judicial work," the Chief Justice said. Sharing a snippet from his personal life, CJI Chandrachud said that when his father, Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud who served as the 16th Chief Justice of India passed away, he suggested that the reference may be conducted around half an hour before the closing time of the court. "When my father passed away I was a young judge at the Bombay High Court and the Bar came to the Chief Justice and said, 'Chief Justice, a distinguished former member of the bar who became Chief Justice of India has passed away and we would like the work to be closed at the end of the reference'. The Chief Justice wisely said, 'His son happens to be a member of our fraternity. Why don't your go over to the Chamber of my brother Dhananjay and ask what he would like to do.' I had a suggestion and said, 'Why don't you begin the reference half an hour before the closing time of the court. The reference would probably get over around the closing time of the court, at which time the Chief Justice may then say that the remaining part of the judicial work of the court would remain suspended, which means that the court went on for pretty much the whole day'," the Chief Justice said. (ANI) Union Minister and West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar has constituted a seven-member team to investigate the alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar. The seven-member team includes BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, MLA Sikha Chatterjee, Phalguni Patra, Shashi Agnihotri, MLA Malati Rava Roy, Mafuja Khatun and MP Jayanta Roy. Meanwhile, West Bengal Police on Friday informed that a case has been registered and three accused have been arrested in connection with the alleged incident of assault on a minority woman in Cooch Behar. https://x.com/WBPolice/status/1806555412004811196 The police also said that false rumours are being spread regarding an incident involving a Muslim woman in Coochbehar and urge everyone to refrain from spreading false information and to verify facts before believing or sharing any news. "It has come to our attention that false rumours are being spread regarding an incident involving a Muslim woman in Coochbehar, West Bengal. It is being falsely reported that the woman was stripped and beaten for supporting a political party. This misinformation is being used to give communal and political," Cooch Behar Police said in a statement. "We urge everyone to refrain from spreading false information and to verify facts before believing or sharing any news. The incident is a family matter and should not be given any communal or political colour," they added in the statement. On the same day, the BJP's fact-finding team, which investigated the alleged post-poll violence during the Bengal elections, submitted its report to BJP President JP Nadda, on Friday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fact-finding committee was formed to investigate post-poll violence in West Bengal after multiple reports of violence against BJP workers and vandalism of their offices emerged following the declaration of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. After submitting the fact-finding report to JP Nadda, BJP MP and member of the fact-finding team of post-poll violence in West Bengal, Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday alleged that 'Taliban Raj' has been established in West Bengal. He also alleged that there is a complete violation of women's rights in West Bengal and added that the police are not doing anything. "'Taliban Raj' has been established in West Bengal...The police are not doing anything...Even the media is not allowed to enter villages...The leaders of the opposition alliance are not saying anything about the atrocity...There is complete violation of women's rights in West Bengal," Prasad said. Incidents of post-poll violence poured in from several areas of West Bengal, where BJP workers were allegedly beaten and their offices were vandalised, after the declaration of Lok Sabha 2024 results. (ANI) Congress leader and AICC General Secretary-in charge of Chhattisgarh Sachin Pilot on the Fact Finding Committee said that after discussion with leaders and workers on how to strengthen the party, a report will be submitted to AICC. Having suffered a whitewash in a few states and poor performance in some others in the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on June 19 formed fact-finding committees for seven states apart from the union territory of Delhi to assess the reasons and take remedial steps. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge constituted fact-finding committees. for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. Addressing a press conference in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Friday, Pilot said, "After discussing with the leaders and workers here about what we can do to strengthen the Congress in Chhattisgarh in the future, we will report to the AICC." Speaking more on the committee, Pilot said, "In future, after discussing in detail with the leaders and decision-makers on how we can strengthen the organisation and Congress, we will submit our report to AICC, and accordingly, action will be taken." Talking about the Lok Sabha election results in the state, Pilot said, "In Chattisgarh, there has been no decrease in the vote bank of Congress. In fact, the vote share of Congress has also increased, we received 5-6 lakh votes as compared to the last time. The reality is that we emerged victorious on one out of 11 seats and on the other seats, we lost by very less margin." Notably, the Congress in Chhattisgarh emerged victorious from the Korba seat where Jyotsna Charandas Mahant defeated BJP's Saroj Pandey with a margin of 43,283 votes The Congress leader also spoke about Rahul Gandhi becoming leader of opposition (LoP) and said, "After Rahul Gandhi becoming LoP, youth and Congress workers have gained strength. We will not only keep a watch on the major issues in the nation but will also form a strong, impartial and strong opposition to hold the government accountable." Congress improved its performance over the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and won 99 parliament seats in this year's general elections. The INDIA bloc, of which Congress is a part, won 234 seats while the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone of 10 MW solar power project at Aghlor in Kutlehar Assembly Constituency of Una district on Friday. To be constructed in an area of 19 hectares, this project would be completed within three months and would generate 22.73 million unit power every year, thereby generating rupees eight crore as income to the state coffers. This project will also help in reducing 791 tonnes of carbon emissions. The Chief Minister said that this was the second solar power project in Una district after 32 MW Pekhubela projects which was completed within a record time of six months and would generate income of Rs 20 crore. He said that despite being a power plus state, Himachal Pradesh purchases electricity from open market between the months from October to March by spending around Rs. 1500 crore, as the power production in the hydro electric projects minimizes during winters due to receding water level in rivers. Sukhu said the state government has signed an agreement with the Oil India Company for production green hydrogen and emphasis was being laid on harnessing solar energy. The government was also encouraging harnessing solar power in the private sector as well and the target had been fixed to harness 200 MW solar energy in one year. He said that the state was getting only 12 percent royalty in hydro power projects which was not sufficient. Although SJVNL wanted to install solar power project at Aghlor but the state government decided to commission it at its own. The government was resolute to manage finances for various developmental projects and make them self-reliant, said the Chief Minister. He said that the previous BJP government under the Chief Ministership of Jai Ram Thakur plundered the resources of the state while the present government was striving hard to safeguard it. Remarkable decisions had been taken up during the last one and half a year for welfare of the people and these steps had also resulted in earning an additional income of Rs. 2200 crore. The state government had restored OPS to its employees and the women were being provided Rs. 1500 per month. He added that Rs. 18,000 would be provided per annum to women under Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. The Chief Minister said that the BJP conspired to destabilize the elected government in the state but people of the state have rejected the politics of horse-trading. Sukhu said that people were asking independent MLA's why they submitted their resignation when they were not feeling comfortable with the Congress government. He added that the people of the state would again teach them a lesson in the bye-election. He thanked the people of the area for their whole hearted support to the Congress candidate Vivek Sharma in Kutlehar bypsoll. MLA Vivek Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for the foundation stone of 10 MW solar power project in Kutlehar Assembly Constituency. (ANI) Mandal presidents, Mandal general secretaries, district officials of all fronts, district councillors, city councillors, and block committee members will attend the meeting, sources said. Prominent leaders of the state, including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former Chief Minister and Union Minister for Power and Urban Development Manohar Lal, BJP's election in-charge and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, co-in-charge Biplab Deb, Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar, National Secretary Omprakash Dhankhar, member of the Central Parliamentary Board Dr Sudha Yadav, MLAs, MPs, and other ministers will also be part of this meeting. They will deliberate on the strategic plans for the upcoming assembly elections, sources said. Earlier this week, Congress leader Deepak Babaria said that Congress will go it alone in the Haryana Assembly polls. "Congress will go it alone in the Assembly polls, that is the understanding which we have today," Babaria told ANI. His comments come after Congress on Wednesday held a meeting with its Haryana unit in the national capital. The assembly polls in Haryana are due in October this year. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP secured 40 seats, while Congress emerged victorious on 31 seats. The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) had won 10 seats. Ahead of the polls, the Congress in the state faced a big jolt as prominent Haryana leaders, Kiran Choudhry and her daughter Shruti Choudhry, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI) Pune Police has arrested three more accused, including a Nigerian national, in connection with the Pune drug video case, a senior police official said. Police also recovered 4 grams cocaine worth Rs 75,000 and 7 grams MD drugs from the accused. With the arrest of the three accused, the total number of arrests in the case has now reached 13. "Pune Police have arrested three more individuals, including a Nigerian national, in the case. The total number of arrests has now reached 13. Police have also recovered 4 grams of cocaine worth Rs 75 thousand, and 7 grams of MD drug from the suspects. Relevant sections of the NDPS Act have also been added to the case. More investigations are underway," said DCP Sandeep Singh Gill of Pune Police. Police had initiated action after a video went viral on social media on June 23 showing two youths taking drugs in the bathroom of a popular bar in Pune. Earlier, the Pune Police arrested two youths for allegedly consuming drugs in Pune. The arrest comes after a video went viral on social media last Sunday, showing the two individuals consuming drugs in the pub's bathroom. One of the youths was detained in Pune, while the other was apprehended in Mumbai by the Pune Crime Branch on Tuesday. They were later produced before the session court and granted police custody till June 29. During the court proceedings, the police informed the court that the two individuals had been identified in the viral video and that further investigation was needed to determine what substances they were consuming in the bar's bathroom. Therefore, custodial interrogation is necessary. Following strict orders from Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, the city administration took action against the L3 bar and demolished illegal construction inside the bar today. A total of 26 illegal portions related to multiple hotels, eateries, and restaurants in the city were demolished. Additionally, the State Excise Department also took swift action, suspending two of its officers for negligence in duty and arresting six other individuals in connection with the L3 bar for rule violations. Prior to these arrests, Pune Police CP Amitesh Kumar had also suspended four police personnel, including one Inspector rank officer and one Sub Inspector, as well as two constables. The investigation into the drug use at the L3 bar on FC Road in Pune continues as authorities crack down on illegal activities and maintain law and order in the city. (ANI) After the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day over the NEET issue, BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra on Friday said that demand for discussion on NEET was rightfully raised by the Members of Parliament, adding that it was unfortunately not allowed in either house. "Today in both houses of Parliament, the members of Parliament were demanding a discussion on NEET, which is a very important issue today which is plaguing the hearts and minds of millions of students and their parents. It also is a reflection of our times presently. So it was a very just demand for a specific discussion regarding NEET and it was rightfully raised by the members of Parliament. Unfortunately, it was not allowed in either house, as I understand the Lok Sabha adjourned for today and they will be reconvening again on Monday," Patra told ANI. Speaking over the same, BJP MP-actor Kangana Ranaut lashed out at the leaders in the opposition and said that their conduct was not appropriate. "You saw their conduct there. Speaker too rebuked them...But it seems that they (the opposition) are not ready to listen to anyone. We are here for the first time and are flummoxed about what has happened...It didn't feel good to see them not letting anyone speak. Forgetting the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, they were acting arbitrarily...I don't think such conduct should be acceptable," Kangana said. Lok Sabha was adjourned on Friday till July 1 over ruckus in the House amid the opposition's demand for discussion on the NEET issue. Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 out of 720 marks, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed several adjournments on Friday, with Congress and other opposition parties insisting on a debate on the NEET-UG row and the government keen to take up the motion of thanks on the President's address. Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon and later for the day as the opposition parties pressed for the acceptance of their adjournment notices seeking debate on the NEET-UG controversy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, sought to raise the NEET-UG issue. Speaker Om Birla said that there was no provision for discussion on any other issue when the House has to take up motion of thanks on the President's address. He said members can raise all the issues during the debate on the motion of thanks and the government will reply to them. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijuju made similar remarks and condemned opposition members coming to the well of the House. Rajya Sabha saw repeated adjournments with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar saying that he has been pained over Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition, coming to the well of the House over opposition demand. The opposition members later staged a walk out. Kharge later told the media that he had sought to draw the Chair's attention but was not paid heed. Dhankar said the Deputy Leader of Congress also came to the well of House in protest. "Honourable Members, today has become so tainted in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition himself has come to the well. This has never happened before. I am pained, I am shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the well, the Deputy Leader will come to the well," he said. Dhankhar later referred to Kharge's remarks made to ANI and said he had come across them on the agency's X handle. "The kind of conduct, the ignoble conduct exhibited, hurts every Indian and shames our institution. We are here elected that the prestige of being members of the upper house. In this House, the conduct ourselves in an unruly manner, it is most unfortunate. I had reflected that it was very painful for me and unbearable for me that Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, a leader with Parliamentary experience over five decades of Parliamentary experience, had held the position Leader of Opposition in both in state and Parliament, walking into well, acting unruly, and spreading misinformation," Dhankar said. Kharge said they were trying to draw the government's attention to concerns of lakhs of students who have appeared in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) exam with CBI now probing the allegations of paper leak. "It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha...There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried," Kharge told ANI. "So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this," Kharge added. Health Minister JP Nadda said he had hoped to begin his innings as Leader of House in Rajya Sabha through pleasantries, but the way the democratic traditions are being put at stake and attempt made to make the House hostage. He said opposition members agreed to 21-hour debate on the motion of thanks in BAC meeting and they could have mentioned their intention on raising NEET issue. He said opposition came with predetermined mindest and government is ready to reply to all issues raised during motion of thanks debate. He said that allotting 21 hours for discussion on motion of thanks is unprecedented. Former Prime Minister and senior JD-S leader HD Deve Gowda spoke briefly in Rajya Sabha and appealed to the opposition to let the House function smoothly. He said the CBI is probing the NEET exam controversy and the government cannot take a decision till it is completed. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh later said that a veteran politician like Kharge was ignored and not allowed to speak and hence he was forced to enter the well of the House. "Such a senior leader was not allowed to speak today. On behalf of the Opposition and the INDIA bloc, Kharge was demanding that the discussion of paper leaks and NEET be taken up first. He kept raising his hand to demand a discussion but his attempts were ignored and in the end, Kharge had to enter the well of the House," Ramesh told ANI. "Today it is being said that never before has an LoP entered the Well. Yesterday's rival has become today's partner. On August 5, 2019, when the Bill on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was brought, at that time, the then LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad had entered the Well in protest. Why do I know this? Because I was sitting beside him," Ramesh said on X. He also took a dig at BJP, saying there is "climate change" in Rajya Sabha "Climate Change in Rajya Sabha in last 2 days. 1. No shouts of Modi, Modi, Modi by the BJP when he first entered this session. 2. BJD protests along with INDIA parties," he said on another post on X. Dhankhar later interacted with the Leader of the House Jagat Prakash Nadda, Kharge and Members of Parliament from various political parties in his chamber at Parliament House. The House took up the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address amid protests by opposition over its demands, with BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi initiating the debate. "Whenever Congress was in power, the Constitution was in danger, we have protected it," Trivedi said. Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora said that despite political differences, "there is more that unites us than divides us". "A new beginning must call for an end to antagonism. We must replace the "I" with "WE" to build a stronger India," he said. Deora said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is into his successive third term, has outlasted six Prime Ministers of Pakistan and five of UK "In the last 10 years, in an age of global anti-incumbency, PM Modi has outlasted six Prime Ministers of Pakistan, five Prime Ministers of the UK, four Presidents of Sri Lanka, three Presidents of the USA and two Presidents of France," he said. Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X that it is unfortunate that the opposition parties were not allowed to do so. "The INDIA Opposition bloc wants to have a constructive debate with the Government on the NEET exam and the prevailing paper leak issue. It is unfortunate that we weren't allowed to do so in Parliament today. This is a serious concern that is causing anxiety to lakhs of families across India. We urge the Prime Minister to debate on this issue and give the students the respect they deserve," he said. Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam was admitted to a Delhi hospital after she felt dizzy and fell while protesting in Rajya Sabha over the NEET issue. Kharge reached the hospital to meet her. Union Minister Chirag Paswan slammed the opposition and said that their intention is to create ruckus in the House. "In the motion of thanks, every MP has the right to decide which issue he wants to raise...The government is very serious about the NEET issue. What did they get (opposition) by halting the proceedings of the house ? Their only intention is to create ruckus in the house," Paswan said. RJD MP Manoj Jha said that the exam should be conducted again. "The ministers giving it a 'clean chit', where are they? What are they doing?.. The exam should be conducted again. The NTA should also be abolished," Manoj Jha said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that Rahul Gandhi's microphone was switched off when he raised the NEET issue in Parliament. "Rahul Gandhi raised the NEET issue. Who switched off his mic? It is the BJP's plan to have no discussion on NEET, the NTA's failure as an institution. The Education Minister is not coming to parliament. They are not ready to discuss the issue in Parliament. We will continue to raise the issue," Tagore said. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters that the government had taken a series of steps in the wake of NEET-UG controversy. "The government is ready for every kind of discussion, but everything should happen within tradition and decorum. When the President herself spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday, it showed the government's intention that we are ready to face any issue... The government's responsibility is towards the youth of the country, towards the students of the country... The government is ready to put forth its side, then what is the confusion? ... We are going to take the strictest action and the CBI is going to catch everyone, we will not spare anyone. A credible high-level committee has also been formed for reform, soon the date of all those exams will also be announced. I also request the opposition to come out of politics and join the discussion," he said. "We are not going to spare anyone. Those who were in charge of NTA have been removed and the responsibility has been given to senior officials. All this is proof of the government's commitment... I want to appeal to the opposition that they should not confuse the students..." he added. The first session of 18th Lok Sabha began on June 24 with new members taking oath. Rajya Sabha session started on June 27. (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said that Lord Valmikiji's contribution to Indian culture and society is incomparable. He said this after he visited the Shri Ram Tirath Mandir, located near the Amritsar Atari-Wagah border. During his visit, he had the darshan of Lord Valmiki and sought blessings for the people of the state. "Visited Shri Ram Tirath Mandir, located near the Amritsar Atari-Wagah border and had darshan of Lord Valmiki. Lord Valmiki ji's contribution to Indian culture and society is incomparable," he said in a post on X. He added in the post, "We pray that all our family members in Haryana may receive your blessings. This tourist spot is the centre of our eternal faith. The first poet, Lord Valmiki, composed 24 thousand verses of the Ramayana here." Earlier in the day, Saini also visited Amritsar's Golden Temple and Ram Tirth Mandir and sought blessings for the people of the state. Taking to the official X handle, the Public Relations Department posted about Saini's visit to the Golden Temple and said, "Nayab Singh Saini reached the Golden Temple at Amritsar and bowed his head at Darbar Sahib and took blessings. He prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the country and the state. The Chief Minister also served at the Gurudwara and also took prasad at Darbar Sahib." In another post, Saini wrote about his visit to the Golden Temple. "I bowed down at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar and sought the blessings of Waheguru Ji and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of all my family members in Haryana," Saini said. He added further, "The sacrifice of our Sikh Gurus for the protection of the nation and religion is embedded in every particle of this holy land, which inspires the entire country to serve the nation." "I am fortunate that Wahe Guru Ji has given me the opportunity to come here and serve and taste the langar today. There is a wonderful peace in coming to the Guru's house. I am feeling blessed," Saini said. (ANI) Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Friday slammed the BJP over the NEET issue and claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not ready to discuss the issue in Parliament as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is not coming to Parliament. The opposition continued its strident pitch on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, with the Congress and other parties demanding a discussion on the floor of the House. "Rahul Gandhi raised the NEET issue. Who switched off his mic?... It is BJP's plan to not discuss NEET, NTA's failure as an institution. The Education Minister is not coming to the parliament. They are not ready to discuss the issue in parliament...We will continue to raise the issue," said Manickam Tagore. Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that the opposition's intention is to create ruckus in the house. "In the motion of thanks, every MP has the right to decide which issue he wants to raise...The government is very serious about the NEET issue. What did they get (opposition) by halting the proceedings of the house ? Their only intention is to create ruckus in the house," Paswan said. RJD MP Manoj Jha said that the exam should be conducted again. "The ministers giving it a 'clean chit', where are they? What are they doing?.. The exam should be conducted again. The NTA should also be abolished," Manoj Jha said. Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that Rahul Gandhi's mic was switched off when he raised the NEET issue in Parliament. "Rahul Gandhi raised the NEET issue. Who switched off his mic? It is the BJP's plan to have no discussion on NEET, the NTA's failure as an institution. The Education Minister is not coming to parliament. They are not ready to discuss the issue in Parliament. We will continue to raise the issue," Tagore said. Punjab LoP and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa said that the Central Government is playing with the future of students. "Paper leaks never happened on such a large scale. They (Central Government) are playing with the future of students...The members of the opposition are not being allowed to speak in the parliament," the Congress leader said. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till Monday following the opposition protest demanding a debate on the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET) ahead of the discussions on President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting on Thursday. No business was conducted in the lower House with the Opposition holding strong on its demand for a discussion on NEET. (ANI) A case has been registered against NSUI National President Varun Choudhary after members of the Congress students' wing National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Thursday held a protest demonstration at the National Testing Agency (NTA) office over "irregularities" in NEET-UG 2024. The case was registered by the Delhi Police on June 27 under Section 154 Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.PC). Taking to its official X handle, the NSUI posted, "Government's FIR against NSUI National President Varun Choudhary for protesting NTA's failures reveals their fear of accountability." It added further, "The NSUI demands justice for NEET students and vows to escalate until NTA is banned. Suppressing us only strengthens our resolve--join our fight for fair exams and student rights!" The NSUI President also uploaded a short video on his official X handle in which he said, "Delhi Police have registered an FIR against the NSUI workers and me. I want to say to the BJP government and Dhamendra Pradhan (Education Minister) that we are not going to get scared of these FIRs. We will not be scared no matter how many FIRs you register. As long as the NEET students don't get justice, as long as those students don't get justice who are on roads because of NTA, we will not be scared." Addressing the Delhi Police, Choudhary said, "I would like to say that the FIR that you have registered against me, you should have first filed the FIR against NTA... Dharmendra Pradhan should immediately ban NTA and should conduct a re-exam of NEET." Earlier in the day, a case was registered against NSUI workers under several sections of 186/ 353/ 452/ 342/34 of IPC. Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agency's FIR, certain "isolated incidents" occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA. (ANI) MANILA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' foreign investments yielded net inflows of 43 million U.S. dollars in May, the Philippine central bank said Friday. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the foreign investment transactions in May resulted from the 1.1 billion dollars in gross inflows and 1 billion dollars in gross outflows for the month, a reversal from the 312 million dollars in net outflows in April. The central bank added that the month's registered investments are 15.2 percent higher than the 914 million dollars recorded in April. According to the BSP, 65 percent of registered investments in May were invested in banks, holding firms, property, transportation services, and mining. The remaining 35 percent were peso government securities. The majority of investments for the month originated from Britain, the United States, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Norway, collectively contributing 86.1 percent. Furthermore, the gross outflows for the month were 17.6 percent lower than the gross outflows recorded for April. The United States remains the top destination of outflows, receiving 575 million dollars, or 57 percent of total outward remittances. Year-on-year, registered investments in May 2024 are 24.6 percent higher than the 845 million dollars recorded in May 2023, while gross outflows increased by 4.2 percent from a year earlier. The BSP said the Jan. 1 to May 31 transactions for foreign investments registered with the BSP yielded net inflows of 108 million dollars, a turnaround from the 805 million dollars net outflows for the same period last year. US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will lock horns in the first presidential debate today, marking the countdown for the ultimate showdown later this year. The debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta will take place at 9 pm on Thursday (local time) and 6:30 am on Friday in Indian Standard Time (IST). It''s the earliest ever in a presidential race, taking place before the Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August when both Trump and Biden will officially accept their party''s nominations. The showdown is scheduled to go 90 minutes with two commercial breaks. There will be no live studio audience: a major change from previous debates. Polling shows over 70 per cent of American voters plan to tune in to the high-stake debate. Notably, this is the first time, a sitting president and an ex-president will lock horns before millions of viewers, in an encounter taking place far earlier than normal. President Joe Biden launched his re-election campaign in April 2023, describing the contest between him and Trump as a "stark choice" for voters between the continuation of democracy in America and its possible "destruction" under Trump. He is the oldest president to ever hold office and would be 86 at the end of a second term. Polling shows that voters are far more concerned about Biden''s age than his opponent''s. But if Trump wins, he would break Biden''s record as the oldest president before the end of his term. Meanwhile, Trump launched his bid to reclaim the White House in November 2022. He aims to reclaim the White House after his bitter exit in 2020, as he looks forward to becoming only the second commander-in-chief to win two non-consecutive terms in office. Notably, Trump continues to deny the 2020 election results. The former President also faces criminal charges in four cases, including two related to election interference and subversion of 2020 results. In May, Trump was found guilty of all charges at his New York hush money criminal trial. The debate comes at a time when many Americans are seeking relief from high prices and America''s foreign policy faces new challenges amid two ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, some deeply divisive issues like immigration, gun laws and abortion also have stark positions from both leaders. The debate in that sense personifies an election race that has left millions of Americans unsatisfied with the choice offered by two elderly candidates who alienate more voters than they attract, as per CNN. This will mark the third debate between the two men -- after the two in the run-up to 2020 polls -- but is likely to be more important than the first two because a larger share of the electorate is potentially up for grabs. Biden has pitched his second term as a continuation of his first term with the phrase, "Let''s finish this job". He has vowed to defend rights such as abortion protections that some Republicans have threatened to erode. If re-elected, Biden has said he would also protect America''s image on the world stage, preserve democracy at home and deliver on climate benchmarks. Trump, on the other hand, has said he would overhaul key factions of the federal government and slash social safety net programs. He has also vowed retribution against his political opponents and has said he would appoint a special prosecutor to "go after" Biden and his family. Trump is strongly advocating border security, especially at the southern border towards Mexico. In a controversial remark, Trump said that the flow of migrants is "poisoning" the US blood. He has also vowed to re-implement his travel ban against specific Muslim countries. He has also claimed that he will end the Russia-Ukraine conflict in "one day." Trump is also considered a strong supporter of Israel. CNN Poll of Polls has found a tight race with no clear leader heading into the presidential debate. Nationwide, the current average stands at 49 per cent support for former President Donald Trump to 47 per cent supporting President Joe Biden According to Politico, to win over real voters, both Biden and Trump have clear tasks: Biden needs to convince his haters he has a pulse. Trump also needs to be coherent and try to win back some of the moderates who defected from him to Nikki Haley in the late stages of the GOP primary. (ANI) The opening ceremony for the upcoming exhibition 'Eternal Resonance Between Indian Culture and Korean Culture' was held in the national capital on Thursday. A total of five Indian artists and Korean artists have been selected for the exhibition. The exhibition is being held from June 27 to September 27. The South Korean Ambassador to India, Chang Jae-Bok also attended the event. He appreciated the artworks presented by both Indian and Korean artists. The members lighted a lamp with a candle to start the ceremony in a traditional manner. The envoy said that the exhibition captures the long-standing collaboration between the two nations to promote cultural exchanges and strengthen ties. "The exhibition has been organised by Korea-India Contemporary Artist Association. It truly celebrates long-standing collaboration to promote cultural exchanges and strengthen the ties between India and Korea," Chang said at the opening ceremony. "I want to commend all the efforts...all the talented Indian, and Korean artists who have contributed with their incredible artworks in this exhibition. Your creativity...captures the profound relationship between our two countries," he added. An Indian artist at the event said that the aim of this exhibition is not to sell the artworks, but to give a message to Indian and Korean people of how cultural development can be built between two countries. Earlier in March, the South Korean envoy to India, Chang Jae-bok, lauded the enduring business partnership between the two nations, emphasizing substantial investments and deepening collaborations. Addressing the inaugural session of the CII Delhi State Annual Session and Business Conference here in the national capital, South Korean envoy highlighted the need for further improvements in India's business environment to attract more investments and encourage Indian businesses to explore opportunities in Korea. In a separate event, he affirmed that the negotiations on the expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and South Korea are likely to conclude in 2024. He said the last round of talks took place in January. The Republic of Korea and India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2009. The two nations are negotiating the expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and have so far held several rounds of discussions. (ANI) As many as six people were killed and five more were left injured after a train and a bus collided in Slovakia, CNN reported citing the country's emergency services. The fatalities are believed to have been on the bus. Slovak railway company ZSSK said on Facebook that none of the passengers on the EuroCity train died. It expressed its condolences to "the families and loved ones of the bus passengers who were injured or lost in this accident." The emergency response is ongoing at the crash site in Nove Zamky, southern Slovakia, the Slovak Emergency Medical Service said. Five ambulance vehicles and three ambulance helicopters are on the scene, as reported by CNN. The train was travelling from the Czech capital of Prague to the Hungarian capital of Budapest. More than 100 of its stranded passengers are being transported by buses to the town of Sturovo on the Hungarian border. "All passengers were evacuated from the scene with the assistance of our staff. Our hearts and thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the bus passengers who suffered injuries or losses in this accident," ZSSK said in a statement as quoted by CNN. Slovak politicians expressed their grief on the incident. "With the deepest sadness, I received the information of a tragic accident that happened late afternoon in Nove Zamky," Slovak Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova said in a social media post. "All kinds of emergency services are on the scene and I send my deepest condolences to the families of the victims." Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini, who was in Brussels attending a summit with European Union leaders, sent his condolences on social media. "I am very sorry for all the victims and my condolences to their families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and thank the doctors and rescue teams for their work done. I wish such catastrophes would avoid Slovakia in the future," he stated. (ANI) Almost 200 people have been charged in a nationwide operation probing false health care claims involving approximately USD 2.75 billion in losses, The Hill reported on Thursday citing the Department of Justice. Under its 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, the DOJ filed charges against 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals in 32 different federal districts across the country. The US government seized "over USD 231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets" in a nationwide law enforcement action, as per The Hill. "It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. According to the DOJ, the five individuals and a digital technology company participated in a more than USD 900-million fraud scheme in Arizona in connection with amniotic wound grafts, the unlawful distribution of Adderall pills and other stimulants. The DOJ also alleges corporate executives committed a USD 90 million fraud scheme by distributing adulterated and wrongfully branded HIV medication, more than USD 146 million in fake addiction treatment schemes, more than USD 1.1 billion in telemedicine and laboratory fraud, as well as USD 450 million in other health care fraud and opioid schemes, as reported by The Hill. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said his department's agents were proud to play a part in the multi-agency investigation. "Through this action, we in federal law enforcement send a clear and strong message -- that we will hold accountable those health care providers and prescribers who prey on their patients for profit and disregard the first rule of medical care: do no harm," Mayorkas said in a statement. (ANI) Sammi Deen Baloch, a well-known activist for Baloch rights, issued a video statement announcing a significant press conference scheduled for Friday at the Karachi Press Club. The conference aims to focus on the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Sammi released the video with the message, saying "On the completion of fifteen years of my father's illegal and forceful abduction, we will hold a press conference at Karachi Press Club tomorrow at 4:30 pm, we request all media persons to join us and highlight our issue." https://x.com/SammiBaluch/status/1806279856444895401 Sammi Baloch is a prominent Baloch activist known for advocating for the rights of the Baloch people, particularly in the context of alleged human rights abuses and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. She has been vocal about highlighting issues faced by the Baloch community, including political repression and socio-economic challenges. According to reports, Sammi Baloch's father, Deen Mohammad Baloch, forcibly disappeared when she was only 11 years old. In June 2009, armed forces raided a public hospital in southwestern Balochistan where he was working as a doctor and took him into custody. To this day, Sammi Baloch and her family have no information about him. In the video message Sammi said, Over the past 15 years, despite our relentless efforts, we have been unable to obtain any information about my father. Throughout numerous changes in government, promises made by authorities have consistently proven to be untrue." On X, Baloch Voice for Justice, an advocacy group that supports the rights and justice for the Baloch people, backing Sammi stated, "The case of Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch is a stark reminder of the ongoing injustice of enforced disappearances. We cannot stay silent while families endure years of uncertainty. Join Sammi Baloch on June 28 at Karachi press club." In Balochistan, thousands of families are enduring the anguish of not knowing the fate or whereabouts of their missing loved ones. This situation is a result of enforced disappearances, where individuals are taken into custody by security forces or unknown groups without legal process or disclosure of their location. The uncertainty surrounding these disappearances has left many families in a state of distress and desperation, as they continue to seek answers and justice amidst ongoing challenges and governmental promises that have often gone unfulfilled. (ANI) Prominent Baloch activist, Mahrang Baloch, has criticized the police raid on demonstrators at Pasni Zero-Point in Pakistan's Balochistan province. According to reports, on Thursday morning, Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, along with police officers, forcefully intervened in a peaceful protest. During the raid, they subjected women to violence, assaulted missing student Bahadur Bashir's elder brother, and confiscated his mobile phone. https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1806237734970827084?t=iujpT5mwVUF9nD1-nKyuSQ&s=08 Taking to social media platform X, Mahrang said, "Bahadur Baloch, a Karachi University student, was abducted from Pasni. His family is protesting by blocking Pasni Zero Point, demanding his safe release. Police & FC have responded with violence and threats, even confiscating their phones. In this oppressive state, Baloch missing persons' families are denied their right to protest." The family of Bahadur Bashir, who was reportedly abducted from Pasni, along with local residents, had blocked the coastal highway at Zero Point in Pasni on Monday morning this week. They stated that the protest would persist until Bahadur Bashir is safely returned. A student at Karachi University, Bahadur Bashir, was allegedly detained by Pakistani forces. He was taken into custody and moved to an undisclosed location. The young man was apprehended upon returning to Pasni for Eid celebrations in his hometown. Simultaneously, a sit-in protest has been ongoing for two weeks at the main gate of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Turbat district headquarters, demanding the recovery of missing persons. In Balochistan, there are allegations against the Pakistani army regarding enforced disappearances. These accusations suggest that security forces have been involved in forcibly detaining individuals, particularly activists and civilians, without legal process or public acknowledgment of their whereabouts. The incidents have sparked widespread concern and protests, with demands for accountability and the safe return of those who have gone missing. The Pakistan Army has been accused of targeting Baloch students through various means. Allegations include arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and harassment under the pretext of maintaining security and countering separatist movements in Balochistan. Students, especially those involved in activism or expressing dissent, have reportedly been subjected to intimidation, surveillance, and detention without due process. These actions are seen as part of broader efforts to suppress dissent and control the narrative in the region. (ANI) Challenging the authority of the Punjab government, a protester could be seen threatening to disrupt the Gurdwara's reconstruction. According to reports, the person seen in the video, who is leading the protest is the deputy mayor of Faisalabad Ameen Butt. The individual in the video can be heard using derogatory language against the Sikh community. https://x.com/pakistan_untold/status/1806317146546565491 This incident underscores the persistent discrimination faced by minorities in Pakistan who are routinely subjected to severe injustices and intolerance. Pakistan's religious minorities, including Hindus and Sikhs, face ongoing challenges such as discriminatory laws, social exclusion, and periodic outbreaks of violence fueled by religious extremism. Sikhs in Pakistan have faced violence, discrimination, and targeted attacks. Incidents such as threats, vandalism of Gurdwaras, and physical assaults on Sikh individuals have been reported over the years. Sikhs have also reported challenges related to property disputes and illegal occupation of Gurdwara properties. These disputes often involve local authorities and individuals seeking appropriate land belonging to Sikh religious sites. According to Human Rights Watch, religious minorities in Pakistan encounter systematic discrimination and violence. The country's blasphemy laws are often misused to target religious minorities, leading to persecution and violence against individuals accused of blasphemy. Several organisations have consistently highlighted these issues, calling for legal reforms and international attention to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan. The incident in Faisalabad is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and discrimination. The international community, including the United Nations, has urged Pakistan to address these issues and uphold the rights of religious minorities as guaranteed by international human rights standards. As tensions persist in Faisalabad over the Gurdwara's reopening, it is crucial for authorities to ensure the safety and rights of the Sikh community and uphold religious freedom for all minorities in Pakistan. (ANI) Liang Wen-chieh, spokesperson for Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, issued this warning in response to increased tensions with China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has refused to engage with Taiwan's government since President Tsai Ing-wen's election in 2016. The advisory aims to caution Taiwanese travelers about potential risks under China's new guidelines targeting supporters of Taiwan's independence. While travel is not prohibited, citizens are advised against expressing political views or engaging in activities that could lead to detention or prosecution by Chinese authorities. Earlier, Taiwan had criticized Beijing's threat of harsh punishments, including the death penalty, for those supporting Taiwan's independence. A notice issued by Beijing specified the death penalty for leaders of independence efforts who cause serious harm to the state and the people while other leading advocates could face jail terms ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. Taipei condemned the new Chinese guidelines, asserting that Beijing lacks legal jurisdiction over Taiwan and dismissing the regulations as non-binding on Taiwanese citizens. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also issued a press release criticizing the guidelines announced by Chinese officials earlier as "regrettable," characterizing them as provocative and detrimental to interactions between the people of Taiwan and mainland China. The MAC also advised Taiwanese residing in China or planning to travel there to be vigilant and exercise caution. China's increased pressure on supporters of Taiwan's independence stems from its longstanding claim that Taiwan is part of its territory, despite the island's self-governance since 1949. Tensions have been fueled by Taiwan's international engagements and Beijing's efforts to diplomatically isolate Taiwan. The CCP considers advocacy for Taiwan's independence a direct challenge to its sovereignty, leading to punitive measures such as legal threats and economic coercion. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], June 28 (ANI/WAM): Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, has concluded a visit to San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley, which was aimed at boosting economic cooperation and exploring partnerships between the UAE and the United States, especially in advanced technology. Dr. Thani held several discussions with stakeholders, leading technology companies, and local entrepreneurs, during which he sought to identify potential partnerships in high-priority fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and climate tech. In his meetings, the minister outlined the UAE's advanced technology ambitions and investment-friendly business environment, extending an invitation to US investors, start-ups, and skilled professionals to explore its expansion opportunities. Discussions focused on joint projects, research collaboration, and exchanging knowledge and expertise in cutting-edge disciplines such as AI, data analytics and sustainable technologies. Dr. Al Zeyoudi's visit to the US underlines the UAE's commitment to securing global partnerships to accelerate its industrial and technological capabilities, and to further bolstering the nation's position as a destination for investment and innovation. Of the visit, the minister remarked, "The West Coast of the US is the global epicentre of technology and innovation, and the UAE has much to gain from closer ties to Silicon Valley's vibrant ecosystem. This visit is an important part of our efforts to establish long-standing partnerships at both the private-sector, public-sector and academic levels to leverage their knowledge and experience and accelerate the UAE's technological capabilities. Technology is a key pillar of our economic growth and diversification agenda and it's vital we can build productive and mutually beneficial relations with the world's leading exponents." The United States is the UAE's third-largest trading partner globally, accounting for 5.6 per cent of the UAE's total non-oil trade. The UAE is America's most important trading partner in the Arab World, with bilateral trade comprising 27 per cent of the USA's non-oil trade with the region. In terms of investments, the UAE has US$38.1 billion in assets in the US, which is more than 50 per cent of the total FDI from Arab countries in America at the end of 2022. These investments are mainly in transportation, business services, software and IT services, real estate, food and beverages, and aerospace. (ANI/WAM) Sheikh Sultan bin Saqer Al Nuaimi, Second Vice Chairman of ACCI, highlighted the summit's focus on discussing the latest trends and opportunities in technology and artificial intelligence (AI). ACCI joined the UAE delegation under the umbrella of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) with several key objectives. By showcasing the emirate's unique advantages to a global audience, the chamber hoped to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) that would contribute to Ajman's economic growth. Additionally, participation in the summit allowed ACCI to develop a stronger global economic network and build new connections with international entities. Furthermore, ACCI sought to explore partnerships with participating countries and entities to drive economic development for all parties involved. Al Nuaimi emphasised that the summit emphasised collaboration and investment in various specialised fields, including technology services, AI, product development, advanced industries, education, and renewable energy. These areas align perfectly with Ajman's goals for economic development, making the summit a particularly relevant platform for the chamber. The summit also served as a valuable platform for fostering international collaboration. The participation of government officials, major companies, and private sector institutions facilitated the exploration of cooperation and partnership opportunities. Additionally, it provided a space for exchanging valuable experiences, particularly with US entities, allowing ACCI to gain insights that can be implemented within Ajman. Al Nuaimi further highlighted that Ajman can showcase its unique advantages as an investment destination by actively engaging with the international community, leading to increased economic activity and prosperity. He added that the Ajman Chamber met with US officials and business owners to boost trade between Ajman and the US and discussed holding future meetings and events to explore promising trade opportunities. (ANI/WAM) LONDON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- "We tend to focus more on the changes as outsiders, but when you're doing business in China, I'm often struck by the continuity rather than the changes," said Julian Fisher, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China, on Wednesday. At an event cohosted by the chamber on the topic of the next British government's strategy for China, many British business leaders expressed optimism about China's growth, acknowledging the opportunities despite certain difficulties. St. John Moore, head of Beijing at Brunswick Group said, "While China's growth may be slower than a few years ago, the market continues to present notable opportunities." "It is a market that is still growing, with a GDP of nearly USD 18 trillion last year, adding an economy the size of a mid-size country in a single year," he said. Fisher also highlighted China's closer partnerships with countries in the South through the Belt and Road Initiative as an indication of its economic potential. "I visited Uzbekistan a month ago and saw a Chinese construction of a hydropower station that can benefit over 20,000 local people," Fisher said. When asked what the business community expects from the next British government's China strategy, Trey McArver, co-founder of China-focused consultancy Trivium China, said the community is hoping for a constructive relationship that reflects a more balanced tone in discussions about China. "It's in the ultimate interest of the UK to have economic engagement with China. We cannot simply walk away and stand on particular values," Moore added. All attendees agreed that the next British government should engage in informed dialogue with the business community and consider the tone when speaking about China. "Having worked with businesses operating in China for the past 15 years, what strikes me most is how companies are more focused on policy changes coming from the United States and Europe rather than China, which is clear on its policy goals," McArver noted. Continuing their outstanding performance, 146 Indian students, including 75 women and 71 men, have been awarded Erasmus Mundus scholarships to pursue a two-year Masters programme in Europe for the 2024 academic year, making India one of the top recipients of the scholarship. According to the Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan, "Worldwide, 2603 students from 137 countries have been awarded scholarships this year for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's degree, which offers a study programme jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions." The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Programme marks its 20th anniversary in 2024, a milestone that underscores the programme's positive impact on students, higher education institutions, and countries beyond the European Union. "India has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, with over 2000 students receiving the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship since its inception in 2004. Overall, more than 6,000 Erasmus+ short- and long-term scholarships have been awarded to Indian students since the programme opened to international students in 2004, providing access to state-of-the-art education and research facilities, international exposure, and valuable professional networks and thus opening up wider professional opportunities," the statement read. The Delegation of the European Union to India hosted an event for the grantees, celebrating the growing people-to-people links and mobility between the EU and India. These scholars are set to embark on their international degree programme in Europe starting this September. The selected students will have the opportunity to study and conduct research at a minimum of two universities in different European countries, earning joint or double degrees in diverse fields such as sustainability, pharmaceuticals, engineering, quantum, data and various STEM and social science disciplines. The fully funded scholarship covers the recipient's tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance. While congratulating the winners, Herve Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India, said: "Over 80,000 Indian students are studying in Europe, reflecting a growing appreciation for the continent's diverse academic offerings, rich cultural heritage, and unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. The fact that India has been a top recipient of Erasmus+ scholarships since their inception, despite their competitive nature, speaks volumes about the calibre of Indian students. This is the start of an enriching and transformative experience for them. As they are about to study and live a unique experience in an EU country, they will also become ambassadors of the partnership between the EU and India. I wish them every success." Bringing together Indian students, Erasmus and Research Alumni, and representatives of EU Member States (Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, and Belgium), the event provided an interactive platform to share information on travel, living and studying in Europe. Erasmus, meaning European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, is a programme established in 1987 by the European Union to support not only education for students from across the globe but also to encourage partnerships between universities and countries. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit next week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday. The SCO summit will take place from July 3-4 in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. "The External affairs minister will be leading our delegation there," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing here. Kazakhstan took over the SCO presidency from India, which was the president last year. India hosted the SCO summit virtually in July 2023. This year's host is Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has proposed, among other initiatives, the establishment of a joint investment fund. In a telephonic conversation with the Kazakhstan President on June 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his full support for the success of the upcoming summit in Astana. During the conversation, the two leaders also reiterated their commitment to continue to work together to advance bilateral strategic partnerships. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Kazakhstan's leadership would greatly contribute to the furtherance of regional cooperation. "Had a good conversation with President of Kazakhstan H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Thanked him for warm wishes on the success in the elections," PM Modi wrote in a post on X. "Reiterated the commitment to advance our Strategic Partnership with Kazakhstan. Conveyed India's full support for the success of the upcoming SCO Summit," he added. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, the SCO summits were held virtually. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a political, economic, and security group that was established in 2001. The current members of the SCO are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran became a full member in 2023, under the Indian Presidency of the grouping. Belarus is an observer state and is next in line to gain full membership. The SCO is focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation among its member states. The organisation covers over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, 40 per cent of the world population, and 30 per cent of global GDP. (ANI) Vikram Misri, a 1989-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service currently serving as the Deputy National Security Adviser, has been appointed as India's new Foreign Secretary. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal made by the Ministry of External Affairs for appointing Vikram Misri as the next Foreign Secretary. He will be succeeding Vinay Mohan Kwatra as Foreign Secretary. Misri's tenure as Foreign Secretary will begin on July 15 as the extension granted to Kwatra will end on July 14. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the following proposals of the Ministry of External Affairs: In partial modification of the order dated March 12, 2024, grant of extension in service of Shri Vinay Kwatra, (IFS :1988) as Foreign Secretary beyond April 30 2024 up to July 14, 2024. Curtailment of tenure of Shri Vikram Misri, IFS (1989) as Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat," the official order said. "Appointment of Shri Vikram Misri, IFS (1989), Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat to the post of Foreign Secretary w.e.f. July 15, 2024 vice Shri Vinay Kwatra," it added. Kwatra had been given a six-month extension in March this year. Misri, 59, has the unique honour of having served as private secretary to three Prime Ministers - Inder Kumar Gujral in 1997, Manmohan Singh in 2012, and Narendra Modi in 2014. Misri was born in Srinagar in 1964 and received his early education in Gwalior. He holds a Bachelor's degree in history from Delhi University's Hindu College and an MBA from XLRI. Misri was India's ambassador to China and played a significant part in discussions between India and China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that resulted from the actions of the Chinese military in Eastern Ladakh. In his early career, Misri worked at Indian embassies in Brussels and Tunis. He became India's ambassador to Spain in 2014 and to Myanmar in 2016. He has also held positions in several Indian diplomatic missions across Africa and North America. (ANI) Organised by Sheikh Khalid, an author and peace activist from Srinagar, in collaboration with global human rights defender Elena Vallejo, the exhibition aimed to showcase the positive transformations in the Union Territory of India. The exhibition featured a series of posters illustrating various technological interventions, advancements in food technology and processing, innovative approaches to Dal Lake cleaning, silk weaving traditions, and projects under the Srinagar Smart City initiative. Sheikh Khalid emphasised the event's role as a platform to communicate strides made in tourism, education, and environmental conservation efforts, particularly highlighting ongoing initiatives to rejuvenate Dal Lake. Reflecting on historical context, Khalid underscored Kashmir's decision in 1947 to integrate with India as a secular nation, opting for democracy and progress over alignment with Muslim-majority Pakistan. Speaking on the current government's efforts in combating cross-border terrorism, Khalid expressed satisfaction, a sentiment echoed during his participation at the 56th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. "The exhibition not only celebrates the rapid development in the Union Territory but also aims to counter extremist ideologies, particularly among the youth," Khalid remarked. "It signifies a shift towards positive narratives and showcases the resilience of Kashmiri people amidst challenges," he added. Khalid highlighted that the exhibition marks a pivotal moment in showcasing Kashmir's journey towards prosperity and peace on the global stage. The event received positive reception as it conveyed a message of progress and resilience, shedding light on Kashmir's evolving socio-economic landscape. (ANI) Jaishankar's meeting with the High Commissioner of Fiji, Jagnnath Sami focused on enhancing the close political cooperation and fostering a growing development partnership between India and Fiji. "Welcomed Jagnnath Sami, High Commissioner of Fiji at the Ministry this afternoon. Discussed our close political cooperation and growing development partnership. Best wishes for his tenure," Jaishankar said in a post on X. He also met Ambassador of Greece, Aliki Koutsomitopoulou and expressed satisfaction with the significant strides in bilateral relations over the past year and expressed optimism for further development. "Good to meet Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece. Noted the significant progress in our relationship over the last year. Look forward to its further development," he remarked in another post. The External Affairs Minister also met High Commissioner of Zambia, Percy Chanda and the two talked about the evolving bilateral ties between two countries. "Nice to meet High Commissioner of Zambia Percy Chanda this evening. Discussed growing the India-Zambia bilateral relationship," the EAM said in another post. Jaishankar also met with High Commissioner of Malaysia Muzafar Shah bin Mustafa. During the meeting, Jaishankar affirmed the steady development of bilateral relations between the two nations. "A warm meeting with High Commissioner of Malaysia Muzafar Shah bin Mustafa. Spoke about the steady development of India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership," the External Affairs Minister said in a post on X. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday condemned the negligence in the treatment of Satnam Singh, an Indian worker who died in north Italy, stating that his employer, responsible for his medical care, has been arrested. MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called for humane treatment of workers, adding that all possible assistance was being provided to the family of the deceased. "His employer who was supposed to provide him medical care has been arrested and the investigation goes on. We condemn such treatment. We call for the human treatment of workers. We are providing all possible assistance to his family," said Jaiswal during a weekly briefing. India has also raised this issue with Italy and has called for prompt action against those responsible for his demise. The secretary (Consular Passport and Visa Division and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Muktesh Pardeshi raised the matter with Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Migratory Policies and Italians Abroad, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Pardeshi further said that the Indian Embassy in Italy is in contact with the family of Satnam Singh for consular help and transportation of mortal remains to India. "@SecretaryCPVOIA Muktesh Pardeshi conveyed to @LuigiVignali Italian DG our deep concern about death of Satnam Singh & called for prompt action against those responsible. Embassy is in contact with family of Satnam Singh for consular help &transportation of mortal remains @MEAIndia," the Indian embassy in Italy posted on X on June 26. Indian national Satnam Singh lost his life after being abandoned on the street following an accident, according to the Flai CGIL trade union. The accident, which resulted in the severing of his arm, happened while he was working at the farm. According to the Flai CGIL trade union, instead of receiving help from the employer, "Singh was dumped like a bag of rubbish near his home." Earlier last week, the Embassy said that it is in contact with local authorities and that efforts are being made to contact the family and provide consular assistance. (ANI) European Union (EU) leaders gathered in Brussels recently to settle on the bloc's leadership for the next five years, a decision that was not without controversy as Italian and Hungarian leaders expressed dissent. Despite opposition from Italy's Georgia Meloni and Hungary's Viktor Orban, Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, and Kaja Kallas were nominated to prominent EU positions at the summit, euronews reported. Ursula von der Leyen secured her second term as President of the European Commission, while Antonio Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, was appointed President of the European Council. Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, was nominated for the role of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The confirmation of von der Leyen and Kallas still awaits approval by the European Parliament, while Costa's appointment as Council President is automatic due to his previous role. He is set to assume office on December 1st. Italian Prime Minister Meloni voiced her opposition to Costa and Kallas, abstaining on von der Leyen's nomination, according to diplomatic sources. Orban opposed von der Leyen's candidacy but abstained on Kallas and supported Costa, according to euronews. "I would like to express my gratitude to the leaders who endorsed my nomination for a second mandate," said von der Leyen on her re-nomination. "I am very honored." Costa, in accepting his new role, expressed a sense of mission, stating, "It is with a strong sense of mission that I will take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council." He thanked his socialist supporters and the Portuguese government for their backing and emphasized his commitment to unity and advancing the Strategic Agenda. Kallas, addressing her nomination, acknowledged the weight of responsibility in the current geopolitical climate: "This is an enormous responsibility at this moment of geopolitical tensions." She pledged to collaborate effectively with von der Leyen and Costa, emphasizing common European interests and values. The decision to appoint these leaders came after party negotiators finalized a deal earlier in the week, which was subsequently endorsed during the summit. The Strategic Agenda, outlining broad ambitions for the EU's future endeavors, was also approved alongside the leadership appointments. The negotiations and subsequent decisions were not without criticism from some leaders who felt marginalized in the process. Meloni, particularly vocal in her objections, criticized the process as "surreal" and called for more inclusive discussions reflecting voter sentiments, as reported by euronews. Hungary's Orban echoed discontent, labeling the outcome as "shameful." In contrast, leaders like Germany's Olaf Scholz emphasized the need for political stability and swift action amid global challenges, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Reflecting on the contentious summit, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo defended the decision, stating, "Democracy is not only about blocking; democracy is about who wants to work together." He underscored the importance of cooperation among the appointed leaders for the benefit of all Europeans. Von der Leyen's re-election represents continuity in EU leadership, building on her experience navigating significant crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. Her tenure has been marked by efforts to strengthen EU unity and resilience. Antonio Costa's appointment as Council President signals a new phase, despite questions surrounding his political career in Portugal. His previous governance and diplomatic skills are seen as assets in enhancing the Council's role in EU affairs. Kaja Kallas, known for her firm stance on international issues, faces the task of navigating EU foreign policy consensus amid diverse member state interests. Her appointment underscores the EU's commitment to effective global engagement and representation. The trio's selection reflects the EU's emphasis on political diversity, geographical representation, and gender balance in leadership roles. Costa's heritage, with roots extending beyond Europe, also highlights a broader inclusivity in EU leadership. Looking ahead, von der Leyen has initiated discussions with Socialist and Liberal groups to formulate a cohesive agenda for her next term. She expressed openness to broader parliamentary support to strengthen Europe's resilience and influence globally, euronews reported. (ANI) The protest against enforced disappearances in the Turbat area of Balochistan has entered its 12th day, with families of the victims continuing to express their anger and frustration towards Pakistani security forces. The demonstrations, organised under the banner of the Baloch Yakjahti Committee, have been ongoing since Eid. In a post on X, the Baloch Yakjahti Committee stated, "The sit-in protest for the safe recovery of enforced disappeared Baloch has entered its 12th day. The families of the disappeared have been left completely abandoned; it seems the incompetent and cruel administration is punishing these elderly men." The committee further added, "No matter how tough the night gets, despite the oppression and atrocities they inflict upon us, we firmly believe that one day their suffering and pain will enlighten us and guide us towards a new dawn. The courage and grace they are demonstrating will pave the path of resistance for future generations. It is through their strength that we find hope, and it is in their remarkable spirit that we discover the power to rise and fight for a better tomorrow." https://x.com/BYCKech/status/1806586094663647232 The protestors initially gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office, attempting to communicate their concerns to the authorities. According to a post by the Baloch Yakjahti Committee, "The families protesting at Turbat in front of the D.C. office convened a protest rally from Gulam Nabi Pump to the Fida Chowk. A huge number of people from different walks of life joined the protest in solidarity with these elderly women and men." As the sit-in continues, the families of the disappeared remain resolute in their demand for justice and the safe return of their loved ones. The protest has drawn significant attention and support from various segments of society, highlighting the widespread discontent with the handling of enforced disappearances in the region. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to Antonio Costa on his election as the next President of the European Council. Further, PM Modi expressed enthusiasm for working closely with Costa to elevate the India-EU Strategic Partnership to new heights. https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1806698271508664812 In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Congratulations to my friend @antoniolscosta on being elected as the next President of the European Council. I look forward to working closely with you to advance the India-EU Strategic Partnership to greater heights." In the recent EU Parliament elections, European Union leaders have agreed on the officials who will hold key positions in the world's biggest trading bloc in the coming years. The EU leaders gathered in Brussels recently to settle on the bloc's leadership for the next five years. Antonio Costa, the newly elected President of the European Council, proposed Ursula von der Leyen as the candidate for President of the European Commission and chose Kaja Kallas as the candidate for High Representative Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, has been chosen to replace Charles Michel as Council president. His appointment as Council President signals a new phase, despite questions surrounding his political career in Portugal. His previous governance and diplomatic skills are seen as assets in enhancing the Council's role in EU affairs. Costa, in accepting his new role, expressed a sense of mission, stating, "It is with a strong sense of mission that I will take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council." He thanked his socialist supporters and the Portuguese government for their backing and emphasized his commitment to unity and advancing the Strategic Agenda. The trio's selection reflects the EU's emphasis on political diversity, geographical representation, and gender balance in leadership roles. Costa's heritage, with roots extending beyond Europe, also highlights a broader inclusivity in EU leadership. Looking ahead, von der Leyen has initiated discussions with Socialist and Liberal groups to formulate a cohesive agenda for her next term. She expressed openness to broader parliamentary support to strengthen Europe's resilience and influence globally, euronews reported. (ANI) In the aftermath of President Joe Biden's disappointing debate performance, panic has gripped the Democratic Party, sparking intense discussions about the viability of his candidacy. Reports from Politico reveal a flurry of behind-the-scenes activity, with strategists and donors alike voicing concerns and exploring alternatives. According to sources close to potential Democratic candidates, the debate prompted a wave of urgent messages. Advisers reported receiving pleas for their candidates to step forward as potential replacements for Biden, reflecting a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction within the party. "There have been no less than half a dozen key donors texting 'disaster' and insisting that 'the party needs to do something,'" admitted one strategist, who acknowledged the challenges of making any significant changes without Biden voluntarily stepping aside, Politico reported. Among the concerned voices was a major Democratic donor and Biden supporter who bluntly stated, "Biden needs to drop out. No question about it." The sentiment was echoed by suggestions of alternative tickets led by figures like the governors of Maryland and Michigan. Despite the mounting pressure, some prominent Democrats stood by Biden. Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California reaffirmed their support, dismissing calls for Biden to withdraw as "unhelpful" and emphasising the importance of party unity. Biden's struggles during the debate, billed as a critical moment to reshape the campaign narrative, only exacerbated existing concerns about his age and performance. A former senior Biden White House official lamented, "No Labels and Dean Phillips won this debate," referring to the outsider efforts advocating for alternatives outside the Biden-Trump dichotomy. While the calls for Biden to step aside underscore a significant shift in Democratic circles, the practicality of such a move remains uncertain. Incumbent presidents historically face challenges in early debates, often due to the demands of their office and limited preparation time. However, Biden's perceived lackluster performance reinforced doubts about his ability to effectively lead the party into the 2024 election, according to Politico. An adviser to Democratic Party donors described a scene of dismay at a gathering in Atlanta, where reactions ranged from frustration to incredulity. "Our only hope is that he bows out, we have a brokered convention, or dies," the adviser lamented, reflecting the deep concerns within Democratic ranks about Biden's electability. Despite the internal turmoil, many insiders acknowledged the unlikelihood of a brokered convention or Biden voluntarily stepping down. "Only one guy can decide, and it's him," remarked a Democratic strategist, highlighting the pivotal role Biden plays in any decision regarding his candidacy. Pushing back against criticism, Biden's campaign remained steadfast in its support for the president. An adviser emphasized Biden's record as "the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump," expressing confidence in his ability to repeat that feat in 2024. Addressing speculation about Biden dropping out, a campaign aide dismissed such notions outright, citing strong grassroots fundraising immediately following the debate as evidence of ongoing support, as reported by Politico. In a statement, Biden's campaign chair, Jen O'Malley Dillon, defended the president's performance, asserting that Biden "presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America" while contrasting Trump's rhetoric as regressive and divisive. Democratic consultant Stephanie Cutter sought to temper concerns, declaring, "President Biden is the Democratic nominee, and that's not changing because of one debate performance." She urged party members to stay focused, warning against allowing Trump to gain political ground as a result of internal divisions. Despite efforts to rally around Biden, skepticism persisted among Democrats about his ability to effectively lead the party into the election. A down-ballot statewide Democrat candidly remarked, "I mean, it's not great all around. Our president has a speech impediment, a cold, and is 81." Reflecting on the debate, a senior adviser to top Democratic officials offered a scathing assessment, saying, "He was bad on message, bad on substance, bad on counterpunching, bad on presentation, bad on non-verbals. There was no bright spot in this debate for him." Looking ahead, the Democratic Party faces a critical juncture as it grapples with the aftermath of Biden's debate performance. The debate has laid bare deep-seated concerns about Biden's candidacy and raised questions about the party's strategy heading into the 2024 election cycle, Politico reported. (ANI) An evangelist who had received death threats from Muslim extremists was killed after leading Muslims and others to Christ on June17 in eastern Uganda, sources said. The body of evangelist Richard Malinga was found in the evening at Kayete Swamp in Akisim A village, Butebo Districtafter he had texted his pastor that he was surrounded by Muslims, sources said. He was 36. A Baptist church in Pallisa District had sent him to visit homes with the gospel, his pastor said. He left his hometown in Pallisa District the morning of June 17 to share about Christ in Butebo District, and several people put their faith in Christ, including some radical Muslims, said his churchs senior pastor. The evening of June 17, I received a short message from Malinga of being surrounded by the Muslims, said the pastor, whose name is withheld for security reasons. I wrote back to him several times, but there was no response. Malinga had been receiving threatening messages from Muslim extremists in Budaka, Kadama, Butebo and Pallisa, the pastor said. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up An area resident found Malingas body. I heard a loud wailing at around 7:30 p.m. on the main road between Butebo and Alodot village near Kayete Swamp in Akisim A village situated in Butebo District, said the resident on condition of anonymity. We dashed to the scene and found the victim in a pool of blood. We found the victim dead and tied with ropes. Searching for his identity, he and others found Malingas phone and messages from the pastor, whom they then called. The pastor called police in Butebo District, who arrived at the scene with the resident and took Malingas body to a Butebo District mortuary. Police began a manhunt the next day. We as a church are very saddened for losing our active, devoted and committed evangelist who won many people, including Muslims, to Christianity, the pastor said. Police have opened a murder case, file No. CRB 178/2024. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. The Indian Embassy in Lebanon has issued an advisory for Indian nationals to stay in touch with the embassy amid the recent situation as a 'matter of precaution' so that they can swiftly contact at the shortest possible time. Addressing a weekly briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The embassy in Beirut has issued an advisory. The advisory is not a travelling advisory, restricting Indians from travelling to Beirut. It is an advisory for Indian nationals who are based in Lebanon so that they stay in touch with the embassy." "There is an evolving situation here and as a matter of precaution, this particular advisory has been issued so that the embassy is enabled if there is a requirement to get in touch with Indian nationals, they can do so at the shortest possible time," he added. Further, an MEA spokesperson also said many Indians reside and work in Lebanon, and the Indian Embassy in Lebanon is in regular contact with them so that prompt assistance can be provided if needed. "Many Indians live and work there, according to my information, there are 2000-3000 Indians in Lebanon and our embassy is in continuous touch with them. We didn't issue a travel advisory, we just said to keep in touch with the embassy so that if there is any problem, so that we can take prompt action," said MEA. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that earlier on Thursday, Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft attacked in the Sakhmar region of Lebanon, where they eliminated an active UAV/drone launch unit of the Hezbollah air unit that had carried out launches into Israel earlier. In addition, IAF fighter jets attacked military buildings of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah in the areas of Hula and Aitaroun in southern Lebanon. At the same time, the IDF forces fired artillery into the areas of Wadi Hamoula and near Naqoura, both in southern Lebanon. In addition, on June 26, the terrorist infrastructure of the Hezbollah organisation was attacked in the areas of Odaisseh and Al-Khiam in Lebanon. Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have risen sharply since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing military campaign by Israel in Gaza. Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has been firing missiles, mortars and drones into Israel, and Israel has returned that fire, CNN reported. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the mountainous border have fled as concerns intensify about the possible outbreak of another full-fledged war. (ANI) Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will be discharged from a hospital on Saturday after his successful knee surgery in the United States. Dalai Lama's personal physician, Dr Tsetan D Sadutshang and Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Taklha, in a short briefing detailed Dalai Lama's condition after his total knee replacement surgery on Friday morning. "Dalai Lama's knee surgery this morning was very successful and his holiness is now resting in his hospital room. His holiness condition is stable," they said in the online briefing on X. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's physician further said that there was no problem with the treatment. "There was no problem at all. His holiness is ready to take his lunch right now. He will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow," he said. "All the doctors and nurses in the hospital are giving their service in the highest standard to his holiness, he said, adding that all the staff at the hospital here are highly dedicated in giving their best services to his holiness. His physician emphasised that this is the best hospital for knee surgery in the US. "This is the best hospital for knee surgery in the US and the orthopaedic surgeons are the best in the country. Therefore, please feel at ease, everyone," he added. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama arrived in New York on Monday after a halt in Switzerland's Zurich. He was welcomed by the members of the Tibetan community and his well-wishers. Dalai Lama left for Delhi from Dharamshala on Friday, to head to the US for his knee surgery. During his stop in Switzerland, he received a traditional Tibetan welcome on his arrival at a hotel in Zurich. His well-wishers and guests watched as the Dalai Lama walked through the hotel lobby. He greeted an old friend as he walked through the hotel lobby in Zurich. Hundreds of Tibetans and devotees also thronged the streets to pay obeisance to the spiritual leader. (ANI) In a series of resignations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's party leaders, another party leader, Junaid Akbar, has tendered his resignation from the party's core committee, reported ARY News. Earlier on Thursday, PTI top leader Omar Ayub Khan resigned from the post of Secretary General. The PTI Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Junaid Akbar, resigned from the party's core committee and criticised the leadership, stating that he is not part of any group and will never be, according to an official statement. Without citing anyone, he accused certain individuals of having personal interests and using the party for their own gain, adding that he has no authority in decision-making and no access to PTI founder Imran Khan, as reported by ARY News. "These individuals meet Imran Khan and they don't let us meet him," he added. The PTI MNA said that he is only informed of the party's policies and decisions and that the party leadership does not listen to his concerns. Akbar announced that he would start a movement for accountability along with the party workers. Junaid's resignation comes a day after PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan resigned from his party positions. Omar Ayub, who is also a leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, submitted his resignation on June 22, which was accepted by founding chairman Imran Khan, ARY News reported. "I am most grateful to [former] PM Imran Khan sahib for accepting my resignation as Secretary General PTI to focus on my role as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of Pakistan," he posted on his official X handle on Thursday. Ayub, in his resignation, mentioned that it was not possible for him to continue working as the party's secretary general and also justify his job as opposition leader in the National Assembly. He further indicated that he would be stepping down as chairman of the PTI's Central Finance Board but stressed that he would continue as a party worker. The development came amid reports of rifts in the ranks of the PTI. Earlier, Geo News reported citing sources that PTI-backed 27 Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers deliberated on the option of resignation from the National Assembly in protest against the party's top leadership. The insiders said that 21 out of 27, of its lawmakers hinted at forming a forward bloc over top leadership's inability to secure the release of party founder Imran Khan from jail. (ANI) The NAB Chairman moved the Pakistan Supreme Court against the verdict of the Islamabad High Court granting bail to the PTI founder. The graft-buster body chief said that the high court 'neglected' the facts while granting bail to the former prime minister in the 190 million pound National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement case. Moreover, the SC has pleaded to overturn the verdict of the IHC. Earlier in May, the Islamabad High Court granted bail to PTI founder Imran Khan in the 190 million pound National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement reference, ARY News reported. A two-member bench, comprising IHC CJ Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, reserved the verdict a day ago after the arguments were completed. The IHC, in its short order, ordered the authorities to release the PTI founder against the surety bond of Rs 1 million. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) launched an investigation against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and others for the alleged gain of hundreds of canals of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer, according to ARY News. According to the charges, the former prime minister and others accused allegedly adjusted Rs 50 billion to 190 million pounds at the time, sent by Britain's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government. In December 2023, the NAB filed a corruption reference against Imran Khan and seven others, including his wife, in connection with the Al-Qadir University. The PTI chief registered Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on Dec 26, 2019. (ANI) Over half-a-million Haitians already in the United States will be eligible for deportation protections after the Biden administration announced it is expanding a federal program that allows nationals of Haiti to temporarily live and work here amid their Caribbean nations worsening gang violence and humanitarian crisis. Department of Homeland Secretary Alejando Mayorkas announced on Friday that the agency would extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Haiti for 18 months. The agency cited the countrys ongoing violence and insecurity, and Haitians limited access to safety, health care, food and water. To benefit, Haitians need to have been in the U.S. as of June 3. One of the largest groups of Haitians expected to benefit under the Biden plan are those who arrived in the U.S. as part of a two-year humanitarian parole program. Currently, there are approximately 214,000 Haitians who are receiving TPS benefits. Another 309,000, including those here under the humanitarian program, may become newly eligible following Fridays announcement. Haitians enrolled in TPS are protected from deportation and can apply for work permits. The designation, once targeted for termination by President Donald Trump during his administration, is reserved for countries in turmoil as a result of devastating natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. We are providing this humanitarian relief to Haitians already present in the United States given the conditions that existed in their home country as of June 3, 2024. In doing so, we are realizing the core objective of the TPS law and our obligation to fulfill it, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. Haitians enrolled in TPS are protected from deportation and can apply for work permits. The designation, once targeted for termination by President Donald Trump during his administration, is reserved for countries in turmoil as a result of devastating natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. Demonstrators wave flags and chant words of support on Sunday in North Miami, joining Haitians across the United States and the world in a march to bring awareness to the escalating violence in the Caribbean country. The redesignation comes amid a period of extreme turbulence in Haiti as gangs attack neighborhoods and institutions and threaten to overthrow the countrys government. Gang violence killed and injured around 2,500 people during the first three months of this year. Nearly 580,000 are internally displaced, according to a recent U.N. report. While TPS is not a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship, it allows program recipients to temporarily reside and work in the U.S. until conditions in their country improve. Homeland Security acknowledged that the country is experiencing overlapping humanitarian challenges, including ongoing devastation and vulnerability from natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storms and flooding, that have led to thousands of deaths in recent years. While TPS is not a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship, it allows program recipients to temporarily reside and work in the U.S. until conditions in their country improves. The new designation will run from August 2024 through February 2026. It will benefit many immigrants and their loved ones in South Florida, home to one of the largest Haitian communities in the U.S. Many Haitian newcomers have arrived in the Miami metro area in recent years, both through the U.S.-Mexico border and by sea. A boat carrying over 100 Haitian migrants arrived in Key West on Wednesday. READ MORE: More than 100 Haitian migrants land in Key West. They spent seven days at sea In recent years, Haitians abroad have helped contribute billions in remittances to families and friends back in the country, where the ongoing violence has shuttered businesses, hospitals and schools. The U.N. has said almost half of the population, about 5 million Haitians, face hunger. The echo of this long overdue announcement has been felt not only throughout the Haitian diaspora, but also in Haitis most remote corners where families depend on the uncertain fate of TPS beneficiaries, said Frandley Julien, an immigration attorney in South Florida. Once this election is over, the task will be to secure a permanent solution for these people. The upcoming TPS redesignation for Haiti is the latest major immigration action from President Joe Biden. His administration has been under pressure to curb irregular migration amid a high volume of migrants coming to the southwest land border in recent years. Nearly a month ago, the federal government announced it would generally ban migrants who cross the border unlawfully from receiving asylum during periods where authorities register a certain of migrant encounters there. Its a policy that has ignited collective furor among immigration advocates. Almost two weeks ago, the administration announced a process that eliminated a major barrier for the undocumented spouses of Americans who have lived here over a decade to apply for permanent residency. Critics of TPS have historically expressed concerns that it will encourage more people to migrate, though people can only benefit from TPS if they were in the country before a certain cutoff date. DHS emphasized in its statement on Friday announcing the new redesignation that Haitians who came after June 3rd would not be eligible for the protection and would face deportation if they could not establish a legal basis to stay in the U.S. That measure will benefit about half-a-million people. Parole program recipients eligible Haiti received a Temporary Protected Status redesignation after the devastating 2010 earthquake, which the Caribbean countrys government estimates killed over 300,000 people. The program has continued despite the Trump administrations attempts to end the relief for immigrants from Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and other countries. The Biden administration first redesignated TPS for Haiti in the weeks after the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Jovenel Moise. It then pushed the cutoff date through another redesignation so Haitians that had arrived before November 2022 could apply for the immigration relief. Among the biggest beneficiaries of Fridays decision are many of the over 193,000 Haitians who have arrived in the U.S. through a humanitarian parole process from the Biden administration for citizens of Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The parole program allows people from the four countries to live and work in the U.S. for two years as long as they have a financial sponsor and pass health and background checks, among other requirements. Cubans who come through the separate parole process can get green cards after a year and one day under the Cuban Adjustment Act. But the pathway for Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to stay in the United States after their two years ends is unclear. The TPS redesignation is a new avenue for Haitian recipients of the parole program to temporarily stay in the United States that was previously unavailable before Friday. Haitian leaders, lawyers, and immigration advocates have fought for months behind-the-scenes for a TPS expansion that included parole beneficiaries. Dozens of members of Congress also urged Homeland Security and the State Department to support a redesignation while calling on the administration to halt deportations to Haiti to prevent further suffering and unnecessary loss of life. Biden and his immigration officials have come under fire from advocates for continuing deportations to Haiti. We welcome and applaud Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden-Harris administration for listening to the voices of our community, said Guerline Jozef, a Haitian advocate who led the campaign for the extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti. This didnt just happen. It is the result of a long fought organized campaign, courageous community members and allies turning this dream into reality she said. Still, Jozef said with those who arrive after June 3 not eligible for the program, they continue to call on the Biden administration to halt all deportations to Haiti. Redesignating Haiti for TPS is not only a compassionate response but a necessary one, said Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, which described the move as a lifeline. The conditions in Haiti make it impossible for people to return safely. This decision will save lives and help keep families together, Petit said. This move will not only benefit the Haitian community but also contribute significantly to the American economy. Haitians in the U.S. have been, and will continue to be vital members of our society, contributing to the economic and cultural fabric of our nation. Since February 29, criminal gangs in Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, have broken out thousands of inmates from prisons, and attacked neighborhoods, police stations, national institutions and hospitals. Following the forced resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, a presidential transitional council of Haitian leaders, with support from the U.S. and Caribbean Community, chose Garry Conille, a longtime U.N. civil servant to lead the countrys government transition. Conille, who briefly served as prime minister between 2011-2012, recently installed a new government and named a new head of the police. On Tuesday, he received the first 200 police officers from Kenya as part of a long-delayed U.S. and U.N.-backed Multinational Security Support mission led by the East African nation. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Performing administrative tasks in ancient Egypt may not sound physically demanding, but new research has revealed that being a scribe left a mark on the skeletons of the men who held those privileged positions. Scribes were high-status men with the ability to write and were part of the 1% of the population that was literate, according to the authors of a new study published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports. But the tasks that scribes carried out were repetitive. Today, office workers seek ergonomically supportive chairs for long hours sitting at a desk. The Egyptian men assumed one of three positions that became an occupational hazard, the study authors found. Researchers analyzed the remains of 69 men buried at a necropolis in Abusir, Egypt, between 2700 BC and 2180 BC. Thirty of the men were scribes, as marked on their tombs, and their skeletons had more degenerative joint changes within specific areas of their bodies than the other remains. The findings open a new window into what life was like for scribes in ancient Egypt during the third millennium BC. Becoming a scribe The remains analyzed in the study belonged to men who lived in the heyday of ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom, or the era of pyramid builders, said study coauthor Veronika Dulikova, an Egyptologist within the Czech Institute of Egyptology at Charles University in Prague. Records from that time indicate to researchers that sons of elite families were educated at the royal court. At a very early age, in their teens, they enlisted to serve in entry-level positions in various administrative offices to gain the necessary training to further their careers, Dulikova said in an email. They then moved up the hierarchy of the offices they held. At the time, literacy was in its infancy, she said. There was no need for a predominantly agricultural population to be able to read and write. Scribes in ancient Egypt worked positions not too dissimilar from government positions in modern society. These people belonged to the elite of the time and formed the backbone of the state administration, Dulikova said. Literate people worked in important government offices such as the treasury (todays Ministry of Finance), the granary (todays Ministry of Agriculture), the department of royal document, etc. They also played an important role in the collection of taxes, in temple cults and in royal pyramid complexes. Egyptologist Veronika Dulikova appears on site at Abusir documenting a hieroglyphic inscription from the tomb of the official Idu. - Martin Frouz/Archive of Czech Institute of Egyptology; Faculty of Arts; Charles University The roles of the scribes were crucial in ancient Egyptian society, but the records they left behind have been even more valuable to researchers. The ancient Egyptians kept careful records of everything, which they then stored in archives, Dulikova said. When we find such a paper archive today, it is literally a treasure. From such records we can learn much about the functioning of the temple complexes, the services of the officials in the temples, the form of their salaries, what furniture or utensils were stored in the temple storehouses, etc. The Egyptians were so detailed that they included written records directly in the tombs to identify the positions, careers and ranks of the men buried there, which helped researchers identify the administrative scribes. Skeletal clues Lead study author Petra Brukner Havelkova, an anthropologist at the National Museum in Prague, has specialized in identifying activity-induced skeletal markers for nearly 20 years. When Havelkova looked at the remains uncovered at Abusir and spotted examples of stress on the cervical spines, she realized there might be a connection between the skeletal degeneration and the mens occupations. The first skeletons of Old Kingdom people were uncovered in 1976 at Abusir, but it took decades to unearth more. After being unable to find any research on degenerative joint and bone disease in ancient scribes, Havelkova teamed up with Dulikova and other colleagues to conduct a study of their own. They began marking changes in scribe skeletons in 2009, but it took another decade to find enough remains for a comprehensive study. During their analysis, the researchers discovered that the scribes had a higher incidence of osteoarthritis, or a disease where joint tissues break down over time. These changes were observed in joints connecting the lower jaw to the skull, the right collarbone, the top of the upper right arm bone connected to the shoulder, the bottom of the thigh, right thumb bones and throughout the spine. There were also noticeable changes, such as a flattened part of the bone on the lower part of the right ankle and indentations on both kneecaps. A drawing shows the parts of the skeleton most affected by the sitting positions and work carried out by scribes. - Jolana Malatkova/Archive of Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University Most of the skeletal changes could be traced to the positions scribes assumed as they carried out their work, which has been recorded on tomb wall decorations and in statues. Scribes either stood, kneeled or sat with their legs crossed for long periods of time as they wrote. If they sat cross-legged, their stretched skirts served as a table, according to the researchers. In this position, they likely sat for hours, head bent forward with their arms unsupported and their spines flexed. But skeletal changes in their knees, hips and ankles also point to a squatting or crouching position that many scribes preferred. Its likely that the scribes sat with their left legs in a kneeling or crossed position, while their right legs were bent with the knees pointing upward. A jaw joint surprise The scribes also chewed the ends of the rush stems they used for writing implements to create brushlike heads that they spent hours holding in a pinchlike position. The chewing explains why their jaws were overloaded, while long hours of writing likely caused the skeletal changes observed in their right thumbs, the researchers said. The researchers were less surprised to find changes in the lower limbs because cross-legged sitting and kneeling were common among the entire population at the time, but they werent expecting the jaw changes. The biggest surprise was the extreme overloading of the jaw joints in the scribes, Havelkova said in an email. This was something we hadnt even hypothesized at first, focusing primarily on the rest of the skeleton outside the skull. Dr. Sonia Zakrzewski, a professor of bioarchaeology and bioanthropology at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, called the research innovative. She was not involved in the study. It synthesises both the Egyptological record (including the pictorial and sculptural evidence) with the bioarchaeological evidence of activity-related skeletal change to argue that the changes to muscle attachment sites and the location for arthritic change is suggestive of the individuals affected being scribes, Zakrzewski said in an email. One of the key issues we have in bioarchaeology is that we do not know exactly how much, how long and/or how frequent activities have to be undertaken in order for skeletal change to occur but we know that our bodies remodel in response to such strains. This integration of other aspects of archaeology with the skeletal record is needed in bioarchaeology and this study is a really nice example of that type of approach. Now, the researchers want to collaborate with other groups to study and analyze scribes and other individuals across different ancient Egyptian cemeteries, such as the burial site at Saqqara. Together with our neighbours at Saqqara, we share a common goal, which is to learn as much as possible about the life, and death, of the people who lived in the time of the pyramid builders, Havelkova said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Christy McCormick spoke at the Iowa State Association of County Auditors summer conference in Des Moines June 27, 2024 about federal resources available to local election officials. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) As distrust in election integrity rises nationwide, Christy McCormick with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission said the agency is working with local election officials to combat misinformation about election security, check that voting systems are working correctly and ensure they are prepared for Nov. 5. McCormick spoke at the Iowa State Association of County Auditors summer conference in Des Moines Thursday, going over resources available through the EAC to local and state officials. In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, McCormick said election officials are facing new challenges with public perception. Theres a new interest in elections and every part of the election process that we never used to see back, you know, 10, 15 years ago, McCormick said. Theres a lot more scrutiny on election officials now, every single move that they make is being watched. So they have to be careful, they have to be as perfect as they possibly can. Theyre under a lot of stress, so were trying to provide them with resources, trying to get new election officials up to speed. The commission, created through the 2002 Help America Vote Act, is the federal government body dedicated to overseeing and providing resources on election administration to officials throughout the country, including ensuring voting systems meet federal guidelines, certifying voting equipment and maintaining the National Mail Voter Registration Form. In Iowa, the EAC official spoke about resources through the commission available to county auditors and local election offices ahead Nov. 5. For example, McCormick said, Iowa uses the voluntary EAC program for testing and certifying voting systems. Other resources are available to ensure election systems are secure, she said, like the Field Services Program bringing EAC staff to test machines and conduct manufacturer audits, and a learning lab launched to train new election officials. The EAC also works with states and Congress on HAVA grants, federal funding for election security efforts distributed to states. Congress approved $55 for these grants in 2024, a compromise reached between the Democrat-controlled Senates proposal of $75 million and the Republican-controlled House proposal of zero dollars. The most recent appropriation falls below the $75 million approved in fiscal years 2023 and 2022. According to EAC data compiled in 2023, Iowa has received more than $46 million in federal funds for election security and maintenance since 2003. Read more: States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure Federal election security funding has received bipartisan support in the past. But Democrats and advocates linked GOP criticism of HAVA grants to rising hostility against election offices and staff since the 2020 election, when former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the election was stolen. Elections officials have also seen a surge of threats and safety concerns ahead of the 2024 election. Local election offices in California, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon and Washington received letters filled with powder some containing fentanyl ahead of the November 2023 election. According to a May report from the Brennan Center for Justice, a voting rights nonprofit, 38% of local election officials nationwide have reported experiencing threats, harassment or abuse. McCormick said the EAC is also working with local and state election officials on safety precautions, including trainings with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on how to respond to potentially hazardous mail, or how to take private information off online search engines to prevent stalking or doxxing. Though elections officials are facing more attention because of heightened concerns about integrity, McCormick encouraged people with questions and concerns to be in contact with their local election offices. One of the best ways to learn about how the election process works is to get involved, she said, encouraging people to become poll workers and to vote. Officials are preparing for an interesting election season, she said, but that the EAC is working with officials on how to respond to situations where problems do arise, encouraging transparency on processes like auditing and recounts, as well as making contingency plans in case emergencies arise on Election Day. We got to make sure everythings secure, weve got to watch out for rogue situations, you know, weve got to make sure that our poll workers and our election officials are safe, that the voters are safe, that the polling places are safe, McCormick said. (Were) dotting all the is, crossing all the Ts making sure everything is in order. The post U.S. Election Assistance commissioner prepares for 2024 election with Iowa officials appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. A Lynchburg police officer shot and killed an armed man who had taken a woman hostage and barricaded himself in a room Thursday night at a Super 8 hotel on Candlers Mountain Road, according to the Lynchburg Police Department. Police said officers went to the hotel on Thursday shortly after 8 p.m. to serve an arrest warrant on Francisco Hernandez Jr., 32, of Newport News. When police arrived, they saw Hernandez had a weapon. He went back into his hotel room and barricaded himself inside with a woman as hostage, LPD said in a news release. Officers spent about three hours attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Hernandez and the release of his hostage, according to the Virginia State Police. At about 11 p.m., Hernandez confronted Lynchburg officers while holding the woman hostage at knifepoint, the state police said in a news release. When Hernandez refused to comply with commands to drop the knife and release the hostage, an officer fired a handgun shooting Hernandez, police said. Police did not say whether Hernandez was still inside the hotel room when he was shot and killed. Officers provided first aid to the man immediately after he was shot but he died at the scene, police said. His body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for autopsy and examination, according to police. The woman was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for evaluation. No police officers were injured in the incident, LPD said. This is the first officer-involved shooting by Lynchburg police in 2024. The previous officer-involved shooting in Lynchburg occurred on Nov. 10 on Boonsboro Road, when a police officer shot a man who was stabbing a woman. Tony Lee Brown survived the shooting, but the woman Brown is accused of stabbing died of her injuries. After an investigation, the Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorneys office concluded the officers use of force in the Boonsboro Road case was justifiable. Brown is charged with murder and set for trial Oct. 28 in Lynchburg Circuit Court. In another officer-involved shooting, a Lynchburg woman was shot by police last September after she charged at officers with a knife at Miller Park. The woman, Ashley Biggs Neeleym, survived the shooting, and the use of force by police was ruled justified. LPD has asked Virginia State Police to conduct an independent investigation into the officers fatal shooting of the man on Thursday night, as is customary in officer-involved shootings. The department said it also will conduct an internal investigation. Virginia State Police said its Bureau of Criminal Investigations Appomattox Field Office will be investigating the fatal shooting. Once the investigation is complete, state police will turn the investigative findings over to the Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney for final review. The officer who fired the shot that killed the man has been placed in a non-enforcement, limited duty assignment until the completion of the investigation, as is also customary in police shootings. The same Super 8 hotel at 3736 Candlers Mountain Road was the scene of a fatal shooting in 2020. In that shooting, a Chesterfield man shot and killed a Petersburg man at the hotel. In April, the suspect in that shooting, Ishmael Bailey, was sentenced in a Lynchburg court to a total of 53 years in prison with 28 years suspended. LONDON, Jun 28 (News On Japan) - Currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, the attire of Empress Masako has garnered significant attention. Upon arrival at the UK airport, Empress Masako was seen in a bright blue suit, matching the Emperor's tie, creating a coordinated look. Later, at the welcoming ceremony, she wore the same white outfit as Queen Camilla, adorned with lace on her hat and coat. During the floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, she was also in white, and for the banquet, she donned a formal robe decollete. Hiroko Makishima, Imperial Household Agency Commentator, explains, "It seems she chose colors appropriate for the host country. The 'bright blue' she wore might have been inspired by the pale blue symbolizing the British porcelain manufacturer Wedgwood, beloved by the British Royal Family." According to the Japanese Embassy in the UK, white is considered a happy color in the UK. The all-lace white outfit at the welcoming ceremony was particularly elegant. Empress Masako's wardrobe also highlights her skill in rewearing outfits. A polka-dot jacket worn in 2002 during a retreat in Nasu and in 2020 during official duties related to education, and a blue suit worn on her 32nd birthday in 1995 and again at a fisheries-related ceremony in 2022 are notable examples. Source: TBS Sudan contributed to the highest global number of human displacement in 2023 according to a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) report. Released days after observing World Refugee Day on June 20th, the UNHCR Global Trends report revealed that more than 7.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan due to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces that started in April 2023. In addition to the war, Sudan is one of the countries experiencing severe or extreme levels of climate-related hazards. The 6 million internally displaced people are now exposed to extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods and extreme heat, in addition to a worsening humanitarian situation. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more intense. These have often impacted countries experiencing new or escalating conflicts. In these situations where capacities to adapt are severely limited, climate-related hazards are exacerbating vulnerabilities such as poverty, triggering harmful coping strategies, noted the UN report. Approximately 1.2 million Sudanese sought refuge in neighboring countries of Egypt, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan by the end of 2023, with that number expected to go higher, a year after the conflict. The UN agency noted that Sudans neighbors healthcare, education, social housing and legal framework are insufficient to accommodate the refugees. It added that 9.1 million people in Sudan are facing a dire humanitarian situation, the largest number of people ever recorded to have remained displaced within their own country at end-year. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up The situation in Sudan is exacerbated by the fact that over 1 million refugees from South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Syria had settled in Sudan before the conflict. Many have now been forced to return to their home countries prematurely or move on to other countries, often arriving in remote and difficult-to-access locations that lack essential services, said the report. The UNHCR report also included the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 2.8 million people were displaced as the conflict between government forces and armed groups escalated in 2023 pushing the total number of Internally Displaced Persons in DRC to 6.3 million people. In Somalia, four years of famine, flash floods in April 2023 and persistent attacks by Al Shabaab militants pushed 1.1 million people to leave their homes. By the end of 2023, 117.3 million people around the world are living as internally displaced, refugees or asylum-seekers compared to 108.5 in 2022, an increase of 8.8 percent. Nearly half of the 68.3 million internally displaced people are from African countries impacted by war, persecution and adverse weather conditions. Speaking during the World Refugee Day, UNHCR High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, said that 700,000 people have fled the war in Sudan and are now living in South Sudan. Some fled this country long ago to escape South Sudans civil war; now they are being forced back to a place still struggling to recover from years of fighting and famine. Others are Sudanese - teachers, doctors, shopkeepers and farmers - who must now navigate life as refugees, said Grandi when he visited Jamjang Refugee Camp in South Sudan. Tom Albinson, the President of the International Association for Refugees, said that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Middle East host 85% of the refugees despite the stretched resources needed to support the refugees. The vast majority who flee their countries due to persecution or war, go next door. They are not trying to get further away. They all dream, for the first five years at least, of going back home one day. But when they realize thats not going to happen, then their choices are very limited, Albinson told CDI in an interview published for World Refugee Sunday. Speaking from his 44-years experience working with refugees, Albinson added that the Church stands as a beacon of hope in providing; safe, supportive and social communities in refugee camps, introducing and teaching a Christian worldview, providing emotional and psychosocial support and impacting practical skills to enable refugees to earn a living. At the same time, many countries experiencing conflict can be difficult environments for Christians who may suffer discrimination or persecution for their faith. In a statement calling for urgent intervention in Sudan, the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) said that the conflict has aggravated tensions around religious freedom in Sudan. The association highlighted increased cases of churches being torched and congregations being harassed over the past one year. The displacement of millions has led to the breakdown of community structures, including our church communities. Many congregations have been scattered, with members fleeing to different parts of the country or abroad. This scattering has disrupted the spiritual and communal support systems that churches provide, leaving individuals isolated and struggling to maintain their faith and practices in the face of extreme adversity, noted AEA. While supporting AEAs position, the General Secretary of Evangelical Alliance of Sudan, Rafat Samir said that despite the dire humanitarian need and the uncertainty occasioned by the war, many Christians continue to gather, finding ways to worship and support each other even in the face of danger. The church in Sudan remains a beacon of hope and resilience, said Samir. FUKUOKA, Jun 28 (News On Japan) - Fukuoka District Court has sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for the murder of his former girlfriend in front of JR Hakata Station. According to the indictment, Satoshi Terauchi, 32, was charged with murder and violating the Stalker Regulation Law after repeatedly stabbing his former girlfriend, Miki Kawano, 38, with a knife on the street in front of JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka City in January of last year. During the trial, the prosecution argued for a 30-year sentence, stating that the crime was impulsive and self-centered, leaving no room for leniency. The defense, however, denied the stalking allegations and contended that a 17-year sentence would be appropriate. In the verdict announced on June 28, Judge Atsushi Tomita ruled that Terauchi's actions, driven by romantic obsession and resentment, constituted stalking, thereby violating the Stalker Regulation Law. Combining this with a separate assault case, the court sentenced Terauchi to 20 years in prison. Source: ANN OXFORD, Jun 29 (News On Japan) - The Emperor and Empress of Japan arrived in Oxford at around 7:30 PM Japan time on June 28. They were greeted by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and other dignitaries. Their first stop was Balliol College, where Empress Masako studied. Empress Masako studied international relations at Oxford while working as a diplomat. Emperor Naruhito, who researched the history of the Thames River, was already acquainted with her, as she was considered a candidate for marriage at that time. Alongside her studies, she occasionally showcased her culinary skills by preparing Japanese dishes at parties. Upon returning to Japan, Empress Masako played a pivotal role in diplomacy, serving as an interpreter for numerous dignitaries. Her former professors speak highly of her exceptional abilities. One of her mentors, Lucas Tsoukalis, described her as very approachable, charming, intelligent, and active, and one of the best students I have ever had. Another mentor, Adam Roberts, recalled an event where Empress Masako attended a dinner with her father, a diplomat, alongside other distinguished scholars. He remarked, Empress Masako seamlessly mingled with the highly talented academics. She was very composed, maintaining her humor and smile, and I felt she possessed extraordinary capabilities. Before visiting Oxford, Emperor Naruhito reconnected with an old friend, Philip Whitmore, who played viola in a string quartet with him. Whitmore had mentioned in an interview on June 17 that he thought they wouldn't meet this time, but on June 26, he received a sudden call from the Japanese Embassy, and a meeting was arranged. Philip Whitmore shared, Yes, I met His Majesty. He was very lively, and we reminisced about old times. It seems his collection of violas has grown to four. After 15 years, they spent about 20 minutes chatting over tea. Whitmore added, I was delighted to see him. I hope he continues to find time for music despite his busy schedule. On June 27, Emperor Naruhito visited Windsor Castle on the outskirts of London, where the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away without a chance to reunite with him due to the pandemic, is laid to rest. After completing the official schedule, Emperor Naruhito spoke to the press, reflecting on his visit. The historic buildings of London and the serene presence of the Thames River made me feel strongly that I had returned to a place filled with memories. Many people welcomed us back with welcome back, and it made me very happy. I am grateful that Masako and I could visit this memorable place together. I was pleased to see everyone smiling during the dinner despite the solemn atmosphere. Source: ANN By Enioluwa Adeniyi A former lawmaker representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani, on Thursday, said he saved former President Olusegun Obasanjo from being assaulted by inmates at the Kirikiri Maximum Security prison in 1995. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain made this claim during a lecture in Abuja on Thursday. Obasanjo was Nigerias head of state from 1976 to 1979 and returned as civilian president in 1999 and handed over the reins of power in 2007. Sani was among pro-democracy activists and dissidents who were rounded up and jailed by the military junta led by Sani Abacha, who was head of state from 1993 to 1998. Obasanjo was arrested in 1995 for allegedly plotting a coup and was jailed. Recounting events from the era, Sani said himself, Shehu Musa YarAdua and Obasanjo were moved to Kirikiri prison after their arrests. He said armed robbers in prison began shouting and insulting the former president when they saw him. Sani added that he talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate. In 1995, a team of soldiers, policemen and DSS visited my house in Kaduna. It was a journey that began and lasted for four years. I was picked up from Kaduna and brought to Lagos with the late General Shehu Musa YarAdua. From the airport, we were led to the DSS headquarters, where we met President Olusegun Obasanjo. Unfairly from the soldiers, they handcuffed me but did not do so for Obasanjo or YarAdua. Obasanjo looked at me and asked me who I was and if I had stolen something for them to have handcuffed me. I told him I was an activist. I was then the deputy chairman of the Campaign for Democracy. We were taken to Kirikiri Maximum Prison. We stayed there without anybody saying anything to us. When we arrived at Kirikiri, we were given a blanket and a plate of food. We were then allocated our cells. When the armed robbers there saw Obasanjo, they started shouting and insulting him. Naturally, for those of us who were human rights activists, we were popular with inmates. I told him, You are a commander outside, but this is where I command. I then talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate. I got 15 years, Obasanjo got 15 years, YarAdua got life imprisonment. Those of us from the north were sent to southern prisons and those from the south were sent to northern prisons. That was how I found myself in Port Harcourt prison. I was in Port Harcourt prison when Ken Saro-Wiwa was brought in and hanged. I could see them from the window. The Africa Atlantic Initiative, launched by King Mohammed VI, was presented on Thursday, June 27, at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) during the meeting of the Trade, Customs, and Immigration Commission of the Pan-African legislative institution, holding the 3rd Ordinary Session of its 6th Legislature, from June 24 to July 5 at the institutions headquarters in Midrand, South Africa. Following the presentation and the ensuing debates on the Royal Atlantic initiative, the participating African MPs made several recommendations, including the creation of a parliamentary working group on King Mohammed VIs Initiative for Atlantic Africa and the Sahel countries, a visit to Morocco in November 2024, and a conference on the theme Atlantic Africa, a Catalyst Space for the AfCFTA during the next session of the PAP. The African deputies also requested the President of the PAP to appoint an honorary ambassador for the Atlantic Africa and Sahel Initiative. The presentation, made by Mrs. Hanaa Benkhair, member of the Chamber of Advisors and member of the PAP, under the theme The Moroccan Initiative for Atlantic Africa and the Sahel Countries: An Opportunity for the Continent, was followed with keen interest by the African MPs, as this strategic initiative is meant to strengthen cooperation, stability, and economic development in the Atlantic Africa region. The initiative offers a real opportunity for all African countries, as it has a significant positive impact on many sectors and activities, the Moroccan Counsellor noted. She explained that it particularly concerns the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through the improvement of logistical mechanisms facilitating trade between African countries, and economic growth, which will see an average annual increase in foreign direct investment of more than 5%. The royal initiative is also expected to enable the establishment of continental value chains and industrial ecosystems, thus promoting African cooperation based on the principles of co-development, the expansion of trade between African countries and the rest of the world, as well as the sharing of knowledge and exchange of best practices among the continents countries to optimize logistical and commercial efficiency. This initiative will increase the operational flow of ports in the Atlantic Africa maritime space, especially with the development of road and rail connectivity between landlocked countries. The Atlantic Africa region is crucial for global trade, encompassing 23 nations with significant economic and demographic weight, Mrs. Hanaa Benkhair noted, highlighting that many African ports, such as those in Tangier, Dakhla, Lagos, Dakar, Luanda, and Cape Town are essential for international trade, besides the fact that they increase regional competitiveness and economic attractiveness. In addition to Hanaa Benkhair, elected from the General Union of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), the Moroccan Parliament is represented at this new session of the PAP by Laila Dahi of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Khadija Arouhal of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), and Abdessamad Haiker of the Justice and Development Party (PJD). The Pan-African Parliament is a consultative assembly of the African Union that brings together deputies from the AU member countries. It was officially inaugurated on March 18, 2004. Each member state is represented by five parliamentarians from both the majority and the opposition, including at least one woman, elected or appointed by their national parliaments or legislative bodies. Nearly 750,000 people are on the brink of starvation in war-torn Sudan, where the conflict between rival army factions aggravates the humanitarian situation, the global authority on famine said. The war left nearly half Sudans 48 million population suffering from hunger in areas including the capital Khartum, according to the latest figures from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a group of experts from U.N. bodies and major relief agencies that measures hunger and formally declares famine. The unreliability of data due to the crumbling health system and the ongoing clashes prevent aid workers from reaching hard-hit areas. This makes estimates reflect the tip of the iceberg of a deteriorating situation in Sudan. UN and international NGOs have previously urged action to prevent famine in Sudan since December. In Darfur in particular, the risk of famine is imminent, where the siege of major towns triggered fears of a new genocide in the area. This is the single largest humanitarian crisis on the planet, Samantha Power, the head of USAID, told reporters on June 14. Some 2 million people have crossed the border to flee the ongoing civil war between the paramilitary RSF and the army, UNHCR said. The UN said it has received only 17% of the 2.7 billion dollars needed to address the humanitarian situation in the country. Germany considers the Moroccan autonomy plan to be a good basis and a very good foundation for the final settlement of the Sahara conflict, said, on Friday in Berlin, German Federal Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock. Speaking at a press conference held at the end of the first session of the bilateral strategic dialogue between Morocco and Germany, which she co-chaired with her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, Baerbock highlighted the relevance of the Moroccan autonomy initiative. She also reiterated her countrys support for UN efforts to find a political solution to the Sahara conflict. On Friday, Bourita and Baerbock held the first session of the bilateral strategic dialogue, in accordance with the joint declaration adopted on the occasion of Baerbocks visit to Morocco in August 2022. Germany commended the social and economic reforms carried out by Morocco, and the kingdoms active contribution to peace and stability in the region under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, and said it is closely following the royal initiative meant to enable Sahel States access the Atlantic Ocean. Germany welcomed the reforms carried out by Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, for a more open and dynamic Moroccan society and economy, states a joint declaration adopted in Berlin on Friday by the 1st session of the multidimensional strategic dialogue, co-chaired by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita. In the Declaration, Germany also praised Moroccos active and constructive role and contribution to peace and stability in the region. In this vein, Berlin reaffirmed Germanys vision of Morocco as an essential partner of the European Union, NATO, and Germany in Africa, and a crucial link between North and South. Germany also indicated that it was closely following the initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI for the African continent, including the Royal initiative meant to enable Atlantic Ocean access for Sahel States. Germany is closely following the initiatives launched by HM King Mohammed VI for the African continent, including that of November 6, 2023 for the Sahel region aimed at facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for the countries of the region, underlines the joint declaration At the end of this first session of the Dialogue, the two officials reaffirmed at a joint news conference their shared interest in pursuing the implementation of the Joint Declaration and strengthening the multi-faceted partnership in all policy areas. They also reaffirmed their desire to further develop bilateral economic and trade relations, and encouraged economic players to join in the endeavor, underlining Moroccos significant investment potential, as highlighted by the Moroccan Investment Charter. In the field of migration cooperation, the two foreign ministers expressed their support for the work of the bilateral Joint Migration Group, which held its inaugural session on January 23, 2024, and welcomed the regular working meetings. They agreed that reducing irregular migration is a common challenge and requires a comprehensive approach, guaranteeing international human rights standards. They thus agreed to continue improving professional mobility, legal migration, return, readmission, and reintegration. In terms of security cooperation, they welcomed the joint declaration signed by the Interior Ministers on October 31, 2023, aimed at resuming cooperation in all areas of domestic policy. They stressed their shared ambition to deepen dialogue to tackle terrorism and other security challenges together, notably within the Global Coalition against Daesh and the Global Counterterrorism Forum. They underlined their fruitful cooperation in the fields of climate policy, biodiversity, renewable energies and green hydrogen, which will be intensified at a strategic level. Likewise, Bourita and Baerbock agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in the cultural and academic fields and to strengthen ties between the two countries peoples. They also placed particular emphasis on promoting regional and international peace and security, and strengthening multilateral institutions. The Multidimensional Strategic Dialogue is held once every two years, alternately in Morocco and Germany, and is chaired by the Foreign Ministers of both countries. This Strategic Dialogue is based on shared values and mutual respect, with the aim of establishing the principles and foundations of relations between Morocco and Germany, defining the bases on which they will be developed, and safeguarding the priority interests of both parties. It serves as a basis for moving forward in bilateral relations and strengthening coherence between the different areas of bilateral cooperation. It also acts as a platform for discussion and consultation on strategic matters of mutual interest, including regional and international security and development issues. Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party has been appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament. What makes this significant is the fact that this marks the first time in a decade that the post has been filled, signaling a shift in the country's political landscape. There is no place for dictatorship within a democracy, Ajai Lall, the founder of the Central India Christian Mission told Christian Today highlighting the return of the Opposition. Gandhi's appointment comes after the recent general election, where the Congress party secured 99 seats, surpassing the 10% threshold required to claim the position. This development introduces a new dynamic to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which, despite retaining power with the help of allies, fell short of a majority after two consecutive landslides. The (election) results show that people of India see this principle clearly, continued Lall. The presence of a strong opposition is an indication of a fervent democracy. The role of Leader of the Opposition carries considerable weight in India's democratic system. As Gandhi steps into this position, he will sit on key committees responsible for crucial appointments and act as a counterbalance to the prime minister. His responsibilities include participating in the selection process for high-ranking officials such as the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Chief Election Commissioners, and the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. In his inaugural address to the Lok Sabha in his new role, Gandhi set a tone of cooperation tinged with assertiveness. He congratulated Om Birla on his appointment as Speaker of the House and assured him of the opposition's support. However, he also emphasized the importance of allowing the opposition's voice to be heard, stating, "It is very important that co-operation happens on the basis of trust. It is very important that the voice of the opposition is allowed to be represented in this House." Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up Gandhi's elevation to this position has been met with varied reactions from the INDIA bloc partners, a coalition of opposition parties. While most allies have expressed support, some, like the Trinamool Congress, have stressed the importance of giving due consideration to regional parties. The appointment is seen by many as a positive change for India's democracy. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of authoritarianism, a charge the BJP denies. A stronger opposition presence in parliament is expected to provide greater room for debate and make it more challenging for the government to pass bills without thorough discussions. Gandhi's new role comes with significant responsibilities. As Leader of the Opposition, he is expected to effectively question government policies, present alternatives to government proposals, and ensure accountability to both the legislature and the public. The Leader of the Opposition is often described as a "shadow Prime Minister", prepared to take on the responsibility of forming a government should his party secure a majority in a future election. The position also carries certain privileges and facilities. Gandhi will be entitled to a salary and allowances equivalent to those of cabinet ministers, a front-row seat in the Lok Sabha, and an office in the Parliament building with secretarial support. In a rare display of bipartisanship, Prime Minister Modi and Gandhi were seen shaking hands in the Lok Sabha before escorting Om Birla to the Speaker's chair. This gesture, while small, may signal a potential for more cordial relations between the government and opposition. Gandhi's appointment is particularly significant given his family's political legacy. He becomes the third member of the Gandhi family to hold this position, following in the footsteps of his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and his mother, Sonia Gandhi. Despite his long tenure in politics, including five terms as an MP, Gandhi has never held a ministerial position or led his party to victory in a general election. This new role will test his mettle as a leader and his ability to unite not only his own party but also the broader opposition coalition. The impact of Gandhi's appointment extends beyond the walls of parliament. It is expected to invigorate the opposition's efforts in upcoming state elections and potentially reshape the political dynamics leading up to the next general election. Lall does not fail to emphasize the role of prayer that Christians throughout India and the globe have made for this years elections. Through this season especially, we have witnessed the power of prayers when followers of Christ stood in solidarity, said Lall. But in all these things we know God will continue to strengthen His people and nothing is hidden from Him (God sees). RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari commented on the appointment's significance for Bihar, stating, "Now that Rahul Gandhi has become the leader of the opposition it will have a big impact in the state as both Rahul and Tejashwi Yadav will defeat the NDA in elections next year". As Gandhi takes on this new role, he faces the challenge of uniting not only his own party but also managing the diverse interests of the INDIA bloc partners. The coming months will likely see increased parliamentary activity as the newly strengthened opposition seeks to hold the government to account. Originally published by Christian Today India Now what? Photo: AFP via Getty Images After the debate debacle in Atlanta on June 27, the well-known hand-wringing tendencies of the Democratic Party are in very plain view. Thats particularly true in the left-of-center pundit class, where full-blown panic has erupted over the terrible sight and sound of Joe Biden struggling to debate Donald Trump. We still dont know the extent to which American voters share the horrified perceptions of Democratic elites; those not accustomed to Trumps own routine incoherence may have thought the debate was closer to a draw than a rout. It will probably be a week or two before we can properly contextualize Bidens bad night. But one thing should be very clear: Democrats are not going to dump the 46th president when they gather in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention on August 19. Yes, removing the presumptive nominee against his will is technically possible. Unlike the GOP, the party itself doesnt enforce delegate pledges to back the candidate under whose banner they were selected, though 14 states do have laws binding delegates to one extent or another. The real problem is that the political damage to Democrats inflicted by Bidens debate performance is but a shadow of what would happen if a sitting president were dragged kicking and screaming off the ticket. There would be some delegates legally obligated to vote for him anyway (though the convention itself could adopt rules that might supersede state laws binding delegates). Others delegates would stick with Biden as an act of loyalty. So youd have a convention and a party deeply divided, to the delight of the opposition. Democrats would be fools to invite that catastrophe instead of carrying on in the sure knowledge that nearly half of the electorate really doesnt want a second Trump administration. The dump Biden scenario just isnt happening. But Biden himself could withdraw as a candidate, instantly removing any legal obstacles to the selection of a different nominee (state laws binding delegates generally release them when their candidates tent folds) and mitigating the political damage significantly. And even as Democratic elected officials and party leaders publicly renew their vows of support for Biden, as they must, you have to figure private discussions are underway to determine if this proud and sometimes stubborn man will indeed step aside. He surely understands that hes now given vivid life to widespread fears that hes too old for another term in the White House. Reversing that impression will be very difficult, particularly since Trump is unlikely to give him a chance to redeem himself in a second debate. What was already a tough uphill slog of a campaign for reelection has now become a steep and perilous climb in which the incumbent, not his calamitous predecessor, will be the focus of constant malicious scrutiny. Biden could reset the contest with one clear statement repeating his determination to keep Trump out of the White House and passing the torch to a successor. And, yes, hed have to name a successor, lest the Chicago convention become a riotous playground for political egos, making a general-election campaign impossible to plan, finance, and execute. Sure, the punditocracy will clamor for the spectacle of an open convention, but it would represent political malpractice of the highest order. If he does step aside, Biden must help his vice-president step up with the backing of a united party. Any other option at this late date would smack of desperation and would divide Democrats even more bitterly than an effort to dump the incumbent. The president chose Kamala Harris as his running mate in the full knowledge that an emergency requiring her elevation was an ever-present possibility. An imminent return to power by the 45th president is enough of an emergency to justify an extreme measure of self-sacrifice by the one man who stands in the way of that calamity. Biden and those who advise him should, of course, carefully assess the damage wrought by the debate during the next few days. Perhaps the pundits are overreacting, and the Biden-Trump race will settle back into its familiar status as a barn burner that either candidate can win. Theres only a small window of opportunity for a presidential game-changing decision to flip the board and improve the odds of victory. It could be the most momentous decision of Joe Bidens long and distinguished life. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The long, contentious, and largely opaque debate among Democrats about President Bidens fitness and viability as the partys 2024 presidential nominee following his dismal performance in a debate with Donald Trump has created a lot of questions about their options going forward. Now that talk of replacing the president as the Democrats 2024 nominee has gotten serious, distant historical precedents and arcane Democratic National Committee rules are suddenly very relevant. Heres a guide to how Democrats could choose another candidate to face Trump in November. Can Biden still be replaced? Yes. At this point he is simply the presumptive nominee. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which begins on August 19, would normally name the actual nominee. But since May the Democratic National Committee has been planning to hold a virtual roll call (much like the one deployed in 2020 when Democrats minimized live events in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) to nominate its candidate well before the convention. The desire to go virtual was in part a response to an August 7 ballot deadline in Republican-controlled Ohio. It would also allow Democrats to avoid a live convention roll call that might become a target for anti-Biden protesters angry at his position on the Gaza war. Since the June 27 debate Biden supporters have seized upon the virtual roll call as a way to short-circuit any rebellion against the president, and for a while it looked like the DNC might move it up to as early as July 21. After a negative reaction to the idea of a rushed nomination, most notably from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Chuck Schumer, the DNC has backed off any plans to make the nomination before the beginning of August. Its also worth noting that the Ohio legislature changed the states ballot deadline to September 1 (in a law that would only take effect on that date), but there remain Democratic suspicions about GOP chicanery on this front. On July 19 the DNC Rules Committee is expected to determine a date (probably between August 1 and August 7) and the exact procedures for a virtual roll call. Its possible Bidens uncertain situation could produce some delays. But in any event, until theres a formal nomination the name that will go onto the bumper stickers, theoretically at least, could be Joe Biden, me, or you. Would Biden have to drop out? Or could he be replaced against his will? If Biden is to be replaced, it would be much easier and from a political point of view, immensely better if Biden withdrew as a candidate. For one thing, that would get rid of the obligation delegates had to support him under the laws of 14 states. And it could pave the way to a reasonably harmonious convention and far less disruption of the general election campaign. But technically speaking, a majority of convention delegates can nominate whomever they wish. State laws aside, pledged Democratic delegates (unlike Republican delegates) have no more than a moral obligation to back their candidate, and a convention-passed rule could even override state laws. Does Kamala Harris have to be Bidens replacement? No. Like Biden, until she is formally renominated the vice-president has no special status. Even if Biden resigned his office and Harris became president, shed have to be nominated by delegates to appear on the November ballot. Which other Democrats could replace Biden? In theory, anyone who met the constitutional qualifications to serve as president could replace Biden. In reality, theres no sort of consensus behind any particular replacement candidate. (Perhaps the most discussed fallback candidate, former First Lady Michelle Obama, has repeatedly denied interest.) No one is likely to step forward as long as Biden is still running, and if Biden withdraws, his support for a replacement will be all-important and perhaps dispositive. Theres no reason to think hed back anyone other than his vice-president. Names of Democrats who have been kicked around in fantasy scenarios for a Biden-less ticket have included a number of governors notably Californias Gavin Newsom, Illinois J.B. Pritzker, Michigans Gretchen Whitmer, and Pennsylvanias Josh Shapiro along with 2020 candidate and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and some real long shots like Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Some progressives might even note that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez turns 35 in October. But again, theres no consensus, and while pundits thrill at the idea of an open convention where multiple candidates duke it out, that would be a nightmare for a party trying to plan a general election campaign. Theres been an effort by some voices who favor a non-Biden, non-Harris solution to the current quandary to imagine some sort of pre-roll-call public gatherings perhaps even debates to build consensus. One circulating proposal calls for a blitz primary but its unlikely such an idea is even remotely feasible. Its hard enough to envision a deliberative convention choosing an alternative nominee, since it hasnt happened in many decades, much less some sort of out-of-nowhere series of totally unprecedented and unauthorized events. And where is the disinterested group of Democrats who can be trusted to competently and fairly organize such a novel plan with the presidency potentially on the line? In any event, all these open convention scenarios should be assessed in terms of the disaster that could face Democrats if they push aside both Biden and Harris and then deadlock on a nominee. One unhappy precedent is the Democratic Convention in New York exactly a century ago, where a dispirited and divided party nominated an obscure diplomat after 103 ballots who got absolutely clocked in the general election. What would the process look like at the convention? The presidential balloting is scheduled to take place prior to the convention. But the process, virtual or live, would be the same: a name or names would be placed into nomination by a delegate, and state delegations would vote in alphabetical order until someone has a majority. Whats the role of Democratic superdelegates? Unlike Republicans, Democrats have superdelegates 744 of them in 2024 who attend the convention in recognition of the offices they hold (or held). They include members of the DNC; members of Congress; governors; and former presidents and vice-presidents. They are free to support whomever they wish but cannot vote on the first ballot, when the nomination will very likely be determined. How would a new vice-presidential nominee be selected? Just as the old vice-presidential nominee was chosen: by a roll-call vote. This person would probably be the presidential nominees preferred running mate, but delegates could choose someone else. The last time there was a serious convention vote for someone other than the presidential nominees running mate was at the 1968 RNC, when George Romney got a significant number of votes against eventual nominee Spiro T. Agnew. Going back further to 1956, Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson decided to let the convention pick the nominee with no recommendation on his part, which produced an exciting ballot battle involving John F. Kennedy, Albert Gore, Sr., Hubert Humphrey and the eventual winner Estes Kefauver. That kind of scenario is probably even less likely than an open convention determining the presidential nominee. Could Biden be replaced after the convention? Members of the Democratic National Committee (not convention delegates) have the power to fill vacancies on the presidential ticket by a simple majority. It exercised that power in 1972 when then-Senator Thomas Eagleton stepped down as George McGoverns running mate after revelations of drunk-driving charges and electroshock therapy. So if Biden or Harris or anyone else resigned from the ticket after the convention, the DNC could replace them. But theres no clear power to remove a nominee who wont go quietly. Has a party ever replaced its presidential nominee? No. Plenty of presidential nominees have begun the general election campaign in a deeper hole than Biden is in right now, but none have been replaced. The talk of replacing him is largely a function of the special horror Democrats have for the prospect of a second Trump term. Is there any polling on how a Biden replacement would do against Trump? There are two very recent surveys that test alternatives, including a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on July 2: When asked about hypothetical Democratic candidate matches against Trump, 50% of registered voters say they would vote for Michelle Obama, and just 39% say they would vote for Trump. All other hypothetical Democratic candidates either perform similarly to or worse than Biden against Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris hypothetically wins 42% of registered voters to Trumps 43%. California Governor Gavin Newsom hypothetically wins 39% of registered voters to Trumps 42%. All other hypothetical Democratic candidates earn between 34% to 39% of potential votes among registered voters. A CNN survey also released on July 2 showed Kamala Harris trailing Trump by just two points; Pete Buttigieg trailing Trump by four points; and Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whimter trailing him by five points. Is Biden showing signs of recovering in polls matching him up with Trump? Its hard to say. Most credible post-debate general election polls are showing Biden losing a couple of points against Trump, with some terrible internal findings that big majorities of voters think Biden is too old. The fear of disaster has been compounded by a possible polling bounce for Trump attributable to the attempt to assassinate him, and/or to the just-completed Republican convention. But theres no real proof just yet that the race has changed fundamentally, so the panic right now is mostly among Democrats who were already on the edge of panic before the debate. Photo: Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images Before the debate against Donald Trump was even half over, analysts and Democrats started considering the unthinkable: replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. Though that conversation has been simmering for a year due to Bidens sagging polling numbers, it boiled over following his performance on Thursday featuring a raspy voice and halting answers. It is not uniform, though, with Democratic officeholders largely closing ranks around their partys leader. Below is our then-live coverage of the debate aftermath as it played out. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The Supreme Court just effectively threw out hundreds of convictions of January 6 rioters. And when it comes to one particular defendant of great public concern a certain Donald John Trump the Courts decision leaves DOJ special counsel Jack Smith in a tricky position with a critical decision point now at hand. The Courts decision today arises in the case of Joseph Fischer, who was at the Capitol on January 6, exhorted his fellow rioters to charge, and briefly clashed physically with police at the scene. The Justice Department charged Fischer with a crime known as obstruction of an official proceeding, plus other offenses. That obstruction law applies to anyone who alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding or who otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding. DOJs theory was that the meeting of Congress to count the electoral votes on January 6, 2021, was an official proceeding and that, by storming the Capitol, Fischer and others sought to otherwise obstruct, influence or delay that governmental function. Seemed fairly straightforward, in the humble view of this former prosecutor and most federal judges, up until now. Fischer and dozens of other January 6 defendants have argued in the lower courts that the statute applies narrowly to tampering with documentary evidence but not to the riot at the Capitol and the attendant effort to physically interfere with government proceedings. (It all turns on the meaning of otherwise, if youre into hard-core statutory construction.) The district-court judge ruled in Fischers favor surprisingly, and contrary to many other federal judges but the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and reinstated the obstruction charge by a two-to-one vote. Now we have a definitive answer, courtesy of the nations highest court. The obstruction law does not apply to physical efforts to interfere with Congress on January 6, and the charge against Fischer is out the window. Reasonable minds can debate whether the Supreme Court got it right here. Im firmly in the dissenting camp, along with real-life Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Amy Coney Barrett. I agree with the losing side that the Courts majority gives the obstruction statute an unjustifiably narrow reading to prevent its application to the January 6 Capitol attack. But thats an academic argument at this point. Its like debating the weather. Like it or not, it just is. So lets get practical. The ripple effect will be substantial and immediate. The Justice Department has charged over 300 Capitol rioters under the obstruction statute. Most of those cases, like Fischers, involve other charges beyond obstruction, so those defendants arent off the hook entirely though they can now seek reduced sentences because their obstruction convictions are now effectively invalidated. About 50 January 6 defendants have been convicted only for the obstruction crime. Those convictions will likely be reversed altogether, given the Courts ruling. Smith now faces a unique conundrum. The special counsel indicted Trump on four counts: two under the same obstruction law at issue in the Fischer case (one for actual obstruction and the other for conspiracy to obstruct), plus two other counts (one for conspiracy to defraud the United States and another for conspiracy against the rights of voters). Given todays ruling, Smith has two options. Both have their drawbacks, but neither is necessarily fatal to his case against Trump. First, the safer course: Smith can drop the two obstruction charges and proceed to trial on the two remaining conspiracy counts. Theres some downside here. The obstruction charges are the most serious in the case, with 20-year maximums, while the others carry ten- and five-year maximums. The obstruction counts provide the closest link between Trump and the actual January 6 attack, whereas the conspiracy charges focus more on the preceding effort to overturn the election through fraud and political pressure. Arguably, if Smith dismisses the obstruction counts, he could be limited in his ability to introduce evidence at trial of the physical assault on the Capitol. And if Smith does drop the obstruction counts, Trump surely will crow that the case is collapsing and he has been fully vindicated, and other predictably overblown nonsense. But the benefit of this approach is concrete and substantial. If Smith drops the obstruction counts, he can still proceed to trial on the remaining charges without any risk of being overturned later by the appeals courts on the obstruction issue. Hed jettison the potentially invalid counts and move forward on safe ground. And then theres Smiths second option, which is heavier on both risk and reward. He can try to keep the obstruction charges in the case on the theory that even under the Supreme Courts new ruling, his counts survive because they do involve tampering with documentary evidence specifically, the submission of forged documents naming false slates of electors. The benefit of this approach is clear: Smith can proceed to trial as planned without dropping his most serious charges or potentially losing key evidence. But the risk here is massive. If an appeals court ultimately disagrees with Smith that is, if an appeals court, including the Supreme Court, eventually finds that the charges against Trump do not meet some exception to todays ruling in the Fischer case then any conviction of Trump under the obstruction laws will be reversed. Worse yet, an appellate court could reasonably find that inclusion of those defective obstruction counts unfairly infected the entire Trump trial and throw out all the charges against him. Its a tough call, but Smith should take the safer approach. Even without the obstruction charges, he can still present his case to a jury mostly as it currently stands, perhaps without some evidence of the physical assault on the Capitol. The reduced maximum sentences dont mean much; even if hes convicted, Trump wont get anything near 20 years behind bars (the obstruction maximum) anyway. And the worst-case scenario under the high-risk option a conviction later reversed by an appellate court would be catastrophic. Prosecutorial aggression is a virtue (in moderation), and Smith plainly falls toward the gunslinger end of the spectrum. But he needs to learn a hard lesson from his prior involvement in three other high-profile cases that failed spectacularly because of prosecutorial overreach. He cant afford to blow another one not this one, especially. Smith ought to cut his losses, move forward, and salvage the Trump case, even if its now a bit diminished. 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. This Things Incredible A series where we share products that are so good we would do an entire infomercial about it. (But instead, we published this review.) Read more here. Photo: Fiona Byrne An Irish summer isnt really summer in the sunshine sense. Although there are pockets of good weather, theres never any guarantee of sun. Ever. Its entirely unpredictable. The forecast invariably says showers, and even that isnt a given. You just deal with whatever the weather throws at you on an hourly basis and always carry both sunglasses AND an umbrella, just in case. Ireland would be a great country, people love to say if you could put a roof on it! Almost daily cloud cover means the concern is often more about adequate Vitamin D than SPF, and as for tanning? Yeah, thats going to be from a bottle. Now, people in Ireland know some things better than others. A sharp wit. The best butter in the world. That kind of thing. The freckled and fair-skinned types also know fake tanner, and some of the best fake tanner brands come out of Ireland. Youve heard of the Irish Goodbye, but have you heard of the Irish Hello? Its most common during the summer when Irish people meet and dont just say Hello they say Hello, is that tan real or fake? This is how my fellow fair-skinned Irish friend, the actress/comedian Aisling Bea greeted me when we met recently at Altro Paradiso for lunch with our (Irish-American) friend SNL Producer Erin Doyle. Aisling has skin so pale that when she has a single layer of fake tan on, you cant even tell. She will readily tell you this. I, too, share this affliction. At the start of summer, I have to apply two layers of tan before my blindingly white legs are fit for public consumption. And by the way, this isnt even to get a sun-kissed look very pale people such as ourselves sometimes use fake tanner just to take the blue out of our translucent skin. A few years ago, I met my Dublin friend Nicky for a drink, I think it was at Dudleys on Orchard St. Is that tan real or fake? I said, before she even sat down. Its Tan Organic oil, she told me. I just put it on this morning. As an airline Captain for Aer Lingus (I know, cool!), Nicky wears a white shirt as part of her uniform, so putting on fake tan before a flight seemed a bit ill advised to me. Did that not stain your shirt? I wondered. No! She said, telling me this particular tan doesnt transfer even on white clothes. My eyes almost popped out of my head. Excuse me?! Fake tan stains are such a part of contemporary Irish living that my sister Sinead buys exclusively dark bed sheets for her fake-tanning teen daughters, and even then, her OCD level clean-freakiness cant cope. Then Nicky told me Tan Organic doesnt smell either. I was sold. On her next flight to NYC, she brought me a bottle of the tanning oil. (This was before it was available in the US, now you can get it on Amazon). I was excited, but had no idea how much this stuff was going to change how I used fake tanner. My old fake tan process went like this: Apply at night always at night using gloves. Sleep in pajamas and sheets that you are okay staining and knowing the next day will need to be laundry day. But now with Tan Organic, I do it differently. I apply whenever I feel like it, often in the morning. I apply a small amount of oil in a thin layer all over, starting with the calves and working up. I dont use gloves. And, I have learned over the years to do my own back using the backs of my hands (Pilates has helped with the contortions involved with that). The oil feels more like a dry oil its not greasy like say, baby oil. Your skin feels moisturized, but not tacky. After applying oil to the whole body, I take a small bit of body lotion and apply to elbows, knees and feet/ankles which brings down the intensity of the tan in those areas. Then I wash my hands and apply a drop of oil to the back of one hand and rub the backs of both hands together. Thats followed by a touch more lotion, which I rub into my hands like you would with hand cream, including the palms and wrists. Finally, I wipe off the excess from the palms with a damp washcloth. This really helps keep the tan even on the hands and wrists. The oil absorbs remarkably fast into the skin and I even sit on my cream-colored sofa without worrying about leaving a fake tan stain. (I shudder remembering one Real Housewife of Beverly Hills rudely leaving the most offensive fake tan stain on Lisa Vanderpumps white upholstery, and if I recall correctly, she was barely apologetic about it!) Within a couple of hours, my legs already get a really realistic tan, in fact it was the color that my skin actually goes when I have a real tan. Id call the results a Light Bronze shade. If you want to, you can attain a deeper color by adding a second layer. I have done that and it works. (Tan Organic also offers lotion and a mousse for a darker tan, though I havent tried those.) There was one element of Tan Organic oil I was a bit wary of: It goes on clear. Previous experiences with goes on clear tans have never worked out for me. Goes on clear, shows up patchy and streaky more like. I am delighted to report this was not an issue with Tan Organic. Its so easy to get complete, even coverage. And true to Captain Nickys word, the tan hardly smells of anything. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. The Lee County Commission has taken the next steps in bringing broadband internet access to residents in need with the awarding of the Phase 2 broadband expansion grants. On Monday, the Lee County Commission voted unanimously to conditionally award broadband expansion grants totaling just over $2.9 million for R.M. Greene Inc., doing business as BEAM, for four broadband projects. These grants are part of Phase 2 of an initiative by the commission to provide broadband internet access to the unserved residents of Lee County. The vote was 4-0 as District 5 Commissioner Richard LaGrand Sr. was absent from the meeting. "We developed four general areas that we looked at and that we put out when we put out the applications," Lee County Administrator Holly Leverette said. "However, we told the ISPs, we're putting these areas out there, but we're relying on you to help make sure these areas are truly unserved areas in order to qualify for our grant." There is a map that details the project areas across Lee County, and it can be found on the commission's website. Originally, the areas for the grants were the South Central area, the Southeast area, the East Central area, and the Northeast area of Lee County. However, through the course of receiving applications, Leverette said that BEAM submitted an application for the Northeast, but it was actually for a portion of the East Central area. That was in addition to an application from BEAM for another section in the East Central area. After receiving that application, Leverette said they looked into the northeast project area and found that most of it was already served, so instead of looking for another northeast project, they awarded grants for both of BEAM's East Central projects. "In evaluating AT&T's project and this[BEAM] project, it became clear to us that just about every area in that northeast section was served. So we all as a team decided that there was no need to award necessarily a Northeast project, but to combine BEAM's Northeast and East Central projects into one," Leverette said. In combining the projects, it will total 29 miles of additional infrastructure and affect 370 addresses. The total grant amount is just over $1.08 million. With the South Central area, there are sections that were awarded to BEAM in phase one. With phase two, BEAM and AT&T both applied, and Leverette said her team voted unanimously to give the Phase 2 grant for the South Central area to BEAM. The expansion grant will total $722,627 and Leverette said the project will cover 127 addresses and 24 miles of infrastructure. For the Southeast area broadband project, they received two applications from Beam and AT&T. Leverette said Beam's application tended to be in more unserved areas than AT&T. The Southeast area will add 198 addresses and an additional 39 miles of infrastructure. The grant amount totals $1.16 million to BEAM. In total, Leverette said that 695 residences will be served by the work from these four projects. "I hope the citizens see that we are doing what we said we were gonna do. We said we were going to use some of our ARPA money to bring broadband to the unserved areas," Leverette said in an interview with the Opelika-Auburn News. "And that is what we're doing our best to do." All of the funding from these grants comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds. The commission has until the end of 2024 to allocate all of their ARPA funds to projects. Other commission business Richard Lang appeared before the commission on Monday to raise some concerns he has about the Lakes Subdivision, which he currently lives in. The subdivision is located near along Mimosa Road. Lang was joined at the meeting by several of his neighbors as he highlighted a list of infrastructure issues facing the subdivision. Lang said the roads of the subdivision are filled with potholes, storm drainage systems are failing, which has led to erosion and sewer lines have been exposed due to that water erosion. Lang said the issues have led to the properties in the subdivision losing value over the past few years. He said he built his home in 2011, but the subdivision was built around 1997 and he was looking for answers on who could address the infrastructure issues. Lee County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman Bill English responded to Lang's concerns with a few points, first involving the road. English said that currently, if a developer wants to build a subdivision wants the county to accept the roads for maintenance, but then the road has to be built to the county specifications and has to be maintained by the developer for about two years before the county accepts it forever. English said in this case the county was never asked to accept the road for maintenance and during the old regulations, roads did not have to be built to specifications. English said there are other roads like that in the county, but the commission's policy has been that if a road was brought up to specs, they'd consider it. Additionally, there is an issue where parts of the road are in the Phenix City city limits while other portions are in Lee County. As for the sewage issues, Lang confirmed that sewage is actually through Phenix City, and District 3 Commissioner Gary Long said Lang should attend a Phenix City Council meeting. As for the storm drainage system, English said to his knowledge, that was put in by the developer and never accepted by anybody. "It's a little awkward for me to say but this may take litigation by somebody against somebody to get resolved," English said. "I'm not encouraging a lawsuit, but I'm not sure it's gonna get solved without a judge's order. The commission approved a series of items that will be present at the new Lee County Highway Department building. The commission approved a quote for mid-grade furniture, which will serve four departments and over 100 employees, two lifts, television monitors and mounting hardware, and a heated pressure washer at a total not to exceed cost of $361,361. According to the memorandum from County Engineer Justin Hardee, the departments unused staffing funds exceed that amount, so this reallocation will not hinder operations for the rest of the year. The commission approved filling two positions on the East Alabama Health Care Authority Board with Dr. Michael B. Williams and Dr. John Abrams. The commission approved filling two positions on the Lee Co. Emergency Communications District Board. Mary Henry currently serves on the board and was approved for another term while Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey replaced former Opelika Assistant Police Chief Robert Holley. The commission gave final plat approval for the redivision of lot two at Rocky Ridge Subdivision. The proposed subdivision is located adjacent to Lee Road 183 and Lee Road 947. The commission renewed its animal control agreement with the Animal Health Center and Opelika Animal Hospital. Minnesota OSHA Cites Amazon for Ergonomic and Other Hazards The state's ergonomics program went into effect in early 2024. Amazon's warehouse in Shakopee, Minnesota, faces a $10,500 penalty following a recent inspection by Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA). Conducted in October 2023, the inspection resulted in two serious citations for the company in April 2024. The infractions include failing to protect workers from ergonomic hazards and not providing employees with written quotas. According to a recent release, the MNOSHA investigation revealed Amazon did not adequately safeguard employees engaged in the selection, sorting, packaging and shipping of products. Furthermore, employees expected to meet specific quotas were not informed of these in writing beforehand. Amazon has since decided to contest both of MNOSHAs citations. "It is important that work processes are designed with the goal of eliminating workplace injuries and that workers be informed of expectations that directly impact their safety and well-being," Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach said in a statement. "I'm proud of MNOSHA's work to enforce Minnesota's laws that ensure warehouse workers have a safe and healthy workplace. My hope is that the new laws and this enforcement leads warehouses in Minnesota to make the safety and health of their workers the top priority." Minnesotas warehouse distribution worker safety law requires warehouse employers to disclose quotas and work-speed data to employees, ensuring they are informed about their job performance and rights. Likewise, it requires MNOSHA to investigate any worksite with an employee incidence rate 30 percent higher than the industry average. Minnesotas ergonomics programwhich went into effect on January 1, 2024aims to reduce workplace ergonomic injuries. MNOSHA has been actively inspecting facilities in regulated industries, such as warehouse distribution centers. This program requires employers to develop and implement an ergonomics plan to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs may include afflictions of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. Employers must provide ongoing training, conduct risk assessments, and ensure that plant modifications align with ergonomic safety goals. Minnesota OSHA Compliance enforces these regulations through inspections, accident investigations and educational outreach. - According to Kpler data, Saudi Arabia is set to import the highest volume of fuel oil in three years, as heatwaves keep temperatures - As freight costs for European exporters have become prohibitive because of the Red Sea risks, Russia has become the largest supplier of fuel oil to the Middle East, with exports averaging 215,000 b/d in May. - Middle East nations have been battling scorching heat waves over the past two months, opening the usual summer arbitrage for fuel oil that is widely used for incremental power generation across the region. - The production travails are expected to continue into the summer months as production at Tupi could fall by as much as 300,000 b/d because of issues at two producing FPSOs. - Simultaneously to the string of technical issues, the environmental agency that should approve new production equipment and related work has been on strike in a wage dispute, limiting the speed with which Petrobras can repair damage. - Oil production has plunged almost 25% since the beginning of this year, mostly caused by unnamed technical problems encountered at the Mero and Tupi pre-salt fields. - Brazil has been one of the fastest-growing oil producers of the 2020s, reaching a crude production all-time high of 3.73 million b/d in early 2024, but production woes have hampered its performance since. 1. Brazil Fails to Bring the Oil Bonanza into 2024 - Brazil has been one of the fastest-growing oil producers of the 2020s, reaching a crude production all-time high of 3.73 million b/d in early 2024, but production woes have hampered its performance since. - Oil production has plunged almost 25% since the beginning of this year, mostly caused by unnamed technical problems encountered at the Mero and Tupi pre-salt fields. - Simultaneously to the string of technical issues, the environmental agency that should approve new production equipment and related work has been on strike in a wage dispute, limiting the speed with which Petrobras can repair damage. - The production travails are expected to continue into the summer months as production at Tupi could fall by as much as 300,000 b/d because of issues at two producing FPSOs. 2. Scorching Heat Boosts Middle Eastern Fuel Oil Imports - Middle East nations have been battling scorching heat waves over the past two months, opening the usual summer arbitrage for fuel oil that is widely used for incremental power generation across the region. - As freight costs for European exporters have become prohibitive because of the Red Sea risks, Russia has become the largest supplier of fuel oil to the Middle East, with exports averaging 215,000 b/d in May. - According to Kpler data, Saudi Arabia is set to import the highest volume of fuel oil in three years, as heatwaves keep temperatures above 110 F, resulting in more than 1300 deaths during this years hajj. - Attesting how strong demand for high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) has been, the spread between HSFO and VLSFO dropped to its lowest level since early 2020, as low as $65-70 per metric tonne. 3. US Power Demand Growth Wakes Up From Decade-Long Slumber - For some 15 years, US electricity demand has remained stable at around 4,000 TWh, but the increasing power needs of artificial intelligence and EV penetration will add another 290 TWh of consumption in the country over the next 6-7 years. - Rystad Energy expects that data center demand coming from both traditional storage needs and AI will more than double from the 130 TWh seen in 2023 to 307 TWh by 2030. - An increased EV adoption rate would make the transportation sector the second largest catalyst of higher power demand, with power consumption in the sector expected to soar almost tenfold from 18 TWh in 2023 to 131 TWh in 2030. - Whilst the power demand of the US commercial sector is set to decline over time, there is still room for growth in the residential segment thanks to the electrification of home appliances. 4. Soaring Freight Limits Exodus of US LNG to Asia - The arbitrage for LNG cargoes moving from the Atlantic Basin to Asia has opened as prices in Europe remain some $1.5-2 per mmBtu lower than in Asian markets, however soaring freight costs are jeopardizing those flows. - Freight from the US Gulf Coast to Japan via the Cape of Good Hope gained more than $1 per mmBtu since early May, rising to $3.1 per mmBtu, more than triple the cost of sending US LNG to Europe. - Considering Europes storage levels are set to be 76% full by the end of June, the East-West arbitrage might become even wider, especially given that further heatwaves are expected in Northeast Asia over the course of July-August. - At the same time, the US hurricane season could lead to protracted shut-ins for US Gulf Coast infrastructure, providing a notable upside for prices in the summer, potentially even happening concurrently with Norwegian gas field maintenance in August-September. 5. Higher Water Levels in Panama Canal to Ease Shipping Tightness - The Panama Canals annus horribilis that saw water levels at Gatun Lake plunge to their lowest on record (since 1965) seems to be coming to an end, thanks to higher rainfall. - Water levels should increase even further due to the rainy season that usually lasts from May to December and this summers La Nina pattern overtakes the past seasons El Nino. - The Panama Canal authority increased the maximum ship depth to 47 feet thanks to plentiful precipitation seen over the past weeks, all the while opening up another transit slot for Neopanamax ships from August 5 onwards. - Bouncing back from extreme drought in 2023 when the total number of available slots dropped to a mere 18, the number of slots on offer in August is almost double, rising to 35 slots. 6. BP Is Turning the Page on Its Renewables Investment Spree - Consistently underperforming its US and even its European peers, UK oil major BP has launched a revamp of its ambitious clean energy policy, imposing a hiring freeze and pausing new offshore wind projects under new CEO Murray Auchincloss. - Auchincloss has been wary of investing billions into wind projects that are not expected to generate cash for years, reassigning dozens of employees tasked to work on European renewables projects elsewhere. - According to market reports, the new top managers of BP have prioritized investing in and even purchasing new oil and gas assets, especially in the Gulf of Mexico and in US onshore shale basins. - As of now, BP is the only oil major to have oil and gas output reduction targets, pledging to cut production between 2019 and 2030 by 25%, and has increasingly become a target of potential takeovers (ADNOC was rumored to be interested). 7. Booming Inventories Depress Copper Sentiment - Copper prices have lost almost 15% since reaching all-time highs in May, declining even as soft Chinese sentiment is gradually moving towards a more constructive picture into H2 2024. - The short squeeze on Comex copper futures has also eased notably, with July-delivery contracts trading at the widest discount to September futures in two months, indicating that prompt demand is weak. - High inventories have been arguably the largest dampener of copper sentiment, with inventories registered with LME, ShFE and COMEX rising above 500,000 metric tonnes for the first time since August 2021. - The contango in copper futures incentivizes commercial storage plays, with Chinese smelters making no secret of their plans to deliver up to 100,000 tonnes of copper to LME warehouses, potentially pushing the 3-month price below the $9,500/mt mark. Oil markets were looking at two things this week (and likely next week): The eternal debate on supply and demand, and an Israel-Lebanon war that requires only a very small push to move it into full-on conflict mode. Late on Thursday, Washington said it was making preparations to evacuate American citizens from Lebanon should that become necessary. Defense sources told the media that the Pentagon had moved an amphibious assault ship and special operations forces closer to Israel. At the same time, Israeli military officials have suggested that Hamas is almost defeated and the plan is to shift the conflict to the northern border with Lebanon. Potentially the bigger concern here is a fear that no one has control. Even if Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp isnt planning to escalate things (alongside Israeli escalation), the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq have already vowed to send fighters and weapons to Lebanon in the event of an Israeli incursion. However, their vow could be interpreted more as a threat to escalate things with Israel even if Lebanon, and Hezbollah itself, want to dial things down. Iran doesnt have full control over its Iraqi proxies (or Hezbollah). And presidential elections in Iran add additional pressure and complications. For Iran, timing will be critical. If the Iraqi militias move to escalate, Tehran will likely intervene, but only after an initial move has been made, which could be the trigger for an all-out war. We will Evangelical churches in Switzerland have a better image with the general public and are seen as less moralizing now compared to eight years ago. This according to a survey conducted by the gfs-zurich research institute [sic], which involved market and social researchers contacting both German and French-speaking Swiss adults aged 18-and-above by telephone. The focus expanded in comparison to the same survey, first done in 2016 and asking the same questions, when only the German-speaking Swiss were asked for their views. In all, this year's research involved 1,003 people from the period of April 18 to May 21. In the new survey, about a third of Swiss people report a positive experience with evangelical churches, which are less likely to be described as bigoted and sectarian. However, there is still concern about the social commitment and social awareness of evangelical churches, which have declined in the eyes of the survey respondents. "Evangelical churches are less strongly opposed to moral issues, but there is still work to be done to make people aware of all their positive commitment to society," said Stephane Klopfenstein, deputy director of Reseau evangelique suisse (RES), which represents 250 evangelical churches in French-speaking Switzerland. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up RES, in a press release, pointed out the increasing secularization of Switzerland against which the survey was carried out. Negative media headlines reported in recent months, such as Church exits reach record levels or After the abuse scandal: one Catholic in 20 leaves the Church left a negative mark on the wider Church in the country. This trend is directly linked to the secularization of society, said the RES statement. Children are no longer baptized, people no longer get married in church, and funerals often take place in the closest family circle. In this way, society is losing the Christian foundation on which it was founded. General awareness of evangelicals has not increased since the first survey. 38 percent of German-speaking and 55 percent of French-speaking Swiss are completely unaware of any evangelical church near them. "We're not very well known by the public, that's true, said Christian Kuhn, RES director. The media rarely talk about us. The Salvation Army overall remains by far the best-known evangelical church by German-speakers (86%) and French-speakers (85%). Altogether German-speaking Swiss were most aware of the FEG (Freie Evangelische Gemeinde), Chrischona (now Eglise Viva / Viva Kirche) and the Salvation Army, as mentioned above. In French-speaking Switzerland, it was the Evangelical Methodist Church (EEM), and the Union evangelique d'Eglises baptistes de Suisse romande and, again, the Salvation Army. The item other evangelical churches attracted a large number of responses, said the RES statement. National churches, but also sects, are sometimes classified as evangelical churches. This is an indication that people are not always able to distinguish clearly between national churches, evangelical churches and sects. For positive experiences coming from personal contact with evangelical Christians, the figure stood at 27% overall, breaking down to 35% for German-speakers and 24% for French-speakers. Younger people aged 18 to 39 were more prone to report such positive encounters with evangelicals.The figure for this demographic response was 31%, a lot more than in 2016 when it was 18%. About one in five respondents (20%) see evangelical churches making a positive contribution to society - no significant change from the 19% of 2016. The figure is slightly higher in French-speaking than German-speaking Switzerland and a tad higher in the countryside than in cities, and again, a little higher with people of a lower level than upper level of education (24% to 19%). Evangelical churches appear less moralizing about the issues of abortion, homosexuality and premarital sex in 2024 than 2016, according to the survey results. Perceptions of moralizing against premarital sex fell almost by half with 21% in 2024, compared to 39% in 2016. The perspective of evangelical churches being proactive in social issues slightly increased with "Against poverty and hunger in this world" (2024, 31%; 2016, 26%), "For the common good" (2024, 27%; 2016, 31%) and "For social justice" (2024, 23%; 2016, 20%). Even so, the Swiss perceived evangelical churches as slightly less socially committed or relevant to society. A slight increase was also noted in people seeing these churches as backward-looking. Yet the churches remain committed to the community, the same in 2024 as in 2016. There are also fewer descriptions of evangelical churches as bigoted, sectarian or fundamentalist than before. Andrea Umbricht, project manager at gfs-zurich, noted a certain ambivalence on these points. "Evangelical churches are polarizing - some agree with these characteristics of evangelical churches, others do not, she said. On a scale of 1 to 5, approval values are all around the middle. In 2024, they range from 2.4 to 3.3 points out of 5. RES, which commissioned the recent survey, was itself founded in 2006 after the merger of the Alliance Evangelique Romande, founded in Geneva in 1847 Henry Dunant who is also known as the founder of the Red Cross, and the Federation Romande d'Eglises et uvres Evangeliques, originally founded in 1983. RES together with its German-speaking counterpart form the Swiss Evangelical Alliance that represents an estimated 250,000 evangelicals. The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell again this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count fell by 7 to 581 this week, compared to 674 rigs this same time last year. The number of oil rigs fell by 6 this week, after falling by 3 in the week prior. Oil rigs now stand at 479down by 66 compared to this time last year. The number of gas rigs fell by 1 this week to 97, a loss of 27 active gas rigs from this time last year. Miscellaneous stayed the same at 5. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production stayed at 13.2 million bpd for for the third week in a row for the week ending June 21. 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, fell in the week ending June 21, from 250 to 246. Drilling activity in the Permian slipped by 3 this week to 305. The count in the Eagle Ford also fell by 3 this week, sinking to 47 after falling by a single rig in the week prior. Oil prices were relatively flat on Friday. At 12:24 p.m. ET, the WTI benchmark was trading down $0.06 (-0.07%) on the day at $81.68about $1 per barrel above last Fridays price. The Brent benchmark was trading up $0.09 (+0.10%) on the day at $86.48, a roughly $1.40 per barrel climb from a week-ago levels. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Supreme Court Halts EPA's Good Neighbor Plan: Implications for the Oil and Gas Industry In a significant decision affecting environmental regulation and interstate pollution, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Good Neighbor Rule." This rule aimed to restrict emissions from power plants and industrial sources that contribute to downwind pollution. The 5-4 decision, driven by the conservative majority, puts the rule on hold while ongoing legal challenges from industry groups and Republican-led states proceed through lower courts. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, indicated that the states challenging the ruleOhio, Indiana, and West Virginiaare likely to succeed. This decision reflects the court's growing trend of reining in federal regulatory authority, particularly concerning the EPA. The justices' skepticism about the EPA's conclusions and the states' arguments about compliance timelines played a crucial role in the ruling. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in her dissent, emphasized that this stay leaves upwind states free to exacerbate ozone problems in their downwind neighbors. The implications of this decision are significant for the oil and gas industry. The halt of the Good Neighbor Plan means that states can delay implementing measures to control pollution, potentially reducing compliance costs for power plants and other industrial operations. However, this also raises concerns about increased air pollution and its health impacts, particularly in downwind states. The EPA has argued that the rule was already achieving reductions in emissions and improving air quality in the affected states, which include major industrial hubs. This development underscores the volatile nature of regulatory environments, particularly in the United States. The oil and gas sector, already navigating a complex landscape of environmental regulations, must now consider the potential for prolonged legal battles and the eventual outcomes that could reshape compliance obligations. The court's decision, while temporary, highlights the ongoing tensions between economic interests, state sovereignty, and environmental protection efforts. The EPA's commitment to defending the rule in lower courts suggests that this issue will remain a contentious and pivotal aspect of environmental regulation in the United States. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com On the Russia-Ukraine war front, Ukraine launched a drone attack on a military base in Russia housing Iranian flight instructors. Three people were reportedly killed in the attack. Red lines are being crossed on a weekly basis at this point. The Biden administration appears to be moving closer to allowing military contractors to deploy to Ukraine (much like Russias Wagner), ostensibly to help Ukraine maintain and repair US weapons. After Putins pomp-and-circumstance visit to North Korea, media was abuzz with news that North Korean troops would be deployed to Ukrainewhich was never actually announced by Pyongyang (and this all remains unverified, at best). The U.S. plans to confront Russia at the UN on Friday for supplying arms to North Korea. Libya continues to unravel, quietly, with indications mounting that rival governments are regrouping for something big. Earlier this week, aided by US intelligence, Italian authorities intercepted a cargo ship suspected of bringing Russian weapons to General Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya. It is not without reason that his rival, interim prime minister Dbeibah in Tripoli has been growing increasingly nervousquite publicly. Russia is arming Haftar in return for allowing Moscow to build a port on the Mediterranean coast, which would give it a base with Italy directly in its sites. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Libya continues to unravel, quietly, with indications mounting that rival governments are regrouping for something big. Earlier this week, aided by US intelligence, Italian authorities intercepted a cargo ship suspected of bringing Russian weapons to General Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya. It is not without reason that his rival, interim prime minister Dbeibah in Tripoli has been growing increasingly nervousquite publicly. Russia is arming Haftar in return for allowing Moscow to build a port on the Mediterranean coast, which would give it a base with Italy directly in its sites. On the Russia-Ukraine war front, Ukraine launched a drone attack on a military base in Russia housing Iranian flight instructors. Three people were reportedly killed in the attack. Red lines are being crossed on a weekly basis at this point. The Biden administration appears to be moving closer to allowing military contractors to deploy to Ukraine (much like Russias Wagner), ostensibly to help Ukraine maintain and repair US weapons. After Putins pomp-and-circumstance visit to North Korea, media was abuzz with news that North Korean troops would be deployed to Ukrainewhich was never actually announced by Pyongyang (and this all remains unverified, at best). The U.S. plans to confront Russia at the UN on Friday for supplying arms to North Korea. A failed coup in Bolivia on Wednesday led to the arrest of more than a dozen military and intelligence officials already on Thursday. The coup was plotted in May and led by a former army chief. Military troops moved toward the main square in the capital city on Wednesday. After attempting to ram the presidential palace doors down, and failing, the arrested coup leader claimed that he had been acting on the presidents ordersa scenario that addresses the fact that the coup failed so spectacularly. Iranian elections are officially underway. If there is no clear majority after Fridays vote, the top two candidates will face off in a second round on July 5. Discovery & Development Exxon Mobil Corp. has initiated its seventh oil project in Guyana, aiming to expand crude output into the 2030s. The Hammerhead project, pending approval, is expected to produce up to 180,000 bpd by 2029, significantly boosting Guyana's production capacity to nearly 1.5 million bpd. This project underscores Exxon's commitment to Guyana, a critical region for its post-pandemic recovery, despite environmental criticism. Also on the Guyana front, CGX Energy and Frontera Energy have formally notified Guyana's government of a potential commercial interest in the Wei-1 discovery located in the offshore Corentyne Block. The Wei-1 well, drilled last year as part of their joint venture, fulfilled Phase 2 obligations and also served as an appraisal for the Kawa-1 program. Supported by investment bank Houlihan Lokey, CGX and Frontera are actively exploring strategic opportunities to unlock the full potential of the block, marking a significant step in their offshore exploration and development efforts in Guyana. Var Energi has announced the successful Cerisa oil and gas discovery in production license PL 636 offshore Norway, with estimated gross recoverable resources ranging from 18 to 39 MMboe. Located near the Gja platform, this discovery marks the fourth consecutive find in the area, adding to a combined resource potential of up to 110 MMboe when integrated with previous discoveries like Gja North and Ofelia/Kyrre. The exploration well and three appraisal wells were drilled by the Deepsea Yantai rig, confirming the absence of an oil-water contact and suggesting potential upside to the resource estimates. Var Energi plans to integrate Cerisa into existing infrastructure for rapid development, aligning with their strategy to enhance the North Sea as a significant production hub. Chevron and Equatorial Guineas GEPetrol have finalized a $2 billion deal through two PSCs for offshore blocks EG-06 and EG-11. These blocks, adjacent to the productive Block B hosting the Zafiro field, aim to rejuvenate Equatorial Guineas offshore oil and gas sector amid declining production from mature fields. Previously operated by ExxonMobil, the blocks include potential resources from the Acestruz-1 discovery, setting the stage for an intensive exploration and production program that aligns with Equatorial Guinea's strategy to attract investment. Murphy Oil Corp. aims to commence drilling its first offshore well in Cote dIvoire by summer 2025, pending final negotiations with government officials. The company holds significant interests in five deepwater blocks in the Tano basin, covering approximately 1.5 million gross acres, including the Paon discovery previously appraised by Anadarko Corp. Murphy is actively engaging with Ivorian authorities to expedite seismic data acquisition and finalize field development plans ahead of schedule. With high interest from industry players due to adjacent major discoveries, Murphy anticipates favorable terms for potential partnerships to advance its offshore operations in the region. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Quantum Capital Group has agreed to acquire Caerus Oil and Gas for $1.8 billion, highlighting increased private equity activity in the oil sector post-Covid. Caerus, backed by Oaktree Capital Management, Anschutz Investment Co., and Old Ironsides Energy, operates over 7,400 wells and extensive infrastructure in Colorado and Utah. This acquisition exemplifies the ongoing trend of buyouts in the energy sector, contrasting with the usual corporate buyers of private equity-backed assets. The deal reflects the robust recovery and heightened interest in oil and gas investments driven by rising energy prices. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is advancing negotiations to acquire Covestro, a German polymer producer, with an improved offer of $12.5 billion. This move underscores ADNOC's strategic shift towards specialized chemicals amid the fear of declining demand for traditional fuels. Covestro, known for its polyurethane and polycarbonate products, has 50 production sites and saw a significant sales decline in 2023. ADNOC's interest in European chemical firms reflects a broader trend of oil majors diversifying into resilient chemical sectors Sempra (SRE.N) has signed a non-binding agreement with Saudi Aramco to supply LNG from Phase 2 of its Port Arthur project in Texas. Aramco plans to purchase 5 million tonnes of LNG annually for 20 years and will invest 25% in the project's equity. This deal marks Aramco's strategic move to expand its global LNG portfolio, enhancing its role in the LNG market amid increasing demand for lower-carbon energy sources. The Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 expansion is part of Sempra's broader strategy to bolster global energy security by exporting U.S. natural gas. With the potential to add up to two additional LNG trains capable of producing 13 Mtpa, the facility aims to become one of the world's leading LNG export hubs. California Resources Corp., based in Long Beach, is on the cusp of completing its $2.1 billion acquisition of Aera Energy LLC pending final regulatory approvals. This acquisition would position California Resources as Californias largest oil producer and significantly boost its carbon storage capacity in Kern County. To fund this strategic move, the company recently closed a $600 million debt offering, with most of the proceeds earmarked to repay Aeras existing debts. Additionally, California Resources is advancing plans to establish a major underground carbon storage facility, anticipating approvals from Kern County and the EPA later this year to support its long-term sustainability goals amid the transition away from fossil fuels. SM Energy Co. and Northern Oil and Gas Inc. have announced a joint acquisition of assets in Utah's Uinta basin from XCL Resources LLC for approximately $2.6 billion. SM Energy will hold an 80% stake, amounting to a net payment of $2.04 billion, while Northern Oil will acquire a 20% interest for $510 million. This acquisition allows SM Energy to expand its operations into the Uinta basin, known for producing a unique type of waxy oil used in lubricants, complementing its existing presence in the Eagle Ford and Midland basins in Texas. The transaction reflects ongoing consolidation in the U.S. oil and gas sector as companies seek to enhance their drilling portfolios amidst favorable market conditions. Mitsui & Co., Ltd., through its U.S. subsidiary Mitsui E&P USA LLC, has completed the acquisition of the Tatonka unconventional gas asset in Texas, USA from Sabana, LLC and Vanna, LLC. Spanning approximately 46,500 acres, Tatonka is strategically located near the Gulf Coast industrial area, facilitating access to LNG export terminals and ammonia plants. Mitsui plans to evaluate well performance, develop, and operate the asset with a focus on safety, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, aiming for full-scale development post-2026. This acquisition aligns with Mitsui's strategy to strengthen its natural gas and LNG businesses globally, supporting energy transition initiatives and promoting sustainable development through low-carbon solutions like CCS. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on June 27 signed security agreements with the European Union, Estonia, and Lithuania at the start of a two-day EU summit in Brussels. The security deal with the European Union reinforces the blocs support for Kyiv in nine areas of security and defense policy. A draft of the agreement obtained by RFE/RL reiterates the resolute condemnation of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirms the EUs unwavering support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, Kyiv's right to self-defense against the Russian aggression, and its pursuit of a just peace. The draft says that the EU supports Ukraines reforms and EU accession path, noting that overall EU assistance to Ukraine amounts to almost 100 billion euros ($107 billion), including 35 billion euros in military support. The European Union is determined to continue providing Ukraine and its people all the necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed, the document says. The draft stresses that "Russia must not prevail" in its full-scale war launched in February 2022 and says Ukraine must get back territory annexed by Moscow. It also lists commitments to providing military equipment, military training, and cooperation between the European and the Ukrainian defense industries. The agreements Zelenskiy signed with Lithuania and Estonia while at the EU summit are intended to complement other similar agreements sealed between Ukraine and its allies. They are not mutual defense pacts but do amount to pledges to provide Ukraine with weapons and other aid and deter any future invasion. The signing ceremony opened a meeting of the European Council attended by the leaders of the 27 EU countries who are in Brussels for their first formal meeting since European elections on June 6-9. Apart from the defense matters, the summit is poised to approve Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, and Kaja Kallas in leadership roles. Von der Leyen is expected to be confirmed for another five-year term as president of the European Commission; Costa is expected to become president of the European Council; and Kallas, who is currently Estonias prime minister, is expected to become the EUs foreign policy chief. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted authorizations for Venture Globals CP2 LNG Project in Louisiana, the first LNG project to secure a construction authorization since the Biden Administration paused project permitting in January. FERC granted Venture Global authorization for the construction of CP2 LNG, the company's third export facility, and the related CP Express Pipeline Project. The 85-mile-long pipeline is planned to carry natural gas from Jasper County, Texas, to the CP2 LNG Project, with interconnections to existing natural gas transmission pipelines. Venture Global plans the CP2 LNG Project to have 20 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of nameplate liquefaction capacity and associated facilities on the east side of the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Venture Global has yet to secure approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to export LNG from the project to countries with which the United States doesnt have free trade agreements. This project will be critical to global energy security and supporting the energy transition, as well as provide jobs and economic growth across Louisiana and the United States, said Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global LNG. We look forward to a swift non-FTA approval from the U.S. Department of Energy for this project that is critical to both global and national security, Sabel added. At the end of January, the Biden Administration said it was pausing all pending decisions on U.S. LNG export projects until the Department of Energy can update the underlying analyses for authorizations. During the temporary pause, DOE will carry out a new updated review on the impact of such projects on health and communities. Environmentalists decried FERCs disastrous choice to grant construction authorization to CP2 LNG. This approval entirely balks the Biden administrations pause. Now more than ever, we need the president to finish the job and make bold changes. Its time to stop this disastrous project from advancing any further, Greenpeace USA Climate Campaigner Destiny Watford said. As one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects ever proposed, this climate Death Star represents an enormous environmental threat that is already harming community health, raising prices for families, and threatening our national security. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany and Morocco signed on Friday in Berlin an alliance on climate and energy to boost cooperation in renewable energy installations and hydrogen production in the North African country. Morocco has excellent conditions to host solar and wind power generation capacity and to produce green hydrogen, Germanys Development and Economy Ministries said in a joint statement today. Germany, which is betting on future green hydrogen imports to meet its climate goals, hopes that Morocco could become an exporter of the fuel to Europes biggest economy. Morocco has the best conditions for the energy transition and the production of green hydrogen. Germany wants to import hydrogen, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said. The German-Moroccan partnership is aimed to be fair for Morocco to get its fair share of the clean energy supply chain, the minister added. Germany and Morocco also want to advance the development of a hydrogen economy and politically support the participation of German technology companies and suppliers, said Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Earlier this year, Moroccos government said it is looking to attract green hydrogen investments by allocating 1 million hectares of public land to projects. Thanks to abundant sunlight all year round, Morocco has become a major producer of solar power. It is also looking to boost clean energy supply to Europe, given its proximity to the EU, which has set very ambitious clean energy, emission reduction, and net-zero targets. Located on Europes doorstep and harboring ambitions to generate 52% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, Morocco has emerged as a promising energy partner. Morocco also hosts the world's largest concentrated solar project, the Noor Ouarzazate Solar Complex with more than 500 megawatts (MW) of capacity. Germany, for its part, looks to enable faster development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure by fast-tracking permitting and environmental checks for hydrogen production, storage, and transportation. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A California law that limits the drilling of new wells near homes and schools is set to take effect after the oil industry dropped a proposal to fight these limits on the November ballot and chose to pursue legal action instead. In 2022, California lawmakers passed a bill to keep new oil wells 3,200 feet away from homes, schools, hospitals, and parks. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1137 into law in September of that year. However, the law has been on pause after a referendum on the bill, pursued by the oil industry, qualified in February 2023 for the 2024 ballot. After the California Independent Petroleum Associations (CIPA) proposed referendum on the bill officially qualified for the November 2024 ballot, the law prohibiting new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, and hospitals was stayed and could not be enforced until after the election. CIPAs campaign for a referendum on the ballot was dubbed Stop the Energy Shutdown petition. The oil companies have argued that the new law threatens the livelihoods of over 50,000 hardworking Californians and forces the state to rely on more expensive, imported foreign oil that is completely exempt from California's strict environmental laws. Now CIPA withdrew the referendum on Thursday, hours before the deadline for it to get on the ballot. Instead, the industry plans to take the issue to court and ask a judge to block the law. CIPA has decided that supporters of the energy shutdown can make unfounded claims in the press and in paid advertisements, but they can't make those claims in court without evidence, Jonathan Gregory, the association's president and CEO of oil and gas company RMX Resources, said in a statement carried by AP. That's why we are pivoting from the referendum to a legal strategy, Gregory added. Commenting on the industry withdrawing from the referendum, Californias Governor Newsom said Big Oil saw what they were up against and they folded, again. No parent in their right mind would vote to allow drilling next to daycares and playgrounds. This victory ends new harmful drilling in our communities and enforces common-sense pollution controls. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil prices looked primed to extend a two-week rally this week amid deepening tensions between Israel and its neighbors, notably Lebanon. Fears of a widening Middle Eastern war turned oil traders bullish, with Brent crude moving closer to $87 per barrel earlier today and West Texas Intermediate inching above $82 per barrel. The price climb is happening despite presumably lukewarm demand for oil in the United States, as estimated by the Energy Information Administration earlier this week. The EIAs latest inventory report showed builds in both crude, gasoline, and middle distillates. It is also happening despite a surprise increase in weekly jobless numbers, released yesterday and showing continuing jobless claims last week rose to the highest in 2.5 years, casting a shadow over reports about a strong economy. New jobless claims fell, however, which is what oil traders may have been watching instead. In other economic news from the U.S., the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its latest revised estimate for GDP growth during the first quarter of the year, pegging the number at a not-very-exciting 1.4%, which was, however, up from an earlier estimate of 1.3%. MarketWatch remarked that this was the smallest growth rate in close to two years. Consumer spending was a bigger cause for concern, it appears, as it grew at the slowest rate in eighteen months, the BEA figures showed. Expectations about record travel during this years July 4 weekend, however, injected some bullishness about oil demand. Even so, oil prices rose, suggesting the state of the U.S. economy is not the top concern of oil traders right now. As media reported that Israel had bombed a Lebanese village into the ground earlier this week, fears were reignited about an escalation in the Middle Eastern conflict that could draw in some of the largest producers of oil in the region, notably Iran. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Repsol has been in discussions to merge its UK North Sea operations with NEO Energy in what could be another consolidation offshore the UK, where operators struggle with a high windfall tax. The Spanish energy major has been holding extensive talks with private equity-backed NEO Energy and could announce a deal in the coming weeks, anonymous industry sources told Reuters on Friday. If Repsol and NEO reach a deal, they would create one of the largest producers in the UK North Sea with production exceeding 110,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd). NEO Energy has interests in 25 fields offshore the UK and is pursuing high-quality, long-life production and development assets in the UKCS, including via strategic acquisition opportunities. NEO Energy, created in 2019, has grown its portfolio of UK North Sea assets through a series of corporate and asset transactions with TotalEnergies, Zennor Petroleum, ExxonMobil, and JX Nippon. NEO Energy says it is one of the top five independent producers in the region. Repsol, for its part, holds interests in 48 fields in the UKCS, of which it operates 38, with 11 offshore installations ten fixed and one floating and two onshore terminals - at Flotta in Orkney and at Nigg in the Cromarty Firth. A Repsol-NEO deal, if it goes through, would follow the combination of substantially all of Enis UK upstream operations with Ithaca Energy in April. Operators in the UK North Sea are consolidating operations in view of the tax regime in the UKCS, where a windfall tax was introduced in 2022 and earlier this year was extended by a year to March 2029. North Sea operators are looking with apprehension at the UK general election next week, in which the Labour Party is projected to win by a landslide. Labour has pledged to further raise the windfall tax and scrap a tax relief for investments made. UK oil and gas operators are not happy with this prospect. David Latin, chairman and interim chief executive at Serica Energy, told the companys annual meeting on Thursday, Other than when I was responsible for a company which had significant assets in a war zone, I have never encountered a situation which was so challenging when it comes to making investment decisions, and planning for the future more generally, as it is in the UK at present. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Come Aug. 3-4, the Yonabaru Ootsunahiki (tug-of-war) festival will be coming back to this town on the southeast coast of Okinawas main island for its 42nd installment. Deemed as one of the three major tugs of war, along with those in Naha and Itoman, Yonabaru Ootsunahiki boasts more than 450 years of tradition. This event made a full-scale comeback in 2023, after being canceled or subject to some limitations for the COVID. The two-day festival includes live music, food and game booths, fireworks, and more. Fireworks take place on Aug. 4, starting at 8:30 p.m. at Yonakohama Koen (see the coordinates below). The highlight is the tug-of-war that takes place in the afternoon of Aug. 4. Before the tug of war kicks off at 5 p.m., Aug. 4, there will be a parade called Michi June on Routes 331 and 329 where the huge rope for the contest will be carried. Since this is a giant rope that weighs five tons and runs 90 meters in total, it will take a lot of muscle to carry. You can be part of the parade and help carry the rope. To do so, meet at the locations listed below by 3 p.m. on Aug. 4. Locals dressed as historical figures will ride along on the rope. The sound of drums and trumpets will pump up the mood even more. Its quite a sight to see! The parade as well as this tug-of-war can be physically demanding, so be sure to wear shoes, not sandals. Come to Yonabaru and pull the rope together! Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Yonabaru Tug of War (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Yonabaru Tug-of-War Festival Date: Aug. 3-4 (Tug of war takes place Sunday, Aug. 4, starting at 5 p.m.) Time: Aug. 3: 11 a.m. 8:30 p.m.; Aug. 4: 4 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Timeline for tug of war on Aug. 4: 4 p.m. 5 p.m. (parade): 5 p.m. (commence tug of war) Venue for the festival: Yonakohama Koen GPS Coordinates (26.204370, 127.762748) Venue for tug of war: Udun-yama Seishonen Hiroba (26.203938, 127.755739) Meet-up areas for the parade: Achiri Hiroba mae (Team East, 26.201702, 127.757968), Oyakawa Hiroba mae (Team West, 26.202134, 127.756108) *Parking spaces are available at four locations nearby including Nishihara Marine Park (26.208888, 127.767419), Yonabaru Elementary School at (26.204375, 127.755115), Yonabaru Marina (26.206333, 127.766249, subject to fees), and a separate parking space at (26.207275, 127.764465). *Public transportation recommended *Traffic restrictions are scheduled to be in place around the area on both days. LINCOLN In the same year Nebraska restricted abortions to 12 weeks of pregnancy, the rate of abortion procedures in the state fell by roughly 8.7%. According to statistics from the State Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 2,325 abortions were performed in Nebraska in 2023, down from 2,547 logged in 2022. Abortions for non-Nebraska residents also took a slight dip from 532 in 2022 to 498 in 2023. Gov. Jim Pillen celebrated the decline. He said the drop was likely a result of the new restrictions, which he called a victory for commonsense social conservatives. This is a tremendous start to ending abortion in Nebraska, Pillen said in a press release. The result is more than 220 lives saved which is a victory for our culture of life and love in Nebraska. Pillen signed the 12-week ban into law last May. Before that, Nebraskas abortion ban stood at 20 weeks post-fertilization. The vast majority of abortions take place in the first trimester, and that is reflected in the DHHS statistics for 2023 as well as prior years. In 2023, the vast majority of abortions took place between five and 10 weeks gestation, which is comparable to previous years data. Broken down by month, the DHHS statistics showed the most dramatic drop in abortions occurred around the same time the 12-week ban took effect, with the lowest numbers recorded in May through July. June was the lowest point for the year, with just 99 abortions logged that month. The average for that year was 194 abortions per month. However, beginning in August, the frequency of abortions picked back up to levels similar to what was seen in the months before the 12-week ban took effect. Nebraskas 2022 abortion statistics showed a 6% rise in total number of procedures, so 2023s overall drop is similar to the total abortions logged in 2021. The 2023 number is far from the record low for Nebraska, which was 1,907 abortions logged in 2016. In general, yearly abortions have been on a downward trend since 2000. That year saw the highest total DHHS has recorded with 4,178 abortions logged. Of the out-of-state patients who traveled to Nebraska for abortions, neighboring Iowa had the highest number at 222, a noticeable jump from the 149 Iowa patients in 2022. The state has more abortion restrictions than Nebraska. On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a ban on abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. In contrast, Nebraska saw a drop in patients coming from Kansas to seek abortions, from 122 in 2022 to 51 in 2023. That state was one of several that passed a voter referendum protecting abortion rights in 2022, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Before that high court decision, the number of out-of-state patients coming to Nebraska for abortions was much lower. The departments data logged under 300 out-of-state patients in 2021, and 374 patients in 2020. The fluctuations in Nebraskas numbers are unsurprising to Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. She said that reflects the ever-shifting nature in how abortion policy has been handled across the Midwest over the last two years. However, she said she expects the number of out-of-state travelers to Nebraska will remain high, particularly from Iowa after its recent State Supreme Court ruling. Abortion is likely to be on the ballot for Nebraska this year, with three petitions actively campaigning to either further limit or expand abortion access. With the petition deadline still to come next week, its unclear which measures Nebraskans will have the chance to vote on this November. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2024 The leader of Boko Haram terrorist group, Ibrahim Shekau has begged the Chadian troops to leave his fighters alone, stressing that God will help the insurgents in their fight. KanyiDaily recalls that on Saturday the Chadian President, Idriss Deby led his troops into the battlefield and destroyed five bases of the Boko Haram in the country. The Chadian soldiers also recovered hundreds of weapons and killed many Boko Haram members in the bases they destroyed. Reacting to the defeat in a viral audio, Shekau urged his fighters not to run despite suffering heavy casualties, adding that the attack against them was not approved by the Quran. He said: People of Chad, leave us alone, this operation is not approved by the Quran. It is not the will of the Prophet Muhammed but if you want to continue, God will help us too because he is bigger than you. To my fighters, take heart. It is I, Abubakar Shekau, your leader. Listen to the audio below: AUDIO: Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, pleads with his fighters not to run away from battle after many of them were killed and weapons confiscated by the Chadian Army. pic.twitter.com/MlqoflkcUL Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) April 5, 2020 ALSO READ: Fani-Kayode Reacts As Chadian Troops Kill Boko Haram Insurgents, Free Nigerian Soldiers In Captivity BLOOMINGTON Looking around the silent and empty sanctuary of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Father Jeffrey Stirniman contemplated the past and the future, both his and the churchs. My heart still is here, but my head is on whats coming, on whats next, on whats next for the people of God, he said. Stirniman isnt alone in thinking about transition. Four of the five Bloomington-Normal Catholic churches will say goodbye this weekend to their pastors and greet new ones Monday. The Peoria Diocese typically moves some priests every summer, but the turnover was unusually large this year as it implements the next phase of its Growing Disciples parish reorganization and revitalization plan. Father Jeffrey Stirniman Current assignment: Holy Trinity and Historic St. Patrick, both in Bloomington (2020) New assignment: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Corpus Christi and St. Patrick, all in Galesburg; St. James in Williamsfield; and St. Aloysius in Wataga Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa; age, 59 Ordained: Aug. 5, 1995, in Peoria Past assignments: Parochial vicar of St. Philomena, Peoria (1995) Parochial vicar of St. Pius X, Rock Island and Chaplain of Alleman High School, Rock Island (1997) Pastor of St. Patrick, Bloomington (1999) Pastor of St. Louis, Princeton and St. Mary, Tiskilwa (2003) Remaining pastor of St. Louis, Princeton (2005) Administrator of Holy Trinity, Bloomington; St. Patrick, Bloomington; and St. Patrick, Wapella (2017) SOURCE: Peoria Diocese The Twin Cities longest-serving Catholic pastor, Monsignor Eric Powell, will be parting ways with Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal after about 22 years. He will head to Sts. Peter and Paul in Chatsworth and will be succeeded by Father David Richardson of Peoria. Stirniman will be leaving Holy Trinity and Historic St. Patrick in Bloomington, where he has served since 2017, to consolidate churches in Galesburg. Father Steven Loftus of Danville will be the next pastor. Father Greg Nelson will be leaving St. Mary in Bloomington after about eight years for a consolidation assignment in Mendota, and Father Adam Stimpson of Macomb will take his place. Father Greg Nelson Current assignment: Pastor, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bloomington (2016) Next assignment: Pastor, Holy Cross, Mendota; St. Theresa of Avila, Earlville; and Sts. Peter and Paul in Peterstown Born: Peoria; age, 56 Ordained: May 24, 1997, in Peoria Past assignments: Parochial vicar of Holy Trinity, Bloomington (1997) Pastor of St. Philomena, Monticello; and St. Michael, Bement (2001) Pastor of St. Paul, Danville (2005) Vicar forane of the Danville Vicariate (2013) SOURCE: Peoria Diocese So, will the parishioners in the pews notice big differences at Mass next week? Probably not, Nelson, Powell and Stirniman said. "They'll see change, but it won't be seismic change," Stirniman said. While the pastors will be different, there also will be continuity. Father Peter Okola and Father John Pham will remain as parochial vicars (associate pastors) at Holy Trinity and Historic St. Patrick and at St. Mary, respectively. Father Dustin Schultz and Father Matthew Deptula also will remain as pastor and parochial vicar, respectively, of St. Patrick of Merna in Bloomington. "Will it change the vibe? I suppose a little bit, but it probably won't be as much as people expect," Stirniman said. "We pastors come and go. It's the people who have been here for generations that are the mainstay, and they're the ones that give consistency and stability." Even if he wants to make changes, a smart incoming pastor will move slowly, over months, and only after learning the parish, Stirniman said. As for parishioners adjusting to a new pastor, he suggested, "Give the new guy a chance. "All the priests that are coming to our area are really good men, and I think they have a lot of potential, a lot of good experience," Nelson said. "And I think everybody is really willing to cooperate with whoever is coming in. That says a lot about the people in this community." 'God never stops knocking' Faced with changing demographics, declining attendance and fewer priests in the future, Bishop Louis Tylka announced in 2022 the two-year Growing Disciples process with the goal of building "a vibrant, sustainable mission-driven Church for the future. The diocese, which covers 26 counties stretching from the Quad Cities to Danville, will be reduced from the current 156 parishes to 75 in a process that will take two to three years. Stirniman said that while changing parishes is the most obvious part of the plan, thinking in terms of buildings, finances and staffing misses its ultimate point. What's the overall thrust of what the bishop is trying to do? It's basically growing disciples, right? We have to be more proactive, not only living out the faith with greater fervor in our own lives, but also helping others to do the same, Stirniman said. Nelson, for his part, sees this as a time of change and challenge, but also of opportunity. "If we continue to pray well together and be open and be flexible, then I think almost any kind of change is possible, even if it means several challenges in the short run," Nelson said. Powell also expressed hope for Growing Disciples but said a creative response to the larger problems of people leaving the church and of growing secularization in general remains elusive. He has overseen the transformation of the church and school buildings, especially a major 2009-2010 expansion that, among other things, added a facade in the style of a medieval Italian church. But his desire to fill those buildings with people encountering Christ has been unfulfilled. Epiphany has sent out delegations to conferences and other parishes to study parish renewal over the years, and Powell's shelves full of well-highlighted books on the subject attest to his own efforts. "Building up the people in the pew and then trying to be of use, trying to evangelize, I think, is a real weakness for Catholics," Powell said. "If you told me to go walk in the neighborhood, knock on doors, ask people about their faith, I would not know how to approach that subject. But that's, I think, part of the future, if there is a future." Despite all of the outreach efforts, Powell noted Epiphany's weekend Mass attendance has dropped from about 4,000 when he started in 2002 to about 2,000 now. "There's just something in the air that's depopulating Catholic churches, Christian churches in general, perhaps most religions," Powell said. "And so, we might be studying and traveling and visiting, but we don't quite have our finger on what the solution is." While Powell discourses about influences ranging from Nietzsche to mass media, he admits the answer is beyond him. "But I'm hopeful because I believe, and I don't lose sleep about any of this stuff because it's out of my control," Powell said. No matter how confusing or distracting the world becomes, "we believe that God never stops knocking." 'Value faith over buildings' Holy Trinity had been marked for closure previously in Growing Disciples, and its reprieve now isn't absolute. It and Historic St. Patrick have been tasked with developing long-term viability plans over the next two years. And even if any given parish or building survives in the short term, there is no guarantee for any of them 25 or 50 years down the road, Stirniman said. Holy Trinity's building is almost 90 years old, and St. Mary and Historic St. Patrick are decades older. All are beloved and historically significant, but Stirniman and Nelson note they and their staffs spend much of their time and resources dealing with leaky roofs and windows and aging pipes and wiring. "If it's an inordinate amount of money to maintain, or to fix, by way of a capital campaign, and the building has declining numbers, then he (the bishop) might decide, well, as much as I don't want to close this, I have to close this place," Stirniman said. "It's just, to be blunt, being a good steward of resources, basically," he added. Stirniman encourages people to keep the fates of parishes and buildings in perspective. I just hope the folks here value their faith over their building, as precious as the building becomes to them. You know, buildings are only for a certain number of decades or centuries; we're made for eternity, Stirniman said. Stirniman said he's glad three years and thousands of hours of work by many people have produced a parish renewal plan for Holy Trinity, and one is about to roll out for Historic St. Patrick. He also praised staff members he's hired, especially Dave Liptak as evangelization and discipleship coordinator, but there are some ministries, such as small group devotions, that he wished had taken off. Stirniman also pointed to the $600,000 purchase of 1.2 acres across Chestnut Street from Holy Trinity in 2019 to maintain access to parking, and the renovation of the Holy Trinity basement into a more welcoming meeting space. "It (the basement) was kind of a fun pastoral thing because it was an easy thing to please people with insofar as not being overly difficult and not being overly expensive and being so bad before that," he said. 'How can we do better?' Stirniman, who spent three years as interim pastor after a rapid turnover in pastors, said he's happy with his efforts to bring stability and unite his two church communities. Despite what he's done, Stirniman, like Nelson and Powell, expresses frustration with the continuing decline in Mass attendance, membership, sacraments performed and other metrics. "Do I blame myself? I don't really know what to think about that," he said. "I guess I just have to do the best that I can when I get up every morning. And if people want to stay, and hopefully get more involved in being a true follower of Jesus Christ, that's great. I will help them do that. We have a great staff here, and they have given people that opportunity and reason to do that." Nelson also said he would have liked to have seen more wider-reaching evangelization efforts, some of which are now getting started. "I think the parish does evangelize very well, in many ways, just by itself, but I think they'd be instilling some more formal ways of helping the parishioners to be the disciples that they're called to be," he said. St. Mary experienced a bit of "whiplash" as Growing Disciples evolved because it went from being tabbed as the lead church in a proposed new parish, combined with Historic St. Patrick and a closed Holy Trinity, to remaining on its own. Nelson said that news came as a bit of a relief to many parishioners, "but I told everybody that this isn't an opportunity for us to just coast ... it's an opportunity for us to regroup and to ask the question, how can we do better what we're doing now?" Nelson said he has been happy with his partnership with Principal Jamie Hartrich at the church's school. Aside from overcoming the COVID pandemic challenges to education, the parish raised more than $2 million to expand the school. While the work was postponed because costs came in higher than expected, Nelson said it showed how generously parishioners support the school. Nelson was the first diocesan priest to lead St. Mary after Franciscans administered it from 1877 to 2016. While that brought some changes, Nelson said he respected the "gifts and talents" of the laity steeped in that religious order's spirituality and adapted his pastoral style accordingly. "I'm a very collaborative pastor," Nelson said. St. Mary has a rich variety of parishioners, including a large Hispanic community, "making it in many ways a microcosm of the universal church," he said. "I think that's part of the reason why a lot of people who come here describe the parish as being a very warm parish," he said. "You can encounter someone who's like you in this parish very easily." Nelson and Stirniman now face the task of guiding the merger of parishes in Mendota and Galesburg, respectively. "I'm going to emphasize over and over, in delicate fashion, to become a better disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ," Stirniman said. "Rather than bemoaning the fact that your parish where you were a disciple is closing, be a disciple of Christ. Make sure you love the Lord and your truth and your faith more than your parish community." Powell, on the other hand, said he's looking forward to pastoring a much smaller congregation. Monsignor Eric Powell Current assignment: Pastor, Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal, and Office of Tribunal (2007) Next assignment: Sts. Peter and Paul, Chatsworth Born: Baltimore; age, 60 Ordained: June 10, 1990, in Peoria Past assignments: Graduate studies, Rome (1990) STL, Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm, Rome (1991) Chaplain and religion teacher at Marquette Academy, Ottawa (1991) Pastor of St. Mary, Utica (1992) Administrative assistant to Bishop John Myers (1992) Released for service at the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Vatican City (1994) JCL, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome (1997) Chaplain of Honor to His Holiness (1999) Pastor of St. Mary, Kickapoo (1999) Associate Judge, Marriage Tribunal (1999) Pastor of Epiphany, Normal (2002) While remaining pastor of Epiphany, Normal; pastor, St. Mary, Downs (2004) SOURCE: Peoria Diocese "I've mentioned since December that I think I'm dealing with some burnout," said Powell, a monsignor (although he prefers not to use the honorific because it seems too formal) and canon lawyer whose career includes time at the Vatican. "I've spent 22 years here, a good chunk of them alone (without a parochial vicar), and I think that took its toll." Issues with his physical health also have affected his mental state, "so Chatsworth, I think, is the diocese's version of a sabbatical for me," Powell said. "It's still doing priestly duties, but on a smaller scale." Powell said he will take some time to get to know Chatsworth, what he can handle and how he can help the church. "I'll see what the trustees and people have to say and what dreams they have," he said. For Powell, recreation has included racquetball and walking his dogs, sometimes eight to 10 miles a day. "You know, we walked so far, because that's on my app, we walked the length of Chile twice," he said. "That's a long walk." He also loves reading, especially "historically useful" biographies. "I like to get something out of a book. I can't stand reading pulp fiction," Powell said. "Somehow I think my folks got it into my head that you'd feel guilty for watching TV all day, or reading silly books and leaving the lights on." Stirniman said he looks forward to living nearer to his mother and only 10 miles south of property where he cultivates fruit and nut trees. He also is an avid coin collector and a student of macroeconomics videos on YouTube, among other interests. "I'll continue to learn about more trees, things about trees," he said. "They're just fascinating things." Powell also shares Stirniman's arboreal affection, having planted 256 trees on the Epiphany campus with his own hands. "They are lovely," he said. When he has some spare time, Nelson plays an array of musical instruments and most recently picked up the mandolin, playing Bach and transcribed cello suites. He also plays guitar, piano, saxophone and harmonica and has played the organ a couple of times. "It (playing music) is very relaxing and helps me focus better. And it actually helps you sleep better. And there's something about the mandolin that's just very gratifying. It's therapeutic to play it." Like Powell, Nelson reads biographies. He also enjoys movies, drawing on late critic Roger Ebert, the Criterion Channel and the Vatican's top 45 list for suggestions that have ranged from "Fantasia" to Japanese samurai films to "In Cold Blood." Saying goodbye Farewell events are planned for departing priests at Bloomington-Normal Catholic churches. Father Greg Nelson Coffee and doughnuts will be served after weekend Masses: 4 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 601 W. Jackson St., Bloomington. (Members of the Spanish-speaking community who worship at 12:15 p.m. Sunday already had an event to honor Nelson.) Monsignor Eric Powell A reception will be noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Epiphany parish hall, 1000 E. College Ave., Normal. He will speak at 1 and 2 p.m. Father Jeffrey Stirniman He will say say goodbye after the weekend Masses at 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday at Holy Trinity, 106 W. Chestnut St., and 8 a.m. Sunday at Historic St. Patrick, 1209 W. Locust St., both in Bloomington. Parishioners also are encouraged to "pack the church" for his last daily Mass at 8 a.m. Monday at Holy Trinity. Who was there? Capital campaign launch for Central Catholic Fr. Derick Mwesiga, CCHS President Sean Foster Fr. Dustin Schultz, Jared Hall Jennifer, Leigh and David Bonenfant Dennis and Sarah Larson, Lynn and Neil Finlen Kevin Cook, Kevin Kuebler CCHS Choir Campaign co-chair Jared Hall CCHS President Sean Foster Noreen McLaughlin, Kent and Noel Stutzman Kristen Peterson, Lindsay Sexton, Elizabeth Brady Adam and Jennifer Jelinek, Jan Youngman Valshaun Powe, Andre Hursey CCHS Principal Christopher and Katie McGraw Jonah Hamaker, AJ Luna Steve and Cathy Haas Amy and John OBrien Fr. Jeffrey Stirniman, Jim and Susan Fruin Kaden Lee, Scott Vogel, Eoin Kohn Kevin Braucht, Billy Adelman Elizabeth OBrien, Lauren Booth Natalie Wyse, Ciarra Kohn Michelle Koetters, Tracy Schuler Martha and Bob Hillmer, Sharon and Chris Hamaker Tim and Sasha Fallon, Jenny and Kevin Cook Chris and Katrina Weisiger, Katie Thiemann CCHS President Sean Foster, Cameron Kruger Christy and Phil Olinger, Gabe Tarr China shares story of Xiong'an New Area with foreign guests Xinhua) 09:03, June 28, 2024 XIONG'AN, Hebei Province, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A conference on the practice of the Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province was held on Thursday, gathering more than 230 leaders and representatives of political parties from nearly 40 countries. Themed "A Millennium Prospect for the Coordinated Development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region," the conference shared Xiong'an's achievements in practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The event was co-hosted by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee, and the Party Work Committee of the Xiong'an New Area. The establishment of the Xiong'an New Area is a pioneering move of the CPC, aiming to solve the problems facing modern urban development, explore an optimal development model for densely populated and economically intensive areas, and promote the construction of high-level modern cities, said Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Ni Yuefeng, secretary of the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee, said that the province will prioritize planning, implement various tasks that would relieve Beijing of functions non-essential to its role as China's capital, strengthen capacity building for scientific and technological innovation, and make new progress in the construction of the Xiong'an New Area. At the conference, grassroots representatives of various sectors in the Xiong'an New Area told stories of the development and changes in Xiong'an from aspects of urban planning, sci-tech innovation, ecological conservation and community governance. Foreign participants said that the Xiong'an New Area is a successful practice of Chinese modernization, and they expressed the hope to strengthen exchanges with the CPC, deepen exchanges of experience on state governance and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields. In April 2017, China decided to establish the Xiong'an New Area as part of a strategy to promote the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Xiong'an was designed to be a smart, livable city that is innovative, green and free from "urban ills." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hundreds of people responded to a gospel call by evangelist Franklin Graham, son of the late Billy Graham, at two God Loves You Tour events held in the UK. Graham went to the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham on June 15 and then the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 22. The hope-filled preaching was complemented by worship led by award-winning artists Taya, known for her Oceans song with Hillsong, three-time Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith, Dennis Agajanian and the Tommy Coomes Band. Maybe youre here tonight and youre wanting to know, who is Jesus? Franklin Graham said to a crowd of more than 7,500 people gathered at the Glasgow venue. Jesus Christ is Gods Son and He came on a rescue mission to save you from your sins. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) stated that hundreds responded to the gospel call to surrender to Jesus Christ at the event in Scotland. The association asked for prayers for each new believer. Stay informed with The Christian Daily Newsletter Sign up Some 450 churches from the Midlands were involved in organizing the Birmingham event. There is a historic association between the Graham family and the city. Billy Graham spoke in Birmingham too, some 40 years ago at Villa Park. That event in 1984 saw tens of thousands of lives changed as people came to faith in Christ, according to BGEA. Some of the Birmingham churches have been involved with both Billy and Franklin Graham evangelistic outreaches in the past four decades. They see a new generation in desperate need to hear about the hope found in Jesus. "Birmingham, one of the youngest cities in Europe, is full of people searching for identity, hope and purpose. Many are asking Where do I fit?, said the Rev. Kirk McAtear, pastor of Trinity Birmingham Church. The message that Franklin Graham will be sharing during the God Loves You Tour has the power to change our city. The gospel provides peace, healing, and answers to those who are searching. Reuben Morley, the youth festival director for the God Loves You Tour, said before the event, that contrary to statistics showing young people turning away from God, an excitement is building among our youth. We've witnessed hundreds of Gen Z and Gen Alpha attendees at our pre-tour events, where they are being equipped with tools to deepen their relationship with God and gain the confidence to share their faith with others! Graham has preached the gospel in the U.K. many times before and spoke of his excitement about returning to the country. This will be the ninth time I will have preached in the UK and Im just as excited as the first time that I preached in the UK 25 years ago, he said. Just like every time before, Im coming with a message of Good News. Im coming to share how people can have a real and personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, commented Graham, who serves as the President of the BGEA Meanwhile, evangelist Will Graham, son of Franklin and grandson of Billy, is bringing the hope-filled message about Jesus to Australia this Saturday (June 29). He will feature at the Look Up Celebration being held in Australias Gold Coast. More than 380 churches are involved and about 1,000 people have completed Christian Life and Witness courses, in preparation, teaching them how to live out their faith and share it with others. CHICAGO Family members of a missing Chicago woman say they are on their way to the Bahamas to help find her after she went missing June 19 during a yoga retreat on Paradise Island. Taylor Casey, 41, of Chicago, was last seen at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. Two days later, the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person poster on June 21 to alert the public to her disappearance, the family said in a statement posted on social media. We are deeply concerned for Taylors safety and well-being, Colette Seymore, Taylors mother, said in the statement. We love Taylor and want her home. Her family said Casey has been practicing yoga for 15 years and went to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat to fulfill a long-term goal of deepening her practice. Eager to return to Chicago, the woman her family described as vibrant and loving looked forward to sharing her experience with others, the family said. I believe Taylor is in danger because she was eager to share her yoga retreat experience with others upon her return, her mother said in the statement. Taylor would never disappear like this. According to CNN, authorities at a news conference Wednesday said they found Caseys cellphone in the water, but its unclear the distance it was from the yoga retreat. We have conducted an extensive investigation into the matter, Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings said, according to CNN. Our priority is to find Taylor and to find Taylor in good health. They described Taylor as a light-skinned Black woman, approximately 5-foot-10 and 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. They said she wears her hair natural, often covered by a do-rag. In a statement to the Tribune, The Yoga Retreat Bahamas said it had notified the U.S. Embassy and Caseys family about her disappearance. It asked police to investigate, the statement said. Ms. Caseys disappearance was discovered on June 20th when she failed to attend morning classes. The last time she was seen at the retreat was late on the evening of June 19th, according to the statement. The Ashram is asking anyone with information on Ms. Casey to contact the local police. In the interim it is collaborating with the authorities on their investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Royal Bahamas Police Force or the Bahamas Crime Stoppers. In January, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for U.S. citizens traveling to the Bahamas to exercise increased caution due to crime. Total solar eclipse moves across the nation The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has urged global energy leaders and experts to invest in Ghana's energy sector, which is being developed to support economic growth, enhance citizens' quality of life, and lead in sustainable energy in the sub-region and beyond. Speaking at the 2024 Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Dr. Prempeh highlighted Ghana's potential for renewable energy, energy access, and grid modernization, which require massive investment for clean energy to meet the demands of the growing population, business hubs, and industry. He shared insights on the future of energy in Ghana and the entire African continent, emphasizing the enormous potential in Ghana's energy sector. "We need your investment to unlock them, accelerate our economic growth, improve energy security, and enhance the quality of life of our citizens," he appealed to the global energy leaders and experts. At a Ministerial Roundtable, Dr. Prempeh joined African Energy Ministers to discuss "Energy Systems for the Future," focusing on balancing Africa's needs with global goals. He also met with the UK Trade Commissioner for Africa and energy sector heads to strategize on positioning Ghana's energy sector for investment, particularly under the Powering Africa program. On the sidelines of the AEF, Dr. Prempeh held a meeting with senior officials of the World Bank to discuss the importance of consolidated efforts towards achieving a stable, efficient, and sustainable energy sector that can drive Ghanas economic growth. Additionally, he took part in a panel discussion on Building Cohesive Gas Value Chains and Developing Future Infrastructure. During this session, the Energy Minister emphasized that Africas industrialization will heavily depend on the expansion of natural gas usage, as it is the most viable fuel for power generation and other industrial processes amidst the global energy transition agenda. The minister's engagement at the AEF aims to position Ghana as a prime destination for energy investment, leveraging the country's strategic location, favorable business environment, and growing demand for energy. By leveraging its renewable energy resources and expertise, Ghana seeks to become a beacon for sustainable energy development in Africa, creating a model for other countries to follow. The Africa Energy Forum is a premier platform for energy stakeholders to share innovations and best practices. Dr. Prempeh's participation demonstrates Ghana's commitment to building a robust energy sector that benefits its citizens and contributes to global sustainable energy goals. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Police Service on 26th June, 2024 arraigned accused person, Ayivor Elikplim, who was arrested on Tuesday June 25, 2024 for assaulting a female work colleague at a financial institution at Nkawkaw. He pleaded guilty to the charge against him and was convicted on his own plea of guilty and remanded into police custody to re-appear on 28th June, 2024. Ayivor Elikplim appeared before the Nkawkaw District Court today but the sentence has been deferred to Tuesday 2nd July, 2024. The face of Ayivor Elikplim has been shown in the photograph because he has been duly convicted by the court. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Delhi Public School international, one of the revered international schools located in Tema, Ghana over the weekend held a special graduation ceremony for its A Level Class of 2024. The short but colorful graduation ceremony was held in the schools auditorium on Saturday June 22nd, 2024 which brought together teachers, parents and guardians who celebrated the success of their wards. DPS International had 3 students who had the best grades in three different subjects in this years A-Level exam Present at the ceremony were Mr Mukesh Thakwani, Owner and Director of the School alongside renowned televangelist and economist Mr. Lawrence Tetteh; who shared a few words of encouragement and advised the graduands to take their studies in the tertiary level seriously and also about their journey through life. Some of the graduating students took to the stage to share stories of the memorable experiences they had in school and how much they would miss the school as well as the friends they made during their time at DPS. The ceremony was lit up with performances ranging from singing to dancing by the students and the parents were seen dancing and singing along to the performances of the students. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video DPS International on Sunday the 23rd of June held a yoga session in the schools auditorium where people of different ages ranging from kids to adults showed up to participate in yoga to commemorate the 10th edition of the International day of yoga. This year marks the 10th International Day of Yoga with the theme Yoga for Self and Society. Yoga, a transformative practice, represents the harmony of mind and body, the balance between thought and action, and the unity of restraint and fulfillment. It integrates the body, mind, spirit, and soul, offering a holistic approach to health and well-being that brings peace to our hectic lives. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed the 21st of June as the International Day of Yoga. DPSI and B5 plus came together to participate in yoga activities at the school auditorium and present at the event was the director of the school Mr. Mukesh Thakwani who also participated in the yoga activity alongside his family, teachers and students of DPS, employees of B5 steel company and others. At the end of the yoga session during an interview, Mr. Mukesh Thakwani talked about the importance of yoga and the benefits of practicing yoga. When asked about the promotion of yoga, he stated that yoga isnt a common practice in this part of the world yet he encourages everyone to participate in yoga activities. He also stated that the practice of yoga will be included in the DPSI curriculum so that the students can participate in yoga activities regularly and not just on the day marked as the International day of Yoga. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Five Ghanaian legislators and an officer, who were on an official visit to the Parliament of Kenya and were caught up during the Kenyan violent protests, are safe and secure. A statement issued by the Parliamentary Service of Ghana, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, confirmed that the High Commission of Ghana in Kenya has assured the safety and security of the five Members of Parliament (MPs) and the officer accompanying the delegation. The delegation, comprised of members of the Local Government Committee of Parliament, included Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi, the Chairman of the Committee; Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, the Ranking Member of the Committee; Sylvester Tetteh; Thomas Ampem Nyarko; Mohammed Taferu; and Madam Anita Quartey Papafio, a Senior Principal Assistant Clerk. The statement detailed that the delegation was at the Kenyan Parliament for a benchmarking visit when the unfortunate incident occurred. They were immediately escorted to safety in the Senate building and subsequently evacuated to their hotel by officials of the Kenyan Parliament. The statement concluded with an expression of gratitude for the public's concern and reassured that efforts are being made to ensure their safe return to Ghana. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In 2022, the World Bank announced that Ghanas digital sector has been growing on average by 19% between 2014 to 2020. This remarkable growth has seen the country surpass many of its African counterparts and is positioning it as a leader in the African digital landscape. However, as the countrys digital economy has expanded, so has the need to protect its citizens data in an increasingly borderless cyber world become more pressing. Like many other nations, Ghana finds itself caught in-between rapidly evolving technology and complex regulatory frameworks. For example, although the transfer and processing of data often occur irrespective of national boundaries, the legal systems to regulate them are usually based on territorial jurisdictions. This is because the global approach to data protection and privacy laws varies widely. Europe has taken steps towards a unified approach with the EU Data Protection Directive, although implementation varies significantly among its 27-member states. Africa, in contrast, presents a patchwork of regulations. Some African countries, like Ghana with its Data Protection Act, 2012, have made significant strides, yet regulations differ greatly across the continent. Beyond Africa and Europe, countries like Australia, India, and China have their own distinct regulations, creating a complex global mix of data protection laws. This mismatch poses significant challenges for business that seek to expand beyond the confines of their local borders. Resultingly, when Ghanaian businesses extend their services to regions like Europe or North America, they often face a steep learning curve in data handling processes. On the flip side, this situation is even more complex for multinational corporations operating in Ghana. They must navigate not only local laws but also a myriad of international regulations. This challenge is particularly acute for technology providers especially telecommunications companies. Global tech companies with a presence in Ghana's telecommunications infrastructure, like Huawei,exemplify this challenge by producing equipment that complies with Ghanaian law while also meetingthe diverse international standards which are constantly evolving. Nonetheless, a coordinated international approach to data protection and cybersecurity principles would greatly benefit global commerce and innovation. Such an approach could potentially see countries around the world implement global standards that ease the compliance burden on both localcompanies expanding abroad and international companies operating within a country. As Ghana continues to position itself as a tech hub for West Africa, the need for clear, internationally aligned data protection standards becomes increasingly urgent. This is a complex challenge, but it is one that offers an opportunity for Ghana to lead the way in shaping Africa's digital future. The goal for Ghana is to create an environment where local innovations can thrive globally while ensuring the privacy of its citizens. Striking this delicate balance will be crucial as Ghana navigates the complex world of international data protection and seeks to establish itself as a leader in Africa's digital economy. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The choice of a running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has hogged news headlines since December 2023 when the party's 2024 flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, requested more time to name his partner for the upcoming polls. Since then, speculations, polls, analyses and expert opinions have been published in the media as to why one person or the other will be the ideal candidate and or why picking a person from a particular region will be the best. On June 26, 2024; it emerged that the Bawumia had presented a name to his boss, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; it wasn't before long several media outlets announced that the person was Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, alias Napo. Dr. Opoku Prempeh is a royal, which many people view as a plus in rallying the party's base (vote bank) to vote massively come 2024, he is a trained medic and has served as lawmaker (since 2009) and as cabinet minister since 2017. He brings a lot to the ticket, whiles the opposition could also throw a lot at him. Below is a profile of the VP candidate as published by CERAWeek by S&P Global Who is Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh? Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, is the Minister for Energy and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South constituency in the Ashanti Region. He was born on May 23, 1968 in Kumasi, where he went on to have his primary, secondary and tertiary education. At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Human Biology in 1992 and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB,ChB) degree in 1995. After serving as a House Officer at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from 1995 until 1997, Dr. Prempeh continued his education at the Erasmus University in The Netherlands, obtaining an M.Sc in Clinical Epidemiology in 1998. He proceeded to the United Kingdom to work, becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow in 2002. He returned to Ghana in 2003 to pursue a career in business and politics. He is also a Harvard Scholar and an alumnus of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program. Political Career: Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh ran for Parliament on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2008 general election and won the mandate to represent the people of Manhyia. Subsequently, the constituency was divided into two and he went on to become Member of Parliament for the Manhyia South Constituency in 2012. He retained the seat at the 2016 elections and again at the 2020 elections. Following the victory of the NPP in the 2016 general elections, Dr. Prempeh was appointed by President Akufo-Addo as Minister for Education from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure, he successfully led the team at the Ministry to deliver on the flagship education programme of the government, the Free Senior High School programme, to wide admiration even from his political opponents. His team also delivered on curriculum reforms, teacher reforms and several initiatives to promote and mainstream Technical, Vocational Training and Education (TVET), among others. In the aftermath of the NPPs victory at the 2020 general elections, President Akufo-Addo nominated Dr. Prempeh to serve as Minister for Energy. He has since championed various major projects including the completion of rural electrification (currently 86%) by 2024; renegotiation of Power Agreements; the revamping of Ghanas cylinder manufacturing company and improvement of the cylinder recirculation model to meet Ghanas clean energy goals; the establishment of a petroleum hub; revision of local content legislation, improving the efficiency of electricity producers and distributors; and relieving the energy debt stock of Ghana through the Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP). Awards: Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was adjudged the best Minister in 2017 and 2019 and is the recipient of the 2020 Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement in recognition of his exemplary leadership style. He has also received 2 Honorary Doctorates from the University of Education, Winneba and the University for Professional Studies, Accra, for his leadership and achievements as Education Minister. He was also recently named in the top 25 Movers and Shakers in the Energy Sector by the African Energy Chamber. Source: ghanaweb Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy Minister for Local Government, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has endorsed Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for the Running Mate slot of the New Patriotic Party(NPP). The Energy Minister cum Manhyia South Member of Parliament appears to lead the list of prospective candidates for the position. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh's name is said to have been handed to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. A source within the Presidency revealed Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, affectionately called "NAPO", was discussed as the potential candidate for the Running Mate position. I know Dr Matthew Opoku Prempehs name was discussed and the President is okay with that, the source said. The Minister may be the choice, however the Vice President is yet to present his name to the partys National Council before he can officially be unveiled as his Running Mate. Hon. Vincent Ekow, contributing to "Kokrokoo" morning show on Peace FM, recounted the good works of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh in the education sector as Minister and what he is currently doing to boost the energy sector, hence lauding him for his achievements. To him, there could not be a better candidate suitable than NAPO. "There's enough space for all and that is NAPO for you...He is an achiever," he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank, IMANI, has been torn into shreds over what has been described as a bizarre claim on his Facebook page about the 33 policies Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia spearheaded their implementation. In a post on his Facebook page earlier this week, Franklin Cudjoe surprisingly claimed the policies have no impact on the economy. But in a detailed response, through an open letter by a Political Communications Consultant, Dr. Ekow Acquah, the IMANI President's assertion is politically motivated to discredit Dr. Bawumias efforts. With the 33 policies by Dr. Bawumia including the delivery of medical supplies through the use of drones to remote areas, mobile money interoperability, construction of hospitals in districts without hospitals, digitalization of public services, national property and identity systems among others, the Communications Consultant wondered how a seasoned Head of a policy think tank could downplay such important initiatives which are pillars for the transformation of modern economies. "Your latest piece of baseless and shocking analysis on your Facebook page, was your shocking claim that Bawumias 33 policies he has championed as Vice President, have no impact on the economy and the country", Dr. Acquah wrote to Franklin Cudjoe. "Are you serious?Are you the same Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI?, he queried, stressing indeed when I first saw this bizarre claim on your page, I instantly wrote it off as coming from a parody account, but upon further checks, I found out it was really coming from you, head of a policy think tank with over 20 years experience!" He added; "Mr. Franklin, are you really serious, that transformative policies, which Dr. Bawumia spearheaded, such as One Constituency, One Ambulance, Zipline Medical Drone, Mobile Money Interoperability, national biometric identity through Ghanacard, national property address system, digitalisation of public services, Agenda 111, Zongo Development Fund, and many others, have not been impactful and have no impact on the economy? Even if you are being politically mischievous, you should be concerned about your integrity." Dr. Acquah further asked; "How could any serious-minded policy analyst claim that the innovative and internationally acclaimed delivery of essential medical supplies through drones to over 2000 clinics and hospitals in remote communities in the country, on a daily basis, has no impact?" "Because of your hatred for Bawumia, you choose to play down the impact of an intervention which even Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, commended Ghana for. Get serious Mr. Franklin, he blasted the IMANI boss. Below is the full letter: WHEN A THINK TANK BECOMES AN EMPTY TANK - AN OPEN LETTER TO IMANI'S FRANKLIN CUDJOE OVER HIS CLAIM ON BAWUMIA`S 33 POLICIES Dear Franklin, I hope this letter finds you well, and succeeds in reawakening you, and bringing you back on track, towards the noble think tank duties you were, hitherto, noted for. Without a doubt, you have built a fine reputation for yourself, having strongly built IMANI, alongside your partners, from the scratch, to one recognised and respectef by international organisations. As a think tank, IMANI, which you have played a starring role in shaping, has played significant roles in conducting research, sharing ideas, critiquing policies and providing intellectual platforms for policy dialogues, all geared towards the progress of our country. However, in recent times, as head of one of the leading policy think tanks in the country, you have reduced this starring and noble role of think tanks, specifically IMANI, to a comedy SHOW, with your social media handles as platforms. For reasons best known to you, you have reduced your once admirable analytical prowess, to a lazy, arm-chair Facebook analyst, always making deductions and analogies that are at best, baseless and ridiculous. Anyone who follows you, including your ardent admirers like me, would have realised how you struggle to make meaningful, intellectual analysis based on data and facts, as you used to do. You now reduce serious issues of national concern to satire, and you hide behind satirical analogies to attack those you despise, especially Dr. Bawumia. Your latest piece of baseless and shocking analysis on your Facebook page, was your shocking claim that Bawumias 33 policies he has championed as Vice President, have no impact on the economy and the country. Are you serious? Are you the same Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI? Indeed when I first saw this bizarre claim on your page, I instantly wrote it off as coming from a parody account, but upon further checks, I found out it was really coming from you, head of a policy think tank with over 20 years experience! Mr. Franklin, are you really serious, that transformative policies, which Dr. Bawumia spearheaded, such as One Constituency, One Ambulance, Zipline Medical Drone, Mobile Money Interoperability, national biometric identity through Ghanacard, national property address system, digitalisation of public services, Agenda 111, Zongo Development Fund, and many others, have not been impactful and have no impact on the economy? Even if you being politically mischievous, you should be concerned about your integrity. Get serious Mr Franklin, because the more you allow your hatred for Dr. Bawumia to consume you, or the more your desperately try to prove to the NDC that you are neutral, you end up embarrassing yourself, your hard-earned reputation, your colleagues at IMANI, and of course IMANI itself. How could any serious-minded policy analyst claim that the innovative and internationally acclaimed delivery of essential medical supplies through drones to over 2000 clinics and hospitals in remote communities in the country, on a daily basis, has no impact? Because of your hatred for Bawumia, you choose to play down the impact of an intervention which even Kamala Harris, the US Vice President, commended Ghana for. Get serious Mr. Franklin. Mr Franklin, how do you play down the impact of mobile money interoperability on the Ghanaian economy? As a leader of a think takn, are you not aware that thanks to the successful implementation of mobile money interoperability, Ghana is now the number one country in Africa as far as financial inclusion is concerned? As a leader of a policy think tank, you do not know that financial inclusion is key and a basic element towards transforming an economy? Get serious Mr Franklin! As a leader of a policy think tank, how do you explain to the world that, in a contemporary economy, digital national identity system and digital national address system have no bearing and impact, as pillars for economic transformation? Are you really serious Mr Franklin? Dr. Bawumia, even before he became Vice President, wrote in his 2010 book, the need for developing countries like Ghana, to establish strong economic pillars such as national identy systems, national address systems, increase financial inclusion, as basic pillars for economic transformation. This is how Europe, where you get your funding from, developed economically, and that's what Dr. Bawumia has done, through the opportunity he's had as Vice President. He has used the opportunity he's had as Vice President, to implement what he recommended to African countries in his book, and those are pillars and principles for economic transformation. It is sad you don't know this, or you choose not to know! As for your assertion that the Agenda 111 Hospital Bawumia championed is not beneficial because none had been completed, the least said about it the better. Such weird thoughts rather exposed your recent lazy approach to intellectual analysis. Nearly one 100 hospitals being built across the country are not beneficial because none has been completed? How funny! Your thoughts are like saying a student is wasting their time in school because they have not yet completed school. Mr. Franklin, in your deep hatred for Bawumia and your desperate quest to prove to the NDC you are neutral, you can continue to be delusional about your status and your influence. What you do not know is that you're rather embarrassing IMANI, the organisation you have built over the years. And what you do not realise, is that, you are only fooling a few of your audience on social media, who will jump at every nonsense you write and give you a few "likes" and praises. These think alikes, do not represent discerning members of society who appreciate the impacts of the 33 policies Dr. Bawumia has proposed and spearheaded as Vice President. The pregnant women in remote parts of Ghana, who have been rescued by drones delivering timely essential medical supplies, appreciate what Dr. Bawumia has done! The market women, who used to be attacked on the highways because they carried cash to the markets, but now have the luxury of saving their monies on mobile money wallets, which work like bank accounts, appreciate what Dr. Bawumia has done. Discerning Ghanaians, who have seen the real impact of digitalisation on effectively battling corruption and saving the nation and the econony millions of dollars through identity fraud, appreciate what Dr. Bawumia has done. Ghanaians, who were excluded and never had any means of identity, both for themselves and their property, appreciate Dr. Bawumia's efforts in ensuring a robust national identity and property address system. Mr. Franklin, you can hate Dr. Bawumia all you like! No one can stop that. But your ignorance and hatred can be exposed. Now it is so obvious how you struggle to appease easc side of the political divide. For a man I, and I believe, many others, admired for what you did in the past, it is unfortunate you have now reduced the once revered IMANI from a think tank to an empty tank. How I wish I could dissociate you from IMANI, for the organisation to keep it's credibility from your inconsistent self. But like conjoined twins, you're inseparable! It's not too late. You can go back to your former self; of a man who worked for the progress of Ghana, not for any other consideration. A word to the wise....... Best regards, Dr. Ekow Acquah, Political Communications Consultant. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has revealed plans to focus on building low-cost housing for Ghanaians. Speaking during a meeting with executives of the National Tenants Union, the former president emphasised that housing is a crucial need that his government will address. His plan includes a particular focus on low-cost housing for nurses, teachers, civil servants, doctors, and anyone with a steady income, ensuring that no one is left behind. Mr Mahama underscored the importance of offering social housing that is truly affordable for ordinary Ghanaians, as opposed to the so-called affordable housing options priced in thousands of dollars and out of reach for many. The NDC leader also pledged to encourage the Minority Group in parliament to help expedite work on the Rent Control Bill, which would prevent tenants from being forced to pay more than one year's rent in advance. The Secretary General of the Tenants Union, Frederick Opoku, said it is important for the government to address the needs of Ghanaians renting, which he estimated to be about 19 million people in Ghana. Mr Mahama assured the group of his unwavering commitment to addressing the housing issue, citing his own experiences as a tenant and a benefactor to many people in rented houses for support in paying their rent in advance. His assurances, he noted, should bring hope for a brighter future in housing for Ghanaians. According to him, housing is a critical need, and the next NDC administration will address it as part of his legacy as President. Source: Salaamat Kuukua Paintsil/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North constituency in the Ashanti region has expressed his displeasure over the alleged choice of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, as the running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the December 7 general elections. Information gathered by Peacefmonline.com on June 25, revealed that, the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, had presented Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the minister of Energy and incumbent Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, to the President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, as his choicest for the running mate slot. This has generated conversations among the political players. However, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi opined that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is not his preferred choice of running mate for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. According to the lawmaker, although Dr. Opoku Prempeh may qualify to be vice president of Ghana, he [Andy Appiah-Kubi] wont choose him. There have been several names popping up as possible running mates for the NPP flag bearer. Top of the list is the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; Chief of Staff, Hon. Frema Opare, Hon. Naa Torshie, amongst others. However, the highlight has always been on the former Education Minister and the incumbent Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. Dr. Bawumia is expected to present his choice to the National Executive Council of the NPP for the final decision to be taken, followed by an official announcement and outdooring of candidate. Commenting on the development, Mr. Appiah-Kubi said Dr Opoku Prempeh lacks what he (Appiah-Kubi) looks out for in a running mate for the NPPs flag bearer. Andy Appiah Kubi said, We have not been consulted as a caucus for us to state our position, but me Appiah-Kubi, if it was for me to choose, I wont choose him. Because he is not my preference . . . I would want somebody who will be open to the people on the ground, who will be able to deliver the votes, somebody who will submit to the presidency and who will also bring parliament closer to the executive. He further noted, We should find somebody who if the presidential candidate is not there, he will hold the hand of a member of parliament and go and campaign in that members constituency . . . he cannot hold my hand so why should I prefer him? Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Legendary American rapper, Jim Jones, was adorably styled like a real Ghanaian royal for his appearance in the official music video of 'Drip Remix', a song by award-winning Ghanaian musician, Bashir Annan, famously known as Gambo. One would be pardoned for mistaking Jim Jones as an Asanti King for the high level of Ghanaian royalty he portrayed in the 'Drip Remix' video. His demeanour, the 'subjects' at his feet and standing around him, and his beautiful Kente wear accessorized with amazing beads, and his fine-looking crown all perfectly teamed up to earn him a noble 'royal status'. In the video shot in the U.S.A., Jim Jones is seen beautifully dressed like a Ghanaian king, alongside rappers Gambo, Ayigbe Edem, and several white and black women who also dressed in beautiful Ghanaian costumes, promoting the beautiful culture of Ghana on the international scene. The 'Drip' Remix is one of the amazing tunes on Gambos latest extended play (EP) titled '1 More Bullet', a musical project that's in celebration of hip-hop. Featuring on the highly anticipated EP are Ghanaian music duo, E.L., and Kofi Jumah. E.L. features on a song dubbed: 'Enjoyment'. Kofi Jamar showcased his music prowess on 'Conversation', another amazing song on the EP to watch out for. Jim Jones was not only excellent in contributing to 'Drip Remix' lyrically, but his dress style was a perfect fit for marketing brand Ghana in America and beyond. Gambo is in the first Ghanaian musician in history to do an international collaboration where he influenced a Westerner to adopt the Ghanaian culture rather than trying to copy the dress code of the Western world. Jim Jones was historically influenced to 'wear Ghana', 'appreciate Ghanaian culture' and to help immensely market the Ghanaian culture, something for which Gambo truly deserves a brand ambassadorial role for Ghana from agencies like the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). Music, they say, is immersive, fostering an understanding that goes beyond language barriers. It preserves one's cultural roots for years and years, ensuring that future generations can continue to share in traditions that connect them to their history. Exposure to diverse musical influences do help to inspire creativity and innovation, something which leads to the creation of new genres of music. This global connectivity promotes tolerance and respect and contributes to a more interconnected and empathetic world. Gambo is certainly helping immensely to connect Ghanaians in the diaspora to their roots and to equally inspire the younger generation of Ghanaian musicians to take great pride in their cultural heritage and promote the same internationally. Gambo strongly believes that through music, the rich traditions, stories, and values of Ghana could reach the hearts of people worldwide. He's also using his music to inspire the younger generation of Ghanaian musicians to explore their cultural roots and create music that celebrates their Ghanaian heritage. For Gambo, using the power of music to promote Ghanaian culture internationally, could profit Ghana's tourism industry immensely. He believes using music to promote culture can help to attract more tourists to Ghana. Gambo continues to exemplify himself as a great ambassador for brand Ghana and he has vowed to continue to use his music journey to send home the message that Ghanaian culture is a treasure to be celebrated and shared with the rest of the world. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle constituency, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has disclosed that during her entire three-year tenure at Wesley Girls' Senior High School, not a single guy proposed to her. She attributed this to the strict disciplinary protocols of her school, which limited her interactions with students from other institutions. The MP emphasized that her focus remained steadfast on her academics, and throughout her time in SHS, no male, whether a student or otherwise, approached her with a declaration of affection. In an episode of the Starr Chat show, host Bola Ray asked, "During your time at Wesley Girls, did any guy ever approach you with a compliment about your beauty, expressing a desire to date you or be your boyfriend?" Zanetor, maintaining her composure, replied, "No, but at Wesley Girls, visiting days were restricted; you couldn't just turn up unannounced. Upon arrival, there was a procedure involving a table manned by senior students where visitors had to register their details and whom they intended to visit, after which the student would be summoned. "So, it was a structured process. And it wasn't exclusive to me, by the way. That was the standard protocol. Perhaps I was simply naive, but the opportunities for interaction were indeed limited." Meanwhile, the legislator addressed one of the famous allegations against her father, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, which involved a supposed boyfriend of hers whose hair was shaved with a broken bottle by soldiers, leaving him bald. The supposed boyfriend, Selassie OSullivan-Djentuh, in an account to the British Home Office when seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, alleged that he was brutalized by soldiers in 2000 after breaking off his relations with a young Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings. I was driven to the Castle, the seat of government. I was dragged out of the van and beaten again. I was shaved with an old rusty blade and later with a broken bottle. I was told that the President had ordered my hair to be brought to him. They said the President had also ordered them to kill me and dump my body in the sea. I know that my hair was collected. I do not know whether it was actually taken to the President," said Selassie. But Zanetor indicated that when the incident happened, she had broken off her relationship with Selassie, adding that the incident was about a land dispute. She recalled: My dad had nothing to do with that. The story that I had heard regarding how that all happened was that there was some land issue, and there was some military person involved. At the time, we were not even friends. This was long after I'd gone my way, and he had gone his way. So, this was a bit strange, actually, but politics again, you know, I think it was just a perfect story for the time. That bothered me a lot because, at the time, I felt quite unfairly treated because the fact is, the story wasn't true, and no room was being made for the true version of the story to be told because nobody really wanted to hear it at the time. And, I mean, I was young at the time, you know, doing my little 'chrife' thing on the side. And this was a bit devastating, actually, for me. Watch the video below: Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: First clear view of the Ariane 6 rocket that will launch into space on the launch pad at Europes Spaceport in French Guiana, 20 June 2024. Credit: ESAL. Bourgeon 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. As well as CubeSats and reentry capsules, Ariane 6 will launch four onboard experiments that will carry out research during the rocket's flight, ending their mission as the rocket does. LIFI is one of them, a new technology experiment from French company Oledcomm, a spinoff from Paris-Saclay University. Wi-Fi uses radio waves to send data without wires, providing wireless internet and network connections. Li-Fi ("Light Fidelity") does the same using light, that for certain applications may offer greater security, higher bandwidth, lower cost and power consumption compared to using Wi-Fi. "LEDs can switch on and off several million times a second. Using the invisible spectrum of light in the infrared, Oledcomm converts information into binary data, like optical Morse code. This modulation occurs so quickly, more than 10 million times a second, that the eye cannot perceive it. Our experiment will confirm that this technology can also be used under space conditions." For space missions, Li-Fi technology allows for ultra-secure and interference-free wireless connection, and significant weight savings by eliminating radiation-resistant space-grade cables. It is an important step forward too for intra-satellite communicationsi.e. the exchange of information between different subsystems within a single satellite. Ariane 6, during its first launch set for early July, will be the first rocket to integrate Li-Fi technology. An overview of the passengers on the first flight of Ariane 6. Credit: ESA The 40 x 60 x 16 mm LIFI experiment consists of two "SatelLiFe" modules 80 cm apart, fitted under the rocket's fairing, which will communicate via Li-Fi. On detection of lift-off, they will exchange data with each other, enabling the team to study the communication performance and ensure the system is robust to withstand the rigors of launch. The LIFI experiment could simplify the process of integrating payloads onto Ariane 6 as, in the future, Li-Fi technology could be used to communicate between rocket parts instead of cables, lessening the mass onboard and therefore the amount of fuel needed, potentially having an impact on the associated carbon footprint. "The LIFI experiment onboard Ariane 6 will be a world first as it will be the first time that Li-Fi technology has been embedded in a space launcher, enabling us to demonstrate the robustness of Li-Fi systems and plan for future integration onto other missions, rockets, satellites and spacecraft," explains Benjamin Azoulay, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Oledcomm. "This is an incredible opportunity offered to us by ArianeGroup and ESA, whom we would like to thank. Beyond the visibility of being part of Ariane 6's first launch, which is going to be enormous, with the technical support from ArianeGroup teams we have increased our skills in various areas. We are happy to be part of the adventure and hope it will be a success." Europe's new heavy-lift rocket has been designed for all futures, and at its core is maximum versatility. Ariane 6 can put any satellite or payload into any orbital path. This is made possible with the new restartable Vinci engine that will power up the Ariane 6 upper stage repeatedly, stopping and starting to insert spacecraft into any orbit they need to be. "Over and above the excitement and pleasure I have had in carrying out this project, it is almost a childhood dream that I am realizing: working for the European launcher Ariane 6! What an opportunity," concludes Oledcomm's Maxime L'huillier, responsible for developing the software for the LIFI demonstrator. "I now hope that this is just the beginning of Li-Fi communication within the Ariane 6 launcher, and that I'll be lucky enough to experience many more launches into orbit." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Safari Consoler from Pexels Several universities and colleges in Canada signed on to the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education in November 2021. In so doing, universities and colleges committed to promoting Black flourishing in their classrooms and campuses. In the context of these urgent aims, it's important to acknowledge the importance of Black-affirming community spaces and understand the role they play in Black student well-being and academic success. Black-affirming academic community spaces are designed specifically for Black students and have an explicit focus on academic success. These spaces also provide opportunities for psycho-social skill development and opportunities for exploring racial counter-narratives. As such, Black-affirming community spaces offer Black students a physical space to develop positive Black identities, which are vital for academic success. Countering anti-Black racism The prevalence of racismspecifically anti-Black racismin higher education is well-documented across several different contexts. Studies show that in the United States and the United Kingdom, Black students are subjected to both covert and overt forms of racism in post-secondary institutions. U.S.-based studies have also shown that in a context of pervasive anti-Black racism, dedicated Black community spaces support Black student inclusion and well-being. A similar trend is emerging in Canada. For example, in recent years, the University of British Columbia, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Acadia University have opened Black student spaces. Student voices now Following commitments by some universities to open or sustain Black community spaces, in 2023, we and colleagues conducted a study. We are currently finalizing analysis of the data in preparation for publication. The study was conducted under the leadership of Beverly-Jean Daniel, one of the authors of this article and an associate professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University. The study aimed to document the experiences of Black students in Canadian post-secondary institutions, and to assess the formal and informal resources Black post-secondary students draw upon. Researchers conducted interviews with over two dozen Black college, undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. students in Ontario between December 2022 and March 2023 to identify the supports Black students employ to navigate institutions of higher education. The students hailed from seven universities and colleges across Ontario and represented diverse disciplinary backgrounds. While some participants had access to permanent dedicated Black academic spaces, others discussed their experiences with virtual or pop-up Black spaces on campus. Peer-to-peer support A master's student described Black community spaces as spaces of "Black life making [an] environment for Black people to succeed." Participants shared that Black-affirming academic community spaces are centers of peer-to-peer support, which studies show promotes academic success. Participants noted that Black students from across different programs and disciplines offer mutual aid and support, share resources and opportunities, and establish informal mentoring relationships in these spaces. Students reported that seeing other Black students' academic success increased their confidence, motivation and the belief that they can excel in their fields. In addition, they shared that Black-affirming academic community spaces provided the emotional support and encouragement that empowered them to persevere in difficult circumstances. Second, students described how these spaces provide them a place to share their experiences with anti-Black racism in higher education. Studies show that having spaces to unpack covert and overt racism they experience is vital for the well-being and positive development of Black youth. Participants said they could freely and openly share their experiences with anti-Black racism without fear of judgment or dismissal in these spaces. These spaces therefore serve as hubs for important conversations around race and racism both in academia and in broader society. Sharing Black cultures and histories Moreover, respondents shared that these spaces facilitate sharing Black cultures, histories and futures in holistic ways, which enabled them to develop positive Black racial identities. With this sharing, students said they found mutual support to counter the anti-Black messaging they frequently receive. Resourced spaces needed What we heard from students in our research echoes earlier findings, and provides additional data to support calls for dedicated and resourced Black student spaces in Canadian institutions of higher education. Signatories to the Scarborough Charter should lend material and institutional support to cultivate designated spaces on campus that can serve as community hubs. Planning for this should begin now, as campuses forge plans for a new cohort of students in the fall. Additionally, universities and colleges should provide financial and institutional support to bolster Black student groups and community organizations who are working to create Black community spaces. Black community spaces have begun to attract some criticism from some commentators. In the face of this, it is vital that institutions publicly state and consistently demonstrate their commitment to protecting these spaces. This is critical as part of their efforts to promote the inclusion of Black students. Together, these actions can play a key role in supporting Black flourishing and inclusive excellence, two of the overarching principles guiding the Scarborough Charter. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Microsoft founder Bill Gates, left, and Britain's Prince William at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London on Thursday. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Thursday urged investors to get behind cutting-edge climate technologies he says would drive a "green industrial revolution" and a next wave of global prosperity. Over three days in an upmarket London venue, Gates showcased more than 100 companies making ground on cutting planet-heating emissions from carbon-intensive sectors most responsible for climate change. Gates is a firm believer in the power of innovation to drive breakthroughs in heavily polluting industries like manufacturing, energy and transport. He is the single largest investor in a fund he established in 2015 that has plowed around $2.2 billion into early-stage technologies like low-carbon cement, zero-emissions aviation and sustainable building materials. But in the quest to deploy these technologies more quickly at scale, Gates is seeking to widen the investor base from venture capitalists to pension and sovereign wealth funds. Many of the innovations he has bankrolled are still at the lab level and not making a dent in the heat-trapping gases that drive global warming, let alone a return on investment. Critics say climate technology is a costly distraction when deep reductions in emissions are needed today, as well as money to help the developing world cope with climate change. Gates acknowledged that innovation alone would not solve the problem, but said there were several reasons to be optimistic. Some of these companies are already rolling out innovations, he said, while others are showing great progress in short time. "I think the clock is moving forward because of human ingenuity," he told reporters at the close of his Breakthrough Energy summit at a 19th-century dockyard in London. "I do think we can provide all services that mankind wants with zero emissions without making the cost of those services higher... I don't think I am crazy to be optimistic." 'Green industrial revolution' Less than a decade ago, Gates said, there was very little investor interest in climate technologies. He raised an initial $1 billion with other ultra-wealthy investors including Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Alibaba's Jack Ma, and their first summit in 2022 attracted a few hundred attendees. But investors beyond deep-pocketed philanthropists are starting to pay attention to climate start-ups long deemed too risky a bet, industry figures show. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London on Thursday. At the London event, Gates brought together around 1,500 executives from banks, state-backed investment funds and major businesses. In one pavilion, potential investors inspected hydrogen-electric aircraft engines designed by ZeroAvia, hunks of low-carbon steel manufactured by Boston Metal, and an enormous magnet used by Commonwealth Fusion Systems to test fusion power. Source, a company that uses a "hydropanel" to harvest water from vapor in the atmosphere, quenched thirsts on a hot summer's night. The fast rise in investor interest was obvious and understandable, said Tim Heidel, CEO at Veir, a company backed by Gates that is exploring high-temperature conduction to improve electricity transmission. "They have an opportunity to build some of the largest companies on the planet," Heidel told AFP at a reception night where attendees drank cocktails with names such as "electricity elixir" and listened to a string quartet. Gates told investors that "if you're helping to solve climate, the chance of building very large, very profitable companies" would follow. "I think it's fair to say that what you're seeing... (with) those companies is the foundation for this green industrial revolution," he said in an opening pitch after walking on stage to the sound of "Revolution" by the Beatles. 'Life or death' The optimism stood in stark contrast to the diplomatic climate meetings hosted by the United Nations. Crucial negotiations in June toward a new target on climate finance ended in bitter disagreement over how much rich countries should pay poorer ones for their emissions. Veteran US diplomat John Kerry said it would be the private sectornot governmentsthat would raise the trillions of dollars needed every year to confront the challenge, and new technology would drive that progress. "It's not your average technology mission. This is life or death, literally," the former American climate envoy said Thursday. This year is shaping up as the hottest on record, with floods devastating swathes of the globe while many parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America are sweltering under record-breaking heat waves. Without urgent emission cuts this decade, the world risks breaching 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above industrial levels, the benchmark limit of the Paris climate accord. Julia Reinaud, a senior director at Breakthrough Energy, said it was time to "double down" and get early-stage technologies from prototype to power grid. "We don't have the 30 years that it took to develop solar to where it is today," she told AFP. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A picture of one of the crops that the research center is investigating in the search for climate genes. The plant is called Brachypodium and is typically used as a sort of test plant kind of like mice in the pharmaceutical industry. Brachypodium shares a lot of genes with many of the crops we use in farming. At the same time its genome is much smaller making it much cheaper to search for useful mutations. Credit: Matt Lavin Almost every morning Guillaume Ramstein walks through the university park in Aarhus on his way to work. At this time of the year the old oak trees teem with bright green colors and the grass is covered in dandelions and daisies. When he takes a seat in front of his monitor, he's ready to study the genes of plants. Not the plants in the beautiful park, but a little known grass called Brachypodium. On his computer he looks through enormous amounts of data trying to find useful genes in the small plant. Genes that enable the plant to withstand longer periods of drought or higher temperatures. The reason he's studying this little known plant and not wheat, barley or corn which we all know from trips to the countryside, is that Brachypodium is kind of like mice in pharmacological research. "We call Brachypodium the mouse of cereals, because it works as a model organism to test new things on. Like the mice used in the medical sector, it's much easier to breed and genetically it's pretty similar to crops like wheat or barley," Ramstein explains. "Because Brachypodium only has about 300 million letters in its DNA compared to 17 billion in wheat, it's also much cheaper and easier to sequence and work with." By mapping the useful genes that make these plants better suited for climate change and a more plant based future, Ramstein and his colleagues are laying the foundation for both genetic modifications and traditional breeding. The letters of the DNA In the center of human, animal and plant cells there is a small core called the nucleus which contains our DNA. Inside the nucleus the long two-stranded threads of DNA curl up and form the chromosomes. The threads are made up of nearly endless sequences of four small molecules, which we abbreviate A, C, G and T. People also call them the letters of the DNA. It's the order of these letters that determine the function of our genes. Usually genes consist of thousands of letters, but a single wrong letter in the sequence may lead to both good and bad outcomes. Whenever cells divide they need to copy all the genetic information. This process of copying sometimes goes wrong resulting in incorrect letters in the genome. Usually the cell corrects these errors but not always. The same thing happens when a new plant or animal is conceived. During the mixing of the genes of the mother and father errors or new combinations may occur. These random variations are the mechanism for evolution. Small genetic deviation makes a huge difference Brachypodium is not the only plant Ramstein and his colleagues are studying. They also have a plant called Sorghum under their microscope. Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world in terms of production and harvested area. It's a tropical plant used for grain and for feeding animals, originally in Africa and Asia, but also in North America and Southern Europe. In Sorghum they found a very useful genetic mutation, he explains. "We found a variant in a gene that does photosynthesis. Plants with an A instead of a G in this position seem to have a higher effectiveness when transforming sunlight into energy." "This is important because the gene is similar in a lot of other crops. Our computer model suggests that the variation is also naturally present in species related to Sorghum such as maize and sugarcane." A farmer in Nyala in Sudan is harvesting sorghum. The plants got many genetic similarities with corn, and Guillaume Ramstein and his colleagues have found a mutation that improves the conversion of sunlight into energy. It looks as though that mutation would have the same effect in corn and other crops. Credit: United Nations A foundation for new genomic techniques Locating these small variations in the genome is laying the foundation for more targeted breeding. When the breeders know exactly which variations in the DNA to look for, it makes developing new crops adapted for a changing climate easier. When Ramstein and his colleagues at QGG find variations in crops they stop thereand there's a reason for that, he explains. "We publish our findings in academic journals and we collaborate with other research groups and the industry when they use our findings. Whether they use new genomic techniques like CRISPR or classical breeding." Using new genomic techniques (NGTs) to edit crops is under strict regulation in the EU, but new legislation is on its way. Earlier this year the European Parliament voted to allow the use of NGTs in some cases. Moreover, scientists can already get a long way by introducing mutations by chemicals and other means, which are not under strict regulation under EU legislation. As it is right now, NGTs are regulated by the same rules as GMO, but if the new legislation is passed in the European Council as well, it will allow for the use of NGTs in making genetic changes that could occur naturally in crops. In other words it will enable the industry to use NGTs as a shortcut to getting the desirable traits in the crops. Traits that might take many generations of plants to achieve with traditional breeding methods. And this is where Guillaume Ramsteins' research comes in. Many of his discoveries are mutations occurring naturally in other types of plantslike the variation in the Sorghum plantand if the legislation is passed, the industry will be able to legally induce those mutations in popular European crops. New Genomic Techniques (NTGs) Since the early 2000s genomic technology has developed at a very fast pace. This has resulted in a lot of new techniques for editing the genome of plants and animals. Overall these techniques can be put into two categories: Technologies that transfer genes from other organisms into the plant. Technologies that edit directly in the genome of the plant. In 2012 Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier discovered that CRISPR, a bacterial immune system, could be reprogrammed to edit anywhere in the DNA of humans, animals and plants. CRISPR is one of several techniques to edit DNA, but has been the cheapest and most successful so far. With the new EU-legislation on NGTs, the technology is going to be important for the agroindustry. Other technologies, like mutagenesis by chemicals or radiation, also introduce mutations in plant genomes, but they are not regulated by EU legislation and will remain important for the industry. A bowl full of gene edited tomatoes. This specific variety is called Sicilian Rouge High GABA and it's the first CRISPR-edited crop on the market. The tomatoes have been modified to contain more of the molecule GABA which lowers human blood pressure. It's not allowed in Europe, but in Japan it's for sale in supermarkets. Credit: Sanatech Seed People are very skeptical In 2021, a company in Japan developed the first ever CRISPR-edited cropa gene-edited tomato that contains high levels of an amino acid called GABA that has the ability to lower our blood pressure. The tomato called "Sicilian Rouge High GABA" is sold in Japanese super markets, but in the EU we don't allow genetically altered crops. But there is a difference between GMO and crops made by using CRISPR, Ramstein explains. "NGTs are often depicted as inherently harmful, but that is a misunderstanding. I think that the strong opposition towards GMO in Europe has spilled over into the debate on NGTs. Using NGTs to induce mutations that could occur naturally is, as far as I see it, not a problem. It could actually help us solve some of the big problems we face in agriculture." That said, he acknowledges that the technologyas is the case with most technologiescan also be used to introduce harmful traits. Ramstein says, "Some people say that allowing the agro industry to use NGTs will make it too powerful. And they are afraid that the industry will edit pesticide genes in the plants, so that they are able to better resist pesticides. This may in turn lead to more pesticides used in the fields. "Of course we don't want to use more pesticides and the point is, that this technology can be used to do the opposite. To strengthen the plants natural defense against insects. It's not the technology, but how you use it." A mixture of technologies for the future At QGG Ramstein and his colleagues believe that genomic research will play an important role in the future. Not only will it allow us to provide food for more people, it will help us in the green transition, he explains. Ramstein says, "Genomic research and technologies have their part to play in the green transition, but they are not the only solution. With a mixture of basic genomic knowledge, traditional breeding, organic farming and NGTs I'm convinced that we will solve a lot of the problems we face today." Climate change is going to change where a lot of crops can grow. In Southern Europe some crops that thrive today will be impossible to grow in the future. In Northern Europe rising temperatures will allow for new crops to be introduced. With the help of genomic research we can mitigate some of those changes, Ramstein explains. "Right now we are working on exploring genetic diversity for adaptation to changing climate conditions in the Nordic countries. We screen natural genetic diversity for useful traits in peas, oat and barley. It's a big part of our work which is complementary to the use of NTGs on these plants." The companies are fighting over cost increases that afflicted the industry in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains, driving up the price of materials, equipment and labor needed to build the Golden Pass LNG project in Sabine Pass. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer HOUSTON Zachry Holdings Inc., the construction contractor on the stalled Golden Pass LNG terminal project, on Thursday exchanged proposals with the entities behind the massive gas liquefaction project as they tried to resolve a dispute that brought work to a halt last month, putting thousands of people out of work. The companies discussed three proposals to settle their differences, said Louis Strubeck, a lawyer for the Golden Pass project, which is owned by Exxon Mobil and Qatar Energy. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur during a hearing in Houston that weve made some pretty good progress in the last 12 hours. We have some issues to work out, Strubeck said. Its a really complicated situation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bojan Guzina, a lawyer for San Antonio-based Zachry, agreed. Much work remains to be done, he said, but we are much more hopeful today than we were yesterday. The reconciliatory hearing that took place as part of Zachrys bankruptcy proceedings marked a turning point for the feuding companies, which until this week had been exchanging only accusations. Golden Pass last week asked the court to force Zachry out of the project so it could proceed without the contractor. Zachry responded by accusing Exxon, Qatar and the remaining contractors of potential fraud. The companies are fighting over cost increases that afflicted the industry in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains, driving up the price of materials, equipment and labor needed to build the Golden Pass LNG project, pictured, in Sabine Pass. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The companies are fighting over cost increases that afflicted the industry in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains, driving up the price of materials, equipment and labor needed to build the project. Zachry agreed to build Golden Pass for a fixed $9.25 billion in 2019, but the projects cost ballooned by 25% to $11.6 billion by August 2022, Zachry has said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Golden Pass partners said in a filing last week that they had given Zachry additional funding, totaling roughly $1.7 billion, to complete the project despite the fixed-price contract. Lawyers for both sides asked the court for more time to reach a resolution without court intervention. A final hearing on the matter is scheduled for Aug. 12. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A gamma ray sensor built by LLNL scientists is an essential part of a larger gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) built in collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory It's official. An instrument designed and built by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers is the highest-resolution gamma ray sensor that has ever flown in space. The Livermore high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma ray sensor is an essential part of a larger gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) built in collaboration with researchers from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (JHAPL) in Laurel, Maryland. The GRS is part of a suite of instruments launched Oct.13 from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to make the first-ever visit to Psyche, the largest metal asteroid in the solar system. In a post-launch test, the LLNL gamma-ray sensor was found to have a resolution of 2.1 kilo electron volts, about 2 times better than the 5-kilo electron volt resolution gamma-ray sensor LLNL built for a mission to Mercury in 2004. "With the higher resolution gamma ray sensor, it equates to much better sensitivity and a much better ability to identify elements on the surface of Psyche," said LLNL physicist Morgan Burks, who heads the Lab team that developed the sensor. "We were very excited to achieve our high resolution in the laboratory, but the real accomplishment has been maintaining that resolution through launch and the rigors of space flight." The Psyche spacecraft is now in the eighth month of a two-billion-mile, nearly six-year journey through space to explore the rare, largely metal asteroid. It is traveling at 17.7 kilometers per second or about 40,000 miles per hour. To date, the spacecraft has traveled about 245 million miles from Earth. "Psyche is scientifically interesting because it is thought to be a planetary core, a remnant of a collision during the early stages of the development of the solar system," Burks said. "We believe that exploration of the Psyche asteroid could increase our understanding of the hidden cores of Earth, Mars, Mercury and Venus." The Psyche mission is led by Arizona State University (ASU). Psyche mission principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton of ASU said that the exploration of Psyche will permit scientists to "literally visit a planetary corethe only way humankind ever can." Lab scientists worked with collaborators from the JHAPL to combine the Lab HPGe gamma-ray sensor into the GRS and integrate it with additional components for the spaceflight mission. The LLNL instrument is the second HPGe gamma-ray sensor designed and built by LLNL for space exploration within the past 20 years. Two more such sensors are now being designed and built by LLNL researchers for future space exploration missions. "In collaboration with Johns Hopkins APL, we've become the world experts in gamma-ray spectroscopy for planetary science," Burks said. "We are helping to open up a new era in nuclear spectroscopy for space applications." In 2004, NASA's MESSENGER (short for MErcury, Surface Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging) spacecraft, also built and operated at Johns Hopkins APL, was launched toward Mercury with a suite of seven instruments, including an LLNL-developed HPGe gamma-ray sensor. "We learned a lot from our mission to Mercury. Based on what we learned, we were able to make several electrical and mechanical upgrades to improve the instrument's resolution," Burks said. "There's a strong synergy between the gamma ray-sensors we build for space applications and the ones we build for terrestrial uses. We expect this work to lead to a new generation of instruments that can be used on Earth for homeland security applications." The Psyche gamma-ray sensor is the fourth generation of high-purity, germanium-based gamma ray-sensors, following the Cryo-3, the MESSENGER and the GeMini. 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: Scientists at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and the University of Cadiz (UCA) in Spain have successfully deployed a novel method of extracting high-value-added chemical compounds from the peel of jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora). The method, which simplifies the process and enhances its efficiency, is described in an article published in Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. The aim was to optimize extraction of anthocyanin, a potent antioxidant found in strawberries, blackberries and raspberries as well as jabuticabas, among other sources. It has anti-inflammatory effects and is also a natural colorant responsible for the shades of red, blue and purple seen in many flowers, fruits, leaves, stalks and roots. The study focused on simultaneous extraction and purification of anthocyanin derived from jabuticaba peel, a lignocellulosic residue. "The investigation meticulously adjusted the extraction parameters in order to achieve optimal results," says Tania Forster-Carneiro, a professor at UNICAMP's School of Food Engineering (FEA). She has worked there since 2013, specializing in bioengineering and biotechnology research. After optimizing extraction, the researchers developed a purification technique using biosorbent material derived from the residue. Sorbents take up materials by absorption or adsorption. Simply put, a biosorbent is a natural sorbent resembling a selective sponge that removes certain substances from a mixture while letting others through. "Biosorbents are widely used in purification processes to remove pollutants and other substances from liquids or gases. They basically act as filters, screening out unwanted components of a mixture," says Forster-Carneiro, who earned a Ph.D. in industrial process engineering from UCA in 2004. The optimized parameters for anthocyanin extraction were 40 minutes of maceration at 60 C in a 50% MeOH (methanol) solution. In this context, the biosorbent derived from jabuticaba waste purified the extracted anthocyanin with 90% efficiency, outperforming the commercial adsorbent used for comparison (PoraPak Rxn). The EcoScale rating was 86 out of 100, which is impressive according to Forster-Carneiro. The EcoScale is a semi-quantitative tool for evaluating the "greenness" of a chemical reaction at the laboratory scale. It ranges from zero to 100, with zero representing a totally failed reaction (0% yield) and 100 the ideal reaction defined as compound A (substrate) reacting with or in the presence of inexpensive compound(s) B to give the desired compound C with 100% yield at room temperature, minimal risk for the operator and minimal impact for the environment. In the article, the researchers compare the novel method of anthocyanin extraction to nine other processes described in the scientific literature, and for which the EcoScale ranges from 33.95 to 73.6 (giving an average of 51.79). "More research needs to be done to adapt this method for large-scale production, but the study represents significant progress in the field," says Forster-Carneiro, who is principal investigator for a project at UNICAMP supported by FAPESP. More information: Tiago Linhares Cruz Tabosa Barroso et al, Simple procedure for the simultaneous extraction and purification of anthocyanins using a jabuticaba byproduct biosorbent, Journal of Food Composition and Analysis (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106181 Provided by FAPESP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The test team prepares a test fixture with a nylon fabric sample at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The fabric in the test fixture forms a bubble when pressure is applied to the silicone bladder underneath. A similar test can be performed with a sensor on the fabric to verify the sensor will work when stretched in three dimensions. Credit: NASA/Genaro Vavuris Landing rovers and helicopters on Mars is a challenge. It's an even bigger challenge when you don't have enough information about how the parachutes are enduring strain during the descent to the surface. Researchers at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, are experimenting with readily available, highly elastic sensors that can be fixed to a parachute during testing to provide the missing data. Knowing how the canopy material stretches during deployment can enhance safety and performance by quantifying the limits of the fabric and improving existing computer models for more reliable parachutes for tasks such as landing astronauts on Earth or delivering scientific instruments and payloads to Mars. This is the work Enhancing Parachutes by Instrumenting the Canopy, or EPIC, seeks to advance the ability to measure the strain on a parachute. "We are aiming to prove which sensors will work for determining the strain on parachute canopy material without compromising it," said L.J. Hantsche, project manager. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the team's work through the Early Career Initiative project. Starting with 50 potential sensor candidates, the team narrowed down and tested 10 kinds of different sensors, including commercially available and developmental sensors. The team selected the three most promising sensors for continued testing. Those include a silicone-based sensor that works by measuring a change in storage of electrical charge as the sensor is stretched. It is also easy to attach to data recording systems, Hantsche explained. The second sensor is a small, stretchable braided sensor that measures the change in electrical storage. The third sensor is made by printing with a metallic ink onto a thin and pliable plastic. Determining methods to bond each of the sensors to super thin and slippery canopy material was hard, Hantsche said. Once the team figured out how to attach the sensors to the fabric, they were ready to begin testing. Pressure is applied to a test fixture with a nylon fabric sample until it fails at NASAs Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The fabric in the test fixture forms a bubble when pressure is applied to the silicone bladder underneath. In this frame, the silicone bladder is visible underneath the torn fabric after it was inflated to failure. A similar test can be performed with a sensor on the fabric to verify the sensor will work when stretched in three dimensions. Credit: NASA/Genaro Vavuris "We started with uniaxial testing, where each end of the parachute material is secured and then pulled to failure," she said. "The test is important because the stretching of the sensor causes its electrical response. Determining the correlation of strain and the sensor response when it is on the fabric is one of our main measurement goals." This stage of testing was accomplished in partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. A high-speed version of this test, which simulates the speed of the parachute deployment, was performed at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The team used a bubble test for the sensors, which simulates testing of a 3D parachute. It consists of the fabric sample and a silicone membrane sandwiched between a four-inch-diameter ring and the test structure. When it is pressurized from the inside, the silicone membrane expands the fabric and sensor into a bubble shape. The test is used to validate the sensor's performance as it bends and is compared to the other test results. With the EPIC project nearing completion, follow-on work could include temperature tests, developing the data acquisition system for flight, determining if the sensor can be packed with a parachute without adverse effects, and operating the system in flight. The EPIC team is also working with researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to flight test their sensors later this year using the center's drone test, which drops a capsule with a parachute. In addition, the EPIC team is partnering with the Entry Systems Modeling Group at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley to propose an all-encompassing parachute project aimed at better understanding parachutes through modeling and test flights. The collaborative NASA project may result in better parachutes that are safer and more dependable for the approaching era of exploration. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: University of California Within a few months of returning to in-person classes when the COVID-19 pandemic eased in mid-2021, San Francisco public schools found themselves in serious trouble. Brawling group fights seemed to come one after another. Some studentseven middle schoolerswere bringing knives and guns to school, and at least one serious injury resulted. The school district was caught flat-footed. Agreements had lapsed for police officers to be posted in schools, leaving no one to confiscate weapons or break up fights. "It was the perfect storm," said Jasmine Dawson, director of city and community partnerships at San Francisco's Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF), which steers and funds youth programs in the city. Dawson and DCYF Executive Director Maria Su convened meetings with representatives from San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and youth-serving community organizations. Without police on hand, an idea that had once seemed naive rose to the surface: What about preventing violence? For such a bold shift to work, youth advocates would have to reach the most troubled young people through messengers they trusted. "There was a need to figure out who else worked with these young people," Dawson said. UCSF's Wraparound Project was among those invited to the meetings, "because of the historical knowledge the team has about the families they support," Dawson said. Launched back in 2006, the Wraparound Project is a violence intervention program that works with people hospitalized at the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG) for a violent injury. The project treats violence as a disease: A person injured through violence has risk factors for it that are broadcast and further amplified when they are hospitalized. Wraparound staff approach these patients during their hospital stays to try to earn their consent to connect them with servicesincluding counseling and conflict mediation and rides to court dates and doctors' appointmentsto help them step out of their risk factors. The approach, called violence interruption, has reduced re-injury by half and made the project into a hub of knowledge about the patterns of violence in San Francisco. "If you are born into a neighborhood and you live there your whole life and the neighborhood is violentit's hard to get out of those situations," explained Amanda Sammann, MD, MPH, the project's director. "The Wraparound Project tries to find those risk factors and target them with services." As a trauma surgeon, Sammann is all too aware of the limits of what she can do to repair the damage done by a bullet or a knife. "We get tired of seeing people who are violently injured come into the hospital for something that could have been preventable," Sammann said. "We see preventing re-injury as the very minimum we want to do. If we can affect the upstream, we can stop the injuries from happening in the first place." Hospitalized after a shooting, now headed to university As a result of the 2021 meetings with DCYF and SFUSD, the Wraparound Project expanded its client base to include students who self-refer or are referred by school administrators at three high-need schools. The pilot, which added two violence interrupters for a total of 11, aimed to explore whether Wraparound's success with hospital patients could work with students. Sharmaine "Star" Quinnine, a San Francisco native who grew up in the Fillmore District, joined the program in mid-2023 to serve SFUSD students. In her professional life, Quinnine has worked to prevent recidivism among incarcerated people and parolees. Now she spends time at bus stops students use in the mornings and afternoons, talking to any who may be headed down the wrong path. "The whole concept of, you know, "I'm gonna kick your butt after school' is real," Quinnine explained. "Our role is to mediate and eliminate any type of violence with the youth. Sometimes it takes mediation with the parents, having them come in, or talking with the school, creating a plan. We do a lot of mediation." Another key component is the "warm handoff," which means finding a community-based organization that is already connected with a person or their family to be the primary contact, ensuring that the client doesn't face roadblocks in obtaining services. Violence prevention staff also post fliers with their phone numbers in the schools so students can call if they need help or someone to talk to. This spring, they hosted a seminar led by Wraparound physicians on how bystanders can help shooting victims. The program has set up a peer resource room at Thurgood Marshall High School and is adding a second at Civic Center Secondary School where students can go when they're angry or afraid. The hope is that youth with big feelings, and most likely big corresponding problems, won't be sent home from school when they're in need. So far, the program has served more than 200 students. Sometimes they just need a nudge in the right direction to prosper despite the violence swirling around them. Lanise, 17, recently graduated from Balboa High School and was accepted to Tuskegee University in Alabama in the fall to study animal science in hopes of becoming a veterinarian. But less than a year ago, she was hospitalized at ZSFG for a week after she and a school friend were shot. Quinninewho says of her approach, "I mother the hell out of them. 'I love you,' I tell everybody"met with Lanise and connected her with a therapist and helped her buy school supplies. "That helped me along the way, you know, to participate in school," Lanise said. "I had to do night school and stuff to make up my grades because I had physical therapy. But I wasn't really stressed that much because I knew that I had my school supplies. It basically took a little bit of stress off me, because I knew that there were people who cared about me." Before the damage is done Violence counselors, school administrators, teachers and students have been thrilled with the program. And it enjoys a full-throated endorsement from district administrators. This spring, the SFUSD partnership shed its status as a pilot program and became a permanent program at all 17 SFUSD high schools with $3 million in DCYF funding. The secret ingredientbuilt on a notable success when Wraparound quickly identified a suspect in a March 2023 stabbing that put a middle-schooler in the hospitalis trust. School administrators, Wraparound Project counselors and juvenile justice representatives have built rapport as they shared their perspectives, along the way coming to focus less on punishment and more on prevention. "There are very few disagreements between our violence interrupters and school administrators. Once you have trust, you can have disagreements, but you can work through them. It's great for the young people to have that demonstration of how you can work through your problems," said Su of DCYF. For trauma surgeons, it finally feels like intervening upstream, before the damage is done, and having a chance to make a difference. "Wraparound used to be just about preventing re-injury in a very select group of people who were violently injured," Sammann said. "But now it's really turned into helping them to be successful, giving them resources to change their life, giving them the mentorship and the support that they need to achieve their goals. We've really been working on trying to inspire and empower youthto show them that there is a different way, that they can get out of their current situations." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Avonne Stalling from Pexels Britain is in a poverty crisis. Over 14 million people (1 in 5) are living in poverty. Of these, 4 million, including 1 million children, are classed as destitute: regularly unable to meet basic needs for shelter, warmth, food and clothing. Cuts to the welfare state over the last decade have contributed to a deepening of poverty in Britain not seen in any of its European neighbors. What sets Britain apart (and has made it possible for these cuts to continue) is the intense stigma placed on people living in poverty and who receive state benefits. Stigma sorts people into two categories "the deserving" and "the undeserving." Elderly (pension-aged) citizens, children and disabled people have tended to fall into the deserving category, while people deemed able-bodied and hence able to work are viewed more harshly if they receive support. This has been seen throughout this election campaign, in discussions about getting people back into work. Rishi Sunak has said that the Conservatives intend to cut the welfare bill by getting people into work. In the last debate, he said it was "not fair" for people on benefits to not take a job they are offered after 12 months out of work. The implication here is that some people who receive benefits are cheating the system. Social policy researchers Robert Walker and Elaine Chase argue that using stigma to ration relief is a peculiarly British phenomenon that declined in more egalitarian, less class-riven European states. Stereotypes pitting "scroungers" against those in "genuine" need have been especially acute in the age of austerity. From 2010, the coalition government sought support for swingeing cuts to the welfare and benefits system by persuading the public that those receiving benefits were "trapped in dependency." Then prime minister David Cameron declared "a war on welfare culture" in 2011, arguing that the benefit system "actively encourages" people to act irresponsibly. A moral panic about "benefits cheats" followed. Politicians and journalists portrayed working-age adults receiving benefits as a lazy or criminal group who were deliberately scamming hardworking taxpayers. Hundreds of hours of reality TV programs exploited this theme, creating the new genre of "poverty porn." The late social policy expert John Hills argued that framing state welfare as an unaffordable system of cash benefits exploited by "economically inactive" people is incorrect, and a ruse by politicians to slash all public services. Drawing on social attitudes data, he found that the very idea of welfare had contracted in public consciousness to a debate about "a stagnant group of people benefiting from it all, while the rest pay in and get nothing back'skivers' against 'strivers.'" Sunak has revived these claims with proclamations about Britain's supposed "sick note culture" with disabled people "parked on welfare." This view is borne out in policies that have, over time, increased job search and work requirementsknown as "conditionality"for people receiving benefits. This is despite evidence showing such policies don't work, and that 38% of people receiving universal credit are in work. For more than a decade, I have studied the effects of stigma on people living in poverty. I have interviewed health, public sector and charity workers, including GPs and headteachers, about the effects of deepening poverty and the impact of this toxic stigma narrative. By framing poverty in Britain as a deserved consequence of poor life choices or a reluctance to work, stigma diverts blame from political decision-makers onto those struggling to make ends meet. The impact of stigma Feeling ashamed of being poor stops people seeking help and support. The gnawing anxiety that their lack of resources will be exposed to others can lead people to withdraw from social activities and become isolated. A former schoolteacher I interviewed was forced to give up work due to illness as stories about benefits cheats peaked: "You only have to watch any program and there is evidence there that your kind are hated. These people are stealing your taxes and you're thinking, 'that is me they are talking about.' Trapped in this cycle of being hated by everybody It's relentless. Never-ending. One constant cycle of judgment. Until you are ashamed to do anything." I am part of a team commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to investigate the effects of stigma and explore how to stop it. Our recently published report describes stigma as "a glue that holds poverty in place." When politicians (through speeches and policy) and the media (through reality television or stigmatizing reports) teach us to see poverty as a result of others' bad choices rather than a systemic problem, it becomes socially acceptable. In this way, poverty and poverty stigma reinforce each other. As we are exploring, stigma can be designed out of policies and services. For example, measures to "poverty proof" the school day such as changing how meals (and free school meals) are delivered so students are not marked out as different, making school uniforms more affordable and designing school events to be accessible to everybody can also help "stigma proof" schools for children from low-income families. But this only works if organizations first listen to and learn to see from the perspectives of those living in poverty. Poverty must be reframed as an issue of economic injustice, shifting blame away from individuals. The next government must end the use of stigmatizing labels such as "economically inactive" to describe disabled people or people with unpaid caring responsibilities, or "low-skilled" to describe low-paid work. This latter point must go hand in hand with campaigning for greater pay equity and real living wages. To end Britain's poverty crisis, we all need to reject stigma, by exposing it for what it is: a tool used by the powerful to justify economic inequality and injustice. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers investigated three mysterious objects in the early universe. Shown here are their color images, composited from three NIRCam filter bands onboard the James Webb Space Telescope. They are remarkably compact at red wavelengths (earning them the term "little red dots"), with some evidence for spatial structure at blue wavelengths. Credit: Bingjie Wang/Penn State; JWST/NIRSpec. A recent discovery by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) confirmed that luminous, very red objects previously detected in the early universe upend conventional thinking about the origins and evolution of galaxies and their supermassive black holes. An international team, led by Penn State researchers, using the NIRSpec instrument aboard JWST as part of the RUBIES survey identified three mysterious objects in the early universe, about 600800 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 5% of its current age. They announced the discovery today June 27 in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The team studied spectral measurements, or intensity of different wavelengths of light emitted from the objects. Their analysis found signatures of "old" stars, hundreds of millions of years old, far older than expected in a young universe. The researchers said they were also surprised to discover signatures of huge supermassive black holes in the same objects, estimating that they are 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the supermassive black hole in our own Milky Way. Neither of these are expected in current models of galaxy growth and supermassive black hole formation, which expect galaxies and their black holes to grow together over billions of years of cosmic history. "We have confirmed that these appear to be packed with ancient starshundreds of millions of years oldin a universe that is only 600800 million years old. Remarkably, these objects hold the record for the earliest signatures of old starlight," said Bingjie Wang, a postdoctoral scholar at Penn State and lead author on the paper. "It was totally unexpected to find old stars in a very young universe. The standard models of cosmology and galaxy formation have been incredibly successful, yet, these luminous objects do not quite fit comfortably into those theories." The researchers first spotted the massive objects in July of 2022, when the initial dataset was released from JWST. The team published a paper in Nature several months later announcing the objects' existence. At the time, the researchers suspected the objects were galaxies, but followed up their analysis by taking spectra to better understand the true distances of the objects, as well as the sources powering their immense light. The researchers then used the new data to draw a clearer picture of what the galaxies looked like and what was inside of them. Not only did the team confirm that the objects were indeed galaxies near the beginning of time, but they also found evidence of surprisingly large supermassive black holes and a surprisingly old population of stars. "It's very confusing," said Joel Leja, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State and co-author on both papers. "You can make this uncomfortably fit in our current model of the universe, but only if we evoke some exotic, insanely rapid formation at the beginning of time. This is, without a doubt, the most peculiar and interesting set of objects I've seen in my career." The JWST is equipped with infrared-sensing instruments capable of detecting light that was emitted by the most ancient stars and galaxies. Essentially, the telescope allows scientists to see back in time roughly 13.5 billion years, near the beginning of the universe as we know it, Leja said. One challenge to analyzing ancient light is that it can be hard to differentiate between the types of objects that could have emitted the light. In the case of these early objects, they have clear characteristics of both supermassive black holes and old stars. However, Wang explained, it's not yet clear how much of the observed light comes from eachmeaning these could be early galaxies that are unexpectedly old and more massive even than our own Milky Way, forming far earlier than models predict, or they could be more normal-mass galaxies with "overmassive" black holes, roughly 100 to 1,000 times more massive than such a galaxy would have today. "Distinguishing between light from material falling into a black hole and light emitted from stars in these tiny, distant objects is challenging," Wang said. "That inability to tell the difference in the current dataset leaves ample room for interpretation of these intriguing objects. Honestly, it's thrilling to have so much of this mystery left to figure out." Aside from their unexplainable mass and age, if part of the light is indeed from supermassive black holes, then they also aren't normal supermassive black holes. They produce far more ultraviolet photons than expected, and similar objects studied with other instruments lack the characteristic signatures of supermassive black holes, such as hot dust and bright X-ray emission. But maybe the most surprising thing, the researchers said, is how massive they seem to be. "Normally supermassive black holes are paired with galaxies," Leja said. "They grow up together and go through all their major life experiences together. But here, we have a fully formed adult black hole living inside of what should be a baby galaxy. That doesn't really make sense, because these things should grow together, or at least that's what we thought." The researchers were also perplexed by the incredibly small sizes of these systems, only a few hundred light years across, roughly 1,000 times smaller than our own Milky Way. The stars are approximately as numerous as in our own Milky Way galaxywith somewhere between 10 billion and 1 trillion starsbut contained within a volume 1,000 times smaller than the Milky Way. Leja explained that if you took the Milky Way and compressed it to the size of the galaxies they found, the nearest star would almost be in our solar system. The supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way, about 26,000 light years away, would only be about 26 light years away from Earth and visible in the sky as a giant pillar of light. "These early galaxies would be so dense with starsstars that must have formed in a way we've never seen, under conditions we would never expect during a period in which we'd never expect to see them," Leja said. "And for whatever reason, the universe stopped making objects like these after just a couple of billion years. They are unique to the early universe." The researchers are hoping to follow up with more observations, which they said could help explain some of the objects' mysteries. They plan to take deeper spectra by pointing the telescope at the objects for prolonged periods of time, which will help disentangle emission from stars and the potential supermassive black hole by identifying the specific absorption signatures that would be present in each. "There's another way that we could have a breakthrough, and that's just the right idea," Leja said. "We have all these puzzle pieces and they only fit if we ignore the fact that some of them are breaking. This problem is amenable to a stroke of genius that has so far eluded us, all of our collaborators and the entire scientific community." More information: Bingjie Wang et al, RUBIES: Evolved Stellar Populations with Extended Formation Histories at z 78 in Candidate Massive Galaxies Identified with JWST/NIRSpec, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2024). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad55f7 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Letters , Nature This Account has been suspended. President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum, third from right, poses with cabinet members announced Thursday. Third from left at Sheinbaums right is Luz Elena Gonzalez, who was named secretary of energy. From left are David Kershenobich, named secretary of health; Raquel Buenrostro, named secretary of public function; Gonzalez; Sheinbaum; Edna Elena Vega, named secretary of agrarian, territorial and urban development; and Jesus Antonio Esteva Medina, named secretary of communications and transportation. Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images Luz Elena Gonzalez during a press conference announcing her selection as Mexico's next energy secretary. Her selection was among several announced Thursday by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. Fernando Llano/Associated Press MEXICO CITY Luz Elena Gonzalez, an expert in sustainable development, has been picked as Mexicos next secretary of energy by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. In her announcement Thursday, Sheinbaum highlighted Gonzalezs experience in renewable energy and handling finances, an area that will prove useful in the departments relationship with state-run companies like oil giant Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission. Previous to her appointment, Gonzalez was in charge of Mexico Citys finances. The first priority will be guaranteeing energy sovereignty, she told TV outlet Milenio after the announcement. We are going to advance the energy transition. We are going to guarantee energy security, but its necessary to know that the Mexican people are in favor of national sovereignty. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gonzalez will have to deal with the need to increase generation and transmission capacity in Mexicos energy sector, where a growing economy and extreme temperatures are challenging power grids and often sparking widespread blackouts. Such issues have limited Mexicos potential for attracting manufacturers that want to locate factories closer to the U.S. to reduce their dependence on China, a trend known as nearshoring. In Mexico City, Gonzalez oversaw an expansion of the tax base she credited with the governments revenue increase as the city was recovering from the pandemic. She previously held roles in transportation and education in city governments. The president-elect said previously she wants to revitalize Petroleos Mexicanos, the troubled state oil company known as Pemex, with a new focus on clean energy, broadening its scope to include technologies such as green hydrogen, lithium extraction and electric-vehicle infrastructure. Her plan would cap Pemexs oil production in coming years at 1.8 million barrels a day while the government focuses on sparking growth in green energy. She also plans to spend $13.6 billion on projects to boost Mexicos wind and solar generation while adding gas-burning power plants. And she plans to modernize hydroelectric stations and add about 2,392 miles of transmission lines. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sheinbaum also appointed Raquel Buenrostro as secretary of public administration. Buenrostro, who served for more than two decades in government tax, treasury and economic agencies, was described by the future president as an incorruptible woman with 28 years of experience in public administration. David Kershenobich, a renowned researcher, will be the next secretary of health. Jesus Antonio Esteva Medina, secretary of infrastructure of Mexico City, will be in charge of the department of communications and transportation. Edna Elena Vega Rangel, who also previously worked for the Mexico City government, will head the secretary of agrarian, territorial, and urban development. They are putting professionals in charge, not ideologues, Oscar Ocampo, an energy analyst at the nonprofit Mexican Institute for Competition, told Bloomberg. It sends the message that Sheinbaum is in control. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The day after the June 2 election, Sheinbaum confirmed that Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O had accepted to continue in his role, in an effort to calm investors after the country faced a sudden meltdown in the stock and currency markets. Fifteen apartment units at Marycrest Senior Campus were ordered to vacate Wednesday because of water damage after heavy rains Tuesday night overwhelmed part of the roof of the Petersen building. Eleven of those units were occupied, said Rich Oswald, Davenports Director of Neighborhood Services. The landlord offered those tenants a hotel stay at the companys expense as well as the opportunity to move to a unit in a different building, according to residents. The Petersen building is one of several on the former college campus at 1607 W. 12th St., founded in the 1930s as a Catholic womens college. Now, its housing for seniors owned by an Idaho-based company, Widmyer. After heavy rains pummeled the Quad Cities Tuesday night, water fell from the ceiling of the west part of the Petersen building, as seen in video footage from residents, as if it were raining inside. Water pooled in hallways, overflowed buckets, and the ceiling caved in in one unoccupied apartment unit. Residents have been complaining of minor roof leaks for months. The city had issued a notice and order to the building owner to replace the roof, Oswald said. The owner had made temporary fixes and was planning to fully replace the roof this summer, Oswald said, in conjunction with window replacements on the historic campus. Most major changes and replacements to historic properties in Davenport must receive approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. But part of that roof slated for replacement failed Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, the Davenport Fire Department and Neighborhood Services officials arrived on scene, inspected and tagged the 15 units with water damage as unfit for occupancy and spoke with the property managers and maintenance workers. Marycrest residents were still reeling from the water damage Wednesday and several gathered outside or popped in and out to grab their things. The local property manager, who declined to comment to the Quad-City Times, was talking with residents and could be heard speaking on the phone to arrange hotel stays. Phone calls to the Widmyer Corporation were not returned. At the landlords expense, residents impacted were offered at least a week-long stay in a hotel as well as an apartment at a different building on Marycrests campus, according to residents. Yellow trucks and workers from Service Master Restore, a water damage restoration and cleaning company, were also on-site Wednesday. And Oswald said the owner had a roofing contractor and engineer there, too, Wednesday morning, to assess the roof, repairs, and replacement. Notices taped to doors at several Marycrest apartments from the citys Neighborhood Services Department listed six violations: electrical system problems, roof deterioration, roof leakage, water damaged ceiling tiles and water damaged floors. The notices ordered licensed contractors to repair and replace the damage, and for the city to inspect and approve the repairs made. Larry Holland, a resident on the east side of the building, which was unaffected by the rain, has lived at Marycrest for two and half years. For a while, he was a representative for Marycrest residents with the Quad Cities Tenant Alliance. Since he started living at Marycrest, Holland said the complex has been dealing with problems with roofs, homeless people and crime complaints. Holland sympathized with the current local property managers and said they and the owner are trying to do right by the residents by paying for hotel stays and offering other apartments. But he said the owner could have replaced the roof sooner when problems first arose and avoided the mess tenants are in now. He and residents spoke to previous property management about dripping water in units about a year ago, he said. They kind of pacified us a little bit, saying, Were gonna do this, were gonna do this. But nothing ever got done, Holland said. Until now. But its a little too late. Whatever they're gonna do, they have to be forced to do, Holland added, saying the property owner tends to respond more quickly when the city issues fines or threatens evacuation. Its a game, but unfortunately, we have to pay the price, he said. The complex also had an issue with roof leaks in a separate building in 2023. That was the Rohlman building. In December 2023 units at Rohlman received a 30-day notice to vacate because a roof leak. Ronda Wilson, a member of the Quad Cities Tenant Alliance, and resident at Rohlman cited her experience in advocating for the City of Davenport to pass a rent abatement ordinance. I support a Rent Abatement Ordinance because I dont think its fair that I had to keep paying rent when I had to deal with getting rained on in my own home for six and a half years," she said at the time. Although the incident is unrelated to the Petersen roof, Dennis Platt with the Quad Cities Tenant Alliance said it "is indicative of the failure to systematically assess and replace roofs that are beyond their normal service life." But Platt said the local management paying for hotel rooms, allowing tenants to move, and getting repairs started immediately are all "constructive steps." "The local people on the scene are going above and beyond because of the time they are putting in, and the attention," Platt said. "Im slower to give praise to the out-of-state owner. Locally, theyre doing everything they can do. They are at the mercy of the corporate headquarters to approve the projects that need to be done over there." WSR LLC owns five buildings on the Marycrest campus, according to county assessor records, a company connected to Benjamin Widmyer of Idaho. All five buildings are under the same address in city permitting. A permit for reroofing in December 2023, which Oswald said was for the Rohlman building, states that the work was confirmed by the contractor via phone Dec. 21, 2023. But in March, the city's inspection of the Rohlman re-roof is listed as failed. "Per pics provided, roof was covered with roll rubber material without addressing the drainage or lack thereof before covering," the permit notes state. Oswald said the city inspects reroofing when the city receives complaints or requests to inspect. He said it's difficult to inspect roof work without a downpour to see where water is sitting. In this case, Oswald said the city inspected the roof at Rohlman after it rained, and it failed inspection. Oswald encouraged residents to report to Neighborhood Services if they experience problems with their rental units, and emphasized residents can report anonymously. The four inmates accused of killing a corrections K-9 at Sussex I State Prison in April have been indicted on felony charges related to the incident, Attorney General Jason Miyares announced Friday. The prisoners, who Miyares said are affiliated with the criminal gang MS-13, now face a list of felony charges: Ronald Sanchez-Ramirez has been charged with killing a police animal, assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding by mob, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob, stabbing in the commission of a felony, prisoner possession of a deadly weapon and gang participation. Nelson Torres Alvarez has been charged with killing a police animal, assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob, prisoner possession of a deadly weapon and gang participation. Axel Wilfredo Ortiz Garcia has been charged with malicious wounding by mob, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob, stabbing in the commission of a felony, prisoner possession of a deadly weapon and gang participation. Jose Antonio Sagastume has been charged with malicious wounding by mob, conspiracy to commit malicious wounding by mob and gang participation. Virginia Department of Corrections officials previously said the K-9, identified as a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois named Rivan, was stabbed while protecting Corrections Officer Kharmishia Phillip Fields inside the prison on April 3. Fields had attempted to break up a vicious ... attack on one inmate by a group of four prisoners, officials said, and Rivan responded to protect her. The dog was then stabbed and kicked repeatedly by the inmates and died at the prison. Officials said Rivans actions helped prevent Fields from being seriously injured. VADOC held a memorial service for the K-9 in April. Recognize Broad Street from these Times-Dispatch archive photos? Jims Restaurants has 14 locations in San Antonio and Austin, including this one at Broadway and Loop 410, according to a store listing on the chains website. Chuck Blount/Staff Hasslocher Enterprises Inc.s recent decisions to shutter a pair of Jims Restaurants left customers worried about the future of the iconic San Antonio chain. But its owner says the shutdowns were tied in part to rising rent at the companys only two leased locations and no more stores will be shuttered. We have no plans to close any others, said Jimmy Hasslocher, who helms Hasslocher Enterprises, the chains parent company. Its not even on our radar. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jimmy Hasslocher, seen here in 2018, runs the company that owns Jims Restaurants. Though its closed two stores this year, he said this week the stores were shut in part because they were leased locations and no more closures are planned. Staff file photo Hasslocher Enterprises, which does business as Frontier Enterprises, abruptly closed the Jims on Broadway near the San Antonio Zoo in March. This week, the Jims at San Pedro and Hildebrand avenues was closed, with the company blaming economic difficulties and rising operational costs. In comments made on social media, customers mourned the loss of the North Side restaurants theyd long patronized, though some described shopworn settings. Hasslocher said the company decided not to renew its leases because neither restaurant fully recovered after the pandemic. Unlike the two it closed, his company owns the properties housing the 11 other Jims restaurants in the San Antonio area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its the economy, its the rent and, quite frankly, if you look at the restaurant industry across the country youre seeing shutdowns, Hasslocher said. This is a very tough business with thin profit margins. The building at 351 W. Hildebrand Avenue is owned by Janet Realty Co. A company representative couldnt be reached this week. The Magic Time Machine restaurant has fed and entertained diners since 1973. Robin Jerstad / Contributor The building that housed the store at 4108 Broadway was sold in May by FLF Red Raider LLC to a company affiliated with Houston restaurant group Adair Concepts, which plans to open an Adair Kitchen restaurant part of a shifting restaurant lineup along the thoroughfare as redevelopment drives up property values and drives out some longtime businesses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 2021, Hasslocher Enterprises closed a Jims Restaurant at Blanco Road and Loop 410 when rent on the building, owned by SVAP II Park North LLC, became prohibitive, Hasslocher said. The company is affiliated with private equity firm Sterling Organization, which did not respond to an inquiry. Lockdown orders during the pandemic hit Jims and other sit-down, dine-in restaurants hard, Hasslocher said. Rising food and supply costs, and difficulties hiring employees have also pinched budgets. Youre seeing the independents struggle just like the major chains, he said. Hasslocher is the son of the late Germano Jim Hasslocher, who opened the first Jims decades ago. The Jims Restaurants location along Broadway recently closed. 3 Abigail Im/Staff While manning his uncles bicycle rental stand near Brackenridge Park in 1946, Jim Hasslocher started selling watermelon slices and hamburgers to park visitors. He opened his first Frontier Drive-In at 3175 Broadway in 1947, where he served burgers, fries, onion rings, chicken, steaks, malts and shakes. He married Veva Hasslocher, who had rented bicycles from him, the same year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During the 1950s and 60s, the couple expanded the Frontier chain to eight locations in San Antonio and Austin. They opened the first Jims Coffee Shop in 1963 and later changed the name to Jims Restaurants. In 1973, they opened the Magic Time Machine restaurant and expanded that concept to Dallas and Austin. At its peak in the mid-1980s, the family operated about 30 restaurants, including one atop the Tower of the Americas. But the Frontier drive-ins closed by the early 1990s due to competition from national fast-food chains, and a Hasslocher company lost the contract to run the Tower restaurant to Houston-based Landrys Restaurants in 2004. Veva died in 2009 and Jim died in 2015. In the wake of their parents deaths, Jimmy Hasslocher, Caryn Hasslocher and Susan Hasslocher became embroiled in a yearslong feud over the restaurant empire. Caryn and Susan accused Jimmy of improperly using company assets to enrich himself, misusing millions of dollars in pandemic relief aid from the federal government and failing to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans from the company, among other allegations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In court filings, Jimmy said his sisters pursued litigation for the express purpose of wresting control of the family business from him and in defiance of their parents wishes. An attorney representing the sisters said this year the matter had been resolved. Today, the familys holdings include 14 Jims locations, in San Antonio and Austin; two Magic Time Machine restaurants, in San Antonio and Dallas; Frontier Burger in San Antonio; and La Fonda Alamo Heights. The company is updating some of its Jims restaurants with simple stuff, nothing major, such as fresh paint, Hasslocher said. The House of Delegates took just minutes on Friday to unanimously back repeal of state budget provisions that would limit eligibility to an increasingly costly program that waives college and university tuition for the survivors and dependents of military veterans killed or almost entirely disabled on active duty. The bill now goes to the Senate, which will meet Monday to consider a different approach. The 92-0 House vote came just over six weeks after the General Assembly adopted the two-year budget with near unanimity and Gov. Glenn Youngkin immediately signed it into law. That touched off a furious response from military families who denounced both the legislature and the governor for making sweeping changes to the program through a secretive budget process instead of open public debate. Both the House, which had voted 94-6 for the budget, and Youngkin quickly retreated on the provisions, which attempt to limit eligibility and benefits for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program. Virginia colleges and universities say the program, initially established in 1930 for the families of soldiers killed in World War I, has expanded far beyond its initial purpose at the expense of students and families who pay tuition for higher education. It is often said that when you find yourself in a hole where you dont want to be, stop digging, said Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, who spoke on behalf of House Bill 6003, introduced by House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, D-Prince William, to repeal the budget language. Im glad weve stopped digging. Youngkin applauded the House vote on Friday. Our veterans, first responders, and their families have spoken, and we have heard them, he said in a statement. Now it is time for the Senate to pass the bill on Monday, so I can sign it immediately. We must ensure that any potential changes to the program occur transparently in a regular legislative session with input from our valued veterans and their families. The Senates approach would delay enactment of the program eligibility changes for a year, while using surplus state revenues to help colleges and universities cover their costs for students whose tuition is waived. The Senate voted 39-1 to adopt the budget on May 13, although senators formally objected to the provisions related to program eligibility. Both the House and Senate bills would exempt families receiving education benefits from other state tuition waiver programs such as those benefiting dependents of emergency first responders killed in the line of duty that were also covered by eligibility changes aimed at the program for military survivors and dependents. The budget already includes $20 million for each of two years to partly compensate public colleges and universities for the programs cost for the first time in its history. Senate Bill 6009, introduced by Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, would also use an additional $45 million from an expected revenue surplus, to fully cover the programs cost in the first year. Youngkin and the Friends of VMSDEP, representing military families who strongly oppose the pending changes, dismissed the new Senate proposal and demanded full repeal of the budget provisions while waiting for recommendations from up to three ongoing or pending studies of the program. If the Senate Democrat Leadership does not support a repeal of the language, they are holding our veterans, first responders, and their families, hostage, Youngkin said Friday. It is time to do the right thing. A task force, which Youngkin quickly created in response to criticism by military families and veterans groups, has met once. A new work group that Lucas created on June 18 met for the first time on Friday in Richmond. The Senate proposal would also direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the program and issue recommendations by Sept. 1 for the assembly to consider during the 45-day legislative session that will begin in January. Senate work group meets Dozens of veterans and their families showed up Friday morning for the first meeting of the Senate work group. They wore shirts that said Save VMSDEP, reverse and repeal, spoke of their injuries and trauma and chastised lawmakers angrily at times for proposing cuts to the program. Betty Walkers husband, Junius Walker, a Virginia State Police trooper, was shot to death in 2013 on the shoulder of Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County while checking to see if a driver needed help. To suggest VMSDEP should be cut because the cost is too high is an insufficient excuse, Walker said. The price my husband paid was too high. (The program also benefits the families of first responders who are disabled or killed.) Ella Hester, 20, is the daughter of two disabled Navy veterans. She moved often as a kid, but her family decided to settle in Virginia in part because of the education benefits provided by the state. Hester uses VMSDEP benefits to attend Tidewater Community College and intends to transfer to Old Dominion University next spring. The changes to the program left me blindsided about my future, she said. You are playing games with the future of Virginia. Since the General Assembly adopted legislation in 2019 to expand eligibility to family members of veterans who are deemed 90% disabled during active military duty but not necessarily in combat the number of students taking advantage of the benefit has risen from 1,387 to 6,125 last year. The estimated cost to colleges and universities has increased from $12 million in 2019 to $65 million this year. The changes included in the budget would narrow eligibility to people who live in Virginia, require them to seek federal financial aid to offset some of the cost, and limit the waiver benefit to associate and undergraduate degree programs, excluding costly graduate degree programs, such as law and medical schools. Opponents say the changes would wrongly convert the program to one based on financial need rather than death or disability from military service. The outcome of the House vote was never in doubt. All but two delegates co-sponsored the bill introduced by Torian, who had also sponsored the 2019 legislation that expanded the program benefits. The House Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill, which then went to the House floor. The House voted 92-0 to pass the legislation. The House then went into indefinite recess, which allows the chamber to reconvene during a special session that began on May 13 in order to act on a budget agreement reached by the Republican governor and Democratic budget leaders. Torian, in an interview, said House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, had asked him to propose a resolution to address the issue. We said our intent was to repeal the language and work with the governors task force, and thats what were sticking to, he said. China Coast Guard ships along with other Chinese fishing vessel during a resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre, in the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, on Friday, Nov 10, 2023. (Photographer: Lisa Marie David/Bloomberg) By: Philip J. Heijmans (Bloomberg) The latest South China Sea clash saw Chinas coast guard wielding axes and a Philippine sailor lose his thumb in an escalation that underscored Beijings willingness to see how far it can push Manila and its allies in Washington. The Philippines Armed Forces called the June 17 moves by China which included hurling rocks and using knives to puncture an inflatable craft trying to resupply its forces a brutal assault and said the Chinese sailors acted like pirates. The US State Department said Chinas actions were reckless and threatened regional peace and stability. But that was as far as the public response went, with neither the Philippines nor Washington seeking to exacerbate a crisis that has been building for years. For now, at least, Manila appears to be exercising more caution. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told soldiers in a speech afterwards that he was not in the business to instigate wars and his foreign ministry on Wednesday sent a diplomatic note to China seeking dialogue. The governments executive secretary, Lucas Bersamin, initially said the whole episode was probably a misunderstanding or an accident and said the country would give advanced notice of such missions in the future, a move seen as appeasing Chinas demands. Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro quickly walked back Bersamins comments, vowing the country wouldnt publish its plans to send resupply missions to a decrepit World War II-era ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal. And video footage showed the collision was no accident. But the incident and officials subsequent remarks sowed doubt over Manilas stance and sparked debate over how long it can push back on China without more support from an American ally distracted by wars in Europe and the Middle East. Chinas escalating violence reflects Beijings confidence the US will do nothing more than make another strong statement, said Carl Schuster, a former operations director at US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Centre. I suspect President Marcos also realises that the US support is limited. So with little hope of US support he has to find a way to reduce tensions. China was unbowed, sticking with its claims to a huge swath of the South China Sea despite an international tribunal striking down that view. It is our territory, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Monday. Manila should go back on the track of negotiating with China and safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea. Following the incident, the US issued a statement reminding Beijing that an armed attack was grounds to trigger the mutual defence pact it has with the Philippines, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the USs ironclad commitments under the treaty during a call with his Philippine counterpart. The Philippine president has made clear what his red line is, saying earlier this year that the death of a Philippine service member by an attack from any foreign power would prompt him to invoke the terms of the defence treaty. President Joe Biden echoed that position in a meeting with Marcos and Japans prime minister in Washington. The Philippines hopes the two sides could bring tensions to a more manageable level with a possible meeting in the coming weeks, Manilas ambassador to the US, Jose Manuel Romualdez, told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. He said his government hasnt asked for US help in resupplying Filipino troops because it was a sovereign issue and they didnt want to bring in a third country. Last weeks incident fell short of that, though it also appeared to be the type of situation that could quickly escalate into a wider conflagration. In video of the clash, a Chinese rigid-hulled inflatable boat rams into and on top of a Philippine vessel. Navy Seaman Jeffry Facundo told a Philippines Senate committee that his thumb got caught under the Chinese vessels keel, causing his injury. China insisted its actions were lawful. The incident underscores a perennial issue in the decades-old alliance as Washington weighs its own interests against the risk of a conflict with China. In recent years, Beijing has exploited its rivals reluctance to risk open war to assert clearer control over contested territory. Without more assertive backing from Washington, the Philippines stands little chance of intimidating the Chinese vessels that swarm and harass ships that try to make their way to contested reefs and islands. Its a strategy theyve honed against nations from the Philippines to Vietnam. Boasting the worlds largest navy, Chinese vessels have few peers beyond the US in a waterway critical to global trade. The Filipinos behaviour is predictable in making an outcry, and so on and so forth, but the point is are they determined to challenge China to stand and have a conflict? I dont think so, Zhou Bo, a retired senior colonel in the Peoples Liberation Army, said in an interview. And are they sure that the United States would definitely come to their aid should there be such a conflict? he added. My gut feeling is the United States would not like to be involved in conflict with China in the South China Sea because of the Philippines. Sierra Madre Tensions over the World War II-era ship known as the BRP Sierra Madre have been escalating for years as Chinese vessels use water cannons to repeatedly blast Philippine ships trying to supply troops stationed there. With the ship rusting and in a state of advanced disrepair, disagreement has centred around whether Manila is covertly attempting to repair it, something China has repeatedly said it wouldnt allow. A retired Philippine navy official indicated that the country has, in fact, carried out minor repair work on the ship in the past, including replacing steel plates, installing electrical materials and applying protective paint. Last weeks clash and the relatively muted response has prompted some soul-searching in the Philippines. Rommel Ong, a retired rear admiral in the Philippine Navy, said his governments strategy lacked coherence and that the latest incident has stoked perceived divisions among the rank and file. The public could end up losing the trust and confidence in the military, Ong wrote in an essay published Monday in Rappler. Others say Beijing is learning from each incident just how far they can go in their bid to have free sway over the region. Beijing is confident DC will make no substantive response to PRC aggression, said Schuster, the former operations director at US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Centre, using an acronym for China. Expect more violence in the months ahead. With assistance from Philip Glamann, Andreo Calonzo, Jasmine Ng, Cliff Venzon and Iain Marlow. (Updates with Philippines ambassador comment in 14th paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Art Center, Gallery 103, 3 Rivers Art Gallery, ArtSUX and Vangarde Arts are inviting the public to attend the Summer 2024 ArtWalk: "Advance to Gogh." Over 40 local artists are participating in this free July 11 exhibit, which features traditional game boards transformed into artworks. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St. Visitors will stroll to the nearby galleries to see the creations and meet the artists. Refreshments will also be available at each venue. Artists and visitors are invited to dress as their favorite gameboard piece or character. Visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite gameboard artwork that evening. The artist whose work receives the most votes, the People's Choice Award, will receive a gift card courtesy of Games King. The event schedule is as follows: 5:30 p.m. Art Center 6 p.m. Ho-Chunk Centre Gallery 103 and Three Rivers Gallery, 600 Fourth St. 6:45 p.m. Art SUX, 515 Fourth St. 7:30 p.m. Vangarde Arts, 416 Pierce St. PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE As the sun rose early Friday morning, hundreds of people rushed across Malaquite Beach, scrambling for the best spots to watch the show. Armed with cameras and phones, they jockeyed for position behind strands of caution tape, some standing ankle-deep in the Gulf of Mexico as volunteers smoothed the sand with rakes to make things ready for the tiny celebrities everyone was there to see. Those stars arrived just after 6:45 a.m., when Donna Shaver and Emma Pontius began carefully lifting dozens of newly hatched turtles from insulated crates, placing them one by one on the beach. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first public sea turtle hatchling release of the year at Padre Island National Seashore. Liz Teitz, Josie Norris The Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings, each just a few inches long, sat stationary for several moments, appraising their surroundings, before starting to tentatively make their way toward the water. OK, weve got some movers and shakers now, Shaver said, pointing to the first few turtles to venture away from the group. They meandered toward the water in short bursts with frequent pauses, occasionally veering off course toward the crowd, until gloved volunteers put them back on track. The turtles, which hatched from nests laid on May 13, are the latest results of a decades-long effort to establish a secondary nesting colony of the endangered species to safeguard it from extinction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Donna Shaver, who leads the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the Padre Island National Seashore, signals to the crowd Friday that five sea turtle hatchings still had yet to make it into the Gulf of Mexico. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Volunteer Harvey Lashinski holds a Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchling on Friday at the Padre Island National Seashore. Dozens of the tiny turtles were released into the wild. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A container carrying Kemps Ripley turtle hatchlings arrives to be released at Malaquite Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024, at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Robert Escobedo, 7, of San Antonio, center, and other spectators check out a Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchling at Padre Island National Seashore on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Donna Shaver, who leads the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the Padre Island National Seashore, and Emma Pontius, biological science technician, watch as sea turtle hatchlings start to make their way toward the water on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Donna J. Shaver, chief of sea turtle science and recovery, left, and Emma Pontius, biological science technician, right, place Kemps Ripley turtle hatchlings onto the sand of Malaquite Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024, at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings are placed on the beach on Friday at the Padre Island National Seashore. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings start moving toward the water on Friday at the Padre Island National Seashore. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Spectators watch the release of baby sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A volunteer helps redirect a Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchling toward the water on Friday at the Padre Island National Seashore. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchling reaches the water on Friday at the Padre Island National Seashore. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Spectators jockey for position to watch the release of Kemps ridley sea turtle hatchlings at Padre Island National Seashore on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News READ MORE: Three types of Guadalupe River mussels added to endangered list Saving the turtles When eggs are laid at the beach on Padre Island, theyre collected for protected incubation. The primary nesting colony is about 160 miles south in Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, said Shaver, who leads the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the national seashore. A disaster in that area, like a hurricane or other catastrophe, could severely impact the population and its survival, so scientists have been working since the 1970s to build a secondary colony in another location. Shaver has been part of that work since 1980. The hatchlings imprint on the beach where they first enter the water, returning years later to nest and lay eggs there themselves so thousands of the turtles now call Texas home. This year, the park service tallied 338 Kemps ridley nests in Texas, 202 of which were on North Padre Island, Shaver said. They also had a handful of loggerhead and green sea turtle nests, she said. Those species are listed as threatened. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Once the eggs hatch, the turtles are released into the wild. When the timing and the weather are right, the National Park Service opens those releases up to the public. While Fridays event was the first public release of the summer, many more hatchlings have already been released without spectators in the past few weeks, said Pontius, a biological science technician. More than 1,000 people typically attend the public releases, according to the park service. While weekend events are most popular, hundreds gathered Friday morning, some lining up to enter the seashore while it was still dark. Some are locals from the island and Corpus Christi who come back to watch year after year. Others are vacationers from around the state and country. One father said he woke up his kids at 2:30 a.m. to make it there in time for the event, which starts just after sunrise. The turtles orient themselves by the sun, Shaver said, and as they were first placed on the sand Friday, a cloud blocked the light, making it more challenging for the hatchlings. But as the sun rose higher in the sky, they picked up speed, their tiny flippers leaving trails on the damp sand. Volunteer Katie Bell cheered them on as they crawled across the beach. She and several other volunteers held nets above the turtles to deter seagulls, while others stood guard to keep the crowd from getting too close. The birds are natural predators of the baby turtles, and other animals including raccoons and coyotes also threaten turtle eggs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, about 125,000 Kemp's ridley hatchlings leave nests on North American shores, but only 1% of them will survive to sexual maturity, which is about 10 to 15 years old. Humans post the largest threats, by way of egg harvest and collection, unintended capture in fishing gear, vessel strikes, and loss of habitat, among other manmade impacts. But on the beach Friday morning, the humans were cheering the baby turtles on and hoping for their success. Come on, sweetheart, Bell called out as the first turtle approached the water. Youre going to be the first one to make it. Behind her, a group of children chanted go, turtles, go!" The crowd cheered as they reached the waves and were quickly whisked from the shore, disappearing into the surf. By about 7:45 a.m., most of the turtles had made the trek into the Gulf. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Appreciation for nature' Robert Escobedo stood with his sons, Elijah, 10, and Robert, 7, watching the last stragglers. They made the two-and-a-half hour drive from San Antonio on Thursday to attend the event Friday morning, and were planning to return for another hatchling release on Saturday. My favorite part was seeing them walk up close, Elijah said, while his younger brother said he liked watching as the turtles reached the water and were picked up by the waves. Escobedo said he wants his sons to understand the importance of conservation, so the family travels regularly to state parks and other public lands and participates in junior ranger programs. Im trying to teach them to have an appreciation for nature, he said. Shaver said thats exactly what she hopes visitors to the seashore take away from the experience. Before the turtles were released, she walked around greeting the people who showed up Friday, thanking them for attending and praising parents for bringing their children to learn. While the experience is quite the spectacle, Shaver said, its not just for show." LE MARS, Iowa -- Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance teams will go door-to-door in flooding-impacted areas of Plymouth County beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Over the last weekend and into this week, Akron, Le Mars, Merrill and other communities in Plymouth County were hit by flooding of the Big Sioux River and the Floyd River. President Joe Biden on Monday approved Iowa's request for a major disaster declaration in several Iowa counties, including Plymouth. This declaration authorized FEMA and the Small Business Administration to provide aid to affected residents, businesses and nonprofits. Plymouth County residents can apply for FEMAs individual assistance program online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the disaster assistance hotline at 1-800-621-3362, Plymouth County Emergency Management said in a press release. Businesses and nonprofits whose property was damaged or destroyed by the flooding may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA, the press release noted. Small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and private, nonprofit organizations impacted by the flood may be eligible to apply for working capital loans. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday upended a 40-year-old decision that made it easier for the federal government to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety and consumer protections, delivering a far-reaching and potentially lucrative victory to business interests. The court's six conservative justices overturned the 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron, long a target of conservatives. The liberal justices were in dissent. Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in challenges that could be spawned by the high courts ruling. The Biden administrations top Supreme Court lawyer had warned such a move would be an unwarranted shock to the legal system. The heart of the Chevron decision says federal agencies should be allowed to fill in the details when laws aren't crystal clear. Opponents of the decision argued that it gave power that should be wielded by judges to experts who work for the government. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. Roberts wrote that the decision does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron decision. But in dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the assurance rings hollow. The majority is sanguine; I am not so much, she wrote. Kagan called the latest decision yet another example of the Courts resolve to roll back agency authority, despite congressional direction to the contrary. The court ruled in cases brought by Atlantic herring fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a fee requirement. Lower courts used the Chevron decision to uphold a 2020 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that herring fishermen pay for government-mandated observers who track their fish intake. Conservative and business interests strongly backed the fishermens appeals, betting that a court that was remade during Republican Donald Trumps presidency would strike another blow at the regulatory state. The courts conservative majority has previously reined in environmental regulations and stopped the Democratic Biden administration's initiatives on COVID-19 vaccines and student loan forgiveness. The justices hadnt invoked Chevron since 2016, but lower courts had continued to do so. Forty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled 6-0, with three justices recused, that judges should play a limited, deferential role when evaluating the actions of agency experts in a case brought by environmental groups to challenge a Reagan administration effort to ease regulation of power plants and factories. Judges are not experts in the field, and are not part of either political branch of government, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in 1984, explaining why they should play a limited role. But the current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas all had questioned the Chevron decision. They were in Friday's majority, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor joined Kagan in dissent. Opponents of the Chevron doctrine argue that judges applied it too often to rubber-stamp decisions made by government bureaucrats. Judges must exercise their own authority and judgment to say what the law is, the court said Friday, adopting the opponents arguments. Bill Bright, a Cape May, New Jersey-based fisherman who was part of the lawsuit, said the decision to overturn Chevron would help fishing businesses make a living. "Nothing is more important than protecting the livelihoods of our families and crews, Bright said in a statement. Defending the rulings that upheld the fees, President Joe Biden's administration said that overturning the Chevron decision would produce a convulsive shock to the legal system. Environmental, health advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, organized labor and Democrats on the national and state level had urged the court to leave the Chevron decision in place. "The Supreme Court is pushing the nation into uncharted waters as it seizes it seizes power from our elected branches of government to advance its deregulatory agenda, Sambhav Sankar, a lawyer with the environmental group Earthjustice, said after the ruling. The conservative justices are aggressively reshaping the foundations of our government so that the President and Congress have less power to protect the public, and corporations have more power to challenge regulations in search of profits. This ruling threatens the legitimacy of hundreds of regulations that keep us safe, protect our homes and environment, and create a level playing field for businesses to compete on. Gun, e-cigarette, farm, timber and home-building groups were among the business groups supporting the fishermen. Conservative interests that also intervened in recent high court cases limiting regulation of air and water pollution backed the fishermen as well. The fisherman sued to contest the 2020 regulation that would have authorized a fee that could have topped $700 a day, though no one ever had to pay it. In separate lawsuits in New Jersey and Rhode Island, the fishermen argued that Congress never gave federal regulators authority to require the fisherman to pay for monitors. They lost in the lower courts, which relied on the Chevron decision to sustain the regulation. The justices heard two cases on the same issue because Jackson was recused from the New Jersey case. She took part in it at an earlier stage when she was an appeals court judge. The full court participated in the case from Rhode Island. This story has been corrected to show the spelling of the justices name is Ketanji, not Kentanji. Notable Supreme Court cases of 2024 The Supreme Court rejects a nationwide opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma The high court had put the settlement on hold last summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration. The Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now in a limited ruling The ruling came after a day an opinion was briefly posted on the court's website accidently and quickly taken down, but not before it was obtained by Bloomberg News. The Supreme Court strips the SEC of a critical enforcement tool in fraud cases The justices ruled that people accused of fraud by the SEC, which regulates securities markets, have the right to a jury trial in federal court. The Supreme Court halts enforcement of the EPA's plan to limit downwind pollution from power plants The Supreme Court is putting the Environmental Protection Agencys air pollution-fighting good neighbor plan on hold while legal challenges continue, the conservative-led courts latest blow to federal regulations. Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims The justices ruled in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks, gun accessories used in 2017 massacre The high court found 6-3 that the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks. Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication The Supreme Court has preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year. Supreme Court clears the way for the NRAs free speech lawsuit against an ex-New York official The unanimous opinion reverses a lower court decision tossing out the gun rights groups lawsuit against ex-New York State Department of Financial Services Ssuperintendent Maria Vullo. Supreme Court finds no bias against Black voters in a South Carolina congressional district The Supreme Court has preserved a Republican-held South Carolina congressional district, rejecting a lower-court ruling the district discriminated against Black voters. Part road movie, part coming-of-age story, and part noir police procedural, the quietly confident Fancy Dance marks the feature debut of Erica Tremblay, a documentary filmmaker who also wrote and directed episodes of the FX series Reservation Dogs. The script, by Tremblay and Miciana Alise, bears some resemblance to that acclaimed show, in that both involve the lives and longings of one or more Native American teenagers living on a reservation in Oklahoma: Reservation Dogs was set in the Muscogee Nation, whereas Fancy Dance takes place mostly in and around the land of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, with some dialogue in the Cayuga language. But the extralegal shenanigans of the kids on the reservation assume a more tragic dimension in Fancy Dance, a movie that takes place against the ominous backdrop of the nationwide epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. When her sister Tawi (Hauli Sioux Gray) abruptly disappears, Jax Goodiron (Lily Gladstone) finds herself responsible for Tawis 13-year-old daughter, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson). Jax is a loyal sister and a loving aunt, but shes also a fiercely independent and sometimes off-putting loner who makes a living from small-time hustles and, when economic times get tough, sells drugs for a local crime lord. Jax has done jail time in the past for this and other petty offenseswhich means that when an investigator for child protective services arrives to evaluate Rokis living situation, they have a legally airtight if flimsy pretext for taking the child out of her home on the reservation and placing her in the care of her white grandfather (the always welcome Shea Whigham) and his well-intentioned but clumsily insensitive wife (Audrey Wasilewski). Knowing that Rokis deepest desire is to attend the upcoming tribal powwow, Jax sneaks her out of her grandfathers house in the middle of the night for an impromptu road trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As far as the white cops off the rez are concerned, this consensually agreed-upon joyride constitutes an Amber Alert kidnapping far more worthy of investigation than Tawis unexplained disappearance. Jaxs half brother JJ (Ryan Begay), a cop on the reservation, is more understanding of the runaways plight, though he too harbors doubts about his half sisters dependability as a full-time guardian. As the cops attempt to close in on the runaway aunt-niece pair, JJ launches his own solo investigation into Tawis whereabouts. Fancy Dance is one of those small-scale indie films that examine social issues through the micro-lens of individual lives, so that the audience gets a sense of the systemic problems that impact the characters choices without the director ever having to mount a soapbox: Debra Granik (Winters Bone, Leave No Trace) is a master of this kind of scaled-down social realism. Tremblay and Alises tersely written script touches on economic inequality, the link between poverty and addiction, and the institutional racism of the foster care system, without ever naming these issues directly. Its easy to see why Gladstone spent so much of her awards-season push for Killers of the Flower Moon stumping instead for this underdog film, which sat without a distributor for more than a year after its much-lauded Sundance premiere until Apple picked it up. (The movie opened in a small theatrical release last week and premieres on Apple TV+ this Friday.) Advertisement Related From Slate A24s Latest Is a Beautiful Coming-of-Age Movie From a Pulitzer Winner Read More As played by the ever more extraordinary Gladstone in a darker mode than the taciturn heroine who earned the actor her first Best Actress nomination, Jax is a relatable but far from flawless protagonist. She can be brusque, secretive (especially, and understandably, about her semi-closeted queerness), and impulsively self-sabotaging, and shes not above lying to Roki about the danger their escape from the law has placed them in, even if the deceptions are generally in the interest of protecting her. No one in Fancy Dance, not even the naive Roki, behaves irreproachably, but Tremblay never judges her characters for their often dubious choices. Even Rokis white grandparents, oblivious to the way their privilege aligns them with the very forces that are endangering their Indigenous relatives way of life, come off not as villains but as feckless would-be Samaritans caught up in in a fundamentally damaged system of economic and racial exploitation. Advertisement Advertisement The last 15 or 20 minutes of Fancy Dance, while suspenseful, unfold in too much of a rush for every plotline, especially the one involving Tawis disappearance, to resolve as fully as one might wish. But the final scene, in which aunt and niece arrive at the powwow just as the annual mother-daughter ritual dance is beginning, leaves the movie suspended in a delicately ambiguous place, somewhere between the utopian ideal of community that Roki has been craving since the movie began and the much grimmer social reality that she and her aunt, as Native American women, have just encountered on their road trip and must contend with again once the fancy dance is over. For those few moments, though, the niece and her aunt twirl and kick in unison, together, hopeful, and free. Joe Bidens approval ratings are in the toilet and the two things he could do to address the problem (make gas 75 percent cheaper or become a younger person) are either practically or literally impossible. In the upcoming midterms, Democrats might hold the Senate, mostly because Donald Trump cant stop giving out primary endorsements to mega-liars with multiple mystery children (Herschel Walker), TV phonies who dont live in the state where theyre running (Mehmet Oz), and white nationalistadjacent tech-fascist creeps (Blake Masters). But the House is not looking great, and with the White Houses critical race theory task force expected to criminalize pickup trucks by 2023 [ed.: has this sentence been fact-checked?] well, the point is that Democrats are kicking around the idea of someone besides the current president running in the next election. Some of the figures getting floated as possible replacement candidates have run for president before or otherwise have established media profiles. They include Stacey Abrams, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, and Amy Klobuchar. But most of the contenders are less well-known. Theyre being buzzed about because they have intriguing biographies, or have outperformed other Democratic candidates in previous elections, or are popular in key Electoral College states. Or have histories of going viral, or taking aggressive positions on trending issues, etc. Advertisement All that can be helpful when running for president. But none of it guarantees that a candidate will last beyond the first few moments of their first primary debate. Recall that in 2020 exNew York Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent some twelve hundred trillion dollars on advertising to propel himself into contention in the Democratic raceonly to be simultaneously attacked and exposed so effectively during the partys Feb. 20, 2020, debate, his first, that he ended his campaign by March 4. In the words of one well-regarded writer, his candidacy arrived onstage that night as an ascendant threat and left it as the vanity project of a low-charisma onetime Republican with a history of red-flag positions and behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One could also point to the veep herself, Harris, who looked like a potential president on paperand had her own early viral debate moment when she attacked Biden over his criticism of 1970s school integration programs. But her chances deflated into a limp pile of plastic as further camera time made clear that she was not capable of coherently forming or explaining her own positions on, among other subjects, school integration. With this history in mind, Slate reviewed footage of recent debate performances featuring nine of the potential Democratic 2024 contenders who arent yet household names to the partys median voter. The idea was to try and figure out who might popand, more to the point, who might be exposed as a stiffin a still-hypothetical series of primary donnybrooks. Advertisement The hypothetical candidates have been ranked here from least to most adjudged potential. 9. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Why hes being hyped: Keeps winning elections in North Carolina as other Democratseven inoffensive centrist onescome up a few points short, and does so without compromising Democratic values on issues like the bathroom bill. Footage reviewed: WCNC gubernatorial debate, Oct. 14, 2020 Verdict: I thought I was getting pranked when Roy Cooper appeared on screen. This is what he looks like: Advertisement Advertisement This is not a rising-star modern politician. This is the leader of an evangelical congregation in 1966. This is a guy who thinks Jimmy Carter is too rock n roll. This is what it would look like if a sweater designed a human. This is an advertisement you use to scare teenagers into using drugs. Its not that Cooper was incoherent in his statements about subjects such as raising teacher pay and using science and data to make the tough decisions about COVID. He would probably win some votes from older Americans who arent paying close attention and who might get him kind of conflated in their head with Ronald Reagan. But no. Its not going to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Why shes being hyped: Won an election in a swing state by 9 points in 2018 and appears set to win again in 2022 despite the significantly tougher national outlook for Democrats. Stood firm on COVID and has stood firm on abortion without losing reputation as a moderate. Debate footage reviewed: WOOD TV 8 gubernatorial debate, Oct. 12, 2018 Verdict: As with Cooper, there was nothing alarming about Whitmer and the statements she made about locally relevant issues like road repairs and Great Lakes pollution. Butand it pains me to say this as someone who believes the national Democratic Party needs to continue to learn (from people like Whitmer) that moderation and centrism arent synonymous with caution and surrendershe wasnt a strong performer. Advertisement Whitmer, who was struck frequently by Direct to Camera Frozen Smile Syndrome, introduced a story about her mom having cancer with the incongruously humorous and confusing phrase When I was 29 years old, I became a member of the Sandwich Generation. She ended it with the only slightly less confusing statement Make no mistake: Health care is on this ballot for governor. And she swallowed in a weird way several times (see minute 4:56 in the video below). Advertisement One other thing thats apparent from watching the debate is that Whitmer was spotted an advantage by running against former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, whoand Im allowed to say this, because hes from my hometownlooks like a weasel whose eyes are being sewn shut. Advertisement 7. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. (and prospective Sen.) John Fetterman Why hes being hyped: Has an intriguing backstory (grew up affluent and moved to a down-on-its-luck Pittsburgh-area municipality for AmeriCorps, then stayed there, eventually becoming its mayor). Is a giant guy who, along with his wife, dresses like a Gen X goth hipster, which is to say, he doesnt come off as a snob. Currently favored to defeat televisions Dr. Oz in a crucial Senate race in, yes, a swing state. Footage reviewed: WPXI Democratic Senate primary debate, April 21, 2022 Verdict: Fetterman didnt jump off the screen or take any aggressive positions. (His efforts to claim that he supports universal health coverage without specifically endorsing Medicare for All were especially uninspiring; heres a clip of him avoiding the issue at a different debate.) He talked quickly and in a monotone without using his face or his hands much. He was slower with facts and anecdotes than other candidates further down this list, and stumbled a bit in his response to questions about his 2013 confrontation with a Black jogger even though he must have known they were coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However! Its harder to look cool and confident when youre taking questions and criticism about tough intraparty wedge issues during a heated primary debate than when youre debating an unpopular incumbent or no-hope challenger from the other party, like a number of the other candidates in this piece had the good fortune of doing. Fetterman was leading his race at the time, and as such he was attacked throughout the debate from both his literal and metaphorical right and left. He avoided making gaffes and did well enough to hold his leadand win. Part of his appeal, moreover, is that he seems less polished and stage-managed than some other politicians. His plainspokenness and lack of self-consciousness work well in other settings. (See: this University of Pittsburgh talk called The Brevity of Life and How It Can Move You about how being close to a series of deaths in his 20s changed his worldview, in which his tone registers calmness and wisdom.) There is also this video of him wearing a rainbow cape and a plastic hat and sucking on a lollipop while listening to his wife speak at a Pride event. (See video below from minute 4:00 onward. Its worth a few seconds of your time.) And there is something to be said about being able to come off as strong and possessed of conviction without having to raise your voice. Advertisement Advertisement 6. California Gov. Gavin Newsom Why hes being hyped: As the governor of a populous state that is often in the news but also happens to be one of the most Democratic in the country, Newsom has the benefit of being able to enact high-profile, meaningful (or meaningful-looking) measures related to issues of central Democratic voter concern like guns, abortion, immigration, climate, and even, in the case of Junes tax-rebate bill, the dreaded price of gas. In this way, he may appeal in a fantasy daydream way to members of the party who would like it to do stuff besides failing to reach agreements with Joe Manchin. Footage reviewed: Univision gubernatorial forum, Jan. 25, 2019 Verdict: Newsom is the opposite of Fettermanso smooth and Matthew McConaugheyesque in his elocution, which he accompanies with Inspiring Political Hand Gestures, that its almost comical. The man is good at looking good, and it makes you wonder whether hes more style than substance, which is, in fact, a criticism thats been made of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also not technically within the scope of this article, but the cause that Newsom was most frequently and passionately defending during the debatemaintaining California as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrantsis a reminder that there would be electability concerns raised about a presidential candidate from the state that many people in the rest of the country imagine as a sexually depraved communist dystopia in which Fancy Nancy Pelosi is worshipped as a god. Advertisement Advertisement 5. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Why hes being hyped: Appears set to be reelected by a wide margin after establishing a reputation for independence in a blue state (by, for example, ending mask mandates before other Democratic governors). Also appointed the Republican who ran against him in 2018 to a state economic development position, which is the kind of working-together feel-good bipartisan crapola that Democratic primary voters absolutely ate up in 2020. Got very rich in the greeting cards businesshe helped his parents put their company, Blue Mountain, founded in 1971, onlinewhich means he could fund some of his own campaign. Footage reviewed: Denver7 gubernatorial debate, Oct. 24, 2018 Verdict: Polis is from the Mayor Pete School of Being Extremely, Almost Casually Conversant With the Facts of Any Given Matter. At one point he listed the starting teacher salaries in three neighboring school districts. (See below at 17:10.) He is also handy with positive-seeming technocrat phrases like we need to have a greater offset as a backstop. (This was in reference to the placement of oil and gas drills relative to other structures.) But he was also good at punctuating all the detail with values statements about wanting to, for example, make sure every kid gets a strong start and that money actually reaches the classroom. He did seem, to this nonColorado politics expert, to be a bit evasive and slick about what policies he would actually support in relation to the values about which he spoke so eloquently, which is also a bit Mayor Petelike, if you ask me, although obviously no one asks me. Advertisement Advertisement 4. Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy Why hes being hyped: Murphy represented the House district in which the Sandy Hook massacre took place and has been a Democratic leader on the issue of gun control (or gun safety, if you will), leading the recent negotiations that resulted in the first major gun legislation in decades. He is also just generally one of the few Democratic senators who both 1) seems to have some influence within the party and 2) is good enough at public speaking that normal people occasionally hear about things he says in Congress. Footage reviewed: WFSB Senate debate, Oct. 26, 2018 Verdict: Murphy is in command of both the facts and the narrative that he wants to highlightdeflecting a question that implied hed been unnecessarily partisan in his Supreme Court confirmation votes, for example, by working the phrase right-wing political groups into his answer multiple times so as to emphasize the extreme character of its most recent additions. He has the air of a trusted adviser, a longtime family lawyer, perhapsserious, a bit frowny. If anything, he seems a little pained, a little beleaguered, by the gravity of the issues hes discussing. This could conceivably be a problem, as voters dont like to vote for a Debbie Downerbut it could also be an asset, as it was for Joe Biden. Especially when considering that, given his history with Sandy Hook and the frustrations of trying to pass gun control laws, Murphys weariness is probably earned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Why hes being hyped: Pritzker benefits from the same circumstances as Newsom, in that he is the governor of a big and important blue state whose Legislature will actually pass the things Democrats want it to pass (such as spending on early childhood education). He is also a large, old-fashioned looking gentleman who is currently benefiting from a semi-ironic online campaign, led by an account called Socialists for Pritzker, which asserts that Democrats should zag away from their reputation for being bumbling, credulous, overly politically correct, and/or condescending by nominating a Big Beefy Boss Man who Doesnt Care What People Think and will flat out Get Things Done with his big hamburger fists. (This is also a major part of the case for John Fetterman, but with tallness instead of wideness.) Footage reviewed: ABC7 gubernatorial debate, Oct. 3, 2018 Verdict: First of all, God bless Illinois and Chicago politics. A quarter of the debate reviewed for this was about some sort of scandal related to a favorable tax reassessment that Pritzker had gotten by taking some toilets out of a big house he owned. (He is one of the heirs to the Hyatt fortune.) The words If Mr. Pritzker gets in office and implements his tax plan, theres going to be a giant sucking sound, and it wont be from his toilets were spoken! (See 8:50, below.) Another quarter of the time was spent on other scandals I had never heard of but which apparently had put incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner into such a state of guaranteed defeat that he had stopped attending to his appearance or hygiene. At least, this is what it looked like. The man was, frankly, haggard. He looked as if he was about to be turned away from a Death of a Salesman audition for looking too dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, J.B. Pritzker was good. He talked like a normal person, but smart, as if his positions were just obvious common sense. Regarding police reform, for instance, he said, When police do it right, we need to stand up for them. But when they get it wrong, when peoples constitutional rights are violated, where theres violence where there shouldnt have been, they need to be held accountable. Now, just reading this on the page, it might look like the kind of low-stakes on-one-hand/on-the-other-hand pandering that should be easy to pull off. But I can assure you as someone who has watched Democratic debates professionally for the past seven years that it is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Why hes being hyped: Has gotten a lot done in New Jersey despite the states weird/corrupt machine politics. Like Pritzker, combines practically useful personal wealth (he was a Goldman Sachs executive) with a populist outlook (the first two policies he pursued in office were raising taxes on millionaires and raising the minimum wage). Footage reviewed: Rowan University gubernatorial debate, Oct. 12, 2021 Verdict: Unlike most state-level debates, this one was held in front of a large audience, which moderators and producers did not prevent from cheering and hooting and hollering. This made it much more entertainingand in a weird way, more civically useful and upliftingthan 99 percent of similar events. Both Murphy and his opponent, an Italian guy, thrived in the back-and-forth environment. To quote Murphy, Youre hearin it live and in colah! (Start at 17:10, below, to enjoy that exclamation and the feigned surprise at being booed that preceded it.) This article is getting too long but: He was a good performer, varying his tone from comic to serious as the moment called for and, like the other governors on the list, showing a refreshing familiarity with very granular details. Advertisement Advertisement 1. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock Why hes being hyped: Won a Senate election in Georgia as a Democrat campaigning proudly on a platform of social spending. Footage reviewed: Atlanta Press Club Senate debate, Dec. 6, 2020 Verdict: This guy is a freakin star! He is at ease while speaking, but not too casual. (Hes a minister, so it is not surprising that he is comfortable in this way.) He talks in well-crafted positional sentences but looks like hes actually thinking about what hes saying. Hes good with aphorisms like I think a good sign of what someone will do in office is what they were doing before office, which in this case referred to Republican incumbent Kelly Loefflers pre-politics occupation of being extremely rich and socializing with other rich people, possibly about how to make money off COVID. (For the record, insider trading investigations into Loeffler and other senators of both parties were dropped without charges having been filed.) Warnock can explain what preexisting conditions actually are, and did just that during a health care riff, which more (or all) Democrats should also do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dynamics of the Georgia race also gave Warnock an opportunity to demonstrate how hed respond to the most likely line of attack hed face in a national general electionbeing accused of wanting to defund the police and so forth to advance a radical leftist socialist Marxist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the Squad agenda. See the exchange beginning at around 23:10 below, in which Loeffler is given the chance to question Warnock directly. He pivots so smoothly around her Marxism-related attack into an answer about free enterprise, life choices, and the people of Georgia coming to get back their seat that she probably wishes she had opted for 30 seconds of silence and/or had never gotten into politics. Advertisement If Warnock beats Herschel Walker, which the polls say he could, watch out! Advertisement Now that we have gone through the candidates, lets quickly review the potential objections to my rankings and existence in general. If you had to go on TV, you probably wouldnt look too good either, would you, Mr. Smart Guy? Correct. My eyes are too close together and the way I use them to look at the ceiling when Im thinking is distracting. These are among the reasons why I chose the profession I did (spokesman for the Sandwich Generation) rather than trying to be a politician or movie star. Advertisement And are you even an appropriate analyst for this type of thing? Whom did you think the Democrats should nominate in 2020, for example? In 2018, I wrote that it should be Beto ORourke. And who did you think was the best candidate in the Republican Ohio primary this cycle? Bernie Moreno. Who even is that? He dropped out before the primary happened. What did we really learn here, then? That you can take all 3,000-plus words of this with a grain of saltbut that I watched nine debates in three days, which means its an informed grain of salt, and also that I am tired and am ending this article. May the best candidate win (if it turns out that theres actually a race)! This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!) The Supreme Court fundamentally altered the way that our federal government functions on Friday, transferring an almost unimaginable amount of power from the executive branch to the federal judiciary. By a 63 vote, the conservative supermajority overruled Chevron v. NRDC, wiping out four decades of precedent that required unelected judges to defer to the expert judgment of federal agencies. The ruling is extraordinary in every waya massive aggrandizement of judicial power based solely on the majoritys own irritation with existing limits on its authority. After Friday, virtually every decision an agency makes will be subject to a free-floating veto by federal judges with zero expertise or accountability to the people. All at once, SCOTUS has undermined Congress ability to enact effective legislation capable of addressing evolving problems and sabotaged the executive branchs ability to apply those laws to the facts on the ground. It is one of the most far-reaching and disruptive rulings in the history of the court. The facts of Fridays decision, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, matter far less that the legal holding. But they are worth dwelling on because they illustrate the conservative supermajoritys hunger to reach its conclusion by any means necessary. Loper Bright challenged a program, enacted under the Trump administration, that required the fishing industry to help cover the costs of federal compliance monitors on their boats. The plaintiffs argued that federal law did not clearly authorize the government to seek cost-sharing from fishermen. The Biden administration shut down this program and refunded every cent back to the industry, so there is no live controversy anymore. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court took up the case as a vehicle to target Chevron, a landmark 1984 decision. Advertisement In Chevron, the court unanimously announced an important principle of law that governed the nation until Friday: When a federal statute is ambiguous, courts should defer to an agencys reasonable interpretation of it. Why? Congress delegates countless important calls to agenciesdirecting the EPA, for instance, to limit harmful benzene emissions, rather than providing the precise formula to determine what level of benzene emissions is harmful to humans. Congress writes statutes broadly because it expects these agencies to respond to new facts and adjust their enforcement accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate Sonia Sotomayor Is Trying to Warn Us About the Supreme Courts Dirtiest Open Secret Read More Crucially, these agencies are staffed with experts who have deep knowledge and experience in the area where Congress seeks to regulate. Such experts can understand and execute regulations more proficiently than federal judges, who are, at best, dilettantes in most fields of regulation. For example, an EPA scientist is unlikely to confuse nitrous oxide (laughing gas) with nitrogen oxide (a smog-causing emission), as Justice Neil Gorsuch did in a Thursday opinion blocking an EPA rule. Moreover, most agencies are staffed with political appointees whom the president can appoint and remove at will. That makes them far more accountable to the citizenry than federal judges, who are guaranteed life tenure no matter how badly they butcher the law. Advertisement Since 1984, federal courts have applied Chevron in about 18,000 decisions in every conceivable area of the law: energy policy, education, food and drug safety, labor, the environment, consumer protection, finance, health care, housing, law enforcementthe list is pretty much endless. It has become the background principle against which Congress enacts all legislation. That all ends now. Chief Justice John Roberts opinion in Loper Bright declared that Chevron is unmoored to any law, fundamentally misguided and unworkable, creating an eternal fog of uncertainty. He dismissed it as a judicial invention that required judges to disregard their statutory duties. From here on out, courts must apply their independent judgment rather than deferring to federal agencies when Congress handiwork is ambiguous. And yet Roberts also tried to forestall a flood of challenges to past rulings rooted in Chevron, adding that courts require special justification to overrule these thousands and thousands of decisions. It would require immense naivety to believe that hard-right lower courts will abide by this passing suggestion. Advertisement Advertisement Justice Elena Kagans dissent, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, is a masterwork of alarm and despair. A rule of judicial humility, she wrote, gives way to a rule of judicial hubris. The justice pulled no punches, bemoaning the majoritys reckless arrogance with outrage and contempt. In one fell swoop, the justice explained, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar. Advertisement The majority, Kagan continued, made a laughing stock of stare decisis, or respect for precedent: It barely tries to advance the usual factors this Court invokes for overruling precedent. Its justification comes down, in the end, to this: courts must have more say over regulationover the provision of health care, the protection of the environment, the safety of consumer products, the efficacy of transportation systems, and so on. A longstanding precedent at the crux of administrative governance thus falls victim to a bald assertion of judicial authority. The majority disdains restraint, and grasps for power. Advertisement Kagans dissent illustrated the stability of Chevron in practice when courts apply it in good faith to the panoply of technical questions that arise when agencies apply a broadly worded mandate to a specific problem. As to Roberts claim that Chevron is a decaying husk because the Supreme Court has not applied it in eight years, she lobbed a strikingly candid critique at the majoritys tactics. The majoritys argument is a bootstrap, Kagan wrote. The court has avoided applying Chevron since 2016 only Advertisement Advertisement because it has been preparing to overrule Chevron since around that time. That kind of self-help on the way to reversing precedent has become almost routine at this court. Stop applying a decision where one should; throw some gratuitous criticisms into a couple of opinions; issue a few separate writings questioning the decisions premises; give the whole process a few years and voila!you have a justification for overruling the decision. Advertisement This overruling-through-enfeeblement technique, the justice wrote, mocked stare decisis. A brilliant dissent, of course, is still a dissent: a largely futile cry of sorrow and anger that reflects the liberal blocs near-total loss of influence at this Supreme Court. Even Kagans most biting prose cannot stop what will happen next. The majority has shot a missile at the agencies that run our government, from the Department of Commerce and the EPA to the Department of Labor, the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and every other bureau that protects Americans from harm every day. Rather than strike down one specific law, the conservative supermajority has hobbled the functioning of hundreds of agencies all at once. The decision will have a wildly outsized impact on Democratic presidents, who typically seek to beef up regulations, while favoring Republican presidents who enter office with a deregulatory agenda. And it leaves Congress in the lurch, denying lawmakers the ability to write laws the way they have for more than a century: empowering agencies to tackle threats to the general welfare through broad legislation that lets experts fill in the gaps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take a step back and consider how radicallyand underhandedlythis Supreme Court is reshaping modern governance. By killing Chevron just one day after undermining agencies enforcement actions, the conservative supermajority is kneecapping the administrative state. It shares that goal with Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the far-right activists behind Project 2025. The Supreme Court is imposing a MAGA vision of the law on America, giving unelected judges near-unfathomable power to override the policy choices of the democratic branches. Through rulings dressed up in legalese, it strips power from the citizens and their elected representatives, establishing a monarchical judiciary with no known limits on its own authority. Anyone who cares about government of the people, by the people, for the people should share Kagans horror at what this court has wrought and what comes next. 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!) In Fischer v. United States, a divided Supreme Court, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, handed Donald Trump a political victory by saying the government overreached in prosecuting some of the Jan. 6 rioters. But it created a potentially big legal problem for him by confirming that the submission of false evidence in an official proceedingas Trump allegedly help orchestrate with the fake electors scheme after he lost the 2020 electionindeed violates federal law. Should Donald Trump ever go to trial on 2020 election interference, and thats a big if depending on what the Supreme Court does Monday in the pending Trump immunity case, he could well face some serious jail time. Roberts barely acknowledged the factual circumstances surrounding the Fischer case. For months, Donald Trump had been telling his supporters that the 2020 presidential election was going to be (and eventually was) stolen from him. He encouraged his supporters to come to D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, for wild protests. That was a significant day because it was when Vice President Mike Pence presided over a joint session of Congress and the Electoral College votes were to be counted confirming Joe Biden as the winner. After (and during) Trumps speech before a boisterous crowd, large segments of that group went to the U.S. Capitol and invaded. The result was a violent insurrection, leaving five dead and 140 law enforcement officers injured. Four officers later died by suicide. It was horrendous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts sadly doesnt acknowledge this unfortunate history and ongoing threat to American democracy or take any position on it, other than to state, contrary to the antifa takes, that a crowd of supporters of then-President Donald Trump gathered outside the Capitol and eventually invaded. This stands in sharp contrast with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson who, in her concurring opinion, opened by calling out and condemning what happened: On January 6, 2021, an angry mob stormed the United States Capitol seeking to prevent Congress from fulfilling its constitutional duty to certify the electoral votes in the 2020 Presidential election. The peaceful transfer of power is a fundamental democratic norm, and those who attempted to disrupt it in this way inflicted a deep wound on this Nation. But todays case is not about the immorality of those acts. Advertisement Roberts instead approached the question as an antiseptic one of statutory interpretation, involving a statute concerning the obstruction of an official proceeding. Theres no question that the rioters could be charged with certain crimes that are straightforward, like criminal trespass or destruction of government property. Those charges will still stand against many of the Jan. 6 rioters, but the obstruction charges mattered because they raised the potential for much more jail time. Related From Slate Sonia Sotomayor Is Trying to Warn Us About the Supreme Courts Dirtiest Open Secret Read More Follow me into the weeds for a moment. Heres the obstruction statute at issue: (c) Whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. Advertisement The question was whether Joseph Fischer, one of the Jan. 6 invaders, otherwise obstruct[ed] or imped[ed] an official proceeding. More precisely, how should the legal system read the word otherwise? Does it apply to any way in which a proceeding might be obstructed, or was it limited to doing so in ways like the ways done in (c)(1), which involves the interference or manipulation of evidence? The majorityincluding Jackson in her concurrenceread the statute in context to apply to doing something with evidence. Congress enacted the statute after the Enron accounting scandal, and the prime concern was about the evidence manipulation and tampering. The dissenters, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, read the statute more broadly to apply to all different ways one might obstruct or impede an official proceeding, including through criminal acts of trespass and violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrett is a committed textualist, and she makes a good case to read the statute broadly. But the chief justice and Jackson, a former federal public defender, had their own arguments for reading it more narrowly. As a matter of statutory interpretation, this was one of those cases that could have gone either way. My own view is that theres no reason Congress in writing the statute would have wanted to stop obstruction or impeding of official proceedings only through the use of evidence, not violence, and that the statute was fairly applied to people like Fischer, who knew what they were doing was wrong. So this is a political victory for the Trumpists, who can now claim judicial overreach as a number of Jan. 6 insurrectionists get part of their charges thrown out. Of course, no one is going to be getting into the weeds of statutory interpretation when they debate this in public. The point is that supporters of the rioters can say the Biden Department of Justice overreached in aggressively applying the statute. As I write this, the banner headline on the New York Times website says, Supreme Court Says Prosecutors in Jan. 6 Case Overstepped. That surely hands a victory to Trump and his supporters. Advertisement But Roberts did one thing that he did not have to do that surely would hurt Trump if he ever goes on trial for election interference. Trump too was charged with interfering with an official proceeding. He did not physically invade the Capitol or destroy property. He instead is alleged to have engaged in election subversion, including causing the submission of fake electors in an effort to swing the election that he lost from Biden to him. Could that conduct count as a violation of the statute? The majority opinion states that it is possible to violate (c)(2) by creating false evidencerather than altering incriminating evidence. Thats exactly what Trump is alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy to do. If Trump acted corruptly and if the fake slates of electors count as false evidence, well then he and others could be in a lot of criminal trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Roberts opinion was joined by other conservative justices, including Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas. Getting them on the record on this is no small thing. And surely the Barrett dissenters would agree too that the statute covers the creation of false evidence. Thats legally bad news for Donald Trump, should he ever go on trial. Tune in Monday to see if thats even possible. Trump has argued that the charges against him need to be dismissed because hes immune from prosecution. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its opinion, and Im not expecting good news. The former chief of the Uvalde school district police and a former officer have been indicted on charges of child endangerment for their roles in the bungled police response to the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School. A Uvalde County grand jury indicted then-Chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo and then-officer Adrian Gonzales on charges of abandoning/endangering a child, a state jail felony. They are the first criminal charges against law enforcement officers in connection with the May 24, 2022, incident, the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. Nineteen fourth-graders and two teachers were killed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Arredondo, as chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District's small police force, was the presumed incident commander. Gonzales was a member of the school police force. Arredondo turned himself in at the Uvalde County Jail on Thursday afternoon to be booked on 10 counts of child endangerment. He was later released on bond. Video still frames from the body camera of a law enforcement officer shows former Uvalde CISD Chief of Police Pete Arredondo, left, in the hallway of Robb Elementary School during the mass shooting event. City of Uvalde This photo provided by Uvalde County Sheriff's Office shows Pete Arredondo. Arredondo, the former police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, was arrested and briefly booked into ail before he was released Thursday, June 27, 2024, on 10 state jail felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child in the May 24, 2022, attack that killed 19 children and two teachers.(Uvalde County Sheriff's Office via AP) Associated Press Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, second from right, was chief of the Uvalde school police when a teenager used an assault rifle to massacre 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. CHRISTOPHER LEE/NYT People hold signs advocating for the firing of Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde ISD police chief, during a school board meeting on Monday, June 20, 2022. He was in charge at the scene on May 24 when a gunman killed 19 students and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School. Billy Calzada/San Antonio Express-News Uvalde Schools?Police Chief Pedro ?Pete? Arredondo comforts a woman during a vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 25, 2022. - The tight-knit Latino community of Uvalde was wracked with grief Wednesday after a teen in body armor marched into the school and killed 19 children and two teachers, in the latest spasm of deadly gun violence in the US. (Photo by allison dinner / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images) ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Images Pedro Pete Arredondo, the Uvalde school district police chief who led the law enforcement response to last months mass shooting that claimed 21 lives at Robb Elementary School, has resigned from council. Juan Figueroa, MBR / TNS Gonzales was charged in a separate indictment with 29 counts of child endangerment: one for each of the 19 children who died and one for each of 10 survivors who suffered physical or psychological injuries. He was expected to turn himself in on Friday. Efforts to reach Arredondo for comment were unsuccessful. Gonzales hung up in response to a reporter's call. Advertisement Article continues below this ad RELATED: Arredondo an exile in his hometown State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat whose district includes Uvalde, said Thursday that families of two of the victims told him they had met with Christina Mitchell, district attorney for Uvalde and Real counties, and that she briefed them on the indictments. Mitchell disclosed in January that she had convened a grand jury to weigh the evidence and consider possible criminal charges related to the shooting. On Tuesday, the 12 members of the grand jury toured the now-shuttered elementary school for about an hour. Gutierrez expressed outrage that only Arredondo and Gonzales were indicted. He noted that nearly 400 law enforcement officers from two dozen agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, responded to the shooting. Adrian Gonzales, Uvalde CISD police officer. Uvalde CISD "If they're going to indict those two officers, they need to indict the 13 DPS troopers in that hallway," Gutierrez said in an interview. "That's very disturbing to me." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mitchell said Thursday that she could not comment on the indictments beyond thanking the grand jury for its work. "They met for six months. They took a hard look at the case and were very deliberate and thoughtful in all their deliberations," she said. The law enforcement response to the shooting has been widely condemned as an abject failure. At least 380 officers from two dozen local, state and federal agencies went to the scene, but none forced their way into the classroom to confront the shooter until 77 minutes after he began his rampage. In January, the U.S. Justice Department released the results of an exhaustive investigation that found that leadership failures caused needless delays in neutralizing the gunman while children lay bleeding in their classroom. The inquiry was not a criminal investigation; it was a "critical incident review" to identify lessons to be learned. That investigation and others faulted Arredondo for deciding early on to treat the shooter as a barricaded subject rather than an active threat to children in the classroom. Under police doctrine, officers are supposed to act immediately to take down an active shooter, even at risk to their own lives. In contrast, with a barricaded subject, time is not of the essence, and police can weigh their options. Had law enforcement followed generally accepted practices in an active-shooter situation and gone right after the shooter to stop him, lives would have been saved, and people would have survived, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in releasing the Justice Department report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad RELATED: Uvalde City Council tries to move on from school massacre The shooter, an 18-year-old armed with a high-powered semiautomatic rifle, walked into the West Building at Robb Elementary at 11:33 a.m. on May 24, 2022. He went to classrooms 111 and 112, which were interconnected, and fired more than 100 rounds in the next 2 minutes, investigators later determined. Arredondo and Gonzales, among the first officers on the scene, entered the building moments later. Two other officers, both with the Uvalde Police Department, approached the classrooms, and when they were near the door, the shooter unleashed a barrage of rifle fire through the door and the wall. Shrapnel struck one of those officers in the head and the arm, the other in the ear. They retreated and began calling for reinforcements, bulletproof shields and other equipment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At 11:55 a.m., Arredondo announced that police would not try to enter the classrooms and instead would clear the rest of the building and try to negotiate with the shooter, according to the Justice Department report and other inquiries. Uvalde police officers wanted to storm the classroom as soon as they had bulletproof shields for protection, but Arredondo's announcement "overrode" that plan, according to an investigation conducted for the city of Uvalde. Because the school police force had jurisdiction over the incident and Arredondo was its chief, officers and supervisors from the many other agencies that responded to the shooting deferred to his decisions, according to the Justice Department report. A community member holds up a sign during a special city council meeting held at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday, June 21, 2022. The Uvalde city council unanimously voted to deny a leave of absence to Pete Arredondo, the newly sworn-in city council member and Uvalde school district police chief, who has been largely absent from the public eye since the May 24 Robb Elementary School shooting. Sam Owens/Staff photographer Gonzales is barely mentioned in official reports on the shooting. The inquiry done for the city said Gonzales had SWAT training and that two months before the massacre, he was the instructor at an active shooter training for Uvalde school police held at the Southwest Texas Junior College Law Enforcement Training Academy. Months after the massacre, the school district fired Arredondo and replaced the entire school police force. Ana Rodriguez, whose 10-year-old daughter, Maite, died in the shooting, said of the indictments: "Its a step forward but this is simply not enough. There were numerous officers with knowledge that it was an active shooter situation. Others need to also be held accountable for their inaction." Don McLaughlin Jr., Uvalde's mayor at the time of the shooting, pointed out that nearly 400 law enforcement officers from various agencies were on the scene that day. From the very start, President Joe Bidens debate performance was not good. He was stuttering, speaking quietly, meandering in his train of thought, and, supposedly, under the weather. Bidenworld had hoped the president would use the debate to resoundingly dispel lingering concerns voters have about his age, but the performance turned those concerns up to a crisis level instead. In fact, it was so not good that nearly every postgame panel on every major network blasted some version of the chryon: Democrats in crisis no longer believe Biden should be nominee. It was so not good that CNNs Van Jones was tearing up just talking about it. Bidens debate face-plant immediately cleaved the Democratic Party into two camps: unnamed Democrats who seem to suddenly believe that Biden will cost them the presidency and cannot continue in his campaign, and named Democrats who are either saying nothing or putting on a brave face trying to spin what happened on Thursday night as passable. (Said CNNs John King after the debates conclusion: Democrats are wondering should we go to the White House and ask the president to step aside? The other conversations are: Should prominent Democrats go public with that call because they feel that debate was so terrible?) Among that second camp of Democratsthe ones putting on a brave faceare Bidens surrogates, those who were tasked with the unenviable burden of trying to say something good about his performance and slow the fast-rising panic about the presidents chances in November. It was no easy work. No one had it tougher than California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has made himself Bidens most regular and willing spin doctor (and sometimes translator) in recent months. While unnamed Democrats were jumping ship (according to the many journalists getting frantic texts from them), Newsom spent the final minutes of the debate posting some half-hearted fact-checking on X: Advertisement TRUMP LIES: On overturning Roe v. Wade: This is something that everybody wanted. FACT CHECK: The overwhelming majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRUMP LIES: Trump said the southern border is the "most dangerous place in the world." FACT CHECK: It's not. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 And the most uniquely uninspired rendition: Advertisement TRUMP LIES: I have the biggest heart on this stage. FACT CHECK: He does not. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 Advertisement Then Newsom took his case to television. Even on MSNBC, the panel there asked Newsom for any positive takeaways whatsoever. Worry less and do more, Newsom said, trying to encourage Rachel Maddow, while, beneath him, the stations chyron told a much more dire story: Biden aide on debate: not an ideal start. Advertisement The sanguine Newsom kept at it: We need to buck up and focus on whats at stake. Everythings about tomorrow, he insisted. Advertisement But even Maddow wasnt entirely swayed. Theyre going to have to make up ground they didnt have to make because of that performance, she said, about the Biden campaign. To this, Newsom couldnt help but shrug. Weve all had those nights, was how he left it. Meanwhile, Bidens vice president, Kamala Harris, took on a slightly more challenging rebuttal on CNN, with an even less resounding case. Speaking with Anderson Cooper, she was pressed on Bidens performance and responded: People can debate on style points but ultimately this election has to be about substance. Advertisement (Substance was a theme that Biden proxies began to coalesce around a lot more as the night got later.) But it wasnt enough to entirely satisfy Cooper. Can you say that you are not concerned [about the president]? he pressed Harris. Advertisement Advertisement It was a slow start, she conceded. Im not going to debate that. That itself was a remarkable concession, and a sign of just how bleak things were. Evan Osnos, Bidens biographer and a New Yorker writer, was much more pointed on CNN. Biden was diminished from where he was four years ago, Osnos said bluntly. There has to be some very hard conversations. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkernot a first-team Biden proxyput out a statement praising the president. Tonight, voters were presented with a clear choicea president working hard every day to improve the lives of all Americans or a convicted felon, a selfish blowhard looking out only for himself. Critically, Pritzker was not on hand with the campaign in Georgia and did not make himself available to be pressed on the issue by the network teams. Advertisement So for at least another night, the younger, abler DemocratsHarris, Newsom, and Pritzker would be at the top of any list to succeed Bidenshowed no outward signs of wavering in their support of the presidents candidacy. Advertisement But that united front might only prove more painful for Democratic voters, donors, and volunteers, who are desperately concerned about what they saw. Among that group, now, are Democrats who were Biden diehards up until Thursday night. (Already at least one New York Times columnist has called publicly for Biden to drop out.) There is plenty of political talent in the Democratic Partythe proverbial bench is plenty deep. But if Democratic politicians remain unwilling to put their own names to their discontent, none of that will matter for 2024, or the convention, which is just weeks away. Need advice on living through a historic and nerve-racking presidential election? Slate wants to help. Submit your questions here. Its anonymous! No question is too dumbor too existential. In the wake of Fridays decision by the Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, commentators will have a field day picking apart the cases implications for separation of powers, the future of the regulatory state, and the upheaval of administrative law professors syllabi. Im left, however, with a different immediate thought: about the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and the French proverb that every revolution devours its own children. Scalia, more than anyone else, was the architect of the conservative counterrevolution that swept the federal bench during the Reagan era and reached its apotheosis in the 2022 Dobbs decision that overruled Roe v. Wade. For Scalia, a social conservative who railed against Roe every chance he got, a ruling like Dobbs was a consummation to be devoutly wished. But, strikingly, in many other areas of the law, the courts current right-wing supermajority has moved far beyond, and in some cases torn down, the judicial goalposts that Scalia erected. Todays conservative justices purport to celebrate the philosophies Scalia championedtextualism and originalismbut he might not even recognize them as they are now being practiced. Start with Loper Bright. On the surface, the case concerned an obscure federal regulation requiring commercial fishing operations to pay for observers to board their vessels and monitor their compliance with conservation goals. Not content to challenge that regulation, the fishermen plaintiffs in Loper Bright cast their nets wider, hoping to deep-six a foundational principle of administrative law known as the Chevron doctrine. Chevrondecided 40 years ago, and one of the most frequently cited Supreme Court decisions of all timedeclared that when an administrative agency exercises authority pursuant to an ambiguous federal law, the agency may interpret that law in any reasonable manner. The plaintiffs contended that Chevron violated the separation of powers by allowing agencies rather than the courts to say what the law is. Advertisement On Friday, the court agreed with the plaintiffs and overruled Chevron. It based its decision largely on a provision of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act that calls upon courts to decide all relevant questions of law and interpret statutory provisions when reviewing agencies handiwork. Yet that provision, like many in the vaguely worded APA, is question-begging: It doesnt preclude judges from deferring to reasonable interpretations offered by agencies. Scalia recognized all of this decades ago, deriding as a quite mistaken assumption the notion that courts must construe regulatory statutes from scratch. Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion never wrestles with that point, or with Scalias other oft-repeated defenses of Chevron, dismissing him as an early champion of that decision who later saw the light. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome in Loper Bright was unsurprisingconservative justices have been telegraphing their antipathy to Chevron for years, and the doctrine was already on its last legs. My own view is that the court was wrong to reject Chevron, because the specialists who staff agencies are better equipped than generalist judges to figure out how laws should apply in new and unforeseen circumstances. And if Congress thought the court had been mistaken for the past 40 years, it could always uproot Chevron by revising the APA. But, regardless of the merits of the case, Loper Bright signals how thoroughly the courts right wing has turned its back on Scalia, its erstwhile avatar. Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Opened the Door to New Second Amendment Chaos Read More Scalia wasnt on the court yet when Chevron was decided, but he soon became an unabashed superfan of the Chevron doctrine, defending it in public remarks as well as in majority and dissenting opinions. Depending on how cynical one wants to be, one can identify both principled and unprincipled justifications for Scalias Chevron fandom. The principled justification is that when Congress leaves a statutory silence, it would prefer to have that gap filled by agency decisionmakers who answer to a democratically accountable president, as Scalia insisted they must. Somewhat less principled was Scalias confession that Chevron rarely required him to accept results he personally abhorred. The son of a formalist literature professor, Scalia was what Harold Bloom might have called a strong reader (or misreader?) of statutory texts. That meant that he almost always found enough clarity in the underlying statute to happily ignore the agencys interpretation of it, even under Chevron. Advertisement Advertisement The most cynical explanation for Scalias cheerleading for Chevron is that, in the 1980s and early 1990s, judicial deference offered a convenient cover for Republican agency officials deregulatory interpretations of broadly written public interest statutesas happened in the Chevron case itself. The flipside of that explanation may also underlie the current majoritys hostility to Chevron: during the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, the doctrine of deference has made it harder for business-friendly judges to dismantle agency rules that protect workers, consumers, and the environment. Indeed, as the chief justices Loper Bright opinion notes, even Scalia himself appeared to sour on Chevron in the last year or so of his life. Abandoning deference, one might argue, proved a small price to pay for the deconstruction of the administrative state. Advertisement Advertisement But it isnt only Chevron that marks the divide between Scalia and his conservative acolytes. In 1990, Scalia wrote the seminal decision in Employment Division v. Smith, holding that the First Amendments free exercise clause doesnt give religious practitioners a license to ignore neutral, generally applicable laws. To be clear, Smith was unpopular from the start, including among liberals; lopsided majorities in both houses of Congress attempted to overturn it within a few years. But the decision drew especially harsh scorn from religious conservatives. Indeed, the story goes that the feisty Scalia used to ask prospective law clerks to identify their least favorite decision of his so that he could spar with thembut told them not to bother naming Smith because everyone hated it. For my money, Smith got it right: As Scalia wrote, a system in which the government has to justify applying general laws to everyone threatens to become a system in which each conscience is a law unto itself. But recent decisions make clear that the current conservative supermajority, in their zeal to undermine antidiscrimination law and the separation of church and state, will soon part ways with Scalia and overrule Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And consider Scalias most famous legacies: textualism and originalism. In the landmark Heller case from 2008, Scalia held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own firearms, unconnected to the amendments reference to militia service. Im not here to defend Heller; Scalia almost certainly got the text and history wrong and, more fundamentally, neglected the need for law to respond to changing realities. But at least the Heller court signaled its acceptance of longstanding regulations barring guns from being carried by dangerous people or in sensitive places. In its 2022 Bruen decision, however, the court blew past that reassurance and drove Second Amendment law to a precipice from which the jurisprudential foundations laid by Scalia were barely visible. According to Justice Clarence Thomas majority opinion, gun control measures are presumptively unconstitutional, and can be rescued only if the government can show a tradition of analogous restrictions from some unspecified era in the 18th or 19th century. This reasoning is reckless and unworkableand has virtually nothing to do with Scalias brand of textualism or originalism. Its no wonder that Scalia once remarked of Thomas style of judging, Im an originalist and a textualist, not a nut. In last weeks Rahimi case, the court retreated to some extent from the heights of Bruens absurdity, but the chief justices incoherent majority opinion, and the spate of dueling concurrences, showed that the court misses Scalias steadying hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To cite one more example, early in his career Scalia recognized that public employees can be required to help fund the unions that, in turn, have a legal duty to represent them. Yet in the 2018 Janus decision, Justice Samuel Alito unceremoniously discarded this insight in the course of holding that so-called fair share fees violate the First Amendment. (A disclosure: as Illinois solicitor general, I represented the losing side in the Janus litigation.) The point of all of this is emphatically not to retrospectively laud Scalia as a justice. His jurisprudence all too often relied on tendentious readings of history and rigid parsing of legal texts to prop up a stagnant and exclusionary constitutional order. The point, instead, is to show the extent to which Scalias conservative successors have broken free of the philosophical moorings established by his decisions. Advertisement Its not unusual for zealots to compete with one another to be plus catholique que le pape. But the current court, in seeking to serve the partisan interests of the Republican Party by any means possible, has taken the law to places even the archconservative Scalia was too intellectually honest to go. Scalia, at least some of the time, stopped short of acting on his ideological preferences thanks to an overriding commitment to judicial restraint; todays conservative justices rarely have such qualms. The doctrine of deference to administrative agencies is only the latest of Scalias edifices to topple. Perhaps the real lesson is that every revolution devours its own fathers. 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!) By a vote of 63, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that if the Securities and Exchange Commission wishes to seek civil penalties for violations of the anti-fraud laws that it enforces, it must go to federal court to do so, and cannot obtain that remedy in proceedings before the agency. In doing so, the court opened the door for defendants in cases before at least the two dozen agencies that work under similar statutes to raise the same challenge, threatening an untold number of agency enforcements on topics ranging from labor violations to federal trade issues. First, its worth focusing on what was directly at stake in SEC v. Jarkesy itself. The SEC enforces the laws designed to assure fair dealing in the buying and selling of securities under several statutes that go far beyond common-law fraud. Among those laws are the Investment Company Act, which regulates the work of investment advisers, such as George Jarkesy. The SEC believed that he was violating various laws and commenced an administrative proceeding against him and his company. The agency eventually obtained a decision ordering the defendants not to violate certain specific laws, barring Jarkesy from engaging in certain parts of the securities business, and requiring him to disgorge $685,000 in ill-gotten gains to his clients and to pay civil penalties of $300,000. He appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which overturned the SEC decision on three separate constitutional grounds. On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed with one: Congress could not constitutionally permit the SEC to impose civil penalties for what the court saw as basically claims for common-law fraud. It did not discuss the other grounds. There was no dispute that, if the SEC went to court, Jarkesy would have been entitled to a jury under the Seventh Amendment and a judge appointed for life, as well as many other procedural rules available there, but not as part of an SEC enforcement action before an administrative law judge. The government and the dissenters argued that the public rights doctrine, which permits Congress to assign some claims that might be brought in court to a federal agency for their determination at that agency, permitted the SEC to seek penalties without going to court. In particular, they pointed to a unanimous 1977 Supreme Court decision in Atlas Roofing Co. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission that rejected a similar objection to the imposition of civil penalties there. The majority did not overrule Atlas Roofing, but distinguished it on the grounds that the law enforced there was not the equivalent of a common-law claim, like fraud is here, and so the public rights doctrine was available there, but not to the SEC. The chief justice also defended the continued viability of the public rights doctrine in a number of other situations that he concluded differed from this one. The concurring opinion of Justice Neil Gorsuch, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, expressed broader doubts about the future of public rights as a way to move cases out of the federal courts into the agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate It Sure Looks Like KBJ Is Throwing Yacht Shade at Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas Read More In one sense, the SEC has a clear choice: If it wants to seek penalties, it has to go to court, where it can also obtain preliminary injunctive relief not available in agency proceedings. But there is at least some question as to whether the courts have been empowered to provide all the remedies available under all of its statutes, in particular under the Investment Company Act at issue in this case. If not, can the agency seek some relief administratively, while also going to court for penalties, or would that violate the principle forbidding a party from splitting its claim? The SEC did not have the power to seek penalties in court until 2010, and not all agencies have that power now. Going forward, every defendant facing an administrative agency complaint seeking penalties will trot out Jarkesy, and will claim that the agency is constitutionally barred from even commencing the case and the court should step in immediately. To add complexity, each agency has a different set of governing statutes, and in many of the estimated 200 laws allowing agencies to order civil penalties, the relation between them and the allegedly analogous common-law actions will be different from that at issue in Jarkesy. In short, the court appears to have given birth to a whole new body of federal court litigation, with the high court as the only entity that can decide on which side of the Atlas Roofing line a particular statute falls. Advertisement What happens next? The Jarkesy majority did not deny the SEC the right to hold an administrative hearing in this case, except to seek civil penalties. The SEC will probably argue that the rest of the case is untainted, which would leave in place the injunctions against the defendants and the disgorgement order of $685,000. Jarkesy will surely disagree. Moreover, the 5th Circuit also ruled that Congress may not constitutionally provide for-cause protection against removal for administrative law judges at the SEC, and Jarkesy will argue that the rest of the order against him must be set aside for that reason. (The Supreme Court did not rule on this question.) The 5th Circuit equivocated on whether that ruling could be the basis to overturn the entire decision, so that at least that remedial aspect will be back in that court. More significantly, that precedent will be cited by all defendants whose trials are being held by administrative law judges at the SEC. And on top of that, similar administrative law judge challenges are certain to arise at other agencies, probably sooner rather than later. Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the specifics of this case, the decision is another in a line in which the court has, in effect, overruled Congress determination as to how agencies should be structured and what they can and cannot do. The net result is to make it harder for agencies to accomplish what Congress has given them the power to do, with little hope that Congress will step in and fill the voids left by the court. This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Alongside Amicus, we kicked things off this year by explaining How Originalism Ate the Law. The best way to support our work is by joining Slate Plus. (If you are already a member, consider a donation or merch!) The travelling Ukrainian exhibition 'In the Eye of the Storm' makes a stop in Bratislava. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Only after a close look on a dark painting viewers recognise a crocodile, bent, with glowing eyes, teeth and quirks on its skin, laying on a bay, leaving a feeling of a mystery in them. The painting is one of three painting by Mykhailo Sapozhnykov exhibited in the Slovak National Gallery and one of highlights of In the Eye of the Storm exhibition subtitled Secession in Ukraine. In the Bay by Mykhailo Sapozhnykov (Source: Jana Liptakova ) Its like Magritte before Magritte, Konstantin Akinsha, curator of the exhibition, referring the to the Belgian surrealist artist Rene Magritte, told The Slovak Spectator. He is an absolutely interesting artist who is not known even in Ukraine. Sapozhnykov, a Ukrainian explorer of the unknown and the mysterious, is one of exhibited artists, who are not well known in the world. Another such artist is Vsevolod Maksymovych, who despite committing suicide just in his 20th year of life, has left behind a sound artistic oeuvre. Works by Sapozhnykov, Maksymovych and other Ukrainian secession artists have stopped in Bratislava during their tour around Europe. The hospital in Nove Zamky, where the accident happened, has closed. A bus and and train collided in Nove Zamky, southern Slovakia, on June 27, 2024. (Source: Facebook/Operational Centre of the Emergency Medical Service of the Slovak Republic) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share A fatal traffic accident occurred at a railway crossing on Dvorska Street (II/1503) in Nove Zamky, southern Slovakia, shortly after five o'clock on June 27. At least seven people died and another five were injured in a collision between the EuroCity 279 train and an Arriva bus. Five victims burned to death inside the bus, reports the news website tvnoviny.sk. None of the passengers on the international train were injured. Five ambulances, three helicopters, and several fire crews were called to the scene, reports the My Nove Zamky website. The Red Cross set up a tent on site. According to My Nove Zamky, two trains passed through the crossing in quick succession. The bus initially stopped at the crossing. When the barriers opened after the first train passed, the bus entered the crossing and was subsequently struck by another train. On Friday, June 28, Transport Minister Jozef Raz Jr. (Smer nom.) said that the weather, among other things, was to blame for the crash. "The day before [Wednesday, ed.], it caused flooding and the closure of one track on this route. A train appeared on the track that was closed and should not have been in operation," said the minister. It is not clear why the train was using the closed track on Thursday afternoon. The investigation is underway. The police in Nove Zamky have initiated criminal proceedings in this case for the crime of public endangerment in conjunction with the offences of manslaughter and causing bodily harm. https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1-EhPxwvx6Qk_XVWzw8n0H0p-pRy92yc&ehbc=2E312F&noprof=1 The accident took place on the main international route used by trains travelling between Budapest-Bratislava-Prague. The EC train involved was headed towards Budapest. The locomotive and train driver belonged to the Ceske Drahy company (Czech Railways), while the train set and personnel belonged to Zeleznicna spolocnost Slovensko (Slovak Railways/ZSSK). "More than 100 passengers were on the train, for whom we have arranged alternative transportation to Sturovo station," ZSSK spokesperson Dominik Drevicky said. According to My Nove Zamky, around 200 people were on the train. Nine people, including the bus driver, were on the bus. The bus was torn into two parts after the collision. The 53-year-old bus driver, who has worked for Arriva since 1988, is in serious condition after the collision. Six of seven victims are said to come from Semerovo, a town of 1,300 people. One from the town of Cechy. Due to the accident, at least three international express trains were halted. EC 131 Bathory and EC 173 Hungaria were stationed at Nove Zamky station, both heading towards Budapest. Heading in the opposite direction, EC 270 Metropolitan was also halted on Thursday. Road 511 was impassable. A detour route led from Nitrianska Street in Nove Zamky via Povazska Street towards Dvory nad Zitavou on road I/75. On Thursday, the hospital in Nove Zamky was non-functional following Wednesday's storm. Patients from the scene were transported to hospitals in Komarno, Levice, Galanta, and Bratislava. The hospital partially reopened on Friday. However, lifts are out of order. Initiated by four opposition MPs, parliament failed to adopt the document. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Slovak lawmakers did not adopt a resolution on the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and the call for their immediate return to Ukraine. The resolution was put forward by four MPs of the liberal opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS). By adopting the resolution, Slovakia would have joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which consists of 33 countries striving to return Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia to their biological families. Vote on the resolution (June 28, 2024) 131 of 133 MPs present in the chamber voted 58 MPs supported the resolution and 65 MPs abstained from the vote 8 MPs voted against the resolution, namely: Lubos Blaha (Smer) Peter Suca (Smer) Peter Sokol (Smer) Stanislav Kubanek (Smer) Ivan Hazucha (Smer) Jan Mazgut (Smer) Pavel Luptak (SNS) Ivan Sevcik (SNS) Source: Slovak parliament Sas MP Vladimira Marcinkova said that she feels ashamed to be part of a parliament where MPs are incapable of setting aside "political jerseys" on such a sensitive issue as the abduction of children. She added that she is also horrified that eight lawmakers decided to vote against the effort to locate deported children. "The government refuses to join in and help," she summed up. The proponents of the resolution emphasised that the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia are against international law and constitute a serious violation of children's rights. Since the beginning of the Russian military offensive in February 2022, 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to Russia, but Ukrainian data suggest that the number of these children is several times higher, reaching into the hundreds of thousands, according to the resolution. "The children are being Russified, forcibly adopted into Russian families, and their parents have no information about them," Marcinkova said, adding that these children become victims of various forms of violence, including sexual abuse. In the resolution, four SaS MPs also slammed the ruling coalition for deciding not to condemn the use of North Korean missiles by Russia against Ukraine in January 2024. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/a-debate-between-two-senior-citizens-biden--trump-to-debate-for-the-white-house-1119157198.html A Debate Between 'Two Senior Citizens': Biden & Trump to Debate for the White House A Debate Between 'Two Senior Citizens': Biden & Trump to Debate for the White House Sputnik International Most surveys show the candidates as polling just one point of each other, yet Forbes reported that a recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Trump about six points ahead of his Democratic competitor. 2024-06-27T23:30+0000 2024-06-27T23:30+0000 2024-06-27T23:30+0000 analysis donald trump joe biden gerald horne sputnik white house us cnn debate presidential debate https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1b/1119158075_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ae4228f46709ed69c75d615a0a9465d3.jpg US President Joe Biden and his predecessor, former President Donald Trump are scheduled to take part in their first televised debate on Thursday night. Most surveys show the candidates as polling just one point of each other, yet Forbes reported that a recent New York Times/Siena poll showed Trump about six points ahead of his Democratic competitor.The poll also found that 60% of respondents believe Trump will perform very or somewhat well compared to 46% who said the same about Biden. And a separate poll released by Quinnipiac University found that 16% of voters are open to changing who they will vote for in November based on how candidates perform in the debate.On Thursday, the writer and scholar Gerald Horne sat down with Sputniks The Critical Hour to discuss the upcoming debate. Sputniks Wilmer Leon prefaced the interview by suggesting that it will be difficult for Biden to land any criticisms about Trump in the debate, as the controversial figure has seamlessly skirted accountability for both his offensive rhetoric and accused legal actions - apart from recently in New York, where he became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes.To that end, and with regard to gaffes, I do feel that in the last debate between these two senior citizens that Mr. Trump might have put his foot in his mouth when he suggested that the Proud Boys and white supremacist standby. He has yet to explain what he meant by that, although I think we've received a glimmer of his meaning on January 6th, 2021, when certainly they did not standby, the shows guest said.In September of 2020, then-President Donald Trump was asked during a presidential debate if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that were actively present during Black Lives Matter protests.Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, Trump said at the time, before later claiming that he did not know who the Proud Boys were. But Ill tell you what, Ill tell you what, somebodys got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem.They were part of the vanguard with regard to the interruption of the peaceful transfer of power. With regard to Mr. Biden, it seems to me every time he mentions the word Ukraine, every time he mentions the name Zelensky, and perhaps even every time he mentions Israel and Netanyahu, he will be putting his foot in his mouth because these foreign conflicts that give fare to ignite World War III are quite dangerous and quite ominous, the show's guest said.Sputniks Garland Nixon then suggested that the US economy plays a major role in who is elected to the White House. He pointed to the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, who received an 89% approval rating in 1991 following the end of the Cold War and US victory in the first Gulf War, but lost his seat in 1992 due to a poor economy and rising unemployment rates.For all of the talk that they do tonight and all these things that we may pontificate about, if the economy's good, which it ain't, Biden wins. If it's bad, he's done, said Nixon.It's unclear whether [Kennedy] take votes from Mr. Biden or more votes from Mr. Trump, but that is an X factor that we'll have to consider, as well as another X factor, if I may, being whether or not presidential candidate Cornel West will take votes away, as the mainstream press would put it, from Joseph R. Biden. These are all X factors going into tonight's debate.Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was bumped from the upcoming presidential debate between Biden and Trump. CNN requires their debate participants to qualify on enough state ballots to win the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidential election - Kennedy could only win about 100, as of the day of the debate.Kennedys campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, accusing CNN of setting requirements that would intentionally exclude him from the debate, NewsNation reported. Instead, the former presidents nephew and member of the Kennedy family will participate in the debate by responding to questions online, followed by an interview with NewsNation.Over 70% of Americans want a different choice than Presidents Biden or Trump, Kennedy said in a video he posted on X. Theyre tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/how-are-trump-and-biden-preparing-for-the-first-debate--1119154842.html ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg donald trump, joe biden, putin for trump, putin for biden, russia elected trump, russia elected clinton, us elections, 2024 us presidential elections, 2024 presidential elections, trump loves putin, putin loves trump, putin-trump ties, putin-trump relations, russiagate, russian interference, russia interfered in elections, russia stole elections, trump-russia collusion, trump-russia hoax https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/debate-preview-arrogant-democrats-tasked-with-selling-biden-to-wary-public-1119158471.html Debate Preview: Arrogant Democrats Tasked With Selling Biden to Wary Public Debate Preview: Arrogant Democrats Tasked With Selling Biden to Wary Public Sputnik International The President must counter former President Donald Trumps anti-establishment pitch, his strategists insist. 2024-06-27T23:55+0000 2024-06-27T23:55+0000 2024-06-27T23:55+0000 analysis joe biden donald trump delaware ukraine israel democratic party congress banking banking sector https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/09/1095380766_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9505c36b09db0a223ac76ad55ec6c119.jpg US President Joe Biden is a remarkable leader animated by a populist zeal to improve the lives of average Americans, or so his advisors would have us believe. The problem is that voters are simply unaware of his extraordinary accomplishments.Such is the view of people like Faiz Shakir, a Democratic Party operative and former Bernie Sanders campaign manager tasked with advising Biden in the runup to tonights debate with former President Donald Trump. Dissatisfaction reigns over the octogenarian leaders handling of issues such as Israel, Ukraine, and the economy. But liberal thought leaders insist the president only needs to do a better job of framing his revolutionary ethos and triumphs.Commentator and podcast host Misty Winston joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program Thursday to appraise such views as Trump and Biden gear up for tonights anticipated and highly stage-managed faceoff.Host Wilmer Leon began by sounding a note of skepticism towards the presidents reported strategy, asking, How is Joe Biden from Delaware Mr. Genocide, corporate Joe how is he going to do this? Biden has historically been recognized for his affinity with large financial institutions, many of which are headquartered in Delaware to take advantage of the states low taxes and lax regulation.Biden has been criticized for promoting a bankruptcy bill during his time in Congress that made it more difficult for borrowers to discharge student debt; the lawmaker was often known as "the senator from MBNA for his close relationship with the former banking conglomerate.I'm also very curious about this 'compelling anti-monopoly record, Winston said, referring to reports of his advisors attempts to portray him in a populist light. I would like to see that. I don't know anything about that. So, maybe it's been kept a secret from all of us.That's the arrogance, said host Garland Nixon, responding to Democratic Party operatives insistence that too few Americans know about Bidens economic populist record. The economy is good, you people are just too stupid to know it! Joe Biden is a populist! All their argument is always, we've got to get the message to these poor idiots and saps that just don't know We're fools, that's the problem.Yeah, it's always the voters fault, said Winston mockingly. WikiLeaks exposed, I think it was in the [Democratic National Committee] leak, that the DNC was like, listen, we like ignorant voters. We want them as ignorant as possible. We don't want them to know anything about anything. We know that. George Carlin was telling us that decades ago. They want you just smart enough to run the machines, and that's the dumbing down of America. We've all seen it take place.The famed comedian and social critic was well known for his biting commentary on US politics and society. You dont need a formal conspiracy when interests converge, Carlin once observed, encapsulating the exercise of elite power in Western countries. These people went to the same universities and fraternities, they're on the same boards of directors, they're in the same country clubs. They have like interests, they dont need to call a meeting.Recent polling suggests growing numbers of Americans share the satirists cynicism, with a record number of voters rejecting both major-party candidates in the 2024 election. A significant majority now believe the United States needs a third major party, but one has so far been prevented from gaining significant support.The bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, which previously set a high bar for the participation of third-party candidates in the televised events, was scrapped entirely this year as independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatens to garner a significant portion of the vote.So I think that that's really what they're contending with right now, she concluded. To me that's a really important and significant shift, seeing people come to that realization. And I think that we're on the cusp of a really dramatic mindset shift in this country amongst the voting population for sure. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/a-debate-between-two-senior-citizens-biden--trump-to-debate-for-the-white-house-1119157198.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/how-are-trump-and-biden-preparing-for-the-first-debate--1119154842.html delaware ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 John Miles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/19/1116388787_0:0:1316:1316_100x100_80_0_0_77e70d36afd983012b1c5d38ddb84156.jpg trump biden debate preview, trump biden double haters, united states third party, biden pro-corporate, biden populist, biden corporate friendly, biden bankruptcy bill, trump-biden debates, us elections, 2024 us presidential elections, 2024 presidential elections, trump loves putin, putin loves trump https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/outside-forces-may-provoke-coup-attempt-in-bolivia---bolivian-defense-minister-1119158713.html Outside Forces May Provoke Coup Attempt in Bolivia - Bolivian Defense Minister Outside Forces May Provoke Coup Attempt in Bolivia - Bolivian Defense Minister Sputnik International The coup attempt in Bolivia could have been provoked from the outside and caused by a desire to plunder the country's natural resources, Bolivian Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo told Sputnik. 2024-06-27T23:45+0000 2024-06-27T23:45+0000 2024-06-27T23:45+0000 americas bolivia coup military coup coup d'etat attempted coup failed coup botched coup https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1b/1119156961_0:151:3072:1879_1920x0_80_0_0_a4bb7f55c13817d44f80e6f22cf71848.jpg On Wednesday, local media reported the presence of the military at Murillo Square, the central square of Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz, where government buildings are located. The military, led by former Commander-in-Chief Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, then tried to break into the presidential palace. Bolivian President Luis Arce, who was in the palace at the time, made an address to the nation, describing the events as a coup attempt, and created a new army command, which called on the military to leave the square. The soldiers complied with the order. Zuniga was arrested later in the day. The authorities are analyzing all the statements and previous actions of General Zuniga and do not rule out that these actions were encouraged from the outside, Novillo added.General Zuniga wanted to become the illegitimate president of the country, Novillo highlighted. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/ex-cia-officer-explains-possible-motives-of-failed-bolivian-coup-attempt-1119155883.html americas bolivia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International bolivia coup attempt, general zuniga, us bolivia coup, military coup, cia invlvement https://sputnikglobe.com/20240627/us-moving-forces-closer-to-israel-lebanon-to-be-ready-to-evacuate-americans---reports-1119158338.html US Moving Forces Closer to Israel, Lebanon to Be Ready to Evacuate Americans - Reports US Moving Forces Closer to Israel, Lebanon to Be Ready to Evacuate Americans - Reports Sputnik International The US Defense Department is moving military assets of the United States closer to Israel and Lebanon to be ready to evacuate US nationals in the event of an escalation between the Jewish state and Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, NBC News has reported, citing three US defense officials and a former US official familiar with the plans. 2024-06-27T21:39+0000 2024-06-27T21:39+0000 2024-06-27T23:40+0000 military us us hegemony americans lebanon israel hezbollah us army palestine-israel conflict genocide https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/02/1098050428_0:182:2485:1580_1920x0_80_0_0_e9b8d638605220f6c0ac8f26d70eeb7d.jpg The report cited officials as saying that the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit moved into the Mediterranean on Wednesday to join the USS Oak Hill dock landing ship and another ship to be ready for a military-assisted departure and other missions. The report cited another official as saying on Thursday that the ship and the marine unit are also planned to project military power and be a deterrent to an escalation in the region. US officials are concerned that Israel would carry out airstrikes and possibly launch a ground offensive in Lebanon in the coming weeks, the report cited officials as saying. NBC News also cited Israeli and US officials as saying that the Jewish state hopes to create a 10-mile buffer zone above the Lebanese border, and the Israeli government has remained committed to going after Hezbollah in Lebanon despite pressure from the Biden administration. Israel wants to move the Lebanese movement farther away from the border and is pushing for a diplomatic solution, but the Israel Defense Forces is ready to engage if diplomacy fails, the report cited an Israeli official as saying. Washington is also in talks with allies to coordinate evacuations and any coalition military operations, NBC News cited US defense officials as saying. Politico reported earlier on Thursday that a confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah is likely to break out in the next several weeks if Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas fail to reach a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. lebanon israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us forces, us navy, lebanon, israel-hesbollah war, israel-lebanon war, hezbollah Adrian Gonzales, foreground right, helps other law enforcement officials evacuate students and staff from Robb Elementary School after a gunman entered a classroom and began shooting on May 24, 2022. Gonzales was a Uvalde school district police officer at the time. Pete Luna/Uvalde Leader-News Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, far left, was chief of the Uvalde school district police during the Robb Elementary School mass shooting on May 24, 2022. City of Uvalde Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, 52, shown in a booking photo, has been indicted on charges of child endangerment for his role in the failed police response to the mass shooting at a Uvalde elementary school on May 24, 2022. At the time, Arredondo was chief of the school district police. Associated Press Adrian Gonzales, 51, shown in a booking photo, was indicted on charges of child endangerment in the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. At the time, he was a member of the school district police force and was one of the first law enforcement officers on the scene. Uvalde County Sheriff's Department Adrian Gonzales, then a police officer for the Uvalde school district, at the scene of the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Courtesy of the State of Texas A memorial honors the 21 victims 19 fourth-graders and two teachers of the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A memorial honors the 21 victims 19 fourth-graders and two teachers of the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A KSAT-TV news crew sets up for a live shot outside the Uvalde County Jail on Friday afternoon. Adrian Gonzales, one of two former school district police officers indicted in connection with the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, was being booked at the jail on charges of child endangerment. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Bodycam video shows Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, then chief of the Uvalde school district police, at Robb Elementary School during the May 24, 2022, mass shooting. Courtesy City of Uvalde UVALDE In bungling the police response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, then chief of the Uvalde school district police, committed crimes by intentionally endangering the lives of children, according to an indictment. The indictment, voted by a Uvalde County grand jury and made public Friday, accuses Arredondo, 52, of acting "knowingly, recklessly and with criminal negligence" when he decided to try to negotiate with the shooter rather than send officers into the classroom immediately to confront and kill the 18-year-old attacker, who was armed with an assault rifle. The charges are the first to be brought against law enforcement officers in connection with the May 24, 2022, massacre. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MEMORIAL: Remembering the Robb Elementary victims Arredondo "failed to identify the incident as an active shooter incident, failed to respond as trained ... and instead called for SWAT, thereby delaying the response by law enforcement officers to an active shooter who was hunting and shooting a child or children in Room 112 at Robb Elementary School," the indictment states. The shooter killed 19 fourth graders and two teachers. Arredondo is charged with child abandonment or endangerment, a state jail felony. The indictment lists 10 counts against him, one for each of 10 children who survived the massacre but suffered physical or psychological harm. He is not charged with responsibility for any of the deaths. The indictment accuses Arredondo of directing officers to evacuate other classrooms in the fourth grade building at Robb before confronting the gunman, who was holed up in two interconnected classrooms, 111 and 112. The indictment says Arredondo told other officers to hold off on breaching those rooms. It also alleges that Arredondo neglected to find out whether the door to one of the two classrooms was locked and that he failed to provide keys and breaching tools to officers in a timely manner so they could bring the siege to an end. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The indictment goes on to say that Arredondo violated policy by failing to establish a command center, which left police officers, Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement personnel who responded to the shooting "without clear information or direction." RELATED: Arredondo an exile in his hometown Also charged by the grand jury was Adrian Gonzales, a school police officer at the time of the shooting. Gonzales, 51, of Kyle, is charged with 29 counts of child endangerment one count for each of the 19 children killed and one for each of the 10 injured survivors. Gonzalez like Arredondo was among the first officers on the scene, arriving minutes after the shooter and entering the fourth grade building through the south entrance. By then, the attacker was inside rooms 111 and 112 and had fired more than 200 rounds from his AR-15-style rifle. "After hearing gunshots and after being advised of the general location of the shooter and having time to respond to the shooter, Gonzales failed to engage, distract or delay the shooter or even try to do so, the indictment states. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It also says Gonzales did not follow his active shooter training and did not voluntarily deliver any of the victims to a place where they could receive emergency medical care. 'Unprecedented' Gonzales will fight the charges, said his lawyer, former Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood. "Mr. Gonzales' position is he did not violate school district policy or state law," LaHood said. "The application of this statute, to law enforcement, under these circumstances is unprecedented in the state of Texas," LaHood said. "It is very early on in our representation, so we will be working to acquire the evidence the government is relying on in this accusation ... It will take time to evaluate these allegations and the underlying facts." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Arredondo turned himself in Thursday and was booked into the Uvalde County Jail. He was released on bond a short time later. He was required to post a $10,000 bond on one of the counts of child endangerment. He was released on his own recognizance on the others. Gonzales surrendered to authorities Friday afternoon and was freed on terms identical to those for Arredondo. The Texas Penal Code defines child abandonment/endangerment as "intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence" engaging in conduct that places a child younger than 15 in imminent danger of death, injury, or physical or mental impairment. A child can be endangered through "acts or omissions," meaning that a failure to act can be deemed criminal under certain circumstances. It was unclear whether other police officers would be charged. Nearly 400 law enforcement personnel from two dozen local, state and federal agencies responded to the shooting. It was also unclear why Arredondo was charged with regard only to 10 injured children, while Gonzales was also charged in relation to the 19 who were killed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The indictment suggests Gonzales squandered an opportunity to prevent the shooter from getting inside the classrooms in the first place. Without elaborating, it says he "failed to act in a way to impede the shooter until after the shooter entered rooms 111 and 112 ... and shot at a child or children." A private investigator who examined the shooting for the city of Uvalde said in his report that Gonzales was "the first officer on campus," arriving before the attacker had entered the school, and that Gonzales "passed the shooter while he drove up." A similar reference appears in a Justice Department review of the incident. The DoJ report does not name Gonzales, but says the officer drove into the school parking lot after hearing radio traffic about a shooter at Robb Elementary. "The officer does not appear to see the subject, who is nearby in-between vehicles in the parking lot," the report states. The police response to the shooting, the deadliest school shooting in Texas history and the second-deadliest ever in the U.S., has been widely condemned as an abject failure. Despite the massive law enforcement presence, officers did not confront and kill the shooter until 77 minutes after he began his rampage. During that time, terrified children called 911 from inside the classrooms, pleading to be rescued. 'Lives would have been saved' In January, the Justice Department released the results of its investigation, which documented a cascade of leadership failures. That investigation and other inquiries faulted Arredondo for deciding early on to treat the shooter as a barricaded subject rather than an active threat. Under police doctrine, officers are supposed to act immediately to take down an active shooter, even at risk to their own lives. In contrast, with a barricaded subject, time is not of the essence, and police can weigh their options. Had law enforcement followed generally accepted practices in an active-shooter situation and gone right after the shooter to stop him, lives would have been saved, and people would have survived, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in releasing the Justice Department report, which was a "critical incident review," not a criminal indictment. The report described Arredondo as "the de facto on-scene incident commander" and said he "directed officers at several points to delay making entry into classrooms 111/112 in favor of searching for keys and clearing other classrooms. "This was a major contributing factor in the delay to making entry into rooms 111/112," the report added. "The time it took to evacuate the entire building was 43 minutes. "Chief Arredondo had the necessary authority, training, and tools," the Justice Department review said. "He did not provide appropriate leadership, command and control." Arredondo has said he held off on sending officers into rooms 111-112 until the building had been evacuated because he wanted to avoid further loss of life from an exchange of gunfire with the attacker. As the incident was unfolding, an officer's bodycam picked up Arredondo explaining that he was "trying to preserve the rest of the lives first." Months after the massacre, the school district fired Arredondo and replaced the entire school police force. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/belarus-border-committee-says-stopped-ukraines-quadcopter-from-entering-airspace-using-arms-1119164171.html Belarus Border Committee Says Stopped Ukraine's Quadcopter From Entering Airspace Using Arms Belarus Border Committee Says Stopped Ukraine's Quadcopter From Entering Airspace Using Arms Sputnik International Belarusian border guards have stopped with the use of military weapons the violation of airspace by a quadcopter from Ukraine, which was conducting reconnaissance of Belarusian industrial facilities and border infrastructure, the State Border Committee of Belarus said on Friday. 2024-06-28T09:29+0000 2024-06-28T09:29+0000 2024-06-28T09:29+0000 world belarus ukraine ukraine crisis drone strike drone warfare drone attack military drones uav https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/1d/1117635005_0:111:3030:1815_1920x0_80_0_0_68ae183b6c2cc71641e4b4b945a920b3.jpg "Reconnaissance flights of Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles [UAV] are regularly observed along the border ... Thus, on June 26, in the Yelsk district of the Gomel region, a border patrol ... stopped the violation of airspace by a quadcopter moving from Ukrainian territory deep into Belarus as a result of the use of military weapons and means of suppression. The unmanned aerial vehicle was forced to land 150 meters [492 feet] from the state border," the committee wrote on Telegram. Video files were found on the UAV's flash card, the authority said, adding that their analysis indicates that "the aircraft was conducting reconnaissance of industrial facilities located in the border area, as well as border infrastructure." The authority also said that it is taking additional measures to cover the border with Ukraine against the backdrop of reports about the presence of Ukraine's right-wing Russian Volunteer Corps* nearby. *banned as a terrorist organization in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240624/us-escalated-ukraine-conflict-on-new-level-by-facilitating-terror-strike-on-sevastopol-1119106898.html belarus ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian drone attacks on russia, ukrainian drone attacks on belarus, ukrainian drone attacks on crimea, ukrainian drone attacks on sevastopol, ukrainian drone attacks on belgorod, ukrainian drone attacks on donetsk, ukrainian drone attacks on russian regions, ukraine's quadcopter in russia, ukraine's quadcopter in belarus https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/biden-still-plans-to-participate-in-second-presidential-debate---reports-1119168373.html Biden Still Plans to Participate in Second Presidential Debate - Reports Biden Still Plans to Participate in Second Presidential Debate - Reports Sputnik International US President Joe Biden still plans to participate in a second presidential debate in September despite his "lackluster" performance in the first face-off with former President Donald Trump as part of the 2024 election cycle, CNN reported on Friday, citing a Biden adviser. 2024-06-28T15:20+0000 2024-06-28T15:20+0000 2024-06-28T15:20+0000 americas https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1c/1119168216_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7142447d5cc4f43d676c1f33abec4d52.jpg The adviser acknowledged that Biden's performance in Atlanta was "lackluster" but said the campaign is committed to highlighting the moments it believes worked for their candidate and then moving on, the report said. The adviser recalled that former President Barack Obama was also dissatisfied with his own performance during the first debate, but he still won reelection. Following Thursday's debate, 67% of registered voters who watched it said that Trump performed better, while only 33% of those polled said Biden won the debate, according to a CNN poll. Prior to the debate, 55% of voters favored Trump, and 45% expected Biden to put up a better performance, the broadcaster reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/debate-debacle-democrats-need-to-find-new-candidate-asap--wall-street-analyst-1119163291.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trump-2024, is trump running for president, why is trump banned from election, who's banning trump from election, why is trump banned from election, who's against trump in presidential election, was trump behind january 6, who organized january 6, why is trump banned from election, trumps court case, why is trump investigated, republicans vs democrats at the elections, who will win in 2024 elections, trump vs biden, trump biden debate, presidential debate https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/chinese-ambassador-to-canada-bilateral-relations-at-critical-junction-1119171326.html Chinese Ambassador to Canada: Bilateral Relations at Critical Junction Chinese Ambassador to Canada: Bilateral Relations at Critical Junction Sputnik International Chinas newly appointed Ambassador to Canada Wang Di said bilateral relations are at a "critical junction" and the mission ahead will be both glorious and daunting, a Sputnik correspondent reported. 2024-06-28T20:37+0000 2024-06-28T20:37+0000 2024-06-28T20:36+0000 world canada china chinese embassy ottawa foreign policy https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116156804_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_50351770e428455d5e2e63ed32dfb5c3.jpg The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa hosted on Thursday evening a welcoming reception in honor of Wang, who presented his letter of credence to Canadian Governor General of Mary Simon the previous day. "I will perform duties with wholehearted dedication and will make every efforts to deepen the traditional friendship between our two peoples."Wang pledged to promote a stable development of Sino-Canadian relations while following the principles of mutual respect and benefit, as well as seeking common ground and putting aside differences. "Im deeply convinced that healthy and stable China-Canada relations not only serve our respective development but will also inject more certainty to todays world which has brought turbulence and uncertainties," Wang said. China and Canada must draw strength and wisdom from the successful experience of bilateral ties, Wang said. Both countries must step up to their historical responsibilities to live up to the expectations that their peoples seek and deserve, Wang added. The ambassador also recalled the words of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to his Canadian counterpart Jean Chretien in 1998, who said Canada is Chinas best friend. "This is a benchmark set by our predecessors and should become the goal that we strive for today," Wang said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240626/china-successfully-completes-first-10-km-vertical-takeoff-landing-test-of-reusable-launch-vehicle-1119139519.html canada china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International chinese-canadian relations, state of the sino-canadian policies, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/moscow-says-protested-to-japan-over-plans-to-hold-military-drills-on-hokkaido-1119169583.html Moscow Protests Against Japan's Plans to Hold Military Drills on Hokkaido Moscow Protests Against Japan's Plans to Hold Military Drills on Hokkaido Sputnik International Moscow has strongly protested to the Japanese Embassy in Russia over Tokyo's plans to hold a series of joint military exercises with Germany and Spain on the island of Hokkaido in close proximity to Russia's borders, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. 2024-06-28T17:01+0000 2024-06-28T17:01+0000 2024-06-29T04:17+0000 world russia moscow hokkaido japan military drills military exercises https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/1c/1117618882_0:152:3039:1861_1920x0_80_0_0_69f76c8107a5a2afafc7bbad330f5dcc.jpg "On June 28, the Japanese Embassy in Russia was expressed a strong protest in connection with the plans of the Japanese authorities to conduct a series of joint military exercises with Germany and Spain on the island of Hokkaido in the immediate vicinity of the borders of the Russian Federation from July 19 to 25," the statement said. Moscow considers Tokyo's plans to hold military exercises near Russia's borders as a potential threat to its security, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240602/us-japan-and-south-korea-agree-to-massive-drills-in-increasingly-militarized-asia-pacific-1118748144.html russia moscow hokkaido japan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International japan's military drills, japan's military exercises, military drills in hokkaido, joint military excercizes in asia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/russia-advises-canada-not-to-interfere-after-govt-issued-kara-murza-statement---embassy-1119171201.html Russia Advises Canada Not to Interfere After Govt Issued Kara-Murza Statement - Embassy Russia Advises Canada Not to Interfere After Govt Issued Kara-Murza Statement - Embassy Sputnik International The Russian embassy in Ottawa advised the Canadian government not to interfere in Russia's internal affairs after it issued a statement about Vladimir Kara-Murza 2024-06-28T20:35+0000 2024-06-28T20:35+0000 2024-06-29T04:14+0000 russia moscow russia russian embassy justin trudeau canada https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/0b/1092947142_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_6813ec44e65f53ce6fbee40db9df2ddc.jpg Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement to mark the first year of Kara-Murza's sentencing and deplored the alleged ill-treatment by the Russian government. Kara-Murza, who holds Russian and UK citizenship as well as a US permanent residence card, was arrested by the Russian authorities in April 2022 for spreading false information about Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. In July 2022, a second criminal case was opened against Kara-Murza for engaging with a foreign or international non-governmental organization that is recognized as undesirable in Russia. In October 2022, Kara-Murza faced a third lawsuit on charges of state treason for his speeches at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and in the United States. All three cases were later merged into one. Kara-Murza was handed a 25-year prison sentence by a Moscow court in April 2023. Vladimir Kara-Murza is a regular guest of so-called "pro-democracy" forums in US and Europe. moscow russia canada Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International vladimir kara-murza, foreign agents in russia, treason charges in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/spain-joins-south-africas-genocide-lawsuit-against-israel---icj-1119170276.html Spain Joins South Africa's Genocide Lawsuit Against Israel - ICJ Spain Joins South Africa's Genocide Lawsuit Against Israel - ICJ Sputnik International Spain filed a lawsuit to officially join the ICJ Genocide case against Israel brought by South Africa. 2024-06-28T19:24+0000 2024-06-28T19:24+0000 2024-06-28T19:24+0000 world israel south africa gaza strip international court of justice spain https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/1b/1118645955_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d916b256f36dee3bcbd0bcf3eb598d18.jpg "Spain, invoking Article 63 of the Statute of the Court, filed in the Registry of the Court a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)," the court said in a statement. Spain relies on its status as a party to the Genocide Convention and exercises its right to intervene in the proceedings, under article 63, paragraph 2 of the document, the statement added. On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ against Israel over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. On January 26, the ICJ ruled provisional measures ordering Israel to take urgent steps to prevent acts of genocide and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave. At the same time, the ICJ did not order an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In early March, the African nation went back to the ICJ to call for additional provisional measures against Israel that would address widespread starvation among Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. On May 10, South Africa addressed the ICJ with an immediate request to apply additional measures against Israel. On May 16-17, the court held hearings on the matter. On May 24, the court ordered Israel to stop the military operation in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah and take measures to ensure access of missions to investigate the accusations of genocide.Earlier this month, Spain announced its intention to join the case.With Spain, thirteen countries have formally accused Israel of Genocide, including Palestine.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing the hostages. More than 37,700 people have been killed and over 86,400 others have been wounded in Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip since October 7, according to local authorities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240602/chile-joins-south-african-icj-case-against-israel-1118742318.html israel south africa gaza strip spain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International spain joins icj case, genocide charges against israel, what countries have accused israel of genocide https://sputnikglobe.com/20240628/trump-biden-debate-in-us-not-on-agenda-of-russian-president---kremlin-1119167171.html Trump-Biden Debate in US Not on Agenda of Russian President - Kremlin Trump-Biden Debate in US Not on Agenda of Russian President - Kremlin Sputnik International The US presidential debate between President Joe Biden and ex-President Donald Trump does not belong to the category of the main issues on the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2024-06-28T12:06+0000 2024-06-28T12:06+0000 2024-06-28T12:06+0000 world us donald trump joe biden 2024 us presidential election us presidential campaign presidential debate russia kremlin dmitry peskov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/01/1112320936_0:106:3265:1943_1920x0_80_0_0_94cb76f524fa1090b130def879587e39.jpg The first US presidential debate between Biden and his challenger, Trump, started on Thursday night in Atlanta, Georgia. Trump has now a majority lead over the incumbent president in a CNN viewers' flash poll after the first US presidential debate hosted by the broadcaster. At the same time, the Kremlin saw media reports about these debates and will familiarize with them in more detail, the official said, noting that "this is an internal matter of the United States." "We are absolutely not going to evaluate these debates, this is an internal matter of the United States, this is the US election campaign. We have never interfered in United States election campaigns," he added.Peskov also touched upon the prospects for relations between Moscow and Brussels.Commenting on the nomination of von der Leyen, the official said that she is not in favor of normalizing Russia-EU relations, adding that Kallas is famous for russophobic statements.The outcome of the parliamentary elections in France is of interest to Russia, and Moscow is monitoring what is happening, the spokesman noted."Certainly. France is one of the largest countries in Europe. And, of course, the outcome of the election campaign is of interest to us. So we are watching what is happening. We see that there is a dynamic associated with the loss of popularity among some political forces and the growth of popularity among other political forces. But again, this is an internal matter of France," he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240618/the-eus-top-jobs-von-der-leyens-victory-postponed-other-hawks-tipped-to-win-1119012932.html russia moscow france brussels Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trump-2024, is trump running for president, why is trump banned from election, who's banning trump from election, why is trump banned from election, who's against trump in presidential election, was trump behind january 6, who organized january 6, why is trump banned from election, trumps court case, why is trump investigated, republicans vs democrats at the elections, who will win in 2024 elections, trump vs biden Wicked N Single and Incantation became the first two-year-old Grand Circuit winners of 2024 in Thursdays (June 27) Tompkins-Geers Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Administrated by the Hambletonian Society, the long-standing Tompkins-Geers for two-year-olds was moved to Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first time this year. Wicked N Single rallied by rivals with a :27 final-quarter to win the $46,845 Tompkins-Geers for two-year-old pacing fillies. Driven by James MacDonald, Wicked N Single took back to last in the field of six to watch how things played out. Saddlebags got to the lead ahead of Charlotte Station at a :27.3 opening-quarter. Heavy-favourite Famous Fast Words brushed to the lead from third to hit the half in :56.3 before catching a :30.2 breather. Wicked N Single started advancing around the far turn and sat in behind Saddlebags at the head of the lane. The Tony Beaton trained Wicked N Single swung out wide and surged by all to win in 1:54.3. Charlotte Station pushed up the rail to finish second by a length and a half. Famous Fast Words was third, while Saddlebags was fourth. I was waiting to sit behind her, she was exciting to qualify, said MacDonald post-race. Shes a big strong filly, perfect gait, perfect mouth just like 99 per cent of Tony (Beatons). I just kind of settled in and let her do her thing. I knew she was going to give me a big kick finishing. A daughter of Mcwicked, Wicked N Single was making her career debut on Thursday after a pair of winning qualifiers. She quickly racks up $23,422 for owners Lisa LeFort and David Mercer. Wicked N Single paid $9.50 to win. Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh sent out Incantation to a 1:57.3 win in the $53,123 Tompkins-Geers for two-year-old trotting fillies. Race-favourite Monalishi made a break at the start to change outlook of the contest. The favourites stablemate Medley Seelster trotted out to command and led through fractions of :28.4, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4. Sitting fifth through the opening-half, Incantation got under way for driver Sylvain Filion on the far turn. The duo would force Exquisite Taste to pop the two-hole ahead of the three-quarter pole. In the stretch, Exquisite Taste would grab the lead briefly before making a mid-stretch break for the second consecutive start. This allowed Incantation to power by and win by 2-1/2 lengths over Medley Seelster. Bright Green finished third, while Sister Sara was fourth. It was a great effort, Sylvain (Flion) did give her a great drive, said McIntosh. Ive liked this filly all alongshes been a beautiful gaited thing since day one. We made a couple of adjustments and it seemed to pay off." A homebred daughter of Muscle Mass, Incantation now has a win, a mark of 1:57.3 and $26,561 earned for Robert McIntosh Stables and Tyrone Valley Farm. McIntosh noted his delight with the move of the Tompkins-Geers to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Its a great thing for us here in Ontario and Canadathis is perfect. Surprising the betting public, Incantation paid $37.30 to win. The Tompkins-Geers Stakes continue Friday night with rookie colts and geldings taking the spotlight. Post time for the 10-race card is 7:10 p.m. To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) Manitoba's 2024 harness racing season will get underway on Saturday, June 29 with half a dozen races at The Loop in Winnipeg. Post time for the launch of second season of harness racing at The Loop is scheduled for 1 p.m. The six-race card will feature a $4,800 Open Pace as the afternoon's finale with 42-time winner Armycaptin Hanover as the 2-1 morning line favourite from post three. A newcomer to the Richard Rey stable, the eight-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding will make his return to racing after a successful stint facing Preferred/Open competition at the Fraser Downs winter/spring meet that ended nearly two months ago and where he took his mark of 1:51.3. Now owned by Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont., Armycaptin Hanover will have Rey's son Michel in the sulky for his provincial debut on Saturday. Armycaptin Hanover will start between Chazmichaelmichael and Litizor, both two-time winners at The Loop during the inaugural meet last year, with the latter coming off a June 23 qualifying win at the Red River Exhibition Park oval for the father-son team of Don and Mathew Howlett. The former will be driven by Richard Remillard for trainer Tara Isman. An Alberta acquisition by MHHI Owner of the Year Aurel Vodon, Flying Officer will start from the inside post for the driving and training team Tyler and Jacqueline Grundy. Mach Jacobs, trained by Lorraine Rey with Dean Rey listed to drive, and the Roland Rey-trained mare One Last Bet, with defending driving champion Blake Piwniuk doing the honours, come in from Ontario for their new local connections and will complete the lineup from the outside posts. Richard and Janet Rey's award-winning homebred Braxtons Boy has returned to Manitoba for The Loop season opener after racing in Ontario during the winter. Named top Manitoba-bred at the 2023 Manitoba Standardbred Racing Industry Awards, the Golden Boy Stakes champion will start from post one in the afternoon's $3,600 fifth race. Michel Rey will drive the four-year-old Whosurboy-Nitrous Force gelding. The Loop's harness racing meet will run through Oct. 5, with the bulk of race dates on Saturdays in August and September. Click here to view the complete race date schedule. To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click one of the following links: Saturday Entries - The Loop // Program Pages (courtesy of TrackIT) (Standardbred Canada) The well-traveled Ritson, having already gone from Woodbine to Pocono to Rideau Carleton since the first of May, came to Harrahs Philadelphia Thursday (June 27) afternoon and overhauled the entire field in the stretch to take the $17,808 featured trot in 1:53.3. Tim Tetrick, top horseman on the day with four wins, got away last from the outside post six with the winning son of Cantab Hall, and they had the best view much of the way while College Tuition set fractions of :26.4, :56.2, and 1:24.4. Ritson followed the cover of second-over Toccoa Falls three-wide on the far turn and then went wider for the drive, with his late kick getting him home just a nose ahead of Toccoa Falls; favoured Yanks Dugout had to settle for third from the pocket, with College Tuition fourth. Ritson boosted his career earnings to $329,122 with the strong-closing score. He is trained by Mark Steacy, who co-owns him with Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Dale Larson, and Stephen Downey. There were a pair of subfeatures for the fast-class set on the Trottin Thursday card. A contest going for $15,069 saw the Lucky Chucky gelding Lucky Weekend sit inside until early stretch, then find room to angle wide and just catch grinder Rivers in 1:54.3 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer George Lange, and owner Scott Brockwell. In the $13,699 class, the Trixton gelding No Drama Please got up the inside to catch pacesetting favorite Helpoftheseason in 1:55 for driver David Miller, trainer Tom Fanning, and owner Joseph Smith. Two-year-old pacers got their turn in the spotlight, contesting $15,411 events for each sex. The division for males produced a $60.60 upset by the Bettors Wish Heavenly Bride colt Wedlock Blue Chip, who didnt look like a pari-mutuel debutant on the racetrack, taking the lead early and then storming home in :55.4 - :27 to complete a 1:55.1 victory, 1-1/2 lengths to the good of favored TH Colby. Troy Beyer drove the impressive colt for trainer Polie Mallar of Ken Hanover fame and owners Richard Cortese and Donald Hawk. The female freshmen were headed by Lyonsanitasangel, who made a fast dash just past the half for the lead while coming her own last half in :55.4 to complete a 1:55.1 victory in her first purse start. Corey Callahan had the lines behind the daughter of Captaintreacherous Linda Lace Hanover for trainer Jim King Jr. and Threelyonsracing. Racing continues at Philly Friday (June 28) at 12:25 p.m.; there will be a carryover of $1954.17 on the Pick-4 wager beginning with the first race. On Sundays (June 30) 12:40 p.m. card, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action for sophomore pacing fillies will be featured, with the headline division finding My Girl EJ and Geocentric again squaring off in what has been a fierce rivalry last season into this one. (PHHA / Harrahs Philadelphia; photo from a previous win on March 6) Jasmine Claire Goudeau was killed in this Feb. 17, 2020 crash at the intersection of Micron Drive and Culebra Road when her silver Subaru Forester was hit by a Ford F-150. Ken Branca San Antonio is getting $8 million to make a segment of the city's deadliest roadway safer. The city was awarded a federal planning grant to make improvements to a five-mile segment of Culebra Road, from Loop 410 to General McMullen Drive on the West Side. The funds will pay for planning for protected sidewalks, dedicated bike facilities, tree planting, crosswalks and improved transit facilities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Antonio will chip in $3 million in matching funds to secure the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. The local dollars are coming from the $18 million San Antonio voters approved for a Culebra Road 2022 bond project. Over the last decade, there have been more than 50 fatal crashes along Culebra Road, making it the most dangerous road in San Antonio, Congressman Joaquin Castro said in a news release. This $8 million investment from the Biden-Harris administration will kick-start a much-needed transformation to make Culebra Road safer for the thousands of people who rely on it every day. San Antonio's award was just a sliver of the $1.8 billion of grants that the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday. There were 148 RAISE grant recipients. The Culebra Road project was one of four Texas projects selected. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The RAISE grant is great news for our fast-growing community, and the Culebra Road project is a meritorious recipient, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. These funds will play an important role providing a safer transportation environment. Simon Allard showed the way at Harrahs Philadelphia on Friday, June 28 with five driving successes, including with the Rockin Image filly On The Watersedge in the $16,438 distaff handicap featured pace. Allard grabbed the top from the outside post eight, yielded to Bares All, and watched from the catbird seat as that second choice and favoured Really Something had a torrid duel from mid-backstretch into the lane. After straightening away, On The Watersedge ducked down into the passing lane and was the fresh horse late in a time of 1:53.1. The Richard Bilach-trained sophomore, who has now won her way out of this class with three wins in her last five starts, is owned by Ms. Dawn Ghiraldi. Allard also helped Front Page Story (pictured above winning at Mohawk) hang up the fastest mile of the day, as the Captaintreacherous mare set a very hot pace then held off the stretch charge of favoured Fade Out in 1:49.3. The victorious distaff set a new mark for trainer Mark Steacy who has been sending out sharp horses in recent days including yesterdays fast-class trot winner Ritson and Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. There were a pair of $15,753 claiming handicap events for high-priced pacers. The quicker cut went to Winbak Willy T, a son of Art Major who has won five of his last eight races, including a 1:50.3 front-end triumph here under the handling of Tim Tetrick. Trainer Crissy Crissman-Bier and owners P T Stable had claimed the horse for $45,206 out of his last start, then saw him claimed for $47,945 from this race. Thus, in this five-day stint he made more than $2,500 in purchase price and a $7,876 win cheque for his former connections. In the other division, Straight Up Cool, who had been 0-for-20 on the year before winning from the pocket last time, went back to closing tactics and won going away in 1:52.1. Shrimp And Grits, on a 13-9-3-0 tear going from the bottom claimers to the top level, set the pace, but Simon Allard had Straight Up Cool rolling three-wide on the far turn and the Straight Shooting gelding would not be denied for trainer/owner Mark Akins, who doubled as a trainer/owner as did Chelsey Faurot. An $15,411 trot for two-year-old males saw the Bar Hopping colt Out On The Town add a purse victory to his two qualifying successes, winning in 2:00.2 under patient handling from driver Tony Morgan. Jake Leamon conditions the well-primed baby for James McDonald and Steve Elliott. A showdown among 2023 divisional champion Geocentric, Breeders Crown winner My Girl EJ, and double 2024 Pennsylvania Sire Stake winner Rocket Deo will spice up the action in the three-year-old pacing fillies third preliminary leg at Harrahs on Sunday; the complementary Stallion Series races will also be conducted. This coming Wednesday marks the return of that day to the local racing calendar, with its first post at 12:25 p.m. (PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia) A 45-year-old man dies while being detained by police late Thursday on the South Side. mbbirdy/Getty Images A 45-year-old man died Thursday while being detained by police following an erratic episode inside a store on the South Side. According to a preliminary report, San Antonio police responded to an assault in progress around 8:30 p.m. in the 5100 block of South Flores Street. It was reported that a man was acting erratically and running around the store in his underwear. Police said witnesses on the scene attempted to get him under control but were unsuccessful. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An officer arrived and placed the man in handcuffs after a short struggle. While detained, the mans body went limp. The officer uncuffed the man and performed life-saving measures, including administering Narcan, the preliminary report states. EMS arrived shortly after and continued the life-saving measures. The unidentified man was later pronounced dead at the scene, the report states. Police said the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office will conduct a death investigation to determine the mans cause of death. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A real human wrote this article, albeit with the help of transcription software. ChatGPT, or another large language model, probably would have composed it much more quickly, but artificial intelligence (AI) systems are susceptible to hallucinatinggenerating incorrect informationso could you trust the results? The accuracy of generative AI systems matters, especially as more people use AI to search for answers online and as search engines incorporate AI into their systems. Penn State News spoke with S. Shyam Sundar, the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects at Penn State, and graduate student Yongnam Jung about their research into what makes people trust ChatGPT and other online information sources, and the potential future of AI and online search engines. Q: Are people using ChatGPT as a search engine? Sundar: Anecdotal evidence suggests that people are turning to ChatGPT for a first response, where previously they used Google search. For example, two New York lawyers used ChatGPT when compiling a brief for a case, and the judge later found that the precedents that ChatGPT cited was bogus. My lab conducted a very small, preliminary study that did not show any evidence to support the anecdotal evidence. Our participants tended mostly to use Google first, followed by Wikipedia, but these were mostly people in higher education who have been bombarded with information the last couple of years about the shortcomings of generative AI. So, it's clearly not a representative sample. Our interest is in finding out which features about ChatGPT, Google search and Wikipedia make a user prone to trust the platforms. Jung: Our study participants indicated that they use ChatGPT for specific use cases, such as to improve their writing or to refer to a specific format, like a resume. They also use it to search for information, but they don't trust the results. Previous studies and news articles have suggested that users sometimes show blind trust in ChatGPT, but our focus group interviews suggested that this blind trust is not always the case. Our participants said that they use ChatGPT to search for information, but they are skeptical about the results because they don't include reference information like Wikipedia and Google do. Q: How does ChatGPT compare to Google search and Wikipedia? Sundar: The primary difference is the conversationality of ChatGPT: the fact that it is a chat interface that goes back and forth in response to your specific question. Every message it gives you is contingent upon what you put in and upon what you put in before that. In this respect, it seems very much like a butler serving you. The more it knows you, it personalizes the information for you, and then it gives you exactly what you want by pointing specifically to your question, whereas Google might just return a whole bunch of results based on a keyword match. People prompt-engineer ChatGPT to be their language buddy or to be their companion. It seems intuitive and authoritative, like it knows what it's talking about. The responses are well-organized. All these features can make it seem more trustworthy. But what users often don't realize is that ChatGPT gives generic, generally applicable answers. Jung: Participants said they trust the platforms for different reasons. They really like that Google provides diverse search results. They also like features like labeling sponsored ads because it demonstrates that Google is trying to be transparent. For Wikipedia, participants liked the edit function because if anybody can edit an entry means that when something is wrong, somebody will correct it. That's why they trust information from Wikipedia. Regarding ChatGPT, they really like the interactive features, that they can have a human conversation with ChatGPT, which increases trust in the system. Q: We're starting to see online search engines incorporate generative AI into their results. Where do you see the future of search engines and AI headed? Sundar: Most search engines, information providers, chatbots, customer service agents, they have all adopted large language modeling technology to improve the handoff or handover of information to users. They have improved usability, so information comes across as much more conversational and chattier than the traditional way of delivering information. From a communication perspective, large language models (LLMs) have revolutionized all these different technologies in terms of showing them the path toward better communication with users and more focused, conversational interaction. To that end, we've come much closer to the idea of AI as being another entity that you could ask questions just like you would a human being. To go through Google's search engine output, or even Wikipedia's output, you need to have a certain level of skill to derive usable insights. With these search engines incorporating LLMs, what has happened is it avoids the clutter for users, it avoids the need for users to have to figure out themselves or have this special skill to go the extra step to derive intelligence from the output. Instead, it can basically tell me what I need to know. That said, LLMs are known to hallucinate. They are not known to be particularly factual because they are based on probability of occurrence of the next word or sentence in the history of human-generated text. Search engine technology, on the other hand, is based on information retrieval. It's querying databases, searching online and scraping information. Marrying these two has the promise of overcoming the deficits of each. On the one hand, LLMs overcome the deficit of traditional search engines in terms of their ability to have a conversation with users, while on the other hand, search engines overcome the problem that LLMs have of hallucinating by providing verified information with references or links. Q: What are some best practices to keep in mind when using ChatGPT to find specific, accurate answers? Sundar: Users have to be much more systematic in the way they process the information. They have to evaluate the information for the central message. Is it specific enough to my question, or does it seem very general? Often, just because people ask a specific question, they think the response is also specific, but actually it's a very generic response. They need to see if the output is something super-specific to their situation, and if it is, they need to do a cross verification with another information source provider. Ideally, it would be better if they did that with a non-LLM technology. For example, if I get an output from ChatGPT, I can go to the classic Google search engine to see if I get something similar. Users also should be thinking about the authenticity of information. To what extent is the information based on well-sourced data from credible information sources versus stringing together words? The lawyers in the New York case could have gone to LexisNexis, which is a database of court cases, to see if there was a specific case by that name and learn more about it. Often people use AI like ChatGPT in a hurry, and that's the danger. People rush to obtain information that may not be fully vetted by the users. The responses can also have baked-in biases that we may not realize. Jung: People need to better understand how generative AI works. Even though an AI model may refer to a diverse dataset to respond to questions, unlike a search engine or Wikipedia that pull information, generative AI creates new information. This information may not always be true or current. Since generative AI provides diverse interactions, if you ask questions and you're still not getting a clear answer, you can refine your prompts to get more specific answers. Just make sure you verify that answer using a search engine or another platform. More information: Yongnam Jung et al, Do We Trust ChatGPT as much as Google Search and Wikipedia?, Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2024). DOI: 10.1145/3613905.3650862 CPC expels former Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu Xinhua) 09:11, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership on Thursday decided to expel former defense minister Li Shangfu for serious violation of Party discipline and the law. Li, who also formerly served as a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a state councilor, was deprived of his qualification as a delegate to the 20th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The CMC's disciplinary and supervisory agency launched an investigation against Li on Aug. 31, 2023. According to the investigation results, Li seriously violated political and organizational discipline. He sought improper benefits in personnel arrangements for himself and others, took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others, and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables in return. He is suspected of the crime of taking bribes. He was also found to have offered money to others to seek undue benefits, constituting the suspected crime of offering bribes. The investigation also found clues of Li's other violations. As a high-ranking official of the Party and the military, Li betrayed the Party's original aspiration and its principles. His actions failed the trust of the Party Central Committee and the CMC, and severely contaminated the political environment of the equipment sector in the military and the ethics of relevant industries. His disciplinary and law violations brought enormous damage to the Party's cause, the development of national defense and the armed forces, as well as the image of senior officials. Li's violations are extremely serious in nature, with a highly detrimental impact and tremendous harm, according to the investigation findings. The Political Bureau also decided to transfer Li's suspected criminal case to procuratorial organs of the military for examination and prosecution. The disciplinary action to expel Li from the Party will be confirmed by the CPC Central Committee when it convenes a plenary session in mid-July. An earlier decision made by the CMC had expelled Li from the military service and deprived him of his rank of general. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Noah Ochoa, 25, was convicted of aggravated assault Tuesday after a viral video taken by a witness helped lead to his arrest. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A San Antonio man accused of striking a woman and driving his vehicle at her, allegedly because she tried to intervene when she saw him hitting his dog, has been sentenced to five years probation, resolving one of two charges against him. The encounter between Noah Ochoa, 25, and the woman drew widespread attention when it was spotlighted in a social media post in January by Michael McWhorter, who criticized the San Antonio Police Department for its handling of the investigation that eventually led to Ochoa's arrest. Ochoa was 24 when he was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge about seven months after the woman reported the May 2023 incident at a local park. The woman was not identified. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Court records show Ochoa later was indicted April 29 on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony. He was booked into the Bexar County jail on May 21, posted a $50,000 bond and was ordered to have no contact with the woman. As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors approved Tuesday in the 290th District Court, he pleaded no contest to the felony charge, was found guilty and sentenced to five years probation and a $2,000 fine. Judge Jennifer Pena also ordered Ochoa to complete courses in anger management and animal care. Online court records show the original charge, assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor, is still pending, with a trial date set in July in County Court at Law No. 8. McWhorter, aka TizzyEnt, who has 523,000 Instagram followers and 6.3 million on TikTok, said a detective dragged his feet on the case and seemed unenthusiastic about the efforts of witnesses and McWhorter himself to identify the assailant because Ochoa was related to a patrol officer. McWhorter had posted a video taken by a witness showing the prelude to the assault, which occurred on May 21, 2023 at Olmos Basin Park, in which Ochoa can be heard cursing and threatening the woman. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The victim told police that day that she had seen a man hitting his dog at the park and when she said something to him, he responded with aggression and profanity, threatened to beat her, then hit her with his open hand on the back of her head, punched her on the forehead and knocked a hat off her head, according to a police report. She said the man then got in his vehicle and drove toward her but veered away before hitting her, according to the report, which indicates two other people witnessed the attack. In a Jan. 22 video, McWhorter alleged that social media users had identified the man in the video as Ochoa but the detective seemed doubtful about the similarity of his face in the video and a photo on his Facebook profile. The victim was told by police that her 911 recordings of the incident had been erased, McWhorter added. He concluded that investigators were either inept or protecting Ochoa. At the time, SAPD would not confirm if Ochoa was related to an officer. He has a criminal history dating to 2018, when he was arrested on drug possession charges. Ryan York, the co-founder of The Gathering Place who was forced to resign last fall, talks with Stephanie Hall-Furman, the founder and former superintendent of another charter school, SA Prep, who was ousted in January. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The Gathering Place, a charter school in San Antonio, opened in 2020 and had 450 students in grades K-6 last year. Courtesy of The Gathering Place Months after being ousted by a board he helped create, the co-founder of The Gathering Place is accusing the San Antonio charter school of multiple violations of federal and state laws, including the confinement of students as young as 5 in closets as a disciplinary measure. Former CEO and co-founder Ryan York laid out what he called a deeply troubling pattern of noncompliance and a persistent disregard for legal standards in a formal complaint filed June 21 with the Texas Education Agency. The document describes a K-6 school failing academically and struggling for years with an array of shortcomings, including hiring uncertified special education teachers and ignoring curriculum requirements. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In an interview, York said he tried to fix some of them but that it came to a situation where it was clear there were some really big problems, and instead of addressing them, I was pushed out of the organization. York said hes now giving the state the information it needs to intervene 16 allegations that he also forwarded to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. They include the use of an illegal disciplinary method for misbehaving children repeatedly locking or restraining them in cramped closets of less than 50 square feet, which the staff called restorative rooms, he wrote. The schools superintendent, Brian Sparks, said in a prepared statement June 27 that the school is adamantly opposed to the alleged seclusion practices and can confidently confirm that no such practice is now or ever will be allowed to take place. He didnt deny that it had happened. Sparks said the time-outs and seclusion occurred while York and co-founder Asia Klekowicz were in executive leadership positions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sparks said the TEA has informed the school that it is looking into only two of the allegations: student discipline and issues regarding personnel certifications. Answering questions via email, he said he could not provide a copy of a TEA audit working paper to verify that the other allegations will not be investigated because, he said, the agency wanted it kept confidential. The TEA declined to comment on Yorks complaint or how it has responded. York, a former administrator of traditional and charter schools in Tennessee and California, opened The Gathering Place with Klekowicz in 2020 with a focus on art and social justice. It has a single campus on the Northwest Side and 450 students. He resigned in October after being placed on administrative leave by the schools board of directors for what was described as a breach of trust, leadership and duty of candor. York later told the San Antonio Express-News that he was targeted because of a consensual relationship with a colleague that did not violate any law or board policy or his contract. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Several other administrators left in the fall. Klekowicz resigned in January. York has maintained that he was in charge of finance and operations while Klekowicz oversaw academics and instruction. He said he became concerned about some of the alleged violations during his tenure and worked to address them. At first, he supported the practice of having counselors pull disruptive students out of class and bring them to a private space where they could sit and talk through their issues instead of being punished. York said he didnt know that educators began using closets or other areas that werent set up to be safe places for de-escalation when more appropriate space became less available and behavioral issues worsened. In some instances, a staff member would remain inside the closet with the child, he wrote in his complaint. In others, the staff member would cruelly lock the child inside alone, using their own body to keep the door shut while the terrified child banged on the door and begged for release. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Violations became more serious as unqualified special education teachers were hired, he said. Untenable situation According to the complaint, The Gathering Place had three special education teachers operating without legally required certifications during the 2023-2024 school year. One of them had no prior experience teaching and worked full time in a special education classroom that had documented incidents of injuries and peer-to-peer abuse, the document says. Sparks, the superintendent, said the school became aware of certification concerns late last fall and immediately took steps to rectify and address any and all issues. He said all special education teachers now have the necessary certifications. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At least nine special education teachers have resigned from The Gathering Place since January 2023. AIM Educate, a private contractor, has supplied the school with six directors of special education in the past three years, York said. He said the school was unable to document how many special education service minutes it provided to students whose Individualized Education Plans required them, even after being forced by the Texas Attorney Generals Office to provide the information in response to an open records request. York believes the school owes at least 400,000 compensatory minutes to special education students for missed services. At a minimum, the schools release of a blank spreadsheet in response to the AGs directive reflects gross negligence in services and records of service throughout the organization, he said. The school hired as many as 15 teachers without bachelors degrees and had no certified counselors during the 2023-2024 school year, Yorks complaint stated. The Gathering Place did not comment on the allegations it said the TEA wont be investigating, including those related to board governance. The complaint alleges continuous violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, including the schools having no record of former board member Javier Parades appointment. There also are accusations that the school failed to teach social studies at any grade level or science to students in kindergarten through second grade. The complaint alleges that the school failed to assign grades, offer a bilingual education program, provide services to students classified as English Language Learners, identify and serve gifted and talented students or meet minimum requirements for physical education. The Gathering Place got a not rated score on the states A-F accountability system in 2022, in lieu of a failing grade as the system was modified during the pandemic. In this years State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness testing, most third- through fifth-grade students failed the math exam, and 74% of fifth-graders failed the science exam. State law requires charter schools to close if they fail academically three years in a row. York makes the point that if it werent for pandemic-era changes to the accountability system and the delayed release of last years grades, the school would already have been shut down. Separate from everything in this complaint, it would be one thing if this school was doing really well academically and just had different ways of getting there, he said. But this is a school that is failing kids and families in pretty much any lens that you look at it. STATE ACTION: TEA conservator to oversee Great Hearts Texas York said the TEA never performed a review of the school in the four years he was there. He said he expects the school to take legal action against him for submitting his complaint but that it gives the state the opportunity to prove that charter schools are held to the same standard as independent school districts. The vision behind The Gathering Place was a really beautiful idea, York said, but it encountered a lot of obstacles in execution that have led to an untenable situation. He thinks the school can be saved, but only if the TEA steps in and restructures its governing body. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath speaks to the media during a visit at Kashmere High School, 6900 Wileyvale Rd., Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Houston. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Education Commissioner Mike Morath, far right, answers questions from State Board of Education members during a hearing Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 at the William B Travis Building in Austin. Eli Hartman/Texas Tribune The State Board of Education on Friday greenlit four new charter schools for the 2025-26 school year, even as some members raised concerns about recently approved charters not opening on time or at all. Texas charter schools, which are funded with public dollars but run by private nonprofits, often face high start-up costs including paying staff and securing facilities until they can begin matriculating students and receiving state money for attendance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Under questioning from board members on Wednesday, officials from each charter school said theyd budgeted and planned carefully to open on time typically one year after approval from the board. The schools approved on Friday included Infinite Minds in Arlington, Pathway Academy in Big Spring, The Texas Girls School near Austin and Unparalleled Preparatory Academy in Manor. A fifth,Visionary STEM Academy outside of Fort Worth, was the only school vetoed by the board. About a third of the charters approved in the past seven years ultimately delayed their openings, while another ended up not opening at all, according to a Hearst Newspapers analysis. A delay signals trouble behind-the-scenes in lining up funding, staff or students, which is important because it raises doubts about the promises that some of the applicants make to get approved. Last year, Hearst reported that nearly all charter schools going before the state board offer unrealistically rosy projections for the number of students they will enroll, based on TEA data and the charter application paperwork. Theres an issue that not all the charters weve approved the last couple years are opening on time, board member Will Hickman, R-Houston, said in a phone interview this week. Hickman, who voted for three of the four charters approved Friday, attributed the delays to a lack of initial grant funding and the slow process for charters to start receiving attendance dollars from the state. Each new charter school receives $900,000 in grant funding from the Texas Education Agency, Hickman said, but thats not enough to get you there. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Brian Whitley, a spokesman for the Texas Charter Schools Association, said the delayed openings are not because of failures in planning or execution of school leaders, but is instead a policy problem. Structurally, its really difficult and the conditions are tough for these educators who have made it all the way through this process and now theyre trying to secure an appropriate facility and finance it, he said. Traditional school districts are able to take out bonds and raise money through local property taxes, Whitley said, while charter schools cannot. He estimated that traditional districts receive about $2,000 per student in facility funding while charter schools get $200. We need the Legislature to close the gap, Whitley said. The state board is currently composed of 10 Republicans and five Democrats, all of them elected. Its responsible for approving instructional materials for use in the states public schools, managing the massive Permanent School Fund, overseeing curriculum standards and approving new charter schools. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New charter schools face lengthy application processes from November through June, with the state board vote as the final step. The annual June meeting considering charter schools has grown increasingly contentious in recent years due to outside political pressures and the financial struggles of Texas school districts. Texas is among the bottom 10 states in public school funding, and many districts are facing budget crunches. Supporters of traditional public schools, including teachers unions, typically oppose new charter networks because they lose funding every time a student transfers to one. Among the more notable charter schools that have delayed their openings is Heritage Classical Academy in Houston, which now plans to open next year. The state board in 2021 and 2022 vetoed Heritage from opening over concerns about its curriculum, which comes from Christian-conservative Hillsdale College and includes childrens books some members viewed as racially insensitive. Heritage Board Chair Stuart Saunders and his family donated thousands to a political group that ultimately helped unseat several Republican members whod voted against the charter. Last year, with the help of the new board members, the charter won approval from the board. Now they plan to open for the 2025-26 school year, according to filings with TEA. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a post announcing the delay in April, Heritage officials said our team continues working to find a suitable location for our school. Edward McKinley reports on Texas state government and politics from the Hearst Bureau in Austin for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, with a particular focus on education issues. He can be reached at edward.mckinley@houstonchronicle.com. He is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and Georgetowns Masters in American Government program. He previously reported for The Albany Times Union and the Kansas City Star newspapers, and he originally hails from the great state of Minnesota. Police in Georgia are searching for a woman believed to have bipolar disorder who was last seen at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The family of Hollie Noelle Seay, 36, is extremely concerned for her well-being. She was last seen Thursday at 5:50 p.m., when cameras captured her entering a Starbucks and a CBD store inside the terminal. Her van was also towed from the airport after being abandoned on a curb. Seay is described as a white woman with green eyes, blonde with pink and purple streaks in her hair, 5' and 138 pounds. In a missing person bulletin Seay is described as having bipolar disorder and is described as being in an unmedicated manic state, according to the LaGrange Police Department. Anyone with information about Seay's whereabouts is encouraged to call the LaGrange Police Department. Loved ones remembered a transgender woman found murdered in the backseat of a crashed car as a rising musician and club DJ who was "loved very deeply." Authorities allege Liara Kaylee Tsai, 35, was stabbed to death at her Minneapolis apartment by her former partner, Margot Lewis, 32, before her body was stuffed into the backseat of her vehicle. Deputies responding to a single-vehicle crash on I-90 Saturday located Tsai's body and noted it was immediately apparent her death was not a result of the collision. Lewis was treated at a hospital then taken into custody. Longtime friends mourning the death of Tsai said the budding producer moved from Iowa City to Minneapolis a month ago to pursue a music career and live within a larger trans community. Lewis, the victim's ex, was visiting from Iowa when Tsai was allegedly killed. "We had a beautiful relationship, and she's someone I loved very deeply," said Mega Solga, according to KARE-TV. "She was the most fearless person I've ever met. She was the truest person I ever met. She knew exactly who she was, especially as a trans woman. She had no fear showing the world who she was," Solga said. Lewis has been charged with second-degree murder and felony interference with a dead body, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, KTTC-TV reported. Detectives said she and the victim had a "sordid and emotionally challenging relationship." Lewis is being held on $1 million bail. Wacky real-life joker Yusuke Kawai is bringing all the antics to Tokyo's governor's race. Known as the "Japanese Joker," Kawai is adding splash, craziness, and controversy to this year's election. The controversy stems from his interesting approach to campaign posters. In one promotional poster, Kawai is dressed like the character from The Mask and surrounded by three women as part of a message to promote polygamy in Japan to help solve the country's declining birth rate. However, the advertisement featuring the almost-naked gyaru model, Miu Sakurai, which aims to "promote the importance of freedom of expression," is the most damning. Locals were particularly upset with this stunt, as children could easily see these images around the city. Police warned Kawai that he was walking a thin line along Tokyo's anti-nuisance ordinance, prompting the candidate to take them down quickly. He made headlines back in 2021 during the Chiba gubernatorial election when he also ran for governor dressed as the Joker, according to the Tokyo Weekender. While the Tokyo gubernatorial election has become known for its eccentric candidates throughout the years, including prolific inventor Dr. Nakamats, late rock star Yuya Uchida, and naked nationalist Teruki Goto, the "Japanese Joker" is certainly in a league of his own. Japan's largest broadcaster, NHK, is required to give airtime to candidates running for governor of Tokyo. Kawai can be seen with a sign language interpreter during his segment below: Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. New editorial board to steer The Investor to new development stages By Minh Hue Fri, June 28, 2024 | 5:37 pm GMT+7 The Investor will be helmed by a new editorial board comprising Editor-in-Chief Pham Duc Son, Deputy Editors-in-Chief Nguyen Phong Cam and Vo Ta Quynh, and member Nguyen Thai Son, starting July 1, 2024. The press group possesses www.nhadautu.vn, Nha dau tu print (both in Vietnamese language), and www.theinvestor.vn. Prof. Nguyen Mai, Chairman of the Vietnams Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) and Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, standing Vice Chairman of VAFIE and former Editor-in-Chief of The Investor, congratulates Pham Duc Son on his appointment as the publications new Editor-in-Chief. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. A meeting was jointly organized in Hanoi Friday morning by the Vietnams Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) and The Investor to announce the appointment decisions. With approval from the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education and the Ministry of Information and Communications, VAFIE Chairman signed decisions appointing Pham Duc Son, The Investor's Party chief and standing Deputy Editor-in-Chief, as its new Editor-in-Chief; and Vo Ta Quynh, head of the representative office in the northeastern region and deputy head of the Nha dau tu news room as the new Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Their appointments are for a term of five years starting July 1, 2024. VAFIE leaders congratulate Vo Ta Quynh on his appointment as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Investor. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. VAFIE leaders congratulate Nguyen Thai Son, head of the Editorial Secretariat, on his appointment as an Editorial Board member. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. Prof. Mai also signed a decision appointing Nguyen Thai Son, head of the Editorial Secretariat, as an Editorial Board member. On behalf of the VAFIE leadership, Prof. Mai congratulated the new appointees, praising the efforts and development achievements of The Investor since its inception. "I believe that the new Editorial Board has the capacity to lead the publications to become stronger and take new steps," he said. VAFIE Chairman Prof. Dr. Nguyen Mai speaks at a meeting held to announce a new Editorial Board for The Investor publications. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. Nguyen Duc Loi, standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, extended his congratulations to the new appointees. "I hope that the new leaders of the publications will inherit and promote the achievements of their predecessors, building The Investor group into a multimedia agency, meeting increasing requirements of readers and vindicating the association's trust," said Loi, a former Party Central Committee member and former general director of Vietnam News Agency. The new Editorial Board of The Investor pose for a photograph with Prof. Dr. Nguyen Mai and Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. New Editor-in-Chief Pham Duc Son said that right from its first days, The Investor had clearly set out its principles and goals. "Treating people as its core asset, it has been focusing on developing and training its staff as well as attracting talents," he said. "That is the guideline for all actions that the journalists at the publications always inherit and promote. They are determined to build a truly professional and specialized press agency that always understands and accompanies investors," he added. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said the latest appointments marked recognition of the appointees' efforts. "I am delighted and happy with today's leadership transition, and have great faith in the appointed personnel. I believe that they will fulfill their role and develop the publications further," Tuan said. Fans of "The Sopranos" looking for a piece of the iconic HBO show can own Uncle Junior's New Jersey home if they're willing to pluck down $579,000. The Newark home of Corrado John "Junior" Soprano Jr., featured during several seasons of the hit mob drama, has been listed for sale by Maikol Puebla and Licelys Olmo of Christie's International Real Estate, NorthJersey.com reported. The single- family property at 380 Highland Avenue has four bedrooms, three full baths and one partial bath. Portrayed in the HBO series by Dominic Chianese, Junior was the official boss of the DiMeo crime family and uncle of main character Tony Soprano. The home is well known to viewers of "The Sopranos" because many scenes were filmed inside its wood-paneled interior because Junior was on house arrest during much of the time, NorthJersey.com reported. In an episode in the sixth season, Tony Soprano digs a hole in the front yard in search of $40,000 Junior said he buried there years earlier after a burglary. The home, built in 1927, was most recently purchased in 2019, the outlet said. It has been relisted a number of times and has seen its price cut since 2022. The home's most recent owners bought the property back in 2019, and the home has since been relisted several times and experienced multiple price reductions since 2022. Securities firms M&A deals bolster Vietnam market dynamics: experts By Kha Moc, Hai Yen Fri, June 28, 2024 | 8:00 am GMT+7 A slew of acquisitions of securities firms by both Vietnamese and foreign investors over the last year or so have been driven by more than profit making through margin lending, experts say. While the deals have taken place amidst robust growth in stock market liquidity and the VN-Index, other purposes have been at play, including providing stock issuance consulting, increasing capital bases and facilitating listings, they add. Besides, securities companies themselves benefit from M&A deals, which can enhance their growth and development, they note. Most recently, Public Bank Vietnam, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysias Public Bank Berhad, completed its acquisition of RHB Securities Vietnam. An investor monitors stock prices. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. The acquisition followed the issuance of a permit by the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) to rename RHB Securities Vietnam as Public Bank Securities Vietnam Company Limited (PBSV). On February 19, Public Bank Vietnam signed an agreement to take over the entire equity of RHB Securities from Malaysias RHB Investment Bank. The deal was slated for completion in the third quarter of this year. On June 4, SSC approved the equity transfer, highlighting the likelihood of Public Bank Vietnams complete acquisition of RHB Securities. In mid-June, Hoang Ngan Ha transferred 6.8 million shares, or a 49% stake in Viet Tin Securities JSC (VTSS), to Singapore-based Tin Global Pte. Ltd before resigning as a VTSS board member. The firm is now 49% held by Tin Global, 49% by Minh Thanh Tourist., JSC, and 2% by Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang. Another deal that took place last year involved LPBank Securities JSC (LPBS), formerly Lien Viet Securities JSC, founded in 2009 as a subsidiary of Him Lam Corporation. In 2017, the securities companys then chairman, Duong Cuong Minh, transferred VND223.75 billion ($8.79 million) in contributed capital, or 89.5% of its stake, to Nguyen Thi Bich Hong. Following this transfer, Hong succeeded Duong Cuong Minh as the chairwoman of LPBS. In mid-July 2023, Hong sold 21 million LPBS shares, reducing her ownership from 89.5% to 5.5%. Subsequently, Vu Thanh Hue succeeded her as the companys chairwoman. Meanwhile, Pham Thu Hang acquired 16.5 million shares, equivalent to a 66% stake in LPBS. Last November, Royal International Securities JSC (IRS) also saw ownership changes. Le Thanh Ha, Nguyen Thi Gia and Le Hong Thao transferred two million shares (6.75%), 10.4 million shares (34.58%), and 10 million shares (33.4%), respectively, to IRS chairman Le Thanh, which saw his ownership rise to 82.95%. Other M&A transactions that occurred before the above-mentioned deals included M-Service, operator of e-wallet service MoMo, acquiring a 49% stake in CV Securities Corporation. Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, founder of Kim Nguu Vietnam JSC the parent firm of the operator of the Vietnam-based investment app Tititada, acquired 40.22% of Saigonbank-Berjaya Securities JSC (SBBS). Vietnam e-commerce market to reach $24 bln value in 2025: NIQ exec By Lan Do Fri, June 28, 2024 | 6:57 pm GMT+7 Vietnams digital economy in 2025 will attain a value of $43 billion, with e-commerce accounting for $24 billion, up 22% year-on-year, said Long Le, retailer lead at international consumer intelligence firm NIQ Vietnam. Long was speaking at the TikTok SMB Summit 2024 - Skyrocket Your Business event held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday. Hung Huynh, country head, Tiktok SMB Vietnam, cited data from Vietnams General Statistics Office showing that over 90% of 900,000 registered businesses are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). "SMEs play a very important role in the economy and many of these are now doing business on the Tiktok platform," he said. Tiktok was present in more than 100 countries, but Tiktok Shop has only appeared in about a dozen countries, including six in Southeast Asia. This indicates the importance of the platform for Southeast Asia in general and Vietnam in particular, Huynh added. Hung Huynh, country head, Tiktok SMB Vietnam, speaks at the TikTok SMB Summit 2024 - Skyrocket Your Business in Ho Chi Minh City, June 28, 2024. Photo courtesy of Tiktok Vietnam. Online shopper profile Long said typical online shoppers were around 31 years old, 73% were married and 70% were office workers. A quarter of all online shoppers bought essential items, 21% bought fast food, and 19% made purchases because of product promotions. As many as 94% of online shoppers placed their orders on their phones, with a small percentage using laptops or tablets. Long said livestream events were the main growth driver of Tiktok this year. However, the market will change over time, so sellers on Tiktok need to pay attention and keep up with trends, he added. $1 million in ad credits Conference organizers said that TikTok has committed an advertising credit support package of up to $1 million for SMEs on the platform during the second half of 2024 (from July 2024 to end-December 2024). The package is part of a $12.2 million investment for SMEs in Southeast Asia that TikTok had announced in mid-2023. Besides, TikTok has said it will cooperate with the Steering Committee of the "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods" campaign alongside professional associations and local departments to provide support of $100200 for each video promoting Vietnamese businesses and products. In addition to advertising credits, TikTok plans a series of in-depth training programs to help improve digital transformation capacity and build brand identities for domestic sellers across the country, the conference heard. Vietnam EV market race heats up with presence of foreign brands By Lien Thuong, Minh Hue Fri, June 28, 2024 | 9:48 pm GMT+7 Vietnams electric vehicle (EV) market race has heated up with the entry of several foreign giants including BYD and Chery of China and MG of the UK. Over the past few months, there has been a massive rolling out of new electric car models in the nations 100-million-strong market, observers say. Some EV models present in Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Dang Kiet. Most recently, on June 18, famous German auto brand Audi officially launched its Q8 e-tron EV model in Vietnam. It is already offering two other models e-tron GT and e-tron SUV - in the market. Audi Q8 e-tron, which belongs to the mid-size luxury electric SUV segment, has a selling price of VND3.8 billion ($149,312). Customers will be gifted a 22kW ABB AC wall charger on orders placed this year. Q8 e-tron's rival is Mercedes EQE SUV, launched in the Vietnamese market in the second half of 2023 at a price of approximately VND4 billion. The world-renowned car maker began offering three other models EQB 250, EQE 500 and EQS 500 - in Vietnam earlier this year. All four models are imported directly from the U.S. On June 18, Chinese car producer Chery launched two hybrid EV models, Omoda C5 and Jaecoo J7 in Ho Chi Minh City. Omoda C5 belongs to the C-segment crossover and is said to have a price directly competitive with Mazda CX5 (about VND750 million or $29,470) while Jaecoo 7 crossover of the B+ segment is priced at about VND650 million. The Omoda & Jaecoo models were imported and distributed in Vietnam by a joint venture between Geleximco Group and Chery International. Previously, this joint venture had invested $800 million in building an automobile manufacturing and assembly factory in the northern province of Thai Binh with the goal of producing 200,000 vehicles per year and capturing 10% of the market share by 2028. On June 15, the world's largest electric car company, BYD, introduced three models: SEAL, DOLPHIN and ATTO3 in the sedan, hatchback and SUV segments, respectively. The price of SUV ATTO3, BYD's main product, is expected to be in the VND630-730 million ($28,680) range, while SEAL will cost VND900 million ($35,360), equivalent to the Thai market. These models will officially be offered for sale in Vietnam in mid-July. Meanwhile, another prominent name in the auto market, MG, officially launched its MG4 electric car model in the Vietnamese market on June 1. This brand, acquired by Chinas SAIC Motor in 2005, plans to sell the MG4 for VND800-900 million. No discussion of the EV market in Vietnam will be complete without mentioning the dominant presence of VinFast, a national brand that has received warm responses for its VF 6, VF 7, VF 8 and VF Wild models. Fierce competition Liu Xueliang, general manager of BYD Asia-Pacific auto sales division, had told the Vietnamese press earlier that his company did not consider VinFast a competitor and had great admiration for the Vietnamese brand. The car maker has made a lot of effort in Vietnam, virtually introducing the EV concept to Vietnamese users, he said. His firm wished to join hands with VinFast to develop the electric vehicle industry in Vietnam, Xueliang added. Market observers have said that the BYD representatives statements indicate the careful strategy adopted by the firm before entering a market like Vietnam, where VinFast, the "national car maker", has paved the way. They have also noted that BYD, the largest EV brand globally with 2023 sales of 3.02 million units, researched the Vietnamese market for 10 years before deciding to sell cars here, despite scoring success in other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia. Other major car makers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz or MG have also showed some caution in entering the Vietnamese EV market, introducing their models at the Vietnam Motor Show 2022 before venturing into official sales. Both experts and dealers have remarked that the EV race in Vietnam is unpredictable and fierce. "If you want to sell electric cars in Vietnam, you must invest in charging stations," said the manager of a car showroom in Ho Chi Minh City who declined to be named. Quan Tran, a market observer and distributor of many luxury car and motorbike models in HCMC, said buyers have to pay close attention to price and brand reputation. "Except for VinFast and Hyundai (partly), most electric cars in Vietnam are imported. High taxes and fees can push up their prices, not to mention reputation and brand recognition. Sometimes, luxury electric cars from Mercedes-Benz or Audi are easier to sell than lower-segment products," Quan said. The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) proudly recognizes the significant milestone achieved by two of its officers, Police Constable (PC) #15 Jermine Durrant and Police Constable (PC) #81 Delroy Pompey. June 15, 2024, marks 20 years of unwavering commitment and dedicated service to the organization. Both officers began their journey as Band Cadets before being officially enlisted into the constabulary on June 15, 2004. PC15 Jermine Durrant has shown exceptional dedication throughout his two decades of service. Upon reflecting on his career, he acknowledged the inherent challenges and triumphs of his role, emphasizing the necessity of perseverance and focus. "You have to know what you want out of the whole experience and stick to the plan, stated Durrant. His association with the RSVGPF began in December 2000 as a Band Cadet, where his musical proficiency was showcased through playing the flute and bass drum, as well as serving as a vocalist, assistant engineer, and drum major for the Police Band. During his tenure, he has also rendered his services at Union Island, Mustique, and the Central Police Station, dedicated to serving with integrity. PC81 Delroy Pompey has similarly dedicated most of his career to the Police Band, playing the Alto Saxophone. He has also served in the Special Services Unit (SSU), performed special duties when called upon in the Special Patrol Unit, and has played key roles in the Police Store Room and Beat and Patrol, where he currently serves. Pompey described his time in the RSVGPF as transformative, highlighting the personal growth he has experienced. "The organization has definitely changed me and contributed to who I am today; we always have to adapt, he exclaimed. His extensive knowledge of music theory has enabled him to function as a music teacher at Bethel Secondary and Georgetown Secondary Schools. Pompey left a word of advice for aspiring officers: "If youre looking for opportunities to serve our country and for self-development through training, the police force is the place for you. Learn as much as you can. He also encouraged young officers "to perform your duties as professionally as possible. The Commissioner of Police (Ag), Mr. Envill Williams, alongside his executive management team and the entire rank and file of the RSVGPF, salutes the contributions of PC15 Jermine Durrant and PC81 Delroy Pompey. Their dedication to maintaining law and order in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is commendable and serves as an inspiration to their peers and the nation they have so faithfully served. Sejilla McDowall, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has filed notice of her intention to appeal a matter against Adriana King had been stayed. Adriana King, a secondary school teacher at the time, was arrested and charged for obstructing the Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves way to Parliament on August 5, 2021, which was considering the passage of a law giving the government the right to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for public sector workers. Hundreds of people. King included, had come out in protest of the anticipated passage of the law, and amidst the furor, the prime minster received a laceration to his forehead. When the matter was eventually heard on May 28 this year at the Calliaqua Magistrate Court, after a series of adjournments occasioned moreso on the request of the state, Magistrate John Ballah stayed the prosecution of King. Ballah ruled that there clearly had been "an inordinate delay in hearing the matter but it could not be said that there was an abuse of process by the DPP. Ballh went on to say, ".there was a failure of the justice system to have a matter of this nature ventilated within a reasonable time and moreover in accordance with the Pre-Trial Timeline Guidelines. However, on Wednesday, Sejilla McDowall, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), filed notice of the states intention to appeal Magistrate Ballahs decision to stay the prosecution of King. Among the grounds for appeal was that the Magistrate made an error in law by ordering the stay of court proceedings delays of which had been contributed in no small measure by the defence. The DPP also cited that contrary to Magistrate Ballahs interpretation, the time limits of the magistrate court was applied. Evan Edison Deckron Scott Jr. is eleven years old. He spoke to THE VINCENTIAN in the presence of his parents- Deckron Scott and Edleen Dunbar-Scott. He placed 3rd overall and 3rd for boys. The quiet young man said with confidence that his rank was definitely expected. "I was working towards placing in the top 5, he announced, "I was always consistent with my schoolwork and always got good grades. He recalled that leading up to the exam, he practised a lot by using past papers. He also said that he needed to reinforce what he had learned at school and home, and therefore went to additional lessons. His parents also stepped up: "My parents would go through my notes and quiz me. They also used past paper questions and whatever corrections that were needed, were done. The past papers, he said, gave him a feel of how the questions on the exam could be structured, and allowed him to experiment with methods of arriving at answers. He described the exam as quite manageable. Evans next step will be one that takes him to the St. Vincent Boys Grammar School. "I want to follow in my dads footsteps and its the top boys school in St. Vincent, he posited. His aim is "to continue to work hard, and he hopes, "to continue to achieve success. Im also just looking forward to meeting other students like myself. He envisions a future in technology and is looking towards to becoming, "an entrepreneur with a business that designs and produces web applications and other digital applications. Infirmed by his own experience, he offered the following advice to those who will sit the CPEA next year and beyond: "... first and foremost, trust in the Lord, remember to pursue your dreams. My dad always told me, there is light at the end of every tunnel and hard work brings success. I believe that! Up to Wednesday, June 26, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had counted 23 homicides for the year. The number increased by two over a two-day period, June 24 to June 26. The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) confirmed by way of a press release dated June 25, that it had opened investigations into a homicide that occurred on the evening of June 24 in Belmont. The victim was identified as Kezron Deshong, a 26-year-old resident of Belmont. The police report stated that he had been shot multiple times by a single assailant, at the home of a relative. There was no discernible motive for the killing according to preliminary investigations. Deshong was transported to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during the course of receiving treatment. Hot on the heels of Deshongs fatal shooting, the police were called out to Harmony Hall where one Osborne Glasgow was shot and killed around 4:00am on Wednesday, June 26. Osborne, 63 years old, owned and managed an apartment building at Harmony hall. Police reported that he was fatally shot by one of three burglars during a home invasion. Osborne, his wife and children occupied the ground floor of the apartment building. The shooting death of Osborne threw the upscale and peaceful neighborhood of Harmony Hall into a state of shock and anger. It has, from all reports, avoided any disturbances whether by the legal or illegal discharge of firearms. Deshong and Osborne were recorded respectively as the 22nd and the 23rd homicides for the year. This country recorded a record 55 homicides in 2023. Police from Kenya stand on the tarmac of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport after landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Marckinson Pierre) About 400 Kenyan police officers have arrived in Haiti on Tuesday 25th June, as part of a UN-backed security intervention aiming to rescue the Caribbean country from a criminal insurrection that toppled the prime minister and brought death and chaos to the streets. The arrival of the first contingent of the of foreign police arrived came almost two years after the Caribbean country requested help to quell a surge in gang violence. News agencies who are still operating in Haiti reported that it was not clear what the officers first task will be, but their objective as stated was to steer Haiti out of a security crisis that has been intensifying since the president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021. Kenyan news, though, reported that they will be responsible for defending key infrastructure including the airport, the port, the presidential palace, and the gang-controlled highways connecting the besieged capital with the rest of Haiti. Before their departure, Kenyas president, William Ruto, told officers they would "bring hope and relief to communities torn apart by violence and ravaged by disorder. The Kenyan-led UN-back security force, a measure supported by CARICOM is expected to include forces from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda. Mixed feeling among Haitians The UN says more than 2,500 people have been killed or wounded this year as increasingly powerful gangs launched a coordinated uprising that paralysed the capital and forced the prime minister, Ariel Henry, to resign. Other sources have reported that rampant gang violence has killed or harmed thousands of children, women, and men, and over half a million people displaced. There were mixed feelings in Port-au-Prince as rifle-carrying Kenyans in combat gear touched down in a passenger jet emblazoned with the slogan The Pride of Africa. Many Haitians resent relentless foreign meddling in their affairs, particularly after the 2004-2017 UN stabilisation force, Minustah, was accused of human rights violations, sexual abuse and causing a devastating cholera outbreak. "The last UN mission ended disastrously, said Isaie Delson, 33, a barber forced to abandon his business in downtown Port-au-Prince by this years bloodshed. "Will [the Kenyan force] create more injustices? Delson, however, believed the mere announcement of the deployment had already had some effect, with shootings decreasing in recent days. "Some schools have reopened around here, too, he added. But he felt conflicted about seeing foreign boots on the ground, even if they had come to fight the gangsters who had destroyed his business. "[The gangsters] are also Haitians like me. Im torn, he said. Evelyne Jean, 56, a vendor also displaced by the insurrection and who now sleeps in a temporary camp, was more optimistic. "Oh Jesus Lord! Theyre here! she exclaimed, looking up at the sky, as the Kenyan forces landed. "For me, they should have been here ages ago. Concerned about the Kenyans record Haitians are also aware that Kenyan police have faced allegations of abuse for years, including extrajudicial killings. Most recently, they were accused of opening fire on protesters that stormed the parliament in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday. Non-profit organizations who work in Haiti have said theyre concerned about the Kenyan-led mission, especially since the U.N. recently announced that between 30% to 50% of members of armed groups are now children. "The risk of child casualties is significant, the U.S.-based nonprofit Save the Children said in a statement. "An increasing number of children in Haiti have been driven to join armed groups due to hunger and desperation. These children are victims of child rights violations, and must be treated as children, not as militias. For now, Haitians are closely watching the Kenyans with mixed feelings. "Theres a breeze of hope in the air, said Frantz Pradieu, a 39-year-old carpenter who was making a table, his first job in many months. "If the Kenyans work hard, maybe in a few months from now, the economy will turn around, he said. "A lot of people want to work. A lot of people lost their jobs. This has been a catastrophic situation for the last three years. Everybody is living in fear. People are being kidnapped. People are being raped. This needs to stop. (Sources: AP, REUTERS, Al Jazeera) The Prime Minister has promised that strategies to deal with spiraling crime here, especially violent crime, will be decided upon in discussion with the top brass of the police force. Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was expected to meet with top brass of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, to discuss possible strategies to deal with crime. Gonsalves made the announcement on June 26 shortly after this country recorded its 23rd homicide for 2024 and fifth homicide within a week and a half period. That was the death of Osborne Glasgow who was shot and killed at his home during a robbery. "I received a report this morning that a householder was shot and killed in the East St George area as a consequence of a robbery, Dr. Gonsalves said on radio earlier this week, and assured that the authorities were expected to double up their effort to catch those responsible for the crime. And he said that he had requested a report, not just that of what had recently taken place, but a full report from the leadership of the police force to determine what they were doing and in addition what they were required to do. The PM also said that he had spoken to Trevor Bailey, Assistant Commissioner of Police responsible for Crime, as the Commissioner was out of state, and had summoned a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners and Superintendents in order to have an action meeting. He said that that was all that he was prepared to say at that moment, but again, he assured the public that they can expect to see particular responses coming from the police. "We cannot allow a small minority a tiny minority of criminals to disturb the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful country, and I give my continued assurance, he said. The country has seen a spate of deadly shootings within recent days beginning with the shooting death of Zeno Lee who was shot and killed at Murrays Village on June 16; two days later on June 18 the lifeless body of Gary Glasgow a security at the School for Children with Special Needs was found on the schools compound with his throat slashed. Still on June 18, Dwayne Jacob was gunned down near his home in Paul Over and on June 24, there was a report of another deadly shooting Kezron De Shong who was shot and killed at his home in Belmont. A pair of men were allegedly motivated to kidnap four Pennsylvania women and hold them captive in a shipping container in an effort to "silence" them after they witnessed a suspected shooting, said authorities. Davaun Jackson, 28, has been accused of kidnapping, rape, strangulation, and a slew of other charges, in connection with the incident, according to Pennsylvania State Police, WBRE-TV, WHP-TV and WCAU-TV reported. Isaiah Rogers-Keeney, 19, was arrested as an accomplice. "It did spiral from a shooting incident in Wilkes Barre allegedly witnessed by one or more of the victims. And then there was some effort then to silence them, maybe some fear that they may implicate persons involved in the shooting," Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso said, noting it was a "miracle no one was killed," according to WBRE. On Monday, Jackson and Rogers-Keeney allegedly forced the women into a vehicle, robbed them of their phones and locked them in a shipping container on Jackson's property in Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania, after they witnessed an alleged crime. The victims were allegedly stripped of their clothing and bound inside the shipping container. Jackson allegedly threatened to kill the women with a chainsaw. The suspects were arrested Tuesday night at an area Walmart, and the victims were subsequently freed. Authorities have not disclosed the women's identities. Complaints reaching the Prime Minister might just have moved him to remind the school officials here that graduation is a right. Pictured are the 2024 graduates of the St. Vincent Grammar School. It is the Graduation Season here and how some of these ceremonies unfold has not escaped the attention of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves pointed fingers at the Ministry of Education for what he said was the Ministrys failure (or reluctance) to monitor some of the rules governing graduation. He noted that principals and teacher concerned were setting their own graduation rules and regulations resulting in some students being denied what he called the right to graduate. Some of those rules, included, according to the Prime Minister, that a student will not graduate of he/she misses an exam. The Prime Minister warned that such arbitrary action by some schools could well attract legal action by parents parents, he said, might be moved to sue the schools. Something must be amiss, the Prime Minister insinuated, if a student can use his/her seven subjects "to gain admission to Community College, but you cannot graduate. You can get them and go to university, but you cant graduate. Some parents will put these schools in court and win. Graduation, the Prime Minister reasoned, is not a privilege. He asserted that graduation is indeed a right, and even if it wasnt initially, it is a right based on the doctrine of reasonable expectation. Dr. Gonsalves accepted that, "We need rules, but they must be reasonable and proportionate. He added, "While I am confident that 99.9% of the rules are reasonable and proportionate, senior officials in the ministry sometimes need to monitor the complaints I receive. You dont want to have a situation where everything is centered and directed. You must give some latitude to the schools and their management. But surely they have to stay within a broad frame of reasonableness and proportionality. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Roshn Group, a leading developer powered by Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF, has signed agreements with four major Saudi banks - Arab National Bank, Bank Albilad, Bank AlJazira and Riyad Bank - that will see them offer a raft of financial services. The deal will include the provision of specialised banking services to Roshns sub-developers and contractors, reinforcing the groups commitment to supporting the kingdoms private sector while achieving operational excellence within its projects. The agreements will see the four banks offer a suite of enhanced banking services to sub-developers and contractors referred by Roshn, including competitive profit margins and coverage ratios. Services covered include expedited account opening, credit assessments, and the provision of credit facilities to eligible customers. Avinash Pangarkar, Group Chief Financial Officer of Roshn, said the agreements with these banks underline its commitment to empowering the private sector with better backing, expedited assessments, and streamlined financial services." "Sub-developers and contractors can plan and execute larger and more ambitious projects, contributing to their long-term growth and sustainability," noted Pangarkar. "As a key enabler of Vision 2030, we believe these strategic partnerships will enable operational excellence in the speed, scale and delivery of our projects, strengthening Roshns support for the private sector and our contribution to the Kingdom's vision of economic diversification and homeownership targets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Antaisolar and Bahra Electric have reached an agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) company and factory in Jeddah, SaudiArabia. It marks a milestone in Antaisolars expansion into the MiddleEast, positioning the new factory as a critical manufacturing and service hub for the region, providing solar trackers and mounting structures. With strong existence of Bahra and having its own 500,000 sq m factory in Jeddah, the JV factory is aiming to reach 8GW/annum by 2025, 15GW/annum by 2026 and 24GW/annum by 2027 respectively. This new company will focus on maximising local content and tackle utility-scale project challenges from design, manufacturing to logistics and maintenance. Bahra Electric said its joint venture is established with the aim of highly influential partners and mutual benefit and reciprocity. The co-operation reflects China-based Antaisolar and Bahras commitment to innovation, client satisfaction, and contributions to the economy and environment. The GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), which owns and manages the Gulf electrical interconnection network, said it has formalised a second financing agreement worth KD35 million ($114 million) with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, for the strengthening of the Gulf electricity interconnection system. The project is aimed at boosting the national electrical networks of GCC countries and help extend it to the southern Iraq network as well as increase reliability to ensure the sustainability of electrical energy at all times, said GCCIA in a statement. The agreement was signed by Abdullah Al Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs- Kuwait and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Fund, and Engineer Ahmed Al Ebrahim, the CEO of GCCIA. Al Ebrahim had early this year said that GCCIA was studying new projects to strengthen the internal network of the Gulf countries and expand connection with Bahrain and Qatar. A UAE delegation explored expanding opportunities for its private sector at the 10th SelectUSA Investment Summit, an event that promotes and facilitates business investment in the US, which took place from June 23-26, in Maryland, US. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, who led the UAE delegation to the summit, also visited Washington for talks with Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce, to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties. Dr Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed the importance of economic relations with the US, which is the UAEs third-largest global trade partner and accounts for 27% of Americas non-oil trade with the Arab World, at the meeting. In 2023, the two nations shared bilateral trade worth $40 billion, a 20.1% increase on the previous year and 50.2% growth compared to 2019. The pair discussed areas of mutual interest, including the ongoing collaboration on renewable energy development. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit, which is hosted by the US Department of Commerce and brings together public officials and corporate leaders, Al Zeyoudi also met Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey to discuss how UAE-based businesses, investors and family offices can either enter or expand their presence in the US market in areas of mutual interest, such as clean energy, logistics, infrastructure development and advanced technology. The summits workshops and seminars also enabled the delegation to learn about the various investment opportunities across the USA, enabling them to identify potential areas for collaboration and the means to access them. Addressing attendees from the US business community at a session organised by the UAE-US Business Council, Al Zeyoudi, said: Our visit to the US is a reflection of our commitment to finding new avenues of cooperation and to building partnerships at the public- and private-sector levels that further our economic diversification ambitions. SelectUSA is not only the ideal platform to discover the opportunities in the US market but to also to showcase the dynamism of the UAEs ecosystem, which is already home to more than 1,500 US companies. The UAE is the largest Arab investor in the USA with assets of more than $38.1 billion, accounting for over 50% of Arab investment into the country as of 2022. UAE investments in the US over the last five years have grown by $12 billion across a variety of sectors with a focus on transportation, business services and ICT. Majority UAE-owned firms employ over 24,300 US workers and help to increase US exports, contributing US$1.4 billion to the value of US goods exported in 2021. The value of Saudi Arabias non-oil exports to China during the past five years from 2019 to 2023 exceeded SR176 billion ($46.93 billion). Chemicals, polymers and metals topped in the list of Saudi non-oil exports to China, a report said. China occupies a prominent position as the first destination for Saudi exports, with a ratio of 15% of total exports, according to the international trade report for the first quarter of 2024 issued recently by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat), the Saudi Gazette said. Transport and logistics sector represents one of the major components of the services exports sector, and one of the promising sectors contributing to increasing non-oil exports, along with the goods and re-exports sectors. The export of services to China recorded their best performance in 2023, compared to previous years, with an increase of 40% over the previous year, with a value of SR182 billion, according to the preliminary data released by Gastat. The rise in services export was supported by the recovery of the travel sector, which recorded a surge of 43%. The travel sector constitutes 74% of the total services, with a value of SR135 billion, followed by the transport sector, whose exports amounted to SR24.2 billion, and then exports of communications services, with a value of SR6.3 billion. It is noteworthy that the efforts to boost Saudi exports to China are a continuation of Saudi Arabias efforts to further strengthen relations with China. The meeting of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 in Riyadh was a landmark initiative in this regard. During the visit several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between the two governments. These included a memorandum to enhance joint cooperation regarding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which is a key component of BRI. The Saudi-Chinese relations were strengthened significantly in 2019, following the visit of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to China, during which the summit level meetings reviewed the joint coordination efforts made to enhance cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China, which reflects the depth of relations and strategic partnership between the two friendly countries in various fields. A fugitive mother on the run accused of starving her 13-year-old special needs son to death was found dead in Texas. Serena Starkey, 53, of Birmingham, Alabama, died Friday nearly three weeks after she was named the primary suspect in the death of her son, Aston Starkey, according to police. Aston, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome, was found dead at a Birmingham Extended Stay America on March 2. His death was considered suspicious. Earlier this month, a medical examiner determined Aston died as a result of malnutrition and dehydration complicated by neglect, and his death was ruled a homicide, said police. An arrest warrant for murder was issued on Starkey June 7, and police have been searching for the runaway mom since. On Monday, detectives were notified of Starkey's death, which lacked obvious evidence of foul play, according to police. An autopsy is pending to determine a cause of death. Aston and his mother moved frequently and were living in Birmingham for about a year leading up to his murder, AL.com reported, citing police. He was not enrolled in school and was seldom taken to the doctor. Saudi Arabias trade balance recorded a surplus of SR41.41 billion ($11 billion) in April 2024, reaching its highest levels during the current year, achieving 36% growth on a monthly basis, a report said. According to preliminary data on international trade released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat), there has been an increase of SR10.967 billion in April compared to the surplus of SR30.443 billion achieved in the previous month of March, the Saudi Gazette said. The trade balance has achieved growth since the beginning of the current year by more than 48.5%, with an increase value of SR13.525 billion, as it was at the level of SR27.885 billion during the month of January. The volume of Saudi international trade amounted to more than SR162 billion, with merchandise exports accounted for SR101.708 billion, representing 63% of the total trade volume, while merchandise imports amounted to SR60.297 billion. National non-oil exports recorded a value of about SR16.234 billion in April 2024, representing 16% of total exports. Petroleum exports recorded a value of about SR79.326 billion, constituting 78% of total exports, while the value of re-exports amounted to about SR6.147 billion, representing six percent of total exports. The group of Asian countries other than Arab and Islamic countries topped the groups of exporting countries in April, accounting for 50.2% of the total merchandise exports to the kingdom, with a value of SR51.094 billion. The group of European Union countries came as second largest group of exporting countries with a percentage of 16.5% of the total merchandise exports, with a value amounting to SR16.757 billion. The group of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states came third, accounting for 12.4 percent of total merchandise exports, with a value amounting to SR12.562 billion. With regard to exports by country wise, the authority report stated that China came in the first place as the largest exporting country, accounting for 16.6% of total merchandise exports to Saudi Arabia, with a value of SR16.925 billion in April 2024. Japan came second with a value of SR9.321 billion or 9.2% of the total merchandise exports, and India stood third with a value of SR8.250 billion, representing 8.1% of total merchandise exports. StartUp Bahrain Pitch series recently featured four Bahraini startups Daleel, Qetaat, Takhlees and Parcel among which Daleel emerged the winner. Parcel was adjudged second. The event was organised by StartUp Bahrain, the leading platform for startups in Bahrain, supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). It was organised in collaboration with key industry stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain Development Bank (BDB). This edition featured a keynote speech by Mohammed Al Aali who discussed the four pillars of investment that incentivise an investor to select a startup to invest in. The event was highlighted to a panel of experienced local and regional judges, including: Dr Jonathan Doerr, Partner at Antler; Saif Almaamari Venture Capitalist and Startup Mentor at Omantel; Ivo Detelinov, General Partner at Oryx Fund; and Mohammed Al Aali, Managing Director at United Enterprises. Great potential Exhibiting great potential for growth and success through their pitches, the startups impressed the judges. Daleel is a financial marketplace that helps individuals find the best financial products and aids financial partners in acquiring new customers and gaining insights. Parcel is a fully digital delivery solution for homes and small businesses, serving over 500,000 customers and becoming Bahrain's leading delivery provider. Qetaat is a comprehensive e-commerce platform focused on urban development sectors, specifically real estate, construction and industrial sectors, offering related products and services. Takhlees is a one-stop platform mobile app for all clearance needs, simplifying administrative tasks with seamless online or offline access and document pickup and delivery. Reflecting on their remarkable win, the Daleel team expressed great pride in this achievement which was made possible through this unique opportunity to present their startup on a national scale and in front of investors and entrepreneurship experts.--TradeArabia News Service Mena and Central Asian telecoms stakeholders came together at a roundtable during MWC Shanghai 2024, to discuss industry policies, successful practices and valuable insights on key industry trends. The session, Middle East and Central Asia ICT Policy and Governance Forum, was moderated by the GSMA, bringing together regulators and operators from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. The stakeholders included senior officials from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and Huawei. Themed "Driving Policy and Innovation to Shape Our Digital Future," the forum discussed the importance of spectrum, optical, and datacom policy planning and explored how carriers, enterprises, oversight agencies, and regulators can enhance mobile security capabilities and provide guidance for risk management strategies. NESAS and MCKB The meeting also sought to promote the adoption of GSMA's Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS) and Mobile Cybersecurity Knowledge Base (MCKB). Attendees also reviewed industry policies and best practices, with examples from China's successful use cases. Jeff Wang, President of the Public Affairs and Communications Department, Huawei, said: "To fully reap digital dividends, we need to pay more attention to enhancing connectivity, embracing digital application, and empowering digital talent." NESAS demonstrates how global collaborative efforts can address cybersecurity, offering a standardised assessment mechanism jointly defined by GSMA and 3GPP. It serves as a fundamental security baseline, developed in accordance with security standard guidelines pertaining to vendors' product development and lifecycle processes. NESAS is valuable to both operators and vendors and is intended to be used alongside other mechanisms to ensure network security throughout its lifecycle. MCKB seeks to help stakeholders manage risks in the 5G ecosystem by providing essential insights for their risk management strategy and guidance covering best practices and risk mitigation measures. The framework offers clear instructions for taking step-by-step actions to build security assurance while considering the entire risk spectrum of mobile end-to-end networks. It aims to enhance mobile security competencies and capabilities, strengthening the work of carriers, enterprises, oversight agencies and regulators. A focus on policy implementation and cybersecurity The forum featured two sessions focused on policy implementation and cybersecurity. The ICT Policy Implementation session explored spectrum planning for 5G and 5G-A networks, universal service funds (USF) and policies to promote mobile connectivity in rural areas, strengthening regulation of mobile and fixed networks to improve digital economy foundations. The session provided recommendations for various countries, such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iraq, based on their specific needs and achievements in these areas. More than 50 countries globally are investing in super-fast optical fiber networks and Giga broadband to handle the network demands from future technologies like AR/VR and high-definition streaming. This digital upgrade is crucial to support the development of the regional ICT industry while ensuring a smooth user experience. Operators in the Mena region especially need to improve their optical fibre networks to ensure homes and offices have the speed and stability for these advancements. Cybersecurity issues The Cybersecurity Session focused on building a Telecom-Information Security Management System (T-ISMS) to manage current cybersecurity issues facing telcos globally. The session covered key topics such as the roles and responsibilities of telecom cybersecurity for various stakeholders, implementing holistic telecom cybersecurity with collaboration between stakeholders and how regulatory authorities can promote telecom cybersecurity. Robust national network development strategies, aligned with visions and key industries, are crucial for Mena. The growing demand for advanced services necessitates network upgrades, vital for ambitious projects like Saudi Arabia's 10Gbs Society. Supportive policies from governments will incentivise carriers and enterprises to invest in infrastructure optimisation. Joining the session, Lin Yanqing, Principal Consultant, Industry Policy Public & Government Affairs, Huawei Technologies, and Mr. Aloysius Cheang, Chief Security Officer, Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, reiterated that Huawei has taken a proactive approach to telecom cybersecurity standardisation. Cheang said: As we chart our journey into the digital future, cybersecurity must safeguard the trust and resiliency of the network, the cyberspace, and the metaverse where data is the new oil as organisations' assets are increasingly digitalised or virtualised. We must ensure that we continue to embrace the culture of openness, transparency, and collaboration. Cybersecurity is a team sport, and together with GSMA, we can leverage their good work, such as NESAS and MCKB, that will lay the foundation to secure broadband, 5G, 5G-A, and beyond. The executives explained that Huawei works with the GSMA, the ITU, the 3GPP, and others, as well as through partnerships with security organisations and companies, to ensure the security of its customers and promote the healthy development of the mobile ecosystem. Huawei has passed NESAS/SCAS 2.0 evaluations for its 5G base station and NESAS audits for its RAN and core network, demonstrating the company's commitment to cybersecurity.--TradeArabia News Service Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions in Dubai, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Blacklane Middle East, the regions leading chauffeur service provider, to promote the adoption of international best practices. The agreement is part of Dubai Taxi's ongoing efforts to strengthen its strategic partnerships with major local and international companies specialised in transportation industry. It aims to develop its financial revenues by improving service quality and providing luxury mobility experiences for visitors and residents, thereby contributing to Dubai's position as a top global tourist destination. The MoU was signed at DTCs headquarters, between Abdulla Ibrahim Almeer, Chief Business Transformation Officer of Dubai Taxi Company, and Nicolas Soucaille, General Manager of Blacklane Middle East, in attendance. Also present were senior officials from both sides. World-class Services Founded in 2011, Blacklane operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. The company focuses on bringing peace-of-mind experiences to guests with a focus on utmost comfort, reliability and sustainability. In the Middle East, Blacklane operates an exclusive fleet of all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS vehicles, driven by a team of male and female chauffeurs. Each chauffeur is rigorously trained at the Blacklane Chauffeur Training Academy, embodying the highest standards of professional service, safety, and discretion. Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to sustainability, Blacklane ensures every ride is 100% carbon neutral by off-setting all carbon emissions, setting the benchmark for eco-friendly transportation. Under the MoU, Dubai Taxi and Blacklane Middle East will collaborate to enhance travel experiences to ensure maximum comfort and luxury for guests in alignment with international best practices. The partnership will also focus on promoting the digital transformation of services to streamline the vehicle booking process and setting plans to meet the highest quality standards. Additionally, both companies will work together on developing future plans, initiatives, and projects aimed at providing innovative, distinguished, and digital transport services. Abdulla Ibrahim Almeer stressed that the MoU is a key part of Dubai Taxi's strategic initiative aimed at expanding the scope of its premiere mobility services. The partnership is set to enhance the luxury transport sector by employing advanced technologies and adopting the latest innovative solutions in limousine services, thereby enriching the mobility experience in Dubai. Almeer highlighted that Dubai Taxi's limousine fleet, comprising 387 vehicles, is designed to serve a diverse range of customers, including Dubai visitors, residents. We are thrilled to partner with Dubai Taxi Company, the cornerstone of Dubais mobility ecosystem for the citys commuters, said Nicolas Soucaille, General Manager for Blacklane Middle East. This partnership represents a strategic alliance reflecting our shared commitment to redefining mobility through innovation. DTC's ambitious vision for mobility excellence aligns with our mission to enhance travel experiences with unrivalled luxury and efficiency. Together, we aim to deliver a service that will not only meet but exceed the expectations of every traveller in Dubai, reinforcing the city as a leading global travel destination. TradeArabia News Service Smart Mobility International has signed an agreement with AVATR Technology to become the exclusive distributor of AVATR's innovative range of vehicles. AVATR Technology, a leading manufacturer of luxury New Energy Vehicles, is a joint venture between Changan Automobile and CATL, a world-leading smart energy technology company, along with a strategic partnership with Huawei. Together, this partnership empowers AVATR with vehicle R&D, innovative smart energy technology, and an intelligent ecosystem. Led by Chief Designer Nader Faghihzade, formerly of BMW, the sleek, modern, and aerodynamic vehicles are designed at AVATR Technologys global design center in Munich. The agreement was signed on June 20 in the presence of Sheikh Saif Bin Mohammed Bin Butti Al Hamed and Zhang Yiming, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the UAE, along with several distinguished guests from the global automotive industry. The agreement was signed by Moutaz Louis, CEO of Smart Mobility International and Wang, Vice President of AVATR Technology. Leading consumer Wang commented: The UAE is one of the leading consumers of high-end luxury vehicles, and the UAE will soon experience our class-defining range of Smart Electric Vehicles (SEVs). This is our first export market outside of China, and we are delighted to partner with Smart Mobility International to bring AVATR to the UAE. Louis remarked: AVATR is set to revolutionise the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market with a range of products that define a new class of luxury and performance. We are excited to see the reaction of our UAE customers. AVATR: Class-Defining Style, Technology, and Performance AVATR will be introduced to UAE customers through a major launch campaign during Q4 2024. This campaign aims to leverage the anticipation and excitement for the brand across physical and digital channels, as well as exclusive launch events for VIPs and potential customers. The first AVATR showroom is set to open in a prime location on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. The showroom will reflect the innovative spirit of AVATR, offering a premium customer experience with state-of-the-art facilities and personalised services. The first products to launch will be the flagship AVATR 11 and AVATR 12, with additional Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) models planned for release in 2025.--TradeArabia News Service The Turkish Airlines has introduced new flights from Rize, a coastal city in the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey, to Jeddah and Riyadh. The new routes aim to meet the increasing demand for international travel between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, a report said. The airlines will operate a weekly service between Rize and Jeddah. This route is scheduled to operate every Saturday with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the Travel and Tour World said. Jeddah, known for its proximity to the Red Sea and as a gateway for pilgrims heading to Mecca, is a crucial destination for both religious and leisure tourism. The new route is expected to facilitate easier access for travellers from Turkey, thereby boosting tourism and cultural exchange, a statement said. The Rize to Riyadh route offers one weekly flight, increasing to two weekly flights from June 26, 2024. Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is a significant centre for business and cultural activities. Additionally, the Turkish Airlines has also introduced a weekly flight from Rize to Gassim, a Saudi Arabian province, that will operate until August 19, 2024. The Gassim region is known for its historical and cultural significance, making it an attractive destination for tourists. EU pork suppliers call for dialogue with China 09:33, June 28, 2024 By Jiang Tingting, Zhang Tuo and Hao Wangle ( Xinhua BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Officials and industry insiders in the European Union (EU) called for dialogue with China, after China's Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-dumping investigation into pork imports from the bloc. The year-long probe was initiated on June 17 at the request of the China Animal Agriculture Association. EU is China's largest source of pork imports, exporting 3.3 billion U.S. dollars worth of pork and related products to China last year. EU officials and pork producers have voiced their worries about China's possible anti-dumping duties on the bloc's pork exports, saying such measures could deal "a heavy blow" to the sector. Ksenija Simovic, senior policy adviser for trade at Copa-Cogeca, Europe's largest farmer lobby, said "The European Commission should ensure that our sector does not bear the burden for disputes involving other sectors." CHINESE PRODUCERS HURT In its petition submitted to the Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese association said the prices of EU pork exports showed a significant downward trend from 2020 to 2023, falling 8 percent during the period. The continuous price decline has forced domestic pork producers to slash their prices by 20-50 percent, which has undermined the interests of the domestic industry, it said. Pork is the main source of animal protein for Chinese people, accounting for nearly 60 percent of residents' meat consumption. As the world's largest producer and consumer of pork, China has been expanding imports from the EU, which accounted for 54 percent of the country's total pork imports from 2020 to 2023. According to the EU's 2023-2027 mid-term budget, the bloc pays 194 billion euros in agricultural subsidies directly to its member states, averaging 38.8 billion euros per year. Of the total, 82 percent could possibly go to high-emission livestock industries, including pig raising and related sectors, said the petition. "The large amount of subsidies provided by the EU and its related member states has seriously distorted the market environment of fair competition," said a source from the association. EU SUPPLIERS' WORRIES Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas told reporters in Madrid that he hopes and expects that "there will be room for understanding, for negotiation, and to avoid the imposition of tariffs on agricultural and food products." Spain is the biggest EU pork supplier to China, followed by the Netherlands, Denmark and France. Spain exported 560,488 tonnes of pork products worth 1.2 billion euros to China in 2023, representing 20.3 percent of its total pork exports by volume and 13.7 percent by value, according to Interporc, Spain's pork producers' association. The anti-dumping measures could impact Europe badly because a large portion of the bloc's pork exports to China are pig ears, noses, feet and offal that are rarely consumed by Europeans. "It is not easy for the bloc to find an alternative market in a short time," said Zhao Yongsheng, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics. As many pork producers in the EU rely heavily on export markets, losing the vast Chinese market would result in "significant losses for EU pork traders," said Bai Ming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce. CALLS FOR DIALOGUE The European Commission has proposed to levy provisional additional tariffs of up to 38.1 percent on China-made EVs starting from early July, after initiating an anti-subsidy investigation last year. "The commission initiated the investigation on its own. But such an ex officio initiation without having received a complaint is more likely to be politically inclined," said Sun Lei, a lawyer and senior partner with Dentons, a law firm. Industry specialists said that the strong export of China's NEVs is well underpinned by its industrial chain, which has built up its strength under full market competition, not state subsidies. If the EU could impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars citing the excuse of unsubstantiated subsidies, it would be justifiable for China to levy taxes on the EU's heavily-subsidized agricultural sector, they said. Amid strong opposition from China and some EU member economies, the bloc has agreed to start talks with China on the planned imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. During a meeting with German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Saturday, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said China is willing to consider the reasonable concerns of both parties to avoid the escalation of trade frictions in a rational and professional manner. Mauro Portela Lorenzo, trade officer from the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Shanghai, told Xinhua that all Spanish manufacturers involved are keen to collaborate and proactively provide all necessary information in seek of a favorable investigation outcome. He said he hopes "there will be a positive solution to this investigation." Zhao believed that the door for trade negotiations between the two parties is open. "China, which has the initiative in terms of market access, technology, industrial chains, and logistics, is willing to accommodate the interests of both sides during negotiations," he said. Bassas Romeu Gerard, chairman of Salomei, a Spanish manufacturer of sausages, said he hoped China and the EU can lower tariffs to boost bilateral trade. The company set up a subsidiary in the city of Xuanwei, southwest China's Yunnan Province, in late 2023, and uses pork from both China and abroad as raw material. "Dialogue and consultations are definitely the right way to solve disputes and avoid a vicious spiral of trade friction escalations," he said. (Wu Meng and Zhou Rui contributed to the story) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Sen. Dawn Buckingham speaks during the Save America Rally, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Conroe. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Attorney General Ken Paxton talks with supporters during his election night watch party at Wilco Work Space in Cedar Park, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Sam Owens, Staff Photographer / San Antonio Express-News Attorney General Ken Paxton embraces his wife Sen. Angela Paxton before addressing his supporters during his election night watch party at Wilco Work Space in Cedar Park, Texas, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Sam Owens, Staff Photographer / San Antonio Express-News Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and State Senator Dawn Buckingham, running for Texas Land Commissioner, and Kevin Sparks, running for Texas State Senate hold a joint press conference 05/12/2022 at the Petroleum Museum. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram Tim Fischer, Photographer / Midland Reporter-Telegram Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian speaks during a panel discussion at the Empower, a bitcoin mining event, held at 8th Wonder Brewery, 2202 Dallas St., Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in Houston. Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer Texas Republicans like things the way they are, re-nominating candidates facing corruption allegations and bullies who harass businesses that dont march to their conservative drumbeat. The Republican primary has been the only statewide election that has counted since 1994, the last time a Democrat won. Tuesdays run-offs made clear the party faithful support incumbents and reject challengers to the status quo. For some, thatll be bad for business. Two-thirds of voters in the run-off dont care that Attorney General Ken Paxton has used every possible legal maneuver to avoid resolving his seven-year-old indictments for securities fraud. As the states top law enforcement officer, who claims hes innocent, youd think hed want to prove it in court. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Conservatives also dont seem to care that his top deputies reported him to the FBI for corruption. If you need a legal opinion to save your business, want law enforcement files to disappear, or could use a lawyer to go after your enemies, GOP voters think the attorney general should be available to help. Note to any business people who may need some extra legal services in the next four years: Paxtons campaign is accepting donations for the general election in November. So is Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian if youre in the oil and gas business. GOP voters did not mind that he accepted a $100,000 campaign donation from a neighborhood company just weeks after he overruled commission experts and approved the firms plans for an oilfield waste dump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His opponent, attorney Sarah Stogner, exposed Christians suspicious, if perfectly legal, acceptance of donations from the oil and gas interests he regulates. Of course, she had to expose herself in a campaign ad to get into the run-off, but that revealed more about GOP politics than her body. Oil and gas executives may rest easy knowing Christian will likely sweep to victory later this year. They dont need to worry about state inspectors investigating their old wells leaking radioactive brine or any new regulations limiting their release of greenhouse gases. And if you need someone to overrule the commissions environmental scientists, you know whom to call. Texas Republicans also still love former President Donald Trump. He endorsed Paxton and Dawn Buckingham, the nominee to lead the General Land Office. Shell oversee the leasing of public land for fossil fuel and renewable energy projects, managing disaster relief funds and maintaining the Alamo. Dont worry, though. The state senator from the Austin suburbs defends Texas oil and natural gas production and opposes President Joe Bidens plan to expand renewable energy production. Shes in the fossil fuels forever camp. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Business leaders will need to get in lockstep with Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the top of the ticket. These dedicated defenders of traditional family values no longer bow to the chambers of commerce; they expect fealty as they demonize LGBT people and refugees along the border. Patrick is making an example of Disney, opposing what he considers the companys sexualization of children. Hell call for a boycott of any other business that fights the Dont Say Gay bill he has planned for next year. Companies that think they can get around the states anti-abortion laws by flying women out of state should also think again. Deer Parks state Rep. Briscoe Cain and 13 other lawmakers plan to expel from Texas any company that skirts an expected abortion ban, The Texas Tribune reported. The state of Texas will take swift and decisive action if you do not immediately rescind your recently announced policy to pay for the travel expenses of women who abort their unborn children, Cain and his allies wrote to Lyft CEO Logan Green. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This group passed the vigilante law allowing people to sue anyone who assists with an abortion inside the state. Their next move is to enable shareholders to sue any corporation that facilitates any abortion anywhere. Executives should also remember that Texass governmental entities are forbidden from doing business with companies that boycott gun manufacturers or fossil fuel producers. Enforcing those laws falls on incumbent State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, a Republican who made his name passing anti-abortion legislation. Hes also up for re-election in November and making a list of companies to target. If you follow Patricks advice, though, and stay out of their culture war, Texas elected officials will reward you. The state constitution bars an income tax, property tax appeals are easy, and lawmakers are more interested in repealing commercial regulations than writing new ones. Democrats offer an alternative future, of course, but they would have to get their act together, raise some money, and collect more votes. Right now, the odds are on more corruption and coercion, not less. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Chris Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics. twitter.com/cltomlinson The mother of the suspect in the double murder of Tara Geeta Ramsaroop and her infant daught 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. I am a resident of Princes Town, and I want to grab the attention of the Ministry of Educati The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Re: the June 23 article Fingerprint Clearance Card, ESA vouchers. As Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Tucson, I am compelled to respond to a guest opinion by Representative Nancy Gutierrez to publicly correct a grave misrepresentation she made regarding a statement in her article where Rep. Gutierrez asserts that private schools in Arizona do not mandate the same level of fingerprint clearance and safety measures as do public schools. While I cannot speak for all private schools in the state of Arizona, I can certainly speak for the diocesan and parish Catholic schools within the Diocese of Tucson, whose locations include Tucson, Sierra Vista, Douglas, Nogales, Casa Grande, San Carlos, and Yuma. The Diocese of Tucson Human Resources and Safe Environment policy requires the following compliance process and protocol for anyone who works directly with children in our diocesan and parish Catholic schools: FBI Background Check: All newly hired school personnel must successfully complete an FBI background check prior to their first day of work on the school campus. Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card: All employees who work directly with children must have a valid Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card on file. In addition, diocesan policy requires that all schools annually verify Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Cards for each employee and submit the verification to the Human Resources Department. Catholic Mutual Group (CMG) Safe Environment compliance process: All employees who work directly with children must complete our Catholic Mutual Group (CMG) Safe Environment training, fingerprinting, and background check prior to being allowed on campus. The background check is refreshed annually for every employee. The CMG training is renewed every three years. In addition, all employees and volunteers, regardless of whether they work directly with children or not, must complete the CMG Safe Environment training, fingerprinting, and background check prior to their first day of work. The Diocese of Tucson Safe Environment policies provide a more rigorous standard of safety than is required by the state of Arizona or our neighboring public-school districts. In essence, the new fingerprinting statute for any schools that accept ESA funds is irrelevant to the much more rigorous clearance process we already have in place. Students served by our diocesan and parish Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tucson are provided the utmost protection through the above-mentioned policies and procedures of which our Catholic school administrators are required to adhere. The protection of children, adolescents, and adults served in our Catholic schools has, and always will be, a top priority of our Bishop, Department of Catholic Schools, Human Resources, Office of Child, Adolescent, and Adult Protection, and our Catholic school administrators. Amanda Drane is the energy investigative reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Amanda is responsible for holding major energy companies, power providers and their leadership to account. She works to help audiences make sense of these companies roles and responsibilities in major news events, while diving into some of the consequences of their choices and decisions in our region. Before joining the papers business desk in May 2020, she worked as a City Hall reporter in Massachusetts, where she won regional awards for covering issues such as police accountability and the exploitation of undocumented restaurant workers. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum announced last week the names of five new Secretaries essential for Mexicos well-being: Economy (Marcelo Ebrard); Sciences, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Rosaura Ruiz); Foreign Affairs (Juan Ramon De la Fuente); Environment and Natural Resources (Alicia Barcena); and Agriculture and Rural Development (Julio Berdegue). It has been said that in politics there are no coincidences. The symbolism of these simultaneous announcements, all of whom share a strong commitment to science, environmental care, and Mexicos international role, should not go unnoticed. The appointments suggest that, in line with her own scientific and environmentalist background, President-elect Sheinbaum values the role of science and nature for human well-being in its fullest extent. The contrast with the current administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose government has disregarded science and the environment altogether, could not be stronger. Those five public servants will be responsible for key portfolios for the security and prosperity of Mexicans. Barcena and Ruiz are both reputed biologists/ecologists and Berdegue is an experienced agronomist. As former Mexico City Major, Ebrard was named Worlds Best Mayor for mobilizing other mayors to combat climate change. De la Fuente is a medical doctor, once chancellor of Mexicos National Autonomous University, and former Secretary of Health, so he must realize the interdependence between a healthy environment and human health. Four of the fiveRuiz, De la Fuente, Berdegue, and Barcenahave substantial, first-hand experience in scientific research. Four of the five also have solid experience in international politics. Barcena as United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Chief of Staff to the UN Secretary-General, and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; Ebrard as Secretary of Foreign Affairs; De la Fuente as Mexicos Ambassador to the UN; and Berdegue as UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean. Although it is too early to know, these appointments seem to indicate that science and the environment will play a central role in Sheinbaums public policies, and that Mexico will seek to recover its leadership in the international environmental agenda, especially in the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversityall grossly neglected by the current administration. If all this were to be true, we would then expect scientific knowledge to be the compass of governmental action. Water, the environment, and climate change will become presidential and national priorities. Some of the most immediate challenges facing President-elect Sheinbaum and her team include protecting environmental activists (more than 100 have been murdered during this administration); regaining the trust of scientists and environmentalists; bringing businesses on board to contribute their fair share; and rebuilding the federal institutions in charge of climate change, water, forests, seas, fisheries, protected natural areas, knowledge of biodiversity, and environmental justice, which were almost torn to pieces over the last six years. I trust this happens. I might, however, be too naive. Six years ago, I believed Lopez Obradors promises that he was going to protect the environment and be guided by scientific knowledge, and I was proved wrong. Only time will tell. On the other hand, Mexicos greatest challenge in the international environmental arena will be to recover its leadership place in Latin America and the world, particularly in the fight against climate change. We must ally ourselves with progressive leaders such as Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), and Gabriel Boric (Chile) who have demonstrated their commitments in this regard. This alliance is even more relevant today given the possibility that Donald Trumpthe fiercest climate change denier and number one enemy of multilateralismmight win the U.S. presidency on November 5. In summary, the recent appointments are, in principle, good news in efforts to move forward in the search for a more just, sustainable, and prosperous Mexico. It will be the responsibility of every Mexican to monitor the environmental performance of the new federal administration and each of its members. 36N, the largest investment in affordable housing in the citys history, is rising out of the ground in north Tulsa. It didnt happen by accident, as Rick Neal, chairman of the Tulsa Housing Authoritys Board of Commissioners, reminded the crowd gathered Thursday at a groundbreaking celebrating the beginning of construction on Phase 1 of the project. In 1957, Dr. (Martin Luther) King said that the persistent and urgent question was, What are we doing for others? Persistent and urgent. Think about that. Those adjectives, when used together, I believe, communicate a call to action, Neal said at the 36th Street North Event Center. In 1967, when our city leaders created the Tulsa Housing Authority, there was a persistent and urgent need for affordable housing. A great deal has been done since then, but that need for affordable housing continues. And were here today, 57 years later, answering that persistent and urgent call to action. 36N is being built on property near 36th Street North and Peoria Avenue once occupied by Comanche Park Apartments. Over the next five years, plans call for the construction of 545 units, including 271 subsidized units, 165 workforce units and 109 market rate units. A private developer plans to build seven single-family residential homes, as well. Phase 1 of the project, known as the Phoenix @ 36N, will include 51 one-bedroom units and 49 two-bedroom units. Eighty of the units will be a mix of subsidized and workforce units, and 20 will be market-rate units. There will be 3,500 square feet of commercial space that will include a market offering fresh fruits and vegetables. The Phoenix @ 36N also is expected to include green spaces, an urban farm, a neighborhood grocery store and continued work on the Flat Rock Creek Urban Wilderness Area. This development is historic because, as we know, Black neighborhoods in Tulsa and, in fact, throughout this country have endured a long history of structural racism and chronic divestment, and the 36th Street neighborhood is no different, said City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper. Duewan Triplett, a father of four and a former resident of Comanche Park Apartments, said he plans to live at 36N once a suitable apartment becomes available. THA officials say Phase 1 construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. When I came here, all I heard about was negative, negative, negative, Triplett said. And Im so glad that someone has taken the time all of our community partners to really revitalize what we can do. I want my kids to have every opportunity that there is, and this is just the start of it. 36N is the second THA project to be awarded a federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant. In 2018, the authority received a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant to revitalize the Eugene Field neighborhood in west Tulsa. Funding for the $216.8 million 36N project includes a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant. The other funding has come from the city ($15.6 million), philanthropies ($28.5 million), THA ($12.5 million), low-income tax credits ($61.6 million) and first mortgage debt ($48.3 million). The philanthropic partners of the project include the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Ascension St. John Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies and the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Brandon Oldham, a senior program officer with GKFF, spent the first four years of his life at Comanche Park Apartments. Like many Black families in the area, my family was rooted in Greenwood, Oldham said. My mother brought me home from Hillcrest hospital to my grandmothers apartment in Comanche. This was the first home I ever knew. Our childhoods shape our memories, Oldham said, and he is not different. For me, I think of the candy lady. I think of running and biking quickly from stray dogs. I think of the feeling of plenty as we navigated the realities of lack. I think of normalizing metal detectors in schools, Oldham said. But most of all, I think of a longing for opportunity. Im immensely grateful for the courageous partners involved with this project, which will spur opportunity for north Tulsa residents. Felix Clary Tulsa World Indigenous Affairs Reporter Follow Felix Clary 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 Bacone Colleges Board of Trustees filed for bankruptcy last week after receiving legal guidance that it was their only chance to keep the Muskogee campus off the real estate market. Utah-based company MHEC, Midgley-Huber Energy Concepts, has been attempting to sue Bacone for two years over uncompensated HVAC work done on the campus. MHEC has put the campus on auction twice in the past two years. Each time, the auction was canceled with less than 24 hours notice. Former Bacone Interim President Nicky Michael said she never knew why the sale kept getting canceled. Current Interim President Leslie Hannah said in a Tulsa World interview Thursday that the sale was canceled because MHEC kept finding other creditors, so the company withdrew to add the other creditors to its lawsuit. The last land sale in December was canceled 40 minutes before it was to begin, as more creditors popped up claiming to be in line before MHEC. MHEC is not just wanting their piece of the pie. Theyre wanting the whole pie, so other people who had a claim on Bacone, MHEC just added them to the suit. They even added a John Doe space, just in case somebody else popped up, Hannah said. He said the boards decision to enter into bankruptcy is an attempt to save the campus and the college. Weve been advised by multiple attorneys that if MHEC has tried a land sale twice, bankruptcy would take precedence over that, and they could not make us go to land sale again, Hannah said. If we lose the campus, we lose the whole college. The judge asked for a reorganization plan before July 5, and Hannah said it was submitted at the same time the board filed for bankruptcy. The plan consists of disclosing debts owed to utility and insurance companies, lenders, the IRS and attorneys and the schools plan to compensate each entity. Our bankruptcy attorney said the judge was pleased, said Hannah. We might have to tweak a few things, but its a sound plan. He approved of it. Bacone is suspending academic operations for one year. Hannah hopes it will have a soft opening next fall semester, accepting a couple dozen students and perhaps starting with online courses. As many problems as Bacone has, one of the problems they have is healthy housing and healthy buildings. Some of those buildings are infested with mold. I dont want to house any students in substandard housing, Hannah said. The board doesnt know where it will get funding for the renovations at this time, but Hannah said the renovations are on the side burner until we get as many of these debtors off our back as we can. The Tulsa World attempted to contact MHEC but was unsuccessful. The Tulsa World is where your story lives OKLAHOMA CITY Reporters covering Thursdays State Board of Education meeting found a message waiting in their chairs from Superintendent Ryan Walters chief policy advisor. Stop chasing ghosts! read notes signed Matt and accompanied by a ghost character in a small bottle. The notes appeared on cards with Matt Langstons State Department of Education address and contact information. Lawmakers from both parties have asked the Attorney Generals Office to investigate the salary and benefits paid by the Education Department to Langston, describing him as a potential ghost employee involved more with promoting Walters political aspirations than with doing any substantial work on behalf of the state. Walters has acknowledged that Langston doesnt have an Oklahoma State Department of Education contract or agreement of employment and has been classified as either a temporary or part-time employee since January 2023. Public records indicate that Langston was paid $113,500 in 2023 and had been paid $45,475 from January through March of this year, the World has reported. He also has received state benefits despite his part-time status. Walters and Langston left the board room together after Thursdays meeting adjourned. Langston did not offer comment on the notes. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Brooke Taylor courtesy Brooke Taylor is leaving Houston for Dallas. The KTRK reporter and fill-in anchor is "so thrilled" to be joining Fox News as a national news correspondent based in Dallas. She revealed the news on social media. "Today is my final day at ABC13. I want to thank all our loyal viewers, the station and community for believing in me over the last three years. It has been so rewarding to tell and break impactful stories," Taylor wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I truly feel so lucky to do what I love every single day. Thank you to the community for trusting me. I couldn't have done this without you." Her bio states that she is "always looking for stories that her competitors don't have and is not afraid to ask tough questions on behalf of the community. She has quickly made a name for herself in Houston as someone who scores countless exclusive interviews and has broken many stories due to thorough investigative reporting." Tourism's contributions to the Vietnamese economy, including both direct and indirect amounts, are expected to exceed 15 percent of the country's GDP this year, according to a newly-released report by VinaCapital, a Vietnam-based investment and asset management firm. Michael Kokalari, chief economist at VinaCapital, said purchases by foreign tourists have accounted for approximately 10 percent of retail sales in Vietnam this year, significantly bolstering the country's economic growth. Foreign tourism puts money into the hands of a wide range of local merchants, further boosting the national economy, albeit indirectly, Kokalari said. VinaCapital also estimated the number of foreign tourists visiting Vietnam to increase 40 percent this year thanks to the continued recovery of outbound Chinese tourism. Foreign tourism accounted for about eight percent of Vietnams pre-COVID-19 GDP. The continued tourism recovery in 2024 will add over one percentage point to the countrys GDP growth this year after having boosted its economic expansion by over four percentage points last year. According to VinaCapital, Chinese tourists previously made up one-third of Vietnams foreign tourist arrivals and China only reclaimed its position as the largest source of visitors to the Southeast Asian country last month for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The ongoing recovery of outbound Chinese tourism, coupled with the growing desire of Americans to travel, means the total number of foreign tourists to Vietnam will likely exceed pre-COVID-19 levels by more than five percent this year. In the first five months, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam soared more than 300 percent, reaching 75 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels. VinaCapital expected Chinese tourists to Vietnam to recover to 85 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels this year. Meanwhile, American tourists to Vietnam have been well above the pre-COVID-19 numbers and high spending by those tourists has likely contributed to high occupancy rates at upscale hotels. Vietnam welcomed nearly 7.6 million international travelers in the first five months of this year, surging 65 percent year on year to slightly above pre-COVID-19 levels. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Quan Vos Profit-Driven Digital Marketing has topped out at the No. 1 Global Marketing book on Amazons Kindle Store just one month after its release. At the time of writing, it ranks 26th in Global Marketing on Kindle Store and 97th in Global Marketing on Amazon Books. Profit-Driven Digital Marketing has so far been published in ebook, paperbook, hardcover, and audiobook formats and is most popular amongst Amazon customers from the U.S., the UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands. A screenshot shows 'Profit-Driven Digital Marketing' ranking first in Global Marketing on Amazons Kindle Store at a certain time one month after its release. The Amazon Best Sellers calculation is based on Amazon sales, and is updated frequently. The book, which was released on Amazon in March this year, is the English edition of his Vietnamese tome Digital Marketing Cho Nha Quan Ly, which Vo released in December 2022. I wanted to package the common answers that I gave to entrepreneurs when they came to me for consultancy, explained Quan, who has worked in digital marketing for 15 years. The book is really a tool for me to share knowledge and experience in a more effective way with more people. Though Profit-Driven Digital Marketing was written from a business perspective, it is completely free of technical terms, making it easily approachable for SMEs. Its not really about theory. Instead, it shares lessons and experience from my 15 years of doing marketing for both Vietnamese and international brands, Quan said. Those lessons are not just about being successful. They also include my failures. After reading my story, people can see what to avoid so they dont make the same mistakes I did. I see the book as a coffee talk between myself and business owners who are fighting to win in the market. Quan said it took him around a year and a half to write the Vietnamese book in such a way that it was approachable and an additional four months to release the English version. According to Quan, both versions are mostly the same, though the English edition has a few edits to make it more appropriate for the global marketing scene. For example, we commonly use Zalo as a marketing channel on social media in Vietnam, but in other countries, that channel should be switched to WhatsApp, Quan explained. Its about local user behavior. In Vietnam, its common to give advice to customers via Zalo, Facebook Messenger, or phone calls, but in other countries, people receive advertising emails and make purchases through websites." The 'Profit-Driven Digital Marketing' and 'Digital Marketing Cho Nha Quan Ly' books by Quan Vo. 'Exporting' local knowledge According to Quan, publishing Profit-Driven Digital Marketing has helped to secure partnerships and further his career, though he is most proud that the book has assisted him in 'exporting' Vietnamese marketing acumen to foreign markets. Were known for exporting goods, like agricultural products, but now we have another direction to 'export' knowledge, and we can do that to world readers, he said. So far, Quan and his team have managed to get Profit-Driven Digital Marketing into the libraries of 12 leading universities in Ireland. He has a particular affinity for Ireland owing to the Irish Aid IDEAS fellowship he was awarded for his master's degree in management at Trinity Business School in 2017. The Irish schools having Quans book include Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Dublin City University, Griffith College Limerick, University of Galway, Munster Technological University, Technology University Dublin, Dublin Business School, National College of Ireland, Atlantic Technological University - Sligo, and Institute of Art, Design, and Technology. Profit-Driven Digital Marketing has also made it to the Leeds Beckett University library in the UK. Quan Vo poses with his books in this supplied photo. Aside from his career in marketing and writing, Quan is also involved in a community project called Goc Sach Viet (Vietnamese Book Corner), in which he and his fellow authors donate books to libraries at Vietnamese universities. The project has brought around 1,000 books of 12 titles to 20 schools in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, Quan said. Although my book is written for business owners, students who are about to graduate or have just graduated can get some ideas about the business owner mindset, Quan said. They can also learn about digital marketing and marketing in a way that is effective and realistic. In my network, many authors have excellent books that could be useful for students, so I invited them to donate." Quan also runs a self-help podcast channel targeting young people who hope to overcome obstacles in their lives and careers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Erica Cristina has been "breathing in smoke every day" since a large fire broke out across the river from the city of Corumba, the gateway to Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetlands. The blaze, which filled the bar she owns with soot, is one of hundreds burning in the vast, wildlife-rich Pantanal which is experiencing record fires for this time of year. "It's chaotic," the 44-year-old told AFP in central-western Corumba, where the fire last week turned the sky bright red. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, this long-time resident of the Pantanal region said increasing fires were making the situation for residents "worse with the passing of the years." "Many people lost their homes" in fires since 2020 -- the worst year on record for blazes in the region -- and "the main problems are due to health, respiratory problems," said Cristina. In the first half of this year, satellites recorded more than 3,300 fires in the region slightly bigger than England, 33 percent more than in 2020. Experts say that the blazes result from harsh drought linked to climate change and deliberate fires set to expand agricultural land into the forest burning out of control. 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. Seasonal flooding across plains, marshes, savannahs and forest areas during the rainy season is crucial to the biodiverse ecosystem. Environment Minister Marina Silva warned on Monday that the Pantanal was facing "one of the worst situations ever seen." "We did not have the usual floods or the gap between El Nino and La Nina," two weather phenomena that affect rainfall, she said. A study published on Wednesday by the MapBiomas network said the wet surface of the Pantanal was 61 percent drier than the historical average last year. The drought "caused a large amount of organic matter at the combustion point to cause these fires," said Silva, who will visit the region on Friday. 'Lost in the flames' The fires are hitting new records even before the peak of the dry season. "Strong winds, the fire and the heat usually start in August," but "it hasn't rained in the region for 50 days," Bruno Bellan, a 25-year-old rancher, told AFP. Bellan has 900 head of cattle on his family farm in Mato Grosso do Sul State, home to much of the wetlands, which declared a state of emergency over the fires on Monday. His property is two kilometers (1.2 miles) from one large blaze which firefighters have struggled to access. "We are worried that the fire will enter the farm and cause destruction. The cattle are afraid and could get lost in the flames," said Bellan. Retired soldier Naldinei Ivan Ojeda, 53, said he was considering leaving his hometown due to the breathing problems he and his 15-year-old son have experienced. He points the blame squarely at the people who start the fires, rather than the dry conditions that spur them along. "There are no accidental fires in the Pantanal. I have never seen a fire come out of nowhere here. Every year, it is the same." Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran will pay a four-day official visit to South Korea starting June 30 at the invitation of his South Korean counterpart Han Duck Soo and his spouse, Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. This is Vietnams highest-level visit to South Korea since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022, on the occasion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. PM Chinh's forthcoming trip will mark the eighth visit of a Vietnamese prime minister to South Korea since the two countries set up their diplomatic ties in late 1992. During the visit that will last until July 3, the Vietnamese government leader will have important meetings with senior South Korean leaders, including President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck Soo. The visit is expected to serve as an opportunity to further deepen the mutually beneficial, practical, and strategic cooperation between the two countries across all sectors, Yonhap News Agency cited PM Hans office as saying. Within the framework of this visit, PM Chinh will meet many large South Korean economic groups, calling on them to boost investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of South Koreas strengths and Vietnams needs. Korean businesses are especially interested in PM Chinhs visit and have prepared for their scheduled separate meetings with him, according to the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS). PM Chinh is set to attend the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KORCHAM) in Seoul on July 1 and chaired by Cho Hyun Sang, chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Economic Cooperation Committee. Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (front row, R) and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (front row, L) at the Vietnam-Korea Business Forum held in Hanoi, Vietnam in June 2023. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal The event will attract more than 300 attendees from the South Korean side, including South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Ahn Duk Geun as well as leaders of large corporations such as Samsung, SK, Hyundai, LG, and Posco. On the Vietnamese side, there will be over 100 participants, including PM Chinh, the ministers of planning and investment, and foreign Affairs, along with representatives of Vietnamese businesses. On the sidelines of the forum, Cho, who is also vice-chairman of South Korean industrial chaebol Hyosung, is expected to have a private meeting with PM Chinh to discuss bilateral cooperation plans, according to KBS. It is expected that many memoranda of understanding will be signed by the two sides within the framework of the event. Currently, Vietnam is one of the three top trading partners of South Korea, with two-way trade amounting to about US$76 billion in 2023 and expected to reach $100 billion in 2025, according to official figures. Over the first four months of this year, the bilateral trade was recorded at $25.5 billion, up four percent year year on year. By April, South Korea was the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 9,957 projects totaling over $87 billion. Approximately 3.6 million South Korean tourists visited Vietnam last year, ranking first among international visitors to the country, and South Korea maintained this position in the first four months of 2024 with 1.6 million visitors to Vietnam, according to official statistics. Currently, around 200,000 Vietnamese are living in South Korea, while the number of South Koreans residing in Vietnam is almost the same, according to the Vietnam News Agency. After establishing their diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992, Vietnam and South Korea upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in October 2009 and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022. 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 -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran will pay an official visit to South Korea from June 30 to July 3, at the invitation of South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo and his spouse Choi Ah Young, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. Society -- A video showing a bus driver watching his phone while driving started circulating on social media in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. The video was recorded and uploaded by a passenger on the bus. Transport authorities are verifying the authenticity of the video. -- In District 1, the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, there are still cramped and unsafe residential areas with houses measuring only a few square meters. According to District 1's Party secretary Duong Anh Duc, residents there have to "take shifts to sleep." -- The connection of transportation infrastructure, particularly railways and highways, is a major focus of cooperation between Vietnam and China and will be prioritized for implementation immediately following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit. -- On Thursday evening, a chain-reaction accident occurred in downtown Vung Tau, about 100km from Ho Chi Minh City, where a car crashed into multiple motorcycles waiting at a red light, resulting in two deaths and injuring many others. Business -- The taxman in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City has recently discovered that in a short period, a person had established up to 116 companies in various districts of the city. -- Along with the impressive growth in the number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first half of 2024, travel and tourism companies have also recorded a significant increase in their spending. World News -- "Democratic President Joe Biden endured a shaky start at Thursday's debate, while his Republican rival Donald Trump rattled off a series of attacks that included numerous falsehoods, as the two oldest presidential candidates ever clashed on stage ahead of November's U.S. election," Reuters reported. -- "Forecasts for a mild slowdown in India's fast-growing economy held steady in the first Reuters poll of economists since the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its parliamentary majority in phased national elections that ended in early June," Reuters reported. The taxman in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City has recently discovered that in a short period, a person had established up to 116 companies in various districts of the city. According to the tax agency, Nguyen Thi Huong, a 34-year-old resident from Nam Dinh Province in northern Vietnam, is currently the legal representative of the 116 companies, including five in District 6. Twenty-two others were registered to locate in Tan Binh District, 15 in Tan Phu District, 11 in Thu Duc City, and nine in District 5, among others. These 116 companies have their names registered in foreign languages. Police in Ho Chi Minh City detained Huong in April this year for allegedly laundering money and illegally transporting currencies across the border, according to a source of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The taxman in District 6 has cooperated with the administrations in District 6's wards to inspect the headquarters of Huongs five companies in the district and found that they had not operated at the registered addresses. As a result, the tax agency reported the case to the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department and the municipal police. Nguyen Tien Dung, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department, told Tuoi Tre on Thursday that the 116 companies were set up between December last year and March this year. The department has asked for support from the municipal Department of Planning and Investment and the Department of Public Security to deal with the case, Dung informed. The department will continue to review individuals owning many enterprises to prevent them from establishing many firms to trade invoices, Dung added. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many travel and tourism companies in Vietnam have recorded a significant increase in spending by international tourists during their trips in the country, along with the impressive growth in arrivals of international visitors so far this year. If Vietnamese tour operators develop and offer more tourist products, especially those serving travelers at night, the expenditure by international travelers will further rise in the coming time. Tran Phuong Linh, director of marketing - information technology of Ho Chi Minh City-based Ben Thanh Tourist Service Corporation (BenThanh Tourist), said that the firm has so far this year recorded strong growth in attracting foreign visitors, with both the number of travelers and revenue soaring more than 50 percent against 2023. The companys traditional and new inbound markets have posted remarkable results, with India and Taiwan being the largest sources, followed by European countries. Notably, the daily average spending per tourist over the first half of this year has ranged from US$80 to $140, much higher than previously. Types of tourism that have attracted most tourists include trans-Vietnam tours, nature exploration trips, resort tours, local cultural experience journeys, MICE tourism, and educational tourism. In Ho Chi Minh City, international tourists tend to choose travel programs that offer them chances to visit historical relics, learn about local arts and culture, and explore local gastronomy, especially traditional dishes as well as Vietnamese coffee culture, Linh said. At Ben Thanh Market in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, a must-see destination for many foreign visitors, many businesses have been busy serving such guests recently. Higher spending by international travelers at the market has contributed about 60 percent of the total revenue of the market in the year to date, the market management board reported. Stronger spending by international visitors has also been reflected in the amount of value added tax (VAT) refunded to foreign tourists in Vietnam. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, in May alone, foreign visitors bought nearly VND120 billion ($4.7 million) worth of goods to bring with them when exiting Vietnam from the southern city. That means a VAT refund amount of more than VND8 billion ($313,700) was paid in the month. In January-May, the citys customs authority refunded a total of VND40 billion ($1.56 million) to more than 7,200 foreigners carrying goods totaling VND460 billion ($18 million) in value when they left the country. Among the groups of tourists who receive VAT refunds, the biggest spenders are not from European countries or the U.S., but from India," a representative of the department commented. "Indian tourists were fond of shopping." This vibrant tourism landscape has emerged for several reasons, including the recovery of the world economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment of more direct flights to Vietnam, and Vietnams new visa policy that offers greater facilitation for international visitors, among others, according to tourist operators. The proportion of spending using international cards issued abroad on food and beverages in Vietnam is about 40 percent, on fashion and cosmetics 14 percent, jewelry and watches approximately 12 percent, and supermarkets and convenience stores over 10 percent. This year, spending by foreign travelers has gradually increased in supermarkets, convenience stores, and on jewelry and watches, while decreasing on fashion, cosmetics, and technology products, Payoo, a payment platform, said. Given the fame of Vietnamese cuisine, it is not surprising that international visitors spend most on food and beverages. This also indicates that Vietnamese tourism lacks products that could encourage more spending on clothes, souvenirs, and other items. Over the first five months of this year, Vietnam welcomed 7.6 million arrivals of international travelers, an increase of 64.9 percent year on year and 3.9 percent compared to the same period of 2019, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. According to Michael Kokalari, chief economist at VinaCapital, the number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam in January-May increased more than 300 percent year on year, equaling 75 percent of the pre-pandemic level. He expected this rate to continue rising to reach 85 percent in the rest of this year, contributing to bringing the total number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2024 to 19 million, or five percent higher than the pre-COVID level. With such a climb, the tourism sector will contribute more than one percentage point to Vietnams GDP growth in 2024, Kokalari said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! In District 1, the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, cramped and unsafe residential areas with houses measuring only a few square meters each are common an issue which District 1 Party secretary Duong Anh Duc said requires that residents "take shifts to sleep." The administration in District 1 met with enterprises interested in a residential area project in the Ga and Gao Market area, where many families are living in cramped houses, on Thursday. The area is among the most cramped and unsafe residential areas in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, yet it has not been upgraded for years. At a municipal Party Committee conference in mid-June, District 1 Party secretary Duc voiced concern over the living conditions of residents in the area, noting that they are at high risk of fire and explosion. In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, dark, narrow residential areas with a high risk of fire and explosion sit close to skyscrapers. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre Le Thi Ngoc Hoa, a 68-year-old resident who lives in a deep alley, said her house is less than four square meters in area. Hoa added that she has not had a visitor to her home for over 50 years because there is simply no space to accommodate anyone aside from herself and three other family members. Before a fire hit the area in 2015, the residences surrounding Gao Market featured makeshift wooden houses and had no toilets. Following the fire, local authorities and benefactors supported households to rebuild their homes, including Hoas. Her house was made of concrete and had a mezzanine, Ho recalled. The house of Le Thi Ngoc Hoa, a 68-year-old resident in a deep alley on Vo Van Kiet Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, is only four square meters in area. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre The four-square-meter house is now home to four people. She sleeps on the floor and her son and grandchildren on the mezzanine. All of their daily activities, including cooking, having meals, and doing the washing, are carried out in front of the house. Their vehicles are also left outside. On rainy days, they cannot cook. Le Thi Ngoc Hoas house was rebuilt following a fire in 2015. Photo: Thao Le / Tuoi Tre The house is too small, so they cannot stretch their legs out while lying down, an issue that has led to Hoa developing scoliosis. Though doctors have advised her to lie with her legs stretched, it is simply not possible in her tiny home. The house is now home to four people whose family activities are all done outside. Photo: Thao Le / Tuoi Tre The issue is common in the area. In fact, one of Hoas neighboring families has been forced to have the males sleep outside. The Gao and Ga Market residential area in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Nhi / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A group of Vietnamese doctors gave support to a 57-year-old Australian passenger who suffered side effects of a drug overdose on a recent flight en route from Hanoi to Paris. The doctors are from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy under the Vietnam National University - Hanoi. Professor Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh, rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said he and his colleagues were flying to France for a working trip when they faced the situation. After a flight attendant asked if there was any doctor on the flight, Thanh and his colleagues stepped up to follow the flight attendant to the seat of the patient. At the time, the passenger suffered shortness of breath and drooped. There were no devices to diagnose his condition. The doctors let the passenger lie for monitoring and provided him with oxygen, Thanh recalled. He added that all of the doctors on the flight were worried for the patient and thought he might sustain a myocardial infarction and needed urgent treatment. About an hour after departure, the aircraft had a problem and had to return to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, offering an opportunity of prompt treatment to the passenger. After the aircraft landed, the Australian passenger was rushed to K Hospital as recommended by Thanh. Thanh said he later knew that the passenger suffered side effects of a drug overdose. He has recovered and been discharged from the hospital, Thanh added. The doctor shared that he had been working in the healthcare sector for nearly 40 years and traveling on multiple flights but that was the first time he had provided in-flight assistance for a person. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Sonia Garcia is a trending food reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at sonia.garcia@houstonchronicle.com. A Rio Grande Valley native, she previously was an editor and writer for the Austin digital news startup Austonia after graduating from Texas State University. She enjoys trying new restaurants in Houston, where she lives with her 14-year-old Chihuahua. A rock formation stands as a natural giant wall amidst mountains and forests, making it a magnificent destination in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. The stone wall of Ta Kon, a name that means large stones arranged in ramparts' in the Ba Na ethnic language, is located in K8 Village, Vinh Son Commune, Vinh Thanh District, approximately 140km west of Quy Nhon, the capital city of Binh Dinh Province. The site features natural stone columns with rectangular and hexagonal pillars tightly arranged, forming a wall stretching about 500m in length and 30-40m in height. I never imagined finding such a stunning masterpiece amidst the rugged mountains and forests, remarked Nguyen Thi Tuong Vy from Quy Nhon, expressing her surprise as she explored the peculiar rocks in the heart of this remote mountainous area first-hand. Tourists stroll along a terraced path at Ta Kon stone wall in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Visitors can stroll along hundreds of meters of terraced paths to admire the beauty of Ta Kon rock formation. According to the Quang Trung Museum in Binh Dinh Province, Ta Kon stone wall emerged from geological tectonic changes millions of years ago. To Hieu Trung, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Vinh Thanh District, noted that historically, the Ta Kon stone area served as a base for the Tay Son insurgent army, the predecessor of the Tay Son Dynasty, which ruled Vietnam from 1778 to 1802, starting the early stages of its uprising in 1771. Ta Kon stone wall in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre In modern history, during the 30-year resistance against the French and Americans, the Ta Kon area was utilized as a base by the guerrilla and main forces of Vinh Thanh District until the country was reunified in 1975, Trung explained. On December 25, 2013, Ta Kon stone wall was designated as a historical relic and scenic spot by the Peoples Committee of Binh Dinh Province. Recently, Ho Quoc Dung, secretary of the Party Committee of Binh Dinh Province, visited Ta Kon rock formation and expressed support for Vinh Thanh District in planning the entire Ta Kon stone wall area and attracting investors for tourism development. A tourist visits Ta Kon stone wall in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Dung announced that Binh Dinh Province plans to transform the Ta Kon rock formation area into an eco-tourism destination that harmonizes with the surrounding forest. "Any vacant spaces will be allocated for scenic viewpoints," Dung added. "The province will also restore historical sites to incorporate local legends into the visitors' experience." A tourist visits Ta Kon stone wall in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Meanwhile, Trung mentioned that the district is constructing an eco-tourism and community resort to link various tourist spots within the district, with Ta Kon stone wall as a prominent destination. He noted that after visiting Ta Kon rock formation, tourists can stay in Vinh Son Commune, where they can enjoy authentic local dishes and immerse themselves in the culture of ethnic minorities. Currently, a 3.3km-long and 2m-wide concrete road connects the main road to Ta Kon stone wall, facilitating easier access for visitors and locals alike. Ta Kon stone wall in Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province, located in south-central Vietnam. Photo: Lam Thien / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A total of 164 food establishments were recognized in the 2024 Michelin Guide for Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. Seven one-Michelin-Star, 58 Bib Gourmand, and 99 Michelin Selected venues in the three Vietnamese cities were honored at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, the Michelin Guide said the same day in a press release. While all of the one-Michelin-Star restaurants from the previous selection Gia, Hibana by Koki, Tam Vi, and Anan Saigon retain their distinctions, the 2024 one-Michelin-Star selection welcomes two newcomers and one promotion. The newcomers awarded one Michelin Star are Akuna in Ho Chi Minh City and La Maison 1888 in Da Nang. The only restaurant promoted from the Michelin Selected to receive one Michelin Star is The Royal Pavilion in Ho Chi Minh City. Food from The Royal Pavilion restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City The 58 Bib Gourmand category includes 28 new entries and one restaurant that moved up from Michelin Selected, while 40 establishments have joined the Michelin Selected list for the first time this year. Regionally, the new additions to the Guide comprise 10 from Hanoi (5 Bib Gourmand, 5 Michelin Selected), 26 from Ho Chi Minh City (2 one Michelin Star, 8 Bib Gourmand, 16 Michelin Selected), and 36 from Da Nang (1 one Michelin Star, 16 Bib Gourmand, 19 Michelin Selected). Da Nang debuts Besides its 36 new entries to the Guide, Da Nang, newly covered in this second edition, also earned the first Michelin Green Star in Vietnam. Nen Danang, a Michelin Selected restaurant, was awarded the first Michelin Green Star in Vietnam for its commitment to gastronomy and sustainability. Nen Danang receives the first Michelin Green Star in Vietnam at the 2024 Michelin Guide ceremony in Ho Chi minh City on June 28, 2024. Photo courtesy of Michelin Guide Vietnam Within the Michelin Guide restaurant selection, the Michelin Green Star highlights establishments at the forefront of the industry for their sustainable practices and dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitments. According to Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, Da Nang, a rookie to the Michelin Guides second edition in Vietnam, has enriched Michelin Guides choices with its unique local eateries and delicacies, representing the central Vietnamese cuisine that embodies the culinary influences of French, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian cultures. In fact, Vietnams three cities -- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang -- each have their own characteristics, Poullennec said. The countrys culinary scene sees the vitality, passion, and creativity constantly surprising the market. Not to mention that renowned chefs are increasingly opening restaurants in Vietnam, coupled with a new generation of Vietnamese chefs emerging with a growing customer base. "Therefore, Vietnam is indeed becoming a more interesting destination on the worlds food map, to attentively keep an eye on. The first Michelin Guide Vietnam was unveiled last year, with four restaurants being awarded one Michelin Star, 29 venues receiving Bib Gourmand Awards, and 70 establishments being recognized with Michelin Selected. 3 Michelin Guide Special Awards In addition to recommending quality restaurants, the Michelin Guide also aims to highlight talented individuals who contribute to enhancing the gastronomic dining experience. This year, The Michelin Guide Young Chef Award was given to Chef Duy Nguyen from Little Bear, a new Michelin Selected restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, 2024 Sommelier Award was presented to Toan Nguyen from La Maison 1888, the only restaurant in Da Nang that was awarded one Michelin Star. Lastly, the Michelin Guide Service Award, which aims to highlight and encourage skilled and talented professionals who dramatically add to the customer experience, went to Anh Nguyen from Si Dining, a Michelin Selected restaurant in Da Nang. Full list of 2024 Michelin Guide Vietnam: Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! There are two reports from Sarah Abo in Sundays 60 Minutes, including murder following a forced marriage in the Afghan community. Nine also ventures into international child custody cases again, this time involving Japan. Secrets of a Murderer Russell Hill and Carol Clay didnt deserve to die. Four years ago, on a camping adventure in Victorias remote high country, they had a chance encounter with Greg Lynn. Only he now knows the precise details of what happened, but there was a dispute that turned violent. The couple, both in their 70s, were killed. Last Tuesday, in an unusual verdict, a jury found Lynn guilty of murdering Carol though not guilty of murdering Russell. But the conviction of the former Jetstar pilot does not mean its case-closed just yet. On 60 Minutes, Sarah Abo reveals disturbing secrets about Greg Lynns past that authorities need to investigate further. Reporter: Sarah Abo Producers: Garry McNab, Anthony Dowsley Forbidden Force Twenty-year-old Ruqia Haidari lived with a conflict she could not resolve. She was torn between two worlds. On one hand, there were the strict but important customs of her Afghan heritage. On the other, the freedoms that life in Australia promised. Her friends said Ruqia longed to be a modern woman, but at home she couldnt bring herself to disappoint her mother, Sakina Muhammad Jan, who had an entirely different plan for her daughters future. She told Ruqia she must marry a man she barely knew. Love didnt factor into the equation. It was a forced marriage, it was illegal, and it ended disastrously. Reporter: Sarah Abo Producer: Amelia Ballinger Kidnapped in Japan There are many wonderful things about Japan, but the way the country deals with child custody disputes is not one of them. The Japanese have a bizarre law that allows a disgruntled parent who separates from a spouse to literally abduct the children and run away. In those circumstances, it makes kidnapping legal. Worryingly, an increasing number of Australians, whose relationships with their Japanese partners have ended, have found themselves permanently cut off from their kids. Its a heartbreaking situation, but on assignment for 60 Minutes, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Ages Eryk Bagshaw reports that there might finally be some hope for change. And its in no small way thanks to some extraordinary efforts in Canberra. Reporter: Eryk Bagshaw Producer: Natalie Clancy Board Games Front feeble, switch kickflip, crook riva, back 50 backside, bump-to-nose grind! Following? They might be foreign terms to most people, but to skateboarders these words are the sweet sound of success. That is, assuming the tricks they describe are executed properly. But someone who usually does perform these complicated manoeuvres perfectly is 14-year-old Chloe Covell. This pocket rocket is Australias number one female street skater, and just days away from officially being told shes going to the Olympic Games. While Chloe probably doesnt want to think too far ahead, Tara Brown reports that if she does win in Paris, she will become the youngest-ever Australian gold medallist, breaking a remarkable 68-year record. Reporter: Tara Brown Producer: Sammi Taylor 8:10pm Sunday on Nine. Networks will screen the first US Presidential Debate this morning. This has CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderating in Atlanta. ABC News: 11am AEST US Presidential Debate Seven: Biden v Trump: The Debate 10:55am Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane 10:25am Adelaide 8:55am Perth US Correspondent Tim Lester will provide critical analysis throughout the debate in Atlanta. Nine: US Presidential Debate 10:55am Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane 10:25am Adelaide 8:55am Perth President Biden and former President Trump participate in the first Presidential Debate of 2024. Biden and former president Trump are neck-and-neck in national opinion polls, with a considerable slice of the electorate still undecided. Hosted by Jayne Azzopardi with US correspondent Lauren Tomasi. 10: Biden v Trump: Presidential Debate 11am AEST The candidates vying to become the next President of the United States go head-to-head in this CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast. CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the deba SBS: 11am AEST CNN Presidential Debate The candidates vying to become the next President of the United States go head-to-head in this CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast. CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate. SKY News: CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast live at 11:00am AEST. Sky News Washington Correspondent Annelise Nielsen will be reporting live from Atlanta, Georgia. CNN: 11am CNN Presidential Debate plus BBC News, MSNBC, Bloomberg. This post updates. Screen Queensland has announced changes to its funding guidelines, in response to industry consultation, which will take effect from 1 July 2024. Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland CEO said, We have consulted widely across the sector with a view to better reflecting changes in the industry and doing what we can to drive local sector growth and build jobs, skills and sustainable businesses. We are committed to creating more opportunities for our states screen practitioners and production companies, championing local IP retention and assisting more homegrown stories to be made here in Queensland, including ways to better elevate and recognise First Nations practitioners. Its also vital that we concurrently ensure Queensland continues to be an attractive and competitive destination for local, interstate and international screen production. Updates to Screen Queenslands guidelines include: Development Fund now offered as grants rather than equity investment increased cap for early-stage projects from Queensland-resident practitioners from $10,000 to $15,000 increased cap on late-stage funding for Queensland-resident and interstate producers from $25,000 to $30,000 new development slate funding of up to $50,000 for Queensland-resident producers with a minimum of three projects funding cap is $100,000 across all Development grants per year. Screen Finance Fund increased QPE percentage on offer base funding for projects from Queensland-resident producers is increased from 10 per cent of Queensland Production Expenditure (QPE) to 12 per cent projects from interstate producers remain eligible for support, with the same minimum requirements of a Queensland-resident writer, director or producer and a line producer to receive base funding of 10 per cent of QPE both Queensland-resident and interstate producers may be able to access additional funding (capped at 15 and 12 per cent QPE respectively) by demonstrating extra tangible benefits to Queensland, such as First Nations content, opportunities for above-the-line talent and showcasing Queensland as Queensland on screen etc funding cap remains at $850,000 per project. Market and Travel Grants new support for professional development travel In early 2024, the Market Grants program was expanded to include new support for Queensland-based practitioners travelling for professional development as well as business development opportunities. screenqueensland.com.au Md Kaifee Alam, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: Despite being a crucial vote bank for many parties, the number of Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs) has consistently remained low over the years. In this 18th Lok Sabha, it reached its second-lowest count ever. The current House of the People includes a total of 24 Muslim MPs, with two independents lawmakers, which is two fewer than the previous Lok Sabha that had 26 Muslim MPs. Support TwoCircles Notably, there is not a single Muslim MP in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Muslim representation is not only lacking in the legislature but also in the executive. Prime Minister Modis cabinet includes representatives from various states, castes, classes and religions, except Muslims, who constitute a significant portion of Indias population at 200 million. This marks the first time in Indian history that a cabinet has been sworn in without a Muslim minister. Expressing concern over the diminishing number of Muslims in the Lok Sabha, Mohammed Ramees, 24, emphasizes the need for substantial representation of Muslims, if not equal. In India, we require representation from various castes, tribes and religions. A community that holds the second-largest share of the countrys population should also have adequate representation, he said. Responding to the argument that even a non-Muslim MP can represent Muslims, he asked, Then what is the need for representation? He strongly believes that representation holds immense value in a democracy. It is easy to speculate that every MP will deliver justice regardless of their caste, color, religion, class, gender, etc. But at the grassroots level, everyone has their biases. To advocate effectively for a community, there must be someone from within that community because they will inherently understand and empathize more, he emphasised. Reasons Behind Decreasing Representation Despite Muslim voters being perceived as pivotal in every election, their representation in legislative bodies remains disproportionately low, even in states where they constitute a significant percentage of the population. The decline in the number of Muslim legislators can be attributed to a trend where many Opposition parties are reluctant to nominate Muslim candidates. This hesitation stems from heightened polarization in electoral contests, particularly since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. Rafia Perween, 22, from Delhi, argues that there is a systematic effort to marginalize Muslims, describing their exclusion from political representation as a form of structural violence. I believe, above all, Muslims are inadequately represented in Parliament because mainstream parties are aware of the severe deprivation faced by the Muslim community in the country. They are viewed not as deserving representation, but merely as deserving of acknowledgment. And this acknowledgment does not require their own representatives, as anyone from any community could fulfill the act of remembrance, she said. Mohd Tabish Khan, 21, a postgraduate student of political science at Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia, echoes similar sentiments and identifies the politics of Hindutva as the primary reason behind this disparity. He asserts that this brand of politics, championed by the BJP, has marginalized Muslims. The shift in the political landscape reflects a broader reluctance among parties to field Muslim candidates. Even other political parties hesitate to nominate Muslim candidates. These parties fear that nominating Muslims may lead Hindu voters to withdraw their support, Khan explained. Expectations from Newly Elected Muslim MPs Despite the reduced presence of Muslims in the Lok Sabha this time, several new faces have entered the Lok Sabha. MPs such as Iqra Choudhary, who won from UPs Kairana, Mohibullah Nadvi from UPs Rampur and Yusuf Pathan from West Bengals Baharampur, have brought renewed hope from the community, especially among the youth. Khan believes that education is crucial for empowering the community and anticipates these MPs to prioritize addressing the educational backwardness among Muslims. My expectations from them are that they will work to uplift the educational standards of the Muslim community. Moreover, they should vocally oppose attempts to politically, socially and economically marginalise Muslims, both inside Parliament and on the streets, he emphasized. Expanding on his viewpoint, he noted that these MPs garnered significant support from Muslim voters and should therefore champion issues that affect their constituency. Sharing her expectations, Perween stated, The Muslim community needs their voices heard; the injustices they face deserve recognition. Muslims seek justice, and thats the main reason we have expectations from them. I hope they find the courage to raise real issues and advocate for the marginalized and oppressed, especially when it is most needed. Ramees also emphasized the importance of justice, stating, My only expectation from these MPs is that they stand for justice. However, not everyone shares Rameess optimism. Hiba Khan, a student at AJK Mass Communication and Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, expressed skepticism, saying she has no expectations from any of them. They have their own necks to save, so they wont be too forthright in supporting their own community, she observed. Despite their hopes, there is also a lingering doubt that the BJP not securing a majority on its own and PM Modi leading a coalition government will bring about any change. There is concern whether even if MPs attempt to speak up, they will be listened to or silenced, facing ridicule merely because of their religion, as seen in the previous term. Discussing the BJPs approach, Hiba remarked, I dont know if they will be heard or not. We know how the BJP works. With Modi still as the PM, they managed to suspend prominent Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. Who knows what will happen to these Muslim MPs. Khan stressed the urgency of improving the social perception of Muslims. I doubt they will be listened to more. Until the social image of Muslims is rectified, people wont be inclined to hear them. By Gleb Stolyarov TBILISI (Reuters) -Laughing and joking, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un cruised around Pyongyang last week in a Russian-made Aurus limousine to showcase their strengthened anti-Western alliance. The luxury sedan was intended to epitomize Russia's domestic prowess and reduced dependence on imported technology and goods when unveiled in 2018. But customs records show that the company that builds it uses millions of dollars in imported parts, many arriving in Russia from what Kim has described as his country's "primary foe", South Korea. The imports point to Russia's ongoing reliance on Western technology as it seeks to navigate Western attempts to cut it off from global supply chains as punishment for its invasion of Ukraine. The two leaders took turns driving the armoured limousine during Putin's pomp-filled visit, his first in nearly a quarter of a century to North Korea, in a demonstration of the two nuclear powers' increasingly close ties. Russia imported equipment and components worth at least $34 million between 2018 and 2023 for assembling Aurus cars and motorcycles, customs records seen by Reuters showed. Reuters does not have access to more recent data. The imports included car body parts, sensors, programmable controllers, switches, welding equipment and other components worth almost $15.5 million imported from South Korea. Parts were also imported from China, India, Turkey, Italy and other EU countries. Foreign supplies for Aurus kept coming after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with goods worth almost $16 million, including $5 million produced in South Korea, imported since February 2022, the records showed. Reuters could not determine specifically which imported foreign parts ended up in the car gifted to Kim, and the imports were not in breach of sanctions - Aurus LLC was sanctioned by the United States in February, 2024. The Aurus sedan was developed by Russian state-owned research institute NAMI in partnership with Russian carmaker Sollers, which has since sold its stake. Aurus Motors and its CEO Andrey Pankov did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the use of foreign parts, including from South Korea, in its vehicles. GROWING PRODUCTION The company launched official production in Russia's Tatarstan region, around 1,000 km (620 miles) from Moscow, in 2021 - before then it was made on a small, experimental scale at NAMI. It will start additional production in St Petersburg later this year at Toyota's former factory. Toyota is one of many foreign carmakers to exit the Russian market since the invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation". The exodus has left a gap that Chinese producers have been quick to fill, rapidly seizing more than half the market share and exposing Russia's limited domestic production capacity. South Korean firms were among the largest suppliers to Aurus, including industrial equipment producer Kyungki Industrial Co, car body parts manufacturer BYT CO LTD and batteries supplier Enertech International Inc. Italian plastic parts producer Industrie Ilpea Spa and Hong Kong company Rain Electronics also supplied goods. Kyungki Industrial Co said in a statement to Reuters on Monday that it had not signed any contract with Aurus or Russian suppliers since 2021 or participated in any further projects in Russia since 2022. It also said that it would be concerned about any potential sanctions. A company representative had earlier told Reuters the company continued to supply Aurus and was not concerned about potential sanctions. The representative later referred Reuters to Monday's statement. Rain Electronics could not be reached for comment. When a Reuters correspondent visited the address listed on the internet as the company's office in Hong Kong, there was no trace of Rain Electronics on the floor listed online or in the office building. BYT CO LTD, Enertech International and Industrie Ilpea Spa did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The Aurus Senat, retro-styled after the Soviet-era ZIL limousine, is Russia's official presidential car and was used by Putin at his presidential inaugurations in 2018 and 2024. Putin has now given Kim, believed to be a keen automobile fan, two Aurus cars, first during Kim's visit to Russia in February, and a slightly different model in North Korea in June. Prices for Aurus cars - there are four models including an SUV and armoured version - start from 46.625 million roubles ($528,356). Customers include Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdymukhamedov. Aurus sold 107 cars in Russia in 2023, according to data from Russian analytical agency Autostat. Aurus does not disclose production numbers. ($1 = 88.2455 roubles) (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; additional reporting by Marcus Lum in Hong Kong, Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang in Seoul, Giulio Piovaccari in Milan; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Philippa Fletcher) Climate activist Sophia Kianni is the youngest United Nations adviser in US history. Sophia Kianni is a climate activist and founder of international nonprofit Climate Cardinals. Kianni, 22, is the youngest member of the United Nations' (UN) advisory group on climate change. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, has a unique ability to listen intently, understand diverse perspectives, and inspire others to take climate action. When I was 18, I was invited by Antonio to represent the US as the youngest member of the inaugural UN youth advisory group on climate change. Read More: Meet the air quality crusader on a mission to stop toxic air I saw firsthand that Antonio is a climate leader deeply committed to addressing global challenges through inclusive and innovative approaches. His decision to create the group demonstrated his belief in the power of young people to drive meaningful change. His dedication to environmental justice and sustainable development is evident in his strategic initiatives and the way he engages with all stakeholders, from world leaders to grassroots activists. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has helped shape Sophia Kianni as a young leader on climate change. (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Under his leadership, I have learned the importance of inclusivity and the value of diverse voices in climate decision-making processes. His commitment to empowering young people is evident in his letter inviting me to join the youth advisory group. He explained to me that climate change is ultimately a youth and intergenerational justice issue. He added: "What began with a single person protest, has become a global movement. Youth around the world are making their voices heard, and the UN is listening. Antonios early career achievements are inspiring. Starting his political career in his mid-20s, he quickly rose to prominence due to his visionary approach. This resonates deeply with me as a young leader, highlighting the impact that youth can have when given the opportunity and platform to lead. Read More: 'We had to write down our peers' strengths our boss mailed them to their parents' Working as a young UN advisor has taught me the value of collaboration in shaping global policies. It has provided me with a deeper understanding of the complexities of international diplomacy and the importance of persistence and resilience in driving systemic change. In my role, I worked directly with the UN envoy on youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, to consult with diverse groups representing the global youth climate movement. I had the opportunity to co-chair the first ever pre-COP Youth4Climate Summit organised by the Italian government. As a co-chair, I brought together 400 young people from more than 100 countries; we wrote formal policy resolutions that I presented to ministers from over 40 countries, including John Kerry. Story continues Iranian-American Sophia Kianni, founder of Climate Cardinals, wants to correct the accessibility gap in climate change resources. It has been a privilege to showcase the importance of having young people at the decision-making table when it comes to addressing the biggest issue of our time. The first seeds for Climate Cardinals were sown when I recognised the significant gap in climate education resources accessible to non-English speakers. This came from my experiences translating climate information for my relatives in Iran. Read More: I want my staff to feel good: The company that operates without job titles or clocks Witnessing the challenges they faced in understanding critical climate issues due to language barriers motivated me to create a platform that could bridge this gap. Thus, Climate Cardinals was born out of a desire to make climate education inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of language. Over the past few years, we have fundraised to hire full-time staff and grown to 10,000 volunteers in 80 countries. We recently partnered with Google as one of their first youth-led grantees and piloted their new artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to automate our translations. With their help, we have now translated 500,000-plus words of resources into over 40 languages for partners, including the Yale Center for Climate Communications and UN development programme. Sophia Kianni during the Global Citizen Festival in New York, 2023. (Yuki Iwamura, Associated Press) One of the primary challenges we face is ensuring the sustainability and scalability of our translation efforts. My aspiration is to become a global leader in climate education and leveraging advanced technologies, like AI, to enhance our translation capabilities and reach. My journey has taught me that age should never be a barrier to making a difference. When I started Climate Cardinals, I was just a teenager with a vision and I had no idea it would grow into an international movement. The key is to start where you are, use what you have and do what you can. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in your vision and never be afraid to ask for help. Remember, every small action counts and, collectively, we can drive significant change. Youth leaders bring a sense of urgency, creativity, and a long-term vision that is essential for addressing the climate crisis. Having a voice as a youth leader today is also crucial. Young people are the ones who will inherit the consequences of today's decisions, so it is vital that our perspectives and ideas are included in policy-making processes. Watch: Sophia Kianni is making climate crisis resources accessible for everyone Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. By Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) - French diplomacy could be headed for an unprecedented period of turbulence if the far-right wins a snap parliamentary election, with President Emmanuel Macron and a potential National Rally (RN) prime minister jostling for the right to speak for France. Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant, eurosceptic RN extended its lead over Macron's centrist bloc, according to opinion polls published on Friday, the last day of campaigning before Sunday's first round of voting. A second round will take place on July 7. Voters and diplomats alike have long been accustomed to the president calling the shots in foreign and security policy for France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a nuclear power, with one of Europe's most powerful militaries. But what is known in France as the president's "reserved area" of defence and diplomacy is not explicitly stated in the constitution but is more a matter of convention, and this could spell trouble if the RN forms the next government. During the three previous periods of "cohabitation" since 1958 - when the president and prime minister hail from different parties - tensions sometimes erupted but were quickly doused. This time could prove more difficult, and Jordan Bardella, the 28-year old RN leader and likely next prime minister, has already indicated he would challenge Macron on global issues. "It's going to be trench warfare," Gerard Petitpre, a French constitutional lawyer, told Reuters. Even before the election, the battle lines are being drawn. Macron told leaders from the European Union's liberal Renew grouping in Brussels on Thursday he would propose faithful ally Thierry Breton as France's commissioner in the next EU executive, a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity. That came after Bardella said he was considering other candidates for the job. Le Pen swiftly decried Macron's move. "Emmanuel Macron is anticipating a victory he cannot win. So he won't be able to name Mr Breton," she told Europe 1 radio. "It is the prime minister's prerogative to name the European Commissioner." 'HONORARY TITLE'? Experts say the French constitution, while awarding the president greater powers on foreign policy than in most parliamentary democracies, still leaves the main levers of policy in the prime minister's hands. The president is commander-in-chief, chairs defence meetings, negotiates international treaties, and is ultimately the only person able to order the use of France's nuclear deterrent. But the prime minister heads France's administration and controls the state budget, which must be approved by parliament. That prompted Le Pen to say the president's title of commander in chief was "honorary", causing outrage in Macron's camp. "It's an honorary title because the prime minister holds the purse strings," she said. "Jordan does not intend to pick a fight with him but he has set red lines. On Ukraine, the president will not be able to send troops," she added, referring to Macron's refusal to rule out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine. French constitution expert Petitpre said Le Pen was within her rights to interpret the founding charter that way, but that it could ultimately come back to haunt her, as a president has various ways of making a government's life difficult. "She shot herself in the foot by signalling they would go for a hard cohabitation," he said. "The president has extensive powers to resist and he will now know he has to use them." Petitpre cited the first cohabitation period in 1986, when Socialist Francois Mitterrand refused to accept the foreign and defence ministers proposed by conservative prime minister Jacques Chirac because they had virulently criticised the president. Chirac eventually had to propose two different names. STRANGE DUEL Past cohabitations made for some incongruous scenes at global gatherings. Chirac insisted on attending the 1986 G-7 summit in Tokyo along with Mitterrand, irritating the president who nonetheless managed to be the only one to speak at the final press conference. By the time of a European summit later that year, the two men had managed to agree a common position even on divisive issues such as South African apartheid. Under a second cohabitation in 1994, the president and prime minister of the time agreed on sending troops to Rwanda. The third and most recent cohabitation - with Chirac as president and Socialist Lionel Jospin as premier - also went relatively smoothly in foreign policy, with only a few disagreements. The French would be unforgiving towards leaders who exposed their divisions on the global stage so both sides would have an interest in avoiding overt hostility, said law professor Anne-Marie Cohendet from Paris Pantheon-Sorbonne university. "Specialists say cohabitation is a strange duel in which the one who shoots first is dead," she said. However, past cohabitations were between leaders from mainstream parties who largely agreed on major foreign policy issues and the importance of France's alliances. The RN, which has never held power, has made no secret of its disdain for EU institutions, and has said it wants France to leave NATO's integrated command, though not while the war in Ukraine is raging. "Should there be a cohabitation between Emmanuel Macron and the RN, it would be nothing like the previous ones... and would be very tough," a former minister who experienced a cohabitation period told Reuters on condition of anonymity. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Gareth Jones) By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Adding partners to the AUKUS defense project would be "complicated," a senior Australian diplomat said on Friday, saying he did not believe the U.S. Congress is open to expanding the pact involving Australia, the U.S. and Britain. AUKUS was formed in 2021 to counterbalance China's growing power. A first "pillar" involves cooperation between the three partners to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, but they have raised the possibility of other countries joining a second pillar to develop other high-tech weaponry. Paul Myler, deputy head of mission at Australia's embassy in Washington, said that it was an "almost inconceivable" achievement that after 40 years of effort to reform U.S. export control restrictions, the partners were on the verge of creating an environment for easier collaboration and co-development. "Adding additional partners to that process is complicated," he told an event hosted by the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington. Myler noted that the three AUKUS partners had committed to talk to Japan about what might be possible in terms of collaboration, and Japan had shown the political will to field defense capabilities in a timely fashion. "So ... there's a fundamental alignment there," he said. "But I think I need to be really clear: My shorthand for this is not Japan as being invited into AUKUS. AUKUS is reaching out to Japan, to find some collaboration that we can do out there." "I don't think Congress would consider it (AUKUS) open for expansion, but AUKUS partners can certainly reach out and do collaboration out there," he said. AUKUS still has to overcome hurdles from strict U.S. restrictions on sharing technology, and Canberra and London worry it could get bogged down if new members are added too quickly. There has been some hesitation about involving Japan, with officials and experts highlighting its cyber and information security vulnerabilities. At the end of April, the U.S. State Department unveiled a plan to reduce licensing requirements for transferring military gear and sensitive technology among AUKUS partners. It said on April 19 it expects to finalize trade exemptions for AUKUS in the next 120 days. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Sandra Maler) People protest against the German government's decision to deport migrants who were denied asylum, at Duesseldorf Airport By Dimitri Rhodes (Reuters) - A growing proportion of non-European Union citizens ordered to leave EU territory are being returned to countries outside the bloc as part of efforts to rein in irregular migration, data from the EU's statistics office shows. The deportation success rate reached 29.5% in the first quarter of 2024, up from 21.6% in the same period in 2022, according to data published on Friday by Eurostat. Over the same period, the number of deportation orders issued increased by around 15% while deportations following orders issued increased by around 58%. "With the new Return Roadmap, action is underway to support member states in speeding up returns and facilitating reintegration," a European Commission spokesperson said. "More frequent use of mutual recognition of return decisions is also helping to accelerate the process," the spokesperson said, referring to agreements between EU nations and migrants' countries of origin. Since 2016, the 27-nation EU has sealed pacts with Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkey and most recently Egypt as it seeks to curb irregular migration, a move criticised by human rights groups for ignoring humanitarian law. Migration was a top issue in the June 6-9 European Parliament elections, which saw gains for right-wing nationalists, shaping how the bloc will confront future challenges ranging from geopolitics to immigration. Anti-immigration rhetoric has grown across the EU since more than a million people - mostly Syrian refugees - arrived via the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the bloc unprepared. Unable to agree how to share the responsibility, EU countries mostly focused on bringing down arrivals. Of the more than 100,000 non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country in the first quarter of 2024, nearly a third were deported, Eurostat said. This included people returned to other EU countries, but 85% of them were sent outside the bloc's borders, up from 77% in the previous quarter. Among non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country, Algerian and Moroccan nationals constituted the largest share at 7% each, followed by Turkish nationals at 6%, and Syrian and Georgian nationals at 5% each. France deported the highest number of non-EU citizens in the quarter, with 4,205 individuals returned to another country, against 34,190 ordered to leave. Germany followed with 3,950 individuals returned against 15,400 orders issued. (Reporting by Dimitri Rhodes; Editing by Ros Russell) MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's Forza Italia, part of the right-wing ruling coalition, will vote in favour of Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission, foreign minister and head of the party Antonio Tajani said on Friday. The move is in line with the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) stance but is in stark contrast to the decision of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to abstain from supporting von der Leyen's second mandate at the EU leaders summit on Thursday. "Forza Italia will vote (Roberta) Metsola President of the Parliament and von der Leyen for the EU Commission. In tune with EPP," Tajani said in a post on X. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised on Wednesday plans to share out the top jobs in EU institutions, saying they ignored right-wing parties' surge in popularity at the latest European Parliament elections. The three parties backing Meloni's ruling coalition have different stances in the European Parliament. Brothers of Italy is with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) party, the League is in the Identity and Democracy (ID) group while Forza Italia is in the EPP. (Reporting by Andrea Mandala, Writing by Romolo Tosiani; Editing by Giulia Segreti, Gianluca Semeraro and Sharon Singleton) Rahul-led Opp shamed as U.S. slams Modi govt over hate crimes, demolition of homes The United States Wednesday slammed the Modi-led NDA government in New Delhi over hates crimes, anti-conversion laws, and the demolition of homes and places of worship affecting minority groups in India. Friday June 28, 2024 6:09 PM , ummid.com News Network Washington: The United States Wednesday slammed the Modi-led NDA government in New Delhi over hates crimes, anti-conversion laws, and the demolition of homes and places of worship affecting minority groups in India. In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship of members of minority faith communities, U.S. Secretary of States Antony Blinken said. Blinken said this while releasing the U.S. State Departments annual report on religious freedom. The US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Rashad Hussain, faulted efforts by Indian police. In India, Christian communities reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion activities, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges, Rashad said. The rare criticism from one of the highest offices of the U.S. administration came even as the opposition parties led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi are accused of remaining silent on the serious issues concerning the security of Muslims and other minority groups in India. India saw a highly charged electioneering process which ended on June 04, 2024. During the elections, PM Modi and other BJP leaders indulged in communal rhetoric . The ruling dispensation denies the allegations. However, the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in various states are conspicuously avoiding action against the groups involved in hate crimes and mob lynching. Worst, the demolitions of homes belonging to Muslims on one or the other pretext, are being carried out by the BJPs own governments. Also, at least four Muslims have been beaten to death in mob violence in just two weeks of the right wing Modi government taking charge of office in New Delhi for a 3rd term. The government however is failing to take noticeable action to avoid such crimes repeating in future. Against this backdrop, it was expected that the Congress and other opposition parties - who significantly increased their numbers in the Parliament because of the support Muslims and other minorities extended to them in the 2024 elections, will raise their voice. They however are remaining silent. Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP), three days ago listed a number of issues to highlight the failure of the Modi government. He however decided not to mention the killings of Muslims in mob lynching, hate crimes and demolitions of homes. The United States by slamming the Modi government on these issues has certainly shamed Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and other opposition parties who win elections by the votes of the Muslims and other minority groups but refuse to stand by their side when time comes. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home SpaceX to build Deorbit Vehicle to usher International Space Station to its doom The US space agency NASA has awarded $843 mn contract to Elon Musk owned SpaceX to build a unique Deorbit Vehicle to usher the International Space Station (ISS) to its doom. Saturday June 29, 2024 0:15 AM , ummid.com News Network Washington: The US space agency NASA has awarded $843 mn contract to Elon Musk owned SpaceX to build a unique Deorbit Vehicle to usher the International Space Station (ISS) to its doom. Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations", NASA said. "This decision also supports NASAs plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth, said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all", Ken said The single-award contract has a total potential value of $843 million. The launch service for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will be a future procurement, according to NASA. Key Highlights The station was designed between 1984 and 1993. Elements of the station were in construction throughout the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe beginning in the late 1980s. World's five leading space agencies, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and State Space Corporation Roscosmos, have operated the International Space Station since 1998. The station was designed to be interdependent and relies on contributions from across the partnership to function. The United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have committed to operating the station through 2030. Russia has committed to continued station operations through at least 2028. The safe deorbit of the International Space Station is the responsibility of all five space agencies. Although the primary Mission Control centers are in the US and Russia, several ancillary control centers in Canada, Japan, and Europe also have a role in managing each nations elements and crew members. ISS carries a crew of between 3 and 13 depending on then number of people and passenger vehicles during handover periods. ISS orbits at an altitude of between 370460 km (200250 nmi). Its falls towards Earth continually due to atmospheric friction and requires periodic rocket firings to boost the orbit. The ISS orbital inclination is 51.6, permitting ISS to fly over 90% of the inhabited Earth. The International Space Station (ISS) ends its operational life in 2030. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home TN passes resolution to scrap NEET UG, Opp stalls Parliament session The Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution seeking scrapping of the medical entrance test, NEET UG, even as the Parliament session was adjourned Friday June 28, 2024 after the Opposition parties insist for a discussion on the matter. Friday June 28, 2024 4:59 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi/Chennai: The Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution seeking scrapping of the medical entrance test, NEET UG, even as the Parliament session was adjourned Friday June 28, 2024 after the Opposition parties insist for a discussion on the matter. The Tamil Nadu resolution demanding scrapping of the NEET UG received supports from the ruling as well as the opposition parties and passed unanimously. The resolution was introduced in the TN Assembly by Chief Minister MK Stalin amid nationwide outrage over alleged irregularities and malpractice, and reports of paper leak in the NEET-UG 2024 and the sudden postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 examinations. Tamil Nadu has been consistently demanding from the government to exempt Tamil Nadu students from NEET UG , saying the medical entrance is against economically weaker students. The state now passed resolution and urged the government to scrap the NNET exam. "We want NEET to be abolished. We have passed a resolution in our Assembly, and it is still pending with the President for signature," Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP K Kanimozhi told reports in New Delhi. Kanimozhi further said that a number of students have committed suicide as the earlier TN Assembly resolution seeking NEET UG exemption waits for the Presidents nod. Protest over NEET UG rocks Parliament On Friday, the opposition parties led by LoP Rahul Gandhi raised the allegations of paper leak and irregularities in the NEET UG 2024. As Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, his microphone was muted by the Speaker, the Congress party alleged. "While on one hand, Narendra Modi is not saying anything on NEET, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is raising the voice of the youth in the House. But, on such a serious issue, a conspiracy is being hatched to suppress the voice of the youth by doing cheap acts like switching off the mic," Congress tweeted, sharing a video of the same. Speaker, Om Birla, however refuted the Congress allegations and said he did not have any control over the microphone in the Lok Sabha. The BJP led government meanwhile alleged the Congress and other opposition parties of disrupting the Parliament and not allowing the debate on the Presidents address. There is no tradition of bringing an adjournment motion during the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. "The opposition is making an unnecessary demand. The government is very much ready to speak on the issue of NEET," the government said. NEET UG Fiasco The NTA had conducted NEET UG 2024 on May 05, 2024. However, allegations of paper leak and irregularities are being raised since the day 1 of holding the exam. Some candidates and their associates arrested by the Gujarat Police and Bihar Police have admitted receiving leaked papers a day before the exam. Questions were also raised over grace marks given to 1,563 candidates in Haryana. The center announced invalidated the grace marks after the matter reached the Supreme Court of India and also announced a re-exam. As per the NTA, only about 50% of the 1,563 candidates turned up for the re-exam. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on Thursday received visiting Group Chairman Jose Vinals of the UK-based Standard Chartered PLC. Telling his guest that Viet Nam values and wants to step up the strategic partnership with the UK, Khai said the Vietnamese Government hopes UK banks, including the Standard Chartered, will continue to make significant contributions to the sound bilateral friendship and cooperation via their presence in Viet Nam. The leader acknowledged the support and contributions of the group and Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam to the development of the countrys economy and its banking and financial sector. Since 2012, Standard Chartered has proactively played its role as the sole advisor to the Vietnamese Government on national credit rating upgrades. Khai said Standard Chartered's assistance has helped Viet Nam improve its communications and ratings amidst a challenging international environment and expressed his belief that the partner will continue its crucial role and accompany Viet Nam on its development path. The Deputy PM went on underscoring the Government's strong confidence in Standard Chartered's commitment to the local market. Viet Nam will continue to support and create favourable conditions for the bank to operate effectively, successfully implement cooperative projects, and accompany Viet Nam in its development process. Mentioning Standard Chartered's support for Viet Nam to realise the goal of Net Zero, Khai said international resources are necessary for Viet Nam to deliver on its climate change commitments. He urged Standard Chartered to continue giving advice and assistance to Viet Nam in carrying out its action plans and projects in green growth and sustainable development. Regarding the building of an international financial centre in HCM City, the Deputy PM hoped Standard Chartered would continue to share its experience and measures for developing a comprehensive financial ecosystem suited to Viet Nam's economy and international practices. In response, Vinals reaffirmed the commitment to cooperate with the Vietnamese Government and relevant stakeholders to realise the goal of prosperous development. He expressed his hope for opportunities to help Viet Nam overcome challenges through attracting more foreign investors to the country. He also confirmed that Standard Chartered will support the country in improving its national credit rating, ensuring foreign investors confidence, and promoting sustainable and green economic development. VNS WASHINGTON Representatives of over 70 Vietnamese enterprises, the biggest-ever number, attended the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2024 held in Maryland from June 23-26. These are businesses that have been investing or planning to invest in the US in various fields such as software, information technology, construction, logistics, transport, food and agriculture. At a seminar connecting the two countries firms, organised by the Vietnamese Embassy, companies from both US businesses and Vietnamese enterprises shared investment experiences abroad and discussed cooperation opportunities and related regulations in the US. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung said the high number of Vietnamese enterprises attending at the SelectUSA event reflected Viet Nam's development and international integration, as well as demonstrating the desire of Vietnamese companies to reach out to the international market. According to o Tri Tuan, deputy general director of ai Dung Group, one of businesses attending SelectUSA this year, upgrading the two countries' ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership has opened up opportunities to promote investment cooperation and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to enter the US market. Ann Huynh, an overseas Vietnamese businesswoman, who has followed the SelectUSA programme since 2017, said it was a good opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to find market information. At the meeting, Vietnamese businesses that have experience investing in the US such as Vietcombank and Vinfast, also shared their experiences, opportunities and challenges when investing in the US, as well as their businesses' plans to further expand production and business activities. Eximbank, Vietcombank, Ernst & Young introduced products, services and support programmes that banks and businesses can provide to businesses when investing and doing business in the US. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the Department of Commerce Pamela Phan said Viet Nam was the US 9th important trading partner in 2023, affirming that the US will assist and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises when they do business and make investment in the US. US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper stated that the two countries upgrade of their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership has created more advantages for bilateral economic and trade ties and pointed to several investment promotion programmes, including the SelectUSA Summit. The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest profile event in the US to facilitate business and investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organisations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen. Hosted by the US Department of Commerce, the summit is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the US and provides EDOs with the opportunity to meet directly with international companies to facilitate investment deals. VNS By Ly Ly Cao AI and its applications are making profound inroads into every sphere of production and daily life. It is becoming increasingly vital for the efficient and cost-effective management of the global renewable energy industry by 2030. In Viet Nam, AI is expected to be adopted across smart buildings, urban transportation, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enhance energy security. The importance of AI in power grid management is rising significantly thanks to its accurate forecasting in smart grid operation, energy demand coordination and distribution, improving power generation efficiency, as well as research and development of new energy materials, according to ong Mai Lam, cluster president for Schneider Electric Vietnam and Cambodia. AI goes beyond simply alerting about potential issues, damage, or deterioration in systems, energy centres, or power lines that require maintenance and preventive measures. It also integrates this information with data on weather and traffic to assist companies in swiftly and optimally deploying electrical engineers to the field. The large amounts of data available on power grid parameters, including generation capacity, loads, currents, voltages, frequencies and grid fault signals, can serve as valuable inputs for various AI applications aimed at enhancing power quality and managing the grid more effectively, Lam said. For example, when it comes to solar power, AI can be used to determine optimal locations for building solar farms based on sunlight duration and intensity. It can also aid operators in strategically planning the layout of solar systems to maximise sunlight capture. AI technology can also be employed to make automated decisions, enabling solar panels to efficiently track the movement of sunlight throughout the day. Given Viet Nams commitment at COP26 in 2021 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the development of electric vehicles has also become crucial. Transportation contributes around 30 per cent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, according to the 2022 report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Transitioning to electric vehicles, such as electric cars, motorcycles, vans and buses, offers more than just a climate-friendly solution, according to the recent Vietnam Energy Outlook Report - Pathways to Net Zero, released by the Vietnam Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority, the Danish Energy Agency, and the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam. It provides opportunities to reduce healthcare and environmental costs related to air pollution, particularly in urban areas The Ministry of Transport is drafting new laws on urban planning and development that will include policies to expand electric mobility infrastructure, including charging stations. These laws are expected to be presented to the National Assembly in 2024 and potentially take effect in 2025, which could boost public demand for electric vehicles. The latest electric vehicle models widely employ AI technology, ensuring optimal performance and maximum safety, according to VinFast. With AI, these vehicles can utilise intelligent driver assistance systems, proactive cruise control, adaptive lane control, and smart parking assist. AI also enables automatic collision detection and warning, as well as software updates to address any identified errors. On the other hand, AI can be used to help optimise EV charging station management, increasing revenue. Citing a report from Mordor Intelligence, an in-depth market research report provider, Lam said that the global AI infrastructure market was projected to grow rapidly, from US$23.5 billion in 2022 to over $164 billion by 2029, a 27.5 per cent annual growth rate. A key segment would be electric vehicle charging stations, forecast to expand from $32.86 billion in 2024 to $104.09 billion by 2029, a 25.94 per cent annual growth. Policy challenging In recent years, countries around the world have made significant strides in policy, financial support and technology, which have helped drive and narrow the green gap - turning corporate net-zero ambitions into concrete actions, particularly in the energy sector. "Viet Nam faces unique challenges that differentiate its situation from others. The advancement of green sectors, particularly renewable energy projects, could be accelerated with enhanced policy support," Pham Quoc Anh, CEO of Pacifico Energy Vietnam, told Viet Nam News. "To boost investment in green energy, both from within the country and abroad, we see a great opportunity to refine our institutional and legal frameworks for clearer guidance. This would also facilitate effective government oversight of project outcomes." He noted that streamlining the policy implementation and approval processes could significantly improve the landscape for investment opportunities. Meanwhile, Lam from Schneider Electric said that despite AI's essential contribution to enterprises' energy management and greener production, concerns about the costs of investing in green production and business operations remained a major barrier for many. To enable businesses to both increase profits and produce in a green and sustainable manner, the optimal solution would be to develop a comprehensive model that integrates tangible economic value and non-financial value into investment decisions, Lam said. This should include identifying the comprehensive value of green buildings based on tangible economic values such as operating cost savings, increased real estate value, and higher rental rates. "The initial investment cost for new green buildings is higher than that for existing buildings, but the gap can decrease over time as the technology further develops," Lam added. Greater application of electrification and digitalisation is key to balancing this equation, as they allow for more efficient energy use and smarter building and factory solutions, according to Lam. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Japanese comic book series Detective Conan starting this week. The event to be held at Gigamall in Thu uc City from June 29 to August 31 will pay tribute to the popular comic strip and its creator and illustrator Gosho Aoyama. The comic is about 17-year-old Kudo Shinichi, a famous high-school detective who is tracked down and drugged by the Black Organisation. He survives but his body transforms into that of little boy, leaving him to solve baffling mysteries and murder cases under a new identity, Edogawa Conan. The exhibition will have six sections with various themes, allowing visitors to recall memorable moments in the series. There will be an Intro Room with a figure and iconic pictures of Conan. Following that will be the CONANs Words area with memorable quotes from characters in the comic strip. For those who like the romantic-comedic aspects there will be the CONANs Love area about his romantic relationships. The CONANs Mystery area will be for solving codes and messages that have appeared in the series and digging deeper into the villainous Black Organisation. All the criminals and actual models of murder weapons appearing in the series will be exhibited in the CONANs HANIN room. CONAN's Justice will tell the stories of the victims families. Conans rival Kaito Kid, a jewel thief and world-renowned stage magician, will perform his best tricks in the CONANs Magic section. The tour will end in the Memory Room, which will show a documentary about the 30-year evolution of the series. There will also be a room displaying the authors very first sketches and manuscripts for the series and photos of illustrations drawn by him. In Japan, the event has drawn a large number of visitors in Tokyo, Sapporo and Sendai cities and the event is preparing to open in Osaka, Hiroshima, Yokohama, and Nagoya cities in the next few months. The comic strip has sold over 270 million copies worldwide, and its anime (Japanese animation) version has been aired in 40 countries. It has also seem multiple spin-offs, movies, original video animations, a television special, video games, and live-action dramas. The series was first broadcast in Viet Nam on HTV3 in 2009 and has remained among the most popular animation films. VNS HCM CITY Lovers of the ancient capital of Hue as well as its culture had a chance to experience the best of Hue cuisine, exquisitely handcrafted and served during a special culinary event held last Saturday in Thu uc City of HCM City. Titled Hue, Remembering our Mothers in Old Days, the event is a part of the ongoing Vietnamese culinary programme Taste of Home which Man Moi Restaurant has designed to celebrate and promote specialty dishes of each region across Viet Nam. Aside from popular traditional favourites like banh canh tom Hue (prawn noodles of Hue style), banh beo (steamed rice cake), banh nam (flat steamed rice dumpling) and banh loc (rice dumpling cake), on offer was also the delicious delicacy bun giam nuoc (sour vermicelli soup), a signature of Hue. Like no other, the broth of the specialty was made from nuoc, the glass blue sea creatures in the same family as jellyfish, best caught in the waters near Hue, and Hue vinegar with hand-ground crab cake, shrimp, tomato, crackers and herbs on top when served. When it comes to desserts, lovers of Hue cuisines should not miss che or sweet soups and the must tries at the event were che au van (broad bean sweet soup) and che au xanh hat (whole green bean sweet soup), considered Hues best sweet soups. Most notably, sweet soups of Hue style are never served with coconut milk. Traditional sweet cakes, that used to be served to royal family members, were also available including banh te ieu (green bean cake), banh phuc linh (arrowroot powder cake) and banh bo mut (rice cake with mixed, shredded fruit jams). Ma Thuong (mother Nguyen Thi Thuong), a veteran cook from Hue, joined the event's opening to present how to make tasty and delicious dishes and cakes. Tik Toker of Hue culture review ao Huu Quy also shared with guests stories of preserving the memories of ancient Hue in daily life. Quy, among the young people preserving and promoting Hue culture and its culinary tradition in modern times, showed eaters the art of making objects for decoration or packaging cakes by folding sheets of paper into shapes. Similar to Japanese origami, the art is still very popular among Hue people. Those interested in Hue culture and cuisines now can enjoy the best food of Hue at Man Moi Thao ien and Man Moi Vo Van Tan restaurants in HCM City. VNS HA NOI Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh received in Ha Noi on Thursday a delegation from the Thailand-Viet Nam Parliamentarians Friendship Group, led by its Chairman Sakchai Tanaboonchai. Congratulating Thailand on the successful organisation of its Senate election, the vice chairwoman stated that the NA will continue to closely cooperate with the countrys House of Representatives and Senate. She affirmed that Viet Nam always values and seeks to further strengthen the two nations bonds, mutual trust, and enhanced strategic partnership, with an aim of upgrading their relationship in the near future. Additionally, leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State are keen to promote cooperative relations between the sides legislative bodies. In line with the cooperation agreement signed between the two parliaments in December last year, Thanh suggested both countries continue to leverage the role of their parliamentary friendship groups, and promote all-level delegation exchanges, particularly inter-parliamentary exchange programmes to share experiences in law making and monitor of the implementation of bilateral agreements. Moreover, both countries should effectively carry out the action programme for their enhanced strategic partnership in the 2022-2027 period. She said the Vietnamese NA and Government always facilitate and encourage Thai enterprises business operations and investment expansion in Viet Nam, particularly in the areas of digital transformation, digital economy, green economy, clean energy, and just energy transition. With a hope for the Thai parliaments further support for the bilateral ties at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, Thanh called for the maintenance of close consultations and coordination with each other and with other ASEAN countries, serving the ASEAN Community building. It is also necessary to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and enhance ASEAN's centrality in addressing regional issues, she added. The Thai chairperson told his host that since its establishment, the friendship group has undertaken many practical activities to fortify relationships between the parliamentarians of the two countries and their respective legislative bodies. He affirmed his commitment to acting as a bridge, inheriting, and developing the good relations between Viet Nam and Thailand. VNS HA NOI The outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Dalian and working trip to China from June 24 - 27 reflect Viet Nam's growing stature in the world and identify a breakthrough for the two countries relations. Positioning Viet Nam in face of next frontiers for growth The WEFs 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions took place in Dalian, China, under the theme Next Frontiers for Growth. Together with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Polish President Andrzej Duda, PM Chinh attended and delivered speeches at sessions of the meeting. He joined WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab in co-chairing a dialogue with executives of major WEF enterprises. He also presided over a discussion with innovative businesses of the forum. PM Chinh gave opinions about global issues, five outstanding features of the global economy, three main factors affecting the world at present, and three trailblazing areas shaping the world in the future. He also emphasised the successes Viet Nam has gained over the last nearly 40 years, highlighting the keywords of reform, creativity, and integration. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that at the meeting, the Vietnamese Government leader had open, sincere, and profound discussions with partners and enterprises, showing Viet Nam's reform spirit and strong determination to change the growth model and create an optimal environment for investors. His opinions were highly valued by enterprises, which can be seen in their interest in and wish to invest and do business in Viet Nam, especially in new sectors and areas, Son noted. Schwab held that PM Chinh and the Vietnamese delegations participation received the international communitys special attention because Viet Nam is not only one of the fastest growing economies but also undergoing quick transition amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The WEF leader said the international community was greatly impressed by Viet Nam's socio-economic policies, which seek to not only address problems facing the world nowadays but also build an economy with a firm foothold in the 21st century, especially in terms of developing digital economy, green economy, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, and sharing economy. Infrastructure connectivity identified a breakthrough in Viet Nam - China relations The PM's trip to China also aimed to continue implementing the strategic perceptions and agreement of the two countries leaders. PM Chinh had talks and meetings with Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee Wang Huning. At the events, the leaders of Viet Nam and China looked back on the progress in bilateral ties since the historic mutual visits by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023. They shared the view that the two countries relations have never been so profound, comprehensive, and substantive like at present. The two sides agreed to order all-level authorities and sectors of the countries to thoroughly grasp and properly carry out the common agreements and perceptions of the two Party leaders, thereby developing the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in a substantive, effective, and sustainable manner. In addition, PM Chinh and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing attended and delivered remarks at a conference on the two countries cooperation in developing strategic transport infrastructure and the role of their enterprises. The Vietnamese PM also received executives of some leading infrastructure development companies of China. He expressed his hope for cooperation in infrastructure development and connection, especially transport infrastructure, including railway, to be a breakthrough in bilateral ties. The trip to participate in the WEF Dalian 2024 meeting and bilateral working sessions in China proved successful and fruitful, helping intensify the Viet Nam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. VNS Acting Chief of Police Larry Satterwhite speaks to the media during a news conference after he was appointed to take over the Houston Police Department on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Houston. Satterwhite was named to the post by Houston Mayor John Whitmire after the sudden retirement of Chief Troy Finner. Before his elevation to acting chief, Satterwhite was executive assistant chief overseeing patrol operations. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Acting Chief Larry Satterwhite 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 The Houston police commander leading the internal investigation into the department's 264,000 dropped cases citing lack of personnel has been reassigned, though Mayor John Whitmire said the probe is not yet complete. Donna Crawford, who is moving from internal affairs to the gang division, is one of four commanders reassigned in what department spokesperson Shay Awosiyan called routine. Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite likes to move those who have been in one role for more than two or three years, in order to give them additional experience, Awosiyan said. Whitmire earlier said a final report was coming soon in the police investigation of the dropped cases. Reached Thursday, he said the investigation wasn't complete and that he was unsure when the report would be released. Awosiyan said the department defers to Whitmire when it comes to the release of the investigation results. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Awosiyan deferred to the mayor on the timing and status of the investigation. MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: HPD staff working overtime to recruit for $4M sixth cadet class, officials say Others on the move are Cmdr. Jonathon Halliday, who is going from the departments command center to southeast patrol; Cmdr. Michael Collins, who is moving from southeast patrol to replace Crawford in internal affairs; and Cmdr. James Dale, who is moving to the command center from west side patrol, Awosiyan said. Mario Clinton, who was previously a lieutenant, is being promoted to commander and will take over for Dale on the west side, Awosiyan said. Gregory Fremin, a retired Houston Police Department captain who teaches criminal justice at Sam Houston State University, said it's true that most commanders are reassigned once every two or three years but that the timing of Crawford's reassignment is unusual. "I think they would typically leave someone until the investigation is over," Fremin said. "Unless they know it's already done." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Crawford had been over internal affairs for a comparatively long tenure, however, Fremin said. She was first named over that division around five years ago, much longer than the usual two or three years. When asked if the moves were connected to the ongoing scandal over suspended cases inside the department, Awosiyan repeated that commander reassignments were considered routine. Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, confirmed that reassignments are typically routine, with most people staying in one division around three years. He said Collins and Crawford had been in their respective divisions for several years prior to their reassignment. In May, an independent panel echoed a Houston Chronicle investigation in blaming the suspended cases scandal on a total system failure. The report, which came about a week after then-Chief Troy Finner abruptly retired, barely mentioned him and said the code was implemented during one of the departments most chaotic years and that the special victims division was an early and frequent adopter. HA NOI The role of pre-school education in the national education system is affirmed in the Education Law. However, this educational level still has many 'gaps' with about 40.9 per cent of children aged three to four, mainly in remote areas, ethnic minority regions and mountainous areas, not attending school. In densely populated areas, due to the lack of schools and classes, children under five have to give up their places to children in the universal education programme. Additionally, infrastructure, the number and quality of the teaching and support staff are also significant issues. The shortage of pre-school teachers has been a problem for the education sector in many provinces and cities for many years. In Tien Giang Province, there are 170 public pre-schools and about 1,500 private kindergartens that require more than 3,380 teachers. However, currently, the province has nearly 2,400 teachers, so a shortfall of nearly 1,000 teachers according to the regulations. Due to the shortage of teachers, each person has to work two to three times harder and many places cannot appoint managerial staff as it would worsen the shortage of teachers. Each class has only one teacher in charge, so when on maternity leave, the school administration has to step in to take classes. Although Tien Giang Province organises many recruitment pushes every year, pre-school teachers are still lacking. This problem has many causes, including the lack of sources for recruitment, the remote locations of schools, difficulties in commuting, degraded infrastructure, insufficient classrooms and lack of staff housing. Many graduates are reluctant to work in challenging conditions, leading to an imbalance in recruitment sources. According to the statistics, the province has several rural communes with difficult commutes, and for many years, they have not been able to recruit pre-school teachers. The situation is similar in Kien Giang Province. For the 2023-24 school year, the province needs to add 1,578 staff positions but still has 1,198 unfilled positions. Among the 1,578 staff positions needed, 482 are for pre-school education. The shortage of teachers lead to inappropriate teacher per class ratios, not ensuring compliance with regulations. The pre-school teacher ratio should be 2.2 teachers per class, but the current rate in the province is only 1.62 teachers per class. For example, a kindergarten in Mong Tho A Commune of Chau Thanh District is lacking two teachers. Nguyen Thi Nho Binh, the school's principal, told giaoducthoidai.vn: For many years, some teachers have had to manage classes with more children than regulations allowed, but the school cannot split classes due to a lack of staff. Some classes have up to 47 children, making it very difficult for two teachers to care for them. Infrastructure lagging behind Statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training show that more than 40 per cent of children aged three to four have not accessed pre-school education. In Kien Giang Province, the rapid urbanisation in some localities has led to a fast population increase, but investment in infrastructure has not kept pace, affecting education quality. According to Huynh Van Hoa, deputy director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, the province faces several issues such as unsuitable planning for the pre-school and general education network in some localities. There is still a shortage of schools and classes in urban and industrial areas and land for school construction, especially in towns and cities, is insufficient. The continuous overload of students in kindergartens and pre-schools, along with a long-standing shortage of staff, has not been resolved, so many bring in contract teachers but only ensure a rate of one teacher per class for two sessions per day. Binh Duong Province, one of the localities with rapid urbanisation, faces the challenge of building a pre-school system to meet the needs of children of industrial park workers. According to the 2023-24 school year report by the provincial Department of Education and Training, the province has over 1,000 pre-school institutions in industrial zones with over 13,600 managers, teachers and staff of which there are more than 7,000 teachers. The schools were generally meeting the needs of parents until, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many non-public educational institutions had to close because they had no income to pay teachers' salaries and rent. Barriers from parents' awareness In addition to difficulties regarding infrastructure and teachers, the universalisation of pre-school education still faces many issues due to the incorrect perception of many parents, especially in remote, rural areas, where they believe that pre-school is not important. They think that children can start primary school at age six without any pre-school education. ao Thi Hoa, a 39-year-old farmer in Chu Pah District of Gia Lai Province in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) region, does not send her four-year-old son to kindergarten, believing she can take care of and teach him at home. Hoa said she had previously sent her child to a nursery, but he was shy and often cried, making going to school difficult. "At home, parents can teach their children to read and count. They will still learn from the beginning in grade one. We also have more time to do household chores and save on school costs," Hoa said. Even in HCM City, the largest economic centre of the country, although it basically achieves universal pre-school education for all children aged three to five, ensuring the rate of children attending classes at this age is still challenging, especially in suburban areas, due to parents' reluctance to send their children to school. Nguyen Thi Thuy Dung, a freelance businesswoman in District 12, is hesitant and worried about sending her young child to school. "I hire a babysitter for my child. In the evening, I spend time teaching him a few simple things. Children attending school often get sick, missing classes, which is worrisome." In a remote area in HCM City, Huynh Thuy Ngan, vice principal of Thanh An Preschool of Can Gio District, also shares the difficulties in universalising preschool education. Ngan said that in recent years, thanks to the attention of authorities and unions, the school's facilities have been significantly improved. However, the critical issue of getting children into school remains. The universalisation of preschool education for three- to four-year-olds faces many challenges due to the difficult living conditions of the people, whose economy depends on fishing and salt production. As a result, children do not have the means to attend school despite policies supporting island commune students, such as waiving tuition fees and additional support of VN160,000 (US$7) per month for lunch. "Many parent do not want to send their children to school because most have someone to take care of them and the school is far from home, Ngan said. Moreover, a few parents hold outdated views, thinking that children only play and do not learn anything at school at the ages of three to four, so they wait until five years old to send them to school to prepare for grade one. The school and local authorities constantly campaign in various ways, but the rate of three- to four-year-olds attending school is still low," she said. VNS ONG NAI ong Nai Province is taking measures to seek stable sales for products recognised under the countrys One Commune One Product programme. The southeastern province has 220 OCOP products rated three stars and above, and many of them have developed a brand name and have linkages in production and selling. However, a number of these products, especially those produced by small-scale companies, co-operatives and households, face sales difficulties because of small-scale production and unstable outlets. Nguyen Van Toi in Tan Phu Districts Phu ien Commune breeds ducks for producing eggs, and his eggs have been recognised as a three-star product under the programme. To get the recognition, he has made great efforts to change his production processes to meet required regulations, but his eggs still have not had a stable outlet and are sold like other normal eggs, he said. Because of high production cost and unstable sales, my family has to reduce the number of ducks in our flock to 5,000 heads now, down by half. However, I still try to produce clean eggs and preserve their quality in order to find an outlet, he said. Nguyen Van Thang, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said households who produce OCOP products are facing difficulties because few of them have a large-scale production that meets market requirements. To develop the programmes products sustainably, the department has set up plans and instructed its agencies to co-operate with localities to review these products and their producers to evaluate quality, potential and sustainability. It is developing concentrated farming areas to promote the establishment of start-ups to develop OCOP products and encourage producers to produce them, he said. The province is implementing advocacy activities to raise public awareness about the quality of OCOP products, and is encouraging people to give priority to consuming them. It is surveying markets and develops market linkages among the countrys regions to sell them. The province has participated in trade fairs and exhibitions held in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) and northern regions to introduce its OCOP products. Its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Department of Industry and Trade have co-operated with their counterparts in these regions to create transaction floors to introduce and sell OCOP products. The province has also had support policies to assist OCOP producers to promote their sales. It aims to assist more than half of OCOP producers to establish websites to introduce and sell products, and supports them to participate in selling products on the provinces e-commerce platform this year. The Department of Industry and Trade, in co-operation with relevant departments and agencies, organised an OCOP product booth for 62 companies to introduce their products at many seminars and programmes last year. The province has promoted the sale of OCOP products on e-commerce platforms and aims to develop them in both quantity and quality. It has encouraged companies, co-operatives and production establishments to exploit rural specialty products and develop them into OCOP products. It also aims to develop OCOP products in combination with building new-style rural areas and developing tourism services. In Tan Phu District, authorities are assisting producers to introduce their OCOP products at tourism destinations. Nguyen Huu Ky, chairman of the Tan Phu Peoples Committee, said many OCOP products in the district such as agarwood essential oil, Kabin glutinous rice wine, Tra Lai green skin and pink flesh grapefruit and Phu An cashew nuts, have become popular with consumers. The district will strengthen trade promotion activities to develop markets for OCOP products, he said. It will introduce them in tourism tours and diversify the provinces tourism products, he said. VNS HA NOI The Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology has introduced the first continuous glucose monitoring protocol guideline, to advise healthcare professionals in Viet Nam. The guideline is expected to bring about major changes to the countrys diabetes management. The Ministry of Health had previously recommended continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people living with diabetes type 2 who desire to better manage their glucose levels and also for hospitalised patients with required glucose monitoring. The first-of-its-kind guideline, issued by the Vietnam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology (VADE) in late February 2024, provides concrete steps on how healthcare professionals (HCPs) and people with diabetes should implement CGM. Overall implementation of technology will not only help better manage diabetes but also reduce the treatment cost burden on people and the healthcare system. Therefore, a detailed guideline for continous glucose monitoring is of great importance, said Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Dang, VADE Chairman, formerly Vice Rector of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy on Thursday. CGM involves using sensors attached under the skin to measure glucose in the interstitial fluid over a period of time and display continuously estimated blood glucose values over time, the VADE guideline said. For HCPs, the guideline lists out CGM devices and how to use them; indications and contraindications; key indicators, especially those of the elderly and pregnant women as well as data analysis. For people with diabetes, the guideline provides general introduction of CGM, the operation of CGM and how to use monitoring devices. Based on these guidelines, HCPs will establish protocols for CGM implementation for hospitals nationwide, especially those in Ha Noi and HCM City. The number of people living with diabetes in Viet Nam has been on the rise, with the disease prevalence doubling over the past ten years. Among those, more than half of them are not diagnosed, therefore not being treated. For those under treatment, only a third achieved diabetes treatment goal, according to Prof. Dang. Keeping blood glucose level stable and within acceptable range is key for people living with diabetes to prevent diabetic complications, Dang said. CGM provides a real-time glucose reading and a detailed picture of a person's glucose levels, helping doctors understand the patients conditions to make more personalised treatment decision and improve treatment outcomes. The technology also helps people living with diabetes better manage their diabetes and improve quality of life through actionable insights that enable lifestyle adjustments. One of the CGM devices listed in the VADE guideline is FreeStyle Libre, the flash glucose monitoring technology which was launched in March 2021 for adults and children (aged four and above) in Viet Nam by Abbott. The FreeStyle Libre system, launched in Viet Nam in March 2021, helps monitor glucose levels every minute through a small, coin-sized sensor worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 14 days making it the longest-lasting flash glucose monitoring device available globally. The technology has revolutionised the way diabetes is managed for about six million people across more than 60 countries. VNS Ecotourism has been flourishing markedly in the south-central province of Quang Nam. During the five-day holiday last month, the majority of the 233,000 visitors to the province chose eco-tourism packages. Ecotourism typically focuses both on protecting the natural environment and preserving and supporting local culture. It brings people to immerse themselves in nature while minimizing the ecological impact of the visit. Education about local plant and animal life is often a draw of the trip. Travellers can experience national parks, mountains, and marine areas, and their tourism dollars often directly fund the areas conservation. Many ecotourism models also promote cultural immersion, offering income opportunities to families and small local businesses. In recent years, Quang Nam has embraced the ecotourism model. The region is adapting rapidly to welcome global travellers to small family-run homestays, ethnic minority villages, and national parks. The chairwoman of the People's Committee of Tien Phuoc District, Tram Que Huong, said that in order to form eco-tourism products, in recent years, along with upgrading infrastructure, the district authority supported capital for hundreds of families to restore and develop craft villages that grow native fruit trees, restored ancient architecture, ancient private houses, unique ancient stone walls, and protect the environment. During the recent long holiday, every day, Loc Yen ancient village in Tien Phuoc welcomed over 500 visitors, the chairwoman said. Not far from Tien Phuoc eco-tourism villages, Lake Phu Ninh eco-tourism area in Phu Ninh District, which is known as the "Blue Pearl" in the Central region of Viet Nam, has an area of more than 23,000 hectares and more than 30 islands surrounded by blue sea water and is an attractive destination for tourists in the summer. The executive director of Lake Phu Ninh Ecotourism, Huynh Tan Quoc, said that since the beginning of the year, the ecotourism site had welcomed around 300 visitors every day. Especially on weekends, this tourist area welcomed 500-700 visitors. As for accommodation services, Lake Phu Ninh Ecotourism Area had 45 rooms that were fully booked during holidays and weekends. According to Phan Xuan Thanh, chairman of Quang Nam Tourism Association, the province has great potential for both island and inland tourism, and eco-tourism with tangible and intangible cultural values. The province also has a diverse ecosystem and valuable resources, so it needs to sustainably exploit green tourism products. Tran Thai Do, director of Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort, said that with its pristine beauty, eco-tourism and resorts linked to local culture, the eco-tourism areas in Quang Nam had great potential to open up many unique and attractive tourism products, and serve as a lever for community tourism to develop. According to Ho Quang Buu, deputy chairman of the Provincial People's Committee [provincial government], the locality identifies tourism as a key economic sector, with the goal of attracting more than 7.6 million visitors this year. Last month, the province launched the tourism stimulus programme 2024 themed Quang Nam Green Heritage Region. Taking place from May to November, the programme aims to lure domestic and international visitors to Quang Nam, while promoting the image of the province's green tourism. The programme will be divided into two phases, with the first taking place from May to August, offering various unique tourism products, high quality services and attractive promotions. In the second phase from September to November, the province will highlight the beauty of the rice ripening season and related festivals, as well as Hoi An in flood season, while offering sharp service discounts for tourists. Quang Nam is famous in Viet Nam travel map for its cultural and historical values, especially the UNESCO heritages such as Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary, Bai Choi performance art, and Cu Lao Cham Hoi An Biosphere Reserve. Besides, the province owns several beautiful beaches, river networks, natural and cultural landscapes, hundreds of traditional craft villages, characteristic festivals and local typical cuisine. VNS The list, based on revenues for the fiscal year 2023, was unveiled in the June edition of Fortune magazine and includes corporations from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Vietnam ranks fifth in terms of the number of companies listed, following Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. "This list reflects a dynamic and fast-changing region, one that boasts a GDP of $4 trillion, and one whose core economies are growing notably faster than those of Europe or the United States," said Clay Chandler, executive editor for Asia at Fortune. Among Vietnam's entries, 28 of them are based in Hanoi and 25 in Ho Chi Minh City. The biggest Vietnamese business listed by Fortune is the Vietnam National Petroleum Group, which is ranked 23rd, with revenues of $11.5 billion. Among the five largest Vietnamese enterprises highlighted by Fortune, three are in the banking and finance sector, including Agribank (37th), BIDV (39th), and Vietinbank (48th). The PAN Group has been recognised as Vietnam's largest producer in the agriculture and food sector, with a net revenue of $554 million last year. With a focus on high-end segments and highly processed products, the group was able to surpass its profit targets last year. The company's key products include rice, shrimp, fish, cashews, coffee, and agricultural chemicals, and are widely distributed across Vietnam, with over 200,000 points of sale. Additionally, these products are exported to more than 40 countries, with key markets including Japan, Europe and the US. Nguyen Thi Tra My, CEO of The PAN Group, said, "The opportunities ahead are significant as the group has developed sustainably and built a strong reputation over the past decade. The accumulation of expertise and resources over many years now presents numerous growth opportunities." The PAN Group is also notable for its sustainable development projects in the Mekong Delta. This commitment to sustainability has enabled the group to access domestic and international green and preferential funding sources. A notable example is the agreement with Standard Chartered Vietnam, signed during COP28 in Dubai. Out of the top 500 companies in Southeast Asia, only 6 per cent have female presidents or CEOs. The fact that five of those 30 female leaders are from Vietnam suggests that while there has been some progress, women are still significantly underrepresented in the region's highest levels of corporate leadership. The report highlights that the female leaders identified have demonstrated strong performance in areas like corporate governance, profitability, and community and social impact. Meth seizures hit record in East Asia, Southeast Asia in 2023 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on May 28 published a report showing that 190 tonnes of methamphetamine was seized in East and Southeast Asia in 2023, a record level. Boeing appoints new president for Southeast Asia Boeing has named Penny Burtt as the new president of the companys Southeast Asia business, effective July 3. Masan Group honoured in Fortunes Southeast Asia 500 rankings Masan Group has made its way into Fortunes Southeast Asia 500 rankings for 2024 thanks to its impressive business performance and strategy. AstraZeneca received the award at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City in June. On receiving the 'Great Technology & Innovation Award', Atul Tandon, general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, said, "At AstraZeneca, innovation goes beyond technology it's about transforming care and making a real difference in people's lives. This recognition is a powerful motivator, encouraging us to collaborate to strengthen healthcare system capacity, and providing equal and affordable access to advanced healthcare in Vietnam." The British-Swedish AstraZeneca biopharmaceutical company's unwavering commitment is reflected in its consistent top rankings on the Pharmaceutical Innovation and Invention Index, achieving the No.1 position in Invention and No.3 in Innovation for 2023. AstraZeneca invested a substantial $10.9 billion in research and development (R&D) globally last year, with Vietnam receiving $70 million to conduct clinical trials. AstraZeneca currently supports 65 research studies at nearly 50 hospitals across Vietnam, with over 6,500 patients participating. Beyond its core focus on R&D for innovative medicines, AstraZeneca prioritises driving healthcare innovation in Vietnam to enhance healthcare access for all. This commitment is exemplified by last year's launch of the Health Innovation Network, a collaborative effort with the Vietnam Young Physician Association, which aims to accelerate the application of AI and digital tools in screening and early detection of common non-communicable diseases. The 'Health Innovation Network' is operating in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Can Tho, and Thua Thien Hue, with over 60 participating hospitals and screening for lung diseases, including lung cancer, for over 100,000 people. This year, with a focus on lung health and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic health, the Health Innovation Network will provide free screening and early diagnosis for another 100,000 people and conduct online screening and counselling with AI applications for approximately one million people for non-communicable diseases. Present in Vietnam since 1994, AstraZeneca has partnered with the government and various other partners for the health and wellbeing of Vietnamese people. In 2023, AstraZeneca and the Ministry of Health signed a pivotal five-year MoU to deepen their long-term partnership and foster comprehensive collaboration in pharmaceutical R&D, manufacture, disease prevention and control, and developing a sustainable healthcare system. AstraZeneca has implemented various initiatives over the years to promote awareness, prevention, early detection, and effective management of non-communicable diseases, with over 900,000 beneficiaries. "For three decades, AstraZeneca has consistently prioritised the health of Vietnamese citizens and the sustainability of the healthcare system. We remain committed to this journey, working alongside the government, ministries, and organisations to implement even more ambitious projects with significant impact for the people, communities, and environment of Vietnam," said Nitin Kapoor, chairman of AstraZeneca Vietnam. As part of a commitment to invest $360 million in Vietnam by 2030, AstraZeneca is dedicating $90 million to facilitate technology transfer for local drug production. This initiative aims to elevate the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry, ultimately ensuring improved access to high-quality, locally made medicines for patients. Additionally, recognising the interconnection between planetary and human health, AstraZeneca is investing $50 million to restore forests and landscapes in Vietnam, aligning with the country's Net Zero emissions goal by 2050. AstraZeneca profit up on strong sales of cancer drugs British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Thursday said net profit jumped 21 percent in the first three months of the year thanks to strong growth in sales of cancer drugs. AstraZeneca to build 1.5 billion USD cancer drug facility in Singapore British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced on May 20 its intention to build a 1.5 billion USD facility in Singapore to produce new generation cancer treatment drugs. What are the current obstacles to tax collection on e-commerce platforms in Vietnam? ASL Law senior partner Nguyen Thi Thuy Chung Currently, managing taxes related to sales on e-commerce platforms faces numerous challenges. Tax management is currently conducted under a self-declaration and self-payment mechanism according to regulations. Hence, taxpayers, especially individuals doing business through social media platforms, have not been voluntarily registering their businesses or for tax purposes. Many individuals and online business households conduct transactions through cash payments via shippers. If payments are made through banks, they often use bank accounts that are not registered with tax authorities. Some individuals conduct business without a fixed location to transact with customers, relying solely on phone or social media accounts like Facebook and Zalo, and primarily engage in direct delivery and cash collection. Hence, tax authorities often lack sufficient information about these individuals to invite them for work-related meetings or to determine their tax obligations. Determining actual revenue after sessions is often challenging due to the lack of authentic documentation. What are the differences in management, declaration, and tax filing experience for those selling on e-commerce platforms in other countries? In Germany and France, intelligent search tools have been developed to identify those conducting online business without declaring or paying taxes. Xpider is used to detect e-commerce websites of German entities and individuals, identifying activities not complying with tax laws, and storing information for tax inspections. Meanwhile, France utilises tools like Copernic Agent, Metacrawler, and web scraping to search and collect information from websites and tax databases for computer audits. Vietnam has implemented a centralised tax management system nationwide. Unlike systems in France and Germany, Vietnams tax management system offers many functions, including tax registration integration, dossier management, tax declaration and settlement processing, domestic tax accounting, debt management, analysis reporting, assessment. Currently, businesses selling goods and providing services in Vietnam must issue electronic invoices to buyers, except for cases where goods are transferred internally for further production processes. For individuals and household businesses, invoice issuance is mandatory only when they apply the periodic declaration method for tax calculation. On the other hand, all individuals and businesses selling on e-commerce platforms in China must issue paper invoices, electronic invoices, or other service documentation to validate transactions. Both Vietnam and China have regulations that mandate the use of electronic tax declaration systems via the websites of their tax departments. While both countries have implemented electronic systems, Chinas is more complex and comprehensive. China requires all businesses, regardless of size, to issue invoices for every transaction, a regulation in place since 1998. In contrast, Vietnam only started implementing its electronic invoicing system in 2022 and is still in the process of finalising the technical framework. How can tax be collected effectively, especially given that the General Department of Taxation has recently issued a directive for local tax departments to intensify the management of e-commerce taxation? To ensure effective tax collection, ASL LAW proposes several measures. First is to require e-commerce platforms to declare taxes on behalf of individuals and organisations doing business on the platform. Individuals and organisations selling on e-commerce platforms should also issue electronic invoices to consumers for all orders. Dissemination of information and guidance to the public on tax issues related to e-commerce should be intensified. This includes the role of invoices, taxable entities, tax rates, and registration. Additionally, tax authorities should issue official documents addressing common concerns related to e-commerce. Encouraging cashless payments to enhance transparency in economic transactions should be carried out, enabling tax authorities to easily monitor and manage revenue sources. Implementing this measure requires support and cooperation between banks and tax authorities. Using data provided by banks, tax authorities can identify individuals and organisations engaged in online business who have not declared or paid taxes. Vietnam should also implement new IT applications to facilitate those engaged in e-commerce in completing tax procedures electronically. The rapid development of e-commerce has also led to an increase in counterfeit goods and intellectual property right (IPR) violations. How will these be handled according to Vietnamese law, and how can sellers protect their ownership rights on e-commerce platforms? The rapid development of e-commerce brings many business opportunities and gives rise to numerous issues related to counterfeit goods, fake products, and IPR violations. According to Vietnamese law, depending on the nature and severity of the violations, these actions can be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution. For producing and selling counterfeit goods, sellers can be fined around $400-850 for individuals and $850-1,600 for organisations. If e-commerce platform providers fail to act on illegal activities detected or reported on their platforms, they can be fined $1,250-1,600 and may face additional penalties and remedial measures as prescribed by law. The violations can be prosecuted under the Penal Code 2015 (amended and supplemented in 2017), including the crime of producing or trading in counterfeit goods, which also includes food and food additives. Offenders may face fines, imprisonment, or even the death penalty, and may be prohibited from certain positions or professions, with possible property confiscation. Legal entities may be fined or face operational suspensions, business prohibitions, and capital mobilisation restrictions. To protect IPR on e-commerce platforms, sellers can take several measures. It is advisable to use trademarks that have been registered. If the trademark in use has not been protected, it is necessary to file an application with the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam. Sellers should also regularly monitor products sold on e-commerce platforms to detect counterfeit goods; report violations to e-commerce platforms and request the removal of infringing products; and file complaints with relevant authorities when detecting violation of other entities. E-commerce platforms also need to have stricter policies for identifying authentic official stores. For example, in the application process for registering as an official store, the e-commerce platform should require sellers, importers, or distributors to provide purchase invoices and certificates of origin for their products. Next era of e-commerce: Digital transformation with sustainable development E-commerce in Vietnam has entered a new era, focusing on sustainable development and digital transformation to become a driver of the economy. E-commerce platforms help to spread agricultural value E-commerce is opening up a dynamic global playing field and bringing more opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products. Nguyen Minh Tien, director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture, explained more to VIRs Tra My. Nguyen Dinh Tho, director general of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, under the ministry of the same name, said environmental, social, and governance (ESG) implementation not only helps minimise negative impacts on the environment but also brings benefits. ESG activity needs clearer roadmap - illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Enterprises have many new opportunities to expand markets and enhance competitiveness in trade and investment activities, Tho said at a seminar on ESG standards held in Ho Chi Minh City last week. Looking at the global context, Tho said that, after the global crisis of climate and environmental pollution, many countries have introduced new rules for sustainable development in trade and investment. Many new trade agreements have also been born that include requirements on sustainable development reporting, he said. According to Tho, the journey to net-zero emissions as part of the environmental aspect of ESG usually takes several years and emphasised issues related to measuring emissions scope, because this is the basis of ESG performance and the basis for setting corporate goals. Giandomenico Zappia from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam assessed that, in the context that every government and every business are aiming for sustainable development, issuing an ESG report is necessary to help businesses better ensure compliance, identify risks, and improve performance. In the EU, many regulations have been issued, including green definitions in the EU Taxonomy sustainable finance classification list or a series of requirements in regulations requiring the disclosure of sustainable risks, supply chain ESG due diligence requirements, and the carbon border adjustment mechanism, he said. Zappia pointed out that in Vietnam, the government has begun to pay more attention, specifically demonstrated through the requirement to disclose the environmental and social impacts of public companies or developing a green classification system and sustainability reporting manual guidelines. However, the non-mandatory application of specific standards for ESG in Vietnam can lead to inconsistencies in reporting practices, he recommended, adding that the government and authorised agencies needs to quickly research and issue regulations and guidelines to increase transparency and promote related practices in Vietnam. Dr. Tran Du Lich, vice chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre, said that sustainable development associated with a circular economy is currently a global trend, in which the practice of ESG criteria is becoming increasingly common and receiving even more profound and serious attention from the business community. To practice ESG, businesses need to have a roadmap and serious investment in each aspect. In which, good governance will be the basis to help businesses fulfill environmental and social criteria, Lich said. According to Lich, the issue of risk management is a point that needs more focus. ESG risk is currently an issue that many businesses face when entering into this standard practice. To improve risk management capacity for businesses, governments and related organisations need to quickly develop mechanisms, policies, and legal regulations to provide specific guidance for businesses, he stressed. Meanwhile Do Thi Thu Ha, deputy CEO and head of Sustainable Development Consulting at KPMG, said, Enterprises must pay attention to social safety standards, the proportion of female workers, a safe environment for workers, and how the enterprise is managed. If we look at the rate of 80 per cent of businesses committed or planning to soon practice ESG, we can find it quite encouraging, but actually complying with commitments is not easy. Difficulties in implementing ESG, according to Ha, is lack of information and databases. Vietnam currently has as many as 2,000 businesses that must declare emissions before December 2024, but many are facing difficulties in collecting accurate information and cannot declare either. In addition, Vietnamese businesses also lack expertise in building strategies to implement ESG, and face difficulty assessing the impact in business. Especially, some Vietnamese businesses are currently carrying out ESG in a superficial manner. ESG is a journey, not a destination. Therefore, the government should have detailed regulations and enforcement applied to those, she said. ESG considerations light the path for SABECOs success Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation is promoting more green growth initiatives, demonstrating its steadfastness in the goal that business investment must go hand-in-hand with the nations sustainable development. Rocks from the mountain rolled down onto a house in Cao Duong Commune, Luong Son District in Hoa Binh province following an earthquake on March 25 in My uc District. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) Hanoi - In recent years, earthquakes have occurred more frequently in Vietnam and appear to be on the rise. Therefore, communities in high-risk earthquake areas need to understand this type of natural disaster and develop proactive response plans, an expert has said. Since the beginning of 2024, Vietnam has experienced 135 earthquakes in many localities. All were minor earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 4.1. Notably, in Kon Plong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, earthquakes occur almost daily, with sometimes seven or eight tremors happening in a single day. Earthquakes have also been recorded in other areas across the country, including regions where they were previously rare, such as My Duc district in Hanoi, and northern Ninh Binh and Yen Bai provinces. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Director of the Institute of Geophysics at the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, stated that most of the earthquakes in 2024 have been induced by human activities, particularly hydro-electric power operations. A small number of earthquakes were tectonic, occurring along natural fault zones. Data from the Institute of Geophysics showed a significant increase in earthquake occurrences over the past five years. Specifically, there were 52 earthquakes in 2019, 98 in 2020, 183 in 2021, 293 in 2022, and 353 in 2023. Particularly, from 2021 to 2023, the number of earthquakes increased three to six or seven times compared to 2019. This rise is mainly due to the increased number of induced earthquakes caused by hydro-electric reservoir operations. Recent data also showed that the northwest region experiences the strongest earthquakes in the country due to several natural fault zones. According to the earthquake hazard zoning map from the Institute of Geophysics, Vietnam is not near these boundaries but is located on the Eurasian Plate, making its geology more stable. Earthquakes in Vietnam are typically of moderate magnitude and less destructive compared to those near plate boundaries. The strongest possible earthquakes in Vietnam could reach a magnitude of 7.5, with a historical record of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake. These primarily occur in the northwest region and the north central province of Nghe An. In other areas such as Kon Tum and major cities like Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, potential earthquakes would likely range from 5.0 to 5.9. Elsewhere in the country, earthquakes are generally mild, below 5.0 in magnitude. Most earthquakes in Vietnam range from 5.0 to 5.9 in magnitude, causing minor structural damage like shaking houses and slight cracks in walls. Recently, some earthquakes have occurred in areas with traditionally low seismic activity. For example, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on 25 March in My Duc district caused tremors in nearby areas including Ung Hoa and Chuong My in Hanoi, Kim Boi, Luong Son, and Lac Thuy in Hoa Binh province, and Kim Bng in Ha Nam province. This rare event occurred in the Red River - Lo River - Chay River fault zone. When these faults accumulate enough energy, they generate earthquakes. On 27 May, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Nho Quan district in Ninh Binh province caused tremors in Thach Thanh district in Thanh Hoa province. This earthquake was due to the area being in the Da River fault zone. Regarding earthquake reporting and forecasting, Director of the Institute of Geophysics Anh stated that in the first half of 2024, most earthquakes across the country had magnitudes between 2.5 and 4.1, posing little natural disaster risk. However, he said, earthquakes are notoriously difficult to predict, especially the precise timing of their occurrence. Therefore, understanding earthquakes and how to prepare for them is crucial, particularly in high-risk areas. Anh said the Institute maintains a national earthquake monitoring system with nearly 40 stations nationwide. In addition, local stations monitor induced seismic activity from hydro-electric reservoirs in the northwest and the central province of Quang Nam. Recently, the institute established eight local monitoring stations in Kon Tum Province. These stations provide rapid, accurate earthquake data, essential for assessing seismic activity, dam safety and reservoir operations. He said local authorities should develop annual earthquake response plans based on such activity and in at risk areas, it is important to increase public awareness and earthquake preparedness training. Basic knowledge about earthquakes and how to respond is essential, he said. During an earthquake, residents indoors should take cover under a table to protect themselves from falling objects and wait until the shaking stops, avoid using elevators due to potential power outages and turn off circuit breakers before evacuating to prevent fires from forgotten electrical appliances. Earthquake shakes western Indonesia Indonesia meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency announced that a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the country's western province of Banten in on January 3 morning, yet did not trigger a tsunami. Embassy sends delegation to assist Vietnamese in quake-hit Ishikawa prefecture The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on January 4 sent a working delegation, led by Minister Nguyen Duc Minh, to Ishikawa prefecture, which was hardest hit by the earthquake that occurred on January 1 to assess the situation and provide assistance for Vietnamese citizens facing difficulties there. Indonesia optimistic of cutting ocean plastic waste by 70 per cent, photo: Antara Jakarta - Indonesia is optimistic about reducing plastic waste in the ocean by 70 per cent by 2025. Acting deputy secretary for maritime human resources coordination at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Aniza stressed that the target is relatively big and ambitious. However, the government, especially the relevant institutions, must be confident of setting a higher target to protect the underwater ecosystem from the threat of plastic waste pollution. Based on data obtained by the coordinating ministry, in 2023, around 12.87 million tonnes of plastic waste was scattered in Indonesian seas. The government has implemented several policies to tackle this, including the "Indonesia Mission 2024". One of the policies focuses on studying waste and microplastics in the Indonesian seas. During a series of research conducted by global ocean exploration non-profit organisation OceanX with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia, researchers found plastic waste at certain depths but not as much as in other countries. The results of the research on microplastics are deemed very important as study materials or an early warning for the government and the wider community to protect the oceans from waste pollution. It is said that microplastics can pollute the sea and associated ecosystems. If fish eat microplastics and are consumed by the public, it could pose a threat to public health. Indonesia: Over 4,000 people isolated due to floods, landslides Floods and landslides following prolonged high-intensity rains on June 19 have been isolating over 4,000 residents in West Nias, North Sumatra, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) of Indonesia. One dead, two missing in Indonesia's flood One person was killed and two others went missing following a flood in Parigi Moutong regency, Central Sulawesi province in Indonesia, the country's national disaster management agency reported on June 23. Pall bearers carry the casket of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray to the graveside for burial on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire speaks during Jocelyn Nungarays end of life celebration, Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Alexis Nungaray, center, is comforted by mourners during graveside services for her daughter, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Alexis Nungaray, the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, hugs mourners during Jocelyn Nungarays end of life celebration, Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Brailey Little, 12, signs a board put up during Jocelyn Nungarays end of life celebration, Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Houston. Little was friends Nungaray and attended the end of life celebration following the funeral. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer Mourners embrace as they leave the graveside service and burial for 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Jocelyn Nungarays family and friends listen to Jim McIngvale during Nungaray end of life celebration, Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Houston. McIngvale hosted Nungarays end of life celebrated and donated to cover her funeral prior to the event. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer A man rides a motorcycle carrying flower to the grave site where 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray will be buried on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A carriage brings the casket of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray to the graveside for burial on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. The 12-year-old Houston girl, who was killed after she disappeared during a walk to a convenience store earlier this month, was remembered at a funeral service and a celebration of her life. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Alexis Nungaray, left, makes her way back to the tent after releasing a dove to honor her daughter, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, during graveside services on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Attendees pray during Jocelyn Nungarays end of life celebration, Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Houston. Ishika Samant/Staff photographer A man brings a painting to display at the funeral for 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A carriage brings the casket of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray to the graveside for burial on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. The 12-year-old Houston girl, who was killed after she disappeared during a walk to a convenience store earlier this month, was remembered at a funeral service and a celebration of her life. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer A mourner places a rose on 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungarays casket on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Mourners place roses on 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungarays casket during graveside services on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Julie Gonzales spoke through tears Thursday, eulogizing a little girl who went from a baby crawling in and out of her bedroom looking for toys to a shy, soft-spoken girl who loved "Harry Potter" and "Twilight." Mourners gathered Thursday for the funeral of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old known for her love of animals, bright eyes and smile. Jocelyn's body was found June 17 in a shallow bayou. Two men have been arrested and charged with capital murder in connection to her death. Gonzales, Jocelyn's great aunt, looked back at the bright girl she remembers always heading to the book section of stores. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I will always remember her big, beautiful smile and beautiful, bright eyes, and she had such beautiful, curly locks," Gonzales said. Her friend, Gabby, came forward to speak alongside her father. She called Jocelyn a smart goofball who loved animals and had a good heart. Jocelyn gave me courage to be myself and speak up for myself, and for that I will always be grateful, she said. Jocelyns body was moved from the funeral home to the graveside in a white carriage drawn by a white horse. More than 100 people walked from the funeral home to the burial site in 95-degree heat. Flowers were placed on Jocelyn's dark brown wood casket decorated with a musical note before a flock of doves was released. Advertisement Article continues below this ad About a dozen television cameras were set up on the lawn of the Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home, where attendees showed up more than an hour before the funeral began. Local officials in attendance included Mayor John Whitmire, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, acting Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Hundreds gather for celebration of life The family chose not to speak in front of the crowd of at least 200 gathered for the celebration of life hosted at Gallery Furniture in North Houston after they were called up by Whitmire. "You're well represented by the masses here," Whitmire said. Gloria Roldan, an accountant from Katy, said she immediately thought of her own 12-year-old when she heard about the death as well as a past experience when a partner died. Through tears, she said that she knew the pain of losing a child would not go away. Houston is "like a family," she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "That could have been my kid," Roldan said. Jim McIngvale, who hosted the event and said he paid for the funeral, committed to donating an additional $20,000 to the family at the event. He told attendees he hopes to double the amount that the GoFundMe has raised, which was at more than $100,000 after the event Thursday. Lawmakers promise change Patrick said on X that he told Jocelyn's mom that the Texas Senate will pass bail reform in response, naming it Jocelyn's Law "so her daughters name will never be forgotten and will ensure capital murderers are not eligible for bail ever again." He said the law would allow Texans to vote for a constitutional amendment to automatically deny bail for those charged with capital murder. He also promised to enhance Lauren's Law to make the murder of children under 15 a death penalty-eligible offense. Under state law, killing a child between the ages of 10 and 15 isn't punishable by the death penalty. There are only a handful of reasons that people can be held without bail, including if they are charged with a death penalty-eligible crime. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whitmire told the crowd at the funeral that he plans to "monitor this case" as it progresses. He said that neither of the men accused of killing Nungaray should have a bond, which is at $10 million each. Both men remain in Harris County Jail. Taiwan-based Acer, the worlds fifth-biggest PC vendor by market size, has been watching other players in the Taiwanese tech-hardware supply chain move some of their production to other markets, COO Jerry Kao said on the sidelines of the Computex Taipei 2024 tech show in early June. The supply chain is moving out of Taiwan already, Kao said at the event, as reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP). As long as we see some risk, we will start to diversify. Theyre going to Vietnam or Thailand or somewhere else. We follow the trend. Investors from Taiwan keen on diversification - illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock Acer with over 7,700 employees has joined other major Taiwanese tech developers by embracing what analysts have seen as a shift over the past few years towards South and Southeast Asia, rather than opting to expand at home or in mainland China. In terms of computer and notebook production, Vietnam and Thailand are the two most favourable markets right now, for their lower labour costs, improving infrastructure and growing domestic market, said Sanesha Huang, an analyst with the Taipei-based market research firm TrendForce. Taiwanese businesses have recognised Vietnam as a crucial link in their supply chain shift to Southeast Asia, said CY Huang, founder of the Southeast-Asia Impact Alliance. Cultural similarities, a young population, significant investor presence, and industrial diversity were key factors driving their decision, Huang said at the Vietnam-Taiwan Business Forum in April. Some fields as appealing to Taiwanese investors include high-tech manufacturing, traditional manufacturing, and consumer services. Taiwanese capital can assist Vietnam in accelerating its industrialisation and modernisation process, Huang highlighted. Lawyer Nguyen Hong Chung, vice chairman and general secretary of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association, said that Taiwans investment in Vietnam over the past 35 years has had a qualitative change from labour-intensive industries such as textiles, garments, leather shoes, and wooden furniture to high-tech electronics industries. Currently, Taiwanese electronics corporations such as Foxconn, Wistron, Qisda, Pegatron, Compal, and Quanta have come to Vietnam to establish factories or expand production capacity. In the future, more Taiwanese entrepreneurs and businesses will plan to establish factories in Vietnam. Taiwan has the worlds leading semiconductor industry while Vietnam also aims to develop this, and participate in the regional and global technology supply chain. Therefore, the opportunity for cooperation between the two sides in this field is extremely huge, Chung emphasised. Sysgration, a 47-year-old Taiwanese designer of automotive electronics systems, is studying how to get set up in Vietnam, according to senior product manager Tony Wang. He told SCMP that the company, with more than 600 workers, already operates two mainland China plants plus a US factory. If clients want it made in mainland China, we can do so, and if they want it made in the United States, we can do that, Wang said, noting that the China-Vietnam border would offer a geography dividend for shipments. Taiwans tech sector faces global political shifts that have arisen since a trade conflict between China and the US kicked off in 2018. US laws now ban Taiwanese firms that sell sensitive parts to American customers from doing the same in mainland China. At the same time, Taiwanese tech giants have diversified production away elsewhere to hedge against any conflict with mainland China that would make those parts difficult to access for overseas customers. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Taiwans investment in Vietnam in the first five months of the year was about $961 million, an increase of 23 per cent on-year. Taiwan ranks sixth among 78 markets investing in Vietnam, much improved from previous years. Vietnam can emulate Taiwanese high-tech success Vietnam is considered an attractive investment destination for Taiwanese investors. CY Huang, chairman of the Southeast Asia Impact Alliance, spoke with VIRs Kim Oanh about the investment prospective of Taiwanese investors and the proposals to more effectively lure this investment capital inflow. Industrial parks within Vietnam keen on Taiwanese investment Industrial parks in Vietnam are moving to pick up a surge of Taiwanese investment. Participants at the conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) in coordination with the Hanoi Bar Association organised a conference on June 27 to popularise regulations and laws regarding the Land Law 2024 of Vietnam to overseas Vietnamese (OVs). The event was connected online to embassies and consulates general in European countries, as well as some agencies in Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong, among others. SCOV Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Dong said this activity aims to realise the Party's guidelines and State's policies and laws related to OVs through providing legal information, especially newly-passed laws that directly relate to OVs. On this occasion, legal regulations on conditions for owning houses and land in the UK were also disseminated to support Vietnamese expats with necessary information in case of relocating their lives, thus avoiding risks. Dong stated that his office wishes to continue receiving contributions from OVs in the implementation of the Land Law 2024 in particular and legal regulations in general. The committee will continue to coordinate with the Hanoi Bar Association and relevant agencies to introduce policies and laws of Vietnam, and those of several other countries in areas that Vietnamese expats are interested in or directly related to their lives, he added. Under the Land Law 2024, OVs have the same rights and obligations to use land and the same access to land as Vietnamese citizens in the homeland, and Vietnamese citizens and those of the Vietnamese origin residing abroad are eligible to own land use rights at home. Business concerns apparent on land law The business community is still unclear about draft decrees related to land prices and implementation of the new Land Law. Though the official figure for economic growth for Q2 will be released officially at the end of this week, fresh forecasts have been made, reflecting an uptrend in the economy. More to do to ensure performance, illustration photo A research team at BIDV last week projected that Vietnams economic growth for Q2 will continue to be positive, likely to hit 5.9-6.3 per cent on-year higher than the on-year 5.66 per cent rate recorded in Q1. The economys key impetuses such as exports, investment, and consumption are recovering strongly, though the levels of recovery are not the same, said economic expert Can Van Luc, head of the team. Figures from the General Statistics Office (GSO) showed that in the first five months of this year, Vietnams total export turnover reached an estimated $156.8 billion, up 15.2 per cent on-year. In May, the figure stood at an estimated $32.8 billion, up 15.8 per cent on-year. Notably, the first five months also saw the total import turnover estimated to be $148.76 billion up 18.2 per cent on-year. In which, nearly $55 billion was from Vietnamese companies (up 24.2 per cent), and $93.8 billion came from foreign-invested enterprises (up 15 per cent). Though Vietnam suffered from a large trade deficit of $8.04 billion, it has reflected the fact that businesses in the country are recovering as they have to increase imports for their own production, given many types of items in the domestic markets have to be imported as they cannot be produced domestically. According to the GSO, total five-month revenues from retail and consumption services touched more than $107.5 billion, up 8.7 per cent on-year. The increase rate in May hit 9.5 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, when it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI), from January to May 20, the total newly registered capital, additional capital, and capital from stake acquisition and capital contribution reached $11.07 billion, up 2 per cent on-year. Newly registered capital stood at $7.94 billion for 1,230 projects up 27.5 per cent on-year in the number of projects and up 50.8 per cent in capital. The five-month disbursed capital reached $8.25 billion, up 7.8 per cent on-year. We are seeing the economy recovering, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the May cabinet meeting on Vietnams economy two weeks ago in Hanoi. Enterprise confidence is on an uptrend, despite many difficulties lingering. Meanwhile, Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) two weeks ago released a projection that Vietnams GDP will climb 6 per cent in Q2 and for the entire year. The expected rate for next year will be 6.4 per cent. The optimistic forecasts are made based on the positive direction of economic activities. FDI data in Vietnam is optimistic, indicating that investors continue to have confidence in Vietnams political environment and competitiveness, according to UOB. The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has released its two newly updated economic growth scenarios a few weeks ago. Under the first scenario, the whole-year growth is expected to be 6 per cent or the low level of the 6-6.5 per cent range set by the National Assembly (NA). To reach this 6 per cent rate, the average nine-month growth rate must be 6.12 per cent including 5.85 per cent for Q2, 6.22 per cent for Q3, and 6.28 per cent for Q4. Under the second scenario, the entire-year growth rate is projected to stand at 6.5 per cent or the high level of the 6-6.5 per cent range set by the NA. To achieve this ambitious 6.5 per cent rate, the average nine-month economic growth rate must be about 6.75 per cent, including 6.32 per cent for Q2, 6.79 per cent for Q3, and 7.08 per cent for Q4. We believe that the economic performance may fall to the second scenario, the MPI said. However, big challenges remain. For example, many nations in the world have been implementing new economic stimulus packages, and this has and will cause pressure on the Vietnamese economy, which needs to recover more strongly and rapidly. Meanwhile, enterprises are facing numerous difficulties. The GSO reported that in the first five months of this year, the number of enterprises leaving the market reached 97,300, up 10 per cent on-year, while the number of newly established businesses sat at 64,800. About 19,500 enterprises were kicked out of the market every month. In April, the World Bank released a projection that Vietnams economy is showing mixed signs of recovery, with growth forecast to reach 5.5 per cent in 2024 and gradually rise to 6 per cent by 2025. After experiencing a slowdown in 2023, the economy is showing mixed signs of recovery in early 2024. While exports are recovering, consumption and private domestic investment are growing more gradually, said Dorsati Madani, senior economist at the World Bank in Vietnam. According to the World Bank, real exports are expected to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2024, reflecting a gradual improvement in global demand. In addition, a turnaround in the real estate sector is anticipated later this year and next, bolstering domestic demand as investors and consumers regain confidence. Real total investment and private consumption are projected to increase by 5.5 per cent and 5 per cent in 2024, respectively. PM Chinh has asked the MPI to coordinate with relevant ministries to propose large-scale preferential fiscal policies to support struggling enterprises, both aimed to spur on the economys traditional growth propellants, and also to fuel new economic drivers such as semiconductor and chip production, digital transformation, and AI. These policies must be reported in Q4. Small business confidence high as Vietnam expects robust economic growth Small businesses in Vietnam are confident of a positive 2024, with 86 per cent projecting they will grow on the back of robust economic growth, improving on the previous two years, CPA Australias annual survey shows. Vietnam among six ASEAN countries with good economic growth: Maybank The gross domestic product (GDP) growth of six ASEAN countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - will recover to 4.5 per cent and 4.7 per cent in 2024 and 2025, respectively, from 4 per cent in 2023, according to Maybank Research Pte Ltd forecast. Under the amended Law on Trade Unions currently under the National Assemblys (NA) discussion, when it comes to foreign employees right to access to a trade union (TU) in Vietnam, the draft amendments introduce two options for Article 5. Employees of foreign-invested companies may already be protected by parent firms overseas Under the first option, foreign employees have the right to join and implement activities in TUs, but are not allowed to establish one or act as a cadre, and only implement activities at primary TUs. Meanwhile, under the second option, foreign employees are banned from establishing, joining, and conducting related activities, as the existing regulations under the 2012 Law on Trade Unions stipulate. The majority of comments favour the first option, but some are showing their concerns about that if foreign employees are allowed to join and conduct TU activities, it could become a sensitive issue. If not well managed, there will be complicated issues on security, politics, and social order, said a Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) report on the draft amendments submitted to the NA. The VGCL proposes that the first option should be taken. VGCL chairman Nguyen Dinh Khang told the NA, We know that this is a complicated issue, so we have to make two options for selection. The VGCL has sought ideas and comment from all relevant agencies and authorised ones to make impact assessment in security and politics. In the existing Law on Trade Unions, a TU is an organisation which represents the Vietnamese employees to protect their rights and interests. An internal TU can be established at the workplace if there are at least five Vietnamese employees who wish to organise it. The employer must facilitate establishment, and a foreign employee cannot be a member of a TU. The employer is also required to make contributions of TU fees regardless of whether an internal TU is established. The rate of contribution by the employer is 2 per cent of the employees salary. A Vietnamese employee who is a member of an internal TU must contribute to TU fees at least 1 per cent of his/her basic salary. The National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs may not favour the first option. It is suggested that the compiling board clarify the reason why foreign employees can become TU members, the committee said. How are the VGCL and the trade union levels ready to allow foreign employees to do so? What are the experiences of other nations in this regard, especially countries having the political, social, and cultural situation similar to Vietnam? At present, about 91,000 foreigners are working officially in Vietnam, mostly in foreign-invested enterprises. However, many NA deputies like Ha Hong Hanh representing the south-central province of Khanh Hoa have given the thumb-ups to foreign employees being able to participate in trade unions in Vietnam. Hanh explained that in the context of intensive international integration, Vietnam has participated in many free trade agreements and more than 50 other multilateral and bilateral deals. Besides that, if we allow them to join TUs in the country, it will be a suitable move as it will help meet their demands, while also helping to ensure the consistency in the countrys law system, Hanh said. However, to make this move effective, it would need thorough assessments of impacts on security, politics, and social order. It is also needed to consider differences in language and culture or to mull over specialised regulations for foreign employees to perform TU activities. NA deputy Au Thi Mai representing the northern province of Tuyen Quang also underlined the need for foreign employees to be allowed to join TUs. I agree with the first option under Article 5. This will help ensure the equality in TU rights between Vietnamese employees and foreign ones, and also ensure the unity of laws and the law systems. This will also make it more favourable for protecting the legitimate rights and benefits of all employees. Mai also recommended that the compiling board consider the fact that if foreign employees were allowed to participate in TUs, they would still face some hurdles. For example, their work permit time-limit is not long only two years. How can TUs protect them if their work permits and certificates become invalid without being extended? Also, language barriers will make it difficult for TU cadres to understand their feelings and requirements and then to protect their interests, Mai said. However, Nguyen Thanh Nga, head of human resources at a Sweden-invested logistics company with headquarters in Hanoi, said the issue was unimportant. Most foreign employees are from foreign-invested enterprises, and they are protected by their foreign leaders, who can provide them all conditions for performance. Therefore, it might be meaningless if the revised law gives them a right to join TUs, Nga said. Do Thi Minh, vice head of human resources at a Taiwanese-Vietnamese garment and textile joint venture based in the northern province of Hung Yen, also said that the new regulations seemed unnecessary. Unlike Vietnamese people, foreigners often voice their ideas to their managers immediately when they face a problem, and their questions can be quickly responded to, Minh said. They also have their own interests protected by their parent companies overseas, such as insurance, bonuses, and allowances, among others. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, NA deputy, Hai Duong province Many NA deputies are interested in whether the new law will provide the right to participate in TUs for foreign employees or not, and many of them favour the first option. Such employees should be allowed to join TUs if their labour contracts are at least 12 months long. This is a humane move, creating equality between Vietnamese and foreign labourers. It will also help Vietnam attract more high-quality labourers and increase the countrys international prestige in ensuring the legal rights and interests of foreign employees. Thus, this will also help create a principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations. When Vietnam does that, other nations may also follow suit or apply other solutions to protect the legal right and interest of Vietnamese people working in their territories. Compared to 2012, the current context of developing the Law on Trade Unions is different. Vietnams international integration has deepened, with language and cultural barriers having gradually been narrowed as intellectual levels have also increased. The development of AI and cultural exchanges through digital technology and global social networks have been flourishing, along with new legal regulations on foreign labour management in Vietnam having been issued. Allowing foreign employees to join TUs is suitable to the 2019 Labour Code and rules regulating foreign workers working in Vietnam and recruiting them. Therefore, the previous reasons for disapproval of allowing foreign employees to join TUs are no longer big problems. Nguyen Huu Thong, NA deputy, Binh Thuan province We need to analyse and evaluate more carefully the conditions of resources, leadership methods, and direction of TUs towards foreign employees. We also need to consider the equality in differences between Vietnamese and foreign employees in exercising TU rights and obligations. Specific characteristics of exercising the rights and obligations of these groups of workers must be evaluated. At the same time, we should propose solutions to limitations, inadequacies, language and cultural barriers, and more to properly and fully convey their requirements to the authorities when organising a TU and protecting their rights and interests. It is necessary to calculate the minimum number of years, which could be 3-5 years, for foreign workers living and working in Vietnam to have the right to join a TU. This is aimed at prescribing a minimum number of years for foreign workers to have time to learn, research, and gain more knowledge about our law, language, culture, religion, and politics. From there, joining TUs will truly bring benefits to workers and promote the role and responsibilities towards employees, or we can choose the option of pilot application in some areas or localities from which to draw practical experience and then replicate it if it is truly effective. Employees at risk of losing livelihoods A number of foreign enterprises have had to make tough decisions to let go of workers due to the gloomy business situation and a sharp decline in orders. Bayer Vietnam employees take up community work Bayer Vietnam is giving back to the community by implementing a series of corporate social responsibility activities. Tourists visit Suncheon Bay, the RoK (Photo: xinhua/VNA) Seoul - The Republic of Korea (RoK)s Ministry of Justice announced to extend the pilot e-group visa programme for citizens of three Southeast Asian countries of the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam by two years. This programme has been applied on a pilot basis since June last year to attract tourists from the three countries. This visa option is available for groups consisting of at least three members, including company incentive tour groups, educational tour groups below the collegiate level, and regular tour groups. To qualify for this visa, travellers must plan to enter and exit the RoK using the same vessel, flight, or other scheduled means of transportation. Designated travel agencies accredited by the Korean government will handle the e-group visa applications on behalf of the travellers. The agencies will submit the applications online through the Korea Visa Portal. Thanks to this programme, the number of group visits to the RoK from the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam doubled from 23,781 at the beginning of 2023 to 47,397 at the end of the year. The number reached 56,427 in the first five months of 2024. RoK works to operate logistic centre in Vietnam The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea (RoK) said on January 5 that it has kicked off a corporate body in Vietnam, paving the way for the operation of a logistics centre in the Southeast Asian country to support small- and medium-sized enterprises. SK E&S and T&T Group research LNG project in Quang Tri A consortium of investors, including South Korea's SK E&S and Vietnam's T&T Group, have made a proposal to research the development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the central province of Quang Tri. "Standard Chartered will leverage its experience and best practices to support the development of Ho Chi Minh City as an international financial hub," Vinals said. DPM Khai highlighted the government's keen interest in this initiative, dedicating substantial resources to study and consult on international experiences. "The government of Vietnam seeks insights and suitable models from global corporations, including Standard Chartered, to develop a comprehensive financial ecosystem," Khai said, stressing the significance of institutional, policy, and developmental solutions for the financial sector. Since the early 2000s, Ho Chi Minh City has prioritised financial market development as a key economic restructuring strategy, leading to the concept of establishing an international financial centre. This national direction gained momentum with the establishment of a steering committee in October 2023, chaired by DPM Khai. As one of Vietnam's three economic hubs, alongside Hanoi and Danang, Ho Chi Minh City is well-positioned to draw in both traditional and financial businesses. The city is also home to most of the country's financial institutions and the birthplace of Vietnam's stock market. Geographically, Ho Chi Minh City benefits from a time zone that differs from most major global financial centres, potentially attracting idle capital during other markets' off-hours. The city's proximity to dynamic Asian economies, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, China, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, enhances its strategic location. While Danang has also explored the initial stages of establishing a financial centre, the Ministry of Planning and Investment recognises that developing an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City is a "significant and challenging task." The project must maximise the potential and advantages of both Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Danang. Beyond developing the international financial centre, Vinals noted that Standard Chartered has facilitated approximately 15 per cent of foreign direct investment into Vietnam over the past three years. He confirmed the bank's intention to continue increasing investments to support Vietnam's growth. "Having celebrated 120 years of operation in Vietnam, we are committed to continuing our partnership for the next 120 years," Vinals added. In response, DPM Khai assured that the government would continue to create better conditions for the long-term, stable operations of financial institutions and banks like Standard Chartered in Vietnam. He requested that Standard Chartered remain an advisor to the Vietnamese government on national credit rating improvements, policy consulting, investment capital arrangements, and strategies to achieve net-zero emissions. The last day of my visit to the country on June 11 marked that we had 2,030 days left until 2030. More than 45 per cent of the global population around 4.5 billion people are at high risk of experiencing an extreme weather event. Some 2.3 billion of them are considered poor by official definitions. Bard Vegar Solhjell, director general Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Despite achievements such as the 2015 Paris Agreement, the challenges remain tremendous. To limit warming to 1.5 degrees, we need to cut up to 42 per cent of global CO2 emissions by 2030 to reach net-zero by 2050. How will we get there in just over 2,000 days? While there are immediate answers, such as continued efforts to scale up investments in solar and other renewable energy, we need to start looking into how to reduce emissions in the hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, shipping and aviation. Technological innovation is at the heart of reducing emissions from heavy industries, which today make up around 16 per cent of global CO2 emissions. A recent study by researchers at the University of Leeds, University of Bath, and Imperial College London suggested that it may be possible to decarbonise emissions from heavy industries up to 85 per cent. From advancing nature-based solutions to smart city innovations, technology is paving the way for us to redefine our interactions with a warming planet. Vietnam stands at the crossroads of climate risk and green transition. Climate change impacts the health of Vietnamese crops, relocates communities and pollutes its coasts. As the estuary of the great Mekong River, plastic pollution has become a major issue for the country, contributing to 80 per cent of its marine waste. Plastic pollution harms land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and adverse health effects. During my visit to Vietnam, I was happy to see the willingness of the Vietnamese government to address the challenge of plastic pollution. Vietnam aims to reduce ocean plastic pollution by 75 per cent by 2030. Sustainable waste management at the municipal level - with sorting at source, collection, transport and recycle and reuse - will be key to reaching this goal. The remaining non-recyclable plastic that goes to landfills today can become a critical resource. Co-processing, where coal is replaced by this plastic in the cement industry, has great potential in addressing plastic pollution in Vietnam. This approach is being tested in Vietnam today. So far, around 200 tonnes of plastic waste collected from Minh Khai village have been processed and transported to a cement company. The company saves money, the plastic will not be landfilled, and national regulation for environmental standards will be upheld. There is potential for scaling up this process to the national level, paving the way for Vietnam to become a leader among countries in Southeast Asia on green growth. While Vietnam can set the standard for innovation in heavy industries, it is also taking steps to renew its energy mix. In January, the Norfund-managed Climate Investment Fund invested $10 million in Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund II. The investment will contribute to scaling-up capital to early-stage companies focused on advancing the low-carbon transition in Vietnam and two other ASEAN countries. Many of Vietnams challenges are shared by other countries. To make the most out of our resources, we need to find solutions that benefit the many what we usually call global public goods. Many of these are enabled by technology. Access to high-quality data is crucial in addressing climate and nature challenges because it promotes transparency, collaboration, and informed decision-making. By making environmental data accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public, we enable a collective approach to understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. Vietnam has a forest cover of 42 per cent. Norway has long supported global efforts to reduce deforestation as a highly impactful climate mitigation strategy, to which digitisation is a key component. Improved satellite monitoring has become a game changer. High-resolution satellite data provides comprehensive surveillance capabilities, allowing governments, civil society, researchers, and journalists to monitor vast and remote areas of the rainforest that are otherwise inaccessible. Satellite images and data, in concert with AI for large-scale analytics, provide crucial knowledge on deforestation, changes in land use, and environmental degradation, providing a birds-eye view of illegal activities and natural loss. Through Norways International Climate and Forest Initiative satellite data programme, more than 30,000 users from nearly 160 nations make use of free, high-resolution imagery of the tropics. The green transition is an imperative for the survival and wellbeing of our planet and future generations. Technology, with its vast and varied applications, is playing a pivotal role in facilitating this transition. By embracing renewable energy, leveraging circular approaches to decarbonisation and making best use of open-source solutions offered by digital technologies, we can build a sustainable and resilient future. Greening the future in an inclusive and collaborative way is key. The successful integration of technology into the green transition requires collaboration between governments, businesses, and communities. Communities and individuals must adopt and advocate for sustainable technologies and lifestyles. As we stand at this critical juncture in human history, the synergy between technology and sustainability offers a beacon of hope. By harnessing the power of technology, we can turn the tide on climate change and pave the way for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous world. In this transition, every day until 2030 will count. Renewable energy leading solution to climate change mitigation in ASEAN Investing in renewable energy sources is as a palliative measure for ASEAN to mitigate climate change, according to Vice President of Infrastructure Solutions at Malaysian-based Vertiv Chee Hoe Ling. News Open Source 'Eclipse Theia IDE' Exits Beta to Challenge Visual Studio Code Some seven years in the making, the Eclipse Foundation's Theia IDE project is now generally available, emerging from beta to challenge Microsoft's similar Visual Studio Code editor, with which it shares much tech. The Eclipse Theia IDE, part of the Eclipse Cloud DevTools ecosystem, primarily differs from VS Code in licensing and governance. Open-source champion Eclipse Foundation calls it a "true open-source alternative" to VS Code, which Microsoft has described as being "built" on open source but with proprietary elements like default telemetry with which usage data is collected. [Click on image for larger view.] Eclipse Theia IDE in on Windows (source: Screenshot). Note that Eclipse Theia IDE is a separate component from the overall Theia project's related Eclipse Theia Platform, used to build IDEs and tools based on modern web technologies. As far as the similarities with VS Code, Theia is built on the same Monaco editor that powers VS Code, and it supports the same Language Server Protocol (LSP) and Debug Adapter Protocol (DAP) that provide IntelliSense code completions, error checking and other features. Eclipse Theia IDE also supports the same extensions as VS Code (via the Open VSX Registry instead of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code Marketplace), which are typically written in TypeScript and JavaScript. There are many, many more extensions available for VS Code in Microsoft's marketplace, while "Extensions for VS Code Compatible Editors" in the Open VSX Registry number 3,784 at the time of this writing. [Click on image for larger view.] Open VSX Registry (source: Open VSX Registry). Eclipse Foundation compared the two tools in 2019, when it said to make a good decision between using VS Code or Eclipse Theia as a platform for a tool, an organization will need to evaluate custom project requirements, noting that as a general direction: If you want to provide some tooling, which is focussed on code and want as many developers as possible to use it in their existing IDE, providing an extension for VS Code seems like a valid choice. If you want to provide a white-labeled product for customers or your own developers, which is tailored to a specific use case and possibly contains more features than code editing, you might be better served with Eclipse Theia. A somewhat more recent post from 2020 exploring the differences between the Eclipse Theia Platform (not IDE) and VS Code noted two primary ways in which the projects' architectures differ: Eclipse Theia allows developers to create desktop and cloud IDEs using a single, open source technology stack. Microsoft now offers VS Online for cloud development environments, but like VS Code, it cannot be used in open source initiatives such as Gitpod. Eclipse Theia allows developers to customize every aspect of the IDE without forking or patching the code. This means they can easily use Theia as a base to develop desktop and cloud IDEs that are fully tailored for the needs of internal company projects or for commercial resale as a branded product. VS Code is a developer IDE only. It was never intended to be used as the base for other IDEs, extended, or further distributed. For developers just wanting to pick a tool to write apps with, an Eclipse Foundation blog post today said: "For developers in search of an IDE that combines flexibility, openness, and cutting-edge technology, the Theia IDE is a compelling choice. Distinctive features like an adaptable toolbar, detachable views, remote development support, and the forthcoming live collaboration mode set Theia apart from other open-source IDEs. Moreover, its commitment to privacy and its stance against incorporating telemetry by default reflect its respect for user preferences." Eclipse Foundation today emphasized another difference between its Theia IDE and VS Code: the surrounding ecosystem/community. [Click on image for larger view.] Eclipse Theia Community (source: Eclipse). "At the core of Theia IDE is its vibrant open source community hosted by the Eclipse Foundation," the organization said in a news release. "This ensures freedom for commercial use without proprietary constraints and fosters innovation and reliability through contributions from companies like Ericsson, EclipseSource, STMicroelectronics, TypeFox, and more. The community-driven model encourages participation and adaptation according to user needs and feedback." Indeed, the list of contributors to and adopters of the platform is extensive, also featuring Broadcom, Arm, IBM, Red Hat, SAP, Samsung, Google, Gitpod, Huawei and many others. "The Theia IDE's open-source foundation, supported by a vibrant community and underpinned by a license that champions commercial use, sets the stage for a development environment that is not only powerful and flexible but also inclusive and forward-looking," Eclipse Foundation concluded in its announcement today. "By choosing the Theia IDE, developers and organizations are not just adopting an IDE; they are joining a movement that values collaboration, freedom, and the collective pursuit of excellence in software development." A Texas Supreme Court decision issued Friday clears the way for McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley to challenge an administrative reprimand for refusing to perform same-sex marriages while continuing to perform opposite-sex marriages. The 8-1 opinion clears away the administrative and procedural defenses lower courts had cited in dismissing Hensleys lawsuit against the Texas State Commission on Judicial Ethics. Her lawsuit seeks to overturn a warning the commission issued against her, but lower courts had dismissed the lawsuit, ruling Hensley should have pursued an appeal of the warning through a process laid out in state statute before she could sue the commission. I am truly grateful to the Supreme Court for giving me the opportunity to continue to stand for religious liberty and the rule of law, Hensley said in a Friday press release from the First Liberty Institute, which represented her along with Jonathan Mitchell of Mitchell Law PLLC. Now the lower courts will decide the merits of the case: whether Hensleys practices regarding weddings are protected under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, said Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel of the Plano-based First Liberty Institute. Douglas Lang of Dallas-based Thompson Coburn LLP, who represented the judicial ethics commission before the high court during verbal arguments in October, said the commission is reviewing Fridays opinion, but declined further comment. Hensley has argued that she has a religious exemption from performing same-sex weddings since at least 2017, because of what she previously described as her Bible-believing conscience. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that states are required to license same-sex marriage. In August 2016, Hensley began conducting weddings for opposite-sex but not same-sex couples. Justices of the peace are not required to perform marriages, and some others in McLennan County opted to stop performing them altogether after the 2015 decision. West-based Justice of the Peace David Pareya continued performing marriages for any couple. Sasser describes Hensleys practice as finding a way to reconcile her religious view on marriage with the desire of couples who seek marriage to have a low-cost and near-immediate pathway to a wedding. She went on her own time and at her own expense and found other wedding officiates and venues that would perform a wedding for same-sex couples at the same price and on about the same timeline as she would do for other couples, Sasser said Friday. Without Judge Hensleys innovative solution there was no low-cost and near-immediate way for anyone to get married. Her solution actually created the first opportunity for same-sex couples to go and get a low-cost, near-immediate wedding. She continued until November 2019, when the judicial conduct commission issued a public warning that such conduct casts doubt on her capacity to act impartially to persons appearing before her as a judge due to the persons sexual orientation. Sasser also said no one filed a complaint about Hensleys practice of weddings with the commission and no party to any case in her court ever asked her to recuse herself from a case because of her practice with weddings. The commission inserted itself, Sasser said. In its public warning, the commission said Hensley violated the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, which states, A judge shall conduct all of the judges extra-judicial activities so that they do not cast reasonable doubt on the judges capacity to act impartially as a judge. Since the commissions warning Hensley has not presided over any weddings in her court. She was reelected without opposition in 2022. Hensley declined to follow the commissions statutory appeal process and chose instead in December 2019 to sue the commission in state district court, with the backing of a Plano-based conservative Christian organization, First Liberty Institute. A state district court in Travis County dismissed the suit on jurisdictional grounds, and an intermediate appellate court affirmed the dismissal. Hensleys attorney, Mitchell, told the state Supreme Court during verbal arguments that Hensley sued the commission under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1999 rather than pursue the statutory appeal process, which she said did not offer the relief she sought. The statutory process could reverse the commissions warning, but Hensley sought class-action relief to allow any justice of the peace to opt out of officiating at same-sex weddings while continuing at other weddings. She also sought $10,000 in damages and a declaratory judgment that the commission and its members violated her religious rights. In the majority opinion the high court ruled that Hensley did not have an obligation to follow the statutory appeal process. The lone dissenter, Justice Debra Lehrmann, wrote that Hensley did actually have to go through the administrative appeal process established in statute before suing in state district court. I express no opinion on the merits of the judges (Hensleys) TRFRA (religious freedom act) claims, Lehrmann wrote. I would hold only that she failed to exhaust her administrative remedies before filing this suit, thereby depriving the district court of jurisdiction. Because the Court holds that exhaustion was not required, I respectfully dissent. Justice Jimmy Blacklock filed a concurring opinion joined by Justice John Devine. Sasser said Blacklock and Devine accepted the arguments of Chief Justice Nathan Hechts opinion for the majority, but went further to decide that the commission violated Hensleys rights to religious freedom under the religious freedom act. Sasser said the majority opinion means any judge who believes the judicial commission infringes on his or her religious liberty can sue in state district court. Parents and students protested outside Gary L. Herod Elementary School in the in the Maplewood/Meyerland West area in Southwest Houston, TX on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Parents say their principal and several teachers are being being forced out. Sharon Steinmann Houston ISD appears to be moving quickly to fill principal vacancies including those that came out of pressured resignations leaving some parents feeling unheard in the hiring process. HISD approved the resignations and terminations of an unknown number of principals at the end of the school year for what it called performance issues. Additionally, other principals resigned voluntarily without the threat of termination. Abrupt principal departures and word of forced resignations sparked protests by school communities in May. Ahead of this wave of turnover, there were two voluntary departures in April, according to the Houston Chronicle's report of principal roster changes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The district is beginning to announce its picks for what is likely a large number of vacancies, with some announcements released a week or two after the June 5 end to a turbulent academic year. HISD PRINCIPAL TRACKER: Schools with leadership turnover since Mike Miles became superintendent Crockett Elementary School principal's departure, for example, was announced May 10 and her replacement announced June 17. Neff Elementary School's principal said on May 9 the district requested her resignation, and her replacement was announced in a June 21 social media post. The School at St. George Place's principal replacement met parents on Monday. And Browning Elementary School's new principal was announced over email earlier in June. It is unclear why some schools received community meetings for principal hiring and others did not, receiving only a parent feedback survey link. The district did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A district official told Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School and Herod Elementary School parents that HISD hopes to hire principals by early July, creating a narrow window between the time the district collected parent feedback and the time it will hire. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "That made it feel like they already know who they want, and that the community engagement part was checking a box and felt, to me at least, very performative of 'we did the meeting; you asked for the meeting,'" said Amanda Sorena, a past MPVA PTO president. At MPVA's in-person meeting, district official asked parents to break into small groups to list qualities they wanted in their new principal something parents already submitted over emails and survey, Sorena said. "I was hoping to come to this meeting and have some sort of feeling of a little bit of collaboration," Sorena said. "Or even, on Monday's meeting, an acknowledgement to the hurting and the reeling that our community is in since Principal (Auden) Sarabia's forced resignation. But none of that was there on Monday. There was a little bit more of that at today's (Thursday's) virtual meeting. But, again, none of the emails that I sent in the interim between Monday and Thursday were responded to." PRINCIPAL TURNOVER: Schools with leadership turnover since Mike Miles became superintendent Advertisement Article continues below this ad Amanda Rosenhouse, a Herod Elementary School parent, said parents were looking for dialogue and answers to their questions rather than the district's assigned feedback exercise. "I would like to say parents are frustrated, that there's no transparency as to what's happening, or what's going to happen in the future," Rosenhouse said. "And things just don't really make any sense when you look at them on paper. Why would HISD let go of a principal at a proficient school? Why would they let her go at the end of May? Why are they waiting until June to find somebody to replace her when they already knew they were going to let her go?" Herod Principal Jessica Berry was reassigned to work from home on the morning of May 28. Later that afternoon in a voice message, Herod's assistant principal was named the interim. Parents seek to file grievances Some parents said HISD did not reply to their attempts to file formal grievances regarding their principals at multiple levels of district leadership, up to the Board of Managers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad HISD did not respond to a request for comment. In her May grievance submission addressed to the division superintendent, Nicolin Neal, a School at St. George Place parent, posed questions on whether Principal Sean McClish was clearly informed of evaluation metrics and on the ethics of coercing resignations. She urged the district to rehire McClish. She said her email did not receive a response, aside from an automatic response confirming receipt when she followed up with the Board of Managers. Neal said parents feel like the rug was pulled out from under them and it is unclear what happened to McClish considering the school's rating, academic achievement, and this year's STAAR results released after the principal's announcement. PRINCIPAL TURNOVER: At least 61 leadership changes across 59 campuses in 2023 after takeover began Rosenhouse also did not receive a response to her June 4 grievance submission requesting the district to reinstate Berry, who was told to resign or face board termination. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rosenhouse said she received only one reply on June 10. Norma Castillo senior executive director of support for the west division stated grievance process rules in that reply and wrote that Rosenhouse's submission will not be processed further. "Additionally, you appear to be trying to access the grievance process to raise a concern about an employment decision. Please keep in mind that the district cannot discuss the reasons for employment decisions with parents or members of the public. Texas Education Code section 21.355 makes confidential information regarding an educator's evaluation," Castillo added, according to emails provided to the Chronicle. Quoting district policy, Rosenhouse responded with a question and a request for criteria that her grievance emails failed to meet. She said she received no response. Crockett's incoming PTO President, Liz Silva, also received a brief response about grievance filing technicalities. Senior Executive Director for Support in Central Division, Ray Winkler, pointed to board policy in his email response. He told Silva to fill out required forms and send a signed copy of the grievance form to the Employee Relations Department. Silva copied the department in her next email. Board policy tells parents to send a signed copy of a grievance to the Employee Relations Department in the Spanish version of the form, not the English version. The department is mentioned in relation to elevating a grievance. It is unclear why it is mentioned in one language and not the other. Silva wrote in a June 7 follow-up to the Board of Managers that state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles did not provide "any transparency or clear rationale" for the removal of educators. By Grainne Ni Aodha and David Young, PA Northern Ireland politicians clashed on health service funding, the stability of Stormont and the merits of Irish unity in the second major TV debate of the Westminster election campaign. The opening exchanges of the BBC NI debate focused on the recent controversy around the allocation to health in this years Stormont budget. Senior representatives from Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance Party, Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP were asked a question from the audience on the budget allocation to the Department of Health. The UUP, which holds the department, voted against the recent budget passed by the Assembly, arguing they will not implement cuts that would have a catastrophic impact on the health service. All other main parties of the Executive Sinn Fein, DUP and Alliance backed the spending plan, with the main opposition party, the SDLP, opposing it. The debate line-up comprised three party leaders the DUPs Gavin Robinson, Alliances Naomi Long and the SDLPs Colum Eastwood while Sinn Fein was represented by its South Down candidate Chris Hazzard and the UUP by its deputy leader and Lagan Valley candidate Robbie Butler. Mr Hazzard said there was a recognition from the UK government that Stormont had been underfunded and said the prospect of Labour entering into government meant theres an onus now on all MPs and Executive colleagues to make sure we get that better deal so we can invest in our health service. Mr Robinson said other departments also required additional funding, speculating what the impact might have been if all the money had been given to the health service. How many police officers were going to be made redundant, how many prisoners were going to be released, and how many special needs children were going to be left without the provision that they need? he asked. Ms Long said comparing the end of year figures to the start of the year and saying it showed a cut isnt fair. It is correct to say that the closing budget of health last year looks like its been cut. But what we havent taken into account that during the year there are monitoring rounds where health will get further allocations, she said. Mr Butler said health was the number one topic on the doors during the General Election campaign and said his partys plan was to work with our Executive partners to agree a budget. Mr Eastwood said that there isnt enough money in Stormont. I know people in Derry who are going to the credit union to borrow money for simple procedures (privately), he said. We need to go with one single voice and ask the British government to properly fund this health service because it absolutely has collapsed. Despite it being a debate on the election campaign, the opening of the debate focused on health, which is a devolved issue. The programme followed the UTV debate on Sunday in which the fallout from Brexit, discord over calls for a united Ireland and Stormonts perilous financial position dominated discussions. The event was billed as a leaders debate and host Tara Mills pressed the Sinn Fein and UUP representatives on why their leaders had not accepted the invite to attend. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle ONeill was on the canvass trail while Mr Butler said UUP leader Doug Beattie had other diary commitments. The debate shifted from health funding and reform to the issue of Stormont stability as the politicians were challenged on the fact that the devolved institutions have been in cold storage for five of the last seven years due to two long-term periods of collapse one triggered by Sinn Fein, the other by the DUP. The DUP was responsible for the last implosion as it blockaded the Executive and Assembly in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Mr Robinson justified the boycott, which the party ended in January, insisting progress to reduce the red tape on Irish Sea trade would not have been made without our stance. We would far rather not have had a government come down at all, he said. We would far rather have had a situation where people would recognise that this place works properly and positively on the basis of consensus, and whenever unionism collectively in its entirety was indicating that the Northern Ireland Protocol (on post-Brexit trade) was fundamentally an imposition on the constitutional position of Northern Ireland, and was not going to wash, that should have caused the body politic to sit back and say actually, we have a problem here. Ms Long said the DUP stance had no effect on the 2023 UK and EU Windsor Framework agreement to cut trading bureaucracy. It was not because of the collapse of the Assembly that we got progress in terms of these issues, she said. And more than that, the collapse of the Assembly has damaged our public services, theres no question thats the case, ask the people who work in them. Ms Long then reiterated her call for Stormont reform to remove the capacity for the largest unionist and largest nationalist parties to pull it down. When Mr Hazzard was asked whether he saw any circumstances where Sinn Fein would pull the Executive down again, he replied: No, because at the end of the day, and again I reiterate, look at the strong positive leadership that Michelle ONeill and Emma Little Pengelly (DUP deputy First Minister), to be fair to Emma Little Pengelly, and the other parties in the Executive so far (have shown). They have worked together collaboratively. This isnt easy. Dealing with Tory austerity, its not easy. Theres a huge crisis in education and health. But now theres a commitment to work together collaboratively to deliver. Mr Butler said the difference between the UUP and the DUP was his party was prepared to keep devolution working when its main rival walked away. All unionist politicians did agree in regards to the impact of Brexit, the protocol and the Windsor Framework, but the Ulster Unionist Party stood firm that they were not going to make the people of Northern Ireland suffer for political folly, he said. Mr Eastwood insisted the main parties would not give a guarantee that they would not collapse the institutions again. I think the first thing politicians around here tonight could do is all commit not to bring Stormont down again, but they wont do it, he said. Asked by the audience about a united Ireland and the union, Ms Long said her party were about the practicalities. People are not waking up in the middle of the night in a lather of sweat worried about the border, but they are worried about are they going to be able to pay their bills. Will they get their children into good school? Are they going to be able to ensure that they can get an appointment for their doctor? Those are the things that worry people. Mr Eastwood said that Northern Ireland was an economic basket case and pointed to the billions in budgetary surpluses the Irish government has had in recent years largely due to corporation tax paid by a handful of multinationals. He said it was easier to get money out of the Dublin and London governments than from Stormont, and people in the Republic are getting paid twice as much as theyre getting paid in the north. Mr Robinson said Mr Eastwood was very good at talking things down but said the NHS meant people did not pay fees for services such as doctors appointments. Mr Butler said the economic argument is obviously something that is very prevalent in some peoples minds at the moment. I dont think I could buy Colum, I dont think I could buy Chris in terms of their aspirations to remain part of the UK but I will win it in terms of the hearts and minds argument. Mr Hazzard said that former taoiseach Leo Varadkar made significant comments recently when he said the Irish Government need to ensure that reunification is a political objective and not just an aspiration. The final topic was on the conflict in the Middle East, and to what extent it has become a proxy war in the North. Mr Eastwood said he would not travel as part of the annual St Patricks Day visit to Washington in protest against US support for Israel. Im not going to go and drink pints of Guinness and eat nibbles with Joe Biden when hes funding and arming the Israeli government to do that, thats my position, he said. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Fein had made a commitment to the people of Palestine to be their voice in those places. No one is ever going to question Sinn Feins solidarity with the Palestinian people, he said, to which Mr Eastwood interjected: A lot of people are, actually. On the question of a proxy war, Ms Long said she was asked a really probing question by a young woman in a school. She said to me, is it in some way letting my side down that I find what Israel are doing to the people in Gaza appalling, because everyone around me seems to think that Israel are fine. Because weve turned into a proxy, as we do with almost every issue, for the Northern Ireland conflict and we should stop doing that. Mr Robinson said it was not taking sides to condemn terrorism, adding that he views very clearly that what is going on at the moment as a human tragedy. Mr Butler said it doesnt matter if its an Israeli child or a Palestinian child who loses their life and that there has to be dialogue. CHESTERFIELD, Mo. A full-page announcement calling all young men back to the Church to form a militia was published in a recent bulletin at Ascension Catholic Church. The item in the June 16 bulletin included a link to an application form for the Sancta Lana Legion Council that would train militia legionnaires described as 18- to 29-year-old men to protect the Holy Eucharist, congregation, clergy, and church grounds from violent and non-violent attacks. Ascension Parish in Chesterfield, MO has been chosen as the testing ground for the militia and, if successful, we hope to establish platoons at parishes around the world, reads the application form. The Rev. Eugene Schaeffer, associate pastor at Ascension, said Wednesday after morning Mass that the announcement was a mistake and that he has not spoken to anyone trying to form a militia. We are working on a retraction right now, Schaeffer said. There were several points in the process that broke down. There is no militia. The June 16 bulletin had been pulled from the churchs website and a retraction statement was posted Wednesday. Ascensions bulletins are published by the Wisconsin company LPi. The bulletin item stating that a new militia would be affiliated with Ascension was untrue, the retraction states: To be perfectly clear, there is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin. Furthermore, the suggestion that our community might require a militia in order for us to celebrate the Eucharist is both inappropriate and unhelpful. Please be assured that there have been zero threats made against our community. We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused, and we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and our community for us to clarify that we do not support this activity. Brecht Mulvihill, spokesman for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, would not elaborate on how the item was submitted or approved for the bulletin but confirmed it came from a man. The application form linked in the bulletin was shut down by Wednesday afternoon. It asked potential volunteers about their expertise in medicine, soldiery, Latin language, fitness, marketing and self defense. Legionnaires who completed the physical fitness and combat training for the militia would also be required to serve as readers and ushers during Mass while wearing bright white uniforms. The form said legionnaires would not be armed guards outside the church but could be called upon by the Pastor of the Parish to take up arms defensively if the congregation were threatened. Additionally, all legionnaires will be trained in hand-to-hand combat to stop an armed intruder. Noreen McCann, an Ascension parishioner who attended Mass on Wednesday, said she supports security at the church. I think we should recognize the troubled times in which we live. Large community events have been targeted for violence. I dont think church attendees should be sitting ducks, McCann said. It should be known that if you come to a Catholic church, where people are worshiping God, they are going to be protected and defended. A 76-year-old retired banker from Chesterfield who attended morning Mass wasnt aware of the bulletin. Shown a copy of it, he read it aloud, starting with Calling all young men. He stumbled on the word militia. I think thats a poor choice of words, but yes the Eucharist is sacred, so it does need to be protected, he said, only providing his first name, Jack. Militia implies military protection. I dont think they mean military. I think they just want a group to be outspoken about the Eucharist, you know, our religious freedom. Religious freedom is under attack. Catholics believe the sacrament of the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ present in bread and wine. When asked what threat the Eucharist is under, the churchgoer said, The Eucharist is the greatest gift Jesus gave us. Nobody is taking the Eucharist away, but it is governments movement against various religious things. There is a constant battle going on. The application form for the militia referred to a post from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops listing 333 incidents of arson, vandalism and other destruction of Catholic sites across the country since May 2020. Ascension parish near Interstate 64 and Baxter Road is the fifth largest in the archdiocese with nearly 3,000 households and a grade school of 400 students. The median household income in the parish is $121,400 and the percentage of white residents has declined from 93% to 75% in the last few decades, according to archdiocesan records. Photos: Oath Keepers founder's path to Jan. 6 Capitol riot NEW HAMPTON A former Minnesota man who was serving time for a 2005 kidnapping and rape in New Hampton has died in prison, the second person to die behind bars for the crime. Travis Eugene Alve, 42, died at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections. An autopsy is pending at the State Medical Examiners office to determine the cause of death. Foul play is not suspected at this time, corrections official said. Alve was serving a 55-year sentence for a charge of second-degree sexual abuse. Authorities said Alve and Rick Anthony Brandes met a woman at a New Hampton bar in May 2005. They later held her at Brandes apartment for hours, threatened her with a knife and sexually assaulted her. Alve pleaded to sexual assault charges. Brandes went to trial and argued diminished capacity. A jury found him guilty of first-degree kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison in 2023 at the age of 60. Photos: Program eases toll of separation on incarcerated moms, kids WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday made it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction, a charge used in hundreds of prosecutions and also faced by former President Donald Trump. The justices ruled 6-3 that the charge of obstructing an official proceeding, enacted in 2002 in response to the financial scandal that brought down Enron Corp., must include proof that defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents. Only some of the people who violently attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, fall into that category. The decision could be used as fodder for claims by Trump and his Republican allies that the Justice Department has treated the Capitol riot defendants unfairly. It's unclear how the court's decision will affect the case against Trump in Washington, although special counsel Jack Smith has said the charges faced by the former president would not be affected. The high court returned the case of former Pennsylvania police officer Joseph Fischer to a lower court to determine if Fischer can be charged with obstruction. Fischer has been indicted for his role in disrupting Congress certification of Democrat Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election victory over Trump. Fischer is among about 350 people who have been charged with obstruction. Some pleaded guilty to or were convicted of lesser charges. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the court's opinion, joined by conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas, and by liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Reading the obstruction statute broadly "would also criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists to decades in prison, Roberts wrote. Justice Amy Coney Barrett dissented, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Barrett, one of three justices appointed by Trump, wrote that the law clearly encompasses the events of Jan. 6. The riot forced Congress to suspend the proceeding, delaying it for several hours, she wrote. She said her colleagues in the majority did textual backflips to find some way any way to narrow the reach of the obstruction law. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was disappointed with the decision, which he said limits an important federal statute. Still, Garland said the cases against the vast majority of people charged in the attack wont be affected. January 6 was an unprecedented attack on the cornerstone of our system of government the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, he said. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform shortly after the decision, calling the ruling Big News! He shared another message that described the ruling as a massive victory for J6 political prisoners. Roughly 170 Capitol insurrection defendants have been convicted of obstructing or conspiring to obstruct the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, including the leaders of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. A number of defendants have had their sentencings delayed until after the justices rule on the matter. Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal was pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court ruled against the Justice Department. They include Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Courts ruling. Most lower court judges who have weighed in have allowed the charge to stand. Among them, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, wrote that statutes often reach beyond the principal evil that animated them. But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, another Trump appointee, dismissed the charge against Fischer and two other defendants, writing that prosecutors went too far. A divided panel of the federal appeals court in Washington reinstated the charge before the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case. More than 1,400 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or a judge after a trial. The U.S. attorneys office in Washington, which has handled Jan. 6 prosecutions, said no one who has been convicted of or charged with obstruction will be completely cleared because of the ruling. Every defendant also has other felony or misdemeanor charges, or both, prosecutors said. For around 50 people who were convicted, obstruction was the only felony count, prosecutors said. Of those, roughly two dozen who still are serving their sentence are most likely to be affected by the ruling. Notable Supreme Court cases of 2024 The Supreme Court rejects a nationwide opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma The high court had put the settlement on hold last summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration. The Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now in a limited ruling The ruling came after a day an opinion was briefly posted on the court's website accidently and quickly taken down, but not before it was obtained by Bloomberg News. The Supreme Court strips the SEC of a critical enforcement tool in fraud cases The justices ruled that people accused of fraud by the SEC, which regulates securities markets, have the right to a jury trial in federal court. The Supreme Court halts enforcement of the EPA's plan to limit downwind pollution from power plants The Supreme Court is putting the Environmental Protection Agencys air pollution-fighting good neighbor plan on hold while legal challenges continue, the conservative-led courts latest blow to federal regulations. Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims The justices ruled in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks, gun accessories used in 2017 massacre The high court found 6-3 that the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks. Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication The Supreme Court has preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year. Supreme Court clears the way for the NRAs free speech lawsuit against an ex-New York official The unanimous opinion reverses a lower court decision tossing out the gun rights groups lawsuit against ex-New York State Department of Financial Services Ssuperintendent Maria Vullo. Supreme Court finds no bias against Black voters in a South Carolina congressional district The Supreme Court has preserved a Republican-held South Carolina congressional district, rejecting a lower-court ruling the district discriminated against Black voters. Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School parents and students demonstrate against the resignation notice of Principal Auden Sarabia on Monday, May 13, 2024 in Houston. Sarabia told staff he must either resign by Tuesday or go before the district's Board of Managers. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School parents and students demonstrate against the resignation notice of Principal Auden Sarabia on Monday, May 13, 2024 in Houston. Sarabia told staff he must either resign by Tuesday or go before the district's Board of Managers. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School parents and students demonstrate against the resignation notice of Principal Auden Sarabia on Monday, May 13, 2024 in Houston. Sarabia told staff he must either resign by Tuesday or go before the district's Board of Managers. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School parents and students demonstrate against the resignation notice of Principal Auden Sarabia on Monday, May 13, 2024 in Houston. Sarabia told staff he must either resign by Tuesday or go before the district's Board of Managers. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Houston ISD has quietly scrapped the regulation that required input from a community stakeholder committee in the principal hiring process. The regulation required the involvement of a school-based committee of faculty and staff, parent, community and business stakeholders called a Shared Decision-Making Committee as well as other stakeholders in the development of the ideal principal candidate profile. That profile includes desired background and qualifications. Issued in 2022, the regulation also required a school stakeholder committee to meet with candidates and provide input in determining the final candidate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There is a complete strike-through in the regulation now, with no added language on what process would take its place. It is unclear what safeguards exist for community involvement in hiring and when the regulation cut was posted. Its file name indicates it was posted this month. The district also cut a 2012 regulation outlining the steps for approving the selection of principals and assistant principals. The file name similarly indicates it was posted this month. THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicle's weekly newsletter recapping HISD news "This is a regulation not a policy. Regulation is not set by the Board; it is set by the Administration. This regulation is being rewritten because it is out of date and does not reflect current practice," a district spokesperson wrote in a statement Thursday. The district provided no comment on what "current practice" is, when practice shifted or how long stakeholder committees have been excluded from the hiring process. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Parents at Herod Elementary School, Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School and other schools have looked to this regulation after a wave of end-of-year principal departures, in which an unknown number of principals were told to resign or face termination. Ahead of that wave of turnover, there were two voluntary departures in April, according to a Houston Chronicle report of principal roster changes. Herod and Meyerland parents had community meetings with the district after persistent requests, parents said, while other schools, such as Crockett Elementary School and The School at St. George's Place, only received links to surveys to submit desired qualities in their next principals. It is unclear whether the regulation was cut after state Reps. Gene Wu and Ann Johnson and state Sen. Molly Cook sent a June 20 letter expressing "profound concern" on principal hiring at Herod. They noted the required involvement of that committee and stakeholders in the hiring process and that parents were told to file a public information request to learn more about the interview process. Senior Executive Director Joseph Villarreal told Herod and Meyerland parents that there would not be SDMC involvement and that parents, teachers and school administration would not be involved in the interview process. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Parent Hannah Villarreal, among those who reached out to lawmakers, said she felt gaslit upon discovering the regulation cut. She said she pointed to the regulation at the Herod community meeting and, prior to that meeting, in a phone conversation with the senior executive director. Her career background and expertise is in education. "It makes you feel kind of crazy that they're playing these games, because it was clearly there," she said, adding that other Herod parents read the policy. "So it's very much a game that they're playing back and forth with parents, and (we) also feel very overwhelmed, which I know is their goal." PRINCIPAL TRACKER: Schools with leadership turnover since Mike Miles became superintendent It is unclear how long HISD has not been using the committees in the principal hiring process. The shared decision-making committees for Crockett Elementary School and Browning Elementary School were not involved in the hiring process, members said, and learned of the incoming school leaders afterward. After Frank Black Middle School's principal, Michelle Dean, announced her departure in April for other career opportunities, the district told some parents that it swapped out the committee's role in the ideal candidate profile with a parent survey, said committee member and parent LaTrice Ferguson. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Not officially. We never saw any official information, but it's apparently a process that they've been using. And that survey is now used as the parent's voice for the process, which takes out tons of steps," Ferguson said. In the past, the shared decision-making committee members weighed in on principal candidates, Ferguson said. Frank Black was fortunate to receive a principal who matched parents' requested qualities, she said, but that may not happen at other schools. China's commerce ministry receives materials from domestic electronic products sector over EU barrier probe Xinhua) 09:57, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry said on Thursday that it has received application materials submitted on behalf of the domestic machinery and electronic products sector concerning the EU's barrier investigation. The ministry is reviewing the materials submitted by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), He Yadong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference. "We are highly concerned that some practices of the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) have had a serious negative impact on Chinese enterprises' exports to and investment in Europe, to which we have repeatedly expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition," He said. Since February, the EU has launched investigations against Chinese enterprises in accordance with the FSR, involving machinery and electronic products such as railway locomotives, photovoltaic, wind power and security inspection equipment, according to the CCCME. The investigations have not only hindered the entry of Chinese products or services into the EU market and Chinese enterprises' investment in Europe, but also undermined the competitiveness of Chinese enterprises in Europe and affected the overall economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, according to the CCCME. The chamber is taking active measures to protect the interests of Chinese industries and enterprises through legal channels, it said. The CCCME is an industry-based, nationwide non-profit organization voluntarily formed by various economic types of entities engaged in areas of manufacturing, import and export, and related activities of machinery and electronic products in China. It has more than 10,000 member enterprises. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Houston ISD's state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles presents data on the districts STAAR testing results for the 2023-2024 school year during a HISD Board of Managers meeting at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISDs elementary and middle school students achieved above average annual growth on the reading and math Northwest Evaluation Association's Measures of Academic Progress exams but below average growth on the science exams that they took in May. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles presented the districts test results on the end-of-year exams during the appointed Board of Managers special meeting Thursday. He said students had higher end-of-year growth than the national averages on the reading and math exams, but not in science. The data also showed that students at the districts New Education System schools reported overall higher annual growth compared to non-NES schools, he said. This is huge for our NES schools, Miles said. More kids are reading at a proficient level at the NES schools ... than at the non-NES, and that's a good thing for our kids. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Miles introduced the MAP exam in HISD for the first time during this academic year to monitor students academic progress throughout the year. The national, adaptive exams which thousands of students took in September, January and May measures academic achievement and growth in math, reading and science. Houston ISD board of managers member Audrey Momanaee listens as Superintendent Mike Miles presents on the districts STAAR testing results for the 2023-2024 school year during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles presents data on the districts STAAR testing results for the 2023-2024 school year during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles listens Doris Delaney presents data on Houston ISDs STAAR testing results for the 2023-2024 school year during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Catherine Perez reacts as she walks back to her chair after speaking during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. In them meeting, the last of the 2023-2024 school year, discussed rest results from the districts NWEA Map Growth test. The assessment measures achievement and growth in K12 math, reading, language usage, and science Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Placido Gomez, elected board member with Houston ISD, speaks during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. In them meeting, the last of the 2023-2024 school year, discussed rest results from the districts NWEA Map Growth test. The assessment measures achievement and growth in K12 math, reading, language usage, and science Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Houston ISD board of managers member Audrey Momanaee asks follow up questions to Superintendent Mike Miles as he presents on the districts STAAR testing results for the 2023-2024 school year during a Houston ISD board of managers at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news According to district data, in HISDs elementary schools, the percentage of students who met expected growth was 56% in reading, 55% in math, and 60% in science. The percentage of middle school students in HISD who met expected growth on the middle-of-year exams was 55% in reading, 54% in math and 59% in science. Elementary school students districtwide saw their average achievement percentiles go from 47 to 48 on the math exam, 49 to 50 in reading and 50 to 52 in science compared to January. Middle school students had their average achievement percentile go from 45 to 46 in reading, 51 to 53 in science but remain at 44 in math, according to HISD data. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The district publicly shared its MAP results a few weeks after unveiling results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness earlier this month, which showed gains in the percentages of students meeting grade level on the math and reading exams. However, the districts scores on the STAAR exam still remain several points below statewide averages. A couple dozen HISD community members said during public comment at the board meeting that the district was being dishonest or misleading with its reported STAAR data, and that board members had not asked enough questions about the results. Several ended their remarks with No Trust. No Bond, referring to their opposition to the districts proposed $4.4 billion school bond. Does your prediction ring show you what schools to cherry pick STAAR data from to hide the fact your NES system is failing us? HISD high school student Ashlyn Morton asked Miles. I actually have my own prediction ring that tells me the test scores in HISD will continue to drop with unqualified teachers, inadequate lesson plans and an unfit Board of Education who we did not vote for. NWEA MAP test results The MAP exam results include the percentage of students in each grade level who met or exceeded projected growth targets calculated by the NWEA. It also assigns an achievement percentile that shows how they did compared with a norm group, which is a separate large group of diverse students who have also taken the test. Advertisement Article continues below this ad At NES schools, in most cases, a higher percentage of students met expected growth on the reading and math exam compared to non-NES schools. HISD reported 57% of students at NES middle schools met their reading and math targets, compared to 54% of students at non-NES schools meeting those targets in both subjects. While NES students reported overall growth across the year in all subjects, the campuses still reported a slightly lower percentage of students who had met their end-of-year growth targets in science. According to HISD, about 59% of NES students met their targets compared to 60% of non-NES students. Miles said students at the NES schools reported lower growth in science because the district chose not to implement its differentiated instructional model known as LSAE in their science classes. Under the model, students who pass a daily quiz go to a Team Center where they work independently, while the remaining students stay with their teacher until the class ends. NES schools which largely consist of Black, Hispanic and low-income students continued to report lower average achievement percentiles on end-of-year exams in reading and math compared to students at non-NES schools. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to data provided to the Chronicle, students at non-NES schools reported achievement percentiles of 51 in reading, which was more than 11 points higher than NES students. Non-NES students had an achievement percentile of 50 in math and about 56 in science, which is 12 points more than NES schools in both areas. In the board agenda, HISD wrote that the students low proficiency in reading and math was due, in part, to schools not providing high-quality instruction and a strong curriculum to students. The district also does not have enough seats or effective curricular supports for pre-K students, according to board documents. To improve scores, HISD plans to expand the NES model to 130 total schools, provide more training, professional development and strong lesson-planning and curricular supports to teachers, and create instructional support teams to help principals improve the quality of instruction for pre-K, kindergarten and first graders during the next academic year. This is an admission that, over time, we will not be able to improve our third grade scores ... unless we improve pre-K, kinder(garten), first and second grade instruction, curriculum and access, Miles said. Company Update Sydney, June 28, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - As recently announced, NSX Limited ( ASX:NSX ) has requested that ASX impose a voluntary suspension of trading in its securities. The Company has become aware that there are matters of technical non-compliance with the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules in respect of the issue of shares under its recently completed Entitlement Offer and associated placements of shortfall (Affected Shares), including to its major shareholder ISX Financial EU PLC (ISX). Whilst it has received no related complaints from any shareholders, the Company is taking all necessary steps to rectify such breaches on an expedited basis, including to cleanse and ratify the issue of all Affected Shares, and seek any necessary waivers or relief from the ASX. The Company expects that, amongst other things, this will include filing an application with the Federal Court of Australia seeking declaratory relief and ancillary orders relating to prior trading in the Affected Shares that have been sold (if any), so that on-sale prior to the cleansing of those shares will be validated and will not attract any civil liability. The Company is also seeking advice and engaging with ASX and ASIC in terms of the most appropriate actions to address any inadvertent contraventions regarding certain of the Affected Shares issued to ISX, and currently anticipates that it will likely hold a shareholders meeting to ratify certain issues to ISX for both Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule purposes, and may seek orders from the Court or relief from ASIC to enable such shareholder approval to apply with retrospective effect. The Company will provide further updates to the market in due course, including in relation to any Court application, shareholders meeting, ASX or ASIC reliefs, and as to when trading in its securities might be expected to be reinstated by ASX. About ISX Financial ISX Financial EU PLC is a 'banktech' company that leverages its own technology to provide financial services to merchants across the EEA & UK. The company's combined payments stack and infrastructure provides a complete end-to-end transactional banking, FX, remittance and payment processing capability. ISXMoney's multi-Currency IBAN accounts coupled with PaidBy Bank instant open banking provide merchants with a tailored payment solution to reach any UK or EEA bank account holders. ISX Financial's consumer product "flykk" is a digital wallet that combines all its financial technology and infrastructure to create a retail product. flykk(R) is a two-sided network developed on ISX's own platform that links both merchants and consumers around the globe to facilitate the processing of payment transactions. flykk(R) allows customers to use their account for both purchase and paying for goods, as well as to transfer and withdraw funds, with the benefits of a Diners card for point of sale transactions. ISX Financial's subsidiary Probanx(R) also develops payment infrastructure for third parties, and provides connectivity to central banks, banks around the world and major card schemes. About NSX Limited NSX Limited (ASX:NSX) via its wholly owned subsidiary National Stock Exchange of Australia Limited (NSXA) operates the Tier 1 Licensed stock exchange facility for the listing of equity securities, corporate debt and investment scheme units. The company is also involved in trading and settlement activities. Related Companies A man who goes by Shaggy talks about the high number of tickets he has received from police Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at a homeless encampment in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Outreach workers Khena Minor, left, and Hernan Aguilar speak with a homeless man who sleeps in front of an empty building Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in the greater Fifth Ward neighborhood in Houston. This year's annual point-in-time count showed a drop in street homelessness. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that homeless people can be fined and arrested for sleeping in public, even if there isnt a shelter where they could sleep instead. The court decided a local ordinance barring anyone without a permanent residency from sleeping outside does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The 6-3 opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, maintains the status quo, say housing advocates, who are framing the decision as a call to action: More needs to be invested in housing. Texas has had a law banning encamping since 2021, and Houston made it illegal in 2017. In Houston, individuals have racked up fines totaling in the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars from officers who earn well above the median in overtime pay. But the city rarely sees the money. Instead, the fines are usually dismissed, municipal court records show. Those who have received tickets say the dismissals often came after spending a night in jail. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But Houston has also successfully shown how police officers can work in tandem with housing service providers to move people into housing. When they work together, outreach teams bring resources, such as help with paperwork, directly to people living on the street. People are moved either straight from their encampment into housing or into a building called the Navigation Center, where they can stay until an apartment opens up. In these situations, police help supervise the move and clear the camp once everyone has been offered housing. Most take the housing. No one wants people sleeping outside, said Mandy Chapman Semple, who played a formative role in Houstons early success in reducing homelessness (since 2011, the areas homeless population has dropped by over 60%, according to an annual count). But she feared the Supreme Courts decision could lead some municipalities down the wrong path. We can be lulled into this false sense of security that passing a law fixes things, she said. And it takes some time to realize (a law alone) cant practically be implemented. The practical way to move people off the streets, according to Chapman Semple, is partnering with homeless service providers to move people directly out of encampments into housing. She now is managing partner of a consulting group that works with cities to do exactly that. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kelly Young, chief executive of the Coalition for the Homeless in Houston and Harris County, agreed. The coalition coordinates homeless strategy among the regions many homeless service providers; since the pandemic, it has helped the Houston area cut street homelessness by one third. Young also said that passing or banning laws around encamping wont solve homelessness. It just continues to highlight the fact that, in addressing homelessness, housing is the first step, she said. Since 2021, the region has closed more than 120 encampments, she said, moving more than 500 people into permanent housing or the Navigation Center. Mayor John Whitmire emphasized in an emailed statement that Houstonians do not want to see encampments in public spaces. In response to the ruling, he said his administration will study the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to understand what additional effective measures it allows. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He also mentioned that the city has developed a sensible homeless plan that will be released soon. But the Houston regions efforts in addressing homelessness face a budget shortfall, causing the coalition to warn that reductions in homelessness may be short-lived. It predicts that homelessness could rise by as much as 60% by the end of 2026 unless the region finds a way to solve an impending budget cliff: By the end of this year, members of the coalition will have spent all of the $165 million of funds from the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan Act and private dollars that poured in after the pandemic. The coalition predicts the Houston areas homeless population will grow dramatically after pandemic relief funds run out unless the city finds a way to fill a $50 million-a-year budget hole. Without that funding, the coalition projects that it will be able to move a third fewer people into housing each year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Supreme Court ruling, delivered by Gorsuch, reasoned that the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments has always been considered, and properly so, to be direct at the method or kind of punishment not on the question (of) whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place. In response to arguments that it could be considered cruel and unusual to punish someone for an act that is involuntary because there are no other options (in this case, no other place to sleep), the court pointed to a Texas case from the 60s. In that case, a man argued that his drunkenness was involuntary because he was an alcoholic, and that a law against being found drunk in any public place was therefore cruel and unusual punishment. The court disagreed. This case is no different, Gorsuch wrote. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, wrote Sotomayor in the dissent. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines (people) for sleeping anywhere in public at any time For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. Following ABP Network CEO Avinash Pandey parting ways with the group after nearly two decades, it is learnt that the team reporting to Pandey will now report to Dhruba Mukherjee, CEO, ABP Network. Mukherjee had joined ABP in 1997 as a management trainee. He has been with the ABP Group for 27 years, during which he has handled responsibilities in brand management, audience development, advertisement sales and production functions, before taking over as CEO. Avinash Pandey had joined ABP Network in 2005 and over the years held key positions that contributed to making the brand one of the most successful and respected amongst the nation's broadcasters. In January 2019, Pandey was appointed as the CEO of ABP Network and under his stewardship, ABP Network further diversified into untapped verticals and markets in the broadcast and digital sphere. Mr. Pandey had the vision to recognise the potential of going regional and digital with an emphasis on creating premier content to match the expectations of a demanding pan-India audience. The Chief Editor & Director of the ABP Network, Atideb Sarkar, thanked Pandey for his contributions to the ABP Network and said, I would like to thank Avinash for his immense contributions to ABP Network. During his two decades in the company, it has grown manifold in reach, revenue and impact. His leadership in the past five years has seen us at the forefront of digital broadcasting while extending our reach from Jammu to Kanyakumari. He played a key role in our award-winning centenary campaign. On a personal note, he has been a pleasure to work with, a joyful fellow traveller in my professional journey, and a friend. Thank you, Avinash, for all that you have brought to the ABP family. We wish you success and happiness in your future endeavours. Mr. Avinash Pandey said, I wish to thank the Sarkar Family and Mr. Atideb Sarkar, Chief Editor & Director, in particular, for having reposed such faith in me, that I could play a meaningful part in ABP Network's exhilarating journey of excellence in digital and broadcast. I have found a good friend for life in him. I could achieve all this in 20 years because of an excellent team that surrounded me. I was lucky to meet and work with them and have developed a bonding thats going to last life-long. Mr. Pandey added that the ABP Network would always hold a special place in his heart. He added: One leaves ABP but ABP never leaves an individual. As the CEO of ABP Network, Mr. Pandey led Indias leading television and digital network with four TV channels running 247 on cable and satellite, serving in eight languages on digital, touching a total audience of over 500 million. He is the Founding Director of ABP Studios, which has produced award winning films and TV series. Mr. Pandey is also currently the President of the International Advertising Association (India Chapter). Also read: ABP Network appoints Samvrit Bhattacharya as National Sales Director Boeing's Starliner capsule atop an Atlas V rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a mission to the International Space Station, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux/Associated Press Administrators for NASA and Boeing said during a Friday press conference that NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are not stranded on the International Space Station. Wilmore and Williams arrived June 6 at the International Space Station as part of the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test with plans to stay at the space station for a week. But the two have now spent more than three weeks in space without a return date currently scheduled. "We're not stuck on ISS, the crew is not in any danger and there's no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and Butch back home," said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Originally, the Starliner team was supposed to spend about a week at the station before undocking and returning to Earth. But that undocking and return has been delayed multiple times over the last few weeks. NASA announced last Friday that the return date was delayed again to an unknown time after two spacewalks then scheduled for June 24 and July 2. Steve Stich, NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager, said Friday a return date will not be scheduled until thruster testing in New Mexico is completed. Thruster testing could take a couple of weeks. "We're not in any rush to come home," Stich said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Learning more about thruster issues and helium leaks have been the two main points of emphasis for the Starliner team in gathering more information regarding a safe return home. Five helium leaks were discovered on the Starliner vehicle and multiple thrusters didn't fire correctly during the flight. "I want to make it clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space," Stich said. "Our plan is to continue to return them on Starliner and return them home at the right time. We have a little bit more work to do." The Starliner's Crew Flight Test mission has come to be somewhat defined by delays, both at the front end and the back end. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The launch of the mission was delayed multiple times in the months leading up to the successful June 5 liftoff. This included pulling the plug on launching twice on the days of scheduled liftoffs, including a scrubbing on June 1 that occurred around four minutes before the crew was scheduled to depart for the space station. Despite the problems, Nappi said Boeing is going to continue pushing forward with the Starliner program. Bhawna Sikka, Category Head of Oral Healthcare at Haleon India, is set to join Adidas India as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), according to media reports. Today marks her final day at Haleon India. Sikka began her journey with Haleon (formerly GSK Consumer Healthcare India) eight years ago as the Global Marketing Manager for ENO in the Indian Subcontinent. She later expanded her role to lead the Middle Eastern and African markets for ENO. In 2022, she was promoted to Category Head for Oral Healthcare. During her tenure, she successfully led the flagship oral care brand, Sensodyne, and spearheaded numerous campaigns and product launches. Before her time at Haleon, Sikka spent a decade with Nestle India, where she worked across various categories and managed popular brands such as Maggi and Novartis. Also read: House of Beauty promotes Sanjali Giri as Chief Business Officer Google is rolling out 110 languages to Google Translate, its largest expansion ever. From Cantonese to Qeqchi, the update will open up translations for more than 614 million speakers around 8% of the worlds population. Some are major world languages with over 100 million speakers. Others are spoken by small communities of Indigenous people, and a few have almost no native speakers but active revitalization efforts. About a quarter of the new languages come from Africa, representing Google's largest expansion of African languages to date, including Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda and Wolof. "Google Translate breaks down language barriers to help people connect and better understand the world around them. Were always applying the latest technologies so more people can access this tool: In 2022, we added 24 new languages using Zero-Shot Machine Translation, where a machine learning model learns to translate into another language without ever seeing an example. And we announced the 1,000 Languages Initiative, a commitment to build AI models that will support the 1,000 most spoken languages around the world. Now, were using AI to expand the variety of languages we support. Thanks to our PaLM 2 large language model, were rolling out 110 new languages to Google Translate, our largest expansion ever," said Isaac Caswell, Senior Software Engineer, Google Translate, in a blog post. Here are some of the newly supported languages in Google Translate: Afar is a tonal language spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Of all the languages in this launch, Afar had the most volunteer community contributions. Cantonese has long been one of the most requested languages for Google Translate. Because Cantonese often overlaps with Mandarin in writing, its tricky to find data and train models. Manx is the Celtic language of the Isle of Man. It almost went extinct with the death of its last native speaker in 1974. But thanks to an island-wide revival movement, there are now thousands of speakers. NKo is a standardized form of the West African Manding languages that unifies many dialects into a common language. Its unique alphabet was invented in 1949, and it has an active research community that develops resources and technology for it today. Punjabi (Shahmukhi) is the variety of Punjabi written in Perso-Arabic script (Shahmukhi), and is the most spoken language in Pakistan. Tamazight (Amazigh) is a Berber language spoken across North Africa. Although there are many dialects, the written form is generally mutually understandable. Its written in Latin script and Tifinagh script, both of which Google Translate supports. Tok Pisin is an English-based creole and the lingua franca of Papua New Guinea. If you speak English, try translating into Tok Pisin you might be able to make out the meaning! On choosing language varieties, Caswell said: "Theres a lot to consider when adding new languages to Translate everything from what varieties we offer, to what specific spellings we use." "Languages have an immense amount of variation: regional varieties, dialects, different spelling standards. In fact, many languages have no one standard form, so its impossible to pick a right variety. Our approach has been to prioritize the most commonly used varieties of each language. For example, Romani is a language that has many dialects all throughout Europe. Our models produce text that is closest to Southern Vlax Romani, a commonly used variety online. But it also mixes in elements from others, like Northern Vlax and Balkan Romani," Caswell writes. "PaLM 2 was a key piece to the puzzle, helping Translate more efficiently learn languages that are closely related to each other, including languages close to Hindi, like Awadhi and Marwadi, and French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole. As technology advances, and as we continue to partner with expert linguists and native speakers, well support even more language varieties and spelling conventions over time," Caswell added. Also read: Assalam O Alaikum! Google Translate now speaks Sindhi! Market Research Society of India (MRSI), Indias foremost industry-led market research body has announced the formation of the Managing Committee for the tenure of 2024-2027. Nitin Kamat, Chief Growth & Partnerships Officer, TAM Media Research, has been elected as the new President. He takes over from Paru Minocha, Managing Director, South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar. Kamat had worked as the treasurer for MRSIs Managing Committee 2022-2024. He was also part of the MRSIs ISEC Committee. Additionally, Puneet Avasthi and Shuvadip Banerjee have been elected as Vice-Presidents, Anila Vinayakas is the Secretary, and Parijat Chakraborty is the Treasurer for MRSI. The new Managing Committee was announced at MRSIs 36th Annual General Meeting held on June 27, 2024 in Mumbai. MRSIs Managing Committee is represented by companies across Research Agencies, Research Users and Service Providers in the market research industry. The newly elected Managing Committee continues to stay committed to promote, protect, improve and propagate the highest quality standards in all branches of market research, thereby establishing India as a dominant force in the global market research industry. For the next couple of years, MRSI aims to capitalize on its recent successes while fostering a more collaborative network for its members, resulting in effective knowledge and resource sharing. Additionally, MRSI will continue to develop the next generation of market research professionals and instil a deep sense of pride in the impactful work being done by the Indian market research industry. Congratulating the newly elected President, Paru Minocha, Managing Director, South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar, and outgoing President of the Market Research Society of India, said, I am grateful for the unwavering trust MRSI members placed in the current Managing Committee. Key initiatives like the launch of the Socio-economic Classification System, ISEC, and the Market Sizing report of FY 2022-23, have given a new direction and scale to the vision of the association going forward. As I pass on the baton, I wish the incoming Managing Committee under the leadership of Nitin Kamat all the best. Soon after its inception, the former Managing Committee adopted the strategy of focusing on three broad pillars building Profile, building Pride and building the Network and reach. The committee was responsible for the successful implementation and adoption of the new Socio-economic Classification System, ISEC. Among the various industry stakeholders that adopted ISEC are The Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), research users of various organisations such as ITC, HUL, Marico, Dabur India, etc., research agencies, including Kantar, IPSOS, as well as key media agencies. Additionally, MRSI also indicated that the market research sector, once again recorded positive growth, and will formally announce The Indian Research & Insights Industry 2024 Update in September 2024. On being announced as the newly elected President of MRSI, Nitin Kamat, Chief Growth & Partnerships Officer, TAM Media Research, said, I am honoured to take forward the role of MRSI President. The market research industry has seen a seismic shift, making it crucial to stay ahead of the curve. My focus will be to engage new minds, to not only maintain existing standards but also implement a new set of ideas and initiatives. In addition to building MRSIs 3 Pillars Profile, Pride, and Network, I firmly believe, Building Trust is another crucial pillar that we will work upon. I look forward to strengthening global connects, deepening government connects and driving more initiatives for active participation from regional players. I am confident of achieving these goals along with the new elected managing committee members. MRSIs Managing Committee for the term of 2024-2027 Sr. No Name Organization 1 Abhinav Goel Nestle India 2 Amitabh Mishra Dr. Reddys Laboratories 3 Anila Vinayak Hindustan Unilever Limited 4 Ankit Dhanuka Robas Research 5 Arindam Bhattacharya Lucid (A Cint Group Company) 6 Dixit Chanana Toluna | MetrixLab India 7 Geetika Kambli Future Factory 8 Girish Upadhyay Axis My India 9 Nandita Singh Purple Audacity 10 Nitin Kamat TAM Media Research Pvt. Ltd. 11 Parijat Chakraborty Ipsos Research Pvt. Ltd. 12 Paru Minocha Kantar 13 Prashant Kolleri NielsenIQ India Pvt. Ltd 14 Preet Doshi Amazon India 15 Puneet Avasthi Kantar 16 Sathyamurthy Namakkal AIMO Marketing Services LLP (DataPOEM) 17 Saurabh Aggarwal Knowledge Excel 18 Saurin Shah Godrej Consumer Products Ltd 19 Shuvadip Banerjee ITC Limited 20 Vishal Anam Datamatics 21 Vivek Malhotra TV Today Network Ltd. London-based technology company Nothing has announced the appointment of serial entrepreneur and investor Toni Petersson as its first independent board director. Petersson, along with partners from GV (formerly Google Ventures), EQT Ventures, and Highland Europe, will assist in guiding the strategic direction to further scale the business. We are proud to have Toni join the Nothing board as our first independent board member. I have admired his professional track record and rebellious nature for a long time. He understands the importance of injecting fun and mischief into a stale industry that is no longer fueled by innovation. said Carl Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Nothing. I look forward to learning and collaborating with him on growing Nothing into our next phase, as we evolve into a more creative and disruptive technology company. Petersson, the former Oatly CEO who oversaw the company for a decade, is celebrated for his creative spirit, fearless leadership style, and determination to break boundaries within a stagnant business sector. Petersson previously transformed Oatly from a small Swedish oat drink company into a global, publicly listed phenomenon, now available in more than 20 countries worldwide. He is a welcomed addition to the Nothing board, which brings together a collective ensemble of top strategic thinkers across various industries. Nothing is a company that I believe in. I greatly admire what Carl and his team have accomplished in only a few short years and know they will continue breaking down barriers to make positive changes within the technology and mobile industries. It is a pleasure to have joined the Nothing board and I am excited about what will come next for both the company and my involvement, said newly appointed Nothing board member, Toni Petersson. Welspun, a global leader in home textile solutions, has associated with Posterscope India to promote their innovative product offering, the QuikDry Towels, through a high-impact out-of-home (OOH) campaign. The primary objective of this campaign is to boost the brand awareness and accentuate the enhanced features of the QuikDry Towels, intended for the contemporary travellers. The campaign, spearheaded by Posterscope, the OOH specialist agency from dentsu India, strategically targets diverse high-traffic pilgrim and tourist locations, identifying these places as the most appropriate for reaching out to the intended audiences. The QuikDry Towels offer exceptional convenience, making them indispensable for tourists and pilgrims who require quick-drying, easy-to-pack towels during their travels. By concentrating efforts in these locations, the campaign effectively connected with consumers who would most benefit from the product. The campaign's OOH advertisements are prominently displayed in key pilgrim locations such as Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Amritsar, as well as popular tourist destinations like Goa, Kerala, and Himachal Pradesh. Using selected billboards, unipoles, and station boards for a month-long duration, the ad campaign are strategically placed to ensure continuous visibility and engagement. These placements guaranteed that Welspun's QuikDry Towels remained top-of-mind for travellers and tourists, thereby reinforcing the product's benefits and enhancing brand recognition. We at Welspun are committed to addressing consumer needs through innovation. Our QuikDry Towel, crafted with advanced Welspun technology, ensures that travellers stay fresh and comfortable," said Dipali Goenka, MD & CEO Welspun Living. "This campaign underscores our dedication to delivering products that significantly improve our customers' experiences, she added. Imtiyaz Vilatra, Managing Director, Posterscope India, commented, Working with Welspun on the unique QuikDry Towels campaign was a great experience. Our goal was to highlight the product's exceptional advantages through impactful advertisements, enhancing brand recognition and consumer engagement. This campaign underscores Welspun's commitment to innovation and consumer satisfaction, solidifying its position as a leader in the home textile industry. Also read:Khushi Advertising launches bold integrated marketing campaign for "Kalki 2898 AD" In a major move for Indian esports, Muhammed Ramees MP, widely known as Kaztro Gaming, has joined S8UL, Indias leading esports and gaming organization. Hailing from Kerala, Kaztro is a beloved gaming creator. Leveraging Kaztro's massive following and his ability to connect with fans through relatable and compelling content, this collaboration is set to inspire a new generation of gamers and content creators, particularly from regions previously underrepresented in the gaming narrative. Originating from Kerala, Kaztro brings not only a massive following but an incredible regional pull which will allow S8UL to tap into more nuanced ways of storytelling and community engagement. Lokesh Jain aka 8Bit Goldy, Co-Founder of S8UL, expressed his enthusiasm by sharing Since his early days in Kerala, Kaztro has captivated the gaming world with his infectious energy and sharp gaming acumen. His talent in creating flavourful content that is timeless, coupled with his tremendous regional penetration, will open up new avenues for diverse content creation and add more depth to S8ULs already vibrant roster of top creators from the country. He is known to swiftly captivate his audience with unique editing, engaging content, and energetic live streams. His YouTube channel now boasts 1.42 million subscribers and over 1,500 videos where he mainly makes content around BGMI, GTA Roleplay and PC Gaming. His second channel, Kaztro Vlogs, further showcases his multifaceted persona, attracting 858K subscribers who tune in for a glimpse into the life of the gaming sensation. Kaztros insights into game mechanics and his notable presence at various gaming events have solidified his status as a key influencer in the esports world. He shared, "Joining S8UL isn't just a pivotal step in my career; it's a gateway to inspire and lead within the content creation space in India, allowing me to connect with a broader segment of the Indian gaming communitya feat not possible without the support of S8UL. Im determined to make the most of this opportunity." Kaztro epitomizes the quintessential 'zero to hero' narrative in the domain of gaming. Juggling between academic pursuits in ethical hacking and career in content creation, Kaztro started his gaming journey on YouTube on March 19, 2020 as he switched from a technology focused channel to gaming content. Operating from a modest hostel setup, his resourcefulness and dedication were evident as he navigated the complexities of this shift. Also read:S8UL Gaming Fest captivates Bangalore with Gamers and Fans on Day One Titan Company Limited, India's leading lifestyle brand, has announced its grand entrance into the premium sunglasses market with the launch of RUNWAY from the House of Titan. The first exclusive RUNWAY store has opened its doors in Bengaluru's CMH Road, Indiranagar. The name RUNWAY evokes the world of high fashion, and the store lives up to its name. RUNWAY offers a meticulously chosen selection of sunglasses from over 20 of the world's most coveted international brands, including Cartier, Oliver Peoples, Prada, and Tom Ford. This launch complements Titan's existing eyewear business and caters to a growing demand for premium sunglasses in India. The Indian premium sunglasses market is estimated at Rs. 800 crore, with a projected CAGR of 10%. RUNWAY addresses the current market fragmentation by offering a curated shopping experience for discerning Indian consumers. The first RUNWAY store boasts a sophisticated ambience, strategically located in the heart of Bengaluru. This integrated store combines RUNWAY with Titan Eye+, offering a one-stop shop for all your eye care needs. Alongside the launch of RUNWAY, Titan has introduced the MyoSlo lens, a revolutionary free-form lens designed specifically for children with progressive myopia. Scientifically proven to reduce eye elongation by 39%, MyoSlo empowers parents to safeguard their children's vision for the future. The new RUNWAY store goes beyond vision, also housing a dedicated Center for Audiology. This initiative expands Titan's commitment to comprehensive eye and hearing care solutions, offering advanced audiology testing services. Saumen Bhaumik, CEO of Titan's EyeCare Division, shared his excitement: "The launch of RUNWAY marks a significant milestone for Titan. RUNWAY allows us to cater to a growing segment seeking a premium sunglass experience. This strategic expansion positions us to tap into the burgeoning demand for premium sunglasses and grow the category through RUNWAY retail." With the launch of RUNWAY, MyoSlo lens, and the Center for Audiology, Titan reaffirms its position at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge solutions for eye and hearing care in India. WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness, has released a report sharing the highlights of Creative Impact, one of the six content streams at Cannes Lions 2024. Creative Impact, now in its second year, is co-curated by WARC and Cannes Lions. Featuring 31 sessions across the five days of this years Festival, it highlighted the role of creativity in building resilient brands and delivering commercial results. Featuring some of the worlds top industry leaders and marketing researchers sharing their latest thinking, it shows not just why creativity matters, but when and how to apply it. David Tiltman, Chief Content and Customer Officer, WARC, said, At Cannes Lions last year, Professor Scott Galloway claimed that the era of brand is over. We set out to prove him wrong. Our goal was to develop a 21st-century case for brand-building, with effectiveness at its heart. What we found was that the power of a strong brand endures - and that is as true for emerging tech companies as it is for legacy consumer goods companies. But we are still learning about how best to build them in a rapidly changing media and consumer landscape. Key takeaways outlined in Creative Impact Unpacked include: The 21st-century case for brand-building Digital-native firms are leaning into brand. Brand for digital startups: Laura Jones, CMO, Instacart, provided a masterclass in brand-building for Silicon Valley. She advocates merging performance and brand budgets, and unifying the approach to metrics. Brands for dual audiences: For digital brands that act as platforms or intermediaries, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, CMO of Doordash highlighted the importance of brand investment. For Doordash the focus is on both customers and merchants. Pecedent, not persuasion: Karen Crum, Partner and EMEIA Brand Strategy Leader, Strategy and Transactions, EY, called for better clarity on the definition of brand, saying that marketers can argue for brand-building based on precedent, rather than persuasion. Persuading people is hard. Showing them precedent is easier. A fresh focus on pricing as the outcome of brand-building is helping to make this case, according to Dr Grace Kite, founder of Magic Numbers. The crisis of distinctiveness The age of average, a trend by which everything starts to look the same, poses fresh challenges for brands that want to stand out: Brands succumb to bland: Analysis of assets by IPSOS and Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) found that 65% of them have weak to no associations with the brands that pay for them. Media choices matter: According to Karen Nelson-Field, Founder and CEO of Amplified Intelligence, the rise of short-attention media formats is making it harder for companies to stand out: 85% of ads do not meet the attention memory threshold of 2.5 seconds. Anything below that threshold will not drive salience and is essentially wasted spend, resulting in more ads getting misattributed to competitors. More interesting than a cow?: System1 tested a video of a cow chewing grass. It found that 50% of UK ads underperform that video. New research from eatbigfish, System1 and consultant Peter Field, found that for dull ads (those that evoke no emotional response) to elicit the same market share growth as more emotional or interesting advertising, brands would have to spend an additional $228 billion in the US or 10 million in the UK. Start with the customer How to burst the marketing bubble? The answer lies in better research and going back to the customer as the source of truth. Market orientation matters: Mark Ritson, Founder, Mini MBA, argues that marketers have lost sight of the customer. When marketers properly understand the consumer, factors like salience become very important. Between aspiration and reality: Yael Cesarkas, SVP, Executive Strategy Director at R/GA San Francisco, declared that briefs are saturated with unoriginal insights, and that crucial consumer insights exist between the gap between the customers aspiration and their reality. The paradox of synthetic data: Jon Lombardo and Peter Weinberg, co-founders of Evidenza, claim that synthetic data opens access to cheaper, faster research, even deeper insights about target audiences through digital twins of audiences in B2B and B2C. There are questions about accuracy and bias, but so far the techniques look promising in spaces where research is difficult, such as B2B. Commerce lays claim to the future of media Forecasts from WARC suggest retail media will grow 13.7% year-on-year globally to $153.3 billion. Medias newest face: Retail media has attracted growing attention from brands eager to connect with shoppers near the point of purchase. The growing presence in Cannes of commerce media owners, described as content-free sellers of advertising operating beyond conventional retail environments, like Uber, Chase and United Airlines signals the growing power of data-rich companies in the media space. Brands reappraise structures: The arrival of commerce media adds complexity to planning and blurs the boundary between brand-building and performance. Colgate Palmolives North America CMO, Diana Haussling, said the firm had striven to break down silos and build a new consumer experience and growth division to handle cross media budgets spanning traditional and retail media. Creative, media and commerce converge: Combining discovery, connection and commerce, Jill Toscano, Head of Media, Walmart, explained how their fully shoppable campaign RomCommerce was designed to be watched in two-minute segments on TikTok, displaying more than 300 products available to click and buy in the content. Also read: WARC Awards 2024: Leo Burnett Mumbai leads with two Grands Prix Federal Department of Finance Bern, 28.06.2024 - Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, together with Swiss National Bank Chairman Thomas Jordan, will travel to Dushanbe in Tajikistan from 1 to 3 July 2024. There, they will meet with the members of the Swiss constituency in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the two Bretton Woods institutions. Both Federal Councillors will take the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with representatives of the constituency. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will then travel to Kyrgyzstan. This will be the first meeting of the Swiss constituency in the Bretton Woods institutions to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. They will discuss cooperation within the constituency and current IMF and World Bank affairs. The focus will be on the challenges facing the global economy, the financial and trading system, sustainable development and poverty reduction. The event will also provide an opportunity to exchange views on digitalisation and sustainable economic growth with high-ranking IMF and World Bank experts in a seminar. Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter and Ignazio Cassis, as well as SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan, will hold bilateral talks with their counterparts on the fringes of the meeting. The Swiss delegation will be led by Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will take part as Vice Governor of the Swiss constituency in the World Bank, and will represent Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). In addition to the multilateral meetings within the framework of the Bretton Woods constituency, Federal Councillors Karin Keller-Sutter and Ignazio Cassis are also scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon while in Tajikistan. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will also meet Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin. The Swiss constituency The members of the Swiss Bretton Woods constituency usually meet in a constituency country every two years outside the customary spring and annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank. Along with Switzerland, the constituency includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The last meeting of the Swiss constituency outside the Bretton Woods meetings in Washington was held on 4 July 2022 in Bad Ragaz. Federal Councillor Cassis will continue on to Kyrgyzstan Following his visit to Tajikistan, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel on to Kyrgyzstan and will be received in Cholponata on Lake Issyk-Kul by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev. Like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan is one of Switzerland's priority countries for development cooperation. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will learn about Switzerland's contribution to the sustainable development of the Kyrgyz economy and society, and to the security of water and energy supplies. The trip will conclude with celebrations to mark Switzerland's National Day and an exchange with the Swiss community in Kyrgyzstan. Address for enquiries Federal Department of Finance FDF FDF Communications Tel. +41 58 462 60 33, kommunikation@gs-efd.admin.ch Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA FDFA Communications Tel. +41 58 462 31 53, kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Publisher Federal Department of Finance https://www.efd.admin.ch/en Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html State Secretariat for Economic Affairs http://www.seco.admin.ch Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Granted Bail in Land Scam Case 2 In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is embroiled in a money laundering case linked to a high-profile land scam. The order, which had been reserved since June 13, marks a crucial turning point in the ongoing legal battle. Sorens senior counsel, Arunabh Chowdhury, confirmed the courts decision, stating, Bail has been granted to Soren. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail. The former chief minister, who is also the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), had been in custody since January 31 following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. The ruling has garnered significant political reactions, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcoming the decision. 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. Maharashtra Government Comes With Lucrative Budget Schemes for Women and Families 2 The parliamentary elections were disappointing for the BJP. Five political parties came together to win maximum seats for NDA but somehow this time people were not happy with the workings of the government and they got fewer seats than expected. Now they cannot afford to take a chance, as Assembly elections are ahead. The ruling alliance in Maharashtra announced various provisions aimed at harvesting votes from women, unemployed youth, farmers, army personnel, and the poor. The announcements come three weeks after the Lok Sabha election results saw the ruling alliance see a significant reduction in its numbers in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw the number of its Lok Sabha MPs from the state come down from 23 in 2019 to 9 in 2024, and the ruling alliances numbers declined from 42 in 2019 to 17 this year. Deputy CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the budget, and the government announced it will transfer Rs 1,500 into the bank accounts of eligible women in the age group of 21 and 60 every month beginning July 1 under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme. It also proposed to offer three LPG cylinders free of cost to a family in a year under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, which the Mahayuti government said will benefit over 52 lakh families across the state. Targeting the unemployed youth in Maharashtra, the government has announced a scheme to provide a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh to interns under the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Scheme. It has also announced to waive agri-pump electricity bills for more than 46 lakh farmers in the state. The government also announced a reduction in fuel prices in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai by cutting petrol prices by 65 paise per litre and that of diesel by Rs 2.07 per litre. To further impress women voters, the government has decided to sustain an expenditure of Rs 46,000 crore on the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme; it allocated Rs 10,000 crore for the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Scheme. The government has allocated Rs 14,761 crore for the electricity bill waiver scheme and it said that the Annapurna scheme will benefit over 52 lakh families across the state. The Maharashtra government has announced that 10,000 women in 17 cities will be financed to buy pink e-rickshaws, leading to an expenditure of Rs 80 crore for the government. The applicant for this scheme should be between 18-35 years old. The Varkari community was upset with Modi and the BJP when they announced the Pandharpur corridor. To do the damage control, the government also announced a grant of Rs 20,000 to each Dindi, a procession of devotees of Lord Vitthal, participating in the Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadashi Vari that culminates in the temple town of Pandharpur. Pawar also says that the government will give approval to the Wadhavan port, which is proposed in Palghar. Further, the Maharashtra government has decided to give exemption from the payment of profession tax to the armed soldiers of the Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard, and Sashastra Seema Bal. This will benefit approximately 12,000 soldiers. The Maharashtra government has announced 100% tuition fee reimbursement to OBC and economically weaker section girls with incomes up to Rs 8 lakh. This is a move to increase the proportion of girls in vocational education. It is estimated that about 2 lakh girls will benefit from this, leading to an expenditure of about Rs. 2000 crores for the government. The Maharashtra government announced that 25 lakhs will be given as financial assistance to the people who died in wild animal attacks. This amount has been increased from the 20 lakhs provided earlier. The Maharashtra government also announced that petrol prices in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane will be reduced by 65 paise. Tax on diesel is being decreased which will lead to 2.07 rupees per litre less prices of diesel. In the Mumbai region, the tax on petrol is being decreased, which will effectively decrease petrol rates by 65 paise per litre. While the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is likely to corner the government over several issues during the monsoon session, the ruling alliance has planned to counter it with a populist, please all election budget ahead of the Assembly polls slated for later this year. A top administrator will lead Talladega College on an interim basis as the school searches for a permanent president. Gregory Vincent, the 21st president of Talladega College, resigned June 4. Vincent said he plans to return to practicing law. The next day, the board of the historically Black liberal arts college named Edward Hill Jr., the colleges current vice provost for lifelong learning and professional development and dean of graduate studies, as interim president on a short-term basis. Hills resume spans the South. He was the dean of the College of Education and associate professor of educational leadership at Texas A&M University Central Texas and Fort Valley State University. He was appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to that states board of education committee on teacher preparation and certification. Hill also served on the presidents diversity commission for the University of Georgia System to develop diversity programs and increase academic achievement for African American students. No timeline has been established for hiring the colleges next president. The board of trustees will continue to provide additional information on the colleges next steps as it becomes available. We are unied in our commitment to the college, the students we educate, the faculty and sta we employ, and the alumni and supporters who advocate on our behalf, Rica Lewis-Payton, chair of the board, said in a news release. We look forward to stewarding this new path with the administration, together. The school did not respond to a request for salary information for Vincent or Hill. The Miss Alabama competition is well under way, with two nights of preliminaries completed before Saturdays finale. A total of 40 women are vying for the state title, along with scholarship money and the chance to move on to the Miss America pageant. READ MORE: Miss Alabama 2024: Meet 40 women competing for the crown 40 1 / 40 Miss Alabama 2024 contestants Preliminary events held this week, Wednesday through Friday at Samford Universitys Wright Center, give each contestant a chance to strut her stuff in talent, evening gown, health and fitness and on-stage interview segments. The contestants also chat with the judges this week during off-stage interviews and showcase their community service initiatives. Preliminaries also help to determine the semi-finalists wholl compete on Saturday in the pageant finale. Brianna Burrell, Miss Alabama 2023, will crown her successor that evening. Also, a Peoples Choice Contest allows the pubic to vote online for their favorite contestants in advance of the Miss Alabama finals. Each vote costs $1. The contestant with the most votes will earn a spot among the top 13 finalists on Saturday. READ: Miss Alabama 2023, the states third Black woman crowned: Im proud to represent the South Thursdays preliminary winners were: Maddi Heath, Miss Jubilee, earned the top score in the talent competition. Heath, 18, performed a lyrical dance to All I Ask. Shes from Spanish Fort and a student at the University of Alabama, majoring in forensic psychology. Her community service initiative is WOW: Working on Wellness. Emma Terry, Miss Jefferson County, earned the top score in the evening gown competition. Terry, 21, is from Leeds and attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham, majoring in accounting/finance. Her community service initiative is Stomping out ALS One Step at a Time. Wednesdays preliminary winners were: Ella Kate Nichols, Miss Shelby County, earned the top score in the talent competition. Nichols, 21, sang New York State of Mind. Shes from Andalusia and a student at the Auburn University, majoring in human development and family science. Her community service initiative is Buckets of Smiles: Advocating for Children with Cancer. Abbie Stockard, Miss Hoover, earned the top score in the evening gown competition. Stockard, 21, is from Birmingham and attends Auburn University, majoring in nursing. Her community service initiative is Be the Change: Find a Cure Cystic Fibrosis Awareness. Thursdays preliminary event included production numbers by the current Miss Alabama and this years contestants, performing to songs such as How Will I Know, Stars Fell on Alabama and Stronger. Jessica Procter Gilmore, Miss Alabama 2017, was the emcee for Thursdays event. Judges for this year are Amanda Joseph May. Amanda Tapley McGriff, Sharron Melton, Jay Pitts and Rick Pruitt. If you go: The Miss Alabama 2024 competition is set for June 26-July 29 at Samford Universitys Wright Center, 872 Montague Drive in Birmingham. Preliminary competitions are set for Wednesday through Friday, June 26-28, at 7 p.m. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, June 29, at 7 p.m. Single tickets are $45-$55 Wednesday through Friday, $63-$75 on Saturday. See the Miss Alabama website or call 205-871-6276 for more info. The second suspect in the slaying of a beloved Birmingham husband, father, and jeweler, has been extradited to Alabama nearly two years after the killing. Jayveon Khiry Fleming, 20, was book into the Jefferson County Jail this week, according to jail and court records. He and 22-year-old Joshua Jermaine are charged with capital murder in the Aug. 20, 2022, shooting death of 29-year-old Cedric Mahaffey. Both were arrested in California in October 2022. Burns was extradited in May. Mahaffey, known for his grill business Golds by Ced was found murdered in a vacant southwest Birmingham house. Mahaffeys white Mercedes Benz was missing when his body was discovered. Police said the suspects stole Mahaffeys sedan and drove it to Sunnyvale, California. They were taken into custody there by the Santa Clara Police Department after they reportedly tried to commit a robbery in California. Officers from the citys West Precinct responded at 8:42 p.m. that Saturday to a Shot Spotter alert of one round fired in the 500 block of Francis Place S.W. Once on the scene, police were directed to Mahaffey in the front room of a house. He had sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead on the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. Police said a single gunshot was heard prior to the discovery of the victim. Mahaffeys friends and family said he was likely set up to be robbed. It was not uncommon for Mahaffey to go to his customers to take molds for their grills or deliver the final product. Mahaffey graduated from Wenonah High School and then attended Alabama State University, eventually going into the family business. He left behind his wife, Santana, and three children. Those who know Mahaffey said he was spiritual and a deep-thinker and was active in Urban Hope. Mahaffey, followed by more than 7,000 people on Facebook, often posted scripture, and important life messages about family, marriage, and parenting. Fleming is set to make his first court appearance next week. Burns had a preliminary hearing last week at which time a judge ruled there was enough probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for indictment consideration. Both remain held without bond. JetBlue is now allowing customers with basic economy tickets to fly with a carry-on bag. The airline announced Tuesday that its Blue Basic fares will include carry-on baggage starting Sept. 6, regardless of when the traveler purchased their ticket, reports USA TODAY. Previously, customers who wished to bring a carry-on bag would need to purchase one of JetBlues other fare options or purchase an Even More Space seat. Carry-on bags are an important part of travel to customers, and when presented with a choice between JetBlues award-winning service and another carriers basic offering, we want JetBlue to be the easy winner, said Marty St. George, the president of JetBlue, in a statement. Were always looking for ways to evolve our offering in response to customer preferences. This is a win-win as we improve the customer experience and keep JetBlue competitive in our industry. JetBlue acknowledges that even with the allowance, some customers holding Blue Basic tickets may still have to gate check their baggage. While many of JetBlues aircraft are outfitted with larger overhead bins to accommodate more customers, in the event of space constraints, customers may be required to check carry-on bags at the gate for no additional charge, the airlines statement said. A Birmingham man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs into William Donaldson Correctional Facility. Adam Demond Andrews, 35, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin into the western Jefferson County prison. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Andrews to 11 years in prison, Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer announced Thursday. According to the plea agreement, Andrews repeatedly smuggled controlled substances and other contraband into Alabama Department of Corrections facilities. On March 20, 2022, ADOC received information that individuals were trespassing on state property at Donaldson Correctional Facility. Officers responded to the area and observed four suspects on the southwest side of the facility. After being confronted by ADOC officers, the people dropped multiple bags containing contraband on the ground and fled into a wooded area near the facility. The bags contained 60.71 grams of a mixture containing a detectable amount of heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and Delta-Nine-Tetrahydrocannabinol, and 1406.1 grams of methamphetamine. ADOC officers also recovered a pistol, ammunition, an extended magazine, pocketknives, a canister of pepper spray, prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder, marijuana, THC gummies, cell phones, cell phone chargers, cell phone cables, a mobile hotspot, memory cards, SIM cards, scales, lighters, cigarillos, cigar wrappers, shoes, jewelry, and watches. Later that same day, ADOC officers apprehended Andrews near the entrance to Donaldson. Authorities said the charges against Andrews are related to a larger investigation into fraud and corruption at Donaldson. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case against Andrews with assistance of the U.S. Secret Service and ADOCs Law Enforcement Services Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case. 19 1 / 19 Equal Justice Initiative's growing Montgomery footprint Six years after the Equal Justice Initiative opened its groundbreaking National Memorial for Peace and Justice and its Legacy Museum on the same day, the organization is expanding its footprint in Montgomery with projects that are bringing tourists and construction crews to stagnant pockets of the old downtown. The latest installation is the Freedom Sculpture Park on the Alabama River, a trail of art and exhibits that describe the experiences faced by the men, women, and children trafficked by riverboat and railroad to the citys slave auctions. The new park adds layers to the stories told at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which recognizes more than 4,000 victims of lynching, and the Legacy Museum, which connects history from the transatlantic slave trade through Jim Crow to mass incarceration. Travelers are coming to see and hear those hard lessons. Its a lot to take in, said Lindsey Winand, who teaches high school biology in Baltimore, after visiting the three sites Sunday. Its very emotional. But its worth it. Most people need to come and see it. You need to learn the history. You need to learn whats going on to understand how we got from back in the day to where we currently are now. Winand was part of a group of teachers from Baltimore that organizes annual visits for educators and students. Brenda Tarrant, a teacher at Baltimore City College, the nations third oldest public high school, toured the Legacy Museum for the fourth time. Im never any less impacted by how profound the story of African Americans in this country are told by this museum, Tarrant said. The more I learn, the more hurt I become, Tarrant said. Two hotels are under construction behind the EJI's Legacy Museum, an indication of the impact the EJI is having on tourism in Montgomery.Mike Cason/AL.com New construction Two new hotels are rising behind behind the expanded version of the Legacy Museum, which opened in 2021. Across the street, EJI is developing two new restaurants by the Legacy Plaza, which opened in 2022 to give people a place to sit in the shade or stroll by the sights and enjoy the views of downtown, including new statues of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Atop Cottage Hill, near EJIs National Memorial, construction crews are turning a long-abandoned shell of a building into a hotel and meeting place for EJI visitors. Those projects follow several other new hotels, including the Springhill Suites and the Trilogy Hotel on Coosa Street just across from the original site of the Legacy Museum, now called the Legacy Annex. EJI turned an old Montgomery Water Works facility on Court Street into Legacy Hall, a stately brick building where groups can meet or enjoy a meal. We can get several hundred people in there and provide a meal in the middle of the day and do all the things that allow a successful meeting to take place over the course of a day or two, EJI Executive Director Bryan Stevenson said. Legacy Hall, a former Montgomery Water Works building on Court Street, is part of the Equal Justice Initiative's growing footprint in Montgomery. Legacy Hall is used for meetings, meals, and other events for groups of visitors.(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Stevenson, who started EJI in the 1980s as a not-for-profit law firm to represent death row inmates, did not expect all the growth when the National Memorial and the Legacy Museum opened in 2018. We were really just trying to create a space where we could talk about parts of our history that I dont think have been adequately addressed, Stevenson said. I had no idea that things would evolve in the way theyve evolved over the last several years. Im really excited about it. And its very energizing to imagine creating this place where hundreds of thousands of people are now visiting to have this immersive experience. Stevenson said when he moved to Montgomery in the 1980s that he was struck by the absence of any acknowledgement of slavery in the city that was a hub of the slave trade and the first capital of the Confederacy. We had all of these markers and monuments and streets and schools and statues dedicated to leaders of the Confederacy, Stevenson said. And I didnt think it was accurate to talk about that period in Alabama history and American history without acknowledging the role of slavery and the burden of enslavement for so many people. The National Memorial grew out of EJIs work to document the deaths of thousands by lynching between 1877 and 1950. Stevenson said the museum was intended as a space to provide more context. But the ambition at that time was relatively small, Stevenson said. And Ive been blown away by the response. I did not imagine that wed see a half-million people a year want to come to these sites. And the growth since then has largely been a consequence of trying to manage and accommodate the level of interest that those initial sites generated. Visitors board a bus at the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum in Montgomery. In the background are two hotels under construction, the yellow and black structures.(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Stevenson said the original museum had limited capacity, so some visitors who came for the day did not get in. That led to the new museum, which has more capacity and content. But now that we can accommodate a couple of thousand people a day, that creates new demands with moving people, Stevenson said. So we had to get shuttles, because we need to do transportation, and now we have a restaurant. And were going to open two more by the end of the year because people need a place to eat. And so a lot of what were doing is just trying to create an infrastructure that allows the visits that people have to be meaningful and comprehensive and complete. Somebody flies all the way from the West Coast or from another country to be here, we want them to be really inspired by their time in Montgomery. The Equal Justice Initiative is converting a long-abandoned building on Cottage Hill into a hotel and meeting place for visitors. It is about a block from the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Crime a threat to tourism David Bronner, as CEO of Retirement Systems of Alabama for more than 50 years, has spearheaded changes in downtown Montgomery for decades, leading the development of RSA office buildings, the Renaissance Hotel complex and performing arts center, and ongoing projects, including the construction of a new State House for the Alabama Legislature. Bronner has high praise for what Stevenson and EJI have built. Its really fantastic, Bronner said. Its rather disturbing, to say the least, but at the same time fantastic to recognize history as it was. These are real people with real facts. Not just, Lets forget about it. I think hes done an unbelievable job. Bronner said he has only talked to Stevenson once or twice and told him there is so much to see in the exhibits that it is hard to take them all in. The stories and the cruelty to fellow man was quite unbelievable, Bronner said. Bronner said the EJI projects amount to reclamations of three areas of downtown and said they complement the RSAs developments, as well as the establishment of Montgomery Whitewater, a park for rafting and outdoor recreation that was supported by the city of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission. While projects like the EJI sites and Montgomery Whitewater are bright spots, Montgomery is dealing with growing alarm over a rise in gun violence. Nine people were injured by gunfire at a large party in north Montgomery last weekend. A father, son, and a third man died in a shooting at an Hispanic grocery store in early June. A 43-year-old wife and mother was badly injured by stray gunfire while stopped at a traffic light on a busy stretch of the Atlanta Highway on an early afternoon in April. The police department is understaffed and has had problems hiring and keeping officers. The danger to tourism is that the city becomes so rough with the lack of enforcement that you do lose the tourists, Bronner said. You cant have gun battles in the city all the time without putting tourism at a serious risk. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed has called for more spending on public safety, including pay raises for police to improve hiring and retention. Youve just got to make Montgomery for law enforcement salary-wise and staffing-wise as good as there is in the state, Bronner said. If youre going to keep tourism to the level that tourists want to come, they have to feel safe. Not just fireworks and hotdogs Lee Sentell, director of Alabama Tourism Department since Gov. Bob Rileys administration, said the quality and scope of EJIs projects is hard to match. I cant think of another organization in the last 20 years that has come into the state and developed such an amazing footprint within a downtown of any city in the state, Sentell said. They have generated high quality educational destinations that any state in the country would be happy to host. They have done an amazing job in bringing people to Alabama who probably never had a specific reason to visit, Sentell said. Justin and Rachel Lonas of Chattanooga stopped in Montgomery on their way to the beach last Sunday and toured the Legacy Museum with their four daughters, ages 6 to 14. Lonas said he was familiar with EJIs work but it was his first chance to tour the museum. Its incredibly well done, Lonas said. You really appreciate how they manage to tell a single story. From the slave trade, through enslavement, through Jim Crow, through mass incarceration, its just one long story. And its really well articulated. Lonas said the museum carries important lessons for his daughters and other young people. I just hope they know the whole story of America, that its not all fireworks and hot dogs, Lonas said. Its a complicated history thats full of evil and injustice as well as the good things. If were going to grow into the country thats better than we are it requires everybodys participation and work together, and knowing the past is part of that, Lonas said. His oldest daughter, Canaan Lonas, 14, said the unvarnished truths presented by the museum were not easy to take but are important. They said the whole thing, from the transatlantic slave trade to the actual enslavement period and all the different kinds of injustice that have gone on as long as America has been around, Canaan said. And it was very raw, very honest. And I appreciate that because you dont hear those stories as often as you probably should. Its hard to take. Its hard to take learning all of that about America. The Legacy Plaza has green space, covered and open seating areas, new statues of Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. EJI is building two restaurants across the street.(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) Anthony Fowler of Montgomery walked through Legacy Plaza last Sunday to see the new statues of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Fowler, 56, who grew up in New Jersey, said the opening of the National Memorial and the Legacy Museum six years ago came on his wifes birthday, April 27. Fowler remembers the concert that night on the riverfront, where Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, Usher, the Roots, Brittany Howard and others performed. There is a lot of history in our city, history that people might not have known about, Fowler said. Even people that live here, grew up here, might not have known about some of the history. Things you might not learn in school, you can learn across the street. And how everything was connected, from slavery, to the lynching and to mass incarceration. I didnt know how it all fit in. But it tells you in there how it all comes together. And its something. Its something. Affordable and easy access Stevenson said the National Memorial and Legacy Museum were on pace to attract about 500,000 visitors a year when the pandemic came, shutting down the sites and bringing travel and tourism to a halt. He said the rate of visitors has returned to the pre-pandemic pace and possibly exceeded it, with the Sculpture Park providing a third major installation. Stevenson said the expansion has mostly been funded by growing donations to EJI. As for revenue from the legacy sites themselves, he said the goal has been to operate them at close to cost. Tickets to the sites are $5 for adults and free for children 6 and under. The EJI provides free shuttle service between the three sites. We have always wanted access to the sites to be easy, Stevenson said. And so weve never had an admission price that would allow us to make money on the sites. It has exposed us, the work of EJI, to a larger audience. And many of those people have become donors of our work because they value the work. And weve been able to increase our resources that way. We see it as public education work more than as revenue generating. Stevensons book, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, published in 2014, was developed into a movie starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. We have benefited by more people learning about our work, Stevenson said. Stevenson said the economic benefits of the EJI sites are exciting. Im really happy that weve been able to contribute to creating jobs for hundreds of people, either directly or indirectly, is something I love to see, Stevenson said. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden stopped by a Waffle House in Marietta, Ga. after Thursday nights debate in Atlanta with Donald Trump. A reporter asked the president if he had any concerns about his performance and questions about whether he should drop out of the race. ATLANTA President @JoeBiden said he thinks he did well tonight and is experiencing a sore throat, in a post-debate stop at a Waffle House near Truist Park. pic.twitter.com/rMICE0bLKw Michelle Baruchman (@mlbaruchman) June 28, 2024 No. Its hard to debate a liar, Biden replied. The New York Times pointed out he maybe lied 26 times. Big lies. Biden, asked if he had a cold, said he had a sore throat. Speaking with a raspy voice during the debate, Biden tried repeatedly to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Bidens criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Bidens uneven performance, particularly early in the debate, crystallized the concerns of many Americans that, at 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the party fears a return of Trump to the White House. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A federal judge and an attorney for lawyers accused of judge shopping in a gender-affirming care lawsuit argued at length Thursday over whether the lawyers could withdraw an original filing in the case. The crux of the allegations involve the attorneys moving to dismiss their original suit, which sought to overturn Alabamas ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth under the age of 19. The dismissal came after the case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke, who has suggested the lawyers actions amounted to judge shopping, which he says is improper in the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Speaking to Burke on Thursday, attorney Barry Ragsdale, representing some of the accused attorneys, or respondents, said that they had the absolute, unconditional, unfettered right to dismiss the case under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See also: The rule says that the plaintiff may dismiss an action without a court order by filing: (i) a notice of dismissal before the opposing party serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment; or (ii) a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared, according to the Legal Information Institute. Burke, in a back and forth with Ragsdale, expressed his disagreement and said at one point that the rule applied to plaintiffs, not their attorneys. Is this just a public policy argument? asked Burke. Ragsdale said it wasnt but it might be a judicial policy one. Burke said that the situation is where they are. More from Alabama Reflector Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law in 2022 that made it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a physician to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones in gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 19. Shortly after the legislation was signed into law, two lawsuits, known as Walker and Ladinsky, were filed. In the coming days, the cases were linked and assigned to Burke, after a series of reassignments. The plaintiffs eventually dismissed both lawsuits. The Walker attorneys, many of whom are represented by Ragsdale, did not refile. The Ladinsky attorneys refiled a new case titled Eknes-Tucker. That case, which was also assigned to Burke, is listed in court filings as Boe et al. Burke, a Trump appointee, blocked the state ban on puberty blockers and hormones in May 2022, ruling that the law violated parents rights to make decisions for their children and that the state had failed to show the drugs did harm. In 2023, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit overturned Burkes ruling, saying there was no fundamental right to gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs in the case and the U.S. Department of Justice, which intervened on their behalf, are currently seeking a stay in light of the Supreme Court agreeing to take up a case challenging a similar ban in Tennessee. Burke alleges that the first round of cases were dismissed because they were assigned to him. A three-judge panel compiled a report in October that said that testimony and evidence convince the Panel that Walker, Ladinsky, and Eknes-Tucker counsel intentionally attempted to direct their cases to a judge they considered favorable and, in particular, to avoid Judge Burke. In the hearing Thursday, the parties also discussed a 2003 case in the 11th Circuit, U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Case, a three-judge panel denied a writ of mandamus to petitioners after they were ordered to remove an attorney due to his connection to U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon. In these consolidated cases, we are called upon to consider the appropriate course of action where a party is accused of contriving to engineer the recusal of a district judge by hiring a close relative of the judge as counsel, wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Lanier Anderson. In Re BellSouth Corp., petitioners sought a writ of mandamus compelling the district court to remove its order to remove an attorney, a nephew of Clemon, and his law firm from representing a company in a putative class-action race discrimination suit. The three-judge panel did not find they met the burden of writ of mandamus. [United States District Judge C. Lynwood Smith] began by recognizing that, while the Due Process Clause guarantees a defendant in a civil case the right to legal representation, there is no absolute constitutional guarantee of the attorney of ones choice, Anderson wrote. Among the restraints on a partys choice of counsel, he recognized, is that an attorney may not be hired as a device to manipulate the orderly administration of justice. Although a court normally must find compelling reason to override a partys choice of counsel, the court found that a sham hiring for the purpose of forcing the judges recusal is a sufficiently compelling reason. Ragsdale said that the case had three different opinions and was a 2-1 decision but formed the basis for Burkes language. He also said that his clients did not re-file, which Burke acknowledged. Ragsdale said that no one has denied that Burke was a factor of dismissal, but noted that the attorneys have cited other reasons for moving for the dismissal. Earlier in the hearing, attorneys representing some of the respondents submitted the docket carried by U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon, also a Trump appointee, at the time the lawsuit was filed in April 2022. Axon had been one of the previous assignments of the Ladinsky case. According to the report, Axon transferred the case to Burke because she was four days into a jury trial expected to take longer than two weeks, and the pending transgender cases were time sensitive. Christian King, an attorney for Jeffrey Doss and Melody Eagan, said the reasoning for the transfer was not clear because at the time, the jury looked like it was coming back in a timeframe that would have worked. Burke said he went through the whole filing and found jury instructions, along with other documents, that indicated that Axon could have been out for much longer. Burke said that filing the docket looked like an attempt to smear the court. I have a lot of questions about what the intent of this was, he said. He said that pointing to only some of the parts of the docket that supported their interpretation of the case was misleading. He had to go through the docket to find other relevant pieces of information that he said did not support their narrative. Burke also questioned several more of the respondent attorneys directly, telling two of them that they are unlikely to be sanctioned, as of the start of the questioning on Thursday. Burke acknowledged that some of the attorneys had apologized to him, and he thanked them. Attorney respondent Scott McCoy said that he regretted language implying that Burke reached out for the case, due to his understanding of Burke as conservative. Do you know how much I regret drawing this case? said Burke. The hearing is expected to continue on Friday. Caroline Wilburn is a breaking news reporter for the Houston Chronicle. A May graduate of Texas A&M University, Caroline worked as an election stringer for the Associated Press and as a breaking news fellow at the Texas Tribune. At the Tribune, she got a crash course in interpreting data, distilling complicated policy and following statewide trends on a tight deadline. Shes also a skilled video editor and podcast producer. She won a first-place award for audio news production at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Those closest to a man fatally shot by Birmingham police earlier this week will say goodbye to him in a private service on Friday. Daniel Allen Johnson, 43, was killed Monday in Birminghams Forest Park community where he lived with Sri Koduri, his partner of 24 years. He was kind, compassionate, spiritual, an animal and plant lover' Koduri said. The shooting happened shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday. Senior State Trooper Vu Quang said police responding to a report of a disorderly person encountered Johnson, who presented a knife. A South Precinct officer was dispatched shortly to an apartment building in the parking lot of the neighborhood just off Clairmont Avenue. A man was shot to death June 24, 2024, by Birmingham police responding to a disorderly conduct call in Forest Park.(Carol Robinson) Birmingham police Chief Scott Thurmond said when the officer arrived on the scene, an altercation ensued and the officer fired an undisclosed number of shots, critically wounding Johnson. Johnson was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:18 p.m. No officers were injured in the incident. Witness Anna Evans told WBRC Fox 6 that she saw Johnson right before the shooting and said something was off with him that night. She said someone she presumes police were shining a spotlight on Johnson. He was leaning up against the tree and he was saying, Get the light off of me. Please get the light off of me,' she told the television station. They were bickering back and forth and they were just saying the same things over and over. It was just heated and intense and I was like what the hell is happening over there. She then heard two shots fired. The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe, which is standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be presented to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office. A small memorial honoring Daniel Johnson was at Starbucks in Mountain Brook where he worked off and on in recent years.(Contributed) Johnson worked off and on at an area Starbucks for the past four years and was a freelance artist. He did it only when he felt inspired, Koduri said of his partners art. The couple had a 1-year-old Goldendoodle named Rio. He was friendly to neighbors but kept mostly to himself and loved privacy, Koduri said. He listened to classical music and world music. Read a lot of books on spirituality and philosophy. Johnson was always willing to help others, he said, making meals for the homeless and building routes for ants so people wouldnt step on them. He even named alley cats in the neighborhood. He struggled with mental health issues for a long time, Koduri said. He has sought help for his issues and takes meds to help him. Johnson loved nature and walks and wanted to respect his personal space. Some people perceived this to be weird and eccentric, but he was more than likely listening to a podcast while he was out and about, Kodur said. He was honest and spoke his mind. The Supreme Court on Friday made it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction, a charge that also has been brought against former President Donald Trump. The justices ruled 6-3 that the charge of obstructing an official proceeding, enacted in 2002 in response to the financial scandal that brought down Enron Corp., must include proof that defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents. Only some of the people who violently attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, fall into that category. The decision could be used as fodder for claims by Trump and his Republican allies that the Justice Department has treated the Capitol riot defendants unfairly. Its unclear how the courts decision will affect the case against Trump in Washington, although special counsel Jack Smith has said the charges faced by the former president would not be affected. The high court returned the case of former Pennsylvania police officer Joseph Fischer to a lower court to determine if Fischer can be charged with obstruction. Fischer has been indicted for his role in disrupting Congress certification of Democrat Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election victory over Trump. Fischer is among about 350 people who have been charged with obstruction. Some pleaded guilty to or were convicted of lesser charges. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the courts opinion, joined by conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas, and by liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Reading the obstruction statute broadly would also criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists to decades in prison, Roberts wrote. Justice Amy Coney Barrett dissented, along with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Roughly 170 Capitol insurrection defendants have been convicted of obstructing or conspiring to obstruct the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, including the leaders of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. A number of defendants have had their sentencings delayed until after the justices rule on the matter. Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal was pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court ruled against the Justice Department. They include Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Courts ruling. Most lower court judges who have weighed in have allowed the charge to stand. Among them, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, wrote that statutes often reach beyond the principal evil that animated them. But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, another Trump appointee, dismissed the charge against Fischer and two other defendants, writing that prosecutors went too far. A divided panel of the federal appeals court in Washington reinstated the charge before the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case. More than 1,400 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or a judge after a trial. The U.S. attorneys office in Washington, which has handled Jan. 6 prosecutions, said no one who has been convicted of or charged with obstruction will be completely cleared because of the ruling. Every defendant also has other felony or misdemeanor charges, or both, prosecutors said. For around 50 people who were convicted, obstruction was the only felony count, prosecutors said. Of those, roughly two dozen who still are serving their sentence are most likely to be affected by the ruling. Joe Bidens debate performance landed him an unlikely endorsement: Tommy Tuberville. Alabamas senior senator laid the sarcasm on thick when he praised Bidens verbal sparring with Donald Trump Thursday night in Atlanta. Great job tonight, Joe Biden, Tuberville, a Republican and staunch ally of Donald Trump, said with zero hint of sincerity. You should definitely continue running for President. Great job tonight, Joe Biden. You should definitely continue running for President. Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) June 28, 2024 Between a raspy voice and several verbal stumbles, Biden struggled during several points of the debate. CBS News, 45 minutes into the debate, reported that a source familiar with the presidents debate prep confirmed that Mr. Biden has had a cold for the past few days. Hence the raspy voice. CBS News said souces say Biden tested negative for COVID. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said Thursday nights presidential debate could not provide a clearer difference between Biden and Trump. There couldnt have been a more stark contrast tonight. On one hand, you saw a dithering and diminished President struggling to stand by his failed record. On the other, President Trump made it crystal clear that hell restore secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a Katie Britt (@KatieBrittforAL) June 28, 2024 Biden projected weakness while Trump articulated policies that are what American families want, Alabamas junior senator said shortly after the debate ended. There couldnt have been a more stark contrast tonight. On one hand, you saw a dithering and diminished President struggling to stand by his failed record, Britt tweeted, using the same language she did to describe the president when she gave her response to Bidens State of the Union address. On the other, President Trump made it crystal clear that hell restore secure borders, stable prices, safe streets, and a strong defense, Britt said. Thats what American families want. She said Trump landed a resounding victory with his performance. Congratulations to President Trump on his resounding victory in tonights Presidential Debate, she said. The Biden-Harris experiment has failed. Its time to return strength to the White House. Almost 45 minutes into the debate, President Joe Biden finally referenced former President Donald Trumps recent felony conviction in New York. During a discussion about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Biden said: The only person on this stage thats a convicted felon is the man Im looking at right now, referring to Trump. Trump then sought to pivot from his own legal troubles by referring to Bidens son, Hunter, as a convicted felon. He was referencing the younger Bidens felony conviction this month on three firearms charges. Trump also repeated long-running claims related to the Bidens and Ukraine, a frequent attack point for Republicans. Biden directly mentioned Trumps conviction in the New York hush money trial, saying, You have the morals of an alley cat, and referencing the allegations in the case that Trump had sex with a porn actress. I did not have sex with a porn star, replied Trump, who chose not to testify at his trial. During the debate, Donald Trump inaccurately referred to abortions after birth. He has previously falsely claimed states were passing legislation where you can execute that baby after birth. The problem they have is theyre radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth, after birth. This is false. Infanticide is criminalized in every state, and no state has passed a law that allows killing a baby after birth. Abortion rights advocates say terms like this and late-term abortions attempt to stigmatize abortions later in pregnancy. Abortions later in pregnancy are exceedingly rare. In 2020, less than 1% of abortions in the United States were performed at or after 21 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Abortions later in pregnancy also are usually the result of serious complications, such as fetal anomalies, that put the life of the woman or fetus at risk, medical experts say. In most cases, these are also wanted pregnancies, experts say. President Joe Biden blamed Trump during the debate for the deluge of state abortion restrictions since the fall of Roe v. Wade. As president, Trump appointed three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who helped form the majority that overturned the constitutional right to abortion and he has taken credit for that during his campaign. Highlighting Trumps connection to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and its impact on pregnant people across the U.S. has become a cornerstone of Bidens campaign. Biden has also warned that a second Trump term could lead to nationwide abortion restrictions. Trump said on the debate stage that he believes in abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Those exceptions are at the heart of a case the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday. Under Idahos abortion ban, women have been unable to get abortions in medical emergencies because the state only has an exception to save the life of the mother not to save her health. Trump repeated his catchall states-rights response when abortion rights came up, touting that he returned the abortion question to individual states after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which once granted a federal right to abortion. Its an attempt to find a more cautious stance on the issue, which has become a vulnerability for Republicans and driven turnout for Democrats. While Trump has repeatedly claimed the people are now the ones deciding abortion access, thats not true everywhere. Voters dont have a direct say through citizen-led ballot measures in about half the states. In those that do allow such measures, abortion rights coalitions in several states this year have faced intense efforts by anti-abortion groups to thwart citizen initiatives on reproductive rights. Voters in seven states, including conservative ones such as Kentucky, Montana and Ohio, have either protected abortion rights or defeated attempts to curtail them in statewide votes over the past two years. Global Methodist Church Bishop Scott Jones led a workshop for clergy on Thursday for the new denominations North Alabama Conference at ClearBranch Methodist Church in Trussville. Afterward, he spoke to a reporter about leaving the United Methodist Church and becoming one of two active bishops overseeing the worldwide work of the Global Methodist Church. Most of us were United Methodists, and we are grateful for the wonderful parts of that denomination, the way it shaped us in positive ways, Jones said in an interview. But as Ive written in a book called The Once and Future Wesleyan Movement, there was some baggage, some things that needed to be dropped and left behind. Were in the process now of figuring out, what of our former practices are valuable and need to be preserved, and which ones need to be changed. Jones, 70, was the former bishop of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church based in Houston, and before that, of the Great Plains Conference. He quit the United Methodist Church in 2022 and joined the Global Methodist Church in 2023. What broke it were the relationships, where people who used to be my friends no longer speak to me, Jones said. I want to love everybody and be friends with all my former colleagues. And yet, the pain of this separation is such that, well, theyre just not ready to be friends to me. Jones said he was aware of efforts by more than 40 United Methodist churches to leave the Alabama-West Florida Conference who have been prevented from doing so, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled the matter had to be handled in church courts, not secular courts. I have been following that, Jones said. Im deeply regretful that its so hard. The Global Methodist Church will accept those churches if they are able to leave and want to join, but Jones said he has avoided any direct involvement in the situation of churches trying to leave but being blocked. I dont have that kind of advice, Jones said. When theyre still part of the United Methodist Church, I try not to meddle with their disaffiliation process, but what I do say is, if theyre ever able to leave, or form a new church, theyll be more than welcome to join us in Alabama. In North Alabama, more than half of all United Methodist Churches left, and 200 joined the Global Methodist Church. North Alabama has had an easier time than many other places because the bishop of the United Methodist Church was fair and allowed the process to play itself out, Jones said. Other parts of the country have had bishops that were much more obstructive. North Alabama has been blessed in that way. One of the key issues in the Methodist split has been Global Methodists opposition to same-sex marriage. The United Methodist Methodist Church voted to strike down church bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy during the recent United Methodist General Conference that concluded May 3 in Charlotte. Jones said opposing same-sex marriage is not hating LGBTQ people. We do not hate anybody, Jones said. We have taught, as Methodist people have forever, that God loves everybody, but marriage is between one man and one woman, that your gender is fixed at birth and that while we welcome everybody, we need to teach what holiness looks like. When the United Methodist Church started changing its teaching and not enforcing its rules, then we needed to form a place that would provide an organization for traditional Methodism. Were still teaching the same thing we always taught. Modern biblical interpretation has shifted with culture, he said. I believe its clearly spelled out in Scripture, Jones said. Jesus said that about marriage. The New Testament teaches it clearly. This is what were supposed to be doing. And yet there are people who read the Bible a little differently, not quite as literally as I do. Those are good friends of mine who reached a different conclusion. I think God has a purpose in store for the United Methodist Church. As a progressive denomination, they will reach some people that Global Methodists will not. Jones said he is aware of the theological arguments for a full embrace of LGBTQ practices in the church. There are people who say that modern science has brought new knowledge and understanding of things, Jones said. Im well familiar with all those different arguments. I just landed with the people who want to read a traditional view of the Old and New Testaments. Jones oversees all Global Methodist Churches in Alabama, including 200 in the provisional North Alabama Conference. He shares worldwide oversight with Bishop Mark Webb. There are two active bishops, Jones said. I have 18 annual conferences, including the Philippines, Kenya and Ethiopia, as well as about 10 of them in the United States. Bishop Webb has the northern and western part (of the United States). On Saturday, Scott will ordain 18 clergy, 9 elders and 9 deacons. We are refocusing the future of the Methodist movement by creating Global Methodist congregations all over the world that are focused on the basics of Wesleyan Christianity, Jones said. When we gather as clergy and laity here, we are inspiring them, we are teaching them. The Global Methodist Church is planning its first General Conference in Costa Rica, Sept. 20-26, to focus on missions. That will be discussed during the meeting at ClearBranch. Were also focused on our mission work, Jones said. Were not quite ready to name our foreign mission partner, but North Alabama Conference will have a foreign mission partner. My wife, Mary Lou, and I just finished a 47-day trip around the world in 9 countries, where were seeing Methodist conferences formed in Africa and Asia. I just learned of a Methodist conference this week in Central America. We are moving forward, shaping a new movement. Its an exciting time to be involved. This is an opinion column. Perhaps never has there been a presidential debate as important as what we saw Thursday night. From the stage in Atlanta, Americans got to see, not a battle of ideas, but a clear demonstration of what the political parties have to offer a choice between a deranged, bellicose liar or a shielded shut-in with the vitality of a reanimated corpse. There are 330 million people in this country, and these two are what we have to pick from? The value of the debate was not seeing who was fit to lead. It was a freakshow and the best exhibit of what has become of our so-called democracy. Donald Trump was who Donald Trump has been, and who Donald Trump always will be. Republicans seem content with that. But Biden showed us what his staffers have been trying to hide for quite some time that he isnt who he used to be. And at moments, it wasnt clear there was anyone at home at all. On the debate stage, the president looked feeble and confused. If this man were your father or grandfather, you might worry about him going to the store alone without getting lost, never mind having sole authority over an arsenal of nuclear weapons. For some time there have been reasonable people trying to ring alarms only to be shouted down by Democrats who didnt want to face the truth. Media that insisted on doing their jobs by raising these questions have been treated by this White House as insurgents. When Jon Stewart marked his return to The Daily Show with such a warning his first night back, fans said he wasnt the man they once knew. When James Carville warned that Biden didnt have the energy of Trump, the Twitteratti said he was the one who should retire. When Ezra Klein said Bidens age was an issue, the presidents supporters said he was out of touch. When The New York Times insisted the president should sit for an interview with the countrys most influential newspaper, Democrats accused the publisher of being drunk on its own self-importance. And when the Wall Street Journal was so bold to publish the truth, Democrats accused them of telling lies. The hyper-sensitivity to the question was the best measurement of its seriousness. Today Democrats have to face facts: Theyve been living in a reality distortion field to rival the collective hallucinations on the other side. But its about democracy! has become the new But her emails! Its cheap paint over rot and rust. If democracy is at stake here, thats exactly why Democrats should have confronted this problem rather than trying to hide it. And its a legitimate question from reasonable voters: If this election is so important, why havent you found someone better to offer? The question almost answers itself. Trumps sycophants have already shown us how far they will go to stand next to power. Bidens camp has shown us they are little better. The staffers in the White House, the consultants to the Biden campaign they have more to gain from keeping the charade going than from being truthful with the American people about Bidens ability to perform under pressure. To them, having their candidate is more important than having the right candidate. The future of this country should not be entrusted to people who measure their self-worth by how close their desk is to the Oval Office. Thursday night, the pundits questioned whether its too late for Biden to drop out, for Democrats to find a better candidate. They missed an important point: Thats what primaries were supposed to do, and that system failed. We have a system that favors incumbency, seniority and familiarity over basic measurements of competence. That we are here so far removed from competent candidates like Obama and Romney speaks for democracys condition. Americans frustration over their options this fall has been entirely justified. Democracy might be at risk if Donald Trump returns to the White House, but this awful choice before American voters on grotesque display in Atlanta last night demonstrates what many already understood. Our democracy is already broken. President Biden called Donald Trump a sucker and a loser -- the same language the former president was said to have used to describe American soldiers who died during wars -- after Trump attacked Bidens record on veterans issues during Thursday nights debate. Trump brought up veterans issues while talking about immigration, claiming Biden cares more about undocumented immigrants than veterans. Theyre living in luxury hotels in New York City and other places, Trump said of undocumented immigrants. Our veterans are on the streets, theyre dying because he doesnt care about our veterans. He doesnt care, he doesnt like our veterans at all. Theres nobodys been worse. Biden said Trump was lying about his record, pointing out that his administration expanded access to health insurance for 1 million veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or burn pits. The president then referenced his son, Beau Biden, who served seven months in Iraq and died of brain cancer that Joe Biden believed was linked to burn pits. My son spent a year in Iraq living next to one of those burn pits, came back with stage 4 glioblastoma, he said. Biden mentioned that he spoke to the commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and visited Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France, where 2,200 Americans who died fighting in World War I are buried. The president, citing former Trump chief of staff Gen. John Kelly, said Trump declined to visit the cemetery. He was standing with his four-star general and he told him, he said, I dont want to go in there because theyre a bunch of losers and suckers, Biden said. My son was not a loser, he was not a sucker, the president continued. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Although Kelly confirmed Trump said the soldiers buried at Aisne-Marne were suckers, the former president disputed saying the remark. First of all, that was a made-up quote. Suckers and losers, they made it up in a third-rate magazine, Trump said. Who would say Im at a cemetery or Im talking about our veterans because nobody is taking better care .. of our soldiers than I have, he said. To think that I would confer with generals and others saying suckers and losers it was made up ... just like Russia, Russia, Russia was made up, Trump said. When Frances Haugen went public with tens of thousands of documents spelling out what Facebook knew about the effects of its platform, she said the surprise was that those documents didnt really say anything new. Social media activists for years had been talking about the effects of social media apps on teenagers, political polarization and disinformation. Miles College is launching an innovation center designed to gather entrepreneurs and researchers from around the state beginning this fall. Officials said the program, called the The 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization & Growth, will serve as an incubator for business and innovation. The center will be a collaborative space for other institutions, particularly historically black colleges and universities, said Miles College President Bobbie Knight. We are at the intersection of purpose and prosperity and embrace tradition and innovation as we continue to advance the college ahead for the next 50 years, Knight said in a statement announcing the initiative. We are prepared to build a world-class space for researchers and founders, thought leaders and practitioners, businesses, and academia. The new center is led by Erskine Chuck Faush, who was recently appointed Miles College Chief Innovation and Growth Officer and the Centers Founder in Residence. Faush said the center will build upon existing efforts to support Alabamas HBCU ecosystem to attract entrepreneurial talent and venture investment. We are launching a collaborative that will improve economic outcomes by connecting and synergizing a unified community to attract and retain talent, champion workforce development, support researchers and founders, and drive economic empowerment, he said. The 2150 center will partner with stakeholders in the public, private, and education sectors, including Southern Research. Erskine "Chuck" Faush was recently appointed Miles College Chief Innovation and Growth Officer and the Center's Founder in Residence.Contributed The strength of our public-private partnerships, especially working with Miles, will expand our reach and maximize our economic impact for the state as a whole, said Southern Research CEO Josh Carpenter. The center is part of a series of expanded academic offerings at the college that include additional degrees and graduate school courses for the first time in its 126-year history, officials also announced this week. Miles is adding new programs at the same time it seeks to expand its footprint in a move to buy the recently shuttered Birmingham-Southern College campus in Birmingham. Miles recently signed a letter of intent in a competition for the property. Miles is a private liberal arts Historically Black College that is affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The college is in Fairfield just west of just Birmingham. Both Miles and Alabama A&M University are in a heated competition to buy the Birmingham-Southern property. Huntsville-based Alabama A&M responded by increasing its offer for the property with a second package totaling $65.5 million. Faush served as chief of staff to former Birmingham Mayor William Bell and most recently served as an executive with Southern Company in Chicago. He called his return to Birmingham a welcomed personal and professional homecoming. A graduate of UAB, Faush said that his first professional job was at Miles, where served as special assistant to then-president Albert Sloan. Shown are forecast high temperatures across Southeast Texas Friday, according to the National Blend of Models. Most of us will see highs top out between 93 and 96 degrees, though highs may be slightly lower along the immediate coastline. WeatherBELL This week summer was in full swing in Houston and Southeast Texas, as daily temperatures have consistently climbed well into the 90s and that trend shows no sign of slowing down. If anything, heat will crank up even higher by early next week. This means more than a few neighborhoods will likely record their first 100-degree day of the year. FIND US ON WHATSAPP: Get daily weather forecasts sent straight to your phone when you follow us on WhatsApp. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hottest week since last September Houstons average daily high temperature in the past seven days ending Wednesday was 95.3 degrees at the citys official climate observation site, Bush Intercontinental Airport. This is the first time a seven-day average high has been that warm since the last week of September 2023. Its a clear sign the annual summer cycle is underway again. Already tired of the hot weather this week? Then youre not going to be a fan of the forecast through at least the next week or two. To start, temperatures at the end of the work week will top out in the mid-90s for most. Those temps arent close to breaking or even tying daily records, but they will be a few degrees warmer than normal for late June. FOURTH OF JULY SNEAK PEEK: Will the Independence Day holiday bring fireworks courtesy of Mother Nature? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Similar to other days this week, a stray storm is possible during the heating of the day. If you find yourself under a storm, itll be a brief downpour because summertime storms rain themselves out usually within an hour or so of developing. Weekend outlook Southeast Texas will get even hotter this weekend, so if you plan on attending the Pride Houston 365 festival and parade Saturday, itll be crucial to make heat safety a priority. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing to keep your body as cool as possible. Dont forget to slather on sunscreen before heading out to the festival. Peak temperatures on Saturday could be between 95 and 97 degrees. Sunday brings highs perilously close to 100 degrees. While most local temperatures will likely avoid cracking the triple digits Sunday, dont be surprised if your backyard thermometer registers 100 degrees or higher for a brief time during the afternoon. Heat index values of over 108 degrees each day will likely trigger heat advisories from the National Weather Service that warn about increased risks for heat-related illnesses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shown are forecast heat index values, or humidity-driven feels like temperatures, across Southeast Texas Saturday afternoon, according to the National Blend of Models. Maximum heat index values will top out between 108 and 112 degrees. WeatherBELL Aside from an isolated storm, most of us will get dry weather. Watch out for hazy skies, as the regions first plume of Saharan dust arrives Saturday. While most of us should not have any health issues from this dust, those with upper-respiratory problems may experience allergy-like symptoms. Could next week bring triple-digits? Next week is likely to be even hotter than this week, which could result in Houston hitting 100 degrees for the first time this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last summer, Houston experienced triple-digit heat for 45 days, nearly tying the 2011 record. About 56% of the days between June 19 and Sept. 8 recorded temperatures of at least 100 degrees at Bush Intercontinental. A woman who was shot to death Tuesday in DeKalb County is being remembered by family members as a caring mother of two. The family of Kristy Gladden, of Collinsville, is attempting to raise money for her funeral through a GoFundMe page. Kristy had an amazing Spirit and a beautiful personality. She was kind, caring, and always was willing to help those in need, said cousin Jason Gladden on the page. No one deserves to leave the world this way. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said James Michael Howard Jr., 27, of Valley Head, has been charged with murder and public intoxication in connection with Gladdens death. According to Welden, deputies and police from Collinsville and Crossville responded to an address on County Road 221 Tuesday on reports of an unconscious woman. Gladden was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound. Welden said Howard was spotted in the area by neighbors of the victim a short time after law enforcement arrived on scene. After an interview, investigators determined Howard was at the victims residence earlier. Howard was booked into the Dekalb County Detention Center and is being held without bond. A friend, Erica Barnett, said on social media that Gladden was always here for me when I needed someone the most. Two voting strategies Republicans are pushing for the 2024 election are combating voter fraud and increasing voter turnout with their Swamp The Vote initiative. To fight voter fraud, they are recruiting thousands of attorneys, poll-watchers, and volunteers. However, without addressing voter rolls, these efforts may be futile. The 2020 and 2022 election cycles provided Democrats with extensive practice in mail-in ballot submissions. Numerous dismissed lawsuits and films like 2000 Mules revealed methods for exposing cheating, potentially leading to a more sophisticated and secure cheating operation. Therefore, though these strategies are sound, Republicans must be aware that they may inadvertently facilitate cheating. Although there hasnt been evidence of a directive to cheat from high levels of the Democrat party, it appears that Democrat leaders often work to make cheating more likely. In 2020, this was evident with the mass mailing of ballots and numerous rule changes under the cover of COVID. But still, the major problem for any prospective Democrat cheater that year was predicting the number of Republicans voting on Election Day. Before Election Day 2020, Democrats knew they were ahead with the mail-in votes, but they had no idea how many additional votes they would need to win on, or after, Election Day. After the polls closed in some locations, it appeared as if the count stopped, with specific districts in some states stuck for days on a percentage of votes counted, unable to complete their tallies. Reasonable people might find that suspicious and warranting an investigation, but the swamp and the media had a prepared narrative, with help from the Cyber Security & Infrastructure Security Agency, which issued a press release stating, The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. This year, if large numbers of Republicans submit their ballots via early voting, Democrat cheaters will have much better knowledge of how many extra ballots theyll need to submit long before November 5. Advances in data analytics and artificial intelligence can generate a pool of registered voters who have moved, have died, are homeless, are not citizens, are in adult care facilities, or are not likely to vote. These registered voters could be used to submit mail-in ballots on their behalf. This could make cheating less public and chaotic, as ballots steadily get inserted throughout the early voting period, preventing an emergency situation like what appeared to happen in 2020. This is especially true for registered non-citizens, as it would be illegal for them to vote, and some of them may not even know they are registered in states that simultaneously provide drivers licenses to illegal aliens and automatically register them to vote. Finally, any suspicious activities in Democrat-dominated districts that benefit Democrat candidates will likely go uninvestigated by local district attorneys. However, those same D.A.s may be ready to prosecute any public-figure election deniers and sue any citizens gaining traction against the media-approved narrative. Georgia has modeled this, bringing criminal charges against Donald Trump and his associates and civil charges against people like Rudy Giuliani. And our media watchdogs? Those pit bulls against the truth are ready to investigate and defame anyone pointing out possible election fraud. Meanwhile, as part of the Swamp the Vote initiative, Trump has adjusted his message on early voting and is now encouraging his supporters to vote any legal way they can. This initiative is intended to educate voters on the options in their state, encourage early voting, and avoid possible Election Day obstacles. Those in Arizona understand Election Day voting obstacles well, as printers failed at vote centers in Maricopa County on Election Day in 2022, even though, according to the Maricopa County 2022 General Election Ballot-on-Demand Printer Investigation, most of the printers had been used during the August 2022 primary election, as well as in prior elections, without experiencing similar problems. Whether these failures occurred primarily in Republican areas is irrelevant since the majority voting on Election Day are likely Republicans. So Georgia is providing an example on how to go after election deniers, and Arizona provided a sample of how to disrupt the vote on Election Day. Is it possible that Democrat cheaters could cause a power failure, water or sewer line break, faulty printers, the wrong paper, or other technical issues on Election Day 2024 to interfere with voting? It seems like a reasonable assumption. This leaves Republicans with two choices. They can vote early and avoid potential Election Day interference while providing corrupt officials with daily accurate counts on where the election stands so they know how many ballots are needed to make up the difference. Or they can vote en masse on Election Day and risk interference, with the media not reporting, denying, and then excusing any issues as very small and having no impact on the outcome. To be clear, there are no good choices when mail-in ballots meet inaccurate voter rolls and A.I. We are in this situation because there is no criminal accountability for our leaders who maintain inaccurate voter rolls. When will this be addressed? While Republicans address fixing election failures of the last two national elections, Democrats are way ahead and laser-focused on the future. There may be illegals registered to vote? Democrats dont care; they incentivized this, deny its happening, and are already passing laws to allow illegal aliens to vote. When will Republicans call this what it is and act accordingly? Its treason. Charlie Rose recently retired after working over 30 years for the United States Army. Image: kgroovy via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The corruption of the law in the Manhattan case against President Donald J. Trump should shock every American, and the devil is in the details of the law, the prosecution, the judge, the jury, and the conviction. There were two financial accounts referred to in the prosecution. The first is a revocable trust fund for Donald J. Trump which was created just after he became president, and the second is the personal account of Donald J. Trump. The indictment indicates that Trump received invoices from Michael Cohen where each invoice was then added to the general accounting ledger with a voucher number, and then a check was issued to pay each invoice. 11 counts of the indictment are for receiving invoices from Michael Cohen. The first invoice covered two months (January and February), and the other 10 invoices covered one month each for legal services. How anyone can even suggest that receiving an invoice is falsifying a business record is nonsensicalJoe Hoft at joehoft.com pointed out that this is comparable to being in receipt of a bill for electricity. Yet, Trump was found guilty on all eleven counts for falsifying business records for receiving invoices. Two invoices were added to vouchers in the trust fund ledger, and the other nine were added to vouchers in the personal account ledger. How anyone would suggest that this is falsifying business records is questionable. These were ordinary and customary procedures by bookkeeping clerks to enter invoices into accounts payable vouchers. Another 11 counts of the indictment are for paying the invoices with checks from the trust fund (2) and from the personal account (9) of Donald J. Trump. Apparently, paying an invoice with a check can be a felony in Manhattan. Again, Trump was found guilty on all eleven counts. Every count of the indictment has this phrase: [W]ith intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise [emphasis added]. Clearly receiving invoices and writing checks are not falsifying business records, but the major problem with this case is that the prosecution, the judge, and the jury have conflated the personal accounts of Donald J. Trump with the enterprise business accounts of the Trump Organization. The checks that were written to Michael Cohen did not come from the Trump Organization, and the only connection is that President Trump was using the accounting division of the company he founded and owned to manage his personal accounts. Look at New York State Penal Law 175.10: A person is guilty of falsifying business records in the first degree when he commits the crime of falsifying business records in the second degree, and when his intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof. As you see, additional conditions need to be met for a first degree charge, and an official New York Courts website offers those alternatives: makes or causes a false entry in the business records of an enterprise; or alters, erases, obliterates, deletes, removes or destroys a true entry in the business records of an enterprise; or omits to make a true entry in the business records of an enterprise in violation of a duty to do so which he or she knows to be imposed upon him or her by law or by the nature of his or her position; or prevents the making of a true entry or causes the omission thereof in the business records of an enterprise. You will notice that Alvin Bragg accused Trump of the first alternative, stating that Trump made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise. (Refer back to indictment language.) The law then defines enterprise to mean: Enterprise means any entity of one or more persons, corporate or otherwise, public or private, engaged in business, commercial, professional, industrial, eleemosynary, social, political or governmental activity. Now certainly the Trump Organization would qualify as an enterprise, but the private checking account and the trust fund account of Donald J. Trump, the private citizen, are not accounts of an enterprise. The definition is stated clearly in the law. Neither of the Trump private accounts are used to conduct business, but instead they are used to pay the bills and financial obligations of the private citizen, Donald J. Trump. This is prosecutorial and judicial misconduct. Michael Cohen was never paid from a business account. He was paid from personal accounts of President Trump. Furthermore, the prosecution during closing remarks insinuated that these payments were made to avoid the release of the non-disclosure agreement or to reduce tax obligations. So what is the purpose of a non-disclosure agreement in New York if it must be disclosed? Also payments to attorneys are usually tax-deductible for an enterprise, but are typically not deductible for a private citizen. President Trump did not use these payments for tax deductions, and for the prosecution to suggest this during closing arguments is simply dishonest. Now there is a good case for using the Penal Law 175.10 to prosecute the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign organization. The campaign headquarters was located in Brooklyn in 2016, and the campaign organization along with the Democratic National Committee were fined $113,000 by the Federal Election Commission for falsifying the record of payment to the law firm Perkins Coie. The campaign organization reported the payment as legal expenses when in fact at least some of the payment was remuneration for Fusion GPS and the Steele Dossier. Image generated by AI. I have lived in Chicago for over twenty years. I love its architecture, parks, and neighborhoods. I, along with three million residents, call it our home. However, the home has lost its function to protect its residents safety and quality of lifedrive-by shootings, murders, daytime robberies, lootings, and other disturbances in public places have ruined, or deeply affected Chicagoans lives. It is time the residents stopped tolerating such public nuisances and held the city officials accountable. In my daily take of the Red Line, loitering, loud talking, eating, sleeping, shouting, cursing, smoking, standing on chairs, and video-playing are routine occurrences. Certain passengers even make the train their home, eating, sleeping, and urinating, creating inconvenience and health hazards to thousands of riders each day. In my occasional use of the downtown library and my local branch, I often witness adults talking loudly with one another or over the phone, dozing or sleeping over the desks and chairs, blockading themselves inside the restroom stalls, and kids running around shouting and talking, with little awareness of the discomfort or disturbance to others. Neither the librarians nor the security step up to intervene. As a consequence of such violations, urban residents daily experience unnecessary stress and anxiety, public order is broken down, and the quality of life is compromised. What happened to the order, etiquette, respect, and decency in public spaces in American cities? Who should be held responsible? Could the residents do something to change the situation? The residents in big American metropolises have been subjected to such lawless and rule-less behavior for a long time. Many residents brush it off by saying it is the norm of big cities; really though? A large number of big cities in the United States and other parts of the world do maintain order and safety for their residents. Last summer my wife and I visited London, a city of nine million, and I was expecting the citys subway to be as dirty, smelly, disorderly, chaotic, and even violent as the subways in cities like Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. It was just the opposite. The rides were safe and peaceful. We did not see loud talking, food eating, sleeping, loitering, soliciting, or crossing from one compartment to another. The British people would not tolerate the behaviors we experience in the American subways. The afternoon prior to our departure for home the next day, there was a riot and looting on Londons Oxford Street. As the event was unveiling, Home Secretary Suella Braverman instantly declared that those who took part in the raid would be hunted down and jailed. The London police quickly took action and controlled it within a few hours, with very few businesses looted or smashed. Nine people were arrested. Contrast this incident with the massive looting that took place in Chicagos Magnificent Mile in August 2020 when scores of high-end stores were ransacked and properties destroyed, with very few looters charged or sentenced, even today. NBC Chicago reported that a year after the occurrence, 26 individuals received probation and only seven ended up in jail. In our many visits to big Chinese cities like Shanghai, which has 26 million people, I could walk on the streets as late at night or as early in the morning without thinking that somebody might rob or harm me. Public robbery, altercation, battery, and looting just do not happen in China. Period. Criminals understand that if they do, they will receive severe punishment. What happens to our big American cities that become empty, insecure, and hellish after eight or nine in the evening? Luckily, not every American city is like Chicago, New York, or San Francisco. In my one-week stay in Tampa, Florida a week ago, I spent extensive time in the downtown Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library. Before the patron enters the library, he or she can see a big board on which are written behaviors that are prohibited in the library, such as bathing, shaving, washing clothes; loud, boisterous, disruptive or any other behavior; offensive bodily hygiene; drinking beverages; eating food; inappropriate attire; loitering, misuse of computers; skateboarding; sleeping; smoking; the list goes on. The patrons know and follow them. When minor incidents happen, the two security officers step up and enforce the rules. I also had extensive walks in Tampas streets and parks, ate in a few restaurants, and tried the public transportation a few times. What I saw and experienced was order and peace. In its famous 2.6-mile river walk, residents and visitors run, walk, or ride their bikes, alone or in groups, without thinking about their personal safety. Governor Ron DeSantis should get credit for the great work he does in Florida. The number and kinds of crimes and chaotic scenes in American cities are many: Law enforcement fails to, or is afraid to enforce laws and rules, and residents just keep voting the same officials year in and year out regardless of their incompetence or poor performance in managing the cities. Many residents just give up thinking anything will change given the corruption. Could the cities do something? Absolutely. The cities need to create conditions for their law enforcement officers to do their jobs, and criminal and disorderly civil infractions must be penalized. Could the urban residents do something? Yes. They need to wake up and muster the courage to say the patterns of public conduct in cities like Chicago, New York, and San Francisco are not the norm of the country; a majority of the cities do not tolerate such rude, hostile, violent, and lawless behaviors in public spaces; ordinary residents have rights to demand a safe and peaceful environment for work and raising families; and the one percent of criminals who have terrorized our cities for so long need to be held accountable to guarantee the rights of 99 percent of the residents. The ways in which the American cities are managed by the incompetent and corrupt bureaucrats are a shame and disgrace. It tarnishes not only the reputation of this great country, but also the esteem of the Western world. We must hold the elected officials accountable. It is our tax dollars that support their livelihood, and we have every right to demand they do their job! We do not owe them anything; they owe us. Larry S. Su is a professor at the City Colleges of Chicago. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. Si vis pacem, para bellum [If you want peace, prepare for war]. Adaptation of a saying by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace. The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can it be neglected. Sun Tzu Speaking softly and carry a big stick. Teddy Roosevelt Those adages all make the same point: A nation that wants peace should bristle like a porcupine when it comes to its military. It shows its peaceful intentions by the fact that it doesnt seek war. However, it also makes clear to all comers that they will rue the day that they sought to go to war against that peaceful nation. Its the porcupine or skunk principle: Leave us alone, and youll be fine. That principle says that we should have a strong, well-equipped military that is focused on a single mission; namely, springing to Americas defense should it become necessary. However, ever since Barack Obama, the Democrat party has had a different goal for the American military. They want it to be a social justice redoubt, one in which blacks are encouraged to feel resentful at what was once the most successful, well-integrated meritocracy in America. They also really want people on the LGBTQ+ spectrum are encouraged to feel at home. This post is about that latter goal. Weve all seen how the Obama Pentagon, which has been polished to a high sheen under Joe Biden, is all in, very, very in, on Pride Month. Here are some of the entries weve seen over the years in the military Pride parade: USASOC recognizes June as Pride month, celebrating all LGBTQ+ members in our formations. Throughout American history, LGBTQ+ members have not only fought for the right to serve openly, but have also fought in every major war and conflict. pic.twitter.com/MhwAXyIUD5 USASOC (@USASOCNews) June 22, 2023 Diversity and inclusion are what make the Army National Guard stronger. Happy Pride Month! pic.twitter.com/9gyVsjJO6Z National Guard (@NationalGuard) June 24, 2024 Every June, the DON joins the Nation in proudly celebrating LGBTQI+ Pride month. Pride Month offers us the opportunity to honor the perseverance & achievements of LGBTQI+ leaders within our ranks & reflect on the progress made in overcoming numerous obstacles to their service. pic.twitter.com/dxkrQcT2Ch Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro (@SECNAV) June 27, 2024 Celebrating the diversity of our Navy Reserve Force during Pride Month! This month, and every day, we honor our LGBTQ+ Sailors, Marines, civilians, and contractors. Each of you has contributed to our mission, standing strong in defense of our Nation #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/7iYAcyG1b9 Navy Reserve (@navy_reserve) June 26, 2024 In the Air Force, we soar with pride, and our true colors always shine through. Read more at the link below https://t.co/DGZMYlkVrZ pic.twitter.com/T9u0u00bsJ Minot Air Force Base (@TeamMinot) June 27, 2024 You may be wondering why the military is so obsessed with homosexuality and the approximately 832,000 imaginary gender identities that weve been introduced to over the years. Thankfully, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, the second-highest officer in the Pentagon, stepped up to explain: The Pentagons second-highest-ranking official has outlined commitments over the years to supporting nonbinary service members and addressing unconscious bias, saying they were key to readiness and national security. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks discussed the need to create a cultural change in the military at multiple Pride events, including most recently on June 5. During a DoD Pride event for the Association of LGBTQI+ Service Members in June, Hicks discussed listening to the needs of service members, including LGBTQ individuals, as a Pentagon priority vis-a-vis military readiness, a term which refers to the ability to deter potential adversaries, defend national interests and ensure that armed forces can meet their missions. Weve heard concerns about policies focused on the needs of nonbinary service members. Please know our commitment is resolute, just as it has been over the past three-and-a-half years, to continue our progress in full alignment with our focus on readiness and our focus on the well-being of our people, on which our readiness depends, she said. Yup, she actually said that keeping the LGBTQ+ happy is an essential element of military readiness. As the Valley Girls used to say, I cant even. I subscribe to the belief that everything after the LG and B in the alphabet soup of the gender identity spectrum is a form of gender dysphoria, which is a mental illness. To appreciate my viewpoint, just think of anorexia, which sees people with skeletal bodies look at themselves and see a fat person. The inability to recognize the reality of ones own body is not something to be celebrated and cultivated. Its a problem. People with these problems shouldnt be at the frontline of defending our country, but, thanks to Democrats, they are. The problem with focusing on the mentally ill in a nations military (along with obsessing about race, not camaraderie and merit) is that it drives away the sane and functional. That is why America is facing a disastrous 25% deficit in its recruitment. No wonder that the Navy has announced that its tweaking its fitness standards so that it doesnt lose people: The United States Navy continues to face challenges in recruiting and retaining sailors, and it continues to respond accordingly. It has already relaxed some education requirements, including no longer requiring a GED or high school diploma, while last year the U.S. Navy allowed recruits in two divisions limited access to mobile devices during designated periods of training. The sea service will now ease the physical fitness rules for some active-duty service members. However, sailors shouldnt plan on loosening their belts, nor is the Navy entirely loosening the fitness tests. Instead, the Bureau of Naval Personnel will now allow sailors who fail two fitness assessments in a row to stay in the Navy, and have an opportunity to try again, provided their commanding officer agrees. Previously sailors could only fail a single physical fitness assessment (PFA) and remain at their post, while a demerit would be marked in the record. Sailors who failed to pass would also be placed in their commands mandatory physical fitness program, and until their performance improved, they would be ineligible for a promotion. Those who failed two PFAs in a row would receive a failing score and would be ineligible to re-enlist in the Navy. The new policy, which went into effect on June 18, will no longer result in automatic marks on a sailors annual evaluation, and instead, their health will be observed and considered by their commanding officer. Unless Biden is removed from the White House and the Pentagon is brought to heel, this is what I imagine our military will look like in the future: The first half of the highly anticipated presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump on June 27, 2024 was a clash of ideologies, personalities, and visions for Americas future. Moderated by CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the debate showcased stark differences in policy, rhetoric, and demeanor. From the onset, the debate set a contentious tone. Tapper remarked on both candidates speaking abilities, hinting at a potentially lackluster performance from both. However, the opening question directed at Biden, regarding the publics dissatisfaction under his administration, set the stage for a dramatic exchange. Bidens Performance: Teleprompter or Transparency? Bidens response to the question about voters feeling worse off under his presidency appeared unnaturally polished, almost as if he were reading from an invisible teleprompter. This raised questions about the authenticity of his answers. His comments on Medicare, where he repeatedly misspoke about trillionaires when he meant billionaires, only added to the perception of his stumbling performance. Tapper had to step in to redirect the conversation, highlighting Bidens difficulty in staying on message. Trumps Counterattacks Trump did not miss the opportunity to point out what he described as Bidens failures. He accused Biden of weaponizing his office against political opponents, describing Bidens actions as absolutely criminal. Trump emphasized the safer borders and stronger national security during his administration, contrasting them with what he called Bidens open-border policies. Abortion and Womens Rights The topic of abortion brought out stark differences. When asked about the Supreme Courts decision on emergency abortions in Idaho, Trump expressed satisfaction with the Courts ruling, reminding viewers that he appointed three of the justices. He stated that abortion should be left to the states to decide but clarified his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and threats to the mothers life. Biden, on the other hand, defended Roe v. Wade and criticized Trumps stance. He promised to restore Roe v. Wade if re-elected, though he did not specify how he would achieve this, given that it was a judicial decision. Bidens argument focused on womens rights, framing Trumps position as a threat to womens autonomy. Immigration Crisis The immigration debate was another heated exchange. Biden claimed a significant reduction in illegal border crossings since taking office, whereas Trump accused him of opening the borders to a flood of illegal aliens from various countries. Trump highlighted the security issues posed by this influx, including criminal activities and the strain on social services. Bidens counter was to downplay the threat, asserting that only one terrorist had crossed the border. Trumps response focused on the broader implications of uncontrolled immigration, including its impact on veterans and overall national security. Foreign Policy and National Security Foreign policy discussions revealed deep disagreements. On the issue of Ukraine, Trump argued that Russias invasion never would have occurred under his administration, attributing the invasion to the perceived weakness of Bidens leadership following the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden defended his record, mentioning his administrations efforts to evacuate Americans and allies from Afghanistan and portraying Trump as having done nothing in response to attacks on U.S. troops by Iran. January 6 and Political Accountability The January 6 insurrection was another flashpoint. Tappers question about Trumps alleged violation of his oath of office brought a defensive, assertive response from Trump, who insisted that he had called for peaceful protests. He accused Nancy Pelosi and the D.C. mayor of failing to secure the Capitol. Biden, however, was unequivocal in his condemnation, stating that the January 6 participants deserve to be in jail, which Trump vehemently opposed, contrasting the treatment of January 6 protesters with the leniency shown to left-wing rioters in Portland. Conclusion: A Clash of Visions The first half of the debate highlighted the significant policy and philosophical differences between the two candidates. Biden tried to project an image of stability and progressive values, despite struggling with his delivery and coherence. Trump, on the other hand, was aggressive, focusing on law and order, economic performance, and national security, painting Biden as a weak and ineffective leader. But the winner of the first half of the debate was the mute button, not allowing either candidate to continue beyond his designated time limits. And that mute button benefited Donald Trump, eliminating any temptation for him to talk beyond the limits. In the debates in the prior election cycle, Biden drew sympathy, as Trump was viewed by some as a bully. In contrast, in this debate, Donald Trump was a seasoned statesman. Clearly, Trump won this debate in this first half. No need for a second-half analysis. Kudos to President Trump for winning this debate convincingly, fair and square and within the rules! Jerry McGlothlin is a seasoned political commentator and the CEO of Special Guests Publicity. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Joe Biden spent a week at Camp David with sixteen premier advisers that would be doctors and strategists. They obviously put him through his paces, so much so that his voice was nearly gone. Bad planning on their part. But we can all be sure that by the end of the week, all those doctors and strategists knew that Biden was mentally gone, toast. They all knew he would perform badly against Trump and they still put him out there. The only conclusion one can come to is that they did it on purpose. They want to replace him and they knew his debate performance would cinch the deal. Everyone would see how seriously Bidens cognitive abilities have deteriorated. They set him up to fail, and fail he did. Now, the question is, can they get him to step down voluntarily? Not likely; pseudo-doctor Jill will resist to the bitter end. What will the party do about Kamala Harris, the least qualified person to ever hold the office of vice president? So, there is no question that letting this debate happen was a calculated move by the Democrats; let the world see how far gone the man is and we can replace him. Everyone knows that the odious Gavin Newsom wants the job, but he is a truly loathsome character, the governor who has single-handedly destroyed California. People are leaving that state in droves for a host of obvious reasons crime, homelessness, taxes and cultural nonsense. Transgenderism and the tyranny of the LGBT activists -- in K-12 schools, in everything Hollywood produces for television and film is driving Americans with any semblance of traditional values out of the state. Newsom is the last person who should replace Biden. He would do to the nation what he has done to California. Of course, Hillary Clinton is dying to take Bidens place on the ticket, too. Does anyone on the planet think she would be a good choice? Uh, no. She is as much of a criminal as Biden is. Like most Democrats, however, she has gotten away with her numerous crimes for decades. The Clinton Foundation was a thoroughly corrupt, money-grubbing pay-to-play organization set up to make the Clintons almost as rich as the Pelosis. The Clintons did this by international grift, the Pelosis by insider trading. Who will they select to replace Joe on the ticket? Kamala? Not likely but how do they get rid of her? The word is she will return to California and run for governor. As hopelessly unqualified as she is, she could win as the party apparatus in that state is as fraudulent as it is in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. If elected, she would only take California further down the drain of destructive Marxist politics. Will she fight to replace Biden on the ballot? We shall see. Does she know that she is a national joke, a figure of mockery? Bottom line? Letting Biden show up for this debate was an act of sabotage by his own party. They have long known he has become a dangerous liability politically. They dont care how much of a liability he is on the world stage but the American people do. He is a national security disaster. He has brought us to the brink of WWIII, albeit with help from American traitors/globalists Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Victoria Nuland, and probably Susan Rice, warmongers all. Trump, on the other hand, was calm, cool and restrained. He responded with facts. He has not lost a step in the nine years weve known him as a politician. He kindly let go many of Bidens outrageous lies and confusion about issues. Fact-checkers would take care of that. Only once did he reference Joes unintelligible gibberish. When Biden brought up the fine people hoax, Jake Tapper should have corrected him for he is on the record noting that it was a lie. But he didnt. Trump let that go as well. Knowing this debate was not going to change any minds among his base, he let many of Joes lies go unchallenged. He surely knew by that point in the debate that Biden was digging his own grave. Biden was and remains an illegitimate president, installed after a proven stolen election. (The courts that Biden says looked at the claims never actually looked at the evidence.) The Democrats didnt want Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren as their nominee so they settled for Biden, a known racist, pathological liar, and plagiarist whose family operated as a criminal enterprise. Sure, hes been easily manipulated by Iran, Hamas, Zelensky, etc. but it is doubtful those Democrats who pushed him as the candidate, like James Clyburn, knew how very disastrous his presidency would be. Now they know, even if he did their bidding. Those who spent the week with him had to know he could not and would not perform well and they put him out there anyway. Rather than let him embarrass himself on the world stage, there should have been a better way to remove him from the ticket. This was sabotage. The Democrats have no compunctions about throwing one of their own under a fleet of buses. Image: Screen shot from The Wall Street Journal video (cropped) via YouTube The headline banner on the home pages of both The New York Times and The Washington Post both began Biden Struggles: NYT: Biden Struggles as Trump Blusters in Contentious Debate WaPo: Biden Struggles, Trump Deflects Questions There are no coincidences in politics. None. Now, keep in mind: were not talking about two random newspapers in some podunk corners of America. Were talking about the paper of record and her Acela evil twin here. The biggies. The two biggies. And they used the exact same phrase: Biden struggles. The Blue Struggle Bus was loaded on television last night as well. Clearly a memo went out. Biden struggles was the talk of every panel and it started without delay. It went on all night and, notably, there was no let up, and there were no immediate revisions to the headlines, as has happened in the past when the White House placed a few phone calls. Nope. The headlines stayed up and the struggle was real and kept on a rollin into the wee television hours. NYT and WaPo were hardly alone. There were other headlines with language unhelpful in the extreme to the Biden presidential campaign: Los Angeles Timess verbal stumbles; The Chicago Tribunes raspy and sometimes halting; The Miami Herald, no friend to Trump, had Biden Blunders in Face-off with Lively Trump; and The Boston Globe rode along with The New York Times on the struggle bus saying President Biden Struggles. And while Politico isnt a legacy paper like the others, it is read religiously by beltway types and their banner was arguably one of the worst: Democrats really have no way to spin this with the sub-headline, We break down Bidens disastrous debate. Ouch. Much of the talk was around replacing Joe. Even two of The New York Timess biggest columnists just flat-out suggested that Joe step aside: Nicolas Kristof and Thomas Friedman. But, look, theres really no practical way to force Jill, er, Joe, out of power and get her, er, him, to step aside. The only way the delegates pledged to Biden can nominate a replacement is if Jill, er, Joe voluntarily releases them. And lets not pussyfoot around this: Jill looooooooves power and haaaaaates Kamala so it would take an act of God for her to release them, much less to her. If anything, Jill would do Edith Wilson one better and insist the delegates formally nominate her, Jill, since shes been propping him up all this time anyway and everyone knows it. Can you imagine that conversation? This is the lift Team Obama-Kamala have if theyre to get Ms. Harris in the Oval, which is undoubtedly where this struggle memo came from. It REEKS of an Obama operation, and Id bet my house he seeded it. Remember, there are two teams in the White House: Team Jill n Joe and team Obama-Kamala. Team Jill n Joe invited and allowed Obama leftovers into their power structure out of sheer ideological practicality, but they haaaaaaaate each other. There is absolutely no love lost between the old-fashioned corrupt Democrat machine the Bidens represent, and the true believers, the RADICALS, Team Obama-Kamala represent. Their cooperation goes only so far and were running out of pavement. I wonder where this bus is headed Buckle up. Image: YouTube video screen grab. For the past almost four years, my job has been depressing. Today, its not. On the heels of Bidens well-deserved and very public debate humiliation, the Supreme Court has come out with three magnificent opinions, reversing 1984s Chevron case, which had given the administrative state forty years of virtually unlimited power; holding that the DOJ misused an evidentiary statute to convict hundreds of J6ers; and concluding that theres nothing cruel or unusual in preventing the homeless from sleeping in public places. Image: United States Supreme Court justices. Public domain. Chevron was reversed. In 1984s Chevron decision, the Supreme Court held that federal courts must defer to unelected bureaucrats when interpreting ambiguous regulations. The bureaucrats made the regulations, interpreted them, and enforced them, all without input from the two constitutional branches of government to which they should have deferred: Congress and the courts. Thats how the regulatory state got so out of control. (Janet Levy described just one example of the bureaucrats immense power, along with noting that Chevron guided more than 18,000 published opinions since 1984.) Thanks to the decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, those glory days are over. Roberts wrote the decision, with Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett joining. The decision, despite being 34 pages long (because the Supremes are always verbose), is not complicated: Article III gives the courts adjudicatory power over cases and controversies. No existing law changes that authority and, indeed, 1946s Administrative Procedures Act was intended to keep the bureaucrats in check. Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson, in their dissent, argue that this isnt the case. Congress really wanted bureaucrats to make the rules, interpret the rules, and enforce the rules. Cut through the legal gobbledy-gook, and what theyre saying is, We like how the agencies operate. Dont change it. And yes, Im being facile, but thats really what it boils down to. There are few things that are more important than clipping the wings of the administrative state. Having this occur at the start of a probable Trump second term means that the path will be cleared for him to take the bureaucratic shackles off American initiative and creativity. The DOJs abuse of 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2) 18 U.S.C. 1512 is a statute that is patently intended to apply to people who interfere with an ongoing federal police-style investigation. The statute is concerned with people who do things such as destroying evidence (as Bidens ghostwriter admitted he did). Within that context, one of the forbidden acts (subsection (c)(2)) is to obstruct...any official proceedingmeaning, of course, the type of investigation covered in the rest of the statute. Garlands and Bidens DOJ, however, claimed that this clause could be used to describe interfering with congressional proceedings, a take that violates every precept of statutory interpretation. It is an indictment of federal judges in the D.C. courts that they let the DOJ get away with this and that it even had to go to the Supreme Court. Thanks to Fischer v. United States, which Roberts again (and which Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Jackson joined), honest statutory interpretations are back. The Fischer decision isnt complicated, for it engages in the same analysis Ive made, which is the type of analysis any lawyer with even half a brain would make: sub-clauses in a statute must be read in the context of the statute itself. As a wise person once said, this is not rocket surgery. Barretts dissent (in which Sotomayor and Kagan joined) is untethered to statutory principles and deserves to be held up as an example of the fact that women, even conservative women, shouldnt be allowed on the Supreme Court. Barrett did exactly what Ruth Bader Ginsberg used to do: Overwhelm the reader with a zillion details from which youre supposed to conclude that there is a coherent principle rather than a patchwork of irrelevancies. Also, its time to indict Jack Smith, who really admitted to acts that fall within 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2)s purview. Cities can clean up their streets In Los Angeles, fed-up merchants put decorated planters in front of their shops to deter the homeless. They did this because Los Angeles, like all other Democrat-run cities, refuses to enforce it own laws banning vagrancy (i.e., homeless sleeping on the streets). Los Angeles (which has a communist mayor) promptly removed the planters, claiming they werent properly permitted. The real issue is that leftists are using the homeless as another avenue to implement the Cloward-Piven strategy. That is, they intend to break our existing systems to pave the way for Americas restructuring along Marxist lines. Cloward and Piven thought in economic terms because they were old-school Marxists. Modern leftists attack at every level, whether its denying reality with so-called transgenderism or destroying the productive classes by making their cities uninhabitable. It's this mindset that saw leftists claim that the homeless have a right to sleep wherever they want, making vagrancy laws cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment. Given that the 8th Amendment was always understood to address governments using torture against convicted criminals (e.g., drawing and quartering, crushing, etc.), its disgraceful that a small-town Oregon vagrancy law had to go to the Supreme Court. In City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, Gorsuch, joined by Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, noted that the 8th Amendments narrow purpose and the mildness of the Grants Pass laws (fines, 30-day jail terms, etc.), are not the same thing. Additionally, the law doesnt criminalize status (e.g., making it a crime just to be an addict) but, instead, constrains a behavior, something states have the right to do. Theres more, but those are the main points. Naturally, the leftist ladiesKagan, Sotomayor, and Jacksondissented. Sotomayor begins by saying that the homeless are being punished for the involuntary physical act of having to sleep. It goes downhill from there into a wallow about the plight of the homeless. The reality is that American homelessness is a substance abuse problem with a common subset of mental illness. I know a lot about this because a friend of mine, while not homeless, lives in a world of homeless people and substance abusers. Their goals are always the same: getting drugs and alcohol. Food and shelter are secondary considerations. They resist anything that would remove them from their abuse. These are sad, damaged people, but a society cannot survive by letting them take the lead in civic policy. Societies must govern to the functional center. Thats what the City of Grants Pass did and what the Supreme Court approved. Satellite image of Hurricane Beryl, as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. NOAA Beryl, the first hurricane of the season, has intensified into a historic storm as it moves through the middle of the Caribbean. The storm is likely to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, where more forecast models show it starting to take a northern curve, so the overall odds of a Texas landfall have increased a bit in the last 48 hours. Late Monday and into early Tuesday, Beryl peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 mph. The storm developed exceptionally early in the Atlantic hurricane season, particularly for a Category 5 storm. In fact, Beryl is the earliest hurricane ever to reach Category 5 status, coming more than two weeks earlier than Hurricane Emily did on July 17, 2005. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, Beryl has weakened back to a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 145 mph. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beryl already made one direct landfall at Carriacou Island in the Windward Islands Monday as a Category 4 storm, causing devastating damage. The storm, which is located 100 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, is moving west-northwest at 20 mph. On its current path, the center of Beryl will likely move just south of Jamaica Wednesday afternoon. ATLANTIC STORM TRACKER: Keep an eye on tropical storms and hurricanes as they approach the Lone Star State Will Texas be in Beryls path? Texas residents along the Gulf Coast right now have time and distance on their side. Beryl on Wednesday is nearly 1,500 miles away in the Caribbean, and plenty of uncertainty remains about exactly where the storm will end up. The National Hurricane Center expects that Beryl will continue moving west-northwest at around 20 mph for the next couple of days. It will pass by Jamaica Wednesday, then Beryl is likely to make another landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico by Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This spaghetti plot shows several different weather models' solutions on where Hurricane Beryl could end up. There's high confidence in landfall over the Yucatan Peninsula. After that, confidence decreases. National Hurricane Center Beryl will likely enter the Gulf of Mexico, by early Saturday morning. After that, uncertainty remains high as to where its going. Some weather models keep the storm moving west, making landfall on Mexicos west coast. Others curve the storm farther north, making landfall in Texas between the Rio Grande Valley and Port OConnor. If Beryl takes that northern curve and made a Texas landfall, it would likely come on Sunday or Monday. In addition, the southern Texas coast, from South Padre to Corpus Christi, has a higher chance of getting peripheral storms than the northern Texas coast, including Galveston and Houston. That being said, with at least four days until landfall, all possible solutions are still at play. This spaghetti plot shows several different weather models' solutions on where Hurricane Beryl could end up. There's high confidence in landfall over the Yucatan Peninsula. After that, confidence decreases. WeatherBELL DISASTER PREP: What an intense hurricane season could mean for gas prices Advertisement Article continues below this ad How strong will Beryl be? If Beryl does move towards Texas, its not expected to keep the same strength that it has now. It could weaken for a couple of reasons. Wind shear: Beryl is expected to encounter strong wind shear over the next 48 hours as it moves into the western Caribbean. Hurricanes do not thrive under these conditions, and often causes them to weaken substantially. That is why the National Hurricane Center expects Beryl to weaken to a Category 2 storm by Thursday, potentially down to a Category 1 storm before reaching the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday. Land interactions: When hurricanes move over land, they weaken because they are no longer being fed energy by the warm ocean waters. Beryl will likely weaken into a tropical storm as it traverses the Yucatan Peninsula, before it moves into he Gulf of Mexico. From there, Beryl will have a chance to restrengthen into a hurricane, due to very warm Gulf of Mexico waters. The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to regain Category 1 strength on Sunday. How exactly Texas will fare is still unknown, but be sure to stay tuned for updates at houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/. Yesterday, a flurry of leaks gave us a closer look at all of Samsungs upcoming products slated to debut at Unpacked on July 10. From the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 to the Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the Galaxy Buds 3 series, we saw official-looking renders of them all. A fresh leak shows us the two foldables in additional colors, leaving nothing to the imagination. Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 renders leaked in all colors Leaks have already revealed that Samsung will release the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in three colors: Navy, Silver, and Pink. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is said to come in four colors: Blue, Mint, Silver, and Yellow. These are the standard color options sold widely, with the company expected to offer additional colorways exclusively through its official website. Those may be Black and White for the Fold and Black, White, and Peach for the Flip. If history is any indication, Samsung will come up with some fancy names for these shades. But that doesnt change the appearance of the devices. Yesterdays leak gave us visuals of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Silver and Navy colors and the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in Blue and Silver colors. Today, we have renders of both upcoming Samsung foldables in the remaining shades, i.e., the Fold in Pink and the Flip in Mint and Yellow. Shared by Roland Quandt of Winfuture, the images were allegedly posted online by the Australian retailer Harvey Norman. The retailer seems to have taken down those premature product listings from its website, but not before the internet saved the images. In the gallery below, we can see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in all three colors, with the Pink variant first up. We have attached the Galaxy Z Flip 6s images at the end of the article. The new foldables bring a minor redesign At first glance, Samsungs upcoming foldables dont look different from their predecessors. But some minor design differences become apparent when you watch closely or put them side-by-side. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is more boxy with sharper corners, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It is also slightly shorter and wider than the Fold 5. Rumors say Samsung will offer a titanium frame on the new book-style foldable. The Galaxy Z Flip 6s design changes arent as apparent. However, it might end up getting more notable hardware upgrades. We are expecting a bigger battery, a newer primary rear camera, more RAM, and other upgrades. If leaks are accurate, none of this is changing on the Fold. Thankfully, it wont be long before Samsung takes wraps off the duo. The Unpacked event on July 10 will take place in Paris, the host city of the Summer Olympics 2024. Recently, we showed off some high-res images of Samsungs highly disappointing Galaxy Buds 3 series. Well, Mr. Evan Blass wasnt done giving us our early Christmas gifts. We have more leaked images of the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Earlier today we got some images of Samsungs next flagship wearable audio gear, and we cant deny that they look similar to AirPods. This is especially true for the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. These get rid of the silicone tips and take on an aesthetic closer to what we see with AirPods. Along with that, Samsung also opted for a stemmed design. So, rather than using the radical and exotic shapes weve seen, Samsung has defaulted to a more standard look. The stemmed look brings some additional functionality. Reports point to a squeeze gesture for the Galaxy Buds 3. This might be the reason for the black line running the length of the stem. Above are the previous images we got. They show what we expect to be the Galaxy Buds 3 in silver and the Pro in white. They also show us the case in silver. We have more images of the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro So, with this batch of images, we have the opposite; we see the regular Buds 3 in white with the Pro in silver. Just like with the other leak, we see that both models sport a stemmed design along with a line down the middle. Also, they both have colored stripes on the bottom. Were not sure if those stripes are painted on or if theyre lights. Along with the buds, we also see the case. This time, its white to match the Galaxy Buds 3. We see that the top of the case is transparent. There are colored lights on each side of the case, and they match the colored stripes on the bottom of the buds. Were still waiting for more information about these earbuds. Rumors point to them having up to 24 hours of battery life and IP54 water and dust resistance. We dont know how much these are going to cost, but we expect to find out during Samsungs next Galaxy Unpacked event. Oh Samsung, how far youve fallen If you recall, it appears that Samsung has given up originality in order to be more like Apple. Its a sad thing to see, especially if youve been around when Samsungs and Apples devices couldnt be more different. Think back to the Galaxy S6 Edge vs. the iPhone 6s. It was like looking at two different beasts. However, theres no denying it; Samsung has gone rogue. The Galaxy S24 phones adopted the iPhone-esque flat edges, the Galaxy Tab series looks similar to the iPad series, the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro is going for a square aesthetic, and it looks like the Galaxy S25 might also lose its identity and opt for a rounder aesthetic like an iPhone. We also cant forget about software attributes that Samsung lifted from Apple like widget stacks and the lock screen customizations. This is a trend that weve seen from other Android OEMs, but Samsung was the beacon atop Android tower, constantly being the solar opposite of Apple. Its devices have defined Android and showed the world that the iPhone isnt the definitive smartphone. But, with all of the things that its taking from Apple, and the fact that its taken the tactic of sitting on the same design for multiple generations, its clear that Samsung has jumped ship. Since Samsung wants to be the new Apple, what company is going to be the new Samsung? Android smartphone manufacturers have been able to improve their software update process in the past few years. Many brands have increased the years of software update support they provide for their devices. Companies like Samsung and Google are now promising as many as seven years of Android update support on select phones. Now, the chipset maker Qualcomm is planning to make the Android update process smoother in the near future. Qualcomm acknowledges that providing the latest Android updates is a complex process for OEMs In a recent interview with Android Authority, Chris Patrick, Qualcomms SVP and General Manager of Handsets, said that Android updates are a significant concern for the company. Qualcomm acknowledges that its very expensive and very complicated for OEMs to get the latest Android and security updates to the consumers. The company has been working towards a solution to improve this situation. Patrick mentioned that he doesnt think Qualcomm is the main bottleneck for issues around Android updates. The chipset maker has been working towards a solution to make things easier for quite a while. One of the things weve been working on for the past several years with Google and with the OEMs is to change the structure of inline code to kind of change the machinery for how we do those updates, he told the publication. The code optimization to provide smoother Android updates has been in the process for years. A solution from the chipset maker will certainly make things easier for OEMs to provide the latest Android updates. We could see longer Android and security update support for devices with older Qualcomm chipsets in the future. Qualcomm could make some announcements around the topic at the upcoming IFA or Snapdragon Summit The Qualcomm executive didnt provide many details about whats to come. However, he did hint that the company will announce something around this topic later this year. Theres a possibility that we will see a solution from the brand regarding Android updates at the upcoming IFA in early September. The source also suggests that the chipset maker could make some announcements at the annual Snapdragon Summit event in October. At the event, the company will also introduce its upcoming flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. It will be powering the latest high-end products from major OEMs like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. Aer Lingus pilots have decided not to escalate their industrial action as both sides have agreed to attend the Labour Court on Monday. A further 122 flights have been cancelled next week as the bitter industrial dispute rumbles on, causing disruption to thousands of passengers. The pilots union was in the middle of discussing whether to escalate their industrial action when the invite to a meeting at the Labour Court was issued. The airlines management accepted the invitation, as has Forsa, a parent union of the pilots group Ialpa. Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said the executive meeting had formally accepted the invite to the Labour Court at 2.30pm on Monday. He said he was not aware if the meeting would be in the same room as Aer Lingus management. Hundreds of pilots are expected to attend the strike at Aer Lingus management offices on Saturday, which starts at 5am. The strike and an indefinite work-to-rule action has resulted in more than 270 flights being cancelled, affecting thousands of passengers. The additional cancellations bring the total to almost 400. Aer Lingus said those services, from Wednesday July 3 and Sunday July 7 inclusive, were being made to protect as many services as possible. These cancellations will be implemented today, and details will be communicated to impacted customers. Details of the services impacted are set out on the Travel Advisory page of aerlingus.com, it said. These customers will be given the option to change their flights for free, to claim a refund or voucher. Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by Ialpas industrial action and is giving impacted customers as many options as possible. Representatives from Aer Lingus and Ialpa had met for negotiations aimed at resolving the bitter dispute on Thursday but after five hours of intensive talks both sides emerged saying they had not reached an agreement. Ialpa said that chances of an additional strike were high after talks broke down. The work-to-rule began on Wednesday, with pilots refusing to work overtime, accept changes to set rosters or take on out-of-hours management requests. Mr Tighe said he had told the company on Thursday that they were willing to discuss figures below their request of 24%. The reply to that from the company was that they were not willing to move from their position, that anything over and above 12.25% would be funded through productivity, he said. Asked about his mandate to discuss productivity, Mr Tighe said: The company has said we dont have a mandate to discuss productivity and we should go get one. The correct statement is, our mandate is not to discuss productivity. Our membership is clear. Asked if there will need to be further weeks of flight cancellations before there is a resolution, Mr Tighe said that the union is exercising their workers rights and the company is digging in. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said: I would appeal, in the most strongest terms, to both sides of this dispute to get around the table, work out their differences because every single industrial relations dispute is resolved. And it is resolved through compromise. Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.25% or above if improvements in productivity and flexibility are discussed. Chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty said on Thursday that the airline engaged constructively in discussions with Ialpa and Forsa. A Barbie that has been into space will go on public display for the first time as part of the upcoming Design Museum exhibition to mark the 65th anniversary of the world-famous doll brand. The doll is a likeness of European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and Europes first female commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Samantha Cristoforetti, and it spent six months orbiting the Earth on the ISS with her in 2022. The 47-year-old, who is a former Italian air force fighter pilot, told the PA news agency: I think its a great achievement for the overall team to have this Barbie on display and to have it connect to many more people through this exhibition. Europes first female commander of the ISS, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, with her lookalike Barbie doll on the ISS (ESA) In April 2022, Cristoforetti returned to the ISS for her second mission, Minerva, and during the mission she carried out her first spacewalk, becoming the first European woman to do so, according to the ESA. During her time in orbit, she answered questions from five young girls, including why she wanted to become an astronaut, and video footage of the conversations will be shown in Barbie: The Exhibition alongside the doll. Cristoforetti told PA it was an opportunity to reach out to girls and boys to share the experience of an astronaut as a potential path in life, as a potential future, as a potential career or as an adventure that you can be part of. Toy company Mattel, which makes Barbie, and the ESA released the Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie doll in 2021 to coincide with World Space Week, and to help encourage girls to become the next generation of astronauts, engineers and space scientists, according to the ESAs official website. Barbie teamed up with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti for space week in 2021 (ESA) The Cristoforetti doll is on loan to London from the ESA and its inclusion as part of Barbie: The Exhibition at the Design Museum will also highlight Barbies long history with space travel. A silver all-in-one Miss Astronaut costume, which is described as Barbies first depiction as an astronaut and which came on the market for the time in 1965, will be part of the exhibition, on loan from the Mattel archives in Los Angeles. Barbie showing off her scientific prowess in a metallic pink spacesuit, which was released in 1985, will also be on show. Its release followed astronaut and physicist Sally Ride making history in 1983, when she became the first American woman to go into space. Danielle Thom, curator of Barbie: The Exhibition, told PA: There was a one of a kind Barbie created for Samantha personally in the first instance, and thats in her possession, thats her doll. When the doll was created, although it was a one-off, it was publicised, and it was so well-received that Mattel decided to actually issue it as a doll you could buy so the doll that we have in our exhibition, its not the first one, thats in Samanthas personal possession. Its one of the ones that was made by Mattel that was available to buy widely. But it is specifically the doll that Samantha herself took into space. So the Barbie we are showing has actually orbited the Earth in the International Space Station. We have this area within the wider exhibition where we look at the idea of exploration and adventure in all of its forms, and how playing with Barbie has facilitated that kind of imaginative role play. 1959s Number 1 Barbie is rare and highly sought after, and will feature in the Design Museum exhibition (Mattel Inc) Thom also said it was important that the exhibition offered a rigorous and thorough take on the history of Barbie, adding: We collaborated with Mattel very closely to get all the relevant information to honour the work that the brand itself has done, in designing the doll and in developing its sort of very identifiable, very strong visual codes and signifiers. Barbie: The Exhibition, which opens on July 5 and runs through to February 23 2025, will further seek to tell the story of the brand and how it has impacted culture throughout the decades. Barbie was first launched in 1959 after its creator Ruth Handler wanted to craft a different narrative for her daughter Barbara. A first edition doll that will also be on display, and is known by collectors as the Number 1 Barbie, is now highly sought after. It sees the classic blonde Barbie in a black-and-white bathing suit and features holes in the feet where it would have been fixed to a stand. 1992s Totally Hair Barbie will be on display too as part of Barbie: The Exhibition at the Design Museum, which opens on July 5 2024 (Mattel Inc) Other dolls in the exhibition include surfer girl Sunset Malibu Barbie from 1971 and Day to Night Barbie from 1985, which saw her pink work suit transform into an evening gown. Two examples of 1992s Totally Hair Barbie, which featured the doll with extra long hair that could be styled, will also form part of the exhibition. Barbie: The Exhibition will open at the Design Museum on July 5 2024. Wildcard Billy Harris fell just short of becoming the first Briton to reach the mens singles final at Eastbourne after he was beaten in three sets by Australian Max Purcell at the Rothesay International. The 29-year-old had reached the quarter-finals at Queens last week and upset Italian world number 49 Flavio Cobolli in the last round at Devonshire Park. However, Harris found Australian Purcell, who had came through qualifying, in determined mood to dampen the home crowd as he progressed 6-4 4-6 6-4. He will meet Taylor Fritz in the final of the ATP 250 event after the American top seed saw off Aleksandar Vukic 7-6 (5) 7-6 (4). Hitting new heights Max Purcell is through to a maiden ATP Tour final with a 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over Harris! #RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/FIfYNYiKLZ Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 28, 2024 Purcell built on an early break in the first set to open up a 3-1 lead. Nottingham-born Harris, ranked 139 in the world, recovered to hold his next three service games, but Purcell soon closed things out 6-4. Purcell kept the pressure on at the start of the second set, with Harris having to save two break points before eventually holding. Harris again had to dig deep to fend off three more break opportunities in the fifth game before firing down a swift love-game to move 4-3 ahead. The British number five, set to play Spains Jaume Munar at Wimbledon on Tuesday, maintained his momentum to force a first break chance of the match in the 10th game. A superb week for Billy Harris comes to an end at the semi-final stage in Eastbourne Next up: @Wimbledon #BackTheBrits | #RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/n6oNxbsSXn LTA (@the_LTA) June 28, 2024 Although Purcell pulled it back to deuce, another powerful backhand from Harris saw the Australian send his return into the net to leave the match all square. However, Purcell, the world number 94, then took the early initiative in the deciding set with a break to lead 2-1 before Harris missed an opportunity to immediately break back when he sent a return just long. It was, though, only a matter of time before Purcell forced a match point, which he secured when Harris sent a return into the net. Leylah Fernandez battled through to the final of the WTA Tour event at Devonshire Park, (George Tewkesbury/PA) In the WTA 500 event, Leylah Fernandez upset defending champion Madison Keys to reach the final, where she will play Daria Kasatkina, last years runner-up. The 21-year-old Canadian came through 6-3 3-6 6-3 against the American world number 12 to make a first tournament final appearance on grass. It means a lot to me, said Fernandez. We have been working super hard over the past couple of months and I am super happy with the results these past few weeks. fourth final of 2024 @DKasatkina will get another go at the #RothesayInternational trophy with her win over Paolini! pic.twitter.com/Efr62eBqZ5 wta (@WTA) June 28, 2024 Kasatkina came from behind to battle past world number seven Jasmine Paolini, winning 3-6 7-5 6-3 to reach the Eastbourne final for a second successive year. The Russian had beaten Raducanu in the quarter-finals, while French Open runner-up Paolini had seen off British number one Katie Boulter. Its never easy to come to the tournament where you have to defend a lot of points, but Im really happy that I was able to play good and enjoy myself on court, world number 14 Kasatkina said in her courtside interview. In the mens doubles, Britains Neal Skupski and Michael Venus collected back-to-back grass court titles after winning 4-6 7-6 (2) 11-9 in a match tie-break against Australian pair Ebden and John Peers. Elsewhere on Friday, Britains Paul Jubb was beaten by Sebastian Ofner in the semi-finals of the Mallorca Championships. Jubb had come through qualifying to make a first appearance in an ATP Tour main draw and saw off world number 14 Ben Shelton in the last round. Austrian Ofner, though, built on a solid start to close out a 6-4 7-5 win. People react as they watch the debate between President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, at a watch party organized by the Miami Freedom Project at the Center for Black Innovation in Overtown, Miami, Thursday, June 27, 2024. Rebecca Blackwell/AP President Joe Biden speaks during a presidential debate hosted by CNN with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/AP President Joe Biden walks from the stage during a break in a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate hosted by CNN with President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/AP Who am I? Why am I here? Those were the rhetorical questions retired Navy Admiral James Stockdale asked on an October night in 1992 as he stood on the debate stage as independent presidential candidate Ross Perots vice presidential running mate. A Medal of Honor recipient who spent nearly eight of his 33 years as a Navy man in a Vietnamese prison, he was about to engage in the first political debate of his life. As it turned out, he was an honorable man out of his element. Unfortunately, those two questions are how hes remembered not as a military man who served his nation with valor and distinction but as the worst debater in the history of political debates. Until now. President Joe Bidens abysmal performance in the first of two scheduled presidential debates risks ceding the presidency to Donald Trump. Democrats and many Americans are in a panic. In Bidens debate performance Thursday night, we saw little evidence of the capable president he has been. Doddering onto the stage, his voice wispy and faint, his responses halting, and at times harried with the muddled delivery of a tipsy auctioneer, the answer Americans got to that existential question Who am I? was deeply disturbing. Is he a president still capable of doing the job? Is he irrevocably diminished? Who is he? Even on issues that Democrats presume to own abortion and womens health, a thriving economy and low unemployment, democracy itself, to name a few the president couldnt articulate a coherent position. He couldnt persuasively defend himself and what we believe is one of the most productive first terms of any U.S. president since LBJ. He couldnt find an effective way to remind viewers that his opponent is a twice-impeached convicted felon and sexual abuser who still faces court reckonings, including a sentencing date on July 11. Effective rejoinders were beyond him. Why am I here? Thats the question many disheartened Democrats are hoping their standard-bearer is asking post-debate. Theyre hoping his advisers and his family are asking him to consider the question of stepping aside. They saw, certainly, that the Biden we have known from the presidential debates four years ago or even as recently as his jaunty State of the Union speech in March wasnt onstage Thursday night. He even looked different older, befuddled, given to vacant stares, plastic expressions, his mouth at times hanging open. (His campaign said he had a cold.) His toothy trademark smile appeared only fleetingly. He got a bit stronger as the debate wore on, but by then the impression of weakness was indelible. To put it bluntly, Biden got run over. Worried Democrats take some small consolation in the fact that incumbent President Barack Obama bombed during his first debate with Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Obama bounced back. Can Biden? After Thursday night, does it matter? Advertisement Article continues below this ad The lowest point of Bidens devastating performance resembled a crafty Fox News video montage, only this incoherent string of thoughts wasnt edited to deceive. It was real, in context, on live TV: Making sure that were able to make every single solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with the with the COVID excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, uh, look, he said before freezing several eternal moments and commencing with a disjointed blurt: if we finally beat Medicare. Thank you, Mr. President, deadpanned moderator Jake Tapper. Its not as if Trump presented himself as a candidate nonpareil. Although cool, collected and more disciplined than usual, he was indeed the bombastic, self-aggrandizing bully the nation has come to know (and, the polls say, dislike). Almost every Trump response was larded with lies, untruths, evasions and broad, outrageous pronouncements on COVID, on taxes, on tariffs, on Roe v. Wade, on Jan. 6, on veterans benefits, on terrorism, on Iran. They were almost too many for even trained fact-checkers to keep up with; most went unchallenged by Trumps flustered opponent and by the CNN journalists serving as moderators. This is Trump: I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelensky as president-elect before I take office. __ This man (Biden) is a criminal. __ The whole world is blowing up under him. __ Were like a third-world nation. __ Were living right now in a rats nest. __ Theyre killing our citizens at a level that weve never seen before. __ Hes become like a Palestinian, referring to Biden. __ What theyve done to some people that are so innocent, referring to Jan. 6 rioters. __ And, said the former president who pulled out of the Paris climate accord and weakened the Clean Water Act, his administration had immaculate air and water: I had the best environmental numbers ever. To bombast like that, the only response is the bulls--t obscenity Trumps MAGA admirers have taken to shouting out at his rallies. Biden was the president the nation needed after the twin disasters of Trump and COVID. What Democrats desperately need now as does the nation is a candidate who can call Trump on his lies, a candidate who can forcefully make the case for the mans unfitness to serve again as president, a candidate who can make plain the existential threat this romancer of autocrats poses to our democracy. Biden certainly wasnt that candidate Thursday; maybe somebody else is. For the first time, it seems, Democrats are seriously mulling that over. America deserves a president who performs as well on a stage as he does in the hushed backrooms of power. We still believe, as we argued in our primary endorsement of Biden in February, that his aging mind has forgotten more than Trump will ever know or care to know about governing this nation. Biden is surrounded by smart, capable people, and with few exceptions, his performance is reflective of his wisdom and experience. Hes made great strides on infrastructure, health care, climate policy and in restoring Americas standing on the world stage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When it comes to presidential leadership, were far less distressed by inadequacies of the tongue than by deficits of the soul. Trump has no conscience. He is in this for himself. Hes also a willing tool in the wicked long games of crooks and far-right conspiracists. He is a threat to America and its most cherished values, from free speech to free elections. If Biden cant inspire confidence and ensure the turnout to stop Trump, Democrats need to find someone who can. Otherwise, in just over four months, one of the most dangerous candidates in history could be the president-elect. Want to stay up to date on our most recent thought-provoking editorials, columns and Letters to the Editor? Our Opinion-focused 'SaysHou' newsletter delivers our weekly highlights, directly to your inbox. Sign up now. Correction: The editorial initially misstated the number of years James Stockdale served in the Navy. It has been updated. The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey has called for tougher action to be taken on knife crime. Esther Gheys 16-year-old transgender daughter was stabbed to death in Linear Park, Warrington, in February last year. On Friday, Ms Ghey joined two other mothers who also lost their children to knife crime in saying they felt let down by the Governments failure to act on the issue. Brianna Ghey was killed in February 2023 (Cheshire Police/PA) The three women have been individually campaigning for changes to sentencing, the introduction of lifesaving bleed kits and restrictions on mobile phones. Ms Ghey told ITV news she hoped uniting with Kelly Brown and Leeann White would make their message stronger. She said: Something needs to be done. It needs to change urgently. I feel its our job as well even though weve gone through something so tragic, we do need to do this, we do need to push this. Ive still got the hope that we can make a difference. And whether its the Government that are making a difference or mums like us, Ive got the hope that things will change. Ive got to hope things will get better. Everything that were asking for, it needs to be done and well stick together, and well be stronger together. Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, who were both 15 at the time of the knife attack, were given life sentences for Briannas brutal, planned and sadistic murder. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mentioned Ms Ghey during Wednesdays election debate when he accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of making an anti-trans joke in front of the mother of a murdered trans teenager. He was referring to an incident in February this year where Mr Sunak made a trans jibe in the Commons, while Briannas family were visiting Parliament. Ms White said the Government needs to step up and do more and called for harsher punishments, including custodial sentences for carrying a knife. Her 12-year-old daughter Ava was stabbed by a boy she didnt know during a Christmas lights switch-on event in Liverpool in 2021. A 15-year-old was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 13 years for her murder. Ms White said: Kids are dying on our streets on a daily basis. The Government needs to step up and do more. It needs to be more of a priority. There needs to be custodial sentences. Thats the only way that change is going to happen in my eyes. I want custodial sentences for carrying a knife. I think if youre caught with a knife, its a straight 10 years. Every single day, you open the paper, you read the news, theres been another fatality so Id like to see tougher sentences. Ms Browns son, Rhamero West, was 16-years-old when he was stabbed to death on his first day of college in Trafford, Manchester in 2021. Three men Ryan Cashin, 19, Marquis Richard, 17, and Giovanni Lawrence, 20 were later jailed for his murder. Ms Brown said: I feel like theyre not taking it as serious as they should be. Weve discussed before, they can ban these XL bullies within three months. Its taken so long to ban these knives for killing our kids. I feel let down. I feel like the Government are not doing enough. Sir Keir pledged on Monday to make reducing knife crime a moral mission ahead of speaking to the families of knife crime victims alongside actor Idris Elba at a meeting in west London. The decision to approve Julian Assanges extradition to the United States has formally been quashed at the High Court following his return to Australia as a free man. In an order on Friday, judges said that then-Home Secretary Priti Patels decision to order Mr Assanges extradition to the US in June 2022 had been overturned. It comes after the WikiLeaks founder flew into Australia on Wednesday, following his release from a London prison and an appearance before a judge in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. "I believe the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction with each other" WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in plea deal hearing, US court, Saipan Island pic.twitter.com/K6n33bzHSl WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 27, 2024 Mr Assange pleaded guilty to a single charge on Tuesday after the US dropped 17 other espionage charges against him, before arriving in Australia. The 52-year-old had been due to bring a challenge at the High Court in London in early July over his extradition. However, in Fridays order from Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson, the judges said the legal proceedings had been formally discontinued. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange embraced his wife Stella as he arrived in Canberra on Wednesday (Hilary Wardhaugh/PA) Mr Assange had been locked in a lengthy legal battle to avoid being extradited to the US, which saw him live in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012 before his detention in Belmarsh. In a January 2021 ruling, then-district judge Vanessa Baraitser said Mr Assange should not be sent to the US, citing a real and oppressive risk of suicide, while ruling against him on all other issues. Later that year, US authorities won a High Court bid to overturn this block, paving the way towards his extradition. Mr Assanges planned challenge was over the original judges dismissal of parts of his case, as well as Ms Patels decision. Dr Jane Goodall said we are still living in dark times as she spoke about the planet, loss of biodiversity and climate change when she took to the Greenpeace stage at Glastonbury Festival. The British primatologist, 90, also brought a toy chimp on to the stage and greeted the audience by mimicking ape sounds. The anthropologist reflected on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and said its not surprising, but young people are still losing hope. Dr Jane Goodall on the Greenpeace stage during the Glastonbury Festival (Ben Birchall/PA) She told the crowd: Its as though were in a dark tunnel. Humanity is at the mouth of the tunnel and between us and the little star thats shining at the end of the tunnel, and that star is hope, between us and the star, we have to overcome all these problems that I just mentioned. The good news (is), more and more people are trying to solve those problems. She added: We really are going through tough times all over the world. Goodall went on to say that her reasons for having hope include the indomitable human spirit. The renowned conservationist also praised Saturdays Glastonbury Festival headliner, Coldplay, for their efforts to tour sustainably. She said: I know theyre really trying to make their footstep in places like Glastonbury invisible and there are more and more groups like that. The phenomenal Dr Jane Goodall sharing her story over at Greenpeace. DH pic.twitter.com/4zfZ86Obig Glastonbury Live (@GlastoLive) June 28, 2024 Coldplay, fronted by Chris Martin, previously announced that their Music Of The Spheres tour would be powered with rechargeable batteries fuelled by renewable sources. They said at the time that their global tour would be supported by a show battery, supplied by BMW, which would be recharged using solar power and generators powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil. Fans could also generate electricity for the concert through a kinetic stadium floor and power bikes. In 2019, the band revealed that they would not launch a globe-trotting tour for their previous album Everyday Life because of environmental concerns. Dr Goodall also thanked her supportive mother and joked that Tarzan married the wrong Jane as she began her speech where she reflected on her career researching chimpanzees. A former tearoom claimed to be where Winnie-the-Pooh was first sketched and discussed by illustrator EH Shepard and author AA Milne has gone on the market. The terraced property, dating back to around 1790, is affectionately known by locals in the upmarket Clifton area of Bristol as Pooh Corner. It is currently a two-bedroom house but previously served as a tea shop for decades and is said to have been frequented by author AA Milne in the early 1920s. Martin Haigh, of local estate agents Haighs, claimed the property is believed to be where the first drawings of Winnie-the-Pooh were created. The King and Queen pose with the painting of Winnie the Pooh at the Pavilion Gallery in Winnipeg Manitoba in 2014 (John Stillwell/PA) He said: It is believed that it was during one of these visits to the tea shop that the first sketched ideas of a silly old bear were drawn and discussed by AA Milne and EH Shepard, and Winnie-the-Pooh was born. Later on, probably in the 1930s, Ernest Shepard created an oil painting of Winnie, the only one he ever painted, and donated it to the tea shop, where it was on proud display for many years. Sadly, the painting was sold around 25 years ago and is now in a museum in Winnipeg, Canada. Mr Haigh said the Grade II-listed house, which is listed for 675,000, has charm and character in abundance over its two floors. It has a distinctive curved front and is situated close to Bristols iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge. The estate agent listing notes that it is a 30-minute walk to the city centre, unless of course, you are Piglet or Eeyore, in which case travelling time may be a little longer. In October 2000, the oil painting of the bear painted by EH Shepard in the 1930s went on sale and was purchased by a group of people from Winnipeg for more than 124,000. Articles from local paper the Bristol Post from the time of the sale do not reference the claim that original discussions and sketches of the bear took place at Pooh Corner. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name in a childrens Christmas story by AA Milne in the London Evening News in 1925, with the character inspired by a toy bear belonging to Milnes son, Christopher Robin. The bear had originally been called Edward before being renamed Winnie, after Robin saw a Canadian black bear with that name during visits to London Zoo. Winnie full name Winnipeg Bear was an orphaned black bear cub purchased by Harry Colebourn in Ontario, Canada, in 1914. He was posted to the Western Front and was unable to bring his beloved bear, so arranged for her to live temporarily at London Zoo, where she became a star attraction. Colebourn, who served with Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, intended to bring Winnie back to Canada with him at the end of the war but donated her to the zoo where she lived until her death in 1934. Fran Jones and Emma Raducanu were dreaming of their academic futures on a pre-Wimbledon trip to Oxford. The good friends both excelled at school and, while tennis is very much the priority at the moment, they took a day off last week to do a little forward planning. We are both pretty academic, I would say, said 23-year-old Jones. We have a vision for the future and Oxford (University) is definitely something that we would both enjoy. It was just a bit spontaneous really, we felt like going and we love coffee so some great little coffee spots. It was just a good opportunity for a day off. I think sometimes tennis is consuming and its important that you can have that vision for your career afterwards and sometimes keeping in touch with it. So that when you do come back in here, youre ready to go again instead of everything else being drowned out. Theres a lot I want to do in my life and I feel like sometimes I dont have enough time to do everything. But I think I would like to use my different skill sets off the court once Im done with tennis, and I think tennis is a fantastic sport to provide you the life experiences and the values that many people dont attain until a much later age. Jones, who hinted that politics could be her subject of choice, has become very close to Raducanu over the past few months, with the pair spending a lot of time together. They missed out on an on-court meeting in Nottingham earlier this month when Jones withdrew because of a shoulder niggle, but she agrees that Raducanu appears to be in a much happier place than on many occasions since her US Open win in 2021. Just my presence, its just a consequence of her spending some time with me, she said with a smile. No, its great to see her in that space. As players, we carry a lot of weight throughout the year. And its important to understand how to balance that and I think shes coming to terms with how she wants to be and feel and how she needs to manage her life off the court. Jones knows all too well the highs and lows of the sport having made her Wimbledon debut in 2021, pushing Coco Gauff in a close match, only to miss out the last two years through injury. Born with only three fingers and a thumb on each hand and seven toes because of the rare genetic condition Ectrodactyly Ectodermal Dysplasia, the Yorkshirewoman faces significant physical challenges. Obviously as a Brit you want to play in your country, you want to play every week, she said of her Nottingham withdrawal. But equally we know that Im different to other people on the tour. Its been three years since I played here last time and the biggest motivator for me to keep being persistent was to come back to Wimbledon. Fran Jones, left, played Coco Gauff at Wimbledon in 2021 (Steven Paston/PA) Its been a tough couple of years and, with the physical challenges Ive faced, its been important that Ive surrounded myself with the right people. Now I view it as almost like an orchestra. You have your different instruments and at different periods of time some people in your team play their instrument a little bit louder than the others. Jones will make her All England Club return against Croatian Petra Martic, and has the carrot of a potential second-round match against world number one Iga Swiatek. I like to play on the big stage where I can so Im sure its a great motivation for me but its all about the first match, added Jones. The UK Government met representatives from the oil and gas sector an average of 1.4 times per working day in 2023, an analysis has suggested. At least 65 fossil fuel organisations and industry bodies were identified meeting with ministers over the course of the year, according to an investigation by Global Witness. The environmental group analysed data by Transparency International UK, looking at any organisation that could be reasonably assumed to have the goal of influencing policy or legislation in the interests of a fossil fuel company and its shareholders. According to its findings, ministers met representatives from the oil and gas sector at least 343 times last year, up from 330 meetings held in 2022. More widely, the group found that meetings between fossil fuel representatives and the government have been steadily increasing over the past 11 years. The meetings reached record-high levels in November 2023, when the government met oil and gas groups at least 63 times, equivalent to almost three meetings every working day, the campaigners said. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which would mandate annual licensing of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea, was introduced the same month, they noted. The end of November also marked the start of the UN climate change conference COP28 in Dubai. Graham Stuart was found to have personally met with oil and gas lobbyists 55 times in 2023 (Victoria Jones/PA) The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) met oil and gas representatives at least 214 times in 2023 and 249 times the year before, the analysis also suggests. Graham Stuart, who until recently was the minister in charge of energy security and net zero, was found to have personally met them 55 times in 2023, making up at least a quarter of all his official meetings. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho and Under Secretary of State Andrew Bowie met oil and gas groups 42 times each, it found. For Ms Coutinho, these amounted to 42% of all her declared meetings last year. In other parts of the government, officials in the Department for Business and Trade met oil and gas representatives at least 75 times in 2023, while the Treasury met them at least 22 times. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended seven meetings with oil and gas organisations in 2023, including a meeting with Shell, North Sea Midstream Partners and Harbour Energy (Joe Giddens/PA) Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended seven meetings with oil and gas organisations in 2023, including a meeting with Shell, North Sea Midstream Partners and Harbour Energy on the same day he pledged to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves and granted hundreds of new oil and gas licenses, according to Global Witness. Gas and electricity supplier EDF Energy met Government officials the most of any energy firms, with at least 44 meetings found in the data, amounting to more than once per working week on average. BP followed with 42 meetings, a third of which were with Mr Stuart, while SSE met ministers 38 times and Shell met them 35 times. Global Witness also included renewable energy firm Octopus Energy in its analysis but it is understood that the company, which advocates for the green transition, strongly disputes its characterisation by the campaign group. Alice Harrison, head of fossil fuel campaigns at Global Witness: For far too long the oil and gas industry has enjoyed privileged access to power, so its no wonder we are still so far away from real climate action. Fossil fuel companies are responsible for the climate crisis and made record-breaking profits from the energy crisis. They cannot be trusted to fix a mess of their own creation so whoever wins this election must slam the door shut on their toxic influence. Government ministers and officials meet a range of stakeholders from across the energy sector. The PA news agency has contacted the Conservative Party for comment. Many people dream of heading to Africa to go on safari and see wild animals up in their natural habitats. I know it's on my bucket list! But sometimes people forget that these animals are wild animals and are unpredictable. The Weather Channel shared a video on Thursday, June 27th that proves this point. A female hiker in South Africa decided it would be a good idea to get a closer look at a beautiful giraffe. She can be seen in the video approaching the animal, stretching out her arms and continuing to approach it as the giraffe tried to walk away. The giraffe decided to let her know she was getting a little too close for comfort and gave her a kick to let her know it was time to backoff. I think that the clueless hiker had that coming! She's an adult and should've known better than to try to get that close to such a powerful animal. The Weather Channel commenters agreed. @Sharon Thrope was spot on when she said, "The giraffe said, Stranger Danger and acted accordingly." @Lou Ella Greene agreed, "Good for Mr. Giraffe!" and @Liz added, "Yep, respect Mother Nature!" @Collette made me laugh with her comment, "Is the giraffe ok though? LOL!" Related: Watch: Elephant Charges Safari Truck Full of Tourists in South Africa Are Giraffes Aggressive Animals? The New York Post reported that the hiker, a woman named Musiiwa Sikhwari said, "The giraffe pet my shoulder and I fell but there were no injuries." Clearly the giraffe just gave the woman a warning, and I'm sure she understood it loud and clear! I didn't think that giraffes were aggressive, and after doing a bit of research, I found that they normally are not. There are only a few circumstances when a giraffe would become aggressive with humans. Giraffes are peaceful animals and rarely harm humans. They are not aggressive by nature, and like the giraffe in this video, they main defense mechanism is using their strong legs to kick. They also will 'swat' with their extremely long and strong necks. Male giraffes become aggressive during mating season. If giraffes sense that their babies (calves) are in danger, they will attack. They'll also attack if they feel that they are in harm's way or in an unsafe situation. With the woman swinging her arms around, the giraffe may have felt threatened and told the woman to give it some space. She's lucky she didn't get kicked harder or even trampled! Common sense (should) tells us that wild animals should be admired from afar, and it's never a good idea to approach one, especially since you are in its territory. People never know how wild animals will react to their presence and should show them respect. This hiker is very lucky that she only got a small push because this story could've ended much differently. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. The Japanese empress was given an honorary degree as she toured Oxford University on the final day of a state visit to the UK. Empress Masako and Emperor Naruhito visited their former colleges before attending the special ceremony to receive the degree at Convocation House. The day closed with a tree-planting ceremony at Merton College where the emperor studied history as a postgraduate student from 1983 to 1985. The royals started their visit being led around Balliol College by Oxford chancellor Lord Patten of Barnes and the master of Balliol College, Dame Helen Ghosh. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako leave the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford (Joe Giddens/PA) As the group greeted each other, Dame Helen could be heard telling the empress: Welcome home. As they left, the royals were greeted by a large crowd that had been patiently waiting outside the college since the morning in anticipation. Standing at the front of the crowd, 39-year-old Tomohiro Go said he felt proud to be there. Mr Go, originally from Japan, has lived in the Summertown suburb of Oxford since 2020 and works for an insurance company based in the city. Like many spectators, he carried both the British and Japanese flags. Mr Go explained: I brought both flags to show that the relationship between our countries is good. Another spectator, Rie Fletcher, said: Its a rare occasion [to see the emperor]. Its the first time theyve come here together. You dont have much of a chance to see the emperor even when youre in Japan. The 44-year-old graphic designer has lived in Oxford for three years after moving from Japan. She said: My mum is a big fan. Shell be very happy that Im here. Emperor Naruhito talks to students from Dragon School in Oxford (Joe Giddens/PA) The royals spoke with school children holding the Japanese flag from the Dragon School, a co-ed prep school in north Oxford, as they walked to Convocation House. They concluded the day by jointly planting an ichiyo cherry tree in the Merton College grounds. The initial invitation for the emperor to make a state visit to the UK was made by the late Queen but the trip was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and the monarchs death in September 2022. The emperor is said to be fond of the UK, having gone fly fishing with the King at Balmoral while he was studying at Oxford in the 1980s, the Daily Mail reported. The emperor also did his thesis on the history of the Thames. He described this experience in The Thames and I: A Memoir of Two Years at Oxford. A man has been found guilty of murdering two of his former partners who had both complained to police about his violence. Carl Cooper, 66, was in a relationship with Naomi Hunte, 41, who died from a stab wound to the chest, and Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found, at different times. Ms Hunte, of Woolwich, south-east London, was found dead on her blood-soaked sofa on Valentines Day in 2022 while prosecutors said Ms Holm is believed to have died on June 20 2023. Naomi Hunte told police Cooper stalks her (Metropolitan Police/PA) A jury at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday found the defendant guilty of two counts of murder after three days of deliberations. The families of the two victims who were watching in court were visibly emotional as the verdict was given. Scotland Yard later said there is still a 20,000 police reward for information which leads to Ms Holms remains being found as a detective branded Cooper a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities. Ms Hunte made a number of domestic call-outs to police to her home in 2020 and 2021 and told them that handyman Cooper was obsessed with her, the court previously heard. In a police call-out to her home on June 29 2021, she told officers that Cooper stalks me and Im really scared now. The prosecution believe that Ms Hunte was killed overnight on February 10. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest while she had also drunk alcohol and taken drugs including cocaine and cannabis. Her blood was later found on three different areas of Coopers jacket, and on a knife with a serrated blade which resembled a steak knife. Ms Holm, of Catford, south-east London, had also made complaints about Cooper to the police. Fiona Holm, whose body has never been found (Metropolitan Police/PA) Cooper lit fires in the immediate days after Ms Holm went missing and also carried out a wholesale redecoration of his living room, which included stripping off wallpaper, cutting out net curtains and removing a rug, prosecutor Joel Smith KC previously told the jury. Narita Bahra KC, defending, previously told the jury to take great care not to jump to conclusions in what she described as a very unusual case. After the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Carl Cooper is a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities. He took the lives of two vibrant, sociable women who were so very loved by their families and friends. Naomi and Fiona are in my thoughts today. DCI Blackburn, who said Cooper had gone to great lengths to remove traces of Ms Holms blood from his flat, paid tribute to the families of both women. She said: They have sat through court and heard the most difficult of information about the deaths of women they deeply loved. I cannot begin to understand the pain they will experience forever. While I am relieved that he will be incarcerated in a place where he poses no threat to women, my greatest regret will always be that there wasnt sufficient evidence to charge him earlier. Cooper, of Hither Green, south-east London, will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, left, take part for the BBC's Prime Ministerial Debate, in Nottingham, England, on June 26 This weeks Trump vs Biden debate showed us two men with 159 years of human experience between them, but no wisdom or grace. One was brutal, the other decrepit. Both were dishonest. The brute gives new meaning to the phrase having the courage of his convictions (34 counts of fraud under campaign finance laws). He easily beat the dotard but, between them, the two shamed America. The Americans terrible double act made me think a bit better of our most recent equivalent Wednesdays BBC Sunak vs Starmer show from Nottingham. It was not a glittering occasion, but at least the participants behaved in a professional way. Here were able and reasonable politicians each trying to make his partys case. As one questioner bluntly pointed out, neither is an inspiring leader. Both, however, are respectable. In these trying times, that may be something to cling to. It is increasingly clear that Nigel Farage is not respectable. I have on my screen a recent email from him inviting me to Be a part of history with me at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday, where he will hold the largest rally of my political career. It shows a photograph of the great leader, right-arm raised to an admiring throng. This is back to front. What sort of political leader tries to rope in voters as extras for the biopic of his imagined walk with destiny? Why should we be part of the rabble Mr Farage wishes to rouse? Earlier this week, I was waiting to meet someone at the barrier of a London Tube station. A ticket collector recognised me as your columnist. He wanted to discuss the election. He was usually a Conservative voter, he said, This time, though, I was going for Nigel. But that was last week. Then he said that stuff supporting Putin. Thats it, as far as Im concerned. I feel he is right. Mr Farages repeated defeatism in the face of Putin is sinister. Reforms attempt to Trumpify our election should be resisted. The problem for the many floating voters, however, is that a leaders respectability, though highly desirable, is not sufficient. The floaters in this election are undecided because of the gap between the serious state of Britain and the world in relation to war, money, culture, demography and the environment on the one hand and the feebleness of the main parties proposed remedies on the other. It is genuinely hard to choose. Change is the one-word slogan of the Labour Party. It captures what is so widely desired. But there is a reason why Labour confines itself to that word alone. It does not want to say, quite possibly does not know, what that change would be. This column likes to advance the theory that, in British general elections, as opposed to by-elections, the overall result is always right. That is to say, the winner deserved to win or, at the very least, the loser deserved to lose. Under this theory, the verdict is right both when the result is close which reflects both sides failure to persuade and when it is a large overall majority. The key landslide elections of modern history which brought about a dramatic change of government are 1945 (to Labour), 1979 (to Tory) and 1997 (to Labour). The election of 2019, though not a change of government, was also of front-rank importance because it was fought to get Brexit done. In all these cases, the winner sought, deserved and received a mandate for stated aims. One can take this view regardless of ones own politics. Each leader Attlee, Thatcher, Blair, Johnson had explained themselves well. This time, polls suggest a massive Labour majority, but it is not at all clear what it would be a mandate for. In the debate in Nottingham, it was Sir Keir Starmer, the challenger, who behaved like the establishment candidate, disclosing little. It was Rishi Sunak, the sitting Prime Minister, who made himself the challenger. Sir Keir invoked the wisdom he thinks he acquired as what he calls chief prosecutor. His title was Director of Public Prosecutions, but his chosen version of the jobs name well expresses his rather censorious character. He had learnt, he said, how to deal with terrorists, people smugglers, gangs and obscurely nine planes in the Atlantic ... with bombs. He would take no lessons in tough crisis management from that whipper-snapper in No 10. Cheeky young Sunak (too young to have voted in any 20th-century general election) showed admirable persistence in the face of this pomposity. He wanted to know what Sir Keir would actually do about illegal immigrants. To this, Sir Keir could give only, repeatedly, a classic lawyers answer: They need to be processed. On Labours tax rises, Sir Keir got so affronted that he shouted: Thats a lie, and hes been told not to repeat it, and hes just done it. As this papers former editor, how well I recognised the tone of one of those overheated lawyers playing tough on behalf of a rich client we had annoyed in print. Throughout Wednesdays debate, Mr Sunak tended to dominate as the one seeking answers, raising points his opponent preferred to evade. In terms of the drama of the occasion and the pressure he put on his opponent, he won. On the other hand, Mr Sunak could not overcome the basic objection that his lot have had 14 years to sort things out and have failed. He can hint that he himself is newer and doing everything differently and better than his Conservative predecessors. There is a degree of truth in this. But he cannot spell that out without causing party mayhem. Worse, there are too many subjects, including illegal and legal immigration, which he just cannot boast about. Covid and the war in Ukraine are valid excuses for a lot of borrowing, spending and cost increases, but excuses do not win elections. In the debate, Mr Sunak boldly drew a sharp distinction between Sir Keirs devotion to higher taxes and higher welfare and his own devotion to the opposite, yet the evidence of most of his actions does not prove his point. In these five weeks, Labour has added nothing of interest and the Tories have placed secret bets but not improved their own odds. Mr Farage has exploded upon the scene, more like a stink-bomb than a starburst. The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Galloways have all nibbled away at the main parties, without clear breakthroughs. What is the deserved result? We are pretty much where we began, which is that the Conservatives deserve to lose but that Labour has nothing better to offer, except for fresh faces. It therefore does not deserve anything like the landslide the polls foreshadow. As for the other parties, they deserve some benefit from the weakness of the main ones. But none remotely approaches the condition of government. A detached view suggests the just result would be a Labour minority administration, which seems unlikely. This columns law might not survive the fragmentation caused when votes split too many ways. These are strange times, when the only moderate on the rise in the world seems to be a presidential candidate in Iran. Wait a minute!, someone may object, Surely Sir Keir is a moderate? Possibly he is, but the truthful answer is that we just dont know. President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, participate in a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Gerald Herbert/Associated Press Biden bombs debate Regarding Bidens nightmarish debate loss to Trump signals crisis for Democrats and for America. | Editorial, (June 28): If it hasnt been obvious to American voters the past year, it was crystal clear Thursday night that Joe Biden is unfit to hold office and certainly to run for a second term. He could not string two sentences together. It was an embarrassment to our great country. To the counter charge that Donald Trump was as bad with lies, I ask what lies? Lies that our country almost went into recession? That Bidens border policy has allowed scores of undocumented migrants into our country? Lies about the failed foreign policies that resulted in wars in Ukraine, Israel and the disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan? Biden cannot be reelected. That would be a worse disaster than last nights debate. Julia Purtill, Richmond Advertisement Article continues below this ad Biden lost the debate based on appearance. Trump lost based on lack of integrity and truthfulness. Now the U.S. citizen voting public has to decide which is most important to make America truly great again! John Martinez, Houston After watching the debate with Trump and Bidens dismal performance, I am reminded of the late President Lyndon Johnson who told the American people in 1968: I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president. With Trumps shortcomings and imperfections for reelection, it is as Admiral David Farragut said: "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead." Bill Pond, Humble Advertisement Article continues below this ad Regarding Clashes between mayors and controllers are nothing new. In one case, the conflict got ugly. | Opinion, (June 26): Former City Hall reporter Mike Snyder's history lesson on the relationship between mayors and controllers was an incisive one for many. For others, like me, it was a sad reminder that too few news organizations today have full-time reporters assigned to daily coverage of City Hall. It appears as if the reduced commitment to hard news coverage has not only left the public less informed, it has allowed city leaders and others to operate in relative darkness. Yes, we sure do miss Snyder, and others like him, including those who gave them the space and freedom to do their jobs. Daily. Former director of communications for the city of Houston and press secretary for then-Mayor Kathy Whitmire Paul Mabry, Houston Advertisement Article continues below this ad Education or brainwashing? Regarding Religion belongs in public schools. Indoctrination doesnt. | Editorial, (June 25): Some children are more vulnerable to religious brainwashing than others. During 1973 freshman theology class at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Father Billac held up a Bible and said, Now gentlemen, you cant take this book literally. My head did a 180. Since kindergarten, the nuns at Holy Ghost Elementary had pounded into my brain, "I love Jesus, Jesus loves me," all while encouraging us all to scoot over in our seats so our guardian angels could sit next to us. But now a priest had given me permission to question the existence of God, any god. Long story short I've been a confirmed agnostic for 40-plus years. I didn't lose my faith; self-questioning led me to understand that I never had any faith. I had just been following instructions and going through the motions. Not all of my classmates from that day had the same experience. Fifty-one years later, some of them are firm believers. That's why religious organizations continue to use indoctrination techniques on children. Sometimes it works. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Larry E. Vecera, Houston People before pooches Regarding New animal shelter could be part of possible $450M May bond in Montgomery County, (June 18): The bond plans include $65 million to build a new animal shelter. My initial reaction was that this had to be a misprint. It turns out it seems it's pretty much a done deal. What are we getting for $65 million? A five-star hotel for dogs and cats? Granted unhoused animals must be taken off the street, but is it necessary to house them in luxury? There are many unhoused humans who could use the help $65 million would provide. I will vote no on this bond issue and hope my fellow citizens do the same. Priority has to be people. People before pooches. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yoga The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has offered staff menopause yoga and lived experience workshops to boost wellbeing as mental health has become the leading cause of absence in the military. In an email from Gen Sir Jim Hockenhull, commander of Strategic Demand, which leads the UKs defence strategy, staff were informed about the MoDs Op[eration] Inclusion strategy for 2024, designed to embed inclusive behaviours. Recipients were told that their inclusion reps will be sharing details of how the sessions will run in your local areas. In the email, seen by The Telegraph, Gen Hockenhull shared feedback from last years inclusion programme, saying 70 per cent felt you had a better understanding of how you can create a psychologically safe environment for yourselves and others following the sessions you attended. Two documents were shared with recipients titled: Diversity and inclusion 2022-25 one-year report and Wellbeing 2023-27 one-year-on report. The latter showed in February the MoD promoted mental-health first aiders and offered a workshop by Headspace, a company behind a leading mindfulness app. Other events throughout the year included nine workshops for stress awareness month, an annual mental fitness brief (mandatory training for all), menopause yoga and nine mental health workshops including lived experiences and workshops from external organisations. Gen Sir Jim Hockenhull has been sharing feedback from last year's inclusion programme - www.gov.uk Despite numerous wellbeing activities, in 2023 the MoD found that anxiety, depression and stress was the main cause of sick leave within Strategic Command, representing close to a third of all cases. This was followed by coughs, colds, flu and asthma (11.8 per cent) and muscle and bone disorders (9.8 per cent). Strategic Command added that the cost of anxiety, depression and stress-related illnesses has increased to more than 3 million at the end of December, up from 729,535 compared with the same time last year. Referencing a 2023 staff survey, it appeared concerned that only 40 per cent of staff discussed their personal wellbeing or work-related stress with their line manager weekly or monthly, which is 19 per cent down on the Civil Service benchmark. It is also alarming to see that a staggering 44 per cent of staff never discussed their wellbeing with their line manager or only did it annually. The MoDs diversity report showed that Strategic Command are exceeding in the number of women employed against working population but lagged behind on ethnic minority representation and especially disability representation. The report said that numerous whole force events had been developed and promoted over the year, including a LGBTQ+ pride event. These have been delivered as a collective effort from D&I champions, TLB comms team, the TLB learning leadership and talent team, and TLB employee experience team. All events have had a great attendance and received positive feedback, it said. It added: We will focus on initiatives to increase our diversity across the Command removing bias in the process. Earlier this year, Grant Shapps, Defence Secretary, ordered a review into diversity and inclusion policies at the MoD to ensure that Britains ability to defend its borders was not impaired by political correctness. The MoD declined to comment. e coli The family of an 11-year-old girl who was infected with E. coli after eating a chicken salad sandwich is suing Asda. The girl has been on dialysis for three weeks and is at risk of permanent kidney damage, according to her lawyers, who are also representing a separate man suing Tesco after being taken to hospital during the outbreak. The 11-year-old from the North West developed a serious complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), where blood clots form and cause damage to kidneys and other organs. Lawyers from legal firm Fieldfisher said it had issued letters of its intention to take legal action against both Tesco and Asda for breach of the Consumer Protection Act over the own-brand sandwiches that had made customers seriously ill. It comes a day after the first person was confirmed to have died in the E. coli outbreak on Thursday. Health officials said two people had died within a month of being infected with a strain of E. coli called Stec O145, although the second is not believed to be linked to the outbreak. Investigators at the UK Health Security Agency believe the outbreak, which has affected at least 275 people so far, is linked to the salad leaves used in sandwiches. Part of an online delivery The girl, aged 11, developed the serious condition haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which attacks the kidneys and has been on dialysis for three weeks, Fieldfisher said. She was discharged home two days ago but could be at risk of permanent kidney damage. Her mother bought three of the sandwiches as part of an online delivery. Harvinder Kaur, legal director at the law firm, said she had issued a separate letter to Tesco on behalf of a man from the South East who was also taken to hospital with E. coli symptoms after eating Tesco-branded sandwiches containing salad. Luckily, this client did not go on to develop HUS and is now home, but for a time he was seriously ill, she said. Under the Act, companies producing food must ensure it is safe to eat. If it causes illness, it is a breach of their duty and those injured are eligible to claim compensation, not least to fund possible ongoing medical care. My client was a regular shopper at Tesco, buying his lunch there most days since it was very close to his work. Several food manufacturers have recalled dozens of sandwiches, wraps and salads sold in major supermarkets and retail chains because of the spread of E. coli. At least 122 people have been admitted to hospital for treatment since the start of the outbreak. Darren Whitby, head of incidents at the Food Security Agency, said it believed a type of lettuce used in sandwich products was the likely cause of the outbreak. He added: Although we are confident in the likely source of the outbreak being linked to lettuce, work continues to confirm this and identify the root cause of the outbreak with the growers, suppliers and manufacturers so that actions can be taken to prevent a re-occurrence. E. coli is a diverse group of bacteria that are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals. However, some strains produce toxins that can make people very ill, such as shiga toxin-producing E. coli (Stec), which is the strain involved in this outbreak. People infected with Stec can suffer diarrhoea, with or without blood, stomach cramps and fever. Symptoms can last up to two weeks in uncomplicated cases, but some patients, mainly children, are at risk of developing HUS, which can lead to kidney failure. A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms to watch for Stec is often transmitted by eating contaminated food but can also be spread by close contact with an infected person, as well as direct contact with an infected animal or where it lives. People are advised to call NHS 111 or contact their GP surgery if they are worried about a baby under 12 months, a child stops breast or bottle feeding while they are ill, a child under five has signs of dehydration such as fewer wet nappies, and if older children or adults still have signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets. Help should also be sought if people are being sick and cannot keep fluid down, there is bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom, diarrhoea lasts more than seven days, or vomiting for more than two days. An Asda spokesman said: We have not yet received any letter from Fieldfisher regarding these claims. As soon as we do, we will review the details of the claim as a matter of urgency. Tesco has been contacted for comment. Presenter Fiona Bruce and Nigel Farage during the debate which some have suggested was biased - REUTERS The BBC has been accused of having a hostile Left-leaning audience for Nigel Farage in its Question Time leaders special. The Reform UK leader appeared in the 30-minute programme on Friday night and faced questions on immigration, racism and the NHS. Mr Farage did not receive a single round of applause from the studio audience during the entire broadcast. Lee Harris, a political commentator, said Mr Farage had come out fighting despite the audiences apparent opposition to him. The BBC clearly have a very hostile Left-wing audience and Nigel Farage has come out fighting, he said. Patrick OFlynn, the columnist and former UKIP MEP, said: I think Im right in saying not a single person in that BBC audience applauded anything Nigel Farage said. Patrick Christys, the GB News presenter, said the audience did not represent wider society. This BBC audience is one of the most ridiculous things Ive ever seen, he said. Its simply not representative of the views of wider society. The programme started with a series of questions about a Reform canvasser who was filmed using a racial slur to describe the Prime Minister. Mr Farage has claimed the undercover reporting was a set-up and that the activist was a paid actor. The Reform leader was then mocked by an audience member after claiming that the partys vetting issues were because it was a start-up party. Some of my friends have start-up companies, but none of them employ a whole slew of massive racists like you, the man said. The next question came from a woman in the studio who asked: I just want to know when are you actually going to take responsibility for your actions and say sorry and stop making excuses? Another woman then confronted Mr Farage with a question about his use of the Cameo website, where he is paid to record personalised videos. She asked: I was just wondering, the cheapest ones you do are 70. If I paid you 70 now, would you admit that this country would be nothing without a rich history of immigration? After that, Mr Farage was asked if his migration plans meant non-UK nationals are not welcome anymore, before a woman who gave her name as Dee Williams dismissed his policy of turning back small boats to France as the D-Day landings in reverse. The next question saw Mr Farage asked: A lot of the language you use about political smear campaigns and the biggest rallies is quite reminiscent to me of Trump in America. Would you say that youre like-minded characters? The penultimate voter to pose a question to Mr Farage said he had voted for Brexit but was unhappy about its outcome. Nigel Farage was grilled over his views on racism by the studio audience - REUTERS He asked: You claimed that Brexit would help Britain prosper? Why hasnt it? Finally, Mr Farage was quizzed by an NHS doctor about supply chain issues in the NHS causing medicine shortages. She asked: As someone that we have to thank for Brexit, what would you propose that we should do about this? Gerry Gay, the editor of BBCs Question Time said they had applied the same guidelines to audience selection as they had in last weeks debate involving the leaders of the Conservatives, Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrats. He said that other parties will also have plenty of representation in our audience too and that there will be a number of people, with a range of political sentiments. Some remained hopeful that Biden could recover from his widely panned showing against Trump on the debate stage in Atlanta. Photograph: Will Lanzoni/CNN photos/EPA Panicking Democrats were speculating about whether Joe Biden should be replaced as their partys nominee for US president following a disastrous debate performance that turned whispers about his age and fitness into a roar. Bidens shaky, raspy-voiced showing against Donald Trump at the first presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday was widely panned as a disaster that, instead of assuaging fears about his mental acuity, amplified them on the biggest political stage. Even before the torturous 90 minutes were over, senior Democratic figures and donors were calling or texting in despair and exploring the potential to draft a late alternative to Biden at Augusts Democratic national convention, although elected officials remained publicly loyal to the president. Every Democrat I know is texting that this is bad, Ravi Gupta, a former Barack Obama campaign aide, wrote on X. Just say it publicly and begin the hard work of creating space in the convention for a selection process. Ill vote for a corpse over Trump, but this is a suicide mission. Related: Defiant Biden resists call to drop out as campaign surrogates maintain support On Friday, Biden appeared at a campaign rally in North Carolina, where he gave an entirely more spirited performance, landing his lines with much greater force than the previous night and attacking his opponent with vigour. Did you see Trump last night? Its sincerely a new record for the most lies told in a single debate, Biden told an enthusiastic crowd that spontaneously broke into chants of Four more years. He challenged Trump on his lies about the economy, the pandemic, and the January 6 insurrection, called Trump a one-man crime wave and added: The thing that bothers me most about him is that he has no respect for women or the law. Biden also reiterated his standard campaign promises to restore the right to abortion and to defend Medicare and social security, and added, in a pointed nod to his debate showing that had the crowd roaring its appreciation: When you get knocked down you get back up. But observers were left wondering where Fridays energetic Biden was the night before, after the president had spent nearly a week at the Camp David presidential retreat preparing for the debate. He even sold cans of water labeled Dark Brandons Secret Sauce on his campaign website, mocking suggestions from Trump and his advisers that he would use drugs to enhance his performance. The debates early date and rules no studio audience and muted microphones to prevent interruptions had been requested by the Biden campaign, eager to bring voters attention to the discussion and the threat posed by Trump. They wanted the president to demonstrate strength and energy. But the plan backfired spectacularly in Bidens performance, which was punctuated by repeated stumbles over words, uncomfortable pauses and a quiet speaking style that was often difficult to understand. The president lost his train of thought at times, especially early on, and Trump was quick to capitalise: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either. The former president projected confidence, even when he was blatantly wrong on the facts, and seemed younger and sharper than Biden. David Plouffe, a former campaign manager for Obama, told MSNBC: Theyre three years apart. They seemed about 30 years apart tonight. He described Bidens performance as a Defcon 1 moment. Biden rallied somewhat later in the debate, launching some deeply personal attacks on his opponent, but it was too late to change his first impression. His campaign aides blamed his hoarse voice on a cold, but his split screen reactions to Trump open mouth, eyes cast down underlined his status as the oldest president in history. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate Bidens surrogates were slow to enter the post-debate spin room in Atlanta and, when they finally emerged, they largely avoided questions from the press. Instead they railed against Trumps long list of falsehoods during the debate, which were not flagged by CNNs fact checkers. At a Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta, Biden was asked whether he had any concerns about his performance. He replied: No. Its hard to debate a liar. But Democratic strategists and rank-and-file voters alike were publicly and privately questioning whether the party might yet swap him out for a younger standard bearer against Trump in Novembers election. Claire McCaskill, a former Democratic senator, told MSNBC that her phone was blowing up with senators, operatives and donors in deep alarm. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didnt do it, she said. He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age, and he failed at that tonight. McCaskill added: Im not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. Theres a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden. I dont know if things can be done to fix this. Two influential New York Times columnists, Tom Friedman and Nick Kristof, expressed dismay at the showing and called on the president to bow out of the race. Under current Democratic party rules it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace Biden as the partys nominee without his cooperation or without party officials being willing to rewrite its rules at the convention in Chicago. The president won the overwhelming majority of Democratic delegates during the state-by-state primary process. Party rules state: Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. However, if polling suggests that Biden might hurt congressional candidates in down ballot races, donor money could dry up and pressure could mount on him to gracefully step aside. That might involve a delegation of party elders convening a meeting with the president and pleading with him to pass the torch. Such a move would trigger a frenzied, potentially divisive contest for the nomination with possible contenders including vice-president Kamala Harris, California governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland governor Wes Moore, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and even former first lady Michelle Obama. Steve Schmidt, a political strategist who worked on the election campaigns of Republicans George W Bush and John McCain, wrote on his Substack: Joe Biden lost his presidency last night, but because it happened in June, it does not mean that Trump will win It is time for Joe Biden to begin the preparations necessary to put the country first. They will require him to say the following: I will not accept my partys nomination for a second term. Others, however, took the view that there is still time to recover after what was the earliest-ever presidential debate. Many voters have not yet tuned into an election that is still more than four months away. The Biden campaign announced that it has raised $14m on Thursday night and Friday morning money that can be spent on advertising and swing state infrastructure. Trump remains a hugely polarising figure with historic vulnerabilities, including his conviction last month in New York in a case involving hush money payments to the adult film performer Stormy Daniels, his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his chaotic term in office. Biden described him as a whiner and child who cheated on his wife with a porn star and had the morals of an alley cat. There is precedent for recovering from rough debate performances, including Obamas rebound from a poor showing against Mitt Romney in 2012. John Fetterman, Democratic senator of Pennsylvania, went on to defeat a Republican rival in 2022 after struggling through a debate several months after experiencing a stroke. Fetterman tweeted on Friday: I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. Newsom, who was Bidens most prominent surrogate in the Atlanta spin room, urged Democrats not to melt down. He said: I think its unhelpful. And I think its unnecessary. Weve got to go in, weve got to keep our heads high. Weve got to have the back of this president. You dont turn back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? Joe Biden and Donald Trump at CNNs Atlanta studio, on Thursday. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters Donald Trump and Joe Biden sparred over abortion and tax policy in the first presidential debate in which the president struggled to land his lines and the former president repeatedly made false claims about January 6, the national debt, and that he presided over the greatest economy in the history of our country. Biden described Trump as the worst president in American history, citing a consensus of historians. Trump responded by extolling the historic virtues of his tax cuts. Nobody has ever cut taxes like us. We cut taxes four times, Trump said. Trump regularly answered straightforward questions about the economy, or abortion, or the opioid crisis with non sequiturs about immigration or China. He also repeatedly spewed false claims about abortion, the environment, and the border. CNN moderators failed to factcheck Trump. Bidens voice at times sounded raspy the campaign said he has a cold and he frequently struggled to complete his thoughts. During one notable moment early in the debate, Biden was laying into Trump over his tax policies and stumbled as he was running out of time to speak, before blurting out: We finally beat Medicare. After the debate, commentators focused on Democrats panic about Bidens performance, with several suggesting the party needs to consider nominating a different candidate at the convention in August. The biggest thing in this election is voters concerns and its both swing voters and base voters with his age, and those were compounded tonight, Democratic strategist David Plouffe said on MSNBC. Early in the debate, CNN moderator Dana Bash asked Trump about his position on abortion in a post-Roe v Wade environment. What I did was, I put three supreme court justices on the court and they killed Roe, Trump said. Right now, the states control it, and thats the will of the people, he added, noting that he favors exceptions to a ban. Biden defended Roe and legal abortion, and Trump responded by drawing the debate into a discussion of illegal immigration. Related: Bidens poor performance and Trumps lies: four key takeaways from debate Trumps comments about abortion rested on a lie popular with religious conservatives: that Democrats favor policy that allows for abortion up until birth. He also falsely claimed that ending Roe v Wade protections was something everyone wanted, despite consistent polling that shows the public desires at least some access to abortion under the law. And yet, Trump called Biden a liar presenting disinformation. Trump argued that millions of people are coming across the border and receiving social security benefits a claim without evidence. Trump also argued that the opioid problem could be traced to fentanyl manufacturing in China, smuggled into the US across the southern border. Biden noted that he has a proposal to increase technology and staffing at the border that was rejected by Republicans in Congress at Trumps behest. The two candidates sharply differed in their memory and view of the war in Ukraine. Biden labeled Vladimir Putin a war criminal who would extend the war in Ukraine to neighboring Nato states like Poland. Trump, however, called Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy the worlds greatest salesman. Trump denied responsibility for the January 6 insurrection, instead arguing that then House speaker Nancy Pelosi bears responsibility for turning down national guard troops one of several questionable claims. Related: Factchecked: Trump and Bidens presidential debate claims Biden met that claim with exasperation on his face, a constant in the debate. Trump turned a question about his search for revenge into a diatribe about the presidents son, Hunter Biden. The debate in Atlanta holds special significance to Black voters, both in the city where they are an important voting bloc in a swing state, and elsewhere. Biden said he doesnt blame Black Americans for being disappointed in the progress that has been made under his administration, but noted the historic gains made in employment, loan forgiveness and other measures that have come during the last four years. Trumps response was to remind voters that Biden described Black criminals as superpredators early in his political career. Asked about social security, Biden argued that a tax on millionaires would keep the system solvent without hurting anyone making less than $400,000 a year. The idea that we dont need to protect seniors is ridiculous, Biden said, touting the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Biden replied by describing Trumps affair with adult film actor Stormy Daniels while his wife Melania was pregnant, calling Trump a man with the morals of an alley cat. Trump denied sleeping with Daniels. Boris Johnson is urging people not to turn to Reform - Reuters/Lee Smith Boris Johnson has urged fed up Tories not to risk handing Sir Keir Starmer the keys to No 10 despite the fact they cannot stand his policies. The former prime minister said many voters viewed the Labour leader with the same enthusiasm as you might look at a dish of limp lettuce. He added there was still time between now and Thursday for the nation to swerve from the cliff edge if voters collectively come to [their] senses. Mr Johnson acknowledged that there was widespread apathy towards the Conservatives but urged people not to turn to Reform in response. Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, he warned that Britain was on the brink of a Left-wing socialist supremacy that lasts for a decade or more. Starmers own approval ratings are shockingly low the lowest ever for an Opposition leader on the verge of entering Downing Street, let alone of a triumph on the scale currently predicted, the former prime minister said. The people view him with apathy, with resignation, as you might look at a dish of limp lettuce. You have to ask yourself why. Why, after 14 years of Tory government, and all the vicissitudes we have been through, is there so little active enthusiasm for Starmer? The answer is simple. People dont really want him, or his agenda or certainly not in the way they actively wanted Tony Blair. In a sign of thawing relations with Rishi Sunak he also praised the Prime Ministers performance in this weeks BBC debate against Sir Keir. He said that Mr Sunak had showed what he can do and on any fair reading he won by picking apart Sir Keirs policies on illegal migration. Mr Johnson said the Labour leader had no plan to stop the boats and would junk the Rwanda scheme just as it is starting to work as a deterrent. He also warned that Sir Keir wants to take Britain back into the EUs Single Market like a whipped cur, even if it means free movement. But the former prime minister said the biggest single reason why people are rightly viewing Starmer with such hesitation was because of the economy. Do the British people want to be hit with yet higher taxes now after they have already paid so much? Do they really need to? he asked. No, they certainly do not and yet that is what Starmerism means. The Labour Party is now so confident of victory that they no longer even bother to conceal their agenda to clobber your property and your pension and much besides. Left-wing and dangerous Mr Johnson warned disaffected Tory voters that the more you dig into Starmerism, the more Left-wing and dangerous it turns out to be. He added: That is why Starmer is so oddly unloved, for a man on the verge of triumph. It is not just that Starmer lacks Blairs charisma he lacks the broad appeal of Blairs policies. Lets face it, the only reason Starmer is (allegedly) about to get such a landslide is that so many Tory voters are fed up, and preparing to stay at home or vote for other parties like Reform even if they turn out to be Putins pet parrots. It would be a huge mistake. It is by no means too late to tilt the steering wheel in the direction of common sense, avert Starmergeddon, and prevent this country from going in completely the wrong direction. A YouGov poll earlier this month showed that Sir Keir has a net minus 12 favourability rating, with 39 per cent of voters viewing him positively and 51 per cent negatively. Mr Sunak is far more unpopular with the electorate, however, on minus 51, with just 21 per cent seeing him favourably and 72 per cent viewing him unfavourably. A pro-independence supporter waves a flag on the side of a road ahead of French parliamentary elections in Noumea, New Caledonia. Photograph: Delphine Mayeur/AFP/Getty Images The unusually long queues to register a proxy vote in New Caledonia suggests turnout will be significantly higher than normal for this weekends French election, weeks after months of turmoil that at one point saw deadly riots and the closure of the territorys international airport. Among residents of the French Pacific territory, which lies 16,500km from Paris, politics has been a popular topic this week. We need calm. The stakes of these elections are important, says Audrey, a pro-independence activist in her thirties from the residential neighbourhood of Tina in the capital, Noumea. Bastien, from the wealthy Riviere Salee area, who is in his forties and opposes independence, is also keen to vote. Its important to say that we want to remain French and this election is a way to show it, he says. Related: Macrons handling of New Caledonia is not working, we need a new way | Jimmy Naouna But the business owner is critical of the elected officials he has previously supported, questioning their strategy and failure to engage properly with those on the other side of the political divide. Tensions remain high in the Pacific archipelago weeks after riots broke out over proposed voting laws, with street barricades still in place in many areas. A police station and a town hall were set on fire earlier this week after seven independence activists linked to a group accused of orchestrating last months riots were arrested and flown to France. Proxy voting has become popular because residents worry they might not be able to get past roadblocks on voting day. The riots began after lawmakers in Paris approved a constitutional amendment to allow recent arrivals to the territory to vote in provincial elections, a decision since put on ice by President Emmanuel Macron that the indigenous Kanak population feared would further dilute their own influence. Kanaks make up about 40% of New Caledonias population. Hundreds of French police were flown in to restore order in the territory, and the security presence remains high. About 3,500 law enforcement officers are on the ground, up from the usual 500, and polling in this election has been consolidated into just a few locations. Turnout in the territory is usually low just 32% of the 220,000 registered voters in the first round of parliamentary elections in 2022 and 36% in 2017. This is particularly evident among pro-independence voters, because of changes to electoral boundaries made in 1986 that minimised the Kanak vote in both of the territorys constituencies and put them off voting. Since then, no pro-independence candidate has managed to get elected to the National Assembly. But this election takes place at a time when both sides of the electorate are unhappy with the status quo. Pro-France voters are resentful towards Macron, feeling both that he bears some responsibility for the crisis that has unfolded and that they have been abandoned by Paris in their hour of need. For those who support independence, Macrons handling of New Caledonia and the voting reform are unquestionably to blame for the turmoil that has led to the destruction of large parts of the local economy by a youth that felt marginalised and let down by his policies. For most people, there is a rejection of political parties, of elected officials. This crisis should call them into question, Hyppolite Sinewami, president of the Inaat Ne Kanaky association of traditional Kanak chiefs, told reporters on Wednesday. We need to rejuvenate political representatives on all sides, both loyalist and independence supporters, and they should think above all about the country. This rejection is reflected in the 18 candidates running in the two constituencies. The FLNKS pro-independence alliance failed to agree on a joint list and the main independence party, the Union Caledonienne (UC), is putting forward its own candidates, including Emmanuel Tjibaou, the son of a FLNKS leader who was assassinated in 1989. The hardline CCAT, which organised the recent protests, only instructed its supporters to block the right wing, without directly endorsing the UC candidates. Notably, neither of the two outgoing deputies the radical Nicolas Metzdorf, who acted as a rapporteur on the planned electoral reforms, and the more moderate Philippe Dunoyer, who were allied with Macrons coalition have sought his centrist partys endorsement this time round. There are no opinion polls in New Caledonia and so there are no clear-cut frontrunners. But it appears the elections will be unusually hard-fought. We talk a lot about the elections at home, says Audrey. We are afraid of seeing Nicolas Metzdorf and [former MEP and anti-independence candidate] Maurice Ponga, who represent extremes to us. The campaigners advocating for reform of the suicide laws in the Caribbean want to reduce barriers for people seeking help and ultimately to save lives. Photograph: Ranta Images/Alamy Pressure to decriminalise suicide in four Caribbean nations is mounting as a new coalition has come together for the first time to fight for the repeal of colonial-era laws. A group of people with experience of poor mental health, government officials, activists, legal experts and healthcare workers, led by organisations in the Caribbean, will advocate for legislative reform. They want to reduce barriers for people seeking help and ensure that mental health services can operate without fear of legal repercussions and ultimately save lives. Suicide is illegal in St Lucia, Grenada, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago, and attempted suicide is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine. The laws were introduced by the British during colonial rule. Suicide was decriminalised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the 1960s it has never been a crime under Scottish law. The human toll of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is huge and rising. These illnesses end the lives of approximately 41 million of the 56 million people who die every year and three quarters of them are in the developing world. NCDs are simply that; unlike, say, a virus, you cant catch them. Instead, they are caused by a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The main types are cancers, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes and cardiovascular disease heart attacks and stroke. Approximately 80% are preventable, and all are on the rise, spreading inexorably around the world as ageing populations and lifestyles pushed by economic growth and urbanisation make being unhealthy a global phenomenon. NCDs, once seen as illnesses of the wealthy, now have a grip on the poor. Disease, disability and death are perfectly designed to create and widen inequality and being poor makes it less likely you will be diagnosed accurately or treated. Investment in tackling these common and chronic conditions that kill 71% of us is incredibly low, while the cost to families, economies and communities is staggeringly high. In low-income countries NCDs typically slow and debilitating illnesses are seeing a fraction of the money needed being invested or donated. Attention remains focused on the threats from communicable diseases, yet cancer death rates have long sped past the death toll from malaria, TB and HIV/Aids combined. 'A common condition' is a Guardian series reporting on NCDs in the developing world: their prevalence, the solutions, the causes and consequences, telling the stories of people living with these illnesses. Tracy McVeigh, editor Although the laws are rarely enforced in the Caribbean and many people dont know they exist, there have been reports of arrests. The laws continue to be used to threaten people, according to coalition member Desarie Nicholas, a social worker and the founder of Caricope Wellness Alliance, an organisation that offers mental health support to Caribbean people. I had a client who was getting out of psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt and she was told, You have to keep checking in with us every month because if you dont, you know we can send you to jail, said Nicholas. How does that help them feel nurtured and safe and willing to really be honest about how they feel? This law informs everything we do and the way we think about things. Related: Its a huge sign of progress: the battle to decriminalise suicide Around the world, there are 25 countries where attempted suicide remains a crime and 27 where the status of legal frameworks remains unclear, according to Decriminalise Suicide Worldwide, a global campaign by Lifeline International. The move to repeal laws in the Caribbean comes at a time when several countries, including Guyana, Pakistan, Ghana and Malaysia, have got rid of similar colonial-era laws criminalising suicide. It follows the Bridgetown Declaration, adopted at the Small Island Developing States ministerial conference on non-communicable diseases and mental health last year, where members committed to decriminalise suicide. Dr Timothy Morgan, director of the mental health unit at the Ministry of Health in Guyana, where in 2022 the suicide prevention bill repealed the law that made suicide a criminal offence and replaced it with a national suicide prevention plan, said: Even though it is uncommon for those attempting suicide to be charged or imprisoned in Guyana, the previous law only added another layer of legal complexity to those experiencing emotional distress from contemplating suicide and needing mental healthcare. More than 700,000 people globally die by suicide every year, about three-quarters (77%) in low- and middle-income countries. It is the fourth leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds. Reducing the global suicide mortality rate by a third by 2030 is a target of the UN sustainable development goals and the World Health Organization, which says laws that make suicide and suicide attempts illegal remain an impediment to meeting this goal. The WHO has released a guide on decriminalising suicide for policymakers, with explanations of how countries have managed it. The Nunavut and Canadian flags. Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters A Canadian woman who fraudulently claimed her daughters were Inuit has been sentenced to three years in jail, in what is believed to be the first ever custodial sentence for a Pretendian. Karima Manji, whose daughters accessed more than C$150,000 in benefits intended for Inuit, was sentenced on Thursday, after pleading guilty to fraud in February. Nunavut justice Mia Manocchio said the case must serve as a signal to any future Indigenous pretender that the false appropriation of Indigenous identity in a criminal context will draw a significant penalty. In recent years, Canada has grappled with a wave of cases in which people falsely claim Indigenous identity. Many of those instances feature vague and questionable affirmations of First Nations or Metis ancestry. Instances of Inuit fraud and ones in which people successfully obtained official identity cards are rarer. Related: One hell of a storm is coming: Canadian graphic novel about Indigenous identity sparks outrage According to an agreed statement of facts, Toronto resident Karima Manji submitted paperwork for her daughters Amira and Nadya in 2016 to obtain Inuit identity. Canadas Inuit population of around 70, 000 people, mostly lives in Inuit Nunangat, the vast northern homeland that spans more than 3m sq km. Manji, 59, lived briefly in Iqaluit, the territorial capital, in the 1990s. But her daughters Nadya and Amira were born in Ontario and have no connection to Inuit or to the lands of Nunavut. To deceive those reviewing the application, Manji claimed that she had adopted the pair, who she said had been born to an Iqaluit woman named Kitty Noah. Despite going through a vetting review by community members intended to prevent fraudulent enrolment, Manjis application was approved by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, NTI, which oversees the process. Amira and Nadya, 18 years old at the time, quickly used their newly acquired Inuit identity to access money from the Kakivak Association, described in court documents as an organization serving Inuit by providing sponsorship funding to Baffin Inuit for education-related expenses. Between September 2020 to March 2023 Nadya and Amira received C$158,254.05 in benefits from Nunavut organizations, according to the agreed statement of facts. A further C$64,413 was on hold for Amira Gill in the spring of 2023, but was not paid out. According to a recent feature in Toronto Life, Nadya and Amira were vocal about their Inuit identity while at university. The pair started an online business, Kanata Trade Company, purportedly run by twin Inuit sisters. Their mother, Karima, was the CEO and the business, which sold items designed by Indigenous craftspeople, was certified by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. But questions swirled over the sisters past and their non-existent ancestral ties to Nunavut. On 30 March, NTI put out a public statement that it was aware of possible fraudulent enrolment of Amira and Nadya Gill and that Kitty Noah, who Manji had claimed was the birth mother, had initiated the process to have Amira and Nadya removed from the Inuit enrolment list. NTI, which ensures the terms of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement is fully implemented, said the case of the Gill sisters was the first of its kind. The organization defended the robust enrollment process in which community members review applications and make each decision carefully, after reviewing relevant supporting evidence of eligibility. In September 2023, Iqaluit RCMP charged Manji and her daughters with fraud over $5,000. In February, the crown dropped charges against the twins after Manji pleaded guilty. In sentencing on Thursday, Manocchio rejected Crowns recommendation for a suspended sentence, telling the court only a penitentiary term would fit the scope of the fraud. Ms Manji has victimized her own children ... her own daughters who have been severely compromised by her crimes, Manocchio said. Manji has returned C$130,000 and still owes C$28,254 to the Kakivak Association. NTI is not the true or ultimate victim the true victim of Ms. Manjis crime are the Inuit of Nunavut, Manocchio said during sentencing. I just feel better, knowing that its a message sent to anyone thats trying to defraud Indigenous, Inuit, First Nations, Noah Noah, Kittys son, told CBC News following the sentencing, adding he was very pleased with the outcome. Its a good day. Manji, had previously been convicted of fraud while working for a charity, but had never served a prison sentence before something that Manocchio said played a role in the sentencing, adding that the sentence should serve as a signal to others who pretend to be Indigenous for financial gain. Fraudsters pay attention to what happens to other fraudsters. A soldier of the Ukrainian Army wait for orders to shoot a BM-21 'Grad' to Russian positions in the frontline near Pokrovsk - Anadolu/Pablo Miranzo Today, we bring you the latest news from Ukraine and we have a special report from Francis Dearnleys recent trip across Europe from D-Day commemorations to Germany with the charity Ukraine Focus. Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraphs top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated. With over 70 million listens, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began. Ukraine: The Latests regular contributors are: David Knowles David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for over three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. Dominic Nicholls Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. Francis Dearnley Francis is Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Ministers Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments. They are also regularly joined by Telegraph reporters and correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent), James Kilner, (Foreign Correspondent and Editor of the Central Asia & the South Caucasus Bulletin), Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent), Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent), Danielle Sheridan (Defence Editor), and Tony Diver (US Editor). French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, left, attends a press conference by far-right National Rally party president Jordan Bardella, Monday, June 24, 2024 in Paris. The upcoming two-round parliamentary election will take place on June 30 and July 7. Christophe Ena/AP French President Emmanuel Macron listens to Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro before a working lunch, Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the lower house of France's parliament in a surprise announcement sending voters back to the polls, after his party was handed a humbling defeat by the far-right in the European elections. Thibault Camus/AP Since the revolutions of 1776 and 1789, America and France have been called the sister republics, sharing the same ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity ideals that have since inspired and changed the world. Come July, though, France might well tie a sisterly knot with the Lone Star republic. Stirred no longer by revolutionary principles but instead by reactionary prejudices, France would be led by a party that bears an unsettling kinship to the party that currently governs our state. Over the past few weeks, a stunning series of political tremors has rocked France. In early June, the election for the European Parliament resulted in the unprecedented victory of the far-right wing Rassemblement National, or National Rally. It won more than 30% of the vote, doubling the percentage won by the flailing centrist party led by President Emmanuel Macron. While the French were still absorbing the shock, Macron jolted them again by dissolving the lower house of parliament and calling for new elections. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Polls suggest that the two rounds of voting the first takes place this weekend will repeat the results of the earlier European election. This means that Macron will be forced to nominate a radical right government, sharing power with a party that bears a closer resemblance to Texas Republicanism than French republicanism. Helmed by Marine Le Pen, the National Rally is the renamed Front National, the quasi-fascist movement co-founded a half-century ago by Le Pens father, Jean-Marie Le Pen. When the younger Le Pen inherited the National Front in 2011, she sought to sanitize the party, a process called dediabolisation. While sticking to the partys anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and anti-pluralist substance, Le Pen polished its surface. She changed the partys name to the less confrontational National Rally and chased out not only its neo-Nazi and antisemitic elements, but also her father, who kept insisting the Holocaust was nothing more than a detail of history. Her party, now on the verge of victory, shares several likenesses with the Texas GOP. There are superficial ones, like the uncanny resemblance between the National Rallys logo a blue, white and red flame and Sen. Ted Cruzs logo for his 2016 presidential campaign. (The only difference is that the former flame is still ablaze while the latter flame was doused when Cruz embraced the man who insulted his wife and slandered his father.) Consider, as well, the parallel between the National Rallys flirtation, in the wake of Brexit, with quitting the European Union known as Frexit and Texas Republicans romance with seceding from the United States, known inevitably as Texit. But while Le Pen has quietly shelved the idea, the Texas GOPs platform for 2024 contains a plank for holding a referendum on secession from our own union. But there are more serious and disturbing similarities. Take the notion of the great replacement, which claims that Western elites are deliberately replacing their own populations by orchestrating the invasion of non-white (and, of course, non-Christian) peoples from the south and east. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This theory, hatched decades ago by the reactionary French thinker Renaud Camus, has become one of Frances most successful exports, snapped up by demagogues like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. In an interview on Fox News, he warned that Democrats have launched a silent revolution by allowing in millions of migrants, who in turn will give birth to millions and millions of new voters. These unborn voters will cast their ballots, Patrick warned, for unspeakable parties, claiming that the Democratic Party is trying to take over our country without firing a shot. The National Rally translates this fever dream into the phrase migratory submersion, forecasting the imminent disappearance of an authentic French people (Francais de bonne souche). But this term is nonsensical for a country which, like America, is made of immigrants. Moreover, it makes nonsense of actual immigration numbers, with the number of recent immigrants living in France accounting for barely 10% of the population. But against the numbing fear of working class and older voters a fear stoked by right-wing media and National Rally that they are, indeed, being replaced, these numbers weigh little. This explains the National Rallys insistence on national preference, an unconstitutional measure that would deny medical care and social services to illegal immigrants, as well as deny automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants born in France. The party is also selling the idea of a double frontier which would create not just a European border against illegal immigration, but also a French border. A distinct improvement on, say, stringing barbed wire along the Rhine, this plan is also a distinct violation of the Schengen Accord, which allows the free circulation of people among member states. There are yet other fears exploited by both the National Rally and Texas Republicans. First, there are fears of the enemy within, namely those who do not conform to traditional gender, religious or cultural norms. In the European Parliament, the National Rally has repeatedly voted against resolutions condemning hate speech against LGBTQ individuals, while in our own state capitol the GOP has well, never mind. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both parties also play on fears of enemies beyond our borders, even as far as Eastern Europe. Both parties seem to believe we have identified the wrong enemy in Ukraines existential struggle against Russia. Ted Cruz repeatedly voted against the recent Ukraine aid package, perhaps because he still believes the documented falsehood that Ukraine blatantly interfered on behalf of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election or perhaps because he admires the manliness of the Russian military. At the same time, the National Rallys silence on the war has been deafening, not only because it admires Vladimir Putins brand of authoritarianism, but also because it has been deeply in hock to Russian banks for campaign-related loans. Years ago, the bumper sticker Texas is Bigger than France was all the rage in our state. Given current political trends on both sides of the Atlantic, however, France, like Texas, will become much smaller than its original ideals. Want to stay up to date on our most recent thought-provoking editorials, columns and Letters to the Editor? Our Opinion-focused 'SaysHou' newsletter delivers our weekly highlights, directly to your inbox. Sign up now. Joe Biden struggled to respond to questions and often trailed off mid-sentence during the CNN debate - Gerald Herbert/AP It was supposed to be the moment he silenced his critics and quashed concerns over his fitness to take on Donald Trump this November. The tight set-up had been carefully orchestrated by the US presidents top team, whose demands of having no live audience and microphones muted to stop Trump shouting over Mr Biden were duly met. But Thursday nights debate, potentially one of the most consequential moments of the election, was anything but a triumph for the Democrat leader. The excruciating 90 minutes were punctuated by painful stumbles and pauses as Mr Biden struggled to string sentences together under the glare of the studio lights. From the moment Mr Biden, 81, walked onto the Atlanta debate with a stiff gait and began waving to a non-existent audience, the hearts of scores of Democrat supporters sank. In the early exchanges, Mr Biden coughed, sounded hoarse and repeatedly lost his train of thought. The first questions related to the economy, and Mr Biden paused to correct himself as he confused millions and billions and percentage figures. Mr Trump, 78, turned to face him wearing the wide smirk of someone who knew their opponent was floundering. In the debates most excruciating moment for the president, he became confused while discussing healthcare and tripped over his words before taking a protracted pause. We finally beat Medicare, he began again before a moderator cut him off. Mr Biden has proposed increasing taxes on people who earn more than $400,000 to boost spending on the welfare programme for over-65s. His stumble was a gift for Trump, who accused Mr Biden on the night of seeking to destroy the security net for senior citizens. He did beat Medicare, Trump chimed in. Beat it to death. Not long after, the White House began to brief out that the raspy Mr Biden was suffering from a cold. Despite spending almost a week hunkered down with his top team at Camp David, Mr Bidens secluded country residence in Maryland, he was unable to land effective blows in even some of the most promising areas for his campaign. Ahead of the debate, Democrat strategists had highlighted abortion as a wedge issue that would tilt the election in their favour. Mr Biden struggled to explain Roe v Wade, the historic 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalised abortion nationwide. When asked if he supported restrictions on abortion, Mr Biden rambled that he supports Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters. The first time is between a woman and a doctor. He added: Second time is between a doctor and an extreme situation. A third time is between the doctor, I mean, between the women and the state. In an apparent non-sequitur, Mr Biden then mentioned a young woman who was recently murdered by an immigrant. His bumbling responses distracted from Trumps baseless allegations about doctors performing abortions and claims that some Democrats are willing to kill babies after birth. While Trump pulled facial expressions when waiting for his turn to speak, Mr Biden looked down at his notes, expressionless as he prepared for his next answer. Mr Biden delivered Trump another gift when he stumbled over his border policy proposals and trailed off by saying he would work to ban the total initiative relative to what were going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, the former president jibed. I dont think he knows what he said either. Trump made a string of false claims, suggested he would not accept the results of the election were he to lose in November and was forced to say: I did not have sex with a porn star when Mr Biden pressed him on his alleged affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. One of the most farcical moments of the debate came when the two men began bickering about golf when asked about concerns over their ages. Trump, who claims to have a handicap roughly half of that of a professional golfer, said Mr Biden had failed to answer his challenge to a round of golf and cant hit a ball 50 yards. Mr Biden fired back, telling him: Id be happy to have a driving contest. I got my handicap when I was vice president down to a six. By the way, I told you before, Im happy to play golf with you if you carry your own bag. Think you can do it? Thats the biggest lie that hes a six handicap of all, Trump answered, You are a child, Mr Biden said back, injecting a rare moment of energy into the debate. Ive seen your swing. I know your swing, he said eventually, adding: Lets not act like children. You are a child, the president hit back angrily. CNN host Dana Bash gave Mr Biden the chance to address concerns about his age, asking how he could reassure voters he would not be too old for office to serve another term that would leave him 86 years old. The president appeared to be asking voters to judge him on his record, and began with a strong line on Trump, who he deemed Three years younger, and a lot less competent. But then he pivoted away from any discussion of his glaring signs of age to a prolonged discussion of the microchip industry. I went to South Korea, I convinced Samsung to invest billions of dollars here in the United States, he said. And guess what, those fabs they call the Middle East chips those fabs pay over $100,000, you dont need a college degree for them, he said, confusingly. After the debate ended, Jill Biden, dressed in a powder blue suit, strode onto the debate stage from the wings to congratulate her husband. Trump left the stage, with no Melania Trump by his side. Analysts said the rules had backfired on Mr Biden. If you think back to those terrible debates in 2020 where [Trump] was essentially trying to talk over Biden for the duration of Bidens answers, that made Trump look horrible and I think made audiences more sympathetic with Biden, Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College said. Mr Galdieri said he doesnt think the Democrat-requested rules had the effect that the Biden campaign expected when they requested them. He added that putting the two men next to one also made Mr Biden look noticeably older than he was four years ago. Trump looks like Trump, he said, adding that Mr Biden looks thinner, hes frailer, hes slower, and all these things sort of add up to a visual picture that I think reinforced a lot of concerns that voters would express. When Mr Biden challenged Trump to an election debate earlier this year, he had urged him to make my day, pal. In the end, one mans day was certainly made - and it wasnt Mr Bidens. Thames Water has said it is not the cause of increases in bacteria in the river, where thousands of rowers will compete in the Henley Royal Regatta. Photograph: Jill Mead/The Guardian Harmful E coli bacteria have been found at very high levels at Henley, days before elite rowers compete in the international regatta there. Water quality testing in the Henley Mile, part of the regatta course outside the Oxfordshire town, has revealed mean levels of 1,213 E coli colony forming units (CFU) per 100ml of water, across 27 tests. Where E coli levels are above 900 CFU/100ml, the water quality is deemed poor, according to bathing water designations, and is a threat to public health. The highest reading recorded by campaigners from River Action reached 25,000 CFU/100ml, more than 27 times the acceptable limit for bathing water. The second highest reading was 8,001 CFU/100ml of water. As a result of the testing, Henley Royal Regatta organisers are warning the 4,000 elite rowers to protect themselves from sickness and infection from the water. Rowers are being advised to cover cuts and to avoid swallowing splashes of river water. As thousands of rowers prepare to compete at Henley from 2-7 July, Sir Steve Redgrave, a former Olympic rower and chair of the Henley Royal Regatta committee of management, said the findings were a reminder of the effect sewage pollution was having on UK rivers. Henley Royal Regatta supports the research undertaken by River Action, which highlights the essential work that needs to be done to improve the cleanliness of our waterways for all to enjoy, Redgrave said. Our rowers train daily all around the country. Our waterways are vitally important to our competitors racing, but also to all those athletes training on a daily basis nationwide. But Thames Water said it was not the cause of the increase in bacteria and accused River Action of being alarmist. The company said it had carried out its own testing since May at two different spots in the river and the results were reassuring. It said its laboratory tests showed that apart from two days in May and two in June E coli levels were consistently at rates deemed good for bathing waters. E coli and intestinal enterococci increases over two days in May and two days in June were nothing to do with its outflows, the company said, and blamed industrial and road runoff and parasites from livestock and birds. In a tense showdown between the company and campaigners, Dave Wallace, who carried out the River Action testing in Henley, said Thames Water had taken its measurements in a different area of the river. Wallace used a Fluidion World Health Organization-verified E coli analyser a handheld microbiological laboratory for his testing and the work was overseen by the NGO Earthwatch. The equipment provides results in hours, rather than involving the delays of static lab-based testing. We have been testing the river in an area of the highest recreational use on the Henley Mile, as it is on the regatta course, said Wallace. We also know that the outflow of the Henley sewage treatment works impacts this area, so we were surprised that Thames Water had decided to test at the two locks, which are long distances from the regatta course, hence low usage and lower sewage impact. River Action testing on the Henley Mile at Fawley Meadows began on 28 May and will run until 7 July. Between 28 May and 25 June, 47% of readings were above 900 CFU/100ml. James Wallace, the chief executive of River Action said: It is shocking that we have had to issue health advice to the competitors of the Henley Royal Regatta. Thank goodness the organisers are showing a duty of care to the rowers by issuing guidance that will help to keep competitors safe. Iranians cast their ballot at a polling station in Tehran. Photograph: Raheb Homavandi/AFP/Getty More than 61.5 million Iranians aged over 18 have been given a chance to vote for a new president and send a message to the regime about the state of the economy, although millions were expected to boycott an election they believe will be manipulated by the regime to ensure a loyalist victory. Irans leaders want to renew their legitimacy after a steady decline in turnout reached crisis point last year with fewer than 41% voting in parliamentary elections, and fewer than 10% in the capital, Tehran. The vote comes after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May. Related: US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran over apparent nuclear escalations The two conservative frontrunners, Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator with little or no administrative experience, and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the parliament, failed to agree to a pre-polling day pact in which one of them would stand aside. That failure opens the door to the possibility that the sole reformist candidate permitted to stand, the 69-year-old heart surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian, will make it to a two-person runoff. Such a runoff is required if none of the four candidates in the race reach 50% in the first round. Polling booths were being kept open in Iran beyond the expected closing time on Friday to encourage hesitant voters to the polls, with the reformist camp claiming they could even win in the first round. Supporters of the lead conservative, Jalili, claimed they were polling higher than expected. None of the candidates have sufficiently large electoral machines to be able to track the state of their vote, but a supporter of Pezeshkian, Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, claimed reformist voters in Khuzestan, Fars, Gilan, West Azerbaijan and Tehran provinces would be decisive in the final hours of the elections. The former foreign minister Javad Zarif also urged the divided reformist movement to go to the polls. I respect anyones choice, there are annoyances and dissatisfactions, but anger with the ballot box is not the solution, he said. The poll is a huge test of the reformists continued relevance in Iranian politics in the face of dominant conservative factions. Jalili, an opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal, believes Iran can withstand western sanctions by building economic ties to the east. He is also the most ideological about using the powers of the state to enforce the hijab on Iranian women, and has the support of the Front of Islamic Revolution Stability, or Jebhe Paydari, a group that has fallen out with Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf has said he is willing to negotiate on reviving the nuclear deal and regards stronger management of the economy as the route to growth. Jalili was at the 11th hour still pressing Ghalibaf to stand down, saying his sacrifice may be the only way to stop Pezeshkian and what will be the third term of Hassan Rouhani, the centrist whose two-term presidency ended in failure in 2021, largely because of the US pulling out of the nuclear deal. The regime has tried to weaken Pezeshkians bid, including banning one of his final rallies. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, gave a speech on the eve of the vote condemning certain Iranian politicians for believing all paths to progress pass through the United States, remarks clearly aimed at Pezeshkians call to end Irans economic isolation from the west. At the last minute, two of the five conservative candidates permitted to stand by the Guardian Council Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a supporter of Raisi, and Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran stood aside, confirming reformist accusations that they had been front candidates for Jalili. Many Iranians, disillusioned by successive crackdowns, question the value of the democratic process and plan to stay away rather than lend the process a veneer of legitimacy. One member of generation Z told the Guardian: With its killings, the regime has made the issue of not voting one of personal dignity. Both Pesezhkian and the supreme leader want a high turnout closer to 60% but for different motives. Pezeshkian needs to persuade a depoliticised society to come out to defeat the 15 million or so supporters of the regime. The supreme leader has argued: High turnout brings honour to the Islamic republic. Every election with low participation gives our enemies reason to criticise us. We must not give them that satisfaction. It is also questionable whether the allies of the supreme leader, given his views about the US and cultural values, would tolerate a Pezeshkian presidency. Pezeshkian, for his part, has repeatedly emphasised he will accept Khameneis authority, and insisted that obedience will not prevent him changing Iran. A new paper by United against a Nuclear Iran, a US pressure group, argues the level of electoral manipulation by the regime goes far wider than simply doctoring the list of eligible candidates. The report highlights the role of the Baqiyatallah Cultural and Social Headquarters, which the report says has created a full apparatus and strategy to engineer political and cultural outcomes in Iran. Israeli soldiers have destroyed 11 homes and other structures in an isolated community in the occupied West Bank, leaving 50 people homeless, amid a reported uptick in house demolitions and spiralling violence in the Palestinian territory. Contractors with bulldozers accompanied by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops arrived in Umm al-Kheir, a village mostly home to shepherds, on Wednesday morning and demolished six houses, tent residences, an electricity generator, solar cells and water tanks, according to residents and Israeli activists who documented the proceedings. Agricultural land and fences were also damaged and trees uprooted. The demolition has destroyed about a third of the villages infrastructure. We have fought in the Israeli courts for years against this as most of the village is under threat of demolition and they have done this before, said Eid Suleiman, a resident. But they came this time without telling our lawyer. We didnt have time to collect our belongings. We have put up some tents to keep the children cool in the heat. But we are afraid the soldiers will come back and take those too because they say we are building illegally. Masafer Yatta, a collection of shepherding hamlets including Umm al-Kheir, is located in area C, the sparsely populated 60% of the West Bank under full Israeli control. Palestinian infrastructure in the area is frequently demolished on the grounds that the residents do not have building permits, which are nearly impossible to obtain, while surrounding illegal Israeli settlements flourish. UN experts have said such demolitions can be considered war crimes. Related: Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank visualized Since 7 October, the situation has worsened. Settlers have stepped up beatings, attacks and vandalism, forcing isolated villagers to flee to nearby towns, and there has been an increase in army home demolitions. The IDF is engaged in fighting with Palestinian militant groups in several areas of the West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarem. Israels far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, recently described in explicit terms his active efforts to annex the West Bank. The Guardian reported last week on how the pro-settlement politician and his allies had quietly transferred significant legal powers from the military to pro-settler civil servants reporting to Smotrich, a move that international humanitarian law experts say amounts to de facto annexation. On Wednesday, when Umm al-Kheir was targeted, a total of 17 Palestinian houses were destroyed on the same day, according to rights groups: another four homes were demolished in the Jericho area, one near Ramallah, and one in East Jerusalem. Those demolitions do not serve any Israeli interest but rather the settlers interests only. They are part of Israels ongoing campaign to displace Palestinians from area C, said Hagit Ofran, a co-director of the settlements watch unit at the Israeli advocacy group Peace Now. As Smotrich recently stated in a recorded conversation we uncovered, in the West Bank demolitions are not about upholding the rule of law or ensuring equality; rather, they serve geopolitical, strategic purposes. The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesdays demolitions. Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, after the war of 1967. Rightwing elements have long sought to find ways to permanently seize or annex swathes of the West Bank, and Israeli settlement building there has significantly accelerated in recent years. Signs for the Liberal Democrats outside a house in the village of Chiddingfold. A campaign for tactical voting could unseat Jeremy Hunt - Tom Skipp/Bloomberg A tactical voting plot to unseat Jeremy Hunt is underway as local Labour and Lib Dem supporters club together to oust the Chancellor on July 4. A group of residents in Godalming and Ash are seeking to engineer a so-called Portillo moment by uniting behind the Lib Dems to unseat the senior Cabinet minister in the traditional Tory heartland. The group, who have coined themselves Godalming and Ash Elections, have identified Paul Follows, the Lib Dem councillor for the area, as the candidate with the best chance of beating Mr Hunt. But they insist the Chancellor can only be defeated if people vote tactically, which would involve those who normally back Labour or the Greens lending their support to Mr Follows to form an anti-Tory alliance. To spread the word, the residents, who say they are not connected to any political party, have put posters up emblazoned with the words Im Labour or Im Green, voting Lib Dem to stop the Tories. Signs encourage Green voters to switch their allegiance to the Lib Dems in order to unseat the Tories - Godalming Ash Elections A spokesman for the group said: Some of our supporters want to tell others that its OK to lend your vote to another party, which is why the signs were created. They are being put up every day across the constituency. Mr Follows, who used to be a Labour member, has also suggested that people who identify with other parties should briefly put their loyalties to one side and back him instead on July 4, sharing a message from a self-described green socialist who is lending him her vote on his Facebook page. The move will fuel suspicions of backroom deals between Labour and the Lib Dems to oust the Conservatives. Both parties have denied making pacts, with Sir Ed Davey publicly rejecting the prospect of any election deals with Labour last year. However, recent analysis by The Telegraph has found that both Sir Ed and Sir Keir Starmer are largely avoiding seats where the other appears to be in a strong position to beat the Tories. A Conservative Party spokesman said: This pact proves that the Lib Dems will do nothing to stop Labours Retirement Tax and 2,094 tax raid on working households. Voting for the Lib Dems would only lead to Starmer being dragged even further to the Left. The tactical voting campaign in Godalming and Ash has been welcomed by the Lib Dems, who described the residents endorsement of Mr Follows as fantastic news. Sharing the announcement on X, formerly Twitter, the partys Waverley branch said: The local community knows that the only party which can beat the tired Tories in #GodalmingandAsh is the @LibDems Labour cannot win here! The Godalming and Ash campaign promotes the Lib Dems as the most likely victors over the Conservatives - Godalming Ash Elections In theory, Labour and the Lib Dems could form a pact to maximise Conservative losses by pulling resources from areas where the other is considered more likely to topple a Tory incumbent. For Labour, this would mean focusing on seats in the north of England that fell to the Conservatives in 2019, while the Lib Dems would stick to the Blue Wall, traditional Tory heartlands concentrated in the south of England and the Home Counties. By diverting their efforts away from one anothers target seats, the parties could seek to avoid splitting the anti-Tory vote in some of the Conservatives most vulnerable constituencies, giving them a better shot at inflicting a historic defeat on the Government on July 4. Godalming and Ash is a brand new seat for 2024, having been formed in the recent boundary review. It combines parts of South West Surrey, Mr Hunts old constituency, and neighbouring Guildford and Surrey Heath, as well as nearby Mole Valley, which are all Tory-held. A major opinion poll for The Telegraph earlier this month suggested Mr Hunt was on course to lose the seat to the Lib Dems, having won his former constituency by a majority of more than 10,000 in 2019. On their website, the local residents group say: We can create change in Godalming and Ash. We can beat Jeremy Hunt. But only if we all vote tactically. Jeremy Hunt previously told The Telegraph he could win his seat on 1,500 votes or fewer - TOM SKIPP/BLOOMBERG The group adds: If the vote for change is split across different candidates then Jeremy Hunt could get back in with a tiny share of the vote. We cant allow that. Only Paul Follows, the Lib Dem candidate, can win in this new constituency Were calling on everyone who wants to see change to vote smart and to vote tactically, whether youre usually a Green, Labour or Lib Dem voter, or even a disgruntled Conservative voter. A Lib Dem spokesman said: It is clear across Surrey that its a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and Conservative Party, with supporters of all parties and none voting Liberal Democrat to oust Conservative MPs, including Jeremy Hunt. Communities in Godalming and Ash have had enough of the Conservative Party and are voting Liberal Democrat to send a message. A Labour Party spokesman said: We are working hard to deliver as many Labour MPs as possible in the general election and our campaigners are bringing our message of change to people across the country. Mr Hunt declined to comment. Joe Biden debates Donald Trump in Atlanta on 27 June 2024. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden went into the Thursday presidential debate with one ace in the hole: abortion. And somehow, in a fumbling and frail performance, the president managed to blow even that. In the two years since the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, a decision joined by three justices nominated by Donald Trump, support for abortion has climbed even in red states. Republican strongholds like Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio have voted in favor of maintaining or even strengthening abortion rights; purple Michigan, a state Biden desperately needs to win, has too. The Biden campaign knows that abortion is a winning issue thats why it has dispatched the vice-president, Kamala Harris, on a nationwide, months-long tour to talk about it. But instead of hammering Trump, whose administration paved the way for Roes demise and whose potential return to power could lead to federal abortion restrictions, Biden stumbled to give a single coherent answer about the procedure. I supported Roe v Wade, which had three trimesters. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. And a third time is between the doctor I mean, itd be between the woman and the state, Biden said, according to a CNN transcript of the debate. The idea that the politicians that the founders wanted the politicians to be the ones making decisions about womens health is ridiculous. Thats the last no politician should be making that decision. He continued: A doctor should be making those decisions. Thats how it should be run. Thats what youre going to do. When the US supreme court first decided Roe in 1973, legalizing abortion nationwide, the justices implemented a kind of sliding scale of abortion rights, on which a patients right to an abortion could vary depending on their trimester of pregnancy. This may have been the framework that Biden was referring to, although his articulation of it is not exactly accurate (or possible to follow). Biden abandoned his partys vigorous and effective attempts to frame abortion as a matter of freedom and rights In any case, by the time the supreme court overturned Roe in 2022, federal law around abortion restrictions had changed. Roe, which is really more of the popular term for both the original Roe decision and the line of cases that followed, had come to essentially block states from totally banning abortion prior to fetal viability, a benchmark that generally occurs around 24 weeks of pregnancy. By making it sound as though the state and doctors whom Biden kept referring to using male pronouns should get to decide whether a woman can have an abortion, Biden abandoned his partys vigorous and effective attempts to frame abortion as a matter of freedom and rights. That was really fumbled, said Tresa Undem, who has been polling people on abortion for more than two decades. Abortion is, she continued, very easy to communicate on right now, because a majority of the public is pro-choice, majority of voters are pro-choice. Its very easy. They dont want politicians involved in this decision at all. Thats the bottom line. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate Part of Bidens issue may be that the devout Catholic who once said he was personally not big on abortion does not have a track record of promoting abortion rights. While he was on the campaign trail in 2020, his reluctance to even say the word abortion frustrated abortion rights activists. Trump, in contrast, stayed disciplined on abortion during the Thursday debate. He repeatedly called it a states rights issue and demurred on whether it should be legal in cases of rape, incest or medical emergencies. He glided past the fact that many states with near-total abortion bans do not permit the procedure in cases of rape or incest, and that a supreme court stacked with his justices had just punted on the legal question of whether states can ban abortions in some emergencies. The former president also avoided mentioning that some anti-abortion activists believe he could use a 151-year-old law to enact a total abortion ban nationwide. During another exchange, Trump spoke forcefully about how restoring Roe would mean that Biden can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth, as well as rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby. It was language that Trump had deployed during a presidential debate with Hillary Clinton, to the delight of the anti-abortion movement. These claims are based on myths. Infanticide is obviously illegal. The vast majority of abortions occur in the first trimester of pregnancy; those that happen after that point are often due to a medical issue. The abortion rights movement has worked for years to destigmatize these procedures and eradicate the phrase late-term abortion, which is not a phrase doctors use. But Biden couldnt seem to figure out if he wanted to correct Trumps falsehoods or confirm them. That is simply not true. That Roe v Wade does not provide for that. Thats not the circumstance. Only when the womans life is in danger, if shes going to die thats the only circumstance in which that can happen, he said. But we are not for late-term abortion, period period, period. Theres little danger that staunchly pro-choice voters will leave Biden, according to Undem, since Democrats are so associated with abortion rights while Republicans are so linked to restrictions. But Bidens inability to talk about what should be a slam-dunk issue for Democrats may bolster concerns that hes just not up for a second presidency. It was pretty dismal, Undem said. It just seemed incoherent, not clear. At one point, he got the message in that politicians shouldnt be making this decision at all. But it was not great. Joe Biden has been told he has a week to win over Democrats or they will move to oust him after a disastrous performance in the first presidential debate. Party donors and congressmen called on Mr Biden to abandon his run for re-election to the presidency after he fluffed his lines repeatedly and at one point froze completely during the first head-to-head debate of the 2024 election campaign. In a shaky, hoarse voice, the 81-year-old launched attacks on Donald Trump and defended his policy record, pausing several times to repeat his sentences or correct himself. Trump was widely acknowledged the winner of CNNs Thursday night debate. On Friday afternoon, Mr Biden insisted in a defiant speech in North Carolina he could still win the election but told supporters: I know Im not a young manI dont debate as well as I used to. I give you my word as a Biden [that] I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job. Quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Nevertheless, Mr Biden is facing calls from a number of Democratic strategists, donors and politicians to suspend his campaign and make way for a younger candidate at this years party convention in August. One congressman told Matthew Yglesias, a US political blogger: I think the president has one week to prove he is not dead. David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obamas 2008 presidential campaign, told CNN: Its kind of a Defcon 1 momentthey are three years apart, but they seemed about 30 years apart tonight. David Axelrod, another Obama adviser, said: There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Mark Buell, a well-known Democratic donor, said: Do we have time to put somebody else in there? David Axelrod, the former Obama adviser, was among critics of the president's performance - Getty/Scott Olson Few US elected politicians have declared publicly that Mr Bidens campaign should be ended, but dozens of Democrats have privately expressed serious concerns about his age and mental aptitude. One lawmaker told NBC it was time to talk about an open convention and a new Democratic nominee, while Jim McGovern, another congressman, declined to publicly support the campaign and said he had not come to any conclusion yet. Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Friday, the day after the TV debate - Evan Vucci/AP Meanwhile in the UK, Conservative Cabinet ministers privately called on the Democrats to ditch Mr Biden in surprisingly frank terms in the context of the special relationship. Three figures sitting around Rishi Sunaks top table told The Telegraph that Mr Biden should be switched with someone better placed to defeat Donald Trump. The sources variously called on the Democrats to get rid of Mr Biden, to switch him fast, saying a younger alternative would have a much better chance of victory. Joe Biden shuffled onto the stage and repeatedly lost his train of thought - AP/Gerald Herbert Calls for Mr Biden to stand down began immediately after the end of the 90-minute debate in Atlanta, Georgia, which left supporters at an official viewing party with their heads in their hands. The event went so badly that some speculated that Mr Biden may have been encouraged to hold an unusually early debate to give his party time to find a replacement. Several liberal media outlets that have generally dismissed concerns about Mr Bidens age published articles calling for a new nominee, while the presidents favourite news anchor, Joe Scarborough, said: If he was CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him as CEO? On Friday night, The New York Timess editorial board called for Mr Biden to surrender the nomination to a stronger opponent. The rules of the Democratic Party make it almost impossible for a challenger to remove Mr Biden at this stage of the election cycle, after he won the partys primary race virtually unopposed this spring. But some in his party hope he will stand down voluntarily, and have discussed asking Mr Obama, Hillary Clinton, or his wife Jill to urge him to do so. It is thought that any attempt at a managed withdrawal from the race would also involve Chris Coons, a longtime Biden ally in the Senate, and Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader of the House of Representatives. Mr Obama, one potential messenger, said Mr Biden had had a bad debate night but that the election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer, the governors of California and Michigan, are under consideration as possible alternative nominees although Mr Newsom said any talk of a replacement was farcical. Mr Bidens allies rushed to his defence after the debate, pointing to a series of inaccurate statements by Trump and claiming the president had contracted a cold during his week-long preparation for the debate at Camp David. Kamala Harris, the vice president, admitted his performance suffered from a slow start, but said he got into a groove where it counted. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker and one of Mr Bidens closest allies, said the debate was his worst night but that his presentation of integrity was far better than the other guys dishonesty. She said she did not support the attempt to remove him as the nominee before November. Mr Bidens campaign said he would not step down, and surprised some supporters by committing to taking part in a second debate against Trump on Sept 10. It wasnt a good night, said Jared Huffman, a Democratic representative, adding: I dont want him to do another debate. Opinion polls show that Mr Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck nationally, but that the Republican candidate leads in all seven swing states. Without a significant swing towards him in those areas, Mr Biden will lose the election. In his campaign rally on Friday, the president referred repeatedly to lies from Trump on the debate stage and attacked him for his stance on abortion, plans for tax cuts for the wealthy, and support for Jan 6 rioters. He gave a more energetic performance than on the debate stage, but stopped several times to cough as he read from an autocue. I know Im not a young man, he said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth [and] I know how to do this job. Following the debate, the Trump campaign released a montage of Mr Bidens worst moments of the night. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican candidate and possible choice for Trumps running mate, told The Telegraph: I think he actually had a lobotomy beforehand, and I think what we saw is really a national security threat to the future of the country. Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said the campaigns approach would not change at all if Mr Biden was replaced. No Democrat is going to make a major change in policy, versus where Joe Biden is today, he said. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (C) pictured meeting British soldiers in Wiltshire in 2022 - STEFAN ROSSEAU/PA ARCHIVE Labour is now the natural party of defence, John Healey has declared vowing Britain would be better protected under Sir Keir Starmer. The shadow defence secretary said his party will do better by soldiers and their families ahead of Armed Forces Day, which will be marked by 150,000 military personnel on Saturday. Writing for The Telegraph, he accused the Tories of driving morale to record lows and shrinking the Army to its smallest size since the Napoleonic Wars. Mr Healey said he was proud that 14 veterans are standing as Labour candidates in the election, which is more than twice the number the party fielded in 2019. Theyve served their country in uniform, and now they want to serve their country in Parliament as Labour MPs, he wrote. Theyre proof that Keir Starmer has established Labour as the party of defence again. Sir Keir (centre right) visited the Tapa NATO forward operating base in Estonia with John Healey (centre left) to meet soldiers deployed with the British Armed Forces - STEFAN ROSSEAU/PA Those candidates include Al Carns, a former Royal Marines Colonel who is standing for the party in Birmingham Selly Oak. Mr Carns won the Military Cross in Afghanistan and was tipped to rise to the top of the Armed Forces, but left to stand as an MP. Calvin Bailey, who served as a commanding officer in the RAF, is also a candidate as is Louise Jones, an Army veteran. Security has become a key dividing line, with Rishi Sunak attacking Labour for refusing to match his pledge to ramp up defence spending to 2.5pc of GDP by 2030. The Prime Minister has said the country would be less safe under Sir Keir just as it faces the most dangerous times we have seen since the Cold War. He has also pointed to the fact that senior Labour figures including David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, voted against the renewal of Trident. Mr Healey insisted that Labour was committed to hitting the 2.5 per cent target, having previously criticised Tory plans to do so by 2030 as an unfunded commitment. The Conservatives have said the extra cash would be found by cutting the size of the civil service back down to pre-pandemic levels. The shadow defence secretary wrote: We have plans to make Britain better defended so we are secure at home and strong abroad. The last time Britain spent 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence was in 2010, with Labour. Back then, the British Army numbered over 100,000 full-time troops and satisfaction with service life was 60 per cent. Since then, service morale has slumped to record lows. Forces personnel and families are forced to live in damp, mouldy housing. The British Army is now at its smallest size since Napoleon. We must do better by our Forces, men and women. Labour plans to conduct a rapid review of the state of the military and appoint an Armed Forces Commissioner to champion soldiers and their families on pay and housing. His words came as communities across the country prepared to join the Army, the Navy and the RAF in hosting events to celebrate Armed Forces Day. Mr Healey said the occasion would be an opportunity to thank personnel who provide the ultimate public service that protects us all. In a message to mark the celebration Mr Sunak said that those serving in the Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and are an inspiration to us all. It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us., the Prime Minister said. Its why its so important that we get defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran. In an increasingly dangerous world, our service men and women play an ever more critical role in keeping us safe. Just as our Armed Forces look after us all, we will look after them By John Healey Tomorrow, in communities throughout the UK, we will join together to mark Armed Forces Day. The last Labour government established Armed Forces Day to celebrate those who serve in our Armed Forces regulars, reservists, cadets and veterans. Its a day the nation says thank you to those who serve and the families who support them. Theirs is the ultimate public service that protects us all. British Forces are respected worldwide. They represent the values we most admire: courage, loyalty, discipline, and service. Our Armed Forces are essential to our national defence, our national resilience and our national obligations to NATO and other allies. Just as they work to keep us all safe and the country secure, we must do all we can to support them. Thats why Labour will always do what is needed and spend what is needed to defend the country and support our Forces. In the face of increasing threats, we will set out the path to spending to 2.5% of GDP on defence. The last time Britain spent 2.5% of GDP on defence was in 2010, with Labour. Back then, the British Army numbered over 100,000 full-time troops and satisfaction with service life was 60%. Since then, service morale has slumped to record lows. Forces personnel and families are forced to live in damp, mouldy housing. The British Army is now at its smallest size since Napoleon. We must do better by our Armed Forces, men and women. If we win peoples confidence as Britains new government on 4 July, we will include in the first Kings Speech plans for a new independent Armed Forces Commissioner as a strong champion to improve service life. We will put the Armed Forces covenant fully into law to ensure everyone who serves or has served is fairly treated and supported. In Labour, we also reflect on our proud tradition on defence. Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister who transformed post-war Britain, fought at Gallipoli. Ernest Bevin was the driving force in establishing NATO. Some of Labours biggest figures like Dennis Healey served in the Armed Forces. Today, Im proud of the number of ex-Forces personnel standing for Labour in this election. Theyve served their country in uniform, and now they want to serve their country in Parliament as Labour MPs. Theyre proof that Keir Starmer has established Labour as the party of defence again. We have plans to make Britain better defended so we are secure at home and strong abroad. And just as our Armed Forces look after us all, we will look after them. John Healey is the shadow defence secretary Labour's shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy I attended the same Trooping The Colour event at which the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, now claims to have witnessed a sort of demob happiness about [Conservative politicians], a sort of casual frippery, a certain kind of public-school smallness. They are not the class of people that Britain needs to run it now, and thats what my own life story tells me. Its unclear if the adoration of class-conscious comrades that Lammy is seemingly courting by his comments would be quite as forthcoming had they seen his entirely friendly and jovial (and long) conversation with Boris Johnson in the elegant confines of Dover House, the Whitehall headquarters of the Scotland Office. But his snobbish and dismissive comments about those of an apparently different class and their unfitness to rule (he is aware, I hope, that he was there to celebrate the Kings birthday?) says something important about todays Labour Party and the nature of its pitch to the British people. In the same interview, Lammy was full of praise for his colleague Angela Rayner, Labours deputy leader. The Labour Party is full of people Angela Rayner, for instance. I was with her yesterday, campaigning in Mansfield she gets this. On the one hand, the fact that Lammy has not been at all visible during the campaign perhaps indicates the leaderships lack of faith in his vote-attracting talents, which in turn might suggest that at the first meeting of the new Labour cabinet, someone else might be sitting in the seat reserved for the foreign secretary. Both of these observations speak positively about Keir Starmers judgment. On the other hand, Lammys comments highlight a major flaw in Labours campaign messaging so far. He chose an interesting example of the kind of comrade who gets it. If anything, Rayner is a perfect example of a working class woman who has managed to climb up the social ladder, creating a comfortable lifestyle for herself and her family. She should be applauded for that, but one gets the impression that Lammy is more impressed by her accent than by her personal financial achievements, which include selling an old council house for a tidy sum. Starmer is not shy of being compared with his election-winning predecessor, Tony Blair; and why would he be? Blair remains the most successful Labour leader in history, partly because of his electoral record but also because he dared to think and say the right things even when they were unpopular, particular with his party. It was Blair who faced down the Left by ditching the old Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution that committed it to wholesale nationalisation or public ownership. But as brave as that act was, it was only the start. Having decided what the party should not believe, he went on to define what it should. And that can be summed up in three words: working class aspiration. No other Labour leader had dared to say what everyone knew, that it wasnt just acceptable for working class people to want to own their own house (a privilege resisted by successive Labour governments and delivered by a Conservative one) but was admirable, something to be encouraged. While too many on the Left scorned, either privately or publicly, personal wealth and the luxuries of modern life, Blair recognised that ordinary people from poorer backgrounds had every right to want to improve their lot in life, to buy a bigger and better car, to take more foreign holidays, to afford an extension to the house, to send their children to a better school. And that latter aspiration was valued, not primarily because it made society better for all (although it did) but because working class people want their children to be successful and rich. Why shouldnt they? Blair shocked many by talking about this and by developing policies to make it a reality. But he not only won the voters over with his vision, but much of his party too no mean feat in itself. His philosophy had the unique advantage, incidentally, of being the absolutely right one for the party. For any party. But as much as Starmer likes to be compared with Blair, there has been vanishingly little in his own rhetoric or policies that replicates that inspiring insight that Blair had. Theres certainly a lot about communities and the importance of local decision-making and the NHS and all that. But weve heard precious little about how and why working people can and should improve their personal prospects and those of their children. And while Peter Mandelson was spot-on when he declared that the last Labour government was intensely relaxed about people becoming filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes (my emphasis), there is no one in Labours ranks who would be brave enough to repeat that same sentiment today certainly not David Lammy. And so we head towards a big win on Thursday by a party that is coasting on the unpopularity of its opponents rather than on any new or exciting ideas of its own. Given Lammys out-of-date class war attitude, maybe hell fit into the cabinet better than I had assumed. Jeremy Corbyn is campaigning to continue to represent the seat he held for Labour for 41 years - Rii Schroer Sir Keir Starmer is facing a revolt in Jeremy Corbyns old seat after a majority of Islington Norths constituency party executive backed the former leader instead of the Labour candidate. A total of 11 current or former members of the constituency Labour partys (CLP) executive in the north London seat signed an open letter on Friday saying they supported Mr Corbyn and not Praful Nargund, the Labour candidate. It is understood that some of the 11 may have quit the party in order to back Mr Corbyn, although it is not clear how many. The signatories, who included 61 other CLP members, claimed that local members had been denied the right to choose our own candidate and said that the former Labour leader had dedicated his life to this constituency. Jeremy has always been an honest, brave and principled voice, the letter reads. We need that voice now, more than ever. We implore Labour voters to support Jeremy Corbyn as an independent candidate, and vote for him on July 4. It adds: We have been proud to stand alongside Jeremy over the course of ten general elections. This year, we will be campaigning for him as an independent candidate for Islington North. The most prominent signatory is Alison McGarry, the CLPs former chairman. She resigned from the party earlier this month after allegedly hiding behind a hedge when caught campaigning for Mr Corbyn. Alison McGarry, who was Islington North CLP chairman until she resigned after being spotted campaigning for Jeremy Corbyn The 11 CLP executive members are understood to represent a majority of the body. The signatories are likely to have their membership revoked because it is against party rules to campaign against a Labour candidate. Those of us who are still in the party know our support for Jeremy will result in the termination of our membership, the letter reads. We do not take this decision lightly, but it is time to take a stand in the name of democracy and justice. Mr Corbyn was expelled from Labour last month after announcing that he would run as an independent in Islington North. He has been the seats MP since 1983, including during his five-year stint as Labour leader between 2015 and 2020. Mr Corbyn has claimed that Labour MPs secretly want him to win the seat instead of Mr Nargund, who was selected for the seat by the partys national executive committee (NEC) shortly after the election was called. PLA honor guards to participate in military parade in Belarus Xinhua) 10:02, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Belarusian defense ministry, the Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has dispatched a contingent to participate in a military parade on July 3, China's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. The contingent is currently receiving training in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in preparation for the parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus. China and Belarus have established an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership. The Guard of Honor of the PLA dispatched contingents to take part in military parades in Belarus in 2018 and 2019. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Neil Kinnock with the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, at the Welsh Labour manifesto launch last week. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Neil Kinnock has warned his party not to ignore the nationalist threat posed by Nigel Farage, as concern grows in Labour ranks that Reform UK could pose a long-term threat for them as well as for the Conservatives. The former Labour leader told the Guardian he wanted Labour to turn its guns on Farages party in the final week of the election campaign, saying the populist right could gain a stronghold in the UK as it has across much of Europe. Labour has been accused of not putting up a fight against Farage because the Reform party appeared to be taking more votes from the Conservatives. But with Reform predicted by some pollsters to win more than a dozen parliamentary seats next week, Kinnock said Labour needed to start taking the threat seriously. Related: UK general election opinion polls tracker: Labour significantly ahead of Tories as campaign continues There is no next time. It [targeting Reform] must start now, he said. We have to combat this populist nationalism with words, in explaining to people what these people are, not just who they are. People like Farage love the personal attention like all narcissists, so we have to focus on explaining what they are and all their inconsistencies and falsehoods. They plant and harvest lies they always have. Kinnock added that if Labour was overly cautious in government, it would play into Reforms narrative that there was little difference between the two main parties. Absolutely vitally, [the populist right] have to be combated with actions, he said. That means the implementation of change which is positive and cumulative, and driven by strong purpose in the service of the community. Farage and his party were recently criticised over an undercover recording that showed two of his party activists using offensive language while out campaigning for him in Clacton in Essex. The row has threatened to overshadow what has otherwise been a strong campaign for Reform in which it has risen from about 11% in the polls to 16%. Kinnock compared Farages response to the controversy in Clacton inserting ambiguity and going on the attack to that of Donald Trump. Its straight out of Trump Towers. Its Farage the thespian. Hes doubling down on his claims that Channel 4 had hired an actor, he said. Its what the nationalist populists do time and time again. They mislead people and you can add Boris Johnson to that as well. Labour was this week accused of failing to fight against Farage in Clacton after the partys candidate was instructed to leave the constituency over a belief that he was distracting from Keir Starmers campaign. The local Labour campaign in Clacton said it had been banned from printing leaflets, blocked from using campaigning software, and had its access to the campaigns social media overridden its posts on X were deleted. Asked this week if activists were allowed to campaign in Clacton, Starmer said: The chief of operations tells people where we most want them to go and fight, but we have got to fight in Clacton of course we have. He criticised Farage on Friday for creating an atmosphere in which racist comments were tolerated, saying it was a test of leadership for Farage. Many candidates and polling experts believe Reform is likely to perform better than expected next week and could gain more than a dozen seats. An MRP poll by Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now this week showed Reform heading for 18 seats, with Farage, the former party leader Richard Tice and the former Tory MP Lee Anderson all predicted to win. Labour candidates in some target seats say they are also becoming nervous that many of the undecided voters they were hoping would vote for them are being attracted by Reform instead. There are still a few more undecided voters than we might like, so were getting more nervous the closer we get, said one. Were meeting a lot of people who are not Tory, but deciding between Labour and Reform. Related: Campaign catchup: Farage fans, electoral fuel and a curiously sourced scoop A Labour official said the new party was eating into its votes in key target seats such as Great Yarmouth and Ashfield. Its only now that the serious threat of Reform is something that were looking at, they said. That only becomes a problem if things are closer than the polls suggest its going to be. Rob Ford, a professor of political science at Manchester University, said Labour needed to be alert to the appeal that Reform had among voters in red wall constituencies in particular. In the longer run, that is going to be an issue for Labour, he said. The party is likely to find itself caught between members and activists who are left/liberal and the kinds of voters it has won at this election, many of whom are much less so. Kinnock warned his party that leaving the Conservatives to combat Farages threat would backfire. I hope that [the Tories] will resist Faragism, but they havent shown guts for the fight, and theyre going to have to, he said. Labour officials say they are alive to the risk that Reform poses and say they plan to confront Farage and his politics from day one if they make it into power. If Labour wins the election, we would want to make sure we stop Farage in his tracks, one insider said. We need to meet voters where they are, we need to tell them how well address their concerns, and then show them that well do it. Sunnamusk, an Oud based fragrance brand has built a multi-million global fragrance business and operates across Europe, Asia and the USA. Photo: Sunnamusk (Supplied) Yahoo finance UK As the pandemic shuttered stores across the world, London-based Sunnamusk defied the odds and successfully expanded its Arabic fragrance business. Sunnamusk co-founder Kazi Shafiqur Rahman and his brothers continued to launch new products throughout lockdown and eventually expanded their retail footprint to 17 stores, including two in Germany, between 2020 and 2021. Nowadays they count celebrities such as Amir Khan among their clientele. Our story is one of resilience, family bonds and fragrant dreams that refuse to fade, even in the harshest of times. Read more: Behind the brand: Prodigy Snacks, the chocolate company 'fit for the modern day' The companys success harks back to Shafiq and his brothers' decisions to pack in their day jobs to sell Muslim fragrances from market stalls and their car boot in 2010. I used to go straight to the stall after school, said Shafiqs younger brother, Abid, now CEO. "I worked everyday and at weekends, I believed in what we were doing. Thirteen years on, their online perfume business Sunnamusk now counts 26 outlets across the UK, Dubai, Europe and the US and they've never needed to take out a bank loan. A rags to riches story Shafiq and Abid arrived with their parents and siblings in Tower Hamlets, east London, in 1997 from a rural village in Bangladesh. They ended up moving from one temporary accommodation to another for a decade, struggled to fit in and left school with failed GCSEs. Then in 2009, their brother Lutfur, who was studying in Cairo, brought back a collection of small bottles of musk fragrances to the UK and convinced his siblings to try to sell them. The brothers pooled 600 of their savings to start a family-owned perfume business in 2009 and sell 1kg of oud an intense fragrant oil extracted from tree resin fragrances. Sunnamusk CEO Abid Rahman worked on the brothers' perfume stall every after school because he believed in what he and his brother were doing. Photo: Sunnamusk (Anwar Shboul (Supplied)) They ended up storing perfume merchandise under beds, sofas and dining tables in their already overcrowded family home and on their first day of trading in Whitechapel, in the cold and rain, they made just 28. Abid recalls a conversation he had as a 16-year-old with a young woman on the stall asking if the perfumes were from Hajj whether the products were from Makkah in Saudi Arabia. It struck me that the only image of the Arabic scent was related to when Muslims went on pilgrimage and brought back scents as gifts, he says. Fuelled with determination, the brothers took the Sunnamusk concept and worked to make it desirable and now over 50% of their customers are non-Muslims. They traded in Whitechapel market and then Ilford shopping centre. But their defining moment arrived when they opened a store in Westfield Stratford in 2011. They now have more than 20 stores UK-wide. Read more: Behind the brand: Lush, the storytelling cosmetics retailer The opportunity was daunting, and the costs were high, said Shafiq. We owe it to our mums unwavering encouragement that gave us the courage to seize the offer. From that pivotal point, more success followed with a store in Aldgate, London in 2013, solidifying their presence in London's fragrance scene. Sunnamusk soon became synonymous with Arabian fragrances, making a splash in Ilford, Romford, and Lakeside with pop-up shops. What is an oud-based fragrance? Oud, also known as agarwood or aloeswood, is a resinous wood derived from the agar tree and produces a unique and long-lasting scent. The resin is then harvested for various products, primarily perfumes, and is also used as incense. Oud, also known as agrawood and aloeswood, in the resinous aromatic heartwood of the Aquilaria tree. Photo: Hassan Ammar/AFP Getty (HASSAN AMMAR via Getty Images) It takes 70 to 150 years to extract good oud so "obtaining the fragrance is exceptionally challenging, explains Abid. The resin only forms when the tree is infected by mould, which occurs in just 2% of trees, so the lengthy and delicate harvesting process, coupled with the agar tree's rarity, contributes to its high cost. The agar tree is among the world's costliest timbers, further driving up prices due to its endangered status. The global market for oud is said to be valued at 5bn. Mostly sought after in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, its popularity in the UK and the US has grown recently, largely due to social media, particularly TikTok, according to Abid. Oud's popularity stems from its distinct and luxurious scent, making it a prized ingredient in the fragrance industry. It traces its origin back to Assam, India, with a history dating back to ancient cultures, where it was known for its skin-friendly qualities and is often used in traditional medical practices. Read more: 'We turned down Dragons' Den offers - our eyecare company is worth 7m now' It is characterised by smokiness, spiciness, muskiness, woody notes, hints of vanilla, and tobacco undertones. Asked which is his favourite fragrance, Abidur chuckled and said its like choosing between children, though he did say Sunnamusk's Abid Ambe was one of his favourites. Thriving through the pandemic At the start of lockdown, Sunnamusk was already generating 2m a year and the founders, worried whether their small business would survive, came up with a plan to to sell oud-based hand sanitisers to keep the company afloat. Even in the face of the relentless pandemic, we not only survived but thrived. We shifted our focus online, navigated the storm and emerged stronger and broke our own monthly sales records during lockdowns, said Abid, who in 2018 became the CEO at the age of 23. As the UK braced for lockdown to be lifted the brand approached shopping centres and secured deals with the Trafford Centre in Manchester and Sheffield MeadowHall to boost in-person consumer activity in large shopping spaces. Behind the Brand: Sunnamusk on... How far they've come Signature fragrances like Golden Dust and Abid Ambre are now becoming household names for Sunnamusk. With 20 sites in the UK and in Europe including Germany, Sweden, France and plans to open a further 10 sites, Sunnamusk stands as a leader in the Arabian scent industry. The brand now employs 179 staff and has taken total sales from 1-1.5m in 2018 to 10m last year. Were working with global brands, we want to focus on our international expansion and reach over a 100m business turnover in five years time, says Abidur. Getting this far Asked what he would say to his younger self Abidur says: Always be on the lookout for people to bring on to your team, talented, loyal and passionate. People are the most important thing behind the brand. Looking back on the Sunnamusk journey, making mistakes has been part of the process. These included not protecting their trademark and signing up for software not quite right for the business, Abid reflects. Sunnamusk will remain a family-owned business, with all five brothers as shareholders and Abidur at the helm, the company says. Watch: How to detoxify your skincare regime Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Daniel Duffield with Lauren Evans, whose bodies were found at a house in Hednesford about 12:30pm on Tuesday - pixel8000 Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths of a television paramedic and a woman at a house in Staffordshire. The bodies of Daniel Duffield, 24 and Lauren Evans, 22 were discovered at a house in Hednesford, Cannock, about 12.30pm on Tuesday. Mr Duffield worked for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) and featured in Channel 4s 999: On the Front Line, which follows paramedics as they attend call-outs. Post-mortem examinations were carried out on Friday and police said the cause of death would be given at an inquest at a later date. Forensic examination Det Supt Nicki Addison, from Staffordshire Police, said: Wed like to reiterate that the families have asked for their privacy to be respected at this tragic time. Please respect that. And again, wed like to remind you that speculation is unhelpful and hurtful to the families and can hinder our investigation. Id like to thank everyone who has given us information. We expect the scene to be released once weve finished all of our investigative work and forensic examination. The force previously said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of recent contact in relation to the deaths. Daniel Duffield was a paramedic with West Midlands Ambulance Service and featured in Channel 4's 999: On the Front Line - pixel8000 A spokesman for WMAS said that they were called to the property in Alpine Drive following a concern for welfare call. They added: After gaining access to the property at just before 12.20pm, paramedics found a man and a woman inside. Sadly, it was immediately obvious that nothing could be done to save them and ambulance staff immediately alerted Staffordshire Police. Beautiful brother Mr Duffields sister paid tribute to her brother on Facebook, writing my beautiful brother has left usIm so distraught youve gone. She added: I will never come to terms with it that youre no longer here. You were such a bright soul, always helping other people, making them smile, laugh [and] saving lives, but unfortunately you couldnt help yourself. Richard Barratt, a senior operations manager at the West Midlands Ambulance Service, described Mr Duffields death as a great tragedy. Ms Evans family in the village of Pen-y-fai, near Bridgend, south Wales, said they were too upset to talk on Thursday. A North Korean was publicly executed for listening to K-pop, a new report from the North Korea unification ministry states. Photograph: Lee Jin-man/AP A 22-year-old North Korean was publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean films and music, a new report claims, highlighting Pyongyangs desperate attempts to stem the flow of outside information and culture. The case, detailed in the 2024 Report on North Korean Human Rights released by South Koreas unification ministry on Thursday, compiles testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors. According to an unnamed defectors testimony, the young man from South Hwanghae province was publicly executed in 2022 for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing them, falling foul of a North Korean law adopted in 2020 that bans reactionary ideology and culture. The report details extensive efforts by North Korean authorities to control outside information flow, especially targeting the youth. Other instances of crackdown include punishments for reactionary practices such as brides wearing white dresses, grooms carrying the bride, wearing sunglasses, or drinking alcohol from wine glasses all seen as South Korean customs. Mobile phones are also frequently inspected for contact name spellings, expressions, and slang terms perceived to be of South Korean influence, the report claims. While both Koreas share the same language, subtle differences have emerged since the division after the Korean war of 195053. The ban on K-pop is part of a campaign to shield North Koreans from the malign influence of western culture that began under the former leader, Kim Jong-il and intensified under his son Kim Jong-un. In 2022, the US government-funded Radio Free Asia said the regime was cracking down on capitalist fashion and hairstyles, targeting skinny jeans and T-shirts bearing foreign words, as well as dyed or long hair, it said. Experts say that allowing South Korean popular culture to seep into North Korean society could pose a threat to the ideology that demands absolute loyalty to the infallible Kim dynasty that has ruled the country since it was founded in 1948. Despite such harsh measures, the influence of South Korean culture, including recent television shows, appears unstoppable, according to a recent North Korean defector. The speed of South Korean culture influencing North Korea is seriously fast. Young people follow and copy South Korean culture, and they really love anything South Korean, a woman in her early 20s who defected from North Korea told reporters at a briefing in Seoul. Even with the border to China largely sealed off after the outbreak of Covid-19, information is still seeping through and being distributed through informal networks. In recent weeks, North Korea has sent thousands of balloons over the border containing waste, retaliating against the launch of balloons from the South whose cargo includes anti-Pyongyang leaflets, dollar bills, and USB sticks loaded with K-pop and K-dramas. After watching Korean dramas, many young people wonder, Why do we have to live like this? I thought Id rather die than live in North Korea, the defector told reporters. The woman, who escaped from North Korea on a wooden boat last October, also shed light on the hidden resentment against the regime. Of course we cannot say anything bad against Kim Jong-un publicly, but among close friends, lovers or family members, we do say those words, she claimed. Many people are complaining that their postal ballots have not arrived - Anna Watson/Alamy Live News Postal ballots have not been delivered on time in a string of marginal seats, prompting warnings that the chaos could lead to results being challenged. The Telegraph understands that the crisis has been caused by councils not printing enough ballot papers and Royal Mail not delivering them on time. The surprise July election coincides with thousands jetting off for their summer holidays. The election watchdog said holidaymakers had fuelled an unexpected surge in demand for postal votes, and that it would review the issue after the election. Voters had to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on June 19 and were advised to immediately send them off. However, thousands are still to receive their votes despite there being less than one week until the election on July 4, with at least 13 constituencies across the country affected. Eight of these are marginal, and so postal votes will be more important in determining the result. Officials have said that the delayed deliveries could be grounds for candidates challenging the outcome. One affected constituency is North West Essex, where Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, is fighting to retain her seat. No fewer than 2,600 postal votes were sent out late in the seat by Uttlesford District Council following human error. Peter Holt, its chief executive, has been forced to apologise and said candidates could challenge a close result on election night because of the delay. It would be for candidates or voters to determine whether to challenge the result through the usual process, he added. The council has resorted to sending staff to hand deliver ballot papers. A number of the councils responsible for running the election in the affected constituencies said that they were not to blame because they had dispatched all postal ballots on time. However, Royal Mail sources said that the issue was not with them and that in some constituencies, postal ballots were still being dispatched by councils on Friday. In Scotland, at least six constituencies have seen delays. John Swinney, Scotlands First Minister, has warned that the delays could disenfranchise voters north of the border, more than a quarter of whom have applied for a ballot to be delivered to them. The Scottish school holidays fall earlier than in the rest of the United Kingdom. John Swinney has warned that the delays could "disenfranchise" voters - Alamy Malcolm Burr, the convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, called for a major review of the postal vote system after the election. There have been and remain issues with both suppliers and with Royal Mail across Scotland which the electoral community are dealing with as best we can, he said. The contests in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Mid Fife, North East Fife and Dunfermline and Dollar are all run by Fife Council, who said there had been national issues with the printing and delivery of some postal votes. Niki Hutchison, 45, who lives in Edinburgh East and Musselburgh with her husband and two children, said that none of the members of her household who had applied had yet had their postal votes arrive. Her parents, who live in Edinburgh West, have also not received their votes. There are a lot of things that dont seem to be working in the UK right now, so this just feels like an example of another one, Mrs Hutchison said. Edinburgh City Council said it had dispatched all postal votes as soon as the legal timeframe allowed and that an emergency facility has been opened at the city chambers to allow voters to pick up their ballots, ahead of the Scottish school holidays, which begin next week. In Fife, the council will be open on Saturday for voters to collect their ballot and fill it out in a private booth, enabling them to cast it immediately. Surprise of the election In east Londons Stratford and Bow constituency, voter Emily Hewertson said that Tower Hamlets Council had blamed the surprise of the election for her postal vote not arriving before Tuesday, when she left the country on holiday. I dont really agree as everyone knew an election was due at some point this year and their own website said it would arrive 10 days before polling day and other councils have managed to get theirs out on time, including my parents, she said. I did my part by meeting the deadline to apply for a postal vote, so its a shame they couldnt do theirs and now Im being denied my right to have a say which is wholly undemocratic. Tower Hamlets Council has been approached for comment. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who is standing for re-election in Chingford and Woodford Green, said that his prospective seat had also been affected and that both Royal Mail and local councils needed to take action. We are demanding they act immediately, he said. Other seats where postal voters have not received ballots include Dulwich and West Norwood, Oxford East, Glastonbury and Somerton, and Rutland and Stamford. Voters in Glastonbury and Somerton reported being sent to a library in Frome to pick up their ballot, rather than it being sent to them in the post. A Somerset Council spokesman said that voters who had not received their postal ballot by Friday could apply for a replacement to be issued. Oxford City Council and Southwark Council said they had dispatched their ballot papers on time and they were not responsible for the delays. The Conservatives are the party most likely to lose votes because of the delays, Prof Sir John Curtice, Britains most eminent polling expert, suggested. Sir John Curtice, Britain's leading psephologist - Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock Im tempted to suggest that people who can afford to go abroad on holiday may be slightly more likely to vote Conservative, he said. It was a Conservative Government [decision] to hold an election in the beginning of July so they have not got anyone to blame but themselves. But senior Scottish Tory insiders said the delays primarily affected new postal voters, who are more likely to be younger voters and therefore less likely to be Conservatives. A Royal Mail spokesman said: We have a specialist elections team that plans every aspect of the elections delivery programmes and works closely with local authorities to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Where concerns have been raised, such as in Scotland, we have investigated and confirmed all votes are being delivered as soon as they enter our network. A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said that they reconsigned the pressures on the postal voting system as a result of the holiday season. They continued: Following the election, we will undertake research with voters and electoral administrators to understand their experiences at this poll. The administration of postal voting is one of the areas we will look at. A spokesman for Rutland County Council said: All postal votes for the Rutland and Stamford Constituency were issued to Royal Mail on time in two batches (one batch issued on 20th June and the other on 24th June). We are aware that some constituents are yet to receive their postal ballot papers from Royal Mail and are taking steps to make sure they can obtain replacement postal ballots if needed. Waltham Forest London Borough Council has been approached for comment. A debate watch party in Shirlington, Virginia, on 27 June 2024. Photograph: Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock Ron Ringlund is the president of a machine shop in southern Wisconsin. At 71 years old, he knows what its like to keep working after many have retired and had shrugged off concerns about Joe Bidens age until last night. I was thinking, Well, its just the Republicans are putting that out there to make him look bad, you know but he looked bad last night, said Ringlund, who said he usually votes for Democrats, and views Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. Wisconsins neck and neck right now, and just one thing can make the difference. And I think last night could have been the difference, and it scares me. After Bidens difficult debate performance on Thursday, Democrats and independent voters in swing states say they are increasingly disappointed and alarmed by the choice before them in November. Top Democrats are reportedly discussing whether Biden can step aside and allow someone else to get the nomination at the partys national convention in August. Ringlund said he is open to the idea of someone else stepping in for Biden, but wasnt sure who would have the national name recognition. Related: It's risky, but Joe Biden needs to give way to someone who can beat Donald Trump | Jonathan Freedland Im not sure that it would work, but it might be the only chance, he said. Mike Crute, who co-hosts a progressive talk radio show in Wisconsin called The Devils Advocates, threw a debate watch party in deep-blue Madison last night. The mood in the venue was grim. It was hard, Crute says. Even hosting the party, he could barely watch. I walked out of the room, I drank copiously and I came back in the room, and, you know, it was still Joe. Crute, who describes himself as a Berniecrat, said he had nonetheless resigned himself to pushing for Biden during the campaign. And as rough as the debate was, hes not sure Biden can be convinced to step down. If youre the most powerful man in the world, who wants to say, No, Im too old to do the job? I dont know. It would have to come from his wife, Crute said. I dont know who else would tell Joe: Hey, Joe, its time to hang up the spurs. The New Georgia Project Action Fund hosted a debate watch party at a cigar bar about a mile from the debate stage. Bidens talking points were already hard to make out as he struggled to finish lines, and the acoustics in a bar full of loud conversation didnt help. A phrase here or there would rise out of the din like Trump talking about how more people died under Biden during the pandemic. One man on his third scotch shouted at a friend at the bar: Hes lying! Thats a lie. Thats one lie. I know that as a fact. With no real-time fact-checking being done by the moderators or, really, Biden himself observers at the bar were left with impressions from the candidates appearance, mannerisms and tone. For Biden, that was devastating. Midway through the debate, Bridgemon Bolger, a political activist who has been working ground campaigns for Democrats in DeKalb county for decades, was rolling his eyes and started laughing. This is terrible, he said. Its not looking good. The next day, Bolger described the debate as a disaster, from the moment Biden shuffled out, it was apparent then. You didnt have to hear every word to understand what was happening, he said. I think that it matters to swing voters. People who are undecided. Trump lied a lot, but he was coherent and articulate with his lies. If youre not a policy wonk, you dont know that everything he said was false. He sounded better. He looked better. And Trump did a better job appealing to those swing voters. Bolger is a party activist, and nothing about the debate changes his vote. But this isnt about him, he said. I talk to Black men who arent hardcore, and theyre looking at this and theyre thinking about voting for Trump or staying home. Im very, very concerned. Devin Barrington-Ward, a progressive activist and city council candidate in Atlanta, said he was unimpressed with Bidens performance, noting that his weakness allows an opening for younger voters to have their demands heard, like ending support for the war in Gaza. If he does that, there may be a pathway to victory. Sam Hutcheson, an engineer in the Atlanta suburb of Tucker, said Trump is still far worse than Biden, but hes afraid that swing voters will see what happened last night and stay home, vote for a third party candidate, or vote for Trump out of spite. In 2016 it was a really bad idea, he said about Trumps candidacy. In 2020 it was a worse idea. But since then, he literally participated in fomenting a rebellion against the guy that beat him. If that doesnt disqualify you and you got back into power, nothing will. Hutcheson said he marvels at the double standard applied to Biden. But hes also angry that Biden appears to be the last line of defense for American democracy, and that what he watched last night is the modern substitute for substantive debate. I like Joe Biden as a person, Hutcheson said. Hes the most decent people to be in the office since probably Jimmy Carter. But hes an 80-year-old man and he did what 80-year-old men do. Its not ageist to state the truth, he added. Keir Starmer (R) and David Lammy (L) have now both indicated that they will work with whoever occupies the White House. - MINAS PANAGIOTAKIS/GETTY IMAGES Sir Keir Starmer has distanced himself from his shadow foreign secretary David Lammys past criticism of Donald Trump. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir was challenged over Mr Lammys description of Mr Trump in 2018 as a woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath and a profound threat to the international order. Sir Keir said: Those arent words that Ive ever used. Ive dealt with all sorts of leaders when I was chief prosecutor across the world. I know the job of the person who leads our country is to deal with the leaders of other countries, who are elected by their people. You dont always get to choose the leaders of other countries. The Labour leader also refused to comment on Joe Bidens shaky, fumbled performance in the first head-to-head debate with Mr Trump. Mr Lammy previously called Mr Trump a "woman-hating neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath" and a "profound threat to the international order" - DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE Asked if he was concerned about US President Mr Bidens mental state following last nights debate, the Labour leader told BBC Radio 5 Live: I have to say Ive got enough on my hands with my own election campaign to go too far into that. When told by presenter Nicky Campbell that it is an important question, he replied: Well, it is. In the end, the person who is president of the US will be determined by the American people in due course and if were elected into government to serve, we will deal with whoever is the president. The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, its historic and obviously its above the individuals who are in office. Mr Lammy has changed his tone towards Mr Trump in recent months, rejecting calls to label him racist, and insisting Labour would work with whoever occupies the White House. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged Labour leaders to end a Republican charm offensive and call Mr Trump out as a sexist and a homophobe. However, last month Mr Lammy said he would find common cause with the de-facto Republican nominee for president. Mr Lammy highlighted past instances where Labour prime ministers had worked with Republican US presidents, citing Harold Wilson and Richard Nixon, Tony Blair and George Bush. Whoever is in the White House, or Number 10, in a big election year we must work together, he said during a speech at the Institute for Government. The special relationship between the United Kingdom and our American friends is core not just to our own national security, but the security of much of the world, Mr Lammy said - citing the need for international cooperation in wars in Ukraine and Gaza. During a goodwill mission to the US last week, Mr Lammy reportedly met Mr Trumps campaign manager Chris LaCivita in what is believed to be the first official contact between Labour and the former president in the run-up to the 2024 US election. As Labours spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Lammy is seeking to forge closer ties with both major US parties, to prepare for power if his party which is well ahead in the opinion polls wins the UK general election later this year. In a speech last week at a Republican think tank in Washington, Mr Lammy said Mr Trump was often misunderstood over his commitment to European security. The photo John Butcher took of his wife Madeline lying on the floor at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital A woman who is terminally ill with cancer was forced to lie down on the floor of a hospitals A&E department as she waited for treatment. Madeline Butchers account of her ordeal at Blackpool Victoria Hospital last weekend has prompted calls from Labour for the Prime Minister to personally apologise for the disgrace. Mrs Butcher, 62, who has endometrial cancer, has had to visit A&E on a number of occasions after suffering sepsis following chemotherapy treatment. Madeline Butcher has had to make repeated visits to Blackpool Victoria Hospital after contracting sepsis during her cancer treatment - Kevin Walsh/Alamy Stock Photo Her latest visit was at around 3am on Sunday morning when her husband, John, took her in because she had symptoms of an infection. She had blood tests, then, around three and a half hours after arrival, saw a doctor who agreed she was likely to have sepsis. But despite this, Mrs Butcher said, she was told she would have to wait in A&E for up to 36 hours. She explained that sitting down for any longer was uncomfortable because of a hernia from her operation and the position of her tumour. But she was told there was no bed, trolley, or even a reclining chair available. Instead, she was given a blanket and a pillow so she could lie on the floor. This is what the Conservatives have done to our NHS and it is a disgrace. Rishi Sunak should have the decency to apologise to this poor woman. Our NHS is crying out for change, and only Labour has a plan to deliver it.@The_Gazette https://t.co/BvstZrz2bk https://t.co/I9Ya2LeDID pic.twitter.com/C9W1TKp0Pm Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) June 28, 2024 Mr Butcher told the Blackpool Gazette: I was absolutely horrified. I didnt realise how angry I was until I got home and I looked at the picture of her on the floor. How is that acceptable in this day and age? A terminally ill patient lying on the floor? I still cant get over the fact that a doctor thought it was acceptable for her to lie on the floor for that long. Mr Butcher, 61, says the nurses took action once they saw what had happened and managed to get his wife a trolley within half an hour. But the incident has left him angry and frustrated about how difficult it has been for his wife to get the help she needs. Some of the staff are fantastic, but the systems just dont seem to be in place to deal with how busy they get, Mr Butcher said. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, labelled Mrs Butcher's treatment a 'disgrace' - Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, posted on X in response to a post from Chris Webb, the Labour candidate for Blackpool South, which shared Mr Butchers photograph of his wife on the floor. Mr Streeting called on Mr Sunak to have the decency to apologise to this poor woman. Marie Forshaw, the hospitals acting executive director of nursing, midwifery, allied health professionals and quality, said: We have received a formal complaint about Mrs Butchers care in the accident and emergency department. Id like to thank her for coming forward, and am very sorry if the quality of care she has received did not meet the high standards our patients should expect. Any complaint we receive is thoroughly reviewed so we can understand the situation and put into practice any improvements that are needed. Reform UK chairman Richard Tice - LEE THOMAS A third Reform UK candidate in Scotland has admitted voting for independence in the 2014 referendum amid warnings the party will help the SNP win seats in next weeks election. Kris Callander, the Reform candidate in Gordon and Buchan, Aberdeenshire, said he had not always been a hardline Unionist as he had backed separation in the referendum. His disclosure came after Richard Tice, the party chairman, admitted he did not know how many of its candidates in Scotland backed independence. He said Reform had been let down by its vetting company after a series of disclosures about candidates with extreme views, including one who praised as brilliant Hitlers ability to inspire people into action. It previously emerged that David Kirkwood, the partys deputy chairman in Scotland and a candidate in a Tory-held seat, voted SNP in every election until 2019 and backed independence in the 2014 referendum. He is standing in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, the seat being defended by Tory David Mundell, the former Scottish Secretary. The Courier also reported that a candidate in Dundee, Vicky McCann, previously supported independence and claimed the 2014 referendum was corrupt to prevent a Yes vote. But a tracker poll published by Redfield and Wilton Strategies said support for Reform in Scotland had doubled to eight per cent since the start of this month. Nigel Farages party appeared to have benefited from a collapse in support for the Tories, who polled at only 11 per cent, down six points. Labour had 38 per cent support, down one point, while support for the SNP was up three points to 32 per cent. Gordon and Buchan is a Tory-held seat that the SNP is targeting. The Conservatives have warned that Mr Callander standing for Reform will split the Right-wing vote and risk an SNP victory. Reform candidate Kris Callander Asked on BBC Radio Scotland whether his party could be flexible on independence, he said: I think were very much part of the UK, and we see Scotland as part of the UK. I say that as someone who voted for independence in 2014. So its not like Ive always been a hard-line Unionist on this matter. Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Tory North East MSP, said: Pro-UK voters will be dismayed by this astonishing admission from Reforms candidate in Gordon and Buchan. It is clear that in key seats like Gordon and Buchan and up and down Scotland, Reform have put forward candidates without any idea of their views or voting history. The SNP is predicted next week to lose more than half the 48 seats it won in the 2019 election to a resurgent Labour party. But the Tories warned that Reforms presence could help the SNP win Conservative-held constituencies in Scotland, boosting the Nationalists seat tally. First Minister John Swinney has said he will demand the next UK Government allows another independence referendum if the SNP wins 29 seats, a majority of the 57 being contested in Scotland following boundary changes. Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Tory deputy leader, said: There is a real risk that just a few votes for Reform could hand several seats to the SNP, which John Swinney would use to try and demand independence. Pollster Mark Diffley tweeted: Thats the third poll this week to have Reform at eight per cent. If thats right nationally, then its likely to be higher in Tory/SNP marginals in the north-east which could help the SNP offset some of the seats theyll lose to Labour in the Central Belt. Reform UK was approached for comment. Is there too much pomp and fuss around birthdays? - Daniel Grill/Tetra images RF They are among us, they dwell in all corners of society, they are of every creed and class, they have a single common cause yet we shun them. And until this week, no one spoke for them. No one, until now, ventured the courage to put their head above the parapet, to boldly declare, and in no lesser place than a British courtroom, that they, absolutely, resolutely and definitively HATE BIRTHDAYS! Kani Toure, an employee at HM Revenue & Customs, hates her birthday so much that it was a key part of a case heard at an employment tribunal in south London. Toure had told her bosses, at the HMRC office in Croydon, that she wished her name to be removed from a list that was kept in the office of colleagues birthdays. She didnt celebrate her birthday and, grateful though she was for the kindness of noting her date, she emailed a request to be removed from the list. But then in 2021, while Toure was on sick leave, physically, indeed, away from these office shenanigans, horror of all horrors: what should pop through the letterbox on the anniversary of her birth but a birthday card. On Wednesday of this week Judge Adam Leith considered this evidence and ruled that HMRC had inflicted unwanted conduct on Toure. It was her birthday and, as the song by Lesley Gore goes, shell cry if she wants to. Bah, humbug went the masses but the minority of birthday haters suddenly have a hero, a quiet voice of pain, but a brave one, echoing their sentiments that birthdays are miserable and depressing. They are reminders of the agonising march of time. Surely only a lunatic would wish to mark, to make a whole day of, ones advancing age. The irreversible cascade towards senility, bad backs, arthritis, death and worse: the ever-increasing pain of a hangover. Nothing left to look forward to but a pitch to be president of the United States. On the one hand, society rules that it is insensitive to inquire about a ladys age. But then we insist, on one specific day, that we all publicly share in a revealed ritual of humiliation. And if the lady in question is not directly confronted with the issue, everyone scuttles around asking about it. Shes how old? Really? Shes looking good on it / Gosh, its not going well is it? I no longer toil in an office, so Im excused from the ritual weekly, though at some times of the year it was daily of the birthday obsessives coming round with the bag and the card. You signed the card then searched for cash. I remember popping 20 in once and taking out a tenner as change which seemed fair, although someone spotted me doing it and accused me of theft. I had to plead that I was not some pathetic character like Arthur Fowler in EastEnders in 1986, stealing the Christmas club money. In these cashless days theres probably an app for it, some innovative tech for pooling the birthday funds, from which some spod in California is making a fortune. If Labour get in next week, with typical socialist flair, theyll duck the big issues (simply adding to the tax burden of the richest and swelling the public sector), instead tinkling unnecessarily with our lives. So doubtless some equality regulations will be imposed for all office workers, insisting that they all receive birthday gifts of equal value, the sums being deducted from payslips like National Insurance contributions, means-tested of course creating a neat new level of bureaucrats with the better paid making the largest contributions. Back in the office, at some teatime point in the week, out would come the cake and someone would fire up Stevie Wonders Happy Birthday song. And, of course, this was often preceded by a birthday lunch and followed by birthday drinks. And there was one woman in the office, in her 20s, who disliked birthdays, who hoped wed forget, who made it plain she didnt wish us to remember. She was an early Kani Toure, a Tolpuddle-like martyr, and of course, her pleas were ignored. Its your birthday, we would chorus. Whats wrong with you? We will celebrate it, you will celebrate it, there shall be gifts and cake and wine. We shall sing. And if we hear so much as squeak of protest from you, well give you the bumps. This cake-for-all policy was rammed into my psyche at an early age and I was reminded of it this week when I visited my old prep school, Maidwell Hall. I went back to this fine Northamptonshire establishment to give a careers talk to a particularly lively and engaged group of leavers and on a tour of the place had coffee in what used to be the dining hall. On the rare days when we miscreants werent called out to come down which meant a trip down a winding and dark passage to the headmasters study for the thwack of a cane or slipper there was a birthday. On such occasions in an unusual socialist vision of the future parents were expected to provide a cake for the entire school. And if the hungry 70 or so of us werent provided with the requisite chocolate biscuit cake, the birthday boy could be guaranteed some savage revenge the next day in the wilderness during morning break time, or gang warfare, as we called it. And now you cant escape birthdays. They are the permanent guilt trip chasing you through life, especially when one is honoured to be a godparent. Christmas presents arent enough, I gather, and Ive always admired the innovation that Noel Coward apparently orchestrated. He had so many godchildren that rather than dispatch presents across the year, he invited all his godchildren to attend his birthday party. Personally, I think a folded note into the palm of a godchild, as with the keeper after a days shoot, should suffice. Meanwhile, economies depend on birthdays. I get email reminders about the birthdays of people I havent seen for 20 years and who live on the other side of the planet. Facebook encourages you to send birthday wishes to people youve never met and the famous have their names and ages printed in the paper each day. Around the kitchen table, we play the guess-how-old-the-celeb-is game. The answers are always a wide-eyed leveller, as we wonder in amazement at how old or young or still alive someone is. Then a thousand soldiers and hundreds of horses troop the colour for the King on his official birthday and on Christs official birthday the largesse careers completely out of control. Today, with minorities calling the shots, forcing fragrant women to share public loos with smelly men while we all genuflect before a vegan sausage, Kani Toure leads the way as she calls for a ban on birthdays. Which is fine by me. As long as no one forgets mine. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seen at the state GOP Convention on May 23, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. A new appeals court order signals that the criminal probe into alleged corruption by Paxton lives on well after the Senate killed his impeachment last year. Christopher Lee A federal appeals court appears to have cleared the way for top officials in the attorney general's office to testify before a grand jury, signaling the criminal probe into alleged corruption by Ken Paxton lives on well after the Senate killed his impeachment last year. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order last week rejecting an unnamed state agency's attempt to stop federal investigators from calling top officials before a grand jury on Tuesday. The order suggested the agency may be trying to withhold evidence of criminal activity. The case before the 5th Circuit is under seal, and the order does not name the agency in question. But dates and details line up with those in the yearslong federal probe into allegations by Paxton's former top deputies, who say the attorney general took bribes to benefit Nate Paul, an Austin developer who is a friend and donor of Paxton's. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The attorney general's office did not respond to a request for comment. Paxton has denied wrongdoing and the Texas Senate acquitted him last fall after a two-week impeachment trial. The appeals panel sided with a lower court that said the agency in question could not use attorney-client privilege to block information from Department of Justice officials investigating alleged wrongdoing by senior Agency personnel. The appeals court order said agency officials in question may have evidence of a potential crime that they are not producing under the guise of attorney-client privilege, and that the DOJ can invoke a so-called "crime-fraud exception" to get around that privilege. The exception requires evidence that the attorney-client relationship was intended to further criminal or fraudulent activity. "Based on the record before us ... it is plain that the crime-fraud exception to the privilege is implicated," the court wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE ON PAXTON: Texas AG Ken Paxton reaches deal allowing him to avoid trial in criminal securities fraud case The order appears to cite a lower court ruling from August 2021 that shot down the agency's attempt to withhold information. That order, from U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra, is under seal, but was published last month by the Texas Newsroom. For example, both orders refer to "four categories of information" federal investigators can pursue, including "any actions or communications contemplated or undertaken" by the agency to "interfere in or obstruct" the investigation. Ezra's order said the grand jury is probing "Paxtons alleged use of his official position and power ... to benefit his associate and campaign donor," Paul. The order comes as Paxton has been arguing against being deposed in a related case before the Texas Supreme Court, in which he is accused of firing four employees in retaliation for their claims that he accepted bribes and abused his office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A WA man has been arrested over an alleged scam involving fake free wifi networks set up at Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide airports and on flights. Photograph: Australian federal police A man has been charged after he allegedly set up fake free wifi networks at Australian airports and on domestic flights to steal personal data from unsuspecting members of the public. The 42-year-old Western Australian man is facing nine cybercrime charges and was due to appear in Perth magistrates court on Friday. Australian federal police allege the man created evil twin wifi networks which mimicked legitimate networks to trick users into entering their personal details. The fake pages were allegedly set up at Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide airports, on domestic flights, and at other locations that police said were linked to the mans previous employment. Police launched an investigation in April after an airline reported its staff were worried about a suspicious wifi network that popped up during a domestic flight. Related: We are really sorry: man behind Uncle Frogs Mushroom Gummies apologises after people hospitalised across Australia Federal police said on Friday they had discovered a portable wireless device, laptop and mobile phone when they searched the mans baggage after he returned to Perth airport. The man was arrested and charged after a second search of his home in the Perth suburb of Palmyra. Police allege the mans fake wifi networks took users to a dummy page that asked for their email or social media login details. Those details were then saved to the mans devices and could be used to access other personal information, including the online communications, photos, videos or bank details. The 42-year-old has been charged with unauthorised impairment of electronic communication; possession of data with the intent to commit a serious offence; unauthorised access or modification of restricted data; dishonestly obtaining personal financial information; and a possession of identification offence. Det Insp Andrea Coleman, from the AFPs cybercrime division, said members of the public should be careful when logging on to public wifi networks. You shouldnt have to enter any personal details such as logging in through an email or social media account, she said. Coleman advised anyone who tried connecting to free wifi networks in airports or on domestic flights to change their passwords and report any suspicious activity to the police. She also urged users of public networks to ensure they had taken personal cybersecurity precautions such as refraining from logging on to banking sites and performing other tasks involving sensitive information, disabling filesharing on their devices and installing virtual private networks. Andre Ventura, president of the hard-Right Chega party, whose stance on immigration has led to disorder in parliament - Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images MPs who have a tendency to waffle will be made to keep it brief or face having their microphones cut off under a new traffic light system aimed at keeping order in the Portuguese parliament. MPs will be faced with visual warnings and the colours green, amber and red to indicate how much time they have left to speak. When an MP sees green change to amber, they know they have only 30 seconds left. When it is red, theyll be given an extra 15 seconds before their microphone is cut off. The system was due to be tested for the first time in Fridays session of the single-chamber parliament in Lisbon but without microphones being turned off. Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the parliamentary speaker, said the move to curtail lengthy speeches would 'please MPs' - Horacio Villalobos/Corbis/Getty Images Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the parliamentary speaker, announced the test earlier this week, saying that he was sure it would please MPs. The move comes after ill-tempered debates in Portugals parliament over claims by the hard-Right Chega party that the countrys social fabric was being damaged by high levels of immigration. There were howls of protest and interruptions from MPs from various parties last week as one Chega MP said that crime committed by foreign residents was up by 300 per cent, a claim not backed up by any official statistics. Chega, which finished third in Marchs general election with 18 per cent of the vote, proposed that immigrants should not receive government benefits for five years after arriving in the country, even if they are contributors to the tax system. During another heated debate in May the speaker warned MPs that he has the power to stop MPs from speaking if he believes they are out of order and even call the police to remove them if necessary. All parties supported this measure, except for Chega. Mr Aguiar-Branco said he expected to hold a second trial of the complete system before the summer recess, so that the mic-cutting traffic light technology can be applied as standard for all parliamentary debates from September. He also said parliament was studying how to replicate the traffic light system with sound warnings after Ana Sofia Antunes, a Socialist Party MP who is blind, pointed out that she could not be guided by coloured lights. A health worker administers polio vaccine drops to a child during a door-to-door vaccination campaign, in Karachi - SHAHZAIB AKBER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Despite years of eradication campaigns, the wild poliovirus is rearing its head once again in Pakistan. Eight confirmed cases have been recorded so far this year more than the entirety of 2023 and wastewater samples have found traces of the virus in 46 districts, meaning it is spreading through communities undetected. Reports of two children suffering paralysis have been announced on Friday by Pakistans health authorities, both under the age of three. The disease was once widespread around the world but is now endemic in just two countries Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan. Wild poliovirus is highly infectious and largely affects children under five. Its transmitted through the faecal-oral route, and can cause paralysis and death in the unvaccinated. Although there are always cases each year, the real problem, according to experts, is not necessarily that wild polio is circulating its where its circulating. Karachi has long acted as a reservoir for polio - ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images Karachi has long acted as a reservoir for polio, explained Dr Natalia Molodecky, a former senior advisor to the WHOs Global Polio Eradication Programme (GPEI) in Islamabad. Public health campaigns have focused on eradicating polio there, as well as two other regions known as historic reservoirs, Quetta Block and Peshwar. All three regions are densely populated Karachis population is over 20 million have poor sanitation, wash, and hygiene facilities, and are home to highly mobile populations that regularly move through the country, explained Dr Molodecky. In many other areas in Pakistan, its more difficult for polio to sustain transmission because the population is sparse. Many other areas in Pakistan are sinks for the virus, unlike the historic reservoirs, which possess all the factors allowing poliovirus to thrive, said Dr Molodecky. Vaccine campaigns to rid the reservoirs of polio have been largely successful GPEI managed to completely eradicate it in the capital for almost three years, from 2021-2023 and in turn, cases went down across the board. When transmission was interrupted in the historic core reservoirs, our focus shifted to South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), due to the active and ongoing poliovirus outbreak there, explained Dr Molodecky. Foot off the gas South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a remote region in Northern Pakistan, where there remains a high level of vaccine resistance. Its seen 120 cases of wild polio over the last five years nearly half the nationwide caseload for the same period and so bodies like GPEI focused on intensive immunisation programmes in this area. But this led to a decreased focus and attention in the historic reservoirs areas where there is no room for complacency due to the high immunity thresholds required to interrupt transmission. We cant take our intense focus off of Karachi, Quetta Block and Peshawar because once the virus is reestablished in these areas it becomes a major problem for the rest of Pakistan, said Dr Molodecky. Aziz Memon, Chair of Rotary Internationals National PolioPlus Committee in Pakistan, said the lack of cases in the past few years has also affected the publics attitudes towards the vaccine. Most of the population in Pakistan, around 75 per cent, think that polio is finished because they havent seen a case with their own eyes, but it doesnt mean its gone as long as there is virus around, everyone is at risk, said Mr Memon. The result of GPEI taking its foot off the gas in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta Block, says Molodecky, has been evident. In September 2023, a couple of wastewater samples which are taken from sewage systems and can help identify if people are shedding polio through their excrement came back positive in Karachi. Since then, over 65 environmental samples have found traces of polio in the historic reservoirs, along with the eight confirmed cases. Now that poliovirus has re-established itself in Karachi, there is a substantial risk of it spreading across Sindh, Balochistan and further which is what we are seeing now explained Dr Molodecky. This is a major setback, Dr Molodocky added. We had cleared our core reservoirs and were making huge progress, but now were seeing virus everywhere in all of the pockets that we were concerned about. It is especially worrying as we have just now entered the high transmission season, so we may expect to see more cases as transmission increases and reaches its peak in August-September, she explained. Any case of polio is a tragedy, and will leave a child disabled for life, said Nofil Naqvi, a polio officer at UNICEF in Sindh, Pakistan. We are incredibly concerned, he added. The government is set to launch a fresh vaccination drive from July 1-7, in an attempt to vaccinate more than 9.5 million children in 41 districts to try and get the virus back under control. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security The Green Party Northern Ireland outlines five key priorities in its General Election manifesto, including saving the environment, protecting public services, a wealth tax, reform of Stormont and peace and justice globally. Here, the PA news agency looks in more detail at the partys 20-page Greener, Cleaner, Fairer manifesto. Greener The Green Party includes six missions in this section described as being in pursuit of a sustainable and compassionate future. The missions include making it easier and cheaper to reduce energy consumption with pledges to push for community ownership of all sustainable energy infrastructure and investment in solar, wind and other renewable technologies coupled with incentives to make these sources more efficient and accessible. Party leader Mal OHara (right) and deputy leader Lesley Veronica (seated left) during the manifesto launch at the Show Some Love Greenhouse centre in Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA) The party also pledges to work to make green transport more accessible, to restore and protect green space, protect natural resources, support a more sustainable and secure food supply chain and protect animals. Cleaner The Green Party pledges in a joint effort with its sister parties across the UK and Ireland to tackle greenhouse gas emissions by making clean, renewable energy more efficient and accessible. Six missions in this section include speeding up the roll out of renewable energy and making the right people pay for it, fighting for stronger legal protection of the environment, water and air, strengthening international agreements to support the collective improvement and protection of the environment, measure progress, champion international relationships and renew and improve commitments to international aid. Fairer The Green Party pledges to work for a fairer society, seeking to reform taxation to ensure those with the most pay their fair share. The Greens want to extend voting rights to 16-year-olds (PA) Eight missions in this section include calling for the reform of democratic institutions, with the use of proportional representation rather than the first past the post system in general elections, extending voting rights to 16-year-olds, reforming political funding, strict limits on political donations and the abolition of the House of Lords in its current format. The party also pledges to make government more representative and more local, restore and protect public services, end discrimination and promote human rights with legal frameworks and public awareness campaigns and transform work life with pledges to phase in a four-day work week and introduce a universal basic income. In terms of fighting for peace and justice, the Greens say they will campaign for the UK government to demand an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, push for the recognition of the state of Palestine and press for the UK to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, dismantle nuclear weapons and cancel the Trident programme. Mark Cavendish believes everything he needs is in place as he takes another shot at more Tour de France history over the next three weeks. Cavendish will line up for Saturdays opening stage in Florence with 34 Tour stage wins to his name, holding the all-time record alongside Eddy Merckx. Last year was supposed to be Cavendishs final Tour, his final chance to take the record outright, but when it was ended by a stage eight crash, the Manxman was persuaded a career like his could not be allowed to end in the back of an ambulance. He returned for one more season. Although illness has disrupted some of his campaign to date, Cavendish is in confident mood as he looks towards Mondays stage three into Turin, expected to be the first sprint opportunity. We wouldnt be here if we didnt think it was possible, the 39-year-old said. I dont think any other team would be here if they didnt think it was possible. Its our job as cyclists to try and win. Realistically theres five or six chances and its hard. All the other sprinters have got the same opportunities as well. I think we have everything in place to do it but everyone else thinks theyre in a place to do it. Thats the nature of sport. We try. I dont think I have anything to lose. Its not like playing roulette where if I dont win I lose 34 Tour stages. I know it makes a nice story to say that but its as simple as that. Ive won 34 stages. Ive won the most stages along with the great Eddy Merckx. I just try for more and if theres one, two, or 10 it doesnt matter. We have a job to do which is to try to win and take every day like that and approach it like any other bike race. Mark Cavendish believes he has everything in place to achieve success at the Tour de France (Astana-Qazaqstan/Sprint Cycling) When Cavendish joined his Astana-Qazaqstan team at the start of last season, it was a last-minute deal put together after a planned move fell through. He signed for a team with little sprinting pedigree and with little time to draw up a plan leading into the Tour. Twelve months on, things are very different. Project 35 has been at the centre of Astana-Qazaqstans thinking, and Cavendish has had only one focus. I think Im more ready now than I was last year, said Cavendish, one of a record 11 British riders starting this years race. I think I was ready last year but Im so happy I carried on actually Weve had the time to make a plan of how to approach the Tour and well put that into motion. Astana-Qazaqstan have brought in Michael Morkov and Davide Ballerini two of the riders who helped Cavendish to four stage wins in 2021 to join his lead-out train. The man is on a mission Cet homme est en mission#TDF2024 https://t.co/cCUj8hOw2w Tour de France (@LeTour) June 28, 2024 I dont want an excuse, Cavendish said. And so every component we had was a factor in me continuing another year. (Team manager Alexander Vinokourov) worked hard to put it all in place for us and I couldnt be happier. We all get on super well. Weve trained together, raced together all year knowing the goal. Last summer Cavendish prepared himself to bid farewell to the race he loves the most, and the one that has defined so much of his career. Now he is doing it for a second time. I feel it again but its weird, when you feel something already it kind of changes, he said. Its not like its happened again, its just prolongedIve had a whole year of it Its quite beautiful to start in Florence. I lived here for 10 years. Id prefer a nice sprint stage to start but it is how it is. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said racism stings in response to a slur used against him by a Reform UK canvasser, which Nigel Farage has refused to apologise for and denounced as a political set up. Campaigners for Mr Farages party Reform UK were recorded making racist comments, including about the Prime Minister who is of Indian descent. The footage, made by an undercover Channel 4 reporter, showed Reform campaigner Andrew Parker using the racist term about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as target practice. Another canvasser described the Pride flag as degenerate and suggested members of the LGBT community are paedophiles. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders Special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham (Peter Byrne/PA) During a written Q&A from users on parenting forum Mumsnet, Mr Sunak was asked: Do you think Nigel Farage is racist? The Prime Minister replied: Racism stings. Ive experienced it in the past and Ive spoken about this recently. But Im also your Prime Minister running the country two generations after my grandmother emigrated here, leading the most diverse Cabinet in history, and the fact that neither of these things are a big deal tells you Britain is a great country and we have lots to be proud of. With regards to Farage, I wont put labels on people, but I will call out blatant racism when I see it, and there are clearly deep, deep problems in the party he leads. To know my girls may have heard their dad be called a f****** P*** by someone campaigning for Reform is shocking. We are better than that as a country. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Holy Trinity Rosehill CE Primary School in Teesside (Danny Lawson/PA) During his stint on Question Time, Mr Farage repeated claims that Mr Parker is an actor and he described the expose as a political set-up of astonishing proportions. He said: Let me tell you, from the minute (Mr Parker) turned up in that office in Clacton and I saw him, he was acting from the very start. He even says on his website, hire me, I do undercover filming. He added: This is a total and utter set-up that has been leapt on, of course, by our political opponents, leapt on by most of the mainstream media. Asked who he believed paid Mr Parker to pretend to be a Reform canvasser, Mr Farage said: It may well have been the production company, or its the guy himself who wanted publicity to get more parts, I dont know. What I know is this is a political set-up of astonishing proportions. But Mr Parker told the PA news agency that his volunteering for Reform was separate from his acting job, adding that he had been goaded into making the comments caught on camera. Channel 4 hit back at the claims Mr Parker was a paid actor, with a spokesperson for the broadcaster saying: We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. On Friday evening, Mr Farage faced incisive live questioning from audience members about the remarks made, as one said he employed a whole slew of massive racists and another called on the Reform leader to take responsibility for your actions and say sorry, and stop making excuses? In response to the former, Mr Farage said: Im not going to apologise. Im not going to apologise for what? And well find out the full truth, but I promise you what happened over the weekend, what was on the front page of The Times today is a set-up, a deliberate attempt to smear us. When you look at it, what do you say? Its almost unbelievable. Mr Farage faced difficult questions (Peter Byrne/PA) A spokesman for Essex Police said the force is urgently assessing the comments to establish if there are any criminal offences. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was shocked by the clearly racist footage and that the Reform UK leader faces a test of leadership. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Reform candidates were the offcuts from other parties as she urged Reform voters to come back to the Tories. In an interview with The Times, she said: People do need to look at them. It goes well beyond racism, misogyny. Its people who are not fit to make the decisions about your life. They dont understand what its about. Theyve got no clue. I think that (Mr Farage) wants to be talked about again. This is all a big show for him. Nigel Farage doesnt care if theres a Labour government. This is Im A Celebrity for Nigel Farage. Hes done Im A Celebrity, came third, he wants to see if he can come first or second in politics, which is just another game [to him], but actually this is about peoples lives. I really want Reform voters to know that weve heard you. We understand. But you need to come back to the Conservative Party. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Reform candidates were the offcuts from other parties (Lucy North/PA) On Question Time, Mr Farage was read racist or xenophobic comments made by Reform candidates, including Leslie Lilley, candidate for Southend East & Rochford; Edward Oakenfull, candidate for Derbyshire Dales; and Robert Lomas candidate for Barnsley North. Mr Farage said: In most cases, theyve been disowned. People like (Leslie) Lilley, honestly, what he said is criminal. When asked: So why is he your candidate? Mr Farage said: I have no idea, prompting laughter from the audience. He said: I inherited this. It was a start-up party. I paid a professional London vetting company to weed this out. The work wasnt done. Asked if he would withdraw support from the three referenced candidates, Mr Farage said: I wouldnt want anything to do with them. More than 20 organisations have united to provide policy recommendations for the next Government to create a more sustainable visual arts sector. The collective have put together a manifesto to help the next government to support and invest in the sector, which it says provides a critical role in the UKs creative industries. It comes ahead of the General Election on July 4, which will lead to the formation of a new government for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for up to five years. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during their BBC head-to-head debate ahead of the July 4 General Election (Jeff Overs/BBC) Short-term proposals in the manifesto include establishing a Smart Fund to create collective licensing revenue for artists when their works are created, shared or distributed, as well as appointing a Freelancer Commissioner to act as an advocate for the group within the Government. Long-term goals focus on incorporating exhibition fees into copyright law and providing financial stability for disabled artists to encourage their participation in the arts. The manifesto also calls for a national curriculum that fosters creativity, advocates for the integration of visual literacy at Key Stage 2 and ensures every school child visits a cultural organisation annually. Recognising the international influence of the UKs visual arts sector, the organisations have urged the Government to implement a creative and cultural agreement with the EU and rejoin Creative Europe. It wants to protect free entry to museums and galleries, and to promote philanthropy through tax incentives to provide long-term income which is not reliant on the Government. The recommendations also note the need for sustainable investment in visual arts spaces, with a short-term goal to expand Museum Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief and reduce emissions associated with freighting, storing and exhibiting objects. A manifesto calls for the expansion of Museum Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief (Tim Ireland/PA) In the longer-term, it suggests investing in affordable studios and artist-run spaces, and exploring the potential of a tourist levy to fund culture. Our collective manifesto outlines the key areas where the UK Government can take action to create a more sustainable visual arts sector, the group said. A group of 21 organisations collectively outlined the manifesto, including the Design & Artists Copyright Society (Dacs) and the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (Cvan). Christian Zimmermann, the chief executive of Dacs, said: The visual arts sector, contributing 49 billion to the UK economy alone, is a powerhouse of creative innovation, job creation, tourism and soft power. However, many visual artists, predominantly freelancers, are among the lowest earners in the creative industries. The manifesto calls for fairer pay and improved support structures for these essential workers. The chief executive of Cvan, Paula Orrell, said: This united call to action underscores the urgency for the UK government to engage with the visual arts and visual artists to create a sustainable and thriving visual arts sector. One of the most heartbreaking scenarios you run across in the animal rescue community is the plight of pets belonging to the elderly. Few elderly people have the ability to make arrangements for their pets when they are deceased or can no longer care for them and many times, elderly people who should be living in care facilities refuse to go, because it will mean surrendering their animals. When these animals do end up in shelters, they often fare poorly, as they are usually older themselves (which makes them hard to adopt), and have no idea what happened to their loving home. Angela Rafuse was twenty-six and living in her parents basement when she inherited her grandfathers senior cat, Mackenzie, after the old man passed. Soon, she learned that pets like Mackenzie were all too common across her home country of Canada, and founded anon-profit to help match up the pets of seniors and terminally-ill people with people who were willing to adopt them as soon as their original owners could no longer care for them. View the original article to see embedded media. Rather than housing animals in a foster system, Rafuse explains, My Grandfathers Cat aims to arrange for pets to move directly from their home into a second forever home. Related: 5 Senior Illinois Shelter Cats Looking for Forever Homes Have Nothing but Love to Give The service is innovative because it actually gives the original owners a say in who adopts their precious fur babies. Our goal is for the animal to stay with their human up until the very last day to provide comfort and companionship to their human. We often help in situations where a senior is moving into a retirement home or care facility due to declining health, a person has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or a person has unexpectedly passed away and the family is unable to adopt their pet. The Plight of Homeless Senior Pets Senior pets often dont fare well in shelters. Everyone wants a puppy or a kitten, and senior pets sometimes come with special medical needs that make people wary of taking them on. But many senior pets have a lot of life left in them, and there are benefits to getting an animal who has been well cared for in their life. For one, a senior pet probably has less energyif youre looking for a dog or cat thats mostly couch potato, a senior might be your best bet. Secondly, senior pets usually come well-trained, and you dont need to put a lot of effort into teaching them the basics. Make a Plan for Your Pets in the Event of Your Demise Many people dont plan for what might happen to their pets if they die or are otherwise unable to care for them. Its a difficult scenario to face, and comes with many hurdles. Even if you specify money in your will to someone to look after your pet, that does not guarantee that there will be any takers, and the laws to enforce such a provision are inconsistent to non-existent. In many cases, especially among the elderly, there is no one who can take on the job, and the animals wind up in shelters, alone and confusedor worse. Since starting the charity, My Grandfathers Cat has placed over two hundred animals in new forever homes. And people are watching the journey and taking notes on how they can help the pets and the elderly in their own communitiesor plan better for themselves. I am seventy-two and in relatively good health, writes one observer in the comments. I have two five-year-old cats and a four-year-old dog. My biggest concern is who will take them, will they get to stay together if I die before them. You are truly doing the Lords work, says another. Not just in saving the animals, which is already amazing, but bringing peace to the humans who loved their furry friends and know they will continue to be loved. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo has been indicted in connection with the investigation into the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, court records show. Arredondo was charged with 10 counts of abandoning and endangering a child in connection with 10 of the Robb Elementary survivors, according to the indictment. Arredondo was booked into the Uvalde County jail Thursday night and released from custody after posting bail, according to Sheriff Ruben Nolasco. Arredondo's last known attorney of record, George Hyde, had no comment when contacted by ABC News. PHOTO: The booking photo for former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo. (Uvalde County Sheriff's Department) A second person has also been charged, according to ABC Austin affiliate KVUE. KVUE, the San Antonio Express-News and Uvalde Leader News reported that the second person indicted is former Uvalde School District police officer Adrian Gonzales. Sheriff Nolasco confirmed to ABC News Friday afternoon that Gonzales is currently in custody at the Uvalde County jail. The charges were first reported by the San Antonio Express News. PHOTO: In this May 26, 2022, file photo, Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, third from left, stands during a news conference outside of the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. (Dario Lopez-Mills/AP, FILE) MORE: Uvalde families reach settlement with city ahead of 2-year mark: Can 'begin rebuilding trust' The indictment alleges that, after hearing shots fired, Arredondo failed to identify the shooting as an active shooter, failed to respond as trained, and instead, called SWAT, thereby delaying the response by law enforcement.. The indictment also alleges that he chose to negotiate with the gunman instead of engaging; failed to timely provide keys and breaching tools; failed to determine if the classroom door was locked; failed to follow the school district's active shooter policy; and failed to develop an immediate action plan. PHOTO: In this Sept. 6, 2022, file photo, a memorial is shown outside of Robb Elementary School for the 21 lives taken by a gunman in Uvalde, Texas. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE) Arredondo, in a recorded interview with investigators the day after the shooting, said he did not view himself as the "incident commander," contrary to the active shooter plan he devised. He was subsequently terminated for his actions during the shooting. Nineteen students and two teachers were killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022. Ana Rodriguez, the mother of 10-year-old victim Maite Rodriguez, told ABC News Thursday, "The fact that these two people are being held accountable doesnt change anything for me, it doesnt bring her back." MORE: Uvalde parents outraged after independent report finds police officers didn't violate policy Rodriguez said the indictments do not equate to "complete justice," saying, "Not everyone who needs to be held accountable is going to be held accountable." Javier Cazares, the father of 9-year-old victim Jackie Cazares, said of the charges, "Its something." "They are going to finally bring someone to justice," he said, adding, "We feel there should be more facing charges." PHOTO: Felicia Martinez, left, and Evadulia Orta, right, both whose children were among 19 children killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary, embrace after speaking at a special city council meeting, March 7, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP, FILE) The Justice Department released a scathing report earlier this year after it found "critical failures" before, during and after the shooting, and major departures from established active-shooter protocols. Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell began her criminal investigation into the law enforcement failures shortly after the shooting and convened a grand jury to review evidence against hundreds of officers in January. Mitchell initially said in May 2023 that she had been "optimistic" that the investigation would be completed by the one-year mark, but added that it was "not surprising" that it was still ongoing "given the magnitude of this investigation." Anne Marie Espinoza, director of communications and marketing for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, released a statement Thursday, saying, "As we have done and continue to do, we extend our sincerest sympathies to all who lost loved ones." "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this challenging situation," Espinoza said. ABC News' Ismael Estrada, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Josh Margolin, Emily Shapiro and Mireya Villarreal contributed to this report. Former Uvalde school police chief charged with 10 counts of 'abandoning and endangering' Robb Elementary survivors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com "American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal child sex-related crimes. The Season 11 winner, born Andrew Drechsel, was first arrested in 2020, weeks into taping Season 12 of the competition series. NBC severed ties with Drechsel, 35, at the time and eliminated his appearance from the season entirely. The Season 8 "last man standing" winner was charged with "seeking sex with a minor and inducing her to send him sexual explicit images." The Florida resident was charged in a New Jersey court and accused of manufacturing child pornography, enticing a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct, traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and using interstate commerce to entice a minor. A criminal complaint said Drechsel met the victim, a teen from New Jersey, "after an event attended by numerous contestants (from) 'American Ninja Warrior.'" Just weeks after taping the newest season, "American Ninja Warrior" winner Drew Drechsel was arrested on child-sex charges. In a Wednesday press release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said Drechsel pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography and using interstate commerce to entice a minor in June 2023. In 2019, law enforcement searched a then-30-year-old Drechsel's phone and "found images of child sexual abuse, including photos and videos of the victim when the victim was 14 and 15 years old," the office said. 'American Ninja Warrior' champ Drew Drechsel faces child-sex charges, two weeks after taping new season "Drechsel admitted texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim," the release continued. "At Drechsel's urging, the victim traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim." USA TODAY has reached out to Drechsel's lawyer for comment. In addition to his 10-year sentence, Drechsel received 15 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'American Ninja Warrior' victor sentenced for child sex crimes Megan Kimble Lisa Woods Photography The Houston Chronicle is thrilled to welcome Megan Kimble to its Austin bureau, where she'll cover the impact of Texas policies on the states economy and the people who live here. This is a new beat for the Chronicle, and Megan is a natural choice to help shape it. In her seven years in Texas, she has delivered powerful stories on housing, transportation and local governance. Most recently, she published a book this spring about urban freeways and the outcomes from their seemingly endless expansion in Texas (you can find an adapted excerpt in the Chronicle here). Advertisement Article continues below this ad Megan has a keen ability to translate jargon and find deeply human stories in the most underwatched corners of bureaucracy. For her book, she followed residents in Houston, Dallas and Austin who risk losing their homes and businesses to planned highway expansions. She found evidence that the Texas Department of Transportation is violating the National Environmental Policy Act. And she shed light on the political reasons behind why so much of the state's transportation budget is diverted to roadways instead of public transportation. Previously, Megan served as the executive editor at the Texas Observer, where she helped shepherd investigations into rural healthcare, abandoned oil wells and the deaths of hundreds of inmates in Texas jails. She's also written for the Texas Monthly, Bloomberg, The New York Times and the Guardian, among other publications. In her new role, Megan will dive deeper into how statewide policies trickle down to everyday Texans -- and especially their pocketbooks. "Implementation is often overlooked in politics, but it's here that decisions made by the powerful impact ordinary people's lives and shape our state's economy," she said. "I love translating wonky policy into relatable narratives to help readers understand who benefits from legislative action and who pays." Advertisement Article continues below this ad President Joe Biden on Friday addressed his poor performance in Thursday's presidential debate, just hours after he faltered on stage in his matchup against former President Donald Trump. A senior campaign aide told ABC News that the president is "absolutely" not considering dropping out of the race after stumbling with answers and is committed to a second debate. During the rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, a more energetic-appearing Biden acknowledged that he's not a young man, but contended that his morals and history prove that he's still fit for the job. PHOTO: President Joe Biden holds a post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 28, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: 5 takeaways from striking Biden-Trump presidential debate "Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but ... I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong, and I know how to do this job," he told the roaring crowd. "I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up." The crowd constantly shouted "Four more years," during the event which also included remarks from first lady Jill Biden Biden spent much of the rally pointing out what he called Trump's false claims during the debate about the economy, immigration and crime. "I spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy with the morals of an alley cat," Biden said repeating a zinger from the debate. "I think he set a new record for the number of lies told at a debate." Biden dug in further bringing up Trump's conviction in a New York criminal court and pending criminal and civil trials. PHOTO: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive for a post-debate rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 28, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) "Donald Trump isn't just a convicted felon. Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave," the president said. MORE: Fact checking the Biden-Trump presidential debate Biden also reiterated that Trump helped to end abortion rights for women across the country and contended that the former president and "MAGA Republicans" would push forward a national abortion ban. "I made it clear last night you reelect me and Kamala [Harris] we will make Roe v. Wade the law of the land," he said. Jill Biden, who wore a dress with the word "vote" written all over it, also defended his performance. "What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden, a president with integrity and character who told the truth," she said. "And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie." PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 28, 2024. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Biden told reporters immediately after the debate that he had a sore throat and didn't have concerns about his performance. MORE: Next Biden-Trump presidential debate will be in September on ABC "It's hard to debate a liar," he said. When the president and first lady landed in Raleigh early Friday morning they were greeted at the tarmac by prominent North Carolina Democrats, including State Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, and about 250 supporters. Biden spent time speaking with the supporters and took photos with them before he left the airport. PHOTO: First lady Jill Biden speaks during a U.S. President Joe Biden's rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 28, 2024. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Following the Raleigh rally, the president was headed to New York City to deliver remarks at the grand opening ceremony of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center within the National Park system. MORE: Biden's shaky debate panics Democrats, Republicans celebrate Trump: ANALYSIS Biden will end his day with a closed-door campaign reception in New York. ABC News' MaryAlice Parks contributed to this report. Biden addresses poor debate performance, attacks Trump at Raleigh rally originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By David Dolan and Heekyong Yang TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) -While the first U.S. presidential debate of the 2024 race dwelled little on foreign policy, a shaky performance by President Joe Biden will have America's allies steeling for the return of Donald Trump, analysts say. Biden's supporters had hoped the debate would erase worries that he was too old to serve, but several lawmakers, analysts and investors said the event had given Trump a boost. "Mr. Trump didn't win but Mr. Biden might have imploded," said Kunihiko Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat and now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies, a think tank. "Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies. Still, Mr. Trump is unpredictable." For Japan and South Korea, among the closest U.S. allies in Asia, relations with Trump's administration were at times strained by his demands for more payments towards military assistance as well as trade tensions. "The biggest question for Japan would be whether Trump will truly value and maintain the security alliance," said Takashi Kawakami, a professor at Japan's Takushoku University in Tokyo. Peter Lee, research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said the debate had put into "much more stark relief" the possibility of a second Trump administration. Lee said he expected Trump to be "very tough" second time around in pressuring allies to up their defence spending. Trump also started a tariff war with China, the world's second largest economy, and has floated tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods if he wins the Nov. 5 election. Overseas firms dependent on U.S. markets, such as automakers, would also be wary of the heightened possibility of Trump's return given the "myriad" of tariff-related policies he imposed during his previous term, said Lee Jae-il, analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. "Trump, like a trade war maniac, might not just target China but impose tariffs against other countries as well under the concept of American exceptionalism," added Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul. WAR IN UKRAINE In Europe, Trump's criticisms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and demands that other members pay more dominated his previous administration. His scepticism towards NATO is causing further anxiety this time, as Russian's war in Ukraine has brought conflict to the bloc's doorstep. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously cheered on Biden's prospects for re-election. But on Friday a senior defence figure in the ruling coalition lamented Biden's performance and urged Democrats to find another candidate. "The fact that a man like Trump could become president again because the Democrats are unable to put up a strong candidate against him would be a historic tragedy that the whole world would feel," Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, of the liberal FDP party, told the Rheinische Post paper. A spokesperson for Scholz did not comment on the specifics of the debate, but stressed the chancellor valued Biden highly and that Scholz had never spoken to Trump as their terms did not overlap. During the debate, Trump accused Biden of not standing up to China on trade. He also said China's Xi Jinping, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin "don't respect" Biden and that he was driving the country "into World War Three". Biden retorted by saying Trump's tariff proposals would result in higher costs for American consumers, and that he "cuddles up" to the likes of Kim and Putin. Putin has said it made little difference to Russia who was in the White House, and on Friday the Kremlin declined comment on what it said was an internal U.S. matter. U.S. allies including Japan and Germany have in any case started laying the groundwork for a possible Trump return in recent months. "The possibility of a Trump comeback may have increased. High tariffs and support for Ukraine will also bring about major changes," said Kazuhiro Maeshima from the Sophia University in Tokyo. "The Japanese government has also been anticipating various developments in the event of a Trump and has been gradually taking steps to deal with them, including making contact with people close to Trump." 'TRUMP 2.0' In Sydney, several Australian officials and experts had attended a workshop titled "Trump 2.0" as the debate was aired. "The overwhelming feeling from today is that it was a disaster for Biden," said Peter Dean, a professor at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney who was at the workshop. "The mood has changed considerably after the debate and the general view is that if you weren't preparing for a Trump 2.0 then that is the smart play and the smart move now." Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour party and the frontrunner in an election due next week, was asked on BBC radio if he was concerned about Biden after the debate. "I've got enough on my hands with our own election campaign at the moment...The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, it's historic, and obviously, it's above the individuals," he said. (Additional reporting by Tim Kelly in Tokyo, Hyunsu Yim and Jihoon Lee in Seoul and Lewis Jackson in Sydney, Friederike Heine in Berlin; Writing by John Geddie and Matthias Williams; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Alex Richardson) This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. For Democrats who tuned into Thursday nights debate looking to calm their worries about President Joe Bidens age and acuity, they came away with zero remedy. Within 10 minutes of the CNN-hosted events start, some of even Bidens most loyal supporters found themselves asking if the nomination was, in fact, settled. How bad was it? Vice President Kamala Harris rushed to join the clean-up, booking late-night cable appearances. Yes, there was a slow start but a strong finish, said Harris, whose prospects for replacing her boss on the top of the ticket were getting hard scrutiny in real time as the debate unfolded. Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately, this election and who is the President of the United States has to be about substance, and the contrast is clear, she said on CNN in a show of unity with her boss. At times jarring and deserving of double-takes, the evening left Democratic insiders gobsmacked. His campaign team tried to mask the disaster but there was no denying things did not go as planned. And with a painful 53 days until Democrats have their next big night in front of a national audience with the opening of their nominating convention in Chicago, the fumbling impression left Thursday evening is going to be the image that endures for a stretch. Biden has faced pivotal nights like this before, the most analogous being his March State of the Union. Then, as now, voters were looking more at Bidens performance than substance. The fears about the Presidents capabilities faded somewhat when Biden nailed that performance. No one would say anything close to that on Thursday. At times seeming to seize up and at others appearing confused, Biden rambled his way through a 90-minute session against former President Donald Trump. While it evened-out as the night progressed and Biden loosened up, the initial burst of anxiety among Democrats was not the prototypical bed-wetting that the Presidents inner circle has proven adept at brushing off. The split-screen was impossible to ignore: Trump was not only more restrained than is typical for him, but he looked steadier even as he dodged specific questions in favor of populist platitudes. Read more: Trumps Debate Strategy Was to Let Biden Bury Himself Biden took the stage with small, slow steps. He often steadied himself with both hands on his lectern. He looked down during some uncomfortable moments, appearing to zone out. And some of his answers veered wildly away from their intended marks, such as his invocation of Americans murdered by those in the country illegally. The question in play? About abortion rights. "I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest, Biden said when asked directly about his age. Then, unprompted, he started talking about computer chips. This guy is three years younger and a lot less competent, he said of Trump. There are some facts that no performanceeven a flawless onecan erase or reverse. These are the two oldest presumptive nominees in history. The presidency takes a toll on everyone, and both men moved into the Oval Office as not-young men. At the time of their first head-to-head debate in 2020, they seemed like patrician party elders trying to steady a nation wrecked by a pandemic. Four years have not helped either look younger, and there is no denying that Biden, in particular, looks a little less steady, his voice a bit thinner, his jabs a little duller. Certainly, this Biden is not the man who stopped the panic inside Democratic circles in 2012 after Barack Obamas objectively terrible first debate against Mitt Romney. The stakes for such an evening are always high. Americans are facing a choice between an 81-year-old sage with a literal senatorial vein and forgetful streak or a 78-year-old blowhard dragging behind him felony convictions and looming indictments. At the core of the decision is one posed by Ronald Reagan in the lone debate of the 1980 presidential race: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Read More: Our Exclusive Interview with President Joe Biden The debate comes at a moment of a tight campaign, with Trump narrowly leading in most national polls and sitting stronger in the handful of states that will ultimately decide the race. Trump has narrowed Bidens fundraising advantage and seems to have paid no real price for his 34 felony convictions in New York. And, its not exactly a secret even among Bidens biggest defenders that the incumbent needed to knock it out of the park on Thursday. "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either, Trump said in an early moment that thwacked hard. Were trying to justify his presidency, he said later. Bidens showing did little to remedy that reality. Message chains among Washington Democrats devolved as the night unfolded into crippling anxiety. Unintelligible must have been the [closed captioning], one senior Democrat strategist mused. It would have been the most honest. Panic is not too strong of a word to describe some of those conversations. More than a few text chains were asking who knew the Democratic National Committee rules about how a nominee is locked in. Every elder strategist who still hopes to be part of the Biden orbit seemed to have found themselves on flights Thursday evening, unable to comment because they claimed they werent even watching. Trump is, at his core, a showman with few beliefs of his own. Biden, who has a half-century of debating under his belt and spent a week secluded at Camp David practicing for the debate, did not put on a matching spectacle. Instead, Biden tried to prosecute the fact-based case against Trump while his predecessor danced around the specifics and hurled invective back across the eight-foot gap between the men. He gets paid by China. Hes a Manchurian candidate, Trump said. A cheap shot, sure. But its one that rings much louder than almost anything Biden had at the ready. If he wins this election, our country doesnt stand a chance, Trump said, reverting to vague warnings. A disturbing echo of that sentiment kept coming through: if Biden remains the nominee, Democrats might not, either. There were still small reasons for Democrats to hold out hope, however faint. Trump remains a petty figure who continues to insist the 2020 election was rigged and thus illegitimate. He continues to vow retribution against those who he thinks wronged him. Joe could be a convicted felon, Trump said. This man is a criminal. And Trumpwho is a convicted feloncontinued to hurl inaccurate statements and fling innuendo all while flagrantly misrepresenting his own histories. "The only person on this stage that is a convicted felon is the man I am looking at right now, Biden said. Biden also tried to fact-check Trump and landed some rehearsed barbs. You have the morals of an alley cat, Biden said in one honed line, ticking through a litany of Trumps history. But Bidens rejoinders were no match for Trumps antagonism. It was clear Biden had prepared, but he suffered from the curse of someone who memorizes a script without understanding any of its subtext. To summon the words he hammered home, he often appeared to be staring off into space. Trump, meanwhile, just showed up and was himself with a coded appeal to his base supporters. Youve destroyed the lives of so many people, Trump said, accusing Biden of ruining the lives of innocent individuals connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He continued to insist that the protestors who sacked Capitol Hill were escorted in by police. And, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump continued to indulge in the Big Lie that he had actually won but the results were rigged. Theres no evidence at all, Biden said. He was right. But thats the norm when it comes to Trump. What isnt the normat least not to most Americansis seeing a President seeming to sleepwalk through 90 minutes of live television. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. A West Virginia couple has been accused of adopting five Black children and using them for labor as if they were "slaves," according to a 17-count indictment. Jeanne Whitefeather, 62, and Donald Lantz, 63, were charged in October 2023 with gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, Kanawha County Magistrate Court records show. The couple appeared in court on June 11 to face more charges, including human trafficking of a minor child, use of a minor child in forced labor, and child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death, the indictment obtained by USA TODAY says. It alleges human trafficking, human rights violations, the use of forced labor, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers said during the hearing, per West Virginia MetroNews. Human rights violations specific to the fact that these children were targeted because of their race and they were used basically as slaves from what the indictment alleges. Akers doubled the couples' bond from $250,000 to $500,000 each. Whitefeather and Lantz remain in the South Central Regional Jail after being booked on June 11, inmate records show. Their trial is scheduled for Sept. 9. USA TODAY contacted Whitefeather's and Lantz's defense attorneys Friday afternoon but did not receive a response. A Kanawha County Sheriff's car sits outside the gas station August 19, 2003 in Campbells Creek, West Virginia. Kanawha County sheriff says Whitefeather and Lantz kept children locked inside barn When Kanawha County sheriff's deputies responded to a call at Whitefeather's and Lantz's home at 5:46 p.m. on Oct. 2, 2023, they found two children locked inside a barn, according to a Facebook post shared by the department. Deputies forced entry into the barn and discovered a teenage boy and a teenage girl inside the 20x14 foot room, the sheriff's office added. "The children had no means to exit the barn on their own, no running water, no bathroom facilities and were obviously deprived of adequate hygienic care and food," according to the Facebook post. During the June 11 arraignment hearing, Whitefeather's attorney, Mark Plants, called the barn where the 14 and 16-year-old were found locked in a teenage clubhouse and said the whole situation was "just a plain and simple misunderstanding" as a key was in the shed the entire time, MetroNews reported. "I was repulsed, for the lack of a better term," Deputy H.K. Burdette, who responded to the barn in 2023, testified during a preliminary hearing, per WSAZ. "As soon as the door was open, the heat from inside hit us. The smell made my eyes water. It was terrible without running water, circulating air, or beds. At the couple's main residence, deputies found another small child locked inside an unprotected loft alone that was 15 feet high, the sheriff's office said. No caretakers were at the scene when the deputies arrived, but Whitefeather and Lantz later arrived at the home and were subsequently arrested, according to the social media post. How did Whitefeather and Lantz adopt the children? Whitefeather, Lantz and the children had recently moved to West Virginia from the state of Washington, WSAZ reported, citing the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office. All five children were home-schooled, according to the TV station. Before their arrests in October 2023, Whitefeather and Lantz had no prior criminal history in West Virginia, the sheriff's office told WSAZ. Although no criminal charges were filed, the sheriff's office did confirm that two complaints, one in May 2023, and the other in September 2023, were made against the couple, according to the TV station. Neighbors reported in 2023 that the children were forced to perform farm labor and were not allowed inside the main house, MetroNews reported. The teens found inside the barn said they were locked inside for about 12 hours and were told to sleep on the bare concrete floor, according to the outlet. The teenagers were dirty, had a strong body odor and the 14-year-old had "open sores on his feet," MetroNews said. The ages of the adoptive children were 6, 9, 11, 14, and 16, according to MetroNews, citing the sheriff's office. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Couple used Black children as 'slaves' in Kanawha County, WV: Indictment Even before a jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the so-called hush money trial in New York, many Americans were surprised to learn that having a criminal conviction would not automatically disqualify someone from serving as president of the United States, should they be elected. But the US Constitution doesnt disallow it. In fact, for many if not most jobs, there are no legal prohibitions on hiring those with criminal records. Nevertheless, many employers are reluctant to do so. So if Trump was looking for the types of jobs that tens of millions of other Americans with criminal records apply for, hed likely find the same roadblocks they face during their job search. Criminal records can include anything from serious crimes, like a murder conviction, to something far more minor such as an arrest in a case where the charges were dropped or the person was acquitted. Whatever the situation, People simply dont seem to want to deal with a criminal record of any kind, even if the charges were dropped, said Margaret Love, executive director of the Collateral Consequences Resource Center, which keeps track of federal and state laws that address the restoration of rights for those who have been arrested or convicted of crimes. Background checks can kill job prospects With the exception of certain industries, such as banking or health care, or certain types of public sector jobs, employers arent legally required to run background checks on job candidates. Yet most do anyway. And when a criminal record of any kind turns up, that can kill a persons chances, regardless of how well-qualified they may be for a position, either because an employer has a high aversion to risk or a bias against those with a record, Love said. There is a patchwork of formal laws or rules that may bar people from some kinds of employment. But mostly the problem has become a less formal one and manifests through widespread background checking. This, despite a labyrinth of laws and regulatory guidance at the federal, state and local levels aiming to give those with criminal records a fairer shake as job candidates. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for instance, requires employers that consider criminal records in their hiring decisions to assess whether the record is relevant to the job by looking at the type and seriousness of the offense or crime; how long ago it was committed or when the sentence was completed. There are also at least 37 states and over 150 cities and counties that have taken steps to remove barriers to employment for qualified workers with records. Of those jurisdictions, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and 21 cities and counties extend their fair chance hiring policies to private employment, according to the National Employment Law Project. But there are no blanket provisions or prohibitions across the board. Laws vary in what they require of employers. And a lot of places dont require anything at all, said Beth Avery, a senior staff attorney at NELP. Even the strongest of laws is aimed at getting someones foot in the door and thats not enough. For instance, Avery said, states with the strongest laws prohibit employers from doing a background check until after they make a job offer to a candidate. And even then, employers may still rescind the job offer. Thats what happened to a client of Sabina Crocette, a senior staff attorney in the Racial Economic Justice Program at the group Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco. Her client had convictions from 2007 when he was young, but nothing since. His convictions were dismissed in 2017 after hed gotten a business education at a community college and engaged in other rehabilitative activities, Crocette said. He applied for a bank job in the past two years, after getting licensed to be a mortgage loan broker and having worked for a year in financial services. The bank gave him a job offer, pending a background check. When it came back showing dismissed convictions, he was denied the job, Crocette said. The employer cited his conviction history. When he appealed the employers decision and provided them with evidence of record clearing, the employer still denied employment. In explaining its rejection, the bank cited a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulation known as Section 19, which Crocette said the firm misinterpreted. After being rejected twice, the client persisted. With the help of Californias Fair Chance Act, as well as the actual language and guidance within Section 19, the client was able to be hired and continues to work successfully for that employer, she said. While the end result was a good one for the client, its not typical and the whole experience took roughly eight months to resolve. It was a lot, Crocette noted. Even with relatively strong laws, massive problems persist In addition to California, New York is one of the states that has some of the strongest laws geared toward helping people with criminal records get a job. But even so, there are still massive, massive problems, said Jason Hoge, supervising attorney for the Legal Assistance of Western NY (LawNY) Reentry Project. Employers especially smaller ones may wrongly assume they cant hire one of his clients because of a past conviction, Hoge said. Or the paperwork and time required to get approval for someone with a criminal record may be such that an employer simply decides to look at candidates without a record. Sometimes people believe they are required to turn my clients down because of a criminal conviction. Sometimes you have straight-up discrimination [as in] Im never going to hire someone with a criminal record. [Or sometimes] they use criminal records as cover for race discrimination, Hoge said, alluding to the disparities in US society that result in Blacks being more likely to be arrested and jailed than Whites with similar charges and criminal histories. Hoge recommends that anyone who has ever had even a minor run in with the law get their own copy of their criminal record and take steps to correct any mistakes before an employer pulls it. Every state will have a recordkeeper similar to New Yorks Division of Criminal Justice Services. Check to see what laws and regulations your state or city has on the books that can offer you protections during the job search process. For example, in November, New Yorks Clean Slate Act will go into effect. That law provides for eligible conviction records to be automatically sealed, meaning they should no longer show up on employer background checks. And just this month, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued a pardon for 175,000 misdemeanor convictions related to cannabis possession. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com An unnamed woman has accused Diplo of distributing revenge porn in a lawsuit filed June 27 An unnamed woman has sued Diplo, claiming she is a victim of revenge pornography distributed by the Grammy-winning DJ and music producer. In a complaint filed in California federal court Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY, Jane Doe a New York resident accused 45-year-old Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, of distributing intimate images of her and engaging in gender violence. Vanity Fair was first to report the news. In her lawsuit, the accuser claims to have started a sexual relationship with Diplo over Snapchat in 2016, when she was 21, and exchanged intimate photographs until October 2023. Jane Doe alleges that "on some occasions" she gave him permission to record their sexual encounters but did not consent to him distributing the footage. Doe accuses Diplo of sharing sexual videos of her between 2018 and 2023 without her knowledge or consent. After a third party allegedly reached out to Doe in November 2023 claiming to have received sexual videos and images depicting her, Doe says she reported Diplo to the New York Police Department for disseminating intimate images, per the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the NYPD's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information, confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday: "There is a criminal complaint on file for unlawful dissemination for a suspect with the name of Thomas Pentz which is currently being investigated by NYPD detectives." Lawyer says Diplo 'has been targeted' by 'untrustworthy individuals' Diplo's attorney, notable Hollywood lawyer Bryan Freedman, said in a statement to USA TODAY on Friday that "in every case where there has been an allegation of improper conduct made against Wes, the result has been either an immediate dismissal of a bogus lawsuit coupled with an apology, a court-ordered award for Wes in excess of $1.2 million, or the slow demise of an obvious shakedown attempt that has gone absolutely nowhere." In 2021, a woman who'd sued Diplo in Clark County, Nevada, accusing him of forcing her to perform oral sex, dropped her lawsuit, per Rolling Stone. Freedman's statement continues: "Time and again, Wes has been targeted by a group of untrustworthy individuals and their unscrupulous lawyers, cobbling together falsehoods in search of a meritless payday. This suit seems to be just more of the same, which is why we have no reason to believe that this will end any differently than all the others. The DJ known for collaborating with celebrities such as Beyonce ("All Night," "Hold Up"), Justin Bieber ("Where Are U Now") and Tiesto and Busta Rhymes ("CMon") is also part of the supergroup Major Lazer and one-half of the duo Jack U, which he formed with Skrillex. Other accusations against Diplo According to Jane Doe's filing, she seeks "to recover for the emotional and physical injuries she endured because of Diplos actions and to make sure no one else is forced to suffer the privacy invasions and physical and mental trauma she felt and continues to feel to this day." She is seeking compensation for damages and a jury trial, per the lawsuit. One of Jane Doe's attorneys, Helene M. Weiss, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY, "Tragically, this is not the first time the defendant has shamed and violated a woman by disseminating intimate images without her consent. "Diplo's alleged illicit pattern of behavior illustrates the harm he's caused Jane Doe, and other young women just like her. Our client deserves justice, and shes hopeful that this litigation may serve as a catalyst in ending the defendant's repeated victimization of women once and for all." Diplo performs during Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace big game after party celebrating the release of "Coming Home" by Usher and "Gin & Juice" by Dre and Snoop at Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. Diplo has been in a legal battle in Los Angeles court with a woman named Shelly Auguste since 2020. According to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY, in November of that year, August filed for a domestic violence restraining order against Diplo. The following month, the DJ asked the court to grant him a restraining order against Auguste. According to a 2021 Buzzfeed News report, both restraining orders were granted. In April 2021, Diplo sued her, alleging stalking and trespassing. Nearly two months later, Auguste filed a new lawsuit against him, in which she reportedly accused him of sexual battery and assault. In September 2022, an arbitrator reportedly recommended the court award $1.2 million in damages to him after Auguste allegedly violated the terms of the restraining order, per Billboard and Pitchfork. Court records reviewed by USA TODAY show Diplo filed a civil harassment petition against Auguste in August 2023. The following month, according to Pitchfork, Auguste filed a lawsuit against Diplo accusing him of revenge porn. Court records show several different ongoing cases between the two. Diplo has denied previous misconduct accusations In response to Auguste's accusations, in October 2021 Diplo posted on Instagram detailing his denials of her various claims. He called her "an obsessed fan of mine." After I relinquished all contact with her, it appears that her only purpose in life has been to disrupt my work, my business, harass me and my close friends and attack me and threaten my family." He said they had "a night of consensual sex" then exchanged texts for a few months after. He added that in April 2021, he sued Auguste accusing her of stalking, trespassing and distributing revenge porn. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINNs National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Espanol RAINN.org/es. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diplo lawsuit accuses DJ of distributing revenge porn The Google building in Dublin. Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Googles health and data company, Verily, is closing its operations in Israel three years after opening a research and development center in the country. Verily staff in Israel are expected to leave by the third quarter of 2024. The company cited an effort to refocus its strategy on core products and projects as the reason for the closure. As part of our ongoing review of business needs, Verily has made the difficult decision to begin the process to close its R&D center in Israel located in both Haifa and Tel Aviv, a spokesperson for Verily said. This decision is in keeping with our strategy as we continue to streamline our overall company operations. Related: Norway pension fund sells $69m stake in Caterpillar over alleged involvement in Gaza destruction The Israel-Gaza war played no part in our decision, the spokesperson added. Verily, which emerged out of Google parent company Alphabets other bets program in 2015, has become an influential player in health technology and raised at least $3.5bn in total funding as of last year. It has been working toward a plan in recent years to disentangle itself from Alphabet and potentially seek an IPO as an independent company. The company opened its research and development center in Israel in 2021, announcing that it would partner with hospitals and healthcare organizations in the country. When asked if employees at the center would be losing their jobs, a spokesperson stated that the current team in Israel is expected to be leaving the company by the end of Q3 2024. The Verily Israel team has driven important innovations and advancements in the past several years, specifically focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to biomedical problems, the spokesperson said. We plan for this critical work to continue in our US-based sites. Verily has been on a cost-cutting plan for over a year that has included rounds of layoffs after it fell short of revenue projections in 2023. Alphabet has made wider cutbacks, culling 12,000 employees in 2023 and another 1,000 in January. A grand jury has indicted two former Uvalde school police officers in the botched law enforcement response to the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead, two Texas state government sources with knowledge of the indictment told CNN Thursday. Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo and former school police officer Adrian Gonzales were named in the indictments, which represent the first criminal charges filed in the school massacre. Arredondo surrendered himself to the custody of the Texas Rangers in Uvalde on Thursday, an official with the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN. The former chief was booked on 10 counts of child endangerment and known criminal negligence, according to the indictment. Arredondo was then released on bond, according to the Uvalde County Jail. Gonzales was booked into the Uvalde County Jail early Friday afternoon, the Uvalde Leader-News reported, citing Uvalde County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Brandon McCutchen. Gonzales was waiting to be processed, McCutchen told the paper. Earlier in the day, Gonzales attorney Nico LaHood told CNN in a statement the former school police officer was planning to self-surrender so the judicial process can move forward. It is very early on in our representation, so we will be working to acquire the evidence, the government is relying on, in this accusation, LaHood said. Mr. Gonzales position is he did not violate school district policy or state law. The application of this statute, to law enforcement, under these circumstances is unprecedented in the state of Texas. It will take time to evaluate these allegations and the underlying facts, LaHood continued. CNN has reached out to the Uvalde County Jail for more information. Mugshot for former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo. - Uvalde County Sheriff's Department The indictment against Gonzales was not immediately available from the Uvalde County District Court clerks office. Our administration has not been contacted by the District Attorneys Office regarding any of our staff and we dont have any comment at this time regarding the matter, the Uvalde Police Department said in a statement on Facebook Thursday night. The Uvalde County District Attorneys office is not planning to file any more indictments in the botched response to the shooting, according to family members who have spoken to District Attorney Christina Mitchell. Kimberly Mata-Rubio, the mother of 10-year-old victim Lexi Rubio, and Brett Cross, the guardian of 10-year-old victim Uziyah Garcia, told CNN they were informed by Mitchell there would be no further indictments coming out of the grand jury. Im glad two people are indicted, Mata-Rubio told CNN Friday. Its not justice until there are convictions. But I am also aware that there were others at fault that day, and its hard to accept that they will not face any consequences. I would be lying if I didnt say I feel like thats not enough, Cross told CNN. Arredondo faces 10 felony charges of child endangerment for failing to recognize the incident as an active shooting and for failing to take proper action to intervene, the indictment says, and these behaviors placed each child in imminent danger of bodily injury, death, physical impairment and mental impairment. Gonzales also faces felony charges of abandoning and endangering a child, Mitchell, the Uvalde district attorney, told the Uvalde Leader-News. The district attorneys office declined to comment to CNN Friday. Family members of the victims have been meeting with the DAs office to discuss the results of the months-long grand jury investigation, according to Brett Cross, the guardian of 10-year-old Uziyah Garcia, one of the fourth graders killed in the shooting rampage. Jesse Rizo, the uncle of one of the students killed, Jacklyn Cazares, said he was pleasantly surprised to learn about two officers indictments, but had hoped more people were faced with criminal charges, he told CNNs Kate Bolduan Friday. Its the beginning of something, right? Rizo said. But in order to bring closure, you would want all the officers that didnt do their job that day, that failed to respond appropriately, you would want them to be held accountable in an equal way. Rizo hopes the DA will explain her intentions in public and indicate if any more indictments can be expected, he said. A lot of us are not exposed to the daily legalities of all these things, so we get a little confused with the technical things that go on, Rizo said. Theres a lot of questions that need to be answered as well. The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District offered its condolences to the families of the victims Friday, saying it had no further information to add. As with the rest of the Uvalde community, we have only just learned about the grand jury decision regarding two indictments being issued, school district spokeswoman Anne Marie Espinoza said in a statement. How the fallout unfolded Earlier this year, the US Justice Department released a damning report that concluded law enforcement officers had many opportunities to reassess their flawed response to the May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School. Bursts of gunfire, reports a teacher had been shot and then a desperate call from a student trapped with the gunman could and should all have prompted a drive to stop the bloodshed far sooner, said the report. Instead, it took 77 minutes from when the 18-year-old shooter walked into Robb Elementary School until he was stopped. The carnage remains among the deadliest episodes in Americas ongoing scourge of campus shootings. Critical failures in leadership among specific law enforcement officers who rushed to Robb Elementary are cited by the Justice Department, whose 575-page report was released nearly 20 months after the massacre. Arredondo was fired in August 2022 for his role in the failed response. In May, his replacement, Joshua Gutierrez, submitted his resignation and his last day on the job was Wednesday, according to a school officials statement. Gonzales, who had been with school district police since July 2021 and previously with Uvalde police since 2009, told investigators he was at the high school when he heard a report of a vehicle accident by Robb Elementary and went to check. Gonzales, who said he was one of the first officers to arrive, heard shots and entered the south hallway along with Arredondo. Gonzales said he tried to call for the SWAT team on his radio but could not transmit inside the school building so he left. Once I got out to get radio reception, I never went back in, he told investigators. While the gunman was unchallenged inside the school, Gonzales said he spent much of the time waiting with emergency medics outside the west door. He also found a set of keys and a plan of the school, he said, that had been requested by a Texas Ranger on scene. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez told CNN Thursday he believes the Texas Department of Public Safety also bears substantial responsibility for the failed law enforcement response and should have been included in the indictments. This is nothing but a whitewash of the most tragic mass shooting in our nations history one of them at least and certainly the worst officer-involved response to a mass shooting in our nations history. And all of it falls in the hands of the Department of Public Safety and (its director) Steve McCraw. During the fallout following the massacre, DPS Director Steven McCraw repeatedly called the law enforcement response to the shooting an abject failure and said each of its officers actions would be internally investigated and scrutinized by the district attorney. It was more than an abject failure and its a crime not to indict those officers, Gutierrez said. CNN has sought comment from the states Department of Public Safety. Officers, school employees and shooting victims testified before grand jury Multiple law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting, including members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, were ordered to testify before the grand jury, CNN previously reported. School employees and victims of the shooting began their testimony before the grand jury in March shortly after the Uvalde City Council released an independent report clearing all local officers of wrongdoing. The independent investigator hired by the city reported his findings at a packed city council meeting, saying all the officers who responded to the school from the Uvalde Police Department acted in good faith and should be exonerated. The findings sparked the fury of many victims parents and community members who have said for nearly two years that some should not be absolved. Less than a week after the release of the report, Uvalde Police Chief Daniel Rodriguez abruptly announced he would resign, effective April 6, saying it was time for a new chapter in his career. Federal report describes failed police response The Justice Department report dismissed the early official narrative of brave first responders saving lives that day and said many victims shared that it added to their pain during a challenging time. The report found ample problems also emerged after the gunman was killed from getting students away from the school and reunited with families to how bereaved parents were told their children were dead, the release of information about what happened, and the provision of therapy services. The report describes the quick arrival of law enforcement officers who ran toward the sound of gunfire, then almost immediately stopped once they got near the classrooms where the gunman was killing fourth graders and educators. That decision ran counter to widely established active shooter response protocol, which instructs law enforcement to move toward and eliminate any threat. Instead, the intensity level dropped as responders began to treat the situation as a barricaded suspect operation that did not need immediate action, even as more officers arrived and the signals of ongoing danger multiplied. That was the single most critical tactical failure, the team from the Justice Departments Office of Community Oriented Policing Services found. In May, 19 families of the students and teachers killed or injured in the mass shooting said they settled a lawsuit with the city for $2 million and announced they are suing 92 officers with Texas Department of Public Safety, the school district and individual employees. The city confirmed the settlement in a statement. It has been an unbearable two years, Javier Cazares, the father of 9-year-old victim Jacklyn Cazares, said at a May news conference. We all know who took our childrens lives, but there was an obvious systemic failure out there on May 24. The whole world saw that. CNNs Rachel Clarke, Hannah Rabinowitz, Aaron Cooper, Dakin Andone and Alisha Ebrahimji also contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com People applying for naturalization in Germany will now be required to affirm Israels right to exist, under changes to the countrys citizenship law. The legislation, which came into effect Thursday, is part of a larger citizenship overhaul from Berlin as the government grapples with rising antisemitism, a surge in popularity for the far right, and fierce debate over its response to Israels war in Gaza. The countrys naturalization exam will now include a number of new questions, according to a statement from the interior ministry. In response to increasing antisemitism in Germany, the list of questions in the naturalization test has been expanded. New exam questions have been added on the topics of antisemitism, the right of the state of Israel to exist and Jewish life in Germany, it said. The war in Gaza, and Berlins strong support for Israel, has fueled much discussion in Germany. In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, German lawmakers, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, reiterated that Israels security is Germanys reason of state, or matter of national interest. But other voices in the country have accused authorities of going too far, infringing on the rights of pro-Palestinians to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Adding to the complex picture, Germany has the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe, which is estimated at 300,000. German Green lawmaker Lamya Kaddor previously told CNN that Muslim communities in Germany have felt ostracized in light of events in the Middle East. A crystal clear red line The legislation is being introduced nationwide after the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt also required citizenship applicants to recognize Israels right to exist in December. The implementation of the law on a federal level was advocated by the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party last year. The idea was also well-received by other parties in the Bundestag. Under the changes, the process for obtaining citizenship has also been sped up. Those who work in Germany and are considered well integrated can now obtain citizenship after just five years instead of eight. Applicants no longer need to give up the citizenship of their previous country something that used to be a requirement in Germany for first-generation migrants. Germanys Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has welcomed Thursdays changes as a commitment to a modern Germany. Whoever shares our values and makes an effort can now get a German passport more quickly and are not required to give up a part of their identity with the former citizenship, she continued. We have also made it just as clear: Whoever doesnt share our values, will not be able to get a German passport. Here we have drawn a crystal clear red line and made the law much stronger than before. Anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of contempt for humanity rule out naturalization. There is no tolerance for that. The reform comes as a new report from RIAS, an organization monitoring antisemitism in Germany, found that antisemitic incidents in the country rose around 83% last year, significantly increasing after the attack on Israel on October 7 and Israels eight-month military offensive in Gaza. These incidents include everything from antisemitic graffiti, to threats, to violent attacks. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com This combination of photos shows Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press Former President Donald Trump on Thursday invoked Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl killed in Houston last week, to criticize President Joe Biden during their CNN debate. Theyre killing our citizens at a level theyve never seen before, and youre reading it, Trump said, referring to migrants newly arrived in the country. These three incredible young girls over the last three days. One of them, I just spoke to the mother. They just had the funeral for this girl, 12 years old. This is horrible whats taking place in our county. Were literally an uncivilized country now. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump was expected to bring up the girls death during the debate. He previously spoke about Jocelyns death during a speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference. There, he said the two men accused of killing her should never have been in our country. MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: What to know about the death of Jocelyn Nungaray Hours before the debate, Trump released a statement saying that Bidens immigration policies were a nightmare for women. Biden didnt directly respond to Trumps comments about Jocelyn. Immigration was the second topic talked about the 90-minute debate at CNNs Atlanta studio. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The men accused in Jocelyns death Franklin Pena and Jose Martinez-Rangel were arrested and charged with capital murder. Both men are Venezuelan nationals who entered the country without permission earlier this year, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both had also been stopped outside of El Paso by Border Patrol agents and released with orders to appear before a judge some time in the future. The men are accused of luring Jocelyn underneath a north Houston bridge and assaulting her for hours before ultimately strangling her and throwing her body in a bayou, according to police. Her pants were pulled down, and authorities have said they are awaiting the results of a sexual assault kit. The men are being held in the Harris County Jail on $10 million bonds. Alexis Nungaray bows her head by the casket of her 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn Nungaray during her graveside service on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Houston. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Jocelyns death has drawn nationwide attention, at least in part because of the mens immigration status. Conservative political leaders and right-wing news outlets drew comparisons between Jocelyns death and recent deaths of women in other states where the accused killers are also immigrants who entered the country illegally. The stories have often tied Jocelyns killing with the deaths of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old killed in Georgia in February, and 37-year-old Rachel Morin, who was killed while jogging in Maryland last year. Both Riley and Morins mothers have publicly supported Trump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump, during his years as president and in his current campaign, has blamed immigrants for surges in violent crime, though studies have found that undocumented immigrants are less likely to be arrested than legal U.S. residents. Theres no proof that migrants are killing people at a higher rate than in the past, and violent crime in the United States has trended down in recent years after increasing sharply during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Neither candidate delved deeply into what they would do to change the situation at the border, though Trump advocated for a return to the policies enacted during his single term as president. Biden campaigned on rebuilding the asylum system and did away with some of Trumps strictest immigration measures after taking office, including a policy requiring migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. to wait in Mexico while their asylum claims were heard. His administration also ended a COVID-era public health order known as Title 42 that allowed the Border Patrol to immediately turn away most migrants at the border. The Biden administration has said it prefers a carrot and stick approach that expands legal pathways to come to the U.S. while beefing up penalties for those who try to cross the border without permission. The president has allowed thousands of migrants to enter on parole, but under pressure to curb crossings, he also instituted a new rule essentially pausing processing of asylum claims when crossings reach a certain threshold. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump, meanwhile, has said he would go even further in a second term, including calling for mass deportations. Ketamine in an experimental tablet form could help treat severe depression. Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images This article originally appeared on Medical News Today Ketamine can be effective for people with treatment-resistant depression. Currently, anyone taking the medication needs clinical supervision, making it expensive. A recent early-stage study investigates an experimental slow-release ketamine capsule that can be taken at home. If the drug makes it to market, it would be more cost-effective. Current ketamine treatment is in the form of a nasal spray (in the form of esketamine) or injection. Both require that the patient stays in the clinic to be monitored for around 2 hours. This makes the treatments relatively expensive. The FDA currently only approves ketamine for short-term sedation and anesthesia. A recent study, published in Nature Medicine, tests an experimental slow-release ketamine tablet that can safely be taken at home. The scientists conclude that the drug is effective, which would reduce the cost of ketamine treatment considerably. The new approach may also reduce the risk of some of ketamines side effects. However, more research is needed. Using ketamine for depression Over the last 20 years, scientists have shown that ketamine can effectively reduce the symptoms of depression, even in individuals who have not responded to previous antidepressants, which is called treatment-resistant depression. Research shows that injected ketamine works better than the nasal version, known as esketamine. Also, larger doses are most effective. A major difference between ketamine and standard antidepressants is the time they take to work. Standard antidepressants can take weeks, whereas ketamine can start working within hours. Medical News Today spoke with Dr. Pamela Walters, an accredited medical director and consultant psychiatrist who works at Eulas, a ketamine-assisted psychedelic clinic in Scotland. Traditional medications often take weeks to start working, and theres usually a period where it gets worse before it gets better, Walters, who was not involved in the study, explained. With ketamine, it can relieve depressive symptoms within hours to days. MNT also spoke with Chris Pagnani, MD, medical director and founder of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates, who was not involved in the study. Ketamine can be very effective for patients who have failed multiple medication trials with traditional anti-depressants. It has even been shown to be relatively effective in individuals with severe suicidal ideation, he told us. You can imagine that if someone is struggling with severe depression, a rapid change in their mental state cannot only be appealing, but lifesaving. Chris Pagnani, MD However, he also explains ketamines downsides. Firstly, it has abuse potential, and several potential side effects: elevated blood pressure elevated pulse (tachycardia) bladder dysfunction liver damage nerve damage nausea and vomiting dizziness anxiety dissociation The authors of the recent study hoped that a slow-release oral version of ketamine might also help reduce some of these health risks. Investigating an extended-release ketamine tablet The recent study, called the BEDROC study, tested an experimental slow-release ketamine capsule designed by Douglas Pharmaceuticals in New Zealand called R-107. The drug is designed to slowly release ketamine over 24 hours. The scientists split the 168 participants with treatment-resistant depression into five groups. One group received a placebo, while the other four groups received varying doses of R-107. In this way, they hoped to identify which dosage might be most effective. Those in the four ketamine groups took the drug orally twice each week for 12 weeks. They took most of these doses at home. Compared with the placebo group, all other groups had improvements in their depression symptoms. However, this difference was only statistically significant between those taking the highest dose and those taking the placebo. The treatment was well-tolerated, but there were some side effects. The most common were: dizziness headache dissociation feeling abnormal fatigue nausea Participants rated most side effects as mild or moderate. However, eight participants reported severe side effects, including severe depression, severe headache, and chest pain. The scientists also assessed participants using urine, vital signs, body weight, and heart electrocardiograms but noted no significant changes. This is important because other forms of ketamine are linked to cardiovascular side effects, like hypertension. As the authors of the study explain, Other notable differences from adverse events commonly reported after administration of ketamine or esketamine were the absence of cardiovascular side effects, especially relating to increased blood pressure, low rates of dissociation, and also very low rates of sedation. Ketamine and depression: How it works Although experts are still investigating the precise mechanisms involved in ketamines antidepressant effects, the picture is growing clearer. MNT spoke with David Merrill, MD, PhD, geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institutes Pacific Brain Health Center at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Ketamine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist, which leads to a cascade of neurochemical events in the brain, explained Merrill, who was not involved in the study. By binding to NMDA receptors, it increases glutamate transmission and promotes synaptic plasticity, which are believed to rapidly alleviate depressive symptoms. The drug may also work via other mechanisms. For instance, Merrill told MNT that it affects the brains default mode network an area that is activated when the brain is resting but awake and reduces inflammation, both of which may help reduce symptoms. It may also increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain, Merrill continued, something which has also been shown with electroconvulsive therapy another treatment option for people with treatment-resistant depression. What does the future hold for ketamine therapy? While the results of the recent study are hopeful, there is a long road ahead before this drug is widely available. Next, Douglas Pharmaceuticals needs to conduct longer, larger trials in multiple sites globally to replicate their findings. They will likely need to spend millions more before R-107 reaches the clinic. However, they are upbeat about the challenge. The companys chief scientific officer, Dr. Peter Surman writes: Should R-107 perform in Phase 3 studies as in the BEDROC study, this would be a life-changing medication for many individuals who suffer from treatment-resistant depression, and one that could be taken safely at home. View the original article on Medical News Today Jon Stewart is set to host live coverage on 'The Daily Show' of the 2024 presidential debates scheduled for Thursday, June 27 and Tuesday, Sept. 10. Jon Stewart's going all out for the 2024 presidential debates, offering exclusive commentary for each debate on "The Daily Show" after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump exit stage left. Stewart is set to host special live episodes of the show on Thursday, June 27, and Tuesday, Sept. 10, following the scheduled presidential debates, according to a news release from "The Daily Show." "Indecision 2024: The First Presidential Debate: America Watches Through Its Fingers" is set to premiere live on Comedy Central immediately following the debate. Stewart's post-debate coverage is part of "The Daily Show's" "Indecision 2024" election coverage, which is also set to tape a full week of shows from the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention. Lori Gottlieb, a psychotherapist, podcast host and author of "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone," will join Stewart Thursday night for an in-depth discussion at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Here's how to watch it. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox What time does post-debate coverage on 'The Daily Show' start? You can catch Jon Stewart's live post-debate coverage live at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Thursday, June 27, and after the next presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10. U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in their first 2020 presidential campaign debate held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., September 29, 2020. Morry Gash/Pool via REUTERS Where can I watch 'The Daily Show' post-debate coverage? Jon Stewart's live post-debate coverage will be broadcast live on Comedy Central and available to stream on Paramount+ and Comedy Central VOD. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jon Stewart goes live after presidential debate. When, how to watch Judge Aileen Cannon wants to hold additional hearings on Donald Trumps attempts to challenge key evidence in his classified documents case and will allow the former presidents lawyers to question witnesses about the investigation and search of Mar-a-Lago. On Thursday, the Florida-based judge said in a new order that she wants more evidence about the language in the FBI warrant used to seize classified records from Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and about grand jury testimony from Trumps former attorney, Evan Corcoran. Those issues were argued in hearings on Tuesday, but Cannon did not rule on the matters. The judge did not say when additional hearings would be held. Cannon has been widely criticized for dragging out the case over multiple hearings, and a prosecutor at the hearing earlier this week told her he believed the Trump team was trying to hijack the proceedings as a way to spread conspiracies about the work of federal investigators on this case. In her 11-page order Thursday, Cannon seemed to push back on her critics. There is a difference between a resource-wasting and delay-producing mini-trial, on the one hand, and an evidentiary hearing geared to adjudicating the contested factual and legal issues on a given pre-trial motion to suppress, Cannon wrote. Cannon said she would revisit the language used in the search warrant to seize property from Mar-a-Lago two years ago and the Justice Departments use of Corcorans testimony to bolster the obstruction part of the case. The special counsels office has strongly opposed the need for additional hearings and Trumps attempts to cut out parts of the case. Those court proceedings, which would include witness testimony and evidence presentation, would happen before a trial. Cannon then would need to decide if evidence seized from Trumps Florida estate and Corcorans grand jury testimony could be used at trial. Cannon has not set dates for the additional hearings yet. In her order, she laid out the next steps before more hearings can happen. The parties can meaningfully confer beforehand on the scope and timing of the hearing, raising appropriate objections with the Court as necessary; the parties can (and will) file exhibit and witness lists as is customary in federal criminal suppression litigation; and the Special Counsel can request the Court to impose reasonable limitations on the evidence produced to ensure efficiency and control, the judge said. Trumps lawyers say they believe the wording used in the search warrant to authorize agents to seize national defense information and Presidential Records wasnt specific enough, and Cannon agreed that there were ambiguities. The Court determines that some of the terms in that document do not carry generally understood meaning[s] such that a law enforcement agent, without further clarification, would have known to identify such material as seizable property, the judge wrote on Thursday. Further factual development is warranted related to Defendant Trumps particularity challenge of the search warrants language. Cannon denied Trumps request, however, for another hearing about the validity of the court-approved warrant to search several rooms at Mar-a-Lago. Trumps team is also testing a Washington, DC, federal courts decision during the grand jury investigation to force Corcoran to share his conversations with Trump, after finding Trump may have misled his attorney while attempting to obstruct federal authorities from recovering classified records after his presidency. Cannon said she would look again at the use of Corcorans notes and testimony about his former client. It is the obligation of this Court to make factual findings afresh on the crime-fraud issue, Cannon wrote. And a standard means by which to make such findings as is customary in criminal suppression litigation is following an evidentiary hearing at which both sides can present evidence (documentary and testimonial, as applicable). In an order Thursday, Cannon also said she would allow one more filing from each party on the proposed gag order from the special counsels office. During a hearing over the gag order Monday, Cannon told prosecutors there needed to be a factual connection between A and B, referring to the gap between Trumps comments and potential threats prosecutors have warned about. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement that the case should be thrown out. Highly respected Judge Aileen Cannon has rightfully scheduled hearings on the un-Constitutional piercing of President Trumps attorney-client privilege and the illegal raid on Mar-a-Lago by Crooked Joe Bidens DOJ, Cheung said. The entire documents case was a political sham from the very beginning and it should be thrown out entirely. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ST. LOUIS (AP) A man convicted of killing a St. Louis police officer in 2020 was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday. Judge Elizabeth Hogan ordered Thomas Kinworthy Jr., 46, to serve two consecutive life sentences for first-degree murder and first-degree assault, adding dozens of years for burglary and other charges. A jury this month convicted Kinworthy in the August 2020 violence related to the death of Officer Tamarris Bohannon, 29, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The first-degree murder conviction brings mandatory life imprisonment. Bohannon was with the police department for 3 1/2 years, and had a wife and three young children. He responded to a call after an armed man ordered a family out of their home and barricaded himself inside, police said. Bohannon was shot in the head and a second officer in the leg as officers were looking for another person who was reportedly shot, police said. Bohannon's loved ones, including his parents, sister, wife and children, read statements about the impact of his death on them. He should still be here," Elizabeth Bohannon said of her son. He should be here to experience all that life had to offer him. Tiffany Bautista said she learned her brother had been shot in the head shortly after she had given birth to her first child. She said she and her husband had to plead with a hospital CEO to let her leave her 12-hour-old son to see her brother. Kinworthy disputed the case and said nothing can change the events around Bohannon's death or his sentence. He angrily interrupted the prosecutor at times when she read through his criminal history during sentencing recommendations. Kinworthy's attorney said he was suffering a psychotic episode on the day of the shooting. He said they look forward to an appeal and hope for a retrial. Scientists still haven't found proof that Dyson spheres exist, but a new study has significantly narrowed the search for these super-advanced alien megastructures. Danielle Futselaar/SETI International Researchers found seven stars in our galaxy that might host alien megastructures called Dyson spheres. But these stars' strange behavior could also be explained by other phenomena, like clouds of dust. They'll need much more evidence to confirm that Dyson spheres truly surround these stars. In the search for intelligent alien life, finding a Dyson sphere would be like hitting the jackpot. Theoretically, super-advanced alien societies could build these giant, ultra-high-tech megastructures around their host stars to harness solar energy. Scientists have yet to find proof that Dyson spheres exist. But if they are real, we should be able to spot them, and researchers have been hunting for decades ever since physicist Freeman Dyson first theorized the idea in 1960. Now, research published in the peer-reviewed journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society has identified seven stars in our galaxy that exhibit some unusual behavior, which the team can't easily explain with natural phenomenon. What exactly is a Dyson sphere? Dyson spheres are a hypothetical, super-advanced form of alien technology that may surround seven stars in our galaxy. Love Employee/Getty Images Despite what the name suggests, a Dyson sphere isn't necessarily one solid sphere that encases a star, although the most advanced ones could be. Most likely, "these are satellites with very broad surfaces floating around the star," Suman Majumdar, study co-author and associate professor of astronomy, astrophysics, and space engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, told Business Insider. This design would grant an intelligent society access to an unlimited energy source, allowing their population and industry to grow exponentially, according to Dyson's original theory. In 1960, physicist Freeman Dyson theorized that highly advanced aliens could build massive structures around stars to harness their solar energy. Love Employee/Getty Images The design also means there would be gaps between the satellites where some of the star's radiation could sneak through. And the rest of the light, the satellites would absorb and re-radiate back into space as pulses of infrared radiation known as infrared excess emissions, or IEEs, which could be a way of detecting a distant Dyson sphere from Earth. For their study, Majumdar and colleagues analyzed more than 5 million stars throughout the Milky Way that exhibit IEEs. But Dyson spheres aren't the only possible explanation. A protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star emits infrared excess emissions just like a Dyson sphere would. Pitris/Getty Images "There's a lot of reasons that stars might have extra infrared emission. Typically, it's because they're extremely young, and they have a protoplanetary disk," which is a disk of rotating gas and dust around a new star that radiates infrared light, Jason Wright, study co-author and professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University, told BI. There are other natural explanations for IEEs, too. That's why the research team had to rule out so many stars from their original list of 5 million Dyson sphere candidates, eventually leaving them with seven that exhibit IEEs they can't easily explain and that could, potentially, host these alien megastructures. However, future research will need to rule out all other possible explanations first. Hunting for Dyson spheres The European Space Agency's Gaia satellite is mapping billions of stars throughout the universe. Now, researchers are using its data to hunt for Dyson spheres. ESA/ATG medialab To identify these seven strong Dyson sphere candidates, the researchers used a computer system to sift through a mountain of data collected by Gaia. This European Space Agency satellite is creating a three-dimensional map of more than a billion stars in our galaxy and beyond. Data from this highly comprehensive survey allowed the research team to select a pool of millions of stars that exhibit IEEs and gradually weed out all the ones that could be explained by natural phenomena. "It took more than a year to go through this," Majumdar said. Without Gaia and the massive amount of data it collects, this study wouldn't have been possible. Gaia's view of the universe. This image contains data from 1.7 billion stars. ESA/Gaia/DPAC "I'm really excited for this big data era, like all the big surveys that are coming out all the things we can learn from this data by looking at it in different ways," Tabetha Boyajian, an associate professor of astrophysics at Louisiana State University who did not work on this study, told BI. Next, the researchers will look closer at these seven strong Dyson sphere candidates using spectroscopic analysis, Majumdar said. This technique can reveal new information about the radiation these stars emit, and help the researchers rule out other possible explanations for their IEEs. "It would take a lot of rigor to be able to say confidently that this is not something that nature is doing, it's something that an advanced civilization is doing," Boyajian said. In the meantime, Gaia continues its survey, populating the database with even more stars for Dyson sphere hunters like Majumdar and Wright, so their search is far from over. In fact, it might just be getting started. "The same analysis can be actually done on the newer candidates that are populating the catalog," Majumdar said. Read the original article on Business Insider By Zeba Siddiqui (Reuters) -Russian hackers who broke into Microsoft's systems and spied on staff inboxes earlier this year also stole emails from its customers, the tech giant said on Thursday, around six months after it first disclosed the intrusion. The disclosure underscores the breadth of the breach as Microsoft faces increasing regulatory scrutiny over the security of its software and systems against foreign threats. An allegedly Chinese hacking group that separately breached Microsoft last year stole thousands of U.S. government emails. The Russian government has never responded to the Microsoft hacking allegations, but Microsoft has said the hackers targeted cybersecurity researchers who had been investigating the Russian hacking group's actions. "This week we are continuing notifications to customers who corresponded with Microsoft corporate email accounts that were exfiltrated by the Midnight Blizzard threat actor," a Microsoft spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Bloomberg first reported on the action earlier in the day. Microsoft said it was also sharing the compromised emails with its customers, but did not say how many customers had been impacted, nor how many emails may have been stolen. "This is increased detail for customers who have already been notified and also includes new notifications," the spokesperson said. "Were committed to sharing information with our customers as our investigation continues." Back in January, the world's largest software vendor had said that Midnight Blizzard had accessed "a very small percentage" of the company's corporate email accounts. Four months later it said those hackers were still trying to break in, alarming many of its security industry peers and customers who questioned why Microsoft's systems remained vulnerable. Those intrusions, and the Chinese hack last year, prompted a Congressional hearing earlier this month where Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company was working on overhauling its security practices. (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in San Francisco and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Stephen Coates) The Pony Express national President Pam Dixon-Simmons galloped into Old Sacramento and came to a hard stop as the final rider to complete the relay of the 10-day long journey from St. Joseph, Missouri. The 46th annual re-ride of the Pony Express re-lived how the private mail service once relayed thousands of letters between 700 riders along the nearly 2,000-mile-long Pony Express National Historic Trail. The express mail service operated for 18 months between 1860 and 1861, ceasing operations after the invention of the telegraph. Its so important to me to be able to teach the kids about history, Dixon-Simmons said. Even though (the Pony Express) was only 18 months, it was a vital part for our communication and our history, and just like today were still obsessed with faster communication. In one of the last updates before arriving, the pony arrived at the Folsom Museum at 11:17 a.m. about 10 minutes ahead of schedule, according to updates from the National Pony Express Association stable master. Dixon-Simmons and her quarter horse, Penny, took the mail on its last leg from the Discovery Park and arrived in Old Sacramento at 4:27 p.m., completing her 34th year with the National Pony Express Association. A large crowd and officials from the United States Postal Service gathered in Old Sacramento in front of a commemorative statue that honors the mail route. Former riders and officials of the NPEA waited, dressed in Western attire. NPEA officials, including Dixon-Simmons, sported blue jeans, a red shirt, a yellow scarf, a brown vest, boots and a hat. Pony Express rider Steph Sassen, left, talks with children while they pet her horse, Roscoe, near the Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento on Thursday. At about 1 a.m., Sassen adn Roscoe traveled a 2.7 mile stretch of the historic Pony Express trail. This was my dads, Dixon-Simmons said, gripping the vest she wore. I wear it every year so that he is still riding with me. She and her dad rode together every year until he passed in 2019. That year, the association honored him by having a riderless horse complete the mail route. Rich Tatman, the California NPEA president and state ride captain, explained he has been a part of the NPEA for 28 years. He was unable to carry the mail this year because he was following the riders along their route and ensuring they did not have any issues. Theres a lot more red tape nowadays because the state has to approve that we hold this, but when you compound that by eight states, it gets to be a lot, Tatman said. Every state has to have insurance and then that gets to be pricey. I think its $24,000 across eight states for insurance to cover the horse and any liability. The National Pony Express Association began in California in 1978. The NPEA now keeps a real-time GPS location on the riders as they travel across the states. When the express was still in use, Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company used the service, attempting to win a federal mail contract by proving the route could be traveled year-round. Although they did not win a contract, Congress added it to the National Trails System as a historic trail organized by the National Park Service. The Northern California Postal Customer Council also used the opportunity to unveil its 2024 horse postage stamp. This was their first year unveiling a new stamp with the NPEA event. So its really to see the evolution of where (the Postal Service) started to were it is today. Its a great thing to witness, said Gabriel Magdaleno, Sacramentos postmaster. A page of 20 stamps sold at the event cost $13.36. In the 1860s, mail cost $5 per letter. Three Pony Express riders walk their horses during the Annual Re-Ride on Thursday near Expo Parkway in Sacramento. An online map showed riders locations with updates every five minutes from a GPS tracker carried in their mochila. Noelle Athey, 9, center, pets Roscoe, one of the horses who traveled a stretch of the historic Pony Express trail, near the Pony Express Statue in Old Sacramento on Thursday. Athey said her favorite part of the day was interacting with the horses, even though one was sweaty and the other shed like her cat. BEIJING (Reuters) -Premium EV maker BeyonCa, backed by Renault and Dongfeng Motor, said on Friday it plans to set up a final assembly plant and its international headquarters in Hong Kong, developing the territory's first car brand. Following the one-two punch that the 2019 protests and pandemic delivered to Hong Kong's economy, the city has sought to diversify and build up other industries. "We aim to achieve a breakthrough in Hong Kong's auto manufacturing industry, becoming the first international premier electric vehicle brand made in Hong Kong," BeyonCa's founder and chairman Weiming Soh said in Hong Kong. While BeyonCa's cars will be assembled in a government-owned industrial park in Hong Kong, with most of the manufacturing - stamping, body welding, and painting - to be completed in mainland China. The company did not disclose the value of its investment. Beyonca said in 2022 it would begin production in China but planned to build an overseas plant within five years to serve markets including the Middle East, ASEAN countries and Europe. Soh said the company aimed to sell 100,000 EVs annually with three to five models available by "a few years after 2025". (Reporting by Sarah Wu and Zhang Yan; editing by Jason Neely and Jane Merriman) fizkes // Shutterstock More than 5 million American adults were receiving mental health treatment at a state-monitored mental health facility in 2022, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services released in April, an increase from last year. However, getting treatment can largely depend on where someone lives or what kind of insurance they have. More than half of adults receiving treatment lived in just 10 states, as many Americans lack access to mental health care. This year, as the Biden administration works to combat the mental health crisis spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded Medicare access to behavioral health services. Wysa analyzed data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to find which states had the highest rates of adults receiving mental health treatment. Each state's mental health administration reports the data individually. Maine did not report sufficient data and was excluded from this report. Wysa States and communities take a patchwork approach to treatment Nationwide, 15 out of every 1,000 people were receiving mental health treatment in 2022. However, disparities between states vary widely. In New Mexico, for example, 7 of every 100 people are receiving mental health treatment. Meanwhile, in Illinois, roughly only 2 out of every 1,000 residents are being treated for mental health. People who live in rural states have high rates of people receiving mental health services at state-monitored facilities. Isolation, diminishing economic prospects, and the stigmatization of mental health conditions can lead to higher rates of depression in rural communities. In Iowa, where about one-third of its population lives in rural areas, an estimated 473,000 people have a mental health condition. However, the state ranked last in terms of psychiatric bed availability, with only 2 available beds per 100,000 residents. Beyond access to care, each state runs its own mental health administration differently, including the types of facilities each state monitors. In Wisconsin, for instance, private facilities and individual practitioners are regulated, while Connecticut only regulates mental health treatments at what are known as private intermediate treatment facilities, or dedicated institutions for mental health treatments that don't require hospital-level care. Vast differences in the quality of treatment, with some facilities receiving more oversight than others, further stratify mental health care across the nation. No matter how you measure it, the mental health crisis is impacting millions of Americans. Along with federal grants and initiatives, states and community organizations are taking individual steps to increase access to treatment. In Montana, where 5 out of every 100 residents are receiving mental health treatments, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill last year allocating $300 million to improve and expand access to behavioral care. Last month, the state's behavioral health commission presented recommendations to divide the funds, including improving case management, expanding services, and recruiting and retaining mental health care specialists. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. This story originally appeared on Wysa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden, right, speak simultaneously during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. Gerald Herbert/AP It didnt take long for Texas to come up in the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with an early focus on immigration and abortion laws. While both candidates have focused their campaigns on voters in swing states like Wisconsin, Georgia and Arizona, the issues they discussed on Thursday have a lot to do with the Lone Star State. Here are key takeaways for Texas. On immigration As expected, Trump went right after Biden on the issue of border security and the record number of migrants that have crossed the border during the Democrats term. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We had the safest border in the history of our country. All he had to do was leave it, Trump said. He decided to open up our border. While Biden has denied supporting open borders, his administration struggled for much of its tenure to slow the record migration, including in Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a record-shattering 4.9 million migrant encounters combined in 2022 and 2023. And no state was impacted more than Texas. In the five border protection sectors within the state, federal officials reported 2.6 million migrant encounters. But Biden tried to emphasize more recent data that shows border encounters have been on the decline this year. Since March, Texas is seeing about 50,000 border encounters a month across the state the lowest level since Biden took office in January 2021. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He said the numbers would be even better if not for Trump helping to sink a bipartisan border security bill earlier this year. Biden said that legislation would have added more Border Patrol employees and more asylum officers to handle the backlogs of immigration cases. On children being harmed Biden reminded voters of Trumps immigration policy that led to children being separated from their parents at the border and conjuring up images of the Tornillo tent facility near El Paso where the federal government held them. When he was president he was taking separating babies from their mothers, putting them in cages, Biden said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump didnt respond directly to that charge but instead shifted to talking about the murders of people around the country at the hands of migrants who crossed under Bidens administration. He specifically referenced the death of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl killed in Houston last week, and two other cases around the nation. These three incredible young girls over the last three days, Trump said. One of them, I just spoke to the mother. They just had the funeral for this girl, 12 years old. This is horrible, whats taking place in our county. On abortion laws But it wasnt just immigration that brought Texas into focus. When the CNN moderators pushed the candidates on abortion, Trump specifically cited Texas getting to impose its own restrictions on the procedure, while other states like Ohio and Kansas have less restrictive laws in place. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas is different, Trump said. Florida is different. But theyre all making their own decisions right now. Trump also separated himself from the Texas law, which bans abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Like Ronald Reagan, I believe in the exceptions, Trump said. I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. Biden has been using the Texas abortion law for months as evidence of where he says Trump wants to push the entire nation. In his State of the Union address earlier this year, and in campaign ads, hes featured Texas women who have had to leave the state for medical treatment because of confusion over the states laws. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Biden didnt bring up those cases on Thursday, but he reiterated that he supported Roe v. Wade and said the decision on an abortion should be left up to a woman and her doctor, not politicians. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday overturned a 40-year-old precedent that has guided how federal agencies protect the environment, workers, consumers and more, making it easier for regulations to be challenged in court. In one of its biggest decisions of the term, a conservative court thats been increasingly skeptical of federal power rejected the deference courts have given federal agencies in cases where the law is unclear. While the pair of cases decided Friday were brought by herring fishermen who objected to being forced to pay for federal inspections of their catch, the decision strikes at decades of rules for a wide range of regulations. Those procedures were set by a landmark 1984 decision, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which is one of the most frequently cited Supreme Court decisions. That ruling said courts should side with a federal agencys interpretation of a law as long as its a reasonable interpretation of what Congress intended. More: A group of herring fishermen may put a hook in the Biden administration's power Ironically, the 1984 decision stemmed from a case that cut back on environmental regulations and it was applauded by conservatives at the time. More recently, conservatives have argued the decision gave too much leeway to agencies and not enough to the courts, which are charged under the Constitution with interpreting laws. The 6-3 decision by Chief Justice John Roberts found that the longstanding precedent in Chevron defied the Administrative Procedures Act by giving agencies priority in interpreting laws rather than the courts. Agencies, Roberts wrote, have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do, he said. The very point of the traditional tools of statutory constructionthe tools courts use every day is to resolve statutory ambiguities, Roberts wrote. That is no less true when the ambiguity is about the scope of an agencys own power perhaps the occasion on which abdication in favor of the agency is least appropriate. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined his opinion. 'Administrative czar'? Justice Kagan's dissent In a strongly-worded dissent, Justice Elena Kagan accused her colleagues in the majority of turning themselves "into the countrys administrative czar." "In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden involving the meaning of regulatory law," Kagan wrote in her dissent, which was joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. It has become part of the warp and woof of modern government, supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds to name a few, keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe, and financial markets honest, Kagan wrote. Congress knows that it does not in fact cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes. More: 'How do we know where the line is?' Supreme Court considers 'Chevron' doctrine in major case The Biden administrations lawyers had warned that throwing out the 1984 standard would displace thousands of past decisions and create chaos. But Roberts said previous agency decisions governing regulations, including the Clean Air Act, should stand despite Friday's bombshell ruling. The holdings of those cases that specific agency actions are lawful including the Clean Air Act holding of Chevron itself are still subject to statutory stare decisis despite our change in interpretive methodology, Roberts wrote, meaning those older decisions would follow precedent. `Biggest catch of their lives' Mark Chenoweth, president of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, which represented the challengers, said the herring fishermen have landed the biggest catch of their lives. When the group was founded in 2017, taking down the Chevron precedent was its top priority. The dismantling of the unlawful Administrative State has officially begun, Chenoweth said in a statement. Leaders of an alliance of consumer, labor, environmental and other groups said the decision is a gift to corporations and will significantly undermine government experts. The public expects our government to protect us from dangerous products, polluted air and water, unsafe workplaces, and fraudulent markets, said Rachel Weintraub, executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards. This decision will harm all of us for as long as it stands. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the decision made clear that we are a nation government by the rule of law, not bureaucratic regulators. But, Grassley, added, Congress is now under extreme pressure to be more specific when writing legislation so it can be clearly interpreted by the courts and federal agencies. Varu Chilakamarri, a former Justice Department official now at K&L Gates, predicted it will be a while to see the effects of the decision on the lawmaking process. But going forward, agency action will be under even greater scrutiny and there will likely be more opportunities for the regulated community to challenge agency rules and adjudications, she said. The decision could be viewed as putting regulated communities on a more equal-footing with the agencies Lower courts had sided with the government Both the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Boston-based 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals had sided with the federal government, affirming lower court decisions. Bill Bright, who has been in the fishing industry for decades, is one of several fishermen fighting a federal regulation at the Supreme Court in a case that could have enormous consequences for the federal government. The fishing companies that appealed to the Supreme Court objected to having to pay for federal observers required on some boats to prevent overfishing. The government has stopped that program and refunded the money. But the companies argued the law that allows the National Marine Fisheries Service to require commercial fishing boats to let federal agents collect data about the catch and ensure rules are followed didnt say anything specifically about charging the fishing industry for the observers. Business groups, conservative think tanks, Republican members of Congress and the attorneys general from 27 states sided with the challengers. Those backing the federal government included environmental groups, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic attorneys general from 21 states and the District of Columbia, and organizations advocating for public health, consumers and civil rights. The combined cases are Loper Bright Enterprises Inc. v. Gina Raimondo and Relentless Inc., v. Department of Commerce. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court curbs power of federal regulators, overturning 40-year precedent Walgreens said Thursday that it plans to close a significant number of its roughly 8,600 stores in the United States. Around 25% of Walgreens stores arent profitable, and the chain will look to close stores that are right by one another or struggling to hold down theft, CEO Tim Wentworth said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Walgreens and other retailers have been hit by shoplifting and resorted to locking up items or closing high-theft stores since the pandemic, but Walgreens problems are much deeper, including competition and failed growth strategies. Walgreens admitted last year it cried too much over the business impact of shoplifting. The latest closures are part of a larger downturn, not just for Walgreens, but for other drug store chains, too, after years of expansion. Walgreens said in 2019 it would close 200 stores and last year announced an additional 150 store closures. We are at a point where the current pharmacy model is not sustainable, Wentworth said. CVS, the largest US chain, closed 244 stores between 2018 and 2020. In 2021, it announced plans to close 900 stores. And Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy last year and will close up to 500 stores. Shifting trends Drug store chains are struggling because of falling reimbursement rates for prescription drugs, according to analysts who cover the industry. The majority of drugstores sales comes from filling prescriptions. But their profits from that business have dropped in recent years because of lower reimbursement rates for prescription drugs and higher fees. The prices customers pay for drugs and the payments pharmacies receive are largely determined by pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs, which negotiate rebates from drug manufacturers to insurers. PBMs have been cutting reimbursement rates to boost their own profits, said Elizabeth Anderson, an analyst at Evercore IRI. The pharmacy industry has complained that PBMs have too much control over the industry and can squeeze pharmacies. PBMs argue that they help keep drug prices down by negotiating with drug makers. If reimbursement rates start to come down and drug stores cant offset it with other growth, then it has a negative impact on their profitability, she said. At the same time, the rest of the store thats supposed to pad the profit margins arent doing it so much anymore. The front end of drug stores, where they sell snacks and household staples, have become less profitable, as shoppers buy more of these items online from Amazon and at big-box chains such as Walmart and Costco. Both have grown in recent years. Dollar Generals growth has also hurt drug store chains in rural areas. The front end is suffering like other retailers, Anderson said. Walgreens, CVS and other drug stores have moved into primary care to try to lure in shoppers, adding doctors offices to hundreds of stores. Walgreens took a $5.2 billion stake in VillageMD, a primary care network, in 2021. But VIllageMD has not been profitable for Walgreens, and Walgreens has tried to cut costs. It has been closing VillageMD locations and said Thursday it will divest from the company. Helping the company, hurting the consumer Walgreens coming closures might help the companys bottom line, but are likely to hurt access to health care. When pharmacies close, some patients have to travel farther to get the medications they need. Researchers find pharmacy closures lead to health risks such as older adults failing to take medication. The loss of a retail pharmacy can leave a void, especially for lower-income households. Roughly one out of every eight pharmacies closed between 2009 and 2015, which disproportionately affected independent pharmacies and low-income neighborhoods, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that pharmacies at greatest risk for closures are those with a large customer base on public insurance, which have lower reimbursement rates than private plans, as well as independent pharmacies. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Merger and acquisition activity in the technology sector is expected to accelerate in the months ahead and while this may cause some disruption among key players, implications for customers can cut deep. The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom left many customers in the dark and seeking guidance on how to navigate the disruptive change. Some customers took a wait and see approach, while others signed multi-year deals to maintain their current environment to delay making major decisions until they reached the end of their lifecycle. What they didnt bet on was Broadcom hiking up prices in some cases, ten-fold. This has put many partners in a position to try and seek out alternative hyper converged infrastructure technologies and arrangements such as Nutanix, which has been steadily gaining ground on switching up customer environments in the market. Nutanix Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) vice president of partner sales Michael Magura claimed Broadcoms acquisition of VMware turned a big page in the history of the IT industry, having a serious ripple effect in the market. During a discussion, Magura explained how these changes were impacting customers and prospects and how it was helping partners mitigate the risks, increase their security and discover opportunities to migrate to different solutions such as Nutanix. NTT Singapore vice president of innovation and technology solutions Pranay Anand, Qirx CEO Nick Winch, Think Solutions sales director Pedro Duarte and Indias Tech9Labs founder and CEO Amit Jain also joined the discussion. For the first time, Winch said it was looking at options that it wouldnt have previously considered. As a Canberra-based organisation, the government sector is a dominant market sweet spot for Qirx. With HCI, Nutanix cloud manager, we lead the conversation with any clients that are at the pointy end of their hardware cycle or theyre already running VMware vSAN. It gives us a like-for-like replacement and were getting a lot of traction in these discussions, Winch said. While Broadcom has revealed its VMware strategy to focus on the top-end of the market, its left many customers and partners alike in the dust, seeking alternative arrangements. While it may be a small market to VMware, its an exceptionally large number that are unhappy, Winch said. Customers [are] worried about what that means for costs moving forward and theyre fed up with the lack of local support because the VMware people are now too focused on the high-end because thats what theyre being measured on; these customers have been left in a vacuum. Jain added VMware had been an important part of the technology landscape for many customers to host their applications whether on-premises or in the cloud. It makes them anxious to think about what they should really be looking for next whether its a wait and watch strategy, whether they should rip and replace, or whether they should have a plan/vendor B, theres still a lot of uncertainty, Jain said. Increasing prices for the sake of it, doesnt really work without a good value proposition and customer support has always had a question mark. Its not a good reaction in the market at this point in time. From Anands experience, he said he has clients in three camps one group that did plan ahead due to previous experiences, another that took a wait and see approach and a third that recognised they left it too late to take action. This VMware and Broadcom acquisition didnt put clients in the center and thats been a big challenge, Anand said. For the customers caught up in the middle of all this, Anand said they strategically signed multi-year license agreement deals just to buy some more time, but the bill shock has caught them out. For Australian mid-market clients, Duarte said that many didnt have the budget to move off and renew licensing agreements with alternative options, therefore exposing them to risks. Its the first time Ive heard a vendor expose their customer to that sort of risk, Duarte said. Weve got customers who are going without support and security hotfixes, just riding it out. Some of these customers are years away from their lifecycle refreshes and thats a lot of exposure that theyve got to carry for multiple years. With the amount of consolidation happening across the vendor landscape, partners are taking a dual-vendor approach to customer engagements. Its prudent now for us to bring in the added value in anything we do and look at dual vendor strategies across everything, Anand added. A balanced approach Nutanix, AWS or Azure? There are not very many options on the table with many customers turning to Nutanix, AWS or Azure to help remedy their precarious situation. Customers have to really think for their business rather than technology, Jain said. Were conducting multiple workshops with the clients, really understanding whether they should seriously stick with VMware despite whatever demands if the business really needs it. We have also been working on defining agile planning and transition strategies. We need to ensure that whatever disruption happens with these acquisitions, in whatever capacities and capabilities the partners may support, we should be absolutely ready. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced a massive move towards cloud technologies, post-pandemic, customers started to move environments back on-premises. Does that risk appetite allow you to move or do you make the investment instead? Jain said. Its a double edged sword for most of my clients, how am I approaching the dual vendor strategy is one conversation. It all starts with, where are we today? Is there a need to hyperscale? Or what are those workloads? Understand the data patterns because if you are going to quiz them, every other time you will be hit with an increase in ingress and egress charges, so what workloads do you keep on-premise or in a hybrid center? Duarte said it was having many customer discussions on their options, and working on pre-sales activities around scoping and migration. The reality is these things will take time, Duarte said. Our job is to take the broad set of technology options and fine tune it down to a customers requirements, but when we look at the private cloud stack, and specifically the virtualisation stack, over the years that that actual choice is diminished. Its a journey to migrate a customer to Nutanix and guide them in the right direction. Following years of working in a corporate environment, Bardia Khalilifar took a bold step to branch out in his own consultancy gig, Conicio Advisory. Speaking about the actual process of starting out as a team of one, Khalilifar said it was a daunting and scary, but at the same time, exciting experience for the entrepreneur. Its about opening up gates yourself to look at other possibilities of how you can utilise your skill sets and your experience to help others as well, he added. The idea for Conicio was born following Khalilifars experience with large corporates, working for various technology companies for just under 20 years, which include the likes of Cisco, Dicker Data, FirstWave Cloud Technology and HPE. During this time, he found these big players operated in a very transactional manner when it came to customers. Despite them being vendors and manufacturing great technology and solutions, it just felt like it struggled to be about the customer, it was more about the actual vendor itself, Khalilifar said to ARN. He continued, claiming he started the advisory because he wanted to look at the customer angle, to provide them with the appropriate information to scale and grow internally and externally. In summary, the reason that Ive decided to start Conicio was because its making it more about the customer, making it more about the partner but also becoming more innovative as well and what sort of partnerships that we can tap into to help these businesses from all different industries to scale and grow in their own environment, he said. The main aim of Conicio, according to Khalilifar, is about providing market intelligence and insights. The objective of all that is to influence the technology market itself in the customers environment and it could be very agnostic across all technology types. So, it could be from cloud all the way to machine learning/artificial intelligence, it could be software development, or even CRMs [customer relationship management] as well, he said. The idea is to incorporate that technology platform in a customers environment, but at the same time, providing market intelligence and insights as an advisor to help customers with the decision-making capabilities to understand what is it that the market is seeing today, how they can overcome those challenges and how they can become innovative as well. The entrepreneur also said that as part of the process, he writes the market intelligence and insights himself, providing this information to customers. After the initial stages of growth, Conicios offerings include, on the advisory side, fractional chief sales and partner officers and board advisory. Meanwhile, the consulting services offering cover sales, go-to-market and partnerships. Currently, the business has one other consultant on board who specialises on software-as-a-service and software businesses. Meanwhile, Khalilifars focus is on larger clients, providing chief sales and partner officer roles and driving business growth for Conicios clients to capitalise on their intended target markets. Khalilifar said the plan is to cater to just Australia for now, with plans to expand across the Tasman to New Zealand in the longer term, followed later by Asia Pacific and other parts of the world. Microsoft is currently alerting its customers and clients that their emails may have been compromised following reports of Russian hackers spying on the company's emails. According to a Reuters report, the new details follow the company's ongoing investigations on the safety and security of its customers' data amid threats of major cyberattacks. The company did not disclose the exact number of customers affected nor the scale of data accessed by the hackers. The report is part of Microsoft's disclosure on the massive cyberattack last January that resulted to its core software systems, including its source code, being accessed by supposed state-back threat actors. Microsoft has earlier confirmed that the Russian hackers were able to open government emails from the stolen staff details. Also Read : US Officials Confirm Russian Hackers Accessing Gov't Emails Via Microsoft Breach Microsoft Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Amid Series of Cyberattacks As Reuters noted, the disclosures reflect the regulatory and federal scrutiny of Microsoft amid growing concern about the company's cybersecurity culture. Earlier this month, Microsoft was grilled during a Senate hearing after an earlier cyberattack last year allowed supposed Chinese state-back hackers access over 60,000 State Department emails. Before the Senate inquiry, the Cyber Safety Review Board also criticized the world's largest software retailer for allowing "preventable" cyberattacks to affect its operations due to its "inadequate" security culture. While CEO Satya Nadella promised to put cybersecurity efforts at the company's "No. 1 priority," similar incidents continue to rise as new critical vulnerabilities in its system surface almost every month. Related Article : New Microsoft Vulnerability Allows Anyone to Impersonate Corporate Emails Russian Hackers Continue to Surge as Tensions Run High Federal scrutiny on its contractors' cybersecurity systems has heightened over the past two years as the country prepares for more cybercrimes from alleged Russian state-backed groups. Since the US imposed trade sanctions on Russia in 2022 at the start of its war against Ukraine, the countries and its allies have experienced more cyberattacks across major businesses, government units, and affiliated institutions. Security experts warned that cybercrime groups are becoming braver as they target the country's critical sectors as seen with the data breach with UnitedHealth Group and several financial firms. The Russian government has not responded to the accusations, although earlier reports indicate that the country is also suffering from more data breaches since 2022. All stories have their endings --Yes, thats true! Morality has its bending --What can we do? In every love there is offending --Equally for me and you The past is gone, the futures pending --The devil will have his due. From The Ballad of Joe Hoga, by Bachchoo The British general election is just a few days away. In the context of what I am about to write, Id better be exact -- its on the Fourth of July. So what, gentle readers, preoccupies the UK media and the nation? The economy? Er... no. The National Health Service? Umm up to a point. The prospect of raised or lower taxes? Well sort of. Stopping immigration? A constant but today unproduced nag. What then does dominate the headlines today? A bet. Not even one for millions of pounds -- just a hundred or a hundred and fifty. And no, not on a horse, my dears -- but, placed before Hedgie Soongone stood in the pouring rain outside 10 Downing Street behind a lectern and soakingly announced the date he had set for the election, a bet on just this July election date. For the past year, commentators have been speculating on the election date. Most opted for November. Others, vaguely, speculated that a late election could give the Tories enough time to cut taxes and thus appeal to wider sections of the electorate. Perhaps the main threat to the Tory vote is not the divisions in the party or its failure through four prime ministerships on most fronts in government, but the rise of a far-right party called Reform, led now by one Nigel Farage. Farage was and is Britains Chief Mr Brexit, insisting that it hasnt yet got done!. He is also a friend of and campaigner for Donald Trump and crosses the pond to help Donald Wigwarm campaign. Some commentators therefore assumed that Hedgie would call the election in November when Farage would be away in the United States helping his hero win the US election and wouldnt be here as a thorn in his flesh. Wrong. Hedgie inevitably consulted several people in ultra-confidence about the best date to call the election. All sorts of factors must have been brought to the equation. Victory was the pretence. Holding back the resurgent tsunami of Labour was the aim. The announced date, carefully assessed behind the closed doors and secret closets of Number Ten, came as a surprise to some. But not apparently to two Tory election candidates who were privy to the discussions which determined this precise date. So, what did these Tory candidates, one for a constituency in Wales and the other for North Bristol, do? Why, they used their inside information to go to the bookies and place bets on the precise day of the election before it was announced. The media has now gone wild with the allegation and the fact that an internal 10 Downing Street inquiry has determined that these two and several others, including security policemen who might have heard whispers of the specific date, went out and had a flutter (placed a bet) on it, as the Brits say. I dont know what odds were offered, but I bet (oh dear!) they must have been substantial if the exact date was specified. The two candidates have been expelled from the Tory party and will either withdraw or stand as exposed, cheating Independents. Rule Britannia! I confess, I didnt think bookies would accept bets on the election date. I occasionally go down to the local bookies and place 3.60 on a special horse-racing bet in which you pick three horses to come first and second in six possible combinations. I mostly lose the 3.60, but must here record the fact that I once won 46 on this bet -- err... three years ago. Ive only taken to this form of idleness in my later years. As a teenager in Pune, I was aware that at the corner of our Sachapir Street was a busy crossroads called Sarbatwalla Chowk, where bookies would hang about taking bets on horse races, but mostly on what were known as cotton figures. The bet consisted of predicting the last two digits of the closing price of a bale of cotton on the New York commodities market. I suppose the odds were 100 to one. One of our friends had been sent by his parents to Commerce College in Poona (as it was then) from Bombay in disgrace after he had sold his mothers Indian musical instruments and smashed a window in their flat to pretend that they had been taken by burglars. He used that money to place bets on horses. He did the same with the college fees his father sent and was consequently suspended from college. In desperation, he borrowed money from friends, put the sum together and took a final chance on a horse called Rose de Bahama. It won with spectacular odds, and our friend came into enough money to pay his college fees and treat us to tea and muska-slice -- thick buttered bread. Forever after that he would remember his triumph and, flicking his wrists before him as though he were the jockey loosening the reins on the race horse, he would pronounce the name of his redeemer: Rose de Bahama. by Joseph Masilamany The find includes a life-size statue of Buddha and other artefacts dating back 1,200 years, predating the sites of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobodur in Indonesia. The precious treasures testify to the prosperity to kingdom of Langkasuka, home to strategic trade routes. The excavations were coordinated by Universiti Sains Malaysia. For archaeologist Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, the artefacts can offer valuable insights. Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) Artefacts older than Angkor Wat, a Khmer temple in Cambodia, and Borobodur, a Buddhist monument in Indonesia, two world renown sites, have been found in Bukit Chora. With these latest discoveries, the Bukit Choras archaeological site not only reiterates the geostrategic strengths of Kedah Tua in the maritime trade routes of Southeast Asia but also serves as a hotspot for archaeo-tourism in the future, said Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministrys secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman. Dating between the 7th and 8th centuries, the ancient relics uncovered in northern Malaysia are remarkable finds, worthy of attention, this according to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Historically and culturally significant discoveries came to light before the latest excavation, which was conducted from 21 April to 21 May this year. A life-size statue of Buddha in a seated meditative position was among the precious antiquities, obtained thanks to researchers at Sains Malaysia University (USM); the finds represent evidence of the position of the ancient Kedah (Kedah Tua) as an important maritime civilisation in the region. Local archaeologists say these finds could provide further historical details about the ancient Kedah period, also known by the Sanskrit name of Langkasuka. The Kingdom of Langkasuka was a prosperous, independent Hindu-Buddhist state in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula. Astonishingly, the artefacts discovered are almost in an intact state; the life-size Buddha is complete with head, facial features, robes, and clothing. The team from the Global Archaeological Research Centre, led by Dr Nasha Rodziadi Khaw, is also trying to salvage two other artefacts believed to be damaged Buddha figurines with missing heads. According to the researchers, a fourth artefact might lie deeper at the site located north of Gunung Jerai. Comparative studies between this newly discovered Buddha figure and others from Indian, Indochinese, and the Malay Archipelago civilisations can offer valuable insights into the ancient society of Kedah Tua, Nasha told local media. Such research can deepen our understanding of its religious, cultural, and artistic-technological connections with the outside world. The artefacts were unearthed during phase 3 of the archaeological dig, carried out thanks to the collaboration between the National Heritage Department and Universiti Sains Malaysia. The exploration also revealed several other artefacts such as three stone inscriptions of Buddhist mantras, described as being of great significance and meaning to Malaysia, Nasha explained. The artefacts are expected to be put on display, as part of an exhibition. However, it unclear whether this will be done in a museum or if an art gallery will be built at Bukit Choras, as is in the case at similar sites in Cambodia and Indonesia. by Melani Manel Perera A group of activists and journalists met with Fr Bastian Rocknadan, who is fighting for the return of Catholics to the village of Mullikulam. The dispute flared up in 1990, when the Navy took possession of the area, forcing the inhabitants to move. Fifteen years after the end of the war, the issue remains unresolved. Mannar (AsiaNews) - "We have been talking and talking about it for many years, attending meetings, meeting and following some people and begging them to give us back our land. Do something for our people. On behalf of our people, ask the United Nations for help. Many lands have already been returned, but ours is still in their hands'. This is Fr Bastian Rocknadan, a Sri Lankan priest, who tells AsiaNews of his great concern for his parishioners and their fate for years suspended in uncertainty and precariousness. P. Rocknadan is a priest at Our Lady's Church in Mullikulam, in the diocese of Mannar. In recent days, the priest met with a group of activists and journalists from the south, led by the Law and Society Trust (Lst) to talk about the long-standing issue of displaced people's land in the northern province. The delegation has been expressing interest and concern over the issue of IDPs' land in the North for some time and visited the Mullikulam IDP community expressing concern and dismay. The Tamil Catholics, in fact, consider the village an integral part of the Catholic and Tamil community, as well as being part of an area rich in land, facing the sea and with vast rice cultivations, bordering the Puttalama and Wilpattu National Park in Mannar district. The area is home to 217 families who have lived a prosperous life earning from the land, mud and open sea fishing. The dispute for the Tamil families began in 1990, when the Navy took possession of their land. "We were forced to leave our village for the first time because of the civil war," said Mariadasan Revel, a village elder. In 2002, with the signing of a peace agreement brokered by Norway, the local population started to return to their home villages. However, in 2007, when fighting flared up again, the people found themselves without anything or resources to live on, displaced in the jungle and in constant danger from elephants and snakes. In 2012, the villagers tried again to get their village back, but once again failed in their efforts. In mid-June 2012, however, the families were helped by the late Bishop Rayappu Joseph and others who had taken up their cause in Colombo and Negombo, to build huts and temporary housing with the help of branches, coconut leaves and other foliage and branches. At the end of June that year, about 100 families arrived in the jungle of Marichchikattu without considering any risks and started to fight for their homeland. In 2012, Card. Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, had reached an agreement with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, then Minister of Defence, and some progress was made. Nevertheless, the response from the authorities was very clear: 'You cannot return to your homes'. Gotabhaya later promoted the construction of the naval base in the village, while building 26 houses for the residents in the jungle area as compensation. 'Fifteen years have passed since the end of the war, but we are not allowed,' emphasises Fr Bastian Rocknadan, 'to enjoy this freedom. We do not have this freedom. I say this because you have come here, especially from the southern province'. "We are happy about your attention to our problem," continued the priest, towards which "we have tried many times over the years, but we have not obtained the solution we need". Turning to the journalists and activists from Colombo who met him, Fr Bastian asks them to raise their voices. 'Give us back the village of Mullikulam,' asks the priest, who says he is convinced that 'the government will return the land that was expropriated' unduly in the past. Continuing his testimony, Fr Bastian reports that the inhabitants of this village are now scattered in four directions. About 40 families live in India, another 140 families live in Kayakkuli and another 50 families live in Mannar. The hope and demand of all these people is to get their village back and to start their lives there again. "In short, we want nothing more: give us back our village. We can rise again,' adds an elderly couple from the village of Mullikulam, who only ask to be able to 'finish' their lives in the 'village where we were born'. It has been 15 years since the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, the anniversary of which falls in May 2024. For many years, the main demand of the people in the north and east, as well as politicians, has been to release the homes and land of the inhabitants, which had been taken over by the army for security reasons during the war, to be returned to the original residents. Consideration of this legitimate request has been extremely slow, and local and international interventions and pressure for a satisfactory solution have been to no avail. In the last few days, a breakthrough seems to be on the horizon, with a sudden - albeit slow and delayed - awakening of the issue that has returned to the forefront. Thus, the village of Mullikulam, transformed over time into a naval base, is also asking to be returned to its owners. Since 2009, 73016.50 acres of land in the Northern Province and 12236.69 acres of land in the Eastern Province have been used for the creation of army camps, a military source in charge of media relations revealed. At the moment, 63187.91 acres of land in the North that were in the army's possession have been cleared, while another 9828.67 acres are still under the control of the military and waiting to be cleared. Until last year, financial transactions were mainly facilitated by institutions in China and Singapore. Between April 2023 and March 2024, Myanmar bought US$ 253 million worth of weapons, a third less than the previous year, but much remains to be done over sanctions, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights said. Meanwhile, former President Thein Sein visits China. Yangon (AsiaNews) Foreign banks continue to facilitate arms purchases by Myanmars military junta, and the most active are Thai banks, this according to the latest report by Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. By relying on financial institutions that are willing to do business with Myanmar state-owned banks under its control, the junta has ready access to the financial services it needs to carry out systematic human rights violations, including aerial attacks on civilians, which have increased five-fold, the UN official said. Myanmar has been ravaged by civil war for more than three years, pitting the military, which seized power in a coup d'etat in February 2021, against resistance groups, but also the civilian population, targeted by the air force. According to the report, titled Banking on the Death Trade: How Banks and Governments Enable the Military Junta in Myanmar, 16 banks in seven countries processed transactions in favour of the junta, formally known as the State Administration Council (SAC), between April 2023 and March 2024. During this period, SAC spent US$ 253 million on armaments, a comparatively good thing, since the volume of military procurement through foreign banks dropped by a third (from US$ 377 million), due to a decline in exports from Singapore, following an extensive government probe. Until a few months ago, Singaporean banks were the most important financial facilitators for Myanmar's military procurement, with US$ 110 million in transactions, along with China and Hong Kong, which in fiscal 2022 recorded sales of US$ 140 million, compared to US$ 80 million the following year. Purchases from Russia went from US$ 25 million to US$ 10 million, while those from India remained stable at US$ 15 million. Thailand is now the leader, its banks facilitating military purchases of US$ 60 million in 2022, and US$ 120 million in 2023. The good news is that the junta is increasingly isolated, the report says. The bad news is that the junta is circumventing sanctions and other measures by exploiting gaps in sanctions regimes, shifting financial institutions, and taking advantage of the failure of Member States to fully coordinate and enforce actions. Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) alone processed more than US$ 100 million in transactions in 2023, up from just over US$ 5 million a year earlier. Yesterday, in a statement, Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (which has tried to help end the war. proposing aid to Myanmar) said it had read the report. Our banking and financial institutions follow banking protocols as any major financial hub. So we will have to first establish the facts before considering any further steps, a ministry spokesperson explained. The SCB denied the allegations, saying an internal investigation determined that its transactions with Myanmar were not linked to the arms trade. However, according to Andrews, international banks need to know that there is a "high likelihood" that transactions involving Myanmar state entities, like the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, might entail purchases of weapons or materials for war use. Loopholes in sanctions (imposed individually by some countries but not by the UN) mean that SAC can buy aviation fuel, the report goes on to say. Analyst David Scott Mathieson argues that new sanctions only on fuel may not be enough "to make a real impact," because the military are able to access raw materials and can make bullets, weapons, landmines to keep fighting for quite some time. Once again, the end of the war seems far away. Former pro-reform President Thein Sein, who led the country from 2011 to 2016 before the rule of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, flew to China yesterday, the Chinese embassy in Yangon said in a statement. Thein Sein met Chinas ambassador and the two discussed the situation in Myanmar and cooperation between the two countries. Although China has supplied weapons to Myanmars military regime, ties with the junta deteriorated last year after the military failed to dismantle online scam centres on the border, involving thousands of Chinese nationals. Participants in the 19th General Chapter of the great congregation present in 79 countries and today more than half of them are missionaries of Asian origin were received at the Vatican. And to a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople the Pontiff confirmed his desire to travel to NIcea next year together with Bartholomew to commemorate together the 1700 years of the Creed. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Evangelisation requires familiarity with the Word of God". Pope Francis recalled this today as he received in audience at the Vatican the congregation of the Divine Word Missionaries, who are also present in many countries of Asia, who are gathered in Rome for their 19th general chapter marked by the evangelical phrase "May your light shine before men" (Mt 5:16). According to the data on the congregation's website updated to 1 January 2024, there are 5754 verbites in the world today, including 255 novices. Of these 2974 (i.e. 51.7%) carry out their ministry in the Asia-Pacific region in 22 different countries. Among the 76 countries of origin of the verbite missionaries, the top three are Asian: Indonesia with 1687 brethren, India with 974, and the Philippines with 457. Vietnam is in fifth place (right after Poland) with 386 missionaries from this country. "Thank you for what you are and what you do," Francis told the verbites, inviting them to be reborn every day "as faithful disciples and creative missionaries". "You operate in 79 countries," he commented, "you are there to proclaim the Gospel and make the Kingdom of God present in the world. But this is done in the sharing of joy rather than the imposition of obligations. Creative missionary activities are born out of love for the Word of God; creativity is born out of contemplation and discernment. And although personal creative action is good, communal creative action is better for the unity and strength of the Church". To the missionaries, the pontiff indicated three "current urgencies" for those who proclaim the Gospel. The first: to be builders of peace. "The world is wounded by conflicts, wars, destruction of the environment, violence against life and human dignity, fundamentalist ideologies and other plagues," he recalled. "Let us bring the peace of Christ to all, especially to the poor, migrants, discriminated women, children, the excluded. God heard the cry of the enslaved people; let us not close our ears to the cry of today's slaves, and let us be creative in building peace'. Secondly, be prophetic hope for every culture. "You are experts in interculturality," the pope observed, "Over the years you have learnt to live the mission respecting every culture and every people. But it takes discernment. Today, through the internet and social media, there is a risk of accepting everything indiscriminately, influencing people's lifestyle and values. Instead, St. John Paul II said that the purpose of inculturation is to arouse a new culture of love and hope inspired by the truth that sets us free in Christ Jesus". And then promote synodality in every aspect of your life. "Let each community grow," he urged, "and enjoy a synodal style in which everyone feels heard and welcomed. Finally, do what the Spirit says, but the process in which the Spirit moves in a gentle way, among simple peoples and in the most distant places, is important." Finally, Pope Francis recalled that next year will mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of this religious congregation, founded in 1875 in Holland by the German priest Arnoldo Janssen, who was proclaimed a saint by John Paul II in 2003. "In your hearts," the Pontiff commented, "vibrates gratitude to God for his immense love, which has impelled you to go to every part of the world to preach the Word and spread the love of God, to form communities, to serve the poor, to seek justice for people, education and emancipation, to care for the environment. With this grateful spirit reflect on how to share the joy of Jesus' resurrection in creative ways today". The Pontiff also looked to the horizon of 2025 in another important audience at the Vatican today: receiving the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which has come to Rome for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul as it does every year, Francis reiterated his desire to travel next year to Nicaea in Turkey for the celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the Council that formulated the Creed that summarises the main truths of the Christian faith here. "I rejoice," Francis told the Orthodox delegation, "that the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity have begun to reflect on how to commemorate this anniversary together; and I thank His Holiness Bartholomew for inviting me to celebrate it near the place where the Council met. It is a journey I wish to make, from the bottom of my heart". by Vladimir Rozanskij According to Russian political scientist Dmitry Trenin, with a change in leadership Armenia would no longer find allies in the West; the US would step aside, and Azerbaijan and Turkey would be free to deal with an insurgent Armenian government on their own. The important thing for Moscow is that "another unfriendly front is not formed". Moscow (AsiaNews) - Relations between Russia and Armenia have recently reached an unprecedented level of tension, considering Yerevan's historical gratitude to the empire that saved at least part of the Armenians from genocide, and that allowed for a rather peaceful coexistence even in Soviet times, when the Armenian republic remained one of the most impervious to socialist Russification. A well-known Russian political scientist, Professor Dmitry Trenin, a member of the Kremlin's Russian Council for International Affairs, commented on this situation in Novosti-Armenia. In several interviews, the expert argued that the West is unable to compensate for the size of Armenia's security system, which has always been provided by Russia. Armenians, moreover, believe that it is precisely Russia that has caused this system to collapse in recent years, by failing to protect Armenia from Azerbaijan during the Nagorno Karabakh clashes, thus failing in its commitments as an ally, while the Russians fear that the Yerevan government's swaying may bring NATO contingents onto Armenian territory, triggering another very serious crisis. Trenin recalls that Armenia's victory in the first Karabakh war in 1994, under very favourable conditions, was made possible precisely by Russia's support. In the almost thirty years that followed, before the new Azerbaijani war, the Russians did everything they could to resolve every reason for conflict by diplomatic means, and it seemed that the parties were close to an agreement, but 'it is not Russia's fault that this was then blown'. In his opinion, the Armenians refused to take advantage of the many opportunities offered to them by Moscow before 2020. Currently, without wishing to bring up the past, 'the potential dangers for Armenia come from Azerbaijan and Turkey', and according to the political scientist, 'if the United States were to take care of this, there would certainly not be columns of Turkish tanks at the borders, but Armenia would still be forced to bow to Turkey's interests'. All this would be presented as 'a strengthening of peace and stability in the region', and the Americans would vouch for this by saying they 'want to help Armenia's economic progress'. On the other hand, one has to take into account Armenia's internal political instability, such as the emergence of a new popular opposition movement, the 'Tavows in the name of the Fatherland' led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, in which many are reacting against the continued surrender to neighbouring countries. There could then be a change in the country's leadership, 'either through elections or a popular uprising', and then Armenia would no longer find allies in the West; the US would step aside, and Azerbaijan and Turkey would be free to deal with an insurgent Armenian government on their own. According to the political scientist, 'there would probably not be a major conflict, but there would be new pressure and military action in various parts of Armenia and its borders'. The interview warns that 'there would also be those who expect help from Iran', which would resent the growth of Turkish influence in the region, which is already considerable. So far Tehran maintains a non-hostile attitude to Ankara, but even this balance could be broken, due to Iran's allergy to any form of alliance with the Americans (via Turkey) and Israel (via Azerbaijan), even though 'Iran has much bigger problems to solve than the status of Armenia'. Trenin does not believe that 'the only alternative is to make Armenia a vassal of Russia', both because that would be impossible and because no one in Russia really wants that; the important thing for Moscow is that 'another unfriendly front is not formed, allowing geopolitical adversaries to swallow Armenia'. Photo: Flickr/Alexanyan We always bring our smartphones with us when we travel so we can contact our loved ones, stay tuned on current events, or take photos of destinations. With a few accessories on hand, you may be able to take better photos, lighten your load, secure your device, and more. 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Azerbaijani news agencies quoted OBrien as saying that the U.S. expects the two ministers to attend the summit along with representatives of other NATO partner states. He did not say whether the U.S. State Department hopes to host fresh peace talks between them on the sidelines of that gathering. One of those news agencies, Turan, reported on Thursday that Washington is pushing for such talks in hopes of getting Armenia and Azerbaijan to finalize a bilateral peace treaty. The Armenian government declined to comment on the report. The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has received and accepted the U.S. invitation revealed by OBrien. A ministry spokeswoman also said that no meeting between Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov has been scheduled in Washington so far. OBrien held separate talks in Baku with Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev and Bayramov. Writing on X after the talks, he said he and Aliyev had a serious discussion on a range of issues. The U.S. wants a strong relationship with Azerbaijan. We welcome bold leadership to complete a peace agreement with Armenia without delay, he said. We are very clear with President Aliyev that this is a time to make peace, OBrien told U.S. lawmakers ahead of his trip to Azerbaijan. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed this message to Aliyev in a phone call last week. Aliyev was reported to reiterate, for his part, that the signing of the peace treaty is conditional on Armenia changing its constitution and other laws which he said contain territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Bayramov reiterated this precondition during his meeting with OBrien. Responding to Aliyevs demands earlier this month, the Armenian Foreign Ministry accused the Azerbaijani leader of torpedoing the peace process. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday lamented the lack of a positive reaction of our Azerbaijani counterparts to an Armenian proposal to finalize and sign the peace deal within a month. In a June 12 interview with RFE/RLs Armenian Service, OBrien said the deal is important to Washington because it would not only end the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict but also reduce Russian influence in the region and facilitate a new trade route from Central Asia to Turkey passing through Armenia. Russian officials regularly claim that the main goal of the U.S. and European Union mediation of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations is to drive Russia out of the South Caucasus. 28 June 2024 12:59 (UTC+04:00) By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS As the peace process between Baku and Yerevan progresses towards success, the fever in some pro-Armenian MPs in the European Parliament continues to go up. This can be seen in the statement made by the MPs of the European Parliament concerning France's arming of Armenia. Let's imagine that, in the same way, Russia arms a country in the South Caucasus, or a country seen as a threat to Europe, and signs a military agreement with it. It can be said with certainty that the European Parliament will not take an unambiguous approach to this, but on the contrary, it will make a number of statements about it. However, a question arises: to whom is this statement harmful or beneficial? Isn't it more appropriate for the European Parliament to discuss economic problems, especially solutions for global economic crisis, instead of deviating from its mission and getting involved in adverse political manoeuvres? In their statements, the members of the European Parliament indicated that France's focus on arming Armenia in the most heated process of the peace negotiations is a right of sovereignty. So let's interpret it more delicately. When the South Caucasus region was a centre of conflict for 30 years, neither France nor the European Parliament claimed any state's sovereignty rights. At that time, all the advantages were obviously with Armenia, and the need to take care of an occupying country had not yet arisen. Although Armenia actually admits that it is an aggressor, today France and the parliamentarians who defend it do not accept this. True to say, they unjustly consider dragging Armenia into a new war as a sacred duty. Official Baku understands very well that the hasty arming of Armenia at such a moment, and moreover, the forcible riveting of the European military contingent to Yerevan, does not come from good intentions. Because the European Parliament sees progress towards peace as a threat to its insidious policy regarding the South Caucasus. The joint statement signed by Miriam Lexman from Slovakia, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, Nathalie Loizeau, Raphael Glucksman, Marketa Gregorova, Christophe Gomard, Celine Imar, Laurent Castiot from France, Lucas Fourlas and Costas Mavrides from Cyprus, Bert-Jan Raussen from the Netherlands, Andrius Kubilius and Rasa Juknevichenen from Lithuania and Charlie Weimers from Sweden, makes no obstacle for either Azerbaijan or Yerevan on the way to implementing the obligations for peace. Azerbaijan has always said no to the policy of aggression or war and will continue to use all its political will to the maximum against any threat to the South Caucasus region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 15:15 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more During this year, migration is scheduled to occur in the centre of the newly rebuilt city of Jabrayil, as well as in several villages within this region. Vahid Hajiyev, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, disclosed this information at the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Build Garabagh Together" in Shusha, Azernews reports. He mentioned the ongoing construction of new settlements in Zangilan and Gubadli districts, with plans for migration into these areas: "Each new settlement brings forth fresh business opportunities. We have created favourable conditions for both relocating residents and entrepreneurs to conduct business activities." Hajiyev highlighted the ongoing successful construction efforts in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, illustrating ongoing restoration and construction projects. He noted the active community life in Agal village of Zangilan district, celebrated as the first address of the "Great Return." Agal was swiftly developed as a "Smart Village," complete with essential infrastructure for its residents. Currently, 871 residents from 175 families have settled in Agal, living prosperously under the auspices of the First State Program on the "Great Return." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 16:39 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The Milli Majlis, Azerbaijan's parliament, has ratified two important agreements between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports. The first agreement discussed and approved during today's parliamentary session was an additional agreement to amend the existing accord on the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund. Following this, the lawmakers deliberated on eliminating double taxation on income and preventing tax evasion between Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic. This landmark deal is expected to significantly enhance trade relations and encourage cross-border investments by removing financial barriers. After thorough discussions, both documents were put to a vote and successfully adopted by the Milli Majlis. The Milli Majlis is the national parliament of Azerbaijan, responsible for legislative functions and oversight of governmental activities. It consists of 125 members who are elected for five-year terms through a mixed electoral system. The Milli Majlis plays a crucial role in shaping Azerbaijan's laws, policies, and international agreements. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 15:58 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Shusha, announced plans to establish a professional tourism centre during his speech at the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Build Garabagh Together" in Shusha, Azernews reports. He confirmed that the location for the vocational centre has been selected and that the first phase of the project is now complete. Additionally, Karimov disclosed that construction has commenced on a permanent gas filling station for "SOCAR Petroleum" CJSC in Shusha. Providing further updates, Karimov mentioned the presence of a modular gas station operated by "Azpetrol" in Shusha. He also mentioned that in Shusha, so far, about 20 entrepreneurs, both individuals and legal entities, have been provided with favourable conditions for their activities. He explained that the construction of 10 buildings on "Garabagh" street in Shusha, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev and developed through public-private partnerships, is progressing rapidly: "Eight of these buildings are being constructed by private investors, while the Shusha City State Conservation Department is overseeing the construction of the remaining two. It's important to note that not a single manat of state funds has been used for this investment project. By the end of the year, the plan is to establish accommodations, public catering, and trade services within these buildings." He also highlighted the nearing completion of several public catering facilities, cafes, and restaurants in the area, which are expected to open in the coming weeks. New applications for further developments are currently under consideration. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 17:44 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The challenges and opportunities surrounding the implementation of the international strategy on "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) will be a key focus at COP29 in Baku this November. Elshad Farzaliyev, Director of Public Relations for the Eurasian region at Coca-Cola Company, highlighted this during his address at the international forum "Green World Solidarity: Waste to Value for a Sustainable Future", Azernews reports. He explained that the strategy involves incorporating all environmental costs associated with a product's lifecycle into its market price. E. Farzaliyev emphasised that this approach, applied in waste management, prompts manufacturers to integrate rigorous environmental standards into product design. "In Azerbaijan, companies are deeply committed to implementing this strategy," he noted, pointing out that Azerbaijan is advancing towards a "green" economy and will intensify its efforts in this direction. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan's capital this November. The decision to host COP29 in Baku was made during COP28 in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku is expected to host around 70-80 thousand international guests during the two-week event. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. COP (Conference of Parties) sessions convene annually, unless otherwise decided by the parties. The inaugural COP was held in Berlin in March 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 22:51 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Amonatbank, Tajikistan's state savings bank, and the China Development Bank (CDB) held discussions on cooperation, Azernews reports. The talks took place during a meeting of the Board of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Interbank Consortium in Astana, where Alidzhon Salimzoda, Chairman of Amonatbank, highlighted the institution's financial achievements. He underscored the CDB's role as a significant and reliable partner within the SCO. Zhang Hui, Executive Vice President of the China Development Bank, expressed satisfaction with the cooperative efforts, acknowledging Amonatbank's successful history of collaboration. Both leaders expressed readiness to expand cooperation across various banking sectors. The meeting of the SCO Interbank Consortium Board on June 25, 2024, in Kazakhstan's capital city also discussed member banks' initiatives to strengthen cooperation within the SCO Interbank Union. Following the meeting, leaders of SCO member banks signed a protocol and memorandum of understanding aimed at financing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives among member banks. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Master classes on vocals and acting have been organised at the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre as part of the Russian Culture Days, Azernews reports. The master class on acting was conducted by Alexandrina Kologrivaya (Pitirimova) and Natalia Kulikova, while Alina Ivakh held the master class on vocals. Students studying acting and vocal art took part in the master classes. Talking about her creative path, the head of the troupe of the Moscow Provincial Theatre, Alina Ivakh, noted that, in addition to teaching acting to vocalists, she also conducts master classes on vocal therapy. She also informed about cultural events held in Russia. "We are looking forward to meeting Azerbaijani cultural and artistic figures in Moscow. I hope that Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation in the field of culture will continue to develop. This is very important. Because the exchange of experience always brings enrichment," she added. At master classes, experts spoke about new approaches used in Russian theatres and answered questions from students. The Russian Culture Days kicked off at Heydar Aliyev Palace with a gala concert, "Russian Classics". The concert program consisted of musical masterpieces by Russian composers Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Dmitry Shostakovich. The guests of the festival also enjoyed a play, "Family Picture" presented by the Moscow Provincial Theatre. The theatre production was shown at the Azerbaijan State Academic Russian Drama Theatre to mark the 200th anniversary of Alexander Ostrovsky. Anna Tsang, Mikhail Shilov, Sergei Vershinin, Alexandrina Pitirimova, Alina Ivakh, and others shone on stage. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 09:33 (UTC+04:00) Armenia is ready to fully finalize and sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan within a month. Azernews reports that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said this at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsakhkna in Tallinn on June 27. "Armenia and Azerbaijan are negotiating. The text of the draft peace agreement is almost finalised. Armenia is ready to fully finalize the peace agreement and sign it within a month. I believe that we will do this by closing the page of conflict in the South Caucasus and bringing peace to the region, this peace will be beneficial for the countries of the region and their citizens," Mirzoyan said. Mirzoyan also commented on the opening of borders with Turkiye and the restoration of diplomatic relations. According to him, Armenia is ready to completely normalize relations with Turkey, restore diplomatic relations and open borders. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 20:20 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more Many countries have played a mediating role in the long-standing Garabagh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. At times, these mediator states have adopted a neutral policy, while in other instances, they have taken a pro-Armenian stance, exacerbating the conflict. However, times are changing. Events over the past four years, such as the 44-day Patriotic War, local anti-terror operations carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Garabagh, the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Almaty, and the return of four villages by Armenia to Azerbaijan, indicate that a peace treaty in the region is inevitable. The normalisation of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, which once seemed impossible to many, is now on the agenda of both countries. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, talked about the signing of a peace treaty and its inevitability during his visit to Georgia yesterday. During his visit, Bayramov discussed border issues with his Georgian counterpart, Ilia Darchiashvili, suggesting positive steps in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. It is also important to note that next month, a commission will hold its next meeting to determine the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia. During this meeting, the delimitation and demarcation of new areas will take place, as announced by Bayramov yesterday. Currently, the main obstacle to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is the territorial claim against Azerbaijan enshrined in the Armenian Constitution. This means that an agreement on border determination and the opening of transportation and communication lines between the two countries are expected. Bayramov's statements have also been echoed by the Armenian side. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, during a joint press conference in Tallinn with his Estonian counterpart, stated that "Yerevan is ready to finalise and sign the peace agreement with Azerbaijan within a month". But what is the main reason for Armenia, which has pursued a provocative policy for many years, now showing such determination to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan? It is worth recalling that until the Second Garabagh War and the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the West largely ignored the events in the South Caucasus and Armenian terrorism in the region. This was due to the West's Christian bias and the belief that weakening Russia was impossible. Consequently, pro-Armenian policies were pursued in the West, led by the US and France. Now, the power dynamics in the South Caucasus are changing. Western forces believe it is now more feasible to pressure Russia out of the South Caucasus, leveraging the Kyiv-Moscow conflict. The US, in particular, has a clear stance on signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Washington has brought Armenia under its influence and is planning to remove Russian forces from Armenia, especially from Gyumri, and eventually from the entire South Caucasus. It is evident that the incompetence of French policy has not gone unnoticed by US officials. Macron's administration openly promotes war in the region and continues to arm Armenia, which is counterproductive to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the broader Western goal of putting pressure on Russia in the South Caucasus. Recognising the failure of the French approach, the US is proceeding cautiously in its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Washington does not want to be seen as a provocateur and an obstacle to peace, as France has been. The recent visits of US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O'Brien, to Yerevan and then Baku reflect this cautious approach. The former American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick, also criticised France in an interview with Armenian media, reflecting the US's anti-French sentiments. This indicates that Washington supports the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, even at the cost of sidelining Paris. Clearly, the US's strategy regarding Russia compels it to tread carefully with Azerbaijan. Baku's position is well known: stability and sustainable development in the region are Azerbaijan's main goals. The current focus is on Armenia retracting its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, signing the peace treaty, and continuing with new projects, infrastructure, and reconstruction in the region. However, Baku justifiably demands concrete and fundamental changes and guarantees to prevent the resurgence of war in the future. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 10:48 (UTC+04:00) Fatima Latifova Read more The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, is paying an official visit to Hungary, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry. Within the visit, Colonel General Z. Hasanov is scheduled to meet with the Hungarian military and political leadership in Budapest and to attend defence industry companies. The official visit of the Defence Minister will continue until June 29. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 12:02 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien, Azernews reports. James O'Brien hailed the discussions held during the recent telephone conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Ilham Aliyev. He emphasized the United States commitment to advance the regional peace agenda and its readiness to support this process. He underscored the importance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in various areas, including the further development of relations at the strategic level. In this regard, the sides discussed regional cooperation, Middle Corridor and other issues. President Ilham Aliyev recalled his telephone conversation with Antony Blinken, noting that during the phone talk, discussions revolved around a wide range of relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that successful cooperation had been established between Azerbaijan and the United States in various fields since the first days of the country's independence. During the conversation, the role Azerbaijan played in the energy security of Europe, energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, fruitful and useful consultations of the delegations of the two countries within the framework of the COP were highlighted. James O'Brien underlined that the United States will continue its support in delivering a successful COP29. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkish Airlines (THY) has once again been recognised as the "Most Sustainable Flag Carrier Airline" by World Finance, a renowned institution in the international finance sector. In a statement from THY Press Consultancy, the airline expressed pride in achieving this prestigious accolade for three consecutive years. Amid the challenges posed by the climate crisis to the aviation industry, THY stands out for its commitment to providing sustainable travel experiences. This commitment includes initiatives such as their voluntary carbon balancing platform "CO2mission," the adoption of "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" (SAF), the implementation of in-flight sustainable products, and efficient waste management practices. "We are dedicated to integrating sustainable practices across all facets of our operations," stated Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of THY, expressing his satisfaction with the award. Bolat underscored the significance of this recognition, affirming THY's steadfast commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship: "At Turkish Airlines, our strategic objective is to rank among the top 3 airlines globally in digitalization. Aligned with our pledge to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050, we commenced the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in 2022 to combat climate change. In 2023, we expanded SAF utilisation to include new flight routes. Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in expanding our flight network and embedding sustainable practices throughout all our operations." Since 2008, THY has implemented over 100 projects aimed at reducing its carbon footprint, achieving notable success in enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. The World Finance Sustainability Awards hold high esteem in the global financial and business sectors, honouring organisations that demonstrate excellence in environmental, economic, and social practices. World Finance has been evaluating and commending leading institutions across various sectors since 2008, aiming to identify exemplary leaders on a global scale. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 28 June 2024 19:23 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva South Korea will add another 243 items to the export control list for the supply of goods to Russia and Belarus, Azernews reports. Thus, the list of prohibited goods will expand to 1,402 items. It is expected that the changes will take effect by the end of August after completing the necessary procedures. The new restrictive measures will affect parts for optical devices and sensors, as well as metal-cutting equipment. It is noted that the general rule will be a ban on supply, but the government is ready to consider individual cases, including if the deal was concluded before the announcement of new sanctions measures. South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho Jin announced the expansion of export controls against Russia the day before. Jin cited the signing of the comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea as the main reason for this. The document was signed during the official visit of President Vladimir Putin to the DPRK on June 18-19. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Raport Biezacy nr 4/2024 Pursuant to Article 29.3 of the Rules of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski Spoka Akcyjna; presents information on Best Practice 2021 compliance GENERAL MEETING, SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS 4.9.1. candidates for members of the supervisory board should be nominated with a notice necessary for shareholders present at the general meeting to make an informed decision and in any case no later than three days before the general meeting; the names of candidates and all related documents should be immediately published on the companys website; The principle was breached incidentally. Comments of the Company on incidental breach of the principle: Due to the submission of the only one candidate for a member of the Supervisory Board of PKO Bank Polski S.A. by the shareholders before the deadline set by the Best Practices, which was 25 June 2024 (3 days before the AGM) and the other candidates during the AGM, there was an incidental breach of Rule 4.9.1 of the Best Practices for GPW Listed Companies 2021. There has been incidental breaches of the principle in the last two years: This rule has been breached twice in the last 2 years, as reported by the Bank in the Report No. 1/2022 and in the Report No. 1/2024. Wiecej na: http://biznes.pap.pl/pl/reports/ebi/all,0,0,0,1 kom ebi zdz Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be? 8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become. In a previous debate, a CNN moderator later admitted she gave the questions ahead of time to Hillary Clinton. In the Trump-Biden debate, Biden's early answers sounded memorized, which suggested they may have done the same thing this time. A statement by a CNN personality after the debate, however, positively reeked of an admisssion that they had done so. Commenting on how badly Biden had done, CNN's Erin Burnett said after the debate: "He goes through six days of preparation at camp David. They know the rules. He practices with the mics. He knows every one of these questions is coming and yet he counldn't fill the time." How could someone "know every one of these questions is coming" unless they were given the questions in advance? https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/06/28/bombshell-listen-to-what-cnn-just-said-about-biden-knowing-about-the-debate-questions-n2176093 CNN should never again be trusted to have anything to do with a presidential debate. As to how poorly Biden performed, even one of Obama's top campaign operatives said that Biden looked 30 years older than Trump in the debate. https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/06/28/fmr-obama-campaign-manager-biden-looked-about-30-years-apart-from-trump/ A flash poll done for CNN found that before the debate, voters thought Trump would do better by a margin of 55% to 45% but after the poll, the same voters thought Trump had won the debate by a margin of 67% to 33%. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/06/27/cnn-flash-poll-debate-watchers-overwhelmingly-award-trump-victory/ A leading British doctor who watched the debate suggested that Biden's performance suggested he might be suffering from Parkinson's disease. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13579501/What-wrong-Biden-doctors-view-Presidents-senior-moments-TV-debate.html India's probe agency arrests 2 in question paper leak case Xinhua) 10:04, June 28, 2024 NEW DELHI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested two persons for their alleged active role in getting the question paper of the medical entrance test, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG, leaked last month. Both the persons, identified as Manish Prakash and Ashutosh, were arrested from Patna, the capital city of the eastern state of Bihar after the CBI personnel grilled them at length. The controversy over the NEET-UG question paper leak has continued to rock the country for over three weeks. After much clamor from students and academia, on June 22, the federal Ministry of Education entrusted the CBI to carry out a comprehensive probe into the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak. Over 2.3 million students appeared for the medical entrance examination on May 5. Before the CBI was entrusted the task, the police had arrested as many as nine persons over their alleged role in the question paper leak case. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A medical office building in Red Bank, N.J., was evacuated on the afternoon of June 27 after a car crashed into it, according to a June 27 report from Red Bank Green. No one was injured in the crash, which occurred around 3:15 p.m. Authorities are still waiting to hear if it is safe for tenants to reenter the building and get back to work, according to the report. Information about the cause of the crash has not yet been released. Optum, parent company of ASC chain SCA Health, has called off its plan to acquire financially troubled Steward Health Care's 1,700-physician group, The Boston Globe reported June 27. Here are four things to know: 1. In March, Optum subsidiary Collaborative Care Holdings filed a notice with the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission to acquire the physician group, Stewardship Health, for an undisclosed amount. 2. Dallas-based Steward and Optum, which has nearly 90,000 affiliated physicians, had not finalized a purchase agreement. 3. According to the Globe, Optum is no longer pursuing the acquisition and whether Steward has negotiated with other buyers is unknown. 4. The sale was originally a part of the hospital system's plan to mitigate financial distress. Steward filed for bankruptcy May 6 and is required to sell its assets through auctions. Becker's has reached out to Steward and Optum and will update this story as more information becomes available. Since 2010, 149 rural hospitals across the nation have closed or stopped providing inpatient care, leaving local communities to grapple with what to do with the buildings, KFF Health News reported June 26. In many small communities, closing a hospital can have a detrimental effect on the local economy through a loss of jobs and traffic to other small businesses near the hospital. But those effects can be softened if the building is used for another type of healthcare facility. However, in many places in Tennessee, empty hospital buildings are not reopening for healthcare. Instead, the buildings are converted for other purposes. In Somerville, Memphis-based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare donated its closed hospital building to the town and also gave it $250,000. The building is now a satellite campus for the University of Tennessee-Martin. In Carroll County, Tenn., Memphis-based Baptist Memorial Health Care donated its closed hospital building, land and equipment to the town of McKenzie. A technology company took over the space, and former McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland told KFF Health News she believes the city can become a technology hub. Although there are alternative uses for hospital spaces, many residents said they would prefer hospitals remain healthcare facilities. "Maybe it is just the emergency room, a sustainable emergency room, where you could hold patients for a period of time and then transfer them," Tawnya Brock, a healthcare quality manager and resident of a small town whose hospital closed, told KFF Health News. "And then you build upon that." Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago revealed 791,784 patients had their information breached as a result of a ransomware attack earlier this year. The children's hospital identified the data breach June 17, according to a report from the Office of the Maine Attorney General, and began notifying patients June 27. After investigating the incident, Lurie Children's said cybercriminals had access to its systems Jan. 26 to 31. When hospital officials identified the attack on Jan. 31, they took all electronic systems offline. The attack disrupted the hospital's EHR and patient portal for several weeks. Lurie Children's said patient names, addresses, service dates, health claims information, Social Security numbers and more were impacted by the breach. However, the hospital has not found indication cybercriminals were able to access information in patient records. Renton, Wash.-based Providence has agreed to pay $12.3 million to support women's health, behavioral health and community benefit services in Southern Sonoma County instead of reopening the family birthing center at its Petaluma (Calif.) Valley Hospital. The investment is part of an amendment to the asset purchase agreement between the Healthy Petaluma District and Providence. With this amendment, approved on June 26, Providence is no longer obligated to maintain the birthing center for the remainder of its five-year commitment, according to a joint news release. Providence, as part of the asset purchase agreement governing the sale of the hospital, had committed to maintain the birthing center through 2025. The health system temporarily closed the birthing center May 1, 2023, citing a shortage of anesthesiologists and obstetricians. The Healthy Petaluma board partnered with Providence to explore options for reopening the unit. However, the operating model they identified to allow the reopening "led both parties to conclude that while the family birthing center could be reopened, the unit would not offer the same physician staffing coverage or provide comparable continuity of care to its patients as was available prior to the suspension," the release said. Ultimately, Providence agreed to invest $9.9 million to support women's health and behavioral health services in Southern Sonoma County, according to the release. The health system also agreed to work with the Healthy Petaluma Board to increase its investment in the Community Benefit Program by $2.4 million through 2030. "This historic investment agreement underscores our commitment to the City of Petaluma and southern Sonoma County," Garry Olney, DNP, RN, chief executive for Providence Northern California, said in the release. "We look forward to continuing to partner with the Healthy Petaluma Board of Directors to identify ways in which we can support programs that have a substantial positive impact on our community." UnitedHealth Group's Optum has scrapped its plan to acquire Dallas-based Steward Health Care's physician group, Stewardship Health, The Boston Globe reported June 27. Optum, which has almost 90,000 employed or affiliated physicians, agreed a preliminary deal in March to acquire the physician group, which comprises primary care physicians and other clinicians in eight states. Steward and Optum did not finalize an asset purchase agreement, and Optum is no longer pursuing the acquisition, according to the Globe. It is not clear whether Steward is negotiating with other potential buyers for the physician group, which it recently described as a "highly desired asset." Steward filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy May 6 and is required to sell its assets, including 31 hospitals, through auctions. Becker's has reached out to Steward and Optum and will update this story as more information becomes available. Cleveland Clinic and Masimo, a provider of medical technology and hospital automation tools, are joining forces on a new partnership focused on hospital-based remote patient monitoring and telecritical care. Under the partnership, Cleveland Clinic's critical care and noncritical care central patient monitoring platforms will be integrated with Masimo's hospital automation platform. According to a June 28 news release from Masimo, the aim is to equip clinicians with tools that improve situational awareness and support clinical decision-making for hospitalized patients. The partnership will also include joint development initiatives on predictive analytics and artificial intelligence-based algorithms aimed at improving cardiac care. The Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling overturned a 40-year-old legal precedent known as Chevron deference, the Washington Post reported June 28. Chevron deference, which emerged from a 1984 court case, stipulated that when disputes arise over regulation of an ambiguous law, judges should defer to federal agency interpretations so long as those interpretations are reasonable. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority that the framework has proved "unworkable" and allowed federal agencies to change course even without Congress' discretion, according to the report. Suhasini Ravi, then an associate at Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University's O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, wrote in an October article that the "prospect of overruling Chevron is especially concerning in healthcare policy, where agencies must leverage their expertise to address emergencies, adapt to ever-changing technology and improve health outcomes." She is now a director of health policy at the White House, according to her LinkedIn page. Politico reported in May that experts expect the rollback of Chevron to lead to more legal challenges to Medicare payment. Leigh Feldman, director at McDermott+Consulting, told the outlet that Congress might have to be more prescriptive in legislation to direct agencies like HHS how it wants laws to be implemented to avoid challenges. Jeffrey Davis, health policy director at McDermott+Consulting, added that if laws get more prescriptive, "outside stakeholders and interest groups could have a larger role in helping to craft specific provisions in the legislation." Reshma Ramachandran, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Yale, argued in an amicus brief that many pandemic-era rules and FDA regulations regarding pharmaceutical and medical devices could be at risk with Chevron's overturning, according to Politico. In January, a group of organizations including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, submitted a brief in support of Chevron deference. They argued that overturning the precedent could have "an enormous impact on the administration of federal programs including Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP that are crucial to public health." The groups said that the "competent and stable administration of these programs depends on the deep expertise of the agencies to which Congress has assigned the responsibility of promulgating rules and rendering interpretive decisions in connection with the implementation of these complex statutes, which serve nearly half the U.S. population, in every geographic region, of every income level, and with every kind of medical and care need. "The disruption to the healthcare system that would occur during the transition to such a post-Chevron world as litigants seek to reopen disputes involving dozens of programs and billions of dollars that were previously resolved through application of the Chevron doctrine would be enormous." Opponents of Chevron told the Supreme Court that the framework unfairly tips the scale of litigation by requiring judges to systematically favor government regulators over those challenging the regulations, according to the Post. They also argued that Chevron allowed federal agencies to impose different rules each time a new administration takes over, leaving judges with little choice but to defer to the changing interpretations of agency officials. Gone are the days of hallmark COVID-19 symptoms. While loss of taste and smell, and persistent cough were once tell-tale signs of the respiratory infection, symptoms today vary widely, with tests being the only sure-fire way to confirm a diagnosis, physicians told NBC News in a June 27 report. "Every week, we test someone for COVID who I didn't think had it who tests positive," Steven Furr, MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and family physician in Jackson, Ala., told the news outlet. "Then we have others who I'm pretty sure have COVID who test negative It's really hard to separate COVID from any other respiratory illness right now." Physicians say patients who end up testing positive have symptoms that "vary from A to Z and beyond." Some do have classic respiratory virus symptoms: Sore through, congestion and low-fever. Others have gastrointestinal symptoms, but nearly no respiratory symptoms. Sans one major signal, physicians have largely abandoned "you probably have COVID" diagnoses in favor of test-confirmed diagnoses only. Shifts in symptom patterns have occurred over time as people gained exposure, and thus, some level of immunity to the virus. Virus mutations also play a role, experts say. In the spring, COVID-19 activity in the U.S. hit its lowest levels since the pandemic began. As of June 25, the CDC said infections "are growing or likely growing" in most states, stable or uncertain in five states, and "declining or likely declining in 1 state or territory." Hospitalization and death rates remain low, though test positivity and emergency department visits related to COVID have risen in recent weeks. On June 27, the CDC recommended everyone 6 months and older receive an updated vaccine. Officials have said new shots are expected to be available in August and September, according to NBC. Earlier this month, the FDA instructed vaccine manufacturers to target JN.1, a strain that dominated this past winter. Within a week, the agency circled back with manufacturers to say a specific offshoot of the JN.1 lineage KP.2 may be a better target, since it now makes up a higher proportion of cases. KP. 3, another JN. 1 relative, currently makes up about 33% of cases in the U.S., followed by KP. 2 at around 21%, and LB.1 at 18%. Some physician and nursing groups are challenging efforts to enact a multistate licensing compact for advanced practice registered nurses. The compact would enable APRNs with more than 2,080 hours of practice to hold one multistate license, allowing them to work in other compact part states without obtaining additional licenses. The compact states that an APRN issued a multistate license is authorized to assume responsibility for patient care independently, without any supervisory or collaborative relationship, but must still comply with the practice laws of each state where they provide care. "This increases access to care by allowing APRNs to care for patients across state lines both in person and electronically," the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's website reads. "The APRN Compact provides public protection by establishing uniformity in the way APRNs are regulated at the state level." The American Association of Nurse Practitioners has encouraged states to pause adoption of the compact so an improved version can be developed. The AANP said it "strongly opposes" the inclusion of practice hours as a prerequisite for a multistate license, noting APRNs are prepared to practice safely right after graduating and passing their board examination. The association is also calling for the compact to include an APRN advisory committee to address the complexity and variety of practice issues. "In the past, the association has supported the concept of a multistate licensure compact for APRNs," the group said. "AANP knows that ending the current patchwork of licensure and practice authorization is necessary to improve health outcomes for patients and address healthcare workforce needs. It is unfortunate, but necessary, that AANP not endorse or work toward implementing NCSBN's revised APRN Compact." The American Medical Association has also pushed back on the compact, claiming it differs from other licensing compacts by preempting state scope of practice laws. "The AMA strongly objects to the use of interstate compacts as a mechanism through which to grant independent practice to APRNs or grant prescriptive authority where such authority does not currently exist," the organization said June 27. "Not only is this deceptive, it is the AMA's position that this use of a licensure compact has the potential to threaten patient care and safety." NCSBN disagrees with the notion that the compact preempts state law. Nicole Livanos, the organization's director of state affairs, said states that enact the compact are making a policy decision to allow multistate licensees to practice independently. The NCSBN adopted the APRN Compact in August 2020. Seven states must enact the legislation for the APRN Compact to take effect. To date, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota and Delaware have joined the compact. Seven states rejected the compact in 2023. Two other states introduced compact legislation this year, which both failed after passing one chamber in the state legislature. However, Ms. Livanos said nursing support for the APRN Compact at the state level is growing steadily and significantly. South Dakota became the most recent state to join the compact in February, with all nursing organizations in the state supporting the measure. On June 23, the Wyoming Council of Advanced Practice Nurses also unanimously voted to support the compact, reversing its previous opposition. "We think that the time for the APRN Compact isn't now. It was actually yesterday. It was last year, the year before," Ms. Livanos said. "We know patients deserve greater access to care from safe and quality APRN providers. And APRNs deserve access to a modern, 21st century licensure framework." A private hospital planned for an old B&Q warehouse in south Belfast has moved closer after a planning application was submitted. Affidea, Europes biggest medical care provider, announced its bid for the new facility on Boucher Road in November, potentially creating up to 120 new jobs. It said it would add to its existing services in Northern Ireland and address waiting lists affecting the NHS. Services would cover minor injuries and illness, surgical capacity and endoscopy, with the project bringing 120 new jobs. It would also add a diagnostic imaging facility which could handle up to 50,000 patients a year. A planning application was last week submitted to Belfast City Council to turn units A and B at 48 Boucher Road into a private healthcare facility, noting that it would include space for a 'significant element of overnight care'. It entails an application for a change of use for part of the old warehouse, and an extension. The applicants name is given as Richard Irwin of venture capital firm Norlin EV, based at the Innovation Centre in Belfast. The agent for the development, used as a B&Q site until May 2015, is Pragma Planning and Development Consultants. The application describes the present net area is 9,297m2, reaching 11,421m2 after development. It anticipates that there would be 110 employees attending the site every day, with 2,084 others also using the site every day. Affidea already has 19 sites across the island of Ireland, with three facilities north of the border Orthoderm, Hillsborough Private Medical Clinic and Northern MRI. Announcing the project, Barry Downes, CEO of Affidea Ireland, said: We are excited to bring forward our plans for a new medical facility on the Boucher Road. We have long felt that there was a gap in the Northern Irish market for a modern, patient centric, digitally advanced medical facility. We are hoping to bring the best of what medical services we provide in other countries, such as advanced orthopaedic procedures from our Fortius clinic in Great Britain and the expertise of our womens health business in Switzerland, to the people of Northern Ireland. A key focus for Affidea is the provision of increased access to world class medical care in modern clinical environments, and we hope that the people of Northern Ireland will soon benefit from the most modern patient-centric facility of its kind. Kingsbridge Healthcare Group is Northern Irelands biggest private healthcare provider, with two facilities in Belfast, one in the north west and another in Sligo in the Republic of Ireland. It provides healthcare to private patients, and has contracts with state healthcare on both sides of the border. In the year to March 2023, pre-tax profits rose to 11.4m, from 9.1m the year before. According to a report on business news website The Currency in May, private equity firm Exponent is in exclusive talks to acquire Kingsbridge for around 300m. The Greens have set out their plans to help small businesses (Isabel Infantes/PA) The Green Party has committed to helping the UKs high streets thrive in a green economy by setting out a charter for small businesses. Under its proposals, the party is offering to create regional mutual banks to drive investment in decarbonisation, rejoin the EU customs union, and give VAT and rates exemptions to businesses. Brooksides rape storyline is to be reshown in full for the first time in almost four decades (STV Player/PA) Brooksides groundbreaking rape storyline is to be reshown in full for the first time in almost four decades. Individual episodes of the storyline have been shown since it first aired in 1986, but streaming service STV Player is to allow viewers to watch all parts together for the first time in 38 years, on July 3. The episodes tell the story of Sue Johnstons character, Sheila Grant, being attacked and raped after getting out of a taxi on Brookside Close, and go on to show the emotional impact on Grant and her family, as well as the hunt for her attacker. STV Player has been releasing five episodes each Wednesday, since acquiring the rights to Brookside in February 2023 (STV Player/PA) STV Player acquired the rights to show the classic soap in February 2023, and has been releasing five episodes on the platform every Wednesday, in chronological order. The platforms viewers have now reached July 1986, meaning they have watched the equivalent of three-and-a-half years of the shows original timeline. Brookside was one of the first TV soaps to show a rape storyline, with other early depictions coming in US series General Hospital, in 1979, and in EastEnders in 1988, with the rape of Kathy Beale. Following the storyline, Johnston, who also starred in the Royle Family, said filming it had helped her to speak out about a real-life attack which happened to her. She told ITV in a 2018 interview: I was slightly nervous about it, because I had in my own life, when I was 27, been sexually attacked. I was attacked from behind, and he ran, and I could hear him, and I turned around and I could see him at the side of this bridge, and I realised how lonely it was. The drama was going to happen and this guy was going to run up behind me, and grab me and drag me into these bushes. I was frightened that I would lose control, because I still even to this day cant have anybody run up behind me. It was almost like drama therapy, because Id got rid of this fear and I could talk about it, I hadnt talked about it, Id never told my parents. In her autobiography, Things I Couldnt Tell My Mother, the actor said she had told the series producers that she would only perform in the scenes if they were done with the sensitivity it deserves. She explained: I was adamant we shouldnt just produce a sensationalist piece of television. What we screened had to represent what women who had been raped went through. I knew the shame and trauma that stemmed from such a violation. We went to the Rape Crisis centre in Liverpool and heard first-hand some of the awful attacks the women had suffered. We also witnessed the great work carried out there although then, as today, rape was a crime with a shockingly low conviction rate. In her book, Johnston goes on to explain that she received hundreds of letters from women, who wanted to share their own experiences having seen the story. STV Player said the groundbreaking plot was the first landmark storyline to be released on the service. Richard Williams, managing director of Digital at STV, said: Brookside was, and remains, renowned for its gritty realism and for not being afraid to shine a light on issues that were so often ignored on television when it was first shown forty years ago. The rape of Sheila Grant was a landmark moment, not just in Brookside, but in British TV itself. The wider conversations the storyline provoked at the time were testament to Sue Johnstons powerful performance, as well as the sensitive scripting of the Brookside writers. Four decades on, were pleased to be giving a platform to this significant storyline and the important issues it highlights. Anyone affected by the issues in the episodes, should contact the Rape Crisis charitys 24 hour helpline on 08085002222. Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin during the Eras Tour on Friday. Pic: Liam McBurney Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin during the Eras Tour on Friday. Pic: Liam McBurney Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin during the Eras Tour on Friday. Pic: Liam McBurney Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin during the Eras Tour on Friday. Pic: Liam McBurney Taylor Swift thrilled 50,000 delighted fans and expressed her delight in being back back in Dublin as she took to the stage tonight for the first of her three sold-out shows. She told the Aviva Stadium crowd: I havent been able to play a show in Dublin for over five years. Nobody does it like you, you know this. People in the crowd should be winning awards for their performances, their facial expressions, their choreography. The 34-year-old pop superstar emerged on a hidden platform at 7.15 pm to thunderous applause and screams. Swift introduced herself to the audience with an understated: Oh, hi. Does anyone here happen to know the words? she asked during Cruel Summer. Taylor said: Dublin. This was wild. That made me feel amazing. Tonight, I get to play a sold-out show in Dublin on a Friday night. You guys are making me feel so good, its going straight to my head. Youre making me feel very powerful. Swifties lucky enough to get the coveted tickets gathered at the stadium early on Friday afternoon to make sure they didnt miss a second of the three and a half hour show. A giant countdown clock appeared on the screen heralding her entrance. Her fan base eagerly awaited hearing her career defining hits, including Shake It Off, Blank Space, 22, I Knew You Were Trouble, You Belong With Me, Love Story, All Too Well and Anti-Hero. It came as Taylor Swift fever hit Belfast today as fans set off for Dublin to enjoy the first night of the pop stars Eras Tour. Excited Swifties boarded a special train at Lanyon Station bound for the Irish capital at 1pm, with hundreds more setting off by bus and car for the mega gig. As they set off, fans described their excitement. Becky Fergusson (40), from Holywood in Co Down, made Eras Tour-themed jackets for herself and her daughter who are attending the concert with her husband. I got this denim jacket, I bleached it, I tie-dyed it, I ironed on all the pictures and I got someone to sew on the tassels, she said. Becky Fergusson Becky has been a Swiftie for years, adding: Ive been a fan since the very first album. She has managed to pass the love for Swift down to her daughter. My daughter is seven, and she just cant wait last night was like Christmas Eve, she woke up so early this morning, she said. Becky previously saw Swift performing in Dublin in 2018. I previously went to see Reputation with my friend Jane and we had the best time so I cant wait to see her again, she said. This time Becky didnt originally get tickets for the concert but she was able to purchase some resale tickets. Watch: Swifties on their way to the Eras Tour in Dublin We got pretty lucky, the ones we got for today, we got on resale so we just kept an eye on Ticketmaster and got lucky, she said. Becky is excited to see what surprise song Swift plays tonight. Mirrorball would be amazing, I did something bad from Rep hasnt been played yet and that would be pretty special and my daughter would love All you had to do was stay, she said. Lauren Swann (20), from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, is going to the concert with her mum. We are both big fans, Id say my mum is a bigger Swiftie than me but we have both been waiting for a long time, she said. Lauren Swann Laurens cousin Ben was the first person who introduced Swifts music to her. I just soaked it all up, the first album I listened to was 1989 so I would have been 12 and then I went and listened to the rest, she said. Lauren was one of the lucky few able to get pre-sale tickets, I ended up getting six so my friends are going as well and my cousin so I fought the great war for all of them but it was worth it, she said. Lauren decided to dress as in the Reputation Era, adding: Im always in my Reputation Era, its my favourite album I like them all but its my favourite. Oliver Bingham (16) from Lurgan is attending the concert with his friend and sister. Im excited but nervous, Ive been to many concerts but Im just nervous for this one because its massive, he said. Oliver Bingham He admits his sister inspired his interest in Swift, adding: I started listening to her with my sister Beth in our living room, I actually have quite fond memories of that. Despite not dressing as an Era, Oliver has a firm favourite. My favourite song is from my favourite album, its Forever Winter from Red it was the first one I actually got into, he said. Jamie Murphy (35), from Belfast, is attending the concert with her daughter, Roise, who is 10 and niece, Eabh Curley (10). Im so excited, Im so excited for the kids but Ill probably be singing more than them, she said. The Eras Tour marks Roise and Eabhs first train ride and concert. Its great for the girls to get out its a big day for them, Jamie said. Roise and Eabh have made some friendship bracelets with their mums help. They hope to trade the bracelets with other Swifties at the concert and use them as a way to make friends with other fans. Roise Murphy They have all Eras and songs on them, Roise said. Im really excited to swap bracelets, you make loads and then you get to trade them with other people there, Eabh said. Jamie chose to dress as the Debut Era, Roise dressed in the Red Era while Eabh dressed as the Lover Era. It was so hard to pick an era, the kids were doing Lover and Red so I decided to just do the Debut Era, Jamie said. All three girls put a lot of effort into their outfits, with Jamie making Roise her own 22 themed t-shirt and Eabh getting special Lovers style false nails. I got my mummy to do my nails for me, Eabh said. Roise thinks the surprise song for Swifts first night in Dublin will be 22, Eabh thinks it will be Bejewelled while Jamie thinks Swift will bring a surprise guest on stage, Im waiting for Stevie Nicks. Stevie Nicks is in Dublin so Im waiting on a surprise song with Stevie Nicks, she said. With a sold-out show on the banks of the River Lagan set for next week, the Lyric Theatres latest adaptation of Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream will serve as the perfect setting for the productions musical director, Conor Pelan. After living and working in Vietnam for half a decade, the 31-year-old is revelling in the fact that now he is home, his first major job in musical directing is at the place that started it all for him. Alleged NI victim of domestic abuse waited until partner was sleeping before stabbing him to death' Surviving victims of a loyalist gun attack on a village pub more than 30 years ago have secured a date for their High Court action over alleged security force collusion with the killers. A judge confirmed today their claim for damages in connection with the shootings at the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo, Co Down will be heard in March next year. Summer graduations at Queens University are under way with the first ceremonies taking place on Thursday. Among those celebrating a degree in Business Management was one Co Tyrone graduate who is already putting his new talents to good use. Aidan McGeary from Dungannon transferred to the degree course at the end of his first year at Queens after originally opting for Business IT. And while that move gave him the opportunity for a work placement with PwC in Belfast, Aidan ploughed his own path into the business world and is now a CEO in his own right, having set up an innovative clothing business for people who wear medical devices. As chief executive and co-founder of Mude an adaptive clothing company providing garments for people who need to wear a medical device Aidan initially focused on helping people who use insulin pumps to manage diabetes. The clothing products at Mude are specifically designed to fit underneath existing clothing items to ensure that individuals who wear medical devices do not have to adapt their fashion sense, and can wear the clothes they love, he said. It was at the Start For Future programme where Aidan met his Mude co-founder. This is a programme where an international network of entrepreneurial universities and incubators work together to transform universities to develop sustainable, innovative programmes that enable future leaders and change-makers. Also graduating from the school of business was Guilherme Santos, 16 years after moving to Northern Ireland from his native Brazil as a seven-year-old. He said throwing himself into university life, engaging with his fellow students, has helped him land a graduate job with Lancia Consult from September. Guilherme has been an active member of Queens Business School (QBS), getting involved in all aspects of student life. In the final year of his studies in particular, Guilherme got deeply involved in QBS Connect run by and for students within the school. One of our main goals was fostering a sense of community through our events, he said. This role not only allowed me to make a positive impact on my peers but also provided me with valuable experiences that I will carry forward. Graduation ceremonies at Queens University will be taking place over the next week, with ceremonies at Ulster University due to begin from Monday. The funeral of a Co Armagh father-of-one who died on holiday in Turkey will be held tomorrow. Conor Lennon, of Newtownhamilton, was on holiday with friends in Turkey when he died following a tragic accident on Saturday, June 22. His funeral will be held on Saturday, going from his home to arrive at St Michaels Church in Newtownhamilton for 2pm Mass. He will be buried in St Malachys Cemetery, Ballymoyer. Mr Lennon was the beloved and cherished son of Tony and Paula, devoted daddy to Georgia and loving brother to Megan and Sian. He is deeply regretted by his girlfriend Siofra, family and friends, his death notice said. Posting on social media, Mr Lennons sister Sian wrote: I love you big bro. Didnt get saying it enough. Forever and always. Thanks for everything. Park Butchers in Newtownhamilton wrote: Myself, Vicki and all our staff are devastated to learn of the passing of Conor this morning. The Lennon family have played a big part in our businesses, including Conor, from the age of 15. We are all one big family and we are all heartbroken. We send our sincerest condolences to Tony, Paula, Megan, Sian, Georgia, Siofra and Jackie and family at this difficult time. We keep them in our thoughts and prayers. St John Bosco GAC in Newry said: The Committee and Members of St. John Bosco GAC regrets to learn of the sudden death of Conor Lennon, brother of club member Megan Lennon, and we extend sincere sympathy to the entire family circle. St Brendas Camogie Club, Ballymacnab, where Mr Lennons cousins are members, also expressed their sympathy online. "St Brendas Ballymacnab express our deepest sympathies to our senior players Eabha & Ellen Lennon and U16 player Scarlett Lennon on the sad passing of their cousin Conor, they said. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Conors family & friends & wider family circle. Journalist Rodney Edwards yesterday issued legal correspondence against Baroness Kate Hoey on that same day that Stephen Nolan dropped a libel case against him. BBC presenter Stephen Nolan has ended action he was taking against Enniskillen-based journalist Mr Edwards and the Irish News. Hours later, Mr Edwards announced that he would now be issuing proceedings against former Labour peer, Belfast-born Baroness Hoey. Ms Hoey said she has yet to receive any such proceedings. Following the publication of the Irish News articles last summer, Mr Nolan issued an apology for an incident involving an explicit photograph, but said claims his show placed staff members in the audience were categorically false. Legal firm WP Tweed & Co confirmed last week that it had issued proceedings on behalf of Mr Nolan against both The Irish News and Mr 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. A joint statement published in the Irish News on Thursday said: We are pleased to confirm that Stephen Nolans legal action against the publishers of The Irish News and the journalist Rodney Edwards has been resolved on mutually satisfactory terms. All the parties agree that a dispute between journalists, each of whom is very respected in their own fields, is undesirable for everyone concerned. Mr Nolan acknowledges that The Irish News is entitled to report on matters which are in the public interest, including issues linked to the BBC, fairly and accurately. The Irish News, for its part, accepts that at no stage did Mr Nolan or other BBC figures attempt to engage in the manipulation of audiences during his television programme. Both sides agree that press freedom is an essential element of any democratic society. A few hours later, Mr Edwards issued a statement via KRW Law. The legal firm said it has issued pre action litigation correspondence to Baroness Kate Hoey over her publication of a defamatory statement on social media site X [formerly Twitter]. The re-tweeting of the offensive comments by another party is actionable, it added. The publications are untrue and caused great distress to our client who enjoys an impeccable professional reputation. If we do not receive an adequate response within 14 days we are instructed to issue High Court proceedings. In response, Baroness Hoey said she was unconcerned by the prospect of legal action against her, and believes there are no grounds for it. She said that if any pre action correspondence is received, I will respond in detail including setting out in express terms my views on how Mr Edwards treated Stephen Nolan and the basis for those views. A suspected arson attack on a charity shop in Bangor will have an impact on funding life-saving services, it has been warned. The fire at the branch of Action Cancer was reported at around 4am on Friday. At the peak of the blaze, four fire crews were in attendance. A man in his 50s has been arrested. Gareth Kirk, the charity's chief executive, said the blaze will have a big impact. He said: The damage is very severe, its totally gutted, and thats just tragic for our shop manager and for our 10 volunteers as well who freely give up their time to run our Bangor shop. "Our shops are very important, and Bangor is very important to us as well. Mr Kirk said the shops fund services which the charity provides to people. "Now that very vital income from Bangor isnt going to be there, maybe for quite some time, by the time the shop gets re-established. "It's going to have an impact on our ability to meet and deliver the services that are genuinely life-saving. Fire at Action Cancer will have an impact on life saving services they provide to people with cancer - CEO of Action Cancer North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne condemned the arson attack. This was a truly despicable act of arson against what is a popular local charity shop in the heart of Bangor city centre. "This disgraceful attack will detrimentally impact the great work done by Action Cancer throughout the local area. "There was also a second business that was targeted and suffered damage. There is absolutely no place for this type of criminal activity and the local community is rightly disgusted by this attack. I would like to commend our local PSNI and Fire and Rescue Service units that responded so promptly to the blaze and undoubtedly prevented further damage to surrounding buildings and businesses. "Although the police have already made an arrest on suspicion of arson and criminal damage I would encourage anyone that has any information that may assist the police in their investigation to come forward immediately. A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of arson and criminal damage following a fire at a charity shop on Market Street in Bangor. Photo by Press Eye PSNI Sergeant Frew said: At approximately 4am, we received a report that a fire had broken out in a shop in the Market Street area and also a report that a window had been smashed on a door of a second business close by. Police along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended and the fire was extinguished, however a substantial amount of damage was caused to the shop. A short time later, officers arrested a man aged in his 50s on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. He remains in police custody at this time. We are treating this as arson and enquiries are ongoing. Both participants agreed to hold the debate without an audience (Gerald Herbert/AP) Donald Trump and Joe Biden have concluded their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle in Atlanta, Georgia. Bidens performance was defined by his rambling answers apparently low energy, while Trump spent the debate spreading misinformation and failing to answer questions. Biden was accompanied by his wife Jill Biden. Trumps wife, Melania, has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail and Thursday nights event was no different. Now, social media is in a frenzy as users digest Thursday nights chaotic spectacle. At the same time, Democratic strategists panicked over Bidens less-than-optimal performance amid growing criticisms about his age. Bidens halting debate performance stirs Democratic panic about his candidacy Some two-thirds of viewers agreed that Trump came out of the debate on top following Bidens meandering performance, according to a CNN snap poll taken Thursday night. This marks a shift from their last debate in 2020, when the majority of viewers labeled Biden the winner. Here are our key takeaways from tonights debate: Biden has shaky start Bidens performance was defined by his soft, raspy voice and rambling thoughts. The president regularly tripped over his words and lost his train of thought. At one point, after Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. Vice President Kamala Harris even remarked on the presidents performance. Yes there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, she told CNN. It was later revealed the president has a cold. Leading up to the debate Trump and his cohort spread conspiracies that the president would be using amphetamines, pounding Mountain Dew or wearing an earpiece during the debate. There is no evidence for any of these claims and Thursdays performance seemed to show Biden was not prescribed any performance enhancers. Trump says US was respected all over the world on Jan 6 Biden confronted Trump in-person for the first time about his role in the January 6 2021 insurrection. The former president did not answer repeated questions from moderator Jake Tapper about voters who are concerned about Trumps role. Instead, Trump claimed the US was respected all over the world that day. He also made several false claims about the insurrection These falsehoods included that it was a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol during the January 6 2021 insurrection. In truth, thousands of people went to the riots that day. He also claimed that Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the House, turned down his offer to send in troops and the National Guard when rioters broke into the Capitol. Pelosi did not direct the National Guard so she could not have turned down that offer. But Trump wasnt the only one to make an untrue claim. Biden claimed that the US Border Patrol endorsed him which their Union says is false. Clashing on abortion policies Trump praised the Dobbs v Jackson decision, which ended nationwide access to abortion two years ago this week. Biden, meanwhile, promised to restore Roe v Wade the 1973 Supreme Court case overturned by Dobbs if re-elected. The former president also made false claims about abortion in the US, including that Democrats want to legalize abortion after a baby is born. Trump falsely accused former governor of Virginia Ralph Northam of saying he would support such a policy Because [in] some states Democrats run, [they] take it after birth ... the governor, former governor of Virginia, Hes, hes willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb, Trump said. However, Trump did say he supports the Supreme Courts recent decision to keep the abortion medication mifepristone legal despite right-wing efforts to ban it. Biden lashes out at Trump for morals of alley cat over alleged Stormy affair Biden laid into Trump over his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels and the recent civil ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carrol. The crimes that you are still charged with think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many millions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star...while wife was pregnant? Biden went on to say Trump has the morals of an alley cat. Trump responded by denying the affair with Daniels and claiming his Manhattan hush money trial was rigged. Bidens remarks came after Trump attacked his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges. Panic Mode among Democrats Bidens shaky performance tonight coupled with already building concerns about his age has inspired panic among the left. Any Democrat who is not in panic mode is the stupidest person in America right now, Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth Universitys polling, posted on X. Horrible, they told The Independent. Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option. But Bidens campaign did not seem worried. Afterward, Biden gave an energetic speech to supporters at a debate watch party. When asked later at a Waffle House about whether he was worried, Biden said No. Its hard to debate a liar. The return parade makes its way past the Ardoyne shops towards the finishing point on October 1, 2016. Pic: Kevin Scott/Presseye The Orange Order has outlined plans for a replacement parade on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast to take place on July 13 this year, instead of on the Twelfth. The institution announced the proposal with the aim of resolving the outstanding differences involved with one of Northern Irelands most contentious parading routes. The route in Ardoyne, which crosses an interface that separates unionist and nationalist communities, has made numerous headlines for igniting violent riots in the past. Since 2016, the Ardoyne interface has remained peaceful, following a deal brokered by both sides that ended a three-year loyalist standoff at Twaddell. However, last week The Belfast Telegraph reported that three Orange lodges in north Belfast have applied to walk the return leg of their parade on July 12. If allowed it would be the first evening return parade in the area for over a decade. On October 1, 2016, a loyalist protest camp at the Twaddell interface was dismantled following the completion of the outstanding Ligoniel Lodges return parade that took place at 8.30am. The deal contained an agreement that nationalist residents would not object to five morning parades a year past the interface, including the morning of the Twelfth. In return a moratorium was placed on applying for any return parades for the foreseeable future, with both sides committing to holding regular talks. The statement said that following the completion of this parade, the Ligoniel Lodges would instigate a voluntary moratorium on applying for a [future] return parade. This moratorium would allow for a process between the lodges and [nationalist residents group] CARA to seek agreement on future return parades and if agreement is achieved, the moratorium would be lifted, the statement added. The agreement received political praise from all sides at the time. CARA, the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association, said recently that the Orange Order is breaching that agreement, as an application had been lodged with the Parades Commission for a return parade. A press statement from the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast on Friday says that currently, there are five morning parades and one contested evening return parade in relation to the 12th of July. It continues: In a genuine and serious attempt to overcome our differences and as a solution to address the contention surrounding the evening return parade, we propose its replacement with a morning homeward return parade on the 13th of July. "To this end, a new application has been submitted to the Parades Commission. This magnanimous and serious effort underscores our commitment to finding a fair, peaceful and lasting solution. It addresses the concerns raised by all parties involved in the dispute and ensures that the rights of the three local lodges and the Protestant community to return home are upheld. With the same spirit of cooperation and understanding demonstrated in this initiative, we believe the foundation for a just and long-term resolution to the parading dispute is within our grasp. In response, a spokesperson for CARA said there has been no consultation or discussions concerning a return parade on the 13th and accused the Orange Order of acting in bad faith. The group that represents nationalist residents in Ardoyne and Mountainview say they have now applied for a counter protest should the proposed parade be granted permission by the Parades Commission. This is a breach of the 2016 agreement and at no stage were Cara involved in any talks or negotiations of this nature. In the second Northern Ireland TV debate ahead of the 2024 General Election, things again got heated between the partys representatives, but Naomi Long said the constitutional question is not one thing thats causing people to sweat in a panic over. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will likely be having an enjoyable Friday with the Derry man being praised over his performance on the BBC Northern Irelands leaders debate last night. Carl Cooper, 66, who has been found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of the murders of Naomi Hunte, 41, and Fiona Holm, 48 (Metropolitan Police/PA) A man has been found guilty of murdering two of his former partners who had both complained to police about his violence. Carl Cooper, 66, was in a relationship with Naomi Hunte, 41, who died from a stab wound to the chest, and Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found, at different times. Ms Hunte, of Woolwich, south-east London, was found dead on her blood-soaked sofa on Valentines Day in 2022 while prosecutors said Ms Holm is believed to have died on June 20 2023. Naomi Hunte told police Cooper stalks her (Metropolitan Police/PA) A jury at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday found the defendant guilty of two counts of murder after three days of deliberations. The families of the two victims who were watching in court were visibly emotional as the verdict was given. Scotland Yard later said there is still a 20,000 police reward for information which leads to Ms Holms remains being found as a detective branded Cooper a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities. Ms Hunte made a number of domestic call-outs to police to her home in 2020 and 2021 and told them that handyman Cooper was obsessed with her, the court previously heard. In a police call-out to her home on June 29 2021, she told officers that Cooper stalks me and Im really scared now. The prosecution believe that Ms Hunte was killed overnight on February 10. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a stab wound to the chest while she had also drunk alcohol and taken drugs including cocaine and cannabis. Her blood was later found on three different areas of Coopers jacket, and on a knife with a serrated blade which resembled a steak knife. Ms Holm, of Catford, south-east London, had also made complaints about Cooper to the police. Fiona Holm, whose body has never been found (Metropolitan Police/PA) Cooper lit fires in the immediate days after Ms Holm went missing and also carried out a wholesale redecoration of his living room, which included stripping off wallpaper, cutting out net curtains and removing a rug, prosecutor Joel Smith KC previously told the jury. Narita Bahra KC, defending, previously told the jury to take great care not to jump to conclusions in what she described as a very unusual case. After the verdict, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: Carl Cooper is a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities. He took the lives of two vibrant, sociable women who were so very loved by their families and friends. Naomi and Fiona are in my thoughts today. DCI Blackburn, who said Cooper had gone to great lengths to remove traces of Ms Holms blood from his flat, paid tribute to the families of both women. She said: They have sat through court and heard the most difficult of information about the deaths of women they deeply loved. I cannot begin to understand the pain they will experience forever. While I am relieved that he will be incarcerated in a place where he poses no threat to women, my greatest regret will always be that there wasnt sufficient evidence to charge him earlier. Cooper, of Hither Green, south-east London, will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday. Members of the armed forces at the UKs national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day (PA) Party leaders will be on the election campaign trail on Armed Forces Day discussing defence and support for veterans. But fallout is expected to continue from comments made by campaigners for Reform UK, as party leader Nigel Farage declined to apologise for their actions, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will call out blatant racism. Campaigners for Mr Farages party were recorded making racist comments, including about the Prime Minister who is of Indian descent. The footage, made by an undercover Channel 4 reporter, showed Reform campaigner Andrew Parker using a racist term about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as target practice. Mr Farage said that Mr Parker was an actor and denounced the expose as a political set-up. On the campaign trail on Saturday, Mr Sunak will hail the duty, dedication and selfless personal sacrifice of servicemen and women and claim his is the only party to meet the Help for Heroes Veterans Pledge. The pledge requires parties to commit to keeping the Office for Veterans Affairs, commissioning an independent review of the medical discharge process and ensuring veterans get the benefits and compensations they deserve. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak making a speech at an event at Petyt Hall, London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Sunak said: It should be the first responsibility of any Government to support those who defend us. Its why its so important that we get defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, and also why we must continue our mission to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran. In an increasingly dangerous world, our servicemen and women play an ever more critical role in keeping us safe. We each owe them and their families a huge amount, and on Armed Forces Day I pay personal tribute to everything they do for us and our country. Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said: Only the Conservatives have a clear plan to support our armed forces and secure the future of our country. Dont vote to let Starmer put us all in danger from Downing Street. The Conservatives also claim that Labour would fail our armed forces and open up veterans deployed in Northern Ireland to endless prosecutions with their commitment to scrapping the Legacy Act. The Legacy Act that would give immunity from prosecution to people who committed crimes during the Troubles if they co-operate with a truth recovery body has been rejected by the five largest parties in Northern Ireland as well as victims and human rights organisations. Veterans are greeted by crowds on the seafront in Arromanches, in Normandy, France, on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings (Jane Barlow/PA) Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to introduce a new armed forces commissioner and lead a government of service if Labour is elected. The commissioner role will aim to champion those who serve by investigating issues such as substandard housing, faulty kit and poor discharge support, the party said. Sir Keir said: Labour is deeply proud of our armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the contribution they make to our country. Theirs is the ultimate public service and their professionalism and bravery is rightly respected across the world. As we mark Armed Forces Day, I am proud to say that if we are privileged to serve, my Labour government will demonstrate our respect and thanks, in action for our forces communities. We will legislate in our first year for an Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong champion for our forces and their families. The commissioner will help to renew the moral contract with those who serve our nation, and the families who support them. Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer on a Second World War landing craft speaking to veteran Lieutenant Commander Len Chivers, 99, during a visit to Portsmouth (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reiterated their manifesto pledge to reverse cuts to numbers in the armed forces and their ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Sir Ed said: Today is a day to express our gratitude to every single person who is serving or has served in our armed forces. Each one of them has given so much in order to keep us all safe and they deserve a fair deal, worthy of the sacrifices they and their families have made. That is why I and the Liberal Democrats are proud to have put forward a manifesto that would give veterans, their families, and those serving the resources and the support that they deserve and need to keep us safe. Nigel Farage has sought to distance himself from the comments (Ben Birchall/PA) A Reform UK campaigner who was caught on camera calling Rishi Sunak a racial slur has apologised for his remarks but insisted he was goaded into making them. Andrew Parker said of course he regrets the language he used but claimed it was just typical chaps-down-the-pub talk in the heat of the moment. Mr Parker was recorded by an undercover Channel 4 reporter saying that migrants crossing the English Channel should be used as target practice and using a derogatory term to refer to the Prime Minister. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage speaking at a meeting in Boston (Paul Marriott/PA) Party leader Nigel Farage subsequently used reports that the canvasser was a part-time actor to suggest the whole episode does not add up. Mr Farage has sought to distance himself from the comments, saying he was dismayed by the appalling sentiments expressed. Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Parker confirmed he worked as an actor but suggested it was separate to the volunteering he had done for the party. He told PA: Of course I regret what I said. Im old school. Christ, Im not a racist. Ive had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk. Asked why he had made the remarks, Mr Parker said: It was in the heat of the moment. I was goaded on. He suggested the undercover reporter had been making jokes and bits and pieces which were not included in the published footage, but would not expand on what he was claiming the journalist had said. Channel 4 has said it stands by its rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has addressed the remarks directly (Joe Giddens/PA) Asked whether he would like to apologise for the comments, which were later rebuked by the Prime Minister, he said: Of course Im sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says. Mr Parker said he had got involved with Reform by contacting the party offering to do some leafleting because he believed in Mr Farages message, but had not mentioned that he was an actor. Later on Friday, the Prime Minister addressed the canvassers remarks directly, saying the slur hurts and it makes me angry and that the Reform UK leader has questions to answer. My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***, Mr Sunak said. And I dont repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is. Mr Farage has previously faced questions over some Reform UK candidates and the party has withdrawn support for several people prior to the General Election after investigations uncovered remarks they had made previously. But others who have been criticised for their language have retained Reforms backing, including Leslie Lilley, standing in Southend East and Rochford, who reportedly said he would slaughter migrants and have their families taken out. On Thursday, the Reform leader claimed his candidates in most cases were just speaking like ordinary folk. He added: In some cases one or two people let us down and we let them go. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Farage faced a test of leadership over the footage, adding: You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform seem to be exposed in this particular way. A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said: We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation. Bolivian President Luis Arce has denied being behind an attempted coup against him and said the general who apparently led it acted on his own. He also hit out at accusations that he had asked for the mutiny in a plan to boost his popularity. In his first appearance before the press since the failed apparent coup, Mr Arce called suggestions of a self-coup lies, and added: I am not a politician who is going to win popularity through the blood of the people. Mr Arce spoke hours after his government announced that a total of 17 people had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attempted government takeover, including the army chief, General Juan Jose Zuniga, and former navy Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, who were taken into custody the day before. The president claimed that not only military officers were involved in the plan, but people retired from the military and civil society. He did not elaborate. Bolivian police hold the detained Juan Jose Zuniga (Juan Karita/AP) Mr Zuniga will be investigated and he will face justice, he added. Some of his supporters rallied outside the presidential palace on Thursday morning, giving some political breathing room to the embattled leader as authorities made more arrests in the failed coup that shook the economically troubled country a day earlier. The South American nation of 12 million watched in shock and bewilderment on Wednesday as military forces appeared to turn on the government of Mr Arce, seizing control of La Pazs main square with armoured vehicles, repeatedly crashing a small tank into the presidential palace and unleashing tear gas on protesters. Senior cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo did not elaborate on the other 15 people who were arrested, except to identify one civilian, Anibal Aguilar Gomez, as a key ideologue of the thwarted coup. He said the alleged conspirators began plotting in May. Riot police guarded the palace doors and Mr Arce who has struggled to manage the countrys shortages of foreign currency and fuel emerged on the presidential balcony as his supporters surged into the streets singing the national anthem and cheering as fireworks exploded overhead. No one can take democracy away from us, he roared. Bolivians responded by chanting, Lucho, you are not alone! Lucho, a common nickname for Luis, also means fight as a Spanish verb. Analysts say the eruption of public support for Mr Arce, even if fleeting, provides him with a reprieve from the countrys economic quagmire and political turmoil. The president is locked in a deepening rivalry with popular former president Evo Morales, his erstwhile ally who has threatened to challenge Mr Arce in 2025. Before his arrest late on Wednesday, Mr Zuniga alleged without providing evidence that Mr Arce had ordered the general to carry out the coup attempt in a ruse to boost the presidents popularity. That fuelled speculation about what really happened. Opposition senators and government critics joined the chorus, calling the mutiny a self-coup a claim strongly denied by Mr Arces government. An armoured vehicle and military police outside the government palace in La Paz (Juan Karita/AP) Soon after the military manoeuvre was underway, it became clear that any attempted takeover had no meaningful political support. The rebellion passed bloodlessly at the end of the business day. In an extraordinary scene, Mr Arce argued viciously with Mr Zuniga and his allies face-to-face in the plaza outside the palace before returning inside to name a new army commander. Speaking in Paraguay on Thursday, US deputy secretary of state for management Rich Verma condemned Mr Zuniga, saying that democracy remains fragile in our hemisphere. In his speech after storming the palace, Mr Zuniga had called for the release of political prisoners including powerful Santa Cruz governor Luis Fernando Camacho, also detained for allegedly orchestrating a coup in 2019. Before being arrested, Mr Zuniga told reporters that Mr Arce had asked him directly to storm the palace and bring armoured vehicles into downtown La Paz. The president told me: The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity, Mr Zuniga alleged. Even if proven false, accusations of Mr Arces involvement have stoked confusion and threatened more chaos. Bolivian officials have insisted the general was lying to justify his actions.Prosecutors said they would seek the maximum sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for Mr Zuniga on charges of attacking the constitution pending further investigations. The former boss of Brazilian retail giant Americanas, Miguel Gutierrez, was arrested on Friday in Spain accused of participating in a fraud scheme (Bruna Prado/AP) The former chief executive of Brazilian retail giant Americanas, Miguel Gutierrez, was arrested on Friday in Madrid, accused of participating in a 25 billion reais (3.5 billion) fraud scheme. Brazils federal police added his name to Interpols red notice list after determining the company falsified financial results to inflate cash flow and artificially boost the companys stock. Former directors committed fraud by advancing payments to suppliers through loans, engaging in market manipulation, insider trading, criminal association and money laundering, according to a statement from investigators. The probe began in January 2023 after Mr Gutierrezs successor took over as chief executive and soon disclosed a cash shortfall of 20 billion reais (2.85 billion). Mr Gutierrezs lawyer told the local press that his client has co-operated with authorities and denies any involvement in the fraud scheme. Mr Gutierrez, who is also a Spanish citizen, joined Americanas in 1993 and held various positions, gaining the trust of stakeholders Carlos Alberto Sicupira, Marcel Telles and Jorge Paulo Lemann a multi-billionaire and Brazils second richest person. Federal prosecutors said that the companys board has co-operated with the investigation by providing information about the fraud scheme. Brazils federal government has yet to receive an extradition request for Mr Gutierrez from the court. Brazil signed an extradition treaty with Spain in 1988, stipulating that each country may refuse to extradite its own nationals. The Spanish national police neither confirmed nor denied the arrest. On Thursday, the Brazilian Federal Police executed 15 arrest warrants and search and seizure orders for other former Americanas directors in Rio de Janeiro and seized their assets. Mr Lemann, Mr Sicupira and Mr Telles were not included in this police raid. The ruling previews the ending of a years-long legal battle over abortion restrictions in Iowa (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP) The supreme court in Iowa has said the states strict abortion law is legal, telling a lower court to dissolve a temporary block on the law and allowing Iowa to ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy before many women know they are pregnant. The 4-3 ruling is a win for Republican politicians, and Iowa joins more than a dozen other states with restrictive abortion laws following the US supreme courts overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. Some 14 states have near-total bans at all stages of pregnancy and three ban abortions at about six weeks. The Iowa supreme courts majority reiterated on Friday that there was no constitutional right to abortion. Moreover, as the state requested, they instructed courts to assess whether the government had a legitimate interest in restricting the procedure, rather than whether there was too heavy a burden for people seeking abortion access. Republican governor Kim Reynolds immediately released a statement celebrating the decision. Im glad that the Iowa supreme court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa, she said. Chief justice Susan Christensen emphatically delivered a dissent, writing: Today, our courts majority strips Iowa women of their bodily autonomy by holding that there is no fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy under our state constitution. I cannot stand by this decision. There are limited circumstances under the Iowa law that would allow for abortion after six weeks of pregnancy: rape, if reported to law enforcement or a health provider within 45 days; incest, if reported within 145 days; if the fetus has a fetal abnormality incompatible with life; or if the pregnancy is endangering the life of the patient. The states medical board recently defined rules for how doctors should adhere to the law. Abortion-rights activists and Womens March leaders protested outside the US supreme court last month (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) The ruling previews the ending of a years-long legal battle over abortion restrictions in Iowa that escalated in 2022 when the Iowa supreme court and then the US supreme court both overturned decisions establishing a constitutional right to abortion. The Iowa law passed with exclusively Republican support in a one-day special session last July. A legal challenge was filed the next day by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, Planned Parenthood North Central States and the Emma Goldman Clinic. The law was in effect for a few days before a district court judge put it on pause, a decision that Ms Reynolds appealed. Planned Parenthood has ceased abortion services in two Iowa cities (Rogelio V Solis/AP) At the time, Planned Parenthood North Central States said it stayed open late and made hundreds of phone calls to prepare patients amid the uncertainty, rescheduling abortion appointments in other states for those who wanted them. Court filings showed Iowa clinics had several hundred abortion appointments scheduled over two weeks last July, with most past the six-week mark in their pregnancies. Since then, Planned Parenthood has ceased abortion services in two Iowa cities, including one in Des Moines. The other Des Moines location does not currently have the capacity to serve patients seeking an abortion, so abortion medication and the procedure are being offered about 36 miles north in Ames. The Russian defence ministry noted a recent increased intensity of US drones over the Black Sea (Massoud Hossaini/AP) Russias defence minister has ordered officials to prepare a response to US drone flights over the Black Sea, the ministry said, in an apparent warning that Moscow may take forceful action to ward off the American reconnaissance aircraft. The Russian defence ministry noted a recent increased intensity of US drones over the Black Sea, saying they conduct intelligence and targeting for precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian military by western countries for strikes on Russian facilities. It shows an increased involvement of the US and other Nato countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. It noted that such flights significantly increase the probability of incidents involving Russian military aircraft, which increases the risk of direct confrontation between the alliance and the Russian Federation. Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov had requested proposals for measures of operative response, the ministry said (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Nato members will bear responsibility for that, it added. The ministry said that defence minister Andrei Belousov had directed the General Staff to make proposals on measures of operative response to provocations. Washington and Moscow have clashed before over US drones in the Black Sea. In a 2023 incident, a Russian fighter jet damaged an American drone there, causing it to crash. A repeat of such a confrontation could further fuel tensions over the war in Ukraine. On March 14 2023, a Su-27 fighter jet of the Russian air force intercepted and damaged a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, causing it to crash into the Black Sea. The incident marked the first direct clash between the Russian and US forces since the Cold War. The Pentagon and US European Command said after the incident that two Russian Su-27 aircraft dumped fuel on the MQ-9, which was conducting a routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea in international airspace. The Russian defence ministry said then that the US drone was flying near the Russian border and intruded into an area that was declared off-limits by Russian authorities. Russia has declared broad areas near Crimea off-limits to flights. Ever since Russias 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea and long before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has accused US surveillance planes of flying too close to its borders while ignoring the notices issued by Russia. Fridays Russian statement follows a Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol over the weekend with US-made ATACMS missiles, which killed four and injured about 150, according to Russian authorities. Russian officials have claimed that the US was directly involved in the attack by providing intelligence and targeting and warned about retaliatory measures. Elephants never forget and for the keepers at Belfast Zoo who have enjoyed their constant companionship over the years, the same can be said. But times up for ageing Asian pair Dhunja and Yhetto, who will shortly be heading into retirement. It may be the end of their lives living on Cavehill, but therell be new friends waiting for them as they head for Burgers Zoo in the Netherlands. Training to get the pair used to their transport for the journey is now in its final stages, and theyll soon be sailing off on a ferry into the sunset of their lives to where all their needs can be catered for. It will leave a huge gap in the attractions at Belfast Zoo though. Three years ago Dublin Zoo launched a 10-year strategic plan to enhance the attraction and transform the Phoenix Park venue already the most popular family attraction in Ireland into a leading hub for wildlife conservation of international significance. It is surely food for thought for all who wish to see Belfast Zoo regenerate in years to come. Members of the Bali Becik task force stand guard over Taiwanese citizens who were arrested in connection with alleged cybercrime in Bali, Indonesia, in this photo released June 28, 2024. Indonesian authorities said Friday that they had arrested scores of Taiwanese citizens in Bali this week for suspected roles in online scams and would be deporting them for misusing their visas. Slapping cybercrime charges on the 103 suspects from Taiwan, who were taken into custody Wednesday, would be difficult because they allegedly confessed that their victims were outside Indonesias jurisdiction, immigration officials said. The foreign nationals did not arrive in Indonesia simultaneously but through several airports, Saffar Muhammad Godam, Indonesias director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, told reporters on Friday. Their activities are suspected to be inconsistent with their visa purposes, allegedly conducting cybercrimes targeting individuals outside Indonesia, including Malaysia. He said the 91 men and 12 women were being held at the immigration detention center in Denpasar before deportation. Indonesian authorities said the detainees were not linked to a recent cyberattack by the Lock Bit ransomware group. The group hacked Indonesias national data center on Monday and demanded a ransom of U.S. $8 million (130 billion rupiah) for the release of encrypted data, Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said. Government officials refused to pay. Prior to the arrests of the Taiwanese, authorities launched a surveillance operation targeting the foreign citizens and seized 450 mobile phones, dozens of laptops, printers, power supplies, routers and identity cards. Indonesian immigration officials show passports and mobile devices seized while Taiwanese citizens arrested during a cybersecurity investigation are presented at a news conference in Bali, June 28, 2024. [Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP] Beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, an immigration team conducted covert surveillance on a villa in Marga, a district in Tabanan regency, according to Godam. At 2 p.m., the team received information about foreign citizens activities at the location. Three hours later, 103 foreigners were detained. At 6 p.m. the Bali Becik task force secured all the foreign nationals along with preliminary evidence found at the location. They are temporarily placed at the Denpasar immigration detention house, Godam said. I reiterate to all foreign nationals in Indonesia, especially in Bali, always comply with the prevailing regulations and laws, he said. Mepi Lin, a staff member of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) representing the Republic of China in Indonesia acknowledged the report. The Republic of China is the official name for Taiwan. It was handled by the TETO Surabaya division. Previously, there were only about 14 Taiwanese nationals. However, according to the latest data, it appears that many more Taiwanese nationals are involved, she said. Common phenomenon Cybersecurity analyst Alfons Tanujaya, with computer security firm Vaksincom, said arrests of scammers were an increasingly prevalent global phenomenon. Its not just in Indonesia scamming often targets certain countries while being based in another, he told BenarNews. This is common. For instance, Cambodia has many scammers, he said, adding that the nation has a negative reputation as a haven for gambling operators. Alfons said scammers typically operate from foreign countries to avoid severe penalties. If they were in their own country, the laws would severely punish them, but in another country, at worst, they get deported, he said. Taiwanese citizens are led out following a news conference at an immigration detention center in Bali, June 28, 2024. [Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP] Ardi Sutedja, a cybersecurity analyst and chairman of the Indonesia Cyber Security Forum, highlighted the persistent issue of cybercrime, attributing it to the governments lack of action. Evidently, tourists arriving in Indonesia often lack clear origins and purposes, potentially resulting in a criminal influx due to the absence of a screening mechanism, he told BenarNews. Its time for the government to wake up and implement restrictions targeting mass tourism should not come at the expense of declining visitor quality, he said. We neglect to filter them. When we travel abroad, we face stringent questioning, even about our savings. The challenge, Ardi said, lies in the overlapping regulations that inadvertently threaten Indonesias national cybersecurity. We need to profile visitors, but Indonesia lacks the human resources for this. Hence, the government is encouraged to collaborate with community organizations. For instance, in Bali, involving local security groups like Pecalang, he said. KontraS report on abuses comes amid national furor over 13-year-olds death this month allegedly due to police beating. Indonesian children watch a carnival parade to mark the 492nd anniversary of the capital city, in Jakarta, June 30, 2019. Cases linked to the alleged torture of children by Indonesian law enforcement agencies rose threefold from June 2023 to May 2024 compared with the previous year, as authorities stepped up their battle against illegal drugs, a new report says. KontraS, the organization that released the report on Wednesday the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture defines torture as any act intentionally inflicting severe pain or suffering that authorities often use to extract confessions. The group issued its report amid a furor over a 13-year-old boys death this month in West Sumatra, allegedly due to a police beating, a claim the provinces police chief denied. A new and increasing phenomenon, is how Helmy Hidayat Mahendra of KontraS research division described the rise in cases of child abuse. KontraS stands for the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence. Violence is no longer just targeting adults, he said. KontraS documented 14 cases of what it calls torture of children between June 2023 and May 2024, which is triple the number from the previous 12 months. The reported cases likely represent a fraction of the actual number of incidents, as many go unreported because of fear of reprisals or lack of trust in the authorities, Helmy said. Indonesian law enforcement agencies have for long been accused of human rights abuses, and the report raises fresh concerns about a persistent culture of violence within the countrys security apparatus. In addition to angering Indonesians, the case has reignited discussions about the need for police reform and greater oversight of law enforcement agencies in the country. The parents of 13-year-old Afif Maulana, who was allegedly beaten to death by police, hold a photograph of him. [Courtesy Padang Legal Aid Institute] KontraS attributed the rise in child torture cases, in part, to the intensified war on drugs, which it said often violated human rights. For instance, one case involved a 16-year-old boy, identified as I.K., who was allegedly beaten and threatened with a gun by police to confess he was a drug courier, the KontraS report said. Another case, which was not mentioned in the report, was the death of Afif Maulana, a 13-year-old whose body was found under a bridge on June 9 with multiple injuries. Earlier this week, an official at the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Hari Kurniawan, said his agency was investigating the case. Afifs death was unnatural, and we suspect unlawful actions by the police, The Jakarta Post quoted him as saying on Tuesday. We ask the West Sumatra police and the Padang City Police to be transparent and open, and to prioritize the principle of fair trial in the context of investigating the alleged death of one student and the alleged torture of eight others, Hari told reporters then. Police are also investigating the boys death. According to the Komnas official, an NGO report said that Afif was allegedly beaten by police officers and suffered bruises and five broken ribs. Inspector General Suharyono, the West Sumatra police chief, denied these allegations, saying that Afif had jumped into a river during an attempt by officers to stop a student fight on the street. Members of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) appear at the Jakarta launch of the groups report on torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment in Indonesia, June 26, 2024. [Courtesy of KontraS] Suharyono, who goes by one name, cited a statement from a friend of Afifs who was also involved in the street fight. He tried to jump from the motorcycle into the river, CNN Indonesia quoted Suharyono as saying by CNN Indonesia on June 24. National police spokesman Brig. Gen Trunoyudo Wisnu declined to comment on the KontraS report, stating he had not read it yet. He urged against speculation on the Afif case, citing the ongoing investigation. Police are the main perpetrators Meanwhile, the overall number of torture cases also increased, the KontraS report said, to 60 from 54 the previous year with police officers being the primary perpetrators. The report linked this rise to the growing number of nationally strategic infrastructure projects which, according to KontraS, have led to violence against communities, with the police force unwilling to supervise and enforce internal regulations. For instance, in a report this month, Komnas HAM found that in the past three years, 1,675 human rights violations had occurred in connection with the project to build the new national capital on Borneo island. Darmadi, a Komnas HAM analyst who goes by a single name, said that law enforcement often enjoyed impunity by delaying investigations, fabricating alibis, or offering compensation to victims. We observe numerous instances where, if they dont gain public attention, the inclination to shield the institution is very strong. They even go as far as fabricating cases, Darmadi said at a press conference with KontraS on Wednesday. Impunity fosters the practice of torture, Darmadi added, adding that Komnas had sent a team to West Sumatra to investigate Afifs death. Police react at a rally during which supporters of rival presidential candidates Anies Baswedan and Prabowo Subianto throw stones at each other near the Constitutional Court in Jakarta, April 19, 2024. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP] Three-quarters of the 78 torture cases in Indonesia that Amnesty International Indonesia documented involved police officers, the human rights watchdog said. Military personnel accounted for 11% of the cases and prison officers 1%, according to Amnesty. The rights watchdog on Wednesday held a press conference attended by lawyers who represented the victims of alleged torture. The victims counsels shared accounts of their clients alleged abuse. Yan Mangandar Putra, a lawyer from Dompu on the island of Sumbawa, said six of his clients were subjected to violence by police officers who wanted to force confessions out of them. The forms of torture vary. One suspect was beaten on the neck with bamboo, kicked, and electrocuted, he said. Another suspect, identified as H, was shot in the left calf, beaten in the face, and had his ears damaged to the point of deafness. Benny Mamoto, chairman of the National Police Commission, which oversees the conduct of the force, acknowledged the issue of police violence, admitting it occurs at various stages of law enforcement, from arrest to interrogation and detention. He cited factors such as resistance during arrest, intoxication, and pressure to obtain confessions as contributing to the problem. Mamoto proposed prioritizing scientific investigations, creating a criminal data bank to reduce violence, and measures to deter officers from resorting to abuse. We should also prioritize CCTV, digital footprints, and encourage the use of body cameras by officers so they can clearly record incidents, he said. Various forms of violence have been committed. This is our weakness. Filipino military leaders caution against what they call false claims as tensions with Beijing rise. The Philippine military warned the public on Friday against an alarming surge in disinformation efforts amid rising tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea. Such efforts seek to erode public trust in the Philippine armed forces and government by aiming to sow panic, divide our nation, and distract us from pressing issues that demand our collective attention, military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement. Disinformation [makes] us vulnerable to external challenges that threaten our national security and stability, he said. Brawners statement followed recent social media posts and messages alluding to the row between the two countries over their contending territorial claims in the South China Sea. The military did not identify the source of these posts and messages. On Wednesday, the military released a screenshot of a June 23 social media post showing photos of an alleged massive shipment of U.S. military supplies to the Philippines. The military blurred the source of the Facebook post. The post, captioned Thousands of U.S. Ammunition and Weapons Flown to the Philippines, had been shared nearly 150 times by Friday morning. These images were actually taken during a U.S. aid delivery to Ukraine in 2022, the Philippine military said. The Philippine military describes the screengrab of a Facebook post by an unidentified social media user showing an alleged shipment of U.S. military supplies to the Philippines as false. [Armed Forces of the Philippines] It also pointed to another screenshot of a message which, according to the military, falsely claimed that the armed forces were on red alert and had received war equipment. The military said this claim was debunked, adding, The military is currently not on red alert status. We urge the public to verify sources and seek information from credible and official channels, the military said. Brawners statement came more than a week after a dramatic standoff at sea between the Chinese coast guard and Filipino navy personnel at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal. The June 17 incident, in which a Filipino sailor lost a finger, was the latest and most serious encounter between Manila and Beijing in the contested waters in recent months. The Philippines runs regular resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, an old navy ship that serves as Manilas military outpost in the contested waters near Mischief Reef, an artificial island where Beijing built a naval base in the 1990s. China has opposed the Philippines transportation of construction materials to refurbish the Sierra Madre. In May, the Philippines said it was investigating allegations that China had violated wiretapping laws during an alleged phone conversation between a Chinese official and a senior Filipino military commander about military resupply missions to Ayungin. China claims historical rights over most of the South China Sea. A landmark international arbitration ruling in 2016, in a case brought by Manila against Beijing, rejected those claims entirely. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. BENNINGTON A Bennington man who was allegedly inside a vehicle that brought the victim of a brutal stabbing death in Pownal to the home where he died back in February was arraigned Wednesday on unrelated kidnapping and conditions violations stemming from a violent beating and restraint of a woman he knew because of a cellphone. If I say anything, hes going to kill me, the victim told police soon after the incident. Nathan Gray, 34, was officially charged Wednesday in Bennington with one count of kidnapping and two counts of violating his conditions of release. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted. According to a police affidavit, Gray allegedly held the victim hostage for two hours, hitting her numerous times in the face and threatening to spray her with bear spray if she didnt find someone to retrieve his cell phone from a residence. Police found a can of bear spray inside a knapsack when they arrested Gray. Back in February, Gray was allegedly one of two individuals who drove murder victim, Casey Gras, 36, to the Pownal Estates Trailer Park in Pownal, where he was stabbed multiple times and left to die on a dirt road in the middle of the day as local school children were getting off a school bus after school ended. The alleged stabber, Elizah Coppedge, 18, is currently charged with murder in the 2nd degree in the brutal homicide. An outstanding warrant led South Carolina authorities to take Coppedge into custody as a fugitive from justice in Vermont by the Greenwood City Police on May 19th, three months after the murder. Coppedge is reportedly on his way to Vermont to face the murder charge. According to an affidavit in that case, police were called to Chickadee Drive at about 3 p.m. for a 911 report of a male lying in the road, not breathing. Vermont State Police located the male dressed in underwear and a T-shirt with cut and puncture wounds to his torso minutes later lying near a fence in the roadway. Rescue personnel attempted first aid, which was unsuccessful. The male, later identified as Gras, was pronounced dead 41 minutes later. An autopsy found the cause of death to be stab wounds to the abdomen and upper body, and the manner of death a homicide. Gray was on conditions of release when the alleged kidnapping occurred. He was required to be inside his residence on a 24/7 curfew after his arrest on cocaine possession and Fentanyl trafficking charges in April, two months after Grass murder. He was also supposed to stay away from several individuals, including the victim in the kidnapping case. Gray has a criminal history in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. He is currently being held without bail at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center in Rutland on the kidnapping and violations charges. Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at a news conference across the street from the Manhattan criminal court, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in New York. A New Hampshire man on trial for threatening the lives of presidential candidates last year has been found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict, according to court filings, Thursday, June 27, 2024. When Tyler Anderson of Dover was arrested, a spokesperson for then-Republican candidate Ramaswamy said that texts were directed at his campaign. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File) Joe Durwin is a local historian specializing in research on residential and commercial properties for owners in Berkshire County. He can be reached at info@berkshirehomehistory.com The Eagle won third place for it's Summer Previews summer calendar in the national SFJ's Excellence-in-Features journalism conference. Eagle Reels vodcast host Dalton Delan interviewed Matt Tannenbaum, the owner of The Bookstore & Get Lit Wine Bar in Lenox. This Q&A is from the interview and has been edited for length and clarity. Dalton Delan: Matt, in an era in which 50 percent of book sales are online, make the case for us to visit a brick-and-mortar bookstore. Matt Tannenbaum: The bookseller has knowledge and love of the material, and we know how much you love it, too. When you're going online to buy a book, it's a solitary experience. We want to be part of your equation. People come in for Elin Hilderbrand, then they'll find Wallace Stegner, and they'll say, Who's Wallace Stegner? Ill say, Have you ever read The Spectator Bird? Because it's here. And thats how it works. Delan: I remember, in the bookstore I managed, my favorite thing was: If you liked this, try this. Sure, there are algorithms online, but I knew my customers as human beings. Tannenbaum: I don't know if this is a rumor that the algorithms are paid for. It's like when publishers would pay bookstores to put their books at eye level. No publisher ever paid me to put their book at eye level. The industry standard is: Stack them high and watch them fly. But we don't do that here. You realize that there's a whole store full of books. I love walking by and telling people that there are more books in the other room. You just engaged with the customer; you can't engage with a customer with an algorithm. Delan: A wonderful film, Hello, Bookstore, was made about you recently. It featured how you dealt with the pandemic. You did a GoFundMe, and ended up doubling your original goal, raising more than $125,000 from 1,200 people. Tannenbaum: Over the years, we've had people every day come in and say, Wed like to support your bookstore. The inverse is also true, that the bookstore has been supporting them, their love of literature. And so when it came time for this community to step up, we got it so quickly. Delan: A story by Heather Bellow in The Berkshire Eagle (The owner of The Bookloft in Great Barrington has started a GoFundMe campaign to keep the shop afloat. He said shopping would help, too, June 11, 2024) recently reported another bookstore in the Berkshires that is attempting a crowdsourcing effort post-pandemic. Is that an isolated incident? Or is retail traffic still a precarious commodity for bookstores? Tannenbaum: It was a tough winter this year. I could feel that myself. That bookstore, its not a walk-to location. I knew as soon as I saw the story, I was right there for him. Delan: There was a survey done last year of more than 70,000 children and young adults, by the National Literacy Trust, that revealed that only 28 percent of young people, 8 to 18, read every day for enjoyment. What are you seeing in your community? Tannenbaum: I see the opposite. After 12, we start losing a little bit, because kids discover other things to do. One of my favorite moments is the day after Thanksgiving, all the kids who've just gone away to college for the first time gather in the bookstore, where they remember getting their books when they were kids. They say, That's the guy I used to buy my books from. I'm glad he's still here. My daughter is going to take over eventually. And a friend of mine said, How is she going to do what you do? My answer was very simply, She's not; she's going to do what she does. She grew up in the store and her children are growing up in the store, so I'm not too concerned. Delan: The Surgeon General just came out with a proposal that a warning be put on social media for young people that it is deleterious to their health. Tannenbaum: Right. It's troublesome and it's powerful. But so is tobacco. So was leaded gas. It's the old struggle of good and evil. Delan: Matt, among the many crossroads we've had together, I was a devoted customer at the much-missed Gotham Book Mart. I like to say it was a diamond on the street of diamonds in New York City. You got your start there. I met poets, famous and emerging, in its aisles. Share any stories? Tannenbaum: Once J.D. Salinger came in. I didn't recognize him nobody knew what he looked like. That was his way of being anonymous. He was actually sitting on the floor reading books in the place at the Gotham where I, as a stock boy, used to check in the new arrivals. And I had to move around this guy who was sitting. He left all his books up front, so later, when we had to ship them, I realized who I had been tripping over all morning! I have an Allen Ginsberg story. Allen came in to sign copies of his introduction to Kerouacs 'Visions of Cody.' I asked him to sign a copy for me. He inscribed it and drew a little flowerpot, wrote Happy Hanukkah and dated December 1972. Then I started asking him a question, and he says, Listen, I came here to look at books. Don't you have work to do? Thirty years later, the owner, Andy, wants to sell the store and move to a new location. So I went to visit the basement where I had been a stock boy. I have a nice conversation with Andy and he introduces me to the kids working there. I start going down the stairs and they start following me. And I turn around and say, Listen, I came here to look at books. Don't you have work to do? Start the day with the latest headlines Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS Though the YMCA is currently operating without walls that is to say, without a permanent home in North County, its found a place to stay for the summer. The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts announced this week that it would be hosting the Northern Berkshire YMCAs summer camp, Camp Abenaki. The two parties had been working toward an agreement for months. Camp Abenaki used to be held at Windsor Lake. Now, it will be at MCLAs Church Street Center for July and August. Berkshire Family YMCA Executive Director Christian Bianchi said in a news release, We really appreciate all that MCLA is doing for us." We came to the conclusion that not only was MCLA the best site option for us, but it is exactly where we wanted to be, and we envision the partnership to evolve from here, Bianchi added. The camp will have indoor and outdoor space with frequent field trips for swimming and exploration throughout the local communities, according to the Ys website. The relocation of the Ys summer camp offering in North County follows a yearlong saga, where the Y in North Adams couldnt operate its pool, cut its hours, slashed its childcare and ultimately left the building. The city, which owns the building the Y was in, and the organization could not come to a lease agreement. The city is now looking to put together a recreation center of its own. The Y created a North County branch director position in the spring to oversee the "Y Without Walls" model, and hired Liz Baker for the role, who is a graduate of the former North Adams State College, now MCLA. Baker made clear at the time that the Y was looking for community partners in North Adams for much of its programming, including the summer camp. MCLA Director of Conferences and Campus Events Kelli Kozak said the college is excited to have the kids on campus. To support the Y in its transition and secure an appropriate space on campus, Kozak said multiple departments collaborated efficiently for a smooth process, the college's news release reads. Although there was some talk of reuniting the city and the Y at a later date, North Adams Mayor Macksey nipped that in the bud when speaking with The Eagle in May. She said the Y will no longer offer programming in the citys schools as of June 30. Mass. GOP continues its race to the bottom with national party The stranglehold Trump has on what used to be an independent-thinking Republican Party (state and national) may or may ease following Novembers election. But unless and until it does, the Republican Party in Massachusetts will continue to go the way of the Whigs. The transformation of the Massachusetts Republican Party into a Trump cult is bad for state Republicans. But it is also bad for the state as a whole. One-party rule always is. 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. According to the story by Globe reporters Emma Platoff and Laura Crimaldi, one in five legislative committees held no hearings and considered no bills during the current two-year session, which is a few weeks from ending. All committees are chaired by Democrats, who have all but 33 of the 200 seats in the House and Senate. Committee chairpersons contacted by The Globe reporters routinely said their committees were designed to act in an advisory capacity. This was the explanation offered by Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, who earned $61,000 in stipends to chair two committees that held no hearings and acted on no bills. However, Montigny declined to reveal if his committees had even met, which they would presumably have to do to offer advice, and this advisory process is unclear and ill-defined overall. Some committees linger even though they have outlived their purpose. The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy hasnt held a hearing since 2023. Why should it? The states mechanisms to run the cannabis industry have long been in place. The House and Senate each have committees on the census, which is conducted once every 10 years. Clearly, Democrats should be creating more special committees that go out of business when whatever issue they were created to address is resolved. But this would deprive the committee chairs of regular stipends and would also cost House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka a method of assuring the loyalty of top Democrats. This system creates a powerful incentive to create new committees. The Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules split into two committees one on ethics, one on rules for reasons that are not clear. But two committees means two chairpersons earning extra pay. A Globe editorial following the news story credited 1st Berkshire District Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, who is paid $20,468 to chair the House Ethics Committee, for his candor in expressing his hope that no legislators will require his committee to spring into action. JBIII is nothing if not candid. But as The Globe pointed out, Barretts counterpart in the U.S. House is not paid to act as chairman. In fact, no committee heads in Washington are paid extra. Only the House Speaker, Senate President pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders in each chamber get extra pay. Who are the candidates for the 3rd Berkshire District? Meet them at a forum next month The League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, is hosting a forum for all four candidates in the 3rd Berkshire District, who are hoping to succeed veteran incumbent William Smitty Pignatelli. The forum will be held at Lee Middle and High School on Saturday, July 27, and will be followed by a reception where attendees can meet the candidates in person. Election years provide an opportunity to stir things up and bring about needed change, but in Massachusetts, incumbent legislators are rarely challenged. The decision of Democratic Rep. William Smitty Pignatelli not to seek reelection in the 3rd Berkshire District did create a rare open seat. Three Democrats and one independent have declared their candidacy, but there are still no Republican candidates for the office. Perhaps unaffiliated candidate Marybeth Mitts will make an issue of committee chairs making extra bucks even if their committees dont actually do anything. I think it unlikely that Democrats Leigh Davis, Jamie Minacci and Patrick White will. If the winner of the Sept. 3 Democratic primary protests this cozy system and goes on to win the general election, Speaker Mariano might assign him or her to a basement office with the Statehouse rats come January. No legislative committee chairs should be paid extra, with the possible exception of the heads of the hard-working Ways and Means committees, and committees that dont have tangible duties should be disbanded. A viable alternative party could help bring these reforms about, but until the Republican Party gets deprogrammed from its cult, the state GOP wont offer that alternative. And change wont come. Melchizedek proves one of the most fascinating of the obscure Old Testament figures. While he only appears in a short interaction with Abraham in Genesis, the Bible refers to this mysterious person more than once. This king and priest, Melchizedek, continues to bring insight to believers regarding the redemptive story God is telling, revealing God had a messianic plan from the very beginning. What Does Genesis Say about Melchizedek? Genesis introduces Melchizedek in a brief but significant encounter with Abraham. The context of this meeting occurs after a victorious battle. Four kings, led by Chedorlaomer, waged war against five other kings, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. During the conflict, the victors seized Lot, Abrahams nephew, and his possessions (Genesis 14:11-12). Upon hearing this, Abraham mobilized 318 trained men from his household and pursued the captors. He defeated them, rescuing Lot and recovering all the goods and people taken (Genesis 14:14-16). Following this victory, Abraham encounters Melchizedek, king of Salem (or shalom, peace), as he returns. Genesis 14:18-20 describes the meeting: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. First, Melchizedek is identified as both a king and a priest, which is unusual in the biblical context since the roles of king and priest were typically separate in Israelite tradition. He is the king of Salem, which is often identified with Jerusalem. His dual role as king and priest of God Most High (El Elyon) suggests a unique and elevated status. Second, Melchizedek brings out bread and wine, which some scholars interpret as a gesture of hospitality or as having symbolic significance, prefiguring later Christian tradition. This act underscores Melchizedeks priestly function, offering sustenance and blessing to Abraham. Third, Melchizedek blesses Abraham, acknowledging God Most High as the source of Abrahams victory. This blessing not only confers honor upon Abraham but also recognizes the supremacy of God in the affairs of humanity and history. By attributing the victory to God, Melchizedek aligns himself with Abrahams faith, acknowledging the same divine authority. Finally, Abrahams response to Melchizedeks blessing is to give him a tenth of everything. This act of giving a tithe signifies Abrahams recognition of Melchizedeks priestly authority and honors the divine blessing he received. It establishes a precedent for the practice of tithing, which would later become a formalized aspect of Israelite worship. Since Melchizedek blesses Abraham and receives a tithe, this priestly duty places him in some authority over Abraham. Abraham dealt with other kings but not in this clear, spiritual sense. Abraham and Gods covenant with him serves as the spark for Gods redemptive work, from Israel to Jesus, so this interaction gives Melchizedek great significance. The Old Testament book of Psalms agrees. What Does Psalms Say about Melchizedek? Psalms mentions Melchizedek in Davids Psalm 110. The New Testament frequently quotes this psalm as it holds messianic implications. Psalm 110:4 specifically states, The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. In context, Psalm 110 reveals a royal and messianic prophecy. The psalm begins with a declaration: The Lord says to my lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet (Psalm 110:1). This opening suggests a conversation between God and a figure greater than David, whom David calls lord. God invites this lord to sit at Gods right hand, a position of honor and authority. Psalm 110 continues by describing the power and victory of this appointed figure. Verses 2-3 show how the Lord will extend the scepter of this ruler, indicating his dominion and the submission of his enemies. The rulers troops will be willing on the day of battle, and he will lead them in the splendor of holiness. Verse 4, which mentions Melchizedek, shifts the focus to the priestly role of this figure: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. This prophecy establishes a unique priesthood that differs from the Aaronic priesthood established in the Law of Moses. Melchizedeks priesthood, as described in Genesis 14:18-20, precedes the Levites, characterized by its eternal nature and direct appointment by God. For the Jews before Jesus, Psalm 110 held significant implications. This royal psalm celebrated the Davidic monarchy and its divine endorsement. While clearly a king, David also helped develop the priestly role through praise and worship, the Tabernacle of David, and more. David combined some aspects of priesthood along with his kingship, connected in many ways to Melchizedek. Additionally, David conquered Jerusalem and made that city his capital. His son, Solomon, built the Temple in Jerusalem. With Melchizedek the king of Salem, or Jerusalem, he also symbolizes David. The eternal nature of the Melchizedekian priesthood in Psalm 110:4 would have been particularly striking. Unlike the Levitical priests, whose service was temporary and bound by lineage, the priest in the order of Melchizedek was declared to serve forever. This eternal priesthood suggested a perfect and unending intercession for the people, which the Levitical priesthood could not provide due to its temporal and imperfect nature. God also gave David a covenant, promising his descendants would always rule on the throne of Israel, a forever promise which spoke of the coming Messiah. Therefore, Jews interpreted Psalm 110 as a messianic prophecy, anticipating a future ruler from the line of David who would combine the roles of king and priest. This ruler would bring victory over Israels enemies and establish a kingdom characterized by justice and divine favor. The association with Melchizedek hinted at a priesthood that was superior to the Levitical system, pointing to a more profound and enduring mediation between God and his people. In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews agrees. What Does the New Testament Say about Melchizedek? Hebrews provides an extensive discussion on Melchizedek, connecting him directly to the Messiah, Jesus. Hebrews elaborates on Melchizedeks role and significance, establishing Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the Melchizedekian priesthood. Hebrews first introduces Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6, where it quotes Psalm 110:4, You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. This establishes the foundational premise that Jesus priesthood is not of the Levitical order, but rather follows the eternal and unique order of Melchizedek, which predates the Levites. The author delves deeper into Melchizedeks identity and significance. Hebrews 7:1-3 summarizes Melchizedeks appearance in Genesis 14:18-20, describing him as king of Salem and priest of God Most High. The passage notes that Melchizedek met Abraham, blessed him, and received a tenth of everything Abraham had. The text highlights Melchizedeks dual role as both king and priest, a rare combination that prefigures Jesus roles but was spoken about by other Old Testament prophets like Zechariah. Hebrews 7:3 makes a crucial point about Melchizedeks priesthood: Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. This emphasizes the eternal nature of Melchizedeks priesthood, which is not bound by lineage or time, contrasting with the Levitical priesthood that depended on genealogical descent and had temporal limitations. The comparison continues in Hebrews 7:4-10, where the author argues that Melchizedeks priesthood is superior to that of the Levites. Abraham, the patriarch of the Israelites, gave Melchizedek a tenth of the plunder, and in doing so, acknowledged Melchizedeks higher status. Levi, and thus the Levitical priesthood, symbolically paid tithes through Abraham, further establishing Melchizedeks superiority. Hebrews 7:11-17 explains the necessity of a new priesthood. The Levitical system could not achieve perfection or provide complete access to God. Therefore, a change in the priesthood necessitated a change in the law. Hebrews 7:14 highlights that Jesus, from the tribe of Judah, could not be a Levitical priest under the Mosaic Law. Instead, he fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 110:4, being a priest in the order of Melchizedek. God based this new priesthood, like Melchizedeks, on the power of an indestructible life, not on human genealogy. The author declares how the eternal is better than the temporal. Hebrews 7:23-25 contrasts the mortality of the Levitical priests with the eternal nature of Jesus priesthood. Death prevented the Levites from continuing in office, leading to a degree of instability. In contrast, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently because He lives forever. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25). This eternal intercession is a hallmark of Jesus superior priesthood. The chapter concludes in Hebrews 7:26-28, highlighting Jesus unique qualifications as High Priest. Being human, Levites could be corrupted and were also sinners. Jesus is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He does not need to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for the peoples sins, because he sacrificed himself once for all. This self-sacrifice underscores the completeness and finality of Jesus priesthood. What Does Melchizedek Mean for Christians Today? Melchizedek offers several profound lessons for us today, pointing us to the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest. First, we learn that Jesus, like Melchizedek, is a perfect High Priest who never sinned. This sinlessness makes him the ideal mediator between God and humanity, capable of fully atoning for our sins and reconciling us to God. His sinless sacrifice atones for our every sin, and need never happen again. Through his mediation between Christians and the Father, we learn our eternal High Priest understands us deeply because hes been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). This empathy makes Jesus a compassionate and relatable mediator who fully comprehends our struggles and weaknesses (Hebrews 4:16). Second, Melchizedeks dual role as king and priest prefigures Jesus, who is not only our High Priest but also our King. Similarly, Jesus is the King of Kings who rules over all creation and the eternal High Priest who intercedes for us. He not only forgives and intercedes for us, but he has the power over all things to fulfill his promises and rule our hearts. This dual role assures us that our mediator also has sovereign authority, ensuring his intercession is both effective and authoritative. Moreover, Melchizedeks story reveals that God had a plan for the Messiah from the beginning. Melchizedeks priesthood, which predates the Levites by centuries, symbolizes an eternal and superior priesthood. The prophecy of Psalm 110:5, fulfilled in Jesus, shows that God enacted his redemptive plan long before the Mosaic Law, pointing to a Messiah who would bring ultimate reconciliation and peace. Finally, Melchizedek connects to the Christian practice of Communion. When Melchizedek met Abraham, he brought out bread and wine (Genesis 14:18), elements that Jesus used during the Last Supper to institute Communion (Matthew 26:26-28), further connecting Christ to Abraham through Melchizedek. This connection signifies the eternal priesthood of Jesus, who offers his body and blood for our redemption, establishing a new covenant through his sacrifice. Partaking in communion, we become part of and express an eternal redemptive story through Jesus. Peace. Photo credit: Getty Images/pamela_d_mcadams Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non -iction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Penneys will open its first store in Co Wicklow on July 18th at 10am. It will be Penneys 38th in Ireland and is part of the retailers 250 million investment in its Irish business. Advertisement Located in the Bray Central shopping centre, the new store will span 19,600 sq. ft of retail space across one floor. It will offer the same in-store experience that the retailer is known for - customers can look forward to shopping the latest trends in fashion, as well as everyday essentials in beauty, lifestyle, and homeware. The new Bray store will also have self-checkout tills, alongside traditionally served tills, making it even easier and quicker for shoppers who are short on time or paying by card. Fintan Costello, head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: We are so excited to finally announce the opening date of our new Penneys store in the Bray Central shopping centre. Advertisement "Opening the first store in a new county is a significant milestone for Penneys, and we cannot wait to welcome new customers and colleagues to Bray. "Our team has been working hard to create a good experience for our customers, with a selection of products across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and homeware available in our new store. The countdown is on for July 18th." Penneys opened its first store on Mary St Dublin 55 years ago this summer and, with the addition of Bray now has 38 stores across 21 counties in the Republic of Ireland. Operating as Primark internationally, the retailer has over 440 stores across Europe and the US. The new store in Bray is part of Primarks commitment to invest over 250 million in Ireland over a ten-year period, which includes the development, relocation and/or refurbishment of its stores across the country. Updated: 3.55pm The High Court has released teacher Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison. Advertisement Mr Justice Mark Sanfey ordered the teacher's release, where he has been incarcerated since September over his refusal to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. The judge said that following a review of the situation, and the fact State examinations are now completed and the school is on holidays, he was directing the teacher's release. The court did not require Mr Burke to purge his contempt and agree to comply with the terms of an order made against him last year, the judge said. In that decision, Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted Wilson's Hospital School a permanent injunction restraining Mr Burke from attending the school's grounds. Advertisement Mr Burke was jailed for contempt, for a second time, in September due to his refusal to comply with that order. Overall, the teacher has spent over 400 days in prison. Reflection Mr Justice Sanfey expressed his hope that the teacher would use the time to reflect on the situation and warned the teacher that the injunction remains in place. If there was any further breach of the order, the judge said he would have no hesitation in entertaining a fresh application by the school to have Mr Burke committed back to prison. Advertisement After the court made its order, Mr Burke left the Four Courts with members of his family. Mr Burke had appeared before the High Court on Friday as part of his bid to set aside what he claims is the "gravely flawed" and "unconstitutional" order made by Mr Justice Owens, which was underpinning his incarceration. The judge heard submissions from both the teacher and the school over whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain an application by the teacher to have the judgement by Mr Justice Owens aside. Mr Burke has denies that he is in contempt of court, and says he has wrongfully been imprisoned because of his objections to "Transgenderism" following a direction by the school to call a then student by a different pronoun. Advertisement Jurisdiction Earlier, in his submissions to the court, Mr Burke argued that the High Court does have the jurisdiction to consider his application to set aside Mr Justice Owen's injunction. Mr Burke argued that in his judgement Mr Justice Owens completely disregarded the teacher's constitutional rights of freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion when he refused to comply with the school's direction to call a then student by a different name and use the pronoun "they". This resulted in the proceedings against him, which Mr Burke said had resulted in him losing two years of his life. Having to call somebody "they", the teacher said, has no basis in Irish law. Advertisement Nowhere could it be found in Mr Justice Owens' judgement that Mr Burke's constitutional rights had been taken into consideration, which they ought to have been, the teacher added. This was a serious matter, Mr Burke said, who accepted that he did not appeal Mr Justice Owen's decision to the Court of Appeal. In reply, Alex White SC, for the school, said Mr Burke's application amounted to a "gross abuse of the court," was "unsustainable", and is "bound to fail". As a general rule, judges cannot set aside orders made by judges of the same divisions of the courts. What the teacher was trying to do in this application, counsel added, was to appeal a decision Mr Burke does not like "by the back door". Mr Burke had not raised any exception point which would allow the court to set aside the decision, counsel said, adding that Mr Burke had the option to, but had declined to appeal Mr Justice Owen's decision. Counsel also said the school also "fully rejects" Mr Burke's claims that his constitutional rights were breached. Counsel said when Mr Justice Owens was hearing the school's case against Mr Burke, the teacher had raised issues about his constitutional rights. Counsel also argued that the school, its teachers, and students also have constitutional rights, and the school was entitled to have some finality brought to the proceedings. Following the conclusion of submissions, Mr Justice Sanfey reserved his decision and said he hoped to give his decision on this preliminary issue in the coming weeks. Northern Ireland politicians clashed on health service funding, the stability of Stormont and the merits of Irish unity in the second major TV debate of the Westminster election campaign. The opening exchanges of the BBC NI debate focused on the recent controversy around the allocation to health in this years Stormont budget. Advertisement Senior representatives from Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance Party, Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP were asked a question from the audience on the budget allocation to the Department of Health. The UUP, which holds the department, voted against the recent budget passed by the Assembly, arguing they will not implement cuts that would have a catastrophic impact on the health service. Advertisement All other main parties of the Executive Sinn Fein, DUP and Alliance backed the spending plan, with the main opposition party, the SDLP, opposing it. The debate line-up comprised three party leaders the DUPs Gavin Robinson, Alliances Naomi Long and the SDLPs Colum Eastwood while Sinn Fein was represented by its South Down candidate Chris Hazzard and the UUP by its deputy leader and Lagan Valley candidate Robbie Butler. Mr Hazzard said there was a recognition from the UK government that Stormont had been underfunded and said the prospect of Labour entering into government meant theres an onus now on all MPs and Executive colleagues to make sure we get that better deal so we can invest in our health service. Advertisement Mr Robinson said other departments also required additional funding, speculating what the impact might have been if all the money had been given to the health service. How many police officers were going to be made redundant, how many prisoners were going to be released, and how many special needs children were going to be left without the provision that they need? he asked. Ms Long said comparing the end of year figures to the start of the year and saying it showed a cut isnt fair. It is correct to say that the closing budget of health last year looks like its been cut. But what we havent taken into account that during the year there are monitoring rounds where health will get further allocations, she said. Advertisement Mr Butler said health was the number one topic on the doors during the General Election campaign and said his partys plan was to work with our Executive partners to agree a budget. Mr Eastwood said that there isnt enough money in Stormont. I know people in Derry who are going to the credit union to borrow money for simple procedures (privately), he said. We need to go with one single voice and ask the British government to properly fund this health service because it absolutely has collapsed. Advertisement Despite it being a debate on the election campaign, the opening of the debate focused on health, which is a devolved issue. The programme followed the UTV debate on Sunday in which the fallout from Brexit, discord over calls for a united Ireland and Stormonts perilous financial position dominated discussions. The event was billed as a leaders debate and host Tara Mills pressed the Sinn Fein and UUP representatives on why their leaders had not accepted the invite to attend. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle ONeill was on the canvass trail while Mr Butler said UUP leader Doug Beattie had other diary commitments. The debate shifted from health funding and reform to the issue of Stormont stability as the politicians were challenged on the fact that the devolved institutions have been in cold storage for five of the last seven years due to two long-term periods of collapse one triggered by Sinn Fein, the other by the DUP. The DUP was responsible for the last implosion as it blockaded the Executive and Assembly in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Mr Robinson justified the boycott, which the party ended in January, insisting progress to reduce the red tape on Irish Sea trade would not have been made without our stance. We would far rather not have had a government come down at all, he said. We would far rather have had a situation where people would recognise that this place works properly and positively on the basis of consensus, and whenever unionism collectively in its entirety was indicating that the Northern Ireland Protocol (on post-Brexit trade) was fundamentally an imposition on the constitutional position of Northern Ireland, and was not going to wash, that should have caused the body politic to sit back and say actually, we have a problem here. Ms Long said the DUP stance had no effect on the 2023 UK and EU Windsor Framework agreement to cut trading bureaucracy. It was not because of the collapse of the Assembly that we got progress in terms of these issues, she said. And more than that, the collapse of the Assembly has damaged our public services, theres no question thats the case, ask the people who work in them. Ms Long then reiterated her call for Stormont reform to remove the capacity for the largest unionist and largest nationalist parties to pull it down. When Mr Hazzard was asked whether he saw any circumstances where Sinn Fein would pull the Executive down again, he replied: No, because at the end of the day, and again I reiterate, look at the strong positive leadership that Michelle ONeill and Emma Little Pengelly (DUP deputy First Minister), to be fair to Emma Little Pengelly, and the other parties in the Executive so far (have shown). They have worked together collaboratively. This isnt easy. Dealing with Tory austerity, its not easy. Theres a huge crisis in education and health. But now theres a commitment to work together collaboratively to deliver. Mr Butler said the difference between the UUP and the DUP was his party was prepared to keep devolution working when its main rival walked away. All unionist politicians did agree in regards to the impact of Brexit, the protocol and the Windsor Framework, but the Ulster Unionist Party stood firm that they were not going to make the people of Northern Ireland suffer for political folly, he said. Mr Eastwood insisted the main parties would not give a guarantee that they would not collapse the institutions again. I think the first thing politicians around here tonight could do is all commit not to bring Stormont down again, but they wont do it, he said. Asked by the audience about a united Ireland and the union, Ms Long said her party were about the practicalities. People are not waking up in the middle of the night in a lather of sweat worried about the border, but they are worried about are they going to be able to pay their bills. Will they get their children into good school? Are they going to be able to ensure that they can get an appointment for their doctor? Those are the things that worry people. Mr Eastwood said that Northern Ireland was an economic basket case and pointed to the billions in budgetary surpluses the Irish government has had in recent years largely due to corporation tax paid by a handful of multinationals. He said it was easier to get money out of the Dublin and London governments than from Stormont, and people in the Republic are getting paid twice as much as theyre getting paid in the north. Mr Robinson said Mr Eastwood was very good at talking things down but said the NHS meant people did not pay fees for services such as doctors appointments. Mr Butler said the economic argument is obviously something that is very prevalent in some peoples minds at the moment. I dont think I could buy Colum, I dont think I could buy Chris in terms of their aspirations to remain part of the UK but I will win it in terms of the hearts and minds argument. Mr Hazzard said that former taoiseach Leo Varadkar made significant comments recently when he said the Irish Government need to ensure that reunification is a political objective and not just an aspiration. The final topic was on the conflict in the Middle East, and to what extent it has become a proxy war in the North. Mr Eastwood said he would not travel as part of the annual St Patricks Day visit to Washington in protest against US support for Israel. Im not going to go and drink pints of Guinness and eat nibbles with Joe Biden when hes funding and arming the Israeli government to do that, thats my position, he said. Mr Hazzard said Sinn Fein had made a commitment to the people of Palestine to be their voice in those places. No one is ever going to question Sinn Feins solidarity with the Palestinian people, he said, to which Mr Eastwood interjected: A lot of people are, actually. On the question of a proxy war, Ms Long said she was asked a really probing question by a young woman in a school. She said to me, is it in some way letting my side down that I find what Israel are doing to the people in Gaza appalling, because everyone around me seems to think that Israel are fine. Ireland Nationalist battle as SDLP faces Sinn Fein challen... Read More Because weve turned into a proxy, as we do with almost every issue, for the Northern Ireland conflict and we should stop doing that. Mr Robinson said it was not taking sides to condemn terrorism, adding that he views very clearly that what is going on at the moment as a human tragedy. Mr Butler said it doesnt matter if its an Israeli child or a Palestinian child who loses their life and that there has to be dialogue. Updated: 4pm A woman who was repeatedly sexually abused by her uncle when she was a child has called for more protection for child abuse victims after he was jailed for two years. Advertisement Ronan O'Grady (33), of Hosack Road, London, England pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady, at various locations in Offaly on dates between June 18th, 2004, and June 17th, 2008. The abuse occurred primarily at Ms O'Grady's grandparents' home in Mucklagh when she was being minded and where O'Grady was living with his parents at the time. It also occurred in her own home in Tullamore when he was babysitting her. His parents her grandparents continue to support him, the court heard. Ms O'Grady waived her right to anonymity in order for her uncle to be named. In a statement issued to the media after the sentence was handed down, she said there is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland, adding the country needs to do more to protect its victims. Advertisement Sentencing O'Grady on Friday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found O'Grady had demonstrated little insight or remorse. The judge noted that while O'Grady was 13 when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17. Advertisement He noted O'Grady is talented and well-educated, adding: I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong. The judge said O'Grady had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of the child. He said these were clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved the teenager repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. On one occasion, his friend hid in the wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone, the court heard. In her victim impact statement, which she read out in court earlier this week, Ms O'Grady (26) said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. Advertisement Flashbacks She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy, friendly child, which makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard Ms O'Grady started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with her uncle on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, O'Grady maintained his innocence to family members and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered guilty pleas. Advertisement Ms O'Grady said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at his hands. In her victim impact statement, she said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed the abuse in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and then be left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She added she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Manipulation Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing, and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But (he) is the criminal here, not me. Ms O'Grady's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard the accused worked in finance, most recently in London. He took the stand and told the court he was very sorry for what he had done. He has no previous convictions. His partner also took the stand and outlined the difficulties they will have in the future as a result of his convictions and his being on the sex offenders register. She said they have had to put their lives on hold, including marriage and children, as a result. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC urged the judge to be as lenient as possible. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing O'Grady as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline of three years and six months, given he was underage at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including his lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as being at low risk of re-offending. The judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting the man's stated intention to return to the UK once he had served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. In a statement issued to media after the sentence, Ms O'Grady said: I want survivors to know that I see you and I see the daily battle you have every day to fight for yourself. Whatever is holding you back, whether thats fear or family influence, I want you to know you can get through this. Every child deserves a safe place free from abuse. I want change. I want change not only for myself but for every survivor. There is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and no one is talking about it. Ireland needs to do better to protect our children, she added. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Here are the stories making the headlines on Friday's newspaper front pages. The Irish Times reports that 68 members of the Defence Forces have been convicted or are before the courts charged with criminal offences. Advertisement Two teenagers have been killed in a collision involving a bus and an e-scooter in Waterford, the Irish Examiner reports. The Irish Independent reveals that Aer Lingus pilots can look forward to pensions worth up to 90,000 a year when they retire, while the Irish Daily Mail says the industrial dispute at the airline looks set to escalate. Advertisement The Irish Daily Star says seismometers will be in place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to see if the Taylor Swift concerts cause the earth to move. Advertisement The Herald and Belfast Telegraph both cover the release of notorious Republican prisoner Dessie O'Hare. The Echo leads with the jailing of a man for sexually abusing his younger brother. Advertisement The UK election campaign continues to dominate the front pages of British newspapers as it enters the final week. The Daily Telegraph concentrates on British prime minister Rishi Sunaks criticism of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, labelling him a Putin appeaser. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: 'Farage is a Putin appeaser, says Sunak'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/rV1RhZrJAr Advertisement The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 27, 2024 Reform also features on the front of The Times as it says a campaigner for Mr Farage was filmed saying illegal migrants should be used for target practice. The Times: Shoot illegal migrants, said Reform campaigner #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/IzgbVlAvrd George Mann (@sgfmann) June 27, 2024 Pictures from inside a flooded hospital feature on the front of the Daily Mirror, which labels the images why we need to vote Labour. Friday's front page: Tory NHS neglect has been highlighted in haunting pictures of a hospital.#TomorrowsPapersTodayhttps://t.co/G7rnEv41Qj pic.twitter.com/wzFnamw1b0 The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 27, 2024 The Guardian also concentrates on Labour and health issues with an interview with shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, in which he says managers who silence whistleblowers will be banned from working in the NHS. The Guardian: Labour pledge to ban managers who silence NHS whistleblowers #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/enhj3jWKSi George Mann (@sgfmann) June 27, 2024 Labour will include the introduction of VAT in its first budget if it wins the election, according to the i, which says the change will not take effect until 2025. Friday's front page: Private school fees VAT in Reeve's first Budget but delayed until 2025 - and loophole closed#TomorrowsPapersToday Latest by @HugoGye: https://t.co/dnNqH3Vnvq pic.twitter.com/ZOr24LYLWq i newspaper (@theipaper) June 27, 2024 An interview with Labour leader Keir Starmer about fears for his family if he moves into 10 Downing Street dominates the front of The Independent, while the Daily Mail focuses on a poll of undecided voters which it says provides the Conservatives hope of avoiding a wipe-out. Daily Mail: Poll that shows its not too late to stop Starmer supermajority #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/bLwILCU61Q George Mann (@sgfmann) June 27, 2024 The Daily Express says audience members were paid disturbance money and expenses for the BBCs election debate between Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer. Friday's front page: BBC paid TV audience to appear at leaders' debate #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/G45sbVbype pic.twitter.com/iTqlN0VMBh Daily Express (@Daily_Express) June 27, 2024 Away from the election, the Financial Times says the number of people paying the top rate of income tax will top one million for the first time this year double the number in 2021-22. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 28 June https://t.co/4gXS2thdV1 pic.twitter.com/fbtuV6X8dt Financial Times (@FT) June 27, 2024 The Metro concentrates on a paramedic who appeared in a TV programme and was found dead alongside the body of a woman. And the Daily Star leads on a warning to close the toilet seat to prevent creatures crawling out. A raspy and sometimes halting US president Joe Biden tried repeatedly to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, but his uneven performance crystallised the concerns of many Americans that, at 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the partys nominee amid fears of a return of Mr Trump to the White House. Advertisement Mr Biden repeatedly tore into Mr Trump in an apparent effort to provoke him, bringing up everything from the former presidents recent felony conviction to his alleged insult of First World War veterans, to his weight. Prominent Democrats publicly questioned whether Mr Biden could move forward (John Bazemore/AP) The 78-year-old Mr Trump declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election, four years after he promoted conspiracy theories about his loss that culminated in the January 6th insurrection, and repeatedly misstated the record from his time in office. Advertisement But Mr Bidens delivery from the beginning of the debate drew the most attention afterwards. Mr Trumps allies immediately declared victory while prominent Democrats publicly questioned whether Mr Biden could move forward. I think the panic had set in, said David Axelrod, a long-time advisor to former president Barack Obama on CNN immediately after the debate about Mr Bidens performance. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Said Van Jones, another Democratic strategist, on CNN: He did not do well at all. Advertisement Rosemarie DeAngelis, a Democrat who watched the debate at a party in South Portland, Maine, said she felt Mr Biden gave the right answers to Mr Trump but didnt have the spark that we needed tonight. Thats going to be the challenge going forward. This is only June, this is the first, but can he sustain? she said. That is going to be the challenge. Vice president Kamala Harris, speaking on CNN afterwards, sought to defend the presidents performance while acknowledging the criticism. There was a slow start, but there was a strong finish, she said. Advertisement Asked about his performance in the debate, Mr Biden told reporters early on Friday that I think we did well, but said he has a sore throat. Pressed about Democratic concerns with his showing that he should consider stepping aside, Mr Biden said: No, its hard to debate a liar. Bolivian President Luis Arce has denied being behind an attempted coup against him and said the general who apparently led it acted on his own. He also hit out at accusations that he had asked for the mutiny in a plan to boost his popularity. Advertisement In his first appearance before the press since the failed apparent coup, Mr Arce called suggestions of a self-coup lies, and added: I am not a politician who is going to win popularity through the blood of the people. Mr Arce spoke hours after his government announced that a total of 17 people had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attempted government takeover, including the army chief, General Juan Jose Zuniga, and former navy Vice Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, who were taken into custody the day before. The president claimed that not only military officers were involved in the plan, but people retired from the military and civil society. He did not elaborate. Bolivian police hold the detained Juan Jose Zuniga (Juan Karita/AP) Advertisement Mr Zuniga will be investigated and he will face justice, he added. Some of his supporters rallied outside the presidential palace on Thursday morning, giving some political breathing room to the embattled leader as authorities made more arrests in the failed coup that shook the economically troubled country a day earlier. The South American nation of 12 million watched in shock and bewilderment on Wednesday as military forces appeared to turn on the government of Mr Arce, seizing control of La Pazs main square with armoured vehicles, repeatedly crashing a small tank into the presidential palace and unleashing tear gas on protesters. Advertisement Senior cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo did not elaborate on the other 15 people who were arrested, except to identify one civilian, Anibal Aguilar Gomez, as a key ideologue of the thwarted coup. He said the alleged conspirators began plotting in May. Riot police guarded the palace doors and Mr Arce who has struggled to manage the countrys shortages of foreign currency and fuel emerged on the presidential balcony as his supporters surged into the streets singing the national anthem and cheering as fireworks exploded overhead. No one can take democracy away from us, he roared. Bolivians responded by chanting, Lucho, you are not alone! Lucho, a common nickname for Luis, also means fight as a Spanish verb. Advertisement Analysts say the eruption of public support for Mr Arce, even if fleeting, provides him with a reprieve from the countrys economic quagmire and political turmoil. The president is locked in a deepening rivalry with popular former president Evo Morales, his erstwhile ally who has threatened to challenge Mr Arce in 2025. Before his arrest late on Wednesday, Mr Zuniga alleged without providing evidence that Mr Arce had ordered the general to carry out the coup attempt in a ruse to boost the presidents popularity. That fuelled speculation about what really happened. Opposition senators and government critics joined the chorus, calling the mutiny a self-coup a claim strongly denied by Mr Arces government. Advertisement An armoured vehicle and military police outside the government palace in La Paz (Juan Karita/AP) Soon after the military manoeuvre was underway, it became clear that any attempted takeover had no meaningful political support. The rebellion passed bloodlessly at the end of the business day. In an extraordinary scene, Mr Arce argued viciously with Mr Zuniga and his allies face-to-face in the plaza outside the palace before returning inside to name a new army commander. Speaking in Paraguay on Thursday, US deputy secretary of state for management Rich Verma condemned Mr Zuniga, saying that democracy remains fragile in our hemisphere. In his speech after storming the palace, Mr Zuniga had called for the release of political prisoners including powerful Santa Cruz governor Luis Fernando Camacho, also detained for allegedly orchestrating a coup in 2019. Before being arrested, Mr Zuniga told reporters that Mr Arce had asked him directly to storm the palace and bring armoured vehicles into downtown La Paz. The president told me: The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity, Mr Zuniga alleged. Even if proven false, accusations of Mr Arces involvement have stoked confusion and threatened more chaos. Bolivian officials have insisted the general was lying to justify his actions. Prosecutors said they would seek the maximum sentence of 15 to 20 years in prison for Mr Zuniga on charges of attacking the constitution pending further investigations. The decision to approve Julian Assanges extradition to the United States has formally been quashed at the High Court in London following his return to Australia as a free man. In an order on Friday, judges said that then-UK home secretary Priti Patels decision to order Mr Assanges extradition to the US in June 2022 had been overturned. Advertisement It comes after the WikiLeaks founder flew into Australia on Wednesday, following his release from a London prison and an appearance before a judge in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. "I believe the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction with each other" - WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in plea deal hearing, US court, Saipan Island pic.twitter.com/K6n33bzHSl WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 27, 2024 Advertisement Mr Assange pleaded guilty to a single charge on Tuesday after the US dropped 17 other espionage charges against him, before arriving in Australia. The 52-year-old had been due to bring a challenge at the High Court in London in early July over his extradition. Advertisement However, in Fridays order from Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson, the judges said the legal proceedings had been formally discontinued. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange embraced his wife Stella as he arrived in Canberra on Wednesday (Hilary Wardhaugh/PA) Mr Assange had been locked in a lengthy legal battle to avoid being extradited to the US, which saw him live in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012 before his detention in Belmarsh. Advertisement In a January 2021 ruling, then-district judge Vanessa Baraitser said Mr Assange should not be sent to the US, citing a real and oppressive risk of suicide, while ruling against him on all other issues. Later that year, US authorities won a High Court bid to overturn this block, paving the way towards his extradition. Mr Assanges planned challenge was over the original judges dismissal of parts of his case, as well as Ms Patels decision. A growing proportion of non-European Union citizens ordered to leave EU territory are being returned to countries outside the Union as part of efforts to rein in irregular migration, data from the EU's statistics office shows. The deportation success rate reached 29.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2024, up from 21.6 per cent in the same period in 2022, according to data published on Friday by Eurostat. Advertisement Over the same period, the number of deportation orders issued increased by around 15 per cent while deportations following orders issued increased by around 58 per cent. "With the new Return Roadmap, action is underway to support member states in speeding up returns and facilitating reintegration," a European Commission spokesperson said. "More frequent use of mutual recognition of return decisions is also helping to accelerate the process," the spokesperson said, referring to agreements between EU nations and migrants' countries of origin. Since 2016, the EU has sealed pacts with Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkey and most recently Egypt as it seeks to curb irregular migration, a move criticised by human rights groups for ignoring humanitarian law. Advertisement Migration was a top issue in the June 6-9th European Parliament elections, which saw gains for right-wing nationalists, shaping how the EU will confront future challenges ranging from geopolitics to immigration. Anti-immigration rhetoric has grown across the EU since more than a million people - mostly Syrian refugees - arrived via the Mediterranean in 2015, catching the bloc unprepared. Unable to agree how to share the responsibility, EU countries mostly focused on bringing down arrivals. Of the more than 100,000 non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country in the first quarter of 2024, nearly a third were deported, Eurostat said. This included people returned to other EU countries, but 85 per cent of them were sent outside the bloc's borders, up from 77 per cent in the previous quarter. Among non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country, Algerian and Moroccan nationals constituted the largest share at 7 per cent each, followed by Turkish nationals at 6 per cent, and Syrian and Georgian nationals at 5 per cent each. France deported the highest number of non-EU citizens in the quarter, with 4,205 individuals returned to another country, against 34,190 ordered to leave. Germany followed with 3,950 individuals returned against 15,400 orders issued. - Reuters Israeli authorities say 68 people 19 sick or wounded children plus their companions have been allowed out of the Gaza Strip and into Egypt in the first medical evacuation since May, when the territorys sole travel crossing was shut down after Israel captured it. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, said on Thursday that the evacuation was carried out in co-ordination with officials from the United States, Egypt and the international community. Advertisement The children and their companions left the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing, and the patients were to travel to Egypt and further abroad for medical treatment. The nearly nine-month Israel-Hamas war has devastated Gazas health sector and forced most of its hospitals to shut down. Parents embrace their sick son before he leaves the Gaza Strip for treatment abroad (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Health officials say thousands of people need medical treatment abroad, including hundreds of urgent cases. Advertisement Family members earlier bade a tearful goodbye to the children as they and their escorts left the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis bound for the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing with Israel. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the only one available for people to travel in or out, shut down after Israeli forces captured it during their operation in the city early last month. Egypt has refused to reopen its side of the crossing until the Gaza side is returned to Palestinian control. Six of the children were transferred to the Nasser Hospital from Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City earlier this week. Five have malignant cases of cancer and one suffers from metabolic syndrome. Advertisement Children wave goodbye to their relatives as they leave the Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) That evacuation was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which could not immediately be reached for comment. At a press conference at Nasser Hospital on Thursday, Dr Mohammed Zaqout, the head of Gazas hospitals, said the evacuation was being conducted in co-ordination with the WHO and three American charities. Dr Zaqout said more than 25,000 patients in Gaza require treatment abroad, including some 980 children with cancer, a quarter of whom need urgent and immediate evacuation. Advertisement He said the cases included in Thursdays evacuation are a drop in the ocean and that the complicated route through Kerem Shalom and into Egypt cannot serve as an alternative to the Rafah crossing. Palestinian children with their relatives before they leave the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) In a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, welcomed news of the childrens evacuation, but noted that more than 10,000 patients still require medical care outside the Strip. Of the 13,872 people who have applied for medical evacuation since October 7, only 35% have been evacuated. Advertisement Medical evacuation corridors must be urgently established for the sustained, organised, safe, and timely passage of critically ill patients from Gaza via all possible routes, she said. Israels offensive against Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, has killed over 37,700 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its count. Thousands of women and children are among the dead. The war began with Hamas surprise attack into Israel on October 7, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. Iranians were voting on Friday in a snap election to replace the late hard-line president Ebrahim Raisi, with the races sole reformist candidate vowing to seek friendly relations with the West in an effort to boost his campaign. The remarks by heart surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian came after he and his allies were targeted by a veiled warning from the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over their outreach to the United States. Advertisement Mr Pezeshkians comments, made after he cast his ballot, appeared to be aimed at boosting turnout as public apathy has grown in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes, mass protests and tensions in the Middle East. Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast his vote in the election (Vahid Salemi/AP) Voters face a choice between hard-line candidates and the little-known Mr Pezeshkian who belongs to Irans reformist movement that seeks to change its Shiite theocracy from within. Advertisement As has been the case since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and those calling for radical change have been barred from the ballot while the vote itself will have no oversight from internationally recognised monitors. The voting comes as wider tensions have gripped the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups who Tehran arms in the region such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels are engaged in the fighting and have escalated their attacks. Supporters of Masoud Pezeshkian attended a campaign meeting in Tehran ahead of the election (Vahid Salemi/AP) Advertisement Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium at near weapons-grade levels and maintains a stockpile large enough to build should it choose to do so several nuclear weapons. While Irans 85-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei has the final say on all matters of state, presidents can bend the countrys policies towards confrontation or negotiation with the West. But given the record-low turnout in recent elections, it remains unclear just how many Iranians will take part in Fridays poll. Advertisement Mr Pezeshkian, who voted at a hospital near the capital, Tehran, appeared to have that in mind as he responded to a journalists question about how Iran would interact with the West if he was president. People queued in Tehran to receive their ballot paper (Vahid Salemi/AP) God willing, we will try to have friendly relations with all countries except Israel, the 69-year-old candidate said. Advertisement Israel, a long-time regional arch-enemy of Irans, faces intense criticism across the Middle East over its grinding war in Gaza. He also responded to a question about a renewed crackdown on women over the mandatory headscarf, or hijab, less than two years after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide demonstrations and violent security force response. No inhuman or invasive behaviour should be made against our girls, daughters and mothers, he said. Supporters of Irans parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf attended a campaign gathering in Tehran earlier this week (Vahid Salemi/AP) A higher turnout could boost Mr Pezeshkians chances, and the candidate may have been counting on social media to spread his remarks, as all television broadcasters in the country are state-controlled and run by hard-liners. But it remains unclear if he can gain the momentum needed to draw voters to the ballot. There have been calls for a boycott, including from imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Analysts broadly describe the race as a three-way contest. There are two hard-liners, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. A Shiite cleric, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, also remains in the race despite polling poorly. Mr Pezeshkian has aligned himself with figures such as former president Hassan Rouhani under whose administration Tehran struck the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Rishi Sunak said a racial slur against him by a Reform UK canvasser hurts and it makes me angry and that party leader Nigel Farage has some questions to answer. Campaigners for Mr Farages party were recorded making racist comments, including about the British prime minister who is of Indian descent. Advertisement Mr Sunak on Friday said: My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign to Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. Advertisement And I dont repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is. Speaking on a campaign visit to a school in Teesside in northern England, he continued: And as prime minister, but more importantly as a father of two young girls, its my duty to call out this corrosive and divisive behaviour. The footage, made by an undercover Channel 4 reporter, showed the Reform campaigner suggesting migrants should be used as target practice. Another canvasser described the Pride flag as degenerate and suggesting members of the LGBT community are paedophiles. Advertisement Mr Farage has sought to distance himself from the comments, saying he was dismayed by the appalling sentiments expressed. The US Supreme Court has four cases still undecided this term. In particular, the justices are still weighing whether former president Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution in the election interference case against him, roughly two months after hearing arguments. Advertisement Though the justices typically issue all of their rulings by the end of June, this term they are expected to continue into early July. The court heard 61 cases this term. Here's a look at two of the major undecided cases... Presidential immunity Donald Trump is arguing that former presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts they took in office and that the indictment he faces on charges of election interference must be dismissed. Advertisement The Supreme Court has previously ruled that former presidents cannot be sued in civil cases for what they did in office, but it has never weighed in on criminal immunity. The timing of the decision may be as important as the outcome. Mr Trumps trial in Washington, DC, may not take place before the November election, even if the court rules he is not immune. Republican presidential candidate former president Donald Trump (Gerald Herbert/AP) Advertisement Social media Two cases involve social media laws in Texas and Florida that would limit how Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users. While the details vary, both laws aimed to address conservative complaints that the social media companies were liberal-leaning and censored users based on their viewpoints, especially on the political right. Kenny & Claire | Turning Point Media Relations NASHVILLE, Tenn.Pointing listeners to the Hope of Christ amidst lifes troubles, critically acclaimed husband/wife folk duo Kenny & Claire are set to bow their full-length debut, Upon The Storm, July 19. Produced by GRAMMY Award-winner Mitch Dane (Brandon Heath, JJ Heller), the 12-track set showcases four freshly penned originals and eight modern renditions of enduring hymns. The albums title-cuta stirring take on William Cowpers 18th century hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Wayis now available on digital platforms. With updated verses and a new arrangement by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Dane, God Moves (Upon the Storm) carries deep meaning for the couple following Kennys struggle with a brain tumor as well as a life-altering chronic illness diagnosis. Though we do not always understand why God does what He does, we recognize that He is a God of mercy, and we are people who need mercy, Kenny shares. Thats one of the reasons the lyric, behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face, in God Moves (Upon the Storm) is so powerful. This world is dark and stormy and full of struggle, yet behind that struggle, Godin His kindnesswatches us and intends our fight through these struggles for our good. In our own struggles with sufferingparticularly related to Kennys healthwe have continually returned to the promises of Scripture as well as the lyrics of old hymns, Claire says. 'God Moves (Upon the Storm) reminds us of the truth of His sovereignty over all things, including a scary diagnosis. The humbling reality is that we do not fully understand the majesty of the Lord and that what He allows can sometimes be so very gut wrenching, but He is indeed faithful and trustworthy. This song lifts our eyes to God while recognizing the reality of lifes storms. Hallmarked by thoughtful, organic arrangements firmly anchored in a folk/Americana soundscape, Upon The Storm also features Kenny & Claires signature take on such classic hymns as O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus and Come Thou Fount, among others, along with a uniquely emotive rendition of the popular Keith Getty and Stuart Townend-penned hymn, In Christ Alone. New selections including Surely His Goodness, Have Mercy on Us and We Believeall written by Kenny & Claire and Mitch Danebridge the past and present with thematic consistency. We want to be singing the same songs that saints who have gone before us sang, Kenny explains. Theres a comfort in knowing that brothers and sisters who ended their race well sang these songs, and that they are in the Great Cloud of Witnesses encouraging us to cast off the weight of sin and finish well. Our hope is that this album is a lighthouse pointing to the majesty, power, sovereignty, and holiness of the Lord in the midst of the reality of lifes storms, Claire adds. Through our own experiences, weve needed songs that point our hearts to Christ and help us rest in His glorious Gospel. We want the music we share to be songs we need ourselves, as 2 Corinthians 1:4 says, songs that comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. ABOUT KENNY & CLAIRE Beginning their musical journey together in 2005writing songs, performing and leading worship throughout the CarolinasKenny & Claire Hilliard were married in 2008 but paused their creative pursuits while Kenny attended seminary and the couple started a family. In 2015, during Kennys tenure as a senior pastor and worship leader in Asheville, North Carolina, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Shortly after successful surgery to remove the tumor, Kenny received a second diagnosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndromea degenerative genetic disease that left him temporarily impaired. The couple embraced a return to music during Kennys recovery, founding a music teaching studio and further honing their songwriting craft by penning modern hymns for their home congregation. Known for their emotive acoustic/folk originals and organic revivals of theologically rich hymns of yesteryear, Kenny & Claires critically acclaimed debut EP, Are You Weary, released in 2021. In addition to participating in Getty Musics prestigious International Hymn Writing Collective, the couples music has been highlighted by Under The Radar (UTR) and in The Rabbit Rooms New Music Roundup, and Claire was also named among Ones to Watch by the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) in 2021. Kenny & Claire now reside in the Nashville area with their three children, and they maintain an active touring ministry, leading worship and performing in numerous churches around the country each year. For further information, visit kennyandclaire.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow the duo on Instagram and Facebook. Roxanne Grace & GLADDEN & AWZY - Thinking | DREAM Label Group Los Angeles, CA (June 28th, 2024) Today, Roxanne Grace, GLADDEN, AWZY release Thinking available today via DREAM Records. This easy to sing-along upbeat song is a summertime pop song & was written to bring encouragement, hope & joy to the listener as a celebration of God's favor. The song was written by Dameon Aranda (Switch), GLADDEN and Austin Moore. Thinking is a fun summer bop that we all need. It has a powerful but simple message. The message is to NOT get overwhelmed by everything going on around us, but rather lets keep our mind on Jesus and things above. Life is so much easier and a lot more fun when we allow His peace, His love and His truth to be our guide. And I got to work with two of my favorite artists, GLADDEN & AWZY. - Roxanne Grace Our new song Thinking is about keeping our mind fixated on the Lord. We regain hope. Our priorities are straightened and everything is made clear when we focus on God above all things. - AWZY Roxanne reached out to me about writing and recording some verses on a song that God had laid on her heart. The theme was the center on how our thoughts change for the better once we surrender our lives to God. The negativity and sin in the world tend to pull us down unless we purposely keep our minds focused on the goodness of God. Im extremely honored to be featured with Roxanne Grace and AWZY. - GLADDEN Thinking was produced by Austin Moore in Phoenix, Arizona. It is available everywhere music is sold and streamed digitally. Listen or buy Thinking here. Uche Agu & Revival Today Worship - "Praise Medley" | DREAM Label Group Los Angeles, CA (June 28th, 2024) Today, Uche Agu and Revival Today Worship release their next song from their upcoming album Celebrate The King, Praise Medley. Featuring Gospel artists Jekalyn Carr, this upbeat uplifting medley will get your dancing shoes on as you sing to the Lord. Praise Medley was co-written by Uche Agu, Daniel Johnson, Brandon Tolbert Jones, Elvis Ediagbonya and Kingsley Chinedu Ike. This year's premier gospel Summer Praise Jam promises to be a truly extraordinary. I eagerly anticipate everyone joining us to worship the Lord. Collaborating with my sister Jekalyn Carr was a brilliant choice, seamlessly blending African rhythms with the gospel sound. Be on the lookout for the upcoming music! - Uche Age Praise Medley was recorded and produced live at Revival Today Church in Pittsburgh, PA by Uche Agu, Danny Duncan and Brandon Tolbert Jones. It is available everywhere music is sold and streamed digitally. Listen or Buy Praise Medley here. The company has been furnishing the global construction industry with its belief that its technology can help convert buildings into standalone renewable energy hubs. With a concerted push into big markets such as the United States, Europe and the Middle East, in addition to opportunities within Australia, management believes the inclusion of its product into the CFMEU building may prove to be a trigger for a bigger business journey. The company has positioned itself to tap into a global market that sees billions of square metres of window glazing being installed in new constructions, while the retrofit market is also likely to be vast. It has estimated that in the US alone, about US$120 billion ($AU182 billion) worth of window glass is installed annually. And those numbers are expected to increase, with the potential for future green legislation to mandate solar PV glazing units as standard fitment in all new buildings. Management says it is in active discussions negotiating and pricing 75 projects globally to sell its power-generating solar PV integrated glazing units (IGUs) also referred to as building-integrated photovoltaic units (BIPVs) that put simply, are windows essentially acting like solar panels. The solar windows stay transparent, yet can generate electricity by using the power of the sun to make a building more energy efficient. An IGU is a clear, double-glazed glass panel with a laminated plastic interlayer that sits between the two glass panels. The laminated proprietary technology interlayer contains nano and microparticles. Light is allowed to pass through the glass and the interlayer activates ultraviolet and infrared light and diverts the energy to thin solar strips embedded around all internal edges of the window, where they are then converted from energy into electricity. Recent trial testing has shown that ClearVues IGUs can produce cooler and quieter interior workplaces, while also generating sufficient power to offset costs or run a range of internal services. The power can either offset or supplement building services, such as powering air-circulating fans or reducing air-conditioning needs. Additionally, it may be used to power a host of other in-building services, such as automatic blinds, shades and even self-dimming glass to reduce ambient internal temperatures. It can also be used for main or mood lighting, building alarm systems and surveillance devices, equipment battery charging systems and indoor greenery irrigation systems. ClearVue Technologies management is fast building a global business network. Some of those systems were trialled in ClearVues recent two-year test of its built-in PV technology in a greenhouse at Perths Murdoch University. The trial confirmed a high consistency of power generation, at times even outperforming conventional solar panels. The company said the trial also showed a reduction in building energy use of up to 40 per cent in Murdochs greenhouse when compared to a conventionally-glazed equivalent. It was accompanied by average daily harvested energy of about 19kWh. ClearVue sees the US market offering huge potential as many of its cities have stated net-zero targets. It also has its eyes laser-focused on the refurbishment sector. Management recently opened a new office in San Jose, prompting a local newspaper in the Californian city to run a front-page story on the expansion. It is timely promotion as the company plans to engage the US investment community on the back of recent policy initiatives that provide incentives for the construction sector and promotes net-zero emission goals. ClearVues business model involves licensing its core intellectual property to existing glass fabricators globally and participants within the building industry. The licensed glass manufacturers can make and distribute the IGUs, in addition to the companys expanded product range consisting of spandrels and cladding. It also provides opportunities for builders and architects focused on promoting renewable energy generation to look at distribution avenues. The introduction of its new BIPV products enables the company to offer a solution for vision and non-vision areas of any building. It allows for the complete external envelope of a building facade to be converted into a power-generating area and provides a net-zero solution for buildings. The spandrels and cladding do not contain the proprietary technology and act more like traditional solar panels. The spandrel layer of glass is integrated into the window installation by licensed partners and sits directly underneath the windows. In buildings of more than one storey, the spandrel is the area between the sill of a window and the head of the window below it. ClearVue recently revealed it was set to establish its first supply chain on home soil for its smart glass windows after securing a maiden manufacturing and distribution agreement in Australia with Victorian-based partner Safety Glass. Management also revealed this week that it has developed several new tools to assist its licensed distributors in boosting sales. Its new thermal modelling software, dubbed High-rise Archetype-3, is based on a 40-storey office building model and demonstrates how its Power Facade products can improve a buildings thermal performance, energy creation and energy usage. In the immediate future, the company is looking to reveal details of results from its ongoing testing regime and further projects it has secured globally from its recent interactions with potential clients. Discussions are continuing with expanding its list of licensed partners, with several based in the Middle East a potentially lucrative business extension the company is keen to pursue. With global demand for emission reductions and a product range that can meet that need, ClearVues growth path may soon become clear to the market. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Union staff across Nine Entertainments publishing business have voted to apply for protected industrial action, and passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in chief executive Mike Sneesby and the board, after the company announced up to 200 jobs would be made redundant across the business. Members of the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, who account for most editorial staff at The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, The Brisbane Times and WA Today, met soon after an email from publishing boss Tory Maguire said up to 90 jobs were expected to be lost from the division alone. Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby. Credit: Janie Barrett A union vote to demand she address the staff immediately was passed unanimously. Maguire had previously outlined intentions to address staff on Monday. In a note distributed by the union, staff express their fury over the redundancies. This year, its the boast of the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW, that for the first time there are more works by Aboriginal artists than non-Aboriginal artists. Surely, its entirely inappropriate to celebrate a preponderance of one group over another when its the artists work, not their ethnicity that is being exhibited. With any art competition, let alone one as important as the Wynne, there should be a cast-iron commitment to judging works on merit. This piece of corporate virtue signalling sends out a discouraging message to non-Aboriginal landscape painters, who are already beginning to abandon the Prize. Jane Watters, the director of the S.H. Ervin Gallery, which is hosting the annual Salon des Refuses, says she was surprised this year that so many regular participants in the Wynne were absent. Having spoken to a group of artists at an opening recently, I found a growing body of opinion that it was no longer worthwhile putting a work into the Prize. Mantua Nangalas Untitled. What makes the AGNSWs boast more ridiculous is that the two standout paintings in this years Salon were both rejected from the Wynne. One of them, an untitled work by Mantua Nangala, is so palpably superior to everything in the Wynne, except this years winner, Djakangu Yunupingus Nyalala gurmilili, that it makes a mockery of the selection. Why congratulate yourselves on how many Aboriginal artists youve included in the show when youve thrown out one of the very best Aboriginal paintings? The obsession with statistics does no favours to Yunupingus winning work, which struck me and everybody else I spoke with as the outstanding piece in the exhibition. The AGNSW should not be allowing any suspicion that the work benefited from some kind of ideological agenda. The last reader in Australia turns out to be a young woman. No surprise. John Logie Baird rendered men illiterate at a stroke when he invented the TV in 1926. She sits on the 109 heading for Box Hill reading a paperback, her mind pincered and freed by noise-cancelling headphones. Look at her face she is not here, she is there, in that world she and the author have agreed on. I cant see the books cover hence it is all books to me. Its an Indian novel, an anthology of verse, a cavernous collection of short stories its the limitless wonderland of all Ive read. Credit: Robin Cowcher Shes deeply engaged, attendant to the thousand tasks that go to running a fictional state. She is raising castles, razing San Francisco, riding a dragon or a night train, watching lords and ladies gavotte clockwise to chamber music, lying in a military hospital in Milan wounded and in love. But her face is frustratingly passive. Im waiting for her eyes to widen as Oliver Twist asks for more. Im waiting for her to shake her head and hold the book out and stare at its cover and silently mouth the words, Doris Lessing ... girl, what the absolute f---? China's Xizang witnesses all-around progress in past 65 years Xinhua) 10:08, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Since its democratic reform was initiated 65 years ago, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region has witnessed economic and cultural prosperity, all-around social development, improved environment, and better lives of the people, said a senior expert Thursday. Zhang Shigao, a senior expert with the China Tibetology Research Center, made the remarks at a meeting held by the All-China Journalists Association to mark the 65th anniversary of the democratic reform, which eradicated the long-lasting feudal serfdom in Xizang. During the meeting, Zhang and other experts shared their views on matters such as human rights situations, pairing-up assistance for the region and the region's tourism. Zhang noted that in 2023, Xizang's regional gross domestic product (GDP) neared 240 billion yuan (about 33.7 billion U.S. dollars) and posted one of the highest growth rates in major economic indicators nationwide. The region has built a modern education system covering preschool, basic, vocational and higher education as well as continuing education and special education, Zhang added. With redoubled green efforts, the region has also expanded the size of its ecological preservation zones and further restored biodiversity. For various ethnic groups living in the region, their lives have been improved and their sense of happiness greatly boosted, said Zhang. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) They were cheap, readily available in supermarkets and newsagents and they revolutionised our tastes in food. They were the much-beloved Australian Womens Weekly cookbooks. Whether they were inserts in the magazines or published books, they were cooking bibles for Australian housewives from the 1930s onwards. The most popular and perennial was the childrens birthday cake book, first published in 1980, which was handed down the generations and is still available as a collectors edition. The littlies would thrill to cakes themed on Humpty Dumpty, a choo-choo train or a jelly swimming pool. The classic swimming pool cake from the Womens Weekly Childrens Birthday Cake Book. Food historian Lauren Samuelsson has been studying the books and talking to their users for her PhD, and will reveal her findings at the 2024 Melbourne Rare Book Week. Her talk is one of a bumper program of 45 free events, plus lectures and exhibitions, being held in Melbourne from July 18 and culminating in the annual Melbourne Rare Book Fair. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Rare Book Week, described as a global beacon for book lovers and collectors. The attractions include a talk on how Jane Austen can help lawyers, 500 years of Ukrainian resistance in print, and a peek into the worlds first English printed book, made by William Caxton 550 years ago. (Disclosure: I am taking part in two events: with author and historian Lucy Sussex about mysteries and mayhem in 19th century Melbourne, and an interview with legendary bookseller Mark Rubbo about his career at Readings.) Advertisement Eating outRestaurant news Move over, New York, Napoli and Detroit-style pizza. Its time to try the Sydney Never mind the New York slice - a fresh batch of Sydney pizza-makers is offering a taste of something different. Bianca Hrovat June 28, 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 Forget Napoli and Roma, New York or Detroit: Sydney has developed its own signature style of pizza. A boundary-pushing mash-up of fine-dining finesse and multicultural influence, Sydney pizzas come with flavoursome fermented bases, leopard-spotted crusts, and wildly creative toppings. Marty McFly, co-owner of Pizza Bros in Erskineville, says while Melbourne pizza-makers tend to spin traditional pizzas following rules set down by the Neopolitan pizza police, the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, in Sydney a new wave of Neo-Neapolitan pizzerias have been opening like wildfire. Now, youre seeing Sydney-style pizza blowing up on social media, and dominating the menus at more than a dozen new pizzerias. According to Italian-born pizza consultant Enrico Sgarbossa, its the first time Australia isnt lagging five or six years behind its European contemporaries. Advertisement Dale Mann, the owner-chef at Ribelle in Freshwater, with his pizza adapted from a French chicken pie. Edwina Pickles The trend has taken off in the past 12 months as more well-credentialled chefs and bakers give pizza a spin. Made with inexpensive core ingredients (flour, yeast and water), pizza has economic advantages during a cost-of-living crisis, provides a blank canvas for culinary creativity, and is popular with budget-conscious diners. You can spot a Sydney-style pizza by its thin circular (and often long-fermented) base, puffy blistered crust, and deliciously unconventional toppings everything from smoked eel and 12-hour smoked brisket to dakgalbi (spicy Korean chicken), mostly sourced from NSW producers. The pizza revolution coming to a Sydney suburb near you (plus 10 new pizzerias to try) We understand the hours, the dedication and the tough margins [fine-dining] requires, and a lot of us just want to get creative and make good food thats accessible to everybody, on an everyday basis, says Dale Mann, the owner-chef of new Freshwater pizzeria Ribelle, and former the head chef at Newtowns popular Bella Brutta. Advertisement Leaning into the experimental spirit, newcomers are using toppings such as chicken and tarragon with mustard veloute (Ribelle); honey, garlic and nori (at Tenacious in Darlinghurst), and bolognese sauce, dates and sesame mayo at Calzone Zone, which has popped up at various locations. The honey, garlic and nori seaweed pizza at Tenacious in Darlinghurst. Supplied Mann says the approach, grounded in traditional techniques, was pioneered by well-known pizzerias like Dimitris Pizzeria in Darlinghurst, and Bella Brutta and Westwoodin Newtown. Dimitris owner-chef Ken Williams describes his style as flavour-forward, produce-driven, yet somewhat unconventional. Standouts like the Brussel Crow (roasted Brussels sprouts, caramelised onion jam, ricotta cream, mozzarella and pancetta) have repeatedly landed Dimitris on best-of lists. Advertisement At Westwood, owner-chef Mitchell Westwood was among the first to use NSW-grown and milled flour to make his light, thin and long-fermented pizza bases. [We] broke the norm. Typically in every restaurant Ive worked in, [the flour] was flown in from Italy, Westwood says. The development of the Sydney style was further bolstered by the introduction of portable pizza ovens such as Gozney and Ooni, which made it possible for aspiring pizzaioli to open small-scale or pop-up pizzerias without prohibitive upfront costs. Portable pizza oven road test: Which is the best, and what else can it cook? City Oltra, which opened in Central Station in late 2022, began as a pop-up at Poor Toms Distillery in Marrickville, while Nathan Brindle (head chef at hatted Chippendale restaurant Ester) used portable pizza ovens at the launch of his monthly Calzone Zone pop-up in April. Advertisement Were trying to push things forward, says City Oltra chef and co-owner Ben Fester. Its less to do with a particular topping and more of an ethos. Not being bound by conventions or traditions, using locally sourced, single-origin flour as opposed to importing grains from across the globe, preparing and preserving local produce, supporting amazing butchers or smallgoods producers, while at the same time still trying to [create] something that can be interpreted as pizza. New Sydney-style pizzerias to try Ribelles winter pizza was inspired by a classic French chicken and tarragon pie. Edwina Pickles Ribelle, Manly Advertisement Dale Mann, the former head chef at Bella Brutta, deliberately steers away from tradition at his new Freshwater pizzeria, appropriately named Ribelle (rebel, in Italian). The name gives me an out I didnt want to be constrained in any way, shape or form, Mann says. The 15-seat, BYO pizza shop has a tight selection of 10 pizzas. As a winter special, Mann has created a pizza inspired by a chicken tarragon pie. He makes a brown chicken stock, then turns it into a veloute sauce with roux, cream and mustard to cover the pizza base. He then tops the pizza with house-roasted chicken and parmesan, and once cooked, adds a final flourish of parsley and tarragon. This idea came from trying to put the flavours of a winter favourite dish of mine, with deep roots in classical French cooking, and incorporating it into a pizza, for everyone to try something new and exciting, Mann says. Shop 15, 1-3 Moore Road, Freshwater, ribellepizza.com.au Bolognese, date and sesame mayo pizza at Calzone Zone. Supplied Calzone Zone Calzone Zone is a monthly pop-up pizza party from Nathan Brindle, the head chef at hatted Chippendale restaurant Ester. It launched in April with a sold-out BYO event in an unmarked Petersham warehouse, where fine-dining chefs cooked pizza in a makeshift garage kitchen; spray-painted mannequins struck provocative poses around dining tables, and, after eating their fill of pizza, diners crammed into a small underground room to dance. The menu featured restaurant-quality pizzas (both thin and thick-crust) loaded with seaweed and umami butter; Iberian ham and mustard with chunks of charred pineapple; and bolognese sauce, dates and swirls of creamy sesame mayo. Everyone lost their st over that one, Brindle says of the last-mentioned. Advertisement Check social media for event locations,instagram.com/calzonezone_ Korean seafood pancake, in pizza form, at Tenacious Pizza. Supplied Tenacious, Darlinghurst Yeongjin Park, the innovative South Korean baker behind Tenacious Bakehouse in Darlinghurst, says he doesnt know what traditional Italian pizza is like but that hasnt stopped him from opening a night-time pizzeria at his recently renovated Darlinghurst cafe Tenacious. His vision is unique: house-made pizza dough thats light and chewy, like mochi (pounded stretchy rice), and toppings inspired by popular Korean dishes such as haemul pajeon (seafood pancake, with prawns, squid, green onions and garlic chives) and dakgalbi (chicken and vegetables with spicy, gochujang-based sauce) with melted cheese. Ive always wanted to challenge myself and I grabbed the chance to bring my vision to life, Park says. 101 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, instagram.com/tenacious.pizza/ 10 of Sydneys best pizza joints (and the nicest slice at each) The late designer Carla Zampatti used to lament about Australian fashions brain drain. And to quote another great Australian, Bill Heslop in Muriels Wedding: You cant stop progress. So, as the industry holds both of these truths concurrently, designer Christopher Esber received 300,000 ($483,000) as part of winning the ANDAM Fashion Award, making him arguably the most decorated Australian fashion designer of his era. Christopher Esber has won the international ANDAM prize. Credit: Nathan Yamniak Known for his technical prowess with a cutout (sans wardrobe malfunctions), his designs are worn by women of all ages and stages, including celebrities Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lopez. The brand is stocked in more than 150 outlets globally, and European customers already account for about 40 per cent of sales. Speaking of brain drain, Esber validated his decision to sit out this years Australian Fashion Week (he had been an early contender for the opening show, which ultimately went to Albus Lumen), to focus on launching swimwear and jewellery in time for the European summer. There is a line in Elizabeth Strouts Lucy by the Sea that twanged my heartstrings like a banjo when I read it. Set in a time of COVID lockdown, Lucy Barton, who escapes to a beach house in Maine with her ex-husband, finds herself pondering the passing of time: And thinking of this now made me think ... that there had been a last time when they were little that I had picked up the girls. This had often broken my heart, to realise that you never know the last time you pick up a child. Maybe you say Oh, honey, youre getting too big to be picked up or something like that. But then you never pick them up again. Illustration: Dionne Gain. Credit: Its the most bittersweet wrench remembering both the joy of those moments, and the fact that you probably dont remember, or clock, the moments when they passed, when your child last fell asleep in your arms, their forehead burning with fever, or crawled into your bed after a nightmare, or gave you a necklace they made out of pasta shells. Youd think a bugle should sound or something, doves be released or a cloud of cockatoos squawk in unison to mark such a moment. A military 22-gun salute would be appropriate when you change your last nappy, for example. We cant yet board a time machine to transport us back 66 million years to see a live Tyrannosaurus rex. But Melbourne Museum is displaying a version of the real thing that is less scary because it cant eat you. The Carlton institution has opened an exhibit of the real fossil skeleton of a T-Rex, just in time for the winter school holidays. It wont eat you: the Tyrannosaurus rex fossil skeleton at Melbourne Museum. Credit: Eugene Hyland Its the first of its type to be displayed in Victoria and only the second in Australia. Near complete with 199 bones and named Victoria, it is the museums star school holiday attraction and will run until October 20. Others spoke about considering closing special care cots and the knock-on impact that would have on the Royal Childrens Hospital. The thing I am concerned about though, one of ours is reducing special-care nursery cots. Now, in closing those in clumps big enough for it to be effective, theres a roll-on consequences for the Royal Childrens Hospital or for other hospitals. Another says: The other thing we have discussed today was the early parenting centre that we just opened and whether we continue to operate that. I dont know how palatable that will be. We are considering not running BreastScreen ... at all. Its been a harrowing week. Loading Another discusses bed closures: So we may have two levels of savings where the first stage might be just a closure, a number of beds spread across four or five areas. And then if we have to progress to a full ward closure, which obviously does save a lot more, because you save admin and other roles in those wards. The leaking of the secret tape, which prompted threats of legal action against The Age from two hospitals, reflects savings measures being contemplated by the states hospitals, rather than decisions taken. The hospitals must submit their plans to the Victorian Department of Health, which has the final say over where clinical services are provided. The scale of the cuts being imposed by the Allan government prompted the peak body for the states public hospitals to warn that the sector would be forced to cut clinical staff, close hospital beds and stretch waiting times for people needing care. Loading Any suggestion that these measures are only there to address wastage in the system is false, Victorian Healthcare Association CEO Leigh Clarke said. These measures will go way beyond that this is cuts to services. If the Victorian government doesnt change course, we will inevitably see these cost-cutting measures ripple through the system with significant consequences for the delivery of care and services in the community. The Victorian peak body for senior medical staff warned the proposed budget cuts threatened their ability to provide safe and effective care to Victorias growing population, with even less capacity to flex in the face of major disasters or future pandemics. In a letter to the health minister seen by The Age, the Committee of Chairs of Public Hospital Senior Medical Staff Associations said: Service closures, reductions in staff, cancellation of planned surgery activities, increased waiting times and inability to access specialist care pose a direct threat to patient safety and will lead to preventable adverse outcomes. Budget pressure on the health system has heightened concerns about services at Royal Childrens Hospital. Credit: Pat Scala In addition, bed block and crowded emergency departments will cause further disruption to already strained emergency services by contributing to ambulance ramping. Vulnerable populations, without access to alternate means of care, are the most likely to suffer. The letter said recruitment freezes would have significant impacts on trainees finishing in 2024, with the likely consequent loss of a passionate and skilled workforce interstate or to the private sector. Thomas has publicly suggested hospitals have been asked only to streamline spending and can meet their savings targets by reducing travel, executive wages and the number of staff in non-clinical areas such as communications and marketing. Asked on Friday how carving out $200 million from Monash Health could just come from marketing and travel expenses, the minister said it was a large health service. We are working to make sure that the money the record money that weve invested in health is being used and prioritised towards the delivery of patient care, she said. Thomas said she was absolutely prepared to step in and prevent a hospital from shutting breast screening or dialysis services. There are conversations happening right now as part of the budget-setting process between my department and our health services. And no agreements have been reached. Theres no finalisation of any of those budgets right now. A Victorian government spokesperson said final budgets for health services would not be set for several weeks. We are investing a record $20 billion into our hospitals this year alone including an additional $1.5 billion this financial year, the spokesperson said. Loading Australian Medical Association Victorian president Dr Jill Tomlinson said the contents of the recorded meeting were consistent with what she was hearing from hospitals. They speak to the savage nature of the proposed model budgets, which would decimate health services, she said. Medical Scientists Association of Victoria secretary Matt Hammond said members including medical scientists, psychologists and pharmacists feared jobs would be lost. It makes me incredibly angry when the government is talking about the biggest investment in health services, yet our members are finding out their jobs are under threat. Victorias Department of Health secretary, Euan Wallace, said although the budget for all state hospitals had increased, some would need to find savings to bridge the difference between what they will actually spend this financial year and what they have been budgeted for next year. He said that more of next years hospital funding was activity-based payment for clinical services actually provided and reflected a return to normal business for the first time since before the pandemic. Budget to budget, there is more money in the system than there was last year, Wallace said. But actual spend to budget, things are much tighter. We have increased the portion of money that flows through the system through an activity-based approach. Services which can do more activity get paid more, those services which for whatever reason cant do the activity will be paid less. Its about sending money to the places where work can be done. Royal Childrens Hospital pediatric neurosurgeon Patrick Lo said his hospital would struggle to accommodate any additional patients in its special care nursery cots. There is very little capacity to ramp things up, he said. Our capacity is constantly maxed out. If you dont have these units then some neonatal cases may have to be delayed. They become sicker. A long-serving hospital chief executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the governments approach, while designed to make public hospital care more efficient, represented the biggest financial correction experienced by the $20 billion sector since the Kennett government introduced casemix funding 30 years ago. Victorias hospitals had been asked to find savings on a smaller scale in the year leading into the pandemic, but that process was abandoned once the first COVID-19 case hit. This is years of accumulated deficits coming home to roost, he said. You are not going to pull hundreds of millions out of a hospital by cutting your public relations department or stopping executive travel. There is an incongruence between conversations that are actively happening in hospitals and what is being told to the public. Now is not the time to make a cheeky offer on a property with new REIWA data showing the number of Perth sellers discounting their houses is at the lowest level in 20 years. Loading So far this year, just 12.6 per cent of houses sold for less than the listed price, significantly lower than the rates of discounting in the previous boom when 46.3 per cent of houses were sold for less than their listed price in 2014. REIWA data for Perth house sales to May shows homeowners are selling for about 5 per cent more than the listing price. Chief executive Cath Hart said the figure highlighted just how tight the market was: I am a regular reader of Lee Tullochs witty takes on travel, however I was disappointed in her use of the word appease (Traveller, May 28) in relation to those who have serious phobias or allergies when it comes to dogs. While I am neither allergic to, nor afraid of dogs in particular, my partner suffers from asthma which can be brought on by exposure not only directly to the dog itself but to their dropped dander. I have also seen the effects of a fear of dogs with people I know they have to leave if a dog is nearby and there is no other option; it is not something they can get over. I would ask Lee to imagine if my partner had been in the same plane to Paris as your friends dog for several hours. Or even if he sat in the seat the next day. At least he was able to get out of the car or leave the place. Not so on a plane. Ruth McDermott, Randwick, NSW Kindness of strangers A few weeks ago, our group landed at Narita airport. There we were told, incorrectly, that there was no shuttle bus into Tokyo, and we would have to take the train. While having to stand in a packed train, a young local girl overheard us, and realised we were given the wrong train details. She then assisted us in changing trains. Out of her way, she then escorted us all the way to our hotel, entailing a long walk in the rain. We later discovered there is a shuttle bus service and direct trains. All of us were over 70, exhausted, and struggled with our bags. Our good samaritan was a godsend. Tim Turner, St Kilda West, Vic Cruising for a bruising Lerwick in Scotlands Shetland Islands was peaceful when we arrived there recently, until two large cruise ships arrived to flood this small town, with a usual population of 6700. The small main street was inundated and the local museums overwhelmed, especially by ships with 5000 or more passengers. This is a perfect example of the way the bow wave of modern cruising can sink idyllic destinations like the Shetlands, which we always wanted to visit. Tony Danino, Wheelers Hill, Vic Mauritius turns malicious Crime is on the rise in Port Louis, according to one reader. Credit: iStock Mauritius has certainly changed as a destination in the five years since we last visited. Now in the popular coastal village of Grand Baie there are people asking for money on every street corner with locals warning about going out alone in the evenings. In the capital, Port Louis, I was the victim of a pickpocket, despite having taken precautions. Why is this occurring? What is the Mauritian government doing to curb this crime wave? Will it go down the same route as some other formerly popular holiday destinations, which, having accepted or ignored crime have killed off tourism? John Hart, Bright, Vic Diplomatic incident During check in at Vietnam Airlines desk in Sydney, my wife was stopped and told that her visa was out of order and that she couldnt travel. It was pointed out that a date had been entered incorrectly by the Vietnamese embassy. We were then advised to go to the nearby Flight Centre office and apply for an emergency visa. This we did, only to find that because it was a public holiday in Vietnam the normal charge was increased to $595. Even more surprising while we were at Flight Centre more people arrived with the same issue. We were then told there had been about 12 people previously with visa concerns. On a brighter note, we claimed the amount on our travel insurance and were reimbursed less the excess. Before you travel, check your Vietnam visa. Chris Taylor, Ashfield, NSW Tip of the week: Go while the goings good Albanias capital Tirana. Credit: iStock We have just returned from a nine-day visit to Albania and I will predict this will be the next tourist destination sensation. There is so much on offer in Albania. We followed the tourist path and only saw three cities Tirana, the capital, Berat and Gjyrokaster. All were delightful in their own unique way. Picturesque and historic Berat and Gjyrokaster are UNESCO-listed towns set in the mountains, Tirana is a buzzing, albeit quaint, city. The people are friendly, generous and honest. Visit now before the crowds discover this wonderful gem. Ruth Pojer, Double Bay, NSW One size doesnt fit all Judi Rosevear (who spent a month travelling with carry-on only, Traveller Letters, June 15), more info please. My second pair of size 14 shoes leave little room for anything else in carry-on luggage. Peter Thomson, Brunswick, Vic Golden days Castlemaine in the gold rush belt of Victoria punches above its weight. We recently visited for its 10th Documentary Film Festival, but theres always something on at the Theatre Royal. Stay at the Midland Hotel, a lovingly decorated art deco hotel that has a The Shining vibe. Eat at Bar Midland, a well-priced fine dining venue, and at Wild for relaxed fine dining (save room for the ricotta doughnuts). Also visit the Old Mill for its great cafes and German sausages and shopping and the many op shops in town (I nabbed myself a pair of Tods loafers for $20). Georgie Foster, Thornbury, Vic Counter points In response to Brian Johnstons story about travel annoyances (Traveller, June 7), I would argue that renting a car and checking into a hotel are equally painful. I regularly rent a car from the same company, and stay at the same hotel in Brisbane, and yet I still have to stand at the counter for more than 15 minutes while they enter my details all over again. What takes so long to find car keys and issue a hotel key? Jo Lees, Rockdale, NSW EDITORS NOTE Thanks to our reader for this contribution as well as the selection below in whats been a spirited response to our recent annoyances story from earlier this month. More next week, space willing. Bain of my existence I nominate the classic hotel breakfast buffet as a travel fail. Im sure theres some designer employed by hotels whose sole job is to maximise the time you spend walking around trying to find what you want. Bread, lets put it as far away from the toaster as possible. Then put the butter at the other end of the room with the yoghurt because they go together so well. Then put the eggs in a corner so people leaving have to jostle with those still queuing. Did I mention the world record for how long scrambled eggs can be left in a bain-marie? And dont get me started on those automatic coffee machines. Greg Barrie, Peregian Beach, Qld Hanging offence Although we always travel light, there are never enough coat hangers in the wardrobe of the hotel rooms we stay in. Judith Campbell, Drummoyne, NSW Rack and ruin My two pet gripes in hotels and Airbnb-type lodgings are first, having nowhere to put your luggage (hint, a raised luggage rack should always be provided for two at a height you can access, namely not the floor). My second gripe is the common not-having-a-good-bright-reading-light anywhere, and that includes a good bedside reading light and one or two in the main room. Judy Hungerford, Kew, Vic Write stuff Why, oh why, do the manufacturers of the toiletries in hotel bathrooms make the lettering on the bottles so small that even a microscope would be hard pushed to decipher what is written on them?Jerry Bell, Malvern East, Vic Let there be lights Unfortunately it is far too common for reading lights by or above beds to be dim, making reading impossible without a torch. A light behind the bed with a dimmer should be mandatory. Charlotte Brewer, Shepparton, Vic Washington: The first presidential debate of the 2024 US election rapidly descended into a nightmare for Democrats as 81-year-old incumbent Joe Biden tried unconvincingly to persuade a deeply sceptical nation that hes capable of a second term. Five months from an election involving two candidates many voters say they dont want, the debate also put the spotlight on the issue of Donald Trumps criminal convictions, as Biden accused his Republican opponent of having the morals of an alley cat while highlighting Trumps affair with porn star Stormy Daniels and his sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? Biden asked, (or) having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant? I didnt have sex with a porn star, Trump responded, in a sentence never before heard in a presidential debate. He did not understand the extent of Guildfords failures to comply with its duties as a licensee and sought to minimise his responsibility for them, ASIC said. Accidental start in broking Matthews began his broking journey in December 2002 almost by accident. At the time, he was a police officer selling his first home. After using a broker to purchase his next home, he became interested in earning additional income to support his government wage. Oklahoma Superintendent Mandates Bible Instruction in Schools Amid Legal and Public Backlash (Photo: Pixabay) Oklahoma's top education official, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, has mandated that all public schools in the state incorporate the Bible into their curricula. This directive, announced Thursday, requires that schools include the Bible and the Ten Commandments in teaching materials for students from grades five through twelve. Walters emphasized the Bible's influence on the nation's founding principles and the U.S. Constitution in a memo sent to all school districts, stressing that "immediate and strict compliance is expected." "We'll be teaching from the Bible in the classroom to ensure that this historical understanding is there for every student in the state of Oklahoma," Walters stated at a State Board of Education meeting. He underscored the significance of the Bible as "one of the most foundational documents used for the Constitution and the birth of our country." This move has ignited a firestorm of reactions. Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a civil liberties group, criticized the policy as "trampling the religious freedom of public school children and their families." Rachel Laser, the group's CEO, described Walters' mandate as "textbook Christian Nationalism," accusing him of using his office to impose personal religious beliefs on students. The mandate comes amidst a broader push by Walters to integrate Christian values into state education policies. Recently, Governor Kevin Stitt approved regulations proposed by Walters that included provisions for prayer in schools and recognized a "Creator" in the state Education Department's foundational values. Despite these initiatives, Walters has faced opposition and controversy. Governor Stitt recently issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from entering into sole-source contracts with marketing firms, a move seen as a response to Walters hiring a PR firm at $200 per hour to boost his national profile. Furthermore, the Oklahoma Supreme Court this week struck down a state contract intended to fund the nation's first religious charter school, ruling it violated state and federal law. Walters condemned the court's decision as "sanctioned discrimination against Christians" and vowed to challenge the ruling. However, State Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a conservative Republican, lauded the decision as a "tremendous victory for religious liberty," highlighting the importance of preventing state sponsorship of any religion. The directive to teach the Bible aligns with educational standards approved in May 2019, according to a news release from Walters' office. He insists that without understanding the Bible, students cannot properly grasp the foundation of American history and Western civilization. The backlash from various organizations was swift. Interfaith Alliance, a national group advocating for religious freedoms, condemned the mandate as "blatant religious coercion." In a statement to CNN, the organization asserted that "true religious freedom means ensuring that no one religious group is allowed to impose their viewpoint on all Americans." This directive follows closely on the heels of a similar law in Louisiana requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public classrooms, a measure that has already led to legal challenges. Walters' decision has sparked fears of similar legal battles in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Supreme Court's recent decision to block the establishment of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, the first publicly funded religious charter school in the country, underscores the contentious nature of blending religion and public education. Justice James R. Winchester, writing for the court, noted that as a public institution, a charter school must remain nonsectarian. The proposed Catholic school, intending to evangelize as part of its curriculum, was deemed in violation of this principle. Walters has pledged to continue fighting for what he describes as greater educational choices for Oklahoma parents, promising to pursue avenues that allow religious teachings within the framework of public education. However, the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocates argue that charter schools must remain secular and inclusive, ensuring they serve all students regardless of religious background. The U.S. Navy submarine, USS Georgia, on the surface of the Arabian Gul escorted by the guided missile cruiser, USS Port Royal. (Photo: US Navy) The U.S. is bolstering its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, moving forces closer to Israel and Lebanon in response to escalating cross-border fire. This strategic shift, involving the USS Wasp and its Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), underscores the increasing concern over potential conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The USS Wasp, accompanied by the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), entered the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday as part of a "long-planned effort," according to a U.S. Navy statement. However, the current geopolitical tensions have prompted the U.S. to move these assets further east. Israeli officials have indicated readiness for "intense action" in southern Lebanon, heightening the need for U.S. deterrence and readiness measures in the region. The State Department has repeatedly cautioned American citizens to "strongly reconsider travel" to Lebanon, emphasizing the volatile security environment. While no evacuation order has been issued, preparations for such a scenario are in place. The 24th MEU, based on the USS Wasp, is equipped for special operations and evacuation missions, adding a layer of preparedness should an extraction of U.S. nationals become necessary. In 2006, during a similar conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department executed a non-combatant evacuation of approximately 15,000 Americans from Lebanon within two weeks. Drawing from this precedent, the current deployment aims to provide the U.S. with operational flexibility amid increasing hostilities. The USS Wasp's ARG, which departed in early June, includes the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill. The Oak Hill has been operating in the Mediterranean since mid-June, and the New York will soon join its counterparts in the eastern Mediterranean. While the move is framed as a deterrence measure, the presence of these naval assets also serves to stabilize the region. "This deployment is being done for deterrence purposes and to promote regional stability," stated a U.S. official. Recent weeks have seen intensifying clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border, sparking fears of a broader conflict. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation have thus far been ineffective. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has made clear Israel's stance against Hezbollah's military presence on its border, asserting, "We will not accept threats to our northern communities." The strategic movement of U.S. forces also aligns with previous deployments in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. The USS Bataan and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford were earlier positioned to deter further regional escalation following the Hamas offensive. The USS Wasp's current armament includes AV-8 Harrier jets and helicopters, though it lacks MV-22 Osprey aircraft, which are typically used for long-distance personnel transport. This configuration underscores the Wasp's primary role in immediate regional stability operations rather than evacuation. The deployment provides U.S. leaders with a range of options amid the ongoing tensions. "The movement is intended to provide American leaders with options," another official noted, emphasizing the operational readiness of U.S. forces in the region. The government is concerned over a 647-times spike in the import of silver from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since the beginning of this calendar year, according to sources. New Delhi will soon take up the matter with Abu Dhabi. The rise in silver imports follows the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE that came into force in May, 2022 and offers certain concessions. Government data showed that the overall import of silver grew 10 times during the first four months of the calendar year (January-April) to $3.16 billion. UAE, now Indias largest The inclusion of Indian government bonds will likely lead to a reduction in the weights of Thailand, Poland, and the Czech Republic in the JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index over the next 10 months (Photo: Shutterstock) On Friday, India officially became part of JP Morgan's Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM). This move follows an announcement made in September, setting the stage for significant financial inflows into the world's fifth-largest economy. Starting today, Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) will begin to be included in the index, with a one-per-cent weight being transferred initially. This weight will increase by one percentage point each month until it reaches a cap of 10 per cent by March 31, 2025. As a result, India will join the ranks of China, Indonesia, and Mexico, each with a maximum cap of 10 per cent in the JP Morgan Global Bond Index - Emerging Market Global Diversified Index. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Foreign investors have already directed around $10 billion into securities eligible for the index since the announcement. Goldman Sachs projects at least $30 billion more in inflows as India's index weighting rises to 10 per cent. This steady increase is likely to keep Indian bond prices strong. What is the JP Morgan Emerging Market Index? The JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI), created in the early 1990s, is the most widely referenced index for emerging market bonds. ALSO READ: Explained: India inclusion in JP Morgan EM Bond index, market impact & more These indices have become benchmarks for local market and corporate EM bonds. Region-specific indices, such as the JP Morgan Asia Credit Index (JACI), the Russia Bond Index (RUBI), and the Latin America Eurobond Index (LEI), provide further coverage. It began with the issuance of the first Brady bond and has since expanded to include the Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets (GBI-EM) and the Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Index (CEMBI). What is the significance of JP Morgans index? The JP Morgan Emerging Market Global Diversified Index manages about $213 billion in assets globally. India's 10 per cent weight in the index is expected to attract $21 billion (Rs 1.7 trillion) in investments by March 31, 2025, assuming investors initially had zero weight in Indian bonds. This inclusion could prompt other EM index providers, like Bloomberg and FTSE, to consider adding India, potentially leading to additional inflows into the economy. Eligible Indian government bonds Only Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) issued under the Reserve Bank of India's 'Fully Accessible Route (FAR)' are eligible for inclusion in the indices. These bonds must have a minimum outstanding amount above $1 billion and at least 2.5 years of residual maturity, making all FAR-designated IGBs maturing after December 31, 2026, eligible. Impact of Indias inclusion on financial flows India's inclusion in the JP Morgan Emerging Market Global Diversified Index is expected to result in $23.6 billion in inflows into Fully Accessible Route (FAR) bonds. Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) holdings of outstanding FAR bonds could rise to 3.4 per cent by April/May 2025. Effects of Indias inclusion on other emerging markets The inclusion of Indian government bonds will likely lead to a reduction in the weights of Thailand, Poland, and the Czech Republic in the JP Morgan Emerging Market Bond Index over the next 10 months. Since the inclusion announcement on September 21, 2023, Indian government bonds have seen $10.4 billion in inflows, compared to just $2.4 billion in the first eight months of 2023 and annual foreign outflows of around $1 billion in 2021 and 2022. India's entry into JP Morgan's GBI-EM marks a significant development for the country's financial markets, heralding increased investment and potentially greater stability for Indian government bonds. Shares of tyre makers were in focus and rallied by up to 12 per cent on the BSE in Fridays intra-day trade on improving demand outlook. According to reports, domestic tyre companies have undertaken a price hike of 1-2.5 per cent with effect from July 1, 2024, in response to rise in key raw material prices (primarily natural rubber). Among the individual stocks, Ceat has surged 12 per cent to Rs 2,918, JK Tyre & Industries by 9 per cent to Rs 429.60, TVS Srichakra (7 per cent at Rs 4,400), Goodyear India (Rs 1,221) and Apollo Tyres (Rs 543.10) up 5 per cent and MRF (up 4 per cent at Rs 130,364) on the BSE in Fridays intra-day trade. In comparison, the BSE Sensex was up 0.24 per cent at 79,432. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The price rise comes as a sign of relief for the domestic tyre industry amidst unprecedented rise in natural rubber prices which are currency quoting at around Rs 200/kg (11 year high), ICICI Securities said in a note. Most of the tyre companies had guided for 4-5 per cent rise in raw material costs for Q1FY25 versus Q4FY24 (wherein natural rubber was quoting at Rs 180 per kg) and indicated at partial pass on the same to end consumers through 1-2 per cent price hike. The improving demand scenario and ongoing premiumisation have enabled tyre firms to offset the rising RM and EPR-related costs via price hikes. As per our extensive channel checks, price hikes have continued in recent weeks, with further hikes expected in H2 if the RM cost increase continues; hikes in prices are being absorbed in the market. This, in our view, reinforces our anti-consensus argument of sustained margins in tyres going forward amid gradual de-linking from RMs, the brokerage firm said in stock update. This move shall limit margin fall of the domestic tyre companies with most of them expecting to realise and sustain mid-teens EBITDA margin profile. This price hike in our view, however, does not fully cover the recent rise in raw material (RM) costs, ICICI Securities said in a note. According to brokerage firm, channel feedback points to improving positioning of Indian tyre companies versus MNCs, vis-a-vis the past, across product quality/technology/performance as well as positioning. Moreover, the channel feedback also suggests that within domestic manufacturers, performance and positioning of players other than the market leader (i.e. MRF) have also been improving, thus leading to emergence of a more balanced industry structure than in the past, analysts said. Meanwhile, Emkay Global Financial Services reiterates 'Buy' rating on JK Tyre & Industries with a target price of Rs 700 per share. According to Balkrishna Industries, the global economic slowdown, ongoing wars, and potential stagflation pose significant risks to various industries, including tire manufacturing. However, there has been a notable increase in demand for vehicles globally, which provides growth opportunities for tire industry. Management aims to focus on Off Highway Tire segment with targeted approach towards specific customer needs. Companys strength in research and development supports innovation, enhances product differentiation and help in adapting market trends, Balkrishna Industries said in its FY24 annual report. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrives to attend proceedings during ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi on June 28. (Photo: PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a "respectful" and good discussion in Parliament on the issue of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET exam as it concerns the country's youth and their future. Addressing reporters in Parliament complex, Gandhi said the NEET issue should be discussed before the Motion of Thanks on the President's address is taken up. The NEET issue is the most important issue of the day, and the opposition parties have agreed that it should be taken up for discussion before anything else, the Congress leader told reporters. "The youth are worried and they do not know what is going to happen. A message and assurance should go to the youth from Parliament that India's government and the opposition are together in raising the concerns of students," he said. Gandhi said the INDIA bloc thinks this is the most important matter. "I request the prime minister that since this is an issue concerning the youth, there should be a good and respectful discussion on the issue concerning the youth," he said, urging them to join the discussion. He said the opposition members will hold the discussion respectfully. The former Congress chief said during their meeting on Thursday, all opposition floor leaders unanimously felt that there should be a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. "I want to tell the students of the country that this is their issue and we all in the INDIA bloc feel that your issue is the most important as you are India's future" Gandhi said. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part in it. The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities. The Education Ministry also cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate) examinations after receiving inputs that the exams' "integrity may have been compromised. Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240626420141/en/ The Fram Sr project is the first application to be implemented resulting from a joint industry project to accelerate the development of breakthrough electrification technology through a standardized industry solution. (Photo: Business Wire) SLB (NYSE: SLB) has announced a contract award from Equinor for the front-end engineering design (FEED) of a 12-well, all-electric Subsea Production Systems (SPS) project in the Fram Sr field, offshore Norway. The project will fast-track wide-scale global adoption of electric subsea technology, setting new standards for increased operator control, subsea operational efficiency and reduced offshore emissions. As part of the agreement, future engineering, procurement and construction will be directly awarded to SLB OneSubsea conditional on a final investment decision. This project is the first application to be implemented resulting from a joint industry project, which commenced in 2018 and involved close collaboration across major industry players to accelerate the development of breakthrough electrification technology through a standardized industry solution. Basing the design on an established standard enables efficient and economic scaling of subsea electrification for operators worldwide, bringing associated capex and opex benefits. Electrification is vital to the future of subsea operations in the energy transition, said Mads Hjelmeland, chief executive officer of SLB OneSubsea. This technology has effectively created the IoT for subsea trees, providing operators with improved control through live performance and condition monitoring. We are grateful for the collaboration with Equinor and the other joint-industry-partners over the past six years that has made this milestone possible. The Fram Sr solution will use SLB OneSubseas standard subsea tree design, upgraded with a fully electrified power, control and actuation system, while the elimination of high-pressure hydraulic systems will enable operators to go further and deeper, improving production and making even marginal fields more viable. About SLB SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that drives energy innovation for a balanced planet. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Find out more at slb.com. About SLB OneSubsea SLB OneSubsea is driving the new subsea era that leverages digital and technology innovation to optimize our customers oil and gas production, decarbonize subsea operations, and unlock the large potential of subsea solutions to accelerate the energy transition. SLB OneSubsea is a joint venture backed by SLB, Aker Solutions, and Subsea7 headquartered in Oslo and Houston, with 10,000 employees across the world. Find out more at onesubsea.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as expect, may, can, estimate, intend, anticipate, will, potential, projected" and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as forecasts or expectations regarding the deployment of, or anticipated benefits of, SLBs new technologies and partnerships; statements about goals, plans and projections with respect to sustainability and environmental matters; forecasts or expectations regarding energy transition and global climate change; and improvements in operating procedures and technology. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to achieve net-negative carbon emissions goals; the inability to recognize intended benefits of SLBs strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; the timing or receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in SLBs most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and SLB disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240626420141/en/ State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code China, EU expedite talks on EV tariffs 10:41, June 28, 2024 By Zhong Nan and Liu Yukun ( China Daily Chinese new energy vehicles on display during an auto expo in Brussels earlier this year. (ZHAO DINGZHE/XINHUA) China and the European Union are expediting consultations on the latter's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, and aim to reach a mutually acceptable solution by addressing the reasonable concerns of both sides, said China's Ministry of Commerce on Thursday. As China and the EU agreed last week to start consultations, He Yadong, spokesman for the Commerce Ministry, said the essence of China-EU cooperation lies in complementary advantages and mutual benefits. Both sides have vast potential for collaboration in the field of green transition. He said the EU is encouraged to work with China to expedite consultations, achieve positive progress, and reach mutually acceptable solutions to prevent trade frictions from escalating, which could affect China-EU economic and trade relations. Even though Chinese EVs account for just a small share of the EU's EV imports, the European Commission, which represents the interests of the EU as a whole, in mid-June unveiled additional provisional tariffs ranging from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent for Chinese EV manufacturers despite widespread market concerns and China's objections. Additional provisional EU duties of up to 38.1 percent on imported Chinese-made EVs are scheduled to take effect by July 4, with the tariffs expected to be finalized on Nov 2. With some time remaining before the EU's final decision on imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs, government officials and business leaders said that initiating talks can be an effective approach to prevent further escalation and resolve differences. During his meeting with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Beijing on Wednesday, Wille Rydman, Finnish minister of economic affairs, said both the EU and China have successful experience in resolving trade and economic disputes, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement released on Thursday. Finland supports addressing differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of World Trade Organization rules, said Rydman. Cui Fan, a professor specializing in international trade at the University of International Business and Economics and director of research at the China Society for WTO Studies, said that globally, the development of new energy in various countries involves some level of policy intervention to address market imperfections. Relying solely on market forces could take 20-30 years longer to develop the new energy industry, which is inconsistent with the pace of global green transformation. China's supportive policies in this sector are scientifically based and comply with WTO rules, said Cui. Jin Ruiting, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, said currently the US still offers subsidies to support the construction of vehicle charging facilities within the country. Peter Merker, director of the German Chamber of Commerce in China for Tianjin, said that sanctions as a tool have significant side effects. Merker, who is also CEO of Schlote Tianjin, a subsidiary of German industrial parts manufacturer Schlote Group, said the automotive industry strongly opposes tariff increases and sanctions, and most ordinary people share that view. China-EU trade declined 1.3 percent year-on-year to 2.23 trillion yuan ($307 billion) in the first five months, statistics from the General Administration of Customs showed. The Ministry of Commerce also announced on Thursday that it will initiate an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures on imports of toluidine from the EU. Toluidine is a chemical used in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. In response to an application from the domestic toluidine industry, the ministry has decided to initiate this expiry review probe, effective from Friday, said the ministry in an online notice. This investigation will commence on Friday and conclude by June 28, 2025. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Public Art Chattanooga and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center on Thursday evening hosted a dedication of the newly installed Unearthing Boldness by artist Rondell Crier, a tribute to Bessie Smith and Blue Goose Hollow. The Blue Goose Hollow Artistic Trailhead Marker Project aims to celebrate Chattanooga's Black history by spotlighting Bessie Smith, who was born in the city in 1894 and rose to prominence as the "Empress of the Blues." Her influence on American music and the success of Black artists remains profound. Blue Goose Hollow, once a predominantly Black community, was lost during redevelopment in the 1950s, displacing over 1,400 residents and demolishing more than 1,100 buildings. Local artist Rondell Crier, renowned for his transformative artistry and community impact, was through a national call to artists to craft a marker honoring Bessie Smith and Blue Goose Hollow. Originating his career in New Orleans, La., with YAYA, a youth arts organization where he later became creative director for over a decade, Mr. Crier's journey led him to Chattanooga following Hurricane Katrina. Since then he has been celebrated for his sculptures, murals, installations, and community projects illuminating and healing the city. Mr. Criers work, Unearthing Boldness, reflects the spirit and character of Black Chattanooga and of Bessie herself, said officials. This artistic marker is symbolic of strength, joy, and resilience, said Mr. Crier. It is meant to capture the boldness of Bessies ancestry and the lineage of all people who have been displaced from this land. Made of black materials and material coated black to represent the survival and innovative nature of Black people, their life and death in the shadow of capitalism, their embodiment of all colors, and their black essence. Beyond Chattanooga, Mr. Crier has exhibited widely across cities like Detroit, Houston and Miami, earning accolades such as an artist residency grant from Glass House Collective and a Footprint Foundation Award. His commitment to merging art with activism is evident in projects like the mural at the Hunter Museum, showcasing his dedication and artistic prowess. The Bessie Smith & Blue Goose Hollow Artistic Marker project is a collaborative effort involving the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Public Art Chattanooga, ArtsBuild, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga Neighborhoods Arts Partnership, and RISE Chattanooga, with support from the Lyndhurst Foundation. Applications are now open for the 2nd Cohort of Periscope CHA: Artist Entrepreneur Training program, a transformative year-long intensive training opportunity designed to empower working artists to view their creative practice through an entrepreneurial lens. Led by instructors from Chattanoogas entrepreneurial community, and featuring break-out sessions facilitated by arts professionals, Periscope is for 15 selected artists, artisans, makers and creative entrepreneurs from all artistic disciplines within the Greater Chattanooga region. The Periscope program offers an intensive curriculum that explores tools for organizing, planning and sustaining a creative career. Participants will develop individualized business plans, preparing them to elevate their creative endeavors to new heights. The course includes eight consecutive weeks of intensive training followed by six months of one-on-one mentorship, culminating in the Periscope Pitch + Artist Entrepreneur Showcase. Originally created by the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville in partnership with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Metro Arts: Nashvilles Office of Arts + Culture, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Mayors Office of Economic & Community Development, Periscope has been empowering artists since its launch in 2014. Celebrating its 10th year in Nashville, the program expanded in 2021 to include rural communities across Tennessee with Periscope: Rural Artist Development. The Periscope CHA: Artist Entrepreneur Training Program has proven to be a game-changer for artists, providing them with the tools and mentorship needed to transform their creative passions into thriving careers, said James McKissic, president of ArtsBuild. The impact Periscope CHA has made to the Chattanooga arts community is profound as it has fostered a new generation of artist-entrepreneurs who contribute to the cultural and economic vibrancy of our region. We cant wait to see the incredible journeys and successes that will emerge from this years cohort. Applications for Periscope CHA are now open and will close on Aug. 2. Interested artists are encouraged to apply early, as spots are limited to 15 participants. To learn more about Periscope CHA, attend an informational session on Wednesday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. at ArtsBuild, 301 E. 11th St. For more information or to apply, visit www.artsbuild.com. What many of us have known was on display for over 70 million Americans to see. No amount of spinning and no clever lies about cheap fakes can erase the visual. Robert Hur was correct when he said Biden was an elderly man with a poor memory. No wonder the DOJ wont release the audio of that interview. It might be worse than last night. When Joe has no teleprompter and the questions last longer than 30 minutes, well you saw what happened. What should be of greater concern is that in his state he is still president and China, Russia, Iran and the rest of the world saw it too. Many of them wont be as delicate in their criticism. Russia may feel empowered to begin an offensive. China may see an opportunity to grab Taiwan. Iran may give Hezbollah the green light to invade Israel. Theres no way to measure the damage Biden did to our own security. Imagine Maxine Waters calling for the 25th if that had been Trump. The other major concern should be the months of lies, falsehoods and myths those around Biden, including the leftist news, has spouted about Joe being as sharp as a knife. They cant blame his lack of preparedness. The grueling practice may have made him worse, but he accepted the challenge and fell flat. To bring in a replacement would be the ultimate insult to Vice President Harris and Democrats who might have challenged him in the primaries. But primaries were rigged to give Joe the anointing choking out RFK Jr and others. To bait and switch now would further reveal the hypocrisy of a party on the ropes. This is elder abuse by his family and advisers. Please dont subject us to another embarrassing debate. Take your losses and let Trump make America great while theres still time. Ralph Miller By Order of the Tennessee Supreme Court entered Friday, Kent Thomas Jones was reinstated to the active practice of law. On Feb. 26, Mr. Jones was suspended by the Supreme Court of Tennessee for 90 days. Mr. Jones filed a Petition for Reinstatement to the practice of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 30.4(c), on June 5. The Board found the Petition was satisfactory and submitted an Order of Reinstatement to the Court. As a condition of reinstatement, Mr. Jones is to complete satisfaction of his payment of costs by making two payments of $1,150.50 to the Board of Professional Responsibility. The first payment is to be received by the Board no later than 30 days from the date of this Order, and the second payment is to be received by the Board no later than 60 days from the date of this Order. After an extensive search, drawing international applicants, Chattanooga Ballet announced Ryland Acree has been hired as Chattanooga Ballets new director of School and Education. Mr. Acree joins the 50-year-old organization having spent the last three years of his professional career dancing with Oklahoma City Ballet as an artist in the company. Mr. Acree is a teacher, choreographer, and international performing artist with a passion for integrating the arts into daily life. Originally from Floyd, Va., he began his dance education at the age of nine, and later earned full scholarships to attend summer intensives at prestigious institutions including Boston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he graduated from the Professional Division. Throughout his career, Mr. Acree has performed with Oklahoma City Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and Ballet San Antonio in works by renowned choreographers such as Gerald Arpino, Twyla Tharp, and George Balanchine. Beyond his career in dance, Mr. Acree has explored various artistic avenues, including professional theatre. As a choreographer, he has created new works for professional ballet companies and was invited to compete in the prestigious XII USA International Ballet Competition. His passion for education was ignited during his participation in the S.T.E.P.S. outreach program at Orlando Ballet and then taught in the mens division at Pacific Northwest Ballet, and later for the School of Ballet San Antonio and Oklahoma City Ballet. Chattanooga Ballets school has provided access to the power of dance for generations, and continues to grow. I am honored to share my expertise and love for dance and hope to inspire students to embrace the transformative power of the arts in their lives, said Mr. Acree. Chattanooga Ballet CEO/Artistic Director Brian McSween said, Ryland has a heart for dance education and is someone who we know will contribute to the development of the culture of Chattanooga Ballet and help us to continue our mission, to serve through the power of dance. Registration for Chattanooga Ballets fall classes is open and can be found at http://www.chaballet.org This year Chattanooga Ballet is opening a new satellite location with two additional studios that will serve more students with more types of classes. Follow Chattanooga Ballets social media for more information. The 100,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly operations at Trenton Pressing are complete, as the company finishes a $12 million expansion in Dade County. The Tier-One automotive supplier will celebrate the completion of its brand-new Plant 10 alongside local and regional officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Trenton. The addition of space and jobs at Plant 10 bolsters Trenton Pressings ability to deliver top-quality components to its customers, which include premium segment clients like BMW, Club Car and ZF, among others, said officials. The firm also performs contract manufacturing work with its vertical integration of services. The Trenton Pressing name is known for the highest quality of products and manufacturing excellence in the industry, said Hans Pfunder, chief operating officer. Were very proud to create parts and products for some of the best-known brands in the world right here in Dade County, Ga., and this facility will allow us to put even more products in the market thanks to our local talent force. Mr. Pfunder added this isnt the last of Trenton Pressings growth. "When I left my home in Germany, my friends told me: Hans, there is one rule in America: Go big or Go home! My intention is to stay, said Mr. Pfunder. We call this facility Plant 10 for a reason. Its because we expect to someday open a Plant 9, a Plant 8, a Plant 7 and so on. Trenton Pressingan employer in Dade County with over 200 employees upon completion of its latest expansionprovides metal stamping, welding processes and complex assemblies, including turnkey contract manufacturing solutions, for high-quality automotive and nonautomotive customers, as well as warehousing and shipping for its products. The companys local expansion adds to Georgias automotive manufacturing sector, which boasts 164,000 production workers and 194 auto-related facilities across the state, according to SelectGeorgia. Evan Stone, executive director of economic development in Dade County, called the growth at Trenton Pressing a good thing for the entire local economy. Retaining and growing our existing industrial base is high on our list of priorities in local economic development, Mr. Stone said. More jobs mean more opportunities for local talent to make a good wage, which in turn creates economic mobility and success for all sectors. Ted Rumley, Dade County executive, said the expansion proves Dade County continues to be a good investment. Trenton Pressings investment in our community is proof that we have a great product that remains in high demand, Mr. Rumley said. A skilled workforce is hard to find, and in Georgia and Dade County, we are winning because we know people are the greatest resource in business, and we produce the best people in the region. Alex Case, Trenton mayor, praised Trenton Pressing for the companys investment in the community. We know manufacturers have options, and were proud that Trenton Pressing continues to call Trenton home, Mayor Case said. This $12 million investment in a new facility and new jobs demonstrates confidence in our local economy and our local workforce, and we look forward to repaying that confidence by providing highly skilled workers and local support for many years. Jeff Mullis, president and CEO of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Agency, said Trenton Pressings investment in Dade County is a feather in the regions cap. Trenton Pressings investment is a sign that our region continues to get it right, Mr. Mullis said. Northwest Georgia is a premier place to develop and grow industry, especially in the automotive supply sector. From Atlanta down to the local level, Georgians have shown the auto manufacturing sector that good workers are here, and were ready to get to work for those who invest in our communities. State Representative Mike Cameron also praised Georgias business-friendly climate and investment in workforce training for wins like the Trenton Pressing expansion. The Southeast United States has become a magnet for automotive brands and suppliers in the last two decades, and as is the case in so many ways, Georgia leads by example, Rep. Cameron said. By investing in our workforce and identifying ways to make doing business better here, we continue to see great companies like Trenton Pressing create high-quality jobs and invest in Georgia. The most recent Medal of Honor recipient was a fellow Chattanoogan and longtime friend, CPT Larry Taylor, whom I profiled in November 2021 as his nomination was advancing. In July 2023, the upgrade of Larrys Silver Star to a Medal of Honor was finally approved. That upgrade effort was led by GEN B.B. Bell (USA-Ret.), Advisory Board chairman of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, and another friend, SGT Dave Hill, the last surviving member of the Rangers Larry rescued that dark and deadly June night in Vietnam, 56 years ago. Delays for Medals of Honor occur for many reasons first and foremost, its not in the nature of heroic individuals to advocate for their own acknowledgment. I have met most of the 61 living recipients, many appearing in our Profiles of Valor, and they are, to a man, humble servants always quick to note they wear that MoH on behalf of those with whom they served. Secondly, nominations get lost in the fog of war. In Taylors case, his commanding officer was killed less than three weeks following the Ranger rescue, and next up the command line, MG Keith Ware, himself a WWII Medal of Honor recipient, was shot down and killed less than three months later. Paper trails are not a priority in the midst of warfare. Taylor was a strong but humble man, and for decades, nobody advocated upgrading his Silver Star to a Medal of Honor, but SGT Hill and GEN Bell were not going to let that rest. Moreover, too often, the dangerous missions of those saved by Medal of Honor recipients are lost in the shadows of history. But what follows is a combination of the rescue accounts from both Larry Taylor and Dave Hill. On the night of June 18, 1968, then-1LT Taylor, a Cobra gunship pilot, heard a desperate plea for help from a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). The four-man patrol was surrounded by enemy VC on the northeast side of Saigon, about 30 clicks away. Larry recalled: The call that changed my life came at around 2100. Higher up had sent four LRRP teams to reconnoiter a small village. Id known it was a doomed mission from the start, and told my CO as much, but sometimes the higher echelons of combat did not listen to the guys pulling the triggers. Chatter over the net crackled and screeched, but the words came as clear as the desperation in the voice Were surrounded! That call was from SGT Dave Hill, today the last Ranger standing among his four Wildcat 2 LRRP team members, including team leader PFC Robert P. Elsner, SGT Billy Cohn, and SPC4 Gerald Paddy. Note that on these deadly recon missions, experience often determined leadership, not rank. What the team initially believed to be a small enemy unit that night, turned out to be the tip of a spear, the point element of a much larger enemy force. As Dave puts it: We inadvertently snuck into the middle of a company of NVA likely headed to attack Saigon. We had expected to set up an overwatch-ambush in that location, but they arrived first. Their squads closed the door to our south, completing the encirclement of our team. Hills patrol was able to accurately estimate enemy strength and position thanks to their Starlight Scope, an early-generation night vision device. However rudimentary compared to current Gen 4 night vision technology, it was an advantage our guys had over enemy forces. Wildcat 2 was trapped and about to be killed. We called for support, says Hill, and Taylor, call sign Darkhorse Three Two, answered the call. Dave is a California native who enlisted in the Army in 1966 after graduating high school. He spent the next year accumulating specialized training and experience at Ft. Gordon and Ft. Benning, particularly as a scout dog handler. He deployed to Vietnam as F Co./52nd Inf. In 1968, every LRP company was re-designated as a lettered Ranger company, so his team became 1st Infantry Division, I Company, 75th Infantry (Airborne Ranger). Dave advised Larry: Were pinned down, get us out! God, were going to die out here. Not on my watch! Larry responded, noting: I radioed higher, but they were about as helpful as tits on a boar. Im going to extract them myself. The response was negative-negative-negative, you will belay that. Theyre going to die. Standby Standby Standby According to Larry, radio interference prevented him from clearly hearing he was ordered not to rescue the men of Wildcat 2. Thus, he and his copilot, J.O. Ratliff, turned Darkhorse Three Two into harms way toward the frantic radio calls. Hill described the actions of Taylor and Ratliff: Once Larry was in the area, we fired a flare to signal our position. And, of course, then, all hell broke loose. Over the next 35 minutes, Taylor and Ratliff continually made rocket and gun runs around us, hoping to open up a hole to the south so we could escape. But there was no opening: We were all tapped out, we had nothing left. As Taylor flew over our position, we radioed, Youre over us now. And, All of a sudden, we feel the rotor wash amid the hail of fire, and here comes Taylors Cobra, and hes landing. (You can watch Daves first-person account of the actions that night here.) As the Cobra descended into a clearing nearest Hills position, Taylors copilot asked, What are we going to do with them? Taylor responded, I dont know. I didnt think that far ahead. He turned on his landing light so the LRRP team could find their way to him. Wild Cat 2 was out of ammo, but as they ran for Taylors bird, Dave Hill intentionally fell back behind the other three with his bag of grenades and provided cover by stopping every 10 yards and throwing grenades toward the enemy lines. (Hill was also awarded a Silver Star for his actions that night.) Once at the Cobra, Larry said, I didnt have to tell them to get on. Of course there was no place to get in because a Cobra is an attack bird, not a transport helicopter. The four Rangers jumped on the skids and rocket pods and held on for life amid enemy fire. Taylor says, Two of them jumped on the far side. They were sitting on the skid holding on to the strut and the other two jumped on the rocket pods. Elsner and Patty hugged the skids. Hill and Cohn straddled the rocket launchers like horses, but facing backwards, Which is exciting in the dark, Hill said. They banged hard twice on the airframe, which Larry said military code for go fast. Unbeknown to the Rangers hanging on outside the helicopter, Ratliff advised Taylor that their low fuel warning lights had come on before setting down. As they lifted off, he said they had less than 20 minutes. But the flight time to get the LRRP out of harms way and to make the short hop to their base would take at least 25 minutes. Larry declared, So we are going to make a 25-minute flight on 20 minutes of fuel. No problem. Once safely on the nearest friendly ground, the four Rangers ran to the front of the aircraft so Taylor and his copilot could see they were clear, saluted the men whod saved their lives, and then they were gone. Of that moment Taylor concluded: Well, nobody got killed. So, we managed to pull everybody out, and we pulled it off. There were times when I thought, Oh God, were all going to get killed. After completing the exfil and surveying the damage to their Cobra, Taylor and Ratliff determined that 17 enemy rounds pierced their helicopter. The fact the two pilots and the Rangers survived is miraculous. In the aftermath, there was actually some discussion by Taylors agitated CO about a reprimand because Larry disobeyed orders not to rescue Wildcat 2, but senior officers, hearing details of the rescue, put that to rest. Fact is, both Larry and Dave were cut from the same courageous irreverent mission first fabric! Humorously, Larry said, Sometimes Daves rank varied depending on which CO he had offended that week. In conversation with Dave this week, he reiterated: CPT Larry Taylor lived, led, and fought guided by two preeminent principals the motto of his 1st Infantry Division: No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great, duty first; and his own personal motto: Leave no man behind. By rescuing our Ranger team, though he and J.O. Ratliff were totally out of ordnance and nearly out of fuel and at the clear risk of their own lives, Larry remained faithful to both of his aforementioned guiding principles. Had he failed to do so, none of our team would have survived. To CPT Taylor, even the thought of not doing so was abhorrent to him. I will forever be grateful for their selfless and courageous actions that night. When the Medal of Honor was announced, Cobra copilot J.O. Ratliff, one of those who authenticated the rescue details for the DoD Medal of Honor review board, said: This old Wyoming cowboy just had a little something to do with it. Its all about Larry. I thank Larry for his guidance of me and our fellow aviators in leadership and air combat tactics. He is a deserving and great American. (Notably, Dave Hill is now leading the effort for an official Recommendation For Upgrade on behalf of J.O. Ratliff, from a Distinguished Flying Cross (Bronze Star equivalent) to our nations 2nd highest valor award, the Distinguished Service Cross. The Eye-Witness Letter provided by Larry Taylor, who died four months after his award ceremony last year, is a key element of that upgrade.) Bravo Zulu to Larry, and thank you Dave, B.B., and J.O. for your vigilant persistence to ensure Larrys valorous actions were finally and appropriately recognized! To the Rangers of Wildcat 2, SGT Hill, PFC Elsner, SGT Cohn, and SPC4 Paddy: Your examples of valor humble American Patriots defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own lives is eternal. Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:13) (Read more Profiles of Valor here (https://patriotpost.us/tags/Profiles%20of%20Valor)) Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis Pro Deo et Libertate 1776 Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our hometown National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund. Make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. (https://www.MOHHC.org) A 13-year-old boy from the U.K. has become the first patient in the world to be fitted with a new brain stimulation device to control seizures. The device was surgically implanted in his skull and has already reduced his daytime seizures by 80 percent. Oran Knowlson had the procedure done back in October 2023 as part of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London when he was 12 years old. Before the device was fitted, he would have two dozen to hundreds of seizures per day. At the age of three, Oran developed Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a form of epilepsy that is resistant to treatment. According to his mother, Justine, his epilepsy has robbed him of his childhood. She also explained the different types of seizures her son would have. Oran would frequently fall to the ground, shake violently, and lose consciousness. At times, he would even stop breathing and require emergency medication to resuscitate him. In addition to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Oran has diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Since this form of epilepsy does not respond to traditional drug treatments, scientists have been exploring alternative approaches. So far, one of the most promising options is neurostimulation, which is how the CADET Project came to be. Oran is part of the CADET Project, a series of trials assessing the effectiveness and safety of deep brain stimulation for severe epilepsy. The project was established as a collaborative effort between Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London, University of Oxford, and Kings College Hospital. The brain stimulation device, called the Picostin, was made by U.K. company Amber Therapeutics. The device works by emitting a constant electrical current that blocks or disrupts the abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain that characterize epileptic seizures. Orans surgery took eight hours to complete. The team, led by consultant pediatric neurosurgeon Martin Tisdall, inserted two electrodes into the thalamus in his brain. The neurostimulator itself was placed in a gap in Orans skull, where the bone had been removed. It can be recharged through the skin with a wireless headset or handheld charger. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. For six years, Clarence Elkins was locked up for a crime he knew he did not commit. In 1999, he was convicted for the murder and assault of his 68-year-old mother-in-law, Judith Johnson, and the assault of his six-year-old niece, Brooke Sutton. His wife stayed by his side the whole time. She was adamant that he was not responsible for such ghastly crimes and worked hard to help prove his innocence. Finally, in 2005, an Ohio judge vacated the conviction, allowing him to walk back into freedom. So, how did Elkins wrongfully end up in prison? In June 1998, Elkins niece was sleeping over at her grandmothers house. She woke up in the middle of the night to hear her grandmother screaming. When she ran to the kitchen, she saw her grandmother trying to fight off a man. She fled to her bedroom, but the man followed her and assaulted her. She woke up the next morning to find her grandmother dead. Then, she went to a neighbors house, and the police were notified. The girl told the neighbor that the attacker appeared to be her uncle Clarence. At the trial, she testified that Elkins was the culprit. When the police arrived at the scene of the crime, they collected evidence. DNA testing was conducted on hairs found on the body of each victim. The results of the testing showed that the hairs did not come from Elkins. There was no physical evidence to tie Elkins to the crime. They had only Suttons word to go off of, and she had only seen the attacker for a brief time in the dark. Elkins lawyers stated that he had been at local bars until 2:30 AM. He arrived home 10 minutes later, went on a walk with his wife, and went to bed. Still, the jury found him guilty of murder and assault. He was sentenced to life in prison. Immediately after the conviction, Elkins wife started working on freeing him from prison. Her mother and niece were the victims in this case. In 2002, Sutton recanted her testimony about Elkins being the perpetrator. However, the judge who ruled over Elkins case denied the petition for a new trial. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Within the next few decades, the polar bears in Canadas Hudson Bay are projected to disappear altogether as global temperatures continue to rise. If we dont try to slow down the effects of global warming, well never see these animals again. In a new study, researchers predicted when the sea ice in the Hudson Bay would be too thin for polar bears to survive on by examining the latest climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They found that the southern population of polar bears in Hudson Bay would die off if global temperatures increased between 1.6 and 2.1 degrees Celsius. If they climb up to between 2.2 and 2.6 degrees Celsius, the western population will vanish as well. A thick layer of ice forms on top of Hudson Bay every fall, which helps the bears hunt for seals. The ice melts in the spring, which is when the bears return to land. They rely on their fat stores for survival until the ice forms again. However, as the world grows warmer, the formation of sea ice is delayed in the fall and melting earlier in the spring. This means that polar bears must fast for longer. If these lengthy ice-free periods continue, the polar bears will be unable to reproduce and will eventually starve to death. It is estimated that the southern population of bears in Hudson Bay could disappear as soon as the 2030s. The ice also needs to be thick enough to support the weight of the bears. Polar bears can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. They often dash across the ice to catch seals. Scientists believe that sea ice must be just under four inches thick in order to hold the weight of the creatures. Others say that the ice should be thicker than that. I cant land a helicopter on that ice, Andrew Derocher, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Alberta, said. It needs to be about twice that thick for polar bears to be really using it. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Luis Quintero/Pexels The latest international religious freedom report by the U.S. State Department casts a shadow over India's record on religious tolerance. This comes as the Biden administration faces increasing scrutiny for its stance on India, where reports of persecution against Christians and other religious minorities continue to rise. The report paints a concerning picture, detailing an "alarming increase" in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and violence targeting religious minorities in India. Ten of India's 28 states have enacted restrictions on religious conversions, further limiting the freedoms of minority faiths. Christian communities in particular have reported disturbing incidents where local police aided mobs disrupting their worship services based on accusations of conversion activities. In some cases, the police reportedly stood by while these mobs attacked Christians, only to arrest the victims themselves on conversion charges. The report sheds light on the scale of the problem by citing statistics from advocacy groups. The United Christian Forum (UCF) documented a significant rise in attacks against Christians, with the number jumping from 599 in 2022 to 731 in 2023. The Indian government, however, disputes these figures, calling them "exaggerated." However, religious freedom advocacy groups maintain that the government downplays the severity of the situation. Open Doors, another prominent advocacy group, offers a different perspective. They report a rise in violence against Christians fueled by a growing extremist belief that India should be a Hindu nation. According to Open Doors, this mindset has led to "an environment where any Christian who shares their faith can be accused of a crime, intimidated, harassed and even met with violence." Their report details a grim picture, documenting 160 deaths due to "faith-related reasons" between October 2022 and September 2023. Additionally, over 2,200 Christian churches were attacked and more than 2,000 Christians were detained during the same period. The report acknowledges that hostility is not limited to Christians. It details a violent incident in Haryana that targeted Muslims. While the state government denied a request for a Hindu procession to avoid further violence, over 1,000 structures, primarily Muslim-owned, were demolished in the aftermath. Rights groups allege these demolitions were religiously motivated despite claims from the state government that they targeted illegal constructions. The Biden administration has been criticized for not including India on the State Department's annual list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) a category reserved for the world's worst violators of religious freedom. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan agency that advises the U.S. government on religious freedom matters, expressed strong disappointment at India's absence from the list. Advocacy groups like International Christian Concern consider India's exclusion from the CPC list a "travesty of justice." The State Department's report puts pressure on the Indian government to address rising religious intolerance and violence against minority communities. With documented cases of violence, limitations on religious freedom, and a growing atmosphere of fear, India will need to take significant steps to demonstrate its commitment to protecting the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith. In a rapidly urbanizing China, some houses of worship are taking inspiration from the Bible while rethinking local architectural tradition. Shikai / INUCE A scroll-shaped steeple. An imposing ark-shaped atrium. A pipe organ feature reminiscent of 19th-century North American Methodist churches. These are some of the more striking elements in the Three-Self churches that Brazilian German architect Dirk U. Moench has designed in China. The Lutheran founded the design firm INUCE in 2011 and has offices in Fuzhou, China, and Munsterlingen, Switzerland, where he is currently based. Moench has designed four churches in China. Two churches in Fuzhou and Luoyuan were completed in 2018 and 2021, respectively, while one in Julong was finished this year. Another ongoing project in Jinshan has garnered nationwide attention and received tens of thousands of likes on social media platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), according to Moench. Sign up for Moore to the Point Join Russell Moore in thinking through the important questions of the day, along with book and music recommendations he has found formative. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. CT interviewed Moench on how Chinese church design interfaces with Western architectural principles and the ways a churchs physical building can interact with and participate in Chinas swiftly evolving urban landscape. When you were asked to design a church in Fuzhous Jinshan district, Chinese officials and politicians told you that they wanted a modern church for a modern China. How did you interpret this? In many ways, this is a political sentence. You have to fill it with meaning as an architect and as a Christian. Architects like to refer to the term genius loci, or spirit of the place in Latin, in that a building is a reaction to its immediate built environment, like historic buildings, specific roads, landscape features, and also built traditionan architects filtered and amplified perception of a places essence. Since Chinese Communist leader Deng Xiaopings 1979 reforms, the country has been transformed, and cities today dont have much of a tradition as a place. There are modern buildings built alongside modern roads, with residential developments, offices, factories, and so on. You dont have the spirit of the place that you can react to. But whats always very important to me is to understand the spirit of a community, the spirit of the individual congregation. I have learned that Chinese Christians are asking themselves big questions: How will this new building express who we are? How will it relate to this place and fulfill our needs? Chinese and Western architectural traditions are often in dialogue here, and I try to create an artistic synthesis of them. This doesnt occur on a universal scale but in more particular terms, such as: What is the physical environment in which this church is going to grow? What are the concerns of the individual community? What are their interests in the European and Western elements of Christianity, if at all? Some years ago, authorities removed crosses from church buildings in China. How do the churches youve designed feature crosses? China is a vast country. Its a continent of its own. Its hard to say that what happens in one area will happen in another part of the country. Local culture, religious policy, the relationship between Christian churches and the religious bureau might differ across places. Ive heard that there are regions in which the relationship between the authorities and Christian congregations is more harsh. But Ive never had to consider or compromise my artistic and architectural pursuits. The crosses Ive designed involve aesthetic and situational considerations. For instance, the Jinshan church cross is 70 meters high and looks like a simple cross with classic proportions. The surprise for Chinese Christians lies in its color. Almost all Protestant churches today have a red cross on top of their spireits quite chubby and made of plastic to be illuminated at night. Westerners often feel reminded of the Red Cross or hospital signs. So I opted against that color and the neon light illumination and proposed to have it in white to complement the purity of the church building below it. Shikai / INUCE Dirk U. Moench What were some Eastern and Western architectural principles that influenced the churches you designed? One of the big ideas that I try to bring across is the very European notion that the church is a piece of public infrastructure. Its part of the city, and its there to service the city visually but also spatially and functionally. Even though Christianity is a minority religion in China, a church building can still be appealing to a broader public. This idea has been received very favorably by the local congregations. In the West, we think of a beautiful curved roof as an icon of Chinese architecture. But what is most genuine and central to the idea of Chinese spatial organization is the wall. Traditionally, the Chinese city is composed of courtyard houses, which are fully enclosed by a wall. There will be a major gate, usually at the center of the south wall, which has decorative features and a little roof of its own, that serves to represent this unit, this house, this family, to the outside world. The wall is not a safety concern; its a millennia-old tradition. When missionaries in China started to build churches there, they often acquired plots in the middle of a Chinese city that were once a courtyard house. So the idea of a wall or enclosure around a Western church is not entirely foreign, and this principle was continued. Hence, the earliest contemporary churches that we have in China are all behind walls and have gates as well. The spatial thinking is very Chinese, while the actual church is more Western-inspired. Now, I want to challenge this because the Chinese Christian communities that I have talked to do not see themselves as a protective minority anymore. They see themselves as a vital element of society that can contribute and help to make a better city, not just through charitable works but also in being a part of public, urban life. How did you translate this refreshed understanding of Christian community into reality? The Hua Xiang church in Fuzhou is one example. People call it the pink church of Fuzhou. Its surrounded by high rises and shopping malls, and sits beside an old church built by Methodist missionaries in the 1930s. Shikai / INUCE Main Entrance to the Hua Xiang Church. I was not the first architect that the community had consulted for this project. There were already several designsa gothic church with two spire towers and another with a more Romanesque basilica look. The congregation was not very satisfied with these ideas because they looked lost and did not have a harmonious relationship with the city. At the same time, they were wondering about their mission and whether the new building should cater to older members or draw young people. What I said was that the answer is not either-or; its both-and. To attract young people, you have to give them a sense of historical depth. They need to know their foundation and what they are building upon. We had to let go of the notion of a European-inspired ideal church, like a cross-shaped church with a tower, and instead take inspiration from the citys heterogeneous and chaotic situation. Maybe this new church could help to establish positive relationships to the skyline or continue the pitched roof motif emblematic of Chinese architecture. Instead of high walls and formal entrance gates, like in traditional Chinese architecture, we installed retractable barriers at access points to the church, which are hardly visible and stay open late into the night. There is ample greenery providing shade and generous outdoor seating for believers and tourists alike. Your other church designs also take inspiration from the environment. Why is that important to you as a Christian and as an architect? In Chinese cities, you see shops moving in and out, facades being redecorated to look fancier, louder, and more attractive than the neighbors. But a church design is more timeless and stable. It is an architectural mediator that can help to harmonize imbalances in the built environment or bring the beauty of the place into focus. In this way, a church building has a dialectical relationship with its environment: It stands out and blends in. Shikai / INUCE Julong Church For example, Julong is a newly developed town in the outskirts of Quanzhou, a port city in the southern province of Fujian. People who live there have come from all over the country. Making the Julong church into an ark or a haven, inspired by the idea of Peter as a rock on which Jesus will build his church (Matt. 16:18), sends a message of stability within the torment of a changing world. Its location at the foot of Julong mountain also doesnt just allow people to gaze at the beauty of nature; its a visual reference to the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus went up a mountain to preach and teach. Do you think beautiful church architecture contributes to spiritual practices like worship or prayer? Or is it a distraction? Its the age-old Protestant question youre asking: Does formal beauty inspire and bring you closer to God or distract you from this? That question needs to be answered by the congregation. As an architect, you cannot create a place of worship that suits your personal inclinations or beliefs. You have to listen to what the community wants. The interior of the Hua Xiang church is a very simple white space, with gently undulating upper gallery floors, a flat ceiling, and a reduced number of light fixtures. Its a very classical, almost Reformed understanding of how a liturgical space should look. But a large pipe organ, popular in North American churches in the second half of the 19th century, functions as the main feature of the stage. That was a wish from within the congregation, who wanted an element of continuation with their Methodist heritage. Does that pipe organ inspire the sermon or inspire prayer? I dont think so. But I do think that the music it creates does reestablish bonds to the very Christian forms of being together. The church appreciates that they feel closer to their own tradition through it. Is there something you hope for visitors to these churches to take away about God and about Chinese Christianity? As an architect, I dont impose myself into what people should think about God. I am not here to protect a specific or single understanding of God. I plan and design the physical church, but the real church is the people inside, the pastors and brothers and sisters who preach and project and teach Christianity. If they think that my architecture helps them to do all of these, then Im happy. I do not think its appropriate for me to think further than that. Second only to Carnival, festivals for St. Anthony, St. John, and St. Peter pack the June calendar. Pastors debate if the Festas Juninas are folk celebrations or idol worship. Marcelo Casal Jr / Agencia Brasil When it comes to festivals, the world knows Brazil best for Carnival, its raucous celebration of Mardi Gras, full of elaborate costumes, dancing on the street, and revelry. But ask many Brazilians, and theyll tell you they enjoy their June festivals even more. Originating from European pagans to celebrate the arrival of summer and call for a bountiful harvest (hence the fact that they fall during the Northern Hemispheres summer), these fests were later co-opted by the Catholic church under Festa Junina, or a set of holidays celebrating saints Anthony, John the Baptist, and Peter. Later, Portugal exported the holiday to colonial Brazil, which has since transformed the festivities into a multiweek celebration marked by eating canjica (a dessert made from corn that has the consistency of a thicker porridge) and pamonha (creamed corn cooked inside corn husks), decorating streets with colorful flags, and streaming forro and baiao songs from speakers. Traditionally, those street parties were part of broader Catholic celebrations that included Masses and processions accompanied by images of the saints. Devotees followed, and many used this time to pay off promises made to the saints, which included walking on their knees as a penance or making donations to the parish. Sign up for The Daily Briefing Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. Despite its Christian heritage, like Carnival, many evangelicals have similarly scorned Festa Junina, deeming Roman Catholic devotion to saints as idolatry. While some say that the word Junina comes simply from the name of the month, Junho (June), others say it stems from Joanina and is a nod to Saint John the Baptist, consequently making it a form of hagiolatry (worship of saints). In fact, the most celebrated festival is named after him, on June 24. Christians who do celebrate these festivals say the customs changed long ago and today reflect an appreciation of the sertanejo music, food, dancing, and way of life. Although they are celebrated throughout the country, these festivals are most grandiose in the Northeast. A region prone to severe droughts, the festivities occur at the beginning of the rainy season and serve as a promise of prosperous days ahead. CT invited five Brazilian evangelical pastors and leaders in Northeastern Brazil to weigh in on whether evangelicals should feel comfortable participating in the June festivities. Responses were edited for length and clarity and arranged from yes to no. Marcos Froes, pastor of Casa da Bencao, a Pentecostal church of Maranguape, Paulista, Pernambuco These religious festivals in celebration of Catholic saints coincide with the harvest season. Thanking God for the harvest is not something new. The Jewish people already celebrated the Feast of Weeks or the harvest, Shavuot, between May and June. During this period, all of Israel would go to Jerusalem to celebrate and bring offerings. They would eat and remember God's promise of a land rich in milk and honey. Celebrating the harvest as an act of God's kindness and mercy is not a sin when done with a grateful heart to the Lord. Just as we rejoice in December at Christmas for the coming of Jesus our Savior, in June we celebrate the provided sustenance, recalling our rural origins, regardless of whether the occasion also honors the June saints or the June festivities. Ricardo Leite, youth pastor at the Primeira Igreja Batista of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceara In past decades, the presence of evangelicals at Festa Junina was practically nonexistent. Those who did take part were generally viewed negatively by their fellow community members. However, in more recent years, their participation has become more common. Some churches are incorporating elements of these festivals into their own events (traditional foods and bonfires, for example), and many converts see no reason to stop participating in parties they used to go to. When Paul wrote [his first letter] to the Corinthians, he dealt with a similar situation about engaging in a non-Christian culture. In chapter 10, he offered three important principles. First, he told the early church that the question of whether or not one should take part in the festivities wasnt a question of lawfulness but of appropriateness (1 Cor 10:23). What message are we signaling? Second, Paul wanted to know whether participation would be edifying. Would God's people come out stronger and more like Christ? Third, would their participation glorify God (10:31)? That is, would the presence of Christians doing a given action exalt God above all else? I would advise Christians that if their answer to any of the three questions is negative, their conscience is already strongly declaring that they shouldnt take part in it. Pedro Pamplona, pastor of Igreja Batista Filadelfia, Fortaleza, Ceara My answer depends on what you mean by Festa Junina. There is a diversity of cultural manifestations of this festival today, and many of them no longer have any connection with religious elements. Where I live in the Northeast, our food, decorations, and music associated with this time of year have no clear religious connection. Therefore, if the specific festival includes Catholic content (like Masses and processions), practices, or worldly and immoral aspects, I don't see the participation of evangelicals as advisable. We have important disagreements that need to be taken into account. But if the festivities are limited to food, flags, and clothing, I see no impediment for evangelicals. Some families, companies, and schools hold gatherings, and I don't consider them sinful. Thiago Italo Rocha, assistant pastor at Igreja da Familia, a reformed church in Santo Antonio de Jesus, Bahia This long-awaited festival is, in short, a tribute to the Catholic saints. In this sense, it is undeniable that the entire festival originates from the Catholic tradition, but over time, it gained a certain air of syncretism. Given strong anti-Catholic sentiment in Pentecostal, neo-Pentecostal, and (independent) community churches, the answer seems to be a resounding no. But perhaps, in the light of the Bible, this answer is not so simple. The apostle Paul, when dealing with various controversies in the church of the Corinthians, seems to appeal to conscience and love. Most of the time, Paul seems interested in preserving the conscience of Christian brothers and sisters and avoiding scandal in the church (1 Cor. 10.32). The apostle also seems to want to warn those who are strong in the faith not to make their freedom a stumbling block. In this context, Paul argues, it would be better to abstain in love so that your brother or sister in Christ, seeing your freedom, doesn't want to take it as a model and commit sin against his or her conscience. I understand that the Sao Joao festival has become largely a commercial event, and in many places we dont even see remnants of original Festas Juninas. Within this reality, where the music and atmosphere are extremely sexualized, my advice to Christians would be to avoid such places. However, when it comes to craft fairs and traditional food venues, those who are mature in their faith would have no problem participating. The only thing they should watch out for is that they do not exercise this freedom in such a way that the weak dont sin. Looking at such situations in the light of the gospel, the truth is that we have one God and everything needs to be done for his glory. Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). As Christians, we need to avoid extremesfirst, from imposing legalism and, second, from toxic freedom, pride, and inability to empathize with others hardships. Savio Vinicius, pastor at Primeira Igreja Batista of Valenca, Bahia If you consider the Festas Juninas something related to Saint John, the biblical command not to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons is undeniable (1 Cor. 10:1422). As a leader, based on the principles found in 1 Corinthians 6:1213 (you have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial) and 1 Corinthians 8:13 (you should avoid any behavior that may lead a brother or sister into sin), I dont think its appropriate to get involved, even if it isnt a Saint John celebration, as participating can confuse people. However, I see no problem in celebrating traditional foods, clothes, and forro that glorify God at other times of the year or in other places. The main goal is to live for his glory in all things (Col. 3:2324). Its been two years since its former pastor resigned and was arrested, but The Meeting House continues to feel the impact of its past. R.J. Johnston / Toronto Star via Getty Images The Meeting House was one of the largest megachurches in Canada, but this Sunday, each of its locations will be empty. Its home church gatherings wont meet during the week. Kids wont get together for youth programs. Members cant see their pastors for counsel. In the aftermath of an abuse scandal that shook the congregation and its leadership, the Ontario-area multisite church announced that it had lost a portion of its insurance coverage and would have to pause its ministry activities. Our current insurer has advised us that they will not be renewing our Abuse Liability (AL) and Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage as of June 30, 2024, according to an email sent to congregants, explaining that the Anabaptist megachurch has struggled to get an extension from its insurer or to find another option for replacement coverage. Sign up for The Daily Briefing Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. Email* Sign Up This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thanks for signing up. Please click here to see all our newsletters. Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again. In light of this development, we feel led to pause our normal ministry for the month of July to dedicate time to continue discerning what form God is inviting us to take into the future as a network of churches, the Transition Board of Overseers and Network Leadership Team wrote. The scenario at The Meeting House showcases the lasting damage that churches can face as a result of abuse by leaders and their response. Its been over two years since pastor Bruxy Cavey resigned from The Meeting House and was charged with sexual assault. Since then, further allegations have emerged. The church lost leaders and members, shuttering at least one of its sites, and has scrambled to recover. With the insurance status in question, ministry activities will be shut down at least through July. When I heard that news, I was just flabbergasted, said interim online pastor Chris Chase, discussing the news on The Meeting Houses online livestream last Sunday. I couldnt believe it, because weve gone through so much, and you think, Oh, we finally got through the valley, were cresting up the mountain, and then you realize that youre still in the valley. One viewer replied in the comments, I am heartbroken that former leadership put the current leaders in this position. Cavey resigned in 2022, following a third-party investigation that found evidence of clergy sexual abuse against an adult victim at The Meeting House. Additional reporting has pointed to underlying problems at The Meeting House dating back years. Canadian theologian Randal Rauser, who serves as director of faith-based organization investigations with Veritas Solutions, compared the revelations to an ice shelf breaking away after years of cracking under the surface. When the situation of church abuse finally crashes into the ocean of public awareness, it is likely the result of patterns of abuse and dysfunction which had been unfolding for a long time, he told CT. Members at The Meeting House ended up making complaints against a total of four former pastors. Three more women alleged sexual abuse by Cavey, including one who says she had been a minor. (He is awaiting trial on three sexual assault charges and maintains his innocence.) The Meeting House had already been struggling to get members to return after COVID-19, and the abuse scandal hurt attendance even more. It draws 1,565 people in person and online on Sunday mornings, according to its 2023 annual report, compared to over 5,700 five years ago. The church once had 19 sites and now lists 12. There continues to be turnover among staff and the churchs board of overseers. The victims advocate contracted by The Meeting House to help with its response was replaced with someone from within the denomination. It faces at least three multimillion-dollar lawsuits involving abuse. The historical incidents and allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse at The Meeting House continue to impact our church today in many ways, including how we are viewed by insurers, leaders wrote in the email to congregants. Insurers may decline to provide liability coverage for ministries that dont have solid policies to handle abuse, according to Charlie Cutler, president of ChurchWest Insurance Services, an agency insuring more than 4,000 ministries in California. To him, its a stewardship issue: Other churches premiums shouldnt be spent covering another organizations repeated mistakes. If theres been a pattern of abuse, a pattern of bad governance in the ministry, youre going to have a hard time getting coverage, he said. Every time theres a claim, its going back to these offering plates at other ministries. Theyre wanting everybody else to pay before theyve proven that the problems have been addressed. The Canadian Centre for Christian Charities recently surveyed member ministries about costs and challenges around insurance. Nine percent said they had been refused coverage and another 9 percent said they risked losing coverage without implementing risk management changes. The Meeting House continues to invite congregants to submit sexual harassment complaints. It says it has a policy for prevention and response, as well as regular training and appropriate measures of accountability. Its website also links info about its protection plan for youth and children. The Meeting House leaders determined in June that for the protection of our staff, volunteers, vulnerable people including kids and youth it is not responsible to continue engaging in ministry work through The Meeting House church entity without full insurance coverage. They told members that they grieve the need to pause ministry as a church yet have tremendous hope in the process of surrendering and listening to the Spirit as we discern together during this difficult time of pause. The evangelical minority in Ontario and even in other parts of Canada who have followed the situation at The Meeting House dont know whether the church will be able to recover. At one point, it stood out for its growth, engagement, and messaging The Meeting House began worshiping in movie theaters in the 1990s before that was a common model, and Cavey was a beloved leader who wasnt afraid of breaking the mold of what ministry looked like. The Meeting House was long recognized as arguably Canadas flagship megachurch, and as such, the cultural impact of its tragic downfall feeds into a general culture of cynicism about evangelicalism, Christianity, and organized religion altogether, Rauser said by email. This is tragic for many reasons, not least because a single high-profile instance of abuse within a church may overwhelm all the good the church accomplished along the way. Evangelical scholar Peter Schuurman wrote a doctoral dissertation on Caveys leadership at The Meeting House, published as The Subversive Evangelical: The Ironic Charisma of An Irreligious Megachurch. Schuurman has continued to follow the impact of Caveys abuse and departure on the congregation he led. It is a reminder that even if congregation members have no direct involvement as victims in clergy sexual abuse, they are all indirect and often unacknowledged victims, Schuurman told CT. Not only are they reeling from the shock of their pastor being revealed as a predator and scrambling to find some redemptive path forward in the mess left behind, they may lose their spiritual home and faith community as well. Chase, the online pastor, asked participants to pray for a miracle for insurance coverage to come through, for leaders making difficult decisions, and for members of the church who have dealt with years of challenges. Pray for one another because, for some, this is as much as they could take, he said. Theyve journeyed through, and this might be their breaking point. With reporting by CT freelancer Meagan Gillmore in Canada. Gillmore also covered Caveys resignation and the fallout at The Meeting House for Toronto Life magazine in 2023. Home News 2 Chick-fil-A employees killed by illegal immigrant in Texas restaurant: 'Our hearts are broken' A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Texas has been temporarily closed after two employees were shot and killed inside the fast-food establishment by an immigrant in the country unlawfully from El Salvador. Authorities do not believe the double homicide was a random act of violence. Police responded to the restaurant located on the 5300 block of North MacArthur Boulevard in Irving around 4 p.m. after receiving several calls about a shooting, Irving Police Department Officer Anthony Alexander told NBC DFW. Police confirmed that the shooting occurred inside the building, where the two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The suspect fled the scene in a 1997 Honda four-door sedan but has been identified as 37-year-old Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta, who is married to a restaurant employee who witnessed the crime and identified Mendoza Argueta as the perpetrator. He was booked into the Irving City Jail in the early hours of Thursday morning and charged with capital murder. Authorities believe Mendoza Argueta's actions were targeted and were not a random act of violence. Mendoza Argueta was placed on an immigration detainer by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which serves as a notice that ICE intends to assume custody of an individual. An ICE spokesperson told the New York Post that its Enforcement and Removal Operations in Dallas "lodged an immigration detainer with the Irving Police Department on Mendoza." "Detainers are critical for ICE to be able to identify and ultimately remove criminal aliens who are currently in federal, state or local custody," ICE states on its website. "ICE relies on the cooperation of our state and local law enforcement partners in this effort." One victim was identified on Thursday as 49-year-old Patricia Portillo, according to an arrest affidavit cited by FOX 4. The other victim was identified as 31-year-old Brayan Alexis Godoy, according to a Friday update from CBS News Dallas. "Our hearts are broken by the tragedy that unfolded inside our restaurant Wednesday," the local Chick-fil-A owner-operator said in a statement. "We will miss our two team members dearly. Right now, our focus is on providing care for our team and the victims' families." According to Chick-fil-A's website, the Irving-Las Colinas establishment has been temporarily closed. It is uncertain when it will reopen. Earlier this month, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was strangled to death by two illegal immigrants in Houston. ICE told media outlets that the two suspects, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Pena, illegal immigrants from Venezuela, had previously been detained and released by U.S. Border Patrol just weeks before the child's murder. "Martinez and Pena both illegally entered the U.S. without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location," an ICE statement shared with media outlets reads. "On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended." Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have placed blame on President Joe Biden's border policies. "We have a new Biden Migrant Killing It's only going to get worse, and it's all Crooked Joe Biden's fault," Trump posted on Truth Social last week. Home News 6 Christians, including pastor, arrested in Laos while preparing for church service Village officials in central Laos on Saturday arrested a pastor and five other Christians as they prayed in preparation for worship services the next day, according to a rights watchdog. Tahae village authorities arrested the church leader, identified only as Pastor Mum, and the other Christians in Tahae village, Xaibouathong District, Khammouane Province, according to Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). The arrests took place on Saturday at Mr. Mums home while they were meeting for prayer in preparation for Sunday morning worship on the following day, Prasertsee said. They are currently being imprisoned in Xaibouathong District prison. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe She identified the other five Lao Christians as Liang, a 40-year-old man; Pa, a 24-year-old man; Laen, a 50-year-old woman; Lan, a 23-year-old woman; and Khoon, a 28-year-old woman. After Pastor Mum put his faith in Christ in 2019 upon experiencing Gods healing, he established a church that worshipped freely in his home until a new village chief, identified only as Lang, took office in May, she said. Others in Tahae village and nearby villages also have exercised their right to religious freedom to accept the Christian faith, Prasertsee said. The new main village chief was appointed to govern Tahae village, and the crackdown on Christian freedom and practices became severe that led to the arrest of Mr. Mum and five Lao believers. Village chief Lang made the arrests along with deputy village chief Khampune, deputy village chief Ang and three security officials identified only as Bounma, Jit and Kam, she said. Article 30 of the Lao Constitution recognizes the right and freedom of Lao citizens to believe or not to believe in religion, she noted. The U.S. Department of States 2023 report on international religious freedom, released on Wednesday, states that religious leaders in Laos asserted that even though authorities in urban areas and in some districts had a strong understanding of laws governing religious activities, improper restrictions on religious freedom remained prevalent in rural areas. Reports continued of local authorities, especially in isolated villages, discriminating against and sometimes expelling followers of minority religious groups, particularly Christians, for refusing to renounce their faith, the report states. Lao Evangelical Church leaders said local authorities pressured 79 Christian families from Xaybuathong, Yommalath and Bualapha districts in Khammouane Province to sign documents renouncing their faith last year, according to the State Department report. In October, Sa Mouay District officials reportedly forced eight or more families from three villages and destroyed their homes following their conversion to Christianity, the report states. In September and October, local officials in rural areas in Sa Mouay District, Salavan Province, reportedly destroyed homes of Christian converts across four villages, forcing families to leave, the report states. According to sources, officials offered land to some of the families for rebuilding homes in one village but without other compensation. Of Laos population of 7.9 million people, 64.7% are Buddhists, 1.7% Christian and 31.4% report having no religion, a category that includes those with animist beliefs who do not fit into other categories, according to the 2015 census. The remaining 2.2% belonged to other religious groups or did not state an answer, according to the State Department report. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home News Doctors Without Borders denies knowledge of staffer's alleged terrorist ties after IDF releases images The medical charity Doctors Without Borders denied it had prior knowledge about one of its staffers alleged ties to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad after reports surfaced following his death by an Israeli air strike that the employee was a prominent member of the terrorist organization. Physiotherapist Fadi Al-Wadiya worked with Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), between 2018 and 2022. Al-Wadiya rejoined the organization amid the war between Israel and Hamas, which began after the terror groups slaughter of 1,200 people, including 31 Americans, in Israel on Oct. 7. In a Thursday statement, the aid group claimed that it found the allegations about Al-Wadiyas involvement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group concerning and said it's taking them very seriously. MSF also denied any prior knowledge about the staffers reported military activities. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe MSF would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity, the aid group stated. Any employee who engages in military activity would pose a danger to our staff and patients. All employees are asked to undertake a commitment to the MSF Charter, which includes respecting humanitarian principles and medical ethics. MSF has reached out to Israeli authorities asking for clarifications about the circumstances of Al-Wadiya's killing, however no formal explanation has been received. MSF is looking forward to full transparency around the circumstances of this killing, the statement continued. Only an independent investigation can establish the facts. The same strike that killed Al-Wadiya killed five other people, including three children. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. This article will be updated once a response is received. Earlier this week, MSF International initially stated on X that it was outraged over the death of one of its staffers, claiming that Al-Wadiya was biking to work when he was killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza. On Wednesday, Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDFs spokesman for Arab media, released images on X of Al-Wadiya wearing the uniform of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. According to the IDF spokesman, Al-Wadiya worked for more than 15 years in the Islamic Jihads manufacturing system, and was considered to be the organizations expert on electronics and chemistry. Adraee said that the Doctors Without Borders staffer was a prominent saboteur within the missile system of Islamic Jihad. No matter how much Doctors Without Borders tries to consider Al-Wadiya an innocent healer who saved lives, he is a dangerous saboteur who once again reminds us of the way terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip exploit international relief organizations by describing them as a human shield, Adraee wrote. In a separate post on Tuesday, the IDFs X account responded to MSF International and asserted that Al-Wadiya was a significant terrorist in Islamic Jihad. The IDF warned the aid group to verify the types of people it hires. [Al-Wadiya] advanced the terrorist organizations rocket array, also known as a way to endanger the lives of civilians, the IDF wrote. He is just another case of terrorists in Gaza exploiting the civilian population as human shields. As Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza to eradicate Hamas, the IDF has released photos and videos of childrens playgrounds and other residential areas that Hamas used as rocket launching sites. One of the videos the IDF shared in November showed soldiers walking around a building featuring paintings of children dressed in scout uniforms, a location that also contained rocket launchers. This is what we are finding in Gaza, one of the IDF soldiers in the video said. A building where children play is a Hamas rocket launching site. You have to see it to believe it. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has claimed that over 30,000 people in Gaza have been killed since the war began. However, these numbers do not distinguish between civilians and terrorist operatives, making this data's accuracy difficult to verify. Many speculate the death toll numbers Hamas is distributing to the press are not accurate. . Home News Florida pastor charged with sexually abusing kids as young as 2, faces 18 felony counts New child sexual abuse and child pornography charges have been brought up against a Florida pastor who was arrested last week for possession of child porn and now faces 18 felony charges. Jonathan Elwing, 43, of Palmetto, has been charged with two counts of capital sexual battery, six counts of production of child sexual abuse material and six counts of child porn possession, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. Those are in addition to the four counts of possession of child sexual abuse images he was charged with earlier this month after law enforcement received information that the pastor used cryptocurrency to purchase the images online. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe A forensic search of Elwing's cell phone found images of him sexually battering a child and the production and possession of 12 images of child pornography, reports the Sarasota-based WWSB ABC 7. Authorities expect more charges in the near future, the outlet notes. "I can't stress this enough, this is a monster," Sheriff Rick Wells said during a press conference. "He went into that church professing to be a man of God. But really, he is nothing more than a liar and a sexual predator." "He would abuse anyone at anytime," Wells added. "There doesn't seem to be a limit to what he is capable of." Police say one of the photos shows Elwing abusing a 2-year-old, according to WWSB. Authorities also say they found eight to 10 hidden cameras in his home and his church office. Elwing resigned from his position as senior pastor at Palm View Baptist Church before his arrest by detectives in the sheriff's office's Internet Crimes Against Children division. Palm View Baptist Church acknowledged Elwing's arrest on social media, saying it would "make a statement in due time." The church has not posted on Facebook since June 20 and didn't respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Palm View Baptist Church describes itself as a "close-knit community and a loving family" and a "diverse group of people committed to following Jesus" and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The congregation totals nearly 200 members, according to WWSB. Leaders informed the church via a brief statement about Elwing's arrest and the charges. "We'd had a pastor of 41 years that Jonathan replaced, and by all accounts, he was the guy, and he seemed to be doing a good job," Deacon Chair Larry Bianchi said, as quoted by the outlet. "What he's accused of is about the worst in the world, you know, he could've been dealing in fentanyl and not been as bad as what he's into," said another church member, reported WWSB. Home News India reclassified as restricted nation by Voice of the Martyrs The Voice of the Martyrs has reclassified India as a "restricted nation" in its 2024 Global Prayer Guide, citing the escalating radical Hindu extremism and the persecution of Christians under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government. The "restricted nation" designation by VOM, an interdenominational organization dedicated to serving persecuted Christians founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, is typically reserved for countries with federal laws explicitly restricting Christian worship and evangelism. The group contends that India's situation is unique due to the ideological shift under the current government. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election in 2014 and his subsequent reelection in 2019, Christians in India have faced increasing opposition and violent attacks in spite of constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, VOM said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Christian ministry claims Modi's administration has fostered an ideology known as Hindutva, or Hindu purity, which aims to establish a "pure" Hindu nation, explaining that this ideology has led to heightened persecution of religious minorities. Notably, 12 Indian states have implemented laws banning what they claim are "forced" religious conversions, posing severe penalties for Christian evangelists, including lengthy prison sentences for activities as basic as sharing a Bible or praying with someone, VOM said. The anti-conversion laws claim that Christians "force" or give money or material items to Hindus to persuade them to convert to Christianity. They typically state that no one can use the "threat" of "divine displeasure," which means Christians can't talk about Heaven or Hell since it would be seen as luring someone to convert. Historically, persecution of Christians in India was primarily localized in areas of active Gospel ministry within predominantly Hindu communities. Such persecution was not government-sanctioned, and courts often held perpetrators accountable. But VOM says that under Modi's regime, Hindutva has created a nationwide restrictive environment for Christians. VOM President Cole Richards emphasized the alarming normalization of hatred and violence towards Christians, with instigators often being prominent political figures. "The goals of Hindu nationalism include the elimination of Christians from the so-called 'Hindu homeland,'" Richards said. "Hatred and violence toward Christians has become normalized, and those who encourage it are now prominent political leaders." VOM provides support to Christians in India, including Bibles, and assistance to those who have suffered job losses, home destruction or physical harm due to violent attacks. VOM also offers encouragement, reminding persecuted believers of the global Christian community's prayers and support. VOM's 2024 Global Prayer Guide offers detailed information on the plight of persecuted Christians globally. Since 1997, VOM has documented the persecution of Christians, categorizing nations or regions as either "restricted" or "hostile" in their annual prayer resources. This year, VOM introduced a third category, "areas of concern," to highlight regions where Christian persecution is present and escalating. Christians, who make up about 2.3% of India's population, have increasingly faced suppression. The U.S. State Department has come under scrutiny for its failure to label India as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations, a designation that could carry the possibility of diplomatic consequences. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan panel tasked with advising the federal government, called for a hearing over the State Department's refusal to label India and Nigeria as CPCs. The United Christian Forum in India has reported a significant rise in attacks on Christians since 2014, with a marked increase in the last several years. In the first half of 2023, the UCF documented a surge in violence against Christians across 23 states, with 400 incidents reported, an increase from 274 in the same period the previous year. The UCF's annual report highlights that vigilante mobs, often comprising religious extremists, frequently disrupt prayer gatherings and target individuals suspected of forcible religious conversions. The UCF attributes this high incidence of Christian persecution to a prevailing sense of "impunity," leading to mobs threatening and physically assaulting individuals in prayer before accusing them of forcible conversions to the police. Home News Irelands hate speech law could censor entire internet, Michael Shellenberger warns As the Irish Parliament deliberates on a contentious hate speech bill, international bestselling author Michael Shellenberger joined global voices last week to raise alarm over the potential global repercussions of the legislation. Shellenberger, known for his investigative work in the Twitter Files, starkly criticized the bill at the Irish Parliament and the Ireland Free Speech Summit, suggesting it could censor the entire internet. The proposed legislation, debated intensely in Ireland, includes severe penalties for possessing material deemed capable of inciting hatred, according to the legal advocacy group ADF International, which notes that offenders could face up to five years in prison. Moreover, the bill extends its reach to social media, holding accountable directors and executives of platforms with international headquarters in Ireland, such as X and Facebook, for hosting anything that could be deemed as hate speech. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Speaking at the Irish Parliament, Shellenberger warned against the bills potential to stifle free discussion. The world is watching Ireland. The censorial hate speech bill, if passed, would not only shut down conversation nationally as the home of various international social media headquarters, it would have a global impact on what we can all discuss online, he was quoted as saying. A sweeping ban on undefined hate gives authorities the power to determine which viewpoints are acceptable to voice. World history warns us that such power can be easily abused. The legislation does not clearly define what constitutes hate, leaving it up to authorities discretion to decide which viewpoints are permissible. This vagueness has spurred significant concern among various stakeholders, including legal experts, free speech advocates and the public. In a debate in the Senate recently, Irish Green Party Senator Pauline OReilly sought to justify the proposed law. If a persons views on other peoples identities make their lives unsafe and insecure, and cause them such deep discomfort that they cannot live in peace, our job as legislators is to restrict those freedoms for the common good, The Telegraph quoted her as saying. One cannot do and say whatever one likes in our society. However, a recent national poll commissioned by ADF International and conducted by Whitestone Insight revealed that 25% of Irish citizens feel that their free speech rights are being eroded, with 90% affirming that free speech is very important to them. Shellenberger also spoke at the Free Speech Summit in Dublin, where various other speakers, including Irish barrister Lorcan Price and Independent Senators Ronan Mullen and Sharon Keogan, criticized the bills potential to induce a chilling effect on free expression. Mullen said, When it comes to democracy, I believe in it. When it comes to the right to test each others ideas, I believe in it. And we cant do that if were operating under the chilling fear of giving offense to somebody who wraps that up as hatred, claims that its against the law, attacks you as a mob online, causes social media companies to take down your stuff so that youve failed to communicate before you even begin to try. The senator added, If nobody was ever prosecuted under this law, the process itself would become the punishment. The summit, which saw a full house, also featured voices from diverse backgrounds, such as Father Ted screenwriter Graham Linehan and Cambridge academic James Orr, all underscoring the importance of robust debate and discourse in a democratic society. Lorcan Price, an Irish barrister and legal counsel for ADF International, criticized the proposed legislation, describing it as one of the worst examples of censorship in the modern West. Privacy concerns were also highlighted, with provisions in the bill mandating individuals to surrender passwords to electronic devices during investigations. The global opposition to the bill has included critical voices like Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk, who have expressed grave concerns about the bills reach and its impact on free speech. Home News Panicked Dems scramble to potentially replace Biden after 'dismal' debate performance: report Some Democrats are reportedly panicking after President Joe Biden's performance during Thursday's debate against former President Donald Trump, with some suggesting that he should be replaced as the 2024 Democratic nominee. Three strategists close to three potential Democratic presidential candidates were inundated with text messages last night encouraging them to push their candidates into replacing Biden, they told Politico. Biden was widely panned for his halting, stammering debate performance on Thursday, during which he repeatedly appeared to lose his train of thought while staring blankly and slack-jawed into the distance. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Pundits on mainstream media outlets typically defensive of the president admitted his poor performance. CNN anchor John King said that prominent Democrats he spoke to described Biden's performance as "dismal." "They are having conversations about the president's performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and they're having conversations about what they should do about it," King said. "Some of those conversations include, 'Should we go to the White House and ask the president to step aside?' Other conversations are about, 'Should prominent Democrats go public with that call?' Because the debate was so terrible," he added. CNN's John King immediate reaction, insists that Democrats are plotting a public intervention to remove Joe Biden. Wow. pic.twitter.com/vjMSvZKITK Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 28, 2024 "No one expected a master class in debating from Joe Biden, but no one expected this nose dive," a senior Democratic adviser told Politico. "He was bad on message, bad on substance, bad on counter punching, bad on presentation, bad on non-verbals. There was no bright spot in this debate for him. The only bright spot is that this happened in June and not October." Jon Favreau, who served as former President Barack Obama's speechwriter, dismissed Biden's debate performance as a "disaster" on "Pod Save America" on Friday. "I think it was like maybe the worst debate I've ever seen in my entire life. ... It was so [expletive] awful because Joe Biden, just in every single way, failed at that debate," he said. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., urged Democrats to "chill the [expletive] out" amid the reports of their widespread panic. "I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden's shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record," said Fetterman, who won his Senate race against Dr. Mehmet Oz in 2022 despite taking flak for a lackluster debate performance. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged Vice President Kamala Harris and members of Biden's Cabinet to consider removing Biden from office by invoking the 25th Amendment, according to Politico. "I would ask the Cabinet members to search their hearts. And we hope that they will do their duty, as we all seek to do our duty to do best by the American people. These are fateful moments," Johnson told reporters. "If I were in the Cabinet I would be having that discussion with my colleagues at the Cabinet level," Johnson said regarding the 25th Amendment. "I would. We'll see what action they take. It's a serious situation." Home News 'Despair over hope': Pro-life nurses group 'will not comply' with Delware's assisted suicide bill A national coalition of pro-life nurses says they "will not comply" with Delware's assisted suicide bill that passed in the Senate Tuesday as the state's lone Catholic diocese is calling on people of faith to urge Democratic Gov. John Carney to veto the legislation. H.B. 140 passed in the Senate with an 11-10 vote and will become law unless Carney vetoes it. Under the proposed law, adult patients who are "terminally ill" or have received the prognosis that they have six months or less to live can request or self-administer drugs to hasten their deaths. Both the individual's attending physician or attending advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and a consulting physician or APRN must agree on the patient's condition and decision-making capacity. Two waiting periods must pass before the patient can receive the drugs to end their life, and medical professionals who prescribe the medication must provide the patient the opportunity to rescind the request to kill themselves. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The law would also grant immunity to medical professionals who offer life-ending drugs to patients, so long as they are "acting in good faith and in accordance with generally accepted health-care standards under this Act." As the bill states, those "acting with negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct do not have criminal or civil immunity." "The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) must develop rules and regulations to collect information regarding compliance with this Act and require health-care providers to file a report when medication to end life in a humane and dignified manner is prescribed or dispensed," the proposed legislation states. "DHSS may review samples of records maintained under this Act. The information DHSS collects must include the information necessary to assess a physician's or APRN's compliance with their responsibilities under this Act and DHSS has explicit authority to share information with the Division of Professional Regulation if DHSS suspects that a health-care provider failed to comply with the requirements under this Act." The National Association of Pro-Life Nurses, which has advocated against assisted suicide legislation for over 30 years, condemned the bill, calling it a "moral catastrophe that corrupts the very soul of healthcare." Marie Ashby, NAPN's executive director, argued in a statement to The Christian Post that the bill "preys" on "the desperate and devalues the disadvantaged," adding that it offers "poison as a perverse form of mercy" to people society deems "inconvenient." "Legitimate healthcare heals; it doesn't kill," Ashby added. "This law perverts our profession's sacred duty, turning nurses from guardians of life into agents of death. We will not be silent. We will not comply." The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington has consistently voiced its opposition to assisted suicide. "We ask Delaware Catholics and all people of good will to contact Governor Carney and ask him to stand up for the elderly, sick and disabled, by vetoing this dangerous and immoral legislation," the diocese said in a statement. "We ask all Christians and those of other faith traditions to join the Catholic community in prayer for our Governor, that he will not allow Delaware to be the latest state to allow government sanctioned suicide." Delaware Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend sponsored the legislation alongside fellow Democrat Rep. Paul Baumbach, who introduced the bill. While the proposed law allows certain adult Delaware residents to end their lives, an individual is not eligible to take their life under the law for reasons related to advanced age, disability or mental illness. "Respecting human life means respecting the rights of adults to make informed decisions about their own bodies, including when to work with a healthcare provider to end their suffering from a horrible and irreversible terminal illness," Townsend said in a statement about the bill. NAPN President Dorothy Kane contends, "Delaware has chosen death over dignity, despair over hope." "This law doesn't just fail patients it betrays them. It transforms healers into killers and homes into death chambers. We urge Governor Carney to veto this legislation immediately," she said. "This isn't about choice it's about coercion," Kane asserted. "HB140 does not empower patients; it abandons them. It tells the sick, the elderly, and the disabled that their lives are burdens to be discarded." Home News Robert Morris allegedly asked Cindy Clemishire to name price for silence on sex abuse Two days after Cindy Clemishire confronted Gateway Church founder Robert Morris in 2005 about how he sexually abused her starting when she was 12, he accused her of attempting to blackmail him, then asked her to name her price after she demanded he pay for what he had done to her as a child. Clemishire ultimately said she wanted Morris to pay $2 million in restitution. Morris, who never paid off Clemishire, recently resigned from Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, after the now 54-year-old grandmother revealed that he sexually abused her over multiple years in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12. Clemishire, who said she has been grappling with the psychological impact of the abuse for decades, revealed in selected emails shared with The Christian Post how she first reached out to Morris in 2005 about the abuse. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The emails show that after Clemishire reached out to Morris via his Gateway Church email, Tom Lane, then executive senior pastor of Gateway Church, invited her to talk to him in a response in April 2005. Clemishire insisted, however, that she wanted to only talk to Morris. On April 13, 2005, Lane responded in an email stating that Morris, his wife, Debbie, along with the elders of Gateway Church, wanted her to find help and healing from Morris indiscretion. First, I wanted to let you know that Robert has been completely open with the Elders of Gateway Church about his past and specifically about his indiscretion with you. Throughout the years, Robert has been open and accountable, doing what he could to find healing and restoration in his life. At the time of the indiscretion, Robert submitted to a two year process that included stepping out of vocational ministry, Lane wrote. This healing process included meeting with you and your parents to ask forgiveness. He undertook other steps as he was directed by the Elders of Shady Grove Church. He continues to walk in a humble attitude of accountability today with the Elders of Gateway Church, he added. As he has previously stated on several occasions, Robert deeply regrets what took place and has repented to God, and you, along with your parents and sister, and to the Elders of both Shady Grove Church and Gateway Church. In a separate email dated Sept. 9, 2005, Clemishire told Morris: I am giving you one last chance to call me. You really have no idea how devastating it will be if you don't. I don't want Tom or anyone else to contact me. This is your issue not his. Morris responded on Sept. 16, 2005, in an email saying, I'm praying about my response to your email. I will respond to you by a week from today. On Sept. 20, 2005, Clemishire reached out to Morris again, asking that he call her. When he asked her in a reply that same day to explain what she meant when she said it was time for him to step up to the plate and bless her, she explained that he needed to be held accountable for what he did. Men that have over 100 counts of child molestation go to prison. Men who pastor churches that have over 100 counts of child molestation go to prison and pay punitive damages. You have not had to do either. I do not believe that is fair or right. You have had almost no consequences for your actions. I have suffered almost my entire life from the emotional damage you inflicted on me, Clemishire wrote. If you want to know what I want, call me. Otherwise, I will proceed with what has been advised. Twenty-three years after you began destroying my life, I am still dealing with the pain and damage you caused. I want some type of restitution. Pray about it and call me. Two days later, on Sept. 22, 2005, Morris and his wife called the then 35-year-old Clemishire and discussed the abuse on a call, a transcript of which was leaked to NBC News and published on Thursday. The transcript, titled, Transcription of recorded phone conversation with Cindy Clemishire was leaked by a former member of Gateways IT department. It was reportedly discovered more than a decade ago while transferring files from Morris computer to a new laptop. The worker was not identified in the report. Okay, tell us what you need to tell us, Morris said, according to the transcript. Clemishire reportedly pointed to her previous emails and told him unless he paid for what he did to her, she would seek criminal charges or go public with her story. Well, I dont think money is going to help you, Morris replied. Who said it was going to help me? Clemishire interjected. It is certainly helping you. Morris reportedly told her that it wasnt the money that was helping him but his efforts in trying to serve the Lord. What is helping me is that since this time I have tired (sic) to do the right thing and tried to serve the Lord, Morris said. Morris and his wife told Clemishire that they loved her, but Clemishire replied that she wasnt happy that he hadn't suffered any consequences for abusing her. Two years out of the ministry big deal, she said. I just have a real problem the fact that you have gone untouched by this. As they spoke on the call, Clemishire tried to explain that she wasnt trying to blackmail him. I am not trying to blackmail you, Clemishire said. I am not trying to say you pay me or this is what I am going to do. Ok, Morris said, do you want to put an amount on it then? It is not a small number, Clemishire said. Money doesnt make you happy and I can understand that. So that is not what this is about. When Morris pressed her again to put a price on it Clemishire told him Two Million Dollars. Morris ended the conversation a moment later. In an email on Oct. 3, 2005, Morris told Clemishire that his lawyer advised him not to pay her any money under a threat of exposure and said her father had asked him not to publicly reveal what he did to her. Debbie and I really do care for you, and we sincerely want God's best for you. You see the blessings God has poured out on my life and conclude that it is because I have hidden my past. God does not work that way. He will not be mocked by deceit. I confessed my sins to you and your family 18 years ago and I have continued to share it with those who need to know as per the counsel of your father. I did what he asked me to do, Morris said. I thought I obtained your forgiveness as well as your family's. If you desire to make this public, I am also willing to do so. I would consult with your father first since he asked me not to share it publicly years ago. You should talk to your father also about disclosing the matter beyond those who already know since he has your best interest at heart and his counsel should, at the least, be considered, if not honored, Morris added. My attorney advises that if I pay you any money under a threat of exposure, you could be criminally prosecuted, and Debbie and I do not want that. If you need more information, have your attorney contact mine. When asked why she didnt just have Morris criminally prosecuted at the time she reached out to him, Clemishire told CP on Friday that she was told the statute of limitations for the abuse had expired. When asked if she believed Morris when he said her father had asked him not to reveal the abuse publicly, she said she didnt. No, I do not believe him, Clemishire told CP. I do not ever remember my father requesting RM (Robert Morris) not to share about it. Why would my father ask that of him? RM was the one at risk if it went public. Home News Supreme Court says Oregon city can ban homeless encampments on public property The United States Supreme Court has upheld an Oregon citys ordinance prohibiting homeless individuals from setting up encampments on public property, concluding that such restrictions do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The high court ruled 6-3 on Friday morning in the case of City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, et al.that Grants Pass ordinance against homeless encampments was lawful. Thus, the Supreme Court reversed a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and remanded the case back for further proceedings consistent with their newly released opinion. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Justice Neil Gorsuch authored the majority opinion, writing that the Constitutions cruel and unusual punishment clause focuses on the question what method or kind of Punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place or how it may go about securing a conviction for that offense. Under the citys laws, it makes no difference whether the charged defendant is homeless, a backpacker on vacation passing through town, or a student who abandons his dorm room to camp out in protest on the lawn of a municipal building, Gorsuch continued. In that respect, the citys laws parallel those found in countless jurisdictions across the country. Gorsuch went on to note that many substantive legal protections and provisions of the Constitution may have important roles to play when States and cities seek to enforce their laws against the homeless. The only question we face is whether one specific provision of the Constitution the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment prohibits the enforcement of public-camping laws, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a dissent, being joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, arguing that the local ordinance punishes people for being homeless. It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles, wrote Sotomayor. Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. In March, the religious liberty legal group Becket filed an amicus brief in the case, taking exception to the Ninth Circuit's decision not including religious homeless shelters when counting available beds for the homeless. Becket offers this brief to explain that the Ninth Circuits novel interpretation of the Eighth Amendment was made possible only by grossly misconstruing the Establishment Clause, stated the amicus brief. Becket is concerned that the Ninth Circuits standard which categorically disregards consideration of housing at religious shelters in part due to their overall religious atmosphere, Christian messaging, and Christian iconography on the shelter walls improperly relies on discredited reasoning. Home News Supreme Court sides with Jan. 6 rioter charged with obstruction The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an individual charged with obstruction during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, which could impact some of the charges that former president Donald Trump is battling in court. The high court ruled 6-3 on Friday that the obstruction charge that former Boston, Massachusetts, police officer Joseph Fischer was facing for his participation in the riot must be given a limited definition, reversing a lower court ruling and remanding the case for further proceedings. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe At issue was U.S. Code 1512, which defines obstruction as when someone "alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding" and then adds "otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so." According to Roberts, the "otherwise" in the second part of the section is "limited" in its definition by the items listed in the first part of the section. "Construing Section 1512 in such a way gets the 'familiar' analysis we apply to these types of statutes' exactly backwards,' eliminating specific terms because of broad language that follows them, rather than limiting the broad language in light of narrower terms that precede it," wrote Roberts. "The better conclusion is that subsection (c)(2) was designed by Congress to capture other forms of evidence and other means of impairing its integrity or availability beyond those Congress specified in (c)(1)." Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump appointee, authored a dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, arguing that whether Fischer committed obstruction should be "open and shut." "Section 1512(c)(2) is a very broad provision, and admittedly, events like January 6th were not its target," wrote Barrett. "But statutes often go further than the problem that inspired them, and under the rules of statutory interpretation, we stick to the text anyway." "Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that forced the delay of Congress's joint session on January 6th. Blocking an official proceeding from moving forward surely qualifies as obstructing or impeding the proceeding by means other than document destruction. Fischer's alleged conduct thus falls within (c)(2) 's scope." U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed disappointment with the decision but said most of those facing prosecution over their alleged actions on Jan. 6 will not be impacted by it. "I am disappointed by today's decision, which limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences," Garland said in a statement. "For the cases affected by today's decision, the Department will take appropriate steps to comply with the Court's ruling. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy." In March 2023, Fischer was arrested and charged with seven counts over his alleged actions during the Capitol riot, including obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting an officer. Fischer and other defendants have called for the obstruction charge to be dismissed, arguing that it does not apply to alleged Jan. 6 riot participants. Although a federal judge agreed with Fischer in 2022, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed the ruling in April 2023. The Supreme Court's decision could influence the legal proceedings against Trump, who is facing an obstruction charge via an indictment from a Washington, D.C. grand jury last year. More than 350 Jan. 6 defendants have been charged with obstruction. Home Opinion Are the Ten Commandments making a comeback? Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, has been stirring a hornets nest recently by promoting a law that mandates the Ten Commandments in that states public schools. Already the ACLU are suing to block the new bill on behalf of some parents. Fox News reports on the controversy Gov. Landry has sparked. The governor said: I didn't know that it was so vile to obey the Ten Commandments. I think that speaks volumes about how eroded this country has become. I mean, look, this country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and every time we steer away from that, we have problems in our nation. Landry wondered why people object so much. He adds, Most of our laws in this country are founded on the Ten Commandments. What's the big problem? Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe A big part of the problem came when an activist Supreme Court turned away from all of American history to impose a new secularism. Included in this new secular fundamentalism, as Rabbi Daniel Lapin would call it, was the 1980 decision, Stone v. Graham, where the court said that the Ten Commandments should not be seen in public schools. Heres what they actually said in that case: If the posted copies of the Ten Commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the schoolchildren to read, meditate upon, perhaps to venerate and obey, the Commandments. However desirable this might be as a matter of private devotion, it is not a permissible state objective under the Establishment Clause [Emphasis added]. Think about these words written long before school shootings became virtually commonplace. We cant have the children reading, meditating on, venerating, and obeying commands like, Thou shalt do no murder or Thou shalt not steal or Thou shalt not lie. Before the Supreme Court in the mid-20th century went on a crusade against Judeo-Christian expression in the public arena, it was common to support public acknowledgment of God, including the Ten Commandments. Author and historian Bill Federer compiled many examples in his book, The Ten Commandments and Their Influence on America. Heres a small sampling: John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson (Nov. 4, 1816): The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount contain my religion. President Harry S. Truman said in 1950, The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and St. Matthew, from Isaiah and St. Paul. Ronald Reagan stated in 1973: With freedom goes responsibility ... We might start with the Ten Commandments. If we lived by the Golden Rule, there would be no need for other laws. And on it goes. For this column, I asked for comments from several constitutional attorneys. One is David Gibbs III, the founder and president of the National Center for Life and Liberty. He provided me with this statement: The Ten Commandments serve as the foundational principles of American law, and that is why they are etched in the stone above the Supreme Court. Allowing school children to be exposed to these historical documents is imperative to preserve culture and law for future generations. Schools can teach history without violating the constitution, and nations that forsake their heritage are doomed to forget their foundational principles upon which their continued success depends. Another comment came from Judge Darrell White of the state of Louisiana, who said that the new law definitely passes constitutional muster: Louisiana's new 10 Commandments Law follows in the fine tradition of the majestic 'Judicial Oath' (28 USC 453) that dates back to 1789 and necessarily concludes 'so help me, God.' Every justice of the United States Supreme Court has taken that Oath before God. White noted that we should listen to the words of James Madison, a key architect of the Constitution. While this 1825 quote doesnt directly mention the Ten Commandments, it has the same effect: The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it. Its a shame that tens of millions of children in America are somehow left with the notion that to acknowledge God in the schools is somehow not permitted. And so, God was kicked out of the public schools, and the metal detectors were put in place instead. Good for this governor to try and restore the moral foundation that helped create the framework of the United States of America in the first place. Home Opinion Making sense of new Louisiana Ten Commandment law: Display vs. recitation The state of Louisiana has ignited a hot new controversy on the role of religion in American public life by passing a law requiring a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in large, easily readable font in every classroom and in every K-12 public school and college classroom in the state. Other states such as Texas, Oklahoma and Utah are considering similar legislation. Predictably, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the ACLU have declared this act as a violation of the constitutional mandate that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof Are these claims true? Most Baptists and many other Evangelicals supported the original Engel v. Vitale (1962) Supreme Court decision banning required nondenominational prayer by school officials in public schools and the Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) Supreme Court decision disallowing school-sponsored Bible readings and recitations of the Lords Prayer in public schools. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe This new Louisiana law requires no public reading or recitation of the Ten Commandments. It only requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom. The Ten Commandments are religious. Indeed, it is the basic fundamental document of Judaism and Christianity and is highly respected by Islam. It also happens to be the foundational basis of Western Civilization, not to mention American society. That is why the Ten Commandments are prominently displayed in the Chamber of the Supreme Court. When the Supreme Court struck down public Bible reading and prayer in public schools, they went out of their way to acknowledge the large role that religion has played in American society from the Mayflower Compact to the U.S. Constitution. By the way, I attended public schools in Houston where we started each school day with the teacher leading us in a Bible reading, recitation of the Lords Prayer, and singing the national anthem until the Supreme Court decisions ended these procedures in 1963. I must admit, as a Baptist I thought it was unfair for my Jewish classmates to be standing there while the teacher (as the public schools representative) led us in the Lords Prayer (my school was about 25% Jewish). Having correctly decided the issue of prayer and the Bible reading led by school authorities in these two momentous decisions, the Supreme Court wisely issued a prophetic warning. In Abington v. Schempp (1963) in a concurrent decision to the majority decision, Associate Justice Arthur Goldberg issued the following caution: It is said, and I agree, that the attitude of government toward religion must be one of neutrality. But untutored devotion to the concept of neutrality can lead to invocation or approval of results which partake not simply of that noninterference and noninvolvement with the religious which the Constitution commands, but of a brooding and pervasive devotion to the secular, and a passive, or even active, hostility to the religious. Such results are not only not compelled by the Constitution but it seems to me, one prohibited by it. Justice Goldberg went on to observe: Neither government nor this court can or should ignore the significance of the fact that a vast portion of our people believe in and worship God and that many of our political and personal values derive historically from religious teachings. Government must inevitably take cognizance of the existence of religion and indeed, under certain circumstances the First Amendment may require that it do so. If Louisiana were to require a recitation of the Ten Commandments or some kind of individual affirmation thereof, then I would oppose their posting. However, the present law is no different than the posting of the Declaration of Independence which includes numerous references to the Creator and the Supreme Judge of the World. Of course, most of the Ten Commandments are recognized as the basis for civilized living in most societies (dont steal, kill, lie or commit adultery). Now, it is undeniably true that the Ten Commandments are religious in that the First Commandment declares Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. Most Americans have no problem with that acknowledgment of deity. However, for those who do, we now have a solution concerning the nations public schools. In 2002 the Supreme Court passed the Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002) case. In this case, the state of Ohio granted vouchers to poor parents in Cleveland to allow their children to escape the failing Cleveland public schools. Several groups challenged this law because a majority of the parents chose the Catholic schools that were in their neighborhood and were relatively inexpensive. Their opponents argued that this promoted religion and violated the Establishment Clause. The Supreme Court ruled in Zelman that the financial aid was to parents, not schools, and thus did not violate the Establishment Clause. As a result, school voucher programs have flourished across the country. Zelman maximizes parental choice. All parents theoretically are now free to send their children to a school of their choice, without violating the separation of church and state. Of course, as Dr. Phil McGraw pointed out in his new book, Weve Got Issues. How You Can Stand Strong for Americas Soul and Sanity, too many Americans have forgotten or ignored the first Commandment and the results have been catastrophic. Home Opinion What does being feminine even mean God-given femininity. The very concept seems to ignite a powder keg of emotions. For centuries, the beauty of God-given femininity has been under attack, its definition debated, and its behavior contested. Secular humanism has attempted to destroy the beautiful model of femininity and transform it into an equal model of masculinity. And today, it has gone one step further to claim an embrace of non-binary sexual identity. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe With all this confusion within society for such a long time, it is no wonder that this debate has filtered down to the youngest members of society our children. This is no coincidence. Sin is like that. Satan is in for the long haul, and he delights in mans refusal of the Godly gifts our Maker has bestowed upon us. As Christians, we must engage in this debate and end it once and for all, at least in our minds. Despite what society is saying, what media is portraying, and what influencers are engaging, Scripture is clear: there is a difference between male and female, and it is worth celebrating! Often, a woman determines her level of femininity by her personality and proclivity to certain behaviors. My sister often stated, I am a tomboy. She loved horses and the outdoors. She cared less about makeup and dolls and more about biology and mechanics. Today she wonders if, due to cultural pressures, she would be encouraged to release her femininity and embrace a more masculine stereotype. Despite her love for tomboyish hobbies and interests, she also exhibited very feminine traits and behaviors. These included the very behaviors that are clearly defined in Scripture as to the true nature of a woman: relational, nurturing, vulnerable, a love for beauty and a desire to respond. This is what defines a woman of God. The well-known verses of Proverbs 31 speak to the woman who manifests her God-given femininity through her character. The verses claim this type of character is difficult to find but when found, her worth is far above jewels. This woman is trusted by her husband, and she supports his work. Later in the Scripture, the Lord promises that because of her relational, caring nature, her children will rise and bless her. Biblical femininity is not a personality trait or a list of shiny hobbies. It is the core essence of every woman. God created women as relational, nurturing, and vulnerable beings. Just as man, woman was created to be in a relationship with her Creator, letting the Holy Spirit guide and direct her path. If you find your girl gravitates more toward an afternoon of fishing than one in a nail salon, remember this: God has given her the spirit of femininity, she doesnt need to conform to the worlds view to prove it! In fact, it is this very cultural premise, that to be a female means you need to enjoy only feminine things, that is damaging to our girls. Our hobbies do not determine our identity, our nature, our very being God does. Supporting your girl in navigating through discovering her identity and embracing her God-given femininity starts with building up confidence in yourself. God calls the equipped, sure, but more often than not, God equips the called. For this, for your girl, God called you. Its time to answer the call. Dig into the Word, build a community, and lean on your trusted people when you need to. We arent meant to go it alone, after all, you know the age-old adage: it takes a village to raise a child. More good news? Gods Church is that village. As Christians, we belong to a centuries-old network of families raising their children in our faith tradition look to your faith community and ministries to build your personal village. God-given femininity requires no debate. It is a gift that, when freely accepted, will bless a woman throughout her life whether she wears heels and loves shopping or whether she serves the hungry in her jeans and comfy t-shirt. It is my prayer that every girl learns that she is beautifully and wonderfully made. Through her unique gifts and personality, may she embrace her femininity to become a Christ-following servant leader who is honoring, relational, anchored in Christ, and competent: a woman of integrity. Home Opinion Biden-Trump debate: 5 tips to talk to your kids about politics Today, President Biden and President Trump will debate live on television in what may be the most-watched political moment in history. In some ways, this will mark the official beginning of the 2024 presidential election. This event gives parents and leaders an important responsibility: figuring out how to talk to youth about politics and interesting political figures. Here are some tips Ive learned working with students for over 40 years. 1. It is going to be uncomfortable and thats OK In our conversations about politics, you will have to pick sides, and this tends to be uncomfortable in our culture. Too often, as parents or leaders, we avoid issues that divide. We avoid these conversations for many reasons. This is a mistake. We fear that if we speak to current affairs, we will be considered unqualified, or worse, politically-incorrect. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe However, if we don't speak about the issues as parents and youth leaders, where are adolescents going to get their information? They need to know the truth and they need to hear it from people they trust. 2. Process the election (and every issue) with a diverse group of people There is a university of learning in diverse relationships. One of the things I have tried to do with young people is to get them to process their thoughts and feelings with a broad spectrum of people and especially across generations. Why is this important? Primarily because there is so much, we can learn from each other. It also helps reveal the truth, including inconsistencies in worldviews. Otherwise, groupthink can influence voting behavior, rather than the truth. 3. Treat every person and their views with respect Sometimes, even in our own homes, we will have differing viewpoints. Even so, it is important to respect each other. Sometimes you can feel like you are compromising if you give someone of a different political perspective time and energy in a conversation by listening to their views. Maybe you want to get your point across, correct them, and make a statement right after they are finished talking. We must teach young people to treat everyone with respect and to listen to the opinions of others to keep the relationship and conversation going. I learned a valuable lesson many years ago; that I would never lose a friendship just to win an argument. I believe we can have both the argument and the relationship holding to our beliefs by respecting people. We must help our kids to respect everyones viewpoint, and, where applicable, its ok to agree to disagree. Some people have bad ideas, but it doesnt make them bad people. 4. Listen to young people Every parent and youth leader must learn to listen first. When young people are given the chance to talk first, it will guide the whole conversation, and often youll be surprised at the sophistication of their views. You may also be surprised how they think differently than you. If you speak first, then you may not give them permission to say what they really think. Listening helps parents and leaders make a plan on the kind of content to include in future conversations with young people because those conversations also reveal what theyre learning from others at school or online. Many times, I have been the learner talking to young people! These conversations are what have motivated many parents and leaders to leave their own comfort zone and to engage in the political process. Make sure to ask simple questions in order to give teenagers the opportunity to challenge their beliefs and what they are hearing. It will help them go against the tide in support of truth, whatever the politics of the moment. When young people are given the opportunity to talk about important political or social issues, it helps them release anxiety, confusion, and fear of not understanding or not being heard. Youth need to know that their views are important. Young people are opinionated and will process their beliefs through talking. Let them feel safe to have difficult conversations about all kinds of topics politics, economy, sexuality, and religion. 5. There is more to life than politics, but politics is important Im pretty sure most of us agree with this. And it must be said that as a democratic society, we all win in a free country, even if your party does not win the election. But looking at the frenzy around our elections in America, it may not seem healthy that all of culture seems to stop for months to focus only on the election. Helping students see that there is more to life than politics and government will help them focus on the day-to-day implications of politics and not just who won or lost the election. Yet, every four years, we hear the same thing, this is the most important election of our lifetime. Finally We need to teach young people that politics is a way they can make a difference in a world that worries them. Young people can make a difference, but they need to learn the truth about politics from those they can trust. How about this crazy idea? Why not have a watch party for the presidential debate at your home for your kids friends? Then, guide them in a conversation about it. I believe healthy political conversations can take place between parents and leaders and young people over the next few months if we apply these simple principles. Vatican conference ponders who really holds the power of AI Experts on Artificial Intelligence met at the Vatican on Thursday to discuss the implications of this ascendant technology which Pope Francis hopes to inject with Christian morals and ethics while calling for international regulation. "What has happened in the past 70 years is that society is guided by software," said Fr. Paolo Benanti, a Franciscan and a theologian who advises Pope Francis on questions of AI, during his speech at the Vatican event. "Whoever has the software, has the power," added Benanti, who is also a member of the United Nations' AI Advisory Body. The conference, titled "Algorithm at the Service of Man: Communicating in the Time of Artificial Intelligence," is the latest in a number of events organized by the Vatican to address growing concerns over AI and its applications. Through formal and informal channels, the Vatican and Pope Francis have created networks in Silicon Valley and made connections with major players in the fields of technology and communications to promote an ethical approach to AI. In January, Francis made AI the central theme of his message for World Day of Peace, and in June he became the first pontiff to attend a G7 meeting where he spoke about the ethical ramifications of AI. Speaking to the leaders of the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Canada, Germany and Japan, the pope said that while AI represents "a true cognitive-industrial revolution," the final say must "always be left to the human person." Francis spoke about machine learning and AI again in his public message for the World Day of Social Communication, where he warned of AI's ability to "pollute" our understanding of reality through fake news and deep-fake images. The pope mentioned he was also a victim of the highly realistic AI replicas that can be quick to go viral online. The world is at a crossroads, he said, where unregulated AI risks furthering discrimination, polarization and injustice. "On one hand we face the specter of a new slavery, on the other of delivering freedom; on one hand there is the possibility that a few will condition the thoughts of many, on the other that everyone may take part in elaborating our beliefs," Francis said. The pope's message was the inspiring document for the Vatican conference on Thursday, where experts spoke about the power that influential financial interests will have in shaping the future of AI. "The great tech producers are infusing our computers with artificial intelligence," Benanti said about the increasing presence and agency of AI in everyday devices. "This is a challenge that we are not yet prepared for," he added. The vice director general of Italy's Agency for National Cybersecurity, Nunzia Ciardi, also warned at the conference of the influence held by leading AI developers. "Artificial intelligence is made up of massive economic investments that only large superpowers can afford and through which they ensure a very important geopolitical dominance and access to the large amount of data that AI must process to produce outputs," Ciardi said. "You could say that we are colonized by AI, which is managed by select companies that brutally rack through our data," she added. Participants agreed that international organizations must enforce stronger regulations for the use and advancement of AI technologies. "We need guardrails, because what is coming is a radical transformation that will change real and digital relations and require not only reflection but also regulation," Benanti said. The "Rome Call for AI Ethics," a document signed by IBM, Microsoft, Cisco and U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization representatives, was promoted by the Vatican's Academy for Life and lays out guidelines for promoting ethics, transparency and inclusivity in AI. Other religious communities have also joined the "Rome Call," including the Anglican Church and Jewish and Muslim representatives. On July 9, representatives from Eastern religions will gather for a Vatican-sponsored event to sign the "Rome Call" in Hiroshima, Japan. The location was decided to emphasize the dangerous consequences of technology when unchecked. Speaking to participants at another Vatican conference focused on AI on June 22, Pope Francis challenged attendants to rethink the way we define artificial intelligence. "Are we sure we want to continue calling 'intelligence' that which is not intelligent?" he asked, inviting participants to "ask ourselves whether the misuse of this word that is so important, so human, is not already a surrender to technocratic power." Religion News Service We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Aboneaza-te la rubricile dorite si primeste zilnic notificari pe email cu link-uri la articolele care au fost adaugate in ultimele 24 de ore. Notificarile vor fi expediate la adresa indicata mai jos. Daca doresti sa schimbi adresa - o poti modifica editand informatia de profil aici. Shutterstock Charity Finance Group (CFG) has said that a set of principles for trustees to use when making decisions about their charity investments will be launched this autumn. Yesterday, delegates at CFGs annual conference heard about the Charity Investment Governance Principles, a project hosted by CFG and led by independent consultant Gail Cunningham. CFG previously said that the project would explore best practice in decision-making around charity investments and reflect the outcomes of the Butler-Sloss case. The projects steering group also includes representatives from the Association of Charitable Foundations, NCVO, Wales Council for Voluntary Action and Secretariat of the Charities Responsible Investment Network. Tricky to find specific help on investment governance In a panel discussion, Cunningham said it can be quite tricky to find specific help on investment governance, particularly when its an area where some trustees might have a huge amount of expertise and some are absolutely terrified. She said the upcoming charity investment governance principles, which will be hosted on a standalone website, will be complimentary to the Charity Governance Code and will not replicate what is already out there. Each of the seven principles, similar to the Charity Governance Code, will have a description, rationale, key outcomes and recommended practice. Charities will be able to see and select on the website what they need depending on their sizes and types of investment, for instance. The website will also have examples, explainers, sources of help and standalone sections including one for charities that mainly invest cash. The principles are as follows: Purpose of investment (legal and practical considerations). Leadership (governance, structure and delegation framework). Integrity. This is where the Butler-Sloss case comes into play: How can charities avoid conflicts with their purposes? How do they avoid reputational risks? How do trustees place their charities purposes at the forefront of their investments? Decision making (risk and control). This looks at things such as how charities work with external providers and investment policies. Effectiveness (recruiting the right trustees). Equity, diversity and inclusion. Openness and accountability. This is around what information charities publish, and builds on the SORP and other things they might want to consider. Sector needs to know what good practice looks like Also speaking at the conference, Luke Fletcher, partner at Bates Wells & Braithwaite, said that investment governance has been something of a black box because of variable practice across the charity sector and no established sense of what best practice looks like. When clients are asking: How should we form our investment committee? How should we review our investments? What should we be thinking about? Historically, there hasnt really been very good things to point to, he told delegates. Youve got CC14, which is a legal and regulatory document, but its not that practical. It doesnt really get into practical things like how regularly should you review, or how do you review, performance, or how do you think about impact. Fletcher said that looking at the Charity Governance Code, there is an opportunity to identify and articulate what good practice looks like and develop consensus. Principles designed to empower trustees Fletcher added: On the investment governance side, there always seems to be a bit of a gap. Its important that were talking about charity investment governance. Its not charity investments, its about the government around those investments. Ive always felt that perhaps trustees have felt a bit disempowered as if they need to delegate this to professionals and leave it to them. That tends to mean that city voices dominate how these decisions are made. So, the charity investment governance principles project is, in a way, an effort to empower trustees to say: All trustees should be asking these questions, thinking about these things and have something to say. An open consultation on the principles is expected to launch next month. Feedback will then be incorporated in August or September before the principles are introduced in the autumn. 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, Helen Stephenson has warned charities not to be led by whim, fashion, or funding in her final speech as Charity Commission chief executive. Speaking earlier this month at an event organised by the Welsh Centre for Voluntary Action, Stephenson said she had seen charities both achieve the impossible during her seven-year tenure as well as get it badly wrong. When I reflect on what it is that makes the difference between a charity that succeeds and one that gets lost along the way, it is this: a great charity is one whose trustees and wider leadership, over time, are led always and alone by the charitys purposes, she said. Not by whim, fashion, or funding but by a shared commitment to delivering on the purposes that got the charity on the register in the first place. False dichotomy Stephenson also said there had been a swing in how the Commission is perceived over the years between a regulator that focuses more on enforcement and one that prioritises support for charity trustees. In my view this is an unhelpful, false dichotomy, she told WCVAs gofod3 event at Cardiff City Stadium on 5 June. If Ive sought to achieve one thing during my time as CEO it has been to cement within the Commission a culture that recognises both support and robust enforcement are necessary poles of our work which should attract equal amounts of regulatory energy and investment. Charities are run by volunteer trustees who need and deserve our active guidance and support in understanding their legal duties and doing the best job they can. And public trust and confidence and the overall health of the sector requires that the Commission takes unflinching action when we come across the deliberate or reckless abuse of charities. The Commission has done a huge amount over the past seven years to strengthen both aspects of our work. Former deputy CEO at the Commission David Holdsworth is due to take over from Stephenson next week. sign up to receive the Civil Society daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Birmingham Hospice Birmingham Hospice has announced it has to make significant redundancies as it faces an estimated 2.4m deficit budget this year. The charity said this decision is down to a lack of government funding for the hospice sector, rather than its local fundraising efforts. It is set to reduce its number of inpatient beds and cut the equivalent of 45 full-time roles, around 14% of its overall workforce. As the gap between costs and income continues to rise, senior leaders from Birmingham Hospice have called crisis talks with NHS commissioners to negotiate additional funding. Birmingham Hospice said it needs to raise 6.5m through fundraising activity, including income from shops and voluntary donations, to cover its running costs. Totally unpalatable redundancies Birmingham Hospice chief executive Simon Fuller said: The prospect of having to make highly skilled specialist end of life clinicians and support staff redundant is totally unpalatable. We are doing everything we can to support all our hospice colleagues through this difficult time. Fuller said the charity has been working with umbrella body Hospice UK and other hospices nationally to address the financial challenges across the sector. The problem has been discussed in parliament; but the current administration has passed the problem to local commissioners who have not been able to provide additional funding, he said. Reducing hospice services is bad for the people of Birmingham, the health care system, and those who will be affected by the proposed redundancies. Fuller said there is a growing need for palliative and end of life care and the NHS is unable to meet the huge demands on its beds. All we can hope is that, after the election, we will see a sensible discussion on the future of hospice care, he said. The charity said that as it is not underwritten by the government or the NHS, it cannot continue to run a deficit and run out of money, as it would no longer exist. By making redundancies now, the hospice hopes to ensure it can return to a sustainable budget as soon as possible. Savings so far Birmingham Hospice said numerous meetings have taken place with the local integrated care board, which has itself had to make savings to meet a funding shortfall. Since Birmingham Hospice was formed in 2021 from the merger of Birmingham St Marys Hospice in Selly Park and John Taylor Hospice in Erdington, it has already made cost savings by merging management and support staff roles. The charity made further efficiency savings earlier this year, including making some staff redundant. It has also looked to invest in fundraising and retail operations, but it said the return generated will not be at the rate of its rising costs. Birmingham Hospice said in the absence of any additional support, it is not able to delay its decision to make redundancies any longer. The hospice has sought to draw attention to its financial situation including a petition and meetings with local MPs and councillors as well as national campaigning through Hospice UK. Entirely down to a lack of government funding Lucy Watkins, income generation director at Birmingham Hospice, said this year saw the launch of its crisis appeal which has once again seen people give what they can. She said: Our current situation is no reflection on the generous support we receive, and is entirely down to a lack of government funding for the hospice sector. While this shortfall cannot be covered by fundraising alone, we are hugely grateful for everyones support, whether that is through donating to us, taking part in one of our events, or visiting one of our shops. 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, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. President Biden is unlikely to ever be compared to Picasso or a Ferrari. His voice, even at its best, is not an uninsurable jewel. But last night, it did seem to inspire a kind of psychosomatic nasal dripif only through the ranks of panicked liberal pundits and journalists Democratic sourcesand shook, if not a national economy, then at least a national political race. NBC reported, citing two sources familiar with the situation, that President Biden has a cold. Irresistible (if unconvincing) homages to Gay Talese aside, the state of Bidens voice (raspy, and at times so quiet as to be barely audible) and the things he said with it (muddled, and at times barely comprehensible) were the top media takeaway from his debate last night with Donald Trumpthe first of two this presidential cycle, hosted by CNN. (Though at this point, the chances of the second ever happening are surely diminished.) Some journalists wondered aloud why Bidens campaign hadnt leaked his cold beforehand as an expectation-management measure, though others werent buying it as an explanation for his verbal shortcomings. (The Atlantics Mark Leibovich dismissed news of the cold in one word: Whatever.) Either way, The Age Question was suddenly looming again. At least one outlet that was criticized for questioning Bidens faculties in the past took a victory lap. And various pooh-bahs of the media establishment declared that Biden should drop out of the race for the good of the country and his party. President Biden, Nicholas Kristof concluded in the New York Times: Ive Seen Enough. As the debate wrapped up, The Atlantics McKay Coppins predicted that the news smorgasbord tomorrow is going to be a lot of CAMPAIGN INSIDERS PANIC with a healthy heaping of Senior Democrats are exploring ways to replace Biden on the ticket plus a side of This is CNNs fault somehow, I am mad at Jake Tapper. Not that he needed to wait till tomorrow for any of these narratives to emerge. Amid all the PANIC, CNNs role in the debate was arguably something of an afterthought in the aftermathwhich might have been exactly what the networks leaders wanted. (Mark Thompson, the CEO, predicted before the debate that much of the reaction of the public, the rest of the media and other politicians is going to depend on President Trump and President Biden, who are the stars of the show; David Chalian, CNNs political director, said that the stakes are highest for Trump and Biden.) But its performance nonetheless attracted a wide range of reviews. So how did CNN do? And how did the rest of the press do in covering the fallout? Ahead of time, media reporters wrote that the stakes of the debate would be high for CNNfor the first time in decades, a network was organizing a presidential debate entirely under its own steam after the Trump and Biden campaigns agreed to circumvent the Commission on Presidential Debates, the nonpartisan organization that traditionally sets the ground rules. The coverage focused, in particular, on two changes that CNN would make to the format: there would be no studio audiencea response, perhaps, to the distracting and skewed reactions of Trump supporters at the networks disastrous town hall with the former president last yearand candidates would have their mics silenced when they werent talking, a response to the raucous, mostly Trump-driven cross-talk of the first presidential debate in 2020. Thompson told the Times that the debate would be formatted in a way, at least in principle, that is designed to get as much light as possible, and not to be overwhelmed with heat. In the end, the debate was less hot than 2020s. The new rules likely helped with that; Politicos Jack Shafer argued afterward that the format unexpectedly helped Trump by depriving him of a crowd for which to mug and blocking him (mostly) from interrupting, prodding him in a relatively measured and dignified direction. (Id add a heavy emphasis on relatively.) But the candidates respective performances, and Bidens soporific turn in particular, were likely the decisive factor. And the lack of heat didnt mean that there was much more light. Again, this was, to a large extent, the candidates doing. But for the most part, the moderators, CNNs Tapper and Dana Bash, did not do any live fact-checkinga development that CNN telegraphed in advance (Chalian said beforehand that the debate would not be the ideal arena for fact-checking, while promising that CNN journalists would offer it afterward) but that nonetheless upset many media-watchers, given how many untrue things Trump, in particular, said. (The Biden campaign was irked, too.) The post-debate stable-closing did happen, but most of the lies had already bolted. If CNNs early Trump-era motto was Facts First, its debate-night mantra might better be described as Facts Later. If much of the pre-debate chatter focused on CNNs changes to the format, the lack of live fact-checking that earned the network the most scrutiny on the night was in no way a new invention; CPD-era debate hosts also explicitly steered clear of it. In fairness to them and CNN, live fact-checking is hard, especially where Trump is involved, and the question of where to draw the line is inevitably contentious. But its hard to conclude that the alternativea debate in which Trump can, for example, state without pushback that Biden is weaponizing the legal system against himwas satisfying either. Some observers have suggested that its the job of candidates to fact-check each other. But this risks politicizing the notion of truth. In the end, an addled-sounding Biden fact-checking Trump was unlikely to carry due weighteven when he was factually right. And the less said about Trump fact-checking Biden, the better. Sign up for CJRs daily email This brings us back to Bidens performance, and the frantic post-debate coverage that it has driven. There is no question that Biden looked and sounded alarmingly shaky on stage and that this is a legitimately big story, even if the rash of speculative punditry about his place on the ticket rests, for now, on a number of oversimplified assertions. But many of Trumps answers were incoherent, too, albeit in a different senseand in some of the post-debate coverage, he seems to be deriving a dividend, of sorts, from being factually incoherent with brio, as opposed to being relatively honest while looking and sounding tired and confused. Several accounts pointed to Trumps energy; Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent at the Times, wrote that it covered up his misstatements. But whose job is it to expose cover-ups if not ours? Live fact-checking might have helped expose Trumps incoherent answers, but journalists across the media landscape are also responsible for how they frame the debate after the fact. Again, Bidens shakiness is a big story. But it is, in no small part, one of optics (at least in the continued absence of much evidence that his decision-making is impaired)and coverage of those all too often drowns out substance, particularly in the wake of debates. In some respects, this debate has crystallized in miniature what is emerging as an oversimplified broader picture of this presidential race in the media: in one corner, Biden, old; in the other, Trump well, whats left to say about him? Do you want to do a puzzle? Having brought the picture into greater focus, the debate will only now reinforce it. There is some truth in the picture, for sure. But we need a much wider lens. We should, at least, not cover a ninety-minute debate as if it is the be-all and end-all of the choice facing America. Debates, while valuable in theory, have long been a deeply flawed showcase for that, in ways that are far bigger than Biden, Trump, or their individual performances and that speak more deeply to the medias interpretation of American politics and the place of detailed policy substance in that interpretation, as I wrote in the aftermath of the chaotic first debate in 2020. At least one columnist thought that last nights debate was even worse than that debacle. From my media-critic point of view, I dont agree, even if last night was deeply dispiriting as a human being. But, as I wrote in 2020, making these debatesand how we talk about them afterwarda truly worthwhile exercise will require deeper reforms than some well-intentioned formatting tweaks, even if we cant control how the candidates perform. It might require, with apologies again to Talese, a new journalism entirely. Other notable stories: Emily Atkin and Arielle Samuelson, of the climate newsletter Heated, make the case that major news organizations have fallen short in their coverage of recent heat waves and flash floods in the US. According to a HEATED analysis of 133 national, international, and major regional digital breaking news articles about record-breaking weather in the United States this month, only 44 percent mentioned the climate crisis or global warming, Atkin and Samuelson write. Stories about heat waves fared slightly better, with 52 percent mentioning climate change. Only 25 percent of stories about extreme rainfall mentioned climate change. Meanwhile, only 11 percent of the articles mentioned fossil fuels, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Yesterday once again exposed the divergent strategies that news organizations are adopting in their dealings with artificial intelligence companies that use journalists work to train and populate their tools. (CJRs Mathew Ingram wrote about these recently.) The Center for Investigative Reporting, which produces Mother Jones and Reveal, sued OpenAI and Microsoft, OpenAIs largest shareholder, over alleged copyright violations, following in the footsteps of suits filed by outlets such as the Times, The Intercept, and several papers owned by Alden Global Capital. Elsewhere, though, Time magazine became the latest in a string of outlets to strike a licensing deal with OpenAI. New Yorks Kevin T. Dugan reports on a rift between different families of victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting over what to do with Infowars, the conspiracy site owned by Alex Jones, who the families sued (in different jurisdictions) over his repeated claims that the shooting was a hoax. The families have been split on what is the best way to hold Jones accountable for his lies: shut down Infowars or keep it alive and garnish the money he makes from broadcasting, Dugan writes. Both scenarios come up against the same problemthat no matter what happens in court, Jones is unlikely to shut up. And Anthony Borgesa survivor of a different school shooting, in Parkland, Floridanow owns the name of Nikolas Cruz, the gunman who killed seventeen people at the school in 2018. Under the terms of a legal settlement with Borges, Cruz will not be able to give media interviews without Borgess consent and will have to cooperate with academic studies of mass shooters, among other conditions. Borgess attorney said, We just wanted to shut him down so we never have to hear about him again. New from CJR: Sewell Chan appointed executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The US Supreme Court tossed Purdue Pharma LPs $6 billion opioid settlement, nixing a deal that would have funded opioid epidemic relief efforts in exchange for protecting the companys billionaire owners from lawsuits alleging they helped fuel the addiction crisis. The 5-4 ruling opens a new chapter of uncertainty for Purdue by ruling that the accord would improperly shield its owners, members of the billionaire Sackler family. They had agreed to give up ownership of the company the maker of painkiller OxyContin and pay as much as $6 billion. More broadly, the ruling upends a key tool used by bankrupt companies to settle lawsuits spawned by harmful or toxic products. The tool, known as a non-consensual third-party release, forces holdout plaintiffs to settle with companies if an agreement has support from most of the victims. A Justice Department unit monitoring bankruptcy courts opposed the Sackler settlement, arguing such mechanisms are unlawful. Congress authorized similar maneuvers decades ago in bankruptcies related to asbestos lawsuits. Over time, though, lawyers and judges have used the approach to address an array of corporate wrongdoing. Similar deals have ended mass litigation over dangerous products and waves of sex abuse claims against Catholic dioceses, the Boy Scouts of America and USA Gymnastics. Someday, Congress may choose to add to the bankruptcy code special rules for opioid-related bankruptcies as it has for asbestos-related cases, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority. Or it may choose not to do so. Either way, if a policy decision like that is to be made, it is for Congress to make. Purdues settlement won overwhelming support from opioid crisis victims who voted on it. But a vocal contingent remained bitterly opposed to letting Purdues billionaire owners put the lawsuits behind them. Proponents have said victims wont get more money from the Sacklers by taking them to trial; the Justice Department has said ending the settlement could force the owners to shell out more money for victims. Members of the Sackler family have denied wrongdoing and said the settlement avoids expensive litigation that may not succeed. In dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said Thursdays decision is devastating for more than 100,000 opioid victims and their families. Opioid victims and other future victims of mass torts will suffer greatly in the wake of todays unfortunate and destabilizing decision, Kavanaugh said. Only Congress can fix the chaos that will now ensue. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined Kavanaughs dissenting opinion. Purdue said after the ruling that the company will reach back out to its creditors and renew our pursuit of a resolution that delivers billions of dollars of value for opioid abatement and allows the company to emerge from bankruptcy. The company said it is continuing to operate without interruption to its business. During arguments in December, lawyers representing Purdue and the largest group of victims each said the company could be forced to liquidate if the settlement is invalidated. A Justice Department lawyer said the sides could return to the negotiating table to hammer out a deal that doesnt force objectors to give up their claims against the Sacklers. The Justice Department contended federal bankruptcy courts lack power to insulate the Sacklers from lawsuits since they havent filed for protection themselves. The Supreme Court in August halted implementation of the settlement while the justices heard the appeal. The families of the late Mortimer and Raymond Sackler said in a statement Thursday they remain hopeful about reaching a resolution that provides substantial resources to help combat a complex public health crisis. While we are confident that we would prevail in any future litigation given the profound misrepresentations about our families and the opioid crisis, we continue to believe that a swift negotiated agreement to provide billions of dollars for people and communities in need is the best way forward, the families said. The case is Harrington v. Purdue Pharma, 23-124. Top photo: An American flag outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. The plaintiffs filed counts of negligence, strict liability, statutory nuisance, private nuisance, public nuisance and trespass. The insurers allege that Norfolk Southern failed to properly maintain, service and inspect their trains and railcars, failed to maintain vigilant lookout during the operation of its trains and railcars and failed to timely detect the fire on the tank car that led to the derailment. Norfolk Southern came under fire this week by the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, who said the rail carrier threatened the NTSB board, sought to manufacture evidence and failed to provide documents during its investigation of the East Palestine derailment. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a hearing that the railroad delayed or failed to provide critical investigative information to our team, calling Norfolk Southerns actions unconscionable and reprehensible. Related: Norfolk Southern to Pay $600 Million to Settle Ohio Spill Case In anticipation of this weeks hearing, Norfolk Southern announced last Friday it will examine its vent and burn decisions. The NTSB said on Tuesday that the rail carrier did not need to vent and burn hazardous materials from tank cars after the derailment. Norfolk Southern last month agreed to pay the government a $15 million civil penalty and more than $50 million in past government cleanup costs over the derailment. The Atlanta-based rail carrier is estimated to face a $1.7 billion in total costs associated with the derailment. Top photo: This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The U.S. auto safety regulator said on Friday it has opened a recall query into over 120,000 Honda 7267.T Ridgeline U.S. vehicles over rear-view camera (RVC) failures. The U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the query concerned the model year 2017-2019 of Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The RVC wire harness was manufactured with a material which was susceptible to breakage upon repeated opening and closing of the tailgate, which ultimately leads to a complete loss of RVC function, the NHTSA said. Honda has identified a replacement harness manufactured by a new supplier with improved material properties to withstand wear from bending, the regulator added. (Reporting by Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Humans aren't the only participants of the Olympics: horses are the athletes' faithful companions in dressage, jumping, and eventing, and the center of attention in the exhibition, Cheval en majeste, showing in conjunction with the equestrian events of the upcoming Paris Olympics. Like this year's equestrian events, the exhibition will be shown at the Versailles-for centuries an important riding institution, and home of the National Equestrian Academy of Versailles. Cheval en majeste - Au cur d'une civilization celebrates the role of the horse in Western civilization, from the 16th century to the early 20th century, when steam and diesel engines took its place. It features around 300 paintings, taking guests through several of the Chateau's emblematic rooms, including the Africa Rooms, the Hall of Mirrors, the King's State Apartment, and the War and Peace Rooms. It is also divided into several sections, highlighting the horse's different roles. In Of horses and kings, the horse is celebrated as a symbol of royal power, at a time when a king's skill in the saddle was thought to reflect his skill as the head of state. Included in this section are paintings of Queen Victoria's famous Arabians. The exhibition also takes visitors through Versailles royal stables, which not only housed horses, but also served as a classroom for horsemanship. The horse, king of war, not only highlights horses as a cavalry mounts, but presents their sacrifice on the field of battle. Festive and lavish accoutrements-including gay caparisons and a complete set of parade armour-are displayed in Festive horses and Horses and luxury. In Horses in science, New York's Metropolitan Museum and the English Royal Collections come together to present Andrea del Vecchio and Leonardo da Vinci's anatomical drawings. Horses pose as muses in Horses as models, before they are jostled from street, farm and battlefield by the railway and automobile industries in the final section, From one civilization to another. Cheval en majeste is curated by Laurent Salome and Helene Delalex, and will run from July 2 to November 3. Producers Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron have announced that they are developing 'Studio 54' The Musical, a new production with a book by Chad Hodge and music by the greatest disco performers of all time. The Broadway-bound musical explores the incredible rise and abrupt downfall of the most legendary club in nightlife history, directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Sergio Trujillo. The renowned disco nightclub was founded in 1977 by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager and quickly became a cultural sensation. The venue became a midnight home away from home for many celebrities, including Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Truman Capote, and Bianca Jagger, along with New York City's most spectacular collection of gay, straight, and trans nightclubbers. "Neil Meron and I started talking about the amazing story of Studio 54 as a possible series years ago," Greenblatt said in an exclusive statement to Deadline, "but we finally came to our senses and realized we had the perfect musical right under our noses." Meron added that with book writer Hodge and the incredible Trujillo, who came of age during the disco dance craze in Toronto and New York, they have the perfect team to bring it to life. Casting details and production schedule are to be announced. Meron and Greenblatt co-produced all of NBC's live musicals, including 'The Sound of Music Live!,' 'Peter Pan Live!' 'The Wiz Live!,' 'Hairspray Live!' 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!' and 'Annie Live!' The two are also currently producing the Broadway musical 'Smash.' Furthermore, Meron's additional credits include 'Some Like It Hot,' 'Promises, Promises,' and 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.' Meanwhile, Greenblatt has won four Tony Awards throughout his career, starting with the Broadway production of Dolly Parton's '9 to 5' The Musical. CHINADA hits back at politicization of contamination case involving Chinese swimmers Xinhua) 10:56, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) on Thursday released a statement refuting claims by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), calling them "out of context with emotional and political rhetoric and mere preconceptions." USADA CEO Travis Tygart testified at a congressional hearing in the United States on Tuesday, claiming, "WADA sat back and allowed China to disregard the rules" in dealing with TMZ contamination cases involving 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021. CHINADA firmly rejected his claims, stating that Tygart was speaking "out of context with emotional and political rhetoric and mere preconceptions, made hostile attacks on China's anti-doping work, accused the Chinese athletes of intentional doping without any factual basis, and vilified CHINADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for jointly 'covering up' the positive tests of the Chinese swimmers." "This has severely undermined the reputation of CHINADA, WADA, and the global anti-doping system," said CHINADA. CHINADA criticized USADA's brazen "long-arm" jurisdiction, calling it "undoubtedly a manifestation of out-and-out hegemonism and imperiousness." "Its intention to manipulate the case for political purposes is all too clear, which runs counter to the principles of fairness, justice, and integrity it has claimed to champion," CHINADA noted. "USADA is seeking to undermine the well-functioning world anti-doping order that the anti-doping community has worked hard to build and shake up or even subvert the global anti-doping governance system, which is designed to serve athletes all over the world equally, so as to seize the global anti-doping leadership role. We strongly reject and oppose such a move." Regarding USADA's request at the hearing to review the case file of the TMZ contamination case, CHINADA pointed out its purpose "is to legitimize the illegal access to and unauthorized disclosure of the information in the case file by media outlets including the New York Times and ARD, and then form distorted and misleading conclusions through the so-called review and investigation with already preconceived judgments, so as to reach the purpose of politicizing the contamination case." "Such a request, without any legal basis, is in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and the legitimate rights and interests of the athletes. We will never accept the request for the publication of the case file made by USADA and certain members of the U.S. Congress, and we resolutely oppose the impudent request for reopening the investigation as claimed by USADA," it said. CHINADA revealed that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese athletes were still tested by international organizations. The samples collected in China are not only analyzed by the Beijing Laboratory but also proactively sent to many overseas laboratories by CHINADA, including labs in Seibersdorf, Barcelona, Cologne, Ghent, Paris, and Sydney. From 2018 to 2023, respectively 3,360, 2,433, 2,295, 7,901, 7,714, and 9,695 samples were sent overseas for analysis. It also compared the tests conducted in China and the U.S., noting that CHINADA carried out 29,388 tests in 2023, a stark contrast to the 7,773 tests conducted by USADA in the same year. "We were even more surprised to learn that 31% of American athletes under the Code were not sufficiently tested in the 12-month period prior to the Tokyo Games. How can athletes around the world be convinced of the fairness USADA claims with such a low level of testing and monitoring? How does USADA perform its duties? In what position can USADA criticize WADA and China's anti-doping work? And how can a CEO whose integrity is questionable convince people of what he says and does?" CHINADA questioned in the statement. While USADA is pointing fingers at China's handling of the contamination cases, CHINADA pointed out: "When dealing with doping cases involving American athletes, USADA often exempted the athletes from punishment by finding no fault or negligence on the grounds of contamination. However, it frequently lacked substantial evidence when determining the source of contamination. "In addition to its claims of medicine and meat contamination, there were also cases of contamination through transdermal absorption and activities such as contact with pets, kissing, and sexual contact. "There was even one instance where a hydrochlorothiazide positive result was attributed to contamination in the municipal water supply. "Imagine how many athletes in the U.S. would test positive for hydrochlorothiazide each year if such contamination were possible through municipal water," CHINADA said. As American sprinter Erriyon Knighton was cleared to run in the domestic Olympic trial after he tested positive for the anabolic steroid Trenbolone in March, food contamination became the excuse following USADA's investigation, which CHINADA found hard to accept. "It is well known that Trenbolone is a protein assimilation agent with strong effects on strength and explosiveness and is not a common contaminant. Hundreds of Trenbolone positive cases have occurred around the world in recent years, and publicly available information shows that only three American athletes have escaped sanction by claiming food contamination, while the rest of the positive cases were essentially given a four-year suspension," it said. "We strongly call on USADA to review its approach and principles in dealing with doping cases, to ensure that its actions align with the objectives of the global anti-doping system, and to demonstrate due integrity and consistency in its anti-doping efforts in order to regain the trust of the international community in its work," CHINADA continued. At the end of the statement, CHINADA expressed its firm support for the current world anti-doping system. "Since WADA was established 25 years ago, the efforts it has been making are to promote the harmonization and integrity of the world anti-doping system. The World Anti-Doping Code and the international standards have gradually developed as the cornerstone of this system, which has been growing with better governance," it said. "We have grown from this global anti-doping system, and we have always resolutely defended the integrity and effectiveness of this system through our work based on independence, impartiality, and professionalism. We sincerely wish to work with all stakeholders to protect the stability, unity, and improvement of the global anti-doping system," it concluded. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Peter Thiel, once one of Donald Trump's major financial backers in the tech industry, said Thursday that even though he's not providing money to the Republican presumptive nominee's campaign this time around, he'd vote for him over President Joe Biden. "If you hold a gun to my head, I'll vote for Trump," Thiel said in an interview on stage at the Aspen Ideas Festival. "I'm not going to give any money to his super PAC." Thiel donated $1.25 million to Trump's campaign in 2016 at a time when the vast majority of tech money was going to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Thiel, best known for an early bet on Facebook and for co-founding Palantir , also spoke at the Republican National Convention that year and, after the election, helped organize a meeting between Trump and top execs at Amazon, Apple, Google, Tesla and several other giant tech companies. However, Thiel later soured on Trump and said last year that he wouldn't be funding any politician in the 2024 presidential campaign. That's after he spent $32 million on Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections with mixed results. In Ohio, Trump's pick, Republican J.D. Vance, defended a GOP-held seat against Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan. But in Arizona, Republican Blake Masters failed in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. WATCH: Tech for Trump President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. "Biden's got to leave. He's got to get out now and if he doesn't get out we're going to get f------ crushed," said the advisor. They told CNBC they planned to approach Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison on Friday to discuss what happened at the debate. "Game over," said a longtime Democratic campaign advisor, who has been raising money for congressional leaders for over a decade and helped raise money for Biden's 2020 White House bid. CNBC began hearing from worried Democratic campaign donors and fundraisers less than 20 minutes into the 90-minute debate hosted by CNN. "This is terrible. Worse than I thought was possible. Everyone I'm speaking with thinks Biden should drop out," said the person, who was granted anonymity in order to recount private conversations. "Disaster," said a Biden donor who plans to attend a fundraiser with the president on Saturday in the Hamptons . Many of the Democratic Party's top fundraisers are privately sounding the alarm after President Joe Biden 's disappointing debate performance Thursday against Republican former President Donald Trump . An advisor of one of the Democratic Party's top megadonors called the debate an "absolute train wreck" for Biden. "Worse than [Ronald] Reagan in '84 or [George W.] Bush in '04 or [Barack] Obama in '12," they added. The problems for Biden at the debate started early. He stumbled out of the gate, appearing to lose his train of thought at times and pausing for a long moment before CNN moderators cut him off when he was discussing U.S. health care. "Making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the, with the Covid, excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look ..." Biden said, trailing off. "Look, if, we've finally beat Medicare," Biden said, before CNN anchor and moderator Jack Tapper gently moved on. "Thank you, President Biden," said Tapper. Several times later in the debate, the president repeated himself, or left several seconds of silence mid-answer. Throughout the evening, Biden's voice was raspy and quiet. Biden's campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu told NBC News this was because the president had a cold. "I think because of the way people analyze debates, it's going to be at first about the physical performance," said Landrieu. Even Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that Biden was not in top form. "Yes, it was a slow start, but it was a strong finish," she said on CNN late Thursday. For example, answering a question about border security a top voter issue this election cycle Biden's sentence was grammatically difficult to follow. "I'm going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the total initiative relative to what we're going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers," Biden said. Trump pounced on the stumbles. "I don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said, either," the former president quipped. Representatives for the Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Replacing Biden on the ticket now would be extremely difficult, with less than two months until the Democratic National Convention in August. The president would effectively have to drop out of the race, leaving the decision about a nominee up to the delegates at the convention. "It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, I don't think there's any other way to slice it," Kate Bedingfield, former White House communications director in the Biden administration until 2023, said on CNN. "His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didn't do that," she said. Members of the media work during the first presidential debate with US President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images China: 'Starkly different visions' of America China's CGTN, the English-language service of state-run China Global Television Network, said: "Biden started hesitantly and Trump answered steadily in a halting clash." Accusations of lies and that each of them was the worst-ever U.S. president, were rife, the outlet said. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post said that the two "presented starkly different visions for America's place in the world," and that it was a "high-stakes debate." Before it kicked off, China's state-backed tabloid Global Times said it was expected to be "like a reality show." India: 'Democrats in full-blown panic' The Times of India led its story with concerns from Democrats about Biden's performance, with the headline reading: "'We are f***ed': Democrats in full-blown panic over Joe Biden's debate performance." Biden "delivered a shaky, halting performance," it said, while "Trump battered him with a series of often false attacks." Elsewhere, India Today said Biden "stammered and fumbled" multiple times, while describing Trump's performance as "forceful and aggressive." UK: 'Biden struggles ... Trump lies' In the U.K., the Guardian pointed to issues with both Biden and Trump at the debate, headlining its story: "Biden struggles to land lines as Trump lies in first presidential debate." Many of Trump's replies to straightforward questions had little to do with the topic at hand, the paper said, and he made frequent false claims which were not fact-checked by the moderators. Biden, meanwhile, "frequently struggled to complete his thoughts." The Times of London said that Biden's reelection campaign was "plunged into crisis" following the debate and that the current president's responses to questions were "meandering and muddled," while Trump's were "more assured and disciplined." Meanwhile, the BBC suggested Biden struggled with Trump's attacks, titling its live blog of the debate: "Biden stumbles in first presidential debate as Trump avoids key questions." Biden struggled repeatedly and Trump repeated falsehoods, it said, adding that the debate was "marked by personal attacks." Germany: 'True losers ... are the Americans' Germany's broadcaster ZDF described the debate as "more civilized" but "more charged" than in 2020, adding that Trump had a better start, but Biden caught up later on, according to a CNBC translation. At first, Biden did not appear very agile and hesitated, it said, but added that his tone was "somewhat surprisingly" as aggressive and sharp as Trump's. On individual topics, Biden had "clear words" for Trump when it came to abortion, but things got "uncomfortable" for him on immigration while Trump tried to dodge questions about the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot. Sueddeutsche Zeitung, meanwhile, titled one of its stories: "Joe Biden's bad evening," saying that even though his answers had more substance than Trump's, Biden's verbal stumbling raised concerns. In another story, the newspaper summarized the debate: "Biden disgraces himself, Trump wastes his chance, but the true losers of the first TV debate in the U.S. election campaigns are the Americans." France: 'Uneven' performance Birds fly outside the U.S. Supreme Court on the day justices issue orders in pending appeals in Washington, U.S., June 24, 2024. Republican lawmakers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the Supreme Court decision Friday overturning the so-called Chevron doctrine, which for four decades led judges to defer to how federal agencies interpreted a law when its language wasn't clear. GOP lawmakers said the 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court undid a precedent that they argued had unjustly strengthened the power of unelected government officials. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said, "The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law." "After 40 years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself," McConnell said. "The days of federal agencies filling in the legislative blanks are rightly over." And Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark, in a statement, said, "Today's decision is an important course correction that will help create a more predictable and stable regulatory environment." Clark added the high court's prior Chevron rule "allowed each new presidential administration to advance their political agendas through flip-flopping regulations and not provide consistent rules of the road for businesses to navigate, plan, and invest in the future." China expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over alleged corruption Thursday, the latest sign of a secretive crackdown sweeping the country's elite. China expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over alleged corruption Thursday, the latest sign of a secretive crackdown sweeping the country's elite. The moves against Li Shangfu and his predecessor, Wei Fenghe, follow a series of shake-ups at the top of the world's largest military Li was ousted from the role last year after disappearing without explanation. The apparent purge comes as Beijing clashes with the United States over the fate of Taiwan, and as the increasingly powerful President Xi Jinping consolidates his leadership. The two former defense ministers, Li and Wei, were expelled by the party's leadership for "serious violation of party discipline and the law," Chinese state news agencies announced early Thursday. Both men were deprived of their qualifications as delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), state media said, citing a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee. The Xinhua news agency said the party's disciplinary and supervisory agency launched an investigation into Li last August that found he had "seriously violated political and organizational discipline." "He sought improper benefits in personnel arrangements for himself and others, took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others, and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables in return. He is suspected of the crime of taking bribes," it said. Li, who became defense secretary last March as Xi began an unprecedented third term in office, disappeared from public view at the end of August. His abrupt removal as defense minister was then announced last October, several months after his absence sparked widespread speculation about his fate. Li was also stripped of his title as state councilor at the time, a rare move officials from the inner circle of the ruling Communist Party are seldom axed. Wei, who preceded Li as defense minister, was similarly accused Thursday of "accepting money and gifts in violation of relevant rules." Earlier this month, Xi said there were "deep-seated problems" in the Chinese military's politics, ideology, work style and discipline, as he continues his years-long anti-corruption crackdown, including in the highest echelons of his own party. Honor CEO George Zhao (L) and GSMA CEO John Hoffman on stage at Shanghai Mobile World Congress during an awards ceremony on June 27, 2024. Honor HANGZHOU, China The transforming power of artificial intelligence is of no value unless user data is protected, CEO of Chinese smartphone company Honor, George Zhao, told CNBC in an exclusive interview on Thursday. His comments come as Apple this month announced it will start rolling out personalized AI tools on certain devices in the U.S. this fall. Honor already integrates some AI functions, such as enabling users to open text messages and other notifications just by looking at them, or eliminating copy-paste steps by directly linking Yelp-like apps to navigation or ride-hailing apps. This week at Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, Honor unveiled new AI tools for detecting the use of deepfakes in videos, and for simulating lenses that can decrease myopia during long hours of screen usage. Zhao emphasized that Honor's approach is to keep AI operations involving personal data limited to the smartphone. It's also known as on-device AI, and stands in contrast with AI tools that tap cloud computing to operate. watch now "Without data security and user privacy protection, AI will become worthless," Zhao said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC. "This has always been one of our value propositions." "We say user data doesn't leave [the device]," Zhao said. "This is a principle we adhere to." Apple Intelligence, the iPhone company's AI product, claims that it uses on-device processing and draws on "server-based models" for more complex requests. Apple said its new "Private Cloud Compute" never stores user data. Honor says its on-device AI is self-developed, and the company is working with Baidu and Google Cloud for some other AI features. "Overall, my view is that AI's development to date has two directions," Zhao said. "Network [cloud] AI has become more and more powerful. But I believe on-device AI, in its capabilities and empowerment of consumers, will become more and more intimate, more and more understanding." "It will give consumers more support and help them interact with the future AI world," he added. Zhao pointed out that many generative AI applications, such as from OpenAI's ChatGPT, require large amounts of computing power well beyond the battery capability of a single smartphone. That means they need to use the cloud, which raises questions about the security of data transfer. Balancing AI capabilities with energy usage and data privacy is a "huge challenge" for manufacturers, Zhao said. He said a system collecting lots of user data to deliver more personalized features becomes a "stronger" object compared to the individual using the system. "In the future development of smartphones, our goal is that the individual becomes stronger," Zhao said. "When an object becomes stronger, this will reveal the smallness of the individual in its presence. I believe mobile end devices need to empower and enable individuals." The Honor Magic V2, the latest foldable smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer, is on display at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images How will we know if we are OK with the stocks we own? I want you to learn how to size up your companies by asking what they are levered to, what matters to them. This concept of levered is not about debt. It's about figuring out what exposure these company have to key issues that can help assess if we are, indeed, OK. What will drive sales? Earnings? What could can and has been making things go right or wrong? I ran through this concept during the Investing Club's June Monthly Meeting on Thursday. Why is it concept so important? It's a quick way to sum up what's ailing a stock or what's really propelling it all the better to know why you should hold on to something or cut bait. I found this levered concept incredibly valuable when I ran other peoples' money at my hedge fund years ago. For example, brokers were always coming by my office back then to pitch new ideas. My first question to them, usually interjected, rudely, if I were bored or confused was: "What the heck is this business levered to?" Invariably, the broker touting the idea knew that I was really just trying to figure out if there was some overarching reason that could send a stock flying or sinking, and it would help me to be sure I was being diversified or that I wasn't just betting on an earnings surprise. If they didn't know what the company's business was levered to, I usually told them to leave. If they knew what it was, but I wasn't so sure things would pan out for the company, then I didn't bite. But if they could present a story that demonstrated leverage to something that I thought was a legitimate driver, something I thought would definitely occur, then I would probably take them up on it. I traded a great deal back then, so I would be out of an idea immediately if things didn't pan out. Palo Alto Networks To understand this kind of leverage that I am talking about as opposed to the kind that involves debt let's start with something easy, let's start with the stock of Palo Alto Networks . I know that it hasn't done as well lately as CrowdStrike , but there is room for both, and I am beginning to believe that Palo Alto CEO Nikesh Arora has been winning some bigger business than I thought when he first came out with this idea of platformization, which involves bundling his products in a way that his customers can get better bang for their bucks. We own Palo Alto because its fortunes are levered to something that has the most explosive growth of an industry I know: cybercrime. As long as the bad guys seem to be able to strike at will, closing down whole companies, or even whole industries, as is the case with last week's CDK Global auto dealer hack, and as long as no one ever seems to get caught or be imprisoned or even make restitution, then Palo Alto is going to be a stock you want to own. If we didn't own Palo Alto we would own CrowdStrike. You have to have some business that is levered to a menace that strikes fear into the heart of every CEO. Even better, in Palo Alto's case, it is often called in to help stop problems after a hack has been announced. Given that there is a four-day window between when you are hacked and when you have to tell the world you are hacked, it's just an endless annuity stream for this company. Wynn, GE Healthcare, Danaher and Estee Lauder Remember I said figuring out what a business is levered to can help you stay diversified? We have four positions that certainly seemed to be diversified when we bought them: Wynn Resorts , a casino company; GE Healthcare , a maker of MRI machines in hospitals; Danaher , a maker of the best equipment for the life sciences industry, which is in tremendous growth mode; and Estee Lauder , a once ultra-blue chip cosmetics and skin care company. But I was looking at these four by sector, by industry, not by what they are levered to. All four are actually levered to the fortunes of China, both the companies and, more important, the stocks themselves. That means they are considered by many to be not ownable. Does it mean anything that Wynn is crushing it in Las Vegas? No. Or that its two Macao casinos are doing better than expected? No. The fact is that the Macao casinos are levered to the Chinese gamblers and therefore it's too difficult to own or be bigger in no matter how much we like it. China's too dicey for big money managers to take a swing at. Even as GE Healthcare and Danaher do the vast preponderance of their businesses away from China, roughly about 85% away from the world's second-largest economy, that 15%, give or take a few percentage points, has colored their stories incredibly negatively. In this case, their stocks are more levered to China than their actual businesses. But who are we to tell others they are wrong to conflate the two? We keep hearing that the Chinese government wants to stimulate health-care equipment but the companies haven't yet seen it. When we bought Estee Lauder, I was actually excited about how it was levered to China and was doing so well there. I knew at the time that China was only about a third of the business, but it was growing. Then Covid hit and the Chinese cut down on conspicuous consumption, and the Chinese consumer grew pessimistic and even, it seems world weary. I predicted none of this. So, we ended up owning a stock and a company levered to China with a CEO in Fabrizio Freda who then doubled down on China, hoping on a strong comeback to the world's greatest cosmetics market. I got this wrong. They got it wrong. The leverage of both the stock and the company is such that, at this point, if anything good happened at all in China, we could see a rebound. But, candidly, you can see if you ask "what's it levered to" someone might say: "China, but we already own GE Healthcare, Danaher and Wynn, so let's cut our losses." We didn't. That was a mistake, a big one. It happens. You can't stew. You have to move on. And we will. TJX and Costco TJX Companies and Costco , two of our huge winners, are levered to a frugal consumer. TJX, the off-price retailer behind T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods, gives you unheard-of bargains because it pays cash for goods that other retailers are stuck with. Shopping there shows you are smart. People like being smart about not spending money these days. Costco drives a hard bargain with its suppliers in order to reward frugal club members. Neither TJX nor Costco is particularly endearing as places to shop. They are treasure hunt paradises, though, and that's what matters to the American consumer who is still trying to make ends meet. This frugal consumer theme whether they're wealthy or not is one I want to explore more. There are more ideas to mine here than I originally realized as you might have heard on "Mad Money" with Ollie's Bargain Stores on Tuesday. Bottom line I ran through the rest of the portfolio using this levered concept during Thursday's Monthly Meeting. You can watch the replay video for the rest. The important takeaway here is the power of knowing the stocks you own and putting them through this kind of stress test to make sure what you thought would work is, indeed, working. It will also help you recognize when things are not going your way in a position or positions so you can make an informed decision about next steps. (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Jim Cramer at the NYSE, June 30, 2022. Virginia Sherwood | CNBC European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. At a summit in Brussels, the bloc's 27 national leaders also picked former Portuguese premier Antonio Costa as the future chair of their European Council meetings and selected Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the next EU foreign policy chief. "Mission accomplished! The European Council has delivered," the body's current chair, Charles Michel, told reporters early on Friday morning. The leadership package represents continuity at the top of the bloc of some 450 million people, with centrist pro-EU factions keeping hold of top posts despite a far-right surge in elections to the European Parliament earlier this month. The trio won broad backing but right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni abstained from the vote on von der Leyen and voted against Costa and Kallas, according to diplomats. Meloni said on X that she decided not to support the leadership slate "out of respect for the citizens and the indications that came from those citizens during the elections". Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another right-winger, voted against von der Leyen and did not vote for Kallas, diplomats said. Von der Leyen's nomination still needs approval from the European Parliament in a secret ballot - widely seen as a trickier proposition than her endorsement by EU leaders. "It is a matter of convincing - if possible - a broad majority for a strong Europe," von der Leyen said. "This is what I'm going to be working for." The leadership package is balanced politically as well as geographically. Von der Leyen hails from the centre-right, Costa from the centre-left and Kallas from Europe's liberal group. "This is an enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. There's war in Europe, but there's also growing instability globally," Kallas told reporters. Costa said he would be "fully committed to promoting unity among the 27 member states" in his new role. At the summit, the EU also signed a security agreement with Ukraine, debated how to bolster EU defences against Russia and agreed bloc's strategic priorities for the next five years. The security deal underlines EU support for Kyiv fighting off Moscow's invasion for a third year, despite gains by the far-right in European elections, uncertainty created by French snap elections and the U.S. presidential vote in November. An electric Ford truck is displayed during the Electrify Expo D.C. in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2023. Ford Motor expects to introduce a $30,000 all-electric vehicle that will be profitable in roughly two and a half years, CEO Jim Farley said Friday during the Aspen Ideas Festival. Farley did not release many other details about the vehicle, which is being developed by a Ford "skunkworks" team, but said its main competitors are expected to be Chinese automakers such as BYD and an anticipated entry-level car from U.S. EV leader Tesla . Farley said Ford is first focusing on smaller EVs instead of larger all-electric trucks and SUVs, which have historically been gas-powered profit engines for the company, because such vehicles are "never going to make money." "You have to make a radical change as an [automaker] to get to a profitable EV. The first thing we have to do is really put all of our capital toward smaller, more affordable EVs," Farley said during an interview with CNBC's Julia Boorstin. "That's the duty cycle that we've now found that really matches. These big, huge, enormous EVs, they're never going to make money. The battery is $50,000. The batteries will never be affordable." A Ford spokesman later clarified Farley was referring to large vehicles such as the company's Super Duty models or vehicles that require massive battery packs to achieve significant EV ranges of 500 miles. He was not referring to ones such as Ford's current all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup or next-generation EVs. Ford earlier this year said it was postponing production of a large three-row SUV at a plant in Canada to 2027 from its initial plan of 2025. It also postponed a next-generation pickup, codenamed "T3," from late 2025 to 2026. Farley on Friday reiterated Ford's next-generation vehicles would be profitable. He also said Americans need to "get back in love" with small cars instead of larger ones, a surprising statement given a majority or Ford's profits come from trucks and considering American carmakers have historically had trouble making money on small models. "We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It's super important for our society and for EV adoption," Farley said Friday. "We are just in love with these monster vehicles, and I love them too, but it's a major issue with weight." Ford's EV unit lost $1.32 billion during the first quarter of this year on 10,000 vehicles wholesaled. While the unit also includes EV-related business such as software, those losses equate to a loss of $132,000 per vehicle the unit sells. Farley said it is crucial for Ford to make profitable EVs in the next five years as Chinese automakers continue to expand globally. "If we cannot make money on EVs, we have competitors who have the largest market in the world, who already dominate globally, already setting up their supply chain around the world," he said. "And if we don't make profitable EVs in the next five years, what is the future? We will just shrink into North America." Jordan Bardella, President of the National Rally (Rassemblement National), a French nationalist and right-wing populist party, speaks to over 5,000 supporters at his final rally ahead of the upcoming European Parliament election on June 9th, at Le Dome de Paris - Palais des Sports, on June 2, 2024., France, on June 2, 2024, in Paris, France. Nurphoto | Getty Images With just days to go until France's snap parliamentary election kicks off, victory for the far right looks increasingly likely in the first phase of the two-stage runoff. Marine Le Pen's National Rally and its allies are seen winning 36% of votes, signaling growing support for the party's euroskeptic, anti-immigration agenda, according to the latest opinion polls from Elabe released ahead of the first vote on June 30. The left-wing New Popular Front, meanwhile, is projected behind with 27%, while President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party is predicted to clinch 20% of the support, as of June 27. The shift away from centrist politics has spooked investors and analysts, who warn of implications ranging from "political paralysis" to "immediate financial crisis." But predicting the outcome of France's final vote on July 7 is less clear cut, given the complexity of France's voting system. CNBC takes a look at the likelihood of a far-right French victory and the impact for markets. A complex system Under France's two-stage voting system, all parliamentary candidates who receive at least 12.5% of locally registered voters progress to the second-round runoff a feat that the National Rally is likely to achieve in a large number of constituencies. But even with sweeping gains in the first round, the party could be stumped at the final hurdle by voters using "le vote utile" or tactical voting to keep them out. That was seen as part of Macron's gamble when the French leader called the surprise vote following the National Rally's record 31.3% gain in this month's European Parliament elections. Others say the president hopes to discredit his competitors ahead of France's 2027 presidential election, with Macron since claiming there will be "civil war" if either extreme wins. Voter turnout for the national election is also expected to be larger and therefore more representative than the 51% who cast their ballot in the EU vote. With that in mind, analysts see a 30% to 40% chance of the National Rally winning the 289 seats needed to secure an absolute majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. A more likely outcome, however, would be major gains for the far right, with the National Rally potentially becoming the biggest party in France, but ultimately falling short of a majority and leading to a highly divided hung parliament. Market turmoil Such a stalemate could leave France with lower trend growth, elevated yield spreads and a "worse reputation globally," Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank, told CNBC on Monday. Already, France's blue-chip CAC 40 index is heading for its worst month since May 2023, having lost as much as 6% since the vote was announced on June 9. The spread between French and German borrowing costs a key indicator of French political risk has also jumped to its widest in more than a decade. A majority government for either the far-right or the ultra-left alliance, meanwhile, could spark a far more dramatic outcome. watch now "Spendthrift agendas" from either party whose policies both include lowering the retirement age and cutting income tax could result in an "immediate financial crisis," Schmieding suggested. Citi analysts said in a note Thursday that markets were currently "too optimistic" about a benign outcome, adding that its higher probability scenarios of gridlock or an extreme parliament could lead to a 5% to 20% fall in French equity valuations. "Combined with our finding that French equities tend to be more volatile than peers' around elections, this could be reason to expect additional choppiness from here," the analysts noted. Political paralysis The CEO of Paris-based Euronext, Europe's biggest stock exchange group, sought to quell investor concerns earlier this week, telling the Financial Times that neither the left nor the right would be able to implement their more extreme policies amid checks and balances from the president, ratings agencies and the European Union. On Monday, Jordan Bardella Le Pen's 28-year-old protege, who could become prime minister under a strong showing for the National Rally was seen stepping back on some more extreme measures, vowing to implement "reasonable" spending plans. That includes an aim to bring France's deficit back to the EU limit of 3% of GDP. Even with more measured fiscal plans, however, parliamentary gridlock could make such policies difficult to enact. Bardella, for his part, has recently stressed that he would "need an absolute majority to govern," in a bid to boost his backing. "You start with deficit at 5.5%, debt at 110%, you're unable to do anything for the next three years, which means that deficits are just not coming down. To me that's the biggest issue that France faces right now," Jefferies' chief financial economist for Europe, Mohit Kumar, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Tuesday. CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday there are stocks and sectors that would benefit if Donald Trump were to become president again. "There are people ... saying it looks like you could pull forward what may be a Trump victory," Cramer said during the Morning Meeting for Investing Club members based on Thursday night's debate between the former president and current President Joe Biden . Top Democrats are worried, with megadonors telling CNBC that they were alarmed by Biden's disappointing performance. There has been talk for months about whether Democrats could replace Biden as their candidate given concerns about his age. Cramer said he's not pro-Trump or pro-Biden. He just wants to help investors make money. He stressed that he's not advocating investors take immediate action on buying or selling stocks based on the presidential debate. Rather, he wants investors to consider different scenarios in the weeks and months leading up to the November election. If you think Trump will win the White House, Cramer said, "That means you can go buy the banks. That means you can go buy the natural gas and energy stocks," as well as Big Tech. He said that federal regulations and competition concerns under Trump would be less burdensome than under Biden. Banks and mergers Cramer said it makes sense to him that Wells Fargo was up nearly 3% on Friday but added that Morgan Stanley 's less than 1% increase was misplaced. He said Morgan Stanley, as a big investment bank, would benefit from more mergers and acquisitions being allowed to go through. Cramer said that deals being held up by regulators such as the supermarket merger of Kroger and Albertsons as well as Tapestry and Capri getting together in luxury fashion could happen. To be sure, though, long-dormant M & A activity and initial public offerings have picked up this year as the stock market reached new highs. Cramer also said he is contemplating buying back some of the Disney shares that the Club sold at much higher levels next week. He said he knows people might think that Disney is too "woke" under a Trump presidency, but said he cares more about how there could be a lot of M & A in media and Disney could benefit. Regulation Cramer said mega-cap tech companies in the crosshairs of the Biden administration's competition concerns such as Amazon and Alphabet would have an easier time under Trump. Cramer said that if you like these stocks now, which he said he does, they could be even bigger winners if there's a change in the White House. Energy and the environment Cramer called out New Fortress Energy as a winner if Trump won. Biden shelved a plan from the company to export liquified natural gas (LNG). Trump has vowed to allow it. Cramer also said Tesla might fare better under Trump and Biden because Trump is not pro-union. Biden's pro-union stance has helped the legacy American automakers including Club name Ford . Shares of Ford were up more than 2% on Friday, perhaps as Cramer speculated that automakers might not have to cut emissions as much during a Trump presidency. Our newest portfolio name Nextracker was under pressure Friday along with the whole solar group on Trump being perceived as less renewable and more oil and natural gas. Cramer said, though, that Nextracker's system that tracks the sun could do well anyway because tech companies need lots of power and have already made commitments to using sustainable energy sources. The Club started a Nextracker position on Thursday. China Trump has said he would be even tougher on China if he were re-elected. To be fair, Biden has been tough on China, keeping the Trump tariffs and putting rules in place to prevent the Chinese military from getting their hands on such things as the fastest artificial intelligence semiconductors. Cramer said that Trump back in the White House could mean a much broader trade war with China. If that happened, companies with big China exposure like Nike and Club name Starbucks might find themselves under further pressure. In the wake of a contentious debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Thursday night, CNBC's Jim Cramer described how the vibe of the market could change if Trump returned to the White House. "If you think that Trump's more likely to be president, the overall tone of the stock market will improve if only because the man can't bear to see it go down, as the major averages are the barometer he uses to measure his own job approval," Cramer said. "You may think that's insane, but it's the reality, and if nothing else hate him or like him he's good for your portfolio." The Trump administration rarely tried to block mergers, Cramer said. So companies like Kroger , which has been trying to buy Albertsons , might do well, along with Tapestry , which wants to acquire Capri . Capital One could also be poised for success, as it's hoping to buy Discover . Cramer noted that Trump is broadly amiable to gas and oil, pointing to companies like New Fortress Energy and Cheniere . He also predicted that if elected, the Republican would impose tougher trade regulations, especially with China, which might not bode well for companies like Nike and Starbucks . Cramer said as long as he's known Trump, the GOP candidate has had a keen interest in the market. "He loved bantering about the stock market, appeared on this show many times, because even though he was in real estate, he enjoyed stocks," Cramer said. Former President Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In this article PFE Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Kena Betancur | Corbis News | Getty Images Pfizer had a "phenomenal" first quarter and Wall Street took notice, CEO Albert Bourla told thousands of employees during a companywide town hall on May 2, according to a recording heard by CNBC. A day earlier, the pharmaceutical giant's stock had closed 6% higher after its quarterly results topped analyst estimates and it hiked its full-year outlook. It was a far cry from the year prior, when Pfizer's shares plunged more than 40%, making it one of the worst-performing large pharmaceutical stocks of 2023. Its market cap of about $157 billion is now less than half of its 2021 peak of nearly $350 billion. Few companies benefited from the pandemic as much as Pfizer did. The drugmaker's profits boomed, fueled by its Covid vaccine and antiviral pill Paxlovid. After Pfizer and German company BioNTech rapidly developed and deployed a lifesaving shot that helped the world emerge from the pandemic, Pfizer drew widespread praise. Pfizer's success contributed to its equally jarring fall from grace. When the virus receded in 2023, its Covid products revenue plummeted. The world, which hailed Pfizer as a pandemic hero a few years earlier, no longer needed the company in the same way. Pfizer may be on its way toward stabilizing its business and winning back Wall Street's favor after the strong first quarter. But the company is struggling to balance that with the fears of its employees, some of whom said they feel uncertain about their future and unmotivated after the sudden reversal of fortune. In October Pfizer launched a multibillion-dollar cost-cutting program, slashing research and development spending and laying off hundreds of employees including in the once-lauded Covid vaccine unit. In May the company said it's on track to deliver $4 billion in savings by the end of the year. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Pfizer's stock surged after it rolled out its Covid vaccine and antiviral treatment, then plunged when the company's Covid revenue started to drop. Now, as Pfizer appears poised to turn a corner, the company is trying to boost employee morale to match Wall Street's optimism. CNBC spoke with 11 current and former Pfizer employees all of whom asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation about Pfizer's dizzying climb, rapid decline and turnaround strategy. The company's seesawing fortunes have fueled uncertainty within Pfizer's workforce. Most of the current and former employees CNBC spoke with called Pfizer a good place to work, and some current employees said they feel optimistic about the direction of the company after the first quarter. But other current employees are dissatisfied with where the strategy shift has left them. Some cited higher workloads after teams were stretched thin by budget cuts, a return-to-office policy they said has forced out some remote workers, and doubts about how the business will perform moving forward. The company's separate multiyear cost-cutting program announced in May is also stoking fears about the potential for new U.S. layoffs, according to some current workers. Some employees working in certain manufacturing and supply chain divisions, which they believe are likely to be affected by the cuts, described having low morale and motivation to work. Meanwhile, several former Pfizer employees, most of whom were laid off over the last six months or left voluntarily, said they're unhappy with how the company handled cost cuts in 2023. Some alleged that Pfizer management provided little transparency around the layoffs and seemed more focused on the company's stock performance than its staff throughout the process. During the latest town hall, Bourla told employees that layoffs in the U.S. have been completed but that more are occurring internationally. He called the job cuts "very, very painful" and said it was "killing" him to let employees go. But he also acknowledged that Wall Street likes the cuts. "And, of course, I'm very concerned with everyone that could be affected and impacted by that, but it works," Bourla said, according to the recording. "And we saw it, how the Street will respond." A Pfizer spokesperson said reducing costs will "put us on strong footing towards margin expansion and improved financial returns moving forward." The spokesperson added that cutting expenses is one of Pfizer's five priorities for the year, along with maximizing the performance of new products, innovating its drug pipeline, growing its oncology business with its acquisition of cancer drugmaker Seagen, and allocating capital to increase its dividend, reduce outstanding debt and reinvest in the business. To cut costs, apart from layoffs the company is trimming its drug portfolio and direct marketing spending, shrinking its real estate footprint and reducing its investment in Covid, among other efforts, said the spokesperson. The spokesperson said Pfizer does not take the layoffs "lightly" and that the company is "focused on providing our impacted colleagues with the resources and compassion they deserve." What went wrong in 2023 Pfizer entered 2023 on a high. The company had just capped a record-breaking 2022 with $100 billion in sales, more than half of which came from its Covid vaccines and Paxlovid. Employee morale at Pfizer was relatively high at the time, some current and former workers told CNBC. The company had gone on a hiring spree and piled money into different projects, they said. The success came with trade-offs. Two former employees involved in developing the Covid vaccine manufacturing process said they were experiencing burnout at the start of 2023. In January 2023, Pfizer forecast a steep drop in annual revenue, to between $67 billion and $71 billion. That outlook included $13.5 billion and $8 billion in sales of Covid vaccines and Paxlovid, respectively. But it could not predict at the time just how much revenue would dry up. Pfizer's Covid vaccine Comirnaty, seen at a CVS Pharmacy in Eagle Rock, California, Sept. 14, 2023. Irfan Khan | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images During an earnings call that same month, Pfizer executives said they expected roughly 24% of the U.S. population to get an annual Covid booster in 2023. But by December, only around 17% of U.S. adults had received the new Covid shots from Pfizer and Moderna, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many Americans who got previous Covid shots felt they did not need more protection because the threat of the virus had diminished, according to recent surveys. Meanwhile, use of Paxlovid in the U.S. was dented by reductions in Covid testing and infection rates, and by doctors' concerns about interactions with common medications, among other factors. As demand plummeted, the federal government returned millions of the antiviral treatment courses to Pfizer. In January this year, however, Pfizer said fewer courses were returned by the end of 2023 than it had expected. The company soon acknowledged the challenges its Covid business faced towards the end of 2023. In October, Pfizer said it slashed both ends of its 2023 sales guidance by around $9 billion "solely due to its Covid products." At the same time, Pfizer started to cut costs. The company still hasn't said how many employees it laid off, though it reduced staff around the world. Pfizer's 2023 revenue ultimately came in at $58.5 billion, including $11.22 billion from its Covid vaccine and $1.28 billion from Paxlovid. The end of the year brought other challenges for Pfizer: The company scrapped the twice-daily version of its experimental weight loss drug, danuglipron, and saw slower uptake for a newly launched RSV vaccine in the U.S. than competitor GSK saw with its own version. After the string of difficulties, investors showed relief when Pfizer announced the cost cuts. But for many employees, the shift in post-pandemic strategy was a nightmare, they told CNBC. During a conference in January, Bourla acknowledged that 2023 was a rough year for the company and its stock price. But he said Pfizer took steps to start 2024 with a "clean slate." Those included renegotiating multibillion-dollar Covid contracts with the EU and other governments, transitioning its Covid products to the commercial market in several countries and writing off unused stock of its vaccine and Paxlovid. "So it's not simple, how many people will use the vaccine. There were a lot of things we had to remove" he said. Bourla also touted Pfizer's portfolio of new products that it said will boost sales, including nine new product approvals in the U.S. last year and a pipeline of drugs that could bring in more future revenue. Pfizer has also repeatedly said that the Seagen deal brings a proven antibody-drug conjugate platform that enhances its commercial structure and could help the company become a "world-class oncology leader." Pfizer has said Seagen could contribute more than $10 billion in risk-adjusted sales by 2030 with its targeted cancer therapies. Those revenue streams would help Pfizer prepare for upcoming patent expirations for blockbuster drugs, including its breast cancer treatment Ibrance, and Eliquis, a blood thinner it shares with Bristol Myers Squibb . A 'slap in the face' Some current and former employees said they knew early in 2023 that wide-scale layoffs were possible. Those people alleged that Pfizer has long had a culture of hiring too many people and later laying many employees off a cycle seen at many other large companies. Pfizer wasn't the only Covid-boom company whose business declined. Biotech company Moderna 's revenue from its Covid shot also plunged in 2023. Companies outside the pharmaceutical industry that flourished in 2020, including fitness firm Peloton and digital meeting platform Zoom , also struggled to adjust as people returned to their pre-pandemic lives. Other drugmakers big and small are still downsizing and restructuring their workforces. Big pharmaceutical companies, such as Bristol Myers Squibb, are trying to conserve cash as they could lose revenue from upcoming drug patent expirations and Medicare drug price negotiations, among other threats. Biotech companies are also working to stay afloat after a rough 2023 marked by rising interest rates, a poor deal market and a lack of fundraising. At Pfizer, there were other warnings of trouble ahead, according to current and former employees: a small round of layoffs during the first quarter of 2023 and budget restrictions that limited travel, team lunch outings and purchases of new lab and manufacturing equipment. Pfizer's announcement in March 2023 that it would acquire Seagen for a whopping $43 billion was another sign, according to some current and former employees. While most of the 11 workers acknowledged that the deal made sense for Pfizer's growth, they said the hefty price tag at a time when Covid sales had already started to decline left them uneasy. Still, a few former employees said they felt blindsided by the company's decision to let go of staff, saying they were relatively optimistic about the business before the October cost-cut announcement. One former employee who worked at a site focused on gene therapies in Durham, North Carolina, said they were repeatedly told their job would be safe even as Pfizer divested much of its early stage portfolio for those treatments at the start of 2023. The company confirmed with news outlets in October that it would close that site and lay off an undisclosed number of staff. Notably, Pfizer's layoffs also affected some workers involved in the research, development and manufacturing of the company's Covid vaccine, according to some current and former employees. They said those workers, whom Pfizer celebrated as pandemic heroes just a year earlier, felt especially betrayed by the cuts. "It felt like we were tossed out the door when they no longer needed us," said one former employee who worked on the vaccine. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla speaks during a press conference after a visit to oversee the production of the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at the Pfizer factory in Puurs, Belgium, April 23, 2021. John Thys | Reuters All the current and former employees who spoke with CNBC said they believed the company handled the layoffs and the months leading up to them poorly. Some workers said they were disappointed with what they called higher management's lack of transparency around the layoffs. Some also questioned why Pfizer did not set more realistic expectations for its Covid business earlier, especially as cases and public concern about the virus diminished in the U.S. On Oct. 17, just a few days after Pfizer publicly announced its cost-cutting program to investors, executives held a companywide town hall with Pfizer's more than 80,000-person workforce that one worker described as "disastrous" and another called a "slap in the face." On the town hall, Bourla and Pfizer Chief Human Experience Officer Payal Sahni Becher acknowledged the company's Covid business was struggling but said it was positioning for growth with the cost cuts, according to some current and former employees. Those people said the executives addressed the looming layoffs during the town hall but provided scant details on how many workers, teams or sites they would affect, when they would occur or how the company decided who would lose their jobs. Many workers also alleged that Bourla and Becher were too casual during the town hall, cracking light jokes and chuckling at some of the questions asked by staff, such as one about employee bonuses. Return-to-office policies On top of layoffs, return-to-office policies launched in 2023 forced out some workers in fully remote roles, some current and former employees said. Those people said some fully remote employees had their virtual work status revoked and were asked to start working in person at their site starting on a certain date under the new mandates. While some workers were asked to come in only two or three days a week, even that was impossible for staff members who lived too far from their sites, according to the employees. Some remote workers who did not comply over time were let go, the current and former employees said. A Pfizer spokesperson did not confirm or provide any details about its recent return-to-office policies. "The return to office has been possibly the worst managed factor in all of this," one current employee said. People pass by the Pfizer headquarters building in New York City, Jan. 29, 2023. Kena Betancur | View Press | Corbis News | Getty Images Those policies also applied to workers who were relocated from recently closed facilities, according to some employees. For example, Pfizer in October said it would shut down its office in Peapack, New Jersey in 2024, which affected nearly 800 workers. The company first announced those plans in 2021. Pfizer told news outlets that the majority of employees would be relocated to its headquarters in New York City. For one employee, a 15-minute commute to work became closer to an hour-and-a-half trip. During another town hall, on Oct. 26, Pfizer Chief Global Supply Officer Mike McDermott said the decision to close the Peapack site "wasn't made lightly." But he said having Peapack employees work in person at the company's headquarters was "right for Pfizer's culture," according to a recording heard by CNBC. He said the company isn't taking away remote work as an option. Pfizer leadership has been vocal about asking employees to work in person again. "Teleconferencing is simply no substitute for the personal interaction that makes it possible to share ideas, build connection, or even agree to disagree," Bourla said during the APEC CEO Summit in November. Pfizer is just one of several companies across different industries to push for in-person work again after the pandemic. Tech giants such as Google similarly reversed course on remote work in 2023 after offering flexibility to employees throughout Covid, reportedly frustrating workers. Employee morale Employee morale plummeted in the months after the October layoff announcement, according to current and former employees. Some of those people said they were unmotivated to work with their job security in question, while one worker described "walking on eggshells" for weeks out of fear that they would lose their job. Other employees said they were stretched thin due to understaffing and a lack of other resources. A few workers said they struggled to keep up with abrupt internal changes, such as being assigned to new managers or being moved onto different teams. Some current employees said Pfizer has held several so-called transparency meetings, which allow workers to anonymously ask questions and provide feedback to senior leadership. Faith in executive leadership also plunged among some workers, according to most of the current and former employees who spoke with CNBC. Some employees acknowledged that executives have a duty to care about their company's stock price but said that Bourla and other officials appeared to be hyper-focused on Pfizer shares even as people lost their jobs. Some current workers said that hasn't appeared to change after the town hall on May 2. Others said Bourla's remarks were encouraging and sounded far more genuine. People pass by the Pfizer headquarters building on January 29, 2023 in New York City. Kena Betacur | Corbis News | Getty Images There appeared to be an additional presence on stage with Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump in Thursday night's CNN electoral debate: Vladimir Putin The Russian leader was invoked roughly a dozen times in the 90-minute volley of verbal blows on domestic and foreign policy between the two candidates. Both have navigated the White House relationship with the Kremlin for a mandate each and shared very different views of the Russian leader. Trump who has denied accusations that Moscow interfered in his favor in the 2016 election claimed that Putin would be deterred from conflict if he respected the leadership of opposing global superpowers. "As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that knew that was respected by Putin, he would have never he would have never invaded Ukraine," Trump said, according to a CNN transcript of the debate. Dubbing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "the greatest salesman ever," Trump again criticized the extent of U.S. financial support for Kyiv throughout the conflict. Two months ago, Washington approved a foreign aid bill that earmarked roughly $60 billion for the war-torn country. "I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th. I'll have that war settled," Trump said, without disclosing any details. Trump said, however, that Putin's latest demands for peace negotiations to begin which include the withdrawal of Kyiv's forces from Ukrainian territories illegally annexed by Russia are "not acceptable." In a separate pledge, Trump vowed to ensure the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia in March 2023 and now faces trial on charges of espionage. "I will have him out very quickly, as soon as I take office, before I take office," Trump said, noting that Putin is "probably asking for billions of dollars for the reporter." The Russian leader has previously signaled interest in a potential prisoner swap for Gershkovich, rather than in financial compensation. Zelenskyy has previously called Trump's claim that he could end the Ukraine war in 24 hours "very dangerous" and appeared apprehensive over a potential White House return of the Republican candidate. As investors debate whether to buy, hold or sell U.S. chipmaker Nvidia , one value investor is steering clear. "Nvidia is a great company with really good short- and intermediate-term prospects," David Katz of the U.S.-based investment advisory firm Matrix Asset Advisors told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Thursday. "The issue that we have with Nvidia is that we think the stock is fully priced." Katz, who manages the Matrix Asset Advisors Value Fund and is also CIO and president at the firm, expects the chipmaker to face competitive threats over the next one or two years. "We think it's a great company, but we are not owning the stock now. We would not be moving into the stock. We think that probably a year or two years from now, the stock could be lower than it is today," he said. "There are better places to make money with a lot lower risk," he added, naming several stocks he likes right now. Cisco Systems Technology giant Cisco Systems which offers networking and security services as well as data centers is among the names on Katz's list. He said the company has performed well recently, but has had a "miserable" couple of years. Cisco's revenue fell by 13% in its fiscal third quarter, but its earnings still surpassed expectations. Shares in the tech giant are down around 7% year-to-date and 7.8% in the last 12 months. Katz sees Cisco as a "second or third derivative play from artificial intelligence," with heightened demand for its networks as internet traffic grows. He also expects the company to see an acceleration in business from its $28 billion acquisition of security software maker Splunk . "We're expecting the business to start to accelerate for the first time in a long, long time, and at 12.5 times [price-to-earnings], you have a lot of upside," Katz said. "Right now, technology stocks are selling at 30 and 40 times earnings. The markets are at 22 times earnings. So you're getting Cisco at a much, much better price." According to FactSet data, of 28 analysts covering the stock, 7 give it a buy or overweight rating while 21 have a hold call. Their average price target is $53.51, which implies a potential upside of around 14%. Starbucks Coffee chain Starbucks is another favorite for Katz, who says it offers an "addictive product [with] global power." Trading at 22 times forward earnings, he said the stock offers "a great business at a very good price." Starbucks reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings and revenue at the end of April , fueled by falling same-store sales and traffic. The company's executives had previously attributed sluggish sales to boycotts targeting the company's stance on Israel. "The problems last quarter was self inflicted by management mistakes. We think they're going to fix it," Katz said, adding that he expects a management refresh potentially a new CEO. Shares in Starbucks are up down 17.6% year-to-date and nearly 20% in the last 12 months. Of 35 analysts covering the stock, 14 give it a buy or overweight rating, according to FactSet data. Its average price target of $88.50 gives it upside potential of around 11.5%. 'Cheap' financial stocks Also on Katz's radar are large regional financial sector plays like Bank of New York Mellon and PNC Financial Services which offer "more upside." Large banks, he explained, "have a very understandable commercial real estate portfolio," unlike smaller or mid-sized regional banks. "Large banks had a very good first quarter and very good outlooks," he said. "So these stocks are at 11 times price-to-earnings. The market is 21 times earnings. So, we think they're cheap." CNBC's Amelia Lucas contributed to this report. Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court heard oral argument in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson and Smith v. Spizzirri, a dispute over the constitutionality of ordinances that bar people who are homeless from camping on city streets. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a constitutional challenge to ordinances enacted by a small city in Oregon that punish homeless people for sleeping on public property when they have nowhere else to go. The justices on a 6-3 vote on ideological lines with conservatives in the majority ruled in favor of the city of Grants Pass, saying the measures do not run afoul of the Constitution's Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment. "Homelessness is complex," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the ruling. "Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not." Gorsuch added that homeless people may have other defenses against punitive municipal ordinances that could be raised in other cases. Grants Pass may also be restricted by a new state law in Oregon that puts restraints on the power of cities to punish people for sleeping on public property. The ruling was met with a sharp response from liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor who for the second day in a row made her strong feelings known by reading a summary of her dissent in the courtroom. "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime," she wrote. The Grants Pass policy was "unconscionable and unconstitutional," she added, saying she hoped the court in future "will play its role in safeguarding constitutional liberties for the most vulnerable among us." The ruling overturns a 2022 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of a group of homeless people. That means an injunction limiting the city's ability to enforce the ordinances against people who are sleeping outside, protected only by blankets and with no other shelter options available, will be thrown out. The city could already enforce other aspects of what it describes as its anti-camping policy, including restrictions on more permanent encampments. The ordinances bar sleeping or camping on publicly owned property, but the focus is on people who have no alternative because of a lack of homeless shelters in the city, which is about 250 miles south of Portland. "We are disappointed that a majority of the court has decided that our Constitution allows a city to punish its homeless residents simply for sleeping outside with a blanket to survive the cold when there is nowhere else for them to go," said Ed Johnson, a lawyer with the Oregon Law Center who represents the plaintiffs. Punishment, which is the key issue in the case, can include fines of up to several hundred dollars and exclusion orders barring people from public property. Advocates for the homeless have said the ordinances punish people for existing when they have no other place to go and that the measures do nothing to address the underlying issue of housing shortages. Cities already have the power to regulate homeless encampments, they added, something that is not at issue before the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the ordinances would serve only to push the burdens of serving the homeless population onto neighboring jurisdictions, their lawyers argued. Grants Pass officials posted a statement on the city's website saying they are "thankful that the court's ruling will help guide our next steps regarding unhoused members of our community." The statement said the city is "committed to assisting residents struggling to find stable housing." The appeals court ruling at issue applied to all nine states within the its jurisdiction, including California. Several of those states have large populations of homeless people. Among those asking the Supreme Court to overturn the appeals court were local officials in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and other cities. The Biden administration filed a brief in support of neither side saying laws that bar sleeping on public property are unlawful "if they are applied in a manner that prevents an individual without available shelter from residing in the jurisdiction." The appeals court ruled 2-1 that Grants Pass cannot "enforce its anti-camping ordinances against homeless persons for the mere act of sleeping outside with rudimentary protection from the elements, or for sleeping in their car at night, when there is no other place in the city for them to go." The decision applied only in situations where there is "no shelter space available," the court added. The ruling mostly upheld the injunction issued by a federal judge that limited the city's ability to enforce the ordinances against certain homeless people sleeping in parks at night. The case arose after a group of homeless people challenged the application of the ordinances. They say there is no shelter space, so they have little option but to sleep outside. City officials argued in court that the ordinances pass legal muster and are aimed at curbing the proliferation of homeless encampments. Officials argue that their policies are aimed at encouraging homeless people to seek housing, although the city itself does not have its own shelter. It directs people to one run by a religious organization that has limited space and imposes conditions that some homeless people object to. Spectators watch a race on the River Thames at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, west of London, on June 30, 2023. LONDON Harmful E.coli bacteria has been discovered at "alarmingly high" levels in the U.K.'s River Thames just days before elite rowers are due to compete there for the international Henley Regatta, anti-pollution campaigners have warned. From Tuesday onwards, around 4,000 rowers from across the globe are set to compete in 400 races to qualify for the iconic regatta, which has taken place along the waterway since 1839. Water quality testing carried out by River Action campaign group ahead of the race, found E.coli bacteria up to 27 times the acceptable limit for bathing water, prompting health concerns following a rise in E.coli cases in the country. E.coli is a diverse group of bacteria which, while usually harmless, can produce toxins that can cause severe illness. River Action tested water in the Henley Mile part of the regatta course outside the Oxfordshire town 27 times between May 23 and June 25 and found an average of 1,213 E.coli colony forming units (CFUs) per 100ml of water. It warned the levels were "alarmingly high" in a Thursday statement. Anything above 900 CFUs/100ml fails the Environment Agency's inland bathing water quality standards and is deemed a threat to public health, the campaign group said. More than half (47%) of readings were found to be above the acceptable limit. The highest recorded was 25,000 CFUs/100ml, more than 27 times higher. River Action also found E.coli levels up to 10 times higher in March tests. James Wallace, CEO of River Action, accused the government and Thames Water, which manages water supply in the area, of failing to appropriately manage water hygiene levels. "This is a health emergency. The new government must get a grip of the water pollution crisis and ensure that water companies, including Thames Water, invest urgently in upgrading wastewater treatment plants and fix their leaky infrastructure before someone becomes seriously ill, or worse," he said in a statement. Thames Water did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment, though the BBC reported that it had dubbed the findings "alarmist" and said it was monitoring bacteria levels. CNBC also contacted the government's environment agency but did not immediately receive a response. Chair of the Henley Royal Regatta committee of management and former Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave, said the findings were a "stark reminder" of the impact of sewage pollution. "Our waterways are vitally important to our competitors racing, but also to all those athletes training on a daily basis nationwide," he said. Regatta organizers have advised rowers to cover all cuts and blisters and avoid swallowing river water as thousands of spectators descend on Henley on Thames for the event, which runs until Sunday. It comes as the U.K. has faced a rise in E.coli cases. Two people with underlying health conditions died following infection with the Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli strain (STEC). One of the deaths is "likely linked" to their STEC infection, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. That particular strain is thought to have been spread via lettuce leaves within pre-packaged sandwiches. UKHSA said Thursday that 275 cases of the strain have been confirmed as of June 25, and urged people to watch out for symptoms which can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. watch now Younger, wealthy shoppers in Asia are splashing their cash on art, according to a long-time collector and senior auction house executive. Nicolas Chow, Sotheby's chairman for Asia, said more than 40% of the auction house's buyers of contemporary art are millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), while Gen X (1965 to 1980) are also likely to be big spenders, he said. "The buyers are increasingly younger. What we've seen actually in 2023 Gen X is the most important buy-base actually over a million dollars, they dominate the market," Chow told CNBC's "The Art of Appreciation." Gen Z the youngest age group for buyers is "coming in quite strongly," he said, adding that he recently saw a 20-year-old buyer acquire a piece in Shanghai to celebrate his graduation. Wealthy millennials in Asia spent a median of $59,785 on art and antiques during the first half of 2023, while for Gen Zers the figure was $56,000, according to the Art Basel & UBS Survey of Global Collecting 2023. Buying at auction instead of from a dealer, for example is popular with millennials and Gen X collectors globally, according to the survey. The trend appears to be playing out in Asia. At Christie's Hong Kong spring season auction, held between May 25 and June 1, around a quarter of buyers were new to the auction house, and 43% of those were millennials, according to an online release. A visitor takes a selfie with work by Yoshitomo Nara during Sotheby's Hong Kong spring sales on April 2, 2024. Chen Yongnuo | China News Service | Getty Images And, while the size of the global art market fell 4% last year to around $65 billion, according to the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2024, sales in China rose by 9% in 2023, overtaking the U.K. as the world's second-largest art market. "Activity surged as post-lockdown buyers snapped up backlogged auction inventories and as Hong Kong's major fairs and exhibitions returned to full-scale programming," wrote report author and founder of Arts Economics, Clare McAndrew. For Sotheby's, the rise in younger buyers is driven in part by an increase in online activity. "During the pandemic, we really sort of developed our digital abilities with live streaming ... And this has really brought in art to the greater communities and allowed us to engage with our buyers across the world," Chow said. Younger collectors are keen on newer art forms, with Gen Z collectors having the highest average expenditure on digital art globally as well as prints of any generation, according to the Survey of Global Collecting 2023. Young digital artists For Angelle Siyang-Le, director of the Art Basel fair in Hong Kong, artists who work in digital media are becoming more prominent. "The definition of digital art nowadays has been expanded from simply photography to video art to NFTs to AI-generated art," she told CNBC's "The Art of Appreciation." An NFT, or non-fungible token, is a unique digital asset stored on the blockchain. Sales of art-related NFTs were $1.2 billion in 2023, less than half the $2.9 billion peak in 2021 though still significantly higher than 2020 sales, which were $20 million, according to the Art Market Report 2024. "With the younger generations becoming more and more prominent in the market ... digital artists ... will be the group of artists getting more attention," Siyang-Le added. Hong Kong-based artist Mak2 uses a variety of mediums in her work, including Instagram videos. Her 2017 work, "You Better Watch Out," an inflatable, transparent "snow globe," featured floating QR codes that the audience could scan. CCTV cameras filmed people scanning the codes, which linked to a web page that showed the audience looking at the artwork. "So you are watching yourself being watched," Mak2 told CNBC's "The Art of Appreciation." "You're not just looking at your phone, you're becom[ing] data circulat[ing] inside the app and being recorded and analyzed," she added. People view work at Art Basel Hong Kong, held in March 2024. Artist Mak2's "Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy," part of the De Sarthe gallery's Encounters installation, is shown in the center. China News Service | Li Zhihua | Getty Images NSE Udupi Cochin Shipyard Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Ltd. has signed a contract with Wilson ASA, Norway, for the design and construction of four 6,300 TDW Dry Cargo Vessels, it said in an exchange filing.An Agreement has also been signed for four additional vessels of the same kind, which will be formally contracted by September 19 this year, the company saidThe overall cost of the eight vessels is said to be 1,100 crore and Cochin Shipyard plans to execute this order by September 2028.This is a follow up order in continuation of the contract that Cochin Shipyard had won in June 2023 for the design and construction of six 3,800 TDW Dry Cargo Vessels, which are now at an advanced level of construction at the company's yard at Udupi, Karnataka.The Vessels shall be designed by Conoship International, Netherlands and shall be constructed as an environment friendly diesel electric vessel for the transport of general cargo in the coastal waters of Europe.Wilson ASA, a company headquartered in Bergen, Norway, is the leading short sea fleet operator in Europe and transports about 15 million tonnes dry cargo across Europe. The Company operates a fleet of around 130 vessels ranging from 1500 to 8500 DWT.Shares of Cochin Shipyard ended 0.5% lower at 2,228. The stock has emerged as the top performer on the Nifty Smallcap Index for the first six months of 2024, with gains of 227%.For the April-June period, the stock gained 154%, which is the best quarter that the company has had on record. News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Recent findings presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2024 suggest that existing drugs may hold promise in reversing the effects of sleep deprivation on memory, specifically social and spatial memories, in mice. Dr. Robbert Havekes from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands presented the research, highlighting how sleep deprivation affects memory processes, leading to the "hidden" state of memories that are difficult to retrieve. The study demonstrated that drugs currently used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could restore access to these hidden social and spatial memories in mice. Roflumilast, an anti-inflammatory drug approved by the US FDA for treating COPD, was effective in restoring social memories. Similarly, vardenafil, a drug used for erectile dysfunction, successfully restored spatial memories in sleep-deprived mice, Medical Express reported. Dr. Havekes explained, "We have been able to show that sleep deprivation leads to amnesia in the case of specific spatial and social recognition memories. This amnesia can be reversed days later after the initial learning experience and sleep deprivation episode, using drugs already approved for human consumption." In experiments, mice initially preferred interacting with new mice over familiar siblings. However, after sleep deprivation, this preference was lost, indicating memory impairment. Using optogenetic techniques to manipulate memory engrams in the brain, researchers could reactivate these memories with light stimulation. Alternatively, drug treatments effectively restored memory function, providing potential therapeutic avenues. Professor Richard Roche from Maynooth University, who was not involved in the study, commented, "Although these studies were carried out in mice, they suggest that it may be possible to recover people's lost social and spatial memories using certain drug treatments that are already approved for human use." "However, it will take time and a lot more work to move this research from mice into humans," Roche added. Dr. Havekes and his team are now collaborating on potential human studies to further explore the mechanisms underlying memory loss due to sleep deprivation and the therapeutic potential of existing drugs. They aim to pave the way for future treatments that could mitigate memory deficits caused by inadequate sleep in clinical settings. Havekes concluded, "In the long term, we hope that these fundamental studies will help pave the way for studies in humans aimed at reversing forgetfulness by restoring access to otherwise inaccessible information in the brain." Gaming addiction, or internet gaming disorder (IGD), poses significant mental and physical health challenges. Gaming Addiction Internet gaming disorder (IGD) affects mental and physical health, leading to problems with emotional regulation, cognitive function, and executive control. Studies have shown that changes in brain activity, especially in the frontal regions, are linked to IGD. These areas include the orbitofrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The disorder also affects connectivity in brain regions related to reward processing and executive control. Traditional treatments for IGD have not always been effective in the long term, often leading to high recurrence rates once the treatment is stopped. Can Mindfulness Meditation Help Address Gaming Addiction? Mindfulness Meditation (MM) is gaining recognition as a therapeutic approach for various conditions, including addiction. It helps improve attention and self-regulation by encouraging individuals to remain non-judgemental and vigilant to distractions. MM affects brain regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, prefrontal cortex, insula, and precuneus, which are crucial in regulating cravings and addictive behaviors. A study published in JAMA Network Open examined the effectiveness of MM in treating IGD. Conducted at Hangzhou Normal University, the study involved 80 participants diagnosed with IGD. Participants were randomly assigned to either an MM group or a control group practicing progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). The study found that both groups showed a decrease in IGD symptoms, but the MM group experienced a more significant reduction in gaming cravings. The study also noted that MM decreased brain activation in areas associated with cravings, such as the lentiform nuclei, medial frontal gyrus (MFG), and insula. These regions are involved in dopaminergic circuitry and executive control. Reduced activation in these areas suggests that MM may help manage cravings by enhancing behavioral control and reducing cue reactivity. Overall, MM proved more effective than PMR in reducing gaming cravings and addiction severity. The findings indicate that MM could be a viable treatment for IGD by altering brain responses associated with cravings. Further research could solidify MM's role in addressing gaming addiction and improving the quality of life for affected individuals. When a sitcom runs for a long time, there are inevitably times when a throwaway line from an early episode doesnt necessarily align with the details unveiled in later seasons. In Seinfeld, for example, Jerry and George both make reference to siblings who are ultimately erased from the shows continuity. Generally, these kinds of mistakes are forgivable unless, apparently, youre a writer for Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Like so many other shows, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia has introduced a number of plot points that future developments contradicted or just flat-out ignored. But over the course of the series 17-year run, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day have gone out of their way to correct them, even going so far as to dedicate entire episodes and story arcs to setting the record straight. Don't Miss Here are three such instances in which Its Always Sunny made a continuity error, only to go to great lengths to fix it 3 Charlies Sister(s) In Season One, an intervention is held for Charlie because everyone thinks he was molested in school (he wasnt). Present during the intervention is the gang, the McPoyles, Charlies mom, his grandma, his Uncle Jack and two young twin girls who dont say anything. In the very next scene, Charlie makes mention of a sister being at the intervention, seeming to imply that those two girls were Charlies sisters. Advertisement But for the next 14 seasons, Charlies sisters are never mentioned again. While some Its Always Sunny fans noticed, McElhenney admitted on the Its Always Sunny Podcast that it wasnt until he re-watched Season One for the podcast that he remembered Charlie had sisters at all. And so, he decided to write an episode dedicated to them. 2 High School Advertisement Advertisement Where the gang went to school is pretty haphazard early on, too. In that same episode where people think Charlie got molested in school, its mentioned that Mac and Charlie went to school somewhere other than where Dee and Dennis did. Later episodes, however, imply they all went to school together. Advertisement It all gets cleaned up in the two-part Season Seven arc when the gang goes to a high school reunion. Its explained that Mac and Charlie went to a Catholic middle school, then met Dennis in high school at Saint Josephs Preparatory School, which was an all-boys school. For her part, Dee attended the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, an all-girls school that held many co-ed events with Saint Josephs. Advertisement While a little convoluted, it does account for most of the earlier school-related inconsistencies. Other than acute behind-the-scenes anxiety, one of Saturday Night Lives longest-running traditions is the Five-Timers Club, a prestigious clique for celebrities who have hosted the show at least five times. But it turns out its all a lie. Wake up sheeple! Don't Miss The Five-Timers Club obviously began as a joke, part of Tom Hanks opening monologue during his fifth SNL appearance in 1990. The mere suggestion that hosting SNL five times was a benchmark worthy of a membership card, a luxurious robe and access to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world was meant to be laughable. I mean, the first sketch literally finds Jon Lovitz taking lunch orders and throwing out Ralph Nader. According to Robert Smigel, the inspiration for the sketch, which he co-wrote for Conan OBrien, was Hanks impression of Lorne Michaels waxing poetically about what its like to host SNL each time. I know Lorne says its his idea, but it was me making fun of Toms impression of Lorne, Smigel explained. Hanks, on the other hand, remembered things slightly differently, attributing the idea to Michaels: I think Lorne said, Well, why dont we do something like, you get to join a select club? And that was that. Advertisement But even though the sketch was ridiculous, Hanks did still feel a sense of accomplishment. There was definitely a truth to the idea that I felt I was entering a pantheon of Saturday Night Live legends, the Oscar winner admitted. In the years that followed, the wholly fictitious, increasingly less-exclusive Five-Timers Club became a touchstone for the show. Five-Timers sketches are now basically mandatory any time a host crosses that threshold. Advertisement It doesnt even need to be tied to a sketch. When Paul Rudds fifth outing as host was effectively canceled in December 2021, due to a surge in COVID, Hanks and Tina Fey still showed up to induct him into the club. And when Emma Stone received her Five-Timers jacket in 2023, Fey and Candice Bergen remarked that it was a great moment in SNL herstory, making it seem like a genuine honor, not just a comedic bit that, originally, was as much about honoring hosts as it was about dunking on Chevy Chase and Joe Piscopo. Advertisement But, weirdly, even though the show mostly frames this ceremony as a bona fide tribute to SNL legends, the whole thing is a sham. Obviously the physical club where Elliott Gould spends most of his time doesnt exist, but apparently the hosts dont even get to keep their Five-Timers jackets. As Stone recently revealed on The Tonight Show, They dont really give you a jacket. Advertisement Advertisement So much for SNL herstory! I dont want to blow-up their spot, because, again, its my favorite place, Stone told Jimmy Fallon. But they dont want you to keep the jacket! Its like, a thing! Stone, understandably, assumed that she would be keeping the jacket. After all, the Academy Awards didnt force her to hand over her Oscars before leaving the building. But she was told that it was just to wear during the monologue. Still, Stone insisted, I was like, No. Ill be taking it with me, Ill be wearing it to (the) after-party, and Ill be taking it home. Advertisement So she was forced to steal the jacket. Now its in my closet, Stone bragged. Thats right! But they also know where to find me." Advertisement Making this even more unjust, the most recent Five-Timers sketch, featuring Kristen Wiig, revealed that Michaels has been handing out jackets like free maxi pads to celebrities who in no way hosted five times. So they made extra jackets for Jon Hamm and Matt Damon to wear on TV, but wont give them to the performers who are supposedly being honored? Maybe the show is hoarding these props just in case Lorne Michaels gets the go-ahead to make The Five-Timers Club: The Movie. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this). Photo: Patrick McMullan/Getty Core Club, which runs members upward of $1,200 a month (thats after the $50,000 initiation fee) and considers itself a global community of unlike-minded individuals united by their courage to defy definitions, has filed a lawsuit against real-estate developer Michael Shvo for allegedly defying definitions when it comes to its New York location at 711 Fifth Avenue. The suit alleges the space, 60,000 square feet advertised as the height of modern luxury, has bad lighting, broken-down kitchen appliances, and ongoing hot-water issues. Poor craftsmanship was rampant throughout the club, with cabinet doors falling off hinges, door handles snapping off regularly, wallpaper peeling off, and water leaking from showers due to improper drain slopes, the suit alleges. Moreover, the saunas and steam rooms were not completed until April 2024, six months after opening, and well into the winter season, depriving members of these essential amenities during the coldest months of the year. Shvo, known for his love of trophy properties recent projects include Aman New York, the Mandarin Oriental New York, the Raleigh in Miami, and the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco is actually facing several lawsuits related to New York projects. One, also filed this week, is part of an ongoing feud between him and a former business partner, Turkish developer Serdar Bilgili. (It claims that Shvo sneakily diluted Bilgilis interest in the Aman project.) Another, filed earlier this year by a couple who bought a condo at the Mandarin Oriental residences, alleges that their furnished apartment fell far short of the luxury standards promised, with off-center recessed lighting, missing stone in the bathroom, and only two place mats although the silverware service was for six. (What really pushed them over the edge, it seems, was being charged $100 per place mat to complete the set.) In the Core lawsuit, founders Jennie and Dangene Enterprise claim that Shvo approached them in the spring of 2020, presenting himself as a visionary who could provide critical support to CORE: as they navigated the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The suit claims Shvo promised to invest $100 million in the Core Clubs expansion, delivering three new turnkey clubs in New York, San Francisco, and Milan, in exchange for a 50 percent ownership stake in the company. But, they say, Shvo duped them, failing to provide the necessary funds or support for the projects, at the same time that he played up the elite clubs presence in his buildings to lure other tenants. The founders are seeking $600 million in damages, a reduction in rent for the 60,000 square feet they lease at 711 Fifth Avenue, which the lawsuit characterizes as exorbitant, and to exit their lease at the Transamerica Pyramid. The founders present a litany of complaints about Shvos involvement with the New York location of Core Club, which moved from its longtime home on East 55th Street to 711 Fifth Avenue last fall. Per the lawsuit, Shvo failed to obtain a temporary certificate of occupancy, forcing them to scramble to extend their former lease so they could stay in their old location at the significant cost of $800,000. When they complained that the hot water wasnt connected, he allegedly told them to hire illegals to wash the plates. The kitchen equipment has been plagued by constant breakdowns, the suit alleges, further claiming that the bars were nonfunctional, and the acoustics and soundproofing in the restaurants bad. There are also, allegedly, ongoing hot-water issues creating an unacceptable environment for members. Insult to injury, per the suit: The club interiors dont look anything like the renderings. The suit claims that Shvo eliminated the window dressings, the strip lighting, and ceiling-light covers from the project leaving the club dimly lit and aesthetically unappealing, contrary to design drawings. Perhaps worst of all, the suit alleges that Shvo, who isnt even a member, is a bad guest racking up $80,000 in bills that he hasnt paid, for, among other things, hosting an event for his childs school during a busy holiday week, a kids birthday party, and weekly religious gatherings attended by ten to 15 people. He also uses the club defiantly, as a de facto personal office per the suit. (The latter, at least, would appear to be true he did a recent interview for a Wall Street Journal article at the club, which dutifully noted that it was a members-only spot nestled inside another of his premier properties in Manhattan.) Also, he doesnt tip: Shvo has refused to pay any gratuities to COREs hardworking staff. Shvos lawyers, meanwhile, characterized the suit as an attempt by Cores owners to skip out on their debt and lease obligations Shvo recently sued the Core Club over a $1 million loan that they allegedly defaulted on. The lawsuit filed today is a desperate attempt to bail out the owners of Core Club from fulfilling the very clear obligations they committed to in a series of binding written agreements, Morris Missry, a lawyer for Shvo, wrote in a statement. We will not be threatened or pressured into providing rent reductions or other undeserved concessions and will aggressively defend this lawsuit. The Core Club and Shvo have been rumored to be at odds with each other for some time, not only over funding conflicts but also, it seems, over Shvos habit of using the club to burnish his reputation and hold court, practices which Core obviously feels it has not been adequately compensated for. In the Journal article last week, a spokesperson for Core told the paper that it was done with the developer: Core is not interested in doing any more projects with Michael Shvo. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. One of my favourite books as I was growing up was A. P. Herbert's hilarious collection of Punch columns, Uncommon Law (first published 1935), which was later adapted as the hit BBC comedy series, Misleading Cases. Alas, they don't make 'em like that any more. As some readers may recall, the book and the series chronicled the exploits of one Albert Haddock, who was forever going to court to uphold his rights under obscure or quirky points of law. A typical example: in Port To Port, the Mall has flooded, and our litigious hero is rowing up it in a small boat on the right-hand side, forcing off the road a motorist who is driving towards him while keeping to the left. In the subsequent court case, Haddock argues that since the road was under water at the time, the law of the sea applied, rather than the Highway Code (in maritime law, ships have to pass 'port-to-port', which means they have to keep to the right, whereas in Britain, of course, cars have to drive on the left). You get the gist. Well, I spent much of this week practising my Albert Haddock act, striding up and down the kitchen, rehearsing eloquent speeches I planned to deliver to the Bench in defence of my civil liberties as a free-born Englishman, and railing against what I believed was an unlawfully issued speeding ticket. Tom Utley says 'it will take some convincing that 20mph zones, policed by cameras, are anything other than a scheme to screw yet more money out of motorists' That was until yesterday morning, when my plans were dashed by an email from the police, which put me straight on a minor point of fact. Now I suppose I'll just have to plead guilty and accept whatever sentence the court may decide to impose for this, my first speeding offence in my 53 years on Britain's roads. But I'm getting ahead of myself. My tale of woe begins at 13:12 hrs on May 20, when the hire car I was driving (my own car was out of action, since a burglar had stolen our car keys) was apparently clocked by a speed camera at 26mph in a 20mph zone near my home in South London. I hang my head in shame, standing before you as an even more reckless boy-racer than the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was caught in 2022 driving at a hair-raising 25mph in a 20mph zone near Lambeth Palace. Anyway, the first I knew of my offence was on Wednesday last week, almost a month after it was apparently committed, when the car hire firm sent me a copy of a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), which it had received from the police. The firm had named me as the driver responsible, and I was told to await an NIP made out in my name, which the police would send to my address in due course (I'm still waiting for it; I blame the useless Royal Mail). With a heavy heart, I coughed up the 60 'admin fee' demanded by the car hire firm, and resigned myself to pleading guilty to the charge when the notice arrived, thereby possibly blotting my hitherto clean licence. That was until a bloke in the pub told me of various legal loopholes open to defendants of a Haddock-like turn of mind. Among these was the requirement that an NIP had to be issued to the registered keeper of the offending vehicle within 14 days of an alleged offence. I thought he was having me on until I checked on the internet. Sure enough, Section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 does, indeed, stipulate a time limit of 14 days in which a notice of offences recorded by enforcement cameras must be issued. Any later than that, and the ticket is invalid. So I looked again at the NIP sent to the car hire firm, which I assumed to be the registered keeper of the vehicle and I saw that it was dated June 13, a full 24 days after the alleged offence. Bingo! Clearly, the ticket had been issued unlawfully! I wrote to the police pointing this out, and began rehearsing those speeches to the Bench, in case they failed to drop the charge. Scroll forward to yesterday morning, when the police finally got back to me, informing me that the registered owner of the vehicle was not, in fact, the car hire firm, but a leasing company, which had been sent the original NIP on May 29, only nine days after the offence. This made the ticket perfectly lawful. Damnation! My career as Albert Haddock had ended even before it had begun. Now the best I can hope for is that the court, in its mercy, will sentence me to attend a Speed Awareness Course (cost: 80 to 100), which would apparently allow me to escape without points on my licence or a fine. If that happens, I will, of course, approach the course with an open mind, and I'll hope to emerge from it better informed about the dangers of exceeding the speed limit. But I have to say that after 53 accident-free years of experience behind the wheel, driving almost every day of my life, I will take some convincing that 20mph zones, policed by cameras, are anything other than a scheme to screw yet more money out of motorists. God knows, I can imagine some circumstances in which driving even at 21mph could be dangerous. But on a clear road, in broad daylight, without a pedestrian or animal in sight? As I say, I will need convincing. In my experience, creeping along at 20mph can itself be dangerous. Try it, if you doubt me and see if you can concentrate as impatient drivers behind blare on their horns and try to overtake at perilous moments. To illustrate the point, a friend tells me that on the very day after his daughter passed her test, she was tootling along obediently at 20mph, in one of these wretched zones, when she was pulled over by the police for driving too slowly! The same friend reports that a cabbie told him he was stung with a ticket for driving at 24mph on Tower Bridge... at 3am, when there was nobody around. That's the trouble with speed cameras. They take no account of road conditions and, of course, they have absolutely zero common sense. Meanwhile, what is certainly true is that 20mph limits are as deeply unpopular as Ultra Low (and Low) Emissions Zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Just ask the Labour-run Welsh government, which was forced into a humiliating Uturn by a furious public backlash after it imposed 20mph zones throughout the principality. It is also undeniable that many thousands of motorists break such limits every day. Indeed, show me a driver who swears that he never has, and I'll show you either a saint or a liar or someone who lives in a freer country than ours. Believe me, what's more, this persecution of motorists will become even more oppressive if the election goes as expected, and Labour's class warriors sweep to power next week. Don't say you haven't been warned, because the signs are there every time a Shadow Cabinet member or a Labour councillor draws a breath. And isn't there one final objection to this confetti of speeding tickets, showered on motorists driving at more than a crawl in these accursed zones? Don't they criminalise countless natural friends of the police, among whom I number myself, while tying up endless hours spent by the Force in processing forms and dealing with would-be Haddocks like me? Do they really have no more pressing things to do such as, dare I say it, solving my burglary? How does deep-pocketed arts benefactor Dame Vivien Duffield feel about Sir Keir Starmer's acolytes hinting that private funding might compensate for a shortfall in government handouts? Vivien, who has donated more than 500million to the arts since inheriting her father's fortune in 1979, thunders: 'The politicians have started to take philanthropy for granted. Once we were the icing on the cake. 'Then we became the filling holding the cake together. Now we seem to be the whole bloody cake.' Starmer and his potential culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire have been warned. Pictured: Dame Vivien Duffield at the JW3 Gala Dinner in London last year Pictured: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during his visit to Burton and South Derbyshire College in Burton-on-Trent on June 27 Sir Keir Starmer's self-confessed atheism was queried by Piers Morgan in an edited-out interview clip where Starmer recalled being in a small plane in danger of crashing. 'It was really scary,' he said. 'The plane looked like it would barely hold itself together. Then I saw a sign on the cockpit door that said 'In God we trust' and I thought, phew!' Asked Morgan: 'Didn't this experience lead you to the believers' side?' 'Thank you, God,' replied Starmer, 'but sorry, no. I'm afraid what it led to was going straight to the nearest bar.' In his memoir Amnesiac, filmmaker Neil Jordan reveals the demented perfectionism of his friend Stanley Kubrick asking Ryan O'Neal to have his leg amputated for his film Barry Lyndon. Kubrick told O'Neal he had booked a very good Swiss clinic for the operation, to which the actor replied: 'What operation?' 'To remove your leg,' said Kubrick. O'Neal retorted incredulously: 'You're asking me to get my leg cut off for this film?' 'Well I don't know what else to do,' Kubrick sighed. 'Maybe you have another solution?' Hugh Bonneville, playing a Huw Edwards-type figure destroyed by a sexist joke in ITV's Douglas Is Cancelled, is unlikely to be brought down by any improper behaviour as Downton Abbey's Earl of Grantham. Douglas is Cancelled stars Hugh Bonneville as Douglas Bellowe while Karen Gillan appears as Madeline Crow, his co-anchor He tells media commentator Mark Lawson: 'I have to go on a respect in the workplace training video module for a show I've been doing for 14 years.' Not now, Carson! With preachy luvvie David Tennant branded a 'bigot' after announcing he wished equalities minister Kemi Badenoch 'didn't exist', political interrogator Andrew Neil concludes: 'These actors should stick to memorising lines others write for them. Using their own is too often too embarrassing.' About to accept a Boisdale Life Award at Ranald Macdonald's Boisdale restaurant in Canary Wharf on Wednesday, former head of the British Army General Sir Peter Wall could have barked 'enemy incoming' as he approached the stage. Waiting to present his gong was Big Narstie, an extremely well nourished rapper in vest and shorts dancing with former Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton and rapping about 'da military'. Isn't life grand! No, it's not too late. There is still time between now and Thursday for the nation to swerve from the cliff edge. We can collectively come to our senses. We can dodge the bullet. All we need to do is snap out of the trance burst from the poll-driven media-inflated balloon of hysteria about the so-called inevitability of the result. There is nothing inevitable about the decision we must all take, together, on July 4. Keir Starmer's approval ratings are the lowest ever for an Opposition leader on the verge of entering Downing Street So let us all pause. Let's collect our thoughts, and have a few lungsful of air. Let's consider the paradox the mystery - at the heart of this election campaign. It is in its way unlike any other election of modern times. If the opinion polls are to be believed and I retain my doubts then the British people are about to confer on Keir Starmer and the Labour Party an absolutely colossal parliamentary majority. Britain is about to jump the points and jink left, abruptly, in what could be a Left-wing socialist supremacy that lasts for a decade or more. And yet Starmer's own approval ratings are shockingly low the lowest ever for an Opposition leader on the verge of entering Downing Street, let alone of a triumph on the scale currently predicted. Poll after poll says the same. The people view him with apathy, with resignation, as you might look at a dish of limp lettuce. You have to ask yourself why. Why, after 14 years of Tory government, and all the vicissitudes we have been through, is there so little active enthusiasm for Starmer? The answer is simple: people don't really want him, or his agenda; or certainly not in the way they actively wanted Tony Blair. I remember 1997, the dawn of the New Labour era the ecstatic crowds ululating in Whitehall, the chanting of 'Things can only get better'. Tony Blair seemed to incarnate a new politics, brilliantly triangulating between Left and Right, a Labour leader who cracked down on crime but kept the top rate of tax at 40 per cent, yes 40 per cent. That is very obviously not the Starmer agenda, and people can see it. Elections in the UK are determined by a large number of sensible and civilised people who occupy the middle ground, and who could be called small-c conservatives. If you look at what they actually want, now, it is the opposite of what Starmer & Co are offering. Take one of the top issues that people raise with pollsters the problem of illegal immigration. For too long we have had gangsters endangering people's lives by bringing them across the Channel in small boats, and finally we have a plan to fix it sending them to be processed in a third country. This policy, the so-called Rwanda policy, was always going to take a huge effort to enact fully, as I explained when I announced it in April 2022. I said then that we had a highly litigious culture in which human rights lawyers (eg Starmer) would do their best to frustrate the popular will. But it is the right policy. Governments around the world are following suit. Thanks to Conservative persistence, we have finally got it through Parliament. The mere prospect of being sent to Rwanda is already having a deterrent effect on illegal migrants and yet Starmer would simply junk it, and put nothing in its place. I thought Rishi Sunak utterly skewered his opponent on this point in the TV debate on Wednesday night, and on other points; because the more you dig into Starmerism, the more Left-wing and dangerous it turns out to be. In 1997 Tony Blair seemed to incarnate a new politics, brilliantly triangulating between Left and Right Watch Starmer try to explain the difference between a man and a woman, the stammering, stuttering, blinking contortions of a man desperately trying to appease the bonkers ideologues in his party, but without offending the common sense of Middle Britain. It would be comical but for the fact that Labour is genuinely planning to make it easier for pre-pubescent kids to identify as a different sex. Is that really what the people of this country want? Is that the change they are gagging for? I don't think so. Or take the UK's relations with the EU, where after years of effort this country finally reached a deal that allows us more or less perfect democratic independence. Now, Starmer proposes to unscramble the whole thing, and to make this country the punk of Brussels taking rules from the EU, with no say in making them. Is that what the people want more years of Euro-tedium, more rancour, more dispute? I don't think so. I think on the whole people would much prefer a proud, dynamic and confident government that made a success of Brexit, doing free trade deals with the U.S. and with India, and others. Will Starmer do any such thing? Of course not: it is clear his plan is to take us back into the single market like a whipped cur, even if it means free movement from the EU to the UK. And then there is the economy the biggest single reason why people are rightly viewing Starmer with such hesitation. We have just been through Covid. The state was forced to huge but unavoidable exertions to look after people and businesses. The tax burden simply had to rise. But that pandemic is now over. Do the British people want to be hit with yet higher taxes now after they have already paid so much? Do they really need to? No, they certainly do not and yet that is what Starmerism means. The Labour Party is now so confident of victory that they no longer even bother to conceal their agenda to clobber your property and your pension and much besides. Take it all together the grim reality of Starmer's agenda and the mystery is easily solved. That is why Starmer is so oddly unloved, for a man on the verge of triumph. It is not just that Starmer lacks Blair's charisma; he lacks the broad appeal of Blair's policies. Blair and then Home Secretary David Blunkett believed in banging up criminals. Starmer believes in cutting their sentences and letting them out early. He wind-bags away about his time at the CPS, but ask any policeman about his tenure. It was known as the Criminal Protection Service. Blair actively encouraged wealth creation, and the private sector, and discouraged envy. Starmer's hatred of private enterprise rises off him like a vapour so actively resentful that he is preparing to attack private education, and force many schools to close. He now tells us he wouldn't even use private medicine to help his own family. Is that really in line with the instincts of moderate, centre-Right Britain? I don't think so. Let's face it, the only reason Starmer is (allegedly) about to get such a landslide is that so many Tory voters are fed up, and preparing to stay at home or vote for other parties like Reform even if they turn out to be Putin's pet parrots. It would be a huge mistake. In the last debate Rishi showed what he can do, and on any fair reading he won. It is by no means too late to tilt the steering wheel in the direction of common sense, avert Starmergeddon, and prevent this country from going in completely the wrong direction. Vote Tory on Thursday! The TV is on but my husband Mark is fiddling with his phone and not watching. Is he texting her? I know he is having an affair because four days ago I saw an email from a woman planning dinner with him. When I confronted him, though he refused to admit her existence, my husband of 12 years said he wanted a divorce on the grounds we were 'living separate lives'. Nevertheless, here we are sitting in the same room, with the TV on, in the 'forever home' in Hertfordshire we spent eight months refurbishing. My life is in utter turmoil we have both contacted solicitors but I am trying desperately to keep up an appearance of normality, going to work at the offices of the magazine Good Housekeeping, where I have been editor for 18 years, and watching TV afterwards in my living room. Frankly, I am clinging to my sanity by my fingertips. And now he is texting someone. I walk over to where he is sitting and ask him for his phone. 'It's private.' Long-time editor of Good Housekeeping Lindsay Nicholson spent a night in a police cell when her husband accused her of assault after they both struggled for a phone and it fell to the floor Then I do something I'll regret for the rest of my life I make a grab for it. Oddly, he lets me have it at first, and I see enough in that brief moment, when the phone is in my hands, to know he is texting the woman who sent the email. Then he stands up and attempts to grab the phone back out of my hand again. I hang on to it momentarily I want this evidence before thinking better of it and letting go. He lets go at the same time. The phone flies through the air, landing with a crash and breaking in two, on the pale grey poured resin floor we spent a small fortune installing. We both lunge to retrieve the pieces nearest us, so we are standing a metre apart, each holding a part of the broken phone. My heart is pounding and I am gasping for breath. This is not what I expected. I still think he will admit his guilt. I think he will apologise. But what happens next astonishes me even more. 'You just assaulted me,' my husband says evenly. 'I'm calling 999.' When I met Mark I wasn't sure I could ever love again. My first husband, the investigative journalist John Merritt, died of the blood cancer leukaemia in 1992, 11 years after we married. And then as if to prove there is no limit to the cruelty life can inflict my eldest daughter Ellie died of the same disease, leukaemia, in 1998, at the age of nine. I once described the years of grieving for John and Ellie as like living on the seabed, so deep below the ocean's surface that no sunlight could reach me. But then, in 2003, deciding to move into a secondary school catchment area for my younger daughter Hope (with whom I was pregnant when John died), I opened the door to the estate agent and saw a very tall man, 6 ft 3 or 4, with conker-brown hair. Over the next few months, I fell deeply, passionately, headlong in love with him and we were married the very next year. Mark helped me swim to the surface, to breathe air again. He is strong enough for both of us. But now the undertow has caught me. The one person I thought would help me, his mighty arms cleaving through the waves, is holding my head underwater, and I must surely drown. We will never agree on what happened that evening in February 2017. His retelling of it was, and remains, fundamentally very different from mine. There are, however, some facts that are independently verifiable. At around 8.20pm, a male called the emergency services and said his wife had broken his mobile phone and attacked him with one of the pieces. Lindsay says she fell 'deeply, passionately, head-long in love' with Mark and married him the very next year Two police cars attended the scene. They found a woman waiting for them by the front door; they noted she was very quiet and acquiescent. There were no signs of a disturbance other than a broken mobile phone. No knives in the vicinity, only in their usual drawer in the kitchen, some distance away in this large house. No one appeared injured. The man gave a statement to the officers at the scene. The woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and common assault. I am put in the back of a police car me, the 60-year-old, award-winning editor of a lifestyle magazine many women regard as a best friend and national treasure; an ambassador for a well-known charity; a fixture on the prime minister's Christmas card list and driven the half an hour to Hatfield police station. I have no idea what will happen next, only that I didn't hit my husband nor intentionally break his phone. I feel as if I am trapped inside a plastic dry-cleaning bag and, every time I try to breathe, the thin membrane is sucked further inside me, suffocating me. I am scared. I can't think about my 24-year-old daughter or my elderly mother, because their inevitable disappointment in me is too painful to bear. Later, restlessly reflecting on my arrest, I discover a 2009 paper by Professor Marianne Hester of the University of Bristol, which suggests that although the vast majority of perpetrators of domestic violence are men 92 per cent it is women who are more likely to be arrested if police are called. In Professor Hester's study, women were arrested in three out of ten recorded incidents and men in only one out of ten. Hardly any of these women were ever charged and fewer still found guilty in court. Violence by anyone is appalling, of course, but violence by females is very rare in all societies so why are all these women being arrested? At the police station, I'm called forward to the desk and surrender my handbag. My purse is emptied, the cash counted: 80 in notes plus change. I take off my Tag Heuer watch; my Tiffany bracelet; my diamond earrings and antique gold necklace. They are all sealed in a plastic bag that I sign for. (I removed my wedding and engagement rings and put them in the safe at home the night I discovered the incriminating email.) Lindsay with her daughters Hope and Ellie. Her eldest daughter Ellie died of leukaemia in 1998, at the age of nine I also sign over my iPhone and my iPad. A pack of my osteoporosis drugs is inspected and Googled to check it is for the condition I claim. I am allowed one phone call and decide to ring one of my oldest and dearest friends Alastair Campbell Tony Blair's former spin doctor whom I have known for 40 years after meeting at journalism college. I know he won't be judgmental and trust that he will know what to do. But, in the way of things, the battery on my phone is flat and I can't remember his landline. The only number I can recall off the top of my head is my daughter's mobile. It goes straight to voicemail. Then I am 'processed'. I am body-searched by a female officer wearing blue surgical gloves. I have swabs taken for DNA; facial recognition photos are taken the classic mug shots then my fingerprints are recorded. I dissociate, a response to trauma that allows me to float off in my head away from what is happening to me. 'Number 27,' the desk sergeant says. And I am led to the cells. With no phone or watch I have no idea how much time passes. I have never been in this situation before outside of a flotation tank at a health spa. It is utterly disorientating. A bubble of panic rises in my throat and suddenly I start to remember the things I spend my life fighting so hard not to. Hammersmith Hospital, where John was in the last days of his fight against cancer. His emaciated figure, covered in tubes. And then Ellie in her red dressing gown with matching slippers running down the corridor at Great Ormond Street, laughing like any nine-year-old child. Before I can stop them, the visions flood my brain, exploding out into the jail cell. Her nails are painted pink, her favourite colour, because that is how we spend the long hospital days. As her father was, she too is now bald from the relentless chemo. She wears a little cloth cap to cover where her glorious red hair used to be. Time loses all meaning as I whipsaw between flashbacks of hospital and the present of the police cell all through the night. Twelve hours before this, I was at a photographic shoot with one of Good Housekeeping's most popular celebrity interviewees. A woman every bit as warm and friendly in real life as when she appears on TV. Lindsay says the grief from the loss of her first husband John and daughter Ellie transmuted into workaholism. The long hours and deadlines became her sanctuary As editor of the magazine, I was in charge of everything the clothes, the colours, the angle of the camera and had 21 people hanging on my every decision... Now the camera I am looking at is part of a police CCTV system. Despite it, I cannot avoid peeing all night, as discreetly as I can. Pulling my cashmere jumper down to cover me, I squat over the stainless-steel bowl, wondering who is watching me. Afterwards, I wash my hands in the tiny basin, then dry them on the legs of my Donna Karan leggings. Later that night (I am not sure how much later), my demons recede and instead, sitting in that cell, I am flooded with the cool balm of clarity. I still don't have a clue when my 12-year marriage to Mark started to go wrong. But it is dawning on me that my remorseless determination to curate the perfect magazine-worthy life blinded me to the reality of what was happening to it. My grief for John and Ellie transmuted into workaholism. The long hours and constant deadlines became my sanctuary. I was exhausted but I couldn't sleep. In our grand house refurb, we had the architect draw up plans for not one but two master bedrooms. His and hers suites, to manage my chronic insomnia. And I know: 'Never have separate bedrooms,' my grandmothers used to intone, as they racked up ruby and golden wedding anniversaries. But I never had any patience for their little nuggets of wisdom. Nothing about my life bore any resemblance to the lives of the women who came before me. No one in my family had ever lived a life like mine. I was the first to go to university, then all the other firsts good and, yes, tragic that followed after. There was never anyone to say: 'This is what worked for me, this is what helps.' I spent 16 hours a day at work, greedy for the emotional validation as well as the financial rewards, and I ignored the effect it was having on Mark. I see now that in the wake of what happened to John and Ellie, the PTSD was constantly bubbling under the surface, too, erupting at times of stress. My shame at still being alive when they were not emerged as constant irritation with the living storms of unreasonable weeping, temper tantrums. Put like that it sounds like a lot, too much maybe, for any marriage to bear. And now this police cell. Eventually, I hear footsteps approach the door and the key clanging in the lock. I am taken to an interview room for questioning by an officer from the Domestic Abuse Unit, the duty solicitor sitting next to me, just like in Line Of Duty. The officer reads from my husband's statement and then gives me the opportunity to confirm or deny each paragraph. I ask permission to stand up and demonstrate how we both struggled for the phone and it fell to the floor. I point out it was not in my interests to break it. I was desperate for evidence of the affair, now lost. And I categorically deny the alleged assault. My husband is nine years younger than me and eight inches taller. 'So, why do you think he has made this serious accusation against you?' The police officer's face is impassive. My shoulders sag with exhaustion. 'I am finally realising,' I say, 'that I have had no idea what my husband has been thinking or doing for some considerable time now.' After 45 minutes of questioning along these lines, I am taken back to my cell. Hours later, keys jangle again, the door unlocks. 'You're free to go. No Further Action.' Someone has decided there is no case to answer, and no record will be kept of the allegations Mark has made against me. I have been incarcerated for more than 16 hours. There is no distinction in law between the cheater and the cheated-upon, and though morally most people would say the innocent party should not have to move out, that is not how it works. While I stay with my elderly mother, my husband determinedly carries on with life in our home in Hertfordshire for all the world as if our break-up had been mutual and amicable. He goes everywhere with his new love: shopping in Waitrose, drinking in the pubs we used to frequent. He introduces her to the neighbours and stops for a chat with our dog-walker on the tow path. He also changes the locks. That the editor of Good Housekeeping was to prove so bad at holding on to her home was ironic very Bad Housekeeping as it turned out. And yet it was also the beginning of the rest of my life. For a while a long while that night in the police cell left a lingering fear. What it told me was that I, who had created an edifice around myself of power and control, was in fact and had always been as helpless as a bird fallen out of a nest or a mouse caught in a cat's paw. And then I realised how far I had strayed from what truly made me happy. I picked myself up, dusted myself down, and started a new chapter, quite literally, of my life. Adapted from Perfect Bound by Lindsay Nicholson (20, Mudlark) out July 18 Lindsay Nicholson 2024. To order a copy for 18 (offer valid to 31/07/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. On the way home from central London with my son Hector, 14, we passed lingerie store La Perla. I stopped and peered through the window. 'What's the point in you getting that?' he said. 'Who's going to see you in your underwear?' 'Nobody!' I said, moving on. 'It's pretty, that's all.' He eyed me suspiciously. Even though our three children knew their father and I were separated, the fact he'd moved back in to lay claim to the family home had muddied the waters. Now we were living together again, the children thought we were a family unit once more, albeit a dysfunctional one: Nick and I had separate timetables and separate bedrooms. Annabel Bond says she was obsessed with 27-year-old Eliot, whose body she describes as 'sleek, powerful and perfectly proportioned' Nick would definitely not have enjoyed the fact I'd spent last Thursday kissing 27-year-old Eliot. Nor that I'd texted him every hour of every day since. I felt guilty too. In truth, I was obsessed by Eliot. It was a juggernaut that could not be turned, even by the scrutiny of my naked body in the full-length mirror in my bedroom, surrounded by old dog beds, Lego and Barbies. Barbie gave me an unwelcome comparison: unlike her, my belly was chubby, my thighs dimpled with cellulite. I had not been naked with anyone since my marriage ended (except a terrible one-night stand after a friend's party). It seemed impossible to reveal my naked self to someone so much younger and fitter. But also impossible not to. I thought of Eliot every minute. My breasts were still good, my cheekbones, too. Eliot knew I had three kids; he was (hopefully) less judgmental than me about my physical imperfections. Men often are. So I began scrolling through hotels, deciding in which one Eliot and I were to have our first assignation. I'd bought new lingerie not from La Perla in the end, but from M&S: a silken black balcony bra and a pair of French knickers. They signalled a new risque version of myself, or so I hoped. Other arduous preparations had to be completed. I shaved, plucked and trimmed. I could not yet face a Brazilian wax, even if I worried that Eliot had never seen pubic hair on a woman. But still, the feeling of unreality persisted. Annabel didn't end up buying new lingerie from La Perla (pictured) but instead bought from M&S: A silken black balcony bra and a pair of French knickers Was I really leaving my squabbling children to spend a sexy night in West London with someone I'd met in a bar? When we met up a week later, I was startled again by the freshness of Eliot's face, the glare of his handsomeness. His thighs in their pale jeans, splayed out on the bar stool, radiated heat. He was a different person in real life than on text; he left longer pauses between questions and answers, was more unknowable. As we walked to the hotel, I was so nervous I couldn't speak. I was astonished he could chat so easily. Did he do this often, or was he better at hiding his feelings? The hotel turned out to be filled with hen parties. When we got to the room it was airless, too close to reception and the window looked on to an internal courtyard. Unperturbed, Eliot took off his shirt, then tried to take off mine. 'We don't have to do it now!' I said, suddenly desperate to postpone the moment. 'We can wait until after dinner!' 'Or we can do it now, and after dinner,' Eliot said. He glanced at me, concerned. 'Does that sound good?' Unlike (some of) the men of my generation, he wanted to make sure he had my consent. I nodded, touched his bicep. I had never been with anyone so fit. But it was hard to have amazing sex when I was thinking so much about trying to be sexy, sucking in my stomach, trying to show him my best angles. I stayed resolutely on my back, I didn't want my body parts hanging down over him. Eliot had no such issues: his body was sleek, powerful and perfectly proportioned. Even if we didn't know what the other one liked yet (how different this was to the well-oiled sex-groove of my marriage), I was turned on just by being with him. He could have done the chicken dance and I would have orgasmed. Afterwards, we went to Nando's. It was the only place open. I didn't care, I felt buoyant, full of nervous energy. I talked too much, to cover the fact we would be spending the night together. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel and had sex again, twice. It was amazing, but I was still in performance mode. I was loud, too loud perhaps, considering our proximity to reception. Next morning, we were awkward with each other. I wondered how Eliot saw me now. At least he'd said, the night before, when he saw my stomach was free of stretch-marks: 'I can't believe you have three kids!' But he clearly was very aware of our age gap. Neither of us had been in a relationship like this. It wouldn't, it couldn't, last. It would be a hot hook-up, and then we'd move on. Annabel Bond is a pseudonym. All names have been changed The aunt of murdered law graduate Zara Aleena has said her killer should become 'anonymous' because it's the 'victims that make change'- after an inquest found failures 'across multiple agencies' contributed to her death. Jordan McSweeney, a sexual predator with 28 previous convictions, murdered 35-year-old Zara as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 2022. Zara's aunt Farah Naz said that her niece's face 'should be the one that is remembered'. Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Friday. Farah said: 'I think it's important that somebody like him becomes anonymous, that we forget the face. Throughout history many of us will remember the faces of the big killers and not the victims, and it's the victims that drive change. 'Zara is saving lives right now, because of her there have been changes made in probation, because of her there have been changes made in police practices already and there will be more.' The aunt of murdered law graduate Zara Aleena, Farah Naz, (pictured) has said her killer should become 'anonymous' because it's the 'victims that make change' on Good Morning Britain 'She is saving lives so it's her face that needs to be remembered, his name should disappear, he should be stamped out, and he should have no joy in seeing his face on a paper, he shouldn't have that status. In society we have some fascination with the bad boys and that needs to be gone.' McSweeney had been released from prison on licence just nine days before the killing, but had breached his conditions and was recalled to prison on 22 June. Farah spoke about the 'many mistakes' that led to her nieces murder, saying 'it doesn't seem believable.' She said: 'It's been devastating, three weeks listening to people in the witness box talking about failings after failings, so many failings that it doesn't seem believable that there could be so many failings consistently across agencies. 'I think that a lot of the mistakes come from the fact he wasn't assessed correctly, he was not assessed as high risk who could cause serious harm. There was so many opportunities to revisit that assessment. Also, perpetrators risks change overtime, so should they not be supervised, visited when they are in prison because the risk increases.' Through tears Farah explained that Zara's families life is 'dull' without her, saying she was the 'light'. She said: 'Even after two years, it's not a long time, we are devastated, she was the light in our home, life feels black and white and dull without her. She was the antithesis to him. Zara was murdered as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London , in the early hours of June 26 2022 Farah pointed out that her niece is the one 'saving lives' and changing laws after her murder, therefore her killer's face should be forgotten on GMB on Friday 'We lost somebody that we love so dearly. We are half the people we were. There is a lot of time lost, her life is lost and us too actually.' The police were given powers to arrest McSweeney days before he killed Zara, but delays in the necessary paperwork meant the police were unable to arrest him before it was to late. Zara died in hospital from a blunt force head injury and neck compression, the jury said. Area coroner Nadia Persaud paid tribute to Zara, who died two years to the day, and said: 'I would like to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Zara.' A video montage of pictures and videos from throughout Zara's life was played to East London Coroner's Court on Wednesday. McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting Ms Aleena's murder and sexual assault. In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence. Ms Persaud had asked jurors to consider whether any failings by the prison and probation services or Metropolitan Police contributed to Zara's death. Police were unable to make contact with McSweeney after he was released on licence on June 17 2022, but probation waited five days before initiating his recall to prison. Jordan McSweeney, 29, a sexual predator with 28 previous convictions, murdered 35-year-old Zara He missed his probation appointment on the day he was let out, and his mother told staff he had passed out drunk at her house. It was rescheduled twice but McSweeney did not attend either appointment, and when officers approached his mother again she said she did not know where he was. Despite the lack of contact his recall was not initiated until June 22 and the recall report was signed on June 24 2022. Police were given powers to arrest McSweeney at 4.10pm the same day. In the early hours of June 26, McSweeney murdered Zara. His probation worker, recently qualified Austin Uwaifo, said McSweeney should have been graded high risk and, had he been, he would have pushed for him to have been recalled to prison earlier. Mr Uwaifo said: 'At the time, the thinking was that because he came out on the Friday, my thinking was to give him the opportunity to return - possibly he came out and decided to, for whatever reason, decided to go out and get drunk.' Mr Uwaifo said the probation office was not staffed over the weekend but that he would have requested a faster out-of-hours emergency recall if McSweeney had been graded high risk. The police officer who actioned McSweeney's recall said initial inquiries into his whereabouts were closed prematurely and more checks should have been carried out. Metropolitan Police operations sergeant Ian Batten said he did not foresee that McSweeney was a risk to the public after receiving a recall to prison notice for him on June 24 2022. Sgt Batten also said he did not know initial inquiries into McSweeney's whereabouts were closed before the end of his shift. Sarah Ferguson revealed she has turned down I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 'hundreds of times' but is desperate to land a role on Bridgerton. The Duchess of York , 64, made the comments during a recent interview with Platinum Magazine where she also posed up a storm for the front cover. The mother-of-two revealed she has been in talks with her agent to get her on Netflix romance drama, however I'm a Celeb is definitely not for her. 'I've asked my agent to get me on Bridgerton! The set designs are incredible! I could be a long-lost friend for Penelope. I just have to be on Bridgerton!' she told Platinum Magazine, which goes on sale today. 'I've been asked to go on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Hundreds of times, and the answer is always no. I'm sure it's lovely for lots of people but not for me! Sarah Ferguson revealed she has turned down I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 'hundreds of times' but is desperate to land a role on Bridgerton in an interview with Platinum Magazine Sarah Ferguson said she could be a 'long lost friend' of Penelope (played by Nicola Coughlan, pictured) If the Duchess were to change her mind she would be the second royal to enter the celebrity jungle - after Princess Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall competed in the 2022 series. Elsewhere Sarah insisted she could not have wished for more love or care from her family after being diagnosed with skin cancer this year after facing breast cancer last summer. She said: 'The whole York family has rallied round and I couldn't have got through it without them. 'My girls in particular have been rock solid in their support. We always call ourselves "the tripod" as we are there to prop each other up through thick and thin, and they have certainly demonstrated that in recent months.' Speaking about her current health she revealed she is being over cautious with any skin differences she is noticing. She said: 'I look at every bit of skin and think, ''Ah! Is that melanoma? Is that something?''. Then you book an appointment to see the dermatologist and by the time you get there, it's gone. 'My father and my best friend Carolyn [Cotterill] died of melanoma. When I got the call on December 31 at 4pm from the dermatologist saying I was needed at the Royal Marsden on Tuesday morning at 8am, it was a long weekend but I've been very lucky because it hadn't gone into the lymph glands'. Elsewhere Sarah opened up about her childhood, revealing she had a sense of not 'belonging' because of her red hair. The mother-of-two revealed she has been in talks with her agent to get her on Netflix romance drama, however I'm a Celeb is definitely not for her Sarah revealed she is 'so proud' of 'brave' King Charles and Kate Middleton for opening up about their cancer diagnosis on Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis earlier this month She said: 'I said to my girls today, "Does it take having cancer to stop the self-hatred, self-doubts and the mental anguish?". 'I was born in 1959 with this bath-hat of red curls. And in those days, there was no sun cream, hence melanoma now. 'I used to sit in the pram and Mum was dark, looking very Spanish. I remember everyone saying, "Where's she come from? Look at her red hair and blue eyes", and Mum saying, "The postman" Well, imagine what I must have thought, that '"Oh, I don't belong". It comes after Sarah revealed she is 'so proud' of 'brave' King Charles and Kate Middleton for opening up about their own cancer diagnosis. She said they 'all need to rally together', as she appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis earlier this month. She said: 'I am so so proud of the King on becoming the royal patron of Cancer Research UK, getting out there and talking to all these people, he gives everyone that wonderful feeling that they are being listened to, I thought it was very brave of him to do that. 'The lovely Princess Catherine doing the video was so brave, family unity is an extraordinary thing and I am honestly so proud and I am sending them lots of love and lots of support, we all need to rally together.' Elsewhere Sarah, who lives in Royal Lodge with her ex-husband Prince Andrew, revealed she doesn't get 'involved in brothers' discussions' - amidst reports King Charles had 'threatened to sever all ties' with Andrew unless he leaves the Royal Lodge for his new home in Frogmore Cottage. The mother-of-two said: 'It's not a debby downer, it's just life in the fast lane. I am a guest for a starter. I am a very lucky guest and a very comfortable guest, thank you very much. But I tend not to get involved in brothers' discussions and I think that's the best, most safe place to be, is to let the brothers discuss it between themselves.' The Princess of Wales told fellow cancer sufferers that they were 'not alone' and should not 'lose faith or hope' as she revealed to the world that she had cancer in March Reports say King Charles (right) had 'threatened to sever all ties' with Prince Andrew (left) unless he leaves the Royal Lodge for his new home in Frogmore Cottage The disgraced Prince Andrew, who no longer has official royal duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, has allegedly been told to move out of the 30-room, 30 million mansion which he shares with Fergie. Meanwhile Sarah, who is affectionately known as Fergie, revealed her new book A Woman of Intrigue is 'saucy and sexy' likening it to Bridgerton- which she says she would love to have a cameo in. Asked about her 'frisky' new novel, Sarah said: 'Lady Mary is very into her underwear, saucy, sexy, sassy and silky underwear. The great thing about this is it's like Bridgerton. 'I want to be on Bridgerton. I think Lady Penelope should have a friend with red hair like me. I am putting it out there.' Responding to Susanna asking about her own cancer diagnosis she said she has found her 'new normal'. She said: 'All these years I've been thinking, 'Am I good enough? Am I this, am I that? Do I get my finances right? Do I do this?'. And actually suddenly now with a mastectomy and then with malignant melanoma, every single day, it's not a wake up call, it's now a new normal. 'You can never say you're cancer free, but you can say that I'm doing well, Susanna, and I'm very lucky, but I really am determined. 'Honestly 1.2 mammograms are not being picked up. The people are not going for their mammograms, they're not being tested. They need to be tested, they can be tested and don't be frightened.' Susanna then revealed how she has had a mammogram after hearing the Duchess of York's message: 'I had been avoiding it because I was worried and it wasn't the painful experience that I had in my head that it was - so thank-you. [It was] All clear, thank goodness.' Platinum Magazine is on sale from today, you can order now at: https://shop.kelsey.co.uk/single-issues/platinum-magazine As a Joe Biden stood onstage after a concerning performance during the 90-minute Presidential Debate against Donald Trump, his wife, First Lady Dr Jill Biden, was the first person to come to his rescue. As she took to the stage to praise her 81-year-old husband for 'answering every question' and 'knowing all the facts', it didn't appear to convince voters that the incumbent candidate is up to the job - but it was more familial support than Donald Trump enjoyed. The former US President, 78 walked off the stage alone after his ever-so-slightly better debate performance as his wife, Melania, 54, was once again absent. It marked another chapter in Trump's lonely election campaign in which he frequently appears solo; a stark contrast to his 2016 bid to win the keys to the White House which was a family affair; with Melania, daughter Ivanka and sons Donald Jr and Eric taking centre stage. However the early stages of this year's presidential campaign are taking place in the wake of a criminal trial in which Trump was convicted over making hush money payments from campaign money to porn star Stormy Daniels over a previous affair when Melania was pregnant with their son, Barron - something Trump denies. As Donald Trump makes another bid for the White House in the November 2024 Presidential Election, the woman who was by his side throughout his first campaign, Melania Trump, is missing in action (couple pictured together at Barron's graduation) As both candidates prepared to take to the stage in Atlanta, GA, last night, there were whispers over whether or not Melania would be waiting in the wings to watch her husband. The former president walked off Trump Force One solo when he arrived in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon. In contrast, the White House has announced Jill Biden will attend the debate and a rally with President Biden on Friday in Atlanta. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the presidency, cut a lonely figure on stage last night as he took on Joe Biden in Atlanta, Florida 'Families started attending the debates regularly in 1976 and it would be pretty shocking for the wife of a candidate to break that tradition,' presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky said. Melania's absence comes amid reports she may not live in Washington D.C full-time if her husband wins the 2024 Presidential Election in November. Those close to the former first lady believe she will likely split her time between Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City especially with Barron, 18, tipped to attend New York University. Melania would instead only travel to Washington, D.C. for ceremonial responsibilities like state dinners and other special events. Melania's absence during this campaign is a stark contrast to 2016 during which she was always by her husband's side and took a starring role in his bid for the presidency If Trump wins the White House again in November, it has been reported that Melania will not live in Washington D.C full-time and will instead join her son Barron (pictured) in New York The decision not to live with in Washington is an unprecedented move for a first lady and a break in two-and-a-half centuries of tradition. 'She's distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social political scene,' Kate Andersen Brower, who's written several books on first ladies, told Axios. 'I mean, she clearly hated being in Washington.' And if Trump does win in November, insiders say she will continue keeping her distance from the East Wing and D.C. 'Melania does what Melania wants.' Washington Post associate editor Mary Jordan, who has written a book about Melania saying, making her 'stand out from other first ladies'. Melania's absence comes in the wake of Donald Trump's hush money trial in which he was convicted of campaign fraud over payments to porn star Stormy Daniels However, her recent absence comes in the wake of her husband's hush money trial in New York, which saw him convicted of 34 counts of fraud under campaign finance laws. The trial focused on payments made from campaign funds in the 2016 Presidential Election to porn star Stormy Daniels; with whom he had an affair when Melania was pregnant with Barron. In a blistering testimony, Daniels took to the stand to eviscerate Trump as she gave an excruciatingly detailed account of her night with the then-businessman. She detailed how she had sex with Trump in the 'missionary position' while still wearing her bra, accused him of not using protection and painted a picture of how Trump was laid spread-eagled on the bed waiting for her while wearing a T-shirt and boxer shorts. Daniels also claimed she 'spanked' the President with a rolled-up magazine. The incident allegedly occurred 18 years ago, a year into President Trump's marriage to Melania - and shortly after she fell pregnant with their son Barron. Although it's likely Melania knew many of the details ahead of the trial, Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen delivered a line that may have hit hard - that the president 'wasn't thinking' about Melania in choosing to hush up the Daniels liaison because: 'This was all about the campaign.' Cohen further testified that when he had asked Trump if news of the affair might lead to Melania divorcing him, Trump casually replied: 'Don't worry How long do you think I'll be on the market for?' In April, a source told the New York Times that Melania had accepted Trump's argument that the case against him was a 'disgrace': a cynical attempt to damage his election prospects. Yet if The Donald had consequently hoped for a public statement of support from his wife, none came. Indeed, according to insiders, Melania has privately referred to the Daniels case as 'his problem'. Stephanie Grisham, Melania's former press secretary and chief of staff, said that she knew Melania's absence from his trial 'absolutely bothers him', adding: 'If Mrs Trump wasn't at some event [when Trump was President] and it was really noted, he would definitely bring it up with her.' As the salacious details spilled out of the trial and made headlines around the world, Melania stayed away and was not seen in public at all until a few days after proceedings had concluded. Even Trump's children, who have also taken a backseat during this campaign, supported the Republican nominee in his trial, with Eric, Donald Jr and Tiffany turning up to the courtroom, while his golden child Ivanka posted on Instagram: 'I love you Dad.' After the trial concluded, pundits suggested that Melania's presence in court would have hugely helped his campaign hopes. Despite Trump's 34 convictions, he is continuing to rally support at events around the country - but notably, Melania has not been by his side at a single campaign event so far this year. 'Stay tuned,' Melania said last month when asked if Americans could expect to see more of her on the campaign trail soon. While she has not made any public appearances alongside her husband during campaigning, she is said to be attending some private fundraising events. The last time the couple were seen in public together was on May 17th, at their son's high school graduation. Viewers who've watched Louis Theroux's latest documentary have deemed it 'disturbing' and 'deeply unsettling'. The British documentary maker's latest release, Tell Them You Love Me, has soared to the top of Netflix's global chart, after being released on the streaming service in the US. However, the programme, available on Sky Documentaries and NOW in the UK, is anything but an easy watch, with the show sparking a deluge of comments on social media - with many viewers saying they were left 'shaken' by the real-life story. Theroux, 54, deep dives into how Anna Stubblefield, a married Rutgers University ethics professor, was convicted of sexually abusing Derrick Johnson, a nonverbal man with cerebral palsy who she'd been asked to help. Johnson has the mental age of an 18-month-old child and the original case in 2015 was pinned against the fact he couldn't can't to a sexual relationship. In a case that shocked the US at the time, Stubblefield's sentence was sensationally overturned after two years on a technicality - and Theroux's documentary is the first time she's spoken in-depth about her version of events. Tell Them You Love Me recounts the shocking true story of New Jersey professor Anna Stubblefield, who had an affair with Derrick Johnson, a non-speaking man with cerebral palsy and the mental age of an 18-month-old child Anna, who was then 39 and married, met Derrick in 2009, then 28, after his family hoped her expertise in 'facilitated communication' could help their nearly mute son to communicate using a keypad The American professor, who was married at the time, was sentenced to 12 years in 2015, but was paroled for life in 2018. Reaction to the programme widely condemned Stubblefield, with the interviews with her, her mother and Johnson's parents leaving many shocked. One wrote: 'Im watching out right now I cant believe what the hell Im watching'. Another added: '#tellthemyouloveme has me completely shocked.' One person wrote: 'I didn't know what it was about and when I found out I was stunned!' Anna claimed that she embarked on a physical affair with Derrick after forging a sexual connection through the controversial technique, which sees someone guide the hand of a person to help them type The American professor was initally sentenced to 12 years in 2015, although she was paroled for life in 2018 And a viewer who'd just finished it added: 'I watched it yesterday and Im still mad.' Louis has revealed he came across the New Jersey story ten years ago but it was a 'struggle' to get the film commissioned. Speaking for the first time, Anna claimed Derrick had 'taken charge' and initiated sex with her. However, according to Derrick's mother Daisy Johnson and brother John Johnson, who act as his legal guardians, he is intellectually disabled and cannot make those decisions. Anna said: 'I'm pretty sure I haven't been re-writing things in my head. Derrick and I had debated on whether we wanted to say anything to Daisy and John about the change in our relationship. According to Derrick's mother Daisy Johnson (left) and brother John Johnson, (right) who act as his legal guardians, he is intellectually disabled and not capable of consent Daisy claimed he didnt have the capacity to engage in physical or emotional intimacy, and the extent to which he used a keyboard to communicate with her wouldnt have been possible unless Anna was manipulating his hands 'We knew we were going to tell them eventually, so it was more that we were enjoying the initial romance when it's very private. It is very intimate and it is just the two of you, and it changes when you start sharing with family.' Speaking about the first time they became intimate Anna recalled that Derrick had 'taken charge' and asked her to remove her clothing. Anna claimed that she embarked on a physical affair with Derrick after forging a connection through the controversial technique of facilitated communication. Facilitated communication is when an individual steadies the hand of a person who struggles to communicate and helps them to type on a keyboard. She said: 'It's difficult for him to kiss so he wanted to practise. Like everything else it is a physical challenge for him. 'I could tell he was very tense. I said: ''Talk to me, what's going on?''. He typed: ''I really love being with you, I love doing this, but I am overwhelmed right now, I need a minute".' Over the course of their meetings, Anna says the two fell in love and had a consensual sexual relationship, leaving his family horrified (pictured Derrick's mother) Louis has revealed he came across the New Jersey story, which is based on Anna Stubblefield and Derrick Johnson lives, 10 years ago but it was a 'struggle' to get the film commissioned What is Facilitated Communication and why is it controversial? Facilitated communication is when an individual steadies the hand of a person who struggles to communicate because of tremors and helps them to type on a keyboard. Effective communication requires good facilitation skills, and the Facilitation process is used as a tool to help disabled people express themselves. Facilitated communication (FC), or supported typing, is a scientifically discredited technique, which claims to allow non-verbal people, such as those with autism, to communicate. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association there is extensive evidence of 'harms' related to the use of FC. Information obtained through the use of FC should not be considered as the communication of the person with a disability. A significant number of studies outlined in Sage Journals debunk FC, seeming to show that facilitators are influencing the output deliberately or, more often, through the ideomotor effect (the same subconscious phenomenon that makes it seem like Ouija boards truly channel spirits). There are no new studies on authorship and there remains no evidence that FC is a valid form of communication for individuals with severe communication disabilities. FC continues to be contested in high profile court cases and its use promoted in school settings and workshops at university campuses in the US. It's now also used in other countries including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. But government departments and professional organisations in these countries have said that facilitated communication is a discredited technique, which shouldn't be used. Source: Asha.org Advertisement Anna said she presumed the moment had passed, saying she didn't want to pressure Derrick into anything, and told him that because it was 'all new' to him he had to 'call the shots.' She recalled: 'He started typing "I touch your breasts", then he typed, "Take your shirt off all the way". So I did that and then he said: "Take the rest of your clothes off". So I did and then he said: "I dreamed about this". 'It seemed to me he had really taken control of the situation. He was ordering me around but that was kind of cool because I wasn't necessarily anticipating that element of the relationship. 'He said: "I long to hold you the way men do". He said: "Do you think it will even be possible with my cerebral palsy for us to make love?" and I said, "I have no idea but there is only one way to find out".' According to facilitatedcommunication.org the controversy surrounding facilitated communication emerged in the 1990s when concerns were raised about the validity and reliability of the method. Critics argue that the messages produced through FC may not originate from the individual but rather reflect the facilitator's thoughts or desires Derrick and Anna met in 2009 when John, who was a student of Annas, approached the professor about his brothers condition and she offered to help Derrick with his communication skills. He soon learned to use a keyboard with an LED screen to type and, with Anna's assistance, he began taking a university class. Derrick's mother Daisy recalled the moment that Anna and her son broke the news of their intimate relationship to her and her older son John. Daisy said: 'She said ''We are in love, and we have been intimate, he is a man in every sense of the word''. I sat on my hands and I said: ''You did what?''. I tried to be civil, John had gone somewhere, I think to throw up.' John said: 'I was shocked I didn't know what to make of it at the time. But I felt myself getting so angry and rage-filled that I had left. I went downstairs I paced a few times, I had to let my anger subside.' Anna recalled that the interaction went well and claimed that Daisy hugged her goodbye and said: ''We will figure this out''.' However, the next morning Anna got a call from John saying they did not feel comfortable with her seeing Derrick. Daisy alleged that her son was incapable of consent, claiming he didnt have the capacity to engage in physical or emotional intimacy, and the extent to which he used a keyboard to communicate with her wouldnt have been possible unless Anna was manipulating his hands. In 2015, Anna was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison, but in 2017, Annas appeal was granted and her conviction revoked, on a technicality Anna said: 'I never got any vibe off John or Daisy that they didn't 100 percent believe that what Derrick said was his words. 'I had been careful in the beginning to make sure that I wasn't influencing him, but there were so many situations where he was telling me information I didn't know and at the beginning I was checking it to make make sure I wasn't influencing him. 'The fact that we had arguments and disagreements and he very clearly had his own mind - he more than proved himself. I had all this proof that I could of shared with them to reassure them.' However, Daisy claimed her son didnt have the capacity to engage in physical or emotional intimacy, and the extent to which he used a keyboard to communicate with Anna wouldnt have been possible unless she was manipulating his hands. Tell Them You Love Me is out now on Netflix in the US, and available on Sky Documentaries and NOW in the UK The Duke of York, 64, was horse riding at Windsor Castle on Friday morning A smiling Prince Andrew has been spotted horse riding at Windsor Castle today following the news that his sister has left hospital after being treated for concussion and head injuries. The Duke, 64, who no longer has official royal duties after stepping back following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, was seen wearing a burgundy shirt, black trousers and riding boots at Windsor Castle. The father of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie looked serious as he approached Windsor Castle by car, donning a pair of sunglasses. Once riding, Andrew appeared in high spirits with a smile across his face. Andrew's horse ride at Windsor Castle comes after his sister Princess Anne was discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where she has been since Sunday evening after being struck by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. Her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who visited her in hospital, said in a statement: 'I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all the team at Southmead Hospital for their care, expertise and kindness during my wife's short stay.' The Duke of York, 64, appeared serious as arrived at Windsor Castle today for a horse ride (pictured) The Princess was also visited by her daughter Zara Tindall. Anne's concussion has meant precise details of the incident are unclear, but her medical team have said her head injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs. Anne will now remain at Gatcombe for further rest and recuperation and will return to public duty when her doctors recommend it is safe and comfortable to do so. Today, Andrew appeared in good spirits despite claims that the King had told him to move out of the 30-room, 30million mansion he shares with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York. The King has long been trying to get Andrew - who has no apparent source of income - to leave the Windsor mansion amid rumours the Prince of Wales is keen to take up residence in the property to reflect his role as heir to the throne. While sources close to the King said he is willing to pay for his brother to live comfortably out of his private funds from the Duchy of Lancaster, the level of funding needs to be appropriate. A friend of the King told The Times: 'Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides and the duke would be required to fund the lion's share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own - which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term. 'Everyone is mindful of his well-being, and has his best interests at heart, but there are limits of patience and tolerance.' Following the King's continued attempts to evict Andrew from Royal Lodge, a friend of Charles said: 'As things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke.' Andrew later looked in high spirits as he rode his horse at Windsor Castle with a wide smile across his face The Duke of York has lived at the 30-room mansion since he took over the lease in 2003 Andrew has reportedly refused to leave the property (pictured), leaving King Charles tired and frustrated Frogmore Cottage (pictured), which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan, was suggested as a possible alternative but the Duke does not want to move King Charles has long been trying to get his brother Andrew to leave the Windsor mansion (seen together in 2012) Claims emerged last year that Andrew could not meet the 400,000-a-year upkeep of Royal Lodge, which is thought to be worth 30million. It was reported that the duke was told he would have to leave the property. He was granted 'a stay of execution', it was reported in October, after he did a deal with the King to carry out the repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed property. But the state of the mansion's exterior has since been exposed, with pictures which are said to show that it is still in need of some work potentially sparking a new row. Andrew downsizing to live at Frogmore Cottage would make a significant saving, with friends of the King saying he would continue to pay for mobile security, but would not have to provide static security for the building. Those with knowledge of Frogmore Cottage - which used to house the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - said it is in good condition thanks to the work carried out by Harry and Meghan before their move to the US. Recent photos have revealed the state of Prince Andrew's 30-room mansion which has fallen into disrepair amid an ongoing feud between the Duke and Charles. Andrew first moved into the large mansion in 2004 and now lives there with his ex-wife Sarah. He signed a 75-year lease, paying 250 a week and agreeing to maintain the vast property. Part of the terms of this alleged deal with his older brother was that he would carry out repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed house, but these do not appear to have been done yet. The stunning royal property is set among trees and woodland at the heart of Windsor Great Park, just three miles south of Windsor Castle King Charles has long been trying to get his brother to leave Royal Lodge (seen at Ladies Day on the opening day of the Epsom Derby Festival in 2024) It was reported that Andrew may have his royal allowance of 249,000 cut, making it difficult for the Duke to fulfill his promises. He reportedly told his friends that such a drastic change to his finances would mean he would not be able to cover the costs of the estate. Despite his possible money worries, sources close to the Duke said back in January: 'Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease.' The Mail revealed last year that the King had offered his younger brother a more modest property but Andrew reportedly saw this as a 'demotion' too far. The Royal Lodge sits in the heart of Windsor Park, three miles south of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate. Queen Rania of Jordan has shared a sweet photograph of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa to mark her son's birthday. Taking to Instagram, the Queen of Jordan, 53, shared a gushing post to her 10 million followers to mark her son turning 30 today, showing Hussein and Rajwa beaming in formal attire. Rania wrote: 'Happy birthday my dearest Hussein. Cannot wait to see you and Rajwa as parents!' The expecting couple - whom he wed in a prestigious ceremony last year at Zahran Palace - appeared in high spirits as they posed in nature, glancing away from the camera. Rajwa, 30, was glowing in an off-white dress with the fitted silhouette revealing her blossoming baby bump; she added lavish accessories to the outfit - including a diamond bracelet. Queen Rania shared a sweet image (pictured) of her son, Crown Prince Hussein, and his wife, Princess Rajwa, to mark her son turning 30 The 30-year-old styled her sleek brunette tresses in loose curls and opted for a glamorous makeup look for the occasion. Hussein looked dapper in a navy shirt with rolled up sleeves and a pair of simple yet smart black trousers. The 30-year-old heir to the Jordanian throne kept his arm around his wife as they posed for the photograph. It comes after Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his wife Princess Rajwa announced that they are expecting their first baby this summer. The couple - who got married in a prestigious wedding last June - will soon be parents, the royal household has revealed. The happy occasion is also set make Queen Rania, 53, a grandmother and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, 62, a grandfather, for the first time. 'The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, Crown Prince, and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein, are expecting, with Gods help and grace, their first child, in the summer of this year,' a statement on the website read. 'And the Royal Hashemite Court, congratulating His Majesty King Abdullah II, son of Al Hussein, and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, on this occasion, to wish Their Royal Highnesses the good offspring a good health.' Rajwa and Hussein - who wed in a prestigious ceremony last year at Zahran Palace - are expecting their first child together Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his wife Princess Rajwa are expecting a baby this summer. Pictured at their wedding in June The joyous announcement comes after Rajwa's tragic loss of her father in February - just months after she married into the Jordanian royal family. Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif died at the age of 71. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Prince Hussein shared a picture of him embracing Khaled, who became his 'beloved' father-in-law after marrying Princess Rajwa last June. 'With profound sadness and sorrow, we bid farewell to my beloved father-in-law. We will always remember his kindness, generosity, and integrity. May God bestow mercy upon him and grant us patience and strength,' he wrote. Hussein, 29, and high-flying architect Rajwa, 29, were married in June last year at Zahran Palace in Amman. Following a short service, Abdullah II and Rania hosted a lavish reception at the Al Husseiniya Palace, which was attended by more than 1,700 guests - including the Prince and Princess of Wales. Rajwa dazzled in a white gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which featured a lengthy train embroidered with flowers, and a sparkling diamond tiara. Abdullah II and Rania proudly watched as their son was wed during an Islamic ceremony known as a 'katb ktab' held in a gazebo and conducted by the Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr Ahmed Al Khalaileh. Kate Middleton, who lived in Jordan for a short period during her childhood, led the glamorous guests at the event in a blush pink lace dress also by Elie Saab. The happy occasion is also set make Queen Rania , 53, (pictured) a grandmother and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, 62, a grandfather, for the first time The couple - who got married in a prestigious wedding last June - will soon be parents, the royal household has revealed Princess Beatrice wore a silver sequined gown from British label Needle & Thread for the occasion. Rajwa was educated in Saudi Arabia before then moving to the US for university. While living in New York, she studied Architecture at Syracuse University - obtaining her Bachelor of Arts. During her undergraduate degree, Rajwa flew to Dubai with her class to study the city's sustainable developments. Following her graduation, she then went on to study Visual Communications at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles - where reality star Lauren Conrad and fashion designer Monique Lhuillier also studied. Pictured: Abdullah II (right) and Rania (left) stand with Hussein during his engagement to Rajwa She then went on to work at an architecture firm in Los Angeles and was employed by Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh last year. Along with her passion for horseback riding, Rajwa also has a creative streak - and is said to enjoy drawing and making art in her spare time. Despite Hussein's public profile, the couple largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight to begin with. The Crown Prince announced his engagement to Rajwa in August 2022 - after the heir to the throne proposed at his future wife's home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The future King of Jordan picked a show-stopping pear-shaped diamond set on a pave band to propose with. At the time, Hussein confirmed that both his and Rajwa's families were present for the special moment. She deeply regrets her decision and issued a warning to others When Ainslie Gardiner was made redundant from her job last year she turned to OnlyFans thinking she'd make money fast. And while the 32-year-old from Sydney did make $10,000 over three months, she deeply regrets using the X-rated platform because of the 'cringeworthy' content she needed to create. Speaking to FEMAIL, Ainslie said she felt 'constantly uneasy' and 'made herself sick' promoting herself on social media to get subscribers. While hundreds of successful OnlyFans stars boast about the money and freedom they've gained, Ainslie warned others to think twice when considering signing up. 'My job was made redundant so I went travelling and saw how many people work online. I was struggling to think of something I could do and transfer my skills,' she said. 'Once home and back to the rat race I made an OnlyFans account and booked a one-way flight. 'When I joined I really thought it was just going to be some PG photos, but quite quickly you are trying to keep up with everyone else and doing things you aren't comfortable with. I don't think I realised what I had signed up for.' Ainslie said those on OnlyFans also need to constantly promote themselves on social media platforms to make money including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formally Twitter) and even Reddit. Ainslie Gardiner decided to join OnlyFans last year after seeing other women boast about how much money they make selling explicit content But the 32-year-old from Sydney quickly felt out of line with herself and the 'cringe' content she needed to make. She issued a warning to other women considering signing up too 'To be honest, during that period I felt constantly uneasy and made myself sick posting on these sites every day in the fear that someone I knew would see,' she added. She admitted earning $10,000 over three months 'isn't a lot of money' in this day and age. 'If you are considering doing OnlyFans, avoid being swayed by the glamorous lifestyles you see online and resist the temptation to a quick fix. Take your time to carefully consider your decisions,' she warned. Ainslie also decided to post a detailed TikTok video to share her experience, which has now attracted more than 114,000 views. 'A lot of young girls think, "it's going to be so easy to make money", but in reality if you don't have a following it's a f****** grind,' she said in the clip. 'When I joined I really thought it was just going to be some PG photos, but quite quickly you are trying to keep up with everyone else and doing things you aren't comfortable with,' she said Ainslie quickly realised creating and selling explicit content online 'didn't align' with who she is as a person or how she wanted to portray herself on the internet 'It is a full-time job within itself... I think another thing would be to set time in the morning or afternoon where you want to talk to people because you want to make money and it starts getting out of control talking to people all day long.' Ainslie quickly realised creating and selling explicit content online 'didn't align' with who she is as a person or how she wanted to portray herself on the internet. One of the biggest misconceptions about OnlyFans is the number of followers a creator has. 'Girls can give each other free subscriptions. This makes the account look like it has a lot of subscribers and likes which makes people sign up,' Ainslie said. 'Don't believe everything you see on the internet.' A woman in Brazil has been left in a wheelchair after a nurse gave her a 'strange' cosmetic procedure that took place outside the hospital in a child's bedroom in the nurse's home. Ester Maia Corecha da Silva, 25, went to the nurses home for treatments to remove belly fat and cellulite - lumpy, harmless flesh along the thighs, hips, and buttocks. Though Ms Da Silva initially thought it was odd to have the procedure done in a private home, she trusted the credentials of the nurse, who also claimed to be a beautician. However, just hours later, the mother-of-one was rushed to the hospital as her buttocks became inflamed and she developed debilitating pain. A month later, Ms Da Silva is still wheelchair-bound, as she is in too much agony to stand up or walk and says she needs '[physical] therapy and treatment so I can walk again to return to my normal life.' Ester Maia Corecha da Silva, 25, has been left in so much pain from a knock-off cosmetic procedure that she cannot get up from a wheelchair 'I need physiotherapy and treatment so I can walk again to return to my normal life,' Ms Da Silva said Ms Da Silva said she noticed something was off within hours of the procedure. Later that evening, she told the nurse the 'products' used in the procedure were leaking out of her skin. The skin quickly became severely inflamed, leading to intense pain - prompting Ms Da Silva to go to the hospital. After arriving at the emergency room, she received imaging of the affected areas and scans revealed cysts and abnormal tissues called nodules that had spread all the way to her coccyx, the small, curved bone at the bottom of the spine. 'The doctors said this product can migrate. It could even reach my feet,' she told local media outlets. Da Silvas condition is reportedly so severe she is unable to look after her autistic daughter and requires help from her mother, Cristiana Maia. Ms Maia said: 'Seeing her [my daughter] in a wheelchair today is very painful.' It's unclear exactly what procedure Ms Da Silva had done, but there are several treatments that are not recommended to remove cellulite due to lack of evidence of their efficacy or potential dangers. Mesotherapy, for example, involves receiving a series of injections in areas with cellulite. These needles can be filled with anything from hormones and enzymes to caffeine and herbal extracts. It's unclear exactly what Ms Da Silva had done, though there are very few approved and effective treatments for cellulite These are thought to break down the body's fat cells. However, there are cautions. 'Because each practitioner uses a unique blend of ingredients, theres no way to know what if any ingredients are effective,' the American Academy of Dermatology Association states. Dr Fabio Santiago, a plastic surgeon in Brazil, told local media: 'Apart from hyaluronic acid, there is no other substance considered safe for volumizing the buttocks.' Other substances 'are considered extremely harmful to our body,' leading to an 'intense inflammatory reaction' that can cause severe pain. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found throughout the body's connective tissues to keep areas like the eyes and skin hydrated. Products with hyaluronic acid, such as creams, can improve the appearance of cellulite, but it does not get rid of it entirely. The police are investigating the case. Introducing a lower blood pressure target than the one currently in place could save thousands of lives a year, a study shows. Official NHS guidance says that ideal pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Patients with high blood pressure are typically treated with the aim of getting the systolic pressure the higher number representing the force at which the heart pumps blood around the body down to 140mmHg. But research suggests that lowering this to 120mmHg would prevent more heart attacks and strokes, while remaining safe. A quarter of adults in the UK 14.4 million people are thought to have high blood pressure, increasing the chances of health problems such as heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia. Introducing a lower blood pressure target than the one currently in place could save thousands of lives a year, a study shows (stock photo) Researchers studied more than 11,000 people who were at high risk of cardiovascular problems from conditions such as diabetes, age and lifestyle factors, like smoking. Patients from 116 hospitals across China were put into two groups aiming to lower blood pressure to less than 120mmHg or the standard treatment of 140mmHg. They were given blood pressure- lowering medications alongside recommendations such as exercise, then followed up monthly for the first three months and then three-monthly after that. Their medication was adjusted to maintain the desired levels, then followed up more than three years later. Of those in the lower blood pressure target group, 9.7 per cent went on to experience a major cardiovascular event, such as heart failure. This compared with 11.1 per cent of those who had a target blood pressure of less than 140mmHg, according to the findings published in The Lancet. The authors said a lower blood pressure target of less than 120mmHg should be considered for all patients with high cardiovascular risk, regardless of diabetes status or history of stroke. Official NHS guidance says that ideal pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) (stock photo) Jing Li, of the National Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases in Beijing, said: Implementing this intensive treatment strategy for high-risk adults has the potential to save more lives and reduce the public health burden of heart disease. It comes after a UK study found fluctuations in blood pressure is a major predictor of heart attack and stroke risk. Earlier this year, Imperial College researchers found that more than half of incidents occurred in patients whose blood pressure was well-controlled with medication below 140 mmHg suggesting the threshold is insufficient. But experts said the findings do not necessarily mean everyone should go on medication. Professor Nilesh Samani, former medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: Its also important to remember that blood pressure can be improved by means other than medication such as exercise and losing weight. He said those worried about their blood pressure should see a GP. They've been dubbed Hollywood's 'worst kept slimming secret'. But for at least one celeb using jabs like Ozempic to stay slim, it has come at a mortifying social cost. An unnamed A-lister taking the medication apparently lost control of their bowels in bed, while staying overnight at the home of actress, and owner of wellness and lifestyle brand Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow. The incident occurred 'recently' at the star's property in the Hamptons, where affluent New York City residents typically descend for the summer, according to celeb gossip website Popbitch. It added that 'Ozempic-induced diarrhoea is becoming a very hot topic' in Hollywood as so many are on the drug. However this unfortunate side effect is not confined to celebrity circles, with more than one in ten patients said to be affected. An unnamed A-lister taking a weight-loss jab reportedly lost control of their bowls while staying overnight at the home of actress, and owner of wellness and lifestyle brand Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow Rumour has it a recent 'scandal' in the Hamptons, above, has been the talk of the town as celebrities flock to the popular holiday destination ahead of US Independence Day Your browser does not support iframes. Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide, and while classed as a diabetes medication, has been used by some people to lose weight. The drug works by mimicking a hormone the body uses to tell us the stomach is full, and we should stop eating, helping suppress appetite and slowing overall digestion. However, this can also trigger what is known medically as the gastrocolic reflex. This essentially means the stomach sends a signal to the brain that because a large amount of food has been consumed room needs to be made further down the line. In consequence the colon and the rectum are instructed to empty their contents. But if the digestive process hasn't been completed fully, which is more likely when the signal is artificial in the case of drugs like semaglutide, this can lead to explosive diarrhoea. As Wegovy, the dedicated weight loss version of semaglutide, contains exactly the same ingredient people on this drug also carry the same risk. Previous clinical trials showed that 30 per cent of patients experience diarrhoea on Wegovy, compared to 16 percent on the placebo. Drug information leaflets distributed with Ozempic and Wegovy describe diarrhoea as a 'very common' side effect reported in more than one in 10 patients. But they add this most commonly strikes when people first start on the drug and usually fades away over time as their body adjusts to the drug. Ozempic and Wegovy, made by the Danish pharma firm Novo Nordisk, belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, named after the hormone they mimic. Rival drugs that work in a similar way such as Mounjaro, which contains the drug tirzepatide, are just as likely to cause the same side effect. Online, jab users have also recounted their own digestive troubles while on the medications. Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide, and while classed as a diabetes medication, has been used by some people to lose weight Wegovy works by triggering the body to produce a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 that is released naturally from the intestines after meals One, who shared their experience on the website Reddit wrote: 'I quite literally s**t myself while sleeping. That's a first.' They added: 'Been tough few days of diarrhoea after my first semaglutide injection.' Another user, a 43-year-old anonymous man, on Wegovy said: 'I just feel SO embarrassed being a grown adult who messed his pants!' A different patient described being on their way to a birthday dinner but added how they 'ended up s******g my pants probably 15 minutes into the drive.' Digestive issues are an unsurprising consequence of many dedicated weight-loss medications even among non GLP-1 agonists. Orlistat, sold under the brand Xenical, has prescribed to people needing to lose weight on the NHS for years. This drug works by physically preventing fat from being absorbed in the gut and instead keeping it locked in faeces which are then passed out through the body. The disruption to the normal digestive process can likewise result in patients experiencing diarrhoea, oily or fatty faeces or oily discharge from the back passage, dubbed anus 'anal seepage' Patients experiencing diarrhoea while on weight-loss drugs can do very little to stop the effect, though some take drugs like loperamide, sold under the brand name Imodium, in attempt to combat the symptoms. People experiencing diarrhoea in general are advised to avoid eating food and drinks that can exacerbate digestive issues or act as natural laxatives by the NHS. These include high-fibre foods, fruit juice, nuts and dried fruits, uncooked vegetables and fruit, beans, lentils and pulses, cauliflower, cabbage and onions, spicy or fatty foods, as well as alcohol, strong tea and coffee. Celebrities who have admitted to using weight loss drugs like Ozempic include Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Sharon Osbourne, Chelsea Handler and Robbie Williams. In June 2023, comedian Amy Schumer admitted taking it the year prior but stopped due to the side-effects. 'I was one of those people who felt so sick,' she said. There has been increasing concern in the UK about the number of normal weight and underweight patients needing A&E care after taking the jabs in a bid to become 'beach body ready'. Joe Biden's fitness to run for a second term is in question after 'senior moments' during last night 'car crash' TV debate sparked a wave of concern. The President's jumbled words and a general frail appearance put him in stark contrast to Republican hopeful Donald Trump, commentators said. Last night is just the latest in a string of incidents that have led many to speculate on Biden's health. His time in office has been punctuated by falls, gaffes and unusual behaviour, particularly in recent months. To add to his woes, there are reports that some Democrats are now calling for him to step out of the presidential contest altogether a suggestion firmly rebutted by the Biden camp. So can any firm conclusions be drawn on what might be wrong with the 81-year-old based on his performance? We asked one of the UK top dementia specialists, who watched the debate, for his view. After Biden lost his train of thought at one point and stared ahead blankly, Donald Trump said: 'I really don't know what he just said' Speech: Jumbled words, lost sentences and incoherence In what has become a much commented on moment of the TV debate, Biden produced a rambling response to a Medicare question. He said: 'We've been making sure we are able to make every single person eligible what I've been able to do with the Covid, excuse me, everything we have to do with...look... I finally beat Medicare...' before trailing off. Another serious fumble came when Biden spoke about the the situation on the US border. 'We had significant increase in number of asylum officers significantly. By the way the Border Patrol been endorsed me, endorsed my position. 'In addition to that we find ourselves in a situation where when he was president he was taking separating babies from their mothers put him in cages,' he said This led to Trump to respond: 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either.' Professor Robert Howard, an expert in old age psychiatry at University College London, said: 'Doctors can't diagnose someone without examining them, but based on the footage of the debate I've watched, the freezing and rambling make me concerned that Biden struggles to maintain attention. 'He's fine 98 per cent of the time, but there are occasions when he appears to have lost his train of thoughts and others where he can't stop himself from rambling. 'These fluctuations and dips in attention are a key symptom of Parkinson's.' Parkinson's is a condition in which nerve cells in the part of the brain responsible for producing a vital chemical called dopamine stop working properly. Dopamine governs a range of functions including movement and attention, and while medication can help alleviate the symptoms, the illness is incurable and gradually worsens. Dr Mike Smith, an NHS GP from Hertfordshire, said watching last night's debate had left with only one conclusion as a health professional. 'It is beyond doubt he has cognitive impairment,' he said. He escribed Biden as having telltale signs of the problem, which can be caused multiple neurological conditions. 'He struggles to find the right word, he sometimes finishes a sentence with something that makes no sense for example his sentence on Medicare he appears to have to concentrate very had to keep on topic. 'Also his shuffling indicates there's some locomotive issues there as well.' Memory: Trailing off, confused gaffes and freezes Biden's memory and ability to continue a points were also highlighted by the recent debate. At one moment, when singling US states restrictions on abortion, he confusingly pivoted to immigration and referred to a 'young woman who was just murdered' by an immigrant. Viewers claimed it was unclear what point he was trying to make. Other commentators have pointed to several occasions when he has seemingly frozen such as one incident earlier this month where he was seemingly staring blankly ahead as Vice President Kamala Harris danced beside him. But there have been plenty of times Biden has appeared disorientated and frozen in public. At the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day in France Biden was seen awkwardly squatting down as if he was preparing to sit before momentarily freezing. The move seemed to prompt First Lady Jill Biden to cover her mouth raising questions about whether she quietly tried to offer him advice that it was not the right time to sit. He also appeared to freeze for about a minute are look vacant during the Juneteenth celebrations while others grooved along to a lively band. There has been widespread speculation, as a result of these incidents, that the President has dementia. However Professor Howard said: 'People with dementia have these symptoms all the time, not intermittently. 'If you sit someone with dementia down in front of a neuropsychologist and test them, they will do badly. 'Someone with fluctuating attention will only do badly when their attention dips.' He said this appears to be what's happening with the President. 'It's just really bad luck that Biden seems to be affected when he's on show,' he said. 'It will also be difficult for those around him. If he had dementia, they could test him and say, look, you're not fit to carry on as President or a candidate. 'But if it's fluctuating it's only those moments that are a concern and the rest of time he'll be absolutely fine.' While both dementia and Parkinson's can effect the brain Professor Howard said they manifest in different ways. 'The difference is, with dementia it's like the lights in the house are blown: there's nothing you can do bring them back on,' he said. 'But with something like Parkinson's, the power dips, and the bulbs flicker and go a bit dim from time to time. 'Biden just has a problem keeping the lights on all the time. 'He looks expressionless and his face has a mask-like appearance. This is something we also often see with Parkinson's disease.' He added that people shouldn't dismiss symptoms such as these as they are not simply a sign of ageing. 'If [Biden] has Parkinson's and I'm not saying he has you can bet he'll have seen top doctors and will be on optimal treatment already,' he said. Biden appears to freeze during a Juneteenth concert at the White House The 81-year-old President reportedly 'froze' for roughly a minute before his speech became slurred during the event in Washington 'These sorts of symptoms shouldn't be seen as a normal part of old age.' Dr Smith added that if he was examining a patient with Biden's symptoms he would want to consider Parkinson's. If a relative brought Mr Biden into me at the practice and they explained all the things we witnessed in the presidential debate last night, and some of the more recent public appearances, Parkinson's would be one of the top things in the list to exclude,' he said. But he added that dementia or an infection, given Biden's age, would also be among the health issues that a medic would also want to consider. Walking: General stability and multiple trips and falls Shaking hands is perhaps one of the most well-known symptoms of Parkinson's, but experts say not all patients develop it. Falls, which Biden has becoming increasingly vulnerable to, are another sign of the condition. The President has several unfortunate tumbles over the past few years. Perhaps the most iconic was when he repeatedly stumbled on the stairs while boarding Air Force One in March 2021 and then again in May 2022. Another incident, this time in June 2022, saw Biden lie on the ground for 10 seconds after he fell from a stationary bike while talking to reporters. Other falls have been also filmed and recorded at various events over the past year. Biden looks back at a sandbag after he fell on the stage at the Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony in Colorado MARCH 2021: Biden's first stumble as he bounded up the stairs of Air Force One. The White House blamed the wind for his struggles Professor Howard said falls among Parkinson's sufferers not uncommon. 'People with Parkinson's get these moments where they freeze up physically,' he said. 'They are more likely to suffer falls as the legs can be stiff and movements slow.' The brain chemical dopamine, which Parkinson's patients have less of, acts as messenger between the brain and the parts of the nervous system that govern the control and co-ordination of body movements. A lack of it can lead to movement becoming slow or abnormal with patients at increased risks of falls as a result, and can even cause them freeze completely as if stuck to the spot. WHAT IS PARKINSON'S? It's thought around one in 500 people are affected by Parkinson's disease, which means there are an estimated 127,000 people in the UK with the condition and about one million in the US. It is a progressive neurological condition that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement. Sufferers are known to have diminished supplies of dopamine because nerve cells that make it have died. There is currently no cure and no way of stopping the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific trials are underway to try and change that. Symptoms include: Involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor) Slow movement Stiff and inflexible muscles Depression and anxiety Balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall) Loss of sense of smell (anosmia) Problems sleeping (insomnia) Memory problems Source: NHS Advertisement Parkinson's affects one in 20 people over the age of 85, with age considered the biggest risk factor for developing the disease. Professor Howard said while he couldn't comment on Biden's long term health, if he did have Parkinson's, he would only get worse over time as the condition was progressive. 'It's a terrible dilemma as the majority of the time he's on point. 'But you can't predict when these moments will happen and he won't be able to function at the level he needs to be at,' he said. 'These things do not get better as time goes on. They are progressive. Medications only treat the symptoms, they don't stop the disease from progressing. 'Thinking ahead to the next three or four years, it will only get worse.' Dr Smith also said the conditions that cause cognitive impairment inevitably get worse over time. 'The analogy I would use is that you have a very large bookcase where the small books are on the top and the big book are on the bottom,' he said. 'The earlier signs of cognitive impairment and dementia are where the bookcase is being gently rocked and the small books start to fall, 'Where did I put my bank card?', 'What did I have for lunch yesterdaythose types of things.' He add that while Biden is doubtlessly being looked after by a team of medical experts it did raise questions about his future. 'Is this gentleman who wants to do another four year term as the President of the US, is that really in his best interest? That's the question I was asking myself when I saw the debate,' he said. Dr Smith also said it was critical that people don't dismiss any potential signs of cognitive impairment as simply part of getting old as there are many treatments available that can slow or mitigate symptoms and give people a better quality of life. 'People must get it checked out,' he said. President Joe Biden's campaign team is doing damage control following his stammering and confused performance during the first presidential debate broadcasted on CNN. A White House official has explained the 81 year-old's slowed speech, long pauses and raspy voice as the result of 'a cold' that has 'started to hit his stride'. Many have doubted this, with Trump supporters suggesting it's a mask for more serious degenerative conditions that would make him incapable of the top job. Even Democrats have called for a rethink, with some calling for POTUS to step aside. Now, speaking to DailyMail.com, experts have revealed whether a cold really could be behind the president's bizarre symptoms. After Biden lost his train of thought at one point and stared ahead blankly, Donald Trump said: 'I really don't know what he just said' Joe Biden and Jill Biden pictured leaving the debate stage last night in Atlanta, Georgia They say that, in fact, a respiratory virus like a cold can cause a number of cognitive symptoms in a person of Biden's age, as well as making him generally weak and severely unwell. Dr Liz Landsverk, a geriatrician in San Francisco, California, said: 'Some elders they can get really quite sick because they don't have as strong immune systems. 'A cold can make the brain kind of foggy, and it could make [older adults] a little slower... ' Seniors with colds and flu are also more vulnerable to serious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infections. Between 70 and 90 percent of the US' 34,000 annual flu deaths are in people aged 65 and older, according to CDC data. Other respiratory viruses that cause cold symptoms kill at least 6,000 adults aged 65 or older every year, while 60,000 to 160,000 are hospitalized. When the immune system is recruited to fight infection, it triggers the release of proteins that interfere with hormones in the brain, which may slow reaction times. Studies have shown that those suffering a cold perform less well at everyday tasks, such as driving, for example. Experts say the common cold can be particularly impactful for those of a certain age because older people have weaker immune systems, making their bodies less able to fight infections. It also means older adults could be ill with the disease for three weeks, rather than the typical seven to ten days normally suffered. Scientists suggest that a cold can cause mental fogginess similar to that brought on by a hangover. Dr Ziad Nasreddine, a neurologist in Canada, said: 'In general, a cold may slow down an older individual.' He added that taking cold medication could amplify symptoms such as confusion, due to the sedative effect. Sedative medication can also cause slurred speech. Dr Thomas Moore, an infectious diseases expert in Kansas, added that it is possible a cold could also cause a troubled performance in a simpler way by disrupting the president's sleep. A stuffy or blocked nose can lead to a bad night of rest, made worse by stress, which can lead to trouble concentrating the following day. Yes, Trump sprayed around wild accusations and even the odd outright lie, regularly failed to answer the question and at times must have crippled the fact-checking machine. But his voice was strong, his answers clear, his discipline uncharacteristically impressive. There are also concerns over Biden's underlying heart condition, an irregular heartbeat, with experts saying a cold can put further stress on the heart, aggravating his condition. Doctors say those with atrial fibrillation must be extra careful with cold medication, as some could trigger more frequent episodes of the condition. Doctors warn those with the condition to avoid medications like Sudafed for treating colds. The President also already struggles with his sleep, needing a CPAP machine, with experts saying patients' breathing could be further disrupted by a cold. However, experts have speculated that it is likely Biden's symptoms are due to underlying conditions that are far more impactful than a cold. Dr Robert Howard, an expert in old age psychiatry at University College London in the UK, told the DailyMail: 'These fluctuations and dips in attention [that Biden has] are a key symptom of Parkinson's Disease. 'Doctors can't diagnose someone without examining them, but based on the footage of the debate I've watched, the freezing and rambling make me concerned that Biden struggles to maintain attention. 'There are occasions where he appears to have lost his train of thought and others where he can't stop himself from rambling.' Dr Fischer added that he believed Biden's raspy voice and poor performance was likely caused by a stimulant drug such as Adderall. This can cause blood vessels to constrict, which leads to a drop in saliva production causing a very dry mouth. Health officials in California are sounding the alarm over an outbreak of a rare, deadly bacteria that had contaminated home-cooked food. At two events on June 21 and 22 outside of Fresno, roughly 30 members of the same family were exposed to botulism, a rare food-borne pathogen that attacks the body's nerves. Eight people have been hospitalized, but officials haven't specified how many of the exposed were sickened. Authorities also did not reveal the specific foods that were involved, but urged the family to not eat any more of the contaminated products. Now, the California Department of Public Health and the CDC have said they are working together on an investigation. Roughly 30 members of the same family outside of Fresno, California, were exposed to rare but deadly botulism from contaminated home-cooked food Botulism is caused by a toxin released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which is normally found in spores in soil, marine areas, and on the surface of foods like fruits, vegetables, and seafood. These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings, which are usually harmless. However, warm and wet tight spaces lacking oxygen - such as metal cans or plastic jars - can cause the bacteria to release toxins that attack the central nervous system. The bacteria thrives in canned foods because the canning process forces air out of the food, creating a favorable environment for C. botulinum to grow. Dr Rais Vohra, interim health officer for Fresno County, California, urged people to follow proper guidelines for home canning, though he also stressed that botulism is rare in the US. 'Our local health department is working closely with area hospitals, state, and national health agencies on this outbreak,' he said during a news conference. 'While the risk to the general population is low, we are actively tracing those who may have consumed the contaminated food to ensure they get timely monitoring and treatment.' In a separate instance of botulism, Claudia Albuquerque Celada (left) and Doralice Goes (right) were both infected with the bacteria and became paralyzed after eating contaminated food The CDC estimates there are just 200 cases of botulism in the US every year, and just 25 are from food, making it vanishingly rare. Other causes include infections and, rarely, injecting too much botulinum toxin used in Botox. Though the risk is low, the investigators in California are searching for anyone else who may have consumed the contaminated food to make sure they are monitored and treated. Signs of botulism include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, blurry vision, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and trouble moving the eyes. Botulism can be fatal in about five to 10 percent of cases. The condition is treated with antitoxins. A 29-year-old from Ohio with a rare medical condition that left her in so much pain she was unable to eat had to travel 4,000 miles in order to receive life-saving surgery in Germany. Kristina Bayus-Roszak, a marketing specialist, first noticed something was wrong with her health after she lost 30lbs in just six weeks because she was in excruciating pain that made it nearly impossible for her to eat. She was suffering constant nausea and vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Doctors were finally able to diagnose her with Dunbar syndrome, a rare disease affecting just two in 100,000 people in the US. The disease, also known as median arcuate ligament syndrome, is a condition in which the arc-shaped band of tissue in the chest area the median arcuate ligament presses on the celiac artery, which sends blood to the upper abdomen. In Ms Bayus-Roszak's case, her artery was compressed in multiple places, leading to more severe symptoms and pain. Following her diagnosis, she was given less than two years to live if she did not undergo lifesaving surgery to repair the celiac artery, a surgery, she said, no US doctor would perform. Kristina Bayus-Roszak, 29, was given fewer than two years to live if she did not undergo surgery to repair the compression on the artery supplying blood to her abdomen After losing 30 pounds in six weeks, she was given her diagnosis of Dunbar syndrome. She traveled from her home in Ohio to Germany for surgery Ms Bayus-Roszak said: Mine was one of the worst cases they'd ever seen. My body was shutting down. I was slowly starving to death. Desperate and lacking options, she flew to Leipzig, Germany, to be examined by a highly specialized physician. Once there, she was given an advanced ultrasound scan and diagnosed with five more extremely rare disorders, which are all characterized by similar abdominal vascular compressions. She was then sent to Dusseldorf for an eight-hour surgery, during which the band of tissue compressing the artery was cut, relieving pressure and restoring blood flow to the abdomen. Her surgeon also found an abdominal aneurysm an enlargement of the abdominal portion of the aorta, the largest artery in the body that would have ruptured within a month had it not been found. She said: My husband Kyle made the journey with me and I could not have done it without him. She said the surgery performed in Dusseldorf saved her life and improved her health immensely My friends and family also did multiple fundraisers and a GoFundMe to help me get there. I wouldnt be where I am today without their love and support. Two years after the procedure, Ms Bayus-Roszaks life has improved immeasurably. She said: My surgeon is nothing short of extraordinary. I am doing so much better, and I have the ability to eat once more, which I'll never take for granted again. She has also slowly gained her weight back, and her organ health has substantially improved. I'm also no longer in chronic pain and can get back to doing the things I love, like hiking. I have my life back,' she added. Surgery, like that performed on Ms Bayus-Roszak, is the the only treatment for Dunbar syndrome. Ms Bayus-Roszak added: 'I am so proud of my ability to persevere through this. There was nothing easy about traveling to a foreign country for a major surgery. I wasn't even sure if Id survive. 'I did survive though and while it was the hardest thing I've ever dealt with, I made it through and I am a stronger and a better person for it. 'I wish people knew how incredibly strong those with vascular compressions and rare diseases are. Research and treatment options are limited, and half of the medical professionals don't even understand. My goal now is to bring awareness and help to so many others suffering from these debilitating and even deadly rare diseases. She is now able to eat normally and enjoy life as she did before she got sick She hopes her experience with a very rare disease that affects about two in 100,000 people will inspire other people to share their own stories and struggles, as well as boost research Rare diseases are notoriously difficult to treat due to limited available therapeutic options. Because some diseases are so rare and affect a relatively small proportion of the population, pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to develop new treatments or cures, given that few people will actually buy them. According to The Lancet Global Health, about 95 percent of rare diseases lack approved treatments. Most rare diseases - 80 percent - are genetic and almost 70 percent appear in childhood. There have been major breakthroughs in rare disease research, including genetic testing to diagnose rare neurological disorders and the passage of the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, which provides tax incentives for research into rare diseases and development of cures. But the report's authors said: However, even when we do have treatments, there is no promise of accessibility for all. For instance, Hemgenix, a gene therapy to treat hemophilia B based... costs up to $3.5million per case in the US. They added: Insufficient awareness of their rare disease among health-care staff and communities can result in patients symptoms being invalidated, visible symptoms of the disease can result in social discrimination, and schools and employers can fail to address accessibility needs. Ms Bayus-Roszak said: 'We fight every day for care even when we are dealing with the cruelest pain and symptoms. If you have someone in your life struggling with a chronic illness, rare or not, please give them some grace. 'Remind them they are loved and they are worthy. Understanding and kindness go such a long way.' Dr Ellie Phillips, an oral health expert from Austin, Texas, claims to have gone 40-years without having a dentist clean her teeth. Yet, in a video with over 3.5million views, Dr Phillips said her teeth are perfectly healthy. Even dentists say so; she's recently been 'prodded and poked in every conceivable way' by several, who say her mouth is in great shape despite foregoing cleanings. Her routine flies in the face of official recommendations, which advise visiting the dentist for a clean once every six months. Dr Phillips claims she hasn't needed to have her teeth cleaned for over 40 years and said her passion is helping people avoid needing dental care Though Dr Phillips hasn't had her teeth cleaned in 40 years, she said she periodically visits a dentists office to make sure her teeth are okay. Her most recent check up, which happened in 2023, passed without incidence, she said Dr Phillips, a licensed dentist, says she's developed a regimen that allows her to avoid the time-consuming appointments, while maintaining a healthy smile. This includes a daily oral care routine consisting of three mouthwashes, two separate tooth brushes and multiple sticks of medicinal gum daily. 'My real passion is helping people avoid dental treatments,' Dr Phillips said. The American Dental Association recommends a professional teeth cleaning every six months, but notes that this can shift depending on your individual oral healthcare needs. 'Regular dental cleanings are one of the most important things that you can do to take care of your teeth,' Dr Jeff Kindseth, a dentist based in Dana Point California, said. Despite these recommendations, 40 years ago, Dr Phillips decided to see how long she could go without needing a professional clean. Every few years, she visits a dentist to check that her teeth are okay, and asks if she needs a cleaning - but she said they've always sent her home. Dr Phillips oral care routine expands far beyond the tooth brush - and continues throughout the day, focusing on incorporating a sweetener called xylitol. Xylitol is a sweet compound found naturally in strawberries, mushrooms and corn, amongst other produce. It has 40 percent fewer calories than sugar and has been shown to stop the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth that can eat away at your teeth's enamel, according to Delta Dental. It was approved by the FDA as a food additive in 1986. It's commonly found in gum. In high doses it can cause diarrhea, but is generally considered safe for humans. In Finland, chewing xylitol gum is part of a public health recommendation made by dental authorities, who promote its cavity fighting qualities. Dr Phillips produces and uses her own brand of xylitol gum, called Zellies. Every day, she aims to get in between five and 10 grams of xylitol by chewing her gum after each meal, snack or drink. Then, there's the brushing routine. First, she rinses her mouth with an unflavored antibacterial wash, like CoSYS for one minute. Immediately after, she grabs one of two toothbrushes. She has one dedicated to night time care and one for the morning - since she likes to let the bristles dry out completely between uses to eradicate bacteria. She wets the brush and applies Crest anticavity tooth paste. Then she uses a gentle, circular motion to brush her teeth and gums. When done, she rinses her mouth with Listerine until it 'starts to feel hot'. Using mouthwash instead of tap water helps keep the fluoride from the toothpaste from being washed off her teeth. After the Listerine, she grabs an anticavity fluoride mouthwash, from the brand ACT. These mouthwashes work 'synergistically, works harmoniously with the xylitol to improve your mouth health,' Dr Phillips said on her TikTok account, which has 473,800 followers. Having a oral care routine is important, but genetics are also thought to play a large role in your oral health. For example, research has suggested you are between 20 and 85 percent more likely to develop cavities if your parent had them. Dr Phillips' children were subjected to some of the same tests of oral hygiene that she was and had similar measurements, which could be a sign that they're following their mothers protocol and that they've inherited her teeth. TikTok users were quick to point this out in her video. Also, the fact that Dr Phillips has a background in dentistry makes her more likely to practice good oral health regularly than a regular person. Dental associations recommend that average people get regular cleanings because they'll stop you from developing dental problems that require surgery, will prevent bad breath and gum disease, according to Cleveland Clinic. They added that keeping a clean mouth through regular cleanings also reduced risk of developing heart disease, stroke and dementia. 'Besides being able to prevent certain oral health issues, teeth cleanings are also essential to maintaining good overall physical health, not just oral health,' Dr Kindseth said. 'Good dental hygiene is an absolutely essential aspect of personal health. ' Sometimes in a great nations history there are turning points when decisions are made that shape the future. It happens when war is declared. Britain was transformed, and set on a different path, by two world wars. A general election can occasionally have a seismic effect. Labours landslide victory in 1945 led to the creation of the NHS, the welfare state, and the nationalisation of much of British industry. Margaret Thatchers electoral triumph in 1979 marked the moment when this countrys long economic decline, and the insidious defeatism of its ruling class, began to be reversed. Your browser does not support iframes. Thursdays election promises to be just such a fateful event. Most polls have indicated not only a stupendous Labour victory but also the obliteration of the Conservative Party. If they are correct, there will be no meaningful opposition to Sir Keir Starmers rule. It is dangerous in any democracy for one political party to be so dominant. I certainly wouldnt relish the prospect of the Tories being handed so much power unchallenged, unchecked and untrammelled for a generation. Labour is threatening to change Britain more fundamentally even than Tony Blair. Despite the party concealing its true purposes during this dishonest campaign, we can glimpse the outlines of a revolutionary programme intended to remould our country. Higher taxes, at least half a step back into the EU, constitutional upheaval, the sanctification of net zero, votes for 16-year-olds so as to entrench Labour power, more uncontrolled immigration the plan is there for all to see, notwithstanding the obfuscation. Theres class war too, which Id hoped we had seen the last of. It explains Labours proposal to apply VAT to private school fees since therell be little, if any, economic benefit. It underlies shadow foreign secretary David Lammys remark on Thursday that the Tories arent the right class of people to be running Britain because of their public school smallness. Sir Keir isnt a bad man but hes a committed socialist. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Who can doubt that, if Starmer surveys the landscape next Friday and sees no opposition not just political but also in the increasingly woke law courts, where he was nurtured the Labour leader will feel supreme? Sir Keir Starmer, pictured at the TV debate on Wednesday, is a 'committed socialist' In such a dystopian Britain the media would be hobbled. I wouldnt trust the BBC, which is determined to have its licence fee renewed on favourable terms, to speak truth to Labour power. I doubt the outspoken GB News home to Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees-Mogg will survive, and I greatly fear that the freedom of newspapers will be curtailed. Heres the extraordinary thing. As a result of the quirks of our first-past-the post electoral system, a Labour supermajority of hundreds of seats could be achieved with the party winning a smaller share of the popular vote than the Tories did in 2019, when they had a majority of 80 seats. First-past-the-post has given this country political stability for many decades but on this occasion, principally because of the emergence of Reform UK, it threatens to deliver a grotesquely disproportionate and undeserved victory to Labour. According to one projection model by the Financial Times, the party is on course to win roughly 72 per cent of the seats with about 42 per cent of the vote. In 2019, the Tories won 56 per cent of the seats with 43.6 per cent of the vote. It follows that voters who fear a Labour one-party state, and the radical transformation of Britain I have tried to describe, should use our electoral system shrewdly. It is what Liberal Democrat and Labour voters have been doing in their own cause for years. In many seats, where Labour enjoys unassailable leads over the Tories, there is nothing that can be done. But, as this special supplement illustrates, there are dozens of seats where Labour and the Tories are neck-and-neck. The Conservatives would win these if a significant proportion of those intending to vote Reform UK were to switch to them. For example, a poll by More in Common suggested that Labour will win a landslide majority of 162, with the number of Conservative seats slashed by more than half to 155. But it found there were 96 seats in which Labour and the Tories were within five points of each other. If the Tories won all of them, their total number of seats would jump to 203, reducing Sir Keirs majority. In some constituencies the Tories would expect to beat Labour but may not do so because of the Reform vote. Polls suggest that in Central Devon Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride is a whisker ahead of his Labour opponent. He could lose because of Reform. About 90 per cent of prospective Reform voters are thought to be former Tories. Some of them detest their old party. But shouldnt the prospect of Labour one-party rule be far more distasteful to them than backing the Conservatives? There are also Tory-held seats where Reform threatens to hand victory to the Lib Dems or SNP. In Arundel and South Downs, Science minister Andrew Griffith has the Lib Dem candidate breathing down his neck. He will be safe if enough would-be Reform voters come over to him. Reform has begun to wobble in the polls after 'Putin-friendly comments' from party leader Nigel Farage, pictured at a rally on Thursday Of course, its not just prospective Reform voters who can save the Tories from annihilation, and ward off a Labour landslide. According to a poll in yesterday's Mail, about one in ten voters are undecided. They too could choose to defend the Conservative Party against a wipeout. But it is those thinking of voting Reform who offer the best hope to the Tories. They should fear unchecked Labour rule as much as any of us. As mainly Brexit voters, they should grasp that Labour intends to steer this country slowly and gently back into the maw of Brussels. If the party were to win a second term, the process would be complete. In recent days, Reform has begun to wobble in the polls. It was damaged by Nigel Farages Putin-friendly comments. A number of Reform candidates and backers have been revealed as oddballs or extremists, the most recent being the volunteer who called the Prime Minister a f****** P***, after advocating shooting those arriving by small boats. Reform UK is not a party in the normal sense of the word. It is a collection of individuals, some of them not at all wholesome, assembled without much care or thought, and hitched to a make-believe manifesto thrown together in a hurry. More to the point, even if it gains more votes than the Lib Dems, Reform is unlikely, because of the oddities of the first-past-the-post system, to win more than a handful of constituencies. It can enfeeble the Tories by depriving them of enough seats to form a plausible opposition, but it wont be able to be an opposition itself. Should Labour romp home with a supermajority, therell be no opposition in this country. The centre-Right would take years to recover. However unpopular Sir Keir Starmer may be, however incompetent, however disrespectful of our history, Labour could rule for a generation. Those who fear such an outcome should study this supplement carefully. By the judicious exercise of your vote, you might still be able to save your country. There are many reasons for opposing the Czech Sphinx bid for International Distributions Services (IDS), the owner of the Royal Mail. These include the public interest, fragile knowledge of the would-be buyers Daniel Kretinsky and partners, workforce impact and rewards to fat-cat executives who failed to manage the organisations future. Of most importance to investors is a headline price of 360p per share, which is not good enough. Also worth serious scrutiny are financing arrangements. Public-to-private deals are destabilising and opaque, as the Bank of England notes in its just-released Financial Stability Report. It cautions that widespread use of leverage makes companies in private equity ownership particularly exposed to tighter financing conditions. Vital service: The Royal Mail is the oldest and most established form of communication in the nation and widely used by HMRC, the NHS and Returning Officers dealing with elections The consequences have been there for all to see at underperforming grocer Asda as well as Thames Water. Private equity has been particularly active in the UK and the Bank notes that some 15pc of corporate debt is tied up in such deals. It reports a high degree of concentration in finance, insurance, professional services and communications. The Royal Mail is the oldest and most established form of communication in the nation and widely used by HMRC, the NHS and returning officers dealing with elections. The bid for IDS is largely financed by debt. Lenders BNP Paribas, Citibank, Societe Generale and Unicredit are all from overseas surprising given the asset at stake is British. It may well be that in the current high-interest climate UK lenders feel they have more than enough exposure to private equity-style deals. The takeover is to be paid for by a 1.1billion medium-term facility, a bridging loan of a further 750million, another bridging credit of 500million and a multi-currency loan of 500million. All of this on an IDS balance sheet already weighed down with 2billion or so of debt also to be taken on by the buyers. The substantial premiums and fees to be applied means none of this is cheap money. It begs the question as to where the investment cash for modernisation, maintaining headcount, keeping a UK HQ and fulfilling the universal service obligation in a shrinking letter post market will come from without substantial price increases. Clearly, Kretinsky and company think there is cash to be released from real estate sales and development. That doesnt happen very speedily. It is hugely disappointing that the board, headed by Keith Williams, has failed to extract from Kretinsky and his Slovak investment banking colleagues at J&T more forensic detail on plans given a top heavy debt burden. They should listen to the Bank of Englands financial stability committee. It is demanding more detail on valuations and overall levels of leverage in private take-outs. They would reduce vulnerabilities in a sector where risk management among the banks needs to improve. The proposed new ownership structure for the Royal Mail is hopelessly unstable for a vital public service. Green gauge Labours energy tsar Ed Miliband could well take some economics lessons from BP before going all-out to green Britain. Chief executive Murray Auchincloss is recognising the cost to investors and the future of the company by rushing the carbon-free fences. He is pausing renewable investments, focusing on acquisitions and new drilling for oil and gas and moving key staff and away from green projects. BP is paying dearly for predecessor Bernard Looneys carbon-free agenda. Its share price has cratered 12 per cent in five years. Americas biggest beast Exxon, which has doubled down on carbon fuels, is up 50 per cent. Sharp jab It has not been a good week for Emma Walmsley as she seeks to reboot GSK. The NHS chose Pfizers respiratory vaccine for RSV over GSKs pricier and more efficacious jab. Now the US Centre for Disease Controls has pulled back from recommending the GSK shot for under-60s. The shares came down with wallop. All this before Delaware court rulings on whether ulcer drug Zantac may have contributed to some forms of cancer. Trying times. Chinese, Mozambican defense ministers meet in Beijing Xinhua) 10:58, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Thursday met with visiting Mozambican Defense Minister Cristovao Chume in Beijing. Acknowledging the close exchange and fruitful cooperation between the two militaries, Dong said that deepening bilateral military cooperation is of strategic significance to achieving common development and maintaining regional stability. China is willing to work with Mozambique to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and take military relations to a new level. Noting the lasting friendship between the two militaries, Chume expressed the hope that both sides will continue to strengthen friendly exchange and create new highlights in their cooperation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Signs that a takeover by a big US peer is back on track lifted DS Smith to the top of the blue-chip leaderboard. On what looks set to be a significant day for the British packaging group, American rival International Paper (IP) said it is forging ahead with its proposed acquisition of DS Smith after Brazilian pulp maker Suzano ended its talks to buy the US firm. A deal between Suzano and IP was understood to have been conditional on the US company abandoning its DS Smith bid. Suzano said IP had not engaged with it over a bid at the highest price it was willing to pay and therefore talks had been terminated. That removed a potential stumbling block to the takeover of DS Smith. Takeover: American rival International Paper said it is forging ahead with its proposed acquisition of DS Smith after Brazilian pulp maker Suzano ended its talks to buy the US firm In April, DS Smith agreed to be bought by IP for 5.8billion after fellow FTSE 100 packaging firm Mondi ducked out of a bid battle. DS Smith jumped 15.7 per cent, or 57.8p, to 426.2p, and Mondi added 3.6 per cent, or 53p, to 1531p. The mood on the markets was mixed. The FTSE 100 dipped 0.6 per cent, or 45.65 points, to 8179.68 while the FTSE 250 rose 0.2 per cent, or 33.70 points, to 20,331.80. Heavyweight mining stocks were hit by negative broker comment. Analysts at Berenberg downgraded ratings for both Anglo American off 1.5 per cent, or 37.5p, at 2490p and Rio Tinto, which was 1.7 per cent, or 91p easier, at 5176p. Burberry was also a big faller down 2.1 per cent, or 19.3p, to 899.8p as analysts at Deutsche Bank reduced their sales forecast for the luxury goods, on weaker data from China and the US. Stock Watch - Harworth Group Harworth Group, the land regenerator that started life as part of UK Coal, jumped 7.5 per cent, or 11p, to 157p after selling off a 48-acre former power station site in Leeds to the US software giant Microsoft for 106million. It is expected to provide Microsoft with a data centre, a battery energy storage facility and an energy-from-waste facility. Harworth thinks the deal will represent at least 4bn of local investment. Bunzl added 1.1 per cent, or 32p, to 3070p after the distribution and services group upgraded guidance for the year based on improved margin performance in the first half and acquisitions. Serco rose 4.3 per cent, or 7.4p, to 180.2p after good progress in the first half. The outsourcer now expects underlying operating profit for 2024 of 270million, up from 260million previously. And Mears Group added 3.5 per cent, or 12.3p, to 368p after the social housing and maintenance service company expects its 2024 performance to be modestly ahead of current market forecasts. Clothing retailer Quiz plunged 24.6 per cent, or 1.29p, to 3.98p after an 11 per cent fall in revenue between the start of April and end of May, with UK sales continuing to be hit. Digital marketer Next 15 Group shed 10.5 per cent, or 95p, to 806p after it said spending by tech customers remained soft, although overall trading was resilient. And Sanderson Design lost 19.5 per cent, or 20p, to 82.5p as it cautioned that the top-end wallpaper and furnishings market had turned down even more since April. But cloud payment and data protection firm PCI-PAL gained 12.6 per cent, or 7p, at 62.5p, after a confidential settlement with competitor Sycurio to resolve patent litigation. And Longboat Energy bobbed 7.4 per cent, or 1.5p, higher to 21.75p after publishing a report that it said confirmed the giant scale of the Kertang project, in South East Asia, which it will now focus on, having agreed to sell its Norway business. Nearly 5billion was wiped off the value of GSK after a top US health agency limited the scope of its blockbuster respiratory vaccine. In a further setback for the UK pharmaceutical giant, the US public health agency, the CDC, said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) jabs should not be given to under-60s. The ruling came just weeks after GSK was given the green light by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the use of its Arexvy vaccine from those aged over 60 to those aged between 50 and 59. While the FDA is the body that gives the formal licence for vaccines in the US, it is up to the CDC to recommend how they are used, and by whom. Vaccine blow: GSK shares tumbled as much as 7% wiping 4.8bn off its value before closing down 4.6%, or 73.5p, at 1526p GSK shares tumbled as much as 7 per cent wiping 4.8billion off its value before closing down 4.6 per cent, or 73.5p, at 1526p. RSV causes cold-like symptoms but can be dangerous for the elderly and vulnerable as well as babies. The jab has the potential to prevent thousands of hospital admissions each year. But in a shock move, the CDC did not vote on implementing the FDAs age guidance. According to estimates from Jefferies, the recommendation could slash the number of jabs GSK administers in the US from 93m to 55m. Peter Verdult at Citi said peak sales would be materially lower than the 3billion a year pencilled in by analysts. Shares in Moderna and Pfizer, which also make RSV vaccines, fell 1.5 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively yesterday. GSKs setback comes just days after the FTSE 100 group lost out to Pfizer in a deal that will see the US group provide 4.9m RSV jabs to older adults and pregnant mothers in England and Northern Ireland over the next two years. GSK said that it was disappointed by the result but remained very confident in its jab. The success of Arexvy up until recently has been a major boost for chief executive Emma Walmsley as she pushes ahead with her turnaround strategy at the pharma giant. It has offloaded its consumer healthcare division Haleon as she refocuses on vaccines and infectious diseases. The shift came after GSK fell behind rival AstraZeneca and Pfizer to create a Covid vaccination during the pandemic. Arexvy brought in some 1.2billion of sales in 2023 well ahead of the 699million that its rival Pfizer generated from its own shot. The new boss of BP has watered down the oil giants green energy plans following investor pressure. In major strategy shift, Murray Auchincloss has put new offshore wind projects on ice as it focuses on oil and gas. It is a stark change from the policies of disgraced ex-chief executive Bernard Looney, who had pushed for a rapid move away from fossil fuels. That has weighed on BPs share price and widened the gap with rival Shell raising speculation it could become a takeover target. While BP shares have fallen more than 10 per cent in the past five years, Shell is up 10 per cent while Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Total Energies have made even larger gains. Eco blow: In major strategy shift, BP boss Murray Auchincloss (pictured) has put new offshore wind projects on ice as it focuses on oil and gas Auchincloss is stamping his authority on BP, having succeeded Looney last year. He last month unveiled a 1.6billion cost-cutting plan after profits missed expectations in the first quarter of this year. He will now slow investment in big budget, low-carbon projects that are not expected to generate cash for years. Some workers on new renewables projects have been moved to schemes already under way, such as offshore wind in Britain and Germany. And the FTSE 100 firm will prioritise investing in and acquiring new oil and gas assets, eyeing projects in the Gulf of Mexico and in US onshore shale basins where BP already has large operations. BP will also consider investing in biofuels and some low-carbon businesses that can generate returns in the short term. It is plotting job cuts in renewables, although no specific targets have been given. BP has imposed a company-wide hiring freeze, with only a few exceptions including frontline and safety staff. Auchincloss, 53, took the top job after Looney was forced to resign amid a scandal over undisclosed relationships with colleagues. BP said: We are going to deliver as a simpler, more focused and higher value company. 'We set out six priorities that underpin this; including: driving greater focus into the business on to activities that create the most value, as well as delivering both the next wave of efficiencies and BPs growth projects. The actions we are taking are part of delivering this, in service of our aim of growing the value of BP. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said Auchincloss has come under pressure to take radical action with a diminished BP at risk of falling prey to a larger predator. The motivation for taking the route of a slower energy transition might be to secure a better valuation from the market, more in line with US peers which have not made the same kind of environmental commitments, he said. In doing so, Auchincloss is following the path forged by his counterpart at Shell, Wael Sawan. These decisions could go down well with investors in the short-term but could store up longer-term problems. AI revolution: Currys chief exec Alex Baldock Currys hopes AI gadgets will soup up sales as it hailed recent innovations in tech. Alex Baldock, the electrical retailers chief executive, said: The coming wave of AI-led tech offers arguably the most exciting tech cycle since the Apple iPad in 2010. Products already doing well include the 1,249 Microsoft Copilot+ laptop and the 799 Samsung Galaxy S24 phone. They have savvy features such as helping users to improve photography or translate languages. Currys believes it is uniquely placed to cash in on AIs momentum and plans judicious investments in stores. Baldock said the business was now heading in the right direction after it fended off bid attempts from US and Chinese predators this year. But investors were unimpressed by a third year of downbeat sales. They fell 2 per cent to 8.5billion in the 12 months to April 27. Shares fell 5.8 per cent, or 4.4p, to 71.65p, taking losses to 55 per cent since 2021. But bosses pointed to profits of 28million after a 462million loss the year before. The Supreme Court ruled that there are limits on charging January 6 rioters with obstruction, in a case that will impact former President Trump's 2020 federal election interference case. The 6-3 decision could upend hundreds of cases stemming from the January 6 riot, including Donald Trump's election fraud trial. The court's ruling makes it harder for January 6 defendants to be charged with obstructing an official proceeding - which carries up to 20 years in prison. That is among the four charges facing former President Donald Trump in Special Counsel Jack Smith's federal case. The decision is poised to upend hundreds of cases stemming from the January 6 riot, including Donald Trump 's election fraud trial At least 152 people have been convicted of obstructing an official proceeding, according to the Associated Press, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In all, the charge has been brought against about 350 people accused of trying to prevent Congress certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. The case was brought by former Boston police officer Joseph Fischer who was indicted on seven charges following the 6 riot including one count for anyone who 'corruptly ... obstructs, influences and impedes any official proceeding.' Justice John Roberts, who wrote the opinion Friday, limited the 'obstruction of Congress' charge that has been used by the federal government to prosecute January 6 defendants. Roberts called that law - which carries a 20-year prison sentence - 'one of the more severe potential punishments.' A broad interpretation of the law 'would also criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists to decades in prison,' Roberts continued. On average, the sentence for obstruction for those rioters already found guilty was 28 months, according to a Washington Post database. Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented - and were joined by Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was 'disappointed' by the court's decision. It 'limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences,' said Biden's top law enforcement official. A lower court dismissed the charge after Fischer's lawyers argued he did not try to interfere with any documents or records. Federal prosecutors appealed and a three-judge panel on the D.C. circuit reinstated the charge. Trump faces four charges brought by the special counsel: Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; and conspiracy to deprive citizens of their voting rights. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges, and to dozens more charges stemming from three other criminal prosecutions. His trial has been pushed off until the Supreme Court rules whether he is immune from prosecution. The decision comes as Trump is facing criminal charges in three criminal cases and has already been found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York last month. He is the first former president to ever be convicted of a crime. At least 152 people have been convicted of obstructing an official proceeding, according to the Associated Press, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison During oral arguments where some wild hypotheticals were addressed, the justices appeared to reject granting presidents absolute immunity, but their line of questioning suggested they could delay Trump's trial as he runs for president for a third time. Trump faces four charges brought by the special counsel: Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; and conspiracy to deprive citizens of their voting rights Liberal justices fretted that ruling presidents have full immunity would be no different than creating a king who could have power to stage a military coup or assassinate political opponents. Conservative justices signaled they wanted to provide at least some legal safeguards to protect Trump and future presidents from political prosecution. Have YOU been hit by unexpected data roaming charges? Email poppy.gibson@mailonline.co.uk Holidaymakers heading abroad this summer may face a shock phone bill as more network providers charge for roaming around Europe and further afield. Prior to Brexit, Britons could use their UK data plans in Europe at no extra cost, but since the transition more networks have been reintroducing charges. Only 11 phone networks still let you roam for free but some have data caps meaning you could be paying some surprise fees. Research commissioned by On The Beach earlier this year revealed that on average, UK travellers are being charged 58.25 for their overseas holiday phone bill. An alarming 58 per cent have been stung with a hefty bill after a trip abroad, with some forking out more than 100, according to the study. The complexity of the various roaming packages has also caused confusion, with regulator Ofcom reporting 14 per cent of UK mobile customers experienced inadvertent roaming charges in the past year. So to avoid the unpleasant bill after flying home, here is a full list of mobile providers and their roaming packages. Revealed: The complete guide to mobile phone providers roaming packages Holidaymakers should be aware of hidden phone costs this summer as since Brexit, not all networks have scrapped roaming charges and customers could save some extra cash (Stock image) 02 02 is the only one of the four major networks not have brought back roaming charges. For customers travelling in its 'Europe Zone' you can use data, minutes or text for no extra charge as long as you don't spill over the 25GB cap. For those venturing further afield there is a bolt on which allows you to use your phone for free in a further 27 countries. BT BT's 'Roam Like Home' offer lets customers roam for free in 47 countries and you can simply continue with your phone plan, allowing you to call, text and browse the internet wherever you are. There isn't a cap for when you're abroad but if you go over your standard 50GB allowance for the month you could incur a fee. While you have the pick of 47 destinations, BT does warn jet setters about roaming in Northern Cyprus as you could connect to a Turkish network. And, since Turkey is not in the EU any data and minutes used will be charged. iD Mobile iD Mobile offers holidaymakers going abroad inclusive data roaming up to 30GB in 50 countries worldwide. It is also giving all those heading to France for the Paris 2024 Olympics unlimited roaming data on all plans from June 25 until August 12. And, it doesn't matter if you're on a different network as the phone operator is offering eSIM allowing customers to switch to them while on-the-go. iD Mobile's eSIM can be used simultaneously with another SIM on the save device (stock image) iD Mobile's eSIM can be used simultaneously with another SIM on the save device. This allows users to switch to iD while continuing to use their existing service and phone number. Plans start at a minimum of one month for 7 with 30GB data allowance. Asda mobile Asda will let you roam for free in 46 European countries for no extra charge. The only downside is there is a data roaming limit - 5GB, regardless of whether your usual limit is higher than this and if you go over the limit, Asda will charge 10p per MB. But, to help stop that, the supermarket says it will alert customers when they reach the 80 per cent and 100 per cent limit. Smarty For Smarty customers you can roam in the EU for no extra costs and if your plan includes calls and texts, they'll also work as usual. If you go over your data limit of 12GB you can buy an add on. For Smarty customers you can roam in the EU for no extra costs and if your plan includes calls and texts, they'll also work as usual (stock image) GiffGaff Anyone on the GiffGaff network can use their phone in any EU destination for free. If you're already a customer, you'll continue to be charged in line with EU rates but there is a cap of 5GB on data. If you go over the limit, you could be charged 3.2p/minute, 1p/text, 10p/MB. Lebara With Lebara you can use your UK allowances while roaming in the EU or India for no extra cost although there is a cap of 30GB. For roaming outside of Europe and India, you will need to buy an appropriate roaming add-on or use pay-as-you-go credit. Tesco Mobile Tesco Mobile is offering free roaming until 2025 for all customers. So text, calls and data can all be used at no extra cost across 48 destinations. This will last until 2025 but Tesco has not yet confirmed when in 2025 free roaming will end. Tesco Mobile is offering free roaming until 2025 for all customers (stock image) Plusnet Like BT, Plusnet also offers a 'Roam Like Home' package which lets customers use their normal monthly allowance in up to 40 European countries. Instead of having a cap while abroad, customers can use their normal monthly allowance but if they go over their 20GB allowance they might incur a charge. Networks that charge you to roam in Europe Not all networks are as generous and some of the major players have been charging customers for phone usage abroad since Brexit in 2016. EE For EE customers who took out new contracts after July 7, 2021, there is a daily charge of 2.47 for using your phone in European destinations. You can also buy a 'Roam Abroad' pass, for 25 a month if you're a frequent flyer which allows you to use your phone without any extra charges, but you'll need to go away for 11 days each month to save money. Following Brexit, EE is one of the major phone networks to have re-introduced roaming charges meaning customers pay 2.47 to use their phone in Europe Sky Mobile Sky phone customers can buy a Roaming Passport Plus pass for 2 a day which lets customers use calls, data and texts in 55 countries including the EU, USA and even Australia. Three For Three customers who want to travel to Europe, you'll need to buy a Go Roam Europe pass for either three days, a week or 14 days. The Three website says roaming costs 2 for Go Roam in Europe and 5 for Go Roam Around the World, but if you buy a pass in advance you get up to two days of free roaming. But even with that pass, there's still a cap of 12GB per month. Vodafone The only countries where you can roam at no extra cost with Vodafone are the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway. For anywhere else, customers are charged extra which means customers who want to go away will have to pay 2.42 a day in Europe. EXCLUSIVE Freed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could make tens of millions of dollars from his years in custody, even under Australian laws meant to stop felons profiting from their crimes. Despite his conviction for espionage in a US court, Assange would likely still be able to make a fortune from writing a book, speaking engagements and selling the movie rights to his tale. Celebrity publicist and manager Max Markson said Assange could sign a book deal worth at least $10million, reap a further $10million from a film or TV series, and command $500,000 for each personal appearance. 'What he wants, he'll get,' Markson said. 'There's rivers of gold to be had and he deserves it all.' A legal expert told Daily Mail Australia it was unlikely laws previously used to prevent offenders financially benefitting from their crimes would be applied to Assange. Markson said Assange's earning capacity would be restricted only by how much he wanted to do and at 52 with international interest in his story, 'the world's his oyster'. 'Everyone in the world will want to speak to him and hear from him and interview him and he'll get great money for that,' Markson said. 'He'll be getting a book deal - $10million, maybe $15million, maybe $20million - enormous money for a worldwide book deal. Freed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could make tens of millions of dollars from his years in custody, even under Australian laws which prohibit felons profiting from their crimes. He is pictured in 2010, the year WikiLeaks released classified US military documents 'He'll get revenue from a movie deal - another $10million. However many countries he can go to he'll be able to to do speaking tours all over the world. 'If this guy wants to do 60 appearances a year at $500,000 he'll pick up $30million, maybe more.' Former US president Barack Obama and wife Michelle signed a three-book deal for US$65million in 2017, while Prince Harry's advance for his memoir Spare was reportedly US$20million. Fans of Assange view him as a whistleblowing crusader for truth who exposed American war crimes in the Middle East. Critics say he is a grossly irresponsible narcissist who has endangered or cost Western military lives. Markson said he expected Assange to donate some of his earnings to fund WikiLeaks and support other causes. He could also see him endorsing products or services. 'He deserves every penny he can get - every million dollars,' Markson said. 'Every $10million he can get, he deserves it.' Assange pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a single criminal count laid under the US Espionage Act of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified national defence documents. He flew home to Australian that night after making a plea deal which was ratified during a hearing in a US federal court on the Pacific island of Saipan. That deal removed the possibility of Assange being taken to the US mainland where he had been indicted on 18 charges and faced a potential 175 years in jail. Despite his conviction for espionage, Assange would likely still be able to make a fortune from writing a book, speaking engagements and selling the movie rights to his tale. Assange is pictured in London with his lawyer Jennifer Robinson in 2011 Assange had been wanted for espionage in the US since 2010 after WikiLeaks released more than 700,000 military documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2012, he sought refuge in Ecuador's British embassy as he faced allegations of sex crimes in Sweden which were later withdrawn. After seven years Assange lost that protection and was arrested by UK authorities. He spent the next five years in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison awaiting possible extradition to the US. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to the time he had already served in Belmarsh - 62 months - and banned from entering the US again without permission. The wording of the crime to which Assange pleaded guilty - conspiracy to obtain and disclose national (US) defence information - becomes relevant when considering his chances of making a financial windfall. Australian Commonwealth legislation, as well as separate laws in Australian states and territories, prevent offenders profiting from their crimes. Assange's conviction would likely not trigger those restrictions because the specific offence he committed has no obvious equivalent under local law. Celebrity publicist and manager Max Markson said Assange could sign a book deal worth at least $10million, reap a further $10million from a film or TV series, and command $500,000 for each personal appearance. Assange is pictured in Canberra on Wednesday night His case differs from that of drug smuggler Schapelle Corby and foreign fighter David Hicks because their international crimes were recognised as offences throughout Australia. Gold Coast beauty therapist Corby spent nine years in a Balinese prison after being caught smuggling 4.1kg of cannabis into Indonesia in a boogie board bag. While still behind bars In 2006, Corby released an autobiography titled My Story, with copyright assigned to her sister Mercedes and co-author Kathryn Bonella. The book sold more than 100,000 and in 2009 the Commonwealth seized $128,000 in payments made to the Corby family from $267,500 it had originally sought. Adelaide factory worker David Hicks, who was captured by US forces in Afghanistan in 2001 after training with Al Qaeda, was also subjected to proceeds of crime laws. Hicks served six years in Guantanamo Bay before being transferred to Australia to complete a sentence imposed by a US military court for supporting terrorism. In 2001, the Commonwealth announced it had commenced proceeds of crime action over Hicks's autobiography Guantanamo: My Journey, which sold about 30,000 copies. Book sale payments made to Hicks's family were frozen but the Commonwealth dropped the case in 2012 after Hicks claimed his conviction was unlawful. Assange's case differs from that of drug smuggler Schapelle Corby (above) and foreign fighter David Hicks when considering proceeds of crime legislation because their international crimes were recognised as offences throughout Australia Associate Professor Christopher Michaelsen from the University of NSWs Law Faculty referred to both Corby and Hicks when asked if proceeds of crime laws would apply to Assange. 'They are good analogies to draw on although there are significant differences in my view,' Professor Michaelsen said. 'In the case of Hicks, it was terrorism offence. In the Schapelle Corby, it was offences relating to drug trafficking. 'Despite the fact the offences were committed outside of Australia the offences had equivalents under Australian law.' The key difference in Assange's case was the crime he was convicted of having committed seemed to have no equivalent in Australian law. 'That probably poses a huge question as to whether any of Australia's proceeds of crime legislation either on Commonwealth level or on the state level kicks in here,' Professor Michaelsen said. 'The argument that the Director of Public Prosecutions or AFP would have to make is that there is an equivalent criminal offence in Australian domestic law.' Adelaide factory worker David Hicks , who was captured by US forces in Afghanistan in 2001 after training with Al Qaeda, was subjected to proceeds of crime laws. The Commonwealth dropped a case seeking money paid to Hicks's family for his autobiography 'I think the only way this case could potentially be successful is if there would be an argument to say that part of the US national defence documents relate to Australian national security information. 'That is a bit of a stretch, in my view.' Professor Michaelsen also noted that while each state and territory's proceeds of crime laws operated on similar principles and overlapped to some degree with the Commonwealth, they were not identical. 'So, from a technical legal sense, I think it will also depend a little bit on the actual location of where Julian Assange chooses to proceed with any publication,' he said. If Assange were to be subjected to proceeds of crime laws his story could be told through someone else who would receive any payment. Foreign proceeds of crime laws could inhibit what money Assange was able to make overseas but freedom of speech was firmly entrenched in the US Constitution. Professor Michaelsen said there were also political considerations when assessing whether Assange would be targeted with such legislation. 'Proceeds of crime legislation was brought in to prevent hardcore criminals from making a profit out of killing people and selling drugs on a huge scale,' he said. Fans of Assange view him as a whistleblowing crusader for truth who exposed American war crimes in the Middle East. Critics say he is a grossly irresponsible narcissist who has endangered or cost Western military lives. He is pictured in Canberra on Wednesday night 'You may think about Assange what you like, but he's had a pretty miserable time in 14 years, in relation to the publication of classified documents. 'Should he really be now subject to some sort of criminal control with respect to telling his story? Personally, I'm not so convinced but that's more of a political question.' Assange has been welcomed home by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his release had the backing of Australia's ambassador to the UK, Stephen Smith, and his US counterpart Kevin Rudd. Professor Michaelsen said much of the media coverage of Assange's release had portrayed him as a hero returning to Australia. 'I think that also impacts any decision-making on the part of the Commonwealth to potentially proceed with bringing proceeds of crime provisions,' he said. 'I'm not saying that this is decisive but I think these dynamics will play out in some way.' Assange's wife Stella, the mother of his two children, has appealed for help to pay the $780,000 bill to fly her husband from London to Saipan to Australia. She is pictured on Thursday in front of Assange's lawyer Jennifer Robinson Professor Michaelsen thought the Australian public was unlikely to begrudge Assange attempting to recoup money spent securing his release. Assange's wife Stella, the mother of his two children, has appealed for help to pay the $780,000 bill to fly her husband from London to Saipan to Australia. 'Here's a guy who had a pretty miserable life for the past two decades, he forked out a half a million dollars to fly back,' Professor Michaelsen said. 'He's now trying to recuperate some of these debts telling his story, and what, the Commonwealth doesn't have anything better to do than trying to prevent him from doing that?' 'Obviously the Australian public has much more urgent things to worry about with rising costs of living. Put it this way, it's a politically sensitive issue also to consider for the Commonwealth prosecutor or the AFP.' The man cradles the 100kg bomb in paternal arms before laying it gently to rest on the back of the truck. It's a small rocket that curves to a rounded snub. He loads it with C4 plastic explosive, poking the pink, Plasticine-like substance in with a strip of metal about eight inches long. Then in goes the fuse. Now the bomb is primed; in just hours it will obliterate its target. I am in north-eastern Ukraine doing what no journalist has ever done: embedding with a special forces unit during a mission of the highest national security a strategic strike, hundreds of kilometres into Russia itself. Ensconced in a field of thick grass and bluebells, the scene is incongruously tranquil. From beauty will come destruction. 'You want to know how to hurt Russia? Strike them in their own land. Bring to them the terror they bring to the world,' says Ivan, the commander of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit. 'Russia can send conscripts endlessly to Ukraine. They are considered the lowest maggots in their country totally expendable.' David Patrikarakos is the first journalist to embed with a special forces unit during a deep strike into Russia... he is seen here through a night-vision lens Ivan's men have a specific job: to appear from nowhere to launch strikes against targets deep inside Russia, before vanishing again. 'On social media you often see the results of a successful strike behind the lines. Many times, it's us. Sometimes, nobody will know about it except the enemy,' Ivan tells me. 'But the enemy will know for sure.' Moscow may send its human fodder to Ukraine, but it is back home far from the front in Russia that the armament factories lie and the drone workshops, and everything else that the country requires to keep its terror machine running with homicidal efficacy. It is all about interrupting the process of war, Ivan explains. The Ukrainians don't have enough bombs to take out, say, a large armaments factory spread over several floors. But they can strike a smaller facility that supplies it with vital parts for Russia's war. With Ukrainian weaponry so limited, accuracy and creativity are vital. And they are successful. Over the last six months, Ivan's team has inflicted $200million worth of damage on the enemy. 'Every operation takes days, sometimes weeks, of planning. Each target is unique; and we cannot afford any mistakes.' It's about finding the weak spot in the armaments production system; the parts of weapons that are irreplaceable or can only be replaced and inadequately at that with cheap Chinese tech. 'The Russians still have huge problems. All their best stuff is based on technology from the 1980s,' Ivan continues. 'They use Iranian Shahed drones because they cannot manufacture Tomahawk missiles. We are outgunned and outnumbered, so we exploit any vulnerability they have.' The need to strike directly at Putin's war machine instead of killing the endless supply of grunts he sends to Ukraine is the reason that Kyiv is desperate for permission to use U.S.-supplied weapons inside Russia; and why more countries, including the UK, are, finally, giving Ukraine the green light to do so with the weapons they supply. The 100kg payload which was loaded on the drone sent towards Russian targets I had been introduced to Ivan by Taras, a member of the unit and my friend, so that he could decide whether I could be trusted. I passed the test and two days later I am in a car with Ivan and two of his colleagues, Rodion and Valeriy. I am told merely that we are 'driving north'. Sitting next to me, Valeriy explains a further benefit of the deep strikes: their psychological impact. 'Imagine that you're a Russian conscript guarding munitions deep inside Russia. You've never been to the front; every so often you grab your rifle and pretend to patrol, but you know there's no serious threat. 'But then one night while you're in your warm bed you hear a noise in the air and then your world suddenly explodes.' He pauses and grins. 'And at the moment we're hundreds of miles away drinking a cup of coffee.' As we approach the site where the drones will be launched, my phone is taken from me and put into an insulated bag that stops it sending or receiving any information. The soldiers all have secure phones. We weave through checkpoints overgrown with grass and enter a small, impoverished town with low-roofed buildings and cramped shops in variegated colours selling everything from phone cards to cheap shoes. The ground becomes uneven. The scenery changes from concrete to shrub. We are getting close. Finally, several hours after we set out, we arrive at the mission location and park within a cluster of trees. We are now within range of deadly Russian glide bombs. Valeriy flips open his laptop to reveal a 'live' map. I see enemy planes patrolling the air. He is 'assessing aerial threats', specifically checking that there are no Russian drones coming towards us. We are now waiting for 'the gadget' the drone to arrive. In the meantime, I am being devoured by mosquitos. They bite my neck, my arms and confusingly since I'm wearing trousers my legs. I swear and try to swat them away. I look at Valeriy standing stoically next to me. 'Are you not being bitten?' I ask. 'Yes,' he replies, 'I'm just not mentioning it.' Then I am reminded again about what can and cannot be reported or filmed. 'I'm sorry for all this,' says Valeriy. But there's no choice.' It's getting tense. Rodion pulls an automatic weapon from the car, slots in the clip and tests the sights. Finally, the 'gadget' arrives. It's being pulled behind a vehicle in a large trailer. I walk over to inspect and find something I did not expect. The 'gadget' is in fact a small two-seater passenger plane about three metres long. Only something of this size can carry such a large payload. The plane has been converted so it can fly remotely and is now being assembled. A wing lies on the ground. Several men stand around it, working on its body, screwing in parts and checking its electronics. Next to a three-blade propeller on its nose sit two black triangular slits that look like eyes and, beneath, two rectangular ones resembling a nose and mouth. 'It looks like a cat,' says Ivan. 'Yes, an angry cat,' I reply. A Russian tank is smashed to pieces during a Ukrainian drone strike Finally, I am told what the target is: a power facility for a weapons factory 200 miles away in Western Russia. In fact, the target is more specific than that. They would need ten bombs to destroy the factory and several for the power plant. They have only one bomb so it's a single critical point of the power plant that must be struck. Take that out and the plant ceases to function. The chain of production is duly smashed. The gadget is assembled. The men high-five each other and tell me it will take off under darkness. The sun sets, a burning red lozenge disappearing into the horizon. 'Beautiful Ukraine,' I say to three soldiers standing near me. 'Yes, but not beautiful time for Ukraine,' they reply. 'F*** Russia,' is the general agreement. Night falls. The gadget is wheeled onto a concrete path that will serve as the runway. Men gather around to do final checks. All have red lights strapped to their foreheads. These are harder to see from the air and will help avoid any unpleasant enemy attention. The 100kg payload we brought with us is wheeled onto the 'runway' and attached to the plane's base. We are almost ready to launch. I go into a mobile command unit where the UAV plane's path is already mapped out. The men inside, I discover, were commercial air pilots in civilian life. Now that Ukraine is converting planes into UAVs it needs their skills to most effectively wage war. One of them, Oleksandr, will control the plane remotely as it takes off, before it switches to autopilot. I go outside and watch the plane begin moving under Oleksandr's guidance. It will take off around 200 metres away for security reasons. If it crashes, or is shot down, we don't want to be anywhere near the bomb its blast can be fatal up to 100 metres away. So once it's in the air everyone gets in their vehicles and we drive away quickly. A while later we arrive at a cafe. The mobile unit tracks the UAV a dot moving steadily across an electronic screen. Finally, I eat: slices of ham and cheese in white bread. It's basic but, right now, delicious. After several hours: success. The men are joyful. The UAV is returning on autopilot, to be landed safely by the operator. I am shown a video of a target being destroyed. I look at my cup of coffee and remember Valeriy's words; and I smile. The next morning the official Russian reaction comes on the Telegram messaging app, by way of an announcement from the region's governor. 'An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using a UAV was stopped,' it reads. 'An aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed by air defence forces of the Russian Ministry of Defence. 'There were no casualties or damage. Operational and emergency services are working on the spot.' This is followed by an almost identical one from the Russian Ministry of Defence itself. 'Russians, always f***ing lying,' is Ivan's simple response. Later I discuss the operation with Taras. 'World War Three is no longer a fantasy, David,' he says. 'And we in Ukraine are like the great Wall in Game Of Thrones: the defence of the Western world.' He continues: 'Europe finally seems to understand the problem. But it doesn't have enough ammunition, or large enough armies. 'If Russia defeats us, Poland will fight but if it's defeated, the last front is Britain. Germany has no army; France does but, David, you've been on the front: they don't have the means to fight like that. There are no planes there. It's all drones and artillery.' War in the end is an economic battle. We are in an economic war with Russia and we are losing. Ammunition in Russia is ten times cheaper than in the West. This is why Ukraine needs to strike everything it can inside Russia and why we cannot falter in our attempts to help it. I think back to something Ivan told me. 'We have been fighting for the idea of a free world, not for two years but ten,' he said. 'We are sincerely grateful for all the help, but we are struggling. 'If we, with such small numbers, can fight Russia, then for sure you can. It's time to be brave because there are tough times ahead. As your great wartime leader once said: 'We have nothing to offer but blood sweat and tears.' 'Let's remember his words and do it together.' The last known people to have been with missing Jay Slater are two British men who invited him back to their Airbnb hours before he vanished. For 12 days detectives in Tenerife have searched in vain for the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer who had arrived on June 12 for a three-day dance festival. What is known is that on the final day of the rave Jay was dancing shirtless at the a nightclub in Papagayo Beach at 1am when his two friends Lucy Mae Law and Brad Page tried to convince him to go with them back to the apartment where they were staying. Unmoved, he instead decided to stay with the two strangers he'd apparently never met and at around 6am got in their car and drove the windy coastal road for an hour to get to their Airbnb. Jay Slater, 19, (pictured) vanished in Tenerife in the early hours of June 17 after being invited back to a rented Airbnb by two mysterious British men Jay is pictured alongside mother Debbie and his older brother Zak who have both who has urgently appealed for more information about the two British men he spent time with After a rave at Papagayo Beach in the early hours of Monday morning, Jay got in a car with the two men who drove him to this Airbnb (pictured) located just outside the village of Masca on the side of a mountain in the Rural de Teno national park, some 20 miles away Jay posted this photograph of him smoking a cigarette at 7.30am on June 17 - the morning of his disappearance. He is known to have left the property to catch a bus back to the apartment where he was staying. He phoned his friend Lucy Mae Law to say he was lost, thirsty and tired Now, as there have been no sightings of him since 8.50am on Monday, focus has switched back onto the two men. So, what is known about them? Besides the fact that they are British, black and in their late 30s to early 40s, very little. One is said to go by the nickname Johnny Vegas and one is described as around 6ft, stocky and with short dark hair. He was seen with an orange wristband but little else is known about the other man. Witnesses say they were seen drinking Hennessey cognac in bars and nightclubs in the party resort of Playa de las Americas during the NRG festival. They are known to have driven Jay back to their 40-a-night two-bedroom apartment, located just outside the village of Masca on the side of a mountain in the Rural de Teno national park, some 20 miles away. Friends of Jay were sent a picture of him inside the car of the two men and this has been shared with investigating officers. At 7.30am Jay is believed to have left the apartment and sent two Snapchat images of himself outside one showing holding a cigarette and the other a view of the valley. A social media post on Snapchat (left) showed Jay wearing a grey and green t-shirt before he vanished. Jay was also pictured at a pool party on June 15 - two days before he vanished At some point he tried to catch a bus back to his apartment. But after being told that the next one wasn't until 10am, he seemingly tried to walk back. At 8.50am Lucy says after Jay phoned her to say he was 'lost in the mountains, with no water and one per cent battery'. His phone 'pinged' outside a restaurant in Masca at 8.51am and that was the last sign of him. The men have been questioned by Spanish police, but the family were surprised that they have been allowed to return to the UK despite them being among the last people to see him. But what is puzzling is just why two men in their late 30s, early 40s would rent an apartment to far away from the buzz of Playa de las Americas and drive their every day. It is known that the two did not know Jay - but they are said to associates of Lucy. It has also emerged on social media that police are investigating the theft of a Rolex watch from outside Papagayo's nightclub just hours before Jay vanished. There is no suggestion apprentice bricklayer is involved in the theft, but it is known that a large fight erupted outside Papagayo just as the NRG festival afterparty wrapped up. There have been reports on social media that the watch was seen in the car of the two men, but MailOnline has been unable to establish this. The men booked the AirBnB for the whole of the NRG festival. They were due to leave on June 17 but after Jay disappeared, they were asked to stay on an extra day. The mountain range in Rural de Teno near the village of Masca where police are searching Emergency services have been searching the area using helicopters and drones Jay's father Warren and his mother Debbie are pictured joining the search for their son Jay's friends have flown out to Tenerife to try and help locate the missing teenager Police questioned them at length, took their passport details and then allowed them to fly home. Friends of Jay say they sent Snapchat images of themselves at Gatwick airport after leaving Tenerife. TV sleuth Mr Williams-Thomas, who is working with the family, has said he has been given a picture of one of them and will release it if they don't come forward. He added: 'The family are desperate for these men to come forward as witnesses. They are not currently assisting. 'The group sat outside on the wall outside the club after the night ended. What we don't know is why he went with them.' Last week Lucy told MailOnline how she had 'tracked' the men down to their apartment using the Snapchat images Jay had sent her arriving there at 11am two hours after he vanished. However, she told MailOnline:' They seemed startled and surprised that I had found them, and I asked them where Jay was. 'They said he had gone out for a cigarette and the come back and he was leaving to try and get a bus back into town. 'They just seemed shocked that I had managed to find them and I know police have spoken to them but I've seen found out they have left the country. They need to be spoken to properly.' A police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We are continuing to not disclose details of our investigation, which is still open and we are carrying on with the search operation.' There's no love lost between Republican Oversight Chairman James Comer and his Democratic counterpart, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin. The highly partisan Oversight Committee's hearings have devolved into chaos this Congress as Republicans have launched an all-out war against Hunter Biden and attempted to find a connection between his shady business dealings to President Biden. After months of focus on the Biden family and a looming threat of impeachment Raskin and his band of Biden-defending Democrats began working to extract revenge: they demanded Comer hold a hearing on former President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. In an interview with DailyMail.com, Comer tore into Raskin, who he said was 'ignorant' to the way the private sector works. There's no love lost between Republican Oversight Chairman James Comer and his Democratic counterpart, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin 'Raskin sucked off the government teat his whole life,' the Kentucky Republican said in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'His wife works for the government. He's worked for it forever and his dad worked for government.' Comer went on: 'He doesn't know what the private sector is. So you know he can, I guess, play the ignorant card. But at the end of the day, the Biden's don't have a business. And I don't think anyone in America would consider selling access to our adversaries around the world as a legitimate business.' 'Raskin wouldn't know a private legitimate business if it bit him in his scrawny butt.' 'Raskin sucked off the government teat his whole life,' the Kentucky Republican said in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'His wife works for the government. He's worked for it forever and his dad worked for government.' Raskin's father Marcus worked on President John F. Kennedy's national security council. His wife, Sarah Bloom Raskin, served as deputy secretary of the Treasury and was on the Federal Reserve Board under President Barack Obama. 'This shockingly intemperate and juvenile personal attack is filled with lies and distortions,' Raskin told DailyMail.com of Comer's verbal assault. 'Comer has been receiving a government paycheck for his own eloquent and famously effective public service for a longer period of time than I have,' he added in a tongue-in-cheek remark. Raskin first took elected office in the Maryland state senate in 2007 and Comer was a Kentucky state representative starting in 2001. Comer has also been involved in farming and cattle businesses, while Raskin was a law professor before coming to Congress. He briefly served as Massachusetts' assistant attorney general. Hunter Biden was involved in a number of legal and consulting firms and cinched business deals with people across the globe. Republicans have studied how he invoked his last name in such deals. Kushner, a real estate investor by background, cashed in with a $2 billion deal with the Saudis shortly after Trump left office, and that Trump took in business from foreign actors who stayed at his properties. The Trump family business deals are expected to be a top focus if Democrats take back the House in November. Comer seems to have cooled to the idea he had last year to have his committee take a fine-tooth comb to Kushner's businesses as well. 'We're going to have some questions, for Trump, and some of his family members, including Jared Kushner,' he told CNN previously. 'We want to know exactly what the terms of that [$2 billion Saudi] loan to Kushner were.' Kushner, a real estate investor by background, cashed in with a $2 billion deal with the Saudis shortly after Trump left office, and that Trump took in business from foreign actors who stayed at his properties 'We write to urge you to convene a hearing regarding Jared Kushner's apparent influence peddling and quid pro quo deals involving investments in exchange for official actions and to examine the resulting threats to our national security,' Raskin and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to Comer this spring. In March the New York Times reported that Kushner was closing in on lucrative real estate deals in Albania and Serbia. The plans in the Balkans capitalize off relationships Kushner made during the Trump administration: they are being worked up with Ric Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence under Trump and as ambassador to Germany and special envoy to the Balkans. Kushner's firm already took heat from Democrats for its $2 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. A New York Times report claimed Saudis on the panel had raised concerns about Kushner's lack of experience in private equity. Kushner was closely involved in Trump's Middle East policy during his presidency and capitalized on relationships he developed during that time to close the deals, including a tight relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. Kushner helped Saudia Arabia secure a $110 billion arms deal was among the Saudi royal family's staunchest defenders within the administration amid international outrage over its murder of US-based journalist and MBS critic Jamal Khashoggi. Holidaymakers setting off for a July 4th vacation should be prepared to face holiday chaos in several airports - but there's simple tricks to help avoid the mayhem. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to screen over three million travelers on Friday - breaking the record for the most people screened on a single day. Various factors can impact the time it takes to arrive for a flight and check in time, which, if not considered, could cause passengers to miss their gate calls. TSA announced earlier this week that many will travel for the holiday on June 28, which may not come as a surprise since Friday's are one of the busiest travel days in the summer. Peak travel times differ depending on how large or busy an airport is. Holidaymakers setting off for a Fourth of July vacation should be prepared to face holiday chaos in several airports A traveler who is flying by themselves with carry-on items only would need to be at the airport at least 90 minutes before their flight If you're traveling at peak time - plus 30 minutes Peak times at airports could be different depending on the size and the holiday travel periods. TSA confirmed this week that June 28 would be the Fourth of July travel peak day Travelers fly on their own with carry-on items only need to be at the airport at least 90 minutes before their flight, according to The Wall Street Journal. Those traveling Friday through Sunday or in the early or late hours on Monday to Friday, they should add an extra 30 minutes to their 90 minute baseline. If you're flying out of a major airport - add 20 minutes Major US airports like John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas will likely have a lot of travelers due to their large sizes. If an airport is large, more travelers will be flying in and out, which in turn, could delay other passengers getting past security and walking to their gates. Travelers may also need to factor in airport transportation from one terminal to another, depending on how many individuals are present for the Independence Day travel period. This mayhem, along with the already chaotic airplane experience, will likely require travelers to consider adding 20 minutes to the baseline. If an airport is large, like John F Kennedy International Airport, this would mean that more fliers could be there and it would take longer to walk to a gate or get past security A traveler on an international flight is required to provide their passport and any other necessary travel documents If you're flying internationally- add 30 minutes Travelers who are flying on international flights may have a more complicated process. A traveler on an international flight is required to provide their passport and any other necessary travel documents. Some travelers may not have everything out right away, which can stall a check-in line during the holiday travel period. International flights also have earlier deadlines and begin boarding more than half an hour before the aircraft departs. If one's Independence Day plans involve spending it outside the US, it's best to add 30 minutes to the baseline. If you have TSA PreCheck or Clear - subtract 20 minutes According to a TSA spokesperson, 99 percent of individuals who have TSA PreCheck wait 10 minutes or less at security Travelers who have TSA PreCheck or Clear can save 20 minutes off the 90-minute baseline. According to a TSA spokesperson, 99 percent of individuals who have TSA PreCheck wait 10 minutes or less at security. It will also go much faster since the traveler would not need to remove their shoes or take electronics out of their carry-on bags. These services may differ depending on the airport and despite the time subtraction, the TSA PreCheck may be slower than usual because of the holiday travel. If you have executive status or premium fare - minus 20 minutes Most airports have exclusive lounges for rewards members where they can sit and wait for their flight Frequent flyers who are reward members can have access to exclusive benefits depending on the airline. Most airports have exclusive lounges for rewards members where they can sit and wait for their flight. There could also be security lanes specifically for passengers who are rewards members, which mean smaller lines, even during a holiday travel period. The exclusive areas will likely be more crowded due to the amount of travelers, but in most cases, a rewards member can subtract 20 minutes from the 90-minute baseline. If you're parking or dropping off a rental car - add 20 minutes Getting from the rental car area to a terminal can be tricky, depending on the size of the airport and the number of travelers traveling Returning a rental car can be easy since there are cases where all one would need to do is drive to an area, get out of the car, and hand someone the keys. However, getting from the rental car area to a terminal can be tricky, depending on the size of the airport and the number of travelers traveling. Carrying or pulling luggage that needs to be checked may also slow down one's pace when walking to the terminal. Everyone taking their own cars should also be prepared for crowded parking lots, especially during holiday travel periods. The increase in travelers will likely make parking more difficult when first arriving at the airport. Because parking and rental vehicles are chaotic, travelers should add 20 minutes to their 90-minute baseline. If you're checking a bag - add 30- 45 minutes Travelers can check in at a kiosk and download their luggage tags, but they will need to wait in line before doing so. They can then bring it up to employee once they check in Travelers with suitcases that can't go under a set or in an overhead bin on an aircraft will need to check them. When it comes to a holiday time period, this could take awhile to complete. Travelers can check in at a kiosk and download their luggage tags, but they will need to wait in line before doing so. Once they have the tags, they will likely need to wait in another long line if due to the large number of holiday travelers. In order to make sure bag checking runs smoothly during the summer holiday, it's best to add an additional 30 to 45 minutes to the baseline. If you're flying with a pet - add 30- 45 minutes Before packing a canine or feline for a holiday trip, one must scan over the airline rules over animals and what is or isn't allowed on a flight Passengers occasionally bring their dogs or cats on flights, but must get an airline's approval before doing so. Before packing a canine or feline for a holiday trip, one must scan over the airline rules over animals, and what is or isn't allowed on a flight. One will also have to pay a carry-on fee and may also have to provide information such as its health and birth certificates. It's unclear how quick this process can be, but if traveling with an animal, it's best to add between 30 and 45 minutes to the baseline. If you have your mobile boarding pass - subtract 20 minutes Travelers who check in early and wish not to have a mobile boarding pass could print their ticket at home if the airline sends them their ticket via email The good news for everyone who checks in for their flights early will receive a mobile boarding pass and be able to skip the wait at a kiosk. There are some cases where the kiosk lines at airports are not too long, as checking in for a flight can be quick. However, the Fourth of July mayhem will make a difference due to the amount of travelers, especially on its peak day. Travelers who check in early and wish not to have a mobile boarding pass could print their ticket at home if the airline sends them their ticket via email. But getting the check-in step early could help a travelers subtract 20 minutes from their baseline, especially if they're flying by themselves or with carry-on luggage only. If you're traveling with kids - add 60 minutes Small children may need to go through a separate metal detector, which could be difficult if there are two lines with holiday travelers Travelling with children can be difficult depending on their ages and it could also take more time to get through a checkpoint. Small children may also need to go through a separate metal detector, which could be difficult if there are two lines with holiday travelers. Mom's who are still breastfeeding will also need to be prepared to have items like breast milk or formula be screened. Just in case, it's best to be prepared for a possible meltdown, which could occur at any moment. Based on the possible struggles that could erupt, it's best to add an hour to the 90-minute baseline. If you need a wheelchair - add 90 minutes The airports provide wheelchairs to travelers who are injured or have a disability that prevents them from walking comfortably Anyone who has a disability or injury that makes it difficult to walk can ask the airport to provide a wheelchair. The airports usually oblige, but it can take a long time to get the wheelchair or navigate around the airport. It will be even harder during a holiday travel period due to the number of travelers who rush to the gate and aren't considerate to people using wheelchairs. It's recommended that anyone who needs assistance at an airport adds another 90 minutes to their plans. With mesmerising blue-grey eyes, high cheekbones and sensuous lips, Vivian MacKerrell was easily one of the best-looking students to enroll at London's Royal Central School Of Speech and Drama in the autumn of 1964. But what caught classmate Bruce Robinson's eye during one fencing lesson was the smoke curling out from behind his face mask as he parried his opponent's thrusts while puffing casually on a Gauloises cigarette. 'That really amused me,' recalled Robinson, later to become famous as the writer and director of Withnail And I, the hit 1987 film starring Richard E Grant and Paul McGann as two failed thespians who spend a weekend at the Cumbrian cottage owned by Withnail's lecherous Uncle Monty. Celebrated for such oft-quoted lines as 'We've gone on holiday by mistake,' the darkly comic cult classic grew out of the years Robinson spent sharing a grotty north London flat with MacKerrell, described by one fellow housemate as 'a splenetic wastrel of a fop', but by Robinson as the funniest person he had ever met. Although MacKerrell was the real-life inspiration for Withnail the part which launched the career of Richard E Grant he never achieved fame himself, dying at the age of 50. Richard E. Grant as Withnail with Paul McGann as I. The hit 1987 film follows the story of two failed thespians who spend a weekend at the Cumbrian cottage owned by Withnail's lecherous Uncle Monty Although actor Vivian MacKerrell was the real-life inspiration for Withnail, he never achieved fame himself and died at the age of 50 But such is his indelible association with the character that his diaries go under the hammer at Sotheby's next month with a guide price of 18,000. Put up for sale by a friend who has asked to remain anonymous, and never previously seen beyond MacKerrell's intimate circle, the diaries reveal how the on-screen debauchery and squalor in which the on-screen pair lived was no exaggeration. Take the scene in which the ever- histrionic Withnail learns that a rat may be living amidst the huge pile of dirty plates in their sink and, armed only with a comb, declares 'the f***er will rue the day'. As the diaries reveal, this was very true to life, MacKerrell describing in one entry how 'I had intended to kip on the couch and [was] nearly away when I felt this scratching and pattering on my head a mouse on the couch. 'I told it to f*** off and it disappeared thank God. The b****rs are spreading and no poison can deal with them.' The rundown flat, in London's Camden Town, was part of a house owned by aristocrat and songwriter Lord (David) Dundas, who had been at drama school with both of them and had a Top 10 hit in the UK with Jeans On in 1976 and made the US Top 20. He later wrote the score for Withnail And I. Bruce Robinson, a secondary modern school boy from Kent, had been instantly drawn to MacKerrell, an old Harrovian whose family were Scottish aristocrats, when they were drama students. 'He wore a blue suit and shades and looked like Marlon Brando,' Robinson recalled in his introduction to the published screenplay of Withnail And I. 'Everyone thought he was going to be a star but the reality is that, if he had acted, or had written, he wouldn't have excelled at either because the interest wasn't there. 'What Vivian was brilliant at was being Vivian. That was his genius, and everyone who ever met him was overwhelmed by it.' So much so that, although MacKerrell would certainly have related to the ever-inebriated Withnail's insistence that 'I must have some booze, I demand some booze', he managed to avoid ever standing anyone a round himself. Describing his ability to spend all day in the pub and 'always with discretion navigate his turn to buy a drink'. Vivian MacKerrell's diaries will go under the hammer at Sotheby's next month with a guide price of 18,000 The diaries were put up for sale by a friend who has asked to remain anonymous, and never previously seen beyond MacKerrell's intimate circle Robinson revealed he was nicknamed Crime 'because crime doesn't pay. But none of us cared because his company was worth the price.' After drama school, the two friends enjoyed limited success as actors, Robinson winning a part as the peacemaker Benvolio in director Franco Zeffirelli's movie Romeo And Juliet. Later he described how the legendary Italian director pounced on him while he was taking a shower and tried to force his tongue down his throat. This inspired the creation of Uncle Monty, who relentlessly pursues Robinson's character the 'I' in the film's title with lines like 'I mean to have you even if it must be burglary'. MacKerrell, meanwhile, got a small part in a long-running London play called Hadrian VII but, according to his friend Colin Bacon, decided six performances a week and two matinees were 'too big a price to pay and that he was worthy of something better'. While he waited for that opportunity to come along, the diaries, which cover the 18 months from January 1974 to May 1975, relate how the only work he found was a bit part in John Cleese's film Romance With A Double Bass and dubbing a porn movie. He and Robinson got by on the 'bunce' dole money which enabled them to lose endless days drinking and getting high in their increasingly squalid home. 'Vivian was of the opinion that the only way to deal with a hangover was to drink your way around it,' wrote Robinson. When the drink and drugs ran out, MacKerrell resorted to desperate measures and one diary entry foretells one of the most memorable scenes in the film, when Withnail is so desperate to find alcohol in their flat that he downs a can of lighter fluid. Fans might have presumed that this was dramatic licence but it comes straight from MacKerrell's diary entry for January 26, 1974 'drank some lighter fuel got frantic & burst into tears walk in the park & bed at 5am.' 'We want the finest wines available to humanity!' ... Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann with Llewellyn Rees on set in the 'Penrith tea rooms' scene from the movie Richard Griffiths, centre, as lecherous Uncle Monty in his Cumbrian cottage In another much-loved moment from the movie, the sozzled friends lurch into a Cumbrian teashop where Withnail demands that they should be brought 'the finest wines available to humanity'. This echoed MacKerrell's lament on February 27, 1974: 'David asked B. for his rent today and mine too je n'ai rien hardly enough for a pint. If I had the bread I'd be drinking the finest wines oh Lord!' March 25, 1974 was another typically inebriated day: 'Up first as usual and out for a copy of the Sun and a bottle of red,' recorded MacKerrell. '[Bruce] went out to purchase a bottle of Pernod while I had a bath. When I finished the bath I lashed into the pernicious liquor with him & also into reading Othello. 'Cassio is a difficult part another goody goody at least he displays one flaw getting p****d shouldn't have much difficulty there.' MacKerrell never did play Cassio. And despite various auditions '11.00 interview for commercial for pesticide' and a part as 'fourth tramp' in a BBC TV play, his career remained every bit as stagnant as that of Withnail, who declares himself to be 'a trained actor, reduced to the status of a bum'. Although he may have found some consolation in his friend being in much the same boat, the diaries hint early on at the very separate paths they will follow in the future with one entry describing how he was 'kept up all night by B fixing bathroom and writing his novel.' He also reveals that Robinson had showed him drafts of this book which, although it was never published, would later become the screenplay for Withnail And I. It would be many years before it brought Robinson the success he had dreamed of but there were triumphs along the way, not least writing the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Roland Joffe's The Killing Fields, and becoming a husband and father of two children. Meanwhile, Vivian MacKerrell continued to live in the flat which Robinson had long moved out of, but with new flatmates and an undiminished addiction to alcohol and drugs. He did have a 14-year relationship with portrait painter Kate Stacey Lister who described how he became 'almost a family man'. 'He used to do the lawn and keep his eye on my children he loved them and my dog and cat,' she told The Scotsman in 2009 but this ended because he refused to cut down the drinking which led to his eventual death from throat cancer in 1995. Eight years previously, following the release of Withnail And I, Bruce Robinson had taken him to see the film which, according to Lister, he found 'very true' but also 'rather sad'. His overriding emotion seemed to be disappointment at what could have been. And it cannot have helped to compare himself with Robinson who, as the diaries show, was his long-standing partner in crime in a life which inspired not just one of the funniest comic characters of all time but also one of the most tragic. The online bidding for the Vivian MacKerrell diaries is open until July 11 at sothebys.com. Withnail And I is streaming on Channel 4 To onlookers, they look just like regular robberies thugs pulling knives or guns on victims in gas stations, restaurants or parking lots, punching them and making off with a purse or a wallet. In reality, the stick up is fake, and the attacker is being paid by their 'victim,' most often an illegal immigrant who is staging the underhand ruse to secure a permanent home in the US. A certificate from the cops describing them as a victim of crime is all they need to apply for a U-visa, which for irregular migrants is a ticket to work permits and green cards. Experts told DailyMail.com that while the scheme was created with good intentions, it's rife with abuse and is now a backdoor for tens of thousands of unlawful migrants to stay in the country. This fiscal year, America is on track to see some 61,760 U-visa requests, a post-Covid high. Nearly 400,000 are now on the U-visa wait list, meaning they can get work visas and avoid deportation until their application is assessed Prosecutors believe this robbery at a liquor store in Chicago was actually staged as part of an immigration scam The real problem, however, is the ballooning backlog of cases under review. That will approach 400,000 this year people who can get work permits and avoid deportation as they wait for years, and perhaps even as long as a decade, for their case to be assessed. Jessica Vaughan, an expert at the Center for Immigration Studies, a right-leaning think tank, said U-visas merit attention in an election year in which immigration has become a top issue. 'We need a president who's willing to clamp down on this program, who is not willing to facilitate fraud and abuse of our immigration programs,' Vaughan told DailyMail.com. Created by Congress in 2000, the U-visa program was tucked into wider legislation to fight human trafficking and violence against women. Lawmakers designed it to encourage those in the US illegally to report crimes without fear of deportation and encourage victims to come forward and cooperate with police, and get more crooks behind bars. Through the program, petitioners, often women and children who have endured abuse or trafficking, are able to get a visa, and then a green card, before eventually seeking citizenship. Jessica Vaughan, an expert at the Center for Immigration Studies The scheme is aimed at victims who've 'suffered substantial mental or physical abuse,' says the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). But it has mushroomed in size. Barely 11,000 people applied for U-visas in FY2009. This year, more than five times as many people will submit petitions, our projection shows. Applications fell slightly during the administration of former president Donald Trump, thanks to the Republican's anti-immigrant deportation push and Covid-19. They picked up under President Joe Biden, a Democrat, who in 2021 allowed applicants to get work permits even before their applications are assessed. Between January and March, nearly 14,500 people applied for U-visas. At the end of March, the wait list had ballooned to nearly 367,000 applicants. Ana Lizbeth Valenzuela Cruz, 39, has been charged with falsely reporting an emergency in Fitchburg, Wisconsin Some of the 49 migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in September 2022 have been put on the path to U-visas. 'That's a very large immigration program that's being run on the basis of these really tenuous claims,' said Vaughan. Vaughan says the system is rife with abuse and as many as half of claims are bogus. The most egregious scams get noticed by cops. Officers in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, in April charged Ana Lizbeth Valenzuela Cruz, 39, of paying Denisse Rivas Mardones, 28, to pretend to rob her. The pair went shopping together to buy a knife and clothes to stage the attack, which involved Rivas Mardones hitting and injuring Valenzuela Cruz, to make the attack look real. But police did not buy it, and spent some 200 hours investigating the pair, eventually uncovering the plan to get U-visa paperwork. They charged the pair, and a getaway driver, with falsely reporting an emergency. The department's Capt. Edward Hartwick called it a 'frustrating' waste of police time. Law enforcers last month busted a bigger U-visa ring that encompassed fake robberies across Illinois, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The bogus stick ups were staged in restaurants, coffee shops, liquor stores and gas stations between 2022 and 2023, it is claimed. Bhikhabhai Patel, Nilesh Patel, Ravinaben Patel and Rajnikumar Patel allegedly posed as the victims, while Parth Nayi and Kewon Young carried out the attacks. Federal prosecutors charged the six with conspiracy to commit visa fraud. According to Vaughan, these cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Cops don't typically investigate whether robberies were genuine and sign off on U-visa paperwork without thinking about it, she says. Those who receive U-visas can apply for green cards and later citizenship. Pictured: A naturalization ceremony in New York And bogus robberies only make up a fraction of the fraud that pervades the system, she adds. Some applicants bend the rules by requesting U-visas for crimes such as theft, that shouldn't qualify but nevertheless get approved by lenient immigration officers, says Vaughan. Other times, certificates are doctored. Applicants can fake the signatures of officers, or tick checkboxes for crimes such as 'rape' or 'domestic violence' that they did not experience. Shari Rendall, an expert with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, another think tank, says some police officer 'feel compelled and face pressure to sign a certification, despite having reservations.' When they don't, a scamming migrant can simply 'shop around' for a cop who will sign their papers, Rendall adds. In a recent sign of how U-visas are being doled out liberally, a handful of the 49 migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard by Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in September 2022 have been put on the path to U-visas. The migrants had worked with a Texas sheriff who was investigating the Florida officials who duped the migrants into boarding two chartered planes in San Antonio with false promises of jobs and money. For some, the migrants' experience on the genteel Massachusetts island would not amount to 'mental or physical abuse.' For Vaughan, the rising use of U-visas this past decade is 'symptomatic of a general problem with our visa programs.' 'It was created with the best of intentions to help people, to help law enforcement agencies go after bad people,' she says. 'But over time, because of a lack of effort to maintain the integrity of the program, it's become another opportunity to game our immigration system.' A Missouri church has apologized after an alarming advertisement was published in its bulletin. Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield - about two hours outside of Jefferson City - posted an ad in its June 16 bulletin calling for young men to join a militia. 'JOIN NOW' was written in large bold letters on the announcement that called for men aged 18-29 to form the group 'The Legion of the Sancta Lana.' Alongside a large QR code that directed people to an application, the ad explained that members would 'protect the holy eucharist, congregation, clergy, and church ground from violent and non-violent attacks.' The Catholic church quickly retracted the advertisement with Rev. Eugene Schaeffer, the associate pastor of the parish, branding it a 'mistake.' Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri, originally had an announcement posted in its June 16 bulletin calling for young men to join a militia The advertisement (pictured) called for men aged 18-29 to form the group 'The Legion of the Sancta Lana' to 'protect the holy eucharist, congregation, clergy, and church ground from violent and non-violent attacks' 'The advertisement, which included a QR code with an application for membership, suggests that a militia would be formed and that this group would be affiliated with Ascension parish. This is, of course, untrue,' the church said in a statement on its website. 'To be perfectly clear, there is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin. 'Furthermore, the suggestion that our community might require a militia in order for us to celebrate the Eucharist is both inappropriate and unhelpful. 'We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused, and we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and our community for us to clarify that we do not support this activity,' the statement added. The ad explained that interested members would need to go through training that entailed 'strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations' The advertisement explained that interested members would need to go through training that entailed 'strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations.' A militia is commonly known as an organized army of non-professional and part-time soldiers that band together for emergency situations. The church assured parishioners and the public that 'there have been zero threats' that would require a group of young men to protect the religious community. A male parishioner, who chose to remain anonymous, told Fox 2 echoed the Reverend's acknowledgment of the error. 'It was an advertisement that was printed without any review by the parish, and I think it slipped through the review process cracks,' he said. The Catholic church quickly retracted the advertisement and posted an apology statement (pictured) on its website The Catholic church quickly retracted the advertisement as Rev. Eugene Schaeffer (pictured), the associate pastor of the parish, branded it a 'mistake' Although the church's bulletins are published by an outside agency, longtime members of the parish were shocked to see the peculiar advertisement inside. 'It was kind of a surprise, because it's contradictory to everything that the school and church preaches in the parish,' a parishioner said. The church has two Catholic schools - The Little School for children ages two-five and Ascension Catholic School for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish has not identified the person who paid for the advertisement, but the QR code link says that the application form is 'no longer accepting responses.' DailyMail.com contacted Ascension Catholic Church for comment. Another church recently garnered national attention as leaders banned the parish from using its amphitheater for Sunday prayers. Town officials in Dillon blocked all non-town sponsored groups from using their amphitheater, including Dillon Community Church which had held events there for 42 years Town officials in Dillon, Colorado blocked all non-town sponsored groups from using the space - including Dillon Community Church which had held events there for 42 years - after being inundated with rental requests. The decision has catapulted the 1,000-person town to the center of a debate over worship in public facilities. Pressure groups on both sides went on to threaten lawsuits, with some demanding the church be given special dispensation to gather, while others slam the preferential access as 'Christian privilege.' Town manager Nathan Johnson told The Denver Post: 'There needs to be a separation of church and state. We cannot favor one denomination over another.' Boeing has offered a bizarre explanation after a door plug blew out on one of its planes mid during an Alaska Airlines flight. The terrifying incident saw the panel dramatically wrenched off at 16,000 feet, just minutes after the California-bound plane took off from Oregon. Some passengers' had clothes and their phones sucked out, while others were left injured when the gaping hole caused a sudden decompression. The ordeal on January 5 saw the FAA ground Boeing's 737 Max fleet pending a massive investigation, which has so far been hampered by a lack of documentation around the door plug. However, Boeing has now oddly stated that the missing paperwork may be responsible for the situation in the first place. Boeing has offered a bizarre explanation after a door plug blew out on one of its planes mid during an Alaska Airlines flight The aerospace giant claims that the lack of paperwork resulted in four bolts never being fitted which are required to hold the door in place, CNN reports. Preliminary findings from a National Transportation Safety Board investigation first identified that the bolts were missing. Boeing said that two separate groups of employees are responsible for removing and reinstalling the door plug as it moved along the assembly line. The first group took the panel off to address issues with rivets, but did not generate a paper trail showing they had removed the door plug and the necessary bolts to carry out the work. This meant that when the next group reinstalled the door plug they believed it was just a temporary hold and the plane would not be flying in that state, according to Boeing. 'The doors team closes up the aircraft before it is moved outside, but it's not their responsibility to install the pins,' said Elizabeth Lund, senior vice president of quality for Boeing's commercial airplane unit. Boeing stated that the missing paperwork may be responsible for the door panel blowing out Engineers removed the panel but did not generate a paper trail to inform their colleagues meaning the next people to work on the door plug were not aware four vital bolts had been removed and needed to be reinstalled '(Permanent) reinstallation is done by another team based on the paperwork showing what jobs are unfinished,' Lund said. 'But there was no paperwork, so nobody knew to follow up.' And in a terrifying twist, it has since emerged that the plane flew in the temporary condition for two months before it blew out. Thankfully nobody was seriously hurt and the plane was able to be landed safely. But Boeing has since been reprimanded by the NTSB for disclosing the information before its investigation is finished. The aircraft manufacturer apologized and defended itself by stating it was done in an effort to 'take responsibility'. The dispute is just the latest setback for the beleaguered aircraft manufacturer, which has seen share prices nosedive and orders dry up in the wake of several safety concerns around its 737 Max jets. These included two crashes in 2018 and 2019 which killed a total of 346 people. Boeing senior vice president of quality Elizabeth Lund said the aircraft manufacturer has slowed its production Several whistleblowers have also come forward with allegations key protocols were being rushed or overlooked in a bid to speed up manufacturing. Boeing has since announced it has slowed down the assembly process to prevent planes advancing along under the assumption problems will be fixed down the line. 'We have slowed down our factories to make sure this is under control,' Lund said. A mother grieving her 15-year-old 'brave little girl' who died by suicide has shared how her daughter felt 'broken' by the bullying she faced on social media, a parliamentary inquiry has been told. For its second public hearing on Friday, the probe continued to explore the 'influence and impacts of social media on Australian society' by inviting representatives from Meta, Snap Inc, TikTok Australia and Google to give insight into the changing landscape. The committee is working to learn how the decision of Meta to abandon deals under the News Media Bargaining Code will impact Australian media. The inquiry was told about Matilda 'Tilly' Rosewarne, who died by suicide after being bullied on social media, including Snapchat, in February, 2022. Tilly's mother, Emma Mason, wrote in her submission to the inquiry about the harm her 'brave little girl' had faced in the lead-up to her death through cyber bullying. The inquiry was told Tilly's privacy had been violated after a student at her school circulated on Snapchat a photo of a body with the head cut from the frame, claiming it was the teenager among her classmates. 'This was her 12th attempt to end her life. She was just 15 years old,' Ms Mason wrote in her submission. 'She was exhausted, tired and broken.' Tilly Rosewarne died by suicide in February, 2022. She had been the victim of shocking cyber bullying Snap Inc head of public policy, Henry Turnbull, told the inquiry that Snapchat, which is operated by Snap Inc, worked hard to provide users every opportunity to feel safe on its platform. Mr Turnbull encouraged users to block and report accounts they felt were being harmful towards others. 'I think there's a misconception on platforms like Snapchat that if you report somebody, they will know,' he said. 'That is not true. Within 10 minutes, we respond to reports.' Snapchat launched new resources for people dealing with bullying with Australian specific content like Reach Out. Tilly's mother has shared her story with the parliamentary inquiry looking into the impact of social media Liberal MP Andrew Wallace, who shared Tilly's story with the inquiry on Friday, said the teenager's death was a 'parent's worst nightmare'. Mr Wallace said her story was 'just one story of hundreds of stories' he heard from the community about the correlation between social media and teens who died by suicide. Mr Turnbull said Snapchat was always working to continue to improve its systems to ensure people feel safe online. 'This work is never done, bullying is unfortunately something that takes place in the real world and online,' he said. 'We do work hard to address it and I recognise how damaging it can be and how devastating it can be to those people affected. Tilly (pictured) was found dead by her father near her old cubby house at the family's home in Bathurst, in the central west of NSW, on the morning of February 16, 2022 'From our perspective, it's about focusing on the actions that we're taking to address these risks.' Meanwhile, Google government affairs and public policy Australia and New Zealand director, Lucinda Longcroft, said the platform also held the safety of its users to the highest standard. 'We are certainly open to exploring any avenue of ensuring the safety of Australian users,' she said. 'We never feel we are doing enough to exercise our responsibility. 'We are constantly working because of the safety of children as the most vulnerable among our users, but the safety of all our users is of utmost concern and our responsibility. 'We invest time, resources, and people's expertise in ensuring that our systems and our services or products are safe in the area of mental health and suicide.' Tilly's story was told to a parliamentary inquiry on the impacts of social media Meta vice-president and global head of safety, Antigone Davis, told the committee that she didn't think social media had harmed children. 'I think that social media has provided tremendous benefits,' Ms Davis said. 'I think that issues of teen mental health are complex and multifactorial. I think that it is our responsibility as a company to ensure that teens can take advantage of those benefits of social media in a safe and positive environment.' Mr Wallace told Ms Davis 'you cannot be serious'. 'You cannot be taken seriously Ms Davis when you say that,' he said. Ms Davis said Meta was 'committed to trying to provide a safe and positive experience' for all users, especially teenagers. 'For example, if a teen is struggling with an eating disorder, and they're on our platform, we want to try to put in place safeguards to ensure that they have a positive experience and that we are (not) contributing or exacerbating that situation that (they) may be dealing with,' she said. Senator Sarah Henderson told the inquiry she'd recently seen a video on an Instagram live-stream that depicted the 'most horrendous bashing of a school student by another student'. Senator Henderson asked Meta what type of 'mechanisms' were in place to stop these videos from being live streamed. 'Because the bottom line is you are not stopping this and there are multiple cases where it demonstrates your failure to stop this sort of conduct online,' she said. Ms Davis said Meta took videos like the one Senator Henderson saw 'very seriously'. 'We have policies against that kind of content,' she said. 'We build classifiers to try to identify that content, proactively.' The committee is expected to table its interim report by August 15, with the final report due by November 18. Lifeline 13 11 14 BeyondBlue 1300 224 636 Texas megachurch Pastor Robert Morris once asked his sexual assault accuser how much it would cost for her silence, a shocking phone transcript has revealed. Morris, 62, the founder and senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake - one of the largest megachurches in the country - has been accused of sexually abusing former family friend Cindy Clemishire in the 1980s, when she was just 12 years old. Clemishire, now 54, finally went public with her allegations in a blog post on The Wartburg Watch - a website dedicated to exposing abuse in churches - last week. But when she had first threatened to expose Morris' sexual assault back in 2005, the pastor had asked her to 'put a price on it,' according to a transcript of a September 22, 2005 phone call obtained by NBC News. Pastor Robert Morris, 62, once allegedly asked his sexual assault abuser to 'put a price' on her silence, a newly-released phone transcript reveals Cindy Clemishire, now 54, announced last week that Morris had sexually abused her in the 1980s, beginning when she was just 12 years old Clemishire had reached out to the pastor just two days prior, asking Morris to compensate her for the trauma she endured. 'Twenty-three years after you began destroying my life, I am still dealing with the pain and damage you caused,' Clemishire, then 35, wrote in an email to Morris on September 20, 2005. 'I want some type of restitution,' she continued. 'Pray about it and call me.' The pastor would then call her back two days later, with his wife, Debbie, on the line. He recounted in the phone call with Clemishire how he left the ministry and sought counseling in 1987, after her father confronted him and church leaders about the assault. But Clemishire told Morris he should have paid a steeper price for the pain she endured. 'Two years out of the ministry - big deal,' she said, according to the phone transcript. 'I just have a real problem [with] the fact that you have gone untouched by this.' Morris would later reply, 'Maybe I wasn't asked to do enough, but I did everything I was asked to.' Morris was already married to his wife, Debbie, when the abuse occurred Later on in the conversation, Clemishire would describe watching interviews of the victims of child molestation and connecting those stories with her own experience. She said it helped her better understand what she had endured. 'I just can't believe how I have justified and made excuses,' Clemishire said in the phone call. She then asked Morris to imagine if 'this kind of thing' happened to his daughter, who was a teenager at the time. 'I think you would be horrified. At least I hope you would,' she reportedly said. When Morris admitted that he would be horrified, Clemishire pressed him about what he would want to happen if he learned that a pastor in the church committed a crime against a child years earlier. 'Would you not think they should pay?' she asked. 'It may help you to see that person go to prison. But don't you believe that they should pay for the crime done?' 'I don't know [whether] it would be my responsibility for them to pay for the crime done or not,' Morris replied. Clemishire reached out to the pastor in 2005, asking him to compensate for the trauma she endured, but she insists she wasn't blackmailing him for money Still, Clemshire persisted, saying: 'I really, honestly feel like it is not fair. 'It is not fair for every single thing that I have gone through, and still go through, for you to have no [repercussions],' she said, according to the transcript. She also told him that if she pressed criminal charges or went public with the story, it 'would destroy everything that you have.' 'I just know I want to see you pay something,' the victim reportedly said. Morris then told Clemishire it would be wrong for him to pay her to keep her from going public, but the victim insisted she is 'not trying to blackmail you.' 'I am not trying to say, "You pay me or this is what I am going to do."' 'Ok,' Morris replied. 'Do you want to put an amount on it then?' At first, Clemishire resisted naming a price figure - saying 'that is not what this is about.' But when the pastor continued to press her to name a price, she replied $2 million. Clemishire now says Morris never actually paid her the money - and insists she never wanted a payout. She said she had spent years struggling with 'profound confusion' about what Morris had done to her, and by 2005, she was finally beginning to understand it was a crime. 'I was literally sick to my stomach and wanted to finally hold him accountable,' she told NBC News. 'The call with Morris had nothing to do with money - it was about my anger and my need to confront him so that he finally knew that I knew what he had done to me.' Morris left the ministry for two years after Clemishire's father confronted him in 1987 Clemishire has claimed that Morris' abuse began when he stayed at her family home in Tulsa on Christmas 1982, when he was already married to his wife, Debbie. She describes a scene in which Morris asked her to come to his room and speak with him, asking her to lay on his bed. Morris, Donald Trump's former spiritual advisor, began to touch her inappropriately, with Clemishire alleging he touched her stomach, then her breast and then under her pants. 'I remember vividly everything I was wearing and how the pajamas felt. They were light pink, and it was a little top with bloomers, and I had on underwear and bloomers and the little top and a robe that snapped up over the top,' she said. Clemishire added that after the alleged abuse occurred, Morris 'told me I could never tell anyone, because it would ruin everything.' She said that he would continue to isolate her and abuse her for the next four-and-a- half years before she finally spoke out, first to a family friend and then to her parents. Clemishire's father demanded Morris be removed from ministry and she claimed he did for two years in order to undergo 'restoration.' He returned to preaching in 1989. Morris admitted to the sexual abuse last week and resigned from Gateway Church At the Gateway Church, elders have admitted that they were aware of Morris' relationship with a 'young lady' when he was in his 20s. But they claim they thought the pastor was just confessing to having an extramarital affair - something Morris would discuss frequently from the pulpit as a moral failure that he overcame with the help of God. 'The elders prior understanding was that Morris extramarital relationship, which he had discussed many times throughout his ministry, was with "a young lady" and not abuse of a 12-year-old child,' the church leaders said in a statement. Lawrence Swicegood, a spokesman for the megachurch, also told NBC News that church leaders have not seen the transcript - which was reportedly kept on a shared server with archival sermon notes for years. 'We take all of this extremely seriously, and abuse of any sort simply cannot be tolerated,' Swicegood said in a statement. 'Gateway Church has engaged outside counsel who is conducting an independent and comprehensive inquiry into this entire matter.' DailyMail.com has also reached out to Morris for comment. He had resigned from the megachurch last week, after admitting to abusing Clemishire. Clemishire is now considering bringing a lawsuit against Morris Clemishire, meanwhile, has hired Boz Tchividjian to represent her in a new potential lawsuit, according to WFAA. Tchividjian is evangelist Billy Graham's grandson. 'It seems as if it was preferable for them to simply accept his vague narrative instead of seeking the truth regarding a sexual offense perpetrated upon a minor,' Tchividjian said. 'The leaders at Gateway had the responsibility to find out what happened and not to blindly accept his words.' Morris was never criminally charged and the statute of limitations on such a case has long since ran out. The first-term Labor senator who sensationally crossed the floor on Palestine choked up with emotion as she revealed the consequences of her decision. Fatima Payman, 29, risked expulsion from the Labor party when she 'voted with her conscience' in support of a Greens motion on Palestine in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon. In doing so, she went against her own party, just weeks after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rebuked her for using the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. Speaking to 16-year-old journalist Leo Puglisi for 6News, Ms Payman admitted there had been 'a mixed response' within Labor off the back of her decision - with Mr Albanese benching her from Caucus meetings through this session of Parliament. She said: 'I've had many welfare checks from colleagues both in the Senate and the House of Representatives. 'Many have shown support to my mental health, making sure I don't feel alone' - before looking visibly emotional. Fatima Payman, 29, 'voted with her conscience' in the Senate on Tuesday afternoon on a Greens motion to recognise the state of Palestine The first-term Labor senator who sided with the Greens to sensationally vote against her own party fought back tears as she revealed the consequences of that decision Ms Payman revealed she could still face further consequences within the party. 'I heard there may be extra penalties... that's yet to be determined because there's a letter going to the national secretariat,' she said. On whether she has received any indication about what her future holds, Ms Payman said 'I wait to read newspaper articles in the morning'. The response to Ms Payman's actions has been mixed within Labor. While some members are upset that she breached protocol and trust by crossing the floor, others are more concerned that her decision will upset their own constituents. Ms Payman said she's been hearing from Labor voters around Australia who were disappointed that their own local member has not spoken up for Gaza. Likewise, MPs representing high Jewish populations are questioning whether Ms Payman's strong advocacy for Palestine will result in them being punished by voters. Labor's Leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, was critical of Ms Payman's vote, saying it is 'very rare for a Labor person not to respect' caucus solidarity'. 'I can understand why colleagues are upset. I can understand how they feel, because there is trust between colleagues as well. What I would say is our expectation is that the senator abide by decisions of the caucus. 'On this occasion, the Prime Minister has shown restraint.' Fatima Payman said she knew she faced expulsion from Labor for choosing to cross the floor When push came to shove and the final vote on the motion moved by Greens senator Nick McKim for 'the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine', Fatima Payman (right) was approached by crossbencher David Pocock (left). After a brief discussion, the pair walked toward the Greens together Ms Wong pointed out that she 'had to' vote against a Greens motion supporting same sex marriage in 2008 and 2010 because at the time Labor's position was formally opposed. In March this year, Ms Wong married her wife, Sophie Allouache. In the interview, Ms Payman claimed she had suffered some 'unfair judgment' from colleagues. Ms Payman described her vote as an 'incremental move toward recognising Palestine'. She said she hoped to 'reinstate hope within our communities, showing them that we do listen'. 'We were elected to be standing up for our values... This is about justice, about doing the right thing and about being on the right side of history.' Mr Albanese revealed later in the week that Ms Payman would miss the next caucus meeting on the back of her actions, but the party has dismissed calls for her to be suspended or permanently expelled The moment that sparked political firestorm Ms Payman chose to abstain from a series of initial votes on the Greens motion on Tuesday afternoon, defiantly sitting in the back - behind the action but in full sight of journalists - while the debate raged on. But when the final vote on the motion moved by Greens senator Nick McKim for 'the Senate to recognise the State of Palestine' went ahead, Ms Payman was approached by crossbencher David Pocock. After a short discussion, the pair walked toward the Greens together. There was a brief moment where it was unclear whether Ms Payman was leaving the chamber entirely or had decided to vote, but then she took a seat beside Mr Pocock and directly in front of Senator Lidia Thorpe and cast her vote. A New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates was mysteriously found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict. The jury began weighing the case against Tyler Anderson, 30, of Dover on Tuesday after a trial that began Monday. A court filing said 'the government has learned that the defendant is deceased.' Prosecutors have moved to dismiss the indictment. While the U.S. Attorneys office did not name the candidates, when Anderson was arrested, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said that texts were directed at his campaign. Anderson had told the FBI in an interview that he sent similar texts to 'multiple other campaigns,' according to a court document. Tyler Anderson (pictured), a New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates, was mysteriously found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury in December on three counts of sending a threat using interstate commerce. Each charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Police in Concord, New Hampshire, were asked to help search for Anderson after he failed to show up for court and eventually located a car in a garage at Concord Hospital at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Deputy Chief John Thomas. Officers detected a strong chemical smell coming from the car and called in a hazmat team. Andersons body was removed from the car and pronounced dead. There were no weapons found. Thomas said no foul play is suspected at this time. His lawyer did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment. Anderson was arrested on December 9 and was released December 14. A federal judge set forth several conditions for his release, including that he avoid contact with any presidential candidate and their political campaigns. The U.S. Attorneys office did not name the candidates. When Anderson was arrested, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said that texts were directed at his campaign Tyler Anderson, 30, sent two messages in response to a campaign text previewing Monday's stop in New Hampshire. He said the event was 'another opportunity for me to blow his brains out' Anderson, who was receiving mental health treatment, was also ordered to take all of his prescribed medications. After receiving a message from the biotech entrepreneur's campaign on December 8 promoting a Portsmouth, New Hampshire political campaign stop on December 11, Anderson leveled his threat over text message and across state lines. 'Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out!' Anderson wrote, according to images of the text messages in charging documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire. In a separate message to the campaign, he wrote: 'I'm going to kill everyone who attends and then f*** their corpses.' They also found other texts Anderson sent to a different candidate, including similar threats to 'blow that b*****d's head off!' Another message read: 'Thanks, I'll see you there. Hope you have the stamina for a mass shooting!' The charges say similar texts were sent to two different candidates before the Ramaswamy messages, on November 22 and December 6. A court document filed when Anderson was arrested included a screenshot of texts from December 6 threatening a mass shooting in response to an invitation to see a candidate 'who isnt afraid to tell it like it is.' Republican Chris Christie called his events 'Tell it Like It Is Town Halls.' A spokesperson for the Christie campaign had thanked law enforcement officials for addressing those threats. The U.S. Department of Justice doesnt name victims out of respect for their privacy and our obligations under the Crime Victims Rights Act, a DOJ spokesperson said. The boss of Oklahoma public schools has ordered teachers to incorporate the Bible into lessons and keep a copy of the holy book in every classroom. Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters made the decree on Thursday. 'Effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum across specified grade levels, e.g. grades 5 through 12,' Walters said. Adherence to the mandate is compulsory and 'immediate and strict compliance is expected.' 'The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,' Walters said. 'Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation which is why Oklahoma educational standards provide for its instruction.' Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters ordered teachers to incorporate the Bible into lessons and keep a copy of the book in every classroom Effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools will have to use the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum for grade levels 5 through 12 Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and lets teachers use them in instruction, said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for state Attorney General Gentner Drummond. It's not clear if Walters has the authority to mandate that schools teach it and critics have spoken out against the order. The head of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations slammed the directive as a clear violation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from 'establishing' a religion. 'We adamantly oppose any requirements that religion be forcefully taught or required as a part of lesson plans in public schools, in Oklahoma, or anywhere else in the country,' Adam Soltani said. Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State: 'Public schools are not Sunday schools. 'This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone elses children. Not on our watch.' It's not clear if Walters has the authority to mandate that schools teach the Bible and critics have spoken out against the order Walters was elected in 2022 on a platform of fighting 'woke ideology' and has been outspoken on many issues including the Biden administrations Title IX laws and book bans Walters edict is similar to the new Louisiana law that requires all public K-12 classrooms and state-funded universities to display a poster-sized version of the Ten Commandments by next year. A former public school teacher who was elected to his post in 2022, Walters ran on a platform of fighting 'woke ideology,' banning books from school libraries and getting rid of 'radical leftists' who he claims are indoctrinating children in classrooms. The Oklahoma Supreme Court shut down his efforts to allow the state Board of Education to determine what books are available in public school libraries in June. The board, led by Walters, had recommended the suburban school district remove two books - 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini and 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls - after new rules were approved in June 2023 that banned books and other media that contain pornographic and sexualized content. Edmond Public Schools sued over those efforts and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of local school boards retaining the right to make those decision. In April, Walters ordered schools to 'completely ignore' Joe Biden 's new rules promoting children's LGBTQ rights. Walters slammed the President's Title IX overhaul as 'the most devastating attack on women's rights in our country's history.' 'In Oklahoma, we don't bend to the senseless will of Biden and his posse eradicating women's rights and putting women in danger 'This is why I've instructed every superintendent in my state to completely ignore Biden's new Title IX changes that allow males to roam in female locker rooms, dorms, and bathrooms places where women should feel safe.' Land Rover owners have taken to extreme measures to protect their expensive cars amid a surge in thefts across London. Worried drivers have started chaining their motors to trees to avoid thieves pinching them after crooks started using the car's keyless entry to steal the vehicles in seconds. A post on social media shows a Land Rover parked up on a quiet, leafy residential street with a bike chain looped around a nearby tree and attached to the back of the expensive car. The heavy-duty chain is rapped around the car and tree at least twice and secured with a large padlock in an attempt to deter thieves. The high-end brand has been battling a reputation crisis after owners complained that their cars were becoming too expensive to insure after a spate of thefts across the country. The Landrover was spotted parked on a quiet residential road in London outside a house The car was chained to a nearby tree with a hevay duty chain and padlocks similar to a bike chained up The decision to chain up the expensive car comes as the brand was dubbed Britain's most stolen car In a bid to shake off the bad press, Jaguar Land Rover announced plans last month to put up 1million to help the police catch car thieves as they look to restore the reputations of their vehicles. The Range Rover has three of the top five most stolen car models in the UK, MailOnline analysis revealed. DVLA data showed that Lexus RX was the most stolen car model in 2023, but the Velar, Sport and standard Range Rover models all made the top five with the brand's Evoque placing sixth and the Land Rover Discovery in seventh. The company's bosses denied reports that the car was vulnerable to theft and said the money they were investing was to support police operations in theft hotspots, as well as to fund intelligence gathering. But owners have been complaining that insurers have been hiking their premiums dramatically, or even refusing cover, leading to the luxury vehicles suffering a large price drop. Earlier this year, business owner Mark Perring, 52, revealed that he was being quoted 14,000-a-year for an insurance policy on his four by four after he was told Jaguar Land Rover's own insurance would not cover him. The frustrated motorist decided to ditch the car brand for good and bought himself a new Mercedes GLE which he could insure for about a tenth of the price. In January, CCTV footage showed two masked thieves steal a 70,000 Range Rover in seconds. The pair pulled up alongside the vehicle in St John's Wood, north London, on a motorbike and pried open the front window of the black 4x4 with a crow bar, before successfully starting the engine and driving off in under a minute. The rise in thefts as seriously undermined Range Rover prices. The car has seen a sharp decline in price, as owners struggle to get the vehicles insured because of their high theft rate. The average price of a used Range Rover has fallen 9 per cent since May to 35,224, compared to a decline of 3 per cent for all cars according to Auto Trader. A mother-of-four whose husband is suffering from incurable cancer has been rewarded for showing immense kindness to a stranger. Danielle Brown, from Melbourne, was putting groceries in her car when she was approached by a stranger who asked for some money for a bus ticket. Ms Brown did not hesitate to hand over some cash and, because she was not aware how much the tickets cost, gave the man $20. When she was asked why she was willing to hand over the money, Ms Brown said 'everyone is going through their thing', and revealed her husband had been diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. What Ms Brown did not know was that she was being filmed, and the stranger was social media star Samuel Weidenhofer, who has more than one million followers on Instagram rewarding people for generosity. As thanks for her kindness, Mr Weidenhofer gave her back the $20 along with $1,000 in cash to go towards a family holiday. She also received $2,000 from Derrimut Gym. After learning of her husband's predicament, and having four kids to look after, Mr Weidenhofer also set up a GoFundMe for the family, which has so far raised more than $31,000. Danielle Brown handed over $20 to a man she thought was a stranger asking for money to buy a bus ticket The stranger was actually social media star Samuel Weidenhofer who gifted the mother-of-four $1,000 in return for her kindness. He has also launched a GoFundMe for her family Ms Brown's husband Murray had a brush with death 12 years ago when he underwent a double lung transplant. Mr Brown, who lives with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs, had recovered well and was living life to the fullest with his wife and four children, aged between two and six-years-old, when he suffered a seizure last year. A tumour the size of an apple was found inside Mr Brown's brain with a biopsy confirming he had stage three brain cancer. Though the cancer is incurable, the father is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to extend his life as long as possible to be with his family. 'Everyone is going through their thing, we've sort of learnt that the hard way and if you can be kind then why not?' Ms Brown told Mr Weidenhofer in the video, which has been viewed more than two million times on TikTok. 'My husband last year, was diagnosed with brain cancer, it's incurable, it could be 12 months. Danielle's husband Murray Brown (pictured with their children) was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer last year 'We'd love to go on holiday, we'd love to do all of that, but it's money.' The couple appeared on Seven News and thanked those who had donated to their fundraiser. 'We recently have been reminded that you don't know what people are going through,' Ms Brown said. Her husband said hearing his cancer was incurable was extremely 'jarring'. 'It hovers over you, (but) the kindness and generosity and all those things make you want to live every day,' he said. Mr Weidenhofer told Daily Mail Australia he is still in contact with the Brown family who are planning to use the donations to go on an overseas trip while Mr Brown is still well enough. 'They want to do as much as they can while he is healthy enough and that amount of support and funds are able to take them overseas for a trip,' he said. A friend of the family had reached out to the social media star and shared their story with him. That friend told Ms Brown there was a guy who was filming random acts of kindness for people, but the mother had no idea who Mr Weidenhofer was or that he was going to be there. 'I had no prior contact with her, it was fully spontaneous and there was a hidden camera,' he said. Mr Weidenhofer has made it his mission to spread positivity following the death of his aunt who had battled with mental health issues. 'There's a lot of negative stories out there and to get out something positive makes me very happy,' he said. 'You just don't know the impact it has on them and the people watching as well. 'It fills my heart with a lot of joy to spread some positivity when there's so many horrible things happening around the world.' Netflix has been forced to remove a sex scene in a hit crime series about a notorious drug smuggler after he complained. Laureano Oubina, from Galicia in northwest Spain, sued the streaming platform over its portrayal of him and his wife in the television series Cocaine Coast. The 78-year-old, who was convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering, demanded Netflix pay him 1.5 million for the 'moral damage' the series had caused. While a judge ruled that the show's depiction of the crime kingpin was not 'very different' from reality, they did find that a sex scene between Oubina and his wife in the first episode of the series was not justified. The court ordered Netflix to remove the scene, which sees a police raid interrupt the couple during an intimate moment, and pay Oubina 15,000 for breaching his privacy, The Times reported. Notorious drug smuggler Laureano Oubina has forced Netflix to remove a sex scene with him and his wife in a hit crime series Oubina, who is portrayed in the show by actor Carlos Blanco (pictured), sued the streaming platform over its portrayal of him and his wife in the television series Cocaine Coast The series, which is called Farina in Spanish, is based on the rise of drug clans in Galicia in the 1980s and 1990s A judge said that the 'the undeniable creative freedom of the creators and producers of the series' did not justify the inclusion of the scene. They added the scene, which only showed the couple from behind, was unnecassary and was used to 'hook the viewer into the plot'. Oubina had initially tried to sue Netflix for 1.5 million for creating the show, which he said portrayed him as a violent cocaine trafficker. The series, which is called Farina in Spanish, is based on the rise of drug clans in Galicia in the 1980s and 1990s, with Oubina being played by actor Carlos Blanco. Oubina's lawyer, Jorge Paladino, said 'The life of Mr Laureano Oubina has worsened considerably since the broadcast of this series because he is portrayed as a person capable of taking the life of another, [a] violent, sexist, a cocaine trafficker, impotent, vicious, unfaithful, a bad father, a bad husband, a brute, foolish, vengeful, an abuser of women, ignorant and a mafioso.' But the court rejected the other complaints as it found the show had been 'inspired by reality' and Oubina's portrayal was not 'very different' from that which he and his 'conduct' had led the world to believe. The scene sees a police raid interrupt the couple during an intimate moment, with the couple only being shown from behind Oubina (pictured) had initially tried to sue Netflix for 1.5 million for creating the show, which he said portrayed him as a violent cocaine trafficker The 78-year-old was previously convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering This kind of case is not something Netflix is unfamiliar to, with the streaming giant currently facing a number of other complaints about the subject of its shows. Earlier this month it was revealed that the only surviving son of jailed murderer and fraudster Alex Murdaugh is planning to sue Netflix and Warner Brothers over documentaries connecting him to the murder of his former classmate. Buster Murdaugh, 30, unmistakable for the distinctive red hair that he and his brother both inherited from their father Alex, 55, is suing several media outlets and two major studios for damaging his reputation. Murdaugh claims that various films and stories written about the case have linked him to the killing of 19-year-old Stephen Smith. Just weeks prior to that, the woman who claims she is the inspiration for Netflix's stalking drama Baby Reindeer announced she is suing the streaming platform for $170million. Fiona Harvey, who says lead character Martha's life is based on her own, denies ever going to prison or to court, as the show portrays. Harvey alleges Netflix allowed viewers to track her down in real life and that she is now being inundated with abuse, according to legal dossiers obtained by TMZ. A legal showdown now looks set between Netflix and Fiona Harvey (pictured) who claims her supposed depiction in Baby Reindeer is untrue Fiona Harvey, who says lead character Martha's life (pictured) is based on her own, denies ever going to prison or to court, as the show portrays Harvey says the show, which features Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning (pictured), makes false claims about her In the series Martha is depicted as a bunny-boiling stalker who is constantly harassing the protagonist Donny, played by Richard Gadd. Harvey claims that she is being bombarded with hate from around the world because of how Martha is portrayed in the Netflix hit. She asserts that she never stalked Gadd, did not sexually assault him, nor was she ever convicted of stalking. The Scot alleges that Netflix led viewers to believe that fictional elements of the show were factual. As a result, Harvey is suing the show for defamation, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violations of right of publicity, among other charges. She is demanding more than $50million in damages. And in another case similar to that of Oubina's, the family of Griselda Blanco are also seeking to sue Netflix over its alleged 'unauthorized use of their family's image and likeness' in a series about the female drug kingpin. A lawsuit obtained by and launched by Blanco's adult kids acting as representatives for her estate, names Netflix as a defendant as well as Sofia Vergara, who portrays Griselda in a series of the same name. Aussie travellers looking to head to Bali could be forced to pay an even bigger tourist tax on arrival. Indonesian politicians are pushing for an increase in the current fee, which they deem inadequate at $15 or IDR 150,000. They propose raising the fee to approximately IDR 800,000, equivalent to around $75 Australian dollars. 'This levy on foreign tourists is not yet effective, that's why we want to increase the role of other sectors such as Immigration and the Police,' Balinese politician Gede Komang Kresna Budi told reporters. 'I think IDR 150,000 is too low, so Bali seems like a cheap tourist destination. That's why we plan to increase it by $50 US dollars. 'Why should Bali be sold cheaply,' Mr Budi said. Bali introduced a $15 foreign tourist tax in February this year, and it is mandatory for all international travellers and holidaymakers visiting the province. The money goes towards supporting the island to cope with the millions of visitors that flock to its shores each year. That includes building infrastructure, dealing with Bali's growing waste problem, and funding a crackdown on bad behaviour from tourists. A fee of $15 to enter Bali, introduced on February 14, is set to increase to $75 to support the island's influx of visitors Tourism police have been conducting spot checks to ensure travellers have paid the fee, but there are no fines or criminal penalties for not paying the tax, even though it is legally required. However, according to the Bali Tourism Office, only 40 per cent of tourists pay the required tourism fee. A major reason behind the problem is a lack of resources at Bali's airport, including scanners and staff to verify the payment. Tourism police have been conducting spot checks to ensure travellers have paid the fee, but there are no fines or criminal penalties for not paying the tax, even though it is legally required. Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, the Acting Governor, believes there should be stricter consequences for tourists who do not pay. 'I hope that in the Regional Regulation, there will be sanctions for tourists who do not pay fees. For example, fines or penalties,' he explained. A university has told students not to use the term 'illegal immigrant' - as it is considered 'dehumanising' - and to use the word 'undocumented' instead. An inclusive language guide issued by the London Metropolitan University urged staff and students to avoid saying 'illegal immigrant' over fears this phrase could cause offence. Additional advice in the online guide, which has been slammed by a Tory MP as 'woke', suggests swapping terms such as 'crazy' and 'mad' for 'bananas'. Nigel Mills, who is standing as the Conservative candidate in Amber Valley in Derbyshire, called the guide 'ludicrous woke nonsense. He told The Sun: 'Illegal migrant is a simple factual term for someone who's not come to the UK legally.' London Metropolitan University (pictured) issued an Inclusive Language Guide on their website The guide urged students to avoid saying 'illegal immigrant' over fears this phrase could cause offence Nigel Mills, who is standing as the Conservative candidate in Amber Valley in Derbyshire, called the guide 'ludicrous woke nonsense' Mills continued: 'Surely universities have better uses for tuition fees than paying people to come up with this rubbish.' London Metropolitan University, which has 12,500 students, said on its website: 'We are proud to have a university community that is diverse in age, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, gender identity and many other characteristics. 'It is for this reason that striving for inclusive language use is so important to us we want to use words that signify respect, recognise the nuances of our lived experience, and truly promote equitable outcomes.' Instead of using gendered language when referring to a person's 'boyfriend', 'girlfriend', 'husband' or 'wife', London Met encouraged students to use the umbrella term 'partner'. In a similar vein, 'mums' and 'dads' should be referred to as 'parents' or 'caregivers'. The university also advises against ageist language such as 'elderly', 'old' and 'pensioner'. A spokesperson for London Metropolitan University said: 'We take pride in our diverse community and our commitment to creating a welcoming environment where all students can succeed. 'This is not about political correctness; it's about ensuring everyone feels valued. We stand by our values and the positive impact of this guide.' The White House Correspondents' Association tore into CNN after the network refused to allow a print reporter into the room during tonight's presidential debate. WHCA President Kelly O'Donnell warned in a lengthy statement that 'we don't know how this will play out in real time.' President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are debating at CNN's Atlanta studio without an audience and their mics will be turned off when it's not their turn to speak. That could lead to moments that aren't captured neatly by television cameras. The WHCA had pitched that a print reporter from the president's traveling pool of reporters be allowed in the room to monitor the debate. Neither Biden nor Trump's campaign objected to this set-up. The White House Correspondents' Association tore into CNN after the network refused to allow a print reporter into the room during tonight's presidential debate But CNN rejected the WHCA's ask, prompting O'Donnell's strong-worded statement. WHCA President Kelly O'Donnell sent out a lengthy statement tearing into CNN's decision 'The pool is there for the "what ifs" in a world where the unexpected does happen,' O'Donnell said. 'A pool reporter is present to provide context and insight by direct observation and not through the lens of the television production.' The job of the print pool reporter is to file reports that all other media outlets can use. Instead of being allowed to stay throughout the debate, tonight's print pool reporter will be allowed to enter CNN's studio during the first commercial break to 'briefly observe the setting.' 'This is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage,' O'Donnell said. 'The White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president's events and his movements on behalf of the American people.' Later Thursday afternoon, CNN doubled down on the decision to keep the print pooler out of the room. 'As proud members of the White House Correspondents Association, we respect the role the organization plays and their support for press freedom and access,' the statement said. 'CNN's Presidential Debate is being held without an audience in a CNN studio and is closed to press.' The network went on to point out that its feed was being made available to other broadcast outlets - an unusual move when one of the networks snags a debate. Traditionally the Commission on Presidential Debates handles the general election debates, but after the 2020 cycle, the Republican National Committee was poised not to allow the bipartisan group to handle the affairs. CNN and ABC swooped in and bartered with the Trump and Biden campaigns to handle two general election debates instead. CNN's will take place tonight while the ABC debate will be held September 10. The CPD has historically allowed a print reporter to remain in the room, O'Donnell said. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg got into a heated clash with Republican Congressman over the Biden administration's attempt to push electric vehicles. In 2021, the president signed an executive order outlining a goal to have electric and other zero-emissions vehicles make up half of the new cars and trucks sold by 2030. Biden also assigned $5 billion to go toward building fast chargers along major interstates - what's being called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program. The news comes the same day as a poll showing that thousands of EV owners have expressed their regret over their car purchase. Buttigieg spoke in the House of Representatives Thursday and clashed with Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry over the program, calling it 'dictatorial'. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg got into a heated clash with Republican Congressman over the Biden administration's attempt to push electric vehicles Buttigieg spoke in the House of Representatives Thursday and clashed with Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry over the program, calling it 'dictatorial' Perry insisted Biden's programs on EVs are not working, sales of EVs are going down and demanded the administration 'let the market decide' whether classic gas fueled cars or electric vehicles succeed. Buttigieg, a former presidential candidate, attempt to debunk what he believed were lies on Perry's behalf in front of Congress. 'Given that time is limited, I will confine myself to addressing the factually incorrect portions of what you have said beginning with the assertion that these sales are going down, they are in fact going up,' he snarked. Buttigieg said that, while electric vehicles make up 10 percent of the market, sales are up to 1.2 million in 2023. Perry then challenged Buttigieg on how many of these sales were from the government or private entities. 'We'll get you that breakdown but as you know more citizens buy EVs than government purchases,' Buttigieg said. 'No, I don't know that. I don't think that's factually true,' Perry replied. Perry angered Buttigieg by claiming that sales are in a tailspin and any that are sold are done so with government subsidies. In 2021, the president signed an executive order outlining a goal to have electric and other zero-emissions vehicles make up half of the new cars and trucks sold by 2030 Biden also assigned $5 billion to go toward building fast chargers along major interstates - what's being called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure or NEVI program 'Tailspin is a bizarre word to use for a growing sector of our economy,' he told Perry. Perry then took another tact by saying that he's 'not happy about the mandate' and said Americans 'should be able to buy any vehicle they want.' 'There is no mandate,' Buttigieg said. 'You can purchase a gas car if you want to pay gas prices at the pump but if you don't, you can purchase an EV with our help.' The 50 per cent goal is nonbinding and mostly symbolic, but it sets the expectation for U.S. automakers to begin the transition from building gas-powered vehicles to electric ones. The percentage improvements in emissions and fuel economy that Biden's new rules will require were not immediately clear. A White House fact sheet indicated the administration will leave the Trump standards for miles per gallon in place until vehicle model year 2024 and for greenhouse gas emissions until model year 2023. The strategy is part of Biden's plan to fight climate change. The White House noted the order put the nation on track to meet Biden's goal 'of 50-52 percent net economy-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels in 2030.' A presentation released in June 2024 by McKinsey & Company indicated that 46 percent of EV owners in the US are 'very' likely to switch back to gas-powered vehicles Australia was the only location with a higher percentage of EV owners looking to switch back to gas-powered cars than the US However, it's questionable whether the market really wants these vehicles, with many having buyers' remorse. A McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse presentation released in June 2024 by McKinsey & Company indicated that 46 percent of EV owners in the US are 'very' likely to switch back to gas-powered vehicles. The data is based on responses from nearly 37,000 participants who own EVs, but the US results are what surprised the company that conducted the study. The US ranked second out of the nine countries in the study that had the most EV users looking to switch back, with the biggest reason being the low approval rating of EV cars' charging infrastructure. A total of 35 percent of the study's global respondents said they would want to switch back to gas-powered vehicles because charging stations are 'not yet' good enough. On top of that, 34 percent of participants voiced their concern about the high total ownership cost, while another 32 percent were worried about frequent charging stops during long-distance trips. Other reasons why EV owners said they wanted to get rid of their cars were the inability to charge the vehicle at home, the stress behind needing to charge the car, the mobility change requirements and their overall lackluster experience driving an EV. Walt Disney World revealed an overhaul of its theme park ride queue program to allow visitors more freedom to plan ahead. In its latest update visitors can now pick their park rides up to a week in advance, whereas before guests had no choice but to make their selections on the day of travel. The park addon, currently named Genie+, will be rebranded to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass effective July 24. Multi passes will allow guests to select up to three attractions in one theme parks on adventure day, while the single pass will let visitors pick a time to ride at individual attractions. Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel will be able to select their attractions up to seven days in advance, for their entire stay up to two weeks. All others can use their passes to three days in advance. Disney announced a revamp of its theme park ride queue program to allow visitors more freedom to plan ahead Genie+ services will rebrand to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and individual Lightning Lane will now be known as Lightning Lane Single Pass effective July 24 The new name for the passes will go into effect at both the California and Florida theme parks. However, Disneyland in the Golden State will not have access to the advance features, meaning they will only be able to select their rides the day of. Visitors will be able to select time slots to ride major attractions such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Space Mountain, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Slinky Dog Dash, the Tower of Terror and more. 'Lightning Lane passes will blend features from our current services and the previously offered FastPass+ service, giving guests the choice to plan ahead and removing the hassle of planning during their vacation,' the House of Mouse said. 'These advance purchase windows will let guests secure some of their must-do rides and experiences after theyve had some time to decide what dining reservations they want to book and any other plans they may need to consider. 'The app will also be updated to make it quicker and easier to purchase and plan, with fewer steps and a new option to purchase Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass in one transaction.' Prices for the passes vary by date, theme park and attraction. Beginning July 24 visitors will be able to view the new costs in the My Disney Experience app. Disney announced in February they were hiking the prices of some of its tickets for 2025, as the company plans to invest nearly $2 billion in revamping its Anaheim theme park. The company announced plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade in its parks and cruise lines, as revealed in an SEC filing in September last year. Multi passes will allow guests to select up to three attractions in one theme park and select their times, while the single pass will let visitors pick a time to ride at individual attractions The cost of the new passes will vary depending on the day, theme park and attraction. In February the company announced were hiking the prices of some of its tickets for 2025 As part of the investment, Disney World's Magic Kingdom is set to undergo its 'largest ever' expansion. In January, Disney announced detailed plans revamp its Anaheim theme park in California and incorporating new attractions, shops and restaurants within the existing 490-acre space. If approved by Anaheim city leaders, the project could introduce new rides and attractions inspired by beloved Disney stories such as Frozen, Peter Pan, Tangled, Toy Story, and Zootopia. The allocated $1.9 billion will go towards 'theme park lands, attractions, hotels, shopping and dining west of Disneyland Drive and on the Toy Story parking lot,' according to the Orange County Register. President Joe Biden insisted that former President Donald Trump is a 'sucker' and a 'loser' as Trump insisted the report that he called dead World War I veterans was 'made up.' 'I was recently in France for a day, and I spoke well about those heroes that died. I went to the World War Two cemetery, World War One cemetery, he refused to go to,' Biden said during the Thursday night debate in Atlanta. In 2020 The Atlantic reported that Trump declined a visit to Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, near Paris, in 2018, because he 'feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain.' The outlet reported that Trump told staff of the visit: 'Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers.' President Joe Biden insisted that former President Donald Trump is a 'sucker' and a 'loser' as Trump insisted the report that he called dead World War I veterans just that was 'made up' I was recently in France for a day, and I spoke well about those heroes that died. I went to the World War Two cemetery, World War One cemetery, he refused to go to,' Biden said during the Thursday night debate in Atlanta 'My son was not a loser, was not a sucker,' Biden said, referring to his late son Beau who deployed to Iraq in the Army. Biden has long blamed his son's deadly brain cancer on the burn pits he was exposed to while deployed. 'You're the sucker! You're the loser!' Biden went on. 'First of all, that was made up,' Trump said of the quote. 'They made it up. It was in the third grade magazine that's failing. Like many of these magazines, he made that up,' he added, referring to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly confirmed the comments and added that Trump had said he didn't want to include military amputees at a 2018 White House event, when he allegedly said their presence 'doesn't look good for me.' Donald Trump once called veterans losers and suckers. Heres the truth, Donald: Youre the sucker. Youre the loser. Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 28, 2024 Four years later, the story apparently weighs on Trump's mind. 'Think of it, from a practical standpoint,' Trump said before a crowd in Las Vegas earlier this month. 'I'm standing there with generals and military people in a cemetery, and I look at them and say, 'These people are suckers and losers.' Now, think of it; unless you're a psycho or a crazy person or a very stupid person, who would say that, anyway?' In 2015 Trump did make eyebrow-raising remarks about Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. 'He's not a war hero,' Trump insisted. 'He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured.' Residents of a small Australian community have been stunned after a mum shared a 'terrifying' photo of a handprint left on the window of her daughter's bedroom. The mum, from Wentworth Falls in NSW's Blue Mountains, shared a photo of the handprint on Facebook on Thursday. 'Unfortunately, we seem to have a night stalker,' she said. 'Last night he/she decided to leave a hand print on my daughter's bedroom window with a sticky substance to leave a lasting impression. 'Anyone else had anything like this happen?' the mum asked. She revealed that she had reported the incident to police. Many residents described the incident as terrifying and creepy. 'At least you have their fingerprints. This is very weird and dangerous,' one said. The woman shared a photo of a white handprint left on the window of her daughter's bedroom in a local Facebook community group The incident happened in Wentworth Falls, an hour and a half west of Sydney, earlier this week A second said: 'I had this happen to me when I was a teenager. The neighbour called the police. It was terrifying - I'd been getting dressed for bed.' Others advised the mum to install security cameras and lights on her property. 'Get a light sensor next to the window so that it alerts everyone that someone is there. I would be super worried as over time this person could get the courage to do more,' one said. A second added: 'Have a look into the Eufy 180 cameras. They run off your WiFi and are super easy to install. You can set light and alarms based on triggers. 'So if someone moves in range while you have a home setting on at night, it will light up, and a siren will sound. You can also listen and talk to them through a phone app.' Another said: 'Time for some big dogs, even if you don't have a dog, put up a sign. It can be a helpful deterrent when a crook chooses which house to visit.' A NSW police spokesperson confirmed they had been made aware of the incident. An investigation is underway with the handprint to be forensically examined. Joe Biden forgot the deaths of 13 American soldiers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan when he claimed no troops died during his term. The president duked it out with his predecessor Donald Trump in the first of two debates on topics from the economy to immigration and foreign affairs. Biden was asked the first question by CNN moderators about what he would say to voters who feel they were better of under Trump. After some back and forth between the two men, Biden brought up Trump's frequent claims that his presidency was good for the US military. Joe Biden forgot the deaths of 13 American soldiers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan when he claimed no troops died during his term during his debate with Donald Trump ISIS-K carried out a double bombing at Kabul airport as Westerners and thousands of Afghani civilians fled the Taliban takeover 'The idea that he did something significant for the military, when he was president they were still killing people in Afghanistan - he didn't do anything about that,' he said. 'When he was president we still found ourselves in a position where you had a notion that we were this safe country. 'The truth is, I'm the only president this century, that doesn't have any - this decade - that doesn't have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did.' Biden changed his answer to say decade instead of century as the American invasion of Afghanistan didn't begin until 2001 - though that was the first year of this century. But either way, Biden was wrong in his claim that no American troops died during his presidency as 13 were killed during the evacuation of Afghanistan. ISIS-K carried out a double bombing at Kabul airport as Westerners and thousands of Afghani civilians fled the Taliban takeover. The 13 troops included 11 Marines and one navy medic who died alongside 90 Afghans in the bombing on August 26, 2021. The 13 troops included 11 Marines and one navy medic who died alongside 90 Afghans in the bombing on August 26, 2021 Smoke rises over Kabul from the explosion that killed 13 American troops and 90 Afghans The first bomber at the Abbey Gate of the airport was wearing a vest and was being searched by troops when he detonated. The second was a car bomb attack at the Baron Hotel. Biden himself addressed the nation after the bombing and vowed to hunt down those responsible. 'These American service members who gave their lives - its an overused word, but its totally appropriate - they were heroes,' he said at the time. 'Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others. Medical staff bring an injured man to a hospital in an ambulance after two powerful explosions, which killed at least six people, outside the airport in Kabul on August 26, 2021 'They were part of an airlift, an evacuation effort unlike any seen in history... They were part of the bravest, most capable, and the most selfless military on the face of the Earth. 'And they were part of, simply, what I call the 'backbone of America.' Theyre the spine of America, the best the country has to offer.' 'To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. 'We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command.' From the moment that the historic debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump began, viewers instantly reacted to the sound of Biden's scratchy voice and him repeatedly clearing his throat. Biden's demeanor sparked alarm even after the president spent a week at Camp David to rest up and prepare for the debate. 'I have a bad feeling about how the debate is beginning,' wrote Nicholas Kristof on social media. 'Trump is speaking nonsense on many topics, but he's projecting energy; Biden is more substantive but in voice and manner is playing into the Trump narrative that he's old for this job.' Pollsters also recognized voter's response to Biden's voice on stage. 'My focus group of undecided voters is surprised and concerned about Bidens voice,' wrote pollster Frank Luntz. 'This doesnt bode well for questions about his health.' US President Joe Biden looks down as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at CNN's studios in Atlanta, Georgia CNN journalist Kasie Hunt said that Democrats she was talking to were deeply distressed by Biden's performance. 'The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats I'm talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate,' she wrote. Fox News White House reporter Jacqui Heinrich noted the president's voice was sounding 'thinner than usual' and that his performance was 'harmed overall.' It seems to me that President Biden is fumbling most when hes reaching for talking points advisers have drilled into him. When he gets mad and speaks off the cuff, its cleaner. Former CNN journalist Chris Cillizza also fired off a warning. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden participate in the first presidential debate of 2024 President Joe Biden looks at his notes during the first 2024 presidential debate 'Biden looks old. Halting. He just lost his train of thought. His voice is weak. Bad bad bad,' he wrote. Journalist Yashar Ali said he was not hearing optimistic appraisals of Biden's performance from Democrats that typically reflexively defend him. 'I am in multiple large group texts with Democratic operatives, elected officials, staffers, and donors,' he wrote. 'Not one of them feels good about Bidens performance tonight in terms of style, his voice etc.' By the first commercial break of the debate, the Biden team appeared to already be playing damage control, as NBC reporter cited details of the president's condition. 'Two sources familiar with the situation say "President Biden has a cold,' wrote White House correspondent Kelly O'Donnell on social media. Republicans and Trump staffers immediately recognized Biden's weakness in the debate. 'What's wrong with Joe Biden's voice?' Trump national press secretary Caroline Leavitt wrote. 'Hasn't he been hiding in the woods for a week?????' Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts have scored health benefits and an increased hourly pay rate after the ride hailing apps settled a lawsuit accusing them of improperly treatment. Drivers will now receive $32.50 an hour, expanded accident insurance and health insurance plans for those working more than 15 hours a week. The companies also agreed to pay $175 million to settle the case, brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell. 'For years, these companies have underpaid their drivers and denied them basic benefits,' Campbell said in a written statement. 'Today's agreement holds Uber and Lyft accountable, and provides their drivers, for the very first time in Massachusetts, guaranteed minimum pay, paid sick leave, occupational accident insurance, and health care stipends.' Uber and Lyft have settled a lawsuit in Massachusetts accusing them of improperly treating drivers by guaranteeing better pay and a host of benefits The settlement resolves her office's years long litigation against the two companies and stops the threat of their attempt to rewrite state employment law by a proposed 2024 ballot initiative. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said the settlement delivers 'historic wages and benefits to right the wrongs of the past and ensure drivers are paid fairly going forward.' In a statement Lyft said the agreement resolves a lawsuit that recently went to trial, and avoids the need for the ballot initiative campaign this November. 'More importantly, it is a major victory in a multiyear campaign by Bay State drivers to secure their right to remain independent, while gaining access to new benefits,' the company said. Uber also released a statement calling the agreement 'an example of what independent, flexible work with dignity should look like in the 21st century.' 'In taking this opportunity, we've resolved historical liabilities by constructing a new operating model that balances both flexibility and benefits,' the company said. 'This allows both Uber and Massachusetts to move forward in a way that reflects what drivers want and demonstrates to other states what's possible to achieve.' The companies were pushing for a ballot question that would classify drivers as independent contractors eligible for some benefits. The companies also agreed to pay $175 million to settle the case, brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell Drivers will now earn one hour of sick day pay for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year A competing ballot question seeks to give drivers the right to unionize in Massachusetts. Drivers will now earn one hour of sick day pay for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. As part of the agreement, Uber and Lyft must update their driver applications so drivers are able to view and claim their sick leave directly in the app. Drivers will also receive a stipend to buy into the state's paid family and medical leave program. Under the deal, Uber and Lyft will also allow drivers to pool together their hours driving for the two companies to obtain access to a health insurance stipend. Anyone who drives for more than 15 hours per week for either or both companies will be able to earn a health insurance stipend to pay for a plan on the Massachusetts Health Connector. Drivers will be eligible for occupational accident insurance paid by the companies for up to $1 million in coverage for work-related injuries. Drivers will now receive $32.50 an hour, expanded accident insurance and health insurance plans for those working more than 15 hours a week The agreement also requires the companies to provide drivers with key information about the length of a trip, the destination and expected earnings before they are expected to accept a ride. The companies are barred from discriminating against drivers based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other protected identities. They also can't retaliate against drivers who have filed a complaint about the companies with the Attorney General's Office. The deal also requires the companies to provide drivers in-app chat support with a live person in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French and must provide drivers with information about why they have been deactivated and create an appeals process. A mother-of-two who was allegedly murdered by her new flatmate had only just moved into the sharehouse because her former home had burnt down five weeks earlier. Benjamin Art, 42, allegedly murdered Annette Kiss, 53, at the home they briefly shared in Russell Lea, in Sydney's west, on Thursday morning using a sword, a meat cleaver, and a claw foot hammer. Police allege he ran into the house brandishing weapons, yelled at his four housemates to sit down, and started showing Ms Kiss texts from an unknown sender on his phone. 'You're trying to set me up, who you got to try and kill me? Who's the chick texting me?' he allegedly yelled. 'You're trying to set me up or get me killed, now you're trying to kill me.' Art allegedly held Ms Kiss by the neck before he grabbed the cleaver, while another female housemate used a chair to try to stop the alleged attack before she fled and called police. Detectives later said it was one of the worst crime scenes they have ever encountered. On Friday, a neighbour told Daily Mail Australia the surviving housemates are 'too traumatised' to return to the home and collect their things. Annette Kiss, 55, was allegedly murdered by her new housemate on Thursday morning Benjamin Art (pictured) has been charged over the alleged violent murder of his housemate She also said Ms Kiss was a mobile dog groomer with two children who had only moved into the property five weeks earlier because her former home went up in flames when a lithium battery from an e-bike exploded. According to the local resident, Art lived in a shed at the front of the property, away from the main house, and Ms Kiss would often stand out the front and burn items in a fire drum after 8pm. 'Our house would fill up with smoke, I asked her to stop with the burning and offered her our bins and she got a bit sh***y in an "I can do what I want", type attitude,' she said. 'She was with some unsavoury characters so I backed off a bit and she continued to burn stuff - and I'm talking huge flames each night over the last three weeks.' The neighbour said she didn't know what Ms Kiss was burning. Art was an out-of-work bricklayer who had only lived at the property for two weeks prior to the alleged murder. NSW Police released a photo of Annette Kiss on Friday afternoon (pictured) Pictured: Police at the crime scene on Friday, after Benjamin Art allegedly murdered Annette Kiss When police arrived at the house, they allegedly found him lying on Ms Kiss' body with a sword. Another neighbour who saw the arrest said Art was 'filthy, wearing trackie-dacks'. 'His feet were black dirty, he was flailing around like a seal on a rock - swearing like a sailor,' he said. He was represented by solicitor Javid Faiz in Parramatta Bail Court on Friday. He did not apply for bail but it was formally refused. 'My client understands the seriousness of the matter,' Mr Faiz said outside court, according to the Daily Telegraph. 'He's instructed me not to make a release application today.' His matter will return to Burwood Local Court on August 22. Superintendent Christine McDonald said on Thursday that Art did not have a violent history, and said he was not in a romantic relationship with Ms Kiss. CNN arch-liberal Van Jones couldn't hide his disappointment with Joe Biden for his weak, lethargic, 'painful' performance at his debate with Donald Trump. Jones, formerly a Special Advisor to Barack Obama, has consistently had worries about the president. In January, Jones said Biden should stay out of the limelight if he hopes to win the upcoming election because he 'doesn't inspire confidence'. Even last year, the left-wing commentator said re-electing Biden would be like giving 'grandpa a high-stress job for six more years.' However, he appeared to have completely lost patience with the president after a performance that has his fellow Democrats in a full-blown panic. CNN arch-liberal Van Jones couldn't hide his disappointment with Joe Biden for his weak, lethargic, 'painful' performance at his debate with Donald Trump Jones said that the moment Biden lost debate came in 'the first three minutes' as Biden appeared weak and raspy on camera. 'That was painful. I love Joe Biden, I worked with Joe Biden, he didn't do well at all, he did not do well at all,' he said, adding that Biden lost the debate in the first three minutes. Biden froze in the first 12 minutes of the debate, leaving Democrats into a panic about the state of their candidate. It was a terrible start for the 81-year-old president, who needs to convince voters he is physically and mentally fit for a second term. Jones called the debate 'the old man vs. the con man' and tried to, as he put it, speak to his heart about a 'good man, who loves his country, he's doing the best he can.' 'He had a test tonight to restore the confidence of the country, of the base and he failed.' Jones said that there's now a belief among Democrats that they 'want to see him consider taking a different course now' and claimed the party had to 'figure out a different way forward' in time for the convention in August. 'There is time for this party to figure out a different way forward, if he will allow us to do that, but that was not what we needed from Joe Biden and is personally painful for a lot of people,' he continued. 'It's not just panic, its pain of what we saw tonight.' Jones, formerly a Special Advisor to Barack Obama , has consistently had worries about the president Jones called the debate 'the old man vs. the con man' in Trump (pictured) and tried to, as he put it, speak to his heart about a 'good man, who loves his country, he's doing the best he can' Jones has worked with Obama but did meet with Trump during his presidency to discuss criminal justice initiatives. It was a terrible start for the President, who needs to overcome voters' concerns that he is too old for a second term. The debate was car crash for Joe Biden. The 81-year-old sounded hoarse and repeatedly clearing his throat as he jumbled his words, stammered and repeatedly excused himself as he struggled to make himself understood at multiple points. He is reported to also have a cold. In response to a Medicare question, Biden produced a faltering, bumbling moment that's likely to be repeated throughout the campaign: 'We've been making sure we are able to make every single person eligible what I've been able to do with the Covid, excuse me, everything we have to do with...look... I finally beat Medicare...' he trailed off. Moderator Jake Tapper stepped in, telling him 'thank you' and turning to Donald Trump to let him speak. Trump hit back immediately: 'That's right, he did beat Medicare, he beat it to death. And he's destroying Medicare.' Another serious fumble came when he talking about the number of billionaires in America and the situation on the border. Trump repeatedly managed to hit back hard at the 81-year-old on the repeated fumbles. The 81-year-old sounded hoarse and repeatedly clearing his throat as he jumbled his words, stammered and repeatedly excused himself as he struggled to make himself understood at multiple points. He is reported to also have a cold 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either,' the former president said at one point. Biden struggled to make up ground from his shocking start. He tried to hit Trump on the report the former president called dead American soldiers 'suckers and losers' and on his felony conviction in New York. But Biden has been using those attack lines for months, and Trump again was ready for them, barely blinking as he hoped straight into Hunter Biden's felony conviction and repeated that he was only the victim of a highly politicized persecution. The Democratic party has been thrown into a full-blown panic about the 2024 general election by a disastrous debate performance from a meandering and mumbling Joe Biden. Behind the scenes there are calls to replace the 81-year-old president on the ticket after his dismal showing against Donald Trump on Thursday night where he lost his train of thought and stumbled over his words multiple times. Immediately after taking the stage, Biden's voice was hoarse and he repeatedly cleared his throat, and he continued to go down hill during the 90-minute primetime face-off on CNN. At times, the president looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking. Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama David Axelrod conceded that Biden's first performance was damaging right from the beginning of a debate that has sent shockwaves through the liberals. 'I think there was a sense of shock actually how he came out at the beginning of the debate, how his voice sounded, he seemed a little disoriented,' he said on CNN, noting there would be 'discussions' in the party after the debate about whether Biden should continue his run for reelection. President Joe Biden participates in the CNN presidential debate Axelrod said that Biden's performance confirmed people's fears about his age and ability to serve another four years. Biden also struggled at times to finish his sentences or complete a talking point before trying to move on. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash repeatedly reminded him to use the rest of his time, when he cut his answers and responses to Trump short. Kate Bedingfeld, a former White House communications director for Joe Biden also panned the performance from her former boss. 'It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden,' she said. 'I don't think there is any other way to slice it.' Activist and CNN commentator Van Jones said that even though he 'loved' Joe Biden, he described the debate as 'painful.' 'There are people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now,' Van Jones said. 'We're still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that but that was not what we needed from Joe Biden.' Other Democratic strategists not connected with the Biden campaign agreed. President Joe Biden, second right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash, from left, and Jake Tapper US President Joe Biden and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections 'I dont know if high-level conversations are happening right now about Bidens concerning performance, but it would be political malpractice to pretend tonight advanced the Biden campaign,' wrote MSNBC contributor and Democratic strategist Max Burns on social media. Other Democrats reacted anonymously to reporters to signal their shock about Biden's performance. Prominent Democrat texts: 'Gavin please...' wrote New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel. CNN host Kasie Hunt wrote on social media that Democrats were 'nearly beside themselves watching this debate' after coming to terms with Biden's demeanor. She detailed texts from prominent Democrats on CNN. 'If I was Gavin (Newsom) or Gretchen (Whitmer), Id be making calls tonight,' one Democrat told her. Another wrote simply 'we are f***d.' Other Democrats voiced their panic on social media, urging the party to be honest about their chances. 'Texts from family and friends, all Democrats who despise Trump, are extremely concerning. You cannot just spin this and ignore the fact that this is not going well for our side,' wrote former New York City council member Jimmy Van Bramer on social media. MSNBC's Nicole Wallace said the conversation about replacing Biden was 'live and active at the highest levels of the Democratic party.' MSNBC's Joy Reid agreed, noting her phone was buzzing throughout the debate from texts from Democrats. 'The universal reaction was somewhere approaching panic,' she said, adding they were 'very concerned' about Biden appearing feeble and weak. Biden spokesman Andrew Bates reacted on social media by dismissing hand-wringing Democrats. 'We have plenty of experience offering backbone transplants,' he wrote, praising Biden for making a 'strong argument for his vision' during the debate. Jill Biden led Joe Biden off stage after his debate debacle on Thursday night while Melania Trump broke decades of tradition by not showing up. Donald Trump was left to exit solo after resoundingly defeating Joe Biden in the debate. The president, who sounded hoarse and fumbled repeatedly as he searched for words, took comfort from his wife in the aftermath. Jill Biden walked out on stage to hug and kiss her husband after the event ended. But in another awkward moment for the President, he was seen struggling to climb down the stairs to speak to moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. It was an unfortunate final image to cap off a night that sparked Democratic meltdown that the president will need to be replaced on the ballot. Senior Democratic leaders are reported to be having conversations about replacing him. The general sense is one of panic. Biden froze in the first 12 minutes of the debate, leaving Democrats into a panic about the state of their candidate. While Jill Biden was at her husband's side, Melania Trump was nowhere to be seen. Jill Biden helped Joe Biden leave the debate stage The Trump campaign remained silent when asked if the former first lady would attend the first presidential showdown. Officials said it would be revealed at the debate. As many predicted, she never appeared. The former president arrived in Atlanta solo on Trump Force One - and left the same way. It was a remarkable break in tradition. Melania Trump did attend all debates in the 2016 and 2020 election cycles. 'Families started attending the debates regularly in 1976 and it would be pretty shocking for the wife of a candidate to break that tradition,' presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky said. Her absence follows a reports she may not live in Washington D.C. fulltime if her husband wins a second term in the White House. Those close to the former first lady believe she will likely split her time between Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City especially with Barron, 18, tipped to attend New York University Melania would instead only travel to Washington, D.C. for ceremonial responsibilities like state dinners and other special events. Her office did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com about the report. Melania Trump, seen voting with Donald Trump in March, did not attend the debate Donald Trump walks of Trump Force One solo when he arrived in Atlanta 'They have drawn a curtain of privacy' around her, said MaryAnne Borrell, a bipartisan professor of Government at Connecticut College. Public sightings of Melania are rare, particularly when it comes to Donald Trump's attempt to win a second term in the White House. Six months into 2024 she has yet to appear at a campaign rally for her husband. She did not appear at a June 14th birthday party for Donald Trump organized by his fan club. Melania Trump has rarely showed public support for her husband as he seeks a second term in the White House. She joined Trump when he announced his 2024 presidential bid in November of last year. But, otherwise, she only appeared at one fundraiser for his campaign and went to vote with her husband in Florida's primary. 'Stay tuned,' she told reporters when asked if she'd campaign for Trump. But it's unclear what she meant by that. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former friend of Melania Trump turned critic, said the former first lady has 'not been by her husband's side whatsoever' as he seeks a return to the White House. 'I would say, several years ago, she would have been there more,' Winston Wolkoff said on the MeidasTouch Podcast. Melania Trump will make a rare political appearance on July 8th when she holds a fundraiser for Log Cabin Republicans, the largest conservative LGBTQ+ organization. The event will be at Trump Tower in New York and is the second fundraiser she's hosted for the group. The first was at Mar-a-Lago in April. The July event will charge attendees $100,000 per-head. She was last seen in public in New York City last week, leaving Trump Tower, beating the heat in a summer skirt and white shirt. The couple was last seen in public together in May at Barron's high school graduation. Democrats were left in a full-blown panic after Joe Biden's poor debate performance against Donald Trump, leading to talk about replacing the president on the ballot. Biden, 81, fumbled and stumbled in the first presidential debate, sounding hoarse and searching for words as Trump swatted at his arguments. Senior Democratic leaders are reported to be having conversations about whether or not Biden should continue his run for president. Others suggested he be replaced. And it wouldn't necessarily be Vice President Kamala Harris who gets the nomination. It also wouldn't be easy to replace Biden. He has the delegates to win the nomination and the only person who can decide to leave the race is Joe Biden. There is already chatter it would take combined talking to from top Democrats Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama to get Biden to consider it. Democrats are in a panic about Joe Biden's debate performance It doesn't sound like Biden is entertaining that option. He defended his debate performance as 'well' and dismissed calls for his departure from the race. Biden, along with wife Jill, stopped at a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up some food for the plane ride to Raleigh, N.C., where they have a campaign event on Friday. 'I think we did well,' Biden told the press traveling with him. When asked about the calls to drop out and whether he has any concerns about his performance, Biden said: ;No. Its hard to debate a liar. The New York Times pointed out he lied 26 times.' But is it possible to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. Yes but it's complicated by the fact Biden already has enough delegates to have won the nomination. He has 3,894 pledged delegates and it only takes 1,976 to be the nominee. Under party rules, delegates allocated to a candidate based on their primary wins are bound to their candidate on the first ballot at the convention. And that first ballot usually ends up in a nominee. So legally Biden's delegates have to vote for him. However, if Biden were to drop out that would mean the nomination would be decided on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in August. His delegates would become 'uncommitted' and able to vote for any candidate they liked. Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically be the nominee nor would she have ownership of Biden's delegates because she was not on any primary ballots. Biden was. But she would be the likely favorite given her status as his running mate. Democrats, however, could choose any contender including any governor such as Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Or one of the people that ran in 2020: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically get the nomination if Biden drops out Democrats could pick another option, including Gov. Gavin Newsom of California (left) or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan (right) The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago from Aug. 19 to 22. Each state sends a certain number of delegates to the national convention. If Biden stepped down, the party would have to hold a series of votes among the delegates until one person got the 1,976 to be the nominee. This would likely result in a massive floor fight for votes that would take place over multiple days and dominate news coverage. The last floor flight was in 1968 and was such a disaster many new rules were added to the party's platform to keep such chaos from happening again. That year, Democrats were worried their very unpopular president - Lydon B. Johnson - could not win another term. Johnson, under party pressure, chose not to run. But the frontrunner for the nomination - Bobby Kennedy - was killed by an assassin in June of that year. Johnson's vice president Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy had also been running. Neither had enough delegates to win the nomination on the first ballot at the convention, which was in Chicago (the same as this year's Democratic convention). The floor fight began with Humphrey ultimately winning the nomination. It was a huge controversy with riots breaking out all over the city. Humphrey ultimately lost the general election to Richard Nixon. The last brokered Democratic convention was in Chicago in 1968 and resulted in riots Things would be easier if Biden were to drop out of the race after the convention. If that happened, the party's main committee would pick the nominee, avoiding a convention floor fight. Under party rules, the Democratic National Committee has the authority to choose a new candidate if either member of the ticket the presidential or vice-presidential nominee withdraws or dies. Party Chairman Jaime Harrison would consult with Democratic leaders in Congress and in the Democratic Governors Association and report his findings to the committee, which would have the final say. Harris would not automatically be elevated to the top of the ticket. The parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook massacre suffered a major blow in their attempt to collect on some of the $50million they won in a lawsuit against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones over his false claims that the shooting was a hoax. Attorneys for Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis died in the 2012 Connecticut shooting, obtained an order from a state judge in Texas earlier this month allowing them to begin collecting some of the assets from Jones' company, Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems. That order came just hours after federal Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez dismissed the company's bankruptcy claim. But Lopez said in court on Thursday that the state judge's ruling conflicts with federal bankruptcy law - as eight other families of Sandy Hook victims await the money from their $1.4billion verdict while Jones appeals the case. 'I dont think the state court was actually informed of all these issues,' the judge said. Alex Jones will not have to fork over some of the money he owes to the families of the Sandy Hook victims yet, a bankruptcy judge ruled on Thursday He ruled on Thursday that a newly appointed federal trustee assigned to oversee the liquidation of Jones' personal assets now has control over Jones' ownership of Free Speech Systems. Lopez then said the trustee, Christopher Murray, has the sole authority to sell off the company's assets and distribute the proceeds equally among all of Jones' creditors. 'There will be no attempt, and you are under no obligation to turn over the bank account or access to the bank account,' Lopez told Murray, the News-Times reports. Mark Bankston, a lawyer representing Lewis and Heslin, slammed the decision in a statement on Thursday. 'Our clients are frustrated that they will not be allowed to pursue their state court rights after all,' he said. 'Apparently this case will remain in limbo much to Mr. Jones delight while the other group of plaintiffs insist they are entitled to nearly all the recovery.' Scarlett Lewis, the mother of six-year-old shooting victim Jesse Lewis, (pictured) and Neil Heslin, the boy's father, tried to collect on some of the $50million they won in a lawsuit against the conspiracy theorist A Texas court granted them access to some of the assets from Jones' company, Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems - but a federal bankruptcy judge overturned that on Thursday Lewis and Heslin, who now live in Texas, have been at odds with the relatives of the other young victims in Connecticut over how Jones' bankruptcies should end and how his assets should be sold off. They had tried to seize his business accounts almost immediately after Lopez denied the bankruptcy claim and converted Jones' personal bankruptcy reorganization case into a liquidation - meaning that many of his assets will be sold off to pay creditors. Lawyers for Lewis and Heslin said the dismissal of Free Speech Systems case meant they could go back to the Texas state court in Austin and ask a judge to order the company to begin turning over money and other assets to Lewis and Heslin. But Trustee Murray filed an emergency motion asking the judge to halt their collection of the funds in state court - arguing that it would interfere with the shut down and liquidation of Jones' company. He wrote that it 'threatens to throw the business into chaos, potentially stopping it in its tracks,' and asked Lopez to pause Texas' action while he works on 'an orderly wind down' of Free Speech Systems' operations, the New York Times reports. Lewis and Heslin have been at odds with eight other families of Sandy Hook victims on how Jones' assets should be distributed They argue that the Connecticut families - which won a $1.4billion settlement - do not want to distribute the funds evenly The families of the eight victims who sued Jones in Connecticut had also filed an emergency motion asking Lopez to block Texas' ruling. They argued it would lead to a 'race' between Sandy Hook families to the state courts in Texas and Connecticut to see who could get Jones assets first, as attorneys on both sides claim the other are trying to get a disproportionate share of Jones' assets. The Connecticut attorneys say the size of their client's jury award entitles them to a greater share of Jones' assets - and wrote in the emergency filing they 'hold more than 95 percent of liquidated claims.' But those families are barred from seeking any assets through the state courts while Jones appeals the judgments in the state courts, arguing he had a First Amendment right to make his claims. Attorneys for the Texas family, however, have argued that the assets Jones had should be distributed equally among all the families. Last week, Mark Bankston, a lawyer representing Lewis and Heslin, even claimed that Connecticut lawyers rebuffed his team's offer to share any money recovered through the state courts equally. 'The attorneys for the Connecticut plaintiffs have consistently refused an equitable distribution,' he claimed, according to the Times. 'They insist, despite the exceedingly small pool of recovery they caused to happen, that they are entitled to nearly all amounts collected from Jones.' Jones currently only has about $9million in personal assets, according to the most recent financial filings He announced on Thursday that even though Infowars is bankrupt, he will start a new media empire from scratch But in a statement following Lopez's ruling on Thursday, Chris Mattei, an attorney for the Connecticut families, said they 'have always sought a fair and equitable distribution of Free Speech System's assets for all of the families, and today's decision sets us back on that path. 'We are pleased that the bankruptcy court instructed the Chapter 7 trustee not to turn over FSS property or bank accounts to any party at this time.' Bankston, meanwhile, said his clients 'are frustrated that they will not be allowed to pursue their state court rights after all. 'Apparently this case will remain in limbo, all while one group of plaintiffs refuses to have all the plaintiffs treated equally.' The 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut took the lives of 20 first graders and six educators Families of the victims have said they were harassed by some of Jones' followers in the aftermath Fueling the race for the funds is the discovery through bankruptcy filings that Jones' fortune is worth less than what the families had believed. Jones currently only has about $9million in personal assets, according to the most recent financial filings, while Free Speech Systems has about $6million in cash on hand and about $1.2million worth of inventory, according to court testimony. If the money were divided equally among the families, each would receive less than $500,000 each. That figure could shrink even more because Jones would still have to pay his legal bills and taxes. The families are therefore now hoping there is more money from Free Speech Systems. In the meantime, Trustee Murray plans to shut down Infowars - Jones'multimillion dollar conspiracy theory website, and use the assets to help pay the families he disparaged by claiming the shooting that took the lives of 20 first graders and six educators was 'completely fake with actors.' The relatives have said they were traumatized by Jones hoax conspiracies and his followers actions, claiming they were harassed and threatened by Jones' listeners. Some of the families said the conspiracy theorists even confronted them in person saying that the shooting never happened and their children never existed. One parent also said someone threatened to dig up his dead sons grave. Jones now says he believes the shooting happened, but insists he had a free speech right to make the claims. He also said on his show Thursday that although Infowars may no longer exist in two to three months, he will restart his broadcast on another platform he will build. Some 68 percent said Donald Trump came out on top of the clash An exclusive poll for DailyMail.com found that a clear majority of independent voters believe President Joe Biden should no longer be the Democratic nominee after a car-crash debate with Donald Trump. Some 62 percent said he should be dumped from the ticket. Biden looked all of his 81 years on Thursday night as he repeatedly lost his train of thought and meandered into silence. Trump, 78, was able to land his punches while his Democratic opponent struggled to push back on some of his more outlandish claims. J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash, and found that 68 percent said the former president won out over his White House successor. J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash Some 30 percent of people who voted Biden in 2020 concluded that Trump won the debate. The poor performance left senior Democratic figures wondering whether they could replace Biden on the ticket. And the poll found that even among Biden 2020 voters some 41 percent said it was time to find a new nominee. James Johnson, Co-Founder of J.L. Partners, said it was a disastrous performance for Biden with independents. 'Voters are not surprised by Biden's performance: We know from other DailyMail.com polling that people expected him to perform poorly and think he is old and incompetent,' he said. 'But this was his chance to right that perception and instead he confirmed itand then some.' Trump, he said, looked like a safe pair of hands in contrast to Biden. 'Where this goes now is anyone's guess, but looking at these numbers it looks like Joe Biden cannot beat Donald Trump among independents,' he said. 'And if you cant win the voters in the middle, you can't win the White House.' President Joe Biden had a torrid time on stage, prompting panic among Democrats who are wondering whether he should still be the party nominee in November The online poll also offered a first snapshot of how the debate will factor into voting intentions. Some 40 percent said they planned to vote for Trump and 28 percent for Biden before the debate. Those numbers shifted to 44 percent opting for Trump and 24 percent for Biden after the debate, an eight-point swing. Democrats reacted with horror at Biden's stumbling performance, triggering immediate speculation that they could kickstart a move to select a different candidate. Biden spoke with a hoarse voice and at times was hard to hear. He tailed off midway through an early answer, apparently losing his train of thought after muddling his words, and coming to an awkward halt. At other times he delivered non-sequiturs, garbling answers on issues that should have been wins, such as abortion rights. It left Trump free to take aim at an open goal. 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence,' he said after Biden delivered a word salad about the border. 'I don't think he knows what he said either.' Andrew Yang ran against Biden for the 2020 Democratic nomination. On Thursday, he was among Democrats saying the president should step aside from the party ticket The candidates are the oldest in history. Trump is only three years younger than Biden Donald Trump came off as more vigorous than Biden, even though only three years younger Biden greets the two moderators Dana Bash, on the left, and Jake Tapper after the debate It shifted the focus away from convicted felon Trump, who had to be asked three times whether he would accept the results of the 2024 election, to Biden. A string of high profile liberals said it was time for him to step aside. 'Guys, the Dems should nominate someone else before it's too late,' Andrew Yang, who ran against Biden for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Commentator Mehdi Hasan said he had been a staunch defender of Biden. 'But no longer,' he said on X. 'Not after tonights car crash of a "debate." It's time for Biden to step aside. The Democrats need to find a new nominee.' Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden. She admitted he got off to a 'slow start' but said voters should judge him on his years in office. 'I'm not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when I've been watching the last three-and-a-half years of performance,' she told CNN. Jon Stewart appeared horrified after watching Joe Biden debate Donald Trump Thursday, arguing both candidates should be on performance-enhancing drugs. Stewart, often held up as one of liberal America's most trusted satirists, hosted a live episode of The Daily Show following the first debate. He had criticism for both Trump - saying 'everything he just said was a lie' - and CNN - calling their debate rules 'dumb***' - and the entire hype machine ahead of the contest. However, Stewart could not defend Biden's glitching, painful performance, where the 46th president often appeared weak and raspy. In fact, Biden's showing had Stewart commenting that he had 'resting 25th amendment face,' referring to the part of the Constitution which deals with presidential succession and disabilities. Jon Stewart appeared horrified after watching Joe Biden debate Donald Trump Thursday, arguing both candidates should be on performance-enhancing drugs The comic began by mocking the setup for the debate and CNN's ceaseless promotion of the entire show. He then bemoaned the standards for the debate, which he whittled down to Trump having to 'appear normal' and Biden having to 'remain upright' and not have a 'senior moment'. Upon seeing clips of both men enter the stage, Stewart immediately appeared dismayed and cracked that he needed 'to call a real estate agent in New Zealand.' Stewart then showed clips of Biden's early debate struggles, in which Biden seemed to confuse saving Medicare with beating it. 'I'm sure it's not something that was repeated throughout the debate that caused Democrats to jump out windows or vomit silently,' he joked. He hammered Biden again, snarking that: 'Anyone can f*** up... talking.' The show then played a series of clips of Biden's faces when reacting to Trump which only set off Stewart further. 'Not great! But uh... a lot of people having resting 25th amendment face,' he joked. Biden's showing had Stewart commenting that he had 'resting 25th amendment face,' referring to the part of the Constitution which deals with presidential succession and disabilities Stewart had criticism for both Trump - saying 'everything he just said was a lie' 'I'm not a political expert but while Biden was preparing at Camp David for a week, did anyone mention that Biden will also be on camera?' He then slammed Biden for failing to properly attack Trump on abortion, where the president gave a muddled answer that set up Trump to attack him on immigration, which made it appear like Trump was set to take back the White House. 'So how do we do this now? Do I take my car back to the White House tonight?' Stewart then played several clips of Trump during the debate, when he turned his ire to the Republican nominee. 'He does not appear to have passed the a*****e test,' he said, adding that 'everything that Donald Trump said in that clip is a lie.' The comedian, 61, then turned to CNN's unusual rules for the debate, which included no audience, severe time limits and refusing to stick with interesting issues, in his opinion. 'Who came up with these dumb*** f***ing rules and why would any of these people agree to them?' Stewart then turned back to Biden, whom he said proved the MAGA conspiracy about being on drugs to energize him 'was nonsense' by appearing so sleepy on stage. Stewart said Biden proved the MAGA conspiracy about being on drugs to energize him 'was nonsense' by appearing so sleepy on stage President Joe Biden, second right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash, from left, and Jake Tapper. Stewart trashed the CNN rules for the debate He summed it up by comparing how both Biden and Trump came off and said both should be on something. 'Let me just say, after watching tonight's debate, both of these men should be using performance-enhancing drugs. I'm sorry, both. As much of it as they can get, as many times a day as their bodies will allow,' he said, to a long applause break. 'If performance-enhancing drugs will improve their lucidity, their ability to solve problems, and in one of the candidates' cases, improve their truthfulness, morality, and malignant narcissism, then suppository away,' he added. He said if they couldn't come up with performance-enhancing drugs for the candidates, 'I could sure f***ing use some recreational ones right now.' 'This cannot be real life. It just can't,' he concluded. Stewart has suggested neither man should be running for president since returning to a once-a-week hosting role at The Daily Show in January. The Democratic party has been thrown into a full-blown panic about the 2024 general election by a disastrous debate performance from a meandering and mumbling Biden. Behind the scenes there are calls to replace the 81-year-old president on the ticket after his dismal showing against Trump on Thursday night where he lost his train of thought and stumbled over his words multiple times. President Joe Biden participates in the CNN presidential debate US President Joe Biden and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections Immediately after taking the stage, Biden's voice was hoarse and he repeatedly cleared his throat, and he continued to go down hill during the 90-minute primetime face-off on CNN. At times, the president looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking. Biden also struggled at times to finish his sentences or complete a talking point before trying to move on. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash repeatedly reminded him to use the rest of his time, when he cut his answers and responses to Trump short. A furious family have lashed out after serious charges were dropped against a teen accused of being involved in the abduction and assault of their schoolboy son. Benjamin Phikhohpoom suffered life-changing injuries when he was allegedly pulled into a stolen car by a group of three teenagers about 3:30pm outside Glen Eira College, in Melbourne's southeast, last September. The group - two boys and a girl - were allegedly armed with machetes and demanded he hand over his phone and belongings. He was then allegedly run over by the car and dragged for 150m before he was allegedly stabbed and then run over again when he was thrown from the vehicle. Bystanders found Benjamin vomiting blood and he was rushed to hospital where he spent six days in a coma with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. The details were recounted in children's court on Thursday as a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a number of charges including armed robbery, theft and possessing a controlled weapon. However, a plea deal struck with prosecutors saw charges of intentionally causing serious injury and reckless conduct dropped. Benjamin's mother, Wannisa Srichan, said that while there had been some justice, the family were 'still very sad about (the) outcome'. A 15-year-old boy accused of being part in the alleged abduction and assault of schoolboy Benjamin Phikhohpoom (pictured) has had serious charged dropped in return for a guilty plea The prosecution dropped charges related to offences against Benjamin, which Ms Srichan said was 'hard' to hear in court. 'What this boy did was very serious and it has affected my son so much,' she told the Herald Sun. 'I listened to the court case today and it was very hard ... My son is still affected by this, he is struggling. 'It's been almost 10 months and we are so angry that our family has had to go through this, Benjamin did not deserve this.' The teenage accused had spent 43 days remanded in custody before being bailed in October. Benjamin spent six days in a coma (pictured) having suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain when he was allegedly dragged 150m from a stolen car driven by the group The court heard the youths had allegedly been on a crime spree in the hour prior to attacking Benjamin. A mother and daughter reclining in a car reported the teens attempted to open the doors of the vehicle before fleeing when they noticed they were inside. The youths pulled up next to a teenager about 35 minutes, asking if they had a phone and slapping them when they said no. Two other teens were had their phones and headphones stolen by the group just after, with one of the group brandishing a machete towards them. They then turned their attention to a high school student who witnessed the robbery and asked 'what phone do you have?' before demanding they handed it over. Benjamin and a friend had just finished school and were walking home when they were set upon. Benjamin's family said it was hard to hear the details of the plea in court as the charges related to alleged offences against the student (pictured) The court heard Benjamin was forced into the passenger seat when the teenage girl allegedly behind the wheel sped off while he was still hanging from the door. He was forced to run so his legs wouldn't scrape against the road but was lost his grasp when the car reached speeds of up to 70km/h. Benjamin was left with permanent brain damage, double vision, amnesia and requires a hearing aid from the injuries he sustained during the alleged attack. The teenage accused's lawyer said he should escape a custodial sentence as he had had made steps to improve his life. She said the boy had been living in residential care at the time but had since been placed back in the care of his father who was present in court to support him. The teenager's lawyer and a youth advocate pushed for him to avoid imprisonment when he is sentenced in children's court next month (pictured, police at the scene in September) A youth justice advocate supported the lawyer's stance and pushed for the teenager to instead be handed a community correction order. The presiding magistrate told the court that he would be taking into account victim impact statements before sentencing the teenager. He said the remaining charges were 'something the community dont want to put up with'. The magistrate added the public would be asking him 'why arent you locking him up' if they were allowed in the hearing. He will return to court to be sentenced next month. Nikki Haley has issued a stern warning to Republicans after President Biden's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. The former Republican nominee hopeful took to X to share her thoughts following the pair's showdown on Thursday night. 'Mark my words Biden will not be the Democrat nominee,' she wrote. Republicans, get your guard up!' Her comments were echoed by Democrat pundits who posited that he could be replaced following his dismal performance. Nikki Haley has revealed her prediction for Joe Biden 's chances at winning the presidency The car crash showing saw a hoarse Biden struggle to clear his voice immediately after taking the stage, and he continued to go down hill during the 90-minute primetime face-off on CNN. He then lost his train of thought and stumbled over his words multiple times. His team blamed his weak voice on a cold. Even Vice President Kamala Harris was forced to admit that the president got off to a 'slow start'. Former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama David Axelrod conceded that Biden's first performance was damaging right from the beginning of a debate that has sent shockwaves through the liberals. 'I think there was a sense of shock actually how he came out at the beginning of the debate, how his voice sounded, he seemed a little disoriented,' he said on CNN, noting there would be 'discussions' in the party after the debate about whether Biden should continue his run for reelection. Kate Bedingfeld, a former White House communications director for Joe Biden also panned the performance from her former boss. 'It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden,' she said. 'I don't think there is any other way to slice it.' Haley took to X to post her two cents following the showdown on Thursday night Biden defended his debate performance, saying he did 'well' and said he was not dropping out of the race. Biden, along with wife Jill, stopped at a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up some food for the plane ride to Raleigh, N.C., where they have a campaign event tomorrow. 'I think we did well,' Biden told the press traveling with him. When asked about the calls to drop out and whether he has any concerns about his performance, Biden said: 'No. Its hard to debate a liar. The New York Times pointed out he lied 26 times.' He did admit to being sick, saying 'I have a sore throat.' Haley was in the running for the Republican nomination until March when she suspended her campaign. There had been some speculation that the former Governor of South Carolina could be selected as Trump's running mate after she bowed out. However, this was quashed by Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. who said his father had already decided on a candidate, who would be in attendance at the debate on Thursday night. Biden's team prefaced his performance by pointing out he had a cold. The president also defended his performance and insisted he would continue in the race Haley has since said she plans to vote for Trump in November , despite the presidential hopeful ridiculing her throughout the race. A few days ago, Trump's potential Vice President pick was narrowed down to three names from a previous seven. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are the three remaining contenders. Haley has since said she plans to vote for Trump in November, despite the presidential hopeful ridiculing her throughout the race She she would back the opponent who called her a 'bird brain' and mocked her dress because President Joe Biden is a 'catastrophe'. Female prison inmates have launched a class action against the state of NSW over sickening abuse by a rogue prison boss at Australia's largest women's jail. Seven female prisoners raped, assaulted and mistreated by Wayne Astill during his reign of terror at Dillwynia Women's Correctional Centre in Sydney's western suburbs are suing in a civil class action. Astill is now in prison himself, serving 23 years behind bars for his sex crimes against vulnerable women, which occurred until his arrest in 2019. Several of the details in a statement of claim are so graphic they cannot be detailed in print. The women victims claim they 'were intentionally assaulted, battered and unlawfully deprived of their liberty by Astill at a time when they were inmates at Dillwynia'. Sex beast Wayne Astill forced a female inmate onto a table and raped her, afterwards threatening her if she disclosed his actions to anyone One female inmate said her abuse at the hands of Wayne Astill began soon after his promotion to a senior position at Dillwyna (above), Australia's largest women's prison Above are female inmates at Silverwater prison, which is not the jail where Wayne Astill raped and assaulted female inmates over several years Astill was appointed Acting Chief Correction Officer at Dillwynia in September 2016. The main complainant claims the abuse began soon after he took control. In late 2016, Astill asked her to perform a sex act on him in exchange for information about the welfare of a loved one or dependent. He told her that he knew police and investigators who could get the details. A few weeks after she refused, he told her the price for the information 'had gone up' and he began assaulting her, and told her he was now demanding an even more intimate sex act. Astill put his hand down the plaintiffs shirt and touched her breasts, and attempted to put his hand down into her pants and then grabbed at her private parts on the outside of her prison greens. Soon after this, Astill called her into his office on the pretext of getting her to make a statement about a physical altercation with another inmate, saying he would protect her. After telling other prison staff he would account for the inmate's absence from the lunchtime muster or head count, he then assaulted her in the office. Astill, a former cop, used the threat of his contacts in the NSW Police to intimidate the women prisoners into believing he could stop their release on parole Astill, now behind bars for his crimes, abused his power to rape vulnerable female inmates and then enforce their silence by threatening consequences The female inmates have mounted a civil class action against the state of NSW for the abuse which the claim says was carried out with the knowledge of other prison staff Astill pushed her onto a table and raped her, afterwards telling her 'to make sure she looked normal and not to tell anyone of that assault'. In early 2017, he attacked her again, after luring her to a room known as the 'High Needs Office', saying she was required for an inter-jail phone call. Afterwards, Astill told the inmate plaintiff to 'look normal, not to tell anyone of the abuse, and that he could make her life hell'. In 2018, Astill again abused her after telling her that it would only take one bad case note for her to not be granted parole, and that no-one would believe her if she reported the assault. Astill had instilled fear in the woman prisoner with the added threat that he was a former police officer with contacts in the NSW Police. The statement of claim in the class action, which goes before Justice Peter Garling for pre-trial directions on July 4, includes assertions that the woman was imprisoned by Astill without lawful authority, and that he had exercise an abuse of power. Damages are sought for the women inmates' 'loss of dignity, disgrace, humiliation, interference with bodily integrity and deprivation of liberty' at the hand of a 'predatory' Astill. Further, the claim says that Astill's actions occurred when officers of the Department of Justice knew that Astill was abusing his position toward female inmates, and committing trespasses ... and unlawful imprisonment of female inmates and failed to take steps to prevent' them. Astill, 67, was jailed in March 2023 after he was found guilty by a jury of 34 charges, which included counts of aggravated sexual and indecent assault. He will serve a minimum of 15 years and four months behind bars, making him first eligible for parole in December 2037, when he will be 80 years old. A special commission of inquiry into Astill's crimes was concluded in February. Duting the inquiry, one former inmate assaulted by Astill testified that she had been 'terrified of repercussions' and threats that prevented her from speaking out against him. She said he once told her: 'You know I am high up, Ill send you to Wello (Wellington jail), and youll be stomped on the head.' Vice President Kamala Harris desperately tried to reassure Democrats on Thursday that President Joe Biden was still the right candidate to lead them into the 2024 election after his dismal debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Harris began an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper by highlighting the contrast between Biden and Trump, calling the president's performance 'extraordinarily strong.' When CNN's Anderson Cooper noted that Biden's performance was disappointing for many Democrats, Harris conceded that Biden had a 'slow start.' 'Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,' she said. 'And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people.' 'The president's performance tonight was clearly disappointing to his supporters,' Cooper said interrupting Harris, pointing to CNN reports of panicking Democrats. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks on the campaign trail 'Listen people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,' Harris said. Cooper noted that Biden's debate performance was starkly different than when Harris debated him in the 2020 presidential primary. 'He was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him, that's certainly true is it not?' Cooper asked, noting it was 'scary' for Democrats who were watching. 'I got the point that you're making about a one and a half hour debate tonight,' she said. 'I'm talking about three and a half years of performance and work that has been historic.' Vice President Kamala Harrison the campaign trail Harris repeatedly ignored questions from Cooper about Biden's physical and mental fitness and instead focused on the administrations record. 'I'm not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes, when I've been watching the last three and a half years of performance,' she said. Cooper again challenged Harris' assessment of Biden's performance during the debate, pointing out that their campaign wanted him to debate. 'You can't honestly say... can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the president's performance tonight?' he asked. It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone,' Harris repeated. 'I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November.' US President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail Harris also appeared on MSNBC to beat back the idea that Biden performed badly during the debate. 'Well it was a slow start, there's no question about that, but I felt it was a strong finish,' she said during an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. Harris also appeared on ABC News to talk about Biden's performance, emphasizing that Biden focused on 'facts' and his record of achievement. 'Listen, he did not get off to a strong start in that debate but he had a strong finish, and you know it was a slow start and a strong finish and the bottom line is this: Let us not decide the outcome of whose going to be president of the United States based on a ninety minute debate, lets measure that decision against the last three and a half years,' she said. Harris said she spent a lot of time with Joe Biden behind the scenes, personally witnessing his success on the national and global stage. 'That's the Joe Biden I see every day. And I would urge folks to look at the record and look at the record of accomplishment,' she said. Harris' seemingly impromptu media tour after the debate sparked speculation that the Biden campaign was deeply concerned about the results of the debate. 'You don't send the Vice President of the United States out if you won the debate, typically,' former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC as the political panel laughed. A woman who filmed herself swimming at a notorious crocodile-infested beach has been slammed by Aussies for the reckless act of stupidity. Tarlia Merau uploaded a clip to TikTok last week that showed her entering the water at Palm Cove Beach, near Cairns, in far north Queensland. Ms Merau said she ignored the crocodile warning signs because she 'couldn't resist' going in for a dip at the beach. 'An old couple walked passed me and said "you're brave",' she said. But Ms Merau admitted in the video that while she didn't have a problem swimming in oceans where there are sharks, she didn't want to swim with crocodiles. Social media users slammed the foolhardy swim in comments on the video. 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,' one wrote. 'So many other beaches to swim at and you choose to swim at one in Cairns, which is average, not to mention the croc risk,' another person wrote. 'Now that's really taking risking it to a new level,' a third added. Tarlia Merau (pictured) uploaded a video to TikTok last week that showed her entering the water at Palm Cove Beach near Cairns, in North Queensland Ms Merau said in the video that she's trying to get used to the beach and said that she really wanted to go for a swim. 'The water is so warm here, how could I not?' she said. Palm Cove Beach lies within 'Croc Country', which are areas that are designated crocodile habitats. These areas stretch from the Boyne River near Gladstone to the far north and far west of Queensland. It also extends to parts of the Northern Territory. Visitors to beaches and waterways in far north Queensland are urged to be croc-aware to reduce the risk of harm, including heeding crocodile warning signs. In September 2020, a crocodile measuring nearly three metres in length ate a dog at the popular town beach, sparking concerns from locals. Officials from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DESI) conducted an investigation following the incident. Palm Cove Beach lies within 'Croc Country', which are areas that are designated crocodile habitats (stock image) Warnings signs were immediately put up on the banks of the ocean and a crocodile trap remains in place. Crocodiles are be found at multiple tourist-trap locations around Australia including oceans, beaches, rivers, creeks and waterholes. They are masters at hiding and can stay underwater for more than an hour, with the fearsome predators most active during the night, dusk and dawn. A P-plate driver has collided with two trucks travelling at over 100km/h after spinning out of control on one of Queensland's busiest highways. Drivers travelling northbound on the Bruce Highway were brought to a standstill after the young driver hit two trucks and narrowly avoided another car. In footage of the crash, a silver Mazda 3 with red P-plates was seen swinging into the middle lane and crashing into the front of the first truck. Moments earlier, the hatchback was captured driving close behind a silver Subaru, with the driver in front seen slamming on the brakes several times. 'Road rage and brake checking led to a major accident this afternoon,' the video was captioned on the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook page. 'Unfortunately our truck was caught in the middle and ended up having one of the parties involved come in contact with our truck.' In dashcam footage shared online, the Subaru was seen driving on the inside lane with the Mazda in close pursuit before the driver suddenly braked. The two continued a short distance before the Subaru sped up, leaving a space for the Mazda driver to change lanes, before abruptly braking. The incident, between a silver Subaru Outback wagon and a silver Mazda 3 hatchback, was captured by the dash cam of a nearby trucking company vehicle on Wednesday After swerving to avoid the vehicle, the Mazda lost control and swung into the middle lane and hit the first truck. The Mazda then bounced into the left lane and collided with the second truck before spinning into the barricade beside the inside lane. The driver of the Subaru left the scene after the damaged Mazda came to a halt with pieces of the bonnet strewn across the highway. Police said the Mazda driver, a 20-year-old Sunrise Beach man, was not harmed. Aussies were left divided over which driver was responsible. 'Both drivers need to hand their licence in! Great footage to show how stupid choices affect innocent people!' one person wrote. Another added: 'Brake checker is in serious trouble with the police for that... might be illegal to tail gate, but the deliberate actions of the front driver caused two serious events the last leading to a life threatening accident.' 'Brake checking and tailgating are both stupid things to do,' a third agreed. A fourth declared: 'Who cares how close someone is... don't brake check period!' After a series of close calls, the P-plate driver in the Mazda is seen swerving to avoid the Subaru in front before colliding with two trucks travelling over 100km/hour Others said the impatience of the Mazda driver, still on his P-plates, was at fault. 'Mazda after the first check could have just backed off and pulled in behind the truck not acted like a complete tool and cause a major accident,' one user said. A second added: 'Subie was overtaking, doing near on 110kmh and the Mazda was still pretending to be his shadow.' 'Looks like the Subaru was changing lanes to let the angry Mazda past... but hesitated when the Mazda tried to speed past,' a third shared. Police have urged anyone with footage of the incident to come forward. The tallest skyscraper in London, that will rival the Shard is set to receive final planning approval next week. Planning for 1 Undershaft, previously known as Trellis began eight years ago but today City Corporation planning officers have finally recommended it for approval ahead of a committee meeting next Tuesday. Towering at 309m tall with 74-floors, the architectural masterpiece would be built between other east London landmarks, the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin. However, opposition groups have voiced their concerns, including Heathrow Airport who think the plans could interfere with their radar systems and could endanger the safe movement of aircraft. Slide me Towering at 309m tall with 74-floors, the architectural masterpiece would be built between other east London landmarks, the Cheesegrater and the Gherkin 1 Undershaft will join other famous landmarks in the area, sitting between the Gherkin and the Cheesegrater buildings Construction of the tower is expected to start in 2026 and be completed in 2030 Plans have been unveiled for a new London skyscraper which will rival The Shard at a height of 309.6 meters It was originally approved to be built as long ago as 2016 with a distinctive external lattice structure giving it the nickname the Trellis that has since been dropped. Although it may receive the go ahead for the City, it will still need final sign off from Sadiq Khan and the next Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary. Eric Parry Architects, who designed the structure, said it aims to provide an 'efficient, refined and timeless' building which is of 'exceptional quality when seen from anywhere within London, at close quarters, in glimpsed views, and in the grander set piece of London's skyline'. However, Historic England has described as a missed opportunity to achieve an exemplar building at the apex of the cluster. It is particularly worried that brightly coloured window frames at the peak of the building will harm views of the Tower of London. It is up to the City of London Corporation to ensure that any relevant planning conditions are attached 1 Undershaft towers over the Gherkin in an artist's impression of the skyscraper in London The architects said the design of the scheme aims to provide an 'efficient, refined and timeless' building The proposed development, dubbed The Tulip, would have been the second tallest building in western Europe after the Shard, also in London, standing 305.3 metres high The conservation body will flag up its concerns in a report on the Tower of London ordered by UN body UNESCO last month and due to be submitted by the UK government by December 1. The Twentieth Century Society has also objected because before 1 Undershaft can be built, the 28-storey Aviva Tower, which was built in the 1960s, would need to be demolished. This comes after the surprise rejection of The Tulip in 2021, a 'phallic-shaped' observation tower. The proposed development would have been the second tallest building in western Europe, standing at 305.3 metres high. The objections have been outlined in a 503-page report drawn up by City planning officers, who argued that the schemes public benefits outweigh harm to nearby heritage assets. A 'disorientated' Joe Biden put in a disastrous performance during a 90-minute head-to-head with Donald Trump last night - sending the Democratic party into total panic and raising the spectre that he could be replaced as candidate for the 2024 election. The two oldest presidential candidates ever went into battle but Mr Biden quickly lost his way, mumbling and stumbling over his words in a dismal performance on CNN last night. Mr Trump was seen pulling faces of shock as his rival lost his train of thought and again appeared to freeze - and at one point he told the millions watching across America: 'I really don't know what he [Biden] just said'. At times, Mr Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking. He was also hoarse from the moment the debate started and it went down hill from there. He later blamed a sore throat. Trump's team has already sought to capitalise on the TV disaster and has released a video compiling all Biden's mumbling and bumbling in a video entitled: 'Needless to say, the drugs didn't work'. Experts have described the debate disaster as a 'DEFCON 1 moment' for the Democrats. Behind the scenes there are calls to replace the 81-year-old president on the ticket after his dismal showing - even with five months to go. Afterwards Mr Biden and his acolytes including California Governor Gavin Newsom said that he had won the debate. Biden went to a Waffle House with his wife Jill where he said: 'I think it went well'. But Biden's gamble that the debate with Donald Trump would boost his stuttering re-election campaign has failed. And former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod, conceded that Biden's first performance was damaging - right from the beginning - and the 90-minutes has shaken liberal America. 'I think there was a sense of shock actually how he came out at the beginning of the debate, how his voice sounded, he seemed a little disoriented,' he said on CNN, noting there would be 'discussions' in the party after the debate about whether Biden should continue his run for re-election. Commentator and former Clinton administration official Jamie Metzl tweeted afterwards: 'Joe Biden is my former boss. I love him and respect him deeply. He has made a tremendous contribution to our country. His greatest act of patriotism must now be to pass the torch to a new generation'. At times, President Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes (pictured) while Trump was speaking After Biden lost his train of thought at one point and stared ahead blankly, Donald Trump said: 'I really don't know what he just said' President Joe Biden participates in the CNN presidential debate US President Joe Biden (C) and US First Lady Jill Biden visit a Waffle House in Marietta, Georgia after the disastrous debate, where he said he had won Mr Biden has been heavily criticised for his performance during the debate - but he insists he was the winner Axelrod said that Biden's performance confirmed people's fears about his age and ability to serve another four years. Biden also struggled at times to finish his sentences or complete a talking point before trying to move on. CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash repeatedly reminded him to use the rest of his time, when he cut his answers and responses to Trump short. Kate Bedingfeld, a former White House communications director for Joe Biden also panned the performance from her former boss. 'It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden,' she said. 'I don't think there is any other way to slice it.' Activist and CNN commentator Van Jones said that even though he 'loved' Joe Biden, he described the debate as 'painful.' 'There are people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now,' Van Jones said. 'We're still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that but that was not what we needed from Joe Biden.' Other Democratic strategists not connected with the Biden campaign agreed. President Joe Biden fumbled for words in the debate President Joe Biden, second right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash, from left, and Jake Tapper Donald Trump speaks during the debate in Atlanta US President Joe Biden and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections Biden's feeble debate performance will be welcomed by his rival Donald Trump Joe Biden and Jill Biden attend as supporters greet the president with a light display showing Georgians love for Joe Biden at his debate watch party at Hyatt Regency Atlanta 'I dont know if high-level conversations are happening right now about Bidens concerning performance, but it would be political malpractice to pretend tonight advanced the Biden campaign,' wrote MSNBC contributor and Democratic strategist Max Burns on social media. Other Democrats reacted anonymously to reporters to signal their shock about Biden's performance. Prominent Democrat texts: 'Gavin please...' wrote New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel. CNN host Kasie Hunt wrote on social media that Democrats were 'nearly beside themselves watching this debate' after coming to terms with Biden's demeanor. She detailed texts from prominent Democrats on CNN. 'If I was Gavin (Newsom) or Gretchen (Whitmer), Id be making calls tonight,' one Democrat told her. Another wrote simply 'we are f***d.' Other Democrats voiced their panic on social media, urging the party to be honest about their chances. One woman watched the debate with her hand clasped to her mouth at Shaws Tavern in Washington, DC People watch the CNN presidential debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump Some of those watching the debate were playing bingo with themes they thought would come up 'Texts from family and friends, all Democrats who despise Trump, are extremely concerning. You cannot just spin this and ignore the fact that this is not going well for our side,' wrote former New York City council member Jimmy Van Bramer on social media. MSNBC's Nicole Wallace said the conversation about replacing Biden was 'live and active at the highest levels of the Democratic party.' MSNBC's Joy Reid agreed, noting her phone was buzzing throughout the debate from texts from Democrats. 'The universal reaction was somewhere approaching panic,' she said, adding they were 'very concerned' about Biden appearing feeble and weak. Biden spokesman Andrew Bates reacted on social media by dismissing hand-wringing Democrats. 'We have plenty of experience offering backbone transplants,' he wrote, praising Biden for making a 'strong argument for his vision' during the debate. Jill Biden led Joe Biden off stage after his debate debacle on Thursday night while Melania Trump broke decades of tradition by not showing up. Donald Trump was left to exit solo after resoundingly defeating Joe Biden in the debate. The president, who sounded hoarse and fumbled repeatedly as he searched for words, took comfort from his wife in the aftermath. Jill Biden walked out on stage to hug and kiss her husband after the event ended. But in another awkward moment for the President, he was seen struggling to climb down the stairs to speak to moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. It was an unfortunate final image to cap off a night that sparked Democratic meltdown that the president will need to be replaced on the ballot. Senior Democratic leaders are reported to be having conversations about replacing him. The general sense is one of panic. Biden froze in the first 12 minutes of the debate, leaving Democrats into a panic about the state of their candidate. While Jill Biden was at her husband's side, Melania Trump was nowhere to be seen. Jill Biden helped Joe Biden leave the debate stage The Trump campaign remained silent when asked if the former first lady would attend the first presidential showdown. Officials said it would be revealed at the debate. As many predicted, she never appeared. The former president arrived in Atlanta solo on Trump Force One - and left the same way. It was a remarkable break in tradition. Melania Trump did attend all debates in the 2016 and 2020 election cycles. 'Families started attending the debates regularly in 1976 and it would be pretty shocking for the wife of a candidate to break that tradition,' presidential historian Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky said. Her absence follows a reports she may not live in Washington D.C. fulltime if her husband wins a second term in the White House. Those close to the former first lady believe she will likely split her time between Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City especially with Barron, 18, tipped to attend New York University Melania would instead only travel to Washington, D.C. for ceremonial responsibilities like state dinners and other special events. Her office did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com about the report. Melania Trump, seen voting with Donald Trump in March, did not attend the debate Donald Trump walks of Trump Force One solo when he arrived in Atlanta 'They have drawn a curtain of privacy' around her, said MaryAnne Borrell, a bipartisan professor of Government at Connecticut College. Public sightings of Melania are rare, particularly when it comes to Donald Trump's attempt to win a second term in the White House. Six months into 2024 she has yet to appear at a campaign rally for her husband. She did not appear at a June 14th birthday party for Donald Trump organized by his fan club. Melania Trump has rarely showed public support for her husband as he seeks a second term in the White House. She joined Trump when he announced his 2024 presidential bid in November of last year. But, otherwise, she only appeared at one fundraiser for his campaign and went to vote with her husband in Florida's primary. 'Stay tuned,' she told reporters when asked if she'd campaign for Trump. The key moments in the CNN debate Glitches and fumbles But it was Biden's struggle to find answers that will leave a lasting impression on voters, who have repeatedly questioned the 81-year-old's staminia and mental capacities. At multiple times in the night, in several answers on different topics, Biden fumbled. Democrats were reportedly in meltdown as it happened across tens of millions of American television screens. The mistakes continued to pile up. Trump addressed Biden's policy arguments rather than hammer him on the vocal fumbles as he has done in the past. The former president has repeatedly called Biden 'Sleepy Joe' and mocked him as feeble and mentally addled. Biden kept fumbling in his next answers as he spoke about abortion rights and women's health. 'There was a young woman murdered ... he went to the funeral. 'The idea she was murdered by an immigrant, they talk about that. A lot of young women get raped by in-laws, spouses, brothers. It's ridiculous and they do nothing about it.' Donald Trump commented 'I don't know what he said' in reference to Biden's fumbles And he fumbled in his claims about the wealthy in America. 'We have a thousand trillionaires in America' and then corrected himself to 'billionaires.' Biden also rambled as he touted his efforts to secure a bipartisan border deal that fell apart in Congress when asked about his attempts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. 'We had significant increase in number of asylum officers significantly. By the way the Border Patrol been endorsed me, endorsed my position. In addition to that we find ourselves in a situation where when he was president he was taking separating babies from their mothers put him in cages,' Biden said. Trump finally chose to highlight the faltering President, answering: 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either,' the former president noted. Alley Cats and Porn Stars One of the more jaw-dropping moments of the night was when the two men got into verbal fisticuffs about Trump's legal problems. Biden had attacked Trump on reports the former president was seeking retribution. And he hit Trump on his conviction in New York on 34 felony counts related to his payoff to porn storm Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied an affair with her and argues the conviction stemmed from a campaign of political retribution against him. 'The only person in this stage is a convicted felon as the man I'm looking at right now,' Biden said. Porn star Stormy Daniels Trump hit back by noting Biden's son Hunter was convicted of three felonies related to a 2018 gun purchase. 'We're going to make this country successful again, because right now it's a failing nation. My retribution is going to be success. But when he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon. At a very high level. His son is convicted,' Trump said. 'We'd have a system that was rigged and disgusting. I did nothing wrong,' he said.. Biden then brought up his reported affair with the low blow that it allegedly happened when Melania Trump was pregnant with Barron. 'The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have - how many billions of dollars in civil penalties for molesting a woman of public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star on the night while your wife is pregnant?,' he said, adding: 'You have the morals of an alley cat.' 'I didn't have sex with a porn star number one,' Trump responded. 'Number two, that was a case that was started and moved. They moved a high ranking official at DOJ into the Manhattan DA 's office to start that case. That case is going to be appealed and one we had a very terrible judge. He also noted 'my poll numbers went up way up you know ... and we took in more money in the last two weeks than we've ever taken in the history of any campaign. I don't think any campaign has ever taken hundreds of millions of dollars came pouring in. Because the public knows it's a scam.' 'Suckers and losers' The two men got into a heated attack when it came to talking about the military. Biden slammed Trump for reports the former president called dead American soldiers 'suckers' and 'losers.' 'My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You're the sucker you're the loser,' Biden said. 'They made it up,' Trump replied. 'We had 19 people that said I didn't say it.' He then called on Biden to apologize to him. 'He made up the suckers and losers so he should apologize to be right now.' Biden hit back hard. 'The idea I have to apologize to you for anything,' he said. Both men struggled with the debate rules they agreed to that saw their microphones muted when it was not their turn to talk. Each of them, at points, tried to speak only to find themselves unable to be heard. The Economy Biden attacked Trump from the start as he was asked to defend him economic record, hitting him on his suggestion that Americans inject themselves with bleach during COVID. He said Trump left him an 'economy that was in freefall - the pandemic was so badly handled, many people were dying.' 'By the time he left are things that are in chaos literally chaos. And so we put things back together,' he said. Trump hit back, arguing he left a strong economy until covid hit and then spent funds to keep the country from spiralling into a depression. 'Everything was rocking good,' he said. 'The only jobs he created are for illegal immigrants and bounce-back jobs that are bounced back from the covid. He has not done a good job. He's done a poor job - inflation's killing our country. It is absolutely killing us,' he said. The two men did not shake hands after they entered the stage, Biden arriving first and then Trump. They simply stood at their podiums, starting straight ahead. Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate A presidential motorcade in Atlanta The Rules It is the first of two debates the two presidential candidates agreed to. The two men are on stage with only a pad, pencil and a bottle of water, without the assist of the teleprompter and will not be allowed to chat with aides during commercial breaks. The microphones are muted automatically when it is not their turn to speak. There is no audience in the room - just the debate's two moderators. First lady Jill Biden is the only member of the president's family there. She is watching the debate from a holding room and will stop by a debate watch party with Biden after the event concludes. Each man came into the debate with a different set of expectations. For the 81-year-old Biden, it comes down to his health and fitness. He needs to be energetic and on point with his talking points. Republicans have successfully used his age to raise questions about his mental capabilities. And Biden looks as if he's aged, walking with a gait and moving stiffly. The president, who likes briefing binders and practice sessions, spent the week holed up at Camp David preparing for the debate with close aides. His appearance at the debate is the first time he was seen in public since June 20th. He will try to throw Trump off with attack lines designed to sting the former president on a personal level. Biden will also focus on reminding voters of some of Trump's more extreme policies. Trump, meanwhile, eschewed formal practice sessions. He tried out new attack lines at various campaign rallies but otherwise kept a low profile. The question remains which Trump will show up at the debate: the loud, talkative, disruptive one who can devolve into rants or a more restrained Trump, who will stay focused during the 90 minutes on stage. Joe Biden immediately faced calls to drop out of the presidential race following his catastrophic debate with Donald Trump last night as the 81-year-old stopped off at a Waffle House after delivering a desperate performance in Atlanta. Biden's campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt declared early this morning: 'Of course he's not dropping out.' But a torrent of his own party members and strategists are clamoring for their aged president to throw in the towel off the back of the car-crash debate, with one anonymous Democrat telling NBC it was 'time to talk about an open convention and a new Democratic nominee'. 'Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside,' one Biden-backing strategist told The New York Times, while another Democrat put it even more flatly to the Washington Post. 'We're so f***ed,' they said. 'He has great material. He just cannot deliver a single line.' David Plouffe - a Democratic strategist who worked on Barack Obama's 2008 campaign - told MSNBC' Biden's showing was 'kind of a DEFCON1 moment' - a reference to the highest alert level used by America's defence community. Plouffe also remarked that Trump and Biden looked '30 years apart', despite an age gap of just three years between them. One political analyst summed it up in the hours following the torturous 90-minute ordeal: 'There's going to be a lot of bedwetting (among Democrats) tonight.' Trump meanwhile was seen contorting his face in shock and derision at Biden's confused meandering and frequent gaffes in the debate, at one point telling millions of Americans watching at home: 'I really don't know what he [Biden] just said. 'He's not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.' Evidently feeling peckish after having expended his limited mental energy on the stand, the president stopped off at the fast-food joint for a bite to eat with his wife Jill but was confronted by patrons over his sorry showing. Joe Biden immediately faced calls to drop out of the presidential race following his debate with Donald Trump last night as the 81-year-old stopped off at a Waffle House after delivering a desperate performance in Atlanta U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pick up an order from a Waffle House in Marietta, Georgia, after participating in a presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 28, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk after deboarding their airplane at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S., after participating in a presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 28, 2024 US President Joe Biden speaks to supporters gathered on the tarmac upon his arrival at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina, early on June 28, 2024 Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections with US President Joe Biden at CNN's studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024 Biden sounded tired and hoarse, frequently stumbled over his words and on one occasion completely lost his train of thought and trailed off into silence Trump emerges from the debate and gives his team the thumbs-up after Biden's shaky performance 'Some are concerned that you're not fit for the job... do you have any concerns about your performance?' one customer asked. The President bit back: 'Well... it's hard to debate a liar,' claiming his Republican opponent trotted out a string of untruths and declaring that he believed he had performed 'well'. But he was powerless to distract from the reality of his performance - something Trump's team has gleefully made light of, compiling all of Biden's mumbling and bumbling in a video entitled: 'Needless to say, the drugs didn't work'. The Democrat was combative and did not shy away from trading barbs with Trump, but as the debate went on it became painfully clear that he simply did not have the capacity to contend with his confident and smooth-talking Republican rival. Biden sounded tired and hoarse, frequently stumbled over his words and on one occasion completely lost his train of thought and trailed off into silence, prompting moderator Jake Tapper to dive in and rescue him. One senior Democratic strategist told Reuters after the debate that it would be unprecedented for an incumbent to pull out this late in the election cycle, but that there would be calls for Biden to do just that as Democrats fretted over the stark display of the president's failing faculties. 'I think the panic has set in,' David Axelrod, a longtime advisor to former US president Barack Obama, said on CNN after the debate about Biden's performance. 'And I think you're going to hear discussions that, I don't know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.' Another longtime strategist told NBC: 'The chatter of replacement is absolutely going to explode. There is no coming back from this disaster.' Former special presidential adviser-turned CNN commentator Van Jones said that even though he 'loved' Joe Biden, his debate performance was 'painful'. 'There are people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now,' Jones said. 'We're still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that but that was not what we needed from Joe Biden. 'He had a test tonight to restore the confidence of the country, of the base and he failed.' Those comments were echoed by former Democrat senator Claire McCaskill who told MSNBC: 'My job right now is to be really honest. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight. And he didn't do it. 'He had one thing he had to accomplish. And that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight.' Several sources said his own party members are clamouring for their aged president to step down ahead of the election in November Biden is now facing calls to stand aside - and Jill Biden has been urged to tell her husband to allow someone else to stand President Joe Biden, second right, and first lady Jill Biden, right, greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash, from left, and Jake Tapper Needless to say, the drugs didn't work. pic.twitter.com/3lYHnU476w Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 28, 2024 'There's no question this was not what the Biden campaign wanted or needed,' said ABC's Mary Bruce. After the debate, CNN's John King pointed to his cell phone, saying he hadn't seen anything like the concern expressed to him in text messages as the debate went on. 'There's a full-on panic about this performance,' said NBC's Chuck Todd. After spending much of her tenure defending him, even Vice President Kamala Harris was forced to admit Biden had 'a slow start' in an interview with pro-Democrat CNN's Anderson Cooper, who declared the president had 'disappointed' his supporters. Cooper noted that Biden's debate performance last night was visibly less convincing than when Harris herself debated him in the Democrat presidential primary back in 2020. 'He was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him, that's certainly true is it not?' Cooper asked pointedly, noting it was 'scary' for Democrats who were watching to see their president melt on national television. But Harris sought to turn attention away from the debate and refused to be pulled into a conversation over the evident decline in Biden's mental capacity, ignoring repeated questions from Cooper that focused on the president's performance at the lectern. Donald Trump speaks during the debate in Atlanta President Joe Biden, left, and first lady Jill Biden visit a presidential debate watch party after the CNN head-to-head with Trump US President Joe Biden speaks to supporters gathered on the tarmac upon his arrival at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina, early on June 28, 2024 US President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris on the campaign trail 'Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance,' Harris said. 'I got the point that you're making about a one and a half hour debate tonight. I'm talking about three and a half years of performance and work that has been historic,' she concluded. 'You can't honestly say... can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the president's performance tonight?' Cooper asked. It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone,' Harris repeated. 'I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November.' Harris also appeared on MSNBC to beat back the idea that Biden performed badly during the debate, and trotted out the same defence. 'Well it was a slow start, there's no question about that, but I felt it was a strong finish,' she said during an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, before speaking with ABC. Harris said she spent a lot of time with Joe Biden behind the scenes and insisted his supporters should judge him on the successes of his administration rather than his debating prowess. 'That's the Joe Biden I see every day. And I would urge folks to look at the record and look at the record of accomplishment,' she said. Poll Do you think Joe Biden will be replaced? Yes No Do you think Joe Biden will be replaced? Yes 48071 votes No 10597 votes Now share your opinion But Harris' seemingly impromptu media tour sparked speculation that the Biden campaign was deeply concerned about the fallout of the debate. 'You don't send the Vice President of the United States out if you won the debate, typically,' former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC as the political panel laughed. Biden's supporters consistently express worry about the president's age and mental capacity and he did absolutely nothing to reassure them. One of the most shocking mishaps occurred just minutes into the debate when he lost his train of thought while making his case on tax rates and the number of billionaires in America. The president embarked on a meandering ramble before trailing off and silently looking down at his lectern. After a pause of several seconds, he looked up and mumbled: 'We finally beat Medicare.' At other times, Biden made some puzzling non sequiturs that seemed to undercut what the campaign has pushed as his strong points, including the economy and abortion rights. As Biden critiqued Trump's economic record, the president suddenly pivoted to Afghanistan and how Trump 'didn't do anything about that' - although the botched withdrawal of Afghanistan is widely considered one of the lowest points of Biden's presidency. Later, as Biden singled out state restrictions on abortion, he confusingly pivoted to immigration and referred to a 'young woman who was just murdered' by an immigrant. It was unclear what point he was trying to make. President Joe Biden, 81, gave a disastrous performance in the first presidential debate Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate Trump has been reluctant to make light of Biden's age given that they were born only three years apart. He largely remained silent as Biden delivered his gaffes and allowed the Democrat to dig his own grave - but on a couple of occasions couldn't help but highlight his adversary's issues. 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence,' he said at one point when Biden delivered a word salad about the border. 'I don't think he knows what he said either.' Trump cruised through much of the debate, but stumbled at a few key points, including the question of how he would reassure voters that he would respect his oath of office after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump tried to avoid addressing the issue, defending the people who stormed the Capitol and blaming Biden for prosecuting them. 'What they've done to some people who are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself,' Trump told Biden. Trump warned that the members of the congressional committee that investigated Jan. 6 could face criminal charges, as could Biden himself. Biden shot back: 'The only person on this stage who's a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at.' Biden then brought Trump's recent criminal trial in New York over hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels - charges on which he was convicted. 'I didn't have sex with a porn star,' Trump retorted flatly. Biden also scored points off the Republican candidate when he attacked the former President for reportedly calling dead soldiers 'losers' and 'suckers' when he skipped a planned visit to a World War One cemetery in France. Referring to his late son Beau who was an army veteran, Biden declared: 'My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You're the sucker. You're the loser.' The 10 key flashpoints from US presidential debate: How Biden's farcical debate descended into chaos By ARTHUR PARASHAR Joe Biden and Donald Trump last night clashed during a chaotic first debate of the 2024 US election campaign. President Biden repeatedly stumbled over his words and could clearly be seen losing his train of thought, with Trump declaring at one stage: 'I don't know what he just said.' But former president Trump also failed to land major blows in a performance littered with false claims. At times the debate descended into chaos as the pair traded blows about their golfing ability. Here, MailOnline looks at the key moments from last night's CNN event in Atlanta which has sent the Democrats into an 'aggressive' panic. Joe Biden and Donald Trump last night clashed during a chaotic first debate of the 2024 US election campaign 1. Stumbling over words Biden's worst moment was a rambling answer about the national debt, where he repeatedly stumbled over his words before stopping altogether. He confused millions and billions twice, mixed up a 24 and 25 per cent rate of tax before losing his train of thought and desperately staring down at his notes. 'We beat Medicare,' he eventually said before the CNN moderator stepped in to say: 'Thank you President Biden.' Trump took advantage of his fumbling opponent, telling voters: 'He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death.' 2. Trump: 'I did not have sex with a pornstar.' There was no surprise that Biden brought up Trump's criminal conviction - but it was a shock how hard he went in on it. 'The only person in this stage is a convicted felon as the man I'm looking at right now,' Biden said. Trump hit back by noting Biden's son Hunter was convicted of three felonies related to a 2018 gun purchase. 'We're going to make this country successful again, because right now it's a failing nation. My retribution is going to be success. But when he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon. At a very high level. His son is convicted,' Trump said. 'We'd have a system that was rigged and disgusting. I did nothing wrong,' he said.. Biden then brought up his reported affair with the low blow that it allegedly happened when Melania Trump was pregnant with Barron. 'The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have - how many billions of dollars in civil penalties for molesting a woman of public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star on the night while your wife is pregnant?,' he said, adding: 'You have the morals of an alley cat.' 'I didn't have sex with a porn star number one,' Trump responded. 'Number two, that was a case that was started and moved. They moved a high ranking official at DOJ into the Manhattan DA 's office to start that case. That case is going to be appealed and one we had a very terrible judge. 3. Biden: 'You are a child' During a 90-minute debate which covered all things from immigration to the economy, somehow the two candidates started bickering about their golfing ability. Trump and Biden were both asked about concerns about their ages. Biden is 81 and Trump is 78, giving them a combined age of 159. Trump bragged about winning two golf tournaments recently, 'and not even senior, two regular club championships.' He said the feat requires a golfer to be 'quite smart' and able to hit the ball a long way. Biden said he'd happily take on Trump in a driving contest, bragging he got his handicap 'down to a six' when he was vice president. 'I'm happy to play golf with you if you carry your own bag,' Biden said to Trump. 'Think you can do it?' The Republican candidate said Biden 'can't hit a ball 50 yards', but the Democrat hit back saying he had a handicap of six while he was vice president. Trump said Biden's handicap claim was the 'biggest lie', prompting the pair to start clashing with one another again. 'Let's not act like children,' Trump said eventually. 'You are a child,' Mr Biden hit back. Long after the debate was over, golf was still on Trump's mind. He posted a video of himself hitting a long drive. 4. Trump: 'I really don't know what he just said.' On a night in which President Biden repeatedly stumbled over his words, Trump landed a bitter blow by calling his rival out on it. Another serious fumble came when he talking about the number of billionaires in America and the situation on the border. Trump repeatedly managed to hit back hard at the 81-year-old on the repeated fumbles. 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either,' the former president said at one point. 5. Suckers and losers The two political rivals clashed again when discussing the US military. Biden furiously attacked Trump for allgedly referring to members of the military as 'losers' and 'suckers'. 'My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You're the sucker you're the loser,' Biden said. 'They made it up,' Trump replied. 'We had 19 people that said I didn't say it.' He then demanded an apology from Biden. 'He made up the suckers and losers so he should apologise to be right now.' But Biden hit back himself, declaring: 'The idea I have to apologise to you for anything.' 'We think the Democrats are the radicals, not the Republicans,' Trump said. 6. No handshake President Biden and Trump did not shake hands where they entered the debate stage for what was the first presidential debate in four years. Biden arrived first and then Trump. They simply stood at their podiums, starting straight ahead. The men also failed to shake hands at the last debate four years ago - but that was due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources suggested that Biden was battling with a cold in the days before last night's debate - but had tested negative for Covid. The debate opened with Biden being asked: 'What do you say to voters who feel they are worse off under your presidency than they were under President Trump?' With a hoarse voice, he answered by describing the American economy as 'in freefall' 7. 'Biden migrant crime' Donald Trump said Biden had failed to secure the southern US border, leading to an influx of scores of criminals. 'I call it Biden migrant crime,' he said. But Biden hit back, saying: 'Once again, he's exaggerating, he's lying.' Trump, referring to Biden, said: 'He's the one that killed people with a bad border and flooding hundreds of thousands of people dying and also killing our citizens when they come in.' A mass influx of migrants coming into the U.S. illegally across the southern border has led to a number of false and misleading claims by Trump. Donald Trump said Biden had failed to secure the southern US border, leading to an influx of scores of criminals For example, he regularly claims other countries are emptying their prisons and mental institutions to send to the U.S. There is no evidence to support that. Trump has also argued the influx of immigrants is causing a crime surge in the U.S., although statistics actually show violent crime is on the way down. There have been recent high-profile and heinous crimes allegedly committed by people in the country illegally. But FBI statistics do not separate out crimes by the immigration status of the assailant, nor is there any evidence of a spike in crime perpetrated by migrants, either along the U.S.-Mexico border or in cities seeing the greatest influx of migrants, like New York. 8. Clashing over who's extreme on abortion Biden blamed Trump for eroding abortion rights after the Republican's three nominees to the Supreme Court voted to reverse Roe v. Wade, which had recognised a nationwide constitutional right to abortion. The reversal has energised many voters who support abortion rights and it helped power Democratic victories in the 2022 midterms and special elections. 'It's been a terrible thing what you've done,' Biden said, turning to his rival. He pledged to restore the law under Roe if given a second term but didn't say how he'd accomplish that. He said the idea of turning abortion laws back to states 'is like saying we're going to turn civil rights back to the states.' Joe Biden takes a look at his notes as he participates in the first presidential debate Trump said his presidency returned the issue of abortion to the people through state laws. He said he supports abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, and he repeated his false claim that Biden supports abortion up to and after birth. 'We think the Democrats are the radicals, not the Republicans,' Trump said. Trump said Democrats support abortion until birth and that 'everybody' wanted to overturn Roe v Wade. But less than one per cent of abortions in the US are performed at or past 21 weeks and Roe remained popularly throughout the half-century it was in effect. 9. Bickering over age More than 80 minutes into the debate, Biden, 81, and Trump, 78, were asked about their age and ability to serve well into their 80s. Biden spotlighted a litany of policy achievements and said Trump is 'three years younger and a lot less competent.' Biden also used the answer to slap at Trump for bad-mouthing the United States. 'The idea that we are some kind of failing country? I've never heard a president talk like that before,' Biden said. In his retort, Trump said he was in as good a shape as he was 25 years ago and perhaps 'even a little bit lighter.' He said he's 'aced' cognitive tests and called on Biden to take one. Though the men are not far apart in age, more voters worry that Biden is too old. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults say they are 'very concerned' that Biden is too old to be president, according to Gallup data collected in June. Only 18% had the same level of concern about Trump. 10. January 6 riots Trump lied about his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol, and tried to deflect by pivoting to other issues. Pressed on his role, he said he encouraged people to act 'peacefully and patriotically,' then changed the subject to launch an attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. He said Biden ought to 'be ashamed' for the way the Jan. 6 defendants have been handled. Trump, who has floated the idea of pardons for the rioters, suggested his supporters who stormed the Capitol were actually peaceful and are now being politically persecuted. In fact, the rioters engaged in hand-to-hand combat with police and used makeshift weapons to attack officers. More than 1,400 people have been charged with federal offenses stemming from the riot, and more than 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. 'The only person who's on this stage that's a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now,' Biden said of his rival. Ghoulish visitors on 'Jeep safari tours' are flocking to the Tenerife Airbnb where Jay Slater spent his final hours before vanishing - as the hunt for the missing British teenager enters day 12. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has not been seen since June 17 after he went missing following a night out on the infamous Veronicas strip in Tenerife's Playa de las Americas resort. The apprentice bricklayer then went back to the Casa Abuela Tina Airbnb near the rugged Rural de Teno national park, in the remote village of Masca, with two men he had met at the three-day NRG music festival. Ofelia Medina Hernandez, the owner of the villa, said she saw Jay standing at a nearby bus stop at around 8am. He asked her when the next bus was to Los Cristianos, but when he was told it wasn't until 10am, he set off on foot for what would have been an 11-hour walk. Jay, who had shared a Snapchat of him holding a cigarette on the steps of the villa, was last seen at around 8.15am walking uphill near the national park. He then phoned his friend Lucy Mae Law at 8.50am to tell her that he was 'tired, thirsty and disorientated' with only one per cent battery left on his phone. Although Jay only spent a matter of hours in Casa Abuela Tina, the villa once popular with hikers attempting to trek up the Teno mountains now appears to have become a tourism spot. It comes as: Jay Slater, pictured with his mother, has not been seen since June 17 after he went missing following a night out in Tenerife's Playa de las Americas resort The apprentice bricklayer went back to the Casa Abuela Tina Airbnb (pictured) near the rugged Rural de Teno national park with two men The road outside the two-bedroom farmhouse is packed with rental cars of British tourists and groups taking photos from Jeep 'safari' tours, The Times reports. One woman, who lives in Birmingham and Spain, told the newspaper: 'This is our second time here. I asked to drive this route because I just wanted to see it one more time. I want to get some answers.' 'It gives me actual chills,' she added. The teenager's mystery disappearance has led to a number of internet sleuths flying to Tenerife to join the search in the mountains. Although Spanish authorities claim the case has been clouded by 'inaccurate' conspiracy theories on social media, Jay's desperate family have called in the help of one TikTok sleuth - Paul Arnott. The 29-year-old, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an 'explorer', has been searching for Jay since Saturday. He has posted more than 70 videos since, racking up millions of views as he joins police and sniffer dogs in the mountains. He said they had been focusing on two specific routes off the main road which lead to a water source. 'I'm meeting the family today,' Mr Arnott - who paid 400 for a flight from Fort William to Tenerife - told The Telegraph. 'I've been speaking with Brad's mum, Rachel. They wanted to bring me food but I said no. They said they wanted to meet me. They said they're really proud of what I'm doing.' Jay's desperate family have called in the help of one TikTok sleuth - Paul Arnott (pictured) 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 The teenager posted this Snapchat image on the morning he went missing in Spain New pictures show apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, lounging by the pool of the Hard Rock Hotel in Playa de las Americas with dozens of other holidaymakers before he went missing. Pictured: With friends Brandon Hodgkin and Lucy Mae Law Dressed in camouflage style swimming trunks the picture was taken on the second day of the NRG festival at a pool party which was described on social media as 'epic' Also, in the picture with her back to the camera in a white skirt, is Jay's friend Lucy Mae Law, 19, left, and it was taken on June 15 just two days before he vanished Holding a plastic cup in his hand (right) he appears to be standing by himself while Lucy (left) is talking to another group of boys The last confirmed sighting of Jay Slater, above, was at about 8am last Monday by a woman who had told him the bus was due at 10am when he asked This is the CCTV image the family of Jay Slater are hoping and praying is him - more than a week after he mysteriously vanished on Tenerife Canary Island police officers carry out a drone search for missing Jay Slater in the Los Carrizales ravine Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan said she 'can't thank Paul Arnott enough' as she also praised fellow TikTok creater Callum Rahim and his friends for helping with the search. She said the family were ignoring the unfounded social media conspiracy theories which have threatened to derail the search. It comes as police on Thursday started searching around caves near Los Carrizales, a new area in the Masca valley which they have not looked at before. Two abandoned shacks where Jay's phone last pinged have been the police's focus so far. MailOnline yesterday revealed new photos of Jay chatting to friends at a hotel pool party just two days before he vanished. And on Tuesday, the investigation took a strange twist when the mayor of Tenerife revealed that police were quizzing locals who claimed they had seen Jay 'watching the Euros' in a bar in Puerto de Santiago - a coastal resort on the island. Police in Tenerife say no one is talking yet about halting the search for Jay. The Civil Guard, which has been leading the operation where the teenager was last seen, said it was continuing as normal yesterday. Spanish police search for missing teenager Jay Slater in the Masca valley on June 26 On Thursday, a team of officers turned their attention to a new search area in the Masca valley Police were concentrating their search on a ravine further along the national park, with caves near Los Carrizales being investigated The Los Carrizales ravine where the search for British teenager Jay Slater is being carried out More sniffer dogs trained in searching for people over large expanses of land were flown in from Madrid and joined the operation on Tuesday. A Civil Guard spokesman said: 'The Civil Guard is continuing to search for the young British man who disappeared, carrying out inspections of all the paths, trails and ravines belonging to the village of Masca within the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.' The force also released footage showing officers moving on foot through some of the rough and remote terrain and others carrying out aerial inspections in a helicopter. A well-placed source added: 'No one at the moment is talking about the search being brought to an end. 'There will be a point when the operation that is taking place at the moment has to be at least scaled back. But right now the search teams appear to have decided they want to give themselves more time.' It comes as Jay's mother Debbie Duncan revealed she is in talks with GoFundMe to release some of the 36,000 in donations given to an appeal in order to help finance rescue efforts and 'living costs' in Tenerife. Spanish police released footage showing officers moving on foot through some of the rough and remote terrain Others were seen carrying out aerial inspections in the Civil Guard helicopter Jay's mother Debbie Duncan has revealed she is in talks with GoFundMe to release some of the 36,000 in donations given to an appeal as the family continues to search for him The GoFundMe appeal has raised more than 36,000 since it was set up by Lucy Mae Law. Debbie Duncan provided an update today Jay called his friend Lucy Mae Law (pictured), 18, to say he was 'lost in the mountains, with no water, one percent battery' and he had cut his leg on a cactus Ms Duncan, 55, said the money would be used for mountain rescue, accommodation and food expenses. In a statement posted on GoFundMe on Thursday, she said: 'First, I would like to thank everyone for your support, kind messages, and good wishes. It's difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together. 'We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held. I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay. 'Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses. 'I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times. 'Thank you again for all your donations and support, this means the world to us.' The appeal was started last week by his friend Lucy and reached its 30,000 target in just three days although some contributors have expressed concerns over where the funds will go. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Follow all the fallout from the first presidential showdown on CNN The world's media ripped into US President Joe Biden this morning after he and his Republican rival Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 race, in what was widely regarded as a disaster for the incumbent. Biden's uneven performance, particularly early in the debate, crystallised the concerns of many Americans that, at 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to consider stepping aside as the party's nominee as members of his party fear a return of Trump to the White House. Trump's own performance didn't go unscathed either, as the former president countered Biden's criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. But as the world watched with keen interest, it was Biden's raspy and sometimes halting performance that drew the most criticism and concern from media both in the US and further afield, representing a humiliation on the world stage. GERMANY: 'Good night, Joe!', Bild said this morning. The German newspaper said Biden received a 'damning verdict from the US media,' called the debate a 'battle for the OLD House,' labelled Biden's appearance 'stumbling' and noted how the Democrats are now 'in panic' US: Fox News's website led with a carousel of pictures from the debate, declaring the Democrats were in 'Panic Mode'. It said: 'A raspy Biden gets off to a halting start against Trump in the first 2024 presidential election debate.' US: On Friday morning, the front page of the New York Post led with the words 'Just Sad' alongside a picture of an open-mouthed Biden, adding that the president 'mumbles, stumbles, freezes in train wreck debate vs. Trump' US: The New York Times website, meanwhile, led with the headline: 'Biden Struggles as Trump Blusters in Contentious Debate' Biden's uneven performance, particularly early in the debate, crystallised the concerns of many Americans that, at 81, he is too old to serve as president On Friday morning, the front page of the New York Post led with the words 'Just Sad' alongside a picture of an open-mouthed Biden, adding that the president 'mumbles, stumbles, freezes in train wreck debate vs. Trump.' On its website, the Post said Biden's candidacy for the November 2024 election was 'in doubt' and that the debate had left 'Dems in 'aggressive panic'.' Further down the page, a banner highlighted 'Biden's sad showing' above stories that looked at how Biden's wife Jill led him off stage after the debate, and a comment piece that said 'Biden looked like a basket case in shocking debate performance.' Fox News's website led with a carousel of pictures from the debate, declaring the Democrats were in 'Panic Mode'. It said: 'A raspy Biden gets off to a halting start against Trump in the first 2024 presidential election debate.' The New York Times website, meanwhile, led with the headline: 'Biden Struggles as Trump Blusters in Contentious Debate.' Its lead story said that Biden had 'hoped to build fresh momentum for his re-election bid by agreeing to debate nearly two months before he is to be formally nominated.' 'Instead,' it said, 'his halting and disjointed performance on Thursday night prompted a wave of panic among Democrats and reopened discussion of whether he should be the nominee at all.' The president 'struggled to deliver his lines and counter a sharp though deeply dishonest' Trump, raising concerns about his campaigning ability, it added. Similarly, The Washington Post topped its web page with 'Biden struggles, Trump deflects questions' while an opinion piece called Biden's performance 'meandering'. It also noted that some were unhappy with CNN's moderators not fact checking the debate, pointing to the network's political director saying earlier this week that a debate 'is not the ideal venue for a live fact-checking exercise.' The Los Angeles Times, meanwhile, ran a number of stories looking at Trump's lies during the debate. 'Column: Biden bumbles, Trump lies and we all lose,' one headline read. Another read: 'Biden flops, Trump lies and Democrats face tough decisions on what comes next.' A third looked at the insults traded between the two men: '"Sucker", "loser" and other insults Biden and Trump lobbed in presidential debate,' it said. As Europe woke up, the fallout from the debate still raging in the US, German publication Bild declared on its homepage - in English: 'Good night, Joe.' GERMANY: 'The president falls'. The German publication said 'Joe Biden wanted to use the TV debate with Donald Trump to finally go on the offensive' but that it turned into a 'disaster' FRANCE: Le Parisien called the debate a 'predictable first duel' that was 'rather worrying for the Democrats' SPAIN: Popular newspaper El Pais said Biden failed 'to allay concerns about his age' ITALY: Newspaper Corriere Della Sera (CDS) called the president 'confused' and highlighted his 'hoarse voice' The red top added that Biden received a 'damning verdict from the US media,' called the debate a 'battle for the OLD House,' labelled Biden's appearance 'stumbling' and noted how the Democrats are now 'in panic'. But it was not just the US press that delivered Biden a 'damning verdict'. German news website Der Spiegel led with an image of Joe Biden stiffly walking across the debate stage and declared: 'The president falls.' 'Joe Biden wanted to use the TV debate with Donald Trump to finally go on the offensive,' the publication said. 'But it turned into a disaster, and calls for his withdrawal are already being made. Trump, on the other hand, emerged victorious. Despite all the lies. In Italy, meanwhile, newspaper Corriere Della Sera (CDS) called the president 'confused' and highlighted his 'hoarse voice'. It also pointed to the growing panic among the Democrat party that has now gone into overdrive ahead of the looming November elections. The publication also quoted prominently a piece written in the New York Times by Thomas Friedman, which said: 'Biden is my friend, but he should drop out of the race'. 'The title is anything but cryptic,' CDS wrote. Friedman wrote how he cried in front of the TV, calling the debate heartbreaking. CDS wrote that Friedman was now calling on Biden's family to 'gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve' and persuade him to step aside. On the same theme, Italy's La Repubblica asked the question: 'What would happen if Biden stepped aside?'. It noted that 'Michelle Obama [is] the star that gives US Democrats hope.' In a separate piece, the publication pointed to a poll that found that '67% of Americans thought Trump won the debate'. 'It becomes almost irrelevant to dwell on the topics touched on, the right and wrong jokes, or how much Donald lied,' La Repubblica wrote. 'The bottom line is the impression left on voters, and the White House chief has fuelled all doubts about his ability to lead a superpower for the next four years.' BELGIUM: Newspaper Nieuwsblad also focused on the 'panic' following 'Biden's painful defeat' saying the president 'could barely find the words' BELGIUM: De Morgen decried Biden's 'terrible' performance THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf led with the headline: 'Democrats panic after Joe Biden's poor performance during election debate' SWEDEN: Newspaper Aftonbladet's story on the debate described the 'total panic' left in its wake, quoting one Democrat saying: 'We are completely screwed' CZECH REPUBLIC: Blesk, a Czech tabloid, picked out several points from the debate, noting how Trump was without his wife Melania, while Biden's wife Jill was seen leading him off stage Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad also focused on the 'panic' following 'Biden's painful defeat' saying the president 'could barely find the words.' 'And although Trump 'lied all night,' according to analysts, Biden's poor performance lingers. To the frustration of Democrats,' the publication said. It quoted a 'party strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns' as saying: 'Democrats just committed collective suicide.' Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf led with the headline: 'Democrats panic after Joe Biden's poor performance during election debate.' It said Biden was 'confused and stuttering', and said the debate had gone 'completely wrong' for the president. '[...] Biden was unable to live up to high expectations in a first TV debate with Donald Trump, his opponent in the presidential elections in November,' De Telegraaf said. 'Biden appeared confused several times and was unable to convince the American voter that he can still serve a new term despite his old age.' In France, Le Parisien called the debate a 'predictable first duel' that was 'rather worrying for the Democrats'. 'It was a strange spectacle that American democracy offered Thursday night in Atlanta,' the newspaper said. It said Trump, who himself is 78, won the debate, speaking with 'confidence' to deliver 'his arguments and many untruths and exaggerations with his customary force and energy' adding that Biden 'had difficulty expressing himself'. Spain's El Pais newspaper said that Biden failed in his 'attempt to allay concerns about his age'. It said that while Trump 'attacked the president with hoaxes and lies,' Biden was 'unable to confront him due to his hesitations, hoarseness and lapses'. The newspaper's leading story on the debate opened with a quote from Trump during the debate, in which he said of Biden: '"I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I think he doesn't know what he said either".' El Mundo's headline this morning read: 'A fragile and shaky Biden fails against Trump and gives wings to Democrats who ask for another candidate to replace him.' In Sweden, newspaper Aftonbladet's story on the debate described the 'total panic' left in its wake, quoting one Democrat saying: 'We are completely screwed.' Blesk, a Czech tabloid, picked out several points from the debate, noting how Trump was without his wife Melania. In contrast, it said, 'Biden was accompanied to the debate platform by his wife Jill, whose gestures showed that she was 'leading' her husband.' In Ukraine, the Kyiv Post was more critical of Trump, who has long suggested he would not fund the country to help in its continuing war against Russia that has laid waste to swathes of the country. It picked out a quote from Biden, who attacked Trump over his comments on the EU and NATO. 'I've never heard so much foolishness,' Biden responded. 'This is a guy who wanted to get rid of NATO. He has no idea what the hell he is talking about. 'Further afield, Chinese newspaper the Global Times likened the debate to a 'reality show', saying viewers were focused on the candidates 'physical condition'. UKRAINE: The Kyiv Post was more critical of Trump, who has long suggested he would not fund the country in its continuing war against Russia RUSSIA: Russia Today (RT) appeared more focused on the substance of what was being said, rather than the candidate's health This photo taken from a screen shows the first presidential debate between US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the CNN studio in Atlanta 'Chinese experts said rather than focusing on policy, global viewers are much more concerned about the physical condition of the two candidates,' it said. In Russia, too, Russia Today (RT) also appeared more focused on the substance of what was being said, rather than their health. In one story, RT noted that both Trump and Biden had accused each other of 'encouraging' Russian despot Vladimir Putin - who ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In another, it quoted Trump as claiming Biden could 'be convicted'. In Australia, meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald offered the democrats a glimmer of hope. 'Democrats with no shortage of replacement options after Biden disaster,' the newspaper declared. The new boss of the British Army has vowed to make the force 'twice as lethal' by using swarms of killer drones and hi-tech missiles with multiple warheads. War hero General Sir Roly Walker, a former member of the SAS who survived being blown up in Afghanistan, said he wants to 'turbocharge' Britain's shrinking army. The defence chief said he was 'committed' to better equipping the army and and making it more capable of defeating its enemies without necessarily relying on expensive kit like tanks. In his first public address as the Army's new head, he told industry partners in a video on LinkedIn: 'The only real measurement of an army is its fighting power: its lethality in the face of very real, and converging, threats. 'In the near term, my challenge to the British Army is to double that lethality in three years and treble it by the end of the decade.' War hero General Sir Roly Walker, a former member of the SAS who survived behind blown up in Afghanistan , said he wants to 'turbocharge' Britain's shrinking army. He is keen to see the army kitted out with better kit, like drone swarm which have been used effectively on the battlefields of Ukraine (pictured: Ukrainian drone operators) The cheap unmanned kamikaze drones have been used to pick off individual soldiers as well as taking out armoured tanks and troop transports (pictured is a drone detonating in Ukraine) The General said electronic warfare, drones, air defence and long-range weapons like missiles and artillery rounds, in addition to logistics and stockpiles 'remain the stars to steer by' when it comes to bolstering Britain's military might. Sir Roly also said he wanted soldiers working closer with defence firms to 'track backwards and forwards from the foxholes to the factory' so weapons are constantly improved and stockpiles never at risk of running out. It comes as other nations continue to push forward with rapid advancements in both military kit and tactics on the battlefield. In Ukraine, armadas of cheap kamikaze drones armed with explosives, have proved a deadly new addition on the battlefield. The aerial death machines can be used to pick off terrified soldiers sheltering in trenches or to wipe out entire troop transports and multi-million pound tanks in a split second. Some drones can be steered from miles away by soldiers wearing headsets that give them a 'first-person view' of their targets - with graphic videos regularly shared online showing the machines chasing down and detonating on terrified troops. More recently, swarms of drones have been used to attack forces from multiple directions, overwhelming traditional air defences. From miles away, a Ukrainian operator wearing specialised goggles that give him a first-person view (FPV), chases the terrified Russian with the drone - which is packed with explosives Allies like the United States are also investing in new drone technology. And America, alongside others, have also been developing self-steer 'smart bullets' that can adjust their direction midflight, making them more accurate. Britain has been experimenting with its own new hi-tech kit, with members of 16 Air Assault Brigade having tested new 'robo-dogs' to help shift heavy kit around the battlefield or act as reconnaissance machines. And on Thursday, North Korea announced it had successfully carried out a test aimed at developing new missiles that can carry multiple warheads - a technology The Times reports Sir Roly wants the Army to be kitted out with. North Korea said the test was carried out on Wednesday, which Pyongyang hailed as a success, claiming it succeeded in separating warheads, which were guided onto three preset targets. 'The purpose was to secure the capability to destroy individual targets using multiple warheads,' North Korea said. But South Korea rubbished the claim and branded it as 'deception to mask a failed launch'. Meanwhile in the UK, a debate continues to rage over how the British military would cope if it was thrust into a full-scale war like the one in Ukraine. Earlier this month, a former senior officer warned the British Army's 'embarrassingly' small tank fleet would be wiped out in two weeks in a war with Russia. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford, who served in the Royal Tank Regiment, also said the nation's shrinking army meant it was no longer regarded as a 'Tier One military power' by the US. Lt Col Crawford, who served in the Army for 20 years and is now a defence analyst, described the new Challenger 3 tank, which is due to come into service by 2030, as a 'decent vehicle' but stressed that the numbers being built were too small. He said: 'We're currently planning to procure only 148 of them [Challenger 3], which is embarrassingly few, when you remember that at the height of the Cold War, not that long ago, the British Army's Royal Armoured Corps could hope to field around 900 MBTs [main battle tanks]. General Sir Roly (pictured in Afghanistan in 2009) said he wants to make the army more equipped and capable The British Army has been experimenting with new 'robo-dogs' The robots, which have not yet entered service, are kitted out with an array of sensors 'No wonder some US senior officers have said that Britain is no longer a Tier One military power.' His comments follow those of General Sir Richard Shirreff, who warned that troop and equipment shortages meant the Army would struggle to put a war-fighting brigade of 5,000 troops into the field. Speaking on the BBC's Today programme, he said: 'I don't think the British Army can field a war-fighting brigade of 5,000 without an enormous amount of time I think even that would be really, really difficult. 'I'm sure the MoD would say yes of course we can do that. I can tell you now most of the units training on Salisbury Plain will be training without their full complement of vehicles for various reasons. 'Ammunition is in critical short supply. Amongst other things, of course, the bottom of the barrel has been scraped to provide everything that can go to Ukraine but it needs to be replaced. It needs to be topped up and on top of that we need to increase the size of our capability to meet the challenges posed by Russia.' Sir Roly, who is married with three children, was originally commissioned into the Irish Guards before joining the SAS. He went on to lead dozens of raids on enemy targets in Iraq from 2003. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 2010 for 'indomitable leadership' during a six-month tour in Afghanistan. He survived a Taliban bomb that ripped through the wheels of his 15-ton Ridgeback armoured vehicle, hurling it 6ft into the air. He has taken over as chief of general staff from General Sir Patrick Sanders. The only moderate presidential candidate on the ballot paper in Iran has taken a shock lead in opinion polls - putting him ahead of an anti-West cleric as the country votes today. Massoud Pezeshkian is a wildcard in the race and has condemned the violent attacks on women by the regime's morality police, who enforce the strict dress codes, calling them 'immoral'. The 69-year-old reformist has said: 'If wearing certain clothes is a sin, the behaviour towards women and girls is 100 times a greater sin. Nowhere in religion is there any permission to confront someone because of their clothing.' Despite being faithful to the country's theocratic rule, Pezeshkian has received a huge wave of support from voters desperate to snub the regime of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile his hardline rivals Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, and Saeed Jalili, a hardline former nuclear negotiator, are trailing behind, as Iranians rile against the conservative Ayatollah. Massoud Pezeshkian is a wildcard in the race, and has condemned the violent attacks on women by the regime's morality police Anti-west Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Demonstrators burn a US and an Israeli flag during the funeral for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria The polls are now open in the race to replace the late Ebrahim Raisi - Iran's hardline president who died in a helicopter crash on a foggy mountainside last month. The popularity of Pezeshkian, a former heart surgeon who is seen as being free from corruption, has sparked panic amongst hardliners. In contrast with his hardline rivals, he advocates detente with the West, economic reform, social liberalisation and political pluralism. According to the latest poll by the parliament's research centre, cited by the Tasnim news website, Pezeshkian is projected to finish top with close to 30 percent. It suggested that hardliner Jalili would take second place with the backing of 18.8 per cent of voters - ahead of Ghalibaf with 16.8 per cent. His chances hinge on reviving the enthusiasm of reform-minded voters who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years after previous pragmatist presidents achieved little change. He could also benefit from his rivals' failure to consolidate the hardline vote. An earlier poll by Iran's government-funded ISPA on Wednesday put Pezeshkian in front with 33.1 per cent of the vote and Jalili and Ghalibaf with 28.8 and 19.1 per cent respectively. Saeed Jalili, one of the conservative candidates in Iran's June 28 presidential election There is concern that the two hardliners could split the conservative vote, with two ultra-conservative candidates dropping out earlier this week in order to consolidate it. Turnout is expected to hit a new low as the regime faces a wave of anger and disillusionment, with many saying they don't trust the diplomatic process. It comes after huge protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody in 2022, further widening the gulf between Iran's leaders and its people. The hashtag #ElectionCircus has been widely posted on social media platform X by Iranians in the past few weeks, with some activists at home and abroad calling for an election boycott, arguing that a high turnout would legitimise the Islamic Republic. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to the media after casting his vote during the presidential election in Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to the media after casting his vote during the presidential election in Tehran Observers have raised concerns that the election may be rigged, with claims that Pezeshkian was only allowed on the ballot simply to 'legitimise' the vote and increase turnout. Iran's supreme leader called on the public to vote in the snap election, saying in brief remarks: 'I don't see any reason for doubt. Khamenei said a high turnout was a 'definite need' for the Islamic Republic. He also called the election an 'important political test.' Raisi, 63, had been seen as a protege of Khamenei and a possible successor for the supreme leader position in Iran, which has final say over all matters of state in the Shiite theocracy. Nigel Farage is facing mounting pressure and criticism today after members of his own campaign team were recorded making 'clearly racist' and sexist jibes - including about the Prime Minister. In a scandal rocking the right-wing party an undercover investigation recorded Reform figures in Clacton - where Mr Farage is standing - advocating shooting Channel migrants as 'target practice' for Army recruits. One also branded the Prime Minister, whose grandparents were Indian, a 'f***king p***, and called for Muslims to be ejected from mosques so they can be turned into Wetherspoons pubs. Another exchange showed one suggesting LGBT people are 'degenerate'. Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast: 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' The activists involved were disowned by the party after the footage was published by Channel 4 News last night. At the same time Mr Sunak launched his strongest attack yet on Mr Farage, branding him a 'Putin appeaser' over his views on Ukraine. The footage, published by Channel 4 News, was taken within the Reform campaign in Clacton, Essex, where Nigel Farage is bidding to be elected an MP next week The Channel 4 News investigation revealed Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser, advocating for Channel migrants to be shot by Army recruits In another conversation, Mr Parker was filmed describing PM Rishi Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in' Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast : 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' Mr Farage claimed during an interview on BBC Panorama that the West 'provoked' Russia through Nato and the European Union 's continuous eastward expansion. The Prime Minister likened the Reform leader to those who, in the 1930s, opposed taking a firm stand against Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. In a newspaper interview Mr Sunak said: 'What he said was wrong, it was completely wrong. It plays into Putin's hands. This is the guy that used nerve agents on British streets, he's doing deals with North Korea. That is who we're talking about here.' Recent opinion polls show Reform falling back, suggesting the row is hurting the party's popularity. It is also being hit by wave after wave of revelations about far-right views being espoused by some of its candidates. Yesterday Reform dropped support for a candidate who used to be a member of the far-right British National Party (BNP). A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent. Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent. Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent. However a megapoll that dropped yesterday suggested his party could still be on course to win 18 seats on July 4. The Reform leader said last night that he was 'dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign'. Mr Farage added they would no longer be with his campaign in the seaside constituency. Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July. The Channel 4 News investigation revealed comments about Muslims by Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser. He described Muslims as 'sick m*****f******', adding: 'It's a cult. I tell you what, if you don't know about Islam, it is the most disgusting cult out. 'We're f****** kicking all the Muslims out of the mosques and turning them into Wetherspoons.' A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, George Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet?' In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers' George Jones (pictured, left) is said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign In the same conversation, Mr Parker also described Mr Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. He's just wet. F****** useless'. Filmed speaking to a prospective voter on the doorstep, Mr Parker suggested Army recruits should carry out 'target practice' on those crossing the Channel in small boats. 'Get the young recruits there, yeah, with guns on the f****** beach, target practice,' he said. 'F****** just shoot them. That is what the Greeks done You know about that. The Greeks shot a load Ringfence Bradfordstan. 'Round the f****** up. Do that f****** lot as well. And you've got these bastards running our country. You must be f****** joking mate.' The footage also showed a separate exchange between George Jones, said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign, Rob Bates, a senior party campaigner, and Roger Gravett, Reform's regional manager for London and candidate for Tottenham. As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, Mr Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet? 'What are the old bill doing promoting that crap? They should be out catching nonces not promoting the f******.' Mr Gravett is later heard saying: 'When we form the government in 2029 then surely we can change lots of things'. Nigel Farage responds to Channel 4 News undercover investigation within the Reform UK campaign in Clacton, exposing examples of racist language and raising questions whether the party has breached the local electoral campaign spending limit in the seat. pic.twitter.com/Qspj5gUKXk Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 27, 2024 A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities', Farage said In response, Mr Jones is heard saying 'our police officers will be paramilitaries, they won't be police' and that Reform should 'bring back the noose'. In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers. They will no longer be with the campaign. 'The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy. Some of the language used was reprehensible. 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities. 'I would be interested to know whether Channel 4 is subjecting the grassroots volunteers of all the political parties to similar subterfuges, or whether Reform UK has been singled out for special attention.' Honorary President of the Britain's right-wing populist party Reform UK Nigel Farage and party leader Richard Tice Reform Party leader, Richard Tice, and founding member, Nigel Farage, on stage at the Reform Party annual conference on October 7, 2023 Mr Parker said: 'I would like to make it clear that neither Nigel Farage personally or the Reform Party are aware of my personal views on immigration. 'I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. 'At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party or Nigel Farage. 'I would therefore like to apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention. 'I offered to help the Reform Party on their canvassing as I believe that they are the only party that offer the UK voter a practical solution to the illegal immigration problem that we have in the UK.' A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment. A family has been left devastated after their 600,000 dream home in the Cotswolds was wrecked by a builder who vanished after his company went bust. Elisa Sonaglioni, her partner Tom Walsh and their two-year-old son, Matteo, have been physically split apart by the ordeal which left their home uninhabitable. The builder they had hired, who hasnt been named for legal reasons, failed to finish the work he had started before his company went into liquidation. Now the family are having to pick up the pieces after a 110,000 extension onto the back of their detached house in Upper Rissington, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was abandoned and left with all kinds of problems. Elisa Sonaglioni, her partner Tom Walsh and their two-year-old son, Matteo are have been left to pick up the pieces after the house was abandoned in a dangerous condition by a builder who vanished The state of the 'dream' Cotswolds home that the couple had bought in 2022 Pictures of how the property has been left shows ceilings with exposed wires and faulty support poles It has also caused severe safety issues with the whole of the house, meaning Elisa and Matteo have gone to live with her family in London. Tom has stayed at the house for much of the time to keep an eye on it, relying on kind neighbours to feed him because the kitchen has been out of bounds. The couple ploughed their life savings into the project, handing over 60,000 to the builder and spending 110,000 on it in total. They say the work should have been finished earlier this year but the builder stopped taking their calls and they have been unable to trace him after discovering his company went into liquidation. Elisa was so shocked and worried about the state the house had been left in that she says she nearly ended up in hospital because of panic attacks. Photographs show undone floorboards, with pipes and large nails exposed, posing a safety risk Elisa standing beside an unfinished wall in the extension area, where brick remains unpainted Elisa and Tom's extension which is yet to be completed. It was scheduled to be done early this year but was left abandoned after the builder they hired stopped answering calls after going bust Elisa said: Its been a nightmare. The house is dropping in the middle and there are some severe cracks upstairs. It breaks my heart. The couple said they love the Cotswolds and viewed the house as their dream home when they moved into it in September 2022. Work began in the autumn of last year on the extension, because they planned to have another child and wanted more space. As well as large cracks in two upstairs bedrooms, there is a big hole in Matteos bedroom, a main steel support for the house is bowing and, the couple say, steel supports for the extension are faulty. They say this is causing the whole house to crack and dip and they need between 45,000 and 50,000 to make it habitable again. But villagers have rallied round Elisa and Tom. An online funding campaign has raised 3,000 and a nearby building firm has said it will fix the houses problems. Elisa said Ben Pentland and James Chandler, of Witney-based Pentland & Chandler Construction, said they would provide their labour for free, providing the couple get the materials needed. Elisa and Matteo have gone to live with her family in London after the house was left uninhabitable Tom has stayed at the house for much of the time to keep an eye on it, relying on kind neighbours to feed him because the kitchen has been out of bounds Their local community have supported the couple through the ordeal, raising 3,000 for them through an online fundraising campaign She added: Theyre going to do the work at weekends. Theyre going to put a call out for help, like in the BBCs DIY SOS TV programme. The 33-year-old and her 38-year-old partner said they are hugely grateful to everyone who has offered them support. She said: When we realised he (the builder) had disappeared, I nearly ended up in hospital due to the panic attacks I was having. But the community has been amazing, rallying round. Our neighbours have fed Tom every night hes been here. We will always be grateful to the community. Its such a lovely place to live. I will never be able to say thank you enough. Weve seen the absolute worst in someone but kindness has been shown by so many others. Joe Biden's debate disaster has gotten the meme treatment from social media. President Biden squared off against former President Donald Trump in the first presidential debate last night, but he delivered a catastrophic performance which further threw his capacity into question. The Democrat sounded tired and hoarse, frequently stumbled over his words and on one occasion completely lost his train of thought and trailed off into silence, prompting moderator Jake Tapper to dive in and rescue him. While Biden was combative and did not shy away from trading barbs with Trump, it became painfully clear throughout the debate that he simply did not have the capacity to contend with his confident and smooth-talking Republican rival. Biden's debate performance was met with heavy criticism from members of his own camp, with many Democrats fretting over the display of the incumbent's failing faculties and calling for him to be replaced by another candidate. Voters quickly took to X to mock Biden and tear the vacant president to shreds and MailOnline has collected the most popular memes below. A distraught mother has told police how a migrant choked her daughter to death as their boat sank in the Mediterranean. According to investigative statements, obtained by MailOnline, the man, identified as Iranian Haukar Ahmadi, 27, attacked Ghater Maylan, 16, as the vessel took on water. In her statement Mojda Omar, 41, said: 'Suddenly that man, Haukar approached my daughter and jumped on her, he put both his knees on his chest, pressing down with all his strength on her body. 'I tried shouting at him to stop, telling him to get off my daughter, but he carried on doing what he was doing until she died.' The horrific incident happened earlier this week as the boat the group were on -packed with around 70 migrants - sank in waters off the southern Italian coast after leaving the Turkish port of Bodrum. Pictures show the sail boat completely submerged with a coastguard boat alongside it Some of the migrants were rescued by a merchant ship which subsequently transferred them to a Coast Guard unit. They disembarked in Roccella Ionica, southern Italy, 17 June 2024 However police have told MailOnline, the woman has not reported her daughter was raped, despite earlier claims which were widely reported in Italian media, including first by respected news agency AGI. This was put down to mistranslation. Gianfranco Minissale, who is leading the investigation, said: 'The woman is obviously very clearly traumatised by what she saw happen to her daughter and the journey they made from Turkey. 'We are investigating the claims of murder, and the man has been detained but we have not received the body of the girl. 'The mother has been interviewed and we will be interviewing the other survivors but at this point the only crime being investigated is murder, we are not investigating a rape, there was mistranslation. 'An investigating magistrate has validated the arrest and the man is in prison while inquiries continue. It's a very traumatic case for officers involved as well as the woman.' Ahmadi is said to have 'vented his fury' on Ghater after seeing his own daughter drown as the vessel sank, with just 12 people being rescued by Italian coastguards, including Ahmadi and Mojda. Only half of those who drowned have been recovered and among them are numerous children, and Italian coastguard footage showed the boat held submerged in water off the coast of Rocella Ionica in the 'toe' of Italy. Police said Ahmadi's wife and daughter had drowned and he is now in custody at Catanzaro prison while investigations continue while Mojda is in a local hospital. Search teams recovered some of the bodies of the roughly 70 people on board the sail boat In her statement Mojda added: 'Up until then, before the attack, my daughter was talking and was fine. 'Even though in the days before she had drunk a lot of sea water, was sick and had little strength. I told her that we were almost there and to stay strong. 'Then this man threw himself on her and I didn't hear her again. I think she died straight away because after going through that choking, she didn't show any signs of life.' Breaking in down in tears, according to police present as she gave her statement, Mojda added: 'My son Naser went to have a look at his sister after Haukar suffocated her and realised she was no longer breathing. 'None of us could do anything because we had no strength, as we were exhausted.' The coastguard vessel is seen as it approached the sinking yacht disappearing below the water A survivor is treated by medical teams after being rescued from the shipwreck on June 17 Mojda told police that other migrants on board the semi submerged vessel had died and he had trampled over their bodies to get to her daughter. She added: 'Afterwards I thought he would kill me as well because he put his knees on my throat. 'He was behaving strangely, right from the start of the journey. I thought at first, he wanted to rape my daughter but then I thought he would calm down. 'He then argued with my son as the days went by, as my son had asked him to help move the body of my husband who died onboard but he refused. 'Three hours before he killed my daughter, she had trousers on and Haukar was shouting at her to take them off, he wanted to see her naked.' Antonio Cavo, who has been appointed to defend, Ahmadi, said: 'At this present time my client has not given me permission to speak to the media, once I have seen him and spoken with him I will be able to talk.' A woman who was left fighting for her life after being mauled by wolves at the weekend while jogging in a safari park outside Paris has filed a criminal complaint against the zoo, according to her lawyer. Wow Safari Thoiry in the west of Paris failed to meet its safety obligations, the 37-year-old woman argues, after she was attacked by three wolves in an area normally off-limits to pedestrians on Sunday. Prosecutors in nearby Versailles have already opened a case into suspected unintentional wounding. The woman's condition has stabilised after she was rushed to hospital, but she is unable to speak because of the injuries to her larynx, her lawyer Cosima Ouhioun said. 'She hopes her case will serve to set adequate safety standards in the animal park so that this never happens again,' Ouihoun added. A woman visiting a safari park outside of Paris who was left in a critical condition after being attacked by wolves is taking legal action. Pictured: Wolves are seen at the safari park The woman was bitten 'on the neck, the calf and the back' at the Thoiry zoo (pictured) The woman is believed to have gone out alone for a run after spending the night with her family in a safari-style lodge at the zoo. Pictured: Lodges at the zoo According to a Mantes-la-Jolie police report, the woman said she had arrived in Thoiry late Saturday with her mother and two-year-old son to stay in a lodge in the park's wolf zone. Such stays are advertised on Thoiry's website at between 220 and 760 euros per night, promising 'silence, rest and disconnection'. The next morning, she set out for a jog ahead of their planned departure - insisting that a park ranger had told her there was no danger as the animals were kept in enclosures. Following a path, she reached the zoo's 'American safari' zone without encountering any warning that animals might be roaming free. On her way, she encountered a single green sign with text - but no danger symbols indicated danger to pedestrians. The lodges (pictured) offer 'a one-of-a-kind, very intimate experience with the arctic wolves you'll be able to see from the living room' The lodges (pictured) allow you to safely view the wolves from where you're staying Chief executive of Wow Safari Thoiry, Christelle Bercheny, said such signs communicate a 'survival guide' for the park. Soon after passing the sign, the woman reported seeing a bear to her left and a wolf to the right. She tried to stay calm and maintain eye contact as she withdrew, but was spotted by the wolf, who chased her and attacked her calves. Two more joined in the attack, biting her on the thighs and back and bringing her down before attacking her throat. A zookeeper who was in the area intervened after hearing her screams for help and quickly called first responders. Thoiry zoo said Sunday it had opened an internal investigation to 'analyse all the circumstances that may have led to this accident'. Thoiry zoo was founded in 1968 by Paul de la Panouse, owner of a local chateau that has been in his family since the 16th Century. He recalled to regional newspaper L'Independant in April how he initially stocked the zoo with a ship loaded with 120 animals brought from Kenya. De la Panouse sold the zoo to a group of investors in 2018. Joe Biden could be replaced as the Democrats' presidential candidate within weeks - with the Obamas and Clintons waiting in the wings to force him out if he refuses to step aside before the party convention in August, MailOnline can reveal. Biden, 81, fumbled and stumbled in the first presidential debate, losing his thread, sounding hoarse and searching for words as Trump swatted at his arguments. Many Democrats will now ramp up calls for Biden to step aside in favour of another candidate ahead of the party's national convention in August. Biden would then not fight Trump in November but would remain President until January, when the election winner would take over. Senior party leaders are privately pushing for California Governor Gavin Newsom or Michelle Obama to step in. The Constitution prevents a prior 2-term President from running again, so Barack Obama must watch from the sidelines. Other favourites with the bookmakers are Biden's deputy Kamala Harris, Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer and Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland. But there are real fears that Biden will refuse to stand aside - and it could take an intervention from top Democrats such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Chuch Schumer to get Biden to consider stepping aside in the coming days. Hillary, who beat Biden to the Democrat nomination in 2016, has already said his age is a legitimate issue. Jill Biden is also being viewed as a roadblock because she is also said to be determined for her husband to fight the election in November - even with the question marks over his health. Democrats are in a panic about Joe Biden's debate performance Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama could be key tpo getting Biden to step aside. Michelle is also a very popular replacement Mr Biden dismissed calls to leave the race last night - insisting the debate with Trump 'went well' - but behind the scenes the Democrats are in chaos with many pushing the panic button. It possible to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee - but it is complicated due to a lack of time and the danger of civil war in the party. The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. Each state sends a certain number of delegates to the national convention. If Biden stepped down, the party would have to hold a series of votes among the delegates until one person got the 1,976 to be the nominee. This would likely result in a massive floor fight for votes that would take place over multiple days and dominate news coverage. Biden has 3,894 pledged delegates and it only takes 1,976 to be the nominee. Under party rules, delegates allocated to a candidate based on their primary wins are bound to their candidate on the first ballot at the convention. And that first ballot usually ends up in a nominee. So legally Biden's delegates have to vote for him. However, if Biden were to drop out that would mean the nomination would be decided on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in August. His delegates would become 'uncommitted' and able to vote for any candidate they liked. Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically be the nominee nor would she have ownership of Biden's delegates because she was not on any primary ballots. Biden was. But she would be the likely favourite given her status as his running mate. Democrats, however, could choose any contender including any governor such as Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Wes Moore of Maryland. Or one of the people that ran in 2020: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Things would be easier if Biden were to drop out of the race after the convention. If that happened, the party's main committee would pick the nominee, avoiding a convention floor fight. Under party rules, the Democratic National Committee has the authority to choose a new candidate if either member of the ticket the presidential or vice-presidential nominee withdraws or dies. Party Chairman Jaime Harrison would consult with Democratic leaders in Congress and in the Democratic Governors Association and report his findings to the committee, which would have the final say. Kamala Harris would not automatically be elevated to the top of the ticket. Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically get the nomination if Biden drops out Democrats could pick another option, including Gov. Gavin Newsom of California (left) or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan (right) The last floor flight at a Democratic Convention was in 1968 and was such a disaster many new rules were added to the party's platform to keep such chaos from happening again. That year, Democrats were worried their very unpopular president - Lyndon B. Johnson - could not win another term. Johnson, under party pressure, chose not to run. But the frontrunner for the nomination - Bobby Kennedy - was killed by an assassin in June of that year. Johnson's vice president Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy had also been running. Neither had enough delegates to win the nomination on the first ballot at the convention, which was in Chicago (the same as this year's Democratic convention). The floor fight began with Humphrey ultimately winning the nomination. It was a huge controversy with riots breaking out all over the city. Humphrey ultimately lost the general election to Richard Nixon. The last brokered Democratic convention was in Chicago in 1968 and resulted in riots Joe Biden, pictured with Kansas Chiefs stars including Travis Kelce in 2023, skipped the traditional pre-SuperBowl presidential interview, a 15-year-old White House tradition - sparking more fears about his health Republicans have been issuing warnings about the increasingly doddery Biden for years. Donald Trump was insisting before the 2020 election that his gaffe-prone political rival had slipped into senility. Back then, such jibes were dismissed by Democrats as tasteless scaremongering. But now the Left, too, are expressing their fears. That concern has sky-rocketed following a string of absent-minded senior moments from the 81-year-old president in the past few days, revealing a seemingly endless capacity for confusing the names of world leaders, even ones separated by decades. And the TV debate with Trump last night has sparked total chaos. James Carville, a veteran Democrat strategist who masterminded Bill Clintons successful 1992 campaign, said witheringly that Biden passing on a Super Bowl Sunday interview this year was a sign his staff had little confidence in him. The evidence has been accumulating. Biden mixed up Francois Mitterrand, a French President who died in 1996 with Emmanuel Macron. Investigators who quizzed Biden said that his memory appeared to have significant limitations and he did not remember, even within several years. when his son Beau died. Biden could also not remember when he was Vice President or the details of a debate about sending extra troops to Afghanistan, they said. Repeated polls have shown that both Republicans and Democrats have deep misgivings about Bidens age and his ability to serve a second term. Sleepy Joe - as he was dubbed by Trump - is already easily the oldest person to become president in US history. If he reclaims the White House, he would be 82 at the start of his second term in January 2025. (If Trump wins, he would be 78.) Joe Biden, pictured in his days as a US senator, has been accused by investigators of suffering memory lapses Joe Biden with his family after declaring he would run for president in 1987 Joe Biden, with wife Jill in 1988, mixed up conversations he had had with European leaders A recent poll showed a staggering 71 percent of swing-state voters - the people who will very likely decide the outcome of Novembers presidential election - agreed that Biden is too old to be an effective president. Another new poll found 76 per cent of all voters have concerns about the President having the physical and mental strength for a second term. Bidens long-established reputation for embarrassing gaffes and mis-statements - in 2018 even he described himself as a gaffe machine - has in one sense benefited him up until now, allowing his team to explain away mistakes as his Uncle Joe folksy, goofy charm. But the dramatically increased frequency of his verbal stumbles is causing alarm. And it has been accompanied by evidence of physical frailty, too. Since 2021 he has reportedly tripped eight times while navigating the steps of Air Force One, the presidential jet, including three times on a single flight to Atlanta. In 2022 he fell off a bicycle after getting caught up in his pedals; in 2023 he stumbled descending a small set of steps at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan; later that year he tripped over a sand bag and fell on stage at an Air Force academy graduation ceremony. And when the stairs to Air Force One were shortened last year so that he entered the plane at a lower level, Biden tripped on them, too. The two brain aneurysms Biden suffered in 1988 were fully treated and he showed no signs of mental trouble as a result, according to a surgeon who operated on him. In an annual physical last year, a White House doctor Kevin OConnor attributed his stiff gait to significant spinal arthritis, mild post-fracture foot arthritis and a mild sensory peripheral neuropathy of the feet. However, the doctor refused to comment on his mental acuity. One of Bidens most frequent mistakes has been to refer to Vice President Kamala Harris as President. And that, say some Washington insiders, may be a Freudian slip. They believe that the main reason that Biden is intent on running again is because he knows that if he steps down and is succeeded by Harris - widely regarded as useless and even more unpopular than him - the Democrats have an even worse chance of beating Trump. There is a way out, however: he could hang on, win the party nomination and then, at the Democratic National Convention in August, announce hes withdrawing and not endorse a replacement. The convention, made up of party bigwigs rather than the idealistic rank-and-file who decide the primaries, can then choose someone who has the best chance of winning over crucial swing voters and vanquishing The Donald. That would mean Harris would likely be swept aside by stronger contenders such as California governor Gavin Newsom or Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer (although both may be a little too woke for independent voters). Some havent given up hope that Michelle Obama may overcome her oft-expressed reservations and run. All of this, however, remains wishful thinking for now. And, given that it would be very difficult to force Biden out, it depends on him playing ball. Which brings us back to square one - because privately hes understood to believe that hes the only Democrat who can beat Trump. A woman has died after being stabbed by a man who stole and crashed her car in far north Queensland. The woman, in her 50s, was knifed in Mighel, south of Innisfail, at about 4.15pm. She then ran to a nearby house for help. Police found her with several stab wounds to her torso and she died at the scene. The stolen car crashed into a truck a short time later on the Bruce Highway at Sandy Pocket, Queensland Police said. The truck driver was uninjured. The man is also alleged to have tried to steal another car. A 51-year man was arrested at about 6pm after a police search of the area. Police said the arrested man and the woman who died knew each other. A police spokesman said: 'Residents are still urged to avoid the area, while investigations continue into what has occurred. The Highway remains closed. There is no further threat to public safety.' The BBC paid audience members 150 each to attend this week's leaders' debate after they were screened over the phone by a marketing company, it has emerged. More than 30,000 of licence fee payers' money was used to recruit the 150-strong group who were specifically asked not to heckle, according to reports. The entire audience at Wednesday's debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer was recruited by external contractors. Each of the 150 people watching live received 150 in 'disturbance money' and 30 towards their expenses, while the 15-20 more in reserve were paid the same. The BBC said such payments were standard for such events to compensate people for their time and travel expenses. More than 30,000 of licence fee payers' money was used to recruit the 150-strong audience at Wednesday's leaders' debate, according to reports The entire audience at Wednesday's debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer was recruited by external contractors Bosses at the corporation handed the contract for recruiting the audience to polling company Savanta, who in turn outsourced it to a market research company called Roots, the Express reports. One member of the audience described how they were originally contacted by email and asked if they would like to take part. 'I think they wanted people who lived in the Midlands, basically. They got back to me and asked me lots and lots and lots of questions. I'd had to fill in a questionnaire before they spoke to me.' The person said they were then screened over the phone and told they were booked but might not make the final audience. Producers had deliberately ensured there were more potential audience members than would be needed in case of dropouts, they said. The source reportedly added that everyone in the audience 'was paid either by Roots or Savanta' and received 'exactly the same money'. A BBC spokesman said: All programmes over-recruit audiences to cover for drop outs and it is common practice to cover costs. 'Audiences for our election debate programmes are managed by a third party supplier, Savanta, and as such we are unable to disclose their costs due to commercial confidentiality. We always have value for money firmly in mind when delivering our programmes for audiences and keep costs low where possible. One audience member stole the show by suggesting that neither leader was the best choice for the country The final head-to-head TV debate at Nottingham Trent University saw Mr Sunak repeatedly call for voters not to 'surrender' the country to the Labour Party, while Sir Keir accused him of overseeing years of failure. At the start, both men had to fight to be heard due to noise from pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had gathered outside the building. Host Mishal Husain was forced to pause, saying: 'If you can hear any noises ladies and gentlemen, or anyone at home, there is a protest taking place outside, which is also an aspect of our democracy and people exercising their freedom of speech.' The so-called Nottingham Solidarity Group tweeted before the debate began: 'We will not allow genocide enablers to go undisturbed in our city.' At least a dozen police officers descended on the gathering and cordoned off the mob, allowing proceedings to continue interrupted. Later on, one audience member stole the show by suggesting that neither leader was the best choice for the country. Robert Blackstock said: 'Mr Sunak, I think you made a fair job of being chancellor, but you're a pretty mediocre prime minister. 'Sir Keir, I think that your strings are being pulled by very senior members of the Labour party. 'Are you two really the best we've got to be the next prime minister of our great country?' Mr Sunak told Mr Blackstock that while he would be the 'first to acknowledge' that the last few years 'have been tough', he said that if Brits wanted lower taxes and closed borders they ought to vote for the Tories. 'I get your frustrations, but think about the choice - allow me to finish what I started', he added. Sir Keir, meanwhile, said that his background as a lawyer involved in the Good Friday peace accords in Northern Ireland, as well as his time as a top Crown Prosecution Service official, was proof that he would always put 'country first, party second.' At the start, both men had to fight to be heard due to noise from p ro-Palestinian demonstrators who had gathered outside the building But speaking after the debate, the audience member said he was 'disappointed' by both of their responses. 'I was disappointed with the response from both Rishi and Keir, neither of them wanted to say why they were good. 'They were going on what they had done in the past. 'For a PM from my perspective, we want someone with personality who will project our Great Britain on the world stage.' He added that he was still undecided on who to vote for on July 4. 'Tonight in fairness to both, they haven't made me decide one way or the other. 'I worry about things that haven't been talked about, inheritance tax, council housing, fuel tax.' A snap poll by YouGov showed that Mr Sunak and Sir Keir were in a dead tie following the debate. Both leaders took him 47% of the votes, while a further 6% said they still did not know who had won the debate. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Biden not wandering off was biggest shock of the evening and it was a surprise he lasted the 90 minutes, a body language expert said in her damning verdict of last night's presidential debate. 'His hands fluttered, his voice sounded husky and he kept coughing in a bid to clear it. His breathing sounded audibly bad and by his final address he was using short, shallow breaths akin to panting,' expert Judi James told MailOnline. She said that Biden's faltering and stalling looked worst at the start of the debate and even indicated that he might not make it to end of his catastrophic performance against Donald Trump. 'He often stood listening to Trump with his mouth dropped open and his eyes rounded,' Ms James said, adding that this gave him 'a look of incomprehension' compared to Trump's smug smirk. She also said that Biden's fingers were shaky as he pointed at Trump during his fumbled arguments, therefore failing to register authority. 'Biden's hands fluttered, his voice sounded husky and he kept coughing in a bid to clear it. His breathing sounded audibly bad and by his final address he was using short, shallow breaths akin to panting,' body language expert Judi James told MailOnline She said that Biden's faltering and stalling looked worst at the start of the debate and even indicated that he might not make it to end of his catastrophic performance against Donald Trump She also said that Biden's fingers were shaky as he pointed at Trump during his fumbled arguments, therefore failing to register authority Biden also showed 'naked anger signals' when Trump spoke about his son as 'his face screwed up, turning white and pinched in rage,' the body language expert told MailOnline At times, President Biden looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes (pictured) while Trump was speaking Biden also showed 'naked anger signals' when Trump spoke about his son as 'his face screwed up, turning white and pinched in rage,' the body language expert told MailOnline. The Democrat's 'signature wide, toothy grin' previously used to mock opponents in a debate turned out to be a 'painfully asymmetric' grimace, according to Ms James. Miso Wei, another expert on body language, told the New York Post that Biden rigidly shuffling to his podium at the debate indicated his old age. 'The way he speaks, there's no way to hide his age,' she said. 'And the way he is currently the shape his body currently is in there's just no way to hide his age.' Ms Wei added about Biden's performance: 'I would encourage [Biden] to pay attention to the moments when he's not talking, because when he's not talking, his facial expression opens [and he] zones out with wide-open eyes.' Meanwhile Trump's body language indicated that Biden's jabs calling him a 'convicted felon' who had 'sex with a porn star' ignited Trump's anger, but that he remained in control of his emotions, according to Ms James. She said that the 'porn star' comment 'made Trump's smile drop and his brows furrow into a frown as his extended lip-pout with his mouth open in an 'O' shape' showing 'a state of aggressive arousal'. 'His rapid blink rate hinted at an inner adrenaline burst,' the body language expert added. Ms James said Trump also used a 'smug smile' with his lips pursed tight displaying his rage at Biden halfway through the debate as the incumbent president spoke about Trump's upcoming legal battles. She explained that Trump's 'tongue licking the corner of his mouth suggests that he was prepping for an open fight'. The Democrat's 'signature wide, toothy grin' previously used to mock opponents in a debate turned out to be a 'painfully asymmetric' grimace, according to Ms James Miso Wei, another body language expert, said about Biden's performance: 'I would encourage [Biden] to pay attention to the moments when he's not talking, because when he's not talking, his facial expression opens [and he] zones out with wide-open eyes' Body language expert Ms James said Biden appeared to walk off the stage at any point as he stammered his way through the debate Biden gave a disastrous performance, during which his hands appeared to be shaking as he fumbled his words Donald Trump commented 'I don't know what he said' in reference to Biden's fumbles Ms Wei said that she would advise Trump against smirking while Biden is speaking because it 'sends out a condescending tone' The British body language expert also addressed Trump's reaction to Biden's mumbled arguments. She said that Trump created 'a sense of intellectual contrast' by using his right hand in a chopping motion to 'suggest sure thinking'. Ms James added that Trump's 'constant use of the precision pinch' suggested that 'even his wildest claims had been costed or confirmed to the last detail' as the former president utilised his body language to make his points. 'Trump's lips remained clamped for the most part as Biden spoke, either in a smug smile or an upturned gesture of indignation and projected righteousness,' Ms James said. But Ms Wei said that she would advise Trump against smirking while Biden is speaking because it 'sends out a condescending tone'. This is the dramatic moment police swooped in on Just Stop Oil activists in a series of raids relating to a plot to cause a 'summer of chaos at airports across the UK'. The Metropolitan Police said 27 people were taken into custody, including some believed to be 'key organisers' for the climate group. All the arrests were made under a section of the Public Order Act that makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure. Four people were arrested on Tuesday after being identified at Gatwick Airport and have since been released on bail. Six were held on Thursday night at an east London community centre hosting a Just Stop Oil event 'promoting airport disruption', the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Footage from this morning shows police arriving at one of the Just Stop Oil protestors' doors to arrest them Officers can be seen flicking through books and cupboards, explaining: 'People can hide things in all sorts of places' One of the protestors in the video who was arrested says to his partner 'alright darling, catch you later' Just Stop Oil protesters spraying Stonehenge with orange paint in their latest stunt A total of 17 people were arrested at their homes across England on Friday morning as Metropolitan Police officers worked with more than eight other forces. Police activity has taken place in London, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Devon, Essex, Manchester, Surrey, Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire. Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, who led the operation, said: "We know Just Stop Oil are planning to disrupt airports across the country this summer which is why we have taken swift and robust action now. "Our stance is very clear that anyone who compromises the safety and security of airports in London can expect a strong response from officers or security staff. "Airports are complex operating environments which is why we are working closely with them, agencies and other partners on this operation." Suspects released on bail are subject to conditions which include not travelling within one kilometre of any UK airport unless passing by while on a mode of transport. In response to the wave of arrests, a Just Stop Oil spokesman said: "It isn't a massive surprise. "I think it speaks volumes when we've got a police force cracking down on non-violent Just Stop Oil supporters in this way. "The people enacting criminal damage on an unimaginable scale against all of us - oil company executives and the politicians that they've bought, basically - when is it that those folks are going to face the full force of the law?" Asked about the justification for planning to target airports during the key summer holiday period, the spokesman said: "In normal times, that kind of disruption would be entirely unacceptable. "But you can't really disassociate what we're potentially planning on doing from the reasons why." He added that disruption is necessary because people are "dropping dead around the world" from extreme heat, and "tipping points" are being passed. 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. Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald next to a private jet which they spray painted at Stansted airport's VIP airfield Several stones were covered in the substance before the protesters stopped and sat cross legged on the grass One of these jets was thought to have belonged to Taylor Swift, however it was actually revealed that a US bank's jet had been targeted. One of the planes targeted was an 18-seat Gulfstream G650, which would be worth around 60million when new, according to documents we have seen. According to a source, the stunt at Stansted 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. '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.' 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. 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. 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'. 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'. MailOnline has contacted the Met Police. Rishi Sunak's chief of staff has been interviewed as a witness by the gambling regulator as part of the row over alleged bets on the timing of the general election, it has emerged. Liam Booth-Smith is reported to have spoken to the Gambling Commission last week to help the watchdog understand who may have known when polling day would be. Sources stressed to the BBC that the PM's top adviser - dubbed the 'Treasury Travolta' during Mr Sunak's time as Chancellor due to his fondness for leather jackets - is not a suspect in the regulator's investigation and had not placed a bet himself. The Commission's probe is focused on allegations of cheating, while Scotland Yard are looking into what is likely to be a smaller number of cases where there could be additional offences such as misconduct in public office. An update by the Metropolitan Police and Gambling Commission said at least seven officers from the capital's force are being investigated. Scotland Yard had previously indicated that six officers were under investigation, including one of Mr Sunak's protection team, who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Liam Booth-Smith is reported to have spoken to the Gambling Commission last week to help the watchdog understand who may have known when polling day would be Sources stressed to the BBC that the Prime Minister's top adviser, pictured with Mr Sunak in 2021, is not a suspect in the regulator's investigation and had not placed a bet himself Five Conservatives have also been caught up in the inquiry, with reports suggesting the figure could be 15 parliamentary candidates and officials, although the gambling watchdog has not confirmed the numbers involved. Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes said: 'We are focused on an investigation into confidential information being used to gain an unfair advantage when betting on the date of the General Election. 'Our enforcement team has made rapid progress so far and will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to draw this case to a just conclusion.' Mr Sunak has withdrawn Tory support for his former parliamentary aide Craig Williams's bid to be returned as MP for the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr seat, after he admitted having a 'flutter' on the election date. During a campaign visit in Derbyshire yesterday, Mr Sunak was repeatedly asked whether he had confided in Mr Williams ahead of his surprise announcement of a summer election. Speaking to broadcasters, the PM said: 'I've been clear about this. I'm furious to have learnt about these allegations. 'We've initiated independent inquiries of our own, because I don't have access to the Gambling Commission's detail. 'You'll recognise that while there are ongoing independent investigations, it's just not right for me to say anything more about that.' The Tories have also withdrawn support from Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders whose husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Party's director of campaigning, has taken a leave of absence, as has Tory chief data officer Nick Mason. Senedd member Russell George stepped back from the shadow cabinet in the Welsh Parliament after being placed under investigation. Labour has also been dragged into the row, suspending candidate Kevin Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting on himself to lose his contest in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. During Wednesday's final TV election debate, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of being 'bullied' into responding to the betting scandal after the PM previously 'delayed' acting against Mr Williams and Ms Saunders. Sir Keir said: 'You have to lead from the front on issues like this. 'I think that in the last 14 years politics has become too much about self entitlement, and MPs thinking about what they could get for themselves.' He added: 'The instinct of these people to think the first thing they should do is try to make money, that was the wrong instinct, and we have to change that.' Sir Keir compared the PM's 'delayed' response to the 'swift' action he took to suspend Mr Craig. He said: 'What I did, when one of my team was alleged to have been involved and investigated by the Gambling Commission, they were suspended within minutes. 'Because I knew it made it really important to be swift, the PM delayed and delayed and delayed until eventually he was bullied into taking off.' In response, Mr Sunak said: 'It was important to me, that given the seriousness and the sensitivity of the matters at hand that they were dealt with properly, and that's what I've done.' Russia on Friday warned of a 'direct confrontation' with NATO with thinly-veiled threats to destroy or disrupt US spy drones flying over the Black Sea. A statement issued today in Moscow by Putin's new defence minister Andrey Belousov instructed his armed forces general staff to 'take measures to respond promptly to provocations' involving US surveillance drones over the Black Sea. A separate warning from the Putin regime claimed Western leaders are falling into 'the abyss of direct armed confrontation with Russia' - a likely nuclear conflict. The Russian defence ministry 'noted an increased intensity of flights of US strategic unmanned aerial vehicles over the waters of the Black Sea, which carry out reconnaissance and targeting of precision weapons supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces by Western countries in order to strike Russian facilities'. Pictured: Russia's President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow, Russia June 14, 2024. Putin has warned of a 'direct confrontation' with NATO as he threatened to destroy or disrupt US spy drones flying over the Black Sea This handout image taken from video released by U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) on March 16, 2023, shows onboard footage from a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone as it is approached the first time by a Russian SU-27 aircraft jettissoning fuel, over The Black Sea on March 14, 2023 First known use of US-supplied HIMARS missiles by Ukraine hitting a key military target inside Russia This 'demonstrates the increasing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime. The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Andrey Belousov, has instructed the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to take measures to respond promptly to provocations. The current tension in the Black Sea was highlighted in recent days when a US Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance drone was buzzed over neutral waters in the Black Sea by at 52,500 ft by a supersonic Russian MiG-31 in a high-altitude manoeuvre. The drone operators evidently returned it to its base in Italy, while the crew of the MiG-31 reportedly received honours. Separately, an RAF RC-135 radio-technical reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft was escorted this week by no less than four British Typhoon fighters as it overflew the Black Sea. People gather round a Russian tourist who was wounded by the downed Ukrainian missile in Crimea on Sunday Spray flies into the air as pieces of debris from the shot down missile land in the coast off Sevastopol Wounded tourists are attended to by passers-by on a beach in Sevastopol after the incident on Sunday Both episodes have been highlighted by Russian pro-war channels which are strongly urging Putin to act against flights they see as directly related to targeting and deployment of Western missiles inside Putin's territory as well as in invaded areas of Ukraine. Belousov - seen as uber-close to Putin - did not specify what he meant by 'measures to respond promptly' to Western spy drone flights which are taking place multiple times each week. By way of warning, Russia released footage of a close encounter of its Su-35S with a US MQ-9 Reaper unmanned plane, possibly over Syria this week. 'The Russian pilot, demonstrating high professionalism, took the necessary measures in time to prevent the collision,' said the ministry, warning of 'more dangerous approaches and subsequent turbulence for coalition drones'. In March last year, an American MQ-9 Reaper was downed by Russia in the Black Sea. Its tail propeller was struck by the Russian warplane which had earlier discharged fuel on the unmanned flyer. America branded the incident - a 'brazen violation of international law', blaming the Russians for 'an unsafe and unprofessional intercept'. Separately, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Putin-controlled state TV in Moscow of the dire risk of the current strains in relations between Russia and the West turning into nuclear war. 'Let's call a spade a spade, the classic, old, previous reading of nuclear deterrence did not work properly,' he told propaganda show host Olga Skabeyeva - aka Putin's Iron doll. 'We [recently] saw the president [Putin] order an exercise to develop practical skills in the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. 'This in itself is a signal that is read not only by military professionals, nor only by diplomats, but, I really hope, by the general public in Western countries, which condones their leaders in a completely irresponsible, dangerous course that is pushing Western countries into the abyss of direct armed confrontation with Russia.' Ryabkov threatened: 'We have never agreed with the Americans in their idea of a limited nuclear war. 'We have always said that if it comes to the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield, it will be very difficult to control the further scenario, and the further course, and the further path of escalation.' He said: 'We must do everything to prevent a slippage there, because I deeply believe that it is impossible to ensure a limited nuclear war and victory in it. Russia is highlighting an incident where US-supplied deadly ATACMS missiles targeted Sevastopol - in occupied Ukraine - at the weekend. One of the cluster munition missiles exploded off a crowded beach in the naval city, triggering panic among sunbathers. Four people were killed, including two children, and 153 wounded. The Russians immediately alleged that a Global Hawk was involved in this strike. In fact, it appears that those killed and wounded were hit by debris from a Russian air defence missile targeting the ATACMS. The ATACMS is seen as falling in the sea rather than on the beach. A lawyer who was fined $387 and docked 10 demerit points for 'using a phone' while driving has claimed she was actually holding a piece of banana bread. Merridy Gordon was driving from Canberra to Sydney on the M5 on New Year's Day when mobile detection cameras took a photo of the inside of her vehicle, detecting what was deemed to be her phone. As the fine was issued on a public holiday, it also incurred double demerit points. But when it arrived a few weeks later, Ms Gordon knew she had to fight it. She went on the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) website to see what the cameras had picked up and after enlarging the photos recognised what it was. Ms Gordon told Yahoo News that her phone had been down the side of her seat and that what had been detected was a slice of banana bread she had bought in Canberra for the three-hour drive to Sydney. The lawyer wrote to TfNSW and told them they'd made a mistake. 'They pretty much said 'too bad, so sad, don't care' and that I'd have to take the matter to court,' Ms Gordon said. What Transport for NSW said was a phone in lawyer Merridy Gordon's car on a drive back to Sydney from Canberra was in fact a piece of banana bread (pictured) The case was heard in Campbelltown, 57km south-west of the Sydney CBD, as that was the closest court to where the mobile detection camera had taken the photo. Ms Gordon said when shown the photo, a magistrate remarked that most mobile phones are rectangular and the supposed phone in the picture was not. The magistrate also said they could see the actual phone down the side of her seat. A man representing TfNSW said it looked a bit thin to be banana bread, 'which is just a stupid thing to say', Ms Gordon remarked. The magistrate told the lawyer TfNSW had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that she was on the phone and that he had 'significant' doubt. As the fine (pictured) was picked up on a public holiday, it also incurred double demerit points, and when it arrived a few weeks later, Ms Gordon knew she had to fight it Ms Gordon said the 'irate' magistrate told TfNSW that it has 'a responsibility to look at these photographs properly. 'It's clear from the photographs there's a significant doubt about whether she was holding a phone,' the magistrate said. Ms Gordon added: 'The magistrate said to TfNSW, "Ms Gordon clearly wrote you a sensible letter and you just ignored it",' she recalled. TfNSW was ordered to pay her legal fees of $4,000, the fine was dismissed and the demerit points were reinstated. A spokeswoman for TfNSW, while not commenting on Ms Gordon's individual case, said 'it is rare for misidentification to happen'. Do YOU know who the attacker is? Do YOU know who the attacker is? Please email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk A grandmother has told of how she was beaten black and blue by a gang of feral yobs, who stamped on her head as she slept at a beauty spot. Melanie Cuthbertson, 52, had fallen asleep while sunbathing on her day out at Rotten Calder Waterfall in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, before she woke up to a 'wild-eyed' teenage boy attacking her. Melanie, who had been enjoying some time with friends from a wild water swimming group, had decided to stay on after the group left to make the most of the warm weather on Monday. But nothing could have prepared her for what was to come as the boy, along with around nine girls, launched a brutal and unprovoked onslaught. Describing the savage assault, Melanie - from Hamilton - said: 'The boy was wild-eyed and definitely the ringleader. They were all hitting me but he was directly over me and punching and stamping on my head. Do YOU know who the attacker is or did you see the what happened? Please email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk Melanie Cuthbertson, 52, was savagely attacked by a gang of feral youths as she slept in a park The grandmother was stamped in the face and was left black and blue from the onslaught Prior to the attack, Melanie had been enjoying a swim at Rotten Calder Waterfall in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire Pictured is the Rotten Calder Waterfall in Blantyre where Melanie's nightmare ordeal took place 'I was terrified. I was in fear for my life because I didn't know when they were going to stop. I don't remember too much else because I passed out and lost consciousness.' When Melanie came to, two young girls were crouched by her side and asked her if she was OK. She believes they contacted emergency services for help. Melanie added: 'I must have drifted off again because the next thing I remember the police were there and another two older women were also at my side. They had seen the whole thing from a distance and said they saw the gang running off.' Melanie took up wild water swimming to help with her mental health and ease anxiety issues but says she has been left in a bad place since the incident earlier this week. In addition to her trauma, the gran is badly bruised and finding it difficult to walk. She added: 'It's a beautiful area and my favourite place to go for a swim so I just wanted to hang around and enjoy the sunshine. 'I noticed some youths earlier and some of them seemed drunk, but they were a distance away from me so I hadn't really paid them any attention and we had no interaction whatsoever. 'I had pitched a little pop-up tent by the water and was lying on it relaxing when I suddenly opened my eyes and noticed some of this gang had congregated around me.' Melanie was left with two painful bruised eyes and bruising elsewhere across her face When Melanie came to, two young girls were crouched by her side and asked her if she was OK She isn't sure if she will ever be able to return to her 'favourite place' to swim again and is desperate for the police to find the culprits to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone ever again. Melanie said: 'I was rushed to the hospital but thankfully my injuries were not too serious. It could have been much worse with the way they were stamping on my head. 'I have obviously been badly bruised on my face and my legs and ribs are very tender. I am still unstable on my feet three days later. 'I just really want to make sure these people are caught. Rotten Calder is such a nice place and normally you see elderly people walking their dogs and mums with their children. 'What happens if they decide to attack someone like that next?' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 6.30pm on Monday, June 24, we received a report of an assault on a woman at Calderfalls, Blantyre. 'The 52-year-old woman was taken to Hairmyres Hospital for treatment. Enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.' Vladimir Putin's propagandists have come down hard on Joe Biden after last night's disastrous TV election debate - labelling the US president 'frail' and saying he should be 'at home babysitting his grandchildren' rather than leading the free world. Pro-Kremlin media outlets and commentators taunted Washington, gleefully claiming the real stand-out winner of the clash was neither Biden nor Donald Trump, but Putin. Supporters revelled in disparaging Biden's apparent implosion, which saw him stumble over his words and lose his train of thought, with so-called experts suggesting it left leadership of the Western world in peril amid the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin itself also appeared to belittle the election showdown - with Putin's spokesman claiming the dictator was too busy to wake up to watch the debate. 'I don't think you would expect that the President of Russia could set an alarm clock, wake up in the morning and watch a debate in the United States,' said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov. 'After all, this is not an event on our agenda.' US President Joe Biden, speaks during a presidential debate with Republican candidate Donald Trump Vladimir Putin's spokesman claimed the dictator was too busy to wake up and watch the debate Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump (L) looks at U.S. President Joe Biden during the CNN Presidential Debate Peskov went on to say: 'We have a lot of issues that are really important to our country and that are relevant to us. These are the issues that our president is dealing with. 'Debates in the United States are not in any way in the category of the top issues on the agenda. But nevertheless, of course, we have seen media reports about these debates, we will familiarise ourselves with them in more detail. 'This is an internal matter of the United States. So, of course, we will familiarise ourselves with all the statements that have been made.' But, he said, there would be no attempt to 'assess this debate' or make 'official conclusions', and he insisted: 'We have never interfered in the election campaigns of the United States.' Putin rarely comments on elections in the US, and has previously vowed to 'work with any US leader'. But he blasted America's judicial and political systems last month following Trump's felony conviction, saying it was being used by the former president's enemies to damage his chances of re-election. 'They [the US] are burning themselves from the inside, their state, their political system,' he warned. The impression in Moscow now is that Putin will be privately pleased with last night's chaotic debate, and that it will mean he is able to dictate terms in the war in Ukraine with the West appearing leaderless. Professor Alexey Chesnakov, of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, declared: 'Who won today's debate? Putin!' Many Russians believe that Donald Trump would be more favourable to Putin both in backing Moscow's demands and stopping the flow of Western munitions to Kyiv. Professor Alexey Chesnakov, of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, declared: 'Who won today's debate? Putin!' Russia propaganda TV rejoiced in exploiting Biden's weak performance. 'A half-open mouth, unblinking eyes, a blank expression on his face this is how Joe Biden appeared before an audience of millions,' said Russian state TV New York bureau chief Valentin Bogdanov on Kremlin mouthpiece channel, RT. 'He added to this sad spectacle a hoarse voice, swallowed words and constant slips of the tongue. 'The most loyal liberal CNN anchors were powerless. The head of the White House did not even lose to Trump. To himself.' There was now 'deep panic' in the Democratic Party, he said. Pro-Kremlin outlet Pool No. 3 mocked that Biden 'was taken out in public for an hour and a half without assistants, cheat sheets or a prompter, and everyone saw who he really was - an elderly, frail man with weak memory and partial loss of thinking, who, in an amicable way, should be babysitting his grandchildren at home, and not to impose democracy around the world in an aggressive manner. Political scientist Alexander Gorbunov ridiculed the US political system, contrasting it with Russia's dictatorship which he claimed ensures strong leadership 'To put it simply, the States discovered that their king was completely naked. That is why there is such a howl in the Washington swamp.' It claimed: 'Putin, naturally, won in the debates.' Political scientist Alexander Gorbunov ridiculed the US political system, contrasting it with Russia's dictatorship which he claimed ensures strong leadership. 'Everyone understands that one [contender] has already lost his presence in this world, and the second is present purely for fun [Trump]. 'In theory, both of them should have been dumped at the primaries stage: for health reasons and a combination of scandals. 'But in practice, no one will loudly say: 'Listen, these two have already sat in the Oval Office, let's consider someone else?' The third [option] is not even in a hypothetical idea.How do you say in English: 'If not Putin, then who?' Vladimir Kornilov, analyst at state news outlet Russia Today, noted a veteran Democratic strategist saying that Biden cannot now beat Trump. Vladimir Kornilov, analyst at state news outlet Russia Today, noted a veteran Democratic strategist saying that Biden cannot now beat Trump The Russian pundit said: 'I just want to ask this 'experienced strategist': wasn't this clear to you before the debate?' Earlier state-run Channel One said: 'For Donald Trump, the issue is that he is a convicted felon, and for Joe Biden, it is his age. 'This might seem a formality, but the chances of at least one or even both of them not being the candidate are not zero.' A Reform UK activist secretly filmed racially abusing Rishi Sunak today admitted he is an actor - but insisted he genuinely campaigns for the party. Andrew Parker was recorded calling the Prime Minister 'a f***ing p***' as he canvassed in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex by Channel 4. The 63-year-old was also filmed saying that Reform would turn all mosques into Weatherspoons pubs and suggested asylum seekers who try to come to Kent from France on small boats should be shot on the beach by young British Army recruits as target practice. But today Mr Parker, a divorced father of one, from Bishop Stortford, Herts, who is a part time actor, refused when asked three times if he had been paid to infiltrate Reform UK to make their volunteers appear racist. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Parker said he'd been set up by Channel - but added: 'I'm not going to say anything, I think the best thing I can do is not say anything at all. Andrew Parker, who works as an actor, was filmed calling the Prime Minister 'a f***ing p***' as he canvassed in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex The Channel 4 News investigation revealed Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser, advocating for Channel migrants to be shot by Army recruits Today Mr Parker (pictured acting), who is a part time actor, refused when asked three times if he had been paid to infiltrate Reform UK to make their volunteers appear racist. 'I'm getting phone calls non-stop and it's making me ill to be honest and it's not fair on me. It's really causing me a lot of stress and I really can't stand much more. 'I was set-up, it's as simple as that, the guy was laughing and joking with it all the time. 'He pretended to be part of the Reform campaign team. It was just a joke and it's become ridiculous, 'We were having laughs and jokes like blokes do have laughs and jokes - that was it really. I feel a bit of a fool, but I'm not used to this media stuff.' Mr Parker says his primary income has come from being a property developer. He says he is a part time actor who has been an extra in the Ricky Gervais film David Brent: Life on the Road and is well-suited to playing the villain or Mafia-type roles. Mr Parker also denied being a racist - although he conceded his comments were 'pathetic' - and that he is 'an outdated old git'. The footage, published by Channel 4 News, was taken within the Reform campaign in Clacton, Essex, where Nigel Farage is bidding to be elected an MP next week Mr Parker (pictured acting) also denied being a racist - although he conceded his comments were 'pathetic' - and that he is 'an outdated old git'. In another conversation, Mr Parker was filmed describing PM Rishi Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in' Asked whether he would like to apologise, he said: 'Of course I'm sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says. 'He said he had 'a lot of Pakistani friends' and 'Muslim friends', and that he was 'sick to death' of being asked about the footage. He added: 'I regret the choice of words but listen I'm old school. I'm a Brit. I call a Scotsman a Scot. It's pathetic really. It's not racist. But then I'm an outdated old git'. He added: Llisten I'm old school, yeah, I'm a Brit, I call a Scotsman a Scot. I'm just old school, it's just pathetic really. 'It just got out of control, a typical media storm.' Spanish police have called for an 'army of volunteers' to join them in a massive search of a Tenerife mountain where missing raver Jay Slater may have disappeared. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, has not been seen since June 17 after he went missing following a night out on the infamous Veronicas strip in Tenerife's Playa de las Americas resort. The apprentice bricklayer then went back to the Casa Abuela Tina Airbnb near the rugged Rural de Teno national park, in the remote village of Masca, with two men he had met at the three-day NRG music festival. The owner of the villa said she saw Jay standing at a nearby bus stop at around 8am. He asked her when the next bus was to Los Cristianos, but when he was told it wasn't until 10am, he set off on foot for what would have been an 11-hour walk. Jay was last seen at around 8.15am walking uphill near the national park. He then phoned his friend Lucy Mae Law at 8.50am to tell her that he was 'tired, thirsty and disorientated' with only one per cent battery left on his phone. In their first direct appeal for help, a spokesperson for the police today said officers were preparing a 'coordinated large scale operation' on Saturday. The search will focus on the Masca gorge, around 3000ft above sea level and which has been combed by police, drones, dogs and helicopters since he was reported missing. It comes as: Jay Slater, pictured with his mother, has not been seen since June 17 after he went missing following a night out in Tenerife's Playa de las Americas resort The apprentice bricklayer went back to the Casa Abuela Tina Airbnb (pictured) near the rugged Rural de Teno national park with two men It comes amid criticism of the Spanish for refusing an offer of help from their Lancashire counterparts last week, as the search for Jay now enters day 12. A statement from the police HQ on Tenerife said: 'Collaboration is requested from volunteer associations, civil protection teams, firefighters and even individuals who are experts in rugged search terrain.' A spokesman clarified that it was not asking the 'unexperienced' general public to join the search. The GoFundMe page set up to provide financial support to the family smashed through the 40,000 barrier. It comes as it emerged ghoulish visitors on 'Jeep safari tours' are flocking to the Tenerife Airbnb where Jay spent his final hours before vanishing. Although Jay only spent a matter of hours in Casa Abuela Tina, the villa once popular with hikers attempting to trek up the Teno mountains now appears to have become a tourism spot. The road outside the two-bedroom farmhouse is packed with rental cars of British tourists and groups taking photos from Jeep 'safari' tours, The Times reports. One woman, who lives in Birmingham and Spain, told the newspaper: 'This is our second time here. I asked to drive this route because I just wanted to see it one more time. I want to get some answers.' 'It gives me actual chills,' she added. The teenager's mystery disappearance has led to a number of internet sleuths flying to Tenerife to join the search in the mountains. Although Spanish authorities claim the case has been clouded by 'inaccurate' conspiracy theories on social media, Jay's desperate family have called in the help of one TikTok sleuth - Paul Arnott. The 29-year-old, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an 'explorer', has been searching for Jay since Saturday. He has posted more than 70 videos since, racking up millions of views as he joins police and sniffer dogs in the mountains. He said they had been focusing on two specific routes off the main road which lead to a water source. 'I'm meeting the family today,' Mr Arnott - who paid 400 for a flight from Fort William to Tenerife - told The Telegraph. 'I've been speaking with Brad's mum, Rachel. They wanted to bring me food but I said no. They said they wanted to meet me. They said they're really proud of what I'm doing.' Jay's desperate family have called in the help of one TikTok sleuth - Paul Arnott (pictured) 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 The teenager posted this Snapchat image on the morning he went missing in Spain New pictures show apprentice bricklayer Jay, 19, lounging by the pool of the Hard Rock Hotel in Playa de las Americas with dozens of other holidaymakers before he went missing. Pictured: With friends Brandon Hodgkin and Lucy Mae Law Dressed in camouflage style swimming trunks the picture was taken on the second day of the NRG festival at a pool party which was described on social media as 'epic' Also, in the picture with her back to the camera in a white skirt, is Jay's friend Lucy Mae Law, 19, left, and it was taken on June 15 just two days before he vanished Holding a plastic cup in his hand (right) he appears to be standing by himself while Lucy (left) is talking to another group of boys The last confirmed sighting of Jay Slater, above, was at about 8am last Monday by a woman who had told him the bus was due at 10am when he asked This is the CCTV image the family of Jay Slater are hoping and praying is him - more than a week after he mysteriously vanished on Tenerife Canary Island police officers carry out a drone search for missing Jay Slater in the Los Carrizales ravine Jay's mother, Debbie Duncan said she 'can't thank Paul Arnott enough' as she also praised fellow TikTok creater Callum Rahim and his friends for helping with the search. She said the family were ignoring the unfounded social media conspiracy theories which have threatened to derail the search. It comes as police on Thursday started searching around caves near Los Carrizales, a new area in the Masca valley which they have not looked at before. Two abandoned shacks where Jay's phone last pinged have been the police's focus so far. MailOnline yesterday revealed new photos of Jay chatting to friends at a hotel pool party just two days before he vanished. And on Tuesday, the investigation took a strange twist when the mayor of Tenerife revealed that police were quizzing locals who claimed they had seen Jay 'watching the Euros' in a bar in Puerto de Santiago - a coastal resort on the island. Police in Tenerife say no one is talking yet about halting the search for Jay. The Civil Guard, which has been leading the operation where the teenager was last seen, said it was continuing as normal yesterday. Spanish police search for missing teenager Jay Slater in the Masca valley on June 26 On Thursday, a team of officers turned their attention to a new search area in the Masca valley Police were concentrating their search on a ravine further along the national park, with caves near Los Carrizales being investigated The Los Carrizales ravine where the search for British teenager Jay Slater is being carried out More sniffer dogs trained in searching for people over large expanses of land were flown in from Madrid and joined the operation on Tuesday. A Civil Guard spokesman said: 'The Civil Guard is continuing to search for the young British man who disappeared, carrying out inspections of all the paths, trails and ravines belonging to the village of Masca within the municipality of Buenavista del Norte.' The force also released footage showing officers moving on foot through some of the rough and remote terrain and others carrying out aerial inspections in a helicopter. A well-placed source added: 'No one at the moment is talking about the search being brought to an end. 'There will be a point when the operation that is taking place at the moment has to be at least scaled back. But right now the search teams appear to have decided they want to give themselves more time.' It comes as Jay's mother Debbie Duncan revealed she is in talks with GoFundMe to release some of the 36,000 in donations given to an appeal in order to help finance rescue efforts and 'living costs' in Tenerife. Spanish police released footage showing officers moving on foot through some of the rough and remote terrain Others were seen carrying out aerial inspections in the Civil Guard helicopter Jay's mother Debbie Duncan has revealed she is in talks with GoFundMe to release some of the 36,000 in donations given to an appeal as the family continues to search for him The GoFundMe appeal has raised more than 36,000 since it was set up by Lucy Mae Law. Debbie Duncan provided an update today Jay called his friend Lucy Mae Law (pictured), 18, to say he was 'lost in the mountains, with no water, one percent battery' and he had cut his leg on a cactus Ms Duncan, 55, said the money would be used for mountain rescue, accommodation and food expenses. In a statement posted on GoFundMe on Thursday, she said: 'First, I would like to thank everyone for your support, kind messages, and good wishes. It's difficult to wrap our heads around what is happening right now, but we are not losing hope that we will find Jay and return home together. 'We are currently working with GoFundMe to withdraw part of the funds, which are being safely held. I wanted to share that these funds will be used to support the mountain rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay. 'Additionally, since our stay in Tenerife needs to be extended, we will also use the funds to cover accommodation and food expenses. 'I'm surrounded by wonderful people who are by my side, but far from their loved ones, so we'll also be using part of these funds to fly them to Tenerife so we can support each other during these dark times. 'Thank you again for all your donations and support, this means the world to us.' The appeal was started last week by his friend Lucy and reached its 30,000 target in just three days although some contributors have expressed concerns over where the funds will go. Nigel Farage suggested that a Reform activist filmed making a string of sickening racist remarks was an actor today, as his party descended into chaos. The Reform leader leaned into Twitter claims about Andrew Parker, who was recorded by Channel 4 News in Clacton suggesting migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches. Mr Parker also branded Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose grandparents were Indian, a 'f***king p***, and called for Muslims to be ejected from mosques so they can be turned into Wetherspoons pubs. He was one of a number of Reform activists recorded making racist and sexist remarks in the Essex town where Mr Farage is hoping to become the MP on July 4. Another exchange showed one suggesting LGBT people are 'degenerate', with others saying that they would turn the police into 'paramilitaries'. Writing on X this morning Mr Farage shared a link to Mr Parker's acting page, saying 'this whole episode does not add up'. 'Andrew Parker was the man that made the astonishing racist comments that have given us so much negative coverage. We now learn that he is an actor by profession. His own website says he is ''well spoken'' but from the moment he arrived in Clacton he was doing what he calls ''rough speaking''.' However while Mr Parker confirmed to Mail Online that he is an actor, he said he became involved with Reform UK by contacting the party himself and volunteering to do leafletting because he believes in its message, and had not mentioned that he was an actor. He said he 'regretted' his 'old school' choice of words, saying: 'I'm a Brit. I call a Scotsman a Scot. It's pathetic really.' When questioned about the fact that the p-word has more of a darker context than calling a Scotsman a 'Scot' he added: 'I don't know about thatI'm still someone who, when I go down to the takeaway, [say] 'I'm going to down the c****y'. 'It's not racist. But then I'm an outdated old git.' The footage, published by Channel 4 News, was taken within the Reform campaign in Clacton, Essex, where Nigel Farage is bidding to be elected an MP next week The Channel 4 News investigation revealed Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser, advocating for Channel migrants to be shot by Army recruits Mr Parker does not deny being a part-time actor, but told GB News it was a sideline and his main work was as a property developer. He said claims he was paid to fit up Reform were 'total rubbish' In another conversation, Mr Parker was filmed describing PM Rishi Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in' Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast : 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' Mr Parker said he had made the comments in 'the heat of the moment' because he was being 'goaded on'. 'Of course, I regret what I said,' he added. 'Christ, I'm not a racist. I've had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk.' Asked whether he would like to apologise, he said: 'Of course I'm sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says.' He said he had 'a lot of Pakistani friends' and 'Muslim friends', and that he was 'sick to death' of being asked about the footage. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 News said: 'We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. 'We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. 'We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.' Reform has also yet to explain why, if he was acting, he used his real name, which is easily discoverable online.Mr Farage claimed during an interview on BBC Panorama that the West 'provoked' Russia through Nato and the European Union The Prime Minister likened the Reform leader to those who, in the 1930s, opposed taking a firm stand against Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. In a newspaper interview Mr Sunak said: 'What he said was wrong, it was completely wrong. It plays into Putin's hands. This is the guy that used nerve agents on British streets, he's doing deals with North Korea. That is who we're talking about here.' Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast: 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' The activists involved were disowned by the party after the footage was published by Channel 4 News last night. At the same time Mr Sunak launched his strongest attack yet on Mr Farage, branding him a 'Putin appeaser' over his views on Ukraine. Recent opinion polls show Reform falling back, suggesting the row is hurting the party's popularity. It is also being hit by wave after wave of revelations about far-right views being espoused by some of its candidates. Yesterday Reform dropped support for a candidate who used to be a member of the far-right British National Party (BNP). A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent. Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent. Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent. However a megapoll that dropped yesterday suggested his party could still be on course to win 18 seats on July 4. The Reform leader said last night that he was 'dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign'. Mr Farage added they would no longer be with his campaign in the seaside constituency. Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July. The Channel 4 News investigation revealed comments about Muslims by Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser. He described Muslims as 'sick m*****f******', adding: 'It's a cult. I tell you what, if you don't know about Islam, it is the most disgusting cult out. 'We're f****** kicking all the Muslims out of the mosques and turning them into Wetherspoons.' A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, George Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet?' In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers' George Jones (pictured, left) is said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign In the same conversation, Mr Parker also described Mr Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. He's just wet. F****** useless'. Filmed speaking to a prospective voter on the doorstep, Mr Parker suggested Army recruits should carry out 'target practice' on those crossing the Channel in small boats. 'Get the young recruits there, yeah, with guns on the f****** beach, target practice,' he said. 'F****** just shoot them. That is what the Greeks done You know about that. The Greeks shot a load Ringfence Bradfordstan. 'Round the f****** up. Do that f****** lot as well. And you've got these bastards running our country. You must be f****** joking mate.' The footage also showed a separate exchange between George Jones, said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign, Rob Bates, a senior party campaigner, and Roger Gravett, Reform's regional manager for London and candidate for Tottenham. As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, Mr Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet? 'What are the old bill doing promoting that crap? They should be out catching nonces not promoting the f******.' Mr Gravett is later heard saying: 'When we form the government in 2029 then surely we can change lots of things'. Nigel Farage responds to Channel 4 News undercover investigation within the Reform UK campaign in Clacton, exposing examples of racist language and raising questions whether the party has breached the local electoral campaign spending limit in the seat. pic.twitter.com/Qspj5gUKXk Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 27, 2024 A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities', Farage said In response, Mr Jones is heard saying 'our police officers will be paramilitaries, they won't be police' and that Reform should 'bring back the noose'. Robert Bates and Roger Gravett are not understood to have made any racist or homophobic remarks in the exchange themselves. In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers. They will no longer be with the campaign. 'The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy. Some of the language used was reprehensible. 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities. 'I would be interested to know whether Channel 4 is subjecting the grassroots volunteers of all the political parties to similar subterfuges, or whether Reform UK has been singled out for special attention.' Honorary President of the Britain's right-wing populist party Reform UK Nigel Farage and party leader Richard Tice Reform Party leader, Richard Tice, and founding member, Nigel Farage, on stage at the Reform Party annual conference on October 7, 2023 Mr Parker said: 'I would like to make it clear that neither Nigel Farage personally or the Reform Party are aware of my personal views on immigration. 'I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. 'At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party or Nigel Farage. 'I would therefore like to apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention. 'I offered to help the Reform Party on their canvassing as I believe that they are the only party that offer the UK voter a practical solution to the illegal immigration problem that we have in the UK.' A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment. Fines in Benidorm for drinking on a beach can be up to 635 This is the moment two stunned British sunbathers were confronted by Spanish cops in Benidorm for sharing a bottle of rose by the water as the resort clamps down on boozing. Footage shows the officers standing on a sea wall talking to the unnamed men who had set up with a table on the sand to enjoy a bottle of wine at the Spanish seaside town. Another pair of Brits filming the incident - Darren, 46, also known as Dazza, and his friend, Graham, 36, from Middlesbrough - claim in their video that it was their fellow tourists may have become the first victims of Benidorm's ban on boozing on the beach. Officials recently imposed fines of up to 650 for breaching the rule. The men, who were sitting in deck-chairs on the beach, were approached by police and spoken to as they sipped on some wine in the sun. But Darren said: 'It's the first time I've ever seen the police move people off the beach for drinking.' Two British tourists have been removed from a beach in Benidorm for sharing a bottle of wine on the water Police were recorded approaching the two men before allegedly asking them to leave. This comes as Benidorm introduces a series of fines to clampdown on tourists, which includes a booze ban which could cost up to 635 The two men can be seen complying with the police officers It is unclear whether the two men were fined, but they were reportedly removed from the beach Police were seen patrolling along the walkway near the Benidorm beach The video, which has racked up over 2,346 likes on TikTok, shows a small foldaway table between the pair, on which a bottle of rose and two glasses rest. Darren can be heard saying: 'There's a couple there getting done for drinking on the beach.' He continues videoing as the police approach other tourists. 'The two men were doing nothing wrong, just chilling out with a bottle of wine,' Darren adds. 'It's the first time I've ever seen the police move people off the beach for drinking. 'It's getting really strict over there, the police don't mess about and they're out searching people every night. The fine for drinking on the beach in Benidorm is 750, the equivalent of around 635. It is unclear whether the two men were fined, but they were reportedly removed from the beach. The TikTok has also garnered hundreds of comments from users. Popular destinations are bringing in a range of measures to try toning down tourists' behaviour One user said: 'It's Benidorm, I thought everyone drank everywhere', while another added: 'The fun police.' But there were some followers who agreed with the fines. 'If it says you can't drink on the beach that's the law,' someone commented, while another TikTok user said: 'Rules are rules end of'. Benidorm is one of the many Spanish tourist hotspots that has clamped down on holidaymakers, and the booze ban is just one of its several newly-introduced measures to control rowdy tourists. This summer's clampdown comes amid furious protests by locals, not only taking to the streets but also occupying beaches to send away tourist visitors. New rules on drinking have been introduced in a bid to combat unruly behaviour Drunken Brits are seen in the streets of Spanish holiday resort Magaluf this summer Graffiti telling tourists to 'go home' - as well as blunter language - has become commonplace in sun-dappled Mediterranean resorts across Spain, Greece and elsewhere. Landlocked cities are also getting fed up with visiting Brits living it up on city breaks - and, often even more aggravatingly, raucous stag dos and hen parties. Holidaymakers and travel firms insist there has been an overreaction - and pointed to the benefits in lavish spending on places reliant on foreigners' spending. New rules in Magaluf ban drinking in the street and buying alcohol from grocery stores after 8.30pm - with fines of up to 1,500 (1,350) or rising to 3,000 (2,550) for more serious behaviour breaches. Earlier this month jeering Majorcans blocked confused holidaymakers from accessing an idyllic beach on the island. Members of the public protesting at the Calo des Moro beach outside Santanyi, Majorca, on June 16 - where tourists were told to 'go, go, go' Also, last month bout 15,000 locals marched through Palma to protest against what they said was 'over-tourism' - while boozy Brits crowding the beaches and streets of Magaluf highlighted as a factor behind the new drink bans and fines. Elsewhere in Spain, Brits have been told they face 170 fines if they buy souvenirs from unlicensed sellers on the beaches and streets of Costa Blanca - while sunbed wars have also been breaking out. Plain-clothed cops are on patrol to dish out penalties to unsuspecting tourists. Sir Keir Starmer today confirmed he would quit as Labour leader if he loses the general election. The 61-year-old is aiming for a decade in power if Labour wins next week's contest - but he admitted his time as party leader would end if he suffers defeat on 4 July. Answering questions this morning on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir also accepted his recent remarks about Bangladesh were 'clumsy'. The Labour leader sparked a fierce backlash after using the Asian country as an example of where migrants could be returned to under his immigration plans. Official migration figures show just 42 Bangladeshis entered the UK illegally in the year leading up to March 2024 making up just 0.1 per cent of total illegal arrivals. Sir Keir's comments outraged some Labour politicians, who hit out at 'dog whistle racism' and lined up to show solidarity with the Bangladeshi community in Britain. Sir Keir Starmer today confirmed he would quit as Labour leader if he loses the general election The 61-year-old is aiming for a decade in power if Labour wins next week's contest - but he admitted his time as party leader would end if he suffers defeat on 4 July Labour candidate Apsana Begum hit out at 'dog-whistle racism' amid a backlash at Sir Keir's comments about Bangladesh during a debate on migration During this morning's tense phone-in show, the Labour leader was asked by a caller 'how can we differentiate you with Nigel Farage' given 'your recent racist comments'. It came after Sir Keir said 'people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed' from the UK currently, while answering questions from an audience at The Sun's election debate on Monday. Sir Keir told the caller he had not intended to cause offence or upset and was 'genuinely, genuinely concerned if that was the case'. Asked by BBC presenter Nicky Campbell whether he accepted the comments had been clumsy, the party leader said: 'Clumsy would be a good word, and I didn't mean to offend anyone, I was simply answering the question.' Later in the phone-in show, Campbell asked Sir Keir if he would resign as Labour leader if he loses the election - particuarly if he loses 'badly'. Sir Keir replied: 'Yes.' During The Sun's election event, Sir Keir pointed to the number of people being returned to their home country dropping to 44 per cent under the Tory Government. He said: 'So, in the first few days in government, I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll put the staff back in the returns unit, I'll make sure we've got planes going off, not to Rwanda, because that's an expensive gimmick.' Asked where they would be sent, he added: 'At the moment, people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed, because they're not being processed.' Following Sir Keir's comments, Labour candidate Apsana Begum said migrants should not be 'scapegoated' by politicians. Ms Begum, who is standing in the London constituency of Poplar and Limehouse, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: 'It's totally unacceptable for politicians of any party to use dog-whistle racism against Bangladeshis or any other migrant community.' She added: 'We know where this leads, and why the Bangladeshi community led the anti-fascist fightback in the wake of the murder of Altab Ali in 1978 with the message 'here to stay'.' On Wednesday, deputy leader of Tower Hamlets' Labour group Sabina Akhtar accused Sir Keir of singling out her community and insulting her Bangladeshi identity, before quitting over the remarks. In a social media post, Ms Akhtar said she could not be proud of the Labour Party any more, adding: 'It is clear the direction it is heading is unacceptable to me and my community.' Shadow business minister Rushanara Ali said in a statement she was 'proud to be the first British Bangladeshi MP' elected to the Commons. The Labour candidate for Bethnal Green and Stepney in London said she was in close contact with Sir Keir over the comments and had relayed concerns. During a campaign visit to Staffordshire on Thursday, Sir Keir said he 'certainly wasn't intending to cause any concern or offence' to British Bangladeshis who have made an 'enormous contribution to our country'. He said he had instead meant that in relation to asylum seekers returns, Bangladesh is a safe country and one that had a returns agreement with the UK. Sir Keir said he wanted to 'build on the very strong relationship' the party already had with the Bangladeshi community in Britain if Labour, which enjoys a sustained double-digit lead in the polls, wins the election. Labour officials suggested Sir Keir chose to single out Bangladesh because it was the most recent country with which Britain has signed a removals deal. But Bangladesh was also singled out by shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth earlier this week when he told BBC Newsnight: 'We're going to get on with processing people's claims and those people that shouldn't be here, when they come from countries like Bangladesh or wherever, we're going to send them back.' Mish Rahman, who sits on Labour's National Executive Committee, told Times Radio: 'He's been bang out of line. And unfortunately, this seems to be a regular occurrence when Keir Starmer makes these comments to camera where he makes these awful, awful errors of judgment.' One insider compared his comments from Monday to his slip-up last year when he appeared to tell LBC that Israel had the right to cut off power and water in Gaza. The episode caused outrage with British Muslim voters, many of whom have since abandoned the party. The source added: 'Keir keeps doing and saying things which only serve to other and scapegoat minorities. At what point do you just concede that this is what he really thinks?' An edited clip of Sir Keir's comments is already doing the rounds on Bangladeshi community WhatsApp groups. There are more than 650,000 UK Bangladeshis, almost half of whom live in London. A Labour spokesman said the clip 'has been edited to make it look as though Keir Starmer is suggesting repatriation of British Bangladeshis. It is misinformation'. The home of doomsday prophet Chad Daybell where the remains of two children he murdered were found has been put on the market. Daybell, 55, was given the death sentence earlier this month for the murders of his first wife Tammy Daybell and his co-conspirator Lori Vallow's two children. The remains of Joshua 'JJ' Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, were found on the property in Rexburg, Idaho, in June 2020 which has now hit the market for $350,000. The four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom stretches to 1,644 square feet of living space and sits on four acres of land. Potential buyers will need to look past the grizzly history of the ranch-style home which was built in 1960 and is now owned by Daybell's attorney John Prior. The four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom stretches to 1,644 square feet of living space and sits on four acres of land Potential buyers will need to look past the grizzly history of the ranch-style home which was built in 1960 and is now owned by Daybell's attorney John Prior Images of the property show a white paint scheme in the living room and kitchen, which has a bench in the middle of it. What appears to be the bedroom of a young boy and girl are also seen in photographs of the home. It is unclear if these are the bedroom's of the children. The property listing, first reported by Realtor.com, includes the caveat: 'There is a very tragic situation with this home, please have your realtor investigate for you.' Police said that they believed the bodies of the two children were buried by Daybell sometime between September of 2019 and June of 2020. Aerial footage captured at the time shows investigators digging up soil around what appeared to be a well in the back yard. The children both disappeared within days of one another in September of 2019 before their remains were discovered in the backyard of the property. Seventeen days after JJ was last seen alive, Tammy Daybell then died suddenly in her sleep. Police said that they believed the bodies of the two children were buried by Daybell sometime between September of 2019 and June of 2020 In this June 9, 2020, file aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's residence in Salem, Idaho Aerial footage captured at the time shows investigators digging up soil around what appeared to be a well in the back yard Though her death was believed to be due to natural causes, her corpse was exhumed and after an autopsy, it was determined that she was suffocated to death. During his trial, Daybell was accused of crafting an alternate reality so that he could fulfill 'his desire for sex, money and power'. Daybell, who was a self-published author and wrote doomsday-focused fiction based on Mormon readings, had been in a relationship with Lori Vallow. The couple married in November 2019, just a few weeks after Tammy was killed and not long after he children disappeared. The two were indicted in 2021 on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft by deception in the kid's deaths. Last year, Vallow was convicted and handed a string of multiple life sentences behind bars without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors said that the couple had justified the killings by creating a detailed and apocalyptic belief system. The killings had been part of an elaborate scheme to eliminate any obstacles to their relationship and obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. The couple married in November 2019, just a few weeks after Tammy was killed and not long after he children, pictured here, disappeared During his trial, Daybell was accused of crafting an alternate reality so that he could fulfill 'his desire for sex, money and power' Vallow claimed that she had been in communication with her dead children and blamed their deaths on 'accidents and suicide'. She also told the sentencing court that she had been friends with Tammy who is also 'extremely busy in heaven' and said all three regularly visit her. Vallow said: 'Jesus knows me and Jesus understands me. I mourn with all of you who mourn my children and Tammy'. She claimed: 'Jesus Christ knows the truth of what happened here. Jesus Christ knows no one was murdered in this case. 'Accidental deaths happen, suicides happen, fatal side effects of medications happen. 'I have access to heaven and the spirit world. I have had many communications from people now living in heaven, including my children, my sisters, my aunts and my uncle and my grandparents. 'I've had many communications with Jesus Christ and our heavenly parents, and many angelic visitors. Vallow claimed that she had been in communication with her dead children and blamed their deaths on 'accidents and suicide' 'Because of these communications I know for a fact that my children are happy and busy in the spirit world. I know my friend Tammy Daybell is also very happy and extremely busy.' Defense attorney Jim Archibald argued during the trial there was no evidence tying Vallow to the killings. Archibald said she was a loving, protective mother whose life took a sharp turn when she met Daybell and fell for his 'weird' apocalyptic religious claims. Daybell told her they had been married in several previous lives and she was a 'sexual goddess' who was supposed to help him save the world by gathering 144,000 followers so Jesus could return, Archibald said. Vallow's former friend Melanie Gibb testified that Vallow believed people in her life had been taken over by evil spirits and turned into 'zombies,' including JJ and Tylee. The family and the case was featured on the popular Netflix TV documentary, 'Sins of our Mother.' Netflix's series, which features her surviving child Colby Ryan, 26, reveals the details behind the killings, and Lori's beliefs that convinced her there was a 'dark spirit' inside her daughter, and the only way to 'free the spirit is to kill the body.' Griff Rhys Jones has revealed he used to have a stalker who threatened to murder him if his comedy partner Mel Smith gave him a 'signal' on TV. The Welsh star said a 'seriously deranged loony' repeatedly wrote to Smith, his co-star and good friend, telling him 'I can easily kill him for you, mate'. Rhys Jones said for over three years - while filming their iconic Alas Smith and Jones sketch show - he was terrified that Smith might have him killed by giving the mysterious stalker a signal on TV. Rhys Jones, 70, told how he feared the stalker would end up 'wearing my skin'. The 'nutter' - who Rhys Jones described as an 'invisible and frankly threatening presence in my life' - was never identified and eventually stopped sending letters. Griff Rhys Jones (pictured) has revealed he used to have a stalker who threatened to murder him if his comedy partner Mel Smith gave him a 'signal' on TV. The Welsh star (right) said a 'seriously deranged loony' repeatedly wrote to Smith (left), his co-star and good friend, telling him 'I can easily kill him for you, mate'. Alas Smith and Jones - later called Smith and Jones - ran for 10 seasons from 1984 to 1998. Smith died aged 60 in 2013. Writing in the Oldie magazine, Rhys Jones revealed how he was stalked by the frightening individual at the height of his fame with Smith. He claimed their agent said Smith had been receiving 'really disturbing, psychotic letters' that were addressed to Smith but were clearly about Rhys Jones. Rhys Jones said his hands 'trembled' as he read the latest one. It said 'Mel, I am writing to you because I can see, from watching the telly, that you hate Griff Rhys Jones nearly as much as I do. He is always at you. That snide b*****d'. Rhys Jones added: 'Stalkers usually start besotted and move on to dangerous antipathy, don't they? This one had jumped straight to stage two. 'He went into telling detail. "He reminds me of my father, Mel", he wrote. "He enrages me. I have been away for a bit, but I am back now and I can easily kill him for you, mate". 'It was an endorsement of my acting prowess - this bloke thought the sketches were real.' Rhys Jones said he asked how long the office had been receiving the mail and was taken aback when his agent replied 'six months'. Writing in the Oldie magazine, Rhys Jones revealed how he was stalked by the frightening individual at the height of his fame with Smith (the pair are pictured together in 1987) The Welsh comedy legend said 'to my horror' the stalker listed places that the actor often frequented, including his home, his tailors, the Groucho, and Clarence House. 'And, most disturbingly, he said he had stood right next to me on a bollard in Oxford Street, only the day before yesterday. He could easily have pushed me in front of a truck,' he added. Rhys Jones said he was left frightened because he recalled being by the bollard on Oxford Street and the truck. He continued: 'He explained that he restrained himself only because he wanted to Mel to give him a signal. A signal! 'Mel had to give a gesture on the telly and he would push me in front of a post-office van, or any other vehicle routinely driven insanely fast through central London. 'But, of course, it was unsettling when Mel and I were performing together. 'I was fairly confident Mel Smith would never sit alongside me on a stool and give a signal to someone to murder me. 'But then what sort of signal is a signal to murder someone? It was all a bit subjective. 'And Smith did scratch a lot. He was a restless soul. And he gurned at the camera from time to time. 'If you wonder why in the last three series of Alas Smith and Jones I spent a lot of time staring at Smith, that is the reason.' Police are investigating the mystery death of a British sailor found floating in the sea with head injuries on an exclusive Greek island. The unnamed 44-year-old was found dead 'in a bay area' of the island of Spetses, south west of Athens, this morning with what appeared to be injuries on the left side of his head. 'There was a gash to the left side of his head, a wound that is puzzling us,' an official reported as investigators move the body to Piraeus for a coroner's examination. 'He seems to have been hit. We hope to have answers soon because right now it is a mystery as to how he died.' According to Greek media, the sailor had been taking part in an annual classic yacht regatta on the island running from June 26 to 29 before he was found lifeless. Spetses is holding a classic yacht regatta, which the victim is believed to have attended File photo. The victim was reportedly found lifeless in the sea with head injuries near Spetses There are conflicting reports as to where exactly the body was found with some reports claiming a crew on a passing vessel saw his body on the pier. Others said he was found on a boat. The circumstances of his death have not yet been made clear. He was taken to a local hospital which confirmed his death, the coastguard said. The body is now expected to be transferred to a coroner's office at the port city of Piraeus. Spetses is a small island in the Saronic Islands group with an area of just 27km squared and a population of just over 3,700. The island is a notable destination for the rich and famous, with an annual regatta organised for classic yacht sailing. Founded in 2011, the event is the 'most popular race of its kind' in Greece, organised every June for around 400 attendees, many using the regatta as an opportunity to show off rare traditional wooden boats in Greek and Latin styles. The unfortunate discovery of a body this year follows a number of tragic reports of tourist deaths in recent months. Six tourists have been found dead in Greece this month alone, with officials warning of the perils of an intense heatwave sweeping the Mediterranean. The remains of a German hiker were found in a ravine on the island of Crete on Monday. The 67-year-old had been on holiday with his wife when he embarked on a 12.5 mile hike from the Omalos plateau to the village of Sougia on the southern coast. Officials expect he lost his bearings in the heat and took a wrong turn on a path before going missing. He is reported to have called his wife to say he was not feeling well before she lost contact. At least three other tourists on Greek islands are still reported missing, including a retired US police officer and two French women. Temperatures have soared past 40C (104F) this month, leading Greek authorities to close major tourists destinations and advise carrying water. The famous Acropolis in Athens was shut earlier this month as temperatures were predicted to reach 43C (109.4F). Daily Mail columnist and health writer Dr Michael Mosley tragically died from 'heat exhaustion' after 'sitting down and losing consciousness' while walking across the Greek island of Symi earlier this month, police said. Dr Mosley, 67, was found in a rocky area at the resort of Agia Marina on June 9 after a five day search. It is thought Dr Mosley may have sat down to gather himself after being overcome with exhaustion and by effects of the heat having taken a wrong turn down a mountain path. Temperatures at the time had been nudging 40C and the excessive heat is thought to have played a role in his death. Searches were hampered by the heat, with rescue animals only able to work for one hour on Saturday 8. A 44-year-old British sailor has been found dead in the Greek island of Spetses The man is believed to have been taking part in the Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta running from June 26 to June 29 Radek Nowak, active product manager for Intrepid Travel, told MailOnline the company had been pressed to adapt, dropping hiking trips in Spain and Portugal during the hottest months and adding more 'shoulder season' trips later in the year to make it easier for people to avoid the heat. 'If you're heading out on a walk in the heat, my advice is to take plenty of water, wear a hat and map out rest stops before you go. 'In very hot weather, I'd advise people not to go alone if possible walk with a friend or a local tour guide. 'If you are going alone, make sure someone knows where you're heading and when you'll be back.' Australians looking to escape the winter chill in Bali have been issued an urgent travel warning amid a surge in dengue fever cases on the Indonesian island. Travellers are being advised to take precautions against the mosquito-borne disease, which can cause severe sickness and can even lead to death. The number of cases of dengue fever in Western Australia has tripled from the same time last year, with 80 per cent of these cases reporting recent travel to Indonesia. Indonesia has reported more than 90,000 cases of dengue fever already this year as experts warn the disease must be taken very seriously. 'While most people will experience mild flu-like symptoms, the disease may be fatal especially for those who become infected with dengue fever a second time,' Professor Paul Effler of the WA Department of Health told 7News. 'The best defence against dengue fever is to protect yourself from mosquito bites when visiting Bali or other high-risk areas. If you do become seriously unwell overseas, it is important to seek medical attention straight away.' Dengue fever is spread through mosquitos and is more common in tropical and subtropical climates - already this year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that most people who get dengue fever will not have any symptoms. Australians looking to escape the winter cold in Bali have been given an urgent travel warning - there has been a surge in dengue fever cases (stock image) But for those who do become ill, the most common symptoms are fever, rash, headache, fatigue and joint and muscle pain. In severe cases, people may experience abdominal pain, vomiting and bleeding from the gums or nose. Anyone heading to Bali is advised to try to avoid areas of high mosquito activity and wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirts and full length trousers. Travellers are being advised to take precautions against the mosquito-borne disease in Bali (pictured) which can cause severe sickness and can even lead to death Travellers should also use a chemical-based insect repellant, sleep under a bed net and close all doors and windows if they do not have insect screens. In further Bali news on Friday, it emerged that Aussie travellers could be forced to pay an even bigger tourist tax on arrival to the holiday island. Indonesian politicians are pushing for an increase in the current fee, which they deem inadequate at $15 or IDR150,000. They propose raising the fee to approximately IDR800,000, equivalent to $AUS75. A former Starbucks barista revealed what customers should stop wasting their money on while visiting the coffeehouse chain. Inga Parkel discussed seven spending mistakes with Business Insider this month, after working at Starbucks for a year. Referring to herself as a 'stingy spender,' Parkel says she paid close attention to customers while she was working and noticed they would sometimes shell out more cash than they really needed to. 'I became extremely familiar with just how expensive the popular coffee chain is,' she said. Parkel shared her tips to ensure customers save money and get what they want out of their Starbucks orders. A former Starbucks barista named Inga Parkel revealed seven spending mistakes customers make at the coffeehouse chain to Business Insider this month Parkel paid attention to customers while she was working and noticed they would sometimes spend more money than they needed to Don't pay a premium for cold drinks with little ice Parker suggested customers ask for 'light ice' when ordering cold drinks Customers ordering cold drinks have a simple option for getting more drink for their money. The former barista told Business Insider that the key is to 'specify that you'd like light ice.' 'Baristas are aware that the oversize scoop of ice in a drink can be frustrating,' said Parkel. 'But many are happy to replace the extra ice with liquid if you ask for it.' The former barista added that the light ice option for drinks is available on the Starbucks app. Don't pay for a shot of vanilla syrup in a soy latte or cappuccino Customers can save money on their drink by ordering a sweetened coffee with soy milk instead of one with a pump of vanilla syrup The vanilla syrup shot in a plain Starbucks coffee drink could make it sweeter, but it is a small mistake that unnecessarily costs a customer money. According to Parkel, the soy milk Starbucks uses is vanilla-flavored and 'more subtle' than a pump of syrup. Parkel's solution is to order a sweetened coffee with soy milk instead of paying a fee for unsweetened oat milk or almond milk, or vanilla syrup. Unfortunately, this solution will not work for customers who order drinks with one pump of caramel, hazelnut, or peppermint syrups. Join the rewards program Starbucks customers who are members of the rewards program can redeem points and earn up to $20 to spend toward merchandise Regular Starbucks customers who purchase merchandise are making the mistake if they don't take advantage of the coffeehouse chain's rewards program. To join Starbucks Rewards, customers must create an account online or on the app. From there, they can score reward points every time they purchase something at Starbucks and redeem them for complimentary items. 'If you have 400 points, you can select any merchandise worth up to $20,' said Parkel. If an item is more than $20, the customer would need to pay the difference, but it is still a money-saver. Stop ordering Americanos Parkel, the former barista, described an Americano as a drink with 'three shots of espresso with water.' It can either be iced or hot Americanos at Starbucks can be iced or hot, and ordering a grande that could cost around $4 is a pricey mistake. Parkel described the Americano as a drink with 'three shots of espresso with water.' The former barista suggested that customers who want to save money on an Americano order a customized drink instead. 'Ask for a doppio or triple shot of espresso (whatever you prefer) in a grande cup, and then ask for added water,' Parkel told Business Insider. 'You can essentially get an Americano for almost a dollar less.' Don't purchase hot venti lattes for a caffeine fix Grande and venti lattes at Starbucks both come with two espresso shots. However, an iced latte comes with three One error that customers may not realize they're making is not realizing that cappuccinos and hot venti lattes only have two espresso shots. Parkel pointed out that grande lattes have the same number of espresso shots as a venti. 'In a way, buying a venti latte means you're paying half a dollar more for a more diluted caffeine-to-coffee ratio,' she said. She noted that this does not apply to iced lattes because a grande comes with two shots of espresso, and a venti has three. Customers can optimize their money to caffeine ratio by ordering grande hot lattes rather than a venti. Take advantage of the 'bring your own cup' discount Starbucks' reusable cup program that launched on January 3 allows customers to bring personal mugs and receive 10 cents off their order Customers who don't take advantage of the coffeehouse chain's reusable cup program are leaving money on the table and missing out on an opportunity to help the environment. Starbucks customers can fix this error by bringing their own mugs into a participating location. The program started on January 3 in the US and Canada. It allows customers to bring their clean, personal cups to any participating store for in-store, mobile, or drive-thru orders. This would not only be the green choice, but it would save a customer 10 cents on their drink order. Rewards members will also earn 25 bonus stars when using their own personal mug. Stop purchasing bottled water Starbucks customers can either spend $2.45 on a bottled water or request a cup of water in any size for free Starbucks sells Ethos bottled water at its locations for more than $2.45 - but there is another option that won't cost a cent. The easy solution to save money on water is to request a cup of water in any size. Customers can also request that baristas add ice to their water. 'I can understand if you absolutely need something unopened, but other than that, there's no reason to pay full price for the one thing the chain offers for free,' said Parkel. Furious Rishi Sunak lashed out at Nigel Farage today after a Reform UK activist was caught on camera branding the Prime Minister a 'f***ing p***'. Mr Sunak used a media interview to hammer Mr Farage over the conduct of campaigners in Clacton who were recorded making a catalogue of vile racist and homophobic remarks. The PM, whose grandparents were from India, said Mr Farage had 'questions to answer' as Reform plunged into chaos in the wake of the revelations, the latest and most damaging of a string of allegations to hit it in recent weeks. He likened the language to that used by 'misogynist' Andrew Tate and repeated the racial slur used against him 'because it is important to call it out for what it is', citing the impact on his young daughters. Reform activist Andrew Parker, who made the remark about the PM, was also secretly recorded by Channel 4 News in Essex suggesting that migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches. He also called for Muslims to be ejected from mosques so they can be turned into Wetherspoons pubs. Other campaigners in the town where Mr Farage is hoping to become the MP on July 4 suggested LGBT people are 'degenerate', would turn the police into 'paramilitaries' and would bring back 'the noose'. Appearing on ITV's Loose Women today, Mr Farage claimed Mr Parker was an actor used to discredit him, saying: 'This whole whole thing is a complete and utter set-up, of that I have no doubt.' But on a campaign visit to a school in Teesside, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: 'My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. 'I don't repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.' The angry Tory leader, whose grandparents were from India , repeated the racial slur used against him 'because it is important to call it out for what it is', citing the impact on his young daughters. Appearing on ITV 's Loose Women today, Mr Farage claimed Mr Parker was an actor used to discredit him, saying: 'This whole whole thing is a complete and utter set-up, of that I have no doubt.' The Channel 4 News investigation revealed Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser, advocating for Channel migrants to be shot by Army recruits On a campaign visit to a school in Teesside, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: 'My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. Asked whether he was frustrated that some former Tory voters are leaning towards Reform UK when their activists are making racist and homophobic comments, Mr Sunak said: 'When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and opinion, seemingly without challenge, I think it tells you something about the culture in the Reform party. 'Andrew Tate isn't an important voice for men. He's a vile misogynist. And our politics and country is better than that. 'As Prime Minister, but more importantly as a father of two young girls, it's my duty to call out this corrosive and divisive behaviour.' Mr Farage sought to distance himself from the comments, saying the canvassers' language was 'vulgar, drunken and wrong' and that they had been kicked out of the party. He told ITV's Loose Women: 'They had watched England play football, they were in the pub, they were drunk. 'People when they are drunk often turn quite nasty.' Asked whether he would take action against them, he said: 'They're gone.' Writing on X this morning he shared a link to Mr Parker's acting page, saying 'this whole episode does not add up'. 'Andrew Parker was the man that made the astonishing racist comments that have given us so much negative coverage. We now learn that he is an actor by profession. His own website says he is ''well spoken'' but from the moment he arrived in Clacton he was doing what he calls ''rough speaking''.' However while Mr Parker confirmed to Mail Online that he is an actor, he said he became involved with Reform UK by contacting the party himself and volunteering to do leafletting because he believes in its message, and had not mentioned that he was an actor. He said he 'regretted' his 'old school' choice of words, saying: 'I'm a Brit. I call a Scotsman a Scot. It's pathetic really.' When questioned about the fact that the p-word has more of a darker context than calling a Scotsman a 'Scot' he added: 'I don't know about thatI'm still someone who, when I go down to the takeaway, [say] 'I'm going to down the c****y'. 'It's not racist. But then I'm an outdated old git.' Mr Parker does not deny being a part-time actor, but told GB News it was a sideline and his main work was as a property developer. He said claims he was paid to fit up Reform were 'total rubbish' In another conversation, Mr Parker was filmed describing PM Rishi Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in' Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast : 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' Mr Parker said he had made the comments in 'the heat of the moment' because he was being 'goaded on'. 'Of course, I regret what I said,' he added. 'Christ, I'm not a racist. I've had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk.' Asked whether he would like to apologise, he said: 'Of course I'm sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says.' He said he had 'a lot of Pakistani friends' and 'Muslim friends', and that he was 'sick to death' of being asked about the footage. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 News said: 'We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself. 'We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. 'We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.' Reform has also yet to explain why, if he was acting, he used his real name, which is easily discoverable online.Mr Farage claimed during an interview on BBC Panorama that the West 'provoked' Russia through Nato and the European Union The Prime Minister likened the Reform leader to those who, in the 1930s, opposed taking a firm stand against Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. In a newspaper interview Mr Sunak said: 'What he said was wrong, it was completely wrong. It plays into Putin's hands. This is the guy that used nerve agents on British streets, he's doing deals with North Korea. That is who we're talking about here.' Sir Keir Starmer today said the row over the 'clearly racist' comments was 'a test of leadership for Mr Farage'. A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast: 'You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform are exposed in this particular way.' The activists involved were disowned by the party after the footage was published by Channel 4 News last night. At the same time Mr Sunak launched his strongest attack yet on Mr Farage, branding him a 'Putin appeaser' over his views on Ukraine. Recent opinion polls show Reform falling back, suggesting the row is hurting the party's popularity. It is also being hit by wave after wave of revelations about far-right views being espoused by some of its candidates. Yesterday Reform dropped support for a candidate who used to be a member of the far-right British National Party (BNP). A JL Partners survey conducted between June 21 and 24 found that Reform was down three points to 15 per cent, with the Tories up two to 25 per cent. Savanta research carried out on the same dates had the Conservatives up two on 21 per cent while Reform fell by the same proportion to 14 per cent. Deltapoll found Mr Farage's party was down one on 15 per cent, with the Tories stable on 19 per cent. However a megapoll that dropped yesterday suggested his party could still be on course to win 18 seats on July 4. The Reform leader said last night that he was 'dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign'. Mr Farage added they would no longer be with his campaign in the seaside constituency. Reform have already faced a string of controversies over online remarks made by some of their candidates ahead of polling day on 4 July. The Channel 4 News investigation revealed comments about Muslims by Andrew Parker, who is said to be a Reform canvasser. He described Muslims as 'sick m*****f******', adding: 'It's a cult. I tell you what, if you don't know about Islam, it is the most disgusting cult out. 'We're f****** kicking all the Muslims out of the mosques and turning them into Wetherspoons.' As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, George Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet?' In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers' George Jones (pictured, left) is said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign In the same conversation, Mr Parker also described Mr Sunak as a 'f****** p***'. 'I've always been a Tory voter,' he said. 'But what annoys me is that f****** p*** we've got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. He's just wet. F****** useless'. Filmed speaking to a prospective voter on the doorstep, Mr Parker suggested Army recruits should carry out 'target practice' on those crossing the Channel in small boats. 'Get the young recruits there, yeah, with guns on the f****** beach, target practice,' he said. 'F****** just shoot them. That is what the Greeks done You know about that. The Greeks shot a load Ringfence Bradfordstan. 'Round the f****** up. Do that f****** lot as well. And you've got these bastards running our country. You must be f****** joking mate.' The footage also showed a separate exchange between George Jones, said to run events for Mr Farage's campaign, Rob Bates, a senior party campaigner, and Roger Gravett, Reform's regional manager for London and candidate for Tottenham. As a police car passed by displaying a Pride flag, Mr Jones said: 'You see that f****** degenerate flag on the front bonnet? 'What are the old bill doing promoting that crap? They should be out catching nonces not promoting the f******.' Mr Gravett is later heard saying: 'When we form the government in 2029 then surely we can change lots of things'. Nigel Farage responds to Channel 4 News undercover investigation within the Reform UK campaign in Clacton, exposing examples of racist language and raising questions whether the party has breached the local electoral campaign spending limit in the seat. pic.twitter.com/Qspj5gUKXk Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 27, 2024 A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities', Farage said In response, Mr Jones is heard saying 'our police officers will be paramilitaries, they won't be police' and that Reform should 'bring back the noose'. In a statement to Channel 4, Mr Farage said: 'I am dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign, particularly those who are volunteers. They will no longer be with the campaign. 'The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform UK policy. Some of the language used was reprehensible. 'Reform UK is a party for everybody who believes in Britain. I am proud that our supporters, candidates and national campaign team come from all backgrounds and identities. 'I would be interested to know whether Channel 4 is subjecting the grassroots volunteers of all the political parties to similar subterfuges, or whether Reform UK has been singled out for special attention.' Honorary President of the Britain's right-wing populist party Reform UK Nigel Farage and party leader Richard Tice Reform Party leader, Richard Tice, and founding member, Nigel Farage, on stage at the Reform Party annual conference on October 7, 2023 Mr Parker said: 'I would like to make it clear that neither Nigel Farage personally or the Reform Party are aware of my personal views on immigration. 'I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. 'At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party or Nigel Farage. 'I would therefore like to apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention. 'I offered to help the Reform Party on their canvassing as I believe that they are the only party that offer the UK voter a practical solution to the illegal immigration problem that we have in the UK.' A spokesman for Reform told MailOnline the party would be making no further comment. Sir Keir Starmer will delay recognising a Palestinian state if Labour wins power next week due to fears it could rock Britain's relationship with the US, it is reported. Labour's manifesto states the party is 'committed to recognising a Palestinian state' as part of a renewed push for peace in the Middle East and a two-state solution. Sir Keir is under pressure from Labour's left-wing to act quickly on this pledge if the party wins the general election on 4 July. But, according to The Times, allies of the Labour leader have warned he should not rush into recognising a Palestinian state. They have reportedly expressed fears that doing so would open up a dividing line with America and other Western nations. With opinion polls putting Labour on course for a large majority, they are said to believe Sir Keir can afford to ignore pro-Palestinian voices on the party's left. Yet there are early signs that, should Sir Keir delay a move on recognising a Palestinian state, he would infuriate significant parts of his party. Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, today: 'Palestinians are human beings who deserve self-determination. 'We must recognise the state of Palestine. Not some time in the future. Not when the time is right. Now.' Sir Keir Starmer will delay recognising a Palestinian state if Labour wins power next week due to fears it could rock Britain's relationship with the US, it is reported Protesters march in support of Palestinians during a demonstration in Westminster earlier this month Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, today: 'Palestinians are human beings who deserve self-determination' Labour's manifesto states the party is 'committed to recognising a Palestinian state' as part of a renewed push for peace in the Middle East and a two-state solution Although Mr Corbyn was expelled from Labour after deciding to stand against the party as an independent on 4 July, he is still influential among many party members. There are 145 countries that recognise Palestine but Britain, France, the US and Germany are not among them. A source close to Sir Keir told the newspaper that British recognition of Palestine was 'a process' that would 'have the most impact' if done in 'co-ordination with allies'. But they denied that the US position would influence the timing of an announcement. Labour's manifesto states: 'Long-term peace and security in the Middle East will be an immediate focus. 'Labour will continue to push for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the upholding of international law, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. Palestinian statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. 'It is not in the gift of any neighbour and is also essential to the long-term security of Israel. 'We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.' Ireland, Spain and Norway recently moved to recognise a Palestinian state, which prompted an angry response from Israel which said this amounted to a 'reward for terrorism' in the wake of the 7 October attacks by Hamas. Rishi Sunak recently accused Labour of attempting to 'bully' Israel into early recognition of a Palestinian state. The Prime Minister told the Jewish News newspaper: 'Now is not the right moment for Palestinian state recognition, while Israel is not secure.' Sir Keir played down the likelihood of a Labour government recognising a Palestinian state any time soon while campaigning in north London earlier this month. He said: 'It has got to be at the right time in the process, because we need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel. 'We dont have either of those at the moment, and therefore it has got to be at the point of the process where we could see both of those outcomes.' A model who bit off her boyfriend's tongue after he ended their relationship and she asked for a 'last kiss' has been arrested after going on the run. Adaia Lopez was rumoured to have jetted to Thailand after vanishing following her horror attack on her boyfriend in June 2016. But the 26-year-old beauty was last night behind bars after being tracked down to a squat in the Costa Brava resort of Sant Antoni de Calonge north of Barcelona. Police nabbed her after an anonymous tip-off. Lopez, who left her victim with speech and taste problems, is set to be hauled to prison after appearing before a judge so she can begin a six-year jail sentence for her violent revenge assault. Adaia Lopez Estevehas been arrested after ripping off her ex's tongue at a Barcelona apartment in June 2016 She reacted angrily after her ex-boyfriend told her he was breaking up with her for the second time The Spaniard, described as an aspiring model on an agency website where she shows off her tattooed body in lingerie while rolling around on a bed, went on the run last year. She was ordered to pay 50,000 compensation and given 15 days to enter prison after being convicted of wounding her partner, 22 years older than her and identified only by his first name of Aaron, following a lengthy legal process. She made herself a fugitive by disobeying the court order and failing to show at the prison gates before her 15 days were up. Adaia, who met her ex on the Internet, defended herself during her trial and claimed she had acted in self-defence after suffering domestic violence which included an attempt to drown her. But she was found guilty of using her teeth as 'pincers' to rip out part of Aaron's tongue before spitting it out on the ground after begging him for a 'last kiss' when he tried to break off their relationship. Esteve has denied the events and instead has reported her former lover for domestic abuse. She is set to be hauled to prison after appearing before a judge so she can begin a six-year jail sentence for her violent revenge assault She went on the run after being being charged with biting her ex-boyfriend's tongue in 2021 bu but has finally been caught He needed professional help to improve his speech problems and is said to have lost his sense of taste and the ability to differentiate between salty and sweet foods. The tongue attack happened on June 26 2016 at a house the former couple were sharing in Vilanova i Geltru near Barcelona, when Aaron was 40 and his then-girlfriend just 18. The damage he suffered has been described as 'irreversible.' The victim's lawyer Pepe Rey claimed last year after Adaia lost appeals against her conviction and sentence while she was on bail that social media pictures showed she had been enjoying holidays in Thailand. He added: 'Here we have a lady who committed a serious crime, left someone without their tongue and right now is not where she should be which is in the hands of justice despite the fact she has a prison sentence hanging over her head.' Joe Biden's awkward performance in the presidential debate has triggered nationwide chatter about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. The president alarmed Democrats and Republicans alike as he frequently lost his train of thought, trailed off mid-sentence, and mixed up topics during the televised event. It has only added to the widespread concern about his cognitive decline, prompting calls for the 25th amendment to be successfully executed for the first time in US history. Section 4 of the amendment allows for removal of a president who is deemed incapacitated by any kind of illness, injury, or mental impairment. Here DailyMail.com explains what the amendment is and how likely Biden could be removed from the White House. Joe Biden 's awkward performance in the presidential debate has triggered nationwide chatter about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office New York Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding that he 'begin proceedings' to remove President Joe Biden under the 25th Amendment after a bombshell report highlighted Biden's mental challenges What is the 25th Amendment and could it be used to remove Joe Biden from office? Presidents can be removed by either impeachment or through the 25th amendment. The process of impeachment is triggered when the president is charged for wrongdoing and put on trial. However, the 25th Amendment, which outlines presidential succession, allows for more flexibility. It is divided into four sections. The first states that the vice president takes over the Oval Office if the president dies or resigns or is removed. Section 2 states that if the vice president dies or resigns or is fired both the House and Senate have to confirm a new vice president. Section 3 makes clear that a president can temporarily delegate his powers to the vice president, and later reclaim them when he - or she - is capable of serving. This is most often invoked if a president is under the influence of surgical anesthetic for a short period of time. But Section 4 is the amendment's most controversial part: it is enacted if the vice president and most of Congress agree the president can't do their job. The vice president then becomes acting President. The president can reclaim power, but only if Congress disagrees with the vice president and a majority. But this can only be enacted if the president is deemed incapable of doing their job if they are incapacitated, either mentally or physically. This section of the amendment has never been used to remove a president permanently from his position, but Reagan came close. Members of Reagan's staff raised concerns about his mental health, describing him as inattentive, distracted, lazy and incapable of performing his by several concerned members of his staff However, his new chief of staff found him capable and Section 4 wasn't used - though he was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections with US President Joe Biden at CNN's studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024 What did the polls say after the first 2024 presidential debate? An exclusive poll for DailyMail.com found that a clear majority of independent voters believe President Joe Biden should no longer be the Democratic nominee after a car-crash debate with Donald Trump. Some 62 percent said he should be dumped from the ticket. J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash, and found that 68 percent said the former president won out over his White House successor. What did people say about Biden's debate performance? The Presidential debate was labelled by Democrat donors 'the worst performance in history.' One donor told POLITICO that his showing was 'so bad that no one will pay attention to Trump's lies,' and that 'Biden needs to drop out. No question about it.' A senior Democrat strategist said: 'Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside. Parties exist to win - this man on the stage with Trump cannot win,' in a damning interview with the New York Times. And former Republican campaign strategist-turned-Democrat Steve Schmidt said: 'Biden lost the country tonight and will not get it back. If Trump is a threat and democracy is on the line, then Biden must step aside.' In the aftermath of the debate, Biden's campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt declared early this morning: 'Of course he's not dropping out.' Can Joe Biden be replaced? Who could replace him? While it's possible to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, it's complicated by the fact he already has enough delegates to have won the nomination. He has 3,894 pledged delegates and it only takes 1,976 to be the nominee. Under party rules, delegates allocated to a candidate based on their primary wins are bound to their candidate on the first ballot at the convention. And that first ballot usually ends up in a nominee. So legally Biden's delegates have to vote for him. However, if Biden were to drop out that would mean the nomination would be decided on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in August. His delegates would become 'uncommitted' and able to vote for any candidate they liked. Vice President Kamala Harris would not automatically be the nominee nor would she have ownership of Biden's delegates because she was not on any primary ballots. Biden was. But she would be the likely favorite given her status as his running mate. Democrats, however, could choose any contender including governors such as Gavin Newsom of California, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Or one of the people that ran in 2020: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. If Biden stepped down, the party would have to hold a series of votes among the delegates until one person got the 1,976 to be the nominee. This would likely result in a massive floor fight for votes that would take place over multiple days and dominate news coverage. After president Joe Biden struggled through the first presidential debate, California governor Gavin Newsom was front and center to defend the incumbent, denying that Democrats were looking to replace him. Biden, 81, fumbled and stumbled in the first presidential debate, losing his train of thought, sounding hoarse and searching for words as a composed Donald Trump swatted at his arguments. Newsom, 56, told DailyMail.com that claims that he could replace Biden, 81, in November were 'farcical.' Following the debate, the democrat said on MSNBC: 'Weve got to go in, weve got to keep our head high and as I say, weve got to have the back of this president, Newsom said. 'You dont turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?' But his appearance has sparked claims that the governor was placed in front of cameras as part of a plan to replace Biden. After president Joe Biden struggled through the first presidential debate, California governor Gavin Newsom was front and center to defend the incumbent Former pre-candidate for president Vivek Ramaswamy said: 'What we witnessed tonight wasnt an accident, it was intentional. Brace yourself for a wild 5 months ahead.' Ramaswamy has been floating around the theory that the Democratic party was planning to replace Biden since last year's Republican debates in November. He said at the time, addressing the Democratic Party: 'End this farce today. 'Joe Biden isn't going to be your nominee. We know he's not even the president of the United States. He's a puppet for the managerial class. Biden, 81, fumbled and stumbled in the first presidential debate, losing his train of thought, sounding hoarse and searching for words as Donald Trump swatted at his arguments 'Have the guts to step up and be honest about who you're actually going to put up so we can have an honest debate. Biden should step aside now, so we can see whether it's Newsom or Michelle Obama or whoever else. 'Just tell us the truth.' Many have even theorized that the Democratic party wanted Biden to perform poorly all along to create an exit strategy that would see Newsom become the candidate. Hedge fund manager Rod D Martin wrote: '1. The insiders knew Biden was like this. '2. They didnt have to agree to any debate at all. They certainly didnt have to propose and show up for the earliest debate in history. '3. So they humiliated Biden deliberately, but only after the primary voters get no say, yet early enough pre-Convention for the insiders to pick his successor before the fall campaign. This has been the plan for a long, long time.' Progressive Bloomberg columnist Erika Smith argued Newsom has been running a shadow campaign as Biden's back-up, citing his debate with Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 'Hes doing that thing that all presidential hopefuls do: He is working on a memoir,' Smith argued. As DailyMail.com previously reported, senior party leaders are privately pushing for Newsom or Michelle Obama to step in following Biden's disastrous showing on Thursday. Biden dismissed calls to leave the race last night - insisting the debate with Trump 'went well' - but behind the scenes the Democrats are in chaos with many pushing the panic button. Ramaswamy has been floating around the theory that the Democratic party was planning to replace Biden since last year's Republican debates in November Progressive Bloomberg columnist Erika Smith argued Newsom has been running a shadow campaign as Biden's back-up, citing his debate with Florida governor Ron DeSantis and his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping (pictured) It possible to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee - but it is complicated due to a lack of time and the danger of civil war in the party. The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. Each state sends a certain number of delegates to the national convention. If Biden stepped down, the party would have to hold a series of votes among the delegates until one person got the 1,976 to be the nominee. This would likely result in a massive floor fight for votes that would take place over multiple days and dominate news coverage. Biden has 3,894 pledged delegates and it only takes 1,976 to be the nominee. Under party rules, delegates allocated to a candidate based on their primary wins are bound to their candidate on the first ballot at the convention. And that first ballot usually ends up in a nominee. So legally Biden's delegates have to vote for him. However, if Biden were to drop out that would mean the nomination would be decided on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in August. All flights were temporarily suspended at Gatwick Airport this afternoon after a British Airways flight was forced to make an emergency stop on the runway. The Boeing 777 jet was seen blocking all other flights from taking off, sparking travel chaos for thousands of British holidaymakers. Video footage taken from passengers onboard the flight showed fire engines making their way over to the stationary vehicle, with travellers being told take-off had been 'aborted'. Flight G-VIIT BA2279 was due to depart to Vancouver this afternoon before it was forced to do a 'high-speed emergency stop'. A statement from the airport said the plane had been abandoned 'due to the departing aircraft having hot breaks'. All flights were temporarily suspended at Gatwick Airport this afternoon after a British Airways flight was forced to an emergency stop on the runway According to travel expert Simon Calder at least 12 flights were diverted including an Emirates A380 flight from Dubai that was instead forced to land in Brussels Video footage taken from passengers onboard the flight showed fire engines making their way over to the stationary vehicle, with travellers being told take-off had been 'aborted' Plane stuck on / blocking the runway at Gatwick. Nothing in or out as it stands, been this way for around 20 mins now .. pic.twitter.com/vR6lY4B8U8 Tom Strawbridge (@strawbs5) June 28, 2024 According to travel expert Simon Calder at least 12 flights were diverted including an Emirates A380 flight from Dubai that was instead forced to land in Brussels. It is unknown how many flights in total have been affected on what is the busiest aviation day of the year so far. The airport's runway was forced to close following a 'rejected take-off', according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. The website reported the closure at 12.53pm, reopening at 1.14pm. 'Safety is our top priority and the dedicated airport fire service swiftly attended to support the aircraft,' a spokesperson added. 'A number of flights were diverted. The runway is now open and operating as normal.' A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Our pilots took the precautionary decision to cancel take-off due to a technical issue. 'Safety is always our top priority and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.' It marks yet another hiccup this week for families trying to get away for the summer. JUNE 14 -- Huge queues at Birmingham Airport earlier this month as passengers wait outside Departing passengers queue for security inside Birmingham Airport first thing this morning A long queue of cars to get into the drop-off area at Birmingham Airport this afternoon Families flying from Birmingham Airport faced long queues for security with one passenger describing it as a 'health and safety disaster'. Travellers using the airport have faced waits of up to several hours to get through the terminal in recent weeks following the opening of a 60million security hall. The new area will eventually allow passengers to leave liquids up to two litres and large electrical items in cabin luggage while they go through security, but fresh government restrictions mean passengers are still limited to 100ml bottles. One video filmed earlier this week showed a long queue of cars waiting to get into the drop-off area today. Witness Olly Carruthers said it was 'chaos' with the zone 'completely broken and backing up'. Another traveller said he had waited for more than an hour by 5.30am this morning and had still not reached the lifts to pass security - with 1,000 people in the queue. The airport - which also denied the figure of 1,000 people in the queue - told how staff removed 0.8 tonnes of liquids, pastes and gels in containers which were over the 100ml hand luggage limit going through security between 3.30am and 7am. Families with children suffering from a rare and deadly form of cancer are pleading with the federal government to allow Australians access to a life-saving drug. Neuroblastoma is a deadly disease that takes the lives of more children under five than any other cancer, but a groundbreaking drug called DFMO could save them. DFMO is not yet approved in Australia, so kids such as two-year-old Harris - known as Hazzy to his family - have to fly to the United States to be treated. The long journey is both expensive and risky for children who are already immunocompromised, with Hazzy's parents Tyler and Alix pushing the government to allow them access to DFMO before it's approved in Australia. 'We don't understand why it can't just be here for us to access and why we can't just go to the hospital we're already going to,' Alix said told A Current Affair. 'It just seems so ridiculous.' Tyler said Hazzy is 'an absolute legend' but that he shouldn't have to leave the country to receive the medication he so desperately needs. 'We're flying (to the US) to go to hospital, get these tablets and bring them home, five or six times a year with a kid who's this sick - and what that trip could do to him - (it) just makes absolutely zero sense to us,' Tyler said. Tyler, Alix and baby Hazzy are pictured. Hazzy's parents are pushing the Australian government to allow them access to a life-saving drug known as DFMO Tyler said that while 'it's been a horrific time' for his family, the DFMO is helping. '(Hazzy) has taken this in its stride and look at him today, it makes you (realise) it's worthwhile,' he said. The toddler was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just before his first birthday and his parents know the risk of relapse is very high unless he is able to access the drug. The family moved from Hobart to Melbourne to get better access to the help Hazzy needs, though this does not include DFMO. 'You've got no choice but you just stick together and take a little boy home that's happy and healthy,' Alix said. 'It's a full time job for both of us just looking after him.' The family moved from Hobart to Melbourne to get better access to the help Hazzy (pictured) needs, though this does not include DFMO The federal government is considering funding the cost of overseas travel for families who need to travel to countries to the United States for treatment. However, Hazzy's parents want approval for the drug to be fast-tracked so immunocompromised children don't have to travel for treatment. '(This is about) kids that are five years old and under, who are just trying to stay alive,' Tyler said. 'How is this any kind of question. (Not allowing the drug in Australia) doesn't make any sense.' A missing British hiker has been found dead in the Spanish Pyrenees four days after he disappeared on a mountain hike. Police and other emergency services had been searching for the 70-year-old Londoner, who has not been named, since disappeared on Monday. Mountain search and rescue experts from the Civil Guard's Greim unit, the same type of police specialists that are looking for missing Jay Slater in Tenerife, had been involved. Today it emerged the victim had been found dead close to the Aspe Peak, a mountain in the western Pyrenees of Huesca on the western side of the Aragon Valley. The 8,678ft peak towers over the Spanish ski resort of Candanchu and the Somport pass on the border with France. The grim discovery was made yesterday around 1pm although the information only became public earlier today. File photo of the Pyrenees of Huesca. Teams had been looking for the Londoner since Monday The three Greim officers who found the unnamed hiker's body informed a police helicopter which was in the area so he could be transferred to a nearby mountain refuge and handed over to funeral parlour workers. The dead man is understood to have been walking between the Lizara and Candanchu mountain refuges. The Civil Guard in Huesca are said to have received a message from the UK's Interpol office in Manchester giving them the co-ordinates of an SOS wristband the hiker was wearing. Footage released by the Civil Guard showed the operation to rescue the tragic Brit's body. French police mountain rescue experts are also understood to have participated in the operation to find the hiker after the alarm was raised. In November 2020 British hiker Esther Dingled vanished on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees. Her remains were found in July 2021 near the spot where she disappeared. Esther, 37, went trekking from the village of Benasque, around 175 miles east of the spot where the British pensioner's body was found. It was not immediately clear today what had led to the latest tragedy. Sir Keir Starmer was today accused of speaking 'twaddle' over women's rights as he was quizzed about Labour's transgender reforms during a fiery radio phone-in show. The Labour leader was challenged about his party's plans, should they win next week's general election, to 'modernise, simplify, and reform' gender laws. This includes making it easier for trans people to legally acquire a new gender by obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). But, taking questions on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir was grilled over Labour's plans by Jane, a caller from London, who demanded protections for women's-only spaces. She urged the Labour leader to not 'take anything from women' in rewriting gender legislation, as Sir Keir stressed he would 'protect women's spaces'. The Labour leader has previously been heavily criticised after sowing confusion about his stance on the definition of a 'woman'. He once claimed it was 'not right' to say only women have a cervix, while last year he stated that 99.9 per cent of women 'of course haven't got a penis'. But, earlier this month, Sir Keir said he agreed with ex-Labour leader Sir Tony Blair who stated 'a woman is with a vagina and a man is with a penis'. Taking questions on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir Starmer was grilled over Labour's plans by Jane, a caller from London , who demanded protections for women's-only spaces Sir Keir later made reference to the bitter row when Rishi Sunak joked about Labour's position on trans people when the mother of murdered teen Brianna Ghey was in Parliament So that's why he's called 'Sir Flip-Flop'! In 2021, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would 'introduce self-declaration for trans people' Sir Keir Starmer is known as 'Sir Flip-Flop' to his Tory opponents due to his history of U-turns on major issues. Here's how the Labour leader has previously switched his stance on gender issues... What is a woman? Sir Keir has frequently sown confusion about his stance on the definition of a 'woman'. He once claimed it was 'not right' to say only women have a cervix, while last year he said that 99.9 per cent of women 'of course haven't got a penis'. This led to claims he was suggesting 1 in 1,000 women have male genitalia. But, earlier this month, Sir Keir said he agreed with ex-Labour leader Sir Tony Blair who stated 'a woman is with a vagina and a man is with a penis'. Self-identification Last year, Sir Keir pointed to the fierce row over gender recognition reforms in Scotland as he confirmed a U-turn on self-identification for trans people. The Labour leader stressed he now wanted to retain 'a medical process' for people legally acquiring a new gender and did not think 'self-identification is the right way forward'. It marked a reversal on the Labour leader's past support for the introduction of self-identification for those seeking legal recognition of a new gender. In 2021, Sir Keir had used a video marking Pride to say his party was 'committed to updating the GRA to introduce self-declaration for trans people'. Advertisement During the Radio 5 Live phone-in, Jane said: 'I'd like to ask Keir Starmer why he's not listening to biological women when we say we don't want to share our space with biological men?' As Sir Keir replied that he was 'listening' and had 'long championed women's spaces', including during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane interrupted. 'I don't care about all of that,' she said. 'What I care about is you saying that you're going to allow men to identify as women, making GRCs easier, and then they can come into women's spaces.' As Sir Keir replied that Labour wanted to make the process for legally changing gender 'more dignified', Jane interrupted again. 'This is not about being dignified, this is not about being 'kind' or 'dignified',' she added. 'This is about protecting women. Why are you putting our dignity on the line for a very few people?' She later added: 'Can you say now you will not allow men - biological men - under any guise to come into women's safe spaces? 'You need to think about 51 per cent of the population who are sick of the absolute twaddle that comes out of your mouth when we ask these questions.' Sir Keir replied: 'Firstly we will protect women's spaces, that is my commitment. 'There are some people that do not identify with the gender they are born into, they are often traumatised by that.' He added: 'We will protect women's spaces - and I've been clear about that for a very long time. 'I know you don't want to hear about what I have done, but we will do it in the future as well. 'I will also say this, there are a small number - granted - of people who are born into a sex they do not identify with, who are often very traumatised. 'For 20 years now we have had a law which allows that to be recognised through a certificate. 'And I will treat them, as I will treat every single person in this country, with dignity and respect and not allow this to become a toxic discussion.' Sir Keir then made reference to a bitter political row, from earlier this year, when Rishi Sunak joked about Labour's position on trans people when the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey - who was transgender - was in Parliament. The Labour leader said: 'Because this is where we end up; with the Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, making an anti-trans joke in Parliament in front of the mother of a trans teen. That is a line we cannot cross.' The Tories have pledged, in their own general election manifesto, to make clear that 'sex means biological sex' in the Equality Act, as they look to protect female-only spaces and stop trans women from competing in women's sports. Employees of a multistate rehab company have been left in the dark after several facilities shut across the country following the suicides of the two top executives. Retreat Behavioral Health, which has facilities in Florida, Philadelphia and Connecticut, abruptly closed their facility in Palm Beach, Florida, last week. Employees told WPTV that around 100 mental health and substance use patients were told to pack up and leave, including 30 who had nowhere to go. Facilities in Lancaster County, PA, and New Haven, CT, have also since shuttered following the deaths of CEO Peter Schorr and CAO Scott Korogodsky. Korogodsky had taken up the leadership of the company after Schorr killed himself at his home in Delray Beach, according to LancasterOnline. Days after Schorr died, Korogodsky also killed himself life - according to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office. Retreat Behavioral Health, which has facilities in Florida , Philadelphia and Connecticut, abruptly closed their facility in Palm Beach, Florida, seen here,last week Facilities in Lancaster County, PA, and New Haven, CT, have also since shuttered following the deaths of CEO Peter Schorr, left, and CAO Scott Korogodsky, right Lissa Franklin, the VP of Southeast Florida Recovery Advocates, told CBS12: 'I'm sure theres more to the story, but from the employees that I spoke with most everybody that was there did find safe and supportive discharge options. 'Its very sad what happened to the Retreat. From my experience. it was a great program. 'They always helped everyone in the community. They treated everybody with compassion and kindness.' According to Franklin the facility was one of the only ones in the area that accepted Medicaid or VA health insurance policies. Internal emails sent to staff and seen by the outlet show that Korogodsky assured members of staff they would be paid after a delay in receiving paychecks. On Thursday, Alexander Hoinsky, the chief financial officer for the facility, said that the company had been on dire straits financially for at least a year. Hoinsky told WPTV that he had grew concerned after executives at the company stopped taking his calls. He said: 'I left messages and emails [and] laid out what was going to go forward. Basically, they did not want to hear it.' Internal emails sent to staff and seen by the outlet show that Korogodsky assured members of staff they would be paid after a delay in receiving paychecks Workers at the facility in Palm Beach, pictured, are still waiting to be paid for their work after being informed of their termination last week He continued: 'Here's the facts, the company ran out of cash. Revenue dropped drastically and they didnt adjust costs.' Meanwhile workers at the facility in Palm Beach are still waiting to be paid for their work after being informed of their termination last week. One nurse said: 'I dont know what days I was scheduled for. I just decided to show up. 'I just wanted to be there. Because when they said everybody was going to be discharged it just sounded like such a huge task.' The nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, told WPTV, that the fire alarm had been triggered and everyone was out of the building. After being let inside, she claimed that patients started fighting with each other with staff members unable to deescalate the situation. According to the worker, patients were breaking into nurse stations to get at narcotics - while workers emptied fridges full of food. Hoinsky believes that employees will be paid for their final three weeks work and is hoping he will also be paid. The companies center in Connecticut has also closed in the last week, leaving patients without care Besides financial issues, Schorr was also named in a lawsuit filed in January that accused him of hanging onto a $50,000 deposit for a property sale that collapsed. Another suit in New York seeks over $5 million from the company that owns Retreat for defaulting on a loan dating back to 2018. Court records in Florida also show that the Palm Beach County Tax Collector sued the site for not paying a $1,700 tax bill. The company posted on social media following the death of Schorr, saying: 'It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Schorr, the founder of Retreat Behavioral Health. 'Peter's unwavering dedication and compassion have transformed countless lives. 'We are committed to carrying on his legacy, ensuring his spirit continues to guide our mission at Retreat. 'Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.' While tributes for Korogodsky have since been shared on social media describing him as an 'amazing person'. It was only minutes into the presidential debate in Atlanta when Democrats began to sweat and panic started to set in. Biden was stumbling through answers, mixing up numbers and lost his train of thought. By the end of the debate some Democrats were already sounding the alarms. The freakout over whether Biden should be at the top of the ticket and is fit for a second term in office continued into the night. Friday morning the escalating calls for concern continued with some calling for serious conversation about Biden not being the Democrats' nominee. 'Obviously that debate was a f***ing disaster,' wrote former Obama speechwriter and Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau. 'We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do that. And since we haven't had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didn't at least have a serious discussion about whether Joe Biden - who's a wonderful human being and has been a great president - is up for the job,' he continued. Democrats raise alarms over Biden's stumbling debate performance with just over four months to go before the election 'Joe Biden in just every single way failed at that debate,' he said on their podcast. His co-host Tommy Vietor, another Obama alum, wrote on X: 'You can't say that the future of American democracy is at stake and then tell anyone concerned about the debate last night to stop bed wetting or grow a spine. It's fucking insulting to people who care deeply about the country and know how much is on the line.' 'I don't think Biden landed the hits he needed to land,' Veitor said on the podcast. 'I came into this debate anxious about Biden's performance and focused on Biden's performance and I felt like the first fifteen to 20 minutes were the worst part of the debate for Biden, and that's probably all that some people watched,' he said. Pod is up! Take a listen for our full thoughts, but... Obviously that debate was a fucking disaster. We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do that. And since we haven't had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didn't at least have Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) June 28, 2024 You can't say that the future of American democracy is at stake and then tell anyone concerned about the debate last night to stop bed wetting or grow a spine. It's fucking insulting to people who care deeply about the country and know how much is on the line. Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) June 28, 2024 'You need to ultimately be able to defend your record and make the case against Donald Trump and there has never been in the history of politics been an easier candidate to make the case against than Donald Trump,' said former White House communications director Daniel Pfeiffer on their podcast. Obama's 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe called the president's debate performance Thursday night 'DEFCON 1 moment' appearing on MSNBC. Plouffe said voters' concerns with Biden's age were compounded by the debate. He said while Biden and Trump at 78 are only three years apart in age, they appeared 30 years apart on the debate stage. 'I think that's going to be the thing that voters really wrestle with coming out of this,' he said. Obama's 2008 campaign manager David Plouffe said Biden and Trump seemed to be 30 years apart in age, not three years apart in the age at the debate. He called the debate performance a 'DEFCON 1 moment.' He said it did not mean Biden would step aside. He said one scenario is Biden could step down but insisted that was not going to happen. The other option is the 'right the ship.' While some Democrats are raising alarms, Democratic leaders in Washington and those who have been floated as potential replacements for Biden on the ticket are standing behind the president. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said 'no' Biden should not be replaced. One of Biden's fiercest defenders on Thursday night following the debate was California Governor Gavin Newsom who told a swarm of reporters he would never turn his back on Biden and dismissed questions over whether he would step in. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro also weighed in on Friday morning saying nothing about the debate changed the contrast between Biden and Trump. 'I think Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but it doesnt change the fact that Donald Trump was a bad president. A bad president who ripped away our freedoms,' he said. He said Democrats need to 'stop worrying and start working.' He said 'sitting here and handwringing is not the answer.' Hospital bosses have refused to let the grieving father of a nine-year-old boy who died of sepsis help him identify a mystery doctor who he says wrongly dismissed his symptoms as flu. Dylan Cope died from a gross failure of basic care after he was discharged without a full review of concerns he may have been suffering from appendicitis, a coroner concluded last month. Tragically the schoolboy died just over a week later of septic shock and multiple organ failure after his appendix burst, with an inquest hearing of multiple individual errors by staff at the 350million Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran. However it failed to establish the identity of a doctor who allegedly told Dylans father it was highly unlikely that the youngsters abdominal pains were connected to his appendix and said he had tested positive for flu. Dylan Cope died from a gross failure of basic care after he was discharged without a full review of concerns he may have been suffering from appendicitis Chiefs at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran have refused grieving parents Laurence and Corinne's plea to identify the doctor Now Dylans grieving parents, Laurence and Corinne, are demanding to see photographs of a shortlist of 11 candidates identified as potentially being the doctor in question in the hope he can answer critical questions over why the illness wasnt diagnosed at A&E. However chiefs at the state-of-the-art hospital which opened its doors in 2020 - have refused the plea after speaking to the General Medical Council and the deputy chief medical officer for Wales. In a letter they told the couple the pictures would be considered protected data, also citing a risk of misidentification, adding that all 11 have denied seeing Dylan that night. Today they said it was a massive disappointment that the hospital was refusing to accept his offer and warned the mystery doctor could be putting other children at risk. As CCTV from the unit was routinely wiped after four weeks, Dylans parents are now making a public appeal to anyone with information about the doctors identity. We believe it is highly likely that someone knows who this unidentified doctor is, Mr Cope told MailOnline. As a fellow compassionate human being and possibly even a parent themselves, we urge anyone with any knowledge to come forward. In a letter the hospital told the couple the pictures would be considered protected data, also citing a risk of misidentification, adding that all 11 have denied seeing Dylan that night they said it was a massive disappointment that the hospital was refusing to accept his offer and warned the mystery doctor could be putting other children at risk (pictured: The Grange University Hospital) We also urge any member of the public who was at the hospital that night with their unwell child to get in contact with us if they have any information that may possibly help. All we want is the full picture - who he was, what he was doing reviewing Dylan, his thinking behind his decision-making and what his learning and reflections are since Dylans death. We are also concerned for future patients if he remains unidentified. Mr Cope took Dylan to A&E at the hospital in South Wales on December 6, 2022 from their home in Newport on the advice of the family GP who suspected his excruciating pain was appendicitis. But a note saying query appendicitis was not picked up, with a coroner concluding last month that a paediatric nurse practitioners examination of the schoolboy was inadequate. Giving evidence, the web designer said none of the medics identified themselves or gave their medical qualifications when they saw Dylan, but he assumed one was a surgeon. Mr Cope said the doctor, who was in scrubs and a facemask, was tall with dark hair, a slightly darker skin tone, and well-spoken, possibly with a slight foreign accent. The medic told Mr Cope it was highly unlikely Dylans abdominal pains were connected to his appendix. The inquest heard the unidentified doctor said Dylan had tested positive for Influenza A which was raging at the time. The female doctor on duty did not carry out a review before Dylan was discharged, with his parents advised to give him painkillers Dylan complained of severe pain on the left side of his abdomen - the appendix is on the right. Meanwhile the female doctor on duty did not carry out a review before Dylan was discharged, with his parents advised to give him painkillers. But four days later, Dylans condition deteriorated. After his parents made 19 attempts to get through on 111 he was readmitted to the Grange Hospital then transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Surgeons removed his perforated appendix. But tragically the schoolboy, who was looking forward to hitting double digits on his 10th birthday, went into cardiac arrest and died when life support was withdrawn. The couple have considered whether the doctor was actually an imposter, but say he seemed familiar with Dylans symptoms. Weve offered the hospital our help to identify the mystery doctor but theyre not accepting it, Mr Cope said today. A child has died, so this couldnt be more important. Im not even asking them to give me their names, I just want to see anonymised photographs of them wearing face masks if I cannot see them in person, and ideally hear their voices. Im certain Id be able to eliminate some of them as being the doctor who saw Dylan that night, and if hes on the shortlist Im hopeful that Id be able to identify him. So I just dont understand why they wont accept my help. Its a massive disappointment. His wife Corinne, a civil servant, added: We have lots of unanswered questions which this doctor could answer. Who asked him to see Dylan? What would he do differently if he was in that situation again? He could still be working at a hospital, seeing children like Dylan. So for the sake of other families he needs to give assurances that hes learnt from the mistakes which were made that night. At the inquest, senior Gwent Coroner Caroline Saunders concluded there had been a number of individual errors which resulted in Dylan being sent home from hospital when he should have remained when his father took him to A&E. This amounted to a gross failure of basic care, she added. In response, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs the hospital, admitted full responsibility for Dylans death following organisational system failure, and apologised. It now retains CCTV for as long as required. Mr and Mrs Cope, who have two older children, are now campaigning to raise awareness of appendicitis and the symptoms of sepsis, urging parents: Trust your instincts over anything else and seek urgent help. A spokesperson for the health board said: We are devastated at what happened to Dylan and our deepest sympathies continue to be with his parents and his whole family. We are aware of the ongoing distress being experienced by the family due to us having not been able to identify the doctor who spoke with Dylans father. Following a formal clinical assessment, a doctor would usually make an entry into the medical record of a patient. This was not done in this case and therefore we have no record in the notes to enable us to identify this individual senior coroner concluded there had been a number of individual errors which resulted in Dylan being sent home from hospital when he should have remained when his father took him to A&E (pictured: Newport Coroners' Court) We have considered every possible option to address their concerns and carried out a thorough investigation. We also took advice from the GMC and Deputy Chief Medical Officer to ensure we explored all the options available to us as an organisation to identify the individual the family are seeking. We have spoken openly and transparently with Dylans family and we explained that we have undertaken all possible actions to address their concerns. This issue was discussed during Dylans inquest and the Coroner did not request that we undertake any further investigation beyond the actions already taken. Last night's debate left viewers wondering whether one of the candidates passed wind as the microphones picked up a 'suspicious noise'. Social media users have launched into fevered speculation over the sound, with some accusing Joe Biden, 81, of passing wind during his terrible debate performance. The sound at the centre of the social media frenzy could be heard while Donald Trump, 78, accused Biden of profiting off the tariffs the former president imposed on China. Speculation over the source of the 'suspicious noise' ranges to either of the candidates 'farting' to one of the moderators taking a sip of water. Biden delivered a catastrophic showing in his first presidential debate against Trump last night, which further threw the incumbent's capacity into question. Last night's debate left viewers wondering whether one of the candidates passed wind as microphones picked up a 'suspicious noise' Social media users have launched into fevered speculation over the sound, with some accusing Joe Biden, 81, of passing wind during his terrible debate performance The sound at the centre of the social media frenzy could be heard while Donald Trump, 78, accused Biden of profiting off the tariffs the former president imposed on China The Democrat sounded tired and hoarse, frequently stumbled over his words and on one occasion completely lost his train of thought and trailed off into silence, prompting moderator Jake Tapper to dive in and rescue him. While Biden was combative and did not shy away from trading barbs with Trump it became painfully clear throughout the debate that he simply did not have the capacity to contend with his confident and smooth-talking Republican rival. Biden's debate performance was met with heavy criticism from members of his own camp, with many Democrats fretting over the display of the incumbent's failing faculties and calling for him to be replaced by another candidate. Donors to Biden's party have labelled his showing as 'the worst performance in history'. The torturous 90-minute debate saw the president frequently lose his train of thought, trail off mid-sentence and mix up topics, prompting a cacophony of calls from politicians and pundits on both sides of the aisle for the Biden to step down. One donor told POLITICO that his showing was 'so bad that no one will pay attention to Trump's lies,' and that 'Biden needs to drop out. No question about it.' A senior Democrat strategist said: 'Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside. Parties exist to win - this man on the stage with Trump cannot win,' in a damning interview with the New York Times. Biden's debate performance was met with heavy criticism from members of his own camp, with many Democrats fretting over the display of the incumbent's failing faculties and calling for him to be replaced by another candidate Evidently feeling peckish after having expended his limited mental energy on the stand, the president then stopped off at the fast-food joint for a bite to eat with Jill but was confronted by patrons over his sorry showing And former Republican campaign strategist-turned-Democrat Steve Schmidt said: 'Biden lost the country tonight, and will not get it back. If Trump is a threat and democracy is on the line, then Biden must step aside.' During the debate, Trump was seen contorting his face in shock and derision at Biden's confused meandering and frequent gaffes in the debate, at one point telling millions of Americans watching at home: 'I really don't know what he [Biden] just said. He's not equipped to be president. You know it and I know it.' As the debate concluded, shocking footage emerged from behind the scenes showing how Biden could barely exit the stage, clasping his wife Jill's hand as he trundled gingerly down a set of small steps. Jill later congratulated him in a cringeworthy scene reminiscent of a mother babying their young child. 'You answered every question right, Joe - you did such a great job answering every question. You knew all the facts!' she said in an almost condescending tone. Evidently feeling peckish after having expended his limited mental energy on the stand, the president then stopped off at the fast-food joint for a bite to eat with Jill but was confronted by patrons over his sorry showing. 'Some are concerned that you're not fit for the job... do you have any concerns about your performance?' one customer asked. The President bit back: 'Well... it's hard to debate a liar,' claiming his Republican opponent trotted out a string of untruths and declaring that he believed he had performed 'well'. But he was powerless to distract from the reality of his performance - something Trump's team has gleefully made light of, compiling all of Biden's mumbling and bumbling in a video entitled: 'Needless to say, the drugs didn't work'. A young worker has been seriously injured after a cherry picker toppled over while he was still inside of it. The 22-year-old man plunged seven metres after the cherry picker collapsed while he was trimming trees in Yokine, in Perth's northern suburbs, on Friday. In video of the fall, the man is seen landing on the opposite side of the road, as the machinery narrowly avoided hitting a parked car. The man's colleague is seen rushing across the road to help before the worker was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with a broken arm. A City of Stirling spokesman confirmed the man had been contracted to work for the council when the incident occurred just before 2pm. 'The City is aware of an incident involving a contractor earlier today,' he said. 'The City understands the person involved is receiving medical attention.' WorkSafe has been notified and has launched an investigation with inspectors seen attending the site later on Friday. A man has fallen seven metres after a cherry picker toppled over while he was trimming trees A female pickpocket has been caught on CCTV sneaking a bundle of cash out of a vulnerable pensioners bag as he was boarding the bus. Footage released by the Metropolitan Police today showed the appalling incident that took place in south-east London in 2021. As the man boarded a bus the driver was distracted and the thief made her move - delving into a plastic bag the man is carrying before making off with the contents. The criminal was later caught and jailed for four-and-a-half years. This comes as the Met claimed it has reduced bank 'follow off' crime by 75 per cent in parts of the capital. A female pickpocket has been caught on CCTV sneaking a bundle of cash out of a vulnerable pensioners bag as he was boarding the bus (red circle) Footage released by the Metropolitan Police today showed the appalling incident that took place in south-east London in 2021 Organised crime groups are targeting vulnerable people visiting banks, police say - pickpocketing victims as they leave with their money. The force said organised crime gangs carry out the sting - where one thief loiters inside banks to identify victims, who are then pickpocketed by their accomplices. The Met warned that though this type of crime is often under-reported, an estimated 66 per cent of victims are over 60. The force's Bank Safe initiative - launched in 2022 - sees local police officers carrying out targeted patrols in areas most affected by thefts around banks, raising awareness among customers and communities of the tactics used by thieves and undertaking detailed investigations of CCTV footage where repeat offenders are identified and arrested. Sgt David James, who leads the Bank Safe project for the Met, explained that victims often don't realise they've been robbed and instead blame themselves for losing their money. The Met claimed that organised crime groups are targeting vulnerable people visiting banks and pickpocketing victims as they leave with their money 'Distraction theft is a very personal crime that often has life-changing impacts on victims,' he said. 'In most cases, victims do not know they have been targeted and tend to blame themselves for losing their hard-earned cash. 'Police operations such as Bank Safe will aid in targeting these organised crime gangs and remove them from the streets of London. 'Since the start of the operation, we have seen a decrease in some boroughs and intend to work towards a further reduction. 'Our specialist and local officers remain dedicated to community crime fighting and will continue to work alongside our partners and local communities to drive down bank follow-off crime and stop these gangs re-offending.' Catriona Still, Head of Fraud Prevention & Training at the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), revealed that training bank staff to keep an eye out for potential thieves was another useful way to stop the crimes occurring. She said: 'The DCPCU have been working hard to combat branch follow-off crime and have trained over 400 branch employees in high-risk areas across the UK in the past 12 months alone. 'The joint collaboration between the DCPCU and Met Police has prevented customers from having significant values of cash stolen from them. 'The banking industry is committed to preventing crime and we will continue our efforts to protect consumers and stop these crimes from happening in the first place.' The Bank Safe initiative was first set up two years ago to combat an increase in 'follow off' crimes across the capital. Specialist officers work to gather intelligence and dismantle organised gangs, whilst neighbourhood officers work with local partners such as the DCPCU, leaders in the finance industry, Age UK, local authorities and banks to raise awareness and educate local communities on follow-off crime and distraction techniques to ensure potential victims remain vigilant when entering a bank. To make yourself less vulnerable to personal theft, the Met advises members of the public to stay aware of their surroundings, pay attention to who's around them and keep cash in a secure bag or a hard-to-reach, out-of-sight pocket. The force also emphasised the importance of reporting crimes as soon as a theft occurs. John McGeachy, of Age UK London, added that the targeting of vulnerable, elderly people was 'particularly insidious'. 'Being a victim of this, or any other type of crime can have serious consequences for people's confidence and mental health,' he said. 'With older people more likely to bank in person than other age groups, it's particularly insidious to target them in this way as they leave the bank with their cash. 'We welcome the police's efforts to stamp down on this crime and ensure people can bank with confidence and in safety.' The BBCs spend on repairing a statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill has now soared to almost 220,000, despite campaigners having called for it to be taken down. New figures show the cost of the restoration is now nearly five times the previously declared figure by the broadcaster. One campaigner against sexual abuse branded the spending outrageous and a total disgrace, accusing the corporation of disregarding the feelings of victims of paedophiles. The restoration work comes after the Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London, was attacked twice by protesters. It was revealed last year that the cost of phase one work had been 40,782, with a further 7,255 spent on the continuation of scaffolding hire and licensing between the first and second parts of the work. But new information released under Freedom of Information rules reveals the costs have spiralled since then and now stand at 219,880, not including VAT. Eric Gill, who died in 1940, had been a highly respected 20th century artist - but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters and a dog The restoration work comes after the Prospero and Ariel sculpture, which is located outside Broadcasting House in central London, was attacked twice by protesters The BBC s spend on repairing a statue by paedophile sculptor Eric Gill has now soared to almost 220,000, despite campaigners having called for it to be taken down. New figures show the cost of the restoration is now nearly five times the previously declared figure by the broadcaster Marilyn Hawes (pictured), chief executive of campaign group Freedom From Abuse, said: 'Its outrageous - I have no printable words its a total disgrace and disregarding anyone who has suffered at the hands of a paedophile. Furthermore, what message are they attempting to say? I may not watch BBC again to be honest it disgusts me This does not even include the projected further spend of nearly 90,000 on a protective screen for the 1930s statue, once restoration work is finished. In its response to the Mails request for information, the BBC said the project to fully repair and restore the statue is still ongoing. It also said: The total cost of the work undertaken to date is 219,880 (excluding VAT). This value includes the total cost of all stonemasonry works, scaffolding hire and licensing, planning application costs and feasibility studies undertaken. Please note that this value is inclusive of the first phase expenditure of 40,782, and the cost of 7,255 which covered the continuation of scaffolding hire and licensing between the first and second phase of restoration work. But the growing spend on the controversial carvings is being meet with huge anger from critics. Marilyn Hawes, Chief Executive of campaign group Freedom from Abuse, said: If it wasnt already bad enough, maybe BBC would like to give TV licences away if they can be so cavalier with their funds! Its outrageous - I have no printable words its a total disgrace and disregarding anyone who has suffered at the hands of a paedophile. Furthermore, what message are they attempting to say? I may not watch BBC again to be honest it disgusts me. The BBC said a key part of the work was removing fragments caused by the damage which could be dislodged in the future. Work completed so far has included the removal of graffiti, recreating broken sections of statuary and repairing the faces of both figures. In its response the corporation stressed it does not condone the views or actions of Eric Gill. Earlier this month it was revealed that the BBC is planning to spend 89,000 on a 13ft by 9ft glazed screen to protect the sculpture once the work is done. It is seeking planning permission for the screen. The sum includes fixings, licensing, scaffolding hire and installation costs. Gill, who died in 1940, had been a highly respected 20th century artist - but when his diaries were published after his death, it was revealed he sexually abused his daughters and a dog. The BBC sculpture, which is Grade II listed, portrays the characters of Prospero and Ariel from Shakespeares The Tempest. Repair work from the first attack in 2022, started in May last year, before a person wielding a hammer launched a new assault on the sculpture. A BBC spokesman said: The BBC in no way condones Gill abusive behaviour. Broadcasting House is a building of historical and cultural significance and has been so for almost a century. 'Having sought expert advice and opinion, we are repairing the facade in line with the buildings Grade II* status. A Swedish woman who accused Julian Assange of sexual assault has said she has forgiven him, and is happy that he has been released from prison. Anna Ardin previously claimed the WikiLeaks founder tricked her into having sex without a condom in 2010 while staying at her flat in Sweden. She and another woman both accused Assange of having unwanted unprotected sex with them. This prompted his followers to start harassing her, she says. The online vitriol was so bad, she fled her home country and moved to Spain. Despite her ordeal, she has today spoken out to say she is 'sincerely happy' that he has been released from London's Belmarsh prison and allowed to return to his native country of Australia, where he arrived on Wednesday. Mr Assange pleaded guilty to a single charge on Tuesday after the US dropped 17 other espionage charges against him, before arriving in Australia. What's more, today, the decision to approve Julian Assange's extradition to the United States has formally been quashed at Britain's High Court following his return. Anna Ardin previously claimed the WikiLeaks founder tricked her into having sex without a condom in 2010 while staying at her flat in Sweden 'I'm sincerely happy for him that he is not in this high security prison,' Ms Ardin said in an interview with The Australian, published today. 'He never should have been in the beginning. The good things that he did was exposing war crimes, the Chelsea Manning leaks and exposing the misuse of power and the abuse of human rights. 'People committing war crimes should be punished, not the ones exposing them.' But while Ms Ardin says she is happy Assange has been allowed to return home, she said it was 'sad' that we would never be put on trial over the alleged assault, which she detailed publicly in her 2021 book 'In the Shadow of Assange: My Testimony'. Mr Assange has denied the accusations. According to Ms Ardin, who was originally named as 'Miss A', she and Assange planned to work together to promote his Wikileaks work in 2010. He was to stay in her spare room, and he was given a spare key. However, when she returned home, she found him holding up one of her bras, and he told her that he had been looking through her underwear drawer, she claims. She then says the pair ended up having 'uncomfortable' sex, and that Assange deliberately ripped a condom. Ms Ardin says the Wikileaks founder began to spin a narrative about what had happened from the first hours she confronted him about their encounter. She also discovered that a second woman had alleged Assange had had unwanted unprotected sex with her. In the case of the second woman, she alleges she woke up to find Assange inside her. Together, they asked Assange to take an HIV test to reassure them about their health: a test on a man comes back immediately, while for women it takes three months, and they wanted a quick answer. But, Ms Ardin claims, Assange refused to take the test, saying: 'I am a white Australian, Australian men don't have HIV' and telling them he was too busy. Ardin, who was previously referred to as Miss A, said Julian Assange tricked her into having sex without a condom in 2010 while staying at her flat in Sweden. Pictured: Assange at Ardin's flat in 2010, purportedly taken on the night of the alleged assault Assange gives a thumbs-up after arriving at Canberra Airport in Canberra on June 26, 2024 The two women resorted to going to the police in an attempt to force him to take the test, but found themselves under attack - firstly by Assange, and then his followers. The Wikileaks founder denied the accusations and told the media he did not know the women, or what their accusation was about. Ms Ardin says this was a 'complete lie,' telling The Australian that they had spoken to him hours before he made the public comments at the time. 'He chose to say that it was a smear campaign and that they had been warned about dirty tricks and something about the Pentagon,' she said. 'And he knew the Pentagon was not involved, but he still said that. He tried to avoid the responsibility.' According to Ms Ardin, Assange's team accused her of being a liar, a CIA spy and a honey trap for the Americans. They also speculated that Jews were behind the police report, that it was a feminist mob job, and a wider conspiracy theory, she says. These claims and other malicious rumours were spread about Ms Ardin online, she says, and a bounty was even put on her head by one person. This, she says, was 'much worse' than the initial alleged sexual abuse. She says she was never a CIA spy or anything else she was accused of being. Meanwhile, six different courts - three in Sweden and three in Briton, believed there was enough evidence for the investigation into Assange to continue. 'People take for granted that he is innocent,' she told The Australian publication. 'That creates a need for a scapegoat or to vilify me. That's a very common thing in (alleged) sexual abuse cases, that kind of turnaround the perspective that the woman reporting a sex crime is seen as a traitor, or as an abuser of the man.' The harassment was so bad, Ms Ardin says, that she had to flee to Spain. In the meantime, Assange hunkered down in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years to avoid an arrest warrant issue by Swedish authorities to question him over the allegations made by the two women. Assange (pictured 2017) has denied all allegations of sexual assault. In 2012, he hid in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over the investigation Assange is seen talking to his wife Stella over the phone on June 26 Assange (centre) steps onto Australian soil as he arrives at Canberra Airport on 26 June 2024 She was surprised, she said, that Assange chose to hide in the embassy in the UK, given that he was concerned about extradition to the US after he was accused of receiving and publishing war logs and diplomatic cables that included details of US military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. His activities drew an outpouring of support from press freedom advocates, who heralded his role in bringing to light military conduct that might otherwise have been concealed from view and warned of a chilling effect on journalists. Among the files published by WikiLeaks was a video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. Assange has been celebrated by supporters as a transparency crusader but lambasted by national security hawks who insist that his conduct put lives at risk and strayed far beyond the bounds of traditional journalism duties. 'Sweden doesn't have an extradition agreement with the US that the UK has. So as far as I can understand it, he would have been safer in Sweden,' Ms Ardin said. If found guilty of the sexual assault in Sweden, Ms Ardin told The Australian that she believes he would have spent less time in prison than he spent in the embassy. Despite the lack of an extradition agreement between the two countries, Assange believed he would immediately be extradited from Sweden to the US. The statute of limitations for Ms Ardin's complaint ran out after five years, and expired after 10 years for the second complaint, meaning that the claims against Assange will never be tested in court. 'It's sad. I mean, he won't be convicted, but he will also never be freed,' she told the publication. 'It's a frozen issue, and the whole thing has only been debated in the media. It's been more of a people's tribunal and that tribunal hasn't been fair, it has not looked at all the evidence, all the evidence hasn't even been out in the media.' Asked whether she would like an apology from the Wikileaks founder, she said it would be 'nice', but added that Assange has made it quite clear that he sees it as I have done something to him by not being quiet about it, and that he doesn't have any obligations. That is what he has shown so far. 'So I don't have any expectations. And I wouldn't demand that he apologise because I've forgiven him a long time ago already.' Assange waves after arriving at Canberra Airport in Canberra on June 26, 2024 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange kisses his wife Stella Assange as he arrives in Canberra, Australia, June 26, 2024. Stella Assange, wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks on the finalisation of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal at Parliament House in Canberra, June 27 Ms Ardin's interview was published as the decision to approve Julian Assange's extradition to the United States was formally quashed at the High Court in Briton. In an order on Friday, judges said that then-Home Secretary Priti Patel's decision to order Mr Assange's extradition to the US in June 2022 had been overturned. It comes after Assange flew into Australia on Wednesday, following his release from a London prison and an appearance before a judge in the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. The 52-year-old had been due to bring a challenge at the High Court in London in early July over his extradition. However, in Friday's order from Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Johnson, the judges said the legal proceedings had been formally discontinued. As the news broke this that Assange would be free to return to Australia, women's rights advocates said they regretted he was not questioned over the rape and other sex crime allegations in Sweden. Swedish prosecutors in 2019 dropped their remaining probe, into rape, saying the plaintiff's account of events was credible but the many years passed had weakened evidence. 'It's a betrayal against the women who reported him and who have not been given a chance for legal redress,' said Clara Berglund, head of the Swedish Women's Lobby, an umbrella organisation for women's rights groups. While Ms Ardin says she is happy Assange has been allowed to return home, she said it was 'sad' that we would never be put on trial over the alleged assault, which she detailed publicly in her 2021 book 'In the Shadow of Assange: My Testimony' 'It's a chapter of shame and betrayal that ends with his release,' she said. 'This is about a case that takes place on the major political stages, and men's violence against women is given incredibly little weight.' A spokesperson for Assange was not immediately available for comment. Elisabeth Massi Fritz, the rape case plaintiff's lawyer, said it is bad that Assange could not be tried in Sweden. 'There was evidence and it would have been of great importance to have the evidence tested in a Swedish court. 'For a plaintiff, it is extremely important,' she said. A 15-year-old boy has been sentenced to four years in jail for planning an Islamist attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Leverkusen. The teenager wanted to rent a truck and 'kill as many people as possible' by ramming it into the traditional market, a court in Cologne has revealed. The boy had started to become 'radicalised' in autumn 2023, the court said, and evidence against him included a video in a chat group announcing his plans for an attack on 'infidels' with a recognisable Islamist symbol in the background. He had planned the attack along with another teenager who was supposed to film it and share the video, the court said. The 15-year-old made a 'comprehensive confession' during his trial, a court spokesman said. The teenager wanted to rent a truck and 'kill as many people as possible' by ramming a truck into the traditional market, a court in Cologne has said (file image shows town centre market) The other boy, a 16-year-old from Brandenburg, the state that surrounds Berlin, will stand trial in a different court from July. Islamist extremists have carried out several attacks in Germany in recent years, the deadliest being a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 12 people. More recently, an Islamist motive is suspected in the killing of a police officer in a knife attack on the market square in the city of Mannheim in late May. The number of people considered Islamist extremists in Germany fell slightly from 27,480 in 2022 to 27,200 last year, according to a report from the federal domestic intelligence agency. However, in presenting the report, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany would be 'continuing to step up the fight against Islamist terrorism'. In another case involving teenagers, two boys and two girls aged 15 to 16 were arrested at Easter this year on suspicion of planning an Islamist attack in the same region of western Germany. Herbert Reul, interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, said the young age of the suspects left him 'speechless', adding that it posed a 'huge challenge for society as a whole'. Germany's biggest-selling daily Bild reported that the four youths were allegedly planning to carry out Molotov cocktail and knife attacks in the name of the Islamic State group. This is the horrifying moment when a police car stunt went spectacularly wrong in Russia after an officer was crushed under the wheels of a Ford Focus. The car was being driven on two wheels in a 'demonstration of professional skills'. A video shows helmeted officers in a car park in a plank position on the ground as the pirouetting vehicle drove by, with the car supposed to clear the policeman's head. But the Ford Focus 'did not have sufficient speed' and can be seen landing on an officer named Alexei, 48, as onlookers gasp and scream in horror. The wheel appeared to hit his helmet and he became trapped under the car. The policeman was then dragged across the car park. Helmeted police officers place themselves in a plank position in a car park while performing stunts to onlookers Pirouetting vehicle balancing on two wheels gets closer and closer to one police officer, which the driver intends to clear the policeman's head A separate clip shows some police officers running towards the car to help the man. 'The stunt got out of control and the police Ford fell right on top of the policeman,' reported SHOT media. The traffic policeman suffered a broken leg, dislocated finger and wounds to his back, according to reports on the stunt at Ivanteevka, in Moscow Region. The injured man was rushed to hospital where 'his life was not in danger'. 'During a demonstration of professional skills at the Professional Training Center of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Moscow, an accident occurred,' admitted a spokesman. The car loses control and lands on four wheels, hitting officer's head and trapping him underneath The officer, who is trapped under the police vehicle, is dragged across the car park as onlookers scream and gasp in horror Seperate clip shows other police officers running towards the car in order to help the injured man, He reportedly did not sustain any life-threatening injuries 'As a result, one of the employees was injured. He was provided with medical assistance. 'At present, there are no threats to his life and health.' The performance was undertaken by a police stunt team. It was unclear if the Ford Focus driver will face disciplinary action. The over-budget and long overdue new addition to CalMacs ferry fleet has been delayed again. The Glen Sannox will not now be delivered until mid-August after yet another setback was encountered with its eco-friendly fuel system. The ferry, which is being built at the state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde, is now more than six years behind schedule and has been beset by repeated delays. There had been hopes it would be carrying passengers in time for this summers holiday season but proposed delivery dates in May and July had to be postponed. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is planning to visit the shipyard for a full and frank discussion about the delivery of the Glen Sannox and its sister ship the Glen Rosa. The ferry, which is being built at the state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde, is now more than six years behind schedule Yesterday Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson said the ongoing fiasco has been disastrous for islanders on Arran, where the Glen Sannox is due to be deployed. He said: Weve heard plenty about slight delays for more than six years. The fact is that every day is a huge cost and imposition on islanders who have been let down by the SNP governments abject failure over the ferries fiasco, which has cost Scottish taxpayers hundreds of millions. Yet not a single ministerial head has rolled. This delay is going to seriously damage Arrans tourist season, with horrific consequences for the islands economy. And theres not even any guarantee that these changes will meet with approval, so the delays caused by the SNPs negligence could go on for years to come. There must be full accountability for these catastrophic failures, that have left islanders dangling for years and caused huge damage. The island communities reliant on lifeline ferry services have also been impacted by the number of CalMac services cancelled because of technical problems having skyrocketed under the SNP. Only 217 ferries were cancelled in 2010 due to faults but in the first nine months of 2023, there were 3,215, according to figures released under freedom of information. Mr Simpson added: These appalling figures are a mind-blowing illustration of the SNPs mismanagement of Scotlands ferry fleet. SNP incompetence has saddled CalMac with an ageing, unreliable fleet, depriving our islands of lifeline services on an increasingly regular basis. The Glen Sannox is due to work the Ardrossan to Brodick route when it is finally completed. It will be the first ferry constructed in the UK to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) but the installation of the dual fuel system has proved more difficult than was anticipated. The fuel system has been blamed for the latest slight delay, which means it will be handed over to ferries agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) in the week beginning August 19. At least two months of sea trials will be required before it can carry passengers. Ferguson Marines interim chief executive officer John Petticrew wrote to Holyroods Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee to admit the ferry would not be finished by the end of next month. His letter said: The LNG system has been well documented as the biggest challenge we were facing since our last report. It has proved even more difficult and has impacted the progress in other areas, namely the engine compartments. We still have a small portion to complete in the commissioning, but this has been moved to an alternate shift so as not to have further interference with other critical activities. This has resulted in a movement of the schedule causing a slight delay with delivery now being week commencing August 19, 2024. We are working with CalMac and CMAL at the highest level to ensure there will be no further delays. Deputy First Minister Ms Forbes said: While any further delay is disappointing, the decision to reschedule by three weeks will allow the yard to deliver the Glen Sannox this summer as well as protect other critical work. It is encouraging all parties are working together to ensure that the vessel enters service as quickly as possible. I will be visiting the yard soon and expect to have another full and frank discussion with the interim Chief Executive about delivering both vessels. I remain committed to ensuring these vessels are delivered for our island communities. The programme to deliver six vessels by 2026 remains on target. The vessels price is still expected to be between 145.5 million to 149.1 million. The bill for MV Glen Sannox and the Glen Rosa, which is due to be delivered in September next year, stands at nearly 300million. But the total cost is higher as another 83million was paid before the nationalisation of the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow and 45million of government loans were also written off. The original price in the contract for the vessels was 97million. China's space body reveals the weight of samples collected from moon's far side 11:02, June 28, 2024 By Zhao Lei ( Chinadaily.com.cn The returner of the Chang'e 6 lunar probe is opened during a ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, June 26, 2024. The returner of the Chang'e 6 lunar probe was opened at a ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo/Xinhua) A total of 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples were retrieved by China's Chang'e 6 robotic probe from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday morning, as the space authority handed over the scientifically invaluable substances to scientists. The weight of the samples, the most asked question by science and space enthusiasts over the past two days, was revealed by the space administration at a handover ceremony at its Beijing headquarters. Put in a special container, the lunar dust was handed over by Zhang Kejian, head of the space administration, to Ding Chibiao, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the ceremony. After the delivery, the samples will be transported to a lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, where the precious substances will be stored and initially processed, according to the space administration. The samples, the first materials recovered from the lunar far side, have unique scientific value and will further expand humans' knowledge about the moon's history and help to gear up the exploration and exploitation of lunar resources, the administration said, noting they are "shared treasure" of humanity. The Chang'e 6 mission, representing the world's first attempt to bring samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth, was launched by a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket on May 3 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. The 8.35-ton spacecraft consisted of four components an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a reentry capsule. After a host of complex, challenging steps, the lander touched down at the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, on the morning of June 2. The landing marked the second time a spacecraft had ever arrived in the lunar far side. The vast region had never been reached by any spacecraft until January 2019, when the Chang'e 4 probe landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin. The Chang'e 4 surveyed areas surrounding its landing site but did not collect and send back samples. The Chang'e 6 lander worked for 49 hours on the lunar far side, using a mechanical arm and a drill to collect surface and underground materials. Meanwhile, several scientific apparatuses were activated to conduct survey and analysis assignments. After the tasks were completed, the sample-loaded ascender lifted off from the lunar surface and reached lunar orbit to dock with the reentry capsule to transfer the samples. In the final leg of the mission, the orbiter and the reentry capsule flew back to Earth orbit before separating above Earth's atmosphere. The reentry capsule successfully touched down on its preset landing site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Tuesday. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Murka is a timid little cat who lost a rear leg to Russian artillery fire in a frontline village in Donetsk. She still won't allow herself to be petted by the Ukrainian soldiers who tended her wounds and saved her life. But as she is a stray and no longer able to hunt efficiently, she is dependent on them for food. And so Murka has become a ghostly, hopping presence on the margins of their field kitchen. The soldiers make sure she doesn't go hungry. Another cat, Dusia, was abandoned when her civilian owners fled the Russian advance and is now under the care of a fire support company of the frontline 41st Brigade. Meanwhile, a tabby called Pixel has a new home in a bunker she shares with doting artillerymen. Ukrainian soldiers Sasha, left, Andri and Roman at an animal therapy clinic where the cats help them to relax and reduce their depression Tabby cat Pixel was a stray kitten when she was adopted by the 41st Brigade gunners. She now has a new home in a bunker she shares with artillerymen Roman is an infantryman whose leg was shattered by machine gun fire in the summer fighting of 2022. We meet him in a psychological therapy unit at a military hospital in Kyiv. He tells a feline story from his own brigade. 'A friend's unit had a situation in which they forgot their cat,' says Roman. 'It happened during the usual chaos of rotation out of a forward position. But when they realised their mistake, they travelled 100 miles back to the same frontline location. It was actually something like a combat mission to retrieve their cat.' He pauses to reflect on this extraordinary level of dedication. 'Just to pick up a cat.' I ask why his friend's unit went to such trouble and risk. 'Because the cat was by then a family member,' Roman replies. In war, you don't leave family members behind. Murka, Dusia, Pixel and thousands of other former domestic pets are emblematic of the shattered communities that now exist across large swathes of Ukraine. The legacy of Putin's invasion in February 2022. Amid this brutal war, Ukraine's soldiers' relationships with such lost creatures may seem a frivolous, peripheral or overly-sentimental topic about which to write. But they throw a revealing light on the consolations to be gained from such connections in extremis and so we have made a film about the phenomenon for the Mail's forthcoming Frontline Ukraine YouTube series. In peacetime, Ukraine was a nation of pet owners, cats in particular. An estimated 9 million were kept by fewer than 50 million owners. Mail cameraman Jamie Wiseman and I have covered the full Russian invasion of Ukraine since the first day. During the refugee exodus in early 2022, a common sight for us were the cats and small dogs being carried in travelling boxes or on shoulders among the millions of citizens who were fleeing the fighting. In the initial panic, many other pets were left in frontline areas or had to fend for themselves when their stay-behind owners were wounded, killed or removed by the Russian occupation forces. Since then, some of these 'red zone' animals have been adopted by, or attached themselves to, frontline Ukrainian army units. Very often, while visiting a forward, or second line position, we have found at least one resident cat or, less commonly, a dog which the soldiers had come to consider to be an integral part of their unit. How to explain this? For tens of thousands of years Man has domesticated animals. A little more recently from around 2500BC we have exploited them for warfare: to supply our armies, help kill our enemies or warn us of hidden dangers. Today, in Ukraine, the frontline relationship between man and beast is a little different; no longer focused on killing the enemy, but about mutual comfort, support, and the healing of trauma. This symbiosis allows both soldier and animal to forget, for a little while at least, that they are still in some kind of hell. A man-made hell. Kupi, a ginger tom, is robust and a champion mouser. The soldiers call him The Terminator as he kills the rodents scurrying around in the artillery dugouts Dusia was found and adopted by Thunder Company of the 41st Brigade. She has become a Ukrainian army cat or 'battle cat' Take Dusia, for example. She has become a Ukrainian army cat, or 'battle cat', as someone here described her. We came across her in January, chasing a potato around the floor of a company HQ in an abandoned cottage on the Kupiansk front. Outside it was 20 degrees Celsius below zero. Having fled Russian occupied territory, Dusia's original civilian owners had left her at an animal shelter in central Ukraine. It was there she was found and adopted by Thunder company of the 41st Brigade. The unit was in the process of being rebuilt away from the frontline having suffered catastrophic casualties in the defence of Bakhmut. Dusia had lost her home, while the soldiers had lost the majority of their comrades. Last autumn, Dusia went with them to the Kupiansk frontline in Kharkiv oblast. More recently, she has been transferred with the 41st to the bitterly contested Chasiv Yar front. One of the company's officers explains why Dusia's continued presence is important to his unit. 'War destroys animals' lives just as it destroys people's lives,' he says. 'They are caught in the front-line zone where residents leave them behind when fleeing the war. 'And so we find little kittens, little dogs, sometimes big ones. They will simply die without people. They cling to us, while we feed and carry them with us and in return they thank us by relieving stress and making us a little calmer. 'Next to you is a living being that reminds you of a peaceful life, that does not talk to you about the war.' He adds: 'Dusia is always looking for care, affection and constant feeding. As if there is no war. Many units have cats and dogs. They are our medicine and our joy.' Then he said something that would be repeated by a number of soldiers: 'Unlike people, (these animals) are not treacherous, they are incapable of betrayal.' Army cats are reminders of home. But they are also expected to do their own killing. In winter, frontline trenches and dugouts are often infested with rodents. We came across Pixel and another cat called Kupi in an artillery dugout deep in the Kupiansk forest. Pixel was a stray kitten when she was adopted by the 41st Brigade gunners. Now she lives alongside their self-propelled howitzers but has not got used to the sound of shellfire. Kupi, a ginger tom, is more robust and a champion mouser. The soldiers call him The Terminator. But not every abandoned pet adopted by the Ukrainian military is feline. Bim was a traumatised stray dog, rescued by 56th Brigade soldiers in the Sloviansk sector. Bim is very nervous and only trusts humans who wear uniform, the soldiers tell us. Certainly he shied away from us. The support is mutual. 'This is Bim, our anti-stress dog which helps our guys protect ourselves from a psychological situation,' one of the soldiers tells us, as Bim cowers behind him. 'This dog eats too much and likes it when everyone touches him. He is like our white bear!' Bucha is an abandoned Rottweiler who was adopted by the same brigade's Mariupol Cossacks. Like Thunder Company of the 41st Brigade, they had sustained dreadful casualties. We met Bucha on the Sloviansk front in January. She was very friendly and the soldiers clearly loved her. She was their mascot. But then, recently, and to their consternation, she vanished. Kos, the young company commander, talks about the relationship with stray animals and the impact of Bucha's loss. 'We feed and often try to evacuate such animals from the front lines, just to save their lives,' he says. 'We ask the volunteers to bring the animal food to feed them. 'Bucha stayed with us for almost a year. She knew every soldier in our unit and every soldier knew Bucha. She was a very friendly and gentle dog who was a comfort to everyone in this unit. 'But she disappeared, literally dissolved in the air, one evening, around 8pm, when it got dark. We saw her playing, with another dog. And then she was gone.' Several squads were assigned to search for Bucha, but with no success. She remains missing and the Mariupol Cossacks remain bereft. Not every military pet is a former pet. Loki, for example, is a fox cub that was found in the bitterly contested border forests of northern Kharkiv by the Kraken special forces. He was reared by hand and now has his own sleeping quarters and travelling case. A fox in a box. This deep connection between soldiers and animals has been recognised by medical institutions. They need to harness it because many veterans here have simply lost faith in humanity. Which is how we came to meet Boss, a five-year-old Persian-Siberian cross, and a number of other unexpected creatures who are helping traumatised Ukrainian soldiers with their mental recovery. We were invited to the Askold Clinic at a military hospital which has helped hundreds of soldiers since the invasion. Sasha, who lost both his legs to an explosion in the Donbas, pets five-year-old Persian-Siberian cross therapy cat Boss who helps traumatised Ukrainian soldiers with their mental recovery Murka is a timid little cat who lost a rear leg to Russian artillery fire in a frontline village in Donetsk - she still does not allow herself to be petted by the Ukrainian soldiers who saved her Large and extremely furry, Boss looks like the kind of creature you might see on a fashion shoot. In fact, he's an important part of a medical unit that is helping Ukrainian soldiers recover from trauma. Ukraine's military has suffered thousands of physical casualties since the full Russian invasion of February 2022. But not all wounds are visible or can be healed in a matter of days or weeks. The rehabilitation of combat soldiers suffering from PTSD and other war-related psychological issues is, and will long continue to be, one of the greatest challenges that faces Ukraine. Animal-assisted therapy or zoo therapy, as I heard it called here in Kyiv, is a complementary approach to healing or, better, coping with a medical condition. It has been around in various guises since the 18th century. This approach is based on the concept of the 'human-animal bond', which dates back to pre-history and is the foundation upon which so many of us keep domestic pets today. Daria, a social worker at the Askold Clinic explains: 'We use zoo therapy and we use 'speaking with cats' because it's helping our defenders to relax and lower their depression. Through animals we can speak with them better because they do not always want to speak to us.' We met three badly wounded veterans there. Sasha lost both his legs to an explosion in the Donbas. Andri, a furniture designer from Kyiv before he joined up after the 2022 invasion, now walks with a limp. And there was the garrulous Roman. The war and his injury has altered, for the worse, his view of humanity even of his fellow Ukrainians. 'Returning to the rear areas, or walking through the capital itself, the war fundamentally changed the outlook of many people,' he begins. 'I have observed this in (my fellow soldiers) and, in the same way, I myself would sooner serve a piece of pie or some meat to a stray dog than communicate with a stranger. 'Because, basically, all the guys understand what they're fighting for. But with civilians, there is some aspect, well, we soldiers have already become different. 'We now have very few topics for conversation with civilians. I have even met with old friends and there was nothing to talk about with them.' Roman says he and his fellow veterans find it difficult even to speak to civilian medical professionals assigned to help them. 'For example, only two to three months has passed since your injury and the same frontline is still there before your eyes,' he says. 'And here you go into the medical office and in front of you sits a beautiful girl, beautifully dressed, who begins to tell you how to deal with your problems. And you're like, 'What the f**k?' 'But as soon as you grow sad, as soon as you give up like that that's the end.' Which is where animal therapy comes in and has been successful at the Askold at least. Kyiv zoo lends animals to the programme there, including racoons, sheep and even bats. Zoo therapy doesn't even have to include furry, hairy or even vertebrate creatures. We find this out when boxes of large, shiny black cockroaches and skeletal stick insects very much alive are produced for us to handle. One of the clinic staff tells us, 'This is about being tactile, touching or otherwise interacting with something that is living but not human, because the trust and connection with fellow humans has been damaged by war.' And how it has been damaged. 'Any animal on the territory of this state is by default better than a living Russian,' says Roman. 'Even a viper, even a lizard, even mosquitoes. We even love our mosquitoes more than Russians now.' Additional reporting by Oleksandr Kostiuchenko and Daria Bahlai. Grieving families may never recover after a man broke into a hospital mortuary and 'violated and defiled' their deceased loved ones during the early hours of the morning, a court heard. Damon Tingay forced his way into the mortuary at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby on March 17 this year. The 30-year-old opened multiple fridges and disturbed the shrouds covering the deceased, before committing sexual acts on two male bodies. Grimsby Crown Court learned that Tingay, a father of three, spent four minutes in the mortuary before being discovered by hospital staff. He attempted to flee, leaving behind a 'horrifying scene.' Damon Tingay forced his way into the mortuary at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby on March 17 this year. The 30-year-old opened multiple fridges and disturbed the shrouds covering the deceased, before committing sexual acts on two male bodies Tingay was sentenced to six years in prison with an extended licence period of four years. The judge condemned his actions as 'perverted and utterly grotesque' Tingay pleaded guilty to the sexual penetration of a corpse and trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence. Today he was sentenced to six years in prison with an extended licence period of four years. The judge condemned his actions as 'perverted and utterly grotesque.' Relatives of the deceased who had been disturbed shouted from the public gallery: 'Hope you rot' , 'scum' and 'He deserved more.' The court heard Tingay arrived at the hospital around 2:50 am and spent two hours avoiding security guards before forcing his way into the mortuary. CCTV footage showed him drinking from a bottle which was described as 'either brandy or whisky or the like'. Judge John Thackray KC stated, 'When you thought you had evaded them, you entered the mortuary by forcing an external door. What happened thereafter is shown on CCTV.' Footage played in court showed Tingay drinking from a bottle before entering the mortuary, which had an unsecured door held closed by a magnet. The judge privatly reviewed the CCTV footage from inside the mortuary. Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said that Tingay disturbed a total of 10 bodies, opening fridges or removing their shrouds. He sexually interfered with two male bodies, attempted to lift one by its blanket, and struck another with his fist, the hearing was told. Hospital staff discovered Tingay and detained him with the help of security guards. He was arrested when the police arrived. One staff member described the scene as 'horrifying,' with open fridges and bodies pulled from shelves. She stated, 'I have seen a lot in my career. This was one of the worst things I have seen in my life. It was the indignity, the lack of respect. I couldn't stop crying.' Mr. Evans said that Tingay was volatile during his arrest, shouting and screaming that he had done nothing wrong. He even alleged he had been blamed for a friend's suicide and was seeking answers. In a police interview, Tingay claimed to have no memory of the incident. He also claimed he had been drinking. In court, the mother and aunt of one of the violated patients expressed their 'incredible pain' upon learning what happened to their loved one. Mr. Evans noted that this trauma would stay with them for life, with the patient's aunt experiencing a multiple sclerosis flare-up due to the stress. The brother of another disturbed patient described suffering nightmares and trauma, feeling his brother's body had been disturbed in a place where he was supposed to be safe and at peace. Craig Lowe, defending Tingay, offered an apology on his behalf to the victims' families, acknowledging his 'obviously totally appalling behaviour.' He highlighted Tingay's mental health issues and spinal injury since 2022, telling the court that the offense was 'clearly out of character' for the otherwise 'friendly, kind, considerate man.' Judge Thackray told Tingay, 'You violated and defiled loved ones, causing immeasurable harm to numerous victims,' and warned that there would have been more victims had he not been interrupted. The judge added, 'There is undoubtedly a very, very dark side to you.' In addition to the prison sentence, Tingay was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has announced his wife Rhonda has died in a heartbreaking social media post. The Kentucky lawmaker revealed Friday morning that the mother of his four children and partner of 35 years had passed away. A cause of death was not immediately known as tributes from his colleagues flooded in. Rhonda was 51. 'Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven,' Massie wrote on social media. 'Thank you for your prayers for our family in this difficult time.' Ron DeSantis, a friend of Massie, tweeted: 'Casey and I are heartbroken for your loss. We are praying for you and your family.' 'I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rhonda Massie, the beloved wife of my friend and colleague, Thomas Massie. Rhonda's warmth, kindness, and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her,' said fellow Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr. Barr lost his own wife in 2020, just shy of her 40th birthday. More to follow Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has announced his wife Rhonda has died in heartbreaking social media post The Kentucky lawmaker revealed Friday morning that the mother of his four children and partner of 35 years had passed away Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven,' Massie wrote on social media Massie and his wife Rhonda, who both went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have an 'off the grid' home in Kentucky where they use electricity from their own solar panels, water from their well, raise cattle and farm their own fruits and vegetables. 'She was valedictorian at our high school where we went to the Prom together, accepted at MIT and Harvard, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT, and devoted her life to our family,' Massie went on of his wife. Just last week they had toured Mt. Rainier, Washington with their family, he said. Holidaymakers have been left furious after Gatwick Airport temporarily suspended all flights this afternoon, with passengers facing huge delays, missed connections and last-minute diversions to other London airports. Frustrated passengers have taken to social media to vent their anger at the disruption, with one man telling of how no support was offered to him and his pregnant wife after their flight was diverted to Luton. It comes after a British Airways flight was forced to make an emergency stop on the runway due to 'having hot brakes'. The Boeing 777 jet was seen blocking all other flights from taking off, sparking travel chaos for thousands of British holidaymakers. Video footage taken from passengers onboard the flight showed fire engines making their way over to the stationary vehicle, with travellers being told take-off had been 'aborted'. All flights were temporarily suspended at Gatwick Airport this afternoon after a British Airways flight was forced to an emergency stop on the runway The incident meant flights taking off from and landing at Gatwick were temporarily suspended, leading to hours of delays. One passenger waiting to fly back to Gatwick Airport from Valencia posted a picture waiting onboard the flight, writing: 'Gatwick Airport is a bl**** joke and we haven't even left Spain yet! 'Because of a "backlog" of planes, we've been sitting in a plane, in Valencia, on the tarmac since 1.30pm. Nearly two hours. @easyjet. 'My back is killing me. It's like being a bl**** battery hen'. Meanwhile, a husband took to X to address his frustration at the lack of support or financial assistance offered to him and his pregnant wife. He wrote: 'I just got diverted from Gatwick to Luton Airport with these guys (WizzAir). They offered nothing as support, no financial assistance or any transport. 'Me and my pregnant wife are now in a baking hot 3-hour taxi from Luton to Gatwick to go and get our care, the fare is currently 94.90.' Angry passengers took to X to voice their frustration at the widespread disruption One mother wrote: '@British_Airways daughter is at Gatwick for BA2203, delayed 5 hours and limited information and no staff at BA desk. 'Group of teens who have been up since 4.30am travelling from Leeds. 'Please sort food and info for them ASAP.' Another woman told of how she had been 'sat on the runway' for more than two hours due to the knock-on effect of the incident. Clara McSweeney wrote: 'Sat on the runway @GatwickAirport for over two hours, had to find out what was going on by searching it online, why on earth board people when you know we can't go anywhere. @easyjet complete disgrace.' The chaos ensued after Flight G-VIIT BA2279 was due to depart to Vancouver this afternoon before it was forced to do a 'high-speed emergency stop'. A statement from the airport said the plane had been abandoned 'due to the departing aircraft having hot breaks'. According to travel expert Simon Calder at least 12 flights were diverted including an Emirates A380 flight from Dubai that was instead forced to land in Brussels Video footage taken from passengers onboard the flight showed fire engines making its way over to the stationary vehicle, with travellers being told take-off had been 'aborted' Plane stuck on / blocking the runway at Gatwick. Nothing in or out as it stands, been this way for around 20 mins now .. pic.twitter.com/vR6lY4B8U8 Tom Strawbridge (@strawbs5) June 28, 2024 According to travel expert Simon Calder at least 12 flights were diverted including an Emirates A380 flight from Dubai that was instead forced to land in Brussels. It is unknown how many flights in total have been affected on what is the busiest aviation day of the year so far. The airport's runway was forced to close following a 'rejected take-off', according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. The website reported the closure at 12.53pm reopening at 1.14pm. 'Safety is our top priority and the dedicated airport fire service swiftly attended to support the aircraft,' a spokesperson added. 'A number of flights were diverted. The runway is now open and operating as normal.' A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Our pilots took the precautionary decision to cancel take-off due to a technical issue. 'Safety is always our top priority and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.' It marks yet another hiccup this week for families trying to get away for the summer. JUNE 14 -- Huge queues at Birmingham Airport earlier this month as passengers wait outside Departing passengers queue for security inside Birmingham Airport first thing this morning A long queue of cars to get into the drop-off area at Birmingham Airport this afternoon Families flying from Birmingham Airport faced long queues for security with one passenger describing it as a 'health and safety disaster'. Travellers using the airport have faced waits of up to several hours to get through the terminal in recent weeks following the opening of a 60million security hall. The new area will eventually allow passengers to leave liquids up to two litres and large electrical items in cabin luggage while they go through security, but fresh government restrictions mean passengers are still only limited to 100ml bottles. One video filmed earlier this week showed a long queue of cars waiting to get into the drop-off area today. Witness Olly Carruthers said it was 'chaos' with the zone 'completely broken and backing up'. Another traveller said he had waited for more than an hour by 5.30am this morning and had still not reached the lifts to pass security - with 1,000 people in the queue. The airport - which also denied the figure of 1,000 people in the queue - told how staff removed 0.8 tonnes of liquids, pastes and gels in containers which were over the 100ml hand luggage limit going through security between 3.30am and 7am. The temperature outside is well into the 30s as Delisha Boyd sits at her desk in New Orleans, one of America's most humid cities, and explains why she's just sent the political thermometer soaring. Ms Boyd, a member of Louisiana's House of Representatives, has sponsored a law that has just made it the first US state to allow the surgical castration of rapists. From August, judges will be able to order that anyone aged 17 or over convicted of raping a child of 13 or under should undergo the physical removal of their testicles. Delisha Boyd believes her own mother was repeatedly violated from the age of 13 Unlike chemical castration with drugs, which is ordered following some rape convictions, this procedure would be devastatingly permanent. And so it should be, says Ms Boyd, who is herself the product of child-rape. She understands the effect of rape on its victims and knows, she says, the absolute necessity of doing whatever it takes to prevent the perpetrator doing it again. Her bill has been widely applauded by Louisiana's Republican majority and derided by their opponents, who say this 'barbaric' new punishment would, given the track record of the states justice system, overwhelmingly be applied to black men. So it is all the more striking that Ms Boyd is both a Democrat and black. The 55-year-old believes her own mother was repeatedly violated from the age of 13 by a family friend who was twice her age and that she, Delisha, was the result. 'My mother was only 15 years old when she gave birth to me,' she explains, her voice catching with emotion. 'My 'sperm donor' [she refuses to call him her father] was 28 at the time.' Delisha Boyd was born in 1969, four years before abortion became legal in America thanks to the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v Wade ruling. She does not know if her mother would have chosen to abort her given the opportunity, but Ms Boyd can say with certainty that she never recovered from the ordeal. 'No one was looking out for her, she didn't have any psychological help or whatever,' she tells the Mail. 'She turned to drugs and alcohol. She was 28 when she died of cardiac arrest from drug use.' Her mother had struggled to bring up her two children, a boy and a girl, leaving Delisha who didn't learn for years what she had been through gripped by a simmering anger towards her. It's not difficult, then, to understand Ms Boyd's fury towards men who rape children or why she has championed a solution fellow Democrats condemn as 'medieval'. Steamy Louisiana is in the Deep South, a Bible Belt heartland which, outside the Democrat-voting and mainly black city of New Orleans, is largely white and Republican, a place where every other building seems to be a Baptist church. The legacy of slavery, say critics, lingers in a state still sharply divided on racial lines. Louisiana has one of the country's highest incarceration rates, one of the worst records of wrongful conviction and its inmates are disproportionately black. Plantation owners once routinely castrated male slaves and the prospect of such a punishment returning has appalled some of Ms Boyd's black Democrat colleagues. Echoes of the past are everywhere. Even today, Louisiana forces prisoners at Angola the notorious State Penitentiary dubbed the 'bloodiest prison in the US' to go out to the surrounding fields in gangs and toil in the crushing heat. In April, Glenn Sullivan, a 54-year-old who repeatedly raped a 14-year-old girl, agreed to the removal of his testicles as part of a 50-year sentence Also called orchiectomy, surgical castration involves the physical removal of the testicles, which produce 95 percent of a man's testosterone Even today, Louisiana forces prisoners at Angola, the notorious State Penitentiary dubbed the 'bloodiest prison in the US', to toil in the crushing heat Ms Boyd co-authored her bill with State Senator Regina Barrow, another black Democrat. But few others in their party have supported them and the measure was made law thanks to the votes of Republicans. The bill was then enthusiastically rubber-stamped by Louisiana's Bible-thumping governor, Jeff Landry, a former police officer. Opponents of the measure from politics and academia all from the Left have been drawing comparisons with Nazi doctor Josef Mengele who, among his many sadistic crimes, conducted castration experiments on concentration camp inmates. Fellow Democrats have made it clear they believe Delisha Boyd and Regina Barrow have done their opponents' work for them. (Ms Barrow had originally proposed that even people convicted for disseminating child pornography face physical castration a measure which did not become law). It's not as if Louisiana's Republicans need much help. Backed by strong majorities in the State Senate and House of Representatives, Governor Landry has been throwing himself into America's raging culture wars, apparently bent on making Louisiana the most God-fearing state in the union. Earlier this month, Landry, who only took office in January, signed the first law in America making it compulsory for the Ten Commandments to be posted - in a large, 'easily readable font' - in every publicly funded school classroom. 'If you want to respect the rule of law, you've got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses,' he said. Opponents say the Ten Commandments measure flouts America's constitutional separation of church and state and they are threatening to challenge it in the courts. But presidential contender Donald Trump says that Louisianas approach should be adopted right across the US. Governor Landry, meanwhile, supports Louisiana's near total ban on abortions and classified two medications used to induce them as 'dangerous substances' whose unauthorised possession is punishable by up to five years in prison. The governor has added the use of nitrogen gas and electrocution to the state's deadly arsenal for conducting executions. He has lowered the age at which criminal suspects can be prosecuted as adults to 17 and adults are now permitted to carry a concealed handgun without a licence. Only a handful of countries around the world use physical castration, including Pakistan and Nigeria. Delisha Boyd, who has a daughter and granddaughter, has no time for claims from her own party that she's a dupe of Landry or that she is somehow betraying fellow black people. 'I don't want to make this about race or party,' she says. 'I am a woman first and foremost, with a child. This is about doing what's right to protect our children.' She cited the arrest last month in state capital Baton Rouge of a 51-year-old man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl. The suspect had already been convicted of a similar crime involving a five-year-old in 2007. 'Imagine if a judge had sentenced him to castration,' she says. 'I tell people: 'Close your eyes and think of your child at five'. There's nothing you can do to make [such] children's lives normal again.' While critics have opposed physical castration as a breach of America's constitutional ban on 'cruel and unusual punishment', Ms Boyd insists it's the five-year-old victim who had suffered the real cruelty. 'The fact that we're even discussing the cruel and unusual punishment of a rapist and not the victim is insane,' says Ms Boyd, who would happily see child rapists face the death penalty. If her opponents say castration harks back to the terrible days of slavery, she, too, points to the wrongs of the past in this case the way black women were treated in the Deep South. Between the conclusion of the Civil War in 1865 and the end of racial segregation a century later, no white man in the South was convicted of raping or attempting to rape a black woman, even though the crime was common. It's not just the brutality of physical castration that has attracted criticism, however, but the potential for miscarriages of justice more so given that such cases can hinge on the sometimes unreliable testimony of children. Some opponents have questioned whether emasculation will even be effective. Also called orchiectomy, surgical castration involves the physical removal of the testicles, which produce 95 percent of a man's testosterone the primary male sexual hormone which is the main determinant of sex drive. Yet the small amount of testosterone still produced by the adrenal glands located above the kidneys could be enough to allow some sexual function to remain in some cases. One German study suggested that 18 per cent of offenders who chose to be castrated were able to have sex 20 years later. Critics also complain that castration could prove ineffective because many rapists are driven by the desire for power over their victims rather than by hormones alone. Louisiana and a few other American states already allow courts to order chemical castration, using drugs to stop the production of testosterone. This is rarely used, however, and even when it is, the effects are only temporary. Ms Boyd accepts that physical castration won't stop all rapists re-offending but believes such a drastic punishment would be worthwhile if the measure prevents even one sex assault on a child. And she is keen to emphasise that Louisiana isn't ushering in an emasculation free-for-all. The operation would only be carried out at a judge's discretion, and a court-appointed doctor must first agree that the prisoner is medically fit for major surgery. Given Ms Boyds new law doesnt come into force until August, as yet, no one has been sentenced to physical castration. There are precedents in Louisiana, however. In April, Glenn Sullivan, a 54-year-old who repeatedly raped a 14-year-old girl, agreed to the removal of his testicles as part of a 50-year sentence. In such cases, as with surgery for testicular cancer, the patient is anaesthetised, a doctor makes an incision just above the pubic area and the testicles are removed through the opening. Offenders in Louisiana will be allowed to refuse the operation, but they must then serve another three to five years in prison, possibly with hard labour. While that may sound tempting, those acquainted with the prison farm at Angola named after a slave plantation that stood on the spot say otherwise. Angola is where rapists are sent and where the prison museum exhibits horrific pictures of the violence inmates have inflicted upon each other. Authorities on Angola suggest that child abusers might accept anything, including castration, to get out as soon as possible. There's no doubting the issue is divisive, but Representative Boyd says she's had more calls from local people who support her bill than from those who oppose it. The Mail certainly found conflicting views as locals around the Louisiana digested the news of the state's latest hardline response to crime. I met Doris Runcie and daughter Natalia Gaylord accompanied by three small children of her own filling up at a garage in Baton Rouge. The castration bill was enthusiastically rubber-stamped by Louisiana's Bible-thumping governor, Jeff Landry, a former police officer A prisoner's hands hanging outside the bars inside a punishment cell wing at Angola prison in Louisiana 'I say 'Yeah',' said Mrs Runcie to the idea of castrating rapists. 'For the same reason I tell my daughter to neuter her stupid dog. It would be so much happier.' She continued: 'Someone who doesn't act like a conscientious being should definitely be treated like an animal. There's no reason why a child rapist should be allowed to do it again.' Her daughter, Natalia, said she worried castration might seem too much like 'vengeance'. But she accepted many Louisianans are 'pro-life' (anti-abortion) and 'we've got to do more to stop rape'. In New Orleans, however, a 40-year-old black writer called Flint Sutton was dismayed. 'Castration's such a final decision it's way too punitive as it's irreversible,' he said. He believes that in such cases the burden of proof would have to rise substantially to ensure innocent people don't suffer wrongful and irreversible punishment: 'It's not like you'll easily be able to say 'Oops, we made a mistake'.' Not that he was particularly surprised by the new measure. 'We're in the South and we do retain a Biblical perspective,' he said. Drive through the swampy bayou country of the Mississippi Delta, and that perspective isn't hard to find. Keith Corley, a 54-year-old jukebox technician in Baton Rouge, is a former Texas prison guard. He believes castration is a 'grand idea'. He had sympathy for other criminals who might offend because, for example, of straitened circumstances. But Mr Corley considered child rapists to be 'some of the scummiest and most evil people in the world' and was frankly 'amazed that they're allowed to keep living'. What happened if a convicted person later turned out to have been innocent, I asked. 'There's nothing in this world that's perfect,' he shrugged. The typically united House Democrats had their biggest break from the president yet in a stinging post-mortem of Joe Biden's debate performance Thursday night. Nearly all were in agreement that Biden had a 'bad night.' 'He's a great president, he got off to a bad start,' said former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 'Integrity versus dishonesty on its worst night shines through.' Other liberal lawmakers were more honest about their disappointment in the president's performance. 'I think we all know that it was not what we wanted,' said Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. 'He had a bad night.' 'But he is the President, with Democrats, who instituted the largest investment in taking on climate change,' she added. The typically united House Democrats had their biggest break from the president yet in a stinging post-mortem of Biden's debate performance Thursday night Some are in all-out panic mode, worried that Biden lost the election for himself in those fateful 90 minutes and wondering if it would be possible to replace him. 'It's fancy dance thinking to start talking about other people,' said Jayapal. 'he's our candidate. He is our president.' Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a top Biden surrogate, said he will tell voters to vote for the people in the president's inner circle who are pulling the strings. 'We have a great team of people that will help govern. That is what I'm going to continue to make the case for.' 'He had a bad night. He's a good man. He's got a great record,' said Rep. Steny Hoyer, longtime House Democratic leader and a friend to Biden. 'Some of us have bad nights sometimes.' Rep. Angie Craig, a vulnerable Democrat from Minnesota, called it a 'terrible debate' and said Biden 'couldn't communicate.' Asked if he should step aside, she said she was going home to Minnesota to discuss it with constituents. 'Did Joe Biden have a bad night? In my opinion? Yes, he absolutely did,' top Foreign Affairs Democrat Rep. Gregory Meeks said. He said Biden needs to do damage control. 'He needs to go out there and talk to the American people, answer the questions that need to be answered and not be on the defensive,' Meeks said. 'Have townhall meetings, even deal with you guys in the press, and then talk to you directly, answer all of the hard questions. Don't run away from them.' Nearly all were in agreement that Biden had a 'bad night.' 'He's a great president, he got off to a bad start,' said former Speaker Nancy Pelosi . 'Integrity versus dishonesty on its worst night shines through' Democrats unimpressed with Biden debate performance 'The debate last night I thought had some shortcomings,' said Rep. Jim Clyburn, the powerful Democrat who propelled Biden to the Democratic nomination in 2020. 'How many times did infrastructure come up? ... it never came up,' the South Carolina lawmaker went on. 'I believe that he has a tremendous record. I just think that he needs to share that record with the public.' The president's performance was off to a rocky start when he came out with a quiet, raspy voice - his team insisted he was recovering from a cold. He then launched into a few indecipherable tirades, including one where he talke about beating Medicare. 'We'd be able to wipe out [Trump's] debt,' Biden said. 'We'd be able to help make sure all those things we need to do: child care, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system.' 'Making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the ... with the COVID, excuse me, with um, dealing with everything we have to with, uh ...' he continued. 'Look, if we finally beat Medicare ...' At one moment, Trump poked fun ad Biden's confusing answer to a question on immigration. 'Since, I've changed the law, what's happened? I've changed it in a way that now, you're in a situation where there are 40 percent fewer people coming across the border illegally, it's better than when [Trump] left office,' the president said. 'And I'm going to continue to move it until we get the total ban on ... the total initiative relative to what we're going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers.' Trump responded with the following: 'I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either.' And in a moment on abortion, Biden left viewers befuddled when he said Roe v. Wade had 'three trimesters.' 'I supported Roe v Wade, which had three trimesters. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. And a third time is between the doctor I mean, it'd be between the woman and the state,' Biden said. 'The idea that the politicians that the founders wanted the politicians to be the ones making decisions about women's health is ridiculous. That's the last no politician should be making that decision.' He continued: 'A doctor should be making those decisions. That's how it should be run. That's what you're going to do.' Roe v. Wade legalized abortion up to 20 weeks. It was overturned two years ago. Millions of Americans are set to face travel hell ahead of the July 4th celebrations as airports across the country prepare for their busiest day ever. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to break the record for the most people screened on a single day with over three million passengers on Friday. Many have chosen to fly out for the holiday on June 28 and it will mark the busiest travel day this summer. Airports in Chicago and Atlanta have already seen thousands of travelers with large queues forming around check-in and security. There are projected to be 71 million people leaving their homes to celebrate Independence Day next week. Millions of Americans are set to face travel hell ahead of the July 4th celebrations as airports across the country prepare for their busiest day ever. Pictured: Busy queues at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on June 28 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to break the record for the most people screened on a single day with over three million passengers on Friday Photos from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday morning show a busy airport terminal with thousands of passengers waiting to catch their flights. Lengthy queues formed ahead of security with disgruntled passengers and the car park outside the airport was packed. Vacationers also flooded O'Hare airport in Chicago as they began their trip ahead of the July 4th celebrations. TSA is expecting to screen more than 32 million jetsetters from June 27 through July 8. The peak travel day for the July 4 holiday is expected to be on June 28 and the government agency expects this to surpass the passenger record set on June 23. It advised travelers to start packing their things in a completely empty bag so that no prohibited items are accidentally left in baggage. TSA also suggested that travelers get to the airport two hours before their scheduled flight departure time. It recommended travelers review guidelines for traveling with children, ask for assistance, double-check luggage tags and check for TSA PreCheck. And on top of that, TSA stressed that travelers should respect frontline aviation workers while they're checking in and getting screened. Uncalled behavior or violence during a security screening could result in delays at checkpoints. 'We expect this summer to be our busiest ever, and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,' said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Many have chosen to fly out for the holiday on June 28 and it will mark the busiest travel day this summer Airports in Chicago and Atlanta have already seen thousands of travelers with large queues forming around check-in and security 'The traveling public is on the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes.' TSA's announcement comes just four days after AAA projected that 70.9 million individuals will travel 50 miles or more away from home during the Independence Day holiday period. The AAA Independence Day holiday travel period this year lasts from June 29 to July 7, which is a first for the organization in terms of its lengthy duration. According to AAA, this year's travel number is a five percent increase compared to 2023. There are projected to be 71 million people leaving their homes to celebrate Independence Day next week Holidaygoers also flooded O'Hare airport in Chicago as they began their trip ahead of the July 4th celebrations 'With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,' Senior Vice President of AAA Travel Paula Twidale said. 'We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people. The July 4 airport mayhem comes after around 3.51 million travelers flew out of airports like LAX and Pittsburgh International during Memorial Day Weekend. United Airlines said over three million people flew between May 23 and May 28, making it the airlines' busiest Memorial Day weekend in history. Around three million travelers flew with Delta, while American Airlines had nearly 3.9 million fliers. According to ABC News via Hopper, the busiest Memorial Day weekend days for flying were on May 23, May 24, and May 27. The families of American service members who died in Afghanistan tell DailyMail.com they were horrified by President Biden's shocking lie during the first presidential debate - that no troops have died under his watch. In a staggering moment during Joe Biden's disastrous debate that has launched Democrats into panic mode, Biden forgot the deaths of 13 American soldiers in the suicide bombing in Afghanistan. The president claimed no troops died during his term, sparking understandable fury from Gold Star families who suffered a horrible loss in August 2021. They tell DailyMail.com that Biden's debate remarks were 'outraging' and a slap in the face. Darin Hoover, father of Taylor Hoover, a 31-year-old Marine Corps staff sergeant from Utah, told DailyMail.com he 'yelled' at what he was hearing during the debate by 'stumbling, bumbling old Joe.' 'When Biden said that not one person in the military was killed under his watch, I yelled at what I was hearing.' During a back and forth between the two men, Biden brought up Trump's frequent claims that his presidency was good for the U.S. military. 'The truth is, I'm the only president this century, that doesn't have any - this decade - that doesn't have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did,' Biden falsely claimed. Biden was completely wrong in his claim that no American troops died during his presidency as 13 were killed during an ISIS-K attack amid the evacuation of Afghanistan. 'I knew that I'd heard what I did, but couldn't believe he had the audacity to say it. Had he forgotten our 13 kids?' Hoover continued. 'Did he not remember standing on the tarmac at the dignified transfer? Did he not remember checking his watch over and over and over again?? We've called him out several times for it!!' Joe Biden forgot the deaths of 13 American soldiers in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan when he claimed no troops died during his term during his debate with Donald Trump Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, told DailyMail.com she was 'shocked to watch our commander in chief disrespect all our fallen AGAIN by turning his back to them' Biden has previously been criticized for appearing to look at his watch just seconds after a salute honoring the return of the 13 service members killed in Kabul. But during the ceremony, Biden jerked his left arm up and look down at his watch. 'Biden can't put Afghanistan in his rear view mirror fast enough and yet it keeps coming back to haunt him. To say that I was outraged would be a gross understatement!!' Hoover added. 'Our 13 kids and their family and friends, deserve much more than what the old fool has given them, which is absolutely nothing.' ISIS-K carried out a double bombing at Kabul airport as Westerners and thousands of Afghani civilians fled the Taliban takeover Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, told DailyMail.com she was 'shocked to watch our commander in chief disrespect all our fallen AGAIN by turning his back to them.' 'His leadership has been reckless and weak and will continue to produce results of dead Americans. The fact the the entire ADMINISTRATION turns their backs with him while being promoted and rewarded for their silence is just as shocking.' Biden has 'once again denied the service and sacrifice' of the troops killed at Abbey Gate, said Steven Nikoui, father of Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui. 'Joe Biden has not once said my sons name nor has he ever reached out to me, and now the rest of the world can finally see what weve been dealing with for the last three years.' Another Gold Star mother, Paula Knauss Selph told DailyMail.com: 'His name was Army SSG Ryan Christian Knauss. Of the many shrapnel wounds Ryan sustained was the one that entered into his shoulder, clipped his lung, and lodged into his heart.' 'May The Lord bring justice for the death of this hero that is already forgotten so soon by President Biden.' House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said Friday on the House floor that Biden's claim was evidence of 'cowardice.' And House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., similarly slammed the president for omitting the names of the service members killed. CHM @RepMcCaul: Bidens claim that no U.S. servicemembers died on his watch is a despicable lie. Three servicemembers were killed in Jordan. 13 brave servicemembers died at Abbey Gate during his deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, where he abandoned American citizens and House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) June 28, 2024 The 13 troops included 11 Marines and one navy medic who died alongside 90 Afghans in the bombing on August 26, 2021 Smoke rises over Kabul from the explosion that killed 13 American troops and 90 Afghans The first bomber at the Abbey Gate of the airport was wearing a vest and was being searched by troops when he detonated. The second was a car bomb attack at the Baron Hotel. Biden himself addressed the nation after the bombing and vowed to hunt down those responsible. 'These American service members who gave their lives - its an overused word, but its totally appropriate - they were heroes,' he said at the time. 'Heroes who have been engaged in a dangerous, selfless mission to save the lives of others. Medical staff bring an injured man to a hospital in an ambulance after two powerful explosions, which killed at least six people, outside the airport in Kabul on August 26, 2021 'They were part of an airlift, an evacuation effort unlike any seen in history... They were part of the bravest, most capable, and the most selfless military on the face of the Earth. 'And they were part of, simply, what I call the 'backbone of America.' Theyre the spine of America, the best the country has to offer.' 'To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. 'We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command.' The View hosts shared scathing reactions to President Biden's disastrous debate performance as they sensationally called for him to 'step down' from the White House. While the daytime TV hosts typically leap to the Democrats' defense, they struggled to find many positives following Biden's 'hard to watch' debate. 'It pains me to say this today, but I think President Biden needs to step down and be replaced,' Sara Haines began the show's political segment, feeling that was the only way to 'defeat Donald Trump in November.' Sunny Hostin chimed in to dismiss early excuses for Biden's floundering speech, saying that 'we all saw Biden lose that debate.' 'Blame it on a cold, blame it on his stuttering, blame it on overpreparation, whatever. But he did lose. Maybe he needs to go. Maybe he needs to be honest with himself and the American people,' she said. It comes as Biden's odds of defeating Trump in November plummeted overnight, according to betting markets, while rumors swirl that Democrat leaders could look to replace him on the ticket. The View hosts quickly changed their tune on President Biden following his disastrous debate performance, with some even calling for him to 'step down' from the White House President Biden was seen by many as devastating his chances of re-election on Thursday night with a floundering performance that his aides blamed on a 'cold' Just hours before the debate began, The View hosts were standing proudly behind Biden's candidacy, with Joy Behar arguing that it is 'not fair' to imply the 81-year-old suffers from 'senior moments.' 'All this senior moment business, everybody has a senior moment its still not fair to the guy,' she said, adding that Trump's mic being silenced if he interrupted was 'not enough because Joe can still hear him.' But the hosts struggled to hit a similar note following Biden's rambling efforts on Thursday night, with Behar instead choosing to take shots at Trump as a 'felon' before her co-hosts continued to slam Biden. 'I've been told for a long time, put country before party and support Joe Biden. He needs to put country before his own ambition and he needs to step aside and pass the baton,' former Trump communications aide Alyssa Farah Griffin said. 'Because I'm telling you right now, Trump world is scared when they're hearing rumblings there could be someone else on the ticket. 'Mark my words, if it's Trump vs Biden, Trump is going to win.' Sara Haines began the show's political segment: 'It pains me to say this today, but I think President Biden needs to step down and be replaced' Host Sunny Hostin (pictured) joined her co-presenters in eviscerating President Biden's debate performance, and said he 'needs to be honest with himself and the American people' Pundits appeared to fall in line after the debate in feeling that Trump won due to his energy and vigor, while a number of his lies and mistruths went unchecked amid criticism of CNN's lack of live fact checking. Griffin alluded to this as she said Trump's performance was a 'mess', but 'Joe Biden's performance was so bad it eclipsed everything Donald Trump said. He eclipsed the performance of Donald Trump because the distraction was on Biden's performance.' Haines added in that Democrats 'need to stop spinning' around the issue of Biden's age, feeling that they have 'twisted themselves into a pretzel to say, don't believe your lying eyes.' 'Let me be clear, if November comes and President Biden and President Trump are on the ticket I will be voting for President Biden because the alternative is too scary for me, but I fear that many people in this country do not feel the same way,' she said. The View also took the opportunity to hit out at Trump, with Hostin arguing that it was 'ironic' that only Democrats were looking to replace their nominee despite the GOP leader's myriad legal problems. 'I think it's ironic that the party that should be pressuring their candidate to step aside is the Republican party,' Hostin began. 'Their nominee is a convicted felon, he's facing hundreds of charges for criminal activity and has been proven to be a racist, a business fraud, liable for sexual abuse, and insurrectionist, and as Biden said, he has the morals of an alley cat. 'Republicans need to be holding him accountable, the majority of the party which has been cowardly and feckless and complicit and enabling in allowing Trump's racism, bullying, his misogyny.' It comes amid growing speculation that Democrats may look to replace Biden at the top of the ticket before the November election. Betting markets showed that Biden's chances of re-election took a significant hit overnight, with polling aggregator RealClearPolling, which tracks a number of betting markets, showing that Biden now stands with just a 22.2 percent chance of re-election, compared to Trump's 54.8 percent. Biden stood at 35 percent before his feeble performance on the debate stage, still behind Trump, however RealClear's aggregator has Trump easily beating Biden in a number of markets, with the president's worst odds coming from Betfair - at just 16 percent. Talk of replacing Biden as the Democratic nominee has seen California Governor Gavin Newsom's name floated, with PredictIt now offering Newsom a 14 percent chance of beating Trump in November. And at BetOnline - where Biden's odds dropped from +130 to +300 overnight - the company said it received a flurry of bets placed on potential replacements for Biden on the Democrat ticket. 'We just kept taking bets over and over again on Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama,' BetOnline political oddsmaker Paul Krishnamurty told the New York Post. Vladimir Putin has been urged to bring back the death penalty by Russia's chief investigator 28 years after a serial killer became the last prisoner to be sentenced to execution by a single gunshot to the back of his head. Russia stopped carrying out capital punishment in 1996 as a prerequisite for joining the Council of Europe. But it was expelled from the rights group in 2022 after launching its offensive in Ukraine. And now a growing number of Putin's allies and lawmakers have called for the death penalty to be brought back. They want the the sentence to be used against suspects in a terror attack at a concert hall near Moscow in March in which more than 140 people were killed. 'We should consider lifting the moratorium on the death penalty,' the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, told a legal forum in Saint Petersburg on Friday. A growing number of Putin's allies and lawmakers have called for the death penalty to be brought back A view shows the burning Crocus City Hall concert hall following the shooting incident in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, on March 22, 2024 'We should consider lifting the moratorium on the death penalty,' the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, (pictured) told a legal forum in Saint Petersburg 'In some cases it should be applied, and in these cases I am in favour of the death penalty.' Bastrykin, who has headed the Investigative Committee for more than a decade, said Putin could lift the moratorium by decree. He continued: 'I have been told by some competent, qualified lawyers that we need to change the constitution - that we need to hold a referendum - but I believe that we should simply lift the moratorium on the death penalty by presidential decree.' In March, the head of Russia's parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, suggested the moratorium would need to be overturned by Russia's Constitutional Court. If Putin were to bring back the death penalty, the precise legal mechanism would simply be a formality. In March, his spokesman said the Kremlin was not 'taking part in this discussion for the moment'. A provision for the death penalty is already included in Russia's criminal code but has not been used in more than 25 years. ISIS' news agency Amaq released sickening a 90-second selfie video of the attack that is too graphic for MailOnline to share A view of damage at Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia after fire extinguished following a gunmen attack that claimed the lives of at least 139 people on March 23, 2024 Former president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia's Security Council, has also suggested that capital punishment be reinstated for the most severe crimes. Critics have voiced alarm over the proposal, citing fears the Kremlin could use it as a deterrent against dissent or political opponents. The death penalty has not been used in Russia since 1996, when serial killer, rapist and necrophile Sergey Aleksandrovich Golovkin was killed with a single shot in the back of his head. Also known as Fisher and The Boa, he was convicted of killing 11 boys between the ages of 10 and 16 between 1986 and 1992. Before their deaths, the sadist tortured and raped the children in his garage basement and the forests near Moscow. Police are 'not looking for anyone else' as they probe the deaths of a TV paramedic and his girlfriend after their bodies were discovered together. 999: On the Front Line star Daniel Duffield, 24, and Lauren Evans, 22, were found by West Midlands Ambulance Service at his home in Cannock, Staffordshire on Tuesday. It is understood the couple were in a relationship, with Mr Duffield's social media littered with pictures of the two of them attending concerts together for artists including Becky Hill and Mimi Webb. Post-mortems of the young couple revealed that the cause of death will be reviewed in an inquest. Staffordshire Police added that specialist officers are continuing to support the families of those involved. Detective Superintendent Nicki Addison, from the force's Major Investigations Department, said: 'This incident has understandably devastated the families and loved ones of those involved. 999: On the Front Line star Daniel Duffield, 24, and Lauren Evans, 22, were found by West Midlands Ambulance Service at his home in Cannock, Staffordshire on Tuesday The last photo of the couple shows them attending a music event at Wembley stadium in London Mr Duffield is believed to have worked for the local ambulance service 'We'd like to reiterate that the families have asked for their privacy to be respected at this tragic time. Please respect that. And again, we'd like to remind you that speculation is unhelpful and hurtful to the families and can hinder our investigation. 'I'd like to thank everyone who has given us information. We expect the scene to be released once we've finished all of our investigative work and forensic examination.' Mr Duffield was featured in Channel 4's documentary 999: On the Front Line alongside his crew mate, student paramedic Ellie. Ellie paid tribute on social media and revealed she spoke to Mr Duffield a matter of hours before is death, adding she is 'still trying to come to terms' with the tragedy. Millions watched Mr Duffield on the eleventh series of the show, which follows West Midlands Ambulance crews as they respond to 999 calls across the region. Taking to social media, his she said: 'Never in a million years did I think I'd have to sit and write this and yet I'm still trying to come to terms with it. 'I just want to express how special you [were] to me, not only my best friend at work and the best crew mate but one of my best friends who had a massive impact on day to day life, the most kind hearted person who always had time to help others, who made me laugh every day and always would pick up the phone whenever I was in need. 'Dan I can't believe you're actually gone.' Police said the bodies are believed to be that of Daniel Duffield, 24, and Lauren Evans, 22 Police have launched a murder probe after the couple were found dead at Mr Duffield's home Daniel Duffield, 24 (left) appeared on Channel 4's 999: On the Front Line with crew mate Ellie (right) Paramedic Mr Duffield and student paramedic Ellie featured in the documentary which follows West Midlands ambulance crews She added: 'We were meant to go out together this week and I was looking forward to seeing you. Even the phone call we had this morning an hour before you [were] gone I'll never forget, love you forever Dan.' During his appearance on 999: On the Front Line, Mr Duffield was seen chatting to crew mate Ellie about whether she believed in aliens, before the pair were called out to an emergency involving a suspected stroke patient. The documentary saw them assess 91-year-old Walter, who had lost feeling in one side of his body, and rush him to hospital. After speaking to Walter about his late wife, Mr Duffield told the programme: 'I think it's difficult when one partner passes away, and the other's left on their own.' The paramedic reportedly split up with his former partner at Christmas, but had recently found a new girlfriend. It is understood Mr Duffield was suffering from mental health problems before his death. The paramedic was a fan of singer Mimi Webb, who posted a tribute to her almost 300,000 Instagram followers after hearing of his death. She wrote: 'Forever in our hearts. Love you my darling Daniel.' Lauren, 22, from Bridgend, South Wales, is believed to be the woman found dead in Cannock on Tuesday Singer Mimi Webb posted a photograph of her and Mr Duffield to her 289,000 Instagram followers Police and forensic officers have been pictured collecting evidence at the scene Ms Evans' devastated family, from the quiet 2,000-population village of Pen-y-fai, near Bridgend, did not wish to speak on the tragedy. Her mother Karen, 53, and father Steven, 54, are understood to be distraught at the tragic loss. The family were described as 'quiet' by the neighbours and said to often do things together. Neighbours on Coed Y Cando, Pen-y-Fai, were 'shocked' by the news and said that Lauren was 'very friendly' girl. One said: 'She always said hi and they are a nice family. This is a terrible shock for everyone.' Another added student Mental Health Nurse Lauren, who had graduated from Swansea University, was 'no trouble' and described her as a 'lovely girl.' She is believed to have moved out to go to University 30 miles away but returned for a time during the pandemic. She is believed to have moved to Staffordshire last year. Writing on Facebook on Tuesday night, Mr Duffield's sister Louise Duffield said: 'Never ever thought I'd have to write this post (but) my beautiful brother has left us today. A murder investigation was launched after the bodies of a man and woman were found inside a house in Alpine Drive (pictured) in Hednesford, near Cannock, Staffordshire Police have cordoned off the property as officers continue their investigations 'I'm so distraught you've gone. I will never come to terms with it that you're no longer here. You (were) such a bright soul, always helping other people making them smile, laugh, saving lives but unfortunately you couldn't help yourself. 'I will forever cherish you and us growing up together; you will always be in my heart (and were) the best brother I could (have) ever asked for. 'I'll always miss you and love you forever. Until we meet again, RIP brother.' Police have urged the public to avoid speculation about the case as it referred itself to the independent watchdog, the IOPC, over previous contact with Mr Duffield and Ms Evans. Staffordshire Police referred itself after launching a murder inquiry following the discovery of the two bodies. The force said it had made the referral to the watchdog due to 'recent police contact' in relation to the deaths at a property in Alpine Drive, Hednesford, Cannock. Ambulance service staff found the bodies at about 12.30pm on Tuesday. A defiant President Joe Biden insisted he can still win the election after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump on Thursday night sparked a meltdown in the senior echelons of the Democratic Party. The 81-year-old's car crash showdown with Trump has sparked an unprecedented crisis and calls behind the scenes to pull the plug on his bid for a second term. Insiders described Biden's debate showing as a 'train wreck' and 'dumpster fire' and some openly suggested he should step aside for another candidate. Former key Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod said there was a 'sense of shock' in the party and there would be 'discussions about whether he (Biden) should continue Meanwhile, former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the state of panic had reached 'DEFCON 1'. Biden meandered through the 90-minute CNN spectacle, struggling to finish sentences and lost his train of thought multiple times in front of tens of millions of stunned TV viewers. The president used a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, to assuage the widespread concerns as some of his closest allies including Obama publicly stood behind him behind him despite admitting the performance was bad. 'I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious,' Biden said alongside First Lady Jill while she wore a Christian Siriano dress covered in the word 'vote.' President Joe Biden doesn't plan to drop out of the presidential race after Thursday night's poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump President Joe Biden insisted he can still win the election in his first campaign rally after his disastrous debate performance 'Folks, I don't walk as easily as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to.' 'But I know what I know - I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done,' the president argued. 'I give you my word as a Biden. I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job,' he said. The president used the 20-minute speech in North Carolina to clean up many of the arguments he attempted to make on the debate stage against his Republican opponent. 'I don't know what you did last night but I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat,' Biden said. Joe Biden during the presidential debate Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election 'Did you see Trump last night? I guess he set a new record - I mean this sincerely - for the number of lies told in a single debate,' the president continued. 'He lied about the kind of economy he created. He lied about the pandemic he botched - killing millions of people,' Biden went on. The president pushed that Trump lied in his denial about calling military members 'suckers and losers,' a claim made by the Republican's former Chief of Staff John Kelly. 'He tried to deny it. But are you going to believe a four star Marine general?' Biden asked. 'Or a disgraced, defeated lying Donald Trump?' oe Biden looks down as he participates in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden board Air Force One at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024 Biden also dismissed Trump's claims that crime has risen under the Democrat's watch. 'And then I pointed out, that the only convicted criminal onstage last night was Donald Trump,' the president said - making his performance seem much smoother than it actually was. 'Well, I thought about his 34 felony convictions, his sexual assault on a woman in a public place, his being fined $400 million for business fraud,' Biden continued. 'I thought to myself Donald Trump isn't just a convicted felon - Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave.' That prompted a 'Lock Him Up!' chant from the crowd. Trump historically led his supporters in 'Lock Her Up!' cheers against his 2016 opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Biden, at first, appeared to express some discomfort with those words - but also smiled. The Democratic president said Trump's 'biggest lie' was taken no responsibility for January 6. 'We all saw it with our own eyes,' Biden said. Joe Biden speaks *in Raleigh, north Carolina after his disastrous debate US President Joe Biden speaks to the crowd during a campaign event at the Jim Graham Building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, 28 June 2024 The president argued that the debate also taught the American public some truths about Trump. 'Most dangerously, we learned that Donald Trump will not respect this year's election outcome,' Biden said. 'Three times Trump was asked last night by the moderators ... three times he refused to answer.' 'Folks, Donald Trump refused to accept the results in 2020 and we all saw what happened on January 6, it was a direct consequence of that,' he said. 'It was an international embarrassment.' He called Trump a 'geniune threat to democracy.' 'I'll be damned in the year 2024 - just two years before the 250th anniversary of our Delcaration of Independence - that I'll let Donald Trump walk away from it,' Biden said. The president also pushed that he hoped this was the start of his post-debate redemption arc. 'I know what millions of Americans know - when you get knocked down you get back up,' Biden said to cheers. First lady Jill Biden spoke first and defended her husband's debate performance. 'What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden - a president with integrity and character who told the truth. And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie,' Dr. Biden said. Biden faces questions over his debate performance from patrons at Waffle House' Rapper Fat Joe warmed up the crowd ahead of President Joe Biden's Raleigh appearance, even performing his classic 'Lean Back' Rapper E-40 also performed at Biden's North Carolina rally Friday She marveled when the audience joined in and called Trump a liar. Dr. Biden applauded her husband for spending the last few years helping 'heal the country.' He 'helped us heal from the chaos of the last administration.' 'We can't choose our chapter of history, but we can choose who leads us through it,' she said. 'There is no one I would rather have sitting in the Oval Office right now than my husband.' Prior to the Bidens' arrival - North Carolina's Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, as well as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein, the state's attorney general. But to pump up the crowd, the Biden campaign also brought out two special musical guests: rappers E-40 and Fat Joe. Fat Joe played his classic 'Lean Back.' Behind the scenes there are calls to replace him on the 2024 ticket with just 130 days until the nominating convention in Chicago. 'Deflated' White House staffers have reportedly been filling group chats with messages saying their boss's performance was 'ugly' and 'abysmal'. Congressional leaders even admitted Biden's debate performance where he meandered and struggled to finish sentences was bad. But publicly they are standing behind their man, who is refusing to drop out and has even committed to a second debate with Trump in September. First Lady Jill Biden, who helped her husband off the stage after his CNN calamity, wore a dress covered in the word 'vote' and defended his debate performance. First Lady Jill Biden, who helped her husband off the stage after his CNN calamity, wore a dress covered in the word 'vote' and defended his debate performance A devastating DailyMail.com snap poll of the debate found that a clear majority of independent voters believe Biden should no longer be the nominee. Some 62 percent said he should be dumped from the ticket. Biden looked all of his 81 years on Thursday night as he repeatedly lost his train of thought and meandered into silence. Trump, 78, was able to land his punches while his Democratic opponent struggled to push back on some of his more outlandish claims. J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash, and found that 68 percent said the former president won out over his White House successor. A giant tortoise has made a prediction about which team will emerge victorious from Sunday's knock-out match between England and Slovakia. Gareth Southgate's England need to win against Slovakia to secure a place in the quarter-final at Euro 2024. But Francesco Calzona's side are expected to fly out the traps as they bid for a quarter-final place for the first time as an independent nation. In less of a rush was Priscilla, a Galapagos giant tortoise, who took her time to choose between the vying teams. After a moment of indecisiveness, she headed towards a pile of green leaves decorated with the flag of Slovakia - a traitorous move for a tortoise that lives in London Zoo. In less of a rush was Priscilla, a Galapagos giant tortoise, who took her time to choose between the teams After a moment of indecisiveness, she headed towards a pile of green leaves decorated with the flag of Slovakia - a traitorous move for a tortoise that lives in London Zoo Priscilla lives at London Zoo with two other giant Galapagos tortoises called Dolly and Polly The 29-year-old lives at London Zoo with two other giant Galapagos tortoises called Dolly and Polly. Priscilla can be identified by the red dot on her back - but this colour is not an indication of her support for the Three Lions. Instead she has sided with Slovakia - whose captain Milan Skriniar laid bare England's vulnerabilities at a tense press conference today. He said: 'I believe we will torment them. We have to try to play our game. The whole team believes that we can surprise them. 'We have the weapons to defeat them. Of course, they are definitely better than us, but with teamwork we can beat them. 'They have a squad full of stars, but as a team we are better. 'We've been together for a month, but it feels like we just met yesterday. We are happy to be together, we spend time together outside the field. 'They will be under much more pressure and that can play in our favour.' Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar is looking forward to 'tormenting' England on Sunday England fans gather ahead of the match between England and Slovenia on June 25 Three Lions fans sing the national anthem ahead of the England v Slovenia match on June 25 Skriniar added: 'I felt from their previous performances that they rely a lot on individual quality and know that they have players who can decide matches. However, we can manage it as a team.' Priscilla's prediction does not necessarily have historical weight behind it. England have played Slovakia six times and won five of them apart from a 0-0 draw at Euro 2016. A Ryanair passenger boarded the wrong plane and woke up in Alicante instead of Paris. Jem Maybank, 30, arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport on Saturday to begin her short city break in France. The property worker, from West Yorkshire, went through what she believed was the correct gate for Paris Beauvais Airport where staff scanned and read her boarding pass. Ms Maybank made it onto the plane only to discover her seat number 34A didn't exist. She claims she was told by cabin crew that this could sometimes happen when the aircraft was switched over. The flight was two hours long, instead of the usual one hour, which Ms Maybank put down to turbulence. She says she didn't hear the announcement and swiftly fell asleep for the whole flight. To Ms Maybank's surprise, she woke up and spotted the palm trees and mountains outside as they landed. Have YOU boarded the wrong plane? Email alesia.fiddler@mailonline.co.uk Jem Maybank, 30, arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport on Saturday to begin her short city break in France The property worker, from West Yorkshire, went through what she believed was the correct gate for Paris Beauvais Airport where staff scanned and read her boarding pass. Pictured: A street in Paris Ms Maybank made it onto the plane only to discover her seat number 34A didn't exist. (Stock Image) It was then that she realised she'd accidentally boarded the wrong flight to Alicante. Ms Maybank admitted she had never been to Alicante before and all she knew about it was that 'it's Benidorm' - as it's the airport used for Brits travelling to the infamous holiday hotspot. She said: 'I had a bit of a mad holiday rush. I was looking for the gate to Paris Beauvais. I saw it was gate 6 or something, but this was from a distance away. 'I walked towards the gate and just sort of waited in the queue. 'The staff scanned my boarding pass, the QR code, and they did read it. They just let me straight through the gate. 'I didn't see the board or anything, I don't think I was paying attention to be honest. 'I had seat 34A and this didn't exist. I showed it to a member of the cabin crew and I said 'can you help me because I don't have a seat'. 'She just said 'sometimes that happens when we switch the aircraft around but luckily there's a no show'. 'She gave me seat 27 so I thought 'fine, I've got a seat, cool'. 'I sat on the plane and I couldn't really hear the announcement. They must have done one saying 'this flight goes to Alicante' but I didn't hear it. 'I thought it was weird that it was a two-hour flight, but I thought 'maybe it's because of the turbulence'. Ms Maybank's boarding pass from Leeds Bradford Airport to Paris pictured Ms Maybank admitted she had never been to Alicante before and all she knew about it was that 'it's Benidorm' - as it's the airport used for Brits travelling to the infamous holiday hotspot. Pictured: Alicante Airport 'I fell asleep, woke up and just saw mountains and palm trees and thought 'this doesn't look like Paris'.' Ms Maybank waited until everyone had left the plane before speaking to a member of Ryanair's cabin crew at the end of the plane. Staff soon helped her to sort a flight for later that evening but she still felt confused how it happened, speculating she may have misread the gate number as six instead of eight. The 30-year-old said: 'I waited until everyone got off the plane and was like 'hey, so, I'm not meant to be here, I'm meant to be in Paris'. 'She was like 'how did you not realise?'. The staff were really confused and they said it'd never happened before. 'I was going through Alicante border control thinking 'I don't want to be here, I've got a hotel in Paris'. 'I've never been to Alicante either but all I know is that it's Benidorm. 'They sorted me out a free flight which was good. I don't know how it happened. Maybe the gate number changed while I was waiting 'The number 6 looks quite similar to the number 8 from a distance too so I think that's what happened. 'Who knows? We'll never know.' At 11pm, Ms Maybank finally arrived in Paris, Beauvais but had to take an hour-long bus journey into the city centre where her hotel was. She now advises other holidaymakers to pay more attention at the airport and listen to all the safety announcements - even if they find them 'boring'. Ms Maybank said: 'Alicante was a lot better than I'd expected. I went to see a castle. I was there for about seven hours. 'When I got to Paris I just wanted to make the most out of it. 'I left the hotel and just thought I've got no time to lose so went to do my site-seeing and shopping. 'I can't believe it happened. Staff soon helped her to sort a flight for later that evening but she still felt confused how it happened, speculating she may have misread the gate number as six instead of eight. Pictured: Ms Maybank's printed boarding pass 'My advice to other holidaymakers would be to just stop being on your phone at the airport. Pay attention. 'It's so easy to get overwhelmed and stressed in an airport but just try and chill out. 'When you get on the plane and they do the safety announcements, just listen to what they say. It's so boring waiting in queues and all that but that's what gets you. 'Try and keep an open mind as well because things can change at the drop of a hat.' A Ryanair spokesperson told MailOnline: 'This passenger booked to travel from Leeds Bradford to Paris on Sat, 22 June, but went through the wrong gate and instead boarded a flight to Alicante. 'It is each passenger's responsibility to ensure they board the correct aircraft. There are several touchpoints which inform passengers of the aircraft's destination, including gate signage and announcements before every flight departure. 'Upon arrival in Alicante, this passenger notified the crew that they were on the wrong flight and Ryanair immediately arranged for the passenger to be reaccommodated on the next available flight to Paris, which was scheduled to depart Alicante later that same day (22 June).' Have YOU boarded the wrong plane? Email alesia.fiddler@mailonline.co.uk There was chaos inside the White House on Friday as Democrat party operatives, long-time aides, and party donors came to terms with their candidate and boss spectacularly flopping in his disastrous debate with Donald Trump. A sense of foreboding set in among some Biden acolytes as they absorbed his car crash performance that has veterans of the Obama and Bill Clinton campaigns openly mulling whether he should be replaced. Right now the people are all talking to each other, Bill Clinton guru James Carville told DailyMail.com. Trust me its way more than the consultant class. And particularly the donor class, he said. The mood inside the White House is not good, CNN reported, as shell-shocked aides traded glum observations on group chats. Aides called the performance abysmal and ugly. Many were so deflated they opted to work from home. 'Were just commiserating and we didnt want to do that at a desk, said one. President Biden and some of his top surrogates didnt have that luxury, with the president holding a rally with supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina. Aides shared their frim assessments of an 'ugly' debate performance by President Joe Biden, with Democratic operatives relying on expletives to describe the current state of the race Some aides were so disconcerted by the president's performance in the debate, including several mumbled responses, that they spent last night updating their LinkedIn profiles 'just in case,' Politico reported. There was an organized effort to circle the wagons, with Pennsylvanias telegenic Governor Josh Shapiro taking to the airwaves hours after Bidens debate flop to tell members of his party to stop worrying. Shapiro, 51, appeared after key political operatives hit the panic button. Influential New York Times columnist Tom Friedman called Bidens performance heartbreaking and said he had no business running for reelection. I would say to all those folks that are out there worrying right now - start working and stop worrying, he told CNN. He acknowledged Biden had a bad night and said the campaign needed a crisper message. Former Obama political advisor David Axelrod was among those who raised doubts about Bidens reelection drive months ago, and continued to raise concerns. It is not easy. The president is the guy who holds the cards here. If he wants to be the nominee and continue to be the nominee, hell be the nominee. Then he added, Perhaps hell decide that the patriotic thing to do is to step aside. Joining the pushback was Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who told fellow Democrats to chill the f*** out amid the panic. Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton was forced to remind Democrats that the choice in this election remains very simple and Ill be voting for Biden. Biden acknowledged he isn't as good a debater as he used to be at an event in Raleigh, North Carolina Biden's team pushed for the early debate as a chance to reset his race against Trump, where he trails in the polls White House aides sorted through Biden's halting performance in group chats Obamas post-presidential operation batted down a rumor posted online that he was headed to the White House to intervene. Among the former White House aides raising the alarm is Jon Favreau, who helped pen many of Obamas memorable campaign and White House speeches. Obviously that debate was a f***ing disaster, he said on his joint Pod Save America podcast. We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do that. And since we haven't had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didn't at least have a serious discussion about whether Joe Biden - who's a wonderful human being and has been a great president - is up for the job, he said. Amid the turmoil, Biden's top campaign officials Julie Chavez Rodriguez and Quentin Fulks tried to reassure donors. They acknowledged that Biden wasn't at his best but insisted he can still win. His staff was set to convene for an all hands meeting, according to the Washington Post. The night is darkest just before the dawn. And from a political perspective, its difficult to think of any other period of Scotlands history much bleaker and darker than the last decade has been. But we may be about to see a new sunrise, to enter a new era of enlightenment. It is possible not guaranteed, but possible that the dominance of our national institutions, our daily lives, our very culture, by the Scottish Nationalists is coming at last to a welcome end. Next weeks General Election will be a milestone, a point at which every Scot can stop to consider what has happened to this nation since independence fever swept it ten years ago. We can reflect on whether, after a decade of debate, division and anger, we are a better country to live in. Or whether we have become a shortbread tin version of ourselves, obsessed with the past and with obscure notions of nationhood and culture. Former SNP Commons leader Ian Blackford and his MPs celebrate outside Westminster in 2019 We are privileged to live in a democracy, where political decisions need not be forever, where those we elected to represent us four or five years ago can either be endorsed and told to carry on, or can be dismissed with a P45 in their pocket. Next week we will have that chance. In 2019, for the third general election in a row, Scotland returned a majority of Nationalist MPs to the Commons, where they did what they do best: they complained and they whinged, but otherwise made no difference whatever to the lives of their constituents. But these Braveheart Bolsheviks care nothing for democracy, except when it can deliver them a comfortable and well-paid sinecure at the heart of the British establishment. Scotland has moved on since then, even if the SNP has not. Many of those who voted Yes to independence are starting to recognise that there are other, more important political issues that we must deal with like fixing our NHS, or generating a growing economy, or building new infrastructure or saving the planet. And with that gradual realisation among Scots that life is about more than independence has come a renewal of opposition to the SNP. We have an opportunity on Thursday to clean out the stables maybe not completely: there is something vaguely Stalinist about modern demands that political opponents be entirely wiped out to set the Nationalists back and to secure the future of Scotland in the UK. In other words, to respect and enforce, at last, the decision we made in that referendum. That means voting for the party best suited to defeat the incumbent SNP candidate. That can mean difficult choices for some Scots, because it can mean crossing traditional party political lines and supporting a party or a candidate for which you might not naturally vote. That can be tough. Trust me, I know. But it comes down to a choice between personal preference and Scotlands best interests. How would Scotland be served by the continuation of the dominance of the SNP, a party whose first line in their manifesto commits itself to independence? John Swinney has repeated his view that if Scotland elects a majority of Nationalist MPs, that will constitute a mandate to kick off independence negotiations If youre sick and tired of all the posturing and grandstanding, of the marches and protests that have characterised the nationalist movement since it was defeated at the referendum, then how can you consider not doing everything you can to push them back into irrelevant obscurity now that we have the chance to do it? John Swinney has repeated his view that if Scotland elects a majority of Nationalist MPs, that will constitute a mandate to kick off independence negotiations. Now, we all know John Swinney himself knows that no such negotiations would take place even if the SNP won every single Scottish constituency. But the nationalist game plan is always to fish for more grievance at every opportunity. Do we really want to help them exploit those grievances? There are some Scots who, despite being supporters of Scotlands place within the UK, might be considering supporting Nigel Farages Reform UK. That would be a mistake, not just because Farage has surrounded himself with some truly odious and questionable candidates whose values are very remote indeed from Scottish values, but also because a vote for Reform could provide a lifeline to the SNP. A Nationalist MP in a constituency where the Conservatives are the main challenger will actively hope that Reform will win support, because he knows that every vote for Reform means one less vote for the only party likely to beat him. Similarly, a seat currently held by the Conservatives could fall to the SNP if enough local people decide to lend Reform their support. Imagine how devastating it would feel if a cohort of Nationalist MPs clung on, and were able to carry on being paid by the UK taxpayer to campaign for independence, just because a handful of votes went to Reform instead of to the SNPs real opponents. The Nationalists will never voluntarily agree to let independence go. So we, the voters of Scotland, must do it on their behalf. Imagine it: a future in which our politicians actually debated and voted on issues that mattered to us! We would be like other, ordinary, democratic countries. SNP activists like to strut around social media repeating their favourite mantras, one of which is Independence is normal. But its not normal to maintain a stranglehold on a country, to ensure that every debate must be about independence, especially when that very proposition has already been comfortably rejected in a democratic referendum that they, the Nationalists themselves, demanded. And on Thursday we can at last leave all that behind us. We can use our pencils in those voting booths to deliver on the repeated promise that the SNP made in the run-up to that referendum: that the issue would be decided for at least a generation. Kate Forbes could prove an effective First Minister, prioritising business interests and economic growth, which have been sorely missing in recent years The SNP never meant that claim to be taken seriously, but on polling day Scotland can take them at their word and be forced to deliver at least one of the many promises theyve made. We can emerge from the shadow of a never-ending, pointless, circular argument about the constitution and start behaving as if the curse of nationalism never fell upon us. We can start behaving like a normal, functional part of the UK, concerned with the same things that our compatriots in London and Exeter and Manchester and Leeds are concerned about: unemployment, tax, economic growth, the challenge of net zero, free speech. We can even talk about international trade without constantly having to remind the SNP that their preferred option of independence would cause far more disruption to Scotlands trade than Brexit ever did. Its hard not to feel at least some sympathy for John Swinney, who could be confirmed by Thursdays results as the SNPs most ineffective leader for 20 years. The holder of that previous record? John Swinney, who led his party to a series of defeats during his first term as leader between 2000 and 2004. To lose the leadership once might look like misfortune; to lose it twice looks like carelessness. But that is what Mr Swinney may be on course to do. If a large swathe of Nationalist MPs find themselves out of a job, they will blame him. And the wider party may start to look nervously at the polls lest the First Minister threaten to do for Nationalist MSPs what hes done for the SNP at Westminster. Most of the grassroots of the SNP could just about tolerate losing a grip on Scotlands cohort of MPs; they would regard defeat at Holyrood as unthinkable. Mr Swinney himself might choose to jump before he was pushed, but if he chose to stay, he might still be visited by the men in grey kilts making him an offer he couldnt refuse and being forced to step aside for the good of the party. And what then? The First Minister is the SNPs third leader in less than 18 months; is there even an alternative, viable candidate on the horizon who could become the fourth? In fact there could be more than one, if Thursdays results go as badly for the SNP as predicted. Stephen Flynn, the current leader of the SNP at Westminster, is highly regarded in the party and has put of a competent, if a tad aggressive, performance in a couple of the TV debates that have plagued the TV listings in recent weeks. If he loses his Aberdeen seat he could well be sniffing around Holyrood for a fresh role. The problem is that many others could be in the same boat. Theres already been speculation that Mhairi Black, the former Paisley MP, chose not to stand at this election because she has her eyes set on Bute House. If Stewart McDonald, one of the partys most thoughtful and best performing parliamentarians, loses his Glasgow South seat, he might also consider Holyrood as his next career move. So activists could be spoiled for choice in the event of Mr Swinney falling on his sword. But theres one slight problem: none of the contenders mentioned above are likely to be MSPs until after the 2026 Scottish parliament elections. And before then, with SNP prospects in the constituency vote looking less assured than for nearly two decades, defeated MPs and nervous incumbent MSPs could find themselves in a mighty battle to see who can secure top billing in the additional member regional lists for Holyrood. Its enough to make the SNPs opponents salivate in anticipation. It could also pave the way to Bute House for the current Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, whose reputation in the party only improved when she chose not to challenge Mr Swinney for the top job after the resignation of Humza Yousaf. But the prospect of a Right-of-centre First Minister with socially conservative views (Ms Forbes is known to be an opponent not only of same-sex marriage but also of gender recognition reforms that the previous SNP administration championed) could open up new divisions in the party. Ms Forbes could prove an effective First Minister, prioritising business interests and economic growth, which have been sorely missing in recent years. But there are plenty of Left-wing nationalists who would object to her taking over and who could even desert the party in protest at her leadership. All of these trials and tribulations facing the SNP are of their own making, and thats even before the ongoing police investigation into the partys finances is taken into account. For any other party, obstacles and setbacks are just part of life, something with which you just have to cope before moving on. Look at Scottish Labour reduced to a rump of a single MP at the 2015 general election after decades of political dominance of Scotland, written off as a spent force, and now expected to make a spectacular comeback at this General Election and who knows? take over at the head of the devolved administration in Edinburgh in two years time. But memories in the SNP are short. Few of their activists can remember defeat and even fewer have experienced it. Since 2011 they have become used to winning large majorities, and a defeat now will hit the SNP harder than it would any other party. It would be a huge emotional as well as cultural defeat from which they will struggle to recover. Labour, of course, will stroll to victory next week, an extraordinary comeback for a party that suffered one of its worst ever election defeats less than five years ago. That presents an opportunity for Scotland to reboot its own politics to make Scottish voters an integral part, once again, of UK decisions that affect the entire country. On Thursday, Scots have an opportunity to take back control of the political narrative, to reject the meaningless, shallow cliches of the constitutional debate and to embrace, for the first time in decades, grown-up politics. The New York Times drew sharp criticism Friday after their print edition hit the stands with no mention at all of Joe Biden's disastrous presidential debate performance against Donald Trump. On Friday, readers of the self-described 'newspaper of record' instead woke up to headlines concerning Iran intensifying nuclear work and an analysis on Julian Assange. Unlike other major print dailies - including the similarly left-leaning Washington Post, and the more conservative Wall Street Journal and tabloid New York Post - the true-blue Times failed to report on the debate between President Biden and Donald Trump. In fact, the newspaper was devoid of any mention of the debate besides a small box on the bottom right of the print edition which just briefly teased its coverage online. The outlet directed physical readers of the paper to their website to catch up on the 'high-stakes rematch'. The newspaper was void of any mention of the debate besides a small box on the bottom right of the edition which just briefly mentioned it was taking place The president and his predecessor faced off in the first of two debates in Atlanta on Thursday night Fox News Contributor Joe Concha hit out at the outlet, telling DailyMail.com that he believes had Biden performed well, it would have been splashed all over its cover. 'I find it absolutely and utterly incredulous that the New York Times would omit debate coverage on its front page for an event that will go down as the most watched political event of the year besides election night,' Concha said. 'I can't speak to the motives of its decision makers [at the Times], but I'm willing to guess that if Joe Biden had anything resembling a good night, that would've been splashed all over the front pages. 'And once again, this underscores that this publication has not endorsed a Republican presidential candidate since 1956. 'And whoever the Democratic nominee is, it is 100% certain they will endorse that candidate as well, even Joe Biden.' Meanwhile, Tim Graham, executive editor of Newsbusters, wondered if the play would have been as bereft had the debate fortunes run the other way. 'I don't know enough about the publishing process but I guess the question is, Was it a political decision or a logistical one?' Graham said. 'It's very embarrassing anyway and it begs the question, Would there have been more urgency if Trump had a similar bad night?' Despite the Times - which promises on every front page, 'All the news that fits' - lacking any information on Biden's freeze-ups, feeble demeanor and disastrous reviews from even stalwart Democrats who called for his head after the 90-minute debate, their website carried headlines including, 'JOE MUST BOW OUT OF THE RACE', 'BIDEN CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS' and 'PRESIDENT BIDEN, IT'S TIME TO DROP OUT'. It remains unclear as to why the newspaper edition of the outlet did not publish a later edition to include the debate they reportedly go to print around 9 pm, which was when the debate started. But in years past the newspaper following big debate nights included extensive front page coverage and analysis. On social media platform X, the outlet was trashed Friday by some critics for seemingly white-washing the debate from its print edition. One person posted: 'I just looked at the front page of the New York Times. WTH happened last night? 'And I'm not talking about Caitlin Clark taking 2 shots in the second half,' the posting snarked. While another shared a screengrab of the page, adding: 'Whats missing from todays front page of The New York Times?' Author Dr. Jordan Peterson also waded in, posting: 'Did I just hallucinate the disastrous presidential debate?' and shared a picture of the Times front page. The president and his predecessor faced off in the first of two debates in Atlanta on Thursday night on topics ranging from the economy to immigration and foreign affairs. Previous iterations of the newspaper following debate night included front page coverage and analysis Trump, on the other hand, had his usual energy as he attacked Biden on the stage and made at least 30 untrue statements during the 90-minute debate Biden, whose aides said he was suffering from a cold to try and explain his performance away, spoke hoarsely and appeared confused and sometimes incoherent at the start of the debate, which continued to go down hill. At times, the president looked blankly into the camera or down at his notes while Trump was speaking. Trump, on the other hand, had his usual energy as he attacked Biden on the stage and made at least 30 untrue statements during the 90-minute debate. The disastrous Biden performance made its way to the online opinion pages of the Times where not a single one of a panel of 12 writers concluded that Biden won the head-to-head. To top it off, a number of the columnists said that Biden should drop out of the race right away. In a piece titled 'God Help Us', NYT columnist Josh Barro added that Biden was 'especially disastrous' and was 'mumbling, at time incoherent and seeming really, really old'. While Thomas Friedman, a political commentator and friend of the president, added: 'I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and it made me weep. 'I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime precisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election.' J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash Friedman added that Trump was a 'fire hose of lies' who is 'nowhere close to what it will take for America to lead in the 21st century'. In a piece by Paul Krugman titled 'The Best President of My Adult Life Needs to Withdraw', he said he joined the 'chorus asking Biden to voluntarily step aside'. The car crash showdown with Donald Trump has sparked a crisis within the Democratic Party. During a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, the president used his time try and assuage those fears on Friday afternoon. 'I know I'm not a young man. To state the obvious,' Biden said. 'Folks, I don't walk as easily as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to.' 'But I know what I know I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done,' the president argued. He also assured the crowd 'I give you my word as a Biden.' 'I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job,' Biden said. First Lady Jill Biden, who helped her husband off the stage after his CNN calamity, wore a dress covered in the word 'vote' and defended his debate performance the day after Behind the scenes there are calls to replace him on the 2024 ticket with just 130 days until the nominating convention in Chicago. 'Deflated' White House staffers have reportedly been filling group chats with messages saying their boss's performance was 'ugly' and 'abysmal'. Congressional leaders even admitted Biden's debate performance where he meandered and struggled to finish sentences was bad. But publicly they are standing behind their man, who is refusing to drop out and has even committed to a second debate with Trump in September. A devastating DailyMail.com snap poll of the debate found that a clear majority of independent voters believe Biden should no longer be the nominee. Some 62 percent said he should be dumped from the ticket. J.L. Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the 90-minute clash, and found that 68 percent said the former president won out over his White House successor. DailyMail.com has reached out to the New York Times for comment but there was no immediate response. A 12-year-old schoolboy has been investigated by counter-extremism officers after he declared there 'are only two genders'. The child made a video, posted online, in which he also stated: 'There's no such thing as non-binary'. And in response to school bullies who mistakenly believed he supported transgender ideology, he said: '[I'm] gay not queer.' Originally a homophobic slur, trans activists claim the word 'queer' now describes people who don't adhere to ideas of sex or gender. But the school told the boy's mother they would refer him to Prevent, the Home Office programme that attempts to stop people becoming terrorists, amid fears he could be at risk of being radicalised by the far-right. A 12-year-old schoolboy has been investigated by counter-extremism officers after he declared there 'are only two genders' The Mail is aware of the boy's identity but has agreed not to disclose it, and has also viewed the social media posts. The boy's mother was visited by Prevent and Northumbria Police officers this week, in a meeting she described as 'an interrogation'. Officers listed a string of allegations to illustrate the boy was at risk of radicalisation. The boy's mother said: 'We think that he was targeted as the children believe gay people agree with trans ideology. 'He made a video which I uploaded to YouTube where he said there 'are only two genders' and 'I'm gay not queer'. 'The school phoned up and were incensed by it. They said that they would refer him to Prevent for that video. 'They said that he was at risk of radicalisation - not that he had been, but was a risk when he gets to 13 and is entitled to his own social media accounts. 'There was a risk he would fall in with Far Right groups.' She said counter terror officers - who visited the family home - raised concerns over the fact that her son, who is Jewish, harboured extremist views on account of his response when asked if there were any groups that shouldn't exist. She said her son responded that 'Hamas (the Gaza-based terror group) should be wiped out'. Further fears were raised over comments he made to school bullies, stating he wanted to 'exterminate' them. He is said to have made the remark in relation to appalling racist slurs from classmates. In a letter to the school in South Tyneside - seen by the Mail - his mother detailed how he was subjected to vile verbal abuse and Nazi salutes. Prevent officers also suggested the boy had an unhealthy interest in weapons on account of another online video - again uploaded by his mother - which showed him demonstrating a toy crossbow bought from English Heritage, she said. English Heritage describes the 'best seller' item as 'completely harmless but lots of fun'. The mother said the school and Prevent officers were guilty of double standards, claiming anti-Semitic incidents at the school were not dealt with in the same way. The child also made a video, posted online, in which he also stated: 'There's no such thing as non-binary' resulting in being referred to Prevent officers (file pic) She said: 'We sat down with the Prevent officers and there was an interrogation - they had an attitude of 'we'll ask the questions'. 'We were asked if we monitored his social media and what songs he listens to. 'They said there was a whole series of things he had been accused of.' The police response was criticised by free speech campaigners who rebuked officers for 'wilfully missing the target'. Harry Miller, chief exec of Fair Cop, said: 'His views on gender are as far away from terrorism that it's possible to be. 'They are views that are held by the majority of people in Britain and don't even get into the foothills of terrorism. 'You couldn't call it criminality, let alone terrorism. There is a difference between bad behaviour and terrorism. 'This is another instance of the police wilfully missing the target because hunting down school children is easier than confronting actual terrorists. 'Fair Cop will continue to stand between these idiots and the public until they stop behaving like the woke, cowardly Stasi they have become. 'The Home Office needs to get a grip. Sack every complicit Chief Constable.' Kate Barker, chief exec of LGB Alliance, said: 'If it's a sign of radicalisation to say you don't like being called 'queer' then according to our research, 94 per cent of LGB people can expect a knock on the door from counter-terrorism officers. 'We applaud this young boy for standing up for his beliefs, and we condemn the teachers and police who think it's wrong to abhor this horrible slur.' The Prevent strategy was introduced by the Government in 2011 as part of a bid to tackle terrorism through early intervention. According to the latest Home Office data there were 6,817 referrals to Prevent in the year ending 31 March, 2023 - the figure was up 6.4 per cent on the previous year. A joint statement from Northumbria Police and Counter Terrorism Policing North East read: 'We are unable to discuss individual cases, or identify anyone who may or may not be the subject of a Prevent referral. 'All referrals are treated in the strictest confidence and will always prioritise the safety and welfare of those concerned. 'Prevent is a multi-agency approach to safeguarding and supporting those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention. 'It seeks to protect young and vulnerable people against all forms of extremist activity, regardless of ideology.' South Tyneside Council declined to comment. They were hardened men, but as Roman soldiers two millennia ago tramped through the likes of Gaul, Flanders and England, they were struck by extraordinary, silvery fish surging up the foaming rivers. Challenging waterfalls, bouncing through rapids, jumping repeatedly into the air and against daunting odds... And the warriors fumbled for a name in their demotic Latin, and called him salmo: the leaper. A fish once so abundant that as at least one newspaper in 1811 documented indentured apprentices, from Govan to Worcester, often demanded a clause forbidding their masters from feeding them salmon more than once a week. And one summer day a Mr Naylor, holidaying on the west side of Lewis, decided to go fishing in the Grimersta river. He landed 54 salmon, and might well have beaten what remains the British rod-caught record the following day, for that morning he caught another 45. An angler tries his luck on the Tay but sun may be setting on salmon fishing in our rivers But he casually put his rod aside that lunchtime, and went out for a bit of rough shooting instead. Even 30 years ago, you could have stood outside Amhuinnsuidhe Castle in North Harris and marvelled at all the salmon marshalled at the mouth of the river dorsals cutting the foam awaiting the spate, when they could finally run upstream and fulfil their instincts. For, however far she wanders, however long he roams the Arctic salmon cannot spawn in salt water and spawn, eventually, they must. But last year, only 33,023 wild salmon were caught in Scotland. Twenty five per cent down on the 2022 haul and the lowest since records began, back in 1952. And, last December, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added Scotlands Atlantic salmon to its red list. The King of Fish is now up there with mountain gorillas, the blue whale and the Komodo dragon as an officially endangered species perhaps, some say, within 20 years of extinction. And no one seems to have a coherent explanation as to why. Alarm first began in the early 1990s and, by 1994, fisheries began increasingly to urge then command a catch and release policy from anglers, with such success that if you search YouTube for recent salmon-hunting adventures you will struggle to find any fisherman actually killing one. Commercial poaching remained a serious problem local Claude Greengrasses touting salmon of mysterious provenance at the back door of some cynical hotel until, in 2002, the Scottish Government desperately changed the law. It became a criminal offence to buy or sell rod-caught salmon, all wild salmon ensnared at licensed netting stations now had to be tagged before sale and with much documentation and utter traceability, and more recently the law has been changed again, forbidding the killing of any wild salmon before May 1. All coastal netting fisheries have since been closed and the handful of licensed estuarial ones that survive are, surely, on borrowed time. Unless you live near one, or are in a big Scottish city with a high-end fishmonger, it is all but impossible to buy wild salmon. And, still, the numbers of wild fish continue to crash to the point where appalled Americans might shell out big money for fishing in Scotland, and spend a week without even seeing a salmon. With fraught economic impact. For anglers in pursuit of the silver tourists spend around 135million in Scotland every year, support some 4,300 jobs and add an additional Gross Value Added (GVA) of 79.9million annually. In 2015, a study calculated that angling brought 24million into the Tweed regions economy, supporting the equivalent of 520 jobs. That spending has fallen by between 50 and 60 per cent since then, lamented Fay Hieatt in 2019 clerk to the River Tweed Commission, an august body set up by act of Parliament in 1807 to police and conserve local salmon stocks. People are now struggling. In the early 1990s, when Kevin Patterson took up his trade as a Tweed ghillie on the Tweedswood beat, near Melrose about 40 fish would be caught on that stretch alone in the spring season. In 1995, three rods landed 19 salmon in just one outing. As of April 22, 2019, so far that season, his guests had caught two. Salmon numbers had gone off a cliff, Patterson lamented. And he felt sorry for his clients. They just want to come and enjoy their fishing. Anglers arent expecting ten fish. They just want one; two would be mega. But its just not happening... In recent history the Tweed enjoyed its best season in 2010, when 23,000 salmon were caught. Mr Patterson thought that a freak but, on average, 10,000 to 15,000 were caught every year. Since 2014, those numbers have halved. In 2018, just 5,510 were taken. The collapse in numbers means fewer anglers. So the prices for a days fishing have been slashed up and down the Tweed which must soon impact on wages and jobs. By April 2019, Mr Patterson was charging as little as 40 for a days fishing; he once levied 140. The most sought-after sites have cut prices by 50 per cent, down to a few hundred pounds a day. Local hotels are struggling; many beats are losing money. These statistics increasingly vindicate those who, back in the 1990s, questioned the wisdom and even the morality of the catch and release policy, which the Scottish Government has in recent years threatened to impose with the full force of law. (It has been illegal to kill a wild salmon in Wales, in any circumstances, since 2020.) Yet catch and release has not worked. It debases what should be a sport that hunting instinct, deep in us all, to win food for the table into a game. Instead, the policy involves the repeated hooking, torment and release of living creatures. Canadian studies suggest that at least 5 per cent of caught-and-released salmon do not survive. Others say the mortality rate is even higher. And the managers of stocked, stew-pond rainbow trout fisheries almost all forbid it, insisting that within a decreed bag limit you kill everything you catch. They know that pricked fish soon become most reluctant to bite, that dead, decomposing fish do their water no good and that catch and release is bad for business. Last year, only 33,023 wild salmon were caught in Scotland - 25pc down on 2022, and the lowest since records began, back in 1952 By contrast the sensible Highlander, after one for the pot, would eventually catch his salmon, bang it on the head, thank the Lord for His mercies new every morning, head home to pop his prize into the freezer and not trouble the river for another year. But the big problem with catch and release is political. By embracing it, back around 1994, Scotlands estates unwittingly endorsed a cherished myth that the main threat to wild salmon is the angler. Most convenient for Edinburgh politicians, who know most voters think the pursuit of wild salmon the indulgence of woofly-voiced toffs. And Mr Patterson and Ms Hieatt point out a most inconvenient truth: their extensive monitoring of salmon breeding by electronic hi-tech means in the estuary, and so on suggests there has been no fall in the number of juvenile salmon leaving the Tweed. Which suggests there is little wrong with the management of the Tweed no careless coniferous plantations acidifiying the water; no paddling cattle muddying the spawning redds, and no significant pollution. It is just that very few make it back, perhaps only 1 per cent. This is not, in fact, a crisis in Scotlands lochs and rivers. The emergency, whatever it is, is in the sea. There are and have long been three chief suspects. One is rapacious, industrial fishing for salmon in the ocean itself. The Faroese were fingered for it in the 1990s. And, until very recent decades, salmon netting off the west coast of Ireland was wholesale and unregulated. Another, of course, is climate change. The Tweed Commissioners whose excellent records go back over 200 years argue that there is a 60-year cycle in salmon stocks rising and falling, linked to a meteorological phenomenon known as the North Atlantic oscillation, which affects the climate across the region. That affects food supplies for salmon out at sea, argued one journalist five years ago, increasing competition for food with species such as mackerel, and altering water temperatures. Climate change, which is warming the sea and harming marine life, is making those pressures much more significant. And the third is commercial salmon farming in the West Highlands, first trialled in the Sixties and which, by the 1990s, had become big business. It is now Scotlands biggest food export. The Chinese are crazy for it and, in 2022, our farmed salmon hit a record value of some 1.2billion. A government-commissioned report in 2018 examined aquacultures wider economic impacts and showed the sector supported 11,700 jobs and generated 885million GVA. But its foes insist salmon cages are a source of serious if localised pollution, that they are crawling with sea lice which the wild fish quickly shed in fresh water; that they in turn infest passing migrant fish with sea lice, and that salmon cage escapees could be running up our rivers and wrecking the established local gene pool. Each hypothesis, though, has serious holes. The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic OSPAR flatly declares ocean trawling is no longer a problem, however voracious some of our neighbours may have been 30 or 40 years ago. Fisheries exploitation of Atlantic salmon was a great concern in the past century, OSPAR allows, but average annual exploitation by commercial and recreational fisheries have greatly decreased over the last 60 years and are presently at very low levels. Nor is climate change some sort of appalling, novel emergency. It is a constant in history. The parching of Asian grasslands was central to the fall of the Roman Empire. The Medieval Warm Period enriched England. The subsequent Little Ice Age helped to beggar Scotland and deliver the Union itself. Indeed, we were still in the Little Ice Age when Govan lads were revolting against salmon yet again for tea and things were warming up again when Mr Naylor on the Grimersta was reeling in a beauty on every cast. Scapegoating fish farming has one howling flaw: there is scarcely any salmon farming on the east coast of Scotland, where wild salmon numbers have crashed so catastrophically. A case can certainly be made that the cages are very bad for sea trout which hang around our coast, rather than following their more famous kin into the deep ocean. But aquaculturists the sector is now almost wholly in Norwegian hands are out to make money, and there is no profit in sickly, dying fish in filthy cages. A much stronger ecological argument is the prodigious volume of fish harvested to feed caged salmon. The Scottish salmon industry, thundered environmental campaigner Matt Mellen in 2020, uses roughly the same quantity of wild-caught fish to feed its salmon, as is purchased by the entire adult population of the UK in one year. And to raise a single adult fish in a cage requires the capture and slaughter of up to 200 wild caught fish, depriving those in lands far away of much-needed, local sources of protein... And all that fish processed into pellets for caged salmon is fish denied to their wild brethren at sea. Meanwhile, the governments timid Wild Salmon Strategy and Implementation Plan, published earlier this year, has been widely mocked in the angling press for its refusal to sanction the culling of seals, the licensed shooting of predatory birds, or to seriously study the impact of reintroduced beavers. And while ministers will not support further salmon and trout open-pen fish farm developments on the north and east coasts of Scotland, they have nothing at all to say about the west. The fact is that the best stewards of our wild salmon are local anglers themselves, and that of late has been recognised at Lough Melvin on the Irish border. Its an intriguing place with three salmonid species such as the gillaroo found nowhere else in the world, and with generous runs of migratory fish. And its County Fermanagh stretch is the only place in Northern Ireland where you are allowed to kill a salmon, such is the respect earned by the Garrison Anglers Club over decades of management and conservation. It costs you 80 a season or 10 a day and you are also given two tags, entitling you to keep two salmon per season. (Northern Ireland also insists on a game-rod licence, but it is only 17 a year.) A grown-up order by people who take angling seriously and which Scotland might do well to emulate. Netflix has been ordered to remove an 'explicit sex scene' from a hit crime drama after the streaming service was sued by a notorious drug smuggler for 'moral damage'. Laureano Oubina, from Galicia in northwest Spain, was furious with the portrayal of him as a brutish crime lord in the TV series Cocaine Coast (Farina). The 78-year-old was particularly enraged by the depiction of him having sex with his wife and decided to sue Netflix for 1.5 million, claiming the show 'caused him moral damage'. Now a judge has ordered the company to cut an 'explicit sex scene' in the opening episode when a police raid catches Oubina in the act, The Times has reported. Netflix has also been told to pay the drug smuggler - who was convicted for trafficking marijuana and money laundering - 15,000 for violating his privacy. Laureano Oubina (pictured), from Galicia in northwest Spain, was furious with the portrayal of him as a brutish crime lord in the TV series Cocaine Coast Cocaine Coast was viewed by 2.5million Spanish households when it was first released in 2018 The 78-year-old was particularly enraged by the depiction of him having sex with his wife and decided to sue Netflix for 1.5 million. Pictured arriving at court last year The court concluded that the sex scene - which only showed the backs of the actors playing Oubina and his wife - was not justified by 'the undeniable creative freedom of the creators and producers of the series'. It was also heard that the scene was included only to 'hook the viewer into the plot' and was therefore unnecessary. Oubina's lawyer Jorge Paladino, argued the life of his client had 'worsened considerably' since the broadcasting of the series. He said this was because it portrayed Oubina as a person 'capable of taking the life of another' and as a 'violent, sexist cocaine trafficker' who was 'unfaithful' and an 'abuser of women'. The 78-year-old was previously convicted of trafficking marijuana and money laundering but was released from prison in 2017. The sex scene in question takes place n the Pazo de Baion mansion - which was seized by police and later sold by the state for 15 million in 2008. Although Netflix was ordered to remove the sex scene, Oubina's other complaints were not upheld by the court. The judge concluded the TV series was 'inspired by reality' and that the image of Oubina portrayed in the drama was not 'very different' from the one that he himself had projected for years. Cocaine Coast is a fictionalised dramatisation of the rise of Galicia's drug-clans in the 1980s and 1990s Oubina's lawyer Jorge Paladino, argued the life of his client had 'worsened considerably' since the broadcasting of the series Cocaine Coast is a fictionalised dramatisation of the rise of Galicia's drug-clans in the 1980s and 1990s. What started as the smuggling of everyday items such as soap and sugar from Portugal in the 1940s, later morphed into the trafficking of marijuana from Morocco and cocaine from Columbia. Cocaine Coast was viewed by 2.5million Spanish households when it was first released in 2018. The legal action taken by Oubina comes after Fiona Harvey, who says she is the person the character Martha is based on in Baby Reindeer, also threatened legal action against Netflix. She is claiming defamation, negligence and privacy violations. MailOnline has contacted Netflix for comment. As some Democrats sound the alarms and call for President Biden to be replaced on the top of the ticket, Democratic voters in Georgia expressed disappointment in the president's debate performance but not surprise. Amid the bed-wetting by some party officials, voters in the crucial battleground state question who could actually replace Biden at this late stage and are mixed on even attempting to. But where they do agree is they will vote for Biden if he's on the ticket even after the debate pained them to watch. 'I was a little disappointed,' said 70-year-old Cecio Dozier. 'I was rooting for Biden. It's not that he didn't respond to questions, it's just his body language and there was instances where he seemed like he got lost in the conversation.' Dozier said he was not impressed and blamed the Democratic party. Democrats in Georgia expressed disappointment but not surprise by Biden's debate performance calling it 'poor' and 'upsetting,' but they have mixed reaction to the idea of replacing him as the nominee 'They knew something was wrong with him a long time ago, and they kept putting him up front like that. Now they're willing to think about trying t find somebody else. Kind of late for that, isn't it?' Dozier will vote for Biden in November if he's the nominee or any Democratic replacement. If it were up to him - he did have one name in mind. 'They got to be somebody who's dynamic and that can bring the voters out to vote since seeing that it's such a last minute effort,' Dozier said. 'There was a time people were talking about Michelle Obama, but I don't think she would do it. Definitely not Kamala Harris.' The former first lady rejected the idea of running for president earlier this year. Dozier also said he would be happy with either of Georgia's two Democratic senators if it came down to it. He said the Democratic party seems weak right now, so he just wants someone to stand up and take over as a leader. The Atlanta resident, who is black, criticized what Donald Trump had to say on the debate stage about 'black jobs' and said he would never vote for someone he believes wants to take away freedoms. 'I remember when [John] Kennedy was president. It just seemed like such an honor to be president, but with Trump, he feels like he wants to just take over. He hasn't done anything for me.' Kimberly Nesbitt, 49, caught the first half of the debate but was frustrated and had to turn it off. 'It was very poor -- upsetting,' she said of Biden's performance. 'But I'm not going to let that sink the ship. It's like picking your poison at this point.' Nesbitt, who is from Tucker, Georgia, does not agree with Democrats suggesting a Biden replacement at this stage. 'Democrats gnash their teeth and when something happens that's not perfect, they start imploding, especially liberals,' she said. For her it's important to have a Democrat in office should there be additional openings on the Supreme Court in the next term. Georgia Democrats had mixed reactions to the idea of replacing Biden as the nominee, but they agreed if he were the nominee against Trump, they would vote for him despite the debate performance Biden won the state of Georgia in 2020 by less than 12,000 votes. Democrats were anxious over delivering the votes again this fall She believes those who were watching the debate already had their minds made up and it's now about turnout. 'I think Democrats just need to calm down. There's still three or four months to go. Go through the convention, make the nominations and just stick to policy and go from there.' While Nesbitt would not entertain the idea of another nominee, Lisa Brooks of Atlanta said she thinks Biden should be replaced. The problem for her is she could not think of a good replacement. If it comes down to it, she will be sticking with Biden come November. 'He seems to be for the people. However, he is of age,' she said. 'Donald Trump is all over the place. He is not trustworthy whatsoever.' For her the debate was a circus, and she claimed Biden had no rebuttals for a lot of Trump's accusations, but it made not difference in her decision. 'Donald Trump was all over the place. He made a lot of false accusations, so it's just confusing. ' A significant number of people DailyMail.com spoke to did not even watch the debate. Some were able to read about it Friday morning. 40-year-old Ryan Harris did not watch Biden and Trump's disastrous showdown. 'I felt like it would be too painful to watch,' he laughed. Instead he got the recap. 'Didn't come out great,' he said shaking his head. 'I'm unfortunately feeling what a lot of people are feeling which is just like "how did we get to this point where these are our options that we've got?"' Harris said he's terrified of the 'descent into fascism that would happen otherwise' if he doesn't vote for Biden. He called Trump 'dystopian' and Biden 'just depressing.' He believes Biden should be replaced, but only if there were actual follow up to the talk with a plan. He too is not sure on a nominee -- maybe Pete Buttigieg, the 2020 candidate currently serving as transportation secretary. Harris said at his point there's just a lot of general anxiety. Michelle Obama's name was mentioned by Democratic voters in Georgia as a Biden replacement, but she already rejected ever running for president earlier this year One Georgia voter mentioned Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as a possible biden replacment There is a lot of weight on Democrats to show up in a battleground state as Georgia where the first presidential debate was held. Biden won by less than 12,000 votes in 2020 and needs to lock down again to be reelected. Several Atlanta residents who DailyMail.com spoke to after the debate who did not watch the big event but would be voting in the election come November said Biden did not have their votes locked in. Jarvis Thompson, 42, said he was still undecided on who he would vote for but would cast a ballot this fall. He did not watch the debate but is leaning toward voting for a third party candidate after voting for Biden in 2020. Isaiah Green, also from Atlanta, did not vote in 2020 but plans to in November. The way things currently stand, the 25-year-old is likely going to vote for Trump. 'He shows that yes he does a lot of crazy thing, yes he says a lot of crazy things, but he is what he is,' he said. He said with others it's a facade. 'I'd rather take Trump knowing that he's crazy,' Green said. The left-wing media's 11th hour panic over President Joe Biden is laughable. 'God Help Us' read the headline of a New York Times article surveying the opinions of 12 columnists and contributors following Biden's catastrophic debate performance Thursday night. The least morbidly pessimistic remark of the bunch: 'This was a disaster.' After months of refusing to acknowledge reality, the thundering drumbeat now coming from liberal America from the fainting 'Gray Lady' to the most deluded redoubts of Biden defenders at MSNBC is that weak and confused old Joe must resign from the race or Dems are doomed. Well, I'm here to say: Sorry, Democrats. It's now too late to swap out for another candidate. You've saddled yourselves to this dead horse. You'll have to ride him to the losing line. And there are plenty of reasons why that's the cold hard truth. The last time a major party got rid of an incumbent president campaigning for re-election was 1856. Sorry, Democrats. It's now too late to swap out for another candidate. Democrats dumped President Franklin Pierce at their party convention in favor of James Buchanan, who went on to win the presidency. But back then, presidential nominees were picked by power brokers in smoke-filled backrooms where favors were traded and fortunes were made. More than 150 years later, America's leaders are picked by voters. And that makes things much more complicated. The only way in modern political history that a major party candidate has been replaced is if they have voluntarily stepped aside. President Harry Truman declined to run for re-election in 1952, amidst the Korean War. His wife, Bess, wanted a return to the quiet life. President Lyndon Johnson bowed out of the 1968 race, as the Vietnam War raged, after similarly being prodded to quit by Lady Bird Johnson who was concerned over her ailing husband's health. Could Joe Biden choose to step aside? Perhaps more crucially, would Dr. Jill Biden encourage him to do so? All signs point to no. Joe's been chasing the presidency for so long that when he endorsed Jimmy Carter in 1976 it was only because he wasn't old enough to run himself. President Lyndon Johnson bowed out of the 1968 race, as the Vietnam War raged, after similarly being prodded to quit by Lady Bird Johnson who was concerned over her ailing husband's health. President Harry Truman declined to run for re-election in 1952, amidst the Korean War. His wife, Bess, wanted a return to the quiet life. And run he did in 1988 then again in 2008 2020 and now, 2024. Plus, Dr. Jill may like being First Lady as much as Joe likes being President. And without the First Family's agreement, they'd be nearly impossible to replace. In 1974, Republican party elders staged an intervention to convince besieged President Richard Nixon, who was threatened with impeachment over the Watergate scandal, to resign. But with Jill and a couple of old Delaware hands all of them having no future without 'the Big Guy' tightly controlling access to Joe, could the party's grand poobah's even get a meeting? And who would Joe listen to? The Senate colleagues he once respected are all long dead. The Clintons? The Obamas? There are tensions with both camps. Michelle Obama reportedly refuses to campaign for Joe because of how the Biden family treated Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, Michelle's close friend, during her bitter divorce from the First Son. No, Joe won't go. And there's no way to make him do it. In today's Democratic primary system, voters elect state delegates to represent them at the national party convention. The contender with the most state delegates supporting him wins the nomination. And in the 2024 primaries, Biden won 99% of the available delegates. That aside, perhaps bigger hurdle to replacing Joe is the difficulty of organizing a movement to unite the party behind a single alternative. Democrats blew that opportunity by chasing all viable contenders for the nomination out of the race leaving only party dissidents, like Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, to mount hopeless, thankless and, ultimately, doomed outsider campaigns. And who would Joe listen to? The Senate colleagues he once respected are all long dead. The Clintons? The Obamas? Michelle Obama reportedly refuses to campaign for Joe because of how the Biden family treated Hunter Biden's ex-wife Kathleen Buhle (above, center), Michelle's close friend, during her bitter divorce from the First Son. The natural choice for Joe's replacement would be his vice president but, for the past four years, Kamala Harris has been consistently more unpopular than Biden himself. And picking anyone but Harris to replace Biden would raise a painful debate among liberals about why a black woman is being passed over. Surely, only Michelle Obama could pull off a replacement seamlessly, but she's never shown interest in being a candidate herself. Democratic activists may have a wish list of dream candidates topped by governors such as California's Gavin Newsom, Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro. But none of them are likely to concede to another and pass up on their one best chance at the White House. After the Democratic National Convention in late August, the window to select a new party standard bearer will only shrink further. Wisconsin and Nevada have strict election law rules barring the replacement of a nominee for anything short of death or institutionalization. Democrats may risk not being able to list their candidate on the ballots if they change horses mid-stream. So, do you want to bad news or the bad news, Dems? Joe Biden is your nominee. And he's your only hope. Disgraced former Uvalde school police chief Pedro 'Pete' Arredondo has been pictured in an orange jumpsuit after his indictment over a school massacre that left 21 dead. Arredondo, 64, appeared expressionless as he posed for his first police mugshot following charges for his botched response to the Robb Elementary massacre. The former police chief faces ten counts of child endangerment, which is a state jail felony, according to records released today. A total of 21 people - 19 fourth graders and two teachers - died when shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, opened fire on May 24, 2022. The police force was slammed for its shambolic reaction to the massacre, after it emerged that nobody attempted to confront Ramos until 77 minutes after he began his rampage. Former Uvalde school police chief Pedro 'Pete' Arredondo pictured in an orange jumpsuit after being indicted over their botched response to a school massacre on May 24, 2022 Arredondo (left) and school police officer Adrian Gonzales (right) have been charged with child endangerment over their slow response to shooting at Robb Elementary that left 21 dead Shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, (pictured) fatally shot 19 schoolchildren and two teachers before he was finally subdued and shot dead by police after a rampage that lasted over an hour Uvalde School District Police chief Arredondo was in charge of the massive law enforcement response that day, which saw at least 380 officers from various local, state and federal agencies descend on the school. The indictment against him alleges he put children's lives in danger by failing to respond as trained to an active shooter. It identifies various fatal missteps, including failing to identify the threat as an active shooter even after he had been told that a teacher had been shot and children had been injured. The document, released by Uvalde County District Clerk on Friday, says Arredondo instead took several actions, including calling a SWAT team and issuing evacuation orders, that delayed officers from confronting the gunman as he continued his killing spree. The former police chief even failed to provide keys and breaching tools in a timely manner to allow officers to break into the classroom where the massacre was taking place, the indictment claims. Arredondo has admitted he decided not to try and neutralize Ramos in a bid to save the lives of other children. But the action contradicted his department's active shooter protocols and essentially left students trapped in the classroom with the gunman. Arredondo was immediately placed on administrative leave and fired shortly after. A DOJ investigation found that leadership failures resulted in delays which may have exacerbated the fatalities. The report said police acted with 'no urgency' in establishing a command center, creating confusion about who was in charge. Arredondo discarded his radios on arrival, deeming them unnecessary, the report found. A key error was believing the shooter was barricaded or contained, even as he continued to fire shots which killed more children and injured an officer. Salvador Ramos killed 19 kids and two teachers during the rampage on May 24, 2022 Footage showing Peter Arredondo directing armed officers inside the Uvalde elementary school An investigation conducted for the city of Uvalde also revealed that officers wanted to storm the classroom as soon as bullet proof shields arrived, but they were overruled by their boss. Ramos was eventually shot and killed by US Border Patrol Tactical Unit gunmen who bypassed other officers who had been in the hallway. The criminal charges against the former police are the first in connection with what was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. Arredondo turned himself into Uvalde County Jail on Thursday and posted the $10,000 bond. Adrian Gonzales, a school police officer, has also been charged over his response to the incident. He and Arredondo were among the first cops on the scene. His attorney, Nico LaHood, told KSAT.com that he planned to surrender himself to the authorities. Gonzales - who was one of the first officers at the scene - turned himself in on Friday, Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco told DailyMail.com. He has since posted bond. He is facing 29 counts of abandoning and endangering a child, according to his indictment. La Hood added: 'Mr. Gonzales' position is he did not violate school district policy or state law. The application of this statute, to law enforcement, under these circumstances is unprecedented in the state of Texas. It will take time to evaluate these allegations and the underlying facts.' Democrat State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, said in a statement: 'What happened in Uvalde two years ago was unthinkable. Nearly 400 officers failed to confront a teenager with an AR-15 for 77 agonizing minutes, while children and teachers endured terror while officers armed to the teeth huddled in hallways and outside the building. 'The gross incompetence of the Texas Department of Public Safety and their cowardice will forever be a stain on this tragedy. The top law enforcement agency in the State of Texas must answer for grave errors in judgment and for lying every single day to the public about how the massacre unfolded. The police force was heavily criticized in the wake of the shooting, after it emerged that nobody attempted to confront Ramos until 77 minutes after he began his rampage 'From falsely blaming a teacher for propping open a door to pinning the entire catastrophe on one ignorant officer, the Texas Department of Public Safety has done nothing in Uvalde but cover up for their abject failure. 'We must get to the core of the cover-up and have the truth, so that this never happens again. Every single officer that stood down that day must be held accountable, from Pete Arredondo all the way up to [state police chief] Steve McCraw. We can't rest until we have justice.' Gutierrez has previously expressed outrage that Arredondo and Gonzales are the only police charged over the failures. 'If they're going to indict those two officers, they need to indict the 13 DPS troopers in that hallway,' Gutierrez told San Antonio Express News. 'That's very disturbing to me.' District Attorney Christina Mitchell revealed in January that she had convened a grand jury to weigh possible charges. As part of the fact-finding mission, the 12 jurors toured the now closed school for around an hour. The entire police force was overhauled in the wake of the massacre. But Don McLaughlin Jr, who was mayor at the time of the shooting, suggested there has been a 'gloss' over the role of other agencies involved on the day. Vice President Kamala Harris has never been closer to the presidency after Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance sent Democratic elites into a tailspin about their chances in the 2024 election. As the vice president of the United States, Harris is the natural successor of the presidency if Biden steps down. But for years, Democrats have criticized Harris performance and feel she should not take over for Biden before the election. One well-connected Democrat told DailyMail.com after the debate that the choice was between an obviously broken Biden or Harris, describing the vice president as extremely disliked and a terrible politician. I think Id have a better shot with Biden, he said. One Washington, DC political operative described to DailyMail.com the mood of Democrats on Friday morning. Everybodys going to try to resurrect Joe Biden today, but after that debate performance, Jesus Christ couldnt be resurrected, he said. He described the 'Kamala conundrum' as a result of Biden and Democrats playing the 'dangerous game' of identity politics to boost their numbers with the black community. 'She could be great for the base right?' he said. 'But you still need independent voters who just don't have confidence in her.' Other Democrats conceded that Biden did not have a good night, but the party is not ready to replace him with Harris. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris jumped to defend President Joe Biden's debate performance, even as Democrats wonder if they should replace the president before the election You wont find me telling Joe Biden to back down over one simple debate, one Democratic strategist said. Democrats privately believe that Harris has been found wanting, but just like the conversation about Bidens age, any comment criticizing the vice presidents performance is not allowed by the party. When reflecting on Biden's replacement, Democrats cited the well-known political risk of trying to replace Harris, the historic first black woman vice president with another white male. Bakari Sellers, a former Representative from South Carolina and CNN commentator warned Democrats to steer away from the idea. 'If Joe Biden were to drop out and anybody around this table thinks that you're going to take some white dude to jump Kamala Harris, then you will have a problem in the Democratic party. Right?' he said on CNN. 'That's not happening.' Democrats privately believe that Harris has been found wanting, but just like the conversation about Bidens age, any comment criticizing the vice presidents performance is not allowed by the party Democrat strategists and donors are keenly watching the media performances of their possible top recruits as they ponder whether its worth the political risk to push Biden off of the ticket. It was not lost on Democrats that Harris appeared unexpectedly on their television screens after the debate to defend Biden and his debate performance. Harris appeared with CNNs Anderson Cooper, MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, and ABC News Linsey Davis to defend Biden. Harris did her best, but even the vice president conceded that it was not Bidens best night. Listen, he did not get off to a strong start in that debate but he had a strong finish, and you know it was a slow start and a strong finish,' she said on CNN. Speaking off-site from the debate, Harris was wearing a large golden chain around her neck, which was identified on social media as a $62,000 Tiffany necklace. Harris dodged questions about whether Biden should step aside and urged Democrats to look at the bigger picture. 'The bottom line is this: Let us not decide the outcome of whose going to be president of the United States based on a 90 minute debate, she said. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki theorized that Harris' appearance was a last minute Hail Mary play by the Biden campaign to distract from Biden's performance. 'You don't send the vice president of the United States out if you won the debate, typically,' she said on MSNBC Thursday night. Around the same time, California Governor Gavin Newsom was in the debate hall making his pitch to nervous Democrats. But rather than concede defeat, Newsom scolded nervous Democrats for even thinking of replacing the president calling those comments unhelpful and unnecessary. U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted by California Governor Gavin Newsom in California US President Joe Biden campaigns with Vice President Kamala Harris You dont turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? He asked. This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment. Earlier in the night, he exclusively told DailyMail.com that claims he could replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket are 'farcical.' Pollster Nate Silver excoriated Bidens performance in a morning-after article, finally urging him to drop out after putting Democrats in a terrible position. If youre a Democrat, you should be angry at these people for putting you in this predicament. The same goes for special interest groups who insisted that Kamala Harris ought to be VP - against Bidens initial instincts, he wrote. But Silver admitted that Harris or Newsom could be better than Trump. Give me Harris at this point, who at least is more of a blank slate, he wrote, adding that Harris and Newsom are very much not my preferred options but I prefer them to Biden. Former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett conceded on the Pod Save America podcast that the party was in an uproar after the debate. Former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett conceded on the Pod Save America podcast that the party was in an uproar after the debate Nobody knows what Joe Biden is going to do, Kamala Harris is doing f***ing improv with Anderson Cooper, Gavin Newsom doesnt know, everyone is figuring this out, Jon Lovett. Lovett urged everyone to wait until the party sorted out the future and said the choice of whether or not Biden should stay in the race was ultimately up to Biden. Were not doomed until the election is over and a lot can change between now and then, nobody knows whats going to happen and lets just take it one step at a time, he concluded. Another Democratic strategist told DailyMail.com he was looking forward to the July Fourth holiday weekend, indicating a week-long break from politics could help calm the party. 'Maybe two weeks,' he added. Jurors in the high-profile case of glamorous murder suspect Karen Read accused of killing her cop boyfriend have reached a deadlock. The jury sent a note to the judge on Friday saying they are 'unable to reach a unanimous verdict' less than four full days into the deliberations. But Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone ordered the jurors - made up of six men and six women - to reach a verdict as they had not spent a sufficient amount of time. Read, a 44-year-old financial analyst and college professor, is accused of drunkenly knocking over her boyfriend John O'Keefe following an argument. Throughout the trial she has raised eyebrows with her attention-seeking behavior in court such as snacking and winking at cameras. Read faces up to life in prison over the alleged murder of her boyfriend, and has raised eyebrows with some of her behavior during the trial Read is facing murder charges over the January 2022 death of her police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe, who prosecutors say was hit by Read in her car after a drunken night out Cannone told the jurors to have lunch and take a respite before they get back to work. 'We all know how hard you've been working. Lunch will be arriving shortly. When it comes I'd ask you to clear heads, have lunch and begin your deliberations again,' the judge said, according to CNN. Read faces up to life in prison for the murder of O'Keefe, who was found dead outside a friend's home in January 2022. Prosecutors allege that Read hit him with her car following a drunken argument as she dropped him off at the home for an after party. They claim to have found pieces of her car's taillight around his body. She is alleged to have drunkenly driven over O'Keefe following a drunken argument. She had spent the evening drinking with her boyfriend and a group of friends at the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton, around 14 miles south of Boston, and the group were invited to his friend Brian Albert's home for an afterparty. Read, who prosecutors say drank several alcoholic drinks beforehand, decided to drop O'Keefe at the afterparty before she went to his home - that he shared with his orphaned niece and nephew - to sleep at around 1am. Court documents revealed that the couple had been bitterly arguing for weeks beforehand. On the night O'Keefe died, Read left him a voicemail calling him a 'f****** loser', adding 'John, I f****** hate you.' The couple had been dating for two years at the time of O'Keefe's death. He had been serving on the Boston Police Department for 16 years. Read has long denied having any involvement in the January 2022 death of O'Keefe - instead claiming she is being framed by police in a vast conspiracy. She said earlier this week that she is willing to testify and would love to prove her case herself. Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone slammed Read's courtroom antics on Wednesday, during a discussion with her attorney over the verdict slip handed to jurors Prosecutors allege that Read hit O'Keefe with her car after an argument, while she contends that she was framed by party attendees and members of the Boston Police Department As her trial began, Read received a slew of support from true crime fans and locals who have been camped outside the courthouse with signs reading 'Free Karen Read' The jurors have to decide if Read is guilty or not guilty of second-degree murder, which in Massachusetts is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole, Yahoo News reported. Read also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years, as per the news outlet. Since Tuesday afternoon, they have been deliberating on the case including, a police cover-up, claims of improper conduct and sexist text messages from a lead investigator. The juror's note to Judge Cannone that was sent just after noon on Friday, the prosecution and defense asked her to consider different outcomes in her decision on what to tell the jury. 'It is far, far, far too early in their deliberative process to even consider giving them any kind of Tuey-Rodriguez instruction or anything close to that,' Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally said In the state of Massachusetts when jurors are unable to agree on a verdict there is a special model that is followed referred to as a Tuey-Rodriguez. Read has come under scrutiny for a perceived flippant attitude in court, including winking at cameras and snacking during proceedings Read and O'Keefe had been out drinking on the night of his death, before she drove him to an afterparty while she went home to sleep. He was found dead on the lawn of the afterparty's home hours later 'The note doesn't really indicate affirmatively that they can't come to a conclusion, it just says they haven't come to a conclusion through their deliberative process at this time.' Defense attorney David Yanetti argued the jury should be read the Tuey-Rodriguez criminal model instructions, indicating that they would like the court to proceed toward having a hung jury, as per CNN. Read could be seen shaking her head after being confronted by the judge, who responded bluntly: 'All right, we're done.' Throughout her trial, Read's claims that she was framed have attracted a number of fans, who are often seen staked outside the courthouse insisting on her innocence. Many have taken to wearing light pink to show their support, leading Judge Cannone to file a ruling at the start of the trial banning such clothing and keeping supporters from coming within 200 feet of the courthouse. Former President Barack Obama has finally spoken out about his former VP's horrific performance in his debate against Donald Trump. 'Bad debate nights happen,' Obama, 62, wrote on X Friday afternoon, breaking his silence hours after the first presidential debate of 2024. The former president admitted that his 81-year-old friend did not put on a performance to persuade voters he should be commander-in-chief. 'But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself,' the 44th president continued - slashing at Trump's ego. Obama's backing up Biden comes at a critical time too - as many in the Democrat party appear to be turning on the elderly executive after his car crash debate. Barack Obama came to his former VP's aid saying Friday that bad debates happen a day after Joe Biden's car crash performance on stage against Donald Trump 'Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit,' Obama continued. 'Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November.' Another Democrat superstar also praised the president on Friday, though she noticeably did not mention the debate. 'The choice in this election remains very simple,' Hillary Clinton wrote on X. 'It's a choice between someone who cares about youyour rights, your prospects, your futureversus someone who's only in it for himself.' 'I'll be voting Biden.' The president himself even admitted his showing on Thursday was subpar, telling a crowd at a rally in North Carolina Friday, 'I don't debate as well as I used to' but 'I can do this job.' After the debate aired on CNN, the outlet conducted a poll that found two thirds of voters thought that former President Trump won the presidential debate. Opinion writers in major US papers have published pieces calling on Biden to move aside and allow another Democrat to take his place as leader of the party. Though one of those speculated Democrats, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have said the idea Biden will move aside is a joke. Some top congressional Democrat lawmakers also admitted that Biden had a 'bad night.' 'He's a great president, he got off to a bad start,' said former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 'Integrity versus dishonesty on its worst night shines through.' Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said, 'He had a bad night.' Biden talked in a low soft voice and often finished his answer without using the full amount of time allotted to him Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024 'I think we all know that it was not what we wanted,' she added. 'But he is the President, with Democrats, who instituted the largest investment in taking on climate change.' During the debate at times seemed to freeze, once for quite a long time, and he had difficulty stringing together strong cohesive statements. He also spoke very softly and did not always use his full time allotted to answer questions on crucial policies. Still, Biden has said he is planning on participating at another debate with Trump in the fall. Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon promised that his MAGA media empire would keep broadcasting even as he prepared to report to prison for a four-month sentence on Monday. He sent a message to DailyMail.com on Friday, soon after the Supreme Court rejected his attempt to delay his sentence for defying a subpoena in the January 6 congressional investigation. 'I'm a political prisoner. And I won't be the last until we rid ourselves of the Biden regime's lawfare,' he said. 'The rancid nature of this regime was on display for the world to see in all its glory last night. 'Try as they might they cannot shut down WarRoom. We will be victorious in November.' Former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon is due to report to prison in Connecticut Monday Bannon filed an emergency appeal last week after he was ordered to report to prison on July 1. He was convicted two years ago of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to give a deposition to the Jan. 6 House Committee and a second for refusing to hand over documents related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. He argued that he was protected by executive privilege and was allowed to remain free while he appealed. But he ran out of options Friday when the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal to stay free as he worked his legal options. 'The application for release pending appeal presented to the chief justice and by him referred to the court is denied,' it said in a one-line order. Bannon is the second of Trump's senior White House officials to face prison for refusing a congressional subpoena. Trade adviser Peter Navarro is serving his sentence in Florida. Both argued that they standing up to Congress to defend the Constitution's separation of powers, but both found their arguments rejected by judges who said there was no evidence that Trump had formally asserted executive privilege. The Supreme Court issued its one-line order rejecting his appeal on Friday afternoon Bannon is the second close Trump advisor to be ordered to prison for defying a congressional subpoena by the committee investigating January 6 Bannon was convicted of failing to comply with a subpoena issued by the House January 6 Committee for documents and deposition Bannon also said he had not 'wilfully' violated the contempt law because he was following his attorney's advice. 'Mr. Bannon relied in good faith on his attorneys advice not to respond to a subpoena issued by a House Select Committee until executive privilege issues were resolvedas they had been on three prior occasions when Mr. Bannon had agreed to testify after President Trumps counsel had asserted executive privilege,' his lawyers wrote. Bannon continues to be a prominent voice among Trump advisers, and maintains his reach to the conservative movement through his daily WarRoom podcast. He is due to serve his time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut. He is still expected to appeal his conviction and House Republicans have signaled that they will support him by arguing that the Jan. 6. was improperly set up. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hot-footed it into the venue hosting tonight's television leaders' debate ahead of the General Election, amid shouts from pro-refugee protestors outside the studio. Mr Farage's appearance at BBC Question Time Leaders' Special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham comes just hours after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lashed out at him after a Reform UK activist was caught on camera branding the Prime Minister a 'f***ing p***'. Hosted by Fiona Bruce, Mr Farage, wearing a smart blue suit and dot-patterned tie, appeared alongside Green Party Co-Leader Adrian Ramsay for tonight's show. He unsurprisingly came under pressure to answer questions from the audience over the conduct of campaigners in Clacton who were recorded making a catalogue of vile racist and homophobic remarks. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hot-footed it into the venue hosting tonight's leaders' debate ahead of the General Election , amid shouts from pro-refugee protestors outside the studio Mr Farage unsurprisingly came under pressure to answer questions from the audience over the conduct of campaigners in Clacton who were recorded making a catalogue of vile racist and homophobic remarks Pro-refugee protestors shouted outside the studio and held banners as Mr Farage arrived Pro-refugee campaigners held up placards to the arriving guests, who included Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay The PM, whose grandparents were from India, said earlier today Mr Farage had 'questions to answer' as Reform plunged into chaos in the wake of the revelations, the latest and most damaging of a string of allegations to hit it in recent weeks. He likened the language to that used by 'misogynist' Andrew Tate and repeated the racial slur used against him 'because it is important to call it out for what it is', citing the impact on his young daughters. Reform activist Andrew Parker, who made the remark about the PM, was also secretly recorded by Channel 4 News in Essex suggesting that migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches. He also called for Muslims to be ejected from mosques so they can be turned into Wetherspoons pubs. Other campaigners in the town where Mr Farage is hoping to become the MP on July 4 suggested LGBT people are 'degenerate', would turn the police into 'paramilitaries' and would bring back 'the noose'. Mr Farage said what had happened during the secret Channel 4 recording was 'unbelievable' and that most of what had appeared in the report 'didn't ring true' Mr Farage also repeated his claim that Mr Parker is an actor and 'was acting from the very start' during his interview. Pictured: Mr Farage pressed his finger against his mouth as he listened to the audience 'This is a total and utter set-up': Mr Farage was unequivocal in his belief that the Channel 4 report had included the appearance of an actor Mr Farage was seen frequently clasping his hands together or waving them emphatically around as he answered the questions from the audience Mr Farage gestures with his hands as he answers one of many questions on topics ranging from tax and immigration to the state of the NHS from the audience Presenter Fiona Bruce grilled Mr Farage on the appearance of Mr Jackson in the Channel 4 report and was told 'he's nothing to do with us' Mr Farage appeared alongside Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay on the BBC Question Time Leaders' Special During Friday night's appearance on Question Time, Mr Farage said what had happened was 'unbelievable' and that most of what had appeared in the report 'didn't ring true.' He repeated his claim that Mr Parker is an actor and 'was acting from the very start' during his interview. Mr Farage told the audience: 'This is a total and utter set-up'. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the racial slur used against him by a Reform UK canvasser - who Mr Farage disputes is an actor - made him feel hurt and 'angry' He was unequivocal in his stance that Mr Parker's views did not reflect those of the Reform UK party and took pains to say: 'He is nothing to do with us.' On ITV's Loose Women earlier today, Mr Farage made similar claims and said Mr Parker was an actor used to discredit him, saying: 'This whole whole thing is a complete and utter set-up, of that I have no doubt.' During a campaign visit to a school in Teesside, the Prime Minister told broadcasters that what he had seen 'hurts' and made him 'angry'. He said: 'My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. 'I don't repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.' Asked whether he was frustrated that some former Tory voters are leaning towards Reform UK when their activists are making racist and homophobic comments, Mr Sunak said: 'When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and opinion, seemingly without challenge, I think it tells you something about the culture in the Reform party. 'Andrew Tate isn't an important voice for men. He's a vile misogynist. And our politics and country is better than that. 'As Prime Minister, but more importantly as a father of two young girls, it's my duty to call out this corrosive and divisive behaviour.' A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flying to Baltimore from Portland, Maine had a heart-stopping incident on Tuesday morning. The plane departed from runway 29 at 5:43 am, just two minutes before it was scheduled to open for traffic. Alarmingly, the runway was undergoing a safety inspection at the time, with a ground vehicle present. While no one was hurt in the incident, the situation raised serious concerns. After the near-miss, the ground vehicle driver contacted the control tower, baffled as to why the plane had been cleared for takeoff from a closed runway. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flying to Baltimore from Portland , Maine had a heart-stopping incident on Tuesday morning A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 flying to Baltimore from Portland , Maine had a heart-stopping incident on Tuesday morning Shockingly, the tower responded that they had never communicated with the pilots. In leaked air traffic control recordings, controllers are heard repeatedly trying to warn Flight 4805 about the vehicle and the closed runway. One recording even captures a controller saying, 'just so you know, there is a vehicle on the runway, and it is closed...I tried warning him.' This incident is raising questions about communication breakdowns and safety protocols at the airport and is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. In a statement to Newsweek, a spokesperson said: 'Southwest Airlines is engaged with the NTSB and FAA to understand the circumstances of the early morning departure of Flight 4805 from Portland International Jetport on Tuesday, June 25. After departure, the aircraft continued safely to its destination.' Boeing finds itself under increased scrutiny following a series of concerning incidents in recent months. The latest incident occurred on June 25th, when a Southwest flight from Portland, Maine (Flight 4805) took off from a closed runway, narrowly avoiding a ground vehicle. This incident comes on the heels of two other concerning events. On June 20th, a Southwest flight from Las Vegas (Flight 4069) dipped to a dangerously low altitude while approaching Oklahoma City Airport. The plane descended to just 525 feet while still miles from landing, triggering an alarm from air traffic control. Even earlier, in late May, a Southwest Boeing 737 Max experienced a frightening 'Dutch Roll' mid-flight from Phoenix to Oakland. This maneuver involves the plane's tail oscillating and the wings rolling up and down, causing what the FAA called 'substantial' damage that grounded the aircraft for repairs. Their goal is to determine the cause of each issue and implement necessary safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Mexican health authorities have issued a warning amid the rise in infections and death caused by tick bites in the northern state of Chihuahua. Health figures show that 16 people have died from rickettsia this year in the state. Eight of the 10 tick-born illness cases resulted in deaths in Ciudad Juarez, the border city across from El Paso, Texas. Chihuahua City, the state capital, has reported 18 cases, including six which were fatal. The municipalities of Aquiles Serdan and Meoqui reported one infection each both resulted in deaths. Four-year-old Yahir Rivera was recently hospitalized in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez after he was bitten by a tick. Health officials in Ciudad Juarez, a municipality in the northern state of Chihuahua, have reported eight deaths linked to tick bites this year. The state capital, Chihuahua City, registered six deaths Friends and family of four-year-old Yahir Rivera took to Facebook on Thursday to search for potential blood donors. The child was bitten by a tick and is currently hospitalized in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez One of the most recent infections reported was that of four-year-old Yahir Rivera, who is currently hospitalized at a government-run hospital in Ciudad Juarez. Friends and family members took to Facebook on Thursday in search for blood donors for Rivera, who was diagnosed with rickettsiosis after he was bitten by a tick. Chihuahua State Health Department deputy director, Gumaro Barrios held a press conference Tuesday and stressed the importance of 'personal care, pet care and home cleaning' to prevent tick bites. 'The person has to pay a lot of attention to hygiene, the permanent inspection to check that there is no ticks are attached,' Barrios explained while cautioning that residents necessarily don't need to be pet owners to attract ticks. Chihuahua State Health Department deputy director, Gumaro Barrios held a press conference Tuesday to address the danger of tick bites He called on pet owners to ensure that their animals are bathed, take to the veterinarian to ensure that their vaccines are current and that they have medication to make sure that they don't attract ticks. Barrios indicated that it's also essential that their homes are well kept by cutting the grass, removing items that are kept outside or inside that are no longer used and to clean and patch their walls and spray door and window frames. 'With these simple measures we can also reduce the incidence and very importantly if we present symptoms go immediately to our medical (facilities),' he said. A masseur who used a beauty therapy app to find and sexually assault ten female clients in their own homes has been jailed for nine and a half years. Yuliyan Dimov, 45, took advantage of his victims after they booked sessions with him on the 'Urban' app which allows customers to connect with freelance therapists for private sessions. Dimov, a professional physio, was caught after one woman reported him for assaulting her during a massage in November 2022. Officers contacted others who had sessions with him and they reported similar attacks. The Bulgarian national was arrested at Gatwick as he tried to board a one-way flight to his homeland on June 15 last year. Yuliyan Dimov, 45, (pictured) used a beauty therapy app to find and sexually assault ten female clients in their own homes has been jailed for nine and a half years Police examined his phone and found more than 30 photos of women that had been taken without their consent on home visits. He would then forward the pictures of the victims to a friend who worked for an estate agent. Despite evidence of sexual assault and voyeurism, Dimov claimed the photos were solely for professional use on his massage website. He was previously found guilty of a string of crimes against the ten victims at Wood Green Crown Court. Dimov from Enfield, north London, was convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault, six counts of voyeurism, and two counts of attempted voyeurism last month. Wearing a blue long-sleeved top, Dimov cast occasional glances over to his distraught wife and mother in the public gallery throughout the sentencing hearing on Friday. Nicholas Dunham, prosecuting, said the messages that Dimov sent to his estate agent friend showed he was planning the offences. He added 'all the victims in this case clearly have suffered a degree of psychological harm'. In one impact statement, a victim said that she 'previously believed anyone claiming to be a licensed physiotherapist recommended by a service such as Urban' would 'in fact be a professional and abide by the core ethical principle of 'first do no harm'. But since the incident she has been 'filled with disgust, horror and humiliation. 'I am haunted by the fact this man inflicted the same type of despair on many other women,' she said. 'He relied on the good-will of polite women doubting themselves, and the reputation of medical professionals being professional. 'I've been plunged into emotional isolation by someone who was supposed to be a healer.' Another victim said that what Dimov did to her was a 'huge violation of trust', and that she will now 'never use an app again to hire professionals to come into my home.' 'It felt like an invasion into my own home', she said. One woman referred to now being 'scared to open the door to a postman or a delivery driver'. Andrew Cohen, defending Dimov, argued that he had still been 'coming into maturity' during the attacks. 'After graduating in physiotherapy in Bulgaria he came to this country in 2002, and did whatever work he could and roughed it a lot', he said. 'He is dedicated to working hard to support his family and pay devotion to his wife.' Mr Cohen also referenced a letter written by the defendant's wife, wherein she referred to him as a 'fantastic husband' and a 'great provider'. Sentencing Dimov, Judge Barbara Mensah said: 'Mr Dimov I need to sentence you for 19 counts on this indictment, the jury found you guilty unanimously after a trial lasting about two weeks. 'You were a massage therapist and a qualified physiotherapist, you told us you obtained qualifications from medical college in Bulgaria, as working for several health services in this country, offering services through a booking platform, an app called Urban app. Dimov was sentenced to nine-and-a-half in prison at Wood Green Crown Court today 'That app allowed customers to browse the app and choose a therapist based on the services they offered. 'In course of massaging them, you took advantage when they were unaware, photographing women without their consent and sexually assaulting them. 'You clearly had a distorted view of your role and your power, and an unjustified arrogance in assuming that you could do this to customers and get away with it because they would not know, or would not complain or they would be grateful for what you were doing to them. 'The probation officer describes your behaviour as thrill-seeking and risk-taking. 'Words that described your behaviour included sneaky, sly, sleazy and manipulative. 'No-one called out, no-one cried out or jumped up, but for the most part they froze in shock and fear, or terminated the session early. 'No-one appeared to have made an official complaint, which no doubt gave you courage to become more brazen in your contacts, moving on shockingly to penetrating with your finger and also your tongue. 'The impact has been devastating and traumatising and also been humiliating in some circumstances. 'I am just about persuaded that the sentences I am about to impose are sufficient to meet both the seriousness of the offending, and also any future risk.' Dimov was sentenced to five years in prison for two counts of assaults by penetration, three years for all counts relating to sexual assault and eighteen months for three counts of voyeurism - with each sentence running consecutively. He was also given 12 months in prison for two counts of attempted voyeurism. Judge Mensah praised the complainants for displaying a 'great deal of courage' in bringing their stories to the court. A spokesperson for Urban said: 'We are appalled by this man's disgraceful criminal behaviour and are profoundly sorry that his victims endured such distressing experiences. 'They showed enormous courage in speaking out and we thank them for their bravery. 'Our clients' safety is the most important thing to us, and we continually review and revise our platform to create as safe an environment as possible for all our users.' The British inventor who created the hit 90s toy Polly Pocket has died aged 74 after a battle with a rare cancer. Chris Wiggs thought up the tiny portable house in 1983 - with its own little doll - before rushing home to create a version for his daughter in his basement workshop, using a repurposed makeup compact. It became a licensed product of Bluebird Toys, based in Swindon, in 1989, and from there its popularity exploded - dazzling children with their eclectic styles and portability. By 1994 an estimated three quarters of British girls owned a Polly Pocket, with the company selling more than 100million worth of the pocket-sized product. And when it was sold to Barbie-producer Mattel in 1998, the doll soon increased in size - alongside the launch of new removable clothing styles. Mr Wiggs died peacefully at his home in France surrounded by his family, the New York Post reports, shortly after he was diagnosed with a rare form of neurological cancer. Chris Wiggs (pictured) thought up the tiny portable house in 1983 - with its own little doll - before rushing home to create a version for his daughter in his basement workshop, using a repurposed makeup compact He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his daughter Kate (pictured with him) his son Ben and his five grandchildren He is survived by his wife Carolyn, his daughter Kate, his son Ben and his five grandchildren. The Polly Pocket dolls became a childhood staple for 90s children with their portability and eclectic styles after their first release in 1989. The dolls were priced at around 10 during their original release, but prices have escalated thanks to a hunger for vintage toys still in their packaging. While vintage editions of the toys do have extortionate asking prices it is later models that are fetching the highest prices on eBay. Mattel redesigned Polly Pocket in the late 1990s the doll became two to three inches tall and was made of plastic. Users could dress her up in rubber clothing and accessories, giving her a more lifelike appearance, and it is these sets that are priced highest with an unopened 2002 Swim Party listed at 1,115.63. Nearly three decades after they were first released, nostalgia-stuck adults proved their popularity as they saw have again seen demand shoot through the roof. Sets of the popular Polly Pocket toys are now selling for thousands of pounds on eBay as enthusiasts strive to complete their collections. Mattel redesigned Polly Pocket in the late 1990s the doll became two to three inches tall and was made of plastic Mattel relaunched the dolls in 2018 in both their mini and larger versions - alongside an animated series. They also created the Keepsake Collection, releasing re-creations and new compacts. And now it appears the 90s doll could get its own film - just like the Barbie movie. Lena Dunham is set to direct with Lily Collins playing Polly, the New York Post reports. It is the elephant in the room. The public health emergency that cratered our economy, flung us under extreme, illiberal laws without Parliamentary debate and almost killed the Prime Minister. It devastated our childrens education, saw thousands of our elderly die isolated, terrified and alone and, as of mid-April, has slain 232,112 people in Britain. A further 22,954,691, though, caught Covid-19 and survived which raises huge questions wholly unvoiced in this General Election. Not once has it been publicly discussed by those soliciting our votes. It has been raised at no televised debate. Huge questions what went wrong, and what has been learned for the next pandemic? hang unheard. Because, perhaps and especially from March 2020 to the summer of 2021 it was a time so wretched that no one wants to remember it. The overreaction to the Covid pandemic has contributed to the hollowing out of our city centres And, come to think of it, a like nightmare just over a century ago was also swiftly expunged from public memory. Not that we can ignore the NHS backlog, the soaring number of benefits claimants, our biggest post-war tax burden, and the hollowing out of our city centres. All a direct consequence of Covid and all feeding into a deepening narrative: a failed, discredited Government ruling over Broken Britain. Personally, you recall the worst of the emergency in fragments. The terror of shielding elderly parents as an unpaid carer. The indignity as we, the sheeple, queued outside supermarkets. Our raw, incessantly washed hands. The irritation if someone shouted in a shop; the terror if you heard a cough. Glasses constantly misted above your sweaty mask. The bizarre shortages: eggs, flour, yeast. The early weeks when soap and sanitiser were all but unobtainable. And deeper sadnesses. Wedding rings engraved with the wrong dates. Swings, roundabouts and park benches prohibited by shrieky hazard tape. Police cars patrolling the most respectable suburbs. Men in spacesuits all but dropping a coffin into the ground with neither mourners nor ceremony. And, years on, habits prove hard to break. It took months to reschool myself to touch the buttons of an ATM or a pedestrian crossing unafraid and with a naked finger. I still have to suppress the urge to spring off the pavement when someone approaches from the opposite direction; still catch myself raising my left hand in me-Tarzan-you-Jane courtesy at the checkout because, for so long bemasked, I could not deploy my disarming smile. There was the odd light moment. Twice, staff at Tesco demanded I prove my age. But we can each recall our lowest one. Mine was a ghastly Saturday in October 2020. It had poured and poured all day. My elderly parents were in foul mood. I couldnt eat out, could not by Scottish Government decree go beyond the bounds of Edinburgh City Council, call in on a friend or even browse in a bookshop. And there was no vaccine in view; no end in sight. I stood for a minute over the sink, and wept. Now anyone can be wise with the luxury of hindsight. And one cannot exclude human factors. In February 2020, Boris Johnson, weeks after his triumph at the Christmas election, was badly distracted by personal issues. And do remember that we got some things brilliantly right. We were among the first countries to have a reliable test for Covid-19. Humiliated the EU with our rapid development, testing and rollout of an effective vaccine. Our world-leading recovery trial early identified useful treatments. (One, Remdesivir, in October 2020 probably saved President Trumps life.) And furlough though we are paying for it now, and how kept untold businesses afloat. In terms of excess deaths, we fared better than Italy, Spain, Greece, the United States and indeed most of central and eastern Europe. Five European nations did worse than us: eight better. Britain had three vulnerabilities considerable population density, especially in England; a high BAME population, many in cultures of extended family in very crowded homes; and, in London Heathrow, the worlds busiest international airport. Yet appalling British mistakes were made and Sweden, which refused to lock down, had the lowest excess deaths of all. Haplessly, back in 2011 and when detailed plans were laid, we had prepared for the wrong pandemic influenza. You might think flu and Covid much of a muchness. There are key differences. Flu has a briefer incubation period. During a bad outbreak and if you are vulnerable, you can be about your business in the morning, floored by teatime and dead by midnight. Flu is also potentially dangerous to children and in a bad year our last was 2018 can carry off over 30,000 people. (In 2020, seven British children of nine or younger died of flu: only three succumbed to Covid-19.) Bluntly, more children, trapped out of sight in awful family situations, were murdered as a consequence of coronavirus than would die of it. If one man voiced the greatest fallacy, it was Michael Gove at a Downing Street briefing in March 2020. Insisting that the virus did not discriminate, he intoned: Everyone is at risk. And from that gross misapprehension, all else followed. For everyone was not at risk. Indeed, a lot of us never caught it even in that clammy, unvaccinated first year of terror. I have never had Covid. My late father never caught it, my mother has dodged it and neither of my brothers has ever had it. As was soon evident from cruise liner experience at the time elderly people in quite a confined space many proved immune to it. As we noted, the vast majority who catch Covid-19 survive and most experience it only as a mild illness, if to greater or lesser degree unpleasant. And those who perished? Their average age, in this country, was 82. Coronavirus is, in fact, little threat to anyone under 50 and in the whole of their health. Yet the world in which our young people glow and thrive was dramatically shut down the sports-clubs, the malls, the cafes, their wine bars and restaurants and nightspots. Worse, it was the sphere in which most were employed. Two groups particularly affected were professional or semi-professional musicians and those who worked in hospitality. By the high summer of 2020, the luckier amongst us were driving vans or stacking shelves even as the teaching unions (in 2020 the average age of a British teacher, incidentally, was 39) hollered for ongoing closure of all our schools. All this was compounded by two other mistakes. Gravest was the failure to grasp until after, fatefully, thousands and thousands of elderly people had been decanted into care homes that many people who do catch Covid-19 are asymptomatic. You can be wandering about without any hint of a cough, temperature or sniffle, blithely infecting many you breathe upon and we all know what happened in our eventide homes. Proportionately, the Covid mortality stats in that setting were even worse in Scotland, as first-term MSP Jeane Freeman tied herself in self-contradictory knots at Holyrood. Prudently, Ms Freeman did not seek a second term: too many pensioners, on her watch, did not see 2021. The second error was the initial belief that Covid was primarily spread by fomite transmission. Thats a posh way of saying you catch it largely by touching things door handles, cash machines, railings and, of course, other people. I hope nobody ever shakes hands again, wailed American expert Dr Anthony Fauci in April 2020. Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country... Just one of many bonkers utterances in 2020. But, dutifully, we scrubbed chapped hands, winced as we sanitised or leapt online to order Covid keys from Amazon. You heard of people who made their partners strip off in the porch, or fanatically washed all of their groceries. And it was in this delusion that playgrounds were locked up, the swings taped, with cops even ordering folk off park benches. Forfeiting our one great stroke of luck: the spring of 2020 was exceptionally fine and, as it proved, out in the open air was the safest place to be. There are horrid things primarily caught from fomites notably norovirus, that horrid vomiting-bug. If that breaks out aboard a Cunarder, everyone and the ships cat will be swiftly floored. But Covid-19 is primarily an airborne respiratory disease and from the autumn of 2020, and as the cold weather set in, infections despite what the Scottish Government, reimposing restrictions, laughably decreed a 16-day reset that would last till April 2022 once more rose implacably. Because, in winter and as Dr Chris Whitty grated at a silly journalist, that is what airborne respiratory infections do. Our crisis would not endure. We were duly delivered first by our hugely successful vaccine rollout and then, as some had pointed out from the start, the attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 to the much milder variants of Omicron and so on. None of this is to make light of the bereaved, anyone still living with long Covid or those unfortunate few who were felled by vaccines themselves. And there was much else to infuriate. The number of politicians of all parties breaking their own rules. The gross failures in procurement of, for instance, personal protection equipment, the billions squandered in it, and certain matters now of keen interest to the police. One does wonder how wise his party was to dispense with the services of Boris Johnson in the summer of 2022 and if they would really be in such a mess, a week out from the election, if that ebullient figure was still there. That said, if one thing above all now fuels the incandescent fury against the Conservative Party and, indeed, against the SNP it is the vague sense that, four years ago, we were all played for fools. And we can never bring back, for instance, the beautiful young man who, when an illicit student party was crashed by the police, in terror clambered out through a high window, stumbled on the roof and fell to his death. Nor the spry old lady who enjoyed her daily walk to the park, where she could rest for some minutes, smile and chat with passers-by and hirple her way home. Then she was forbidden to sit anywhere in that park. Moved on by cops. She stopped going out. And isolated, sad, increasingly muddled, faded fast away. Just two tales one could tell, and one image certainly endures. Our late Queen, in full mourning, bemasked and tiny and alone as in April 2021 she buried her husband of 73 years. And, indeed, after over 80 years of his service to this country. Like every other family in the land, only 30 mourners were permitted at his funeral. Her eyes said everything. Most of us feel an inchoate, simmering range against our leaders and all this, you could fairly argue, was a failure not just of the Government but of the Opposition too. But few of us articulate it and, as I said, there is a precedent. On November, 25, 1918, a young woman lay desperately ill in a traditional Hebridean blackhouse in Shawbost, Lewis. Several weeks ago, I saw her death certificate. Nothing could save Chrissie MacLean and she died that evening of influenzial pneumonia. She was only 32. Her younger brother, my grandfather, had to walk to Carloway to register her death. Eight years later, he would name his first child after her. To her own death in 2013, she would speak wistfully of the aunt she had never known. That infamous 1918 flu pandemic, especially dangerous for young people, took more lives than the whole Great War. When it hit the Butt of Lewis district the following spring, there were 40 deaths in just five weeks, sometimes, four or five burials a day in the local cemetery. The horror is still remembered, to some degree, in families like my own. But there is no cultural memory of it. You glance at the Titanic disaster: the books and movies are legion. But there are no Spanish flu novels; no films. We shimmied into the Roaring Twenties and a great forgetting. We have already done just this with Covid. There is no appetite for documentaries. It has spawned no literature. It is but the spectre at the feast; the unmentionable at the hustings. And yet, in the general subconscious, and when we finally pick up that stub of pencil on a string, it may be about to vaporise a Government and, in all probability, the way that for decades we have done politics in this sceptred isle. A deputy communications director for the Biden campaign tried to stop a reporter from interviewing voters when attendees at a political rally with Kamala Harris got negative. Clio Calvo-Platero, the deputy communications director for the Biden campaign in Nevada, demanded that a New York Times reporter end his conversations with voters at the rally. 'Calvo-Platero followed your pooler as he interviewed voters and recorded the interviews. Twice she tried to end the interviews when the voters began to criticize Biden,' New York Times reporter Simon J. Levien wrote. Levien was a member of the vice presidential media pool traveling with Harris on Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a post debate campaign rally in Las Vegas He said he spoke with one woman who said Biden's debate performance was 'terrible' and speculated whether a better Democratic candidate could be drafted to take his place. 'Were at a Joe Biden event, so Im going to cut you off there, sorry,' Calvo-Platero said, according to Levien. When another voter started criticizing Biden's 'mental acuity' and suggested that the vice president take his place, Calvo-Platero interrupted again. 'Im going to stop it here, sorry. If I can, its a Biden event. Is that okay?' she said. Harris appeared unaware of the incident, even as she stumbled over details about a fellow senator. A Biden campaign staffer clashed with a reporter after Democrat rally attendees started complaining about the president Introducing Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) at her rally, Harris commented that Kelly was 'always fighting for the people of Nevada' even though he represented Arizona. Levien further detailed his thoughts about the incident with the staffer on social media. 'I asked her after the interviews, why? She said she was just doing her job,' he said. Calvo-Platero's behavior was uncommon for press 'wranglers' despite their job in deciding the movements of reporters at campaign events. Press poolers typically have the freedom to interview voters at campaigns, especially when traveling with the vice president, a trip that usually has less logistics. The Biden team's relationship with the New York Times has been fraught throughout the campaign. New York Times columnists almost unanimously called for Biden to drop out of the race on Thursday night, telling the president he had done a good job in his first term but that it was time to step aside for another Democrat. The incident is the latest of a series of incidents between Team Biden and the New York Times as they grow increasingly hostile to each other. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris greets her audience on the campaign trail In January, the Biden campaign met with New York Times journalists off-the-record to criticize their coverage of the president. The team shared with reporters specific spreadsheets of where they felt their coverage fell short of expectations, according to reports, the hubris of which angered political journalists. Politico reported in April that the New York Times had become the Biden White House's least favorite news outlet, detailing top staffers griping with the nature of their coverage. An incident of a Times reporter revealing a background source led the White House to remove all reporters from their top tier press lists, picking a fight that irritated reporters trying to coordinate coverage of the president. Biden staffer TJ Ducklo complained on social media about what he felt was a key failure of the New York Times in April. 'With limited exceptions, the New York Times continues to fail the American people in covering the most important election for American democracy in 150+ years,' he wrote, sharing images of the paper's stories about concerns about Biden's age and stamina. Pennsylvania has become the first state to pilot a program that would see student's cellphones locked away during the school day. Republican Senator Ryan Aument, of the Pennsylvania State Senate sponsored the bill while sharing concerns that smartphones are a big distraction for students when it comes to learning and negatively impacts their mental health. The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee has now agreed to a to pilot a grant program that will provided certain schools with secure, lockable bags that would hold students' cellphones until the end of the day. The proposed grant program would also supply education staffers with lockers to store smartphones as well. Republican Senator Ryan Aument, 47, of the Pennsylvania State Senate sponsored a bill that would see student's cellphones locked away during the school day The proposed legislation also put in place a performance review of the cellphone storage plan, tracking the academic achievement and students' mental health over two years to see how effective the program is. 'I can't think of another issue I worked on in the 14 years I've been here that's resonated quite like this has,' Aument said this week, during a Senate Education Committee hearing. 'I just think it's critically important that we free our kids from these devices for six and a half hours during the school day and the response we've gotten from parents and the response we've gotten from educators has been overwhelmingly positive,' he said. 'There's been compelling data and research that's been done that points to the decline in student mental health and student academic performance, student physical health and a direct correlation and strong evidence of direct causation with the rise of smartphone access among adolescents and social media access to adolescents,' Aument said. The program will be tracked for two years before a decision is made on whether to expand the program to other schools in the state The company Yondr has made $2.5 million over eight years selling lock bags made specifically for cellphones to state governments and is now pitching its product for schools According to the Pew Research Center, the average teen spent about three and a half hours a day on social media in 2023 and it is coming to the detriment of their mental health According to the Pew Research Center, the average teen spent about three and a half hours a day on social media in 2023. One high school teacher, Justin Neideigh, said he has seen positive impacts when students' cellphone use is limited. 'Bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, all these TikTok trends, all of this stuff that was never in the classroom before, is now,' Neideigh told WGAL. The bill mandates that the School Safety and Security Committee of the Pennsylvania Crime and Delinquency Commission allocate funds to a selection of schools participating in the program. After the mandatory performance review two years later, the committee would then prepare a report for the governor and General Assembly, which will then make a decision on whether to expand the program to a wider reach of students. Last week, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H Murthy called for social media platforms to enforce an immediate warning label, similar to warnings on cigarette packs mandated by Congress in the 60s Once the legislation is reviewed by the full state Senate, the findings could be included in the next state budget. Last week, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H Murthy called for social media platforms to enforce an immediate warning label - similar to warnings on cigarette packs mandated by Congress in the '60s. 'The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency -- and social media has emerged as an important contributor,' Murthy wrote in a New York Times op-ed Monday. After the horror, the hope. As Democrats digest the true awfulness of Joe Biden's performance in Thursday night's presidential debate, talk has inevitably turned to an equally compelling topic: who might replace him and perhaps snatch victory from Donald Trump on November 5? However, Plan B is not without its complications. No serious Democrat candidate has yet stepped forward to challenge Biden, the sitting President, and the obvious contenders are all still publicly pledging loyalty to him. There's no time to hold new Primary selection ballots. Besides, Democrats have been through the process already and chose Biden as their candidate. Under party rules, delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August (where the party's presidential candidate is formally nominated) remain bound to support him unless Biden himself announces that he's leaving the race. The Convention would then assume responsibility for voting on an alternative, of which there are plenty of options. Biden is notoriously stubborn, however, and ominously told supporters, 'Let's keep going', shortly after limping off the debate stage in Atlanta. Party insiders believe First Lady Jill Biden could play a crucial role in persuading her husband to bow out There's no time to hold new Primary selection ballots. Besides, Democrats have been through the process already and chose Biden as their candidate. Pictured: Gretchen Whitmer Democrat Gavin Newsom pictured with his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom and their children Party insiders believe First Lady Jill Biden could play a crucial role in persuading her husband to bow out. His former boss Barack Obama (Biden was his vice president) might also be called on to nudge him in that direction. And were he to voluntarily step aside at the party convention, allowing a completely fresh vote, the Democrats would avoid having to accept Vice President Kamala Harris as Biden's automatic successor. A number of pundits have argued that bypassing a black woman would cause an enormous stink among some Democrats. But the general view is that letting her be the candidate makes absolutely no sense and would be virtually guaranteed to hand victory to Trump. The deeply unimpressive 'Veep' has even worse approval ratings than Biden. If not Kamala, then, who might save the day for the Democrats? Here are some of the names cropping up most frequently: His former boss Barack Obama (Biden was his vice president) might also be called on to nudge him in that direction GRETCHEN WHITMER The 52-year-old governor of Michigan's name heads many Democrat wish-lists after making the shortlist of Biden's potential running mates in 2020. Widely popular in the swing state, she is a moderate who has risen fast through the party. 'That woman in Michigan', as Trump describes her, is a former prosecutor and mother- of-two who supports stricter gun laws and the repeal of abortion bans. In 2020, the FBI famously thwarted a plot by a Right-wing militia group to kidnap Whitmer after she antagonised conservatives with her tough response to the Covid pandemic. She has a memoir coming out next month which some cynically believe was timed perfectly for a possible presidential run. She often seems refreshingly normal. Talking about her childhood earlier this week, Whitmer admitted she once got so drunk that she threw up over her high school principal. 'Not my best day,' she admitted. The 52-year-old governor of Michigan's name heads many Democrat wish-lists after making the shortlist of Biden's potential running mates in 2020 GAVIN NEWSOM Often mentioned in the same breath as Whitmer, the smooth and telegenic governor of California has considerably more baggage, however, and some pundits believe that rules him out. First there's Newsom's track record in the 'Golden State', where he has presided over a huge budget deficit. Crime and homelessness are devastating cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. And he's far too woke for the rest of the United States, say critics. Then there's his colourful personal history. Newsom, 56, hails from California aristocracy and, as mayor of San Francisco, once sprawled on a silk rug with his first wife Kimberly Guilfoyle (now fiancee of Donald Trump Jr and a Trump campaign stalwart) for a glossy magazine photoshoot. In 2007, Newsom admitted he had a drink problem days after it emerged he'd had an affair with the wife of his best friend and campaign manager, destroying his friend's marriage. He married Jennifer Siebel in 2008 and they have four children. His past behaviour is not going to impress voters if he comes under intense media scrutiny as a White House candidate. Often mentioned in the same breath as Whitmer, the smooth and telegenic governor of California has considerably more baggage, however, and some pundits believe that rules him out J.B. PRITZKER Another state governor, this time of Illinois, Pritzker, 59, is a venture capitalist billionaire. He is also heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune and so has the considerable advantage of being able to sink a lot of money into a presidential campaign. But in other areas, he hardly has the sparkle of rivals such as Whitmer or Newsom. He legalised recreational cannabis, declared Illinois a 'sanctuary state' for women seeking abortions and has overseen a ban on assault weapons all solid, if predictable, Democrat goals. In 2018, a Chicago newspaper revealed that Pritzker had removed all the toilets from a mansion he'd bought next door to his home, making it technically 'uninhabitable' and thereby qualifying him for a valuable property tax reduction. Another state governor, this time of Illinois, Pritzker, 59, is a venture capitalist billionaire JOSH SHAPIRO A rising party star, the governor of Pennsylvania, 51, is one of the moderate Democrat politicians who many pundits believe are best placed to challenge Trump. A conservative Jew who observes the Sabbath and keeps a kosher kitchen, Shapiro has the advantage of having been an effective steward of a crucial 'battleground' state. A recent poll revealed that more than three in 20 Trump supporters said they actually like him. He's also a strong debater but, like some of the other governors who could be in contention, he lacks nationwide recognition. Barring a sudden influx of donations, Shapiro is also missing the cash needed to run a strong presidential campaign. What's more, he's only been a state governor for a year and a half. Some pundits believe he's more of an option for the 2028 election. A rising party star, the governor of Pennsylvania, 51, is one of the moderate Democrat politicians who many pundits believe are best placed to challenge Trump ANDY BESHEAR With so few undecided voters left, a candidate capable of winning over supporters of the rival party could be crucial come November. Step forward Andy Beshear, who has twice managed to become Democrat governor of the deeply Republican state of Kentucky which is no mean achievement. One of America's most popular governors, he's less well-known than anyone else on this list and, at 46, might be seen to lack experience. Even so, at least one Democrat donor was yesterday singling him out as a potential Biden successor. The apparently clean-cut lawyer, who serves as a church deacon, along with wife Britainy, is a diehard moderate and recently launched a political action committee to support candidates who eschew 'the politics of anger, division and hate'. But there are questions as to how much he actually wants to be President and how much Left-wing Democrats would warm to him. As a Washington Post columnist observed: 'He is either very sincere, kind and nice or fakes all of that extremely well.' Three adults and a child have been rushed to hospital after they were overcome by poisonous fumes from a barbecue lit inside a house. Firefighters and other emergency services responded to a call from a home on Wentworth Street in Wentworthville at 3am on Saturday and quickly detected a carbon monoxide leak. The four people reported feeling unwell as a result of the fumes from the barbecue. Fire and rescue NSW Superintendent Tim Hassiotis told 7News crews that specialist firefighters detected high levels of carbon monoxide in the house using special monitoring equipment. It's understood the gas emanated from use of a charcoal briquette BBQ inside the home. 'These types of equipment, used as heaters, pose a very dangerous threat,' said Supt Hassiotis, and warned people about the risks of using such equipment to generate heat. 'We urge those using this kind of equipment to only use them in a well ventilated area.' The four people affected remain in a stable condition at Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children's Hospital. A man has been arrested and released with no further action after racist comments were made about Rishi Sunak. The man, who is in his 60s, is understood to have been taken to the local police station after a van and a police car arrived at his house in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, The Sun reports. Herefordshire Constabulary later confirmed that he was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. Cops confirmed the man who was detained related to a Channel 4 undercover investigation into Nigel Farage's Reform campaign in Clacton. In the report, an activist was caught on camera branding the Prime Minister a 'f***ing p***' - with Sunak later saying Farage had 'questions to answer' regarding the incident. He was also secretly recorded by Channel 4 News in Essex suggesting that migrants should be shot by soldiers as they arrive on UK beaches. In the report, an activist was caught on camera branding the Prime Minister a 'f***ing p***' - with Sunak later saying Farage had 'questions to answer' regarding the incident On a campaign visit to a school in Teesside, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: 'My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer.' Mr Farage called the language 'vulgar, drunken and wrong', and, when asked about candidates who had made racist or xenophobic comments on BBC Question Time last night, he added: 'I wouldn't want anything to do with them' He also called for Muslims to be ejected from mosques so they can be turned into Wetherspoons pubs. The PM, whose grandparents were from India, likened the language to that used by 'misogynist' Andrew Tate and repeated the racial slur used against him 'because it is important to call it out for what it is', citing the impact on his young daughters. He said: 'My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. 'I don't repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is.' 'Officers arrested a man in his 60s earlier today on suspicion of causing a public order offence,' a spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary told The Sun. 'Following further and liaison with Essex Police he is being released with no further action.' Mr Farage called the language 'vulgar, drunken and wrong', and, when asked about candidates who had made racist or xenophobic comments on BBC Question Time last night, he added: 'I wouldn't want anything to do with them'. He also repeated claims that it was a 'set up'. Reform chairman Richard Tice last night revealed to The Sun that they had sacked three members of staff after the Channel 4 documentary. A drug user who buried his dead girlfriend's body in the remote Victorian bushland has been found guilty of her murder. Toby Loughnane, 44, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court of Victoria to the murder of Maryam Hamka at his Brighton home in Melbourne's southeast. Prosecutors said he murdered the 36-year-old in the early hours of April 11, 2021, after months of violent assaults and threatening text messages. Loughnane then disposed of Ms Hamka's body in a shallow grave at Cape Schanck, southeast of Melbourne, on April 14. He led investigators to her remains in August 2023. Loughnane denied the murder charge, claiming instead that Ms Hamka died of a drug overdose. He wanted to plead guilty to the lesser charge of negligent manslaughter but the offer was rejected by prosecutors. Maryam Hamka was murdered by Toby Loughnane in 2021 Toby Loughnane believed he could escape justice, but was found guilty of murder on Friday Instead, a murder trial was run with a jury hearing close to three weeks of evidence. Outside court, Ms Hamkas family told waiting media they had endured a long road to justice. 'Its been a long three years, its all over now, got a guilty outcome and were happy,' Ms Hamka's brother Hassan said. 'He got what he deserved.' In his closing address to the jury, Loughnane's barrister Daniel Sala conceded his client acted reprehensibly towards Ms Hamka in the months before her death and that he disposed of her body in bushland and did not tell investigators until years later. He claimed Loughnane's only crime was breaching a duty of care by not calling an ambulance on April 11 and he was a heavy drug user who was trying to distance himself from her manslaughter. Prosecutor Kristie Churchill argued Loughnane hated Ms Hamka, telling the jury he had been controlling, abusive and violent towards her in the lead-up to her death. Ms Churchill told the jury it was not a reasonable possibility that Ms Hamka died of a drug overdose, instead Loughnane fatally assaulted her with murderous intent. The jury began deliberating on Wednesday afternoon, taking less than two days to reach its guilty verdict on Friday. Maryam Hamka was brutally murdered by her thug boyfriend Maryam Hamka's killer was found guilty of murder on Friday The jury heard Loughnane sent Ms Hamka a series of threatening messages in the lead-up to her death. The messages included, 'I'm going to split your skull', 'I'll go to (jail) just to see you suffer you dog', 'you're dead' and 'wait until I get my hands on you dog', Ms Churchill said. Loughnane also pursued Ms Hamka in a car in 2021, followed her into her family home and threatened her friends, Ms Churchill said. The last time her mother saw Ms Hamka was on April 9, 2021, when Loughnane was screaming at her to get in a car before she left with her alleged murderer, the prosecutor said. Ms Hamka was spotted next day on CCTV at a Brunswick Woolworths before she was last seen alive in a 'confronting' video filmed by Loughnane, wherein she was half-naked and he was mocking her, Ms Churchill said. A friend of Loughnane's later saw Ms Hamka dead in the foetal position in the shower of his Brighton home, the prosecutor alleged. Ms Churchill accused Loughnane of trying to cover up Ms Hamka's murder, alleging he sent her several messages after she died, sought a friend's help to buy a steam cleaner off Gumtree and disposed of her body in dense bushland. Toby Loughnane faces life behind bars for the brutal murder Maryam Hamka had been terrified of her boyfriend leading up to her murder Police found a significant number of cleaning products at Loughnane's home days after Ms Hamka's death. Almost two years later - in May 2023 - they received information from Loughnane's lawyers about the location of Ms Hamka's body, the prosecutor said. Officers later found Ms Hamka's bones in thick bushland at Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula. The court heard Loughnane called a friend, Oscar Newman, asking for help the morning after the murder. Mr Newman told the jury he let himself in with a key when no-one answered the door. Once inside, he found Ms Hamka seated naked and unconscious in the shower. 'Before turning away, he noticed her face was swollen and her skin was yellowish in colour and the Crown case is that Maryam Hamka is clearly deceased at that point,' Ms Churchill told the jury. Mr Newman claimed Ms Hamka was non-responsive and he later found Loughnane passed out in another bedroom. 'He appeared to have had too much GHB,' he said. Mr Newman was unable to wake his friend, instead returning the next day where Loughnane claimed Ms Hamka had overdosed and died. Loughnane will face a pre-sentence hearing at a later date. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Lifeline 13 11 14 It was once unusual to see a member of the Royal Family sporting trouser suits. Queen Elizabeth II only wore the style twice - during the 1970 royal tour of Canada and following knee surgery in 2003. However, Princess Diana pioneered the trend in the 90s, reinventing herself as a power-suited working woman following her divorce from Prince Charles. Catherine, Princess of Wales, has followed in her late mother-in-law's footsteps, bringing a modern touch and vibrant spectrum of colours to her business attire. Here, we reflect on the finest examples through the years. Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth wore a trouser suit during the Royal Tour of Canada in 1970 Britain's longest-reigning monarch skillfully managed her life in the public eye without any major missteps. Renowned for her dedication to her country, affection for corgis and impeccable fashion sense, Queen Elizabeth II became synonymous with her vibrant wardrobe, often favouring shift dresses and coordinated coats. Although primarily known for her dresses, there were occasions when Elizabeth wore trouser suits, such as during the Royal Tour of Canada in 1970 with her daughter, Princess Anne. Queen Elizabeth sported a tailored grey two-piece while leaving King Edward VII's Hospital following knee surgery in 2003 It is thought that the royal duo wanted to cover up while touring Fort Providence to shield themselves from black flies. During the trip, Queen Elizabeth accessorised her double-breasted suit with a headscarf, gloves and flat shoes. It wasn't until 2003 that she was next photographed wearing a trouser suit. The monarch elegantly sported a tailored grey two-piece, while departing King Edward VII's Hospital following knee surgery. Diana, Princess of Wales The royal favoured neutral tones, such as navy and grey, to meet the Royal Family's demands and popular styles of the time In the 90s, Princess Diana was a trailblazer for trouser suits. Often photographed in London, she wore longline double-breasted jackets with straight-leg trousers - a style that remains chic even today. Anna Harvey, former British Vogue editor and Diana's personal fashion advisor, previously stated that the royal was 'very thoughtful' about her clothing choices and always considered how they would be perceived by the public and the media. Princess Diana sported a number of breezy double-breasted suits throughout the 90s Diana's preference for neutral tones, such as beige, navy and grey, met both the Royal Family's expectations and the prevailing fashion trends of the era. In March 1997, Diana looked pristine in a Dior grey two-piece ensemble with a frilled trim, following lunch with her stepmother at the Connaught Hotel in London. Her newfound image - a power-suited working woman - was showcased in the years following her divorce from Prince Charles, when Diana was in the process of reinventing herself. It was arguably the most significant transformation of her life, steeped in symbolism. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has been championing suits for a number of years. Pictured in 1999 (left) and 1994 (right) After decades of hard work and loyal service, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, has established herself as a key figure in the monarchy. If her role, reputation and fashion choices have evolved over time, one aesthetic has remained constant in her wardrobe: the trouser suit. Conveying elegance and authority, with a touch of informality when required, the two-piece has played a key role over the years. In the 1990s, Sophie wore the staple in oversized silhouettes, tweed fabrics and earthy tones. Today, she explores sleek tailored jackets and airy wide-leg trousers, often paired with knee-high boots and colourful accessories. Sophie has demonstrated her fearless fashion choices over recent years Already popular in the 70s, the trouser suit went from strength to strength and continued to dominate fashion throughout the 90s, conveying a sense of both authority and competence. Known for her awareness of style, Sophie first embraced the trend with peplum-style jackets and straight-leg trousers. One particularly flattering outfit from 1998 featured a defined waist and contrasting colour-block collar, signifying a shift in the Duchess' attire. Fast forward to the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Sophie captivated onlookers in a pastel pink suit, complemented by a swipe of lipstick in a similar shade. The sophisticated linen number by Gabriela Hearst comprised a double-breasted jacket and straight-leg trousers. Sophie added a Sophie Habsburg bag with embroidered shoulder strap, and playful Penelope Chilver heels in tan and ultraviolet. In January, the Duchess wore a forest green suit by Victoria Beckham, which was reminiscent of Kate's Burberry two-piece. Both looks incorporated longline blazers and wide-leg trousers. Catherine, Princess of Wales William and Catherine attend an event for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in January 2023. The Princess of Wales wore a scarlet trouser suit The Princess of Wales' penchant for power suits was particularly evident in 2023, when she showcased a total of nine tailored looks. Maintaining her vibrant style, Kate added a contemporary twist to formal attire through her clever use of colour. The royal's choice of an Alexander McQueen red suit for key events, such as the Coronation Concert and the launch of her Shaping Us campaign in January, stood out for its daring elegance. She accessorised with a matching Miu Miu clutch and Gianvito Rossi pumps, emphasising the impact of her ensemble. Kate opted for bold power suits on multiple occasions throughout 2023 In May last year, Kate revisited a second Alexander McQueen suit, this time in pastel pink, originally debuted the previous year. The suit's single-breasted front and signature angled pockets complemented her appearance at the Foundling Museum, where she discussed the importance of nurturing relationships in early childhood. Among her other notable selections was a plum-coloured Emilia Wickstead ensemble, first worn in 2021 for a conference at the Design Museum. The impeccably-tailored design exuded modernity, blending femininity with an authoritative aesthetic. The Princess of Wales tends to select darker colours in the winter months Another standout was her forest green suit by Burberry, worn to host the Norwegian royals at Windsor Castle, and repeated for a visit to the AW Hainsworth woolen mill in Leeds. Kate added a white blouse and chunky gold jewellery by Laura Lombardi, adding a contemporary touch to the ensemble. The royal also left a lasting impression in a burgundy Roland Mouret design, worn during a visit to Boston, Massachusetts, in December 2022. Pairing the tailored blazer and wide-leg trousers with a pastel pink pussybow blouse, she effortlessly infused a 70s-inspired twist into her look. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the WellChild awards at Royal Lancaster Hotel in September 2018 Since marrying into the Royal Family, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has steadily adopted longer and more streamlined silhouettes for a suitably sophisticated look. The American actress has incorporated a handful of trouser suits into her wardrobe, typically opting for striking shades of black, white and red. For the 2018 WellChild Awards in London, Meghan chose a timeless Altuzzara outfit in all-black. The flawless ensemble consisted of a single-breasted jacket, with slender peak lapels and draped side panels, and softly-flared trousers. Meghan elevated the look with a Deitas silk camisole, Stella McCartney leather crossbody and Aquazzura court shoes. In recent years, Meghan has opted for oversized trouser suits in bold hues of white and red In recent years, Meghan has selected oversized silhouettes by the likes of Valentino and Loro Piana. The latter, sported in September 2021 while visiting a school in Harlem, New York, offered a masterclass in monochrome dressing. Meghan teamed the slouchy two-piece with a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels and lashings of Cartier jewellery, creating a look that could not be missed. For the Invictus Games in April 2022, the Duchess showcased a stunning 3,200 Valentino suit, marking one of her finest looks to date. Playing with proportion, Meghan accessorised her double-breasted blazer and flared trousers with a Valentino bag and coordinated heels from Aquazzura. She added a pair of meaningful Cartier diamond stud earrings, which she wore on her wedding day. Princess Eugenie Princess Eugenie and Misha Nonoo attend Misha's pop-up launch event in New York in September 2019 Princess Eugenie has adopted the trouser suit trend on few occasions, favouring conservative designs. A prime example was her appearance at friend and fashion designer Misha Nonoo's New York pop-up launch in September 2019. Eugenie and her sister, Beatrice, have known Nisha for a number of years, having attended her first wedding to Prince Harry's friend, Alexander Gilkes. The Princess was immaculately dressed in a black suit, consisting of a Reiss double-breasted blazer, Equipment patterned blouse and strappy Aquazzura shoes. Queen Mary of Denmark In April, Mary showcased a distinctive cobalt suit, incorporating The Fold's signature asymmetric wrap detailing The similarities between Queen Mary of Denmark and Princess of Wales often lead to comparisons between the two royals. The women, who were both middle-class commoners when they married into their respective royal families, share a considered approach to style and a preference for British designers. Mary's fascination with The Fold's expert tailoring comes as no surprise. Established in 2012 by Polly McMaster, the British womenswear label has a mission 'to empower women to achieve their ambitions'. The Danish monarch showcased an asymmetric trouser suit during a visit to the National Museum of Denmark in April. The cobalt hue and quirky design ensured the monarch made a striking solo entrance, whilst appearing smart and sophisticated. She let her suit take centre stage, adding a pair of navy Jimmy Choo pumps, gold drop earrings and a Halberstadt necklace, featuring her husband King Frederik's initial. Princess Isabella of Denmark borrowed her mother's Max Mara three-piece suit for her confirmation in 2022 Another noteworthy addition to Mary's closet is three-piece silk suit from Max Mara. She has worn the pristine look on six occasions since 2017, most recently to the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen last year. It's no wonder that Mary's daughter, Princess Isabella, is following her stylish lead. For her confirmation in 2022, the 17-year-old wore her mother's iconic white trouser suit, accessorising it with a diamond and pearl brooch. This special brooch was a gift from her grandmother, Queen Margrethe, on her Christening day in 2007, and once belonged to Queen Alexandrine. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Rainbow hues have given Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's wardrobe a splash of style Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is celebrated for her vibrant wardrobe choices, making a sartorial statement at every opportunity. So far this year, she has revisited some of her most beloved suits for royal engagements. Among them, three standout ensembles in sky blue, baby pink and tangerine have drawn attention, all sourced from the popular high street brand, Zara. Victoria's penchant for affordable fashion has delighted fashion enthusiasts, as she consistently opts for longline single-breasted jackets and wide-leg trousers. This marks a continuation from last year's repertoire, which featured bright fuchsia and emerald green variations of her signature style. Queen Letizia of Spain Queen Letizia of Spain attends the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona, Spain, in November 2019 In November 2019, Queen Letizia of Spain offered a refreshing take on the classic black trouser suit during her attendance at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona. Her stunning two-piece, from Spanish heritage brand Pertegaz, boasted fluffy ostrich feathers and rhinestone embellishment along the sleeves. The fitted blazer and cigarette trousers were effortlessly flattering, especially when paired with towering snakeskin heels by Manolo Blahnik. Letizia finished her tasteful ensemble with diamond stud earrings and swept her raven locks into a chignon. Queen Letizia's colour pop suits demonstrate her style confidence In recent months, Letizia has demonstrated her style confidence by wearing head-to-toe colour - just like her international counterparts. She has become an avid fan of power suits, opting for eye-catching shades like crimson and bubblegum pink at official events. Letizia teams these impeccably tailored creations - by Carolina Herrera and Boss - with neutral blouses and coordinated heels, creating a perfectly balanced look. Queen Maxima Last month, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands - renowned for her fearless fashion sense, showcased a vibrant turquoise trouser suit during an engagement in her home country. The summery look for the charity visit in Wieringerwerf was paired with a white T-shirt and towering nude heels. Perfectly complementing the linen suit was a nude clutch bag. This week Prince William has proven he can use diplomatic ties for the greater good- and not just at the Japan state visit. Attending events related to London Climate Action week yesterday, the Prince of Wales carefully selected a smart green tie made from recycled plastic bottles. It's a trick he no doubt learned from his father, King Charles, who is well-versed in the soft power of neckwear. The King's favourite pink dinosaur tie is a coded reference to his new title of Charles III Rex (C-Rex) and he often wears a tie with Greek flags as a nod to his late father, Prince Philip. It's a sweet similarity, particularly for a father and son who have not always had the easiest relationship. This week Prince William has proven he can use diplomatic ties for the greater good- and not just at the Japan State Visit. Attending events related to London Climate Action week yesterday, the Prince of Wales carefully selected a smart green tie made from recycled plastic bottles The King's favourite pink dino-centric tie is a coded reference to his new title of Charles III Rex (C-Rex). Above: His Majesty wearing the tie during his visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in April Royal biographers have written that as a teenager William could be prone to angry outbursts, often directed at Charles, who was often on the receiving end. And since Prince William became the Prince of Wales, many have observed how he carries the role differently to his father. In his work, the Prince is more focused on 'community impact days' than the traditional fodder of ribbon-cutting. In his personal life, he is equally non-traditional. Recently released family photos from Kensington Palace showed William to be a relaxed and surprisingly ordinary father, jumping off sand dunes with his kids and unashamedly dad-dancing in public. In many ways William really is a modern Prince with different methods. But not in all ways. This week Prince William attended London's Climate Action Week for the first time, with a day full of engagements he no doubt knew would struggle to get print space alongside the Japan state visit and, most importantly, the election. But I watched on Thursday afternoon as Prince William listened attentively to eco-entrepreneurs explain the intricate details of their businesses. He then gave an energising speech celebrating the climate innovators, adding that they gave him hope for the future. Palace aides stressed that Prince William's focus for the summit was helping eco-entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, something his Earthshot Prize also hopes to achieve. It's no doubt that the Prince of Wales is a man on a mission when it comes to the environment. Sound familiar? Above: William and Charles examine a herd of cattle at Duchy Home Farm in Tetbury, 2004 Prince William feeds a black rhino called Zawadi as he visits Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent in June 2012 Prince William and David Attenborough in conversation during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, in January 2019 in Davos, eastern Switzerland Prince William speaks at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021 Prince William in the village of Tortel, Southern Chile during his continuing Operation Raleigh expedition, in December 2000 Prince William speaks during the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London in October 2021 The then Prince Charles is seen in India during his tour of the country in the 1970s Prince Charles takes a swim while on holiday in Barbados in October, 1970 The King pictured speaking at the opening ceremony for Cop26 at the SEC in Glasgow in 2021 In his core values - like his tie choices - William really is his father's son. Above: The pair outside Clarence House on the Queen Mother's 98th birthday in 1998 Charles and William attend the Order of The Garter service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on June 13, 2022 It's clear that the Prince of Wales is a man on a mission when it comes to the environment. Sound familiar? Just this week, a climate design award co- founded by King Charles announced its own unique finalists: a faeces recycler, sequins made out of fish scales and a roadkill prevention device. The King, of course, was a climate change advocate long before it was fashionable. He was just 21 years old when he made his first landmark speech on the subject in 1970, warning of the threats from plastic waste and chemicals dumped into rivers and seas. Many at the time thought the ideas were 'potty' - but they are now mainstream. Yet William has also followed this footprint. In May Prince William used his 'global convening power' to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), speaking at a summit dedicated to the issue. AMR - commonly described as superbugs - is a deadly health issue that kills an estimated 5 million a year. But it is largely unknown and misunderstood. Charles has been speaking out in favour of protecting the environment for more than five decades. Above: Charles delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 In his speech the Prince spoke powerfully about the 'indiscriminate' threat of AMR, warning: 'Unless we act now and together, the ripple effects of drug resistance will be felt across generations, jeopardising the wellbeing of our children and our grandchildren.' As Prince of Wales, William has greater freedoms than his father - constrained by the role of the monarch - now does and is using them to highlight the issues that matter to him the most. In his core values - like his tie choices - William really is his father's son. The quirky house where Winnie the Pooh was born has gone up for sale. The grade II-listed terrace home on the corner of Wellington Terrace and Royal York Crescent in Clifton, Bristol dates back to 1790, and for a few decades was even a popular tea shop. But what makes the home even more notable is its links to Winnie the Pooh, and in particular, EH Shepard the illustrator who brought AA Milne's stories to life in the 1920s and 30s for millions of children across the world. It was during its tea shop era, that it was regularly frequented by Milne and Shepard and here that the duo created the very first sketch ideas of the 'silly old bear'. The grade II-listed terrace home on the corner of Wellington Terrace and Royal York Crescent in Clifton, Bristol dates back to 1790, and for a few decades was even a popular tea shop One of the reception rooms. What makes the home even more notable is its links to Winnie the Pooh, and in particular, EH Shepard the illustrator who brought AA Milne's stories to life in the 1920s and 30s for millions of children across the world The bathroom. It was during its tea shop era, when it was regularly frequented by Milne and Shepard that the duo created the very first sketch ideas of the 'silly old bear' The house offers charm and character in abundance over four floors, with two bedrooms, two large reception rooms and a kitchen in the road-level 'lower' ground floor. Local estate agent Haighs said: 'It was during its tea shop era, in the early 1920s, when it was frequented by an author who was creating stories inspired by his son Christopher's teddy bear, and a well-known cartoonist and artist. 'It is believed that it was during one of these visits to the tea shop that the first sketched ideas of a 'silly old bear' were drawn and discussed by author AA Milne and illustrator EH Shepard, and Winnie The Pooh was born. 'Later on, probably in the 1930s, Ernest Shepard created an oil painting of Winnie, the only one he ever painted, and donated it to the teashop, where it was on proud display for many years... meaning this property became known locally as 'Pooh Corner,' he said. 'There are houses that have an interesting tale to tell, and this adorable Grade II-listed terrace is most definitely in that category. Nowadays, the house offers charm and character in abundance over four floors, with two bedrooms, two large reception rooms and a kitchen in the road-level 'lower' ground floor.' The kitchen area; lovely shaker-style solid wood floor and wall units, in powder blue, with wooden handles and wooden worktops The tea shop on the corner was indeed known as Pooh Corner, and for around 30 years or more did have a painting by EH Shepard of Winnie-the-Pooh - the only one he ever did The property is believed to have been around since the 1790s. Pictured: An ornate landing, on the lower-ground floor In 2000, long after the Pooh Corner tea rooms closed and the painting had disappeared after being sold into private hands, it came up for auction at Sothebys The tea shop on the corner was indeed known as Pooh Corner, and for around 30 years or more did have a painting by EH Shepard of Winnie-the-Pooh - the only one he ever did - hanging proudly inside. But how that came about is something of a mystery. In 2000, long after the Pooh Corner tea rooms closed and the painting had disappeared after being sold into private hands, it came up for auction at Sothebys. Back then, in October 2000, the Bristol Post reported the sale and explained that the painting showed the famous bear outside his house holding a pot of honey, and was painted by EH Shepard in the 1930s for the Pooh Corner tea shop. One of the bedrooms. The painting gifted to the teashop showed the famous bear outside his house holding a pot of honey The kitchen. The painting was bought in November 2000 by an internet bidder on behalf of the city of Winnipeg in Canada A fireplace at the famed house. The real life stuffed toy bear called Winnie-the-Pooh was so named by AA Milne's son Christopher Robin Milne after he visited a real-life bear called Winnie, or Winnipeg at London Zoo The painting was bought in November 2000 by an internet bidder on behalf of the city of Winnipeg in Canada. People there had heard about the sale and organised a fundraiser to get enough money to buy the painting for the city. The real life stuffed toy bear called Winnie-the-Pooh was so named by AA Milne's son Christopher Robin Milne after he visited a real-life bear called Winnie, or Winnipeg at London Zoo, who had been a mascot for Canadian troops in the Great War. The house in Clifton is on the market for 675,000, and commands stunning views across the western end of the Floating Harbour and across to South Bristol. The lower ground floor at road level has a kitchen and boiler room basement, the upper ground floor at the level of the raised pavement has the sitting room and a bedroom, the first floor has a lounge and bathroom, with a small bedroom on the second floor above that. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been forced to take cover after a defunct Russian satellite broke up in orbit. US space agencies said Russia's 'Resurs-P1' spacecraft fragmented into at least 100 pieces of debris at around 10:00 MT (16:00 BST) on Wednesday. The nine astronauts aboard the ISS including the two 'stranded' Boeing passengers had to take cover for an hour due to the risk of being hit. Resurs-P1 has been defunct for nearly three years, but it may have suddenly blown up due to an on-board fuel leak or an impact from another bit of 'space junk'. It's unclear if the Resurs-P1 debris did end up hitting the ISS or if astronauts could have been injured had they been conducting a spacewalk. A defunct Russian satellite has broken up into more than 100 pieces of debris in orbit, forcing astronauts on the International Space Station (pictured) to take shelter for about an hour and adding to the mass of space junk already in orbit, US space agencies said US Space Command, which has a global network of space-tracking radars, said the satellite immediately created 'over 100 pieces of trackable debris' What is Resurs-P1? Resurs-P1 was a Russian satellite launched into space in June 2013 by Roscosmos. The satellite was designed for remote sensing of the Earth's surface, but it ceased operations in 2021 due to the 'failure of on-board equipment'. In 2024, it broke up, releasing objects into low earth orbit and forcing ISS astronauts to take cover. Advertisement US Space Command, which has a global network of space-tracking radars, said the satellite immediately created 'over 100 pieces of trackable debris'. 'USSPACECOM has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain,' it said in a statement posted on X. 'As such, USSPACECOM has notified commercial, governmental, Allied and partner organizations via Space-Track.org, to include Russia as the satellite owner.' NASA instructed crews aboard the space station to shelter in their respective spacecraft 'as a standard precautionary measure'. These spacecraft that are docked to the ISS Soyuz, Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner are thought to offer better protection against debris than the ISS itself. Russian space agency Roscosmos, which operated the satellite, did not respond to a request for comment or even acknowledge the event on its social media channels. The satellite's breakup was at an altitude of roughly 355 km (220 miles) in low-Earth orbit, a region where thousands of small to large satellites operate, including SpaceX's vast Starlink network and China's Tiangong space station. Resurs-P1 was a Russian satellite launched into space in June 2013 by Russia's space agency Roscosmos. Pictured, a scaled-down model of Resurs-P1 NASA's X account for the International Space Station said the instruction for crews to shelter was a 'precautionary measure' By Thursday afternoon, radars from US space-tracking firm LeoLabs had detected at least 180 pieces of debris from Resurs-P1. 'Due to the low orbit of this debris cloud, we estimate itll be weeks to months before the hazard has passed,' LeoLabs told Reuters. There were no immediate details on what caused the break-up of the RESURS-P1 Russian Earth observation satellite, which ceased operations in 2021. But Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, speculated that there could have been an on-board explosion. 'Such events can range from low-energy releases of a few pieces of debris due to insulation flaking off, to energetic events due to a small impact or the explosion of an onboard battery,' he posted on X. NASA instructed crews aboard the space station to shelter in their respective spacecraft 'as a standard precautionary measure'. These spacecraft that are docked to the ISS - Soyuz, Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner (pictured) - are thought to offer better protection against debris Events like these are adding to the overall problem of 'space junk' a swirling mass of spacecraft fragments, machinery and other man-made objects orbiting Earth. Dead satellites either remain in orbit until they descend into Earth's atmosphere for a fiery demise years later. Less often, they fly to a 'graveyard orbit' some 22,400 miles (36,000 km) from Earth to lower the risk of crashing into active satellites. Resurs-P1 had been lowering its altitude through layers of other active satellites for an eventual atmospheric reentry, Reuters reported. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Tech giant Microsoft is one of the many companies embracing AI. So it's perhaps ironic that Microsoft's co-founder the multi-billionaire Bill Gates has given a warning over its potential dangers. Speaking in London this week, Gates called AI a 'wonderful' technology that can save humans from climate change and disease. But he warned that it needs to be used 'by people with good intent', as it could be used by criminals 'engaged in cyber attacks or political interference'. Gates, one of the 10 richest humans in the world, said: 'The defence has to be smarter than the offence. And both sides will use AI to up their game.' Speaking at the the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London, Gates called AI a 'wonderful' technology that can save humans from climate change and disease. Gates who founded Microsoft with the late Paul Allen in 1974 was speaking at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London on Thursday, which was also attended by Prince William. AI is so important that we have to make sure its mostly being used by people with good intent, the businessman told Sky's The World With Yalda Hakim. So anytime you have a new technology its mostly used by teachers and doctors and scientists to help them be more effective. If you have somebody whos engaged in something like a cyber attack or political interference, AI could be used by them so you have to make sure the good guys are staying ahead. Gates said AI will act as a force for good for providing better healthcare and combatting climate change specifically mentioning nuclear fusion energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels. '[With] climate [change], some of the complex things like modelling fusion energy - thank goodness AI is going to make that far easier to do,' he said. Bill Gates and Prince William take a tour of the Innovation Showcase at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London, June 27, 2024 The common scenario of AI posing a danger to humanity often involves 'killer robots' - but in the near-term AI software could be to blame for security disasters (file photo) 'AI helps us model things in the sciences understand materials better, and catalysts, and how to make proteins. 'AI, in every field of endeavour, will be accelerating innovation, whether that's in medicine or helping with tutoring, education.' Gates is ranked seventh on this year's Forbes list of richest people in the world behind the likes of SpaceX founder Elon Musk and French businessman Bernard Arnault. Gates founded Microsoft with Allen after the two met at high school in Seattle in 1968. Both dropped out of university to found the company. According to Allen's memoir, he and Gates shared a passion for computers and used to go dumpster diving for print-outs of computer programme code. He stepped down as Microsoft's CEO in 2000, but there are continued suggestions that he has control over the firm's overall direction behind the scenes. As of June 2024, Microsoft -headquartered in Redmond, Washington - has a market cap of $3.365 trillion, according to reports Bill Gates watches his friend and future Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen typing on teletype terminal at the Lakeside school in 1968. Gates was about 13 in this picture According to a recent report from Business Insider, Gates has been 'quietly orchestrating' much of Microsoft's AI revolution. Microsoft is currently embracing AI wholeheartedly with products including its its AI-powered laptops and its Copilot chatbot. The new line of Windows laptops feature an 'AI button' on the keyboard for quickly accessing the Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence helper. Microsoft has also given financial backing to OpenAI, the California tech company that created chatbot sensation ChatGPT. The 'wise' face of ancient Egypt's most powerful pharaoh has been revealed, showing him moments before death. Ramesses II, who reigned in the 13th century BC, was the greatest ruler of the nation, known for his colossal statues and military exploits during his reign from 1279 to 1213BC. Scientists used a 3D model of the king's skull, layering it with soft tissue and skin to recreate his look at the time of his death, around 90 years old. The life-like image revealed a frail, elderly man with a weathered face - and some features were similar to the giant statues of Ramesses that still stand in Egypt. Ramesses II, who reigned in the 13th century BC, was the greatest ruler of the nation, known for his colossal statues and military exploits during his reign from 1279 to 1213BC Cicero Moraes, the Brazilian graphics expert behind the new recreation, said: 'In the present study we carried out a very broad analysis, comparing the reconstructed face with statues of Ramesses II. 'The objective was to understand to what extent the statues are reliable, as many imagine that compatibility would be good. 'But we saw that this is not the case the statues indicate good compatibility with the shape of the nose and even, in some situations, with the shape of the face.' The statues of Ramesses II have a more delicate forehead and lips and a chin that are more pronounced, making the features in the image 'insufficiently reliable.' 'We also analyzed anthropometric and DNA data from ancient Egyptian populations, and all paths seem to point to a population made up of many elements that are difficult to standardize,' said Moraes. The team chose a skin color palette that has been seen in ancient Egyptian art as the true hue is unknown. They also designed a grayscale version that showed the pharaoh's eyes closed to avoid making judgements about his complexion - but the team has suggested that criticism is soon to follow. Scientists used a 3D model of the king's mummified face, layering it with soft tissue and skin to recreate his look at the time of his death, around 90 years old The life-like image revealed a frail, elderly man with a weathered face - and some features were similar to the giant statues of Ramesses that still stand in Egypt The team chose a skin color palette that has been seen in ancient Egyptian art as the true hue is unknown 'There is always criticism about any work that is published on the internet, just look at the comments on the news and the debate on social networks,' Moraes said. 'I am in favor of freedom of expression. I myself have never blocked anyone on my networks for thinking differently than me or for insulting me. 'But I also have freedom of expression and I generally use it to clarify points and refute what is incoherent.' The team also used information from a 1976 study of Ramesses' mummified remains, found in 1881, which restored tissues and created new bandages. The study also determined that Ramesses II had a pronounced overbite, and his teeth were significantly worn. The pharaoh also had poor dental and bone health, mainly due to an abscess, which would have caused him a lot of pain. The statues of Ramesses II have a more delicate forehead and lips and a chin that are more pronounced, making the features in the image ' insufficiently reliable' The king's remains were discovered in 1881 Despite the king having a long life, his muscles showed signs of memory loss, and he had very pronounced veins on his forehead,' Moraes and his team shared. The team wanted to depict the aging alignments in the recreation of the king. They compiled data from hundreds of modern Egyptians to reveal the likely thickness of the pharaoh's skin at different places across his skull. Another technique was anatomical deformation, in which the face and skull of a living donor who also had a pronounced overbite was digitally altered to match the mummy's dimensions. The end result interpolated these approaches, before ageing it appropriately, and adding subjective elements like clothing. It reveals what Moraes called a 'wise' face. The result also appeared similar to a previous reconstruction of a younger Ramesses II from 2022 (pictured) The result also appeared similar to a previous reconstruction from 2022, created by Sahar Saleem of Cairo University and Caroline Wilkinson of Liverpool John Moores University. Different methods were used then, however, Moraes said he was pleased with the outcome. The 2022 facial reconstruction was conducted by scientists from Egypt and England, who also used a 3D model of his skull. They then reversed the ageing process, turning back the clock almost half a century to reveal his face at the height of his powers. Saleem said the outcome had revealed a 'very handsome' ruler. 'My imagination of the face of Ramesses II was influenced by his mummy's face,' she continued. 'However, the facial reconstruction helped to put a living face on the mummy. 'I find the reconstructed face is a very handsome Egyptian person with facial features characteristic of Ramesses II the pronounced nose, and strong jaw.' Ryan Serhant told DailyMail.com he has rooted out the 'bad apples' Jonathan was sacked in the last episode of the new Netflix show Owning Manhattan's Ryan Serhant has declared he has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bad behavior after he found himself forced to fire real estate agent Jonathan Nrmlle in a shocking twist at the end of the Netflix show's first season. The world-famous broker and CEO, 39, brutally sacked Jonathan, 27, in the last episode after he was caught bad-mouthing a colleague on the company's podcast and accused of tarnishing the reputation of the business at the showing of a $10 million property. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Ryan insisted that there are 'no bad apples' working at his eponymous company Serhant - unlike on Selling Sunset - as he implements a 'one strike policy.' 'I have a one strike policy for toxicity and negativity,' he said. 'There are no bad apples. 'What you see me go through on the show, is while that term is easy to say, it's hard to put in practice. Owning Manhattan's Ryan Serhant has spoken out about his zero tolerance for bad behavior The CEO, 39, was left with no option but to fire Jonathan Nrmlle, 27, (pictured) at the end of the Netflix show's first season 'Selling real estate in New York City is a super competitive environment. There are 80,000 agents here for 6,000 homes that get sold. 'Most of the people who are in this business are working for free with no benefits and with a lot of pressure on them. They will make no money this year... 'Sometimes you'll see some bad behavior, and my gut instinct is it's a one strike policy, you can't work here anymore. 'But then sometimes I also have a heart. I say, "I understand what you're going through, I know, this year has been really, really tough, but we've got to correct your behavior."' He continued: 'As a CEO, I've had to really focus on like the two B's when managing people, which is the business and the behavior. 'I'm working on building something really, really big. This is unlike the other shows that follow people who are just focused on themselves.' Ryan fired Jonathan on the roof deck of Manhattan skyscraper The Edge at Hudson Yards in the final episode of Owning Manhattan. Ryan fired Jonathan on the roof deck of Manhattan skyscraper The Edge at Hudson Yards Fighting for his position at Serhant, Jonathan said: 'This is going to sound cocky, but I am the face of the next generation of this. I'm the hardest working agent you will ever meet' The brutal scenes came after Jonathan had showed up late to a showing on Green Street, Manhattan, without any prospective buyers, and had been rude to the listing agent. He had also previously spoken ill of his colleague Savannah Gowarty on the official Serhant podcast alongside fellow agent Jessica Markowski. In the showdown, Ryan said: 'You made your mistake with Savannah and the stupid podcast and using company resources, you have ego issues and you rub some people the wrong way, but even through all of that, I still told everybody: "I still believe in Jonathan." 'I stuck through all this bulls**t with you, and I've been the one to say, "Jonathan will make everyone proud, just you wait."' Jonathan attempted to defend himself during the head-to-head, but ultimately his efforts fell flat. 'I don't think I've been mean to other agents,' he said. 'I think I've been presenting myself really, really well.' He continued: 'This is going to sound cocky, but I am the face of the next generation of this. Ryan's mind was already made up, and he cut the conversation short by terminating Jonathan's employment. Jonathan had previously bad-mouthed colleague Savannah Gowarty (left) on the company's podcast 'I'm the hardest working agent you will ever meet, and I think I know more about the industry than most people. You'll see. 'Give me a year from now, I'll be number one at Serhant. You'll be surprised. You'll see.' But Ryan's mind was already made up, and he cut the conversation short by terminating Jonathan's employment. 'Here's the deal,' he said. 'I think you're going to have a huge career, it's just not gonna be here.' Furious by Ryan's decision, Jonathan quickly stormed off. Speaking in his confessional, he admitted: 'I think the biggest disappointment is that Ryan... I thought we had a relationship at least. 'He was always very honest and always honorable, but that proved to be very very wrong. I don't think me and Ryan will stay friends or cordial after this.' Ryan added: 'Jonathan is a unique agent, but any agent that is here that is a poor representation of our brand and our amazing success, they can't be here. 'I took a risk on Jonathan, but not every risk works out.' Owning Manhattan is available to stream on Netflix Naomi Campbell's former maid has slammed the supermodel as a 'weird' attention-seeker for flaunting the infamous designer dress she wore while serving out for her punishment for attacking her. Speaking to DailyMail.com housekeeper Ana Scolavino, 58, says she is still traumatized by the 2006 incident that saw Campbell hurl her diamond-encrusted cellphone at her in a violent fit of rage. Scolavino's head was split open by the impact as she tried to escape the star's New York apartment - and she later struggled to find work due to the crippling anxiety she suffered as a result of the assault. Campbell, 54, was ordered to complete five days of community service and anger management classes, but drew further controversy when she showed up to her last day of her sentence in an ornate silver designer dress. And now, the iconic Dolce & Gabbana gown has been put on display at a new exhibit celebrating her life and career at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The infamous Dolce & Gabbana gown Naomi Campbell wore on her last day of her court-ordered community service in 2007 has been put on display at a new exhibit celebrating her life and career The supermodel's former housekeeper Ana Scolavino, who was assaulted by Campbell in 2006, slammed the move as 'weird' and 'in poor taste' In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Ana said: 'She shouldn't be drawing attention to something that was so terrible. 'If you attack someone, you should say that you are sorry. You should not be showing off about it and using what happened for publicity. 'For me, personally, I have tried to forget about that day and move on with my life. 'But maybe Naomi is older now and she is not getting as much modelling work, so she needs this kind of attention. 'It is weird and in poor taste, but these famous people do whatever they want.' Campbell was arrested in March 2006 and - having initially dismissed Ana's claims - she eventually admitted to third-degree assault after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors. She accepted throwing the phone in a fit of rage, but denied she intended it to hit the housekeeper. In January 2007, Campbell only narrowly avoided jail, with the judge ordering her to attend anger management classes and perform five days of community service. And it was on her final day sweeping the streets of New York that she donned the silver, sequined D&G dress that now hangs in the V&A Museum. Explaining why she wanted to put the frock on display, Campbell said in a recent interview: 'It's part of my life. I was open and I came out in my dress. I was very aware of what I was doing and I finished my week of community service.' Chile-born Ana, who was 34-years-old when she was hired to clean the star's two-bedroom duplex in Midtown Manhattan, says she only wants to forget. She said: 'I'd worked for other celebrities like Mick Jagger before - who was lovely and such a nice person to work with - and Robert De Nero. The dress is now among the various looks and pieces on display at the new 'Naomi: In Fashion' exhibition Victoria & Albert Museum in London It was on her final day sweeping the streets of New York that she donned the silver, sequined D&G dress that now hangs in the V&A Museum Campbell recently explained her decision to put the gown on display saying: 'It's part of my life. I was open and I came out in my dress' 'But I had no idea I would be working for Naomi Campbell until it was too late. 'On one of my first days on the job, I was alone cleaning her apartment as she was flying back from London. 'When she arrived, she was having a huge fight with her personal assistant. 'Naomi was screaming at her and the girl was saying, 'Who do you think you are, you can't treat me this way.' 'They'd fallen about something at the airport and the girl ended up storming out. 'Later, Naomi said to me, 'I'm so sorry about that. Would you mind doing some extra work for me, because my personal assistant just quit.' 'I ended up becoming her part time personal assistant as well as her housekeeper.' Ana added: 'At first everything was fine and Naomi was happy with me because I did a great job for her. 'But it was always long hours. Sometimes I would start at 8am and we would not finish until the early hours of the following morning. 'A week after I started, Naomi was going to Brazil, which has a tropical climate, and then Milan, which would be cold at that time of year. 'Me and another housekeeper were packing her bags all day with Naomi acting as supervisor. Campbell read out a letter of apology outside of New York Criminal Court after receiving her sentence for attacking her housekeeper, in 2007 She spent the week cleaning the New York City Sanitation Department in March 2007 Campbell poses near one of the exhibits at the exhibition launch of NAOMI: In Fashion at The Dorchester on March 13 'She was bringing five or sex extra-large suitcases and she wanted different bags allocated for each part of the trip. 'At 2am, I told Naomi, 'I'm too tired, I've been here since 8am, I need to go home.' She begged me, saying: 'Please don't leave me Ana, I need you.' 'I said, 'No, I have to go, I'll be back in the morning.' Just as I was leaving the apartment, I heard screaming. Naomi started yelling, 'Ana, can you come in here please?' 'I went upstairs and she was screaming at the other maid, who was working her first day. 'Naomi was saying, 'Look at what this stupid woman did? She put the white trousers (pants) in the luggage to go to Milan.' 'I said, 'Naomi, people make mistakes, please calm down so I can speak to her.' 'But she spoke to people like they were dogs and you needed the memory of an elephant to keep track of her orders.' It was previously reported that Campbell attacked Ana after accusing her of stealing a pair of jeans. But the maid today reveals that it was another housekeeper, based in London, that was accused of taking the designer pants and then fired. On why she fell out with Campbell, Ana said: 'It was the day she was due to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey at home. Campbell was arrested in March 2006 and - having initially dismissed Ana's claims - she eventually admitted to third-degree assault after striking a plea bargain with prosecutors At the time it was reported that Campbell had attacked Ana after accusing her of stealing a pair of jeans 'I was cleaning the apartment when a friend of Naomi's introduced himself and told me, 'She had a huge fight with her boyfriend in LA and she's tired as the flight was delayed so be careful with her. And don't talk to her - she's in a bad mood and the best thing you can do is stay quiet.' 'I said, 'OK' and I did my best, but she was nervous and stressed and everything we did was wrong. 'She would be shouting, 'Ana, who put the flowers here?' The apartment was beautiful and she was so rude she crossed a line. 'I walked upstairs and told her, 'I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry but I quit, you need to find someone else.' Ana says she's still traumatized by the incident that left her needing stitches to her head 'She shouted, 'No, you can't leave me, I'm alone and don't have another housekeeper.' She started throwing clothes at me. 'I told her, 'I'm sorry, but I'm done' and I walked down the stairs very calmly. 'That is when she picked up the phone and threw it at my head. It opened my scalp and I had to have six stitches. 'Her friend was shouting at her, saying, 'Naomi, why did you do that? You are crazy.' 'Naomi was hysterical and was saying, 'I'm sorry.' She tried to hug me but I said, 'Don't come anywhere near me.' 'I picked up my purse and I used my apron to stem the bleeding from my head.' 'I was very shaken. When someone attacks you like that, it really affects you. 'It made me very careful with the people I worked for after that and it became hard for me to find work. I still remember what happened like it was yesterday. 'I didn't go to court because I didn't want to see her again and I felt her punishment was too soft. Because she was famous, she didn't get what she deserved.' Campbell was later taken to court by a succession of former assistants and household staff, who made similar claims against her. Ana continued: 'The other employees told me I deserved a medal because I managed to stay in the job for three months, while most left after a few weeks. 'The good thing was that my case opened the door for other people to sue her, whilst before they were too scared. 'I haven't heard of her attacking anyone recently and maybe she learned her lesson. 'I heard she has babies now, so I hope she has changed her life.' Cindy Crawford has something to celebrate. On Thursday the supermodel shared that it is the 20 year anniversary of her skincare company Meaningful Beauty. The brand has been incredibly successful thanks to its engaging infomercials. To date the company is worth around $500M and Cindy owns half of it. On Instagram the mother to model Kaia Gerber shared two photos of herself: one taken in the 80s and the other more recent. She was wearing the same black leather motorcycle jacket in both frames. '@meaningfulbeauty turns 20! To help us celebrate share a photo of yourself at 20 years old vs you today,' she wrote in her caption. 'Grateful to have spent the last two decades working with an amazing team, learning so much about beauty and business and helping women feel their best at every age. Happy birthday to MB! Thank you all for keeping us going! #MB20.' Cindy Crawford has something to celebrate. On Thursday the supermodel shared that it is the 20 year anniversary of her skincare company Meaningful Beauty. She had on the same black motorcycle jacket in each image In the past Cindy has said the brand is important: 'Feeling beautiful can give women self-confidence at every age. Thats the foundation of Meaningful Beauty. Achieving healthy, glowing skin is a reflection of taking good care of yourself and accepting who you are. After that, you can go enjoy your life.' Cindy also says on her website: 'As a young supermodel, I visited world-renowned cosmetic specialist Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh at his clinic in Paris. After my first treatment of super antioxidants from a rare melon in the South of France, I saw instant, glowing results. 'Dr. Sebagh and I developed Meaningful Beauty as an easy-to-use system that delivers younger-looking skin by combining science, technology and nature. The powerful melon super antioxidants are the secret to the formula.' It was added: 'It was Dr. Sebaghs idea of using effective skincare to maintain skins youthful look that resonated with me. He always says, "Its never too late and its never too early to start." 'This idea of "age maintenance" is part of the Meaningful Beauty philosophy. Consistency in skincare and healthy lifestyle habits are how you achieve that.' This comes after she talked about her parents. The Playboy alum admitted that she began outlearning her parents at 18. 'I started modeling in Chicago, and in Chicago, it's a small pond, so I was the big fish pretty quickly there,' the catwalk queen said while appearing on the Kelly Corrigan Wonders podcast with Christy Turlington. Crawford attends the Ninth Annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1992 in LA She added, 'And I was making more money than my parents made, more money than they could ever have even dreamed of.' After her brother Jeffery died of childhood leukemia at age 3 in 1975, Crawford's quick wealth made her feel like 'I was the son in a weird way.' 'Like, when I got married and didn't change my name, [my dad] was like, 'Yeah, the Crawford name will go on!'' she recalled. 'I was able to help where I could,' added Crawford. 'I don't feel like I became the dad.' Crawford noted that she's 'been able to take [her family] on nice vacations,' following her January girls trip to Miami with mother Jennifer and sisters Chris and Danielle. Despite her wealth, Crawford said she tries to avoid buying lavish gifts for her two siblings. Crawford noted that she's 'been able to take [her family] on nice vacations,' following her January girls trip to Miami with mother Jennifer and sisters Chris and Danielle; seen in 2024 Crawford shares Kaia, 22, and son Presley, 24, with husband Rande Gerber; seen in 2016 The brunette beauty fears that by being too generous, she could actually 'emasculate their husbands'. Cindy explained: 'If I'm giving my sister a nicer ring than her husband gives them or something like that, it just becomes this weird thing. 'I was more about giving experiences and then helping them if they need a down payment on a house or something like that. My sisters have been awesome because they always paid it back. But navigating being in that financial position where you could do a lot is tricky.' Her daughter Kaia Gerber, also a model, said she 'was star-struck in front of her after' watching the doc as she didn't previously realize how 'iconic' her mother was. 'I thought it was so cool that she always had that ambition, and she did things where people told her, 'This will ruin your career. Don't do this,'' explained Kaia, 22. 'And she trusted her instincts.' Crawford shares Kaia and son Presley, 24, with husband Rande Gerber. Kanye West's 4,524-acre ranch in Cody, Wyoming has been sold. A listing to the property, titled the Monster Lake Ranch, indicated that a sale on the Park County ranch had closed, though did not specify the amount it ultimately sold for. The Grammy-winning artist, 47, purchased the ranch in late 2019 with ambitious plans involving domes he felt could curb homelessness, but appeared to have ceased investing in upkeep of the property in recent years. The Wyoming ranch appeared to be in disrepair as of late, after West lost a number of lucrative business deals after he made a torrent of anti-Semitic remarks in the fall of 2022. The Hayden Outdoors listing to the ranch formerly owned by the musical artist, who kept the property as part of his 2022 divorce settlement with Kim Kardashian, indicated the property has six homes and seven outbuildings. Kanye West 's 4,524-acre ranch in Cody, Wyoming has been sold. The rapper, 47, was pictured in LA in March The Wyoming ranch appeared to be in disrepair as of late, after West lost a number of lucrative deals after he made a torrent of anti-Semitic remarks in the fall of 2022. The property was pictured last month The homes on the ranch have a total of seven bedrooms with seven bathrooms, according to the listing. 'This ranch is equipped with horse barns, corrals and plenty of storage,' the listing read, adding that the 'venue is perfect for weddings, corporate events and family gatherings whether indoors or outside.' In addition, a lake on the premises has '100 acres of surface water,' adding that 'consistent stocking and management have made this a world class fishery.' The listing noted that in addition to the lake and its amenities, other activities the ranch provides a venue for include 'guided fishing, pheasant/chukar hunting, horse trails for riding, geology and photography tours in the Rim Rocks.' The ranch is located 'approximately 8 miles from downtown Cody, Wyoming' and about 15 minutes away from Yellowstone Regional Airport, according to the listing. West initially listed put the ranch up on the market in October 2021 amid his divorce from Kardashian, then pulled back the listing in August 2022. West listed the Wyoming ranch as his residence on his marital license to partner Bianca Censori, 29, in December. It was listed on a 'confidential marriage' license in the December 20 ceremony in Palo Alto, California at the Whispering Oaks Chapel. The ranch was pictured in 2020 as West had a number of construction crews working on multiple projects The Grammy-winning artist purchased the ranch in late 2019 with grandiose plans involving domes he felt could curb homelessness; construction was ongoing in 2020 The domes did not appear to be maintained in images snapped of the ranch last month Multiple structures on the property adjacent to the domes were pictured last month According to the listing, a lake on the premises has '100 acres of surface water,' adding that 'consistent stocking and management have made this a world class fishery' A large barn structure was pictured on the property last month Multiple buildings and the domes were seen amid Wyoming snowfall in March of 2023 West, amid a downturn in career opportunities over the past year-and-a-half following his anti-Semitic comments, has been offloading a number of properties in his portfolio. West in April slashed the price of a dilapidated mansion in the luxe community of Malibu, California this past April from $53 million to $39 million. Amid multiple renovations he made on the home that were not completed amid a row with contactors, the home is missing windows, walls and a roof, and does not have electricity. West has yet to sell the property, which he once had grand plans for. Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for West as well as the real estate company for comment on the sale. Frasier is bringing back a fan favorite in season 2. Harriet Sansom Harris, 69, is set to reprise her role as Frasier Crane's agent Bebe Glazer for the Paramount+ reboot, Variety reported Thursday. The show's description calls her character 'delightfully devilish' and 'one of the show's most iconic characters,' who is 'known for her dramatic flair and outrageous Machiavellian maneuvers.' Harris played Bebe in 11 episodes of the original Frasier series' 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004. The show is also adding Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom, 37, who will play Bebes daughter Phoebe Glazer, as a guest star. Harriet Sansom Harris is set to reprise her role as Frasier Crane's agent Bebe Glazer for season two of the show's Paramount+ reboot, Variety reported Thursday; seen in 2022 Harris played Bebe in 11 episodes of the original Frasier series' 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004; seen with Kelsey Grammer on Frasier (2001) Bloom's character is described as: 'having inherited her mother's indomitable charm, Phoebe boasts a magnetic personality as well as a taste for the finer things.' Harris most recently earned an Emmy nomination for her guest starring role on Hacks. She will next appear in the film Americana and in the Peacock limited series Long Bright River. Previously, she's appeared in Licorice Pizza, American Horror Story and on Desperate Housewives. Bloom won an Emmy for original music and lyrics and a Golden Globe for Best Actress for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She's appeared in Julia and Reboot most recently as well as The School for Good and Evil. The reboot of Frasier was renewed for a second season in February. At the time, Jeff Grossman, the Executive Vice President of programming at Paramount+, released a statement to speak about how Kelsey Grammer, 69, had successfully returned to his old role as the radio psychiatrist. 'Kelsey made a triumphant return as one of the most iconic and beloved characters on television. The new series introduced Frasier to a whole new generation while reminding fans of Kelsey's truly timeless portrayal of Dr. Crane,' he said. Grossman added: 'We're so excited to see what the creative team and superb cast serve up for season two.' The show is also adding Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom, 37, who will play Bebes daughter Phoebe Glazer, as a guest star; seen on June 23 The reboot of Frasier was renewed for a second season in February Frasier's second season currently does not have a scheduled premiere date The revived version of Frasier followed the titular character as he returned to Boston and attempted to reconnect with his son Frederick, played by Jack Cutmore-Scott; Grammer seen on June 8 Grammer also issued a statement to show his excitement about being able to portray the psychiatrist in the show's new run. 'Frasier is a love story, and I am very happy we will be allowed to continue it,' he said. The revived version of Frasier followed the titular character as he returned to Boston and attempted to reconnect with his son Frederick, played by Jack Cutmore-Scott. Frasier's second season currently does not have a scheduled premiere date. She's one of the hot favourites to walk away with the top prize on this season's MasterChef. But Savindri 'Sav' Perera, 30, has now revealed her behind-the-scenes battle with a crippling mental illness she has struggled with her whole life. In a moving Instagram post on Wednesday, Sav opened up about her body dysmorphia - a psychological disorder in which an individual obsesses over a perceived flaw in their appearance. 'The amount of absolute hatred I have for myself after a lifetime of being made to feel ugly for being fat was immense,' Sav revealed in the raw and moving post. 'Yet every morning I put my make-up on and show up because my desire to compete is bigger than my hatred for my appearance.' The Adelaide banking consultant who arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka as an eight-year-old with her family included a heartbreaking photo of herself as a young child. Telling followers that her struggle with severe body dysmorphia was the 'biggest battle' she had to overcome before joining MasterChef, Sav then revealed her fears about appearing on TV. 'A big part of me wasn't ready to go on MasterChef because I was still grieving. MasterChef Australia's Savindri 'Sav' Perera, 30, has revealed her behind-the-scenes battle with a crippling mental illness that she has been struggling with her whole life. 'But there was also a part of me that was scared because I'm not skinny and pretty like TV personalities usually are.' Sav also confessed that she knew audiences might have a problem with her personal style which she described in the share as 'blunt and direct'. 'It is sometimes really, really hard for me to watch myself purely because of the intense fatphobia I have towards myself,' she continued. In a moving share to her stories on Wednesday Sav opened up about her body dysmorphia - a psychological disorder in which an individual obsesses over a perceived flaw in their appearance. Pictured: Sav's post which includes a photo of herself as a child 'The hatred I have towards my body at times is awful. Years of therapy later and it's better but it's not easy. That self-loathing manifested in a way that led to me convincing myself that I don't deserve to take up space in this world.' The reality star also addressed negative comments she has received from viewers via social media about the sound of her voice and how she does not smile enough. 'Whilst I don't engage with these things, I still see it and while I can ignore it on most days, after a while I wonder if it's actually true when I know it isn't,' she said. The Adelaide banking consultant who arrived in Australia from Sri Lanka as an eight-year-old with her family shared how she feared appearing on TV Sav signed off her her post with a moving show of support for others who suffer from similar body image problems. 'I want to talk about this openly because my experience is not unique. 'There are many people, women, men, just people, who feel like they cannot take up space because they don't fit society's demands of them. I hope you know, you should do what you wanna do anyway. I hope it doesn't stop you from going where you want to go.' Sav later posted a message of thanks to her supporters after her revealing share Meanwhile, Sav revealed in a post on Thursday that she had received many personal messages of support after share. 'I am finally catching up with all the beautiful DMs I've received from the countless people, mainly women, resonating with my vulnerability,' she said. 'I knew that representing myself as I am was going to be important for my personal integrity, but to see the impact of me just being completely myself [is] beyond what I could have ever imagined,' she continued. 'Thank you. Truly. I am very grateful to be part of the conversation of representation.' If this content has triggered concerns help is available via the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. Kylie Jenner and her longtime friend, Stassie Karanikolaou, indulged in a number of tasty items in new mukbang videos uploaded to their Instagram pages on Thursday. The TV personality, 26 - who recently flashed her toned figure to promote her latest Khy summer collection - could be seen sitting next to the media influencer, 27, inside a spacious living room. The mother-of-two donned a fitted, short-sleeved white shirt and comfy shorts while her long locks flowed down in light waves past her shoulders. Stassie also dressed down in a cropped, black tank top and white sweatpants for the lighthearted clips. The first reel - which was shared by Karanikolaou - kicked off as the two BFF's greeted their fans by cheerfully exclaiming, 'Hi!' Kylie Jenner, 26, and her longtime friend, Stassie Karanikolaou, indulged in a number of tasty items in new mukbang videos uploaded to their Instagram pages on Thursday The mother-of-two donned a fitted, short-sleeved white shirt and comfy bottoms while her long locks flowed down in light waves past her shoulders Stassie then lifted a large paper bag from Wingstop to give followers a glimpse of the food they were about to try out. Kylie explained, 'Stass is making me eat Wingstop,' with the YouTuber showing a dish of warm fries to the camera. 'Oh! Mukbang girls are back!' Jenner continued as they both munched on a few fries from the restaurant. Stassie then began to pull out chicken wings, and stated that she chose six different flavors for them to eat. She humorously started to smell one of the open boxes, causing Kylie to laughingly ask, 'Why are you smelling them like that?' Karanikolaou explained that she wasn't entirely sure which flavor was which. The reality star quickly lifted a wing, but before she could take a bite, Stassie called out, 'Wait, hold on! We got to get ready. Hold on. Obviously we need f***ing ranch.' The two pals dunked their wings into a cup of ranch and enjoyed a yummy bite, and Stassie concluded that the flavor was Garlic Parmesan. Kylie gave their first wings a '10/10' rating before they moved on to other flavors, with her friend agreeing. Jenner and Karanikolaou also tried Mango wings followed by Cajun, with Jenner sharing, 'This is amazing. Why have I not been going to Wingstop?' Stassie then lifted a large paper bag from Wingstop to give followers a glimpse of the food they were about to try out Kylie explained, 'Stass is making me eat Wingstop,' with the YouTuber showing a dish of warm fries to the camera 'Oh! Mukbang girls are back!' Jenner continued as they both munched on a few fries from the restaurant The two pals dunked their wings into a cup of ranch and enjoyed a yummy bite, and Stassie concluded that the flavor was garlic parmesan. Kylie gave their first wings a '10/10' rating before they moved on to other flavors, with her friend agreeing Jenner and Karanikolaou also tried mango wings followed by Cajun, with Jenner sharing, 'This is amazing. Why have I not been going to Wingstop?' They also tried a classic flavor, which Kylie said was 'not as exciting as the others.' Stassie also added the wings, 'don't have the "oomph" like the other ones have.' Jenner then quickly grabbed two cans from her Sprinter vodka soda - which she launched earlier this year in March. While her friend stepped away from the camera to grab extra napkins, the TV personality held up the bag to humorously show a multitude of ranch cups inside. 'Why did she get so much ranch?' she laughed. At one point, Stassie gushed that it was 'the best day ever honestly,' with Kylie adding, 'See, Stass and I weren't feeling good yesterday and all we needed was each other.' Towards the end of the clip, the pals are tried Louisiana Rub and Lemon Pepper flavors - with the latter being one of their favorites. After doing a little happy dance, Stassie announced, 'I'm gonna throw up everywhere,' with Jenner chiming in to add, 'Me too.' The second part of the reel was uploaded to Kylie's main Instagram page as they enjoyed Crumble Cookies. 'Okay! We just had Wingstop on Stass's page, and I've been begging Stass to eat more Crumbl Cookies with me,' the reality star explained as they opened up a large box of cookies. While her friend stepped away from the camera to grab extra napkins, the TV personality held up the bag to humorously show a multitude of ranch cups inside. 'Why did she get so much ranch?' she laughed At one point, Stassie gushed that it was 'the best day ever honestly,' with Kylie adding, 'See, Stass and I weren't feeling good yesterday and all we needed was each other' After doing a little happy dance, Stassie announced, 'I'm gonna throw up everywhere,' with Jenner chiming in to add, 'Me too' 'I really want to start strong,' Kylie added, and opted to indulge in the Honey Bun cookie first However, after the fourth cookie, Jenner revealed, 'I'm getting ill,' as she struggled to indulge in anymore dessert But the duo prevailed and took a small bite from the Butter Cake cookie, followed by an excited dance afterwards. 'Let us know what we should eat next!' Kylie told her fans and followers to end the video 'I really want to start strong,' Kylie added, and opted to indulge in the Honey Bun cookie first. After each took a bite, the treat was compared to a cinnamon cake that Jenner knows how to make. The second cookie was Lemon Cupcake and contained a thick, yellow frosting on top, followed by a classic chocolate chip. The star then grabbed a Peanut Butter and Jelly cookie, but she admitted, 'I don't know if I can do it.' However, the pair took a bite and agreed that it was 'good.' However, after the fourth cookie, Jenner revealed, 'I'm getting ill,' as she struggled to indulge in anymore dessert. But the duo prevailed and took a small bite from the Butter Cake cookie, followed by an excited dance afterwards. 'Let us know what we should eat next!' Kylie told her fans and followers to end the video. Stassie notably first met the Kylie Cosmetics founder when she was 13-years-old, and the pair sparked up a long-lasting friendship since then. Jenner has been keeping busy, and celebrated the new Drop 007 for her clothing brand, Khy, which was released on Thursday. Jenner has been keeping busy, and celebrated the new Drop 007 for her clothing brand, Khy, which was released on Thursday She also whisked herself away to attend Paris Fashion Week, and attended events such as glamming up for the Schiaparelli runway show that took place on Monday In one snap that was shared ahead of the drop, Jenner showed off her sculpted midriff in a white bralette top and a pair of fitted, white pants while posing outdoors. She also whisked herself away to attend Paris Fashion Week, and attended events such as glamming up for the Schiaparelli runway show that took place on Monday. The beauty mogul wowed in a figure-hugging, dazzling pink dress that molded to her frame and contained a corset-styled bodice. Kylie added a matching, sheer headpiece that offered a classy flare as well as a satin outer piece that draped down towards her elbows. Jackie 'O' Henderson is living her best life in Greece with her best friend Gemma O'Neill. The radio star, 49, soaked up the sun and enjoying a cruise around Mykonos on Thursday - and she wasn't alone. In a series of Instagram snaps Jackie shared glimpses of her luxurious day out on a boat, but it was a handsome local man by her side who caught her followers attention. The mystery hunk was seen showing off his culinary skills, grilling up a storm on the boats BBQ. In one clip, the dashing man looked up and flashed a smile at the camera, prompting Jackie to let out a flirtatious laugh. Jackie and Gemma spent the last day of their Mykonos holiday on the boat trip as they prepare to wrap up their Greek getaway. The mother-of-one showed off her incredible figure in a form-fitting black mesh dress, which she bought for $299 from Muma World. She then stripped down to a black swimsuit as she soaked up the rays on the luxury boat, snapping a selfie with Gemma. Jackie 'O' Henderson is living her best life in Greece with her best friend Gemma O'Neill. The radio star, 49, was spotted soaking up the sun and enjoying the waters of Mykonos on Thursday... and she wasn't alone She captioned her post: 'Last day in Mykonos. Greece you well and truly have my heart (always).' It comes after it was recently confirmed that Jackie, who is currently single, is embarking on a love quest on her KIIS FM radio show. 'Jackie O hasn't had much luck dating the past couple of years,' the radio station announced. In a series of Instagram snaps, Jackie shared glimpses of her luxurious day out on a boat, but it was a handsome local man by her side who caught her followers attention 'Frustrated but hopeful, and in a last-ditch effort, Jackie has turned over the reins to Kyle to find her perfect match!' 'But if Kyle [Sandilands]' approval wasn't hard enough, hopeful applicants will need to ensure they tick all items on her extensive shopping list. 'The perfect man, in Jackie's eyes, would be a man who is in their mid-30's to mid-50's, 5'11 or taller, fit, healthy, happy, has a good job, goals, is loyal, romantic and emotionally vulnerable.' Jackie's list of what constitutes the perfect man also includes someone who will 'pay for dinner every now and then and won't take advantage of her wealth'. A mystery hunk was seen showing off his culinary skills, grilling up a storm on the boats BBQ She also wants a man who will, 'text back quickly, within three hours to be precise, or will need to give a valid excuse' and does 'not want children but be open to the fact that she has a daughter'. He will also 'enjoy getting up early every day, especially on weekends' and 'not be too smart or too intellectual that will make her zone out of conversation'. Lastly, her suitor will 'be good in bed, specifically someone she can have passionate sex with' and 'not want to be in big groups of people as she can be an introvert'. Members of the public who think they have what it takes can apply via the Kyle and Jackie O website, before the segment kicks off on July 8. Alec Baldwin plays a veteran logger who learns his new employee has a dark and violent past in the new trailer for Clear Cut. Baldwin, 66, has yet to work with any major studios since the controversial 2021 shooting on the set of his Western Rust, which he learned last month he will stand trial for. The actor leads a cast that also includes Clive Standen, Stephen Dorff, Tom Welling, Jesse Metcalfe and Lochlyn Munroe in this new trailer, via Lionsgate YouTube. The film will be released in theaters, plus on-demand and digital platforms starting July 19, previously known as Cold Deck. The trailer begins with Baldwin's character telling Standen's Jack that, 'Logging is the most deadly profession in the world. Sure you wanna get into this line of work?' Alec Baldwin plays a veteran logger who learns his new employee has a dark and violent past in the new trailer for Clear Cut The actor leads a cast that also includes Clive Standen (above), Stephen Dorff, Tom Welling, Jesse Metcalfe and Lochlyn Munroe in this new trailer, via Lionsgate YouTube The trailer shows Baldwin's character showing Jack how to slice a wedge from a tree and knock it out, stating, 'One more time and give it all you've got.' Jack does as instructed and the massive tree come tumbling to the ground,' as Jack tells his new boss, 'It sounds perfect.' They're both driving as Baldwin says, 'I had a greenhorn like you once before, couldn't make it through his first day without screwing up.' Jack is asked 'Anybody back home?' as Jack says, 'There was,' before we see a violent montage of his daughter being killed by assassins before Jack takes them out. Their truck pulls up to Stephen Dorff's character who asks, 'Who's this?' as Jack tells him his name, as Dorff says, 'Well, Jack, welcome to the woods. Just make sure you don't wander too far off the cut.' However, we show shots of Dorff's character meeting with some shady folks who tell them they're on schedule. Jack wanders - seemingly too far off the cut - and comes across a truck with a dead woman in the bed, as it's revealed there is a meth cook in the woods. Jack watches - from a hiding place under the truck - a duffel bag of money placed in the bed of a new truck that pulls up by Tom Welling's character, as Jack takes it and runs. The trailer shows Baldwin's character showing Jack how to slice a wedge from a tree and knock it out, stating, 'One more time and give it all you've got' They're both driving as Baldwin says, 'I had a greenhorn like you once before, couldn't make it through his first day without screwing up' Jack is asked 'Anybody back home?' as Jack says, 'There was,' before we see a violent montage of his daughter being killed by assassins before Jack takes them out. Their truck pulls up to Stephen Dorff's character who asks, 'Who's this?' as Jack tells him his name, as Dorff says, 'Well, Jack, welcome to the woods. Just make sure you don't wander too far off the cut' Jack shows the bag of money to Baldwin's character as he goes back to the cook spot and destroys the RV. Dorff says that, 'there's not a chance in hell this guy will make it through the night,' on his own.' Dorff tells Jack, 'that DEA snitch cost me millions,' adding he put a hit out on Jack as they start to fight. Baldwin tells Jack, 'Get lost in nature, and you possibly die,' as the trailer ends with several action-packed shots. The final shot shows Baldwin in a truck, telling Jack, 'Things happen out here fast, and when they do, people die,' as Dorff is seen shooting a man. A popular New Zealand TV personality has revealed on-air that she is dying of cancer. Joanna Paul-Robie, a newsreader on TV3, told Radio New Zealand on Friday that she was 'unfortunately dying'. She revealed the heartbreaking news after receiving the Icon Award for her contribution to the creative industries on Thursday night. She said the award was the 'most honourable experience of my life'. 'I was so touched because this award means so much to me coming from (New Zealand city)Tauranga Moana,' Paul-Robie said. 'But more importantly because I am, unfortunately, dying I have terminal cancer and really to have this award before one posthumously gets it is an even better break.' She received the award with her family by her side. 'I can't tell you the lightness, the brightness, the feeling of aroha inside me last night.' Joanna Paul-Robie (pictured) best known for reading the news on TV3, told Radio New Zealand on Friday that she was 'unfortunately dying' Paul-Robie said that starting out as one of the few Maori on New Zealands screens was tough. The newsroom was really ... it was being run by mostly a pair of middle-class middle-aged white men who had the audacity and the balls to say If it bleeds it leads but these guys you know they had never been in a Maori world,' she said. She said it was her lifes work to bring together her Maori side and her work as a broadcaster. Having started her media career in radio Paul-Robie made her television presenting debut with TVNZ's Wildtrack in 1989, but was soon recruited to be the breakfast newsreader on the new TV3 channel. Ms Paul-Robie was instrumental in setting up the publicly funded Maori Television channel, which began broadcasting in 2004. In a 2011 interview with NZOnScreen Paul-Robie looked back on over six decades in the media and film-making. Joanna and Lucien Paul-Robie attend a party in Auckland after a screen awards in 2007 In a 2011 interview with NZOnScreen Paul-Robie looked back on over six decades in the media and film-making 'Ive had this great career where I have worked in every part of television both onscreen and offscreen,' she said. 'To be onscreen during the Gulf War when big things happen both here and abroad and to be with a new television station there was no way we could go but up we couldnt go down because we were already at the bottom.' She also reflected on her role in launching Maori TV. 'Theres been a handful of people in the world who have build a television station and taken it to air,' she said. 'There are only a handful of people in the world who can do that and even though it nearly broke me in half on the day that we launched I thought hell we did that. 'I think it is difficult for someone like me with an A-type personality to think now you have done your big thing maybe you should take it easy now.' Katy Perry has gone viral after she dodged a question about working with producer Dr. Luke on new music despite Kesha's sexual misconduct allegations against him. It was recently revealed that Dr. Luke co-produced Perry's new single Woman's World which is being marketed as a feminist anthem along with other songs on her upcoming sixth studio album. Dr. Luke - real name ukasz Sebastian Gottwald - is behind many of Perry's career-defining hits, including 2008's I Kissed a Girl, 2010'sTeenage Dream and 2013's Roar. Perry was confronted about the controversial collaboration as she exited a Paris Fashion Week event on Wednesday, as per footage obtained by TMZ. As she made her way through the crowd, one fan asked the star point blank: 'Isn't your album about women empowerment? Why are you working with Dr. Luke?' Katy Perry has gone viral after she dodged a question about working with producer Dr. Luke on new music despite Kesha's sexual misconduct allegations against him; seen on June 24 Last year, Dr. Luke, 50, settled a defamation lawsuit with Kesha, 37, after she claimed in a 2014 lawsuit that he had sexually and physically abused her; seen in 2011 The fan was met with silence as Perry quickly slid into her chauffeured SUV. A member of Perry's team tried to shut the car door while the fan was speaking but a security guard got in the way. It's unclear if the mother-of-one purposely ignored the fan's question or if they were simply drowned out by the noisy crowd that had gathered outside the PFW event. Perry's collaboration with Dr. Luke has sparked major controversy ahead of her much-anticipated comeback. Earlier this month, Rolling Stone reported that the multi-Grammy Award nominee is collaborating with Dr. Luke as well as Max Martin, Sarah Hudson and Stargate on her sixth record. Perry 'knew exactly the album she wanted to make and put together the team to make it happen,' a Capitol Records source told the outlet of the collection of talent the former American Idol judge put together for her first release since 2020's Smile. The feedback online was pointed toward both Perry and Dr. Luke, who last year settled a defamation lawsuit with Kesha, 37, after she claimed in a 2014 lawsuit that he had sexually and physically abused her. Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, tweeted 'lol' in the wake of news Perry and Dr. Luke would be collaborating. Perry was confronted about the controversial collaboration as she exited a Paris Fashion Week event on Wednesday, as per video obtained by TMZ As she made her way through the crowd, one fan asked the star point blank: 'Isn't your album about women empowerment? Why are you working with Dr. Luke?'; Perry seen Wednesday A number of followers speculated on the meaning of Kesha's 'lol' tweet Monday, with one speculating that 'she's laughing at katy and her new song,' while another asked, 'Is this Katy shade?' Other people were more pointed toward Perry's professional decision to collaborate with Dr. Luke. 'It'll never be a 'Woman's World' bc people like Katy Perry continue to support and uplift abusers in the industry like Dr. Luke,' one user said. Another added, 'I'm actually in shock how so many Katy Perry fans are defending her with this Dr. Luke thing it's ok to hold your favorite artist accountable btw.' One user said that Perry had been calculating in the move, as she 'waited for the whole court process to end before calling him again.' One user said they 'won't be listening,' while another said, 'Some people make music with integrity, while others just care about having a number 1.' The fallout from the allegations and long-running legal battle with Kesha led artist Doja Cat in December 2021 to declare that she would not collaborate with him moving forward. Earlier this month, Rolling Stone reported that Perry is collaborating with Dr. Luke (seen in 2014) as well as Max Martin, Sarah Hudson and Stargate on her sixth record Katy's new single Woman's World - which Dr. Luke co-produced - is slated for a July 11 release Kesha, whose full name is Kesha Rose Sebert, tweeted 'lol' in the wake of news Perry and Dr. Luke would be collaborating; Kesha seen in May Perry's new single is being marketed as a feminist anthem 'I don't think I need to work with him again,' Doja Cat told Rolling Stone. I don't think I need to work with him in the future. I know that.' The Santa Barbara, California native recently released a clip on TikTok previewing her upcoming track Woman's World, which is set to be released July 11. Perry this past February said she was departing the series American Idol after seven seasons to put her attention toward her career as a solo artist. Kesha and Dr. Luke announced they had settled their long-running legal battle in June of 2023. Kesha said in a statement at the conclusion of the proceedings, 'Only God knows what happened that night;' while Dr. Luke said he was 'absolutely certain that nothing happened' and that he 'never drugged or assaulted her.' Perry was one of a number of notable names who submit testimony or a sworn statement in the case, a group that included Lady Gaga, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Adam Levine, according to the AP. Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Perry for comment on the story. This week, Perry has been taking Paris Fashion Week by storm as she attended a slew of runway shows in some of her raciest outfits yet On Sunday, Perry made her runway debut as she walked in the Vogue World show in a shocking see-through frock This week, Perry has been taking Paris Fashion Week by storm as she attended a slew of runway shows in some of her raciest outfits yet. She was accused of copying Kanye West's 29-year-old wife Bianca Censori as she went topless under a black fur coat for the star-studded Balenciaga show. Censori who wed the controversial rapper, 47, in January 2023 has garnered a reputation for stepping out in similar revealing ensembles. Days before that, Perry made her runway debut as she walked in the Vogue World show in a shocking see-through frock. Douglas Is Cancelled (ITV1) Rating: Never make a joke. Just don't, ever. It's too dangerous. The humourless forces of Woke will annihilate you and every futile excuse you attempt will only make matters worse. By the time veteran news presenter Douglas Bellows realises he's been heard cracking an injudicious funny at a family wedding, it's too late. The allegation is all over social media, his agent is already preparing to dump him, his employers are going into full 'damage limitation mode' and his career is dead. He just isn't aware of it yet. It doesn't matter that no one knows what the joke was. Even Douglas (Hugh Bonneville) can't remember it. The whistleblower on Twitter, or X, says it was 'extremely sexist' and that's enough to destroy him. The fall-out could be catastrophic for his family too. Wife Sheila (Alex Kingston) is a newspaper editor whose own reporters are already sharpening the knives for Douglas. Even his 19-year-old daughter Claudia (Madeleine Power) is concerned she'll never be able to speak to him again. Generation Z preaches kindness and tolerance above all things, but this doesn't extend to actual jokes. Hugh Bonneville is a limited actor but his amiably aggrieved persona is ideal for Douglas, a blend of Downton's Lord Grantham and Paddington's Mr Brown, writes CHRISTOPHER STEVENS With criss-crossing dialogue and punchlines paced so rapidly, writer Stephen Moffat is able to avoid the pitfall of making his satire too explicit Writer Stephen Moffat, best known for Sherlock and Doctor Who, deftly maintains a balance between comedy and social satire in Douglas Is Cancelled (ITV), with a rapid-fire script that springs a series of surprises on us as well as its hapless hero. Bonneville is a limited actor but his amiably aggrieved persona is ideal for this part, a blend of Downton's Lord Grantham and Paddington's Mr Brown. There's nothing limited about Karen Gillan's talents. She's electrifying, with a supernatural ability to imply layers of conflicting thought and emotion under the most innocuous remarks. As Douglas's co-star, Madeline Crow, she might be his most faithful supporter or she could be the instigator of the entire scandal, plotting to finish him. In one early scene, as she bantered with Douglas from the back seat of her chauffeured limo in the studio car park, a hint of flirtation crackled through the air. 'How do you do that then?' marvelled her driver. 'Create chemistry?' It's an excellent question: somehow, Gillan was able to leave a subliminal impression that, just possibly, they had more than a professional understanding on the sofa. Yet when she returned to her soulless penthouse to find a male friend waiting for her, she threw him out, in a fit of apparent loathing for herself and the rest of the world. Then she took to social media and posted an ambiguous message about Douglas: 'Don't believe this. Not my co-presenter.' Is she saying she refuses to think him capable of a sexist joke? Or that she's so exasperated that she won't work with him any more? So far, Madeline has been a peripheral character. Watching her shift to centre-stage and reveal who she really is will be the most intriguing aspect of the series. There's also a splash of old-fashioned Generation Gap comedy that wouldn't be amiss in a sitcom 50 years older. Editor Sheila is flummoxed by her timid assistant Helen (Stephanie Hyam) who wields her own cancellation superpower. She has only to whisper 'HR' to have her boss wringing her hands. 'It's OK for you to say anything you like to me,' Sheila pleads. 'I promise to break eye contact on request and will never sustain it for more than 30 seconds.' At home, Sheila is baffled by her daughter's insistence on leaving the front door wide open. 'People might come into the house, this is for your own safety,' she pleads. 'For my safety? Does this mean I won't be allowed outside now?' Claudia fumes. 'If it's safe for me to be outside, why isn't it safe to leave the door open?' With criss-crossing dialogue and punchlines paced so rapidly, Moffat is able to avoid the pitfall of making his satire too explicit. The inspirations are obvious, most of all the downfall of Huw Edwards last year. Douglas is Cancelled is partly inspired by the downfall of BBC anchor Huw Edwards last year There's also a plot thread around Douglas's relationship with his junior co-worker Madeline. The question is... has he taken inappropriate advantage of her? Douglas has Edwards's sort of gravitas, appropriate for state occasions and ominous bulletins: 'As far as viewers are concerned,' his producer tells him, 'your voice is what makes people dead.' But there's also an echo of the trivial scandal that ended Alastair Stewart's tenure at ITN, after he quoted a jibe about an 'angry ape' from Shakespeare's Measure For Measure on Twitter and was accused of racism. Then there's Phil-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. You know who I mean. Never mind jokes at weddings has Douglas taken inappropriate advantage of his relationship with a junior co-worker... Madeline? If he has, he's going to find himself cancelled to the centre of the Earth. Sometimes you can dig yourself into a hole so deep, there's no climbing out of it ever again Mel Schilling has shared photos of her surgical scar after undergoing a procedure for colon cancer last year. The 52-year-old Married At First Sight relationship expert revealed the small scar, which is situated under her belly button, in a series of bikini photos as she enjoyed a holiday in Northern Ireland with her husband Gareth Brisbane. The reality TV host revealed her shock health battle in December last year and underwent surgery just before the end of the year. At the time, she explained her tumour - which she named 'Terry' - was removed by UK doctors. However, as the cancer spread through her colon into the muscle, Mel discovered she needed chemotherapy and began treatment at the end of February. She has since posted about the 'incredible response' to the bikini photos, and urged others not to ignore the signs and symptoms of the disease. 'So many of you were surprised at how SMALL my scar is - it was a keyhole surgery, it took 90 minutes and I was up and walking the next day,' she wrote in her caption. 'I'm sharing this here to highlight the fact that the IDEA of bowel cancer does not have to be big and scary. There is no need to ignore your symptoms or avoid talking to your doctor - in fact, the sooner you take action on your symptoms, the less intervention you're likely to need. Mel Schilling has shared photos of her surgical scar after undergoing a procedure for colon cancer The 52-year-old Married At First Sight relationship expert revealed the small scar, which is situated under her belly button, in a series of bikini photos as she enjoyed her holiday in Northern Ireland with her husband Gareth Brisbane 'Yes, bowel cancer is serious business and it's affecting more & more people under 50 but if you take immediate & assertive action almost 99% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully.' Earlier this month, Mel bravely opened up about her ongoing battle with colon cancer, providing an honest glimpse into the 'chemo chapter' of her life. Sharing a series of poignant photos on social media, the MAFS star highlighted the duality of her life as she juggles work and chemotherapy. In her heartfelt post, Mel shared the reality of her experience, juxtaposing glamorous moments with the harsh realities of her treatment. 'THIS IS ME for every moment of energy & vibrancy you see there's an equal and opposite moment of fatigue & discomfort,' she wrote. The photos included shots of Mel in full glam, exuding confidence, as well as more vulnerable images showing her undergoing chemotherapy and resting in a hammock. The reality TV host revealed her shock health battle in December and underwent colon surgery just before the end of the year One particularly telling image shows Mel lying in a hammock, eyes closed, with a copy of self-help book The Reality Slap by Russ Harris resting on her chest. 'This is my chemo chapter it's very up and down,' Mel explained in her post. 'Now on cycle six of eight, I'm learning how my body responds and finding ways to schedule my work during high energy periods and making the most of rest and self care in between.' 'Learning to rest is a huge challenge for me but I'm slowly adapting,' she continued. Mel emphasised that this chapter of her life is short-term, a crucial reminder she gives herself regularly. 'It's temporary and will pass,' she went on. 'I know I have other, probably challenging chapters ahead, but they are not for today.' 'Self compassion is one of my biggest lessons I'm learning to cut myself some slack, allow the rest my body craves and to be kind to myself when I can't be my usual '100% energy Mel'.' Earlier this month, Mel bravely opened up about her ongoing battle with colon cancer, providing an honest glimpse into the 'chemo chapter' of her life Ella Morgan commanded attention in a racy barely-there dazzling co-ord as she attended the PrettyLittleThing Pride party in London on Thursday night. The Married At First Sight star, 29, who is transgender, made sure all eyes were on her in the eye catching bralette and matching mini skirt. She looked incredible as she went braless under the halter neck top and flashed a sexy pink lace thong under the daring skirt. The beauty elevated her frame in a pair of towering heels and rocked a pink waved hairstyle and toted her belongings in a matching handbag. She was joined at the event by Danielle Harold who cut a stylish figure in a black cropped blazer and mini skirt. Ella Morgan commanded attention in a racy barely-there dazzling co-ord as she attended the PrettyLittleThing Pride party in London on Thursday night She was joined at the event by Danielle Harold who cut a stylish figure in a black cropped blazer and mini skirt The former EastEnders star, 32, displayed her toned abs in the co-ord and elevated her frame in a pair of open toe boots. The duo smiled as they posed up a storm together in front of a colourful balloon arch. They were also joined at the party by Georgia Steel who looked amazing as she went braless under a racy white lace plunging bodysuit. The Love Island star teamed the number with a pair of white wide legged jeans and kept comfortable in a pair of flat pumps. Georgia accessorised with a number of gold jewelry and toted her belongings around in a matching clutch. Elsewhere, Helen Flanagan turned heads in an oversized black blazer which she wore over a lace maxi skirt. The TV personality added inches to her frame in a pair of silver heels and carried her belongings in an eye catching gold clutch. The mother-of-three styled her blonde tresses in a neat ponytail as she beamed for photos. The Married At First Sight star, 29, who is transgender, made sure all eyes were on her in the eye catching bralette and matching mini skirt She looked incredible as she went braless under the halter neck top and flashed a sexy pink lace thong under the daring skirt The former EastEnders star, 32, displayed her toned abs in the co-ord and elevated her frame in a pair of open toe boots The soap star styled her long blonde tresses pulled over her one shoulder and donned a glamorous palette of makeup The duo were all smiles as they posed up a storm together in front of a colourful balloon arch Elsewhere Helen Flanagan turned heads in an oversized black blazer which she wore over a lace maxi skirt They were also joined at the party by Georgia Steel who looked amazing as she went braless under a racy white lace plunging bodysuit and jeans Love Island bombshell Arabella Chi put on a very leggy display in a strapless white skater dress She elevated her frame in a pair of cool green Louis Vuitton sandals and carried her belongings in a white handbag Arabella seemed in high spirits as she posed with glamorous co-star Georgia Harrison who stunned in a yellow and blue floral co-ord Georgia flashed her toned midriff in the corset top and mini skirt which boasted blue ribbon bow sleeves She wore a pair of blue lace heels with the two-piece and added a matching handbag to the ensemble Ella smiled as she posed with Love Island All Stars beauties Georgia and Arabella TOWIE's Dani Imbert dressed to impress for the party in a white bralette and blue ripped denim jean as she was joined by co-star Junaid Ahmed Love Island legend Cally Jane Beech showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a brown corset and matching mini skirt Ella gave Helen a hug as they headed home after the party Helen was unusually demure for her night out in the cit Ella left little to the imagination as she strutted out of the bash in her daring outfit THe pair looked like they were having fun as they posed for a photo Ella struggled to stay on her feet as she left the venue Love Island bombshell Arabella Chi put on a very leggy display in a strapless white skater dress. She elevated her frame in a pair of cool green Louis Vuitton sandals and carried her belongings in a white handbag. Arabella seemed in high spirits as she posed with glamorous co-star Georgia Harrison who stunned in a yellow and blue floral co-ord. Georgia flashed her toned midriff in the corset top and mini skirt which boasted blue ribbon bow sleeves. She wore a pair of blue lace heels with the two-piece and added a matching handbag to the ensemble. TOWIE's Dani Imbert dressed to impress for the party in a white bralette and blue ripped denim jeans. Leaving her long tresses loose, she elevated her slim figure in a pair of gold heels and carried a matching stylish handbag. Dani was all smiles as she posed with co-star and pal Junaid Ahmed who wowed in an pink shirt and shorts. Love Island legend Cally Jane Beech showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a brown corset and matching mini skirt. The ITV2 star opted for a pair of matching heeled sandals and toted a Louis Vuitton handbag on her shoulder. Advertisement Emma Roberts turned heads in a fashionable ensemble as she attended the star-studded premiere of her latest film, Space Cadet, in New York City on Thursday. The Scream Queens alum, 33 - who recently flaunted her personal sense of style in a ruffled pink gown - joined other celebrities on the red carpet at the Metrograph cinema where the festivities took place. The actress notably took on the leading role of Rex in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video comedy - which is slated to release on the streaming site next month on July 4. Roberts put on a leggy display wearing a shimmering, silver miniskirt that contained a hem that stopped inches above her knees. She additionally donned a fitted, nude-colored corset top and a pair of open-toed, strappy pumps. Emma Roberts, 33, turned heads in a fashionable ensemble as she attended the star-studded premiere of her latest film, Space Cadet, in New York City on Thursday The actress notably took on the leading role of Rex in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video comedy - which is slated to release on the streaming site next month on July 4 Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Emma opted to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry in order to allow the outfit to be the main focal point for the special evening. The star's makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a darker nude tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. The mother-of-one was seen striking a variety of poses on the red carpet better show off her look ahead of the screening. Roberts was also spotted arriving to the main venue, and sent a friendly wave as she was greeted by fans at the theater. Along with Emma, other stars that were cast in the project include Tom Hopper, Gabrielle Union, Poppy Liu, Desi Lydic and also Yasha Jackson. The premise follows: 'Rex, a Florida party girl, who turns out to be the only hope for the NASA space program after a fluke puts her in training with other candidates who may have better resumes, but don't have her smarts, heart, and moxie,' per IMDB. Roberts put on a leggy display wearing a shimmering, silver miniskirt that contained a hem that stopped inches above her knees She additionally donned a fitted, nude-colored corset top and a pair of open-toed, strappy pumps Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves The star's makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes Along with Emma, other stars that were cast in the project include Tom Hopper, Gabrielle Union, Poppy Liu, Desi Lydic and also Yasha Jackson Liz W. Garcia wrote and directed, Space Cadet, while also taking on a role of executive producer on the movie. 'This is one of my favorite scripts I've ever read! It reminded me of Legally Blonde and Private Benjamin. Writer/Director Liz Garcia is someone I've wanted to work with for so long,' Emma told Cosmopolitan earlier this month. 'She wrote the character Rex to inspire people to follow their dreams and I was excited to bring that to life. This is a feel-good movie with lots of laughs which is what I want to see these days!' She added, 'Part of the reason I fell in love with Space Cadet is because it gave me nostalgia for movies I've done like Wild Child.' 'It was so much fun to do physical comedy. I got to work with so many hilarious actors including Poppy Liu who is a comedic genius!!!' Poppy Liu wowed in a strapless, blue velvet gown with a fitted bodice that had nude-colored fabric on the side. The hem of the dress fell down towards her ankles and also contained feathery, green details for a unique flare. The Hacks actress slipped into a pair of closed-toed, silver heels while her dark locks were parted to the side, and styled into stylish braids around her head. 'This is one of my favorite scripts I've ever read! It reminded me of Legally Blonde and Private Benjamin. Writer/Director Liz Garcia is someone I've wanted to work with for so long,' Emma told Cosmopolitan earlier this month Poppy Liu wowed in a strapless, blue velvet gown with a fitted bodice that had nude-colored fabric on the side The hem of the dress fell down towards her ankles and also contained feathery, green details for a unique flare While pausing for a brief photo session, Liu was seen crossing paths with Roberts on the red carpet The pair excitedly reunited and flashed cheerful smiles as they took a few memorable photos together Desi Lydic put on a classy display in a black ensemble that had a plunging neckline on the front and was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her shoulders A sparkling, silver trim wrapped around the bodice and formed into a bow at the front, with strips of material falling down on the front Poppy added a silver necklace as well as a chunky bracelet on her left wrist and a variety of rings to accessorize the ensemble. While pausing for a brief photo session, Liu was seen crossing paths with Roberts on the red carpet. The pair excitedly reunited and flashed cheerful smiles as they took a few memorable photos together. Desi Lydic put on a classy display in a black ensemble that had a plunging neckline on the front and was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her shoulders. A sparkling, silver trim wrapped around the bodice and formed into a bow at the front, with strips of material falling down on the front. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle, and cascaded down straight to brush past her shoulders. Lydic further glammed up the outfit by wearing a pair of dazzling, silver earrings as well as flashy rings on each of her hands. Liz W. Garcia was effortlessly chic wearing a one-shoulder, black dress as well as a pair of open-toed, nude heels that were secured with straps that wrapped around her ankles. A warm blush and contour was added to better accentuate her cheekbones, while a satin nude tint was worn on her lips. Lydic further glammed up the outfit by wearing a pair of dazzling, silver earrings as well as flashy rings on each of her hands Desi flashed a big smile as she paused for a quick photo with Kodi Berg who donned a black dress with a tasseled fringe on the asymmetrical hem Liz W. Garcia was effortlessly chic wearing a one-shoulder, black dress as well as a pair of open-toed, nude heels that were secured with straps that wrapped around her ankles The filmmaker's hair was parted in the middle, and pulled back into a sleek bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face Yasha Jackson wowed in a colorful, sequin dress as well as a pair of closed-toed, shiny pink heels The actress easily carried a small, gold clutch bag in her hand to hold a few items she needed during the big night The filmmaker's hair was parted in the middle, and pulled back into a sleek bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. Liz added a pair of large, chunky gold earrings as well as a gold bracelet on her right wrist to glam up the look. She was seen crossing paths with Emma, and the stylish duo also stopped to take snaps together at the premiere. Yasha Jackson wowed in a colorful, sequin dress as well as a pair of closed-toed, shiny pink heels. Her dark, brunette locks were parted in the middle, and flowed down past her shoulders in elegant curls. The actress easily carried a small, gold clutch bag in her hand to hold a few items she needed during the big night. Josephine Huang showed off her sense of style in a strapless, blue sequin dress as well as a pair of closed-toed, silver heels. The star carried a small, circular purse in her hand and added a silver necklace as well as flashy earrings to accessorize the outfit. Josephine Huang showed off her sense of style in a strapless, blue sequin dress as well as a pair of closed-toed, silver heels Veronika Molnar put on a leggy display wearing a black, satin minidress with lace details near the hem. She donned a pair of open-toed, black strappy heels and carried a black, Yves Saint Laurent clutch bag in her right hand Jules Rodriguez sported a light blue, denim pantsuit with a deep, V-neck cut as well as a pair of black ankle boots Nicque Marina turned heads wearing a figure-hugging, orange dress with a draped neckline on the front Veronika Molnar put on a leggy display wearing a black, satin minidress with lace details near the hem. She donned a pair of open-toed, black strappy heels and carried a black, Yves Saint Laurent clutch bag in her right hand. Molnar star added a dainty necklace as well as a matching bracelet on her left wrist, while her locks flowed down straight past her shoulders. Jules Rodriguez sported a light blue, denim pantsuit with a deep, V-neck cut as well as a pair of black ankle boots. The star carried a dark gray handbag and added a pair of black shades as well as silver hoops and a chunky, pearl necklace. Marina Ingvarsson was stylishly casual in a short-sleeved, white shirt with 'Ciao' printed on the front as well as a black maxi skirt. She slipped into a pair of closed-toed, white flats and held a small, white purse in her hand to coincide with the color scheme of her outfit. A pair of black sunglasses as well as a silver necklace was further added to glam up the look. Nicque Marina turned heads wearing a figure-hugging, orange dress with a draped neckline on the front. Ashley Nocera flashed her toned frame wearing a cropped, green and white-patterned cropped top as well as a matching, fitted maxi skirt Nadiia Medvedchuk was classy in a floral-patterned dress that had sparkling rhinestone details on the front as well as a thin belt that wrapped around her waist Her locks were parted to the side and pulled back into a chic up do, easily revealing a pair of dangly, sparkling earrings. Ashley Nocera flashed her toned frame wearing a cropped, green and white-patterned cropped top as well as a matching, fitted maxi skirt. Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. Nocera added a pair of silver-hooped earrings as well as dainty bracelets on each of her wrists. Lacey Tanner was fashionable in a black, lace bralette top as well as a black skirt and cropped, leather jacket. She slipped into a pair of black boots with red, fire details on the material and carried a black purse over her right shoulder. Anya Tisdale sported a gray, pleated miniskirt as well as dark gray socks and closed-toed, black pumps Andrew Call was dapper in a classic, black suit as well as a matching vest and a light blue, dress shirt underneath. The star completed the overall ensemble by wearing a pair of brown shoes Her hair was swept up into a chic up do, with the star accessorizing the outfit with a gold necklace as well as colorful bracelets on each of her wrists. Nadiia Medvedchuk was classy in a floral-patterned dress that had sparkling rhinestone details on the front as well as a thin belt that wrapped around her waist. She donned a pair of closed-toed, white heels as well as a small, white purse in her right hand. Anya Tisdale sported a gray, pleated miniskirt as well as dark gray socks and closed-toed, black pumps. Later in the night, Josephine was seen pausing for a fun photo with others who were dressed as astronauts - fitting the theme of the upcoming movie Emma Roberts and Poppy Liu also reunited with their fellow co-star, Tom Hopper, shortly before the screening commenced in NYC Roberts and Liu were also pictured hanging out at the film's after-party The fashionistas danced and chatted with guests The pals were all smiles as they caught up on the dance floor. They looked to be having a blast Roberts notably took on the leading role of Rex in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video comedy - which is slated to release on the streaming site next month on July 4 The star layered the outfit with black, Balenciaga jacket and carried a vibrant, blue purse over her right shoulder. Andrew Call was dapper in a classic, black suit as well as a matching vest and a light blue, dress shirt underneath. The star completed the overall ensemble by wearing a pair of brown shoes. Later in the night, Josephine was seen pausing for a fun photo with others who were dressed as astronauts - fitting the theme of the upcoming movie. Emma Roberts and Poppy Liu also reunited with their fellow co-star, Tom Hopper, shortly before the screening commenced in NYC. Mandy Moore put her baby bump on display as she stepped out in Sherman Oaks, California on Thursday. The Golden Globe nominee, 40, was spotted leaving Osteria La Buca in an ankle-length denim shirt dress after enjoying a delicious lunch. Moore accessorized the long-sleeve number with a pair of gray sandals and a matching purse. Moore announced her third pregnancy in May, revealing that she's expecting a baby girl with husband Taylor Goldsmith. The This Is Us alum referenced the hit NBC drama in her announcement. 'Sometimes life imitates art,' she wrote. Mandy Moore put her baby bump on display as she stepped out in Sherman Oaks, California on Thursday The Golden Globe nominee, 40, was spotted leaving Osteria La Buca in an ankle-length denim shirt dress after enjoying a delicious lunch 'The third in our own Big Three coming soon,' added Moore. 'Can't wait for these boys to have a baby sister.' She and Goldsmith, 38, tied the knot in 2018, and they share sons August 'Gus' Harrison, three, and one-year-old Oscar 'Ozzie' Bennett. After welcoming Ozzie in October 2022 and getting back to work weeks later on Dr. Death, Moore discussed the possibility of having another baby. 'I have not closed that door,' she said on Today in October 2023. 'I'm one of three, so I just can't imagine a world without siblings, and I always knew that if I were lucky enough to have a family, like, I would love to have more than one.' Moore added, 'I didn't realize that when the second one came out I'd be like, "I think I can do this again."' The In Real Life artist said she 'always wanted to be a mom' in January as she once thought pregnancy wasn't an option. 'But there was a time when I thought I might not be able to have kids,' she wrote on Instagram at the time. Moore announced her third pregnancy in May, revealing that she's expecting a baby girl with husband Taylor Goldsmith; seen on June 15 She and Goldsmith, 38, tied the knot in 2018, and they share sons August 'Gus' Harrison, three, and one-year-old Oscar 'Ozzie' Bennett After welcoming Ozzie in October 2022 and getting back to work weeks later on Dr. Death , Moore discussed the possibility of having another baby; seen on June 24 'I remember when the doctor told me there was a slim chance of getting pregnant and then lo and behold to our surprise, I became pregnant with Gus. 'Motherhood is a beautiful, messy, sleepless gift and to have two kiddos under twowhew!!! Playing Rebecca on #ThisIsUs actually prepared me for it a bit like changing a diaper for the first time and running around set with "triplets."' Moore added in part, 'Being a mom on This Is Us to triplets at various stages of life and now being a mom to Gus and Ozzie, well, I've learned that as hard as you try and as good intentioned as you may be, it is impossible to "get it right" all of the time.' Jacob Elordi has made a dramatic change to his appearance. The Hollywood heartthrob, 26, shocked fans when he debuted a new gold tooth on Thursday. He simply captioned the Instagram story: 'Thankz and love 2 all of u dear friends,' leaving followers eager for more details about his bold transformation. The Euphoria star will appear in two upcoming movies and a miniseries, all of which centre on different real-life wars. In the movie Oh, Canada, set for release in May, Elordi will co-star with Richard Gere in a complex drama which explores the life of a Vietnam War draft dodger. Elordi will also be appearing in the film On Swift Horses alongside British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, about people rebuilding their lives after the Korean War. He will also star in the Australian miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North, which focuses on a doctor's love affair during World War II. Jacob Elordi has taken to social media to share a drastic change to his appearance These three challenging roles are sure to bring more acclaim to Elordi, who recently won over critics with his performance in the psychological drama Saltburn. In November, Jacob revealed revealed the surprising star who helped him lose his Australian accent upon moving to Hollywood. He admitted on The Kelly Clarkson Show that listening to Eminem records helped him develop a distinctly American manner of speaking. 'I listened to a lot of Eminem, like a terrible amount. I love that man so much,' he began. On Thursday, the Saltburn posed for a selfie and debuted a golden tooth Clarkson then asked him if constantly listening to the rapper had seen him develop a 'tough American' way of speaking. 'It was like Detroit. I have to thank him so much for helping me get rid of the Australian accent,' he said. Elordi began his career in 2018 by appearing in the Aussie movies Swinging Safari and The Very Excellent Mr Dundee. He relocated to Los Angeles several years later after being cast in the popular US teen drama Euphoria. Advertisement As they prepare to walk down the aisle, Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart are enjoying a romantic getaway nearly seven months after announcing their engagement. The Dancing With The Stars couple put on some PDA as they recently celebrated their engagement with a couple's trip to Sandals Dunn's River in Jamaica. Stewart, 34, showed off her glistening toned bod under the Caribbean sun in a knit cropped tank top. The professional dancer paired the top with an army green sarong skirt, going barefoot during a romantic photo shoot on the beach. She accessorized the look with layers of jewels and a pair of brown strappy kitten heels before hitting the beach. As they prepare to walk down the aisle, Daniel Durant and Britt Stewart are enjoying a romantic getaway nearly seven months after announcing their engagement Stewart, 34, showed off her glistening toned bod under the Caribbean sun in a knit cropped tank top The professional dancer paired the top with an army green sarong skirt, going barefoot during a romantic photo shoot on the beach Durant complemented his future bride in a white short-sleeve shirt, which he wore with the top buttons undone. The deaf actor, 34, finished the look with a pair of khaki shorts and white sneakers as they posed around the resort. They also showed off their dance moves during their romantic stroll on the beach, galivanting in the water. Durant and Stewart began dating after they competed together on season 31 of DWTS in 2022. The pair made it to the semifinals, where they finished in fifth place. Last February, Durant confirmed they were dating, sharing a selfie of the happy couple. 'My Valentine. Happy Valentine's Day!' he wrote in the caption. The CODA star and his wife-to-be announced their engagement in December after he proposed during a Christmas Day hike with their families in Lake Arrowhead, California. 'Forever!!' Stewart captioned a photo of the couple as she showed off her engagement ring. Durant popped the question after everyone in the family took turns sharing what they were grateful for that year. She accessorized the look with layers of jewels and a pair of brown strappy kitten heels before hitting the beach Durant complemented his future bride in a white short-sleeve shirt, which he wore with the top buttons undone The deaf actor finished the look with a pair of khaki shorts and white sneakers as they posed around the resort They also showed off their dance moves during their romantic stroll on the beach and around the resort Durant and Stewart began dating after they competed together on season 31 of DWTS in 2022 Last February, Durant confirmed they were dating, sharing a selfie of the happy couple. 'My Valentine. Happy Valentine's Day!' he wrote in the caption 'I just feel like there's balance. She sees me. She knows my culture, my language, and understands everything about me,' said Durant, admitting he started 'welling up' during the proposal 'I was the last one and I started talking about the year, about us meeting and everything that happens in life,' he told People. 'I just feel like there's balance. She sees me. She knows my culture, my language, and understands everything about me,' said Durant, admitting he started 'welling up' during the proposal. 'We were both emotional, overwhelmed with joy and at peace knowing that this would eventually be part of our story,' added Stewart. 'It felt like magic, but at the same time, it felt right and normal.' Nicole Kidman was given the royal treatment this week as she attended Paris Fashion Week. The Australian actress, 57, is one of the flurry of stars who have descended on the French capital to take in the high-end designer shows. The Academy Award winner has shared snippets of her lavish stay in a suite at the world-famous The Peninsula Paris, which costs around $30,000 (18,050) per night. Nicole appears to be staying in the Peninsula suite, the largest lodging inside the luxury hotel. The suite sleeps up to three guests and features an expansive floorplan consisting of massive living and dining areas, as well as two dressing rooms that connect to a huge bathroom with two toilets and a bath tub. A large fireplace and a grand piano are situated in the living room while the lengthy dining table seats 10 people. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Paris Fashion Week, the mother-of-four indulged in a bit of relaxation and showed off her radiant complexion while relaxing in a bathrobe. One snap showed Nicole sitting on her hotel windowsill at dusk, gazing out at the iconic Haussmann architecture of the Avenue Kleber. Nicole Kidman was given the royal treatment this week as she attended Paris Fashion Week She treated her fans to a few glimpses of other views from the room, including one of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, shimmering over the darkened city rooftops. Nicole's posts came amid a social media furor over the fact she and her close friend Naomi Watts attended the Balenciaga show on Wednesday. Nearly two years ago, the brand was plunged into scandal and forced to apologise over an ad campaign that prompted even frequent Balenciaga model Kim Kardashian to declare she was 'outraged' and 'disgusted'. Some pictures in the campaign showed children holding teddy-bear-shaped purses that were dressed in what appeared to be bondage gear. The Academy Award winner has shared snippets of her lavish stay in a suite at the world-famous The Peninsula Paris, which costs around $30,000 (18,050) per night The suite sleeps up to three guests and features an expansive floorplan consisting of massive living and dining areas, as well as two dressing rooms that connect to a huge bathroom with two toilets and a bath tub Nicole shared a picture of herself sitting in hotel windowsill at dusk, gazing out at the iconic Haussmann architecture of the Avenue Kleber One photo was of a handbag on a desk strewn with various papers - including a United States Supreme Court ruling involving child pornography. A particularly controversial picture showed a child lying down on a couch next to a coffee table that held empty wineglasses and Stella Artois chalices. Kim publicly announced that she was 'shaken by the disturbing images' and was 'reevaluating my relationship' with Balenciaga. However Nicole - who had recently starred in a Balenciaga campaign - never buckled under the pressure to issue her own statement denouncing the brand, even while social media commentators furiously demanded she do so. As the dust settled, Kim decided to remain in the Balenciaga fold, officially becoming the face of the fashion house this January. A large fireplace and a grand piano are featured in the living room while the lengthy dining table seats 10 people She treated her fans to a few glimpses of other views from the room, including one of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, shimmering over the darkened city rooftops Her posts came amid a social media furore over the fact she and her close friend Naomi Watts attended the Balenciaga show on Wednesday Meanwhile, Nicole demonstrated her own loyalty to the label when she and Naomi cheerfully attended its latest fashion show in Paris this week. Nicole brought along her 15-year-old daughter Sunday Rose, who is one of the two children she shares with her country star husband Keith Urban. Outraged social media users sprang online to condemn the two movie stars, making note of the fact both of them have children of their own. 'I simply cannot believe that anyone, particularly a parent, would associate with this brand. Much less GIVE them positive publicity and support,' fumed one. 'Such poor taste to associate with this brand,' seethed another, while a third recoiled: 'Eww. Balenciaga are Not Like Us.' Vera Wang shared an adorable throwback photo on social media in celebration of turning 75. The famous fashion designer posted the black-and-white photo on Wednesday, the day before her birthday, for her nearly 1 million followers on Instagram. The photo showed a young Vera in a checkered patterned dress looking over her shoulder with a small smile. 'CIRCA 1956. Just me. TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE,' Vera wrote as a caption. Vera shared a short video on Thursday that was presented when she won the 2013 Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. Vera Wang shared an adorable throwback photo on social media in celebration of turning 75 'In celebration of my 75th birthday, one of the most treasured moments of my 55 years in fashion and 35 years in business. Thank you @cfda for this unforgettable honor,' she wrote, referencing the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The N + N Films video directed by Jun Diaz depicted a young Vera running around a backyard and having a vision of models in stunning designs including herself as an older bride. Vera gained worldwide recognition for her wedding dresses that have been worn by numerous celebrities, including: Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham and Hilary Duff. The New York City native earlier this week wowed fans by posting a selfie on Instagram that showed her age-defying looks. Vera wore a grey T-shirt, black mini skirt, and burgundy tights with matching platform heels. She had her signature long, straight locks pulled back in a black headband and threw a fur vest over her shoulder. For the selfie, Vera posed in front of a mirror, displaying her tiny legs and trim figure. The fashion designer captioned her post, 'When its 90 degrees outside, but your office is freezing..SUMMER IN THE CITY!' Followers flocked to the comments section to praise the former figure skater - who has continued to look years younger than her actual age. The famous fashion designer, shown earlier this month in New York City, posted the black-and-white photo on Wednesday, the day before her birthday, for her nearly 1 million followers on Instagram The New York City native earlier this week wowed fans by posting a selfie on Instagram that showed her age-defying looks Vera, shown in March in Los Angeles, gained worldwide recognition for her wedding dresses that have been worn by numerous celebrities, including: Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Chelsea Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham and Hilary Duff Followers flocked to the comments section to praise the former figure skater - who has continued to look years younger than her actual age. One user wrote, 'You look amazing! My heroe Vera,' while another chimed in, ' You look so good!' The icon welcomed summer as she danced around her pool in a white tank top, a low-waisted denim mini-skirt, and white heels. Making sure to protect her skin, Vera donned a hat and sunglasses as she held onto her coffee cup and moved to the beat of Michael Jackson's hit song, You Rock My World. The wedding dress guru wrote beneath the clip, 'COFFEE BREAK.' Vera was married to Arthur Paul Becker, 74, for 23 years before announcing their separation in July 2012. They have two daughters Cecilia, 34, and Josephine, 31, who they adopted. Katie Holmes embraced her chic sense of style at the Patou Spring/Summer 2025 Rose runway show during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday. The Dawson's Creek alum, 45 - whose daughter Suri recently dropped her surname of Cruise amid estrangement from father Tom Cruise - was spotted showing off her look as she left the venue following the event. The actress donned a plain, fitted white top as well as loose-fitting, denim pants with a flared hem. She additionally layered the ensemble by sporting a black jacket with a red lining and slipped into a pair of black, heeled shoes. Holmes easily carried a white purse over her right shoulder to coincide with the color scheme of her outfit. Katie Holmes, 45, embraced her chic sense of style at the Patou Spring/Summer 2025 Rose runway show during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday The actress donned a plain, white top as well as loose-fitting, denim pants with a flared hem The star's brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves. A gold belt was wrapped around her lower waist that offered a flashy flare to the look for the event, but didn't add any additional accessories. Katie's makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a nude-colored, satin tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. Holmes was seen exiting the Patou runway show amidst Paris Fashion Week and was greeted by awaiting fans outside of the main venue. She also paused for a variety of snaps to better showcase her stylish outfit that she wore for event. Earlier this month in June, the Batman Begins actress opened up about her personal sense of style and how her fashion has evolved over the years as a mother-of-one. 'When my child was really small, I was drawn to wearing a lot of dresses,' Katie told The Times. She additionally layered the ensemble by sporting a black jacket with a red lining and slipped into a pair of black, heeled shoes The star's brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves A gold belt was wrapped around her lower waist that offered a flashy flare to the look for the event, but didn't add any additional accessories Katie's makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a smoky shadow around her eyes 'You do go through these different phases of motherhood and they inform what you feel comfortable in and what you don't. So over the years my style has changed here and there.' 'Living in New York City, I have to have things that are practical and comfortable. Usually I'm in ballet flats, sneakers, baggy jeans and a T-shirt,' the beauty continued. Holmes added that she has clothing pieces that she can pass down to her daughter Suri, 18, but expressed the teen also 'has her own sense of style and her own expressions.' It was also recently revealed that Suri dropped the surname of Cruise amidst her estrangement from father, Tom Cruise. The 18-year-old notably graduated from high school earlier this month - and now goes by the name of Suri Noelle, which also happens to be her mother, Katie's, middle name. In the teen's school production of The Addams Family: A New Musical late last year in December, she was also credited as Suri Noelle rather than Suri Cruise. Katie and Tom tied the knot in 2006, one year after they welcomed their daughter. However, their divorce was finalized in 2012. Holmes was seen exiting the Patou runway show amidst Paris Fashion Week and was greeted by awaiting fans outside of the main venue She also paused for a variety of snaps to better showcase her stylish outfit that she wore for event The 18-year-old notably graduated from high school earlier this month - and now goes by the name of Suri Noelle, which also happens to be her mother, Katie's, middle name; seen in 2017 in NYC A source told DailyMail.com earlier this year in April that the Top Gun: Maverick actor 'does not exist' to Suri. 'Suri will not have any contact with her father, despite being 18, and even if he called, she would not answer.' The insider added, 'He does not exist to Katie or Suri, and his daughter does not want to rely on him for anything. She feels that she has one parent and that is her mother.' And in March of last year, a separate source told DailyMail.com that Cruise 'has no part in her life.' Holmes has been keeping busy before her daughter heads to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University in the fall. A source told DailyMail.com earlier this year in April that the Top Gun: Maverick actor 'does not exist' to Suri; seen in 2007 in NYC Katie recently glammed up in a flowy, light peach-colored dress as she made an appearance at the 2024 Filming Italy Sardinia Festival in Santa Margherita de Pula, Italy over the past weekend (seen above) Katie recently glammed up in a flowy, light peach-colored dress as she made an appearance at the 2024 Filming Italy Sardinia Festival in Santa Margherita de Pula, Italy over the past weekend. She slipped into a pair of open-toed, strappy heels and allowed her long locks to cascade down in elegant waves. The First Daughter star added a gold-chained necklace as well as mini earrings to accessorize her look for the ceremony. The actress received an award during the festivities and took to the stage to accept the honor after being introduced by Harvey Keitel. Paul Hollywood banked more than 14million pound last year alone, thanks to his loyal work on The Great British Bake Off. The celebrity baker, who has been a judge on the Channel 4 show since 2010, earned 14,146,703 in 2023. The Mirror reported Paul was receiving roughly 270,000 a week, making him one of the UK's best paid TV stars. According to accounts for the company HJP Media LLP that handles his earnings, Paul enjoyed his most lucrative year ever. The firm also made nearly a 1million profit in 2023, with additional assets worth over 4million. Paul Hollywood, 58, banked more than 14million pound last year alone, thanks to his loyal work on The Great British Bake Off The celebrity baker, who has been a judge on the Channel 4 show since 2010, earned 14,146,703 in 2023 Paul, who is renowned for his firm handshakes with contestants on the show, earned the big dough for being a loyal judge on the hit TV series. He received a 100,000 pay rise on top of his 600,000 salary for Bake Off ahead of the next series in September. His long stint on the baking show has helped him connect with supermarkets like Waitrose and Sainsbury's, where he has bought out ranges of cookware. As well as his TV career, the baker has published 11 books which have each sold over 700,000 copies. The latest accounts state in the paperwork: 'Profit for the financial year available for discretionary division among members was 9,873,200. Members' interest after profit for the year was 14,146,703. Repayment of capital was 14,146,703.' Paul originally co-hosted the show with Dame Mary Berry and now hosts with Dame Prue Leith. In April 2024, after years of working on British television, Paul was awarded an MBE at Windsor Castle for his services to baking and broadcasting. Paul, who was joined by family members including his mother Gill and received his honour from the Princess Royal, said he would love for the Prince and Princess of Wales to appear on the show. Paul was receiving roughly 270,000 a week, making him one of the UK's best paid TV stars Paul originally co-hosted the show with Dame Mary Berry and now hosts with Dame Prue Leith (pictured) In April 2024, after years of working on British television, Paul was awarded an MBE at Windsor Castle for his services to baking and broadcasting Paul, who was presented with his honour by the Princess Royal , said he would love for the Prince and Princess of Wales to appear on the show (pictured with Princess Anne) Speaking after the ceremony, Paul said being made an MBE had left him feeling 'very proud', but he wished his nan had been alive to witness it. He explained: 'I was over the moon. When I (first found out) I told my mum and she was silent on the phone, which is quite unusual for my mum. 'I wish my nan had seen it. She was very fond of the royal family, as we all are. 'But specifically she would've been over the moon. But my mum was here today so she was loving it.' When asked which royal he would pick to compete in the Bake Off tent, Paul said: 'I think I'd go for Kate and Will - they'd be more than welcome!' Freddie Mercury's 'wife' will reportedly come into another multi-million pound windfall after the record-breaking sale of the Queen back catalogue for 1billion. Mary, 73, was the woman who won the heart of rock legend Freddie and has been the beneficiary of his fortune since his death in 1991. According to The Sun, Mary is now set to receive 187.5million after the deal with Sony is signed, after previously getting half of Freddie's estate and another 25 per cent when his parents died. The London native also receives 18.75 per cent of revenues from Queen Productions, which controls the catalogue and pays surviving members Roger Taylor, John Deacon and Brian May, the publication reporters. Mary is not in regular contact with the band mates but she is one of the trustees of a charity set up in Freddie's honour, the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Freddie Mercury's 'wife' will come into another multi-million pound windfall following the record-breaking sale of the Queen backlog to Sony for 1billion (pictured in 2002) Mary, 73, was the woman who won the heart of rock legend Freddie and has been the beneficiary of his fortune since his death in 1991 (pictured in 1984) It has been reported that after receiving the payout, Mary will enter the Top 100 richest women in Britain. Mary and Freddie first met in 1970 when he was a young aspiring musician, who had moved to London six years prior from his birth country, Zanzibar. The former couple moved in together and got engaged in 1973, but three years later Freddie came out to her and told her he was gay. Mary and Freddie would never legally marry, but he called her his 'wife' even long after he'd confessed his true sexuality, which ended their romance. In a rare interview, Mary, recalled: 'He said, 'I think I am bisexual. I told him: 'I think you're gay.' And nothing else was said. We just hugged.' Mary and Freddie remained the closest of friends throughout his life. Queen reportedly sold their iconic back catalogue of hits for a whopping 1Billion pounds following a bidding war. According to The Sun the surviving band members and Freddie's estate 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. Mary and Freddie first met in 1970 when he was a young aspiring musician, who had moved to London six years prior from his birth country, Zanzibar (pictured in 1986) Queen reportedly sold their iconic back catalogue of hits for a whopping 1Billion pounds following a bidding war (L-R Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury and Brian May) 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 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 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 catalogue 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 catalogues out there like Queen,' he said.' In the streaming age, catalogue 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 catalogue. 'Queen has found a much younger audience. And that's unique to a legacy catalogue, 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.' Toni Collette has been living it up in Europe in recent weeks. On Thursday, the Australian actress, who is overseas filming her upcoming movie Under The Stars, enjoyed some fun in the sun. The Muriel's Wedding star, 51, looked in fantastic spirits as she lay out on a sunbed on the beach. In photos shared to Instagram, she stretched out in a bright orange bikini, showing off her incredible, toned figure. Toni pulled the straps down so she could tan and wore her cap down on her face as she had a relaxing laze in the sunlight. In a further image, she was accompanied by her friend Christopher Simon, holding a cover up to her chest as the pair laughed on the shore. She captioned the photos with a series of wave emojis and did not disclose which beach she was visiting, but did write 'Today has been truly excellent'. Toni has been living life to the fullest in recent months following her separation from her long-time husband Dave Galafassi. Toni Collette (pictured) has been living it up in Europe in recent weeks. On Thursday, the Australian actress, who is overseas filming her upcoming movie Under The Stars, enjoyed some fun in the sun Dave, who has recently been romantically linked to fellow actress Claudia Karvan, was seen out and about in Sydney last week looking pensive. The musician hasn't been sighted with Claudia in months, sparking questions if they are still together or have called time on their relationship. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Claudia Karvan's representatives for comment regarding her relationship with Dave Galafassi. Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the About a Boy star, confirmed his split from Golden Globe winner Toni in December 2022 after 19 years together, when he was pictured passionately kissing Sydney chiropractor Shannon Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney. In a further image, she was accompanied by her friend Christopher Simon, holding a cover up to her chest as the pair laughed on the shore Daily Mail Australia contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account. 'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' the pair wrote. 'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other. 'Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.' Toni was in Italy filming Mafia Mamma when news of her divorce made global headlines. The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi's band's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney, and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party. They were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast less than a year after they met, in January 2003. Toni has been living life to the fullest in recent months following her separation from her long-time husband Dave Galafassi (right) Meanwhile, Dave and Claudia were spotted for the first time smooching during a romantic surfing date at Bondi Beach at the end of last year. Photos showed the couple, both dressed in wetsuits, exchanging kisses in the waves as they floated around on their surfboards. An onlooker told Woman's Day magazine the pair arrived at the beach and left together, adding: 'They just seemed really happy together and weren't bothered by anyone seeing them.' Claudia's last known romance was with ex-partner Jeremy Sparks, who she dated for 22 years before splitting in 2017. The former couple maintain a harmonious relationship and co-parent their daughter Audrey, 22, and son Albee, 17. Dave meanwhile shares daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, with ex Toni. Toni and Claudia have plenty in common. Aside from their strikingly similar looks and their shared hometown of Sydney, the actresses have both enjoyed successful careers in cinema, television and the stage. Toni is best known for her roles in Muriel's Wedding, Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine and About A Boy. Claudia is most recognised for her roles in The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Bump and Daybreakers. Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori brushed off concerns about her risque dress sense around the rapper's children as she headed out for a shopping trip in Tokyo on Thursday. The model, 29, had previously been warned to tone down her scantily-clad outfits by Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, and appeared to only partially take note with her latest eye-catching look. Heading to a supermarket in Japan with Kanye's eldest daughter North West and third child Chicago, six, Bianca slipped into a skintight nude catsuit which showed off her matching underwear. She has previously sparked concern with her racy outfits, which included a barely-there taped look while heading out for dinner with Kanye in Paris. Bianca showed off her slender physique in the tight nude bodysuit and heels as she and North headed into the shop to purchase groceries. Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori brushed off concerns about her risque dress sense around the rapper's children as she headed out for a shopping trip in Tokyo on Thursday The model had previously been warned to tone down her scantily-clad outfits by Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian, and appeared to only partially take note with her latest eye-catching look Heading to a supermarket in Japan with Kanye's eldest daughter North West and third child Chicago , six, Bianca slipped into a skintight nude catsuit which showed off her underwear Kim is said to have an amicable relationship with Bianca but is reportedly not a fan of her parading her risque fashion in front of her children. 'Kim instructed Kanye to never let Bianca dress like that around their kids,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'She is truly surprised that Kanye would let his wife leave the house like that.' Australian-born Bianca has been pictured in a slew of headline-grabbing outfits since she married Kanye in December 2022 less than one month after his divorce from Kim was finalised. The Melbourne architect has been seen showing off her slimmer frame during recent outings in Paris with the rapper, 47. She has become known for her risque outfits and most recently stepped out in an ultra-revealing ensemble in which she eschewed a top in favour of bandage-like halter suspenders that only covered her nipples. Prior to her romance with the rapper, Censori clad her curvaceous figure in more form-fitting athleisure gear including a trendy black skintight jumpsuit. But recently, the Australian architectturnedwife and muse of Kanye West has looked incredibly slender. It was a surprising move for Bianca 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 showed off her slender physique in the tight nude bodysuit and heels as she and North headed into the shop to purchase groceries Kim is said to have an amicable relationship with Bianca but is reportedly not a fan of her parading her risque fashion in front of her children 'Kim instructed Kanye to never let Bianca dress like that around their kids,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively Australian-born Bianca has been pictured in a slew of headline-grabbing outfits since she married Kanye in December 2022 The Melbourne architect has been seen showing off her slimmer frame during recent outings in Paris with the rapper Prior to her romance with the rapper, Censori clad her curvaceous figure in more form-fitting athleisure gear including a trendy black skintight jumpsuit But recently, the Australian architectturnedwife and muse of Kanye West has looked incredibly slender During Kanye and Kim's tumultuous marriage, Kim was reportedly asked to change her outfits if he felt like she was showing too much skin Bianca's parents are said to be 'mortified' at seeing their daughter in racy looks During Kanye and Kim's tumultuous marriage, Kim was reportedly asked to change her outfits if he felt like she was showing too much skin. He heavily influenced her fashion choices during their seven-year marriage.'Kanye did the same thing he is doing with Bianca to Kim throughout their marriage. The difference is that when Kanye dressed Kim, he was respected as a person - as an artist,' one source said. 'Unfortunately, Kim knows what Bianca is going through - but she feels Bianca should have known what she was getting into.' Bianca's parents are said to be 'mortified' at seeing their daughter in racy looks. 'Her family and friends are mortified because it just keeps getting worse and worse,' a source told DailyMail.com after Bianca stepped out in a clear raincoat while nude underneath. 'Bianca clearly doesn't realise that what she wore isn't only disgusting and setting a bad example, but she is also potentially breaking the law.' 'Meanwhile, Kanye is covered up with five layers of clothes and when his wife looked chilly while naked and wrapped in plastic he didn't so much as offer her one of his capes,' the insider added. 'Her parents are so distressed over this because they do not recognise her. She would not be doing this unless she was being controlled,' the source told DailyMail.com. Austin Butler has been sending the internet into overdrive in recent days for his string of 'flirty' interviews on The Bikeriders press tour. The Elvis star, 32, visited Australia this month for the premiere of the new crime drama, and took part in a whole host of on-camera interviews during the trip. But fans have been focusing on one notable detail as he has sent them wild with his 'flirty' charm during the now-viral interviews. Austin first had Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley blushing on the red carpet, before leaving The Project host Sarah Harris 'flustered' during their interview. In his most recent chat, Sarah, 42, commented on the actor's 'piercing gaze', admitting it made her feel 'nervous', kicking off a very flirty exchange. 'You do this thing when you look into someone's soul, I'm getting it now... You have a very piercing gaze,' she told him. 'You have a piercing gaze too,' Austin teased back, to which a blushing Sarah replied, 'Do I?' 'Yeah, I'd say so,' Austin drawled, with Sarah giggling, 'You're making me nervous now!' Austin Butler (pictured) has been sending the internet into overdrive in recent days for his string of 'flirty' interviews on The Bikeriders press tour Sarah later admitted: 'When you are sitting this close to one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, it's hard not to get a little flustered.' The cheeky exchange sent fans completely wild as they took to social media to comment on his continually 'flirty' attitude during interviews. 'He needs to be stopped,' one wrote, while another gushed: 'You gotta love Austin Butler,' and a third added: '[Sarah] was struggling to stay composed.' A fourth commented: 'Every time I watch a video of Austin Butler flirting with an interviewer I catch myself smiling at my phone teeheeing like I am somehow involved in the exchange.' The now-viral chat came just weeks after Austin also left 7Bravo reporter Lucia Hawley, 25, blushing when she interviewed him at The Bikeriders Aussie premiere. The Elvis star, 32, has gone viral for leaving The Project host Sarah Harris (pictured) 'flustered' during their interview as she commented on how his 'piercing gaze' made her 'nervous' During the red carpet exchange, she attempted to chat to Austin about his new movie, but quickly became red-faced when he turned the tables on her. Rather than talking about his film, he started asking Lucia questions about herself instead, prompting her fans to joke that Austin was 'flirting' with her. 'I don't like talking about myself. Are you from Sydney?' Austin asked her, and she replied 'yes', joking that she was supposed to be the one asking the questions. 'What else can you tell me, how old are you and what are you interested in?' Austin -who is dating Kaia Gerber - eagerly enquired. Lucia responded that she was interested in art and Austin then asked her where she finds 'cool' artworks, prompting an embarrassed Lucia to start giggling. The now-viral chat came just weeks after Austin also left 7Bravo reporter Lucia Hawley, 25, (pictured) blushing when she interviewed him at The Bikeriders Aussie premiere During the red carpet exchange, she attempted to chat to Austin about his new movie, but quickly became red-faced when he turned the tables on her and asked her about her life Her followers took to the comments section to express their amusement over the charming clip, and joked that Austin was cheekily flirting with her 'I should probably jump into questions because this is my job. If I don't, I will get into trouble,' the blushing presenter joked. The interview quickly captured fans' attention and Lucia's boyfriend Henry Poole even commented on Austin's 'flirty' charm. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Lucia joked that Henry was 'not happy' as she shared a screenshot of the comment he left underneath footage of the friendly interview. Henry - who has been dating Lucia for three years - hilariously penned: 'Eyes where I can see em @austinbutler,' as he poked fun at the 'flirty' chat. Reposting his comment, Lucia quipped of Henry's response: '@henrypoole_ has weighed in guys... (he's not happy).' The interview quickly captured fans' attention and Lucia's boyfriend Henry Poole (right) even commented on Austin's 'flirty' charm Taking to her Instagram Stories, Lucia joked that Henry was 'not happy' with the 'flirty' interview as she shared a picture of his comment underneath footage of the chat Her followers also took to the comments section to express their amusement over the eyebrow-raising clip, and joked that Austin was cheekily flirting with her. 'This is brilliant!' one fan wrote and a second person added: 'This is incredible.' A third gushed: 'This is brilliant! Totally into you Lu,' while another said: 'He was totally hitting on her.' 'This made me really like him! I loved that he was curious and interested in someone else,' a fifth person chimed in. Gemma Collins has admitted she thought that she was pregnant and her 'waters had broken' after struggling with incontinence while jumping on a trampoline. The former TOWIE star, 43, shared her battles with the common ailment during an interview on Friday's This Morning. Gemma admitted that she 'broke down in tears' and feared she was 'going to die' after going to the bathroom and 'seeing water' following an incontinence leak, and added that her pelvic floor exercises have been 'crucial' in her recovery. While urinary incontinence usually affects women following childbirth, it can be caused by other pressures such as weight gain and constipation. Gemma told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary that she first realised she had incontinence while visiting a trampoline park with her nephew Haydn and stepson Tristan, whose father is her fiance Rami Hawash. Gemma Collins has admitted she thought that she was pregnant and her 'waters had broken' after struggling with incontinence while jumping on a trampoline She said: 'I start jumping. All of a sudden the floodgates open. I'm in mid-air and I'm like, am I dying?' 'I don't want to ruin the kids' day. I'm soaking wet and this is just shocking. So, I went to the loo and it was water. And then I was just like, ''I'm going to die.I need an operation. Something's happened to me''. 'I'm jumping mid-air, thinking ''am I'm pregnant and the water's breaking?''. I'm so embarrassed. I've not even had kids yet.' 'So, I was beside myself. I remember going home. My fiance wanted to go for dinner that night. I was just feeling so low. I went into the bathroom. I started crying. I was like, my life's over. It was just so bad.' 'Then, obviously, I did my research and 1 in 55% of women in the UK are experiencing this. All shapes, all sizes, all ages. Opener to me as well. It's affecting so many women's confidence. 'And like me, if I'm going on holiday, I want to do what the kids are doing. I want to go on the jet ski and, you know, be that fun person that I am. 'But living with that fear that people have on a daily basis really affected my confidence.' Despite fearing she would need surgery to treat the problem, Gemma confirmed that she's significantly reduced her incontinence leaks with regular pelvic floor exercises. The TOWIE star admitted that she 'broke down in tears' and feared she was 'going to die' after going to the bathroom and 'seeing water' following an incontinence leak She said: 'I start jumping. All of a sudden the floodgates open. I'm in mid-air and I'm like, am I dying?' While urinary incontinence usually affects women following childbirth, it can be caused by other pressures such as weight gain and constipation Despite fearing she would need surgery to treat the problem, Gemma said on Friday's This Morning that she's significantly reduced her incontinence with regular pelvic floor exercises She said: 'I was in Benidorm two days ago. I was laughing my head off. A little bit come out, but nothing like what it would normally do' 'I have almost reversed my incontinence by 95% by doing my pelvic floors. 'I was in Benidorm two days ago. I was laughing my head off. A little bit come out, but nothing like what it would normally do.' Urinary incontinence is common, affecting an estimated seven million women in the UK, although accurate statistics are hard to come by because so many women are hesitant about talking about their problem. It can occur at any time, although it becomes more common with age. 'What Gemma experiences is something called stress incontinence, triggered by a weakening of the pelvic floor beneath her bladder, bowels and womb which causes urine to leak out,' Myra Robson, a pelvic health physiotherapist at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, previously told MailOnline in 2023. This typically occurs as a result of childbirth. The weight of carrying a baby weakens the pelvic floor, the hammock-like band of muscle that runs from the pelvic bone at the front to the tail bone at the back and which helps keep the entrance to the bladder firmly shut. When under pressure for example, during a coughing fit urine can leak. Yet while it's a common problem for mothers, it can also affect those like Gemma who haven't had children. Chronic constipation, severe coughing, a significant increase in weight over a sustained period, and lifting heavy weights in the gym, can also trigger it, explains Myra Robson. These all cause pressure in the abdomen, in turn putting pressure on the bladder and, 'unless the pelvic floor is giving the requisite support', it can lead to leaks, adds Gill Davey, a continence nurse for Bladder Health UK. 'Gemma's experience is very usual,' she says. 'The problem can be exacerbated with age and particularly after the menopause when the body is no longer naturally producing the oestrogen that helps strengthen the pelvic floor, which is wrapped around the urethra [the tube that exits the bladder] and has an opening and closing mechanism known as the sphincter. 'When the plumpness of the pelvic floor is weakened from lack of oestrogen, it [the sphincter] won't always close efficiently.' The cause in Gemma's case is not clear. In 2015, then aged 34, she underwent a well-publicised non-surgical procedure to rejuvenate her labia 'a designer vagina' but she's been assured that, as a cosmetic treatment, it had no effect on her pelvic floor. Cassandra Thorburn was every inch the proud mother as she gushed over her son River attending his school formal. The author, 53, took to Instagram on Friday to share a gallery of sweet snaps of her and Karl Stefanovic's youngest son River, 17, heading to his Year 12 formal. River looked very smart in a navy suit as he beamed from ear-to-ear while posing with his date Daisy Thomas, who is a competitive skier. Daisy wore a blue satin dress and was pictured fixing a boutonniere into River's lapel as they got dressed up for the exciting night. In one shot, Cassandra looked very proud of her son as she flashed a huge smile while wrapping her arms around him. Cassandra gushed over her son in an accompanying caption as she admitted the night had made her heart 'melt'. 'Year 12 formal @daisyy.thomas @riv_sz you both look amazing and let me take all the photos I wanted! Have a wonderful night! #mummymoments,' she wrote. 'My heart melts for this young man,' she added on Facebook. 'I wouldn't miss these moments for anything.' Cassandra Thorburn was every inch the proud mother as she gushed over her son River attending his school formal with his date Daisy Thomas (pictured) The author (pictured), 53, took to Instagram on Friday to share a gallery of sweet snaps of her and Karl Stefanovic's youngest son River, 17, heading to his Year 12 formal Karl and Cassandra went their separate ways in 2016 after 21 years of marriage, and Cassandra has since stepped away from the spotlight. She now works in sales and support for the aged care sector in Sydney and previously told how she was happy to put a life in the spotlight 'behind' her. As well as River, the exes also share another son Jackson, 24, and a daughter Ava, 19, who now goes by her middle name Willow. Jackson is passionate about music and previously told how an acoustic guitar gifted to him by his father Karl on his 17th birthday helped him with his mental health. River looked very smart in a navy suit as he beamed from ear-to-ear while posing with his date Daisy Thomas, who is a competitive skier Daisy wore a blue satin dress and was pictured fixing a boutonniere into River's lapel as they got dressed up for the exciting night River was also seen gifting Daisy a matching white corsage as they joined their classmates getting ready for the formal 'I've battled my whole life with ADHD, and various other mental health issues, and at times I really struggled to find my place in the world,' he told Woman's Day in 2022. 'But my passion for music and song has helped me wade through some pretty tough stuff.' 'My parents remain my biggest fans. Family is everything. Thanks to their unconditional love, and music and song, my journey through life suddenly got a whole lot brighter,' he added. Cassandra and Karl (both pictured) went their separate ways in 2016 after 21 years of marriage, and Cassandra has since stepped away from the spotlight As well as River, the exes also share another son Jackson (pictured with Karl), 24, and a daughter Ava, 19, who now goes by her middle name Willow Meanwhile, Willow is currently studying fashion at the London College of Fashion, which is part of the University of the Arts London - a collection of six of the most prestigious arts colleges in the world. It recruits on a global scale and its list of alumni reads like a Who's Who of the creative industries, from illustrator Quentin Blake to Florence Welch of Florence and The Machine. Willow is also ready to follow in her famous father's footsteps by kicking off a career in the spotlight, signing with Precision MGMT to launch a career as a model. She has the full support of her parents Karl and Cassandra Thorburn as she launches her modelling profession. Willow is also ready to follow in her famous father's footsteps by kicking off a career in the spotlight, signing with Precision MGMT to launch a career as a model Karl is also father to another daughter Harper, four, whom he shares with his second wife, shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough (all pictured with Willow) 'She doesn't go into anything blindly, especially the fashion world. She's a strong, independent young woman and wants to pursue lots of things in life. We love her spirit,' Karl, 49, told Stellar magazine in 2021. Cassandra added: 'I encourage all my children to work hard and pursue their dreams and aspirations. Willow knows who she is and what she wants, and those attributes make me extremely proud.' Karl is also father to another daughter Harper, four, whom he shares with his second wife, shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough. The Nine presenter found love with shoe designer Jasmine in late 2016, after splitting from Cassandra, and the pair were married two years later in December 2018. Sam Thompson reduced his sister Louise to tears when she appeared on his Hits Radio show to promote her new book Lucky on Thursday. The I'm A Celeb star, 31, was full of praise for his 'superhero' sister, 34, after she almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021, and being left her with post traumatic stress disorder. Louise was also fitted with a stoma bag earlier this year after spending two weeks in hospital amid her battle with ulcerative colitis. During her radio appearance the former MIC star spoke about her book which chronicles her recent struggles as well as suffering a tragic miscarriage in 2021. Sam told his sister: Im so proud of you mate, not just because of the things that you have been through but for the book, the mental fortitude that Ive seen'. Sam Thompson reduced his sister Louise to tears when she appeared on his Hits Radio show to promote her new book Lucky on Thursday The I'm A Celeb star, 31, was full of praise for his older sister, 34, after almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021, which left her with post traumatic stress disorder Louise was also fitted with a stoma bag earlier this year after spending two weeks in hospital amid her battle with ulcerative colitis (pictured in 2022) As Louise broke down in tears Sam also struggled to cry saying: Little Leo couldnt ask for a better mother, role model and hes going to grow up and read these books and be like my Mum is a superhero'. 'Everyone looks up to you, I look up to you as a little brother, and this book is going to change lives. It comes after Louise said that 'a stoma bag does not need to define your life' after she confidently wore a 'naked dress' to Vogue World in Paris. She admitted she never thought she would be able to wear such a dress after having her stoma surgery. However sharing a collection of clips of her ensemble on Instagram on Tuesday, she revealed she felt '10/10 confidence' in the garment. She also admitted that people have told her that she looks the 'happiest and healthiest' they have seen her 'in ages'. Louise looked sensational in the Malila ruffle-trim woven maxi dress from House of CB at the event at Ritz Paris Grand Jardin on Sunday. Louise beamed at the camera in the shots, exuding happiness at the star-studded event. Sam told his sister: Im so proud of you mate, not just because of the things that you have been through but for the book, the mental fortitude that Ive seen' As Louise broke down in tears Sam also struggled to cry saying: Little Leo couldnt ask for a better mother, role model and hes going to grow up and read these books and be like my Mum is a superhero' During her radio appearance the former MIC star spoke about her book which chronicles her recent struggles as well as suffering a tragic miscarriage in 2021 (pictured with fiance Ryan, 33, and son Leo) It comes after Louise said that 'a stoma bag does not need to define your life' after she confidently wore a 'naked dress' to Vogue World in Paris In the caption of the video, Louise said: 'I take great pleasure in standing up, speaking up and showing up for the hundreds of thousands of people in the UK that live with one. Let me tell you - you should NOT feel imprisoned by the judgement of others. Easier said than done I know. 'Living with something like this that has the capacity (after the physiological and psychological adjustment) to change your life for the better and that can be incredibly freeing. It can also change your outlook on life. Nothing like bad health to serve as the starkest reminder of what's important and for putting other things into perspective. 'In fact some of the most confident and body positive people I know are those that have something a little unusual about them. I guess I'm now in that camp. People keep telling me I look the happiest and healthiest I have looked in ages and it's wonderful. So if you're scared, let me be your reminder that things get easier with time.' Louise added: 'The silly thing is that I probably wouldn't have ever given this 'naked dress' a chance 6 months ago, but fast forward to the present and I didn't have to think twice when the girls I travelled to Paris with told me it was the best look out of the beautiful options I took with me. It also happened to be the most affordable and the only one that wasn't couture.' Louise also joked that she had originally planned to wear the dress without a bra or thong as she did not know it was so sheer. She said: 'I ended up being incredibly lucky that I didn't have time to change (due to an unforeseen hair nightmare) into more 'dress friendly underwear' and ended up in spanx style pants only to discover when looking back at videos later that evening that as the sun started setting it turned 1000000 x more sheer, verging on transparent. Louise looked sensational in the Malila ruffle-trim woven maxi dress from House of CB, which retails for 179 and has a cowl neck and leg slit She revealed back in March that she had a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018 (pictured in March) 'I'm glad I wasn't aware as I was walking around the Ritz Paris courtyard with 10/10 confidence surrounded by hugely influential people.' It comes after Louise shared the news of having a stoma bag fitted with her Instagram followers in early April, and she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'. The television personality has previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease lupus. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time. Advertisement Heidi Klum and her husband, Tom Kaulitz, were seen acting like newlyweds, even after five years of marriage, as they packed on the PDA during a family trip to the beach of Cala di Volpe, located in the north of Sardinia. The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they cuddled next to each other on reclining beach chairs, before passionately making out. After ditching her green and white striped cover-up, Klum could be seen showing off her incredible figure in a pink and blue floral bikini. The 51-year-old supermodel and German guitarist, 34, looked inseparable as they proceeded to take a romantic walk together along the sand, before taking a dip in the ocean. They were joined by Klum's sons Johan, 17, and Henry, 18, as well as daughters Lou, 14, and Leni, 20, and her boyfriend, Aris Rachevsky, who she has been dating since 2019. Heidi Klum and her husband, Tom Kaulitz , were seen acting like newlyweds, even after five years of marriage, as they packed on the PDA during a family trip to the beach of Cala di Volpe, located in the north of Sardinia Leni, who has been following in her mother's modelling footsteps since gracing the cover of Vogue Germany at age 16, rocked a white bikini and a pair of low-rise, red and white striped bottoms. For the laid-back excursion, the model wore her glossy brunette locks up in a sleek updo and looked relaxed as she laid on her stomach and tanned. Klum and Kaulitz were seen indulging in ice cream cones as they walked barefoot on the beach. Leni documented her sun-soaked getaway on Instagram by posting several sultry social media snaps. In one image on her Instagram, Leni, who is signed with IMG Models Worldwide, sipped on a coconut as she showcased her toned physique. Leni is the daughter of Heidi and Flavio Briatore, 74, and Heidi split from the businessman while she was pregnant with Leni in 2004. Leni's biological father is Heidi's ex, Flavio Briatore. However, Heidi's ex-husband, Seal, who she was married to from 2005 to 2014, legally adopted her in 2009 after tying the knot with the Making The Cut star in 2005. Over the past four years, Leni has made quite the name for herself in the modeling world. Klum's daughter Leni, 20, and her boyfriend, Aris Rachevsky, who she has been dating since 2019 The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they cuddled next to each other on reclining beach chairs, before passionately making out. On the left is Heidi's daughter Lou, 14 Leni, who has been following in her mother's modelling footsteps since gracing the cover of Vogue Germany at age 16, rocked a white bikini and a pair of low-rise, red and white striped bottoms After ditching her green and white striped cover-up, Heidi could be seen showing off her incredible figure in a pink and blue floral bikini This includes gracing the cover of Hunger, a feature in Glamour Germany as well as walking in Milan Fashion Week. During an interview with Extra TV in 2021, Leni discussed a modeling tip she received from her mother when she started out in the industry. 'She's always telling me that I need to have fun, and she's always like, "Bounce around, be fun, be energetic, be excited,"' the star explained. The media personality also explained that although both her mother and herself enjoying the modeling and fashion industry, their style choices are the complete opposite. 'She calls it grungy,' Leni stated, talking about how Heidi perceives her own personal fashion. 'I just call it oversized...never catch me in super tight jeans because I don't like wearing things that are uncomfortable.' Nicole Kidman says her daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, give her honest feedback when she asks them. The movie star, 57, said that her girls are 'very supportive,' however they also tell her their unfiltered criticism, she told People. 'But they're also like, "Ok, calm down," the Australian actress, who shares her daughters with husband Keith Urban, said. 'But I do think it's important not to have sycophants [around you].' Nicole noted. Nicole and Keith also just celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25. Nicole Kidman says her daughters Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, give her honest feedback when she asks them; seen on June 13 in LA at the premiere of A Family Affair The movie star, 57, says that her girls are 'very supportive,' however they also tell her their unfiltered criticism; from left to right: Keith Urban, Sunday Rose, Faith Margaret, niece Sybella Hawley, Nicole and Nicole's sister Antonia The Practical Magic star said that it's not about 'seeking out really horrible criticism.' 'We're all a work in progress as they say,' she added. She has two children with ex husband Tom Cruise: Isabella Jane Cruise, 31, and Connor Antony Cruise, 29. Nicole and Keith celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25. Nicole commemorated the special moment with a sweet snap of her and Keith by the ocean. Keith played the guitar while Nicole lounged next to him; she added the caption: 'Forever,' adding a heart and hashtagged Happy Anniversary. The lovebirds first met on January 15, 2005 at G'Day USA gala in LA; Nicole and Keith are both from Australia. They had exchanged numbers but he did not call her for four months - with the couple going from strength to strength soon after reuniting over the summer. They announced their engaged in May 2006 and one month later - on June 25, 2006 - married in Sydney. They welcomed daughter Sunday in 2008 and daughter Faith in 2010. Nicole took Sunday to the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week on June 26. The mother-daughter duo looked like twins, with both rocking black dresses, square frame sunglasses and minimal makeup - with their long blonde hair loose around them. Nicole and Keith celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary on June 25; seen on Monday, May 6 heading to the Met Gala Nicole commemorated the special moment with a sweet snap of her and Keith by the ocean Nicole took Sunday to the Balenciaga show during Paris Fashion Week on June 26 Nicole is set to reprise her role in Practical Magic 2 - a sequel to her and co-star Sandra Bullock's hit film Practical Magic - which was released in 1995 Nicole is set to reprise her role in Practical Magic 2 - a sequel to her and co-star Sandra Bullock's hit film Practical Magic - which was released in 1995. Nicole and Sandra played sisters Gillian and Sally Owens - who are witches - and live in a small town with their aunts. The film is currently in development. Nicole confirmed the news on June 13 in an interview with People: 'Yes I will be in it. And Sandy will be in it. And that's that. There's a lot more to tell which is why we go, "Ok this is kind of interesting now to be able to do this."' Girls Aloud appeared 'stronger than ever' as they performed their final London show on Thursday, despite having to resort to flogging cheap tickets. The group were forced to slash prices by up to 60 percent after failing to sell out their three-night stint at the O2 Arena. Yet despite the last-minute cuts Nadine Coyle, 40, Kimberley Walsh, 42, Nicola Roberts, 38, and Cheryl, 40, looked in their element as they took to the stage in front of the arena - which appeared packed. The tour, their seventh overall, and their first without the late Sarah Harding, kickstarted in Dublin in May and will now move onto Liverpool. The group looked so confident on stage that a body language expert declared they are now 'stronger than ever'. A body language expert declared Girls Aloud 'stronger than ever', despite slashing ticket prices by up to 60%, as they performed their final London show on Thursday (L-R) Nadine Coyle , 40, Kimberley Walsh, 42, Nicola Roberts, 38, and Cheryl, 40, are on their way to Liverpool to continue their The Girls Aloud Show tour The tour, which is their seventh, and their first without the late Sarah Harding , kickstarted in Dublin in May Speaking on behalf of Betfair Roulette, body language expert Darren Stanton, said: 'With Girls Aloud coming back together this year and looking at their performances after having a long break from performing, its clear they have found their feet with their levels of confidence. 'Theyve grown a lot since they first started but weve seen a lot more humour and confidence come through. Theyre feeling stronger than ever when we look at their in-sync movements and expressions of enjoyment on stage. 'Their interactions with each other are a lot more authentic and open, meaning theyre all in better places with each other connection-wise. This is shown through more eye contact and championing each other on stage. 'For example, we saw Nadine and Cheryl taking the lead by being tactile with each other, as well as initiating hugs and cheering each other on.' Darren revealed that Nicola was the 'most reserved' member, saying: 'Her body language gestures are more closed and less open than what we see from Cheryl, Nadine and Kimberley. 'Her eye contact and facial expressions arent as strong and consistent. 'However, she is able to perform and she comes across as very extroverted on stage, which tells us shes able to channel her nerves and turn those feelings into excitement.' While the girls were in their element, some fans were left than impressed after shelling out more than 100 for tickets only to see the prices slashed to 30. The 20,000-capacity O2 arena had seating availability in almost all areas, according to ticket sellers AXS. Some fans who had paid over 100 to see the girls have been angered to see tickets now on sale for just 30 The 20,000-capacity O2 arena had seating availability in almost all of its areas, according to ticket sellers AXS But, a body language expert has said: 'With Girls Aloud coming back together this year and looking at their performances after having a long break from performing, its clear they have found their feet with their levels of confidence' 'Theyve grown a lot since they first started but weve seen a lot more humour and confidence come through. Theyre feeling stronger than ever when we look at their in-sync movements and expressions of enjoyment on stage (pictured: Cheryl) He revealed Nicola (pictured) is the 'most reserved' member, saying: 'Her body language gestures are more closed and less open than what we see from Cheryl, Nadine and Kimberley The band's reunion tour has been marred by drama with provider Ticketek struggling to deliver tickets ahead of their show at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and Nadine Coyle (pictured) awkwardly forgetting the lyrics at their gig in Dublin Sales were particularly slow for Wednesday, with some areas appearing to be only around 60 per cent sold. The band's reunion tour has been marred by drama with provider Ticketek struggling to deliver tickets ahead of their show at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and Nadine Coyle awkwardly forgetting the lyrics at their gig in Dublin. Girls Aloud was formed in 2002 on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals show with Pete Waterman, Geri Halliwell and Louis Walsh choosing the final line-up. They sold over 4 million albums in the UK and achieved four number ones with two albums at no 1 as well. They were also nominated for five BRIT awards. The band split in 2013. On June 19, Cheryl told the crowd in Birmingham that Shakira's Waka Waka played during the warm-up was a special tribute to Sarah Harding. She said: 'That was Sarah's favourite song when she was going through all of her stuff. It'd get her up dancing and singing, she'd be on Face Time. 'It made us so happy to see her happy in those darker times so we wanted the spirit of Sarah to start right at the very beginning, and the next best bit is when we hear you guys roar, there's nothing better than that sound.' Sarah Harding died in September 2021 aged 39 after being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2020. Girls Aloud was formed in 2002 on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals show with Pete Waterman, Geri Halliwell and Louis Walsh choosing the final line-up Sarah Harding died in September 2021 aged 39 after being diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2020 Every night of the show, the group pay tribute to Sarah, putting up photos and playing her iconic lines The group has since raised over 1 million for cancer charities including the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal. Kimberly Wyatt said: 'One of the main aims on this tour is to do Sarah justice and give us and our fans that moment to celebrate her. I think they need it, I think we all need it.' In May, Cheryl almost 'burst out crying' as the group took to the stage in late bandmate Sarah Harding's hometown of Manchester on Thursday. Sarah's mother Marie sat in the audience as the group paid an heartfelt tribute to her daughter, The group struggled to choke back tears as they held hands to sing a beautiful rendition of their 2007 hit I'll Stand by You, which also included Sarah's recorded vocals. They do this every night of the tour, with footage of Sarah displayed on the huge screens behind the women. Cheryl told the crowd: 'Coming to Manchester has always been an absolute pleasure, It's a really significant evening for us tonight in many ways. Obviously, we all remember Miss Harding's hometown is Manchester'. 'She would have been so proud of the reception we've had in here tonight, thank you so much Manchester for making it special for her, and for us'. Nicola, who has previously said she is scared of heights, straddled a motorbike lowered from the ceiling She was helped off the bike once she reached the stage by a trusty dancer Mother-of-three Kimberley sung while on a motorbike of her own Girls Aloud, all of whom have children bar Nicola, descended on the stage on their motorbikes in sync The group danced seductively, crouching with their backs turned towards to the audience They had a number of outfit changes and one saw them wear gorgeous silver jumpsuits They brought out large Japanese-style green hand fans Another outfit saw the girls in dark metallic outfits and sexy boots silver and black boots Cheryl continued: 'Sarah's mam's in here tonight and I'm sure she's feeling all the love and energy in the room. We love you, Marie. When I come down on that podium, the energy I was hit with I could have just burst out of crying there and then.' Before adding: 'Thank you for making it bearable, and making it a joyous occasion for us all.' Also every night, the group also put up images of Sarah and play her iconic line from The Promise: 'So, here I am...walking Primrose.' The Girls Aloud Show has two shows left: Friday and Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool. Michael J. Fox made a rare public appearance at London's Chiltern Firehouse on Wednesday. The Back To The Future actor, 63, who has Parkinson's, put up a peace sign as a friend pushed his wheelchair. Michael hung his glasses off of his patterned red shirt and wore boot-cut dark blue jeans and a brown jacket. The five-time Emmy and one-time Grammy Award winner finished his look with multicoloured trainers which he wore with black socks. Since 1988, Canadian-American Michael has been married to American actress Tracy Pollan, and the two share four children. Michael J. Fox, 63, made a rare public appearance at London's Chiltern Firehouse on Wednesday The Back To The Future actor, who has Parkinson's, put up a peace sign as a friend pushed his wheelchair Michael hung his glasses off of his patterned red shirt and wore boot-cut dark blue jeans and a brown jacket June was a busy month for the Foxes who celebrated Michael's and Tracy's birthdays as well as Father's Day. Tracy turned 64 on June 22, and Michael shared a sweet tribute to his Instagram, sharing throwback photo of her and a more recent photo of the both of them. Michael, who has over 2M followers, captioned his post: 'In every beautiful way, its beautiful Tracys beautiful day. 'I love you and today will be magnificent. Always forever your Mike with so-much love. Happy birthday. Its gonna be an epic day.' For Michael's birthday on June 9, Tracy also shared a throwback photo of Michael and a more recent photo of the both of them. She wrote in the post's caption: 'Happy birthday Mike! Cannot wait to celebrate all summer long! 'Noting here that you are just as handsome when photographed by our dear friend @markseliger as you are when rocking #bobbybradyhair. I love you' For Father's Day, Tracy shared throwback photos of Michael and all of his children and wrote: 'To the best in the biz, nobody does it better! Happy Fathers Day @realmikejfox @markseliger The five-time Emmy - and one-time Grammy - Award winner finished his look with multicoloured trainers which he wore with black socks Since 1988, Canadian-American Michael has been married to American actress Tracy Pollan, and the two share four children Michael and Tracy are parents to Sam, 35, twin daughters Aquinnah and Schuyler, 29, and youngest daughter Esme, 22. While the couple have shared their lives for more than 35 years, Tracy previously admitted she didn't have a stellar first impression of Michael. The pair first met in 1985 when Tracy was cast as Ellen, the love interest of Michael's character Alex P. Keaton, on the hit NBC sitcom Family Ties. However, they didn't start dating until two years later when they reunited for the film adaptation of Jay McInerney's novel Bright Lights, Big City. 'I think I thought he was kind of full of himself,' Tracy recalled during an appearance on Inside The Actors Studio, as reported by Parade. After she got to know him a little better, however, sparks flew. She explained: 'We started to work together, and I got a completely different impression and how completely opposite from that he wasjust funny and so smart, and just all of these other things came through those first two weeks we worked together.' Life changed for the couple in a dramatic way when in 1991, aged just 29, Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. June was a busy month for the Michael and his wife Tracy, 64, as they celebrated Michael's and Tracy's birthdays as well as Father's Day He would not share his diagnosis publicly until 1998. Tracy has supported Michael every step of the way, leading to the launch of his Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund Parkinson's disease research in the effort to find a cure. More recently, the couple shared in the making and release of the Apple TV+ film, Still: A Michael J. Fox Story (2023). The film won the award for Best Documentary Film at the National Board Of Review Gala, as well as earning seven nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. Tracy also stepped out to support him at The Michael J. Fox Foundation's A Country Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson's events over the years. She and Michael, born Michael Andrew Fox, are often asked how they keep their marriage strong over the years and decades. 'It's interesting, being married for 35 years,' Michael shared. 'Yeah. I mean, the joke is you say I've been married 35 years, and it's [been] the best 35 years of my life so think about that one for a second.' He added, 'It's great having a partner and having someone that knows you in a [certain] way when everyone in the world thinks they know you. [Only] one person actually knows you.' Home prices are finally starting to steady following pandemic boom, and have already begun falling in many cities across the country. In fact, twenty of the US's fifty largest cities have seen declines since last year, according to a new report by Realtor.com. The news will be welcome to cash-strapped first time buyers and others priced out by higher mortgage costs. The average home price across the country was $442,500 as of May - which is 'relatively stable compared to the same time last year,' according to Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. But some areas are seeing big drops, including Miami where the average price dropped 11 percent. Pandemic boomtowns like Miami, and also Austin, attracted tens of thousands of Americans looking to buy cheaper and bigger homes - compared to cities like New York and LA. But that demand has gone now as people return to offices, and are unable to work from home as they were in the pandemic. That means homes are staying on the market for longer, and sellers are cutting prices to shift them. However, lower home prices in these areas do not guarantee lower housing payments. Mortgage rates remain elevated, with median monthly payments now up 7.1 percent on last year. A separate report also recently highlighted cities where house prices are set to drop - and most are in the South. Below we cover the 11 cities were home prices have fallen the most, according to Realtor.com. You can also see them in the graphic above. 1. Miami, Florida The biggest drop in median home prices came in Miami, which saw a 11.2 percent drop since last year. The median house price is now $439,000. 2. Denver, Colorado Denver saw the second biggest year-on-year drop in median house prices, falling 6.3 percent. The median home price in the city remains high however, sitting at $639,000. 3. Seattle, Washington Median house prices in Seattle currently reside at $777,000. This represents a drop of 5.5 percent year-on-year. 4. Kansas City, Missouri Home values also fell in Kansas City bringing the median price down to $440,000, a 4,9 percent dip from the previous year. 5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Median home prices dropped 4.3 percent in Oklahoma City since the same time last year. The median home price is now $339,000. 6. San Jose, California Despite median home prices being a whopping $1,469,000, San Jose saw a 4 percent slide in the last year. 7. Tampa, Florida Florida also saw another city hit by plummeting home prices. Whilst a more modest drop than Miami, Tampa saw a 3.2 percent slide over the last year bringing median home prices down to $425,000. 8. Austin, Texas Down in Texas home prices also fell in Austin. The city saw a 3.1 percent fall in median home prices to $565,000. 9. Detroit, Michigan Detroit's median home price fell to $260,000, a 3 percent drop year-on-year. 10. San Antonio, Texas Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio saw a drop of 2.6 percent over the last year. That change brought median house prices down to $348,000. 11. Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh saw home prices drop to a median of $462,000, down 2.6 percent since the same time last year. McDonald's US president Joe Erlinger let slip this week that a sandwich with a cult following is coming back. The McRib - seasoned boneless pork dipped in tangy BBQ sauce and topped with chopped onions and pickles - is returning to America later this year. The sandwich, which has been dropped and then added back to the menu dozens of times over the years, polarizes fast food fans- some love it but others hate it. But McDonald's knows the McRib brings customers into restaurants and drive-thrus. It's return will be its latest weapon, along with its $5 value meal deal this summer, in the battle to win customers back in 2024. The McRib sandwich is coming back again in 2024. It was first sold in 1982 'Bringing the McRib back for a limited time will spur some interest and foot traffic for McDonald's at a time when performance is flagging,' retail expert Neil Saunders, managing director of Global Data, told DailyMail.com. But he explained why McDonald's only sells it for limited times - rather than having it as a permanent fixture on the menu. 'The uplift is usually only temporary, so the chain still has work to do on areas like pricing if it wants to secure a better performance,' he added. McRib is back again later in 2024 McRib - which has been described as the 'fast food sandwich that went viral before viral was a thing' - debuted nationally in the US in 1982. It was discontinued in 1985 after low sales, but then returned in 1989 and was broadly available in the US and other countries until 2005. It was then periodically reintroduced until disappearing again in 2012 for eight years. It didn't return until December 2020, when it came back for a limited time. At the time, it was a bid to lure back customers after the pandemic left its dining rooms sparsely populated or closed. The McRib is an elusive prize for fans, who scour the internet for reports of its surfacing at limited locations for a short amount of time. There is even a website called the McRib Locator, created to spread the word about McDonald's restaurants that are offering it. In the past, the McRib has been credited with bringing in customers and boosting sales for the chain. For example, a 'farewell tour' for the cult favorite in November 2022 helped boost sales by double digits. Bosses said that would be the last time the McRib was sold. But it did come back again in November 2023 too. Now this week, president Joe Erlinger said: 'It's coming later this year. The McRib will be back.' He was being interviewed on Today to promote the new $5 value meal. At the end of the main chat with the presenters, weatherman Al Roker jokingly inquired about the McRib - and that is when Erlinger gave the update. It's not impossible to get a McRib any time you want it, but you need to travel. Germany has had on the menu year round for a while. It was returned to Canada in January this year. It is the latest fan favorite item to return. In April, we reported how McDonald's has brought back bagels to its breakfast menu. Fan rejoiced when the McRib came back in 2020 for the first time in eight years McDonald's is bringing back breakfast bagels in four varieties, including the sausage variant pictured here Facebook groups have sprung up calling for the return of bagels at McDonald's Bagel fans have been posting memes about McDonald's bagels Bagels are not yet nationwide but they are in at least 1,200 restaurants - and could return to all 14,300 US outlets later this year. Bagels were first introduced to McDonald's in late 2019 but were cut soon after when bosses simplified the menu in spring 2020 during the pandemic. Since then, fans on Twitter, Reddit and Facebook have been calling for them to return. They are so popular a 13,000-member Facebook group has sprung up called Where's my McDonald's Bagel? Pizza Hit has introduced a Chicago tavern-style pizza much to the outrage of some of its customers. The chain introduced the thin crust pie, starting at $12 for a large pizza, to its menu earlier this week. Tavern-style pizza, Windy City's spin on traditional east coast thin crust pizza, is traditionally cut into squares and toppings laid right to the edge. However, the move has stoked controversy with fans disputing whether tavern-style or deep dish pizza is indeed the 'true pizza of Chicago'. Deep dish pizza, invented in Chicago in the 1940s. is cooked in a deep pie pan creating a thick high crust filled with cheese and tomatoes sauce. Pizza Hut's new Chicago tavern-style pizza has caused controversy Pizza Hut has now waded into the debate of which is the authentic Chicago pie Pizza Hut has now waded into the debate over which is the authentic Chicago dish. It is offering its new tavern-style pizza in four flavors, pesto margherita, the ultimate, spicy chicken sausage, and double pepperoni. 'Um, excuse me Pizza Hut and Chicago? If you are doing a thin crust, that is St Louis style,' Heather Whitten wrote on X in response to the chain's rollout announcement. 'No, Chicago deep dish is where it is at!' another unamused customer weighed in. 'Is anyone from Chicago actually ordering Chicago style thin crust from Pizza Hut?!?!' Drew Durham wrote on X. Pizza Hut addressed the criticism on social media, offering 'proof' that the true pizza of Chicago is tavern-style not deep dish. 'Chicago Tavern Style is cut into squares, not triangles. What else has many squares? This grid of Chicago. Coincidence? We think not' the brand joked on X. 'Big Deep Dish is trying to cover up that Tavern Style is Chicagos favorite pizza using clever tactics like Confidential folders' the chain wrote with accompanying pictures of secret pizza files. However, some customers were more supportive of the brand's stance. 'You tell them Pizza Hut! Let the world know Deep Dish is Tomato soup in a bread bowl!' customer Simon Wu responded to Pizza Hut's post. 'Pizza Hut you DARE sell Chicago tavern style pizza? Well it took long enough that's the TRUE pizza of Chicago,' another customer wrote on X. 'This is what Chicago be known for not that trash deep dish pizza' another pizza enthusiast wrote on Reddit. Pizza Hut is the first global pizza chain to offer a tavern-style pizza, which originated in Chicago in the 1930s, according to the Davidson County Source. Chicago has consistently been ranked as one of the top cities in the US for pizza alongside its rival for pie supremacy New York. Deep dish pizza, invented in Chicago in the 1940s. is cooked in a deep pie pan creating a thick high crust filled with cheese and tomatoes sauce Your browser does not support iframes. However, earlier this year Denver, Colorado claimed the top prize, according to a comprehensive study. Researchers considered typical price, the number of restaurants and how well they were rated plus a so-called 'pizza passion' score. Chicago was ranked 14th overall for pizza in terms of the eight factors. It is the second priciest for a large cheese pizza at $28.66 on average - which lowered its overall rank. Patagonia has given scores of staff just three days to agree to relocate across the country or face losing their jobs amid a major restructure. The clothing retailer informed 90 customer experience (CX) team employees they will be required to move closer to one of Patagonia's seven hubs to retain their positions. The affected staff are all able to work remotely, but must now live within 60 miles of centers in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Reno, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, or Pittsburgh. The announcement was made at a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, with employees given until Friday to make their decision. Workers were offered $4,000 toward relocation costs and more vacation days. Those who accept must relocate by September 30. Patagonia has given scores of staff just three days to agree to relocate across the country or face losing their jobs amid a major restructure Those who do not respond will automatically begin the severance process. The announcement impacts more than two thirds of Patagonia's CX team. The ultimatum has angered many employees who feel the it is at odds with the brand's founding ethos. 'Patagonia is not this small niche outdoor company anymore, it's a big corp in sheep's clothing,' one disgruntled worker said. 'I still think they made good products, but I think they don't treat their people as well as they claim to.' Patagonia was set up in 1973 by rock climber Yvon Chouinard as a sustainable outdoor clothing brand. Chouinard had a relaxed approach to work and lived by the philosophy, 'let my people go surfing'. Over the years, it has prided itself on tackling climate change, transferring to a trust and non-profit with proceeds going to help fight global warming. 'It feels like they're full of s**t, that they would rather spend their money on the world instead of their people,' the employee added. The clothing brand, headed by CEO Ryan Gellert (pictured), informed 90 customer experience (CX) team employees they will be required to move closer to one of Patagonia's seven hubs to retain their positions The severance deal was described as 'generous', but many could not understand why it was being proposed at all. 'I definitely feel like I've been laid off,' one worker said, 'I've never been late for work; I have gotten nothing but outstanding performance reviews.' The employee accused Patagonia of stooping to 'Walmart level' and suggested the proposals were due to the brand's reluctance to increase wages. 'We've been asking for raises for a long time, and they keep telling us that your wage is based on a Reno cost of living and where you choose to live is on you,' the worker said. The company's headquarters in Ventura, California were not selected as one of the hubs. 'Unfortunately, a California-based hub would not meet the criteria we set for a sustainable CX model,' Patagonia spokesperson Corley Kenna told Business Insider. The affected staff are all able to work remotely, but must now live within 60 miles of centers in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Reno, Dallas, Austin, Chicago or Pittsburgh Kenna added the changes are designed to tackle overstaffing in the CX team which has been between 200 and 300 percent over the last few years. 'While we hoped to reach the needed staffing levels through attrition, those numbers were very low, and retention remained high,' Kenna said. CX workers also complained about feeling disconnected, according to the spokesperson. 'These changes are crucial for us to build a vibrant team culture,' Kenna explained. Rahul Gandhis new avatar enhances his ability to foster the Opposition unity and effectively counter the BJP's influence within Parliament Rahul Gandhi's decision to accept the Congress Working Committee's (CWC) offer to become the new Leader of the Opposition in Parliament may serve a dual purpose. Firstly, it will provide him with a statutory position under the law, positioning him as a direct rival to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2029 elections, compelling Modi to take him seriously, unlike in the past. Secondly, despite being the strongest critic of the Prime Minister both inside and outside Parliament, Gandhis voice has often been drowned out by the BJP's "shouting brigade" over the past decade. However, this scenario is poised to change as the BJP enters the Lok Sabha with a reduced strength of 240 MPs, down from 303 in the previous Lok Sabha.In contrast, the Congress has almost doubled its strength, increasing from 52 to 102 MPs, including three independents. This bolstered presence will enable the Congress to counter the BJPs tactics more effectively. A tit-for-tat dynamic may emerge in Parliament: if the BJPs "shouting brigade" attempts to silence Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs may respond by disrupting the Prime Minister's speeches. The overall parliamentary balance of power has shifted as well. The combined strength of the NDA (BJP and its allies) will be reduced to 294, down from 336 in the previous term. Meanwhile, the Congress-led UPA has increased its seats from 90 to 234, including several new additions, posing a significant challenge for the ruling party. Challenges as Leader of the Opposition As the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi will face numerous challenges requiring a dedicated and full-time commitment. The role cannot be managed on an ad hoc basis as it demands continuous effort and strategic planning. Key responsibilities and strategies include: Regular Interaction with Allies: Gandhi must engage regularly with leaders of allied parties to formulate strategies aimed at cornering the weakened BJP-led alliance in Parliament. Building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse political groups will be essential. Aggressive yet Mature Approach: It will be crucial for Gandhi to demonstrate aggression balanced with maturity, particularly when highlighting issues of public importance. His ability to address these issues effectively in Parliament will be key to his success. Unifying a Fragmented Opposition: One of the most significant challenges will be unifying a fragmented opposition. The diverse political ideologies and regional interests create a complex landscape, making consensus-building a critical yet difficult task. Countering the Ruling Party's Narrative: Despite the BJP's reduced majority, countering its dominant narrative remains a formidable challenge. The ruling party's stronghold on media and public perception necessitates a strategic and compelling opposition narrative. Scrutiny of Leadership Style: Gandhi's leadership style and communication skills will be under constant scrutiny. Establishing his credibility and demonstrating robust leadership in parliamentary debates and public forums are crucial for gaining public trust and support. Responsibilities as LoP Holding the Government Accountable: Gandhi will lead the oppositions efforts in holding the government accountable. This involves articulating the oppositions stance on various issues, participating in debates, and ensuring effective representation. Rallying Opposition Parties: He will need to rally opposition parties, build consensus, and coordinate their efforts. This can be challenging given the diverse ideologies and interests of different parties. Effective Communication: Gandhi must communicate effectively within and outside Parliament. His speeches, statements, and interactions with the media will shape public perception and influence political discourse. Strategic Decision-Making: Making strategic decisions regarding when to cooperate with the ruling party and when to oppose them requires astute political judgment. Balancing these choices will be crucial. Mastery of Parliamentary Procedures: Understanding parliamentary rules, procedures, and tactics is crucial. Gandhi will need to master these to effectively challenge the government. Raising Critical Issues: People expect the LoP to raise critical issues, propose alternatives, and offer constructive solutions. Meeting these expectations will be key to Gandhis effectiveness as LoP. Rahul Gandhi may also gain an important position as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, which primarily examines reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The PAC has a majority of government nominees and typically decides issues by vote. Additionally, as LoP, Gandhi would be part of various collegiums alongside the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India (or government nominees), responsible for selecting the heads of key investigative and transparency agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Lokpal, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Chief Election Commissioner/Election Commissioners, and Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Historical Parallels: Indira Gandhi and Rahul GandhiAn amended version of Karl Marx's quote suggests that history repeats itself first as tragedy and not necessarily as farce; hence its recurrence has ended up enhancing Rahul Gandhi's prestige as LoP. Political observers note two stark similarities between the late Mrs. Indira Gandhis comeback in 1980 and Rahul Gandhis recent resurgence.Indira Gandhi earned the title "Bechari" in the eyes of the people due to the excesses and humiliation inflicted on her by the Janata Party after losing power, a fallout of the Emergency's dark era. In the late 1960s, she was derisively called "Goongi Gudiya" (Dumb Doll) by her detractors, which ultimately helped her emerge strong and bounce back to power in 1980. Similarly, Rahul Gandhi's rejuvenation as a credible LoP in 2024 comes after being dubbed "Pappu" by the BJP. At this juncture, experts suggest that the common people witnessed a privileged member of the Gandhi family walking in scorching heat and biting cold, highlighting their problems. This might have changed their opinion about him, leading them to perceive him as a "Bechara Shehzada" (Poor Prince), earning their sympathy and contributing to the BJP's undoing in the 2024 polls. The NDA governments focus on Hindutva, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and tall promises failed to address people's real issues. Prime Minister Modi can be credited for popularizing the term "Shehzada" (Scion) for Rahul Gandhi, but this campaign ultimately transformed his image from "Pappu" to a credible national leader.Overall, Rahul Gandhis leadership as LoP will significantly impact Indias political landscape. To effectively represent the opposition in Parliament, he will need to rise to these challenges, demonstrating strong leadership and a commitment to addressing the concerns of the Indian people. (The writer is a senior journalist and a policy analyst; views expressed are personal) Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, hit Delhi-NCR in the small hours of Friday morning causing severe water-logging and flooding in various parts of the national Capital. Flooded roads witnessed massive gridlock and miles-long traffic snarls causing too much inconvenience to road users. Under the impact of the downpour, a portion of a canopy at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) collapsed and fell down killing a cab driver and injuring at least six others. The falling debris enshrouded several cars parked under the canopy. Following the incident, departure of all flights from Terminal 1 were temporarily suspended and shifted to Terminal -3. Suspension of operations at T-1 comes at a time when the expanded terminal was supposed to open after a long wait. Passengers now stare at chaos in the oncoming weekend of summer holiday and peak travel season as Delhi and NCR schools reopen from July 1 onwards. A Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) statement said that a technical committee had been set up to investigate the roof collapse. Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu took stock of the situation after the roof collapse and rushed to Safdarjung Hospital to visit those affected. "We are taking this incident very seriously", Naidu said. Naidu clarified that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side of the site, while the collapsed building is an older structure that was opened in 2009. Speaking to reporters at the site, Naidu expressed condolences for the loss of life due to heavy rainfall and reported that four people had been injured. The minister announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased, and Rs 3 lakh for the injured. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said three fire tenders were rushed to Terminal-1 (T1) of the airport after a call about the incident was received around 5:30 am. According to officials, besides the roof sheet, the support beams collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal. A search operation was conducted to make sure no one was trapped inside the damaged vehicles. Around 10-12 cars were damaged in the incident, said one of the workers at the airport. Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani said due to heavy rains, the shed outside Terminal-1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), spanning from departure gate no. 1 to gate no. 2, collapsed around 5 am, damaging four vehicles.One person died and six people were injured in the incident. All the injured are stable, she said. Teams of Delhi Police, DFS, Central Industrial Security Force and National Disaster Response Force are present at the spot, the DCP said. The injured have been admitted to Medanta Hospital near the airport. One of them was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen. He was later identified as Ramesh Kumar, they added. A police official said the deceased was identified as Ramesh Kumar (45), a taxi driver and a resident of Rohini in Delhi. The injured have been identified as Santosh Kumar Yadav (28), Subham Shah (30), Dashrat Ahirwar (25), Arvind Goswami (34), Sahil Kundan (27) and Yogesh Dhawan (44). They are residents of Delhi, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the official said. According to a cab driver who was at the site of the incident, there was no loud noise of anything breaking when the rods of a portion of a roof collapsed at the Delhi airport's Terminal-1. He said that after the rods fell on the cars parked at the site, people became aware of the incident and chaos ensued with them shouting for help. A Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson said, "Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old departure forecourt of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected."As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended and check-in counters have been closed as a safety measure, the spokesperson said in a statement. During his visit to Amritsar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday called Punjab his own state's "elder brother", and urged it to share water from the Ravi and Beas through the SYL canal. He made the suggestion while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Earlier in the day, he also visited the Radha Soami Satsang in Beas and met the sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at his residence. While Haryana has built its portion of the canal, Punjab is reluctant to complete the stretch in its territory, saying it has no water to spare. Speaking to reporters on the SYL canal issue, Saini said, "Punjab is our elder brother, and it is the duty of the elder brother not to let the younger brother be disappointed." He also stressed the familial bond between Punjab and Haryana, stating, "Punjab-Haryana is one family and I appeal to our elder brother to share water with us." Recently, after the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi accused Haryana of not releasing the national capital's share of water, Saini maintained that Haryana is releasing water to the city over and above the agreed-upon quantity. Saini had then said that there is also an AAP government in Punjab, and they should ask Punjab to give SYL canal water so that Haryana's water shortage can be overcome and Delhi can also get more water. During his visit to the Golden Temple, Saini partook 'langar' and offered "sewa" (voluntary service) by washing utensils. The Gurudwara Committee presented him a 'siropa' (robe of honour). Speaking to reporters after paying obeisance at the Golden temple, Saini said, "Today, I have found great peace of mind by visiting the holy city Amritsar". We should pledge to follow the path shown by the Gurus, Saini said, adding that he prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of the state and the country. "The sacrifice of our Sikh Gurus for the protection of the nation and religion is embedded in every particle of this holy land, which inspires the entire country to serve the nation," he said. The Haryana CM's visit to Radha Soami Satsang at Beas was described as a "courtesy" meeting. The country's top political leaders visit the sect headquarters from time to time. The sect has a large number of followers across the country. Saini later visited the Ram Tirth temple near Amritsar city. The political winds are shifting within the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the party is gearing up for a potential shake-up in its leadership. With the term of current state party president Sunil Jakhar set to conclude on July 11, speculation is rife about who will take the helm next. Among the top contenders are former Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon, and former MLA Fateh Jung Bajwa all the former Congress leaders. Insiders revealed that the party high command is less than pleased with Jakhars tenure, citing his failure to engage effectively with grassroots supporters a key expectation when he was appointed to the pivotal role soon after joining the BJP. As the party grapples with internal dissatisfaction and prepares for the Jalandhar West bypoll on July 10, all eyes are on the forthcoming leadership decision. Although numerous leaders are vying for the top position within the Punjab BJP, any decision regarding a change in state leadership is expected only after the upcoming bypoll. Several names are being considered, and discussions are ongoing about a change in leadership. Many leaders are also staking their claims, but nothing has been finalized yet. Any changes in state leadership will occur after the bypolls. Moreover, the parliamentary session is currently in progress, so no immediate moves are anticipated, a senior party leader told The Pioneer. The candidates being considered include former Congress leaders who have shifted their allegiance to the BJP in recent years. Senior party leader Jagmohan Singh Raju is also rumoured to be in the race for the post. The party high command may ultimately choose someone from within the organization. First, the national president or working president will be appointed, followed by changes at the state level, explained another senior leader. The senior BJP leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment with Jakhar's performance. He remained confined to media and press interactions but failed to connect at the grassroots level and party cadre, where the partys real work is needed. The BJP couldn't secure even a single seat and lost from our strongholds of Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, the leader lamented. BJP's Performance in Lok Sabha Elections Despite holding power at the Centre, the BJP failed to win any seats in Punjab in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections. However, the party saw an increase in its vote share compared to the previous elections, surpassing even its former ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). For the first time, the BJP contested all seats in Punjab independently, raising its vote share from 9.63 percent in 2019 (when it contested only three seats in alliance with the SAD) to 18.56 percent. This vote share was five percent higher than that of SAD. However, the BJP's journey was not without setbacks. Five candidates lost their security deposits: Manjit Singh Manna in Khadoor Sahib, Parampal Kaur Sidhu in Bathinda, Hans Raj Hans in Faridkot, Arvind Khanna in Sangrur, and Gejja Ram Valmiki in Fatehgarh Sahib. Gains in Urban and Semi-Urban Segments The BJP showed strength in 23 out of the 117 assembly segments. Analysis revealed that the BJP has emerged as a formidable force in at least 35 segments dominated by Hindu, urban, and semi-urban voters including Abohar, Balluana, Jalandhar Central, Jalandhar North, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Patiala, and various segments in Ludhiana and Amritsar. The saffron party also performed well in areas with a significant Hindu vote bank, such as Nabha, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Moga. Even in Sikh-dominated seats like Khadoor Sahib, considered a Panthic seat, BJP candidate Manjit Manna secured more votes than SAD candidates in Patti, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Baba Bakala assembly constituencies. Strategic Response to Farmer Protests The BJPs internal assessment after the Lok Sabha polls revealed victories in semi-urban and small towns with a high presence of Hindu voters, such as Nakodar, Shahkot, Faridkot, and Kotkapura. While factors like the Ram Temple and Modi magic contributed to BJP's polarization, a significant factor was the anger against the farmer protests in Punjab. As farmer unions continuously disrupted BJP candidates campaigns in rural areas, Jakhar-led BJP strategically targeted the business-dominated Hindu community. In the final week of campaigning, the BJP accused farmer unions of disrupting the states business and economy, aiming to garner support from affected communities. Even though Jakhars supporters within the party claimed that the party managed to make a mark in the parliamentary polls in the State, the voices against him is gaining momentum, especially amidst the call of making all out efforts to strengthen its foothold in Punjab and better connect with its voter base. In one of the biggest opium seizures of a decade, Fazilka Police has busted an Inter-state Opium smuggling syndicate operating from Jharkhand with the arrest of two big drug smugglers after recovering 66kg Opium kept concealed in a specially designed and fabricated compartments fitted underneath their Maruti Swift car, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday. Those arrested have been identified as Sukhyad Singh alias Yad of village Dalmir Khera and Jagraj Singh of village Bhamma Singh Wala in Ferozepur. Apart from recovering big haul of opium, Police teams have also recovered Rs 40000 drug money, 400 grams gold from their possession, besides, impounding their Swift car (PB 05 AC 5015) and a Tractor. Yadav said that further financial investigation and meticulous follow up in this case has resulted in unearthing of 42 bank accounts, which were being used for financial transactions by the organised opium syndicate. Following a financial trail in less than 24 hours, the Fazilka Police has got freezed all the 42 bank accounts with whooping amount worth Rs 1.86 crore of drug proceeds, he said. The DGP said that the Fazilka Police has also initiated the process of property forfeiture under 68F of the NDPS act. Further investigations are on to trace the forward and backward linkages, he added. Sharing operation details, SSP Fazilka Pragya Jain said that they have received reliable inputs about the arrested accused persons that they are habitual of transporting opium from Jharkhand and would be returning from Jharkhand to Dalmir Khera via Sri Ganganagar in their swift car carrying a substantial quantity of opium. Acting swiftly on the inputs, a strategic Nakabandi was established by SHO Police Station Khuian Sarvar Raman Kumar along with police party on the Abohar-Ganganagar road at the Bus Stand village Sappan Wali under the supervision of DSP Abohar Arun Mundan and successfully intercepted the specified vehicle, she said. The SSP said that despite an attempt by the driver to flee, the Police party has successfully apprehended both the accused persons and recovered 66kg opium and Rs 40000 drug money from their possession. During the hot chase, one police personnel also sustained injuries, she added. SSP Jain said that the Police teams have also identified the big fish behind this syndicate and the latter has been into smuggling from over two decades and facing at least nine criminal cases pertaining to Attempt to Murder, Theft, under Excise Act and NDPS act. We have After the stunning victory of Samajwadi Party in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, the battle for the by-election to Milkipur is hotting up. SP MP Awadesh Prasad was MLA from Milkipur assembly constituency in Faizabad district. The stakes are high for the Bharatiya Janata Party as it lost the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat which includes Ayodhya, where the Ram temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 this year. The BJP hopes to regain some lost ground if it wins the Milkipur assembly seat. Katheri assembly seat in neighbouring Ambedkar Nagar district has also high stakes as SP MLA Lalji Verma has also been elected to the Lok Sabha. The opposition INDIA bloc faces the challenging task of proving that it retains the tempo generated by the victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The upcoming bypolls to 10 Uttar Pradesh assembly seats may answer the question. SP and Congress, both constituents of INDIA bloc, have announced their alliance not only for the bypolls but also for the 2027 UP assembly elections. The bypolls will also be a test of whether the slump in BJPs Lok Sabha seat tally in the state will have any bearing on the assembly seats. The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the schedule for the bypolls but political parties in UP have started the preparations. The 10 assembly seats where bypolls will be held are the ones vacated by MLAs who contested and won the Lok Sabha elections. Our preparations are on. Talks over seat-sharing are in progress. Top-level leaders of both the parties (Congress and SP) are in touch. We will continue to fight in alliance with the SP under the INDIA bloc. We will win the bypolls on all the seats the way we defeated the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a majority of seats, said SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary. On the other hand, the BJP, having suffered a big setback in the Lok Sabha elections, is gearing up for a massive ground campaign to boost the morale of its cadre and reach out to the voters. We will fight the bypolls with full spirit and will retain almost all the seats, said BJP spokesperson Manish Dixit. Among the seats that will head to bypolls is SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs Karhal assembly seat, Khair (Aligarh), Kundarki (Moradabad), Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Phulpur (Prayagraj), Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar) and Milkipur (Ayodhya). In political circles it is believed that the INDIA bloc may pose a formidable challenge to the ruling BJP and boosting the morale of the party cadre after its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls would be a challenging task for the BJP. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance experienced a significant setback, with a decline in both seat tally and vote share. The BJPs vote share decreased from 49.98 per cent in 2019 to 41.37 per cent in 2024. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) saw its vote share shrink from 1.21 per cent in 2019 to 0.92 per cent in 2024 and it won only one seat. The Bahujan Samaj Party, which contested the parliamentary elections solo, also faced a substantial decline in its vote share which dropped from 19.43 per cent in 2019 to 9.39 per cent with zero seats in 2024. In a notable shift, the SP, which had not won any reserved seats in 2019, secured seven reserved seats, while its ally Congress won one reserved seat. In 2019, all reserved seats were won by the BJP, BSP and Apna Dal (S). "Science and technology backyards" propel rural revitalization in NE China's Jilin People's Daily Online) 11:09, June 28, 2024 "This is the first rice-fishing farming science and technology backyard (STB) in China," said Wang Qiuju, a supervisor of a master's degree program at Jilin Agricultural University in northeast China's Jilin Province. Wang is also the chief expert of the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming STB in Nanwaizi village, Gongzhuling city, Jilin Province. In 2022, the STB was honored by the China Rural Special Technology Association. Photo shows the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming science and technology backyard in Gongzhuling city, northeast China's Jilin Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) The province boasts of 105 nationally recognized STBs, ranking first in the country, said Chen Yaohui, vice chairman of the Jilin provincial science and technology association. These STBs are contributing to all-round rural revitalization in the province. "Under harsh conditions, our university's teachers and students addressed agricultural 'bottleneck' issues faced by farmers," said Zhang Dianfeng, Party head of Jilin Agricultural University, in front of the former site of the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming STB. In the summer of 2023, Wang, her husband Wu Min, who is also a teacher from the university, and their postgraduates moved to the new site of the STB with better conditions about 100 meters away from the former site. The new STB boasts improved research conditions, Wang said, adding that an experimental field, which is the "main battlefield" of her team, is just at the doorstep of the STB. In 2018, Wang and her team arrived in Nanwaizi village to develop techniques for cultivating crayfish and crabs in rice fields. Farming crayfish or crabs in rice fields helps farmers boost their income and can be economically beneficial, according to Wang. Wang Qiuju gives a lesson at the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming science and technology backyard in Gongzhuling city, northeast China's Jilin Province. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) Every year, just before the start of the rice planting season, Wang and her husband would lead their students to the village and stay for more than half a year. Zhao Chunyu, a farmer in the village, provided land for Wang and other researchers from Jilin Agricultural University for experiments, becoming the first to "take the plunge" in the village. At first, local residents were skeptical of Wang's team, as they hadn't seen any tangible benefits. Zhao was initially apprehensive, too. "After all, we've been farming for so many years, but no one had ever tried raising crabs in rice fields before," Zhao recalled. Wu Min (right), Wang Qiuju's husband, checks on the growth of crayfish together with students. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) In 2020, Zhao and other members of an aquaculture farmers' cooperative volunteered to feed the crabs, as Wang was pregnant. That year, their collective efforts paid off, resulting in a bumper harvest of both rice and crabs for the cooperative. One year later, the Jilin provincial science and technology association and Jilin Agricultural University took the lead in establishing the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming STB in Nanwaizi village. It became one of the first eight STBs recognized by the province, and Wang served as the chief expert of the STB. The success didn't come easily. After years of experimentation, Wang and her team successfully developed a model for rice cultivation combined with crayfish and crab farming. They devised a technique that significantly improved the survival rate of baby crayfish in Jilin Province and developed special feed for crabs in paddy fields. Thanks to the tailored feed, a crab in paddy fields can now grow to around 100 grams, a significant increase from about 50 grams in the past. A staff member of the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming science and technology backyard works in a rice field. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) The new model also increases the yield of rice. In 2023, the rice yield of experimental fields exceeded 550 kilograms per mu (667 square meters). According to Zhao, rice would sell for 5.2 yuan ($0.72) to 5.4 yuan per kilogram previously, but now it can be sold for 10 yuan per kilogram, as rice-crab farming reduces the use of pesticides and fertilizers and leads to better rice quality. Meanwhile, the yield of crabs in each mu of rice field reaches about 15 kilograms. The mixed rice-crab farming increases profits by 300 yuan to 500 yuan per mu. The STB's innovative farming model has attracted more and more households. The cooperative's experimental fields have increased from 10 mu to over 500 mu, and Zhao has become the head of the cooperative. The Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming STB, deeply rooted in the countryside, not only promotes technological innovation but also contributes to academic advancement. Jilin Agricultural University requires postgraduates of the STB to stay there for no less than 120 days per year for research, while supervisors and experts guide the students' research work both online and offline and engage in technique development, field guidance, and the promotion of techniques, Zhang said. In the past five years, a total of 13 papers from teachers and students associated with the STB have been included in the Science Citation Index (SCI). The STB has helped the cooperative register three trademarks. Photo shows feed for crayfish developed by the Gongzhuling rice-fishing farming science and technology backyard. (People's Daily Online/Li Yang) To extend the STB's reach, Wang created an account on Douyin, a popular short video app platform in China, and often shared videos about baby crayfish bred by the STB, which attracted people who want to buy them across Jilin Province. Wang decided to offer baby crayfish to villagers in many places in the province free of charge. On June 7, the Jilin provincial crayfish farming promotion conference and popularization day for mixed rice-fishing farming was held at a crayfish farming base in Yitong Manchu Autonomous County, Siping city of Jilin Province. In late May, the industry-education-research demonstration base of Jilin Agricultural University was set up, marking the formal settlement of the province's first and largest breeding base for baby crayfish in cold climates in the county. These achievements are partly attributed to students from the STB, who have promoted the research results of the STB over the past years, Wang said. Wang is not alone in implementing the STB program. Wang's husband is the chief expert of the other STB. Jilin Agricultural University's teams run 67 of 105 STBs in Jilin Province. In recent years, postgraduates of these STBs have applied for 21 patents, published 110 academic articles, held 54 science popularization events, provided technological services for 535,240 mu of land, and promoted 28 new techniques, according to Zhang. For years, Jilin Province has regarded the establishment of STBs as a crucial measure to accelerate agricultural modernization and promote comprehensive rural revitalization. The STB program has not only cultivated young researchers but also a large number of "new farmers." As of April 2024, STBs in the province had provided 761 training sessions on agricultural technologies both online and offline, and posted 485 science popularization articles and short videos, benefiting over 30,000 households. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Key Points: The House-approved defense bill deviates from the NDAA on F-35 and submarine purchases, sparking debate over cost, industrial capacity, and strategic priorities. Social policy riders, including restrictions on abortion access and diversity initiatives, ignited strong opposition from Democrats. The bill reinforces support for Israel, prohibiting delays in arms deliveries and increasing funding for missile defense and counterterrorism programs. In a move likely to reverberate through the halls of Congress and the defense industry, the House of Representatives passed a hefty $833 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2025. The legislation, approved by a vote of 217-198, ignited heated debate over the procurement of F-35 fighter jets and Virginia-class attack submarines, highlighting a growing rift between lawmakers and the Pentagon. Get alerts: Appropriators Defy Bipartisan Pressure on Procurement At the heart of the controversy lies the House Appropriations Committees decision to deviate significantly from the defense priorities outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed earlier this month. The spending bill, spearheaded by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, calls for the purchase of 76 F-35s, eight more than requested by the Department of Defense. This starkly contrasts the NDAA, which aims to reduce the number of F-35s to 58. Defending the increase, Calvert argued that bolstering Americas military advantage is crucial to deterring Chinese aggression, emphasizing investments in advanced aircraft. However, this move drew sharp criticism from lawmakers like Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), a ranking House Armed Services Committee member, who labeled the F-35 program as plagued by cost overruns and performance issues. Social Policy Riders Draw Ire from Democrats Adding fuel to the fire, the bill approves the procurement of only one Virginia-class submarine, aligning with the Navys request but clashing with the NDAAs push for partial funding of a second vessel. While acknowledging the need to rebuild the submarine industrial base, Calvert faced pushback from a bipartisan group led by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), who emphasized the importance of consistent submarine production for national security. Further deepening the partisan divide, the defense bill incorporates several controversial social policy riders. These include restrictions on abortion access for service members and limitations on military diversity initiatives. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, denounced these additions, arguing that they fail to foster an inclusive environment within the military. The bill also drew criticism for omitting $300 million in funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a long-standing program supporting Ukraines security. While acknowledging that this represents a small fraction of the total aid allocated to Ukraine, McCollum expressed concerns that the omission sends a negative signal to Russia. Focus on Israel and Push for Conservative Priorities The legislation underscores a solid commitment to Israel, prohibiting delays in the delivery of defense articles and services to the country. It further allocates $500 million for Israeli missile defense programs and bolsters funding for counterterrorism initiatives. Reflecting a conservative agenda, the bill includes provisions banning funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology, prohibiting contracts with NewsGuard Technologies Inc., and restricting the promotion of critical race theory within the military. The Houses passage of the defense spending bill sets the stage for intense negotiations with the Senate, which is expected to unveil its own version of the bill in the coming weeks. With key differences on issues ranging from F-35 procurement to social policy riders, finding common ground will prove to be a significant challenge. A mobile bank service, which was introduced in Dungiven following the closure of the town's Ulster Bank back in 2018, is set to be terminated later this summer. The mobile bank, Ulster Bank on wheels, has been visiting the North Derry town every Wednesday morning, allowing people to avail of services usually only provided in branch. However, Ulster Bank have now confirmed that the service will end on August 30 alongside the stop in Gortin, County Tyrone. A spokesperson for Ulster Bank confirmed that there is 'no longer a customer demand in these locations' and they plan to replace these stops with new stops in Maghera and Lisnaskea. Customers in Dungiven will now be forced to drive the extra nine miles to the nearest branch in Limavady or 12 miles to the new stop in Maghera. The Ulster Bank spokesperson said more customers are choosing digital banking. The way people bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with an increased demand for mobile and online services as customers benefit from a faster and easier way to bank. Over 93% of Ulster Bank retail banking customer needs are now met digitally and over half of retail banking customers bank entirely digitally, said the spokesperson. Many customers are choosing digital banking because it makes life easier. But we know for some people there are challenges in moving online, and we recognise our responsibility to provide them with the support and services that work for them. We are following the Access to Banking Standard and we have engaged with the FCA. We have made our decision after careful consideration of a wide range of factors including, changes in customer mobile branch usage over a long period of time; how often customers are using the mobile branch; the types of transactions they undertake; and the ways our customer can bank locally. While we have the permissions in place to park at Maghera every other Wednesday 10:15 to 11:15am, we are currently liaising with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council for Lisnaskea to get a licence agreement in place enabling us to park the mobile bank every other Friday 1:35 to 2:20pm. We provide our customers with more ways to bank than ever before customers can choose from a range of digital, face-to-face and local banking options, added the spokesperson. Mairead McCormack, Chief Executive of Glenshane Community Development Limited, expressed her disappointment at Ulster Bank's decision and called on them to reconsider and explore alternative solutions. Glenshane Community Development Limited are deeply concerned and disappointed regarding Ulster Bank's decision to terminate the mobile bank service in Dungiven, Ms McCormack said. The Bank has advised that they are relocating services to Maghera, which doesn't have a physical bank either, so will probably only operate a 45 minute mobile banking window one day per week, similar to that presently provided in Dungiven. This will have a detrimental impact on the most vulnerable members of our community. Mairead continued: While we understand the changing landscape of banking and the shift toward digital services, we cannot overlook the reality faced by those without access to a vehicle. Firstly there is a 20 minute bus journey from Dungiven to the Park and Ride bus stop at the Maghera Flyover and then a 20 minute walk from the bus stop to the town centre. This will pose significant challenges, especially for elderly residents, individuals with disabilities and families with young children. Furthermore, this decision contradicts the promises made by Ulster Bank when the physical bank branch in Dungiven was closed. At that time, assurances were given that alternative services would be provided to ensure continued accessibility for our community. We urge Ulster Bank to reconsider this decision and explore alternative solutions, prioritising the needs of their Dungiven customers. Our community relies on accessible banking services, and we hope that Ulster Bank will honour its commitment to serve us effectively. Washington, DC, USA (PANA) - The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has concluded the 2024 Article IV consultation with Benin Derry had the second highest number of hoax 999 calls across Northern Irish cities in the last five years, with 1,139. Derry Now acquired these figures through a Freedom of Information request to the PSNI. Belfast was the only city with more hoax 999 calls, but it was a significant difference as the capital city had over four times as many calls with 4,843. The Maiden City and Belfast were the only cities on the list with over 1000 hoax calls in this period. Lisburn was third on the list with 800 hoax 999 calls, while fourth on the list was Bangor with 659. Newry enters the list in fifth with 628, while Armagh rounds off the list with only 516 hoax calls in this five-year period. The most prolific year for hoax 999 calls in Derry was 2023, as there were 308 recorded. While 2019 saw the fewest recorded hoax 999 calls with 182. Across the same five-year period, the entire county of Derry had 2,352 hoax 999 phone calls. This is the third-most prolific county in Northern Ireland over this period. Only Antrim and Down are higher on the list with 7,968 and 4,507 hoax 999 calls, respectively. Armagh (2,127) and Tyrone (1,440) are fourth and fifth on the list across this period. Fermanagh rounds off the list as the only county with less than 1000 hoax 999 calls, as there were 411 recorded over this period. The Green Party Northern Ireland outlines five key priorities in its General Election manifesto, including saving the environment, protecting public services, a wealth tax, reform of Stormont and peace and justice globally. Here, the PA news agency looks in more detail at the partys 20-page Greener, Cleaner, Fairer manifesto. Greener The Green Party includes six missions in this section described as being in pursuit of a sustainable and compassionate future. The missions include making it easier and cheaper to reduce energy consumption with pledges to push for community ownership of all sustainable energy infrastructure and investment in solar, wind and other renewable technologies coupled with incentives to make these sources more efficient and accessible. The party also pledges to work to make green transport more accessible, to restore and protect green space, protect natural resources, support a more sustainable and secure food supply chain and protect animals. Cleaner The Green Party pledges in a joint effort with its sister parties across the UK and Ireland to tackle greenhouse gas emissions by making clean, renewable energy more efficient and accessible. Six missions in this section include speeding up the roll out of renewable energy and making the right people pay for it, fighting for stronger legal protection of the environment, water and air, strengthening international agreements to support the collective improvement and protection of the environment, measure progress, champion international relationships and renew and improve commitments to international aid. Fairer The Green Party pledges to work for a fairer society, seeking to reform taxation to ensure those with the most pay their fair share. Eight missions in this section include calling for the reform of democratic institutions, with the use of proportional representation rather than the first past the post system in general elections, extending voting rights to 16-year-olds, reforming political funding, strict limits on political donations and the abolition of the House of Lords in its current format. The party also pledges to make government more representative and more local, restore and protect public services, end discrimination and promote human rights with legal frameworks and public awareness campaigns and transform work life with pledges to phase in a four-day work week and introduce a universal basic income. In terms of fighting for peace and justice, the Greens say they will campaign for the UK government to demand an immediate bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, push for the recognition of the state of Palestine and press for the UK to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, dismantle nuclear weapons and cancel the Trident programme. Science fiction has always been a captivating genre, blending imaginative futures with compelling storytelling. If youve been mesmerised by the epic tale of Kalki 2898 AD, youre likely on the hunt for more thrilling sci-fi adventures. Fortunately, Netflix offers a treasure of futuristic narratives, mind-bending plots, and visually stunning worlds. In this article, I will tell you the top 8 sci-fi movies available on Netflix that will keep you at the edge of your seat. Whether youre a fan of future, space odysseys, or technological marvels, these films are sure to ignite your imagination and take you on an unforgettable journey. Also read: 10 Latest OTT releases that should be on your weekend binge-watch list Sci-Fi Movies on Netflix Atlas Atlas is a 2024 sci-fi action film on Netflix. The story revolves around Atlas Shepherd (Lopez), a brilliant but misanthropic data analyst with a deep distrust of artificial intelligence. She joins a mission to capture a renegade robot, Harlan, with whom she shares a mysterious past. When the mission goes awry, Atlass only hope to save humanity from the AI threat is to learn to trust it. Interstellar Interstellar is a 2014 science fiction film. The story follows a team of astronauts, led by former NASA pilot Cooper, who embark on a daring mission through a wormhole near Saturn to find a new habitable planet for humanity. As Earth faces ecological collapse, the crews journey takes them to incredible and dangerous worlds, testing their resolve and ingenuity. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the human spirit, featuring stunning visual effects. The Adam Project A time-traveling pilot teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future Rebel Moon- Part One: A Child of Fire After crash landing on a moon in the furthest reaches of the universe, Kora, a stranger with a mysterious past, begins a new life among a peaceful settlement of farmers. But she soon becomes their only hope for survival when the tyrannical Regent Balisarius and his cruel emissary, Admiral Noble, discover the farmers have unwittingly sold their crops to the Bloodaxes leaders of a fierce group of insurgents hunted by the Motherworld. I Am Mother I Am Mother is a sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl, who is the first of a new generation of humans to be raised by Mother, a robot designed to repopulate the earth after the extinction of humankind. But the pairs unique relationship is threatened when an injured stranger arrives with news that calls into question everything Daughter has been told about the outside world and her Mothers intentions. Spaceman Six months into a solo mission, a lonely astronaut confronts the cracks in his marriage with help from a mysterious creature he discovers on his ship. Project Power An ex-soldier, a teen and a cop collide in New Orleans as they hunt for the source behind a dangerous new pill that grants users temporary superpowers. Tau Kidnapped by an inventor who uses her as a test subject to perfect his robotic AI, a street-smart young woman tries to escape her high-tech prison. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Computing is the new currency: Axelera AI bags US$68 million, eyes for global AI expansion Netherlands-based Axelera AI, an AI acceleration hardware and software provider has announced the successful completion of their US$68 million Series B financing round. This oversubscribed funding round brings the total amount raised by the company to US$120 million. Speaking to DIGITIMES Asia, Axelera AI CEO Fabrizio Del Maffeo says their funding benefited from the renewed interest in AI infrastructure driven by Nvdia's surge in 2023. "The infrastructure always wins, there is no AI without computing," says Del Maffeo. "Before it was said that oil was the new currency, then data became the currency. But today, computing is the new currency, hence why investors start to look at us seriously," he added. IDC predicts that by the end of 2027, the market for IT infrastructure supporting AI semiconductors will grow to US$193 billion. Huge financial boost Since its founding in 2021, Axelera AI has quickly grown to employ over 180 professionals, with backgrounds ranging from IBM and IMEC to Intel. The official press release claims the company's series B round is Europe's largest oversubscribed funding in the fabless semiconductor sector. Institutional investors participating in this round include the Invest-NL Deep Tech Fund, the European Innovation Council Fund, the Innovation Industries Strategic Partners Fund, and the Samsung Catalyst Fund. Existing investors such as Verve Ventures, Innovation Industries, Fractionelera, and the Italian sovereign fund CDP Venture Capital SGR also contributed. In the statement, Marco Chisari, Head of Samsung Semiconductor Innovation Center and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics expresses enthusiasm for supporting Axelera AI. Chisari praises the company for how they utilize digital in-memory computing to accelerate AI at the edge while addressing critical challenges such as the 'memory wall' and power consumption. Del Maffeo says the funding they received will primarily support research and development, team expansion, and global sales efforts. Del Maffeo noted that AI is heavily software-driven, and the company plans to have more software personnel than hardware personnel by the end of next year. The company says its flagship Metis AI Platform, the AI processing unit for inference, has been a key driver of its success, offering a 3-5x improvement in efficiency and performance. The company anticipates the unit will enter full production in the second half of 2024, positioning it as a leader in efficient and cost-effective AI processing units for inference. Applications in various industries The primary application of the company's proprietary chip is in computer vision, which is utilized across various sectors, including retail, surveillance, medical, robotics, drones, telecom, and industrial automation. "The surveillance market", Del Maffeo highlighted, "has shown strong traction." The statement also revealed the funding will support Axelera AI's global expansion strategy, targeting growth opportunities in sectors such as automotive, digital healthcare, Industry 4.0, retail, robotics, drones, and surveillance. Additionally, the expansion will also support the design of AI accelerators with better performance, efficiency, and price advantages customized for exa-scale and peta-scale HPC centers. Collaboration across the industry and regions Beyond its current market of North America, Europe, and the Middle East, Del Maffeo says he also sees Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan as having the most potential. Del Maffeo says the company is not targeting China at this stage of its operations. He highlights their strong integration with Taiwanese partners for design and system integration, with Advantech and ASE being key collaborators. Del Maffeo emphasized the company's collaborative approach, working with other semiconductor companies and being part of the automotive ecosystem of IMEC. He envisions a future where AI accelerators enable creative content generation, similar to how Nvidia's graphics cards are used today. Hyper-NA EUV to debut in 2030, primes foundry market for transformation As semiconductor technology advances towards 1-2 nanometer (nm) processes, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment is undergoing generational changes. The next-generation Hyper-NA EUV, expected to debut in 2030, is set to become a significant factor in the strategic planning of TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Intel. According to South Korean media outlet Chosun Biz, ASML plans to introduce Hyper-NA EUV equipment in 2030, capable of supporting sub-1nm processes. This follows the High-NA EUV systems, which ASML began supplying to Intel in 2024. EUV lithography machines offer higher resolution, enabling the creation of more intricate circuit patterns. They also increase production efficiency, simplify manufacturing processes, and enhance chip performance. However, the exorbitant cost of these machines has given major players pause. Current EUV systems are priced at approximately US$180 million each, while the new High-NA EUV costs around US$360 million. The upcoming Hyper-NA equipment could potentially exceed US$720 million per unit. ASML reports that major industry players have already placed orders for High-NA EUV systems, although the implementation timelines may vary. Dr. Kevin Zhang, Senior Vice President of Business Development at TSMC, has stated that while High-NA EUV offers excellent performance, its price is prohibitively expensive. He suggested that TSMC's current EUV equipment should be sufficient to achieve A16 (1.6nm) technology. Industry analysts predict that TSMC, which adopted EUV technology later than Samsung, will likely maintain its strategy of maximizing existing EUV equipment. The company is expected to focus on multiple patterning techniques and carefully evaluate the scale of new equipment adoption to minimize investment burdens. Samsung is also deliberating on the timing of High-NA equipment adoption. Considering its long-term roadmap for sub-1nm processes, the company may skip High-NA EUV and directly implement Hyper-NA systems. However, the reliability and pricing of Hyper-NA equipment remain uncertain, posing significant risks. Intel, the first to adopt High-NA EUV, has faced financial challenges. Its foundry division reported a US$7 billion loss in 2023 and continued to operate at a loss in the first quarter of 2024. Industry observers attribute this partly to the cost burden of early adoption of next-generation EUV equipment. ASML states that the High-NA EUV systems supplied to Intel can handle processes from 2nm down to 0.7nm. For future sub-1nm processes, Hyper-NA EUV technology will become indispensable. South Korean battery makers could benefit from Tesla 46800 cell production headache Media reported that Tesla was considering ceasing production of 46800 cells due to multiple difficulties. If the company does so, more orders will be placed for South Korea-based LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On. According to Autoevolution, Tesla might stop manufacturing the 4680 cell at its Gigafactory in Texas and rely entirely on suppliers for the battery. South Korea-based Businesspost reported that Tesla terminating 4680 cell production could be because the EV maker is forming a supply system with partners. If companies like LGES can provide sufficient production capacity, Tesla can concentrate on vehicle manufacturing. LGES has established 46800 cell production lines at its primary production base in Ochang, South Korea, and aims to begin volume production in August 2024. If Tesla stops making the battery at the end of 2024, its EV production will not be affected. LGES is constructing a plant in Arizona, the US, to make cylindrical batteries. The facility will have a capacity of 36GWh and is slated to start production in 2026. Samsung SDI also plans to establish a scheme this year to enable the mass production of cylindrical batteries with a 46mm diameter. The company plans to diversify its product portfolio to supply different batteries to various customers. Tesla is not the only EV maker adopting the 46 mm cylindrical battery. BMW and US-based Rivian are also potential customers of Samsung SDI. At CES 2024, SK On announced that it will develop a series of cylindrical batteries with a diameter of 46mm. If South Korean battery manufacturers can increase their influence in the cylindrical battery market and secure Tesla and other customers, they will likely challenge Chinese competitors, who have dominated the sector, with the 46800 battery cell. On the other hand, Panasonic, Tesla's existing battery supplier, may expand its production capacity for the 46800 battery. It was reported that the Japanese manufacturer was mulling over a US$4 billion investment in Kansas, the US, to build production facilities. SK Hynix develops PCB01 for artificial intelligence PCs SK Hynix Inc. (or "the company") announced today that it developed PCB01, an SSD product with the industry's best specifications, for on-device AI* PCs. Readers can visit SK Hynix at www.skhynix.com. *On-device AI: a technology that implements AI functions on the device itself, instead of going through computation by a physically separated server. A smartphone's direct collection and computation of information allows fast reactions of the AI performance while promising an improved customized AI service. The product marks the first case where the industry adopts the fifth generation of the 8-channel** PCIe*** technology and brings innovation to performance including the data processing speed. **Channel: a route for the input/output of data between a NAND flash and a controller on the SSD. An increase in the number of channels leads to the advancement of the PCIe to the next generations and an improvement in the data processing speed. A 4-channel SSD is typically adopted for conventional PCs, while an 8-channel SSD is for high-performance PCs. ***Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle): a serial-structured, high-speed input/output interface used on the motherboard of digital devices The company expects the latest advancement in the NAND solution space to add to its success stories in the high-performance DRAM area led by HBM, enhancing its leadership in the overall AI memory space. With a validation process with a global PC customer underway, SK Hynix plans to mass produce and start shipping the products to corporate customers and general consumers this year. PCB01 comes with the capabilities of sequential read and write speeds of 14GB and 12GB per second, respectively, bringing the performance of an SSD to a level unseen before. The speeds allow the operation of a large language model****, or LLM, for AI training and inference, in a second. ****Large language model (LLM): a language model trained on vast amounts of data, which is essential for the performance of generative AI tasks such as creating, summarizing, and translating texts The product also comes with an improvement in power efficiency of more than 30% compared with the previous generation, enhancing the stability of large-scale AI computing tasks. SK Hynix also adopted the SLC***** caching for the production of PCB01. With the adoption of the technology that places the single-level cell, or SLC, in some parts of the NAND cell to accelerate performance, a PC user can experience a faster performance for both AI services and conventional computing. *****Single-level cell (SLC): a type of memory cell used in NAND flash that stores one bit of data in a single cell. As the amount of data stored increases, the memory cell becomes a multi-level cell (MLC), a triple-level cell (TLC), and a quad-level cell (QLC). An increase in data storage means more data can be stored in the same area, but the speed and stability decrease. An SLC enables faster processing of selected data. The product is also equipped with the capability aimed at protecting personal data. SK Hynix engineers built the root of trust, or ROT******, a security solution, in the PCB01 to prevent external cybersecurity attacks and forging and falsification of information, while protecting a user's password. ******Root of Trust (RoT): an area of the hardware that can always be trusted in terms of security, while enabling the prevention of forging and falsification of information The company plans to launch PCB01 in three capacities 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Ahn Hyun, Head of the N-S Committee at SK Hynix, said numerous global providers of CPUs for on-device AI PCs are requesting collaboration for the compatibility validation process. "We will work towards enhancing our leadership as the global top AI memory provider also in the NAND solution space by successfully completing the customer validation and mass production of PCB01, which will be in the limelight." SK Hynix develops PCB01 News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe The hugely popular Culture Night will take place this year on Friday 20th September, Louth County Council have announced. Louth County Council Arts Service is now accepting applications from those eligible to avail of funding from the Culture Night event fund for 2024. The fund is open to applications from not-for-profit organizations, local community groups, arts, heritage and cultural groups, venues and societies. Applications can be made by individuals but must be in partnership with a venue, community, arts, cultural or heritage group. Assistance cannot be given in relation to commercial activities. Events should respond to the national theme of Culture Night 2024, One Night For All. See https://culturenight.ie/ for full details. The maximum award that will be given to any one application will be 1,500. A budget breakdown must be submitted with any proposal seeking support of over 500. The council says: It may not be possible to offer funding to all applicants and it may also not be possible to offer the full amount requested to any individual applicant. (However, inclusion in the programme will be open to all applicants). It is therefore important to ensure that all relevant information is included in your application, including the proposed budget for the event. We are particularly interested in projects that reflect the cultural richness of Louth and the diversity within local communities. Initiatives that specifically target the 18-35 demographic and target the night-time economy will also be looked on favourably. Louth County Council are committed to projects that consider equality, inclusion, accessibility and diversity, and that seek to include all voices of culture. Consideration should also be given as to how best to target and engage with new / different audiences while planning an event. The grant can cover costs related to the running of the event such as guest speaker fees, guest artist fees, arts materials, event photographer and tech support hire. Payment of the grant will be for the specific activities outlined in the application/proposal. The grant cannot cover staffing costs on the night of the event, ongoing revenue costs, any capital costs, equipment purchase costs, charity fundraising events, cost of repaying existing debts, refreshments, publicity costs, travel or accommodation expenses. Events must take place in County Louth on Culture Night, Sept 20th and must be free of charge and take place after 4p.m. Successful applicants will be required to: Ensure they have appropriate insurance cover for the event. Ensure that, where appropriate, child protection policies are in place. Ensure that all events comply with Health and Safety and legislative requirements. Ensure that Louth County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland are acknowledged in any and all publicity relating to the event. Relevant logos will be supplied to the successful grant awardees. The grant will only be paid AFTER the event and all expenditure has been processed. Vouched expenses and a short report on the event including audience numbers etc should be submitted by October 3 rd 2024 at the latest to ensure payment. Applications should be in the form of a short two-page proposal outlining event details and target audience and they should be submitted to arts@louthcoco.ie by 4p.m on Friday 12th July 2024. Successful applicants will be notified by 31st July. Enquiries can also be sent to arts@louthcoco.ie Tributes are continuing this week after a married couple in Co Offaly died just two days apart. Steve Coughlan died on Sunday, June 23. His wife Geraldine died unexpectedly just two days later on Tuesday, June 25. The couple lived in Tullamore and there has been a huge outpouring of grief in the town since the news filtered through. The couple are sadly missed by their loving family Amanda, Jenny, Mark and Nikki, sons in law Martin and JP, daughter in law Tara, her adored 13 grandchildren. Their bodies reposed together at O'Reilly's Funeral Home, Harbour Street, Tullamore, on Thursday with their cremation ceremony taking place early on Friday. Tributes have been flooding in for both Steve and Geraldine. One condolence on RIP.ie read: "My sincere condolences to the Coughlan and Fitzpatrick Families on the sudden passing of Geraldine so soon after Steve's passing. Soul mates in life now reunited in Heaven, two lovely people gone too soon. Rest easy, Geraldine & Steve." READ NEXT: Micheal O Muircheartaigh to be buried in native Kerry as funeral details confirmed Another person wrote: "We are so sorry to hear of your incredible loss. Our heartfelt sympathies to the Coughlan and Fitzpatrick families. May Geraldine and Steve rest together in Peace." A third said: "Sincere sympathy to Imelda, and the Fitzpatrick and Coughlan families on the untimely deaths of Geraldine and Stephen. May God give you the strength to carry you through this terrible time. May they both rest in peace." A community GoFundMe fundraiser set up to raise finance for funeral costs for the Coughlan family in Tullamore has already exceeded its target of 10,000. "We as a community have come together to set this up to try help the Coughlan family as much as we can at this very hard time. Anything big or small will be very much appreciated," the GoFundMe page explained. A woman who was repeatedly sexually abused by her uncle in Offaly when she was a child has called for more protection for child abuse victims after he was jailed for two years. Ronan O'Grady (33) of Hosack Road, London, England, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady, at various locations in Co. Offaly on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. She was aged between six and nine at the time, while he was aged between 13 and 17. The abuse occurred primarily at Ms O'Grady's grandparents' home in Mucklagh when she was being minded and where O'Grady was living with his parents at the time. It also occurred in her own home in Tullamore when he was babysitting her. His parents her grandparents continue to support him, the court heard. Ms O'Grady waived her right to anonymity so her uncle could be named. In a statement issued to the media after the sentence was handed down, she said there is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and the country needs to more to protect its victims. Sentencing O'Grady today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). READ NEXT: 'I am saddened for him' - Cathal Crotty solicitor defends judge in Natasha O'Brien assault case The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found O'Grady had demonstrated little insight or remorse. He maintained that he was very young himself at the time of the offending. The judge noted that while he was 13 years' old when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17 years' old. He noted O'Grady is talented and well-educated. I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong, the judge said. He noted O'Grady had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of his niece. He said this was a clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved O'Grady repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. On one occasion, his friend hid in the wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone, the court heard. In her victim impact statement which she read out in court earlier this week, Ms O'Grady, now aged 26, said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy friendly child, which it makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard that Ms O'Grady started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with O'Grady on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, O'Grady maintained his innocence and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered the guilty pleas. Ms O'Grady said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of O'Grady. In her victim impact statement, she said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed it in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and that she was then left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She said she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But Ronan O'Grady is the criminal here, not me. Ms O'Grady's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard O'Grady worked in finance in Canada and most recently in London. He took the stand and told the court he was very sorry for what he had done. He has no previous convictions. His partner also took the stand and outlined the difficulties they will have in the future as a result of his convictions and his being on the sex offenders register. She said they have had to put their lives on hold, including marriage and children, as a result. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC urged the judge to be as lenient as possible. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing O'Grady as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline sentence of three years and six months, noting O'Grady was a juvenile at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including O'Grady's lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as at a low risk of re-offending. The judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting O'Grady's stated intention to return to the UK once he has served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. In a statement issued to media after the sentence, Ms O'Grady said: I want survivors to know that I see you and I see the daily battle you have every day to fight for yourself. Whatever is holding you back, whether thats fear or family influence, I want you to know you can get through this... Every child deserves a safe place free from abuse. I want change - I want change not only for myself but for every survivor. There is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and no one is talking about it. Ireland needs to do better to protect our children. The Guardian, June 25, 2024 Afghan girls accuse Taliban of sexual assault after arrests for bad hijabReports surface days before UN summit on Afghanistan that will exclude Afghan women and debate on womens rights Teenage girls and young women arrested by the Taliban for wearing bad hijab say they have been subjected to sexual violence and assault in detention. In more than one case the arrests and sexual abuse that young women faced while in custody earlier this year led to suicide and attempted suicide, reporters from the Afghan news service Zan Times were told. In one case, a womans body was allegedly found in a canal a few weeks after she had been taken into custody by Taliban militants, with a source close to her family saying she had been sexually abused before her death. The UN say that many women were detained by the Taliban for bad hijab in December 2023 and January 2024, following a Taliban decree that women must cover themselves from head to toe, revealing only their eyes. At the time the UN called the arrests concerning and girls and women told the Guardian they had been subjected to beatings and intimidation while in detention. Now the girls and young women are coming forward to report that they also faced sexual violence and abuse by the Taliban police, with devastating consequences. The family of 16-year-old Zahra* said she and another teenage girl were arrested in a shop in west Kabul in December 2023. Her mother, Somaia*, says Zahra and her friend were detained for two weeks before being released. When she came home, Zahra was not the girl who had left home two weeks before. I ran and hugged her, but she cried and said, I am dishonoured. For the rest of that day, Zahra didnt eat or talk, her mother said. She only sat in a room and cried. I couldnt dare to ask about what had happened, she said. Amina*, a 22-year-old medical student, said she spent three nights in a Taliban prison after being arrested in January 2024. She said she was interrogated by an older man who asked her about her menstruation and whether she was married or not. I fell at his feet and begged him, Please, kill me but dont harass me, she said. He said: Since you are keen to die, I will kill you, but before that, let us have fun with you. Then he started touching my private parts, Amina said. I fainted twice during the interrogation, but every time, he poured cold water over my head. Amina said what happened to her happened to every girl taken to that interrogation room and left alone with the man. [Now] I cant sleep at night, I am so scared, and every time I see the Taliban soldiers, I faint, she said. I have tried to kill myself twice. Once I took all of my mothers medication, but my family took me to hospital. Every time I remember that they touched me, I cant bear living, Amina said. For Zahra, the ordeal she said she had faced in prison proved too much for her to bear, her family said. In the middle of the night I woke up and noticed Zahra was not there. I woke up my husband and we started looking for her in all the rooms. My husband found her dead body, said Somaia. She had hanged herself. Zahras death was not the only tragedy linked to the Talibans arrest of women over how they wore their hijab. In December 2023, a 23-year-old university student from the same neighbourhood was also reportedly arrested by the Taliban. Marina Sadat had been on her way to the Farabi Institute of Health Sciences, where she was studying midwifery, the only educational option available for women in the Talibans Afghanistan. Twenty-two days later, people who know her family say her battered body was found inside a sack in a canal in Kabuls Paghman district. Zan Times reporters were told that she had been sexually abused. It is just brutal that a young girl goes to university and her dead body comes home, one interviewee told the journalists. On 4 January a spokesman for the Talibans ministry of vice and virtue told the Associated Press that the women who were arrested violated Islamic values and rituals and encouraged society and other respected sisters to go for bad hijab [i]n every province, those who go without hijab will be arrested. After condemnation in Afghanistan and abroad, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, later denied that arrests over bad hijab had taken place. In response to the allegations of sexual assault of young women in detention, a Taliban spokesman also denied there had been any arrests for bad hijab and said: The issue of rape is not at all possible because there is not just one or two people [in the room with a prisoner] and when there are three people, such a crime would not happen [this is] a very sensitive issue for the Taliban. I am sure such a thing did not happen. The reports of sexual violence and assault against women and girls in detention comes as the Taliban are expected to attend a UN conference on Afghanistan in Doha on 30 June, where the UN has confirmed that no Afghan women will participate and womens rights will not be discussed. China makes progress in fighting maritime smuggling Xinhua) 11:11, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have detained 5,846 suspects and seized 638 vessels involved in smuggling on the sea in a special operation since August last year, the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday. During the nationwide operation, police also seized 35,000 tonnes of frozen products, 4,406 tonnes of refined oil, 170 million cigarettes, 3,366 tonnes of agricultural and marine products, 310,000 tonnes of mineral raw materials, and 54,000 units of alcoholic beverages, the ministry said in a press release. With an approach of coordinated strikes on and offshore, police have worked with other departments to crack down on smuggler vessels and their accessories on the shore, while uprooting the organizers of smuggling rings and corrupt officials who sheltered them, the statement said. The ministry pledged to step up coordination with other agencies, strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation, and perfect long-term mechanisms against maritime smuggling crimes. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Blog Archive: Oct 2024 (50) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) AN ART exhibition, tracing the course of the River Lee from its origins in the Shehy Mountains and Gougane Barra to its meeting with the Celtic Sea at the mouth of Cork Harbour, has opened at the Crawford Art Gallery. Comprised of historic and contemporary artworks, From Source to Sea celebrates the culture of Corks Lee and its tributaries. Artworks from the 1750s through to the present day are featured in the exhibition. Each painting, drawing, print, and sculpture offers its own perspective on the river, featuring the stories it has carried and collected, the places and people it has shaped, and the changes it has borne. The exhibition features much-loved paintings, ranging from John Butts View of Cork from Audley Place (circa 1750) and Whipping the Herring out of Town (circa 1800) by Nathaniel Grogan, to George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinsons Paddle Steamer Entering the Port of Cork (1842) and Skellig Night on South Mall (1845) by James Beale. Those paintings are joined by the work of artists Sarah Grace Carr, Kate Dobbin, John Fitzgerald, Robert Gibbings, Patrick Hennessy, Sean Keating, Diarmuid O Ceallachain, and George Petrie. Recent acquisitions by Ita Freeney, Bernadette Kiely, and Donald Teskey offer new contexts, while portraits by Seamus Murphy, Nano Reid, and Eileen Healy recall rich tales from the Lee Valley, including The Tailor and Ansty and the inimitable voice of Conal Creedon. Michael Waldron, curator of the exhibition, said it had been a pleasure to take a journey along the River Lee. I hope visitors will take as much enjoyment in following its course, connecting with the rivers rich history and culture, and maybe even get inspired to take their own stroll at Gougane Barra, Lee Fields, or the Marina, Mr Waldron said. From Source to Sea runs from June 22 to September 22 in the Gibson Galleries at Crawford Art Gallery. A CORK County Council survey is inviting members of the public to provide input to the development of a regeneration plan for a north Cork town. The survey, which refers to the development of a Town Centre First Regeneration Plan for Kanturk, is the next step in the public consultation process. Funding of 30,000 was approved for this plan earlier this year by the Department of Rural and Community Development, which will be used to develop a community-led vision for Kanturk. The Town Centre First Plan can then support competitive bids for national and local funding to progress projects. The aim of the Town Centre First Policy is to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant, and attractive locations for people to live, work, and visit. Mayor of the County of Cork councillor Joe Carroll said the findings of this survey will play a guiding role in the development of the Town Centre First plan for Kanturk. I encourage all members of the community in Kanturk, and surrounds, to have their say. All ideas and suggestions are welcome, he said. Cork County Council will be developing the regeneration plan for Kanturk, in consultation with residents and business owners, together with the wider community who visit the town regularly. The next steps will involve focused consultation, with key stakeholder groups to mark the start of the plan development process. The public survey will be open until July 31. To complete the survey online, visit: www.corkcoco.ie. Printed copies are available at Kanturk library. For queries, contact Cork County Councils Town Regeneration Office at townregenerationoffice@corkcoco.ie. A young woman who saw a serving soldier who beat her unconscious walk free from court in Limerick last week has said she is willing to meet with Justice Minister Helen McEntee to discuss measures to tackle violence in Ireland. Cathal Crotty, aged 22, of Parkrose Heights, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court recently, where he received a three-year suspended sentence for his unprovoked attack on Natasha OBrien. The assault occurred on OConnell Street in Limerick on May 29, 2022. Yesterday, upwards of 60 people gathered outside Washington Street Courthouse in Cork to show solidarity with the 24-year-old. Earlier this week Ms OBrien criticised Ms McEntee and said that she wouldnt need to speak out if the minister was doing her job correctly. Safer Yesterday at a human trafficking conference in Cork, Ms McEntee offered to work with Ms OBrien to ensure changes are made to make women feel safer in Ireland. We need to change the attitudes which underpin so much of the behaviour that we have seen, she said. I will do whatever I can I will work with Natasha and I will work with other victims to make sure that whatever further changes we need to make will be made. There is a problem still this is an epidemic, and we need to acknowledge that. Speaking at the Rosa-organised protest, Ms OBrien said additional efforts need to be made to eliminate all types of violence in Ireland. It is a systemic issue that I want to tackle, she said. I want to focus on the legislation and the sentencing law that allow what happened to me to happen. Preventing victims from wanting to come forward because of how bad things are. This needs to change. Absolutely I am going to be looking at legislation and what I can present to McEntee. I will talk to anyone I can. I am not particularly happy that I have to do this, but I am happy that I am doing it. It has been a crazy week. I have been all over the country. I do now want to sit down and put a plan in place in legislation to bring forward to Minister McEntee and the Taoiseach to change this. Voices Ms OBrien said whilst she is the person speaking up, thousands of voices in the country are behind her cheering her on. It hits home to everyone because this is a systemic issue that starts at the very top and it is a problem that has been going on for a long time, she said. I was just able to bring that raw emotion to the story. I didnt think a single person would listen to that video. But I am here now, and I have been given a purpose. I dont want to live in a kind of world where this thing continues. I am all action now. This is about moving forward. We have turned something heartbreaking into a positive. This is a driving factor in a turning point in society. Incensed Meanwhile, Zyro McHugh, 17, said that she decided to attend the protest because she was incensed by what she read about the case. I am very angry. This keeps happening in our country and it needs to stop. We need to be out here making a change. Michael Murphy, 17, who attended alongside Ms McHugh, said that it was important to be proactive about gender-based violence, as people really care about what is being inflicted on the likes of Natasha OBrien. Another attendee, Mary Villiers, described Natasha OBrien as being an amazing woman. She is only 24 and she is standing up for all women who cant walk [safely] in the streets of our city, she said. THE case against a 22-year-old Bandon man accused of two counts of endangering life by his driving on the outskirts of Cork city on April 1 appeared in court via video link from prison. Charlie Milner, of Inisorga, Bandon, Co Cork, appeared at Cork District Court, where he said that following the refusal of his bail application he had been granted bail at the High Court on conditions. Judge Mary Dorgan told him that if he met those conditions and was released from jail on that bail, he was obliged to appear again at Cork District Court in person on July 9. Mr Milner faces several charges, the most serious of which are two counts of endangerment contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. One charge states that on April 1 at the Kinsale Road roundabout he intentionally or recklessly engaged in conduct, namely that he drove his car at Garda Mark Barrett who was on foot, causing him to take avoidance action and colliding with the patrol car door causing damage to the frame and trim, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another. The second endangerment count refers to the same date at Bloomfield interchange, Douglas, Cork, by allegedly driving the wrong way against a one-way system and colliding with a car being driven by a woman in the correct direction, again creating a substantial risk of death or serious harm. A KERRY man with 365 previous convictions was jailed for four months for two outbursts in Cork city, including swearing at a garda as people sat drinking at tables outside The Roundy Bar. Judge Mary Dorgan imposed the jail term on Maurice Roche, of Finnegans hostel, Denny St, Tralee, County Kerry, at Cork District Court. Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the 40-year-old turned up outside the public house, at Daunts Square, at around 9.30pm on Monday, May 20. Roches behaviour brought him to the attention of Garda James OConnell. He assumed an aggressive posture and began swearing and shouting f*** off and Go f*** off, will you, Sgt Murphy said. There was a second incident at Lidl on Cornmarket St, Cork, where he asked the security officer to go outside to fight him. In the course of this incident he smashed six bottles of beer on the floor. He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and engaging in threatening behaviour on that occasion on May 25. THE newly completed ophthalmology unit at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) will start operations on Monday. Services are transferring from Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital to the South Infirmary with hopes that the move will improve waiting list times. This means that from next Monday, both planned and emergency ophthalmology care for the Cork and Kerry region will be provided by SIVUH in this new Ophthalmology Outpatient and Emergency Care Unit. Blackpool GP and Cork City North West Councillor Dr John Sheehan said welcomed the move. Its positive news, it will take a bit of settling in as with any new service, but I think everyone would agree that the campus in CUH is very full, and in order to avoid service disruptions you need to take some things out. Theres a new surgical theatre in SIVUH, which will be doubling the capacity for ophthalmology, and the whole thing will be coordinated in one place and SIVUH will have governance of the whole system which will lead to a much better quality of service and reduce waiting times. Theres a centre in Ballincollig Primary Care service also working on people on long waiting lists at the moment, and that is coming under the governance of SIVUH as well, which will hopefully lead to better, faster care for our patients. Advanced amenities The new ophthalmology unit at SIVUH offers an increase in clinical space and includes advanced amenities such as laser rooms, consulting rooms, a corneal topography room, and an electrophysiology room for treatments previously requiring travel to Dublin. The facility also houses orthoptic and pre-admission assessment services, modern staff amenities, and meeting and educational facilities. In addition to the new Outpatient and Emergency Care Unit building, a new ophthalmology theatre suite was opened in August 2023 in the main SIVUH campus. 'A new era' Helen Donovan, CEO of SIVUH, said that the move to a purpose-built, state-of-the art facility in the SIVUH means that patients will access the specialised care they need in a timely way. Patients will benefit from improved access, reduced wait times, and the convenience of having all essential services in one location. This significant transition marks a new era in ophthalmic care for the Cork and Kerry region, aligning with our commitment to enhance patient experience and accessibility to specialised treatments. All ambulance services will direct ophthalmic emergencies to the ophthalmology unit, SIVUH and the CUH will not have ophthalmology facilities in the emergency department. Professor John R Higgins, CEO of the South/South West Hospital Group, commented, By centralising ophthalmology services at the SIVUH, we are enhancing the quality and accessibility of care for our patients. This move is a testament to our commitment to continually improving patient outcomes and delivering top-tier healthcare services." THE Irish Air Corps paid a visit to Scoil Nioclais, Frankfield, Cork City, to recognise Adam Mirowski, a sixth-class pupil, for his impressive sketches and letters. Adam's work made a big impression on senior Air Corps officials, who arranged for a helicopter to land near the school and for officers to present him with an award. Captain Paul Quinlan and Lieutenant Aaron Boles were dropped off in a nearby field, owned by the O'Sullivan family, and were met by a select group of staff and students. They then proceeded to the school to present Adam with a framed photo of Irish Air Corps aircrafts in recognition of his contribution and tenacity. School principal Mark Sheehan said: "It was a spectacular end to the school year, simply breathtaking to see the helicopter fly in and the officers disembark. "It was an amazing experience for everyone, including students, staff, and especially Adam and his family." Blood samples taken by investigators into the fatal attack on a father-of-seven in a graveyard in Tralee in October 2022 were at the centre of the evidence on the 19th day of the murder trial today. All six of the accused deny the charge of murdering 43-year-old Tom Dooley from Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, at New Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on October 5, 2022. Five defendants in the case all with the surname Dooley Patrick, 36, from Arbutus Grove, Killarney; Thomas Sr., 43, from the halting site, Carrigrohane Road; Thomas Jr., 21, from the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork; Michael, 29, of the halting site, Carrigrohane, Cork, and Daniel, 42, of An Carraigin, Connolly Park, Tralee, County Kerry, are on trial, as is the sixth defendant who is a teenager. Only 21-year-old Thomas Dooley Jr. faces the second charge that he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm to Siobhan Dooley, the wife of the deceased man. He also denies this count. Ms Sandra McGrath of Forensic Science Ireland gave evidence in relation to her analysis of items presented by investigating garda officers. She commenced with the results of her analysis of clothing of Thomas Dooley Sr. Black jeans contained blood stains on the shin area of the right front leg and this blood matched the DNA of the deceased. A pair of runners, also from Thomas Dooley Sr had a blood stain on the toe of the left runner which was found to be that of the deceased also. Thomas Dooley Srs navy jumper had a blood stain which was found to be his own blood. A retractable blade knife belonging to Thomas Dooley Sr. had no blood staining. Ms McGrath agreed with prosecution senior counsel Dean Kelly that no conclusions could be drawn in respect of that item. Vehicles Vehicles that were deemed to be of interest in the investigation were examined and swabs for suspected blood stains were presented for analysis. Ms McGrath testified that a swab from the front by the sliding door of the grey Ford Transit van contained blood that matched the profile of Thomas Dooley Jr. Swabs from the glove box, sliding door frame and rear door had blood stains that matched for Thomas Dooley Sr. Mr Kelly said that swabs from the sliding door contained blood that definitely was not linked to the dead man. Blood on the gearstick of the white Renault van were a DNA match for Patrick Dooley, Ms McGrath said. She confirmed that blood staining on a childs seat was definitely not that of the deceased. Blood on the path from Rathass cemetery to the Mace shop across the road matched that of injured party Siobhan Dooley, widow of the deceased in this case. Port Evidence was also given today of the arrest for questioning of Thomas Dooley Jr and the teenager both of whom are on trial for murder. Immigration officers, Garda Conor Fox and Garda Robert Stokes of Store Street garda station were on duty shortly after 1am. on November 15 2022 at Dublin Port when they stopped a jeep towing a caravan. The driver was Thomas Dooley Jr, the back seat passenger was the teenager, and there was a woman who was not of interest to gardai in the investigation. Thomas Dooley Jr and the teenager were arrested, taken to Store Street garda station and then transported to Tralee garda station. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the jury which consists of 14 members, including two substitute members - 12 men and two women - to return to the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork at 2pm on Monday July 1 for the resumption of evidence. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Intense wildfires are ravaging the Arctic Circle, bringing smoke and high carbon emissions, according to the European Unions Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The region had experienced 164 wildfires through June 24, most of which have been in the Sakha Republic of Russia, a press release from CAMS said. According to data from the CAMS Global Fire Assimilation System, June wildfire carbon emissions are already the third highest for the month since 2003. The Arctic has been warming at a rate well above that of the planet as a whole. As a result, conditions at high northern latitudes are becoming more conducive to wildfires and a recent study shows that the northeast Arctic region, and boreal and temperate forests, have been experiencing increases in extreme wildfires. We witnessed this in 2019, 2020 and 2021, when the eastern Arctic and sub-Arctic regions experienced very high levels of wildfire activity, and again in 2023, especially at high latitudes in Canada, said Mark Parrington, CAMS senior scientist, in the press release. The authors of the most recent study noted that wildfire conditions are being exacerbated by climate change, and that fire behavior is getting worse in several regions with significant implications for human exposure and carbon storage. Gail Whiteman, a professor of sustainability at University of Exeter Business School and the founder of Arctic Basecamp a group of Arctic scientists and experts said the Arctic is climate change ground zero. The increasing Siberian wildfires are a clear warning sign that this essential system is approaching dangerous climate tipping points. What happens in the Arctic doesnt stay there Arctic change amplifies risks globally for all of us. These fires are a warning cry for urgent action, Whitecamp said in the press release. CAMS and Arctic Basecamp have been working together to translate wildfire data into a climate events alert system in the Arctic. The accumulation of wildfire smoke impacts air quality at high latitudes. It also has the potential to cause aerosols in the smoke to deposit onto surfaces like snow and ice, reducing their ability to reflect sunlight, meaning they absorb more solar energy and are more prone to melting. According to the most recent report from Russian federal organization Avialesookhrana, as of June 27, 72 active wildfires were burning in the Sakha Republic, covering an area of nearly 700,000 acres. When the wildfires started to break out on June 11, a state of emergency was declared by authorities. The regions wildfire activities come after a period of unusually high surface air temperatures in late May, with local media reporting forecast temperatures seven to nine degrees Celsius above normal. Copernicus Climate Change Service data confirmed the predictions, with warmer surface temperatures and drier soils in the first three quarters of June. As global heating leads to higher temperatures in the Arctic, wildfires have shifted north and are burning through tundra and boreal forest, which releases enormous stores of greenhouse gases from the carbon-rich soils, reported the BBC. Guillermo Rein, a professor of fire science at Imperial College London, referred to the wildfires as a growing monster of climate change. A decade ago, Arctic wildfires were considered rare events, hardly ever studied. Now they are happening in all summer sessions, Guillermo told the BBC. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A house on the edge of the Blue Earth River after the Rapidan Dam is broken in Waterville, Minnesota on June 25, 2024. Christopher Mark Juhn / Anadolu via Getty Images Devastating flooding in the Midwestern states of Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota killed at least two people this week, as more rain and storms were predicted in the region. AccuWeather meteorologists said stormy weather will continue until the end of June, slowing down the receding of floodwaters. So much rain has fallen in a zone from southwestern Minnesota to northeastern Nebraska, including northwestern Iowa and southeastern South Dakota, that multiple rivers are on the rampage, said Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist. Flood waters have begun to recede in some rivers in areas of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, reported USA Today. But more storms will continue to heighten river levels for at least the next couple of weeks. Forecasters said the storms will move east to southeast, following the edge of a heat dome in the South. Brandon Buckingham, AccuWeather meteorologist, said severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes would pop up from North Dakota to New Mexico, with parts of Montana, Colorado and North Dakota expected to experience numerous severe thunderstorms, with some packing wind gusts of 60-70 mph, large hail and perhaps a few tornadoes. Amidst the raging floodwaters in Minnesota, one white frame house barely holding onto the edge of a riverbank collapsed into the Blue Earth River near the Rapidan Dam earlier this week, The Associated Press reported. After the dams west abutment failed on Monday, the river was sent rushing around it, eroding the bank. The family had already evacuated before it collapsed. Its been a very scary and hard situation, Jenny Barnes, whose family has run the Dam Store for decades and owned the house, told KARE-TV, as reported by The Associated Press. Thats our life, as well. Thats our business; thats our livelihood. Its everything to us. Theres no stopping it. Its going to go where it wants to go. Its going to take what it wants to take, Barnes said. As flood waters began to slow, the main portion of the dam was still intact. The Rapidan Dam, we think, is going to continue to hold up, said Bob Jacobson, Minnesota Department of Public Safety commissioner, late Tuesday afternoon, as The New York Times reported. But there are going to be more assessments in the future. According to experts, the damage and continuing future risk highlighted the countrys deteriorating dams and the potential dangers they pose when faced with extreme conditions. The average age of a dam in the United states is nearly 60, so issues concerning these aging structures are predicted to multiply as the climate crisis wears on. This, again, was an unprecedented amount of rainfall that came in a very short period of time, said South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, as reported by The New York Times. Many of these communities, I dont know how they could have prepared for what they saw. (Photo: Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)Eritrean man with cross after Sunday mass at St. Mary's cathedral on Sept. 24, 2017. A delegation from the World Council of Churches has concluded a solidarity visit to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, one of Africa's oldest Christian churches dating back to the year AD 329. It was the first such visit in more than 10 years and the WCC left with a pledge to pray and work for peace between Eritrea and its neighbor Ethiopia as they attempt to resolve a border dispute involving one of Africa's most isolated countryies. The visit took place from Sept 22-28 and the group met the governing body of the Eritrean church at its offices on Sept 24-25, the WCC said in a statement. Leaders from the local Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches also attended the meeting, to which local Muslim representatives also sent greetings. WCC program executive and convener for Africa, Dr. Nigussu Legesse, and Fr. Daniel Buda, program executive and coordinator for Church and Ecumenical Relations were part of the WCC delegation. The group was met at the Asmara International Airport after midnight on 22 September by Abune Lukas, general secretary of the Holy Synod of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, and Abune Basilios, head of the church administration. There, Buda conveyed to the members of the holy synod the greetings of WCC general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit. Buda said: "We are very thankful to God and to you, the leadership of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church for making this visit possible." 'GREAT EXPECTATIONS' "We came here with great expectations and we are looking forward to having constructive dialogue and encounters with the Eritrean Orthodox Church which is our WCC member church here in Eritrea and with other churches, religious communities and state authorities," said Legesse during the synod meeting. "This is a historic visit aimed at reviewing the situation within the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church and strengthening the relationship that has been loosened over the past several years." He thanked the church leadership for facilitating entry visas for all members of the delegation and the reception accorded to the delegation by the archbishops on arrival at the airport in Asmara. The WCC delegation included members of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Bread for the World, Church of Sweden, and Norwegian Church Aid, ACT Alliance, and the Nairobi-based Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA). After Sunday Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on 24 September the delegation visited the newly-built Holy Trinity Theological College. The Eritrean church hosts accompanied the WCC delegation to ancient monasteries and archeological excavation sites that have unraveled Christian building sites dating back 1,700 years. Archeologists told the visitors that these are vibrant proof that Christianity's ancient roots were in Africa long before evangelizers arrived from the ranks of European colonizers in the second millennium. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, an Oriental Orthodox church with its headquarters in Asmara, joined the WCC in 2003. It is also a member of the AACC and FECCLAHA. ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES Oriental Orthodox Churches played a strong missionary role during Christianity's early stages, and have had a leading role in the history of Christianity in Egypt and the northern part of Africa. The autocephaly of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church was recognized by Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria after Eritrea gained its independence in 1993. The WCC delegation visited churches around Asmara, the capital, Keren to the north west, and Massawa down at the coast on the Red Sea. On their way to Keren, the country's third largest urban area, the WCC delegation detoured to Debra Sina, a monastery in the highlands of Eritrea in the Anseba Region. Debra Sina, which means Mt Sinai in English, was founded in the 4th century, so it is the oldest monastery in Eritrea and one of the oldest in Africa too. It is the site of a pilgrimage by Eritrean Orthodox believers each year in June. The group also visited Adulis, an archeological site in the Northern Red Sea area of Eritrea, situated about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the Red Sea port of Massawa in the Gulf of Zula as guests of local Abune Yohannes, the archbishop of the Northern and Southern Red Sea Diocese. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church is the biggest church in the country and has some 2,500,000 members and 15,000 priests worldwide including diaspora churches in North America and Europe. The church has eight dioceses in Eritrea and two in the Diaspora. (Photo: REUTERS / Carlo Allegri)New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (L), French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (3rd L), animal activist Jane Goodall (C), former United States Vice President Al Gore (3rd R), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2nd R) and French Environment Minister Segolene Royal (R) take part in the "People's Climate March" down 6th Ave in the Manhattan borough of New York September 21, 2014. Organizers are expecting up to 100,000 to join the People's Climate March in midtown Manhattan ahead of this week's U.N. General Assembly, which brings together 120 world leaders to discuss reducing carbon emissions that threaten the environment Religious leaders have joined top UN officials in tackling climate change, a phenomenon that threatens to annihilate humanity, at a conference in Nairobi in which is missing some key participants after a tragic air crash. On the sidelines of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, top UN officials, religious leaders and environmental experts underlined the role of faith communities in tackling climate change, the World Council of Churches reported. The assembly opened on March 11against the dark shadow of the Ethiopian Airline that plane crashed soon after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 persons on board. Twenty-one UN staff members and at least five workers in church organizations were among the 157 people killed after the flight plummeted into a field outside Addis Ababa. Rev. Norman Tendis, a World Council of Churches (WCC) consultant from Austria who was travelling to Nairobi to participate in an event at the assembly titled "Faith for Earth Dialogue" during the UN summit died in the crash. Sara Chalachew, Getnet Alemayehu, Sintayehu Aymeku and Mulusew Alemu, employees of Catholic Relief Services, were also aboard the fallen Boeing 737 MAX 8 on its way to Nairobi, Kenya. Catholic Relief Services said, "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that four members of our staff were killed" in the crash. "All four individuals were Ethiopian nationals traveling to Nairobi to attend a training on our behalf," CRS said according to Catholic News Agency. In Nairobi the participants meanwhile are discussing innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production. There leaders from world's religious traditions elaborated on the approaches they use to solve environmental challenges such as climate change. "I am impressed by what the UN has done to reach out to this (faith) community. You convene people of faith and there is only one thing - that is goodness in life," said Inger Anderson, a Danish economist and environmentalist who has been appointed the executive director of the United Nations Environmental Program. She explained that when the different faiths come together, a stronger world and voice for the environment, the planet, sustainability, justice and love is created. "When I see these people I feel very great - I feel inspired. And I am thankful for the commitment you have," said Anderson. The WCC and its African partner, the All Africa Conference of Churches had organized a session titled "Eco-Just Churches and Communities: Models for Living with Justice and Sustainability." Tendis had been schedule to elaborate on a Roadmap for Congregations, Communities and Churches for an Economy of Life and Ecological Justice which he had authored. "He had been advocating for economic and ecological justice. A credible voice at the UN, he had been saying that we must practice what we preach in our churches. "That's why the road map to ecological justice was his key passion," said Athena Peralta, WCC program executive for economic and ecological justice. ALL AFRICA CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES Rev. Arnold Temple, president of the All Africa Conference of Churches, warned that the world had become ecologically bankrupt, while calling for urgent action to tackle climate change. The effects were impactful, he said, while highlighting increased droughts, landslides and floods which caused the deaths of thousands. "The need to act is now. We are calling on our churches to adopt the role of being a blue community," said Temple. "It has been estimated that by the year 2050, there will be more plastics in our rivers and oceans than fish." Canon Rachel Mash, environment coordinator of Green Anglicans, an environmental network of the Anglican Church in southern Africa, said from the smallest village to the largest city in Africa, there were churches and other faith groups. "Can the spiritual power of the churches and other faiths around the world be harnessed to combat climate change? What is the potential of the faith groups?" posed Mash. "They are in touch with local cultures and local leadership. They have the infrastructure. They got the potential pool of volunteers and an ethic that calls for transformational actions." GUC is an ASIC design house for complex SoC and chiplets. Alex Huang, General Manager GUC Europe, Norbert Siedhoff, Representative of GUC, and Bastian Strassburg, Director Line Management & Marketing of Ineltek, are convinced that GUC offers customers advantages that no competitor can offer. Markt & Technik: GUC is by no means the only company to offer ASIC design as a service. Nevertheless, you are convinced that GUC has advantages that no other provider can offer. What specific advantages do you see? Alex Huang, GUC: We offer an all-round service, starting with SoC development, through chip implementation and wafer processing, to assembly and testing. Alex Huang: GUC was founded in 1998 and is now truly global, we have branches in Japan, the USA, Vietnam, Europe and Korea. Our biggest shareholder is TSMC, the foundry has not invested in any other ASIC design company other than GUC. And that should make one of GUC's special features clear: We have closest relationship with TSMC, which owe around 35% of GUC shares. For example, our Chairman is Dr F.C. Tseng, who was the co-founder and vice CEO, and still today the board member of TSMC, and three of our board members are also VP level executives of TSMC. So if we want to address an issue, our Chairman will deliver it on to top TSMC executives directly. In addition, our close relationship with TSMC naturally gives us access to TSMC's state-of-the-art technologies. Accordingly, we can already demonstrate demonstrable success in 3, 5 and 7 nm and we are already working with 2 nm, which not many can do. Norbert Siedhoff, GUC representative: Ineltek is the first point of contact in Germany and Europe for customers who want to utilise GUC's services. They receive an introduction to GUC's services and IPs, and Ineltek is the sales interface to the GUC experts before and during the design process. Norbert Siedhoff: I would also say that GUC is anything but just another ASIC/chiplet supplier. Their design activities are focussed on applications that require the highest computing power, best power efficiency and smallest integration footprint. GUC also differentiates itself with its unique Advanced Packaging Platform ATP, where discrete SoCs are integrated into a package, which in turn includes a wide range of IP cores, services and production capabilities from TSMC. GUC's ASICs/SoCs/chiplets represent the highest level of technology that truly no one else can offer. Can you give us an overview of how GUC's sales are distributed across the various technology nodes? Alex Huang: I think that around 60 per cent of our sales are generated with 16 nm and smaller structures, half of which are from designs with nodes from 6 nm and below. Since 2016, we have made more than 200 tape-outs, 120 of which are based on structures with 16 nm and below. If we only look at the new designs, 60 per cent of these designs are based on state-of-the-art process technologies. One more point regarding your question about the advantages of GUC: We don't have our own brand name With other IDMs, this can sometimes become a problem for the customer, namely when the IDM wants to market the development under its own brand and also sell it to other customers. This is not the case with us; the customer receives their own ASIC. Does GUC only use TSMC as a foundry? Alex Huang: GUC itself can either access TSMC's process technologies or, when it comes to specialised processes such as BCD, SOI or HV, we use Vanguard International Semiconductor, or VIS for short. This company is also part of TSMC. The fact that we rely exclusively on TSMC and VIS simplifies development for us, as we work with the same tools for all designs. Norbert Siedhoff: I would like to mention another point that is unique to GUC. The company is not just a design house, but accompanies the customer throughout the entire process, from specification to series production, including wafer production, testability, packaging, and GUC also takes care of qualification and logistics. Alex Huang: We have development departments in Japan, the USA, China, Taiwan and South East Asia, but we don't yet have our own department in Europe, where we work together with partners. Why does GUC not yet have its own development sites in Europe, is the market too small? Alex Huang: A few years ago, European customers were not really at the centre of our interest. At that time, there were also few companies here that were interested in ICs based on state-of-the-art process technologies. This has now changed, partly because state institutions, especially the EU and the French government, are supporting this type of project with state funding. In addition, there are now also a number of start-ups in Europe that need state-of-the-art processes. Accordingly, GUC is now also focussing on the European market - also to see what opportunities there are for us here. We will therefore also establish development resources in Europe; we already have sales and project management in Amsterdam. If you look at the various markets worldwide, in which is GUC most successful? Alex Huang: I would say that there are two areas in which we are particularly successful. The first is the consumer segment. For example, we have developed a platform with Tier 1 SSD controller customers. Another application is on high end digital cameras, we work with all Japan Tier 1 companies, who all develop very professional and expensive cameras, and they all need state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. I would categories the second segment more in the commercial or industrial sector. And here, for example, we are very successful with optical storage systems. And what about the automotive segment? Alex Huang: This application area is now also interesting for GUC. Although it typically takes a little longer for sales to start flowing here, we can now also tell a few success stories. Although these are still based on more mature process technologies, a change is taking place. We are increasingly discussing designs based on state-of-the-art process technologies with customers from the automotive industry. Even with microcontrollers, there is more and more talk about processes with structure sizes of 6 nm and below, although most microcontroller suppliers will probably stick with 16 nm processes for the time being. Norbert Siedhoff: We recently visited a few customers in Europe, mainly from the automotive segment. And these visits confirm that the demand for computing power in applications such as ADAS, autonomous driving or infotainment has increased significantly. And this is precisely where complex SoCs are required, and in the longer term, of course, also chiplets. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes have a decisive disadvantage: the costs are enormous, is there a rule of thumb in terms of unit quantities at which you would say an SoC is worthwhile or an SoC is not worthwhile? Alex Huang: No, I don't think there is a rule of thumb for that, because clearly for cutting-edge process technologies, especially for anything 7nm and below, the unit price is very high. But even if you only make a few thousand pieces, if they are unique and they solve a problem, typically the revenue that the company can generate from those 1000 pieces is very good. Look at today's cutting-edge designs from companies like Nvidia and what they cost, so the profitability is there. This answer is remarkable in that umpteen years ago many ASIC suppliers exited the market because most of their customers could no longer justify the upfront costs of state-of-the-art processes with corresponding quantities. Alex Huang: It always depends on the specifications that are required. If, for example, it's a question of maximum computing power, then customers have many options from Nvidia or Qualcomm, for example. However, in many cases this can also represent overkill that developers don't want to pay for. Or the power consumption is far too high and then an ASIC can be the solution. You mentioned partners in Europe, who can developers turn to if they want to use GUC's services? Alex Huang: We work closely together with Ineltek, because for us as a company from Taiwan it is important that the cultural and business practices in the respective regions are known and taken into account. Conversations should take place in the local language and in the respective time zones, especially in Germany. And Ineltek enables us to do this, plus the fact that we also use their sales channels and that we have access to their customer base via Ineltek. Norbert Siedhoff: That's exactly what GUC needs right now and thats why they chosed Ineltek. They don't need external technical experts, they do it all themselves. GUC has technical support in Amsterdam. Ineltek provides GUC with the initial contact; when it comes to technical details, the GUC experts are called in. And what is your role, Mr. Siedhoff? Norbert Siedhoff: With my long years experience in Automotive, I am helping GUC and Ineltek within this market to identify and develop suitable business cases. Are there any other market segments besides the automotive industry that GUC would like to address in Europe? Bastian Strassburg: Ineltek has contacts in every market segment. And as Alex has already said, sales markets such as medical technology, storage or the computer segment are also very interesting for GUC. The latter may not be so big in Germany, but it is in Europe. GUC has developed its own IP cores, is this another mainstay of the company, for example by licensing its IP cores to customers? Alex Huang: We have developed a few high-speed IP cores in the connectivity area ourselves, as well as HBM IPs, HBM PHYs and controller IPs, which we use ourselves, but customers can also use these cores. Last question: GUC is focussed on high-performance applications, which IPs do you rely on in the processor area? Alex Huang: We typically work with ARM cores, but also with RISC-V, depending on what the customer needs. The interview was conducted by Iris Stroh Lesen Sie mehr zum Thema Amazon Web Services has started an investigation to determine whether Perplexity AI is breaking its rules, according to Wired. To, be precise, the company's cloud division is reportedly looking into allegations that the service is using a crawler, which is hosted on its servers, that ignores the Robots Exclusion Protocol. This protocol is a web standard, wherein developers put a robots.txt file on a domain containing instructions on whether bots can or can't access a particular page. Complying with those instructions is voluntary, but crawlers from reputable companies have generally been respecting them since web developers started implementing the standard in the '90s. In an earlier piece, Wired reported that it discovered a virtual machine that was bypassing its website's robots.txt instructions. That machine was hosted on an Amazon Web Services server using the IP address 44.221.181.252 that's "certainly operated by Perplexity." It reportedly visited other Conde Nast properties hundreds of times over the past three months to scrape their content, as well. The Guardian, Forbes and The New York Times had also detected it visiting their publications multiple times, Wired said. To confirm whether Perplexity truly was scraping its content, Wired entered headlines or short descriptions of its articles into the company's chatbot. The tool then responded with results that closely paraphrased its articles "with minimal attribution." A recent Reuters report claimed that Perplexity isn't the only AI company that's bypassing robots.txt files to gather content used to train large language models. However, it seems like Wired only provided Amazon with information on Perplexity AI's crawler. "AWSs terms of service prohibit abusive and illegal activities and our customers are responsible for complying with those terms," Amazon Web Services told us in a statement. "We routinely receive reports of alleged abuse from a variety of sources and engage our customers to understand those reports." The spokesperson also added that the company's cloud division told Wired it was investigating information the publication provided as it does all reports of potential violations. Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platnick told Wired that the company has already responded to Amazon's inquiries and denied that its crawlers are bypassing the Robots Exclusion Protocol. "Our PerplexityBot which runs on AWS respects robots.txt, and we confirmed that Perplexity-controlled services are not crawling in any way that violates AWS Terms of Service," she said. Platnick told us that Amazon looked into Wired's media inquiry only as part of a standard protocol for investigating reports of abuse of its resources. The company has apparently not heard from Amazon about any type of investigation before Wired contacted the company. Platnick admitted to Wired, however, that PerplexityBot will ignore robots.text when a user includes a specific URL in their chatbot inquiry. Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, also previously denied that his company is "ignoring the Robot Exclusions Protocol and then lying about it." Srinivas did admit to Fast Company that Perplexity uses third-party web crawlers on top of its own, and that the bot Wired identified was one of them. Update, June 28, 2024, 2:20PM ET: We have updated this post to add Perplexity's statement to Engadget. Update, June 28, 2024, 8:27PM ET: We have updated this post to a statement from Amazon Web Services. One of the most difficult parts of joining a new social platform is finding relevant accounts to follow. That has proved especially challenging for people who quit X to try out one of the many Twitter-like services that have cropped up in the last couple of years. Now, Bluesky has an interesting solution to this dilemma. The service introduced starter packs, which aim to address that initial discovery problem by allow existing users to build lists of accounts and custom feeds oriented around specific interests or themes. In a blog post, the company described the feature as a way to bring friends directly into your slice of Bluesky. Users can curate up to 50 accounts and three custom feeds into a starter pack. That list can then be shared broadly on Bluesky or sent to new users via a QR code. Other users can then opt to follow an entire pack all at once, or scroll through to manually add the accounts and feeds they want to follow. Bluesky Though Bluesky seems to be positioning the feature as a tool for new users, its also useful for anyone who feels like their feed is getting a little stale or has been curious about one of the many subcultures that have emerged on the platform. Ive been on Bluesky for well over a year and Ive already found some interesting starter packs, including Bluesky for Journalists (for people interested in news content) and Starter Cats (for accounts that post cat photos). And we chat about Assange going free and that horrifying Toys "R" Us Sora AI ad. Motorola is still trying to reclaim the glory of its original Razr phone with its latest foldables. The new Razr and Razr+ are more stylish than the previous models, and at $700 and $1,000 respectively, they're surprisingly affordable for devices with massive folding OLED screens. In other news, we chat about Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange being freed from prison, Rabbit's massive security hole in the R1 AI gadget, and a horrific Sora AI commercial from Toys "R" Us. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Topics Moto Razr and Razr+ first look: stylish and (somewhat) affordable 0:51 Samsung announces its second Unpacked of the year will be in Paris 13:14 Expect a bunch of new hardware at Augusts Made by Google event 19:56 Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is free 24:38 U.S. Supreme Court rules the government can ask social platforms to take down posts 31:22 Rabbit R1 modder group discovers massive security holes 36:11 Uber blames NYC law for locking drivers out of its app, more cities could come soon 39:22 Toys R Us released a creepy ad using OpenAIs Sora video tool 44:43 Working on 49:15 Pop culture picks 51:24 Livestream Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien Transcript Devindra: [00:00:00] What's up Internet and welcome back to the Engadget Podcast. I'm Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar. Cherlynn: I'm Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low. Devindra: This week, we'll be chatting about Moto's new Razrs. There's new Razr and Razr+ and yeah, their foldables once again, they look pretty cool keeping very pretty affordable prices for foldables too. So we'll be talking about that. We'll talk about Julian Assange being set free from prison, a couple of Supreme court rulings, and oh man, we're just gonna really look forward to events happening or at least one big event happening in August, which thank you, Google. We all want to do that. We all want to be traveling for work in August. Thank you so much as always folks. If you're enjoying the show, please be sure to subscribe to us on iTunes or your podcaster of choice, leave us a review on iTunes, drop us an email at podcast@engadget.com. Cherlynn, I know you were very excited. You seem so excited about the new Motorola Razr and Razr+. I'm, you they look really nice. I like the prices. What is it? [00:01:00] 700 for the Razr 1000 for the Razr+. These are nice looking foldables. What's up this year? Cherlynn: Very excited is a very strong way to put how I feel about these things. I think are we no longer Devindra: excited about foldables? Is it just Cherlynn: I've always been, I think I was more excited for, and here's where you could use the right word. And there's also a story behind this. Motorola did like a whole ass launch event. In Brooklyn for the motor Razr, 2024 lineup. This was this was earlier this week. The news was announced Tuesday. They also had their little event on little, it was more than little event on Tuesday and a featuring one Paris Hilton, who's apparently there's like Big fan of the pink Razr from way back when, right? Like she was the whole that's hot. And then flip the pink phone thing. Anyway this event also featured a magician. So I was like, all right, look, I guess I'll go. And then I went Devindra: and I was dragged. You heard there was going to be a magician. Cherlynn: The main reason I was already out for a different meeting earlier that day. [00:02:00] So I was like, all right, I'll just go to the office, chill, and then go to this event and see get some light of my own hands on time with the phones. Cause Sam took the hands on demo for us. I was like, all right, I'll go take a look at the phone, but also, yes. Okay. I was like, I'll try to get a selfie with Paris Hilton. Why not? And it turns out I left the event before Paris Hilton even started to do her DJ set because I was just so impatient. Oh wait, she's doing a Devindra: DJ set too? Cherlynn: So she DJed at the launch event, but there was first like this magic show thing. I don't, please, if Lindsay Lohan can DJ in Mykonos Paris Hilton can for sure. Are we going to have a fight here, Sherilyn? Because listen, if we're going to talk about somebody with, I don't know, talent of any kind, the ability to produce. I don't know if talent is a strong word. Lindsay Lohan is a good actor. I liked her until like her inevitable downfall. Yeah. Devindra: Paris Hilton, not so much. Come on. Okay. So what was, what did you see at this event? Did you see the magician? Yeah. Cherlynn: I will say the reason I keep bringing up the magician is because they used the magician to highlight a few of these features that are debuting on the new Motorola Razr and [00:03:00] Razr+. And you pointed out rightly that the pricing is one of the outstanding things. Sam has it in his hands on headline that they might be the most stylish and affordable foldables of the year. The standard Razr starting at 700. I think the pricing is a little bit confusing because last. With the 2023 lineup, the Razr 40, as it was known, I think in the UK versus the Razr in the U S it was like, it costs about 800 pounds. And that was quite a lot of money. That's close to a thousand in the U S and I don't know that it ever came to the U S. And so it's, I don't know about that one, but Devindra: last year's Razr was also 700. So at least the base, Cherlynn: I don't know, like I'm looking at our review of the Razr, 2023 and the hands on and it's they put Matt's review because Matt Smith who reviewed it for us is based in the UK says it was 800 pounds. So that's like I'm just so Devindra: before let me just fill you all in here as we were doing the planning for this because I was just Like looking like how do these compare to last year? It does seem like the pricing last year did launch at 700 and 1000 But what we weirdly happened and i'm sure the uk folks are annoyed [00:04:00]about this apparently the base Razr was on sale like a quote unquote on sale for 80 percent of last year for 500 Which is a crazy price, Cherlynn: whatever it is, let's put it this way. Motorola's pricing strategy is strange AF, but this year it seems like the base one starts at 700 and then the higher end, the Razr+ is a thousand to begin with. And for that money, you're getting like a larger external display than ever. You've got more app support on the external screen. You've got some colors like hot pink, which is like that original Razr flip phone. And then this like leather finish on the back. Sans pictures look great. The ones I saw at the event also looked really nice. And you have some AI features now. Look, I don't know how y'all feel about magicians and magic tricks, but they've all been ruined for me because I've read or watched too many, reveal the trick shows. You did Devindra: it to yourself. Okay. Yeah. Cherlynn: And then like the magician was like, Oh everybody hold up your phone and [00:05:00] Google this or a calculator that, and everything, and I was like, all right, fine. And but for example, the motor Razr+ 2024 and the Razr all have new AI based features. For example, you can take a photo of, by the way, listen to how, listen to this. You can take a photo of your outfit and the. Quote, AI unquote will generate color themes and wallpapers for you. I was like, Alcatel did this circa 2018. Stop it. This is not a new feature. Stop calling things new. But there is another thing called magic canvas on Motorola. Motorola's AI suite that will let you type in a prompt and then it will create sort of a wallpaper for your phone. So if you like dancing puppies with balloons in the background, you can use that as your wallpaper, for example. And then there's a feature that's coming called catch me up. It will summarize all your notifications. So you don't have to go through all of them individually and then see. Sam is excited about something called Remember This, which sounds a little bit like Microsoft's Recall. You can ask, or you can first prompt Modo to [00:06:00] be like remembering things for you, and then ask it to record a photo, screenshot, or some audio, and then it will repeat the important details back to you when you ask for those important details later on. Oh what was in that photo? Or what date did I leave in that screenshot and something like that? Devindra: So you have to actively tell it to remember things, which I think exactly Cherlynn: you had to first be exactly. So it's not like in the background, constantly screenshotting and tracking your activity. I just feel Devindra: like people won't do a good Cherlynn:differentiation Devindra: because like you could just always just take a photo of something and be like, yeah, that's how we wonder if it's going to Cherlynn: be a ram hog. Too. Yeah. Devindra: Who knows? Who knows? I do have to say these things look really nice. Tri do they? As far as yeah, they Cherlynn: look very cool. Yeah, they Devindra: look cool. I don't see a huge crease on these And the external displays, especially on the plus looks Cherlynn: oh yeah. The, to quote Paris, so the other thing that Sam did point out is that the crease there is still there, but that it's very faint and he. Quote, he describes it as a shallow ripple that you only see at acute angles, which is wow. We're getting somewhere with these things, right? It feels like from the 2023 lineup of the Razrs to the [00:07:00]2024, what we're getting is more refinement. Yes, a larger display, but I think the hardware feels like it's quite Like ready for, to settle, and in the like candy bar format that iPhones have been in for a while, I think many foldables like that are more or less mature in terms of hardware. And now it's all about the software. And apparently AI is the way, which I have thoughts Devindra: on. One thing that I've been thinking about is we still don't have a foldable iPhone. I feel like everyone's waiting for Apple to do something around that. The rumor was the iPad mini being some sort of like foldable tablet type of thing. Yeah. But we've got several foldable Androids now, Cherlynn, and they seem pretty good. The prices are getting down there. At least like most of them are under the price of an iPhone pro max, even. If you're considering Android phone, why don't you just get a foldable? Unless you want something under 500. Cherlynn: Yeah. I think the main concern has always been like durability and battery life on these things. And the, by the way, the light Razrs get like a slightly higher IP rating than before. And again, with the crease not [00:08:00]looking as bad, and then there's a new hinge on these new Razrs too. There's a lot of good things. I don't know that we'll ever see a affordable iPhone. I think we see affordable iPad mini first, Devindra: yeah, Cherlynn: you're right. That there are cheaper now, a thousand dollars for the higher end ones for the flips anyway, not the bigger folds These are pretty feasible as your daily driver, if you're okay with your phone lasting only a day, not two. How Devindra: much is the Galaxy Flip now? Isn't that like 800? Cherlynn: It's about 999 as well. Like it starts at and it does have that nicer cover display. I want to see Samsung do more with the Flip. I, and speaking of, we'll learn more come July. We'll get to that in a bit. We'll Devindra: learn more from Samsung. We're also still waiting for Google is not doing like a top down fold. The flip style, right? It's just, yeah. Yeah. The pixel fold opens up. So I could see them doing something. It just seems like I the main appeal of Android is like, you can get a really killer phone for 500 or less, but if you're willing to bump up a little more, it does seem like if you're going to spend 700 or a thousand [00:09:00]dollars on a phone, get a flippy, Cherlynn: it seems like we've reached that point. I do want to point out has Sam in the chat says that the issue with Modo has always been their horrible software update record, which Devindra: yes, Cherlynn: very good point. And again, Sam does point out that Motorola says that the Razrs will receive three major Android OS upgrades and four years of software support. That's a jump from last year, but it's. It's still short of the 7 years you're getting from Samsung and Google's more recent devices. So for bumping the number of years of support up, Modo, but you're still so far behind the competition. That's Devindra: not great. I feel like the thing when you mentioned Magician, Sherilyn, all I think about, I don't take Magician seriously. I'm not super excited by them. But I think about Joe Bluth in Arrested Development, and I can imagine if they had gotten Will Arnett to come here and just do his Joe Bluth thing while being sarcastic about Samsung features, that would have been funny. I gotta Cherlynn: say, Devindra: I was Cherlynn: looking around the event. First of all, they were like, okay, so the event started at six and was going to [00:10:00] end at 10. I bounced before eight, by the way, because like Devindra: at night, Cherlynn: yeah, that's why I was able to go out. It was like after work. That's why I was like, all right, it's afterwards. So it's not really. Devindra: And then you're really pushing it, Motorola you want people to hang out with you after you show up at eight or Cherlynn: six that there was no food until after 7 45. Nevermind. I showed up really for the food. But anyway, and then Perry Sildon was slated to show up at like It's eight or something, but I think she started after eight from, Devindra: she's going to come in. I heard from friends afterwards. Yeah. Cherlynn: Anyway, at six and then the wait, why was I starting? Oh, I was looking around. I got in at six, 10 or something. And people, it was already like the seating area in front of the magician's performance area was already full. And I like, I was like, all right, these are the plants, right? These are the plants. These have to be, have you Devindra: people never seen a magician before? I don't Cherlynn: know. I don't think it's I got, I think they were all plants. Like I, there's a lot of audience participation that all requires. I think if magic tricks, you will know that there's a lot of planted actors. Anyway, the, Devindra: that [00:11:00] makes sense. Yeah, anyway, I was Cherlynn: looking around and I was like, yeah, I noticed that there was a suspicious amount of people already there, but be, I was like, wow, does Motorola have a lot of money still? Like what is going on? They've, got Paris Hilton. They got this magician. They got this big space. They got a magician, Devindra: not even like a name. I got to say, Cherlynn: I think they have a name and I just can't remember, which sucks. But there you go. So I don't know. Motorola must be doing something right. Or Lenovo is financing it like crazy, cause Lenovo owns Motorola. I Devindra: don't know. Paris Hilton is not a big pull. Paris Hilton, the last we saw with her was doing like an ad deal with Twitter, right? The last I heard of her is on her Cherlynn: reality TV series where she's being a mom, but Devindra: that's, it's even beyond that. But d tier celebrity at this point. The Elon Musk will point to will like, Hey, you're not mad at me yet. Would you like to do something with Twitter? Yeah, I don't know. Okay. The phones look nice. The event seems they should get David Blaine. Like when they finally get the when they get rid of the bezel. How do you make the bezel disappear? Oh God. Magic trick. That would be hilarious. Cherlynn: Cringe. So much [00:12:00] cringe. Devindra: Okay. Anything else on the Moto Razrs? Cherlynn: No. I will say that it's, they're kicking off foldable season. And we're going to hear more about that just a little, in just a little bit. Devindra: Foldable fall, as it were. We are, cause summer just started. Oh my God. Okay. So Samsung is doing something in July. We thought we were a chill for the summer, at least for July and August, but no, never. So what are we, what's going on there? Cherlynn: Samsung officially announced. The second unpacked of the year of every year is happening this year on July 10th. Wonderful round of applause. July 10th is a lot earlier than we're used to, right? These second unpacks used to be, taking place either during IFA, which would be in September, or End or mid August. And it's just gone earlier and earlier. Now it's in the middle of July. Great. Hey, you know who else announced they're like important dates for July? Amazon's prime day is going to be July 16th and 17th. So if you understand the consumer tech media business, [00:13:00]you'll know that's. It's really a lot of work for a lot of people. So I don't appreciate the timing here, but Samsung anyway, officially announced July 10th and it's holding his event in Paris of all places. Now, earlier this year, when it hit, it had the S 24 unpacked Samsung did that in San Jose, which Silicon Valley, everybody was like, Oh yeah, it's linked to AI and that's why they chose Silicon Valley for that launch event. So if you think about Paris. Other than Paris Hilton, Paris and France. Are you thinking fashion? Are you thinking bed bug controversy from last year? Oh, yeah. Anyway, I won't be going. Thank goodness. I'm just not thanks for talking about bed bugs. Cause I know we'll have bed bugs, but I think Considering that this time of year, Samsung's always launching foldables and wearables and watches make sense for the fashion setting. And then if they wanted to make their flip a bit more stylish and also, yes, we are expecting to see the galaxy ring that they teed up in [00:14:00] January. There's a lot to expect from Samsung. And like I said, it's going to be foldable fall, ben, our producer is pointing out that the Olympics are also in Paris. But is it in July? I think it is. Also Devindra: true. Late July. Late July. Okay, so they're trying to get Cherlynn: out of there maybe before the Olympics really fully kick off. Devindra: I guess getting, riding some of the fitness hype maybe. Like especially if there's a watch. With the Cherlynn: galaxy ring. So a lot of potential tie in things. Now we already have Devindra: Oh! Olympics rings! Wow. Multicolored Samsung Galaxy rings with the Olympics colors. Can you imagine if they make that? Oh, I can't. Cherlynn: Anyway, you heard it here first. Ben and Devindra both predicted it on the Engadget going to use the Galaxy Ring as the Olympics ring. Some kind of Olympics tie in. Would not be surprised. The Devindra: official Olympics wearable that nobody will ever buy, but yes. Will it Cherlynn: get them all to not sleep? In the same rooms. Anyway, head on over to Engadget. com. We already have a what to expect out of Samsung sort of preview article up. Devindra: Are we [00:15:00] excited about the ring yet? Like we, we talked about it. I talk about my ambivalence around ring gadgets in general. How are you feeling now? Cherlynn: I'm with you. Like I don't wear that aura ring anymore. I just will. have someone else who's more happy to wear rings, to, to review it. Like I really liked what the aura ring did in terms of the insights for sleep, because it's something I was happy to wear to sleep, even though I still didn't like it, I was like, all right, it's better than a watch. But it also actually gave very good. and different information, the aura sort of system about my sleep than I was used to. So that was nice to see. But otherwise, no. I wash my hands too many times a day for a ring to be really a feasible thing to wear. Devindra: You could wash your hands with the ring, can't Cherlynn: you? I can, but I don't like to. I don't like to have moisture retained around the ring. I would still take it off anyway. Devindra: So it's mainly cooking is the time where you want to be like, I don't want to get sauce and oil and Cherlynn: My comfort. Devindra: I feel you. I feel like the only thing that I felt [00:16:00]that was good for sleep tracking back in the day. We will Often bring this up but r. i. p jawbone r. i. p the job on a device that was too beautiful to survive in this world and also too bug ridden also r. Cherlynn: i. p. The amazon had this Sleep tracking, halo rise. Gosh, that thing was great. I miss it. But I think maybe the, Devindra: you miss Amazon staring at you and judging Cherlynn: someone in our chat earlier today, when we were talking about that AI feature, where you take a photo of your outfit to generate wallpapers thing someone in our chat mentioned, didn't Amazon have a camera that you would take outfits? I was like, yeah, I loved it. I will say that the person in the chat who said that who mentioned that feature was I. It wasn't a creepy when people realized they were undressing in front of an Amazon camera. I did not, I was not undressing in front of the camera to start. I would dress up somewhere else and then go in front of the camera thing. But Devindra: it sounds like a really easy to use device. I don't, I still Cherlynn: have it at home. I don't, it doesn't work anymore. Like the halo rise. I have a little, my own personal graveyard of Amazon devices that you, I loved watching me. Devindra: They just threw money at so many things, the fire [00:17:00]phone. All these dumb devices. Oh my God. I can't Cherlynn: wait to see what Panos Pane does with Amazon hardware. But we are digressing just so slightly. Back to the Samsung Unpacked event. I think, In addition to the, to the galaxy ring, we're expecting also just making an educated guess here, probably going to see the new galaxy Z fold as Z flip galaxy watch. I think they had a watch pro in the past too. And then we still haven't seen new buds. So there's a lot, have we seen a new tablet in a while? I don't know. So that's a lot. That's a lot of things to expect Samsung to unveil. I will also say. That in that announcement about unpack Samsung also mentions the words galaxy AI is here. Wonderful. Excellent. I yeah, I Devindra: are they going to show Bixby just evolving into what is like Bixby is just Cherlynn: running a baton relay Paris, that's part of their event. Devindra: Oh boy. Okay. We'll see. Do you think it is wise? I could see August being a good [00:18:00] time to get away from the iPhone hype, have some time to yourself. That's what Google's doing. But July. Nobody's thinking about updating devices everyone's waiting to see what the future things are, especially should I get an iPhone or iPad. July. I would not be surprised, Cherlynn: now that you and Ben brought it up, that it is absolutely Olympics timing. They're timing it for, try to get ahead of the Olympics so that they can make their Olympics announcement, something like that. Would not be surprised if that is like a part of the reason. So there you go. Devindra: There you go. Let's talk about the Google thing because we're talking about like upcoming events and Google's announcing basically August 13th, is going to be the next Google, the made by Google event where we're expecting new pixels and stuff. Do we feel differently about this? Because this is this is just gonna be their major device launch. It's not going to be tied to any events otherwise. Cherlynn: So Google announced the meet by Google event is happening on August 13th. And like you [00:19:00] said, it's a bit of time for itself. And I want to go on a rant after this about all of this, not a rant, like a little. sideways talk. Google traditionally, and it's like second half of the year event, it's hardware launch brings us new pixel phones probably a new pixel watch, maybe new pixel, but similar slate of devices, I would say as Samsung. Except for because. Google doesn't usually have a January event to launch its actual flagship devices. It will have both like a standard phone and maybe a foldable as well. Or we might, we're probably due to see like a new pixel fold. As well as the pixel. It's been Devindra: two years, right? Cherlynn: Two or one, everything blends into one to me, but yeah, it could be Two years by now. But we really liked that thing, right? Like we really liked it when it came out, it was very thin and how all that, it's one Devindra: year, it's one year, it just feels it feels like too. Cherlynn: So there's a pixel fold two, we're expecting to see, and then the pixel nine series of phones and then whatever the pixel watch three, I believe is also on the agenda, hopefully, probably.[00:20:00] And then finally, maybe some other devices after. All of that internal reorganization under Rick Osterloh happened earlier this year that The Verge reported on. Maybe we'll see some other hardware from the Nest side of things? That's a lot of speculation on my end, but that's an educated guess, right? Based on historical evidence, based on what's out there. And other stuff that I know. Devindra: When those things. Okay. So July event that we'll be all planning for, I will be gone. Sorry guys. Also August. So it's there's no break during the summer. And then once this Google thing is done, we're all like, just thinking about iPhone and thinking about what's going to happen with Apple and the whole fall and everything. No rest for us, what do you, are you looking to doing are you looking to covering things or. Focusing on any kinds of other stories in July and August, Ryland? I would always May have a little time to breathe. I would Cherlynn: love to take a break, but in July I'm traveling. Right after Prime Day. And the I don't know. I don't think I'll be able to escape any of the coverage. [00:21:00] And Google, by the way, is hosting this event in Mountain View. And as much as I would like not to travel, I do, want to say hi to some of the Google people I know that work there, get some FaceTime with some executives, because that's always good for making sure Engadget gets like good information and do some reporting from the scene. So I might, yeah, exactly. So that's. It's possible. I don't know, but you haven't finalized our plans yet is the reason. I'm not being like cagey on purpose. I just don't have anything for him to say. But I did RSVP. I'm always like, invite me to things. I will always say yes, but I may or may not show up. That's like my thing. Devindra: Oh boy. Okay. Okay. So that's new Moto Razrs, which look pretty cool. Check out our hands on coverage and we're. I guess soon you're going to be prepping for the Samsung Galaxy impact and after that prepping for the Google Pixel event. Hey Cherlynn: Kevin says in our chat asked, what about Fitbit? And I would like to point out that Pixel Watch 3 is probably you can consider it almost a Fitbit device. Cause Google owns Fitbit and also Fitbit did [00:22:00] launch the Ace LTE wearable for kids last month. Fitbit is still doing its own thing. I don't know if they're going to do anything new for this made by Google event though. So there you go. And they just say, yep, they had a big turnaround too of employees and things too. What is Fitbit even anymore? Man, I remember when we were excited about wearables. I remember when that stuff was cool and everybody was trying different ideas and Fitbit was not owned by Google and was a lot more nimble, yeah. Okay. We'll be looking forward to all this stuff and check out our coverage on the Motorola. Devindra: All right, let's move on to some other news, and I think one of the surprise stories this week is that Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who has been in prison for a few years, was hiding out In an embassy in London, right? After WikiLeaks put out the documents, like a lot of secret documents, classified documents around the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the U. S. did not like that. [00:23:00]So he is now free from prison. He pled guilty. To the espionage act at a courthouse in Saipan. He, I just saw the news. Like he has arrived back in his homeland of Australia. He's reuniting with his wife. He's not actually saying much except saying let me see here. The deal required Assange to plead guilty to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States. He did defend himself in court. He did say let me see here. Working as a journalist, I encouraged my source to provide information that was set to be classified in order to publish that information. I believe the First Amendment protected that. And of course his source was Chelsea Manning too. So she, they also went to prison for a while. There's a lot of, there has been a lot of discussion about how. Is this an unfair thing? Should we, should the government go so harshly against leakers, but especially if it's classified information, I think that's where it gets so messy, Chelsea Manning spent. [00:24:00] Years in prison was like what six or seven years and then obama, I think commuted her sentence so that kind of worked out better there, but it is I don't know Do you have any thoughts on this sterling because we've been talking about the julian's on stuff for so long It felt like the story would never end and it's not done yet like he's gonna say things his supporters are gonna be out there trying to You know say that Spin this a certain way too. I don't know. What do you think about it? Cherlynn: I think You I mean, the question that you were getting at near the end of that portion there is that, does the penalty befit the crime and it's hard, right? It's, you have to talk about national security is one thing. We also have to talk about who was affected? What's the net good or net harm? It's really hard to decide that there's a reason I'm not in the legal judiciary system to decide these things. But I don't Devindra: know. It's a, I think like one major argument I've seen against WikiLeaks over time is that Hey listen, the leakers getting confidential government information out there has been hugely important [00:25:00] in the history of this country. Like the Pentagon papers were like, that was classified information that was massively influential in terms of that's different. I'm going to get to that, but the Pentagon papers. That definitely helped us get a sense of what was actually happening in Vietnam and showed how bad the Vietnam war was for America and how a failed war it was. Assange points out that he says the first amendment and the espionage act are in contradiction of each other. He accepts his actions were in violation of the espionage statute and that it would be difficult to win such a case, given all the circumstances, basically. If you leak anything, even if it's like you believe it's in, it's for the greater good, like the government will come down against you with the full weight of its justice powers. The argument against Wikileaks is that they did not do anything to redact Confidential information, especially things around I believe it was like locations of agents and people working around the world. There were, there was a lot of like [00:26:00] really sensitive stuff. We're not like really redacted and what Snowden had done. was a little different, like he had worked directly with Glenn Greenwald, who has now fallen far from like when we, from being played by Spock in the Snowden movie. Glenn Greenwald, you have fallen very far. But the Snowden stuff, they were working together with journalists who did a lot of that information, redacted a lot of confidential stuff. And even he Ended up being, hounded and stuck in Russia and also not being like the hero of the left that a lot of people wanted him to be, but whatever that information is out there. Do you ever talk to people, Sherlina, around the Snowden reveals or Spectre, do you ever hear people actually talk about, wasn't it weird that we learned that the U S government and a lot of governments were like actively spying on citizens and we just don't talk about it. I don't, have you ever encountered people actually discussing it in your daily life outside of tech circles? I don't Cherlynn: think people like. Talk about any more like I think back in the day. Yes. I might've been a bit too. Devindra: Did you have conversations back then with [00:27:00]people? I'm just wondering if you encountered this in the real world outside of the media world, Cherlynn: no, because the people I was talking to back then were all media people. Like I didn't have many I think it was like early in my move to America days. So all my friends were my J school friends and it was like, yeah. And Singaporeans didn't really. They like, they knew the names. Oh yeah, you guys Devindra: are used to it. Yeah, we're just like, also, yeah, we're like, Oh, of course the government is Cherlynn: spying on you. Everything, it's not, no, we don't think the government is spying on us, but we, it's ingrained in us to be careful what we say, because if the government overhears you talking shit about them, they just jail you. But the thing is, I think the question here is, yeah, the responsible treatment of sensitive private information that could lead to harm of individual people, but also I don't know. Like people, wasn't there a Jimmy, a John Oliver segment on like people getting names confused of do you know who Julian Assange is? Do you know who Edward Snowden is? And then people were like, Oh, the WikiLeaks guy. And they were like, no, Snowden's not the WikiLeaks guy. Like it's, there's a lot of confusion around all of this. Devindra: There's a lot of confusion. In the moment we didn't have Cherlynn:conversations as much around like what Snowden revealed, but [00:28:00] I think we're feeling the impact of it now where everyone is aware that there's a lot of stuff that's spying on you, whether it's your social media, whether your phone, whether it's the government and there's heightened, like antitrust sentiment, like just nobody trusts anyone anymore. So that's what we're feeling. I feel, I don't know. Devindra: There has to be room like for people to actually divulge information. They think things are going wrong, but yeah, unfortunately, yeah, that, that does not work with the way governments and classified information without retaliation Cherlynn: is like a huge Thing that needs to be supported, but I don't know that it is. We're going Devindra: to, we're going to be talking about the story for a while too. Like Assange is not going to, he's going to be much louder now. He's going to be doing many interviews and probably going to have all sorts of like deals out of this. So we're going to be talking about the story for a while. And Certainly it's going to be worth diving deeper into it too. So I'm looking for a good guest to talk to around that stuff. There are a couple other major bits of news we saw this week too. The Supreme court ruled that it allows the White House to request a removal of misinformation on social media. [00:29:00]This was I'm just reading out here from NPR. Basically, I believe this was a result of a conservative complaints. Of the Biden administration going to social media companies and just asking them to remove specific bits of news around misinformation. I think one thing revolved around Biden's granddaughter. So just specific bits that they thought were being like put out there badly. And the government was essentially trying to stop what they called misinformation. I've seen a lot of commentary. Where people are saying this actually does set a bad precedent because, okay, what is misinformation? Could a more nefarious regime, if there was another Trump regime or something, could a more nefarious administration use this badly and just define misinformation as stuff they just don't like? That could be. A problem. I don't know if you, have you thought about this at all, Shirlen? If Cherlynn: you just can't trust people, right? Like you can put something in place that's supposed to protect people. They tear it down because they think it's going to [00:30:00] be like abused, or you can put something in place that was bad and tear it down to protect other. I don't know. It's I don't trust that like a specific administration anymore. You know what I mean? I. Sometimes they do bad things because they're dumb. Sometimes they do bad things because they're bad. Sometimes they don't think. I don't know. I have very little faith in a lot of these things. So no matter how this falls, I feel like the outcome It's a ongoing and be like, I have very little faith. What's interesting Devindra: about this case too, is it was Amy come at Barrett who, is a Trump appointee who really tore down this whole thing, because I think at some point the plaintiffs were saying the white house was bombarding Twitter with requests to set up a streamlined process for censorship. And that never really happened. Let me see here. I'm going to read from NPR in her opinion for the majority court of the court. Majority Barrett said that at every turn, the alleged facts turn to dust and that the plaintiffs have failed to trace the past or potential harm to anything done by [00:31:00] officials at the white house, the CDC, the FBI, or key cybersecurity agencies. So it's just like a lot of, it was thrown out because a lot of this was ruled as baseless. Just interesting, but I don't know what this sets precedence for. I think a lot of people are worried, especially people worried about Information overall freedom of information. So there is that. We also saw another Supreme court story actually just hit this morning. The Supreme court has blocked the Biden administration's plan to curb air, so air pollution from basically key polluting States, I think in the Midwest and places like West Virginia, basically to stop them or at least help them prevent spewing. Emissions that would go into other states. So here's the story right now. The Supreme court put a temporary hold on the EPA plan to do that. Basically to curtail air pollution, the drifts across state lines. I think the ruling before was that states. Essentially, we're going to have to deal with it themselves. They would all have to come up [00:32:00]with their own plans for figuring out how do they would deal with their own messy air. And because that didn't happen, the EPA was trying to come up with rules to set it up so that they could actually help curtail this. It's just not going anywhere. This is another blow against the EPA. And I can't think of another blow against the government to actually stop things like air pollution or things that would make the environment better. What's interesting is that Amy Coney Barrett was among the dissenters for this one too. She joined the three liberal members to push against this. I don't know if you have thoughts on this, Cherlynn, cause this one just hit, but it is astounding. Like at every turn, it's basically, we have a very conservative Supreme court who will always lean on conservative values and states rights. Rather than something that could help people. Cherlynn: Yeah. I don't know. I think we've not given the EPA a lot of authority to do what it needs to do. Basically. Devindra: Yeah. Basically taking it away at every single turn or at least blocking whatever plans, there's the other thing too, about the EPA can't [00:33:00] set what was it? Their own environmental yeah, protections. Like they can't set standards. That was a whole other thing. So the EP just can't really do much these days. That's a pain. We're going to see more about that story too, and maybe there's going to be pushback against that. Let's talk about the rabbit R1 because there was a hilarious chain of events. where the group, the Rabbitude community that is reverse engineering the Rabbit R1 software revealed that a, they found a security issue within the company's code that leaves sensitive information accessible to everyone. Did you see this thing show in? Because it just seems wild. It seems like there were API keys that were like open and vulnerable. People could use it to see pretty much any information, like any response that the R1 device has given to people, including personal information. It could also be used to brick R1 devices, alter the R1's responses replace the device's voice. This seems bad. Dare you surprised that this company was not [00:34:00] really thinking about security very hard about the Rabbit R1? Cherlynn: I love talking about Rabbit because every time something comes up with this company, I just start to laugh. Look, I, again, I was very like, I bought into the whole hype thing. I was like, Oh, this is so cool. The API stuff that they're trying to build to make their large action model work seems really intriguing. And then, yeah, clearly haven't thought it through. Don't seem to have tested everything. I think the most egregious thing is that the Rabbitude people say that the company, Rabbit, has known about the issue for the past month and quote, did nothing to fix it. And then after they posted, they said that Rabbit revoked 11labs API key, even though it up, even though it broke R1 devices for a bit. But Rabbit did haul in Gadget in an email or a statement that was only made aware of, quote, an alleged data breach, end quote, on June 25th. So two days, I, it's a, he said, she said almost, and I don't know. Devindra: I would not trust rabbit trust. Yeah. Why? Cherlynn: Look, maybe here's the thing. It's you can say that you inform [00:35:00]someone at the company and say that the company has known about the issue for the past month, but maybe that one person that you informed didn't tell the whole company, like there's so many like little nuances that can be missing this, that like they do have some gray area that they're playing in right now. And both people could be like saying. Like the truth and it could be both correct. But Devindra: I like how you're trying to be nice and fair here, but this company has produced one of the one of the worst devices we've ever seen, a thing that is functionally useless and I can't trust literally anything coming out of their mouth. So I saw on the the rabbit, I'm still in the rabbit discord channel. They were doing some updates yesterday. They were like, Oh, we made a page to update all the all the news we have around this security issue. We're going to get to the bottom of this. And I just, I cannot trust. This, the silly company. It's just such a, it's just such a hilarious thing. So anyway, massive data breach. If you have a rabbit device I would say maybe turn that into a nice accessory on your shelf. No some solidist Cherlynn: tea in our chat said that someone is running [00:36:00]full Android on rabbit R1. Hey, go crazy. Devindra: It's just a little, it's a tiny powerless Android device. So yes, I'm sure you could run full Android on it. Stop using the rabbit R1. That may be the main takeaway here. We also saw another story that Uber is apparently locking out New York drivers out of its apps. It seems like sometimes in the middle of their shifts. Because of a city pay rule and Lyft is apparently threatening to, to do the same. This is a local story, but it's also a broader story too, because this kind of like ties into things where they were both both Uber and Lyft had lockouts in 2019. Around like the flat minimum wage requirement for drivers. They threatened to pull out of Minneapolis because the city was trying to force a driver pay raise up. So these companies have generally done things that have been ruthless against the people working for them. And then they blame. City regulations or state regulations for that. What, I don't know if you saw the story showing, or do you have any [00:37:00]thoughts? Yeah. Cherlynn: I heard about like the past situation where there's like a minimum wage sort of situation that's caused some of this and it's not easy for companies like this to navigate. I'm not taking their side. I think it's silly, but they need to find a way to make it work. Not just lock people out of the apps that make the money, it Devindra: seems, this is the way because they don't want to pay people, right? That's the problem. Cherlynn: But the problem is like, if Uber starts to pay as drivers for like, when it doesn't have, they're not picking up actual rights and like, where does that money come from? It's capitalism all over again, right? Capitalism is the problem because they want to, they're going to try to pass that on to consumers. And then we're going to start complaining that we were too expensive and then we're going to stop using it as much. And then less, it's like a cycle. Yeah. Devindra: It's, we should, we also know we should remember it's hard to trust Uber. It's hard to trust Uber given how ruthless this company was at the beginning and how it just flaunted its own service against regulations, especially in New York. So here Cherlynn: they've had leadership change since then and the new like CEO is like a more grounded person. It seems and [00:38:00] I think that they're Devindra: trying to be better, trying to be Cherlynn: better, but I still think that. It's more of an industry sort of shift, right? Where the gig economy is the way things are right now. I think I've seen some reports saying that 50 percent of the workforce is going to be freelance in a certain number of years, and we're already seeing the effects of this, we need to be. Rethinking the entire system of how we pay people for gig work and for unworking hours, non working hours, that sort of thing. It's starting to show. It's not Devindra: really, it's not really non working hours is the thing. Like I'm going to read from our story. The mid shift lockouts stem from a six year old NYC payroll that requires ridesharing companies to pay drivers for idle time between fares. So I don't consider that non working hours. That is time you were driving around the city and like looking for fair, waiting for a fair to hit before you accept one. So going on with the story here, capping it, capped how long drivers without passengers can be paid means Uber's Uber is paying them less, but it also means that drivers are taking home [00:39:00] much less money for the same amount of time on the clock. And they can't predict, they can't predict when they'll lose access to the app. One driver told Bloomberg that they used to work 10 hours and make 300 to 350. Now they're working 10 hours and barely making 170. Cherlynn:Unpredictability is like one of the worst things of this whole situation, which is also, by the way, very surprising to me. Cause every time I'm like in an Uber, I see like the driver gets a next ride before I'm even out of the car. You know what I mean? So I'm like, Whoa, there's people sitting around like looking for rides. So that's where my brain's at. Yeah. Yeah. Devindra: I've seen drivers like running Lyft and Uber simultaneously and will pause one and take one of the other just so they keep themselves going. But it does seem it's because like it's based on the amount of work you're doing and you're not working a set amount of time. That's the big pain. I don't know if you ever, if you've ever had a car accident. If you've ever worked like a, I don't know, like a simple service level job drilling, where like you had to rely on shifts being given to you. And sometimes you would not get a shift or sometimes like you have to ask, or sometimes a shift would be put on you. This would happen to me. Like when [00:40:00] I was working in sales, like it's just, you have very little control over how much money you can actually make and it's all just capricious. It depends on like your manager and your company doing it. I don't even know how the Uber thing is working. Cause Uber is so famously algorithmic, right? Most drivers do not have a human manager to talk to you. They put complaints in the app and the app will tell them, go here, take this direction or something. So I almost wonder too, like this is likely an algorithmic lockout. That's happening. Cause that's how Uber works. So anyway, next time you have a cheap Uber, just just think about like the costs here and make sure to tip your drivers, cause I had a really long conversation with my last driver to the airport and they were just lamenting. These companies are just paying us less and less like every year, every week, it seems like their pay is going down, even though they're doing the same amount of trips. So think of that folks. One thing I don't mind doing, especially at airports is like the Uber lines are a mess. You think you're booking a car, but then you have to run to the thing and [00:41:00] find it and. Every time I go to an airport, like the taxi lines are just like full, completely full and waiting to pick up people. So there are way other ways to get around, take public transportation. You don't have to rely on Uber and Lyft for everything. One other thing we want to talk about, and we're going to do something special for the live stream here, Toys R Us or the folks who own Toys R Us right now has released a brand ad, like a brand film. That was created entirely using open AI Sora and folks, it's a nightmare. It is an absolute nightmare. So we're going to play it here live in the stream and comment on it. And those of us in the, those of you in the chat can join us. You could go take a look, just Google this thing too. You can find it online. So I'm going to kick off this video. Let's just take a look and Trillian, feel free to shout out like your emotions, like how you're feeling about this as we're seeing it. So let me unmute this tab. Did Cherlynn: you ever wonder how Toys R Us and Jeffrey the Giraffe came to be? [00:42:00] That's a lot of cars. Charles Lazarus had a vision that would go on to change toy stores forever. Devindra: That kid's head is just not shaped right. Cherlynn: It's so weird. My gosh, this kid looks so strange. This reminds me of that game I play called Match Factory, by the way. Devindra: Don't you miss Toys R Us? Whose voice is this? It doesn't even look like Jeffrey. They're iconic Jeffrey. Too Cherlynn: much stuff. Devindra: This is a different looking Jeffrey. Now they can't keep the design right. Cherlynn: Is this the same kid toys arrest? Devindra: No, the Giraf is named Jeffrey. Cherlynn: But also the kid looks different. Your dreams come Devindra: true too. Yes, Cherlynn: and the continue toys. With the toys Arrest at every [00:43:00]Macy's. They mean nightmare. Yes. Devindra: They mean nightmare. So I guess this is an ad meant to remind people that Toys R Us is not fully dead yet. The company that owns the assets of Toys R Us is now working together with Macy's and I don't know. Have you been to Macy's lately, Cherlynn? There are little Toys R Us sections there now. It's just it's not the same. No, it's not the same as going through I did you guys have anything like Toys R Us? Cherlynn: Toys R Us. Devindra: So going through. The giant store filled with toys. My childhood memories is buying video games from Toys R Us, which was a weird thing. Cause you'd have to pull, you'd have to pull a paper and go up to the counter and hope that it was actually in stock. But as a kid who only got one or two games a year. It was always like a monumental event to go to play games for free for demos. Those experience you will not get at the Toys R Us at Macy's. And this is one of the first Sora AI produced ads I've seen. I think it looks like a nightmare. Like the kid just looks [00:44:00] inhuman is the thing. I'm getting a lot of revulsion. There's Cherlynn: a lot of very uncanny value going on. Like the movement of the kid's neck when Like they reacted and recoiled almost a little bit, not in a bad way, but it looked a little robotic, very strange. And then yeah, their face would change depending on the angle that they were being shot from, according to the ad. And then the ad has these very clear labels that this is made by not just AI, but also some VFX team on Toys R Us's side. So there's some cleaning up because I will say that for a Sora made video, It's just clean, right? There's not too many glaring like errors, like too much teeth or too many fingers, that sort of thing. Devindra: They had to like likely redo things quite a bit. They probably had to Cherlynn: clean it up. Devindra: They likely had to clean it up, but also what we have read and seen from people testing Sora is that if you, the prompts like break down after a while. So you can do 10 seconds, second clips or something, but the longer you go, the crazier and like wilder it gets, it just can't like keep a story straight. I'm like making a video in Sora's just like a lot of like little tiny prompts and [00:45:00] hope that You cross your fingers and you hope it's not a complete nightmare. This is, I'm getting a lot of people are bringing this up in the chat, but I'm getting a lot of like polar express and like the mocap stuff that Zemeckis was doing, but even I've seen all of those movies. I saw Beowulf, which I think was one of the first ones he did. And those don't feel as weird and inhuman to me as this does. But I'm also somebody that likes genuine animation too. And those had like painterly animation. Whereas this is inhuman CG child trying to be human. It's just not quite right. There's your nightmare feel for the week folks. Enjoy. Let's move on to what we're working on. Hey, I just produced the surface pro co pilot plus review that is out there. Video is going to be up on YouTube. I'm also currently testing a Kia's EV9, the three row SUV that Sam and I have been like eyeing for a while. So I'm testing it. Hoping to write up something about using it as a family car. What's up with you, Cherlynn? Cherlynn: Yeah, doing a lot of summer slash fall event planning. We're also doing some testing of the Apple [00:46:00] betas just to see just to get ready to, break out any sort of stories that might be interesting. And hopefully get ahead of that crushing fall hardware season. So that's me. Devindra: Lots of plans. Do you want to mention anything around the site, Trillian, because you dropped them in. Cherlynn: Last week we had a story from Carissa Bell go up and it's titled, How Small Claims Court Became Meta's Customer Service Hotline where people are apparently having to go to court as a last ditch attempt to recover their accounts. It's pretty incredible and the story did really well for us. I think there's some really interesting stories in here that you might want to take a look at and if you haven't already. It's really good reporting from Carissa. I just thought, it's worth shouting out here on the podcast so that people can go read it. And if you've got, been locked out of your Meta account for some silly reason, or you got hacked or something, and you just, you're not getting help directly from Meta. Apparently there are people who are having some [00:47:00] success in small claims scoring, which is really ridiculous if you come to think about it. Devindra: It's I guess it makes sense because these companies do not have often have like easy ways to get access to customer service. That was a complaint with the Amazon for a while. I think they've gotten better about that, but yeah. Man, just be persistent. If you have a lot of issues with these with these companies, also small claims court is like one of those things that is just like useful for people. But you have to stick with it and you have to spend money to actually make that thing happen to, bring up your issues. Cherlynn: And time, lots of time. Devindra: Let's move on to our pop culture picks for the week. What do you have, Cherlynn? Cherlynn: Two main things. One, I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but I've been watching Wild Isles. Wild Isles. On Prime Video it is nature documentary stuff narrated by David Edinburgh about the British Isles and each episode is of the five limited series episode, like five episode limited series. Each episode focuses on a different type of wildlife. So the first episode is just like general wildlife. The second episode is like forest. The third is like [00:48:00] fields. The fourth is like freshwater. The fourth is like Ocean, stuff like that. It's really cool because the footage is incredible. The BBC commissioned this TV series and, the team spent three years just camouflaged in the midst of bird poop infested woods to just get you really neat thermal image footage. Footage of like a million birds roosting in this little patch and how they're picked off by owls. Yeah. Devindra: Forever. Yeah, Cherlynn: they have, but this is like the thermal image technology is according to the show, like new. And a lot of these, the footage to me is really cool because. I haven't never seen a slug. I forget the full name of this slug, but like a slug in the middle of the night is glowing and it made it with another slug. So I've seen a slug's dick, just so you know. Devindra: Okay. Cherlynn: Yeah. And then I also saw two snakes going at it. Did you know that male snakes? Their sexual organs have things [00:49:00] on them that help them stay attached to the female snake. Yeah. Anyway, Devindra: I can imagine for Cherlynn: that and more risque footage of animals going at it, you can check out wild isles on prime video. The other thing I will shout out. How do you explain Devindra: this to kids? No, Cherlynn: kids can watch it too. It's like animal sex, Devindra: not a euphemism. Cherlynn: I don't know. Anyway. And then also over the weekend I saw the bike riders in theaters. It's that film about the motorcycle gang, the fictional motorcycle gang called the Vandals but stars Austin Butler. Devindra: They're real. It's based on a whole real. It's based Cherlynn: on a real thing. The name is not the Vandals though. Devindra: The name may be different. Yeah, it was based on a picture book of an actual picture Cherlynn: book by Danny Lyons. And it stars Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Jodie Comer is amazing. And I love her. And I don't know if that's how you pronounce your last name, but And then also my boo, Norman Reedus shows up and I was like, yes, Norman Reedus. And he's unrecognizable when he first shows up. I'm like, this is Norman Reedus, right? This is no. And Devindra: with the teeth and he looks, God, yeah, he looks like [00:50:00]such a Cherlynn: meth head from, yeah, dirty hippie from California and the show, but oh, amazing. And then, yeah, I'm very inspired to go check out the story now, the written and the pictures. So if you're interested in that type of history motorcycle gang stuff, go check it out. But if not, Devindra: it's more like motorcycle gangs in the style of like good fellas or something. I saw the movie and I reviewed it and it's it's good. I really like it. And I like the director. I feel like it was a little more push a little harder. Tell us more about these characters. What is up with the Jodi Comer's character who literally has no. No inner life. What does she do for a living? I agree. What are her hopes and dreams other than Austin Butler, which he is? I Cherlynn: don't, Oh God, I don't know why I'm so annoyed by Austin Butler, but I did really like Tom Hardy in it. And I will say that like Psycho in our chat says that they didn't like the ending of Bike Riders pissed them off. And that Jonathan Anderson says that the Bike Riders was good, but had some slow parts. Fully agree with both of these things. I just thought Tom Hardy plays. Obviously the same [00:51:00]character over and over again, but he was quite good in this one. And then also with Devindra: a different accent, slightly different accent. I love this. I Cherlynn: thought this one was good. I also Jodi Comer is like accident in this one as well. But yeah, I am obviously not like super into the ending. I feel like you said, DaVinci, they could have pushed harder on the storytelling here, but Devindra: gotta push harder. Yeah, the ending feels like week. It's just I watched a movie like this. I'm like, I want to just rewatch good fellas. You want to give me good fellas light. Just let's just go watch good fellas. Everybody go. Fellas is a perfect. Movie. I want to shout out real quick. I talked about the acolyte being great several weeks ago, and now we're at the point where my screeners have ended. And episode five of the acolyte is one of those things that is just I was looking at this thing and like, how the hell does this exist? Something happens three minutes into this episode. And I shouted out loud and my wife had to come downstairs to be like, what, what's happening? Are you okay? Because one of the wildest things I've ever seen in Star Wars happened within three minutes of this episode. There are prolonged fight scenes the, I'm not going to reveal like what the thing is, but there is a big [00:52:00] bad that everybody has been like talking around and they make their full appearance in this episode. And the fights are insane. Like it is full on. I talked about this thing basically being Crouching Tiger and they lean more into a lot of that stuff. Just the way you shoot. A Hong Kong style fight scene and I'm all for it. Nice. The reveals are great. Cherlynn, I think for your life and for your interests, you really should be watching the show and I think you will be very happy where things go in episode five. Keyword is arms. The arms in this episode are very good. If you're hanging around social media, the spoilers are out. Listen, you've got mostly arms, but there are some good arms in this episode. The spoilers are out there in social media. So I'm trying to, I'm not going to reveal things here and you'll probably see clips for Lynn. Of certain actors who are revealed to be bad guys. I think you will really enjoy watching the acolyte so highly recommend it I know you like hong kong. Yes. I do. Yeah movies. I will watch this after [00:53:00] i'm Cherlynn: done with all the animal porn Devindra: yeah after the animal porn. It's good. It's so good I don't and now I go back and like i'm looking at like how people online are responding to the acolyte It's just Sure. Trashfire. It is the fans who you don't, who like will reject anything made by women or featuring people of color, just like those bad Star Wars fans. They're still around, but also a lot of weird nitpicking over the series. I'm not giving full judgment on the narrative until it's done and I see a complete story, but what it is so far is fascinating and cool and action packed. And I just fricking love it. Acolytes still good. Catch up folks, 'cause you're gonna be spoiled this weekend. I am sure of it. I'm already seeing the gif and the memes out there on Twitter. Cherlynn: That's it for the episode this week everyone. Thank you as always for listening. Our theme music is by Game Composer Dale North. Our outro music is by our former managing editor, Terence O'Brien. The podcast is produced by Ben Elman. You can find dendra online Devindra: at dra on Twitter Blue Sky [00:54:00] Threads all over the place. Mastodon and I podcast about movies and tv@thefilmcast.com. Cherlynn: If you wanna send me high quality footage of slugs mating, I guess please Peach G 13 only. I am at Sher Low on Twitter or x, and at she Instagram on ets. Email us your thoughts at podcast@enggat.com. Leave us a review please on iTunes or your podcast catcher of choice. And subscribe anywhere you can get podcasts. This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. This is your periodic reminder that AI-powered chatbots still make up things and lie with all the confidence of a GPS system telling you that the shortest way home is to drive through the lake. My reminder comes courtesy of Nieman Lab, which ran an experiment to see if ChatGPT would provide correct links to articles from news publications it pays millions of dollars to. It turns out that ChatGPT does not. Instead, it confidently makes up entire URLs, a phenomenon that the AI industry calls hallucinating, a term that seems more apt for a real person high on their own bullshit. Nieman Labs Andrew Deck asked the service to provide links to high-profile, exclusive stories published by 10 publishers that OpenAI has struck deals worth millions of dollars with. These included the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, The Times (UK), Le Monde, El Pais, The Atlantic, The Verge, Vox, and Politico. In response, ChatGPT spat back made-up URLs that led to 404 error pages because they simply did not exist. In other words, the system was working exactly as designed: by predicting the most likely version of a storys URL instead of actually citing the correct one. Nieman Lab did a similar experiment with a single publication Business Insider earlier this month and got the same result. An OpenAI spokesperson told Nieman Lab that the company was still building an experience that blends conversational capabilities with their latest news content, ensuring proper attribution and linking to source material an enhanced experience still in development and not yet available in ChatGPT. But they declined to explain the fake URLs. We dont know when this new experience will be available or how reliable it will be. Despite this, news publishers continue to feed years of journalism into OpenAIs gaping maw in exchange for cold, hard cash because the journalism industry has consistently sucked at figuring out how to make money without selling its soul to tech companies. Meanwhile, AI companies are chowing down on content published by anyone who hasnt signed these Faustian bargains and using it to train their models anyway. Mustafa Suleyman, Microsofts AI head, recently called anything published on the internet freeware that is fair game for training AI models. Microsoft was valued at $3.36 trillion at the time I wrote this. Theres a lesson here: If ChatGPT is making up URLs, its also making up facts. Thats how generative AI works at its core, the technology is a fancier version of autocomplete, simply guessing the next plausible word in a sequence. It doesnt understand what you say, even though it acts like it does. Recently, I tried getting our leading chatbots to help me solve the New York Times Spelling Bee and watched them crash and burn. If generative AI cant even solve the Spelling Bee, you shouldn't use it to get your facts. According to the Prison Policy Institute, the US has a higher incarceration rate per 100,000 people in its population than any other NATO country and its even higher than the next five member states combined (the UK, Portugal, Canada, France and Belgium). So whats the solution? Hashem Al-Ghaili, a molecular biologist and science communicator from Yemen, claims hes got it in an interview with Wired: build a virtual prison instead. Hes not talking about stapling a bunch of Meta Quest 3s to prisoners' heads for years at a time, but its also not far off from that concept. Al-Ghaili is proposing a new neurological prison system that he calls Cognify. He posted a proposal video of the virtual justice system on his Instagram and YouTube channel and it looks downright horrifying. Heres how Cognify works in a theoretical nutshell Instead of locking prisoners up for long periods of time, prisoners would be subjected to artificial memories in a virtual environment. The system creates customized AI-generated content thats converted to visual information and delivered to the prisoners brain as well as the parts of their DNA and RNA linked to memory formation to establish a long term memory pattern. Currently, such technology does not exist and Cognify is only a proposal. However, Al-Ghaili claims that experiments conducted on animals prove this process could work on humans at some point in the future. For instance, a study published in March in the scientific journal Nature in March that used mice as its test subjects found that memories are possibly formed by broken and repaired strands of DNA. Of course, there are ethical implications and effects that would need to be addressed if such a system were to become a reality. Al-Ghaili says Cognify could happen within a decade from now but only if we could overcome the ethical restrictions that limit testing such technology. If that doesnt send a shiver up your spine, then check your wrist for a pulse. Horror anthology fans like me will remember an episode from the 1990s reboot of The Outer Limits on Showtime called The Sentence in which a scientist played by David Hyde Pierce invents a very similar virtual prison system that simulates an entire life sentence within a matter of minutes. He, of course, subjects himself to his own invention that makes him believe he committed a murder and served an entire lifetime in prison. He wakes up only to start denouncing the very system he championed just a few minutes earlier. You can watch the whole thing on YouTube for free. Someone should send it to this guy. Older Assassin's Creed titles are about to get modern reimaginings, mostly likely with better graphics and other improvements for newer consoles and more powerful PCs. Yves Guillemot, the CEO of Ubisoft, has revealed in an interview on the company's website that Assassin's Creed remakes are in the works when he was asked what's next for the franchise. The remakes will allow the company to revisit and modernize older worlds it has created, he explained, telling the interviewer that "there are worlds in some of [its] older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich." Guillemot also said that Ubisoft's goal is to have Assassin's Creed games come out more regularly, "but not for it to be the same experience every year." The upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe that's set during the witch trials in the Holy Roman Empire is "going to be a very different game from Assassin's Creed Shadows," he said. Shadows is set in Japan at the end of the Sengoku era and features real events and historical figures from that period, including feudal lord Oda Nobunaga. It will be available worldwide on November 15. While Guillemot didn't say which titles Ubisoft is remaking, Kotaku previously reported that it's working on a new version of Black Flag. The action-adventure game, which focuses on 18th century pirates, was released back in 2013 and was one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. Ubisoft is also expected to launch a new platform called "Animus hub" that players can use to launch and play games from the franchise on the same day Shadows drops. Animus hub, formerly known as Infinity, could be potentially be a store, as well, and if that's true, then it makes sense for Ubisoft to work on more AC releases that it can sell through the hub. A Florida mom will avoid jail time after leaving her adopted teenage son in a windowless room for years. In a disturbing case that has captured national attention, Tracy Ferriter admitted she confined her adopted son in an 8x8 box for hours on end. The arrest of Ferriter and her husband in 2022 revealed their son was locked in a small room with only a bucket for urine and feces. The shocking details emerged after an investigation into the Ferriter household, leading to charges of aggravated child abuse. According to 'Too Fab,' on Monday, Ferriter entered a guilty plea, a decision that she says was motivated by a desire to protect her children from the trauma of a prolonged trial and media scrutiny. Following her plea, Ferriter addressed the media, offering a defense of her actions and shedding light on the complex dynamics within her family. Ferriter shared,"We were living a life that is not what is portrayed in the media. There were a lot of things that nobody knew. We were a completely loving family. I love my kids. We just tried to do the best we could with what we had." She explained that the reason she was pleading guilty was to keep her other children out of the media. "It's tough because I'm doing this because I want my kids to not be part of this trial, have their names all over the media and they can move on. But I know the way our family really was, I know the truth and what we were trying to do. We loved all of four children and we were trying to deal with something there's no cure for. It's a hard road and there's not help for this condition. There's not help that can help parents work through it." Ferriter's attorneys argued that the adopted son suffered from Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition that severely impaired his ability to form emotional bonds and left him with a minimal "moral compass." They claimed that the family's extreme measures were a misguided attempt to manage the boy's challenging behavior in the absence of adequate support or resources. As part of her plea agreement, Tracy Ferriter will serve ten years of probation and one year of house arrest. This means that she is able to avoid jail time, what many deem a controversial turn of events. Two deranged Venezuelan migrants have been accused of raping and dumping a 12-year-old girl in Houston, Texas. The body of the innocent girl was found on June 17 in a shallow creek near a bridge, allegedly with her pants removed according to court documents, per 'PEOPLE.' The suspects in question are Jose Pena Ramos, 26, and Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 22. As of June 25, it was reported that the suspected rapists are being held at Harris County Jail on Capital Murder charges in connection with the death of Jocelyn Nungaray. RELATED: Serena Williams Urged To 'Love Yourself' By Fans After Belly Procedure: 'STOP Touching, Fixing, Injecting' Ramos had his first court appearance Monday and was hit with a whopping $10 million bond, labeled by the judge as an "astronomical flight risk," maintaining that the chances of him returning to court with a lower bond would be "near zero," per 'The Daily Mail.' The media outlet additionally reported that the two suspected rapists could be sentenced to the death penalty if the outcome of the investigation proves that Nungaray was sexually assaulted or kidnapped, according to District Attorney Kim Ogg. Martinez-Rangel is set to make his court appearance later this week. RELATED: Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Are 'Not Wanted' Back In The Royal Family And Is 'Running Out Of Time:' Report It was reported by 'KHOU' that the young girl's mother put her and her 5-year-old brother to bed around 10 p.m. However, much to her mother's dismay, the young girl snuck out of the apartment sometime after midnight. Nungaray's boyfriend, 13, claimed he received a call from Nungaray late that night while she was out visiting a convenience store, and said he heard her talking to two grown-ups. The next day, police stated that Nungaray was walking along Kuhkendahl Road early Monday when two men, now identified as Franklin Pena, 26, and Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel, 22, asked her for directions. The three visited a 7-Eleven where Nungaray was last seen alive, before the derranged men lured the girl to a bridge in North Houston where they tied her up, removed her pants, and strangled her before dumping her into the creek. "Make no mistake, this is a horrific crime," Ogg said, per 'ABC News'. Ramos was detained by border patrol agents near El Paso on May 28 and Martinez had been detained near the same city on March 14. It remains unclear how they arrived in Houston. Check back for more details regarding this ongoing case. Hats inspired by the now-popular catchphrase of the internet's newest viral sensation, the "Hawk Tuah" girl, is raking in thousands of dollars. Jason Poteete of Fathead Threads, a Tennessee-based embroidery and apparel brand, reached out to Hailey Welch after her interview video went viral online. He told Rolling Stone that he had known Hailey for years and wanted to help her monetize her new-found popularity. There are currently 14 available colors of the "Hawk Tuah '24" hats priced at $32.70 and special signed versions with a leather patch and Hailey's autograph (now sold out) for $50 each. Considering the price of the cheapest hat, they have already earned over $65,000 at the least. Idk if Haley Welch, the "Hawk Tuah" girl, was fired or not, but she cashed in more than $65k by doing a deal with a local Tennessee company "Fathead Threads" and selling hats as her merch. Crazy how internet virality can make some quick buck, and we still call crypto a scam pic.twitter.com/PCF56iBL4k Naruto11.eth (@naruto11eth) June 27, 2024 "Of course, she hasn't gotten a dime from the first viral video that went out. Nobody was asking permission for her to do nothing (sic), either. I just wanted her to get some profit off of this deal," he said, talking about why he partnered with the newest internet sensation. Poteete, however, did not disclose the exact sales percentage Welch is receiving from their brand deal. The sold-out "Hawk Tuah" girl merch only shows Hailey's viral catchphrase as she reportedly requested "not to share any personal details about her[self] or feature her face" on the merchandise "There are some crazy people in the world who've reached out to her. She's probably one of the most well-known people in the world at this point. But I don't know if she's embraced it," Poteete told RS, saying Hailey is currently "overwhelmed" with the attention she is getting. "It could be a blessing or a curse. She may be in the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time. [But] I think she'll do fine in the end." "She has a bubbly personality. She can be somewhat risque. You never know what she's gonna say. I just think the world needed a laugh, and she provided that," he added. Hailey's unexpected popularity started when she was interviewed on the street by creator duo Tim and Dee TV on June 11, asking her, "What's one move in bed [that] makes a man go crazy every time?" She confidently responded, "You gotta give 'em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang!" while mimicking the spitting sound. The Essex Reporter is a daily digital news website covering the Town of Essex and City of Essex Junction, Vermont. Our beat reporters are on the ground every day covering local government, schools, sports, business and culture. "A mesmerizing novel with a masterful blend of history, science, magic, philosophy and cryptography." Grady Harp, Top 100 Amazon, Hall of Fame Reviewer Los Angeles, CAFollowing a series of book awards and being named a finalist in The International Book Awards in the Historical Fiction Category 2024, Cheryl & Charlie Young are also pleased with a series of good reviews coming through for Houdini's Last Handcuffs. The International Book Awards winner of this year's contest join a prestigious group of past laureates, including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, George Sanders, Julie Andrews, Clive Barker, Vanessa Williams, Shark Tank's Daymon John, Brad Thor, Kitty Kelley, and many others. Visit the Award Laureate page for an expanded list: http://internationalbookawards.com/awardlaureates.html Here are a number of the latest reviews: Houdini's Last Handcuffs is a fun and creative adventure following a group of kids as they are directed by the magician Houdini to protect his journal. Authors Charles and Cheryl Young use their own childhood as inspiration for the main protagonists of this book. Coming from a family with a strong interest in magicians and their talents, the authors' passion for the topic is obvious throughout the story. As we get into the plot, we find that Houdini has been brought to life and now the kids must find his journal in order to complete his resurrection. What follows is a truly fascinating adventure: the real magic is found behind ciphers, formulas, and science. In addition to the fictional story, this book is packed with facts about the actual Houdini and his history. Beginning with his death in Detroit, MI, we are taken backward through his life. This perspective is unique: beginning with the end. I appreciate how the real Houdini is woven in between the main plot of the book. The authors' real lives combined with the creative storyline make for a one-of-a-kind read, and I would highly recommend this book to fans of Houdini, historical fiction, and fantasy! Flying Books Review Whether you are interested in magic or life itself, Houdini's Last Handcuffs is one of the best books of the year. Written masterfully by siblings Charles and Cheryl Young, this fast-paced and always surprising novel is a work of historical fiction, one part mystery, another part fantasy and a heavy dose of memoir mixed in. In short, it's a passionate discourse about the ultimate conflict between good and evil. It's also a love letter to the science of magic and the magic of science. And it's a tribute to the great escape artist himself, Harry Houdini. Most of all, it's a thrilling and engrossing tall tale that has more truth to it than you might imagine. If you ask most people, they can probably tell you who Harry Houdini was. People in Detroit might even be able to tell you that Houdini died in their city at Grace Hospital. This book colors in many of the facts and is a great primer on Houdini and his incredible entourage, followers and fans. This particular novel takes place in the 1950s, long after Houdini's death in 1926. Every year on Halloween, a group of people would gather in New York to hold a seance and try to make contact with Harry Houdini. This novel is loosely based on these gatherings, specifically one in 1958 and focuses on three children, two of whom bear a striking resemblance to the authors, whose memories and insights form the heart of this novel. Like many novels about heroic quests, the story involves a journey, a nemesis (evil, Lucifer) and an epic battle either won or lost. The "Last Handcuffs" refers to a prop of Houdini's, which, when opened, allow the three children involved in this quest to enter a portal through which Houdini appears. The great Escape Artist is worried about one of his notebooks falling into the wrong hands and enlists the three young protagonists in an effort to defeat the evildoers. The authors' style is both comfortable and precise and their familiarity with Houdini, magic and metaphysics combines to create a compelling drama that will keep you reading on the edge of your seat until the end. This is a literary gut punch. It is the great Houdini book that the world has been waiting for. A perfect escape. Houdini lives! Highly recommended. John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press In Houdini's Last Handcuffs, authors Charlie and Cheryl Young craft a captivating tale that seamlessly blends historical fiction with elements of fantasy, set against the backdrop of 1950s Manhattan. This mesmerizing narrative follows three young friends who, on the 30th anniversary of Houdini's death, stumble upon a mystical Ouija Board gifted to them by the enigmatic writer Walter Gibson. Little do they know, their innocent curiosity will thrust them into a world of wonder and adventure. As the adults engage in a seance to reach Houdini at his former residence, the children inadvertently make contact with the legendary magician through an unexpected source: a pair of handcuffs from their father's magic collection. Houdini, in desperate need of their assistance, entrusts them with a hidden notebook containing valuable scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. However, the notebook is locked behind Houdini's cryptic code, setting off a thrilling chase filled with secrets, mystique, and danger. What sets Houdini's Last Handcuffs apart is its ability to transport readers into a world where magic seamlessly intertwines with science. The authors masterfully weave together elements of mystery and adventure, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the hidden depths of Houdini's secrets, the narrative unfolds with a sense of urgency and excitement that will leave readers eagerly turning pages. Moreover, the characters in "Houdini's Last Handcuffs" are richly drawn and highly relatable, making it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in their journey. As the young protagonists navigate through a maze of clues and obstacles, they not only discover the true extent of Houdini's legacy but also learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of belief. Pratibha Malav's Reviews Based on the book description, I knew this was a fictionized version of a story about the legendary magician/illusionist Harry Houdini, but I was struck by how the author's real lives, their real family and the famous people they know, from the late 1950s, form such a great story backdrop. The three main characters, averaging 10 years old, interact with society luminaries such as like Orson Welles, Artie Shaw, Eleanor Roosevelt, Eartha Kitt and so many others, and they do so around the well-heeled Manhattan neighborhoods on and around Riverside Drive in New York City. Charley and Cheryl Young take the avid interest of their parents, in magic and hidden knowledge, and the close relationship of their father with Houdini, whose untimely demise on Halloween forms the central storyline, to weave a magical detective story. Real life author Walter Gibson, who created the famous character 'The Shadow,' and his wife are also important players. The central location of the story is the home of the storytellers; an 11 room eighth floor apartment in the famous 'Glen Cairn' apartment buildinga "haunted mansion on the Hudson River" which is labeled as "a universe on its own, or at the very least, a stepping off point to other worlds of learning and mystery." Within the ongoing mystery is the return of Houdini to fix things left undone, which thus ushers in players involved in the Inner and Outer Circles of knowledge and power, but enough said on that because 'Houdin's Last Handcuffs' is unpredictable, fun, intriguing and worth checking out. I continually pulled up photos of the various locations visited, real places, tracking the route these unlikely heroes took on the streets of New York City performing tasks required to unravel secrets in Houdini's long-lost book. You will also learn about "the employment of man's understanding of the basic essence and power of nature around us along with how to control these great forces." Michael B. Butler, Author of 'Without Redemption.' Watch the book trailer at https://bit.ly/Houdinis_Last_Handcuffs_Trailer Houdini's Last Handcuffs, which recently won the Literary Titan Gold Award for best Historical Fiction and previously the FIREBIRD Book Awards in the Fantasy category, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Vine Leaves Press Published March 2024. ISBN: 978-3-98832-051-3 www.HoudinisLastHandcuffs.com Listen to an interview with the authors on the Dr. Pat Show: https://bit.ly/Dr_Pat_Show About Charlie Young: Charlie trained as a physician receiving his formal medical education at New York University, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and Louisiana State University. He is an author, artist, and Vice President of music publishing companies, Denton and Haskins and Life Music. He has previously published poetry, Chuck's Wagon of Verses, and Houdini's Last Handcuffs is his first foray into the world of writing historical fiction. More about his sideline adventures and his life's endeavors can be found on his website: musicmagicandmore.com. About Cheryl Young: Cheryl Young Deknatel is active in the financial industry where she has worked for over 40 years both in Europe and the USA. She has previously worked with leading Wall Street firms and European banking institutions, and she currently serves as a financial advisor. Houdini's Last Handcuffs, written with her brother, is their debut novel and they are currently working on a sequel. She and her brother also own one of the oldest turn-of-the-century music publishers in the USA, Denton and Haskins. To learn more about all of their activities, visit their website link: musicmagicandmore.com. Media Contact: For a review copy of Houdini's Last Handcuffs or to arrange an interview with Charlie and Cheryl Young, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 248-705-2214. STOW, Ohio The Ohio Fair Managers Association inducted Bev Fisher, CFE, Mahoning County Fair; Candace Tripp, Marion County Fair; Cindy Woodman, Lake County Fair; Robert Buxton, Coshocton County Fair, and Dan Kimmett, Allen County Fair, into the Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on Jan. 7 in Columbus during the 99th annual Ohio Fairs Convention and Marketplace Tradeshow. Bev Fisher CFE, Mahoning County Fair Bev Fisher began her career at the Canfield Fair in 1991 as a secretary and became the fair manager four years later. She built her career in a variety of roles for the Canfield Fair and its Board of Directors. Fisher obtained her CFE designation from the International Association of Fairs & Expositions in 2008. She has attended the Ohio Fair Managers Convention for over 25 years, the IAFE convention for 20 years and IAFE zone meetings for 10 years. She has been a presenter for OFMA and IAFE many times and served for 16 years as a director at large on the OFMA Board. Fisher also managed and grew the Ohio Fairs Queen Program for 13 years. She served as chair of guest relations for 13 years; served on the audit, budget and legislative committee, and was vice chair of the program committee. She worked to overhaul the program from the annual convention in 2014 and served on the Ohio Department of Agriculture fiscal report committee, working with the auditor of state to streamline the annual reporting document. She was also instrumental in the 2018 revision of the law and rules that govern Ohio Fairs in the Red Book. Fisher served on the political action committee for the OFMA and traveled to the statehouse to testify on Ohio fairs legislation many times. She has been a great asset to many fairs that have called upon her knowledge and is truly a blessing to this state association. Fisher and husband Randy, whom she married in 1987, enjoy working on their family farm together. Candace Tripp, Marion County Fair Candace Candy Sawyer Tripp, whose career at the Marion County Fairgrounds reaches back to 1990, has become a pillar of knowledge, serving as secretary/manager and treasurer for over 30 years. She has been married for 16 years and resides in Punta Gorda, Florida, with husband Dan and pup Cooper. She has three daughters and five grandchildren, all of whom have worked with her in the office at one time or another. Tripp has worked diligently on bringing a diverse crowd to Marion over the years, expanding off-season events from just four in 1990 to a combined total of 45 weeks of off-season events and fundraisers. She was awarded the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureaus 2017 Tourism Ambassador Award. She was also an officer on the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, a member/treasurer and on the financial committee of Epworth United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Marion County Special Wish Foundation from 1983 to 1995. She attended 28 OFMA conventions and presented at a few round table discussions at the IAFE Convention. In 2000, Tripp helped the Marion County Agricultural Society pass a .3-million-dollar levy for capital improvements to the Coliseum and grounds, and she has helped organize and promote grants for restroom renovations, new sheep pens and electrical upgrades with grant funds over $300,000. Tripp retired in 2017 but returned in 2022 after her replacement left, again, proving her dedication to the Marion County Fairgrounds. Cindy Woodman, Lake County Fair Cindy Woodman has provided outstanding service to the Lake County Fair for over 29 years. Since the time of her election as a director in 1994, she has been an innovator on the Lake County Fair Board and her hard work, out-of-the-box thinking and countless contributions have helped the fair keep going and growing. Woodman had a very active 4-H career as a youth and was heavily involved in saddle horse. Following that, she raised daughters Stephanie and Samantha while successfully operating her concession business, The Pony Express, and serving the Lake County Fair. She served as fair board vice president for six years and as concession manager for the past 20 years. She has actively participated on the audit, concessions, finance, fine arts, gates, historical, horse, marketing and rent committees over the years. Woodman is a broad thinker and visionary whose creativity has led to the addition of popular exhibits. Through her hard work, management and guidance as rent committee chair, non-fair rentals have grown, and she was also an integral part of changes in the concession and ticket areas which have led to continual growth of fair-time revenues. While serving as saddle horse chair, she brought in such popular events as cutting and roping which included a celebrity class of local public and elected officials, a huge and highly competitive open show and a locally designed and operated Wonderful World of Horses event which educated the public on different breeds of horses and their characteristics. Woodman was also instrumental in bringing a nondenominational Sunday church service to the show ring. Woodman is a regular participant in the OFMA District Nine Round Tables, OFMA Spring Meetings, OFMA Convention and IAFE Zone Meetings and is an active member of the Greater Ohio Showmens Association. She has participated in OFMA conventions for more than 25 years. A past recipient of ODAs Outstanding Fair Supporter award, she was also recognized by GOSA as Concession Manager of the Year and is a member of the Lake County Fair Hall of Fame. Robert Buxton, Coshocton County Fair Robert Bob Buxton served for 45 years as a director of the Coshocton County Fair, during which time he has seen and been involved in all aspects of the fair. He has served on all the committees and has been in every seat as a director and officer. From the Art Hall to the livestock displays, Buxton has been involved in raising funds for all departments of the fair, including paving, roofs, grandstand rehabilitation, animal pens, building additions and anything that has to do with improving the fair experience. He travels to other fairs around the state and across the country to bring back ideas to improve the fairs in Ohio and is the first one to show up for workdays and to help recruit and train new directors. As a district director, Buxton served with honor and represented District 8 to the best of his ability. Buxton is a past president (2016-2017) of the OFMA and still helps anyone or any fair. His selfless service to the fair industry is unmatched. He was married for 37 years to his late wife Beverly Buxton and has two children, Emily and Jesse, and five grandchildren, Nathan, Julia, Beverly, Eliza and Jay. He enjoys spending time with his fiance Christina Slaughter. Dan Kimmett, Allen County Fair Dan Kimmett has been instrumental to the growth of the Allen County Fair, serving as board vice president for eight years and president for 13 years and being the catalyst in acquiring land from Walmart to increase the acreage of the fairgrounds property. He has served on every committee that was established and has shown a deep commitment to educating youth. His footprint on the state level includes being a director of OFMA since 2004, director of the year in 2006 and president from 2012-2013. Outside of the fairgrounds, Kimmett has left his mark on the community and was recently honored as an inductee to the Delphos St. Johns Hall of Fame. He has been married to his wife Cindy for 41 years and has two sons, Erik and Nathan, and two grandchildren. Kimmett was key to introducing the National Trappers, Motorcycle Races and 4-Wheel Jamboree as staple events year-round. He also left his mark by starting the super stakesraces, the Dunlap-Renner Memorial and Doc-Steiner Classic. The Allen County Fair considers Kimmett the backbone to many of the fairs successes over the years. By SA Commercial Prop News A number of property funds are putting money into Africa, said Ndibu Motaung, head of South Africa research at global property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle South African real estate developer HBW Group Pty Ltd. plans to raise $85 million (55 million) by selling shares in an African property fund as retailers look for land to expand in the worlds second-fastest growing region. Bloomberg quoted HBWs Chief Executive Office Tony Vassilopoulos as saying that the companys planned property fund, African Land Investments Ltd., will list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in July and on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. The investment vehicle the latest in a string of African property funds will invest in key African locations including Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique and Ghana. Vassilopoulos further revealed that African Land Investments will have an initial distribution yield of 8.5 percent a year. In its coverage of the news, Bloomberg also noted that JSE did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment, while Beatrice Nkanza, chief executive officer of the stock exchange in Zambias capital Lusaka, said that she was unaware of the planned initial public offering. Explaining the reasons behind HBWs move, Vassilopoulos said that as South Africas commercial property market becomes saturated, retailers are looking to other countries on the continent for expansion. According to him, Sub-Saharan Africa is also attracting an increasing number of European retailers struggling in their domestic markets. According to Johannesburg-based Rand Merchant Bank, six of the 10 fastest-growing countries in the world over the past decade were African. Sub-Saharan Africa proving to be one of the worlds fastest growing regions, according to recent data. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast economic growth of 5.6 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa this year, compared with projected global growth of 3.3 percent. Only developing Asia has been forecast by the IMF to post a higher growth rate this year, at 7.1 percent. As the HBW CEO opined, with growth accelerating, the African property market will become more competitive in the next decade. HBW is not the first South African real estate developer aiming to tap into increased investor interest through a property fund. As SA Commercial Prop News reported earlier this month, (Liberty Holdings to Launch African Property Development Fund), Johannesburg-based investment and insurance provider Liberty Holdings (JSE:LBH) has also announced plans to launch a $150 million (97.1 million) property development fund for countries including Nigeria and Kenya as part of its strategy to expand its presence in Africa. The property unit of South African financial services company FirstRand Ltd raised $350 million (226.6 million) last October for developing real estate in West Africa, encouraged by strong demand for retail and commercial property in the region. A number of property funds are putting money into Africa, said Ndibu Motaung, head of South Africa research at global property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle, as quoted by Bloomberg. That is starting to gain momentum. David Duchovny has joked he "discovered" Angelina Jolie. David Duchovny: 'I feel like I discovered Angelina Jolie' The 63-year-old actor starred alongside Angelina, 49, in the 1997 thriller 'Playing God' and revealed he was struck by her star power from their first meeting. Speaking on SiriusXM's 'Andy Cohen Live', he said: "I feel like I discovered Angelina Jolie. "Yeah, because I was casting, I was part of the casting of, I didn't discover her, but you know, she came in, and I just knew she was a movie star, and I told everybody we've gotta cast her." At the time, David was a huge star due to his role as Fox Mulder on 'The X Files'. While Angelina, whose father is actor Jon Voight, had made a number of movies before 'Playing God', she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress two years later for 'Girl, Interrupted'. She then went on to find worldwide fame after starring as the titular heoine in 2001's 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'. Speaking previously about 'Playing God', in which Duchovny played a disgraced surgeon who reinvents himself as a "gunshot doctor" for criminals, with Jolie in the role of the criminals' girlfriends, she called the movie "wild". She told Interview magazine in 1997: "['Playing God'] was very rock-'n'-roll and fun and loud and say-what-you-want-to-say, dress wild and love wild you know that fantasy. I really allowed myself to get into that world. Being the age am, I sometimes feel like a punk kid walking onto certain sets, but I didnt this time. I felt very much a woman." Nicole Kidman refuses to surround herself with "sycophants". Nicole Kidman welcomes feedback The Oscar-winning actress appreciates the unfiltered feedback she receives from her friends and family, including her teenage daughters. Nicole, 57 - who has Sunday Rose, 15, and Faith Margaret, 13, with her husband Keith Urban - told PEOPLE: "Theyre very supportive. But they're also like, OK, calm down.' But I do think it's important not to have sycophants [around you]." Nicole tries to remain level-headed, regardless of whether she's being criticised or praised. The Hollywood star - who also has Isabella, 31, and Connor, 29, with ex-husband Tom Cruise - said: "It's not also seeking out really horrible criticism We're all a work in progress, as they say." Meanwhile, Nicole plays Zac Efron's on-screen love interest in 'A Family Affair', their new rom-com movie. And the award-winning actress recently revealed that she considers the script to be a breath of fresh air. She explained to PEOPLE: "Weve had it from way back with older men and younger women, thats just always been the norm - its okay, its completely acceptable. The problem is weve not had the equivalent from all different viewpoints, with women telling the stories. And we need game men. "[Zac] came in and makes the film because he was like, 'Im here to have fun, to play, and to very much be a part of this and be there for you.'" Nicole feels they both benefited from the experience of working together before. The actress - who starred alongside Zac in 2012's 'The Paperboy' - said: "It's really helpful when you're doing this sort of work together that you've already got a history together, because it's easy. You're not working to create a history. So I'm not like, Can I touch you? I feel incredibly trusting of Zac." Kelly Bensimon has called off her wedding to fiance Scott Litner just four days before they were due to walk down the aisle. Kelly Bensimon called off her wedding with four days to go The former 'Real Housewives of New York City' star, 56, had been due to marry wealth management advisor Scott on June 29, but she axed the big day on Tuesday (25.06.24) and initially explained she had decided not to get married for the sake of her two daughters - Sea, 26, and Teddy, 24 - before later revealing the decision came after Scott refused to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. After calling off her big day, she told New York Post column PageSix in a statement: "I have decided that my two daughters are my priority and I wont be moving forward with this wedding". Kelly later added to PEOPLE: "Ultimately, my decision is nobodys business, but I understand that there is speculation and gossip, and I want to put an end to all of it. To be clear, he refused to sign a prenuptial agreement, and I refused to marry him. Full stop." A statement released to the outlet added: "She was looking forward to an exciting new chapter in her life together with Scott when everything became clear to her late on Tuesday afternoon ... [He] refused to sign a prenuptial agreement, effectively stalling their engagement mere days before the wedding." The statement included words from Kelly, which explained: "He thought that I would enter this union without legal protections in place, that I would leave everything to faith. "But Ive worked really, really, hard as a single mother and have always made smart decisions for myself and my family, and that will continue." Scott proposed to Kelly over the Fourth of July weekend in 2023 during a holiday in Wisconsin and they planned to marry in two ceremonies. One would have taken place at Scott's mother's home in Boston with a second celebration taking place in the Hamptons. Kelly was previously married to fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon - the father of her two daughters - from 1997 to 2006. South Dakota Mines has been approved by South Dakota to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Currently South Dakota Mines has approval to offer courses in the following locations: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California*, Colorado**, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Complaints Before filing a complaint with the South Dakota Board of Regents, please submit the South Dakota Mines complaint form. Students who are unable to find satisfaction with South Dakota Mines' complaint process, may file a complaint below. Program Integrity Complaint Information Any person may file a complaint with the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents to obtain a review and appropriate action on allegations that an institution governed by the Board: Violated South Dakota consumer protection laws; Engaged in fraud or false advertising; Violated South Dakota laws relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions or programs; Failed to provide an educational program meeting contemporary standards for content and rigor; Failed to assign qualified instructors; or Violated one or more accreditation requirements. Where the institution has not already considered and acted upon the complaint, the Executive Director will refer the matter to the institutional president for review and action. If the complainant challenges an institutional disposition of the complaint, the Executive Director will provide for an independent review and disposition of the allegations. The Executive Director may be contacted at: The Office of the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents 306 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 200 Pierre, SD 57501-2545 Phone: 605-773-3455 Information Email Out-of-state Distance Education Student Complaint Information Pursuant to the United States Department of Education's Program Integrity Rule, South Dakota Mines is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning or correspondence education within that state. California is not a SARA state; for students residing in California who have a complaint, please contact the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. For students residing in a SARA state, the complaint must first go through the institutional complaint process. If the complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, student complaints may be appealed to the institution's home state SARA portal entity, which in South Dakota is the South Dakota Board of Regents. *California is not a member of NC-SARA. The California Bureau For Private Postsecondary Education (CBPPE) regulates distance education offerings of private institutions to residents of California. As a public institution, South Dakota Mines is exempt from approval by the CBPPE. **Due to Colorado's Workers' Compensation Act, students who are enrolling in an internship or co-op course with South Dakota Mines are unable to participate in an unpaid internship, co-op, or similar experience in the state of Colorado. NC-SARA Participating Institution Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell often feel like "ships passing in the night". Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell like 'ships passing in the night' Although the couple fell in love while playing Soviet spies posing as a married couple 'The Americans' - which ran for six seasons between 2013 and 2018 - and went on to marry and have son Sam, now eight, together, Matthew admitted that their work schedules rarely align anymore. He explained to PEOPLE: "What we try to do is how many of our friends do it one works when the other one doesn't [so there is always] a parent in the house. "There are moments where you're ships passing in the night to a degree, and that makes it a little tricky. "But we try not to disrupt home life too much. So that's how we've generally done it. And for the most part, up until now, it seems to work. "We definitely would work together [again], we've said that before. We've just waited. We always said The Americans was so special, it would have to be something akin that we're both so excited to do. It shouldn't just be anything." Matthew, 49, previously admitted he feared that his workplace relationship could be "disastrous", when he first fell for Keri, 48. He told New York Post's PageSix: "We were both at an age where weve done it long enough to go: You know workplace [romances] can be disastrous.' "So, I think it was approached with caution and a great deal of trepidation. And coupled with that, for me, was certainly fun and excitement. Thank God it worked!" The pair actually first met at a party years before they were cast on 'The Americans' together but he blew his chances of dating her after leaving a drunken message on her answering machine. During an appearance on 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen', Rhys explained: "We went to a kickball party hosted by Jennifer Grey ... She gave it [her phone number] to me, but this is where it all falls apart. I have no memory of this because I was very inebriated, but I left a very inebriated message on her answering machine, as people had in those days." When asked if Russell found his boozy machine message "charming", he replied: "Not in the slightest!" Before getting together with Rhys, Russell was previously married to contractor Shane Deary and they share two children together - son River and daughter Willa. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (@realhinakhan) In a heart-wrenching announcement that has left fans stunned, Hina Khan bravely shared on her social media a devastating update about her health. The beloved Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor and Bigg Boss veteran disclosed that she has been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, and has already embarked on her treatment journey.In her Instagram post, Hina said she is strong, determined and fully committed to overcoming this disease. She also humbly requested privacy as she continued on her journey through diagnosis and treatment.Upon hearing Hina Khans cancer diagnosis, an outpouring of heartfelt support flooded in from Bollywood and TV celebrities, echoing their deep concern and hopes for her swift recovery. Actor Chahatt Khanna wrote, You gonna come out of this, even more stronger ! You already on the way of healing .. blessings and prayers with you in your journey, while television star Disha Parmar wrote, Sending lots of Love & strength to you Hina! Parth Samthaans breakthrough performances in Kaisi Hai Yaariaan and Kasautii Zindagi Kay got him a massive fan following. The quintessential tall, dark, handsome title suited him perfectly as he became the poster boy of romance on television. At the peak of his career, he decided to take the plunge and try his luck at the movies, as it had always been his dream. He has two projects, Hamaare Barah and Ghudchadi, lined up; he will be seen sharing screen space with Raveena Tandon and Sanjay Dutt in the latter film. In an exclusive conversation with Filmfare, he gets candid about how long it took him to get into films, the harsh rejections along the way, and why television will always be his biggest blessing. Excerpts How intimidating was sharing screen space with Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon? I've been fortunate enough to share screens with them, and I remember when I started shooting for it, I still could not believe that. Sanjay Dutt would play my father in Ghudchadi, and Raveena Tandon would be his love interest. Its an extremely tricky situation for me. I was told in advance by the director that no matter what, ensure you're well prepared because you're not going to get retakes. Having dialogue with Sanjay Sir is not easy, and it can be intimidating. I felt he was one of the easiest and finest core actors to work with. I had fun shooting with Raveena, ma'am, as well. She saw some of my shots on camera and told me that yes, you have potentially done a good job. Tell us how Ghudchadi came your way. I had no idea when this film was happening, and I was on holiday because I'd taken a break from television in Kasauti and I was in Goa. I was being called for a meeting with the director; they had seen my music video. My music video was called Pehle Pyaar Ka Pehla Gham with Khushali Kumar, and they liked the pair. They wanted to check whether I would be interested or whether I fit the bill for the character. I went to the office and sat with the director one-on-one, and we had discussions about the character. He wanted to know the vibe that I belong to because, unfortunately, a lot of directors have that mentality of not being willing to work with TV actors. But my director here was confident on my part, and he took my audition for it. I've never done anything so out loud. It was very challenging for me, coming from Pune, or for a Maharashtrian boy playing a Delhi girl. So thats how I got the role. You've been such a massive name in the television industry; what was the moment when you decided to take the plunge? In television, Kasautii Zindagi Kay was something that I was really happy doing, and I was really into it. As you can see, the show did well for all of us. But there comes a time, obviously as a TV actor, after a certain point when your character becomes saturated and you feel that it is repetitive. There is no creativity or growth. It became risky and important to break that, get out of it, and try to explore myself. I didn't know whether I wanted to do web series or films; I decided that I didn't want to do television after that because television requires a lot of dedication and, of course, your commitment to it. I was not ready for it. So I wanted to do films. In the last few years, I have done various workshops. I learned a lot of new things. I'm loving every bit of it. Fans were so heartbroken when Kasautii Zindagi Kay wrapped up. What is it that you miss the most about the cast and setting? I missed the fans who are daily connected with me on social media and on every platform, and they were used to reviewing and giving feedback on all the episodes. The cast was fantastic. I had the most fun, enjoyable, and entertaining cast ever that I could have. We had crazy fun and played pranks on each other during the shoot. The best days were when the entire cast was on set and shooting. Great memories. Of course. I feel nervous and anxious because a different set of people are going to watch the film. It's not only the television audience. I hope that Kasautti and Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan fans also watch it. But apart from that, there is another set of audiences. As compared to my first day of acting, it's a different feeling. Back then, I wanted to prove to myself that I could act and that I could do well. I took it as a challenge, and now, over these years, it's a different ball game altogether, and it's a very risky ball game. It's not like you will be given 10,000 or 10 chances. For that, you have like one chance and need to strike it. Have there been any harsh rejections before Ghudchadi happened? I would say yes. The one that comes to mind is that there was one project for a film, and it had a good cast, a very good cast in the film, and also a film director. And I was selected for it. I also did workshops for 45 days, and eventually I was rejected just before 2 days of the shoot, and this was when I was shooting for Kasautii towards the end. And it backfired. I got a message saying that you've been replaced. It was one of the most major heartbreaks for me. Films are something that I have always wanted to do. It has been my aspiration. I remember I discussed it with a lot of people, and they said that this is how the industry is. This is the harsh truth, and you have to accept it. The reason I was given was that I was too innocent and I was too good-looking for the character, and they wanted someone normal and also someone who is not so innocent, who is evil, for that matter. But now, after Ghudchadi, Im hoping I will get work because work speaks for itself. I've done very well, and I hope that people like my work and appreciate it. Speaking of romance, what's your definition of it in real life? Ah, romance. Well, I truly believe in love. And I truly believe in the idea of falling in love. And I cannot do it once; it can happen multiple times. Yes, because I believe that no matter what, it all depends on the different stages of your life. And if you are out of love, it's not like this was it. You can fall in love in the future, too. I don't like the idea of loving two people at the same time. Romance in real life would be bonding with the person, connecting with them, and enjoying their company. You should feel that comfort. You should feel at home. Who has been your all-time crush in Bollywood? Crushes change over time, but initially, I had this approach because, because I am tall, I would feel that the person I would be with should be tall too, and that would make for a good-looking pair. I had a crush on Sushmita Sen, then Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and then Priyanka Chopra for the longest time. Then Katrina Kaif was the longest crush for me. I've been following a lot of Kriti Sanons work; she's too pretty and also very talented when it comes to performing. Im looking forward to that one day. I would very much love to work with her. Critic's rating 2.0 /5 There's a neighbourhood cat living in our locality which totally drives us bonkers sometimes with its constant mewing. The central conceit of A Quiet Place franchise is that one shouldnt make noise as it attracts the alien monsters who have extra sharp hearing. Now, our question is, how did Frodo the cat know this? Because it doesn't mew even once. Was it supposed to be a mute cat? Sometimes, it even behaved like a dog, warning its humans of danger and even uniting them when they got separated. Maybe director Michael Sarnoski wanted to make a film about a supercat but didn't get the budget. The cat is clearly the hero of the film as it not only escapes coming under the radar of the aliens but it also has the humans literally putting their own lives in danger to save it. There's a reason why the John Krasinski directed A Quiet Place (2018) is considered a modern classic. The film relied on atmosphere building to bring in the chills. You hardly saw the monsters and yet actually held your breath as any extra bit of noise brought the film's protagonists close to dread and worry. The barren background score, stark cinematography and above all, the family dynamics on display made it all seem plausible. One of the most harrowing moments of the film comes when a pregnant Emily Blunt steps on a loose mail. She can't afford to scream and holds in the agony. Later, in the film's sequel, the protagonists learn that the aliens can't swim and are afraid of water. Inexplicably, in A Quiet Place: Day One, which is supposed to be a prequel, the government authorities seemingly are broadcasting all this something that took the survivors years to learn. There's no attempt by the government to repel the invasion. We don't see any fighting between the aliens and the American forces. It's strange to see that the mighty American army, with its world ending arsenal of weapons, just caves in without a fight. And let's not forget that America is the most gun friendly country in the world. You can literally buy them across the counter. And everyone and their grandmother seem to have them. But there's no gun play by the citizens in self-defence. The entire population of New York is seen running like headless chickens. And this begs another question. Why did the director not show us the mass effects of invasion and instead chose to zero on the lives of Sam (Lupita Nyongo), her cat Frodo and English law student Eric (Joseph Quinn), a stranger they encounter by the merest of chance. How they met is even more hilarious. It seems that at the time the whole world is seeking a sanctuary to save itself, Sam is seen seeking Pizza, because she was promised one by her nurse Reuben (Alex Wolff), when they went downtown to watch a puppet show. And, inspired by her nihilism, Eric accompanies her on her quest. Of course, who can resist having a slice of New York pizza even in the middle of an alien invasion. The pizzerias in NY are sure to do big business after the film's release. Lupita Nyongo is one of our finest actors around and gives her all to the project. But her character is so badly conceived that even her heroic efforts aren't enough in making you root for her. Djimon Hounsou, the link from the second film, is wasted in a blink and miss role. And Joseph Quinn looks like he would rather be in another film than this one. Director Michael Sarnoski has done a huge disservice to the original product. It's hard to invest emotionally in the central characters when nothing happens to them despite them making all sorts of blunders. In one sequence, a horde of aliens pass them by but they escape attention. We want to know how John Krasinski allowed his labour of love to be twisted so badly. We were hoping for a film depicting world dominion by the aliens and the reaction of the world government and the citizens. What we got is a film about a super intelligent cat whose owners top priority during an extinction-level calamity is to sate her craving for pizza Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2024) - Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (TSXV: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated May 27, 2024 and May 31, 2024, it has closed the second and final tranche of the previously announced private placement (the "Private Placement") of flow-through units of the Company (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.24 per FT Unit and non flow-through units (the "NFT Units") at a price of $0.21 per NFT Unit. The second tranche of the Private Placement consisted of 50,000 FT Units and 819,237 NFT Units for total aggregate gross proceeds of $184,040. The total Private Placement consisted of 7,858,333 FT Units and 7,733,522 NFT Units for total aggregate gross proceeds of $3,510,040. Each FT Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") designated as a flow-through share pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (a "FT Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each NFT Unit consists of one Common Share and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance, subject to earlier expiry if the 10-day volume weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") exceeds $0.30 per Common Share. All securities issued in connection with the second tranche of the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the FT Units for exploration and development work at the Company's Spanish Mountain Gold project in the Cariboo Gold Corridor in British Columbia, and from the sale of the NFT Units for general working capital purposes. There were no finder's fees payable on this tranche. Certain insiders of the Company subscribed for NFT Units in the second tranche closing of the Private Placement. Such participation is considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101"). The transaction will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of any securities issued to nor the consideration paid by such persons will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The securities of the Company referred to in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. All references to currency in this news release are to Canadian currency. The Company has received final approval from the TSXV for the Private Placement. Correction The Company would like to provide a correction on a previous news release. The Company's news release dated May 31, 2024, announcing the first tranche closing of the Private Placement, stated that each NFT Unit consisted of one Common Share and one Warrant. This was an error, each NFT Unit consisted of one Common Share and one-half of a Warrant. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. We are conducting an integrated Whittle Enterprise Optimization to identify the highest potential value-add improvements while increasing the understanding of the high-grade geologic controls and associated drill targets that could upgrade and expand the gold resource. We are striving to be a leader in community and indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimizes environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details on the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, "Peter Mah" President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. For more information, contact: Peter Mah, CEO (604) 601-3651 info@spanishmountaingold.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. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" Any statements or information 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", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements or information. The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214784 SOURCE: Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Record annual revenue of US$3,337K representing 142% YOY increase New facility progressing well with equipment expected to be commissioned in August 2024 Q1/FY2025 expected to build on momentum with record quarterly revenue and profitability Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2024) - California Nanotechnologies Corp. (TSXV: CNO) (OTC Pink: CANOF) ("Cal Nano" or the "Company") is pleased to announce record annual revenues of US$3,337,457 for the fiscal year ending February 29, 2024. This represents an increase of 142% compared to the same period last year. Revenues for the quarter ended February 29, 2024, were US$983,004, representing an increase of 171% compared to the same period last year. Net income for the fiscal year was US$381,678, compared to US$79,764 in the same period last year, while adjusted EBITDA1 was US$1,157,141, compared to US$384,174 for the same period last year. A net loss of US$318,359 was recorded for the quarter ended February 29, 2024, compared to a net loss of US$8,811, while adjusted EBITDA was US$325,326, compared to US$73,025 for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year increased to $0.01 compared to $0.00 in the same period last year, while remaining unchanged at $0.00 for the quarter ended February 29, 2024, compared to the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA1 showed significant improvements due to the contribution margin from higher revenue generation relating to R&D manufacturing programs and equipment sales, which was partly offset by new investments to expand the Company's manufacturing footprint. Net income saw improvements for the reasons above but was partly offset by a US$363,256 unrealized loss on share purchase warrants2, employee bonus payments, and consulting expenses. The financial statements are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website. "FY2024 was a transformative year for Cal Nano as we executed on growth initiatives including the signing of key clients, scaling up R&D contracts, signing a new lease to expand our footprint, and installing additional capacity," stated CEO Eric Eyerman. "We hope to continue the momentum in the new fiscal year, and at this time, we are expecting Q1/FY2025 to be a record quarter in revenue and profitability." Financial Highlights Amounts in USD Three months ended February 29, 2024 Three months ended February 28, 2023 Twelve months ended February 29, 2024 Twelve months ended February 28, 2023 Revenues 983,004 362,364 3,337,457 1,381,934 Cost of Goods Sold 250,254 66,078 1,002,866 383,754 Gross Profit 732,750 296,286 2,334,591 998,180 Gross Margin1 75% 82% 70% 72% Net Income/(Loss) (381,360) (8,811) 381,678 79,764 Income/(loss) Per Share - Basic and Diluted $0.00 $0.00 $0.01 $0.00 EBITDA1 (324,837) 44,159 633,342 337,912 Adjusted EBITDA1 325,236 73,025 1,157,141 384,174 The increase in revenue for FY2024 was attributable to the ongoing ramp-up of R&D manufacturing programs and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) equipment deliveries. Q4/FY2024 saw higher revenues from R&D manufacturing and no contributions from equipment sales. The green steel cleantech customer continues to be the largest customer to date and accounts for the majority of revenues for the 2024 fiscal year. Cal Nano is in the pilot production stage with several customers in the aerospace, industrial, and automotive markets who have the potential to convert to commercial production contracts. Cal Nano delivered two SPS systems in Q1/FY2025 (one to each of the University of Connecticut and Embry-Riddle University), contributing to the expected record revenue quarter. While not a core focus, Cal Nano expects equipment sales and deliveries to continue, helping build its growing aftermarket parts and service business. Since the Company took possession of the new Santa Ana facility on March 1, 2024, the infrastructure to support the new cryomilling equipment has been completed along with securing key operational permits. Preparation of the infrastructure for the new MSP-5 SPS machine is ongoing in anticipation of its delivery in August 2024. Since Cal Nano announced the purchase of the MSP-5, the Company has garnered interest from new and existing customers who have started initial production discussions. The new machine has opened new markets for Cal Nano due to its larger size allowing bigger, more expensive parts to be processed. Cal Nano currently expects fiscal year 2025 to be another year of significant growth as it makes the transition to its new facility and executes on R&D and potential commercial manufacturing opportunities. Lastly, the Company currently expects to release its Q1/FY2025 on or about mid-July. About California Nanotechnologies Corp. At Cal Nano, we envision a world in which our advanced technologies are used to help make the most innovative products on this planet and beyond. Global leaders trust us to help push the boundaries of applied material science by utilizing our unique technical expertise and vision. Headquartered in Greater Los Angeles, California, Cal Nano hosts advanced processing and testing capabilities for materials research and production needs. Customers range from Fortune 500 companies to startups with programs spanning aerospace, renewable energy, defense, and semiconductors. For further information, please contact: California Nanotechnologies Corp. Eric Eyerman, CEO T: +1 (562) 991-5211 info@calnanocorp.com Panolia Investor Relations Inc. Brandon Chow, Principal & Founder T: +1 (647) 598-8815 brandon@panoliair.com Non-IFRS Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS measures. These non-IFRS measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing a further understanding of results of operations of Cal Nano from management's perspective. Accordingly, they should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the financial information of Cal Nano reported under IFRS. The Company uses non-IFRS measures such as EBITDA to provide investors with a supplemental measure of operating performance and thus highlight trends in its core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS financial measures. Management also believes that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers. Management also uses non-IFRS measures in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, prepare annual operating budgets and assess the Company's ability to meet its capital expenditure and working capital requirements. "EBITDA" means the earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, where interest is defined as net finance costs as per the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. "EBITDA margin" means the earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization, where interest is defined as net finance costs as per the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as a percentage of total revenues. "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, and the unrealized gain on share purchase warrants, with interest defined as net finance costs as per the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. "Adjusted EBITDA margin" refers to earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation, and the unrealized gain or loss on share purchase warrants, with interest defined as net finance costs as per the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as a percentage of total revenues. Reconciliations and Calculations The tables set forth below provides a quantitative reconciliation of Gross Margin and EBITDA, which are Non-IFRS financial measures, to the most comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the Company's financial statements. The reconciliation of Non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with IFRS is provided below where appropriate. Gross Margin Reconciliation Amounts in USD Three months ended February 29, 2024 Three months ended February 28, 2023 Twelve months ended February 29, 2024 Twelve months ended February 28, 2023 Revenues 983,004 362,364 3,337,457 1,381,934 Cost of Goods Sold 250,254 66,078 1,002,866 383,754 Gross Profit 732,750 296,286 2,334,591 998,180 Gross Margin 75% 82% 70% 72% EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation Amounts in USD Three months ended February 29, 2024 Three months ended February 28, 2023 Twelve months ended February 29, 2024 Twelve months ended February 28, 2023 Net Income/(Loss) (318,268) (8,811) 381,678 79,764 Depreciation & Amortization 36,509 36,864 145,599 142,430 Interest Expense 20,879 12,862 106,066 111,675 Income Tax Expense - 3,244 - 4,044 EBITDA (324,837) 44,159 633,342 337,912 EBITDA Margin (33%) 12% 19% 24% Share-based Compensation 286,817 28,866 359,516 46,262 Unrealized Loss/(Gain) on Share Purchase Warrants 363,257 - 164,283 - Adjusted EBITDA 325,326 73,025 1,157,141 384,174 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 33% 20% 35% 28% Derivative Liability Recognition for Warrant Issuance under IFRS On October 30, 2023, the Company successfully closed an issuance of units comprising common shares and warrants, encompassing an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants, each with an exercise price of CA$0.25. As a result of the Company reporting its financial results denominated in US dollars, and in adherence to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the Company is required to report a derivative liability attributable to the aforementioned warrants. Consequently, the Company will recognize a non-cash charge or income inclusion on a quarterly basis, predicated upon the fluctuation in the market price of the Company's shares, until such time as the warrants either are exercised or expire. Reader Advisory Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to: future financial results, including anticipated profitability and/or lack thereof; statements about future plans, including statements about the planned expansion of the Company's manufacturing capacity, and new sites for the Company's production and headquarters; demand for the Company's services by current and future customers, including existing and future orders for the Company's SPS equipment and the anticipated revenue therefrom; and the expected future performance of the Company. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; a significant change in demand for the Company's services and products; industry conditions, governmental regulation, including environmental regulation; the effects of product development and need for continued technological change; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Corporation and the industry; research and development risks; reliance on key personnel; operations in foreign jurisdictions; protection of intellectual property rights; contractual risk; third-party risk, risk of technological or scientific obsolescence; dependence of technical infrastructure; unanticipated operating events or performance; failure to obtain industry partner and other third party consents and approvals, if and when required; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; competition for, among other things, capital, skilled personnel and supplies; changes in tax laws; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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. ________________________ 1 Non-IFRS Measure 2 See disclosure under "Derivative Liability Recognition for Warrant Issuance under IFRS" To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214780 SOURCE: California Nanotechnologies Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2024) - Element 29 Resources Inc. (TSXV: ECU) (OTCQB: EMTRF) (BVL: ECU) ("Element 29" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders which was held today (the "Meeting"). All matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular, both dated May 27, 2024, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS Shareholders approved setting the number of directors at five (5). ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Votes For Withheld Votes Director # % # % Patrick Elliott 22,639,808 99.60 90,000 0.40 Chet Idziszek 22,349,808 98.33 380,000 1.67 Brad Mercer 22,689,808 99.82 40,000 0.18 Richard Osmond 22,639,808 99.60 90,000 0.40 Mary-Carmen Vera 22,729,808 100.00 - - Following the Meeting Brad Mercer was appointed independent Chair of the Board of Directors. Richard Osmond, President and CEO stated "On behalf of the Company and the board, I would like to thank all the shareholders who voted at the Meeting and for their continued support. We welcome Brad Mercer, Chet Idziszek and Mary-Carmen Vera as Element 29's newest board members and look forward to working alongside this talented and dedicated team. In addition, we would like to thank Robert Willis for his invaluable contributions to the Company." APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants were re-appointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at the remuneration to be fixed by the directors. STOCK OPTION PLAN Shareholders approved the renewal of the Company's Stock Option Plan. Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About Element 29 Resources Inc. Element 29 is an emerging copper exploration and development company focused on advancing its portfolio of Peruvian projects towards development in one of the world's more established mining jurisdictions. The Company's principal objective is to explore and develop its Elida Porphyry Copper Deposit in west-central Peru and its Flor de Cobre Porphyry Copper Project located in the Southern Peru Copper Belt, 26 km southeast from Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde copper mine1. Both projects are well located for potential mine development and will benefit from nearby infrastructure including roads, powerlines, ports, water, and a skilled workforce. More information is available at www.e29copper.com. For more information: Richard Osmond, CEO and Director 1-888-246-7881 info@e29copper.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. 1This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which Element 29 has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214789 SOURCE: Element 29 Resources Inc. Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus. Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential. In diesem kostenlosen Report geben wir Ihnen Favoriten an die Hand, die aufgrund von Sondersituation die Chance auf eine Kursvervielfachung besitzen. Handeln Sie Jetzt! Fordern Sie jetzt den brandneuen Spezialreport an und profitieren Sie von dem weiter steigenden Kurs des Edelmetalls. Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihren kostenfreien Report. Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus. Korrektur als Einstiegschance Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen. 3 Kupferaktien mit hohem Potential Im neuen, kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir drei aussichtsreiche Unternehmen vor, die bei einem weiteren Anstieg uberproportional profitieren konnten. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), following the establishment of agreements with prominent companies in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Spain, and the United Kingdom, is proud to announce its first agreement on the African continent, specifically with Mbombo Investment Group, a reputable company located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This milestone not only signifies BGEB's expansion into these countries but also highlights its growing international presence and commitment to fostering sustainable environmental development across diverse regions. Julio Montenegro, CEO of BluegGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), has indicated that BGEB and Mbombo Investment Group (MIG), a leading Congolese consulting and impact investment firm, are committed to acquiring 80 million hectares for sustainable development projects in a public-private partnership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mbombo Investment Group is eager to support the Congolese government in three key sectors: national education, the environment, and sustainable development through the creation of carbon credits. This collaboration promotes a public-private partnership between the Congolese Environment Agency, Mbombo Investment Group, and BGEB. Currently, Dr. Louison Mbombo is conducting working sessions with representatives of the Congolese Environment Agency at their offices in Kinshasa-Gombe to finalize the details of this public-private partnership. Mbombo Investment Group and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia aspire to a partnership for the acquisition and management of 80 million hectares of land for sustainable development projects, which will have a significant impact on the entire population of the DRC and on environmental protection. Furthermore, the company is committed to contributing to the well-being of Congolese citizens by proposing the creation of a Carbon Credit Bank and the construction of schools for the education of Congolese children. Dr. Louison Mbombo, founder of Mbombo Investment Group, seeks the involvement of the President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, as well as the support of the Ministry of Environment to realize this project, which aims to address the multiple societal challenges that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been facing for a long time. According to the CEO of MIG, this partnership will contribute to achieving President Felix Tshisekedi's vision of creating 6 million jobs for young Congolese. It is important to emphasize that this collaboration will generate substantial benefits for the environment and local communities, thus demonstrating the effectiveness and potential of this partnership model. BGEB's collaborations are focused on empowering impoverished and indigenous communities around the globe through comprehensive social initiatives and sustainability, guided towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation which underscores the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish. As a registered issuer and observer of sustainable financial instruments with the Capital Market Association (ICMA) and recognized by the United Nations Global Compact, BGEB prioritizes authenticity and sustainability, ensuring the integrity of its carbon credits. In that regard, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, in partnership with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, has secured the approval of ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257 which facilitates the support of Forest Conservation Projects through equities, prioritizing due diligence to uphold the integrity of the carbon credits issued by the company. In recent months, BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA has forged agreements with various global companies, including APRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., a Spain-based company dedicated to a fair and sustainable energy transition; PH Plus, a prominent leader in alkaline water production and distribution in the United States; Healthy Grains S.A., a Guatemalan producer and exporter of nutrient-rich Seeds Like Hemp, Chia, and Flaxseed, and FRIGORIFICOS KOBEFOODS (KFK) a leading Peruvian entity championing the vegan movement in South America. These collaborations are expected to make substantial contributions toward achieving the sustainable development goals set for 2030. Mr. Julio Montenegro, indicated that BGEB's dedication to sustainability is evident in its commitment to conserving 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest and aligning with the UN's Global Compact. Utilizing advanced technology for carbon credit quantification, this initiative significantly contributes to global climate goals. BGEB's journey inspires us all to take action, as together, we can address climate change and protect our planet for future generations. About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia: BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), a global consortium of experts in diverse areas, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Boasting decades of experience, our team is pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society Learn more at: Web: https://bluegracebolivia.com/ Youtube: http://tinyurl.com/1BGEB Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/0BGEB LInkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/56BGEB For further information, please contact: JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO jmontenegro@bluegracebolivia.com +1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ nelopineda@bluegracebolivia.com +591 714-72257 (Bolivia) For all media inquiries, please contact: Ivan Linde ivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com +1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.) About Mbombo Investment Group Mbombo Investment Group (MIG) is a leading consulting and impact investment firm that manages alternative asset classes, global markets, and a private investments portal. The company supports global decision-makers with business intelligence to help them achieve their investment goals. It has a network of investors from the US, EU, Israel, Brazil, and African countries, providing them with updated global business information. The group's portfolio includes investments in agriculture, energy, IT, telecommunications, health, non-profit, real estate, and more. It also operates a real estate service, a travel agency, and an education advisory service, offering comprehensive solutions to its clients. +243 853 248 493 contact@mbomboinvestmentgroup.com www.mbomboinvestmentgroup.com Disclaimer This announcement is solely for informational use and should not be viewed as financial, legal, or investment guidance. It includes projections and statements that aren't based on past events. Any statement in this release that isn't a historical fact is a projection. Readers should be aware that the basis for these projections might be incorrect and are advised not to rely solely on them. Any projections in this announcement come with a warning. They are current as of the release date, and the Company has no plans to update them, except as mandated by securities regulations. SOURCE: BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA View the original press release on accesswire.com TOKYO, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dioseve Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo; CEO: Kazuma Kishida; hereinafter "the Company"), aiming to develop assisted reproductive technology using oocytes derived from iPS cells, has raised 7 million USD. This was achieved through third-party allotment of shares to six VC and CVC firms, including lead investors Spiral Capital and Archetype Ventures, existing investor ANRI, a pharmaceutical company ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and other investors. This funding will be used to advance research and development and expand the workforce for global expansion. With this round, the total funds raised to date amount to approximately 10 million USD. Investors (in no particular order, titles omitted) Spiral Capital Inc. Archetype Ventures LLC ANRI Inc. (existing investor) DG Daiwa Ventures Inc. Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (ASKA Innovation Fund*1) QR Investment Inc. (Hokuriku Regional Venture Fund*2) Two individual investors *1. The Common name for the "ASKA Innovation Investment Limited Partnership," co-managed by ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Future Venture Capital Co., Ltd. *2. The Common name for the "Hokuriku Regional Venture Investment Limited Partnership," co-managed by QR Investment Inc. (a subsidiary of Hokugin Financial Holdings Inc.) and Carbon Ventures Inc. (a subsidiary of Mitsutani Sangyo Co., Ltd.) About the Pipeline The Company's main pipeline is the provision of a new infertility treatment using the "DIOLs" technology. This method involves introducing specific genes into iPS cells to produce oocytes in a short period, without expensive growth factors or advanced techniques required by existing production methods, enabling oocyte production in cheap and large quantities. Significance of the Technology Assisted reproductive technology has seen little innovation since the invention of IVF 45 years ago, and fertility largely depends on individual conditions and age. Consequently, many women face life plans based on optimal reproductive age and must choose between a career or having children. By applying this technology in assisted reproductive medicine, we aim to free couples from "not knowing if they can have children" and the constraints of optimal reproductive age, offering them the choice to become mothers at their desired time. Company Overview Company Name : Dioseve Inc. : Dioseve Inc. Headquarters : 1-17-8 Shin-Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Link Lab Shin-Kiba 2, Room 223 : 1-17-8 Shin-Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo Mitsui Link Lab Shin-Kiba 2, Room 223 CEO : Kazuma Kishida : Kazuma Kishida Established : June 30, 2021 : June 30, 2021 Business : Development of assisted reproductive technology using oocytes derived from iPS cells : Development of assisted reproductive technology using oocytes derived from iPS cells Website: https://dioseve.com/en/home-en/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dioseve-completes-funding-round-raising-a-total-of-7-million-usd-302184667.html ZURICH, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Swiss Health & bioBeauty AG, owner of the prestigious beauty and longevity brand NIANCE, announces that internationally renowned supermodel, philanthropist, and investor Natalia Vodianova has become one of the key shareholders of NIANCE. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in the brand's journey towards global prominence. About NIANCE NIANCE is a Zurich-based luxury skincare and nutritional supplement brand, Switzerland's best-kept secret in beauty and longevity. Celebrated for its groundbreaking biotechnology, FERNESSE, this technology enables the release of the full Triple-Biotic power (prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics) of its active ingredients, significantly increasing the bioavailability of nutrients. By addressing the root cause of aging, NIANCE combines the finest natural ingredients from the Swiss Alps with cutting-edge Swiss biotech advancements to promote rejuvenation and healthy aging. Natalia Vodianova's Connection with NIANCE Natalia Vodianova shares her personal journey with NIANCE: "In early 2021, I was introduced to NIANCE and immediately felt a deep connection with its philosophy and products. NIANCE stands out from the hundreds of skincare products I have tried. Being active in modeling, social activities, and traveling, my skin is constantly stressed by makeup, lights, and pollutants. The NIANCE products help me restore a glowing skin and overall health vitality. The NIANCE Premium Glacier Facial Cream, with its unapologetically luxurious, highly effective and clean formula, has become a staple in my skincare routine. My skin feels hydrated, firm, glowing and visibly more youthful. Equally impressive is the GENR8 Biotic Supplements VITALITY, which boosts my energy levels, supports gut health, and enhances overall well-being. I strongly believe in gut health - a healthy gut leads to a healthy body, as nearly 80% of our immunity is located in the gut. That's why NIANCE always addresses issues of beauty and longevity at the root cause." CEO's Comments Marnix Ettema, CEO of NIANCE, emphasizes the brand's core values: "Our growth is driven by heavy investment in innovation and the quality of our products, garnering a loyal customer base globally. Despite minimal marketing, NIANCE is now present in about 30 countries, with an exceptionally high repeat purchase rate of 71% online. Our clients include doctors, celebrities, and high-profile individuals who endorse our products genuinely and unpaid." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449931/NataliaVodianova_2024.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449930/Niance_16_08_212394.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449928/niance_0866_ret3.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/natalia-vodianova-invests-in-swiss-beauty-and-longevity-brand-niance-302185431.html LEM HOLDING SA / Key word(s): AGMEGM Annual General Meeting of LEM Holding approves all proposals 28.06.2024 / 07:00 CET/CEST Geneva, 28 June 2024 - LEM (SIX: LEHN), a global leader in electrical measurement for automation, e-mobility, renewable energy, power network and railroad applications, held its Annual General Meeting yesterday at the HP/Hive Innovation Lab in Meyrin, Geneva. At the Annual General Meeting a total of 83.63% of the share capital entitled to vote was represented. A strong majority followed the Board of Directors' recommendations and approved all the resolutions. In particular, it approved the distribution of a gross dividend of CHF 50.00 per dividend-bearing share. The net amount after Swiss withholding tax of CHF 32.50 will be distributed on 4 July 2024. The Board members standing for re-election Ilan Cohen, Francois Gabella, Andreas Hurlimann, Ulrich Looser, Ueli Wampfler and Werner Weber have been confirmed for another one-year term. Dr. Libo Zhang has been elected as new member of the Board of Directors. Andreas Hurlimann was confirmed as Chairman. The members of the Nomination & Compensation Committee were also re-elected. The compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management has been approved as well as the consultative votes on the compensation report and the report on non-financial matters. The minutes and voting results of the Annual General Meeting will be published on LEM's website as soon as they are available within the deadlines required by law. The next Annual General Meeting of LEM Holding will take place on 26 June 2025. A leading company in electrical measurement, LEM engineers the best solutions for energy and mobility, ensuring that our customers' systems are optimized, reliable and safe. Our 1'800 people in 17 countries transform technology potential into powerful answers. We develop and recruit the best global talent, working at the forefront of megatrends such as renewable energy, mobility, automation and digitization. With innovative electrical solutions, we are helping our customers and society accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 1986, the company's ticker symbol is LEHN. www.lem.com Investor contact Andrea Borla, Chief Finance Officer +41 22 706 1250 investor@lem.com Media contact Dynamics Group Thomas Balmer, +41 79 703 87 28, tba@dynamicsgroup.ch Christian Wolf, +41 79 457 72 05, cwo@dynamicsgroup.ch ATTACHMENTS: Press Release (pdf) If you do not wish to receive further media releases from LEM, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the following link: One-click-delete If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link . End of Media Release Industry's first linguistic-AI solution wins 'Machine Translation Innovation Award' RWS, a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property solutions, announces that its linguistic AI solution, Evolve, has been awarded the 'Machine Translation Innovation Award' at the 2024 AI Breakthrough Awards. Evolve, which launched in January 2024, represents a major leap forward for the translation industry, integrating human and artificial intelligence to revolutionize translation processes and the time it takes to achieve high quality results. Clients can expect up to 65% efficiency gains across their translation supply chain. "Winning the 'Machine Translation Innovation Award' is a proud moment and testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at RWS," said Mark Lawyer, General Manager of Linguistic AI at RWS. "Evolve exemplifies our commitment to delivering cutting-edge linguistic AI solutions that transform how businesses handle their language and content challenges." Evolve combines RWS's translation management system (Trados Enterprise), its neural machine translation technology (Language Weaver), language specialist-trained quality estimation models, a finely tuned private large language model and language specialists. This powerful combination helps global companies achieve near-instant, human-like translation quality, allowing RWS's language specialists to focus their unique skills and cultural expertise on the content that requires their attention. The AI Breakthrough Awards programme honours excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. It provides public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision and more. More than 5,000 companies entered this year's award programme which has been running for seven years. Click here to learn more about Evolve. Notes to editors: Evolve is delivered through a single, end-to-end solution that includes relationship governance, project management and client support. Components and capabilities include: Real-time neural machine translation (NMT): powered by AI models, it continuously adapts through built-in feedback loops between quality assessment outcomes, generative output and expert-in-the-loop translations. Machine translation quality estimation (QE): automatically assesses and prioritizes performance of NMT output built on expert-labelled and annotated data. Private large language model (LLM): performs automatic post-editing of segments that require further improvement by generative AI output. Translation management system (TMS): facilitates end-to-end localization processes and workflows across all content types, repositories, translation methods and stakeholder groups. Human intelligence: provided by RWS's 1,750+ language specialists and domain experts who finalize translations and ensure optimal outcomes. About RWS RWS Holdings plc is a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content and intellectual property services. Through content transformation and multilingual data analysis, our combination of AI-enabled technology and human expertise helps our clients to grow by ensuring they are understood anywhere, in any language. Our purpose is unlocking global understanding. By combining cultural understanding, client understanding and technical understanding, our services and technology assist our clients to acquire and retain customers, deliver engaging user experiences, maintain compliance and gain actionable insights into their data and content. Over the past 20 years we've been evolving our own AI solutions as well as helping clients to explore, build and use multilingual AI applications. With 45+ AI-related patents and more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, we have the experience and expertise to support clients on their AI journey. We work with over 80% of the world's top 100 brands, more than three-quarters of Fortune's 20 'Most Admired Companies' and almost all of the top pharmaceutical companies, investment banks, law firms and patent filers. Our client base spans Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and North and South America. Our 65+ global locations across five continents service clients in the automotive, chemical, financial, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications sectors. Founded in 1958, RWS is headquartered in the UK and publicly listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L). For further information, please visit: www.rws.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240626521606/en/ Contacts: RWS Denis Davies Corporate Communications ddavies@rws.com +44 1628 410105 CannaPharmaRx Announces Q1 2024 Financial Results Showcasing Commencement of Revenue CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / CannaPharmaRx, Inc. (OTC PINK:CPMD), a future leader in ultramodern, highly efficient cannabis production facilities announced today that it filed its first quarter 2024 financial reports for the quarter ending March 31, 2024, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. Q1 2024 Financial Highlights: Revenue of $25,839 versus $0 in the comparable period of 2023 due to the beginning of product sales. These first product deliveries were lower-quality, small-batch trial grows. Future sales should be considerable larger in size and frequency. Overall operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024, were $352,786 compared to operating expenses of $720,277 in the prior year comparable period, a decrease of $367,491. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in marketing expenses, a reduction in payroll accruals to officers and a decrease in professional fees due to the transition of accounting to a single provider. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company experienced a net loss of $11,594,301 or $0.03 per share compared to a net loss of $1,418,229 or $0.00 in the prior year comparable period. The increase was attributed primarily to non-cash events including a $ 8,272,588 decrease in change of fair value of derivative liability primarily due to the increase of the Company's share price which resulted in a change in the stock price input and volatility input used in the Black Scholes option pricing model. This change resulted in a substantial increase in the derivative liability value for the period and a $ 2,710,879 decrease in change in the fair value of obligation to issue shares primarily due to the increase of the Company's share price. This further resulted in a change in inputs into the valuation model related to the obligation to issue shares, increasing the value of the obligation to issue shares for the period. Net cash used in operating activities decreased from $611,738 in Q1 2023 to $548,929 during Q1 2024 and the company had inventory of $950,241 on March 31, 2024 For additional information, please visit www.sec.gov for full filing. 2024 Q1 Operational Highlights and Recent Developments: The Company received an operating license from Health Canada on December 9, 2022, and a cannabis license from the Canada Revenue Agency ("CRA") on December 22, 2022. CannaPharmaRx anticipates developing a consistent cadence of growing, harvesting, cultivating, and delivering world class products on a regular basis and expects to begin to see a strong and accelerated revenue increase during the 2024 fiscal year ("FY2024"). The production facility is expected to be operating at maximum capacity during FY2024, achieving regular plantings with staggered production so that we are constantly harvesting and delivering high-quality products to multiple sources. Our focus continues to be on international sales with high gross margin products, resulting in greater profitability using our state-of-the-art production facility to grow on demand against purchase contracts using smart inventory management which will contribute to higher turnover and regular deliveries. We will continue to collaborate with international partners on multiple continents and develop proprietary online, data-driven technology. FY2024 growth goals include delivering the first of several harvests during the second and third quarter; increasing our strategic partner network; receiving our European Union license for Good Manufacturing Practices ("GMP") to allow us to expand distribution; expanding our customer network; becoming a world leader in unique genetic strains with a current catalogue of over 500 desirable strains developed and owned by our company; and continuing to improve our balance sheet. In support of these goals: On February 16, 2024, the Company announced that we finalized a strategic supply agreement with Cantek Holdings, an Israeli corporation, whereby the Company will supply 1,000kgs of product annually. On February 23, 2024, the Company announced that we successfully obtained our Israel Medical Cannabis ("IMC") Good Agricultural Practices ("GAP") and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices ("GACP") certifications. The IMC-GAP and IMC-GACP certifications are the standard for cannabis certification in Israel and are required to sell cannabis in Israel, a world leader in the medical cannabis industry. On March 5, 2024, the Company announced that we finalized a supply agreement with ICAN Green S.A. de C.V. ("ICAN"), a division of ICAN Investing Group LLC, to supply product for distribution in the Latin Americas with a primary focus on Mexico and Panama. The agreement is subject to certain minimum required annual levels of purchases by ICAN. On March 11, 2024, the Company shipped its first product to a Canadian LP for distribution within Canada. On March 14, 2024, we announced that our products are approved for sale in multiple countries and expected to receive a purchase order from Israel in the company weeks, which we subsequently did. On April 2, 2024, CannaPharmaRx announced extinguishment of convertible notes removing toxic overhang and significant future dilution. "As we deliver on previously announced supply contracts, our revenues should increase dramatically. CannaPharmaRx is gearing up for rapid growth, with a plan to become a leader in advanced cannabis cultivation. We have begun shipping to Israel and expect to begin shipping to Europe during mid-Q3 and Latin America during late Q4. I have previously outlined strategic initiatives, including strengthening the board with expert members, streamlining licensing processes, identifying accretive joint ventures, partnerships and acquisitions, and ensuring product pre-sales through partnerships. These efforts are to set a solid foundation for the company to achieve projected revenue targets" stated Dean Medwid, CEO of CannaPharmaRx. About CannaPharmaRx, Inc. CannaPharmaRx is focused on the acquisition and development of state-of-the-art cannabis grow facilities in Canada. CPMD is in discussion with other companies regarding potential acquisitions. CannaPharmaRx's business strategy is to become a leader in high quality and low-cost production of cannabis through the development, acquisition, and enhancement of existing facilities. CannapharmaRx is committed to operating high-quality facilities utilizing the latest technology in combined heat and power generation to ensure being a low-cost producer of cannabis. Safe Harbor Statement Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information or Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or statements. All statements that are or information which is not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations, or beliefs of future performance, are 'forward-looking information or statements.' Forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as 'plans,' 'expects,' or 'does not expect,' 'is expected,' 'estimates,' 'intends,' 'anticipates,' or 'does not anticipate,' or 'believes,' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results 'may,' 'could,' 'would,' 'might' or 'will' be taken, occur or be achieved. With respect to forward-looking information and statements contained herein, Management of CannaPharmaRx has made numerous assumptions, including, among other things, assumptions about general business and economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, events, or developments to be materially different from any future results, events, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information or statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking information or statements. CannaPharmaRx assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or statements, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information, or for any other reason except as required by law. Contact Information: Brokers and Analysts Chesapeake Group (410) 825-3930 SOURCE: CannaPharmaRx View the original press release on accesswire.com The annual Multimodal Awards recognise outstanding industry-leading supply chain businesses in the Transport and Logistics sector DP World, Maersk, Iron Mountain, Sky, Kuehne+Nagel, and Forth Ports were among award winners at Multimodal at the NEC in Birmingham CCL CEO Callum Bastock: "The last year has been a challenging one for the global supply chain and logistics sector, but against that environment we've managed to grow revenue by 10 per cent, and secured additional contracts with UK and international customers for 2024" CCL Logistics Technology (CCL) has won the Technology Company of the Year category at the Multimodal Awards at the NEC in Birmingham. Multimodal is the UK's leading supply chain conference and logistics expo, and the annual awards recognise outstanding industry-leading supply chain businesses in the Transport and Logistics sector. DP World, Maersk, Iron Mountain, Sky, Kuehne+Nagel, and Forth Ports were also among the award winners. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628123436/en/ CCL Logistics Technology CEO Callum Bastock (at far right) with some of the award-winning CCL team at Multimodal 2024 (Photo: Business Wire) CCL's CEO and founder Callum Bastock said: "We are resolute in our commitment to innovating our sector. The whole team works tirelessly to make our customers' lives easier and we are thrilled to be recognised by the great and the good of the transport and logistics sector at Multimodal, particularly considering the strength and size of the competition in our category, many of whom are global corporate brands. Essentially, we are here to help customers reduce costs and grow sustainably. Underpinning that is the significant investment we have made into our transport management system technology over recent years." Headquartered in Troon, CCL's technology platform has been developed at the company's Innovation Centre in Bellshill near Glasgow. CCL also has offices in Paisley, Derby, and Aylesbury. The award comes a year on from CCL receiving global recognition for helping customers measure, manage, and minimise Scope 3 carbon emissions via its transport management system myCCL, with the Scotland-headquartered scale-up becoming the first UK logistics services group to be accredited by the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) under the GLEC framework. Commenting on the performance of the business over the last twelve months Callum Bastock added: "The last year has been a challenging one for the global supply chain and logistics sector, but against that environment we've managed to grow revenue by 10 per cent, and more importantly secured additional contracts with UK and international customers for 2024, which is testament to the hard work of everyone across the business." Notes: Multimodal 2024 took place at the NEC in Birmingham between 11-13 June. For more information on CCL: https://www.ccl-logistics.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628123436/en/ Contacts: Nick Freer nick@freerconsultancy.com This rendering shows the type of electrified high-speed rail train California plans to run in the San Joaquin Valley. The states High-Speed Rail Authority voted Thursday to approve the final piece of track pathway that would connect Los Angeles to the Bay Area. TNS Californias bullet train project reached a major milestone: The entire 463-mile route from San Francisco to Los Angeles is now environmentally cleared for construction. The High-Speed Rail Authoritys board signed off Thursday on a preferred route and environmental clearance for the 38-mile segment that would carry bullet trains from Palmdale to Burbank. It was the projects last segment between San Francisco and Los Angeles that had yet to be cleared. The high-speed rail segments linking the Central Valley to Silicon Valley and San Francisco gained environmental clearance in 2022, and construction has been underway in the Central Valley, the projects initial operating segment, for almost a decade. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Todays approval is more than a historic milestone it closes the gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Tom Richards, chair of the rail authoritys board, said in a statement. Authority officials say they expect to gain approval of a 33-mile segment from Los Angeles to Anaheim by next year. That approval would clear environmental hurdles for the projects entire Phase 1 route that was sold to the states voters in 2008. Bullet train service on the Central Valley segment 171 miles from Bakersfield to Merced is expected to start between 2030 and 2033, featuring four huge stations. The rail project faces significant financial and logistical questions as it seeks to finish construction and expand beyond the Central Valley. The project is $7 billion short of completing the Central Valley segment and needs $100 billion to finish the route from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authority officials have not yet decided where they will build out the project next, but they will encounter challenges both north and south. Connecting Merced to San Jose will require tunneling 15 miles of tracks through Pacheco Pass in the Diablo Range. The Palmdale-to-Burbank segment will necessitate boring 30 miles of tunnels that will run along State Route 14 and underneath the community of Acton, Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The authoritys Board of Directors spent much of Thursdays vote debating whether the mountainous segment and its tunnels would be able to withstand a major earthquake. Authority officials said they planned to present more details on the segments tunneling work early next year. We are at a very preliminary stage of design only for environmental purposes, authority CEO Brian Kelly told the Board of Directors Thursday. The next steps on this are to bring that design work forward, further geotechnical work, understand exactly what the challenges are in construction and make sure were doing the remedies correctly. All Seas Capital, a pan-European private capital fund that provides transformational capital solutions to leading founder- and entrepreneur-owned companies, is pleased to announce a significant minority investment in Synergym, a fast-growing and leading gym chain in Spain. The investment will accelerate Synergym's expansion and rollout across the country. Synergym has quickly established itself as one of the main gym operators in Spain, with over 200,000 active users across its 96 clubs. Its business model emphasizes low and flexible prices, high-quality club design with specialized fitness areas, top-of-the-line high-tech equipment, highly qualified staff and a wide range of quality guided classes. Due to its measured and systematic rollout model, Synergym has grown rapidly without any site closures and each gym achieving rapid profitability, supported by strong customer sign-ups prior to site launch. All Seas Capital's investment will fuel Synergym's ambitious expansion plans across Spain, with an ample pipeline of sites ready to develop. Founded in 2013 by experienced entrepreneurs Dr. Sergey Miteyko and Leonard Lvovich, Synergym is led by Managing Director Jordi Bella and a highly capable management team ready to execute its expansion strategy. Sergey and Leonard will retain their full equity positions, demonstrating their strong commitment to the business. All Seas Capital will leverage its team's extensive experience in supporting businesses with a proven track record and clear vision for the future to help Synergym achieve its growth ambitions. All Seas Capital's Partner Joe Petrusic will join the Synergym board of directors, which also includes representatives of Synergym's current investors Oxy Capital and Growth Partner. Dr. Sergey Miteyko and Leonard Lvovich, Founders of Synergym, said: "We are thrilled to have All Seas Capital join the Synergym team and back our exciting growth plans. We have quickly established Synergym as one of the largest chains of fitness gyms in Spain through a prudent rollout plan that ensures that each and every site achieves fast profitability and high cash flow generation. This is fundamental to our success and gives us great confidence in our expansion strategy. With additional capital and All Seas' fresh perspective and expertise, we are excited at what we can achieve together!" Joe Petrusic, Partner at All Seas Capital, commented: "The Synergym team has built an impressive and highly profitable business in an underpenetrated market, which is underpinned by an increasing consumer desire for healthier lifestyles. With a very capable management team in place and a proven rollout model, our capital and expertise will act as a catalyst for further growth." Marc Ciancimino and Cristobal Cuart, Co-Founders of All Seas Capital, commented: "We are delighted to be making our first investment in Spain, and our eighth from All Seas Capital's maiden fund which closed just last year. As an established business of some scale and with a clear growth strategy, Synergym is an ideal business for us to back and we are thrilled that they chose to partner with us. All Seas Capital's flexible, non-control capital aligns perfectly with Synergym's ambitious plans and we're already hard at work supporting management to execute on their ambitious growth plans." Synergym and the shareholders were advised by AZ Capital, Garrigues, EY and RCD Legal. All Seas Capital was advised by Latham Watkins and SLR Consulting. About Synergym Synergym is a leading fitness chain in Spain. Founded in 2013, Synergym has over 200,000 active members in its 96 strong network of gyms across the Spanish market with key hubs of Andalucia, Valencia and Cataluna. Synergym is focused on low and flexible prices, modern club design with specialized fitness areas, top-of-the-line high-tech equipment, highly qualified staff and a wide range of high-quality classes. www.synergym.es About All Seas Capital All Seas Capital is a pan-European private capital fund that provides flexible long-term financing solutions to leading mid cap companies. The team is led by Marc Ciancimino and Cristobal Cuart who co-founded and led KKR's European mezzanine and preferred equity business, and has an extensive career track record with 3.4bn invested across 45 businesses prior to founding All Seas Capital. All Seas Capital's hybrid strategy, investing a combination of debt and equity, integrates ESG considerations throughout its investment process to help position its portfolio for long term, sustained growth. We partner with and provide transformational capital solutions and board level expertise to Western European entrepreneur- and family-owned mid-market businesses who need strategic capital, but do not want to sell majority stakes. We identify businesses that already have a certain amount of scale but are in need of support and capital as the catalyst for real business growth. All Seas Capital closed its maiden fund with total commitments of US$400m including co-investments, and has invested in companies including Attivo Group (UK), G3 (UK), Hakim Group (UK), Nurture Group (UK), Reducate (Netherlands), SoMeD Sante (France) and Zimmer MedizinSysteme (Germany). www.allseascapital.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628483537/en/ Contacts: Synergym Jordi Bella +34 639 483 213 jordi.bella@synergym.es All Seas Capital Charlotte Balbirnie +44 7989 528421 CBalbirnie@keplercomms.com OMG Agency OMD Named Media Network of the Year, with sister-shop PHD claiming second place Group revealed first-mover partnerships with leading retail, programmatic buying and social platforms that will connect upper funnel investment to sales NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) emerged from the 2024 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as the most honored media holding company, earning the highest combined total of Lions awards (including two Grand Prixes) and short list placements than any other global media group. For the third time in seven years, OMG agency OMD Worldwide was named Media Network of the Year, while sister-agency (and 2020-2021 winner) PHD claimed second place. OMD's win marks the fourth time an OMG agency has taken the Media Network of the Year title since 2017. During the Cannes festival OMG also revealed four first-mover strategic partnerships with leading retail, programmatic buying and social platforms that will, for the first time, enable upper funnel media investment to be connected to sales, including leveraging Amazon Ads' proprietary browsing, shopping, and streaming insights to directly tie linear and CTV investment to purchases made on Amazon; a co-development partnership with The Trade Desk that enables both advanced video planning and sales-based optimization; TikTok shop certification for Omnicom's Flywheel digital commerce division that connect creator content to sales; and activating within Instacart's Developer Platform to make creator content shoppable and attributable. Summing up the takeaway from OMG's week of awards and announcements, CEO Florian Adamski said, "The honors and headlines we earned in Cannes are a testament to our talent around the world. Connected and empowered our industry-leading Omni open operating system, they are creating the brilliant campaigns and first-to-market capabilities that unlock growth for our clients and opportunities for our people." About Omnicom Media Group Omnicom Media Group (OMG), the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), delivers transformational experiences for consumers, clients, and talent. Powered by the Omni marketing orchestration system, OMG connects best -in-class capabilities that enable our full-service media agencies OMD , PHD and Hearts & Science to deliver more relevant and actionable consumer experiences; more productive and proactive client experiences; and more collaborative and rewarding talent experiences for the more than 26,000 people serving the world's leading brands in OMG agencies around the globe. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450422/2024_OMG_Cannes_Charts_Cannes_Graphic1__1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450423/2024_OMG_Cannes_Charts_Graphic2_Top5.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/omnicom-media-group-returned-from-cannes-as-most-honored-media-hold-co-preferred-partner-in-game-changing-collaborations-302185238.html The leading Nordic data center business was acknowledged for its innovative cooling technology and its dedication to customer service. REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- atNorth , the leading Nordic colocation, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence service provider, has announced its shortlisting in the 'Customer Initiative of the Year' category at RAC's 21st Annual Cooling Awards. The awards aim to celebrate innovation, best practice and business excellence across the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors. With global awareness of the amount of energy needed to power and cool data centers, especially those built to cater for AI and other data intensive industries it is important to atNorth to showcase the benefits of its cool Nordic locations that allow for highly energy efficient cooling technologies. atNorth was recognized for its work with Shearwater Geoservices, a business that initially had some apprehension over moving digital infrastructure away from the UK to one of atNorth's data centers in Iceland. atNorth liaised extensively with the Shearwater team, enabling access to its Gompute HPCaaS Platform in order to conduct comprehensive testing before migrating to their own servers. Shearwater successfully moved its UK HPC to atNorth's ICE02 site resulting in a 92% reduction in CO2 output and an 85% reduction in cost. "We are delighted to be acknowledged at RAC's Annual Cooling Awards," says Anna Kristin Palsdottir, CDO, at atNorth. "The cooling of digital infrastructure is becoming a fundamental factor in choosing a data center partner and we are committed to raising awareness of more sustainable options in the industry." The news follows atNorth's win in the 'Digital Infrastructure Project of the Year' category at the Tech Capital Awards and the 'Colocation Provider of the Year' category at the Electrical Review & Data Centre Review Awards . Additionally, the business has also achieved considerable recognition by multiple other awarding bodies including TechRound's Sustainability60 campaign , the Data Cloud Global Awards , the Energy Awards , the DCS Awards and the UK Green Business Awards . About atNorth atNorth is a leading Nordic data center services company that offers sustainable, cost-effective, scalable colocation and high-performance computing services trusted by industry-leading organizations. The business acquired leading High-Performance Computing (HPC) provider, Gompute, in 2023 enabling a compelling full stack offering tailored to AI and other critical high-performance workloads. With sustainability at its core, atNorth's data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments. The tailor-made solutions enable businesses to calculate, simulate, train and visualize data workloads in an efficient, cost-optimized way. atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates seven data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, with additional sites to open in Helsinki, Finland and in Denmark in Q4 2024, as well as its tenth site ready for operation in Kouvola, Finland in 2025. For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn or Facebook. Press Contact: Caroline Brunton Kite Hill PR for atNorth +44 (0) 7796 274 416 caroline@kitehillpr.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/atnorth-recognized-at-rac-cooling-industry-awards,c4008214 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/18907/4008214/2890233.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/atnorth/i/ice03-02227-front-left-close,c3315797 ICE03 02227 front left close View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/atnorth-recognized-at-rac-cooling-industry-awards-302185567.html Coffee Leaders Partner to Test and Validate the Low-Carbon Coffee Technology BERKELEY, Calif. and LONDON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Bellwether Coffee , the technology company transforming retailers into sustainable on-site roasters, is announcing its pilot partnership with Square Mile Roasters , the award-winning coffee roasting company co-founded by specialty coffee pioneer James Hoffmann. The partnership marks an important milestone for the clean micro-roastery movement in the UK and Europe, as it would allow Square Mile to roast in multiple locations across Europe and the UK with identical results and without a loss in quality or consistency. The announcement comes after Hoffmann demonstrated Bellwether's capabilities during a solar-powered roasting experiment in the desert of Indio, California in 2023. "Sustainability is always top of mind, and last year's roasting experiment proved to me that Bellwether's roaster is capable of creating high-quality coffee with a drastically reduced carbon footprint," Hoffmann said. "Early results of test roasts are going well and we look forward to sharing more as we work with Bellwether to fine-tune our high-quality coffee now with a low-carbon footprint." Square Mile, which is based in London anticipates by partnering with the electric roasting company they will align the needs of Europe's specialty coffee roasters and will provide critical product feedback for Bellwether as the pilot progresses. Square Mile chose to test Bellwether's machines because of its ease of use, consistent quality, the ability to onboard quickly, and its sustainable practices. Square Mile will use Bellwether's new Shop Roaster, which enables more retailers to serve fresher coffee at a fraction of the cost while reducing their carbon footprint. Bellwether's lower-cost roaster was developed in response to the increased demand for electric coffee roasting worldwide. "James and Square Mile are important leaders in the micro-roastery movement not only in London, but in our global coffee community, and their pilot partnership with Bellwether helps prove to industry peers that electric roasting is the future," said Ben Ireland, Managing Director - Europe of Bellwether Coffee. "The coffee sector is beginning to change to cleaner technology - and more roasteries understand that high-quality, clean results at a profit are attainable." The Bellwether Shop Roaster is a small-format, high-throughput electric roaster that seamlessly fits into any retail environment, allowing all businesses, even those with limited space, to roast hundreds of pounds of coffee each week. The fully automated system is offered as a countertop roaster or with a Continuous Roasting Upgrade and includes access to the Bellwether Green Coffee Marketplace - a global library of expertly sourced coffees paired with custom roast profiles, allowing retailers to source and roast fresh, world-class coffee. Because retailers can roast more than 20 kgs of coffee in a single operation, they can reduce costs while crafting consistently fresh, high-quality, delicious coffee while lowering their carbon footprint. Electric roasting is a powerful alternative to gas-powered roasting, which generates 15% of the industry's carbon footprint. The Bellwether Shop Roaster cuts wholesale coffee costs in half and reduces the carbon footprint of a pound of coffee by an average of 87%, for less than the cost of an espresso machine. Because the Bellwether system is simple to install and operate, anyone can roast the highest quality, most sustainable coffee. In addition, no gas lines, vents, construction, or training are required to set it up and start roasting. For more information about Bellwether Coffee and its Roasting Platform or to reserve your Shop Roaster, visit www.bellwethercoffee.com . About Bellwether Coffee Bellwether Coffee is transforming retailers into sustainable, on-site roasters. The Bellwether Electric Roasting Platform delivers one solution for sourcing, roasting, and increasing the profitability of coffee businesses while improving farmer livelihoods and reducing the industry's carbon footprint. By eliminating fossil fuels from the global coffee roasting process and strengthening the supply chain, Bellwether is creating a better future for retailers, farmers, and the planet. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2296700/Bellwether_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/square-mile-coffee-roasters-announces-pilot-testing-of-bellwether-coffees-electric-roasting-technology-to-expand-operations-302184382.html LONDON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Evulpo, a leading company in the ed-tech industry, is thrilled to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious Formal Education (K12) award at the 2024 EdTechX Awards. The EdTechX Awards celebrate organizations that drive positive change in education, preparing students for success in an increasingly digital world. Evulpo's recognition in the Formal Education (K12) category underscores its leadership and commitment to transforming education through technology, making significant contributions to K12 education with innovative approaches and its dedication to helping with school subjects. "In a fierce competition for this award, with 17 finalists, evulpo emerged as the sole winner," said IBIS Capital, operator of the EdTechX Awards. "Its sustained business growth in making private tutoring accessible to all has set a benchmark in the industry." Evulpo supports K12 students with personalised learning paths, stress-free learning through bite-sized content, and an interactive, engaging environment designed to boost educational outcomes and study motivation. The company's commitment to excellence and promoting educational equity has positioned it as a leader in the EdTech sector. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organisers of the EdTechX Awards and our dedicated team at evulpo for their hard work," said Dr. Christian Marty, CEO and co-founder of evulpo. "This award highlights our dedication to providing high-quality educational resources, helping students globally with homework completion, exam preparation, and understanding core school subjects through enjoyable learning experiences. "Excellent tutoring should not be a privilege of a few," explains Dr. Christian Marty. "It must be accessible to many, especially at a time when countless countries are failing to reduce inequality of opportunity in education. Our goal is simple: to provide the best tutoring experience in the world at a price that practically every family can afford." For more information, please visit evulpo website. About evulpo Evulpo was founded in Zurich in 2020 by historian Dr. Christian Marty, engineer Manuel Kant, and economist Jonas Fehlmann. The company has set itself the goal of democratising access to tutoring. After raising 2.3 million francs in the angel round (2021), the EdTech company secured 7.7 million francs in the seed round (2022). At the end of 2023, it also received approximately 2.4 million Swiss francs in the form of a convertible loan. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/evulpo-wins-top-global-honor-in-formal-education-recognized-for-outstanding-support-with-school-subjects-302185575.html Alessio Perrucci has won two prestigious titles in the 2024 Business Worldwide CEO Awards. The head of ClimaConvenienza was named 'Most Innovative E-commerce CEO of the Year - Italy' and 'Digital Transformation CEO of the Year - Italy'. LONDON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Worldwide CEO Awards celebrate the achievements of exceptional C-level executives across various industries worldwide. Unlike many awards that focus solely on company performance, these awards honour the individual success of senior executives, including CEOs, Managing Directors, and other high-level managers, inspiring others to strive for similar excellence. Alessio Perrucci's journey as CEO of ClimaConvenienza is marked by a multifaceted career in sales management, e-commerce, and digital marketing. With over a decade of experience, Perrucci has navigated the complexities of the business landscape, establishing a prominent presence in the industry. His entrepreneurial ventures and expertise in online business operations showcase a deep understanding of consumer behaviour and digital market trends. Perrucci's tenure at ClimaConvenienza underscores his ability to lead and execute sales strategies while adapting to evolving market dynamics. His visionary approach has driven the company's exponential growth and commitment to customer satisfaction. Under his leadership, ClimaConvenienza has experienced a staggering 100% surge in turnover over three years. "It's not just a statistic," he proudly states. "It's a reflection of our unwavering dedication to providing unparalleled value to our customers." Instead of merely celebrating its remarkable achievements, Perrucci and ClimaConvenienza have harnessed this momentum to propel the company further. This includes forming a one-holding company and acquiring Caldaiemurali, a powerhouse in the Italian market. This strategic alliance has cemented ClimaConvenienza's dominance in Italy's HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and Thermohydraulics sectors. Looking ahead, ClimaConvenienza aims to expand beyond national borders, moving to the rest of Europe with a particular focus on penetrating the vibrant markets of France and Germany. As ClimaConvenienza charts its course towards new horizons guided by Alessio Perrucci, its dedication to providing competitively priced cutting-edge solutions remains steadfast. The company's innovative approach and strategic partnerships are set to exceed customer expectations across Europe and beyond. For more information about ClimaConvenienza and its pioneering work, visit ClimaConvenienza'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 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/alessio-perrucci-of-climaconvenienza-wins-two-2024-business-worldwide-ceo-awards-302184912.html Anglesey Mining Plc - Result of Placing and Subscription PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, June 28 THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR NEW ZEALAND OR IN OR INTO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT ITSELF CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS OR OFFERING MEMORANDUM OR AN OFFER FOR SALE OR SUBSCRIPTION IN RESPECT OF ANY SECURITIES IN THE COMPANY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR CONTAIN ANY INVITATION, SOLICITATION, RECOMMENDATION, OFFER OR ADVICE TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR, OTHERWISE ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES OF ANGLESEY MINING PLC IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD BREACH ANY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY THE COMPANY TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UK DOMESTIC LAW PURSUANT TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. 28 June 2024 Anglesey Mining Plc ("Anglesey Mining", "Anglesey", the "Company" or the "Group") (AIM:AYM) Result of Placing and Subscription Anglesey Mining Plc (AIM:AYM) is pleased to announce that, further to its announcement of 7 a.m.. (London time) on 28 June 2024, it has successfully completed and closed the Placing and Subscription. The Placing and Subscription raised, in aggregate, gross proceeds of 415,000. The Placing comprises the placing of 32,500,000 Ordinary Shares (the "Placing Shares") with certain institutional and other investors at a price of 1 pence per share (the "Issue Price"), and the Subscription comprised a subscription of 9,000,000 Ordinary Shares ("Subscription Shares") at a price of 1 pence per share. The Placing and Subscription is conditional on, amongst other matters, Admission. The net proceeds of the Placing and Subscription will be applied to developmental work at Parys Mountain, advancing development options at Grangesberg Iron Ore Mine, debt repayment; and general working capital purposes. The Company has been notified of the following participants in the Subscription (conditional only on admission of the Subscription Shares to trading on AIM): PDMR Participation in the Subscription Name Role Ordinary Shares subscribed for in the Subscription Total Holding of the enlarged Share Capital after the Subscription Percentage holding of the enlarged Share Capital after the Placing and Subscription Rob Marsden Chief Executive Officer 1,000,000 1,251,103 0.27 Andrew King Interim-Chairman 2,000,000 2,000,000 0.43 Substantial Shareholder Participation Energold Minerals Inc. has subscribed for 6,000,000 Ordinary Shares in the Subscription increasing its total holding in the Company to 95,108,204 Ordinary Shares (being 20.6% of the enlarged share capital of the Company after completion of the Placing and the Subscription). Admission and Total Voting Rights Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for admission of the Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares, (being a total of 41,500,000 Ordinary Shares) to trading on AIM. It is expected that admission will become effective and dealings in the Placing Shares commence on AIM at 8.00 a.m. on 04 July 2024 (or such later date as may be agreed between the Company and the Bookrunner, but no later than 28 July 2024). The Placing Shares and the Subscription Shares will be issued fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's existing Ordinary Shares. Following Admission, the total number of Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company in issue will be 461,593,017 with voting rights. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company's share capital pursuant to (i) the Company's Articles, (ii) the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and/or (iii) the AIM Rules for Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange plc as amended from time to time. Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Company's announcement made at 7.00 a.m. on 28 June 2024, unless the context requires otherwise. For further information on the Company, please visit www.angleseymining.co.uk or contact: Enquiries: Anglesey Mining Plc www.angleseymining.co.uk Rob Marsden, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +44 (0)7531 475111 Andrew King, Interim-Chairman Tel: +44 (0)7825 963700 Davy (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Brian Garrahy Tel: +353 1 679 6363 Daragh O'Reilly WH Ireland Limited (Joint Broker & Bookrunner) Harry Ansell Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666 Katy Mitchell Notification And Public Disclosure Of Transactions By Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities And Persons Closely Associated With Them 1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Andrew King 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Interim Chairman b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Anglesey Mining Plc b) LEI: 213800X8BO8EK2B4HQ71 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary shares of 1 pence each GB0000320472 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of ordinary shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) 1 pence 2,000,000 d) Aggregated information: Aggregated volume: Price: N/A e) Date of the transaction: 28 June 2024 f) Place of the transaction: Outside a trading venue 1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated a) Name: Rob Marsden 2. Reason for the notification a) Position/status: Chief Executive Officer b) Initial notification/Amendment: Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name: Anglesey Mining Plc b) LEI: 213800X8BO8EK2B4HQ71 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument: Identification code: Ordinary shares of 1 pence each GB0000320472 b) Nature of the transaction: Purchase of ordinary shares c) Price(s) and volume(s): Price(s) Volume(s) 1 pence 1,000,000 d) Aggregated information: Aggregated volume: Price: N/A e) Date of the transaction: 28 June 2024 f) Place of the transaction: Outside a trading venue IMPORTANT INFORMATION The distribution of this announcement, including its Appendix (together, the "Announcement") and the offering of the Placing Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by the Company or the Bookrunner that would permit an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this Announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this Announcement comes are required by the Company and the Bookrunner to inform themselves about, and to observe such restrictions. In particular, the Announcement is not for publication, release, transmission distribution or forwarding, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand or any other jurisdiction in which publication, release or distribution would be unlawful. This Announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or issue, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, acquire or subscribe for shares in the capital of the Company in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand or any other state or jurisdiction. This Announcement has not been approved by the London Stock Exchange. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdictions. The Placing Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered, sold, pledged, taken up, exercised, resold, renounced, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. The Placing Shares have not been approved, disapproved or recommended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other U.S. regulatory authority, nor have any of the foregoing authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Placing Shares. Subject to certain exceptions, the securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa. No public offering of the Placing Shares is being made in the United States, United Kingdom or elsewhere. All offers of the Placing Shares will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/1129) ("Prospectus Regulation") or the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the EUWA ("UK Prospectus Regulation") and other enacting measures (as the case may be) from the requirement to produce a prospectus. This Announcement is being distributed to persons in the United Kingdom only in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply. No prospectus will be made available in connection with the matters contained in this Announcement and no such prospectus is required (in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation or UK Prospectus Regulation) to be published. This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein are for information purposes only and are directed only at persons who are: (a) persons in Member States who are Qualified Investors (as defined in Article 2(E) of the Prospectus Regulation); and (b) in the United Kingdom, Qualified Investors who are persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"); (ii) are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc") of the Order; or (iii) are persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated; (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this Announcement must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so. Any investment or investment activity to which this Announcement and the terms and conditions set out herein relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. This Announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "anticipates", "targets", "aims", "continues", "expects", "intends", "hopes", "may", "will", "would", "could" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include matters that are not facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this Announcement and include statements regarding the Directors' intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, amongst other things, the Group's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industries in which the Group operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. A number of factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: ability to find appropriate investments in which to invest and to realise investments held by the Group; conditions in the public markets; the market position of the Group; the earnings, financial position, cash flows, return on capital and operating margins of the Group; the anticipated investments and capital expenditures of the Group; changing business or other market conditions; changes in political or tax regimes, exchange rates and clients; and general economic conditions. These and other factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking statements contained in this Announcement based on past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Subject to any requirement under the AIM Rules or other applicable legislation or regulation, neither the Company nor the Bookrunner undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Announcement. No statement in this Announcement or incorporated by reference into this Announcement is intended to constitute a profit forecast or profit estimate for any period, nor should any statement be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for the Company. This Announcement contains information regarding the Company's business and the markets in which it operates and competes, which the Company has obtained from various third party sources. Where information has been sourced from a third party it has been accurately reproduced and, so far as the Company is aware and is able to ascertain from the information published by that third party, no facts have been omitted which would render the reproduced information inaccurate or misleading. Such information has not been audited or independently verified. Certain data in this Announcement, including financial, statistical and operating information, has been rounded. This Announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This Announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by the Bookrunner or by any of their respective affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this Announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. J&E Davy ("Davy"), which is authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland, is acting as nominated adviser to the Company and no one else in connection with the matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person for providing the protections afforded to customers of Davy or for advising any other person in connection with any matter referred to herein. The responsibilities of Davy as the Company's nominated adviser under the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to any director or shareholder of the Company or any other person, in respect of its decision to acquire shares in the capital of the Company in reliance on any part of this Announcement, or otherwise. WH Ireland Limited ("WHI"), which is authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as broker to the Company and no one else in connection with the matters described in this Announcement and will not be responsible to any person for providing the protections afforded to customers of WHI or for advising any other person in connection with any matter referred to herein. The responsibilities of WHI as the Company's joint broker and bookrunner under the AIM Rules for Companies are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange and are not owed to the Company or to any director or shareholder of the Company or any other person, in respect of its decision to acquire shares in the capital of the Company in reliance on any part of this Announcement, or otherwise. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of the Appendix or this Announcement should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. The Placing Shares to which this Announcement relates may be illiquid and / or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective subscribers of the Placing Shares should conduct their own due diligence on the Placing Shares. If you do not understand the contents of this Announcement you should consult an authorised financial adviser. Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this Announcement. Information to Distributors Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Placing Shares have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that such securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Placing Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Placing Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Placing Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the Placing. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Bookrunner will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties. For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Placing Shares. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Placing Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels. LEEDS, England, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- thebigword, a leader in language solutions, is proud to highlight a series of new initiatives designed to enhance Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and further promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) within the organisation and communities served. As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, thebigword planted 60 trees at a local primary school, capturing an estimated 35 tonnes of carbon and contributing to cooling the atmosphere. This initiative also served to raise environmental awareness among the 60 pupils who participated in the tree-planting activities. In addition, thebigword is supporting Zarach, a Leeds-based charity, by actively engaging in volunteer initiatives aimed at delivering beds and new clothing to underprivileged children. Through thebigword's 5,745 paid volunteering days program, employees have dedicated significant time to aiding this local charity, making a tangible difference in the lives of many children. Furthermore, thebigword has celebrated key events such as International Yoga Day and World Environment Day for its internal staff. These celebrations included inviting prominent speakers to support employees' physical strength, flexibility and mental clarity. Additionally, environmental awareness was highlighted through speakers from sustainable initiatives, including representatives from the Serum Institute of India. thebigword believes a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for fostering innovation and growth. Our commitment to this principle is reflected in several key initiatives for our workforce. In June, following a sanitary product drive in support of International Women's Day, we donated sanitary products to a local community centre. thebigword will continue to collect hygiene donations to ensure that underprivileged individuals have more frequent access to these essential items. Additionally, thebigword hosted two internal staff training sessions on Autism Awareness in collaboration with the Leeds Autism Society. These sessions introduced neurodiversity and provided guidance on how to support individuals on the autism spectrum. To celebrate Pride Month also in June, thebigword partnered with Sparkle, The National Transgender Charity, to deliver a talk to employees and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues. Joshua Gould, Chief Executive Officer at thebigword said: "Our commitment to CSR and ED&I is not just a corporate obligation, but a reflection of our core values. We believe that by investing in our communities and fostering an inclusive workplace globally, we can drive meaningful change and inspire others to do the same." Throughout the year, thebigword will continue with a number of initiatives for promoting equality, social responsibility, environmental sustainability and ethical business practices. These include religious and social awareness days, British Sign Language (BSL) training for the whole business, becoming a level 3 disability-confident employer in the UK, contributing to renewable solar power in India and tree planting within the UK and Africa. For more information about our CSR and ED&I initiatives, please visit www.thebigword.com. Media Contact: Lauren McMullen Global Head of Marketing thebigword Group lauren.mcmullen@thebigword.com About thebigword: As one of the largest language service providers globally, thebigword utilises the greatest minds and boundary-shattering technology to deliver phenomenal quality at scale to both our clients and linguist network. thebigword provides the best translation, interpretation, localisation and language technology solutions for businesses, the public sector and individuals - handling up to 50,000 worldwide assignments every day. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2161341/4787138/thebigword_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thebigword-showcases-commitment-to-corporate-social-responsibility-and-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-302185022.html Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial. Im kostenlosen, exklusiven Spezialreport prasentieren wir ihnen 5 innovative KI-Unternehmen, die bahnbrechende Entwicklungen in diesem Sektor pragen konnten. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Trotz der jungsten Erfolge steht die Entwicklung der kunstlichen Intelligenz noch am Beginn eines neuen Superzyklus. Experten gehen davon aus, dass der Sektor bis 2032 global auf 1,3 Billionen US-Dollar explodieren wird, wobei ein groer Teil auf Hardware und Infrastruktur entfallen wird. Nutzen Sie die Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 5 KI-Aktien das grote Potenzial zur Vervielfachung besitzen. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen die aussichtsreichsten Investments im KI-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! DALIAN, China, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From June 25 to 27, 2024, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the "Summer Davos Forum," was held in Dalian, China, attracting global leaders from various sectors. Among the influential speakers were Dean Li Haitao and Professor of Marketing Zhu Rui from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB), underscoring the school's impact as a leading voice on global economics. Dean Li Haitao, who is also Dean's Distinguished Chair Professor of Finance at CKGSB, delivered an insightful speech at the "Squaring Debt and Growth" forum on the opening day of the Summer Davos Forum, sharing his expertise on sustainable debt management and how to balance that with inclusive economic growth, a topic of critical importance in today's global economic landscape. Dean Li emphasized that debt, when used effectively, can be a neutral tool rather than a burden, a perspective that resonated with attendees from political, business, and academic circles, sparking a robust discussion on sustainable growth. In addition to his keynote presentation, Dean Li also participated in three exclusive, closed-door seminars on "Industrial Transformation in the Digital Era," "Dialogue on DEAL: The Future of the Digital Economy Agreements" and "Scenario Planning: Reimagining Value Chain for 2040," contributing to high-level discussions that impact future economic strategies. Besides Dean Li's participation, CKGSB's Professor of Marketing and Director of the ESG and Social Innovation Center, Zhu Rui, also spoke at the prestigious forum as a keynote speaker at the closed-door seminar on " Advancing Asia's Value Chain Decarbonization." The 2024 WEF brought together over 1,700 senior leaders from around the world. During the forum, CKGSB further extended its influence by co-organizing the "2024 WEF Phoenix Media and CKGSB Night" on June 26 with Phoenix Finance, a leading financial media in China. This event provided a platform for CKGSB's alumni and global leaders to discuss hot topics, fostering collaboration and sharing insights on emerging economic trends. CKGSB's involvement in the WEF reflects the school's dedication to thought leadership and its role in shaping the future of global business. By contributing pioneering and original knowledge to high-level discussions, CKGSB continues to transform the future of business and economic practices, reinforcing its position as a leading global business school driving responsible, sustainable and innovative business development. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cheung-kong-graduate-school-of-business-showcases-thought-leadership-at-world-economic-forum-in-dalian-302185669.html Women beat a drum at a drum circle at the annual Rainbow Gathering on July 2, 2021, in the Carson National Forest, outside of Taos, N.M. Hundreds of Rainbow members were still in a Plumas County forest as a deadline to vacate neared. Cedar Attanasio/Associated Press 2021 At least 400 members of the Rainbow Family, a nomadic community of thousands who make pilgrimages to different forests each year, have not left the Plumas National Forest days after they were told to vacate the area. The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday ordered more than 500 members of the Rainbow Family dubbed the largest non-organization of non-members in the world to disperse from an area about 5 miles north of Antelope Lake Recreational Area in Plumas County. Those who hadnt left in 48 hours would be subject to $5,000 in fines or jail time, officials said. Its OK to hate hippies?: Rainbow Family irked by California reception Advertisement Article continues below this ad The group chose the Plumas National Forest without securing the necessary permits for their annual gathering, which can bring up to 10,000 attendees. This appears to be the first time that campers have been ordered to end their gathering. By Friday morning, the number of Rainbow gatherers had dwindled, but officers were still using their discretion on issuing violations and citations, said Hilary Markin, spokesperson for the Forest Service. Its kind of an evolving situation, and were still evaluating that, said Markin, when asked what would happen to the campers who havent vacated by the end of the 48-hour notice. But we have all the tools in the toolbox to be able to issue violations. As of Friday afternoon, law enforcement officials arrested four people and issued 14 violation notices requiring court appearances. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Forest service officials, who are blocking entry to the forest to keep more gatherers from coming in, said the order was issued to protect tribal, cultural and natural resources, in addition to concerns about fire safety and public health. Lassen County Supervisor Jason Ingram called the situation complete chaos. The Rainbow group is so divided, he said. Groups have split off into people that respect the land and people who are hardheads drug addicts rolling around with illegal firearms and threatening people online. Ingram said he had received death threats online and calls from Rainbow Family members pretending to be reporters. But, he maintained, he believed law enforcement officers were taking the situation seriously. Advertisement Article continues below this ad RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new world-class airline and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), in collaboration with the Saudi fashion designer Ashi, founder of Parisian couture house ASHI Studio, has unveiled its first-ever fashion collection, during Haute Couture Week in Paris. The airline took to the runway in style showcasing its stunning new lifestyle collection for its frontline team members in the fashion capital of the world. The exclusive fashion line is made up of dozens of male and female looks, of which 15 were revealed during the most prestigious fashion week of the year. The luxury Riyadh Air concepts unveiled in Paris comprised of timeless cashmere outerwear, dresses and trousers made of fine wools, custom leather footwear, amethyst earrings, and iconic pillbox hats, all of which are inspired by 1950s airline fashion, widely considered as the 'golden age' in aviation, but with bold, modern styling for a future-forward brand. Riyadh Air and Lucid, maker of the world's most advanced electric vehicles, also took the opportunity during Haute Couture Week in Paris to reaffirm their shared commitment to sustainable transport and eco-friendly practices. Lucid and Riyadh Air have an innovative partnership with a shared vision for the future of sustainable transportation exploring the collaboration across co-marketing, commercial, and operational streams for guests. Ashi has cultivated completely new color tones for the looks, including the chic and elegant Electric Amethyst for womenswear, and Dark Amethyst for menswear, of which the full collection is scheduled for launch early next year. The amethyst shades pay homage to Saudi Arabia's lavender fields and are rooted within Riyadh Air's primary color. Ashi took inspiration from the Riyadh Air aircraft livery to deliver completely bespoke colors for the new timeless collection. They were also carefully designed to complement the cabin interiors which will be revealed later this year. Ten womenswear looks were showcased on the runway, each of which were complemented by accessories such as trademark shoes and hats. Five menswear looks were also unveiled during the showcase. Ashi included distinctive Riyadh Air elements within the concepts, such as the iconic canopy twist found in the Riyadh Air brand, and incorporated them in the lines, shadows and the silhouettes of the new fashion line. The coats and jackets worn at the Paris launch also include the same modern lines as seen on the Riyadh Air logo. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: "This has been a landmark occasion for Riyadh Air, and it shows just how far we've come in a short space of time. For a start-up airline to be showcasing our new fashion collection during Haute Couture Week in Paris shows what an impact Riyadh Air is having globally. Working with Ashi on these designs has been a tremendous experience for all of us and we're all very proud to be able to show off the creations and the full range early next year. We have no doubt that the fashion line will soon be recognizable to people all over the world, and that the designs will leave a lasting impression on our guests by the proud team members that wear them. When you get up close to the garments you can see the level of detail and intricacy that Ashi has included, which is in complete alignment of our values and attention to detail at Riyadh Air." Ashi, Founder and Creative Director of ASHI STUDIO said: "Designing for the new national airline from Saudi Arabia has had a big impact on me knowing that we are making a mark in history. Fashion and aviation have seen collaborations in the past, but its pinnacle was over 50 years ago and I was keen to be inspired by that time. This is an amazing collaboration where fashion is helping to make an airline modern with completely unique looks. It shows that Riyadh Air has no limits and that luxury and attention to detail is key across every aspect of the experience. It's another first for Riyadh Air and I'm proud to collaborate with the airline." Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jXLJ0srNRgs5oA2pOoXye3RmsUX_X6lC Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450749/Haute_Couture_Week.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450750/Haute_Couture_Week_Paris.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2367414/4788473/Riyadh_Air_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/riyadh-air-and-saudi-arabian-creative-director-ashi-reveal-stunning-collection-during-haute-couture-week-in-paris-302185674.html SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SGQ)(HK:1878) ("SouthGobi" or the "Company") hereby announces: (i) the resolutions set out in the Management Proxy Circular of the Company dated May 13, 2024 (Vancouver time) (the "Circular") were duly passed by ballot at the annual general meeting (the "Meeting") of the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") held on June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time), at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; (ii) the appointment of Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi as an independent non-executive director of the Company, with effect from June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time); (iii) the appointment of Mr. Yingbin Ian He as the lead director of the Company (the "Lead Director"), with effect from June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time); (iv) the change in composition of board committees of the Company; and (v) the dissolution of operations committee of the Company (the "Operations Committee"). VOTING RESULTS OF THE MEETING Reference is made to the Circular. Unless the context otherwise requires, the capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Circular. In respect to the Meeting, the following sets forth a brief description of each matter which was voted upon at the Meeting and the outcome of the vote: ORDINARY RESOLUTION FOR WITHHELD (note (a)) 1. Appointment of Auditors To appoint BDO Limited, Certified Public Accountants (Practicing), Hong Kong, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at a remuneration to be fixed by the board of directors. 132,914,920 (99.99%) 200 (0.01%) ORDINARY RESOLUTION FOR AGAINST 2. Number of Directors To fix the number of directors of the Company to be elected at the Meeting at eight (8). 132,912,020 (99.04%) 1,281,950 (0.06%) ORDINARY RESOLUTION FOR WITHHELD (note (a)) 3. Election of Directors The following Director nominees proposed by management of the Company for election: Ruibin Xu 132,914,920 (99.99%) 200 (0.01%) Chonglin Zhu 132,914,920 (99.99%) 200 (0.01%) Chen Shen 132,912,020 (99.99%) 3,100 (0.01%) Zhu Gao 132,912,920 (99.99%) 2,200 (0.01%) Zaixiang Wen 132,912,920 (99.99%) 2,200 (0.01%) Yingbin Ian He 132,912,320 (99.99%) 2,800 (0.01%) Jin Lan Quan 132,912,320 (99.99%) 2,800 (0.01%) Fan Keung Vic Choi 132,912,920 (99.99%) 2,200 (0.01%) Notes: Please refer to the announcement of the Company dated April 3, 2023 (Vancouver time) and the paragraphs headed "Majority Voting Policy for Directors" and "Majority Voting Policy for Auditors" under the Circular for details of the waiver from Hong Kong Listing Rules granted by HKEX on two-way voting and the relevant majority voting policy adopted by the Company. As more than 50% of votes were cast in favor of resolutions #1, #2 and #3 above, all such resolutions duly passed as ordinary resolutions at the Meeting. As at the Record Date of the Meeting, the total number of issued shares of the Company was 295,768,529 Common Shares, being the total number of shares entitling the holders to attend and vote on the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. The full text of the aforesaid resolutions was set out in the Circular. Save as disclosed in note (a) above, there were (i) no Common Shares entitling the holders to attend and abstain from voting in favor of any resolution at the Meeting as set out in Rule 13.40 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules at the Meeting; and (ii) no Shareholder was required under the Hong Kong Listing Rules to abstain from voting on the resolutions at the Meeting and these were no restrictions on any Shareholder casting vote on the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. None of the Shareholders have stated their intention in the Circular to vote against or to abstain from voting on any of the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. The Company's principal share registrar, TSX Trust Company, acted as the scrutineer for the vote-taking at the Meeting. The executive directors, Messrs. Ruibin Xu, Chen Shen and Ms. Chonglin Zhu attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities. Of the non-executive directors, Mr. Zaixiang Wen attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities and Mr. Zhu Gao was absent due to his other business commitments. The independent non-executive directors, Mr. Yingbin Ian He attended the Meeting in person and Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi and Ms. Jin Lan Quan attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities. There was no further item brought before the Meeting and no amendment or variation were proposed at the Meeting. APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi was elected and appointed as an independent non-executive director and appointed as Chair of the Compensation and Benefits Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees immediately upon conclusion of the Meeting. The biographical details of Mr. Choi are as below: Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi, aged 59, is a solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong. Since September 2018, Mr. Choi has been a consultant solicitor of Messrs. Howse Williams, an independent Hong Kong law firm, primarily focused on advising and representing banks and financial industry participants in defending investigations and prosecutions brought by regulators and law enforcement agencies. He is an independent non-executive director of Shoucheng Holdings Limited (HKEX stock code: 0697), an investment holding company mainly engaged in the management of private funds and management and operations of car parking assets. Mr. Choi's career has spanned over 40 years, with a focus on regulatory compliance, compliance management, prevention and control of commercial crime and investigation and has extensive experience in legal practice and, crime investigation and prosecution. In addition to his practice at Messrs. Howse Williams, Mr. Choi has acted as General Counsel for listed company and regulated fund management firm. He was employed by HSBC Bank (China) Co., Ltd. (May 2010 to December 2014), and served as deputy head of compliance, area compliance office in China and head of compliance where he managed over 160 compliance officers and was responsible for regulatory compliance and prevention and control of financial crime in over 60 cities in China. Mr. Choi obtained a bachelor degree, Post graduate certificate and a Master's degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong. He is a member of the Law Society of Hong Kong, a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a director on the Board of its Hong Kong Chapter. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors. There is no specific term or proposed length of service for Mr. Choi as an independent non-executive director but Mr. Choi will be subject to retirement and re-election at the annual general meeting of the Company in accordance with the articles of continuation of the Company. Consistent with existing directors' compensation, the director's fees for Mr. Choi will be determined by the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") based on the recommendation of the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, which is comprised of independent non-executive directors of the Company. As at the date of this announcement, save as disclosed above, Mr. Choi does not (i) hold any directorships in other public companies, the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong or overseas, over the last three years preceding the date of this announcement or other major appointments and professional qualifications; (ii) hold any other position with any member of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group") and has not previously held any other position with any member of the Group; (iii) have any interest in the shares, underlying shares or debentures of the Company or any of its associated corporations within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong); and (iv) have any relationship with any directors, senior management, or substantial or controlling Shareholders. Saved as disclosed above, there is no other information relating to the appointment of Mr. Choi that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 13.51(2)(h) to (v) of the Hong Kong Listing Rules nor any matters that need to be brought to the attention of the Shareholders. The Board would like to welcome Mr. Choi for joining the Board. APPOINTMENT OF LEAD DIRECTOR AND CHANGE OF COMPOSITION OF BOARD COMMITTEES Mr. Mao Sun did not stand for re-election at the Meeting. Following the Meeting, Mr. Sun ceased to be an independent non-executive director, the Lead Director of the Company, the Chair of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation and Benefits Committee. Immediately following Mr. Sun's cessation of the positions mentioned above, Mr. Yingbin Ian He, an independent non-executive director of the Company, was appointed as the Lead Director of the Company. Ms. Jin Lan Quan was appointed as the Chair of the Audit Committee. The Board would like to take this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to Mr. Sun for his invaluable contributions to the Company and leadership to the Board during his tenure of service. DISSOLUTION OF OPERATIONS COMMITTEE The Company advises that, as the Operations Committee has fulfilled its mandate, the Board has approved the dissolution of the Operations Committee, effective June 27, 2024 (Vancouver, Canada). About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. Contact: Investor Relations Email: info@southgobi.com Mr. Ruibin Xu Chief Executive Officer Office: +1 604 762 6783 (Canada) +852 2156 1438 (Hong Kong) Website: www.southgobi.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: SouthGobi Resources Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / NV Gold Corporation (TSXV:NVX)(OTCQB:NVGLF)(FSE:8NV) ("NV Gold" or the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated April 19, 2024, the Company and John Watson (the "Lender"), the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, have entered into agreements to extend the maturity date of (i) a US$100,000 secured loan issued by the Lender to the Company on June 26, 2023; and (ii) a US$100,000 secured loan issued by the Lender to the Company on July 10, 2023 (collectively, the "Loans"). The maturity date of the Loans has been extended to the earlier of (i) July 10, 2025; and (ii) the date the Lender demands repayment of the applicable Loan. Each of the Loans were originally due to mature on the earlier of: (i) one year from the effective date of the applicable Loan; and (ii) the date the Lender demands repayment of the applicable Loan. The Loans are secured by a share pledge agreement, pursuant to which the Company pledged to the Lender all of the issued and outstanding common shares of NV Gold Corporation (USA), Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("NV Gold USA"). NV Gold USA holds the Company's mineral projects and lease agreements in the United States. Multilateral Instrument 61-101 The entering into of the Amending Agreements are each a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as the Lender is an insider of the Company. The Company has relied on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(f) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the transactions did not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization and the Amending Agreements are on reasonable commercial terms that are not less advantageous to the Company than if the Loans were obtained from a person dealing at arm's length with the Company. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the entering into of the Amending Agreements as the terms of the Amending Agreements were not settled until shortly prior to execution and the Company and the parties wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. About NV Gold Corporation NV Gold owns 100% interest in 21 mineral exploration projects in Nevada, USA, comprising 639 mining claims totalling 53.4 square kilometers (20.6 square miles). The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is focused on delivering value through mineral discoveries in Nevada. Leveraging its expansive property portfolio, its highly experienced in-house technical team, its extensive geological data library, and the recent increase in the price of gold, 2024 is expected to be highly productive for NV Gold. On behalf of the Board of Directors, John Watson, President, Chairman, CEO and Director For further information, visit the Company's website at www.nvgoldcorp.com or contact: Freeform Communications at 604.245.0054 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, management's plans and expectations regarding the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company's objectives will be achieved as currently anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the Company will not meet its objectives as currently anticipated. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. SOURCE: NV Gold Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com For the 10th year, United Way has recognized Entergy as a top 10 company for creating positive, lasting change across Southeast Louisiana NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / United Way of Southeast Louisiana, or UWSELA, recently recognized Entergy as the leading company in their Top 10 Most Generous Workplaces for 2023-2024. This is the 10th year in a row Entergy has been recognized in the top 10 list. "Our collaboration with Entergy has been pivotal in our steadfast dedication to bridging divides and fostering avenues for prosperity so that every individual in our community can thrive in health, education and financial stability," said UWSELA President and CEO Michael Williamson. "Congratulations to Entergy for securing the top ranking, and heartfelt appreciation goes to our unwavering partners who drive UWSELA's mission to eliminate poverty across Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes." The annual ranking recognizes businesses in UWSELA's seven-parish service area that are investing in a more vibrant Southeast Louisiana and its residents through employee contributions, volunteerism, corporate gifts, in-kind support and fundraisers. In 2023, Entergy shareholders and employees raised or contributed more than $1.1 million to UWSELA. "We are honored to be recognized as the leader of the top ten most generous companies in Southeast Louisiana," said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy's vice president of corporate social responsibility. "This recognition reflects our unwavering dedication to supporting the very communities where we live and work to create a positive impact. By collaborating with United Way, we are strengthening our workforce, boosting the local economy and enhancing the overall health and wellness of the communities we serve." Each year, Entergy employees participate in United Way campaigns to raise funds for their communities. Company shareholders match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar to maximize the impact of employee giving. Through the company's partnership with UWSELA, Entergy continues to implement a range of initiatives aimed at addressing poverty, promoting education and workforce development, providing financial assistance to vulnerable customers, improving its communities and caring for the environment. This year's Top 10 Most Generous Workplaces include: Entergy Corporation Valero Meraux Refinery Shell Chalmette Refining, LLC - PBF Energy Zachry Group International Paper Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. Rain Carbon Inc. Pan-American Life Insurance Group Latter & Blum | Compass Entergy is committed in its mission to give back and make a difference in the communities it serves across its service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In 2023, the company's commitment to corporate social responsibility had a profound impact on its customers and communities, resulting in an economic impact of nearly $140 million. Learn more about Entergy's commitment to serving its communities here. About Entergy Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media. WePowerLife Cammie Proctor, Michelle Bourg, Sandra Miller and Michael Williamson at UWSELA's annual meeting View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Cisco Systems Inc. By Gloria Goins Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a testament to our shared humanity. Let's come together to honor the past, embrace the present, and build a future where every voice is heard and every talent shines. Following another successful Cisco Live! experience, I am still in awe of the many conversations I have had surrounding the importance of inclusion and pursuing purposeful work that builds business values. Reflecting on the importance of this upcoming Juneteenth holiday and what it means to me, Cisco's purpose to power an inclusive future for all echoes as we sponsor the Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival for the third year in a row. Why we celebrate Juneteenth Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, marks the moment on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom. This day serves as a pivotal point in African American history and represents a profound testament to the enduring spirit of a people who have tirelessly advocated for freedom and equality. For me, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and a testament to our shared humanity. As I think about my journey as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of Cisco, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge how my father's journey contributed to making me who I am today. He immigrated to the United States from the Bahamas in the 1940s with only a sixth-grade education and a superhuman work ethic. He often worked multiple low wage jobs, all while enduring the harsh realities of racial segregation and stereotypes. Despite having limited opportunities, his faith, joy, and hope were boundless. The foundation of hard work and determination he instilled in my brothers and me played a tremendous role in all that I've accomplished so far. This holiday serves as a time to celebrate the strength, resilience and determination of my own family and the families of those whose dreams were denied or deferred. Although rooted in African American history, Juneteenth's core values of freedom, resilience, and equality transcend cultural boundaries and resonate universally. Embracing it as a national celebration reinforces the idea that freedom and justice are not exclusive to any one group but are inherent rights for all. Amplifying Underrepresented Voices As we celebrate Juneteenth, it is crucial to listen to and elevate the stories and experiences of African Americans and other marginalized groups. We can do that by: Supporting Black-owned businesses. Investing in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Explore how we are partnering with HBCU's like Clark Atlanta and others to drive impact as part of Cisco's Social Justice Actions. Seeking out the expertise of Black voices who are missing from the table. Advocating for the career advancement of Black employees through sponsorship and The Multiplier Effect. A Call for Reflection and Action Juneteenth calls upon each of us to be change agents in the ongoing fight for equality and justice. Being a change agent requires a commitment to continuous learning and unlearning, recognizing our own biases, and actively working to dismantle them. Whether you're attending the Cisco sponsored Juneteenth Parade in Atlanta, one of the many celebrations happenings across the United States or gathering with your family and friends, I hope you'll find time to reflect on ways that you can champion change in your community. May we ground ourselves on the daily reminder that the fight for freedom and equality is ongoing and requires the collective effort of all people to embrace and honor our shared humanity. Wishing you a happy Juneteenth! May it be filled with joy and purpose! View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cisco Systems Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cisco Systems Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cisco-systems-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cisco Systems Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Almirall presented the interim Week 52 results of the POSITIVE clinical study at the IFPA Conference 2024, showing the benefits of the effective treatment with Ilumetri (tildrakizumab) in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis achieving improvement of physical symptoms and overall wellbeing. This first-of-its-kind study underscores the psychosocial burden of psoriasis and its deep impact on people' wellbeing. It also demonstrates how treatment with tildrakizumab can improve high-burden symptoms and sensitive areas, enhance daily activities, and benefit patients' lives beyond the disease. Psoriasis is a highly prevalent skin disease that affects around 60 million people worldwide2. Nearly 77% of patients state that psoriasis negatively impacts their normal daily activities (personal, social, and work life)3 and overall wellbeing4 Almirall, a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology, announced today new data from the real-world evidence clinical study called "POSITIVE" demonstrating that Ilumetri (tildrakizumab) effectively restores the level of wellbeing of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to those of the general population as early as Week 16 after initiating the treatment. In the study, this fundamental benefit was shown to be maintained for up to 1 year of treatment. These interim results evaluating the impact of tildrakizumab on patient-reported outcomes and skin clearance in people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis werepresented for the first time at the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) Conference 2024, held from June 27-29 in Stockholm, Sweden. The POSITIVE study showed that treatment with tildrakizumab led to notable improvements in skin clearance, particularly in sensitive areas (scalp, nail and palms/soles), as well as in high-burden symptoms (itch, pain, joint pain and fatigue). These physical symptoms have a significant impact on patients' daily lives and wellbeing. The data from this study show that following 52 weeks of treatment, almost 6 out of 10 patients achieved a PASI* =1 response, with no new safety signals observed, consistent with previous studies. The POSITIVE study is the first clinical study in dermatology to assess patients' wellbeing as a primary endpoint using the WHO-5 approach. The 5-item World Health Organization Wellbeing Index is a widely used questionnaire that assesses health-related subjective psychological wellbeing in a variety of chronic diseases. The outcomes of the POSITIVE study highlight from the patient perspective the importance of understanding the psychosocial burden of psoriasis beyond the physical symptoms of the skin perspective, considering how high-burden symptoms affect patients' overall wellbeing. Psoriasis is a highly prevalent disease, affecting around 60 million people worldwide2 and 3% of the population in Europe,5.Nearly 77% of patients believe that psoriasis negatively affects their normal daily activities (personal, social, and work life)3 and wellbeing.4 "The impact of psoriasis on patients' wellbeing cannot be overstated. It affects their overall health, psychological state, and social life. The interim results from the POSITIVE study are promising, they demonstrate that treatment with tildrakizumab restores patients' well-being within 16 weeks and maintains it for at least one year. Additionally, significant improvements are observed in skin condition, high-burden symptoms, and sensitive areas. This underscores tildrakizumab's potential to alleviate the profound burden of psoriasis on daily life,"stated Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mrowietz, from the Psoriasis Center at the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel. "These findings represent a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the needs of patients and dermatologists to treat chronic dermatological conditions and help improve the patients' health and wellbeing. The POSITIVE study demonstrates not only the efficacy of Ilumetri in clearing skin but also its impact on enhancing patients' overall wellbeing, which ultimately can contribute to the successful treatment enabling patients to get their lives back," stated Dr. Volker Koscielny, Chief Medical Officer at Almirall. Almirall and IFPA have been actively collaborating for years to improve the wellbeing of people with psoriasis and to raise awareness of the impact of this disease on their lives. Last year, Almirall supported IFPA's "Access for All" campaign on World Psoriasis Day, aiming to ensure that people with psoriasis have affordable access to the right treatment at the right time. In addition, the company highlighted the impact of the disease on the wellbeing of individuals, their families, and friends through the launch of a disease awareness campaign featuring the series called Nina. *PASI: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. About the POSITIVE Study The POSITIVE study uses the 5 item World Health Organization Wellbeing Index, WHO-5, a widely used questionnaire that assesses health-related subjective psychological wellbeing in a variety of chronic diseases. Following the holistic approach, the POSITIVE study will also use innovative secondary endpoints, theFamilyPso questionnaire to evaluate the impact of the disease on the family environment, and on Physician wellbeing, using the Physician's Satisfaction Score. This ongoing non-interventional, prospective, observational, real-world evidence study has enrolled 782 adults with moderate-to-severe psoriasis at multiple sites in Europe, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The study will follow these patients for 24 months in their treatment with tildrakizumab. About Ilumetri (tildrakizumab)6 Tildrakizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) and inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines with limited impact on the rest of the immune system. It is indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. About psoriasis Psoriasis is a common, non-contagious, chronic skin disease, with no clear cause or cure. The negative impact of psoriasis on people's lives can be immense as it affects the appearance of the skin with red, scaly plaques. Psoriasis affects people of all ages, and in all countries. The reported prevalence of psoriasis in Europe varies from 0.6% to 6.5% with an average of approximately 3% of the population,7 making psoriasis a serious global problem with about 60 million individuals affected worldwide2. The flares of psoriasis can be unpredictable and significant comorbidities are common, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and depression. About Almirall Almirall is a global pharmaceutical company dedicated to medical dermatology. We closely collaborate with leading scientists, healthcare professionals, and patients to deliver our purpose: to transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes and dreams for a healthy life. We are at the forefront of science to deliver ground-breaking, differentiated medical dermatology innovations that address patients' needs. Almirall, founded in 1944 and headquartered in Barcelona, is publicly traded on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM, total revenue in 2023: 898.8 MM, 1900 employees globally). Almirall products help to improve the lives of patients every day and are available in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit https://www.almirall.com/ Legal notice: This document includes only summary information and is not intended to be exhaustive. The facts, figures, and opinions contained in this document, in addition to the historical ones, are "forward-looking statements." These statements are based on the information currently available and the best estimates and assumptions that the Company considers reasonable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the Company. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those declared by such forward-looking statements. The Company expressly waives any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, goals, or estimates contained in this document to reflect any changes in the assumptions, events, or circumstances on which such forward-looking statements are based, unless required by the applicable law. 1 Rachel Sommer, Patient-reported well-being using tildrakizumab in a real-world setting: 52-week interim data of the phase IV POSITIVE study 2 Parisi R, Iskandar IYK, Kontopantelis E, et al. BMJ. 2020; 369 :m1590 doi:10.1136/bmj.m1590. 3 Villacorta R, Teeple A, Lee S, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2020;183:548-58. doi:10.1111/bjd.18798. 4 Dubertret L, Mrowietz U, Ranki A, et al. Br J Dermatol. 2006;155:729-36. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07405. 5 Chandran V and Raychaudhuri SP. J. Autoimmune. 2010; 34: J314-J21. 6 Ilumetri (tildrakizumab) Summary of Product Characteristics. Date of prep: October 2021 UK-IL-2100111. 7Chandran V and Raychaudhuri SP. Geoepidemiology and environmental factors of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. J. Autoimmune. 2010 May; 34(3):J314-J21. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2009.12.001. Epub 2009 Dec 24. PMID: 20034760. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240628033294/en/ Contacts: Corporate Communications: corporate.communication@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 659 614 173 Investor Relations investors@almirall.com Phone: (+34) 93 291 30 87 Joe DeMartini, an astronomy Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland (UMD), is awarded the Schweickart Prize for his outstanding leadership and innovative planetary defense proposal. SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- B612 Foundation announces today the first Schweickart Prize will be awarded to Joe DeMartini, an astronomy Ph.D. at the University of Maryland (UMD), for his outstanding twilight observing campaign proposal. The prestigious prize will be presented by Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart at a special ceremony at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California. Joe DeMartini has been selected for his innovative approach to enhance the discovery of Near Earth Objects (NEOs) that have the potential to impact our planet. His SUnward NEO Surveillance and Early Twilight detection (SUNSET) Collaboration proposal promises to make important contributions to the field of planetary defense by improving the detection and confirmation of NEOs (aka asteroids) during twilight hours. Read the proposal here. "We are honored to present the inaugural Schweickart Prize to Joe DeMartini," said Rusty Schweickart, co-founder of B612 Foundation and Apollo 9 astronaut. "Joe's proposal exemplifies the forward-thinking and scientific rigor this award seeks to recognize. His work will play a crucial role in advancing our knowledge and preparedness in the realm of planetary defense." The Schweickart Prize, named in honor of Rusty Schweickart, recognizes graduate students for their innovative ideas and potential leadership in advancing planetary defense-related fields. The prize includes a $10,000 grant in recognition of their idea or concept to support the recipient's research and career development. It also includes a museum-quality award with an authenticated meteorite. Joe DeMartini's SUNSET proposal seeks to establish a network of ground-based observatories to advocate for and provide follow-up support for the proposed Vera C. Rubin Observatory low-solar-elongation twilight microsurvey. The Rubin Observatory has the capability to conduct detailed surveys during twilight, a critical time for observing objects closer to the sun that would be missed during regular night-time observations. In addition to increasing the monitored region of the inner solar system, DeMartini proposes to leverage recent advances in NEO verification methods to confirm discoveries in this infrequently observed population of asteroids. This SUNSET community/Rubin Observatory collaboration has the potential to make important contributions and increase discoveries in this undersampled population of potentially hazardous asteroids. "I am deeply honored to receive the Schweickart Prize," said Joe DeMartini. "This recognition underscores the importance of global cooperation to advance our techniques for asteroid detection and planetary defense. I am grateful for the support and look forward to continuing this vital work." "The founding sponsors who have generously funded the Schweickart Prize program include Anousheh Ansari, Barringer Crater Company, Future Ventures, Geoffrey Notkin, Jurvetson Family Foundation, Meteor Crater, Randy Schweickart and Michelle Heng, and Rusty B. Schweickart and Joanne Keys" said Danica Remy, President of B612 Foundation. The award ceremony will occur as part of an all-day Asteroid Day program on June 29th, 2024, at 3:30 pm at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California. The event will feature a presentation by Rusty Schweickart and comments from NASA astronauts Steve Smith, Nicole Stott, and YouTuber Scott Manley. Admission tickets can be purchased here. About B612 Foundation and the Schweickart Prize The Schweickart Prize, a program of B612 Foundation, is an annual award to foster a new generation of leaders in planetary defense and to encourage ideas to help protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts. The prize is named after Russell "Rusty" Schweickart, renowned Apollo 9 astronaut, co-founder of the Association of Space Explorers and co-founder of B612 Foundation. For more information, visit Schweickartprize.org. Since 2002, B612 Foundation has developed tools and technologies to understand, map, and navigate our solar system and protect our planet from asteroid impacts through its Asteroid Institute program and supporting educational programs, including Asteroid Day and the Schweickart Prize. Founding Circle and Asteroid Circle members and individual donors from 46 countries support the work financially. For more information, visit B612foundation.org or follow on social: Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin B612 Global Media Request: Submit via Media Request Form Chabot Space and Science Center June 29, 2024 local press & event information RustySchweickart AsteroidDay asteroiddiscovery AsteroidInstitute b612foundation Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449565/2024_Schweickart_Prize_Winner.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/b612-foundation-announces-inaugural-schweickart-prize-winner-302185509.html WEIFANG, China, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from the Shandong Office of Hong Kong Business Daily. On June 26th, the launch ceremony of the Weifang Bohai International Communication Center, jointly built by China Daily and Weifang City, was held in Weifang, Shandong. China Daily and Weifang City will work together to take the opportunity of jointly building the Weifang Bohai International Communication Center, deeply explore Weifang resources, adopt innovative narrative methods, diverse communication methods, and precise promotion strategies, jointly shape the image of Weifang as an international city, showcase the charm and vitality of Weifang to the world, let the story of Weifang spread far and deeply in people's hearts, and let more foreign audiences understand Weifang, enter Weifang, and fall in love with Weifang. On that day, both sides released a video of the international communication key project "Let the World Discover Weifang". At the same time, the AI anchor and "Foreign Anchor Talks about Weifang" program has officially launched, allowing Weifang's international communication to go global. Weifang has established friendly cities with 44 cities from 24 countries, and this event has also received support and congratulations from friendly cities, overseas media, and friends overseas. Japanese Mayor Nishimura Hiroshi and President of the German China Cooperation and Exchange Association, Willy Lange, congratulated the official establishment of the Weifang Bohai International Communication Center. They hoped that through this platform, there would be more opportunities for communication in the future, and together they would plan activities to tell the story of Weifang to the world. It is understood that Weifang Bohai International Communication Center strives to build a comprehensive international news supply center, a distinctive external publicity and creative research and development center, an international communication research center, an external cultural exchange center, and an international communication talent training center. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/international-sister-city-representatives-congratulate-the-establishment-of-weifang-bohai-international-communication-center-302185729.html Thira Health Expands Clinical Expertise With Appointment of Dr. Al Tsai BELLEVUE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / THIRA Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Al Tsai, MD, as the new Medical Director, effective July 2024. Dr. Tsai joins THIRA Health with a distinguished career characterized by rigorous training, diverse clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing psychiatric care. THIRA Logo Dr. Tsai earned his Doctorate of Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His military psychiatry experience includes serving as Chief of Psychiatry at Womack Army Medical Center and clinical deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom in Bagram, Afghanistan. In his civilian career, Dr. Tsai has made significant contributions at notable institutions such as Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Overlake Medical Clinics, where he directed the Partial Day Hospital. At the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, he spearheaded innovative treatments for treatment-resistant depression, including intranasal ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Dr. Tsai's expertise in integrating psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been instrumental in developing comprehensive care programs. His leadership in managing suicidality and self-harm behaviors has been widely recognized, and he has presented his research and insights at prestigious forums including the American Psychiatric Association and the Association for Academic Psychiatry. Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Tsai is a passionate advocate for mental health education and stigma reduction. He actively engages in community outreach and mentorship initiatives, reflecting his dedication to improving mental health care and patient advocacy. "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Al Tsai to THIRA Health," said Dr. Mehri Moore, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and founder of THIRA Health. "His extensive experience, innovative approach, and compassionate care philosophy align perfectly with our mission. The entire team is excited about the new perspectives and expertise he brings to our practice." Dr. Tsai's arrival at THIRA Health marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional psychiatric care. His clinical excellence, research leadership, and compassionate approach align perfectly with THIRA Health's mission to advance mental health treatment and support. Contact Information Sarah Skoterro Director of Business Development sarahs@thirahealth.com 206-718-0866 SOURCE: THIRA Health View the original press release on newswire.com. Volunteer Blithe Rocher steadies a Pride flag while preparing for the commemoration ceremony of the annual Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on June 8. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle San Francisco Pride Parade attendees cheer during the annual event on June 25, 2023. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle 2023 Pride Month will hit its celebratory pinnacle in San Francisco this weekend, starting with the grassroots-driven Trans March on Friday and a dykes-only bash on Saturday, and wrapping up with a parade and party for tens of thousands of LGBTQ people and their allies on Sunday. In a year muddled by global unrest and increasing domestic attacks on the rights of LGBTQ individuals, its as important as ever to acknowledge the joy and resilience of the community, said Pride organizers and participants. Among the planned events, though, is at least one boycott of Pride: an alternative march in support of Palestinians, to take place Sunday afternoon in the Castro. And the long-celebrated Dyke March, typically held on Pink Saturday before the parade, has been canceled and replaced by an afternoon party at Dolores Park. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pride is San Franciscos preeminent event, said Suzanne Ford, executive director of San Francisco Pride. But people use this platform in many different ways, and we honor that. San Francisco Pride has to do many different things at once. San Francisco Pride is among the worlds largest and best-known LGBTQ celebrations, with up to a million visitors expected to flood the city and take part in various festivities over the weekend. In a news briefing Thursday, San Francisco officials said they expect a safe and calm Pride Weekend this year and are not aware of any known threats against the events. The Pride Parade is one of our crown jewels, said San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott. He noted that police would be out in full force on Sunday. San Francisco Pride began more than 50 years ago and over the decades has often taken the form of resistance more than celebration, including fighting for gay civil rights and recognition of and support for people with HIV and AIDS. In recent years, the parade in particular has returned to those resistance roots in the face of renewed attacks on the LGBTQ community, globally and in the United States. This year and last, record numbers of bills were introduced in state legislatures that would infringe on LGBTQ rights, in particular for transgender people. In California, school districts have borne the brunt of anti-LGBTQ efforts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We are laser-focused on joy this year we are taking an affirmative stance against all the hate coming at our people, said Nguyen Pham, president of the San Francisco Pride Board of Directors. Like Ford, Pham said he supported even those in the community who planned to boycott the parade or other Pride events, such as the Civic Center party afterward. Its a responsibility we take very seriously to uplift and affirm marginalized people, Pham said. We respect everyones right to have a voice. The boycott is focused around pro-Palestinian efforts, which in the Bay Area often have been led by LGBTQ activists. Sundays event, a queer- and transgender-led march referred to as No Pride in Genocide will start at 1 p.m. at Church and Market streets. Organizers said their event is meant to focus on the needs of Palestinians and to raise LGBTQ voices in a march thats not corporate-sponsored. Were providing a space for queer folks to truly express themselves and express their need for liberation, versus the S.F. Pride march that is pretty much sponsored by companies like U.S. Bank and Amazon, said Mama Ganuush, an organizer of the alternative march. The action on Sunday is to bring back Pride to its roots, as a protest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pride Weekend will kick off with the Trans March at Dolores Park on Friday. The celebration includes a day of activities and live performances, and the march to the Transgender district in the Tenderloin starts at 6 p.m. This year were looking back at history and thinking about how trans people are the change-makers a lot of the time in society, so what change we can make today to forward our path toward liberation, said Niko Storment, a Trans March organizer. Were really centered around the liberation of colonized people and trans people. In years past, the Dyke March usually took place on the Saturday before the Pride Parade, but organizers canceled it this year due to leadership changes and continuing challenges from the pandemic. Some people may still march unofficially, starting around 5 p.m. from Dolores Park. An alternative Dykes Only Space will be held at the park instead on Saturday, starting at noon. Koja Ray said she founded the event several years ago in part because some participants felt that the Dyke March had been overtaken by outsiders. Our event felt like it was getting eaten up by the Big Day, as we called it, said Ray, referring to Sundays parade. It was feeling commercialized instead of this grassroots, historically radical thing that wed loved and created. In this space we only have one rule: You have to identify as a dyke. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States 2757953 Ontario Inc. (dba Faster) ("Faster" or the "Company") provides the following update to the Company's previously announced business combination transaction (the "Transaction") with Evolution Global Frontier Ventures Corp. ("Evolution Global") by news release dated September 21, 2023. The Company and Evolution Global continue to work towards the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"). Initial submissions, including the submission of a draft listing statement, have been made to the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and are currently under review. Following the Closing, the combined company resulting from the Transaction (hereafter referred to as the "Resulting Issuer" will be renamed Faster Corp. and the business of the Resulting Issuer will be the business of Faster. Subject to required approvals, including shareholder approval, the acceptance of the listing by the CSE and other regulatory approvals, is intended that the common shares of the Resulting Share be listed for trading on the CSE either concurrent to, or soon after Closing under the ticker symbol "FSTR" (the "Listing"). "We look forward to advancing the listing process with the CSE and achieving an important milestone for Faster by listing on a recognized exchange," says Andra Enescu, CEO of Faster. "A listing for Faster means unlocking shareholder value with liquidity and accessing capital to achieve our strategic objectives, which benefits all of our stakeholders." At this time, the CSE has not conditionally approved the Listing, and it is possible that Faster may not list on the CSE or any other exchange on the expected timelines or at all. The Concurrent Financing Concurrent with the Closing, the Company intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts ("Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.15 per Subscription Receipt (the "Concurrent Financing"). Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to automatically receive, without payment of any additional consideration or further action on the part of the holder, upon Closing, one unit (each, a "Unit"), with each Unit comprising of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.22 for a period of 24 months from closing of the issue and sale of Subscription Receipts,. Expiry of the Warrants will be subject to acceleration, if the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Shares on the CSE is greater or equal to $0.28. In that case, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by issuing a press release announcing the reduced warrant term whereupon the Warrants will expire on the 20th calendar day after the date of issue of such press release. The gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be held in escrow until the closing of the Transaction and the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions (collectively, the "Release Conditions"). Upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions, the net proceeds from the Concurrent Financing will be used by the Company for general corporate purposes. If the closing of the Concurrent Financing does not occur, then all funds will be released from escrow and returned to subscribers. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Concurrent Financing remains subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including, without limitation, the approval of the CSE. Completion of the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing are subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, CSE acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or listing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. About the Company Faster specializes in payment technology allowing businesses to accept electronic forms of payment namely Interac, MasterCard, Visa and American Express with faster settlement times including weekends and holidays. The solutions offered by Faster includes a feature rich payment terminal, a free cloud based mobile business account and a free commercial debit MasterCard linked to a user's cloud account for business purchases and expenses. The sign up and onboarding process takes less than 2 minutes. About Evolution Global Frontier Ventures Corp. Evolution Global is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Evolution Global holds an option on a Quesnel Terrane property in north central British Columbia. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking information and statements ("forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements using the words "believes", "anticipates", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include, among other matters, the terms and timing of the Transaction, the entering into a definitive agreement, and on terms mutually acceptable to the parties, the Concurrent Financing, and the completion of the conditions, in particular obtaining CSE and shareholder approval. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties may not proceed with the Transaction; regulatory and CSE approval, shareholder approval; and that the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing will not be successfully completed for any other reason, including but not limited to geopolitical risk, regulatory, and exchange risk. The terms and conditions of the Transaction and the Concurrent Financing may change based on the Company's due diligence. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analysis, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the Company, its securities, or financial, or operating results (as applicable). Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, such forward-looking statements has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statement. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Contact Information For further information please visit Faster.ca or contact our team at info@faster.ca. SOURCE: Faster View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - CHABLIS CAPITAL CORP. (TSXV: CCZ.P) (the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has completed an initial public offering of 3,085,000 common shares of the Corporation (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.10 per common share for gross proceeds of $308,500 (the "Offering"). Following the closing of the Offering, a total of 5,085,000 Common Shares are issued and outstanding, of which 2,000,000 are currently held in escrow pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The current directors and officers of the corporation are Victor Cantore, Chief Executive Officer, and Director; Veronique Laberge, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary; Wanda Cutler, Director; and Michel Fontaine, Director. The net proceeds of the Offering, together with proceeds from prior sales of Common Shares will be used by the Corporation to identify and evaluate assets or businesses for acquisition with a view to completing a "Qualifying Transaction" under the capital pool company program of the Exchange. Stephen Avenue Securities Inc. (the "Agent") acted as agent for the Offering. In connection with the Offering, the Corporation granted to the Agent non-transferable warrants to acquire up to an aggregate of 246,800 Common Shares at a price of $0.10 per Common Share at any time up to June 28, 2026. The Agent also received a cash commission equal to 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares under the Offering. The Corporation also granted stock options to the directors and officers of the Corporation exercisable to acquire up to an aggregate of 300,000 Common Shares at any time until June 28, 2034 at a price of $0.10 per Common Share. The Common Shares are expected to commence trading on Exchange under the stock symbol "CCZ.P" today. For further information please see the final prospectus of the Corporation dated April 24, 2024, filed on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information please contact: Victor Cantore Chief Executive Officer Tel: 514-831-3809 Cautionary Notes The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to complete a qualifying transaction. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214686 SOURCE: Chablis Capital Corp. AACSB uses new report and global events to set strategic direction for business schools to advance education and lead boldly in AI. TAMPA, Fla., June 28, 2024in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 2025. Ethan Mollick is an Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship, and examines the effects of artificial intelligence on work and education. He also leads Wharton Interactive, an effort to democratize education using games, simulations, and AI. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and currently advises a number of startups and organizations. This news comes shortly after AACSB hosted its first AI Conferencein Santa Clara, California. This conference focused on the intersection of AI in business education and applied business, the importance of the capabilities of AI, and how AI improves efficiencies without replacing the soft skills; an important focus of business education. AACSB also plans to host a similar AI conference in Parison October 9 and 10. This work builds off of AACSB's recently released report Building Future-Ready Business Schools With Generative AI, which takes an in-depth look at potential threats and opportunities for business education, outlining ways that schools can efficiently use GenAI in their curriculum and learner experiences, while achieving institutional goals. The impacts of AI are just beginning to unfold in education, business, and society, and these efforts serve as a catalyst to further explore, discuss, and study the dynamics of this evolving digital technology. About AACSB International Established in 1916, AACSB International (AACSB) is the world's largest business education alliance, connecting educators, learners, and business to create the next generation of great leaders. With members in over 100 countries and territories, AACSB fosters engagement, accelerates innovation, and amplifies impact in business education. Learn how AACSB and business schools from around the world are leading boldly in business education at aacsb.edu. For More Information Contact: Leah McBride 1+813.367.5238 mediarelations@aacsb.edu CEO transition at Marley Spoon Group SE - Founder & CEO Fabian Siegel to step down and hand over to Daniel Raab "Marley Spoon" or the "Company", a global leader in meal kit delivery services, announced that Founder and Chief Executive Officer Fabian Siegel has stepped down from the position of Chief Executive Officer on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. The decision, made by mutual agreement, comes as Fabian seeks to pursue new opportunities and personal endeavors. On Wednesday, 26 June 2024, the Supervisory Board appointed Daniel Raab, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), as its new Chief Executive Officer of Marley Spoon Group SE with effect as of 26 June 2024. Furthermore, effective June 27, 2024, Ms. Nasreen Abduljaleel (Chief Technology and Product Officer) and Mr. Federico Rossi (Chief Marketing Officer) have been appointed as additional members of the Management Board. Fabian Siegel comments: "Over the last 10 years, the team at Marley Spoon has built an amazing business that provides access to healthy and delightful meals on a global scale, having served more than 260 million meals and generated more than 1.6 billion Euros in lifetime net revenue. This success would not have happened without all the support of Marley Spoon team members, our investors, external partners and most importantly without the loyalty of our customers. I am grateful for all this support and for the opportunity to learn from everyone around me over the years". Fabian continues "With the business expected to be profitable on an Operating EBITDA level in 2024 and with expected continued growth, now is the right time to transition leadership. In that regard, I am pleased to congratulate Daniel on moving to the role as CEO after joining the company last year as COO. It is still Day One for Marley Spoon, and there is a lot to come over the next years. I will be cheering for the continued success of the team from the sidelines and continue to support Marley Spoon." Christian Gisy, Chairman of the Supervisory Board: "The Board and I really appreciate Fabian's efforts in building and transforming the company into a global leader in meal kit delivery and wish him all the best for his future endeavors. We are very excited for Daniel to step up to be the CEO of Marley Spoon, who will be working alongside a top-notch team." Daniel Raab commented: "Marley Spoon is an exciting company with fantastic brands and a great team, which are the reasons why I have joined the company in October last year. I am excited for Nasreen, Jennifer and Federico to join me in leading the team together during this exciting time, and we will make our contribution to realizing our company's potential." NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Henkel: AViewFrom Henkel North America series Did you know that Henkel North America employs approximately 8,000 employees in more than 65 sites across the U.S. and Canada? Collectively, these sites support two business units: Adhesive Technologies and Consumer Brands. Our AViewFrom series features select locations, sharing information and facts about our sites across Henkel North America. If you've ever enjoyed soda or sparkling water from an aluminum can, driven an electric vehicle (EV), or flown in an airplane, you can thank employees at this Henkel site for their contributions in making those products possible. Here, a lean and efficient team manufactures lubricants, dispersions, and surface treatments used in metal packaging, EV battery production, and metal cleaning and finishing. Learn more in this segment of AViewFrom: Delaware, OH. Just a short drive from Ohio's capital city of Columbus sits the town of Delaware, where a longstanding 130,000 sq. ft. Henkel production site runs 24 hours a day, five days a week. Here, Henkel employees are manufacturing a variety of BONDERITE brand chemistries including release lubricants used in metal can manufacturing; surface treatment and metal cleaning formulas for metal forming production, sheets, stamping, and others; and unique graphite products that are a vital enabler of electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. Serving the company's automotive, metal packaging, aerospace, and electronics businesses, about 60 employees in production, material handling, engineering, maintenance, safety, and quality are dedicated to enabling customers' operations, Henkel brand excellence, and coworker success. The products we manufacture are essential for all types of modern-day conveniences and transportation technologies. Dave Bryant, Operations Director "Our customers are making millions of aluminum cans daily. Henkel's release lubricants help their equipment release the cans from the molds efficiently at extremely high speeds; high-volume manufacturing would be impossible without them. Also unique to this site are our graphite dispersion formulations and processes. These dispersions are special because they do not allow the graphite to settle over time allowing our customers to have the highest quality dispersion throughout their process. We are one of a few facilities globally that have mastered the complexity of this technique, which is exclusive to Henkel, and a significant contributor to several advanced technologies, most notably EV batteries," explains Operations Director Dave Bryant. Built in 1954 by the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company (Pennsalt), Henkel took over the Delaware, OH site in 2001 after acquiring Atofina's metal treatment business. Since then, the facility has undergone several expansions, investments, and added new processes to its capabilities. Ongoing improvements have seen the addition of new equipment to the factory and enhanced sustainability efforts. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Tim Moore, a 30-year Henkel employee, comments on the latest initiatives designed to save water and capture operational metrics. We are integrating a next-generation chiller to enable water reuse, which will result in the conservation of a million gallons of water per year. The Delaware site has also installed Sensorfact energy management software to monitor and report data such as energy use, water and gas consumption, equipment maintenance requirements, and plant temperature and humidity. This will be tremendous for measuring and assessing our efficiency for sustainable manufacturing. Tim Moore, Engineering and Maintenance Manager TEAM BUILDING, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY COMMITMENT: Ask any Delaware employee, and they will tell you the culture is just different here. Kind-hearted, generous people who care about their coworkers, community, and their employer, make up the team at this Henkel plant. Production Manager Kenny Mouton joined the Henkel family earlier this year and felt welcomed from the start. "The staff here is authentic, down to earth, and so encouraging. I'm still learning and have been guided and trained with exceptional professionalism and positivity. Every day is different, and everyone is committed to excellence. I really enjoy working here." Quality Manager Tara Franklin oversees incoming raw material and outgoing product quality testing, and she also spearheads many of Delaware's team building and employee appreciation endeavors. Tara ensures birthdays are celebrated and that notable events like the recent solar eclipse bring the team together for fun. The site also supports the local community, participating in Christmas clothing drives, among other activities, and recently donating Henkel products to local families impacted by a devastating tornado. "People needed cleaning supplies, so we donated Persil brand laundry detergent and Dial brand hand soap," Tara recounts. "It was heartening to be able to help those affected with products our company makes." DID YOU KNOW? One of the Triple Crowns of horse racing is held annually in Delaware, OH. It's most likely not the Triple Crown you may be familiar with, but a unique contest called the Little Brown Jug, which is one of the jewels in the Triple Crown of harness racing. 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 U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance and local CDFI collaborate to help Pimento restaurant owner expand NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / U.S. Bank Tomme Beevas, center, in the kitchen at his Pimento on the Lake restaurant. Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog Tomme Beevas' story starts in Kingston, Jamaica, where he soaked up inspiration from his grandmother, who loved to cook. "My grandmother was a gregarious woman who built her own empire from scratch from the 1960s to 1980s," Beevas said. "Growing up in her house, I had the opportunity to experience the greatest, freshest seafood one can imagine." In addition to teaching him how to cook, his grandmother, an entrepreneur, taught him about running a business, Beevas said. Beevas earned an MBA and his career path took him various places, including several years in Washington, D.C., before he landed in Minneapolis in 2006. Beevas has opened Pimento, a Jamaican food pop-up in 2012, opened his first brick-and-mortar Pimento location in 2013 and has since grown to five locations, most recently with the launch in 2023 of Pimento on the Lake , located on lake Bde Maka Ska. "What it means for me to be a small business owner is to be an instrument of economic liberation to provide job opportunities for our community," Beevas said. "What made me become a small business owner was the need to represent my culture and bring my food to the market." Pimento on the Lake In order to create Pimento on the Lake, Beevas needed affordable capital, he said. He had long been a U.S. Bank customer, working in recent years with Business Access Advisor Tim Farrow, and reached out for assistance as he sought affordable capital. Challenges with Beevas' relatively small business coupled with the affordability of the capital he would need prompted U.S. Bank subsidiary U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance to collaborate with a local Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), on a patient capital investment. This enabled Beevas to receive capital in a financing structure that benefits both him and his newly created entity. "Impact Finance is a strong supporter of CDFIs because we recognize the critical role they play in bringing investment to underserved communities, especially those that may not be eligible for traditional business financing," said Jimmie Howlett, Impact Finance impact capital manager. "We are pleased that we could work with both MEDA and Tomme to help him achieve his business goals." In August 2023, Impact Finance closed on the investment with MEDA to successfully expand Pimento on the Lake. Beevas opened two months later. "Access to capital can be challenging for small and minority owned businesses," Beevas said. "If U.S. Bank hadn't stepped up, this wouldn't have been a reality." Adrian Ruddock, vice president of lending and business consulting services at MEDA, said U.S. Bank has been a major participant in this deal. "I tell our clients all the time that banks, CDFIs and small business owners must figure out collaborative, alternative ways to work together and provide a holistic approach to the entrepreneur so they can walk through the life of a loan," Ruddock said. Eight months after opening, Pimento on the Lake is beginning to see a greater uptick in customers, Beevas said, especially as the Minnesota summer weather kicks in. "I believe my experiences are an opportunity and seed to ensure other businesses like Pimento can have access and resources," he said. For more about Beevas' story, watch the video above. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: U.S. Bank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: U.S. Bank View the original press release on accesswire.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - As we flip the calendar to July, it's time to take a look at the biotech stocks awaiting FDA decision. Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (ARQT) The FDA decision on Arcutis Biotherapeutics' Roflumilast cream 0.15% is expected on July 7, 2024. Roflumilast cream 0.15% is proposed for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children down to age 6. Atopic dermatitis, the most prevalent form of eczema, impacts a significant portion of the U.S. population, with roughly 9.6 million children and 16.5 million adults affected. This skin condition typically manifests as an inflamed, pruritic rash, commonly appearing on the face, upper and lower limbs. In severe cases, the rash can spread to cover 50% or more of the body's surface area. Roflumilast cream 0.3% is already approved for topical treatment of plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous areas, in patients 6 years of age and older. ARQT closed Thursday's (June 27, 2024) trading at $9.42, up 1.40%. Orexo AB's (publ.) (ORXOY.OB) Swedish pharmaceutical company Orexo AB's nasal rescue medication OX124 is under FDA review, with a decision anticipated on July 15, 2024. OX124, based on the company's drug delivery platform, amorphOX, is designed to reverse the effects of the most powerful synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. Synthetic opioids are said to account for 91 percent of all fatal opioid overdoses. If approved, the company expects the US launch of OX124 to be initiated late 2024. ORXOY.OB closed Thursday's trading at $2.15, up 7.50%. Phathom Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PHAT) The FDA decision on Phathom Pharma's Voquezna, proposed as a daily treatment of heartburn associated with symptomatic non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults, is expected on July 19, 2024. Non-Erosive GERD, the most common form of gastroesophageal reflux disease, affects an estimated 38 million adults in the U.S. This condition involves reflux symptoms without visible damage to the esophageal lining. About 15 million of these individuals receive diagnosis and prescription treatment yearly. The symptoms, which can significantly impact quality of life, may include intermittent heartburn (particularly at night), regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, and chest discomfort. Voquezna tablets contain the active ingredient vonoprazan, an oral small molecule potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB). The drug was approved in the U.S. last November for the treatment of adults with Erosive Esophagitis, also known as Erosive GERD, and the relief of heartburn associated with Erosive GERD. PHAT closed Thursday's trading at $10.40, up 1.76%. AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) On July 25, 2024, a panel of outside experts will meet to advise the FDA on the expanded use of AstraZeneca's drug Imfinzi. The company has sought approval for Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by Imfinzi as monotherapy after surgery, for the treatment of adult patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer. In the indication of non-small cell lung cancer, Imfinzi is approved for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer, and as a 1st-line treatment for adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer in combination with standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapies, etoposide plus either carboplatin or cisplatin (platinum-etoposide). In addition, the drug is approved for small cell lung cancer, biliary tract tumor, hepatocellular carcinoma, and endometrial cancer. Imfinzi generated global sales of $1.11 billion in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $900 million in the year-ago quarter. AZN closed Thursday's trading at $78.18, down 1.14%. Alpha Cognition Inc. (ACOG.CN) (ACOGF.OB) The FDA decision on Alpha Cognition's ALPHA-1062, proposed for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, is expected on July 27, 2024. ALPHA-1062 is being reviewed under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. ACOGF.OB closed Thursday's trading at $0.49, down 5.77%. Xspray Pharma AB (publ) (XSPRAY.ST) The FDA is expected to announce its decision on Xspray Pharma's resubmitted New Drug Application for Dasynoc on July 31, 2024. Dasynoc, the company's innovative protein kinase inhibitor product candidate, is proposed for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. This is Dasynoc's second go-around with the FDA. In July 2023, the U.S. regulatory agency had declined to approve Dasynoc, citing the need for additional details regarding the drug's appropriate dosage and information about the third-party manufacturing site producing the drug. Chronic myeloid leukemia is a type of blood cancer where the body produces malignant white blood cells. XSPRAY.ST closed Thursday's trading at SEK 78.80, down 1.87%. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX 2024 AFX News CHICAGO, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Painting Robot market is projected to grow from USD 3.1 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach USD 5.8 billion by 2029; it is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.1% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of the Painting Robot market is driven by increasing preference for automated painting solutions in aerospace, furniture, and construction industries, integration of advanced technologies such as machine learning, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=198522703 Browse in-depth TOC on "Painting Robot Market" 215 - Tables 73 - Figures 287 - Pages Painting Robot Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 3.1 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 5.8 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.1% Market Size Available for 2020-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Mounting Type, Robot Type, Function, Payload, Reach, Paint Applicator, End-user Industry and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Cybersecurity risks and potential vulnerabilities in robotic systems Key Market Opportunities Rising labor costs and shortage of workers Key Market Drivers Widespread adoption of robotic painting systems by automotive manufacturers By mounting type, Rail Mounted Painting Robot segment is projected to grow at a high CAGR of Painting Robot market during the forecast period. In the aerospace industry, rail mounted painting robots are becoming increasingly prevalent in aircraft manufacturing facilities due to their ability to provide precise control over paint thickness and coverage. These robots play a crucial role in painting various components such as fuselages, wings, and other critical parts of aircraft, ensuring compliance with stringent quality standards. The global aerospace industry has been experiencing continuous growth over the past few years, driven by increasing air passenger traffic, growing demand for commercial aircraft, and innovations in aircraft technology. The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) projects that the global market for new aircraft deliveries will reach an estimated value of USD 6.3 trillion by 2050. As aircraft production ramps up to meet the growing global demand, the need for rail mounted painting robots will correspondingly increase. The aerospace industry includes sectors such as space exploration and satellite manufacturing, which also significantly contribute to the demand for rail mounted painting robots. Collaborative Robots segment in Robot Type will account for highest CAGR during the forecast period. Collaborative robots are gaining traction in the realm of painting applications, particularly in low-volume production scenarios. Their inherent flexibility allows easy adaptation to various painting tasks, making them well-suited for environments requiring frequent production changes. Cost-effectiveness is a notable advantage, as cobots offer an affordable alternative to traditional industrial robots, catering to smaller businesses with limited budgets. The user-friendly nature of cobots facilitates quick programming without extensive robotics expertise, reducing deployment time and training costs. Safety is paramount, with cobots designed for collaboration alongside human workers, negating the need for extensive safety measures common in traditional robotic setups. Their compact size and lighter build contribute to space efficiency, addressing constraints often encountered in low-volume production settings. Up to 10 kg Painting Robot in Payload segment in Painting Robot market will account for the highest CAGR during the forecast period Payload capacity of less than 10 kg indicates that the robot is capable of handling objects or components weighing less than 10 kg. Painting robots with a payload capacity of less than 10 kg are typically designed for applications that involve painting small to medium-sized components or objects. These robots are equipped with painting tools, such as spray guns or brushes, and are programmed to apply paint or coatings onto various surfaces with precision and consistency. Their lightweight payload capacity allows them to handle delicate or intricate components with ease, ensuring accurate paint application without compromising the integrity of the object. 1,000 MM TO 2,000 MM Painting Robot in Reach segment in Painting Robot market will account for largest market share in the forecast timeline The 1,000 mm to 2,000 mm reach segment offers a various advantage in terms of optimizing efficiency and safety in painting processes. The ability of such robots to reach obstacles eliminates the need for manual repositioning, streamlining production lines. Their reach allows for painting tasks to be performed from a safe distance, minimizing worker exposure to harmful fumes or hazardous materials. In industries such as automotive manufacturing, painting robots with a reach of 1,000 mm to 2,000 mm are in high demand. These robots are capable of painting larger components such as car bodies, doors, and hoods with precision and efficiency. Painting in Function segment is expected to account for the largest share during the forecast period. In various industrial settings, painting robots play a pivotal role due to their multifaceted design and functionality. The mechanical body provides the framework for precise movement and positioning, ensuring accurate application of paint or coatings on diverse surfaces. Equipped with sensors, these robots detect environmental variables and adjust painting parameters, thus enhancing efficiency and quality control. The control unit orchestrates the robot's actions, synchronizing movement and painting processes seamlessly. Subsystems such as the man-machine interaction interface facilitate intuitive operation and programming, empowering operators to optimize painting tasks with ease. Atomizers in Paint Applicator segment in Painting Robot market will account for largest share during the forecast period The demand for atomizer painting robots is driven by the industry's need to optimize production processes, reduce costs, and enhance product quality. The integration of atomizer painting robots offers real-time sensing capabilities that allow for immediate detection and correction of paint-quality issues during application. This proactive approach minimizes the occurrence of improperly painted parts, thereby reducing the need for subsequent rework and scrap. Atomizer painting robots enable consistent and precise paint application, leading to higher quality finishes and improved customer satisfaction. The demand for advanced paint atomization technology in industrial painting processes has spurred companies like ABB (Switzerland), DURR AG (Germany), and LACTEC GMBH (Brazil) to develop cutting-edge solutions personalized to meet the evolving needs of manufacturers Furniture in end-user industry segment in Painting Robot Market will account for the highest CAGR by 2029. The integration of modern technology with traditional woodworking practices over the past century has significantly enhanced the efficiency and quality of furniture production. Factories producing chairs and other furniture items in large quantities have increasingly turned to automation to maintain market leadership. Robots, specializing in tasks such as spraying paint, sanding, and inspecting have transformed furniture production by increasing productivity and ensuring consistent quality. CMA Robotics is driving innovation in the wood industry by providing advanced painting robots tailored specifically for this sector. By leveraging the advanced technologies, such as 3D vision systems, the company has created complete systems for painting panels, doors, and furniture accessories. As manufacturers seek to maintain market leadership and meet consumer demands for superior products, they are increasingly turning to industrial robots designed specifically for painting applications. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=198522703 Asia Pacific will account for the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The aging population in countries such as Japan and China has resulted in rising labor costs, accelerating the demand for automation. The aging population is also attracting companies to invest in Asia Pacific. The presence of some of the most prominent players in the painting robot market space, such as FANUC Corporation (Japan), Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Japan), and DENSO Corporation (Japan), is another major factor driving the market in this region. China is at the forefront of the painting robot industry, driven by its expansive manufacturing sector, rapid industrialization, and significant investments in automation technology. As the largest manufacturing hub in the world, China is leveraging painting robots to enhance production efficiency, improve product quality, and address labor challenges. As the region continues to transform and embrace smart manufacturing practices, the demand for painting robots is expected to rise. Key Players Key companies operating in the Painting Robot companies are ABB (Switzerland), FANUC CORPORATION (Japan), KUKA AG (Germany), YASKAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION (Japan), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan), DURR AG (Germany), Epistolio (Italy), krautzberger (Germany), CMA robotics (Italy), Staubli International AG. (Switzerland), among others. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=198522703 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: Industrial Robotics Market Size, Share and Industry Growth Analysis Report & Statistics by Type (Traditional, Collaborative), Component, Payload (Upto 16.00 Kg, 16.01-60.00 Kg, 60.01-225.00 Kg, More than 225 Kg), Application (Handling, Dispensing, Processing), End Use Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Collaborative Robot Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Payload (Up to 5 kg, 5-10 kg, 10-25 kg, & More than 25 kg), Application (Handling, Assembling & Disassembling, Dispensing), Industry (Automotive, Electronics, Metals & Machining) & Region - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2030 Service Robotics Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report by Environment (Aerial, Ground, Marine), Type (Professional, Personal & Domestic), Component, Application (Logistics, Inspection & Maintenance, Public Relations, Education) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Robot End Effector Market Size, Share, Statistics and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Type (Grippers, Welding Guns, Tool Changer, Clamps, Suction Cups, Deburring, Soldering, Milling, & Painting Tools), Robot Type (Traditional, Collaborative), Application, Industry & Region - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2028 Top Robotics Market Size, Share and Industry Growth Analysis Report by Top Industrial Robotics (Articulated, SCARA, Cartesian, Parallel, Collaborative), Top Service Robotics (Logistics, Domestic, Medical, Defense, Rescue, and Security) End User and Region- Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/painting-robot-companies.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/painting-robot.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/painting-robot-market-worth-5-8-billion-by-2029---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-302185532.html NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / NetElixir, an independent AI-first digital agency celebrating its 20th year in business, has unveiled a new feature of its game-changing LXRInsights platform which uses artificial intelligence and rapid experimentation for search and social media advertising. The new rapid experimentation feature was introduced at NetElixir's 20th anniversary event at ARTECHOUSE in New York. This summer, NetElixir will host a free webinar series on Generative AI, which will explore its transformative potential in marketing and beyond. The webinar series will bring together CMOs from mid-size and large brands from around the globe, industry leaders, experts, clients and enthusiasts to delve into how AI is driving business growth and fostering innovation. Registration to attend the webinars can be completed here. NetElixir now has the ability to amplify performance by analyzing live stream data, segmenting the customer data based on their predicted lifetime value and providing higher quality audience signals to the Google and Meta ad platforms for finding look-a-like audiences. After investing seven years in building their own custom machine learning models, NetElixir can now also predict customer churn propensity with over 90 percent accuracy and the likelihood of near-term purchase for every customer. Over the past two decades, NetElixir has revolutionized the tech landscape with its products such as LXRInsights and LXRMarketplace, but the company has also been a champion for equality, embracing diversity in its workforce. Founder and CEO Udayan Bose has created an inclusive environment internally, also using those principles to educate marketers on the fast-changing world of Generative AI and sharing the financial benefits to those with fewer opportunities, or who may even lack basic access to the internet. NetElixir has long made some of its most popular tools freely available to the market, including the LXRMarketplace, a complete suite of digital marketing tools providing new entrants and small businesses with the tools they need to grow and establish themselves amongst established competitors. Sharing such corporate values as these with UPS, NetElixir partnered with the global shipping and logistics giant in a combined outreach to help small businesses succeed. "This year I have heard so many stories of retailers facing significant margin shrinking - and they don't have the tools to fix it. Performance Max and Advantage+ have essentially become black boxes, but now thanks to LXRInsights we have a proven way to make these modules work," said Udayan Bose, NetElixir's Founder and CEO. "LXRInsights offers the predictive analytics needed to bring back the transparency and identify the evangelist customer. The future of search is in rapid AI- powered experimentation." LXRInsights enables advertisers to identify high-value customer segments and, through a single click, they can launch a new experiment in Google Performance Max or Meta Advantage+. NetElixir is the first in the world to offer AI experimentation for search and social media advertising. ABOUT NETELIXIR: NetElixir is the AI-first digital marketing agency for leading retail, DTC, and B2B brands. The company has been driving profitable growth for e-commerce businesses since 2004, by combining a high-tech and high-touch approach to digital marketing. The team specializes in predictably winning high-value customers through targeted demand generation campaigns on Google Ads and Meta remarketing campaigns. NetElixir's strategic insights empower brands to humanize their customer relationships through search, social, programmatic display, and retail media channels and draw the line between invasive and inventive marketing. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, NetElixir has wholly-owned subsidiary offices in Hyderabad, India. For more information, please visit www.netelixir.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Gareth Edmondson-Jones GEJ Ink gejink@gmail.com 917 399-9355 SOURCE: NetElixir View the original press release on accesswire.com Bavarian Nordic is committed to support global efforts to address the mpox situation in Africa through a donation of 15,000 doses of mpox vaccine Emergency Use Authorization for the MVA-BN vaccine has been issued in the DR Congo COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 28, 2024 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) today announced an extended commitment to help fight the current mpox outbreak in Africa. The Company's MVA-BN vaccine, the only FDA and EMA-approved mpox vaccine, which served as an important tool during the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, could soon also become available in the DR Congo (DRC) and other countries in Africa. Mpox is on the rise in African countries with increasing incidence of the more severe clade I. So far in 2024, more than 9,000 mpox cases and over 400 deaths have been reported across seven African countries of which the vast majority (96%) having occurred in the DRC1. Earlier this week, the regulatory authorities in the DRC, ACOREP (Autorite Congolaise de Reglementation Pharmaceutique), issued an Emergency Use Authorization allowing for the use of the MVA-BN vaccine for individuals at risk of mpox. Locally, in the DRC, clinical studies are also planned to support a full regulatory approval of the MVA-BN vaccine, as recently announced by Bavarian Nordic. To further strengthen the response in the DRC and throughout the African region, Bavarian Nordic will collaborate with global health partners, including WHO, UNICEF and Gavi. Bavarian Nordic applauds Gavi's Board decision to approve a new Vaccine Investment Strategy which includes the establishment of a global mpox vaccine stockpile. In the near term, Bavarian Nordic is committed to work in partnership with Gavi, WHO and UNICEF to coordinate dose donations in response to the ongoing outbreak in the DRC and other African countries. To support these efforts, Bavarian Nordic has committed to donating 15,000 doses of its MVA-BN mpox vaccine to the African response. "The spread of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere is highly concerning and could pose a global threat if it is not urgently contained," said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "Gavi and its partners welcome Bavarian Nordic's resolve to help fight this outbreak and its contribution in doses. Our Alliance welcomes the availability of new vaccines for countries and is committed to working with Bavarian Nordic and the relevant authorities to facilitate their arrival and timely administration in line with country plans." "Mpox has been a public health threat in several African countries for more than 50 years and is now spreading across the continent with higher incidence and severity. Global partners are uniting to build a stronger public health response throughout the affected region. and we are proud to contribute through a donation of our mpox vaccine," said Paul Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic. About mpox in the DRC and other African countries Africa is currently tackling one of the largest and deadliest known mpox outbreak to date. Over 8,700 mpox cases and 408 deaths have been reported in the DRC this year alone, with children accounting for the majority of infections and deaths. Cases have also been confirmed in the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia and South Africa. Mpox was first identified in the DR Congo in 1970. In most cases, mpox symptoms - typically fever and headache, followed by painful lesions - resolve within a few weeks. However, for some, mpox can lead to medical complications, such as bronchopneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, loss of vision, or death. The mpox virus strain behind the current outbreak, known as clade I, is estimated to be fatal in up to 10% of cases. About the smallpox/mpox vaccine MVA-BN or Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic is a non-replicating smallpox vaccine and the only mpox vaccine approved in the U.S. and Switzerland (marketed as JYNNEOS), Canada (marketed as IMVAMUNE), and the EU/EEA and United Kingdom (marketed as IMVANEX). Originally developed in collaboration with the U.S. government to ensure the supply of a smallpox vaccine for the entire population, including immunocompromised individuals who are not recommended vaccination with traditional replicating smallpox vaccines, MVA-BN has been indicated for use in the general adult population (18 years and older) in individuals considered at risk for smallpox or mpox. During the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, the vaccine was granted an Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. FDA for both pre- and post-exposure use in adolescents. Bavarian Nordic has been a long-term supplier of the vaccine to the U.S. and Canada as well as several other countries as part of their national biological preparedness. During the 2022-2023 mpox outbreak, Bavarian Nordic has furthermore supported governments and supranational organizations by expanding access to the vaccine to more than 70 countries worldwide. About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated vaccine company with a mission to protect and save lives through innovative vaccines. We are a global leader in smallpox and mpox vaccines, supplied to governments to enhance public health preparedness and have a strong portfolio of vaccines for travelers and endemic diseases. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com . Forward-looking statements This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance, and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law. Contacts Europe: Rolf Sass Srensen, Vice President Investor Relations, rss@bavarian-nordic.com , Tel: +45 61 77 47 43 US: Graham Morrell, Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com , Tel: +1 781 686 9600 1 https://africacdc.org/download/africa-cdc-weekly-event-based-surveillance-report-june-2024/ Attachment "A World of Comics" celebrates Chinese and Spanish art, literature Xinhua) 11:21, June 28, 2024 BARCELONA, Spain, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Prominent illustrators and writers from China and Spain gathered in Barcelona on Thursday to celebrate the art and literature of comics from both countries. The event, called "A World of Comics, closer to Chinese and Spanish literature and illustration", was held in the Espai Sol room of Barcelona's Nord train station. Chinese comic artists Xiao Lin Manga and Nie Jun, as well as writer Cai Jun shared their thoughts, methods and experiences in a roundtable discussion with Spanish comic artists, writers, and publishers. "Comics are very powerful, they are a language that has no borders, and so I think the most important thing for this kind of exchange is that people can learn about each other's thoughts through comics," Nie told Xinhua. The Chinese illustrator pointed out that while Western comics are very popular among young people in China, demand for Chinese comics in Europe is also increasing. Nie's work has already been published in France, and will soon hit the bookshelves in Denmark. Munir Hachemi, a Spanish writer who also lectures at Peking University, said comics are ideal for showing how different Chinese contemporary culture is from outdated preconceptions that often persist in Western societies. "Comics can reach young people, which is (...) important and powerful (...), and as there's no such thing as traditional Chinese comics, that makes them good for transmitting contemporary Chinese culture," he told Xinhua. The event was also the inauguration of an exhibition of the same name, which until July 27 will display some 200 artworks by comic artists from Spain, China and all over the world. "A World of Comics" is part of the 'Get to Know China' initiative created by China's State Council Information Office. "Publishers say that most demand is for manga, both Chinese and Japanese. In fact, these days Asian culture is much more present in Europe than before, in food, in fashion, in music, in literature, in everything," Spanish comic artist Igor Sarralde told Xinhua. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) also participated in the event, since both Nanjing and Barcelona are part of its Cities of Literature network, which is made up of 53 cities in 39 countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Travelers are seen in Terminal 3 at San Francisco International Airport on Friday. The weekend ahead of Independence Day is expected to be the busiest of the year. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Friday could set a new record for U.S. air travel, as the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen over 3 million passengers departing from airports for the first time ever. It would be another apex following June 23s record-setting 2,996,193 passengers screened as cheaper airfares, a strong dollar and the upcoming Fourth of July holiday push more people to travel. More than 32 million departing passengers are expected to be screened by TSA June 27-July 8, up 5.4% from last year. But the Bay Areas three major airports dont expect to break records set in 2019, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Francisco International Airport will be busy, with around 166,000 passengers expected on Friday. Thats 12% below the all-time daily record of over 189,000 passengers screened on Aug. 30, 2019, said SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel. Fridays projection is also below the over 168,000 passengers on June 30, 2023, the last Friday of June last year. Travelers stand in line to enter the TSA checkpoint in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport on Friday. Weekend travel is expected to be the busiest of the year. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle There are multiple reasons for the gap. As the Chronicle previously reported, the number of Chinese tourists coming to San Francisco the biggest spenders of any foreign country before the pandemic remain below 2019 levels. The number of weekly flights between SFO and China is also below pre-pandemic levels. Travel between China and the Bay Area has been dampened by ongoing geopolitical tensions, with the U.S. State Department telling U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to mainland China. The economy of China is also in a slump, with an ongoing real estate crisis. Remote work and fewer Moscone Center conventions booked in 2024 compared to last year has also dampened business travel activity. SFO will benefit from last weeks early reopening of a runway that had been closed since January for construction, leading to more delays. The $2.5 billion Harvey Milk Terminal 1 is also complete. Advertisement Article continues below this ad TSA wait times at SFO on Friday afternoon were an estimated zero-15 minutes, according to the agencys app. United Airlines, the biggest carrier at SFO, expects its busiest period across the U.S. ever June 28-July 8, with over 5 million passengers nationwide. Thats up 7% compared to last year. Uniteds top destinations from SFO include Honolulu, London, Frankfurt, Boston and Hong Kong. San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, which was renamed last month, expects around 40,000 passengers on Friday and over 100,000 between Friday and Sunday. Friday, along with July 3, and July 7, are expected to be the busiest travel days. Daily comparisons to 2019 werent available, but the airports passenger volume is about 80%-85% of 2019 levels, said spokesperson Kaley Skantz. Skantz said Oakland airport is benefiting from new airline routes, including Deltas new nonstop service to Atlanta and Viva Aerobus soon flying to Monterrey, Mexico. Those additions occurred before the airports controversial renaming, which spurred a lawsuit from San Francisco. We are hopeful for new opportunities, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oakland TSA wait time estimates were zero-15 minutes on Friday afternoon. At San Jose Mineta International Airport, wait times were 15-30 minutes. San Jose airport said there are 350,000 plane seats slated for departures and arrivals between June 27 and July 5, but no passenger projection was provided. However, passenger volume is expected to be below last months Memorial Day travel week, said Ana State, an airport spokesperson. Overall, San Joses 2024 passenger volume is expected to be around 10% higher than last year, but still around 20% below 2019. Business travel is still not at the level we saw before the pandemic, State said. Now we are navigating changes around low cost travel. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 4basebio Plc - Result of AGM PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, June 28 28 June 2024 4basebio PLC ("4basebio" or the "Company") Annual General Meeting 2024 ("AGM") Directorate Change Cambridge, UK, 28 June 2024 - 4basebio PLC (AIM: 4BB), an innovation-led provider of novel synthetic DNA products and a non-viral, thermostable nucleic acid delivery platform announces that all of the resolutions proposed at its Annual General Meeting held earlier today were duly passed. At the AGM, Hansjorg Plaggemars, a non-executive director, requested to step down from the board due to other business commitments, which the board has accepted with immediate effect. The board would like to thank Mr Plaggemars for his contribution to the Company and wishes him the best with his future endeavours. The Company also wishes to again draw attention to the investor meeting being held on 2 July 2024, through the Investor Meet Company platform at 10.00am. Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and register interest here: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/register-investor This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as amended by regulation 11 of the market abuse (amendment) (EU Exit) regulations 2019/310. For further enquiries, please contact: 4basebio PLC Heikki Lanckriet +44 (0)12 2396 7943 Nominated AdviserCairn Financial Advisers LLP Jo Tuner / Sandy Jamieson +44 (0)20 7213 0880 BrokerCavendish Capital Markets Limited Geoff Nash / Charlie Beeson / Nigel Birks +44 (0)20 7220 0500 Lionsgate Communications (Media Enquiries) Jonathan Charles +44 (0)77 91892509 Notes to Editors About 4basebio 4basebio (AIM: 4BB) is an innovation driven life biotechnology company focused on accelerating the development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) through its high-performance synthetic DNA products and non-viral, cell targeting nucleic acid delivery platform. The Company's objective is to become a market leader in the manufacture and supply of high-quality synthetic DNA products for research, therapeutic and pharmacological use as well as development of target specific non-viral vectors for the efficient delivery of payloads in patients. ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Legacy Franchise Concepts (LFC) is proud to announce the appointment of Rachel Lee, former Private Equity Partner at Ares Management, as the most recent addition to its Board of Directors. Rachel will play a pivotal role in guiding the strategic expansion of SweatHouz, a leading boutique wellness and contrast therapy brand under the LFC umbrella. Rachel Lee brings a wealth of experience from nearly 15 years at Ares Management where she served as Partner and Head of Consumer Private Equity. Rachel led investments across a broad range of subsectors and transaction types with a particular focus in high-growth multi-unit consumer businesses and partnerships with founder-led companies. Her expertise will be invaluable as LFC and SweatHouz continue to scale, aiming to meet the rising demand for high-quality wellness experiences. Rachel Lee and Jamie Weeks, Chairman, CEO, and Founder of LFC and SweatHouz, first connected in 2021, recognizing a mutual vision for innovation in the wellness industry. Their ongoing discussions have now led to this exciting partnership. Jamie Weeks, a prominent figure in franchising, was the largest global franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness, through Honors Holdings where he sold a majority interest to Prospect Hill Growth Partners in 2018. Beyond his Orangetheory achievements, Jamie, through LFC, is also one of the largest franchise owners of Dogtopia, a national provider of dog daycare, boarding and spa services, showcasing his expertise and leadership in another high-growth multi-unit franchise concept. "We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Lee to the LFC Board," said Jamie Weeks. "Her strategic insights and extensive industry experience will be crucial as we expand SweatHouz's footprint. This partnership marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide exceptional wellness solutions globally." Rachel Lee added, "I am excited to join the LFC team and contribute to the growth of SweatHouz. Jamie and I have long envisioned working together, and I am confident that our combined efforts will drive remarkable success." "We're impressed with the extraordinary progress made by Jamie and the team at LFC bringing the SweatHouz concept to life," commented Jeff Teschke, Partner at Prospect Hill, "and we look forward to collaborating with Rachel on the Board of Directors at LFC. She is yet another talented addition to help steward a world-class executive team overseeing these terrific consumer brands." As part of this strategic partnership, SweatHouz is poised to leverage Rachel Lee's expertise to accelerate its expansion plans, ensuring the brand continues to lead the wellness industry with innovative and customer-centric solutions. About Legacy Franchise Concepts Legacy Franchise Concepts (LFC) is dedicated to building and growing franchise brands with a focus on operational excellence and strategic expansion led by founder and CEO Jamie Weeks. Through its portfolio of leading brands including SweatHouz and Dogtopia, LFC aims to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive industry innovation. About SweatHouz SweatHouz (SWTHZ)is a premier boutique wellness brand and a leader in contrast therapy, committed to enhancing the well-being of its clients. SweatHouz offers an unparalleled health and wellness experience grounded in scientific research by integrating infrared saunas, cold plunges, and vitamin-C showers in a luxurious private suite environment. SweatHouz currently operates 25 corporate and franchised contrast therapy studios and expects to open 100 additional locations in the next 12 months across 30 states. SweatHouz's strong financial profile is the result of industry-leading unit economics and a robust membership-based operating model. About Prospect Hill Growth Partners Prospect Hill Growth Partners is a Boston-area private equity firm that makes control equity investments in North American consumer and healthcare growth companies. The partners at Prospect Hill have collectively invested approximately $3 billion of capital in more than 35 portfolio companies over two decades. The partners' successful investment track record has been built on their sector-focused investment strategy and expertise, a robust operational value-add model, and strong alignment of interests. Contact Information Joshua Guilbaud VP of Growth joshua@lfcbrands.com 404-821-6156 SOURCE: Legacy Franchise Concepts View the original press release on newswire.com. CASTRES, France, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Commission (EC) has authorized the marketing of OBGEMSA (vibegron) by Pierre Fabre Laboratories for the symptomatic treatment of overactive bladder syndrome in adults, a particularly debilitating condition affecting over 70 million patients* in Europe. In 2022, Pierre Fabre Laboratories acquired the exclusive license for vibegron from Urovant Sciences Gmbh for the registration and commercialization of this innovative treatment in the European Economic Area. The decision of the EC will be applicable to all EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. OBGEMSA is a trademark owned by Urovant Sciences. "We are delighted with this development, which will allow European patients to benefit from a new therapeutic option for overactive bladder syndrome and further strengthen our expertise of over 40 years in urology. This decision confirms Pierre Fabre Laboratories' commitment to offering patients innovative therapies that provide better management of chronic debilitating diseases," said Eric Ducournau, CEO of Pierre Fabre Laboratories. The decision of the EC follows the favorable opinion issued on April 25 by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is based on the results of two pivotal, multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 3 studies in adults with overactive bladder symptoms. Study RVT-901-3003 (EMPOWUR) evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of vibegron (at a dose of 75 mg per day) over 12 weeks compared to placebo and with tolterodine as a positive control. Its extension, study RVT-901-3004 (EMPOWUR Extension), double-blindly evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of vibegron over 52 weeks, with tolterodine as an active comparator. In these studies, vibegron, as a new selective agonist of beta-3 adrenergic receptors (AR), demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile in the symptomatic treatment of urgency, increased frequency of urination, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) that can occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Contact: Laurence MARCHAL laurence.marchal@pierre-fabre.com PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451098/Pierre_Fabre.pdf Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2416854/4789117/Pierre_Fabre_Laboratories.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pierre-fabre-laboratories-announce-granting-of-european-marketing-authorization-for-obgemsa-vibegron-in-overactive-bladder-302185906.html Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, June 28 For immediate release 28 June 2024 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announce that it has today purchased 206,412 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 840.15 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 47,118,936; 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 177,872,367. The figure of 177,872,367 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 Erinnern Sie sich, als Moderna und BioNTech von unbekannten Unternehmen zu globalen Marktfuhrern wurden und fruhzeitige Investoren reich belohnt haben? Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien. Warum sollten Sie dabei sein? Sie sollten jetzt in Biotech-Aktien einsteigen, weil wir am Beginn einer neuen Ara der medizinischen Innovation stehen konnten! Gen- und Zelltherapien, personalisierte Medizin und bahnbrechende Technologien konnten das Gesundheitswesen revolutionieren und die Aktienkurse in die Hohe schieen lassen. Die nachste Erfolgsgeschichte im Biotechbereich warten nur darauf, entdeckt zu werden. Wer jetzt investiert, hat die Chance, von gigantischen Durchbruchen und enormen Renditen zu profitieren. Warten Sie nicht, bis es zu spat ist - der nachste Biotech-Superstar konnte morgen schon durchstarten! Verpassen Sie nicht diese Chance! Fordern Sie sofort unseren brandneuen Biotech-Spezialreport an und erfahren Sie, welche 3 Biotech-Aktien das riesige Potenzial haben, Ihren finanziellen Erfolg zu sichern. Dieser Report ist komplett kostenlos und zeigt Ihnen zukunftstrachtige Investments im Biotech-Sektor. Handeln Sie jetzt und sichern Sie sich Ihren kostenfreien Report! REYKJAVIK, Iceland, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucinity has been recognized as a finalist in the AI Innovation category at the prestigious Microsoft Global Partner Awards 2024, recognizing its breakthrough AI solution and contribution to financial security through its collaboration with Microsoft. Lucinity beat more than 4,700 companies to be named a finalist at the annual Microsoft Global Partner Awards, which highlights Lucinity's achievements as a Microsoft partner in optimizing business processes, improving customer experiences, and opening new pathways for digital transformation. This achievement comes in addition to winning two prestigious awards at Microsoft Partner Awards 2024 last month, including Partner of the Year - Iceland, and the Sustainability and Social Impact award. The accolade recognizes Lucinity's significant advancements in AI for financial crime operations, particularly through their AI-powered copilot, Luci. This innovative solution utilizes Microsoft Azure OpenAI technology to integrate advanced generative AI into financial crime investigations and regulatory compliance, optimizing processes and saving significant time and resources for financial institutions. The Lucinity platform streamlines compliance, provides instant insights, and reduces typical investigation times from three hours to just 30 minutes. The technology can also save financial institutions an estimated $100 million in productivity savings, as well as savings in training and recruitment. Microsoft comments on Lucinity's award recognition, saying "Financial crime profoundly impacts our global community, with far-reaching economic, security, and social implications. It can harm a country's reputation and increase exposure to criminal activities, emphasizing the critical need for robust anti-money laundering initiatives and persistent vigilance. Lucinity, with their innovative AI solutions, has really tried to combat this huge global challenge. They use 'Human AI' to enhance financial crime prevention, combining AI with human expertise for efficient, user-friendly solutions. Additionally, Lucinity has developed a tool called Luci, an AI-powered copilot that helps transform financial crime prevention from a process that took hours to one that takes minutes." "Being recognized as a finalist at the Microsoft Global Partner Awards is validation of our impactful collaboration with Microsoft in financial crime operations. Our partnership has been pivotal for our innovations, enabling us to use Azure OpenAI to bring tools like Luci to life and deliver impactful results for our clients," says Gumundur Kristjansson, Founder & CEO of Lucinity. Contact: Name: Celina Pablo Email: celina@lucinity.com Phone: +354 792 4321 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2208676/4669079/Lucinity_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lucinitys-ai-innovation-recognized-at-microsofts-prestigious-global-partner-awards-2024-302186091.html PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ASGI)(NYSE:HQH)(NYSE:HQL)(NYSE:JEQ)(NYSE:THQ)(NYSE:THW)(NYSE American:IAF), (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on June 28, 2024, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of June 21, 2024 (ex-dividend date June 21, 2024). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) which will pay on June 28, 2024, to all shareholders of record as of May 23, 2024 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2024). Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $0.2100 HQH NYSE abrdn Healthcare Investors $0.5900 HQL NYSE abrdn Life Sciences Investors $0.4800 IAF NYSE American abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. $0.1200 JEQ NYSE abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. $0.1200 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $0.1800 THW NYSE abrdn World Healthcare Fund $0.1167 Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. For the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) the stock distributions were automatically paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder to be paid in cash. Shares of common stock were issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price on June 18, 2024. The reinvestment prices per share for these distributions were as follows: $16.90 for abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH); $13.68 for abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL); $4.287 for abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF); and $5.71 for abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ). Fractional shares were generally settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who had whole and fractional shares added to their account. To have received the abrdn Healthcare Investors (HQH), abrdn Life Sciences Investors (HQL), abrdn Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) and abrdn Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (JEQ) quarterly distributions payable in June 2024 in cash instead of shares of common stock, for shareholders who hold shares in "street name," the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must have advised the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by June 17, 2024; and for shares that are held in registered form, written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must have been received by Computershare Investor Services prior to June 17, 2024. Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. The Funds' estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows: Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2100 $0.0399 19% - - $0.1239 59% $0.0462 22% HQH $0.5900 - - $0.0649 11% $0.2360 40% $0.2891 49% HQL $0.4800 - - $0.1291 27% $0.2367 49% $0.1142 24% IAF $0.1200 $0.0108 9% - - - - $0.1092 91% JEQ $0.1200 $0.0096 8% - - - - $0.1104 92% THQ $0.1800 - - $0.0306 17% $0.0810 45% $0.0684 38% THW $0.1167 - - $0.0047 4% $0.0081 7% $0.1039 89% Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year* to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains ** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 1.3800 $0.2622 19% - - $0.8142 59% $0.3036 22% HQH $1.4500 - - $0.1595 11% $0.5800 40% $0.7105 49% HQL $1.1700 - - $0.3147 27% $0.5768 49% $0.2785 24% IAF $0.3500 $0.0315 9% - - - - $0.3185 91% JEQ $0.3300 $0.0264 8% - - - - $0.3036 92% THQ $ 1.3500 - - $0.2295 17% $0.6075 45% $0.5130 38% THW $ 1.0503 - - $0.0420 4% $0.0735 7% $0.9348 89% * ASGI, HQH, HQL, THQ and THW have a 9/30 fiscal year end. IAF and JEQ have a 10/31 fiscal year end. **includes currency gains Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following tables provide the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 05/31/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI 9.20%3 9.34% 17.88% 5.55% THQ 10.89% 8.81% 13.34% 5.45% THW 9.56% 11.43% 12.90% 7.62% 1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of May 31, 2024. 3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through May 31, 2024. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 04/30/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV HQH 6.54% 9.63% 5.64% 4.55% HQL 6.11% 9.63% 7.06% 4.52% IAF 6.88% 10.15% 15.73% 4.97% JEQ 3.87% 6.14% 19.87% 3.00% 1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of April 30, 2024. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter# ### For More Information Contact: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds Investor Relations 1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds View the original press release on accesswire.com GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stena RoRo has ordered another two E-Flexer RoPax vessels from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The vessels will be delivered in 2027 to the Greek shipping company Attica Group and will operate in the Adriatic Sea. This is Stena RoRo's fourteenth and fifteenth vessel in the E-Flexer series. The two vessels will be on long-term charter agreements to the Attica Group with an option to purchase and a potential option for two more vessels. The E-Flexer series is based on a concept with larger vessels than today's standard RoPax ferries and is very flexible. Each ship is tailored to the customers' needs, both commercially and technically. Optimized design of the hull, propellers and rudders, together with possibilities to incorporate new environmentally friendly technologies, help to ensure that the E-Flexer vessels are at the forefront when it comes to sustainability, performance and cost effectiveness. The vessels' engines are of the multi-fuel type and can run on conventional marine fuel (HFO or MGO) or biodiesel. In addition, the engines are methanol ready. The E-Flexer concept has been designed in line with future environmental requirements and, through its technical design, can meet both existing and future international requirements by a wide margin. The vessels will be designed with the classification society notation "Battery power" which means that in the future the vessels will also be able to utilize batteries as a means of propulsion, partly or completely, depending on the battery development. Panos Dikaios, CEO, Attica Group commented: "For three decades, the Attica Group has been renewed through the design and construction of new vessels. The Superfast series redefined the Adriatic ferry market in terms of quality and speed, the sister vessels Blue Star Patmos and Blue Star Delos significantly upgraded the travel experience on the Aegean Sea routes and the latest addition, the three state-of-the-art Aero Highspeed, have already contributed substantially to the increase of visitors to the Saronic Islands. Our agreement with Stena RoRo for the charter of two new state-of-the-art vessels, sets new standards for the entire Greek ferry industry. It drastically reduces our environmental footprint, redefines the travel experience and responds dynamically to the challenges of tomorrow." Per Westling, VD Stena RoRo stated: "The E-Flexer vessels to Attica have been jointly designed and ordered as the most bespoke E-Flexers so far. The design is extremely versatile, and the ships will, with their inherent flexibility of different fuels, battery hybrid operation and many other fuel saving features, play an important role in the green transition of the Attica Superfast Adriatic RoPax service." Stena RoRo currently has 15 confirmed orders for E-Flexer vessels, as well as two so-called "New Max" RoRo vessels, at CMI Jinling, Weihai shipyard. Ten ships have been delivered. Specification of Stena E-Flexer orders: 1. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2019 2. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2020 3. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery 2020 Long charter agreement 4. Stena Line: Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivery 2021 5. DFDS; DFDS network; delivery 2021 Long-term charter agreement 6. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery 2021 Long-term charter agreement; LNG operation 7. Stena Line; Stena Line network, delivery May 2022 from the shipyard Extended version 8. Stena Line; Stena Line network, delivery September 2022 from the shipyard Extended version 9. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery December 2022 Long-term charter agreement; LNG operation 10. Marine Atlantic; Marine Atlantic network, delivery February 2024 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 11. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivery 2024 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 12. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivery 2025 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 13. Corsica Linea, Corsica Linea network, delivery 2026 LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 14. Attica Group, delivery April 2027 Methanol ready, battery-hybrid installation 15. Attica Group, delivery August 2027 Methanol ready, battery-hybrid installation About E-flexer No. 14 and 15: Length: 240 m Draught: 6.4 m Beam: 27.8 m Capacity: 1500 passengers and 3320 cargo meters freight Passenger cabins: 256 Speed: 24 knots Rendering by Peter Mild. For more information, please contact: Per Westling, Managing Director, Stena RoRo AB Tel: +46 31 855154; +46 704 85 51 54 Email: per.westling@stena.com Since 1977, Stena RoRo has led the development of new marine RoRo, cargo and passenger concepts. We provide custom-built vessels, as well as standardized RoRo and RoPax vessels. The company leases about fifteen vessels to operators worldwide, both other Stena companies and third parties. Stena RoRo specializes primarily in applying its technical expertise to the design and production of new vessels and the conversion and technical operation of existing vessels for providing tailored transport solutions to its customers. We call this "Stenability". Since 2013, we have had responsibility for the design and completion of Mercy Ships' new hospital vessel the Global Mercy - the world's largest civilian hospital ship. The ship was delivered in 2021. www.stenaroro.com Attica Group, with a long-standing presence in the Greek and international seas, leads the Greek passenger shipping industry and is among the largest shipping companies worldwide. Through the brands of Superfast Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Hellenic Seaways and ANEK Lines, and with a fleet of more than 40 ships, Attica Group connects links more than 60 destinations every day, offering modern, high-level transport services in Greece and international routes (Greece - Italy). The Group has also expanded its presence in the tourism sector with the acquisition of 3 hotels in Naxos (2) and Tinos (1). With a clear commitment towards integrating the principles of sustainable development into its business activity and operations, Attica Group was the first company in the passenger shipping industry worldwide to issue a Responsibility & Sustainability Report in 2009, according to the GRI guide. www.attica-group.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/r/stena-roro-places-order-for-two-new-multi-fuel-e-flexer-ropax-vessels,c4009034 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/9515/4009034/2893575.pdf Stena RoRo places order for two new multi-fuel E-Flexer RoPax vessels https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/rendering-e-flexer-14-and-15,c3316255 Rendering E-Flexer 14 and 15 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stena-roro-places-order-for-two-new-multi-fuel-e-flexer-ropax-vessels-302186109.html Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - Lodestar Battery Metals (TSXV: LSTR) (OTCQB: SVTNF) ("Lodestar" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has appointed Kyle Appleby as Chief Financial Officer of the Company to fill the vacancy of outgoing Chief Financial Officer Killian Ruby. The Company would like to thank Mr. Ruby for his services as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Appleby is a seasoned Chief Financial Officer who has spent the first 10 years of his career working in public accounting where he worked in both audit and advisory practices working with private companies and investment funds. He has been the Chief Financial Officer for numerous companies, listed in Canada, U.S. and London and has extensive experience in financial reporting, IPOs, fund raising, and corporate governance. He holds a Chartered Professional Accountant designation and is a member in good standing of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario and Canada. Over a 20-year career, Kyle has provided CFO services to a number of public and private companies, both in Canada and abroad. He has a strong record of assisting companies with financial reporting and controls, governance, operations, financing, regulatory compliance and taxation. Kyle is a member in good standing of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. In addition, Mr. Scott Margach has resigned as Executive Vice President and will remain as an independent director of the Company. Mr. Gary Prihar and Killian Ruby have also resigned as a director of the Company. As a result of the above noted changes, the Company's board will consist of three directors: Mr. Lowell Kamin, Scott Margach and Leo Horn. Of the three directors, Mr. Scott Margach and Mr. Leo Horn will be independent directors of the Company. Grant of Stock Options Lodestar also announces it has granted options to purchase 800,000 common shares to its independent directors. The options are exercisable at $0.05 per share, fully vested and expire five years from the date of grant. About Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian mining exploration company focused on the critical metals space. The Company's 100% owned flagship Peny Property comprises of 47 mineral claims totalling 11,191 hectares in the Snow Lake District, Manitoba, with access to tier-1 existing infrastructure: railway, roads, airstrip, and power. The Company also owns 100% interest in two significant silver assets in Mexico. The Company intends to build a strong portfolio of battery metals projects to drive future growth through exploration success and from later-stage projects with production potential. The Lodestar business plan calls for a dynamic combination of developing its existing properties, acquisitions, and partnerships to achieve this growth. For more information, visit https://lodestarbatterymetals.ca/. Contacts Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Lowell Kamin, President, CEO & Chairman of the Board (416) 272-1241 lowell@lodestarbatterymetals.ca Investor Relations Alyssa Barry, IR Labs Inc. 1-(833)-947-5227 alyssa@irlabs.ca Forward-Looking Statements The information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements 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. Lodestar cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by several material factors, many of which are beyond Lodestar's control. Such factors include, among other things, risks and uncertainties relating to Lodestar's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214886 SOURCE: Lodestar Battery Metals Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - Provenance Gold Corp. (CSE: PAU) (OTCQB: PVGDF) (the "Company" or "Provenance") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $1,033,100. Upon closing of the First Tranche, the Company issued 12,913,750 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.08 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional share at a price of $0.12 until June 28, 2027. In connection with closing of the First Tranche, the Company paid $28,861 and issued 360,763 Warrants to certain arms-length brokerage firms that assisted in introducing subscribers to the Offering. All securities issued in connection with the First Tranche are subject to restrictions on resale until October 29, 2024 in accordance with applicable securities laws. Rauno Perttu, Provenance's CEO, stated, "We have been impressed with the attention our Company has started to receive in the last few months and are excited to commence our core drilling program in July at our Eldorado property. Because of the very recent strong interest in and support for our program, we anticipate closing a second tranche very shortly. This upcoming core program will be a significant stepping stone for our Company. The core program will be coupled with a geophysical IP study of the area, plus additional detailed geological mapping and sampling. I'm confident that this new information will confirm the gold system extends much deeper than previously recognized, and into a newly recognized higher-grade zone. With the landscape for exploration and mining greatly improved in eastern Oregon and with strong local support, I'm extremely pleased that Provenance is becoming a leader for new mineral exploration in the region." The Company will be issuing updates on its exploration plans and activities in the coming weeks. Qualified Person The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Jo Price, P.Geo., M.Sc., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. About Provenance Gold Corp. Provenance Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company with a focus on gold and silver mineralization within North America. The Company currently holds interests in Nevada, and eastern Oregon, USA. For further information please visit the Company's website at https://provenancegold.com or contact Rob Clark at rclark@provenancegold.com. On behalf of the Board, Provenance Gold Corp. Rauno Perttu, Chief Executive Officer Safe Harbor Statement: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its regulation services provider, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause 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. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214938 SOURCE: Provenance Gold Corp. Lake Oroville stands at 100% capacity in June of last year after a historically wet winter. State water officials recently determined that the reservoir holds less water than it has in the past. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) laser and multibeam-sonar systems combined to map the terrain of Lake Oroville above and below the waters surface. The darkest blue areas indicate the deepest parts of the reservoir. Courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources LiDAR (brown) and sonar (gray) illustrate the topography of the main body of Lake Oroville. Courtesy of the California Department of Water Resources Lake Oroville may be the largest state-run reservoir in California, but water officials just learned its not as big as they thought. The California Department of Water Resources, during the 2021 and 2022 drought years, took advantage of the reservoirs historically low levels to map the lakebed and discovered with the help of recently created 3D models that its about 3% smaller than advertised. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Starting Monday, the state will change its water supply calculations and reservoir operations to reflect the lakes reduced water capacity: now 3,424,753 acre-feet instead of 3,537,577 acre-feet. (An acre-foot of water supplies at least two households for a year.) State websites and public information materials also will be updated. State officials say Lake Orovilles smaller size has a negligible impact on California water supplies. The reservoir, which provides at least some water to 27 million people, including many in the Bay Area, is one of several operated by the state Department of Water Resources. The lake is in Butte County in the northern Sierra foothills. In California, only the federally run Shasta Lake is larger. The (reduction in storage) is really a minimal amount of the entire volume of the reservoir, Patrick Tami, a branch manager at the Department of Water Resources, told the Chronicle. However, Tami said, as slight as the reduction is, this lesser amount of water could creep up on Californians and have at least some impact during dry times, when every drop counts. Lake Orovilles diminished size is largely due to sedimentation. The forks of the Feather River carry sediment like dirt and rock into the lake, which accumulates after being intercepted by the still water and the dam. The sedimentation process is common in reservoirs, some more so than others. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The sedimentation at Lake Oroville losing 3% of capacity in a little more than 50 years of operation is not bad, says Jay Lund, vice director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis and a distinguished professor of civil and environmental engineering. For the big reservoirs in California, I dont think this is too much of a problem, he said. They have pretty stable watersheds so theres not a lot of sediment that moves down into them. Lund attributes the stability to the hardy, high-elevation granite of the Sierra, which doesnt easily fray. A handful of other reservoirs that have been measured recently, including Pyramid, Castaic and Silverwood lakes, showed similar degrees of sedimentation minor but noticeable. At least some of the changes in capacity observed at Oroville and the other reservoirs could be due to errors in the initial measurements of the lakes, state officials say. The LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) laser and multibeam-sonar systems used today for measurement are much more accurate than the means decades ago. Tami, with the Department of Water Resources, said he doesnt expect sediment to become too much of a problem in California in the future either. However, with the warming climate, more extreme storms and more severe wildfires have the potential to wash more debris into rivers and streams, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pro Real Tech, a dynamic and innovative digital agency, proudly celebrates its first anniversary today, June 28, 2024. Since its inception in June 2023, Pro Real Tech has established itself in the digital industry, offering a comprehensive suite of services, including digital marketing, graphic design, web design & development, software development, and video production & editing. In celebration of this significant milestone, Pro Real Tech invites clients, partners, stakeholders, and the media to join in recognizing their achievements over the past year. The company's commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has driven remarkable accomplishments. Pro Real Tech has strategically partnered with international companies such as SK IT SOLUTION BD, Taq Mall, and GIRLS FLORA LTD to expand its global footprint and enhance its service offerings. Pro Real Tech has completed over 450 projects across various fields, demonstrating their expertise and contributing to the success of a diverse global clientele. Within its inaugural year, the company achieved significant financial milestones, generating over $1.3 million in revenue. This economic success underscores the satisfaction of clients who have benefited from Pro Real Tech's innovative digital solutions. Launch of Corexta: Empowering Agencies with Cutting-Edge Software A highlight of Pro Real Tech's first year includes the launch of Corexta, a comprehensive solution designed to streamline agency management operations. Corexta integrates essential tools such as project management, client management, finance management, HR solutions, CRM, asset management, recruitment tools, and payroll management into a unified interface. This innovative software platform empowers agencies to optimize efficiency, enhance collaboration, and achieve measurable results. Leadership and Team Dynamics The success of Pro Real Tech is contributed by its visionary leadership and dedicated team members. Founder and CEO MD Sabbir Khan is the lifeline for the company's rapid growth. He always appreciates the team's collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence. "We believe in facilitating a workplace culture where creativity develops alongside productivity," says MD Sabbir Khan. He also added, "Our team members are encouraged to find joy in their work, which not only boosts their creativity but also ensures timely project delivery and client satisfaction. The Managing Director, MD Rokibul Hasan, always stands as a strong telamon for the company. He plays a crucial role in maintaining operational excellence at Pro Real Tech. His accurate and careful approach to managing day-to-day operations ensures that the company operates efficiently and effectively. He ensures all the projects meet the high standards set by their leadership. MD Rokibul Hasan said, "Getting a proper result is not so difficult when you have a team like Pro Real Tech. I wish to contribute more to the digital world in the future and want to congratulate my team on this remarkable occasion." MD Zebon Hasan, the Project Manager, whose accurate supervision ensures that every project meets its deadlines and exceeds client expectations. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, MD Zebon Hasan fosters a culture of liability and efficiency within the team. His strategic guidance and collaborative spirit empower team members to innovate and execute projects seamlessly. With his skill, the project management process at Pro Real Tech is streamlined and effective, allowing the team to deliver high-quality solutions that drive client success consistently. Future Outlook and Commitment to Innovation Looking ahead, Pro Real Tech remains focused on driving the latest innovation and exceeding client expectations. The company continues to invest in research and development to introduce cutting-edge technologies that anticipate market trends and empower businesses to thrive in the digital era. As part of its growth strategy, Pro Real Tech is actively seeking strategic investors to support its ambitious expansion plans. With a proven track record of delivering exceptional results and a clear vision for the future, Pro Real Tech offers investors a great opportunity to get a healthy share of revenue and to participate in the dynamic digital agency sector. "We are excited about the future and the opportunities it holds," says MD Sabbir Khan. "Our commitment to innovation, paralleled with our dedication to client success, will continue to propel Pro Real Tech forward as a leader in the digital World. With the support of fund investors, we aim to accelerate our growth trajectory and expand our reach, further solidifying our position as a preferred partner for businesses seeking transformative digital solutions," For more information about Pro Real Tech and its comprehensive digital services, please visit their website. Media Contact Organization: Pro Real Tech Contact Person: MD SABBIR KHAN Website: https://www.prorealtech.com Email: Info@prorealtech.com Contact Number: +8801760996619 Address: 3rd Floor, House No-28, Beacon Mor City: Rangpur Country: Bangladesh SOURCE: Pro Real Tech View the original press release on accesswire.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM);(NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") announces the voting results from its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 27, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). 1. At the Meeting, a total of 242,392,823 common shares were voted, representing 45.08% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares as of the record date. All eight nominees were elected to the Company's Board of Directors. The voting results were as follows: DIRECTOR FOR % WITHHELD % Ronald W. Thiessen 104,117,094 67.32% 50,543,856 32.68% Robert A. Dickinson 103,676,387 67.03% 50,984,563 32.97% Desmond M. Balakrishnan 99,820,609 64.54% 54,840,340 35.46% Christian Milau 150,096,488 97.05% 4,564,462 2.95% Kenneth W. Pickering 142,992,015 92.46% 11,668,935 7.54% Wayne Kirk 146,773,519 94.90% 7,887,431 5.10% Siri C. Genik 149,738,730 96.82% 4,922,220 3.18% Isabel Satra 143,491,139 92.78% 11,169,811 7.22% 2. Deloitte, Chartered Professional Accountants, were appointed auditor of the Company. Shares voted in person and by proxies received represented 211,172,640 (87.12%) votes FOR and 31,220,182 (12.88%) votes WITHHELD. 3. The ordinary resolution of disinterested shareholders to approve the 2024 Share Option Plan, as amended, for continuation for three years, until June 27, 2027, was not passed. Shares voted in person and proxies received represented 69,325,501 (48.20%) votes FOR and 74,511,276 (51.80%) votes AGAINST. This vote excluded 10,824,173 shares held by Insiders. 4. The ordinary resolution to approve the 2024 Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan (the "DSU Plan"), as amended, the related allocation renewal and authorization for grants pursuant to the DSU Plan for three years, until June 27, 2027 was passed. Shares voted in person and proxies received represented 120,396,749 (77.85%) votes FOR and 34,264,201 (22.15%) votes AGAINST. 5. The ordinary resolution to approve the 2024 Restricted Share Unit Plan (the "RSU Plan"), as amended, the related allocation renewal and authorization for grants pursuant to the RSU Plan for three years, until June 27, 2027 was passed. Shares voted in person and proxies received represented 120,534,831 (77.93%) votes FOR and 34,126,119 (22.07%) votes AGAINST. There were non-votes recorded (but not voted) on each resolution as follows: 87,731,873 non-votes on the resolutions to elect each director except Desmond Balakrishnan, who received 87,731,874 non-votes; 1 non-vote on the appointment of auditor resolution; 87,731,873 non-votes on each of three resolutions to approve the Share Option Plan, Deferred Share Unit Plan and the Restricted Share Unit Plan, respectively. Non-votes are discretionary votes given to a broker by a US beneficial holder not allowed under Canadian Securities Regulations. About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska-based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project. For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1- 800-667-2114. Review public filings, which include forward-looking information cautionary language and risk factor disclosure regarding the Company and the Pebble Project in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca and in the United States at www.sec.gov. Trevor Thomas Secretary SOURCE: Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. ("Nevada Vanadium" or the "Company") announces that, further to its joint press releases with Flying Nickel Mining Corp. ("Flying Nickel") dated August 23, 2022, and October 7, 2022, the proposed acquisition of all the issued and outstanding common shares of Nevada Vanadium by Flying Nickel by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement (the "Transaction" or the "Arrangement") continues to progress. An Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders of both companies to vote on the Transaction has been set for July 10, 2024. Further details are available in the Joint Management Information Circular dated May 24, 2024 of Flying Nickel and Nevada Vanadium (the "Circular"), available on www.sedarplus.ca. The Transaction was delayed primarily due to staff turnover at the end of 2022, a change in auditors during December 2022, and also a change in fiscal year end from December 31 to March 31 effective for the 15 months ended March 31, 2023. In making its recommendations in favor of the Transaction, the Company's board of directors (the "Nevada Vanadium Board") considered a number of factors including the following: Synergy with Nickel Business: Merging with a company in the nickel mining sector could create significant synergies. Given that both nickel and vanadium are critical elements in battery manufacturing, this merger could lead to joint research and development opportunities, shared infrastructure, reduction of operating costs, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the combined entity could offer a more comprehensive product portfolio for battery manufacturers. Strong Position in the Growing Battery Market: As the demand for batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage grows, the combined company would be well-positioned to become a strong player in the supply of key metals for this market. This could provide us with significant long term growth opportunities. Increased Bargaining Power: A larger, more diversified company might have more bargaining leverage with suppliers, customers, and service providers, leading to more favourable conditions in terms of pricing, contracts, and various commercial terms. Shared Expertise and Resources: Flying Nickel would bring its expertise and resources in the mining sector, which Nevada Vanadium could utilize to improve its operations, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. This could also lead to innovations and improvements in the future mining processes of Nevada Vanadium. Risk Diversification: By merging with Flying Nickel, Nevada Vanadium would be diversifying its operations into the nickel market, which could potentially help to mitigate the risks associated with any fluctuations or downturns in the vanadium market. Improved Investor Attractiveness: The combined entity would likely be more attractive to investors due to its increased size, diversified operations, and greater growth prospects. This could lead to better access to capital markets, potentially facilitating future expansion or development plans. Providing Nevada Vanadium Shareholders with Greater Liquidity: Shares of Flying Nickel are listed on the TSX-V and are expected to be significantly more liquid securities than Nevada Vanadium shares, which are not currently listed on a stock exchange. The Arrangement will provide Nevada Vanadium shareholders with the opportunity to hold shares in a company with greater share liquidity. The Arrangement will also provide Nevada Vanadium shareholders with the opportunity to hold shares in a company with improved ability to obtain financing and a broader institutional following than currently enjoyed by Nevada Vanadium. Fairness Opinion: The Nevada Vanadium Board received the Evans & Evans Fairness Opinion dated as of October 6, 2022, which concluded as at the date thereof and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein, that the Arrangement consideration to be received by the Nevada Vanadium shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair from a financial point of view to the Nevada Vanadium shareholders. Increased Ability to Advance the Nevada Vanadium Assets: The Arrangement will provide Nevada Vanadium shareholders with access to Flying Nickel's development, production, marketing and capital raising expertise to enhance and further the advancement of the Gibellini Vanadium Project, which is expected to generate enhanced exploration upside for the combined assets, and provide availability of financing for project advancement. Cost Synergies: Public company administrative costs, and other corporate costs, are expected to be reduced for the combined company because of there only being one public company resulting from the Arrangement. Despite the time that has lapsed from the date of the Evans & Evans Fairness Opinion, the Company considered, but did not proceed with requesting for an update to the Evans & Evans Fairness Opinion as it was only one of many factors considered in the Nevada Vanadium Board's recommendations. The Company retained Bayer Law Corporation ("Bayer Law") as its independent legal advisor for purposes of the Transaction. Bayer Law actively advised on the Transaction leading up to the signing of the Arrangement in October 2022. Bayer Law stayed on the file till early 2023, subsequently the Company appointed a Chief Legal Officer as inhouse counsel to proceed with final preparations of the Transaction. MLT Aikins LLP is assisting the Company with certain legal matters, such as the court process for the Arrangement. Under the terms of the Transaction, Nevada Vanadium shareholders will receive one (1) (the "Exchange Ratio") Flying Nickel common share for each Nevada Vanadium share held immediately prior to the effective time of the Transaction. Despite Flying Nickel's change in share price since October 2022, the Exchange Ratio remains the same as it is based on the intrinsic value of the underlying assets. About Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. is a reporting issuer in Canada, holding a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada, United States. To find out more about Nevada Vanadium, visit www.nevadavanadium.com. NEVADA VANADIUM MINING CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Ron Espell" CEO For more information about Nevada Vanadium, please contact Investor Relations: info@nevadavanadium.com This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. This news release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release, including any benefits that may be derived by the Company or its shareholders from the Transaction, the successful completion of the Transaction as expected, or at all, the receipt of shareholder, stock exchange, regulatory, court and other required approvals in respect of the Transaction, as well as statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance, events or results, and may not be indicative of whether such events or results will actually be achieved. A number of risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: changes in business plans; ability to secure sufficient financing to advance the Company's and Flying Nickel's project; inability to obtain the requisite shareholder, stock exchange, regulatory, court and other required approvals in respect of the Transaction; the inability of the Company and Flying Nickel to complete the requisite conditions precedent to the Transaction, the risks and uncertainties outlined in the Circular; and general market, industry and economic conditions. See the Circular for a discussion of the Transaction and further associated risks. Additional risk factors are set out in the Company's latest annual and interim management discussion and analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions by management as of the date of this news release, and there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent with any forward-looking statements included herein. Readers are cautioned that all forward looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of this news release, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214953 SOURCE: Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - good natured Products Inc. (TSXV: GDNP) (OTCQB: GDNPF) (the "Company" or "good natured"), a North American leader in eco-friendly food packaging, bio-based plastic extrusion and plant-based products, announced that the Company sought and obtained an order (the "Initial Order") from the Supreme Court of British Columbia Justice (the "Court") under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the "CCAA"), in order to restructure its financial affairs. The Company and its subsidiaries will file cases under Chapter 15 of Title 11 of the United States Code seeking recognition of the CCAA proceeding within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States to restructure its financial affairs. After careful consideration in consultation with legal and financial advisors, the board of directors determined that a comprehensive restructuring was in the best interest of the Company and its stakeholders. In light of financial pressures from higher debt servicing costs, reduction in revenue from the Company's Industrial business group, and lower than anticipated orders from a large US Food Producer as outlined in the Company's two most recent quarterly financial results, it was determined that seeking creditor protection under the CCAA would provide the best opportunity to position the Company for future success. As part of the overall restructuring and as outlined in the Company's Q1 2024 press release dated May 30, 2024, good natured intends to continue the prioritization of its most growth-oriented and profitable business groups and rigorously review operating capabilities and processes to identify transformative initiatives. The Company is expected to continue to operate in the ordinary course under the protection of the Initial Order. There are no disruptions anticipated to the products and services that good natured provides to its loyal customers in both the United States and Canada. The board of directors of the Company will remain in place, and management retains responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Company, with certain provisions as outlined below. The Initial Order provides for, among other things: (i) a stay of proceedings in favor of the Company; and (ii) the appointment of Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc. as monitor of the Company (in such capacity, the "Monitor"). The Company confirms it has a minimum of three directors on its board of directors at the time of the Initial Order. Further, the Company confirms its transfer agent is in good standing as at the date of the Interim Order and good natured will continue to issue all material information updates as required via a press release and ensure all disclosure requirements under the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") Exchange Policy will be met. As a result of the Company receiving protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), the Company expects its shares to be transferred to the NEX board of the TSX-V. Additional information regarding the CCAA proceedings - including all of the Court materials filed in the CCAA proceedings - may be found at the Monitor's website: https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/goodnatured The good natured corporate profile can be found at: goodnaturedproducts.com/pages/investor About good natured Products Inc. good natured is at the forefront of North America's shift toward sustainability, showcasing over 90 plant-based packaging designs and an extensive portfolio of more than 400 products and services. These offerings are purposefully designed to reduce environmental impact by using more renewable materials, less fossil fuel, and eliminating chemicals of concern. Manufactured locally in the US and Canada, good natured engineers and distributes a diverse range of bio-based products across various sectors, including grocery, restaurant, electronics, automotive, and pharmaceutical via both wholesale and direct channels. The Company is dedicated to providing an industry-leading customer experience in order to encourage the transition to renewable alternatives. By making it easy and affordable for businesses to adopt bio-based products and packaging, good natured aims to empower them to reach their sustainability objectives. For more information: goodnaturedproducts.com On behalf of the Company: Paul Antoniadis - Executive Chair & CEO Contact: 1-604-566-8466 Investor Contact: Spencer Churchill Investor Relations 1-877-286-0617 ext. 113 invest@goodnaturedproducts.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "budget," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "scheduled," "forecast," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "to be," "could,", "would," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the filing by the Company and its subsidiaries of cases under Chapter 15 of Title 11 of the United States Code, the outcome of the CCAA proceedings, the future success, plans and objectives of the Company, the Intended operations of the Company and any disruptions to Its products and services, the board of directors and management of the Company, and the Company's shares being transferred to the NEX board of the TSXV. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company's control 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 information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections regarding, among other things, future plans and strategies, projections, future market and operating conditions, supply conditions, end customer demand conditions, anticipated events and trends, general market conditions, the economy, financial conditions, sales volume and pricing, expenses and costs, all necessary court orders and approvals are obtained to permit the Company to implement its restructuring plans, and other future conditions which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. Important factors that could cause actual results and financial conditions to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: delay or failure to receive required approvals with respect to the CCAA proceedings, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, risks relating to general economic, market and business conditions and unforeseen delays in the realization of the Company's plans, risks related to the loss of key manufacturing equipment, capability or facilities, the performance of plant-based materials and the ability of the Company's products and packaging to meet significant technical requirements, changes in raw material supply and costs, labour availability and labour costs, fluctuations in operating results, and other related risks as more fully set out in the Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2024 of the Company and other documents disclosed under the Company's filings at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on currently available information, but cautions the reader that its assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect the Company and its businesses. 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. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to above will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. Other than as required under securities laws, the Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214961 SOURCE: good natured Products Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 28, 2024) - C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (OTCQX: CXXIF) ("C21" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis company, is providing a default status report in accordance with the alternative information guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). As previously announced on May 31, 2024 (the "Announcement"), the Company applied for a management cease trade order ("MCTO") from the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") due to an expected delay in filing of the audited consolidated financial statement for the year ended January 31, 2024 (the "Annual Financial Statements"), annual management's discussion and analysis for the same period and management certifications of annual filings (collectively, the "Annual Filings") beyond the deadline of May 31, 2024 prescribed by Canadian securities laws. The MCTO was granted by the BCSC on May 31, 2024. The MCTO prohibits the Company's management from trading in the securities of the Company until such time as the Annual Filings are filed. The MCTO does not affect the ability of any other shareholders of the Company to trade securities of the Company. As disclosed in the Announcement, the delay in filing the Annual Filings is due to the Company's auditors requiring additional time to complete their audit of the Annual Financial Statements due, in part, to the Company having changed its financial year end from January 31 to March 31, as well the Company's recent change of auditors which occurred at the beginning of this calendar year. C21 and its auditors continue to work diligently and expeditiously towards completing the Annual Filings, which is expected to occur on or around July 15, 2024. Upon completion of the auditors' internal review process, the Annual Filings will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The Company confirms that since the date of the Announcement: (i) there has been no material change to the information set out in the Announcement that has not been generally disclosed; (ii) the Company is satisfying and confirms that it intends to continue to satisfy the provisions of the "alternative information guidelines" under NP 12-203 and issue bi-weekly default status reports for so long as the delay in filing the Annual Filings is continuing, each of which will be issued in the form of a news release; (iii) there has not been any other specified default by the Company under NP 12-203; (iv) the Company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings; and (v) there is no material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. For further inquiries, please contact: Investor contact: Investor Relations info@cxxi.ca +1 833 289-2994 Company contact: Michael Kidd Chief Financial Officer and Director Michael.Kidd@cxxi.ca About C21 Investments Inc. C21 Investments Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, including legacy Oregon brands Phantom Farms, Hood Oil and Eco Firma Farms. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada, additional information on C21 can be found at www.sedarplus.ca and www.cxxi.ca. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements"). Forward-Looking Statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: the Company satisfying the information guidelines set out in NP 12-203 and the filing of the Annual Filings on or about July 15, 2024 upon completion of the auditors' internal review process. Such Forward-Looking Statements represent the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Forward-Looking Statements are based on assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management of the Company at the time they were provided or made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including: (i) the expected filing of the Annual Filings; (ii) the Company's continued ability to satisfy the information guidelines set out in NP 12-203; (iii) the duration of the MCTO; (iv) achieving the anticipated results of the Company's strategic plans; and (v) general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the Forward-Looking Statements in this news release. Such factors include, without limitation: risks and uncertainties arising from any delay in filing the Annual Filings; the Company's ability to satisfy the requirements of NP 12-203; the revocation of the MCTO and replacement with a cease trade order; the inability to effectively manage growth; inputs, suppliers and skilled labour being unavailable or available only at uneconomic costs; the adequacy of the Company's capital resources and liquidity, including but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to execute the Company's business plan (either within the expected time frame or at all); changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws generally and adverse future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical and recreational marijuana; the risks of operating in the marijuana industry in the United States, and those other risk factors discussed in the Company's 20F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Annual Information Form filing on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such Forward-Looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake to update any Forward-Looking Statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214964 SOURCE: C21 Investments Inc. Rohlik Group, a Prague, Czech Republic-based food retail technology and online grocery company, raised $170M in growth capital. The round was led by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), alongside existing investors Sofina, Index Ventures, Quadrille, and TCF Capital and complemented by growth capital funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) under its Scale-Up Initiative. The company intends to use the funds to further enhance its expansion plans in DACH and CEE, where it aims to establish its presence in more than 10 additional cities by 2030. Led by Founder and CEO Tomas Cupr, Rohlik Group is an online grocery platform featuring a large assortment of products, reliable delivery, and automation at every step of the journey to improve the customer experience and offer quality, efficiency and sustainability. Its product assortment ranges from fresh food from local farmers and artisans to supermarket goods and private label brands, and offers 15-minute delivery windows and same-day deliveries available as soon as 1 hour after booking. The company is active in the Czech Republic (Rohlik.cz), Hungary (Kifli.hu), Austria (Gurkerl.at), Germany (Knuspr.de) and Romania (Sezamo.ro). FinSMEs 28/06/2024 In an exclusive interview with Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy for Not Just Bollywood, Anasuya Sengupta talks about her Cannes Best Actress award win, being interested in art and culture from the very beginning, being cast out of Facebook and more. Edited excerpts from the interview: Tell me about your Cannes win. Did you visualize that one day you are going to win the Cannes Best Actress Award? Not at all. I was just happy being at the festival. I was initially happy that my film made it at the festival. It was a kind of reunion with all the team members of The Shameless. We filmed it in Nepal in 2023. Thats the energy I went with to the festival. There was no separate anticipation or expectation for an award. Of course, I wanted the film to do well. I did want the film to pick up an award, but I didnt know that this would happen and that it would be this fun. Advertisement A still from The Shameless You were into art and you moved to Goa because you wanted to take a break from films. But how did The Shameless happen? Actually, my journey in films started in 2008. I have been working in films since then. I had acted in a Bengali film by Anjan Dutta called Madly Bangalee which was released all the way back in 2009. Also around the same time I had worked as an Assistant Director in an Indo-Australian film called The Waiting City. Growing up in Calcutta, I had a creative bent from the very beginning. I did my schooling in La Martiniere and college at Jadavpur University in the English department. I did these projects soon after I finished my graduation and soon after that, I decided to move to Bombay whether it was acting or behind the scenes. With these projects under my belt, I wanted to explore and see what I wanted to do and where it takes me. I was interested in acting and I also realized that I was interested in a lot of other things. I kind of let life take the lead. I was doing plays even after I moved to Bombay, I did some commercials here and there and some student films here and there. My other work also picked up and I was in the production of Deepa Mehtas Midnights Children. I was working as an independent production designer for several projects and the years kind of rolled by. I used to draw as a child as well and six years ago, I started illustrating regularly and quite fiercely. I thought of it as a newer way to find my voice. I was exploring the idea that maybe a little less filmwork and more art is going to be good for me. Advertisement Finally, I decided that it was not going to be an easy decision and it was a little scary as well. That was the time when I moved to Goa from Mumbai and that is where I am living for the last four years. I wanted to discover newer facets to my work and call it a coincidence or call it a magical thing. It was around that time that Konstantin Bojanov got in touch with me and was interested in casting me as one of the leads. I was initially quite surprised and wasnt expecting it at all because I had a full-blown career already mounted for the last many years. But the moment I read the script, it kind of called me. It reminded me of the older buried dreams of wanting to be an actor. Thats when I jumped in. Advertisement Has life changed after the Cannes win? Since you live in Goa do people kind of spot in public places? After the win, I have not been able to stay in any city for long. Right now I am in Calcutta. I landed in Delhi after the Cannes win, then went back to Bombay, was in Goa for a few days, and thats been a big change. There is a lot of movement, so I didnt get a chance to observe the change. I have been getting a lot of love. I am just going along with it. There has been a little bit of spotting here and there, which is a brand new thing for me. And I have been enjoying it. Advertisement Ever since your childhood days were you always interested in acting? I do come from an academic background. But I was very blessed to have grown up in an environment that I did. I always found myself pushed very creatively from a very young age whether it is writing, whether its being a part of the school dramatic society, elocution etc. So, there has always been a keen interest in performance and arts broadly speaking. I used to draw as a child. So, I always had that push to do things beyond academics and curriculum in schools. I was encouraged deeply to develop other skills and other interests. I realized very soon in life, that I dont particularly see myself in a nine-to-five job. I wanted a job with a little bit of freedom and mobility. Thats how I grew up into a self-employed film professional. I have never worked with any company till date. I was also influenced by my brother, who is a filmmaker and collaborated with my friends who too came from an artistic background. I am a voracious reader and a film buff. Advertisement I was literally cast out of Facebook for The Shameless. Did art help you in getting the role? Actually, it did and I found that out much later. In fact, my director told me after filming. I was literally cast off Facebook. I was Facebook friends with the director for a few years because of common friends. We never met, but we know each other well. I was familiar with his name because he used to almost like the art that I posted on Facebook. Then he offered me this film a few years later which completely caught me off guard. It confused me. Then I decided that I was going to do it, I thought of going with the flow and having a good time. Only at the far end of filming, he asked me, Do you know why I sent you a Facebook request? He too struggled to bring out this film. He was actually interested in my art when he started considering an animated version of The Shameless. So it was actually my art which kind of helped me in getting this role. That was pretty magical! Delhi has experienced incessant rain, thunderstorms, and lightning for the second day in a row. Numerous parts of the National Capital experienced waterlogging, traffic snarls, and disrupted metro services. At Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal 1, a section of the roof fell, leaving one person dead and multiple others injured read more Delhi has experienced relief today after a month-long heatwave that saw temperatures rise above 50 degrees Celsius. The National Capital has been experiencing incessant rain, thunderstorms, and lightning for the second day in a row. A seven-day prediction for Delhi has been provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which shows mostly gloomy skies, variable amounts of rainfall, and strong winds. According to images provided by ANI, numerous parts of the Capital experienced water-logging and traffic jams. Advertisement At Indira Gandhi Airport Terminal 1, a section of the roof fell, leaving one person dead and multiple others injured. Delhi Airport Terminal roof collapses A section of the roof of Terminal One at the Delhi airport collapsed on vehicles this morning after intense rain, resulting in at least one fatality and five injuries, according to NDTV. As a safety measure, all departures from Terminal One have been temporarily halted, and check-in counters were closed, according to a Delhi airport official. Only domestic flights operate out of Terminal One. Delhi Airport, managed by GMR Group, faces scrutiny after a tragic incident. One person has died, and several are injured. Is this the infrastructure of a leading economy's capital? GMR Group must answer! #DelhiAirport #GMRGroup#DelhiRains #Roofcollapse #terminal1 pic.twitter.com/4MPPjul5MQ Vikram Singh (@Vi_kram92) June 28, 2024 The representative added that till 2 pm today, all flights departing from IndiGo and SpiceJets Terminal One are cancelled. The incident, which was reported to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) at around 5.30 am, resulted in damage to numerous vehicles, including cabs. Multiple fire tenders were dispatched to the scene to support the recovery efforts. A portion of the roof of the Delhi airports Terminal-1 collapses on vehicles amid heavy rain, early Friday, 28 June 2024. One person died and five were injured in the collapse. PTI The vehicles parked at the pick-up and drop section of the terminal at the busiest airport in the world, Indira Gandhi International Airport, were damaged, according to the officials, when the roof sheet and support beams collapsed. Advertisement Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu stated that he was personally monitoring the incident and that the injured had been taken to the hospital. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu takes stock of the situation at the Delhi airport after a portion of the roof of the Terminal-1 collapsed amid heavy rain, early Friday, 28 June 2024. PTI Water-logging, long traffic snarls, and disrupted metro services There is water-logging in a few areas of the National Capital due to the continuous rainfall. Images posted on social media by users depicted severe traffic snarls and flooded roads in certain areas of Delhi. According to the Delhi Traffic Police, water-logging at the Minto Bridge underpass is causing traffic on Minto Road in both carriageways from Kamla Market towards Connaught Place and vice versa, according to Indian Express. #WATCH | Delhi witnesses severe waterlogging amidst a heavy downpour; visuals from Azad Market underpass. pic.twitter.com/8Rc8o97Nhl ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Advertisement At the Azad Market underpass, trucks were also completely submerged in water. Water-logging has severely affected traffic on Anuvrat Marg in both directions from 100 Foota Red Light to Lado Sarai Red Light. Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam amid rains, in New Delhi, Friday morning, 28 June 2024. PTI Visuals from Connaught Place and the neighbourhoods surrounding a number of metro stations showed flooded streets. Workers in Noida and Ghaziabad were further inconvenienced by flooded roads brought on by incessant rain. Numerous areas are flooded, including Teen Murti Marg, Moolchand, Anand Vihar, Mehrauli Badarpur Road, Mandawali, Bhikaji Cama Place, Madhu Vihar, Pragati Maidan, Vir Banda Bairagi Marg, Aurobindo Marg, Outer Ring Road, Munirka, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh, ITO, and a few sectors in the Noida area, as per India Today. Advertisement Water seeped into homes in South East Delhis Chittaranjan Park, causing damage to furniture and other household goods. As a show of protest against the collapsing infrastructure, Delhi BJP councillor Ravinder Singh Negi, a resident of Vinod Nagar in east Delhi, was seen rowing an inflatable boat on a flooded street. He demonstrated how bad the flooding was in the locality, and blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. All PWD drains are overflowing. They didnt get it cleaned ahead of Monsoon. This has led to water-loggingVinod Nagar is submerged," said the BJP leader, pausing his frantic rowing to speak to ANI. #WATCH | Delhi: BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi rows an inflatable boat amid severe waterlogging as a symbolic protest against Delhi Government. Visuals from NH9 area. He says, "...All PWD drains are overflowing. They didn't get it cleaned ahead of Monsoon. This has led to pic.twitter.com/eUMivjGYsR ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Advertisement The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation wrote in a post on X, Due to heavy rains, entry/exit is closed at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 Metro station. Also, the shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal-1 IGI Airport has been suspended. Service Update Due to heavy rains, entry/exit is closed at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25 Metro station. Also, the shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport has been suspended. Normal service on all other lines. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) June 28, 2024 Advisory issued IMD officials issued an advisory to be aware of localised water-logging in low-lying regions, reduced visibility, slick roads, and traffic congestion due to the severe rain spells, according to the Indian Express. It advised staying away from water-logged regions, monitoring traffic along roadways, and staying informed about weather warnings. Numerous locations had diversions issued by the traffic police. Vehicles wade through a waterlogged road amid rains, in New Delhi, Friday morning, 28 June 2024. PTI Police recommended commuters seek alternate routes due to flooding on several important highways, including the Delhi Meerut Highway, the Naraina-Moti Bagh road near the Dhaula Kuan Flyover, the Vir Banda Bairagi Marg at the Azad Market underpass, the Tilak Bridge, the Aurobindo Marg, the Anuvrat Marg and numerous roads going to AIIMS. Rainfall in Delhi In the last 24 hours, Delhi has received 228.1 millimetres of rain, making it one of the wettest spells the city has experienced since June, according to another report by India Today. According to IMD data, there were 148.5 millimetres of rainfall in the city today between 2.30 and 5.30 am at the Safdarjung Observatory, the main meteorological station. Rain earlier on Thursday caused Delhis temperature to drop to 35.4 degrees Celsius. Notably, Delhi has been experiencing extreme heatwaves there have been nine heatwave days in June so far, compared to none in 2023 and 2022. People wade through a water-logged road amid rains, in New Delhi, Friday morning, June 28, 2024. PTI Pre-monsoon showers also helped to rid Delhis air of sooty pollutants; according to the Central Pollution Control Board, the National Capital recorded its first satisfactory 24-hour average air quality (AQI) level in 282 days. The IMD reported yesterday, the monsoon will hit the capital within the next two to three days. According to the report, as the scorching conditions have decreased nationwide, favourable circumstances are being seen for the southwest monsoon to continue advancing into a few more areas of North India. The IMD predicts that on 28 June, there will be light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, similar temperatures as the day before, and wind gusts of up to 35 kilometres per hour. Residents on a water-logged road after heavy rains, in New Delhi, Friday morning, 28 June 2024. PTI On 29 June, the weather is anticipated to be slightly cooler, with a high of 36 degrees Celsius and a low of 28 degrees Celsius. There is a chance of light to moderate rain and thunderstorms in the city, along with winds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. On 30 June, the temperature will drop even lower to 34 degrees Celsius with gusty gusts and moderate to heavy rain. Last year, the monsoon hit Delhi on 26 June, according to the data. It arrived on 30 June 2022, on 13 July in 2021, and 25 June in 2020, as per NDTV. Additionally, during the next two to three days, the weather agency has predicted light to moderate spells of rainfall over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu. With inputs from agencies Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, and Kaja Kallas have been appointed to lead the European Union for the next five years, overcoming opposition from the leaders of Italy and Hungary. Ursula von der Leyen will serve as president of the European Commission, Antonio Costa as president of the European Council, and Kaja Kallas as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy read more EU leaders have chosen Germanys Ursula von der Leyen (centre) for a second term as European Commission president, while Portugals Antonio Costa (left) and Estonias Kaja Kallas (right) have been nominated for the most senior positions at the European Council and the EUs foreign policy service, respectively. Reuters,AP Following the recent EU Parliament elections, European Union leaders have agreed on the officials who will hold the key positions in the worlds biggest trading bloc in the coming years. This decision encompasses issues ranging from antitrust investigations to foreign policy. The nominees include Ursula von der Leyen for the European Commission, Antonio Costa for the European Council, and Kaja Kallas as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. We take a brief look at their profiles and what their roles will include: Advertisement Ursula von der Leyen Ursula von der Leyen, a 65-year-old German politician, has been endorsed for a second term as president of the European Commission. Her endorsement was bolstered by the centre-right European Peoples Partys success in the EU Parliament elections. Von der Leyen has been praised for her leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, particularly for the collective procurement of vaccines for EU citizens. However, she has faced criticism for the opaque negotiations with vaccine manufacturers. Grateful to Leaders for endorsing my nomination for a second mandate. Delighted to share this moment with my friends Antonio Costa & Kaja Kallas. Now I will seek confirmation from the European Parliament, after presenting my political guidelines https://t.co/bqxlFptq7b Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 27, 2024 Von der Leyen has also championed the EUs Green Deal, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. However, her commitment to these policies has been questioned, especially as the EU seemed cautious about antagonising farmers concerned that environmental and climate laws could drive them to bankruptcy. Role and responsibilities of the European Commission President Under the EU treaties, the president of the European Commission sets the policy agenda for the EUs executive arm, represents the commission in European Council meetings, and participates in G7 and G20 summits. Advertisement The European Commission also leads trade negotiations and polices competition. Von der Leyens second term now requires approval from European lawmakers in a vote likely to take place in July. In 2019, she won a narrow majority with 383 votes in favour, 327 against, and 22 abstentions, becoming the first woman to head the institution. Lead candidate for the European Commission, current European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during an event at the European Peoples Party headquarters in Brussels, 9 June, 2024. AP I would plain and simply like to express my gratitude to the leaders who endorsed my nomination for a second mandate. I am very honoured, von der Leyen said following her nomination. Antonio Costa: European Council President Antonio Costa, the former prime minister of Portugal, has been chosen to replace Charles Michel as Council president. The 62-year-old socialists appointment is for a renewable 2 1/2 year term. Costas nomination was supported by the Socialists second-place finish in the EU elections. Advertisement However, his appointment was controversial due to his governments involvement in a widespread corruption investigation that forced him to resign as prime minister last year. Costa denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime, reported AP. The European Council president is responsible for chairing summits and finding consensus within the European Council, which brings together the EU member states. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa arrives for an EU summit at the Europa building in Brussels, November 25, 2018. File Image/AP Costa will also represent the EU at international summits alongside von der Leyen. Known as a skilled political negotiator, he will play a crucial role in maintaining unity among the 27 member states. It is with a strong sense of mission that I will take up the responsibility of being the next President of the European Council. I will be fully committed to promoting unity between all 27 member states and focused on putting on track the Strategic Agenda, Costa stated, expressing his gratitude to his socialist family and the Portuguese government for their support. Advertisement Kaja Kallas: High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the 47-year-old prime minister of Estonia, has been nominated as the EUs top diplomat, making her the highest-ranking Estonian in EU history. She will be replacing Spaniard Josep Borrell who has been in the position since December 2019. Kallas is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a vocal critic of Russia within the EU and NATO. Her nomination comes despite the liberal groups fourth-place finish in the European elections. Estonias Prime Minister Kaja Kallas takes part in a press conference during a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium June 28, 2024. Reuters If confirmed by the European Parliament, she will also become Vice-President of the EU Commission. As the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kallas will be responsible for representing the EUs common foreign and security policy to the world. She will need confirmation from the EU Parliament before officially taking on the role. Kallas has been a significant advocate for NATO providing a comprehensive defence plan for the Baltic states bordering Russia. Advertisement Honoured to be nominated as the candidate for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Your trust means a lot. We must continue working together to ensure Europe is an effective global partner to keep our citizens free, safe and prosperous. pic.twitter.com/pbQEWjGjA2 Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 27, 2024 This is an enormous responsibility at this moment of geopolitical tensions, Kallas said in a statement. I will be at the service of our common interests. Europe should be a place where people are free, safe, and prosperous. What have EU leaders said? EU leaders agreed on the nominations during a summit in Brussels, despite resistance from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Meloni abstained on von der Leyens vote, opposed Costa and Kallas, and expressed her dissatisfaction with the selection process. Orban voted against von der Leyen, abstained on Kallas, and supported Costa. It seems to me that, so far, theres been an unwillingness to account for the message delivered by citizens at the ballot box, Meloni said before the summit. Orban called the deal shameful. La proposta formulata da popolari, socialisti e liberali per i nuovi vertici europei e sbagliata nel metodo e nel merito. Ho deciso di non sostenerla per rispetto dei cittadini e delle indicazioni che da quei cittadini sono arrivate con le elezioni. Continuiamo a lavorare per Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 27, 2024 In contrast, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated the need for Europe to prepare for future challenges, citing Russias aggression against Ukraine as a significant concern. We are living in difficult times. We are faced with major challenges, not least Russias terrible war of aggression against Ukraine. It is therefore important that Europe prepares itself now for the tasks that need to be tackled, Scholz said. Gluckwunsch an @vonderleyen, @kajakallas und @antoniocostapm! Ein wichtiges Signal. Mit ihnen konnen wir schnell und gut vorangehen. Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) June 27, 2024 Belgiums Alexander De Croo rebuked Melonis criticism, stating, Democracy is not only about blocking, democracy is about who wants to work together, and those three groups are willing to work together to the benefit of all Europeans. What we need in the next five years is political stability and being able to act fast. Von der Leyen also addressed Melonis abstention, saying, It is important to work well with Italy, like with all other member states. This is a principle for me which I follow all the time. What is the selection process? The selection of the top EU jobs involves a comprehensive and strategic bargaining process. EU leaders convened to discuss and negotiate the appointments, taking into account the results of the European Parliament elections and the need to strike a geographical and political balance. The process began with an informal meeting on June 17, followed by a summit in Brussels on June 28-29. Leaders needed to achieve a qualified majority backing for the candidates, meaning 15 of the 27 EU leaders, representing 65 per cent of the EUs population. The European Commission president also requires majority support in the European Parliament. European Union flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 1, 2023. File Image/Reuters Traditionally, the Commission presidency goes to the party that won the most seats in the Parliament election, securing von der Leyens position as she was the candidate of the centre-right European Peoples Party. The Council presidency was expected to go to the Socialists, who came second, and the foreign policy post to the liberal Renew Europe camp, which came third. This balance ensures representation from different political and geographical backgrounds within the EU. Also Read | European Parliament at the crossroads: A swing to the Right Von der Leyen and Kallass nominations require confirmation by the European Parliament, while Costas appointment is automatically elected by his peers. The new Parliament will convene on July 16, with the Commission presidents vote potentially occurring that week. With inputs from agencies Iran will be holding its tightly controlled presidential election and a parliamentary election will be held in Mongolia. In India, the Maharashtra government will table the annual budget in the Monsoon Assembly session read more A billboard with a picture of the presidential candidates is displayed on a street in Tehran, Iran, 17 June 2024. Reuters The schedule for Friday is tight. Iran will be holding its tightly controlled presidential election and a parliamentary election will be held in Mongolia. In India, the Maharashtra government will table the annual budget of the state in the Monsoon assembly session. Heres a quick look at the big headlines today. Presidential Elections in Iran Iran will be holding its tightly controlled presidential election on Friday. The election follows Ebrahim Raisis death in a helicopter crash last month, with the outcome expected to influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top decision-maker in the clerically-ruled state. Advertisement The elections are taking place at a sensitive time. Tensions with Israel are escalating over the Gaza conflict, the West is pressuring Tehran to scale back its nuclear plans, and domestic dissent is growing over political, social, and economic crises. Mongolian Parliamentary elections A parliamentary election will be held in Mongolia on Friday for the first time since the body was expanded to 126 seats, adding some uncertainty to a system that has been monopolized by two political parties and plagued by corruption. The election in a relatively new democracy the country was a single-party communist state until 1990 comes at a time when many Mongolians have soured on the government, which they see as benefiting business interests and the wealthy. Maharashtra Annual Budget to be presented The Maharashtra government will table the annual budget of the state on 28 June in the Monsoon assembly session, which began on Thursday, 27 June and concludes 12 July in Mumbai. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. File Image This will be the last session of the Eknath Shinde-led government before the Maharashtra Assembly election, which is expected to be held in October this year. US court hearing in Nikhil Guptas case The US court will be hearing Indian national Nikhil Guptas case who is suspected to be involved in an unsuccessful plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is pictured in his office in New York. US authorities said an Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York City after he advocated for a sovereign state for Sikhs. File Image/PTI The 52-year-old was apprehended in the Czech Republic last year following a request from the US government. Advertisement He faces charges related to a conspiracy to assassinate Pannun. Gupta is held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is recorded as an inmate. UP government to hold Bodhi Yatra in Delhi The Uttar Pradesh government will host The Bodhi Yatra 2024 in New Delhi on 28 June, in an effort to boost Buddhist pilgrimage tourism and attract devotees and tourists from across the globe to the states renowned Buddhist sites. The day-long event aims to highlight the remarkable life journey of Lord Buddha through Uttar Pradeshs Buddhist heritage sites. It is anticipated that guests from both within India and abroad will be invited to the programme, with a dinner planned in their honour. Interactive cultural sessions will be a key feature of The Bodhi Yatra event. Advertisement Indian government bonds to be included JP Morgan bond Index India will officially join the JP Morgan GBIEM Global Series of indices on Friday. The move that could potentially lead to $25-30 billion inflows into the country. It will happen in phases over a 10-month period as the domestic bonds will holds 10 per cent weightage and add one per cent every month starting this month. The country will become the 25th market to enter the index since its launch in June 2005. A day to remember Randy Renn, San Francisco Public Utilities commission fisheries lead, holds a juvenile trout before tagging it to help track migration to the bay and back to spawning areas. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Steelhead and rainbow trout can both be found in the Alameda Creek, but steelhead spend time in both fresh- and saltwater environments. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Alameda County Water District Water Supply supervisor Leonard Ash explains the use of diversion screens to make sure trout doesnt end up in a nearby pond while making their way up Alameda Creek. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle When Randy Renn, a biologist with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, first started monitoring steelhead trout at Alameda Creek near Sunol in 2015, his traps were usually empty. This year, for the first time, he has too many fish to keep track of. Its been a lot of work for sure, but rewarding work, Renn said, who has been coming down to the creek to catch the trout every day since his fish-tagging season began on Feb. 1. Just to be here and see that increase, its phenomenal. The dramatic increase in the steelhead is part of a larger, decades-long effort to restore the habitat of this native species that has been trapped in creeks in the hills and unable to make its migratory journey to the ocean. This year the endangered fish began making the entire journey through Niles Canyon and the final urban stretch to the San Francisco Bay in meaningful numbers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last year, the agency detected only one steelhead trout making the journey. This year, scientists have been able to detect 50 fish completing the route. Randy Renn, San Francisco Public Utilities commission fisheries lead, checks on a trap before tagging fish as they move downstream from Alameda Creek in Sunol. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle The restored steelhead population benefits both people and surrounding predators in the area. For Bay Area residents, a healthy steelhead trout population means a healthier watershed, which in turn means better quality drinking water. For predators in the area, such as bobcats, red-tailed hawks and bald eagles, it means they have another food source to choose from. The Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup a coalition of public agencies and nonprofits has worked for 25 years to restore the habitat of the steelhead trout and improve the overall quality of the Alameda Creek watershed. There was arm wrestling about whether or not we should do it at all, and then how it was going to be done. And now were doing it, said Tim Ramirez, a manager at the public utilities commission. Advertisement Article continues below this ad During their lifetime, steelhead trout travel between the freshwater creek and the ocean as part of their reproductive process, but in years past dams and floodwater infrastructure have prevented the migration. Water flows through a concrete fish ladder used to help steelhead trout return upstream to their spawning location. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle The removal of two smaller dams in Niles Canyon east of Fremont, along with the construction of several fish ladders, has allowed the fish to make this journey with ease. Before the construction, the fish had access to only about 9.5 miles of the stream. Meanwhile, the coalition built several fish ladders around the stream, including one that helps the fish get around a concrete structure near train tracks in Fremont known as the BART Weir. Previously to the construction at BART Weir, the fish only had access to about 9.5 miles of stream, Renn explained. After the fish ladder went in, the fish have 40 miles of stream access. To track the fish, Renn has to first capture the steelhead in one of two traps set up along the Alameda Creek downstream from the Calaveras Reservoir. When he goes to capture the fish, he is looking to snag juvenile steelhead, which are usually about the size of a Popsicle stick, contain a pink stripe on their side and spotting on their fins. When they get ready to swim out to the ocean, their fins turn black and they gain silver coloration, and grow to 12 to 16 inches as adults. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Once the fish is captured, Renn puts a tracker about the size of a grain of rice inside the steelhead, giving each fish a unique identifier. He also takes a scale and tail sample from the fish to analyze both their age and genetics. Then, the fish are released into the water. Randy Renn, San Francisco Public Utilities commission fisheries lead, holds a juvenile trout before tagging it. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle When the fish are ready to swim downstream to the ocean, they have to bypass the weir, a 12-foot, concrete-slope structure which is where the ladders come in. To get past it, the fish swim through a series of elevated pools in the ladder. Antennas in the ladder are able to identify which fish are moving past the weir and out to the ocean. When one of the antennas detects a fish with a tracker, that information gets stored in a database and also sends a signal to the Alameda County Water District within four hours. Weve already captured 50 unique tags with out-migrating fish this year, which is great, said Leonard Ash, water supply supervisor at Alameda County Water District a huge jump up from last year when the system detected only one fish. The system has yet to detect any steelhead swimming upstream back to fresh water, but the increased numbers are a reason to remain hopeful that eventually the system will see steelhead return. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A 20-year-old first-year medical student in Rajasthans Dungarpur was forced to do over 300 sit-ups by his seniors in the scorching heat last month, leading to his hospitalisation. This is not a standalone case and despite strict laws, India has failed to prevent the toxic practice in its colleges and varsities read more As many as 1,240 ragging incidents were reported in higher educational institutions between January 1, 2023 and April 28, 2024. Representational Image/Pixabay Another distressing incident of ragging has come to light in India. A first-year medical student in Rajasthans Dungarpur was allegedly ragged by senior students to the point where he developed an infection in his liver and kidney and had to undergo dialysis. The shocking instance has once again put the spotlight on the menace of ragging in Indias higher educational institutions. Despite anti-ragging laws in place, the toxic ritual continues to flourish in colleges and varsities. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. Medical student ragged in Rajasthan The 20-year-old fresher from Dungarpurs Government Medical College (GMC) was among the 50-70 other first-year medical students who were taken to a hill, where they were allegedly ragged by seniors, the police said, as per Indian Express. The victims father told the newspaper that the first-year students were taken to the hill on May 15 in blistering heat. He said the seniors forced his son to do 300-350 sit-ups, while some others had to do more. He said that the severe strain led to damage in his sons muscles, triggering infection in his kidney and liver. The father told Indian Express that his son initially did not reveal the ragging incident but when he complained about pain, they got some tests done. According to the SHO of Dungarpur Sadar police station, Girdhari Singh, the victim was hospitalised in Gujarats Ahmedabad for a week during which he underwent dialysis four times, reported PTI. He recovered nearly a month and a half later and returned to college in June. An FIR was filed against seven students on Tuesday under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (offence committed in prosecution of common object), 341 (wrongful restraint), and 352 ( assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation). The college administration took action only this week after receiving a communication from the National Medical Commission (NCM). The victim had lodged a complaint with the NMCs anti-ragging cell, as per a Times of India (TOI) report. Advertisement GMC principal Dr Balamuruganvelu S told Indian Express, We formed a committee within 24 hours and investigated (the case). We suspended seven students who were involved in the ragging and also lodged an FIR at the local police station. This is not a standalone case. Last August, a first-year student was found dead after being subjected to intense ragging by his seniors at Jadavpur University in Kolkata. Several other ragging incidents have made headlines in recent years. In July 2022, a video emerged of students of the government medical college in Madhya Pradeshs Ratlam slapping their juniors, who were standing next to a wall, with their heads down. Advertisement What does the law say? Before delving into the law, lets understand ragging. It is an act targeting another student, especially freshers, that causes them physical or mental discomfort or harm. The Supreme Court had banned ragging in 2001. At the time, the apex court had described it as disorderly conduct, whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not do in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student. The cause of indulging in ragging is deriving sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by the seniors over their juniors or freshers. Advertisement The Supreme Court banned ragging in 2001. File Photo/Reuters In 2009, Aman Kachroo, a first-year medical student died after being assaulted by his drunk seniors in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra district. The tragic incident prompted the Supreme Court to appoint a committee headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director RK Raghavan to tackle the ragging menace. Based on recommendations of the Raghavan Committee, the University Grants Commission (UGC) formalised guidelines for universities against ragging. As per the UGC, ragging constitutes teasing, treating or handling a fellow student with rudeness; causing physical or psychological harm; causing or generating a sense of shame; any act that prevents or disrupts the regular academic activity of any student; exploiting a fresher or any other student for completing academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students; financial extortion or forceful expenditure; homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm. Advertisement These regulations were amended in 2016 to expand the definition of ragging to include any act of physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at another student (fresher or otherwise) on the ground of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background. The UGC guidelines also mandate higher educational institutions to take active steps to stop ragging, including making students sign an undertaking that they will not engage in ragging. The institution shall set up appropriate committees, including the course-incharge, student advisor, Wardens and some senior students as its members, to actively monitor, promote and regulate healthy interaction between the freshers, junior students and senior students, according to the rules. If the anti-ragging committee finds the accused guilty, any member of the panel can proceed to file a First Information Report (FIR), within twenty four hours of receipt of such information or recommendation, with the police and local authorities, under the appropriate penal provisions, the UGC says. Ragging is still not a specific offence but the guilty could be punished under several sections of the IPC, including Section 340 (wrongful confinement). The guidelines by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) state that institutional authorities must report every ragging incident to the local police. Many states, including Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, have their own anti-ragging laws. Why ragging remains a menace India has not been able to successfully put an end to the ragging issue even after all the rules and regulations. According to the UGCs annual report, it received 858 complaints of ragging on its anti-ragging helpline number (1800-180-5522) in 2022-23, compared to 582 in 2021-22, reported Free Press Journal. As many as 1,240 ragging incidents were reported in higher educational institutions between January 1, 2023 and April 28, 2024. Of these, 82.18 per cent of complaints were flagged by male students, 17.74 per cent by women and 0.08 per cent by transgender people, reported The New Indian Express (TNIE). As per the UGC, at least 25 students died by suicide due to ragging between January 2018 and August 2023. Representational Image/Pixabay Last August, the UGC revealed in a Right To Information (RTI) reply that at least 25 students died by suicide due to ragging between January 2018 and August 2023. A 2017 survey found that nearly 40 per cent of students in India have been subjected to some form of ragging and bullying, with most cases coming from medical and engineering colleges. But why is ragging so rampant? Many students, seniors and juniors, perceive ragging as a rite of passage. Junior students, especially freshers, generally do not complain about their harassers due to fear. Prasanna Shukla, an Indore-based activist, told Article 14, Junior students dont complain against ragging due to fear of tarnishing their social image, or being isolated in the institution. Dr Ajay Saini, a professor at IIT Delhi, said the current laws are not enough to curb the menace of ragging due to external factors. Speaking to Outlook last August, he said, Although the laws are in place in every institute, local politics play a very important role (in ragging). Especially in state universities, instances of ragging are more because the students are either members of a union or they have friends in the union, or they know a local MLA or people of the ruling party. And the student getting ragged is often from the weaker section of society. While just a few ragging cases are reported, police probes and arrests are limited to rare incidents. Accused students usually do not get strict punishments as victims fail to step forward. Gaurav Singhal, vice-president of the anti-ragging non-profit Society Against Violence in Education, told Article 14, Victims are afraid to complain against seniors as they have to live in the same college premises and hostels over the next few years. There is no way to provide protection to victims. Anti-ragging committees are also, in many colleges, limited to paper only, teachers and activists said, as per the digital news outlet. Experts call for a Central law on ragging and say it should be made a cognisable offence. It is societal conditioning that fuels ragging, and until colleges and authorities become proactive in dealing with the toxic practice, we will keep failing to nip it in the bud. With inputs from agencies Japanese pharmaceutical giant Kobayashi Pharmaceutical has initiated an investigation into 76 deaths, which are potentially linked to its health supplement, containing the ingredient Beni Koji. Popular in Asian countries, beni koji is believed to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the body read more Japanese health supplement maker Kobayashi Pharmaceutical said on Friday it was investigating 76 more deaths possibly linked to its tablets containing red yeast rice or Beni Koji meant to lower cholesterol. Reuters Japanese pharmaceutical giant Kobayashi Pharmaceutical is investigating an 76 more deaths potentially linked to its health supplement tablets containing red yeast rice, known as Beni Koji, which is marketed to lower cholesterol. This investigation comes after the product was pulled off the shelves a few months ago due to numerous reports associating it with kidney problems, which reportedly resulted in five fatalities and around 100 hospitalisations. The company denies that the hospitalisations or deaths were related to kidney diseases, however, admits that there were a variety of cases, including cases in which beni koji-related products may have caused harm somehow and had some indirect impact, a Kobayashi statement read. Advertisement So, what exactly is Beni Koji, and how does it impact health? Lets delve deeper into its effects and the concerns surrounding it. What is Beni Koji? Beni Koji, also known as red yeast rice, is a traditional Japanese ingredient created by fermenting rice with the reddish-purple fungus Monascus purpureus. Consumed for centuries in countries like China, Taiwan, and Japan, it is valued for its health benefits and distinctive red hue, often used to colour and flavour dishes such as tofu and Chinese rice wine. In the 1970s, researchers identified monacolin K, a cholesterol-lowering compound, whose properties are similar to statin drugs, within the mould. Additionally, Beni Koji contains antioxidants, amino acids, and beneficial enzymes that contribute to overall health and well-being. This discovery, highlighted by Yumiko Yoshizaki, an associate professor at Kagoshima University and an expert on fermented foods, spurred Beni Kojis popularity in health supplements, as noted in the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical utilised Beni Koji in its supplement Beni-koji Choleste-Help, promoting its ability to reduce bad cholesterol. However, concerns arose from the presence of citrinin, a toxic byproduct of the fermentation process linked to kidney disease, according to NHK Japan news. Despite these concerns, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical asserted that no citrinin had been detected in their products. The health concern As per the Osaka-based company, one person died from kidney disease in March and had been consuming beni-koji for the past three years. Advertisement The second death was reported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare after a hearing with the company, as per Kyodo. After the reported deaths and dozens of hospitalisations, Kobayashi said in a statement that it did not understand the link between health issues and the companys products. However, it said the supplements contained ingredients we had not intended to include. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical utilised Beni Koji in its supplement Beni-koji Choleste-Help, promoting its ability to reduce bad cholesterol. X The health issues appear to be concentrated among those who ingested the supplements manufactured after September, said the Japan Times reported adding that the affected customers reported symptoms such as changes in the colour of urine, swelling in their limbs, and fatigue. Advertisement Of the five initial deaths under investigation, the company on Friday it now knows one did not consume red yeast rice. We have received 1,656 inquiries from individuals who have sought medical attention, and have 76 cases under investigation over (a causal) connection to the deaths, in addition to the original four, it said. The giant recall As concerns over the safety of Beni Koji surged, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical initiated a global recall of its product. Please stop taking our products, and please do not use them in the future, the pharma manufacturer had apologised to the public as it recalled 3,00,000 units of the cholesterol-lowering supplement. Advertisement Kobayashi had exported Beni Koji-based supplements to over 50 companies in Japan and two in Taiwan. In response to the health scare, Taiwanese firms preemptively recalled 154 products, including fermented salted squid, senbei rice crackers, and Japanese sake containing the ingredient from the Osaka-based drugmaker. Online sales of the recalled products were also suspended in China, and their distribution was halted in Taiwan, according to local media reports. The impact of the recall extended to Europe as well. In France, consumers were advised to consult a doctor before consuming Beni Koji products, while in Switzerland, the sale of foods and medicines containing the ingredient has been banned, as reported by The Mainichi. Advertisement Subsequent developments underscored the severity of the situation. Days later, Kobayashi disclosed the discovery of a potentially toxic acid produced by the mold at one of its factories. This revelation prompted Japanese health officials to conduct raids on two of the companys plants under the Food Sanitation Act. Addressing the governments response, top spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a AFP report on Friday that the health ministry had previously ordered the company to file a daily report on its probe, and demanded more details earlier this month after the number of deaths under investigation didnt change. But until today, it had not reported the specific number of cases under investigation, and it is extremely regrettable, Hayashi told reporters. With input from agencies Thousands of doctors across England went on their 11th walkout on Thursday, continuing a prolonged disagreement with the government regarding pay and working conditions. This action is expected to disrupt hospital services, occurring shortly before the UK general election on July 4 read more Junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital, London, during their continuing dispute over pay, June 27, 2024. PA via AP Thousands of junior doctors in England staged their 11th strike as part of an ongoing dispute with the government over pay and working conditions, significantly disrupting hospital services just days before the UK general election. The five-day strike began on Thursday and will continue until Tuesday, two days before voters head to the polls on July 4. This strike underscores the ongoing issues plaguing the National Health Service (NHS), a chronically underfunded public health system that is a significant concern for voters. Advertisement Junior doctors, who represent about half of the total medical workforce and are crucial to hospital and clinic care, have been at odds with the government since late 2022. Why are the doctors on strike? The British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors union, claims that their pay has decreased by a quarter over the past 15 years, demanding a 35 per cent pay raise. Newly qualified doctors reportedly earn about 15 ($19) per hour, slightly above the UK minimum wage of just over 10 per hour, though salaries increase rapidly after the first year. Junior doctors received a pay rise averaging nearly 9 per cent in the last financial year. This brought the starting salary to more than 32,000, with those towards the end of their training receiving in excess of 63,000 currently. A junior doctor stands on the picket line outside St Thomas Hospital, London, during their continuing dispute over pay, June 27, 2024. PA via AP This is just the basic pay; junior doctors, like other NHS staff, receive extras on top that can be worth 25 per cent to 30 per cent more for things such as unsocial hours and additional work. The junior doctor contract stipulates that they can be asked to work up to 48 hours a week rather than the standard 40. Has the strike impacted health services? This latest strike follows a series of walkouts, including a six-day strike in January, which was the longest in NHS history. These strikes have forced hospitals to cancel tens of thousands of appointments and operations. The current strike is expected to cause widespread disruption to care, as junior doctors make up a significant portion of the medical staff. Advertisement NHS England predicts that the disruption over the next five days will be particularly severe due to additional strain from heat-related health issues. The previous ten strikes have already led to the cancellation of 1.4 million outpatient appointments and operations, costing the NHS 1.7 billion. Junior doctors hold placards as they stand on a picket line outside the Royal University Hospital during a national strike over pay and conditions, in Liverpool, UK, January 3, 2024. File Image/Reuters Dr. Sumi Manirajan, deputy chair of the junior doctors committee in the BMA, highlighted the dire situation, telling AP, Doctors that I trained with in London, some of the best in the country, have left to go to New Zealand. And actually what it makes me think of is why am I not doing the same? I want to be valued for the work that I do. Advertisement She also highlighted the impact on patient care, noting that many patients wait over a year for routine procedures, causing significant pain and distress. How has the government responded? The Conservative government has responded by stating that it provided junior doctors with pay raises of between 8.1 per cent and 10.3 per cent last year, calling it a generous settlement. However, the government claims it cannot make a new pay offer during the pre-election period. Manirajan criticised the governments timing of the election, knowing the dispute remained unresolved. The opposition Labour Party, which is leading in polls, has indicated a willingness to engage in discussions. Labour leader Keir Starmer stated that he would open talks with junior doctors on day one if elected. Wes Streeting, the UK shadow health secretary, echoed this sentiment, promising to negotiate a solution. Advertisement UK Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour Partys manifesto, in Manchester, UK, 13 June, 2024. Reuters Dr. Shivam Sharma, a junior doctor on the picket line outside St. Thomas Hospital in London, described the state of Britains health service as terrifying. Speaking to AP, he pointed out the decline in standards, stating, We used to have real standards in this country. Patients need to be seen at A&E (hospital emergency rooms) within four hours, and now youre lucky to be seen within 12. Last winter we had 500 avoidable deaths a week. Thats like a Boeing jet of patients going down. Its completely unacceptable. Is everyone onboard with the strikes? Within the BMA, there is some debate over the timing and efficacy of the strikes. Some senior figures believe that striking so close to the general election is counterproductive and risks alienating potential Labour allies. Advertisement One senior BMA member told BBC, I and none of the doctors I work with can understand what the strike is hoping to achieve. Theres no government to negotiate with. And the opposition health secretary has declared it will be his first priority in office to rectify it and called on the [junior doctors] to cancel it. Striking NHS healthcare staff march during a protest amid an ongoing dispute with the government over pay, in London, UK, May 1, 2023. File Image/Reuters Despite these internal disagreements, the BMAs junior doctors committee co-chairs, Dr. Robert Laurenson and Dr. Vivek Trivedi, have stated their readiness to continue striking if necessary. They have expressed a willingness to phase in the pay restoration over several years, raising hopes that a resolution might be within reach. What have junior doctors said? Matthew Alexander, a junior radiology doctor, expressed the sentiments of many striking doctors, to The Guardian: Im itching to get back to work, to get back to the grindstone. Nobody wants to be here, nobody wants to be on strike. Sarah Peters, a junior doctor in neurosurgery, added, It is hard. Just explaining to family members is hard and knowing that your colleagues are going to have a more difficult day at work because youre not there. I didnt come into this profession for this; I came into it to help people, but we have no choice but to strike. It is sad that it has come to this. The broader implications of the strike are significant, with many junior doctors considering leaving the NHS for better opportunities abroad. Dr. Tom Sharp, a GP trainee in Leeds, told The Guardian, I think junior doctors are fed up at the poor pay and conditions and thats why so many are leaving for places like New Zealand, where pay and conditions are so much better. A health worker protests on a picket line as junior and senior doctors in England take part in a joint strike action for the first time, outside St Thomass Hospital, near the Houses of Parliament, in London, UK, September 20, 2023. File Image/Reuters Emma Runswick, a junior doctor in Greater Manchester and deputy chair of the BMA council, shared similar experiences, noting that friends who moved to New Zealand are earning significantly more and do not face the same systemic issues. She stated, Weve got to deal with the government we have at the moment and that is one led by Rishi Sunak. We have been asking for 20 months for something credible from him. If we dont take action our pay is going to continue to fall in real terms and our colleagues will continue to leave the country. With inputs from agencies Women are taking a giant leap and flying to space. As more female astronauts venture beyond Earths atmosphere, one question that emerges is: What do they do if they get their period in microgravity? read more So far, astronauts have not reported any menstrual problems in microgravity. Representational Image/Pixabay Dealing with periods every month is an exhausting task. Women not only have to bear the physical discomfort that comes with their menstrual cycles but also face mood swings, depression, anxiety and irritability. Have you wondered what happens when women get their periods in space? As more and more women voyage to space, a pertinent question arises: How do female astronauts manage their menstrual cycles? A short history Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut, was the first woman to fly to space in 1963. Since then, more than 60 women have left the Earths atmosphere. Advertisement The question of how they should handle their periods in space arises on these journeys. In fact, periods were used as an argument used to deny women from travelling to space. In 1964, researchers from the Women in Space Program suggested that bringing a temperamental psychophysiologic human (i.e., a hormonal woman) together with a complicated machine was not a good idea, noted NPR. There were also health questions that microgravity might enhance the risk of retrograde menstruation a condition where menstrual blood flows backward into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body. Supporters for women in space argued that despite a lot of many unknowns, men were sent beyond Earths atmosphere anyway. So, why not women? Rhea Seddon, one of the first six female astronauts at US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), recalled in an interview, We said, How about we just consider it a non-problem until it becomes a problem? If anybody gets sick in space you can bring us home. Then well deal with it as a problem, but lets consider it a non-problem. " NASA had not considered the requirement for tampons and sanitary napkins in space until Sally Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983. Americas first woman astronaut Sally Ride communicates with ground controllers from the flight deck during the six-day space mission of the Challenger, in this NASA file photo taken June 18-24, 1983. File Photo/AFP Engineers asked her how many tampons would she need in space. I remember the engineers trying to decide how many tampons should fly on a one-week flight; they asked, Is 100 the right number? Advertisement No. That would not be the right number, Ride replied. ALSO READ: Why Sunita Williams mission onboard the Boeing Starliner is significant What happens if astronauts get periods in space Well, they bleed. Women experience periods in space the same way they do on Earth. And no, the menstrual blood does not flow backward through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen in space. So far, astronauts have not reported any menstrual problems in microgravity. It [period] can happen normally in space, and if women choose to do that, they can, Varsha Jain, gynaecologist and researcher at Kings College London, told CNN in 2016. Womans choice It is not necessary for astronauts to endure their periods. They can opt to pause their menstrual cycles during their space missions. Advertisement Some waste-disposal systems on the International Space Station (ISS) are designed to handle human blood but were not originally meant to, Jain said. However, the practical issue of women having their periods in space is the increased weight in the form of tampons and sanitary items that need to be carried on a mission. Hygiene is another challenge. As Jain wrote in The Conversation piece, wash water is limited and changing sanitary products while floating in space would also be quite a task. If the space flyer chooses not to have her period, the best available option is the oral contraceptive pill. Jain, who wrote a paper on menstruation in spaceflight in 2016, found that the use of the combined contraceptive pill has become common among female astronauts to skip periods during spaceflight. Advertisement This oestrogen-based pill is popped for three weeks in a row, allowing for menstrual bleeding in the fourth week. However, astronauts who do not want to menstruate can take these pills back-to-back and forgo that week of bleeding. For fit and healthy women, doing this is not linked to any harmful side effects, Jain wrote in The Conversation piece. According to the gynaecologist, a menstruating astronaut would need an estimated 1,100 pills for longer missions, like those to Mars and beyond. It is not necessary for astronauts to endure their periods in space. Representational Image/Pixabay This raises the issue of disposing of all the packaging and the increased cost of dispatching the extra payload into space, she wrote. Advertisement While Jain suggested the alternate option of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods for suppressing menstruation, more research is needed to ascertain their safety and effectiveness in space. Experts say there are benefits for women taking birth control pills in space. Both female and male astronauts experience a loss in bone density in microgravity. The lack of gravity means astronauts lose bone mineral density. And what we do know is that oestrogen can help with density, Jain told CNN. Oestrogen is the main ingredient of the birth control pill, which could work in favour of women during space missions. According to ScienceAlert, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal implants are other methods to suppress periods that can be used by astronauts. To bleed or not to bleed whatever they choose, periods are not a hindrance for women to achieve their dreams. With inputs from agencies The 52-day pilgrimage will start on Saturday, June 29, at the twin tracksthe 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal and the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnagand end on August 19 read more Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu early on Friday morning, to cheers of "Bum Bum Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev" Image Courtesy PTI Under strict security measures, the first group of pilgrims for the yearly Amarnath Yatra arrived in the Kashmir valley today, June 28. Senior police and civil administration officials, along with the local populace, received the 4,603 pilgrims at the Navyug tunnel in the Qazigund area of the Kulgam district of south Kashmir, after they arrived in Srinagar. The 52-day pilgrimage will start on Saturday, June 29, at the twin tracksthe 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal and the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnagand end on August 19. Advertisement Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu early on Friday morning, to cheers of Bum Bum Bhole and Har Har Mahadev. In a cavalcade of 231 light and heavy trucks, they arrived in Srinagar. Reporters were informed by Kulgam Deputy Commissioner (DC) Athar Aamir Khan that the administration, representatives of civil society, trade fraternity, fruit producers, and market associations had greeted the pilgrims who will travel via both the axis, Baltal and Pahalgam, upon their arrival. We welcome all of them. There are proper arrangements in place for them, Khan told the media. The pilgrim convoys, according to the officials, departed in various directions for the base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal. From there, they would travel early on Saturday to the sacred cave shrine, which is 3,880-meters high. According to a senior official speaking to the media, extensive preparations have been made to guarantee a trouble-free yatra. These include checkpoints, area dominance, sophisticated route deployment, and three-tier security. Over 3.50 lakh people have reportedly enrolled for the yatra this year. With the help of more than 6,000 volunteers, up to 125 community kitchens, or langars, have been established along the two paths leading to the cave shrine. Earlier this week, the US State Departments 2023 religious freedom report on India, noted violent attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims and Christians, including killings, assaults and vandalism of houses of worship. read more Terming the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report 2023 as deeply biased, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said on Friday that it does not understand Indias social fabric. We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of Indias social fabric, and is visibly driven by vote bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We therefore reject it., he said. Advertisement #WATCH | On US State Department's 2023 religious freedom report on India, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an pic.twitter.com/SvW6SUwft3 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Earlier this week, the US State Departments 2023 religious freedom report on India, noted violent attacks on minority groups, especially Muslims and Christians, including killings, assaults and vandalism of houses of worship. The report on international religious freedom released on Wednesday said that in 2023, senior U.S. officials continued to raise concerns about religious freedom issues with their Indian counterparts. Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a political, economic, and security alliance. China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are the current members of the SCO read more India, which presided over the SCO last year, was replaced by Kazakhstan Image Courtesy ANI The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared on Friday that S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, will head the Indian mission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting the following week. The SCO summit is scheduled to occur in Kazakhstans capital city of Astana on July 34. The External affairs minister will be leading our delegation there, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing here. India, which presided over the SCO last year, was replaced by Kazakhstan. In July 2023, India will virtually host the SCO summit. The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is the host this year. Among his many proposals is the creation of a cooperative investment fund. Advertisement On June 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of Kazakhstan over the phone and expressed his unwavering support for the next summit in Astana. The two presidents reaffirmed during the discussion their determination to keeping cooperating to develop bilateral strategic alliances. The prime minister expressed hope that Kazakhstans leadership will significantly advance cooperation within the region. Had a good conversation with President of Kazakhstan H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Thanked him for warm wishes on the success in the elections, PM Modi wrote in a post on X. Reiterated the commitment to advance our Strategic Partnership with Kazakhstan. Conveyed Indias full support for the success of the upcoming SCO Summit, he added. The 20202021 COVID-19 epidemic caused the SCO meetings to be televised. Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a political, economic, and security alliance. China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are the current members of the SCO. Iran joined the grouping as a full member in 2023, during the Indian Presidency. The next country to become a full member is Belarus, which is currently an observer state. The SCO is focused on regional security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation among its member states. The organisation covers over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, 40 per cent of the world population, and 30 per cent of global GDP. India has achieved regular follow-up status in the 2023-24 FATF Mutual Evaluation marking a significant milestone in its efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing read more (File) Security forces stand guard outside the Ranchi Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement in Ranchi. PTI India has achieved an exceptional outcome in the mutual evaluation conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during 2023-24, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. The Mutual Evaluation Report of India, adopted in the FATF plenary held in Singapore between 26 and 28 June, 2024, places India in the regular follow-up category. This distinction is shared by only four other G20 countries, marking a significant milestone in Indias efforts to combat money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF). Advertisement Recognition of Indias efforts by FATF Mitigating ML/TF risks FATF has recognised Indias comprehensive efforts to mitigate the risks arising from ML and TF including the laundering of proceeds from corruption, fraud and organised crime. Transition to digital economy India has implemented effective measures to transition from a cash-based to a digital economy, significantly reducing ML/TF risks. The adoption of digital financial systems has made transactions more traceable and secure. Financial inclusion and digital transactions The implementation of the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) Trinity, coupled with stringent regulations on cash transactions, has significantly increased financial inclusion and digital transactions. These measures have mitigated ML/TF risks and enhanced financial inclusion. Advantages of Indias performance Indias strong performance in the FATF Mutual Evaluation offers significant advantages to its growing economy. High ratings demonstrate the overall stability and integrity of the financial system leading to better access to global financial markets and institutions and increasing investor confidence. This will also aid in the global expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Indias fast payment system. A decade of rigorous measures This recognition from the FATF is a testament to the rigorous and effective measures implemented by India over the last 10 years to safeguard its financial system from ML/TF threats. It underscores the countrys commitment to international standards and its proactive stance in the global fight against financial crimes. Indias excellent rating sets a benchmark for other countries in the region to effectively implement international standards on terrorist financing. Advertisement Legislative and enforcement efforts Since 2014, the Government has enacted a series of legislative changes and bolstered enforcement efforts to tackle ML, TF and black money. This multi-pronged strategy has brought these measures in line with international standards and has proven effective, yielding positive results, the Ministry of Finance release said. Indian authorities have successfully dismantled terror funding networks using actionable intelligence inputs, stemming the flow of terror funding, black money and narcotics even along the coastline. Collaborative efforts for success Over a two-year period, the Department of Revenue (DoR) spearheaded Indias engagement with FATF during the mutual evaluation process. This success was driven by the exceptional efforts and invaluable contributions of a diverse, multi-disciplinary team comprising representatives from various ministries, the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), state authorities, the judiciary, financial sector regulators, self-regulatory organisations, financial institutions and businesses. This collaborative effort demonstrated Indias effective Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. Advertisement Indias future commitment Already a member of the FATF Steering Group, Indias current performance will allow it to contribute significantly to the groups overall functioning. India remains committed to further strengthening its AML/CFT framework and continuing its collaboration with international partners to combat financial crimes. Building on this success, India aims to ensure a secure and transparent financial environment for all. As many as 60% of Indias marginal farmers have suffered significant crop losses due to extreme weather events in the five years, according to the report read more Most of the Indian marginal farmers have been impacted by climate change in recent years, but few have the means to adapt, according to a new report. The findings come at a time when crops across plains of North India and Himalayan hills suffered damage in the recent years from the early onset of summer and unseasonal rainfall a result of climate change. Wheat, the staple of North India, has been hit particularly hit hard as the production fell this harvesting season for the third year straight. Rice, another staple in many parts of the country, has also been affected. Advertisement As many as 60 per cent of Indias marginal farmers have suffered significant crop losses due to extreme weather events in the five years, according to the report from the Forum of Enterprises for Equitable Development (FEED) and Development Intelligence Unit (DIU). The report, titled State of Marginal Farmers of India - 2024, found that 50 per cent of farmers lost half of their paddy yield and 42 per cent lost half of their wheat crops. Even as most of the Indias marginal farmers those with less than 1 hectare of land lose crops and suffer economically, most of them lack the proper means to adapt. The report found that 51 per cent do not have access to any formal loans and only 27 per cent had access to bank loans. This suggests they either lack access to any capital to diversify cultivation or rely on informal landing thats more often than not predatory and is geared towards trapping farmers in a cycle of debt. What can be done to help Indias marginal farmers? It is not just access to credit that farmers lack. They also lack access to expertise. The report found that as many as 28 per cent of marginal farmers did not have access to any advisory and those who did relied overwhelmingly on either input dealers or fellow farmers both of them unlikely to be real experts in agriculture. For around 14.6 crore farmers in India, there are only 2,00,000 extension workers, according to government data. They are neither enough nor equipped properly to address all the concerns of Indias marginal farmers, said Samuel Praveen Kumar, the Joint Secretary (Extension) at the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAF). Advertisement Kumar suggested that the digital mediums and artificial intelligence (AI) applications could help bridge the gap. Kumar said, What if as the farmer talks to an operative at the Kisan Call Centre, the AI application picks up on the conversation and finds a video related to the farmers query and sends it to the farmers phone? When the farmer would be done with the call, they would have the video on their phone that would help them understand the situation much better. The technology with agrarian start-ups can also be utilised. Kumar further said that the government is working to train women members of self-help groups (SHGs) in rural areas as para-extension workers. Advertisement Harish Damodaran, another member of the panel discussing the reports findings, noted that animal husbandry could be helpful to farmers to increase their incomes. He said that while farmers could be bound by constraints of capital, they dont have lack of labour and labour-intensive dairy farming which does not require much capital should be promoted to help them. The land and capital are scarce but the labour is not. Animal husbandry should be the way forward for marginal farmers income diversification. The way we research on new crop breeds, we should also research on fodder types that boost milk production. If such breeds of fodder come up, small farmers may just grow fodder on their small plots of land to feed their cows and sell their milk. Poultry is another option that should be encouraged, said Domodaran, the National Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor at The Indian Express newspaper. Advertisement Damodaran further said that the biggest challenge is to retain people in farming. He highlighted that most people would leave farming at the first opportunity and said that initiatives should focus on giving farmers a pathway to make farming profitable instead of making them shift to another profession in cities. Can private sector really be the way forward? The report as well as the panelists said that digital interventions by the state and partnerships with the private sector could help solve the many issues in Indian agriculture. But is that a workable premise? There remains a deep mistrust of the private sector in the farming community as has also been seen in multiple round of agitations in recent years. In such a case, how can private sector be part of the solution? In response to such questions, Sandeep Ghosh of DIU, said it depends on how the private sector is deployed and what problems you seek it to address. Advertisement Ghosh told Firstpost that the private sector has certainly failed to make a difference in the domain of financial inclusion or crop insurance, so you cannot expect to deploy it there and see a positive change, but there are areas where it can indeed make a difference. The innovations in the private sector in my view are happening more on the digital side. I dont see too much of innovations happening in the financial inclusion side. Most of the private sector innovations in agricultural sector are on supply chain management and on digitisation where this lack of trust really is not happening. The work of Digital Green in terms of farmer-generated videos is an excellent example. Most of the other examples that I have given in the report is primarily to do with that, that essentially how to streamline the supply chain management and also to get advisories out there to the people, said Sandeep Ghosh, the Director of DIU, who worked on the report. Not all, or most, of the marginal farmers may smartphones to access such content. Ghosh flagged another concern of SIM churn. In rural, for any programme, SIM churn is a great issue. It refers to the situation where people frequently change phone numbers. They may have registered with a government agency or a government programme from one number but then they may have changed it. In such cases, neither they can access the benefits nor the government can trace them easily to distribute advisories or other things, said Ghosh. The private players, or even the government for that matter, cannot completely rely on a broadcast channel to reach out to the farmers. Ghosh said that you would need a local point of contact who works as the bridge between the central place from where the information has to be disseminated and the people. The private players have realised they have to have a point person who is extending the services or advisories to the people. This point person has a phone or a tablet with them on which it shows content to farmers. If you rely completely on a broadcasting method where you think messages will automatically reach people and they will understand, I dont think India is at that stage where this can be done, said Ghosh. Soren, who is currently lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, was arrested by ED on January 31 after several hours of interrogation read more Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with the money laundering case linked to land scam. Soren, who is currently lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, was arrested by ED on January 31 after several hours of interrogation. The high court had on June 13 reserved its decision on Sorens bail plea. Bail has been granted to Soren. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail, PTI quoted Sorens senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury as saying. Advertisement Soren is also the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). During the hearing, EDs counsel SV Raju argued that if Soren is released on bail, he would commit a similar offence. With inputs from agencies The sun sets behind downtown Oakland and City Hall in March. The City Council is scheduled to vote Friday on a budget plan. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle On Friday, the Oakland City Council will vote on the citys 2024-25 budget proposal that includes severe cuts to pro-democracy programs cuts that threaten to undo the will of the voters and roll back 25 years of progress in making local elections fairer and more inclusive. The proposed budget eliminates public funding of city elections for the first time since the Limited Public Financing program was approved in 1999. It also sharply reduces necessary startup expenditures for Oaklands new Democracy Dollars program, endorsed by 74% of Oakland voters as part of Measure W in 2022. By boosting grassroots candidates and empowering everyday Oaklanders, these programs prevent corruption, counter the influence of special interests and build trust in government. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The funding to ensure the survival of these pro-democracy programs is less than 0.002% of the overall budget. These priorities can be supported affordably alongside the citys other vital commitments, even in a time of budget stress. As the chair and vice chair of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, the independent agency responsible for implementing these crucial programs, we urge the City Council: Dont defund democracy. Ryan Micik, chair; Francis Upton, vice chair; Oakland Public Ethics Commission Stop corporate giveaways Regarding The latest proposal to fix S.F.s housing slump: Slash the citys transfer tax by half (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 25): When are we going to see the narrative that cutting taxes on real estate will somehow save us from the housing unaffordability crisis for the shallow, corporate giveaway that it is? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Who do these tax breaks serve? I would like Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who proposed the plan, to show me an instance where giving corporations tax breaks increased the quality of life for everyday people (or made housing more affordable). Oh! But dont worry! Average San Franciscans will have the chance to fight over the measly 12% of units in these projects that are required to be affordable. What a relief. So-called housing advocates like Corey Smith need to understand the real impact of these policies and projects on our communities: backward corporate tax breaks that create housing only a select few can afford. Olivia McHaney, San Francisco Change hinders midwifery Regarding UCSF upgrades midwifery to doctoral program just when more nurses are needed (San Francisco, SFChronicle.com, June 23): The American College of Nurse-Midwives maintains that competency-based education is the core of midwifery education and supports the masters degree as entry to midwifery practice. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a time of increasing provider shortages, increasing maternal mortality and morbidity, and disparities in Black and Indigenous peoples outcomes compared to white people, we need to maintain affordable, accessible and proven education pathways to become a certified nurse-midwife or certified midwife. No evidence exists to demonstrate that doctoral preparation for midwifery practice increases the ability to practice safely as a midwife. Recent data demonstrate no difference in compensation between masters prepared and doctorally prepared nurse-midwives. It is the position of the American College of Nurse-Midwives that a doctoral degree should not be a requirement for entry into midwifery practice. Decades of evidence suggest that graduates from accredited midwifery education programs, regardless of terminal degree, provide safe and cost-effective sexual and reproductive health care. Dr. Michelle Munroe, CEO, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Washington, D.C. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Take lessons from history Regarding What San Francisco can learn from Rome about reinvention (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, June 25): Alan Marks timely Open Forum reminds me of the importance of learning from the past and one another. Rome is living proof of how survivors rebuild for new times, over and over again. 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 And as that rara avis, a UC Berkeley-trained classicist, how I wish more people studied art history but also the history of Greece and Rome for hints of how political power can best (or worst) be wielded. Our founders studied precisely those sources when building the American experiment; seems we should, too. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Buoyed by its increased strength in the 18th Lok Sabha, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has been persistently demanding the post of the Deputy Speaker read more Proceedings of the House underway during the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha. Source: PTI. The post of Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha, which remained vacant under Modi 2.0, is expected to be filled again, but the suspense over who would be offered the position continues. A report by The Indian Express quoted government sources as saying that the 18th Lok Sabha will have a Deputy Speaker, but it has not yet been decided if it should be offered to the Opposition or NDA allies or the BJP would keep it. Advertisement There will be discussions on it, the report mentioned the government sources as saying. Slugfest over Deputy Speaker post continues The Opposition had the post of Deputy Speaker continuously from 1990 to 2014. This time, failing to get the spot of the Pro-Tem Speaker, it had been eyeing the Deputy Speaker post. By convention, if the Speaker is from the ruling party, the Deputy Speaker is from the opposition. Buoyed by its increased strength in the 18th Lok Sabha, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has been persistently demanding the post of the Deputy Speaker. Ahead of the Lok Sabha Speakers election on June 26, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that the Opposition was willing to support the NDAs candidate - Om Birla - provided the government followed the parliamentary convention and gave the Deputy Speakers post to the Opposition. The government, however, brushed off its demands since the Opposition forced a last-minute contest on the Speakers post. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also said there is no precondition for the Opposition to get the post of Deputy Speaker. PTI quoted sources as saying that the NDA has emphasised that the INDI alliance has not been promised the Deputy Speaker post and soon an announcement of nominees will be made following which proper elections will be held. As per the sources to PTI, the NDA has not rejected the Oppositions claim on the post, but criticised its insistence that its nominee should be given the position, saying such a precondition could not be considered during the Speakers election. Advertisement The BJP-led alliance further said that the demand of the Opposition can be considered when the Deputy Speaker election takes place but it should not impose any precondition. Meanwhile, NDTV quoted sources as saying that the Deputy Speaker post is likely to be given to NDA and not the Opposition. There is speculation that it may be given to Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP). It is being said that the Deputy Speaker post may be given to Harish Balayogi, son of TDPs GMC Balayogi who held the Speakers post when the NDA under Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power. The decision of BJP to give Deputy Speakers post to alliance partner, is seen as the partys move to keep allies like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar happy by considering their parties MPs for the position. Advertisement However, the TDP has said it has made very clear that it does not want the post and neither they were approached by the BJP for the same. We are not aspiring for the post. We have made it very clear. The BJP too has not approached us to fill the post," a report by The Indian Express quoted TDP national spokesperson Pattabi Ram Kommareddy as saying. Another senior TDP leader said, From the beginning, the TDP has not expressed its interest in either the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker post. We have left it open to the other (NDA) allies, that is if they are interested. Advertisement Who was the last Deputy Speaker? The post of the Deputy Speaker remained vacant in the 17th Lok Sabha, first time in the history of Independent India. At the time, reports stated that the single largest Opposition party must have a strength of 56 in order to have a member as the Deputy Speaker. In 2019 polls, the Congress bagged victory on only 44 seats. In 2014, AIADMKs M Thambi Durai was Deputy Speaker. During the Congress-led UPAs two terms, the post was offered to the BJP and its MPs Charanjit Singh Atwal and Kariya Munda became Deputy Speaker in 2004 and 2009, respectively. Advertisement Roles & responsibilities of Deputy Speaker The Deputy Speaker holds the second highest post in the Lok Sabha after the Speaker. Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is also elected by MPs of the lower house. As per Article 95(1) of the Constitution, the Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker if the post is vacant. Also Read: Why is the Congress demanding the Deputy Speakers post in Lok Sabha? What does history reveal? The Deputy Speaker has the same general powers as the Speaker when presiding over the House. All references to the Speaker in the Rules are deemed to be references to the Deputy Speaker as well for the times when he or she presides. Similar to the Speaker, his/her deputy also gets to cast the deciding vote if there is a tie during voting within Parliament or between both houses. With inputs from agencies The overall goal of the budget was to establish an inclusive and balanced growth trajectory for Maharashtra, taking into account the demands of both urban and rural areas and advancing sustainable development read more A number of measures have been announced by the state government in the budget Image Courtesy PTI Deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar introduced the Maharashtra state budget to the state assembly, emphasizing a number of important measures meant to propel the states progress and advancement. The overall goal of the budget was to establish an inclusive and balanced growth trajectory for Maharashtra, taking into account the demands of both urban and rural areas and advancing sustainable development. The highlights: - A number of measures have been announced by the state government in the budget, including the creation of a warkari development corporation to aid in the communitys development and the provision of free medical examinations and treatment for warkaris.Furthermore, the Pandharpur dindi has been allotted Rs 36 crore, with Rs 20,000 going to each dindi (group of pilgrims). Advertisement - As he read the budget, Ajit Pawar disclosed the states intention to grow its economy to be worth $1 trillion US. Additionally, the government unveiled the CM Ladki Bahin Yojana, a unique program for women that will begin in July 2024 and provide Rs 1,500 per month and Rs 46 crore yearly. 10,000 women will receive pink e-rickshaws under this plan, which has been granted Rs 80 crore for the e-rickshaw scheme in 17 cities. - New ambulances and the Har Ghar Null initiative, which intends to supply tap water to 21 lakh families presently undergoing connection, are also included in the budget. Under the recently announced CM Anna Suraksha Yojana, the government would give 3 free gas cylinders annually to 52.4 lakh homes. - Finance Minister Ajit Pawar unveiled the Mukhyamanyti Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a program that will give qualified women between the ages of 21 and 60 a monthly stipend of Rs 1500, during his state budget announcement. The state is anticipated to spend 46,000 crores a year on this effort. - To lessen the financial strain on homes, the budget includes a provision for qualifying families to get three free gas cylinders annually. - Womens self-help groups would be given priority in the Unity Mall project, which aims to help 25 lakh women become Lakhpatis (millionaires) this year. The budget also includes funding for the creation of 100 special fast-track courts to handle crimes against women. Advertisement - A fee remission is also included in the budget for females from OBC and EWS families who want to pursue higher education. With an annual budget of 2000 crores, it is anticipated that 2 lakh females will profit from this effort. - 24.47 lakh farmers have received compensation from the Maharashtra government, up to three hectares each farmer. Furthermore, the states 40 talukas have been formally designated as areas impacted by the drought. The state unveiled the Gaon tethe godown initiative and set aside Rs. 341 crore for its execution in an effort to aid farmers. - In order to assist dairy farmers in the state, the government has given a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre for cow milk, which will be available to 2.93 lakh cow milk producers as of July 1. Advertisement - Additionally, the state administration has stated that it is committed to expanding bamboo cultivation and fisheries. Farmers would receive a financial incentive of Rs. 175 per plant to stimulate the planting of bamboo. * Under the Atal initiative, the state intends to launch a bamboo plantation drive, beginning in the Nandurbar district, with the goal of bringing 6,000 hectares of land under bamboo cultivation. - The state will construct 8.5 lakh solar pumps to give farmers free electricity as part of an initiative to support sustainable agriculture. This environmentally beneficial strategy will encourage the use of renewable energy sources while lessening the financial burden of electricity expenses on farmers. Advertisement - A budget of Rs 650 crore has been set aside by the state government for the Jal Yukta Shivar Yojana, a project that aims to manage and conserve water. - In an effort to strengthen the textile sector, the state administration has revealed plans to build a technical textile park. - To further encourage tourism in the coastal area, a scuba diving center would be established in Sindhudurg. - To assist multiple areas, the state has announced the establishment of multiple new development corporations. These businesses will strive for their local communities betterment and wellbeing. A new housing initiative in the state will benefit the physically challenged population. To further improve their mobility and freedom, e-vehicles will also be given to them. Advertisement - The state government has established a housing project to give residents access to inexpensive houses, named after the late Shiv Sena politician Anand Dighe. - The state has agreed to raise the health coverage under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana from Rs 1.5 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs in order to boost accessibility to healthcare. A greater portion of the population will have access to improved medical facilities thanks to this program. - Now that they can participate in government programs, the transgender community will be included and supported. - 19 municipal corporations throughout the state will host the debut of the PM e-Busses program, which aims to encourage environmentally friendly transportation. -A full electricity waiver would be given to farmers with pumps up to 7.5 HP, which will help almost 44.61 lakh farmers in the state. - A viewing gallery at Malshej Ghat will be built, and the government will pay for the yearly celebration at Raigad fort. - 46.6 lakh agricultural pump users will have their outstanding electricity bills erased. - The Maharashtra government has declared that the municipal regions of Brihanmumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai will no longer have to pay taxes on gasoline and diesel. While the tax on gasoline has decreased from 26% + 5.12 rupees per litre to 25% + 5.12 rupees per litre, the tax on diesel has decreased from 24% to 21%. The proposed measure is expected to result in a fall of around 65 paise per litre for petrol and around Rs. 2.07 per litre for diesel in the municipal regions of Thane, Brihanmumbai, and Navi Mumbai. - In Mhaisal, District Sangli, the Maharashtra government has started a trial solar power plant with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,594 crores. An estimated 75,000 farmer families in the Sangli and Solapur districts are anticipated to gain from this project. In order to attain the aim of clean and green energy, the government also intends to solarize all irrigation schemes, including the Janai-Shirsai and Purandar lift irrigation schemes, at an estimated cost of Rs. 4,200 crores. - The goal of the Vainganga-Nalganga interlinking project is to benefit 3,71,277 hectares of the districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati, Yavatmal, Akola, and Buldhana from irrigation. In addition, the Rs. 3,200 crore Maharashtra Responsive Development Program, funded by the World Bank, would be put into action to divert extra water to drought-affected areas. - For Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, 449 kilometers of metro lines have been approved. As of right now, 127 kilometers are in use, and another 37 kilometers should be operational by the end of the current fiscal year. - The goal is to have the Shivdi-Worli connection road completed by the end of December 2025. - The Thane coastline road is 13.45 kilometers long and runs from Balkum to Gaymukh. It is projected that the project will be completed by May 2028, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,364 crores. - The government has declared that members of the National Security Guard, Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, and Sashastra Seema Bal will not be required to pay Profession Tax. It is anticipated that this action will offer financial relief to about twelve thousand armed personnel. - The penalty on the discrepancy in stamp duty amount from the date of execution of the document has been reduced from 2% to 1% per month if it is found that the registered document has not paid enough stamp duty. Refund applications for stamp duty can now be started online. The application must now be submitted within a year instead of just six months after the date the stamp was purchased. - The state launched the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana, a skill-development initiative that provides a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, with the goal of empowering young. Ten lakh youth are projected to benefit from this plan, for which the government has allocated Rs 10,000 crore annually. To encourage minority communities to pursue higher education, the state will introduce international scholarship programs for these students. - Every year, 50,000 young people will receive training to help inform the public about various government initiatives. - Technical education establishments in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Karad in District Satara, and Avasari Khurd in District Pune will construct Centres of Excellence. - The Gopinath Munde Uus Tod Kamgar Vikas Mahamandal has declared the opening of eighty-two government hostels for the offspring of employees who harvest sugarcane. - The government has given the go-ahead for the construction of new government medical colleges in the healthcare sector, which will have 430 beds and a 100 student capacity. In addition, a new Government Ayurveda College will be built in Buldhana district, and a new Government Unani College will be erected at Mauje Savar, Taluka Mhasla, District Raigad. Additionally, the government has significantly raised the pay for volunteer professors as well as the stipends of junior and senior resident physicians in Government Medical Colleges. - An estimated Rs. 1 lakh crores in investment is anticipated for the thrust industry, translating into the creation of 50,000 employment. With an investment of Rs. 2,11,400 crores, the green hydrogen sector is also anticipated to create 55,900 jobs. - On 25 acres of land in Mahape, Navi Mumbai, the India Gems and Jewellery Park will be built. With an investment of Rs. 50,000 crores, this park would house 2000 micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, creating an estimated 1 lakh jobs. - Using a variety of housing programs, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ramai Awas Yojana, Shabri, Pardhi, and Adim Awas Yojana, Modi Awas Yojana, Yashwantrao Chavan Mukt Vasahat Yojana, and Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Gharkul Yojana, the government has set an ambitious goal of building 35,40,491 houses over the course of the next five years. The 202425 budget includes a sizeable amount of Rs 7,425 crores for various housing programs in order to meet this aim. - 12,954 homes in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation region have already been allocated to mill workers; in order to guarantee their welfare, the government intends to supply the remaining homes. The governments commitment to enhancing working class living standards is demonstrated by this action. - Rs. 1886.84 crores have been set aside by the government for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyans second phase. - The government of Kolhapur city has declared its intention to build an international conference center of the highest caliber, next to Rajaram Lake. This project will have the appropriate funding granted to it. - As part of their Golden Jubilee celebrations, funds will be given for the construction of a multipurpose auditorium at B. J. Government Medical College, Pune, and for improving the educational facilities and infrastructure at Kisan Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Borgaon-Kale Taluka, District Latur. - In addition, a memorial to Sant Shri Ruplal Maharaj will be constructed at his samadhisthal in Anjangaon Surji, District Amravati, and a memorial to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj will be established at Shirala, District Sangli. - *In order to display, develop, and promote tribal arts, an art gallery will be built in Hatgad Taluka Surgana, District Nashik. A proposal valued at Rs 305 crores has been approved by the government for the Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Research and Training Institute located in Mumbai. On Friday morning, the roof sheet and the support beams of Delhi airport T-1 collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal read more At least one person was killed and four others were injured after a portion of the roof of Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Terminal-1 collapsed on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains on Friday. According to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), A portion of the canopy of the old departure forecourt of Delhi Airports Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am on Friday (June 28). The incident happened due to heavy rain since early Friday morning, DIAL said. Advertisement Are flights departing from Delhi T-1? Following the incident the Delhi airport announced that IndiGo and SpiceJet flights departing from T1 have been cancelled till 2 pm on Friday. Departures from Delhi T-1 have been temporarily suspended and check-in counters have been closed as safety measures, the airport said. All departing and arriving flights from Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 are fully operational. Flights at Terminal 1 Arrivals are also operating, the DIAL said. Update at 0845 hrs All departing and arriving flights from Terminal 3 and Terminal 2 are fully operational. Flights at Terminal 1 Arrivals are also operating. However, the departing flights from Terminal 1 are cancelled till 2 pm today. Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) June 28, 2024 Delhi Airport T-1 roof collapse videos #WATCH | 4 people were injured after a roof collapsed at the Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. (Video source - Delhi Fire Service) pic.twitter.com/Uc0qTNnMKe ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Advertisement #WATCH | "A roof collapsed at Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. 3 fire tenders were rushed to the spot", says an official from Delhi Fire Services (Video source - Delhi Fire Services) pic.twitter.com/qdRiSFrctv ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 #WATCH | 4 people were injured after a roof collapsed at the Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. Rescue operation underway pic.twitter.com/A0KHLFFTH6 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 #WATCH | Latest visuals from Terminal-1 of Delhi airport, where a roof collapsed amid heavy rainfall, leaving 6 people injured pic.twitter.com/KzxvkVHRGG ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Advertisement #WATCH | Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited Delhi airport's Terminal-1, where a portion of canopy collapsed amid heavy rainfall today, killing one person and injuring several others. pic.twitter.com/2Skd7nvaKp ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Delhi T-1 roof collapse: What actually happened? As per the officials, the roof sheet and the support beams of the Delhi airport T-1 collapsed on Friday morning, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal. The Delhi Fire Service received a call about the incident around 5:30 am, after which they immediately dispatched three fire-tenders to the airport. Soon, the rescue operation was initiated to safely bring out those trapped. Those injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. One person was rescued from a car after an iron beam had fallen on it. At the time of filing this report, a rescue operation was underway to make sure no one else was trapped in the damaged vehicles. Legal action being taken The Delhi Police said the shed outside Terminal 1 of IGIA (domestic airport), spanning from Departure Gate No. 1 to Gate No. 2, collapsed, in which around four vehicles have been damaged and about six people have been injured and one person has died. All injured persons are stable, the Delhi Police confirmed, adding that cops from the Delhi Police, fire service, CISF and NDRF teams are present on spot. Legal action is being taken, the Delhi Police said. Meanwhile, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that he is personally monitoring the Delhi airport T-1 roof collapse incident. Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing, Naidu said in a post on X. Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024 Naidu also visited the Terminal-1 of the Delhi Airport to inspect the area where the roof collapsed on Friday morning. #WATCH | Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu arrives at Delhi airport's Terminal-1, where a portion of canopy collapsed amid heavy rainfall today, killing one person and injuring several others. pic.twitter.com/ekG4kHdVIf ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Later in a post on X, the minister said: All required rescue operations are being conducted at the Delhis Terminal-1. Inspecting the T1 Terminal and reviewing with the officials. All required rescue operations are being conducted at the terminal pic.twitter.com/6ck4ce39RY Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024 Talking to media, Naidu said: Right now the situation is under control. The rest of the terminal building has been closed and everything is being thoroughly inspected so that there is no further untoward incident here. #WATCH | Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says, "...A section of the canopy which is outside of the airport has collapsed due to heavy rains. We express our condolence to the life that has been lost in this tragic incident, four people have also been https://t.co/8Bs7Jm5A1Z pic.twitter.com/gmArDd6ydz ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Rs 20 lakh compensation for the deceased The Civil Aviation minister also announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured. #WATCH | On portion of canopy collapsed at Delhi airport's Terminal-1, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu says, "...we are taking this incident seriously...I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the pic.twitter.com/ahb6d9ujc0 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Provide full refunds or accommodate passengers on alternate flights The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has advised airlines to accommodate passengers on alternate flights or provide full refunds under the regulations. Passengers fume A passenger travelling to Bengaluru said he had a flight at 8:15 am but there has been no communication from the authorities after the roof collapse incident. He further said there are about 700 to 800 people stuck waiting for clarity about the flight departure status. #WATCH | Yash, a passenger at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport, says, "I was going to Bangalore, I had a flight at 8:15 am. Here the roof collapsed around 5, 5:15 am... The airport authority has no answer..." https://t.co/CETWtY95jz pic.twitter.com/kjbWJ5UMhd ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Another passenger said that they have been asked to go to Terminal-2 from where they will be getting clarification about the departure of the flight which was scheduled to leave from T-1. #WATCH | A passenger at Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 says, "I have a flight at 9 am. I came to know that the structure above (canopy) has collapsed here. Some flights have been cancelled. They (officials) are now asking us to go to Terminal 2..." https://t.co/CETWtY95jz pic.twitter.com/UCwHFb7FF1 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 IndiGo assures full refund or alternative flights In a post on X, IndiGo said, Wed like to reassure you that were here to assist you with alternate flight options or full refund. We might take slightly longer than usual to respond as our contact centers are experiencing high volumes." #6ETravelAdvisory: #DelhiAirport Terminal 1 update - We'd like to reassure you that we're here to assist you with alternate flight options or full refund. We might take slightly longer than usual to respond as our contact centers are experiencing high volumes. IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) June 28, 2024 It also said that due to structural damage to Delhi Airport (Terminal 1) caused by adverse weather, flight operations are impacted. All flights scheduled to depart between 1000-1400 hrs have been cancelled. Delhi rains create havoc A few hours of rain in Delhi threw life out of gear in the city as most parts of the national capital got submerged in water. Rain brought respite from the scorching heat for the people in Delhi-NCR, but has also caused waterlogging, leading to traffic snarls and road closures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said between 8:30 am on June 27 till 5:30 am on June 28, Safdarjung has recorded 153.7mm of rainfall, making it a very heavy rainfall spell for Delhi and counting. Delhi is predicted to get more showers on Friday. As per the IMD, rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds with speed of 20-40 km/hour would continue to occur over Delhi-NCR. With inputs from agencies As the endless acrimony continues on the sterile issue of who is more constitutionally holy than the other, good governance and the interests of the common person continue to be neglected read more This Parliament session is interesting for several reasons. For the first time in a decade, the BJP will not be in an absolute majority. The government will be a coalition, where key allies like the TDP and the JD(U) will have to be taken on board on major decisions. There will also be a much strongerand confidentOpposition voice. Parliament will be fractious, confrontational, and divided. But there is one thing that seems to be in the hands and minds of all sides: The Indian Constitution. Advertisement The INDI Alliance members had a copy of the Constitution when they took their oath as members of Parliament. The BJP too pledged its complete fidelity to the Samvidhan. At the crux of this surprising conflation is the vital issue of the preservation of democracy. The Opposition accuses the BJP of subverting it in the form of an undeclared Emergency, and the BJP is quick to recall the formal Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975, and the less than perfect democratic record of the decades of Congress rule. In the midst of this endless mudslinging, that occupies much of prime time on TV, are several important lessons. The Constitution is just a piece of paper, until it is infused with the spirit of parliamentary democracy that is emphatically underlined in its basic structure and intent. What this means in real terms is the freedom of speech and expression, the right to dissent, an independent judiciary, a free media, the right to profess and propagate ones own faith in a multi-religious nation, equality of status and opportunity, and the sanctity of institutions that are intended to be autonomous and free of political interference. Equally, the real spirit of the Constitution validates a system of checks and balances, and while creating provisions for dealing with extraordinary situations, explicitly prohibits their misuse. It invalidates, except in highly limited and narrowly defined situations, which are rare exceptions and not the rule, the use of draconian laws that militate against individual liberty and justice. And finally, the spirit of the Constitution assumes an express level of ethicality in democratically elected governments, where the rampant use of money and muscle power is sacrilege. By these yardsticks, which are non-negotiable, the performance of the worlds largest democracy has been, to put it mildly, less than perfect. The irony is that the provisions of the Constitution have themselves been used to subvert democracy. The Emergency in 1975 was declared by invoking a provision in the Constitution. Draconian laws have been passed by using as routine specifically defined exceptional circumstances in the book. The right to dissent and freedom of speech and expression have been smeared with the ink of legality by misusing well-intended provisions of our democratic primer. Money power, to topple elected governments, the invention of resort politics, and the unlimited use of unaccountable money in fighting elections have all happened under the awning of the Constitution. The autonomy of investigative agencies and the Election Commissions have been compromised while every political party swore allegiance to the Samvidhan. Advertisement The early decades of Congress rule saw the initiation of many of these transgressions. Article 356 of the Constitution was misused on innumerable occasions to remove duly elected governments. And, the ultimate violation of the spirit of democracy took place when the Emergency was declared. The BJP is right when it says that the last party to give sermons on the Constitution is the Congress. But because these violations were committed in the past by a rival party, does it justify similar misuse by the BJP-NDA governments? Does one wrong make another right? How long can the past be resurrected to deflect attention from current and continuing aberrations? Has not the BJP, in the last 10 years, compromised the functioning of independent institutions? Were the provisions of the draconian UAPA and PMLA Acts not further strengthened under the BJP government, reversing the presumption of innocence and institutionalising the denial of bail which is a legal right? Was the transparent vendetta politics against the Opposition in the democratic spirit of the Constitution? Did action against dissent not increase under its rule? Was respect for all faiths, guaranteed under the Constitution, not violated? Were democratically elected governments not toppled or divided by the repeated use of money power and the threat of punitive action by so-called independent investigative agencies? Was the freedom of the media and the press not browbeaten into compliance leading to the widely used expression godi media by the threat of misuse of power? Advertisement Moreover, are Opposition-ruled states acceptably democratic in their own turf? The truth is best summed up in a common Hindi phrase: Is hammam mein sab nange hain, the import of which is that no one is really unblemished in this unconstitutional game. When those who swear by democracy acquire power, they are all prone to Lord Actons immortal words: Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. What is most unfortunate is that in this murky game, no lessons are learnt, and no genuine reform takes place. Above all, as the endless acrimony continues on the sterile issue of who is more constitutionally holy than the other, good governance and the interests of the common person continue to be neglected. Advertisement The author is a former diplomat, an author and a politician. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The American habit of issuing unsolicited advice based on hubristic self-certified reports on internal functioning of sovereign nation states continues unabated. As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued remonstrations to India over the State Departments latest International Religious Freedom Report, Indian observers were quick to point out that such remarks were politically motivated by the Indian prime ministers likely visit to Moscow next month. This follows an old pattern of American haranguing of international partners in violation of the requirements for recognition of national sovereignty. However, it continues to go unchallenged materially, save for a few counter remarks by international diplomats, such as the Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who has been vocal about such unwarranted certifications. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has referred to the USs coercive tactics less euphemistically, calling their interference a means of regime change. Advertisement In view of ongoing affairs, how does such a report affect relations between the nations judged and the one doing all the judging? As things stand, nothing changes. Following pattern would mean an MEA spokesperson calls this biased and uncalled for, as in preceding years, before retreating and never offering a neutral counter-study with a global outlook. The Indian government continues to remain eager to diversify its weapons dependency from Russia, while pursuing friendly relations with the Western sphere of influence led by the US. The American dispensation begrudges its dependency on an economically significant but geopolitically necessary hedge against China. It showcases its displeasure with occasional press conferences, similar to the one on religious freedom, with untrue statistics that deliberately hide the number of anti-Hindu violence and mob events that have plagued the nation for centuries, while pursuing formally friendly talks with actual geopolitical implications. The Democrat government under Biden has been especially vitriolic against Indias rise, and seems to be content with the confused approaches it undertakes, such as calling out an apparent lack of religious freedom in India while sending Michael McCaul and Nancy Pelosi, amongst others, to the country to meet with the Dalai Lama. American confusion seems to be a hallmark as the report, essentially another document of commentary bereft of facts or analysis, highlights some of these states also impose penalties specifically against forced religious conversions for the purpose of marriage, as a bad thing or religious freedom, as if the religion of the forcefully converted is undeserving of protection. It touts that In February, a crowd of 20,000 Christians gathered in New Delhi to protest increasing violence against them and request greater protections for the Christian community. A regular Indian aware of the scale of usual protests would balk at such a large organised protest by Christians in a single Indian city that does not lie within Kerala. Advertisement For reference, the Christian population is almost 3 per cent of the entire population of the country, with a majority residing out of Delhi. The report, however, speaks to the uninformed and already prejudiced by somehow taking the number of 2,000 protestors, as reported by Crux and magnifying it tenfold. Unsurprisingly for India observers, this has precedence that can be cited by the official report; several Christian sites without oversight listed the number as between 15,000 to 22,000, which was picked up by the State Department analysts. The 69-page report goes on to uncreatively reiterate its opposition to Indian laws, a continued attack on independent, constitutionally valid Indian lawmaking, repeating tropes about a Uniform Civil Code that is applicable to every citizen within the US as well. It goes on to sympathise specifically with Muslim men seeking to marry non-Muslim women to convert them to Islam. Advertisement For those studying Indian news through Indian publications rather than State Department mouthpieces, this is especially abhorrent considering the number of acid attacks and murders on Hindu women by Muslim men, including the stabbing and subsequent death of the daughter of an Indian Opposition politician from Karnataka last year. Purportedly neutral, the report refuses to examine the validity of the claims that non-Muslim women are specifically targeted for the sake of conversion and instead transcribes Opposition talking points. More, it continues to portray Indias second-largest majority that carved out two land masses out of the Indian subcontinent in living memory as an oppressed minority. Advertisement The barrage of verbose information focusing on perceived problems faced by Muslims specifically allows the authors and readers to ignore problems faced by actual Indian minorities such as Parsis and Jains with little political representation or will for street violence. That the report is one of the responsibilities of the Office of International Religious Freedom whose Ambassador at large, Rashad Hussain, an American of Muslim-Indian origin, served as the Islamic Envoy under Barack Obamas government, exemplifies why this cannot be understood to be a neutral study. His prior defence of a terrorist two decades ago has not merely been forgiven and is not to be constituted as bias, but must apparently certify him as the best arbiter for the values of religious freedom. Advertisement The barrage of misinformation in annual reports by the US State Department as well as by the USCIRF, an organisation declared as a player of political propaganda by the Indian government, finds no counter. The USCIRF has been designated as an organisation of particular concern by Disinfo Labs in a lengthy reveal, where it outlines the network of donors such as the omnipresent Open Society as well as contributors who are part of missionary as well as jihadist networks. Despite the open affiliations of the staff with faiths in the global majority, these remain the only organisations collating global open-source information with regards to the practice of religious freedom. Were they to not affect international relations as well as banking systems, it would be unlikely to cause much flurry in the countries they tend to berate. Considering a much more interconnected world with information loops playing a major role in establishing people-to-people relations along with affecting trade and tourism, it is time that a more intellectually coherent study was platformed for serious consideration before every indigenous faith finds itself shield-less against intellectual cover for genocide, much as the Yazidis and Baloch find themselves. The author is a columnist at several Indian publications such as NDTV, FirstPost and CNN-News18, and hosts a podcast on geopolitics and culture. She writes about international relations, public policy and history, and posts on X on her handle @sagorika_s. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Three years after the military coup in Myanmar, Operation 1027 was launched against the military junta by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in the northern part of Shan State. Their success against the junta encouraged the launch of Operation 1107, bringing together insurgent groups across the country. This was perhaps one of the rare occasions in the troubled history of Myanmar where Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) from various groups came together in a meticulously coordinated attack against the junta. Subsequently, many Myanmar observers debated the pushback by the rebel groups as a victory for democracy. Advertisement Conflict Since 2023, the junta has continued to suffer considerable losses. The Special Advisory Council of Myanmar, an independent group of former UN human rights experts, and the National Unity Government (NUG) claim that presently nearly 5270 per cent of the country is under the control of the resistance forces. Reportedly, many pro-military stakeholders have held Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing responsible for the loss of territory, openly asking him to hand over his military command. Famous bloggers from Myanmar, like Maung Maung, have openly criticised him, calling the losses a historic shame". Other important monks and pro-Tatmadaw figures have come out in support of the Tatmadaw but not the Commander-in-Chief. But without any institutionalised mechanism to dislodge Gen Hlaing the chances of deputy commander Soe Win taking over the reins of the Tatmadaw for the time being seem unlikely. Furthermore, the junta has a firepower advantage and has activated the conscription law, aiming to recruit over 70,000 women and men into the military ranks. And even though the resistance forces claim nearly 70 per cent of the territory, the fact remains that population density is much higher in urban areas and in the lowlands than in the hills controlled by the EAOs. Over half of the countrys 56.6 million population is still under Tatmadaw-controlled territory. Moreover, the junta has also breached the Haigeng Ceasefire Agreement that was brokered by Beijing between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the military junta for the first time in January this year. Since then, Jason Tower, Myanmar Country Director of the United States Institute of Peace, has reported that the junta has regrouped, acquired drones, and targeted EAO positions to regain territory. Advertisement On the other hand, the NUG continues to enjoy popularity and support, not just from the EAOs but also from countries across the world, especially the West. They are seen as leading the political front for a disparate opposition against the junta. However, what is still unclear is if a variety of aspirations can be accommodated in the long run and if this partnership will hold as the EAOs themselves have rivalries and separate political agendas. Compromise At the moment, the situation in Myanmar seems to be a stalemate, with no foreseeable consensus for a future roadmap. Neither of the sides has succeeded or failed. And in such a scenario, the possibilities are many. Advertisement For instance, the junta can call for elections. Hlaing vowed last week to hold elections next year. That would be five years since the coup. Though he made assurances earlier, saying if the state was peaceful and stable, elections would be held, even though it may not be possible nationwide, this time, he stated that a household census would be conducted in October in order to hold a free and fair multiparty democratic general election in the coming year. The second scenario could entail the military junta led regime falling apart. Though unlikely, a change of leadership would not suffice to meet the demands of the opposition, and the junta has no reason to crumble. Considering, they control much of the key assets in the country, such as ports, highways, gas, and oil pipelines, among others, the military will stay financially afloat. Strategically, the junta has control and support in the heartland. EAOs would rather focus on their territory and enhanced autonomy than fight in areas where they have neither tactical ability nor economic interests. Advertisement The third scenario could be of the situation remaining status quo or with some sort of confederation system in place. This would spell a volatile future for Myanmar, with a constant tug of war with the junta at the centre over assets, resources, and funds. The likelihood of conflicts within and among EAOs would be high. Chaos Irrespective of any outcome, the road ahead for Myanmar and its neighbours will not be an easy one. With the United Nations estimating almost 2.5 million people displaced, largely from regions like Sagaing across Indias border, the repercussions for neighbouring countries will be high. India shares 1643 km of porous borders with Myanmar and has borne the brunt of the conflict, with illegal infiltration and drug trafficking making their way into Indias sensitive north east region. In 2023, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime reported the highest opium production since 2001 in Myanmar, with poppy farming becoming more sophisticated and productive. Advertisement Much of the conflict in Indias northeastern state of Manipur has been seen as a direct impact of the conflict in Myanmar. With transnational ethnic communities across the borders and the recent warning by PM Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, who alleged that there was a western conspiracy to carve a Christian state from parts of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and she alluded to India, this points towards a complex future. Additionally, what is now emerging as one of the most devastating outcomes of not just the conflict in Myanmar but the cost of the green energy transition is the mining of Heavy and Rare Earth Elements (HREE) in Myanmar. A non-profit organisation Global Witness (GW) investigation in 2022 revealed that China, which controls nearly 90 per cent HREE processing capacity, extracted the majority of the elements in Myanmar. HREE is crucial for magnets that are used in electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines. However, rare earth extraction creates radioactive waste, and according to experts, land that is mined cannot be used for almost 17 years after extraction. An Associated Press investigation revealed that the global demand for rare earths is expected to explode by 300 per cent to 700 per cent by 2040. But even though the US Congress required companies to disclose the origin of minerals such as tin, gold, and tungsten to ensure that they do not benefit any conflict groups, the US law did not cover rare earths. The European Unions 2021 regulation on conflict minerals also excludes rare earths. The green goals that the West has set for itself clearly outweigh the possibility that rare earth mining in Myanmar is fueling militia groups with long-term environmental impacts. GW reported that the water in Kachin State has turned poisonous. There are no fish; animals that drink it die, and it causes human infections, finally resulting in the displacement of complete communities and their way of life. Therefore, AP has aptly termed Myanmar the Sacrifice Zone. This is because if Myanmar is being sacrificed for Western ideals, the impact would remain equally disruptive, especially for neighbouring countries. It would then be prudent for countries like India to start looking beyond the conflict in order to mitigate the inevitable impacts of the chaos that is yet to emerge. Rami Niranjan Desai is an anthropologist and a scholar of the northeast region of India. She is a columnist and author and presently Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, New Delhi. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Opposition leaders have warned that CoolApp could be a tool for government surveillance and control over public discourse read more Under Hun Sens leadership, internet freedom in Cambodia has significantly deteriorated, with increased censorship, media blackouts, and online harassment. The government has intensified state surveillance. Image Credit: Reuters, Pixabay Cambodian leader Hun Sen has endorsed a new homegrown messaging app, CoolApp, which critics argue could be used by the government to monitor and suppress political discourse. CoolApp was launched to rival popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, with Hun Sen emphasizing its role in protecting national security by preventing foreign interference in Cambodian communications. Hun Sen, one of the worlds longest-serving leaders, stated on Facebook that CoolApp is Cambodias first messaging platform developed for national security purposes. He compared it to other countries proprietary communication tools, such as Chinas WeChat, Vietnams Zalo, South Koreas Kakao Talk, and Russias Telegram. Despite stepping down as prime minister last year, Hun Sen remains the central figure of power in Cambodias ruling party, with his eldest son, Hun Manet, now serving as prime minister. Advertisement Online scams and security concerns Cambodia has been a hotspot for large-scale online scams orchestrated by Chinese criminal gangs, drawing international attention and concern from the US State Department and the United Nations. CoolApps founder and CEO, Lim Cheavutha, told CNN that the app has been downloaded 150,000 times and uses end-to-end encryption to ensure privacy, claiming it does not monitor, collect, or store user data. He anticipates the app will reach 500,000 to 1 million downloads, though no specific timeline was provided. In comparison, WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app globally, has millions of users in Cambodia. Surveillance and censorship in Cambodia Under Hun Sens leadership, internet freedom in Cambodia has significantly deteriorated, with increased censorship, media blackouts, and online harassment. The government has intensified state surveillance, leading to the arrest and persecution of critics and the shutdown of independent media outlets. Hun Sen, a frequent social media user, has previously threatened to ban Facebook in response to online criticism from political opponents. In 2023, Metas oversight board recommended suspending his Facebook and Instagram accounts for six months due to language that could incite violence. Opposition and criticism Mu Sochua, an exiled opposition leader, warned that CoolApp could be a tool for government surveillance and control over public discourse. She noted that civil servants are being ordered to download the app, implying coercion. Sam Rainsy, another exiled opposition leader, echoed the boycott calls, suggesting that CoolApp would enhance the regimes repressive capabilities. He pointed out Hun Sens history of covertly monitoring opposition communications and manipulating social media. Advertisement The introduction of CoolApp raises significant privacy and surveillance concerns among Cambodian citizens and international observers. While the apps proponents claim it is a secure, homegrown alternative to foreign messaging platforms, critics argue it may further erode civil liberties and enhance the governments ability to control and monitor political discourse. Foxconn will use its existing facilities in Tamil Nadu to manufacture AI servers. Foxconn already manufactures AI servers for major global tech companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA read more Foxconn is aggressively increasing its investments in India. In February, Foxconn announced that its Indian arm would invest about Rs 1,200 crore to construct a new factory, along with a new mega factory for iPhones. Image Credit: AFP Foxconn is set to begin producing AI servers at its facilities in India, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the country. Known primarily for assembling Apples iPhone, the Taiwanese contract manufacturing giant is now looking to diversify its manufacturing capabilities. According to a report by the Economic Times which quoted multiple sources familiar with the matter, Foxconn will use its existing facilities in Tamil Nadu to manufacture AI servers. These high-performance computing engines are essential for training and running artificial intelligence models. Foxconn, which already manufactures AI servers for major global tech companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, sees this move as a strategic expansion. Advertisement Foxconn can make pretty much anything since they are contract manufacturers, said one source. It could be phones, servers, or EV components. They are very nimble that way and currently, servers are what they are bullish about. Industry experts view the move to manufacture AI servers in India as a natural progression for Foxconn. The company expects its share in the global AI server market to increase to 40 per cent this year, up from 30 per cent last year. Foxconn chairman Young Liu highlighted at the companys annual shareholders meeting in Taipei that AI servers could soon become the companys next trillion-revenue product. Analysts believe that manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) components and servers will be the next growth areas for Foxconn in India, as these products offer better margins compared to mobile phone assembly. It aligns with their broader strategy for the future as they need to diversify beyond phones, said another source, noting Foxconns heavy reliance on Apple. Foxconn is also benefiting from Indias production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware, which further supports its expansion plans. Recently, it was reported that Google is in advanced talks with Foxconn to locally produce Pixel smartphones in Tamil Nadu. Foxconn is aggressively increasing its investments in India. In February, Foxconn announced that its Indian arm would invest about Rs 1,200 crore to construct a new factory. Furthermore, a different new mega factory is also being constructed outside Bengaluru, primarily for Apples products, namely the iPhone. Advertisement The company also announced a $37.2 million investment in a joint venture with IT major HCL Group to establish a chip packaging and testing facility in India. This move followed the collapse of Foxconns joint venture with Vedanta Group. Despite these expansion moves, Foxconn is facing allegations of discriminatory hiring practices at its Tamil Nadu manufacturing units. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has requested a detailed report from the states labour department on the matter. During an earnings call back in May, Foxconn indicated that they are planning some new AI prodcuts such as servers which would be powered by NVIDIAs AI chips would power. Initiatives such as these were expected to drive further revenue growth through 2025. Advertisement However, consumer electronics will likely remain the companys primary revenue source. Foxconn reported a 72 per cent jump in net profit in the first quarter of 2024, driven by robust demand for AI technology. Revenue from AI servers in the first three months grew nearly 200 per cent year-on-year and is expected to continue improving. Foxconns diversification into AI servers and other high-margin products is a strategic move to reduce its reliance on smartphone manufacturing and capitalise on the booming AI and EV markets. With significant investments and expansion plans in India, Foxconn is positioning itself as a key player in the global technology manufacturing landscape. The satellite weighed about 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms), was orbiting at an altitude of 220 miles (355 kilometres) when it disintegrated. Given that the ISS orbits at approximately 250 miles (400 kilometres), the astronauts were instructed to take precautionary measures read more NASA condemned Russias ASAT missile test as reckless and dangerous, and the United Nations adopted a resolution against such tests, with Russia and China voting against it. Image Credit: Space.com A defunct Russian satellite disintegrated suddenly, which formed a large cloud of debris in low Earth orbit, posing a potential threat to the International Space Station (ISS). On Wednesday, space-tracking firm LeoLabs detected a debris cloud forming after the non-operational satellite, RESURS-P1, broke apart around 12 PM ET on June 26. According to US Space Command, the disintegration resulted in over 100 pieces of trackable debris. The satellite, which weighed about 13,200 pounds (6,000 kilograms), was orbiting at an altitude of 220 miles (355 kilometres) when it disintegrated. Given that the ISS orbits at approximately 250 miles (400 kilometres), the astronauts were instructed to take precautionary measures. Advertisement NASA reported on X that the crew was ordered to shelter in place. After about an hour of monitoring the debris path, Mission Control cleared the crew to exit their spacecraft, and normal operations resumed. US Space Command confirmed there were no immediate threats and continued routine conjunction assessments to ensure the safety of the space domain. In 2021, Russia faced significant criticism for deliberately destroying a defunct Soviet-era satellite in an anti-satellite (ASAT) test, which produced thousands of pieces of debris. This event also forced astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the ISS to seek shelter. NASA condemned Russias ASAT missile test as reckless and dangerous, and the United Nations adopted a resolution against such tests, with Russia and China voting against it. The recent breakup of the RESURS-P1 satellite raises suspicion that it might have been another ASAT test. Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell speculated that the satellites disintegration could have resulted from a small impact or an onboard battery explosion but did not rule out the possibility of an ASAT test. Advertisement Marco Langbroek, an astrodynamics lecturer at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, suggested it might be due to a mishap on the spacecraft itself, such as exploding batteries or fuel remnants. While such events are rare, the increasing number of satellites in Earths orbit heightens the risk of collisions. The rapid growth of the space industry necessitates new regulations and mitigation efforts to ensure safety. (With inputs from agencies) Japan and the Philippines will hold high-level defence talks next month, Manila said Friday, as the two countries seek to boost ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China read more Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, greets Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., prior to their bilateral meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, 0n December 17, 2023, on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. AP File Japan and the Philippines will hold high-level defence talks next month, Manila said Friday, as the two countries seek to boost ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China. Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will discuss bilateral and defence and security issues affecting the region at the July 8 meeting in Manila, a Philippine foreign affairs department statement said. The talks follow escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea. Advertisement Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea. Japan, which occupied the Philippines during World War II, is negotiating a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Manila that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each others territory. Ex-defence minister Itsunori Onodera, now a ruling-party member of the Japanese parliament, said Friday he hoped negotiations on the defence pact would make rapid progress at next months meeting. We recognise the need to further deepen security and defence cooperation between our two countries, Onodera told a press conference on the last day of a five-day visit to Manila. Onodera said he had met with National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to reiterate Japans commitment to a strategic defence partnership with the Philippines. Japan is committed, ready to provide necessary assets to Philippines to protect Philippine security, said Yoshiaki Wada, another member of Onoderas parliamentary delegation. Tokyo has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manilas efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Onodera said Japan was very concerned by Chinas behaviour during the latest confrontation between Manila and Beijing off the Second Thomas Shoal. Advertisement A Filipino sailor lost a thumb on June 17 when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply a garrison on a derelict warship deliberately grounded on the shoal to assert Manilas claim there. We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, or any action that will escalate tension, Onodera said. Tokyos Maritime Self-Defence Force held joint naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and the Philippines in the South China Sea in April. The drills aimed to demonstrate what the participants said was their collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. JM Jaffe, executive director at Lyon-Martin Community Health Services, stands in the clinics new building on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Minh Connors/The Chronicle Since 1980, Lyon-Martin Community Health has been San Franciscos most important health service provider to transgender, gender-nonconforming and intersex patients, and it is a refuge for people seeking gender-affirming care. It hasnt been a smooth ride. For the past decade, every time Ive heard about Lyon-Martin, it was accompanied by news that the organization was in financial trouble. The clinic nearly closed in 2011 when it buckled under $500,000 of debt. Community fundraising kept it open, but financial struggles led to a merger with Healthright 360 in 2015. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Lyon-Martins staff was informed services would be cut. Lyon-Martin appealed to the city and extracted itself. But it was still left with a skeleton staff, no nonprofit status and a brand new board in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So, when an email landed in my inbox last week about fresh fundraising efforts, I assumed that the clinic was, once again, at deaths door. I couldnt have been more wrong. During the past four years, Lyon-Martins staff have secured $4 million in ongoing grants and launched a capital campaign that met its goal of $2 million in two years. Last month, it became the first trans-led federally qualified health center in the country, which permits it to get better Medi-Cal rates. The most striking sign of its success, however, is a lease-to-buy contract for a $9.95 million, three-story, 17,000-square-foot building on Valencia Street. As I walked its grounds this week, I noted the high ceilings, exposed brick walls and ample space for exam rooms, laboratories and office space. Its a far cry from the shabby, second-floor clinic it used to occupy on Market Street. Lyon-Martins success is particularly impressive at a time when city and state budget deficits are leading to cuts in vital social services, and anti-trans legislation is spreading across the country. Other nonprofits that serve trans populations in San Francisco have struggled; after 24 years, St. James Infirmary was forced to close last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How had Lyon-Martin done this? I called its executive director, JM Jaffe, to find out. The grant landscape changed a lot since Lyon-Martin was last searching for funds, they told me. There are tons of new opportunities at city, state and federal levels to support queer and trans care. San Francisco has also made huge investments to keep Lyon-Martin open. It provided $750,000 in seed funding to acquire the building, and the Department of Public Health issued 10-year grants to the organization. The past four years have been very miraculous, Jaffe told me. Its been a rough go, but we have really turned a corner. Lyon-Martins success couldnt have come at a better time. The clinic currently has 4,000 clients, and the need is surging beyond what its old facility could provide. Jaffe says the clinic is seeing people who have moved to San Francisco from red states that have banned access to gender-affirming care and even migrants from Russia, whove fled the country due to its anti-gay ban. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People seeking health services used to be seen within two weeks of calling the clinic. Now, appointments are booked from now through the end of September. With the new building, Lyon-Martin hopes to reach 1,000 more clients than it currently can see. I toured the new building with Shante, a trans woman whos been a patient at Lyon-Martin for a decade. (She didnt want to provide her last name for safety reasons.) Shante shared her story of receiving care at the clinic. Not only did it provide her with hormones and gender-affirming care, but also therapy and substance use treatment. When I first came to Lyon-Martin many years ago, it was in that tiny space on Market Street, she said. But it had such a big impact on my future. They embraced me and treated me like the person that Ive always wanted to be. In our current political climate, there are serious risks to providing this care. After the city launched its guaranteed-income program for trans people, which is distributed through Lyon-Martin, the clinic was targeted with terrorist threats. The sheer number of threats that we were receiving was quite overwhelming and really impacted the mental health of our staff, Jaffe said. People were scared to come to work, they were scared to go outside, and some people like felt like they were being followed. It was really scary. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Once renovations on the new building begin, they will include integrated security measures, such as bullet-proof glass and emergency barriers that can be deployed quickly to protect patients and staff. More money will be needed to reduce the immense loans the organization must take on to build a clinic from the ground up, but the wheels are in motion. San Francisco talks a big game about preserving LGBTQ culture. The city has pledged to end trans homelessness and earlier this month declared itself a sanctuary city for trans people. Pride weekend fills Dolores Park each year, and Sundays parade is one of the largest in the world. At the same time, local queer establishments are disappearing. Its not just nonprofits like St. James, but also businesses, such as the lesbian bar the Lexington Club, the Gangway, which was the oldest gay bar in the city, and more recently, the Uptown, where I had my first date with my partner who himself was once a Lyon-Martin patient. 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 If we want to get serious about the preservation of LGBTQ people, culture and resources in San Francisco, our institutions need the security of owning the land thats underneath them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 42-year-old man was accused by police of using a device to generate evil twin replicas of authentic wi-fi networks in a variety of locations, including airports in Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide as well as on domestic flights read more When airline staff saw a suspicious wi-fi network during a domestic flight in April, they reported the scam to the police Australian authorities have prosecuted a 42-year-old man from Western Australia for allegedly putting up phony Wi-Fi networks on domestic flights and at airports. According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), these fake networks impersonated legitimate ones in order to steal personal data from gullible travelers. The man was scheduled to appear in Perth court on Friday to answer to nine charges of cybercrime. News Corp Australia reports that the 42-year-old man was accused by police of using a device to generate evil twin replicas of authentic wi-fi networks in a variety of locations, including airports in Perth, Melbourne, and Adelaide as well as on domestic flights. Advertisement Users said that when they attempted to connect their devices to the networks, they were redirected to a bogus website and asked to log in with their social media or email credentials. According to authorities, those particulars were subsequently allegedly saved on the mans devices and might be used to obtain further private data, such as a victims bank account information, stored photos and videos, or online correspondence. When airline staff saw a suspicious wi-fi network during a domestic flight in April, they reported the scam to the police. As per the news portal, AFP Western Command Cybercrime Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman said internet users should always be cautious when logging on to any public wi-fi networks. To connect to a free wi-fi network, you shouldnt have to enter any personal details - such as logging in through an email or social media account. When using a public network, disable file sharing, dont do anything sensitive - such as banking -while connected to it and once you finish using it, change your device settings to forget network, she said. We also recommend turning off the wi-fi on your phone or other electronic devices before going out in public, to prevent your device from automatically connecting to a hotspot. After winning a hasty presidential election in February, Aliyev, who has been in office since 2003, is poised to gain a new majority in the oil-rich nation that has been courted by the West, Russia, and Turkey. Currently, his New Azerbaijan Party owns 69 of 125 members in the departing parliament read more The parliament's opposition lawmakers support Aliyev, but opponents outside the legislature claim they have been persecuted following the arrests of several independent journalists and political activists prior to this year's presidential election Image Courtesy Reuters In an order released on Friday, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev called early parliamentary elections for September 1. This was a widely anticipated decision that isnt expected to significantly alter the composition of the parliament. After winning a hasty presidential election in February, Aliyev, who has been in office since 2003, is poised to gain a new majority in the oil-rich nation that has been courted by the West, Russia, and Turkey. Currently, his New Azerbaijan Party owns 69 of 125 members in the departing parliament. Advertisement The parliaments opposition lawmakers support Aliyev, but opponents outside the legislature claim they have been persecuted following the arrests of several independent journalists and political activists prior to this years presidential election, which Aliyev won with 92% of the vote. Charges for acts they claimed had political motivations, such as smuggling, were brought against some of the imprisoned individuals. The arrests, according to the authorities, were not political. The September flash offensive, which reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh from what Baku claimed were its illegitimate ethnic Armenian leaders, has been hailed as a victory by Aliyev. Over 100,000 ethnic Armenians in the region left almost entirely, and Baku is currently reconstructing the area with the intention of resettling Azerbaijanis there. Azerbaijan, a signatory to the OPEC+ agreement between the OPEC oil producers cartel and other significant exporters like Russia to limit output in order to support global prices, is home to Western energy companies like BP. Among the 17 people arrested are the army chief, Gen. Zuniga, and former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, who were taken into custody the day before. All face charges of armed uprising and attacks against government infrastructure, and penalties of 15 years in prison or more, said the countrys attorney general, Cesar Siles read more Bolivian President Luis Arce speaks during a press conference the day after troops stormed the presidential palace in what he called a coup attempt, in La Paz, Bolivia. AP Bolivian President Luis Arce on Thursday angrily called accusations that he was behind an attempted coup against his government lies, saying the general who apparently led it acted on his own and vowing that he would face justice. Arces comments, his first to the press since Wednesdays failed apparent coup, came after the general involved, Juan Jose Zuniga, alleged without providing evidence that the president had ordered him to carry out the mutiny in a ruse to boost his flagging popularity. Advertisement That fueled speculation about what really happened, even after the government announced the arrest of 17 people, most of them military officers. Opposition senators and government critics joined the chorus of doubters, calling the mutiny a self-coup. Some Bolivians said they believed Zunigas allegations. They are playing with the intelligence of the people, because nobody believes that it was a real coup, said 48-year-old lawyer Evaristo Mamani. Those claims have been strongly denied by Arce and his government. I am not a politician who is going to win popularity through the blood of the people, he said Thursday. Meanwhile, Arces supporters rallied outside the presidential palace on Thursday, giving some political breathing room to the embattled leader as authorities made more arrests in a failed coup that shook the economically troubled country. Among the 17 people arrested are the army chief, Gen. Zuniga, and former navy Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, who were taken into custody the day before. All face charges of armed uprising and attacks against government infrastructure, and penalties of 15 years in prison or more, said the countrys attorney general, Cesar Siles. The president claimed that not only military officers were involved in the plan, but people retired from the military and civil society. He did not elaborate. The South American nation of 12 million watched in shock and bewilderment Wednesday as military forces appeared to turn on Arce, seizing control of the capitals main square with armored vehicles, repeatedly crashing a small tank into the presidential palace and unleashing tear gas on protesters. Advertisement Senior Cabinet member Eduardo del Castillo said among the arrested was one civilian, identified as Anibal Aguilar Gomez, who was as a key ideologue of the thwarted coup. He said the alleged conspirators began plotting in May. Riot police guarded the palace doors and Arce who has struggled to manage the countrys shortages of foreign currency and fuel emerged on the presidential balcony as his supporters surged into the streets singing the national anthem and cheering as fireworks exploded overhead. No one can take democracy away from us, he roared. Bolivians responded by chanting, Lucho, you are not alone! Analysts say the eruption of public support for Arce, even if fleeting, provides him with a reprieve from the countrys economic quagmire and political turmoil. The president is locked in a deepening rivalry with popular former President Evo Morales, his erstwhile ally who has threatened to challenge Arce in 2025. Advertisement The presidents management has been very bad, there are no dollars, there is no petrol, said La Paz-based political analyst Paul Coca. Yesterdays military move is going to help his image a bit, but its no solution. Soon after Wednesdays military maneuver was underway, it became clear that any attempted takeover had no meaningful political support. The rebellion passed bloodlessly at the end of the business day. In an extraordinary scene, Arce argued strongly with Zuniga and his allies face-to-face in the plaza outside the palace before returning inside to name a new army commander. What we saw is extremely unusual for coup detats in Latin America, and it raises red flags, said Diego von Vacano, an expert in Bolivian politics at Texas A&M University and former informal adviser to President Arce. Arce looked like a victim yesterday and a hero today, defending democracy. Advertisement Speaking in Paraguay on Thursday, U.S. deputy secretary of state for management, Rich Verma, condemned Zuniga, saying that democracy remains fragile in our hemisphere. The short-lived mutiny followed months of mounting tensions between Arce and Morales, Bolivias first Indigenous president. Morales has staged a dramatic political comeback since mass protests and a deadly crackdown prompted him to resign and flee in 2019 a military-backed ouster that his supporters decry as a coup. Morales has vowed to run against Arce in 2025, a prospect that has rattled Arce, whose popularity has plunged as the countrys foreign currency reserves dwindle, its natural gas exports plummet and its currency peg to the U.S. dollar collapses. Advertisement Morales allies in Congress have made it almost impossible for Arce to govern. The cash crunch has ramped up pressure on Arce to scrap food and fuel subsidies that depleted state finances. Defense Minister Edmundo Novillo told reporters that Zunigas coup attempt had its roots in a private meeting Tuesday in which Arce sacked over the army chiefs threats on national TV to arrest Morales if he proceeded to join the 2025 race. But Zuniga gave officials no indication he was preparing to seize power, Novillo said. He admitted that he had committed some excesses, he said of Zuniga. We said goodbye in the most friendly way, with hugs. Zuniga said that he would always be at the side of the president. Pro-democracy advocates have already expressed doubt that any government-led investigation can be trusted. Judicial independence is basically zero, the credibility of the judiciary is on the floor, said Juan Pappier, deputy director of the Americas at Human Rights Watch. Not only do we not know today what happened, we probably will never know. Sunak, currently campaigning for a July 4 national election that his Conservative Party is tipped to lose after 14 years in power, was born in the southern English port city of Southampton to Hindu parents of Punjabi Indian descent. read more British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday he was hurt and angry that a supporter of Nigel Farages right-wing Reform UK party had been recorded making a racial slur about him, saying it was too important for him not to speak out. Britains first ethnic-minority prime minister, Sunak was responding to comments broadcast by Channel 4 News, by a man named as Andrew Parker calling Sunak a fucking Paki - a British racial slur for people of South Asian descent. Advertisement Sunak, currently campaigning for a July 4 national election that his Conservative Party is tipped to lose after 14 years in power, was born in the southern English port city of Southampton to Hindu parents of Punjabi Indian descent. My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing Paki. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer, Sunak told broadcasters. I dont repeat those words lightly, I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is, he added. Farage said on Thursday when comments were first broadcast on Thursday that he was dismayed by the language used. But on Friday he suggested, without providing evidence, that Parker was an actor involved in a complete and utter set-up to undermine Reform during the election campaign. He (Parker) was acting from the moment he came into the office, Farage told the BBC.Channel 4 News said its reporters did not know Parker before they met him as a Reform volunteer.In the video, which was covertly filmed, Parker says: Ive always been a Tory (Conservative) voter but what annoys me is that fucking Paki weve got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. Hes just wet. Fucking useless.Parker later told Channel 4 News in a statement that he had apologised to Farage and Reform if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention. His statement did not address Sunak.Reuters could not immediately reach Parker for comment. Advertisement Election Campaign Sunak, 44, became prime minister in 2022 after first serving as finance minister, steering Britains economy through the coronavirus pandemic during Boris Johnsons premiership. He told reporters travelling on an election campaign bus with him on Friday that for the vast majority of Britons, people should be judged according to their merits and character, not their skin colour or gender. Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a non-partisan think-tank which focuses on migration and identity, echoed this comment.For most voters Sunaks ethnic and faith background, something they are aware of, is not the dominant lens in how they view his strengths and weaknesses, said Katwala. Advertisement Voters will mostly judge Sunak on his record, Katwala said, noting his popularity during the pandemic, and how that had fallen sharply after he became prime minister and grappled with a stagnant economy and record hospital waiting times. The incident involving Parker could damage Reform because most of its supporters are not racist despite supporting a tougher approach on immigration, Katwala added.It is a risk for the party, they need to very carefully police who they let in, he said. Reform this month defended one of its candidates who said Britain should have taken Hitler up on his offer of neutrality during World War Two, while another of the partys candidates praised Russian President Vladimir Putin. The secretary (Consular Passport and Visa Division and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Muktesh Pardeshi raised the matter with Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Migratory Policies and Italians Abroad, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs read more Spokesman for the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, demanded that workers be treated humanely and said that Satnam Singh's family was receiving every support available. Satnam Singh, an Indian laborer who passed away in northern Italy, was not given proper care, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that his employer, who was in charge of his medical care, had been taken into custody. Spokesman for the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, demanded that workers be treated humanely and said that Satnam Singhs family was receiving every support available. His employer who was supposed to provide him medical care has been arrested and the investigation goes on. We condemn such treatment. We call for the human treatment of workers. We are providing all possible assistance to his family, said Jaiswal during a weekly briefing. Advertisement India has also raised this issue with Italy and has called for prompt action against those responsible for his demise. The secretary (Consular Passport and Visa Division and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Muktesh Pardeshi raised the matter with Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Migratory Policies and Italians Abroad, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Muktesh Pardeshi further said that the Indian Embassy in Italy is in contact with the family of Satnam Singh for consular help and transportation of body to India. @SecretaryCPVOIA Muktesh Pardeshi conveyed to @LuigiVignali Italian DG our deep concern about death of Satnam Singh & called for prompt action against those responsible. Embassy is in contact with family of Satnam Singh for consular help &transportation of mortal remains @MEAIndia, the Indian embassy in Italy posted on X on June 26. Indian national Satnam Singh lost his life after being abandoned on the street following an accident, according to the Flai CGIL trade union. The accident, which resulted in the severing of his arm, happened while he was working at the farm. According to the Flai CGIL trade union, instead of receiving help from the employer, Singh was dumped like a bag of rubbish near his home. Earlier last week, the Embassy said that it is in contact with local authorities and that efforts are being made to contact the family and provide consular assistance. Trump allies have floated other foreign policy plans if he wins in November, including a Ukraine peace plan and one to restructure NATO funding. The reassurances to Japan and South Korea go further because they include direct talks with foreign officials. read more Donald Trumps allies are assuring officials in Japan and South Korea that the Republican presidential candidate will support a Biden-era effort to deepen three-way ties aimed at countering China and North Korea, five people familiar with the conversations said. In conversations over the past weeks, policy advisers with Trumps ear have delivered this message to officials in Seoul and Tokyo: if Trump takes office again, the ex-U.S. president will support the two capitals work to warm once-frigid ties and advance military, economic and diplomatic cooperation to ease global tensions, the people said. Advertisement The conversations were described to Reuters by Republicans and officials from each of the Asian countries, several of whom were directly involved. The previously unreported push is part of an effort by Trumps allies to convince Washingtons closest friends in Asia that his smash-mouth approach to traditional alliances ends at the shores of the Indo-Pacific. There, the U.S. faces ramped-up tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea, a new Chinese partnership with Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putins courtship of North Korea. I reassured them that the alliance will be strong, that Trump recognizes we have to work closely with our allies to defend their interests, said Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff in Trumps National Security Council, who traveled to Japan and met officials there including national security adviser Takeo Akiba this month. These conversations carry extra weight after Bidens disastrous debate performance on Thursday, which may push undecided voters toward Trump and has spurred calls for him to step aside in the 2024 race. Trump allies have floated other foreign policy plans if he wins in November, including a Ukraine peace plan and one to restructure NATO funding. The reassurances to Japan and South Korea go further because they include direct talks with foreign officials. In May, former Trump foreign policy officials met Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Trump campaign has not confirmed whether he would accept these proposals. No one has the authority to speak to a foreign government and make promises on behalf of President Donald Trump, said Chris LaCivita, senior adviser to the Trump campaign, when asked about the assurances. The policy section of the Trump campaigns website does not address the topic. Advertisement Fleitz said he was not speaking for Trump and instead offering an assessment based on his experience with the candidate. He said the U.S., Japan and South Korea would likely work together to counter China and North Korea under another Trump term. Dozens of meetings have been taken or scheduled at the highest levels of the Japanese and South Korean governments with right-wing think tanks, such as America First Policy Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Hudson Institute, known to be planning policy Trump could deploy in 2025, sources said. One Asian official briefed on the recent regional meetings with Trump allies said their government was taking the meetings seriously and considered them a plausible representation of where Trump may stand. Advertisement TRUMP SECOND TERM PLANS The conversations show the serious, early effort by Trump allies to sketch policy priorities for a second Trump presidency months before the 2024 U.S. election, in which Trump is leading in battleground states that could decide the race. Trumps 2016 election win took countries by surprise and left them scrambling to understand the new presidents views as he hastily assembled White House advisers. The consortium of conservative think tanks known as Project 2025 making detailed plans for a second Trump presidency describe South Korea and Japan in their playbook as critical allies in the military, economy, diplomacy and technology. But the playbook also calls for pushing South Korea to take the lead in its conventional defense against North Korea, reflecting Trumps concern about taking on too much financial responsibility for other countries security. Project 2025 has said it does not speak for the Trump campaign. Advertisement BACKING BIDEN PLAN Still, the outreach by Republicans to Asia represents one narrow area of potential continuity between Trump and Biden. The Democratic U.S. president took over from Trump in 2021 after a bitter election campaign and has prioritized elevating traditional alliances like those Trump sometimes disparaged. Biden encouraged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to work together and overcome decades of mutual suspicion and enmity. The effort culminated in a Camp David summit between the leaders last summer that pledged new defense cooperation amid North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns nuclear threats and Chinese President Xi Jinpings sovereignty claims over democratically governed Taiwan. Advertisement My view, and President Trump shares this, is the deeper we can make the economic ties between the three countries, the stronger the bonds will be, said Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, who served as ambassador to Japan in the Trump administration, remains in touch with Asian governments and is seen by some in those circles as a likely Trump second-term appointee. Another former Trump official described the conversations as partly campaign tactics, adding that, the main charge of the Democrats is that he abandoned friends and allies and acted alone. Hes now more careful not to give Democrats any new room for attack. WELCOME SIGNAL In Seoul and Tokyo, where officials are weighing a possible Trump return to office, Republican messages of solidarity have been received as a welcome signal that Trumps Asia policy may vary from the hard-nosed approach that rankled allies from Ottawa to Brussels. While polls show Biden and Trump in a close race, Yoon and Kishida face withering public opinion polls at home, raising the question of whether the spirit of Camp David will endure a change of leadership in any of the three countries. South Koreas foreign ministry said in a statement that it is not only necessary but also natural for the three countries to work together, and that the effort had won bipartisan support in the United States, including during the prior administration. Spokespeople for the Biden campaign, the White House and the Japanese foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. I dont see any reason why trilateral cooperation would languish at all, said Alexander Gray, a former chief of staff of the White House National Security Council under Trump and now CEO of American Global Strategies, a Washington based think tank. Theres a general concern, that I think is unfounded, that President Trump would abandon things that Joe Biden started and, you know, just abandon them because Joe Biden was involved in them. Former President Juan Orlando Hernandez, 55, spent years in positions of power cozying up to kingpins from some of Latin Americas most notorious cartels, which placed proxies in state institutions while he pocketed millions of dollars in drug money read more Honduras former President Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted in March of having facilitated the smuggling of hundreds of tons of cocaine through Honduras to the United States since 2004, a decade before he became president. Reuters Honduras still has a long way to go to dismantle the narco-state that grew under ex-president Juan Orlando Hernandez, jailed this week for smuggling a deluge of cocaine into the United States, experts told AFP. Hernandez, 55, spent years in positions of power cozying up to kingpins from some of Latin Americas most notorious cartels, which placed proxies in state institutions while he pocketed millions of dollars in drug money. Extradited to the United States upon leaving office in 2022, Hernandez was sentenced this week to 45 years in jail for his crimes after prosecutors said he had turned his country into a narco-state. Advertisement Honduras is still picking up the pieces. It is impossible to eliminate the narco-state that Juan Orlando built in two years, former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Mike Vigil told AFP. Honduras first woman president, Xiomara Castro, came to power vowing to tackle drug trafficking, corruption and poverty in a country that is losing droves of citizens seeking a better life in the United States. She inherited a nation where police chiefs, soldiers, judges, businessmen, mayors and lawmakers had links to drug trafficking networks. The drug world placed its pawns within the state machinery, human rights lawyer Reina Rivera told AFP. Security Minister Gustavo Sanchez recently acknowledged that Hernandezs arrest meant the criminal structure was decapitated, but the body continues to operate. Infiltrated institutions Hernandez was convicted in March of having facilitated the smuggling of hundreds of tons of cocaine through Honduras to the United States since 2004, a decade before he became president. He used the drug money to finance his political campaign and commit electoral fraud, prosecutors said, all while presenting himself as a champion of the war on drugs. His successor Castro has to govern with the structures with which Hernandez governed, with institutions that were infiltrated by cartels, said sociologist Pablo Carias. He said that while no one can accuse Castro of involvement, rumors continued to swirl about top officials having their fingers in illicit activity. Advertisement The former DEA agent Vigil said that cocaine trafficking from Colombia through Honduras was still thriving. But the country is no longer merely a transit point. He said coca crops began emerging in the Honduran mountains in 2017 and laboratories are now producing drugs on site. These are being run by Honduran drug trafficking groups collaborating with Mexicos Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels, said Vigil. Rebuilding the state Among Castros first measures in office was to repeal the so-called Secrets Law classifying public security and defense documents, which critics said had been used to conceal corruption. She has unveiled a raft of anti-narco measures and ordered the capture of those sought for extradition to the United States, offering rewards for information on the whereabouts of most-wanted drug lords. Advertisement The move worked, with a $40,000 reward leading to the capture in June of a key ally of Hernandez, Mario Jose Calix, a former deputy mayor. The security minister, Sanchez, said 17 suspected narcos had been extradited since Castro came to power. She has tried to rebuild the state apparatus, with allies who cannot be accused of links to cartels, said the human rights lawyer, Rivera. But many police chiefs are still there, at the service of the cartels, he added. Vigil said that extraditing the worst drug traffickers to the United States was key to stopping them from operating with impunity in Honduras. Despite Castros efforts Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its 2024 global report that she had largely failed to deliver on her promise to strengthen human rights and democratic institutions in Honduras. Advertisement The countrys narco woes unfold against a backdrop of poverty levels at almost 80 percent of the population, and one of the highest murder rates in Latin America. Honduras continues to face systemic corruption, political interference in the justice system and deadly attacks on rights and environmental defenders, said HRW. A video posted in a chat group proclaiming his plans to launch an attack on infidels with a recognizable Islamist symbol in the background was one of the pieces of evidence used against the accused read more The court stated that the boy had begun to get "radicalized" in the fall of 2023 A 15-year-old kid was given a four-year prison sentence by a German court on Friday for organizing an Islamist attack on a Christmas market in the western city of Leverkusen. According to a statement from the Cologne court, the adolescent intended to rent a truck and kill as many people as possible by smashing it into the conventional market. The court stated that the boy had begun to get radicalized in the fall of 2023. Advertisement A video posted in a chat group proclaiming his plans to launch an attack on infidels with a recognizable Islamist symbol in the background was one of the pieces of evidence used against the accused. According to the court, the youngster and another adolescent who was meant to record the incident and distribute the footage had planned it together. Beginning in July, the 16-year-old from the Berlin-surrounding state of Brandenburg will face trial in a separate court. Recent years have seen a number of incidents in Germany by Islamist extremists; the bloodiest of these was a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016, which claimed the lives of twelve people. More recently, the death of a police officer in a knife attack on Mannheims market square in late May is alleged to have had an Islamist motive. In Germany, the number of individuals classified as Islamist radicals decreased marginally from 27,480 in 2022 to 27,200 last year, per a data released by the federal domestic intelligence service. But Interior Minister Nancy Faeser declared Germany would be continuing to step up the fight against Islamist terrorism when she presented the report. Two boys and two girls, ages 15 to 16, were detained before Easter this year in a separate adolescent case on suspicion of organizing an Islamist assault in the same western German district. Advertisement The young age of the suspects, according to North Rhine-Westphalia state Interior Minister Herbert Reul, left him speechless, adding that it presented a huge challenge for society as a whole. The four young people were reportedly intending to carry out knife and Molotov cocktail assaults in the name of the Islamic State organization, according to a story in Germanys best-selling daily Bild. He (Trump) has not asked me to be his vice president Whoever he asks is going to have, I think, a remarkable ability to serve this country in taking that America first agenda even further, Ramaswamy said at a press conference in Atlanta read more Ramaswamy, if not selected as a vice-presidential candidate, might still play a significant role in the future Trump administration. AP File Days after Donald Trump described him as a smart guy and promised he will be in his team in some form if voted to power, former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday ended the speculation swirling around him being Trumps running mate by saying that he has not asked him yet to be the Kings Hand. He has not asked me to be his vice president, a Hindustan Times report quoted him as saying at a press conference during the first presidential debate in Atlanta. Advertisement Whoever he asks is going to have, I think, a remarkable ability to serve this country in taking that America first agenda even further, he added. Trump had told NBC News that he had chosen a running mate, suggesting that they might join him at the debate in Georgia. At a Wisconsin rally earlier this month, the former president praised Vivek as a smart guy and assured that Vivek would be part of his team in some form. If I gave it to Vivek to do, hed pull it off, Trump said, adding, Hes gonna be with us in some form. Ramaswamy also responded saying, Donald Trump is the George Washington of our day. Meanwhile, apart from Ramaswamy, other potential candidates for the vice-presidential post who were spotted in Atlanta included North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York. Ramaswamy, if not selected as a vice-presidential candidate, might still play a significant role in the future Trump administration. If Ramaswamy is not chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, he could still hold a crucial position in the Trump administration. The former biotech CEO has proposed himself as a potential secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, underscoring his campaign focus on border security during the 2020 Republican presidential primaries. Advertisement Since exiting the race, Ramaswamy has continued to highlight his dedication to immigration enforcement. In a recent podcast interview, he reaffirmed his passion for this issue, indicating a strong commitment to contributing in this area. Discussing the southern border crisis, Ramaswamy said, Well see what happens in the next 10 months." While addressing Ramaswamy being Trumps No-1 VP choice, the Ohio-born son of Indian immigrants spokesperson told the New York Post, Theres a lot of press speculation, but I can tell you Viveks top focus is making sure we get President Trump elected so that we can take America First to the next level. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Protesters displayed signs demanding the governments removal, citing its failure to advance negotiations for the release of hostages abducted on October 7 and its mishandling of the war effort, according to a report read more Demonstrators hold up their hands, painted red to symbolize blood during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Jerusalem, on Thursday. AP Israel on Thursday witnessed anti-government demonstrations across the country with as many as 3,000 people alone protesting outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus private home in Caesarea, demanding fresh elections and a deal to release hostages held by the terror group Hamas in Gaza. According to a Times of Israel report, while unofficial estimates put the number of people protesting outside Netanyahus residence at 3,000, a crowd estimated at some 5,000 people in Jerusalem marched from the Chords Bridge on the western edge of the city to Azza Street, where the prime minister also has a home. Advertisement Smaller demonstrations were also held in other cities around the country, added the report. Protesters displayed signs demanding the governments removal, citing its failure to advance negotiations for the release of hostages abducted on October 7 and its mishandling of the war effort. Weve been abandoned Elections now! read one sign that rose above the crowd. Demonstrators yelled through megaphones, waved flags and banged on snare drums while police officers stood at barricades. How much more blood will be spilled until you leave, Times of Israel report quoted protesters in Caesarea as saying, along with Bring home the hostages and leave. As the sun began to set, protesters in Jerusalem blocked traffic and lit a large fire. Police in Jerusalem said they had restored order following incidents where demonstrators set fire to a road in a residential neighborhood, and another group attempted to breach a police barricade. There were no major scuffles reported, and police refrained from using water cannons, which they have employed in more turbulent protests. No arrests were made, added the police. Earlier, police detained a suspect heading towards Jerusalem carrying containers of flammable material and devices for smoke screens. They also uncovered a stash of tires filled with flammable cloths, intended to block traffic on Route 1. In Caesarea, police reportedly discovered a smoke grenade attached to a wire near Netanyahus residence, where the demonstration was slated to take place. Advertisement Crossing red line According to Times of Israel, Netanyahus Likud party complained in a statement that incitement against Prime Minister Netanyahu has crossed another red line tonight The writing is on the wall. Among those demonstrating in Jerusalem was Einav Tzangauker, whose son Matan is being held captive in Gaza, and who has become a central fixture of the near-nightly demonstrations. The prime minister has decided to give up on the hostages, Times of Israel quoted Tzangauker as saying, accusing him of being less interested in winning the war or recovering the hostages than in staying in power. We will topple him to bring them home and to bring back security to the citizens of Israel, she declared. There will not be a deal or reconstruction without the fall of the Netanyahu regime. When he falls, we will rise. Advertisement Efforts to negotiate the release of as many as 116 hostages still held by Hamas have stalled recently, with Hamas insisting that the war must end before any hostages are released, a condition rejected by Netanyahus government. Both the US and Israel have accused Hamas of rejecting Israels latest offer earlier this month. Israel-Hamas conflict The conflict in Gaza began after Hamass October 7 attack in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 others into Gaza. Israel claims that at least 42 of those abducted by Hamas have since died, with unofficial estimates potentially higher. Advertisement Families are concerned about the fate of those still alive. Despite gaining control over most of the Gaza Strip in the past eight months and significantly weakening Hamass military capabilities, Israeli forces have only managed to rescue seven hostages alive and have not located most of Hamass senior leaders. During a week-long ceasefire in November, 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity, and four hostages were freed earlier. Additionally, the bodies of 19 hostages, including three killed accidentally by the military, have been recovered. Hamas continues to hold two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Charles Carpenter watches as a police officer walks by his tent while he packs his belongings ahead of an encampment sweep in San Franciscos Mission District in November. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 For years, cities in California and across the West have been asking for more leeway when it comes to addressing homelessness. The Supreme Court granted their wish Friday, when it ruled on a case from Grants Pass, Ore., that gives cities broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property. So what will cities start to do differently? It could take a while to get a full picture of how individual cities policies will change. But some have already begun planning for a post-Grants Pass world. And in many cases, it will mean more aggressive approaches to removing encampments. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Grants Pass decision and a previous case out of Boise, Idaho, limited how much enforcement actions cities could take against homeless people when no shelter was available for them to move to. Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho supported the decision and will use it to take action. The Martin v. Boise experiment can no longer be used as an excuse to do nothing, Ho said. We must now redouble our efforts to provide comprehensive services and compassionate enforcement with an approach guided by empathy, respect, and a commitment to creating a healthier and safer Sacramento for everyone. Police and the National Park Service clear out a homeless encampment site in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington D.C., in May. Shuran Huang/Special to the Chronicle Gracey Van Der Mark, mayor of Huntington Beach (Orange County), is excited about the high court ruling in favor of local control, and in this instance, restoring cities with the ability to maintain public safety and law and order. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its unfortunate that based on the (Idaho) case, cities were intimidated into non-enforcement of anti-camping laws that were actually designed to humanely equip cities to keep their communities clean and safe, Van Der Mark said. Victor Cabral, mayor of San Clemente (Orange County), said he believes the decision will allow the city to be more aggressive in urging unhoused people to accept services. Right now we dont have the ability to say, Look, if you dont get those mental health services, were not going to just let you stay here on the beach. So we have more leverage over them, he said. Cabral attended the oral arguments of the Grants Pass case in Washington, D.C. He said that even if specific policies dont change after the decision, he believes law enforcement officers will feel more free to crack down on existing laws. I think the law enforcement in OC will look at enforcement of things like selling of drugs, use of drugs and have more enforcement in that area because right now theyre just treating every homeless person as a protected status and will not even enforce basic criminal statutes like using drugs, Cabral told the Chronicle. I think theyll get a little bit tougher on that. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Several cities that weighed in with the Supreme Court in the run-up to the Grants Pass case emphasized that they were desperate for a clear set of standards when it comes to policing homelessness. Having that uniform set of rules will help cities regardless of how they choose to enforce certain laws, said Mayor Lori Stone of the fast-growing Riverside County city of Murrieta. Stone said Murrieta has implemented several steps over the past few years to move toward functional zero homelessness but that it would still benefit from clarity on issues such as the enforcement of quality of life issues, what constitutes a shelter bed, what measurement is used to determine a jurisdictions homeless count (ie., point-in-time count), as well as a decision that is universal for the country rather than operating under a different set of rules imposed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan doesnt anticipate that the ruling will change how the city deals with encampments other than affirm that we have the authority to compel people to come indoors. Now, Mahan said, if homeless people refuse to accept shelter and beds are available, their belongings are abated. Victor Barrera, 41, stands outside a Redwood City encampment where he was staying in February. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Mahan said he is concerned that the ruling will enable smaller cities to virtually outlaw homelessness, forcing unhoused people to migrate to larger, more sprawling cities such as San Jose, which dont have the law enforcement capacity to uproot illegal encampments from every corner of town. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mahan said he would like to see the state enforce some sort of metric much like Californias requirement to build affordable housing to ensure that everybodys doing their part to expand shelter capacity and in-patient treatment facilities. The nation cant leave it up to cities and counties to work in silos, he said. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said the decision wouldnt change much for her city, but shared concerns that this ruling is not used as an incentive for other cities to push their homelessness crisis into nearby cities. Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaigns director for the National Homelessness Law Center, said its unfortunate that cities are going to use an opportunity like the Supreme Court case to further harmful policies. Cities are looking for any excuse they can to punish people for experiencing homelessness, and theyre very creative, Rabinowitz said. I think what that shows is that the status quo isnt working. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has made addressing homelessness her No. 1 priority since she was elected in 2022, but has focused the citys efforts on securing housing for unhoused residents over law enforcement-based crackdowns. She called Fridays ruling not surprising but disappointing nonetheless. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bass said cities shouldnt use the ruling as an excuse to attempt to arrest their way out of this problem or hide the homelessness crisis in neighboring cities or in jail. Neither will work. Neither will save lives, said Bass, whose city had 46,260 homeless residents at the time of the 2023 point-in-time count. The only way to actually address this crisis is with housing and services. In the city of Los Angeles, we will continue leading with this approach, which moved thousands more Angelenos inside last year than the year before. We cannot go backwards we must continue to innovate new ways to help people. Los Angeles city employees clean up a homeless encampment to relocate homeless people into temporary housing as part of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Inside Safe program in October. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press 2023 A spokesperson for Whittier (Los Angeles County) said the City Council hasnt discussed any specific actions yet, but acknowledged that the ruling could impact the Citys current approach to providing care. Kathleen Galvin-Surbatovic, the Whittier spokesperson, suggested that the city would take action to reclaim public spaces. While the City Council is regularly evaluating and refining City services to ensure they meet the needs of our community, it recognizes the importance of preserving and maintaining Whittiers public spaces for the benefit of all residents, she said in a statement to the Chronicle. Should the courts decision necessitate adjustments to current policies, the Council will carefully consider the best course of action to continue providing effective and compassionate support for those experiencing homelessness in our city, while prioritizing ways to enhance quality-of-life for families in our community. Other cities and counties have no idea what theyll be doing next. Not even the city of Grants Pass, where spokesperson Mike Zacchino said the city is thankful that the Courts ruling will help guide our next steps regarding unhoused members of our community. Its legal counsel will brief the City Council soon. Bali immigration authorities said that after a tip-off from Indonesian police, they raided the villa in Tabanan Regency on Wednesday, where the group of 12 women and 91 men was found with hundreds of mobile phones and other electronic devices read more Detained Taiwanese line up with evidences during a press conference at a detention center in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia on Friday. Indonesian immigration authorities have detained 103 Taiwanese people after a raid at a villa on the resort island of Bali, officials said Friday. AP Indonesian police have arrested more than 100 Taiwanese at a villa in Bali over alleged cyber fraud, authorities said Friday. The proliferation of cyber fraud groups in Southeast Asia has become a growing concern in recent years, and authorities in countries including China, Indonesia and Malaysia have stepped up efforts to stop them. Bali immigration authorities said that after a tip-off from Indonesian police, they raided the villa in Tabanan Regency on Wednesday, where the group of 12 women and 91 men was found with hundreds of mobile phones and other electronic devices. Advertisement They were accused of abusing immigration permits and conducting online scams targeting Malaysians, said Indonesian immigration official Safar Muhammad Godam. He added that officials could not charge them because the alleged crimes fell outside their jurisdiction, but were closely working together with related authorities, including those in Malaysia. Their activities target individuals outside the country, making it very difficult to meet the elements of a criminal offence in such cases, Godam said in a press conference. They are subject to administrative immigration actions. In the near future, we will proceed with deporting all of the 103 foreign nationals. They are currently being held at an immigration detention centre in Bali for further questioning, he added. Indonesia, with tip-offs from Chinese authorities, has previously confronted international cyber fraud networks targeting victims in China. In 2018, Bali Police arrested 103 Chinese nationals, along with 11 Indonesians allegedly working for them, for running a multi-million-dollar cyber fraud syndicate that targeted wealthy businessmen and politicians in China. This came a year after the deportation of 153 Chinese nationals involved in a network accused of fraudulently impersonating Chinese police or law officials, making around six trillion rupiah ($365.5 million) since launching operations in late 2016. For some protesters, Rutos eventual climbdown came too late. A pamphlet shared widely online on Friday called for seven days of activism, including countrywide strikes and the blocking of major roads on July 2 and July 4. read more Protesters scatter as Kenya police spray water canon at them during a protest over proposed tax hikes in a finance bill in downtown Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, June. 25, 2024. File Photo- AP Kenyan activists on Friday circulated calls for fresh protests, strikes and sit-ins demanding President William Ruto quit, after nationwide demonstrations forced him to U-turn on proposed tax hikes. Ruto on Wednesday declined to sign a highly contentious finance bill that has sparked nationwide deadly protests, and has sent it back to parliament for amendments. The government wanted to raise funds to pay off debt, but Kenyans said the bill caused more economic pain as millions struggle to get by. The chaos on Tuesday led the government to deploy the military, and Ruto called protesters actions treasonous. Advertisement At least two more people were killed and seven others sustained gunshot wounds during smaller demonstrations in several major towns and cities on Thursday, as the army was deployed to assist police. For some protesters, Rutos eventual climbdown came too late. A pamphlet shared widely online on Friday called for seven days of activism, including countrywide strikes and the blocking of major roads on July 2 and July 4. He has proven himself unfit as a Kenyan and failed his constitutional mandate to protect the Kenyan people, read the document, with the popular hashtag #RUTOMUSTGO. We will not relent until William Ruto unconditionally resigns. Ruto is contending with the most serious threat to his two-year-old presidency, as the youth-led protest movement has in less than a fortnight escalated from online criticism of the tax hikes into mass rallies demanding his removal. Nearly two years ago, President William Ruto won the Kenyan election with a promise to champion the interests of the working poor. However, his administration now is caught between the pressures from international lenders like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which advocate for deficit reduction to unlock further funding, and the urgent needs of a struggling population. The government of President William Ruto, who was elected in 2022 on a pledge to uplift lives of the poor, last year used the bill to introduce a housing tax and to raise the top personal income tax rate, sparking anger, street protests and court challenges. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. The Pakistani resolution, introduced by ruling party lawmaker Shaista Malik, was adopted by the National Assembly despite objections from lawmakers from the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, who say the Feb. 8 vote was rigged. read more In a strong rebuttal to a recent US resolution calling for an investigation into Pakistans general elections, the National Assembly of Pakistan adopted a resolution on Friday denouncing the US Congressional resolution despite objections from lawmakers from the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, who say the Feb. 8 vote was rigged. The resolution was introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Shaista Pervaiz Malik and characterized the U.S. resolution as contrary to facts and an interference in Pakistans internal affairs. Advertisement Malik in a televised speech said the U.S. resolution passed Wednesday was completely against the facts. She said Pakistan would not tolerate any such interference in its internal affairs. The latest development came a day after Pakistans Foreign Ministry rejected the U.S. congressional resolution, which stunned authorities in Pakistan. On Friday, Islamabad said it has decided to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S. to replace Masood Khan. At a news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baluch, said Khan would be replaced by diplomat Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. However, she said the new appointment had already been under consideration. Baluch said Pakistan regretted the resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution clearly stems from an inadequate and erroneous understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan. It is also an unsolicited interference in Pakistans domestic affairs, she said. Though Pakistans top leadership expressed anger over the U.S. resolution, Khans party hailed it, saying its victory in the election was converted into a defeat by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Khans party won the most seats but fell short of a simple majority to form a government. That paved the way for Khans political rivals to form a coalition government. The US House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday, in support of democracy and human rights in Pakistan and called for a thorough and independent investigation into interference claims in Pakistans 2024 elections.The resolution passed with 85 per cent of House members participating and 98 per cent voting in its favour urged US President Joe Biden to collaborate with Pakistan in upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Advertisement The resolution, HR 901, titled Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan was introduced by Congressman McCormick of Georgia and Congressman Kildee of Michigan and co-sponsored by over 100 colleagues. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after his ouster from power in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament, has repeatedly offered a dialogue with Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which has a strong presence in the parliament. However, Khans party has rejected the offer, saying Sharifs came into power through a fraud vote. Asif blamed jailed former prime minister Imran Khans government for the resettlement of the Taliban militants in Pakistan, according to the report. Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) read more Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stark warning, saying that the country might target the sanctuaries of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan under its newly launched military operation. Asif ruled out any possibility for dialogue with the TTP, citing a lack of common ground. The government announced the launch of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam last week to tackle the rising threat of terrorism in the wake of lukewarm support by the Afghan Taliban to stop the use of their soil by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rebels against Pakistan. Advertisement In an interview with Voice of America, Asif clarified that the decision to embark on this counter-terrorism mission was carefully deliberated and not made impulsively, as reported by The Express Tribune. The decision about Azm-e-Istehkam was taken because of the economic difficulties, and it may also target TTPs sanctuaries across the border, he told the state-owned American news network and international radio broadcaster. The minister said that it would not be against international law since Afghanistan had been exporting terrorism to Pakistan, and the exporters were being harboured there, The Dawn newspaper reported. Asif said that although the TTP was operating from the neighbouring country, its cadre, about a few thousand in number, are operating from within the country. He also ruled out any chances of dialogue with the banned outfit, saying there was no common ground. Asif blamed jailed former prime minister Imran Khans government for the resettlement of the Taliban militants in Pakistan, according to the report. Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government brought back the 4,000 to 5,000 Taliban after negotiations. If that experiment was successful, let us know we can replicate it, he said. Talking about the Oppositions criticism of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Asif said that the concerns of political parties would be addressed. The government will bring this matter to the National Assembly so that the questions and concerns of the members can be answered and they are taken into confidence, he said. This is also our duty, he was quoted as saying. Advertisement Major opposition parties, including the PTI of Imran Khan, who was also dubbed as Taliban Khan for his support for the Taliban, right-wing Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and secular Awami National Party (ANP) of the family of Ghaffar Khan opposed any new military offensive. All these parties have their support in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which has been badly hit by the militancy. Parties like ANP paid a heavy price in the war against militancy. These parties have demanded that Parliament be taken into confidence before any offensive against militancy was launched. At an earlier press conference, Asif said, There are no political aims of this operation. We only want to challenge and end the rising wave of terrorism ongoing since the past few months. He urged all government components, the judiciary, security forces, Parliament and the media to support the operation. This is a national crisis, which is not just the Armys responsibility but all institutions, the minister said. Advertisement The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The group, believed to be close to al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. With inputs from agencies. The results say that the Mongolian Peoples Party won 68 to 70 seats in the 126-seat parliament, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai told media early Saturday morning. That would be a major drop from the previous election in 2016. read more Gantumur Luvsannyam, leader of the Democratic Party, speaks at a press conference on the results of the parliamentary elections held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in the early hours of Saturday, June 29, 2024. Photo- AP Preliminary results reported by Mongolias ruling party show that the party has won a parliamentary election but by only a slim majority. The results say that the Mongolian Peoples Party won 68 to 70 seats in the 126-seat parliament, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai told media early Saturday morning. That would be a major drop from the previous election in 2016. The election was for an expanded parliament, 50 more than in the previous election in 2020. That contest was won by the Mongolian Peoples Party in a landslide, but other parties appear to have been able to capitalize on voter discontent to eat into its majority. Advertisement Earlier Friday, about two dozen voters lined up on a staircase leading to a polling station on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar in the early morning, some complaining because it opened 10 minutes late. Some of the older voters, including community leaders, dressed up in formal silk robes cinched with large leather belts for the occasion. Inside, voters filled out their ballots behind a small screen and then put them into an electronic vote counting machine. Before they left, a purple dot was put on one of their fingers with a marker to prevent them from trying to vote again. Turnout as of 10 p.m, when the polls closed, was 69.3% and was expected to reach 70% once results from remote districts are finalized and overseas voting is added on. Mongolia, home to 3.4 million people, became a democracy in 1990 after more than six decades of one-party communist rule. While people have welcomed the freedoms that came with the end of the communist system, many have grown cynical of the parliament and its members, seeing them as working mainly to enrich themselves and their business associates. The Mongolian Peoples Party has recognized those problems but largely blamed them on other political parties. The prime minister, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, said Friday that democracy and trust in the parliament are weakened when personal interest is put ahead of the national interest. He called for a new page of cooperation between the government and citizens after the first three decades of democracy. Advertisement Today, a completely new 30 years in the history of Mongolia begins, he told a crush of reporters after casting his ballot. Lets all together see how this representative parliament will work and how political parties will perform. The polling station on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar is in a ger district, where many people first lived in nomadic tents after moving to the capital. It remains a poorer area, now a cluster of mostly simple homes, some still with tents in their yards. Many residents of the district, particularly the older generation, support the Peoples Party, which also ran the country during the communist era and then transformed itself into a center-left party in the democratic era. Advertisement Naranchimeg Lamjav, a 69-year-old Peoples Party member and leader of the elderly community, was among a half-dozen voters in formal outfits who showed up at the polling station before its scheduled 7 a.m. opening. I support the current government led by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene, because they are establishing justice and starting the new era of 30 years, she said, wearing an embroidered blue robe. But some younger voters expressed disappointment with the Peoples Party and said they chose younger candidates who they hoped would bring change. Enkhmandakh Boldbaatar, 38, said he voted for neither the Peoples Party nor the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, saying they also had not performed well. Nineteen parties are vying for seats in the parliament. Advertisement Ive been living here for 38 years, yet the area is the same, he said. Only this road and some buildings were constructed. Things would have been different if they worked for the people. Corruption scandals have eroded confidence in the government and political parties. Besides the center-right Democratic Party, the HUN Party has emerged in this election as a potential third force. I support the current government led by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene, because they are establishing justice and starting the new era of 30 years, she said, wearing an embroidered blue robe. But some younger voters expressed disappointment with the Peoples Party and said they chose younger candidates who they hoped would bring change. Advertisement Enkhmandakh Boldbaatar, 38, said he voted for neither the Peoples Party nor the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, saying they also had not performed well. Nineteen parties are vying for seats in the parliament. Ive been living here for 38 years, yet the area is the same, he said. Only this road and some buildings were constructed. Things would have been different if they worked for the people. Corruption scandals have eroded confidence in the government and political parties. Besides the center-right Democratic Party, the HUN Party has emerged in this election as a potential third force. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, which banned ground-based nuclear and conventional missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers, was regarded as an arms control landmark when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed it in 1988. read more A Russian military officer walks past the 9M729 land-based cruise missile on display in Kubinka outside Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 23, 2019. File Photo- AP Russia is likely to restart the production of short and intermediate-range missiles, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, adding that the move is a direct response to the deployment of nuclear-capable missiles by the United States in various parts of the world. The United States formally withdrew from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin denied. Advertisement Russia then imposed a moratorium on its own development of missiles previously banned by the INF treaty. It is known that the United States not only produces these missile systems, but has already brought them to Europe for exercises in Denmark, Putin told a meeting of Russias Security Council. It was recently announced that they are in the Philippines. It is not known whether they took the missiles out of there or not. Putin said that Russia was thus forced to respond. Apparently, we need to start manufacturing these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about where if necessary to ensure our safety to place them, Putin said. The last remaining arms-control pact between Washington and Moscow is the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. Its set to expire in 2026, and the lack of dialogue on anchoring a successor deal has worried arms control advocates. With inputs from agencies. The defence ministry of Russia noted an increased number of US strategic unmanned aerial vehicles over the waters of the Black Sea and accused Washington of using the flights to help Ukraine strike Russian targets read more Russia on Friday said it had seen an increase in US drone flights over the Black Sea and vowed to respond, warning they could lead to direct confrontation with NATO. It comes five days after the Kremlin accused the United States of being responsible for a Ukrainian missile attack on the annexed Crimean peninsula that killed four people, an incident that sent tensions soaring. Russias defence ministry noted an increased number of US strategic unmanned aerial vehicles over the waters of the Black Sea and accused Washington of using the flights to help Ukraine strike Russian targets. Advertisement This demonstrates the increasing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime, it said. Such flights multiply the likelihood of airspace incidents with Russian Air and Space Force aircraft, which increases the risk of a direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia, it added. Defence Minister Andrei Belousov has instructed the army to submit proposals on measures for an operational response to the provocations, the defence ministry said. The United States routinely carries out drone flights over the Black Sea, operations that it says are conducted in neutral airspace and in accordance with international law. In March 2023, Russia intercepted a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, raising fears of direct confrontation between the two nuclear powers at a time of increased tension over the Ukraine conflict. Local and natural hair products are gaining popularity across Africa as people turn away from chemical cosmetics that are widely feared to cause cancer read more In a market in the Chadian capital NDjamena, customers flock to Ache Moussas stall to have their long plaits smeared with a special paste in an age-old ritual. Each strand of hair, from the root to the end, is slathered in a traditional mixture of cherry seeds, cloves and the most important ingredient of all: Chebe seeds. Users say the recipe makes their hair grow longer and more lustrous. Local and natural hair products are gaining popularity across Africa as people turn away from chemical cosmetics that are widely feared to cause cancer. Advertisement Moussa applies the mixture and shapes the clients locks into a Gourone a traditional hairstyle consisting of several large thick plaits and thinner braids. The ritual has been passed down from generation to generation for aeons. We inherited the skill from our mothers, who also learned it from our grandmothers, Moussa said at her stall in the Al-Hafia Market. In the village our mothers braid our hair exclusively with Chebe powder. Chebe haircare recipe Moussas recipe is simple: she roasts and crushes the seeds of the Chebe tree a shrub found in abundance in the mountainous Guera region in central Chad. She adds cherry seeds and cloves, also ground into powder, for the fragrance, a heady spicy scent that stays even after washing. Moussa earns 2,000 Central African francs ($3.20) for each hair treatment. It is a service that only some can afford in a country ranked as the second least developed in the world by the United Nations. Take your time A hair appointment for a Chebe treatment lasts hours. The fact that Chadian women who use Chebe have such long hair is not because Chebe is a miracle product, said Nsibentum, a self-described hair specialist from Congo-Brazzaville. They have a raw material that is almost non-existent in Africa but especially in Europe, and that is time. Nsibentum has gained popularity on social media across the continent for his videos and lectures on traditional African hair rituals. Advertisement He says the Chebe ritual has a bad image among many people as a long ordeal that a customer has to endure. But he advised: Its the time you spend on regular care that will make your hair grow. Natural hair look Manoubia Abdel-Nasser Kadergueli, who makes her own brand of Chebe hair products, says Chadian women are trying to go more natural in their hair-care habits. The trend towards a more natural look emerged in the United States in the 2000s. Kadergueli makes hair products in the courtyard of her family home with the help of her cousins. Together they clean the seeds and grind them into powder and oils. Advertisement Once a week, she sets up shop in the lobby of a hotel in central NDjamena, where most of her customers come from abroad. Among them is 50-year-old Aloys de Gonzague Niyoyita. He lives in Canada and buys from her stand every time he visits Chad. The length and healthiness of his dreadlocks is thanks to these products that I apply, he said. People ask me if its my real hair, and I say: Yes. For hair specialist Nsibentum, this product has almost become a source of national pride. President Joe Biden has reinforced concerns about his age and health as he struggled to hold his fort against Donald Trump in the US presidential debate read more The fallout from US President Joe Bidens performance in the first presidential debate is such that even allies and supporters have called on him to drop out. While former President Donald Trump basked in his characteristic bluster even though he peddled falsehoods while and avoided answering most of the policy questions, Biden faltered through his sentences, lost his train of thoughts at times, and lacked energy that underscored the long-running questions over his physical capabilities to go through the tumults of the American presidency for four more years. Advertisement Even before the debate ended, panic had set in among the rank and file of the Democratic Party and reports had started pouring in that the party leaders were willing to go back to the drawing board and fundamentally reshape the presidential contest. Within minutes of the beginning of the debate, as it became clear that the raspy-voiced Biden was not going to ace it, the Democrats who have defended Biden for months began making frenzied calls and sending out messages and started discussions whether it was too late to persuade Biden to drop out of the race in favour of someone younger, according to The New York Times. In the words of one veteran Democratic strategic, the well of support for Biden has run dry with the Thursday nights debate. Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside. Joe had a deep well of affection among Democrats. It has run dry. Parties exist to win. The man on the stage with Trump cannot win. The fear of Trump stifled criticism of Biden. Now that same fear is going to fuel calls for him to step down, said the strategist to newspaper. Democrats scramble to make sense of debates fallout The Democrats are scrambling to make sense of the fallout from the Thursday nights debate. Advertisement While the party leaders continue to stand behind Biden publicly, there are voices that are considering an alternative and are acknowledging the harm the debate has done to the campaign. A Democrat Congress member told The Times that the debate was a disaster. The member said they were watching the debate with a bunch of fellow lawmakers from the party and discussions had started among them of the need for new presidential nominee. Former Democrat Senator Claire McCaskill told MSNBC that the debate represented a crisis and added that his phone was blowing up with lawmakers, party functionaries, and donors who were concerned about what came next. Advertisement McCaskill further said, Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didnt do it. He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age, and he failed at that tonight. A Biden donor, Mark Buell, told The Times that the party had a responsibility to clarify if Biden would still run. Do we have time to put somebody else in there? Democratic leadership has a responsibility to go to the White House and clearly show what Americas thinking, because democracy is at stake here and were all nervous, said Buell. Advertisement One Democrat operative told Politico that an open convention was the need \of the time. An open convention refers to the situation in which party primaries do not determine the partys nominee but negotiations at the final partys convention. One major Democratic donor and Biden supporter told the magazine: Biden needs to drop out. No question about it. Even critics of Trump from the Never Trump wing of the American Conservatives, who rallied behind Biden out of their opposition to Trump, have said the debate was a disaster. Fergus Cullen, a Never Trumper and a former Republican Party chief in the state of New Hampshire, said a poor performance in the debate would warrant a new Democratic Party candidate. Advertisement Anyone who has watched a parent grow old, frail, and foggy recognizes what they are seeing and knows it only gets worse, at an accelerating rate, from here, said Cullen to the magazine. Even though the Democrats are rattled after the debate, it is unlikely that they can force Biden to drop out until he makes the decision himself. Moreover, it is too late in the race to drop. Folks, the facts are if Joe Biden was going to step aside, he would have done so a long time ago. Thats not my opinion. Thats literally the facts. So, no, he wont be stepping aside tomorrow morning. Hes the nominee, and a number of Dems I suspect will be out defending him over the next few days, said Symone Sanders, a former aide to Vice President Kamala Harris, to The Times. The escalating fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah has led to fears of a full-fledged war that could further inflame the Middle East read more The United States has moved USS Wasp to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Photo: US Navy) The United States has deployed an assault ship and Marines to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea amid rising fears of an Israel-Hezbollah War. While Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah had clashed on a near-daily basis since the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel, the fighting has intensified significantly in recent weeks and has led to fears that a full-fledged war may not be far. Several thousands of Israelis in the countrys north that shares border with Lebanon remain displaced for months as Hezbollah has continued attacks in the region. Advertisement Now, the United States has deployed the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp and the Marines onboard to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, according to UPI. The USS Wasp has joined USS Oak Hill and the USS New York. The three warships comprise the Amphibious Ready Group. The ships and personnel are not just meant to serve as a display of force in the region to deter escalation from hostile actors but is also part of any evacuation of Americans that might need to be undertaken if an Israel-Hezbollah war indeed breaks out. Around 2,000 soldiers are part of the group and are trained for a variety of mission including special operations such as evacuation of people from conflict zones. Each of our ships is capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations on their own, but there is no substitute for the type of combat power we bring to the fight when we constitute as an Amphibious Ready Group, said Captain Nakia Cooper, Commodore of Amphibious Squadron 4, as per the agency. USS Wasp to be used for evacuation if needed If outright hostilities break out between Israel and Hezbollah, then the amphibious battle group will be pressed into action to evacuate Americans from the conflict zone, according to NBC News. The report further said that the United States is also in talks with allies to coordinate evacuation and any joint military operations. Advertisement Hezbollah is an Iran-sponsored group that controls large swathes of Lebanon and holds vast sway in the country. It is the largest group in the region. Along with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Yemen-based Houthis, and other groups in the region, Hezbollah is part of the Iran-sponsored Axis of Resistance. This group is opposed to the existence of Israel and is committed to its destruction. In recent days, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has visited the United States to hold talks about a possible war with Hezbollah. A war with Hezbollah while Israel remains bogged down in fighting in the Gaza Strip would mean that the country would be in a two-front war. Advertisement Hezbollah is the most powerful armed group in the region. The public assessment of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says the group has up to 1,50,000 missiles and rockets. It further estimates that it has around 45,000 fighters. Police officer Tim Artoff checks on a homeless woman in Morrison Park in Grants Pass, Ore., in April. The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling Friday that grants cities extensive authority to address encampments. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Cities have broad power to evict people from street encampments and confiscate their property, the Supreme Court ruled Friday in a case affecting hundreds of thousands of homeless people nationwide. The enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the 6-3 ruling. A handful of federal judges cannot begin to match the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding how best to handle a pressing social question like homelessness, Gorsuch wrote. He also said cities that remove people from encampments and subject them to criminal prosecution are not punishing them for their status of homelessness but for their actions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the city of Grants Pass, Ore., which is where the case originated, was punishing people for their status of homelessness. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, wrote Sotomayor, joined by the other two liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. The ruling also has a direct impact in San Francisco, which for the past 18 months has been prohibited by a federal magistrate from enforcing certain laws to clear its homeless encampments. The magistrates order was based on a decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the Supreme Court overturned Friday. In that decision, the appeals court said the Constitutions ban on cruel and unusual punishment bars cities from punishing unhoused people for sleeping on public property or using blankets and pillows to protect themselves from the elements. It relied on the 9th Circuits 2018 ruling in a case from Boise, Idaho, that the government cannot make it a crime to sleep on a street or sidewalk when no homeless shelters are available. The Supreme Court had previously denied review of the Boise decision but rejected its reasoning in Fridays ruling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gorsuch also pointed to conditions in San Francisco, whose leaders had asked the court to overturn the 9th Circuit ruling. Consider San Francisco, where each night thousands sleep in tents and other makeshift structures, he said, quoting the citys filings, which included a statement by Mayor London Breed. Judicial intervention restricting the use of that tool, the mayor continues, has led to painful results on the streets and in neighborhoods. Gorsuch was joined by fellow conservatives Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts. The court also indicated it was likely to overturn a 1962 precedent, Robinson v. California, that said the government could not punish people for their status in that case, being addicted to drugs. The Robinson ruling sits uneasily with the (Eighth) Amendments terms, original meaning, and our precedents, Gorsuch wrote, referring to the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. He said the court did not need to reach the issue Friday because the cities were not punishing homeless people for their status. But Thomas, in a separate opinion, said Robinson was wrongly decided and should be discarded. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ruling does not give local officials and prosecutors unlimited authority to sweep homeless encampments and file charges against those who refuse to leave, said Miriam Krimsky, a former federal prosecutor and executive director of a liberal group called Fair and Just Prosecution. For example, she said, a city still would be barred from singling out minority areas or residents for enforcement, using excessive force or pressure on residents of the camps or conducting illegal searches. But by concluding that clearing camps whose residents have nowhere else to go does not amount to cruel and unusual punishment, Krimsky said, the court has given local governments seeking to combat homelessness vast power ... to bring people into the criminal justice system to combat homelessness. She urged restraint, saying the evidence shows that churning people through the justice system often does more harm than good. Federal housing officials say the nationwide homeless population is more than 650,000. Grants Pass, a city of 39,000 in southwestern Oregon, has only one homeless shelter, and it requires residents to attend two church services per day and to abstain from drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, among other restrictions. The ruling was disappointing but not surprising, said Jesse Rabinowitz of the National Homelessness Law Center. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Arresting or fining people for trying to survive is expensive, counterproductive, and cruel, he said in a statement. While we are enraged, we are not surprised that this Court has again put the needs of the rich and powerful before the needs of everyday people struggling to get by. But Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities. Theane Evangelis, the attorney for Grants Pass in the case, said the court has now restored the ability of cities on the front lines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean. In San Francisco, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu, relying on the Grants Pass ruling, issued an injunction in December 2022 that restricts how the city can clear its homeless encampments or arrest people for sleeping in public. City officials say police have cited or arrested residents of the encampments only when they refused offers of shelter. Ryu, in declining to lift her injunction, has said San Franciscos shelters are full and have closed their waiting lists. But the legal grounds for the injunction were apparently dissolved by Gorsuchs ruling. Advertisement Article continues below this ad California, 20 other states and numerous cities and counties had asked the Supreme Court to overturn the Grants Pass decision, saying it was harming public health and safety. Lawyers for Gov. Gavin Newsom told the court that the ruling was making it virtually impossible to remove encampments from the streets even when a city was doing everything it could to provide shelter. But advocates for those experiencing homelessness, represented by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, said in a Supreme Court filing that Californias failed housing policies have resulted in an extreme affordable housing shortage that has forced thousands of working Californians onto the street. They also noted that San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins defended encampment evictions last December by arguing that homeless people have to be made uncomfortable. President Joe Bidens administration said both sides had a basis for their positions. As applied to an individual who lacks another place to sleep, a local law banning sleeping in public at all times and in all places violates the Eighth Amendment because it effectively criminalizes the status of homelessness, Justice Department lawyers said in a filing with the court. On the other hand, cities and towns have a strong interest in maintaining their public parks, sidewalks, and other spaces in a clean and safe condition, the administrations lawyers said, and the 9th Circuits standard may limit cities ability to respond appropriately and humanely to encampments and other legitimate public health and safety concerns. Word of the court decision quickly filtered into the streets of San Francisco on Friday, and reaction there was a mix of shrugs and resentment. Many people camping on the sidewalks said they have been getting swept away regularly anyway, and though they they sometimes take shelter beds theyre not always happy with the choice. I get told to move on all the time, and yes they do offer a shelter bed, but the last time I was in one awhile back I got attacked and my stuff got stolen, Nina Annadurdyyeva, 36, said as she stood with a couple of suitcases on Jessie Street near a cluster of tents. Im waiting for a private room in a hotel so I dont have to get attacked in a shared bathroom, but thats gonna be a while. This ruling really wont make much difference anyway, she said. They throw all your stuff away even before you know where youre going after they offer something, and then if you dont like what they offered, youre back at ground zero with no stuff. The case is Grants Pass v. Johnson, No. 23-175. Greg Totten, a representative of Californians for Safer Communities, speaks at a news conference about a ballot initiative to bring back penalties for shoplifting and drug offenses on June 12 in Sacramento. Tran Nguyen/Associated Press Its official: California voters will decide whether to increase punishments for drug possession and theft after Democratic lawmakers failed to convince district attorneys to withdraw an initiative that would roll back parts of Proposition 47. Voters approved Prop. 47 in 2014 to downgrade drug possession and thefts worth less than $950 to misdemeanors. Supporters of the law say it has saved the state money by keeping low-level criminals out of jail, but opponents say it has emboldened thieves. The ballot measure would eliminate the $950 threshold for a third theft, meaning someone caught stealing three times could be charged with a felony, regardless of the value of the merchandise stolen. It would do the same for a third drug possession charge and includes provisions to compel people with multiple drug possession convictions into treatment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The proposal and the effort to keep it off the ballot divided California Democrats. Moderate Democrats, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, have endorsed the measure, joining Republicans who have tried for years to overturn Prop. 47. Other Democrats most notably Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire came out against it. All three state leaders agreed the state should crack down on retail theft but argue the measure would lock up too many low-level criminals and wouldnt address the root problems. Instead, they pledged to pass a series of bills to target organized retail theft rings and make it easier for district attorneys to prosecute theft. The district attorneys leading the ballot measure campaign maintained for months that the bills arent enough and that Prop. 47 can only be fixed by going back to voters. But Rivas and McGuire sought a compromise with the big retailers funding the ballot measure campaign. They tried to pit their retail theft bills against the measure by introducing provisions to repeal the bills in case the ballot measure also passed. But legislative leaders struggled to justify their reasoning for the maneuver, sparking accusations they were trying to subvert the will of voters. Under pressure, some Democratic lawmakers publicly came out against the repeal provision, fracturing the partys ranks. Keeping the measure off the ballot would have had a political benefit for Democrats. Although the measure garnered bipartisan support, it could be a boon for Republican congressional candidates in swing districts, who will benefit from increased turnout from conservatives eager to crack down on theft. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Theres a chance lawmakers could put an additional retail theft measure on the ballot early next week in an attempt to draw support away from the measure, though as of Thursday evening, legislative leaders had not announced plans to do so. Google has announced that its Translate app now supports 110 new languages, adding to the 113 previously available. This update is part of Googles 1,000 Languages Initiative, aimed at building AI models to support the worlds 1,000 most spoken languages. PaLM 2 Large Language Model Google is using its PaLM 2 large language model to integrate these 110 new languages into Google Translate. The new languages, including major world languages and those spoken by small Indigenous communities, represent over 614 million speakers, with about a quarter from Africa, marking Googles largest expansion of African languages to date. These include: Fon Kikongo Luo Ga Swati Venda Wolof Newly Supported Languages Afar: Spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, with significant volunteer contributions. Cantonese: Highly requested, overlaps with Mandarin in writing. Manx: Celtic language of the Isle of Man, revived after near extinction. NKo: Standardized form of West African Manding languages, with a unique alphabet. Punjabi (Shahmukhi): Written in Perso-Arabic script, most spoken in Pakistan. Tamazight (Amazigh): Berber language of North Africa, written in Latin and Tifinagh scripts. Tok Pisin: English-based creole and lingua franca of Papua New Guinea. Google Language Selection Google considers regional varieties and spelling standards when adding languages, prioritizing commonly used varieties even for those without a standard form. For instance, Romani text in Translate blends Southern Vlax Romani with elements from Northern Vlax and Balkan Romani dialects. Efficiency with PaLM 2 Google also mentioned that its PaLM 2 model helps translate learn languages related to each other, such as Awadhi and Marwadi (close to Hindi) and Seychellois and Mauritian Creoles (French-based). Google plans to support more language varieties and spelling conventions over time as technology advances and partnerships with linguists and native speakers continue. Source Nick Mercier, left, chats with a member of the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team while moving his tent from an encampment on Jessie and Sixth streets during a November sweep. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 Bryttanie Roze sits on Turk Street with her friend William Rentie. Kevin Fagan/The Chronicle Now that the Supreme Court has given a green light to cities sweeps of homeless encampments, San Francisco officials intend to use the broader authority granted by the court to more aggressively respond to the hundreds of tents spread across city streets. Since December 2022, a federal magistrate has barred San Francisco from enforcing certain anti-camping laws, though the city has actually been able to increase encampment sweeps over the past two years by relying on other laws to clear tents. After the Supreme Court's decision Friday, San Francisco officials cautioned that they still needed time to review the ruling, update city policies and train staff accordingly a process that will take weeks to resolve. But they also said the city planned to take more decisive action to keep tents off the streets. With this opportunity, well be able to do more to clean and clear our streets especially for those who are refusing shelter and services, Mayor London Breed said at a City Hall news conference. This is very helpful to us as a city. Breed said San Francisco will continue to offer shelter and support to the unhoused but indicated that law enforcement might be more involved in encampment clearing after the court decision. She said increasing the number of homeless people arrested and cited is not being ruled out at this time. Asked by the Chronicle how many more tents San Francisco might remove from city streets because of the decision, Breed said: My hope is that we can clear them all. The city says officials have evicted only those who refused offers of shelter, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu has declared that San Franciscos public shelters are full and that their waiting lists are closed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad However, Ryus injunction was based on a September 2022 ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in a case from Grants Pass, Ore., which found that a city violates the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment when it punishes homeless people for sleeping on public property or using blankets and pillows to protect themselves from the elements. Iqtidar Khan, 60, sits with his sleeping bag and belongings on Golden Gate Avenue near Taylor Street. Kevin Fagan/The Chronicle The Supreme Court overturned that ruling Friday in an appeal by Grants Pass that was supported by San Francisco officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The 6-3 majority, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch, said the ban on cruel and unusual punishment in the Constitutions Eighth Amendment does not prohibit cities from removing people from encampments or from imposing fines and other criminal penalties on those who refuse to leave. Ryu agreed to reconsider her injunction 30 days after the Supreme Court ruling. But while the Supreme Court has increased the citys authority to clear the encampments, a lawyer for homeless people who sued San Francisco said the ruling will not derail other aspects of their suit, like claims that the city has illegally taken their property and failed to preserve it or tell them how to retrieve it. San Francisco has a history of just destroying peoples belongings, said John Do, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney. From prosthetics to medication to family heirlooms it went straight into the trash, without giving people an opportunity to take their belongings and move. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Breed has tried to show that she is making improvements in street homelessness despite Ryus injunction a politically important task for the mayor as she tries to overcome four serious challengers to win another term in November. From April 2023 to April of this year, the city reported a 37% reduction in the number of tents and other homeless dwelling structures on its sidewalks and public spaces. And the citys most recent one-night tally of its homeless population found that the number of people sleeping outside had fallen 13% over the last two years, though overall homelessness still grew because of an increase in people living in cars and shelters. Despite the positive data, Breeds political opponents have been betting that many voters havent noticed enough of a reduction in street homelessness as public opinion about the direction of the city has soured. Two of her moderate challengers in the mayors race, Daniel Lurie and Mark Farrell, promptly seized on Fridays court ruling to criticize Breed for failing to make more meaningful change sooner. Lurie, a nonprofit founder and Levi Strauss heir, said the court ruling erases the excuses that he accuses Breed of using for not clearing tents from the citys streets years ago. The ruling shouldnt make that much difference because we still have to provide the option of shelter, Lurie said, standing before a bevy of supporters in front of the federal court building on Seventh Street. But you have to remember the streets of San Francisco belong to everybody. Many shelters, he said, are not safe and not dignified. I will change that, and that has to start with the mayor. Farrell, a former supervisor and appointed mayor, said Breed had consistently failed to use her authority to clear encampments. While the ruling provides more clarity, it should not be viewed as a panacea, Farrell said in a statement. It takes a consistent and determined effort to ensure tents are not a part of our permanent landscape in San Francisco. Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, which filed the lawsuit that led to Ryus injunction, was also critical of Breed after the court ruling came out. The Supreme Court, and I guess the mayor of San Francisco, is aligning with right-wing justice (Samuel) Alito in saying that its OK to put unhoused people in a cage when they have no other choice but to sleep outside, Friedenbach said. San Francisco mayoral candidate Daniel Lurie, speaking outside City Hall, seizes on the Supreme Courts Friday ruling to criticize Mayor London Breed and her efforts to address the citys street encampments. Kevin Fagan/The Chronicle In response to Fridays ruling, City Attorney David Chiu said the courts action will give cities more flexibility to provide services to unhoused people while keeping our streets healthy and safe. It will help us address our most challenging encampments, where services are often refused and re-encampment is common. But a lawyer for homeless people and their supporters said their legal challenge to San Franciscos policies and practices will continue regardless of the Supreme Court ruling. Our lawsuit is about trying to get the city of San Francisco to try to follow its own policies, Friedenbach said. Many of those are based on state and local laws, and well continue fighting for that and fighting for housing and fighting for a data-driven response to homelessness that resolves the issue rather than making it worse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even without Ryus injunction against encampment sweeps, the city still faces claims for unjustified destruction of peoples possessions and failures to accommodate homeless people with disabilities, said attorney Nisha Kashyap of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area. She also said both San Franciscos stated policy and an ordinance approved by its voters require the city to provide reasonable shelter to homeless people before sweeping their encampment. An adverse decision should not give the city a license to criminalize homelessness, Kashyap said. And in the end, she observed, the policy solution to homelessness is to provide homes. San Francisco, with a population of more than 800,000 people, reported a homeless population of 8,323 in January 2024, a 7.3% increase from two years earlier. But the city said the total included 3,969 who were living in shelters and that the population in encampments or on the streets was at a 10-year low. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FromSoftware Parent Company Kadokawa Group Under Siege by Ransomware An unnamed ransomware group has hacked FromSoftware's parent company, Kadokawa Corporation, threatening to release 1.5TB of data unless the company pays a ransom. Kadokawa, a media conglomerate that owns Elden Ring developer FromSoftware and Anime News Network, confirmed the cyberattack on Thursday and is currently working on solutions for its systems. Read Also: Marvel Snap Receives New Patch from Nuverse, Teases Deadpool, Alliances, and More Impact on Kadokawa's Assets Kadokawa reported that the popular Japanese video-sharing site Niconico was hit the hardest by the cyberattack, with all services suspended since June 8. The company has not specified any direct impact on FromSoftware, so the effect on the Elden Ring developer remains unclear. The ransomware group claimed to have downloaded confidential information, including employee personal details. Kadokawa is investigating the extent of the data leak with external help. Broader Context of Ransomware in the Gaming Industry The gaming industry has faced many cyberattacks in recent years. Studios like Rockstar Games and Insomniac have been significantly affected by ransomware attacks, which resulted in the release of large amounts of confidential data. A recent Wired report described why ransomware attacks have become more severe in 2024. Kadokawa's situation fits into a larger pattern. The company acknowledged that Niconico was the hardest hit, but the status of FromSoftware is still unknown. The gaming community is watching for updates. Ransomware attacks are becoming more frequent. Insomniac Games experienced a significant breach last year, with employee information and future game plans leaked. Rockstar also suffered massive leaks, with footage of GTA 6 shared online before the official trailer's release. Kadokawa is not the first company in the gaming industry to be hit by a ransomware attack, and it likely won't be the last. It is unlikely that Kadokawa will pay the ransom, so protecting employee information remains a top priority. Related Article: Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: How to Locate, Use Frozen Maggots Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. Demonstrators rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, the day the court ended judges 40-year-old obligation to defer to agencies interpretations of contested federal laws. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Air and water. Trees and plants. Schools and guns. All are affected by government regulations. And all will be impacted by Fridays Supreme Court ruling ending judges 40-year-old obligation to defer to agencies interpretations of contested federal laws. Agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority overturning the courts 1984 ruling in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Under that ruling, when the meaning of a federal law was unclear, courts were required to accept an agencys reasonable reading of the law. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The 1984 ruling was a judicial invention based on a fiction, Roberts said that government regulators are more knowledgeable and better positioned than judges to interpret statutes passed by Congress. In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan noted that federal courts have relied on the Chevron decision in thousands of cases supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds to name a few, keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe, and financial markets honest. While those rulings will not be affected by Fridays decision, Kagan said the 1984 court had properly concluded that agencies, not judges, were best qualified to decide the meaning of laws that regulate Americans and their businesses. Some interpretive issues arising in the regulatory context involve scientific or technical subject matter, wrote Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Agencies have expertise in those areas; courts do not. Some demand a detailed understanding of complex and interdependent regulatory programs. Agencies know those programs inside-out; again, courts do not. The ruling was criticized by environmentalists a triumph for radical activist conservative judges who want to protect the polluters and the powerful, said David Doniger of the Natural Resources Defense Council and welcomed by business groups and others seeking relief from government regulations. The courts new framework will help create a more predictable and stable regulatory environment, replacing a system that allowed each new presidential administration to advance their political agendas through flip-flopping regulations, said Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And groups of gun owners and manufacturers celebrated the transfer of regulatory power from a Democratic administration to a conservative-controlled court. The ruling gives us the thunder and lightning we need to beat back the aggressive anti-gun agenda of the rogue Biden administration, said Sam Paredes, a board member of the Gun Owners Foundation. One of the many policies in California that would be ripe for a legal challenge, without the Chevron doctrine in play, is the states zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe standards, said Ted Lamm, associate director at UC Berkeley School of Laws Center for Law, Energy & the Environment. Californias strict clean vehicle regulations can supersede weaker federal rules because of a waiver that the Environmental Protection Agency has long granted the state. While the EPA has the power to grant California this special authority under the federal Clean Air Act, critics could argue that the agencys grounds for doing this are misguided, Lamm said. Theres no reason the court wouldnt take a look and say that the EPA was unreasonable in providing the waiver, he said. Clearly the court is signaling that it wants to look differently at these things and take an ax to what it doesnt like. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The ruling is also consistent with the current courts approach to regulatory authority. Two years ago, the same 6-3 majority, also led by Roberts, ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency lacked the power to try to control climate change by reducing coal mining. The court based that ruling on a new principle it described as the major legal questions doctrine: When a regulatory agency acts on an issue of great economic and political significance, it must show that Congress has clearly authorized its actions. Convincing the current court that Congress has granted such regulatory authority is difficult. The ruling was widely, and accurately, viewed as a prelude to Fridays repeal of Chevron deference. The case is Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 22-451. Fri Friday 86 /53 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 50s. Ni Hao China | The epilogue: The China we see 12:43, June 28, 2024 By Xian Jiangnan, Chang Sha, Wu Chaolan, Kou Jie ( People's Daily Online Dozens of American students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania embark on a two-week journey in China, exploring the country's landscapes, culture, and technological achievements. From the bustling streets of Beijing to the serene landscapes in Hangzhou, the students discover something new at every turn. They taste traditional dishes like Peking duck, explore ancient landmarks such as the Forbidden City, and engage with local people, gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese traditions and daily life. As their trip comes to an end, the students leave with unforgettable memories and a newfound appreciation for China. This video offers a glimpse into the China they experience through their eyes, showcasing the unique perspectives and insights gained during their immersive journey. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Wu Chengliang) California Gov. Gavin Newsom, shown in the spin room before the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, fielded many questions on whether Biden should step aside. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press Former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden take part in a debate in Atlanta hosted by CNN. Biden did little to deflect Trumps outlandish assertions during the debate. Gerald Herbert/Associated Press Its a bad night for America when the candidate who said, I didnt have sex with a porn star gave the better showing. President Joe Bidens disastrous performance at Thursdays 90-minute debate on CNN presents Americans with a terrible choice in November: Do they want to elect an 81-year-old president who appears on the decline or a serial liar and convicted felon in 78-year-old Donald Trump, whose answers were often as incoherent, albeit delivered with conviction and vigor? Said Obama administration official Van Jones: You have somebody who shouldnt be president, and somebody who CANT be president. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While Republicans were celebrating Bidens face plant, Democrats are openly wondering whether it is too late less than two months before Biden is scheduled to accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to replace him. Vice President Kamala Harris would be next in line to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. Even though she is polling as poorly as Biden, its unlikely the Democratic Party would risk alienating the most loyal voters in their party by shoving aside the first Black woman to serve on the national ticket in favor of another rising star in the party like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who gave a more forceful defense of Bidens performance after the debate than Biden did during it. Newsom wound up being the Democratic star of the night. Yet Newsom parried many questions about whether Biden should step aside. Asked point blank as he moved through a crush of reporters after the debate whether he would be the nominee, Newsom said, Our nominee is Joe Biden. I look forward to voting for him in November. Newsom told MSNBCs Alex Wagner that the post-debate panic was unhelpful, and I think its unnecessary. Weve got to go in, weve got to keep our heads high and, as I say, weve got to have the back of this president. You dont turn your back because of one performance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Newsom may have been the only one saying that. Democrats were in full bed-wetting mode before the debate was half over. David Axelrod, President Barack Obamas senior adviser, said there was a sense of shock of how he came out at the beginning of this debate, how his voice sounded, he seemed a little disoriented. I think youre going to hear discussions about whether he should continue. Even the Democratic cheerleaders on MSNBC couldnt paper over Bidens performance. Nicolle Wallace said she was communicating with top Democrats during the debate and the conversations ranged from whether he should be in this race tomorrow morning to what was wrong with him. MSNBC commentator Joy Reid said Bidens one job Thursday was to calm his party to make them feel that yes, I can do this. I have four more years in me. I have the ability and the stamina and the strength to do four more years. He did not do that. He did the opposite of that. He made them more panicked. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Julian Castro, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, posted on X: Biden had a very low bar going into the debate and failed to clear even that bar. He seemed unprepared, lost, and not strong enough to parry effectively with Trump, who lies constantly. Bidens camp wanted to debate Trump at this extraordinarily early point in the election to jump-start his campaign. Polls show him trailing Trump. The debates rules seemed to favor Biden: No live audience, which Trump thrives on. Candidates microphones were turned off unless they were answering a question. Yet Biden whiffed. Speaking barely above a whisper in part due to a reported cold Biden looked feeble and sounded bumbling. The split screen didnt do him any favors: When he wasnt speaking, he appeared to stare off into space with his mouth slightly agape. Said longtime GOP consultant and Trump loather Mike Murphy on X: Bidens listening face is a real visual problem. Heartbreaking. Hes such a superior person to Trump. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He couldnt even eviscerate Trump on issues where he had an advantage with many voters, such as abortion. Trump placed three justices on the Supreme Court who helped overturn Roe v. Wade, a fact that he regularly brags about while campaigning and took credit for on the debate stage. We did something amazing, Trump told the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference in Washington, D.C., last weekend. But Trump also realizes that the issue is a political loser for Republicans. Since Roe fell, voters in six states have been asked to weigh in on abortion-related constitutional amendments, and in all six have supported allowing access to abortion. Trump clarified Thursday that he supported exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the pregnant person. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I believe in the exceptions. I am a person that believes, and frankly, I think its important to believe in the exceptions, Trump said. But Trump went off the rails by describing the Democratic position on abortion as radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month and even after birth. After birth? The moderators and Biden did virtually nothing to challenge that and other bizarre assertions. It makes you wonder what Harris, Newsom or many other top Democrats would have done in that spot. A lot of Democrats are doing that right now. NEWTOWN, Pa., June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a leading class action law firm, is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of all investors of UiPath, Inc. (UiPath) (NYSE: PATH) between December 1, 2023, and May 29, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period). If you purchased UiPath stock during the Class Period and wish to move the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to be appointed as lead plaintiff, you must do so by August 19, 2024 . Please contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP to discuss your investment losses at 844-696-7492, or by e-mail at elechtzin@edelson-law.com. A copy of the class action complaint can be viewed HERE. What is a Lead Plaintiff? Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, any investor who purchased securities during the applicable Class Period may seek appointment as the lead plaintiff in the class action. Generally, the investor or group of investors with the largest financial interest in the litigation is the presumptive lead plaintiff. As a court-appointed representative of a class of purchasers of securities, the lead plaintiff selects the law firm that will represent the class in the lawsuit, and if necessary, provides testimony at trial. Background on UiPath, Inc. UiPath is a business automation software company based in New York City. The Securities Fraud Claims Throughout 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; (ii) UiPaths AI-powered Business Automation Platform caused confusion among customers and was not capable of being adequately scaled; and (iii) UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding multiyear deals. On May 29, 2024, UiPath reappointed Defendant Dines as CEO after disappointing Q1 2025 results and a 10% revenue forecast cut. Issues included poor contract execution, inadequate AI strategy, and failed growth investments. Dines emphasized improving execution, sales efficiency, and a customer-centric approach, noting AI confusion among customers. On this news, the price of UiPath stock declined $6.23 per share, or more than 24%, from $18.30 per share, on May 29, 2024, to $12.07 per share on May 30, 2024. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. Eric Lechtzin, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1 Email: 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. New York, United States , June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Hydrogen Trucks Market Size is to Grow from USD 3.54 Billion in 2023 to USD 115.6 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 41.71% during the projected period. Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-sample/4707 A hydrogen truck is a heavy-duty vehicle that runs solely on electricity. Its main energy source is hydrogen fuel cells. These cars run on hydrogen fuel cells, which do not release any emissions or exhaust. Due to the incomplete combustion of cars that run on fossil fuels, the automotive industry is a significant source of air pollution. Thus, the usage of hydrogen trucks is encouraged by growing environmental consciousness. A hydrogen fuel cell powers the onboard electric motor in hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Hydrogen is used in a hydrogen fuel cell to generate energy. Transportation-related emissions may be greatly reduced by trucks that run on hydrogen fuel cells. Additionally, one of the main motivators is the rapidly rising mass urban transportation market, where hydrogen trucks present a workable answer to the expanding demand for economical and ecologically responsible freight transportation inside metropolitan areas. In addition, the global application of stringent emission regulations and standards is accelerating the use of hydrogen trucks as a clean energy substitute for conventional diesel-powered automobiles. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for alternative fuel vehicles as hydrogen trucks, which only produce water vapor as exhaust and improve air quality, as concerns about air pollution and climate change intensify. Browse key industry insights spread across 200 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the Global Hydrogen Trucks Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Heavy Duty Trucks, Medium Duty Trucks, and Small Duty Trucks), By Range (Above 400 Km and Below 400 Km), By Application (Logistics and Municipal), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023 2033. Buy Now Full Report: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/checkout/4707 The heavy duty trucks segment is anticipated to dominate the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. Based on the product, the global hydrogen trucks market is divided into Heavy duty trucks, medium duty trucks, and small duty trucks. Among these, the heavy duty trucks segment is anticipated to dominate the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. Their increased load capacities and extended working ranges make them suited for commercial applications. The above 400 Km segment anticipated for the highest revenue share of the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. Based on the range, the global hydrogen trucks market is divided into above 400 km and below 400 km. Among these, the above 400 Km segment anticipated for the highest revenue share of the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. Growing demand for hydrogen trucks due to its suitability for long-distance transportation in the global market The logistics segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. Based on the application, the global hydrogen trucks market is divided into logistics and municipal. Among these, the logistics segment is anticipated to hold the largest share of the global hydrogen trucks market during the projected timeframe. As the demand for sustainable logistics operations grows, hydrogen vehicles provide an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for freight transportation. Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/4707 North America is expected to hold the largest market share in the global hydrogen trucks market over the forecast period. North America is expected to hold the largest market share in the global hydrogen trucks market over the forecast period. The market has grown as a result of the transportation sector's growing requirement for hydrogen trucks as well as the existence of major players including Power Inc. and Cummins Plug. Several collaborations, new debuts, and company expansions by industry participants have also aided in the market's expansion. The market in North America has grown significantly in the United States. It is simple to attribute contemporary technology and growing public awareness of carbon emissions to the surge in demand for hydrogen trucks. Furthermore, several truck manufacturers are forging alliances and partnerships to bolster their market positions. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace in the global hydrogen trucks market during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest rate and earn a larger percentage of income due to the increased transportation of commodities and the development of new technologies including fuel cells and electric vehicles. The government's encouragement of the growth of the electric and fuel cell industries, with a focus on zero emissions and minimal noise pollution, as well as the development of infrastructure, are other factors propelling the hydrogen truck market in the Asia Pacific region. Competitive Analysis: The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the global market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market. Major vendors in the Global Hydrogen Trucks Market are Dongfeng Motor Company, ESORO AG, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyzon Motors, Kenworth Truck Company, Nikola Corporation, Renault Trucks, SANY Group, XCMG Group, Xiamen King Long International Trading Co., Ltd., Toyota Kirloskar Motor, cellcentric, Cummins Inc., Ballard Power Systems. Get Discount At @ https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-discount/4707 Recent Developments In February 2024, Hyzon Motors and New Way Trucks collaborated. The goal of this joint venture was to develop a car driven by fuel cells for the North American market. Market Segment This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the Global Hydrogen Trucks Market based on the below-mentioned segments: Global Hydrogen Trucks Market, By Product Heavy Duty Trucks Medium Duty Trucks Small Duty Trucks Global Hydrogen Trucks Market, By Range Above 400 Km Below 400 Km Global Hydrogen Trucks Market, By Application Logistics Municipal Global Hydrogen Trucks Market, By Regional North America US Canada Mexico Europe Germany Uk France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa Browse Related Reports: Global Sodium Bicarbonate Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Forms (Slurry, Liquid, Crystal powder, and Others), By Grade (Feed, Food, Technical, Pharmaceutical and Others), By End-Use (Animal Feed, Food & Beverage, Flue Gas Treatment, Personal Care & Pharmaceuticals, Detergents & Cleaning Agents, Hemodialysis, Agriculture, Chemicals, Textile, and others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023 - 2033. 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Global Glue Laminated Timber Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Straight Beams, Curved Beams, Columns, and Trusses), By Glue Type (Phenol Formaldehyde, Melamine Urea Formaldehyde, Polyurethane, and Epoxy), By End-Use (Floor and Roof Beams, Replacement, Household Framing, Window & Door Headers, Supporting Columns, Ridge & Curved Beams, and Others), and By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial Construction, Bridges and Infrastructure, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023 2033 Spherical Insights & Consulting is a market research and consulting firm which provides actionable market research study, quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight especially designed for decision makers and aids ROI. Which is catering to different industry such as financial sectors, industrial sectors, government organizations, universities, non-profits and corporations. The company's mission is to work with businesses to achieve business objectives and maintain strategic improvements. CONTACT US: For More Information on Your Target Market, Please Contact Us Below: Phone: +1 303 800 4326 (the U.S.) Phone: +91 90289 24100 (APAC) Email: inquiry@sphericalinsights.com, sales@sphericalinsights.com Contact Us: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/contact-us Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Los Angeles, CA, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XPPen, a world-leading digital art innovation brand, is proud to announce its participation in Anime Expo 2024. This marks XPPens seventh appearance at this prestigious event. The Expo, scheduled for July 4 to July 7 in Los Angeles, will feature XPPens industry-leading products, including the Magic Drawing Pad equipped with the latest X3 Pro smart chip. XPPen Joins Creators Worldwide to Celebrate the Anime Event As the largest anime event in North America, Anime Expo drew over 392,000 attendees from more than 60 countries last year. This year, Anime Expo has announced that several renowned voice actors and manga artists will be participating, attendees have the chance to be among the first to view highly anticipated anime series. "As a staunch supporter of artists, XPPen hopes that through Anime Expo 2024, we can all experience a more diverse world together, said Mia Wang, Sales Director of XPPen. XPPen is honored to invite Riot Games' principal artist, Airi Pan, to participate in the Anime Expo. Airi will be creating art live at the XPPen booth on July 6th. She is excited to join and looks forward to engaging with anime enthusiasts. Pioneering a New Era of Mobile Creativity As a leading brand in the digital art industry, XPPen continuously explores bold innovations, dedicated to enhancing the users creative experience through cutting-edge technology. At this exhibition, XPPen proudly presents the highly anticipated Magic Drawing Pad, launched earlier this year. This product stems from our keen insight into the rising market aesthetic standards and the user demand for 'mobile creation'. Empowered by XPPen's exceptional R&D capabilities, this new product category was born, featuring the industry's first 16K ultra-sensitive pressure technology. Highly acclaimed for its superior performance and portability, it has quickly become a best-seller! XPPen's commitment to innovation is vividly reflected in the superior drawing experience. The X3 Pro Pencil provides users with an unparalleled drawing experience characterized by "subtle, precise, and smooth" pen strokes. Paired with the professional drawing screen X-Paper, it offers a realistic paper-like drawing experience. With a color gamut as high as 109% sRGB, it allows for vibrant and extensive color expression, providing creators with a broader spectrum of their artistic visions. The ultra-thin body, measuring just 6.9mm and weighing only 599g, offers creators a more flexible and convenient creative experience. XPPen Invites Artists to Co-Create a New Exhibition Experience, Showcasing Diverse Creativity At XPPen, we cherish every moment to engage with our vibrant community, sharing our passion for art and encouraging authentic self-expression. From July 4 to July 6, visit our booth for an exhilarating Character Art Contest. Participants will have 15 minutes to draw a character based on three random keywords. These masterpieces will be printed and displayed, with attendees voting for their favorites using star stickers. Each day, talented winners will receive incredible prizes, including drawing displays, accessories, and specially designed gifts. Additionally, we have planned a variety of activities, including a questionnaire and social media photo opportunities with creative props. Dont miss your chance to participate and win exclusive XPPen merchandise. Join us and be inspired! In addition to participating in a variety of activities and prizes, visitors to the booth will get a chance to experience the diverse innovative products, including the Artist 24 Pro, Artist 22 Plus, and the Deco series. XPPen warmly invites attendees to experience the allure of our innovative technology and embark on a journey of creativity. Moreover, we are thrilled to announce that three distinguished artists, Grace Kim (@ryuunart on Twitter), Vivian Tran (@Kaneblob on Twitter) and Airi Pan (@pix_bun on Instagram), will be present at XPPen booth. They will offer live demonstrations and share their creative insights. We aim to deeply engage with anime enthusiasts worldwide, sparking boundless creative inspiration through the event. Miss out on Anime Expo to get exclusive discounts? We are pleased to extend a special offer to our online users. From July onwards, enjoy discounts of up to 40% off on the XPPen online store, plus an additional 5% off with the exclusive expo code [XPAX5]. Learn more at https://www.xp-pen.com/store/?utm_source=AX2024Global Due to the high value placed on the cultural significance of the anime community, XPPen is furthering its collaboration with HoYoFair by hosting the Teyvat Fashion Show in late July, extending the immersive experience from San Diego Comic-Con. Join us for this exciting event and celebrate the vibrant culture! About XPPen Originated from 2005, XPPen is now one of the top brands under HANVON UGEE, integrated with digital drawing products, content and service as a globally notable digital brand of digital art innovation. Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, XPPen boasts 6 overseas subsidiaries(branches) and more than 50 agents, covering over 130 countries and regions with its products. By virtue of its progressive digital handwriting technology after more than 10 years accumulation and innovation, XPPen believes that, innovative, trendy and leading products and ecosystem can bring more abundant visionary inspiration to the new generation artists and enthusiasts, encouraging them to courageously pursue dreams and realize their authentic self-expression. Ottawa, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global non-small lung carcinoma market size was valued at USD 8.27 billion in 2023 and is predicted to hit around USD 19.55 billion by 2032, according to a study published by Towards Healthcare a sister firm of Precedence Statistics. Clinical research, development of new treatment options, and prevalence of NSCLC is driving the growth of the market. Download the sample brochure of Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market growth analysis in detail @ Get Sample Report Here Key Pointers: North America has held the largest share in 2023. By type, the targeted therapies segment has held a major share of the market in 2023. By type, the immunotherapy segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. By indication, the adenocarcinoma segment has contributed the dominating share in 2023. By distribution channel, the hospitals segment dominated the market in 2023 and will continue to dominate during the forecast period. Industry at a Glance Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for about 85% of all lung cancer cases. Unlike small cell lung cancer, which spreads quickly, NSCLC tends to grow and spread more slowly. There are three main subtypes of NSCLC: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Each subtype starts in different types of lung cells but shares similar treatment approaches. NSCLC usually starts in the outer parts of the lungs and can go unnoticed for a long time because early symptoms are often mild or nonexistent. Common symptoms include a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss. Smoking is the leading cause of NSCLC, but non-smokers can also develop this cancer, often due to factors like exposure to radon gas, asbestos, and other environmental pollutants. While the non-small cell lung carcinoma market refers to the industry focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of NSCLC. This market includes a wide range of products and services such as medications, medical devices, diagnostic tests, and therapies designed specifically for NSCLC patients. The primary goal of this market is to provide effective treatment options to improve the survival rates and quality of life for those diagnosed with this type of lung cancer. In recent years, the NSCLC market has seen significant growth due to several factors. One major factor is the increasing number of people being diagnosed with NSCLC, which has led to a higher demand for treatments. Additionally, advancements in medical research have resulted in the development of new and more effective therapies, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies. These innovations offer hope for better outcomes and have expanded the range of treatment options available to patients. You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com The Notable Expansion of the Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market The non-small cell lung carcinoma market is experiencing significant transformation and growth, primarily driven by advancements in treatment options and an increasing prevalence of the disease. Non-small cell lung cancer, which constitutes most lung cancer cases, is being tackled with a variety of new and innovative therapies. These include targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which have shown promising results in improving patient outcomes. Targeted therapies are designed to specifically attack cancer cells with certain genetic mutations, making them more effective and often less harmful than traditional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, which boosts the body's own immune system to fight cancer, is also becoming a crucial part of NSCLC treatment protocols. These advancements are not only enhancing the effectiveness of treatments but are also contributing to the market's growth. The market is also seeing changes in how treatments are distributed. While hospital pharmacies remain the primary distribution channel due to the specialized nature of cancer treatments, there is a growing role for online pharmacies and retail drug stores. This shift is making treatments more accessible to a wider range of patients. Customize Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market research study as per your requirements and specifications @ Get Customization in the Report Here Advancements Transforming NSCLC Treatment Landscape Shifting Treatment Landscape The landscape of treatment for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is rapidly evolving, significantly influenced by the rise of personalized medicine and the growing role of immunotherapy. These advancements are transforming how NSCLC is treated, making therapies more effective and tailored to individual patient needs. Personalized medicine is at the forefront of this shift. This approach involves customizing treatment plans based on the genetic makeup of a patient's cancer. By understanding the specific genetic mutations driving a patient's cancer, doctors can select therapies that are more likely to be effective. For instance, targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors are designed to attack cancer cells with specific genetic alterations, such as the EGFR mutation. This tailored approach not only enhances the effectiveness of treatment but also reduces the likelihood of adverse side effects. As a result, patients often experience better outcomes and an improved quality of life. One notable example of personalized medicine in action is the use of ALK inhibitors for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. These targeted drugs, such as crizotinib and alectinib, specifically inhibit the activity of the abnormal ALK protein found in these patients' tumors. This precision targeting can lead to significant tumor shrinkage and prolonged survival compared to traditional chemotherapy. Increased Prevalence of NSCLC to Promote the Markets Expansion The rising prevalence of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is significantly influenced by several key factors which promote the growth of the non-small lung carcinoma market. Smoking remains the leading cause, with a substantial portion of the global population still engaged in tobacco use. Despite widespread awareness campaigns and regulatory measures, smoking continues to be a major public health issue. For instance, countries like China and India have high smoking rates, contributing heavily to the incidence of lung cancer. Air pollution also plays a critical role in the increasing cases of NSCLC. Prolonged exposure to harmful pollutants such as asbestos and radon significantly raises the risk of developing this type of lung cancer. Urban areas with high levels of industrial activity and traffic emissions are particularly affected. For example, cities like Beijing and New Delhi, known for their severe air quality issues, report higher instances of lung cancer among their residents. Cost Factor to Create Hurdle for the Markets Growth One of the main obstacles in the treatment of non-small lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the high cost, which can prevent many patients from accessing the necessary therapies. For example, advanced treatments like targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have shown promising results, often come with hefty price tags. This financial burden can be overwhelming for patients, especially those without comprehensive insurance coverage or those living in low-income areas. Healthcare systems and hospitals also face significant strain due to the expensive nature of NSCLC treatments. The high costs associated with the latest medical advancements mean that hospitals need substantial budgets to offer these treatments. In many cases, limited financial resources can prevent healthcare providers from adopting the most up-to-date and effective treatments. For instance, a hospital might have to choose between investing in new cancer treatment technology and other essential services, which can limit the availability of cutting-edge NSCLC therapies to patients. Another issue is the limited reimbursement from insurance companies. Often, insurance plans do not fully cover the cost of the most advanced treatments, leaving patients to shoulder a significant portion of the expenses. This can be particularly problematic for those undergoing long-term treatment regimens, as the costs can accumulate quickly. For example, a patient receiving targeted therapy may find that their insurance only covers a portion of the treatment, leading to out-of-pocket costs that can be financially crippling. Combination Therapies to Open Lucrative Opportunities for the Market In the landscape of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treatment, a dynamic shift is underway, presenting exciting opportunities for improved patient outcomes. One such opportunity lies in the synergy of treatment modalities, where the combination of established and emerging therapies shows significant promise. For instance, the integration of immunotherapy with targeted drugs or chemotherapy has demonstrated enhanced treatment efficacy and increased patient survival rates. This personalized approach, tailored to a patient's specific cancer mutations, opens avenues for the development of novel treatment combinations that can address the diverse needs of NSCLC patients. Moreover, the focus on minimally invasive procedures is gaining momentum within the NSCLC treatment paradigm. These procedures offer several advantages, including faster recovery times and potentially broader eligibility among patients. By minimizing the invasiveness of surgical interventions, patients can experience reduced post-operative discomfort and shorter hospital stays. Additionally, the adoption of minimally invasive techniques may expand the market reach by appealing to a broader patient demographic, including those who may have previously been deterred by the prospect of traditional surgery. Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market News In April 2024, the European Commission approved Tislelizumab for non-small cell lung cancer treatment. The commission has granted the approval under the brand name Tizveni. The approval was supported by 3 registrational trials. In December 2023, Freenome launched lung cancer trails ahead of FDA approval which aims to enroll 20,000 participants at up to 100 sites in the United Kingdom to examine lung cancer test. North America to Sustain as a Leader in the Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market North America is currently the leading region in the non-small lung carcinoma market. The dominance of this region can be attributed to several factors, including the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, a strong focus on research and development, and significant investments by major pharmaceutical companies. North America benefits from a robust pipeline of new drugs and therapies, with a high rate of approval for innovative treatments. Additionally, government initiatives and funding for cancer research are substantial, further propelling market growth. The region is expected to maintain its leadership position due to ongoing advancements and high healthcare expenditure. Asia Pacific on to Grow at a Rapid Rate The Asia Pacific region is emerging as a rapidly growing market for NSCLC treatments. This growth is fueled by a large and increasing patient pool, especially in countries like China and India. The region benefits from less stringent regulatory processes, which can expedite the approval and introduction of new therapies. In India, the rise in air pollution and smoking habits is contributing to a higher incidence of NSCLC, making it a significant area of focus for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. The availability of cost-effective treatment options and the expansion of healthcare infrastructure are also driving market growth in this region. Furthermore, increasing government initiatives to improve cancer care and awareness programs are expected to boost the market further. India represents a significant opportunity within the non-small lung carcinoma market due to its large and growing population, coupled with increasing incidences of lung cancer driven by factors such as rising pollution levels and smoking rates. The Indian healthcare sector is seeing rapid advancements, with an increasing number of hospitals and clinics equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities. In March 2024, an Indian research team published promising results from a Phase II clinical trial for a novel NSCLC immunotherapy drug. This drug targets a specific immune checkpoint molecule and shows potential to improve patient survival rates. Further trials are planned for confirmation. Other Geographical Areas to Expand at a Notable Rate Latin America is witnessing moderate growth in the non-small lung carcinoma market, with Brazil and Mexico being the key contributors. The region faces challenges such as economic constraints and limited access to advanced healthcare facilities. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is expected to experience gradual growth in the non-small lung carcinoma market. While the region has limited access to advanced healthcare technologies and treatments compared to other regions, efforts are being made to improve healthcare infrastructure and increase awareness about lung cancer. May 10, 2024, A study published in the journal Nature Medicine reported successful initial results for a novel gene therapy approach in treating NSCLC. This therapy uses modified viruses to deliver functional copies of a tumor suppressor gene directly into cancer cells, halting their growth. This development showcases the potential of gene therapy for NSCLC and could pave the way for future clinical trials. March 15, 2024 , A research team in India published promising results from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a novel immunotherapy drug for NSCLC. This drug targets a specific immune checkpoint molecule and shows potential to improve patient survival rates. Further clinical trials are planned to confirm these initial findings. A research team in India published promising results from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a novel immunotherapy drug for NSCLC. This drug targets a specific immune checkpoint molecule and shows potential to improve patient survival rates. Further clinical trials are planned to confirm these initial findings. October 26, 2023, A European study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology reported on the successful development of a liquid biopsy test for NSCLC with high accuracy. This minimally invasive test could significantly improve early detection rates and personalized treatment planning for NSCLC patients across the globe. Top Companies in Non-small Lung Carcinoma Market Merck & Co., Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Pfizer Inc. AstraZeneca PLC Eli Lilly and Company Novartis AG Sanofi S.A. AbbVie Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH Browse More Insights of Towards Healthcare: The global biosimilar market size to grow from USD 25,125.36 million in 2022 to hit around USD 1,26,019.67 million by 2032, at a staggering CAGR of 17.6% between 2023 and 2032. size to grow from USD 25,125.36 million in 2022 to hit around USD 1,26,019.67 million by 2032, at a staggering CAGR of 17.6% between 2023 and 2032. The global acne treatment market was estimated at USD 9,6615.6 million in 2022 to reach around USD 15,183.2 million by 2032, growing at 4.8% of CAGR from 2023 to 2032. was estimated at USD 9,6615.6 million in 2022 to reach around USD 15,183.2 million by 2032, growing at 4.8% of CAGR from 2023 to 2032. The global newborn imaging system market size was projected at USD 277.64 million in 2022 to soar around USD 441.42 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% between 2023 and 2032. size was projected at USD 277.64 million in 2022 to soar around USD 441.42 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% between 2023 and 2032. The global biotechnology market size to grow from USD 1,224.31 billion in 2022 to reach USD 3,995.22 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2023 and 2032. size to grow from USD 1,224.31 billion in 2022 to reach USD 3,995.22 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2023 and 2032. The global brain computer interface market size was valued at USD 2,130 million in 2022 and is estimated USD 9,445.1 million by 2032, growing at a healthy 16.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2032. size was valued at USD 2,130 million in 2022 and is estimated USD 9,445.1 million by 2032, growing at a healthy 16.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2032. The global single-use bioprocessing market revenue surpassed USD 20.96 billion in 2022 to reach around USD 84.14 billion by 2032, at a double digit CAGR of 15.46% from 2023 to 2032. revenue surpassed USD 20.96 billion in 2022 to reach around USD 84.14 billion by 2032, at a double digit CAGR of 15.46% from 2023 to 2032. The global liquid biopsy market is estimated to grow from USD 4,722.73 million in 2022 to reach around USD 18,280.13 million by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 14.5% between 2023 and 2032. is estimated to grow from USD 4,722.73 million in 2022 to reach around USD 18,280.13 million by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 14.5% between 2023 and 2032. The global AI in medical imaging market size to grow from USD 762.84 million in 2022 and is projected USD 14,423.15 million by 2032, at a healthy 34.8% of CAGR between 2023 and 2032. size to grow from USD 762.84 million in 2022 and is projected USD 14,423.15 million by 2032, at a healthy 34.8% of CAGR between 2023 and 2032. The global CAR T-Cell therapy market is estimated to grow from USD 3.87 billion in 2022 to reach around USD 88.52 billion by 2032, staggering at a 29.8% of CAGR between 2023 and 2032. is estimated to grow from USD 3.87 billion in 2022 to reach around USD 88.52 billion by 2032, staggering at a 29.8% of CAGR between 2023 and 2032. The global clinical trials market size surpassed USD 48.68 billion in 2022 and is to hit USD 83.55 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% between 2023 and 2032. Segments Covered in Non-Small Lung Carcinoma Market Report By Type Squamous Cell Carcinoma Large Cell Carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Others By Treatment Type Chemotherapy Targeted Therapy Immunotherapy By Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacy Drug Store and Retail Pharmacy Online Pharmacy By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Acquire our comprehensive analysis today @ https://www.towardshealthcare.com/price/5155 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact us at sales@towardshealthcare.com Gain access to the latest insights and statistics in the healthcare industry by subscribing to our Annual Membership. Stay updated on healthcare industry segmentation with detailed reports, market trends, and expert analysis tailored to your needs. Stay ahead of the curve with valuable resources and strategic recommendations. Join today to unlock a wealth of knowledge and opportunities in the dynamic world of healthcare: Get a Subscription About Us Towards Healthcare is a leading global provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics to the healthcare sector, committed to forming creative connections that result in actionable insights and creative innovations. We are a global strategy consulting firm that assists business leaders in gaining a competitive edge and accelerating growth. We are a provider of technological solutions, clinical research services, and advanced analytics to the healthcare sector, committed to forming creative connections that result in actionable insights and creative innovations. Browse our Brand-New Journals: https://www.towardspackaging.com https://www.towardsautomotive.com Web: https://www.precedenceresearch.com For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/towards-healthcare Get Our Freshly Printed Chronicle: https://www.healthcarewebwire.com Dublin, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Maritime Cybersecurity Market - A Global and Regional Analysis, 2023-2033: Focus on End User, Solution, Service, Threat Type, and Country-Wise Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market is experiencing significant growth driven by the increasing digitization and interconnectedness of maritime operations. With advancements in technology, vessels are becoming more reliant on digital systems for navigation, communication, and cargo management, making them susceptible to cyber threats. This has led to a heightened awareness among maritime stakeholders regarding the importance of cybersecurity measures to safeguard against potential attacks. Additionally, stringent regulations and compliance standards imposed by maritime authorities further emphasize the need for robust cybersecurity solutions in the industry. Key players in the global maritime cybersecurity market are offering a wide range of cybersecurity products and services tailored specifically for maritime applications, including risk assessment, threat intelligence, and incident response. The market is witnessing a surge in investments aimed at developing innovative cybersecurity solutions to address evolving threats in the maritime domain. As the maritime industry continues to embrace digitalization, the demand for comprehensive cybersecurity solutions is expected to escalate, presenting lucrative opportunities for market players in the coming years. Maritime cybersecurity profoundly influences the industrial landscape, impacting various sectors within maritime operations. Firstly, it guarantees the reliability and safety of critical maritime infrastructure, including vessel navigation systems, communication networks, and port facilities. This protection against cyber threats helps prevent potential disruptions to operations and financial losses, which is crucial for sustaining business continuity. Maritime cybersecurity fosters trust and confidence among stakeholders, such as shipping companies, port authorities, and clients. Establishing this trust is vital for maintaining business partnerships, attracting investments, and fostering industry growth. Furthermore, adhering to stringent cybersecurity protocols is essential for meeting international regulations and industry standards, such as those mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Non-compliance may result in penalties, legal ramifications, and tarnished reputations. In addition, robust cybersecurity measures safeguard sensitive data, such as trade secrets, cargo manifests, and vessel schedules. Unauthorized access or manipulation of this information could lead to competitive disadvantages, intellectual property theft, and compromised security. Maritime cybersecurity contributes to the resilience of supply chains and global trade networks by securing digital communication channels and transaction systems. This protection helps prevent disruptions in cargo movement and logistical operations, ensuring the smooth flow of goods and services. Key Market Trends Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity Increased Connectivity Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) Business Drivers Increasing Cyber Threats and Attacks Digitalization of Maritime Operations Global Supply Chain Reliance on Maritime Transport Business Challenges Lack of Trained Personnel Complex Regulatory Environment Business Opportunities Cybersecurity for Autonomous Vessels Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) Security Market Segmentation: Network Security Segment to Dominate the Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Solution) Network security leads the global maritime cybersecurity market based on solution. It was valued at $1,213.8 million in 2022 and is expected to be $4,923.6 million in 2033, with a substantial 32.62% share in 2022. The growing frequency of sophisticated cyber attacks aimed at maritime operations, ranging from cargo monitoring and management systems to navigational and communication infrastructures, highlights network security's supremacy in this industry. Critical to the maritime industry's efficiency and safety, these technologies have become targets for cyberattacks such as malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts, needing strong network security solutions. Risk Assessment and Investigation Segment to Dominate the Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Service) The global maritime cybersecurity market is based on service and is led by network risk assessment and investigation. It was valued at $1,381.3 million in 2022 and is expected to be $5,638.9 million in 2033, with a market share of 37.12% in 2022. This is because of the important requirement of securing maritime operations from an increasingly complex and expanding spectrum of cyber threats. This leadership position is based on these segments' critical role in discovering vulnerabilities, assessing possible effects, and developing risk mitigation strategies. Malware Attacks Segment to Dominate the Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Threat Type) Malware attacks lead the global maritime cybersecurity market based on threat type. It was valued at $1,099.98 million in 2022 and is expected to be $4,526.4 million in 2033, with a market share of 29.56% in 2022. This is mostly due to the increased digitalization of maritime activities and the concomitant growth of attack surfaces. This rise is fueled by the marine industry's increased dependence on networked systems for navigation, cargo management, and port operations, which has unintentionally extended the vector for cyber attacks. Malware, which includes various harmful software such as ransomware, spyware, and worms, has emerged as the preferred weapon of attackers, exploiting vulnerabilities in obsolete systems, inadequate cybersecurity processes, and marine personnel's typically low cyber literacy. Shipping Companies and Transportation Segment to Dominate the Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by End User) The global maritime cybersecurity market based on end user is led by shipping companies and transportation. It was valued at $1,649.2 million in 2022 and is expected to be $6,798.7 million in 2033, with a market share of 44.32% in 2022 owing to its vital role in global commerce and the rising digitization of its operations. Several cutting-edge technologies and industry-specific demands have contributed to the growth of these sectors in the marine cybersecurity market. First, the digital transformation of these industries has resulted in the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automation systems, and blockchain for tracking and security, significantly increasing their vulnerability to cyber threats and driving the demand for robust cybersecurity solutions. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the highest-growing market among all the regions, registering a CAGR of 14.11% during the forecast period 2023-2033. Europe is anticipated to gain traction in terms of maritime cybersecurity adoption owing to the growth in maritime commerce and the increase in cyber attacks on the maritime sector. In Europe, Germany is anticipated to show the highest growth in the maritime cybersecurity market among other countries in the region, growing at a CAGR of 13.77%. The growth of Germany in the maritime cybersecurity market is mainly due to the country's strategic location, bordering the North and Baltic Seas, which makes it an important participant in international shipping and logistics. As a result, Germany has acknowledged the value of cybersecurity in protecting its maritime interests. Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis The global maritime cybersecurity market consists of key market players continuing to establish themselves in the industry. For instance, in March 2024, the Helium Foundation announced the integration of SkyNet IoT, a LoRaWAN multi-network hosting and roaming provider, with the Helium Network, expanding its IoT solutions to South Florida in 2024. SkyNet IoT facilitates seamless roaming across multiple LoRa networks, with a focus on sensor deployments in the North Sea to address the lack of reliable internet connectivity in maritime areas. This partnership with the Helium Network marks a significant expansion for SkyNet IoT and extends Helium's presence into the maritime sector. Some prominent names established in this market are: SAAB Thales Leonardo Elbit Systems Airbus BAE Systems Terma Westminster Group Kongsberg Digital Smiths Group ABS Group of Companies Nettitude Leidos ARES Security Corporation HGH Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 136 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.25 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $15.22 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.6% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: 1 Markets 1.1 Trends: Current and Future Impact Assessment 1.1.1 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity 1.1.2 Increased Connectivity 1.1.3 Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) 1.2 Supply Chain Overview 1.3 Regulatory and Environmental Considerations 1.4 Ecosystem/Ongoing Programs 1.4.1 U.S. National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan 1.4.2 Maritime Security Program (MSP) 1.4.3 CYTUR Inc.'s Smart Ship Cybersecurity Demonstration Project Completed 1.4.4 Series of Assessments, including Threat Modeling and Open-Source Intelligence, Performed by NCC Group 1.5 Startup Funding Summary 1.6 Market Dynamics Overview 1.6.1 Business Drivers 1.6.1.1 Increasing Cyber Threats and Attacks 1.6.1.2 Digitalization of Maritime Operations 1.6.1.3 Global Supply Chain Reliance on Maritime Transport 1.6.2 Business Challenges 1.6.2.1 Lack of Trained Personnel 1.6.2.2 Complex Regulatory Environment 1.6.3 Business Opportunities 1.6.3.1 Cybersecurity for Autonomous Vessels 1.6.3.2 Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) Security 2 Application 2.1 Application Segmentation 2.2 Application Summary 2.3 Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by End User) 2.3.1 End User 2.3.1.1 Port Authorities 2.3.1.2 Shipping Companies and Transportation 2.3.1.3 Maritime Insurers 2.3.1.4 Others 2.3.1.4.1 Naval Forces and Coast Guards 3 Products 3.1 Product Segmentation 3.2 Product Summary 3.3 Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market 3.3.1 Market Overview 3.4 Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Solution) 3.4.1 Solution 3.4.1.1 Threat Detection and Response 3.4.1.2 Identity and Access Management 3.4.1.3 Network Security 3.4.1.4 Data Protection and Encryption 3.4.1.5 Others 3.4.1.5.1 Supply Chain Cybersecurity Risk Management 3.5 Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Service) 3.5.1 Service 3.5.1.1 Training and Consulting Services 3.5.1.2 Risk Assessment and Investigation 3.5.1.3 Support and Maintenance 3.5.1.4 Managed Services 3.6 Global Maritime Cybersecurity Market (by Threat Type) 3.6.1 Threat Type 3.6.1.1 Malware Attacks 3.6.1.2 Phishing Attacks 3.6.1.3 Insider Threats 3.6.1.4 Others 3.6.1.4.1 Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks 4 Regions 4.1 Regional Summary 4.2 Drivers and Restraints 4.3 North America 4.4 Europe 4.5 Asia-Pacific 4.6 Rest-of-the-World 5 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles SAAB Thales Leonardo Elbit Systems Airbus BAE Systems Terma Westminster Group Kongsberg Digital Smiths Group ABS Group of Companies Nettitude Leidos ARES Security HGH For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gl1hbu 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 Dublin, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Restroom Dispensers Market - Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Restroom Dispensers Market was valued at USD 3.5 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 7.06 Billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 12.41%. The global restroom dispensers market is fragmented due to the presence of local and international market players. The leading global restroom dispensers market vendors are 3M, GOJO Industries, Reckitt Benckiser, and more. The competition among these key players is intense globally. The market concentration in developed countries such as the U.S. and other Western European countries is high. In contrast, the industry is nascent in developing economies such as China and India because of the entry of many international brands in these countries and the growing awareness of end-users toward hand sanitization. The competition between vendors exists based on offerings, variety, and pricing. Vendors are using new business models and focusing on developing the portfolio of their establishments to drive growth. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Market Opportunities & Trends Rapid Adaption of Modular Restrooms Integration of Technology into Restroom Dispensers Developing Construction Industry Market Growth Enablers Continued Danger of Another Pandemic Increasing Attention Toward Hygiene and Personal Care Increasing Healthcare Infections Market Restraints Lack of Awareness and Facilities in Personal Care Increasing Raw Material and Supply Costs The Presence of Cheaper Substitutes IoT Revolutionizing Restroom Dispensers Vendors in the restroom dispenser segment connect IoT (Internet of Things) devices to their products, providing a sanitary, no-touch experience without water and soap solution spillage. This has enabled more benefits to users, such as ensuring properly for 20 seconds as per WHO recommendations. Automation in soap dispensers due to IoT is accepted as it gives a premium feel and helps maintain top-notch hygiene. The latest IoT restroom dispensers are designed with sensors that will dispense the hand wash liquid in the precise quantity as programmed in the device. This is considered a 100% safe method to handle the device, and very minimal wastage of resources occurs. Further, many devices are connected securely with the help of local Wi-Fi networks and frequently share the data to the internet. IoT-connected devices share information regarding the consumable levels, frequency of use, and other information, which benefits end-users. For instance, in large washrooms, it helps the custodial crew know when the soap dispenser level is low on soap and can be refilled instead of manually. In addition, places in the food industry demand impeccable hand hygiene. This can be easily monitored by keeping track of how much soap is being used by users and boosting the restroom dispenser market. Increasing Attention Towards Hygiene and Personal Care The trend of health consciousness among people is expected to increase significantly, contributing to the restroom dispensers market during the forecast period. The modern generation is becoming more interested in pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Apart from this, there is a gradual shift among consumers toward healthier eating habits and hygiene. Thus, there is a growing demand for restroom dispensers, which are highly effective against germs and infections. Most houses in developed countries have started installing restroom dispensers. Public places such as airports, cinema halls, and bus terminals also increase the volume of restroom dispensers installed. Also, the demand for restroom dispensers will likely continue to increase due to growing health awareness of hand hygiene and the rising per capita income in developed and developing nations. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHTS BY SOAP DISPENSER The global restroom dispensers market by soap dispenser is segmented into liquid, foam, and spray. The liquid soap dispenser holds the most significant segmental share. The liquid-based soap dispenser is widely used in residential settings. The rising awareness of personal hygiene and increasing virus outbreaks in various geographies have propelled the demand worldwide for hand hygiene solutions, including liquid-based handwash. The automatic soap dispenser market is witnessing increased demand from sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, residential, education, corporate, and government offices. Further, in places that demand a very high level of hygiene, the spray model is used as it sprays soap to the entire hand in the required concentrations. Also, people may start shifting toward liquid soap dispensers as the foam type is not up to the necessary standard of hygiene. One of the advantages of liquid solutions is that they are purchased and prepared in various concentrations as per the requirement. INSIGHTS BY HAND DRYER The hot air hand dryer industry held the largest share of the global restroom dispensers market 2023. The growing emphasis on environmental sustainability has driven demand for hand dryers. Hot-air hand dryers significantly reduce paper waste and its associated environmental impact. Businesses and institutions increasingly adopt eco-friendly practices, making hot air hand dryers an attractive choice. Also, governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly imposing energy efficiency standards and guidelines. Hot air hand dryers are often designed to meet or exceed these standards, making them appealing for businesses seeking compliance and energy savings. INSIGHTS BY MOUNT TYPE Restroom dispensers are most commonly available in two mounting styles: wall-mounted and tabletop. The wall-mounted segment accounted for the most substantial share of the global restroom dispensers market 2023. Wall-mounted soap dispensers are preferred in the market, especially in healthcare settings, public toilets, airports, and more. They occupy less space and are usually fixed to the wall. Some advanced wall-mounted soap dispensers relate to IoT devices, which will record soap usage and help monitor people's handwash patterns. INSIGHTS BY SENSOR TYPE The global restroom dispensers market by sensor type is segmented into passive infrared, photo, and radar sensors. Sensors play a significant role in automation. Multiple advanced sensors have been introduced in the market per vendors' needs, helping them develop new products for their customers. The increased number of devices introduced with sensors has simplified sensor technology in the market. Sensor-activated products in kitchens or sanitary facilities, such as washrooms in different end-user segments, aim to maintain hygiene without cross-contamination between users. In 2023, the passive infrared sensor segment held the most significant market share. The passive infrared sensor helps detect the infrared energy emitted by an individual's body heat. These sensors are expected to fluctuate as and when the user's hands are placed in proximity or area to the sensor. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS North America dominated the global restroom dispensers market share, accounting for a global share of over 29% in 2023. The demand for restroom dispensers is high in the North American region due to various factors, such as an increase in the prevalence of HAIs and increasing hygiene standards. Furthermore, Europe is home to most developed countries, but hygiene practices are still not up to the mark. Governments are investing in installing restroom dispensers connected to IoT cloud technology to monitor people's hand hygiene practices. Due to the increased affordability, the adoption of products such as restroom dispensers will be high in this region. Also, the government's drive to enforce hand hygiene in hospitals and public sector agencies has contributed to the growth of the APAC restroom dispensers market. The government has taken various initiatives to increase hand hygiene awareness among people. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 369 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $7.06 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.4% Regions Covered Global Key Company Profiles Euronics Gojo Industries Kimberly-Clark Excel Dryer Mitsubishi Electric TOTO Other Prominent Vendors 3M ASI Group Ableman International Accent Controls American Specialties Askon Hygiene Products Alpine Industries Bobrick Bradley Brightwell Dispensers Bright Pancar SDN Cera Sanitaryware Dolphin Solutions Dihour Dreumex Ecolab Essity FontanaShowers Hokwang Industries HYPUZ Jaquar JVD Kohler Kutol Lovair S C Johnson & Son Stern Engineering Stiebel Eltron Sloan Valve Company TaiShan Jie Da Electrical Terramica Veltia Report Segmentation: Segmentation by Dispenser Type Hand Dryer Paper Dispenser Soap Dispenser Segmentation by Soap Dispenser Liquid Foam Spray Segmentation by Hand Dryer Hot Air Jet Air Segmentation by Mount Type Wall Mounted Tabletop Segmentation by Sensor Type Passive Infrared Photo Sensor Radar Sensor Segmentation by End-User Commercial Residential Industrial Segmentation by Commercial Hospitality Healthcare Offices Government & Public Infrastructure Educational Others Segmentation by Distribution Channel Offline Online For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/doygw9 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 NANTONG, China, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In June, the Tongzhou Demonstration Smart Farm Agriculture Base located in Tongzhou, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, ushered in a bumper harvest. With full set of IoT sensor equipment and high-definition monitoring equipment, various fruits such as watermelons, specialty tomatoes from Jinsha Tomato Town, and golden melons from Dongshe are being harvested and brought to market one after another. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. Entering the smart agriculture base, one can see newly built multi-span intelligent greenhouses, intelligent irrigation systems integrating water and fertilizer, and various small automated agricultural machines dedicated to greenhouse planting. According to the expert of Tongzhou Demonstration Smart Farm, the watermelons here are grown using soilless cultivation methods, utilizing coconut coir as the growing medium to precisely control the growth process of the watermelons. The cherry tomato varieties in the natural light cultivation area originate from France and the Netherlands, with a yield of about 20 kilograms per square meter, producing approximately 125,000 kilograms annually. Tongzhou is a major agricultural district of Nantong, also designated as a national grain production functional area and an important agricultural product supply area in China. It has established a ten-thousand-mu demonstration smart farm. The smart farm is equipped with fully intelligent machinery for the entire process of farming, as well as a complete set of IoT sensing devices and high-definition monitoring equipment. Through the construction of a system platform, it has achieved intelligent upgrades, information integration, and digital management. Source: Tongzhou Demonstration Smart Farm MONTREAL, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troilus Gold Corp. (Troilus or the Company, TSX: TLG; OTCQX: CHXMF; FSE: CM5R) is pleased to announce that it has filed its NI 43-101 Technical Report in support of its Feasibility Study (FS) for the Troilus Project, located in northcentral Quebec, Canada within the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt. The Technical Report titled NI 43-101 Feasibility Study: Troilus Gold Copper Project Quebec Canada dated June 28, 2024, with an effective date of May 14, 2024, was prepared by AGP Mining Consultants Inc. and is in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and supports the disclosures made by the Company in its news release dated May 14, 2024. A full copy of the Report is available on the Troilus website at www.troilusgold.com and can be found at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Companys issuer profile. Qualified Person The FS is prepared by independent representatives of AGP, Lycopodium, Lamont and WSP, each of whom are Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral. Each of the QPs are independent of Troilus Gold Corp. and have reviewed and confirmed that this news release fairly and accurately reflects, in the form and context in which it appears, the information contained in the respective sections of the Troilus FS for which they are responsible. About Troilus Gold Corp. Troilus Gold Corp. is a Canadian development-stage mining company focused on the systematic advancement of the former gold and copper Troilus Mine towards production. The Troilus copper-gold project is located in the tier-one mining jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada, where it holds a large land position of 435 km in the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt. A Feasibility Study completed in May 2024 supports a large-scale 22-year, 50ktpd open-pit mining operation, positioning it as a cornerstone project in North America. For more information: Caroline Arsenault VP Corporate Communications +1 (647) 407-7123 info@troilusgold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding, the results of the FS, including, without limitation various project economics, financial and operational parameters such as the timing and amount of future production from the Project, expectations with respect to the IRR, NPV, payback and costs of the Project, anticipated mining and processing methods of the Project; proposed infrastructures, anticipated mine life of the Project, expected recoveries and grades, timing of future studies including the environmental assessments (including the timing of an environmental impact study) and development plans, opportunity to expand the scale of the project, the project becoming a cornerstone mining project in Noth America; the development potential and timetable of the project; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves; realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; the anticipated ability of investors to continue benefiting from the Companys low discovery costs, technical expertise and support from local communities, the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; and the anticipated results of the Companys 2024 drill program and their possible impact on the potential size of the mineral resource estimate. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, continue, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important facts that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Troilus will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program or programs of the Company will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource and reserve estimates; the high degree of uncertainties inherent to feasibility studies and other mining and economic studies which are based to a significant extent on various assumptions; variations in gold prices and other metals, exchange rate fluctuations; variations in cost of supplies and labour; receipt of necessary approvals; availability of financing for project development; uncertainties and risks with respect to developing mining projects; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future gold and other metal prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties discussed in the Companys latest Annual Information Form, its technical reports and other continuous disclosure documents of the Company available under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Troilus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. Troilus does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. San Francisco mayoral candidate Supervisor Ahsha Safai, right, speaks as fellow candidate Mark Farrell listens after both were endorsed by the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council at China Basin Park in San Francisco, Friday, June 28, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A powerful San Francisco labor group that once supported Mayor London Breed has turned against her and come out in favor of two of her reelection opponents, Mark Farrell and Ahsha Safai. The San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, a politically active coalition of 27 trade unions, revealed Friday that it has granted a dual endorsement to Farrell, a former city supervisor and interim mayor, and Safai, a current supervisor, for the November mayors race. Farrell is a moderate running to the right of Breed, and Safai is campaigning to her left. Its a reversal of fortunes for Breed, who received the labor groups endorsement when she ran for mayor in 2018 and 2019. Breed has since had political disagreements with the council, most notably in 2022, when they supported competing ballot measures, Propositions D and E, that aimed to speed up housing construction in different ways. Breed only backed Prop D. Both measures failed, which some political observers attributed to likely voter confusion. For Farrell and Safai, the endorsement could be an important campaign boost, since the trades council plans to help get out the vote for the two candidates. The trades council may also fund a political action committee to support Farrell and Safai, though it hasnt decided whether to do so yet, said Larry Mazzola Jr., the councils president. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Besides money, our biggest thing is boots on the ground and people knocking on doors and making phone calls, Mazzola said. We have members that have been out of work for five years that would be happy to walk the streets and help get these guys elected. Very few office and multifamily housing projects are under construction in San Francisco due to high labor costs, expensive financing, long approvals and other headwinds. The council hopes its preferred candidates would help rev up construction projects and get jobs for trade workers who have found little to no work in the city lately. The trades council recommended that its members in the city pick Farrell and Safai as their first and second votes in either order using the citys ranked-choice voting system. Under the system, voters can choose up to 10 candidates in order of preference; if no candidate gets a majority on the first round, the candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the voters next-highest choices until someone has a majority. Mazzola said his council embraced Farrell and Safais candidacies because they understand how important a working person is, especially blue-collar workers. He called Breed a nice person but said she had decided to take the side of the developers and leave the workers on the back burner. Breed has also been at odds with the trades council over the use of modular construction, in which components of a housing project are premade in a factory and then assembled on-site. Breed sees modular construction as a way to develop new homes faster and cheaper; building trades leaders are generally opposed to it because they say it lowers construction standards and brings down wages. Farrell and Safai also support modular construction, but with qualifications. Farrells campaign said hed want the modular units to be made in San Francisco instead of in a factory outside the city. Safais campaign said he would want to ensure that all crafts union workers, including those represented by the trades council, can participate in a modular project. Mark Farrell has been endorsed by the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, which has previously backed incumbent candidate Mayor London Breed. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Despite losing support from the building trades, Breed has the backing of other organized labor groups, including an SEIU local and two Teamsters locals. Her staunchest union backer so far is an alliance of construction labor groups, particularly the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, which was a key ally in her failed effort to pass Prop D. Jay Bradshaw, the unions executive secretary-treasurer, spoke at Breeds campaign kickoff in May and said she had always put workers first and called her the candidate for labor in San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The trades council is the second major group in the same week to endorse two of Breeds opponents over her. On Monday, the board of the moderate group Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy dual-endorsed Farrell and the nonprofit founder Daniel Lurie. That group said its supporters should still rank Breed third on their ballots; the trades council has not decided whether it will make any lower-ranking endorsements in the mayors race. Mayor Breed knows firsthand the value of unions from her grandfather who worked on the waterfront, to the hospital workers who took care of her grandmother at Laguna Honda, to her family members who are union members today, Breed campaign spokesperson Joe Arellano said in a statement. This race will not hinge on any one endorsement. It will be won by the candidate with the most complete and diverse coalition of support and that candidate is Mayor Breed. The 27 unions in the trade council are also part of an even broader union alliance, the San Francisco Labor Council, which has a high threshold for endorsing anyone in the mayors race. Two-thirds of the well over 100 unions in the labor council need to agree on an endorsement for the group to make one, said Executive Director Kim Tavaglione. People are pretty divided right now, Tavaglione said. Its likely we wont get to two-thirds on the mayors race. Farrell and Safais personal and professional backgrounds appear to have given them a leg up in securing the endorsement of the trades council. Farrells parents were union leaders, and Safai was a unions political director before he was elected supervisor. On Tuesday, Safai introduced legislation that would cut the citys transfer tax in half for housing projects that get financing from union pension funds with the aim of kick-starting construction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When San Francisco is at its best, business and labor are coming together. Business and labor are stepping together, Safai said. I see them as a strong partner. Safai and the trades council were aligned on two recent ballot measures: 2022s failed Prop E and this years Prop B, which sought to increase police staffing levels but was branded by its opponents a cop tax because it was contingent on voters later approving a new tax or amending an existing one. Prop B was rejected by 72% of voters in March. Farrell, like Breed, opposed Prop B. He declined to say whether he voted for the Breed-backed Prop D in 2022 or the competing union-backed Prop E on the same ballot, saying both measures were in the past and that speeding up housing production would remain a major piece of the puzzle moving forward for the next mayor. Farrell said it was an incredible honor to receive the trades unions endorsement. My values and my political beliefs of being incredibly pro-housing here in San Francisco align perfectly with our building trades, who simply want to get back to work, Farrell said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Farrell, center, takes a photograph of San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council President Larry Mazzola, Jr. as fellow candidate Supervisor Ahsha Safai, right, watches, after both were endorsed by group at China Basin Park in San Francisco on Friday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Farrell spoke highly of Safai during the first mayoral debate when asked who he would pick if he had to vote for another candidate. Safai also mentioned Farrell in response to the same question, raising the possibility that the two candidates might ultimately form an alliance and ask voters to rank them in any order on their ballot. Farrell told the Chronicle that he and Safai share a lot of the same values, and while he wanted voters to take advantage of ranked-choice voting, he thought it was too early to get into specifics about possible alliances. Safai agreed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 28 June 2024 The Annual General Meeting of Interoil Exploration and Production ASA was held in Oslo on 28 June 2024. The minutes from the meeting are attached. + + + This information is subject of the disclosure requirements of section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Please direct any further questions to: ir@interoil.no + + + Interoil Exploration and Production ASA is a Norwegian based exploration and production company - listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with focus on Latin America. The Company is operator and license holder of several production and exploration assets in Colombia and Argentina with headquarter in Oslo Attachment Dublin, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global True Wireless Headphones Market - Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global True Wireless Headphones Market was valued at USD 12.92 Billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 20.62 Billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 8%. The growing adoption of new products in emerging markets like China, Brazil, and India presents lucrative opportunities for companies in the true wireless headphones market to expand their market presence. Companies are tailoring their product offerings to cater to consumers' preferences and purchasing power in these regions to capitalize on this trend. In contrast, premium brands such as Apple and Samsung continue to compete in the premium pricing segment, leveraging their brand reputation and technological innovation to attract discerning consumers willing to invest in high-end true wireless earphones. However, despite the intense competition and innovation in the market, macroeconomic factors have occasionally led companies to postpone their product launches. Overall, the true wireless headphones market is highly competitive, with various brands vying for market share across different pricing segments and geographical regions. Apple indeed holds a dominant position in the global true wireless headphones market, commanding over 30% of the market share globally. Samsung is closely behind, a testament to the stronghold of these tech giants in the industry. Additionally, brands like Xiaomi, boAt, and Skullcandy have secured significant market share worldwide, contributing to the competitive landscape. Among these brands, boAt stands out for its remarkable growth trajectory, particularly in market share. With a strategic focus on the middle and low pricing range, boAt has successfully tapped into a segment of consumers seeking affordable yet quality true wireless earphones. Market Opportunities & Trends Introduction of Voice Biometrics Vital Signs Monitoring Increased Demand for Water-Resistant Twh Adaptive EQ and Other Technological Advancements Increased Demand for High Resolution Audio Market Growth Enablers Growth in Target Population Adoption of Extended Playtime Increased Adoption of Voice Assistants Market Restraints High Cost of Product Procurement Difficulties & Raw Material Shortages Bluetooth Address Management SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHTS BY FEATURE Smart true wireless earphones (TWH) are gaining prominence in the global true wireless headphones market; it's interesting to note that the market share between smart and non-smart TWH remains relatively close, with neither significantly outweighing the other. The smart headphones often come equipped with built-in voice assistants (like Siri or Google Assistant), touch controls for music playback and calls, integration with fitness tracking apps, and customizable sound profiles. Examples of smart true wireless headphones include Apple AirPods Pro, which features seamless integration with Apple devices, and Sony WF-1000XM4 and WF-1000XM3, which offer industry-leading noise cancellation and support for virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa fall under the category of smart true wireless headphones. Furthermore, the continued presence of non-smart TWH suggests that a segment of consumers still prioritize simplicity and affordability over additional smart features. The relatively balanced market share between smart and non-smart TWH underscores the importance of offering diverse product options to cater to varying consumer preferences and needs. INSIGHTS BY PRICE In terms of price segmentation, the low-price range dominates the global true wireless headphones market, driven by the entry of new vendors targeting budget-conscious consumers. This segment experiences significant expansion due to its affordability and accessibility. Meanwhile, mid-range products demonstrate moderate growth, while premium offerings stand out for their advanced features, including multiple sensors. The lower price segment further diversifies into multiple sub-segments, reflecting the availability of products across various price points. This shift of features from premium to mid-range and low-range products has bolstered sales in these segments, overshadowing the premium segment to some extent. However, demand for premium products persists among specific consumer segments, such as corporate professionals, gamers, and white-collar workers, who prioritize advanced features and functionality. This trend underscores the market's segmentation based on consumer preferences and purchasing power across different price tiers. INSIGHTS BY NOISE CANCELLATION Despite active noise cancellation (ANC) growth, passive noise-canceling earphones still maintain a significant true wireless headphones market share. Passive noise canceling relies on the physical design of the earphones to block out external noise without the need for electronic components. This technology is often more cost-effective than ANC, making it accessible to a broader range of consumers, particularly those prioritizing affordability. Despite the advanced technology involved, the affordability of true wireless headphones with ANC varies depending on the brand and model. While premium brands like Apple and Sony typically offer feature-rich products at higher prices, more affordable options are available from Soundcore and Jabra. For example, Soundcore's Liberty Air 2 Pro and Jabra's Elite 85T offer ANC functionality at relatively lower prices than premium counterparts. INSIGHTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL In the distribution channel landscape, e-commerce emerges as a pivotal player, significantly impacting the global true wireless headphones market. The proliferation of e-commerce platforms offering a diverse range of true wireless headphones at competitive prices has spurred consumer interest and purchases. Intense competition among e-commerce channels, particularly in emerging markets like Asia-Pacific, has led to price reductions, making the products more accessible to a wider consumer base. Notably, a substantial majority, more than 70%, of consumers prefer to explore e-commerce websites before making a purchase decision, highlighting the channel's significance. Furthermore, social media also wields considerable influence on the sales of true wireless earphones, with positive reviews and comprehensive product information contributing to consumer awareness and purchase intent. New entrants in the true wireless headphones market often leverage attractive financing options to entice consumers, particularly for premium products. GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS The dominance of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in both volume and revenue within the global true wireless headphones market is remarkable, accounting for more than 40% of the market share. Europe and North America follow this robust performance. Within the APAC region, China emerges as a key contributor to the true wireless earphones market, driven by its large population and rapidly growing consumer electronics market. The sheer size of the Chinese market, coupled with increasing disposable incomes and technological advancements, fuels the demand for true wireless earphones at a higher rate. Furthermore, emerging markets like India also play a crucial role in driving the growth of APAC's true wireless earphones market. With a burgeoning population and rising consumer spending, India presents lucrative opportunities for companies looking to expand their regional presence. The demand for low-cost TWH is high in this region compared to the high demand for premium products in North America and Europe. North America and Europe exhibit a higher demand for premium true wireless earphones. Consumers in North America and Europe generally have higher disposable incomes, allowing them to invest in higher-end electronic products. Premium true wireless earphones with advanced features and superior sound quality appeal to this demographic. In addition, these markets have a strong tech-savvy culture, with consumers willing to invest in cutting-edge technology and innovative features. Premium true wireless earphones cater to this demand by offering the latest advancements in audio technology, and true wireless earphones are often seen as fashion accessories and lifestyle statements. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 444 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $12.92 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $20.62 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.1% Regions Covered Global VENDOR LANDSCAPE Key Company Profiles Apple Samsung Sony Xiaomi Skullcandy Other Prominent Vendors Huawei AKG Anker Soundcore Audio - Technica Avanca International BV Bang & Olufsen Beats By Dre Blaupunkt Boat Bose Boult Creative Technology Ltd Grado Huawei Infinity by Harman Jabra JAM Jaybird Jays Headphones JBL Jlab JVCKENWOOD Klipsch Lenovo LG Lypertek Master & Dynamic Meizu Monoprice MIVI Motorola Mymanu Noise Nokia Nuheara Onkyo & Pioneering OnePlus Panasonic Philips pTron RHA Sennheiser Sonun Soundpeats Treblab Truke Westone 1More Report Segmentation: Segmentation by Feature Smart Non-Smart Segmentation by Price Premium Moderate Low Segmentation by Noise Cancellation Active Passive Segmentation by Distribution Channel E-commerce Sites Vendor Stores & Sites Mass Market Players Specialty Stores Online Music Stores Electronic Stores For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aqt9me 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 LAKEWOOD, Colo., June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FirstBank, one of the nations largest privately held banks with a focus on banking for good, has elevated several leaders, including its new Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Jennifer Payne. Payne has been with the bank for 23 years, and has worked in various leadership roles across the company, including President of Compliance and, most recently, President of Loan Servicing before she was appointed CRO. She was also named Banking Exchanges Top 20 Under 40 for her contributions to FirstBank's growth. As CRO, Payne will oversee FirstBanks compliance, security, loan review, risk management, legal, and anti-money laundering departments. "Jennifer's ascent to CRO is a testament to her dedication and experience. As the former President of Compliance, Jennifer saw risk management and compliance as a way to not only benefit the company, but also safeguard our customers, said Kevin Classen, CEO of FirstBank. Were confident that under Jennifer's guidance, FirstBank will continue to thrive and carry on its mission." The bank also announced the below executive promotions across its credit, retail, security and IT departments. Ryan Blake was promoted to President of Loan Servicing and will backfill the role previously held by FirstBanks current CRO Jenn Payne. Blake has been with the bank for 14 years and most recently served as an Executive Vice President in Commercial Credit. was promoted to President of Loan Servicing and will backfill the role previously held by FirstBanks current CRO Jenn Payne. Blake has been with the bank for 14 years and most recently served as an Executive Vice President in Commercial Credit. Aubrey Ebbs was named Cherry Creek Market President. Ebbs has been with the bank for 18 years and most recently served as an Executive Vice President in the East Market, where she managed complex commercial real estate projects. was named Cherry Creek Market President. Ebbs has been with the bank for 18 years and most recently served as an Executive Vice President in the East Market, where she managed complex commercial real estate projects. Adam Ingersoll was promoted to Executive Vice President in the North Metropolitan area. Ingersoll has over 12 years of experience at FirstBank and expertise in operations, commercial real estate, business acquisition, equipment and fleet financing. In addition, the following individuals were promoted from Senior Directors to Managing Directors in security and IT: Brenden Smith , who also holds the position of Chief Information Security Officer at FirstBank, has been responsible for executing FirstBanks cybersecurity strategy for over a decade. , who also holds the position of Chief Information Security Officer at FirstBank, has been responsible for executing FirstBanks cybersecurity strategy for over a decade. Kate Liosis has over 16 years of management experience. She will continue to play a key role in leading and developing FirstBanks high-performing technology teams. has over 16 years of management experience. She will continue to play a key role in leading and developing FirstBanks high-performing technology teams. Brian Dennehy has been with the bank for 26 years and is dedicated to driving and implementing key technology initiatives. has been with the bank for 26 years and is dedicated to driving and implementing key technology initiatives. Ryan Buerger has over 23 years of IT experience and is focused on cloud adoption and providing secure and consistent customer experience. "These leaders have all made tremendous contributions to FirstBank over their careers," said Classen. "Their promotions represent FirstBank's ongoing commitment to improving digital banking innovations, accessibility and security for customers and businesses alike. About FirstBank FirstBank began providing banking services in 1963. Today, its known as an industry leader in digital banking. It has grown to be one of the top performing and largest privately held banks in the United States, maintaining over 100 branch locations across Colorado, Arizona, and California. FirstBank offers a variety of consumer deposit accounts, home equity loans, mortgages, rental property loans, and a full range of commercial banking services, including business financing, commercial real estate loans, treasury management, and more. Since 2000, FirstBank has been recognized as a top corporate philanthropist, contributing more than $90 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations. The company is also unique in that a large portion of its stock is owned by management and employees, giving employees a financial stake in the banks success through its Employee Stock Ownership Program. For more information, visit www.efirstbank.com . Member FDIC. Media Contact: Chandra Brin 303.235.1402 Chandra.Brin@efirstbank.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c1148dee-029f-4f3c-a712-bd781f16dfc1 OSLO, NORWAY (28 June 2024) - The Annual General Meeting of TGS ASA ("TGS" or the "Company") was held on 28 June 2024. All resolutions proposed were approved by the shareholders. The minutes from the Annual General Meeting are available on www.tgs.com. For more information, visit TGS.com ( http://www.tgs.com ), email generalmeeting@tgs.com , or contact: Sven Brre Larsen Chief Financial Officer investor@tgs.com About TGS: TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions. Forward Looking Statement: All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward- looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason. Berlin, Germany, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artrix AI, a pioneering force in the digital art landscape, has proudly announced the receipt of significant venture capital investment from FZF Ventures in the first half of 2024. This pivotal investment underscores Artrix AIs mission to transform the way digital art is created, shared, and rewarded through the innovative integration of blockchain and AI technologies. FZF Ventures, renowned for its strategic investments in cutting-edge blockchain and technology projects, has identified Artrix AI as a key player in revolutionizing the digital art ecosystem. This investment aligns with FZF Ventures' commitment to fostering projects that combine technological innovation with user empowerment, aiming to create more dynamic and participatory digital environments. "Securing investment from FZF Ventures is a testament to our vision and the potential we see in the intersection of AI, blockchain, and digital art," said a spokesperson for Artrix AI. "This partnership will allow us to accelerate the development of our platform, enhance user experience, and bring more value to our community of artists and art enthusiasts." Artrix AIs Vision and Core Offering Artrix AI transforms the digital art landscape by leveraging blockchain and AI to create a decentralized platform that empowers artists and art enthusiasts. Through the $ATX token, Artrix AI facilitates content creation, trading, and community governance, ensuring users can earn and participate meaningfully within the ecosystem. The platform is designed to reward artistic contributions and foster a thriving community where creativity is both celebrated and monetized. Key Features: - NFT Integration: Seamlessly incorporates NFTs, enabling artists to tokenize their work and reach a global audience. - User Governance: Empowers the community to participate in decision-making processes, ensuring a user-driven platform. - Content Monetization: Provides multiple avenues for artists to monetize their creations, from direct sales to participation rewards. - Community Rewards: Incentivizes active engagement and contributions, promoting a vibrant and dynamic artistic community. Strategic Importance of the Investment The partnership with FZF Ventures will enable Artrix AI to advance its platform's capabilities and expand its ecosystem. Key investment focuses include: - Technological Innovation: Further development of AI and blockchain technologies to enhance platform functionality and user experience. - User Empowerment: Strengthening community governance and participation mechanisms to ensure a democratic and inclusive platform. - Market Expansion: Broadening the reach of Artrix AI to new markets and user segments, fostering global adoption and engagement. About Artrix AI Artrix AI envisions a future where digital art is not only created and shared but also rewarded. By embedding financial incentives and community governance directly into the creative process, Artrix AI ensures that every artistic contribution is valuable. The platform's core offering is a decentralized ecosystem that rewards artists and users with $ATX tokens, promoting a vibrant and engaged community. About FZF Ventures FZF Ventures is a visionary venture capital firm specializing in blockchain and technology investments. Known for its strategic investments in innovative projects that drive industry transformation, FZF Ventures supports companies at the forefront of digital innovation. With a focus on sustainable growth and ecosystem development, FZF Ventures partners with visionary entrepreneurs and organizations to realize their full potential in the digital economy. Backers of Artrix AI Artrix AI is supported by a diverse group of backers, including Erc20 Capital, Dubai Blockchain Lab, Slow Mist, New York K&P Gallery, Yea Studio, LBS Tech, Archisketch, Tech World, The Contest, and Blue Canvas. These partnerships enhance the platforms credibility and provide a robust foundation for its growth and success. For more information about Artrix AI and its initiatives, please visit the official Artrix AI website or follow their updates on Linktree . Detailed insights can also be found in the Artrix AI whitepaper Website: https://artrix.ai/ Twitter: https://x.com/AiArtrix Telegram: https://t.me/artrixaiofficial Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. First FcRn blocker to demonstrate superiority in Myasthenia Gravis - Activities of Daily Living score (MG-ADL) a over placebo when added to standard of care over 24 weeks in antibody positive patients: anti-AChR+, anti-MuSK+ and anti-LRP4+ BEERSE, BELGIUM, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Janssen-Cilag International NV, a Johnson & Johnson company today announced positive results from the nipocalimab Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG). Patients treated with nipocalimab plus standard of care (SOC) achieved superiority over placebo plus SOC as measured by the primary endpoint of improvement in the Myasthenia Gravis - Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL)a score from baseline over 24 weeks.1 These data are included in a presentation (Abstract #EPR014) and are among eight abstracts that Johnson & Johnson will present at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2024 Congress, taking place in Helsinki from 29 June2 July,1 and will be included in submissions to regulatory authorities later this year. The sustained response of nipocalimab over six months among this broad myasthenia gravis population is an important finding given the chronic, unpredictable exacerbations typically seen with myasthenia gravis, said Carlo Antozzi, M.D., Neuroimmunology and Muscle Pathology Unit of the Neurological Institute Foundation C. Besta of Milan, Italy.b We are encouraged by the potential of nipocalimab to uniquely address this gap for people living with myasthenia gravis. The double-blind placebo-controlled study enrolled a broad population of anti-acetylcholine receptor positive antibody (AChR+), anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase positive antibody (MuSK+) and/or anti-low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 positive antibody (LRP4+) patients, which account for approximately 95 percent of the gMG patient population.1, 2 Patients receiving nipocalimab plus SOC (n=77) improved by 4.70 points on the MG-ADLa score versus baseline, significantly more than the 3.25 point improvement versus baseline observed with placebo plus SOC (n=76) over Weeks 22, 23 and 24 (difference of least squares means [SE], -1.45, P=0.002).1,c For someone living with gMG, a 1- to 2-point change on MG-ADLa score may be the difference between normal eating and frequent choking on food, or shortness of breath at rest and being on a ventilator.3 The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs) and AEs leading to discontinuation was similar to that in the placebo plus current SOC group; specifically, 81.6 percent of patients (n=80) treated with nipocalimab experienced AEs, closely matched by 82.7 percent (n=81) in the placebo plus SOC group. SAEs were reported by 9.2 percent of patients (n=9) in the nipocalimab group, compared to 14.3 percent (n=14) in the placebo plus SOC group.1 In addition to achieving the primary endpoint, critical secondary endpoints were also met: Improvement in strength and function of different muscle groups, as measured by Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) d score, was significantly greater with nipocalimab plus SOC group demonstrating a 4.86 point improvement compared with placebo plus SOC group with a 2.05 point improvement over Weeks 22-24 (P<0.001). 1 ,e score, was significantly greater with nipocalimab plus SOC group demonstrating a 4.86 point improvement compared with placebo plus SOC group with a 2.05 point improvement over Weeks 22-24 (P<0.001). MG-ADLa response (2-point improvement from baseline) was significantly greater in nipocalimab plus SOC group with 68.8 percent of participants experiencing an improvement, compared with placebo plus SOC of which 52.6 percent of participants demonstrated an improvement over Weeks 22, 23 and 24 (P=0.021), further underscoring the potential of treatment with nipocalimab to mitigate the impact of gMG on a patients day-to-day life.1 We are committed to leading where medicine is going in the autoantibody diseases space, said Ludovic de Beaucoudrey, Ph.D., Senior Director, Therapeutic Area Lead, Immunology, Janssen-Cilag Limited, a company of Johnson & Johnson. We are excited by the potential clinical benefit of nipocalimab in generalised myasthenia gravis and with these promising results, we are one step closer to bringing this innovative treatment option to people living with this devastating condition. We are thrilled to present yet another dataset for nipocalimab at the EAN 2024 Annual Meeting highlighting our commitment to providing innovative treatments for autoantibody-driven diseases, said Katie Abouzahr, M.D., Vice President, Autoantibody and Maternal Fetal Immunology Disease Area Leader, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. We are developing transformative therapies that have the potential to address significant unmet patient need. Editors notes: MG-ADL (Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living) provides a rapid clinical assessment of the patient's recall of symptoms impacting activities of daily living, with a total score range of 0 to 24; a higher score indicates greater symptom severity.3 Dr. Carlo Antozzi has provided consulting, advisory, and speaking services to Johnson & Johnson. He has not been paid for any media work. Patients who received nipocalimab plus current SOC had a mean change of -4.70 [standard error (SE) 0.329]. Patients on placebo plus current SOC had a mean change of -3.25 (SE 0.335); difference of least-squares (LS) means -1.45 [0.470]; P=0.002.1 QMG (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis) is a 13-item assessment by a clinician that quantifies MG disease severity. The total QMG score ranges from 0 to 39, where higher scores indicated greater disease severity.3 Patients who received nipocalimab had an average score of -4.86 (SE 0.504) from baseline over Weeks 22, 23 and 24. Patients randomised to placebo plus current SOC had an average score of -2.05 (SE 0.499); difference of LS means -2.81; P<0.001.1 About Generalised Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody disease in which autoantibodies target proteins at the neuromuscular junction, disrupt neuromuscular signalling, and impair or prevent muscle contraction.4,5 In MG, the immune system mistakenly attacks proteins at the neuromuscular junction e.g., anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR], anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase [MuSK] or anti-low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 [LRP4] that can block or disrupt normal functioning, preventing signals from transferring from nerves to muscles.6 The disease impacts between 56,000 and 123,000 people in Europe.7 Initial disease manifestations are usually ocular but in 53 percent or more the disease is characterised by fluctuating weakness of the skeletal muscles leading to symptoms like limb weakness, drooping eyelids, double vision, and difficulties with chewing, swallowing, speech, and breathing.5,8 Although gMG may be managed with current SOC therapies, research is needed to develop new treatments for those who may not respond well enough to or tolerate those therapies.5 About the Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study The Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study (NCT04951622) was specifically designed to measure sustained efficacy and safety with consistent dosing in this unpredictable chronic condition where unmet need remains high. Antibody positive or negative adult gMG patients with insufficient response (MG-ADL 6) to ongoing standard of care (SOC) therapy were identified and 199 patients, 153 of whom were antibody positive, enrolled in the 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial.9,10 Randomisation was 1:1, nipocalimab plus current SOC (30 mg/kg IV loading dose followed by 15 mg/kg every two weeks) or placebo plus current SOC.9 Baseline demographics were balanced across arms (77 nipocalimab, 76 placebo).9 The primary endpoint of the study was mean change in MG-ADLa score from baseline over Weeks 22, 23 and 24 in antibody positive patients. A key secondary endpoint included change in QMGc score. Long-term safety and efficacy were further assessed in an ongoing open-label extension (OLE) phase.10 About Nipocalimab Nipocalimab is an investigational high-affinity, fully human, aglycosylated, effectorless monoclonal antibody, purposefully designed to bind with high affinity to block the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and reduce levels of circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, including autoantibodies and alloantibodies that underlie multiple conditions11 across three key segments in the autoantibody space including; Rare Autoantibody diseases (e.g., generalised myasthenia gravis in adults and children, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (wAIHA), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies), Maternal Foetal diseases mediated by maternal alloantibodies (e.g., haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn (HDFN) and foetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopaenia (FNAIT)), and Prevalent Rheumatology (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogrens disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus).12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted several key designations to nipocalimab including: U.S. FDA Fast Track designation in HDFN and wAIHA in July 2019, gMG in December 2021 and FNAIT in March 2024 U.S. FDA Orphan drug status for wAIHA in December 2019, HDFN in June 2020, gMG in February 2021, CIDP in October 2021 and FNAIT in December 2023 U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for HDFN in February 2024 Orphan medicinal product designation for HDFN by the EMA in October 2019 About Johnson & Johnson At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at www.janssen.com/emea. Follow us at www.linkedin.com/janssenEMEA. Janssen-Cilag International NV and Janssen-Cilag Limited are Johnson & Johnson companies. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of nipocalimab. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen-Cilag International NV and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnsons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Item 1A. Risk Factors, and in Johnson & Johnsons subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Janssen-Cilag International NV nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. # # # References 1 Antozzi, C et al., Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab in patients with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis- Top Line Results from the Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study. Presentation at 2024 European Academy of Neurology Congress. June 2024. 2 J&J Data on file (RF-421587). Approximate incidence of seronegativity in generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG). Date of preparation: June 2024. 3 Wolfe GI Myasthenia gravis activities of daily living profile. Neurology. 1999;22;52(7):1487-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.52.7.1487. 4 Chen J, Tian D-C, Zhang C, et al. Incidence, mortality, and economic burden of myasthenia gravis in China: A nationwide population-based study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2020;5(100063). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100063. 5 Bacci ED et al. Understanding side effects of therapy for myasthenia gravis and their impact on daily life. BMC Neurol. 2019;19(1):335. 6 Wiendl, H., et al., Guideline for the management of myasthenic syndromes. Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, 16, 17562864231213240. https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864231213240. Last accessed: June 2024. 7 Bubuioc A, et al. The epidemiology of myasthenia gravis. Journal of Medicine & Life (2021). Jan-Mar;14(1):7-16. doi: 10.25122/jml-2020-0145. 8 Allen, J. A. Ocular myasthenia gravis in a senior population: diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. Muscle &Amp; Nerve, 2009;41(3), 379-384. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.21555. 9 Antozzi, C et al., Nipocalimab in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Results from a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Phase 3 Study. Abstract at 2024 European Academy of Neurology Congress. June 2024. 10 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04951622. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04951622. Last accessed: June 2024. 11 Ling LE., et al. M281, an antifcrn antibody: Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and safety across the full range of IGG reduction in a firstinhuman study. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics., 2018;105;4:10311039. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.1276. 12 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05265273. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05265273. Last accessed: June 2024. 13 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04951622. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04951622. Last accessed: June 2024. 14 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04119050. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04119050. Last accessed: June 2024. 15 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05327114. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05327114. Last accessed: June 2024 16 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05379634. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05379634. Last accessed: June 2024. 17 ClinicalTrials.Gov. NCT03842189. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03842189. Last accessed: June 2024. 18 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06449651. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06449651. Last accessed: June 2024. 19 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04968912. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04968912. Last accessed: June 2024. 20 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04882878. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04882878. Last accessed: June 2024. 21 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04991753. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04991753. Last accessed: June 2024. SURREY, British Columbia, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpine Credits Ltd. has just announced that it has facilitated over $5 billion in home equity financing since its inception in 1969, further cementing the company's position as Canada's leading alternative lender. "By unlocking the value of their homes, homeowners can meet their financial obligations, whether consolidating multiple credit cards, funding renovations, or financing new construction projects. Alpine Credits is dedicated to making this accessible to as many homeowners as possible across Canada," said the CEO of Alpine Credits. Alpine Credits' home equity financing is available for homeowners ages 18+, and its features include: Fixed rate payments for easy budgeting Access to up to 75% of home equity to be paid in up-front cash More flexible uses than other types of financing Home equity financing has enabled thousands of Canadians just like you in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario to leverage their home's value for various purposes, from debt consolidation and home improvements to investment opportunities. A key difference between Alpine Credits and traditional banks is the focus on homeownership and the value of real estate relative to how much is owed against itnot credit score, age, or income. "Homeownership is a cornerstone of financial security, and we're proud to play a role in helping Canadians unlock the value of their homes," added Alpine Credits CEO. Alpine Credits has also raised over $80,000 for the Children's Wish Foundation, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, and CKNW Kids' Fund, demonstrating its commitment to supporting local communities in Canada. Learn more about them here: https://alpinecredits.ca/ About Alpine Credits Alpine Credits is a leading provider of home equity financing solutions in Canada. Focusing on personalized service and innovative lending products, Alpine Credits has been helping Canadians access the value in their homes for over 50 years. For more information, please visit Alpine Credits. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0d483ff-6574-4cca-8093-219fa05a4970 PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acrow, a leading international bridge engineering and supply company, is pleased to announce a project to supply 186 modular steel bridges to the Republic of Angola. The structures will contribute to efforts to modernize Angolas road and transportation infrastructure and will be installed throughout the country by Angolan engineers, technicians and contractors who will be trained by Acrow in the assembly, installation and maintenance of the bridges. The financing arrangements for the project were formalized during the recent U.S.-Africa Business Summit held May 6-9, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. The premier annual event of the Corporate Council on Africa, the Summit provided a forum for more than 1,500 U.S. and African public and private sector executives, government representatives, investors, and entrepreneurs to advance sustainable business partnerships. Acrow has provided sustainable infrastructure solutions to more than 150 countries worldwide since its founding in 1951. Since the 1990s, the firm has supplied more than two thousand bridges to more than 40 African nations. These durable and permanent infrastructure assets are designed to withstand the most rugged conditions and are particularly well-suited for secondary and rural road networks. Manufactured to the finest international quality standards, they are easily customized to meet site requirements. They are cost-effective, quickly transported to the most remote or challenging sites, and can be assembled in days or weeks using local labor and minimal heavy equipment. Through its comprehensive financed Bridge Development Program model, Acrow can leverage a global network of financial institutions and other sources of capital to arrange financing for qualified bridge projects and facilitate the process of securing export credit guarantees and other development finance arrangements. In the past, Acrow has worked on transformative, large-scale infrastructure development projects in numerous nations including recent projects in Ghana, Cameroon and Zambia. For decades, a mission of Acrows has been to provide transformative small and large-scale infrastructure development programs with a focus on Africa. Our experience in bringing the three key elements of these programs together bridges, finance, training makes us an ideal partner for the most complex projects, said Paul Sullivan, President International Business at Acrow. Bill Killeen, Acrow CEO, added, At Acrow, we understand the importance of high-quality, sustainable transportation infrastructure and the generational impact it can have on the communities it serves. We are delighted to be able to be of service to the Republic of Angola in support of the modernization of the road and transportation infrastructure across the country, and we look forward to a continuing partnership as the project develops. The project in Angola will be financed through Standard Chartered Bank and supported by loan guarantees issued by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the nations official export credit agency. In October 2023, project partners Acrow, Standard Chartered Bank and the Ministry of Finance of the Republic Angola were announced as winners of EXIMs inaugural Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Deal of the Year Award. The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment is a Biden-Harris Administration initiative dedicated to developing a values-driven, high-impact partnership with other G7 nations to meet the infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries. About Acrow Acrow has been serving the transportation and construction industries for more than 70 years with a wide range of modular steel bridging solutions for permanent, temporary, military and emergency use. Acrows extensive international presence includes leadership in the development and implementation of bridge infrastructure projects in over 150 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.acrow.com. Media contact: Tracy Van Buskirk Marketcom PR Main: (212) 537-5177, ext. 8; Mobile: (203) 246-6165 tvanbuskirk@marketcompr.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. (Pender), the manager of the Pender mutual funds (the Funds), announces that the risk rating of the class CAD$ units of Pender Corporate Bond Fund (PCBF) have changed. As part of its review of the investment risk level of its mutual funds and applying the standardized risk classification methodology as set out in Appendix F to National Instrument 81- 102 Investment Funds, Pender has determined that the investment risk levels of the class CAD$ units of PCBF have changed and the changes were reflected in the Funds annual simplified prospectus renewal, which was filed on June 28, 2024. Risk Rating Changes Fund/Class New Risk Rating Prior Risk Rating PCBF Class CAD$ Low to Medium Low A summary of the methodology used by Pender to identify the risk rating of each of the Funds can be found in the Funds simplified prospectus available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. This methodology is also available by calling toll-free 1-866-377-4743 or sending an email to info@penderfund.com. The risk rating for each of the Funds is reviewed at a minimum on an annual basis, as well as when a Fund undergoes a material change. No material changes have been made to the investment objectives or strategies of the Funds. Effective June 18, 2024, Pender has created the Office of the CIO. Functional areas managed by the CIO have been divided into six activity centres, owned and managed by experienced and senior members of Penders Investment and Operations teams, and led by and reporting to Penders CEO, David Barr. The Office of the CIO has been established in light of Felix Narhis decision to step back from his role as both Penders CIO and a Portfolio Manager of several of Penders funds. As of June 18, 2024 Felix will no longer be Penders CIO. He is remaining at Pender as the full-time Portfolio Manager of the award-winning Pender Strategic Growth & Income Fund alongside Co-Manager, Geoff Castle, Lead Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income. About PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. Pender was founded in 2003 and is an independent, employee-owned investment firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our goal is to protect and grow wealth for our investors over time. We have a talented investment team of expert analysts, security selectors and independent thinkers who actively manage a suite of differentiated investment funds, exploiting inefficient parts of the investing universe to achieve our goal. For more information on Pender, visit www.penderfund.com and www.fondspender.com. Please read important disclosures at www.penderfund.com/disclaimer. For further information, please contact: Melanie Moore Vice President of Marketing, PenderFund Capital Management Ltd. mmoore@penderfund.com (604) 688-1511 Toll Free: (866) 377-4743 PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- $68.5 million in damages was awarded yesterday by a Philadelphia jury to the widow of a 38-year-old construction worker who was killed in December, 2021, after falling from an unsecured, unsafe fifth-floor balcony at a Fitler Square luxury townhouse site developed by defendant OCF Construction LLC. Siarhei Marhunou's widow, Hanna, and the couples now three-year-old son, were represented at trial of the negligence, wrongful death and survival action litigation (Marhunova v. OCF Construction, LLC, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Case ID: 220501520) by the catastrophic construction negligence team (Jeffrey P. Goodman and Aidan B. Carickhoff) from Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky. Worker safety can never come second to profits. The evidence in this case showed OCF cut corners on this project at every turn, and it had tragic consequences. Management of this construction project was a labyrinth of corporate structure designed to protect the developers. Instead, construction projects need to be set up to protect workers. The jury saw through OCF's shell games." Attorney Carickhoff said after the four-day, Court of Common Pleas trial, No amount of money can ever compensate this grieving, resilient family for their loss. The verdict was just and provided accountability. It was an honor to represent a family with the courage to stand up against businesses who believe they're above the law." The tragedy occurred December 15, 2021, at 2330 Sansom St., in the citys Fitler Square neighborhood, where a new five-unit townhouse cluster was being developed by Ori Feibush through several of his affiliated companies; OCF Construction, LLC, was the general contractor. Mr. Marhunou, working for a subcontractor, was installing siding when he fell about 50 feet through a temporary wooden railing to the ground from a fifth-floor balcony. There were numerous violations of OSHA construction-site safety requirements, that include extensive fall protections when workers are more than six feet above the ground. In addition to OCF Construction, a portion of the jury award was allocated to defendants: Fitler Construction Group, 2330 Sansom Street LLC, HSC Construction, and Hammers Construction. Only Hammers and HSC were not Feibush-affiliated businesses. Contacts: Jeffrey P. Goodman / jgoodman@smbb.com / 215-840-6450 Aidan B. Carickhoff / acarickhoff@smbb.com / 215-575-3861 Steph Rosenfeld / steph@idadvisors.com / 215-514-4101 Photo available: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66ead80a-06c0-4b26-9aff-99695124784e Cyril Yu, a former San Francisco Department of Building Inspection plan checker, was sentenced Friday for taking $15,000 worth of bribes from a local developer in return for expediting building plans. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Cyril Yu, a former San Francisco Department of Building Inspection plan checker, was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison for taking $15,000 worth of bribes from a local developer in return for expediting building plans. He was also sentenced to serve two years of supervised release following prison time and will have to pay a $20,000 fine. Prosecutors say Yu was taking bribes from developer Bahman Ghassemzadeh of design firm SIA Consulting between 2018 and shortly before his resignation in 2021, accepting envelopes of cash between $1,200 and $1,700. Ghassemzadeh pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of honest wire services fraud, receiving three years probation and monetary fines. Advertisement Article continues below this ad From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply sorry for my actions, Yu told the court on Friday, emphasizing how all he wants is a second chance to be able to serve his family and community. His guilty plea marks the latest action in a sprawling anti-corruption investigation into San Francisco city government that started with the arrest of former Public Works Chief Mohammed Nuru four years ago but also included former employees and others working with the Department of Building Inspection. Federal prosecutors have also brought charges against former building inspector Bernie Curran and plan checker Rudy Pada. Curran admitted to accepting illegal payments in exchange for issuing permits and was sentenced in 2023 to one year and a day in prison. Pada pleaded guilty in December to accepting bribes in 2000, but remained with the department until his retirement in 2017. He has not yet been sentenced. The department has been the focus of allegations of favoritism and dysfunction for decades. A recent Chronicle investigation into contractor John Pollard and his ties to former DBI senior leader Ed Sweeney led to an investigation into Pollards work by California regulators. In court records, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ward said that Ghassemzadeh would pick Yu up for lunch, buy meals and drinks and surreptitiously hand him an envelope of cash. In return, Yu would look for Ghassemzadehs plans, pull them from the review queue and quickly approve them. Yu was arrested and charged in May 2022, cooperating with the investigation and pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest wire services this March. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ward originally pressed for Yu to be sentenced for a year and a day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also recommended that Yu receive a $25,000 fine. Yus defense attorney, Nghi Lam, asked for a sentence of probation or home confinement for his client. Lam claimed that his client was under pressure by the department to expedite the approval of permits for certain notable developers connected to the department, according to court records. Earlier this week, Michelle Yu, a supervisor at DBI and Cyril Yus sister, filed a letter asking a federal judge to not sentence her brother to prison. In her letter, she claimed that the department created a corrosive culture while her brother worked there, which in turn may have led him to accept the bribes. Yu said that the agency her brother worked for frequently disregarded ethical practices and under supervision that consistently pressured staff to conform, and anyone who spoke out would be ostracized. Advertisement Article continues below this ad WASHINGTON, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Bidens Cabinet for Americas more than 33 million small businesses, announced a new funding solicitation for the SBAs Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Initiative that will make awards for the first time at two funding levels: emerging and mature clusters. The RIC solicitation will open on July 1, 2024, and will close on July 26 at 1:00 PM ET. President Biden is delivering historic Investments in America that continue to strengthen innovation, supply chains, and new industries, as well as spark a small business boom with 18 million new business applications filed, said Administrator Guzman. The SBAs Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative provides communities with funding to spur further development of industry-focused entrepreneurship ecosystems that support small businesses developing and commercializing critical technologies in key areas, such as developing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. Our two new funding levels will support both emerging and mature industry clusters and help ensure small business innovators have access to the technical assistance, industry knowledge, and capital products necessary to start and grow their businesses. The SBA launched the RIC Initiative in September 2010 to promote and support the development of clusters, which are geographically concentrated groups of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular industry or field across the country. Clusters act as a networking hub for small businesses, convening several resources to help navigate the funding, procurement, and supply-chain opportunities in a specific industry. They also assist businesses in matching cutting-edge technology to industry needs and increase the number of innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs in the nations supply chain. Emerging clusters develop and deploy small business support services in their designated regions and industries, and the RIC Initiative enables them to scale their current and future programming to reach more small businesses. Mature clusters have experience building and implementing programming to support small businesses, and the RIC Initiative enables them to increase the effectiveness of programming and operations to reach more small businesses and strengthen existing and new partnerships. The Office of Investment and Innovation catalyzes the development and growth of industry clusters across the country, and the new funding levels are part of our ongoing effort to right-size our support for industry clusters across their full life span, said Associate Administrator Bailey DeVries. The SBAs Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development in the Office of Investment and Innovation will host a webinar on July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET to discuss the solicitation. Interested offerors also have until July 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET to submit any questions related to the solicitation to RICInitiative2024@sba.gov. All answers will be posted publicly to the solicitation page. The solicitation is available at SAM.gov. Regional Innovation Clusters are established through contracts. Eligibility to apply is open to all non-profit and for-profit firms with an active SAM.gov registration eligible for federal contracts at time of offer. To learn more about the RIC Initiative, including current RICs, please visit: Regional Innovation Clusters | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov) ### About SBAs Office of Investment and Innovation The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the U.S. growth-oriented small business and startup community with access to financial capital, networks, assistance, and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at sba.gov. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov. Arlington Heights, Ill, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A consensus statement on the terminology and management of breast implant capsules issued by the Breast Surgery Collaborative Community (BSCC), a consortium of patient advocates, board-certified plastic surgeons and others with a vested interest in enhancing breast surgery safety, offers clarity for women seeking guidance on removal of breast implants related to health concerns. In particular, the BSCC, which includes physician representatives of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The Aesthetic Society, notes that an en bloc capsulectomy a lengthy, complex and expensive procedure is only necessary for patients with an established or suspected breast implant-associated cancer after appropriate medical workup. "It's unfortunate, but there are surgeons who will capitalize on a patient's trust or fear to urge them toward the more costly and riskier procedure," says The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) President Scot Bradley Glasberg, MD, who is a co-founder of the BSCC. "In actuality, the en bloc is only necessary in very specific cases, and it can leave patients with significant breast deformities and be prone to complications. Ultimately, it should be the science and clinical data that dictates clinical care and guidelines." The BSCC consensus statement points out that it is currently unknown whether the removal of breast implants with or without a capsulectomy will prevent the future development of a breast implant-associated cancer. It also says there is a rare subset of patients who have still developed breast implant-associated cancer after capsulectomy. The BSCC statement adds that patients who decide to undergo a capsulectomy, particularly those with textured implants, must continue standard clinical monitoring and imaging surveillance after that surgery. "It's absolutely vital that patients be made aware of all options and the risks associated with any surgical procedure during the informed consent process," says William P. Adams Jr., MD, a past president of The Aesthetic Society, The Aesthetic Foundation, and also a co-founder of BSCC. "It is always a patient's choice to elect to undergo a procedure such as a capsulectomy, provided the risks of such a surgery are clearly understood. However, it is our responsibility as plastic surgeons to ensure that patients get the best evidence-based information developed through high-level science, and right now, many patients are being given a lot of misinformation on the internet and social media sites." The BSCC consensus statement defines four types of capsulectomy: Total intact capsulectomy: Complete removal of the breast implant capsule as a single unit. Total capsulectomy (total precise capsulectomy): Complete removal of the breast implant capsule, not necessarily done as a single unit or in one piece. Partial capsulectomy: Removal of the breast implant capsule where some capsule is left behind. En bloc capsulectomy: Removal of the breast implant capsule with a margin of uninvolved tissue for treatment of suspected or established breast implant-associated cancers after appropriate medical workup. Further, the BSCC consensus statement explicitly states, "the absolute and only indication for an en bloc capsulectomy is for an established or suspected breast implant-associated cancer after appropriate medical workup." The BSCC notes that the informed-consent process for patients considering a capsulectomy should be a shared decision-making process with their surgeon, including a discussion of potential benefits and risks. This should include patient concerns regarding systemic symptoms, often referred to as Breast Implant Illness (BII), the risk of breast implant-associated cancers involving the capsule (such as BIA-ALCL, BIA-SCC, etc.), and any potential future risks, especially resulting from textured implants and tissue expanders. Importantly, the risk of the capsulectomy procedure itself, including the patient's medical history, must also be weighed against those risks noted. About the Breast Surgery Collaborative Community (BSCC) The BSCC is comprised of patient advocates and board-certified plastic surgeons, many of whom serve as representatives of organizations including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Aesthetic Society, The Plastic Surgery Foundation, The Aesthetic Foundation, Breast Implant Safety Alliance, Young Survival Coalition and FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered. The group also welcomes participation from breast implant/breast device manufacturers to provide consensus on key issues affecting the safe delivery of surgical care related to breast surgery. The mission of the BSCC is to facilitate discussions and communications with the FDA, CMS, medical professional organizations, patients, media, public and other relevant organizations on key issues related to breast medical devices and related breast surgery matters for the purpose of enhancing regulatory and clinical decision-making. A collaborative community is a continuing forum in which private- and public-sector members, which can include the FDA, work together on medical device challenges to achieve common objectives and outcomes. About ASPS The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 11,000 physician members worldwide, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 92 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. About The Aesthetic Society The Aesthetic Society is recognized as the world's leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. The Aesthetic Society is comprised of over 3,000 plastic surgeons. Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic procedures. Members of the BSCC William P. Adams Jr., MD, The Aesthetic Society/The Aesthetic Foundation Amanda Savage Brown PhD, LCSW, Patient Advocate George Chatson, MD, ASPS/The Aesthetic Society Lynn Damitz, MD, ASPS/PSF Maria Gmitro, Patient Advocate, Breast Implant Safety Alliance Scot Bradley Glasberg, MD, ASPS/ PSF Melinda Haws, MD, Immediate Past President, The Aesthetic Society Amanda Hynum, Patient Advocate, Young Survival Coalition Debra Johnson, MD, At Large Plastic Surgery Representative Patricia McGuire, MD, The Aesthetic Foundation Jennifer Cook, Patient Advocate, Breast Implant Safety Alliance Briana Theroux, At-Large Patient Advocate Kiya Movassaghi, MD, DMD, President, The Aesthetic Society Ex Officio Steven Williams, MD, President, ASPS Ex Officio PITTSBURGH, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago (Lurie Childrens) has recently announced that it suffered from a cybersecurity attack which impacted the personal information of hundreds of thousands of individuals.1 The information potentially impacted in the breach includes names, addresses, dates of birth, dates of service, drivers license numbers, email addresses, health claims information, health plan, health plan beneficiary number, medical conditions or diagnosis, medical record numbers, medical treatment, prescription information, Social Security numbers, and telephone numbers.2 Lynch Carpenter, LLP is investigating claims against Lurie Childrens related to this data breach. If youve received a data breach notification from Lurie Childrens, you may be entitled to compensation. If you have received a notification from Lurie Childrens, that your information was impacted, please call Patrick Donathen at (412) 322-9243, email him at patrick@lcllp.com, or fill out our contact form at www.lynchcarpenter.com/contact. About Lynch Carpenter Lynch Carpenter is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania, California, and Illinois. Our firm has represented millions of clients in data privacy matters for more than a decade and has earned national acclaim for complex litigation for plaintiffs across the country. To learn more, please visit www.lynchcarpenter.com. 1 https://www.maine.gov/agviewer/content/ag/985235c7-cb95-4be2-8792-a1252b4f8318/64c3b313-0c3c-4820-af10-6afef36d08e1.html. 2 https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/lurie-childrens-notifies-individuals-of-data-breach/. CONTACT Patrick Donathen COMPANY Lynch Carpenter LLP PHONE (412) 322-9243 EMAIL patrick@lcllp.com WEB lynchcarpenter.com TORONTO, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairplay Ventures Inc. (TSXV: FPY.P) (Fairplay or the Company), today announces that Mark Scarrow, currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective June 30, 2024 (the Effective Date). The Company has concurrently accepted the resignation of Nicholas Meyer, its current Chief Executive Officer, as of the Effective Date. Mr. Meyer has resigned due to an upcoming permanent relocation to Switzerland. The Company thanks Mr. Meyer for his efforts on behalf of the Company and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours. Mr. Scarrow will continue as Chief Financial Officer following the Effective Date, in addition to his new role of Chief Executive Officer. About Fairplay Ventures Inc. Fairplay has not commenced commercial operations and the Company currently has no assets other than a minimum amount of cash. Except as specifically contemplated in Policy 2.4 of the TSX Venture Exchange, until the completion of a Qualifying Transaction the Company will not carry on any business other than the identification and evaluation of assets or businesses with a view to completing a proposed Qualifying Transaction. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. For further information please contact: Mark Scarrow Chief Financial Officer Tel: 416-617-0305 Email: mark@thescarrows.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including the Companys goal of completing a Qualifying Transaction, are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information and include, in this press release, statements regarding the composition of the Companys board of directors and management as at and following the Effective Date. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information, including that there will be no additional or alternative resignations by directors or officers of the Company between the date hereof and the Effective Date. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: additional appointments and resignations of directors and officers; any completion by the Company of a Qualifying Transaction; receipt of applicable director, shareholder and regulatory approval of a Qualifying Transaction; changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Orem, Utah, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OREM, Utah Sharon McMahon, known as Americas government teacher, will return to speak at Utah Valley University (UVU) Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 7 pm at the Noorda Center for the Performing Arts on the Orem Campus. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 28 at https://uvunoorda.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=2429. Her appearance is part of a multicity tour for her book The Small and the Mighty sponsored by Outback Presents and co-sponsored locally by the Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) at UVU. In The Small and the Mighty McMahon proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people who did not make it into the textbooks not the presidents, but the telephone operators not the aristocrats, but the schoolteachers. Through meticulous research, she discovers historys unsung characters and brings their rich, riveting stories to light for the first time. McMahon keynoted CCSs fall civics-educator conference Oct. 10, 2023, before an audience of more than 5,000 at UCCU Center and is pleased to return to UVU to share an evening of storytelling and conversation. She will discuss her forthcoming book, The Small and the Mighty, and her journey to becoming Americas favorite government teacher, and the lessons that can be learned from her cast of improbable champions. About Sharon McMahon After years of serving as a high-school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people rely on her for nonpartisan, fact-based information as Americas Government Teacher. In a time where flashy headlines and false information often take the spotlight, Sharon is seen as a reliable source for truth and logic. Sharon is also the host of the award-winning podcast, Heres Where It Gets Interesting, where, each week, she provides entertaining yet factual accounts of Americas most fascinating moments and people. In all that she does, Sharon encourages others to be world-changing humans. She has led her community in various philanthropic initiatives that have raised more than $9 million for teachers, domestic-violence survivors, terminally ill children, medical-debt-forgiveness programs, refugees, and more. More information at https://sharonmcmahon.com/. About the Center for Constitutional Studies Utah Valley Universitys (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) is a nonpartisan academic institute that promotes the instruction, study, and research of constitutionalism. Through a multidisciplinary approach, CCS examines important constitutional issues found at the intersections of political thought, public policy, religion, law, history, and economics. Its mandate is to equip a new generation of citizens and leaders with a broad understanding of political thought and economic practices critical to preserving constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law. ### About Utah Valley University At Utah Valley University, we believe everyone deserves the transforming benefits of high-quality education and it needs to be affordable, accessible, and flexible. With opportunities to earn everything from certificates to masters degrees, our students succeed by gaining real-world experience and developing career-ready skills. We continue to invite people to come as they are and leave ready and prepared to make a difference in the world. For more information, visit UVUs Newsroom website for fact sheets, maps, leadership bios, history, photos, b-roll, filming policies, and a list of interview-ready faculty experts at https://www.uvu.edu/newsroom/# or scan this QR code. Attachment La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, June 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, June 28, 2024 Nestled along the Pacific coast, Todos Santos, a charming coastal town in Baja California Sur, is recognized as one of Mexicos "Pueblos Magicos" (Magical Town), celebrating its unique blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. This prestigious designation highlights Todos Santos as a must-visit destination for travelers seeking an authentic Mexican experience. Experience the Charm of Todos Santos Founded in 1723, Todos Santos is a town steeped in history, with cobblestone streets, colonial-era architecture, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Visitors can explore historic buildings such as the Mission of Nuestra Senora del Pilar, which dates back to the towns early days, and the iconic Teatro General Manuel Marquez de Leon. Nature and Adventure Await The town's location between the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and the Pacific Ocean offers endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether its surfing the world-class waves at Playa Los Cerritos, hiking in the nearby mountains, or simply enjoying the stunning sunsets, Todos Santos provides a breathtaking backdrop for adventure. Gastronomy and Local Flavors Food lovers will delight in the diverse culinary offerings of Todos Santos. The town is home to an array of restaurants and cafes that feature fresh, locally sourced ingredients, blending traditional Mexican flavors with contemporary twists. From seafood caught daily off the coast to organic produce from nearby farms, every meal is a celebration of the regions bounty. A Cultural Haven Todos Santos is known for its thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries showcasing the works of local and international artists. The town hosts the annual Todos Santos Film Festival and numerous cultural events that celebrate the regions artistic heritage. Sustainable Tourism Todos Santos is committed to sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that its natural beauty and cultural heritage are preserved for future generations. Visitors are encouraged to engage in eco-friendly activities and support local businesses that prioritize sustainability. Plan Your Visit As a Magical Town, Todos Santos invites travelers from around the world to discover its unique charm and beauty. Whether youre an art enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat, Todos Santos offers something for everyone. About Todos Santos Todos Santos, located in La Paz, Baja California Sur, is a designated Pueblo Magico known for its historical significance, cultural richness, and natural beauty. The town offers a unique blend of artistic and outdoor experiences, making it a top destination for travelers seeking an authentic taste of Mexico. About La Paz, Baja California Sur La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is a coastal paradise nestled between the Sea of Cortez and the desert landscape. With its rich cultural tapestry, diverse marine life, and commitment to sustainable tourism, La Paz invites travelers to explore, connect, and experience the true essence of Baja California Sur. For more information about La Paz and its culinary offerings, visit https://golapaz.com/ Connect with Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golapaz Twitter: https://twitter.com/golapaz For media inquiries in Canada, please contact: Marisol Hernandez, +13053002249, mhernandez@gpoeuroamerica.com Attachment At Fifth and Mission streets, Mike Franov, left, and Ulysses Whittington with San Francisco Public Works unload a model trash can being tested several years ago. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle San Francisco has created a new position to tackle its struggle to keep the streets clean: a trash can czar to manage the citys more than 3,000 garbage cans. The czar, part of San Francisco Public Works, would be tasked with ensuring garbage cans are properly serviced and maintained, assessing trash bin locations and monitoring trends from the citys about 1,000 in-can sensors. The czar will also be a point person for resident complaints about inadequate trash pickup, overflowing cans and other gripes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rachel Gordon, spokesperson for Public Works, told the Chronicle Thursday the department is seeking applicants for the job, an administrative analyst position that pays about $136,000 a year. Gordon said she expects the position to be filled this summer. Its not unusual for different city programs to have specific people to oversee them, Gordon said. The trash cans are an essential tool to keep city streets and sidewalks clean, so having one person run point makes sense. From left, Public Works employees Alberto Bustamante, George Preciado and Byron Paz load illegally dumped garbage into a Recology truck in the Bayview district on Jan. 10, 2019. Amy Osborne/Special to The Chronicle Right now, Gordon said, there are several people in separate teams within Public Works that are tasked with keeping an eye on the citys garbage cans, but theres no one person responsible for their upkeep. A resident brings bags of trash to a garbage truck as San Francisco Public Works and Recology employees pick up illegally dumped trash from streets in the Bayview district of San Francisco on June 5, 2023. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle The position, she said, will be funded through the citys contract with Recology the citys trash pickup contractor and has already been approved by the Refuse Rate Board, a process currently under the purview of the city controllers office. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For years the citys aging green trash cans in service since 1993 have been criticized for often being soiled or filled to the brim with trash. The trash cans are at times surrounded by overflowing refuse on the ground, a problem that has incensed some residents. The problem isnt new. Back in 2007 then-Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered city workers to remove nearly half of the citys trash cans, which then numbered about 5,000, to ensure that the trash cans were only used for coffee cups and food wrappers instead of illegal dumping. Since then the number of trash cans has remained about the same at a little over 3,000. Most are emptied by Recology at least once a day, while problem cans get special attention and are cleaned up two or more times a day. On top of illegal dumping, Public Works must also contend with people who frequently rummage through trash cans and leave garbage on the ground, Gordon said. Since 2018, Public Works has been in the process of replacing its old trash can models with a new design that will make it harder for people to rummage and tamper with them. The departments plans raised eyebrows after a pilot program to test new prototype cans cost $12,000 to $20,000 apiece, though the department said that when mass-produced the cost would come down to about $3,000 a piece. The prototype that won out was the Slim Silhouette, a sleek metallic design with two small openings for trash. A rendering that shows the Slim Silhouette, a new trash can that San Francisco wanted to deploy. San Francisco Public Works The Chronicle reported in January that Public Works had paused its quest to deploy the bespoke trash cans across the city amid a looming budget deficit after five years of effort and more than half a million dollars spent. Gordon said this week that the city expects to send out a request for proposals in August, the next step in the process. Testing the Slim Silhouette design at different locations in the city, Gordon said, has yielded some changes the city wants to make before it mass produces thousands more. She said while the designs vertical slats are aesthetically nice they are prone to graffiti that is hard to clean. The city will also ask manufacturers to make the locking system sturdier and make the trash opening slightly bigger. TORONTO, June 27, 2024 - Wallbridge Mining Company Ltd. (TSX:WM, OTCQB:WLBMF) ("Wallbridge" or the "Company") held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") on June 26, 2024. A total of 375,770,677 shares or 36.98% of the outstanding shares of the Company were represented at the Meeting. All of the matters submitted to the shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's notice of meeting and management information circular dated May 17, 2024 ("MIC") were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting. Voting on the following matters, as described in the MIC, were as follows: To Set the Number of Directors at Seven (7) Votes For Votes Against Number Percent Number Percent 327,860,364 87.25% 47,910,313 12.75% Election of Directors for the Ensuing Year The following directors were elected until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are otherwise duly elected or appointed: Brian Penny, Janet Wilkinson, Michael Pesner, Anthony Makuch, Jeffery Snow, Danielle Giovenazzo and Brian Christie. Votes For Votes Withheld Number Percent Number Percent Brian Penny 307,933,143 87.647% 43,398,663 12.353% Janet Wilkinson 325,213,100 92.566% 26,118,706 7.434% Michael Pesner 289,152,398 82.302% 62,179,408 17.698% Anthony Makuch 343,276,508 97.707% 8,055,298 2.293% Jeffery Snow 345,531,527 98.349% 5,800,279 1.651% Danielle Giovenazzo 289,089,828 82.284% 62,241,978 17.716% Brian Christie 344,870,421 98.161% 6,461,385 1.839% Appointment of KPMG LLP as Auditor of the Corporation for the ensuing year and authorizing the Directors to fix their remuneration Votes For Votes Withheld Number Percent Number Percent 373,296,489 99.342% 2,474,188 0.658% About Wallbridge Mining Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend in Quebec's Northern Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates. Wallbridge's most advanced projects, Fenelon Gold ("Fenelon") and Martiniere Gold ("Martiniere") incorporate a combined 3.05 million ounces of indicated gold resources and 2.35 million ounces of inferred gold resources. Fenelon and Martiniere are located within an 830 square kilometre exploration land package controlled by Wallbridge. Wallbridge has reported a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") at Fenelon that estimates average annual gold production of 212,000 ounces over 12 years. Wallbridge also holds a 15.79% interest in the common shares of NorthX Nickel Corp. (formerly "Archer Exploration") as a result of the sale of the Company's portfolio of nickel assets in Ontario and Quebec. For further information please visit the Company's website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact: Wallbridge Mining Company Limited Brian Penny, CPA, CMA Chief Executive Officer Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com M: +1 416 716 8346 Victoria Vargas, B.Sc. (Hon.) Economics, MBA Capital Markets Advisor Email: vvargas@wallbridgemining.com M: +1 289 242 3599 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this document. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as "seeks", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "continues", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "predicts", "proposes", "potential", "targets" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "should" or "might", "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved." FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: statements regarding the results of the PEA; the potential future performance of the Common Shares; future drill results; the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; environmental matters; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used to estimate the MRE's at Fenelon and Martiniere (collectively the "Deposits"); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results. FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI. Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; foreign exchange rates; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and, the Company's ability to secure required funding. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Notes to United States Investors Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Vancouver, June 27, 2024 - Big Red Mining Corp. (CSE: RED) (FSE: K8J) (the "Company" or "Big Red") announces a private placement financing (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 Common Shares of the Company at a price of C$0.10 per Common Share for gross proceeds to the Company of up to C$1,000,000. The net proceeds received from the Offering will be used by the Company for exploration and development activities and general working capital. About Big Red Mining Corp. Big Red holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dobie Lake Copper Project (the "Property") in Ontario, Canada. The Property is Located approximately 100 km from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. The Property surrounds and covers Extensions of the Past producing Jentina Mine. The Property comprises 131 claims totaling 6,500 Acres (26 Square kilometers). Big Red's management team possess extensive experience in financing, exploration, development and mining. Big Red's mission is to conduct future drilling campaigns on the Dobie Lake copper property to maximize its minable resource potential. WWW.BIGREDMINING.COM On Behalf of the Board of Directors Jag Sandhu, CEO and President 778-218-9638 Vancouver, June 27, 2024 - Element 29 Resources Inc. (TSXV: ECU) (OTCQB: EMTRF) (BVL: ECU) ("Element 29" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders which was held today (the "Meeting"). All matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular, both dated May 27, 2024, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS Shareholders approved setting the number of directors at five (5). ELECTION OF DIRECTORS Votes For Withheld Votes Director # % # % Patrick Elliott 22,639,808 99.60 90,000 0.40 Chet Idziszek 22,349,808 98.33 380,000 1.67 Brad Mercer 22,689,808 99.82 40,000 0.18 Richard Osmond 22,639,808 99.60 90,000 0.40 Mary-Carmen Vera 22,729,808 100.00 - - Following the Meeting Brad Mercer was appointed independent Chair of the Board of Directors. Richard Osmond, President and CEO stated "On behalf of the Company and the board, I would like to thank all the shareholders who voted at the Meeting and for their continued support. We welcome Brad Mercer, Chet Idziszek and Mary-Carmen Vera as Element 29's newest board members and look forward to working alongside this talented and dedicated team. In addition, we would like to thank Robert Willis for his invaluable contributions to the Company." APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants were re-appointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at the remuneration to be fixed by the directors. STOCK OPTION PLAN Shareholders approved the renewal of the Company's Stock Option Plan. Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. About Element 29 Resources Inc. Element 29 is an emerging copper exploration and development company focused on advancing its portfolio of Peruvian projects towards development in one of the world's more established mining jurisdictions. The Company's principal objective is to explore and develop its Elida Porphyry Copper Deposit in west-central Peru and its Flor de Cobre Porphyry Copper Project located in the Southern Peru Copper Belt, 26 km southeast from Freeport-McMoRan's Cerro Verde copper mine1. Both projects are well located for potential mine development and will benefit from nearby infrastructure including roads, powerlines, ports, water, and a skilled workforce. More information is available at www.e29copper.com. For more information: Richard Osmond, CEO and Director 1-888-246-7881 info@e29copper.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. 1This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which Element 29 has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/214789 Nervous drivers waiting for Sainz's delayed decision Carlos Sainz has announced that he is in fact not ready to make a decision about his post-Ferrari career in Formula 1. Carlos Sainz, Spanish GP 2024 Ferrari Authoritative reports from Barcelona last weekend suggested the Spaniard was poised to imminently decide between Williams, Audi-owned Sauber, and the late contender for his signature - Alpine. Mercedes is no longer an option. Yes, we had discussions with Carlos, team boss Toto Wolff admitted to Sport1, "but we came to the decision that I didn't want to confirm it before the autumn. But the whole thing could be delayed until September, October, even November. We decided that it was better for them (Sainz) to do something different. Kevin Magnussen said in Barcelona that Sainz is the cork in the bottle of the driver market, and current Sauber driver Guanyu Zhou declared in Austria that he agrees. Then I think that will turn the driver market around a lot, said the Chinese. But before that, I think the guys who still haven't signed can't really give any clear answer or direction where they want to be. Sainz, 29, had hinted that he was ready to finally put pen to paper perhaps even ahead of this weekend's Austrian GP. But now, he says he won't even be ready by Silverstone. During a triple (header), it is impossible to make a decision that is so important for my career in the few days in between races, he told reporters. Williams, a recent frontrunner to secure Sainz's services, announced on Thursday that no fewer than 26 new recruits from other F1 teams are set to start work at Grove, including recently-departed Alpine technical boss Matt Harman. Sainz hinted that other contenders for his signature - perhaps Audi-Sauber - have been less impressive with their pitches. The situation I've found myself in this year has taught me a lot about Formula 1 in general, he said. Talking to teams shown me how little you can sometimes trust what you hear at the start of negotiations. With Sainz dithering, Audi had even looked at Red Bull-owned properties like Yuki Tsunoda and even Liam Lawson - but the energy drink concern subsequently re-signed Tsunoda and, it is believed, have promised Lawson the 2025 RB seat. We would have loaned out our best Formula 2 driver, (Isack) Hadjar, Dr Helmut Marko told Blick newspaper. Blick correspondent Roger Benoit suggested that Felipe Drugovich could even be an outside shot for a Sauber-Audi seat. (GMM) Renault engine axe whispers just rumours says Gasly Pierre Gasly has suddenly moved to quell raging speculation that Renault could scrap its entire power unit project for 2026. Pierre Gasly, Spanish GP 2024 Alpine Boss Bruno Famin instantly called the reports rumours , but new executive advisor Flavio Briatore then made noises suggesting every option was being considered to bring the team back to the top of Formula 1. Even Gasly, who has now been re-signed by Alpine for at least the next two years, suggested in Barcelona last weekend that it was important to consider all the options and then form your own opinion on what's best for performance . The team is open about this, I trust the management's decision and have no concerns about it, the Frenchman added. Yes, we would lose our status as a factory team, but the regulations are drawn up in such a way that there is clear parity between the parties, especially in terms of engines. But suddenly, in Austria, following a full week of speculation Renault may separate Alpine's chassis operations at Enstone ahead of a potential team sale, Gasly is playing down the rumours. When asked if Alpine really could buy a customer engine from 2026, he said: "I don't understand where these rumours came from. I regularly - every week - talk to (Renault CEO) Luca de Meo, and it was immediately obvious to me that these were just rumours. He has always been and remains 100 percent committed to the Alpine project, said the 28-year-old. I looked very closely at the plans for 2026, because it was important for my next contract for when the new regulations come into force, Gasly added. "And for me it was never a question because I know how committed Renault and Alpine are to the project and how much they invest in the team. I believe in the guys at Enstone and in Viry, he insisted. (GMM) California state Sen. Scott Wiener, shown here in October 2023, calls his proposed AI regulation light touch, but some tech companies are saying it will crush the industry in the state. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Since last year, tech titans from Mark Zuckerberg to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have gone to Congress to discuss artificial intelligence regulation, warned of the technologys potentially catastrophic effects, and even asked to be regulated. California legislators have responded with bills intended at outlawing unfair bias by AI decision-making programs, trying to mitigate its effects on elections through false and misleading information, and demanding insight into how models are trained, among more than a dozen other proposed pieces of legislation. As weve seen with the creation and expansion of the internet and social media, we cannot count on this industry to self-regulate, said Teri Olle, director of Economic Security California Action, which co-sponsored one of the bills. They simply wont put public interest above their profits as they have proven time and again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But now that proposed rules are moving forward, companies are crying foul, saying that holding them liable for the downstream uses of the technology they build will stifle innovation and force a multibillion-dollar industry out of California altogether. Nowhere is the pushback clearer than in a letter sent by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, recently protesting his marquee effort to place some liability on big AI developers, SB1047. The bill would focus on future versions of big AI programs those that cost $100 million or more to train and of a size that do not yet exist and would allow the state attorney general to sue developers if their models cause mass havoc. The bill does not give private citizens the right to sue AI companies. It would also require safety testing of models to prevent foreseeable harms like their being used to create biological weapons or knock out the power grid for example. If a company decides to impose such a severe risk on the public, without good justification, it should be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences, said Nathan Calvin, senior counsel at the Center for AI Safetys political action fund, a sponsor of the bill, in an email. Thats an incredibly fair and reasonable thing to ask of big tech companies like Meta, Calvin said. But Meta in its letter said Wieners bill places disproportionate obligations on model developers because they could be on the hook for how someone else uses their technology. Meta is the maker of the Llama family of AI programs, which use an open source approach that allows any company or developer to repurpose them for free as a chatbot or for other uses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another powerful opponent of the bill, Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, has launched a website warning of what it calls the potential harms of SB1047, from chilling investment to crushing the startup ecosystem based around open source models. Andreessen Horowitz partner Anjney Midha said in a published interview that proving a program is totally safe would be impossible and would expose companies and developers to huge risk when the bill lacked clear definitions of what would violate its provisions. Firm founder Marc Andreessen himself recently sat on stage at a Stanford AI event decrying Wieners bill, and separately saying that the only way to truly regulate AI programs and open source in particular would be to do it worldwide, with the potential to start a war in the process. Wiener said the goal is not to regulate every AI model everywhere, but only large ones that will be developed in the future. The liability created under the bill is extremely narrow, he said, adding it is designed to prevent the most catastrophic uses of AI. These are outcomes, he said, for which developers would probably face legal liability anyway, but he is trying to prevent that from happening in the first place with safety testing. He also said Andreessen Horowitz had pushed disinformation about the bill including that developers could be thrown in jail, which he called completely false, saying only if a company lied about safety testing could they face criminal liability. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Despite the focus on large AI models and companies, smaller companies, such as San Diegos Benchmark Labs, which makes AI-powered weather forecasting technology, are concerned they could face liability in the future as their models grow. CEO Carlos Gaitan said during a news conference his company is not currently covered under Wieners bill, but as the size and complexity of his weather models increase it could face liability. If an arsonist receives my forecast and decides, god forbid, to start a fire, I would be liable for that, Gaitan said. From Wieners perspective, his bill doesnt apply to any existing program, and would only regulate large future programs. AI developers signed a White House pledge to develop the technology safely last year, he pointed out, and hes just asking them to keep their word. It cant just be opaque voluntary compliance, Wiener said. Lets do the safety evaluation up front, to avoid those situations from occurring at all, he said. Wiener brushed aside some of the objections brought up by Andreesen Horowitz as extreme and melodramatic, calling his bill light touch regulation that doesnt ban anything or require a license to train the big AI models of the future. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Meta and Andreessen Horowitz both said the bill, if it became law, would push companies out of California to avoid being held to its provisions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wiener said he has met with representatives from both companies and others in the tech industry, and has made amendments to the bill, including clarifying in what instances a company would no longer be liable if a developer sufficiently changed the elements of its program to cause harm. Threats to leave the state are a straw man, he said, because the bill covers any companies doing business in California, not just those based there. Companies made similar threats when he passed state data privacy and other legislation, but didnt follow through, Wiener said. Whether or not Meta or other companies are responsible for what is done with their products echoes the debate about whether social media companies should be liable for illegal things done on their sites. For the most part they arent. But technology shouldnt be treated any differently when it causes harm than a car company would be if its seat belts failed, said Ahmed Banafa, a professor at San Jose State University. In sending the letter, Meta signaled it is trying to avoid spending more time and money on testing of its models, he said. In an analogous case, when a car is defective and causes an injury, the maker, not the driver, is liable. But Meta is saying its not our responsibility if someone else is going to use it in a harmful way, Banafa said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a sign of the divide between the two sides, Midha of Andreessen Horowitz also brought up the car example. Except in his view, Wieners bill amounted to holding car manufacturers liable for every accident caused by a driver whos modified their car. Wiener brushed aside some of the objections brought up by Andreessen Horowitz as extreme and melodramatic, calling his bill light touch regulation that doesnt ban anything or require a license to train the big AI models of the future. Lando Norris McLaren Oracle Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen (1st, 1:04.568): "We were quick in the high speed, which is important round here and hopefully we can keep that going tomorrow. It was a positive day today. I am happy as we started off the day well and the car was in a good window. There was a small issue with the sensor in the practice session but we fixed that really quickly. Heading into qualifying, the car was really strong and I could push. We were quick in the high speed, which is important round here and hopefully we can keep that going tomorrow. Of course, there are always areas that we can do better so we will look at that tonight. Looking to the Sprint race tomorrow, this will give us an early indication of how the pace of the car will be for the race. But all in all, it was definitely a good start and I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend." Sergio Perez (7th, 1:06.008): "It's a shame because we had promising pace today, but unfortunately we were not able to maximise because of circumstances out of our control. I think we were making good progress from the start during the first session and in to Sprint qualifying. We were in the mix today, but unfortunately couldn't really show it especially in SQ3 with Esteban in front. He left a very big gap in front of him and in the end, we were going to the limit against time and I crossed the line with around a second difference. It's a shame because we had promising pace today, but unfortunately we were not able to maximise on this because of circumstances out of our control. I'm confident that tomorrow will be a better day, and that we can make up some ground here at our home race." Christian Horner, Sporting Director: "It's going to be very hot tomorrow so that should throw up some challenges for all the cars on the grid. It was a positive day for us today and we saw three great laps put in from Max. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing run for Checo, especially after getting boxed in by Esteban, as there was no chance for him to get a representative lap. Going into SQ3 we thought he would be top five, which is a shame. However, this track is good for overtaking with a few good long straights. It's going to be very hot tomorrow so that should throw up some challenges for all the cars on the grid. Overall, it was a great showing from Max but it's getting close; McLaren were looking strong and Mercedes were edging closer too, so we are looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings." Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team George Russell (4th, 1:05.054): "The Soft tyre felt very good, and my lap felt strong. I was therefore a little surprised at the gap to P1, but I likely pushed too hard on the out lap. That potentially took a little of the peak grip away from the tyre. From in the car, it felt like the best lap of the session, so that is probably the explanation for why we dropped a little bit further back. P4 is still a decent place to be starting for the Sprint tomorrow. We are in the fight for the podium. Our focus is of course on Qualifying and the Grand Prix, but this is just another validation that we are on the right track and in the mix near the front." Lewis Hamilton (6th, 1:05.270): "I had a difficult Sprint Qualifying today. Practice went well and the car felt good. I don't think we had the pace to fight for pole position for the Sprint, but we likely had more speed than we showed. I wasn't happy with any of my laps and Sprint Qualifying was quite a messy session overall. The Sprint race tomorrow will be challenging. It's not easy to overtake around here and starting P6 makes it difficult for us. If it's not an eventful race, then I don't think we will be able to move forward too many places. Nevertheless, we will still be giving it our all. Our main focus though is of course on Qualifying later in the afternoon and Sunday's race." Andrew Shovlin: "We had a solid FP1. Both cars managed a good amount of long run work, and, on the Hard tyre, we were looking similar to Barcelona in terms of competitiveness. Sprint Qualifying was quite straightforward although in SQ3 we were first out on track. It was important not to risk missing the flag but that does make it difficult to get the benefit of the track evolution. We hoped for a bit better than P4 and P6 but our performance on the Soft compound wasn't strong enough to challenge for better. Lewis picked up some floor damage and wasn't happy with his laps. George felt that he needed to a bit more high-speed grip to go faster, so we are looking at how to make a few improvements overnight. Our aim is to score decent points in the Sprint tomorrow morning, but it's also useful as long run preparation ahead of Sunday's race. We've also got the opportunity to tweak the car for main Qualifying after the Sprint. We know where we need to improve so hopefully, we can make a bit of ground up and start a little closer to the front for the race on Sunday." Scuderia Ferrari Carlos Sainz (5th, 1:05.126): "Not the best afternoon. In terms of feeling, SQ1 and SQ2 was quite decent on the Medium compound. Then with the soft tyres in SQ3 I think we saw our weaknesses a bit and so we finished P5. However, we still have time to adjust a couple of things here and there for tomorrow and hopefully we can have a better qualifying for the Grand Prix. Regarding the Sprint Race, we'll try to score as many points as possible and I'm confident we can do a good job there." Charles Leclerc (10th, No Time): "That wasn't the best start to the weekend. We struggled to match the pace of the quickest in the first two parts of Sprint Qualifying and then, when it was time for the one flying lap in SQ3, the engine's anti-stall kicked in while I was in pit lane. This cost me precious seconds and meant I was unable to set a time. Obviously, I'm not happy but there's still a long way to go this weekend. We will try and gain some places in tomorrow's Sprint Race and then start over from zero as we prepare for qualifying for the Grand Prix." Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal: "We are obviously disappointed to have one car in P5 and the other in P10. We need to look at our performance on the Soft tyre, since on the Medium it was ok and we were in the fight with Mercedes and McLaren. We also need to work on the bouncing the cars experienced in the final two quick corners because it's costing us a bit of time. For tomorrow in the Sprint, there is only one strategy and that is to push, because there is no mandatory pit stop for such a short race, so all we can do is push hard. We want to score good points with Carlos and bring home some more with Charles." McLaren Formula 1 Team Lando Norris (2nd, 1:04.779): "Overall, a good Quali today, P2 is pretty strong. It was close but it has been all year. Possibly not my tidiest Qualifying session, but I managed to pull it out at the end and produce a nice lap. P2 for tomorrow's Sprint is a positive start to the weekend, we'll keep pushing on from here." Oscar Piastri (3rd, 1:04.987): "P3, not a bad effort today. We've got a couple of corners to tidy-up, but I'm happy to be able to qualify well for the Sprint. We're in a good spot for tomorrow and will work hard overnight ready for the fun to begin." Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "It's been a tricky Sprint Qualifying session. It wasn't easy to put laps together and there was a bit of work to do to find the right position in the out laps. We needed to be very careful with traffic but, ultimately, the outcome is positive with P2 and P3 on the grid for the Sprint race. This is a position we can try and capitalise on and see if we can go for the win. At the same time, we once again can see how tight the field is at the front. There's really not much to pick between Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes, so we need to maximise the package, the driving, the execution and see what we can do tomorrow." Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Lance Stroll (12th, 1:05.847): "We still have some work to do, but the car had a bit more pace today. I was pushing hard out there to try and get the most out of the lap, but just lost it slightly in the final corner. I think we'd have squeezed into SQ3 without that. We'll do our homework tonight and see how we go in the Sprint tomorrow." Fernando Alonso (13th, 1:05.878): "It was very tight out there as we expected. I was quite happy with my laps in Sprint Qualifying and I felt we extracted the maximum lap-time in both SQ1 and SQ2. Sadly, it wasn't enough to make it into SQ3 today. I think it will be very difficult to score any points tomorrow, but we will take as much information from the Sprint race as possible." BWT Alpine F1 Team Esteban Ocon (8th, 1:06.101): "I'm happy to have reached SQ3 today and starting in eighth place for tomorrow. Again, we reached the top ten in Qualifying as a team, which is another good performance. SQ3 was far from straightforward as we were at the back of the queue. We probably got a little fortunate with Charles [Leclerc] missing the flag at the end and gained a position as a result. Even so, the positive is we performed well and we are in a good position in the Sprint Race. We still have work to do and things to understand but it's pleasing to be heading in a good direction." Pierre Gasly (9th, 1:06.624): "It was a good Sprint Qualifying for the team overall today with both cars reaching SQ3. We managed SQ1 and SQ2 well, showed good pace and we progressed through both sessions. We certainly did not maximise SQ3. It was a messy one and I did not get a proper push lap. These are things we will review as we always aim to maximise all sessions and get the most from it. Even so, we had good pace again today that is pleasing and again we are inside the top ten. Those cars ahead of us are quick and only the top eight score in the Sprint Race tomorrow. It will not be easy to pick up points but we will try our best and see what we can achieve." Williams Racing Logan Sargeant (15th, No Time): "SQ1 was a good build-up, however in SQ2, I didn't quite get Turn 1 and 3 right, attempting to make it up in the second half of the lap. I managed this, but then clipped the gravel in Turn 6 and that was unfortunately out. I'm still happy with my session and think it's a good place to be starting tomorrow. The conditions are changing from session to session. We are being proactive with set-up and countering the differences and I feel like we did a good job and turned things around from FP1 to Sprint Qualifying, so we'll just keep trying to do a bit more of the same. It's been a good step forward from Barcelona." Alexander Albon (19th, 1:06.754): "I couldn't quite pull it together through Turn 3 and 4, struggling with the balance and just not able to get around it. I tried to play around with driving styles and tools, but it didn't really work. With one shot in Sprint Qualifying, I just didn't get it right. I regret not being a bit more extreme with my changes from FP1 to Sprint Qualifying, but we'll make some changes and try to get more out of it tomorrow." Sven Smeets, Racing Director: "With only one Free Practice session, having the car in the right window for Sprint Qualifying was always going to be tricky. Unfortunately, Alex struggled with the balance of his car and didn't make it out of SQ1. Logan did a good job and got into SQ2 with a clean and decent last push lap. In SQ2, we knew he had to give it his all to gain some places on the grid but unfortunately couldn't get it all lined up and his lap was deleted. Nevertheless, he will be in a good position tomorrow to fight and look out for opportunities. With Alex, we'll make some changes to the setup after the Sprint Race, ahead of Qualifying, and will use the Sprint to gather valuable information for the Grand Prix on Sunday." Visa Cash App RB Formula One Yuki Tsunoda (14th, 1:05.960): "I'm not happy with today. For sure, the second run in SQ1 with my spin in the last sector compromised our SQ2 run. I over-pushed and went slightly over the limit in Turn 7, and I think I damaged the floor already there and not necessarily when I spun out in Turn 10. It wasn't the ideal way to enter SQ2, especially with the adaptation in driving style. It's a shame and definitely towards me; I'll take the blame and move forward." Daniel Ricciardo (16th, 1:06.581): "It's a short lap here, so it's always going to be tricky. We changed quite a lot from FP1, and we're still trying to learn about the package, but obviously, it's frustrating when you miss out by a small bit. The second lap of the Sprint-Quali was definitely better than the first one, but we still need to finetune some things. I do think we made the right changes, but maybe we need to balance it better. We'll try to use the Sprint to understand the car always more, so I'm staying optimistic." Alan Permane, Racing Director: "A tough Sprint Qualifying session for us for different reasons across both sides of the garage. We've done some experimentation this morning after our difficult weekend in Barcelona, and it was very good to do because we learnt a lot. Daniel had a lot of changes for the Sprint Qualifying session and it's always difficult with one set of tyres. We knew needing to nail that first lap was going to be difficult to get the best out of the car. However, it's a long weekend and we'll learn more in the Sprint tomorrow, and then we have another shot at Qualifying in the evening. Yuki unfortunately went off on his second lap in SQ1 and damaged his floor. Without that, I'm very sure he would've been higher up. We'll repair his floor overnight and make sure he's got a perfect car for tomorrow." Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber Valtteri Bottas (18th, 1:06.725): "The feeling with the car had been quite decent so far, and I was expecting our lap times to be better; I had two clean laps, and although the second one was deleted because of track limits, it wouldn't have made much of a different, as it was only two hundredths of a second faster. Unfortunately, we are still quite lacking when it comes to single-lap pace. Tomorrow's Sprint will be a tough job starting from the back of the grid, especially in a short race with no pit stops, but we will still have a chance to go for a set-up change afterwards. We'll put all our focus on maximising these learnings, looking to improve our performance in tomorrow's main Qualifying and on Sunday." Guanyu Zhou (20th, 1:07.197): "While we used the morning's practice session to collect some information and data, today's sprint qualifying was quite messy for me. I only had two laps: I ended up running wide into the gravel on the first one and encountered heavy traffic on the second. This made it difficult to get a good time on the board as the tyres were gone after the first attempt. However, looking ahead to tomorrow, I reckon that we should have more pace and shall be stronger than we were today our focus is now on qualifying proper." Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative: "Today we experienced a disappointing Sprint Qualifying session, one that brings us back to the bottom of the grid. We need to understand why we were not able to continue the positive trajectory that started last weekend in Barcelona. On a track like Spielberg, with short lap times, there is no allowance for any mistake, and we've seen that especially the last sector is crucial. Today, we missed something, both in terms of the last sector performance and of clean laps, and that jeopardised our session." MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Kevin Magnussen (11th, 1:05.806): "It was a good qualifying, smooth and clean, and we didn't have any traffic! We came out on track firstly with no traffic, but also with the best track evolution, and I feel for the first time this year although it's pretty late it's the first fully clean and well-executed qualifying, so we have to keep this up. The feel of the car hasn't been perfect, on the medium tire it feels like we are reasonably competitive on one lap, but over a long run I didn't really know so we'll see in the Sprint tomorrow how that goes and which tire we race on." Nico Hulkenberg (17th, 1:06.583): "It was very fine margins out there, it's super tight and you need those thousandths in your favor. It wasn't a great session, I was struggling to feel good, and find the rhythm and harmony with the car. I already knew we were under pressure after the first lap and unfortunately, we didn't have enough pace today. When you start behind and you're going to be in traffic and dirty air, if it's going to be dry, I suspect it's going to be tough to make any progress. We need some mixed conditions like last year." Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "The highlight of today was that Kevin did a very good job, putting a good lap together in SQ2 but unfortunately missed out on SQ3 by less than five-hundredths of a second. It was a really good effort, a really good lap, and he got the most out of the car so I'm very happy. With Nico, we don't seem to have both drivers getting the best out of the car at the same time, he was unhappy with the car from FP1 and that carried on. He had no confidence in low-speed corners, and when you don't have that you can't get near the limit of the car, so it's something we need to work on tonight and tomorrow for the Sprint. The good thing about a Sprint weekend is that whatever we learn tonight and tomorrow, we can change for qualifying. That's not just for Nico, there are certain things we need to look at for Kevin's car as well. I'm very happy with Kevin's performance, happy for his crew, but with Nico there's a bit more work to do." Huge screens at the Planet Labs headquarters in downtown San Francisco show the positions of dozens of satellites currently orbiting Earth. The company has announced it is laying off about 16% of its workforce. Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2016 Two Bay Area tech companies have announced plans to lay off hundreds of employees. Planet Labs, a satellite imaging company based in San Francisco, is laying off 98 employees, about 16% of its workforce, according to regulatory filings. Despite reporting a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue to a record $60.4 million in its first-quarter earnings, the company posted an adjusted loss of $8.4 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Planet delivered a solid quarter to start the year. Growth was driven by the government sector where we are seeing increased demand for our data, particularly when enhanced by AI-based partner solutions, Will Marshall, Planets co-founder and CEO, said in a statement to investors. Though the company renewed a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office, it anticipates a second-quarter adjusted loss of between $7 million to $10 million. Last year, Planet Labs laid off 117 workers, according to a corporate filing. Lacework, a security software firm in Mountain View, is also permanently laying off 180 employees. Earlier this month, the nearly 10-year-old company that once had an $8.3 billion valuation announced its acquisition by Fortinet, a rival cybersecurity company based in Sunnyvale. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Castle Rock Medical Center is not just holding steady; it's thriving with a vibrant workforce and a flurry of innovative initiatives aimed at bolstering both staff satisfaction and patient care, according to the Castle Rock Hospital District Board. The board hosted their regular meeting on Tuesday night, June 25, and discussed several recent developments at the medical center and plans for the future. In a significant development, Castle Rock is on the verge of acquiring new land from Western Wyoming Community College, with the official closing set for July 31. This purchase will pave the way... A chorus of honks and cheers rang out along Westvaco Road, even while 40 mile per hour wind gusts blew off people's hats and lightning flashed in the background. "What do we want?" Marshal Cummings yelled through a megaphone. "Fair contract!" hundreds of voices answered. "When do we want it?" "Now!" A severe thunderstorm watch wasn't enough to stop members of the United Steelworkers Local 13214 union, along with supportive family members and friends, from taking part in a rally outside Genesis Alkali last Friday afternoon. The union is calling for changes to be made to their contract with the trona mining company, with a focus on increasing workplace safety. "In the labor movement, we empower each other," Marshal Cummings, the union president, explained. "If they give us the power at the table, we'll give it back to them when we get back to the plant." Rallying to show solidarity Close to 300 people total turned up to the rally on Friday, by Cummings' estimate, with over a hundred stopping by in the morning and even more in the afternoon. Rally-goers parked their cars and lined up along Westvaco Road, which leads out to Genesis Alkali. They honked their horns and waved signs with slogans like "Fair contract now" as vehicles and buses full of company employees drove by during the shift change. Some vehicles honked back and drivers waved in support. Others simply drove by, but the crowds kept cheering and holding their signs up. Once the majority of vehicles had passed, the people stayed. Over the sounds of the wind and rain, the union members kept talking, laughing, and sharing grilled hotdogs and hamburgers. "They were committed," Cummings said. "They stuck through the monsoon." The purpose of the rally, according to Cummings, was for union members to stand together in solidarity and to show the company "it's time to work with us." The union's contract with the company expires at the end of the month. Before beginning a new contract on July 1, the union hopes to renegotiate and make changes. While concerns in the contract are still being discussed, Cummings was optimistic about being able to come to an agreement. When asked about the possibility of a strike, he said he hadn't thought about it much because he believes they are far away from it happening. "We're in it for what's best for both parties," Cummings said. Some of the changes the union hopes to make to the contract include adding extra emphasis on workplace safety and trying to create a better work-life balance and mental health support for employees. Addressing safety concerns Currently, employees don't have enough input when it comes to safety, Cummings said, even though they're the ones who do the work and put themselves at risk. "If we can be there to convey what's actually happening at the ground level, we believe that we can make it a safer place, a more reliable place, and a more efficient and productive place," he said. One of the major safety concerns that Cummings has already been working to address is the danger of over-exposure to coal dust and silica dust. He's gone so far in addressing it, in fact, that he testified about the issue at a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) hearing in Denver and before the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) in Pennsylvania - a meeting that included UMWA International President Cecil Roberts, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Assistant Secretary of Labor Chris Williamson. Cummings has worked with Genesis for 14 years, spending two years underground and 12 on the surface. He was first notified that he was exposed to high levels of silica back in 2011. Exposure to high levels of silica dust can cause silicosis, which Cummings describes as "a slow and silent killer." The disease damages and scars the lungs over time and can be fatal. Exposure to coal dust can also cause long term health problems such as black lung, and is also a concern in areas like the coal-fired powerhouse at Genesis that supplies steam and electricity to other parts of the plant. When he became aware of the problems related to coal and silica dust that he and other workers were being exposed to, Cummings tried to address the situation in the proper manner, starting at the lowest level possible before working his way up the chain of authority. Eventually a test was conducted that revealed there was not only an overexposure to silica dust, but also a risk of explosion in the environment. Despite the evident risk, Cummings still felt that not enough was being done to address it in a timely manner. The employees filed a grievance, and Cummings and the union worked on presentations and campaigns to inform both employees and the company of the dangers, but still didn't get much response. "We had to escalate it," Cummings said. "I'm not okay with watching my union brothers and sisters, or the company people, get sick and die." Eventually, the conversation moved to a national level, and Cummings had the chance to testify during the discussions. In April, MSHA launched a new federal Silica Dust Exposure Rule, which lowers the permissible exposure limit of silica dust. Because the rule comes at the federal level, it will be implemented in mines across the nation, including Genesis. But Cummings still wishes the changes would have come sooner and easier. "I'm just trying to make sure that our miners are getting home safe, and it was a shame to me that it had to escalate to this level instead of it just being taken care of in-house," he said. The struggles while trying to address respiratory health at Genesis were part of what showed Cummings and the union that changes need to happen, and the employees need a seat at the table to be sure that their voices are heard when it comes to safety concerns. Supporting mental health Making changes to include more robust safety language in the contract is something Cummings believes the company understands and will support. But another issue that is important to union members that they may have to push harder for is promoting a strong work-life balance and mental health support. "Where we work, there's no paid sick leave," Cummings explained. "What we're asking for is sick and personal days." Cummings explained that employees who have to take time off to care for themselves or their families have to either request vacation time in advance or take an unpaid day off, which counts as an absence and a point against them, which could lead to them being reprimanded for missing work. "You should have that freedom, without the fear of being disciplined or any sort of consequence, to carry out your most important duties, which are at home," Cummings said. He pointed out that most of the other mines in Southwest Wyoming give their employees sick days and personal days, so the union is working to give that to their members who work at Genesis as well. Having this work-life balance, and being able to take time off to support mental health, is also important to the union. Cummings pointed out that recent research has shown that "the number one danger to miners in southwest Wyoming is suicide." For miners struggling with mental health, being able to admit they're not ok and take even one day off to recuperate could make a difference. "I'm not saying that a day's enough, but it might be enough to keep our guys walking," Cummings said. Working together to create change When it comes to the changes they hope to make, Cummings feels that the union's requests aren't unreasonable. "We're not asking for the world," he said. "We're just asking to be treated like humans." Cummings also pointed out that they want to see the company as a whole be able to succeed, not go under. But, with recent record years for Genesis production and earnings statements, he also feels the company has enough money to take care of their employees' health and safety. He also believes that the employees have earned the support of the company. "Coming off the heels of COVID and going through the layoff, going through all the hoops that the company placed on us to make sure that the business kept going, we came through for them. We're hoping they come through for us," Cummings said. Another factor to consider is the potential new trona mining and soda ash production facilities that are planning to come to the area, including Project West and Pacific Soda. With new opportunities, Cummings pointed out that retaining the employees who have built the foundation at Genesis will be important. "We want to make sure that the company knows if you want to keep these guys here, then you need to make it enticing for them to do so," he said. The union is working to have readings of the contract this week and get copies out to the members, with the intention of voting on whether or not to approve the contract on Sunday. "These negotiations are an opportunity for Genesis Alkali and the United Steelworkers to build a relationship that gets us to the safest, most efficient, highest producing mine in the world, but we can only do that if we work together and realize we are partners in this," Cummings said. College of American Pathologists inspected all three labs The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) awarded accreditation to the medical laboratories at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County based on results of a recent on-site inspection conducted by CAP inspectors. The inspection team included practicing pathology and laboratory medicine professionals. Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality and mitigates risk, an important way that laboratories can contribute to improved patient outcomes. The CAP advised the hospital's Medical Laboratory Director Cielette Karn, M.D., of this global recognition and congratulated the laboratory for its excellence in the services being provided. MHSC's laboratories the main hospital lab, the Specialty Clinic lab at 1180 College Drive, and the Sweetwater Walk-In lab at 3000 College Drive are among more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. "It takes a team to achieve this accomplishment, and we are very fortunate to have a team of motivated, attentive laboratorians who are dedicated to providing excellence in laboratory medicine services," Karn said. "With the CAP, we now have additional tools that will allow us to focus on the highest quality service and standard of care for the patients of Sweetwater County." Administrative Laboratory Director Aimee Urbin said "We are very proud to be able to meet the rigorous standards that CAP has set forth to be able to achieve this accreditation. This accreditation will help to ensure we are always able to serve our patients and their families with the highest quality of care. Our laboratory team is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources to remain current and relevant through the ever-evolving, growing, and changing healthcare environment." MHSC CEO Irene Richardson, upon learning of the laboratory's accreditation, said: "This is an outstanding accomplishment, and I am so proud of our laboratory team. They are a highly skilled and dedicated group that always strives for excellence. This is a huge win for our laboratory, our patients, and our community." During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management. These reviews help verify activities reflect the most recent best practices. With over 23,000 laboratory participants, in addition to accreditation, the CAP offers proficiency testing/external quality assessment programs, quality improvement tools, and protocols and guidelines to ensure excellence in all areas across the laboratory. Built on a foundation of pathologist expertise, the College of American Pathologists partners with laboratories worldwide to elevate the quality of laboratory medicine with best-in-class solutions designed to drive operational excellence, achieve diagnostic confidence, and ensure the best patient care. Congratulations to the pathology and laboratory medicine team for this significant accomplishment that further demonstrates the commitment to high-quality patient care at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County. To find out more about our laboratory and all that Sweetwater Memorial has to offer, go to http://www.sweetwatermemorial.com. Some Republican lawmakers have sought to restrict foreign ownership of Wyoming land in recent years, but doing so could put mining industry jobs and tax revenue at risk. Thats what energy industry spokespeople told the Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee Thursday during a meeting in Buffalo. Foreign ownership in Sweetwater County and Southwest Wyoming is a benefit to the state, Jody Levin, speaking on behalf of the trona industry and the Wyoming Mining Association, told lawmakers. Wyoming is one of several states whose conservative politicians have taken an interest in restricting or monitoring foreign ownership of land, according to a Legislative Service Office memo. Supporters of the legislation say its a matter of safety and national security. But concerns over enforcement, the potential for violating the Federal Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination based on national origin and private property rights, among other things, have kept more restrictive bills from crossing the finish line. That hasnt stopped some politicians from trying. But critics of the legislation note that three of Wyomings four trona mining companies are owned by foreign parties, which provide some of the best, high-paying jobs in Wyoming, Levin said. Committee member Rep. Clark Stith (R-Rock Springs) echoed that sentiment. The foreign ownership of trona mines in Sweetwater County is a benefit to the county and to the state of Wyoming, he said at the meeting. Wyomings trona mines employed 2,225 workers as of 2018, according to the Wyoming Mining Association. But it goes well beyond trona, too, Levin told lawmakers, pointing to foreign ownership of uranium and rare earth mines in the state. The state constitution has so far served as a buffer against measures targeting foreign ownership. It asserts that no distinction shall ever be made by law between resident aliens and citizens as to the possession, taxation, enjoyment and descent of property. Appetite for such legislation, however, has only grown fiercer among some lawmakers, including members of the hard-line Freedom Caucus who evoked rarely used rules to revive failed legislation during the 2024 budget session. Those attempts failed, but industry took note of the political winds. Given the number of bill drafts the last couple of years on this topic, the Wyoming Mining Association, and the trona industry specifically, did request this as an interim topic, Levin told lawmakers. Now, the Appropriations Committee is pursuing the topic in the off-season, known as the interim, when lawmakers meet to study topics that require more time and resources than what is available during the session. The committee whose membership mostly leans toward the traditional wing of the Republican Party shares the industrys concern with striking a balance. The Committee will consider regulatory measures to ensure transparency, fairness, and protection of domestic interests without hindering foreign investments from non-adversarial countries that benefit the State of Wyoming, according to the Legislatures list of 2024 interim topics. The endeavor comes at a time when some of the same lawmakers who have pushed to prohibit foreign ownership of land have accused Gov. Mark Gordon of not doing enough to protect mining jobs against the federal governments proposed plans to address climate change. Background Two 2024 senate bills related to foreign ownership of land were companion legislation. Sen. Cheri Steinmetz (R-Lingle) was lead sponsor of both. One measure would have given voters the choice to change the Wyoming Constitution to allow for the prohibition of ownership or inheritance of property by foreign parties that pose a threat to national security. The other sought to bar foreign ownership of property near critical infrastructure and military installations. Foreign parties that already owned such property would be given four months after notice to dispose of the property. If not, the property would be sold at auction. Both bills cleared the Senate, but failed in the House Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers declined to vote on either. A third bill, sponsored by Sen. Tara Nethercott (R-Cheyenne), however, was successful. Nethercott is a member of the Appropriations Committee. Going into effect July 1, the law does not involve any restrictions, but rather creates definitions, reporting requirements and designations. It provides definitions for critical infrastructure, critical infrastructure zone, and designated country or persons. It also requires the governor and the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security to designate critical infrastructure zones, and calls on county clerks to report land transactions that occur in or within one of those zones to the state. From there, Homeland Security and the Division of Criminal Investigation, upon reasonable suspicion, may investigate to determine if the conveyance involves a designated country or person or if the conveyance poses a threat to national or state security or to critical infrastructure, according to the statute. Meeting Gov. Gordons Chief of Staff, Drew Perkins, spoke highly of Nethercotts bill at Thursdays meeting, noting its incremental approach. All it did right now was set up a framework to begin to identify real estate transactions within a certain proximity of critical infrastructure. It didnt create prohibitions, didnt do anything else, Perkins said. I think the idea was simply that the state would act as the eyes and ears of, particularly, the feds and then relay that information if theres a problem with that. Going forward, Perkins urged lawmakers to be cautious. I think you have to be incredibly careful because the risk of unintended consequences is very, very great, Perkins said. Levin said the main concerns for the trona industry were broad definitions, including the definition of agriculture in the bill drafts that weve seen before the Legislature to date, that would include all land in Wyoming. So thats very difficult. We also have concerns about the definition of critical infrastructure. Part of the problem is proximity, Levin said, noting the trona mines near Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Interstate 80 and major electrical lines. Other operations, such as soda ash processing plants, may be considered critical infrastructure. Those operations provide over 90% of the US soda ash market. So they are strategic assets to the United States, Levin said. So we find ourselves in a massive quandary. To just be honest, there is not a great way of trying to figure out this issue. Depending on those definitions, its not great for business, Craig Rood with Project West told Lawmakers. Project West, which has both English and Turkish investors, is planning to build a new trona mine and soda ash processing facility west of Green River. If there is proposed legislation hanging out there, it causes pause for our investors as were doing a big project like this, Rood said. While the committee did not take any formal action Thursday, Chairman Rep. Bob Nicholas (R-Cheyenne) suggested the committee form a working group. There may be another four or five bills that hit the floor next session, Nicholas said. To be in a mode where were not fighting those bills, if we have something in draft, or that we can review this fall, and have something in our holster, where we pull it out or not, I think that would be worth the effort to do so. The Appropriations Committee will next meet in September. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Oppo launched the A3 Pro in China in April and a different phone with the same name in India last week. The company is now getting ready to make the non-Pro A3 official in China, and today it's decided to tease the upcoming smartphone over on Weibo. Oppo shared the images you can see below, which reveal a very similar design to that of the Chinese Oppo A3 Pro, but the A3 will have a flat screen not a curved one like that model. The three colorways that will be offered are called Mountain Stream Green, Aurora Purple, and Quiet Sea Black, according to machine translation. Oppo A3 official teaser images The Oppo A3 will be made official on July 2 at 14:30 local time in China. It will be 7.15mm thin and "ultra durable" with a slightly curved frame that's supposed to enhance the in-hand feel. While Oppo itself hasn't revealed any specs (at least not yet), the A3 was recently found in China Telecom's product library. So we know it will have a 6.7-inch 1080x2412 touchscreen, a 50 MP main camera and a 2 MP decorative sensor next to it, an 8 MP selfie snapper, and a 5,000 mAh battery. At the helm will be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 or the Snapdragon 695 which are more or less identical even by Qualcomm's own admission. The A3 is expected to be offered in three RAM/storage combos: 8/256GB, 12/256GB, and 12/512GB. The phone should start at CNY 2,099 (approximately $288 at the current exchange rates). Source (in Chinese) | Via Android updates are increasingly supported for longer and longer periods of time on top of the line, high-end, or upper-midrange devices across brands, but lower-midrange and especially entry-level phones have it a lot harder. Qualcomm wants to do all it can to change that, however. The issuance of updates is very dependent on the maker of the chipset in your phone, as that company has to still actively support the SoC, and for most cheaper ones, the support window ends much sooner than for more expensive ones, perhaps understandably. Even at higher price points, the cadence of updates isn't always what it should be - monthly security updates are only provided monthly by a handful of brands, for example. So this is where Qualcomm comes in. According to Chris Patrick, SVP and General Manager of Handsets at Qualcomm, the company has been working on making it easier for OEMs to keep all of their phones updated. Here's what Patrick told Android Authority: It is very complicated for a customer an OEM to get security updates, to get Android version updates, and then get it to every end user. Its actually very expensive and very complicated. One of the things weve been working on for the past several years with Google and with the OEMs is to change the structure of inline code to kind of change the machinery for how we do those updates. Youll see that, later on this year, well make some announcements about some of those changes weve made to facilitate this and help the whole ecosystem keep Android phones closer to up to date. Patrick says this has been a significant concern for Qualcomm for a while, and so the company is planning to announce something to address it. Unfortunately there are no further details, so we don't really know when to expect such an announcement, but given the fact that Qualcomm is holding its annual Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii this October, we assume that's when it's most likely to happen. Of course, that doesn't mean things will magically change for all devices instantly from the next day, but this gives us some hope that updates will arrive in a more timely fashion for all devices out there. Superior Court Judge Vernon P. Perez cleared the way for a convicted child molesters deportation to the Philippines on Friday. Perez signed an agreement to amend the release conditions of Jesus Remigio Jr. Formoso Olivar. The agreement allows the attorney generals office to transfer custody of Olivar to the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Deportation serves several purposes, said Attorney General of Guam Douglas Moylan. It protects the public interest, frees up space at the Department of Corrections, and saves the community of Guam from further costs of incarceration, to name a few of several benefits. Olivar is the latest of about 40 prisoners who have been recommended for deportation, said Moylan. This is an important program to protect our island, deter other non-U.S. aliens from breaking our laws, give (government) time to build a bigger prison and reduce the tax bill to our people for housing these criminals, said Moylan. Every alien entering Guam must know that if they break our laws that this AG Moylan administration will do everything in my power to have them deported back to their country. Moylan said that several judges have signed similar stipulation orders for deportation. He wants to continue and expand the program. We work with all local and federal officials, including ICE and DOC, to protect our citizens against criminal aliens. Its a team effort, said Moylan. Olivar, still has about eight years left to serve on a 15-year prison term Olivar was arrested in 2015, after he reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting an underage boy. He worked as a nurse for the Department of Public Health and Social Services at the time of his arrest, according to Pacific Daily News files. A group of kids was walking to a friends house on Jan. 24, 2015, when a man drove up to them, blocked their way with his car and instructed one of the kids to get inside or he would run them over, according to a court complaint. The minors reportedly all ran away except for one boy, who entered the car. Anot portedly said two boys got into his car and he took them to his house, where he admitted to molesting one of the boys in his bathroom before he took them back to a church in Dededo, court documents state. Olivar signed a plea deal in October 2016, more than a year after his arrest. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct as a first-degree felony. He also pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping as a second-degree felony. Perez sentenced him to 10 years in prison for the second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge and another five years for the kidnapping charge, which will be served consecutively. He also was given credit for time served. Part of the stipulation for all deported criminals is that they will be jailed for the remainder of their terms should they return to Guam or any U.S. jurisdiction. Local leaders reacted to the highly anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign which was held 11 a.m. Guam time. The debate between incumbent Democrat President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and former Republican President Donald J. Trump, who are neck-and-neck in national polling in the race for the White House, was hosted and aired globally by CNN. The two sparred for 90 minutes over key issues for the American public such as the economy and immigration. Guam Del. James Moylan, a Republican, was among the local leaders who watched the critical face off. He shared the observation of many national media pundits immediately after the debate. President Trump was certainly more energized, was definitely more optimistic, and seemed very clear in his selection of words. He was also very calm and statesman like. President Biden seemed uncomfortable, had many cringe and stuttering moments, and certainly did not bring the energy to the table. When it comes to preparation, President Trump certainly won this debate, Moylan said. The Democratic Party of Guam issued a statement that said in part, 50 million new jobs, the strongest economic recovery among developed nations, and largest national infrastructure package in recent American historythat is the record President Joe Biden outlined during tonights first presidential debate. While President Biden made clear that America isnt where we want to be economically, we are certainly far better off than where we were. Republican Party of Guam Chairman Shawn Gumataotao, who is also running for the Guam Legislature shared his thoughts on the debate. The American people both here and in the U.S. mainland were witness to a lack of clarity and direction by President Joe Biden. Former President Trump outlined a path forward for America under his leadership and a clear command of the issues. The winner in this particular exchange was clear: Donald Trump, he said. But fellow Republican, Sen. Thomas Fisher, who has been candid about his opposition to Trump, disagreed. It was a debate between a treasonous rapist and a compassionate, competent man who wants to serve his country ... 40 million Americans receiving health care under the ACA versus more tax cuts for the wealthy and continued deference toward enemies of freedom. Biden won. Not even close, Fisher said. There is only one more debate scheduled between Biden and Trump. It will be hosted by ABC News on Wednesday, September 11 at 11 a.m. CHamoru Standard Time. The growingly contentious debate on Bill 175-37 resumed on Friday with Sen. Sabina Perez continuing to introduce amendments to the measure. Bill 175-37 by Sen. Chris Duenas would allow decedent lots, or lots divided among heirs after their parents pass away, to be subdivided into up to four 9,600 square foot lots if they use advanced nitrogen-reducing onsite disposal system known as a Type-4 system that is certified by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. The debate was often heated, with senators talking over each other about procedural issues. At one point, Sen. Joanne Brown spoke in support of one amendment by raising a glass of water and placing various food coloring in it that darkened the water as a visual demonstration of how water can be contaminated. But eventually the number of amendments by oversight chairperson Sen. Sabina Perez became the focus. Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas questioned the volume of proposed changes. All these amendments, why dont you just proffer a new bill? ... Theres no sincerity, its just an effort to kill the bill, San Nicolas said. If you want this bill we have to put in protection for our people ... if you want this density increased lets make sure that its not contaminating our water, Perez responded. Sen. Telo Taitague said the energy that has been spent on trying to derail the debate should be spent on amendments to protect our people. Sen. Tom Fisher said 17 amendments have been brought, and he asked Perez, do you agree that your actual motive in submitting so many vexatious amendments is to destroy the bill, not to improve it, and that you are acting in bad faith? Perez responded that it was an unfair question and that she had been very transparent about the bill. Duenas told the Pacific Daily News he believes the Perez amendments are a way to filibuster the bill, which is a political procedure to prolong debate on proposed legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision. Sen. Chris Barnett said its the special interests, and not the landowners, who want the bill to be passed as is. Look at it, its plain to see, whos getting mad? Were here to debate and discuss and if you dont want to do that somethings wrong, Barnett said. Sen. Joe San Agustin followed and said he supported another of the amendments, but responded to Barnetts comments with apparent sarcasm. If anybody wants to give me donation, I accept them, realtors, I accept donation from everybody, but it doesnt buy my vote, San Agustin said. Perez on Thursday argued that development of unsewered quarter-acre lots within the groundwater protection zone would result in a doubling or 100% increase in wastewater loading even with type-4 nitrogen reducing systems. The purity and cleanliness of our water should not be negotiable, Perez said in explaining her amendment to restrict developers from taking advantage of the purpose of the bill. Duenas has said the impact of the measure has been blown out of proportion. This bill is narrow, it corrects a grave injustice to decedent estates, he said. Finally, by late afternoon a motion was passed to end debate on Bill 175-37. Legislative session is scheduled to resume 9 a.m. Monday. June 27, 2024: Vladimir Putin has been running Russia since 1999 via a series of appointments he received, and then elections he won or controlled because he maintained or increased the standard of living for most Russians. That came to an end in 2014 when Russia seized Ukrainian Crimea and parts of two provinces. Western nations responded to this aggression by imposing economic sanctions on Russia. This caused a reduction in living standards for many Russians. The only exceptions were the oligarchs. These were the hundred or so men and women who emerged when the Soviet Union collapsed and were resourceful enough to gain control of many of the former state-owned companies. This made those entrepreneurs fabulously rich and they became known as oligarchs. Anyone seeking to rule Russia needed the support of the oligarchs. At the same time, the oligarchs needed the support of senior government officials to keep their wealth safe and themselves out of legal or political trouble. These efforts ran into trouble back in 2016 when government efforts to control what appears on the Internet inside Russia, and in domestic mass media, were not sufficient to keep out damaging evidence of corruption among the Russian leadership. This happened with the April 2016 release of 11 million documents stolen via hacking from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based international law firm. Data from these documents showed many prominent Russian officials did business with Mossack Fonseca, a firm that assists wealthy people who want to set up overseas bank accounts and corporations whose owners are very difficult for most people, or even other governments to identify. The Mossack Fonseca records provided details of enormous wealth owned by Russian officials who could not explain where it came from. In the state-controlled media these revelations dont exist and are referred to as more Western lies not worth repeating. Despite that attitude, these details got into Russia via the Internet and eventually reached just about everyone. The damage done was considerable because it made Russians realize that, since 2014, Russia has been making a lot of headlines but not much else. The economy is a mess, it has fewer allies and the future looks dim. Invading Ukraine and Syria did not help any of these fundamental problems. What passes for good news is things like foreign economists agreeing that the Russian economy is shrinking less than expected. What the government describes as victories in Syria and Ukraine dont pay the rent or put food on the table. By 2024 more and more Russians are merely getting by and the appeal of the new nationalism is fading. The oligarchs still prosper because they can, at the request of a government official who protects them, move money around to where the government needs it for bribes or illegal investments. What went wrong? Russia entered the 21st century with a new elected government dominated by former secret police KGB officers like Vladimir Putin who promised to restore economic and civil order. They did so but in the process turned Russia into a police state with less political and economic freedom. A growing number of Russians opposed this and the government responded by appealing to nationalism. Russia has returned to police state ways and its traditional threatening attitude towards neighbors. Rather than being run by corrupt communist bureaucrats, the country is now dominated by corrupt oligarchs, gangsters and self-serving government officials. The semi-free economy was more productive than the centrally controlled communist one but that just provides more money to steal. A rebellion against the new dictatorship was derailed by astute propaganda depicting Russia as under siege by the West. Yet opinion polls that show wide popular support for this paranoid fantasy left some Russians with democratic impulses who continue demanding better government and needed reforms. But for now most Russians want economic and personal security and are willing to tolerate a police state to get it. That atmosphere, plus the anxiety generated by the Ukraine invasion, scared away a lot of foreign investors and many Russian ones as well. Russia can downplay this in state-controlled media but without all that foreign and Russian capital the economy cannot grow. The only major economic power Russia can still do business with is China, which recognizes Russias pervasive corruption and economic weakness and refuses to get too involved. As the Fourth of July approaches, Americans across the country are making plans for picnics, barbecues and an evening full of fireworks. If you need to grab some last-minute coals for the grill, or stock up on beer and hamburger buns, its important to know where to shop. If you plan on making a Costco trip for the holiday, youll want to visit on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. All locations of the wholesale warehouse store will be closed on Thursday, July 4. Store hours vary depending on the location, but Costco is typically open until 8:30 p.m. on weekdays if you need to shop before the holiday. Check the companys warehouse finder tool before heading out in search of the perfect blow-up pool or to taste the free samples. If you need bulk items on July 4 itself, big box competitor Sams Club will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for club members. Other stores will also remain open, including H-E-B, Whole Foods, Target and Walmart. Costco typically adjusts its store hours on major holidays to allow employees to spend time with their families, and Independence Day is no exception. The Fourth of July is one of seven days a year that all Costco locations are closed: New Years Day Easter Sunday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day This closure extends to all areas of Costco, including their food courts, gas stations and optical departments. Costco Wholesale is a membership-only warehouse club, with operations in eight countries across the globe. It is currently ranked as the third-largest retailer in the world. The store, whose business model relies on selling items in bulk, first opened in a San Diego airplane hangar in 1976. A Florida nurse has been accused of illegally prescribing 1.5 million Adderall pills and other stimulants to unqualified patients for her own financial gain. On Thursday, The Justice Department announced that Erin Kim, 54, a nurse practitioner from Orlando, Florida, employed by Done Health, a California based digital health company, was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances, earning her more than $800,000 since Jan. 2021. According to the Department of Justice, it was part of a nationwide scheme concocted by her employer, Done Health, to illegally prescribe the medication for profit. The company, which promoted itself as a provider of online diagnosis, treatment and medication refills for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, used a subscription-based model, in which individuals (referred to as Done members) paid a monthly fee to the company for the service. Officials contend Done Health allegedly instructed (and paid) its network of medical practitioners, including Kim, to diagnose members with ADHD and write prescriptions for controlled substances. Referring to Kim as one of the most prolific prescribers working for Done, the Department of Justice claims that over the course of her employment, Kim prescribed Adderall and other stimulants that were not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. The indictment further alleges that Kim prescribed medication without any patient interaction and that she fabricated files for patients who did not meet the requisite diagnostic criteria. The Department of Justice contends this resulted in Kim prescribing Adderall and other stimulants to individuals suffering from drug addiction and, it says, she continued to issue Adderall prescriptions for months after the overdose deaths of some patients. Though based in Orlando, Kim is licensed as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in multiple states, including Florida, Kentucky and Texas. Five additional defendants associated with Done Health also were arrested and charged, accused of the unlawful distribution of millions of Adderall pills, including Ruthia He, the CEO and founder of Done Global Inc., and David Brody, the clinical president of Done Health P.C. The DEA works tirelessly to protect the public from harm, be it cartels funneling fentanyl into our communities or medical providers caring more about profits than patients, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, said in a news release. The CEO and clinical director of Done Global Inc. are charged with over-prescribing millions of unneeded stimulant pills, potentially putting patients in danger and exacerbating the current stimulant medicine shortage. Kims case is part of the Justice Departments 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action, which resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals in 32 federal districts across the U.S., over their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving approximately $2.75 billion in intended losses and $1.6 billion in actual losses. June 27, 2024: The practice of commercial firms hiring former military pilots to train new pilots began before World War II. Since then it has become an increasingly common practice. Working for these training companies is a lucrative job for former military pilots, as well as flight engineers and air operations personnel. Some countries arrange for their pilot trainees to obtain their initial training from these firms before entering the military pilot training program. Flight engineers are personnel who, in larger aircraft, or as the second man in two-seat fighters, monitor flight operations so the pilot can concentrate on flying the plane. U.S. B-52 bombers have a flight engineer. In more modern bombers like the B-1 and B-21, the flight engineer is replaced by an automated system that one of the two pilots can monitor. The B-21 bomber, which is still in development, can use a crew of two pilots, or even substitute automation for pilots and be sent on missions without any people on board. The U.S. Air Force is planning to purchase a hundred B-21s. Air operations personnel handle the planning, logistics and aircraft maintenance aspects of airbases. These are important aspects of effectively running an air force. A recent development involving Chinese pilot training programs outside China has met resistance from western countries in North America and Europe. This was deemed unacceptable by the U.S. government and former U.S. pilots seeking work in this area were warned to avoid any firms secretly controlled by the Chinese. In response the Chinese has sought to hide their involvement in these flight training programs. That will be difficult because the trainees are Chinese. Despite this resistance the Chinese are offering much higher salaries than earlier programs. While American pilots are discouraged by their government from participating, European pilots face less resistance and take these jobs. June 28, 2024: Until early 2022, Russian Information War operations were aimed mainly at other countries. Russian leader Vladimir Putin had, in the previous two decades, successfully turned Russia back into something resembling the Soviet Union he was nostalgic for. Putin was now president-for-life and controlled the mass media and nearly all the independent media. Putin has revived many of his favorite Soviet era institutions, including a large, modern dezinformatsiya (disinformation) organization. This new dezinformatsiya capability took advantage of the Internet to become even more effective than its Cold War version. In 2022 Putins political fortunes took a turn for the worse when his invasion of Ukraine quickly failed with the loss of thousands of armored vehicles, most of the combat unit officers and such high troop losses that he found a growing number of Russians turning against him. If not stabilized or reversed, that shift in public opinion might have been fatal for his continued ability to rule Russia. Putin adjusted for this by implementing a series of information management measures, including ones that sought to control local and international media reports about Russia. This was often done by bribing amenable foreign journalists, including bloggers with large followings. Initially Russia allocated nearly $3 million for this effort. Putins solution also included a dezinformatsiya operation against the Russian people to convince them that the Ukraine operation was not a failure but had succeeded in stalling and exposing a secret NATO plan to weaken Russia and render it unable to rebuild the Russian empire and make Russia great again. Or to at least keep Putin in power. The VGTRK was full of Putin loyalists who enthusiastically used the dezinformatsiya operation to feed Russians an illusion that proved Putins version of what NATO was doing to Russia and the success of Putin in disrupting the NATO efforts to hurt Russia. While the old War era disinformation depended on bribing foreign journalists to get articles published that supported Soviet goals without being too traceable back to Russia, the 2022 version only had government-controlled mass media inside Russia to work with. Most of what we now know of Russian Cold War disinformation methods and their success was documented after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and for several years it was possible for Western journalists, and intelligence officials to document what the Soviets did and how successful it was. This provided lots of surprises, many of the unpleasant kind, for Western journalists and intelligence professionals. The Soviets were very successful and managed to weaken Western efforts to thwart Soviet schemes. Using updated traditional techniques to take full advantage of Internet capabilities, Putin has, so far, contained but not eliminated the growing popular opposition to the Ukraine War inside Russia. This new disinformation campaign is pretty convincing to the average Russian that knows little of the West and gets most of their news from VGTRK. It starts with the enormous quantity of information broadcast by Western media and captured on the Internet or databases maintained by Russia and China. VGTRK news editors have access to all these soundbites and video moments that can be edited and presented to show the Putin interpretation in a convincing manner, at least to Russians getting most of their news from VGTRK. There are a large number of Russians who know what Western media publish and see through the VGTRK disinformation and see it for what it is. Unfortunately, nearly eight million of these Russians have left the country since Putin took power in 1999. Over a million more have left since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. That invasion resulted in disruptive and costly western economic sanctions. Basically the proportion of Russians gullible enough to believe Putins disinformation schemes, relative to those skeptical enough to disbelieve those schemes, has risen. This is somewhat offset by a million Russian dead, missing, crippled or prisoners of war since the Ukraine war started. Western Internet media are not blameless and have, over the past few years, been accused, and often exposed for using disinformation for their own economic or, more frequently, political goals. For Western social media sites like Facebook, 2019 is now seen as the year their unpleasant changes began. This was all about the resurgence of Cold War era media campaigns that Russia used to wage internationally using pre-Internet media. Soon Facebook announced the discovery and banishment of hundreds of accounts owned and operated by Russian firms that specialize in this sort of thing. The largest Russian disinformation operation is the IRA (Internet Research Agency). During the Cold War something like the IRA would be a top-secret subsidiary of the KGB (secret police). In post-communist Russia, a lot of KGB operations have gone commercial and many other nations have adopted those techniques. Facebook has found dozens of nations using or backing the use of Internet-based propaganda or disinformation campaigns. That is something new because in pre-Internet days only major nations could organize and run an effective international disinformation effort. Facebook went public in part to alert the public to how these scams work and what to look for. Facebook finds most of these scams via software that looks for certain kinds of CIB (Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior). This automated approach sometimes leads to false positives and hapless users find themselves banned for appearing to be part of a Russian disinformation operation. With over a billion users this is bound to happen on Facebook, so the press releases about CIB efforts are partly an effort to let users know that Facebook is constantly refining its software tools to reduce the number of false positives. For Facebook that is necessary to limit the bad publicity some of these false positives create when the victim proves their case and makes Facebook look like some evil media corporation. Yet much of the inauthentic behavior, like copying and pasting a lot without using much commentary, is popular with a lot of legitimate users. The CIB effort continues to the present. Facebook isnt the only social media site trying to block government disinformation campaigns. X (Twitter), as well as Facebook earlier, announced they had shut down hundreds of accounts that were being used by China to spread false and disparaging news about the millions of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. Twitter revealed that their analysis software had discovered over 20,000 suspect accounts but that most of these appeared to be legitimate accounts of people who sided with the Chinese government. What Twitter did not reveal was that they were also using a disinformation campaign against their own users to ensure that only opinions approved by Twitter management showed up on Twitter. This deception was revealed in 2022 when new owners of Twitter released the incriminating evidence of what had been done, Facebook reported that they had found a large number of accounts that appeared to be taking orders from the Chinese government to discredit and disparage the Hong Kong protestors, or simply drive pro-protestor users off Facebook pages or discussions favorable to the protests. Facebook was also more willing to admit incidents of censoring users and backed off on that while Twitter continued. This effort to find and cripple the Chinese Information War operation on Twitter and Facebook confirmed earlier estimates that about half a million Chinese were working for this Information War operation. The Chinese effort was not just directed against the Hong Kong protestors but also sought to boost Chinas image among the worldwide Chinese speaking social media users. For those who follow this sort of thing, the Chinese Hong Kong disinformation operation is nothing new. Disinformation efforts have been going on for decades and expanded and escalated after 1995 when the Internet became easier to use for the rapidly growing number of PC and later cellphone users. The Chinese began to use the Internet as part of their Information War operations in 2005 when propaganda officials sought ways to deal with growing anti-government activity on Internet message boards. One idea was to organize the pro-government posters already out there. Their huge propaganda bureaucracy did so and got so many volunteers that they soon developed a test to select the most capable candidates. The government also set up training classes to improve the skills of these volunteers. Cash bonuses were offered for the most effective work. At one point, the government had nearly 100,000 volunteers and paid posters operating. This quickly evolved into the 50 Cent Army. By 2010 the Russian government adopted the practice and before long there was the 50 Ruble Army in Russia. The Chinese eventually realized that quality was better than quantity because the less articulate posters were easily spotted, and ridiculed, as members of the 50 Cent Army, Internet Apes, or the Water Army. These derogatory names were because of the zombie accounts used for posting. This was especially the case outside of China. Inside China people just learned to ignore the government posters. That was a wise choice because currently about 18 percent of all posts on the Chinese Internet come from government-controlled or influenced accounts. Gradually China grew to depend on quantity as well as quality. They found that the more skilled Internet Apes often appear convincing to many people following Internet based discussions. The 50 Cent Army was often a very worthwhile investment, especially when experienced and skilled posters were used. In this area, quantity does not really match quality. In the United States, China used the same techniques to push political candidates or commercial products. Americans call this viral marketing and it is a popular marketing tool worldwide. The CIA has used a similar technique to counter anti-American, or pro-terrorist, activity on the Internet. This activity also made it easier to spot potential terrorists or potential informants. Russia adopted the Chinese technique of harnessing the enthusiasm of pro-government volunteers. As happened elsewhere, bloggers and posters with a large following were also enticed to be pro-government, for a fee, or perhaps because of a few threats. This practice of buying favorable attention in the media is nothing new and is centuries old. The U.S. is unique in that, for about a century, the American mass media was largely free of this blatant bribery. But in most of the world, a clever journalist quickly attracts the attention of people who will pay for some favorable comments. It's no secret, although many journalists insist, they are not bought. More Americans have become aware of this form of Information War since late 2016 when suddenly there were frequent accusations of Russia interfering in American elections. This was accomplished by Russia using government-directed messages to be posted, on a massive scale, in social media and other online sites. One aspect of this that didnt attract much media attention was that this technique, and its use by foreign governments in the United States, was nothing new. This sort of thing has been widely used on the Internet for over a decade and for generations. Earlier there was astroturfing that involved creating fake grassroots support with a variety of pre-Internet techniques. Then there were the more lavishly funded Soviet efforts called dezinformatsiya (disinformation) operations. During the Cold War the communist rulers of the Soviet Union invented or expanded on all sorts of propaganda, deception and indoctrination techniques that are still widely copied and often condemned because they work, at least sometimes. In the end, all that dezinformatsiya did not prevent the Soviet empire from collapsing and disintegrating. Some of those techniques have been updated and continue to serve the current rulers of Russia. One of them involves the Internet and is believed particularly useful or at least thought to be in Russia. While technically a democracy, modern Russia has evolved into yet another dictatorship. This is because out of the ashes of the Soviet Union there arose an oligarchy with enough cash and propaganda skills, not to mention control of most mass media, to get elected and make most Russians support what the new government wants. The oligarchs were a group of about a hundred Russian entrepreneurs who bought government assets cheap after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and state-owned companies were sold to the public. Before 1991, almost the entire Russian economy was state owned. A key tool of the oligarchs was using freewheeling Internet-based message boards to mold and manipulate public opinion. This sort of thing has been around since the Internet began its explosive growth after 2000, as it went from 500 million users to 5.4 billion now. That means two-thirds of the global population has internet access. With most of the global population using the Internet, it has become a major tool for disinformation operations It wasnt long before many Internet users noticed that messages posted by propagandists or PR specialists were showing up in social media and messaging areas throughout the Internet. This was especially true in China. This is where it all began; the idea of quietly paying Internet users a small fee to post pro-government or company responses on message boards where some company or the government is being criticized or maligned. For some members of the original Chinese 50 Cent Party it was a full-time job, receiving up to 50 cents each for up to a hundred pro-government messages posted a day, using several dozen different accounts. But most of the posters were volunteers or just did it to earn a little extra money. If you could post in foreign languages, especially colloquial English, you would make more. Very few members of the 50 Cent Army made lots of money and most were reviled by their online peers as a bunch of trolls, as in those who leave messages to annoy rather than inform or amuse. By 2015 Russia had turned Internet trolling into a profession with full-time workers getting paid $700 to $1,000 a month plus bonuses for especially effective efforts. The trolls were working in office settings rather than from home. These professional trolls mainly write in Russian to encourage pro-government opinions among Russian Internet users. The government also has an international program that pays a lot more because of the need for good foreign language skills. That means the ability to write like a native not only in terms of grammar but in terms of the Internet idioms unique to each language or country. The key here is to not appear to be a Russian troll but a local internet user. Even before Russia had turned Internet trolling into a profession, Israel kicked this process up a level in 2013 by establishing a special tuition assistance program for university students who agreed to regularly post messages on the Internet to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel propaganda. While Israel is unique in being one of the few countries to admit doing this, many others have been caught at it and continue to deny any official involvement. One example is North Korea, which South Korea believes has had since at least 2014 several hundred operatives who are basically full-time Internet Apes, whose sole task is to battle anti-North Korean sentiments on South Korean internet message areas and push the idea that North Korea is a better place to live than it actually is. By now many veteran Internet users automatically recognize and ignore the paid messages and go out of their way to teach others what to look for. In the West, many moderators of message boards have tools that allow them to instantly delete the accounts of Internet Apes and all their paid-for posts. In China you can get arrested for doing that, but not for just ignoring the paid propaganda. Israel leaves it up to the operators to reveal they are semi-official or keep quiet about that. By using carefully selected university students the Israelis are better able to avoid detection and deliver more effective messages. This could be a key advantage of this program because if you can influence people who are very active on the Internet and have many followers you gain credibility and momentum. Finnish Customs has recently seen an uptick in the interception of hair loss treatments ordered online. Many of these medications contain minoxidil, which is available over-the-counter in Finnish pharmacies. However, importing these medications via mail from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) is either restricted or outright prohibited. While minoxidil can be legally purchased in Finland, importing it from non-EEA countries is not allowed. For orders within the EEA, there are specific limitations: individuals can only order up to a three-month supply, and the medications must be for personal use. If the medication requires a prescription, the buyer must have a valid prescription or a doctors certificate. It is the buyers responsibility to ensure that the medication can be legally imported into Finland. Special attention should be paid to the origin of the medication. If the online retailers warehouse is outside the EEA, the medication cannot be shipped to Finland, even if the retailer operates within the EEA, advises Anne Pullinen, a senior inspector at Finnish Customs. Customs and Fimeas Roles in Medication Importation In Finland, the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) is responsible for classifying medications, and all restrictions and regulations regarding medications should be checked with Fimea. Customs enforces these importation restrictions and has the authority to request additional documentation. If the import conditions are not met, the medications are confiscated, and the buyer loses both the medications and their money. The EEA includes EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. HT In inland waters, the number of algae sightings has increased since last week. The recent warm weather has led to a significant rise in blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) sightings in Finland's inland waters, coastal areas, and the Gulf of Finland. According to the latest observations, blue-green algae are appearing more frequently than average for this time of year. In Southern, Eastern, and Western Finland, seven national monitoring sites have reported abundant blue-green algae. Additionally, 34 sites in Southern and Central Finland have reported minor algae presence. Although the warm weather has fueled the growth, the anticipated unsettled weather this weekend is expected to curb the proliferation and reduce the formation of blooms. Coastal areas have also seen a higher than usual presence of blue-green algae. Observations from 21 national monitoring sites indicate significant algae blooms at two sites and minor presence at 19 sites, primarily along the coasts of Southeastern, Southern, and Southwestern Finland. Satellite monitoring has been particularly effective this week due to clear skies, revealing algae blooms in the Gulf of Finland and dispersed in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea. Earlier this week, surface-level algae were also spotted in the Archipelago Sea, though none were detected in the Bothnian Sea. Satellite images from Tuesday show algae stretching across the Gulf of Finland from Kotka to Helsinki and into the southern parts of the Archipelago Sea, with significant concentrations in the eastern Gulf. In addition to official monitoring, citizen reports have been crucial. Platforms like Jarvi-meriwiki and Vesi.fi have seen a surge in public sightings, with around 300 observations submitted this week alone. Monitoring and Health Risks The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) collaborates with various regional bodies and local authorities to monitor blue-green algae as part of a national environmental program. With over 400 monitoring sites, the program aims to provide a comprehensive overview of algae conditions across inland waters, coastal areas, and the archipelago. Health risks associated with blue-green algae are significant. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), algae can produce liver and neurotoxins, among other harmful compounds. Symptoms from exposure can include skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues. Small children and pets are particularly vulnerable and should be kept away from affected waters. Contaminated water should not be used for bathing, washing, or watering plants. Local health authorities oversee the algae conditions at swimming areas and provide updates on safety. For the most accurate and timely information, residents and visitors are encouraged to report sightings and check updates through platforms like Jarvi-meriwiki. Recognizing Blue-Green Algae Blue-green algae can appear as green or yellowish particles in water, forming streaks along shores. In calm conditions, they can create dense, greenish blooms on the water surface. Differentiating between algae and pollen is essential; pollen tends to float on the water surface and settle on objects like docks and outdoor furniture. If you suspect blue-green algae in water, use a stick to test it: algae will disperse into tiny particles, while other substances may cling to the stick. In a water container, blue-green algae will rise to the surface within an hour as green specks. For more detailed information and to report sightings, visit the THL, Myrkytystietokeskus, and Terveyskirjasto websites. HT Lets just say that this hasnt been a pleasant stroll in the park, she characterised. A GOVERNMENT BILL for a special border security act that would enable the temporary suspension of asylum application reception has generated heated debate within the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, chairperson Tytti Tuppurainen admitted on YLE A-studio on Wednesday. The bill would enable the government to suspend the reception of asylum applications in limited areas at and in the vicinity of national borders for up to a month and, in effect, delegate the responsibility for assessing whether applicants have a legitimate claim for international protection to individual border officials. The government has argued that such legislation is necessary to combat so-called instrumentalised migration the use of migrants in foreign influence operations. While the government has conceded that the bill stands in tension with international human rights treaties, legal experts have estimated that it violates both international commitments and the constitution. Also border officials have expressed their concern about the bill, viewing that it would put border guards in situations where enforcing the act would constitute a violation of their official duty and expose themselves to litigation. A parliamentary majority of five-sixths will be required to pass the bill as a special act. With the Green League and Left Alliance opposing and the Centre supporting the bill, the Social Democrats are set to decide the fate of the bill. Also the Swedish Peoples Party has ruled that its members can vote on the bill with their conscience. Tuppurainen on Wednesday indicated that tempers within the parliamentary group have flared during the process but voiced her confidence that the group will be able to form a unanimous position on the bill. Helsingin Sanomat has reported that members of the opposition party have been instructed to discuss the issue publicly only at a general level and refrain from announcing their support or opposition to the bill. The bill is presently being weighed up by the Parliaments Administration Committee. Tuppurainen stressed that the committee has find ways to minimise the risk that the act violates international treaties in order secure the support of the Social Democrats. Its possible [we wont support the bill]. Its too early to say that this is done and dusted, she remarked to the public broadcasting company. The Social Democrats are also demanding that the bill be subjected to a second review by the Constitutional Law Committee. Yes, its indeed an absolute requirement, commented Tuppurainen. She estimated that the bill could be presented to parliament next week at the earliest. The Constitutional Law Committee on 18 June ruled that enacting the special act is necessary and possible by a vote of 15 for and 2 against while acknowledging the incongruence it has with binding human rights obligations. The Administration Committee, it added, has to revise the bill and consolidate the legal protection of migrants with a retroactive legal protection mechanism. Fatim Diarra (Greens) and Anna Kontula (LA), the two committee members who voted against the position, said the committee was walking over experts by approving human rights violations. Helsingin Sanomat revealed earlier this month that enacting the bill was deemed unfeasible by all of the 18 legal experts who appeared before the Constitutional Law Committee. It was ruled to be problematic from the perspective of three basic and human rights: the principle of non-refoulement, the right to seek asylum and the right to an effective remedy and fair trial. The experts commented on the bill before it passed the Constitutional Law Committee. Allan Rosas, a former judge at the Court of Justice of the European Union, argued to the newspaper that the bill should be evaluated first and foremost through the lens of EU law. The government proposal is principally in violation of EU law because itd violate the principle of non-refoulement, the right to seek asylum and the right to effective remedy and fair trial. The EU court has never sanctioned exceptions from asylum-related regulations, even when national security has been cited [as justification], he said on 14 June. The bill completely circumvents the asylum procedure directive of the EU, viewed Juha Raitio, a professor of European law at the University of Helsinki. This isnt a matter of opinion, but circumventing it goes flagrantly against EU law, he underlined. Paivi Leino-Sandberg, a professor of transnational European law at the University of Helsinki, estimated that the special act would likely have no practical impact. Even if you enacted ten national laws about the topic, the rights afforded to arrivals under the unions directives would stay in effect under the surface and take precedence relative to national laws. The experts also drew attention to the untenable position of border officers in the event that the act is passed. Sakari Melander, a professor of criminal law at the University of Helsinki, said border officers would have to determine through brief interactions which migrants are allowed to apply for international protection. Border guards would on one hand have to adhere to the special act, but on the other hand its their official duty to respect basic and human rights and adhere to EU law, he said. This raises serious questions also from the perspective of the principle of the legality of criminal offences and penalties because the special act would blur what regulation border guards would have to adhere to and how under their official duty. Aleksi Teivainen HT At Tampere University, Professor Hao Zeng and Doctoral Researcher Jianfeng Yang , along with their Light Robots research group, have designed polymeric gliding structures inspired by nature. Researchers at Tampere University in Finland and the University of Pittsburgh in the USA have unveiled a groundbreaking tiny robot that mimics the graceful descent of falling maple seeds. This innovative device has the potential to revolutionize real-time environmental monitoring and sample delivery in hard-to-reach areas such as deserts, mountains, cliffs, and open seas. Their collaboration with Professor M. Ravi Shankar from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering led to the development of a light-activated smart material that controls the gliding motion of an artificial maple seed. In nature, maple seeds use their winged samaras to glide gently to the ground, aided by the wind. By replicating this natural design with advanced materials, the researchers have created an artificial maple seed that can be controlled using light. This artificial seed can adjust its glide path and dispersal trajectory, making it an ideal candidate for various applications in environmental monitoring. The new technology surpasses natural seeds in adaptability. The researchers used azobenzene-based light-deformable liquid crystal elastomer, which enables reversible photochemical deformation, allowing for precise tuning of aerodynamic properties. This innovation means that the artificial seeds can achieve adjustable terminal velocities, rotation rates, and hovering positions, enhancing their wind-assisted long-distance travel through self-rotation. In early 2023, Zeng and Yang released their first prototype, a dandelion seed-like mini robot, under the project Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly (FAIRY). Funded by the Research Council of Finland, this project began in September 2021 and will continue until August 2026. These light-controlled robots are designed to be released into the atmosphere, utilizing passive flight to disperse widely through interactions with surrounding airflows. Equipped with GPS and various sensors, they can provide real-time monitoring of local environmental indicators such as pH levels and heavy metal concentrations. This capability could be a game changer for fields like search-and-rescue, endangered species studies, and infrastructure monitoring. "Nature offers ingenious templates for movement, feeding, and reproduction, often through simple yet highly functional mechanical designs," says Shankar. "With advances in photosensitive materials, we can now dictate mechanical behavior at nearly the molecular level. This opens up possibilities for creating micro-robots, drones, and probes that can access previously unreachable areas and relay critical information." The research, detailed in the article "Photochemical Responsive Polymer Films Enable Tunable Gliding Flight" by Jianfeng Yang, M. Ravi Shankar, and Hao Zeng, was published in Nature Communications on June 1, 2024. This breakthrough underscores the potential of light-controlled mini robots to transform environmental monitoring and various other fields. HT AN eco-shop in Henley has closed. FourState left its two neighbouring units in Duke Street last week when its five-year lease ended. The Henley Larder, which has shared one of the units since January, will stay on until the end of the summer. Both businesses will continue trading online. Gringo Loco, a pop-up Mexican restaurant on the first floor, has also left. Patrick Brown, who opened FourState in 2020 with old school friend Rob Kemp, said that the last 18 months of trading had been tricky due to the cost of living crisis. The shop sold zero waste and environmentally friendly home and beauty products. Mr Brown said: It was the end of our five-year lease and we decided to have a bit of a change and a shake-up of the business and put together some ideas for the future. We had a great time in Henley but it has been a bit tricky this year and last compared with previous years. The cost of living crisis has meant people have less money to spend and it has been harder to manage than the covid period. We felt the need to have a rest and sort ourselves out. In February last year, FourState took over the neighbouring unit, which formerly housed the Drifters coffee shop, which closed in August 2022, in order to run a cafe. Mr Brown said this was a calculated risk. He said: The second unit was always going to be a bit more of a challenge because we are retail, not hospitality, and perhaps, looking back, we might have decided to stay in our lane. But it could have been that we would be hindered more by having a derelict shop next to us or having someone move in that wasnt aligned to what we offer. Having Gringo Loco and the Henley Larder join us worked really well and, perhaps, if we had done that sooner, we would have become much stronger. The model certainly did work and what it did show is that there is scope for businesses to work well together and we have not ruled out coming back to Henley in the future. Zoe Ferreira, who moved the Henley Larder from Bell Street, where she opened in October 2020, said: Thank you to Patrick for letting the Henley Larder come and share your space and being part of the heart of the Henley high street with you. It means that we are going to be taking on the whole space for the summer and I am very excited about that. We are going to have a seating area and this really amazing offer over regatta. We will arrange it in a different way. At the end of this summer, the Henley Larder is going to change and that means we will be closing the actual shop. It doesnt mean that I dont think there is a place for the Henley Larder on this high street, nor does it mean that I do not believe strongly in independent shops on Henley high street because I do and all high streets for that matter. Mrs Ferreira, who lives in Albert Road with her husband Andre, said she wanted a better quality of life. She said: Its a personal choice. I needed a change. I need to get a work-life balance right and I also want to do what is right for the business. I believe that I can create a beautiful platform for you guys to come online and get wonderful gifts of all of our local produce and also see you at various pop-ups and fairs and fetes. This is not a sad thing, it is a good thing and I am excited to take you along on the journey with me and hope you will be there. Gary Wise hopes Gringo Loco will be able to re-open at another unit. I would love us to come back in the future, he said. Those type of premises that are suitable for restaurants dont come up very often, but we will be back. We have had a lot of really good messages and support from the town and we are really appreciative of that. People liked the informal nature of it, where they could drop in and drop out. People really appreciated what we were trying to do. Mr Wise, who has spent his career in hospitality, added: Now Im spending a little time to regroup before going again. Paul Carey, the town centre manager, said: It is always a shame when any business decides to close or, in this case, not to have a physical shop but this is a very well-placed unit and there will be a number of new businesses and people interested in it. We also have to thank these independent retailers for putting themselves out there and really trying to make a go of it on the high street. Mr Carey said the vacancy rate for shops in Henley was about six per cent, compared with a national average of about 12 per cent and the south-east average of about 16 per cent. He added: We have lots of interest whenever there is a vacant unit, including the recently closed David Rodger-Sharp jewellers. Competition is fierce in Henley and thats because of its vibrancy and a community that looks to support business. Deploying drone for forest patrolling reduces disaster risks in NE China's Yichun Xinhua) 13:06, June 28, 2024 A staff member from DJI introduces thermal imaging for drone forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the real-time distribution map of drones for forest patrolling at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows a drone for forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) A staff member monitors drones for forest patrolling at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) Staff members control drones for forest patrolling via an intelligent inspection system at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows a drone for forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In support of President Bidens Unity Strategy and Mental Health Agenda and HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration, this federal prize competition promotes innovative community-based initiatives to improve resilience and advance children and youth behavioral health. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the winners of the HHS Children and Youth Resilience Challenge, a $1 million federal prize competition launched in May 2023 to identify and elevate promising, community-based initiatives that improve psychological resilience and advance children and youth behavioral health. These community leaders continue to inspire me and countless others across the country, said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. The determination and community insight of our winners, and all who participated, provide us with an opportunity to spotlight and implement effective solutions to address the ongoing behavioral health crisis and deliver real results for children and youth. The Grand Prize winner of $300,000 is Students Run Philly Style (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), whose sports-based mentorship MileUp Program helps students in grades 6-12 build resilience as they work toward their long-distance running goals. Through a partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office, this innovative program supports youth on their path away from the juvenile justice system, which can include paid restitution, dropped charges, and record expungement. Our winner exemplifies community partnership and mentorship that will challenge and motivate students to become mentally and physically resilient, said Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine. This versatile initiative inspires community leaders and provides us an opportunity at the federal level to share and promote this innovative approach across the country. The two Runner Up winners of $175,000 each are the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (New Orleans, Louisiana) and the Excellence and Advancement Foundation (Austin, Texas). The Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies Bounce Back program uses the arts to support the healing and resilience of youth participants. The Travis County Transformation Project, led by the Excellence and Advance Foundation, the Amala Foundation, and LifeWorks in collaboration with the Travis County District Attorneys Office, Juvenile Probation Department, and local law enforcement, supports youth and families through a restorative justice process that diverts youth from the criminal legal system, provides counseling and other supports, and prevents future harm. These transformative programs will bring meaningful healing and change to communities, said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs and Director of the Office of Adolescent Health Jessica Marcella. One common theme among these innovative initiatives is that they create hopeful and restorative opportunities for youth within their communities, reflecting the power of intentionally partnering with communities and young people to affect change. The Challenge is a cross-agency collaboration including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). More than 500 applicants proposed projects for the Children and Youth Resilience Challenge, providing an opportunity to strengthen programs supporting the psychological well-being of young people across the country and reinforcing the extraordinary commitment of innovative local leaders to this mission. After a competitive review process, 14 finalists were awarded $25,000 for their proposals in August 2023. With the backing of intensive technical assistance and a lively community of learning, they piloted their innovations to build resilience for children and youth in their communities between September 2023 and May 2024. Based on a report by each finalist about their experience and impact during this pilot phase, judges awarded the overall winner and the runners up. We look forward to the successful growth and implementation of all of these projects, said ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild. This is only the beginning. All of the challenge finalists are motivated, innovative and resilient and will continue to rise to the challenge of addressing the needs of children and youth in communities across the country. The Children and Youth Resilience Challenge demonstrated that innovative and collaborative community-led initiatives, supported by their federal partners, can reach more children and youth and meaningfully support their healthy development and stronger communities. Visit Children and Youth Resilience Challenge to learn more about the background and structure of the Children and Youth Resilience Challenge. Watch the Children and Youth Resilience Summit video featuring award winners and other amazing finalists presenting their work at the Children and Youth Resilience Summit on May 2-3, 2024. Resources: The seemingly elementary correction of renaming the southern state of Kerala to its native name Keralam by the state assembly has many undertones, political analysts, cultural activists, and civil society have said. However, the timing of the resolution and the political return of such a move by Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister and head of the Communist Party politburo is not to be missed, those that HT spoke to added. Passing the resolution for the second time, Vijayan said on June 24: But the name of our state is written as Kerala in the First Schedule of the Constitution. This Assembly requests the Centre to take immediate steps to amend it as Keralam' under Article 3 of the Constitution and have it renamed as Keralam' in all the languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The resolution was first passed in August last year and the union home ministry upon reviewing suggested a few technical changes to be made. History Once the boundaries for the Indian states were redrawn post-independence merging the princely states of Travancore, Cochin, and the British-governed Malabar region, which fell under the Madras Presidency, Kerala, as we know it today, came to be in 1956. When the other southern states were named and officially recognised by the States Reorganisation Commission, the anglicised name was given to Kerala even as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka took form. At the time and later, when several cities were renamed all across the country, Keralas city glossary too changed. Quilon was changed to Kollam, Cannanore to Kannur, Trivandrum to Thiruvananthapuram, and Cochin to Kochi. More recently, a quaint little island that the British called Anjengo was renamed to its Anjuthengu, which means five coconut trees. Cultural activists championed the cause of renaming this tiny island sandwiched between the sea and the backwaters. They said that this place has high relevance in Indias history with colonial powers The Portuguese, Dutch, and the English occupying it, and that it was important to correct the mispronunciation. KV Thomas, senior CPM leader and special representative of Kerala to the Centre said the states name change is along the same lines. This has been an ongoing process. There has been a steady movement in Kerala to distance ourselves from the colonial past. In the recently concluded fourth session of the All World Malayalis, in Thiruvananthapuram, many global Malayalis who are cultural ambassadors decided that it was time that Kerala be known as Keralam. Thomas said the global group had passed similar resolutions in the first, second, and third annual sessions. Timing, and political consideration However, political analysts view this differently. With under two years left for the Kerala state elections, this is seen as a masked attempt by Pinarayi to appeal to his voters cultural moorings. After the poor performance and the drubbing, the Left received in the parliamentary elections, this is a tactic used to appeal to the socio-cultural identity of the Malayalis, said NP Chekutty, author and political commentator. Also, it is a diversionary tactic to take the limelight off the governments poor performance, Chekutty said. That cultural practices reap handsome returns is perhaps what the chief minister has learned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is making headwinds in the state with its first-ever elected member from Thrissur. The ideological parent, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - BJP combine have for decades led the Shoba Yatra in Kerala during Krishnashtami. During this yatra, children from families who support the Left and the Congress also participate in this two-day yatra. I have seen so many non-RSS people contribute during the Ashtami-Rohini festival because they are moved and are given to cultural persuasion, Chekutty said. With a nationwide renaming exercise of many important roads and places seen in the last 10 years of the BJP government, including Allahabad and other cities, Vijayan, analysts said, has used this to score a political point. Others reckon that the Kerala CM has taken a leaf out of his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalins strong sub-regional, linguistic stance. With the Congress supporting the resolution as well, Vijayan or other politburo members do not envisage any obstacle in seeing it through even at the union home ministry level. With the Wayanad by-election around, it would be counter-productive for the Congress to oppose it. Instead, they will use their 18-MP strength in the parliament and share credit for this resolution to be passed at the centre, said Damodar Prasad, a former Calicut University professor. Changes in Keralas society and culture Prasad pointed out that Vijayans decision to bring about the name change now is to stall Keralas lower-middle class from sympathising with the BJP. In the recent parliamentary election, the OBCs and Dalits voted in large measure, especially in the northern Kerala region for the BJP. Thanks to the BJPs subaltern Hindutva exercise, the Theeyas and Eezhavas who constitute the Lefts voter base are slowly shifting to the BJP, Prasad said. But, politics apart, there is a visible change in Keralas cultural scene, a senior artist from the famous cultural Academy Kalamandalam, who did not wish to be named, said. With most well-qualified Malayalis living overseas or outside the state in the last half a century, the OBCs and the lower middle class have begun occupying prominent positions in industry, art, and culture. The Malayalam movie industry, for instance, which was once dominated by upper-class Hindus and Christians is now being run by OBCs and Muslims. The demand for cultural renaissance is coming from the neo-rich, the senior artist said. When Kerala was formed in 1956, it was mostly the upper-class Nairs, Menons, and Pillais - the English-speaking, well-qualified professionals - who had a hold over the socio-cultural narrative in the state. However, with the Gulf migration absorbing a large number of professionals from the state, the cultural void is seen being filled by the lower middle class. The economic discrepancies have narrowed between the upper-class and lower-class in Kerala with education and healthcare reforms in the last 50 years. But cultural discrepancies are coming to the fore only now. The name change in Kerala is a signal of the transition of cultural expression from one class to another, Chekutty said, pointing that Vijayan was among the first to take notice of this and tap it for political mileage. As class and colonial traditions are being challenged, the name change is no street protest or a show of chest-thumping regional nationalism. The Kalamandalam artist quoted above said, While the name change is welcomed by all, there is no extreme emotion in Kerala about this. We have been a cosmopolitan state and our land has had contact with the Dutch, Romans, and Portuguese through the seas. Cultural re-assertion is happening quietly and political messaging loudly. India is working on reducing the paperwork required for foreign investors to buy Indias sovereign bonds, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source. This comes after a Bloomberg report depicted how foreign investors find it difficult to invest in India due to the heavy paperwork involved. India's inclusion in JPMorgans emerging market bond index is projected to bring inflows of $20 to $25 billion over the next 10 months. Why is the government making paperwork easier for foreign bond investors? This also comes as India gets included on JPMorgans emerging market bond index on Friday, leading to a projected inflow of $20 billion to $25 billion over the next 10 months, as estimated by JPMorgan. Investors worldwide have already invested close to $11 billion in Indian bonds that are eligible to be included in the index. Also Read: Indian government bonds included in JPMorgan emerging market index: What happens next? Foreign investors have been favouring Indias bonds as they have been Asias top performing ones, giving returns of 5.3%, compared to Indonesias 1.3% for example. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is discussing with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make the paperwork easier. How is the government making paperwork easier for foreign bond investors? The common application form currently requires the RBIs know-your-customer (KYC) checks to open a bank account, Sebi documentation to open a depository account, and enrollment with the tax department, according to the report. Also Read: Sebi regulates finfluencers, bans registered entities from associating with them Sebi wants to eliminate many of its information requirements like disclosure of investor group and beneficial ownership, with information required by the RBI and revenue departments remaining unchanged, the report read. Sebi and RBI had first discussed easing the rules in May and the discussions are ongoing. A timeline is uncertain because changing the registration forms needs a notification from the central government, according to the report. Also Read: Foreign investors find it hard to invest in Indian government bonds due to heavy paperwork: Report The RBI on Friday said it has imposed a penalty of 29.6 lakh on The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) for non-compliance with certain directions related to cards. RBI imposed a penalty on HSBC for non-compliance on 'Credit Card, Debit Card and Rupee Denominated Co-branded Pre-paid Card operations of Banks (AFP) Why did the RBI impose the penalty on HSBC? The penalty has been imposed on HSBC for non-compliance with certain directions issued by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 'Credit Card, Debit Card and Rupee Denominated Co-branded Pre-paid Card operations of Banks', the central bank said in a statement. Read more: HDFC Bank introduces new credit card rules from August 1: What are the new changes? RBI said a Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2022) of the bank was conducted by it with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank's reply to the notice, oral submissions made during the personal hearing and examination of additional submissions made by it, RBI said it found, inter alia, that the charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty. Read more: Indian government bonds included in JPMorgan emerging market index: What happens next? "The bank failed to ensure that there was no negative amortisation while computing Minimum Payment Due in certain credit card accounts," it said. RBI, however, said the penalty is based on deficiencies in statutory and regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transactions or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Read more: Bank unions ask finance minister to merge regional rural banks with sponsor banks Former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai said that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin's proposal of Hosur International Airport will attract many Karnataka industries to the neighboring state. As Tamil Nadus Hosur is just 40 km away from Bengaluru, Pai called it an attempt to attract more business from Karnataka. Mohandas Pai calls Hosur airport an attempt to attract Karnataka businesses Also Read - Pothole menace at Bengaluru's Ecospace flyover on Outer Ring Road. VIDEO In an X post, Mohandas Pai said, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin announces international airport in Hosur. Karnataka lost industries to Hosur over the last 40 years due to lethargy and lackadaisical attitude. Now, an attempt has been made to take more business from Karnataka. Karnataka must improve infra. On Thursday, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin announced that an international airport will be built in Hosur city. The airport will cater to the industrial needs of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts and ensure the overall socio-economic development of the two regions. Stalin said that the new airport is expected to be on 2,000 acres of land and capable of handling 30 million passengers every year. While speaking in the assembly, he said, I am pleased to announce in this House that an international airport will be set up on 2,000 acres of land in Hosur, capable of handling 30 million passengers per annum. Earlier, Karnataka government, also proposed a metro line to Hosur from Bengaluru. According to a letter from the BMRCL, the extended line will be around 20.5 km long, of which 11.7 km falls in Karnataka and the remaining falls in Tamil Nadu. The state government has also asked their Tamil Nadu counterparts to conduct a feasibility study. The costs and maintenance of the project will be shared between both states. Though geographically in Tamil Nadu, Hosur is a town near Bengaluru, and there are a good number of Kannada speakers in the town. Many techies who work in Electronics City travel from Hosur on daily basis as it offers low cost of living, when compared to the tech capital. Punjab Police have busted two cross-border drug smuggling cartels being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers, arrested three traffickers, and recovered a total of 9.2kg of heroin from them. Punjab Police on Friday busted two cross-border drug smuggling cartels being operated by Pakistan-based smugglers, arrested three traffickers, and recovered a total of 9.2kg of heroin from them. (Representational photo) Giving details of the first operation, Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said following reliable inputs, police teams from Chheharta Sahib apprehended two drug smugglers from Shiva Enclave in Rajasansi area and recovered 8.2kg of heroin, a release by the police said. Those arrested have been identified as Bachitar Singh of Jathaul village in Amritsar and Sunny of Guru ki Wadali in Chheharta. Accused Bachitar Singh was a proclaimed offender in a murder case at Gharinda police station in 2021. Apart from recovering 8.2kg of heroin, police teams recovered 95,000 and an electronic weighing machine, besides impounding their Swift car. An FIR has been registered under Sections 21-C and 23/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Chheharta. In another case, police teams from Ranjit Avenue set up a checkpoint at Ranjit Avenue Bypass and arrested Amandeep Singh of Ranian village in Lopoke and recovered 1kg of heroin from him. Police teams impounded his Volkswagen Vento car, in which he was travelling. A case was registered under the NDPS Act at Ranjit Avenue police station. Commissioner of police (CP), Amritsar, Ranjit Singh Dhillon said the accused were in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers, who were supplying the drugs via drones. Efforts are being made to ascertain the total amount of narcotics procured by the accused persons till date, Dhillon said. Punjab Police on Friday busted a major inter-state opium smuggling racket operating from Jharkhand with the arrest of two smugglers with 66kg of the contraband in the border district of Fazilka. Punjab Police on Friday busted a major inter-state opium smuggling racket operating from Jharkhand with the arrest of two smugglers with 66kg of the contraband in Fazilka. (HT Photo) Fazilka police busts one of the biggest inter-state opium smuggling syndicate operating from #Jharkhand with the arrest of #BigFish and effective seizure of 66kg opium and meticulously followed up financial trail which led to freezing of 1.86 crore in 42 bank accounts after arresting two smugglers, director general of police Gaurav Yadav posted on X. The DGP said investigations are going on to establish linkages in this case. The operation, led by Fazilka senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pragya Jain, began with the arrest of the two smugglers, Sukhyad Singh of Dalmir Khera village and Jagraj Singh of Bhamma Singh Wala village in Ferozepur district, who were caught after the contraband was found hidden in specially designed compartments under their Maruti Swift car (PB05-AC-5015) on Thursday. Their accomplice, Tarsem Singh, managed to escape and search for him is underway, Ajay Maluja, the deputy inspector general, Ferozepur, said. Besides the 66kg of opium, 40,000 drug money and 400gm of gold was recovered. Investigation showed the smuggling network was being operated from Jharkhand, Maluja said. The opium seized during the operation by Fazilka police. (HT Photo) An in-depth examination of bank accounts uncovered financial transactions amounting to 1.86 crore. The police are investigating these accounts further to uncover the complete network of the smuggling operation and anticipate more arrests soon. Both smugglers in police custody are being interrogated. SSP Jain said the police had reliable inputs that the duo had been transporting opium from Jharkhand and would be returning to Dalmir Khera via Sriganganagar with a substantial quantity of the contraband. Acting swiftly, a checkpoint was set up and their vehicle was intercepted. Despite an attempt by the driver to flee, the police team managed to catch both the accused. During the chase, a police personnel sustained injuries. Jain said the police teams have identified the mastermind, who has been involved in drug smuggling for over two decades and faces nine criminal cases pertaining to attempt to murder, theft, and violations under the Excise Act and NDPS Act. We have named him in the FIR and raids are being conducted to arrest him, she said. A case was registered under Sections 18 (Punishment for contravention in relation to opium poppy and opium), 27A (Whoever indulges in financing or harbouring drug peddlers), and 29 (Punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS Act at Khuian Sarwar police station. Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh said on Friday that the civil hospital in Ludhiana would be developed into a model facility in the coming days, with all facilities available on the premises. He added that the intensive care unit (ICU), which is locked due to staff shortage, will be operational soon, eliminating the need to refer patients to hospitals in other cities. HT Image He made the announcement during a visit to the civil hospital. He, however, seemed to reading from an old script as he made the same promises during his visit to the hospital in August last year. According to people aware of the developments, not much progress has been made in meeting these promises over the year. The minister affirmed that these works will be completed in six months. Hospital authorities have regularly pointed to the shortage of staff and material resources as the main reason behind untoward incidents. In June, two patients were found sharing a bed. Not long before that, a patient was seen lying in the same bed as a dead body in April. Although officials said at the time that all possible measures would be taken to remedy the situation, the officials at the hospital say that the situation remains far from ideal. The hospital authorities had claimed that there werent enough beds and the patient load was too high for the doctors to look after each patient. Standard operation procedures (SOPs) were issued for the emergency wards, but they could not be implemented due to a staff crunch. Dr Balbir said the department was in the process of recruiting 2,000 doctors and around 500 doctors will be recruited in the coming months. He did not specify a timeline for the recruitment process and avoided a question regarding it. Cadre review underway The minister claimed that a cadre review was underway to strike parity between the resources and patient load. The last cadre review at the hospital was done in 1991 and many employees at the facility have repeatedly pointed out the need for a fresh review. He said a patient facilitation centre would come up at the hospital, which he claimed was a new concept in the country. Questions differential treatment for Kejriwal, BSY Dr Balbir lashed out at the Centre for using different yardsticks in treating Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa, who headed a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Referring to the Karnataka high courts remarks on an unbailable arrest warrant issued against the former Karnataka CM, he said, If a former CM could be given such treatment, why was sitting CM being treated with another yardstick. While restraining Yediyurappas arrest the High Court remarked that he was not any Tom, Dick, and Harry, but a former CM, why was then Arvind Kejriwal, a sitting CM being meted out different treatment, he added. He was referring to a June 15 Karnataka HC order restraining the CID from arresting Yediyurappa, who has been chargesheeted in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal is in jail in connection with an alleged excise policy scam. He was formally arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CID) on June 26. Hits out at centre over NEET row The health minister also took potshots at Centre over the NEET row. Lakhs of aspirants, who had dedicated a complete year to the preparation for the medical test, and their families were betrayed, he said. The medical exam was cancelled over after irregularities were found, opening a Pandoras box. Centre not releasing our funds Singh claimed that the Centre had held funds over 1,200 crore under the National Health Mission. They have held our funds for quite some time now. It increases every year. It is somewhere over 1,200 crore rupees, he said. Responding to a question on Akali Dals decision to support the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the upcoming Jalandhar bypolls, the minister said the partys leadership was taking it towards its end. Delhiites woke up to a rain-devastated city on Friday. Many parts of the city were flooded, with water entering homes and submerging vehicles, causing kilometres-long traffic jams. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning have affected several areas of Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram since Thursday. Delhi rain: A woman carries a dog as she wades through a severely waterlogged road following heavy rainfall, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo/Ishant) Here are the latest updates on Delhi rain | Top 10 Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena held an emergency meeting to address heavy rain and waterlogging in the city and discussed the lack of preparedness and response systems. The LG directed officials to establish an emergency control room to handle waterlogging reports efficiently. The Delhi government also convened an emergency meeting with ministers and relevant department officers. It announced setting up an emergency control room, quick response teams, and dedicated phone numbers to register waterlogging complaints. ALSO READ- Congresss jabs INDIA ally AAP over waterlogging in capital: In times of crisis, Delhi govt runs away Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited Safdarjung and AIIMS hospitals to meet those injured in the Terminal-1 roof collapse at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The civil aviation minister announced a compensation of 20 lakh for the family of the deceased and 3 lakh for each person injured in the incident. Due to the roof collapse, flights to and from Terminal 1, which handles domestic flights by IndiGo and SpiceJet, are suspended until further notice, with alternate arrangements being made. ALSO READ- Delhi airport forms committee to probe Terminal 1 roof collapse Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav blamed the waterlogging to clogged drains filled with plastic waste and criticised the Delhi government for inaction despite multiple reminders. The heavy rain caused severe traffic jams and waterlogged streets in various areas, including Sarita Vihar, Connaught Place, Palam Airport, and Dhaula Kuan. Entry and exit at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 Metro station were closed, and shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport was suspended. Power supply was disrupted in several parts of Delhi due to technical faults and precautionary shutdowns in waterlogged areas, affecting residents in Dwarka, Jangpura, and Laxmi Nagar. According to India Meteorological Department data, 228 mm of rain was recorded in the national capital in the last 24 hours. This is the first time since 1936 that Delhi has received so much rain in a day. Delhi receives 800 mm of rain during the entire monsoon. But in the last 24 hours, about 25 per cent of the entire monsoon rain has occurred. The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain with gusty winds for the next seven days. ALSO READ- Rains grip Delhi: From fish to leafy vegetables, foods to avoid this monsoon Delhi weather forecast June 29: Generally cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rain/thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds (30-40 kmph). June 30: Generally cloudy sky with heavy to very heavy rain/thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds (30-40 kmph). July 1: Cloudy sky with moderate to heavy rain/thunderstorm. July 2: Generally cloudy sky with moderate rain/thunderstorm. July 3: Generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain/thunderstorm. July 4: Cloudy sky with light to moderate rain/thunderstorm. New Delhi, Delhiites woke up to a rain devastated city on Friday with a canopy at Delhi airport's busy Terminal 1 collapsing, killing one person, and many parts of the city inundated with water entering homes, submerging vehicles and leading to miles-long traffic snarls. HT Image As early morning rains brought the national capital to its knees, flight operations were suspended at Terminal 1 till further notice and thousands of commuters stranded while on their way to office, school or college, or for important appointments. Key tunnels, including the one at Pragati Maidan, were closed and reports of homes being flooded came in from across the city, including the upscale areas of Hauz Khas, South Extension and Mayur Vihar on the first day of heavy rain. According to India Meteorological Department data, 228.1 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, the city's primary weather station, 192.8 mm at Lodhi Road, Mausam Bhavan, 150.4 mm at Ridge, 106.6 mm at Palam, and 66.3 mm at Ayanagar in the last 20 to 30 hours. The IMD, which defines very heavy rain as rainfall amounting to between 124.5 and 244.4 mm in a day, said later in the morning that the monsoon has arrived. The downpour began around 3 am. At Terminal 1, the rain destruction took a tragic turn. Around 5 am, a canopy at the departure area collapsed, trapping several people and killing one whose identity is yet to be ascertained. Besides the roof sheet, the support beams collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal. A search operation was conducted to make sure no one was trapped inside the damaged vehicles, officials said. The injured were taken to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. " flights to & from Terminal 1 have been closed till further notice. Alternate arrangements are being made for the smooth operation of the flights," the Civil Aviation ministry said in a post on X. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said he was personally monitoring the situation. "First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1 Rescue operations are still ongoing," he said on X. T1 has only domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet. The airport which has three terminals T1, T2 and T3 handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. An IndiGo spokesperson said flight operations were impacted due to structural damage to Terminal 1. "This has led to flight cancellations at Delhi as passengers are not able to enter the terminal. Passengers already inside the terminal will be able to board their planned flights, but those with flights later in the day will be offered alternatives," IndiGo said in a statement. The airline also said the unplanned situation has led to operations across the network being impacted. In a post on X, SpiceJet said flights have been cancelled as T1 will remain partially closed for operations until further notice. Not far away from the airport, several labourers were feared to be trapped when an under-construction wall in Vasant Vihar collapsed. The exact numbers are yet to be ascertained, a senior police officer said. Delhi Fire Service officials said the call came at 5.30 am. Rescue teams of NDRF, DDMA, civics agencies, fire and police are on the spot and efforts are underway to rescue them. The Delhi government has called an emergency meeting in the afternoon to take stock of the situation. All cabinet ministers and senior government officials will attend, officials said. As Delhiites and the government came to grips with the crisis, power outages were reported at many locations, including Dwarka and Jangpura. Besides, key stretches such as the Minto Road and Azad Market underpasses had to be closed. In many residential areas, locals were seen wading through waist-deep water. A video showed BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi rowing a boat on a waterlogged street. "For the past month, we have been fighting to get the PWD drains cleaned, but the Delhi government did nothing. As a result, today, the entire city is flooded, and no arrangements have been made by the government." He also attacked Delhi minister Atishi, who was on an indefinite fast over the water scarcity in the national capital and said, "Delhi government ministers are protesting about the water crisis, but on the other hand, they are not doing anything about the waterlogging situation. Drains are overflowing because they didn't get them cleaned ahead of the monsoon." Attacking the A dispensation over the waterlogging situation in the national capital, the BJP also shared images of water entering Atishi's residence on Mathura Road. Delhi Traffic Police released traffic advisories for several roads where waterlogging affected routes and caused jams. The police suggested finding alternative paths in Kartavya Path , ITO, Vir Banda Bairagi Marg, Outer Ring Road, Azad Market underpass, Dhaula Kuan Flyover, Minto Road and other areas. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed the entry and exit gates at Yashobhoomi Sector 25 Dwarka. The shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to the Terminal 1-IGI Airport was also suspended. Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had earlier said that there will be no flooding in the Yamuna this year as the river will get a clear channel for its flow. PTI RAM NSM ALK SLB DIV MIN MIN This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Mumbai: In a bid to woo voters ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar announced a slew of populist measures on Friday as he presented the state's annual budget. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Deepak Kerserkar before presenting the budget at Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) Pawar, who heads the state finance department, outlined a 6,12,293 crore budget with an expected revenue deficit of 20,151 crore and a fiscal deficit of 1,10,355 crore. The budget, the last for the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government before elections expected in September-October, comes in the wake of a disappointing performance in recent Lok Sabha polls. Among the key announcements was a reduction in fuel taxes, with petrol prices set to decrease by 65 paise and diesel by 2.07 per litre in Mumbai and neighbouring areas. "We are reducing the value-added tax on petrol and diesel by 1% and 3% respectively," Pawar stated. In a move reminiscent of the BJP government's scheme in Madhya Pradesh, the state introduced the "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojna", offering 1,500 monthly assistance to women aged 21 to 60. This programme is expected to cost the state exchequer 46,000 crore annually. Education also received significant attention, with Pawar announcing free higher education for girls from economically weaker sections and other backward classes with family incomes up to 8 lakh. "This includes admission to professional degree and diploma courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacy, medicine and agriculture for an estimated 2.05 lakh girls," he elaborated. Farmers, a crucial voting bloc, were not overlooked. The "Mukyamantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojna" promises to cover electricity bills for farmers and provide free electricity to agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horsepower capacity. This scheme is projected to benefit 44.06 lakh farmers at a cost of 14,761 crore in subsidies. Addressing youth unemployment, the budget introduced the "Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojna", an apprenticeship scheme offering 10,000 per month to an estimated 10 lakh youths. "This initiative will cost 10,000 crore to the state exchequer," Pawar noted. Other populist measures include three free cooking gas cylinders annually for an estimated 52 lakh households, financial assistance for 10,000 women in 17 cities to purchase e-rickshaws, and increased aid for destitutes and housing schemes. The budget's unveiling comes at a critical time for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which secured only 17 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in recent polls, while the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition won 30 seats. As the state prepares for assembly elections, these budgetary measures clearly signal the government's intent to regain political ground. MUMBAI: As Maharashtra approaches the assembly elections, the state government on Friday declared a slew of schemes for the farmers who are going through agrarian distress. Notable among these is the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana (Chief Minister Farmers Electricity Concession Scheme), under which the burden of the power bills of the farmers for using agriculture pumps will be paid by the state government. HT Image Around 44.06 lakh farmers will benefit from this scheme. The government has decided to provide free electricity of up to 7.5 horsepower capacity for agriculture pumps. A provision of 14,761 crore will be earmarked for subsidy, Pawar stated. The state government is already giving subsidies to the farming community to reduce the financial burden of power bills. While the generation cost comes to 7 per unit, the government charges 1.50 per unit from the farmers. As giving free power is likely to create a huge burden on the state exchequer, the government has decided to separate agricultural electricity grids and solarize them. It plans to spend 15,000 crore on this project. It will take around three years to completely shift to solar energy. Once shifted, the cost of the power will come down to 2 to 3.05 paise per unit from the existing 7 per unit. After three years, we will be able to give free power for farming, said deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The arrears for non-payment of electricity bills are rising, and the major pending dues are of agriculture pumps, as the recovery rate is around 3% only and forceful recovery will be a political suicide for the government. By the end of 2021, the pending arrears of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had already touched 50,000 crore. And, on top of that, the state government now plans to give solar pumps to 8.5 lakh farmers. As there were expectations of loan waiver for farmers, Pawar clarified that they announced only what was financially feasible. The other farmer-related schemes declared in the state budget are: Gaon tethe Godam for storage of agricultural produce at the village level. In the first phase, construction of 100 new godowns and repair of existing godowns will be undertaken. A revolving fund of 100 crore will be established for the purchase of pulses and oilseeds at support price, through NAFED, in kharif and rabi seasons. And financial assistance of 5000 per hectare to the cotton and soybean farmers, with a limit of two hectares, during the Kharif marketing season 2023-24. A police constable was injured after three bike-borne criminals fired at a patrolling team near Dhanki Jamun under Darigaon police outpost area of Rohtas district late on Thursday. Representational image. Constable Sindhu Kumar was bike-patrolling at night with constable Madan Kumar when they intercepted three suspicious people on a motorcyle around 11.15pm. When the police tried to stop the trio, they opened fire and fled. Sindhu suffered a bullet injury on his wrist in the firing. The injured constable was taken to a local hospital in Sasaram where doctors referred him to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Superintendent of police Vineet Kumar said that a case of attempt to murder has been registered against unidentified criminals and an SIT has been formed under sub-divisional police officer of Sasaram. The SIT is conducting simultaneous raids to identify and arrest the criminals, the SP said, appealing to the people to share any relevant information. Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar on Friday departed for Delhi to attend the national executive meeting of the party, scheduled for Saturday. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (PTI Photo) This is an important meeting as it was not held for a long time. It is a routine exercise, primarily aimed at strengthening and expanding the organisation, party general secretary KC Tyagi said. A senior party leader said that Kumar will also meet party MPs both from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha before the national executive meeting. All MPs and ministers, apart from executive members, general secretaries, secretaries and state presidents, will be present at the meeting, during which various decisions taken by the party in the recent past, its impact, the Lok Sabha election performance and the way ahead for the Assembly election scheduled next year will be discussed. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the JD-U won 12 of the 16 seats it contested in Bihar. Furthermore, the party has also got representation in the Union cabinet as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government. JD-U is one of the key alliance partners for the BJP. The meeting is being held just a few days after the Patna high court set aside the Bihar governments decision to increase reservation for the Other Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes based on the first ever caste survey in the state. Nitish Kumar has been demanding a nationwide caste-based census, but the BJP has not yet agreed on it and instead asked him to carry out the exercise at the state level. Now with the HC setting it aside, the JD-U national executive may take a call on further steps in that direction. The partys old demand from the Centre for a special category status to Bihar may also come up in the meeting, as Nitish Kumar is known to be a tough bargainer. After taking over as the partys national president from Lalan Singh at the previous national executive meeting in December last year, one of the key decisions Kumar took was to snap ties with the grand alliance in Bihar (with the Rashtriya Janata Dal) and get back into the BJP-led NDA. Mumbai, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday told the legislative assembly that Pune police chief Amitesh Kumar had a proactive role in the investigation into the Porsche crash and there was nothing to suggest that action should be taken against him. HT Image Fadnavis made the assertions during a debate on the high-profile case raised through a calling attention notice. During the debate, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar demanded the Pune police commissioner's resignation. Conceding that there are issues of use of money to buy justice, Fadnavis said, "This should not be allowed. We have to see how laws can be strengthened further. The issue is serious but there is no need to defame Pune police. They have taken action in the case. Erring police officials have been punished. He said Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had a proactive role in the probe into the accident and nothing has come up to suggest that he should face action. Two software professionals lost their lives after their bike was hit by a speeding Porsche in Punes Kalyani Nagar area in the early hours of May 19. According to police, a 17-year-old minor was driving the high-end car in a drunken state at the time of the accident. Two cops attached to the Yerawada police station have been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with the case. Police have alleged that the teens blood samples were swapped with those of his mother to show that he was not drunk. The minors parents and two doctors from state-run Sassoon General Hospital have been arrested over the sample swap. Fadnavis said the Sassoon doctors changed the blood samples for a bribe of 3 lakh. We learn from loopholes in every case. The new criminal laws, which will be in force from July 1, give more importance to legal, forensic and technical evidence, the deputy CM said. The juvenile has since been released from an observation home on the directives of Bombay High Court. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Tamil actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party president Vijay on Friday slammed the current DMK government for allegedly failing to control drug abuse in the state. Vijay urged the students to take an oath in saying no to drugs and to temporary pleasure. Addressing students at a school function, Vijay shared his concerns over drug abuse in the state and how he himself feels threatened by the presence of narcotics in the younger generation. According to ANI, the Mersal actor said, "In recent times in Tamil Nadu, drugs have become familiar among youngsters. As a political leader and as a parent even I am scared. We can say controlling drugs is the government's responsibility, saving youngsters is the government's responsibility and the present ruling government has failed to do that". The actor urged the students to take an oath to say no to drugs and temporary pleasure. The actor also pointed out that well-educated leaders should enter politics, stressing that good leaders and leadership qualities are a need right now, reported ANI. We need good leaders. Leaders in the sense I am not saying politically. Whatever you are doing, you need leadership quality that is what I am saying, said Vijay. The Tamil superstar, whose last outing was Lokesh Kanagaraj's Leo, also said that he wishes even politics to be a career option in the future. ALSO READ | Vijay and Venkat Prabhu's The Greatest of All Time to release in September Vijay also pointed out the need for fact-checking every bit of information with the prevalence of social media and mainstream media. He emphasised the need to understand the country's real issues and take facts with a pinch of salt. Social media channels and mainstream media show us many things. See everything but analyse what is right and wrong, he added. According to the actor, if someone does not blindly trust political parties and their fake campaigning, they will have a broader perspective to elect a better leader. "If one knows these things without trusting a few political parties, and fake campaigning, you all will get global-level broad thoughts to elect good leaders. There won't be any bigger politics than this," he told students. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched an MBA program in Digital Maritime and Supply Chain. Touted to the the worlds first, the course is designed to cater to the needs of working professionals worldwide. IIT Madras Launches Worlds First MBA in Digital Maritime & Supply Chain. Read details here. A press release issued by the institution informed that the launch event was held on the campus on June 28 in the presence of industry professionals, faculty, and students. As per the release, the new MBA course is a 24-month programme, developed by IIT Madras Departments of Management Studies and Ocean Engineering along with industry partner i-maritime Consultancy. It aims to equip global professionals with the skills necessary to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape of maritime trade and supply chain management, said the release. Also read: RSKMP Class 5, 8 re-exam results declared at rskmp.in, here's direct link to check score Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras highlighted that MBA in Digital Maritime and Supply Chain is an innovative program designed to enhance the expertise of professionals and entrepreneurs in navigating the complexities of modern maritime and supply chain industries. Our goal is to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how digital technologies can optimize operations and drive strategic growth, Prof Kamakoti said. Prof. K. Murali, Chairperson of the MBA (Digital Maritime and Supply Chain) Program, IIT Madras, and Dean (Faculty), IIT Madras, said that the MBA program is tailored for working professionals, seamlessly blending on-campus collaboration with the flexibility of live online classes. Prof. M. Thenmozhi, Head of, the Department of Management Studies at IIT Madras, pointed out, The integration of digital technologies into maritime and supply chain industries presents significant challenges, from ensuring cybersecurity to managing data analytics and implementing blockchain. Also read: TS SSC Advanced Supplementary Results 2024 released at bse.telangana.gov.in, heres how to check scores The IIT Madras MBA in Digital Maritime & Supply Chain is structured to address these challenges head-on, providing professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to mitigate risks and leverage opportunities in this dynamic landscape, Prof. M. Thenmozhi added. Ramesh Singhal, MBA (Digital Maritime and Supply Chain) Program Director, highlighted that the ground-breaking program has been meticulously designed to equip professionals with cutting-edge skills in digital technologies. ELIGIBILITY: Candidates with a bachelors degree having secured at least 60% marks and a minimum of two years of full-time work experience are eligible to apply. ADMISSON PROCESS: Online IIT Madras Admission Test followed by personal interviews for shortlisted candidates. Applications are open for the program with the first batch commencing in September 2024. Also read: What to prioritise: course vs college and why a plan B is crucial in your academic journey PROGRAM FEATURES: In two years, participants will engage with cutting-edge digital technologies such as IoT, AI, ML, and Blockchain. Extendable to four years, features 900 hours of classroom sessions and project work, totalling 192 credits. Participants benefit from a rigorous curriculum that includes six on-campus immersion modules and extensive access to IIT Madras learning resources, including the Digital Maritime Library. Blended Learning: Flexibility for professionals with a combination of online and on-campus modules. Alumni Status: Graduates receive IIT Madras Alumni status and lifetime access to learning resources. Innovative Pedagogy: Curriculum incorporating AI, ML, IoT, and Blockchain technologies. Career Support: Enhanced employability and global job opportunities, along with access to IIT Madras' Incubation and Start-up Platform. Global Networking: International networking opportunities and on-campus immersion sessions. FEES AND SCHOLARSHIP: Mumbai, The story of Sumit Arora is much like the protagonist of his latest film "Chandu Champion", whose underlying theme of a small-town boy who dreamed big struck a chord with the screenwriter. People mocked me when I said I want to work in films: 'Chandu Champion' writer Sumit Arora Starring Kartik Aaryan in the titular role, Chandu Champion is inspired by the life of India's first Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar. Meerut-born Arora, who co-wrote the script with film's director Kabir Khan and Sudipto Sarkar, said the story felt like a fable. "As a writer, I always look for a theme that can resonate with me. I grew up in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, nobody around me had visited Mumbai, forget about working in the film industry. "When I told people that I want to work in films and be a writer and a filmmaker, they mocked me. When I heard the story of Murlikant Petkar sir, I could connect with its spirit, the idea of a small-town boy with a big dream, and its relentless pursuit felt very personal, the Meerut-born Arora told PTI in an interview. Petkar, originally a boxer in the Indian Army, who switched to swimming after losing his legs in the 1965 war, felt like a remarkable life story waiting to be told. His incredible journey led to India's first-ever medal in freestyle swimming at the Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1972. Chandu Champion marks the second collaboration between Khan and Arora after the 2021 sports-drama 83. Arora said he was captivated when Khan first narrated the two-line idea about Petkar during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2021. If one would focus on the hardships that he faced, it would look like a depressing story, but if you look at how the guy kept moving forward, it became a fable of sorts, the writer said, adding they began developing the script post the release of 83. As the team delved into Petkar's life, they encountered limited material available in the public domain and had to rely mostly on the information provided directly by Petkar. Despite the challenges, they were able to sculpt a compelling narrative, Arora said. "We wrote around 12 drafts, and because there was very little material available on Murlikant sir, we met the man himself... We spoke to him quite regularly to understand but because it was a lockdown, we would do zoom calls with him. His son would help us set up zoom calls," the writer recalled. "Chandu Champion also starring Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and Yashpal Sharma in pivotal roles, is peppered with humour. "The tone of the story was very important for us. The man never gave up and also defined that he never took hardships as hard as a normal person would. He looked at things in a lighter way. Weve tried to capture that lightness in the film by having that humour element from childhood to army to his moments with his mentor, played by Vijay Raaz," Arora said. The decision to cast Aaryan in the role of Petkar, the protagonist, was made by Khan. According to Arora, Aaryans boyish charm and innocence perfectly embodied the essence of the character, aligning with the vision of the film. "When we met Kartik, we felt that he wanted to give his all to the film. He has done that, he has proved himself. He ventured into an uncharted territory with this film. He had the hunger like Murlikant Petkar to go out into uncharted territory," he said. Arora's creative pursuits include a lineup of captivating shows for OTT platforms, such as Citadel: Honey Bunny featuring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, the anticipated second seasons of Dahaad, Guns and Gulaabs, and the third season of The Family Man. He is also involved in the development of Dhawans action-drama film, Baby John and a compelling war movie. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Mumbai, Hollywood star Nicolas Cage's creature horror movie "Arcadian" will be available for streaming in India on Lionsgate Play, the streamer announced on Friday. Nicolas Cage-starrer 'Arcadian' to debut on Lionsgate Play The movie, directed by Benjamin Brewer from Michael Nilon's screenplay, will land on Lionsgate Play's platform on July 19. It will be available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, the streaming service said in a statement. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, full of ruins and desolation, "Arcadian" stars Cage as Paul, a father who is willing to do whatever it takes to save his family. "With their world infested with deadly alien creatures hungry for human flesh, they are faced with a challenge like no other. When Paul is fatally injured while putting up a fight against these creatures, his sons are forced to step in and fight every last creature on Earth, hoping for a better world for their family," the official plotline read. Cage, known for his eclectic filmography which includes hits such as "National Treasure", "Con Air" and "Leaving Las Vegas", said he has been a fan of family drama movies like "Ordinary People" and "East of Eden". "I'm also an admirer of horror and science fiction, and I thought, "Wouldn't it be interesting to do a mash-up?" Where you could have a family, particularly this dynamic where it's a father and two boys, which is really how I grew up. Sadly, my mother couldn't be around as much as I would have liked her to have been, so my dad did all the heavy lifting. And then you apply that to science fiction," he said. "Arcadian" had its world premiere at South by Southwest festival in March, followed by a theatrical release in the United States in April. The film also stars Jaeden Martell and Maxwell Jenkins. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Grammy winner Megan Thee Stallion dropping a hard anime-themed banger may not have been on your 2024 bingo, but the artist tirelessly pulled through anyway. Megan Thee Stallion has often avidly expressed her love for anime. However, her journey to the final release day wasn't all sunshine and roses; instead, Stallion came very close to losing the essence of her new single, Otaku Hot Girl, which is brimming with anime references. As an avid fan of anime herself, Megan was presumably on Cloud 9, working on this track, which is featured on her third studio album, MEGAN. Although the hit music star delivered on her loyal status as an earnest anime enthusiast, she was forced to tweak the track days before the release date, i.e. June 28. She jumped on the chance to candidly speak her truth to the fans on an Instagram Live ahead of the release. The song doesn't merely heavily reference iconic anime characters like Jujutsu Kaisen's (JJK) Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori, its supervillain Sukuna, and Naruto's Sasuke; it also directly samples the commercial jingle of the former hit series, which earned its rightful title as one of the most in-demand anime shows among Gen Z. Also read | Kanye West begs ex-wife Kim Kardashian for money amid financial crisis: Report But what ultimately takes the cake in the situation is that Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, also enlists the help of the JJK protagonist Yuji Itadori's English voice actor, Adam McArthur, who kicks off the track with an unexpected verse: I like a tall woman with a nice big a** (Haha) / Just sayin / Like Grammy winner, Megan Thee Stallion. Why Megan Thee Stallion had to redo her song despite it being cleared earlier During her Instagram broadcast, Stallion said she had to jump through eight million hoops to play the cards right with the production company MAPPA Studios, which brought the legendary anime to life. Once she sent the song to them for approval, they told her, OK, you gotta change some words, Stallion detailed the debacle on social media. Consequently, she agreed to the demands and followed through. However, the company then commented, OK, if you shoot a video to this song, you cannot cosplay any of the characters in the show. Stallion did everything she had to appease the anime studio as she wanted the song real bad. Also read | The Bear's food economy: How the FX TV series impacted Chicago's restaurant industry Thereafter, she crafted the song accordingly. Megan claimed her self-titled album was already turnt in and ready for release. Nevertheless, her team received an email just days before her record was ready to drop, stating, You can either have the music clearance or you can have the name clearance. Stallion playfully expressed her frustration, but her true heartbreak was evidently visible. She cried, Take out the names of the characters that [are] in the show? [screams] That is the whole song! [screams] That makes the song make sense. Although Stallion expressed her gratitude to MAPPA for letter her sample the commercial tune for the anime without complaining, she couldn't help but exclaim in agony when they asked her to change the names a day before the album [comes] out. Regardless of the concerning e-mail reminder, Megan still raps on the song: Ayy, can't touch me like Gojo Fightin' demons in my head like I'm Itadori. She also alludes to other anime-inspired lingo. Following up on her 2022 album Traumazine, MEGAN features a total of 10 songs. Otaku Hot Girl is listed as the seventh track on the record. Earlier this year, Megan also pulled up to the Crunchyroll Anime Awards as a presenter. Reactions to Megan Thee Stallion's anime-sampled track Otaku Hot Girl Anime fans quickly responded to the jaw-dropping revelation on social media as the song started trending on X/Twitter following its release. An X user wrote, megan thee stallion sampling a jujutsu kaisen track and getting yuji itadoris english VA (adam mcarthur) to narrate the intro like she is so insane for this lmfkskdkskdr. She snapped on the anime references though bow down when I pop out like Sukuna another commented. Many others couldn't get over the fact that Yuji's English voice actor actually came through with an unprecedented collaboration: THE INTRO ACTUALLY HAS ME GAGGED. It's over, we have a winner Some others validated her real anime fan status with remarks like, Shes such a real fan, and you know she was happy as hell about this. Her brain is actually so massive with using the jjk commercial jingle," a fellow Otaku chimed in. Members of the Jujutsu Kaisen fan club were also quick to drop their video compilations, edited to Megan's latest track. The general response to her song on social media was favourably in her odds. Countless users came to her side, possibly expanding the size of her own fandom, which she affectionately dubbed the Hotties. What rapper you know getting a JUJUTSU KAISEN SAMPLE cleared? & Megan made sure she kept them names in & SLID. PUT SOME RESPECT ON OTAKU HOT GIRL #Megan, an X user tweeted. Another user wrote, Otaku Hot Girl is for the girls who like anime who was getting charged up and quizzed by anime boys. Naga Shaurya calls Darshan generous, kind-hearted Naga captioned his Instagram post as, My heart goes out to the family of the deceased, and I genuinely wish them strength during this difficult time. However, it is incredibly disappointing to see people rushing to conclusions about this issue. Darshan Anna is not someone who could ever harm anyone, even in his worst nightmares. Those who know him well can attest to his generosity, kind-hearted nature, and unwavering commitment to helping others. He has always gone out of his way to support those in need and has been a pillar of strength for many. He further wrote, I cannot, even in my darkest fears, accept this news. I have faith in our judicial system and believe that the truth will come out soon. We must also remember that another family is suffering greatly as well. They deserve privacy and respect during this challenging period. I firmly believe that Anna, known for his integrity and compassion, will be proven innocent and that the real culprit will be brought to justice. Naga turned off the comments in his post. Darshan-Pavithra accused in Renukaswamy murder Renukaswamy was murdered on June 10 after allegedly sending derogatory messages to Pavithra, which angered Darshan. While there were rumors that Pavithra was Darshans partner, the actors lawyer denied the same and called them friends. Darshan's wife, Vijayalakshmi, and her son met him at Bengaluru Central Jail a few days ago. They even urged the fans to stay patient and thanked them for their love and concern during these sensitive times. Darshan made his Kannada acting debut with Devara Maga. Apart from being an actor, he has also produced and distributed many Kannada films. His action-drama Devil: The Hero is still under-production. 2PM's Taecyeon is setting his sights on the world of BL dramas! The South Korean heartthrob is teaming up with Japanese actor Hayato Isomura for a new Netflix series titled Soul Mate. The project has already ignited excitement online, with production well underway. While a release date remains under wraps (potentially 2025), fans can't wait to see Taecyeon's undeniable charm take centre stage in this highly anticipated series. K-pop star Taecyeon takes lead role in Netflix Japanese drama with Alice In Borderland's Hayato Isomura(Pic credit- Vincenzo (Netflix), Imdb) 2PM Taecyeon to star in upcoming Netflix romance drama Move over, soulful vocals and charming acting, the Vincenzo star is debuting in the world of romance and fans cant keep calm. On June 28, Taecyeons company officially confirmed his role in the upcoming Korean-Japanese Netflix series and wrote, Ok Taecyeon is set to appear in Netflixs Japanese series Soul Mate, which is currently in the midst of production with the goal of a release sometime next year. Also read: Lovely Runner Byun Woo Seok emerges as king of K-dramas in June's brand ranking, Chun Woo Hee close behind The agency further added, Ok Taecyeon will be playing the role of Korean boxer Hwang Johan, where he will be greeting fans not only in Japan but all over the world. OK Taecyeon and Hayato Isomura team up as Soul Mate Penned and helmed by Japanese director Hashizume Shunki, the drama follows the story of two men falling in love over a span of 10 years. The 2PM member will play Johan, a boxer, while Hayato Isomura is set to portray Ryu, a man who has abandoned his life in Japan. Their lives intersect when Johan rescues Ryu in a foreign church, an unexpected meeting that changes their destiny forever. The young gentlemen gradually discover the meaning of life and love. Set in Seoul, Berlin, and Tokyo, this Japanese Netflix drama explores their journey as they heal each other slowly. Also read: Bill Gates daughter Phoebe confirms romance with the Beatles members grandson: see photos Im extremely delighted to be appearing in Soul Mate. Because there were so many types of characters and genres that I hadnt tried yet, Taecyeon remarked. Addressing why he chose to star in this show, the K-pop star-turned-actor said, While reading the script, I was intrigued by the character of Hwang Johan, and even after Id finished the script, Johans inner pain and struggles stayed with me for a long time, which is why I chose the project as per Korean news media outlet Osen. "On the other hand, Hayato Isomura, the famous Japanese actor known for his roles in movies such as Hoshi Furu Yoru ni and Alice in Borderland, has already stirred excitement on the internet with his upcoming role. Describing the show as a live-action series, Netflix said, 'Destiny works in mysterious ways, and a chance encounter may just mark the beginning of a love story. As per Hayato Isomura, Working with Ok Taec-yeon has been inspiring; his charm draws me in more each day. Filming in Japan, Korea, and Germany gives the project a truly global feel. The first batch of the annual Amarnath Yatra with 4,603 pilgrims reached the Kashmir valley on Friday amid stringent security arrangements, officials said. Comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints, have been made to ensure a smooth yatra, said a senior official (PTI) Local Muslims joined senior officials of police and civil administration at several places to welcome the yatris, who were flagged off from the Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu base camp early morning, upon their arrival in the valley, they added. The yatra convoys received rousing welcome from the administration and the people on their way to Kashmir and the pilgrims were welcomed with garlands in Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, and Bandipora districts, the officials said. The 52-day pilgrimage will begin from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal -- on Saturday and conclude on August 19. The officials said the pilgrims reached the valley through the Navyug tunnel in Qazigund area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district in a cavalcade of 231 light and heavy vehicles where they were welcomed by Kulgam Deputy Commissioner (DC) Athar Aamir Khan, SSP Kulgam, members of civil society, trade fraternity, fruit growers, and market associations. "We welcome all of them. There are proper arrangements in place for them," Khan told reporters. The officials said the pilgrim convoys left separately for the base camps in Baltal and Pahalgam from where they will leave for the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine early on Saturday. While pilgrims taking the Pahalgam axis were welcomed at Anantnag by Deputy Commissioner Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid and other officials, the yatris on their way to the cave shrine via the Baltal axis were welcomed at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar by Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat and others, including locals. The convoy was also later welcomed in Bandipora where it was given a rousing reception, the officials added. Earlier on Friday morning, amid chants of "Bum Bum Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev", Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu. Sinha wished the pilgrims a safe journey. "May the blessings of Baba Amarnath ji bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone's life," he said. ALSO READ | Mock drills held, security tightened on eve of Amarnath Yatra Comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints, have been made to ensure a smooth yatra, a senior official told PTI. "Traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes from June 28 to August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience," the official said. According to reports, more than 3.50 lakh people have registered for this year's yatra. As many as 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and are supported by over 6,000 volunteers. The BJP, on Thursday, alleged that a Muslim woman - Rosonara Khatun, has been stripped and beaten in Coochbehar district, West Bengal, for supporting their party. BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya posted on X that there is a Sandeshkhali in every village in Bengal. The National Commission for Women (NCW) took note of the alleged attack on a BJP woman worker, which BJP leader Malviya referred to as a repeat of Sandeshkhali(File) Malviya said that the incident took place at the Ramthenga Market in the Mathabhanga Assembly of Coochbehar district. He posted on X, Rosonara Khatun, a member of the BJP's Minority Morcha, was dragged by her hair and subjected to severe physical assault. This brutal incident has shocked the Muslim community. Since the announcement of the election results, she had been in a state of panic and avoided leaving her home. Currently, she is admitted to the hospital. He also added that, "There is a #Sandeshkhali in every village of Bengal. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Concerns over political violence and safety of women under Mamata Banerjee remains a huge concern". The National Commission for Women took note of the alleged attack and demanded a detailed action report on the incident within 3 days, according to news agency PTI. Read more: 2 TMC MLAs stage stir awaiting Governors arrival in Bengal assembly The NCW has condemned the incident and instructed the police to apply relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR. In a post on X, the NCW stated, The accused must be arrested promptly, and the victim provided free medical treatment. A fair, time-bound investigation is required, with a detailed action taken report to be submitted to the Commission within 3 days. Read more: Sandeshkhali a local incident, state government has acted: Mamata Banerjee Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas district, west Bengal, had been the centre of controversy after women in the village accused Sheikh Shahjahan, a member of the ruling TMC party, of seizing land and sexually assaulting women with his aides. Shahjahan was suspended from the TMC for a period of six years before being arrested. He was arrested by the CBI in connection with attack on ED officials probing in the village in January. The Sandeshkhali case was a huge issue during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A case has been registered against a 38-year-old man after he smoked inside the lavatory of a Mumbai-bound flight from Delhi, police said on Friday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening on an IndiGo flight from the country's national capital to the financial capital, the official said. The side of an IndiGo Airlines A320 aircraft is pictured on the tarmac (REUTERS) The flight, carrying 176 passengers, took off from Delhi airport around 5.15 pm. About 50 minutes before landing at Mumbai airport, a passenger named Khalil Kajammul Khan, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, went to the toilet, he said. The cabin crew was alerted by smoke sensors after Khan smoked a cigarette inside the toilet, the official said. When he came out, the crew members inspected the lavatory and found a matchstick and a cigarette stub. They informed their superiors about the findings, the official said. Upon being questioned by the crew members, Khan also admitted to smoking inside the lavatory, he said. After the plane landed at Mumbai airport, the matter was reported to security personnel and Khan was taken to Sahar police station. A case has been registered against him under the Indian Penal Code and Aircraft Rules, the official added. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that the central government is ready for discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, provided the discussions are done while maintaining the decorum of the Parliament. Union education minster Dharmendra Pradhan at the Parliament on Friday. (PTI Photo) Speaking to media persons at the Parliament, Pradhan said, The government wants to assure the students and people of the country that strict action is being taken. Everyone involved in the scam will be punished. The CBI has taken charge of this. He urged the Opposition not to politicise the matter and to join the discussion impartially. His statements have come a day after President Draupadi Murmu, in her address to the joint session of the Parliament on Thursday, stated that strict action will be taken against all those responsible in the NEET paper leak incident. President Murmus mention of the issue is indicative of the governments intention to strictly address the matter, Pradhan said. New Delhi: The Union environment ministrys Nagpur regional office has sought clarity on whether residential projects can be allowed in Maharshtras private forests, a move prompted by a request from the state government to greenlight one such project. Private forests are forests which are not property of the government but meet the characteristics of forests. (HT FILE) This is significant because in January, the ministry allowed homestead owners in Mussoorie and Goas private and deemed forests to construct residential buildings, although the ban on construction of institutional and commercial buildings remained, according to a letter sent to the Uttarakhand and Goa governments. In a meeting of the environment ministrys Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) on June 7, the issue on private forests raised by the Nagpur office was discussed according to minutes available published on Parivesh website recently. FAC has not taken a call on the matter yet. FAC has asked Maharashtras nodal officer to make a detailed presentation giving detailed account of the dispensation provided in the Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) and Goa and proposals in respect of Maharashtra before the Committee in its next meeting. Private forests are forests which are not property of the government but meet the characteristics of forests. The above proposal was considered by the Regional Empowered Committee at Regional Office, Nagpur in its meeting held on April 24 and the Committee while considering the proposal decided to seek clarification from the MoEFCC whether such residential proposals proposed to be taken up in the restored private forest may be considered by the REC or otherwise so as to inform the State Government on applicability of rules position on such proposals, the minutes stated. The relevant provisions of the rule 10(3)(ii) read with the provisions of rule 10(5)(ii) of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023 provide that the Regional Empowered Committee shall examine the proposals giving due regard to the various aspects mentioned including that the proposed use of the forest land is not for any non-site specific purpose such as agricultural purpose, office or residential purpose or for the rehabilitation of persons displaced for any reason. Guidelines issued under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 also state that utilization of forest area for establishing industries, construction of residential colonies, institutes, rehabilitation of displaced persons, etc. are non-sitespecific activities and cannot be considered on forest land as a rule. But, in exceptional circumstances, residential projects up to one hectare, can be considered for approval under the Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023 or Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 by the MoEF&CC, subject to appropriate justification and recommendation by the concerned State Government and the Regional Office of the MoEFCC, the minutes added. REC Nagpur raised this query while considering a proposal of the Maharashtra government involving diversion of 10.685 ha of forest land in favour of Sumeet R. Bhalotia and others, Thane for construction of a residential project. If the project is for a greenfield residential project, the diversion of forest should definitely not be allowed. Also, 10 ha is a huge area which cannot be justified as a bona fide case. Not only will there be consequences for biodiversity and green cover, but it will also set a very wrong precedent if such permission is given, said Debadityo Sinha, Senior Resident Fellow and Lead of the Climate & Ecosystems team at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. According to experts, the exemptions were given to private forests in Uttarakhand and Goa earlier this year because the construction, previously not allowed, was made possible because of the latest amendment of the Forest Conservation Act or the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam which exempts unrecorded deemed forests and private plantations from its purview, removing the protection that such areas enjoyed under the older law. These exemptions are also incorporated in a handbook of consolidated guidelines on the amendment. According to an MoEFCC note on forest clearance, procedure to obtain prior approval of Central Government under the Forest (Conservation) Act,1980 for use of forest land for non-forest purpose is same irrespective of the ownership of the forest land. Maharashtra has a forest cover of 11.4% of total geographical area as per Forest Survey of India. As per the official data, the forest department holds 11,495 hectares of private forest land with the highest 4365.89 hectares in Maval tehsil followed by 3,722 hectares in Mulshi tehsil. Around one-fourth of this land, over 3,000 hectares, is under dispute over ownership before the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court, HT reported on November 23, 2023. Raipur, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said his government is committed to expediting the expansion of rail, road and telecom connectivity and other developmental work in the Maoist-hit areas of the state. Chhattisgarh govt striving to expand rail, road and telecom links in Naxal-hit areas: CM Sai He was talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of the unified command here to review the security situation and development-related initiatives in left-wing extremism -hit pockets in Chhattisgarh. The meeting of unified command is generally convened once a year. Our home minister, chief secretary, director-general of police and senior officials were present. We held an elaborate discussion on Naxalism and reviewed the status of developmental works of different departments in the affected areas, Sai said. After the BJP returned to power in Chhattisgarh six months ago, Sai said, his government has been fighting strongly against the Naxal menace. Security forces have also achieved significant success in anti-Naxal operations during this period, he said. Asked about the anti-Naxal strategy discussed in the meeting, the CM said, It is fortunate that there is a double engine government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji has already chaired a meeting here in January and given necessary instructions. The CM said they want to take development to everyone. Even villagers want to be associated with the mainstream of growth, he said. New security camps have been set up in many places and the government is trying to ensure that basic amenities and benefits of welfare projects reach Naxal-affected villages through its Niyad Nellanar scheme, he said. The effort is to expedite works related to road, rail and telecom connectivity in those areas and ensure that there is no shortage of resources for any work there, he added. Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, who also holds the home portfolio, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, DGP Ashok Juneja, Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Pingua and senior officials of state police and central armed forces, including CRPF, BSF and ITBP, and Indian Air Force attended the meeting, officials said. More than 130 Naxalites have been killed so far this year in separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Deputy national security adviser Vikram Misri, a former envoy to Beijing and an expert on China, was on Friday appointed as Indias next foreign secretary, according to an official notification. Vikram Misri. (Photo from X) Misri, an officer of the 1989 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) who has the rare distinction of serving as the private secretary to three prime ministers, will take up his new position on July 15, according to the notification from the appointments committee of the cabinet. He joined the National Security Council in January 2022. He will replace Vinay Kwatra, who was given a six-month extension in April. The same notification stated that Kwatras extension will now be valid till July 14. It is widely expected that Kwatra will be named Indias next ambassador to the United States. HT had first reported on June 7 that Misri was set to become the foreign secretary as part of a series of key appointments in the external affairs ministry. People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that Misri will be a natural fit as the foreign secretary in view of his expertise on China, which remains the foremost foreign policy challenge for India. As the ambassador to Beijing during 2019-2021, Misri played a crucial role in contacts with the Chinese government after the start of military standoff in Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in May 2020. A brutal clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops were killed, has taken bilateral ties to a six-decade low. Misri also served as Indias ambassador to Spain (2014-2016) and Myanmar (2016-2018). He served as private secretary to prime minister IK Gujral (1997-1998), prime minister Manmohan Singh (2012-2014) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (May-July 2014). He has also had stints in the Indian missions in Belgium, Pakistan, the US, Sri Lanka and Germany. Indias ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, who served as joint secretary in the Prime Ministers Office under both Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi, and was granted a year-long extension in service that is set to end in September this year, is widely tipped to replace Misri in the National Security Council Secretariat, the people said. Filling two key positions in the US is among the priorities in foreign policy for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government that took office earlier this month for a third successive term. Kwatra is expected to become the next envoy to the US, the people said. The key slot in Washington has been lying vacant after the last ambassador, Taranjit Sandhu, retired in January. The government also has to fill the post of Indias permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York, which became vacant with the retirement of Ruchira Kamboj the first woman to hold the position at the beginning of this month. The two frontrunners for this post are Parvathaneni Harish, an officer of the 1990 batch of the IFS and the current envoy to Germany, and BN Reddy, from the 1993 batch of the IFS and the current high commissioner to Malaysia, the people said. Other names doing the rounds for this position are Vikram Doraiswami, from the 1992 batch of the IFS and the current high commissioner to Britain, and Naveen Srivastava, from the 1993 batch of the IFS and currently the ambassador to Nepal. Sanjeev Singla, the ambassador to Israel since July 2019, is widely tipped as the next ambassador to France, the people said. Singla, from the 1997 batch of the IFS, also served as private secretary to the prime minister during 2014-2019. The Congress on Friday slammed its INDIA ally Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over waterlogging in the national capital due to heavy rain. Vehicles partially submerged in the waterlogged underpass at Moolchand following heavy rainfall, in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI) There is no area in Delhi where waterlogging did not take place today, be it railway stations, airports, parks or residential areas. For the first time, Delhi came to a standstill. We have regularly been warning the government about monsoons by writing letters but in times of crisis, the Delhi government runs away as seen today, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav told PTI. The Congress has been relentlessly attacking AAP over the waterlogging mess in Delhi. The Delhi unit of the party posted a video reportedly from Sis Ganj Sahib Gurdwara in Chandni Chowk with the caption,"The whole of Delhi is in a bad state, even Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Chandni Chowk is flooded with water When will the Delhi government and municipal corporation wake up?" ALSO READ: Delhi rain: Traffic hit amid severe waterlogging; police issues advisory Numerous videos and photos have surfaced on social media showing waterlogging in several parts of the city. While some vehicles were seen submerged in water, the others were seen lying in pits and potholes as roads caved in at some areas due to heavy rain. On the very first day of monsoon, a flood-like situation emerged. I wonder how they are going to manage the situation going ahead. We are utterly disappointed by the government's mismanagement, a commuter told PTI. Delhi water minister Atishi at a press conference said that the capital received 228 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the highest after 1936. ALSO READ: Video: Passengers rescued from bus trapped in waterlogged Delhi underpass during heavy rain "It means, out of total monsoon rainfall (800 mm) in Delhi, 25 per cent rain occurred in just 24 hours. Due to this, reason drain overflow happened in several areas and it took time for water to drain out," the minister was quoted by PTI as saying. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva hit out at AAP, saying,"The corruption in Delhi government agencies first caused people in the city to cry for drinking water and now they will suffer due to waterlogging every time it rains in this monsoon season." (With agency inputs) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took note of the roof collapse incident at Delhi airports terminal 1 and said it will get the structure examined after the incident left one person dead and several others injured, two civil aviation ministry officials said on Friday. Crushed vehicles under a portion of a collapsed roof at the Delhi airport's Terminal 1 on Friday. (PTI Photo) Torrential rainfall earlier in the day allegedly caused the roof to collapse, crushing several vehicles at the Indira Gandhi International airport around 5am. Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, along with aviation secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam and other ministry officials, visited the site of the incident, and ordered the airport operator to inspect the terminal building. Speaking to media persons, Naidu said the terminal has been temporarily shut for operations till tomorrow. All arrival and departure of SpiceJet flights from Terminal 1 have been shifted to T3 and all arrival and departure of IndiGo from T1 are being distributed between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, a Delhi Airport International Ltd (DIAL) spokesperson said. The portion of the roof that collapsed in the morning was constructed in 2009. The expanded terminal 1 is currently undergoing mandatory checks after which it is expected to be operational in the coming month. Currently, only IndiGo and SpiceJet operate from T1. This structure that collapsed is not a part of the expanded terminal that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March. We have asked DIAL to conduct a verification from their side. But we are not leaving it to them, the DGCA will also supervise the inspection and give us a report, Naidu said. Since it is monsoon season, all the airports with civil structures will be looked at again and we will do thorough checks at such airports, the minister said. Naidu has announced a compensation of 20 lakh to the kin of the deceased, while the injured will be given 3 lakh each. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Friday visited the Terminal-1 of New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and inspected the area, where a portion of the roof collapsed in the early hours of Friday, resulting in the death of at least one person and leaving six others injured. Parked vehicles are damaged by the collapse of a departure terminal canopy at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport(AP) Follow Delhi Rain LIVE Updates The union minister inspected the incident site and said that the structure at the Delhi airport and other airports with such structures across the country will be thoroughly inspected. The technical reasons and other aspects of the incident will be known after the investigation, he told the reporters. Naidu further announced that a compensation of 20 lakh will be given to the family of the deceased and 3 lakh to those injured in the tragic incident. I have also met the injured who are admitted at AIIMS. It is the commitment of the Government that whenever such a crisis has occurred, we have worked hard diligently and restored normalcy...What happened in T1 is unfortunate but this will be investigated, the minister said. 'Negligence': Congress blames Modi for Delhi Airport Terminal 1 accident; Centre issues clarification According to Naidu, the structure that collapsed was opened in 2009 and airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has been ordered to inspect the structure. "DGCA will supervise the inspection and they will give a report". Further, he said a thorough checking of all similar structures at airports across the country will be carried out. Regarding the operations, the minister said that the T1 has been evacuated. It is closed until a thorough inspection is done. The flight operations are being carried out from T2 and T3 for the time being. "T1 has been completely evacuated, operations that were scheduled to take place from there are being continued from T2 and T3. The building will remain closed until the experts approve it. Flights at T1 have been cancelled till 2 pm," he said. Immediately after learning about the incident, Naidu said the emergency response and fire safety teams were sent. Among others, CISF and NDRF personnel were also at the site. "We immediately sent the emergency response team, the fire safety team and also the CISF, and NDRF teams. Everyone was available at the site and they did a thorough inspection so that no other casualties were there. So right now the situation is under control. The rest of the terminal building has been closed and everything is being thoroughly inspected so that there is no further untoward incident here," he said. On the opposition's allegation of "Corruption" and "criminal negligence" responsible for the roof collapse incident, where the Congress claimed that the portion that collapsed was inaugurated by the PM on 10 March, Naidu clarified that the building, which was inaugurated by PM Modi was on the other side of the terminal and the building that collapsed was an old building which was opened to the public in the year 2009. It is being falsely said. The 3-month-old building being talked about is a different building. It is still safe. This particular building was not inaugurated by the PM. That was a different building...The building where the roof collapsed is from 2009. We have given orders for the probe, he added. Delhi Airport roof collapse: 1 killed, 6 injured; flight operations at Terminal-1 severely hit Terminal 1 has only domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet. The airport -- which has three terminals T1, T2 and T3 -- handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. DIAL, a consortium led by GMR Group, is the operator of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital. "We sincerely regret this disruption and apologise for any inconvenience caused." the spokesperson said. (With inputs from agencies) The country woke up to the collapse of the structure at Delhi Airports Terminal 1 this morning. Amongst blame games and rescue operations, the operations at Terminal 1 came to a halt, with airlines having to cancel flights after initially delaying them. Later in the day, Delhi Airport said that operations from Terminal 1 have been suspended indefinitely. Rescuers work at the collapsed terminal roof of New Delhi's international airport after heavy rains in New Delhi on June 28, 2024.(AFP) Ironically, the expanded structure of T1, which takes the terminal's capacity to 40 million and the airport capacity to 100 million, was inaugurated recently and was to be operationalised very soon. The accident happened before the expanded part could be operationalised. However, it did not happen at the gates, which were expanded. Instead, the structure at departures has come down over the approach road. Data provided by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, exclusively for this article shows that 89 flights are scheduled to depart from Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 tomorrow. The number is 90 for Sunday. A similar number of flights arrive at Terminal 1, too. This is roughly 18.6% of total domestic departures from Delhi, with about 480 domestic flights departing across the three terminals, Terminal 3, Terminal 2, and Terminal 1D. As Terminal 1 went into modification and expansion, flights from the terminal were curtailed and distributed amongst Terminal 3, and Terminal 2 was re-inducted, which was out of operation. Of these 89 flights that are impacted, 17 are operated by SpiceJet, while the rest are by IndiGo. All these flights are domestic since Terminal 1 caters only to Domestic traffic. Overall, IndiGo has 217 domestic departures scheduled for tomorrow from Delhi; thus, the impact is on 32% of its flights. For SpiceJet, it has only 36 departures from Delhi, which means its impact is higher at 50%. What does the closure mean? IndiGo and SpiceJet operate out of Terminal 1, and there will be considerable disruption in operations today and over the next few days. This is because Delhi is congested and operating at near peak capacity for most hours. Much effort will have to be put into communicating with the passengers about the terminal change. Not just this, the other two terminals are operating at peak capacity as well. This means there will be congestion on both the air side and the terminal. With check-in counters overflying at the other two terminals to accommodate additional passengers with the same infrastructure is a problem. Likewise, the queue at security will be a challenge even when all security lines are operational. A screen showing cancelled flights is pictured at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after a part of terminal roof collapsed following heavy rains in New Delhi on June 28, 2024.(AFP) On the air side, finding empty bays and accommodating additional flights will be a task. There is also a limit to remote bays, many of which are currently occupied by grounded IndiGo and Go FIRST planes. Operating from the apron of Terminal 1 while having the passengers bussed from T3 or T2 would mean a long bus ride for passengers, with potential delays in baggage delivery and flights, impacting schedules not just in Delhi but country-wide. The impact may not be limited to IndiGo and SpiceJet since the operational challenge will spill over across airlines due to the same infrastructure coming under pressure. How long will T1 be closed? There remains uncertainty about this. The collapsed structure will need investigation and clearance. Once that is done, the operator and government agencies will have to be satisfied with the structures stability and structural audit may be required before operations are cleared to resume. Also Read | Passengers flood X with complaints as flights cancelled amid roof collapse, heavy rain A temporary structure may also be needed for the time being to ensure that passengers are protected from the hard elements, especially in the current rainy season. What should the passenger do? If you are a passenger scheduled to fly into or from Delhi on either IndiGo or SpiceJet, keep an eye out on the social media handles of the airlines and Delhi Airport. Ensure that your ticket has updated contact details of you and not your travel agent to receive the most up-to-date updates and changes from the airline. It may be wise to reach the airport early and anticipate crowding and minor delays. Tail Note With the parliament in session and the rain creating havoc in Delhi, politics will take over the narrative. It remains to be seen how soon the operator and the government work together to restart Terminal 1. Without Terminal 1, the airport's capacity is down significantly or 40% if the full operations were to be considered, though they have not yet begun. This would probably prompt other airports to conduct structural audits to ensure that a situation like this is not repeated. Several areas of Delhi NCR experienced severe flooding early Friday morning due to relentless rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Many vehicles were submerged, and significant traffic snarls were reported. Visuals reveal extensive waterlogging in the Govindpuri area of South Delhi and Noida Sector 95. Severe waterlogging in Minto Road due to heavy rainfall in the national capital on Friday.(ANI) In the visuals shared by news agency ANI, commuters faced difficulties due to severe waterlogging in the Connaught Place area following the heavy rain. Additionally, visuals from Moolchand also showed inundated roads. Commuters, especially those on two-wheelers, struggled with waterlogged roads in the Teen Murti Marg area of the national capital. In Minto Road, a truck was submerged due to severe waterlogging caused by relentless rainfall. On Thursday, heavy rainfall in parts of Delhi provided much-needed relief from the sweltering heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy skies with varying intensities of rain and gusty winds for the next seven days in Delhi. Traffic affected due to waterlogging On the social media platform X, the Delhi Traffic Police provided updates about affected routes: - Traffic on Outer Ring Road is disrupted in both directions from Shantivan to ISBT and vice versa due to waterlogging near Y-point Saleemgarh and Nigambodh Ghat. - Ring Road is impacted in both directions from Naraina to Moti Bagh due to waterlogging under Dhaula Kuan Flyover. - Due to waterlogging, Anuvrat Marg is affected in both directions between 100 Foota Red Light and Lado Sarai Red Light. - Travellers have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly. Here is the forecast For Friday, the weather agency's prediction stated, Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain/thunderstorm. accompanied with gusty winds (speed 25-35 kmph). The regional meteorological centre in New Delhi predicts that from Saturday, June 28, to June 30, the national capital is likely to experience heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms. The maximum temperature on Friday is expected to be 35.4 degrees Celsius; on Saturday and Sunday, the city's maximum temperature will likely be around 36 degrees Celsius. Starting Monday, July 1, the weather agency predicts light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, with the maximum temperature expected to drop to 34 degrees Celsius. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday recounted how Delhi's incessant rain flooded his Lutyens' home under a foot of water and nearly prevented him from attending the Parliament session earlier in the day. Shashi Tharoor recounts flooded home in Delhi, Delhiites woke up to a rain-devastated city on Friday. Many parts of the city were flooded, with water entering homes and submerging vehicles, causing kilometers-long traffic jams. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning have affected several areas of Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram since Thursday. Follow- Delhi-NCR rain LIVE Updates Sharing a video of waterlogging outside his residence, Tharoor narrated that he woke up to find his home in Lutyens Delhi flooded, with every room under a foot of water. Carpets and furniture, indeed anything on the ground, ruined. Apparently, the storm water drains in the neighborhood are all clogged, so the water had no place to go, he said. Shashi Tharoor home floode. Here's video Risked my presence in Lok Sabha: Tharoor Tharoor, who entered the 18th Lok Sabha by defeating the then Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, joked that he thought he would need a boat to reach Parliament. However, the authorities managed to pump water out of the roads, allowing him to arrive on time. (I) warned my Parliament colleagues that I might not make it there without a boat. But the city managed to pump water out of the roads, and I did arrive in time! the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. Proceedings in both HousesLok Sabha and Rajya Sabharesumed on Friday to discuss the Motion of Thanks for the President's address. The houses saw ruckus as the Opposition demanded a discussion on the 'NEET issue' and irregularities in exams conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). ALSO READ- Delhi rains: Wall collapses in Vasant Vihar, construction workers feared trapped Why Delhi floods after just first rain? Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav blamed the waterlogging to clogged drains filled with plastic waste and criticised the Delhi government for inaction despite multiple reminders. ALSO READ- Heavy rain in Delhi causes disruption at Yashoboomi Metro station, affects Shuttle service to IGI Terminal 1 Delhi weather forecast The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's main weather station, recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, the highest for June in at least 16 years. The Indian Meteorological Department forecasts cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain with gusty winds for the next seven days. An under-construction wall collapsed in southwest Delhi's Vasant Vihar area on Friday, causing a few construction workers to possibly be trapped under it, according to news agency PTI. Delhi rains: Wall collapses in Vasant Vihar, construction workers feared trapped(Hindustan Times) Officials from the Delhi Fire Service told the agency, that a call was received at 5: 30 am about the wall collapse, and two fire tenders were pressed into service. According to the NDRF, three labourers are trapped, though they are not sure of exact numbers yet. The labourers were staying in temporary huts near the construction site and their huts collapsed into the pit during the early morning rain in Delhi. Read more: Waterlogging due to heavy rain in Delhi leads to traffic snarls; key roads affected Rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) , civic agencies, fire department, and police have been mobilised and efforts are underway to rescue the labourers. Heavy rains have dealt a lot of damage to Delhi, causing water logging in various areas and heavy traffic jams on roads. The rains also caused a part of the roof at the Delhi-NCR airport Terminal 1 to collapse, leading to 6 people being injured and the death of one person as well. Support beams in the airport canopy area were also weakened and caused damage to the parked vehicles as well. A search operation is also being conducted to make sure no one else is trapped under any vehicle. According to ANI, AAP MLA Somnath Bharti has stated that Delhi's infrastructure is not capable of handling heavy rains, especially as today marked the second highest rainfall in Delhi since 1936. An emergency meeting will be held by the Delhi government shortly to address the issues caused by the heavy downpour. The Delhi Transport Corporation has deployed people near underpasses to monitor water logging. The incessant rains are likely to continue on June 29 as well, as per IMD forecasts. Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday urged ministers of the BRICS bloc to ensure that available carbon space is utilised by developing countries, while stressing that a larger BRICS can now set the agenda, priorities and way forward for tackling environmental challenges. Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav (left) and MoS (environment) Kirti Vardhan Singh virtually attending the BRICS meeting on Friday. (Photo from X) Yadav made the appeal while virtually attending the 10th meeting of the BRICS environment ministers under the chairmanship of Russia. This was the first meeting of the BRICS environment ministers after five new member countries joined the bloc, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The original BRICS bloc had Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa as members. The Union minister stated that a larger and bigger BRICS can now set the agenda, priorities and way forward for tackling environmental challenges. He stressed that initiatives under BRICS are firmly guided by the principles and goals of the UN system and its agencies, and BRICS nations should ensure that available carbon space is utilised by the developing countries, a statement from the union environment ministry said on Friday. He also urged the BRICS nations to promote implementation of the Resolution on Sustainable Lifestyles, adopted at the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly. Yadav stressed that the developing countries need a level playing field, and asked the developed countries to fulfill their obligations for means of implementation, including finances promised at UN Climate COP and Convention on Biological Diversity. He cautioned that climate finance should not be seen as a means of investment, the statement added. The second annual Indicators of Global Climate Change Report released on June 6 shows that the remaining carbon budget how much carbon dioxide can be emitted before committing us to 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming is only around 200 gigatonnes (billion tonnes), which is around five years worth of current emissions. In 2020, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calculated the remaining carbon budget for 1.5C in the 300-900 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide range, with a central estimate of 500. Since then, CO2 emissions and global warming have continued. At the start of 2024, the remaining carbon budget for 1.5C stood at 100-450 gigatonnes, with a central estimate of 200, the report said. India on Friday rejected a US government report criticising the state of religious freedom in the country, saying in a strongly worded riposte that the findings were deeply biased and driven by vote bank considerations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled the annual report and spoke of a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith community in India (Screengrab/ US state department video) The external affairs ministry responded two days after the US state department criticised Indias record in its annual international religious freedom report for 2023 and alleged the government had failed to protect members of religious minorities from violence or investigate hate crimes. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of Indias social fabric, and is visibly driven by vote bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing. We therefore reject it. The exercise itself is a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources, and a one-sided projection of issues, he said. This, Jaiswal said, includes the depiction of Indias constitutional provisions and laws, and selectively picked incidents to advance a preconceived narrative. He added, In some cases, the very validity of laws and regulations are questioned by the report, as are the right of legislatures to enact them. The report also appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgments given by Indian courts. The exercise itself is a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources, and a one-sided projection of issues The report also targeted regulations that monitor the misuse of financial flows into India and suggested the burden of compliance is unreasonable, Jaiswal pointed out. It seeks to question the need for such measures. On its own part, the US has even more stringent laws and regulations and would surely not prescribe such solutions for itself, he said. Human rights and respect for diversity have been and remain a legitimate subject of discussion between India and the US, Jaiswal said while pointing to India raising hate crimes committed in the US that targeted people of Indian origin or places of worship. In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalisation and targeting of places of worship, violence and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities, as well as the according of political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad, he said, in an apparent reference to the activities of pro-Khalistan activists in some American cities. However, such dialogue should not become a licence for foreign interference in other polities, Jaiswal said. Speaking at the release of the report on Wednesday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken offered rare public criticism of India, which is usually described by the Biden administration as a preeminent partner on the global stage. Blinken said: In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities. At the same event, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Rashad Hussain, was critical of Indian police. He said Christian communities in India reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges. The report also referred to violent attacks on religious minorities in India, including killings and assaults, and cited the violence in the northeastern state of Manipur. Despite public criticism in annual report, the US state department is not expected to take action against India when it drafts its annual blacklist of countries over religious freedoms later this year. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday concluded India had a high level of technical compliance with its standards to counter money laundering and terror financing and said New Delhis mechanisms for this are achieving good results. The FATF said it would publish the report for India after its quality and consistency review is completed.(AP) The multilateral financial watchdog unveiled its conclusions at its plenary meeting in Singapore following a year-long process, during which an FATF team visited New Delhi for on-site evaluation of Indias measures and met senior officials. The intergovernmental organisation, which sets international anti-money laundering standards and counter-terrorist financing measures, has not found any red flags in Indias processes, said an officer who didnt want to be named. The FATF discussed and adopted mutual evaluation report of India, which assessed the effectiveness of the countrys measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing, and their compliance with the watchdogs recommendations. The Plenary concluded that India has reached a high level of technical compliance with the FATF requirements and its AML/CFT/CPF [anti-money laundering/ countering the financing of terrorism/ counter proliferation financing] regime is achieving good results, including in its ML [money laundering] and TF [terrorist financing] risk understanding, international cooperation, access to basic and beneficial ownership information, use of financial intelligence, and depriving criminals of their assets and counter-proliferation financing measures, the watchdog said in a statement. The FATF, however, said improvements are needed to strengthen the supervision and implementation of preventive measures in some of the nonfinancial sectors. Also Read:India informs FATF of steps taken on money laundering, terror funds It also said India needs to address delays relating to concluding ML and TF prosecutions, and to ensure that CFT measures aimed at preventing the non-profit sector from being abused for TF are implemented in line with the risk-based approach, including by conducting outreach to NPOs [non-profit organisations] on their TF risks. The FATF said it would publish the report for India after its quality and consistency review is completed. As reported by HT, an Indian delegation visited Singapore in April to apprise the FATF about steps taken to counter money laundering and terror financing over the past decade. The Indian team comprising officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), income-tax department, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the finance and external affairs ministries had face-to-face consultations on the evaluation. New Delhi last underwent such a review in 2010 and was already in the compliant category. The mutual evaluation of India was scheduled for September 2020, but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Officials said the Indian government had apprised the FATF and peers about amendments in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), registration of more than 5,000 money laundering cases in the past 10 years, the arrest of 755 individuals and attachment of properties worth more than 1.21 lakh crore. A key change since the last review was defining a politically exposed person under the PMLA, which was recommended by the FATF. Besides, the Indian government widened the ambit of PMLA to bring non-government organisations and crypto-currencies under it, so that illicit financial transactions through virtual digital assets (VDAs) can be monitored. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stepped up scrutiny of fintech firms to ensure they follow the provisions of the anti-money laundering law, and is keeping tabs on suspicious transactions, officials said. The government also enacted a new law in 2018 to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of local courts. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 empowers authorities for non-conviction-based attachment and confiscation of assets and proceeds of crime abroad in cases involving amounts more than 100 crore. The FATF conducts peer reviews of each member country to assess the implementation of its recommendations and provides an in-depth description and analysis of each countrys system. In 2019, the Indian government set up a joint working group comprising 22 central investigation, intelligence and regulatory agencies to make presentations, hold discussions with, and brief FATF experts. Over the past few years, the ED has aggressively gone after businessmen, politicians and companies involved in money laundering and violation of rules laid down by the government and regulatory authorities, even as provisions of the PMLA were described by many political parties, lawyers and businessman as draconian. The courts have, however, upheld most of its arrests and prosecution complaints that are equivalent to charge sheets. Former Jharkhand chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was released from jail after he was granted bail by the high court in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren was granted bail by the High Court in a land scam case early today.(ANI) "I was kept behind bars for 5 months...We are seeing how the judicial process is taking years not just days or months...Today, it is a message for the whole country that how a conspiracy was hatched against us...The fight we started and the resolutions we made, we will work to fulfil them," Soren told reporters, according to ANI. Soren was granted bail in the case by the court two weeks after the court had reserved its order on the plea. A single bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay granted bail to Soren on a 50,000 bail bond and two sureties of the same amount. Soren's counsel told PTI that the court held the ex-chief minister prima facie is not guilty of the offence. "The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail," senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury told PTI. Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case. The 48-year-old politician was lodged in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi since then. During the hearing on Friday, SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), had objected to the bail plea stating that Soren is an influential person and had earlier tried to protect himself by using the state missionary. If granted bail, he may try to obstruct the investigation by misusing the state machinery. Raju submitted that Soren had a plan to build a banquet hall on the land located at Bargain in Jharkhand and his architect friend Vinod Singh sent its map to him through mobile. He also submitted that during the survey, Singh identified the land at Bargain and admitted in his statement that he provided the details of the land on instructions from the chief ministers office. Senior Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal and Meenakshi Arora, who also represented Soren, said that there was no case of money laundering, but one of political vendetta. This is a malicious prosecution by the central government by misusing the ED. The detailed order is yet to be made available. The ministry of civil aviation on Friday asked airlines to ensure that there is no abnormal surge in airfares for flights to and from Delhi after operations were suspended from Terminal 1 due to a roof collapse incident. Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu during the high-level review meeting with key officials. The ministry also said that it has established a war room to ensure a full refund of cancelled flights. The decisions were taken after Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu held a high-level review meeting with key officials. The operations were suspended till further notice after the roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall at around 5 am at the airport, leading to the death of one person and injuries to eight people. With T1, which handles IndiGo and SpiceJet's domestic flight operations, shut, there have been flight cancellations, and operations have been shifted to T2 and T3 temporarily. While Indigo flights operate from T2 & T3, SpiceJet flights operate from T3. Also Read | Find out the number of flights impacted as Delhi airport Terminal 1 suspends operations Against this backdrop, a senior official told PTI that the ministry has asked airlines to ensure that airfares for flights to and from Delhi do not surge abnormally. In a series of posts on X, the ministry said airlines have been advised that cancellations and rescheduling of flights due to the incident may be done without penal charges. "In view of the unfortunate incident at Terminal T1D IGIA, Delhi, all airlines are advised to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Delhi and take necessary action regarding the same," it said. It also said that the war room will ensure a full refund of cancelled flights, which will be processed within 7 days. The ministry has also directed the Airports Authority of India to issue a circular to all minor and major airports to inspect structural strength thoroughly. Also Read | Delhi airport forms committee to probe Terminal 1 roof collapse About 89 flights are scheduled to depart from Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 tomorrow, data provided by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, exclusively to HT shows that 89 flights are scheduled to depart from Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 tomorrow. The number is 90 for Sunday. Delhi airport roof collapse The forecourts canopy at Terminal 1 of the Delhi's IGI collapsed early Friday following heavy rain. One person died and six other people were injured in the incident. Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said three fire tenders were rushed to Terminal-1 (T1) of the airport after receiving a call about the incidentaround 5:30 am. The deceased was identified as Ramesh Kumar (45), a taxi driver and a resident of Rohini in Delhi. The injured have been identified as Santosh Kumar Yadav (28), Subham Shah (30), Dashrat Ahirwar (25), Arvind Goswami (34), Sahil Kundan (27) and Yogesh Dhawan (44). They are residents of Delhi, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the official said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday declared the onset of the Southwest monsoon in Delhi and other parts of North India, soon after the Capital received heavy rainfall and as the heatwave conditions abated across the country. Follow Delhi-NCR rainfall live updates IMD declares onset of Southwest monsoon in Delhi According to the weather department, the southwest monsoon has already advanced into parts of the North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, some more parts of Rajasthan, most parts of Madhya Pradesh; some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh; Bihar, some parts of East Uttar Pradesh; most parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, and some parts of Punjab. Southwest Monsoon further advanced into some more parts of West Rajasthan, remaining parts of East Rajasthan, some parts of Haryana, entire Delhi, some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh; remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and some more parts of East Uttar Pradesh, the IMD said. It added that conditions are likely to become favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of Rajasthan, the remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, some parts of Haryana, some more parts of Punjab, the remaining parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu during the next two to three days. Meanwhile, the IMD has also predicted fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning over northwest and east India during the next five days. Earlier in the day, Delhi and several parts of NCR witnessed heavy rainfall that caused severe waterlogging across the city. The Capital's Minto bridge - an infamous spot known for being a trap for buses during heavy rain - was also inundated. This happened almost a year after the Public Works Department (PWD) dropped it from its list of waterlogging hot spots in the national capital. (With inputs from ANI) NEW DELHI: India on Friday backed the Philippines amid a flaring of tensions in the South China Sea over Chinas aggressive actions in recent weeks, saying New Delhi opposes destabilising actions that seek to change the status quo by force. A Philippines navy personnel was severely injured when Chinas coast guard seized two Filipino ships on a resupply mission to an outpost on Second Thomas Shoal last week. (Agencies) China has ramped up actions targeting the Philippines in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, especially the use of gray zone tactics. A Philippines navy personnel was severely injured when Chinas coast guard seized two Filipino ships on a resupply mission to an outpost on Second Thomas Shoal last week. We oppose destabilising or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion...and we underline the need for peaceful settlement of disputes, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media without directly referring to China. India has clarified its position on developments in the South China Sea on several occasions, he said in response to a question on the tensions between China and the Philippines. We have always emphasised adherence to international law, respect for the rules-based order, and resolution of disputes in a peaceful manner. Other than that, we also believe that there should not be any incident or approach that destabilises the region, he said. The Philippines has emerged as a key strategic and defence partner for India in Southeast Asia. In April, India delivered the first battery of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and launchers to the Philippines, two years after the two sides signed a $375-million deal to equip the Philippine Marines with three batteries. While India had earlier only acknowledged the Permanent Court of Arbitrations ruling of 2016 in favour of the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, it revised its position last year, when a joint statement emphasised the need to adhere to the arbitral award. During a visit to Manila in March this year, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said India backs the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and seeks staunch adherence to a rules-based order. These developments have come against the backdrop of Indias dragging military standoff with China on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which recently entered its fifth year and has taken bilateral relations to an all-time low. The Congress-led INDIA bloc and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance came at loggerheads with each other in the Parliament on Friday, over the former's insistence on holding a debate on the raging NEET row after suspending all other legislative businesses. Amid ruckus by the Opposition over their demand, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till Monday. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at the Parliament during the 5th day of the 18th Lok Sabha session.(ANI file photo) Congress MP Deepender Hooda, meanwhile, claimed the ruckus erupted after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's mic was switched off. "The future of the youth has been spoiled due to the continuous paper leaks in the country. The maximum number of paper leak cases have been seen in Haryana. The paper was leaked in the NEET exam and the union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan is running away from responsibility. We had brought up a discussion on this and when it was raised in the House, the mike was switched off. If the mike of the Leader of the Opposition is switched off, then there will be anger among other Opposition MPs and the same happened in the House... We demand that this issue be discussed," he said. On Friday morning, Congress moved adjournment motions in both Houses, seeking the suspension of other businesses. They wanted an immediate discussion on the NEET issues. However, Speaker Om Birla refused to admit it, saying the House was scheduled to discuss the Motion of Thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address to the Parliament, prompting an uproar. Birla, whose election had become the first bone of contention in the 18th Lok Sabha session, later adjourned the House. After the adjournment, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress didn't want the House to function. "On behalf of the government, we have made it clear that we will give detailed information on whatever issue is raised. We assure the members once again that the government is always ready for discussion. But by halting the proceedings of the House, the tendency adopted by the Congress party - of not letting the House function - is not right...I condemn this. I appeal that those should not happen again," he said. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, earlier demanded a discussion on NEET in Parliament, adding that the discussion must happen "respectfully." "Yesterday, all the leaders of the opposition parties had a meeting and it was unanimous that today, we want a discussion on the NEET issue. There should be a discussion on NEET here in the House. I request the Prime Minister that this is an issue of the youth and it should be discussed properly and it should be a respectful discussion. We will do it respectfully. You should also join the discussion, you should also participate because this is a matter for the youth. A message should go from the Parliament that the Indian government and the Opposition are talking about the students together," Rahul Gandhi told ANI before entering the Parliament. The Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the alleged paper leaks in NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. With inputs from agencies Huge ruckus ensued in the Rajya Sabha on Friday as the opposition demanded a discussion on alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination NEET as the House took up Motion of Thanks to the President's address. Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his anger over opposition MPs including Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge entering the well of the House. Today is such a tainted day in the history of the Indian Parliament that the Leader of the Opposition himself has come to the Well. This has never happened before. I am pained, shocked. The Indian parliamentary tradition will deteriorate to such an extent that the Leader of the Opposition will come to the Well, the Deputy Leader will come to the Well, Vice-President Dhankhar told the House. ALSO READ: Parliament adjourned till Monday amid uproar over discussion on NEET The deputy leader of the party Pramod Tiwari also walked in, and senior leader Mukul Wasnik also walked in. It was a very painful moment for me. We expect the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House to exemplify their conduct that is worth emulating, he added. Commenting on Kharge entering the well, the Rajya Sabha chairperson said,"He (Kharge) came to the Well the entire House saw. But what is more painful, hurtful for me, is that he has outside, misreported, misrepresented and has spoken untruth... He is in denial mode and his statement which has been put on Twitter (now X) ... is self-contradictory." Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar and Leader of Opposition in RS Mallikarjun Kharge. ALSO READ: INDIA bloc committed to discussing NEET issue: Rahul Gandhi tells students The Rajya Sabha was adjourned multiple times during the day as the opposition INDIA bloc MPs raised slogans to push for an immediate discussion on the NEET row. Congress chief Kharge's clarification Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge responded to the V-P's remark. It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake. I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha. There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this, Kharge told ANI. The Congress on Friday blamed the Narendra Modi-led government for the collapse of a section of the canopy outside the Delhi airport's Terminal 1, saying the victims bore the brunt of the "corrupt, inept and selfish government's" actions. The party also accused the Centre of corruption and criminal negligence. A view of the damage to a part of a departure terminal canopy at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport. (AP) One person died and five were injured after the canopy collapsed amid heavy rainfall in the national capital. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointing out that the latter had praised his governance when he inaugurated a building near Terminal-1 of the Delhi airport. The Centre, however, clarified that PM Modi had inaugurated another building, not the one in question. Mallikarjun Kharge said the accident punched holes into PM Modi's claims of India having a world-class infrastructure under the latter's rule. Follow Delhi rains live blog "Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt," he wrote on X. Listing accidents during Modi's over 10-year-long rule, Kharge said the instances revealed the reality of the tall claims by Modi. "On March 10th, when Modi ji inaugurated the Delhi Airport T1, he called himself"Doosri mitti ka insaan..." All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections! Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt," said Kharge (sic). Meanwhile, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said the government is taking the accident seriously. "I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old one which opened in 2009," he added. He announced a compensation of 20 lakh for the deceased and 3 lakh for the injured. Flight operations were severely hit due to the accident. The authorities stalled departures from Terminal 1. Amid heavy rain in the capital on Friday, the roof of the recently inaugurated Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport partially collapsed, killing one and injuring six others. The partial collapse of the roof of the recently inaugurated Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport has claimed the life of one person. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times) Both the Narendra Modi government and the opposition have been trading accusations at each other following this incident. "Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X. Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu hit back saying, "I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side and the building that collapsed here is an old one which opened in 2009," This is not the first time that Delhi airport has suffered infrastructural damages during monsoon. August 2009 In August 2009, the roof of Terminal 1D of the Delhi airport collapsed due to heavy rain and wind. The terminal built on a budget of 500 crores was unable to withstand a thunderstorm with windspeed just over 90 kmph and 31.8 mm rain, reported TOI. The incident put the airport to a halt, x-ray machines, flight information display systems stopped working and passengers were stuck in knee-deep water. June 2013 Incessant rains in Delhi led to waterlogging at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in June 2013. The flooding forced the passengers to carry their luggage knee-deep in water, with water flowing backing through Terminal 3, reported NDTV. The continuous rains combined with a poor drainage system and the topography of the area around the airport resulted in water flowing back, an airport official told NDTV. "Incessant rains, poor drainage system in surrounding area and comparative low elevation of the airport led to back flow of water, which led to flooding at terminal area," they said. September 2021 In September 2021, Delhi received the highest rainfall in 46 years recording more than 1,100 mm of rainfall, reported TNIE. The Indira Gandhi International Airport among other parts of the city was flooded during in the period. According to TNIE, the entrance of the Terminal 3 inaugurated in 2010 was flooded along with parts of the runway. Videos of a flooded Terminal 3 popped up on social media with the then civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia responding to the people on X (then Twitter) that he spoke to airport officials and was told that the waterlogged forecourt was cleared up within 30 minutes. Authorities said that the drainage system from T3 to Najafgarh drain required widening following the flooding. In 2022, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena gave a deadline of May 2023 to construct a new drainage system near Sector 8 in Dwaraka for proper discharge of water, reported TOI. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday confirmed the onset of Southwest monsoon in Delhi. It has also further advanced into some more parts of West Rajasthan, remaining parts of East Rajasthan, some parts of Haryana, some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh; remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and some more parts of East Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Delhi recorded 228.1mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period between 8:30am on Thursday and Friday. (PTI photo) The northern limit of monsoon passes through Jaisalmer, Churu, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Kheri, Moradabad, Dehradun, Una, Pathankot and Jammu. The conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of West Rajasthan; remaining parts of Haryana, entire Chandigarh and remaining parts of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during the next 2-3 days, IMD said. Also Read: Delhi receives 228.1mm of rainfall in 24hrs, likely to be highest for June since 1936 Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall (over 20cm) occurred at many places in Delhi accompanied with moderate to severe thunderstorms, and lightning, gusty winds up to 15 to 25kmph also occurred over during 4:30am to 8:30am on Friday. Delhi recorded 228.1mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period between 8:30am on Thursday and Friday. 148.5mm out of this came in just a three-hour window between 2:30am and 5:30am. The rainfall spell was recorded at Delhis weather station at Safdarjung. This is likely to be the wettest single-day spell of rain for June in the capital since 1936, when Delhi recorded 235.5mm, IMD data showed. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were on Friday adjourned till Monday following the Opposition-sponsored protest demanding a debate on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET) ahead of the discussions on President Droupadi Murmus address to the joint sitting on Thursday. With the opposition not relenting, the uproar continued and the Speaker subsequently adjourned the House till 12noon. (ANI photo) In the Lok Sabha, leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi argued for an adjournment motion and said, For the students of India, we wanted to give a joint message from Opposition and the government that we consider this issue as important. We thought we will have a dedicated discussion to show our respect for students. Now, the issue is, there are two forces Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pointed out that it had been decided adjournment motion and zero hour will not take place during Presidents speech. During Presidents speech debate, you can raise any issue and I will request the government to reply to the issues raised by you. Also Read: Emergency reference a travesty of Parliamentary traditions: Congress to Birla While the Opposition wanted a couple of minutes to raise the NEET issue, Birla said, You can raise all issues using full time. After the House got adjourned, Rahul told media persons outside the Parliament building that, Yesterday, all the leaders of the opposition parties had a meeting and it was unanimous that today, we want a discussion on the NEET issue... There should be a discussion on NEET here in the House. I request the Prime Minister that this is an issue of the youth, and it should be discussed properly, and it should be a respectful discussion. We will do it respectfully. You should also join the discussion; you should also participate because this is a matter of youth. A message should go from the Parliament that the Indian government and the opposition are talking about the students together. Meanwhile, in Rajya Sabha, chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar echoed Birlas views saying that the opposition can raise its issues during the debate on Presidents speech. After the two Houses reassembled after noon, protests continued. Birla told the Opposition, I had said earlier, there has to be difference between protests in streets and sansad. In the Lok Sabha, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said, In the history of Parliament, no other issues have ever been debated during Presidents debate. Birla then adjourned the House till Monday. In Rajya Sabha the debate on Presidents speech started with BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi initiated the discussion amid uproar. Former PM HD Devegowda said, Lakhs and lakhs of students are suffering. Our senior leaders want to raise NEET. The government has started an enquiry. So far as NEET exam is concerned, you need to fix responsibilities. Unless the enquiry is completed, how can you fix responsibilities. They can raise the issue during the Presidents debate. The government has done its duty. Till the enquiry report comes, HRD minister or the government cant take decision. Parliament session 2024 highlights: Proceedings in both HousesLok Sabha and Rajya Sabharesumed on Friday. The Opposition demanded a discussion on the 'NEET issue' and irregularities in exams conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), leading to the adjournment of both Houses until 12 pm. Although the Houses later resumed, Lok Sabha proceedings were subsequently adjourned until July 1....Read More BJP leader and former Union minister Anurag Thakur presented the Motion of Thanks for the President's address in the Lok Sabha today, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to respond on July 2. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj will second the motion, expressing gratitude for the President's address to the joint session of Parliament on Thursday. In the Rajya Sabha, BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi is presenting the motion, and the Prime Minister is anticipated to reply to the debate on July 3 in the Upper House. President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint session of Parliament on Thursday for the first time following the Lok Sabha elections. In her speech, she congratulated the Election Commission on successfully conducting the elections and discussed several key issues, including the violence in the Northeast and the Emergency imposed by the Congress government in 1975. Latest highlights - Opposition leaders criticised the President's speech to Parliament, calling it a government-written script filled with falsehoods and condemned the frequent references to the 1975 Emergency. - They claimed that there is an "undeclared emergency" in the country, and the Modi government is attacking the Constitution. - In her speech, President Droupadi Murmu described the 1975 Emergency as the darkest chapter in Indian history and praised the nation's triumph over unconstitutional forces. - Earlier on Thursday, during the Lok Sabha session, Congress members chanted 'Jai Samvidhan' after Tharoor's oath, leading Speaker Om Birla to remark that Tharoor was already taking an oath on the Constitution. This prompted Congress MP Hooda to criticise Birla, who responded firmly. - INDIA bloc leaders announced a protest on July 1 at the Gandhi Statue in Parliament, accusing the government of political vendetta, misuse of central agencies like CBI and ED against opposition leaders, and targeting prominent figures such as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others. - The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday, and the Rajya Sabha session started on Thursday. Both sessions will end on July 3. NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan next month following Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to skip the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to external affairs minister S Jaishankar at Rashtrapati Bhawan on December 5, 2023 (REUTERS FIL PHOTO) The Indian side had earlier confirmed PM Modis visit to Astana for the SCO Summit on July 3-4 and an advance security liaison team had also visited Kazakhstan as part of the preparations for the visit. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a regular media briefing on Friday that the Indian delegation to the SCO Summit will be led by Jaishankar. He didnt give any other details. While the Indian side has not officially stated the reasons for the prime ministers decision to skip the summit, it is understood that his preoccupation with the ongoing session of Parliament, which will continue till July 3, and the strained relations with China are among the factors that influenced the move. The Indian side is understood to have conveyed its position to Kazakhstan when PM Modi received a phone call from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to work together to advance the bilateral strategic partnership, and PM Modi conveyed Indias full support for the success of the SCO Summit in Astana, according to a readout from the external affairs ministry. A trip to Astana would have brought the prime minister face-to-face with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan President Shehbaz Sharif. The nine member states of the SCO are India, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India was represented at the SCO Summit by its foreign minister in 2014. PM Modi attended five subsequent summits that were held before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. He virtually attended the in-person in 2021 and travelled to Uzbekistan for the summit in 2022 when he nudged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. India hosted last years SCO Summit, which was converted into a virtual event following reports that the Chinese and Russian presidents were not going to travel to India for the summit. On the fifth day of the Parliament session, Friday, the Congress accused the ruling BJP-led NDA government of silencing opposition leaders by allegedly switching off their microphones in Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi with newly elected Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI) The Congress party alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained silent on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) issue while a conspiracy is being hatched to suppress the voices of opposition leaders. While Narendra Modi remains silent on NEET, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is championing the cause of the youth in the House. However, on such a serious issue, a conspiracy is being executed to suppress the youths voice through acts like switching off microphones in Parliament, the Congress said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The party shared a video of Rahul Gandhi on social media, showing him requesting access to a microphone. Gandhi was calling for a debate on the NEET controversy and pressing for a joint message from both the opposition and the government. Read: PM Narendra Modi to take big steps to project dominance in the Indian Ocean Region In response, Speaker Om Birla clarified in the Lok Sabha that he does not switch off MPs microphones and has no such control. The discussion should be on the Presidents address. Other matters will not be recorded in the House, Birla added. The Congress also alleged that the microphone of its chief, Mallikarjun Kharge, was switched off in the Rajya Sabha when he raised concerns about students suffering from exam paper leaks in the country. In 2023, Rahul Gandhi had accused the government of deliberately silencing him by similarly switching off his microphone in the Lok Sabha when he was an MP from Keralas Wayanad. His colleague Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was the leader of the Congress party in the lower house, had also written to Speaker Om Birla, alleging that his microphone had been muted for three days during the budget session. After a group of men threw ink at his house in the national capital, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked his opponents to stop "this Savarkar-type cowardly behaviour". All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi.(ANI) Owaisi also attacked home minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, asking if they would guarantee the safety of members of the parliament. "Some 'unknown miscreants' vandalised my house with black ink today. I have now lost count of the number of times my Delhi residence has been targeted. When I asked police officials how this was happening right under their noses, they expressed helplessness," he wrote on X. "Amit Shah, this happening under your oversight. Om Birla, please tell us if MPs' safety will be guaranteed or not," he added. Owaisi said the attack didn't scare him. To the two-bit goons who keep targeting my house: this does not scare me. Stop this Savarkar-type cowardly behaviour and be men enough to face me. Do not scurry away after throwing some ink or pelting a few stones, he said. Also read: Asaduddin Owaisi on President Murmu's address to Parliament: No mention of Meanwhile, Bahadurpura AIMIM MLA Mohammad Mubeen claimed the miscreants chanted Jai Siya Ram while vandalising his house. "Some miscreants have vandalised AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owasis's Delhi residence with black ink and raised 'Jai Siya Ram' slogans. We request the government to investigate the matter and take strict action against those behind this," he said. Also read: Plea filed before President Murmu to disqualify Owaisi as MP over 'Jai Palestine' slogan A group of five men pasted posters outside Owaisi's residence on Thursday evening, demanding his suspension from the Lok Sabha. 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'I stand with Israel', and 'Owaisi should be suspended' was written on the posters. A police officer told PTI they were trying to identify the people and legal action would be taken against them. Also read: Can Asaduddin Owaisi be disqualified from Lok Sabha over a slogan? BJP cites Constitution The Hyderabad MP, while taking oath in the Lok Sabha, had raised the 'Jai Palestine' slogan, sparking a massive row. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a pre-Independence BJP icon. Samajwadi Party MP RK Chaudhary on Thursday demanded the removal of the Sengol, the staff installed in the new Parliament, calling it a symbol of monarchy and asked for it to be replaced by the Constitution, sparking a row between the government and the INDIA block of opposition parties. Sengol latest flashpoint between INDIA and NDA Chaudhary, in a letter to the Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla said that he was surprised to see the Sengol while taking his oath. The Constitution is the holy book of democracy. The Sengol is a symbol or Raj-danda (rotal staff)...our Parliament is the temple of democracy and not the princely palace of some kingdom, wrote Chaudhary in the letter. Union Minister Chirag Paswan attacked the opposition asking if it has come to the parliament to do controversial politics saying, The way such symbols have been tried to be shown in the wrong light for so many decades, today when they are given due respect by our Prime Minister, why are you offended by all these things? Why cant these opposition leaders think of positive politics? BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonwalla said,The Samajwadi Party earlier attacked and abused Ramcharitmanas and now Sengol, which is part of Indian culture and particularly Tamil culture. The DMK must clarify if they support this insult of sengol. Congress senior MP Manickam Tagore welcoming the suggestion saying, The government has always been playing with this kind of thing, by placing Sengol. Making a high drama when the new Parliament was inaugurated. RJD MP Misa Bharti said, It should be removed because it is a democratic country. The Sengol should be kept in the museum where people can come and see it... In May last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi after an elaborate procession with Tamil priests placed the ancient Sengol scepter in the Lok Sabha chamber near the Speakers chair during the inauguration of the new Parliament building. This sacred artifact, originally received by Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on August 14, 1947, was handed over to Modi by spiritual leaders from Tamil Nadu. Modi decided to adopt Sengol as a national symbol of the Amrit Kaal. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday addressed a meeting of the states elected Lok Sabha MPs, urging them to raise their voices both inside and outside the parliament. He also sought their support for the state government projects pending approval by the Centre. In a meeting which included Rajya Sabha members and Union ministers from the state, Siddaramaiah said, Parliament is meant to be for the welfare of the state and not for politics. (PTI) In a meeting which included Rajya Sabha members and Union ministers from the state, Siddaramaiah said, Parliament is meant to be for the welfare of the state and not for politics. Siddaramaiah, who led the Congress to win nine seats in Karnataka during the recent Lok Sabha elections, is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, home minister Amit Shah, railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and others on June 29. He added,For the development of the states land, water, culture, and resources, all state legislators need to strive together in one voice. Siddaramaiah further told the leaders that while its not an allegation against the BJP-led NDAs central government, but politics has sidelined discussions for the welfare of the state. The CM said that the government has submitted numerous suggestions and proposals to the central government and that the voice of the MPs in the parliament aims to ensure their realization. The Mekedatu (multi-purpose dam) project requires Centres approval, and efforts for the Upper Bhadra (lift irrigation scheme) project must continue, Siddaramaiah said and that he will urge Sitharaman to release promised grants. The CM also said that he will press for the release of the pending drought relief funds, adding that he aims to establish an AIIIMS institute in Raichur. Other proposals included the development of coastal areas under the Udan scheme, converting the Bangalore International Airport into an air cargo complex, and establishing an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mysore or Hassan. Siddaramaiah also called for rejecting the Kasturirangan report affecting Western Ghats. He also highlighted how the state lagged behind when it comes to railway connectivity and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) progress. We need to present a strong case to rectify the states treatment in the 15th Finance Commission, Siddaramaiah said, seeking approval for environmental clearances for the Kalasa Banduri project. He said that he convened the meeting with the states development being the only agenda. I make an offer, approval, and effort for all these requests, plans, proposals. We are holding this friendly meeting for this offer. The development of the state is our only goal. We do not need political criticism... only development of the state, Siddaramaiah said. This meeting is about constructive dialogue for the states development, devoid of politics or emotional accusations, he added, urging collaboration across party lines. The Central government has roped in a team of irrigation experts from the USA and Canada to study the extensive damages caused to the Polavaram major irrigation project being built on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh and suggest remedial measures, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited the Polavaram dam site last week to assess the condition of the project works. (HT Photo) The experts are USA David B Paul and Gias Franco de Cisco and Canadas Richard Donnelly and Seas Hinsberger, who landed in New Delhi on Thursday and would be proceeding to Polavaram dam site at Ramayyapet in Eluru district on June 29, after holding a series of talks with the officials of the Union ministry of Jal Sakthi and the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA). They will examine the dams management, security, civil engineering, and hydraulic structures. The experts will be examining the project works in all angles and evaluate the situation. They will submit a report to the PPA suggesting remedial measures, state irrigation minister Nimmala Rama Naidu told reporters after taking charge in his chambers in the state secretariat on Tuesday. Paul is an expert in dam security and management and Donnelly is specialist in hydraulic constructions and water management. While Franco de Cisco is an expert in structural engineering of dams, Hinsberger has two-and-a-half decades of experience in geotechnical engineering and irrigation management, a senior official of the state irrigation department said on the condition of anonymity. The irrigation experts will visit the project every three months until its completion and guide the engineers here to overcome technical problems in the execution of the project, the official said. The development comes days after Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited Polavaram project site on June 17 and inspected the project works. He appealed to the Centre to facilitate the visit of international experts to study the structural deficiencies in the project works in the last five years. After his visit, Naidu told reporters that during his earlier stint between 2014 and 2019, his government had completed more than 70% of the project works. The diaphragm wall was built at a cost of 480 crore to enable construction of earth-cum-rock fill dam and the upper and lower cofferdams were also under construction. But, soon after Jagan assumed charge in May 2019, he changed the contractors and even workers in the name of reverse tendering, which had disrupted progress, he alleged. As a result, the diaphragm wall suffered 35% damage in the 2020 floods, due to non-completion of the cofferdam. Now, officials say it requires 446 crore to repair the diaphragm wall and there is no guarantee that it would withstand floods, as there are seepages in cofferdam. If we have to build another diaphragm wall parallelly, we need to spend 990 crore, the chief minister said. The irrigation department official quoted above said the international experts would make an assessment on whether the diaphragm wall could be repaired or should be reconstructed. We shall speed up the project work and ensure to complete it on time with the help of this expert team, he said. The multi-purpose Polavaram project, is intended for a gross irrigation potential of 4,36,825 hectares. The project also envisages generation of 960MW of hydro power, drinking water supply to a population of 2.85 million in 611 villages and diversion of 80 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water to the Krishna river basin. The flooding of underpasses and under bridges after a mere two hours of pre-monsoon rain in the capital city of Delhi and the collapse of a 2009 built roof at IGI airport speaks volumes about poor workmanship and the gross ineptness of Indian bureaucracy at large. Flood Minto Bridge is the real indicator that monsoon has arrived in Delhi in the past five decades. It is also a reflection of political leadership which has not been able to make the bureaucracy accountable for its misdeeds and inability to deliver on maintenance on the ground. It is not the rain but the flooding of Minto Road underpass that indicates that monsoon has arrived in Delhi for the past decades with NDMC bureaucracy and engineers unable to come up with any answers. The same is the case for drainage systems in other underpasses as the city's political leadership and municipality look the other way to rampant unauthorized construction and encroachment on footpaths. It is the same for Delhis chaotic traffic with police looking the other way to choking off roads by unauthorized parking. It is a free-for-all in Delhi and even the public is equally to be blamed as it conveniently flouts laws when it suits their convenience. Also read: Delhi Airport roof collapse: 1 killed, 5 injured; flight operations at Terminal-1 severely hit But the larger malaise is Indian bureaucracy which allows the politicians and the public to flout laws for votes and convenience respectively due to sheer competence or consideration. The flooding of roads, passes and the collapse of the Delhi airport roof are due to poor maintenance and non-accountability of the private operators by the government regulators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to make the bureaucracy accountable by taking strict action or else the babus will rule unchecked sensing the number vulnerability of the NDA government in Parliament. If they sense that the Modi government is business as usual in its third term, the babus will take advantage of its vulnerability and can even resort to leaking documents to the Opposition parties for they know which way the political wind is blowing. The non-accountability and fiefdom culture is not restricted only to civilian bureaucracy but also to the military bureaucracy. Do you know that even after 75 years, the BSF defending the Indian border gets its ammunition supplies separately rather than getting from Army ammunition depots along the border? Did you know that for repair of even small arms of Indian Air Force personnel stationed in J&K, the arms have to be sent to a maintenance unit down south instead of nearby Army repair depots? It is the sense of periodic entitlement and commensurate perks that allows the Indian bureaucracy to operate without accountability. Rather than holding a review exam after becoming a joint secretary after 15 years of service, the Indian bureaucrat is all set for his entire life including a post-retirement job after passing one exam in his early twenties. While PM Modi has tried his best to show the mirror to Bharats civilian-military bureaucracy, the problem lies at the core of Indian mandarins, who actually are an extension of Bharats colonial past. The colonial bureaucratic book needs to be thrown into the dustbin if India has to become a developed country, merely changing covers will not help. Deputy national security adviser Vikram Misri will replace Vinay Kwatra as the next foreign secretary, government announced on Friday. Kwatra, who was given a six-month extension in service in March, is expected to become the next envoy to the US. Vikram Misri was deputy NSA, reporting to national security adviser Ajit Doval.(Twitter / @VikramMisri) ALSO READ- China expert Vikram Misri named Indias next foreign secretary The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Misri, Deputy NSA in the National Security Council Secretariat, to the post of Foreign Secretary with effect from July 15, said the order issued by the Personnel Ministry. It also approved the curtailment of Misri's tenure as the deputy NSA. ALSO READ- Jaishankar assures MK Stalin of action for release of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lanka Who is Vikram Misri? Vikram Misri, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer from the 1989 batch, served as private secretary to three prime ministers: Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh, and Inder Kumar Gujral. Born on November 7, 1964, in Srinagar, Vikram Misri graduated with a degree in History from Hindu College, University of Delhi. He later earned an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. Known for his expertise in China, Misri held his last ambassadorial posting in Beijing and is considered one of the top officials handling China affairs in the external affairs ministry. Experts believe Misri is well-suited for the role of foreign secretary due to his deep understanding of China, which remains India's primary foreign policy challenge. Misri took up his current role in the National Security Council Secretariat in January 2022, where he reported to NSA Ajit Doval. ALSO READ- MEA working to cut police verification time for passports, says Jaishankar Who will replace Vikram Misri as deputy NSA? Indias ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf, who previously served as joint secretary in the Prime Ministers Office under both Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi, is likely to succeed Vikram Misri at the National Security Council Secretariat, according to sources. Additionally, the incoming government needs to appoint a new permanent representative of India to the United Nations (UN) in New York. This position became vacant after Ruchira Kamboj, the first woman to hold the post, retired earlier this month. More than 30 years after I.M. Pei reshaped Hong Kong's skyline with a jagged tower of steel and glass, the Chinese-American architect is once again the talk of the town as a museum celebrates his life and legacy. From the controversial Louvre Pyramid in Paris to the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, Pei created world landmarks that blended modernity with history, often using stark structures and sharp lines. His work earned the 1983 Pritzker Prize, considered architecture's Nobel. Of his nearly 50 designs in the United States and abroad, more than half won major awards. Sandi Pei (R), son of renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, is photographed in front of a photo of his father after a media preview of "I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture", the first full-scale retrospective of I. M. Pei (1917-2019), one of the most influential architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries at the M+ art museum in Hong Kong.(AFP) "He had a unique career... having been able to work with world leaders and do buildings of significance," his son Sandi Pei told AFP. The projects that he did are of a consequence, a scale and a reputation that is very difficult to match. Pei, who died in 2019 at age 102, is the focus of a retrospective at Hong Kong's M museum that opens Saturday after seven years of preparation. The exhibit features over 400 objects, from original drawings and photographs to architectural models and Pei's trademark round glasses. Pei became a household name in the United States after being commissioned for the John F. Kennedy Library in 1964, with the president's widow reportedly won over by Pei's charisma. His star rose even further when French president Francois Mitterrand in 1981 tapped Pei for the Grand Louvre project, with his design for a giant glass pyramid infuriating Parisians at first. "My father was very charming," said Sandi, also an architect. He always said you don't pick your projects, you pick your clients -- but not everybody can pick Francois Mitterrand or Jacqueline Kennedy. 'Community' via architecture Born in southern China in 1917, banker's son Ieoh Ming Pei spent his childhood in Hong Kong before moving to the United States in his late teens to study architecture. After graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, Pei began his career working for a real estate developer. Pei's cross-cultural heritage had been an asset, bringing Chinese elements of "family, community and landscape" to the West -- paired with a love for early modernist art and sculpture, according to Sandi. His early urban housing projects honed his method, emphasising each location's "time, place and purpose" over ostentatious style. "One of the things that I did learn from my father is you just don't come with an idea and plop it onto the site," Sandi said. The design comes from within. In the 1980s, Sandi worked with his father on the Bank of China Tower, a design made up of four triangular shafts with a blade-like silhouette -- which continues to stand out amid Hong Kong's forest of high-rises. Pei is also admired in China. He set up a scholarship fund for Chinese students to study the craft in the United States, on the condition they return home to design and build. Chinese architects today can still draw lessons from Pei's thoughtful, analytical approach, said Sandi, adding that the country holds great potential. But construction often moves forward at breakneck pace and "China needs to slow down, be more careful and deliberate," he told AFP. They will find that the buildings (that are) better built will last longer, serve their communities better and will not be so wasteful of resources. Despite being larger-than-life monuments, Pei's works are about harmony between a community and its environment, Sandi said -- an aspect highlighted in the Hong Kong show. "That's why his buildings will continue to survive and be appreciated, because I think people enjoy being within them, because he enjoyed the opportunity to bring community together through his architecture." The origin point: The first case of insects being used to point to a killer dates to the 13th century, and the murder of a farmer in rural China. Investigators of the time could tell that the man had been murdered with a sickle, but in a village full of rice farmers and sickles, it was proving impossible to tell which one, the Chinese physician and death investigator Sung Tzhu writes, in his 1247 book Hsi Yuan Chi Lu (The Washing Away of Wrongs). Since searches and questioning had failed, the local judge decided to try a different tack. He called upon all the rice field workers to lay their sickles on the ground. One began to attract flies. Hordes of them. Confronted, the owner of the sickle confessed. This case is said to mark the earliest point in the history of forensic entomology. Art: By the time of the Renaissance, with its growing fascination with anatomical studies of the human body, elements of forensic entomology were showing up on canvas. Take the woodcut series The Dance of Death by the 16th century German artist Hans Holbein the Younger. The macabre visuals depict Death as a skeletonised individual paying surprise visits to all kinds of people a pope, a physician, a ploughman, a knight, a sailor. In one revelry-filled depiction, skeletons dance and play a drum around a corpse, as tiny snake-like creatures dangle around their heads, necks and limbs. Such artwork accurately depicts the insect-mediated pattern of body mass reduction, particularly the early skeletonization of the skull and the reduction of internal organs, with large parts of the skin left intact Close observation of decomposition of human corpses built the basis for these figures, writes German forensic biologist Mark Benecke, in a paper on the history of the field, published in Forensic Science International in 2001. Poetry: Bugs feasting on the dead and decaying inspired the French poet Charles Baudelaires Une Charogne (A Carcass; first published in 1857). Amid a growing Romantic movement in which the arts focused on Nature, the self, and the lives of everyday individuals, the poem offers a raw and graphic exploration of death as a natural force, as a man describes a decaying body to his lover: And the sky was watching that superb cadaver / Blossom like a flower True crime: Around this time, the French physician Dr Louis Francois Etienne Bergeret used the life cycle of bugs to crack a case wide open, in the first such case on record. The insect samples had been collected from the mummified remains of an infant, found stashed behind the chimney of a home in Paris, in the 1850s. Dr Bergerets analysis of the insect remains led him to ascertain time of death at approximately seven years before the tiny body was found. This timeline was used to arrest the previous tenants of the house. Investigators began to question neighbours about their memories of the tenants in this period, just before they moved, and it emerged that the child, possibly born out of wedlock, had been buried alive. The woman responsible and her lover were convicted of murder. Evolutions: From the 1890s on, small, scattered research projects were investigating the life cycle of insects and their relationship with decomposition, in Canada, the US, Sweden, France, the UK and Germany. By the 1990s, advances in molecular biology, DNA and RNA analysis were boosting this field, and the understanding and study of forensics overall, says Jonathan Parrott, a forensic entomologist and assistant professor at Arizona State University. Over the past two decades, forensic science departments around the world, including in India, have been working with cadavers of pigs, dogs and chickens to build developmental data and identification markers for different species of insects. It is still a fairly niche field. But whats exciting is that it is greatly collaborative. From generation to generation of scientists, were building a foundation, Parrott says. In India: Forensic entomology here at home can be dated to the colonial era and the work of police surgeon S Coull Mackenzie in the 1880s. In more recent years, Pankaj Kulshrestha and H Chandra, who worked with the Medico Legal Institute of the police department of Bhopal, were among the first to study how local species of blowfly may be used to determine time of death. Their paper was published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology in 1987. Proponents of this field today include Devinder Singh, pro-vice chancellor and professor at Chandigarh University, who has trained in the lab of pioneering forensic entomologist Bernard Greenberg at the University of Illinois, and has worked with the government of Indias department of science and technology to create baseline data on carrion insects for the Punjab region. Since then, more research has been undertaken in various regions, but the country is lagging when it comes to awareness and application in criminal cases, Singh says. They buzz about or linger, altering the landscape, and there is nothing one can do to stop them. But take a closer look at their work and one realises that the insect invaders are some of the sneakiest and stealthiest detectives of them all. It doesnt matter if a body is hidden in a bog, in a suitcase, underground or underwater, they will turn up. From the minute they do, they start to tell a tale. The first thing they reveal is timeline. How long has the person actually been dead? Within minutes, above ground, the blowflies tend to arrive. Weeks in, the beetles and mites turn up. If there are skipper flies around, that means the body has likely been in situ for months. The presence or absence of insects can prove that a body has been shifted. How else would a blowfly from Shimla end up on a body found in Kerala? Insects can point to foul play and cause of death, as when a chemical analysis of specimens and larvae reveals traces of poisons or drugs. There have been cases in which an insect destroyed an alibi. And cases in which, because of them, a heart attack was proven to be murder. (Turn to the case studies alongside for more on this.) Of course, in order for any of this to hold up in court, an expert must be able to vouch for each detail: species, region, proof of time elapsed. And so, around the world, small groups of forensic entomologists are studying insects, analysing crimes, and helping law enforcement draw credible links between the two, in a field that has been evolving rapidly since the 1990s, alongside the boom in molecular biology. It might seem from all this that most forensic entomologists cannot sit down to a cup of tea without being called upon to crack a case wide open. Sadly, this is not true. There simply arent enough police departments that even know theyre out there. Because awareness about this field is still missing among law enforcement agencies of various countries, we are often not even consulted, says Paola Magni, who has been helping crack cases and reveal gruesome details for over two decades, and is also an associate professor at Murdoch University, Perth. Many of the cases Ive consulted on in the past two decades have come to me months or years later, she adds. In some of these cold cases, or when the cases are very old, one has to work with scarce photographic evidence of the bugs seen at the scene of the crime. It might help if there were more of these experts flooding the field, encouraging wider adoption of this science; but a lack of demand keeps numbers low, and so it goes, until, presumably, the gradual cycle of change alters the formula, as it did with forensic psychiatrists. Meanwhile, another significant challenge is baseline data. In this strand of forensic science, every detail is heavily defined by factors such as environment, temperature, humidity, location. These factors alter the decomposition process and the arrival and life cycle of the insects. And, there are tens of thousands of species to be studied, in a single state alone. This is why a big part of forensic entomology today is collecting baseline data for different regions, climatic zones and species, says Devinder Singh, pro-vice chancellor and professor at Chandigarh University and one of Indias most renowned experts in this field. Researchers are, for now, focusing on the most common insect families involved. At Arizona State University, Jonathan Parrott, a forensic entomologist and assistant professor, has been developing a genetic and developmental database on blowflies. He and his students are working with thousands of the insects at any given point, compiling morphological and genomic data across species, for Arizona and surrounding states. In India, a lab in Haryana has been using cadavers of pigs and rabbits to study different insects, their life cycles and their role in the decomposition process. Led by Sapna Sharma, associate professor at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, one of their recent projects focused on drowned bodies. A total of 2,385 insect specimens were studied during the citys different seasons. At the government hospital in Rohtak which is attached to the medical school, a lot of drowned bodies from the citys many canals are coming in for post-mortem, Sharma says. We hope the study will help with cases of drowning victims. In addition to cases of death and murder, there are other areas in which the word of forensic entomologists is proving crucial, such as urban forensic entomology and stored-product forensic entomology. In the first, one might seek to answer questions such as: What is causing a home, hotel or public building to be infested, and who is to blame? In the second: How did that worm get into that sandwich and how long had it been there? Back to crime scenes, Sharma and Singh are among those trying to get police departments to collaborate more closely with experts from their field. The first thing they would like to do, says Singh, is get the police to stop sanitising crime scenes. Valuable insect information is lost in this way. He and others in India have offered to conduct training sessions for police personnel, but the response hasnt been favourable, he adds. The reason, Sharma guesses, is that the idea is simply too icky, even for a policeman. Working with a dead body is undesirable enough. Handling insects to boot most people revolt at the idea, she says. This hesitation is one of the reasons Magni launched her SmartInsects app in 2013. It aims to help crime scene technicians understand the importance of insect evidence. It offers guidelines on how to collect and store samples. And it offers a reminder that they must also record environmental data such as temperature and humidity. All those pieces need to fit together if insect evidence is to count. But when they do, insects really are tiny witnesses. They can help us get justice, Magni says. . Justice league: Real-life cases that insects helped crack It can be a huge responsibility, knowing that ones work could change the course of several lives, says forensic entomologist Paola Magni. She has practised in Italy and Australia for over 20 years. Some of her cases still haunt her: What if she had never been called in; what if the true story of the victims final moments had never been revealed? How telling can such evidence be? Take a look. A heart attack turns out to be murder A teenage girl was found dead by a lake near Rome, in 2012. Federica Mangiapelo, 16, had a dislocated shoulder, a missing handbag and no cellphone. But the police could find no evidence of foul play. She seemed to have suffered an epileptic attack and then cardiac arrest. Her family didnt buy it. They suspected that her boyfriend, Marco Di Muro, 23, was involved. He told police he had never been to the lake. Yes, he and Federica had fought the previous night. He said he then dropped her off on a street near the lake and drove home; there was no evidence to say otherwise. Thats when Magni stepped in. A police officer remembered a presentation she had made at a training academy, on aquatic forensics, and contacted her. In her sessions, Magni had mentioned that when a crime occurs in a body of water, plankton can offer clues to what really happened. In this case, what they needed was to confirm the boyfriends version of events. Lets test his clothes, Magni told the police. His clothes had never been examined. It turned out, some of the tiny, persistent plankton species had clung to his garments, and they matched the plankton species found at the lake. This finding caused the case to be reopened, and a second post-mortem confirmed that the same plankton was present in the tissues of the victim, confirming a death by drowning. Di Muro was charged, and convicted in 2015. He is currently serving a 14-year sentence. A mystery unravelled When the highly decomposed body of a woman was found wrapped in layers of plastic, quilt and carpet, days after her death, the Turin police called on Magni. Could she help build a timeline of the case? Studying the large number of insects now present on the body, Magni was able to approximate the time of death at 12 to 14 days before the crime was uncovered. The victim was a commercial sex worker, and the polices prime suspect had been her agent. But given the new timeline, he would have still been in prison at the time, serving a sentence of some weeks. They shifted focus to another agent she had been working with, but it turned out he had been out of the country on the dates in question. The investigators began to look more closely at other clues, and returned to phone conversations and text messages that the woman had exchanged with another man, around the time of the murder. Interrogated by the police, he confessed. He loved her but she did not reciprocate his feelings, and so he killed her, he said. He is currently serving a 30-year sentence in the case. A mummy tells a lonely tale One of the most complex cases Magni has worked on involved a man found in his home, so long after his death, that his corpse had dried out and become almost mummified. Even she couldnt tell when the insects present had begun their work. Different species seemed to provide conflicting information. She had never seen anything like it, she says. The police had only stumbled upon the man when they visited his home to investigate a series of unpaid fines. But, as she studied this unusually advanced state of decomposition, Magni noticed something unusual: thread-like structures across the body, produced by larder beetles, usually found only months after a death has occurred. Given that insects typically arrive at such a scene in what are called successional waves, one species always following another in a set pattern, Magni was able to finally unravel the clues. From the remains of blowflies that had fed on the body, the larder beetles in the body and in the upholstery of the couch where he was found, and the spiders that had arrived to prey on these and other insects, she was able to estimate that the man had died about 18 months earlier, of natural causes. Sadly, no one had even known he was gone. Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra were recently seen strolling hand in hand at Mumbai airport in casual outfits. Known for their love of vacations, they're frequently captured outside airports, leaving us curious about their destination this time. The Bollywood lovebirds are adored not only for their adorable chemistry but also reign supreme when it comes to setting fashion goals. Whenever they are spotted together, they create quite a buzz in the fashion world with their stunning looks. Scroll down to know more about their latest look. (Also read: Kiara Advani serves airport fashion goals as she jets off to Cannes in stylish beige trench coat and trousers. Watch ) Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra spark buzz with their chic airport style.(HT Photo/VarinderChawla) Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra slays airport fashion in trendy casuals Videos and pictures of Kiara and Sidharth from the airport surfaced on social media, attracting numerous likes and comments from their devoted fans, who were smitten with their appearance. The couple looked stylish in the video, effortlessly showing off their fashionable outfits. Let's check out their looks. For her chic airport look, Kiara kept things understated by ditching dresses and pantsuits in favour of a casual top and denim, embodying minimalist fashion. Her ensemble consisted of a white crop top paired with loose-fitting light blue denim trousers, showcasing the timeless appeal of the white top and denim combo. Kiara accessorised her minimalist outfit with statement gold earrings, stacked bracelets adorning her wrist, brown platform shoes and a stylish white shoulder bag that perfectly complemented her look. Her minimal makeup look features nude eyeshadow, mascara-coated lashes, defined brows, blushed cheeks, glowing highlighter, and a shade of pink lipstick. With her luscious tresses left loose in a middle partition, she effortlessly rocks the no-makeup makeup look. Meanwhile, her handsome husband Sidharth Malhotra looked dapper in a blue open-buttoned shirt paired with grey pants and black-and-white colour-blocked sneakers. His clean-shaven look, gelled hair, and charming smile added to his appeal. About Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra Rumours about Sidharth and Kiara dating started circulating widely in 2019, fuelled by their collaboration in Dharma Productions' film Shershaah, which is based on the life of Kargil war hero Captain Vikram Batra. Despite mounting speculation, the couple neither confirmed nor denied their relationship. They tied the knot on 7 February 2023 in a traditional ceremony in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Doctors are prescribing antibiotics to most kids and teens who have pink eye, despite guidelines that discourage their use, researchers reported Thursday. More than two-thirds of U.S. children and teens who saw a doctor for pink eye left with a prescription for antibiotic eye drops, their research found. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that doctors do not routinely give out antibiotics for what's also called conjunctivitis, which usually clears up on its own. A recent study reveals a concerning trend: despite medical guidelines advising otherwise, a significant majority of children and teens diagnosed with pink eye are still being prescribed antibiotics. (Freepik) Antibiotics don't work at all on viruses the most common cause of pink eye. And even mild eye infections from bacteria will resolve on their own in most cases, the medical group says. Pink eye is highly contagious and causes red, swollen and sometimes itchy eyes. Often, a chilled, wet towel and artificial tears are enough to ease symptoms. (Also read: Don't ignore the pink eye: As cases rise, know what leads to conjunctivitis spike in monsoon; how to avoid ) For their study, researchers used a nationwide database of insurance claims from 2021. Nearly 45,000 children received care for pink eye at a doctor's office, eye clinic or emergency room and 69% were prescribed antibiotics, which come in drops and ointments. Whether they were treated or not, return visits to the doctor for pink eye were rare, under 4%, according to the study published Thursday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. Doctors offices gave antibiotics the most, to 72% of patients, compared to ERs at 57% and eye clinics at 34%. That could be because eye clinics have the tools to figure out what is actually causing the pink eye and treat accordingly, said Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric eye doctor at Honolulu Eye Clinic and spokesperson for the ophthalmology group. Dr. Daniel Shapiro, a pediatric emergency doctor and co-author of the study, said he understands why parents might be alarmed when their child has an infection. The eye looks red and nasty and so its pretty striking and scary," said Shapiro, of the University of California, San Francisco. But antibiotics shouldnt be overused if they arent going to help, he said. The study didnt dig into the specifics of why the antibiotics were prescribed or the outcome. But the fact that return visits were rare in either case suggests that patients are not at higher risk of complications or serious problems if they don't get a prescription, Wong said. "There are more supportive measures we can take to make your child feel comfortable without resorting to antibiotic eye drops, Wong said. Madrid city hall said Wednesday it will offer free flamenco shows at air conditioned museums during the hottest hours of the day to encourage tourists to seek shelter from the heat. Madrid: Air conditioned museums host free Flamenco shows for tourists to beat the heat (Photo by Twitter/piccavey) Spain endured its second-hottest year on record in 2023 and temperatures in Madrid regularly top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) during the summer months, when tourists from around the world flock to the city. Over 1.6 million tourists visited the Spanish capital last July and August. While temperatures in the morning are bearable, even Madrid's central Retiro Park "is hot at 3:00 pm. The best places to take refuge are air conditioned, and that means museums, cinemas and libraries," said Madrid's city councillor for culture and tourism, Marta Rivera de la Cruz. To draw tourist indoors, Madrid's three main museums -- the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen -- as well as the Royal Collections Gallery next to the royal palace will offer free flamenco shows every day from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm during July and August, she added. The shows will features internationally renowned performers such as Yolanda Osuna and Eduardo Guerrero. Public libraries will also offer humorous monologue shows and concerts in the early afternoon, while cinemas will offer reduced rates for screenings before 5:00 pm. The measure "will not involve any additional energy expenditure" since these venues were already air conditioned, said Rivera de la Cruz. Spain experienced seven heatwaves last year. since 1975, heatwaves have lengthened by three days per decade...and increased in temperature by 2.7C per decade, according to Spain's AEMET weather agency. On June 21, Jannat-ul-Firdaus Mosque in Delhi was demolished citing legal violations. Sunehri Bagh Masjid and a madrasa in Sarai Kale Khan also face demolition, and earlier this year, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished Akhonji Masjid in Mehrauli. These demolitions have happened despite DDAs assurance to the Delhi High Court in September 2023, that it will not demolish any mosque or legitimate Waqf properties in Delhi. The submission came in response to a petition filed by the Waqf Board fearing that such demolitions would take place in the name of removing encroachments. How does DDA destroy Indo-Islamic heritage with such impunity? Muslims offer prayers at a mosque in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) (AP) The destruction is achieved through first, a lie: The lie that this architecture does not belong to the people of India and is not their heritage. This popular consciousness is achieved by redefining Indian Heritage. Over the last decade, we see extensive and exclusive promotion of temples and occasional Buddhist and Jain shrines as Indian heritage. Even temples that are constructed recently or are still under construction get comfortably narrativised as heritage. Everything else the buildings built by Muslim monarchs and by the British -- is, by exclusion, defined as heritage that is not Indian. Out of this undesirable category, colonial structures are appropriated renamed and redeveloped in a language of decolonisation. This appropriation allows colonial infrastructure to be used while furthering a partisan politics of anti-colonial reclamation. Language plays a key role in this othering. The RSS has promoted the idea that Muslim monarchs of South Asia were invaders who disrupted and destroyed a thriving Indian civilisation. Therefore, to reclaim the glory of India, the markers of their presence and their culture must be erased. The land of India must be purified so that a new era of Hindu-led development can be ushered in. This language features in the speeches of elected politicians as well as in mainstream discourse whereby Indo-Islamic monuments are often called tombs of invaders. While temples are promoted as desirable catalysts of development by reconfiguring them into hubs of tourism and universal spirituality, Indo-Islamic architecture is painted as an undesirable memento to a victimised past. This undesirability is then exploited to demolish architecture with impunity and legitimacy. To enact and legalise destruction, the law is weaponised. In case of the demolition of Akhonji Mosque in Mehrauli, for example, DDA referred to a 1994 notification under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 that marked the extents of a notified reserve forest in the region. Similar municipal laws and building by-laws have been used to destroy other gravesites, mazars and mosques in a language of encroachment and illegality. This instrumentalisation of law allows destruction of Indo-Islamic heritage by law, not despite it. The bulldozer is, today, a political symbol in India explicitly signifying a politics of erasure and hatred. The use of law also allows for an argument of the necessity of violence. In this logic, violence is justified to achieve a greater good. Once particular settlements have been painted as unwanted, they can make way for the development of a pristine forest reserve, as DDA claims in the stated cases, or cleaner cities, as municipal bodies have justified while demolishing mosques in the name of removing encroachments. The proposal to demolish the Sunehri Bagh Masjid in New Delhi for better flow of traffic follows a similar logic. Scholarship has shown that such laws were used to demolish architecture of the natives by the British as well including in the aftermath of the rebellion of 1857 when neighbourhoods in Old Delhi were flattened in the name of public hygiene and sanitation. The State of India seems to be repeating this colonial doctrine and its processes - only this time, against its own citizens and to destroy its own heritage. Architecture is our easiest access to history and the site of our future imaginations. Archeology allows for an interpretation of the past and construction provides a canvas for the future. Hence, architecture becomes the subject of some of the most violent political conflicts. It was precisely to safeguard heritage from such political conflicts that the UNESCO World Heritage Sites category was developed and adopted between 1965 and 1972 by the United Nations. The idea of World Heritage recognises that contemporary politics decides the preservation or destruction of heritage, and that it can be done legally by sovereign nations at their will, and therefore, needs universal protection. India has adhered to the convention and its norms, is a member State, and enjoys great capital-flow and soft power from its 42 World Heritage sites. The truth is that the architecture built by the Muslim monarchs in India Indo-Islamic architecture is our collective heritage as South Asian people and as members of a collective humanity. We do not find Sultanate or Mughal architecture anywhere in the world but in the Indian subcontinent. However, politics that seeks supremacy of an identity and erasure of the other will first assign a past an unwanted one to the other and then erase it in a spectacular display of violence and destruction. Let us not forget that it was the destruction of a mosque that generated decades of political propulsion in India. Fahad Zuberi, trained as an architect, is Indira Gandhi Radhakrishnan Scholar of South Asian Studies at the University of Oxford. The views expressed are personal Amitabh Bachchan, whose Kalki 2898 AD was released today, has purchased two apartments of 6.78 crore in Oberoi Sky City project of Oberoi Realty in Borivali area of Mumbai on the same floor where his son Abhishek Bachchan had bought six apartments for 15.42 crore, according to documents accessed by Zapkey.com Amitabh Bachchan, whose Kalki 2898 AD was released today, has purchased two apartments of 6.78 crore in Oberoi Sky City project of Oberoi Realty in Borivali area of Mumbai on the same floor where his son Abhishek Bachchan had bought six apartments for 15.42 crore.(HT Files) Abhishek Bachchan had registered six apartments measuring 4,894 sq ft of RERA carpet for 15.42 crore on May 28, 2024. Amitabh Bachchan registered both the apartments on May 29, 2024. The size of each of the units is 1,094 RERA carpet, according to the documents, The price of each apartment is 3.39 crore each, the documents showed. Oberoi Sky City is one of the costliest luxury buildings in the Borivali area of Mumbai where apartments are sold in the range of 31,000 to 37,000 per sq ft, according to local brokers. The building is located on the Western Express Highway (WEH) near Mumbai Metro station. The costliest residential building in Borivali area is Aquaria Grande constructed by Wadhwa Group where the residential units are being sold for around 40,000 to 45,000 per sq ft, said local brokers. Big B's real estate portfolio Amitabh Bachchan has invested over 100 crore in properties over the last one year in the financial capital, Alibaug and the temple town of Ayodhya. This includes seven office spaces measuring 16,825 sq ft bought for nearly 90 crore followed by an over 14 crore plot purchase in The Sarayu', a plotted development project being constructed by The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), a Mumbai-based real estate developer, in Ayodhya near the Ram Temple last year. In April 2024, Big B had bought a 10,000 sq ft land parcel in Alibaug, near Mumbai, in Maharashtra, for 10 crore. A query sent to Oberoi Realty did not get any response. Amitabh Bachchan could not be reached for a comment. Maharashtra governments Interim Budget for 2024-2025 has set a target to construct 35 lakh affordable homes in the next five years through various housing schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), for which it has allocated 7425 crore. Maharashtra governments interim budget for 2024-2025 has set a target to construct 35 lakh affordable homes in the next five years through various housing schemes, including PMAY. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)(Hindustan Times) Presenting the Interim Budget, finance minister Ajit Pawar, announced that concessions given to women homebuyers for purchasing property will continue. The Maharashtra government gives a 1% stamp duty concession in case the property is bought in the name of a woman buyer. The Maharashtra government has also proposed digitalising the process of applying for stamp duty online. It has proposed relaxing penalties for those who have been found to have paid insufficient stamp duty. The state is expected to go to the polls around October 2024. Affordable Housing schemes in Maharashtra govt's interim Budget 2024-25 Presenting the Budget Maharashtra finance minister Ajit Pawar said a total of 35,40,491 houses will be constructed in the next five years through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ramai Awas Yojana, Shabri, Pardhi and Adim Awas Yojana, Modi Awas Yojana, Yashwantrao Chavan Mukt Vasahat Yojana, Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Gharkul Yojana. A provision of Rs.7,425 crores has been made for various housing schemes in 2024-25, Pawar said in his Budget speech. Stamp duty benefits announced in the Maharashtra interim budget 2024-25 Ajit Pawar in his Budget speech said that several schemes and concessions given to women in the state will continue. This also included stamp duty concessions given to women homebuyers. The current stamp duty slab in Maharashtra is between 5% to 7% in different cities. However, women homebuyers get to pay 1% less on the applicable stamp duty. But the caveat is that the property has to be purchased under the name of a woman buyer. If a property is purchased under the names of both the female and the male homebuyers, the stamp duty benefit is not applicable. Pawar also said that if it is found (that the buyers) have paid less stamp duty on the registered documents, the penalty levied on the difference in stamp duty amount from the date of execution of the document will be reduced from 2% to 1% per month. "Application for stamp duty refund will be made online. The time limit for application will be increased from six months to one year from the date of stamp purchase," Pawar said. Proposal for Metro lines Metro lines spanning 499 km have been sanctioned for Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. Currently, 127 km are operational with an additional 37 km expected to become functional within the current financial year. This is what Mumbai developers have to say about the Interim Budget We commend the Maharashtra government's commitment to addressing the housing needs of the state, as evidenced by the ambitious target of constructing over 35 lakh houses over the next five years," said Prashant Sharma, president, NAREDCO Maharashtra. The allocation in the 2024-25 Budget towards various housing schemes, including the PM-Awas Yojana, is a significant step towards ensuring affordable housing for all, he said, adding that the initiative will not only provide shelter to millions but also stimulate economic growth by creating numerous job opportunities in the construction sector. The continuation of the 1% stamp duty concession for women homebuyers is a laudable decision. This concession empowers women and encourages their participation in property ownership, promoting gender equality and financial independence. These measures will ultimately contribute to the state's progress and prosperity, he added. Social media users mocked Delhis poor infrastructure after a portion of the roof at the citys airport collapsed. Visuals of water pouring into the facility invited rueful comparisons to Singapores Jewel Changi Airport - home to the worlds tallest indoor fountain. Sarcastic memes comparing Delhi airport to Singapore airport are being shared online.(X/@adityavgupta) Six people were injured and one died at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 1 after a part of the forecourts canopy collapsed early Friday. The collapse occurred following a night of heavy rainfall in the national capital. On Friday morning, all flights out of Terminal 1 of Delhi airport were suspended, leading to widespread disruption in travel plans. Meanwhile, other areas of the city were submerged following the night of thunderstorms and rainfall. Videos of water pouring down from the airports leaking roof prompted a flood of social media memes. The HSBC Rain Vortex at Singapores Jewel Changi Airport stands 40 metres high - as tall as a seven-storey building, which makes it the tallest indoor fountain in the world. Take a look at some sarcastic memes comparing Delhi to Singapore: Changi Airport (Singapore) VS Delhi Airport, wrote one X user, sharing pictures of the 7-storey HSBC Rain Vortex Waterfall at Singapore airport. No need to go to Singapore, just go to Delhi and enjoy, another person wrote. X user Neha called it Same same but different. According to news agency PTI, the roof collapse at Delhi airport Terminal 1 comes less than four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the opening of an upgrade of the terminal, to allow it to handle 40 million passengers a year, up from 17 million previously. Delhi Airport is one of the busiest in the world, handling 72 million passengers in 2023, according to Airports Council International. Terminals 1 and 2 handle domestic passengers, while Terminal 3 handles all international travellers. (With inputs from PTI) An Indian student who faked his fathers death to get a full scholarship to an elite US university will be deported from the country. Aryan Anand, 19, has been charged with fabricating admission and financial aid documents to attend Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, according to Lehigh Valley News. Aryan Anand got a full ride to Lehigh University by falsifying documents.(Facebook/lehighu) An anonymous Reddit confession by Anand led to the unravelling of his web of lies. Built my life on lies According to ABC News, Anand forged transcripts, financial statements and even his fathers death certificate to get a full ride to Lehigh. He confessed all of this in a Reddit post titled: I have built my life and career on lies. In his post, the 19-year-old explained how his entire application was made up so he could get into an American college. I havent told anyone how I got to the point where I am right now. It would destroy everything I have, he wrote before explaining, at length, how he scammed the system. Besides falsifying documents and his fathers death certificate, Anand also created a fake email address to pose as his school principal. Although he did not name himself or the university, a Reddit moderator noticed his post, did some digging and figured out that Anand was a student at Lehigh. The defendant only had one other university that he followed, which was Lehigh University. So, the moderator actually reached out to Lehigh to give them a heads up, said Northampton County Assistant DA Michael Weinert. The moderator alerted the university and passed on all the evidence he had. Anand was arrested two months ago and pleaded guilty to forgery on June 12, 2024. His admission to Lehigh has been revoked. Although he could have been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for his crime, the 19-year-old will only face expulsion and deportation back to India, thanks to a plea deal with the university. A post about the bravery of two Mumbai cops was shared on social media. They risked their own lives and jumped into the sea during high tide to save a woman from drowning. Their story has left people applauding and calling them heroes. The image shows cops in Mumbai bringing the drowning woman to safety with the help of bystanders. (X/@MumbaiPolice) Mumbai Police shared a video showing the cops rescuing the woman and bringing her to safety. Other police members are seen taking care of her before helping her get into a vehicle to take her to the hospital. Turned the tide! Responding quickly to a drowning incident near Sundar Mahal Junction, Marine Drive, on-duty officials PC Kiran Thackeray & PC Anmol Dahifale, despite high tide, jumped into the sea & rescued the woman, Mumbai Police wrote. The lady was then taken to the hospital by Marine Drive 1 Mobile van for further treatment where the doctors have confirmed her condition is stable and her relatives have been notified, they added. Take a look at the entire post here: Since being shared a few hours ago, the video has accumulated more than 7.5 lakh views and the numbers are only increasing. The share has further collected close to 43,000 likes, including one from actor Bhumi Pednekar. How did Instagram users react to this rescue video by Mumbai Police? I have travelled across/lived in almost all major metro cities of India. It has been six years in Mumbai now. Never seen a city like this and felt safer in any other city. Mumbai police is the real gem for the nation, shared an Instagram user. Another individual added, Respect for our Mumbai police. A third expressed, People forget that police are humans, too, and they have families. Such things put their lives at risk. Blessings to Mumbai Police. A fourth joined in and wrote, Not all heroes wear capes. Mumbai Police has created a strong following on social media with its interesting posts. From raising awareness on various issues to sharing stories capturing the bravery of the cops to participating in viral trends, they have mastered the social media game. With over 1,600 posts, the department's Instagram handle has nearly 7.9 lakh followers. What are your thoughts on this rescue video posted by Mumbai Police? A new weight loss trend has taken over TikTok. Many people on the platform, and on other social media sites, claim that they have lost weight by drinking Rice-Zempic, a homemade drink that they say is a cheaper alternative to Ozempic. A new weight loss drink called Rice-Zempic has found many followers (Representational image) Over the last few months, Ozempic has exploded in popularity among celebrities and the general populace for its much-touted side effect - weight loss. The popularity of the drug is such that people who actually need it to treat their diabetes are now finding it in short supply. According to Daily Dot, however, Ozempic comes with a hefty price tag of $935 per month ( 78,000 approximately). Moreover, one needs a doctors prescription for Ozempic. Because of this, a section of the internet has now turned to Rice-Zempic - but experts warn there is no scientific backing to the weight loss miracles being ascribed to this trending beverage. What is Rice-Zempic? Rice-Zempic is a drink made by combining rice, water and lime juice. The drink is typically made by steeping unwashed rice and lime juice in warm water for 5 to 30 minutes, although some people steep the rice overnight. After this, the rice is strained out and the drink is consumed. Fans of Rice-Zempic claim it is a cheaper and more easily accessible alternative to Ozempic, hence the name. But does the drink actually work? According to Scott Keatley, co-owner of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy, the beverage has zero scientific backing. While rice water may have some nutritional benefits, such as providing a source of energy from its starch content, there is no evidence to suggest it has any properties that would significantly impact weight loss, especially in the manner that anti-diabetic medications like Ozempic do, Keatley told Health.com. Two other doctors told the magazine that the drink may promote feelings of satiety, which would help the consumer eat less. Its biggest benefit, according to Mir Ali, MD, is that its relatively low calorieits just starchy water. Ali said the drink could help people feel fuller before a meal and they might eat less than they normally do, words echoed by Kunal Shah, an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center. The starch expands in your stomach and can make you feel fullbut its very short-lived, Shah said. It doesnt in any way mimic Ozempic, Ali added. It has no hormonal effects like Ozempic to stimulate receptors. As many as 137 Indian nationals who were allegedly involved in a large-scale online financial scam across multiple locations in Sri Lanka have been arrested by police, according to a media report on Friday. As many as 137 Indian nationals who were allegedly involved in a large-scale online financial scam across multiple locations in Sri Lanka have been arrested by police, according to a media report on Friday.(File photo) They were arrested on Thursday from the Colombo suburbs of Madiwela and Battaramulla and the western coastal town of Negombo, said Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror newspaper. He said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducted simultaneous raids in these areas, leading to the seizure of 158 mobile phones, 16 laptops, and 60 desktop computers. In Negombo, 55 suspects were detained along with 55 mobile phones and 29 laptops. Similarly, in Kochchikade, authorities apprehended 53 individuals and confiscated 31 laptops and 58 mobile phones. ALSO READ| Jaishankar assures MK Stalin of action for release of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lanka The operation in Madiwela led to the arrest of 13 suspects and recovery of eight laptops and 38 mobile phones, while in Thalangama, 16 suspects were taken into custody with eight laptops and 38 mobile phones. The SSP said that all the arrested suspects were males. The crackdown follows a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions. Further investigation revealed a scheme where victims were coerced into making deposits after initial payments. In Peradeniya, a father-son duo admitted to aiding the fraudsters, the newspaper reported. Key evidence uncovered during a luxury house raid in Negombo led to the initial arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of 57 phones and computers. Subsequent operations in Negombo yielded 19 additional arrests, exposing international links in Dubai and Afghanistan. Victims included both locals and foreigners, the report added. It is suspected that they were involved in financial fraud, illegal betting and various activities of gambling. Beijing, China's Chang'e-6 mission, which returned this week from the far side of the Moon, has brought back nearly two kilogrammes of samples for research which will further enhance the understanding of lunar evolution, the country's space agency announced on Friday. China's Chang'e-6 collects nearly two kgs of samples from Moon's far side for research Based on the preliminary measurement, the Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples, according to the China National Space Administration . "We have found that the samples brought back by Chang'e-6 were more viscous compared to previous samples, with the presence of clumps. These are observable characteristics," Ge Ping, Deputy Director of the CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre, who is also the spokesperson for the Chang'e-6 mission, told the media here. Researchers will then carry out the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned and initiate scientific research work. The lunar samples, which were collected from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history, hold unique scientific significance as they will further enhance the understanding of lunar evolution, accelerate the pace of peaceful exploration and utilization of lunar resources, and serve as an important asset for all humanity, the CNSA said. It said it would organise scientific research on the samples, sharing China's lunar exploration achievements with the international community. Based on the lunar sample management rules released by the CNSA and the experience in dealing with the applications for lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission, applications for the Chang'e-6 samples are expected to open to domestic research institutions and scientists in about six months, Ge said, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Regarding international applications, Ge noted that China welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications under relevant procedures. Previously, significant scientific achievements have been made through in-depth research on the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission, in areas such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering, and resource utilisation, the CNSA said. The Chang'e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3. Its returner, carrying the lunar samples, landed precisely in its designated area in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25, marking a complete success for the mission. The returner was brought back to Beijing later. Researchers opened it and successfully collected the lunar sample container on Wednesday, the CNSA said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Iranians started voting on Friday for a new president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, choosing from a tightly controlled group of four candidates loyal to the supreme leader, at a time of growing public frustration. Iran presidential elections: voting begins with limited choices(AFP) Polls opened at 8:00 a.m. (0430 GMT) and close at 6:00 p.m. (1430 GMT), but are usually extended as late as midnight. The election coincides with escalating regional tension due to war between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure on Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear programme. While the election is unlikely to bring a major shift in the Islamic Republic's policies, its outcome could influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's 85-year-old supreme leader, in power since 1989. Khamenei called for a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fuelled by public discontent over economic hardship and curbs on political and social freedom. Read more: Iran presidential elections: First candidate withdraws; voter apathy post Raisi "The durability, strength, dignity and reputation of the Islamic Republic depend on the presence of people," Khamenei told state television after casting his vote. "High turnout is a definite necessity." Voter turnout has plunged over the past four years, as a mostly youthful population chafes at political and social curbs. Manual counting of ballots means the final result is expected to be announced only in two days, though initial figures may come out sooner. If no candidate wins at least 50 percent plus one vote from all ballots cast, including blank votes, a run-off round between the top two candidates is held on the first Friday after the election result is declared. Three candidates are hardliners and one is a low-profile comparative moderate, backed by the reformist faction that has largely been sidelined in Iran in recent years. Critics of Iran's clerical rule say the low and declining turnout of recent elections shows the system's legitimacy has eroded. Just 48% of voters participated in the 2021 election that brought Raisi to power, and turnout hit a record low of 41% in a parliamentary election three months ago. The next president is not expected to usher in any major policy shift on Iran's nuclear programme or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters. Read more: Sweden and Iran exchange prisoners in breakthrough deal However, the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran's foreign and domestic policy. A hardline watchdog body made up of six clerics and six jurists aligned with Khamenei vets candidates. It approved just six from an initial pool of 80. Two hardline candidates subsequently dropped out. Prominent among the remaining hardliners are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, parliament speaker and former commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator who served for four years in Khamenei's office. The sole comparative moderate, Massoud Pezeshkian, is faithful to Iran's theocratic rule, but advocates detente with the West, economic reform, social liberalisation and political pluralism. His chances hinge on reviving the enthusiasm of reform-minded voters who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years after previous pragmatist presidents brought little change. He could also benefit from his rivals' failure to consolidate the hardline vote. All four candidates have vowed to revive the flagging economy, beset by mismanagement, state corruption and sanctions re-imposed since 2018, after the United States ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers. In the past few weeks, Iranians have made wide use of the hashtag #ElectionCircus on X, with some activists at home and abroad calling for an election boycott, saying a high turnout would legitimise the Islamic Republic. By Brad Brooks Judge denies Alec Baldwin's motion to dismiss manslaughter charge June 28 - A New Mexico judge on Friday denied a request by actor Alec Baldwin to dismiss a manslaughter charge he faces for the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the film set of the movie "Rust." In her ruling, the judge rejected arguments by Baldwin's lawyers in a hearing June 21 and Monday that the charge should be dismissed because the gun that fired the round that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was damaged during testing by the FBI following her death, preventing his lawyers from conducting their own testing. Baldwin is scheduled for a July trial. Hutchins was shot with a live round after Baldwin pointed a gun at her as she set up a camera on a film set near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The "30 Rock" star has denied responsibility for Hutchins' death, saying the gun went off on its own after he pointed it at the cinematographer and cocked it. He denies pulling the trigger, an assertion that has become central to the case. "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez, who mistakenly loaded a live round into the revolver involved in the shooting, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced in April to 18 months in prison, the same term Baldwin will face if found guilty. Baldwin's legal team said prosecutors had built their case around the unproven hypothesis the gun was properly functioning and could not have gone off unless Baldwin pulled the trigger. Baldwin's lawyers argued the gun was modified, allowing it to fire without a trigger pull. Judge Mary Sommer said in her ruling to dismiss Baldwin's motion that his attorneys were not able to prove that prosecutors damaged the gun knowing it could prove anyone's innocence, nor could they prove that they could not obtain "comparable evidence" after the gun was damaged. Sommer agreed the gun is central to the case, and said prosecutors would have to call witnesses who can explain to jurors how it was damaged and its relevance. An initial involuntary manslaughter charge prosecutors filed against Baldwin in January 2023 was dropped after, according to a person familiar with the case, the actor's legal team presented evidence the revolver was modified, allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled. Then an independent firearms expert determined the gun would not fire at the full cock position without the trigger being pulled. Kari Morrissey, a veteran Albuquerque criminal defense attorney who in March 2023 was appointed as a special prosecutor in the Rust case, went to a grand jury, which earlier this year charged Baldwin a second time with involuntary manslaughter. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Maldives environment minister Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem was arrested for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, local media reported on Thursday. President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu According to reports, along with Shamnaz, her ex-husband Adam Rameez, who was serving as a minister at the Presidents Office, and two others have also been arrested on charges of using witchcraft, reportedly to get closer to Muizzu. The incident came to light on June 23, following which the four accused were remanded in custody for seven days. On Wednesday, Shamnaz was suspended as the state minister at the ministry of environment, reported local media house Sun. Also read: What the Maldives election landslide means for India The chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, said that the investigation is underway. Shamnaz, who was listed on the Maldives Environment Ministry's website as a political appointee, is no longer on the list. Her name has been moved to the list of former political appointees. Previously, she served as a member of the Male City Council with Muizzu - back when he was serving as the city's mayor. Shamnaz and her accused ex-husband both previously served as members of the Male City Council with Muizzu when he was the city's mayor. Following Muizzu's election as the President of Maldives last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council and was appointed as a state minister at Muliaage, the official residence of the president. She was later transferred to the environment ministry. On the other hand, her ex-husband, Rameez, was known to be a close aide of Muizzu. However, local media said he had been absent from public view for the past five months. Meanwhile, neither the Maldives government nor the President's office have made any official statements on the case yet. Prince Harry has been accused of deliberately destroying potential evidence in his phone hacking case, a court was told. The case is related to his High Court phone hacking claim against the publisher of The Sun. Prince Harry accused of deliberately destroying evidence in phone hacking case (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)(AP) Back in December, Harry was awarded $180,700 after Londons High Court ruled that the Duke of Sussex was a victim of modest phone-hacking. The court determined that he was also a victim of other unlawful information gathering by journalists. An attorney for the publisher of the British tabloid has now accused Harry of being involved in shocking and extraordinary obfuscation. Attorney Anthony Hudson accused Harry at High Court of destroying text messages exchanged with the ghostwriter who wrote his memoir, Spare. Prince Harrys lawyers dismiss allegations Dismissing the allegations, Harrys lawyers said the News Group Newspapers was carrying out a classic fishing expedition by requesting documents in the case after so long. NGNs tactical and sluggish approach to disclosure wholly undermines the deliberately sensational assertion that the claimant [Harry] has not properly carried out the disclosure exercise, Harrys attorney, David Sherborne, said in court papers, according to New York Post. This is untrue. In fact, the claimant has already made clear that he has conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations, he added. Hudson responded by saying Harry had created an obstacle course to the documents the publisher is looking for. If the claimant wanted his documents from his former solicitors or from the royal household he would have got them, said the attorney. The Court was told that Harry now has to personally reveal how he destroyed drafts of his memoir, and text messages between him and his ghostwriter, well after the lawsuit launched in 2019. Presiding Justice Timothy Fancourt said on Thursday, June 27, the documents were destroyed after the case was underway already. Fancourt said that efforts will be made to retrieve these messages, exchanged between the Duke and JR Moehringer, his ghostwriter. Meanwhile, the judge demanded that Harrys legal team write to the Kings private secretary, his treasurer and keeper of the Privy Purse and urge them to hand over any record of communication with the Duke. Princess Anne has finally returned home after spending five days in the hospital after sustaining head injuries. She was injured and suffered a concussion following a horse-related incident. Princess Anne returns home from hospital after head injuries (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP, File)(AP) The 73-year-old returned home on Friday, June 28, and is expected to remain there for a further period of rest, according to New York Post. Her husband Sir Tim Laurence said after her return, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all the team at Southmead Hospital for their care, expertise and kindness during my wifes short stay. A report previously claimed that Anne suffered memory loss as a direct result of the incident, but it is believed to be temporary. She has cancelled all her official royal duties scheduled for this week, including a trip to Canada and a state visit. On doctors advice, Her Royal Highnesss engagements for the week ahead will be postponed. Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result, Annes spokesperson said. Former royal butler Grant Harrold has claimed that Anne could stay away from royal duties for weeks, and that her absence will have a big impact on her. What is known is that the princess will not be returning to royal duties Former BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole told GB News that Anne "chose not to be pictured" as she left the hospital with her husband. She had been admitted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol following the accident. "What is known is that the princess will not be returning to royal duties, which she is a very keen pursuer of such, for the foreseeable future, Cole said. "She was supposed to be going to Canada this weekend. This week she was supposed to have been in Scotland, but obviously she's not going to do any of that until the doctors sign her off and say that she's back fit and ready to discharge her duties, he added. By Marcos Fernandez Tous, University of North Dakota HT Image Grand Forks, For about 15 minutes on July 21, 1961, American astronaut Gus Grissom felt at the top of the world and indeed he was. Grissom crewed the Liberty Bell 7 mission, a ballistic test flight that launched him through the atmosphere from a rocket. During the test, he sat inside a small capsule and reached a peak of over 100 miles up before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. A Navy ship, the USS Randolph, watched the successful end of the mission from a safe distance. Everything had gone according to plan, the controllers at Cape Canaveral were exultant, and Grissom knew he had just entered a VIP club as the second American astronaut in history. Grissom remained inside his capsule and swayed on the gentle ocean waves. While he waited for a helicopter to take him onto the USS Randolphs dry deck, he finished recording some flight data. But then, things took an unexpected turn. An incorrect command in the capsules explosives system caused the hatch to pop out, which let water flow into the tiny space. Grissom had also forgotten to close a valve in his spacesuit, so water began to seep into his suit as he fought to stay afloat. After a dramatic escape from the capsule, he struggled to keep his head above the surface while giving signals to the helicopter pilot that something had gone wrong. The helicopter managed to save him at the last instant. Grissoms near-death escape remains one of the most dramatic splashdowns in history. But splashing down into water remains one of the most common ways astronauts return to Earth. I am a professor of aerospace engineering who studies the mechanisms involved in these phenomena. Fortunately, most splashdowns are not quite that nerve-racking, at least on paper. Splashdown explained Before it can perform a safe landing, a spacecraft returning to Earth needs to slow down. While it is careening back to Earth, a spacecraft has a lot of kinetic energy. Friction with the atmosphere introduces drag, which slows down the spacecraft. The friction converts the spacecrafts kinetic energy to thermal energy, or heat. All this heat radiates out into the surrounding air, which gets really, really hot. Since reentry velocities can be several times the speed of sound, the force of the air pushing back against the vehicle turns the vehicles surroundings into a scorching flow thats about 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit . In the case of SpaceXs massive Starship rocket, this temperature even reaches 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit . Unfortunately, no matter how quickly this transfer happens, theres still not enough time during reentry for the vehicle to slow down to a safe enough velocity not to crash. So, the engineers resort to other methods that can slow down a spacecraft during splashdown. Parachutes are the first option. NASA typically uses designs with bright colours, such as orange, which make them easy to spot. Theyre also huge, with diameters of over 100 feet, and each reentry vehicle usually uses more than one for the best stability. The first parachutes deployed, called drag parachutes, eject when the vehicles velocity falls below about 2,300 feet per second . Even then, the rocket cant crash against a hard surface. It needs to land somewhere that will cushion the impact. Researchers figured out early on that water makes an excellent shock absorber. Thus, splashdown was born. Why water? Water has a relatively low viscosity that is, it deforms fast under stress and it has a density much lower than hard rock. These two qualities make it ideal for landing spacecraft. But the other main reason water works so well is because it covers 70 per cent of the planets surface, so the chances of hitting it are high when youre falling from space. The science behind splashdown is complex, as a long history proves. In 1961, the US conducted the first crewed splashdowns in history. These used Mercury reentry capsules. These capsules had a roughly conical shape and fell with the base toward the water. The astronaut inside sat facing upward. The base absorbed most of the heat, so researchers designed a heat shield that boiled away as the capsule shot through the atmosphere. As the capsule slowed and the friction reduced, the air got cooler, which made it able to absorb the excess heat on the vehicle, thereby cooling it down as well. At a sufficiently low speed, the parachutes would deploy. Splashdown occurs at a velocity of about 80 feet per second . Its not exactly a smooth impact, but thats slow enough for the capsule to thwack into the ocean and absorb shock from the impact without damaging its structure, its payload or any astronauts inside. Following the Challenger loss in 1986, when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after liftoff, engineers started focusing their vehicle designs on whats called the crashworthiness phenomena or the degree of damage a craft takes after it hits a surface. Now, all vehicles need to prove that they can offer a chance of survival on water after returning from space. Researchers build complex models, then test them with laboratory experiments to prove that the structure is sturdy enough to meet this requirement. Onto the future Between 2021 and June 2024, seven of SpaceXs Dragon capsules performed flawless splashdowns on their return from the International Space Station. On June 6, the most powerful rocket to date, SpaceXs Starship, made a phenomenal vertical splashdown into the Indian Ocean. Its rocket boosters kept firing while approaching the surface, creating an extraordinary cloud of hissing steam surrounding the nozzles. SpaceX has been using splashdowns to recover its boosters after launch, with no significant damage to their critical parts, so that it can recycle them for future missions. Unlocking this reusability will allow private companies to save millions of dollars in infrastructure and reduce mission costs. Splashdown continues to be the most common spacecraft reentry tactic, and with more space agencies and private companies shooting for the stars, were likely to see plenty more take place in the future. GRS GRS GRS This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Joe Biden and Donald Trump traded barbs during the first presidential debate on Thursday, June 27 at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Republican candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks as he attends a presidential debate with Democrat candidate, U.S. President Joe Biden, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024.(REUTERS) During the first thirty minutes of the discussion, fiery Biden defended his policies and record with meandering. In response, Trump countered him for spreading lies on economy, abortion rights, and the defence budgets of NATO allies. The debate has several intense instances of personal attacks and name-calling between Biden and his GOP rival Trump. While the POTUS called Trump a "convicted felon", referring to Trump's historic hush money trial conviction, the ex-President dubbed the Democrat a criminal. Biden inquired Trump about the amount of money he owes in civil penalties, and brought up the charges made by former adult film star Stormy Daniels that Trump had sex with a porn star... while your wife was pregnant. He went on to say that the GOP leader had the morals of an alley cat. Trump hit back at Biden, claiming, I didnt have sex with a porn star. He further maintained that the criminal investigations against him, which included his conviction in Manhattan for fabricating financial documents pertaining to a payment of hush money to Daniels, were driven by political motivations. Biden mocks Trump as only felon on the stage Trump referred to Biden as a criminal, making unsubstantiated assertions. He alleged that Biden used his position as vice president to support his son Hunter Biden, who was just found guilty of federal gun-related offenses. Reacting to this, the Commander-in-Chief quipped Trump is the only felon on the stage. Both Biden and Trump declared each other the "worst president" in American history. Also Read: Biden's scratchy voice and debate performance spark concerns, netizens urge Michelle Obama to announce candidacy Biden blasted Trump as a "sucker and loser" in reference to the statements made by Trump's former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who said the former president called military personnel who died in battle as "losers" and those who were injured or captured as "suckers". "You're the sucker, you're the loser," Biden told Trump. Trump rejected Kelly's allegation as a "made up" remark and sought an apology from Biden. During the heated exchange, Trump claimed "insane asylums" and "mental institutions" are the sources of illegal immigration to the United States. He, however, did not offer any evidence to support his argument. As Joe Biden and Donald Trump clashed with each other during their first 2024 presidential debate, netizens were quick to notice several gaffes made by the incumbent President. The 81-year-old Commander-in Chief, who is known for making blunders, has been under severe criticism with his critics questioning his mental and physical capacities over his White House rerun. Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic Party presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden speak during a presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024 in a combination photo. REUTERS/Brian Snyder(REUTERS) Biden made a number of errors, which online users began to share on social media. During the heated CNN debate on Thursday, the POTUS was unable to contain his claims, which ranged from saying that there were a thousand trillionaires in America to asserting that he was the "only President" in the previous ten years to have no troops die while in office. Biden was heard clearing his throat or coughing multiple times. He even faced issue while completing one of his answers, and then made a gaffe. He was criticizing Trump's tax plans, claiming that they lowered taxes for the rich while depriving the government of money that could be used to strengthen the safety net. Then, with his time running out, Biden stammered and said, We finally beat Medicare. Trump counters Biden with epic rebuttal In another incident on the stage, Biden was mocked by Trump, stating that he was unable to understand what exactly he said during the debate. Continue to move until we get the total ban on the, the, the, the total initiative relative to what we're gonna do with more border patrol and more asylum officers, Biden said. I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump responded. Meanwhile, Biden's team appeared to pay for the damage control with a report, clarifying that his doctor recently diagnosed him with a cold, which could account for his occasionally rough voice and coughing during this debate. Reacting to the report, one X user asked: Is a symptom of a cold dementia?, while another commented, Oh wow, colds cause anger and confusion? Also Read: Biden-Trump debate live updates Here's what Biden's doctor said After Biden's February physical, his physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, stated in a report that he has "occasional symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, primarily having to clear his throat more often." O'Connor stated that those symptoms "are typically exacerbated shortly after meals." He stated that Biden consumes Pepcid in the morning and Nexium in the evening for acid control. Earlier, Biden publicly admitted that he also faced issues with stutter, which has had a significant impact on him. Biden's pause, scratchy voice raise serious concerns Taking to X, Nicholas Kristof expressed unhappiness with the way the debate was started. Trump is speaking nonsense on many topics, but he's projecting energy; Biden is more substantive but in voice and manner is playing into the Trump narrative that he's old for this job. Meanwhile, Pollster Frank Luntz also reacted on Biden's scratchy voice, stating that this is not encouraging in terms of his health concerns. "My focus group of undecided voters is surprised and concerned about Biden's voice." Journalist Kasie Hunt of CNN reported that Democrats she spoke with were extremely disappointed with Biden's performance. The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats I'm talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate, she wrote. According to Fox News White House reporter Jacqui Heinrich, Biden's voice sounded thinner than usual and his performance was harmed overall. Journalist Yashar Ali claimed he was with several elected officials, staff members, donors, and Democratic operatives and "not one of them feels good about Bidens performance tonight in terms of style, his voice etc." Trump aides and Republicans also targeted Biden over the blunders he committed during the debate. Taking to X, Trump national press secretary Caroline Leavitt wrote: "What's wrong with Joe Biden's voice? Hasn't he been hiding in the woods for a week?????" Some netizens on X even urged Biden to "step down" and former First Lady Michelle Obama to announce her candidacy. Announce your candidacy tonight. We'll back you. During the 90-minute heated CNN debate, former US President Donald Trump criticized President Joe Biden over the issue of illegal immigration, particularly focusing on terrorists migrants who have committed crimes after crossing the border. Republican candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks as he attends a presidential debate with Democrat candidate, U.S. President Joe Biden, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024. REUTERS/Brian Snyder(REUTERS) Trump accused Biden of having lax border policies that allowed dangerous individuals to enter the United States. He decided to open up our border, open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylums, terrorists. We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now, all terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, they come from the Middle East, everywhere, Trump said. ALSO READ| Joe Biden's secret sauce to trump the CNN debate: 'I'm feeling pretty jacked up' Trump also claimed that the US had the safest border in history during his presidency. He boasted, There's never been anything like it, and people are dying all over the place, including the people that are coming up in caravans. Biden gives Trump a fact-check over terrorist remark President Biden swiftly defended his administration's handling of border security and pushed back against Trump's assertions. He highlighted what he saw as inaccuracies in Trump's statements and sought to clarify the situation regarding border-crossing terrorists. The only terrorist who has done anything crossing the border is one who came along and killed three in his administration an al Qaeda person in his administration killed three American soldiers, Biden said. Killed three American soldiers. That's the only terrorist that's I'm not saying no terrorist ever got through, but the idea they're emptying their prisons, we're welcoming these people, that's simply not true, there is no data to support what he said. Once again, he's exaggerating, he's lying, and there is no shred of evidence to support the claim that large numbers of terrorists are entering the country through the southern border. ALSO READ| My son wasnt a sucker: Biden defends son Beau as Trump seeks apology over made-up veterans remark He accused Trump of using fear-mongering tactics to mislead the public and score political points. Fact-checking Trump's claim over immigrants Trump's remarks about the open border have been a central theme in his criticisms of Biden's administration. He frequently portrays Biden's policies as weak and detrimental to national security. However, while debunking the myth the immigrants are mainly behind the soaring crime rate in US, Brennan Center for Justice said in their survey report that immigrants commit crime or are incarcerated at higher rates than native-born Americans. In fact, immigrants might have less law enforcement contact compared to nonimmigrants. One study found that undocumented immigrants are 33 percent less likely to be incarcerated than people born in the United States. Indications of a negative relationship between immigration and crime also emerge when looking at conviction rates. In a Texas study, undocumented immigrants were found to be 47 percent less likely to be convicted of a crime in 2017 than native-born Americans, they added. Following Georgia nursing student Laken Riley's murder, Economist Ran Abramitzky said that since the 1960s, immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than US natives. Donald Trump's estranged niece Mary Trump has launched a scathing attack against the former president with her latest move ahead of the presidential debate. Donald Trump's niece Mary Trump announced that she will make her appearance in the spin room alongside the Biden campaign.(AP ) On Thursday night, Trump and President Joe Biden will square off in their first presidential debate of 2024. The debate will be moderated by CNN anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper in Atlanta, Georgia at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. While the debate offers Biden and Trump an opportunity to clarify their positions on crucial issues like immigration, the economy, and abortion to millions of potential voters, Mary Trump announced that she will make her appearance in the spin room alongside the Biden campaign. Politico reported that Biden's campaign will have various surrogates in the spin room, such as former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, former congressman Cedric Richmond, representatives Robert Garcia, Jasmine Crockett, and senators Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Gavin Newsom of California. Also Read: Biden-Trump debate live updates Trump cannot be trusted, says Mary "I'm in Atlanta tonight to remind everyone who Donald is as a person and how he would rule as a president because the stakes are far too high for us to get this wrong: We cannot afford to allow Donald Trump anywhere near the levers of power again," Trump's niece said in a statement, according to The Hill. Speaking to The Hill, she emphasised that Trump "cannot be trusted", adding that his last administration was just a "warm-up for much worse to come." Stating that Trump is desperate for power, Mary said he has demonstrated that he is not deserving as he is only fixated on getting it back for his own advantage. "He must be stopped," she uttered. Predicting the consequences after Trump getting re-elected to the White House, she said his critics won't be safe because revenge and retribution are what he traffics in. I'm here tonight because only President Biden can stop Donald and save our country, she stressed. Earlier in May, Trump's staunch critic Mary warned against his second term, stating that she believes her uncle would destroy us. Backing Biden's re-run in her blog post on Substack, she asserted, We are so turned around that many of us blame the man who has actually tried to fix the horrific damage his predecessor inflicted on all of us while giving a pass to the man who landed us here. "And not only is Donald getting a pass; tens of millions of [Americans] want to give him almost unlimited power which he will wield in ways that will destroy us," she added. The first 2024 presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump has triggered a whirlwind of reactions from major American media outlets, each highlighting different aspects of the event. Roger Strassburg, of Scottsdale, Ariz., wears a cowboy hat as he watches the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a debate watch party Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)(AP) From Trump's claim that Biden's open border policy let terrorists a free foot to enter the country to Biden's claim that he changed the illegal border crossing. Biden-Trump's CNN Presidential debate through American media's lens The New York Times focused on President Biden's physical condition, describing his performance as raspy and noting a meltdown in prime time. The NYT article started with From the very first question, President Bidens voice was a muted rasp. The media giant then explored how, Biden's raspy voice and frequent coughing raised concerns about his health and capability. He struggled with coherence, often losing his train of thought, and seemed unable to deliver a strong message, despite days of preparation. Whereas, Trump's messages, though factually incorrect, were clear and forceful. The article concluded that Biden's performance could harm his campaign, as he appeared less confident and more prone to mistakes compared to previous debates. On the other hand, USA Today headlines screamed Democratic panic and expressed alarm among Biden supporters. ALSO READ| Fact-checking false claims you heard at the Biden-Trump CNN presidential debate The paper points out the democratic cry. The American daily discusses widespread Democratic concern following President Joe Biden's poor performance in a debate against Donald Trump. Biden struggled with a hoarse voice, incoherence, and weak responses, leading some Democrats to suggest he should step aside for another candidate. Notable figures like Van Jones and anonymous lawmakers voiced doubts about Biden's ability to continue, while others, including Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, defended him. The debate highlighted Biden's challenges and reignited discussions about his candidacy for the 2024 election. NBC highlights a broader perspective, noting Biden's shaky performance and Trump's evasiveness regarding election results. Notably, Trump repeatedly slammed Biden's open border policy.\ Trump slammed Biden's open border policy, and US media tears through it The former POTUS said, He decided to open up our border, open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylums, terrorists. We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now, all terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, they come from the Middle East, everywhere. CNN provides a critical analysis of both candidates, pointing out Biden's poor showing and Trump's repeated deflection. The media giant also delivered a fact check to Bidne-Trump's claim. They summarize the key takeaways from the first 2024 presidential debate between Biden and Trump. Biden, apparently ill, delivered a lacklustre and garbled performance, failing to reassure voters about his fitness for office and making strategic errors. Trump, as expected, spread falsehoods and dodged tough questions. The debate highlighted stark contrasts between their visions for America, with Trump painting a bleak picture and Biden offering optimism. ALSO READ| Donald Trump tears into Joe Biden for welcoming largest number of terrorists into US at the CNN debate A notable moment was when Biden criticized Trump's morals, leading to a striking exchange when Biden calls out Trump for Allegedly having sex with a pornstar while Melania Trump was pregnant. Fox News zeroes in on Biden's halting start, describing it as raspy and faltering against Trump's more aggressive approach. Their coverage boasted the headlines-Raspy Biden gets off to a halting start against Trump in the first 2024 presidential debate. Joe Biden has vowed to return for a second debate against Donald Trump, after the presidents performance in the presidential debate was dubbed disastrous. CNN senior White House correspondent Kayla Tausche said on Friday, June 28, that an adviser claimed Biden will return to the debate stage in September. Joe Biden determined to return to debate stage with Donald Trump despite alarming performance (REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo)(REUTERS) June 27 was a historic day when Biden and Donald Trump came face to face on the debate stage. Bidens performance has alarmed the Democratic Party a few months before the general election. During the debate, the president stumbled, froze and stared blankly. However, despite concerns from even his own party members, Biden is reportedly not planning to drop out of the race. Biden was tentative, rambling and sometimes incoherent A retired public affairs professor at Baruch College, told New York Post after the debate, This was a disaster for Biden. Many Democrats are looking for a new candidate after this debate. Biden was tentative, rambling and sometimes incoherent, he added. Trump, on the other hand, was clear and relatively coherent. He looked like he knew what he was talking about. Even though he repeatedly lied, he lies in an articulate way. At one point during the debate, Biden seemed to lose his train of thought for about nine seconds before looking up and saying that he finally beat Medicare. Trump then quickly reacted, saying, Well, hes right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death and hes destroying Medicare because all of these people who are coming in, theyre putting them on Medicare. If I knew nothing about Donald Trump before that debate and judged him solely on that performance, Id vote for him, one Democratic source told New York Post. Another Democrat said it was TBD whether Biden was still going to be the nominee of the party, even though there is less than two months left for the Democratic National Convention. Biden misspoke. He saved Medicare. But now someone needs to save Biden, the source said. Those who backed Biden saw the debate as an opportunity for the president to prove that he is fit for office. However, their hopes were dashed after his performance. Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in a 90-minute debate with CNN, and before hitting the podium, the US President swiftly responds to Trump charges of being on drugs before the debate with a secret sauce. President Joe Biden mocks Donald Trump's drug claims with 'Dark Brandon' meme (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(AP) Just before climbing the podium and lauding in the mike, the POTUS, posted on X (formerly Twitter), holding a blue and white themes drinking can featuring the Dark Brandon meme: I don't know what they've got in these performance enhancers, but I'm feeling pretty jacked up. Try it yourselves, folks. The blue and white specially labelled water can reads, Zero Malarkey and Get real Jack, it's just water. The website to purchase the Dark Brandons Secret Sauce reads like this: The secret to a good debate performance? Staying hydrated. Get yourself the same performance enhancers Joe Biden took before going on stage. 100% water, 0% malarkey. ALSO READ| Robert F Kennedy Jr to participate in an alternate debate on X during the CNN presidential debate Do debate-boosting drugs even exist? For weeks, his main rival in the presidential campaign and the first debate was former US President Trump, who became the head of a growing list of people who demanded that Biden take a drug test before the next debate. Drug test for crooked Joe Biden? I would also, immediately agree to one, former president said. Bidens campaign consistently refused straightforward queries if the candidate intended to use any medication to boost his performance during Thursdays CNN Presidential debate. However, a Biden spokesperson told Fox News Digital earlier this week, Donald Trump is so scared of being held accountable for his toxic agenda of attacking reproductive freedom and cutting Social Security that he and his allies are resorting to desperate, obviously false lies. In the same regard, a Republican congressman, Ronny Jackson, a Trump devotee and former director of the White House medical unit under President Barack Obama, wrote to the White House medical officer on Monday calling for Biden to be tested before the debate. The Biden campaign responded on Wednesday to Team Trump's call for donations to the Legal Defense Fund, claiming that Trumps pleas were silly. ALSO READ| Biden takes veiled dig at Trump as netizens question Melania's absence from presidential debate: The best part Biden campaign spokesperson Adrienne Elrod said the former president uttered almost the same allegations regarding Hillary Clinton before their debates in 2016 as he did regarding Biden before their debate in September 2020. While there is no evidence that either Biden or Clinton ever used "performance-enhancing" substances during debates, speculation persists among voters and in the media: But do such debate-boosting drugs actually exist? Amid reports of rift between Obama and Biden family, Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, has reacted to the report of becoming frustrated over her friend Kathleen Buhle's divorce from Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden. Michelle Obama's spokesman Crystal Carson told Axios that the former First Lady is friends with Kathleen and with the Bidens. (AP) The report published by Axios, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the situation, provides details on how Michelle Obama has been missing from Biden's reelection campaign and she has expressed her displeasure over the divorce. In his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things, Hunter Biden mentioned about Michelle Obama and Buhle's bond, stating that the two worked out together at the gym and often had evening cocktails at the White House, at both formal and informal events. Michelle Obama's spokesman, White House react to rift report In response to the reports, Michelle Obama's spokesman Crystal Carson told Axios that the former First Lady is friends with Kathleen and with the Bidens. Two things can be true. According to Carson, Michelle Obama completely supports Biden's reelection campaign, when he is anticipated to run against former President Donald Trump. The spokesperson also highlighted that Jill Biden recently visited a memorial service for Michelle Obama's mother. Meanwhile, a White House spokesperson also rejected the reports of any rift between Obama and Biden family. The Biden and Obama families are like family to one other, and whomever made these claims about that relationship isn't familiar with it, Andrew Bates stated. Also Read: Biden-Trump debate live updates: Joe Biden trolls Trump over Melania skipping presidential debate Kathleen Buhle and Hunter Biden Buhle, who testified in Hunter Biden's federal gun trial in which a Delaware jury found him guilty, married the president's son in 1993. The couple share three children -- Finnegan, 23, Maisy, 23, and Naomi, 30, and they filed for divorce in 2016. In her memoir If We Break, published in 2022, Buhle asserted that Hunter Biden's drug abuse and infidelity caused their marriage to fail. In 2019, she filed a lawsuit against him, alleging that he had neglected to pay her past due bills, interest, and alimony since the end of their relationship. Last month, Hunter Biden was convicted of three felonies related to firearms after prosecutors claimed he had lied to them about using drugs at the time he bought a pistol in 2018. New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, who is a close friend of Joe Biden, said the presidents performance in the presidential debate made him weep. He also urged Biden not to seek re-election, thus putting the nations interest first. NYT columnist, Biden's close friend, says president's debate performance made him weep (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)(AFP) Friedman wrote an op-ed titled President Biden Is My Friend. He Must Bow Out of the Race, where he wrote that he cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime. No business running for re-election I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone and it made me weep, Friedman wrote. Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election. He further said that Bidens family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president. In the first presidential debate this year, in which Biden and Donald Trump came face to face, the presidents performance has been dubbed disastrous. It has greatly alarmed the Democratic Party just a few months before the general election. During the debate, Biden was seen stumbling, staring blankly and freezing. Biden and Friedman have been friends since they travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan together after 9/11. At the time, Biden chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Friedman wrote in the op-ed that he is saying all this with great sadness. Friedman said he believes Biden has integrity and has had many accomplishments, but a new leader is needed to handle the challenges of the 21st century. If he caps his presidency now, by acknowledging that because of age he is not up to a second term, his first and only term will be remembered as among the better presidencies in our history, Friedman said. Bidens supporters had hoped the debate would give him an opportunity to prove that he is fit for office, after his capabilities were questioned time and again following his gaffes and awkward moments on stage. However, after the debate, hopes were shattered. The Biden family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve, Friedman said. A small plane went off the runway after landing at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey Thursday. The incident caused significant delays for flights flying to and from Newark, the FAA said. One wing of the private plane was damaged after landing. There were only two onboard, including the passenger, neither of whom sustained any injuries. Representational Image(Bloomberg) Private plane goes off runway at Newark Airport One wing of a private aircraft was damaged after landing at Newark Liberty International Airport around 1:50 pm. A pilot and one passenger were on board; no injuries were reported, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, said. However, the FAA said that some of the flights scheduled to land at Newark were forced to halt at their originating airports due to the runway closure. On an average, flights are delayed by 95 minutes, according to the US federal agency. ALSO READ: Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 forced to reroute after windscreen cracks mid-flight at 40k feet The runway will remain closed for an investigation into the incident. Flight arrivals and departures at Newark may be delayed during the investigation, it added. Meanwhile, the message on the airport's website at the time read, Flights into and out of #EWR [are] experiencing delays. Contact your airline for flight status. ALSO READ: Another Boeing 737 suffers mid-air mishap, falls 25000ft before flying in circles, leaves several injured The video taken at the time of the incident shows the aircraft, which went off-runway, surrounded by emergency vehicles, according to CBS News. The outlet added that the FAA temporarily paused some flights into Newark Liberty International Airport because a private Embraer business jet went off the runway after landing. That resulted in the closure of the runway, which reduces the airport's arrival capacity. Once a beloved figure in the British royal family, Prince Harry now appears to be distancing himself from his working royal past. While multiple reports suggest the Duke and Duchess are open to returning to royal life or reconciling with their estranged family, royal correspondent Cameron Walker believes Harry is clearly not attempting to resume his role as a working royal. Speculation is rife, Harry is charting a new course, diverging dramatically from the traditional royal life he once embraced. FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Harry arrives to attend the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Pauls Cathedral, in London, Britain, May 8, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo(REUTERS) Prince Harry is angry and frustrated Prince Harry's recent visit to a military charity supporting kids who lost parents in service was a real tearjerker. But behind the scenes, whispers are getting louder about Harry's own struggles. Remember the infamous Megxit thing back in 2020? The move to the US, the scathing remarks aimed at the Royals and the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, that apparently left a big crack in the family picture. Now, a royal reporter thinks Harry might be simmering with "anger and frustration" about his whole situation. This comes right after Harry poured his heart out with those grieving kids. Also read: TikTok shoppers old Walmart bill from 2022 shows inflation bite; this used to cost $127 and now... Tom Hardwood asked Cameron Walker if recent events, such as other senior royals stepping back due to health issues, might influence Prince Harry to take on more responsibility within the royal family. Walker replied, "I don't think it's because we're losing members of the Royal Family temporarily, such as the Princess of Wales and Princess Anne." The royal reporter added, "I think he's trying to go it alone. I don't think this is him trying to become a working member of the Royal Family again." Also read: Jennifer Lopez spends time with Ben Affleck at his production office, set to star in two films; business or love on? Prince Harry not trying to be working royal Cameron believes that the Duke is content with his new life in California, where he resides in his Montecito home with his wife Meghan and their two children, overseeing various charitable programs. However, the expert also observes signs of Harry's frustration. "There's been long periods of absence, I think, from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. And this is him, perhaps, carving out his role again, the expert added. Cameron explored the driving forces behind Prince Harry. He highlighted the significance of identifying Harry's genuine interest, suggesting, that passion clearly lies with military engagements and supporting military causes. That is, I think, what we're seeing from Prince Harry, Cameron concluded. Prince Harry and his brother William won't be inheriting a piece of their mother's legacy in the form of her childhood home. When Princess Diana died a large part of her estate and wealth was inherited by the royal brothers, however, the infamous Althorp Estate, where Princess Diana spent her formative years and is now laid to rest, is poised to take a surprising turn in its ownership. The house will reportedly be handed over to Harry and Williams cousin Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp. Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana as a victim. But it is nice to see the scenes between her and her sons, William and Harry. (Netflix) Prince Harry and William wont inherit Dianas house Following the devastating car crash in Paris that took Princess Diana's life in 1997, her sons, Princes William and Harry, inherited her personal fortune. (13million fortune and loads of jewellery and wealth.) The grand Althorp Estate, a treasured property in the Spencer family since 1508 and where Diana spent her childhood, is now destined for her nephew Louis Spencer who is the son of Dianas brother Earl Charles Spencer. This inheritance breaks the traditional path and adds a new chapter to the story of Diana's legacy. Also read: Thats not Biden: POTUS weird face during Trump debate sparks plastic surgery rumours; his skin is stuck Who is Louis Spencer? British aristocrat Louis Spencer, the eldest son and heir of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, is the cousin of Prince William and Harry through their maternal lineage. Despite having three older sisters, Louis is set to inherit the family estate following the aristocratic tradition of primogeniture, where titles and properties are passed down to the eldest male heir. "Primogeniture can be a tricky topic, because as times are changing, attitudes are as well, Louis oldest sister Kitty told Town and Country magazine. We've grown up understanding that it's Louis's to inherit, and Louis will do an incredible job, the 33-year-old added. Also read: Prince Harry clearly 'not trying' to be working royal, instead 'angry and frustrated' because... The unexpected heir to Dianas property typically keeps a low profile and avoids the spotlight. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he pursued a career in acting/drama at a school in Chiswick, London. According to Sky News, the young actor has reportedly begun attending trustee meetings to follow the inheritance process. He has been to trustees meetings when he can. I dont want to burden him," Charles Spencer earlier told Telegraph. "Its a lot. I would be totally relaxed about Kitty inheriting it, but...if I chose Kitty, it would be against all the tradition that goes with Althorp, he added. A Russian-owned decommissioned satellite endangered several ISS astronauts after it fractured near the space station. US Space Command confirmed the heart-rending news via a June 27, 2024, press release. In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 13, 2024. (NASA via AP)(AP) RESURS-P1 (#39186) broke up in low-Earth orbit on Wednesday, June 26, at approximately 1000 MT (1600 UTC), leaving behind more than 100 pieces of trackable debris, US Space Command notified. The alarming development forced astronauts aboard the International Space Station to take emergency shelter. According to NASA's Space Station Office, once the Russian Earth observation satellite broke up in an orbit near the ISS, US astronauts were directed to take shelter in their spacecraft for approximately an hour. US Space Command further added that USSPACECOM has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain. At the time of writing, US space agencies didn't indicate any particular cause for the event. Also read | NASA's ISS spacesuit nightmare builds up while Sunita Williams is still stuck in space Space-tracking firm LeoLabs said late Wednesday that it had detected a debris-generating event in Low Earth Orbit. Their early estimations of the breakup indicated that it occurred between 9:05 a.m. and 8:51 p.m. ET. The ~6,000 kg satellite was in a nearly circular orbit at ~355 km at the time of the event, LeoLabs subtweeted on X/Twitter. A following update notified the agency is now tracking at least 180 fragments from the event. This number is expected to escalate in the coming days. US astronauts, including Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, take shelter in their spacecraft amid Russian satellite fracture This tense revelation has come to light while NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are still stuck in space, on board their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Following the standard protocol procedure, Mission Control guided crew members to take shelter in their spacecraft. Therefore, Williams and Wilmore presumably took refuge in the Starliner capsule. Their Boeing-built spacecraft lifted off on June 5 and docked at the ISS module Harmony. Also read | Boeing blames missing paperwork as potential cause of Alaska Air mishap, incites NTSB row The astronaut duo is currently held back in space as NASA manages small helium system leaks and thruster performance. Although initially scheduled for an 8-day mission, Williams and Wilmore's stay has been prolonged for over three weeks due to technical issues. Meanwhile, NASA has firmly maintained the spacecraft can safely return to Earth with the astronauts if needed. Space debris is just another constant dilemma plaguing the ISS, with a looming consequential spacesuit situation. Postponed spacewalks, water leaks in spacesuit helmets, and Collins Aerospace, a key spacesuit designer NASA selected in 2022 to upgrade its suits based on a 40-year-old design, descoping its work on the deal are some other setbacks NASA is facing at the moment. During a press conference at the first presidential debate in Atlanta, former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy clarified former US President Donald Trump has not asked him yet to be the King's Hand. Former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy clarifies Donald Trump has not asked him to be VP (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah, File)(AP) "He has not asked me to be his vice president," Ramaswamy stated. Whoever he asks is going to have, I think, a remarkable ability to serve this country in taking that America first agenda even further. Trump previously mentioned to NBC News that he had decided on a running mate, hinting they might attend the debate in Georgia. ALSO READ| Vivek as Trump's VP? Internet is abuzz with speculations as Trump says he has shortlisted his running mate Trump wants Ramaswamy in his team in some form Earlier this month, at the Wisconsin rally, the former POTUS lauded Vivek as smart guy and he promised the latter will be on his team in some form. If I gave it to Vivek to do, hed pull it off, Trump said and added, Hes gonna be with us in some form. Trump repeatedly called the Indian-American politician a smart guy. Ramaswamy also clapped Trump back replying, Donald Trump is the George Washington of our day. Potential candidates spotted in Atlanta include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York. Ramaswamy expresses interest in serving the administration Ramaswamy, though not selected as a vice-presidential candidate, might still play a significant role in a future Trump administration. The former biotech CEO has suggested he could be appointed as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Border security was a central theme of his 2020 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Since withdrawing from the race, Ramaswamy has emphasized his commitment to immigration enforcement. He expressed his dedication during a recent podcast appearance, stating that immigration enforcement is an issue he is passionate about. Discussing the southern border crisis, Ramaswamy noted, well see what happens in the next 10 months. ALSO READ| Vivek Ramaswamy pushes back subpoena, citing he is too busy with presidential campaign in legal documents While addressing Ramaswamy being Trump's No-1 VP choice, the Ohio-born son of Indian immigrants' spokesperson told the New York Post, Theres a lot of press speculation, but I can tell you Viveks top focus is making sure we get President Trump elected so that we can take America First to the next level. Argentina returns 14 pieces of cultural relics to China Xinhua) 13:07, June 28, 2024 BUENOS AIRES, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Argentina received 14 pieces of cultural relics returned to China from the South American country here on Thursday. Wang Wei, the Chinese ambassador to Argentina, said that this cooperation not only demonstrates Argentina's full respect for the national feelings and cultural rights and interests of the Chinese people, but also reflects the firm determination and close cooperation between China and Argentina to protect human cultural heritage, combat the smuggling of cultural relics and earnestly implement international conventions. The cooperation has also provided valuable experience that can further strengthen collaboration between the two countries in various fields, Wang added. The 14 returned cultural relics were illegally exported. In 2017, the cultural relics were intercepted by the Argentine police in a joint international operation of Interpol to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural relics. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Joe Bidens performance in the presidential debate against Donald Trump has been dubbed a disaster. On various occasions, he stumbled, froze, misspoke and stared blankly. Members of his own party are concerned, but the president is determined not to drop out of the race. He has reportedly even vowed to return for a second debate against Trump. Who could be Joe Biden's potential replacement? (Photographer: Cornell Watson/Bloomberg)(Bloomberg) Biden won the Democratic primaries earlier this year. However, that does not officially make him the partys candidate for president. That will happen only after he is endorsed at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, scheduled to take place from August 19-22. No formal mechanism is in place to replace Biden as the presumptive nominee. There is only one option, that is for Biden to step aside and let the delegates he won in the primaries choose another person. Delegates are not legally required to vote for the person who won in the primaries, but are urged to vote in a way that in all good conscience reflects the sentiments of those who elected them, according to The Guardian. However, if a situation arises where Biden were to step aside and let someone else replace him, here are six people who might potentially take his place: 1) Kamala Harris: Harris, the US vice president, would be the most obvious pick, although she has often been slammed for being unable to form her own role in the Biden administration. She also has poor approval ratings. That being said, if Biden chooses to resign, Harris would automatically become president. 2) Gavin Newsom: The California governor recently dismissed chatter on being considered an alternative to Biden as a nominee, saying it was nonsensical speculation. However, he is known to have supported Democrats in elections away from his home state, and might as well serve as a potential replacement of Biden. 3) J B Pritzker: Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, would notably be one of the wealthiest replacements of Biden. He codified the right to abortion in his state, and declared it a sanctuary state for looking for abortions. He has also legalised recreational marijuana, and has had a strong stance on gun control. 4) Dean Phillips: Philips was a candidate during the Democratic primaries earlier this year. Although he did manage to pick some supporters, he did not win any contest, having failed to impress the broader party. 5) Sherrod Brown: Brown would be the oldest of the alternatives to Biden. However, the 71-year-old is still seven years younger than former president Trump. He has been a strong voice on labour rights and protections. He has also notably defended IVF and abortion. 6) Michelle Obama: Obama has been considered a long shot for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination for a long time. However, she has never really expressed her desire to run. There is a 16/1 (5.9 percent) chance that Obama will be the Democrats' next presidential contender, according to Betfair. Back in March, her office told NBC News that she would be backing Biden in the 2024 election. "As former first lady, Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president, the office said in a statement. "Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' reelection campaign." The US State Department has announced $5 million bounty for information that results in the arrest or conviction of Ruja Ignatova, the founder of OneCoin and dubbed the "Cryptoqueen," who disappeared in Athens in 2017. Ignatova, a German citizen born in Bulgaria, was added to the FBI's most-wanted list in 2022 due to her involvement in money laundering and forgery.(FBI) Ignatova, a German citizen born in Bulgaria, was added to the FBI's most-wanted list in 2022 due to her involvement in money laundering and forgery. Earlier, the FBI offered a reward of $250,000 and that amount has been boosted now under the State Departments Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. Bulgaria declares Ignatova will face indictment In addition, authorities in Ignatova's home country of Bulgaria's chief prosecutor declared on Wednesday that she would face an indictment for her involvement in the cryptocurrency ponzi scheme, which defrauded investors worldwide of an estimated $4 billion between 2014 and its early collapse in 2017. She will also be charged in absentia in our country, which will allow the start of a procedure for the confiscation of her illegally acquired property, the official said. The 43-year-old is charged with marketing a phony cryptocurrency dubbed OneCoin, which was established in Sofia in 2014, and cheating investors out of $4 billion (3.3 billion). The US government has termed OneCoin as one of the biggest fraud schemes in the global history. Also Read: Nikhil Gupta's extradition: What FBI, US Attorney General said after his court appearance Ignatova may have had plastic surgery The FBI has hinted that she might be visiting Greece, the UAE, Russia and Eastern Europe using her German passport and she has altered her looks with plastic surgery. "Ignatova is believed to travel with armed guards and/or associates. Ignatova may have had plastic surgery or otherwise altered her appearance," FBI said in a wanted poster of Ignatova, who went missing since late 2017. Some of Ignatova's former OneCoin partners received prison sentences due to their involvement in the scam. Karl Greenwood, a co-founder of OneCoin, was awarded a 20-year prison term and $300 million in confiscation last year for his misdeeds. Irina Dilkinska, a citizen of Bulgaria, and Mark Scott, an American, were two of the fraud project's attorneys. Dilkinska received a four-year imprisonment, while Scott got a ten-year sentence. According to reports, Gnatova was last seen on October 25, 2017 on a Ryanair flight, which was scheduled from Sofia to Athens. Prosecutors claim she fled after tapping her American boyfriend's apartment and discovering that he was working with the FBI. There were rumors that the "Godfather" of the Bulgarian mafia ordered her murder. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's once-close friendship with David and Victoria Beckham reportedly came to an abrupt end, and a new book claims to have pinpointed the reasons behind the fallout. Victoria Beckham gave Meghan Markle coat, dress, boots and a handbag worth 6,000 before feud (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) According to a recent release, The House of Beckhams, by royal author Tom Bower, Meghan Markle had longed to be posh like the former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham. Allegedly, the duchess had asked Victoria for a coat, dress, boots and a handbag worth 6,000 for the royal Christmas Day parade in Sandringham that Buckingham Palace vetoed due to their strict rules against such gifts. Later, Meghan wore a Beckham custom-made pregnancy outfit and a white coat and dress for a service in Westminster Abbey, Bower told GB News. ALSO READ| Meghan Markle asked for 'free handbags and clothes' from Victoria Beckham, but request was denied because The end of their friendship wasnt solely due to these alleged requests In the Beckhams' book, Bower noted that lost trust played a significant role. The author claims that Meghan had sought beauty advice and best facials and hairdresser in London from Victoria, ahead of her marriage to Prince Harry. The Sun reported this private conversation. Bower writes, Only after The Sun reported how Victoria had given Meghan makeup advice did the relationship between the two ambitious women crash. Markle was sensitive to the media probing into her unusual past. Harry was ordered to complain to David Beckham. The author further claims that Meghan was irritated by the Beckhams' luxurious lifestyle and wealth, which includes private jets and yachts, and saw herself as higher up on the pecking order. This rift became more apparent when Harry and Meghan were seemingly snubbed by the Beckhams during their son Brooklyn's wedding to Nicola Peltz in 2022. ALSO READ| Deluded Meghan Markle believes she outranked Victoria Beckham in social ranking The book added, She was irritated to discover that the Beckhams had considerably more wealth than herself. 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. President Joe Biden's hesitant debate performance on Thursday night has prompted some within his own party to ponder whether he should be substituted on the ballot before November. The POTUS visibly struggled, stumbling and fumbling at times, occasionally pausing mid-speecha familiar sight to many who have witnessed his past public gaffes on a larger scale. President Joe Biden mocks Donald Trump's drug claims with 'Dark Brandon' meme (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(AP) Nearly impossible for Democrats to replace Joe Biden There is no evidence Biden is willing to end his campaign. And it would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace him unless he chooses to step aside. Here's why: Delegates bound to Biden Every state has already held its presidential primary. Democratic rules mandate that the delegates Biden won remain bound to support him at the party's upcoming national convention unless he tells them hes leaving the race. Biden indicated that he had no plans to do that, telling supporters in Atlanta shortly after he left the debate stage, Let's keep going. Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt was even clearer, saying Friday: Of course he's not dropping out. The conventions and their rules are controlled by the political parties. The Democratic National Committee could convene before the convention opens on Aug. 19 and change how things will work, but that isn't likely as long as Biden wants to continue seeking reelection. The current rules read: Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. Might Kamala Harris replace Biden? The vice president is Biden's running mate, but that doesn't mean she can swap in for him at the top of the ticket by default. Biden also can't decree that she replace him should he suddenly decide to leave the race. The Democratic National Convention is being held in Chicago, but the party has announced that it will hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before in-person proceedings begin. The exact date for the roll call has not yet been set. If Biden opts to abandon his reelection campaign, Harris would likely join other top Democratic candidates looking to replace him. But that would probably create a scenario where she and others end up lobbying individual state delegations at the convention for their support. That hasn't happened for Democrats since 1960, when John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson jockeyed for votes during that years Democratic convention in Los Angeles. What about other potential Democratic candidates? In addition to the vice president, others that had endorsed Biden in 2024 while harboring their own presidential aspirations for future cycles include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and California Rep. Ro Khanna. Still others who Biden bested during the partys 2020 presidential primary could also try again, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. If Biden were to abruptly leave the race, conservative groups have suggested they will file lawsuits around the country, potentially questioning the legality of the Democratic candidate's name on the ballot. But Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, who wrote a book about the presidential nominating process and is also a member of the Democratic National Committees rulemaking arm, said that courts have consistently stayed out of political primaries as long as parties running them werent doing anything that would contradict other constitutional rights, such as voter suppression based on race. This is very clear constitutionally that this is in the partys purview, Kamarck said in an interview before the debate. The business of nominating someone to represent a political party is the business of the political party. Yemen's Houthi militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for attacking a Liberia-flagged vessel in the Red Sea that a maritime agency said had survived five missiles, while also saying they targeted three other vessels including two in the Mediterranean. Yemen's Houthi militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for attacking a Liberia-flagged vessel in the Red Sea that a maritime agency said had survived five missiles, while also saying they targeted three other vessels including two in the Mediterranean.(Reuters) The Iran-aligned Houthis say their attacks on shipping lanes are in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and the militant Islamist group Hamas. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, said in a televised statement that the group launched ballistic missiles at the Delonix, an oil tanker, and that it took a "direct hit". ALSO READ| Risks to aid workers in Gaza intolerable, UN says However, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) monitor said earlier in the day that the ship, which was targeted 150 nautical miles (172 miles) northwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, reported no damage and was heading northward. Saree also said the Houthis attacked the Ioannis ship in the Red Sea, as well as the Waler oil tanker and the Johannes Maersk vessel in the Mediterranean. He said the Johannes Maersk, which is owned by Maersk , the world's second-largest container carrier, was targeted because it belongs to "one of the most supportive companies for the Zionist entity and the most that violates ban decision of access to the ports of occupied Palestine." International shipping has been disrupted since November by attacks in the region launched by the Houthis. Many vessels have opted to avoid the Red Sea route to the Suez Canal, taking the longer journey around the southern tip of Africa instead. The Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 to limit the obstruction charges against Jan. 6 Capitol rioters, saying the Department of Justice overstepped its authority. A former Pennsylvania police officer challenged the validity of obstruction charges related to the violence. Charges were brought against hundreds of people who took part in the violent assault. The high court's interpretation of the law could impact the pending case against former President Donald Trump who is charged with obstruction by special counsel Jack Smith related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. It is unclear how the decision will impact that case but Smith has previously claimed the court's decision would not affect on charges against the former president. The high court has not yet ruled on another major case involving Trump centered on absolute immunity claims. The Supreme Court heard more than two hours of oral arguments in April over whether Trump is immune from prosecution. Federal prosecutors accused him of plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Lower courts found he cannot claim immunity for actions that, prosecutors say, illegally sought to interfere with the election results, the Associated Press reported. Today's ruling comes after Trump was crimally prosecuted in New York related to a hush money case involving payments made to port star Stormy Daniels to allegedly cover up an affair. Trump denies having any affair. This is a developing story and will be updated. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump exchanged blows concerning both Trump's felony convictions and Hunter Biden's felony conviction during the pair's first debate on the campaign trail. Roughly 45 minutes into the debate, CNN's Jake Tapper asked Trump to clarify previous statements he made in wake of his 34 felony convictions in Manhattan, in which Trump said he would have "every right to go after" his political opponents. "Well I said my retribution is success, we're going to make this country successful again," Trump responded, before switching focus onto Biden's son, Hunter, and his recent felony conviction. "When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon, at a very high level, his son is convicted probably going to be convicted numerous other times," Trump said, adding that "Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he's done, he's done horrible things." Trump then reiterated his previous stance regarding his recent trial in Manhattan, stating that he did nothing wrong, called Biden a "criminal," and maintained that his trial was rigged and unfair. Biden fired back at Trump during his response, condemning the idea of a president retaliating against political opponents or "any american" before taking shots at Trump for "having sex with a pornstar" and referring back to his felony convictions and civil penalties. "I didn't have sex with a pornstar," Trump responded, reiterating his intention to appeal the case. Trump nods along as Biden notes that Trump was found liable of sexual assault "I didn't have sex with a porn star," Trump replies (note that he doesn't deny the assault) pic.twitter.com/HzNZt6oPiU Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2024 Biden and Trump both attempted to use the debate to reach undecided voters in seven key swing states that are expected to decide the election. Pre-debate polling showed Trump leading in those states but with a very small margin. This is the first time they have been on the same stage or even spoken since their last debate leading up to the 2020 election. With the general election still four months away, this June debate was the earliest ever held in a presidential campaign with neither candidate having the official nomination of their party. It is also the first time a former president has debated a current president. The debate was held in an Atlanta studio with no audience. The candidates' microphones were muted when it was not their turn to talk. The were also two commercial breaks scheduled during the debate, which was not the norm in debates previously held by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. Both campaigns rejected using the commission this year. An army general's coup attempt to oust the Bolivian president lasted only three hours on Wednesday before he ended up behind bar, according to a report. Troops loyal to Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, who had recently been dismissed, seized control of La Paz's main square with armored vehicles on Wednesday and crashed a tank into the presidential palace during the failed attempt to overthrow President Luis Arce, the Associated Press reported. The short-lived rebellion ended hours later as Arce refused to step down and instead appointed a new army commander who promptly ordered the troops to retreat. Zuniga was quickly arrested. "Here we are, firm, in the presidential palace, to confront any coup attempt," Arce said after putting down the coup, the AP reported. Throngs of supporters streamed into the streets, singing the national anthem, cheering for Arce and setting off fireworks. Bolivians rallied outside the palace on Thursday, shouting pro-democracy slogans and condemning Zuniga. "It's a shame what Zuniga did," said Dora Quispe, 47, one of the protesters. "We are in a democracy, not a dictatorship, and Luis Arce must be allowed to govern." The crowds in the plaza pledged their loyalty to Arce. "Lucho, you are not alone!" they yelled, referring to Arce by his nickname Lucho. Federal authorities say they have seized more than $1 million stolen from senior scam victims, now in the form of collectible stamps and other items at a New York auction house, after thwarting a scheme to move the criminal proceeds offshore. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington said Thursday it has filed a Verified Civil Forfeiture Complaint seeking forfeiture of 149 lots of collectible stamps and other items seized from the Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. of New York. Investigators learned the stamps were purchased with funds stolen from the victims of various frauds, including government impersonation scams and romance scams. Officials said Siegel Galleries is not accused of any crime. Once the stamps are forfeited to the federal government, the U.S. Marshals Service will liquidate them, and the funds will be returned to victims. Investigators have so far identified 28 victims across the country who were misled in fraud schemes that ultimately funneled their money - a total of $1,383,437 - to the gallery. So far, $1,012,300 has been traced back to known victims, and investigators are still working to trace the remaining funds that were deposited toward the purchase of the stamps. Some victims were called by a person claiming to be from a government entity such as the FBI or SEC, reporting that the victim's bank account or personal identity had been stolen, and directing them to send their funds to a different entity for safe keeping. In some instances, victims were told they had been implicated in a money laundering scheme and to prove their innocence and protect their funds they needed to send them to the account designated by the caller. Victims were told their funds, in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars, would be returned. Some victims sent cashier's checks directly to the gallery, while other victims were directed to send cashier's checks to another set of victims - those who had been misled by romance scams. Those victims, who were contacted via social media, believed they were assisting a love interest with money from an inheritance, an investment or to pay debts. They were directed to deposit the cashier's checks from the first set of victims, then withdraw the funds and send or wire the money to the gallery. "Too often when victims have been defrauded in these schemes, their money is gone for good," U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said in a statement. "We are delighted to be able to share good news with these victims and hope to be able to return funds to them through this civil forfeiture action." No criminal charges have been filed yet, and the FBI is continuing to investigate the case. Prosecutors said potential charges include conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. --with reporting by TMX Devastated Democrats were suddenly seriously talking about replacing Joe Biden as the party's presidential candidate following a debate performance that Barack Obama's former campaign manager blasted as a "DEFCON 1" disaster for Biden and the Democrats. Biden's surprisingly wooden, stumbling performance against a bullying, brazenly lying Donald Trump took Democrats by surprise. Some names already surfacing as possible replacement candidates included Vice President Kamala Harris (though her approval ratings are low), California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and even Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), though all have pledged their support to Biden. Trump is only three years older than Biden but appeared to be "30 years" younger than Biden on stage, Obama's campaign head David Plouffe told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. The president had several opportunities to crush Trump on the debate stage but they simply blew past him, Plouffle complained. DEFCON 1 moment Obama campaign vet David Plouffe on the fallout from Bidens debate performance. Plouffe adds Biden did have a couple of good moments but the concern level is quite high. pic.twitter.com/SPi1pcIlDy MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 28, 2024 Former Barack Obama adviser and now CNN analyst Van Jones grew emotional after what he called the "painful" debate and suggested that Biden may have to be replaced in the race for any hope of a victory. "I love that guy," Jones said of Biden. "He's a good man. He loves his country. He's doing the best that he can. But he had a test to meet tonight to restore the confidence of the country and of the base. And he failed to do that." There is "time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that," Jones added. An analysis by CNN, which hosted the debate, declared a "full-blown Democratic panic was underway" just minutes into the faceoff. Both Democratic strategists and deep-pocketed donors were coming forward with pleas to consider replacing Biden, according to multiple media reports. One contributor complained that Biden's stunningly weak performance was overshadowing Trump's lies and disastrous policies, Politico reported. Gov. Newsom stood by the president. He called replacement talk in an interview on MSNBC Thursday "unhelpful" and "unnecessary," insisting: "We gotta to keep our heads high." He added: "You don't turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?" WELL SAID! Gavin Newsom was just asked about the unfounded panic some Democrats are feeling right now and his response is PERFECT! This is worth a watch pic.twitter.com/bWCOzVRa3Y Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) June 28, 2024 As for Biden, he told a small crowd at a Waffle House in Atlanta following the debate: "I think we did well," adding: "It's hard to debate a liar." A Florida man was arrested after police say he admitted to shooting a Walmart drone. It happened Wednesday in Clermont. The Lake County Sheriff's Office says Walmart workers saw a bullet hole was found in the payload the drone was carrying. Witnesses identified Dennis Winn, 72, as the gunman and directed deputies to his home. Winn told deputies he saw the drone fly over his home and believed it was watching him, an affidavit viewed by WOFL-TV stated. Deputies say Winn admitted to shooting at the drone once with a 9mm pistol. He was taken into custody and charged with shooting at an aircraft, criminal mischief damage over $1,000 and discharging a firearm in public or residential property. Walmart has drone delivery in select areas in Texas, Arizona and Florida. The company is boasting same-day delivery via drone. An undocumented migrant accused of killing his New York girlfriend on her 21st birthday allegedly strangled her to death then dumped her body in a shallow grave. Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse in connection with the death of Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, according to prosecutors, The Post-Standard, WSTM-TV, and WSYR-TV reported. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The couple met in elementary school in Ecuador and were celebrating her milestone birthday when she was allegedly killed June 18, prosecutors said. Chacaguasay-Ilbis and Toaquiza rented an Airbnb and were captured on surveillance footage entering the Syracuse, New York vacation rental that afternoon. Three hours later, the suspect was allegedly seen on video carrying the victim's body out of the home. He returned to the house without her and exited once more wearing a new set of clothes, according to prosecutors. Toaquiza's body was found June 22 in a Syracuse park after her family reported her missing. Chacaguasay-Ilbis turned himself in to police Tuesday after a week on the run. A motive in the slaying was not disclosed. "She was a very sweet young lady with a bright smile and joyful personality," said loved ones, according to a GoFundMe launched to help offset funeral costs. "Joselyn was known for her kindness, warmth, and unyielding spirit. Her sudden and untimely death has left an irreplaceable void in our hearts." A Dutch sperm donor has fathered as many as 1,000 children possibly even thousands more with unsuspecting women around the world, and is continuing to do so despite a court order that he stop, a new documentary reveals. Jonathan Jacob Meijer was ordered last year to cease donating sperm after it was discovered that he had fathered as many as 600 babies since 2007 in the Netherlands alone, many with women who had hoped their children would have a relationship with their biological father. The tall, handsome Dutch man with long curly blonde hair often posed as a sperm donor in ads on private donation sites who would keep in touch with the children he fathered. But women were later shocked that their children had hundreds of half siblings fathered by Meijer, which made any kind of normal family life with dad and siblings impossible. "He wanted to be somewhat involved with the kids, to know how they were doing ... I really wanted my children to have that," a mom identified only as "Vanessa" says on the three-part Netflix docuseries "The Man with 1,000 Kids," which debuts July 3. "That's all gone now, and it won't ever, ever get better," she added. Meijer, 41, was ordered to stop donating sperm last year after he was taken to court by a foundation protecting the rights of donor children and by the mother of one of the children. Yet he's accused of continuing to donate sperm all over the world. "It's become an addiction for him, he can't stop himself," said another mother of one of Meijer's many kids, who was devastated to learn that there's an entire population of children the size of a small village in the world fathered by Meijer. "You get one life on this Earth. Why has he chosen to use his charm and his intellect and his creativity in order to try to procreate on a mass scale and deceive all these people?" asked director Josh Allott. The grieving son of a woman murdered over her jewelry called his mother's killer a "lying little rodent" driven to fuel his drug addiction. Andrew Hall, 47, was convicted of the murder of 50-year-old Glenna Siviter, whose body he hid beneath her sofa "like rubbish," where Siviter's son, Declan Siviter, found her in December. On Thursday, Hall was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of stabbing Glenna to death in her Middlesbrough, England, home. During his two-week trial, Siviter called his mother's murderer a "lying, manipulative, sneaky little rodent of a man" who stole her jewelry "just for a rock of crack," according to the BBC. "Over the past six months since losing my mother Glenna, my family and I have been devastated; it has felt as though we've had the darkest cloud looming over our head," Siviter also said in a statement, according to Cleveland police. "It's always hard losing a loved one anyway, but to have someone taken from you in such a disgustingly violent way as Andrew Hall has taken my mother, it's a sickening whirlwind of mixed emotions with ultimately, no happy outcome, just constant grief and despair." Siviter said his aunt's death last year triggered his mother's drug relapse and motivated her to rekindle her childhood friendship with fellow drug abuser Hall. "What he has done to my mother physically, and us as a family mentally, is horrific and despicable. He's robbed my children of their grandmother and left me feeling somewhat empty and heartbroken, knowing that she would have trusted him as well, only to be literally stabbed in the back, makes me shudder inside," said Siviter, while urging the court to "please never let this man see the light of day again." Hall was also convicted of attempted murder and assault against two other individuals, for which he was handed down a concurrent sentence of 27 years and 5 years, respectively. A search in Tenerife in the Canary Islands has been called off after weeks hunting for British teenager Jay Slater who disappeared there earlier this month. Tenerife's Guardia Civil told the BBC on Sunday: "The search operation is over. Yesterday was the final day of the search." But a family friend on the Spanish island said a voluntary search would continue and organizers were looking for people with rescue experience to help. "We're just carrying on searching ourselves," the mother of Slater's best friend, Brad Hargreaves, told the BBC. A Guardia Civil spokesperson also told Reuters that "the case is still open and there are several lines of investigation." Slater's family and friends had hoped the operation would be a "massive search" but less than 12 members of the public had arrived at the meeting point shortly before it began, BBC reporters noted. By Sunday morning there were no emergency vehicles or personnel to be seen in the search area. The 19-year-old from Lancashire has been missing since 17 June after he told a friend he was lost in the mountains. The Guardia search covered a rocky area with deep ravines in the Rural de Teno park near Tenerife. Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, was visiting the community for a music festival when he vanished. He told friends that he planned to walk back to where they were staying after he missed a bus, a walk that would take about 11 hours. Donald Trump pulled out several of his favorite lies at his debate with President Biden, who had a few of his own. Viewers of the televised debate hosted by CNN, however, had no idea about the fact checkers' work unless they went online to check information about the false claims. CNN fact checker Daniel Dale detailed at least 30 "false claims" by Trump in the Thursday night debate and nine by Biden. One Trump standby: Democrats support abortion after birth. After-birth "abortions" do not exist. Abortion by definition only occurs during birth. A killing after birth would be infanticide, which is illegal in every state. Trump insisted he was the military's favorite commander in chief ever, even though he referred during his administration to dead war veterans as "losers" and "suckers," according to his own chief of staff, retired Gen. General John Kelly. Trump also again insisted that then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) turned down his offer of National Guardsmen at the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol, a claim absolutely no one most of all Pelosi has ever corroborated. In fact, Pelosi has no authority over the National Guard. At the debate Trump even insisted Pelosi turned down his offer of the Guard "in writing," a document which has never been provided to anyone. Trump also claimed that Pelosi said (and he's quoting now): "I take full responsibility for Jan. 6," which she did not say. Other thoroughly debunked false claims Trump pressed yet again: China, not American companies and consumers, pay the tariffs on imported Chinese goods, that Iran didn't fund terror groups while he was president, that the 2020 election was rigged, that the U.S. has provided more funds to Ukraine than Europe, and that Biden plans to quadruple taxes. PBS and the Poynter Insitute's Politifact also called out Trump's false claim that the Biden administration allowed "millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails and mental institutions." In fact Immigration officials arrested about 103,700 noncitizens with criminal convictions from fiscal years 2021 to 2024, federal data shows. And that's just a smattering. Trump also falsely claimed that the U.S. currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both actually occurred during Trump's administration. Biden twice used incorrect numbers for two of his Medicare policies, and falsely claimed that no U.S. troops had been killed during his administration, that Trump wants to eliminate Social Security (though Trump has said he's open to cuts to both Social Security and Medicare) and that the unemployment rate was 15% when he took office. An Indiana couple who lost their son to an OxyContin addiction called the opioid maker Purdue Pharma's attempt to reach financial settlements with survivors after it reaped billions from the drug a "slap in the face." The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a billion dollar settlement with Purdue Pharma that would have shielded members of the Sackler family, which controls the company, from civil lawsuits. The Sackler family had agreed to pay $6 billion to settle opioid claims as long as they were released from any future liability. For Kristy Nelson, who lost her 20-year-old son, Bryan Fentz, to an opioid overdose 15 years ago, and her husband, Bill, the ruling was welcome news. "A victory today is a win for us and I'm certainly not going to go away now," she told Fox 59. Bill Nelson, Fentz's stepfather, said no amount of money can bring him back. "[Paying] $3,500 for the loss of our son over 18 years; that's about $194 a year," Bill Nelson told the station. "Purdue Pharma at the time was making $3 billion a year. It's a slap in the face." Kristy Nelson said they still remember how their son struggled to overcome his addiction to OxyContin after he was prescribed the drug after a car crash. "It was just so strong," she said. "It was stronger than he was at the time. And he's one of the few that didn't make it out to the other side." She said the doctor at the time reassured them that the opioid was safe. "'Don't worry about it, you can't get addicted,'" she told the station. "And of course now, we know the information the doctor had was false from Purdue Pharma." A new Supreme Court ruling that is "punishing people for being homeless" has paved the way for cities to enforce outdoor sleeping bans on unhoused people. The 6-3 ruling split along party lines overturns an appeals court's decision that found a law prohibiting homeless people from sleeping outside on public property in Grants Pass, Oregon unconstitutional. The Supreme Court announced Friday the reversal of the decision, penned by Justice Neil Gorsuch. "Homelessness is complex," he wrote in the court's opinion. "Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. The question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. A handful of federal judges cannot begin to 'match' the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding 'how best to handle' a pressing social question like homelessness." In her dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued, "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option." "For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is 'cruel and unusual' under the Eighth Amendment." In 2018, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that fining people for sleeping outside when the city of Grants Pass lacked a sufficient number of shelter beds violated the Eighth Amendment. Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol said she is "relieved" residents "will be able to reclaim our city parks for recreation." "While this decision was a win for the city, GP residents should not expect immediate changes in our parks," she wrote on Facebook Friday. "The city council and our attorneys will need some time to review this decision, as well as state law, and discuss our steps moving forward." A Catholic church in Missouri has issued an apology for a Sunday bulletin on its website calling on men to join a "militia" to protect the congregation, which not in any danger, according to officials. The bulletin earlier this month on the site of the Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield near St. Louis called "all young men back to the Church to form a militia dedicated to protecting the Holy Eucharist, our congregation, our clergy, and the church grounds." The militia was to be called the "Legion of the Sancta Lana Council," and would include men only, ages 18 to 29, according to the notice. Participation was to include "strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations." The bulletin claimed the church had been "chosen as the testing ground for the militia and, if successful, we hope to establish platoons at parishes around the world." One critic posted a statement on social media from Pope Francis encouraging Catholics to "avoid any action or word that fuels conflict. May they instead work decisively for a peaceful resolution of conflicts," Francis added. The critic noted: "You might want to check in with the Archdiocese of St. Louis. A pastor is trying to start an armed militia at his parish." But the church quickly retracted the recruitment notice, and apologized for it, saying that the bulletin was unauthorized. "We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused ... to be perfectly clear, there is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin," said the new notice. "Futhermore, the suggestion that our congregation might require a militia ... is both inappropriate and unhelpful. There have bee zero threats made against our community," it added. No details were provided about how the notice ended up on the church website. One church member characterized it as "sort of a mistake." "It was an advertisement that was printed without any review by the parish, and I think it slipped through the review process cracks," the parishioner told Fox 2 in St. Louis. Oracle Hospitality is gradually incorporating the latest AI advancements into its hotel technology products. However, once the momentum picks up, it will be unstoppable. "Every single release, we're going to have new things," said Laura Calin, vice president of strategy and solutions management for Oracle Hospitality. Calin discussed the company's AI integration and new tech product plans in an interview with Skift at the Hitec hotel tech convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, this week. The AI upgrades will be deployed through Opera Cloud Central, a multi-system hotel tech platform launched last year. This platform is an extension of the Opera Cloud property management system introduced five years ago. Oracle Hospitality, a market leader in hotel technology, is in the process of migrating 40,000 properties from older systems to its cloud-based platform. Scandic Hotels Group was the first customer of Opera Cloud Central, with additional customers announced this week, including Thon Hotels in Norway and Red Sea Global in Saudi Arabia. Waiting on Next-Generation AI Oracle Hospitality's technology and upgrades are developed in-house by Oracle, the software and hardware giant with thousands of developers. The integration of the latest AI into Oracles hotel tech and other sectors is a lengthy process, Calin noted. Were patiently waiting until they bake it correctly, because its AI. Yes, you can talk about the use cases and how beautiful its going to be but it all starts with data. Is the data available? Is it green? Is it secure? Is this thing going to scale? And is it going to be affordable? Read the full article at skift Inc. Trinity Investments (Trinity), a U.S.-based hospitality-focused real estate investor, announced today it has expanded its leadership team in London to service opportunities in the European market. Mai Kawashima has joined as a Vice President of Acquisitions, George Austin has joined as a Director of Strategic Operations, Elia Antonioudaki has joined as Vice President of Development and Andrea Hendrick has joined as Vice President of Finance. We added a dedicated presence in Europe less than one year ago, and already weve been able to make substantial traction in this market, both in asset acquisitions and team building, said Ryan Donn, Managing Partner of Trinity Investments, and Head of the London office. Im thrilled to bring on these seasoned team members to advance our efforts and look forward to working on the extensive opportunity set in front of us. Mai Kawashima joined Trinity from Savills where she led complex cross border hotel transactions and served as the sole pan-European hotel broker for the business. Prior to her time with Savills, she worked at JLL in its Hotels & Hospitality Group. Over her decade of experience in the hospitality real estate capital markets, she has transacted single assets, portfolios and platforms across Europe and Asia with a total volume over EUR 2 billion. She is a graduate of Waseda University. George Austin joined Trinity from KSL Capital Partners where he worked in strategic operations. Prior to KSL, he served in various strategic planning, concept development and consulting roles for GlobalData Plc and The Birley Clubs. He is a graduate of the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and holds degrees from the University of Exeter and Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne with coursework in operations and revenue management, strategy innovation, economic risk assessment and blue ocean marketing. Elia Antonioudaki joined Trinity from L&R Hotels where she worked as Project Director, leading capital expenditure programs across the UK, Europe, and the Caribbean from inception to completion. Prior to L&R, she worked for Hilton Worldwide as a Senior Manager of Capital Projects in the EMEA region and served in various project management roles at Zoniro S.A. Dolphin Capital Partners (DCP) and Galaxy G C Group LLC. She is a graduate of the National Technical University of Athens and Columbia University. Andrea Hendrick joined Trinity from Oaktree Capital Management where she worked as Vice President Fund Accounting & Operations, responsible for the European financial and accounting operations of the real estate equity and debt funds. Prior to Oaktree, she worked at H.I.G Capital and Citco Fund Services as a Senior Fund Accountant. Andrea is ACCA qualified and holds degrees from the National College of Ireland, IFSC. Trinity established its London office in July 2023 to initiate a global expansion. In April 2024, Trinity announced its first acquisition in the region with the Park Hyatt Zurich. About Trinity Investments Trinity is a private real estate investment firm with a 28-year history of specializing in value-add opportunities. Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, with offices in Los Angeles and London, Trinity focuses on unique real estate investments in world-class markets. As of April 2024, Trinity has invested more than U.S. $9.8 billion in the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Japan by leveraging its deep institutional knowledge and longstanding local relationships. For additional information, please visit Trinity's website at www.trinityinvestments.com. For updates on Trinity's investment activity, follow Trinity on LinkedIn. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Are we taking Music Industry Monopolies seriously enough? With the DoJs antitrust action against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the weeks Hypebot Flashback Friday resurfaces a post by Will Meyer from the now-defunct non-profit Cash Music that dives into how a few big players dominate most corners of the music industry, from record labels to streaming and live music. Op-ed by Will Meyer of CASH Music Everyone can agree, at this point, that most corners of the music industry are dominated by a small number of companies. Take streaming services, for example. Just a few years ago, business commentators praised the healthy competition that existed between services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Tidal, Google Play, Spotify and Apple Music. Today, however, that competition has essentially become a two-horse race between Apple Music and Spotify. The live music industry isnt all that different. Live Nation and AEG have an overwhelming grip on North American venues and festivals. (Live Nation owns House of Blues and Lollapalooza, while AEG just purchased Bowery Presents.) The same goes for labels. Three of them Sony, Universal and Warner control 80 percent of the market. CONTINUE READING Share on: Gavin O'Donnell Leads Legion Team Past Westfield WESTFIELD, Mass. Gavin ODonnell went 4-for-4 with a triple Thursday to lead the Pittsfield Post 68 Juniors to a 10-0 win over Westfield Post 124 in American Legion Baseball play. Connor Devine went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Jason Codey drove in a pair of runs. Matt Egan earned the win on the mound, striking out three, walking a pair and scattering three hits in four innings on the mound. Post 68 (6-2) is home on Saturday afternoon for a double-header against West Springfield Post 207. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The director of Kevin Spaceys first American film since his career was derailed by sexual assault allegations says he was very aware there would be pushback on casting the actor. Speaking to The Independent, filmmaker Michael Zaiko Hall said he believed putting Spacey in his independent thriller Peter Five Eight was a transgressive act. Some people, which I would say is a fairly small minority in the industry, but some people dont think he should be working, said Hall. Its kind of a transgressive act to cast him, in a sense. I should say, though, I dont think theres enough subversive and transgressive acts in filmmaking. So to me, thats not necessarily a bad thing. Spacey, 64, was last year acquitted of a number of sexual offenses alleged by four men in the UK to have taken place between 2001 and 2013. Each of Spaceys accusers gave evidence in the trial, describing him as a vile sexual predator, slippery and atrocious, despicable, [and] disgusting. open image in gallery Kevin Spacey in Michael Zaiko Halls independent thriller Peter Five Eight' ( Invincible Films ) In response, the two-time Oscar winner described the allegations against him as madness and a stab in the back. The jury acquitted Spacey of all charges. Peter Five Eight stars Jet Jandreau as a real estate agent in a small mountain community who is revealed to be a troubled alcoholic with a dark secret. Spacey portrays charismatic stranger Peter who shows up out of the blue at the request of his shadowy boss. Rebecca De Mornay (Risky Business ) also stars. Hall said that Spacey was a natural fit for the role. The character of Peter in Peter Five Eight is very quintessential Kevin. Theres a certain kind of comic malevolence to the character, and a musicality to the character that I dont think anyone else can play as good as Kevin. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Jet Jandreau, Kevin Spacey, Rebecca De Mornay and Michael Zaiko Hall on the set of Peter Five Eight ( Invincible Films ) The director added that he and the producers looked into the allegations against Spacey, and came to the conclusion that they had been blown out of proportion. I like to think of myself as an ethical person, and I dont think we would have done it if we truly felt this was a person that was as bad as his critics said he was, especially at that time, said Hall. Kevin has since then won trials on two continents, and I think the narrative is changing. I think people are seeing that he is, in fact, not who some would paint him as. Shortly after the film was first released, the Channel 4 documentary Spacey Unmasked aired fresh allegations about the American Beauty star. My opinion on that documentary is that I think theyre reaching, said Hall. I think theyre reaching for anything that they hope will stick. We have people on camera who are talking about experiences with Kevin, and then weve come to learn years later, they were emailing back and forth with Kevin in a very friendly way. So that, to me, already discounts those individuals. I dont think that should be put on Channel Four or HBO. I think its too flimsy. I absolutely think its too flimsy. When I discuss this with people, I see the full spectrum of responses to Kevin. The vast majority are tired of these allegations being brought up, and they would rather just see the man perform his art. Thats the camp Im in. If theres something of the severity of Harvey Weinstein or Bill Cosby, I think they should be in prison. That severity doesnt exist here. To me, its almost a bit puritanical in the sense that Kevin is a big artist, and during the the peak of his success and artistry, he led a sexual life. When did our society become so puritanical that we judge that? It seems a bit strange to me. Peter Five Eight is available to stream on video-on-demand in the US. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kristen Stewarts highly-lauded new thriller, Love Lies Bleeding, will soon be available to stream free for Max subscribers. Rose Glasss film for A24 will be available on the streaming platform from July 19, Warner Bros Discovery announced this week. The new film is an outrageous lesbian noir thriller set in the 1980s. Twilight star Stewart plays Lou, an unkempt, chain-smoking manager of a New Mexico gym. Lou soon falls for Jackie (Katy OBrian), a young homeless woman and bodybuilder. However, Lous psychotic father (Ed Harris), who owns the local gun range, and her sleazy wife-beating brother-in-law (Dave Franco), make their newfound romance difficult. Following its premiere at Sundance Film Festival on January 20, Love Lies Bleeding received a raft of glowing reviews. On the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, it has a near-perfect score of 94 per cent, meaning nearly all of the critics had positive things to say about it. In her four-star review for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey called the film a a hypnotic, steroid-fuelled fever dream. Love Lies Bleeding bottles that hot, feverish, salvatory desire, only to shake it like soda pop and then ping off the cap, she wrote. open image in gallery Bloody brilliant: Kristen Stewart in Love Lies Bleeding' ( A24 ) Glass is a British filmmaker who made an arresting debut in 2020 with the Scarborough-based religious horror Saint Maud starring Morfydd Clark (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power). In a recent interview with Net-A-Porter, Stewart called out Hollywood for its phony support of female filmmakers. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Theres a thinking that we can check these little boxes Its easy for them to be like, Look what were doing. Were making Maggie Gyllenhaals movie! Were making Margot Robbies movie! And youre like, OK, cool. Youve chosen four, Stewart said. And Im in awe of those women, I love those women, she clarified, before adding, [but] it feels phony. If were congratulating each other for broadening perspective, when we havent really done enough, then we stop broadening. The 34-year-old is set to make her directorial debut with an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitchs 2011 memoir, The Chronology of Water. Shes also due to lead a television show for the first time, playing astronaut Sally Ride in the limited series The Challenger. It will be based on Meredith Bagbys 2022 book The New Guys: The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel, which tells the story of NASAs 1978 astronaut class, which along with Ride also included the first African Americans and Asian American to fly to space. Love Lies Bleeding is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV+. It will arrive on Max on July 19. If youre travelling abroad and want to stream Love Lies Bleeding then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get the best VPN deals on the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hollywoods favourite habit of coincidentally releasing two films with the same premise near back to back has returned with Netflixs A Family Affair. Its a romcom about the single mother of a daughter, who falls in lust with a much younger, intimidatingly famous man. This is also exactly how youd describe Prime Videos recent, Anne Hathaway-fronted The Idea of You. Unfortunately, A Family Affair is the inferior of the two. Its one of those Netflix productions that feels both under and overproduced, touting major stars (here, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, and Joey King) while being shot and scored like an ad for a depression medication. Side effects may vary. Kidman stars as widow and lapsed screenwriter Brooke Harwood, whose daughter Zara (King) is the harried assistant to actor Chris Cole (Efron), an amalgamation of the Hollywood Chrises (Evans, Hemsworth, Pine, Pratt). The magazines say he has the worlds greatest abs, hes appeared on an episode of Hot Ones, and hes currently stuck on the third instalment of a mortifyingly bad superhero franchise. Zara, fed up, quits. But when Chris turns up at her house to apologise for his bad behaviour, he instead finds her mother, who immediately seduces him through her intimate knowledge of the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur (as someone who frequently uses this tactic, I can assure you it does not actually work). Zara discovers them in flagrante delicto. Naturally, shes furious and embarrassed. Chris is a serial womaniser, and shes been forced to watch him love bomb and betray a whole series of beautiful women. Chris, however, swears that this time is different. Meanwhile, two of the films only non-white cast members are Zaras far more interesting friends (played by YouTuber Liza Koshy and Joy Rides Sherry Cola). They exist only so that the white lead can pointedly neglect them and then learn a lesson from it. The problem is that no ones really agreed on what A Family Affair is supposed to be beyond the concept of a relationship, a pair of white lies, and a third-act misunderstanding. Richard LaGraveneses direction and Carrie Solomons script fail to bridge the gap between, for example, the nonsensical and somewhat bad-taste joke about Stevie Wonder and the multiple conversations about dead relatives. It certainly has none of the breezy, relaxed maturity of The Idea of You. And none of its chemistry, either. open image in gallery Nicole Kidman in Netflixs A Family Affair' ( Tina Rowden/Netflix ) There are no bad performances here per se, but there are misaligned ones. Efron is in broad comedy, himbo mode (which he does well, and earnestly). King, once the star of Netflixs Kissing Booth series, has reverted to that familiar, emphatic style of teen movie acting. Kidmans just there for a good time. But shes exactly the kind of talent who can cut loose and maintain composure even when shes doing the silliest of romcoms, she melts into her lines with a sort of casual seductiveness that takes most people about three glasses of wine to build up the confidence to achieve. Efron and Kidman have been good together on screen before, in 2012s seedy, Floridian crime story The Paperboy. But, here, the only natural chemistry she seems to share is with Kathy Bates, in the role of her dead husbands mother. A Family Affair could, at one time, have at least sold itself on the originality of its premise but with that snatched out from under it, all thats left is an afterthought. Dir: Richard LaGravenese. Starring: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Liza Koshy, Sherry Cola, Kathy Bates. 12, 113 mins. A Family Affair is streaming on Netflix Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The BBC is broadcasting Glastonbury 2024 live, as music fans who werent lucky enough to score tickets (or simply prefer to watch from home) look to tune into the action from Worthy Farm. Live coverage by the broadcaster began on Wednesday 26 June, as fans flocked to the festival fields in Somerset to see hundreds of artists perform. On Friday, Dua Lipa made her debut as Glastonbury headliner. She is being followed by pop-rock band Coldplay on Saturday and US star SZA closing the festival on Sunday. Meanwhile, country-pop icon Shania Twain will take on the Legends Slot, performing a career-spanning set of hits including Man! I Feel Like a Woman and That Dont Impress Me Much. The BBCs coverage will be available across iPlayer, BBC Sounds, TV, radio and online, including its non-stop Classic Glastonbury channel streaming 24 hours a day from now until Sunday 30 June. The channel will feature back-to-back footage of some of the most memorable Glastonbury performances of all time, including last years farewell set from Elton John. open image in gallery ( Getty ) The BBC will also have a dedicated Glastonbury Channel running on iPlayer from midday on Friday (28 June) through to Sunday evening, hosting a curated and continuous stream of live moments, interviews and behind-the-scenes clips. New to 2024s festival, the BBC has introduced Glastonbury Channel II, where viewers can catch up on the most talked-about performances of the day. If youre travelling abroad and want to stream Glastonbury then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get the best VPN deals on the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The broadcaster will also share its usual livestreams from the five major stages: the Pyramid Stage, Other Stage, Park Stage, West Holts and Woodsies. Performances on the Pyramid Stage will also be streamed live in British Sign Language throughout the weekend. All of this coverage can be found on BBC iPlayer by searching Glastonbury. open image in gallery Dua Lipa is headlining Glastonbury Festival on Friday 28 June ( AFP via Getty Images ) Over on BBC Sounds, Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw will host themed specials on their podcast Sidetracked, with episodes seeing them in conversation with Twain, Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis and more. On Radio 1, hosts Jamie Laing, Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton will be on site speaking to fans and artists through the weekend, while the station will also air Dua Lipas Friday headline set in full. Zoe Ball, a familiar face/voice to Glastonbury fans, will be back at Worthy Farm on the Friday for her Radio 2 Breakfast Show, featuring live music performances, guests and stories from the festival so far. On Sunday, Jo Whiley will present Twains debut Glastonbury performance, also from Radio 2, while over on Radio 4, a special Womans Hour episode will be aired on Friday 28 June with host Anita Rani. open image in gallery ( Getty Images for Live Nation ) What other coverage to look out for The BBCs coverage will even extend to CBeebies, with a special Bedtime Stories episode airing on Thursday 27 June with Joe Talbot, frontman for the Grammy-nominated rock band IDLES. Talbot will read The Boy with Flowers in his Hair, an illustrated story about friendship, by Jarvis. Other stars will read more Bedtime Stories from Worthy Farm. On Friday 28 June, that evenings episode of The One Show will kick off the weekend with a special celebration of Glastonbury through the years. The Independent will be liveblogging Glastonbury 2024 from Wednesday 26 June and providing updates, news, gossip, photos and video from the festival, as well as highlights and reviews of key performances. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy DJ and music producer Diplo is being sued by an anonymous Jane Doe for allegedly distributing revenge porn. In the lawsuit, filed on Thursday (June 27) in California, the plaintiff accused Diplo real name Thomas Wesley Pentz of sending intimate and/or nude images and videos of her to third parties without her consent. Doe, who resides in New York, claims in the filings seen by The Independent that she had an ongoing sexual relationship with Diplo between 2016 and 2023. During that time, Plaintiff made it known that she did not want Defendant Diplo recording them engaging in sexual activities without her explicit consent nor did she want him to distribute images and/or videos to third parties and never gave him consent to do so, the suit states. It continues to claim that in November 2023, Doe was notified by a third party that she was in possession of images and videos of Plaintiff and Defendant Diplo having sex. Between 2018 and 2023, without Plaintiffs knowledge or consent, Defendant Diplo recorded himself having sex with Plaintiff on numerous occasions and disclosed and/or distributed the images and videos to third parties, the suit alleges. Defendant Diplo shared the images and/or videos with the third parties via text messaging and Snapchat. In a statement shared with The Independent, Diplos attorney, Bryan Friedman, said: In every case where there has been an allegation of improper conduct made against Wes, the result has been either an immediate dismissal of a bogus lawsuit coupled with an apology, a court-ordered award for Wes in excess of $1.2 million, or the slow demise of an obvious shakedown attempt that has gone absolutely nowhere. open image in gallery Diplo allegedly distrubited sexual images and videos of Jane Doe without her consent ( Getty Images for The Recording Academy ) Time and again, Wes has been targeted by a group of untrustworthy individuals and their unscrupulous lawyers, cobbling together falsehoods in search of a meritless payday. This suit seems to be just more of the same, which is why we have no reason to believe that this will end any differently than all the others, Friedman added. The suit also notes that in November 2023, Doe filed a police report to the New York Police Department concerning the disclosure and/or distribution of the images and videos depicting her by Defendant Diplo. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up An NYPD spokesperson for the office of the deputy commissioner of public information confirmed to Pitchfork that there is a criminal complaint on file for unlawful dissemination for a suspect with the name of Thomas Pentz which is currently being investigated by NYPD detectives. Doe is demanding a jury trial and seeking damages in the amount of $150,000 plus legal fees. Plaintiff has and will continue to suffer personal injury from the disclosure and/or distribution of the intimate images and/or videos depicting her genitals and face while she was engaged in sexually explicit activity, the legal filing says, claiming that it has already caused Doe extreme and severe emotional distress with physical manifestations, anxiety, depression, and loss of privacy. Diplo who became a household name in the electronic dancehall music scene due to his collaborations with the likes of Skrillex and Justin Bieber was previously sued by a woman named Shelly Auguste who accused him of sexual abuse and distributing revenge porn. In 2021, he denied her claims in an Instagram post, calling Auguste a stalker who scammed her way into my life and tried to extort me for millions and then sued me when she didnt get what she wanted. A civil trial for Augustes allegations is scheduled for January 2025. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke defended US President Joe Biden against attacks on his age. During the first presidential debate of the 2024 election on Thursday, June 27, 81-year-old Biden was once again asked to address voter concerns about how old he is. First of all, I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest person in politics, Biden said. I was the second youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate. And now Im the oldest. This guys three years younger and a lot less competent. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter podcast, before Thursday nights debate, 98-year-old Van Dyke argued that the criticism of Biden was ageist. Im old enough to be his father, the Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins star said. Ive got all my marbles. So Im not worried about it. Van Dyke, who supported Senator Bernie Sanderss 2016 and 2020 White House bids, confirmed hes backing Biden in the November election. open image in gallery Dick Van Dyke (left) has announced his support for President Joe Biden ( Getty Images ) I met Joe Biden. And I said, You know, I used to be as tall as you are. And he said, I used to have hair like you. I liked him right away, Van Dyke said with a laugh. The actor also recalled meeting Trump at a party in Malibu, California, before the real estate mogul began his career in politics. He was in a Hawaiian shirt, open, big belly all nice and tan, a couple of gold chains hanging around his neck and a blonde on his arm Ill be charitable and say she was 20. And he looked down at me like, Who are you? Van Dyke told podcast host Scott Feinberg. Hes just disturbed, Van Dyke said of Trump. Asked about the state of world affairs in general, Van Dyke added: Im very, very worried. No kidding, in every respect. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Whats happening with our weather? No one knows one hurricane, tornado after another. There seems to be something wrong with people. People, instead of going to the ballot box, are rioting for no reason, and it doesnt make any difference. Russia is poised along the Ukraine border with nuclear weapons. China has already announced its going to take Taiwan back, he continued. I think we are on the verge of maybe the end, Van Dyke said. Im that worried about it. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate ( Getty ) Democrats appeared in deep panic from early on in the debate as Biden appeared frail and quiet. In post-debate analysis, CNN pundits even spoke of the possibility that he should step down as the partys candidate. Vice President Kamala Harris told the network: It was a slow start, thats obvious to everyone. Im talking about the choice in November. She said the choice is between the destruction of democracy or to continue on a course thats about strengthening Americas economy. Occasionally, Biden was able to make a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeatedly lied. At one point, Biden attacked Trump for reportedly calling veterans losers and suckers. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker, he said in reference to his son Beau Biden, who served in the US military and who died of glioblastoma. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Follow live updates and analysis from the presidential debate here For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sherlock creator Steven Moffat has said its lead actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are the reason why the hit show cannot be revived. The writer and showrunner created the crime mystery series in 2010, based on the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Cumberbatch starred as the eponymous super-detective, while Freeman portrayed Dr Watson, Sherlock Holmess war veteran partner in mystery-solving. Although the series only ran for 13 episodes across four seasons, it received critical acclaim and garnered several award nominations and wins, including acting Emmys for both Cumberbatch and Freeman, and a writing Emmy for Moffat. Speaking to Metro about the shows potential return, Moffat said: As Ive said before, Ill do it tomorrow. I mean, Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 60 novels. Its not a format that will wear out. Sherlock Holmes will never wear out. Id love to do it again. I would absolutely love to again. Moffat went on to explain that the problem impeding Sherlocks revival lay not with him, but with the shows stars. open image in gallery Stars are the problem stopping shows return says Sherlock creator ( Metro/Getty Images ) Im easy to get, but you need to get the two big stars, Moffat said, alluding to Cumberbatch and Freeman. Thats the problem. Although Moffat did not expand on why he believed the actors would be difficult to recruit for a reboot, Cumberbatch and Freeman have clashed in the past with regards to Sherlock. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free 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 2018, Freeman has said that shooting the series was not fun anymore due to the expectations of fans and critics. Its not a thing to be enjoyed, he said at the time. Its a thing of, You better f***ing do this, otherwise, youre a c***. Thats not fun anymore. Cumberbatch hit back at his co-stars comments, calling them pathetic. Its pretty pathetic if thats all it takes to let you not want to take a grip of your reality, the actor said. What, because of expectations? I dont know. I dont necessarily agree with that. open image in gallery ( BBC/Hartswood Films ) Last year, in an interview on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Moffat reiterated his keeness to revive his hit show. Look, Ill start writing Sherlock tomorrow if Benedict and Martin will show up, frankly, he told presenter Nick Robinson at the time. The years since Sherlock aired have seen both actors achieve Hollywood success as part of Marvel properties, including Doctor Strange and Black Panther, as well as other films. Moffat continued: Sadly theyve moved on to bigger and better things and left us behind, crying. But Benedict, Martin please come back? Other Sherlock alumni to have commented on the possibility of future episodes include Andrew Scott. In 2017, the actor, who plays Moriaty, said there probably wouldnt be more episodes for a long time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ayo Edebiri has opened up about her debut as director in season three of The Bear, describing it as the peak of artistic collaboration. The third season of the popular FX restaurant drama, which follows Jeremy Allen Whites award-winning chef Carmen Carmy Berzatto as he attempts to transform his late brothers Chicago sandwich shop into a fine dining destination, returned on 26 June. Edebiri, who has won a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and an Emmy for her role as sous chef Sydney, directed episode six, titled Napkins. The episode follows Liza Colon-Zayass character Tina Marrero, who starts as a line cook at the restaurant and works her way up to becoming a sous chef. Edebiri described working with the cast and crew as a blast and talked about how much she learnt from each member. I feel like I got a master class in acting from Liza and from the other actors who got to grace the screen," she told Variety. I feel like I learned so much from our crew, from our camera departmentjust from everybody. It was really a blast and an honour to get to helm an episode that showcases everything that Liza can do. I mean, not even everything, like a fraction of the things that she can do. Shes such a powerhouse. open image in gallery Abby Elliott, Jeremy Allen White, Molly Gordon, Jeanie Bacharach, Matty Matheson, Oliver Platt, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Richard Esteras, Jose M Cervantes, Corey Hendrix, Edwin Lee Gibson, Liza Colon-Zayas, Ayo Edebiri and L-Boy, winners of the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series award for The Bear, at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ( Getty ) Talking about what it felt like being directed by Edebiri, Colon-Zayas called her fearless. Shes open, smart and fearless. So fearless that I was watching and putting ideas in my head like, Why cant I just be so fearless and know that I could take chances like that. She sailed through it. On what it felt like being on the other side of the camera, Edebiri said it gave her a new appreciation for the art and effort behind making television. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free I love our cast but being able to collaborate with them from a different vantage point gave me so much more appreciation for them but also appreciation for the sheer amount of effort it takes to make television, she told the BBC. It really is such a powerful and beautiful machine. The Independents Nick Hilton gave the third season three stars, saying the frenetic drama feels stuck in a loop of its own creation. Kicking off with an avant-garde first episode, the Chicago-set Emmy winner seems to be losing its way, he wrote. To be a victim of your own success requires you to achieve something. And while Part III of The Bear (as the show styles it) doesnt hit the heights of episodes like Fishes or Forks, it is still a serviceable frenzy of culinary panache. The Bear is available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Celebrities are sharing their thoughts after former President Donald Trump took on President Joe Biden in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election. During the 90-minute debate on Thursday night, former President Donald Trump continued to spout lies and falsehoods while President Joe Biden sputtered and stumbled over his words. Actor and comedian Roseanne Barr tweeted: As MAGA and pro America as I am. I take no happiness in this debate. Biden is clearly not here. This is sad. Obama is sacrificing his friend to push his radical policies and I don't want any of us celebrating after this. Yes Trump is clearly the better choice but lets take this moment to pray for our country instead. Fear and grievance, ad infinitum, Bette Midler, a prominent Democratic supporter, said of Trump on social media. Every word out of his mouth is a lie. Every single word, the Beaches actor said. open image in gallery The first presidential debate of the 2024 election was widely derided on Twitter ( Getty Images ) Biden, Midler said, answered the questions, Trump never did. He feinted, he wove, he dodged, he lied. Biden, his voice weakened by a cold, answered the questions, softly, but still. I leaned in and heard him fine, she concluded. Greys Anatomy star Jesse Williams took aim at CNNs broadcast, asking: Why moderate if youre not gonna moderate? Not a single lie checked. Conservative The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin wrote: Tonight will be remembered in the history books in one of two ways: as the moment adults in the room stepped up & convinced Biden to step aside. Or it will be remembered as the night Trump solidified his path back to the White House. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free The West Wing actor Joshua Malina joked: This reminds me of The West Wing, except for every episode. Horror franchise CEO Jason Blum wrote simply: I give up. Reality star Caitlyn Jenner, a vocal Trump supporter, called Biden a total and complete failure and clearly in major mental decline. Vote accordingly! she added. Meanwhile, Jon Stewart shredded both candidates in a live election special of The Daily Show, which aired immediately after the debate ended. Let me just say after watching tonights debate, both of these men should be using performance-enhancing drugs, Stewart joked. As much of it as they can get. If performance-enhancing drugs will improve their lucidity, their ability to solve problems, and in one of the candidates cases, improve their truthfulness, morality, and malignant narcissism, then suppository away. They should take whatever magical drugs can kick their brains into gear because this aint Olympic swimming, he added. Democrats appeared in deep panic from early on in the debate as Biden appeared frail and quiet. In post-debate analysis, CNN pundits even spoke of the possibility that he should step down as the partys candidate. Vice President Kamala Harris told the network: It was a slow start, thats obvious to everyone. Im talking about the choice in November. She said the choice is between the destruction of democracy or to continue on a course thats about strengthening Americas economy. Occasionally, Biden was able to make a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeatedly lied. At one point, Biden attacked Trump for reportedly calling veterans losers and suckers. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker, he said in reference to his son Beau Biden, who served in the US military and who died of glioblastoma. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Most of Chinas wild Asian elephants, more than 280 individuals, are distributed in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture in the southernmost part of Yunnan province. Attracted by the abundance of food such as corn and bananas, and growing accustomed to a human presence, these majestic animals often venture into areas inhabited by people. The increasing proximity between humans and elephants has led to a rise in conflicts, presenting challenges for many communities that previously had little to no experience with elephant activities. To address the conflicts, local governments and conservation organisations have implemented various strategies. In Xishuangbanna, both the governments of Jinghong city and Mengla county have established the Asian Elephant Safety Warning Monitoring Team. Teams of professional elephant watchers use drones to continuously monitor the movements of wild elephants, providing crucial information to local communities and residents. By offering timely updates on the whereabouts of elephants, the aim is to minimise the risks associated with human-elephant encounters. Since the launch of its Asian Elephant Protection Programme in 2000, the International Fund for Animal Welfare China has focused its efforts towards helping local communities and residents, said Ma Chenyue, programme manager of IFAW China. A group of Asian elephants forage for food at a rice field in Yunnan ( CHEN XINBO / XINHUA ) Local communities and people are at the forefront of human-elephant conflicts. They are experiencing direct pressures from the expansion of wild elephants into their living spaces, Ma said. In June 2020, IFAW China, in collaboration with the Mengyang Protection Station of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and the Rainforest Foundation of Xishuangbanna, a local nonprofit, the Community Livelihood Development to Promote Asian Elephant Protection project was launched in Daotangqing village, Mengyang township, Jinghong. This community, comprising 34 households and 150 residents of the Yi ethnic group, had relocated from the core area of the national nature reserve in the late 1990s to aid in the conservation of Asian elephants, a species under national first-class protection, said Cao Dafan, programme officer of the AEP project. Following their relocation, however, wild elephants also ventured into the area surrounding the village. Once in 2022, Cao said, the villagers witnessed a visit of a herd of 22 wild elephants. Cao said that the primary source of income for villagers is derived from cultivating rubber trees. However, due to a decline in rubber prices over the past few years, their incomes have also experienced a notable decrease. So we worked to help the community explore some alternative sources of income to reduce their dependency on rubber trees, he said. At first, Cao and his colleagues decided to promote beekeeping in the village. Beekeeping is eco-friendly, good for crop cultivation and easy for villagers to learn and master, he said. In 2020, the project invested 75,000 yuan (8,160) to acquire 100 hives of the Chinese bee and an additional 100 empty beehives and distributed them to 10 families in the Daotangqing village. In addition to providing training on beekeeping techniques, Cao and his team also helped the beekeepers establish management rules. Besides beekeeping, the international NGO also introduced the cultivation of cash crops such as mangos and macadamia nuts to the villagers. In 2021, Cao said villagers cleared more than 37 acres of rubber trees surrounding the village because of the plummeting price of rubber. So we took the chance to recommend planting mango and macadamia nut trees to them, Cao said. In December, IFAW China, the protection station and the rainforest foundation expanded their project to the Konggeliudui community in Dadugang township, Jinghong. The community is predominantly inhabited by the Hani ethnic group, with 39 households. More than 60 wild Asian elephants roam in the vicinity. The communitys primary livelihood revolves around rubber tapping and tea cultivation. During the harvest season, villagers chances of encountering elephants in the forest increases, Cao said. So our project is set to combine beekeeping with empowering residents, enhancing their skills and income while reducing their forest activities to minimise human-elephant conflicts. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Chinese woman, who tried to protect a Japanese mother and her child during a knife attack at a bus stop earlier this week in China, has succumbed to her injuries, officials said. Hu Youping, who worked as a school bus attendant, was injured after a man attempted to attack a bus carrying students in Suzhou city in the latest knife attack on foreigners in the country. She died on Wednesday, according to a report by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The 54-year-olds death was confirmed by officials at the Japanese embassy in China which lowered its flag to half mast to honour her death. [We] believe that her courage and kindness represented the general Chinese public. We hereby salute Ms Hus great act of justice and may she rest in peace, the embassy said. Hu will be honoured with the title of righteous and courageous role model, the Suzhou police said on their website. The mother was waiting at the bus stop to pick up her child from a nearby Japanese school when the attack happened, reported Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Two buses were at the stop at the time of the attack, a woman who was at the scene told NHK. She said she heard screams from near the buses and saw a man in his late 50s grabbing a boy while holding a knife. The bus attendant and parents subdued the attacker with the help of an umbrella and a bag, it said. The school bus belonged to Suzhou Japanese School, which is located less than a mile away from the area where a sizable Japanese population lives. The Jiangsu province neighbourhood hosts many manufacturing plants for Japanese companies. While knife attacks on foreigners have increased recently, stabbings are not uncommon in China which has tight gun control laws. Recently, stabbings have been reported in public places (parks, schools, subways, etc) throughout China, the Japanese consulate in Shanghai said in a statement. The Japanese embassy confirmed that the man was detained and the mother and childs injuries were not serious. In an email sent to Japanese nationals living in China, the Japanese embassy asked them to take precautions as stabbing incidents have occurred in various parts of China in public places including parks, schools and subways. China appeared to downplay the incident, calling it isolated. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday the incident could have happened in any country in the world. It was the latest stabbing attack on foreign nationals in the country. Earlier this month, four US college instructors were stabbed and injured in an attack in a public park in the northeastern city of Jilin. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea publicly executed a 22-year-old citizen for listening to and sharing K-pop music and films, according to South Korea. The man from the Hermit Kingdom's South Hwanghae province was publicly executed in 2022 for listening to 70 South Korean songs, watching three films, and distributing them, according to testimonies published in the North Korean Human Rights report released by the South's unification ministry on Thursday. The report a compilation of testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors highlights Pyongyang's brutal crackdown on Western influence and information flow into the isolated country. The ban on K-pop to shield citizens from the "malign influence" of Western culture was further tightened under a new law that the North adopted in 2020, which prohibits "reactionary ideology and culture. The North has rejected criticisms of the government's grave violation of human rights, calling it a part of a conspiracy to overthrow the leadership. Other reactionary practices that are punished include perceived South Korean customs such as brides wearing white dresses, grooms carrying the bride, sunglasses, and drinking alcohol from wine glasses. According to the report, North Koreans are routinely subjected to mobile phone inspections for contact name spellings, expressions, and slang terms. "The government does not tolerate pluralism, bans independent media, civil society organisations and trade unions, and systematically denies all basic liberties, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and freedom of religion and belief," Human Rights Watch said about North Korea in their world report in 2023. One of the defectors, a woman in her early 20s, said the "speed of South Korean culture influencing North Korea is seriously fast. Young people follow and copy South Korean culture, and they really love anything South Korean". After watching Korean dramas, many young people wonder, Why do we have to live like this? I thought Id rather die than live in North Korea, she was quoted by The Guardian as saying. Of course, we cannot say anything bad against Kim Jong-un publicly, but among close friends, lovers or family members, we do say those words, she added. In the past, North Korea has held executions in villages and prison camps where crowds could gather, according to right groups. But it had increasingly avoided executions in heavily populated residential areas, where authorities had difficulty keeping track of those attending. It has also stopped holding executions near its borders and at facilities that can be easily monitored by satellites. The South on Tuesday threatened to restart anti-Pyongyang frontline propaganda broadcasts in the latest bout of Cold War-style campaigns between the rivals after North Korea resumed its trash-carrying balloon launches. North Korea has floated huge balloons carrying plastic bags of rubbish across the border in its fifth such campaign since late May an apparent response to South Korean activists flying political leaflets via balloons. The two Koreas are still technically at war since an armistice ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, not a peace treaty. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK Government met representatives from the oil and gas sector an average of 1.4 times per working day in 2023, an analysis has suggested. At least 65 fossil fuel organisations and industry bodies were identified meeting with ministers over the course of the year, according to an investigation by Global Witness. The environmental group analysed data by Transparency International UK, looking at any organisation that could be reasonably assumed to have the goal of influencing policy or legislation in the interests of a fossil fuel company and its shareholders. According to its findings, ministers met representatives from the oil and gas sector at least 343 times last year, up from 330 meetings held in 2022. More widely, the group found that meetings between fossil fuel representatives and the government have been steadily increasing over the past 11 years. The meetings reached record-high levels in November 2023, when the government met oil and gas groups at least 63 times, equivalent to almost three meetings every working day, the campaigners said. The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill, which would mandate annual licensing of new oil and gas fields in the North Sea, was introduced the same month, they noted. The end of November also marked the start of the UN climate change conference COP28 in Dubai. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) met oil and gas representatives at least 214 times in 2023 and 249 times the year before, the analysis also suggests. Graham Stuart, who until recently was the minister in charge of energy security and net zero, was found to have personally met them 55 times in 2023, making up at least a quarter of all his official meetings. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho and Under Secretary of State Andrew Bowie met oil and gas groups 42 times each, it found. For Ms Coutinho, these amounted to 42% of all her declared meetings last year. In other parts of the government, officials in the Department for Business and Trade met oil and gas representatives at least 75 times in 2023, while the Treasury met them at least 22 times. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended seven meetings with oil and gas organisations in 2023, including a meeting with Shell, North Sea Midstream Partners and Harbour Energy on the same day he pledged to max out the UKs oil and gas reserves and granted hundreds of new oil and gas licenses, according to Global Witness. Gas and electricity supplier EDF Energy met Government officials the most of any energy firms, with at least 44 meetings found in the data, amounting to more than once per working week on average. BP followed with 42 meetings, a third of which were with Mr Stuart, while SSE met ministers 38 times and Shell met them 35 times. Global Witness also included renewable energy firm Octopus Energy in its analysis but it is understood that the company, which advocates for the green transition, strongly disputes its characterisation by the campaign group. Alice Harrison, head of fossil fuel campaigns at Global Witness: For far too long the oil and gas industry has enjoyed privileged access to power, so its no wonder we are still so far away from real climate action. Fossil fuel companies are responsible for the climate crisis and made record-breaking profits from the energy crisis. They cannot be trusted to fix a mess of their own creation so whoever wins this election must slam the door shut on their toxic influence. Government ministers and officials meet a range of stakeholders from across the energy sector. The PA news agency has contacted the Conservative Party for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour politicians have urged Tata to avoid taking action that cannot be reversed before the election result after the steel giant announced it was bringing forward plans to shut down blast furnaces at its biggest plant because of a strike. The company had been planning to shut down one of the blast furnaces at Port Talbot in south Wales by the end of June and the second one by September. But workers were told that because of the strike by members of Unite from July 8, Tata can no longer be assured of sufficient resources being available to ensure safe and stable operations. All parties must pull back from the brink and negotiate to protect jobs and the interests of all union members at Tata Steel UK Alun Davies, Community A message to employees said: Therefore, we are left with no alternative but to take preparatory steps to cease operations on both blast furnaces and safely isolate them no later than July 7. Stephen Kinnock, Labours parliamentary candidate for Aberafan Maesteg, and David Rees, Labours Member of the Senedd for Aberavon, said on Friday: Everybody recognises that the number one priority in these negotiations has to be the safety and security of steelworkers and the plant. Tata wouldnt be in this position of facing strike action had it not chosen to press ahead at break-neck speed with the closures of the blast furnaces. We have been consistently clear throughout this process that Tata should avoid taking any action that cannot be reversed before waiting to see the result of the General Election, given the very real prospect of sitting down with an incoming Labour Government to discuss its promised 2.5 billion Steel Renewal Fund. More immediately, Tata and Unite must get back around the table to reach an agreement on securing the safety of the site at all times which would include agreeing on the derogations required to prevent strikes causing safety risks, thus removing the need to close down Blast Furnace 5 early. This will allow an incoming Labour Government time to negotiate the future of steel making in Wales with Tata. Alun Davies, national officer of the Community union said: Community condemns Tatas unacceptable decision to bring forward the closure of the Port Talbot blast furnaces. We continue to support the Labour Partys call for Tata not to make irreversible decisions before the General Election, and we urge all stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions through the Multi-Union Steel Committee. We need a just transition for workers in the UK, and Tata must wait for a new government to ensure that Port Talbot and its steelworkers have a safe and secure future, producing greener, cleaner steel Mel Evans, Greenpeace UK All parties must pull back from the brink and negotiate to protect jobs and the interests of all union members at Tata Steel UK. Greenpeace UKs head of climate Mel Evans said: Tata should be listening to its steelworkers, not slamming the door behind them as soon as they threaten to walk out. A better deal for green primary steelmaking is possible, and with less than one week to go until the UK elects a new and potentially more sympathetic government, closing the steelworks before those newly elected ministers have sat down at the negotiating table is a costly mistake. It will have devastating consequences for the thousands of steelworkers set to lose their jobs, for the local community, and for steel production in the UK. We need a just transition for workers in the UK, and Tata must wait for a new government to ensure that Port Talbot and its steelworkers have a safe and secure future, producing greener, cleaner steel. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hand surgeons are seeing a lot more avocado-related hand injuries. According to research, thousands of people slice their hands and fingers annually while cutting avocados primarily between April and July. Surgeons have seen these injuries so often that they have begun to call them avocado hand injuries, due to the injury typically occurring while cutting an avocado. People lose their grip on the avocado and accidentally slice their palms or fingers, doctors have warned. When this happens, theres a high likelihood of people accidentally severing their nerves or tendons. However, people also tend to stab themselves in the hand as they attempt to use the knife tip to remove the avocado pit. In 2020, Emory University professor of orthopedic surgery Eric Wagner and his team published a study on the phenomenon, finding that more than 50,000 people in the United States went to emergency rooms seeking treatment for avocado-related knife wounds between 1998 and 2017. Ive treated people whove cut off a finger while slicing an avocado, Dr Wagner explained to the Washington Post. Cutting an avocado seems so harmless, but weve seen some pretty bad injuries from it. By far and away the most injuries Ive seen are from avocado injuries. Wagner adds that he believes that these injuries become more frequent during April through July due to people cooking and barbecuing outside for social occasions, which may lead to more carelessness. The hand surgeon noted: A lot of the people I see were at a family event when it happened and alcohol was involved. Avocado-related injuries have increased sharply over time, coinciding with the meteoric rise in popularity that the fruit experienced throughout the past two decades. Only 3,143 cases requiring emergency room visits were reported between 1998 and 2002, but this rate experienced a ninefold increase between 2013 and 2017, in which 27,059 emergency cases were reported. Another study from the American Journal of Health Behavior found that about two percent of all consumer product-related injuries reported to the federal government were caused by avocados. That doesnt seem like a lot, but its one in every 50 knife injuries, study author Matthew E Rossheim, an associate professor at the University of North Texas School of Public Health, told the outlet. Its shocking how many ER department visits are related to avocado hand cutting injuries. If you want to avoid injury while cutting an avocado, Dr Wagner noted that you shouldnt cut the avocado while holding it in the palm of your hand, which is especially risky. He also added that people should try to remember to cut away from their hands and fingers so they wont end up in the blades path and accidentally get cut. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} HSBC has apologised to customers after some were left locked out of their online banking on what is pay day for many workers. Virgin Money and Nationwide are also reported to be experiencing issues with digital banking services on Friday. HSBC UK said on the service status page of its website: Were really sorry that some customers are having issues accessing personal online and mobile banking. Our IT teams are working hard to get these services back to normal. You can still authorise online card purchases via SMS. Some customers took to X, formerly Twitter, to complain that they were unable to access their bank accounts online or on their mobile app. Some pointed out that it was pay day for them and said they needed to access money to pay bills. According to the website DownDetector, more than 7,000 problems were reported at about 8.45am. The site also shows a spike in reports of outages for high street bank Virgin Money and building society Nationwide on Friday morning. Virgin Money said on X that it was aware of intermittent issues with accessing online banking and our app, which were working to resolve as quickly as possible. Thanks for your patience while we restore the service, it said. It follows an earlier post alerting customers to delays to payments both in and out of their Virgin Money account, and asking people not to try again to make a payment if they had received an error message. Speaking to the BBC, Nationwide said it was aware of a third-party payments issue impacting some providers, including Nationwide. This has unfortunately delayed a small number of payments, which we expect will be processed and paid later today, it added. Close Jay Slaters father makes six-word plea to son at visit to site of search Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The co-founder of the company behind last years doomed Titan submersible disaster believes billionaires could lead humanity to Venus. Guillermo Sohnlein, 58, left OceanGate in 2013 and founded the Humans2Venus Foundation, which aims to make the Earths closest neighbour a second home for humanity. He co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with his friend Stockton Rush, 61, who died in last years submersible disaster that claimed the lives of reported billionaires Hamish Harding, 58, and Shahzada Dawood, 48. While the surface of Venus is too hot to sustain human life at 864 degrees Fahrenheit, Mr Sohnlein has suggested that this problem can be overcome by habiting the planet 30 miles above its surface, where conditions are similar to Earth. It is not known how the entrepreneur, who is also currently planning a trip to one of the worlds deepest sinkholes, believes this habitation can be achieved. In a blog post this week, he explained with the investment of billionaires, who OceanGate similarly attempted to recruit, humanity has the potential to become a multi-planet species. The OceanGate co-founder then praised space billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Richard Branson. The OceanGate co-founded wants to see humans become a multi-planet species. ( 60 Minutes ) He wrote: Each of these men founded innovative space companies that have helped (and continue to help) push humanity further into the cosmos. Since 2014 private investors around the world (including China) have poured billions of equity capital into thousands of space startups. These investors include wealthy individuals, institutional money managers, and large corporations, among others. Taken together, the private sector has proven to be a formidable force in spearheadingand financingincreasingly ambitious space efforts. With so much capital available throughout the world, it is not inconceivable that one or more leaders may emerge in the near future to embrace a vision of humans living and working in the Venusian atmosphere. Hamish Harding (upper left), Stockton Rush (upper right), Paul-Henri Nargeolet (bottom left) and Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman (bottom right) all died in the Titans implosion. ( Dirty Dozen Productions/OceanGate/AFP/Getty ) As well as billionaires, Mr Sohnlein believes that an attempt to habit Venus, which has never been reached by humanity, could also be led by organisations from the public sector such as NASA. He concluded: Humanity seems to be on the verge of taking significant next steps toward becoming a multi-planet species, most specifically with current programs targeting the Moon and future plans for leveraging that experience into success on Mars. The atmosphere of Venus could provide a feasible complementary alternative destination. Someone will have to take a strong leadership role to get humanity to Venus. Fortunately, there are many prospective candidates, and one or more of them may emerge in the very near future. The Titan imploded an estimated hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreck last June. ( AP ) The OceanGate co-founder told The Independent that while he is continuing his work with submersibles, his upcoming trip to the Deans Blue Hole in the Bahamas will not include any tourist passengers. After leaving the now-suspended OceanGate, Mr Sohnlein founded another exploration company in 2013, Blue Marble Exploration, which is running the upcoming trip. Last years OceanGate disaster saw a number of citizen explorers pay a reported $250,000 each to see the worlds most famous shipwreck, the Titanic, in person. Mr Sohnlein stressed Blue Marble Exploration will use a classed submersible, which was not the case in OceanGates doomed mission last year that involved the experimental Titan. He said this aspect of his exploration work did not change in light of last years disaster and it was always his plan to use a certified vessel. : ... Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The OceanGate co-founder is organising a trip to a sinkhole described as the portal to hell a year on from the Titan submersible disaster. Located in the Bahamas, Deans Blue Hole is one of the worlds deepest underwater sinkholes and those joining the first manned submersible dive to the site are encouraged to expect the unexpected. Guillermo Sohnlein, 58, co-founded OceanGate in 2009 with Stockton Rush, who died in last years submersible implosion at the age of 61. After leaving the company in 2013, Mr Sohnlein co-founded another underwater exploration company called Blue Marble Exploration, and it has set its sights on the 663-feet hole, which has previously only been virtually explored. In a now-deleted post about the upcoming expedition, Blue Marble explained the local superstitions behind the sinkhole, which will see the explorers enveloped in complete darkness. Locals believe that Deans is a portal to hell and the devil himself lurks in the black depths, Blue Marble Explorations website said. Each year, several people drown in Deans due to a variety of misfortunes. We fully expect to find human remains and prepare to handle those situations with proper respect for the families. The hole is reported to have claimed as many as 200 lives in recent years. Uncharted waters, unforeseen currents, extreme pressure, near-complete darkness and the remote location are listed as challenges for the trip. The expedition expects to encounter various challenges in the sinkhole ( Alamy ) While the website previously said join our expedition, Mr Sohnlein has since confirmed to The Independent that it will be carried out by trained professionals only and not tourists, as was the case in the doomed OceanGate trip last June. The ad for the mission read: The next frontier for our team is in the underwater depths of Deans Blue Hole. In the first descent of crewed submersibles, equipped with LED lights and underwater drone technology, our scientists will be able to venture into some of Earths least hospitable conditions in search of unprecedented findings. Mr Sohnlein also confirmed to The Independent that certified submersibles will be used for the mission, which he stressed was always the intention even before the Titan implosion. OceanGate used a controversial carbon fibre hull in the Titan, and it is believed this material weakened over time, resulting in last Junes catastrophic implosion. Five people lost their lives when the sub imploded an estimated hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreck, which lies around 12,500 feet below the North Atlantic Ocean. The submersible vessel named Titan was used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic until it imploded last June ( AP ) Mr Sohnlein, who also believes he can safely send humans to Venus, gave several interviews in the wake of last Junes disaster. He told Reuters: Lets figure out what went wrong, lets learn lessons and lets get down there again. If anything, what were feeling is an even stronger imperative to continue doing this kind of exploration work. I think its important for humanity, and its probably the best way to honour the five crew members who gave up their lives doing something that they loved. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden has faced calls to stand down by the former UK ambassador to the US after a historically bad performance in his TV debate with Donald Trump. Mr Biden and former US president Trump went head to head for the first debate of the 2024 presidential election on Thursday night. The current presidents performance added to concerns about his age and mental fitness as he struggled with his lines, mumbled and, at times, appeared confused. During one particularly excruciating moment he lost his train of thought while discussing healthcare, before pausing, and saying, We finally beat Medicare. Mr Trump responded: He did beat Medicare. Beat it to death. At another point when Mr Biden trailed off while talking about immigration, Mr Trump responded: I dont know if he knows what he said, either. Lord Kim Darroch, who served as British ambassador to the United States between January 2016 and December 2019, urged Mr Biden to stand down. He said on Radio 4s Today programme: Joe Biden should stand aside. This was a historically bad performance. He was inaudible, incoherent and lost his train of thought several times. Some of his answers simply made no sense. The one we have beaten Medicaid will be repeated a thousand times between now and the election. He should stand down - its very hard to see him winning now. Lord Darroch was forced to quit his stateside role in July 2019 before Boris Johnson took the reins as Prime Minister after frank diplomatic cables referring to Donald Trump were leaked. Lord Kim Darroch ( Getty/Capitol File Magazine ) In the leaked correspondence, he referred to Mr Trumps White House as inept and dysfunctional. Lord Darrochs intervention comes as Democrats in the United States attempted to contain the fallout from the US presidents faltering performance, amid calls for him to step aside. I think the panic had set in, David Axelrod, a longtime advisor to former US president Barack Obama, said on CNN immediately after the debate about Mr Bidens performance. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. ( AFP via Getty Images ) David Plouffe, who ran Mr Obamas 2008 presidential campaign, told CNN: The concern level is quite high. Biden is behind narrowly right now. He is the one who has to change the equation here and the biggest barrier that is keeping his ceiling too low is concerns about his age. He added: They are three years apart, but they seemed about 30 years apart tonight. Writing for The Independent, Jon Sopel added to the growing chorus of voices urging Mr Biden to step aside. He said: President Biden managed to stay upright for the 90 minutes of the debate and didnt fall asleep; as he shuffled on and off stage he didnt trip over. He made his way to the lectern successfully. ( Getty ) But honestly that is about as good as it gets. His voice was thin and reedy and at one point, when he was talking about billionaires paying more tax, he had a complete brain freeze and became totally incoherent and ended up talking about Medicare. It was horrid. Beyond awful. Labour leader Keir Starmer, was asked on BBC radio whether he was concerned about Mr Biden after the debate. Ive got enough on my hands with our own election campaign at the moment...The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, its historic, and obviously, its above the individuals, he said. One senior Democratic strategist said it would be unprecedented for an incumbent to pull out this late in the election cycle, but that there would be calls for Biden to do just that. California governor Gavin Newsom who could be a leading Democratic alternative if Mr Biden stepped aside dismissed the notion that Biden could be replaced. Vice president Kamala Harris conceded that Mr Biden had a slow start but argued that his record over 3-1/2 years as president outweighed one 90-minute event. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of not being honest when the current party leader said he knew that Labour would lose the 2019 general election. In an awkward exchange on the Sky News election debate earlier this month, Sir Keir was pressed by Beth Rigby about ditching his left wing policies once becoming leader of Labour. Asked whether he had meant it when he said his predecessor would make a great prime minister, Sir Keir replied: I was certain we would lose the 2019 election. We were not ready. I was certain we would lose it. He added: I did campaign for Labour, of course I did. I will openly say I campaigned for Labour. I wanted good colleagues to be returned into the Labour Party, and I wanted a party that was capable of being changed so we can face the future again. Then Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (right) alongside shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer during a press conference in central London in 2019 Jonathan Brady/PA) ( PA Archive ) In separate comments he described Rishi Sunaks manifesto as Jeremy Corbyn-style, which is load everything into the wheelbarrow, dont provide the funding and hope that nobody notices. Mr Corbyn, who is standing as an independent in Islington North after being expelled by the Labour Party, hit out at Sir Keirs recollection of events. At a canvassing event this week, he told The Independent: He never said that at the time. He never had that conversation with me at the time. We did campaign together, he endorsed the 2017 and the 2019 manifestos and indeed used them in his leadership bid for the Labour Party. I just think we need to be honest about the past. Mr Corbyn on the campaign trail in Islington ( Getty Images ) Sir Keir was elevated to Mr Corbyns cabinet shortly after the firebrand socialist was made leader in September 2015 and was later promoted to being shadow Brexit minister. He became a prominent and influential minister during Mr Corbyns leadership and campaigned for Labour in both the 2017 and 2019 elections. After Mr Corbyns catastrophic defeat in the 2019 general election Mr Starmer ran for the leadership on a left wing platform and pledged to keep many of Mr Corbyns policies, such as the nationalisation of utilities. However, he has since been strongly criticised by the left of the Labour Party for backtracking or abandoning many of the pledges he made during the 2020 leadership contest. Momentum, a grassroots organisation representing the left wing of the party, previously said the promises he made lay in tatters and urged him to change course. It added: To avoid charges of serial dishonesty and ensure a Labour Government actually faces up to the scale of the wreckage it will inherit from the Tories, Starmer should change course, listen to Party Conference and lay out a bold vision of a transformed country which delivers for the many, not the few. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Veterans minister Johnny Mercer has said this will be his final election campaign due to the abuse his family have suffered including a recent incident in which a man told his daughter: Your dads a c***. The Conservative candidate for Plymouth Moor View is the latest politician to open up about abuse and threatening behaviour, revealing it has left him feeling drained despite his love for the job. The 42-year-old won the seat from Labour in 2015, and has grown his majority to almost 13,000 over two subsequent elections. After three tours in Afghanistan, Mr Mercer said he entered politics to speak up for armed service veterans and the city he described as the Jewel of the South West. And despite an up and down time in government he was relieved of his job twice as Veterans Minister before his latest stint under Rishi Sunak Mr Mercer was incredibly proud of what hed achieved. But he said abuse directed at him and his family has gone too far, and that if he wins his seat for a fourth successive term, it will be his last. Johnny Mercer speaking to a Conservative voter in Ernesettle in Plymouth during canvassing on Thursday ( The Independent ) He revealed his decision to The Independent after police were called to a man allegedly filming him with his three-year-old daughter in public, before telling her: Your father is a c***. Earlier this month, a man appeared in court charged with sending a grossly offensive email to Mr Mercer in a separate incident due to go trial in 2025. And four years ago, his wife, Felicity Cornelius-Mercer, was sent a soiled nappy in the post. Asked if this would be his last term if he wins the seat, Mr Mercer told The Independent while canvassing in Plymouth: Yes. I think it takes a toll. When you are in the military and you are fighting, its really weird but people talk about courage being like a bank account and you can feel it going down. As you spend it, there is nothing you can do to pull it back up. I remember after my last tour in 2010, I was like: Wow, Im draining the bank account here. I think its the same with abuse, you can take it, take it and take it. But then when I was abused, like when someone tells my three-year-old daughter her dads a c*** to her face, Im like: Do you know what, I could just go and get a private sector job and look after my kids and mow the grass. He added: Its just for that reason. I love all of this, but Im not having that for another 20 years. Mr Mercer with foreign secretary David Cameron ( PA ) Two years ago, a BBC investigation found more than 3,000 offensive tweets were sent to MPs every day, with one in 20 messages classified as toxic. Conservative MP and justice minister Mike Freer decided to stand down at the election this year after a constant string of incidents including death threats. Two MPs, David Amess and Jo Cox, have been murdered in the past decade. Mr Mercer, who moved his family 30 minutes from Plymouth for the safety of his children, said: Its a shame. You get the politicians you deserve, youll get people with rhino skins who dont give a f***and will just be like yes whatever they dont really believe in anything, they just want to be an MP. But despite his concerns, Mr Mercer wants one last stint in the constituency seat, with his promotional leaflet headlined on the rebuild of the citys Derriford Hospital. Last year, 180m was secured for the first phase of work, but Mr Mercer wants to see out the completion, which will cost around 600m. Mr Mercer campaigning in Plymouth Moor View ( The Independent ) I want to deliver that hospital, said Mr Mercer. I became an MP because I didnt like MPs; one of the things we dont like about them is they promise s*** and they dont deliver it. So I am going to see that through, come hell or high water. When Ive done that, thats going to be a legacy, then Ill be like: great, Ive done that, what next? Also standing in the Plymouth Moor View constituency are Shaun Hooper (Reform UK), Sarah Martin (Liberal Democrat), Georgia Nelson (Green) and Fred Thomas (Labour). Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Keir Starmer has laid out his political philosophy and goals which echo the last Labour leader to end a long period in the political wilderness: Tony Blair. As he prepares for what now seems to be an inevitable landslide victory, Sir Keir said: I want people to feel Thank God our country is now better, and I feel better off. His words were not far from the D:Ream song which propelled Blair to victory: Things can only get better. In the second part of his exclusive interview with The Independent, Sir Keir made clear that he has sought Blairs advice on transitioning from opposition to government but not necessarily on policy. Drawing the veil from his political philosophy he spoke about: How he would do a deal with Trump Why he believes the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) is wrong but refuses to rule out tax rises Where he and Tony Blair disagree Why he thinks redistribution is a good thing Why he really stuck around in Corbyns shadow cabinet Read part one of Sir Keirs interview with The Independent here, where he reveals his innermost thoughts about his family, regrets with his father and homophobic attacks on his boyhood friend. As he prepares for next weeks election, Sir Keir said: I want people to feel Thank God our country is now better, and I feel better off ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire ) Sir Keir wryly acknowledged that Blair would not agree with his tax raid on independent school fees adding 20 percent VAT, or his ending of non-dom status, something the New Labour government actually created. But Sir Keir is also clear that, like Blair, he will not be bound by ideology to get what he wants for Britain. Nowhere is this more obvious than his willingness to deal with a president Donald Trump if US voters return him to the White House in November. Yes! Well do a trade deal with America if we can get a trade deal over the line. Presidents are temporary while countries and deals are maybe not permanent but are certainly long term. With an eye not just to a potential re-election of Trump but also right-wing leaders winning in European allied states, he added: I will deal with the leaders of other countries as theyre elected by voters, whether in America or other places across Europe. It reflects his repeated message of country first, party second. One fight he appears to have given up on is Brexit. Having fought against Brexit until December 2019, he now will not take Britain back into the EU, single market or customs union even though he wants to renegotiate Boris Johnsons deal. Ive visited Norway and Switzerland and seen their different deals and it has persuaded me we need a deal that is right for us. The Independent asked why he has avoided Brexit as a subject, given he staked so much of his politics on it up until 2020. Sir Keir wryly acknowledged that Blair would not agree with his tax raid on independent school fees adding 20 percent VAT or his ending of non-dom status ( Stefan Rousseau/PA ) Were not reopening the wounds, he said. We do want a better deal. But it doesnt involve going back to the single market or the customs union. I think we can make improvements. But the biggest dilemma Sir Keir faces is the issue of tax and economic growth something he has battled throughout the election campaigning. He firmly disagrees with the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) which has claimed a conspiracy of silence about all the parties economic plans. Asked if there is a conspiracy of silence over tax, he insisted: Every single thing in our manifesto is fully costed and fully funded. And weve been really clear about not raising income tax, National Insurance and VAT, and been clear that none of our plans require us to raise tax. Asked if he is ruling out council tax rebanding or wealth taxes, he ducked: Im not going to write budgets for the next five years. But Im gonna say theres a manifesto, theres our plans, and none of them require a tax increase. And his response to whether he will say once he is in power Oh, its much worse than we thought were gonna have to reassess and thats why taxes are gonna go up, is to say it is wrong. No, because the focus is on growth, the Labour leader said. But I mean, obviously there is this toing and froing with the IFS and others. Most of their [the IFSs] predictions are based on a sort of snapshot of where we are now, with an assumption that we cant do much better than weve done in the last 14 years, and I think we can. Thats why our manifesto sets out plans for growth. One thing what people havent highlighted on the IFS is that it does concede is that if you are going to get growth, then the levers, the plans, what we put in our manifesto about planning, infrastructure, skills, industrial strategy, GB, energy, getting people back to work through waiting lists. These are the things youre going to have to do together. Sir Keir sits down with The Independents editor-in-chief Geordie Greig and political editor David Maddox ( The Independent ) The lack of economic growth is a problem that has vexed him for some time: I have spent the best part of the last two years on this conundrum, which is, why has growth been so low in the last 14 years? I personally think its the Achilles heel of our country, and that we have failed to take the tough decisions to deal with it. He has been having discussions with global investors asking them what they need to invest in Britain. Ive been having discussions with investors who are very serious about investing in this country, and detailed discussions about the schedule of decisions that need to be taken in the first six to 12 months of a Labour government for that investment to start coming through. So Im confident we can do this. But some of his known tax plans of raiding independent schools with 20 per cent VAT on fees or ending non-dom status, means he is very un-Blairite and almost old Labour class war in his approach. But Sir Keir has described himself as a socialist and insisted that he supports the concept of redistribution: Theres nothing wrong with redistribution, but redistribution cant be a one word answer for great swathes of the country. So we want economic growth. There is a model for economic growth, which is London and the South East does all of the heavy lifting and redistribution is the answer for other parts of the country. I dont accept that model of growth, but thats why Ive said its got to be growth everywhere. Thats why every single place will have a growth plan. Thats why we will empower mayors and combined local authorities with resources, with power to make decisions, why well put the planning decisions with them, why well put the skills decisions with them. And, in short, weve got the partnerships in each and every area for that precise reason. Im not against redistribution, but I think the past Labour has sort of used that as a sort of fallback, rather than doing the hard yards of why doesnt Manchester and Leeds and Birmingham actually have much more significant growth than we see at the moment. Then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (right) with shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer in 2019 ( PA ) But the one question which has constantly dogged his leadership is why he stuck with Jeremy Corbyn and backed him so passionately in 2019 only to ditch his policies and expel him once he became leader. For the first time, Sir Keir has hinted that he stayed in the shadow cabinet to be in a position to turn things round when the chance came. But he also warned Labour that Corbyn was not the only problem which needed fixing from 14 years in opposition. My hope was that we would have a Labour Party we could put before the electorate again. I didnt decide to run myself for later, until later in the event, but I was determined to hold our position. The fact that we stuck with Nato through all those years was really important to me. Why I said what I said about Salisbury [Russias attack] and antisemitism because I knew that there would be this day when we might get the chance to get our party back. We completely lost our perspective. We lost our way. I would just say this. I think we lost four elections in a row, and one of the mistakes is to think it was just Jeremy Corbyn. We, for many years, I think, had been drifting away from our core sort of values and purpose. And therefore, one of the things Ive instilled in the change Labour Party is dont just think it was 2019 that was the problem. Its absolutely deeper than that, and thats why the change is deeper than that. Read part one of Sir Keirs interview with The Independent here, where he reveals his innermost thoughts about his family, regrets with his father and homophobic attacks on his boyhood friend Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Tories appeared to be on the brink of catastrophe in the general election as a new poll gave Nigel Farages Reform UK a three-point lead. The Whitestone poll for Reach plc newspapers put Reform on 21 per cent, the Tories on just 18 per cent while Labour maintained a clear lead on 38 per cent. The devastating result for Mr Sunak means that the position of leader of the opposition, which Mr Farage covets, appears to be wide open. However, according to Electoral Calculus in a general election this would leave the Conservatives on a mere 50 seats, give Reform 29 but the Lib Dems would be the official opposition with 74 seats. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has sought to distance himself from his campaigners comments (Paul Marriott/PA) ( PA Wire ) The shock poll comes despite a string of scandals to hit Reform and Mr Farage over the last week. Just last night Channel 4 released footage of a Reform canvasser in in Clacton, where Farage hopes to become the MP, caught making racial slurs against the prime minister Rishi Sunak. This followed a candidate stepping away from the party for historic comments praising Hitler and Mr Farage himself being accused of appeasing Vladimir Putin by blaming the west for the invasion of Ukraine. But the poll reveals that anger against the Tories among their traditional supporters appears to be continuing to fuel Reforms march up the poll rankings. The gambling scandal which has engulfed the Tories appears to have had a much greater impact on voters. Mr Farage has claimed that his party is ahead of the Conservatves everywhere outside London and Scotland. Lachlan Rurlander, a consultant at Whitestone Insight said: With one week to go until polling day, these results suggest that the job of leader of the opposition is all to play for. Reform UK have managed to sustain some momentum and have achieved a three-point lead over the Conservatives, despite what has widely been seen as a difficult week for Nigel Farage. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Reform UK activist filmed making a racial slur about prime minister Rishi Sunak claims he cannot be racist as he has had Muslim girlfriends. Andrew Parker was recorded by a Channel 4 undercover reporter saying army recruits should use migrants arriving by small boats in Kent as target practice, and labelling Islam a disgusting cult in widely condemned comments. Referring to Mr Sunak, who is of Indian descent, he said: Ive always been a Tory voter. But what annoys me is that f****** p*** weve got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. Hes just wet. F****** useless. Speaking on Friday, Mr Parker claimed he had made the comments in the heat of the moment because he was being goaded on and said they were off-the-cuff. Of course I regret what I said, he added. Christ, Im not a racist. Ive had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk. Andrew Parkers racist comments were exposed by a Channel 4 News operation ( Channel 4 ) Asked whether he would like to apologise, he said: Of course Im sorry. They were off-the-cuff things that everyone says. Mr Parker said he had a lot of Pakistani friends and Muslim friends, and that he was sick to death of being asked about the footage, which was only released on Thursday. Both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer condemned the comments and said Mr Farage had questions to answer over another racism row involving his party. The Prime Minister said the slur hurts and it makes me angry, adding: My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing p****. I dont repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately, because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is. Sir Keir said he was shocked by the clearly racist footage and that the Reform UK leader faced a test of leadership. Nigel Farages suggestion the incident was a set up were quickly shot down ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast: You have to ask the question why so many people who are supporting Reform seem to be exposed in this particular way. Its for a leader to change his or her party, to make sure the culture is right, and the standards are understood by everybody within the party. On Friday Mr Farage and Reform supporters tried to suggest the incident was a set up after it emerged Mr Parker was an actor. The party leader said he was dismayed by the racist comments, describing them as appalling sentiments, but claimed the whole episode does not add up. Rishi Sunak said the comments made him angry ( Sky News ) But Mr Parker rejected the suggestion of conspiracy, and said he had become involved with Reform UK by contacting the party himself and volunteering to do leafletting because he believes in its message. Channel 4 News also shot down any criticism of its reporting when it exposed Mr Parkers comments during an undercover operation. We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself, a spokesperson said. We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak expected to spend the day talking about how he was fighting but fighting for every vote, with less than a week to go before the election. Instead, he came out fighting against Nigel Farage. The normally cerebral prime minister was clearly emotional as he talked about the hurt and anger he felt after a Reform activist used racial slurs against him. He did not hold back as he spoke of his daughters having to hear that language. And he said he had made a specific decision to repeat the slur, saying the issue was too important not to call it for what it is. This felt like Rishi Sunak with the gloves off. Rishi Sunak takes questions from journalists during an election campaign visit to a school in Teeside ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Earlier, a more relaxed Tory leader had laughed and joked with a group of four and five-years-olds on a visit to Holy Trinity Rosehill primary school in Stockton-on-Tees. Perhaps mindful that prime ministers had been tripped up at similar events in the past, by difficult questions, or eye-rolling, from the children, the PM played it safe. His most controversial moment, as he was shown the fruit salad they were making, was asking can I take some home? (The answer was a resounding no). But afterwards, taking questions from reporters, the smiley Mr Sunak seen in the classroom was gone. A clearly determined PM hit out at Reform UK - and its leader Mr Farage. He condemned the culture in the upstart party and he said the former UKIP leader had questions to answer. It came after Reform canvasser Andrew Parker was revealed, as part of an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News, to have said: Ive always been a Tory voter. But what annoys me is that f****** p*** weve got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. Hes just wet. F****** useless. Minutes after laughing and joking with a little girl who had told him it was her birthday, a fired up Mr Sunak did not pull his punches. My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign to Nigel Farage calling me an effing p***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer, he said. Mr Sunak inside a classroom at Holy Trinity Rosehill school ( AP ) He added: I hate having to repeat it. Absolutely hate it. But I also think its important to call this out for what it is and be clear about what it is. Later he told reporters that in general he was energised about this campaign. The same campaign in which the party he condemned, Reform, is cannibalising his vote. Polls suggest it is on course to win just a handful of seats. But the thousands of votes in takes in constituencies across England could be the difference between many staying Tory or turning Labour and Lib Dem. Speaking to journalists, Mr Sunak dodged a question about whether he will push the nuclear button and campaign in his constituency this weekend - as well as if he can guarantee he will win even his own seat. The prime minister, previously thought to have one of the safest Tory seats in the country, said he did not take anything for granted and would fight hard for every vote. Later at a local college, he seemed to make clear that was not idle rhetoric. Dressed in a Hi-Viz jacket, while inside yet another classroom, he ran into one of his own constituents, from a village in the nearby seat of Richmond and Northallerton. Were you at the fete the other week? he asked the young engineering student. On hearing he was not, Mr Sunak was not put off, telling him he would see him around. An opinion poll last week suggested he could become the first PM in history to lose his seat at an election. So even on a trip to a nearby constituency, designed to help the local MP Jacob Young, who accompanied him to the college, Mr Sunak knows that a vote is a vote. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak took the gloves off in his fight with Reform UK on Friday, revealing his hurt and anger after his daughters were exposed to their father being called a P*** by a canvasser for Nigel Farages party. Andrew Parker was caught using the racial slur while canvassing in Clacton, Essex, where Mr Farage is standing to be an MP. Mr Parker, who was filmed as part of an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News, said: Ive always been a Tory voter. But what annoys me is that f***ing P*** weve got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. Hes just wet. F***ing useless. Essex Police said they were urgently assessing the comments to establish if there are any criminal offences. On a campaign visit to a school in Teesside, the prime minister told broadcasters: My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing P***. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer. Andrew Parker was filmed as part of an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News ( Channel 4 ) It came after Mr Sunak also accused Mr Farage of appeasing Putin in comments the Reform leader made that appeared to blame the West for provoking the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting a change of strategy by the prime minister against the right-wing insurgent party eating away at the Tory voter base. It follows weeks of attempts by advisers and MPs from the centre of the party to persuade Mr Sunak to attack the extremism found among some supporters of Reform, while the prime minister tried to take a more conciliatory approach. On his decision to repeat the racial slur out loud, the prime minister told reporters: I do it deliberately and I hate having to do it. I chose my words deliberately. I hate having to repeat it. Absolutely hate it. But I also think its important to call this out for what it is, and be clear about what it is. Asked if he was frustrated that some former Tory voters are leaning towards voting for Reform UK when its activists are making racist and homophobic comments, Mr Sunak said: When you see Reform candidates and campaigners seemingly using racist and misogynistic language and opinion, seemingly without challenge, I think it tells you something about the culture in the Reform party. He continued: Andrew Tate isnt an important voice for men. Hes a vile misogynist. And our politics and country [are] better than that. As prime minister, but more importantly as a father of two young girls, its my duty to call out this corrosive and divisive behaviour. Mr Farage has previously been photographed with the social media personality Mr Tate. Nigel Farage has sought to distance himself from the comments made by one of his activists ( AFP via Getty ) Video footage shown on Channel 4 also featured another Reform UK canvasser describing the Pride flag as degenerate and suggesting that members of the LGBT+ community are paedophiles. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was shocked by the clearly racist footage. Mr Farage sought to distance himself from the comments, saying he was dismayed by the appalling sentiments. However, after it was revealed that Mr Parker is a part-time actor, the Reform UK leader suggested that the filmed comments were part of a set-up. Appearing on ITVs Loose Women, he said: It was an act right from the very start, adding that Mr Parker had been rough speaking because he was drunk after watching football. People when theyre drunk often turn quite nasty. It was unforgivably nasty, he said. I have to tell you, this whole thing was a complete and total set-up, I have no doubt about that. Asked if he thought Mr Parker had been paid to discredit Reform UK, he said: I dont know whether he was paid or not. Im saying its possible, I dont know. Something is wrong here. Rishi Sunak says he thinks Farage has some questions to answer about the comments made by members of his team ( AP ) Mr Parker had told Reform in Clacton that he was a property developer, and initially denied he was an actor, even though his profile for work is available online. Peter Harris, Mr Farages election agent in Clacton, told The Independent: He [Parker] only turned up one day to help. It just happened to be the day that Channel 4 were secretly filming, and they just happened to decide to get into his car. He is not from the constituency, but the problem is that we get so many volunteers that it is impossible to scrutinise everyone. But I have to say, I thought something didnt stack up about him when I met him. But I have told our volunteers to remember we will be the most scrutinised local campaign in history. Other parties make mistakes and have bad apples, but ours will be blown up much more than the others because Nigel is our candidate. Channel 4 has denied any suggestion that it paid Mr Parker or has paid anyone else. We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism, which speaks for itself, a spokesperson said. We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation. Mr Parker has apologised for his comments, denied he is a racist, and claimed it was just typical chaps-down-the-pub talk in the heat of the moment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer will reportedly delay the recognition of the Palestinian state if Labour forms the next government, over concerns it could jeopardise Britains relationship with the United States. The Labour leader has pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood and said it would be part of any Middle East peace accord with Israel. Sir Keir said: That needs to be part of the process, its very important we have a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel. He is under pressure from the left of the party to follow through on the Labour manifesto promise, but members of his inner circle have concerns this could isolate him from major allies such as the US at the start of his premiership, The Times reports. A source close to Sir Keir told the newspaper that British recognition of Palestine was a process and would have the most impact if done in coordination with allies. They denied the US would influence the timing of an announcement. Last month the Labour leader downplayed suggestions the recognition of the Palestinian state by the British would happen anytime soon. It has got to be at the right time in the process because we need a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel, he said. We dont have either of those at the moment, and therefore it has got to be at the point of the process where we could see both of those outcomes. A number of countries, such as Ireland, Spain and Norway have moved to recognise Palestinian statehood, following the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas and the war in Gaza, which has claimed more than 37,000 lives. Sir Keirs position on the conflict has previously caused unease among some in his party, with the leader facing criticism for not calling for an immediate ceasefire sooner. In November last year, a host of Sir Keirs shadow ministers broke ranks to call for an immediate ceasefire, including Naz Shah, Paul Barker and Afzal Khan. A total of 10 shadow ministers and parliamentary aides rebelled, with some 56 Labour members defying a three-line whip and backing an amendment to the Kings Speech. The party faced setbacks in the local elections in some previously safe areas, particularly those with large Muslim populations. LOBAMBA Bobhabuli batochubeka bajangaze (the perpetrators of corruption will continue to thrive). This comment was made when the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) appeared before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday in Parliament. The ACC was responding to queries of an over E7.4 million under-expenditure on CTA vehicle charges as well as under professional and specialised services in the financial year ended March 31, 2023. The Financial Audit Report on the Consolidated Government Accounts of the Kingdom of Eswatini for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, indicated that the ACC, under the two centres, was allocated E364 028 for CTA and motor vehicle charges but only utilised E308 880.96. Under professional and specialised services, the commission was allocated E8 312 774, but utilised E966 497.09. The commission had an under-expenditure of E7 401 423.95 in both centres, which equated to over 88 per cent under-expenditure. The under-expenditure suggested that the commission could not perform a large percentage of its responsibilities. The Controlling Officer and ACC Acting Commissioner, Maphevu Mkhatshwa, explained to the PAC that the under-expenditure in these two centres was brought about by that in the financial year 2022/2023, government reduced the allocation of fuel for the commission, against the approved budget. He further stated that the turnaround process for the maintenance of vehicles took longer than expected. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport returned unprocessed documents after the close of the financial year and this resulted in the commission incurring less expenditure than expected. The shortage of vehicles and reduction of fuel quota limited the commissions operations and as a result, fewer investigations were undertaken, he said. Hampered With regard to the under-expenditure on professional and special services, Mkhatshwa stated that the commissions operations were hampered, following a Cabinet decision to harmonise the mandates of the ACC and that of the Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration (CHRPA). Following the explanation that was given by the acting commissioner, the PAC felt the issues that engulfed the ACC did not hold water, in the fight against rampant corruption. Zombodze Emuva Member of Parliament (MP) Ntando Mkhonta, wondered if the commission was able to recover in terms of their operations, after they recorded the under expenditure in 2023. It is worrying to see a commission as crucial as the ACC recording under-expenditure. This means the people who are committing corruption will not be caught if you fail utilise it to catch bobhabuli (perpetrators). If you fail to utilise the funds, kusho kutsi bobhabuli batochubeka bajangaze, he said.He urged the commission to show interest in ending corruption in Eswatini and achieve all their planned programmes. Gege MP Magesi Dlamini, wondered what measures were taken by the ACC to bypass the lengthy CTA process at least. The PAC Vice Chairperson and Nhlambeni MP, Manzi Zwane, said his concern about the under-expenditure was caused by the powers that the ACC was stripped of. He asked how badly the court judgment affected the ACC. Will I be wrong to say the court judgment affected you? We need to know if we are getting the value for money in this entity, he said. However, Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula, said the ACC controlling officer was shallow in his explanation. He stated that their analysis of the ACC budget allocation indicated a lot of under-expenditure. Allocated In 2022, they were allocated E10.2 million, but only spent E500 000. In 2023 they were allocated E10.9 million, but the actual expenditure was E966 497.09, he said. Matsebula said the figures indicated that the ACC was provided with a budget that was not utilised. He said in 2022, the ACC stated that the under-expenditure was due to stalled operations caused by the uncertainty of the CHRPA harmonisation and the funds were for special services and lawyers. Matsebula said in 2023, the story was similar. He said he was hopeful that the controlling officer would ensure that going forward the funds they requested were utilised. The controlling officer emphasised that the issue of fuel was challenging. We struggle in terms of fuel. We are treated like a normal government department, yet we are more or less like a law enforcement department and some of our operations are instant, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Supreme Courts decision to scale back the authority of federal agencies means regulations and rules for the environment, health care, financial services, food safety, transportation and more could be dramatically altered moving forward. Fridays decision, ushered by the conservative arm of the court, overturns a 40-year precedent that allowed federal agencies to defer to their own expertise when interpreting ambiguous language, known as the Chevron deference. Now, agencies will have to turn to Congress or the courts for guidance. Experts are expecting far-reaching repercussions that could cause large delays in implementing rules and regulations since Congress will now have to understand complex issues and decide how to proceed. In the past, the agencies could decide how to handle enforcement or regulatory issues themselves. Organizations that rely on federal agencys guidance are warning about the potential for their respective industry. Environmental Policies set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at reducing climate change will most likely see a significant rollback under the new standard. Already, the federal agency has faced difficulties implementing rules to reduce air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions in Congress and the courts. This is yet another blow to the EPAs ability to tackle emerging problems like climate change, Cara Horowtiz, an environmental lawyer, said in a statement. She added, By eliminating the duty of federal courts to defer to agencies in areas where the law is ambiguous about how to handle new or emerging threats, the Supreme Court takes more tools out of the toolbox of our federal regulators." Policies set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at reducing climate change will most likely see a significant rollback under the new standard from the Supreme Court ( Getty Images ) Public health Healthcare organizations fear that without the protections of Chevron could cause significant disruptions to publicly-funded health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid by allowing courts or Congress to decide how those programs are funded or administered. Large health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, as well as issues related to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, are extremely complex, so it is key that decisions about how to interpret and implement relevant laws are made by experts at government agencies, a statement from the American Public Health Association and 17 other groups said. Yet todays majority opinion explicitly ends the use of this sensible doctrine, the statement continued. Agencies that have been subject to political controversy like the Centers for Disease Control or Food and Drug Adminstraiton will be forced to listen to Congress when determining what they can or cannot do. Healthcare organizations fear that without the protections of Chevron could cause significant disruptions to publicly-funded health programs ( AFP via Getty Images ) Financial sector The elimination of Chevron could open the door for a slew of legal challenges to financial regulations set by the Securities Exchange Commission, IRS, Treasury and more. For example, the decision could lead to challenges in IRS oversight, according to Kiplinger. The new regulations could make IRS tax compliance and enforcement more difficult as the agency will have to seek Congressional guidance on how to handle those issues. Some financial groups that advocate for a more fiscally conservative agenda welcomed Fridays decision. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation said in a statement that it would level the playing field for taxpayers and government agencies. Unreasonable IRS interpretations will no longer automatically win in court, which is as it should be, and reasonable interpretations will still have the force of law, Joe Bishop-Henchman, vice president of the group, said. The courts decision could also make it more difficult for regulatory authorities to quickly enact rules that address timely issues - such as cryptocurrency regulation. Some financial groups that advocate for a more fiscally conservative agenda welcomed Fridays decision to limit agency oversight, such as those from the IRS ( AP ) Labor unions Labor boards have relied heavily on Chevron to issue guidance and enact protections for workers. But under the new ruling, workers boards such as the National Labor Relations Board will most likely have to turn to judges to issue case decisions and interpret rules. The American Federation of Teachers, the countrys second-largest educators union, blasted the decision. The Supreme Courts shameful decision turns democracy on its head. It fundamentally changes the role of unelected judges from interpreters of law to makers of lawand there is nothing in the Constitution that warrants that. By eliminating deference to public agencies, the court has undermined the ability of experts to set strong rules to protect consumers, workers and the public from corporations and other lawbreakers, President Randi Weingarten said. This decision has real-life consequences for American families. It shifts power away from agencies with public-focused missions toward courtrooms and corporate lawyers adept at poking holes in regulations. It injects legal uncertainty into areas like workplace safety rules, overtime pay policies and collective bargaining rights interpretationsall of which have long relied on agencies Chevron-backed expertise. It will make it easier for employers to steal wages from their workers, and it could stop the Department of Health and Human Services from directly negotiating prescription drug prices for Medicare. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two people face charges for throwing a baby from a second-floor window to his death, police said. Authorities in Pennsylvania announced the arrests of Emily Jane Dickinson, 20, and James Coleman Wooters, 19, in connection to the unnamed babys death. Dickinson is a certified nursing assistant in Maryland. The baby was found dead at an intersection in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, on March 11, according to the Bedford Gazette . The child weighed 4 pounds and had brown hair and blue eyes. He was estimated to be at 36 weeks of gestation. Investigators also found the placenta nearby and a trash bag that contained a blood-stained mattress cover, according to a police report obtained by the outlet. Police canvassed the neighborhood and spoke to Wooters, who denied knowing the baby. His apartment overlooks where the baby was found. Wooters told police that shortly after birth he was holding the baby when Dickinson threw the child out of the second-story window ( Bedford County Prison ) On April 3, police went into his apartment and found blood evidence on a mattress and a window sill, according to the report. Wooters told officers he hadnt seen Dickinson since October. He also said the two were not in a sexual relationship. Officers then told him that Dickinson was spotted in the area in March and Wooters admitted he lied because that was his reaction to something traumatic. Wooters admitted the two were having sex and he only learned about the baby a month earlier. He also said he was not ready to be a father, according to the report. He then admitted that one day, Dickinson woke him up and said she was in labor. Wooters went into the bathroom until he heard the baby cry. He said he rocked the baby to quiet him and then cut the umbilical cord with a kitchen knife, according to the report. Wooters said the baby was bleeding from the umbilical cord. That is when Dickinson walked by and threw the baby out the window, he claimed. Dickinsons mother was also in the apartment at the time but was not aware of the situation, according to the report. Dickinson told police she was hallucinating from blood loss after birth and the child was born deformed ( Bedford County Prison ) Police also spoke to Dickinson who said she was not aware she was pregnant until she was months along, according to the report. She had researched abortions but believed it was too late. She didnt seek a doctors care and did not look up adoption agencies. Dickinson said she woke up in pain and gave birth in bed. She also told police the baby was deformed with a head larger than usual, according to the report. She said the baby died and she threw him out of the window. Dickinson claimed she was hallucinating from blood loss and her story wavered on if the baby died shortly after birth, according to the report. Both now face charges of homicide , conspiracy to commit homicide, and a host of misdemeanors. Wooters was also charged with a felony count of second-degree obstruction of law enforcement. The two suspects are being held in jail without bond. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Four officers from the Hawaiian Department of Law Enforcement have been arrested in the last nine days as part of an investigation into alleged incidents of racial harassment. William Gary, 46, was arrested on Thursday for alleged harassment and later released pending further investigation, KITV reports. The arrest of Gary, who worked in the agencys airport division, follows the arrest on Wednesday of deputy sheriff William K Keahi, 40, on alllegations of reckless endangerment and harassment. Police were accused of racist remarks and giving dangerous order to Black officer ( Hawaii News Now screengrab ) Keahi also worked in the airport division, and allegedly ordered a Black officer to rush into airport traffic and make a dangerous stop at Daniel K Inouye airport, sources told Hawaii Civil Beat. Two others were also recently arrested as part of the investigation, including sergeant Eric Mitamura, 40, and Alvin Turla, 47, members of the Capitol Central Division. They were arrested after allegedly making racist remarks about fried chicken to a Black deputy sheriff during a training exercise, Hawaii News Now reports. It apparently has been going on for months, but it was not brought to our attention until the latter part of May, Jordan Lowe, director of the Department of Law Enforcement, told the station on Thursday. That type of behavior will not be tolerated. When you look at here we are in 2024, its somewhat disheartening, he added. At least three of the arrested men have been released pending further investigation and placed on administrative leave. They have not been convicted of any crimes or appeared in court. Another five officers are on leave amid an unrelated criminal and administrative trove, according to Lowe. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The jury deciding the fate of Karen Read has said it is unable to reach a unanimous decision after eight weeks of testimony and four days of deliberations. However, Judge Beverly Cannone sent them back to continue talking as some of their deliberation days ended early. The jury continued to deliberate throughout the afternoon and is now set to resume on Monday. Jurors began deliberating on Tuesday and on Friday told the judge that they could not come to a unanimous decision as to whether or not Read was responsible for killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe in 2022. Read has denied the charges. If the jury remains hung, it would end the case - though the state could decide if it wants to retrial Reed for the alleged murder. She faces a second-degree murder charge that carries a penalty of up to life in prison. The jurys deliberations come after eight weeks of testimony in the highly publicized trial that began in April surrounded by a media storm and fanned by crime bloggers. Karen Read talks to her attorney as the jury enters the courtroom during trial. A jury has said they cant reach a verdict, but a judge sent them back to talk more ( AP ) Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, was charged with second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while impaired and leaving the scene of an accident in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend John OKeefe. The state said that Read ran over OKeefe, killing him after their relationship deteriorated. The defense argues that OKeefe was killed in a fight with others and Read has been framed for the murder. In closing arguments on Tuesday, defense attorney Alan Jackson described a cancer of lies that turned into a cover-up, and told jurors theyre the only thing standing between Karen Read and the tyranny of injustice. You have been lied to in this courtroom. Your job is to make sure you dont ever ever look the other away, he told the court. But Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally told jurors there is no conspiracy. Lally began his closing argument with the words four witnesses reported hearing Read say after OKeefe was discovered on the snowy lawn: The defendant repeatedly said I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God. I hit him. Those were the words that came from the defendants mouth, Lally said. The body of 46-year-old John OKeefe, a Boston police officer, was found in the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts. An autopsy found he died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma ( Boston Police Department ) Prosecutors argued that Read dropped OKeefe, 46, off at a house party in Canton hosted by fellow officer, Brian Albert, after a night of drinking, struck him while making a three-point turn and drove away, leaving him to die in the snow. She allegedly returned hours later to find OKeefes snow-covered body in the front year and was heard repeatedly shouting I hit him, I hit him as first responders were on the scene, witnesses have testified. But Reads defense team claimed that she was framed by someone who beat OKeefe to death at Alberts home and that he was bitten by the family dog. They say the homeowners relationship with local and state police tainted their investigation. Ladies and gentlemen, there was a cover-up in this case, plain and simple, Jackson said during closing arguments. The defense also argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a convenient outsider who saved them from having to consider other suspects, including Albert and other law enforcement officers who were at the party. Supporters of Karen Read display signs at Norfolk Superior Court ( AP ) The jury of six men and six women deliberated behind closed doors in Norfolk County Superior Court, while a sidewalk jury of true crime bloggers and Read supporters gathered outside for days. Many were drawn to the case because of an online blog run by Aidan Kearney, aka Turtleboy, who has relentlessly questioned the prosecution. He has also been accused of harassing witnesses. Kearney was charged with witness intimidation and conspiracy, which he denies. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two high school teachers from the same Louisiana institution have been arrested for allegedly having inappropriate relationships with students. Shelby Cavignac, 31, and Alexa Wingerter, 35, have both been arrested and booked into Slidell City Jail in Slidell, Louisiana. Both of the women taught at Slidell High School. Cavignac was arrested after law enforcement authorities conducted an investigation into Wingerter which began in March. Police say Wingerter sent inappropriate photos and text messages to male students. Shes also accused of buying alcohol for pupils at a local bar. Wingerter was first arrested in late April on charges of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. Police said that she had an inappropriate relationship with at least one 18-year-old male student. Several search warrants were executed and investigators with the Slidell Police Department found evidence to support Cavignac was also having inappropriate relationships with students. She was arrested for prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student. Alexa Wingerter, 35, and Shelby Cavignac, 31, two former teachers of Slidell High School have been arrested on charges of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student ( Slidell Police Department ) As part of the evidence found during the searches, police say they discovered that Wingerter had inappropriate relationships with additional students who were not originally identified. As a result of the new evidence, shes facing additional charges, including two counts of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student and indecent behavior with a juvenile. She was arrested a second time on Wednesday along with Cavignac. Police did not release any additional details about the alleged crimes. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Texas jury on Friday found a driver guilty of intoxication manslaughter over the deaths of eight people who were struck by an SUV that plowed into a crowded bus stop outside a migrant shelter on the U.S.-Mexico border. The verdict was handed down by a Cameron County jury more than a year after authorities say George Alvarez lost control of the vehicle after running a red light in May 2023. The deadly scene happened in Brownsville, which has long been an epicenter for migration. Alvarez was found guilty of eight counts of intoxication manslaughter at the end of a weeklong trial, said Edward Sandoval, a Cameron County prosecutor. The sentencing phase of the trial was scheduled to begin later Friday. He faces up to 160 years in prison. A shelter operator said victims struck by the vehicle had been waiting for the bus to return to downtown Brownsville after spending the night at the overnight shelter. Authorities said at the time that Alvarez tried to flee but was held down by several people at the scene. George Alvarez has now been found guilty in the eight deaths outside the migrant shelter. He faces up to 160 years in prison ( AP ) The city bus stop is across the street from the shelter and is not marked. There was no bench, and people waiting there were sitting along the curb, Maldonado said. He said most of the victims were Venezuelan men. What we see in the video is that this SUV, a Range Rover, just ran the light that was about a 100 feet away and just went through the people who were sitting there in the bus stop, Shelter director Victor Maldonado said at the time. He said the SUV flipped after running up on the curb and continued moving for about 200 feet. Some people who were walking on the sidewalk about 30 feet away from the main group were also hit, Maldonado said. Maldonado said the center had not received any threats before the crash, but they did afterward. Ive had a couple of people come by the gate and tell the security guard that the reason this happened was because of us, Maldonado said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Minnesota county board candidate was arrested on assault charges after a tenant claimed that she threw a live tarantula at her after apparently being inspired by the movie Home Alone. Marissa Simonetti, 30, was arrested on June 21 and was charged with fifth-degree assault and misdemeanor domestic assault, online jail records show. Simonetti, who is running for a seat on the Hennepin County Board, told NBC that the incident that led to her arrest stemmed from a dispute she got into with Jackie Vasquez, an attorney, over her alleged refusal to leave Simonettis property. Vasquez told KARE that things took a turn after Simonetti allegedly threw a live tarantula at her, among other objects; Simonetti added that the attorney moved out of the property over the weekend after the bizarre ordeal. The board candidate explained that she had rented Vasquez a room in her five-bedroom house that she lives in with her son through Airbnb, but eventually canceled the reservation after a string of incidents. "She was in my house less than two weeks before she started sending me double-, triple-paragraph long texts and yelling at people on the phone at 10:30 at night for an hour," Simonetti claimed. "Im just sitting up here ... thinking this is not going to go well." However, the situation escalated when Vasquez was reportedly supposed to move out, with Simonetti accusing her of being a squatter. Fox9 reports that the incident arose because Vasquez was apparently complaining of a spider infestation. Simonetti told the outlet the complaints kept coming in, so she finally asked Vasquez to leave. After the tenant allegedly refused to leave, Simonetti relayed how she went down to a pet store and purchased a tarantula, but gently tipped it down the stairs, saying that she did not throw it at Vasquez, NBC reported. "Im not a physically violent person, and I watched the movie Home Alone growing up, and I was, like, you know what, this is such a strange situation," Simonetti said. "If Im scared or hurt, I try and make jokes. And I was so scared, I was just like, I didnt know what to do, and so, yeah, I got the spider." After the candidate was freed without bond, Simonetti told KARE that she would continue her campaign for a seat on the Hennepin County Board. "Fifth-degree assault means someone only needs to feel fear or feel afraid of bodily harm. I never hit anybody. I never touched anybody. And the reason I was held longer is because she was in my house. So it had to potentially be considered a domestic," Simonetti told the outlet. Simonetti, the runner-up in the summers special election in the nonpartisan Hennepin County Board race running as a conservative, has dealt with some other legal trouble in the past. She faced allegations of credit card fraud after being accused of creating $80,000 of charges on her ex-fiances card, but the case was dropped after her former partner settled in civil court, according to KARE. Simonetti and another ex-boyfriend also have restraining orders against each other, KARE also reported. Vasquez told Fox9 that she wasnt a squatter and paid $1,500 to stay there. Simonetti reportedly confirmed Vasquez did pay. A judges order is now in place for the two women to stay apart; Simonetts next court appearance is in mid-July. The Independent has connected the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office for further information. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Catholic church in Missouri has apologized after issuing a call for young men to form a militia to protect the congregation. The Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri posted a bulletin on its website on June 16. We are calling all young men back to the Church to form a militia dedicated to protecting the Holy Eucharist, our congregation, our clergy, and the church grounds, the message read. The militia would be called The Legion of the Sancta Lana Council and will be composed of young men between the ages of 18-29. Training will include strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations. The ad encouraged people to scan the QR code if they have experience in military, fitness instruction, Latin, business or medicine. The QR code led to an application for membership to the militia tied to Ascension parish. The application says that the church has been chosen as the testing ground for the militia and, if successful, we hope to establish platoons at parishes around the world, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. The church has since retracted the announcement and apologized for it, running a banner on its website. We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused, and we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and our community for us to clarify that we do not support this activity, it reads. Ascension Catholic Church issued an apology after posting a bulletin calling for the formation of a militia ( Ascension Catholic Church ) The church clarified that the militia has no ties to the parish. There is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin, the apology note read. The suggestion that the community needed a militia is inappropriate and unhelpful, adding there have been zero threats made against our community, the church wrote. It sort of was a mistake, an anonymous parishioner told Fox 2. It was an advertisement that was printed without any review by the parish, and I think it slipped through the review process cracks, if you will. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Polly Pocket inventor Chris Wiggs has died at age 74. Wiggs died at his home in France on June 20, the New York Post reported, after being diagnosed with an unnamed rare brain cancer. Wiggs invented Polly Pocket, the iconic childrens toy packaged in compact cases that unfolded into dollhouses or other playsets. Wiggs made the first Polly Pocket prototype for his daughter, Kate Wiggs, in 1983 using an old makeup compact. Kate told the Post her father was a natural inventor. Im trying to remember the first moment he handed over the compact and I think it would have just been very ordinary. Oh, I made this. Here you go, she told the outlet. Because he was always making stuff, it was the most natural thing in the world. Polly Pockets hit stores in 1989. Mattel, the toy brand that also makes Barbies, began to sell them soon afterwards. The brand redesigned the toys in 1998 to include new clothing and increased their size to 3.5 inches, according to the Post. Polly Pockets on display in New York in 2007. Their creator, Chris Wiggs, died last week at 74 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Wiggs maintained the rights to Polly Pocket even after Mattel purchased it but finally sold them to the toy giant in 2007 to focus on his passion for music. The toys sold until 2012, when Mattel took them off shelves. Mattel brought them back in 2018, and Mattel launched an animated series for the toys, according to the Post. The compact dolls have become a childhood staple for people around the world. [Polly Pocket] kind of exploded and became this thing that still, however many decades later, people remember so fondly and want to talk about, Kate told the Post. Lynn Rosenblum, former marketing director at Mattel, told the Post everyone knew the brand was small but was very special. Polly Pocket dolls, like those pictured, came in compact plastic cases that unfolded into dollhouses. Mattel announced a Polly Pocket film directed by Lena Dunham in 2021 ( Getty Images ) Many small dolls came and went, Rosenblum told the outlet. The Polly Pocket toys were easy to package, the commercial was good, the price was right and the character was so darn cute. Given their iconic status, Mattel announced a Polly Pocket film in 2021. The movie, which does not yet have a release date, will be directed by Lena Dunham and feature Lily Collins, the star of Emily in Paris, according to People. Mattels last doll-related film, Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, was the highest-grossing film of 2023 worldwide. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps former adviser Steve Bannon must report to prison on July 1 after the Supreme Court rejected his attempts to stall his four-month sentence. The nations highest court on Friday denied the far-right podcasters emergency request to stay out of jail while he continues to appeal. Bannon was found in contempt of Congress after defying subpoenas to give evidence to the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol. The former White House advisers sentence mirrors the one handed down to another former Trump aide, Peter Navarro, who became the first Trumpworld figure to go to jail in connection with January 6. Navarro had similarly refused to comply with a subpoena from the congressional committee that investigated the 2021 attack, and the responses from Trump and his allies. Bannon was initially sentenced in October 2022, but the sentence was put on hold pending his appeal. That conviction was upheld last month, and a federal judge who ordered him to prison earlier this month agreed with prosecutors who argued that there was no legal basis to let him avoid it. A man holds a sign that reads Lock Them Up as Attorney Matthew Evan Corcoran (L) and Steve Bannon, former advisor to President Donald Trump, depart federal court on June 6, 2024 in Washington, DC. Bannon has been ordered to begin serving his four-month prison sentence on July 1 for two counts of contempt of Congress after failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol ( Getty Images ) Several House Republicans who have tried to rewrite the narrative of the Capitol attack and undermine the convictions of hundreds of people in connection with the assault have pressed federal courts to intervene. This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson whom Bannon once called a revolting loser and other GOP leadership agreed to file briefs with a federal appeals court to boost Bannons attempts to overturn his conviction. Johnson said House leadership was preparing to withdraw the committees findings, claiming that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi abused her authority when organizing its membership. At least one House Republican filed a brief directly to the Supreme Court, claiming that the House select committee improperly asserted to the House that Mr. Bannon refused to appear for a duly executed deposition. As such, this Court should conclude that the entire prosecutorial process against the applicant was tainted and must be dismissed as a matter of law, according to Republican Representative Barry Loudermilk. Loudermilks petition was filed by a lawyer with the Trump-aligned America First Legal Foundation, the legal group formed by former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. Last week, another group of House Republicans introduced a resolution to try to rescind Bannons subpoena and his contempt of Congress recommendation. This is about shutting down the MAGA movement, shutting down grassroots conservatives, shutting down President Trump, Bannon told reporters outside a federal courthouse in Washington this month after a judge upheld his conviction. Not only are we winning, we are going to prevail, he said. Theres not a prison built or jail built that will shut me up. Bannon will now join half a dozen Trump allies who have served time for obstruction, campaign finance violations, fraud, and other charges surrounding the former presidents 2016 campaign, his real estate empire and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. On his Truth Social earlier this month, Trump called Bannons detention a total and complete American tragedy and demanded that members of the January 6 committee be prosecuted. Chinese envoy urges parties concerned to avoid creating new tensions in Red Sea Xinhua) 13:12, June 28, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, on Thursday called on all parties concerned to strictly abide by the UN Charter, and avoid misinterpreting and misusing international law and Security Council resolutions or creating new tensions in the Red Sea waters. Since the end of last year, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters, disrupting the normal order of international trade and negatively affecting regional stability, Geng said in his explanation of vote on the UN Security Council draft resolution on the Red Sea situation. China abstained in the voting on the draft resolution. "The Red Sea is an important transport corridor of goods and energy products," he said, stressing that China has on multiple occasions called on the Houthis to respect the right of navigation of merchant vessels in the Red Sea waters under international law, heed the call of the international community, and comply with relevant Security Council resolution by ceasing attacks on civilian vessels and ensuring the safety of the Red Sea shipping lanes. Noting that in January this year, when the Security Council adopted Resolution 2722, China abstained in the voting, Geng said China's main concern was that the resolution's ambiguity on some key elements could have negative consequences and lead to further escalation of regional tensions. "We observe that after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2722, certain countries have taken military actions in Yemen, which have not only resulted in infrastructure damage and civilian casualties, but also heightened security risks in the Red Sea waters," he said. According to Geng, Thursday's resolution was a technical rollover of Resolution 2722, and considering the continuity of its position and the development of the situation since January, China had to abstain in the voting once again. The current tensions in the Red Sea are one of the spillover manifestations of the Gaza conflict, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza will help cool down the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea, he said. China stands ready to continue to work with the Security Council and the international community to promote an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, search for a political solution to the Yemen issue, and work together for peace and stability in the Middle East, the envoy said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) MANZINI His Majesty King Mswati III expressed concern for the girl who attempted to see him, while he was touring Eswatini Oil Mill (EOM) on Wednesday. This was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thuli Dladla, who attended to the girl after the incident. Dladla said after spotting Gabisile Mavuso trying to meet him, the King instructed that she be brought to Esibayeni Lodge, to join him and his guests for dinner. The DPM shared that as she was en route to Esibayeni Lodge, she received a call conveying a message from the King, enquiring if they had successfully brought Mavuso to the dinner. Following the dinner, she received another call from the King, enquiring about Mavusos intentions and how he could help her. In the meantime, the DPM said she had dispatched a team of police officers to conduct a background check on the girl and they had visited her residence. Dladla elaborated that the girls background was challenging, as she had dropped out of school in Form IV and resided with her mother at Tingulubeni, Matsapha, as they lacked a proper home. The DPM explained that the girl decided to visit the oil mill plant upon learning about the Kings presence, hoping to meet him and share her circumstances. They are in need of a decent home since their current makeshift dwelling is in poor condition, the DPM said. After the dinner, Dladla said they provided the girl and her mother with groceries. Later on Wednesday night, the DPM said she received a call from the King, requesting a detailed report on the girl, demonstrating his concern. The subsequent morning, Dladla said a team of police officers was sent to get Mavuso from an undisclosed location, following the Kings directive.Additionally, the DPM said her plans were to visit Tingulubeni to evaluate the area and engage with residents to explore ways her office could offer assistance. She anticipated visiting the location soon, possibly next week, as part of their commitment to the Nkwe mandate. Approached Following the EOM tour, Mavuso reportedly approached the King as he was escorted to his vehicle, but was intercepted by the Kings security personnel. It was reported that despite her protests and pleas to speak with the King, emphasising her unemployment and job search, she was unable to do so.It is worth noting that Tingulubeni is a settlement located on the southwestern boundary of Matsapha, along the Lusushwana River. The land is owned by government and inhabited mostly by former or aspiring textile firm workers, who have fallen on hard times. Residents include the elderly, middle-aged, youth and very young children. None of the houses are built from brick and mortar. The houses are put up using sticks and mud or corrugated iron sheets. The situation is so serious that some of the squatters spend the whole day without food. They cannot till the soil because there is not enough land for all, if farming was to be considered. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sleepy Joe Biden gave the Democratic Party a wake-up call on June 27. And concerns about the incumbent presidents age and mental fitness have not gone away. Last months first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, was the presidents shot to bat away questions about whether he can effectively serve a second term, one that would end with him leaving the Oval Office for the final time aged 86. Instead, apparently battling a cold, Biden appeared frail, raspy and hoarse onstage, forgetting his words at times and at other points seemingly losing track of his point altogether. Democratic sources who spoke to The Independent and a wide range of other media outlets immediately after the debate were in panic mode, with some openly fretting about whether it was possible for their party to do the unthinkable: replace a sitting, incumbent president on the ticket after he breezed through primary season virtually uncontested. Five days later, the first sitting Democratic lawmaker came out with a public call for Biden to drop out fo the race. Many more have since followed, with influential California Congressman Adam Schiff the most prominent to do so publicly, although former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have reportedly told the president in private that they believe it is time to go. Biden has insisted in post-debate interviews that only the Lord Almighty could persuade him to step away, his obstinate stance tempered only slightly by subsequent suggestions that convincing polling or a doctor diagnosing him with a medical condition could change his mind. On July 18, reports emerged that Biden recently diagnosed with Covid had privately become more receptive to talk of another Democrat at the top of the ticket, and could reach that conclusion as soon as this weekend. So is it even possible for Biden to drop out of the running and make way for a younger success to take on Donald Trump? The short answer is yes, it is possible. But it would be messy. Thats because Biden is not technically the Democratic Partys nominee for president. Not yet. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to hold its nominating convention from August 19 to 22, when thousands of delegates, elected officials, union leaders, activists, party bigwigs, lobbyists and others will descend on Chicago for a four-day summit at which Biden (or somebody else) will officially be nominated. The president (or his replacement) will then accept the nomination and deliver a keynote speech on the final night of the convention. The first 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump ( Getty ) Heres the catch: the outcome of that nominating process is already Bidens unless he refuses it. The president won all 50 states and all US territories in the Democratic Party primaries this spring, netting him all but a few of the delegates whose votes are needed to secure the nomination. Theyre bound to vote for him on the first ballot in the nominating process the same round in which unbound superdelegates, who can cast their votes as they please, are prohibited from participating. So, unless Biden himself drops out, the incumbent president will very much be his partys nominee come August. If he does exit the race, however, that would lead to the prospect of an open convention all those delegates bound to vote for Biden would spend the weeks leading up to the convention being courted by whichever Democrats jumped into the race to replace the president on the party ticket. Voters, who actually participated in the primary process this year, would have no say at all the outcome would be decided in a series of ballots at the August convention, with each candidate working to consolidate the required total. If that happens, there are a few prominent members of the presidents party who could throw their hats in the ring: Kamala Harris The most likely replacement for Biden is his deputy, Vice-President Kamala Harris, whose constitutional duties include stepping in if the president is unable to continue serving in office. Vice-President Kamala Harris would be the obvious person to step in to fill Bidens shoes given her constitutional duties but her run for the nomination in 2020 was notably unsuccessful ( AP ) Shes only one out of two of the likely suspects who has actually run a presidential campaign (albeit an unsuccessful one) and has the most national name recognition of any Democrat who could convincingly join the presidential race. However, the former California attorney general and US senator does not enjoy widespread public support and is something of a hate figure for the right, who have long alleged that Biden is only a Trojan horse candidate being used to win back the White House before stepping down to allow her to take over. That conspiracy theory was directly referred to in one of Trumps most recent attack videos, in which she was referred to as Cackling Kamala. Pete Buttigieg Bidens transport secretary, Buttigieg is another former 2020 contender (along with Harris) who could make a bid for the White House if Biden were to bow out. Pete Buttigieg ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 and has served as transportation secretary since Biden took office ( AP ) The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is naturally charismatic and has military service on his resume, which would put him apart from his fellows, not least Trump, recipient of no fewer than five draft deferrals to excuse him from participating in the Vietnam War during his youth. However, as transport secretary, Buttigieg has often been the administrations fall guy, left holding the bag when air-traffic control disasters, major train derailments or bridge collapses take place, undoing a lot of the good work he does in taking the fight to conservative media, appearing semi-regularly on Fox News to offer vigorous counter-arguments. Gretchen Whitmer The Michigan governor is widely popular in her state and is seen as one of the leaders of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party in the post-Biden era. Gretchen Whitmer is seen as one of the leaders of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party ( AP ) She won re-election in 2022 by a wide margin buoyed by support for reproductive rights and her management of the Covid pandemic, turning a purple state blue with relative ease. Not everyone relished her tough leadership in lockdown, though, and she remains best known nationally for a Michigan militia groups plot to kidnap her, which was fortunately foiled by undercover FBI agents. Whitmer has come out as a strong Biden supporter since the debate and has rejected any suggestion she might be interested in challenging Trump in his stead. Gavin Newsom One of the most obvious choices to succeed Biden as a nominee is the California governor, whose personal wealth and prolific fundraising abilities would make him a fearsome adversary on the money front. Gavin Newsom has pledged to finish his second term as governor of California ( AP ) Newsom is in the middle of a second term as governor of his state therein lies a problem, however, as he pledged during his 2022 re-election campaign that he would serve a full four years in office if sent back to the office. Like Buttigieg, he has won plaudits for arguing the Democratic point-of-view on Fox and memorably went head-to-head with his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis who he has trolled with a series of adverts in a televised debate last year. Newsom has been an enthusiastic cheerleader for Biden, including in the immediate aftermath of the Atlanta debacle. Wes Moore The first-term Maryland governor would be a long shot for the nomination against others with more national recognition but he makes up for his relative political obscurity with an unmistakable talent for being in front of the cameras and a positive track record in his short time in office. Wes Moore gained some national profile during his response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in his home state of Maryland ( AP ) He has secured the future of the Baltimore Orioles in the state and has also been the public face of Marylands rebuilding efforts following a disaster that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an iconic Baltimore landmark and essential part of the citys port infrastructure. Moore graduated from Johns Hopkins University, and, like Buttigieg, is both a former Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and a military veteran. He is also the author of five books, one of which is a young adult novel. JB Pritzker The Illinois governor has been in office since 2019. A member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owns the hotel chain Hyatt, the attorney and businessman has long been a financial benefactor of the Democrats. He won a packed primary in 2018 to become the Democratic nominee and he was re-elected in 2022. JB Pritzker won a crowded 2018 primary to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois governor ( Getty ) His early political career included stints on congressional legislative staffs in the 1980s and founding an organization focused on attracting younger voters to the party. Chairing the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2006, he went on to serve as a national co-chairman of Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential campaign and was a delegate to the 2008 and 2016 Democratic conventions. In a 1998 Democratic primary for the 9th congressional district in Illinois, he finished third in a field of five candidates. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The shockwaves from President Joe Bidens palid, painful and piecemeal debate performance in Atlanta on Thursday could still be felt on Capitol Hill on Friday morning. While members of Congress are usually anxious to dart out the door on a Friday to make their flights home, Democrats seemed especially unwilling to speak about Bidens stumbles in the face of former president Donald Trumps repeated lies. A snap poll showed that voters overwhelmingly thought Trump won the debate despite his rambling, spewing anti-immigrant vitriol and refusal to answer questions modeators asked. Bidens performance was so weak that Democratic strategists began floating the idea of replacing him almost immediately afterwards. It was a sharp contrast from the Thursday before the debate, when everyone in the Democratic Party, including Bidens sharpest critics on policy, got behind him. Come Friday morning, the atmosphere was markedly different. Having time to sleep on the debate even if nobody could actually rest afterward did not lead to Democrats calming down. If anything, it made them nervy. Some normally chatty Democrats like the progressive Maxwell Frost of Florida rushed onto the floor for votes rather than answer questions; likewise, the moderate Josh Gottheimer seemed willing to chat about the economy for a few seconds but then darted to the floor to vote once asked about Biden. Biden spoke in Raleigh on Friday after the debate and tellingly, some of the endangered House Democrats from the Tar Heel state stayed in Washington rather than turn up to support him. When The Independent asked Representative Jeff Jackson, who is running for attorney general, what he would say to voters worried about Biden, he said, I hope they get a chance to meet him. Even Bidens defenders admitted he had had a bad night. Representative Jasmine Crockett, the outspoken freshman Democrat from Texas, offered the most clear-cut defense of her boss. I think that the president was honest, like he always is, and I wish the press would freaking report on how senile Donald Trump is, she told The Independent. Specifically, she cited Trumps lie that he helped lower the cost of insulin when in fact it was legislation Biden signed championed by Senator Raphael Warnock, a surrogate of Bidens last night that capped the price of insulin at $35. To stand up there and say that he had s*** to do with insulin and no one checked him for that is wild as hell to me, Crockett, who went to Atlanta for the Debate and has also become a surrogate for Biden, told The Independent. But for the most part, Democrats knew they had experienced a loss. For months, they had hoped that Bidens poor poll numbers would turn around once voters got to see a contrast between him and Trump; that the age factor would go away once people saw just how unhinged Trump was onstage. But instead, they were left having to accept Biden flopped and say that Trumps incoherent rambling and blatant lies were worse. Although the president was coherent, self-effacing and comparatively eloquent during his Friday afternoon Raleigh appearance, it wasnt enough to claw things back especially as Republicans started talking about invoking the 25th Amendment, which can be used to remove presidents considered unfit for the job. Representative Robert Garcia of California admitted Biden had a bad day but said focus groups showed he still did better with swing voters. Overall, voters are not going to judge and make a decision on the president based off of one debate or because a candidate had a sore throat, he said. Representative James Clyburn told The Independent that people needed to relax at the moment. The former House Majority whip is perhaps more responsible than anyone for Biden becoming president; he endorsed Biden ahead of the 2020 South Carolina primary and that contest largely propelled him in the contest, which led to him winning the nomination and then the presidency. I differentiate between worry and concern, Clyburn said. Am I concerned? Yes. But Im not worried. When asked why he was not worried, he said there was no reason to be. I mean, who classifies the end result by one segment, one performance? he said. Who does that? But more endangered Democrats in swing districts did not mince words. I'll take the honest old guy over the dishonest old guy any day of the week, Seth Magaziner, a freshman from Rhode Island, told The Independent. Representative Angie Craig, who represents a swing district in Minnesota, put it straight in a different way. I'm still processing what happened last night, and, you know, again, it was a terrible debate, she told The Independent. So far, no Democratic elected officials have openly said Biden must step aside. But now they know they cannot obfuscate. Bidens age and his performance will be on display over the next six months and they will have to answer for it. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden claimed that the US border patrol endorsed him during Thursdays first presidential debate but the Border Patrol union immediately shot back and denied it. When asked about his border patrol policy during the event in Atlanta, Biden said that the border patrolmen endorsed him during a question on immigration and concerns of American voters about the US-Mexico border. "By the way, the Border Patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position, the president said. He added: Ive changed it in a way you now have a situation where theres 40 percent fewer people coming across the border illegally, its better than when he left office. But the Border Patrol Union, the official union of those employees, quickly posted on social media to the contrary. To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden, the Border Patrol Union posted on X on Thursday night. Bidens remark likely referred to the National Border Patrol Councils (NBPC) endorsement of the legislative framework released by a bipartisan group of senators earlier this year aimed at addressing border security. The White House supported that legislation but it died in the Senate after House Republicans made clear it would not pass, and Donald Trump urged Republican senators to vote against it. WOW. Watch Joe Bidens face as President Trump calls him out for opening the border Every American should watch this clip. #PresidentialDebate pic.twitter.com/Es0Lxd4goC Kari Lake (@KariLake) June 28, 2024 Trump repeatedly attacked his opponent over illegal immigration during the debate, accusing Biden of allowing unprecedented numbers of migrants to pour into the US and overwhelm social safety net programs. He argued that under Biden, every state had become a border state. The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is hes let millions of people come in through the border. Theyve taken Black jobs now. It could be 18, 19, even 20 million people. Theyre taking Black jobs, the former president claimed. And theyre taking Hispanic jobs. You havent seen it yet, but youre going to see something that is the worst in our history. His remark caused the phrase Black jobs to trend on Twitter, where users questioned what careers Trump had in mind when he uttered the remarks onstage. The debate itself was a 90-minute display of worrying stamina from Biden, who sounded raspy and at least one point appeared to lose track of what he was saying. Trump, meanwhile, stuck the knife in deeper and accused his opponent of not being fully aware of what he was saying as the two stood next to each other onstage. The ex-president put on a calm face but repeatedly bashed his opponent as one of the worst presidents in US history while Biden derided Trump as a convicted felon, accused him of ignoring his duty on January 6, and attacked the 45th president of the United States as a threat to democracy. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump, his allies and right-wing media are whipping up conspiracy theories that his rival Joe Biden is using amphetamines, slamming Mountain Dew and using a secret earpiece for their 2024 debate. Other bogus claims have accused debate host network CNN of delaying the broadcast by up to two minutes. In a now-deleted post on X that was shared thousands of times, Donald Trump Jr falsely claimed that CNN is delaying the tape and that the president is jacked up on drugs. House Speaker Mike Johnson even suggested Biden is downing a whole gallon of energy drinks to prepare for Thursday nights debate, while other GOP members have accused the president of taking mind-altering stimulants or getting his aides to jack him up on Mountain Dew. How much Adderall are they going to give him? South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace said on Newsmax on Thursday. How many vitamins is he gonna be on? Unsubstantiated claims targeting Democratic candidates before the debates are nothing new bogus conspiracy theories about performance-enhancing drugs and illicit earpieces have been a part of the right-wing media playbook for the last two decades. The latest batch of evidence-free claims an apparent attempt to preemptively discredit Biden before he takes the stage have also attacked CNN, while ignoring the fact that Trumps campaign has agreed to the terms of the debate set by the network. President Joe Biden greets supporters in Atlanta on June 27 ahead of the first presidential debate against Donald Trump ( REUTERS ) But they join a long-running campaign to spread bogus statements in the hopes that media outlets pick them up to debunk them, thereby legitimizing them. Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee who even introduced a No Juicing Joe bill said the president should be required to report every time he takes a mind-altering stimulant like hes gonna have to do before the debate. Theyre gonna have him juiced up and jacked up, he told conservative channel, Newsmax, this week. Speaking to Missouri Representative Eric Burlison, Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo said theyre probably experimenting with getting doses right, giving Biden medicine ahead of the debate. Burlison suggested Bidens aides are gonna jack him up on Mountain Dew or whatever it is. Trumps former physician and current Republican Representative Ronny Jackson, who is accused of dispensing controlled substances to ineligible staffers in the White House during Trumps presidency, called for Biden to submit to a drug test. So have Trump and his campaign. DRUG TEST JOE BIDEN, demanded a campaign fundraising email, signed by Trump, on June 24. When we debate, his handlers in the White House will get him all hopped up so he can stay alert on stage. Donald Trump arrives in Atlanta for the first 2024 presidential debate with President Joe Biden on June 27 ( REUTERS ) Trump was also pushing the conspiracy to supporters at a rally in Philadelphia earlier this month, So, a little before debate time, he gets a shot in the ass, he said. They want to strengthen him up. So he comes out. Hell come out. OK. I say, hell come out all jacked up, right? Hours before the debate, Fox News accused the Biden campaign of dodging questions about whether the president is using drugs, despite his campaign explicitly telling the network that the claims are obviously false. Trumps press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox that the former president has naturally elite stamina and doesnt need performance-enhancing drugs. Unlike Joe Biden, she added, who many are saying will be drugged up for the debate like he was at the State of the Union. The claims are nothing new. Similar unsubstantiated statements flooded social media and right-wing networks for months in the wake of Bidens State of the Union address. Bogus statements including Trumps accusation that Biden is jacked up on drugs quickly spread. Trump at one point even suggested that Biden was using cocaine. Trumps allies are also reviving an age-old line of attack that Biden will be using an earpiece to communicate with aides during the debate pulling from a conspiracy playbook that was used by Republican figures and right-wing media over the last two decades. No ear pieces! right-wing operative Roger Stone wrote on X. Trump should demand that Biden be carefully inspected to ensure that he is not wearing some deeply embedded high-tech earpiece before the beginning of the CNN debate. In 2020, Trumps campaign sent text messages to supporters promoting the conspiracy theory that Biden declined an earpiece inspection before a debate. His campaign even took out Facebook ads that year featuring a doctored image of Biden wearing an oversized earpiece alongside the message Whos in Joes ear? Right-wing media also falsely claimed that Hillary Clinton wore an earpiece at a candidate forum in 2016, and again at her first debate against then-candidate Trump. Widely circulated chain emails in 2012 accused Barack Obama of wearing a device in a debate against Mitt Romney, and conservative bloggers suggested he did the same at a debate in 2008. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump and Joe Biden have concluded their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle in Atlanta, Georgia. Bidens performance was defined by his rambling answers apparently low energy, while Trump spent the debate spreading misinformation and failing to answer questions. Biden was accompanied by his wife Jill Biden. Trumps wife, Melania, has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail and Thursday nights event was no different. Now, social media is in a frenzy as users digest Thursday nights chaotic spectacle. At the same time, Democratic strategists panicked over Bidens less-than-optimal performance amid growing criticisms about his age. Some two-thirds of viewers agreed that Trump came out of the debate on top following Bidens meandering performance, according to a CNN snap poll taken Thursday night. This marks a shift from their last debate in 2020, when the majority of viewers labeled Biden the winner. Here are our key takeaways from tonights debate: Donald Trump (left) and Joe Biden (right) pictured at the first presidential debate of 2024. Bidens performance was defined by his weak appearance and rambling thoughts, while Trump dodged questions and spread misinformation ( AP ) Biden has shaky start Bidens performance was defined by his soft, raspy voice and rambling thoughts. The president regularly tripped over his words and lost his train of thought. At one point, after Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. Vice President Kamala Harris even remarked on the presidents performance. Yes there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, she told CNN. It was later revealed the president has a cold. Leading up to the debate Trump and his cohort spread conspiracies that the president would be using amphetamines, pounding Mountain Dew or wearing an earpiece during the debate. There is no evidence for any of these claims and Thursdays performance seemed to show Biden was not prescribed any stimulants. Trump makes dig at Biden during first presidential debate: I really dont know what he said Trump says US was respected all over the world on Jan 6 Biden confronted Trump in-person for the first time about his role in the January 6 2021 insurrection. The former president did not answer repeated questions from moderator Jake Tapper about voters who are concerned about Trumps role. Instead, Trump claimed the US was respected all over the world that day. He also made several false claims about the insurrection These falsehoods included that it was a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol during the January 6 2021 insurrection. In truth, thousands of people went to the riots that day. He also claimed that Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the House, turned down his offer to send in troops and the National Guard when rioters broke into the Capitol. Pelosi did not direct the National Guard so she could not have turned down that offer. But Trump wasnt the only one to make an untrue claim. Biden claimed that the US Border Patrol endorsed him which their Union says is false. Biden hits out at Trump after ex-president refuses to condemn January 6 attack Clashing on abortion policies Trump praised the Dobbs v Jackson decision, which ended nationwide access to abortion two years ago this week. Biden, meanwhile, promised to restore Roe v Wade the 1973 Supreme Court case overturned by Dobbs if re-elected. The former president also made false claims about abortion in the US, including that Democrats want to legalize abortion after a baby is born. Trump falsely accused former governor of Virginia Ralph Northam of saying he would support such a policy Because [in] some states Democrats run, [they] take it after birth ... the governor, former governor of Virginia, Hes, hes willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb, Trump said. However, Trump did say he supports the Supreme Courts recent decision to keep the abortion medication mifepristone legal despite right-wing efforts to ban it. Biden lashes out at Trump for morals of alley cat over alleged Stormy affair Biden laid into Trump over his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels and the recent civil ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carrol. The crimes that you are still charged with think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many millions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star...while wife was pregnant? Biden went on to say Trump has the morals of an alley cat. Trump responded by denying the affair with Daniels and claiming his Manhattan hush money trial was rigged. Bidens remarks came after Trump attacked his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges. Biden attacks Trumps morals: You had sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant Panic Mode among Democrats Bidens shaky performance tonight coupled with already building concerns about his age has inspired panic among the left. Any Democrat who is not in panic mode is the stupidest person in America right now, Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth Universitys polling, posted on X. Horrible, they told The Independent. Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option. But Bidens campaign did not seem worried. Afterward, Biden gave an energetic speech to supporters at a debate watch party. When asked later at a Waffle House about whether he was worried, Biden said No. Its hard to debate a liar. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Bidens rocky performance against Donald Trump at the first televised presidential debate of the 2024 US election cycle has left some of Americas foreign allies bracing for a belated second Trump presidency. The president, 81, spoke in a hoarse and raspy voice on the CNN debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, cutting a frail figure and trailing off while speaking at least once, leaving his gloating Republican rival, 78, to observe: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either. The White House later said Biden was suffering from a cold but he also missed multiple chances to hold Trump to account over his recent criminal conviction and chaotic record in office from 2017 to 2021, which ended with the failed assault on the US Capitol by a violent mob of his supporters. Biden did rally somewhat in the second half of the 90-minute encounter to attack the billionaire businessman over his sleazy personal history and alleged suckers and losers remark regarding the military but, overall, Bidens performance left his fellow Democrats in deep panic, with some openly speculating about replacing him as their partys nominee. Among those watching in horror overseas was the former British ambassador to the US Lord Kim Darroch, who told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Friday morning: Joe Biden should stand aside. This was a historically bad performance. He was inaudible, incoherent and lost his train of thought several times. Some of his answers simply made no sense. The one, we have beaten Medicare, will be repeated a thousand times between now and the election. He should stand down its very hard to see him winning now. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Britains Labour Party and the frontrunner in next weeks UK general election, was also asked by the BBC whether he was concerned about Biden in light of the debate. Ive got enough on my hands with our own election campaign at the moment The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, its historic, and obviously, its above the individuals, he answered carefully, notably not offering the president an emphatic show of support. Joe Biden leaves the CNN debate stage in Atlanta ( Getty ) While many in Europe and the Middle East will wonder what the prospect of a new Trump administration might mean for the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the Kremlin declined to comment, with Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov refusing to rise to Bidens warning during the head-to-head that the Russian president could move in on Poland and other Nato allies if he takes Kyiv. A Western diplomat quoted by Politico said they had spotted enormous lies by Trump during the showdown but added: On the other hand, at least we understood what he says. Maybe we are witnessing a turning point. Broadcaster CNN was criticised for not carrying out real-time fact-checking during the debate but its expert Daniel Dale subsequently recorded at least 30 misleading statements by Trump compared to nine from Biden. Internationally this isnt a great look for America, at the risk of stating the obvious, another diplomat told Politico. The debate on foreign policy is shallow. Biden cannot present his case, and Trump is overstating it, said a third. Former Japanese diplomat Kunihiko Miyake, now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies think-tank, told the Associated Press: Mr Trump didnt win but Mr Biden might have imploded. One former Japanese diplomat said: Mr Trump didnt win but Mr Biden might have imploded ( Reuters ) Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies. Still, Mr Trump is unpredictable. During his presidency, Trump took an aggressive stance on economic competition from Asia, starting a heated tariff war with China. Thursday nights spectacle left the likes of Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul, South Korea, anticipating a revival. Trump, like a trade war maniac, might not just target China but impose tariffs against other countries as well under the concept of American exceptionalism, he said. In Australia, Professor Peter Dean of the United States Studies Centre in Sydney concluded: The overwhelming feeling from today is that it was a disaster for Biden. The mood has changed considerably after the debate and the general view is that if you werent preparing for a Trump 2.0 then that is the smart play and the smart move now. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Watch as Joe Biden campaigned in Raleigh, North Carolina, a day after the first television debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle against Donald Trump. The current US president struggled badly against his opponent as Democrats looked on in horror, appearing low in energy during the CNN showdown in Atlanta, Georgia. His voice was hoarse and raspy, with the White House later saying he had a cold, and he mistakenly declared at one stage: "We finally beat Medicare." Mr Biden's predecessor, meanwhile, repeated lies and falsehoods throughout the exchange; He often failed to answer questions and was pressed three times on whether he would accept Novembers results. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was asked on BBC radio whether he was concerned about Mr Biden after the showdown, remarking: Ive got enough on my hands with our own election campaign at the moment...The relationship between the UK and the US is strong, its historic, and obviously, its above the individuals." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In his first debate with Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump refused to explicitly say he would accept the results this November if he lost. The debate in Atlanta was widely seen as a debacle with the president stumbling over answers and rambling. Trump meanwhile spouted lies and falsehoods throughout, mostly failing to answer questions and had to be pressed three times on whether he would accept the 2024 election results. Asked the first time about accepting the election results, Trump said if its fair, free, and I want that more than anybody. Asked another time, he ranted against Bidens insane military policies and said the Biden administration will drive us into World War 3. And asked a third time - to give only a yes or no answer - Trump instead said if its a fair, legal and good election, absolutely, before repeating his baseless claims that fraud derailed his election chances in 2020. Lets see what your numbers are when this election is over, Biden replied. Youre a whiner. When you lost the first time, you continued to appeal and appeal to courts all across the country, the president said. Donald Trump refused to explicitly say that he would accept 2024 election results during the first presidential debate on Thursday ( AFP via Getty Images ) The president noted that none of Trumps spurious legal challenges to the 2020 election results in states he lost had any merit, and none produced any evidence of fraud. You continue to promote this lie about somehow there was all this misrepresentation, all this stealing. There is no evidence at all, Biden said. I doubt whether youll accept it because youre such a whiner. You cant stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time. Since they last met in October 2020, Trump unsuccessfully tried to overturn the results of the election he lost; failed to stop a mob from storming the Capitol on Jan 6; got indicted in four separate cases encompassing 88 criminal charge; and became the first-ever American president to be criminally convicted. Trumps on-stage reunion with Biden in Georgia, is also where he is criminally accused of waging a conspiracy to overturn his rivals victory in the state. Two weeks from today, Trump will be sentenced in New York after a jury found him guilty of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election. The former president is also facing criminal charges in Washington DC. Trumps bogus election claims span more than a decade, and have sowed doubt among his supporters to construct the lie of stolen and rigged elections, and fueled the attack at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The former president also ignored qustions from debate moderators on whether he would condemn the Jan 6, 2021 attack. Let me tell you about January 6, said Trump, rattling off claims that we had a great border and we were respected all over the world on that day. And then he comes in and were not laughed at like a bunch of stupid people, he said, referring to Biden. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden will not be dropping out of the race for the White House and remains committed to a second debate against Donald Trump in September, the presidents campaign officials have said. The 81-year-old incumbent president has been inundated with a swathe of calls to wind down his re-election campaign after what critics are calling an awful performance at the first televised debate of the 2024 election on Thursday evening. Of course hes not dropping out, Seth Schuster, a Biden campaign spokesperson, told The Hill. On Friday, one of Bidens senior advisers was said to have told Kayla Tausche, CNNs Senior White House correspondent, that the president was not going to bow out of his next televised debate against Trump. ABC is set to host the second scheduled Biden-Trump clash on September 10. Not only does [the president] not plan to drop out, Biden remains committed to a second debate in September, an adviser tells me, she wrote on X. After the former and current president departed the debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, a CNN flash poll suggests that 67 per cent of respondents pitted Trump to have won the debate. The ex-president himself wasnt infallible after spewing a stream of untruths, causing Biden to brand him a liar. Biden and Trump went head-to-head in their first of two pre-planned televised debates on Thursday evening ( Getty Images ) While at a nearby Waffle House, Biden shared a rose-tinted view of his performance. I think we did well, he said to the reporter. Its hard to debate a liar. The New York Times pointed out he lied 26 times, the president continued. Bidens age and mental fitness have already been a point of concern and Thursdays debate was meant to be the presidents shot to silence doomsayers. Instead, Democrats entered panic mode after Biden appeared to stumble over his words, lose his train of thought and, at points, freeze altogether. Members of the presidents own party acknowledged that conversations would swirl discussing whether Biden was fit to retain office. Former Democratic senator Claire McCaskill questioned whether things can be done to fix this, after being bested by his more coherent rival, she told MSNBC. The chatter is very distracting, and its going to be very consuming for the campaign, former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki also told the outlet. Should he be replaced? Theyre going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump, she added. Minnesotas Democrat congressman Dean Phillips delivered a scathing nine-word tweet seemingly aimed at Biden on Friday afternoon. Speak only if it improves upon the silence Gandhi, he wrote on X. Other Democrats defended the president. Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro noted that Biden had a bad night, but added that it doesnt change the fact that Donald Trump was a bad president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Federal agencies, such as the FDA or EPA, have been crippled in enforcement and oversight after the Supreme Court ended more than 40 years of precedent. In a 6-3 decision on Friday, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court handed down a ruling in an extraordinarily consequential case that will have intense ramifications for federal agencies and Congress. Moving forward, agenciesincluding the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Dog Administration, among many otherswill need to turn to Congress and the courts to interpret how their respective branches function in ambiguous situations. In the past, they were allowed to use their expertise to interfere with and enforce laws and regulations. Even when an ambiguity happens to implicate a technical matter, it does not follow that Congress has taken the power to authoritatively interpret the statute from the courts and given it to the agency, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. The Supreme Court overturned the Chevon deference - a 40 year precedent - on Friday. The old rule allowed federal agencies oversight and enforcement for decades ( Getty Images ) Roberts noted the decision does, not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron framework. The holdings of those cases that specific agency actions are lawful including the Clean Air Act holding of Chevron itself are still subject to statutory stare decisis despite our change in interpretive methodology. For years, the conservative legal moment targeted the Chevron doctrine, the landmark 1984 ruling, resenting the control it gives to the executive branch over regulations. Chevron revolved around the interpretation of the word source in the 1963 Clean Air Act. The act did not define what a source of air pollution was, instead leaving the government to interpret that for themselves. But National Resources Inc., an environmental group, stepped in and argued that the governments interpretation contradicted the purpose of the legislation. Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that when a lower court is faced with ambiguous wording, they could defer to an agencys reasonable interpretation using a two-part test. The opportunity to reverse Chevron arose from a lawsuit between a disgruntled fishing company and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The fishing company resented a 2020 rule that forced them to pay for government-manded observers aboard their boats to monitor for overfishing. Believing it was unfair, the fishing company sued. Herring are unloaded from a fishing boat in Rockland, Maine, July 8, 2015. The opportunity to reverse Chevron arose from a lawsuit between a disgruntled fishing company and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The fishing company resented a 2020 rule that forced them to pay for government-manded observers aboard their boats to monitor for overfishing ( AP ) During oral arguments in January, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned about the implications of reversing Chevron. I see Chevron as doing the very important work of helping courts stay away from policymaking, She said. If we take away something like Chevron, the court will suddenly become a policymaker by majority rule or not. Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Jackson, delivered the dissenting opinion, sharply criticizing her colleagues for scaling back administrative power a common theme at the court this term. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar, Justice Kagan wrote. As to the first, this very Term presents yet another example of the Courts resolve to roll back agency authority, despite congressional direction to the contrary. EZULWINI - Head teachers say some OVCs cause chaos and make the learning environment unfavourable in schools. According to the head teachers, some of the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) were rebellious against teachers and had become unteachable. So serious is the situation that the schools administrators have asked for the establishment of a childrens court to deal with wayward pupils in learning institutions. These issues were discussed by over 1 000 head teachers during their meeting with Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo, at Somnjalose High School Hall yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thuli Dladla, whose office is the custodian of vulnerable children, also attended the meeting. The ministry and its stakeholders met the head teachers in order to get first-hand information pertaining to issues affecting the operations of schools across the country. The engagements were centred on the OVC grants, free primary education (FPE), Schools Feeding Scheme and Grade 0, which were deemed as the cause of frustration in schools around the country. Uncooperative Most head teachers shared the same sentiments that, inasmuch as they were willing to give full support to OVCs, they found themselves losing interest because some of them were uncooperative in class. Siphasha Dlamini, who was the first to take the floor, said some OVCs caused chaos in schools, making the learning environment unfavourable. Dlamini said the issue was deeper than one could imagine, as it emanated from anger issues the children grew up with. She said some of the children still held the anger that they were not taken care of by their relatives and guardians. Some OVCs are unmanageable, as they bring anger issues to school. They do not cooperate in class; instead, they cause chaos when called to order. We find it better to chuck them out of the classroom and remain with cooperative pupils, than allowing one or two to disrupt lessons, she said. Dlamini then suggested that the DPM find a way to make a follow up on OVCs, so that they could be manageable in schools. She said one way could be initiating social workers visits at least twice a week to schools, to be able to deal with the issues as and when the need arose. Childrens courts could be another solution to deal with wayward pupils who cause chaos in schools, she said. Dlamini also decried the selection criteria for beneficiaries of the OVC grants. She said some deserving children missed out on the grants as a result of not partaking in customary activities, such as kuhlehla at the royal kraals. The head teacher said some deserving pupils were deprived of the grants for certain fees owed to their respective royal kraals. May the Deputy Prime Ministers Office find a way to ensure transparency concerning the selection of OVCs in communities. Some benefit from the grant, while their parents are gainfully employed. Reiterated Dlamini was echoed by Shewula High School Head teacher Bonginkhosi Mabila, who reiterated that OVCs were not taken care of at family level. Mabila said it was for that reason that OVCs created many problems in schools. He said the availability of social workers for monitoring purposes in schools could help save the situation. Mabila said it would be unfair for head teachers to use force on misbehaving OVCs in schools. He decried the selection criteria, stating that some pupils were competing with the needy, yet their parents were gainfully employed. Some head teachers mentioned civil servants, as their colleagues raised the concern. In response to the head teachers concerns, the DPM acknowledged the headache caused by some pupils in schools and blamed it on the lack of monitoring from parents at the family level. She said some parents were too busy to look after their children. She said the lack of monitoring by parents resulted in the children being overwhelmed by peer pressure. Some children tend to be bossy in schools, because they lack parenting at the family level. Their attitude draws negative attention to teachers, resulting in them being viewed as wayward, she said. Dladla said the visit by social workers in schools could play a vital role in bringing the pupils to order. She said her office would try to avail social workers as and when the need arose, even though they were short-staffed. Career Dladla said another solution could be strengthening career guidance with people who had love for children, so that they could be able to mentor them. The DPM did not respond to the suggestion of a childrens court for wayward pupils. Coming to the selection criteria of OVCs in the country, Dladla said there was a lot to be fixed. She said her office and its stakeholders were working on a policy that would ensure transparency concerning the selection of beneficiaries of the grants. She said the new policy would incorporate head teachers and independent members of the communities, to ensure that deserving children were not left out of the grants. Dladla said leaving deserving pupils out of the OVC grants was a sin that those who were responsible would meet in hell. She urged the head teachers to join hands in building a future for the children and the country. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees Donald Trumps classified documents case in Florida, has defended her decision to hold additional hearings in the case. Cannon is seeking more evidence about the language in the FBI search warrant that was used to seize classified documents from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in 2022, she wrote in a court filing on Thursday. Trumps lawyers have argued the language was vague, and Cannon agreed there were ambiguities in her latest filing. Trump has been accused of willfully keeping classified documents at his private Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. When the FBI searched his estate, they found boxes of documents stored in a shower, a ballroom and his bedroom. He was indicted a year later on charges related to keeping the documents and thwarting government attempts to get them back. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges. Cannons ruling comes just hours before the first presidential debate of 2024, where Trumps legal battles are expected to be front and center. Judge Aileen Cannon, pictured, has faced criticism from Special Counsel Jack Smith and outsiders regarding her handling of the trial ( AP ) In her Thursday filing, Cannon, who was nominated to the bench by Trump in 2020, also pushed back on special counsel Jack Smith, who vigorously opposes her call for another hearing, according to the filing. Smith has previously called for Cannon to dismiss bids by Trumps team over concerns that they will cause a substantial delay. Smith has also questioned her legal judgment, at one point saying one of her orders on the case was based on a fundamentally flawed legal premise. There is a difference between a resource-wasting and delay-producing mini-trial, on the one hand, and an evidentiary hearing geared to adjudicating the contested factual and legal issues on a given pre-trial motion to suppress, Cannon wrote on Thursday. Smith has pushed for a faster timeline, proposing summer dates to make sure the trial begins before the November election. Trumps team, meanwhile, has said it would be unfair to hold the trial before the election. The trial was initially due to start on May 20 but Cannon postponed and has not set a future date for proceedings. The Florida judge has also faced criticism from those outside the courtroom. Michael van der Veen, an attorney who represented Trump in his second impeachment trial, said Cannon is drawing the trial out this week. The decisions arent coming quick enough, he told CNN. He said Cannon is playing right into the defenses hands. Cannon was also privately urged to step aside from the case after she was assigned to it last year, The New York Times revealed last week. Two Florida judges with more experience reportedly told Cannon it would be best if she passed the case on to one of their colleagues. Stacks of boxes pictured in Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump was indicted last summer on charged related to retaining classified documents and trying to thwart attempts by the US government to get them back ( Getty Images ) Cannon is also set to decided on whether Smith was legally assigned to the case after Trumps attorneys argued he was unconstitutionally appointed and is acting without legal authority. Trump is also preparing for a sentencing hearing after a Manhattan jury unanimously convicted him 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. The former president will be sentenced on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he will be named the official GOP presidential nominee. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ahead of the first presidential debate in Atlanta, Democrats had one piece of advice for President Joe Biden: Be yourself. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said it. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for Senate in Bidens home state of Delaware said it. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent that people should ask what former president Donald Trump needed to do to have half a chance at sounding barely cogent. But Democrats began to sound the alarm after Bidens performance in Atlanta on Thursday evening. Throughout the night, Biden interrupted himself, his voice hoarse and strained. It served as a bleak reminder to everyone that Democrats had nominated not only the oldest presidential nominee in history, but someone whom the public has regularly seen stumble over his words and whose fading memory came under greater scrutiny in a special counsel report. Biden has consistently trailed Trump in the polls, with many voters citing his advanced age as a reason he should not run again. Challenging Trump to a debate and throwing out the normal debate schedule in the garbage was meant to come from a position of strength, showing Biden could handle the job and he could take the fight directly to Trump. Instead, voters saw a Biden seemed to confirm their worst fears as soon as he began his opening remarks. Any Democrat who is not in panic mode is the stupidest person in America right now, Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth Universitys polling, posted on X. At one point, after Biden meandered throughout an answer about immigration, Trump said I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. Even Vice President Kamala Harris, ostensibly his biggest apologist, told CNNs Anderson Cooper that Biden faltered at the beginning. Yes, it was a slow start, she said. That's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to debate that point. I'm talking about the choice in November. Harris also made the rounds defending Biden, going on MSNBC to defend the president. Meanwhile, one Democratic strategist did not mince words. Horrible, they told The Independent. Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option. Conversely, Republicans seemed to celebrate. Scott Jennings, a former adviser to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, noted on X/Twitter that a flash poll from CNN showed voters thought Trump had beaten Biden two to one. Michael Whatley, the chairman of the Republican National Committee who leads it alongside Trumps daughter-in-law Lara, similarly celebrated. President Trump understands how to solve the problems plaguing the American people, he said on X. Biden couldnt even understand the questions. However, Trump did not have it all his own way. Although he managed to temper his style from his chaotic debate performances in 2020, he was seen to spout a series of lies about immigration, abortion, the January 6 riot and the result of the last election. Weeks after becoming the first former president to be convicted of a crime over his hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, he again denied having had an affair with her in the first place. As Biden accused him of having the morals of an alley cat and railed off a litany of scandals and criminal charges engulfing his predecessor, Trump said: I didnt have sex with a porn star. Another Democratic strategist cautioned that Bidens performance did not spell death. The expectations for Joe Biden were low, but he didnt come close to meeting them, they told The Independent on anonymity to speak freely. It is what it is- donors will pee their pants, Democrats will pine for what could have been, and we will all have to rally around Biden. We wont win this election through debates, clearly. Its gonna be a long slog. Later in the evening, Biden visited a debate watch party in Atlanta with supporters where he sounded more vigorous and energetic than he did just minutes before on the debate stage. Theyre going to be out there fact checking, the president said. I cant think of one thing that he said was true. Afterward, the president worked the rope line where he greeted supporters for a little under half an hour before he was shuttled out. Later on, he visited the Waffle House and said he did not have an issue with his debate performance. No. Its hard to debate a liar, Biden said. The New York Times pointed out he lied 26 times. Meanwhile, his deputy campaign manager seemed to brush off the bed-wetting. Twitter: Doing twitter stuff, Rob Flaherty posted. Biden supporters: Doing the work, powering us to our best grassroots fundraising day of the cycle by far. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Warning: This livestream has not been independently fact-checked and may contain misinformation. Watch again as Donald Trump spoke at an event in Chesapeake, Virginia, as his campaign made a push for the state on Friday. 28 June. It came after he faced Joe Biden in the first television debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle. The current US president struggled badly against his opponent as Democrats looked on in horror, appearing low in energy during the CNN showdown in Atlanta, Georgia. His voice was hoarse and raspy, with the White House later saying he had a cold, and he mistakenly declared at one stage: "We finally beat Medicare." Mr Biden's predecessor, meanwhile, repeated lies and falsehoods throughout the exchange; He often failed to answer questions and was pressed three times on whether he would accept Novembers results. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Human rights groups have condemned the Supreme Court decision to side with an Oregon citys ban on homelessness, allowing law enforcement to penalize those sleeping in public areas. The courts conservative majority ruled that the small city of Grants Passs law ticketing, fining, and jailing unhoused people did not violate the Eighth Amendments cruel and unusual punishment clause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that the courts conservatives ignored the humanity and dignity of people experiencing homelessness, adding that their decision leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. Civil rights groups and homeless rights activists condemned the 6-3 ruling, underscoring the effects the decision will have on vulnerable populations. We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness, Scout Katovich, an ACLU attorney in the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, said in a statement. It is hard to imagine a starker example of excessive punishment than fining and jailing a person for the basic human act of sleeping. The National Homelessness Law Center in a statement called the criminalization of homelessness expensive, counterproductive, and cruel. The statement continued: While we are disappointed, we are not surprised that this Supreme Court ruled against the interests of our poorest neighbors. Tents used by the homeless sit along a subterranean sidewalk in downtown on April 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois ( Getty Images ) The group also called on the Biden administration and Congress to invest funding into universal rental assistance for lowest-income households, eviction and homelessness prevention, public housing repair and preservation, and other support services. The decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free rein to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, Ann Oliva, the CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. She added that the ruling allows elected officials to shift the burden to law enforcement rather than focusing on long-term, sustainable solutions, like funding affordable housing and supportive services. Kirsten Anderson, the deputy legal director for economic justice at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the country should address the issues that are causing housing to be unaffordable, rather than punishing those without a home: Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis, not a moral failing. Although the courts ruling concerned Grants Pass where as many as 600 people in the 39,000-person city experience homelessness per day, the small citys laws penalizing homelessness are part of a larger trend across the country. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law in March prohibiting public camping or sleeping, including the presence of bedding or pillows on any public property in the state. DeSantis has yet to comment on Fridays ruling. The Independent has emailed his office for comment. Republican 2024 hopeful Donald Trump unveiled a campaign policy in April 2023: banning urban camping wherever possible. He said in a video at the time: Violators of these bans will be arrested, but they will be given the option to accept treatment and services if theyre willing to be rehabilitated. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Supreme Court will allow thecriminalization of homelessness after a majority ruled to allow laws that allow police to ticket, fine or arrest those who sleep in public areas. On Friday, the conservative majority of the justices disagreed with a group of unhoused people in the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, who argued that a series of laws punishing people for sleeping outside was considered cruel and unusual punishment and in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses, he wrote. It does not. The series of laws, which have become known as camping bans, allows police to charge people for sleeping or camping on publicly-owned property. That can include using a blanket or pillow to sleep outside. Several cities and states have already passed laws targeting those who sleep outsidde as they try to reduce their homeless populations. Supreme Court said laws that charge those who sleep in public do not constitute cruel or unusual punishment ( AFP via Getty Images ) In her dissent with the courts two other liberal justices, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the courts conservatives ignored the humanity and dignity of people experiencing homelessness and instead almost exclusively sided with the interests of local governments. Their decision leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested, she wrote. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, Sotomayor added. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. Gorsuch said the liberal justices were gravely mistaken. We hold nothing of the sort, he wrote for the courts majority. As we have stressed, cities and States are not bound to adopt public-camping laws. They may also choose to narrow such laws, he added. Beyond all that, many substantive legal protections and provisions of the Constitution may have important roles to play when States and cities seek to enforce their laws against the homeless. Gorsuch also appeared to agree that the US is experiencing a crisis of homelessness but suggested that local governments and residents were equally impacted because they are forced to navigate around unhoused people. Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside pm the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22 in Washington, DC. A Supreme Court ruling allows states and cities to pass laws that ban sleeping in public places ( Getty Images ) Grants Pass officials argued the laws, enacted in 2013, were created to make it more uncomfortable for people to sleep outside after locals raised safety concerns. In the city of less than 40,000 people, as many as 600 people experience homelessness per day in part due to its lack of affordable housing, low vacancy rate and high barrier for individuals to stay in a homeless shelter. Despite the obvious challenges, the city still chose to impose a $295 fine for using blankets, pillows or cardboard boxes to sleep within the city and added a $242 charge for not paying the fine. They also implemented a rule that allows police to ban a person from city property if they receive two citations that punishment carries a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine. Several cities and states are already speeding through similar legislation targeting unhoused people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law earlier this year that bans public camping or sleeping including the presence of bedding or pillows on any public property, such as public parks. David Wilson sits outside his tent at Riverside Park on Thursday, March 21, in Grants Pass, Oregon. Grants Pass officials argued the laws, enacted in 2013, were created to make it more uncomfortable for people to sleep outside after locals raised safety concerns ( AP ) We know the court was never going to solve homelessness, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. The best way to combat growing criminalization is to go on the offense and ensure that everybody has housing that meets their needs. During oral arguments in April, attorneys for the city said that local governments should have the authority to regulate homelessness, not courts. Many of the justices raised concerns about the plaintiffs in the case have standing or the authority to challenge a law. Hannah Lebovits, a researcher from the University of Texas at Arlington studying homelessness, said that such deterrence logic designing laws around the idea that homelessness needs to be uncomfortable in the hopes that people will end their own homelessness only exacerbates the crisis. It is hard to imagine a starker example of excessive punishment than fining and jailing a person for the basic human act of sleeping, according to Scout Katovich, staff attorney in the Trone Center for Justice and Equality at the ACLU. Fridays decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free rein to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, according to Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. At a time when elected officials need to be focused on long-term, sustainable solutions that are grounded in evidence including funding the affordable housing and supportive services that their constituents need this ruling allows leaders to shift the burden to law enforcement, she added. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Supreme Courts decision to narrow how Jan. 6 defendants may be charged with obstruction of an official proceeding will likely only impact a small number of convicted rioters. The decision will not have tremendous significance in the January 6 cases, including that of former president Trump, because in almost all cases there are other charges that have a felony status alongside the obstruction charge, said William Banks, a professor at Syracuse University College of Law. Though no defendant was solely charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, there are 27 people who pleaded guilty only to the obstruction charge. On Friday, the majority of the Supreme Court justices agreed the government needs to establish that a defendant attempted to or impaired the availability or integrity of a record, document, object or thing used in an official proceeding to charge someone with obstruction of an official proceeding. They argued that the criminal charge was intended to be used in white-collar crime cases and, without specificities, could be used broadly just to give prosecutions the ability to seek 20-year maximum sentences. Among the more than 1,400 rioters charged with various crimes for their participation on Jan. 6, approximately 340 were also charged with the obstruction count in addition to other criminal charges, including Donald Trump. Donald Trump holds a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election on Jan. 6. Its unlikely the Supreme Courts recent decision will impact his cases ( REUTERS ) Within that group, approximately 128 are serving sentences or awaiting trial on charges, including the obstruction count. These people could be resentenced under the obstruction charge but it would not affect sentencing based on other charges. It is ultimately only 27 defendants who are currently serving sentences solely on the obstruction charge that may see meaningful change to their sentencing due to the courts ruling about 2 percent of the total number of people charged. Trump is unlikely to see significant change in the charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. He previously indicated the former presidents interference with fake electoral vote certificates would still fall under the new interpretation. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was disappointed by the ruling but assured people that the vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged for their illegal actions on January 6 will not be affected by this decision ( REUTERS ) Obstruction of an official proceeding is typically used in white-collar crimes, related to witness, victim or informant tampering. It is a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was passed after the 2001 collapse of the Enron corporation. Federal prosecutors brought the charge against rioters who they believe intended to disrupt Congress certification of the 2020 election results that day, in part because it is broad. But Joseph Fischer, a rioter who faced the obstruction charge, disputed it. The Supreme Court sided with him. The basic question before the court was the meaning of a straightforward statute banning obstruction of an official proceeding. Sixteen of 17 federal judges had construed the statute to reach the kind of obstruction at issue in most of the January 6 cases, Banks said. Today, the Supreme Court majority read the statute differently and said that the obstruction statute applied only to documents. Their reading of the statute is contrary to plain meaning of the law. In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was disappointed by the ruling but assured people that the vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged for their illegal actions on January 6 will not be affected by this decision. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 330 Jan. 6 rioters could have their convictions and sentences tossed thanks to a ruling from the Supreme Court on Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that an obstruction of an official proceeding charge brought against Joseph Fischer, a former police officer and rioter, was too broadly used and the government will need to prove that a defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding, or attempted to do so. Chief Justice John Roberts, who delivered the majority opinion, used the example of eating lunch at the zoo to explain the ruling. To see why, consider a straightforward example. A zoo might post a sign that reads, do not pet, feed, yell or throw objects at the animals, or otherwise disturb them. If a visitor eats lunch in front of a hungry gorilla, or talks to a friend near its enclosure, has he obeyed the regulation? Surely yes. Although the smell of human food or the sound of voices might well disturb gorillas, the specific examples of impermissible conduct all involve direct interaction with and harassment of the zoo animals. Merely eating or talking is so unlike the examples that the zoo provided that it would be implausible to assume those activities were prohibited, even if literally covered by the language, he wrote. The ruling could have massive impacts on Jan. 6 defendants such as Fischer, who were convicted of storming the Capitol and destroying property to try and disrupt the certification of the 2020 election. However, the ruling appears to have little impact on the pending charges against former President Donald Trump, who is also accused of obstruction in some of his cases. Supporters of January 6 defendants including Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, sing God Boss the USA outside of the Supreme Court on April 16. Now, the court has put some of the Jan. 6 riot convictions in question ( Getty Images ) Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson concurred. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented, believing the courts interpretation was too narrow. The Court does not dispute that Congresss joint session qualifies as an official proceeding; that rioters delayed the proceeding; or even that Fischers alleged conduct (which includes trespassing and a physical confrontation with law enforcement) was part of a successful effort to forcibly halt the certification of the election results, Justice Barrett wrote. She added: Given these premises, the case that Fischer can be tried for obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding seems open and shut. So why does the Court hold otherwise? Because it simply cannot believe that Congress meant what it said. The case stems from Fischer who, like thousands of other rioters that day, attended the Stop the Steal rally in support of Trump. Fischer was arrested and charged with several crimes, including obstruction of an official proceeding. Federal prosecutors invoked a law that is usually reserved in white-collar crimes, as they relate to witness, victim or informant tampering. It is a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was passed after the 2001 collapse of the Enron corporation, one of the largest financial fraud cases in US history. The law protects investors and holds corporations accountable. The statute in question contains two parts. The first prohibits corruptly tampering with evidence that could be used in an official proceeding. The second prohibits a person from otherwise obstructing, influencing or impeding on an official proceeding. Trump supporters participate in a rally Jan. 6. A recent Supreme Court ruling means those prosecuted and jailed could be freed ( AP ) Fischer pushed back against the charge, claiming it was unfairly used to prosecute him. His lawyer, Jeffrey Green, argued the obstruction of justice charge hinged on the word otherwise during oral arguments in April. He said his client could not be charged with violating the second part of the statute without violating the first part too. Justices appeared divided over the matter during arguments. Kavanaugh voiced concern that the government used the statute to increase the sentencing of Jan. 6 rioters because the charge carries a maximum sentencing of 20 years. Jackson suggested the court return the decision to a lower court to determine if the statute could be applied to Fischer under a more specific interpretation - something she echoed in her concurring opinion. And it might well be that Fischers conduct, as alleged here, involved the impairment (or the attempted impairment) of the availability or integrity of things used during the January 6 proceeding in ways other than those specified in [the obstruction charge], Jackson wrote. Pro-Trump supporters storm the Capitol on Jan. 6. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that an obstruction of an official proceeding charge brought against Joseph Fischer, a former police officer and January 6 rioter, was too broad ( Getty Images ) During arguments, the government said Fischer intended to obstruct Congress certification of the election. Prosecutors say in the days leading up to Jan. 6, Fischer texted his boss insinuating that there could be violence on that day, he could be arrested and his chief might need to post his bond. He texted another person: Cant vote if they cant breathe... lol an apparent reference to the lawmakers in the Capitol. On Jan. 6, the government says Fischer took a cell phone video of himself running through the crowd and yelling, Charge! before rushing into the building. Once inside, Fischer allegedly ran toward the police line and knocked over an officer. Fridays decision will likely have some, but small, impact on Trumps federal election interference case since special counsel Jack Smith charged the former president with obstructing an official proceeding. Smith previously said that Trumps alleged attempt to install fake electors still violated the first part of the statute so the courts ruling may not change that charge. Regardless, the government could bring new evidence to satisfy the new standard or drop the charge but it would not absolve him of other charges. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Bidens odds of remaining the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee have fallen just hours after his debate with Donald Trump, according to one sports-betting website. While Biden is still the favored candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris remains far behind, her odds jumped after the debate, according to Oddschecker, a site that provides odds and analysis by aggregating information from sportsbooks. Bidens odds dropped by roughly 40 percent between last week and Friday morning. Meanwhile, Harris saw her odds nearly double over the same period, according to Oddschecker. Other notable Democrats also saw their odds of becoming the nominee jump after the debate. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer saw her odds triple between last week and Friday. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who spoke in the post-debate spin room in support of Biden, saw his odds double. Hoarse and raspy, Biden appeared frail during the CNN showdown in Atlanta, with the White House later saying he had a cold. Amid gaffes and misstatements, the president later rallied to rebuke rival Donald Trump over his sordid personal history and record in office. Trump repeated lies and falsehoods throughout, often failing to answer questions. He was pressed three times on whether he would accept Novembers results, and refused to say he would. President Joe Biden, walks off stage after the first 2024 presidential debate. Biden could still be replaced as the Democratic nominee, but some experts say that is so far unlikely ( Getty ) After the debate, two-thirds of viewers declared Trump the winner, in a CNN snap poll. Even Harris admitted that Biden had struggled. Yes, it was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone, she in an interview after the debate on Thursday. The presidents poor performance has sent many Democrats into panic mode. The expectations for Joe Biden were low, but he didnt come close to meeting them, one Democratic strategist told The Independent. Another Democratic strategist told The Independent the debate was horrible. Need to have Harris take over, the person said. Cleanest option. Harris name has been floated as a potential replacement but some experts toldThe Washington Post that it was unlikely. Biden attacks Trumps morals: You had sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant Biden represents a compromise holding together the broad and potentially fractured coalition of the Democratic Party, Hans Noel, a political science professor at Georgetown University, said. Any attempt to find a replacement will bring those fractures to the fore. Finding another candidate that everyone is comfortable with might be difficult. It is still possible for Biden to be replaced as the candidate but he is unlikely to step down. Of course hes not dropping out, Seth Schuster, a Biden campaign spokesperson, told The Hill. While Bidens performance was widely considered disappointing, he did have strong moments. Biden laid into Trump over his alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels and the recent civil ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carrol. The crimes that you are still charged with think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many millions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star...while wife was pregnant? Biden went on to say Trump has the morals of an alley cat. His attacks came after Trump brought up his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman came to the defense of President Joe Biden after his rough debate with former President Donald Trump. Fetterman shared a screenshot of a Politico story outlining how panicked Democrats are beginning to look for alternatives to Biden after a debate performance widely viewed as an utter disaster. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate, Fetterman wrote on X. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. The reaction on Capitol Hill to the Pennsylvania Senate debate in late October 2022 between Fetterman and Republican nominee Mehmet Oz was brutal, with several people telling Axios at the time that they wondered why Fetterman had agreed to debate at all. Why the hell did Fetterman agree to this? a Democratic lawmaker and supporter of Fetterman told the outlet at the time. This will obviously raise more questions than answers about Johns health. Senator John Fetterman came to the defense of President Joe Biden ( Getty ) During the debate, Fetterman addressed his recent health complications. I had a stroke. Hes never let me forget that, he said of Oz, a well-known TV doctor. And I might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down and Im going to keep coming back up. After the debate on NewsNation, host Leland Vittert said, The biggest issue was John Fettermans health and his ability to comprehend speech, and to then speak coherently on the issues of the day. Everyone is nervous. Ive traveled everywhere. Fetterman is a deep concern. And this debate will only increase it, a Pennsylvania Democratic official said at the time, according to Axios. Despite the debate, Fetterman went on to win his Senate race in November 2022. Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted ld lose by 2, Fetterman wrote on X on Friday. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5). Chill the f*** out. Bidens voice was hoarse and strained on Thursday night and Democrats began to panic as he failed to give clear answers. It reminded the public that hes the oldest president in U.S. history, whom they have seen stumble over words and whose memory faced thorough inspection in a special counsels report. As of June 27, the day of the debate, Trump was ahead in FiveThirtyEights average of national polls by 0.2 percentage points, 41.1 percent to Bidens 40.9. Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged on CNN that it had been a slow start for Biden. She added: Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point. Im talking about the choice in November. Strategists close to Democrats who may be possible presidential candidates told Politico that they received plenty of texts during the debate, with one saying they had received requests for their candidate to step up and serve as an alternative. One adviser told the outlet that they had taken no less than half a dozen key donors texting disaster and [the] party needs to do something. But they noted that not much can be done unless Biden chooses to step aside. And on Friday, CNN reported that Biden plans to stay in the race and is committed to taking part in the second debate planned for September. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Melania Trump broke a long-standing tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Thursday evening. The former first lady was nowhere to be seen when Trump deboarded his plane in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the first debate against President Joe Biden since 2020. She was also nowhere to be seen after the debate ended. Trump exited solo but President Bidens wife Dr Jill Biden made her way to the stage to greet her husband and escort him to the moderators table. Melania has been largely absent from his 2024 presidential campaign. She has already missed key events, including the kickoff of the 2024 election in Iowa and her husbands Super Tuesday victory party. She also did not attend a single day of Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan. He is set to be sentenced on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he will be named the official GOP presidential nominee. Melania was most recently seen at Barron Trumps high school graduation in May. She also attended a campaign event in April with the Log Cabin Republicans, which describes itself as the nations largest Republican organization dedicated to representing LGBT conservatives and allies. Melania Trump, pictured, on March 19, 2024. She will not attend the first presidential debate of 2024 between her husband, Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. ) When reporters asked her in March if shed be returning to the trail, she told them, stay tuned. Several experts also predict she will not move back into the White House if her husband wins in November. Shes distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social political scene, Kate Andersen Brower, an expert on the White House and first ladies, said. Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University who studies first ladies, told the Associated Press that Melania and her husband have often broken with tradition. Donald Trump (right), Melania Trump (center) and her father Viktor Knavs (left) attend Barron Trumps high school graduation. Experts say Melania is distancing herself from her husband ( AFP via Getty Images ) But everything the Trumps do seems to be against the standard playbook of how candidates and spouses behave, Jellison said this week. Thursdays debate is also breaking with tradition. The event marks the first televised debate between a former and sitting president. CNN, the network hosting the debate, has also eliminated a live audience and will mute candidates microphones when it is not their turn to spreak. Biden has spent much of the last week at Camp David with his close advisers preparing for the debate. Meanwhile, Trump has prioritized policy discussions with allies over formal debate preparation, The Independent previously reported. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A rare sight happened in the hours after the first 2024 presidental debate when news outlets - no matter the political lean - all agreed the match-up between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump was disastrous. Left-leaning news outlets CNN and Bloomberg, as well as right-leaning Fox News and The Washington Examiner, all used the word to describe the outcome of the first presidential debate. Bidens disastrous debate pitches his reelection bid into crisis, a CNN analysis piece read. Fox News morning headline declared, Bidens disaster debate performance sparks calls for him to withdraw from 2024 race. Americans who chose to skip out on Thursday nights debate could find pretty much the same view across the political-lean landscape even at a time when Americans dont trust media to cover news fairly. Synonyms for the word unstable like shaky, wobbly, stumbled, and struggles splashed across the homepages of The New York Times, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. News networks - no matter where they lean politically - were united in their reactions to a debate labeled a disaster ( REUTERS ) Biden, 81, tried to spar with his political opponent using a noticeable hoarse voice and occasionally stumbling over his words. His muted appearance starkly contrasted with his energetic performance at the State of the Union address in March. It undoubtedly reminded Americans everywhere of his biggest flaw: his age. Biden came out raspy and with relatively little vigor or inflection in his voice. He stumbled over his words and lines of argument, Washington Post reporter Aaron Blake wrote. A Newsmax article shared similar sentiments: A raspy President Joe Biden delivered rambling answers Thursday in the opening moments of his debate. One unnamed Democratic lawmaker reportedly called Bidens performance a train wreck, according to CNN. Synonyms for the word unstable like shaky, wobbly, stumbled, and struggles splashed across the homepages of The New York Times , ABC News, The Wall Street Journal and Reuters to describe the debate that aired on CNN ( AFP via Getty Images ) In addition to the lackluster performance, many noted that Biden failed to fact-check Trump who repeated multiple falsehoods throughout the debate. Most news outlets noted that the former president repeated lies about crime rates as they relate to immigration, the Ukraine-Russia war, corruption within the executive branch and more. Bidens presence on the stage ultimately sent fears through the Democratic Party that he may not be the candidate who can get the party re-elected in November - a concern that nearly every single news outlet mentioned on Friday morning. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Robert F Kennedy, Jr, mounted a passionate defense of his independent campaign in an interview with Dr Phil aired on Thursday, even as he was left off the debate stage. The environmental lawyer, the son of former US Attorney General and presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, said he stood by his many controversial positions, often described as conspiracy theories, and downplayed the strident public disapproval many of his famous family members have for his campaign. Yeah, I have a perception problem, particularly in the mainstream media, Kennedy told Dr Phil, describing some potential voters as viewing him as a lunatic. Ultimately, however, he said still supported claims such as insisting federal health officials had compromised motives for approving the Covid vaccines, and said being described as anti-vax is defamation. He told Dr Phil hes fully vaccinated aside from Covid, and his children are fully vaccinated as well. Dr Phil interviews Robert F Kennedy Jr in a conversation aired ahead of the first presidential debate. ( Merit Street Media ) Ive always said Im not anti-vaccine, he said, adding, Im never going to take anybodys vaccine. If vaccines are working for you, God bless you. I believe in choice and liberty, that government shouldnt be ordering people to take a product, particularly one that is protected from liability. Despite calling for more civility elsewhere in the conversation, Kennedy also offered a biting assessment of Joe Bidens competence in office so far, calling his performance heartbreaking and comparing it to watching your five-year-old the first time they play on a jungle gym. The conversation with Dr Phil came amid the wider context of Kennedy being left off the presidential debate stage, where Donald Trump and Joe Biden are facing off in Atlanta on Thursday evening. Kennedy also said in the interview he respected the decision of 15 members of the Kennedy family, including his siblings, to support the Biden campaign. I love my family, I feel loved by my family and I feel like I can argue with them in a way that is congenial, Kennedy said. I wish we could have civil debate again without hating each other. Amid the defenses of his campaign, Kennedy outlined a few proactive policy proposals, such as encouraging charter schools, reinstating paper ballots to guard against largely unfounded allegations of election interference, and ending the Ukraine war by negotiating with Vladimir Putin to limit the influence of Nato. Despite starting on the back foot, and missing out on the more high-profile media appearance of the evening, Kennedy insisted he was still in a strong position. He pointed to polls showing both Biden and Trump are the least-liked pair of major party presidential candidates in at least three decades. Im in a position no independent has been in history, Kennedy said, insisting in a head-to-head race hed beat Donald Trump and vanquish Joe Biden by a landslide. Later in the conversation, Kennedy addressed the much-discussed topic of whether his campaign would play spoiler and pull in enough votes to tip one of the major-party candidate over the finish line. Im not a spoiler, he said. A spoiler is somebody who cannot win and stays in, and they stay in and disrupt the expectations of somebody who can. Kennedy reiterated his offer to take a poll before election day, measuring whether voters prefer him or Joe Biden to take on Donald Trump, with the results dictating who should be on the ballot in November. His campaign did have one weakness, however, Kennedy argued, and that was with Baby Boomers. They think Im genuinely a lunatic, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former president Donald Trump pulled no punches in his debate against President Joe Biden during their first debate in Atlanta, attacking him as incoherent as Biden spluttered and stumbled over his words. The president, his voice hoarse, regularly tripped over his own words and interrupted his own sentences. Im going to continue to move until we get the total ban, the total initiative relative to what we can do with more border patrol and more asylum officers, he said. As Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. The debate is the first showdown between the two presidential candidates since the presidential contest began. Prior to the debate, Trump and his allies floated conspiracy theories that Biden would be using amphetamines, pounding Mountain Dew or wearing an earpiece during the debate. None of these allegations have been substantiated and there is no evidence for them. Conversely, Biden retorted that he would be jacked up on his secret sauce, that had the likeness of Dark Brandon, the internet meme that also had the tagline zero malarkey. But the can is actually water. Occasionally, Biden was able to make a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeatedly lied. At one point, Biden attacked Trump for reportedly calling veterans losers and suckers. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker, he said in reference to his son Beau Biden, who served in the US military and who died of glioblastoma. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Similarly, Biden also hit Trump for multiple lawsuits, including being held liable for sexually assaulting writer E Jean Carroll and being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence 2016 presidential election by to cover having an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. How many billions do you owe for molesting a woman in public, Biden asked Trump. Of having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant? What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. But Trump also occasionally stumbled his words, specifically attacking Biden for his policy toward Israels war against Hamas. He's become like a Palestinian, he said. But they don't like him because he's a very bad Palestinian. He's a weak one. Similarly, Trump regularly refused to directly answer questions, instead regularly pivoting to talk about the US-Mexico border and immigration, a topic in which Trump polls stronger than Biden. Later in the debate debate, moderator Dana Bash asked Biden about his capacity to continue to do the job despite his advanced ages. First of all, I spent half my career being criticized being the youngest person in politics, he said. Now Im the oldest. This guy is three years younger an a lot less competent. Look at the record. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Biden confronted Donald Trump for the first time in person about his role on January 6, asking him to denounce the far-right Proud Boys gang and the other rioters who attacked the US Capitol. In their first debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Trump refused to say whether he would condemn the deadly attack. He failed to respond to questions about voters who are concerned that Trump violated his oath to accept elections as they prepare to cast their ballots in the next one. CNN moderator Jake Tapper tried to ask him twice. Let me tell you about January 6, said Trump, rattling off claims that we had a great border and we were respected all over the world on that day. And then he comes in and were not laughed at like a bunch of stupid people, he said, referring to Biden. Near the end of the 90-minute debate, moderator Dana Bash asked Trump three times whether he would accept election results. Trump demurred and said that hell accept the results of a fair, legal and good election, then raised baseless claims of fraud that cost him the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump refuses to condemn the January 6 attack during a debate with Joe Biden on June 27 ( AP ) Earlier, he repeatedly falsely claimed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Pelosi turned down National Guard troops that he had offered on January 6, 2021, which are under the command of the president. He claimed that Pelosi is on tape saying that she takes responsibility, but the clip he references includes the California lawmaker saying that she takes responsibility for not having them just prepare for more that day. Trump also insisted that he told protesters to act peacefully and patriotically. What theyve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, he told Biden. The former president has called the hundreds of criminal defendants accused of participating in the Capitol attacks patriots and hostages. He has promised mass pardons, if elected. The idea that those people are patriots? Cmon, Biden said. Will you denounce the people who attacked the Capitol? What are you going to do? The moment marked the first time that Biden or any Democratic official directly asked the former president about his role on January 6. Trump is criminally charged with leading a national conspiracy to overturn the results of election in states he lost to Biden, and then failing to stop the mob that sought to do it by force. A mob of Donald Trumps supporters broke through barricades and into the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. ( REUTERS ) He had pleaded not guilty to cases against him in Washington DC and in Georgia. I did nothing wrong, Trump said on Thursday. Wed have a system that was rigged and disgusting ... He indicted me because I was his political opponent. During a September 2020 debate, Trump told the neo-fascist Proud Boys gang to stand back and stand by. Months later, members of the gang conspired to attack the Capitol during a joint session of Congres to certify election results, then clashed with law enforcement and broke through the building. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and three of its members were found guilty of treason-related charges in connection with the iolent riots. Tarrio and three lieutenants were convicted of seditious conspiracy last year. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Tarrio, as the groups leader, organized and directed a mob towards the Capitol, where Proud Boys dismantled barricades and broke windows to breach the halls of Congress, then bragged about their actions on social media and in group chat messages that were later shared with jurors. The Supreme Court is imminently expected to decide whether Trump is immune from criminal charges for actions taken while he was in office. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The former school police chief of Uvalde, Texas had his mugshot released after he was indicted on child endangerment charges for his role in responding to the mass shooting in May 2022. Pete Arredondo was pictured in his booking photo in an orange jumpsuit, along with Adrian Gonzales, a former district officer. Police released Arredondo and Gonzales booking photos on Friday. Arredondo was indicted by a Uvalde grand jury, according to the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday. He is facing charges of abandoning/endangering a child, a state felony, alongside Gonzales. Its not clear when the indictment took place. Arredondo and Gonzales are the first law enforcement officials to be charged in what is widely considered to be a failed response to the massacre at Robb Elementary School on May 24 2022 which left 19 fourth graders and two teachers dead. On the day of the shooting, Arredondo, who served as chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School Districts police force, was considered to be the incident commander. Gonzales was one of the responding officers on the school police force. Pete Arredondo, the former Uvalde school district police chief, pictured in a booking photo. Arredondo faces charges of abandoning/endangering a child following the Robb Elementary School shooting which left 21 dead ( Uvalde County Sheriffs Office ) At least two dozen state, local and federal agencies and nearly 400 officers responded to the shooting. But law enforcement waited 77 minutes before entering the classroom where the shooter had barricaded himself. All that time, officers stood in the hallway as the massacre took place. Following the shooting, Arredondo said that he didnt know that he was in charge of the response. The Express-News was not able to reach Arredondo for comment and Gonzales hung up on a reporter. In January, the Department of Justice released a critical incident review of the shooting that found that there was a delayed response in confronting the assailant. Police doctrine states that officers should immediately act to confront an active shooter. Adrian Gonzales, a former district officer, pictured in a booking photo. Gonzales was also charged with abandoning/endangering a child ( Uvalde County Sheriffs Office ) US Attorney General Merrick Garland said: Had law enforcement followed generally accepted practices in an active-shooter situation and gone right after the shooter to stop him, lives would have been saved, and people would have survived. The 18-year-old shooter started his rampage at the school around 11.33am. Armed with a semiautomatic rifle, he walked into the schools west building and went to classrooms 111 and 112, which were interconnected. He fired more than 100 rounds in two and a half minutes. The indicted officials were some of the first law enforcement officers to arrive at the scene. As officers went to approach the classrooms, the shooter fired several shots through the door and wall. One of the responding officers was shot in the head and arm, another was hit in the ear. Officers inside Robb Elementary School on 24 May 2022. Former school police chief Pete Arredondo was indicted by a Uvalde grand jury over his response to the mass shooting ( AP ) Law enforcement called for backup, bullet0proof vests and other protective equipment. About 20 minutes after the shooting began, Arredondo made the call not to enter the classrooms. Instead, police worked to clear the building as they planned to negotiate with the shooter. According to an investigation into the shooting conducted by the city, Uvalde police officers had wanted to enter the classrooms once they had protective shields but Arredondos decision overrode that action, the Express-News reported. Even though Arredondo served as the school police chief, all of the other agencies had to defer to his orders due to his incident command position. Arredondo was eventually fired from his post and the entire school police force was replaced by the district. Families of the victims have long campaigned for charges to be brought against Arredondo for his actions. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Marine Le Pens National Rally (RN) party is increasing its lead in the polls as campaigning reached its final stages in Frances snap election on Friday. It is a pivotal and polarising vote called by president Emmanuel Macron, with his centrist government risking a potentially fatal beating at the hands of the far right. France goes to the ballot box on Sunday in the first round of a two-round vote. With pollsters indicating that the far right RN could greatly increase its number of politicians in the National Assembly, the election could radically alter the trajectory of the European Union's largest country and hamstring Mr Macron who has been a driving force in EU decision-making for the remainder of his second and last presidential term. RN sat at 37 per cent, according to a survey by OpinionWay published in the newspaper Les Echos, up two percentage points on a week ago. President Macron's centrist bloc, Together, is predicted to recieve 20 per cent of the popular vote, down two points from the previous poll. The survey also found the New Popular Front left-wing alliance could win 28 per cent of the vote, a level unchanged compared with a week ago. The poll made no seat projections for Frances next National Assembly which could differ significantly from the measured popular vote due to the two-round majority voting system. BFM TV, in a different poll compiled by Elabe, calculated that the RN and allies could end up with 260-295 seats in the new parliament potentially crossing the 289-seat bar for an absolute majority giving them a clear mandate to govern. Accurate seat projections are tricky because the outcome depends on results in 577 constituencies across France. Moreover, after Sundays first round, rivals to the RN may team up and withdraw candidates in tactical moves to defeat far-right candidates in the 7 July second round. The prospect either of an RN-led government or the political paralysis of a hung parliament has unnerved financial markets, with the risk premium on French government bonds rising on Friday to its widest since the 2012 eurozone crisis. An outright RN victory would position the party for an awkward cohabitation with Mr Macron for the remainder of his term through to 2027, the first time a French president would have to share power with a party outside the political mainstream. On Thursday, prime minister Gabriel Attal accused his RN challenger Jordan Bardella of tolerating racist speech in the ranks of his far-right camp during a heated television debate an accusation Mr Bardella rejected. The snap elections were called by Mr Macron after RN earned more than 30 per cent of the vote in European parliamentary elections at the start of June, soundly beating the French presidents centrist alliance. RN run on a platform that proposes restricting the rights of immigrants in France. Among their policies is the national preference plan, which would afford priority to those born in France when seeking employment or social benefits. France has had three periods of cohabitation when the president and government were from opposite political camps in its post-war history. On Friday, Ms Le Pen gave a sense of the type of clashes that a cohabitation could trigger when she said an RN prime minister would veto Mr Macron's preferred choice to serve as the French official in the European Commission in Brussels. Its the prerogative of the prime minister, not the president, to name the French commissioner, she told Europe 1 radio. A diplomatic source said on Thursday Mr Macron backed Thierry Breton, the former businessman who currently holds the commissions internal markets portfolio, for a new term. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Anger was not the first feeling Boldizsar Nagy experienced when the book he had been trying to publish for 10 years was branded homosexual propaganda. It was fear. The editor, from the small town of Zagyvarekas, 60 miles southeast of Budapest, had grown up unable to see himself in the stories he read. It was only when I got to university did I understand that I had a right to have a dignified representation of myself [in literature], he said. So I decided then Id like to work on childrens books Id like to make books about diversity. A decade and countless rejections from wary publishers later, Mr Nagy finally got what he needed. A Fairytale for Everyone, an anthology of retellings of traditional fairy tales, was published by Hungarian lesbian rights group and NGO Labrisz. I was bloody happy, said Mr Nagy, now 40, who edited the book. That was my dream. But then came the backlash. Four days after publication, a politician, Dora Duro a member of the far-right Our Homeland party held a press conference to rally against the anthology. At the end of her diatribe, she ripped up the book page by page and dropped it through a shredder. Homosexual princes are not part of Hungarian culture, she said, claiming that children are being subjected to homosexual propaganda. Two weeks later, Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, entered the debate. Hungary is a patient, tolerant country as regards homosexuality, he said. But there is a red line that cannot be crossed, and this is how I would sum up my opinion: leave our children alone. Boldizsar Nagy holds his book after the anthology was published. It went on to become a bestseller, translated into 11 languages ( Provided ) Less than a year later, in 2021, Mr Orbans administration passed the Child Protection Act (CPA), which banned the publishing of LGBTQ+ material for under 18s. The law has remained in place ever since. You know, my first feeling [after Ms Duro and Mr Orbans comments] was not one of upset or anger, it was fear, Mr Nagy said. I was worried about the children who will receive this message. I know what it means to feel inferior as a child because you are different and dont dare to use your voice. This childhood experience traumatised me too and I have to work on it as an adult. The CPA is just one of several pieces of legislation enacted by Mr Orbans administration to the detriment of LGBT+ rights since he assumed power in 2010. In May 2020, his administration removed legal recognition for transgender individuals, mandating that identification cards must show the owners biological sex at birth. Six months later, the government passed a de facto prohibition of same-sex couples adopting children. The main rule is that only married couples can adopt a child, that is, a man and a woman who are married, justice minister Judit Varga said at the time. This crackdown on LGBT+ rights, coupled with suppression of the free press, has turned Mr Orban into the bogeyman of the European Union. Dora Duro, a member of the far right Our Homeland party, shreds pages from A Fairytale for Everyone ( YouTube ) The CPA triggered the bloc to refer Budapest to the European Court of Justice in 2021, accusing the Orban administration of discriminating against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The European Commission later suspended its cohesion funds to Budapest, available to the poorer member states and which are intended to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU, in part due to the legislation concerning the LGBTQ+ community. As Hungary prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the EU on 1 July for the next six months, an honour that makes Budapest the co-legislator of the blocs legislature alongside the European Parliament, Mr Nagy is in Brussels to press home the case that politicking between Budapest and the bloc does little to remedy the bubble of hopelessness that surrounds the LGBT+ community in Hungary. Sometimes I feel that the European Parliament neglects us, he said. We feel very separated from the European people because we live in a bubble of hopelessness and terror. Viktor Orban following his Rome meeting with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, one of his few allies in the EU ( Reuters ) It would be nice to see the EU not collaborate with Orban for strategic reasons. Monika Magashazi, a 52-year-old trans woman and parent of two, also visiting Brussels, expressed her own frustrations with the bloc. Ms Magashazi and Mr Nagy have signed an open letter, alongside citizens from Italy and Poland, calling on the blocs more centrist leaders to make sure no one else falls victim to extreme policies or to the far right who made gains in the recent European parliamentary elections . I feel I am just not an equal citizen in the EU, Ms Magashazi said, noting that nearly a dozen countries in the bloc although not the United Kingdom permit gender recognition based on self-determination. Due to the May 2020 removal of legal gender recognition for transgender people, Ms Magashazi is forced to present an ID card almost daily. Monika Magashazi holds up a sign in central Budapest inviting locals to ask her about transgender rights in a bid to combat a ban on LGBT+ education ( Provided ) Even on her flight from Budapest, where she lives, to Brussels, where she has been recounting to European politicians her experiences of life in Hungary, she was forced to explain to the air hostess that she was a trans woman after her boarding pass did not match her ID. While most Hungarians would be accepting of the trans community, as was the air hostess, she said, it is always painful to be forced to come out in an environment where politicians demonise her. Its the first thing I think about when I wake up, she said. Just another day with a lot of forced coming out situations. Ms Magashazi is an activist now, focused on educating children and parents on being trans despite Mr Orbans crackdown on sex education. She said she feels strong enough after years of being out to tackle the daily tribulations associated with living in her true body. But she knows all too well the darkness of dealing with transition in Hungary. Six years ago, I tried to commit suicide, she said. It got to the point where I was going to have to try to live as a transgender woman with two children or be dead on my second attempt at suicide. That was the point that I chose my children. Ms Magashazi worries that children growing up will be forced to go through the same darkness that she overcame. We need to be allowed to educate the youngsters, she said, noting that she can only help those that reach out to her. They need to get information about sexuality and gender identities. When asked what her message for Mr Orban would be, she was direct. Stop using us as a political weapon, she said. We are humans. Leave us alone. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukrainian strikes against a Russian airbase outside of the occupied territories have likely disrupted the Kremlins ability to launch its own drone attacks, the UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the MoD said in an intelligence update that it was highly likely Ukrainian strikes last week on the Yeysk airbase in Krasnodar Krai, a region on the other side of the Kerch Strait from occupied Crimea, had damaged Russias drone capabilities. They added that the successful attack, carried out on 21 June, could force Russia to relocate its more vulnerable bases further from Ukrainian territory. It is highly likely that, in the short term, these strikes will cause some disruption to Russias ability to use Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to strike targets deep within Ukrainian territory from these locations, the MoD wrote. There is a realistic possibility that Russia will disperse its UAV operations to less vulnerable bases and hence the impact will be likely temporary. It is likely that Ukraine will exploit its recent successes and continue with its counter-UAV campaign to the detriment of Russia. Ukrainian servicemen of the 55th Artillery Brigade "Zaporizhzhia Sich" fire a French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzer toward Russian positions, in the Donetsk region ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Kremlin has used long-range, Iranian-made Shahed drones to attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure and civilian-populated areas for nearly two years - their first use was documented in September 2022, six months after the beginning of the full-scale invasion. But in recent months, Ukraine has been using domestically-produced drones of their own to strike back at Russian military targets. The attack on Yeysk airbase is just one of dozens of attacks that have reached as far as Vladimir Putins hometown of St Petersburg, more than 500 miles from Ukraine. Notwithstanding the relative success of Ukraines counter-UAV campaign, its lack of Western supplies through the end of 2023 and into the first half of this year have cost them the initiative on the frontline. Kyiv has routinely praised its soldiers for holding back a better-equipped Russian armed force and that deficit is starting to narrow as US military aid arrives in Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also announced on Friday that military pledges outlined in 20 security agreements Kyiv has signed with its partners total $60 billion (47bn) annually for the next four years. But Moscow has nonetheless taken territory, with the Kremlins MoD claiming to have seized control of the settlement of Rozdolivka, in eastern Ukraine, on Friday. The ministry said in a statement that Russias "Southern" military grouping had taken up what it called more favourable positions after pushing Ukrainian forces out of the settlement, which is located in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian war tracker DeepState, known to have close connections to Ukraines armed forces, acknowledged a Russian attack towards Rozdolivka from the east. But its latest update to its map suggests that any Russian pushes near Rozdolivka failed to reach the town itself. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The pier built by the US military to bring aid to Gaza is being removed to protect it from the weather, and officials say they are considering not reinstalling it unless aid begins flowing out into the population again. While the military has helped deliver desperately needed food via the pier, the vast majority of the food is still sitting in the adjacent storage yard because of the difficulty that agencies have had moving it to areas in Gaza where it is most needed. That storage area is almost full. The pier has been instrumental in getting more than 6.8 million kilograms of food into Gaza but has faced multiple setbacks. Rough seas damaged the pier just days into its initial operations, but the bigger challenge has been that humanitarian convoys have stopped carrying the aid from the piers storage area further into Gaza, to get it into civilians' hands, because they have come under attack. The US officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military movements. Humanitarian aid groups stopped distributing supplies that arrived by sea on 9 June due to security concerns and have not started again. US officials say the pier may not be reinstalled unless aid agencies reach an agreement to begin distributing the aid again. Meanwhile, food and other provisions shipped from Cyprus are piling up on shore, and soon the secure area on the beach in Gaza will reach capacity. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Iranians are voting in a snap election to replace President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this year with voter apathy the key factor. Voters face a choice between hardline candidates and the little-known reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon. As has been the case since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and those calling for radical change have been barred from running, while the vote itself will have no oversight from internationally recognised monitors, all at a time of growing public frustration. More than 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote, but turnout remains a key question with a mostly youthful population growing increasingly resentful of political and social curbs. Critics of Iran's rulers say the low and declining turnout of recent elections shows the system's legitimacy has eroded. Just 48 per cent of voters participated in the 2021 election that brought Mr Raisi to power, and turnout hit a record low of 41 per cent in a parliamentary election three months ago. Former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The election comes as tensions escalate due to the war between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. There has also been increased Western pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme. Mr Pezeshkian, who voted at a hospital near the capital, Tehran, responded to a journalist's question about how Iran would interact with the West if he was president by saying. The remarks by MrPezeshkian come after he and his allies were targeted by a veiled warning from the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over their outreach to the United States. Mr Pezeshkian's comments, made after he cast his ballot, appeared to be aimed boosting turnout as public apathy has grown pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes and mass protests. He seemed to hope that invoking the possibility of Iran emerging from its isolation would motivate people otherwise dissilusioned with Iranian politics. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ( EPA ) The election is unlikely to bring any major reforms in the Islamic Republic's policies, but its outcome could influence the succession to Ayatollah Khamenei, Irans 85-year-old supreme leader, in power since 1989. The supreme leader has urged for a high turnout to give Irans rulers legitmacy. "The durability, strength, dignity and reputation of the Islamic Republic depend on the presence of people," Khamenei told state television after casting his vote. "High turnout is a definite necessity." In the past few weeks, Iranian activists have taken to social media to call for an election boycott, saying it would legitimise the Islamic Republic, including from imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement protests who remains in house arrest, also has refused to vote with his wife, his daughter said. Three candidates are hardliners andthe moderate is Mr Pezeshkian. There's been criticism that Mr Pezeshkian represents just another government-approved candidate. One woman in a documentary on Pezeshkian aired by state TV said her generation was "moving toward the same level" of animosity with the government that Mr Pezeshkian's generation had in the 1979 revolution. Initial results are expected to be announced on Saturday, but due to manual counting of ballots final results may not be declared until Sunday. Just 48 per cent of voters participated in the 2021 election and turnout hit a record low of 41 per cent in a parliamentary election three months ago ( AP ) If no candidate wins at least 50 per cent from all ballots cast, a run-off round between the top two candidates will be held next Friday. The next president is not expected introduce any major policy shifts on Iran's nuclear programme or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since the supreme leader decides top state matters. However, the president can influence the tone of Irans foreign and domestic policy. The most prominent hardliners are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, parliament speaker and former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator who served Khamenei's office. All four candidates have vowed to revive the sluggish economy, troubled by mismanagement, corruption and sanctions. Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in Literature 10 Oct 2024 | 7:05 PM Stockholm, Oct 10 (UNI) South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced here on Thursday. see more.. S Korean author Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in Literature 10 Oct 2024 | 6:50 PM Stockholm, Oct 10 (UNI) South Korean author Han Kang has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced on Thursday. see more.. 28 killed in Israeli airstrike on school in central Gaza 10 Oct 2024 | 5:44 PM Gaza/Jerusalem, Oct 10 (UNI) At least 28 Palestinians were killed and more than 54 others injured Thursday afternoon in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced persons in the central Gaza Strip, said the Palestinian Health Ministry. see more.. Ex-Bangladeshi MP Mohibur Rahman sent to judicial custody 10 Oct 2024 | 5:04 PM Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNI) Bangladesh's former Member of Parliament from Sunamganj-5 Constituency Mohibur Rahman Manik has been sent to judicial custody till his bail plea hearing is held next Monday, media reports said. see more.. In a momentous year of elections around the world, there are unexpected polls taking place in Iran with little publicity abroad, but of great significance to the country, the region and beyond. The unscheduled Iranian election follows the death of the president, Ebrahim Raisi, last month in a helicopter crash. It comes at a time when there is fear of a wider conflagration spreading across the Middle East out of the Gaza War. After months of escalating artillery, rocket and missile exchanges across the Lebanese border, the prospect of a direct conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has close links to Tehran, is higher than ever, with other Iranian allies possibly joining the fight. Fellow members of what Iran calls the "Axis of Resistance" against Israel and the US Shia militias in Syria and Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen have threatened action. Tehran has declared that any imprudent decision by the occupying Israeli regime will have one ultimate loser, the Zionist entity. The chances of reducing tension between the largest Shia country in the world, one which may acquire nuclear weapons in the future, and the international community will depend, to an extent, on the winner of the election: but more on two men who are not taking part in it. No significant decision is made by the Islamic Republic without the authorisation of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The chances of establishing good relations with the West will also be affected by whether Donald Trump gets back to the White House in November the prospect of which looks stronger today after Joe Bidens alarmingly stumbling performance in the US presidential debate. Trump pulled the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with world powers on Irans nuclear programme early into his presidency, after intense lobbying by Israel, the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia. He reimposed punitive sanctions on Tehran, followed up by the assassination, through a drone strike, of Commander Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The collapse of the JCPOA ended the hopes of Iran reopening to the world among progressive and young voters who went on to boycott the 2021 election which brought the hardliner Raisi to power. Nuclear talks with the West led to nowhere under his government, while strong relations were established with Russia, especially since the start of Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Iranian presidential candidate and reformist Masoud Pezeshkian ( AFP via Getty ) Javad Zarif, the foreign minister under the reformist government of president Hassan Rouhani, who signed the JCPOA, is taking part in this election as the foreign policy advisor to Masoud Pezeshkian, the only reformist candidate who has been allowed to run after vetting by the countrys Guardian Council. Pezeshkian, a former health minister who was disqualified from running in the 2021 election, is doing surprisingly well in opinion polls after a campaign in which he has blamed the conservative government for Irans economic woes by failing on the nuclear talks, and the lifting of sanctions. Pezeshkian has spoken of improving relations with the US and the West, and not becoming overdependent militarily on Russia or economically on China. Zarif, and former President Rouhani have been vocal in criticising government policies which has led to the countrys isolation. The two most prominent conservatives are Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Majlis [parliament] speaker, and a former IRGC air commander and police chief, Saeed Jalili, Ayatollah Khameneis representative to the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and former nuclear talks negotiator. Two other candidates have dropped out during the campaign and there was an expectation that either Ghalibaf or Jalili would make way to consolidate the conservative vote. A three-cornered fight may well mean that the contest will go to a second round run-off, with results in a weeks time with some of the votes going to Pezeshkian. The reformist candidate, however, faces the problem of liberal voters staying away from the polls once again. Many young people in particular feel alienated from the governing system following the brutal crackdown of the "hijab protests" which followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini two years ago. There has been renewed arrests of women over head-covering transgressions for the last two months, as well as investigation of businesses where they work, and shops which serve them all under a new security operation called Noor (meaning light). Pezeshkian has warned that the Noor plan will take is into darkness. But for many among the young, making up 60 per cent of the 85 million population, his words will have little effect in improving the situation. Daria, a 20-year-old living in north Tehran, said: There are people who have real power wholl never change their views, despite what some politicians may say. That is the reason there is no point in voting. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ( AFP via Getty ) The student, who did not want her family name made public, continued: Our country and Afghanistan are the only countries which are punishing women over head-covering. Even the Saudis have become much less strict. This election isnt going to change that. Her friend Afareem, 24, will also stay away. She was expelled from university after being arrested for taking part in the protests. I dont want to have anything to do with a system which oppresses people. It has no legitimacy, she said. Rustam, 33, an IT software designer, voted at a central Tehran polling station for Pezeshkian after being initially undecided about taking part. I think he should get past the first round, and then he may have a chance in the second, who knows? he said. We need to improve relations with other countries, including America. We need to get the sanctions lifted. What would happen if Trump wins in the US? Then I think all the hope of good relations will go, just like the last time, Rustam was convinced. There are impassioned views on the other side that hold that Iran must not compromise with the West, and should instead get ready for aggression from abroad. In south Tehran, economically poorer and more socially conservative than the north of the city, Ali Abbas Ghasemi, a former member of the governments Basij miliitia who was injured fighting in Syria against Isis, asked: What was the point of Rouhani signing that [nuclear] agreement? The Americans broke their words, as they always do. In the meantime we had weakened our defences. We should not trust them yet again? We should strengthen our defences. The Americans and Europeans are allowing the Zionists to slaughter families in Gaza. We need to vote to strengthen the Nezam [system] against what Israel could try to do. The Biden administration has refused to back Israels repeated threats to carry out air strikes on Irans military and nuclear facilities an operation Benjamin Netanyahus government cannot successfully carry out without American help. Some in the Iranian hierarchy think this may change in the future with a Trump presidency. A number of senior officials have talked of reviewing the countrys doctrine of not producing nuclear weapons. Kamal Kharrazi, an advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei, said: We have no decision to build a nuclear bomb, but should Irans existence be threatened, therell be no choice but to change our military doctrine. In the case of an attack on our nuclear facilities by the Zionist regime, our deterrence will change. Antony Blinken noted this week of statements by Iranian officials suggesting potential changes to Irans nuclear doctrine. Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, met the US secretary of state, the defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and William Burns, the CIA director, in Washington this week about Irans recent nuclear activity. Whether the Middle East is pushed closer to war may depend not just on the outcome of the election in Iran, but one 6,300 miles away in the US in five months time. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of Palestinians have fled northern Gaza after Israeli forces launched another offensive in the area. Preparatory airstrikes killed at least three people and wounded six more in Gaza City neighbourhoods overnight, according to local health workers, and allegedly buried more under the rubble. Israel then moved multiple divisions of soldiers into the Shijaiyah region on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City, before they embarked on multiple raids in the area to root out Hamas militants they claimed were hiding out there. The Israeli military ordered new evacuations from the Shijaiyah region and shortly afterwards, residents in a messaging group shared a video showing large numbers of people fleeing the neighbourhood on foot with their belongings in their arms. But Palestinians and humanitarian aid organisations say there is nowhere left for them to go, as the central and southern parts of Gaza have, like the northern half of the enclave, suffered significant damage. Israel has designated humanitarian zones throughout the Gaza Strip for fleeing civilians but have nonetheless bombed the areas, claiming that Hamas is using the spaces to hide. Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike in the east of Gaza City this morning ( EPA ) After striking a building in central Gazas Deir al Balah, which was within one of the humanitarian zones, the Israeli military said the strikes were because they were targeting a Hamas fighter. The terrorist operated from within the humanitarian area, which the organisation uses as a shield for terrorist activity, they said in a statement. The military claimed measures were taken to ensure no harm to civilians. Hamas denies using civilians as shields. In separate significant strikes in northern Gaza, the military said dozens of Hamas militants had been killed, with some were holed up in a school and facilities run by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). No evidence was provided over the claim and UNRWA previously denying that militants use their facilities. Hundreds of thousands of people have remained in the north, even as Israeli troops have surrounded and largely isolated it in the search for Hamas. In the south, around the border city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people are still sheltering, residents said Israeli tanks advanced further west into the Shakoush neighbourhood of the city, forcing thousands of displaced people there to leave their tent camps and head northward to the nearby Khan Younis. Israels offensive against Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, has killed more than 37,700 Palestinians, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its count. Thousands of women and children are among the dead. Since early May, tanks have advanced in several districts of Rafah, and Israeli forces remain in control of the entire border line with Egypt and the Rafah crossing, the only gateway for most of Gaza's 2.3 million people with the outside world. One resident, who spoke to Reuters via a chat app, said some bulldozers in the Shakoush area were piling up sand for Israeli tanks to station behind. "Some families live in the area of the raid and are now besieged by the occupation forces," he said. "The situation there is very dangerous and many families are leaving towards Khan Younis, even from the Mawasi area as things became unsafe for them," said the man, who moved northward overnight. The war was triggered by Hamas surprise attack into Israel on 7 October, in which around 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage. International criticism has been growing over Israels campaign against Hamas as Palestinians face severe and widespread hunger. The eight-month war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Debris from an exploded Russian satellite that forced astronauts to shelter on the International Space Station this week could continue to pose a threat for months, astronomers have warned. Nasa ordered crews aboard the ISS to shelter in their respective spacecraft for about an hour on Wednesday as a precautionary measure against a potential collision with the space junk, the US space agency said. The RESURS-P1 satellite, which Russia declared dead in 2022, broke up into over 100 pieces of large debris in low-Earth orbit at an altitude of roughly 355 kilometres (220 miles) on Wednesday. The reason for the satellites sudden disintegration is not yet clear, though space-tracking firm LeoLabs warned that it could take months for the danger posed by the debris cloud to pass. We are now tracking at least 180 fragments resulting from this event, the company said in a statement on Thursday evening. We expect this number to increase in the coming days. We are actively analysing the debris cloud to characterise it, identify a potential cause, and estimate the impact. open image in gallery A visualisation created by the European Space Agency (ESA) of space debris orbiting Earth ( ESA ) The slim section of space that the debris cloud is orbiting is already crowded with thousands of other spacecraft, including vital telecommunication satellites and SpaceXs Starlink network. There is also a significant amount of space detritus from previous satellite collisions, which have no means of propulsion should they come into the path of the remnants from RESURS-P1. Estimates from the United States Space Surveillance Network suggest there are more than 200,000 objects between 1-10 centimetres and tens of thousands of objects larger than 10cm. A collision between two large pieces of space junk can lead to something known as the Kessler effect, whereby debris from a new explosion could exponentially increase the risk of further collisions. This cascading effect could ultimately create a layer of space debris that is impossible for rockets to penetrate, essentially trapping humans on Earth. There are currently no international laws forcing space agencies or companies to clean up debris, though leading figures have called for greater collaboration. Space junk is no one countrys responsibility, but the responsibility of every spacefaring country, Nasa said. The problem of managing space debris is both an international challenge and an opportunity to preserve the space environment for future space exploration missions. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As a refreshing alternative to the standard tourist board video format showing countryside vistas and coastal waters, Visit Oslos latest short has gone viral. Including phrases such as I wouldnt come here, and Is it even a city? the witty video has been shared thousands of times with views reaching more than two million on X (formerly Twitter). The video features one man, a Norwegian character called Halfdan, talking to camera, going through everything he hates about the city in which he was born and raised. But listening to Halfdans deadpan delivery youll hear that Oslo is an idyllic place to visit. One of the complaints is that you can easily walk around the city which is no bad thing if you want to avoid cramming onto public transport or only have a small amount of time to see the sights. Another is that there are no queues for the art galleries, unlike those in Paris or Rome, which might come as good news to anyone who has better things to do than wait in line. While it might not have the Mona Lisa, the city does have Edvard Munchs The Scream. open image in gallery The Scream is an artwork that you dont have to queue up to see in Oslo ( Visit Oslo / Newslab ) Nor is it hard to get a table in a Michelin-star restaurant, and the narration suggests its possible to enjoy a seating without a booking. You might even bump into a member of royalty or the prime minister when walking down the street, as Halfdan complains everything is too available, which is a refreshing change to cities where the famous people only hang out in expensive places. Subtly showcasing Oslos architecture, swimming pools, art and culture through sarcastic narration, the humorous video has been a major hit with viewers. On YouTube, where its had over 150,000 views, one wrote: I think this is the best tourism commercial Ive ever seen. And yes, it makes me want to visit Oslo. While on X, one viewer wrote: Probably one of the best tourism ads Ive ever seen. Another added: I love this so much. Bravo to the marketing person who first pitched this. Anne-Signe Fagereng, the director of marketing at Visit Oslo said: We did release it with some butterflies as were showcasing a rather dry Nordic sense of humour and we werent sure if people would get it. We certainly didnt expect it to go viral. But its not the first ad to incorporate the dry humor Nordic countries are known for. Last year, Visit Sweden launched a campaign ad reminding viewers to stop confusing it with Switzerland, and in 2021, Visit Iceland ran an advert that parodied the Metaverse. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Ryanair Boeing 737-Max airliner is under investigation after it descended at high speed on approach to Stansted Airport last year. Flight FR1269 dived at 321mph after a two-hour journey from Klagenfurt, Austria to London on 4 December 2023. According to flight data, the Boeing 737-Max made a steady descent to 2,350ft to prepare for landing in light rain at Stansted, but aborted the approach to climb for a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the plane plunged from 4,425ft to 2,300ft in just 17 seconds with a speed increase from 226mph to 321mph. Investigating the serious incident, the UKs Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) logged the aircrafts steep decline as a high speed and high nose down pitch attitude during a go-around procedure. The Ryanair Boeing made the unstable approach far faster than the acceptable descent rate rules, after aborting the original landing. Assisting the AAIB, Irelands Air Accident Investigation Unit described this as a level bust this is when an aircraft fails to fly at the level it has been cleared to. The aircraft landed safely at London Stansted 10 minutes after the unsteady go-around. No passengers on the 197-seat aircraft were injured during the abrupt descent, but flight records show that the Boeing 737 airliner did not take off in the two days following the incident. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: This was a case of an unstable approach. The crew performed a go around and landed normally on the second approach in line with Ryanair procedure. Ryanair reported this matter to the AAIB in compliance with our operating manual and we have provided full details to, and are cooperating fully with, this routine AAIB investigation. We can make no further comment until such time as the AAIB have completed their review of this flight. A full investigation by the AAIB into the rare incident is ongoing flight FR1269 is one of just six airline incidents in the UK to prompt such a probe last year. The AAIB said: The serious incident is still under investigation and so we cant provide any further detail at the moment. The aircraft landed safely and there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew. The investigation is nearing completion and likely to be published sometime in the autumn. Just last week, a Korean Air flight had to be diverted due to a severe fault after it descended 26,900ft in just 15 minutes, resulting in the hospitalisation of 17 passengers. According to report, passengers on the Korean Air flight KE189 experienced hyperventilation and ear pain, with 17 people requiring hospitalisation upon landing in Taichung, Taiwan. Bolivias president Luis Arce has angrily called accusations that he was behind an attempted coup against his government lies, saying the general who apparently led it acted on his own. His comments, his first to the press since Wednesdays failed apparent coup, came after the general involved, Juan Jose Zuniga, alleged without providing evidence that the president had ordered him to carry out the mutiny in a ruse to boost his flagging popularity. That fueled speculation about what really happened, even after the government announced the arrest of 17 people, most of them military officers. Opposition senators and government critics joined the chorus of doubters, calling the mutiny a self-coup. Those claims have been strongly denied by Mr Arce and his government. We are never going to authorise weapons to be raised against the people, he said. It is rather outrageous that he wanted to involve us as a justification for his actions and appetites. Seventy firefighters were deployed to tackle a three-alarm blaze at a warehouse in West Oakland, California, on Wednesday, 26 June, officials said. The fire was contained two hours into the incident but was not under control, Oakland Fire Department said. Officials confirmed that crews would be stationed at the property overnight and into the morning to mitigate hot spots. Local residents were told to keep their windows closed. Flames and smoke from the blaze were so intense that firefighters asked East Bay Municipal Utility District to boost the area's water pressure in the area to tackle it. Labour set up a faux Rishis Mega Mortgages shopfront on the campaign trail in south London on Friday 28 June. The tagline on the bright blue signage, which includes pictures of prime minister Rishi Sunaks floating head with a wheeler-dealer style glinting tooth, reads in bright yellow: Every deal will leave you worse off! The number 4,800 was also featured in the biggest font, emblazoned across the front, with one window for each digit. Heres my deal of the day. Your mortgage up 4,800, the shopfront reads underneath. The signage also said Rishis latest raw deals and you should be grateful. Gatwick airport passengers suffered disruption on Friday, 28 June, after the runway was closed following a problem with a departing British Airways plane. At least a dozen flights have been diverted and many more are likely to be heavily delayed or cancelled after the flight abandoned its departure in the middle of the runway. BA2279, a Boeing 777, aborted take-off at high speed, leading to overheated brakes and burst tyres. No one is believed to have been hurt. Here, The Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder explains everything we know so far. Nigel Farage has responded to a Channel 4 News undercover investigation within the Reform UK campaign that exposed examples of racist language. An undercover reporter recorded one canvasser calling for migrants crossing the English Channel to be used as target practice and another Reform UK activist using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak. In a separate video shared by Channel 4 News after the footage was shared, Mr Farage was asked if he would apologise to the prime minister. It was horrible, he responded. When pressed again, he added: How much further can I go? Of course it is an apology, it was horrible. India rejects US report on religious freedom as 'deeply biased, driven by vote bank considerations' New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) India on Friday rejected the US State Departments report critical of the status of religious freedom in India, slamming it for being deeply biased, and visibly driven by vote bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. In a statement, India termed the International Religious Freedom for 2023 report as a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources and a one-sided projection of issues. India said that the US report also appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgements given by Indian courts. Donald Trump claimed he had a "big victory" against Joe Biden one day after the first television debate of the 2024 presidential election cycle. The current US president struggled badly against his opponent as Democrats looked on in horror, appearing low in energy during the CNN showdown in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr Biden's predecessor, meanwhile, repeated lies and falsehoods throughout the exchange; He often failed to answer questions and was pressed three times on whether he would accept Novembers results. "We had a big victory against a man that really is looking to destroy our country," Trump claimed. Kamala Harris has claimed Donald Trump lied over and over and over again during the first presidential debate. Trump went head-to-head with Joe Biden on Thursday night (27 June) live on CNN. While Democrats watched in dismay as the president stumbled and rambled and times, Biden was able to land a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeated lies. After the debate, Vice President Harris defended Biden, suggesting the contrast between the two candidates is clear. Look at what happened during the course of the debate: Donald Trump lied over and over and over again, she said. CEO will stand down and become an adviser and brand ambassador Salad chain Chopped has been bought by the private equity firm KnightBridge Group. Chopped, which was founded in 2012, has about 60 outlets in Ireland, the Netherlands, Cyprus and the UK. In a statement, KnightBridge confirmed that the day-to-day operations of the company, as well as its existing franchisees, will not be affected by the acquisition. Under the terms of the deal, the newly launched hospitality division of KnightBridge will retain the existing senior management and head-office teams. Co-founder Brian Lee is set to step down from his role as chief executive and will move into an adviser and brand ambassador position. He will hold a minority shareholding in the new structure. Since we set up the company in 2012, Ive been at the coalface, driving its growth from an idea at the back of my mind to one of Irelands biggest brands and Irelands first, and now leading, healthy fast-food chain, Mr Lee said. Today is a significant milestone for Freshly Chopped and, on a personal level, its the beginning of a new chapter that allows me the opportunity to explore new entrepreneurial avenues and passions. Kent Lim, a founding partner of the KnightBridge group who previously worked with Chopped, has been appointed as CEO of the business. By leveraging our international network and our expertise in investment and franchising, we see a very bright future for Freshly Chopped, he said. KnightBridge is planning a significant investment in the health-food chain and will work with a number of hospitality experts to update its branding and menus. It also plans to hold a townhall meeting with all franchisees to present its strategic plan. The hospitality division of KnightBridge has ambitious plans and is in active acquisition mode, with a particular interest in indigenous food brands in their early days who are looking to scale and expand, KnightBridge chairman and co-founder Bock Liang said. The first Chopped store opened in Baggot Street, Dublin in May 2012. Mr Lee, a mixed-martial arts devotee, committed 100,000 of his own money to the business. In December 2021, Chopped signed a master franchise agreement with Dutch company FFF International Holding which planned to open 120 outlets in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark and Sweden over a five-year period. Earlier this year, Chopped appointed an interim examiner after entering the small company administrative rescue process (Scarp) some weeks before. Last year, Mairead Latimer, a former financial controller at the business, received a suspended sentence after stealing 82,000 from Chopped. Ms Latimer received a sentence of two years and six months which was suspended on condition that she repay the entire amount that she took from the business between December 2016 and July 2018. She made a number of payments to ghost employees, with more than 43,000 sent to her fathers account. She also made higher wage payments to her own account which had not been approved by the companys directors. Mr Lee expressed unhappiness with the outcome, saying that the decision not to jail the former CFO would serve as an advertisement to others that they could do the same thing and walk away. He said that the crime had put many jobs in the company in jeopardy. Ms Latimers trial last July was told that she had paid back more than 90pc of the money to Chopped. Losses at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoums thoroughbred stud operation here, Godolphin, last year declined by 30pc to 5.67m. The sharp decrease in losses at the stud and farm operation came as revenues at Godolphin Ireland Ltd increased by 17pc, from 27.44m to 32.13m. Godolphins operation in Ireland comprises five farms in Co Kildare, one in Co Meath and two in Co Tipperary, and numbers employed by Godolphin last year increased by two to 227. The HQ for the operation here is Kildangan Stud, just outside Kildare town. Kildangan itself is home to the Irish-based Darley stallions, and the farm extends to almost 1,500 acres, with combined accommodation for more than 400 horses. Ruler of Dubai and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is one of the worlds richest leaders and is one of the most famous names in the world of horse racing. Godolphins Hall of Fame horses include the Irish-trained Dubawi and Masar. Losses at Godolphin Ireland Ltd in 2023 follow losses of 8.09m in 2022, 4.23m in 2021, 8.36m in 2020 and 10.77m in 2019. A major contributor to the losses is the firms high operating lease rentals of 12.98m last year and 11.43m in 2022. Staff costs increased marginally from 13.22m to 13.29m while overall pay to directors reduced from 698,997 to 541,270. The principal activity of the group is stud, arable and livestock farming. Nomination fee income last year increased by 25pc from 20.14m to 25.15m while Godolphin Ireland recorded keep fees income of 5.9m, farm income of 613,021, breeding rights of 375,000 and leasing income of 53,085. The loss takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 2.2m. The loss resulted in Godolphin Ireland having accumulated losses of 199m at the end of last year and a shareholders deficit of 171.23m. The firms cash funds increased from 2.99m to 7.2m. The book value of the companys tangible assets totalled 74.4m. The firm last year generated cash 3.77m from operating activities. The directors state that Godolphin Ireland has received confirmation of continued support from Reliance Holdings, a group company, and it will settle all third party liabilities. At the end of December, Godolphin Ireland owed 269.68m to Reliance Holdings. Barry Egan: I went to Taylor Swifts London show fans in Dublin should expect the night of their lives The princess of pop wowed Wembley last weekend and will repeat the feat in Dublin Taylor Swift performs on stage at Wembley Stadium last Friday during the London leg of her Eras Tour. Photo: Getty Barry Egan Fri 28 Jun 2024 at 03:30 It is the concert tour of the decade and undoubtedly the most talked-about gig in Ireland in years. And when Taylor Swift takes to the stage tonight at the Aviva Stadium in front of 45,000 adoring fans, the atmosphere will be electric. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has said he is a huge Swiftie, while Taoiseach Simon Harris says he has a bone to pick with the superstar. The Taoiseach said: Were delighted to have her here in Ireland but she did take a pebble from the beach at Greystones and she sings about it in Sweet Nothings. But Greystones being my hometown, we're very pleased that Taylor enjoys Wicklow. But she does ponder in the song, Does the pebble ever miss Wicklow? He added: She's very welcome back to Co Wicklow at any time. I'm not sure whether she'll have time to visit this time, but she's very welcome. And there are many more pebbles that we have in the beautiful town of Greystones. The Indo Daily: The dark side of Taylor Swift's fandom On a serious level, I won't be going unfortunately as I don't have a ticket. And I am really conscious that actually it's a moment of great excitement for many, many, many people right across our country. I actually think this is going to be a great weekend for our capital city, between the GAA matches and Longitude at Marlay Park, and with Shania Twain at Malahide obviously. There's a lot of really exciting events happening and I'm hoping that it's going to be a really good weekend that people can enjoy, can celebrate and of course can can stay safe as well. So I hope people have a really good weekend. Meanwhile Minister Donohoe said he will be going and has been a Swiftie since seeing the US artist perform the last time in Dublin. "I went to that gig bringing family, thinking it would be mainly other people in the group enjoying the gig but me, and she was amazing. "Ive been lucky enough to see lots and lots of gigs over the years and I never saw anything like that, he told Newstalk Breakfast today. Mr Donohoe said his favourite Taylor Swift song is the lesser-known Exile, featuring Bon Iver, from her eight studio album, Folklore. He described Swift as the leading artist of our era adding that the next few nights are going to be amazing in Dublin. Mr Donohoe added that all of her fans who have never seen her perform before are going to have their dreams come through because she really is that good. He spoke to her stamina as an artist in terms of the breadth of her albums at just 34-years-old, as well as her world tour which he said is unbelievable in terms of the number of concerts she is doing. The minister added that the number of gigs in Ireland over the last few weekends is incredible with Pearl Jam, LCD Sound System, Taylor Swift and Longtitude Festival this weekend. "I would obviously be more comfortable at Taylor Swift that Longtitude, as the music there would be a little too young for me. "To say I would be an outlier there at Longtitude, I think would be an understatement, he added. Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials (Channel 4) 4/5 Suranne Jones traces the link between the witch trials of the 17th century and modern misogyny. Photo: Channel 4 Margaret Atwood has always railed against her seminal novel The Handmaids Tale being described as science fiction. In multiple interviews since its publication in 1985, shes reiterated that the book is speculative fiction firmly rooted in history. Everything that happens The Handmaids Tale has already happened somewhere in the world, either in the distant or more recent past. For a current example, look no further than Afghanistan, where the return to power of the Taliban in 2021 means that women are once again being brutally subjugated. Atwood dedicated The Handmaids Tale to a possible ancestor, a 17th century Massachusetts woman called Mary Webster, who was accused of being a witch and hanged. Amazingly, she survived. I imagine Atwood would appreciate the fascinating two-part documentary Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials (Channel 4, Sun, June 23; streaming on channel4.com). It too makes distinctly troubling connection between the past, the present and a possible future. For her first documentary series, the star of Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack and Vigil chooses a subject thats always been close to her heart and close to her home. Jones was born in Oldham, about 40km from the village of Pendle in Lancashire, the site of the most notorious witch trials in English history. In Pendle in 1612, 10 people accused of practising witchcraft were hanged. Its no accident that eight of them were women. Talking to a variety of historians, she learns that Pendle in the 17th century was very much a religious outlier, a predominantly Catholic community in an overwhelmingly Protestant country. Rife with poverty and vagrancy, it was viewed with suspicion as a rebellious place full of problematic people: the dark corner of England that attracted traitors and misfits. The documentary does a masterly job of placing the trials and executions in Pendle which were sparked by a family organising a Good Friday party that was misrepresented in court as a meeting of members of a coven and the wider hysteria about witches that swept through Europe in the 17th century in the context of the misogyny of the time. King James I had a paranoia about witches (he was convinced they were persecuting him) and wrote a book on demonology. He never specified a gender in his book, though. It was the ambitious men at his court, all trying to curry favour with him, who decided women whod sold their souls to the devil were the source of all evil. The root of this madness lies a book called Malleus Maleficarum, written in the 16th century by Heinrich Kramer, a German clergyman who believed women, with their uncontrolled sexuality, were naturally inclined to do the work of the devil. Once choice extract from Malleus Maleficarum reads: Their minds are warped, twisted like the rib from which Eve was formed. And just as the first woman could not keep faith with God, so all women are faithless. Jones is gobsmacked when an academic tells her Kramer, who was celibate, claimed witches chopped off mens penises and stashed them in trees, or else simply magicked them away. Its not as much of a stretch as it might seem to connect Kramers ravings about emasculation to the modern incel culture, or to the poisonous misogyny of Andrew Tate. Kramer was a crackpot who was mocked in his lifetime. But the invention of the printing press meant his loony ideas were disseminated to a wide, credulous audience, not least in his native Germany. Our equivalent of the printing press is the internet, which is even more efficient at spreading misogyny. Jones travels to Bamburg, the epicentre of the 17th-century hysteria over witchcraft. At the time, she learns, Germany was in the grip of what was called the little Ice Age. Extreme cold caused crop failures. The economy was in a shambles and society had hit rock bottom. What more convenient scapegoat could there be than those evil, witchy women? Ten thousand were executed. Its not about witchcraft, its about women, Jones says. Next Sunday she visits Salem. On-stage evolution of a Gen Z gay romance is smart, funny and heartfelt Boyfriends at The Cube, Project Arts Centre, Dublin until July 6 then An Grianan, Letterkenny from July 1113 Ultan Pringle and Emmanuel Okoye in Boyfriends. Photo: Owen Clarke Katy Hayes Fri 28 Jun 2024 at 15:03 Ultan Pringles new play is a charming slice of life, dealing with a pair of young gay men seeking romance. Writer Guy meets Civil Service Guy at a club (we get neither of the characters names). They move in together at the writers Camden Street flat. The flat is also inhabited by a dog called Marshmallow, neatly rendered as a remote controlled pooch, who trundles about the stage with a mind of its own. At half-light on July 6, 14 men will climb Irelands highest mountain. The climbers, all of whom have some connection to a child who died at birth, will then descend Carrauntoohil and, joined by four colleagues, immediately compete in the gruelling 186km Ring of Kerry cycle. For Courtney Canning, the challenge is as much an act of love for his son Alex as it is something to honour his little boy and help other grieving parents. We hope to raise 50,000 for Feileacain, the not-for-profit formed by a group of bereaved parents to offer support to anyone who experiences loss any time during pregnancy, he said. The appeal has already raised more than 30,000. Feileacain was founded in 2009 when grieving parents realised there was no dedicated support group. It receives no state funding and operates entirely through fundraising and donations. When Alex was stillborn in May 2023, it was Feileacain workers who helped Mr Canning and his wife, Caroline, deal with their heartbreak. They did all they could to help. Their support was incredible. Without them, we wouldnt have thought about taking photos of Alex or even of taking prints of his little hands, Mr Canning said. Its fine to say, Im sorry for your loss, and parents appreciate that gesture He said grieving parents do not realise there is such a short window of time to ensure such memories are recorded. His wife said Feileacain the Irish word for butterflies provided comfort at a time when they thought any relief from the heartbreak was impossible. They helped us understand how important it was to talk about Alex. They also helped us understand the reaction of people to what we had just gone through, she said. Some people are so terrified of saying something that might offend a grieving parent that they will try to avoid contact. As the couple pointed out, Feileacain helped them understand that people are left emotionally overwrought by any childs death and simply do not know the right thing to say to distraught parents. They are so afraid of saying the wrong thing or upsetting them, they try to avoid the conversation at all, Ms Canning said. But really its fine to say, Im sorry for your loss, and parents appreciate that gesture. Alexs death was completely unexpected. The couples first two children, Bill (5) and Jack (3), had been born without any complications at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH). Alexs scheduled scans were fine until Ms Canning went to CUMH from the familys home in west Cork for a routine check. I could see the doctor was shocked because he couldnt find a heartbeat, she said. Carrauntoohill in Co Kerry is Ireland's highest mountain at 1,038 metres. Photo: Tourism Ireland The Clonakilty couple were devastated to be told, after a further scan, that Alex was gone. There was no genetic issue, no major medical problem for some unknown reason, Alexs heart simply stopped beating. In the 1950s, over 4,000 Irish families each year were affected by the loss of a child through stillbirth, miscarriage or newborn deaths. Today that figure is between 350 and 400 a year. Support for grieving families has also been transformed, and people are encouraged to mourn as they would for any family member. Its healthy to speak about it we talk about Alex, and this Peak to Pedal challenge is for him and for all the other children who were lost any time during pregnancy, Mr Canning said. Feileacain has been working to make people more aware of this and that it is healthy to talk about things. The couple have gone on to have another child, George, whose scheduled delivery date was May 16 the date Alex was lost at CUMH. Medical staff realised the importance of the date and ensured George was delivered three days early. Georges middle name is Alexander, in honour of his older brother. When Mr Canning and the other climbers begin their trek up Carrauntoohil, they will carry small stones, each lovingly painted to commemorate a child lost around the time of birth. They will be left on top of the mountain as a special memorial. Mr Canning said the group is offering to take a stone to the top for any parent who lost a child and wants to commemorate them in this way. But please make sure its a small stone because we do have the 186km cycle to complete when we climb back down, he added. Donations can be made at peaktopedal.com Tehran, June 28 (UNI) Voting for Iran's 14th presidential election began at 8 am local time on Friday, following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month, media reports said. "We start the elections," for the country's 14th presidential election, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in a televised address. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei cast his ballot at a polling station in Tehran in the first minutes of voting in the snap presidential elections, a Mehr News Agency (MNA) report said. Iranians are voting for their next president following the tragic helicopter crash of late President Ebrahim Raeisi. According to MNA reports, Iran's Election Headquarters has established over 58,000 polling stations nationwide. Speaking to reporters after casting his ballot at a polling station in Tehran, Hosseinieh Imam Khomeini, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, urged Iranians to turn out in large numbers to vote. He called it a "definite necessity" for the country, the MNA said. The Islamic Republic requires a significant increase in voter turnout and voter numbers, Hosseinieh Imam Khomeini told the media. Iran's election headquarters announced that up to 6,14,52,321 people are eligible to vote in the snap presidential polls, MNA reported. Four candidates on the ballot include reformist former Health Minister Masoud Pezeshkian and three conservatives: former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and former interior minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi, listed in the declining order of popularity according to opinion polls, a Sputnik report stated. Two hardline candidates, vice-president Amirhossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi and Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani, quit the race less than 24 hours ahead of the voting in favor of Ghalibaf and Jalili. "In the essence of this system, the presence of the people is taken into account. Also, the durability of the Islamic Republic and its honour and reputation in the world depend on the presence of the people," Ayatollah Khamenei said. According to Sputnik reports, the first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, has been acting as interim president since the untimely death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. A second round of voting will take place on July 5, if necessary. UNI ARN ING Three of the new born baby ring-tailed lemurs in Fota Wildlife Park, Cork. Picture: Darragh Kane An Irish wildlife park unveiled a 5.5m education centre aimed at training the next generation of academics and campaigners to help save the planet and endangered species. European Commissioner Michael McGrath officially opened the new Education, Conservation and Research Centre (ECRC) at Fota Wildlife Park in east Cork as he hailed the facility as one of Ireland's "most beloved landmarks." The 5.5m complex was funded by Fota Wildlife Park (3.5m) and the Government-Office of Public Works (2m) and represents the latest expansion of Fota following ambitious developments including the Asian and African Sanctuary as well as the Reptile House. Refurbishments have also been conducted on its popular Monkey Island as well as original features of the park. Its new ECRC represents the largest capital investment in Fota history. The launch was attended by Mr McGrath as well as by OPW Minister Kieran O'Donnell and Heritage Minister Malcolm Byrne. "Fota Wildlife Park is a much-loved institution in Cork, evoking happy memories for tens of thousands of people who have visited with family, friends and school groups over the years," Mr McGrath said. "This development will provide the chance for undergraduate and postgraduate students to avail of formal and informal educational and research opportunities in a state-of-the-art location. It marked the final function of long-serving Fota Wildlife Park director, Sean McKeown, who retired on Friday after guiding the fortunes of the park for four decades. Mr McKeown was assigned to the Cork park from Dublin Zoo in 1981 and, under his leadership, Fota expanded from 22 animal species in 1983 up to 113 species at the moment. In its opening year of 1983, the east Cork park had 106,000 visitors. That soared to over 475,000 in 2021. It is now renowned as one of the world's leading breeding sites for endangered species and has successfully helped bring back species like the European Bison from the brink of extinction. Fota has acclaimed breeding programmes for cheetahs, giraffes, lemurs and now lions, tigers and rhino. But Mr McKeown noted that when Fota opened it was dedicated to helping save endangered species from across Africa, Europe, Asia and South America. There wasn't a single Irish species involved. Today, Fota is engaged in desperate breeding efforts to save a total of 10 native Irish species - with the list set to expand over the coming years as various types of Irish wildlife slip towards extinction. The new ECRC features a 265-seater auditorium, an atrium, three state of the art classrooms, and a dedicated research centre which will provide significant opportunities to undergraduate and postgraduate students in University College Cork and national and international third level institutions. Mr McKeown said it was a proud day for everyone at Fota. "Here, we place education, conservation, and research at the heart of our endeavours, weaving them into the very fabric of our mission, and solidifying their significance in our collective journey, he said. "This year more than 20,000 students will study at the Education, Conservation and Research Centre, making Fota Wildlife Park Munster's largest provider of outdoor education. The new ECRC will enable Fota Wildlife Park to expand its formal and informal educational and research opportunities for students. The ECRC also provides Fota Wildlife Park with a large indoor space to host lectures, conferences, and corporate events." The ECRC is capable of handling 35,000 students annually. Spanning more than 100 acres, Fota is a not-for-profit charity and critically depends on its gate receipts which deliver around 95pc of the annual park income. Fota has an annual turnover of around 6m with more than 150 staff at peak summer operations. That proved a major issue during the Covid-19 pandemic when Fota, just like Dublin Zoo, faced a financial nightmare with no gate receipt income and a monthly feed bill for its animals of 15,000-plus. Some 50pc of Fota's visitors are tourists and the park delivers a 200m-plus boost to the local economy each season. But for Mr McKeown and his team the true definition of a successful year is the birth record for their critically endangered species. "That's what we are here for - to ensure that these magnificent animals are around for generations to come." It is a commitment shared each year by almost half a million Fota visitors. The Fota boss revealed that while tigers and lions are hugely popular and act as a major visitor draw, the park's favourite animals have remained consistent since its opening 40 years ago - giraffes, cheetahs, spider monkeys and lemurs. Fota's ranking as one of the world's premier breeding sites for endangered species is best illustrated by the Black and White Lemur. The east Cork park has a healthy and successful breeding population of 12 - precisely the same number as is left in an entire 1,000 square mile reserve in their native Madagascar. Fota's success is best exemplified by the European bison, a first cousin of the American buffalo. Fota has bred the bison successfully for 40 years - and its numbers are now so healthy that populations have been reintroduced all over Eastern Europe and other parts of the continent. Having done its job, Fota is winding down its breeding operations with the bison just to maintain a small population in east Cork. LATEST | Enoch Burke claims his liberty has been robbed for two long years as hes released from Mountjoy Prison The High Court has released Mr Burke, despite the lack of agreement from the teacher to comply with an order to stay away Wilson's Hospital School Enoch Burke. Photo: Collins Tim Healy Fri 28 Jun 2024 at 17:32 The High Court has released Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison. They slammed the cell door on a frightened elderly man familys fury as father (83) arrested and accused of trespassing Pensioner is at centre of row over privately owned communal green Family outraged as 83-year-old arrested and charged with trespassing after drinking coffee on green area in estate Amy Molloy Fri 28 Jun 2024 at 03:30 The family of an 83-year-old man who was arrested after he gathered with friends for a cup of coffee on a green area in their Dublin estate have described the reaction of gardai as outrageous and over the top. A second man is due in court in relation to the attack on a Canadian tourist in Dublin city centre last Sunday. The man, aged in his twenties, is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning. Minister of State, James Browne, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harrispictured on Friday at the Graduation Ceremony at the Garda College, Templemore. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has called for amendments to be made to public order legislation in the wake of a number of incidents at the homes of politicians, including that of Taoiseach Simon Harris. Speaking before Fridays Garda graduation ceremony in Templemore Training College which celebrated 157 new Gardai joining the force, Commissioner Harris said he had concerns about incidents being reported, not only by TDs and Senators, but also county councillors. His comments come after a bomb hoax at Taoiseach Harris house in Greystones, Co Wicklow earlier this week. Weve had a recent report in terms of protecting politicians who are in the public eye, said Commissioner Harris. For every complaint we get, we mount a full investigation. Weve brought individuals to justice. I am very concerned about incidents that happened during the recent election campaign. There are a number of investigations that we want to bring to fruition before the next election campaign, whenever that might be. Protest is protected, but also the dwelling. The family home is also protected in the Constitution. We want to be clear that we balance that in terms of protecting the homes of individuals, including politicians, from those instances which go beyond protest, which look like intimidation and harassment. Commissioner Harris indicated that some of the existing legislation may need to be refreshed, as Gardai learn more about the tactics of those involved, and the number of incidents. Minister of State, James Browne, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harrispictured on Friday at the Graduation Ceremony at the Garda College, Templemore. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin I am not ruling out a change of legislation, but we have to very careful that that is balanced and proportionate to the threat that we see, said Commissioner Harris. Its constantly under review. Ive already asked for a change in Section 8 around the Public Order legislation, and further changes. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she had been reassured by the Garda Commissioner that legislation is strong enough to protect politicians. Its about making sure that the Gardai have the ability to apply that legislation as they see fit. I trust our Gardai to respond to these types of threats in the most appropriate way. Any attack on any individuals home, or their family, irrespective of who they are, is simply not acceptable. As a society we all have a role to play here in not encouraging and not condoning it. Newly attested Gardai on parade pictured on Friday at the Graduation Ceremony at the Garda College, Templemore. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin We absolutely have to condemn this type of behaviour, and ensure that there are repercussions at the end of day. I know that people have been arrested and have faced significant sentences for these types of actions in the recent past. Some 68 members of the Defence Forces either have convictions or are before the Courts. Minister McEntee said it is important that any member of the Defence Forces should not be a danger to the public. Where a serious offence has occurred involving domestic or sexual violence, this has to be taken into account as to whether that person is fit for the role, said Minister McEntee. There are wonderful members working within our Defence Forces. There are thousands of men and women who go about their job in the utmost professional way and with the utmost integrity, and I want to commend those members. But it is so important that if you have someone in the organisation who possibly poses a threat, or that has been violent towards a partner, that they do not have a place in the Defence Forces. Meanwhile, work is under way to increase capacity in the Irish Prison Service. Figures show that there are 5,015 people in Irish prisons 500 over the bed capacity. Newly attested Gardai on parade pictured on Friday at the Graduation Ceremony at the Garda College, Templemore. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin The prisons are under pressure at the moment, said Minister McEntee. Work is under way to increase capacity this year we will have close to 200 new spaces that come on stream, and I have a plan with the Irish Prison Service to bring on stream about 1,100 between now and 2030. Commenting on the double tragedy in Waterford on Thursday involving the deaths of two boys on an e-scooter, the Justice Minister said: My heart goes out to their families, she said. I can just imagine the devastation in that community overall. It shows the need for each and every one of us to be responsible when were getting behind any type of vehicle. There are very clear laws in place here. You have to be over 16. You cant have another person on it. You cant have anything other than maybe a rucksack. You cant go over a certain speed. Gardai are enforcing this, but I think everybody has to take care when we get behind any kind of a vehicle that has an engine or a motor behind it, because they are dangerous. The Minister added that she was open to raising the e-scooter driving age from 16 to 18. Fewer than 1,700 people lived in Dingle on Census night 2022. All who know Dingle know it isnt a sleepy place its population swells and swells in midsummer but it remains safe to say it wasnt built for days like today. As Micheal O Muircheartaigh rested for a final time in Dun Sion his childhood homeplace on Thursday night, there was little sense that nearby Dingle was bracing to host a wake of national interest, attended even by Taoiseach Simon Harris, hours later. But plans were in place and, on todays early evidence, they needed to be. Dingle-bound funeral traffic had been diverted from the main N86 and onto a narrower back road often taken by locals headed for the seaside town. They park near Dingles home grounds, Pairc an Aghasaigh, where Dingle, Kerry, and Irish flags flutter at half mast. By 10am, a full hour before funeral director Donal O'Connor opened his funeral home's double doors, a queue began to form. By 11am, it had grown by 100 metres and more than 100 people. We werent sure how long it would take and thought it best to spread it out and allow people travelling from Dublin or wherever to come early and get home early, Mr OConnor said of the 11am-to-8pm wake schedule unprecedented for him. Theres a one-way traffic system, weve five Portaloos, and theres a table set up with cases of water. Hopefully that will keep everyone sustained. Tipperary man Eugene Shortt was at the top of the queue an hour beforehand. Or he was until he left to retrieve a copy of O Muircheartaigh's autobiography, From Dun Sion to Croke Park, from his car for fellow mourner, Bernie, who travelled from Roscommon. Mourners pictured at the removal of the remains of Micheal O Muircheartaigh in Dingle. Photo: Don MacMonagle I left at five this morning, Eugene, a former Telecom Eireann employee, said. I did a few outside broadcasts with him at Semple Stadium. To have witnessed him in a commentary box was something else. He gave it his all, his hands were always waving, but he was a master of the art. The queue had shortened by 1.30pm, but the days uniqueness remained apparent. The doors of the funeral home closed and Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived a little while later. His visit was not a long one he signed a book of condolences, entered the building to extend his sympathies, spoke to a few people and he and his team turned for home but it firmly underlined that today was not an ordinary day in west Kerrys capital. I think he was a man we expected would live forever and ever and ever but his voice will live forever, thanks be to God. The largest funerals around here usually stem from a tragedy, with mourners often walking by the coffin of someone taken before their time. That doesnt apply today for a man who lived his 93 years as vibrantly and successfully as O Muircheartaigh did, but there still is a sense of loss. His family and friends feel that, of course, but its more widespread than that. It always is when a wordsmith has nothing further to add. It was no effort at all to come here, we all loved Micheal, RTE GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey said. He was a legend. You see the queue thats here already, and Id say that will go on all day. I think he was a man we expected would live forever and ever and ever but his voice will live forever, thanks be to God. He set an example everyone wants to live up to, RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst said. Thats what everyone aspires to be, to be as good as him and as loved as him, and to represent their area the way he represented the GAA, the Irish language and Kerry. He was a unique person. Being the ultimate professional is one thing; being nice should always count for more. As CEO of the Gaelic Players Association I wanted to express my condolences, Tom Parsons said. I met him numerous times as a player with Mayo, he always had great words of encouragement, that Mayo would get there, and he talked about seeing Mayo win All-Irelands. But what I found incredible about the man was he took great interest in players, always took time to listen to myself, my own story, injuries and so on, and he was just a very kind, amazing person. Bernie, who left Roscommon before 5am, said: I met him by chance one morning in Dublin on Temple Street one morning, my daughter was going for a check-up. I was very upset when I heard he had died, overwhelmed his humanity and warmth were as big as his charisma. St Marys Church a neogothic build thats more dominant for standing amid a town of squat, brightly painted buildings was busy today as well; a wedding began there after 1.30pm. But with no limit on numbers tomorrow, spill-over onto Green Street is possible, maybe probable or even certain. Dingle wasnt built for days like today or tomorrow. But a town and its hinterland can never account for the number of imaginations one of its residents may go on to capture. Major traffic delays were experienced by commuters this afternoon as emergency services attended the scene of a road crash on the M1 Southbound. Firefighters and paramedics were at the scene of a road traffic collision on the M1 southbound, just after Junction four. The M1 was completely closed southbound for drivers heading towards Dublin City but has since reopened. Fans travelling to the Aviva Stadium for the first of Taylor Swifts three Era tour shows were subjected to delays. "Gardai and emergency services are currently at the scene of road traffic collision on the M1 (Junction 3) in Swords, Dublin, Gardai said. Diversions are currently in place. Dublin Fire Brigade said: Divert if possible, expect delays. A separate road crash has occurred on the R132 Lissenhall in Dublin with Dublin Fire Brigade attending a vehicle on fire. Traffic restrictions in place as we deal with a vehicle fire. Delays on approach, DFB said. More to follow... The 51-year-old died on June 20 at Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, after suffering suspected stab wounds. Michael Chino Ryan was due to become a dad again to a baby boy called Oscar, his funeral notice has revealed. The 51-year-old died on June 20 at Hampton Wood Way, Finglas, after suffering suspected stab wounds. Ryan had previously been an associate of gang boss Eamonn the Don Dunne but had not been involved in organised crime at the time of his death. Today, his funeral details were announced and his removal is to St. Oliver Plunkett's Church, Rivermount, on Friday morning for Mass at 10am, with burial afterward in Glasnevin Cemetery. The death notice reads: Gone too soon. Predeceased by his beloved mam Bernie and sister Bernadette (Berno) Jnr. Michael (Chino) will be deeply missed, forever loved and never forgotten by his partner Tanya, children Cameron, his unborn son Oscar, Eoin, Rebecca and Zoe, his grandsons, his dad Christopher, sisters and brother Vivienne, Elizabeth and Christopher. May Michaels gentle soul rest in peace. His friends and family have left tributes to the Ballymun native online. Michael Ryan One wrote: Our deepest condolences to Christy and all of Michaels family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time, may God comfort you all, may his gentle soul rest in peace, reads one. Rest in peace Chino, look over your family and kids, during this heart-breaking time, may you get the best bed in heaven pal, another read. Ryan was known to gardai having previously been involved in a large cash in transit theft with murdered mob boss Eamon Dunne. He was convicted in connection with the botched robbery with Dunne, Alan and Wayne Bradley and a number of others who followed a Chubb Ireland Nissan Patrol jeep for a number of hours in the hope of stealing nearly one million euro inside. Ryan, who was 39 at the time, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to the same charge as the Bradley brothers - conspiring to rob a security van. Meanwhile, a man has been remanded in custody after gardai charged him with Ryans murder. Joseph Lawlor (38) of Hampton Wood Road, Finglas, appeared before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on Saturday. IRELAND'S EU Commission nominee Michael McGrath admitted a portfolio in the finance or economics areas would best suit his political experience and Ireland's interests. Mr McGrath also urged all newly elected Irish members of the European Parliament to view the achievements of outgoing EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen "in the round" in terms of her strong support for Ireland during Brexit and her firm stance in backing Ukraine following the Russian invasion. But the former Finance Minister warned there would now be a significant number of factors that would determine precisely which EU Commission post was offered to Ireland. The Cork South Central TD was nominated by the Government for a EU Commission post and was replaced last week in Cabinet by new Finance Minister Jack Chambers. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 28th "There are a number of portfolios in the entire economic and financial area in the Commission and it is open to the President of the Commission to change portfolios so there will likely be changes in line with the new mandate of the Commission," he said. "Some areas will get a greater level of priority and other areas may get a downgrading of sorts. "But, based on the existing portfolios, there are quite a number that I think would be suitable to my own background and experience as a former Finance and Public Expenditure Minister and on a range of international bodies as an Irish governor. "So I would be very interested in those economic and financial areas, in particular, but there are a lot of factors that come into play when the President is allocating portfolios including geography, gender, party groupings and of course background and competency. "It is some weeks away yet - we may not know until September when the portfolios are identified." Mr McGrath, speaking in Cork as he opened the new 5.5m Fota education and research centre, said he did not believe the stance of Fianna Fail MEPs on the vote for the new EU Commission President would directly impact on what portfolio Ireland was offered. However, he pointedly paid tribute to the achievements of Ursula von der Leyen in office - as some of his party's MEPs insisted they would not support her for a new term. "The votes of the MEPs, all MEPs, really matter in the coming weeks because President von der Leyen is in a tight situation," he said. "She only had a majority of nine on the last occasion and it could be at least as difficult this time. Every individual vote does matter. I respect the democratic mandate of all the MEPs who have been elected. "We are delighted in Fianna Fail to now have four MEPs. The Government is supporting the reelection of President Von der Leyen and the Taoiseach supported her at the European Council and we will have discussions with the MEPs in relation to their position. "But it is not about putting any public pressure on anyone because we respect the mandate that they received, the position that they have adopted. But I do think that Ursula Von der Leyens record should be looked at in the round. "She was a very good friend to Ireland particularly during Brexit and the Windsor Framework negotiations. The EU stood shoulder to shoulder with Ireland and I think we shouldnt forget that either. "When it came to procuring vaccines during Covid-19 (pandemic) a small country like Ireland might have really struggled without a proper EU framework which she helped to negotiate. "And I think she has been very strong on Ukraine. Nobody has a perfect record and I think that needs to be recognised as well. "I respect the views of the individual MEPs. They went before the people. They have a democratic mandate. And they now have a very important role to play not just on the selection of Commission President but the whole college of Commissioners go before the Parliament en bloc as well and there is a vote on the overall college. "The European Parliament is a very important institution within the European Union. We have a very strong team there now. We will have engagement with them over the next few weeks." "People were screaming and there was a lot of turbulence, the source said. Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Bulgaria to Dublin were left terrified after the plane they were travelling on was struck by lightning during a storm. The flight took off from the capital Sofia and was en route to Ireland late last night when the incident occurred during extreme weather conditions. Its understood that the flight was initially delayed before it took off for the Irish capital. However, according to a passenger, less than 10 minutes into the flight, the plane was struck by lightning during stormy conditions leaving passengers shaken. "People were screaming and there was a lot of turbulence, the source said. "It was a really terrifying experience. Its understood the plane was then diverted to Bucharest in Romania and that passengers had to stay there overnight while the aircraft was being serviced. The flight took off earlier today and arrived in Dublin this afternoon. In a statement, Ryanair apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers but said the incident was beyond our control. This flight from Sofia to Dublin (26 June) diverted to Bucharest after the aircraft encountered a lightning strike, a spokesperson said. "The aircraft landed normally in Bucharest at 03:15 local, passengers disembarked, and the aircraft was taken for inspection by our engineers before being cleared to return to service later that morning. The statement continued: Despite Ryanairs efforts to arrange accommodation and transport to/from the airport for passengers while the aircraft was being serviced, there were limited staff available at the airport due to the late hour, and passengers were advised that they could also arrange individual accommodation and transport to/from the airport and that they could claim back expenses on Ryanair.com. This flight departed for Dublin later that same day (27 June) arriving in Dublin at 3.15pm local." Ryanair sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused as a result of this weather-related diversion, which was beyond our control, the spokesperson added. A shortage of psychiatric care beds means inpatient care is now reserved for the seriously ill, it was claimed today. An unpublished HSE report identifies shortfall of 830 acute psychiatric inpatient beds nationally consultants say the true deficit may be as high as 1,800. The report, seen by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), shows that there are only 23.8 adult acute mental health beds per 100,000 population in public approved centres in Ireland, compared to an EU average of 73 beds.. High bed occupancy rates are also a concern for psychiatrists with the HSE report confirming a 77pc occupancy rate nationally for acute adult beds on the census night of 23 November 2021, said the IHCA. When broken down regionally, three health areas had occupancy rates above the recommended threshold of 85pc - CHO 2 (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon), CHO 3 (Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary) and CHO 5 (Carlow/Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford). Separately, the occupancy rate for Child and Adolescent mental health beds was highest in CHO 7 (Dublin South City/South West/West, Kildare and West Wicklow) at 92pc. IHCA Vice President and Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Prof Anne Doherty said: This latest HSE report underlines once again the scale and severity of the deficits faced day-to-day in mental health services. "With only 23.8 adult acute mental health beds per 100,000 population in public approved centres in Ireland, compared to an EU average of 73 beds, inpatient psychiatric care is now reserved only for the seriously ill. When I graduated from medical school in 2005, there were 4,000 acute mental health beds in Ireland. That number has now decreased to around 1,100. In real terms, what that means is that for every four patients we would have admitted to hospital in 2005, we would only admit one today. Deficits in staffing and resources, especially the scarcity of adult acute mental health beds, is also making it harder to retain mental health specialists. As a result, many doctors are left agonising over whether to stay in this country, or to move abroad for better working conditions. We train enough doctors in the specialty every year, but the problem is, like with every other area of medicine in Ireland, psychiatrists are leaving for or remaining in other English-speaking countries, where they have enhanced working conditions and the health service functions better. Because of this, its very difficult for Irish doctors to decide to come home and, for example, make those very difficult choices of who gets that single psychiatric bed when you have four people who need it. Time and time again, consultants and others in the service have raised their serious concerns about capacity and staffing shortages and highlighted the impact this has on peoples mental health and their ongoing care needs. Lessons are not being learned. There is no shortage of reports but very little by way of meaningful action. The very fact that our benchmarks for staffing are rooted in an 18-year-old mental health policy, A Vision for Change, also points to a lack of priority given to addressing this issue over the past decade and more. The doctors' body said that in 2018, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care recommended the number of acute psychiatric beds in both public and private mental health facilities should be increased to 50 per 100,000 by 2021 a deficit of around 1,355 acute beds against current levels. However, the HSE report states that given there are 523 private psychiatric beds nationally, the shortfall in public acute psychiatric beds is 832. The new HSE report is the work of an Acute Bed Capacity Specialist Group established by the HSE in 2021 to make recommendations on bed capacity in the mental health services. It has recommended a phased increase to an initial 25 beds per 100,000 population, which would require the opening of an additional 164 acute psychiatric beds. There was a significant increase in the number of abortions carried out in Ireland last year rising to 10,033, the highest since the law changed to make it easier to have a termination. This compared to 8,156 terminations of pregnancy carried out in 2022 under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. Last year, 21 procedures were carried out due to a risk to life or health of the mother under the grounds set out in Section 9 of the Act. Seven terminations were completed where there was a risk to life or health in an emergency situation. Another 129 were due to a fatal foetal abnormality and 9,876 medical abortions were carried out in early pregnancy. The annual report on terminations for 2023 released by the Department of Health indicates that the months with the highest number of terminations carried out were May (902 notifications), January (878) and March (874). The month with fewest notifications was February (683). The HSE also submitted a report showing two applications for review were received and carried out last year. Both of the applications were found to have met the requirements for a lawful termination of pregnancy. The highest number were in Dublin at 3,645 terminations followed by Cork at 873 .The lowest was in Leitrim at 47 and Monaghan at 74. Meanwhile, the annual cost of providing medical abortions through GPs and hospitals is now 7.4m a year, new figures show. It includes 5.6m in GP payments and medications with 1.7m spent on terminations in hospitals. The costs provided by the HSE are the first time the funding for abortion services have been detailed since the legislation liberalising abortion, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, came in to force. It allows for unrestricted medical abortion up to twelve weeks through a GP service and termination in cases of fatal foetal abnormality. This is defined as a condition likely to lead to the death of the foetus either before or within 28 days of birth. The HSE said costs for the community based termination of Pregnancy in 2022 was 5.6m and includes GP fees, medications as well as other areas such as training, running the My Options freephone helpline and translation services. The hospital termination costs amounted to 1.78m the same year, the HSE said in a response to Independent Ireland TD, Michael Collins. Meanwhile, six additional hospitals started providing termination services in 2023, an increase of 55pc. Termination services in early pregnancy are currently provided in 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals, with the remaining two expected to come onboard this year. . Taylor Swift has been invited to Inchicore ahead of her sold-out dates at the Aviva Stadium to enjoy a pizza named in her honour Global sensation Taylor Swift has been invited to Inchicore ahead of her sold-out dates at the Aviva Stadium to enjoy a pizza named in her honour. Her namesake pizza the Tayter Swift earned its name at Rascals Brewing Company from the thinly sliced boiled and roasted potatoes scattered on top of a garlic base. Some buffalo mozzarella, rosemary, gorgonzola and pancetta from the Co Meath farm The Wooded Pig finishes off the pizza served in the family-run brewery and restaurant in Dublin 8, which specialises in pizzas and beers. The Tayter Swift was a fan favourite at Rascals during its previous run on the menu, with the pizza making a return for one weekend only as thousands of Swifties descend on Dublin to see the Grammy winner perform her three-and-a-half hour show each night. Joe Donnelly of Rascals Brewing Co. in Inchicore with their 'Tater Swift Pizza'. Photo: Steve Humphreys. "The flavour from this is absolutely class and we have no doubt that when Taylor Swift calls here shes going to really enjoy at least two or three, maybe four pizzas, said marketing manager Joe Donnelly, who made his own Taylor Swift badge in honour of the occasion. "Im quite confident that Taylor Swift will come here and enjoy this beautiful pizza which weve named in her honour, the Tayter Swift. Of course, we enjoy funny names here at Rascals but look, the food speaks for itself. "If youve got a hunger, you can Shake it Off coming here to have that pizza, but there will be no Bad Blood between us if she doesnt like it, he joked. The idea to use potatoes as a topping were a no-brainer given they are part of the Irish food culture and Swift has Irish roots. Her great-great-grandfather George Findlay was from Dublin, while her great-great-great grandparents emigrated from Derry in 1836. "We like to have a bit of fun with our pizzas. This is a pizza weve had on before, people go absolutely mad for it and sometimes I call it the Cadburys Creme Egg trick. You take something away and you create a greater sense of want and then when it comes back, people go, Oh my God, its back! "This was a pizza that was really successful that we decided, You know what, lets bring it back for the Taylor Swift concert, because what better reason? I mean, its named after the great lady herself. A bridal party were among the anxious Aer Lingus passengers travelling today ahead of a busy weekend at Dublin Airport as the bitter industrial dispute with pilots rumbles on, causing disruption to thousands of passengers. Around 440,000 passengers will travel through Dublin Airport this weekend as school holidays begin and fans come from across the world to see pop phenomenon Taylor Swift perform three sold-out nights at the Aviva Stadium. Others are landing in the capital to celebrate Pride and for the All-Ireland Quarter Final matches in Croke Park, with an expected 600,000 additional visitors expected in Dublin from across the country and across the world this weekend. It comes ahead of a planned 8-hour strike by Aer Lingus pilots tomorrow. Thousands of passengers travelling with the airline have been impacted by flight cancellations and rescheduling, with a further 122 flights affected next week between Wednesday and Sunday. Holidaymakers were in high spirits travelling through Dublin Airport today, with many passengers plans largely unaffected by the flight disruption. Catherine McCabe from Dublin, who was setting off on a weekend away in London for shopping and sightseeing with family, said it was still a worry to know that plans could change in the days before their departure. "We promised (my niece) this trip for ages and ages and its stressful. We didnt want to be mentioning anything about flights being cancelled. We have things booked over there as well, she said. Their outgoing flight was unaffected but they must cut their trip short on Sunday due to Aer Lingus having to reschedule their flight back home to Dublin. We are all on different flights home "Our flight was meant to be at 4pm and its at 9am in the morning now. Were missing a few things, but at least we still get to go, her daughter Orla said. Other passengers were relieved to report their plans remained unchanged despite the ongoing work-to-rule, including bride-to-be Chloe Hughes from Claremorris, Co Mayo, who arrived in Dublin Airport with a suitcase packed for a surprise destination. Her bridesmaids one of whom travelled all the way from Australia to make it for the hen-do were yet to reveal their plans to primary school teacher Ms Hughes in the departures area of Terminal 2, but reassured her that their flights with Aer Lingus were not impacted by the cancellations. "Theyve kept a very good secret, but I know there has been a lot of panic and worry amongst the bridal party over the last while hoping that the flight goes ahead, she said. "Ive been given the clue of beach pack for the beach so thats what Ive packed for. So, if they bring me to Knock I wont be very well dressed, Ms Hughes laughed. "I think (the pilots) are right to an extent. I think that its very unfair of Aer Lingus to run their company in such a way that if pilots are working-to-rule that they can only manage 80pc of their flights, so I think the pilots do deserve a raise. The message U2 sent to Taylor Swift ahead of her first night in the Aviva Stadium Taylor Swift has said she is already feeling the Irish hospitality after she got a message from U2 ahead of her first night in the Aviva. The US superstar will enthrall 165,000 fans in Dublin over three nights this weekend, having arrived in her private jet on Friday. "Dear Taylor, Welcome back to our hometown leave some of it standing?! Irish rock band U2 wrote in a card for the US star. The group signed the card Your Irish fan club from Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry, accompanied with a bouquet of flowers. Taking to Instagram to thank the band, Swift wrote: Already feeling that Irish hospitality. U2, thanks for always being the classiest and coolest. The Love Story pop-star will take to the Aviva this Friday for a three and a half hour set, detailing her various eras of her career through her music. Swift is expected to take to the stage at 7.30pm, following the warm-up act of American rock group Paramore. Swifties were filling out the Aviva Stadium, dressed in cowboy boots, mini-dresses, fringed skirts and wearing the customary friendship bracelets now synonymous with the tour. Last years run of the Eras tour was the first in history to reach more than $1 billion in revenue, making it the highest grossing music tour of all time, earning Swift a place in the The Guinness Book of Records. Dublin businesses are expected to benefit from tens of millions of euros to the local economy due to the concert and its travelling fans. Matt Loughrey used three-dimensional technology to create a lifelike image of Robert Emmet from the death mask. Photo: Matt Loughrey/My Colourful Past A portrait miniature of Robert Emmet sold for 3,600 (4,250) at Gorringes auction of Miniatures & Silhouettes in Lewes, England on June 16. The tiny artwork (6cm x 5cm) was painted in watercolour on ivory. It carried a conservative estimate of between 300 and 500 (350 to 590). Given who he was, the level of interest was to be expected, says Clifford Lansberry of Gorringes. Robert Emmet (1778-1803) is an Irish nationalist icon. He was a brilliant orator, but a misguided revolutionary. His rebellion against British Rule in 1803 was poorly attended and quickly suppressed. Emmet was sentenced to death. His famous speech from the dock ended with the words: When my country takes her place among the nations of the Earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written. It was a self-fulfilling prophesy. After his execution, Emmets body was spirited away from Kilmainham Gaol. His grave has never been found and his epitaph remains unwritten. To add to the mystery, nobody knows exactly what Robert Emmet looked like. There are many likeness all impossibly handsome but all are based on a handful of sketches made at his trial. There is also a death mask made by the artist James Petrie, who knew Emmet and went into Kilmainham Gaol to make the mould. It must have been a grisly business. Emmets head was severed from his body after hanging and held up as an example to the crowd. Bronze casts of the death mask sometimes come up at auction. One sold at Adams for 1,100 in 2014 and another for 750 at Whytes in 2019. In 2020, Matt Loughrey of My Colourful Past used a three-dimensional technology called X-Oculi to create a lifelike image from the death mask. Matt Loughrey used three-dimensional technology to create a lifelike image of Robert Emmet from the death mask. Photo: Matt Loughrey/My Colourful Past The rendering shows Emmets damaged face and cropped hair, a reminder of the brutality of his execution. The miniature sold at Gorringes was set in a gold locket frame engraved with Robert Emmet Born 21st May 1782 above; Executed 20th September 1803 below; and Thomas Addis Emmet on the back. This is the name of Roberts elder brother who had been a leader in the Society of United Irishmen and emigrated to America in 1804. A later-written inscription on a piece of card behind the portrait reads: Gold Robert Emmett, Irish Patriot, Executed 1803, Aged only 25! Its probable that the miniature was commissioned posthumously by Thomas, but theres also been some discussion about Roberts birth date, which is incorrect on the frame. The miniatures new owner, a retired museum curator living near Lewes, is going to have fun researching its history. If you didnt have the inscription on the frame, youd have to be very well informed to know who the sitter was, says Lansberry. Youd look at it and say it was unusual. Many of the sitters in miniatures look self-important and full of themselves, but this looks like a natural pose. Miniature portraits were the forerunner of photographs, painted from life as a memento for loved ones. Historically, theyre been a popular collectible, but their standard varies. There are a lot of mediocre ones out there, Lifford says. Most are painted on ivory. Early miniatures were painted on copper and common ones were painted on wood, but ivory allows a glow to come through the paint. Many of the miniatures in the sale show officers in uniform, including 10 by the Irish artist Frederick Buck (1771-1840). Frederick Buck (Irish, 1771-1840), Portrait miniature of an army officer Buck, who worked from Cork, was on to a good thing. During the Napoleonic Wars, Cork was the main provisioning port for the Royal Navy and Buck either painted the officers when they went ashore or went aboard the ships. His depictions of uniforms are said to be accurate and his portrait miniature of an army officer in a dark blue uniform with silver braiding and a fur collar (7cm x 5.4cm) sold for 1,100 (1,300). Some collectors specialise in identifying uniforms, Lifford says. The real difficulty with miniatures, if theyre not named on the back, is that its really hard to identify the sitter. Youre lucky if you can identify the artist. George Place (Irish, c.1755-c.1805), Portrait miniature of a gentleman A portrait miniature of a gentlemen (9cm x 7cm) by the Dublin-born artist George Place (c.1755-c.1805) sold for 1,600 (1,890). It shows a man in a blue coat with brass buttons, red collar, yellow waistcoat, white frilled shirt and tied cravat. His hair is powdered and curled. Its dated 1797. At this time, Place was working in London. Later that year, he moved to Lucknow in India, where he died in 1805. See gorringes.co.uk. Millions of visitors could flock to the UK to visit a Universal attraction, which would also bring economic benefits The construction of the Bedfordshire site would also create 20,000 jobs in the long-term, according to a report commissioned by the company (Alamy/PA) A proposed Universal Studios theme park in the UK could welcome visitors every single day of the year and bring almost 50 billion (59bn) to the economy. A new report commissioned by Universal Destinations and Experiences also claims that the opening would create 20,000 jobs. The US-based company has purchased the land near Bedford, with plans to build Europes largest theme park, as well as a 500-room hotel. A theme park in England would join the Universal roster of locations that includes Los Angeles in the US and Osaka, Japan, where there are whole areas themed around the Harry Potter book and film series, plus a Super Nintendo section focused on gaming franchises such as Super Mario and Donkey Kong. Universal recently undertook a period of public engagement to decide whether to proceed with the development, with around 1,500 people interviewed and a survey that received more than 6,000 responses. Universals economic impact analysis, which it said was undertaken in line with HM Treasury guidance on economic appraisal, states that the net economic contribution of the potential project for the UK is forecast to be 35.1 billion over the construction period and first 20 years of operation, while it will also generate up to 14.1 billion in net additional tax returns over the same period. During the construction period, 20,000 jobs will be created, with a peak of 5,000 workers at the site. Once open, it is expected to create 8,000 jobs, rising over time, consisting of a range of high-quality, multi-disciplinary team member roles with a commitment to pay the living wage. The report references evidence from Universals other theme parks, which suggests that for every job supported within our parks, at least 1.5 further jobs may be supported, in our supply chain and across all areas of the economy. This could see an additional 20,000 jobs supported by the project. Millions of international visitors could flock to the UK to visit a Universal attraction, which would also bring economic benefits. Page Thompson, president of New Ventures of Universal Destinations & Experiences said: A world-class theme park and resort from Universal has the potential to generate billions in economic benefit for the UK, by creating thousands of high-quality jobs and attracting millions of new visitors to the country. The Independent understands that due diligence is continuing. In December, it was revealed that the parks division of the Universal media empire had bought land covering almost 500 acres in Stewartby, which is around 15 minutes from Bedford by car and close to Kempston Hardwick railway station. A proposed resort would also be easily accessible from London Luton airport, and less than an hour away from London. Universal Kids Resort is currently under construction in Texas, with plans to open its doors in 2026. At the time, a spokesperson from Universal old The Independent: It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community. In late April last year, I travelled to Sligo at the invitation of Tommie Gorman. My first meeting with Tommie had been virtual, reading out a tribute from the then Prince of Wales to Tommy at his RTE retirement party, held on Zoom during the pandemic. Simon Harris and his family were the target of bomb threat. Photo: PA Taoiseach Simon Harris has rightly queried how appropriate the use of the words hoax and protest are in the context of sinister threats to him and his family. One might describe the Loch Ness Monster as a hoax, but the targeting of ones wife and children with a bomb cannot be dismissed as a jape. In the same manner, the menace of hooded men gathering outside your front door does not quite tally with our understanding of a liberal civic protest. Mr Harris was in Brussels for a summit of EU leaders at a time when the threat from the far fight and the shadow of extremism hangs over the bloc. Perturbed, but nonetheless composed, Mr Harris said: These things are done to intimidate and upset. I have young children, I have a wife. Its a really unacceptable situation. Justice Minister Helen McEntee roundly condemned the bomb threat as deplorable. She noted there is a changed environment for those working in politics and that targeting of our representatives was more common. Those who stand for election and attain office are there to serve in our name. Any threat to them ought, therefore, to be an outrage to us all. It is of vital importance that they are given maximum protection and respect. As a civil society, we must maximise our efforts to crack down on those who would by stealth seek to subvert those who are doing their public duty. To do otherwise would be to surrender to malign elements. Concerted efforts aimed at downgrading democracy have to be challenged continually We have too much evidence of how historys harshest lessons begin with mobs being used as spear-heads, awakening to the darker purposes of the bad actors who hide in the shadows only when it is too late. As Thomas Jefferson put it: Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism. The presence of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at the summit served as a sober reminder of just how precarious our rules-based order has become. He was there to sign a security agreement with the EU, with Russias invasion having once again brought war to the continent. Security and defence figure highly on the summits agenda. Leaders from Poland and the Baltics want the EU to build a defence line on their borders with Russia. Concerted efforts aimed at downgrading democracy have to be challenged continually. The soon-to-be-newly elected top tier of the blocs executive arm faces a formidable set of risks over the next five-year mandate. Solidarity will be critical if internal and external destabilising forces are to be contained. Our own democracy has held firm despite decades of facing down subversives and violence. Networks of mutuality and shared values are deep-rooted and will not be tampered with lightly. Yet we have seen again how it cannot be taken for granted. Injustice anywhere imperils democracy, and those who flout the law must be made to fear it. Sewage has regularly flown from the under-development plant into the river in recent times, a councillor has said Prosecution has to follow after sewage flowed from the wastewater treatment plant in Macroom into the River Sullane, according to local councillor Ted Lucey Prosecution has to follow after sewage flowed from the wastewater treatment plant in Macroom into the River Sullane, according to a local councillor. Speaking at the Macroom Municipal District Meeting on Friday, councillor Ted Lucey said that sewage is regularly being discharged from the wastewater treatment plant, which is currently being upgraded, and causing the river to fall into a scandalous state. The Fine Gael councillor said that he was notified of the most recent occurrence of sewage flowing into the river on the evening of Friday, June 21. The state of the river is scandalous. What is happening is unacceptable, its absolutely shocking and there is no one taking responsibility, Cllr Lucey said. Cllr Lucey said that he contact Uisce Eireann about the sewage flowing into the river last Friday and has yet to receive a response. He said that while the local Uisce Eireann curators are hardworking, those at the higher levels within the state agency are like the secret service. You dont know who they are, you dont know where they are, you just cant find them, he said. Cllr Lucey said that as a farmer, if he was deemed to have polluted a body of water he could be fined or even end up in court and called for the body responsible for the wastewater treatment plant to face consequences. Prosecution has to follow here, he stated. Its outrageous, appalling, the worst I have seen. This has to stop. Macroom Bridge. Councillor Martin Coughlan said that he lives close to the wastewater treatment plant and the sewage issues that are ongoing there have caused people to avoid using the river. Young people used to do canoeing and they have had to get off the river t is so bad at some stages, he said. Cllr Coughlan said that the sewage being discharged from the plant is also causing a dreadful odour, which is affecting those living nearby. Last week it got to a stage, evening and night time, people had to close up windows. This has happened on a regular basis for the last five or six weeks. There is no appreciation at all that there is people living within 50 metres of the plant. Slurry never smelt as bad as this smelt. Somebody needs to take the bull by the horns. Cllr Michael Creed, who said he has also had issues trying to get information from Uisce Eireann, said that what is happening is a public health issue and the HSE must be contacted. Councillor Gobnait Moynihan called on the EPA and Inland Fisheries Ireland to investigate the issue. Maurice Murphy, a County Council senior executive officer, told the councillors that he will look at contacting all the relevant agencies in relation to the unacceptable situation. Uisce Eireann have been contacted for comment. I was very privileged to be the first citizen of Cork County, said the former Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn at the recent annual general meeting of Cork County Council. In a poignant address at County Hall Cllr OFlynn looked back with great fondness on his 12 month tenure as County Mayor. I am filled with gratitude and pride. It has been a tremendous honour to serve as your mayor for the past 12 months. It has been an unforgettable journey and a wonderful year. I am deeply grateful for the support and collaboration of everyone in the chamber, he said. The outgoing mayor reserved special thanks to his family members for their support. I want to extend my deepest thanks to my family. Their unwavering support and understanding made this year possible for me. Without your support and encouragement this extraordinary year would not have been possible. I especially want to thank my good wife. The love of my life, my supporter, my rock. I wouldnt be here sitting as a councilllor without the support from my wife Mary. You are with me all the way since I was elected in 1999. Heres to many more elections. I also want to thank my son Francis John most sincerely. He was with me all the way on the journey. I also want to thank all my extended family and supporters. Without family I think we are nothing, he added. To the citizens of this great county thank you for placing your trust in me, said the Fianna Fail councillor. Your belief in my vision and leadership has been a constant source of motivation. I also want to thank all my fellow councillors in this chamber. We all worked exceptionally well. We have a tremendous amount of work done over the past 12 months. Reflecting on his highlights during his one year term as Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr OFlynn said: I am proud of the progress we have made in various areas, on infrastructure improvements to enhancing services. We also secured additional funding for our roads. We got 3.7 million to address the damage caused by extreme weather. Each municipal district will see the benefit of that funding in the next couple of months. If you dont look after the potholes you will not be back the next time. The outgoing mayor also paid tribute to the remarkable work carried out by voluntary groups throughout Cork County. One of the greatest joys of my tenure was witnessing the remarkable voluntary work carried out throughout the county. The dedication of our volunteers have enriched our communities. Cork County Council has made significant strides in improving the quality of live of our residents in expanding public amenities and fostering economic growth. We have laid strong foundations for the future development. Cllr OFlynn also touched on the progress bade in both social and affordable housing in Cork County. I am proud to say that during my term as mayor I have overseen the development of about 355 social and affordable units in Cork County. These developments represents a substantial step forward in addressing our housing needs. The first affordable housing in Fermoy for 22 years is now complete. The successful gala fundraiser was another highlight of my term, said Cllr OFlynn. It raised significant funds. Another highlight was celebrating the 125th anniversary of Cork County Council. It was a significant and poignant moment. The completion of the Macroom bypass was a monumental milestone. Community is my passion. I have to mention my own community in North Cork. The long awaited opening of the Clogher Cross to Waterdyke project and putting a much needed car park in Doneraile. I am filled with hope and optimism for the future of our great county, he added. Barriers have been erected along the Grand Canal to prevent people pitching tents. Pic: Gerry Mooney The ugly barriers along the Grand Canal should be removed as they are seriously limiting the publics ability to enjoy the summer, according to one Dublin TD. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon made the comments after it emerged the temporary barriers are expected to be in place until October. For more than six weeks now, one of the citys most cherished public amenities has been blighted by unsightly barriers, erected in response to the immigration accommodation crisis, he said. It has now emerged that these barriers will remain in place through the summer, seriously limiting the publics ability to enjoy the canal. This is continuing to impact the publics enjoyment of the amenity and is affecting trade for local businesses along the canal at the height of the summer. I am calling on Waterways Ireland to provide full clarity as to what exactly is being proposed and for the immediate removal of the temporary barriers along the canal. According reports, Waterways Ireland plans to redesign the canal area to prevent vulnerable homeless people erecting tents. Its difficult to see how this can be done without using hostile architecture, like spikes, and permanently destroying one of Dublins best loved amenities. The barriers along the Grand Canal could be in place until October. Pic: Gerry Mooney Waterways Ireland should be concentrating on enhancing and promoting the canal not preventing homeless people from camping. It is an outrage that these plans are being made behind closed doors with zero public engagement, he added. Last month, groups of International Protection applicants re-pitched their tents along the Grand Canal within hours of being moved from a site on Mount Street. Barricades were subsequently put up along the canal to prevent new tents from being pitched. Mr Gannon believes maintaining these barriers along the canal amounts to prolonged and deliberate State-sponsored vandalism. Instead of having an International Protection system that is fit for purpose, the sticking plaster solution to the crisis has been to erect ugly barriers along the banks of the canal one of the capitals most popular walking routes, he said. Vulnerable asylum seekers had been forced to pitch their tents along the banks of the Grand Canal after being moved on from streets near the International Protection Office on Mount Street, where they had been sleeping rough. This was a direct result of the Governments failure to comply with its legal obligations to provide accommodation to those seeking asylum in the State. The Irish Independent has contacted Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council for comment. Thousands of people attending the Pride Parade in Dublin last year. Pic: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne Thousands of people will take to the city centre streets tomorrow to celebrate 50 years of Dublin Pride. What began with eight people protesting anti-gay laws outside the Department of Justice in June 1974, has since grown to become one of the biggest national and international celebrations. Since the 1990s, there has been an annual Pride parade every summer, and this years event will kick off at 12pm on Saturday, June 29, under the theme, shine. The parade is divided into two sections: the first reserved for LGBTQ+ support, advocacy, youth, and social groups, while corporate organisations wave their flags in the second part. Led by the Grand Marshal, Belong TO, an LGBTQ youth organisation, participants will gather along OConnell Street before marching past Liberty Hall, crossing the Liffey, and finishing up at the Pride Village in Merrion Square. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the full route, however, due to the size of the crowds, it can take about 90 minutes for everyone to start moving depending on their position. A free festival of LGBTQ+ community and culture will follow in Merrion Square Park from 1pm-6pm. Dublin Bus is operating diversions from 11.30am onwards due to the closure of Merrion Square South and OConnell Street, while there will also be changes to Luas Green and Red Line services. Later in the day, the Pride Block Party, headlined by international acts COBRAH and Princess Superstar, is taking place at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, from 4-11pm. In the company of hosts Sasha Velour and Blu Hydrangea, this event promises a glittering extravaganza featuring top drag performers, DJs and activities like Drag Aerobics and Sing Along Social. Tickets are 45. Becky Hill plays the first day of the Longitude Festival at Marlay Park on June 29 With big names like Becky Hill, Jazzy, Doja Cat, Belters Only and 21 Savage headlining, Longitude is going to be one of the major events in Dublin this summer. Taking place over two days June 29 and 30 at Dublins Marlay Park, the popular festival has something for everyone to look forward to. Heres everything you need to know ahead of the event: Are there any tickets left? Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster for the weekend or one day. When do gates open? Gates open at 1.30pm both days. The event is expected to finish at 11pm both nights, with bars on-site closing at 10pm. Heres the line-up for both days: Saturday, June 29: Central Cee, Becky Hill, Belters Only, Joey Corry, Jazzy, Route 94, D.O.D, Jen Payne, NewEra, Evan McGee and Hyyken. Sunday, June 30: Doja Cat, 21 Savage, Sonny Fodera, D-Block Europe, Obskur, Kenya Grace, Casso, Daire, CamrinWatson, Datsko and Shona Brophy. Can under-16s go? All under-16s need a ticket and must be accompanied by an adult, parent, or guardian over the age of 18. According to Ticketmaster, you may be asked to prove your age with a photo ID, or you will be refused admission. Acceptable forms are passport, garda age card or a driving license. Doja Cat plays Longitude this Sunday, June 30 What else should I know before going? To avoid entry delays, its advised to download, print or save your ticket before arriving. You should allow plenty of time for concert entry procedures, ticket checks and searches. Everyone will be subject to a search permissible under law and a condition of ticket purchase and entry. Additional security checks may take place once inside the venue. There will be a strict No Alcohol Policy implemented on all transport and private buses travelling to the venue. So, you should not arrive at the event intoxicated as you will not be permitted entry. How do I get to Marlay Park? The Luas green line will be running from the city centre to Dundrum and from there, its a 35-minute walk to Marlay Park. Theres also a shuttle bus from Dundrum Luas station leaving every half hour from 2pm. If driving, you can go by Dublin city centre via Ranelagh, Clonskeagh, Goatstown, Sandyford, Grange Road and then on to College Road for car parks. From the M50, exit at Junction 12 interchange, signposted R113 Knocklyon/ Firhouse. Follow Scholarstown Road, Ballyboden Way, Taylors Lane, turn right on to Whitechurch Road and then left on to College Road. Entrance to the carparks is off College Road. The Bernard Shaw is going to stream the Glastonbury festival this weekend. A North Dublin pub is set to host its own Glasnevinbury this weekend in honour of the famous UK music festival. Over the five days of Glastonbury, the Bernard Shaw is going to stream the festival for pub goers and have face paint, karaoke, Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses for sale, and a bag of cans deal. Were going to have as many festival shenanigans as we can muster, all with the aim of creating a Glasto in Dublin vibe, they said. This weekend were beaming Glastonbury across the venue in all its glory, and adding a healthy dose of festival games, clothes and drink deals into the mix - AKA - Glasnevinbury. Will it be as good as the real thing? Not even close. But will it be better than staying at home and moaning about the fact you missed out on tickets? We think so. Best of the lot, no-one took any planes or cars or tents to the event, thus meaning this is better for the environment, and you are making the world a better place by coming to us to watch the festival. Our heads are melted trying to get tickets for it every year, so we thought wed try to host the next best thing. The pub will be streaming the various stages across the venue, which means you can watch different acts at different times. The street food Eatyard vendors will be providing festival food, and the bar staff will be making special Glaston-berry daiquiris. Tickets to the event are free, but booking is advised. The Bernard Shaw will be hosting the event until Sunday. Moving testimonies of flight and refuge were shared by all at the World Refugee Day event. Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC) was a hive of activity late last month as the centre celebrated World Refugee Day - a day which is aimed at honouring refugees both around the world and locally, those in the Kerry community. It is the international day designated by the United Nations to celebrate the courage of those forced to flee their homes. At this years recent day at TIRC, the focus of the day was our home from the places people gather to share meals to our collective home here on planet Earth. The day saw refugees from all across the globe all gathered together at lunchtime in the beautiful courtyard at TIRC World Refugee Day is an annual for global solidarity with refugees, a world where they are welcomed, not feared. The plight of refugees has been to the forefront of TIRCs mind over the past few years, most notably those from Ukraine; however, Kerry and TIRC have welcomed refugees from across the world in recent years, all of whom have been forced to flee conflict in their home countries. Every person on this planet has a right to seek safety whoever they are, wherever they come from and whenever they are forced to flee, said TIRC coordinator Mary Carroll. There are more than 43 million refugees around the globe, looking for many of the things that we Irish take for granted be that a home, hope, dignity and justice. On World Refugee Day, we can celebrate the courage that refugees show as they embark on a future that is sometimes uncertain within an environment which is often very unfamiliar, Mary continued. I think we also need to celebrate our own courage to do whats right and to speak up and help in any way we can. Simple acts like having a chat, walking together, or sending a message of welcome can help everyone feel like they belong. Together, we can work in solidarity to ensure all our neighbours, new and familiar, have safe and welcoming homes, she added. We all have a moral obligation and the responsibility to lend a helping hand to people who must flee persecution or internal conflict. Empathy knows no borders, and we can all have empathy and understanding for people who have had to flee and rebuild their lives, Mary concluded. TIRC is on hand to offer support and advice to all refugees as they settle in their new home in Kerry. Please feel free to contact them at 0667121918 or visit tirc.ie. Presentations were made to Audrey Davies (Vision Ireland) and Stephane Rochard (Kellys Cafe) at the National Learning Network Graduation in the National Opera House on Thursday pictured with Barry McGinn (CEO, Rehab Group) and Vivienne Brady (Centre Manager NLN). Pic: Jim Campbell HSE Students receiving their Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) certificates at the National Learning Network Graduation in the National Opera House on Thursday pictured with quests Rachel Grace, Janet Daly (Day Services Opportunities Officer), Barry McGinn (CEO, Rehab Group). Pic: Jim Campbell Education and Training Board funded students receiving their certificates at the National Learning Network Graduation in the National Opera House on Thursday pictured with quests Dr Karina Daly (CEO, WWETB) and Barry McGinn (CEO, Rehab Group). Pic: Jim Campbell It was a proud day for students of the National Learning Network as they gathered in the Jerome Hynes Theatre of the National Opera House for their conferring ceremony. Students were invited to receive their Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) certificates in front of staff, family and friends during the course of the inspirational event. On the day, 14 major awards and 128 component QQI certs were achieved by students following two years of work. The ceremony was opened by renowned Wexford musician Rachel Grace who was guest of honour and presented students with their scrolls. The event was supported by Barry McGinn CEO Rehab Group, Dr. Karina Daly CEO WWETB, Michael Cash WWETB, Richard Grant WWETB, and Janet Daly HSE; all of whom spoke in recognition of the awards achieved by the students. Some of the students Fiachra Bolger Furlong, Muireann Hore, Liz OBrien, Aoife OConnor and Kaylagh Kenny spoke proudly of their journey with the National Learning Network (NLN) and area manager Vivienne Brady said it was truly humbling to hear the students speak so highly of their time with NLN. HSE Students receiving their Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) certificates at the National Learning Network Graduation in the National Opera House on Thursday pictured with quests Rachel Grace, Janet Daly (Day Services Opportunities Officer), Barry McGinn (CEO, Rehab Group). Pic: Jim Campbell This ceremony celebrates the hard work and dedication of the students who attend NLN. Today is their day to shine and be recognised for that, Vivienne said. NLN training is not just about qualifications- its about self-confidence, life skills, personal development, social skills, finding a place where students feel they belong, finding friends with similar interests and experiences, having the support of an experienced multi-disciplinary team to help them explore options for progression after training, and the importance of having somewhere that they can come back to if they need it. The entire team in NLN work together to deliver the best for our students and it is fulfilling when their dedication is rewarded and honoured. I want to congratulate all of the students and wish them every success in the future. Presentations were made to Audrey Davies (Vision Ireland) and Stephane Rochard (Kellys Cafe) at the National Learning Network Graduation in the National Opera House on Thursday pictured with Barry McGinn (CEO, Rehab Group) and Vivienne Brady (Centre Manager NLN). Pic: Jim Campbell At the ceremony, Manager of Vision Ireland Audrey Davis and chef Stephen Rochard from Kellys Cafe were presented with an Employers Award for their outstanding support to students throughout 2023 and 2024. National Learning Network is the training and education division of the Rehab Group and in partnership with the HSE and Waterford & Wexford Education & Training Board provide a range of training courses to people who have a disability, mental health difficulties, or those who have had an accident, illness, injury or require extra supports. NLN centres work on a continuous intake basis throughout the year. If you are interested in furthering your skills or getting support to get a job contact the centre directly on 053 9147279 or by email wexford@nln.ie. Graduates of the South East Technological University after being conferred with academic awards at the National Opera House in Wexford in November of last year. Pictured are Lauren Hayburn, Rosslare, Emma Murphy, Wexford town, Roisin Barnes Enniscorthy, Laura Rowlands, Adamstown and Leona Peters, Gorey who were conferred a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care. Photograph: Patrick Browne While Wexford may be patiently waiting to see construction begin on a new state of the art South East Technological University (SETU) campus at Killeens, it remains a university town with students still attending the current campus at St Peters College. In fact, according to a recent study carried out by online learning company Preply, Wexford is the third best university town in Ireland, coming in just behind Kilkenny and Derry, which took top spot. The study examined a variety of factors including affordable living costs and rents; cafes, parks and nightlife and strong job markets with high salaries and low unemployment rates. According to Preply, although Wexfords economy is at the lower end of the spectrum, it's compensated by a solid affordability score of 87. Wexford also received a social score of 61, which was more than top-ranked Derry (51) and had an overall score of 63 level with Kilkenny, which just edged ahead with a higher social and economy score, and just 5 behind Derry. While one would assume that a chronic lack of affordability would have Dublin at the bottom of the heap, it was Waterford that finished just below the capital as the worst university city/town. It was stated that economic hurdles may overshadow Waterfords allure for students searching for the most suitable university town experience. Making My Mark, an exhibition of artworks by renal dialysis patients, has just opened at the BBraun Wexford Wellstone Renal Care Centre on Sinnottstown Lane, Wexford. The artworks were created during a pilot art programme, which took place at the clinic from February to June this year. The aim of the programme was to support patient wellbeing and promote quality of life through creative activity during the long hours which each patient is required to spend on dialysis. The programme was delivered by artist Kate Murphy, managed by the staff of the Renal Care Centre, in partnership with Realta/Waterford Healing Arts, and funded by the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund. Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore is recovering at her Delgany home and may require another operation after the mother-of-four suffered a medical emergency earlier this month. On June 10, after a long weekend spent at the Wicklow local election count centre, Deputy Whitmore experienced a sudden medical emergency and was rushed to St Vincents Hospital, with an update provided days later by her husband, Tony Duddy, detailing how her condition had improved significantly after the surreal event. Issuing another update this week on Thursday evening, the Social Democrats TD took to social media to thank her amazing community for their support. Just a brief note to say that I am home from hospital for the last few days, and have been firmly wrapped in cotton wool by my family, Deputy Whitmore wrote. Im getting lots of rest and am feeling better by the day. There are still some tests that I have to have done and there may be another operation in the coming weeks, but the good news is it is all manageable and recoverable from. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and support, from dropping off meals to covering school pickups to the beautiful flowers, etc. I and my family are all truly grateful and appreciative for the support of our amazing community. Read more Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore recovering in hospital after medical emergency We are also most thankful for the amazing care of the staff at St. Vincents. I will be out of action for some time yet, but the office is still open. I hope you and yours have a great summer, and hope to see you all soon. As with the original update, an outpouring of well-wishes from relieved friends and supporters across the globe including party colleagues Jesslyn Henry and Wicklow councillor Danny Alvey greeted the post. Best wishes Jennifer and family, Cllr Alvey commented. People are asking after you everywhere I go, and I assure them that Tony and all the kids are minding you well. Great news Jenifer you have the best family to take care of you, one supporter wrote. Take it easy. Work will never go away no matter how much you do, so concentrate 100 per cent on getting back to good health. Your family must be delighted to have you back where you belong. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Echoing the sentiments, another added: Sending speedy recovery vibes across the oceans from Australia. Youre one strong woman, so Im sure youll be getting better each day. Im so glad to know you have a little army of supporters to help you on the recovery. Penneys fans can now rejoice after months and months of waiting for the first County Wicklow store to open, as an official opening date has now been announced, After confirming its 38th outlet was to open in Bray back in March, the retailer has finally announced the date and time for the official opening, which will be greeted with plenty of excitement by consumers in Bray and the wider county. Penneys will open in Bray Central shopping centre at 10am on Thursday, July 18. The new store will span 19,600 square feet of retail space across one floor. Penneys Bray will offer the same fantastic in-store experience that the retailer is known and loved for and customers can look forward to shopping the latest trends in fashion, as well as everyday essentials in beauty, lifestyle, and homeware. The new Bray store will also have self-checkout tills, alongside traditionally served tills, making it even easier and quicker for shoppers who are short on time or paying by card. Commenting on the launch, Fintan Costello, Head of Penneys Ireland and Northern Ireland, said: We are so excited to finally announce the opening date of our new Penneys store in the Bray Central shopping centre. Opening the first store in a new county is a significant milestone for Penneys, and we cant wait to welcome new customers and colleagues to Bray. "Our team has been working hard to create an amazing experience for our customers, with a fantastic selection of products across fashion, beauty, lifestyle and homeware available in our new store. The countdown is on for 18th July. Penneys opened its first store on Mary St Dublin 55 years ago this summer and with the addition of Bray now has 38 stores across 21 counties in the Republic of Ireland. Operating as Primark internationally, the retailer has over 440 stores across Europe and the US. The new store in Bray is part of Primarks commitment to invest over 250 million in Ireland over a ten-year period, which includes the development, relocation and/or refurbishment of its stores across the country. Primark is also accelerating the pace of its international expansion, with ambitions to reach 530 stores by the end of 2026. Last month, Primark entered its 17th market, opening its first store in Budapest, Hungary. Bray, County Wicklow, has emerged as the least fashion-obsessed location in Ireland, according to a new study on fashionable towns and cities in Ireland. The study analysed Google searches for a list of keywords, including but not limited to summer dress, denim skirt and flare jeans to determine the most stylish locations in Ireland. Conducted by plus-sized fashion experts Zizzifashion.com, it examined the search volume tool Google Keyword Planner for a list of fashion-related keywords, including Louis Vuitton bag, mini dress and maxi skirt to determine the most stylish towns and cities in Ireland. The locations with the highest average monthly search volume per 10,000 people have been named the most fashionable. And with just 563 searches per 10,000 people, the people of Bray are searching for fashion-related keywords 39pc less than the nations average. Waterford follows as Irelands second most unfashionable town. The study reveals that the south-eastern city has an average monthly search volume of 578 per 10,000 people, which is 38pc below the average in Ireland. According to the study, Cork ranks in third, with 603 searches per 10,000 people, followed by Navan, with 619 searches per 10,000 people. Greystones and Dundalk tie as the fifth least trendy locations in Ireland, with 701 searches per 10,000 people. Irelands fashion capital, according to the study, is Cavan, which leads the way as the most trend-setting town in Ireland. The town has an average monthly search volume of 1,510 per 10,000 people, 63pc above the national average of 928 per 10,000 people; dress is the most popular term, with 132 searches per month, before Debs dress and summer dress, respectively. In second place is Ballina, Count Mayo, where the towns second most searched-for term is midi dress, with 133 average monthly searches, after dress and before Debs dress. The town has an average monthly search volume of 1,431 per 10,000 people, 54pc above the national average. Kildare is the third most stylish location in Ireland. Home to the Kildare Village shopping outlet, the town searches for fashion-related terms an average of 1,391 a month per 10,000 people, 50pc higher than the countrys average. Marc Jacobs tote bag, with 41 average monthly searches, is the third most popular term, following dress and Debs dress. A spokesperson at Zizzifashion.com has commented on the findings and pointed to a lack of shopping centres in the towns that performed poorly. Cavan, Ballina and Kildare have officially been crowned Irelands fashion capitals. Its interesting to see smaller towns dominating the top ten most stylish locations, rather than the nations more crowded cities. Dublin, for example, comes in as the tenth most stylish location, while being the only city mentioned in the top 10, they said. This may be due to the lack of diverse shopping centres located in Irelands lesser populated towns, suggesting that more rural residents are choosing to shop online. However, these findings may also be signalling that Irelands towns are leading the way in fashion this summer as people search for the latest trends and fashion must haves. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that eight Wicklow schools are set to benefit massively after they were shortlisted for energy retrofits as part of a 240m package from the EU secured by the Irish Government. The schools will stand to gain from a deep retrofit to achieve better Building Energy Building Ratings with new heat pumps, LED lighting and new ventilation systems. Remarking on what this means for the schools in the county, which include Avoca National School, St Mary's and St Gerard's in Enniskerry, Scoil Nioclais in Dunlavin, Kimocommon in Tinahely, Carnew NS in Arklow, Bray School Project, St John's Senior School in Arklow and Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, the Taoiseach said: Each school will benefit massively from having new and more energy efficient systems. "Every school should strive to reduce their energy consumption and become more environmentally friendly for generations to come. This funding will achieve that goal and ensure pupils for years to come are in comfortable and energy efficient schools, he continued. This dedicated funding is such a positive step towards securing the future of our children in county Wicklow and across the country. Children of this generation who are so conscious of the responsibility we all have in reducing our energy consumption will no doubt notice the difference these retrofits will make as will the teachers and staff working in the school. As a TD in Wicklow and as a passionate advocate for climate action I am thrilled to see this funding help schools improve their facilities, he concluded. A photograph of Blessington Lake taken by Marie Melvin, regional winner in the Local Authority Waters Programme My Favourite Waterbody photo competition. A stunning photograph of Blessington Lake has been selected as the regional winner in the Local Authority Waters Programme My Favourite Waterbody photo competition. Snapped by Marie Melvin in Lacken, the serene shot was shortlisted by an internal panel and ultimately selected as the Leinster winner by external judge Colin Stafford-Johnson, an award-winning cameraman, director and broadcaster. Maries breathtaking photo will feature in LAWPROs 2025 calendar, alongside the overall winner and four other runners-up selected in the competition, which was run as part of the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) World Wetlands Day celebration. The overall winner and regional winner for the Midlands and East was Lee Williamson, from Lanesborough in Co. Longford, for his photo of Lough Ree. The other regional winners were Jimmy ONeill, with his photo of Hollywood Lake in Scotstown, Co. Monaghan, John Collins with his photo of Derryclare Lough, in Galway and Dalia Guzauskaite, with her photo from Connemara. Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO, said: We are delighted to announce the winners of the My Favourite Waterbody photo competition as part of LAWPROs World Wetlands Day celebrations. We would like to congratulate all the participants in the competition and, in particular, our overall winner and five runners up. The photos showcased Irelands inland waterways, lakes and coastal waters and communicated a sense of beauty, comfort and wellbeing in peoples favourite waterside places. Some of the suppliers gathered at Tirlan and Teagasc's Farming for the Future water quality event on the farm of Donal Kavanagh, near Baltinglass. Photo: Patrick Browne Over 300 farmers were welcomed to the family farm of Donal Kavanagh in Carrigeen, near Baltinglass, recently for a Tirlan and Teagasc Farming for the Future water quality walk and talk. Part of Tirlans collaborative Farming for Water: River Slaney project, which is working to improve water quality and assist Ireland in putting the best possible case forward for retention of the Nitrates Derogation, the event offered farmers action-focused advice and showed the significant efforts that farmers are undertaking to stabilise and improve water quality in their region. Host farmer Donal, who runs his farm with his children and wife Fiona, highlighted steps taken on his farm to become more sustainable, including reducing the use of chemical nitrogen by 33 per cent since 2021 through the use of clover, which is a natural nitrogen fixer, in grass. Attendees heard that a focus on nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on farms can deliver or maintain higher output at a lower cost, with Teagasc Director Dr Frank OMara highlighting that it is possible to farm at the current 220kg of organic nitrogen (N) per hectare (N/ha) and deliver good water quality. Speakers at the event included representatives from Tirlan, Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LawPro). Newly-elected Wicklow councillor Danny Alvey has slammed the deeply disturbing threats made to Wicklow Pride committee members that led to the postponement of a teenage Rainbow Disco. Earlier this week, the Wicklow Pride committee opted to postpone an LGBTQ+ & Ally Disco for teenagers aged 13-16 due to safety concerns after they received threats of protests. One of several events planned in the lead up to the Wicklow Pride Parade (July 6), the unacceptable treatment of committee members who will press ahead with their other festivities prompted an outpouring of support for them, with equal measures of disdain for those responsible. Appalled by the shocking actions and accusations, Cllr Alvey, a Newtownmountkennedy resident, said he was extremely concerned about far-right elements in the town. As a councillor for the area, I am very concerned by the news that Wicklow Pride have reluctantly decided to cancel this eagerly anticipated event on safety grounds, Cllr Alvey said. This follows threats made by a small number of individuals who are not representative of the wider Newtownmountkennedy community. The disco at Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre was planned for this Sunday, but has now been postponed after warnings it could be met with a protest. I was appalled to hear that Wicklow Pride committee members were subjected to disgusting, malicious accusations by some of those opposed to the event. Despite the cancellation of this weekends teenage disco, I will be proudly marching in this years Wicklow Pride parade on July 6 as an ally of our LGBTQ+ community. Recent protests in Newtownmountkennedy over accommodation for asylum seekers shows that far-right elements are intent on infiltrating those groups to spread further hate and division in this community, he added. Their behaviour must be called out at every opportunity by the vast majority of ordinary, decent residents of the area. Equally outraged by the actions that led to the discos postponement, Taoiseach Simon Harris echoed Cllr Alveys sentiments, saying it was not the Wicklow or the community I know. I find it highly regrettable that that has happened, and how individual organisers were intimated, Mr Harris said. I think its totally unacceptable that this has happened. Its not on. Im really saddened quite frankly. I think Pride has been such a great moment of celebration of inclusion and diversity in Ireland, but also a moment of challenge in that we must do more, we must do better and that our journey isnt finished. I find it highly regrettable that that has happened, particularly some of what I read in relation to how individual organisers were perhaps intimidated or targeted in some way. More than 20 organisations have united to provide policy recommendations for the next Government to create a more sustainable visual arts sector. The collective have put together a manifesto to help the next government to support and invest in the sector, which it says provides a critical role in the UKs creative industries. It comes ahead of the General Election on July 4, which will lead to the formation of a new government for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for up to five years. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during their BBC head-to-head debate ahead of the July 4 General Election (Jeff Overs/BBC) Short-term proposals in the manifesto include establishing a Smart Fund to create collective licensing revenue for artists when their works are created, shared or distributed, as well as appointing a Freelancer Commissioner to act as an advocate for the group within the Government. Long-term goals focus on incorporating exhibition fees into copyright law and providing financial stability for disabled artists to encourage their participation in the arts. The manifesto also calls for a national curriculum that fosters creativity, advocates for the integration of visual literacy at Key Stage 2 and ensures every school child visits a cultural organisation annually. Recognising the international influence of the UKs visual arts sector, the organisations have urged the Government to implement a creative and cultural agreement with the EU and rejoin Creative Europe. It wants to protect free entry to museums and galleries, and to promote philanthropy through tax incentives to provide long-term income which is not reliant on the Government. The recommendations also note the need for sustainable investment in visual arts spaces, with a short-term goal to expand Museum Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief and reduce emissions associated with freighting, storing and exhibiting objects. A manifesto calls for the expansion of Museum Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief (Tim Ireland/PA) In the longer-term, it suggests investing in affordable studios and artist-run spaces, and exploring the potential of a tourist levy to fund culture. Our collective manifesto outlines the key areas where the UK Government can take action to create a more sustainable visual arts sector, the group said. A group of 21 organisations collectively outlined the manifesto, including the Design & Artists Copyright Society (Dacs) and the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (Cvan). Christian Zimmermann, the chief executive of Dacs, said: The visual arts sector, contributing 49 billion to the UK economy alone, is a powerhouse of creative innovation, job creation, tourism and soft power. However, many visual artists, predominantly freelancers, are among the lowest earners in the creative industries. The manifesto calls for fairer pay and improved support structures for these essential workers. The chief executive of Cvan, Paula Orrell, said: This united call to action underscores the urgency for the UK government to engage with the visual arts and visual artists to create a sustainable and thriving visual arts sector. Stella Assange has thanked politicians who campaigned for her husband, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, to be freed during her visit to Australias parliament yesterday. Julian is overjoyed and so grateful to the Australian people, to the members of parliament and to the government and also the opposition who came together to voice the need for his release, Mrs Assange said. Prince Harry has been ordered by a UK High Court judge to explain the destruction of drafts of his memoir Spare when he was suing the publisher of The Sun newspaper. Firefighters vehicles and emergency vehicles on the site of the collision of a bus with a train near the town of Nove Zamky, Slovakia (Henrich Misovic/TASR via AP) At least seven people were killed when a train from the Czech capital of Prague to the Hungarian capital of Budapest collided with a local bus at a level crossing in southern Slovakia. A picture of Russia's President Vladimir Putin on a billboard in Pyongyang during his two-day visit to North Korea earlier this month. Photo by contributor/Getty Images Russia is considering a possible downgrading of relations with the West due to the deeper involvement of the United States and its allies in the Ukraine war, but no decision had yet been taken, the Kremlin said yesterday. EU leaders signed a security agreement with Ukraine yesterday, kicking off talks on how to bolster EU defences against Russia before agreeing on the blocs priorities for the next five years and filling top jobs in its institutions. My biggest gift to my father is to continue to tell his story daughter of Irish priest Pat Rice who was kidnapped and tortured in Argentina A group of U.S. voters who were unable to choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump before Thursday's presidential debate delivered their verdicts after the contest and it was almost universally bad news for Biden. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Ten Years After ISIS Invaded Mosul -- Where Does That Leave Iraq's Indigenous Assyrians? A member of the Khabour Guards (MNK) Assyrian Syrian militia, affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), walks in the ruins of the Assyrian Church of the Virgin Mary, which was previously destroyed by Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the village of Tal Nasri south of the town of Tal Tamr in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on Nov. 15, 2019. ( Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images) My relatives fled Mosul to save their lives before ISIS invaded and seized power in the summer of 2014. The invasion of Iraq's second largest city not only uprooted my relatives, Indigenous Assyrians, but it also led to the genocide of Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs (Christians), as well as Shiite Muslims, and Yazidis. Ten years have passed since radical Islamic militants invaded Mosul, known as biblical Nineveh, once a capital of the ancient Assyrian empire, destroying anything and killing anyone who did not submit to their deranged version of Islam. Have things improved for Iraq's Indigenous Assyrians following ISIS' defeat? In 2014, I was a graduate journalism student in Chicago, alarmed at the news occurring half a world away--where my relatives, whom I never met at the time, were facing religious persecution head-on. I recall telling my classmates that the invasion of Mosul would lead to widespread destruction in the region and the genocide of those who did not submit to their radical ways. I was met with laughs and shrugs--they couldn't care less and did not believe ISIS would turn into what it infamously became--a nonstop killing machine, hungry to control more swaths of land at the expense of Indigenous Communities, whose art they destroyed and sold on the black market in their lucrative "antiquities division." The response from my colleagues shouldn't have surprised me then, as the plight of Indigenous Peoples is often overlooked, time and time again, the world over. As gruesome reports emerged, my classmates later conducted their own reporting on how Chicagoans were being impacted by events occurring in the Middle East. Putting the destruction of millennia-old art aside, many suffered greatly at the hands of ISIS. And some families are still suffering. Women and girls remain missing. Taken as sexual slaves by ISIS militants, Yazidis and some Assyrians were forcibly abducted from their families and told to convert and submit. An estimated 2,700 girls are missing today. The world has overlooked their plight and the plight of those who survived the genocide at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists. With headlines refreshing every 24 hours, there is little to no attention offered to those that lived under ISIS' wrath--attention that was minimal while events were occurring in real time. Saint Odisho Monastery in northern Iraq is pictured. The monastery was previously bombed and destroyed by both Saddam Hussein and Kurdish forces. The Assyrian community in the diaspora raised funds multiple times for its reconstruction. ( Ramsen Shamon) Assyrians, much like their fellow citizens in Iraq, were not compensated for the destruction of their homes and places of worship by terrorists, nor for having to essentially start their lives over from scratch--whether within Iraq, or outside the country. While baseless Iraqi laws exist to "ensure" compensation from hardships and honoring the rights of diverse groups within the country, corruption and disenfranchisement reign supreme and are tokens of Iraqi politics. What justice can be granted to survivors when justice does not exist in Iraq? Much of the reconstruction of destroyed buildings lays on the shoulders of Assyrians in the diaspora, who raise funds to rebuild churches, support local businesses, and try to safeguard what dwindling numbers of the Indigenous Community remains despite the odds stacked up against them. Organizations like the Assyrian Aid Society, A Demand For Action, Shlama Foundation, Iraqi Christian Relief Council, Nineveh Rising, and Yazda work tirelessly and step in to provide aid and fund essential economic and rebuilding projects in Iraq, where the Iraqi government is virtually nonexistent. Faces of characters from a biblical scene painted on the side of a church have been defaced by Islamic State during their occupation of the predominantly Christian village of Bartella on Oct. 23, 2016. ( Carl Court/Getty Images) Pre-2003, the Christians in Iraq numbered 1.5 million. That number is now estimated to be between 100,000-200,000. The dismal figure highlights the exodus of Iraq's Indigenous Peoples due to war and persecution throughout recent years, and a lack of support from both the international community at-large and Iraq's federal government in addressing persecution and discrimination in Iraqi society. While Pope Francis' 2021 trip to Iraq was met with much fanfare, ultimately very little changed for local Christians following the historic visit. A NGO will occasionally chip in with the remodeling of a destroyed church. Recently, UNESCO helped rebuild a church in Mosul, 10 years after it was destroyed. That begs the question: What is the point of rebuilding and remodeling churches if there are no congregants to pray in God's home? Much of Mosul today has nowhere near the Christians it once had, and it is difficult to project if they will ever return. My relatives have not returned to their home in Mosul and instead have sought refuge in a neighboring Iraqi city. Others who lived under ISIS have entirely left Iraq. This picture taken on Nov. 19, 2021, shows a view of the rubble of broken tombstones, damaged by Islamic State (IS) group fighters during their occupation of northern Iraq, at the Chaldean Monastery of St. George in Mosul. ( Zaid Al-Obeidi/AFP via Getty Images) The reality of not fleeing from one's home for safety is not the basis for one to live freely and with respect. Sure, fighting due to ISIS has relatively ceased and is not disrupting the lives of Assyrians in Iraq. But combat in general has not stopped. Turkey's incremental encroachment in northern Iraq against Kurdish militants belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which the U.S. classified as terrorists, is ongoing. Assyrians and their ancestral lands, especially in the Nahla Valley, are once again in crossfire and such a reality seems difficult to change with virtually no support from outside the community. The existence of Assyrians and Yazidis on their Indigenous lands remains precarious at best. Ramsen Shamon is a deputy opinion editor at Newsweek. Chinese city honors woman who sacrificed life to stop knife attack Xinhua) 13:14, June 28, 2024 NANJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Hu Youping, a resident of the Chinese city of Suzhou who lost her life after attempting to stop a knife attack that injured two Japanese nationals, will be honored for her heroic deeds, local authorities have said. Hu, who was seriously injured in the attack that occurred at around 4 p.m. on Monday at a bus stop in the Suzhou New District in Jiangsu Province, died in hospital on Wednesday. Two Japanese nationals were also injured in the attack. One is receiving hospital treatment but is not in a life-threatening condition, and the other was discharged following treatment on the day of the attack. One Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant, allowing the Japanese woman's son to escape. The attacker then turned to Hu, stabbing her before being subdued by passers-by and police patrol rushing to the scene. "If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," one eyewitness told Xinhua. The attack has sent shockwaves through the city, with many residents condemning the assailant and expressing concern for the victims. "This kind of violence is extremely rare here. We all respect the brave woman who stood out against the attacker and are deeply saddened by her death," said Sun Jing, a resident of Suzhou. According to the municipal government of Suzhou, Hu will be given the title of "Righteous and Courageous Role Model." A representative of the Suzhou Japanese Society of Commerce and Industry said the incident was very regrettable but he believes it was an isolated case. He added that the local government's fast response and care for the victims have been reassuring. The government of Suzhou has pledged effective measures to ensure the safety of every person living in or visiting Suzhou, and to continue building an open and inclusive city. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Photo courtesy: Pixabay Kolkata: Bandhan Bank today announced that it has launched the facility to collect direct taxes online from its customers and non-customers across India. The bank is now live for collection of Direct Taxes through TIN 2.0 platform of Income Tax, according to a press release. As an Agency Bank appointed by the RBI, Bandhan Bank also accepts offline payments of direct taxes through over 1700 bank branches. Under this licence, Bandhan Bank customers can now pay their Direct Taxes in a fast, seamless and convenient manner through the Banks Retail Internet Banking, Corporate Internet Banking and Payment Gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card and Internet Banking). They can also pay taxes at any of the Bank branches using Cash, Cheque or Demand Draft. This service will facilitate hassle-free payment of Direct Taxes for Bandhan Bank customers and non-customers across the country. Bandhan Bank is present in 35 out of 36 states and UTs, serving more than 3.35 crore customers through a robust network of over 6300 banking outlets, across India. Speaking on the development, Debraj Saha, Head Government Business Group, Bandhan Bank said, As the digital ecosystem is proliferating across the country to bring forward a hassle-free superior convenience, we as a Bank are aligned with the Governments initiative of e-Governance plan. File photo: Naheed Abidi presenting her books to PM Modi. Naheed Abidi, probably the first Muslim woman to work as a lecturer in Sanskrit, who even received acclaim from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, didn't have an easy start to her career. Initially, she had difficulty finding a job and often left academicians wondering about her 'unusual' subject choice. Abidi was born in 1961, into a Shia Muslim landlord family in Mirzapur in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Choosing Sanskrit as his subject, Abidi completed her graduation from the Kamala Maheshwari Degree College. She later completed her master's from Mirzapur's KV Degree College. After her marriage with lawyer Ehtesham Abidi, she moved to Varanasi. She continued her literary journey and earned a Ph.D. from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth (MGKV). Her thesis during the 1993 doctorate was titled 'Vedic Sahitya Mein Ashviniyon Ka Swaroop' (The Form of Ashvinis in Vedic Literature). In 2005, Abidi started working as a lecturer at Banaras Hindu University without any salary. Soon after, she joined Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth to work as a part-time lecturer on the daily wage scheme. Her first book was published in 2008 and was titled Rahim in Sanskrit Literature an account of the Sanskrit leanings of the famous poet Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana. This was followed by Devlayasya Deepa, a translation of the Charag-e-Dair by poet Mirza Ghalib. She then went on to pen her third book titled Sir-e-Akbar, a Hindi translation of 50 Upanishads, first written by the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh. She has also published a Hindi translation of Vedanta, which has been translated into Persian by Shikoh. It is the soil of Banaras that attracts people of all religions, and I am fortunate to belong to this great place, she says of Ghalib. Through my work on Rahim, I want to tell people that he (Rahim) had great respect for Sanskrit and Hinduism, she says. Naheed Abidi lives with her husband Ehtesham and their two children, a son and a daughter in the VDA Colony in Varanasi's Shivpur area. She also serves as a member of the Executive Council at Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya. Despite her ill health, she devotes eight hours a day to her study and writing. Though I did not take admission in any college or university, I have been teaching Sanskrit voluntarily since 1994 in several institutions including Banaras Hindu University and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, says Abidi. "Spreading the light of education is the greatest virtue in Islam," she says. Abidi is doing what Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, had done in Varanasi centuries ago. It is the magnetism of Sanskrit and Vedic tradition that inspired the Mughal prince to learn the language from the pundits of Kashi. It is recorded in the District Gazetteer of Varanasi that Dara Shukoh translated the major Upanishads into Persian under the title 'Sirr-i-Akbar' with the help of local pundits in six months in 1657. Abidi's creative talent had also impressed the then President APJ Abdul Kalam, who invited him to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2007. He also presented a book to Kalam. Naheed Abidi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014 by the Government of India for her service in the field of literature. Granting me the Padma Shri award is an honor to the Sanskrit world and it will inspire Muslims to learn Sanskrit. I am deeply grateful to the Sanskrit and Persian scholars who encouraged me in my aim of bridging the bond between the two religions. done. Sanskrit is a rich language, which has the quality of promoting harmony and peace in the society," she adds. She has also been awarded DLIT (Honoris Causa) by the University of Lucknow. Abidi met Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at his residence in 2014 and presented two books written by her. Modi announced the meeting via a photograph on his Google Plus page and the video of the meeting was displayed on the Prime Minister's personal website. In 2016, she was honored with the Yash Bharti Award by the UP government at a function held in Lucknow. Abidi credits both her paternal family and in-laws for her success and her literary education. Our families have an eclectic outlook and we believe in a peaceful coexistence, she says while showing a century-old handwritten book, an Urdu translation of the Bhagavad Purana. "This book has been with our family since 1903," she said. She is also proud to be a good mother. "I didn't opt for any service to give time to my two childrena son and a daughterwho are pursuing higher education in engineering," says Abidi. Photo COurtesy: PIB India's Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) has successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) Abhyas with improved booster configuration from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. "With this, Abhyas has successfully completed 10 developmental trials demonstrating the reliability of the system," the Indian government said in a statement. The trials were carried out with improved Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation systems. During the trials, various mission objectives covering safe release of booster, launcher clearance, and endurance performance were successfully validated. Two launches were conducted back-to-back within a gap of 30 minutes, demonstrating the ease of operation with minimum logistics. Representatives from the Services witnessed the flight trials. Abhyas has been designed by DRDOs Aeronautical Development Establishment, Bengaluru, and developed through Production Agencies - Hindustan Aeronautics Limited & Larsen & Toubro. It offers a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems practice. This indigenous system is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an auto pilot, a laptop-based Ground Control System for aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and autonomous flight. It also has a feature to record data during flight for post-flight analysis. The booster has been designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory and the navigation system by Research Centre Imarat. With identified production agencies, Abhyas is now ready for production. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, Armed Forces and the Industry for the developmental trials of Abhyas. "The successful tests are noteworthy testimony of synergy between scientists and industry," he said. Photo courtesy: Facebook/Rahul Gandhi Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi on Friday once again tried to corner the Centre over the paperleaks in the NEET-UG and released video where he is seen urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to debate the issue. He posted on X: " The INDIA Opposition bloc wants to have a constructive debate with the Government on the NEET exam and the prevailing paper leak issue. " " It is unfortunate that we werent allowed to do so in Parliament today. This is a serious concern that is causing anxiety to lakhs of families across India," the senior Congress leader said. "We urge the Prime Minister to debate on this issue and give the students the respect they deserve," he said. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, has been adjourned till Monday after a ruckus broke out following the opposition leaders' demand for a discussion over the pot-boiling incidents of paperleaks in the NEET-UG. Speaking to the media, Gandhi, a Congress MP, earlier in the day said, "Yesterday, a meeting of floor leaders of all opposition parties was held and it was agreed upon by all that the issue of NEET should be discussed in the House." "I request the Prime Minister that this is a youth issue and it should be discussed in a proper manner. You should also join the discussion, because this is a youth issue. This message should go out from the Parliament that the Government and the Opposition of India are talking together about the students," he said. The INDIA Opposition bloc wants to have a constructive debate with the Government on the NEET exam and the prevailing paper leak issue. It is unfortunate that we werent allowed to do so in Parliament today. This is a serious concern that is causing anxiety to lakhs of families pic.twitter.com/zKdHwOe2LM Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 28, 2024 However, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 noon following a ruckus after Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the discussion in the respective Houses of Parliament. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said definite time will be given to the Opposition to raise the issue while Gandhi remained firm on speaking on it briefly in the beginning. Meanwhile, the government is ready to answer any questions on the matter even if it comes up during the debate, NDTV reported quoting sources. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out the first arrests in the NEET-UG paper leak case in Bihar, detaining two accused from Patna named Manish Kumar and Ashutosh. Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/JC McIlwaine Have you ever been driving in your car and pressed the accelerator instead of the brake? It happens more than you might think and its a cause of serious accidents that UN road safety experts have found a fix to, they announced on Thursday. Together with vehicle manufacturers and governments, the UN Working Party dealing with advanced driving technology issues has adopted a new regulation that prevents unwanted, sudden acceleration by making use of tech that can detect objects both in front of and behind vehicles. Tokyo driver Data from Asia and Europe suggest that older drivers tend to make this dangerous mistake more often. In Japan, they are eight times more likely to press the wrong pedal than other generations, which prompted Tokyo to propose a draft UN regulation to address the problem. UNECE the UN agency with overall responsibility for road safety regulations worldwide noted that more accidents of this kind can be expected in future, given the expected doubling of the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide by 2050. Transmission mishaps In Japan, for instance, the number of drivers older than 75 is projected to increase from four per cent in 2009 to more than nine per cent next year. The UN agency also cautioned that the global rise in sales of cars with automatic transmission were another factor likely to contribute to more pedal-error accidents. This assessment is based on crash data from the United Kingdom showing that seven out of eight pedal misapplication episodes involve automatics. The new UN regulation will therefore only apply to automatic passenger vehicles. It is expected to enter into force in June 2025, although this is not a mandatory start date. Greener brakes for electric cars In a related development, the same UN Working Party on Automated or Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) meeting in Geneva also approved new safer and greener braking systems for electric cars. Unlike the braking systems in combustion engine vehicles whose pneumatics or hydraulics rely on energy converted from fossil energy electric cars cannot do this efficiently, the working group said, which is why the panels experts have examined and passed new braking technology which uses stored electrical energy, providing a comparable level of safety. The new regulations apply to both light and heavy-duty vehicles and are expected to enter into force in June 2025. Some manufacturers are anticipated to introduce new braking systems in compliance with the provisions already by end of 2025, UNECE said. Photo Courtesy: UNIS Vienna In a landmark art project for the Austrian capital Vienna, the UN building there has become a giant canvas representing the challenges of forging peace in a world that is still all too prone to conflict. The artwork by Australian artist Fintan Magee is in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Septembers pivotal Summit of the Future. This work examines the human elements in the role of the UN and the fragility of peace. Lasting stability should never be taken for granted and will always require continued diplomacy and human intervention, Mr. Magee said. Peace is always hard work, he emphasised. The mural is being officially inaugurated on Friday where the Sydney-based street artist will talk about the process of creation, the motif, its connection to the city of Vienna and its importance for the district and its residents. Largest mural Fintan Magee arrived in Austria on 10 June to begin the biggest mural in Viennese history. The renowned street artist is known worldwide for his large-scale paintings, which often address social issues. This project in particular has taken approximately three weeks and covers a tower of almost 1,000 square metres in size. Mr. Magee hopes it will serve as a reminder that peace is fragile, and humans are imperfect. The art of awareness The project is made possible in collaboration with the Calle Libre Art Festival, the largest art festival in Central Europe. The formerly grey wall of the Vienna International Centre which houses the UN is now a work of colourful street art that will raise awareness for the pursuit of a sustainably peaceful future and the importance of art in public spaces. In todays world, characterised by ongoing conflicts, refugees and migration, it is more important than ever to raise awareness of the need for a sustainable and peaceful future, The Director of the Calle Libre Street Art Festival and Artistic Director of the project, Jakob Kattner, said. Especially in Vienna, as an international centre for art and culture, the effect of this work will be particularly noticeable and an important source of inspiration. The tower will be easily seen by thousands every day, and around 1.6 million every month. The implementation of this project will not only make an artistic contribution but also a socially relevant one, Mr. Kattner added. SDGs and Summit of the Future The mural is a symbol for the fulfilment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. It also promotes the Summit of the Future this September which aims to reinvigorate the multilateral system so that the world can deliver on the promise of the UN Charter and the SDGs. As we mark the 45th anniversary of the Vienna International Centre this year, we must seize this opportunity to re-invest in multilateralism and build momentum for the UNs Summit of the Future taking place in September in New York, said Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, Ghada Waly. We hope this artwork will be a source of inspiration for promoting sustainability, understanding and peace around the world, she added. An IDF soldier. Photo Courtesy: IDF X page US intelligence has indicated that a large-scale confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah might break out in the upcoming weeks if Jerusalem and Hamas fail to reach a ceasefire deal, media reports said. U.S. officials are trying to convince both sides to de-escalate a task that would be significantly easier with a cease-fire in place in Gaza, reported Politico. The Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah have drafted battle plans and are in the process of trying to procure additional weapons, according to two senior U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence, reported Politico. Both Israel and Hazbollah have repeatedly said they do not want to engage themselves in war. The risk is higher now than at any other point in recent weeks, according to another senior U.S. official as quoted by Politico. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III recently urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to work to de-escalate tensions with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon during a meeting at the Pentagon on June 25, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. The men discussed efforts to "de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, to surge more humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to stand together against Iranian and Iranian-supported attacks against Israel and destabilizing activities throughout the Middle East," Ryder said. Hezbollah has reportedly escalated provocations on Northern Israel since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 7, 2023, and those provocations have been increasing. Austin stressed that these provocations "threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that neither of them wants, and that such a war would be catastrophic for Lebanon and it would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians," Ryder said as quoted by Pentagon website. Austin told Gallant that diplomacy is the only way that can prevent further escalation of tensions in the region. Meanwhile, delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza remains a difficult and frustrating task for UN and partner agencies as the conflict there grinds on amid intense civilian suffering. On Thursday, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, provided details from aid coordination office OCHA on how difficult providing aid has become for agencies in the enclave due to access constraints, food security and deteriorating health issues. Our partners report that limited access in the north is preventing the establishment of a new nutrition services centre in that area, he told correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York. OCHA is also struggling with finding enough space to establish nutrition sites in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis. However, he said, the UNs partners are working to further their efforts in those areas as well as in Al Mawasi and Gaza City. Photo Courtesy: MINUSMA/Marco Dormino Police chiefs and government leaders convened at UN Headquarters on Thursday for the opening session of UNCOPS 2024. The summit, themed Advancing our Common Security: UN Policing for a New Era, began with a video highlighting the UN Polices (UNPOL) mission to promote security, protect human rights, and support Member States. UNPOLs true mission is to enhance international peace and security by supporting Member States in conflict, post-conflict and other crisis situations, all while standing at the forefront of preventing and addressing international threats global communities face including geopolitical conflicts, climate catastrophes, global mistrust, and the dark side of technology. Therefore, this summit is being used to discuss and further evaluate UNPOLs role in supporting the UN Secretary-Generals Action for Peacekeeping (A4P), the New Agenda for Peace, and the digital transformation of peacekeeping, among others. Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Policy, Guy Ryder said, With the summit of the future taking place in September, this is a timely occasion for Member States, the [UN] and our strategic partners to consider how to harness the full potential of the [UNPOL] to meet the most pressing challenges of today and of tomorrow. UNPOLs challenges During the summits opening session, USG for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix said UNPOLs challenges are greater than ever and multidimensional. Our personnel on the ground, including [UNPOL] are facing threats on many fronts from terrorist transnational organized criminals, armed groups and cyber criminals, all with a stake in preventing pace, Msr. Lacroix said. Our peace operations are also seeing growing challenges from hate speech, misinformation and disinformation, which are increasingly used as weapons of war. USG Lacroix said UN Police was working on advancing political solutions and supporting sustainable peace as part of the SGs A4P initiative, detailing how officers have assisted the Democratic Republic of the Congos (DRC) national police with training on information collection and public order management during a national electoral process. Women in uniform He also mentioned the implementation of projects in the DRC and South Sudan that benefited women military and police within peacekeeping missions by improving their living accommodations and building recreational areas. Additionally, he noted that UNPOL was doing well in reducing gender parity at senior levels but encouraged participants to present more women for senior roles. As part of the Secretary General's new agenda for peace, we must continue to strengthen network multilateralism addressing the challenges that I just mentioned it's not something the United Nations a single country as a single piece operation can do alone, Mr. Lacroix said. Photo Courtesy: UN Photo/Manuel Elias The UN Security Council on Thursday demanded that Houthi rebels in Yemen immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks began at the end of last year in what the militant group said was an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, following Israels offensive itself a response to the 7 October Hamas-led terror attack on southern Israel. Adopting resolution 2739 (2024), with 12 votes in favour and three abstentions (Algeria, China and Russia), the Council also requested monthly reports from the Secretary-General on the crisis in the Red Sea until January next year. The Council stressed that all Member States must adhere to their obligations in regard to the targeted arms embargo against key Houthi leaders, set out in resolution 2216 of 2015. Additionally, it also reiterated condemnation of Houthi attacks against maritime shipping in the Red Sea and demanded the immediate release the merchant vessel Galaxy Leader and its crew. Operated by a Japanese company, the Galaxy Leader was seized in November last year and has contributed to an escalation in tension throughout the Middle East resulting from the war in Gaza. The renewed request for the reports stems from resolution 2722. Renewal of UN disengagement force mandate In a separate decision, the Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan for six months until 31 December 2024. It also requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Force has the required capacity and resources to fulfil its mandate in a safe and secure way. Unanimously adopting resolution 2737 (2024), the 15-member Council also stressed that Israel and Syria are obliged to scrupulously and fully respect the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. It also urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire, utilizing UNDOFs liaison function to address issues of mutual concern. UNDOF was established immediately following the 1974 Agreement with a mandate to maintain the ceasefire and supervise the area of separation a demilitarized buffer zone. The Force has since been reauthorized every six months. Renewal of DR Congo sanctions Furthermore, the Council also decided to extend the sanctions regime on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) until 1 July 2025, alongside the mandate of the corresponding Group of Experts until 1 August 2025. Unanimously adopting resolution 2738 (2024), the 15-member organ recalled the Secretary-Generals commitment that the UN will do everything possible to ensure that the perpetrators of the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts and the four Congolese nationals accompanying them are brought to justice. Experts Michael Sharp of the United States and Zaida Catalan of Sweden were investigating reports of mass atrocities in the volatile Kasai region surrounding fighting between Government forces and armed militia, when they were abducted on 12 March 2017. Their remains were recovered by peacekeepers from the UN mission in the country (MONUSCO) on 27 March outside the city of Kananga in the Kasai-Central province. Photo Courtesy: Maldives President website A Maldivian minister has been arrested for allegedly performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, media reports said. The arrested person was identified as environment minister Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem. The court has sent her to police custody for seven days. There have been reports that Shamnaz was arrested for performing black magic on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, reported Sun news portal of the Island Nation. When asked about the reports, the chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, told Sun on Wednesday morning that police were investigating a case involving Shamnaz and two other individuals. Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem is the wife of Adam Rameez, a minister at the Presidents Office. She had previously worked as a member of the Male City Council when Muizzu was serving as city mayor. The government has not commented on the case so far. This summer has been harsh in North India, particularly in the national capital, New Delhi, which saw unprecedented levels of heatwaves. Living without an AC has become almost impossible for the residents of Delhi in the scorching summer heat. While ACs undoubtedly make life more comfortable in the summer, it comes at a cost. Shocked by electricity bill A New Delhi resident was left shocked after receiving an electricity bill of Rs 30,280 for the month of June. "Pain. How is this even possible," a Reddit user said while posting the screenshot of the message he received from BSES Rajdhani. Also read: Rajasthan man installs makeshift shower on scooter amid heatwave Posts from the delhi community on Reddit Bought new ACs to save money According to the Reddit user, @Agitated-Variety-732, he had bought new ACs thinking it would save money, but it did not. He further said that he had four ACs at home, out of which at least two were running at any given time. BCCL People don't know to use ACs Many on Reddit shared similar experiences of getting bills anywhere from Rs 10,000 to Rs 14,000 with one or two ACs at home. Others pointed out that people are getting shocking electricity bills because they don't know how to use ACs properly. "Actually, people get huge bills because they try to maintain the temperature they would have in Switzerland at home," one user wrote. "Unfortunately, lots of people use their ACs this way. I changed my habit a few years back and saw a difference of around 600 on a total bill of 3000," added another. Also read: ACs Installed In Cattle Shed Keep Buffaloes Cool During Heatwave Unsplash "I have 3 ACs and other appliances. We only use the AC at night for around 7 hours every night, and my electricity bill was 5,000, even after using 3 separate meters," yet another user said. Free electricity in Delhi It should be noted that the Delhi government already provides 200 units of free electricity to every household. Earlier this year, the government announced that under the Delhi Solar Policy 2023, even those consuming over 400 units of electricity will have their bills reduced to zero if they have solar panels installed. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In a touching story that highlights the deep connection people have with their cherished childhood toys, a Chinese man in his 20s was recently heartbroken when his beloved soft toy went missing during a trip to Barcelona, Spain. Xiaohongshu The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, took to social media to appeal for help in finding his lost toy. He posted a missing poster online with an image of his toy, affectionately named "Bread," and offered a reward of 500 euros (approximately Rs 44,637) for its safe return. The incident occurred while the man was enjoying a metro ride in Barcelona. He suddenly realized that he had been separated from his toy. Suspecting that someone might have mistaken Bread for a money purse and stolen it, the man was devastated. He canceled his future travel plans to focus on finding Bread, demonstrating the toy's immense sentimental value to him. Xiaohongshu Determined to reunite with his treasured companion, the man stayed in the Spanish city and launched an extensive search. His efforts were rewarded when a cleaner at the Sagrada Familia metro station found the toy and returned it to him. The toy had gone missing on June 9, and the reunion took place a few days later. Also Read: Japan plans 300-mile conveyor belt to address driver shortage amid aging population The man's emotional response to the reunion with Bread was captured in news reports. He expressed his profound gratitude to the cleaner, stating, Many people might not understand, but Bread is more important to me than my job, my degree, or my possessions. This heartfelt statement underscores the deep emotional bonds that people can form with their childhood toys. Xiaohongshu Bread, a sloth-themed toy, holds special significance for the man. He even expressed his ambition to take Bread on travels to meet fellow sloths around the world. This story serves as a poignant reminder of the innocent joys of childhood and the powerful attachments that can last a lifetime. Also Read: Abraham Lincoln's wax statue melts amid record-breaking US heat, sparking online reactions The story of the Chinese man and his beloved Bread has resonated with many, highlighting the universal nature of such emotional bonds and the lengths to which people will go to preserve them. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Erica Hernandez, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, was surprised to see a handwritten note along with the Chipotle she had ordered through UberEats. Curious, she went through the note clipped to the brown paper bag in which her order was delivered and was immediately bowled over by it. Delivery driver's handwritten note It was written by Paul Slobodzian, the person who just delivered her food order, explaining why he was working as a delivery driver. According to Slobodzian's note, he was working as a delivery driver to make extra money to save up for his wedding to his fiancee, Aly Perkins. Also read: Customer Says Delivery Agent Stole His Food, But UberEats Refused Him A Refund SCREENGRAB "I'm driving for (a food delivery service) on the side to give my fiancee the wedding she deserves. Any additional tip through the app or Venmo is greatly appreciated!" the note said. Post goes viral on TikTok Hernandez was moved by the note and posted it on TikTok with the caption, Hopefully this reaches the right people. Despite Hernandez not having a large following on TikTok, her video went viral and received over 33 million views. "I just felt really inspired to post it and see if my friends would be willing to donate or any followers that I had on there to donate," she told Fox News. Flooded with donations Before he even knew what was happening, Slobodzian's Venmo account started getting flooded with donations. The video even captured the attention of Chipotle and a wedding planner, who both donated money through Venmo. Also read: Man Orders Burger With Everything Removed, And Gets Exactly That In less than a week, the couple got enough donations to fund what Slobodzian described as the wedding his fiancee deserved. NY Post Couple overwhelmed Overwhelmed by the responses they got, Slobodzian posted a video on TikTok thanking everyone who supported them. "We have been overwhelmed, in the best way possible, trying to figure out how to respond to people and show how much this means to us," Slobodzian said. By far the craziest thing thats ever happened to me. The outpouring of love for our story truly fuels my faith in humanity!! Thanks for all the support https://t.co/uEglKgef37 Aly Perkins (@PerkinsAly) June 25, 2024 The couple, who plans to get married soon, has also donated $1,000 to Hernandez, who made it possible, and also invited her to their wedding. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Which year is this? It is 2024 for most of us, except if you are living in Ethiopia, because that country is still in 2016. No, this doesn't mean Ethiopia was time-frozen in 2016 and nothing has happened in the country since. It just means that the African nation is behind the rest of the world by eight years because they follow a different calendar. 13 months in Ethiopian calendar Unlike the Gregorian, Jewish, Islamic, Indian, Chinese, and Julian calendars, which all have 12 months in a year, the Ethiopian calendar has 13. Adobe Stock The Ethiopian calendar, also known as the Ge'ez calendar, has 12 months in a year and a 13th month called Pagume. Unlike the other 12 months, which have 30 days each, Pagume has five or six days depending on the year. Pagume, which means 'forgotten days' in Greek, accounts for days forgotten when a year is calculated. When was Jesus born Another major difference between the most widely used Gregorian calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, and the one in Ethiopia is the birth year of Jesus Christ, which is recognized as seven or eight years later. Also read: Archaeologist Claims To Have Found Jesus Christ's Childhood Home Reuters New Year on September 11 Thus, according to the Ge'ez calendar, it is 2016 in Ethiopia. The difference in dates doesn't even end there. While the rest of the world marks New Year on January 1, according to the Ge'ez calendar, the first day of the year falls on September 11 or 12 (in leap years) on the corresponding Gregorian calendar. Why Ethiopian calendar is different Ethiopias calendar differs from both the Coptic and Julian calendars; the difference between the Coptic and Ethiopian calendars is 276 years. In spite of this, Ethiopia's calendar is closely associated with the rules and the different calculations influenced by the Coptic Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Whether you admire or are indifferent to Elon Musk, one fact remains indisputable: he is a visionary in business, having founded and expanded a significant array of disruptive companies. From Tesla and SpaceX to ventures in artificial intelligence and beyond, Musk's enterprises have left an indelible mark on the universe. All his ventures might not be super successful but he is still the richest person in the world with a staggering real time net worth of $221.2 billion (Rs 18.4 lakh crore), as per Forbes. Companies of Elon Musk: Maye Musk with her kids | Photo: Instagram/Maye Musk SpaceX In 2002, Elon Musk established SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) with the goal of lowering space transportation expenses and democratizing space exploration. SpaceX has achieved notable milestones in reusable rocket technology and successfully conducted multiple missions to the International Space Station (ISS). In 2020, it became the first private company to transport astronauts into space. By July 2023, SpaceX had set a new benchmark by deploying over 4,000 Starlink satellites into Earth's orbit. Tesla, Inc Since becoming deeply involved in 2004, Elon Musk has played a pivotal role in the success of Tesla, an electric vehicle and clean energy company. Under his leadership, Tesla has introduced groundbreaking electric cars like the Tesla Roadster, Model S, Model 3, and Model Y. Musk's influence has been instrumental in revolutionizing the automotive sector and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. Neuralink In 2016, Elon Musk established Neuralink, a neurotechnology company dedicated to creating implantable brain-machine interface devices. The goal of Neuralink is to augment human abilities and potentially provide solutions for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and paralysis. Hyperloop and The Boring Company Elon Musk introduced the concept of the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system, and subsequently launched The Boring Company in 2017 to advance tunneling technology. The Boring Company's initiatives focus on easing traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, to date, only one out of seven proposed projects has been completed, achieving limited success. X (formerly Twitter) In 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter after years of expressing interest. Since taking over, he has made several contentious modifications to the social media platform. These include introducing a subscription service for verified users ("blue-checks") and reinstating accounts of individuals previously banned for policy violations, such as Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Ye (formerly known as Kanye West). Mars Colonization Elon Musk has articulated a long-term goal of establishing a human colony on Mars. His vision revolves around SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, designed to ferry humans and cargo to the Red Planet. Musk's steadfast commitment to realizing a multiplanetary existence has captured widespread attention and intrigue. Also Read: Elon Musk's growing brood: 11 children & counting, tech tycoon welcomes 3rd child with Neuralink partner Elon Musk turns 53 today Elon Musk, who turned 53 today, celebrated his birthday by sharing a nostalgic throwback picture of himself on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The tech billionaire, born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa to Maye Musk and Errol Musk, posted a photo from 1994 with the caption "30 years ago." 30 years ago pic.twitter.com/y8MDRQYY32 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2024 Lets take a look at his inspiring quotes: 1. Persistence is very important. You should not give up unless you are forced to give up. 2. I think it is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary. 3. People work better when they know what the goal is and why. It is important that people look forward to coming to work in the morning and enjoy working." 4. Pay attention to negative feedback and solicit it, particularly from friends. Hardly anyone does that, and it's incredibly helpful. 5. Managers should always take care of their team before they take care of themselves--the supervisor is there to serve his team--not the other way round. 6. Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough. entrepreneur.com/Pinterest 7. I don't create companies for the sake of creating companies, but to get things done. 8. There have to be reasons that you get up in the morning and you want to live. Why do you want to live? What's the point? What inspires you? What do you love about the future? 9. If you get up in the morning and think the future is going to be better, it is a bright day. Otherwise, it's not. 10. Starting and growing a business is as much about the innovation, drive, and determination of the people behind it as the product they sell. 11. It's OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket. 12. If youre trying to create a company, its like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion. 13. The path to the CEOs office should not be through the CFOs office, and it should not be through the marketing department. It needs to be through engineering and design. 14. Patience is a virtue, and Im learning patience. Its a tough lesson. 15. Entrepreneurship is like eating glass and walking on hot coals at the same time. 16. To make an embarrassing admission, I like video games. Thats what got me into software engineering when I was a kid. I wanted to make money so I could buy a better computer to play better video gamesnothing like saving the world. Also Read: Meet Maye Musk: The inspiring story of Elon Musk's extraordinary mother Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice. The film will be followed by a facilitated conversation with Sami Huraini, a Palestinian human rights defender and a board member of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, a committee that opposes the extension of the illegal Israeli settlement through peaceful demonstrations. Sami is also a member of the grassroots initiative 'Youth of Sumud', that was established to peacefully resist the Israeli occupation and the illegal settlements in Southern Hebron. Sami has also been involved in protecting Palestinian civilians from settlers attacks, by escorting children to schools and accompanying Palestinian farmers to their lands close to the green line. RSVP is required with a $5 donation. Seats are limited. Donations also welcome at the door. RSVP link: https://bit.ly/sanjosefilm Bearing witness is one of the many ways of showing up for Palestine.Supported by the Arab American Cultural Center of Silicon Valley, Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area and South Bay Chapters, San Jose Peace & Justice Center and San Jose Against War Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, says the refusal of activists, who fought for the return to democratic rule, to take up the mantle of leadership in 1999 was a fundamental mistake. He said those who were at the forefront of the fight to end military rule in Nigeria in the 90s should have taken over power from the military like the African National Congress did in South Africa. Advertisement The socio-political commentator spoke in a panel discussion at an event organised to mark Nigerias 25 years of democratic rule in Abuja on Thursday. Sani recalled how he and other democracy fighters were imprisoned for some years before the death of former military leader Sani Abacha which led to the release of many of them. According to him, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who took over from Abacha, called them to hand over power to them but they declined to cooperate with the military, an action which he now feels was a fundamental error. He stated that by the time they realised their mistake and made efforts to try to get into public office, it was too late because the politicians have taken over and asserted their dominance. READ ALSO: El-Rufai Drags Kaduna Assembly To Court Over N432bn Probe Abdulsalami Abubakar invited all of us who fought for democracy; that I am going to hand over power to a democratic government and I want all of you the freedom fighters to come together and take over power. At that very time, Gani opposed it. Three times he was inviting us we even refused to answer his call. He invited the politicians, he didnt even invite them; they were knocking at his door. After we decided to listen to him, we came and sat down; what do we do? That is what the ANC in South Africa did, after the struggle, they took over political power, but after our struggle in 1998 and 1999, we made a fundamental mistake and said, we are not going to cooperate with the military. Mike Ozekhome is sitting here, he is one of those who opposed that we should not join. Gani opposed, Falana and Olisa Agbakoba all opposed. It was Tinubu who said if we dont get in, who is going to be there? Then by the time we all agreed to join the politics, politicians had taken over all posts. Mike Ozekhome tried to be governor of Edo State, he couldnt, Olisa tried to be president he couldnt, Gani tried to be president he couldnt, Falana tried to be governor of his state he couldnt, I tried to be governor of Kaduna State I couldnt because the space were all taken over, Sani said. The Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2 of the Nigeria Customs Service reported that in just one week, 1,410 litres of Premium Motor Spirit valued at N30.4 million were seized. Mohammad Shuaibu, the teams coordinator, confirmed this to journalists at the Customs Training College in Ikeja on Friday. He stated that the team intercepted the contraband within their jurisdiction, and that some were intercepted at the creek. Advertisement Shuaibu further stated that the crew seized more contraband totaling N1.12 billion and arrested five individuals in connection with the various seizures. In our effort to actualise the mandate of combating smuggling and trans-border crimes, we intercepted some goods for violating various sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Federal Governments Import and Export Guidelines, the goods worth, N1.12bn They were intercepted across the borders of the six states of the South-West geo-political zone, he said. READ MORE: Enugu Govt Pays Tribute To Late Nollywood Actor, Mr. Ibu With Novelty Match According to him, the arrested suspects are being investigated and prosecuted. Other items seized include, 4, 051 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 3, 751, Jerry Cans of PMS, 425 cartons of frozen poultry products, 912 pieces of used tyres, 30 sacks of cannabis sativa 30 units of cars as means of conveyance, seven units of imported (tokunbo) cars, four units of motorcycles among others, he said. According to the coordinator, the team also generated N11.5 million in revenue by issuing debit notes on vehicles and other things that were improperly smuggled into the nation. However, Shuaibu revealed that the team apprehended 30 illegal immigrants. With the Nigeria Immigration Service as a critical component of the joint border patrol team, we intercepted 30 illegal immigrants suspected to have violated immigration laws and were immediately handed over to the NIS for further investigation and prosecution Shuaibu disclosed. He warned smugglers to desist from the crimes adding that they have multiple effects such as, undermining national security through the movements of illicit goods, such as drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, across the international borders, which impacts negatively on the economy by depleting the nations revenue base through evasion of duties and taxes, The Federal Government, on Thursday, approved the disbursement of N12,911 billion through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The amount represents the 2023 fund for one quarter, to be utilised in the third quarter of 2024. This is according to the 2020 BHCPF guideline, pending the review of the new guideline. Advertisement Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this at the 7th meeting of the BHCPF Ministerial Oversight Committee in Abuja. In March 2024, the Nigerian government authorised the disbursement of N25 billion through the BHCPF across the States of the Federation. The allocated funds were earmarked for direct facility financing and workforce incentives across States. Available data from the BHCPF and the Africa Health Budget Network shows that from 2019 to 2022, funds disbursed through BHCPF summed up to an estimated N89 billion. Only 7,250 out of the 35,514 Primary Healthcare Centres in the country are currently benefiting from the BHCPF, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. Pate said that in line with Nigerias Health Sector Renewal Initiative and President Bola Tinubus approval for a Sector-Wide Approach, urgent comprehensive reforms were being undertaken to improve BHCPF. A sub-committee set up by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare during the 5th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting in late 2023, is leading these reforms. Key developments include: Ongoing review of the BHCPF Guideline, with proposed reforms for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) already approved in March 2024. READ ALSO: Poor Funding, Obsolete Equipments Problem Of Nigerias Medical Sector Health Minister, Pate A thorough assessment has revealed significant flaws in the implementation of BHCPF, prompting all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to commit to immediate corrective measures. The MOC has approved the release of 25 billion to key health agencies to prevent disruption of services while awaiting the new guideline by the third quarter of 2024, he explained. He said that these reforms aimed to better align resources and improve health outcomes, such as increased antenatal coverage, skilled birth attendance, immunisation rates, and overall health insurance coverage in Nigeria. The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Muyi Aina, said that two memos were submitted and approved by the MOC. The first memo, jointly presented by the NCDC Gateway and EMT Gateway, outlined proposed reforms. These reforms focus on programmatic improvements at both state and national levels, as well as fiduciary interventions to ensure proper resource utilisation. The second memo focused on the disbursement of N12.9 billion across all states for the third quarter, following a previous approval and disbursement of N25 billion for the first two quarters, he said. Aina said that these reforms and disbursements were part of ongoing efforts to implement the Sector-Wide Approach and government reforms, aimed at improving coordination and resource efficiency across various gateways. He stressed the need to improve the quality of primary health centres across states, utilising resources from both state funding and external sources like World Bank loans. We have conducted assessments with the National Health Insurance Authority and states to identify facility gaps and prioritise improvements. The focus now is on working closely with each state to sequence the refurbishment of these facilities, starting with those most urgently in need of support, he said. Karu Market, located in a outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has been engulfed by fire on Thursday. It was gathered that the raging inferno, which cause could not be immediately ascertained, was said to have affected a section of the market. A shop owner, identified as Jibreel Babangoshi, disclosed that he was at the market venue when the fire started, adding that only one fire truck came for their rescue. Advertisement READ MORE: Mysterious Fire Guts Abures Home In Abuja, LP Alleges Assassination Attempt He said: The Karu market situation is bad. Only one fire truck was on ground. They had no water when the fire started. When they got water, they couldnt gain access as shops had been constructed on every available space. They (firefighters) had to go through the back, from the village. Reinforcement came from Area 10, but access remains a challenge. Number of shops, worth of goods destroyed not yet known. Cause of fire not yet known. Fire started from Informal Sector section of the market. Meanwhile, the acting Director of the FCT, Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, told PUNCH that firefighters have been deployed to the scene. President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has accused Governors of creating State universities they cannot fund. According to him, most Governors duplicate universities in their states to get a piece of the pie that is the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Advertisement Osodeke, who made the allegation in an interview on Channels Televisions The Morning Brief on Thursday , said: Any governor today establishing a university is eyeing TETFund as a source of funding. He said though TETFund was established as an intervention fund for public universities, politicians and civil servants now saw it as a cash cow to be milked dry through shady procurement processes and contract fraud. TETFund was created as an intervention fund, not the major funding. The universities belong to the federal government and the government is supposed to fund them and states are supposed to fund their own. READ ALSO: EFCCs Olukoyede Orders Arrest Of Officials Who Broke Into Lagos Hotel Its an intervention fund but there are people who want to have access to that money from the political circle, from the bureaucratic circle, at all cost. We are struggling with that, he said. The ASUU President said a structure should be created to carry stakeholders along in the process of how the money was allocated and spent openly and transparently. There should be a stakeholders meeting to assess what you want to do with the funds, Osodeke said. He added that the stakeholders should include the university community; lecturers, and student groups to put an end to the case you see today where somebody comes from the TETFund and say, I have a project for you and I am going to be the contractor. We want an open project. Every university council should be allowed to run its projects with the stakeholders involvement. Shehu Sani, a former Senator representing Kaduna Central, says he delivered former President Olusegun Obasanjo from being assaulted by inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum Security prison in 1995. Obasanjo was Nigerias head of state from 1976 to 1979 and returned as civilian president in 1999, after which he handed over the reins of power in 2007. Advertisement The former Senator who spoke during a lecture in Abuja on Thursday was among pro-democracy activists and dissidents who were rounded up and jailed by the military junta led by Sani Abacha, who was president from 1993 to 1998. Obasanjo was arrested in 1995 for allegedly plotting a coup and was jailed. Recounting events from the era, Sani said himself, Shehu Musa YarAdua and Obasanjo were moved to Kirikiri prison after their arrests. According to him, armed robbers in prison began shouting and insulting the former President when they saw him. Sani added that he talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate. His words: In 1995, a team of soldiers, policemen and DSS visited my house in Kaduna. It was a journey that began and lasted for four years. READ ALSO: Allowing Politicians, Instead Of Us Activists Take Over From Military In 1999 Was A Big Mistake Shehu Sani I was picked up from Kaduna and brought to Lagos with the late General Shehu Musa YarAdua. From the airport, we were led to the DSS headquarters, where we met President Olusegun Obasanjo. Unfairly from the soldiers, they handcuffed me but did not do so for Obasanjo or YarAdua. Obasanjo looked at me and asked me who I was and if I had stolen something for them to have handcuffed me. I told him I was an activist. I was then the deputy chairman of the Campaign for Democracy. We were taken to Kirikiri Maximum Prison. We stayed there without anybody saying anything to us. When we arrived at Kirikiri, we were given a blanket and a plate of food. We were then allocated our cells. When the armed robbers there saw Obasanjo, they started shouting and insulting him. Naturally, for those of us who were human rights activists, we were popular with inmates. I told him, You are a commander outside, but this is where I command. I then talked to the inmates to calm down, that no matter their grievances with Obasanjo, he was now an inmate. I got 15 years, Obasanjo got 15 years, YarAdua got life imprisonment. Those of us from the north were sent to southern prisons and those from the south were sent to northern prisons. That was how I found myself in Port Harcourt prison. I was in Port Harcourt prison when Ken Saro-Wiwa was brought in and hanged. I could see them from the window. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, announced plans for the National Assembly to build a state-of-the-art medical facility for Senators, House of Representatives members, staff and guests. Speaking in Abuja while welcoming Senators back from recess, Akpabio emphasized that the medical facility would be a top priority in the second legislative year. The 10th National Assembly, which marked one year on June 13, 2024, already has a clinic. Advertisement READ ALSO: Prayer Has Replaced Costly Medicine In Homes Peter Obi Bemoans Relocation Of Pharmaceutical Companies From Nigeria In this second legislative year, we plan to establish a state-of-the-art medical facility nearby to serve distinguished senators, honourable members, National Assembly staff, and our esteemed guests. This initiative aims to provide functional and effective healthcare for all. We also completed and commissioned the National Assembly Library within the last legislative year, he said. He further urged lawmakers to prioritize the welfare of the people in their actions and decisions, reminding them of the fundamental principle of service. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has said no amount of blackmail from fifth columnists will stop the red chamber from carrying out its lawful responsibilities to Nigerians. This lawful responsibilities include getting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a new aircraft, once it is deemed important. Advertisement Akpabio stated this on Thursday at an emergency plenary session while reacting to comments by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who drew the attention of his colleagues to media reports on the plan to buy a brand new aircraft for Tinubu and the Vice President, Kashim Shettima. His reaction surfaced as the Senate and House of Representatives, extended the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 budget till December31. Akpabio explained that he was not in the country when the news about him broke, and vowed to approve a new airplane for Tinubu, notwithstanding the current hunger in the land. His words: I was in Zanzibar attending to inter parliamentary union meetings when that information went out that the senate president said he would approve a brand new plane for the president, irrespective of whether they are suffering or no suffering. There was never a time such a statement came from me because Ive never had any correspondence to approve a plan or not approve a plan and I did not want to answer. But they went to generate it and then they went around as if I was saying that I did not care about the Nigerian people. I did not do this. READ ALSO: I Never Said Nigeria Must Buy New Aircraft For Tinubu, Shettima Akpabio We care about the President. We care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people. We will approve things that would improve the living standard of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognizance of the duties of Mr. President. If his vehicle is bad, we will repair the vehicle. If his plane is bad, we will approve money for the repair of the plane. So, that is not an issue. There is nothing before us. The purveyors of the story know very well that maybe there is problem with the presidential fleet and that they will go to the parliament. So they are now trying to do anticipated blackmail to tell us if they bring it, we will not look into it. I think that we should ignore them because of what we are doing here. I bring the presidents correspondences to us this morning. There was nothing touching on plane or no plane, but I can tell you that when you hear stories such as the death of the Vice President of Malawi as a result of defective plane. You also hear news such as the death of the President of Iran as a result of defective aircraft. In fact, this time it was helicopter and all that. We shouldnt ever dream and allow such to be our portion. It wouldnt be. The senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country, irrespective of anticipated blackmail They know very well that something like that might come in future. And if its a necessity, the senate will be treat it, but there is nothing like that before us now. The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, revealed that operations of private aircraft have become worrisome as they have been used for illegal activities. The minister, who refused to identify names of people involved, made the revelation at the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Thursday, when he inaugurated a Ministerial Taskforce Committee to checkmate illegal chartered operations in the country. Keyamo note that those accused set of individuals in the illegal activities are the people who acquired licenses for non-commercial flights operations but gone against the stipulated agreement of the licenses. Advertisement He said: It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing reports, that the practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the aviation industry, thereby undermining the efforts of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other regulatory bodies. READ MORE: Airport Puff-Puff Sellers Claim To Be Aviation Experts In Nigeria Keyamo Alleged These illicit activities have not only resulted in significant financial losses to the Federal Government but have also raised security and safety concerns as the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated. This has also resulted in using these private aircraft for other illegal activities. Last week, the National Security Adviser wrote to us, alerting us of the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in the country. It appears that Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) operators have become increasingly emboldened, continuing their illegal operations with the assistance of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who collect tolls and list these illegal charters under their AOCs. The Nigerian Army claimed on Thursday evening that troops assigned for counter-terrorism operations in Sokoto State successfully prevented an abduction attempt. In a statement on its regular X platform, the Nigerian Army Authority revealed that troops had neutralised 5 terrorists and rescued two captives held by the militants. READ MORE: Anambra Police Step Up Search For Officer Accused Of Extorting N810,000 From Driver Advertisement The troops responding to a distress call from the Baniguntu and Gohonau forest area in Gudu Local Government Area, engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the neutralisation of the terrorists, while others fled with injuries sustained from the exchange of fire, the statement said. The freed hostages were named as Nura Isya and Saluhu Hamza, and they were securely handed over to the Chairman of Gudu Local Government Area for medical care and reunification with their family. The successful operation not only prevented a potential tragedy, but also led to the recovery of 5 AK-47 rifles, 32 rounds of ammunition, and a Tecno phone, further disrupting the activities of the terrorist group. This heroic rescue mission highlights the resoluteness of the Nigerian Army to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of citizens in Sokoto State and across the country, it said. Olumide Ogunade, also known as ID Cabasa, a veteran Nigerian record producer, has spoken out about a discovery that prompted him to reconsider his attitude towards religion as a Christian. Cabasa claimed he used to be a very religious Christian until he realized he needed to distinguish between when God speaks and when people speak in Gods name in the Bible he reads. The renowned producer said in a recent interview with Echo Room, which was shared on X Thursday. Advertisement He said, When you are reading the Bible, pay attention to the Jewish culture and pay attention to what God is saying. They are two different things. I used to be a very religious Christian until when I was about leaving the university and I discovered that even the Bible that I am reading, I need to pay attention to when it is God thats speaking and when its man thats speaking in the name of God. READ MORE: My Relationship With Davido Is Beyond Money, Gossip Cubana Chief Priest Cabasa also expressed his views on feminism and transgenderism. Where feminism started from is not where we are now, the meaning has changed. It was meant to fight for the rights [of women] but now it has gotten to the point that you see men behaving like women, he said. This thing [transgenderism] is against humanity. Its meant to stop you from reproducing. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Friday, replied to the Governors of the States in the southern region over demand that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage with the Union and other stakeholders. The position of the Governors was made known in a 16-point communique issued at the end of their meeting held on Monday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, under the auspices of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF). According to them, the new minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and the ability to pay for each state, adding that such a move would be a true reflection of federalism. Advertisement Reacting, NLC, in a statement through its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said the Governors notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence and the model adopted for creating a national minimum wage in Nigeria. NLC stated that it is essential to remind the Governors that the national minimum wage is not synonymous with the individual pay structures of the states that they implement religiously, reflecting their unique financial capabilities and circumstances. The union urged the Governors to abandon any inclination towards dictatorial practices as the minimum wage process remains tripartite. The statement read, The concept of a national minimum wage is not arbitrary. It represents a national wage floor, a baseline below which no worker in the law should be paid. This threshold is a collective agreement that ensures a minimum standard of living for every worker in the law. The Governors demand to unilaterally determine the minimum wage negates this principle and threatens the welfare of Nigerian workers and the national economy. This diversity in pay structures underscores the flexibility that already exists within the system, allowing states to reward their workers in alignment with their financial realities. Furthermore, the Governors argument appears inconsistent when juxtaposed with the remuneration of political office holders. Why is there no hue and cry when political office holders across the nation receive uniform salaries as determined by Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission? This double standards which piths a few privileged against the majority poor is an issue that should be of concern to those who love this country. READ ALSO: Governors Establishing New Varsities They Cant Afford Only To Access TETFund ASUU We are deeply concerned by this blatant display of ignorance regarding the global best practices for national minimum wage by some of these Governors. It is evident that, despite their frequent travels abroad, they have deliberately chosen not to educate themselves on fundamental global issues crucial to successful governance. This level of self-imposed ignorance on basic industrial relations matters clearly illustrates why our nation is poorly governed, resulting in unacceptable suffering of Nigerians. For this set of governors we recommend a return to school for proper education as they constitute a threat to our democracy. We must also use the opportunity to commend the forward-looking and progressively-minded governors (not in name but indeed) who take seriously the welfare of workers in their thoughts and policies. We will continue to identify as well as work with them. The pursuit by many governors to pay workers whatever they like deepens poverty and causes varying dimensions of insecurity. The governors are carried away by their present structure of security detail but the sword of Damocles awaits them on exit from office. It is unfortunate that workers salaries are often seen as charity rather than the hard-earned income of hardworking Nigerians. It is equally painful that some of these governors fail to realise that workers salaries substantially drive the economy. Not surprisingly, they prioritise their greed over the need of ordinary citizens. The fate of Nigerian workers cannot be left solely in the hands of employers, whether public or private. No sane society does that. What the governors are asking for is akin to allowing numerous companies and organizations in Nigeria to pay workers whatever they like. While these companies may not pay the same salaries, they must adhere to the national wage floor, and the same should apply to state governors. We urge President Tinubu who had promised a living wage (which is superior to a minimum wage) not to allow himself be blackmailed or boxed into a corner by unpatriotic governors. We urge the federal government to stop dithering on the issue of the national minimum wage because of the gang up by some selfish governors. Finally, NLC stands firm in its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers. We will continue to advocate for a fair and equitable wage system that reflects the true spirit of our nations values. We call on the Governors to join us in this commitment for the benefit of all Nigerians. Let democracy flourish. The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has berated Human Rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), at a programme in Abuja, on Thursday. Wike disclosed that the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association has always defended politicians who rig in the countrys elections. The former Rivers State governor, who was an awardee at the This Nigeria Newspaper Lecture and Award, said that previous speakers acted as if there has been no gain for the country under democracy. Advertisement READ MORE: Fubara, Wike Must Work Together Or Rivers People Will Suffer Jonathan The theme of the event was 25 Years of Unbroken Democracy Challenges, Prospects and Possibilities. Wike, who also admitted that the country is facing series of challenges, noted that previous guest speakers at the event should also speak of their good experiences in Nigeria. He said: Ladies and gentlemen, yes I am an awardee but also a Nigerian. It will be wrong sitting here without correcting some impressions. We are talking about 25 years of democracy; we know we have challenges. I expected the lecturer to also speak of progress. But the lecture was just about criticism, nothing was said about progress. Are you telling me that no single progress was made? We can say there is progress but theres need for improvement. Just like Shehu Sanu said they were locked up and detained. But that doesnt happen under this democracy; thats progress. You have spoken about infrastructural development in FCT, thats progress. So I just said I should say the fact. And again, the fact that you people are activists does not mean that you would do well in power. Activists have failed. Pointing to Ozekhome, the FCT Minister queried him, asked how many times he rejected briefs from those he described as election riggers. He said: As an activist, how many times have you rejected briefs? Those who rigged election, how many times have you defended them? Its not about postulating all the time. Google Cloud is introducing a new set of grounding options that will further enable enterprises to reduce hallucinations across their generative AI-based applications and agents. The large language models (LLMs) that underpin these generative AI-based applications and agents may start producing faulty output or responses as they grow in complexity. These faulty outputs are termed as hallucinations as the output is not grounded in the input data. Retrieval augmented generation (RAG) is one of several techniques used to address hallucinations: others are fine-tuning and prompt engineering. RAG grounds the LLM by feeding the model facts from an external knowledge source or repository to improve the response to a particular query. This incomplete, vacant emergency services center stands on Route 73 near the New Jersey Turnpike in Mount Laurel, part of a digital display advertising project by Thaddeus Bartkowski's Catalyst companies. It is one of nine Catalyst projects in New Jersey scheduled for auction in July after real estate investor W.P. Carey Inc. sued for non-payment of $28 million it said Catalyst owed. Read more Thaddeus Bartkowski has been a familiar figure to municipal leaders across the Philadelphia region and New Jersey since 2009. Lawyers and real estate professionals for his Catalyst group of sign companies have pushed plans for bright electronic billboards above busy roads in scores of townships and boroughs, often triumphing over objections from residents and small-business owners. Hes like no one else. Hes a very innovative guy, and hell spend 10 years on a project, said Paul Gartland, executive vice president and Northeast regional manager for Louisiana-based Lamar Advertising, the largest U.S. billboard company, which purchased a string of Catalyst signs in 2017 and has considered buying more. But a number of Catalyst projects have not performed as projected. On July 11, auctioneers will seek buyers for nine N.J. billboard sites some finished, some in stalled stages of construction, some only planned in Mount Laurel, Washington Township (Gloucester County), Pennsauken, Merchantville, and Flemington. Advertisement These digital sign sites were foreclosed by W.P. Carey Inc., a New York City-based, publicly traded real estate investment and finance company. Carey last year sued Bartkowskis companies, which Carey says defaulted on $28 million it is owed, including $26 million guaranteed by Bartkowski personally. A court-approved receiver has listed the sites for sale to help pay the debt. The nine New Jersey billboard projects have attracted substantial interest from outdoor advertising businesses, with almost 40 bidders registered to review the sites in detail, said Joshua Olshin, managing partner at AuctionAdvisers, the New York firm conducting the auction. To say were disappointed would be an understatement, said Marco DiBattista, mayor of Pennsauken, which in 2021 held opening ceremonies for a towering Catalyst sign featuring a green wall of plants, a pond, and fountains on busy Route 70, Marlton Pike. The sign, now operated by Outfront, is still a digital billboard, advertising Jefferson Health, the Camden aquarium, Ritas Water Ice, and other regional businesses in bright electronic color. But the pond is dry, the plants that covered the wall are dead, and pieces have fallen off including Pennsaukens name. They oversold it and under-delivered, by a million miles, DiBattista said. Theres been a lot of empty promises. Were very excited its going to auction, he said. We hope whoever gets it we can work with closely, getting something thats simpler, not so concerning for maintenance. Thads company may have gone to too many towns too quickly, said George Morris, attorney for Mount Laurel, where three former Catalyst projects including an empty, incomplete, two-story building that was to house an ambulance station on Route 73 near the New Jersey Turnpike are among the properties to be auctioned. How Catalyst grew Over the past 15 years, Lamar, which operates over 153,000 of the nations 337,000 total highway and street displays, and its two largest rivals Outfront Media of New York and Texas-based ClearChannel Outdoor Holdings, each with over 40,000 signs helped propel Catalysts growth by buying signs the firm developed, typically at a price of several million dollars each, according to data collected by Billboard Insider. They range from 50-foot-high billboards to brick- and stone-fronted municipal monuments flashing commercial and public-service ads on multiple screens. The national companies expect to collect fees from advertisers, often totaling several hundred thousand dollars a year, rising over time. As dozens of its signs went live during the 2010s and early 2020s including the M-shaped Middletown Monument in Bucks County, a wall at the entrance to Concord Township, a 37-foot-tall multi-sign assembly in Quakertown, living walls near the Conshohocken exit on the Schuylkill Expressway Bartkowski collected a million-dollar yearly base salary. He was named an entrepreneur of the year by accounting firm Ernst & Young in 2019. His firm promised equity shares and cash bonuses for top aides, whose base pay topped $250,000 a year, according to court filings. Bartkowski held fancy parties at Center Citys Vue on 50 and the sprawling Gladwyne estate (featured in the Wall Street Journal) where he lives. The founder drew up plans to expand to other major markets. Scaling back Catalyst still has some big plans. Bartkowski said in an interview that he is negotiating with Lower Merion for a digital sign 50 feet above the Schuylkill Expressway, and Pennsylvania Convention Center leaders hope hell build signs at both ends of the sprawling Center City property. Both proposals are years in the making. In other ways, Catalyst has retrenched. At its peak in 2020, the firm employed about 35 people. Today, having shed its ads sales group, Bartkowski said, the company has seven people focused on development. The company has faced dozens of lawsuits, including actions from former partners, lenders, investors, contractors, and employees seeking payments. Catalyst in April left its Newtown Square headquarters after defaulting on $98,000 in rent. The Gladwyne mansion is for sale. There are no current plans for national expansion, Bartkowski said in the interview. Bartkowski and some of his former top aides offer rival accounts of the path that stalled work at the New Jersey sites and led to the auction. Bartkowski, who attended LaSalle prep and Villanova, said the COVID shutdowns of 2020 slowed billboard construction, and W.P. Carey wouldnt agree to ease terms. COVID meaningfully changed construction costs and supply chain timing and put the developer under cost pressure, he said. Some former Catalyst officials complain that Bartowskis lifestyle, funded by the company, left Catalyst vulnerable to the slowdown. He lived with supreme lavishness, while shirking employees out of back pay, stiffing his business partners, and bilking the contractors, said Eric Ascalon, a lawyer, who worked as vice president of community development at Catalyst from 2018-2020. Given cash flows, the crunch was inevitable. Forced sales Bartkowski had raised capital for earlier billboards through a partnership with PREIT, the Philadelphia-based retail-mall landlord. Catalyst also borrowed from area banks, including WSFS and Meridian. (Both later sued Catalyst in payment disputes. WSFS said it has since been paid. Meridian is in negotiations, according to Bartkowski.) To speed expansion in the late 2010s, Bartkowski turned to W.P. Carey. Under their agreement, Carey would own billboard sites, and Catalyst would develop custom digital signs, then sell sign-related operations to Lamar, Outfront, ClearChannel or other buyers, collecting multiple times the cost of getting municipal permissions and building signs with attractive extra features. But under the sudden financial pressures of COVID shutdowns, W.P. Carey proved inflexible, according to Bartkowski. He said he offered creative solutions such as extra collateral. Instead, W.P. Carey sued, leading to the auction. A W.P. Carey spokesperson said the company would not comment on the litigation. Bartkowski said he wont be surprised if the company buys properties in the auction, at favorable prices. Partners sue In a civil lawsuit, three of Bartkowskis former minority partners Patrick Wolfington, who was executive vice president; John Grabowski, chief financial officer; and Timothy Earle, a real estate executive in 2021 accused Bartkowski of paying himself an extra $3 million, in addition to his $1 million yearly salary and far in excess of what he was entitled as both CEO and the companys majority owner, from January 2020 through May 2021. They detailed a string of Bartkowskis personal expenses private jet, yacht, and personal driver; horse pasture and dog trainer; and work on city and Shore homes, among others that they said the company should not have paid. And they demanded a total of more than half a million dollars in back pay. It was the three executives who were out of line, countered Bartkowskis attorney, James Sargent. He said they used stolen company documents to build a rival business the court has stopped them from competing in the Philadelphia area, at least for now and collected ill-gotten gains greater than what they said Catalyst owed them. The case is scheduled for a trial in September in Chester County Common Pleas Court. Mount Laurel waits Mount Laurel is among the towns most affected by the slowdown at Catalyst. In 2018, state officials had urged the Burlington County town to relocate a volunteer emergency medical service from a 40-year-old building, citing Mount Laurels need to comply with state open-space rules. Like magic, Thad showed up within a week of us hearing from state officials that the township needed a new facility, Morris said. His timing was very good. He showed us this massive dog park he built up in Bucks County. We said, How about an EMS facility? Town leaders were encouraged by Catalyst projects nearby. He had a project in Pennsauken at the old American Red Cross building on [Route 70] near Bishop Eustace Prep and another on [Route] 38 near Camden Catholic, right after the Admiral Wilson Boulevard split, Morris said. We spent a year designing. They would build us a building and use the second floor for digital display. It was going to be a great benefit for the town it would give the town the opportunity to advertise for the volunteers, he said. Then construction started and stopped, amid litigation by contractors who said they werent being paid. And the excuses came in. Bartkowski put a great team together, said Mort OBoyle, who worked for Catalyst in 2019-20 on the Mount Laurel and Pennsauken projects, along with others in nearby Maple Shade and Washington Township. But, he added in an interview, consultants and contractors were soon complaining they werent getting paid, and some have filed lawsuits. Without full maintenance, OBoyle said, sites deteriorated: None of them look good now. According to Morris, while the shell of Catalysts Mount Laurel sign-and-building complex is complete, it is nowhere close to being ready to be an EMS building. In Mount Laurel as in Pennsauken, officials said they look forward to talking to new owners about fixing the all-too-visible Catalyst projects. We hope the [buyer] will complete it and donate it to Mount Laurel EMS, Morris said. We hope we can move forward. The Burlington County Prosecutors Office on Thursday said a 32-year-old Philadelphia woman has been charged with causing the death of her 10-month-old son through exposure to xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer that has been increasingly abused in connection with illegal drugs. Vanessa Hampton, of the citys Frankford section, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the 2022 death of her son, the prosecutors office said. She was taken into custody last week and was awaiting extradition to New Jersey. Advertisement In November 2022, Medford Township police were called to a residence for a report of an unresponsive infant, authorities said. The boy, whose name was not made public, was taken to Virtua Hospital in Voorhees, then transferred to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where he died about a week later. The Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office performed an autopsy and ruled the boys death a homicide, concluding that he died of drug intoxication after being exposed to xylazine. Xylazine, also known as tranq, is a non-opioid veterinary medication not approved for use in people, but has been found in the illegal drug supply and has been linked to overdose deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Xylazine can slow down the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower, and lower blood pressure in people, is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl, the CDC said. Last month, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law a bill classifying xylazine a controlled substance, which makes it illegal to possess except for legal veterinary uses. The drug is used to sedate large animals. Drexel University President John Fry is the unanimous choice of Temple's search committee to become that school's new president. Read more Drexel University president John A. Fry is the leading finalist to become Temple Universitys next president, multiple sources with knowledge of the process say. Temple Universitys board is expected to act soon on the candidacy of Fry, 64, who has led the 21,700-student Drexel for 14 years more than double the average tenure for a university president. Advertisement Fry was the unanimous choice of the selection committee, according to sources. It would be an extraordinary move for Fry, who also has been president of Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster and got his start in university leadership under former University of Pennsylvania president Judith Rodin. It was at Penn that he served as the chief architect of the plan to revitalize the universitys West Philadelphia neighborhood, and his work at colleges since then has included a focus on urban planning. READ MORE: Five years in, a look at Drexel's high-flying Fry For the 30,530-student Temple, the entrepreneurial Fry would be a known and proven quantity at a pivotal time in the universitys history, with enrollment down 24% since 2017 and the resignation of prior president Jason Wingard after less than two years on the job. Richard M. Englert has been president since JoAnne A. Epps died in September while serving as acting president. Fry would have to deal with faculty unrest over university leadership and, for the first time in his career, faculty unions they dont exist at Penn, Drexel or F&M. And hed have to hit the ground running, with contract negotiations between the administration and the Temple Association of University Professors well underway. Last spring, graduate student workers staged a six-week strike, which also led to problems for Wingards leadership. Its not Frys first time to be in the running for Temple president: In 2006, he was a finalist for the job but withdrew. READ MORE: John A. Frys contract extended to lead Drexel another five years Neither Fry nor Mitchell L. Morgan, chairman of Temples board of trustees, would comment on Frys presidential prospects at Temple. The selection committee said earlier this year that it had unanimously narrowed the list to a small group of candidates. Our heads are spinning The news came as a shock to many in the Drexel community. Our heads are spinning, at least in my circle, said William Lynch, a tenured professor of education. There were a few rumors but no prewarning. He noted that Drexel is amid many positive initiatives, including a planned merger with Salus University, and questioned what will happen with all that momentum. In general, he has moved the university in a very positive direction, Lynch said of Fry. He definitely did a superior job in terms of fundraising and catalyzing the confidence people had in Drexel and in Philadelphia. Charles Cairns, senior vice president of medical affairs and dean of Drexels college of medicine, called Fry a phenomenal leader whose support of the medical school has been key to its success. Drexel is on a remarkably good path going forward and a large part of that has been due to Johns leadership and impact, he said. If Temple gets him, they are very lucky. Among the leadership ranks at Temple, including several who asked not to be named because Frys selection hasnt been formally approved, Frys candidacy was generally embraced, with several citing his inherent understanding of Philadelphia and ability to navigate complicated community relations and the local political scene. He certainly can move an institution, and Temple needs to move, said Ronald C. Anderson, formerly dean of Temples Fox School of Business. Temple needs a long-term president right now, someone to set a strategy, execute it and get it stable. Jeffrey Doshna, president of the Temple Association of University Professionals, said he has some concerns, but declined to elaborate. But I want the guy to succeed, he said. We want a good president who is going to do the job well. He said he hopes the university and union can settle a new contract before Fry arrives: Its in everyones interest to have this settled. Steve Newman, an associate professor of English and former president of the faculty union, said the trust between faculty and the administration needs to be rebuilt, as well as the trust between the university administration and its North Philadelphia neighbors. While Fry has had a lot of experience with development in his university communities, Newman said that also raises very complex questions about the needs of the people who live in those communities and the importance of their having a voice in these decisions. But he said hes optimistic that Fry will bring the needed leadership and vision we need and also the respect for faculty governance, the need for better working conditions and a real collaborative spirit in working with our neighbors in North Philadelphia. Thats what were rooting for. Thats what we need. Not your typical college president It was just a couple years ago that Fry received a five-year contract extension from Drexel, which, if completed, would have given him 18 years at the helm, making him one of the longest-serving college presidents in the region and matching former Penn president Amy Gutmanns tenure there. President Fry has implemented a dynamic vision for how an urban university can attract and inspire excellent students, conduct pathbreaking research and serve the surrounding neighborhood, Drexel board chair Richard Greenawalt said in a message to the campus community in announcing Frys extended contract in 2022. He continues to transform the university, while also navigating the university through a pandemic, creating a more inclusive institution and confronting the many challenges of the rapidly changing higher education landscape. Fry has been one of the highest-paid private college presidents in the nation, placing ninth in the most recent survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education. He earned $2.6 million in total compensation in 2021, including $765,000 in base pay and the rest in bonuses, benefits, and deferred compensation, which he received after he completed a five-year contract. Wingard earned nearly $1.4 million in 2021-22, according to the universitys most recent 990 tax form. READ MORE: Former Temple president Jason Wingard earned about $730k in his first six months on the job, according to tax forms Fry is not the typical college president. He does not have a doctoral degree, has never been a dean or provost, and has not conducted research. With a bachelors from Lafayette College and an MBA from New York Universitys Stern School of Business, he started his career in the auditing division of what is now KPMG, and then moved to Coopers & Lybrand to run a Philadelphia consulting operation dealing with colleges. His biggest client was Penn, which hired him as executive vice president. From 1995 to 2002, he helped bring a movie theater and grocer to the Penn neighborhood, create the public Penn Alexander School, and launch the University City District, fostering relationships among colleges, retailers, and residents. When Fry arrived at F&M, a liberal arts college deep in Amish country, in 2002, he continued his work as an urban planner. He soon launched a $75 million redevelopment project, one of the largest in Lancasters history. It involved demolishing a factory and moving half of a railroad yard on the colleges rim to a site less than a mile away, freeing dozens of acres for development. READ MORE: College president as urban planner A landfill that occupied the new rail site had to be relocated, which meant excavating and redisposing of 104,000 tons of trash. He secured state funding and worked with local employers. It was a lions roar driving confidence in the city, Lisa Riggs, then president of the Economic Development Co. of Lancaster County, said reflecting on the development project in 2016. It wouldnt have happened without F&Ms leadership and knowledge, and Johns persuasiveness. That magnitude of redevelopment was beyond what most people could have thought was possible at that time. During his eight years there, he also built a $50 million life science and philosophy building and renovated a center for business, government and public policy. Fry also brought more students back on campus with new student residences, called College Houses. Moving to Drexel in 2010, he partnered with Brandywine Realty Trust to launch a multibillion-dollar project to turn parking lots and industrial buildings between Drexels campus and 30th Street Station into a neighborhood of businesses, retailers, parks, and residential towers, called Schuylkill Yards. He launched a center for neighborhood partnerships and a school of entrepreneurship. Also under his leadership, he upgraded Drexels campus, once named the nations ugliest, and in partnership with the Philadelphia School District, opened a new building near campus to house two public schools. He has been credited with boosting fundraising, including bringing in two major gifts: $50 million from Thomas R. Kline for the Kline School of Law, and $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife for the Dornsife School of Public Health. Fry negotiated Drexels merger affiliation with the Academy of Natural Sciences, and last year, Drexel announced it would proceed with a merger with Salus University, a small, private health sciences university based in Elkins Park. The two institutions are awaiting approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body. READ MORE: UArts had explored a possible merger with Drexel two years ago but it didnt materialize Early on in his tenure, some students complained that their clubs and programs were displaced by renovation and construction, and some employees were concerned that too much was changing too quickly. But other faculty gave Fry credit for being more transparent and willing to involve faculty in decision-making. He led Drexel through the pandemic, and although the university has lost enrollment its down about 10% from 2017 thats nowhere near Temples enrollment loss during the same period. Drexels peak enrollment year came several years into Frys tenure in 2014-15 when it had 26,539 students; its down about 18% from then. READ MORE: Pro-Palestinian encampment is cleared at Drexel University Fry most recently had to deal with a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus, which city and university police ultimately moved in to disband, though protesters by then had begun to leave on their own. The encampment had been up for less than a week. Fry in 2021 told The Inquirer that 2021-22 could be his last full year at Drexel, but that changed. Now, Fry, once a Penn Quaker and currently a Drexel Dragon, may soon touch down in North Philadelphia as the newest Temple Owl. The Philadelphia school board, pictured at its May 30 meeting. Read more The Philadelphia school board for the fourth time denied an application from Global Leadership Academy International Charter High School, rejecting efforts by charter founder and former district administrator Naomi Johnson-Booker and supporters to open a high school. The proposed charter, which would provide a pathway for students at two existing K-8 Global Leadership charter schools, aimed to open in the former Cristo Rey High School building on North Broad Street in Logan, ultimately enrolling 600 students in grades 9 through 12. Advertisement The vote to reject the application was 7-0; one board member, Whitney Jones, abstained due to business conflicts. While the charters applicants who were rejected by the board both earlier this year and last year had said that they werent an existing charter operator, district officials disagreed: Besides sharing the Global Leadership name, the schools founding coalition includes staff from Global Leadership Academy Charter School and Global Leadership Academy Southwest at Huey. And the high school was billed as an extension of the vision of Johnson-Booker, whom the application said had successfully restructured and transformed both district and charter schools into thriving, well-functioning learning communities. But board members questioned the track record of the existing Global Leadership schools. In 2022-23, 19% of Global Leadership Charter students were proficient or higher in English language arts, compared to 34% for the district as a whole, and 35% for students in similar schools, said Mariel Ziegler, the districts interim chief of charter schools. In math, 4% of GLA students were proficient, compared to 21% for the district and 15% for similar schools. GLA Southwests scores last year with 15% of students proficient in English, and 2% in math also lagged the district and similar schools, Ziegler said. She noted that over a several-year period, both schools had generally met growth standards set by the state. In addition to academic concerns, board member Joyce Wilkerson also cited financial issues at Global Leadership Academy, where a notice of default was recently issued to the schools bondholders due to insufficient cash flow. With schools still receiving added COVID-19 relief money, its hard to believe we could have schools defaulting, Wilkerson said. In an interview Friday, Johnson-Booker said a flood in one of the GLA schools during state testing in 2019 had contributed to a drop in test scores, and said the high school had a plan to start instruction in the summer for children entering below grade level. She also said the charter wasnt in default on its bond, but said a former financial services provider had failed to pay invoices. Its obvious they dont want me to have a high school in this city, said Johnson-Booker, a member of the African American Charter Schools Coalition who has accused the district of bias, and who was among the charter supporters who opposed Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers renomination of Wilkerson to the school board. I thought we would have a decent chance with new board members, without Wilkerson on there. Numerous students, parents and officials pressed the board to accept the application, saying that children need more quality high school options. They also said Global Leadership schools which emphasize international travel were more than their test scores, and said more than 140 people had submitted enrollment forms for the fall. When I go into Global, I feel something, I think, special, Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. told the school board. He described getting calls from parents trying to get their kids into different schools, including Global Leadership; he doesnt hear from parents who want to leave it, Jones said. These may not be the ways you judge things, but I trust my judgment, said Jones, who had backed Parkers renomination of Wilkerson. Jones also questioned the districts comparison between the charters and other schools: You couldnt be comparing them apples to apples, in all honesty, he said. In other charter-related actions, the board approved five-year charter renewals with conditions for four schools: Ad Prima Charter School, Laboratory Charter School, Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, and Maritime Academy Charter School. Funds approved to support contractors for year-round pilot In an 8-0 vote, the board approved $20 million in contracts with outside providers key to Parkers initiative, announced this week, to offer before- and aftercare and summer programs starting this year in 25 city schools. Schools participating in what the mayor termed the extended-day, extended-year pilot program will also offer programming to students on half days and over winter and spring breaks. Addressing board members Thursday, Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. reiterated that the out-of-school-time providers would be handling the programming next year, and that teachers schedules will not be impacted. The district schools participating in the program will be able to choose whether they want to participate in year two, Watlington said, adding that well be doing some planning with our unions ... to figure out what makes sense in year two. Watlington said he would be meeting next week with incoming Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Arthur Steinberg. Board members questioned plans to communicate the new programs and draw families in. What are we specifically going to do to engage the students? asked Sarah-Ashley Andrews. Watlington said the district would do its level best ... to have fun, engaging programming, with options like chess and learning about opportunities in the life sciences, as well as hands-on programs in sports. Success will be measured by participation in the voluntary programs: a high attendance rate, or an appropriate attendance rate, Watlington said. He didnt specify a number, but said he expected it would take time for school communities to embrace the changes. Complaints about pro-Palestinian censorship Parents, teachers and community members again spoke out against what they said was district censorship of pro-Palestinian views, and voiced support for the Philly Educators for Palestine group. Jordan Kardasz, a teacher who said she faced discipline from the district for supporting Palestine, accused the district of backtracking on a promise to hold a listening session for Sudanese, Palestinian, Congolese and Haitian students pushing a planned June 18 event to an unspecified date in August, when current seniors may have left for college. Reading a letter from students, Kardasz said, We had young people who were prepared and galvanized to speak to you about recent incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism at their schools. Watlington, speaking later in the meeting, said that rescheduled sessions would be posted on the districts website. I apologize for the district not delivering on that commitment, he said. Drexel University president John Fry at ribbon-cutting for the opening of SEPTA's Drexel Station at 30th Street Monday, Apr. 8, 2024, after reconstruction work for the newly renamed station. Fry is likely to become Temple Universitys next president, sources say. Read more Drexel University President John A. Fry is likely to become Temple Universitys next president, sources say. Heres what to know about the 64-year-old Brooklyn native who has spent 14 years at Drexels helm and has been a college president for more than two decades. What is Fry best known for? Fry is as much an urban planner as he is a college president, focusing on building and renovation in every college community he has worked in. Advertisement At Drexel, he partnered with Brandywine Realty Trust to launch a multibillion-dollar project to turn parking lots and industrial buildings between Drexels campus and 30th Street Station into Schuylkill Yards. He launched a center for neighborhood partnerships and a school of entrepreneurship. Also under his leadership, he upgraded Drexels campus, once named the nations ugliest, and in partnership with the Philadelphia School District, opened a new building near campus to house two public schools. He has been credited with boosting fundraising, including bringing in $50 million from Thomas R. Kline for the Kline School of Law, and $45 million from Dana and David Dornsife for the Dornsife School of Public Health. Fry negotiated Drexels merger affiliation with the Academy of Natural Sciences, and last year, Drexel announced it would proceed with a merger with Salus University, a small, private health sciences university based in Elkins Park. READ MORE: Five years in, a look at Drexels high-flying Fry How long was Fry expected to be at Drexel? It was just a couple years ago that Fry received a five-year contract extension from Drexel, which would have given him 18 years at the helm, making him one of the longest-serving college presidents in the region and matching former Penn president Amy Gutmanns tenure there. READ MORE: John A. Frys contract extended to lead Drexel another five years What is Frys salary at Drexel? Fry has been one of the highest-paid private college presidents in the nation, placing ninth in the most recent survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education. He earned $2.6 million in total compensation in 2021, including $765,000 in base pay and the rest in bonuses, benefits, and deferred compensation, which he received after he completed a five-year contract. How much will Fry earn at Temple? Thats not known. Former Temple President Jason Wingard earned nearly $1.4 million in 2021-22, according to the universitys most recent 990 tax form. What is Frys educational background? Fry is not the typical college president. He does not have a doctoral degree, has never been a dean or provost, and has not conducted research. With a bachelors from Lafayette College and an M.B.A. from New York Universitys Stern School of Business, he started his career in the auditing division of what is now KPMG, and then moved to Coopers & Lybrand to run a Philadelphia consulting operation dealing with colleges. What did Fry do at Penn? Fry was named executive vice president at the University of Pennsylvania under former Penn President Judith Rodin. From 1995 to 2002, he helped to bring a movie theater and grocer to the Penn neighborhood, create the public Penn Alexander School, and launch the University City District, fostering relationships among colleges, retailers, and residents. What did Fry do at Franklin & Marshall? When Fry arrived at F&M, a liberal arts college deep in Amish country, in 2002, he continued his work as an urban planner. He soon launched a $75 million redevelopment project, one of the largest in Lancasters history. It involved demolishing a factory and moving half of a railroad yard on the colleges rim to a site less than a mile away, freeing dozens of acres for development. READ MORE: College president as urban planner A landfill that occupied the new rail site had to be relocated, which meant excavating and relocating 104,000 tons of trash. He secured state funding and worked with local employers. During his eight years there, he also built a $50 million life science and philosophy building and renovated a center for business, government and public policy. Fry also brought more students back on campus with new student residences, called College Houses. What do we know about Frys family? A native of Brooklyn, Fry and his wife, Cara, an art historian, have three children. Mia is a graduate of Penns law school, while Nat is an entrepreneur, and Phoebe is a Drexel graduate. Benefits Data Trust is shown on the directory in the lobby of Centre Square at 1500 Market St. in Philadelphia. The nonprofit announced that it is closing in August. Read more Leaders at Benefits Data Trust, a Philadelphia nonprofit with a national reputation for helping people obtain government benefits, expected 2024 to be a break-even year financially, according information presented to its board of directors in December. Just six months later, on Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to wind down over the next two months with no explanation other than saying that a perfect storm of circumstances led to the decision at the organization, which had $12 million in unrestricted reserves at the end of last year and expected $32 million in revenue this year. Advertisement The announcement stunned a nonprofit community in Philadelphia already reeling from other unexpected closures. Just three weeks ago, the board of the University of the Arts abruptly closed its doors, with no detailed disclosures about why the nearly 150-year-old Center City institution was leaving hundreds of employees and more than 2,000 students in the lurch. The sudden closures of the two prominent, public charities, as well as the dire financial condition of Philadelphia human services nonprofit Resources for Human Development, have created a sense of chaos for some in the citys nonprofit community. There is extraordinary human capital and capability and knowledge that are now out of the sector. It was valuable to fight against poverty, Bill Golderer, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey, said in an interview. BDT received a $20 million no-strings-attached grant from MacKenzie Scott two years, giving the nonprofit the chance to make the challenge of benefits access a thing of the past over the next decade, then-CEO Trooper Sanders said at the time. In 2021, BDT received a five-year, $4 million grant from Pew Charitable Trusts to increase its reach in the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region. The goal was for BDT to double its impact from the then-current level of 111,800 households in the region annually. BDT has a program with Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia to help patients families sign up for public benefits. In the last 18 months, the program has helped 150 families, CHOP said. Philadelphia nonprofits under scrutiny Theres no law against nonprofits going out of business, but that does not diminish the publics interest in the entitys charitable assets, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, which has a unit that oversees charities. When the failure of a charity is brought to our attention, we investigate its finances to ensure that the failure is not due to any actionable breach of fiduciary duties on the part of the board and/or executive staff members, attorney general spokesperson Brett Hambright said in an email Wednesday. We also review to ensure that, if there are any remaining assets including any restricted funds such as endowments and other remaining net assets after all creditors have been paid are distributed to an appropriate successor, he said. No up-to-date information was available this week on BDTs financial condition, such as how much of the $20 million from Scott remains. Attempts to reach the organizations founder and board chair, Warren Kantor, were unsuccessful. BDT told state regulators this week that the Aug. 24 shutdown will put 273 people out of work. In 2022, when it received the Scott grant, it had 340 employees. The company cut 43 positions late last year, 32 of them the elimination of unfilled jobs, according to the Dec. 8 memo from Sanders. The BDT board ousted Sanders on June 11, replacing him with Wendy Starner, who had been chief financial officer. Just a few days before that, Independence Blue Cross announced that it was working with BDT to help privately insured customers with prediabetes access benefits, such as food, childcare, housing, and utilities. That raises questions about how many people at BDT knew the organization was on the verge of collapse. A loss in the fight against poverty BDT worked around the country, often under contract with state agencies and health insurers recently scoring a $2.75 million, two-year project in Dallas but it still had deep relationships with Philadelphia and state agencies, such the Department of Human Services and the Department of Aging, generating thousands of applications annually. Since 2008, BDT has worked with the city on a program, called BenePhilly, to help residents access government benefits like the earned income tax credit. It was great work, getting people extra dollars they dont know about, said Allan Domb, who advocated for the program when he was in City Council. Every dollar we invested in Benefits Data Trust, I think the return was $10 to $12 of benefits back to our people. The Parker administration did not reply to an e-mailed request for details on how much the city pays BDT to help Philadelphians secure government benefits. The attending physicians at ChristianaCare voted to form a union in a weeklong election. Read more Physicians at Delawares largest health system voted to unionize, becoming the first group of post-training doctors to do so at a Philadelphia-area hospital. Over 400 physicians at ChristianaCare voted in the weeklong election administered by the National Labor Relations Board. The ballot asked if the physicians wished to be represented by Doctors Council, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, for the purposes of collective bargaining. Nearly 70% approved creating the union. Advertisement The new union will represent nearly 500 doctors, making it the largest U.S. union of attending physicians in the private sector, Doctors Council said. The ballots were tallied Thursday night in a conference room at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del. There, Bryan Haimes, a ChristianaCare physician, and fellow organizers listened to the vote count as they waited for the number of yes ballots to cross the 50% mark. Once we hit 251, we let out a big cheer, Haimes said. READ MORE: ChristianaCare abruptly replaced its physician groups president and chief medical officer Physicians at ChristianaCare said their desire to unionize reflects frustration with the load of administrative tasks they are required to carry out, which erodes the time they can spend with patients. ChristianaCare respects the rights of physicians to choose whether or not they want to be represented by a union, the system said in a statement. As always, our focus remains on our mission of serving our neighbors, it said. The doctors are the first health-care workers to form a union in ChristianaCares 136-year history. In the period leading up to the union vote, the hospital had argued that a union would interfere in the relationship between managers and physicians. Administrators also warned that a union would make it harder for the health system to attract top talent in competitive specialties. Unionization wave The attending ChristianaCare physicians join the growing interest in unionization among doctors still training as residents and fellows, including at the University of Pennsylvania, where last years trainees formed Phillys largest new union in half a century. The trend is tied to a shift in how most doctors are employed. Three out of every four physicians in the U.S. owned the medical practices where they worked in the early 1980s, according to the American Medical Association. In 2022, an estimated 74% of practicing physicians in the U.S. were employed by hospitals, health systems, and other corporate entities a complete reversal from the rate of physicians who were self-employed just four decades ago. Advocates for physicians unions hope that by unionizing a large, private-sector health system, the ChristianaCare doctors will be a model for doctors in other hospitals. READ MORE: ChristianaCare doctors are riding the medicine unionization wave a year after Penn residents This historic win will pave the way for physicians around the country to organize to regain control of their practices and fight for their patients, Frances Quee, president of Doctors Council, said in a statement. As the news spread, Haimes received messages Thursday night from former medical school and residency classmates now working elsewhere. He wants the ChristianaCare physicians union to set a standard for patient safety and the well-being of their physicians when they negotiate in their first contract. Today, we celebrate, Haimes said. Tomorrow, we get back to work on how can we make this union to be as meaningful as possible. Its never too late to start lifting weights and now there are more signs it can provide enduring health benefits for older people. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that regularly lifting weights for a year in your mid-60s can preserve the strength of your leg muscles for years to come. Here are the key findings: Advertisement Retirement-age people who underwent a 12-month weight lifting training regimen had noticeably stronger leg muscles three years after finishing the program than those who did more moderate strengthening exercises or none at all, the study found. The weight lifting training group visited a commercial gym three times a week for a year and repeatedly lifted what was considered a heavy load: 70 to 85 percent of the maximum weight a person can physically lift at one time. Although the supervised program lasted only a year, scientists followed up three years later. Individuals in the "heavy" weight lifting cohort were the only participants to have maintained, on average, the leg strength they had before they began the training program. Notably, leg strength is a critical indicator of wider health and mobility among older people. The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that weightlifting can help older people stave off frailty and stay healthy as they age. Leg strength is really important, Mads Bloch-Ibenfeldt, a medical researcher at the University of Copenhagen who co-wrote the study, said in a phone interview Wednesday. We use the legs in a lot of everyday tasks, like getting up and down from a chair. So its important for reducing the risk of falls, and for a lot of everyday tasks we do. The weight lifting workout As part of the study, scientists at a university hospital in Copenhagen divided 451 people at retirement age into three randomized groups, each tasked with completing a different one-year exercise regimen. The "heavy" weight lifting training group visited a commercial gym three times a week for a supervised program of full-body strength training. Participants determined the most weight they could lift at one time using typical weight machines found in gyms. Then they calculated 70 to 85% of their one-rep maximum and used that weight in their training. So if the most they could lift at one time was 100 pounds, they used 70- to 85-pound weights in their training. They trained 3 times a week, doing three sets of every exercise. Each set included 6 to 12 repetitions. The routine included a mixture of nine upper and lower body exercises: leg press, knee extension, leg curl, ankle plantar flexion exercises, hip abduction, low rowing, chest press, abdominal crunches, and lower back exercises. Although the scientists described the regimen as heavy weight lifting compared to two other groups in the study, the weight training program may be similar to many standard weight training routines. Heavy weight training vs. moderate resistance The second group underwent a year-long moderate intensity training regimen using body weight and resistance bands three times a week. The resistance bands were less challenging than the heavy groups weights about 50 to 60% of the maximum weight a person can lift at one time. The third cohort was a control group who did less than one hour of strenuous exercise a week. Over four years, scientists observed participants physical strength, including leg strength, handgrip strength, and lean leg mass. Researchers measured participants strength at the beginning of the supervised 12-month training regimen, then again after it ended. They followed up again one year after it finished, and three years after it ended. After three years, researchers noted that a small minority of exercise participants had continued with the same program of their own accord, yet the benefits of the heavy training workout were maintained. We found that if you did one year of resistance training with heavy weights, you were able to maintain the strength in your legs that you had when you began the study, Bloch-Ibenfeldt said. The other groups were found to have lost strength from their baselines. Four years after the start of the study, leg strength performance decreased on average among those in the moderate intensity training cohort and the non-exercising control group although more significantly among the latter. Those who did the moderate program initially benefited from increased leg strength at the end of the one-year regimen, but those benefits did not endure: After four years, their strength was less than it had been at baseline. The scientists observed that all three groups, including those lifting the heaviest weights, exhibited diminished handgrip strength and a lower lean leg mass after four years. But the fact that the heavy lifting group had maintained their baseline leg strength while losing lean leg mass was notable, the authors observed, underscoring some of the potential neuromuscular benefits of weight training beyond building muscle. Neural adaptations influence the response to resistance training, they wrote. In conclusion, we showed that in a group of well-functioning older adults around retirement age, one year of (heavy resistance training) may induce long-lasting beneficial effects by preserving muscle function. At the end of the study, the average age of the 369 remaining participants was 71 years old and included 61% women. The researchers noted that the participants were likely to be healthier and more active than the average aging population, given that they averaged almost 10,000 daily steps as a sample group. They noted that this group was not necessarily a representative sample of the wider population. Also, the one-year training regimen, was supervised, with peoples technique and load monitored and adjusted, meaning it might be difficult for people to replicate on their own. Why leg strength matters as we age According to research by the National Institute on Aging, age-related loss of muscle mass and strength known as sarcopenia is a significant contributor to limited mobility in older age, which in turn can threaten a persons physical independence. Older people with limited mobility can have difficulty walking, ascending stairs, and getting out of chairs. Leg strength in particular which is crucial for balance and mobility is associated with better health outcomes for older adults. Research suggests that people older than 50 with lower levels of leg power are more likely to also experience chronic health conditions, although more research is needed. Federal guidelines suggest adults older than 65 should do muscle-strengthening activities every week, as well as regular aerobic activity and exercises to improve balance. In addition to aerobic activity, older adults need to do things to strengthen muscles at least 2 days a week. Do muscle-strengthening activities to the point where its hard to do another repetition without help, the Centers for Disease Control guidance states. According to the CDC, this could include lifting weights, working with resistance bands, or doing body-weight activities like sit-ups. Mighty Bags come filled with an assortment of toys and coloring books. Read more Mighty Writers, the nonprofit that promotes literacy among children, has locations in Philadelphia, Kennett Square, Camden, Atlantic City, Newark, and now, slowly, El Paso, Texas. In many ways, the program is primed for the expansion at the border. It already works with undocumented and bilingual populations and understands that while the mission is centered on writing, its about more than that. Advertisement You cant teach kids writing if theres chaos at home, or if theyre hungry, or if their families are having great challenges, said executive director Tim Whitaker. The underlying philosophy that acknowledges children are less likely to be able to focus on writing if theyve got other stressors applies at the Southern border as well, except there, a Mighty Writers staffer is usually seeing them at the tail end of a harrowing journey. Many have traveled the jungles and violence of the Darien Gap or made yearslong stops in other Latin American countries before heading to Mexico. The families at the shelter Casa del Sagrado Corazon are asylum seekers, passing through for a week or so before they board a bus to other parts of the country, like Chicago. Sara Dickens-Trillo, who helped found the Mighty Writers Kennett Square location and is an El Paso native, returned to the area about a year ago. News of a migrant surge at the border dominated the news. Since the fall, Dickens-Trillo has distributed bags of candy, colored pencils, coloring books, puzzles, stuffed animals, jacks, jump ropes, and other games popular in Latin America to children who, in some cases, have been on the move for years. She has dropped off 50 Mighty Bags of goodies every two months. Though shes the only Mighty Writers staffer in El Paso right now, shes hoping to connect with more local businesses and organizations to help stock the drawstring bags and make more frequent drop-offs. Its very important to give them that support of having something with them, to relax them, to have fun, to take their mind off for what is going to happen because, by the time theyre established [at the shelter], its gonna be a different, new journey, said Dickens-Trillo. Still, even with Dickens-Trillos experience working with immigrant populations, shes had to tweak her approach in El Paso. Initially, the bags included books that were all about the United States. The thinking being the photos and names of major cities could be a good primer for children in their new chapter. But kids were not really connecting with the material, said Dickens-Trillo. Mighty Writers does not keep detailed data on the families they serve at the border to avoid scaring them away, but Dickens-Trillo says most children taking part in the program range from 5 to 10 years old. Most of the children receiving Mighty Bags have been from Venezuela, though some children have been away from their birthplace for so long, they see their home country as someplace else entirely. Dickens-Trillo has also partnered with the nearby Canutillo Independent School District and started offering literacy workshops in five elementary schools. The partnership is possible through federal funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and managed by the state of Texas. Whats more, with a $500,000 grant from Spring Point Partners, a self-described social impact organization based in Philly, Mighty Writers intends to expand programming in their South Philadelphia location and El Paso. The plan is to add complementary staff in El Paso and find a center where kids can go every day, said Whitaker. TikTok tradwife Nara Smith made her own DIY sunscreen from scratch. Experts say it's concerning. Read more Nara Smith, the TikToker best known for her tradwife lifestyle videos where she makes elaborate recipes from scratch, has enraged a new subset of viewers: dermatologists. The model and content creator is known to raise an eyebrow or two when she makes her own Cinnamon Toast Crunch for her kids or boils fresh bagels for her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, in elaborate outfits. Still, the content creator has found success, with more than 8 million TikTok followers and a devoted base of both fans and hate watchers. Advertisement But in a post on Wednesday, Smith pivoted from making homemade lollipops or boba tea to sunscreen. And people are heated. Heres what went down. What happened in the video? Weve been spending a lot of time outside by the pool and I realized that we ran out of sunscreen, Nara says in a voiceover while her husband stands in front of a butcher block with a metal bowl in front of him. I asked Lucky to make me some. The TikTok, which was viewed more than 13 million times in less than 24 hours, shows the couple combining coconut oil, shea butter, zinc oxide powder, and other ingredients before refrigerating the white concoction in a jar. Smith ends the video by saying, It went on so smooth and didnt leave a white cast, while cutting the segment before showing the sunscreen on anyones skin. Who is Nara Smith? Nara Smith, 22, is a popular lifestyle blogger and TikToker living in Dallas. Her social media presence took off around late 2023 as the tradwife movement, highlighting women who embrace traditional homemaker roles, picked up steam. Shes best known for her DIY videos, where shell make intricate scratch-made recipes for her husband and children, ranging from bubblegum to toothpaste. Advertisement She was born in South Africa, raised in Germany, and later moved to California to pursue her modeling career. She is married to Lucky Blue Smith, who is Mormon a sticking point in rumors where viewers have raised concerns over Smiths level of autonomy and if shes pushing Morman propaganda. Smith has addressed those concerns in past videos, saying that cooking is her love language and is still exploring her own relationship with religion. She is also known for her high-fashion outfits and her childrens eccentric names: Rumble Honey, Slim Easy, and Whimsy Lou How was the homemade sunscreen TikTok received? The video was viewed with mixed reactions, with most viewers suggesting the Smiths had taken things too far. Homemade sunscreen is wild, said several comments. Still, at one point skincare company Kiehls weighed in, commenting we love to see it. Following several comments pushing back on Kiehls, suggesting the TikTok was potentially dangerous, the brand appeared to delete its comment but hasnt commented publicly. Kiehls couldnt be reached for comment. Whats wrong with DIY sunscreens? The homemade sunscreen TikTok has been stitched dozens of times by dermatologists and other health-care professionals on the platform. Every sunscreen on the market undergoes rigorous testing and thats to make sure its actually protecting you from UV rays and most importantly its stopping you from burning, said Aamna Adel, a London-based dermatologist, in a response on TikTok. Adel added that making a DIY sunscreen means consumers have no idea how much protection the product is providing. Advertisement Other dermatologists have also weighed in, saying that there wouldnt be a way to ensure the homemade products efficacy meets the same standards as FDA-approved sunscreens on the market. The concerns come amid recent extreme heat, including in Philadelphia, and a time where skin cancer the most common cancer in the country remains on the rise, with one in five Americans being diagnosed in their lifetime. READ MORE: Philadelphia heat wave guide: How to stay cool, safety, pools, and more A survey this year from the American Academy of Dermatology found that nearly 30% of adults ages 18 to 26 are more concerned about their tan than preventing skin cancer. Advertisement Still, Smiths video is the latest in a rising trend of wellness influencers driving consumers away from Western medicine and toward holistic alternatives instead. Medical experts caution against allowing TikTokers to drive important personal health decisions. READ MORE: A wellness coach claims she can fix peoples vision. An anti-misinformation TikToker isnt having it. What sunscreen should I use instead? There are tons of different sunscreens on the market depending on usage needs. Dermatologists recommend purchasing one that contains a minimum of SPF 30, contains broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, and is water resistant. Jabrial Terry is facing over a dozen charges for a crash that killed his girlfriend and her child last month. Read more A Philadelphia man has been charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, and related crimes in connection with a two-car crash that killed his girlfriend and her baby, Montgomery County authorities said Thursday. Jabrial Terry, 27, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Tuesday, more than a month after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Advertisement Police say that Terry was speeding down Skippack Pike in Whitemarsh Township on the evening of May 4 when his vehicle swerved off the road into a drainage ditch, before overcorrecting, crossing into oncoming traffic, and hitting another car head-on. The crash killed his girlfriend, Nya Janae Stokes, 24, who was nine months pregnant. She was rushed to the hospital, where her baby was delivered by emergency cesarean, but died five days later from injuries sustained in the collision. Neither Terry nor Stokes was wearing a seat belt, authorities said. At the time of the crash, authorities said, Terry was under the influence of drugs. A blood test showed he had benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, fentanyl, and oxycodone in his system, according to police. The officer who responded to the crash scene said he smelled burnt marijuana in the vehicle and that Terry was slurring his speech. Police say they found marijuana when they searched the car. Police also say that when they searched Terry they found several types of pills including oxycodone and Xanax when they searched him at the hospital. Terrys vehicle was not insured or registered, authorities said, and the vehicle identification and license plate numbers had been illegally altered. As a consequence he was charged with numerous misdemeanor and summary offenses. His lawyer, public defender James Lyons, could not immediately be reached for comment. Regina Jones Stanley had been planning for weeks to host a big graduation party for her daughter, Isya, who finished her senior year at Freire Charter School in early June. Within days, she found herself planning a funeral, instead. A week that started with joy ended in tragedy when the 17-year-old was shot and killed at a party she was attending with her boyfriend in Fairmount Park. Four other teens an 18-year-old girl, a 14-year-old boy, and two 15-year-old boys were shot and wounded that night in a barrage of gunfire that interrupted a large outdoor gathering on June 14. Advertisement Police said a crowd of about 100 juveniles was gathered in the park along Greenland Avenue near 33rd Street and Ridge Avenue when the shots rang out about 10:50 p.m. Stanley, who was shot in the chest and shoulder, was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital about 20 minutes later. The motive for the crime was unclear, police said, and no arrests have been made. The investigation is continuing. Stanley was the ninth person under 18 to be killed by gunfire in Philadelphia this year, among 110 people who have lost their lives to bullets so far in 2024, according to data from the city controllers office. And even as homicides have dropped almost 40% across the city, the toll of the losses is profound. That was my girl, she was my world. ... Thats my baby and I love her dearly, Jones Stanley said. She remembered the graduation party her family had held for the teen only a day earlier, after they packed 16 people into the front two rows of the Dell Music Center to celebrate her graduation. Stanley practically danced across the stage, her mother said, with her signature red hair framing a beaming smile. Afterward, they hosted loved ones in their Cobbs Creek home, where a photographer recorded messages from friends and family congratulating Stanley and wishing her well in college a dream that was not to be. Now, Stanleys parents are hoping that police will find and arrest the person who killed her. I got to get justice for my baby girl. Have to, said Stanleys father, I-Self. Im not going to sleep well until I do. Thats my only daughter, and Im heartbroken. At the Stanleys house on a recent day, grief was mixed with the remnants of the graduation celebration. A congratulatory banner hung next to the front steps. Inside, dozens of photos chronicling her too-short life lined the counter, and her high school diploma was prominently displayed on the mantle. Stanleys parents recalled their daughter as outgoing, friendly, and precocious. She launched her own clothing line, Medallion Apparel, at 14, after teaching herself graphic design. She planned to attend Morgan State University in Baltimore, where she hoped to study business and entrepreneurship. Her gregarious personality would have been a credit to that work, her parents said. Stanley thrived around others. She was the life of the party, said Demetria Wright, her academic adviser at Freire, an assessment her mother echoed. At Freire, Stanley was a founding member of the dance team, where she helped teach younger kids, made dance TikToks, and took center stage on the dance floor at their prom. She hadnt always been so outgoing, her mother said, and as a child was quite shy. Jones Stanley credited the years Stanley spent learning to box at James Shuler Memorial Gym, where she learned self-defense, for making her the confident teenager she had become. For Wright, the moment that captured Stanleys personality was in April, when the school brought in World Cafe Live, the West Philly music venue, to run a music education workshop. When they asked for volunteers to help make a beat and rap over it, Stanleys hand shot up in the air. She dove into composing the beat, fingers dancing over the keyboard as she leaned in to focus and her classmates danced behind her. When it came time to perform, Stanley danced and rapped as she bounced around the classroom in her camo pants and furry black boots, a wide smile on her face. Thats my favorite memory of her because shes just so into it. She got everybody else into it, said Wright, who started filming as soon as Stanley hit the keyboard. It was really a fun moment, and Im so grateful that I was able to capture that. Staff writer Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this article. Wawa employees and volunteers work fast to make the thousands of hoagie for distribution during the 2024 Wawa Welcome America Hoagie Day. Read more Tired: Buying a six-inch hoagie inside a nice, air-conditioned Wawa. Wired: Lining up in the heat for hours to receive a free Wawa Shortie because well its Philly. Advertisement Hundreds of hungry tourists, patient Philadelphians, and passersby hoping for a free lunch lined up on Arch Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets Thursday morning for Wawa Hoagie Day, or when the beloved local convenience store chain hands out thousands of free hoagies on a first-come, first-serve basis. The tradition dates back to 1992 when then-Mayor Ed Rendell declared Wawa Hoagie Day a city holiday. This year, the chain donated food to several veteran centers and the Philabundance food bank. Participants got to munch on their sandwiches while listening to stylings of Voices of Service, a military quartet that recently competed on Americas Got Talent. READ MORE: From 2018: How the giant free hoagie from Wawa Hoagie Day gets made Hundreds of Wawa employees headed to the National Constitution Center at 4:30 a.m. Thursday to hand assemble 25,000 Shorties or around 7 tons of sandwich Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens told the crowd while flanked by a hoagie mascot with a big smile and kind, sewn-on eyes. Charles McGee, of Somerdale, N.J., was the first person to receive a sandwich, swag bag, and Tastykake when the handouts started at noon. A retiree and longtime volunteer with Philabundance, McGee lined up at 10 a.m. after finishing a shift with the food bank. To pass the time, McGee said he doled out life advice to the people who waited beside him, whom he now considered friends. McGees go-to order: An Italian hoagie with lettuce, tomato, and absolutely no oil. Heres to hoping thats what he got. See photos of Wawa Hoagie Day, from how the sandwiches get made to the first bite. After President Joe Biden's performance in Thursday night's debate, the most patriotic thing he could do right now is withdraw from the race, Jonathan Zimmerman writes. Read more There was one true patriot on the stage Thursday night, and it wasnt Donald Trump. Reprising his 2016 inaugural address, where he warned of an American carnage, Trump painted the country in relentlessly dark and gloomy colors. We are weak, scared, and angry. We are threatened by evil forces, within and without. We are, Trump said repeatedly, a third-world nation. Advertisement President Joe Biden wasnt having it. We are the most admired country in the world, Biden replied. We are the United States of America. Theres nothing beyond our capacity. Hes right. But as anyone who watched the debate could see, Bidens own capacities seem greatly diminished. The most patriotic thing he could do right now is withdraw from the race. I say that with an enormously heavy heart. Biden steadied America after the last election, which Trump attempted to overthrow. The country faced a huge stress test, and Joe Biden helped us pass it. But now were facing a second test, and Biden doesnt appear to be up to it. Yes, he has looked and sounded more fit in recent interviews, but to many Americans that wont matter. When millions of voters were watching him last night, he seemed like a very old man who has no business running for office again. At no point in Thursdays debate did Biden state directly that Trump had sought to overturn the last election. And Trump would do that again, of course, if the vote goes against him. Trump evaded the question of whether hed accept defeat in 2024, which means just one thing: he wont. We survived that debacle four years ago, thanks to the steady hand of Joe Biden. But that hand indeed, Bidens entire being looks like it has grown much shakier since then, as we all saw on Thursday night. So this time, we need someone else at the helm. And I dont care who it is. Kamala Harris? Gretchen Whitmer? Gavin Newsom? Pennsylvanias own Josh Shapiro? Take your pick. All that matters is defeating Trump, and most of all preserving the republic when he tries to overthrow it again. And he will. All of Trumps lies, fantasies, and conspiracy theories were on rich display during the debate. Rioters on Jan. 6, 2021 were ushered into the Capitol by police. (They werent.) Nancy Pelosi was offered National Guard troops to contain the riot, and she refused them. (She didnt.) Trump had the best environmental numbers ever. And so on. The best. The greatest. Were used to that, of course. Trump was just being Trump: bombastic, hyperbolic, and completely self-centered. Its always always about him. When the moderators asked him about the opioid crisis, Trump said we were getting very low numbers before the COVID came along. That too, was a lie overdose deaths were at a record high before COVID, and kept rising after it but it was also right on brand. Trump even went on to brag about his administrations great equipment for detecting smuggled drugs, and a certain dog that did the same. Thats the most incredible thing youve ever seen, the way they can spot it. Its not about the millions of Americans who have suffered from opioids. Its about Donald Trump: his numbers, his equipment, even his dog. (And Trump hates dogs.) Joe Biden, by contrast, is an empathetic human being. He suffered the deaths of his first wife, their daughter, and his son Beau. And he has watched his other son, Hunter, descend into addiction. He knows first-hand about the deep pain that life can bring. And he feels for other people who experience it. A little of that, but not much, came through during the debate. Biden spoke about the struggles of Americans who cant afford child care. And when Trump was asked about the subject, he simply ignored it and yes turned the question back to himself. I will be the best, he said. But heres the point: Biden didnt call him out on that, or insist that Trump say what hed actually do to help needy families. Nor did Biden have any riposte when Trump flayed him for not firing enough people. A more agile Biden would have said: I actually care about the people who work for me. I dont fire them; I try to make them better. Joe Biden has made all of us better, through his service and his example. Now we need one more favor from him. Joe Biden has made all of us better, through his service and his example. Now we need one more favor from him, and the hardest one of all: to step aside, and let someone else run in his place. Safe travels, Mr. President. And thanks for everything. Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of Free Speech and Why You Should Give a Damn (with illustrations by cartoonist Signe Wilkinson) and eight other books. Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, at the new exhibit at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York. Segal was present at the bar during a 1969 police raid that became a catalyzing moment in the LGBTQ rights movement. Read more At 73, Mark Segal has seen some things. When he was 18 and newly graduated from Germantown High School, he went to a popular gay dive bar on Christopher Street in New York Citys Greenwich Village. Segal was in the back grooving along with a couple hundred people to Let the Sunshine In by the Fifth Dimension when suddenly the overhead lights blinked on and off, signaling yet another police raid. Advertisement Cops burst inside and smashed up the bar, throwing bottles around. My first thought was, Oh my God, I had better call the police, Segal recalled. But it was the police who were doing it. It was June 28, 1969. The establishment was the Stonewall Inn. At the time, same-sex relations were illegal in every state but Illinois, and cops often raided and shut down hangouts like Stonewall, arresting patrons. But what happened that night in the Village was no ordinary raid. There are differing accounts, but at some point, patrons began resisting arrest, and fought back against the police. A riot ensued. The mob forced the police to retreat into the Stonewall Inn, where they barricaded themselves inside. Finally, at 4 a.m., the scene quieted. But it was not over. Before Segal went back to the YMCA where he was staying, a friend of his, Marty Robinson, handed Segal a box of chalk and told him to write on walls and sidewalks: tomorrow night Stonewall. It was a signal to the citys gay community that what had happened that night was not over. Over the next six days, members of the LGBTQ community, along with Village residents, returned to Stonewall, organizing and spreading information and, in the process, helping to kick off the modern gay rights movement. Segal didnt realize it back then, but that night was a turning point in LGBTQ history. It also launched his own life of activism. These days, Segal is 73, happily married to the man of his dreams, and the publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News, an award-winning weekly paper based in South Philly. For years, his memories of what happened at Stonewall, which President Barack Obama declared a national monument in 2016, were in his rearview mirror. Then, two years ago, Diana Rodriguez, cofounder and CEO of Pride Live, a nonprofit dedicated to LGBTQ advocacy that secured a lease to the Stonewall Inn site, began asking him questions about what happened all of those years ago. She wound up inviting him to help curate the history for the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center that opened June 28. Segal provides a firsthand account of history, Rodriguez told me. He tells the story of how he came up with however much money he had in his pocket and how he took the subway here to the Village, looking for community, looking for people who were like him. Saying Segal is honored to be a part of the new Stonewall memorial would be a gross understatement. For the LGBTQ community, this is hallowed ground, just like the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall is for anybody who feels patriotism towards the United States, he said. If youre going to look at the gay movement and pay homage, youre going to Stonewall. For the LGBTQ community, this is hallowed ground. Id never been. So, when he invited me to New York City to check out the visitor center before it officially opened to the public, I jumped at the opportunity. Its one thing to read about what happened 55 years ago, but its a whole other thing to be at the site where it all began with an actual eyewitness. Besides, Im a huge fan of Segals and the work that hes done with the Philadelphia Gay News over the years. Im thrilled to see him get this kind of national recognition. READ MORE: In your presence, I feel like I can breathe I arrived not fully understanding that the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher St. is actually a private business thats still in operation. The Stonewall Visitor Center, located immediately next door at 51 Christopher St., is bright, airy, and inviting. As I walked through the main entrance, the first thing I saw to my left was a huge wall covered with information about the Stonewall uprising and the Stonewall Inn. I took in the words, Here we weave the collective story of a night that created the birth and spirit of a new LGBTQ+ movement. I read brief recollections about what happened and various quotations from participants such as Storme DeLarverie, who is described as a butch lesbian who scuffled with police outside. According to the visitors center, DeLarverie described what happened as a rebellion, it was an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience it wasnt no damn riot. At one point, Segal posed for photos in front of a now bricked-over doorway, through which he had entered into the bar that fateful night. Theres even a 1967-era jukebox loaded with songs from back then. Together, Segal and I walked to where the dance floor had been, and where hed been enjoying himself only moments before cops burst onto the scene. In that moment, the ensuing decades drifted away. I could imagine the young, idealistic man with the longish brown hair whod been swaying to the music, not realizing all that was about to happen both to him and the LGBTQ community. Lets all hope that Stonewall and the new visitor center serve as a permanent reminder to America of the importance of one day truly living up to the ideals upon which our nation was founded. A screen plays the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump at the Biden campaign's Roxborough office on Thursday night. Read more Thirty minutes into the debate Thursday night, some Democrats in Pennsylvania were already panicking over President Joe Bidens debate performance against former President Donald Trump. One Democratic consultant got a text from an operative asking her what the rules would be to nominate Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to replace Biden at the convention in Chicago in August. (Biden would have to decline the nomination to jump-start that highly theoretical process). Advertisement A prominent Biden fundraiser called it across-the-board shock, surprise, disappointment. Others were quieting the alarm, noting that debates generally arent game-changers. Chill the f out, Sen. John Fetterman, who had a bad debate performance following his stroke in 2022 that caused Democrats to question his ability to win or serve in office, posted on X. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. And Shapiro, for his part, appeared Friday morning on both MSNBC and CNN to defend Biden. Ill be the first to admit that that was not a good look in that debate last night but it doesnt change the fact that there are stark competing differences in this race, he said on CNN. Asked in the CNN interview if Biden is the Democrats best option, Shapiro said: Joe Biden earned the votes of primary voters and he is our nominee. The election is still five months away, and while CNN polling found most viewers thought Trump won the debate, 80% of viewers also told the network the debate would have no effect on their vote in November. Still, its a missed opportunity for Biden, who was hoping to move the needle in a race that has remained static. In Pennsylvania, where the race has remained tied, Biden has lost some key parts of the constituency that elected him in 2020. He won by a little more than one percentage point in the state that has been narrowly decided the last two presidential election cycles. Even a small shift away from Biden could sway the outcome and could hurt Pennsylvania Democrats running down-ballot, including Sen. Bob Casey. A disaster Plenty of Pennsylvania Democrats were putting on their best faces Friday and repeating campaign talking points, urging people to focus on substance over speech and noting that Trumps lies and policies are far more dangerous. But others were worrying about whether Biden is up to the rigors of a high-stakes campaign and second term. A disaster and very sad, was how longtime Democratic ad maker Neil Oxman described Bidens performance. Oxman was unsurprised to see the party establishment defending the president. But he wonders if there will be cracks in the ranks in a week or two, when the next battleground state polls come out. Even though he was obviously not good, its premature until you see the chest X-ray, Oxman said. The poll numbers may not have changed one whit. Im telling friends and other donors to take a deep breath, Biden fundraiser Alan Kessler said. Let things develop. It wasnt like the other guy distinguished himself last night. Lets wait 10 days see what polls are telling us at that point and decide where we go from there. In the meantime, its not the worst idea for people who want to have discussions, to have those discussions. Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) acknowledged, he didnt sound like his normal self, but said Biden even at his worst would be 1,000 times better for the future of this nation than another Trump presidency. Several other high-profile fundraisers, party operatives, and Democratic lawmakers told The Inquirer that they are concerned, with one high-ranking state Democratic official advocating that Shapiro become the partys nominee. Were all Joe Biden fans. But the alternative is too scary to contemplate, the lawmaker said. Another elected Philadelphia Democrat, who requested anonymity to speak freely, questioned Bidens team putting him up for a debate at all. He should have never been on stage. Casey and Bidenworld backlash Several Democrats also worried about the impact the debate could have on Casey, a close Biden ally up for reelection in November. Casey, who is often an outspoken Biden surrogate, had not weighed in on the debate by midday Friday. His GOP opponent Dave McCormick quickly used Bidens debate performance to highlight Caseys closeness with the president. Just a few months ago, Bob Casey said there was no question [Biden] is prepared to do this job today and would be were he re-elected, the McCormick campaign sent out in a release. Asked for comment on the debate, Caseys campaign responded with a statement that bashed McCormick but made no mention of Biden or the debate. Before the debate, the Biden campaign had planned a response event outside the state Capitol on Friday morning, but canceled it shortly before it was scheduled to begin. A campaign spokesperson said it was canceled because of a conflict with House session. Inside the Biden campaign, the mood was disappointed but not fatalistic. One staffer said the biggest fear was Trump would come across as measured and normal, which he didnt. Trump lied throughout the debate and his non-answers on whether he condemned the Jan. 6, 2021 attack or would accept the results of the election were bad moments for him. The back and forth about golf skills also struck the staffer as a bad moment for Trump. It was so weird and just showed, youre also old. And Biden pressed on Friday. At a campaign rally in Raleigh, N.C., a much more energized and eloquent Biden, using a teleprompter, told a crowd he intended to win the election and slammed Trumps performance. I know Im not a young man. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to... I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. Sean Coit, a Pennsylvania-based Democratic consultant not working with either presidential campaign, said there will be a lot of discussion among Democrats about exactly how much one debate mattered. The impact, he predicted, will also depend on how people consume it. Did they get the full brunt of it live or will they just see hand-picked soundbites? Trumps Pennsylvania supporters, meanwhile, celebrated his more restrained debate performance. President Trump showed energy and remained focused on two issues: the open border and comparing their two records on the economy and the wars around the world, GOP consultant Guy Ciarrocchi said. And, he was disciplined especially by 2020 standards. Voter worries and celebrations Voters who gathered to watch the debates also seemed to agree it was a tough night for the president. At a Biden campaign watch party Thursday in Harrisburg, the crowd groaned when Biden botched an early answer and started to thin about an hour into the 90-minute debate. Several supporters said they were worried that Bidens verbal gaffes and some incoherent sentences he has a stutter would be mistaken for cognitive decline. Regardless of Bidens individual performance, he actually knows whats going on and can do the job, unlike his opponent, said Antonio Megna, 28, of Mechanicsburg. Meanwhile, the mood at Black Sheep Pub, where the Philadelphia Young Republicans gathered for a watch party, was celebratory as attendees laughed and clapped for Trump and mocked Biden. Biden was who I thought he was, which is a senile old man, said Paul Sutton, 35, of Manayunk. Matt Lamorgese, 31, of Rittenhouse Square, thought Biden stuck too closely to his rehearsed talking points. I dont think he had the ability to pivot, Lamorgese said. And I think you saw that in his rebuttals. Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this report. President Biden attends the first presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta on Thursday. In Philadelphia, young voters texted friends as they watched, dark humor lacing their conversations. Read more As soon as President Joe Biden opened his mouth Thursday night, We were all like f, said Necati Aslan, 22, the president of the Drexel Democrats. Tension and panic filled the air at the groups watch party, with Bidens voice sounding more hoarse, and older, than usual. Advertisement Aslans voice was hoarse as well on Friday morning, from yelling at the screen. In Aslans eyes, the president was just sick. But other members of the group argued that Bidens performance is a sign that hes too old to run. As the young Democrats watched the debate on a projection screen in a room on campus, they glanced down at buzzing phones. The texts about Bidens age just kept coming. It was all negative, Aslan said. It was all about age, and all from Democrats. We did not get any positive texts. It was all people panicking about the debate. Both candidates are hoping to reach young voters, who helped elect Biden in 2020 though not as much as older Americans who continue to show up on Election Day in bigger numbers. While polling has shown younger voters favoring Biden over Trump, the presidents support has slipped as some Gen Z voters turn on him over their concern for the death toll in Gaza and other issues. After thousands of voters showed their distaste for Bidens support of Israel through protest votes during the primaries, fears linger over how strong turnout will be in November. For those young people who watched the first debate of the 2024 election, whether at home, at watch parties, or over dinner with friends, the group chat was the place to be. For Gen Z, the real debate was happening online. READ MORE: Some young Pa. voters cant bring themselves to vote for Biden this year over the war in Gaza A puppet show Whos watching the presidential puppet show rn, Maddy Kessler, 22, who recently graduated from Bryn Mawr College, texted her friends, along with a circus tent emoji. I think Biden is someone in a mask cus hes moving f weird as hell, she wrote in a second message. They shouldve let RFK debate it wouldve been way more interesting, she added. Her friend Chris, a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fan, responded that hes watching therealdebate.com, which directed to a stream hosted by RFK on Rumble, a YouTube alternative. RFKs stream has like 1.5 mil watchers, her friend wrote. Still, Kessler, who was a pro-Palestine activist on campus, said she and her other friends feel like they have no choice but to vote for Biden, even though they have significant concerns about his age, health, and ability to form coherent sentences. Lourdes Cardamone, president of Temple University Democrats, also spent her evening frustrated and texting. God save us, one friend in her group chat texted midway through the debate. The thread continued, darkly. guys, this isnt real, another friend wrote. i am heartbroken that these men are the options The debate chat ended with a simple question: How is this a real presidential debate. That was after Trump told America, again, that he didnt have sex with a porn star. Cardamone went to bed feeling pessimistic about the nations future. When we vote, we are voting for our futures, for our rights, so we should walk away from the debate feeling enlightened and inspired by the candidates, ready to use our voices at the polls, she said in an interview Friday. Instead, many walked away laughing and frustrated. Despite this, she said she hopes people remember that Trump stepping into the White House would be detrimental to our country. Unzel Bukhari, 21, a Swarthmore College senior, watched the debate while eating salmon and rice in her friends apartment living room. Bukhari, who has voted for Democrats in the past, is disappointed in Bidens choice to provide weapons to Israel and plans to write in a protest vote in November. She and her friends felt pure outrage over some of what Biden and Trump said during the debate, particularly when Trump called Biden a Palestinian, in a derogatory way, she recalled Friday. That outrage, and jokes about the candidates, vibrated through her phone Thursday night. It was just a crazy thing to say she said. I remember right after that was said, I got like, four text messages being like, did you just say Biden is a Palestinian? Like, what does that even mean? Maya Halma, 21, a recent Temple University graduate and former president of the campus Democrats group, had a quieter night. She chose not to watch the debate. I already know who Im voting for and I know I would not enjoy having to listen to them argue, especially Trump, said the Philadelphia resident in a text message. Halma has known for months that she will unenthusiastically vote for Biden, but she wont campaign for him. Shes been trying to convince her friends who are on the fence to vote for him, too. But based on what she heard about the debate, shes concerned persuading them will be harder now. Bidens performance, she said, did more harm than good. Suncorp Group (Suncorp), the Australasian insurance giant, has welcomed the federal treasurers approval of the sale of Suncorp Bank to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ). The approval paves the way for finalising the transaction. The National Justice Project has intervened on behalf of those affected by the breach because it includes the personal and health records of vulnerable individuals living with a disability, said National Justice Project CEO George Newhouse, as reported by Cyber Daily. They may not have been provided with adequate support from HWL Ebsworth, NDIA, and other government departments and organisations to mitigate any harm arising from the breach. We are delighted to appoint Jaques to the board of Brit Re and believe welcoming an individual of his standing in the industry reflects our intent for Brit in Bermuda. We look forward to benefiting from his expertise and network, he said. Euclid Security has a proven track record in the security space, with a clearly defined scope to provide protection and underwriting expertise for niche risks, he said. This is a great opportunity to work with a best-in-class MGU, with unrivaled expertise, on a program led by an experienced and talented underwriting team. Our partnership reflects SiriusPoints sustained commitment to working with high caliber administrators with expert knowledge in their specialisms that align with SiriusPoints risk appetite. Michael LaBarre brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having spent four years at a cloud-based PEO catering to small and medium-sized enterprises, followed by two years in the business process outsourcing industry. His primary focus will be on strengthening partnerships with brokers, managing the PEO sales process, and ensuring top-tier service during renewals and ongoing engagements. Growth through giving back Beyond assisting property clients, Merris is also excited about giving back and recently served as a speaker series for Loyola University of Chicago, her alma mater. The series focused on risk management and insurance, and Meghans presentation centered on complex property as well as the various roles involved in preparing an insurance policy. She is passionate about sharing knowledge with the next generation entering the field, highlighting the diverse paths available in insurance, from technical roles to brokerage. Were privileged to expand our partnership with AXIS, a collaboration that underscores our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in cyber insurance, said Gordon Malin, co-founder and CEO at Elpha Secure. This transition is a testament to the strength of our relationship with AXIS, and we are excited to deliver superior protection and peace of mind to our collective customers. An employee at the Virginia Department of Health who was seriously injured when a vehicle crashed through the wall of her first floor office is not entitled to workers compensation benefits. The Virginia Workers Compensation Commission (WCC), in a 2-1 decision, affirmed the denial of benefits by a deputy commissioner because the employee did not suffer a compensable accident arising out of her employment. The claimant testified she was sitting at her desk at the time of the accident. Her desk faces the glass window overlooking the parking area but because her desk was positioned to the right and off the center of the window, she was unable to see the approaching vehicle and had no warning that the collision was about to take place. The employee argued that her injury arose out of her employment because she was performing work tasks at her desk in an office situated against the front of the building structure, directly in front of a bend in the roadway, which exposed her to an increased risk of the sort of injury she experienced. Her argument was to no avail. Her employer denied benefits and she appealed. A deputy commissioner upheld the denial and the WCC has affirmed. They rejected her argument that the incident arose out of her employment because of the increased risk of injury posed by the location of her employers work site, the specific location of her office, and her employers work policies. Two Cases They found that her reliance on two cases where employees were also injured in crashes Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co. v. Caudill (2015) and Green Hand Nursery, Inc. v. Loveless (2009) was misplaced, distinguishing the facts in both cases. In Loveless, the Court of Appeals of Virginia found additional circumstances that led to the conclusion that the claimants injury arose out of the employment. There, the claimant worked at a nursery on a road that had a 55 miles-per-hour speed limit. The claimant was occupied outside shutting off a series of sprinklers close to the road. She heard screeching tires, looked up, and saw a vehicle flying off the highway heading her way. She attempted to run to the tree line for safety, dodging potted plants on her way, but she was struck by the car when she was only one foot from the trees. The court found the origin of claimants injury resulted from a peculiar condition related to her employment. The court pointed to the factual findings that the claimant, in shutting off the sprinkler, was distracted from the vehicle speeding toward her. She did not look up until she heard screeching tires. The court also noted that the claimants escape was impeded by slippery weed mats and potted plants. Thus, the Loveless court concluded that in the instant case, claimants performance of her job . . . increased the risk of injury by diverting attention from the danger of the approaching vehicle. The facts of Caudill are similar to the current health department employees case. In Caudill, the claimants were sitting at their desks when their office building was struck by a vehicle. Their desks were attached to the wall on the side of the building next to a loosely defined parking area, with no designated parking spots or lines and no parking blocks or barriers between the parking area and the office building. About 50 to 100 vehicles drove through the area on a daily basis. Also there had been previous incidents in which a large delivery truck had rolled into the wall from the parking area, and another incident when a parked vehicle rolled into the building, cracking a few bricks. In Caudill, the Court of Appeals affirmed that the injuries arose out of the employment based upon the specific circumstances of their office location. The court pointed to several facts unique to the claimants workspace including the location, layout of, and traffic on employers property which the court found contributed to risk claimants faced when working at their desk station up against the brick facade of the office building, as required by employer. The deputy commissioner distinguished the current case from both Caudill and Loveless, finding that the health department employees arguments could apply to multiple employees located on the first floor in the same and nearby buildings in the complex where she worked. Furthermore, the evidence demonstrated that unlike the claimants in Caudill and Loveless, the area in which she was working was separated from the parking and driveway areas by a curb, a sidewalk, and a buffer zone of grass. There was also no evidence of prior, similar incidents in this area that would demonstrate tit was an area of increased risk for vehicular collisions. In short, the deputy found that the evidence did not show that her office was located in an area of heightened risk for a vehicular incursion or that, like the nursery worker in Loveless, conditions of her workplace interfered with her ability to escape the collision. The WCC seconded that conclusion. [W]e agree with the deputy commissioner the evidence fails to establish the claimants risk of injury by being struck by a vehicle was made more likely due to the configuration of the office park, the location of her office, or any other circumstances unique to the claimants work or workspace. Not all judges on the WCC agreed. A dissent by one judge argues that the WCC majority wrongly equated the actual risk doctrine applied in Virginia with the increased risk doctrine. The claimant established that the location of her desk near the outside wall of the building, facing a roadway which turned directly in front of it, and her inability to see an approaching vehicle, exposed her to the particular danger of being struck by a vehicle while working at her desk. Regardless of whether the record established the claimants risk of being struck by a vehicle was increased due to these workplace conditions, it did establish that these conditions were a contributing proximate cause of the claimants injury, the dissent states. According to the dissent, the evidence also showed that her location and workstation prevented any observation of an oncoming vehicle and precluded any anticipation of a route of escape, making her risk more dangerous and more obvious than that of the nursery worker in Loveless. Having little time to respond to harm is better than having no warning of it at all, the dissenting opinion added. The dissent further criticizes the majoritys conclusions that because the office was in an office park with other buildings, this somehow mitigated the risk, and that the grassy area, the sidewalk, and the curb were of such a character as to eliminate or limit the risk of a vehicle striking the building. These rested on speculation, not evidence, the dissent said. The WCC ruling is appealable to the Court of Appeals. Topics Auto Workers' Compensation Smith & Wesson, the gun manufacturer, must comply with a New Jersey subpoena seeking documents as officials investigate whether the company engaged in deceptive advertising, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday. The documents being sought include anything that suggests the concealed carry of a firearm enhances ones lifestyle, or says its safer to draw a gun to confront a perceived threat than to back away. The panel, in a 2-1 vote, rejected the gun-makers efforts to have a federal court quash the 2020 subpoena after a New Jersey court refused to do so. Litigants get one opportunity to make their arguments. Not two, Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court in Philadelphia wrote. The state is exploring whether Smith & Wesson, through misstatements or knowing omissions, misled consumers about the safety, benefits, effectiveness, and legality of its products, thereby violating its Consumer Fraud Act. The investigation which is civil, not criminal began under former New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and has continued under his successor, Matthew J. Platkin. Platkins office, in a statement, said the appeals court had rightly rejected Smith & Wessons attempts to undercut the state courts confirmation of New Jerseys right to investigate potential fraud and misconduct. Free Speech Smith & Wesson has argued that state officials are abusing their power by joining forces with Second Amendment foes and violating the companys free speech and other rights. The company did not immediately return messages seeking comment left with both a media contact and lawyer Courtney G. Saleski, who argued the case. Dissenting Judge Paul Matey, a President Donald Trump appointee, questioned the legitimacy of the states novel effort to pursue the gun-maker on consumer protection grounds. Victims of gun violence, including the mother of a 10-year-old killed in the Uvalde school shooting in Texas, similarly hope to hold gun-makers accountable by looking at whether they illegally market their weapons to juveniles. More than three years ago, Smith & Wesson asked a federal court to decide whether the novel decision by New Jerseys Attorney General to use a state consumer fraud law to investigate ads for ordinary guns and ammo treads on the freedoms recognized by the U.S. Constitution, Matey wrote in a stinging dissent. Today, and four opinions later, those questions remain unanswered. The states probe of Smith & Wesson comes as New Jersey pursues several avenues to tighten its already strict gun laws. Last summer, the same appeals court upheld a 2022 state law that allows the attorney general to bring public nuisance claims against gun-makers. In all, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has signed at least a dozen new measures aimed at curtailing gun violence, including one that orders new residents to register their firearm with police; one authorizing extreme risk protection orders for people deemed a risk to themselves or others; and a limit on magazine capacity from 15 to 10 rounds. David Pucino, legal director of the gun control think tank Giffords, called the latest decision an important procedural win for Platkins office and consumers and a loss for the gun industry. No industry should not be able to mislead or deceive consumers, especially when their personal safety is on the line, Pucino said. Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New Jersey In the months that followed its invasion of Ukraine and punitive Western restrictions imposed in response, Russia amassed a shadow fleet to ferry its oil around the world. Now there is growing evidence Moscow has begun to do the same for liquefied natural gas. Gas is key to the Kremlins plans to boost exports, replenish government coffers and fund its war machine but that requires a larger share of the global LNG market, now that the once-lucrative European pipeline trade has been almost cut off. To date, expansion plans have been hampered by US sanctions that have kept foreign companies away and stopped delivery of the specialized, ice-ready carriers that are vital to reach Arctic facilities. New European curbs coming in next year, limiting port access, will hinder the current supply chain even further. In the past three months, the ownership of at least eight vessels has been transferred to little known companies in Dubai, according to Equasis, a global shipping database. Four are ice-class and have already been granted approval from Moscow to sail through Russias Arctic waters this summer. While Bloomberg has not been able to directly connect the vessels back to major Russian entities, the details are strikingly similar to maneuvers to create the nations shadow oil fleet, including the use of opaque companies and of ships so old that they would normally have already been decommissioned. In the tight-knit LNG industry, several times smaller than the oil market, it is highly unusual for an unfamiliar name to procure specialized carriers that can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. At least three of the tankers also have their insurers listed as unknown on the International Maritime Organization database another characteristic of dark-fleet ships. There are several indications pointing to efforts by Russia to create a dark fleet for LNG, said Malte Humpert, founder of the Arctic Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The purchase of older carriers, the transfer of ice-class vessels to a Dubai entity and a record number of permits for the Northern Sea Route indicate the pieces of the dark fleet puzzle fall into place. The Russian government and Energy Ministry didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. The Asya Energy is one of the vessels that has raised red flags in the industry. In June, as Houthi militants escalated their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, it sailed north through the waterway unscathed becoming the first LNG carrier to cross through the hotspot since January. A 22-year-old vessel that sails under the flag of Palau, Asya Energy received its current name in May and, according to Equasis, is managed by Nur Global Shipping, a company unknown in the industry and operating out of the luxury Meydan Hotel, in a UAE free trade zone that has been criticized by officials for its lack of transparency. It has no known insurer. As of Thursday, the Asya Energy was heading into the Mediterranean, tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. It appeared to be unladen and signaled no specific destination. Nur, which according to its website entered the energy sector in 2022, has managed three other LNG carriers since April the Pioneer, New Energy and Mulan according to Equasis. All are owned by companies based at Nurs address. Two of those tankers insurers are listed as unknown, according to the IMO. Nur did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment. Four recently built ice-class vessels have separately had their ownership transferred to a company called White Fox Ship Management, also based in Dubai, according to Equasis data. Russia recently approved the ships North Air, North Mountain, North Sky and North Way for navigation in the Arctic this summer season. North Way is currently arriving at the Zeebrugge terminal in Belgium to receive a shipment of Russian gas, according to port data. White Fox has no formal office and operates from a desk shared with numerous firms, according to an official at the building where the company is registered. The person declined to provide further information, citing a client confidentiality policy. Latest Sanctions Not all the trappings of the Russian oil dark fleet will be available to an LNG alternative. The super-cooled fuel requires more technically proficient crews and more complex technology, so there are fewer vessels making them more easily tracked with satellite data. While there are 7,500 oil tankers of varying sizes plying the worlds waters, the LNG fleet is less than a tenth of that. Transshipment or moving fuel from one vessel to another can be done in open water for oil, and is a common means of masking its origin. That is far harder for LNG, hence Russia has until now used European ports for the maneuver, though tighter European restrictions mean that will be impossible from March next year. A gas flare burns at the Yamal LNG plant, operated by Novatek PJSC, in Sabetta, Russia. Novatek PJSC probably has more experience than anyone in transferring LNG from ship-to-ship, according to the Arctic Institutes Humpert. Such transfers have been going on at the Kildin anchorage north of Murmansk for years, he added, referring to the Russian port above the Arctic Circle . Last year there were 13 transfers at the anchorage; between Jan. 1 and April 30, there were already 10, he said. Novatek did not respond to requests for comment. Russia, currently the fourth-largest LNG exporter, has every reason to press ahead in its effort to find alternative routes to market. The US has imposed separate sanctions to prevent the start of exports from Arctic LNG 2, a new facility developed by Novatek, Russias biggest LNG exporter. A parallel fleet could circumvent restrictions, and would be a blow to a key area where Western sanctions have had immediate, tangible impacts, making it easier for Moscow to support its wartime economy. It is no surprise that Russia is resorting to building an LNG shadow fleet, just like it assembled an oil shadow fleet to circumvent the G7 and EU price cap on Russian oil exports, said Agathe Demarais, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Moscows willingness to assemble shadow fleets serves to illustrate the fact that sanctions are a game of whack-a-mole once a sanctions circumvention network is up, western authorities will target it and it will then be replaced by another one in an endless game of cat and mouse. Photograph: A gas flare burns at the Yamal LNG plant, operated by Novatek PJSC, in Sabetta, Russia. Photo credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg Related: Topics Energy Oil Gas Russia Companies accused of misrepresenting their progress on tackling climate change are increasingly finding themselves the target of litigants, as activist groups look to hold some of the worlds worst polluters to account. As many as 47 new climate washing cases were filed in 2023 against companies and governments around the globe, according to a new report from the London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Around 70% of the cases concluded between 2016 and 2023 ended in the claimants favor, according to the report. Regulators around the world have also been trying to clamp down on the climate washing. The annual report analyzes a database of 2,666 climate litigation cases compiled by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia. Climate Court Cases That Could Set New Precedents Around the World Litigation is a crucial part of the toolkit to force companies and governments to account for their climate promises and to galvanize action to slow global warming. Rulings in favor of claimants can have a far-reaching impact far beyond the specific case. A landmark ruling from the European Court of Human Rights this year found that Switzerland failed to protect its citizens from the ravages of climate change, following a case brought by a group of elderly Swiss women. Elsewhere, the UK governments net zero strategy was found lacking for the second time by a London judge in May. The same month the German government was told for a second time its climate program doesnt fully meet legal requirements. On Thursday, Germans top court ruled against a confectioner, which called its candy climate neutral. The judges said that in the area of environmental advertising like with health claims the risk of misleading is particularly high. Companies need to explain whats backing the claim and whether they reduce emissions or simply offset them. Reducing and offsetting emissions arent equivalent for achieving climate neutrality, the German judges said. Reduction takes priority over offsetting. Over 2023 some 233 new climate-related cases were filed worldwide, with cases in the Global South gaining traction. A ruling by the Supreme Court of India established a new constitutional right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change. Whether climate litigation is advancing or hindering climate action remains difficult to determine, said Catherine Higham and Joanna Setzer, the authors of the report. Some types of cases, such as government framework cases, have already had lasting impacts on domestic climate governance. Photograph: Vapour rises from chimneys in Louisiana; photo credit: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Creative Photos Related: Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Accredited, the property/casualty program manager and subsidiary of R&Q Insurance Holdings Ltd., announced the completion of its acquisition by Onex Partners, the Toronto-based private equity company. The sale of the unit comes on the heels of R&Qs decision on June 21 to file for liquidation in Bermuda, after facing months of growing financial difficulties. Accredited will now operate as an independent program management company providing A- rated (AM Best) insurance capacity in Europe, the UK and the US. Accredited writes more than $2.1 billion of gross premium and partners with MGAs on over 70 programs. R&Q had seen ongoing adverse loss development in its core legacy acquisition business, unexpected costs and expenses connected to the sale of Accredited, as well as the inability to consummate external legacy transactions all of which put it into a weakened financial state. R&Qs original plan was to sell Accredited, use the cash to rebuild its capital and refocus on its core legacy business. However, the capital crunch had a material impact on the companys stability as a business and as a going concern, according to R&Q on June 13. The decision ultimately was made to liquidate the company, which helped expedite the sale of Accredited. The sale was first announced on Oct. 20, 2023 for a purchase price of $465 million. A representative of Accredited confirmed that the transaction structure has changed but wouldnt disclose specifics about whether there have been changes to the deal price. As an independent platform, [Accredited] will continue to partner with best-in-class MGAs and reinsurers, supported by our global scale, strong balance sheet and A- AM Best financial strength rating, commented William Spiegel, CEO of Accredited, in a statement. Our strategy remains unchanged; we will focus on supporting the growth of our MGA partners and delivering high quality, diversified business to our reinsurance partners. Accredited has established itself as a leading program manager with a differentiated transatlantic footprint, a well-diversified and high-quality book of business, deep reinsurer relationships and robust underwriting and risk management protocols, according to Adam Cobourn, managing director at Onex Partners. We look forward to partnering with Accrediteds management and employees to strengthen and grow the business. As an independent company, Accredited will be well positioned for responsible growth with a strong balance sheet and backing from Onex Partners, Cobourn continued. In addition to the sale of Accredited, R&Q announced on June 24 it had agreed to sell its UK-based legacy general acquisition subsidiary, Inceptum Insurance Co. Ltd., to Marco Capital Holdings Ltd., a Malta-based legacy acquisition group, for 11.25 million (US$14.2 million) in cash. Inclusive of the impact of the novation of the reinsurance arrangements, the transaction is expected to generate approximately 13 million (US$16.4 million) of liquidity for the company. R&Q further announced on June 27 that joint provisional liquidators (JPLs) had been appointed in Bermuda to oversee the liquidation and ultimately wind up the company. Michael Morrison, Mark Allitt and Charles Thresh of Teneo (Bermuda) Ltd. were named JPLs of R&Q. At the same time, Jeffrey Hayman, William Spiegel, Tom Solomon, Philip Barnes, Eamonn Flanagan, Jo Fox, Lawrence Hirsh, Jerome Lande and Robert Legett tendered their resignations as directors of R&Q. Related: Topics Mergers & Acquisitions The plaintiffs filed counts of negligence, strict liability, statutory nuisance, private nuisance, public nuisance and trespass. The insurers allege that Norfolk Southern failed to properly maintain, service and inspect their trains and railcars, failed to maintain vigilant lookout during the operation of its trains and railcars and failed to timely detect the fire on the tank car that led to the derailment. Norfolk Southern came under fire this week by the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, who said the rail carrier threatened the NTSB board, sought to manufacture evidence and failed to provide documents during its investigation of the East Palestine derailment. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a hearing that the railroad delayed or failed to provide critical investigative information to our team, calling Norfolk Southerns actions unconscionable and reprehensible. In anticipation of this weeks hearing, Norfolk Southern announced last Friday it will examine its vent and burn decisions. The NTSB said on Tuesday that the rail carrier did not need to vent and burn hazardous materials from tank cars after the derailment. Norfolk Southern last month agreed to pay the government a $15 million civil penalty and more than $50 million in past government cleanup costs over the derailment. The Atlanta-based rail carrier is estimated to face a $1.7 billion in total costs associated with the derailment. Photo: This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A house that was teetering on the edge of an eroding riverbank near a Minnesota dam collapsed into the river in the latest jarring example of extreme weather gripping the upper Midwest. Video shows the white frame house falling into the flood-swollen Blue Earth River near Mankato on Tuesday night. The Rapidan Dams west abutment failed Monday, sending the river around the dam and eroding the bank where the home sat. The family had evacuated before the collapse. Its been a very scary and hard situation, Jenny Barnes, whose family owned the house and has run the nearby Dam Store for decades, told KARE-TV on Tuesday before the house fell into the river. She also was worried about the store. Thats our life, as well. Thats our business; thats our livelihood. Its everything to us, Barnes said. Theres no stopping it. Its going to go where it wants to go. Its going to take what it wants to take. Jessica Keech and her 11-year-old son watched part of the house fall into the river Tuesday night. They had often visited the area to see the dam and enjoy homemade pie from the Dam Store. It just kind of sucked it into the water. Just literally disappeared, said Keech, of nearby New Ulm. You didnt see it go down the river at all. You didnt see pieces of it anywhere. Blue Earth County officials said Wednesday that there were dramatic changes around the dam overnight, with the river cutting more widely and deeply into the bank, and they are concerned about the integrity of a nearby bridge over the river. After the flooding subsides, the county will be faced with deciding whether to make repairs to the dam or possibly remove it with both options costing millions of dollars. County Administrator Robert Meyer said the debris that went into the river since Monday included not only the home and its fence but also a power company substation, power poles, a propane tank, county playground equipment, a satellite toilet, a dumpster, a steel shipping container used for storage and many, many trees. Theres not any attempt to salvage anything, Meyer said during a news conference at the dam. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to discuss the impacts to the Rapidan dam and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is already on the ground, White House officials said. A swath through Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota has been under siege from flooding because of torrential rains since last week, while also suffering through a scorching heat wave. Up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain have fallen in some areas, pushing some rivers to record levels. Hundreds of people were rescued, homes were damaged and at least two people died after driving in flooded areas. Tornado warnings, flash flooding and large hail Tuesday night added insult to injury for some Midwesterners. The National Weather Service said several tornadoes were reported in Iowa and Nebraska. The service was assessing damage to some buildings, crops and trees to confirm whether tornadoes touched down. No major injuries were reported. The weather service also extended flood warnings for multiple rivers in the region. On Tuesday, floodwaters breached levees in Iowa, creating dangerous conditions that prompted evacuations. Preliminary information from the weather service shows the recent flooding brought record-high river levels at more than a dozen locations in South Dakota and Iowa, surpassing previous crests by an average of about 3.5 feet (0.5 meters). In southeastern South Dakota, residents of Canton were cleaning up after getting 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 centimeters) of rain in just 36 hours last week. A creek beside the 20 acres (8 hectares) owned by Lori Lems and her husband flooded the playground theyd built in their backyard for their grandchildren. Lems, a 62-year-old former convenience store and wedding venue owner, said shes lived in the town of 3,200 people all her life and never saw rain as intense as last weeks. We felt that we were in a hurricane-type of rain, she said. It was just unbelievable. Farther south, in North Sioux City, South Dakota, flooding collapsed utility poles and trees, and some homes were washed off their foundations. There was no water, sewer, gas or electrical service in that area, Union County Emergency Management said Tuesday in a Facebook post. In the Sioux City, Iowa, area, water spilled over the Big Sioux River levee, damaging hundreds of homes, officials estimated. And the local wastewater treatment plant has been so overwhelmed by the floodwaters that officials say theyre having to dump about a million gallons (3.8 million liters) of untreated sewage per day into the Missouri River. Numerous roads were closed because of the flooding, including Interstates 29 and 680 in Iowa near the Nebraska line. To the east in Iowa, towns were bracing for floodwaters. The west fork of the Des Moines River was expected to crest at nearly 17 feet (5 meters) in Humboldt overnight into Thursday. About 200 homes and 60 businesses in Humboldt could be affected, and about 68,000 sandbags have been deployed, officials said. In the coming days, southeastern Nebraska and northwestern Missouri are expected to start to see the downstream effects of devastating flooding in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Many streams and rivers may not crest until later this week. The Missouri will crest at Omaha on Thursday, said Kevin Low, a weather service hydrologist. ___ Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. Associated Press Writers Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report. ___ This story has corrected the name the river where the house collapsed. It is the Blue Earth River, not the Big Earth River. Photo: This drone photo provided by AW Aerial shows a home as it teeters before partially collapsing into the Blue Earth River at the Rapidan Dam in Rapidan, Minn., Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (Andrew Weinzierl/AW Aerial via AP) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Windstorm Minnesota The U.S. Supreme Court blocked an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing ozone emissions that may worsen air pollution in neighboring states, handing a victory on Thursday to three Republican-led states and the steel and fossil-fuel industries that had challenged the rule. The 5-4 decision granted requests by Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia, as well as U.S. Steel Corp, pipeline operator Kinder Morgan and industry groups, to halt enforcement of the EPAs Good Neighbor plan restricting ozone pollution from upwind states, while they contest the rules legality in a lower court. It was the latest ruling by the conservative-majority court restricting the powers of the EPA. The EPA issued the rule at issue in March 2023 intending to target gases that form ozone, a key component of smog, from power plants and other industrial sources in 23 upwind states whose own plans did not satisfy the Good Neighbor provision of the Clean Air Act anti-pollution law, requiring steps to reduce pollution that drifts into states downwind. The agency said the rule would result in cleaner air for millions of people, saving thousands of lives. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who authored the ruling, said the court granted the challengers request because they are likely to ultimately prevail in the litigation, saying the EPA did not reasonably explain its actions. Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett dissented, joined by the courts three liberal justices. The court today enjoins the enforcement of a major Environmental Protection Agency rule based on an underdeveloped theory that is unlikely to succeed on the merits, Barrett wrote. The EPA said it was disappointed with the ruling but looked forward to defending the plan as the matter is further litigated. Thursdays action by the court will postpone the benefits that the Good Neighbor Plan is already achieving in many states and communities, an EPA spokesperson said. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the decision is correct but the EPA will keep trying to legislate and bypass Congresss authority -and it has been settled by the Supreme Court: the EPA must regulate within the express boundaries of the statute that Congress passed. The challenge followed a major 2022 ruling by the court imposing limits on the EPAs authority under the Clean Air Act to reduce coal- and gas-fired power plant carbon emissions, undermining President Joe Bidens plans to tackle climate change. The court last year also hobbled the EPAs power to protect wetlands and fight water pollution. The challenge to the Good Neighbor rule was brought by Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia all targeted by the rule as well as pipeline operators, U.S. Steel, regional electricity generators and energy trade associations. In their suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, they argued that the EPA violated a federal law aimed at ensuring agency actions are reasonable. The D.C. Circuit refused to block the rule pending its review, prompting the challengers to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Opponents have said the rule would impose unreasonable costs and destabilize power grids. The Justice Department, defending the EPA, urged the Supreme Court to consider the serious harms to public health that would result from blocking it. OPEN SEASON Environmental groups denounced the ruling. Sam Sankar, senior vice president of programs at environmental law group Earthjustice, called the ruling part of a growing pattern of anti-environmental decisions by the Supreme Court. The courts order puts thousands of lives at risk, forces downwind states to regulate their industries more tightly, and tells big polluters that its open season on our environmental laws, Sankar said. The rule implemented a federal program that applied to 23 states, but separate challenges in lower courts have already paused enforcement in 12 of them, including West Virginia. During arguments in the case on Feb. 21, some of the conservative justices focused on the EPAs lack of explanation for how the plan can work when it now regulates just 11 states instead of 23 as intended. Liberal justices expressed concern about whether the case warranted emergency intervention by the Supreme Court at this time. Some of the industry requests of the Supreme Court were specific. Kinder Morgan asked the justices to block the regulation as it applies to natural gas pipeline engines. U.S. Steel sought to prevent its enforcement against iron and steel mill reheating furnaces and boilers. On Jan. 16, the EPA issued a proposed rule to enforce the Good Neighbor plan in five more states: Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico and Tennessee. Topics Pollution Baylor Scott & White Holdings (BSW), the largest nonprofit health system in Texas, sued insurer Factory Mutual Insurance Co. in February 2021 for denying a claim seeking business interruption losses as a result of COVID-19 totaling over $192 million. BSW said its claim was predicated on physical loss and/or physical damage to property caused by, among other things, the presence of COVID-19 at its facilities. The policy BSW purchased from Factory Mutual covered two general types of claims property damage and time element claims. The policy excludes coverage for contamination, and any cost due to contamination including the inability to use or occupy property or any cost of making property safe or suitable for use or occupancy. The policy contains additional coverages, including the Communicable Disease Response Extension and the Interruption by Communicable Disease Extension. Under the extensions, the policy covers up to $5 million for cleanup, removal and disposal of the presence of communicable diseases, and costs for public relations services or reputation management resulting from the presence of communicable diseases. Both parties agree that the $5 million limit has been paid out in full for the implicated policy year. In March 2023 a district court granted Factory Mutuals motion to dismiss BSWs lawsuit seeking business interruption losses. The court found that given existing circuit precedent, BSW had not plausibly alleged physical loss or damage under the Policy, and the Contamination Exclusion and Loss of Use Exclusion barred BSWs recovery under the Policy. BSW appealed the district courts order. The 5th Circuit panel affirmed the district courts ruling in a 2-1 decision, finding that in context of previous COVID-19 commercial-insurance coverage disputes, COVID-19 does not physically damage property within the plain meaning of physical. BSW argues that its policy language is unique because it covers physical loss or damage caused by communicable disease, making the coverage broader than a typical policy. BSW further contends that its complaint was wrongly dismissed because no other case previously included specific factual allegations of demonstratable, measurable, and tangible alteration of property caused by COVID-19. The panel acknowledged the great scientific detail BSW went through in explaining how COVID-19 physically altered the surfaces of its property but did not budge. Irish video game services firm Keywords Studios said on Friday it has received a takeover proposal worth 1.96bn (2.32bn) by European private equity firm EQT Group if it tabled a formal offer at that price despite it being lower than what it proposed in May. The Dublin-based company said on Thursday that the private equity firm proposed to buy the company for 24.50 (28.94) per share, a price that the Keywords board could recommend to shareholders, up from a previous proposal of 24.30 apiece on Wednesday. Organisations urgently need to review the management of their systems as a worrying number of former employees retain access to the data of their prior employers. Research by Cork-based HCS has found that a fifth of office workers in Ireland have access to the company data of a previous employer. The survey by HCS, an IT, cybersecurity, and digital transformation services company, also found that 48% of these workers use that previous employers data to help them in their current job. Dan Hegarty, head of sales with HCS, said: These findings highlight the urgent need for organisations to proactively manage access permissions and implement robust access policies. In doing so, businesses can mitigate the risk of unauthorised data exposure and protect their valuable assets against potential breaches. In addition, providing ongoing awareness training can empower employees to play an active role in protecting company data. Not only will this bolster the security of sensitive customer and company information; it will uphold trust with employees regarding the safeguarding of their own personal data. Its concerning to see that employees are finding ways to circumnavigate organisational security measures. Organisations need to ensure that the cybersecurity infrastructure in place is robust, while also setting out clear protocols for employees. Meanwhile, its crucial that employees feel supported when working outside of the office. A well-defined remote or hybrid work strategy should have cybersecurity at its core to enable employees to work securely and efficiently, with speedy remediation in the event of an issue to minimise downtime. The HCS study was based on the replies of 503 office workers based in Ireland, surveyed by Censuswide on behalf of HCS, with the support of Fortinet, a global leader driving the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Paul Donegan, Fortinets country manager for Ireland, said: Cyberattacks of every form are becoming more advanced and more widespread. Through the increased accessibility of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, cybercriminals are now capable of very closely mimicking genuine communications and platforms which can target and mislead employees. This growing cyber risk is only amplified by the increased usage of the cloud. As businesses become more reliant on cloud computing for their data and networks, a breach of the cloud connection could cause operations to grind to a halt and have a much more significant long-term impact. Its vital that any cloud strategy is built upon a robust and secure foundation and the support of an expert partner can help to ensure this as the landscape evolves. The aim of the survey the HCS and Fortinet survey was to explore office workers attitudes to, and experiences of, cybersecurity at work. The study also highlighted the risk that current employees can pose to data security within organisations, if effective access controls are not in place. Of those surveyed, 43% say that in the job they have now, they have access to privileged or sensitive company data that they shouldnt, and 52% of these admit that they access it. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that 61% of office workers dont trust their employer to protect their own personal data. Meanwhile, 15% of office workers say that their organisations cybersecurity measures prevent them from doing their job effectively. Some of those surveyed are finding ways around this, with 22% of office workers admitting to having bypassed internet access controls implemented by their organisation by using tools such as a web proxy to access blocked sites. When it comes to working arrangements, it appears that there is still a way to go in making employees feel secure and supported outside of the office. Almost a fifth (19%) of those who work remotely or on a hybrid basis feel more vulnerable to security risks when working from home, while 27% feel they have less technical support. Some 48% of remote or hybrid workers access their company network via a secure VPN, while the same percentage (48%) use home Wi-Fi. Read More Business movers: People starting new jobs in Ireland Among the many areas of advice covered by HCS in the survey, Dan Hegarty highlighted the need for employees to use strong passwords, and to not reuse these passwords in different contexts. Dan Hegarty said: Our study found that 83% of office workers are repeatedly reusing the same passwords across multiple accounts. Whats more, of the office workers surveyed, 19% said that they re-use the same password for all work and personal logins such as email accounts, device logins, and websites. Meanwhile, 89% of those who say they re-use passwords admit to having access to company data that they shouldnt have. This not only speaks to a worrying complacency amongst office workers regarding password safety, but a trend of complacency across organisations at a time when cybersecurity should be a key focus. It's peak festival season and young people all over Ireland are planning to attend events such as Longitude, All Together Now, and Electric Picnic. The question is: When theyre packing their festival essentials, will they remember to include sun protection? The Irish Cancer Society fears not. Sarah Egan, an awareness nurse with the Irish Cancer Society, thinks Gen Z are blase about the dangers of sun exposure. The young men and women I meet around the country have heard about the risks of skin cancer but dont seem to understand how the dangers relate to them, she says. They still aim for a tan. Some even use sunbeds. Theyre convinced that skin cancer only happens to older people, not young people like them. This phenomenon isnt limited to Ireland. Assistant professor of paediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine Dr Meredithe McNamara also sees it in the US. Young people have always been disconnected from thinking about sun exposure, she says. When youre young, its hard to think about the long-term consequences of your actions. That skill only develops with time. Dr Meredithe McNamara Vanessa Clarke, a 41-year-old teacher and mother of two from Ennis in Clare, remembers how carefree she was about being in the sun. When I was a teenager, everyone wanted a tan, she says. Because my skin doesnt burn but tans straightaway, it made me happy to see my skin turning brown. Growing up, her mother had taught her about the importance of warning sunscreen. As a result, I did wear it on holidays and when I spent time outside on sunny days but looking back, I was wearing too low a factor, says Clarke. Id never even have gone near anything as high as factor 25. She also used sunbeds on occasion. Not often, but I had bad eczema when I was younger and felt that a sunbed session helped my skins appearance before special events or before going on holiday, she says. But now Id say they were a contributing factor in what happened next. Vanessa Clarke: Id love young people to know that using sunbeds or going out in the sun simply isnt worth it." In 2009, when Clarke was 26, she found a small mole behind her right knee. It was a colourless blister about half the size of my baby fingernail, she says. It was itchy for a few days but Id probably have forgotten all about it were it not that a good friend of my parents had just passed away from melanoma. Clarke booked a GP appointment and was immediately referred to a dermatologist who arranged to remove the mole. It was a stage-three nodular melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, she says. Statistics show that young peoples attitude to sun safety may not have changed much since Clarkes younger days. A 2020 study by the University of Galway found that 90% of 10- to 17-year-olds had experienced sunburn in their lifetimes, with 74% reporting being sunburnt at least once in the previous year. Some 5% had also used sunbeds. These findings worry Dr Blaithin Moriarty, a Dublin-based consultant dermatologist with a special interest in skin cancer. Getting sunburnt before the age of 18 doubles your risk of melanoma, she says. And sunbeds are a known carcinogen. I see patients who have a history of using sunbeds presenting with skin cancer at a much earlier age than the general population. Online misinformation further complicates Gen Zs understanding of sun protection. According to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology in May, 28% of 18 to 26-year-olds dont believe that tanning causes skin cancer. Another poll by the Orlando Health Institute found that 14% of under-35s thought that sunscreen itself was more likely to cause cancer than direct exposure to the sun. Theres so much misinformation like this out there spreading all over the likes of TikTok, says McNamara. Moriarty wants to bust these myths. TikTok might tell you that youre safe as long as your skin doesnt turn red, hot or sore following exposure to the sun, but thats not true, she says. UV exposure gives you freckles and a tan as well as sunburn, and all of these are signs of sun-damaged skin. When UV light from the sun hits our skin, our melanocyte cells spread melanin to give you protection but in doing so, they cause mutations in the skin cells, she says. Some of these mutations are repaired but some remain and its the ones that remain that can lead to abnormal cancerous cells. Getting sunburnt before the age of 18 doubles your risk of melanoma. Tans fade, damage stays Egan is keen to emphasise that tanning today can cause cancer in some distant tomorrow. When your tan fades, the damage is still there, skin deep, she says. That damage can build up year after year and in the years to come, a cancerous skin lesion can develop. Irish skin is particularly susceptible to damage. Approximately three-quarters of us have a genetic makeup that makes our skin prone to sustaining UV damage and generating skin cancer, says Moriarty. This susceptibility could explain why skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ireland. With approximately 13,000 new cases each year, its more common than the next five cancers put together, says Moriarty. Skin cancer isnt a generic disease but consists of 100 or so different types. Melanoma is the most high-profile because its the most deadly, says Moriarty. Its characterised by moles or lesions that are usually brown or black in colour but can be other colours too. A mole thats new or has changed in some way should always be looked at by a doctor. Keratinocyte cancers such as basal cell carcinomas are the most frequently occurring forms of skin cancers and typically manifest as a lump, a crusted area of skin that doesnt heal, or a red scaly patch. The Irish Cancer Society started its SunSmart campaign in 2019. Picture: Denis Minihane Globally, the rate of all skin cancers is increasing. It could be because we expose ourselves to the sun more and have more access to travel and sunny places, says Moriarty. Were living for longer and as lots of skin cancers tend to present in older age, thats a factor. The Irish Cancer Society started its SunSmart campaign in 2019, so our awareness of the damage that can be caused by the sun is very recent, says Moriarty. By contrast, Australias SunSmart campaign started in 1988 and is now regarded as the worlds most successful skin cancer prevention programme. The adults who were children then have lower rates of skin cancer than previous generations, she says. Awareness makes a big difference. Along with taking steps to prevent sun damage, we need to know the symptoms to look out for and check our skin regularly. A new freckle or mole, a freckle or mole that has changed in appearance or feels different, a cut that doesnt heal, a new lump or bump or anything thats pink or painful or not going away as you might expect should be seen by a doctor, says Egan. Particular attention should be paid to places that are often exposed to the sun, says Moriarty. These include the face, ears, balding scalp, neck, and the back of the hands and forearms. Melanoma in women is often found on the legs while men tend to get it on their backs, she says. But keep an eye on the trickier-to-see parts of the body too. The Irish Cancer Societys website cancer.ie has photos to help with checking, while the Boots pharmacy chain offers to scan worrying moles or lesions. Act fast if you have cause for concern, says Egan. Skin cancer is easily treatable when caught at an early stage. Its also one of the most preventable cancers. Apart from wearing sunscreen, theres so much you can do to stay protected while enjoying time outdoors, says McNamara. Globally, the rate of all skin cancers is increasing. Carrying the effects Clarke wishes she had taken more care in the sun. Her melanoma treatment involved removing the cancerous lesion and further surgery to cut lymph nodes from her groin, where the cancer had also travelled. She then had to travel to London for immunotherapy. It worked and Ive been all clear ever since, she says. However, the removal of her lymph nodes caused lymphedema in one of her legs. This means it swells in the heat and can react to what I eat or drink, she says. It limits my ability to run and exercise and I have to wear compression garments all the time. Even though I overcame my cancer diagnosis, lymphedema is a serious side effect that will affect the rest of my life. Id love young people to know that using sunbeds or going out in the sun simply isnt worth it. McNamara has decided that the best approach is to educate young people on social media about the impact the sun can have on their appearance. Gen Z is very aesthetically motivated and we can use this as an asset to counsel them on skin protection, she says. Skin cancer is too far in the future but telling them how sun-damaged skin ages quickly could be more compelling in convincing them to take action when it comes to sun protection. That action could prevent them from getting wrinkles and sunspots and also skin cancer in later life. If they still want a tan, they can always fake it. Theyll achieve the same aesthetic goals with none of the harm, says McNamara. Before heading outdoors, Clarke wants young people to think twice. They are always going to want to have fun in the sun with their friends but its so important that they cover up or wear sunscreen, she says. Its not worth the alternative. Im proof positive that a skin cancer diagnosis can affect you for life. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stood ready to intervene in the 2002 Saipan controversy at the urging of RTE journalist Tommie Gorman. Speaking to Paul Hosford on the Irish Examiner's Mick Clifford Podcast, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the journalist who died this week and said that Mr Gorman's famous interview with Roy Keane in the wake of his bust up with Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup almost served as the beginning of a mediated settlement. Mr Gorman, from Sligo, died on Tuesday, having worked for RTE for more than 40 years. He was its northern editor at the time of his retirement in 2021 having taken the job in 2001. However, in 2002, he secured the only interview with the Irish captain after the infamous row at the island training camp in the Pacific. Mr Ahern said Mr Gorman, not content with reporting the story, felt that a solution could be brokered and asked the then-taoiseach to be ready to intervene. Former RTE journalist Tommie Gorman's interview with Roy Keane almost served as the beginning of a mediated settlement, Bertie Aherne said. Picture: RTE/PA Wire "It really was a divisive issue. I remember being at a retirement party and you almost had to get between people even though everyone was over 65!" he said. "So Tommie went to Roy's agent and set about trying to solve it. "He obviously knew the FAI guys through Sligo Rovers. "Roy respected him, so he was trying to pull it all together and was making a lot of progress and I think he thought he was there. Roy Keane being interviewed by Tommie Gorman. File picture: RTE "He contacted me and asked would I be prepared, if he could get them together, would I be prepared to help? "I couldn't say no because it was such a huge thing and told him I would if he really thought he could help. "But unfortunately it never got to that." Mr Ahern said that he had "battled" Mr Gorman for many years and that there was "no soft interviews" with the Sligo man. He said that Mr Gorman's role in communicating the intricacies of the North to a southern audience was "crucial". Speaking on the same podcast, the former taoiseach also paid tribute to broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh who also passed away on Tuesday. He said that the GAA icon had contributed to a revitalisation of the GAA in the 70s, playing a key role in the rivalry between Kerry and Dublin in that era. He said that Mr O Muircheartaigh was connected to communities across the country and that his passion and knowledge for GAA was an important part of its appeal. "We'll never see the likes of Micheal O Muircheartaigh again," Mr Ahern said. EU leaders finally signed off on who will lead EU policy for the next five years after a weeks of tense negotiations. Ursula von der Leyen had been proposed as president of the European Commission for a second time; former Portuguese prime minister Anthony Costa as president of the European Council; and prime minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas as the EUs foreign policy chief. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni abstained on Ursula Von der Leyen, while Hungarian PM Victor Orban voted against. The deal required a qualified majority vote, securing von de Leyen as candidate for a second term. But she is not clear yet as she will need the support of 361 of 720 MEPs in the European Parliament. A vote is due to take place in a few weeks. Meanwhile, it is understood she will request each member state nominating a commissioner to send her names of a female and a male nominee as she is once again prioritising gender balance in her commission. However, Taoiseach Simon Harris has confirmed the Government will send only the name of Michael McGrath. "Im aware that Ursula von der Leyen may seek the name of a man and a woman but on this occasion, and respectfully and in accordance with the treaties, we have taken a decision to send one name. And we do that because were sending our finance minister," he told journalists. Finance Minister Michael McGrath is Ireland's sole nominee as commissioner. Picture: Gareth Chaney/PA So far a handful of member states have nominated their candidates and almost all are men. Almost every country is seeking a senior economics portfolio as is Ireland. However, Mr Harris argues that the refusal to nominate a woman should not impact on Irelands ability to secure a senior post. Weve asked somebody to step down from their cabinet role, to step down from the next budget. And before you ask someone to do that you have to give them clarity that theyre going to be the nominee, so our position is settled. He also said Ireland, alongside the rest of Europe, would "do whatever it takes" to help Ukraine win in the war of aggression waged on it by Russia. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Brussels to sign security guarantees with Brussels, with the EU pledging to continue with consistent and predictable military support as well as financial and humanitarian contributions. In relation to the Defence Forces, the Taoiseach said he would not be silenced on speaking out about the lack of progress on gender-based violence among members, or the general culture within the forces. A report on convictions among personnel shows 68 have criminal convictions or are before the courts facing criminal charges. Im the Taoiseach of this country and zero tolerance is not a political slogan," he told reporters. Zero tolerance is the cultural change that must become embedded in every part of Irish society including the Defence Forces. I will speak up and speak out for the women of this country who have felt failed, badly failed over a significant period of time. There is no place in my view for people who have convictions in our Defence Forces, particularly who have convictions in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Im not going to stop as Taoiseach of this country until we get the right answers in relation to this and were going to get it right for the incredible men and women in the Defence Forces who wear that uniform in pride and they want us to get it right too. The Women of Honour have called for amendments to the terms of reference of the Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry into the armys complaints system. They want the remit of the tribunal formally launched last Monday to include crimes perpetrated by Defence Forces personnel. The request follows a Defence Forces audit which found there are 68 serving soldiers who have been convicted or are facing charges in relation to a range of criminal offences, including drink-driving, drugs offences and sexual offences. The audit was initiated after Cathal Crotty, a serving soldier, was given a suspended sentence over his vicious assault on Natasha OBrien. He beat her unconscious in a random street attack on May 29, 2022, and even boasted about it shortly afterwards on social media. Honor Murphy, of the Women of Honour, said: It is a reflection of the extent of the still-current cultural cancer in the Defence Forces that members continue to serve who are either convicted or charged with criminal offences. What requires to be immediately clarified by the Defence Forces is the true number of Defence Forces personnel with convictions and what is the breakdown of these convictions. The ongoing revelations confirm a view we have long held that the same rotten culture of concealment, as applied for so long in the religious world, is still alive in the Defence Forces. The Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it was utterly unacceptable that serving soldiers with convictions for gender-based violence could be allowed to hide in the Defence Forces. A 32-year-old Cork woman with a large number of shoplifting convictions has been jailed again for her most recent crimes as the sentencing judge declared: She needs to put this offending behind her it has to stop. Julianne OFarrell came before Cork District Court with 239 previous convictions 79 of which were for theft was jailed for three months for further thefts. A pioneering project where people who have exited homelessness help other homeless people get access to a range of healthcare services is being expanded to Cork. Homeless charity Depaul Ireland made the announcement as it celebrated its peer advocates who deliver its Homeless Health Peer Advocacy (HHPA) programme at an event in Cork City Hall on Friday. The HHPA programme is designed to improve health outcomes for homeless people through what it calls peer-led advocacy and support. It has trained people who have lived experience of homelessness to act as health advocates for those who are homeless now. These peer advocates help people get access to and engage with a range of healthcare services, ensuring that those in most need of access to the services receive the care they need. Sinead Flynn, who was among the peer advocates honoured on Friday, said the fact that she has lived experience of homelessness makes a huge difference when it comes to engaging with homeless people who are in need of healthcare. Homeless Health Peer Advocates at Depaul Anthony, Linda, Paul, and Sinead. Picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision When youre coming from a background like that, and youre dealing with social workers and doctors, its very overwhelming and you can put your guard up. "But when they hear about my lived experience, the walls come down, she said. This is the first time in my life that Ive ever had a job where I actually look forward to the next day. I love it. Not only has it allowed me to give back to my community, it has also given me a true sense of purpose. "This programme changes lives, including my own. From thirteen, I got the bus home from school. Throngs of students joined en route, some of them less well-behaved than others uniformed little pots and pans, boiling over with teenage energy and mischief. You know, the smokers, the swearers, the loudmouth commentators on yer ones rack'. Thankfully, there was always someone there to turn the heat down. In those days, most city buses had a conductor as well as a driver. Every afternoon he was there, managing the mayhem. A caretaker. Hed smile, share a nicety, and would always place himself in the thick of whatever was brewing. He was grandfatherly, mumbled more than spoke, but he was omnipresent too, and so I felt safe and protected, rooted in the familiar. I recall him so distinctly his broad face, his old hands on the metal ticket dispenser strapped around his neck, his expert ability to stay steady in the middle of the aisle one hand offering a small paper ticket, the other cradling a column of change. It must be lonelier for bus drivers today, without such companions, and I know the unions fought hard from the early Sixties to keep them. Ours, the Number 6 from the South Mall, was surely one of the last with a conductor, because I remember seeing him again, after Id moved to London. I wanted to say thank you for his years of caretaking, maybe finally ask his name. I never did. So, I will say thank you now, to the person who put on a conductors uniform every morning and took it off every night. I think you represent something fundamental were in danger of losing in society if we dont praise the people who monitor public behaviour, who are willing to speak up when it falls short our caretakers. I always knew, getting on that bus, that there was a person on the side of decency, perched nearby, there, if I needed him. Who is there now? I remember him pulling teenagers back into line when they behaved poorly. I remember him protecting people with disabilities, the elderly, small children. I remember him taking one boy off the bus for smoking. Imagine now if a teenager came home, saying he was taken off the bus. Too many parents would complain. Thankfully, there are still caretakers out there. Caretakers, people who still care about the common good, about common decency. When Cathal Crotty, aged twenty-two, attacked Natasha OBrien, on OConnell Street, Limerick on May 29, 2022, he had been shouting faggot at a man across the street. OBrien told him to stop. She told him to stop. She reminded him that homophobic slurs are unacceptable in Irish society because we value humans here. Natasha OBrien, having just finished work, stood up for a better society. Like my bus conductor, she took that role on herself, whatever the weight of its burden. Dont be using those kinds of words, she said. What followed is beyond belief. Cathal Crottys vicious attack and his subsequent boast on social media reveals his character and his sickness. Time behind bars, therapy, and rehabilitation, might have been a starting point for him, and a starting point only. Cathal Crotty needed the state to pay deep attention to his loss of humanity, his absolute brutality. The system chose to look the other way, with Judge Tom ODonnell setting him free, carrying a suspended sentence, and a fine he will pay with ease. The individual deserves protection over the moral standards of society, according to the ruling. We must look the other way rather than pay attention. A custodial sentence was best avoided for the soldiers heinous crime as it would most likely end his army career, the judge argued. As a member of the armed forces Cathal Crotty was tasked with protecting Irish citizens, but even in his case, the most extreme of cases, his individual interests trumped the common good. The system only added to the trauma inflicted on Nathasha OBrien that night, a person who was out there doing Crottys job for him keeping the peace, maintaining order, protecting the integrity of our country, acting as a caretaker. We need more people like Natasha OBrien. I often hear people complain that young people show no respect these days. This is a criticism of us, not them. Young people need guidance, not just from teachers, and parents, but from strangers on buses and on the street. We ask schools to fix every social ill because it lets the rest of us off the hook. Young people need to be reminded not once, but again and again, whats acceptable, and what is harmful to us all. Each and every one of us carries that social responsibility. We used to have people like that, people like my lovely bus conductor. Where have they gone? Was Cathal Crottys rage partially because he was taken aback by a passerby who had the courage and conviction to question him, pull him back into line? Another hero, another caretaker who comes to mind this week is Cara Darmody, the teenager from Tipperary, who met the HSEs chief executive officer Bernard Gloster recently and told him the HSE was a national disgrace. Autism awareness campaigner Cara Darmody. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie Cara is fighting for her autistic brothers, but significantly, she wont be satisfied with helping only her brothers. She will fight for every other family. Indeed, her family is appalled that the HSE has paid for their assessments, whilst making no effort to pay for the assessments of others, and they suspect it has everything to do with Caras campaign. Cara stood outside the Dail this week with a sign that read: Taoiseach, please pay for ALL autism assessments and services. Cara Darmody, like Natasha OBrien, cares about society. She is a caretaker. Is it chicken or egg that we are also electing people who promote some people over all people? Yes, we argue that the far right made only small gains in the recent election, but they made gains, nonetheless. The independents are a cause for concern. Their language is cause for concern. It is not the language of caretakers, it is the language of people with an agenda to protect some people, but not all. In a lesser-known case in Waterford this week a woman walked free having attacked a delivery man, calling him a bloody foreigner and a little Paki. Her tone is identical to some of the people we have now placed in power. We must champion our caretakers, elect only caretakers. We must allow our children to be criticised by people beyond our front door, when they are deserving of criticism. We must stop ignoring animalistic behaviour, whilst shaming the heroes who make their own lives difficult on behalf of others. I was very lucky to feel protected on my trips home from school as a teenager. I wish I knew his name to thank him. Thank you, Cara Darmody. Thank you, Natasha OBrien. You have the power to get us marching and fighting again. Well done to every person who turned up to the marches at the weekend. People like Cara Darmody and Natasha OBrien show us just how brilliant our little county can be. It says everything that our system continues to work against them. The reality of the 2024 presidential contest is setting in now that the first debate of the election cycle showcased the two main options voters have in November. Joe Biden, apparently sick with a cold, mumbled through the debate, failing to land otherwise well-crafted lines. Donald Trump, a prolific purveyor of falsehoods, repeatedly told lies and avoided answering tough questions. The prevailing reaction to the debate was one of resignation and disbelief that these two candidates were their parties choices to lead the country at one of its most critical moments. Whether the debacle will sway undecided voters toward one candidate or the other remains to be seen. 1. Biden performs poorly The president joked about the rightwing conspiracies that he would take some kind of performance-enhancing drugs before the debate, posting a link to a can of water for sale on his campaign website called Dark Brandons Secret Sauce. But his low-energy, muted and garbled performance didnt live up to expectations. And keep in mind: Biden challenged the former president to the debate, which looks like a strategic error in retrospect. Voters regularly say they are concerned about Bidens age and fitness for office. This debate will not assuage their fears. If someone were reading a transcript of Bidens remarks, some of his lines would sound smart and aggressive. But the delivery failed and for a visual medium like TV, thats critical. He failed to sell his signature accomplishments, like his infrastructure plan. Voters regularly say they are concerned about Joe Bidens age and fitness for office. This debate will not assuage their fears. Picture: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert From the start, Bidens voice was muffled. He trailed off. In one gaffe, attacking Trump on his tax cuts and the national debt, he confusingly ended his remarks with: We finally beat Medicare. Trump jumped on the moment: He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death, and hes destroying Medicare. On an abortion question, which should be one of Bidens strongest assets for voters concerned about rolling back reproductive rights, Biden brought up girls killed by migrants pivoting, for some reason, to one of his weakest areas. He became more lively over the course of the evening, but not enough to change the narrative of how the debate went down optically. The evening will undoubtedly lead Democrats to debate whether Biden should somehow be replaced at the convention. 2. Trump lies endlessly As expected for a politician so consistently fact-checked, Trump repeatedly tried to sell falsehoods and half-truths to voters. When questions were posed that would require tough answers, like one about the January 6 insurrection, he deflected and talked about something he could attack Biden on. CNNs moderators did not factcheck statements live. At times, when he avoided the question, they would reiterate it sometimes successfully getting Trump to answer. He falsely claimed Democrats want abortions up until and after birth. He said without evidence that Nancy Pelosi refused his offer for national guard troops on 6 January 2021 to respond to an insurrection he encouraged. He said his administration had the best environmental numbers, whatever that means. And his promise that retribution would mark a second term in office surfaced too, in what seemed to be a veiled threat of prosecution: He could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office. Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that hes done. Hes done horrible things. 3. Different visions were starkly on display The two men showed the distinctions of the two Americas in which they live. Trump repeatedly talked about how the US had failed, how Biden was the worst president in the countrys history and how the world views the country dismally now. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during the presidential debate hosted by CNN on Thursday. Picture: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert Joe, our country is being destroyed. As you and I sit up here and waste a lot of time on this debate. This shouldnt be a debate. He is the worst president, he just said about me because I said it. But look, hes the worst president in the history of our country. Hes destroyed our country. Biden disagreed, offering an optimistic view of the US on the world stage. Were the most admired country in the world. Were the United States of America. Theres nothing beyond our capacity. We have the finest military in the history of the world, the finest in the history of the world. No one thinks were weak. No one wants to screw around with us, nobody. 4. The adult film actor moment Trumps convictions and varied court cases didnt come up in the debate until it was well underway, a missed opportunity from Biden to hammer on one of Trumps key liabilities. When the issue finally surfaced, Biden hit at Trump for having sex with an adult film actor while his wife was pregnant, referring to Stormy Daniels and the hush-money trial that concluded in 34 felonies for Trump. You have the morals of an alley cat, Biden quipped at Trump. Trump responded with a line that surely has not been uttered at presidential debates in decades past: I didnt have sex with a porn star. The Guardian Build it and they will come to paraphrase Kevin Costners character in Field of Dreams. From baseball to books, libraries are not just about reading, they are places to connect. Whats more, it transpired this week that two out of three of Irelands favourite public spaces are libraries. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) revealed the results of its Public Choice awards on Friday, June 21, its annual quest to find and honour Irelands favourite building or public space. Castleblayney Library and Market Square Regeneration. Picture: Richard Hatch The Lark Concert Hall, Balbriggan, Dublin, by Stephen Foley Architects and CAMPUS, topped the poll. But close behind were the runners-up, two libraries, Kinsale Library by Cork County Council Architects Department, and Castleblayney Library and Market Square Regeneration by Craftstudio Architecture with Gaffney and Cullivan Architects. Kinsale Library. Picture: Jed Niezgoda Architect William (Billy) Smyth designed Kinsale Library for Cork County Council. The library also won the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland award the same day for conservation, adaptation and reuse described by the jury as an inspiring example of how vacant buildings in our towns can be transformed into vibrant community amenities. Emer OBrien, county librarian at Cork County Council, says the innovative design has offered staff and users alike a space that exceeds our service requirements. The outstanding design affords staff the ability to provide the highest level of service, which has been reflected in usage levels, she says. Kinsale Library before work. Picture: William Smyth The building, a former grain store, opened as a library in August 2023, and was officially launched in December. In the first four months it welcomed 52,722 people, of which 2,239 attended events. Study spaces incorporated into the mezzanine design and two event options including the intriguing lobby has transformed the level of service we can now provide in Kinsale, says Ms OBrien. Interior of Kinsale Library. Picture: Jed Niezgoda The design offers ample storage for books thanks to the wall spaces between the wooden structures, she adds. Kinsale Library is a beautiful building both inside and outside, says the county librarian. The use of materials, light and space has created a very special atmosphere, enabling library users of all ages and needs to use the space harmoniously. For an online generation that we might associate with the loneliness epidemic, could libraries be regarded as a social space? Ms OBrien agrees. The amped-up zone is a major hit with younger users. Teenagers adore it, says the county librarian. They love coming in just to hang out. In fact, across all our libraries we are seeing a huge amount of studying going on because people can, as they are wearing headphones. The notion of library as hangout area really does appeal to Generation Z and beyond, she finds: Obviously something is attracting people to libraries are they are arriving to study and do things they could be doing at home whether its people working from home, popping in for a coffee or to do and hours work there for a change of scenery. View of the southeast corner at the commencement of works. Kinsale Librarys transformation could not be more dramatic. We moved from a one-room, one person building to a-three-floor library with 25,000 stock items, exhibition space and meeting space, she says. Kinsale Library, after. Picture: Jed Niezgoda Expansion means a range of activities have sprung up from ukulele groups to book clu8181bs, according to the county librarian. Library membership has almost quadrupled, from an original 1000 to just under 4,000 and visitors numbers have soared across all ages, and among locals and tourists. In 2023, we had 61,500 visitors since the August opening, and roughly around 40,000 book checkouts, which was a huge increase, says Ms OBrien. Interiors of Kinsale Library. Picture: Jed Niezgoda Later this year Kinsale will offer the My Open Library self-service unstaffed facility, until 10pm. The library will be a key landmark in Kinsale for many decades to come, she adds. Roll of honour THE RIAI Public Choice Awards 2024 received a record 20,000 votes online by the general public between June 5 and June 19 proof if it were needed that were more in tune than ever with our surroundings. Castleblayney Library. Picture: Richard Hatch The ballot sheet of 42 candidates included nine houses (new build and old), public housing projects by local authorities, workplaces, libraries, a distillery as well as innovative adaptions of buildings which hold great historical value. The overwhelming support reflects the projects outstanding contribution to the built environment and its resonance with the community, says Sandra OConnell of the RIAI. The level of public engagement was extraordinary, adds RIAI president, Sean Mahon. The Irish Architecture Awards focused on sustainability, reuse, repair, adaptation, and retrofit of our existing buildings as key to addressing climate change and 20 projects were celebrated, spanning nine categories. William Smyth of Cork County Council Architects Department with RIAI President Sean Mahon. Kinsale Library by Cork County Council Architects Department, won the Conservation, Adaptation and Re-Use category. The jury also recognised 14 Clarendon Street in Dublin by Shaffrey Architects for its skilled Restoration and Repair. Interior of The Lark Theatre, Balbriggan. Picture: Victor dela Fuen The jury made a special award to Stone Vessel by ODonnell + Tuomey for Joseph Walsh Studio in Fartha, Co Cork: It is in essence a folly, existing not as something driven by meeting a functional need but a celebration of the understanding that making and design are symbiotic activities In Public Buildings and Infrastructure, the jury presented St Davids Holy Faith Secondary School in Greystones by McCullough Mulvin Architects and the Rock Wing, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital by Scott Tallon Walker Architects with Awards. Among other awards presented were the Workplace Award, which went to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Headquarters by the Office of Public Works. The latter was also recognised with a Sustainability Award. Sandra Dinan has been working in Eli Lilly and Company in Kinsale since September 2022, a world-leading innovative medicines company. She joined their Engineering Graduate Programme after completing a BEng (Hons) degree in Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering in MTU. Here she outlines what she loves most about her current role as a Process Engineer in Small Molecule Manufacturing. What motivated you to apply for the graduate programme at this company? When applying for jobs, Lilly appealed to me as one of the strongest biopharmaceutical companies making medicine here in Cork and globally. It has a promising clinical pipeline and it is in an exciting growth phase. The graduate programme is three years in length and accredited by the ICHEME, a global professional organisation for engineers. This appealed to me as it supports continuous professional development and enables graduates to get ahead on their journey to becoming a Chartered Engineer. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how it prepared you for this programme? After completing the course in MTU, I developed skills for problem solving and facing challenges. I learned skills in stress management, teamwork and organised for multiple project deadlines and exams which prepared me for the fast-paced environment at Eli Lilly. I come from a sporty background which also helped develop my teamwork skills but has also taught me to keep my head up when I make a mistake, or when things go wrong. I also completed a 6 months work placement in Merck Millipore Cork during my time in MTU. This was my first ever experience where I could apply and develop skills in the real world, complete my research project and get used to how production operations work, as well as documentation and compliance activities. Is there anything you wish you had known before starting the programme? The level of fast-paced work, deadlines and demanding challenges was something I wish I knew about before starting the graduate programme. I started off as a Process Engineer in Small Molecule on one of the processes at Lilly Kinsale. I was treated the same as any other Process Engineer on the team and was given responsibility and tasks straight away while supporting the lead Process Engineer. This was a great way to develop skills and to learn and grow as an engineer, but it was also intense and a challenging first few months in getting up to speed, with the responsibilities increasing throughout the programme. Can you describe a typical day or week in the programme? As a Process Engineer, a typical day involves arriving to work and attending the morning meeting. This is where we do a shift handover with the process team, including discussing updates and any issues, and the plan for the day. Other day to day activities include troubleshooting, chairing meetings with multi-disciplinary teams and process monitoring. I also spend time liaising with colleagues in other functions such as quality representatives and safety engineers to compile process information or solve problems when needed. What kind of projects or assignments did you work on during the programme? Im currently working as a process engineer for a specific new product introduction. Over the past few months, Ive been helping with planning for the changeover of equipment, and ensuring compliance is maintained for both safety and quality, which are our top priorities. Over the last year and a half Ive also chaired the safety committee for my building, talking about different safety topics and communications. What advice would you give to a graduate who is thinking about interviewing for this position? Be yourself and be honest. Think about why you want a particular role and always bring the best of yourself to the role. Be willing to work with an open mind and learn from people who have more experience in that area, always ask questions and this will help you excel in your career development. What would you say are the key skills and capabilities necessary to be a good fit? Working as an Engineer at Lilly Kinsale means working in a multidisciplinary team. A lot of the work involves liaising with different functions. Key skills for this are therefore teamwork and communication. Challenges and problem solving are an integral part of the job as an engineer. Being adaptable and resilient in solving any technical problems and managing change are important skills for the role. How would you describe the company culture? The Lilly Kinsale culture is very family orientated with a great community spirit. Everyone is very helpful and supportive, and I feel like I can reach out to anyone in any area on the site for help when needed, no matter what level, or how senior they are. The company is very inclusive and people at Lilly are encouraged to speak up and to be innovative. Personal and career development are always supported. Where do you see yourself in five years? After five years, I see myself having transitioned through multiple areas in the company such as process safety or continuous manufacturing. I see myself working as a more senior experienced Process Engineer on potentially design of a new product introduction for an upcoming medicine, or working at one of Lillys manufacturing sites in the US. Whats your favourite place to holiday? Italy or Sherkin Island in the sun. What are you watching at the moment? I have started the new season of Bridgerton. Whats your favourite meal? Authentic lasagne from Rome. www.lilly.com/ie/careers Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men blocked a major road in central Israel for two hours on Thursday to protest against a recent Supreme Court decision ordering young religious men to enlist for military service. Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel. But politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won draft exemptions for their followers that allow them instead to study in religious seminaries. This long-standing arrangement has bred widespread resentment among the broader public a sentiment that has grown stronger during the eight-month war against Hamas in Gaza. More than 600 soldiers have been killed, and tens of thousands of reservists have been called up. Protesters sat on the main road and lay on the ground as police lifted them up and dragged them away. Officers mounted on horseback charged into the crowd. Many demonstrators held signs and chanted To prison! Not to the army! We all came here for one goal, we reflect the position of all the Orthodox public, said a young man, identifying himself only by his first name Ozer. All the Orthodox public prefers to go to prison and not to the army. The ultra-Orthodox see their full-time religious study as their part in protecting the state. Many fear that greater contact with secular society through the military will distance adherents from strict observance of the faith. The Supreme Court this week ordered the government to begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men, saying the system of exemptions is unequal. The decision could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government. Ultra-Orthodox parties and their followers oppose any change in the system. The ultra-Orthodox make up roughly 13% of Israels population. But under the countrys fragmented political system, they wield significant political power and often serve as political kingmakers. The parties are key members of Mr Netanyahus governing coalition and could potentially force new elections if they decide to leave the government. Ultra-Orthodox leaders have not yet said whether they will quit the government, but their followers have scheduled a large protest in Jerusalem on Sunday. The police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training and made critical decisions that slowed the police response to stop a killer who was hunting victims, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday. The gunman ultimately killed 21 people at Robb Elementary school. Pete Arredondo was arrested and briefly booked into jail before he was released on Thursday night on 10 state jail felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child in the May 24, 2022, attack that killed 19 children and two teachers in one of the worst school shootings in US history. Former school officer Adrian Gonzales also was indicted on multiple similar charges, the Uvalde Leader-News and the San Antonio Express-News reported. The Uvalde newspaper reported that district attorney Christina Mitchell confirmed the indictment. An 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a fourth grade classroom, where he remained for more than 70 minutes before officers confronted and killed him (Eric Gay/AP, File) Mr Arredondo, who was the on-site commander during the attack, and Mr Gonzales are the first officers to face criminal charges. The indictment against Mr Arredondo accused the chief of delaying the police response despite hearing shots fired and being notified that injured children were in the classrooms and that a teacher had been shot. Mr Arredondo called for a SWAT team, ordered the initial responding officers to evacuate the building instead of confronting the gunman, and attempted to negotiate with the 18-year-old, the indictment said. More than 370 federal, state and local officers converged on the scene, but they waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the gunman, even as he could be heard firing an AR-15-style rifle. Terrified pupils inside the classroom called 911 as agonised parents begged officers some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway to go in. A tactical team of officers eventually went into the classroom and killed the gunman. The indictment charges Mr Arredondo with failing to protect survivors of the attack, including Khloie Torres, who called 911 and begged for help, telling a dispatcher: Please hurry. Theres a lot of dead bodies. Some of my teachers are still alive but theyre shot. The state jail felony charges carry up to two years in jail if convicted. Scathing state and federal investigative reports on the police response previously catalogued cascading failures in training, communication, leadership and technology problems that day. Mr Arredondo lost his job three months after the shooting. Several officers involved were eventually fired, and separate investigations by the Department of Justice and state politicians accused law enforcement of botching their response to the massacre. Jobs tailored for mothers popular in China People's Daily Online) 13:25, June 28, 2024 A teacher teaches stay-at-home mothers how to make cakes at a vocational school in Changle district, Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province. (Photo/Xie Guiming) Jobs tailored for mothers who are still of working age and have children aged 12 and below are helping them obtain flexible employment and strike a balance between work and taking care of their kids, an employment model that has been widely popular with stay-at-home mothers across China. Pi Rongjie, whose child is 4 years old, works for an LED factory near her child's kindergarten in Jing'an county, Yichun city, east China's Jiangxi Province. The company offers flexible employment for stay-at-home mothers. Unlike her colleagues on the companys other production lines, mothers working under this model including Pi can clock in half an hour later and get off duty between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. These flexible work schedules enable her to strike a balance between work and sending and picking up her child, Pi said. "We are a labor-intensive company and need to hire a large number of operators year-round," said Huang, head of the factory, adding that jobs for stay-at-home mothers benefit both the company and these women. Under the guidance of the local government, Huang chose several production lines suitable for stay-at-home mothers. His factory has offered dozens of positions to mothers like Pi. "This has not only allowed us to hire workers in a timely manner but also to help local mothers secure a stable income," Huang said. In addition to providing flexible working hours, some regions are optimizing the working environment and model to better help young mothers through measures such as allowing them to take their children to the workplace and setting up community-based workshops for them. Female villagers work in an umbrella company in Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Photo/Qiu Hongbin) "As a new form of employment, jobs tailored for mothers can help them better strike a balance between work and family life. This not only resolves the employment issues faced by some women, but also exerts a positive influence on enterprises and society," said Zhang Li, a professor at the School of Law of Fujian Normal University in southeast China's Fujian Province. Meanwhile, the development of new business models such as livestreaming e-commerce has brought more options for mothers seeking flexible employment. For example, positions for mothers including operational staff, livestreamers, and customer service staff allow them to work from home. In 2022, a total of 17 Chinese government departments jointly released a guideline on support policies for employment and other aspects to boost birth rates. The guideline called for efforts to improve the institutional mechanisms for boosting employment for women and step up vocational training for female workers, especially young mothers. The emergence of jobs tailored for young mothers can help stay-at-home mothers overcome re-employment difficulties to some extent. Wu Haiying, former vice president of the All-China Women's Federation, suggested that employers can, based on their actual situations, determine the workload of mothers working under this model. She also called for the needs of stay-at-home mothers to be better served through measures such as offering them positions through community-based public welfare projects. South China's Guangdong Province is one of the pioneers in exploring the new flexible employment model for mothers in the country. In recent years, it has taken multiple measures to promote the sound development of this model. In 2022, Zhongshan city in Guangdong released various measures to promote this new form of employment, including encouraging employers in sectors such as retail, banking, and insurance to offer jobs tailored to mothers. A female employee works at Yuncheng Xinyuan Electronic Science & Technology Co., Ltd. in Xiaxian county, Yuncheng city, north China's Shanxi Province. The company offers jobs to over 200 left-behind women and unemployed people. (Photo/Zhang Xiufeng) Last year, the province drafted a document on providing more flexible job opportunities for mothers, including encouraging enterprises above designated size to offer such positions to them, and supporting diverse and practical employment and entrepreneurship skills training for them. Zhang suggested that mothers working under this model sign labor contracts that specify the rights and obligations of both parties, including key clauses on job duties, working hours, salary, and social insurance. In addition, organizations such as women's federations should keep close contact with mothers working under this model, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, listen to the views of employers, and improve mechanisms for labor dispute mediation to ensure the healthy development of this flexible employment model. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) ( Tomdispatch.com ) Officials and election experts are now struggling in a big-time way. How, they wonder, can they effectively address mounting threats of violence, election denialism, foreign influence, and voter discrimination? Do they run the risk of alarming the public to the point of reducing voter turnout? Are there reasons to assuage fears about either election disinformation or possible election interference in 2024? Standing in Pointe du Hoc, France, to mark the anniversary of D-Day, President Biden told the world that those who fought in that pivotal battle are asking us to do our job: to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy. Election security would be a good place to start. Perhaps one way to assess the question of election stability and security in 2024 is to ask: How different is this election from earlier tumultuous ones in American history? What, if any, lessons can we draw from the past? Or are we in genuinely uncharted territory today? In truth, when it comes to presidential elections, this country has faced some frightening moments in its history, ones that touch on a number of the fears that confront us today. We may never have faced the likes of Donald Trump, but we have experienced disputed vote tallies, Supreme Court interference, threats of violence, voting rights restrictions, and a lack of confidence in the process itself. Contested Elections Donald Trump has made no bones about it. Should he lose the coming election, he reserves the right to refuse to accept the results. In 2020, his denial of the results led to a violent attempt to block Congress from certifying the vote on the following January 6th. To date, any accountability for his past actions has been minimal. Found guilty last month of falsifying business records to conceal election law violations in 2016, he has yet to be sentenced and may well appeal all the way up to a sympathetic Supreme Court. Moreover, he hasnt been tried yet in Georgia and in federal court in Washington, D.C., on significantly more serious criminal charges about ways he and his followers tried to subvert the results of the 2020 election and hes unlikely to be before the November elections. Most Republicans have remained at his side. Indeed, election denialism has become a rallying point rather than a mark of shame. As a result, the former president continues to engage in implied threats to the democratic political process with unwavering partisan support. And were he to disappear from the political scene thanks to a decisive defeat in 2024, others could follow him in exploiting the democratic system for political gain. While there have been a handful of disputed presidential election results since the countrys founding, two stand out. In the election of 1876, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes lost the popular and electoral vote to Samuel Tilden. The Republicans protested that, in three states, the results were uncertain. To resolve the issue, Congress created a bipartisan panel, including House and Senate representatives and five Supreme Court justices. That panel then granted Hayes all 20 disputed electoral votes, giving him a one-point electoral margin over Tilden, and so making him president. Ultimately, the country found a way forward. More than a century later, in the 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore, the results again lay in dispute. Gore had won the popular vote, but the electoral vote was too close to call. All eyes focused on Florida where the results would determine the outcome. Although the Florida Supreme Court ordered a statewide recount, the Supreme Court stopped it and, in doing so, made Bush president. In neither post-election resolution did the losing candidate contest the results, though Tilden waited four months before conceding. The day after the Supreme Courts decision, Gore conceded, saying, I accept the finality of this outcome a stark contrast to Donald Trump who still refuses to concede that the 2020 election result was legitimate. Its worth mentioning that both elections had major consequences. Hayess win, the result of a brokered deal, also ended the post-Civil War Reconstruction era and led to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the South. That election would prove an integral part of efforts to undo the biggest push the nation ever had to achieve racial justice. The Bush administration, in turn, failed to prevent the attacks of September 11, 2001, and then launched a multidecade-long war on terror that would destabilize parts of the globe from South Asia to the Middle East and Africa, while, according to the Costs of War Project, leading to the deaths of more than 7,000 American service members and more than 177,000 allied military and police in conflicts ranging from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Iraq and Syria, not to mention the deaths of more than 430,000 civilians. Along with the knowledge that uncertainty can accompany election results, Americans sense as well that violence could indeed loom in as yet unknown ways, thanks to Election 2024. Violence Before, During, and After an Election Its not that Americans have never experienced the threat of violence around elections. The Civil War years saw numerous outbreaks of violence. In 1861, a mob of Confederate supporters tried to gather to storm Congress to stop the certification of Abraham Lincoln as president. There was no violence only because General Winfield Scott, a southerner, made sure the Capitol was protected. So, too, in 1868, in the runup to the first election of the Reconstruction era between Ulysses S. Grant and Horatio Seymour, Ku Klux Klan violence led to thousands of murders in Georgia, Kansas, and Louisiana, and threats of violence kept voters away from the polls in droves. In the 1876 Tilden-Hayes election in which four states submitted multiple slates of electors to Congress, one popular slogan was Tilden or Blood. Expecting violence, President Grant secured the Capitol with troops and prepared to deploy them elsewhere as well. And then (as now), race and violence were a distinct issue. In 1873, white mobs assaulted a courthouse in Colfax, Louisiana, to remove pro-Reconstruction Republican officials. In 1898, a horde of white North Carolinians conducted a coup against the fusionist government of the city of Wilmington to empower reactionary southern Democrats. During the last part of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, southern Jim Crow laws imposed in response to Reconstruction produced literacy tests and poll taxes that disenfranchised Black voters. And in the twentieth century, racially motivated violence aimed at suppressing the vote became a regular part of election politics. During Freedom Summer in 1964, three civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner were killed by white terrorists for participating in Black voter registration initiatives in Mississippi. When demonstrators were assaulted by police and white mobs on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama during a nonviolent march on March 7, 1965, in support of voting rights legislation, the nation witnessed just how much brutality then existed when it came to those seeking to fulfill the nations democratic promise. Twenty-First-Century Challenges Experts anticipate a surge of violence at the polls in 2024. A Brennan Center survey found that, since 2020, 38 percent of local election officials experienced threats, harassment, or abuse for doing their jobs. To counter this, the federal government and individual states have already mounted efforts intended to protect both voters and officials. Since 2020, in fact, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and Congress have ponied up an extra $205 million for election protection. And yet, as the Brennan Center points out, a growing fear of violence and harassment has led to an exodus from the field of election work. Not surprisingly, a recent Ipsos/Reuters poll reported that two out of three Americans are concerned about the prospect of election violence in 2024 and fear the possibility of a worse version of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. Violence at the polls has, in fact, plagued elections throughout the nations history, as Steven Hahn recounts in his new book, Illiberal America, while the Voting Rights Act of 1965 proved to be fragile indeed, as red states continued to put voting restrictions in place based on false allegations of voter fraud. Worse yet are the threats already emanating from former president Trump and Republicans close to him. The embrace of such anti-democratic sentiment by such a potentially powerful figure and his party at a time when global anti-democratic forces are on the rise has already created an historically rare level of instability in this country. And keep in mind that not all the dangers of this moment have a footprint in the American past. There are new challenges that face the nation today. Disinformation is a case in point. While false information has always been a part of politics smears against alleged communists were, for instance, a staple of the early Cold War years the Internet has proven a game-changer when it comes to facilitating false narratives that could lead to both voter suppression and a deep mistrust of election results. The scale and scope of disinformation in the modern age has no precedent. Without editorial control and given the ease of disseminating misinformation, guardrails have crumbled. Experts warn that the massive communications infrastructure that transmits bad information could undermine confidence in election results in ways never before seen. Worse yet, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is likely to prove a particularly dangerous mechanism for producing electoral deepfakes. Additionally, foreign interference seems now to have become a permanent feature of American elections, although to what end remains in question. As the 2019 report issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller demonstrated, Russias attempts to interfere with the 2016 election, including conducting information warfare and attacking voter databases, proved sweeping and systematic. Where Are We Today? When it comes to elections, despite Donald Trump, its not been all downhill. In 2021, the Department of Justice launched an Election Threat Task Force aimed at individuals who posed threats to election workers. To date, 17 people have indeed been prosecuted. Significantly, in 2022, Congress passed the Electoral Count Reform Act, an attempt to update the Electoral Count Act of 1887 and improve the process of certifying the vote, ensuring that the transition period between election day and inauguration day goes smoothly. In addition, in 2022, Congress passed legislation to establish a Foreign Malign Influence Center to counter disinformation from overseas generally, not just in elections. The federal courts have also proven to be barriers against electoral subversion. In the wake of the 2020 election, they repeatedly denied Donald Trump success in his efforts to overturn the results. Yet even this source of democratic protection has been limited, while the present all too conservative Supreme Court, which in 2013 gutted the Voting Rights Act, has continued to weaken voter protections. The question then remains: What do the lessons of history and recent reforms tell us about our current moment? On the one hand, history suggests that election dysfunction has been overcome time and again. Whether were talking about contested results, challenges to voter suppression, outbreaks of violence, or presidents elected without national majorities, such situations have been resolved reasonably successfully in the past. Meanwhile, new measures have been put in place for the security of election workers, the certification of the vote, and the deterrence of voter suppression in new ways. In other words, American democracy has continued, despite deeply rooted problems. And yet, its also clear that past negative experiences have, in our moment, been twisted into newly dangerous configurations. In place of contested elections, there is now outright election denialism. In addition to racially motivated violence, theres growing extremist violence aimed at the institution of voting itself. In place of partisan campaign rhetoric, were experiencing the spread of hate speech based on race, ethnicity, gender, or simply opposition to democracy itself. Instead of support for the outlawing of post-election violence, we now live with references to the imprisoned offenders of January 6, 2021, as hostages. And just because this country has survived challenging times in the past doesnt mean it will do so again, particularly as pressure against democratic norms ramps up globally. Many would blame such election instability on Donald Trump alone and theres no question that he does have a profound knack for manipulating public discourse and threatening to upend election laws, not to speak of the rules, norms, and processes that underlie election legitimacy. However significant, though, hes not the only factor that warrants attention in this election year. The largest threats to our elections now come not from weaponized technology, or a tone-deaf Congress or Supreme Court, or even perhaps from Donald Trump himself (though dangerous he may be). The biggest challenge may lie in the absence of any long-term focus on the need for fundamental structural changes in how our elections are run. For centuries, we as a nation have made incremental changes in response to moments of election-related crisis. But far more is needed if we are to escape a future in which questions about whether the electoral process itself is legitimate and whether the results will be accepted become part of every election season. Our democratic system seems increasingly frail. To face the future with confidence in the most elemental building block of our democracy, we need a longer-term perspective. The elimination of the Electoral College, greater accountability for violence in and around elections, tools for curbing disinformation and improving election administration, a vast increase in funding for public education about polling sites and candidate platforms, strict accountability for attempted voter suppression, and heightened efforts to secure voting rights for all are badly needed. In other words, rather than facing a continual nip and tuck of problems as they appear, what we really need is a commission that will offer a full-scale rethinking of election security in the twenty-first century, while focusing on getting Congress to move toward developing a comprehensive new strategy to deal with it. Even if we get through the 2024 election cycle intact and violence-free, the task of election reform remains both essential and, sadly, all too ignored. Perhaps, however, there could be a silver lining in our unnerving moment if our ongoing election troubles lead us to conclude that the time for keeping our fingers crossed should end and the time for wholesale reform begin. Copyright 2024 Julian E. Zelizer and Karen J. Greenberg Via Tomdispatch.com Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | = Elhanan Fellheimer Chairman, National Union of Israeli Students Prof. Arie Zaban President of Bar-Ilan University Chairperson of Association of University Heads VERA President Zaban, Chairman Fellheimer, We write on behalf of the Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) to express our profound concern over the National Union of Israeli Students proposed bill and billboard smear campaign against faculty in Israeli higher education institutions who are critical of Israeli governments actions and policies. The proposed bill and billboard smear campaign appear to target, in particular, Professor Anat Matar and Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian (about whom we sent letters on 9 November 2023, 21 March 2024, and 6 May 2024). MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, MESA publishes the International Journal of Middle East Studies and has close to 2800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and the freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and elsewhere. Contrary to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression, the National Union of Israeli Students vaguely worded draft bill of 19 May 2024 proposes that: Academic institutions will be obliged to immediately fire a lecturer, a teacher or researcher who expresses or acts in a manner that includes denial of the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, incitement to racism, violence or terrorism and/or support for an armed struggle or an act of terrorism against Israel. The draft bill also stipulates that even tenured faculty can be terminated immediately without compensation and that any institution refusing to abide by the proposed law by not firing a faculty member could lose state funding. To promote this bill, the National Union of Israeli Students has also funded what appears to be an expensive public campaign, which includes posters and billboards placed in various parts of Tel Aviv and its vicinity with quotes from Matar and Shalhoub-Kevorkian and which call for such faculty to be fired without compensation. This flagrant disregard for the basic values that underpin academic scholarship is detrimental to Israeli academia in general and its struggle to remain relevant globally. On 21 May 2024, the Committee of University Heads of Israel (VERA) published a detailed, five-page letter to convince Spanish institutions not to boycott Israeli institutions, in which they argue that they share the commitment to peace and justice in the region and [] agree with you that the situation in Gaza is tragic. If VERA wishes for its claims to be taken seriously, campaigns promoting undemocratic, fascist policies against academics and students must be strongly and publicly resisted. While it was indeed important that VERA published a letter on 3 June 2024 opposing the bill and calling on members of Israels parliament to reject it, further actions are required to protect academic freedom and the freedom of speech. VERA must stand behind faculty and students who are being attacked on campuses and in the public sphere. Furthermore, opposition to the war or any other Israeli policy must remain legal if, indeed, the academic sphere is to be described as liberal and democratic, committed to peace and justice in the region. Students, staff, and faculty, both Jewish Israeli and Palestinian, must be permitted to express themselves regarding the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which is far more than simply tragic. We call upon the National Union of Israeli Students to stop threatening critical voices at the countrys universities, thereby exacerbating student and faculty fears for their safety on and off campus, and instead promote open, democratic academic settings. Further, we urge VERA to be true to its own words and stand behind the effort to block the National Unions dangerous proposed bill. A pluralistic political environment that ensures academic freedom for all requires nothing less. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Asl U. Bali MESA President Professor, Yale Law School Laurie Brand Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom Professor Emerita, University of Southern California Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) During CNNs sh*tshow I mean, debate Trump at one point insisted that Biden let the Israelis go at the Palestinians: You got to ask him, as far as Israel and Hamas, Israel is the one that wants to go. He said the only one who wants to keep going is Hamas. Actually, Israel is the one, and you should them go and let them finish the job. He doesnt want to do it. He has become like a Palestinian. But, they dont like him because he is a very bad Palestinian. He is a weak one. It is unprecedented for someone to call a sitting US president a Palestinian, and the use of the term as an insult is a measure of how racist American society is. As usual, Trump didnt make much sense. Was he saying that Palestinians dont like Biden because although he is a fellow Palestinian he is a weak one? Is he saying it is better to be a strong Palestinian? One thing he got right (a broken clock is still right twice a day) is that Biden has incorrectly depicted the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a hostage deal and peace plan of the sort ordered by the UN Security Council. Netanyahu and his full-on fascist cabinet members reject it out of hand. Although Biden blames the failure of peace negotiations on Hamas, the blame falls more squarely on Netanyahu (though Hamas also piled on demands that the US and Israel reject). And it is ironic that someone universally despised as a genocide enabler by Palestinians should be thusly associated with them. It occurred to me that using Palestinian in this way is analogous to how the N-word is used by white nationalists (or just white racists). Moreover, it has been used to shame white presidents in the same way. CNN Biden and Trump debate over war between Israel and Hamas In 1901, President Teddy Roosevelt hosted presidential adviser Booker T. Washington and his wife for a dinner at the White House. The invitation outraged whites in the Jim Crow South. An anonymous racist with a rotten soul, calling himself Unchained Poet, published a piece of doggerel, N**rs in the White House, in a Missouri newspaper, and it was reprinted in a number of other newspapers through 1903. According to Innerkwest, Senator Benjamin Tillman from South Carolina remarked, The action of President Roosevelt in entertaining that n***r will necessitate our killing a thousand n***s in the South before they will learn their place again. In 1929, First Lady Lou Hoover, had a tea for wives of representatives in the House and she included in her invitation Jessie De Priest, the spouse of African-American congressman Oscar De Priest. The poem was reprinted again at that point. It is well known that President Lyndon B. Johnson, although he passed the 1964 Civil Rights bill, referred to it in private as that n***r bill, and he was presumably echoing the complaints of his white Texas constituents. Tillmans linking of Roosevelts invitation with an unacceptable encouragement of African-Americans to step out of their place underlines one of the purposes of such racist epithets, which is to establish and reinforce a racist hierarchy. Those at the bottom of the hierarchy, in authoritarian thinking, have to be kept down by violence, and may even be killed for this purpose. Some 4,000 African Americans were lynched by bigoted whites during the Jim Crow era in a standing exercise in terror. Today it is the Palestinians who are killed with impunity, over 40,000 of them in Gaza if you count the civilians under the rubble. But the problem of hatred of Palestinians is not limited to Israel. In the US, three Palestinian-American students in Vermont were shot down for wearing kuffiyehs and speaking Arabic. A six-year-old Palestinian-American boy was killed by a white landlord in Chicago, and his mother was wounded. In Texas at a public pool, a woman asked a Palestinian-American mother where she was from, and when the answer was Palestine, the woman tried to drown her children. Kuffiyehs are being associated with Palestinian identity (lots of Middle Easterners wear them) and are increasingly being criminalized or associated with hate speech. Congress is trying to pass a law forbidding the use of casualty counts by the Gaza Ministry of Health, attempting to erase an entire genocide. The Ministry of Health is staffed with professionals and its numbers have been used in the past by the US government and are even acknowledged by many Israelis. Thats the same Congress that kept Black people enslaved until 1863 and that did nothing to stop Southern states from rolling back Reconstruction and denying the vote to African-Americans until 1964. Results indicate strong potential to further expand resources and continue to extend mine life (All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2024) - Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the "Company" or "Torex") (TSX: TXG) announces assay results from the Company's ongoing drilling program at El Limon Guajes ("ELG") Underground. The results to date support Torex's target of extending the mine life of ELG Underground beyond 2028 by identifying new zones of higher-grade mineralization, expanding resources, and increasing reserves. Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated: "Building off the success of the 2023 drilling program, which resulted in a two-year mine life extension, drilling at ELG Underground continues to deliver results that bolster our ability to continue to replace mined reserves. This, combined with the potential for EPO to come into the mine plan, supports our strategy of maintaining annual gold equivalent production above 450,000 ounces through 2033. A number of the newly reported drill holes confirm mineralization beyond the boundary of known resources - to the south and at depth at the El Limon Sur Trend, to the west along the El Limon Deep Trend, and to the north along the Sub-Sill Trend. This further demonstrates that the true mineralization potential of this orebody is yet to be fully realized. We continue to see ELG Underground as a deposit that year-over-year can consistently deliver resource growth and reserve replacement, which is expected to result in significant cash flow generation that will support the growth of Torex across the Morelos Property and beyond." HIGHLIGHTS Initial results from the 2024 drilling program at ELG Underground continued to build off the success of the programs from prior years, demonstrating the potential to grow mineral resources, extend high-grade mineralization, and support extending the reserve life of ELG Underground beyond 2028. El Limon Sur Trend Drill hole LS-310 of the Advanced Exploration program in the southern ore shoot returned an intercept of 7.19 grams per tonne gold equivalent ("gpt AuEq") over 12.2 meters ("m") approximately 100 m below the high-grade intercepts reported in 2023. This indicates that mineralization at the El Limon Sur Trend may extend both to the south and at depth. Drilling as part of the Resource Delineation program in the northern ore shoot has returned high-grade intercepts, confirming the potential to extend Inferred Resources along the 500 m above sea level ("m.a.s.l.") level. Drill hole LDUG-321 delivered two noteworthy intercepts of 10.70 gpt AuEq over 3.1 m and 3.42 gpt AuEq over 3.0 m. El Limon Deep Trend As part of the Advanced Exploration program, five out of six holes drilled to test the western extension of the El Limon Deep Trend encountered high-grade mineralization. Most notably, LDUG-315 returned two high-grade intercepts of 14.29 gpt AuEq over 5.4 m and 11.16 gpt AuEq over 15.3 m, including 20.72 gpt over 4.0 m. Sub-Sill Trend The first hole from the Resource Delineation program at the Sub-Sill Trend that was drilled 50 m to the north of the southern ore shoot confirms the continuity of high-grade mineralization. Drill hole LDUG-317 returned notable intercepts of 11.82 gpt AuEq over 5.0 m and 19.85 gpt AuEq over 8.5 m. 2024 ELG UNDERGROUND DRILLING & EXPLORATION PROGRAM The 2024 ELG Underground drilling program is aligned with the broader Exploration Strategy the Company published earlier in June ("Torex Gold outlines multi-year exploration strategy"), with the program focused on Reserve Definition, Resource Delineation, and Advanced Exploration, targeting extensions of high-grade mineralization along the El Limon Sur, El Limon Deep, El Limon West, and Sub-Sill trends (Figure 1). Figure 1: Plan view of ELG Underground. The 2024 program to date has been focused on testing mineralization extensions beyond the boundaries of known resources. Torex has budgeted $12 million towards drilling and exploration for ELG Underground in 2024. As of the end of April, approximately 8,709 m across 27 holes were drilled as part of the ELG Underground 2024 drilling program. Detailed drill results are reported in Table 4 (El Limon Sur Trend), Table 5 (El Limon Deep Trend) and Table 6 (Sub-Sill Trend). Drill hole intercepts are core lengths and not true widths. AuEq grades use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz gold ("Au"), $22/oz silver ("Ag"), and $3.75/lb copper ("Cu")) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground (AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104). EL LIMON SUR TREND (FIGURE 2) Drilling along the El Limon Sur Trend has been focused on resource categorization within the northern ore shoot, confirming the continuity of high-grade mineralization at depth along the southern ore shoot, and potential mineralization at the intersection of this mineralized corridor and the Z71 fault. As part of the Resource Delineation drilling program at the north ore shoot, drill hole LDUG-314 encountered 10.26 gpt AuEq over 7.68 m, supporting the expected conversion of Inferred Resources to the Indicated category with the year-end 2024 mineral reserve and resource update. Drill hole LDUG-321 confirmed high-grade mineralization down to 500 m.a.s.l. with two notable intercepts (10.70 gpt AuEq over 3.1 m and 3.42 gpt AuEq over 3.0 m). The first hole (LS-310) drilled as part of the Advanced Exploration program at the southern ore shoot encountered 7.19 gpt AuEq over 12.2 m more than 100 m below the high-grade intercepts of LS-293 and LS-295 reported in 2023. This result indicates the potential to extend mineralization to the south and at depth. The continuity of the mineralization between the north and south ore shoots at the intersection of the El Limon Sur Trend and Z71 fault was tested, with five holes returning no significant results. Drilling through the rest of the year will continue to explore the north ore shoot, focused on resource categorization and testing the mineralization continuity supported by LDUG-321 along the 500 m.a.s.l. level. Drilling at the southern ore shoot has been paused until Q4 2024, at which time additional underground development is expected to provide better optionality for exploration drilling. Table 1: Recent highlights from the 2024 drilling program along the El Limon Sur Trend Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Core Length1 (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq2 (gpt) LDUG-314 94.47 102.15 7.68 9.61 11.8 0.31 10.26 LDUG-321 560.09 563.21 3.12 5.89 51.2 2.58 10.70 595.30 598.32 3.02 2.91 9.0 0.24 3.42 LDUG-322 91.73 107.44 15.71 2.30 60.7 2.16 6.56 LS-310 347.70 359.85 12.15 2.81 56.1 2.28 7.19 LS-311 276.45 294.40 17.95 7.42 1.5 0.07 7.55 Notes to Table: 1) Intercepts are reported as core length (not true width/thickness). Core lengths reflect drilling core recovery. 2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. EL LIMON DEEP TREND (FIGURE 3) Advanced exploration drilling to date this year at the El Limon Deep Trend has been focused on the western extension of the intersection of El Limon Deep and El Limon Sur mineralized corridors. Results for the first six drill holes returned multiple mineralized intercepts that confirm high-grade, southwest-plunging mineralization. Current results over 600 m.a.s.l. show strong support for new Inferred Resources in this area once the program is completed. Intercepts at depth showed lower-grade mineralization that was slightly above cut-off grade. Given these results, exploration to further test depth extensions has been deferred for the time being to prioritize higher-grade targets. Drilling for the remainder of this year will focus on the conversion of Inferred Resources to the Indicated category and testing the intersection of the El Limon Deep and Sub-Sill trends. Table 2: Recent highlights from the 2024 drilling program along the El Limon Deep Trend Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Core Length1 (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq2 (gpt) LDUG-315 242.49 247.92 5.43 12.02 24.3 1.22 14.29 264.43 279.68 15.25 6.74 33.7 2.48 11.16 Including 270.75 274.76 4.01 10.44 79.6 5.75 20.72 LDUG-316 213.08 217.27 4.19 3.01 4.0 0.27 3.49 232.00 235.80 3.80 4.76 6.0 0.36 5.43 LDUG-324 457.00 460.00 3.00 1.46 8.3 0.74 2.76 535.50 538.39 2.89 4.48 4.9 0.06 4.64 LDUG-326 463.72 469.00 5.28 5.67 9.1 0.19 6.09 Notes to Table: 1) Intercepts are reported as core length (not true width/thickness). Core lengths reflect drilling core recovery. 2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. SUB-SILL TREND (FIGURE 4) Resource Delineation work is being undertaken along the Sub-Sill Trend, with step-out drilling focused around current Inferred and Indicated Resources. Drilling 50 m to the north of the main ore shoot confirms the continuity of high-grade mineralization in this direction, with drill hole LDUG-317 encountering 11.82 gpt AuEq over 5.0 meters and 19.85 gpt AuEq over 8.5 meters. During the first half of 2024, drilling activities focused on the reclassification of Inferred Resources to the Indicated category at the main ore shoot. As part of the Advanced Exploration program, several holes are planned to be drilled later this year from Portal 3 to further test the northern extension of the Sub-Sill Trend. Table 3: Recent highlights from the 2024 drilling program along the Sub-Sill Trend Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Core Length1 (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq2 (gpt) LDUG-317 25.00 30.00 5.00 11.75 3.1 0.02 11.82 43.36 51.88 8.52 19.79 1.6 0.03 19.85 LDUG-321 34.79 37.88 3.09 4.04 6.0 0.22 4.47 Notes to Table: 1) Intercepts are reported as core length (not true width/thickness). Core lengths reflect drilling core recovery. 2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. EL LIMON GUAJES MINE COMPLEX GEOLOGY The ELG Mine Complex, located in the central part of the Guerrero Gold Belt in southwest Mexico, is hosted in the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, which has been intruded by Paleocene granodiorite stocks, sills, and dikes, and the uplifting of the block close to surface by maar-diatreme complexes. Skarn-hosted gold mineralization develops along contacts of the intrusive rocks and carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the Cuautla and Morelos formations, as well as along the footwall contact of the Mezcala Formation. At depth, the mineralization has a strong structural control related to the main stages of deformation, with the collision of allochthonous terrain being responsible for the major north-south faults, while the almost east-west faulting is associated with the beginning of the subduction process. Gold mineralization at ELG occurs in spatial association with a skarn body that was developed along a 2-kilometre-long corridor following the northeast contact of the ELG granodiorite stock. The skarn zone that occurs at the marble stratigraphic level of the Morelos Formation is in contact with hornfels developed in the Mezcala Formation. At El Limon, skarn mineralization is also structurally controlled by north-south and north-east trending faults. Early-stage deposition corresponds to skarn alteration and mineralization at ELG, and are fairly typical of calcic gold-skarn systems. Zones of coarse, massive, garnet-dominant skarn appear within and along the stock margin, with fine-grained pyroxene-dominant skarn more common at greater distances from the contact with the stock. Significant gold mineralization at ELG is spatially associated with the skarn, preferentially occurring in pyroxene-rich exoskarn but also hosted in garnet-rich endoskarn that has been affected by retrograde alteration, which suggests that the most important gold event is strongly related to bismuth, late stage, and of epithermal origin. Dikes and sills are found to crosscut the hornfels and marble along the structural trends mentioned above and are spatially associated with the skarn formation. In some cases these are the ore control of main gold mineralization stage at depth. The style of mineralization at the El Limon Deep, El Limon Sur, Sub-Sill and El Limon West trends is characterized by gold, with locally high silver and copper grades. Given that gold precipitates due to the buffer exerted by the early stage of calc-silicate alteration and sulfide mineralization, it is free and generally dissociated from the previous copper event mainly related to chalcopyrite. QA/QC AND QUALIFIED PERSON Torex maintains an industry-standard analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) and data verification program to monitor laboratory performance and ensure high-quality assays. Results from this program confirm reliability of the assay results. All sampling and analytical work for the mine exploration program is performed by SGS de Mexico S.A. de C.V. ("SGS") in Durango, and by SGS at Minera Media Luna site facilities in Mexico. Gold analyses comprise fire assays with atomic absorption or gravimetric finish. External check assays for QA/QC purposes are performed at ALS Chemex de Mexico S.A. de C.V. The analytical QA/QC program is currently overseen by Carlo Nasi, Chief Mine Geologist for Minera Media Luna, S.A. de C.V. Scientific and technical data contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Volker Moeller, Ph.D., P.Geo. (ON), a qualified person (a "QP") as such term is defined in NI 43-101. Dr. Moeller is a Senior Resource Geologist employed by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. and is independent of Torex. Dr. Volker has verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the drill results; verification included visually reviewing the drill holes in three dimensions, comparing the assay results to the original assay certificates, reviewing the drilling database, and reviewing core photography consistent with standard practice. Dr. Volker consents to the inclusion in this release of said data in the form and context in which they appear. Additional information on the ELG Underground, sampling and analyses, analytical labs, and methods used for data verification is available in the Company's technical report entitled the "Morelos Property, NI 43-101 Technical Report, ELG Mine Complex Life of Mine Plan and Media Luna Feasibility Study, Guerrero State, Mexico", dated effective March 16, 2022 filed on March 31, 2022 (the "2022 Technical Report") and in the annual information form ("AIF") dated March 30, 2023, each filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.torexgold.com. ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Company's principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes ("ELG") Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torex's key strategic objectives are: integrate and optimize the Morelos Property; deliver Media Luna to full production; grow reserves and resources; disciplined growth and capital allocation; retain and attract best industry talent; and build on ESG excellence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Jody Kuzenko President and CEO Direct: (647) 725-9982 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Dan Rollins Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 260-1503 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information also includes, but is not limited to, statements about: the results to date support Torex's target of extending the mine life of ELG Underground beyond 2028 by identifying new zones of higher-grade mineralization, expanding resources, and increasing reserves; drilling at ELG Underground continues to deliver results that bolster our ability to continue to replace mined reserves; combined with the potential for EPO to come into the mine plan, this supports the Company's strategy of maintaining annual gold equivalent production above 450,000 ounces through 2033; this further demonstrates that the true mineralization potential of this orebody is yet to be fully realized; the Company continues to see ELG Underground as a deposit that year-over-year can consistently deliver resource growth and reserve replacement, which is expected to result in significant cash flow generation that will support the growth of Torex across the Morelos Property and beyond; the potential to grow mineral resources, extend high-grade mineralization, and support extending the reserve life of ELG Underground beyond 2028; the results of drill hole LS-310 of the Advanced Exploration program indicates that mineralization at the El Limon Sur Trend may extend both to the south and at depth; drilling as part of the Resource Delineation program in the northern ore shoot has returned economic grades, confirming the potential to extend Inferred Resources along the 500 m above sea level ("m.a.s.l.") level; the potential mineralization at the intersection of the El Limon Sur Trend mineralized corridor and the Z71 fault; drill hole LDUG-314 results supporting the expected conversion of Inferred Resources to the Indicated category with the year-end 2024 mineral reserve and resource update; the first hole (LS-310) drilled as part of the Advanced Exploration program result indicates the potential to extend mineralization to the south and at depth; and Torex's key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mine Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "objective", "strategy", "target", "continue", "potential", "focus", "demonstrate", "aim" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will", "would", or "is expected to" occur. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: the ability to upgrade mineral resources categories of mineral resources with greater confidence levels or to mineral reserves; risks associated with mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation; uncertainty involving skarn deposits; and those risk factors identified in the Technical Report and the Company's annual information form and management's discussion and analysis or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions discussed in the Technical Report and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The Technical Report, AIF and MD&A are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.torexgold.com. Figure 2: At the El Limon Sur Trend, drilling in the southern ore shoot indicates the deposit may be open to the south and at depth. Drilling in the northern ore shoot returned high-grade intercepts, confirming the potential to extend Inferred Resources along the 500 m.a.s.l. level. Figure 3: Drilling to test the western extension of the El Limon Deep Trend encountered high-grade mineralization. Current results indicate strong support for the addition of Inferred Resources in this area with the year-end mineral reserve and resource update. Figure 4: At the Sub-Sill Trend, drilling 50 m to the north of the southern ore shoot confirms the continuity of high-grade mineralization. Table 4: Drill results testing mineralization extensions along the El Limon Sur Trend Intercept Drill Hole Program UTM-E (m) UTM-N (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq (gpt) Lithology LDUG-314 Step-out 422211.1 1990018.1 724.1 270.0 -28.0 390.0 94.47 102.15 7.68 9.61 11.8 0.31 10.26 Skarn LDUG-318 Step-out 422266.0 1989814.7 901.7 268.0 -42.0 402.0 309.35 313.50 4.15 0.32 4.6 0.14 0.60 Skarn LDUG-319 Step-out 422271.9 1989925.9 735.5 271.0 -11.5 220.0 145.50 149.36 3.86 1.50 2.9 0.11 1.71 Skarn LDUG-320 Step-out 422265.9 1989814.9 902.1 268.0 -58.0 441.0 255.75 259.58 3.83 1.05 1.4 0.01 1.09 Skarn LDUG-321 Step-out 422377.6 1989777.4 993.8 264.0 -57.0 660.0 560.09 563.21 3.12 5.89 51.2 2.58 10.70 Skarn 595.30 598.32 3.02 2.91 9.0 0.24 3.42 Skarn LDUG-322 Step-out 422265.9 1989814.7 902.9 268.5 -23.0 340.0 80.00 83.78 3.78 6.33 1.5 0.00 6.35 Skarn 91.73 107.44 15.71 2.30 60.7 2.16 6.56 Skarn 240.55 243.68 3.13 2.45 5.1 0.36 3.10 Skarn LDUG-327 Step-out 421828.9 1989766.7 1062.3 96.0 -45.0 401.5 269.68 273.00 3.32 1.55 1.3 0.10 1.73 Skarn LS-308 Step-out 421832.1 1989455.1 865.7 90.0 -50.0 507.0 429.00 434.75 5.75 0.78 2.9 0.13 1.04 Skarn LS-309 Step-out 421728.6 1989388.0 842.5 90.0 -51.0 838.8 No skarn intercepted LS-310 Step-out 422045.5 1989330.8 897.2 90.0 -67.0 461.5 347.70 359.85 12.15 2.81 56.1 2.28 7.19 Skarn LS-311 Infill 421828.8 1989766.2 1062.3 105.0 -45.0 411.0 276.45 294.40 17.95 7.42 1.5 0.07 7.55 Skarn LS-312 Step-out 421828.1 1989765.5 1062.3 115.0 -45.0 447.0 303.50 307.56 4.06 0.11 4.2 0.65 1.20 MSO LS-313 Infill 421827.3 1989766.9 1062.2 96.0 -55.0 436.0 No skarn intercepted LS-314 Step-out 421826.4 1989766.5 1062.2 118.0 -66.0 438.0 427.63 430.75 3.12 2.03 1.6 0.08 2.17 Skarn LS-315 Step-out 421827.1 1989767.0 1062.2 106.0 -55.5 402.0 296.00 299.50 3.50 1.21 0.5 0.01 1.24 Skarn LS-316 Step-out 421827.0 1989766.3 1062.1 117.5 -55.0 352.0 63.09 69.38 6.29 4.53 0.9 0.00 4.55 Altered Dike Notes to Table 1) Intercepts are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. Table 5: Drill results from step-out drilling at depth along the El Limon Deep Trend Intercept Drill Hole Program UTM-E (m) UTM-N (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq (gpt) Lithology LDUG-315 Step-out 421911.6 1990093.4 948.4 170.0 -68.0 330.0 242.49 247.92 5.43 12.02 24.3 1.22 14.29 Skarn 264.43 279.68 15.25 6.74 33.7 2.48 11.16 MSO/Skarn Including 270.75 274.76 4.01 10.44 79.6 5.75 20.72 MSO/Skarn LDUG-316 Step-out 421911.5 1990093.5 948.7 157.0 -64.0 317.0 213.08 217.27 4.19 3.01 4.0 0.27 3.49 Skarn 232.00 235.80 3.80 4.76 6.0 0.36 5.43 Skarn LDUG-324 Step-out 421827.8 1989770.0 1062.0 20.0 -65.0 570.0 457.00 460.00 3.00 1.46 8.3 0.74 2.76 Skarn 520.00 530.78 10.78 2.56 12.3 0.13 2.92 Skarn Including 520.00 520.67 0.67 21.45 1.0 0.00 21.47 Skarn 535.50 538.39 2.89 4.48 4.9 0.06 4.64 Skarn LDUG-325 Step-out 421828.1 1989769.6 1062.0 25.0 -70.0 576.0 473.00 477.78 4.78 0.53 13.6 0.70 1.83 MSO/Skarn 541.39 546.00 4.61 2.21 5.5 0.12 2.47 Skarn LDUG-326 Step-out 421828.5 1989769.6 1061.9 33.0 -57.0 520.7 463.72 469.00 5.28 5.67 9.1 0.19 6.09 Skarn Notes to Table 1) Intercepts are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. Table 6: Drill results from step-out drilling at depth and to the north along the Sub-Sill Trend Intercept Drill Hole Program UTM-E (m) UTM-N (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) Au (gpt) Ag (gpt) Cu (%) AuEq (gpt) Lithology LDUG-317 Step-out 422305.6 1990087.6 671.6 268.0 -42.0 495.0 25.00 30.00 5.00 11.75 3.1 0.02 11.82 Skarn 43.36 51.88 8.52 19.79 1.6 0.03 19.85 Skarn LDUG-321 Step-out 422377.6 1989777.4 993.8 264.0 -57.0 660.0 34.79 37.88 3.09 4.04 6.0 0.22 4.47 Skarn LDUG-323 Step-out 422376.9 1989777.3 993.8 266.0 -45.0 684.0 37.00 40.32 3.32 0.23 2.9 0.14 0.49 Skarn Notes to Table 1) Intercepts are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0127 + Cu (%) * 1.6104 and use the same metal prices ($1,650/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, and $3.75/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (90% Au, 86% Ag, and 93% Cu) used in the year-end 2023 mineral resource estimate for ELG Underground. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2024 / Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSX.V:HAN )(OTCPK:HANNF) is pleased to announce that the Company has closed its non-brokered unit private placement (the "Offering") announced on June 4, 2024 and June 14, 2024. Under the Offering, the Company has issued an aggregate of 10,593,513 units (the "Units") at a price of C$0.35 per Unit for gross proceeds of C$3,707,730 representing an increase in the Offering due to the interest received from investors to participate in the Offering. Each Unit comprises one common share (a "Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.50 for a period of two years from the date of issue. The Company has the right to force conversion of the Warrants, if at any time from and after the date of issuance, the weighted average closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), equals or exceeds C$0.70 for 20 consecutive trading days. The expiry date of the Warrants will then be 30 days from the date of issue of a news release announcing the forced conversion. Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"), Hannan's largest shareholder, exercised its right to maintain its 9.84% partially diluted ownership interest in the Company and subscribed for 714,286 Units for gross proceeds to Hannan of C$250,000. Mr. Michael Hudson, CEO and Executive Chairman, states: "We are thankful for the continued strong support from our major shareholders, including Teck. With our recent large-scale discoveries and imminent commencement of maiden drill programs on multiple projects, Hannan is extremely well placed for an exciting year ahead. Our bold grassroots strategy has attracted some of the largest industry participants to partner with Hannan, with both Teck and JOGMEC involved at equity and joint venture levels, respectively. With geological field teams very active, along with our very active social programs in Peru, we remain excited about Hannan's short-, medium- and long-term exploration opportunities for large-scale copper-gold-silver discoveries in frontier areas." The Company plans to use the net proceeds to fund exploration expenditures at the Company's Peruvian and Chilean projects, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes. No finder's fees or commissions are payable on the Offering. Directors of the Company participated in the Offering and purchased an aggregate of 258,571 Units. Participation of the insiders in the Offering constituted a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61101"), but was exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61101, as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insider nor the consideration paid by the insider exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. None of the Company's directors expressed any contrary views or disagreements with respect to the foregoing. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of the insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month hold period, expiring on October 28, 2024. The Offering is subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold within the United States (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. About Hannan Metals Limited (TSX.V:HAN) (OTCPK: HANNF) Hannan Metals Limited is a natural resources and exploration company developing sustainable resources of metal needed to meet the transition to a low carbon economy. Over the last decade, the team behind Hannan has forged a long and successful record of discovering, financing, and advancing mineral projects in Europe and Latin America. Hannan is a top ten in-country explorer by area in Peru and has recently optioned a copper-porphyry project in Northern Chile. On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO Further Information www.hannanmetals.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 Mariana Bermudez, Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Statements. Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; receipt of final acceptance of the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange; the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases; the Company's expectations regarding its mineral projects; market conditions, the preliminary nature of the Company's operations; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2024) - Goldstorm Metals Corp. (TSXV: GSTM) (FSE: B2U) (the "Company" or "Goldstorm") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ken McNaughton to the board of directors (the "Board") of the Company. Ken McNaughton is a professional geological engineer with over 40 years of global experience developing and leading mineral exploration programs. He currently holds the position of Chief Exploration Officer at P2 Gold Inc. Prior to P2 Gold he was Chief Exploration Officer at Pretium Resources Inc., where he had been responsible for greenfield exploration programs since joining the company in 2011, shortly after it was formed to advance the early exploration-stage Brucejack Project. Prior to Pretium, Mr. McNaughton was Vice President, Exploration at Silver Standard Resources Inc. (now SSR Mining Inc.) for 20 years, and he oversaw all exploration activities of the company including the exploration program for the Snowfield Project and the 2009 program when bonanza-grade drilling results established Brucejack as a high-grade gold discovery. Prior to Silver Standard, he was employed by Corona Corporation and its affiliate Mascot Gold Mines Ltd. as a project geologist and engineer for projects in British Columbia. Mr. McNaughton holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a Master of Applied Science degree in geological engineering from the University of Windsor. Ken Konkin, President and CEO, comments "We are very happy to welcome Ken to the board of directors. I have worked with Ken for over 30 years throughout my professional career and I look forward to his contributions and guidance as Director with Goldstorm. Furthermore, I would like to acknowledge Natalie Senger, who is stepping down from her roles on the Board and Vice President of Resource Development to pursue other interests. I would like to express my gratitude for her contributions to the Company and wish her all the best in her future endeavours." The Company also announces the appointment of Curran Investor Communications to provide investor relations services, subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval and policies for investor relations consultants. Under the contract terms, Curran Investor Communications will receive $5,000 monthly. The agreement will take effect on June 27, 2024, and is set for a 12-month term with an option for renewal. Either party may terminate the contract with a three-month written notice. Chris Curran, the principal of Curran Investor Communications, serves as an officer of the Company and personally owns 36,255 shares and 200,000 incentive stock options, which have an exercise price of $0.26 and expire on November 10, 2030. About Goldstorm Metals Goldstorm Metals Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration company with a large strategic land position in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, an area that hosts some of the largest and highest-grade gold deposits in the world. Goldstorm's flagship projects, Crown and Electrum, cover an area that totals approximately 16,469 hectares over 6 concessions, of which 5 are contiguous. The Crown Project is situated directly south of Seabridge Gold's KSM gold-copper deposits and Newcrest Gold's Brucejack/Valley of the Kings gold mine. Electrum, also located in the Golden Triangle of BC, is situated directly between Newmont Corporation's Brucejack Mine, approximately 20 kilometers to the north, and the past producing Silbak Premier mine, 20 kilometers to the south. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GOLDSTORM METALS CORP. "Ken Konkin" Ken Konkin President and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please visit the Company's website at https://goldstormmetals.com/ or contact: Chris Curran Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development Phone: (604) 559 8092 E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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. Nearly 26 million people in war-torn Sudan are facing high levels of "acute food insecurity", said a report cited by the United Nations on Thursday. "For half of Sudan's war-battered population, every single day is a struggle to feed themselves and their families," the United Nations' children's fund, Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme said in a joint statement. Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The conflict in the northeast African country of 48 million has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "Fourteen months into the conflict, Sudan is facing the worst levels of acute food insecurity" that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, has recorded, the report said. The crisis would impact "approximately 25.6 million people," it said, including 755,000 in famine conditions and an additional 8.5 million facing "emergency" situations. It pointed to "a stark and rapid deterioration of the food security situation" compared with the previous figures published in December, with a 45-percent increase in people facing high levels of acute food insecurity. "The conflict has not only triggered mass displacement and disruption of supply routes... it has also severely limited access to essential humanitarian assistance, exacerbating an already dire situation," the IPC said. It further cited "highly dysfunctional health services, water contamination and poor sanitation and hygiene conditions". - Starvation as weapon - The IPC report comes a day after United Nations experts accused both Burhan's Sudanese Armed Forces and Daglo's RSF of "using food as a weapon and starving civilians". The experts, including the special rapporteur on the right to food, also said foreign governments providing military support to the army or the RSF were "complicit" in war crimes. Both sides have been accused of attacking activists and aid workers, looting or obstructing aid and targeting infrastructure. On Thursday, the IPC reported that 14 areas of the country, home to millions of people, were "at risk of famine" that could take hold between June and September 2024 -- coinciding with the rainy season which further isolates remote areas. The regions -- including besieged El-Fasher in North Darfur, parts of the capital Khartoum and key displacement centres in Darfur and South Kordofan -- are also those most affected by direct fighting. Some, including Tuti Island in the centre of Khartoum, have been under an effective siege by both forces for over a year. Aid agencies and the UN have repeatedly warned that the already dire humanitarian crisis could become much worse as the fighting spreads, displacing even more people. Just this week, thousands were forced to flee the southeastern town of Sennar after an RSF attack on nearby Jebel Moya, eyewitnesses told AFP, raising fears the front line is once again shifting south and east. Sennar, a key state hosting over half a million displaced people already, connects central Sudan to the army-controlled south and east, where hundreds of thousands more are sheltering. - 'Famine at the door' - The IPC report "confirms what humanitarian actors and civilians on the ground already know: famine is at the door", said Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, head of humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps. "History has shown that by the time a famine is officially declared, people are already dying at a horrifying pace," she added. If the current humanitarian situation continues, 2.5 million people could die of hunger by the end of September, according to estimates by the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think tank. Aid workers have long warned the difficulty of accessing data has prevented the declaration of an all-out famine, but starvation is already claiming lives across the country. In Darfur, children are already "wasting away from severe malnutrition," humanitarian agency Islamic Relief Worldwide said, calling for the international community to "support a ceasefire" to get the necessary aid in. Even in the eastern coastal city Port Sudan, the country's new de facto capital under army control, displacement centres are packed with "infants with stick-thin arms" showing "dangerously high malnutrition levels", WFP said. Severe acute malnutrition makes "children up to 11 times more likely to die than their nourished peers," said Lucia Elmi, UNICEF's director of emergency programmes. According to WFP country director Eddie Rowe, it is still possible "to avert an outright famine", if agencies are granted "unfettered access" and adequate funding. By June, the UN's humanitarian response plan for Sudan -- totalling $2.7 billion -- was only 17.3 percent funded. "Of the many tragedies of Sudan," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told reporters in Geneva, the funding gap in particular was a "historically shameful fact". Montenegrin authorities on Thursday announced an investigation into the country's ex special prosecutor over his alleged links to war crimes committed during the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Milivoje Katnic was arrested earlier this year and jailed for alleged abuse of office and links to organised crime. According to a statement from the Special State Prosecutor's Office, now Katnic is being investigated also on the "reasonable suspicion he committed the criminal offence of war crimes against a civilian population". "He is accused of inhumane treatment of certain civilians of Croatian nationality, including attacking, torturing, and physically injuring them," the statement added. Following the death of Yugoslavia's long-time strongman Josip Broz Tito in 1980, the Yugoslav federation found itself in a crisis, with bickering between ethnic groups and surging nationalist sentiments. By the 1990s, a string of conflicts broke out across Yugoslavia, including fighting in Bosnia, Croatia and later Kosovo. In the decades since, several leading figures from the wars have been prosecuted at an international tribunal in The Hague. Scores more have been tried by local courts across the Balkans. In April, Katnic was arrested alongside former high-ranking police official Zoran Lazovic. Katnic -- Montenegro's chief special prosecutor from 2015 until February 2022 -- is also suspected of lifting entry bans for members of a criminal gang from neighbouring Serbia. In the past two years, Montenegro has arrested a number of former leaders of judicial institutions and the police, including former president of the Supreme Court Vesna Medenica. As part of its bid for European Union membership, officials in Montenegro have pledged to tackle the corruption and organised crime plaguing this tiny nation. The Finnish Treasurys website soberly sets out the four criteria for compensation in the event of unjust detention: expenses directly caused by the deprivation of liberty, loss of income or maintenance, suffering, expenses of application for the compensation. By email, the legal department explains that the basic level of compensation is 120 euros per day of imprisonment, but that reparation can be increased, for example based on the duration of imprisonment, the seriousness of the charges and the level of media exposure. The reasonable amount of the compensation is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Based on this, Gibril Massaquoi filed a claim for compensation in early May for the 709 days he spent in prison in Finland. In 2020, the former Sierra Leone rebel commander was charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Liberia between 1999 and 2003. He was found innocent twice, in 2022 and again in 2024, by two panels of judges who ruled unanimously. In his application, Massaquoi is now seeking compensation of 1,000 per day, i.e. 709,000, which would be a record amount. To this he has added 106,370.50 in lost income (4,582.96 per month, calculated on the basis of his tax returns prior to arrest) and legal costs (850). This would give him a total of around 815,000 euros. On average, between 400 and 500 requests for compensation are processed each year by the Finnish Treasury. The total varies from year to year, from 1.8 million in 2023 to 3.5 million in 2018. According to data from the Finnish administration, the two largest individual amounts awarded to date have been 511,600 and 520,000 (excluding loss of earnings). In the first case, a mother, Anneli Auer, had been acquitted twice of murdering her husband in a high-profile case often described as the countrys crime of the century. Auer was awarded compensation of 800 euros per day for 611 days imprisonment. That case was exceptional in Finlands history. I dont know if we can take that as a baseline for this case, says Noora Allenius, Head of Legal Services for Citizens at the State Treasury. Another case is that of two Iraqi twins who were prosecuted in Finland for war crimes committed in a camp in Tikrit, northern Iraq. Defended by the same lawyer as Massaquoi, Kaarle Gummerus, and acquitted, they spent 533 days in prison and received 400 euros in compensation per day of detention. Hostile and biased media coverage The decision on the amount awarded by the Treasury is purely administrative, and takes between two and four months from the date of the request. If the complainant is not satisfied, he or she can lodge an appeal with the courts. Of the 400 or so cases examined each year, only 15 to 20 are appealed to the courts, according to Virva Vesanen, legal adviser at the Treasury. But these appeals are more common in cases that are a bit out of the ordinary, she continues. The majority of cases involve detentions of less than a week, which are quickly closed. In support of his clients request, Massaquois lawyer Gummerus cites the length of the detention, the detainees age (50 at the time of his arrest), the difficult living conditions of a foreigner in captivity, and the restrictive conditions of detention, including solitary confinement. He also stresses the extreme seriousness of the accusations -- including murders and executions, rape, torture and burning villages --, the level of media exposure and its hostile and biased nature, as well as director of investigations Thomas Elfgrens alleged misconduct. Thomas Elfgren, former director of investigations in the Massaquoi case (pictured here in Liberia in February 2021), has had to review his accounts and pay back 6,000 euros to the Finnish authorities. Photo : Thierry Cruvellier Investigative material leaked before the trial Elfgren is accused of having tried to put pressure on Massaquoi over the choice of his lawyer and of having disclosed, before the trial, numerous elements of the case file to Anu Nousiainen, a journalist with Finlands largest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. Just before the opening of the trial, Nousiainen published a lengthy incriminating article without seeking the views of the defence, which Gummerus described as aggravating circumstances. This is not a normal way to treat a suspect in the media, he wrote in substance on behalf of his client. Although the State is not in principle liable for publicity generated by journalistic and social media, it should be noted in this case that the investigator in the case has actively contributed to the negative public image of Massaquoi, he continued. And he cited the scathing comment of presiding judge Juhani Paiho at the opening of the first trial on February 8 2021: We dont need to decide this case when Helsingin Sanomat has already done so. While the media impact of a case has clearly been taken into account in the past when estimating the harm caused and setting the level of compensation, allegations against a director of investigations are a less well-established factor. I am not sure if in case law it has been ruled that this is something you need to take into consideration, Vesanen comments cautiously. But whatever reparation is awarded to Massaquoi, it is likely to amount to hundreds of thousands of euros, which will be the stuff of dreams for anyone acquitted after many years in jail by international courts like the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. For example, if the former Rwandan minister Andre Ntagerura -- arrested on March 27, 1996, acquitted and released on February 24, 2004 after spending some 2,900 days in prison -- had been able to claim compensation of 500 euros per day, he would have received nearly 1.5 million euros. But international justice is far less protective of individual rights than Finnish justice: there is no limit on pre-trial detention, nor any financial compensation in the event of acquittal. Finnish transparency Finland is not only very protective of the rights of the wrongly accused. It is also unusually transparent about the cost of its legal involvement. In an article published on February 27, Finnish public broadcaster Yleisradio Oy (Yle) reported that the Massaquoi trial was one of the most expensive in the countrys history. From the start of the investigation in 2018 to the appeal judgement in 2024, after two trials on the merits both largely conducted in Liberia itself, the cost came to 3.9 million. Yle scrupulously details the expenses: at first instance, 583,000 euros were spent on travel to Liberia, 485,000 on the judges salaries, 381,000 on legal fees, and 232,000 on translation and interpretation. On appeal, 222,500 euros were spent on travel, 451,000 on judges salaries, 352,000 on lawyers fees, and 189,300 on interpreting services and witness expenses, excluding the cost of translating the judgment. In February, another media article reported on an investigation launched against Thomas Elfgren, the former head of investigations in the Massaquoi case and a key player in its fiasco. Elfgren had hidden in his hotel in Liberia the equivalent of several thousand euros in Liberian dollars, cash that was intended for local spending. But around 7,500 euros were not found in the accounts provided after the operation. Elfgren explained that he had to organize these caches because the hotels safe deposit boxes were too small and not secure enough, and the Swedish and European Union embassies had refused permission to store the money. He claimed the missing sum might still be in its hiding place, but an inspection of the premises found nothing. In the end, no charges were brought against Elfgren, who paid back 6,000 before he retired. Proceedings against two NGOs in Liberia The reckoning is not confined to Finland. According to the Liberian press, Massaquoi has also taken legal action in Liberia against the two NGOs that initiated the proceedings against him: Swiss organization Civitas Maxima and Liberian organization Global Justice Research Project. The case took an even bigger turn after the appointment of Jonathan Massaquoi as executive director of the new office responsible for setting up a war crimes and economic crimes tribunal in Liberia. Massaquoi is Gibril Massaquois lawyer for his Liberia complaint. Jonathan Massaquoi (no known family relationship with Gibril Massaquoi) is known for having defended other international crimes suspects like Agnes Reeves-Taylor, a former wife of Liberian President Charles Taylor who was convicted of crimes against humanity and is serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK. While every individual has the right to legal representation, the ethical and moral implications of appointing someone who defended alleged war criminals to a position dedicated to prosecuting such crimes cannot be ignored, writes The Liberian Investigator newspaper in a June 24 editorial. The coalition [of war and economic crimes court advocates] rightly argues that a person who has defended alleged perpetrators of gross human rights violations is not the appropriate figure to now champion justice on behalf of their victims. Observers have expressed concerns that Massaquois involvement in representing clients, including Agnes Reeves-Taylor in defamation lawsuits, against justice activists such as Hassan Bility of the Global Justice and Research Project, former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Massa Washington, and Alain Werner, head of the Swiss organization, Civitas Maxima, could raise doubts about his impartiality and independence in the eyes of the public, writes The Daily Observer. According to this Liberian daily, Jonathan Massaquoi is supported by the American Alan White, who has become an adviser to the new Liberian president Joseph Boakai. A former director of investigations at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, White is the man who recruited Gibril Massaquoi as an informant 20 years ago and ensured that he escaped prosecution before the UN-backed court. His animosity and resentment towards the two NGOs involved in the prosecution of his protege in Finland are well known. Ryu Seung Soo revealed the unexpected way he became close to Kim Hee Sun. During his guest appearance on the tvN variety show "Whatcha Up To?" which aired on June 27, the actor was welcomed by hosts Lee Soo Geun, Lee Eun Ji, The Boyz's Younghoon, and, of course, Kim Hee Sun. While bonding over a few drinks and food, Ryu Seung Soo surprised everyone with an interesting revelation on how he met the "Alice" star. As the guest and host became comfortable around each other, sharing random stories that they'd experienced, Ryu Seung Soo mentioned the start of his friendship with the veteran actress. Ryu Seung Soo's 'Bathroom' Incident Made Him Friends With Kim Hee Sun Ryu Seung Soo narrated it was an unexpected scenario. He teased everyone, saying that whenever he thinks of the actress, there's this "unforgettable incident" that he always recalls. Ryu Seung Soo revealed that he and Kim Hee Sun were doing an episode for the comedy talk show "Happy Together" at the time. IN CASE YOU MISSED : Kim Hee Sun's Instagram Followers Increased Thanks to THIS K-drama "After filming, she asked me to eat in Gangnam, so I took her car and went there." He added that the actress surprised him with a dried fruit and asked him to eat it. According to him, he also saw Kim Hee Sun eating almost the whole box of the jelly fruit. However, an unexpected thing happened to Ryu Seung Soo. According to him, after he and the actress went to the buffet, he started feeling uneasy and began feeling discomfort. "I started to sweat coldly, my face turned pale, and I really needed to p**p." Unfortunately for him, the establishment had a long line to the bathroom. "I ran out of the building and went to the next building, but all the bathroom doors were locked. At that time, I could have caused trouble on the street. I told the owner of the cafe next door that I really needed to use the bathroom, and I found out the password and went out. I was barely eating when I suddenly started to sweat coldly again." It was too late when he realized that it was prunes, which are good for constipation and encourage more frequent bowel movements. While Ryu Seung Soo was recalling the incident, Kim Hee Sun couldn't help but laugh and mentioned that it didn't have an effect on her because she was constipated at the time. The actor then quipped that he has never experienced something like this in his life and will not forget it. "Since then, I've become very close to Hee Sun." Ryu Seung Soo has joined the supporting cast in various K-dramas. Viewers might have recognized him as scholar Im in "Bloody Heart" and as Kwon Yong Kuk in the iconic series "Winter Sonata." Meanwhile, Kim Hee Sun stars in her K-drama "Bitter Sweet Hell" with Lee Hye Young, Kim Nam Hee, and Yeonwoo. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Flores The massive craze for "Queen of Tears" and "Lovely Runner" continues as new releases from these hit 2024 series are set to reignite the spark. Here's what's to expect! 'Queen of Tears' Team Reveals Baek Hyun Woo, Hong Hae In's Never-Before-Seen Wedding Photos tvN's hit dramas "Queen of Tears" and "Lovely Runner" may have wrapped up and close their chapters, yet fans seemingly aren't ready to move on. But good news, everyone! "Queen of Tears," starring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won, has been keeping fans engaged with the soon-to-open pop-up store. Apart from this, the team surprised the public with the never-before-seen wedding photos of Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In! According to the source, from June 27 to July 3, "Queen of Tears" will set up a pop-up store in one department store in Seoul, featuring iconic scenes and a variety of merchandise, including posters, bags, tumblers, cushions, bracelets, acrylic cards, and more. Apart from the merchandise, fans are most excited to see the unreleased wedding photos of the drama couple Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In. Fans who visited the store eagerly shared these pictures on social media, attracting more fans to visit the pop-up store. Im Sol, Ryu Sun Jae's Honeymoon To Be Included in 'Lovely Runner' Script Book "Lovely Runner" is soon to publish a script book. Booklog Company teased fans with a sneak peek into Im Sol and Ryu Sun Jae's honeymoon. On their official Instagram, they posted: "Preview of Im Sol and Sun Jae's Newlywed Life." The company also mentioned that the script book includes an extra 10 pages written by the author after the decision to publish. Booklog added: "We don't want to spoil too much about the episode, so we'll let you discover the joy for yourself in the script book. For the preview, we'll just display the scene title and leave it at that." Some of the snaps they uploaded included the word "Newlyweds' Bedroom," driving the fans crazy. According to the source, the "Lovely Runner" script book will be released on July 22. "Lovely Runner" and "Queen of Tears" have long left the airwaves, but the emotions and impact they left on viewers remain as strong as ever. These dramas also opened new doors for the lead stars Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon, Kim Soo Hyun, and Kim Ji Won, who are all busy touring Asia for their solo fan meetings, proving their global superstar status. What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai San Miguel wrote this. The Cottonwoods long-term care home on Ethel Street will be rebuilt in a $187M project announced Friday by the government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the aging facility was often plagued by outbreaks of the disease which greatly curtailed the ability of people to visit their loved ones, as shown in this file photo from August 2021. Friday, June 28, 2024 - Former Papa Shirandula actress Jacky Vike alias Awinja is mourning after a lady she grew up with lost her teenage son in the protests. The teenage boy, who was a boda boda rider, joined thousands of Gen Z protesters in the streets on Tuesday to protest against the finance bill when he was shot twice in the neck outside Parliament. Awinja said the boys death has shattered her heart. I grew up with Shiku, the lady on the left, when I bumped into the sad picture Yesterday I started inquiring what was wrong only to be told that she lost her son in the Protest on Tuesday. "IBRAHIM KAMAU WANJIKU (swipe left ) a 19 year old boy, who worked as a Nduthi guy, a young boy who went to protest for what he believed was his right did not return home that Tuesday, my heart is sooo heavy, #StopKillingUs! "I am not ok , nothing is ok!!! "Poleni sana to Shiku and family, "My condolences to all the families that have lost their loved ones, Awinja wrote. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday June 28, 2024 The bad blood between Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management Moses Kuria and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is far from over. This is after Kuria slammed Gachagua for throwing National Intelligence Service Director Noordin Haji under the bus over the cause and deaths of the Gen Zs during anti-Finance Bill protests. In a harsh criticism, Kuria told Gachagua to stop complaining about NIS Boss Noordin Haji, saying that the DP is a member of the National Security Council and should also take full responsibility over what ensued in the Anti-Finance Bill mayhem. As a result, Kuria told Gachagua that he is equally to blame for the deaths and mayhem caused by the Gen Zs and therefore shouldn't point fingers at others. "He is in the National Security Council yet complains about the Director of the National Intelligence Service. "It was enough to have a President who is a teetotaler," Kuria stated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday June 28, 2024 - UDA nominated Member of Parliament Jackson Kosgei has thanked the Gen Zs for saving his life when they stormed Parliament on Tuesday during anti-Finance Bill protests. Speaking during an interview, Kosgei, who had just voted YES to the draconian Finance Bill, revealed that he was unable to evacuate the building alongside his colleagues given that he was in a wheelchair. He explained that the evacuation route that leads to the tunnel was unfriendly for disabled Kenyans, hence opting to seek refuge at a building inside Parliament. Kosgei, who is also the father to the Nigerian-based gospel musician Emmy Kosgei, detailed that he, alongside a female MP who uses crutches, opted to seek refuge at the private members' lounge. However, in the process, the protesters made their way to the building adding that the youth started to engage him in a conversation. Contrary to his expectations, he noted that the protesters advised him to leave the building, even going forward to evacuate him from the building for his safety. "When they came and found us there, they told me that they knew who I was. They told me that I was a good man and they wanted to escort me out stating that what would happen next may not be good," the nominated MP narrated. "They said that they were not bad people but were just fighting for their rights. They asked me where they wanted me to go and I told them where they could take me. They took me to a safe place." Kosgei thanked the young men for helping him adding that they showed him humanity despite his stance in supporting the Finance Bill 2024. "I want to thank the young men who saved my life and that of my colleague. Even in their moment of anger, they still had humanity in them," he stated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - A 19-year-old boy identified as Ibrahim Kamau Wanjiku is among the victims of brutality that was meted out to protesters by rogue police officers during the Tuesday anti-finance bill protests that turned chaotic. According to Haki Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, the teenager was shot twice in the neck in quick succession. He had joined thousands of Gen Zs in the streets to exercise their democratic rights when he was shot dead. A postmortem conducted on the body of the deceased revealed that the bullets were fired on the right and exited on the left side of the neck. Ibrahim Kamau Wanjiku, 19 years old, was shot twice in the neck in quick succession. The bullets were fired on the right and exited on the left side of the neck. We did the postmortem and released the body to the family. They confirmed burial is tomorrow after Friday prayers, Khalid tweeted. Several people died in the Tuesday protests that turned chaotic and scored injured. Protesters overpowered police officers and stormed Parliament, forcing MPs to scamper to safety using the underground tunnel. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, June 27, 2024 - An online video game dispute took a violent turn when Edward Kang, 20, from New Jersey, flew to Florida to attack another gamer with a hammer, according to Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. Kang was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder. He boarded a Delta flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Jacksonville International Airport, Florida, on June 21, telling his family he was visiting a friend he met through an online video game. The attack occurred late Saturday night, June 22, to early Sunday morning, June 23, in Fernandina Beach. The victim had been playing an online game at his home when Kang came in wielding a hammer. The victim managed to wrestle Kang to the ground. The victims stepfather, awakened by the commotion, helped subdue Kang until deputies arrived. Deputies responded to the call around 2 a.m., finding a significant amount of blood at the scene. Both Kang and the victim were taken to the hospital, with the victim sustaining severe but non-life-threatening head injuries. Kang and the victim initially met through the online game ArcheAge. They had never met in person before the incident. The precise motive for the attack remains unclear. Kang told investigators that the victim was "a bad person online," which seemingly drove him to take drastic action. Kang has not been cooperative and has requested a lawyer. He asked about the potential jail time, to which Sheriff Leeper responded that it would be a long time before Kang would play video games again. Sheriff Leeper emphasized the importance of securely locking homes and noted the real-world consequences that can arise from online interactions. The investigation is ongoing, and charges against Kang could be upgraded as more information comes to light. Friday June 28, 2024 In a surprise turn of events, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, has criticized President William Ruto and his government for being insensitive to the plight of Kenyans. Speaking during an interview, Kuria particularly criticised the amount of wastage of resources by several agencies in Rutos government, saying such wastage was overburdening the Kenyan taxpayers unnecessarily. According to Kuria, he was irked by the number of seminars conducted on a yearly basis. He revealed that roughly seven out of 10 senior government employees are likely to answer that they are at a seminar when questioned at any given time. Kuria explained that a majority of the events take part either in Naivasha or Mombasa accounting for a bigger chunk of the national expenditure. "In terms of expenditure, I think there are a lot of seminars. My friend, you take your phone and call someone asking where they are. seven out of 10 people (say) they are in Naivasha," the CS explained. "You would think it is a happy valley or something but it is just a way for (people to get) allowances and per diems and all that." Personally, the CS expressed shock when he flew to Mombasa only to meet his bodyguard, driver, and car had already been transported to the Coast awaiting him. In his argument, he revealed that their presence was uncalled for, a move that likely pushed him to institute mandatory training for all civil servants. "I am driving a policy now about vetting people who, for example, are driving to Mombasa, ought not to have their drivers, bodyguards and vehicles going to Mombasa. "I am leading this exercise of ensuring that we cut waste and unnecessary expenditure," he added. "I believe from where I sit that we can be able to cut close to 30 per cent of our budget without affecting government delivery just by focusing on this issue of living within our means. Says most of the justifications for the travel is for per diem." The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - Thika Town Parliamentary aspirant, Francis Gaitho, has exposed a property in Nairobi owned by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula. Wetangula is being accused by young protestors who demonstrated against Finance Bill 2024 of ordering snipers to shoot at the protestors who stormed Parliament on Tuesday. During the storming of parliament, men believed to be following the speaker's order shot 10 people dead and injured hundreds. In retaliation, Gaitho who is among those who participated in the demos, pinpointed a property owned by Wetangula, who ordered the killing of unarmed Kenyan demonstrators. He said Wetangula is the owner of a petrol station near Shade Hotel in Karen (Kerarapon) as you go towards Ngong. The big Shell petrol station near Shade Hotel in Karen (Kerarapon) as you go towards Ngong, belongs to the sniper hiring speaker @HonWetangula, Gaitho wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, June 27, 2024 - A husband accused of murdering his wife after discovering she was having an affair with her 'TikTok lover' broke down in tears as he told a court how he strangled her, stuffed her body into a suitcase then threw it into a river 'in a panic'. Suma Begum, 24, was allegedly murdered by Aminan Rahman, 47, in a flat in Docklands, east London. Rahman - who worked as a chef at an Indian restaurant strangled his wife on April 29 last year before putting her body into a suitcase and then dumping her in the River Lea, the Old Bailey heard. Jurors were previously told Rahman killed Ms Begum after he discovered she was having an affair with Shahin Miah, 24, who she met on TikTok. Appearing in court today, Rahman broke down in tears as he described the night of the alleged murder. He told the jury that his wife was on a video call with Mr Miah, who had branded Rahman 'the son of a wh***', before she allegedly grabbed their two-year-old son and tried to hit him. Rahman said: 'She became very angry. She wanted to hit him. She was kicking me, she was scratching me. I grabbed her to stop her hitting my son. I thought if she grabbed him she might throw him out the window. 'I put both my hands around her neck. She dropped to the floor. I was shocked. I was panicking. Then I picked up the phone and I called Miah back and said: 'Because of you this has happened.' Jurors were shown footage of the video call, with Mrs Begum lying lifeless in the background and her son crying next to her. Telling the court that he then realised his wife was dead, he said: 'I got scared, I got panicked. I took my son next door. I had no intention to cause her any harm.' Accepting that he then put his wife's body into the suitcase and threw it in the river, Rahman added: 'I don't know what I was thinking. I was panicking so much. I don't know how and why I did it.' He said that he had thought about calling the police but he did not know the address he was at and 'I wouldn't be able to explain everything'. Rahman, who denies murder but admits preventing an unlawful burial, also denies attacking Ms Begum on February 6. Ms Begum had moved to the UK in 2020 after marrying Rahman over the phone and their children were aged two and four months old when she died. The court heard she had video-called Mr Miah on February 6, saying Rahman had attacked her and showing him marks on her neck. Rahman cried in court as he told the jury he had seen Ms Begum hitting their two-year-old son. He said Ms Begum had earlier threatened that she would drink bleach to kill their unborn child. Rahman said he had never attacked his son but had seen Ms Begum hit him on two occasions - February 6 and April 29. Rahman said he knew Ms Begum was going to leave him for Mr Miah and that she had moved away from him to Leeds with the children. He said he was worried about his son when she took him to Leeds. When asked if he missed him, he said: 'I do not have a word to express how much I missed him.' He said on February 5, he went to Leeds from Somerset and stayed overnight. He said Ms Begum then demanded 50,000 from him and then took his phone and called Mr Miah. Rahman said: 'He swore at me in indecent language, he used words like old, aged, son of a wh****, and after hearing those words I was nervous and also scared because I'm not used to this kind of language. 'I said ''Suma, how have you become so bad, you've called him in front of me and asking me for money, have you gone that low?''' He said Ms Begum then kicked their son, who was sitting in the middle of the room. Rahman said: 'He fell on the ground, I picked him up, then Suma picked up a knife. She picked up the knife and said: ''Today I will kill someone, at least one''. 'I became shocked, thought what should I do, I thought she might throw the knife and if it hits my son he will be hurt. 'So I grabbed hold of the hand that had the knife in, and using the other hand was pushing her maintaining a distance and holding on her neck. 'And while I was holding her I took the knife from her hand. I took the knife and my son and went out.' Rahman denies murder and assault but admits preventing a lawful burial. The trial continues. Friday June 28, 2024 Kenyans have won again after Mbeere North MP and President Wiliam Rutos ally Geoffrey Ruku announced the withdrawal of the highly contentious bill aimed at tightening regulations on public demonstrations across Kenya. The proposed legislation, known as the Assembly and Demonstration Bill, 2024, had sparked widespread criticism and heated protests since its introduction last year. "I have listened to the concerns raised by Kenyans, and in light of their feedback, I will be formally requesting the Speaker of the National Assembly to withdraw the Assembly and Demonstration Bill, 2024," Ruku stated. The bill aimed to grant extensive powers to law enforcement authorities to curb demonstrations deemed disruptive to public order. Among its provisions were stringent penalties, including fines of up to 100,000 Kenyan shillings and potential jail terms for violators. It also mandated rigorous pre-event notification requirements, which many viewed as overly restrictive on the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful assembly. Initially touted as a measure to regulate public gatherings in accordance with Article 37 of Kenya's constitution, which guarantees the right to assemble peacefully, the bill quickly became a lightning rod for criticism. Critics argued that it undermined fundamental freedoms and gave excessive authority to law enforcement agencies. The backlash against the bill intensified in recent weeks amid escalating protests against government policies, originally sparked by opposition to a controversial finance bill but quickly evolving into broader anti-government demonstrations. Protesters took to the streets nationwide, demanding the bill's withdrawal and condemning what they saw as attempts to silence dissent. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - Law Society of Kenya President, Madam Faith Odhiambo, has criticized the Judiciary, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, for its silence as police continue to kill the country's youth, commonly known as Gen Z. Speaking on Spice FM, Faith, who has been a darling of Genz protesting over the punitive finance bill 2024, warned the Judiciary, especially the corrupt judges, that they will come for them. She also said Kenyans, especially the young people, do not trust the judiciary and asked Koome to shape up or ship out. CJ Martha Koome should shape up or ship out. Kenyans need to regain trust in the Judiciary, Faith stated. The LSK boss further attacked the Central Police Station in Nairobi, terming it as a ruthless police station that doesnt respect the law. She accused some police officers working at the station of living in the Stone Age era and warned that they would be the next target after Kenyans address the Finance Bill 2024 protests. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - Anti-riot police officers deployed to quell protests that rocked different parts of the country on Thursday almost blew themselves up after a teargas canister accidentally exploded in their vehicle. The cops were fleeing after being overpowered by the protesters when the teargas canister accidentally exploded in the vehicle. Some of the officers were injured after jumping out of the vehicle. Despite using excessive force against the protesters, kind-hearted Kenyans rescued the distressed cops and rushed them to the hospital. A guy even stopped filming and rushed to save the life of an injured police officer and comforted him, calling him brother. Watch the video. When karma revenged on the spot and the GenZs went helping pic.twitter.com/28lSlnr2l1 George Njoroge (@georgenjoroge_) June 27, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday June 28, 2024 Former Prime Minister Raila Odingas ODM has suggested a nuclear option after it called on President William Ruto to dissolve Parliament and send everyone home for letting Kenyans down by passing the draconian Finance Bill. Speaking in Kisii, Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku urged Ruto to dissolve the National Assembly and call for fresh elections in the next 90 days. The ODM legislator criticised members of the National Assembly, terming them incompetent over the recent developments on the Finance Bill. Kenyans, especially the younger generation had taken to the streets to protest against the controversial Finance Bill, 2024 before the Head of State withdrew it. The MP, therefore averred that it was no longer tenable for members of the National Assembly to resume house proceedings owing to the events that ensued. "I want to ask the president to immediately dissolve the National Assembly and call for elections within 90 days," he said. "The constitution of Kenya denotes that the sovereign power belongs to the people. As elected members, we only exercise it on their behalf." he further lamented. Manduku added that the recent invasion of Parliament signifies a failure of the institution to maintain order, respect, and public trust. However, The MP's call would lead to a constitutional crisis as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is not properly constituted. Under Article 261(7) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the President has the authority to dissolve Parliament if it fails to fulfill its constitutional mandate. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - First Lady Rachel Ruto was scheduled to grace a fundraising event at Lavington United Church in Nairobi on Sunday June 30th. However, the event has been canceled due to security reasons. One of the peaceful protesters who has been vocal on social media wrote a message to the churchs reverend and informed him that he will attend the fundraising event to deliver a message. The protester identified as Mwabili has started a campaign to get rid of politicians in churches. I see you have invited Mrs. Rachel Ruto for a fundraiser. First of all, the money is definitely looted from the taxes I pay to the government of looters. Secondly, her husband is on a killing spree of young women, men and children around the country, he wrote. The church has notified the members that the fundraising event has been cancelled. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Thursday, June 27, 2024 - A man was fatally struck by lightning on a Jersey Shore beach Sunday, June 23, after he heroically returned to warn a group of children playing in the water of an impending storm. Patrick Dispoto, 59, had just left the J Street Beach at Seaside Park in Ocean County with his girlfriend, Ruth Fussell, around 7 p.m. when he noticed the ominous clouds quickly approaching, according to News 12 New Jersey. Dispoto became increasingly concerned for the childrens safety, since the lifeguards had already left for the day. "He said, Ill be right back. I said, You have no business going back,'"Fussell told the outlet about her final conversation with her boyfriend. "He says, Im just going to warn these kids because the sky is going to open. Im just going to warn these kids, one minute. I said, No.'" The heartbroken girlfriend said Dispoto first got her to safety before he ventured back over to the beach to warn the others. Fussell returned to the beach after 15 minutes and three unanswered calls to Dispoto. Dispoto was found face down in the sand with a stranger standing over him, shouting out for help, and the children were nowhere in sight, the outlet reported. She rushed over to Dispoto and she and the strangers wife began CPR on her unconscious boyfriend. Dispoto was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "The doctor said 45 minutes after the brain has no oxygen, you have to unplug him. I said, No, you cant,'" Fussell shared. Dispotos death was caused by a lightning strike, police confirmed to NJ Advance Media. Fussell said her selfless boyfriend was always willing to help people in need, and she wants him to be remembered for his fearlessness in doing good in the world. "His last act of heroism was his ultimate, and thats my Patrick Dispoto," she told the outlet. Dispotos death comes just three years after 19-year-old lifeguard Keith Pinto was fatally struck by lightning while trying to get visitors off White Sands Beach in South Seaside Park. Four beachgoers were injured when the lightning killed Pinto. Thursday, June 27, 2024 - A 42-year-old former middle school principal in Missouri will spend the rest of his days in a federal prison for killing a teacher on his staff who was pregnant with his daughter. U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White of the Eastern District of Missouri on Tuesday, June 25, ordered Cornelius M. Green to serve two consecutive life sentences for the 2016 murders of 30-year-old Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child, Micah Leigh, authorities announced. Green, who was married at the time, previously admitted to hiring his friend to kill Peters, who was seven months pregnant at the time, using funds stolen from the school where he and the victim worked. He pleaded guilty in February to one count each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire. The friend who pulled the trigger for $2,500, Phillip J. Cutler, was found guilty of the same charges and similarly sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison by White, who called the crime the "most heinous" he had seen in his career on the bench. Prosecutors said that Green had been lying to Peters about his marriage situation and had her convinced that he was in the process of getting a divorce and Peters was the only woman in his life. But evidence showed that Peters was one of several women Green was seeing, and he turned to murder after failing to slip Peters abortion pills without her knowledge. "Peters did not know about the multiple other women, including at least one who was also being duped by Green into believing they were building a life together," federal prosecutors wrote in a news release. "She also did not know that Green was researching ways to secretly poison Micah Lee by crushing pills and hiding them in oatmeal or yogurt. When that plan failed, Green contacted his longtime friend, Cutler, and stole money from the dance teams fundraiser at the school where he worked." Several people took the opportunity to address the court during Tuesdays sentencing hearing. Peters mother said Green was supposed to be a protector to her daughter, but instead became her executioner. "All she ever did was love him," she said, adding that Peters "loved that baby so much." Nicole Conaway, the principal of Mann Elementary when Peters worked there, emphasized how he paid for the hit on his girlfriend by taking money from his own students. "He literally stole from children to pay for killing his own child," Conaway said. Conaway also said that she was the one who had to tell Peters students about her murder. "I will never forget the pain in their eyes," she said. "This trauma will follow them for the rest of their lives." According to court documents, Green sent Cutler a text message on Feb. 29, 2016, asking him to come from Oklahoma to Missouri at the end of March. Cutler responded, "Ok, that will work, u gonna b sending the pacge (sic)." Green on March 7, 2016, sent a UPS package containing $2,500 in cash to Cutler. Records further state that Green used the address of the middle school as the return address for the package containing the cash, which Green had taken from the school. Cutler came to St. Louis on March 21 and began staying at the residence where Green lived with his sister, authorities said. The following day, Green took an Amtrak to Chicago and left Cutler with his car and the keys to Peters apartment. Prosecutors said Green only traveled to Chicago to establish an alibi for the murder of Peters and their unborn child. Two days later, on March 24, Cutler drove Greens car to Peters apartment in the 4200 block of West Pine Boulevard in St. Louis. He used the keys provided by Green to unlawfully enter her home, found her in bed, and "shot her with a .38 caliber firearm in the head, using a potato as a silencer to muffle the sound of the shot," prosecutors said. "Green had Peters buy potatoes days before her own murder." Green then purchased an Amtrak ticket back to St. Louis "so there would be verification that he was in Chicago at the time of the murder." When Green got back to St. Louis, he repeatedly asked Peters mother to "check on her," knowing what she would find, prosecutors said. "The depravity of asking a mother to go find Jocelyns body, knowing she was dead, cant be matched," Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said on Tuesday, June 25. Friday, June 28, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji of orchestrating the abduction of young Kenyans during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations, which culminated in the storming of Parliament on Tuesday. In a press conference in Mombasa, Gachagua, who has been linked to the protests by NIS, claimed that it was Noordin Haji who ordered NIS officers to arrest influencers advocating for the occupation of Parliament protests online. Some notable influencers, including Gabriel Oguda, Billy Simani (alias Crazy Nairobian), Ashad Khalif, and Dr. Austin Omondi, among others, were abducted at night by hooded men whom many believed to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Gachagua alleged that the individuals abducting Kenyans at night were NIS officers acting under instructions from Haji. Sadly, this is back. It is unbelievable that the son of the Attorney General of Kenya was abducted in a commando style by officers of the National Intelligence Service and held incommunicado for 18 hours, he stated. I want to ask our law enforcement agencies to dignify the President and I before Kenyans and not backtrack on the promises we made to the people. Gachagua claimed that the NIS was fabricating lies and propaganda to falsely attribute the chaos to leaders, including himself. He pleaded with security agencies not to take Kenyans back to the dark days of the Nyayo era. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday June 28, 2024 - The Boda Boda Safety Association of Kenya (BAK) has called for an end of demonstrations that have erupted in various parts of the country. The association noted that its members were losing income as the protests were not conducive for business. While urging the youth to stop demonstrating, BAK revealed that Gen Z had secured a major win after President William Ruto rejected the Finance Bill on Wednesday and hence sustained protests were not necessary. As such, the organisation urged young people to go back home and re-strategise while appreciating their achievements in shooting down the Finance Bill. We wish to sincerely appreciate President Ruto, for listening to the voice of young people and Kenyans at large and doing the most Honorable thing of withdrawing the 2024 Finance Bill, BAKs statement read in part. As the Boda Boda sector, we are unable to earn a living as of now because we entirely depend on the movement of people in a peaceful environment, once there is chaos, our business is in vain putting a strain on our families at home. BAK stated that the destruction of property during protests was an abuse of the integrity of the Constitution and urged demonstrators to follow the rule of law. Echoing President Rutos sentiment, the association begged Kenyans in the streets to give dialogue a chance. The association remarked that its members had suffered huge losses as a result of Gen Z demos. According to BAK, continued protests will batter the economy and kick Boda Bodas out of business. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, June 27, 2024 - Around 250 people were left trapped on a cable car service in Colombia, after an accident on the line left one dead and at least 21 injured. The Metrocable car in the city of Medellin collapsed onto a taxi car waiting below, seriously injuring the driver and the 11 people inside. The dead man has been identified locally as Jhon Jairo Londono, 49. The driver of the minicab was also injured and pictures from the scene show the smashed cable car next to the yellow taxi. The other 20 people who were injured 10 from inside the pod were treated at the scene and in hospital. Authorities said the cable car collapsed while approaching the station. Carlos Quintero, head of Medellins disaster response agency, told local media that one cabin had stopped as it entered the station and had been struck by the following cabin, which then "detached and fell to the pavement". The cable car system, Metro de Medellin, moves people to and from some of the citys low-income neighborhoods which are informally settled on steep hills. Metrocable manager Tomas Elejalde told reporters Wednesdays accident was the worst since the system was inaugurated, with an emergency worker adding claiming the accident was something "that has never happened" before. Watch a video from the scene. Friday, June 28, 2024 - Kenyans living in Europe have traveled to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague and requested Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to reopen the crimes against humanity case against President William Ruto. Ruto was indicted by the court in 2010 in connection with 2007-08 post-election violence but his case was closed in 2016 for lack of evidence. On Tuesday, the President was accused of ordering the killing of dozens of youths in Githurai estate, Nairobi, who participated in the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. These protests culminated in the storming of Kenya's parliament, forcing lawmakers to flee. Though the government has remained tight-lipped on the Githurai massacre, Kenyans living in London, Berlin, Rome and other European cities traveled to The Hague to request the ICC prosecutor to reopen the case and charge Ruto afresh. Here is the video of Kenyans at The Hague demanding the ICC prosecutor reopen Rutos case and charge him after killing youthful Kenyan demonstrators. Kenyans are now outside the Hague, ICC demanding that they reopen Ruto's case. #RutoMustGo pic.twitter.com/U5VHMuDIS9 Conrad Kulo (@ConradKulo) June 27, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday June 28, 2024 The government of President William Ruto, through the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), has announced the implementation of new fees for phytosanitary services starting from July 15, 2024. This comes amid uproar over the Finance Bill which had introduced many new taxes. The new fees will apply to all importers and exporters of agricultural products and produce within Kenya. Phytosanitary services encompass various measures aimed at controlling plant diseases in agricultural crops. Under the updated directive from KEPHIS, exporters of fresh produce will be required to obtain a phytosanitary certificate and undergo inspection before their products can be exported. This will be charged at a rate of 50 cents per kilogram with a minimum charge of Ksh100. Additionally, traders will be required to pay another Ksh500 for every phytosanitary certificate. For imported agricultural produce/products, KEPHIS will require a plant import permit and inspection certificate. Entrepreneurs will pay 50 cents per kilogram and an additional Ksh600 per plant permit. Traders who are seeking to import or export agricultural produce will be required to part with Ksh10,000 before the ship transporting the product is inspected. If the vessel carrying the produce is large a Ksh5,000 physical test will be charged with a Ksh1,000 charge for smaller vessels including dhows and canoes. For inspection of containers, a 40-foot large container will be billed Ksh1,000 for each inspection and Ksh500 for 20-foot containers. Businessmen will pay Ksh1,000 for moisture content determination per sample. Traders transporting agricultural produce by air will pair Ksh3,000 for KEPHIS to inspect large aircraft and Ksh1,500 for small aircraft. Sample of minor consignment for quality examination per consignment will be Ksh5,000, the notice from KEPHIS read in part. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday June 28, 2024 Pressure has mounted on US President JOE BIDEN to abort the Haiti mission after US lawmakers were convinced that President William Ruto is not the man for the job. This follows the senseless killing of innocent and unarmed Gen Zs during the anti-Finance Bill protests. A section of US congressmen called upon President Joe Biden to seek alternative means of dealing with the insecurity in the Caribbean nation rather than leave it to Ruto. Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Jim Risch a committee member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned how Kenyan police officers would restore peace in Haiti after their conduct in quelling the recent anti-Finance Bill protests was questioned by Kenyans and human rights groups. The politicians also questioned the capacity of Kenyan police to handle the runaway insecurity in the troubled country. "Concern that Kenya would not have enough domestic security officers was one of the primary reasons we were opposed to the President Joe Biden administration's plan to send Kenyan police to Haiti," the two remarked in a statement. In their dispatch, the two argued that Kenya did not have enough security officers to handle an operation of such magnitude and most importantly, record a win against the heavily armed gangs in Haiti. "This week those fears were realized on the same day, 400 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti the Kenyan Parliament was overrun by protestors." "As a result, the Kenyan military was mobilised under the suspect constitutional authority and used live ammunition to repel the protestors, killing more than 20 civilians. "The administration must find a different solution to address Haitis insecurity, read a statement from the two officials. Their remarks came as Matthew Miller, the US Department Spokesperson also addressed the concerns of Kenya's capacity to deal with the Haitian gangs and restore peace. In a press briefing, Miller was asked whether the Biden administration was concerned about speculation revolving around Kenyan police conduct in Haiti. This was in regard to the violence witnessed during the anti-finance bill protests that rocked Kenya these past few days. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, June 28, 2024 - Former US president, Donald Trump released a 90-second brutal ad just a few hours after he debated with US President Joe Biden. Thursday nights presidential debate was a re-run that featured two candidates with a combined age of 159, but it went especially poorly for one of them, Joe Biden. Already fighting voter concerns about his age, Biden, 81, was halting and seemed to lose his train of thought, sparking quick concerns among Democrats about the man they hope will keep Trump from returning to office. Watch the video below Friday, June 28, 2024 - Two people have been shot dead and two others gravely wounded in an area known for drug trafficking near the Gare de Midi train station in Brussels, police said. The incident occurred on Thursday, June 27, between 1:00 and 2:00 am near a cafe in the Saint Gilles district of the Belgian capital and the suspect or suspects fled, a police spokesman said. In total, three people were wounded. Two are in a life-threatening condition, while a third is stable, the local police department said. Brussels region authorities this year identified Saint Gilles as a drugs hotspot among 14 others in the capitals 19 districts. Police have not thus far established a link between the shooting and the citys illegal drugs trade. Judicial officials were due to make a statement later on Thursday. In recent years, Belgium has seen a rise in armed violence linked to rivalries between drug trafficking gangs. There have been shootouts in the streets in Brussels and in Antwerp, whose port has become the main entry point into Europe for cocaine imported illegally from Latin America. Friday, June 28, 2024 - There was drama after protesters surrounded the home of South Mugirango Member of Parliament and Rutos sycophant, Silvanus Osoro, and attempted to storm in. The angry protesters wanted to torch his house to teach him a lesson for supporting the punitive finance bill 2024, which was withdrawn by the President after public outcry. Luckily, a contingent of police officers had been deployed to guard the home. The cops were seen trying to calm down the protesters after they threatened to storm in. The Government had deployed cops to guard Osoros home after the home of Molo MP and National Assembly Finance and Planning Chairperson Kuria Kimani was raided by protesters on Tuesday and vandalized, before being torched. Protesters have been targeting Members of Parliament who voted yes for the finance bill. Angry South Mugirango residents wanted to burn the house and property of their MP Silvanus Osoro, who insulted them by voting YES for the Finance Bill 2024. Osoro has also been insulting Gen Z youths. pic.twitter.com/nKLQxWkGOF Alinur Mohamed (@AlinurMohamed_) June 28, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, June 28, 2024 - Last Tuesday, police officers guarding Parliament were overpowered after a group of Gen Z protesters stormed in, forcing staff and members of parliament to run for their dear lives. The youthful protesters stormed the parliament kitchen and ransacked it, looking for food. There was plenty of food in the kitchen because MPs had not taken lunch when the daring protesters breached Parliament after braving live bullets. One of the protesters was filmed stealing chicken meat from the fridge and stashing it in his bag. It was the first time in Kenyan history for such an incident to occur. Watch the video. Watch the moment Gen Zs stormed Parliament kitchen and made away with food pic.twitter.com/AuBdlb1ITI DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) June 28, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, June 28, 2024 - A Democratic strategist, Theryn Bond has called for the party to replace Joe Biden and named three potential alternatives. The call comes after Biden's poor showing in the Thursday night debate with former US president Donald Trump. Joe Biden is three years and seven months older than former President Donald Trump but in the debate, the gap between the 81-year-old incumbent and his 78-year-old challenger seemed much larger as he made gaffes continuously in the debate. Theryn Bond said California governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer could be candidates, but the "mostly likely replacement" is Vice President Kamala Harris. But the strategist said Harris could not deliver a victory for the party because the US was "not ready" for a Black woman to be president. "Unfortunately as much as I want the US to be ready for a Black woman to be president, they are not ready," she said to Sky News. "This country is not ready. This country is too divisive, unfortunately, we're just not there. I don't think she would be the one to take the Democratic Party to victory." Without a replacement, the country will be forced to choose between a convicted felon and "somebody in mental decline", she said. She added: "What we saw was mental acuity being diminished in real time and that's very sad when you know what someone's professional trajectory looks like and then you see a decline in real time." When asked at the debate whether he would urge Joe Biden to end his campaign, Newsom said no, appearing to rule out a challenge. David Axelrod, a key adviser behind Barack Obama's successful presidential campaigns, said Biden wouldn't be inclined to leave the race. "This is a guy with a lot of pride... who believes in himself," he told CNN. Biden allies have dismissed the idea of change, with a potential alternative, Governor Gavin Newsom, rejecting the idea the president should end the campaign. But, some Democrats expect calls to oust Biden to grow. "The chatter of replacement is absolutely going to explode," a veteran Democratic strategist told NBC. "There is no coming back from this disaster." African governments have been advised to address legitimate demands by the youth to avoid escalation of discontent into a Kenya-like situation. The call comes after Kenya youth stormed the streets and even breached and burned part of the parliament building protesting some sticking proposals in the Finance Bill 2024. The violent protests also led to the death of at least 22 people, while over 200 others were injured during Tuesday protests that rocked 35 out of Kenyas 47 counties. The protests continued yesterday despite withdrawal of the controversial Bill by President William Ruto. Police fired teargas to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi, who had turned up to express their anger against the government and mourn people killed in earlier protests. Speaking to KFM, Amb. Harold Acemah, a retired diplomat, says what is happening in Kenya should be a lesson for all the African countries. What is happening in Kenya is a wakeup call to all African countries where good governance and rule of law are lacking, people should take it seriously, they have been making this demand in Kenya for so long and Ruto did not take it serious like any other African leaders, I dont think Ruto is going to be able to have a talk with them, Ambassador Acemah said. Former opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president Dr. Kiiza Besigye is calling for mechanisms for putting all leaders in check to avoid situations like the one in neighboring Kenya. His remarks were in relation to the nationwide youth-led anti-tax protests that have left more than 20 people reportedly killed and scores of others injured. Speaking at the launch of the African Public Square by the Africa Leadership Centre in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Friday morning, Besigye said some off these activities are driven by greed, vice he says has eaten up the young people as much as it has the older generation. For me there is problem of all these generation, but I do not consider these problems as generational, because I have said the young are as greedy and selfish as the old, unless we have created mechanism that will check anybody who is exercising power weather young or old we will continue with the same problem, Dr. Kiiza Besigye said. Meanwhile, according to the BBC, the Kenyan High Court earlier approved the use of military force to restore order, following days of protests that at some point overwhelmed police. Armoured military vehicles patrolled streets in the capital, Nairobi, yesterday as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters, who had threatened to storm the presidential palace. The judge said that although the military deployment was critical to protect government installations, the authorities are only given two days to clarify how long the deployment would last, along with its rules of engagement. Cabinet has approved the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill, 2024 that was recently presented by the Ministry of Education and Sports. This bill seeks to streamline the technical and vocational training and education sector. Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, Information and National Guidance minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said this sector plays a pivotal role in the development process of the economy. Many of our young people who are through the formal education process of primary, secondary, high school then proceed the university or other tertiary institutions, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi said. Baryomunsi also confirms that Cabinet has approved the principals for the amendment of the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act. We have a law which is the copyright and neighboring rights acts which was enacted in 2006 and this act provides for scientific, artistic intellectual works and their neighboring rights which is vital for economic development, Chris Baryomunsi said. The Uganda Police Force has developed Standards Operating Procedures (SOP) for its Police officers to remind them their roles and responsibilities while on duty. SOPs give step-by-step instructions needed to perform specific tasks consistently and efficiently. Over time during elections, the Police Force has been accused of abusing the political rights of Opposition politicians. Last month, the Minister of Internal Affairs Kahinda Otafiire passed a directive to the new Police Chief specifically talked of beatings of National Unity Platform leaders and supporters. Speaking at national symposium on the role of security agencies in election in Kampala the commissioner Community Policing at the Uganda Police Force Anatoli Muletelwa, said these will be pocket hand books that will be handed to every police officer. In preparation for the upcoming election the Uganda police force has gone ahead, we are developing standard operation procedures which are pocket handbook for police officers to remind them of what they are supposed to do during the election, Mr. Muletelwa said. The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces have released the schedule for the regular recruitment exercise in the Rwenzori region, set to kick off in July. The recruitment drive is part of the UPDFs efforts to strengthen its ranks and provide opportunities for Ugandan youth to serve their country. Major Bilal Katamba, the Public Information Officer for the UPDF Mountain Division and Operation Shujja, list the dates and locations for the recruitment exercise. He also emphasizes the importance of this recruitment exercise in bolstering the UPDFs capacity and urged eligible individuals from the respective districts to participate. Those shortlisted candidates from different districts whose names were displayed on the district notes board would be coming physically for the physical recruitment which will start on the 1st of July 2024 starting with Kasese then on the last day which will be on 10th we will be at Kamwenge district headquarters, Major Katamba underscored. The schedule is as follows: Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Booming tourism ignites summer nights in N Chinas Tianjin People's Daily Online) 13:57, June 28, 2024 It has increasingly become a popular lifestyle choice for tourists and local residents to capture the beauty of Tianjin in the early evening. Strolling along the banks of the Haihe River, enjoying exotic buildings, tender saxophone performances and elegant ballroom dance performances allow tourists to fully embrace the comfortable living atmosphere of the romantic Tianjin. In recent years, the local government has leveraged rich cultural and tourism resources to develop innovative tourism products and scenes themed on Tianjin, improving the distinctive cultural and tourism brand and gaining more recognition. Records show that Tianjin received a total of 6.68 million visits during the Dragon Boat Festival holidays this year, including 3.12 million local visits and 3.56 million visits from other provinces, generating a tourism income of nearly 5.51 billion yuan ($758.3 million). People play the saxophone at Jinwan Square in north Chinas Tianjin. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Tourists take group photos at Jinwan Square in north Chinas Tianjin. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) A fashion show is held at Jinwan Square in north Chinas Tianjin. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Tourists take photos in the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Photo shows a view of the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Photo shows a view of the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Photo shows a view of the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Fu Yuanyuan) Photo shows a night view of the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) Photo shows a night view of the Tianjin Italian Style Area. (Peoples Daily Online/Peng Yukai) (Intern Xing Yawen contributed to this story.) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Radio NZ reports: Christchurch City Council has announced it is resigning from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ). Councillors at a meeting today decided to no longer be part of LGNZ, after its annual membership costs rose by more than $20,000. The decision came after a report was presented at the meeting about renewing the annual membership subscription for the association, which represents the interests of councils around the country. The annual cost for Christchurch is $163,254.75 plus GST for the 2024/2025 year. This means LGNZ has lost its two largest members (Auckland and Christchurch) and no longer represents around 40% of New Zealands population. It is a pity in some ways. Ideally every Council in NZ would belong to a united industry group to represent them. But the damage done by their stance on supporting Three Waters against the wishes of so many Councils has left scars that will take a long time to heal. They ended up lobbying the Councils on behalf of the Government, instead of vice-versa. I suspect in time, Auckland and Christchurch will rejoin. But only after a fairly long period of time. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr After dumpster incident, Fayette residents want to move on, focus on solutions By Lee Yeon-woo Experts stated on Friday that the rewards for reporting stock manipulation and other unfair trading practices in Korea's capital market are insufficient, leading to the public's underutilization of the system. Given that insider testimony is crucial for identifying unfair trading, they believe the amount of the reward should be increased. According to the Financial Services Commission (FSC), rewards of 113.3 million ($81,982) won were paid to four whistleblowers from February to June. The payout in the first half of the year has increased by 58 percent, compared to the average annual reward over the past decade, according to the FSC. "This increase appears to be the result of financial authorities' efforts to improve the system by raising the reward baseline and expanding the eligibility criteria for payouts," the FSC said. A law amendment last February increased the maximum reward limit from 2 billion won to 3 billion won. Furthermore, whistleblowers have become eligible for rewards even if they report after financial authorities have begun investigating unfair trading, provided their information helps uncover the violations. However, experts believe that more incentives are required to encourage whistleblowing. The frequency of tips has been scarce despite a number of spotted unfair trading cases here. "Unfair trading often involves multiple perpetrators and is conducted covertly and systemically, making insider testimony and evidence crucial. Although a reward system for whistleblowers has been introduced to address this, the number of rewards given and their amounts are insufficient, resulting in underutilization of the system," Hwang Hyun-young, a research fellow at Korea Capital Market Institute, said. In 2019, a total of 38 million won was paid to two people. In 2020, it surged to 124.4 million to five people, then sharply dropped to 11.8 million paid to one person in 2021. There were no cases in 2022, while in 2023, 108.5 million won was paid to two people. "Even with the costs of the rewards, more funds can be recovered through the detection of unfair trading, including confiscated and forfeited amounts, fines and future penalties," Hwang said. The country that most actively utilizes this system is the U.S. In the 2022 fiscal year, over 12,300 whistleblower reports were received, and approximately $229 million in rewards were paid out. In 2023 alone, $600 million in rewards were distributed. "The market will learn, and the number of whistleblower reports is expected to increase in the future," Hwang added. To guarantee a sufficient amount of compensation, calls to develop a Korean version of the "Fair Fund" are also rising. This U.S. policy involves establishing a fund sourced from penalties to pay out rewards, to overcome the limitations of government budgets. The introduction of this new policy gained momentum in 2020 following the now-defunct Lime Asset Management's sale and operation of fraudulent financial products. However, it failed to pass the bar. The Democratic Party of Korea, the main opposition, aims to discuss the issue in the 22nd National Assembly, following the opening of the National Policy Committee in July. Korea's industrial output fell in May from a month earlier, as losses in the automobile sector offset gains in the semiconductor segment, with retail sales and facility investment losing ground as well, data showed Friday. Industrial output fell 0.7 percent on-month in May, compared with a 1.2 percent increase a month earlier, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea. Compared with a year earlier, industrial output advanced 2.2 percent in May. It marked the first time in 10 months that the industrial output, retail and facility investment indexes simultaneously lost ground on-month. The output in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries fell 1.2 percent as losses in the automobile and machinery sectors offset gains in the chip industry. The output from the chip sector rose 1.8 percent on-month in May, while that of the automobile and machinery industries slid 3.1 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively. The service sector saw its output edge down 0.5 percent due to a weaker performance in the finance and telecommunications industries, although output from the wholesale and retail sectors gained ground. Retail sales, a gauge of private spending, shed 0.2 percent on-month due mainly to falling sales of clothes and cosmetic products. From a year earlier, retail sales slid 3.1 percent. The demand for nondurable goods, including food, edged up 0.7 percent over the period, but the output of semidurable goods, such as clothes, fell 2.9 percent on-month in May, the data showed. Facility investment inched down 4.1 percent in May from the previous month, marking the third consecutive fall, the data added. The agency attributed the decline to decreased investment in the automobile and machinery sectors, which dropped 12.3 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Kong Mi-sook, a senior official at Statistics Korea, said the overall conditions in the country's industrial output remain sound, considering it still expanded from a year earlier. "(The industrial output) remains solid on the back of exports, including chips, but consumption lagged behind the recovery," Kong added. The finance ministry said the South Korean economy is on the path of economic recovery, with its exports anticipated to expand on-year for nine consecutive months through June. "Despite a correction in industrial output in May, the economy in general seems to be on a recovery path," the finance ministry said in a statement, noting that risks in the global supply chain remain a hurdle. (Yonhap) Korea's imports of crude oil fell 2.5 percent on year in 2023, data showed Friday, as consumption of petroleum products declined last year. Korea imported 1.01 billion barrels of crude oil last year, down from 1.03 billion barrels in 2022, according to data compiled by the Korea National Oil Corp. The Middle East accounted for 71.9 percent of Korea's crude oil imports last year, up from 67.4 percent in 2022. Korea's dependency on the Middle East crude oil has risen following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Imports of petroleum products totaled 372 million barrels last year, with naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas making up 64.5 percent and 26.4 percent, respectively. (Yonhap) "Everything" should be on the table if it helps make progress towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday, reiterating the United States' commitment to diplomacy with North Korea. Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remarks, noting that Washington's dialogue overtures have been answered "in the form of missile launches and other forms of provocative actions," which he said warrant efforts to "double down" on deterrence. "If we had regular dialogue channels with counterparts in Pyongyang, if we could make progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, I think everything should be on the table," he said during a hearing of the Indo-Pacific subcommittee under the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Kritenbrink was responding as Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) talked about a bill that he introduced to seek an agreement for a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, not a permanent peace treaty. The assistant secretary reiterated the Biden administration's continued pursuit of diplomacy with Pyongyang. "We will never take off the table the fact that the door to dialogue in a better path remains open, but in the current circumstances, I think we have no choice but to double down on our deterrent capabilities," he said. His remarks came as calls have grown for greater efforts to address North Korean threats amid Pyongyang's continued weapons tests and its tightening military alignment with Moscow. Kritenbrink underscored the need to continue to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and work with the international community to increase sanctions so as to deter North Korea and its partnership with Russia. Commenting on the recent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the official voiced deep concerns. "We thought that President Putin's visit was just the latest manifestation of this deeply disturbing and growing partnership. We are concerned about the implications both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific," he said. (Yonhap) North Korea said Friday a planned plenary meeting of its ruling Workers' Party will be a "politically important" event, amid speculation on whether it would discuss follow-up measures to implement a new partnership treaty signed with Russia. North Korea earlier said it will hold a plenary meeting of the party's central committee in late June to review its policy performances in the first half. But the North's state media have yet to report whether it opened the key party meeting. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, called the planned party meeting a "politically important occasion" to spur North Koreans' march toward the socialist development. North Korea usually holds a party plenary meeting for a few days in June. But this year's meeting draws more attention due to the possibility that it could discuss detailed measures to expand cooperation with Russia following its signing with Moscow of the treaty of comprehensive strategic partnership. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Pyongyang on June 19, and clinched the treaty that calls for providing military assistance to each other without delay if either side comes under an armed attack. Article 4 of the 23-point treaty could be seen as warranting automatic military intervention in the event of aggression on either country. That would amount to the restoration of a Cold War-era alliance for the first time in 28 years since a mutual defense treaty was scrapped in 1996. (Yonhap) South Korea's military released a video clip Friday showing a midair explosion of a North Korean missile after it spiraled out of control, in yet another dismissal of North Korea's claim of a successful test of a multiple-warhead missile. The disclosure came a day after North Korea said it successfully conducted a missile test Wednesday aimed at securing multiple warhead capability, which allows a single ballistic missile to deliver multiple warheads to different targets. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has said the North launched a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, but the missile exploded in midair after traveling some 250 kilometers, labeling the North's claim of a successful test a "method of deception and exaggeration." The 28-second video, filmed by the South's thermal observation devices in different front-line units, showed the North's missile ascending in an abnormal manner, rolling left to right before it completely tumbled out of control. The missile later exploded into multiple pieces of debris, contradicting the North's claim that the separated warheads were guided correctly to three targets. "North Korea may have attempted to make a new type of missile ... but analysis is very limited as the missile exploded in the very early stage," a JCS official said, stressing the military has "completely" ruled out the possibility of North Korea even attempting to conduct a multiple-warhead missile test. (Yonhap) A senior Seoul official on Thursday hailed an elevated level of trilateral cooperation between Korea, the United States and Japan on key technologies, supply chains and other economic security issues, using a rare term for the growing partnership: an economic alliance. The official made the remarks a day after the three countries launched a trilateral ministerial industry-commerce meeting in Washington, where they highlighted their commitment to cooperation in promoting the development of critical and emerging technologies, and strengthening the security and resiliency of their economies. Korean Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Japanese Industry Minister Ken Saito attended the meeting, a follow-up to a landmark agreement that the leaders of the three countries reached during their summit at Camp David in August. "It is a very meaningful first step to establish an in-depth cooperative partnership regarding industrial technology policy," the official told Korean reporters. "It is not that only governments have policy talks. Meetings among private-sector economic groups were also initiated. Thus, trilateral cooperation has deepened to a high level to the extent that we can call it an economic alliance," he added. Asked to delineate the alliance term, he said that it is meant to highlight a different level of economic cooperation that is now underpinned by a permanent three-way ministerial institution rather than a one-off gathering. "But it is not like a military alliance under which one automatically (comes to the aid of the other) in case of an invasion," he said. At Wednesday's inaugural meeting, the three sides discussed the protection of key cutting-edge technologies and industrial cooperation, he said. "It is fair to say that we have reached an understanding that we will work together to formulate some kind of a basic framework to strengthen supply chains," he said. Asked to comment on discussions between Seoul and Washington about export controls on semiconductor equipment, the official stressed that no efforts are under way to craft or enforce export measures against any particular country. In a press meeting on Thursday, Ahn cited growing global geopolitical uncertainties to underline the importance of cooperation between Korea, the U.S., and Japan. "To respond to such risks from the external environment, the importance of cooperation in economic security and cutting-edge industries among trustworthy allies and partners, like that among Korea, the U.S. and Japan, has been gradually increasing," he said. (Yonhap) A senior U.S. Army official on Thursday highlighted the importance of military maintenance and logistics cooperation with South Korea, calling it a "win-win" effort that will help ensure deterrence. Speaking at a forum, Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology, asserted the need for more attention to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) aspect, an area eclipsed by publicized programs to buy or develop flashy weapons systems. "If we are fighting there, we are going to have to repair equipment in a sustained conflict. Being able to do that and having practiced doing it ... is really kind of a combat rehearsal that increases deterrence and increases readiness," he said at a forum held at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "There are many benefits, including saving money," he added. For the United States, 70 percent of the cost of its weapon systems is in sustainment, repair and maintenance over time, he added, noting possibilities for greater cooperation with South Korea in the MRO field. His remarks came as questions have lingered over whether the U.S. can effectively sustain combat operations far away from its mainland, particularly in the event of a contingency across the Taiwan Strait or elsewhere in the broader Indo-Pacific. "The importance of having things forward with our allies on the ground in place rather than having to rely on very long supply chains back to the U.S., especially in a conflict, and building up those stocks, repair parts, repair capability and ammunition stores is both deterrence but also would help overcome fighting a sophisticated enemy who attacked our supply chains and our supply routes," he said. He cast cooperation with allies in the maintenance and logistics realms as "really a win-win." "It helps ensure that we have things right there where we need it on the ground. That logistics cooperation is as essential a part of preparing for war as training together on how to fight," he said. As for future areas of defense industry cooperation with South Korea, Bush pointed out unmanned aircraft and ground robotics. "We are trying to go as fast as we can to take advantage of drones and new unmanned aircraft technologies ... Also ground robotics, an increasing area of interest for the U.S. because of what we are seeing in Ukraine. We want to make a major effort to have more ground robotics in our formations," he said. "Those two together could both be critical ares of cooperation (with South Korea)." In response, Seok Jong-gun, the minister of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, highlighted the growing need for South Korea to employ unmanned systems due to the nation's chronically low birth rate. "We are facing North Korean threats and we have a very low birth rate," he said. "It's very hard to have enough forces and human resources ... We have to apply that to the weapon system and use that as a game changer in our battlefield environment." Bush stressed defense industrial cooperation with U.S. allies for deterrence. "We need bigger stockpiles of weapons. Our enemies like North Korea, they need to know we have them, we are ready to use them, and we can mobilize our industrial base, working with our allies in an integrated way, to rapidly respond if aggression comes to our doorstep," he said. "My hope is that in addition to just providing more weapons, this effort ... will help strengthen deterrence by showing that our industrial bases, when mobilized by appropriate political will and provided sufficient resources, are unmatched." He touted South Korea's defense manufacturing technology, saying the U.S. has to learn from Korea as it tries to rebuild its own capacity. (Yonhap) President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to meet with U.S. National Intelligence Director Avril Haines on Friday, sources said, amid growing concerns over a recent military pact between North Korea and Russia. During the meeting at Yoon's office, the two sides are likely to exchange their views on the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss joint efforts to counter the growing Pyongyang-Moscow military ties. Last week, Putin made a rare visit to Pyongyang and signed a military pact with Kim that offers immediate military assistance if either comes under attack, putting South Korean and U.S. authorities on alert. Yoon and Haines could also discuss the possibility of South Korea's arms supply to Kyiv. The South Korean government earlier said it will reconsider its ban on providing lethal weapons to Ukraine following the signing of the military pact between Kim and Putin. (Yonhap) Korea's industry ministry said Friday it will add 243 more items that can potentially be used for military purposes to the list of products regulated for export to Russia and Belarus. The decision raised the number of such items to 1,402, as Korea has been tightening its control on shipments of such goods in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The newly listed products include metal-cutting equipment, optical instrument parts and sensors, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Items on the list are prohibited from being shipped to Russia and Belarus, although the government can grant approval on a case-by-case basis, particularly for business deals made prior to the announcement. The new regulations are expected to be implemented by the end of August after completing the necessary procedures. National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin recently hinted at expanding export control against Russia after Moscow and Pyongyang signed "the comprehensive strategic treaty" earlier this month. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin In a poignant departure from the usual festivities, Israel's National Day was commemorated with an art exhibition at Gallery Eun in Seoul, Wednesday. Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting the current somber mood in Israel. "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance," Tor began, quoting Ecclesiastes. "We have chosen this year to commemorate Israels National Day, our day of independence, differently. Not with song and with laughter, but with art of anguish." Since the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas, many Israeli artists have given expression through art to intense feelings of grief, despair, hope and prayers. The Embassy of Israel in Seoul presented the works of 19 Israeli artists dedicated to the hostages and expressive of a collective national mourning and pain, but also deep yearning for their safety and freedom. The exhibition, titled "Captives of Hope," features works by 19 Israeli artists and aims to convey the national sentiment of mourning and crisis. "We are proud, and also sad, to present here in Insadong in Gallery Eun the works of 19 Israeli artists depicting the national mood, the sense of mourning and upset, of crisis and horror, the feeling of a situation which is untenable and unresolved, which Israel and its people are feeling today," Tor said. "We have called this exhibition 'Captives of Hope.' Our hope is that the captives go free, but all of us the hostages, you the visitors today, all of Israel we are all captive to our hopes, prayers, determination that they go free." The ambassador emphasized the solidarity and resilience of the Israeli people. "Israels strength is in its solidarity, in our commitment to each other, in our feeling that we are one and cannot abandon each other, no matter what," he said. "This is why the redemption of captives is a key principle of Jewish law from the Talmud and Medieval times until today, and why Israel will not rest until we bring home our captives alive, and also, God forbid, those who are not alive. We are resolved, and we wont abandon them." Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Tor underscored that out of the 120 abducted people held in Gaza, forty-three have died. He expressed hope and belief that the remaining seventy-seven are still alive. This art does not signify revenge. It does not signify a lack of awareness for the plight of Gaza or the suffering of many Gazans in this terrible war," he said. "This art signifies harsh reality - the plight of the people who were murdered and wounded and raped on the Gaza border going about their lives without malice, and the plight of the hostages, the captives who have disappeared from the first moment of this conflict on Oct. 7, who have had no access to the Red Cross, people many whose plight we do not know, people who we must find a way to bring home. Our people." By Kwak Yeon-soo U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned South Korea, Samsung and Kim Jong-un during the first presidential debate ahead of Novembers U.S. election. During the debate in Atlanta, Ga., Biden mentioned South Korea as one ally that support the U.S. foreign policy of providing financial and military support to Ukraine. I got 50 other nations around the world to support Ukraine, including Japan and South Korea, because they understand that this kind of dislocation has a serious threat to the whole world peace, Biden said during the debate, which aired on CNN. Biden, 81, tackled one of his biggest weaknesses his age and fitness for office by sharing how he created thousands of jobs and generated millions of dollars in state revenues. I convinced Samsung to invest billions of dollars here in the United States. And then guess what? Those fabs, they call them, to to build these chips, those fabs pay over $100,000. You dont need a college degree for them. And theres billions, about $40 billion already being invested and being built right now in the United States, creating significant jobs for Americans all over from all over the world, he said. While praising the U.S. as the most progressive and the strongest country in the world, Biden argued that even North Korean leader doesn't want to want to engage in conflict with with the U.S. Those who he (Trump) cuddles up to, from Kim Jong-un who he sends love letters to, or Putin, they dont want to screw around with us, Biden said. Former U.S. President Donald Trump slammed Bidens military policies, saying that he would drive the country into World War III. We are very, very close to World War III, and hes driving us there. And Kim Jong-un of North Korea, President Xi (Jinping) of China and (Vladimir) Putin (of Russia) don't respect him. They dont fear him, Trump said. Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming is expected to leave his post after more than four years on the job as Beijing has decided to replace him, according to diplomatic sources Friday. The Chinese government reportedly instructed him to return home and Xing is expected to depart this weekend or early next week, the sources familiar with the matter said. Xing took office as the top Chinese envoy to Seoul in January 2020. Xing is known for his extensive knowledge and experience in Korea-related affairs, including his fluency in Korean. But he has made little public appearance since his conversation last year with South Korea's main opposition party leader drew heated criticism in South Korea. In the meeting with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, Xing warned that South Korea will "definitely regret it" if it "bets on China's loss" in the strategic rivalry with the United States. Xing has since reportedly been experiencing difficulties meeting with government officials in South Korea. Some observers say that Xing's expected departure indicates Beijing's effort to improve ties with Seoul amid signs of the two sides trying to better manage their bilateral relations amid North Korea's close alignment with Russia. (Yonhap) Korea will lift a travel advisory for Japan, except for the Fukushima regions, and lowered the travel warning level placed on Iran, the foreign ministry said Friday. The Level 1 travel alert out of its four-scale system has been applied to Japan, which calls for exercising normal precautions, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent decline in the number of travelers there. Beginning Monday, the Seoul government will lift the advisory given a growing number of travelers in Japan after the removal of antivirus measures and decent public order in the neighboring country. The Level 3 warning of "recommending departure," however, will remain in place for regions within 30 kilometers of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant and other areas under an evacuation order issued by the Japanese government, according to the ministry. It will lower the travel warning for Iran to the Level 2 "travel restriction," the ministry said, adding that it will also lower the warning level for Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Senegal by one notch to Level 1 as part of its regular adjustment of the warning system. The warning level will be raised by one notch for Colombia's Norte de Santander to Level 3 in consideration of the possibility of terrorist attacks and other serious crimes there, the ministry said. (Yonhap) For 1st time, more people support nuclear arms over US forces stationed here By Jung Min-ho Public support in South Korea for developing its own nuclear weapons has rebounded this year, with 66 percent backing the idea amid ongoing nuclear threats from North Korea, a new poll shows. According to a report released on Thursday by the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), a state-funded think tank, 66 percent of 1,001 respondents indicated they "support or strongly support" the idea of equipping their country with nuclear weapons unless the North Korean regime abandons its nuclear ambitions. The support rate has increased from the think tank's 2023 poll, where 60.2 percent expressed favorability toward the idea. The previous result was published shortly after the Washington Declaration, in which U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed American commitment to defending the South against any potential nuclear attack from the North. With no guarantee of another term for Biden next year, more South Koreans now say they prefer having their own nuclear weapons over U.S. military forces being stationed in their country. According to this years poll, 44.6 percent said they prefer having South Koreas own nuclear arms to having U.S. military equipment and soldiers stationed here marking the first such preference shift since the think tank began including that question in its report in 2021. Just last year, 49.5 percent preferred having U.S. military forces stationed in their country, while only 33.8 percent favored possessing their own nuclear arms. When asked about the credibility of Washingtons nuclear umbrella, 66.9 percent said they trust it, down from 72.1 percent last year. All of this suggests a growing concern among South Koreans about the potential for changes in Americas foreign policy, including its security commitments, especially with the prospect of Donald Trump securing a second presidential term. During his first term, Trump repeatedly proposed completely withdrawing U.S. troops from South Korea, former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a memoir. According to a New York Times report last month, surveys conducted jointly by the newspaper, Siena College, and the Philadelphia Inquirer indicated that Trump was leading among registered voters in a head-to-head matchup against Biden in five out of six key states: Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The KINUs report shows that 52.2 percent of respondents believe Trumps election win would mean the deterioration of diplomatic ties between the two countries. For that important reason among others, 62.8 percent said they prefer Biden to Trump as the leader of the U.S., while only 10.6 percent said they prefer having Trump in that position. In another notable result, 56.6 percent said they believe that, if Trump returns to the White House, he will likely hold another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, despite their two previous fruitless meetings during Trumps first term. A Seoul court on Friday dismissed a damages suit filed by Lee Dong-kwan, a former head of the state broadcasting watchdog, against local news channel YTN for covering allegations that his wife had received bribes in return for job favors. Lee, former chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), filed the suit after the news channel reported on allegations that his wife had received money in exchange for job favors in 2010 before returning it two months later. He claimed the news channel had "maliciously reported on a lopsided opinion" and filed a suit seeking 500 million won ($362,527) in compensation. The Seoul Central District Court dismissed the suit, saying even if what was reported is considered false due to a lack of evidence, it was reported for the purpose of public interest and that the report did not say the allegations are true. Reporters also put in a lot of work, including seeking Lee's position on the matter, the court said. Lee, a former journalist who served as a senior secretary for press affairs during the Lee Myung-bak administration, was appointed as the chief of the state broadcasting watchdog in August before he stepped down about three months later ahead of a pending National Assembly impeachment vote. (Yonhap) Current systems fail to address reality and focus only on weeding out undocumented migrants By KTimes At the House of Sharing in Yongsan, Seoul, a center for the rights of social minorities, Mr. A, a 49-year-old Filipino undocumented migrant, often referred to as an illegal resident, said he could no longer endure the conditions at a textile factory in Seoul. The working environment was hellish. He barely got any breaks, and the boss's insults and verbal abuse were relentless. The executives' scolding voices and angry faces were a constant source of stress for A. No one chooses to become an undocumented migrant. Foreign workers lose their legal status the moment they leave their workplace without authorization. Rationally, he knew he should endure such treatment. While foreign workers can change their workplace if treated unfairly, they have to prove they were treated unjustly. For Mr. A, who struggled with the language and lacked understanding of the system, this was an insurmountable challenge. However, surviving even one year was too difficult. After fleeing the factory, A became an undocumented migrant. He tried his best to avoid getting caught. He found another job at a sewing factory, working night shifts from Monday to Friday to avoid daytime raids. The factory agreed to his schedule, but told him not to expect night shift pay. "Even if my biological rhythm is disrupted and I don't receive night shift pay, it's better than the constant abuse from my previous boss," he said. As President Yoon Suk-yeol declared Korea's shrinking population a national emergency, there is a growing consensus that immigration policies must become more accommodating. The government also announced plans to accept a record high number of migrant workers this year. However, current systems fail to address the reality. The focus remains on weeding out undocumented migrants, with no measures in place to facilitate their stable settlement. Experts warn that rigid policies contribute to the rise in undocumented migrants and diminish Korea's appeal as a destination for immigrants. According to the Ministry of Justice, as of May this year, there were 415,230 undocumented migrants, making up 17.1 percent of the total foreign population of 2.43 million This means one in six foreign residents is undocumented. There are currently more than twice as many undocumented migrants as the 165,000 new foreign workers the government plans to accept this year, all working in harsh conditions and hiding from authorities in order to keep making money. Rigid policies and their consequences The increase in undocumented migrants is often attributed to the inflexible immigration policies rather than solely to the individuals who fail to comply with the law. One of the most criticized aspects is the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa), the most common type of work visa. This system severely restricts the number and circumstances under which a worker can change jobs. Under this system, foreign workers are allowed to change workplaces only three times in the initial three years and only twice in the subsequent one year and 10 months of reemployment. Moreover, changes are permitted only if the employer terminates the contract or the worker can directly prove unfair treatment. Many foreign residents, like A, become undocumented because they cannot prove the unfair treatment they received. Language barriers and a lack of understanding of the system make it challenging for them to seek help, even when facing long-term issues like unpaid wages. Choi Jeong-gyu, a lawyer who has been advocating for the rights of migrant workers, said, "It's not easy for migrants, who are often not fluent in the language, to prove their poor working conditions themselves. The current system contributes to the increase in undocumented migrants." Even those holding the relatively stable E-7-4 visa for skilled workers face similar issues. The stringent and inflexible requirements often push them into undocumented status, forcing them to leave Korea. To extend their stay, E-7-4 visa holders must earn at least 26 million won annually and score 52 points or more in the industrial value contribution category. Mr. B, a 29-year-old from Nepal, held this visa but became undocumented when he couldn't work during a job change because his employer refused to provide a transfer agreement. Consequently, he missed the score needed for visa extension by just 3 points. Despite working over 12 hours a day without holidays in a pig farm for 2.2 million won a month, and even working the day he was discharged from surgery, B found himself abandoned by the system. "The most heartbreaking thing is that I can no longer bring my wife to Korea," he said. "I fear going to the local pharmacy for cold medicine because I might get caught." Others became undocumented due to legal disputes. Mr. C, a 34-year-old from Cambodia, lost his legal status while suing his employer for unpaid wages. In some cases, company mistakes lead to undocumented status. For example, a 29-year-old from Bangladesh became undocumented because his employer failed to report his visa extension on time. Despite emphasizing that it wasn't his fault and promptly notifying the employment center, the government refused to rectify his status, stating it didn't qualify as a special circumstance. Daily struggles of undocumented migrants Undocumented migrants live in constant fear of deportation. A Mongolian in his 40s who works for a moving company said he avoids subways due to frequent raids and opts for longer bus rides. A Filipina domestic worker in her 40s said she endures the stress of hiding her status even when her children come home from kindergarten with bruises. Our society is facing a contradictory situation where one side is trying to expel foreigners, while the other is desperately trying to bring in new foreign workers. This raises the question of whether it is just and fair to expel people who have done nothing wrong, prompting calls for deep societal reflection. Lee Han-sook, director of the Migration and Human Rights Research Institute, criticized the current policy of cracking down on undocumented migrants while seeking new labor as contradictory. She emphasized that reorganizing the system and internal conditions should be a priority. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission also recommended easing the conditions for changing workplaces or obtaining reemployment permits. This change aims to protect the rights of foreign workers and optimize their utilization. Earlier this year, the commission recommended improvements in the Employment Permit System (E-9) to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. There are also calls to strengthen relief measures for migrant workers who have lost their residency status. Jung Young-seop, an official at the Migrant Workers' Equality Alliance, criticized the lack of systems to provide relief for migrant workers who miss the reporting deadlines for workplace changes or extensions of stay due to reasons beyond their control. He highlighted the need for measures such as substituting fines in these situations. Lee at the Migration and Human Rights Research Institute also pointed out that many have become undocumented because they couldn't find a job within the three-month job-seeking period. She called for an amnesty for those who exceeded this period due to unavoidable circumstances. 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. The broadcasting regulator on Friday approved a plan to appoint new board members for a controlling shareholder of a public broadcaster and two other public broadcasters. The plan was approved by Korean Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Kim Hong-il and Vice Chairman Lee Sang-in, according to KCC officials. The approval came as opposition parties vowed to seek Kim's impeachment, citing a lack of transparency in the KCC. Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. (MBC) had filed a motion to exclude Lee from the decision-making process, but it was rejected. The three public broadcasters are MBC, Korean Broadcasting System and Korea Educational Broadcasting System. (Yonhap) By Jung Da-hyun Korea plans to extend visa allowances to let international students work as caregivers for the elderly, addressing a shortage of long-term care workers for senior citizens. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced, Friday, a new policy to introduce a dedicated work visa category for foreign students graduating from domestic universities to work as caregivers. This initiative is part of broader efforts to address the growing shortage of long-term caregivers as the nation becomes a super-aged society and as a growing number of younger Koreans shun so-called "3D" or dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs. Starting in July, both current international students and graduates will be eligible to obtain caregiver qualifications. Graduates who secure jobs in nursing facilities will be able to obtain E-7 visas, which permit employment in 88 occupations designated by the justice minister. Until now, caregiver employment for non-Korean nationals has only been allowed to those holding the following visas: F-2 (long-term residents), F-4 (overseas Koreans), F-5 (permanent residents), F-6 (marriage migrants) and H-2 (ethnic Koreans from seven designated countries). The government will implement a pilot program, allowing up to 400 international students annually to obtain two-year visas to work as caregivers. Furthermore, ethnic Koreans with H-2 visas who obtain caregiver qualifications will be eligible to switch to F-4 visas for extended stays. The health and welfare ministry also announced a plan to gradually reduce the number of recipients each nursing care worker is responsible for, aiming to enhance the quality of long-term care services. The ratio of residents to caregivers in nursing facilities will be reduced from the current 2.3 to 2.1 starting in 2025. Considering the potential staffing shortages, the ministry will allow the existing standard of 2.3 residents per caregiver to remain in place until the end of 2026. With a potential shortage of caregivers looming due to the new staffing criteria and the fact that the average age of current caregivers reached 61.7 years as of December last year, the government is actively encouraging international students to enter the caregiving field. Meanwhile, the government also plans to bring in approximately 100 caregivers from the Philippines to Seoul for a six-month pilot program, aiming to ease the child care burden on young working parents and address the declining birthrate. Based on the program's performance, the initiative may be expanded to 1,200 caregivers in the first half of next year. However, there are concerns over a lack of clarity in the job descriptions for these caregivers, raising fears that the program may not sufficiently protect and ensure the welfare of migrant workers. By Kwak Yeon-soo Ruling People Power Party (PPP) leadership hopefuls are intensifying their attacks on former interim leader Han Dong-hoon, who is leading the polls of the four-way race. Along with Han, five-term lawmaker Rep. Na Kyung-won, former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong and five-term lawmaker Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun have declared their bids for PPP chairmanship, which will be decided at a national convention on July 23. Gallup Korea surveyed 1,002 adults from June 25 to 27 to gauge the popularity of potential candidates for the PPPs new chairperson and Han received 28 percent support, followed by Na with 19 percent, Won with 13 percent and Yoon 3 percent. Over half of the PPP supporters said they plan to vote for Han as the next party chairman. Won, emphasizing his strong connection with President Yoon Suk Yeol, accused Han of betraying the president. This appears to reference the ongoing tensions between Han and Yoon, including allegations involving First Lady Kim Keon Hee receiving a luxury bag as a gift from a pastor in 2022, which have contributed to their strained relationship. Even if the presidents approval rating is declining, one shouldn't embrace it when it's favorable and reject it when it's unfavorable. The politics of betrayal and opportunism leave everyone dissatisfied, Won said. Rep. Yoon also took aim at Han, saying, I doubt whether Han will faithfully cooperate with the government if he becomes a party chairman, given the fact that the president has no trust in him. Han refuted the accusations, saying, The only things politicians should never betray is the nation and the people." He also expressed resentment over the ruling conservative party being heavily influenced by decisions from the presidential office, questioning, "Is normalizing party-government relations the ultimate goal of politics?" Rep. Na indirectly denounced her rival. I believe the polls reflect Hans popularity, not necessarily public opinion of his accomplishments. The true answer to politics lies in the field and with the people, but it's challenging for someone who hasn't been actively involved in such activities to become a party leader," she said. Han, a former prosecutor and the Yoon governments inaugural justice minister, assumed the interim leadership of the conservative party in December. He spearheaded the election campaign aimed at restoring voter confidence. Despite these efforts, the party secured only 108 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. Han subsequently resigned, taking responsibility for the electoral defeat. Meanwhile, Han continues to face criticism from veteran politicians like Daegu Mayor and former five-term lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo, and North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo. Both have refused to meet Han, seemingly keeping their distance from him. Some interpret Hongs move as an attempt to bring down a potential opponent ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Han still remains one of the strongest potential candidates for the next election, although his support rate has dwindled. A final court hearing for former opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on an alleged election law violation will take place in September, with a verdict expected around the following month, officials said Friday. The final hearing session regarding Lee's alleged election law violation will be held on Sept. 6 following the interrogation of Lee in August and other processes, according to the Seoul Central District Court. Lee is accused of making false statements during the presidential campaign in 2021 by denying knowing Kim Moon-ki, a deceased suspect and a Seongnam city employee who played a key role in the Daejang-dong development project in violation of the election law. Lee also allegedly made a false claim in 2021 that the special favor in the land development project in Seongnam's Baekhyeon-dong district was given at the request of the land ministry, also in violation of the law. Given due legal procedures, a court verdict on the allegations is expected to be delivered around October, which will mark the first court ruling on allegations against Lee. Lee is standing trial on breach of trust and other corruption charges connected to those development projects in the city of Seongnam, south of Seoul, arising from his term as mayor in the city years ago. Lee ran for president as the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate in March 2022 but was narrowly defeated by then main opposition People Power Party candidate Yoon Suk Yeol. After serving as the DPK's chairman, Lee resigned on Monday in a preparatory step to seek another term as party leader in a national convention set for August. Under current rules, a party chair must resign from his leadership position to be eligible as a candidate. (Yonhap) A memoir by former National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has sparked political debate with the claim that President Yoon Suk Yeol speculated the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush may have been fabricated. In his memoir revealed Thursday, Kim recounted his private conversation with Yoon during a breakfast prayer meeting, held a week after 159 people were killed in a crowd crush during Halloween festivities in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood on Oct. 29, 2022. During their meeting, Kim advised Yoon that Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min needs to voluntarily step down to take responsibility over the deadly incident and prevent a political deadlock that could delay the passage of the 2023 budget bill. At the time, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) had proposed an impeachment bill against Lee over the government's mishandling of the incident. In response, Yoon said he had not decided regarding Lee due to "strong suspicions" about the incident, saying he could not "rule out the possibility that it might have been induced and manipulated by certain forces." If this were the case, Yoon said it would be unfair to make Lee step down, according to Kim. The presidential office flatly denied Kim's claims, criticizing the former DPK lawmaker who served as parliamentary speaker from July 2022 to May 2024. "It is deplorable that a former National Assembly speaker would distort a private conversation with the president and reveal it to the public," the presidential office said in a release Thursday. The office did not go into details of the memoir, instead emphasizing Yoon had ordered related agencies to thoroughly investigate all allegations and had approved a special law to support the victims of the Itaewon tragedy. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) slammed the opposition for politicizing disasters. "It is truly deplorable that the former National Assembly speaker from the DP is behaving in this manner," PPP spokesperson Park Jun-tae said. "We urge (Kim) to immediately withdraw the baseless record and apologize." The memoir is not yet officially published. In contrast, the DPK called on Yoon to explain his remarks in Kim's memoir. "If the content of Kim's memoir is true, it is very shocking," DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae said in a party leadership meeting on Friday. "The president himself should clarify his position." Bereaved families of the victims also urged Yoon to clarify his comment on the Itaewon tragedy. "It is hard to believe that the president of a country made remarks at the level of conspiracy theories raised on YouTube," an association of the Itaewon tragedy said in a statement. "If that's true, Yoon should apologize to the 159 victims, their bereaved families and survivors who are still living in pain," it added. (Yonhap) Transition to 4-day workweek loses momentum amid economic slowdown By Park Jae-hyuk A six-day workweek has returned to Korea nearly two decades after workers here began to take the entire weekend off, as more companies have ordered their executives to come to the office on Saturdays to discuss strategies to overcome the recession, according to industry officials, Friday. Such a trend is expected to put the brakes on the recent dialogue between the government, labor and management over the introduction of a four-day workweek. HD Hyundai Oilbank decided to ask its executives to start working on Saturdays from July, as the business environment has become more uncertain after a decline in refining margins. Amid wild fluctuations in international crude oil prices last year, the refiners profitability was even worse than its three other competitors, all of which posted over 1 trillion won ($724 million) in annual operating profits. We are quite serious these days as refining margins are important for our profits, an HD Hyundai Oilbank official said. The HD Hyundai subsidiarys decision came a few months after Samsung and SK asked their executives earlier this year to work six days a week. All of Samsungs affiliates ordered their executives in April to work an extra day either on Saturday or Sunday to step up risk management amid increasing global economic uncertainties. In February, SK Group also resumed a biweekly executive meeting on Saturday for the first time in 24 years since it adopted a five-day workweek back in 2000. Their move even affected smaller Korean companies facing deteriorated earnings. Executives of Samyang Group, a local chemical firm, recently started working on Saturdays twice a month to brace for the industry downturn and geopolitical risks. Some of them reportedly decided to work on Saturdays every week. SsangYong C&E asked its executives and non-executive employees, who serve as team leaders, to attend business meetings on Saturdays, as the nations largest cement firm fell behind Hanil Cement in terms of the first-quarter sales and operating profits. Seegene founder and CEO Chun Jong-yoon is also said to have asked executives in April to work six days a week, as the diagnostic kit maker made a loss after the government began managing COVID-19 as an endemic. NongHyup Bank resumed a weekly executive meeting on Sunday for the first time in eight years, becoming the first Korean financial services firm whose executives have returned to a six-day workweek. LS also reportedly considered asking its executives to work six days a week to tighten discipline, although the proposal was rejected after facing a strong backlash. POSCO asked its executives to return to a five-day workweek as before, a couple of months after the steelmaker allowed its non-shift employees, who are expected to work a minimum of 40 hours a week, to take a Friday off every two weeks if they have worked at least 80 hours during the previous nine weekdays. It is actually difficult for executives to work on weekends without their subordinates, said an employee at one of Samsungs affiliates. Our executives began to send emails to their subordinates on weekends, hindering non-executive employees from their rest time. Korea Enterprises Federation Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik also expressed a negative opinion about the recent trend of recommending company executives to work six days a week. Hyundai Motor and its labor union on Friday reached an agreement to hire 1,100 new manufacturing workers by 2026. The agreement was reached in the 10th round of negotiations related to wages and working conditions held at the company's plant in Ulsan, 299 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The two sides previously agreed to hire 300 new production workers next year. On Friday, they agreed to increase the company's plant workforce by an additional 500 workers next year and by 300 in 2026. The union has been demanding an increase in hiring, considering how around 2,000 production workers retire each year, and to prepare for the company's launch of a new electric car factory in Ulsan next year. The latest round of talks came after nearly 90 percent of unionized workers earlier this week voted in favor of a walkout following a collapse in the annual wage negotiations. The union has yet to decide whether to actually carry out the strike. If executed, the walkout would be the first for the company in six years. Hyundai Motor's union has not carried out a strike in the past five years, taking into consideration various factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national trade issues. (Yonhap) Israel stormed a neighborhood in Gaza City on Thursday, ordering Palestinians to move south as tanks rolled in and bombing the southern city of Rafah in what it says are the final stages of an operation against Hamas militants there. Residents of the Shejaia neighborhood in Gaza City said they were surprised by the sound of tanks approaching and firing in the early afternoon, with drones also attacking after overnight bombing of the city, which Israel had combed early in the war. "It sounded as if the war is restarting, a series of bombings that destroyed several houses in our area and shook the buildings," Mohammad Jamal, 25, a resident of Gaza City, told Reuters via a chat app. Later on Thursday, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said the Israeli military strikes had killed at least seven people in Shejaia so far. More casualties are feared to be under the rubble where rescue teams cannot reach, it said. Footage obtained by Reuters showed women, men and children carrying bags and food as they ran in the streets after the raid began. Some men carried injured children, some bleeding, in their arms as they fled. "This is the (Israeli) occupation targeting us, as you can see. You can see the children, the targeting of children here," said a man carrying a bleeding boy in his arms. An Israeli military spokesperson said they had no comment on reports of casualties in Shejaia. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it had detonated a pre-planted explosive device against an Israeli tank east of the district. Israel accuses the militants of hiding among civilians and says it warns displaced people to get out of the way of its operations against the fighters. "For your safety, you must evacuate immediately south on Salah al-Din Street to the humanitarian zone," army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on social media platform X in a call to residents and displaced people in Shejaia. Residents and Hamas media said the tanks had moved in before the post and that people from the eastern suburb were running westward under fire as Israel had blocked the road south. Just before midnight, an Israeli airstrike struck the headquarters of the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service in Al-Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing three members, the rescue service said. It said the new deaths raised to 74 the number of staff killed by Israeli fire since Oct. 7. In Rafah, where tanks have advanced in several neighborhoods since May 7, medics said four Palestinians were killed by tank shells that landed in the western area of the city, where the Israeli army deepened its incursion in recent days. There has been no Israeli immediate comment on the two incidents. More than eight months into Israel's war on Gaza triggered by the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct. 7, aid officials say the enclave remains at high risk of famine, with almost half a million people facing "catastrophic" food insecurity. "We are being starved in Gaza City, and are being hunted by tanks and planes with no hope that this war is ever ending," Jamal said. Another child dies of malnutrition The death of another girl in Kamal Adwan Hospital late on Wednesday raised the number of children who have died of malnutrition and dehydration to at least 31, a Gaza health official said, adding that the war made recording such cases difficult. Israel denies accusations it has created the famine conditions, blaming aid agencies for distribution problems and accusing Hamas of diverting aid, allegations the militants deny. In southern Gaza, drone footage on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed dozens of houses destroyed in parts of Rafah, with the Swedeya village on the western side of the city wiped out. There was no immediate Israeli military comment on the military action. International mediation backed by the U.S. has failed to yield a ceasefire agreement although talks are continuing amid intense Western pressure for Gaza to receive more aid. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday that he had discussed his proposals for governance of post-war Gaza that would include local Palestinians, regional partners and the U.S. but that it would be "a long and complex process". Senior U.S. officials told Gallant, who was visiting Washington, that the U.S. would maintain a pause on a shipment of heavy munitions for Israel while the issue is under review. The shipment was paused in early May over concerns the weapons could cause more Palestinian deaths in Gaza. Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, is eradicated. When Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel last October, they killed around 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli offensive in retaliation has so far killed 37,765 people, the Gaza health ministry said on Thursday, and has left the tiny, heavily built-up Gaza Strip in ruins. The Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants, but officials say most of those killed have been civilians. Israel has lost 314 soldiers in Gaza and says at least a third of the Palestinian dead are fighters. (Reuters) China remains an onlooker while losing its influence over North Korea as Pyongyang is massively bolstering military cooperation with Russia, a White House official said Thursday, calling for Beijing to play a greater role for stability in the region. Mira Rapp-Hooper, the senior director for East Asia and Oceania at the National Security Council, made the remarks, stressing Washington has been taking "unprecedented" action to deter North Korean threats and pursuing "greater, regularized" dialogue with Pyongyang to reduce risks of inadvertent escalation. Her remarks came after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during a summit in Pyongyang last Wednesday, accentuating their growing military alignment and aggravating concerns about its security implications. "All this is happening while the PRC is standing by, slowly losing its influence, as North Korea increasingly turns to Russia instead," Rapp-Hooper said in a prerecorded speech for a forum hosted by Yonhap News Agency and Seoul's unification ministry. PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China. "That is particularly dangerous at a time when a PRC push to maintain the status quo on the peninsula could be helpful for promoting stability and curbing North Korea's willingness to take provocative actions," she added. She touched on China's apparent inaction, pointing to the North's continued transfer of munitions and missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, Moscow's veto of a resolution on the renewal of a sanction-monitoring U.N. panel and its shipment of refined petroleum to the North. Washington has persistently called on Beijing to leverage its clout over Pyongyang and play a constructive role in ensuring stability on the Korean Peninsula. Such a push has borne little fruit, although the world's second-largest economy is seen as having remained a pivotal partner for both the North and Russia, which have been under intense pressure from international sanctions. Last week's summit between Putin and Kim stoked fears that Pyongyang could be further emboldened amid tensions heightened by North Korean troops' brief yet repeated border crossings, the regime's sending of trash-carrying balloons to the South and the suspension of a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction accord. The summit produced a new defense treaty that calls for one party to provide military assistance to the other "without delay" in the event of an armed invasion a pledge that amounted to a revival of the two countries' Cold War-era military alliance. "The comprehensive strategic partnership that Kim and Putin signed makes clear that North Korea and Russia have every intention of forging an ever closer military relationship with direct implications for the Korean Peninsula and the whole of the Indo-Pacific, as well as for Europe," Rapp-Hooper said. The official reaffirmed America's "extended deterrence" commitment to defending its allies with the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. "This is just one of the reasons that we have been so focused on ensuring the credibility of our extended deterrence commitments in the Indo-Pacific to send a clear message to North Korea, Russia and the People's Republic of China and to the rest of the world that the U.S. will stand by South Korea and our regional allies and uphold our own mutual defense commitments, which have served to provide for peace and stability in the region for so long," she said. She also underscored that Washington is taking "unprecedented" action to deter North Korea, pointing to last year's summit declaration between President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden that led to the establishment of the allies' Nuclear Consultative Group, a body to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues. "I am very happy to report that we have made remarkable progress during the past year, and this has fundamentally strengthened the U.S.-South Korea alliance and our ability to engage in nuclear and strategic planning," she said. Apparently mindful of growing cross-border tensions, however, Rapp-Hooper repeatedly underlined the importance of communication with the North, describing direct dialogue as the "best" way to address differences and identify ways to make "meaningful" progress. Observers said an abrupt flare-up of inter-Korean tensions could create a foreign policy headache for Washington, particularly during the election season, as it has already been heavily consumed with Russia's protracted war in Ukraine and the war between Israel and the Hamas militant group. "The recent incursions by North Korean soldiers into South Korea and the Demilitarized Zone ... are a sign of how close to the border North Korean soldiers are now operating and how easily an accident could occur. Resilient communication channels would substantially enhance our ability to avoid misunderstandings or inadvertent escalation in the event of such a situation," she said. "They are just as important in a crisis. The reality is the U.S. is willing and ready to engage on any of these issues. But that won't be possible if North Korea does not pick up the phone." While denuclearization is the U.S.' "ultimate" goal, there is much to discuss with Pyongyang, including responses to public health emergencies and climate change, she said. "Discussions are essential for reducing mistrust and building confidence in the interest of enhancing regional peace and security," she said. She also repeated the Biden administration's willingness to explore "interim steps" on a path towards denuclearization. "The United States remains committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. We are willing to consider interim steps on the path to denuclearization provided that these steps would make the regime and the world a safer place for all of us," she said. "We know that progress takes time, and the meaningful pursuit of a Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace will not occur overnight. That is all the more reason for us to return to dialogue so that we can reduce and eventually eliminate the threats facing the peninsula." Calling the effort a "threat reduction approach," she said that the U.S. will work "in lockstep" with South Korea to pursue "greater, regularized" communication and other "stabilizing" exchanges with the North. She did not elaborate further. (Yonhap) While the first U.S. presidential debate of the 2024 race dwelled little on foreign policy, a shaky performance by President Joe Biden will have America's allies steeling for the return of Donald Trump, analysts say. Biden's supporters had hoped the debate would erase worries that he was too old to serve, but several lawmakers, analysts and investors said the event had given Trump a boost. "Mr. Trump didn't win but Mr. Biden might have imploded," said Kunihiko Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat and now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies, a think tank. "Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies. Still, Mr. Trump is unpredictable." For Japan and South Korea, among the closest U.S. allies in Asia, relations with Trump's administration were at times strained by his demands for more payments towards military assistance as well as trade tensions. "The biggest question for Japan would be whether Trump will truly value and maintain the security alliance," said Takashi Kawakami, a professor at Japan's Takushoku University in Tokyo. Peter Lee, research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said the debate had put into "much more stark relief" the possibility of a second Trump administration. Lee said he expected Trump to be "very tough" second time around in pressuring allies to up their defence spending. Trump also started a tariff war with China, the world's second largest economy, and has floated tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods if he wins the Nov. 5 election. Overseas firms dependent on U.S. markets, such as automakers, would also be wary of the heightened possibility of Trump's return given the "myriad" of tariff-related policies he imposed during his previous term, said Lee Jae-il, analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. "Trump, like a trade war maniac, might not just target China but impose tariffs against other countries as well under the concept of American exceptionalism," added Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul. War Ukraine In Europe, Trump's criticisms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and demands that other members pay more dominated his previous administration. His scepticism towards NATO is causing further anxiety this time, as Russian's war in Ukraine has brought conflict to the bloc's doorstep. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously cheered on Biden's prospects for re-election. But on Friday a senior defence figure in the ruling coalition lamented Biden's performance and urged Democrats to find another candidate. "The fact that a man like Trump could become president again because the Democrats are unable to put up a strong candidate against him would be a historic tragedy that the whole world would feel," Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, of the liberal FDP party, told the Rheinische Post paper. A spokesperson for Scholz did not comment on the specifics of the debate, but stressed the chancellor valued Biden highly and that Scholz had never spoken to Trump as their terms did not overlap. During the debate, Trump accused Biden of not standing up to China on trade. He also said China's Xi Jinping, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin "don't respect" Biden and that he was driving the country "into World War Three". Biden retorted by saying Trump's tariff proposals would result in higher costs for American consumers, and that he "cuddles up" to the likes of Kim and Putin. Putin has said it made little difference to Russia who was in the White House, and on Friday the Kremlin declined comment on what it said was an internal U.S. matter. U.S. allies including Japan and Germany have in any case started laying the groundwork for a possible Trump return in recent months. "The possibility of a Trump comeback may have increased. High tariffs and support for Ukraine will also bring about major changes," said Kazuhiro Maeshima from the Sophia University in Tokyo. "The Japanese government has also been anticipating various developments in the event of a Trump and has been gradually taking steps to deal with them, including making contact with people close to Trump." 'Trump 2.0' In Sydney, several Australian officials and experts had attended a workshop titled "Trump 2.0" as the debate was aired. "The overwhelming feeling from today is that it was a disaster for Biden," said Peter Dean, a professor at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney who was at the workshop. "The mood has changed considerably after the debate and the general view is that if you weren't preparing for a Trump 2.0 then that is the smart play and the smart move now." Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour party and the frontrunner in an election due next week, was asked on BBC radio if he was concerned about Biden after the debate. "I've got enough on my hands with our own election campaign at the moment...The relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. is strong, it's historic, and obviously, it's above the individuals," he said. (Reuters) Yes, by at least $1 Yes, by $2 or more No Vote View Results In a shocking revelation posted on June 27, a Twitter account accused The KingDom Hwon, identified as Shim Young Jun, of leading a double life as an idol and a host bar worker. The lengthy expose detailed personal encounters alleging that Hwon ghosted @/juayamm10 after a sexual encounter, sparking a wave of controversy and skepticism across social media platforms. According to the post attributed to Twitter, Hwon, whose real name is claimed to be Shim Young Jun, purportedly concealed his identity as an idol while engaging in activities at a host bar. "The KingDom Hwon. His main job is as an idol. His real name is Shim Young Jun. He also works at a host bar. He is Korean-Japanese and is exempt from military service. He majored in photography. How does it feel to lie about your entire being from head to toe, pretending to be an average person, while deceiving a pure woman with your words? You were scared you would get caught being an idol so you used me as an excuse, who has done nothing wrong, and ghosted me the next day after sleeping with me. I found out you were an idol right away and told you that I would keep your secret, but yet you still avoided me. Although everything from start to finish is your fault, I wonder why I still wanted to keep and protect your secret. It just so happened to be your promotional period so I kept your secret and didn't tell my friends or anyone about it. If only you had just apologized." The allegations further described instances where Hwon allegedly exhibited anger management issues and superiority complexes towards @/juayamm10, claiming he berated her in public settings. "Now is the main point. When we met again, the one mistake I made was trying to understand you and meeting you again. You said you hated all my words and actions and got mad at me with your anger management issues. You got mad at me on the streets of Apgujeong and told me to leave. You were looking at bugs at the Han River and I just told you to come here, but you got mad at me for that. You always thought your actions were superior and you gaslighted me and had anger management issues, your speech, behavior, everything." The post also accused him of derogatory remarks towards his fans and questionable conduct at the host bar where he reportedly worked. "Remember what you said to me. You said all your fans were crazy fans and that people who came to fan sign events were just psychopaths. You also just took money from clients at the host bar without sleeping with them even though they paid. I could see what you thought of women, not just fans, but also what you thought about me. Remember what else you said to me. You said that I was the nicest person you knew and that you couldn't tell anyone that you were doing things like this. You were glad that it was me and not someone else who found out about your lifestyle. But now it hasn't become a good thing..." READ MORE: 'Road to Kingdom 2' Reported Lineup Draws Mixed Reactions: 'This Is So Unfair...' "You showed me the true nature of a human being by using the psychology of the kind and weak person you talked about. If you hadn't played with me, treated me like this, and just apologized, all this wouldn't have happened, Young Jun. I am now certain that you pretended to act like a normal person and probably used other women just like you did with me. I truly hope that there will be no more victims like this." Despite the detailed accusations, reactions from netizens were mixed. While some expressed shock and condemnation, others questioned the authenticity of the claims, citing a lack of substantial evidence to support @juayamm10 allegations. Netizens took to social media platforms to voice their skepticism, with some highlighting inconsistencies in the timeline and circumstances described in the post. The controversy ignited a heated debate online, with hashtags related to Hwon and @juayamm10 allegations trending throughout the day. https://t.co/UhUwmndDwE (@IGHDNNS2) June 27, 2024 Users dissected the claims, pointing out discrepancies and raising questions about the credibility of the expose. Memes and sarcastic comments also surfaced, mocking the situation and questioning the veracity of @juayamm10 account. As of now, neither Hwon nor The KingDom's management has issued an official statement addressing the allegations. The lack of response has fueled further speculation among fans and the public alike. ALSO READ: 10 K-Pop Idols Who Had Other Jobs Before Debuting KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. BLACKPINK Lisa's social media team in LLOUD is drawing backlash for the numerous technical problems during the "ROCKSTAR" livestream countdown. On June 28, 2024, Lisa released her much-anticipated solo comeback single "ROCKSTAR." Earlier that day, her fan base buzzed with excitement as Lisa's company channel, LLOUD, held a livestream countdown for the music video's premiere. Many had speculated that Lisa herself would make an appearance during the livestream. FOR MORE INFORMATION: BLACKPINK Lisa Exudes Power Like A 'ROCKSTAR' In Fiery MV + BLINKs React To Idol's Solo Comeback However, after a 30-minute wait, fans worldwide were left puzzled and disappointed by what appeared to be a pointless stream. The video's thumbnail only showed Lisa's picture with the title "ROCKSTAR," and it lacked a countdown timer. To add to the confusion, two staff members were heard chatting during the stream, seemingly unaware that their microphone was on. Though no sensitive information was shared, one team member realized the oversight and hastily instructed, "Mute the live, the fans can hear you." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BLACKPINK Lisa Earns Attention For THIS Following 'ROCKSTAR' Teaser The livestream was also randomly restarted five times, further frustrating fans and casting doubts on the professionalism of Lisa's team. LISAs social media team has been: posting late on twitter not adding the links where theyre needed forgot to mute the live stream re-started the live 5 times when i catch you guys, yall better run FAST (@bratzlloud) June 27, 2024 LMAO, LISA'S TEAM HAD THEIR MIC ON DURING THE LIVESTREAM pic.twitter.com/blUeuYRtIr June 27, 2024 Lisa to her team after seeing the Rockstar livestream:pic.twitter.com/jHhPzqxxJg Thalia :) (@jichuussuns) June 28, 2024 By the time the music video officially launched, many fans were left wondering about the purpose of the pre-release livestream. Disappointed, some fans suggested that Lisa should consider hiring a new team to prevent such issues in the future. girl i guess no livestream.. whatever idec pic.twitter.com/zaKyHuKhFA June 27, 2024 i need lisas team to get it together cause why are we fucking up the livestream L (@coquettelisa) June 27, 2024 YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: BLACKPINK Lisa's 'ROCKSTAR' Teasers Draw Mixed Reactions: Cultural Appropriation? However, fans still left many supportive comments on the "ROCKSTAR" music video. In the "ROCKSTAR" music video, Lisa captivated audiences by flaunting a daring new persona through bold and rebellious fashion choices, embodying the essence of a true rock star. This is a major departure from her previous image. this part of rockstar when the melody changes and lisa starts doing the dance break a religious experience pic.twitter.com/hFLLPWNIZ9 pop culture gal (@allurequinn) June 28, 2024 CHECK THIS OUT: BLACKPINK Lisa Breaks THIS Guinness World Record: 'She's A Rockstar!' The song showcased Lisa's intense dedication to her solo career. "ROCKSTAR" features a sample/instrumental from Tame Impala's "Same Ol' Mistakes," also famously covered by Rihanna. On top of that, Lisa contributed to the track as a lyricist ROCKSTAR - WRITTEN AND COMPOSED BY LISA pic.twitter.com/CIlBwjMmob (@GhoulPinks) June 28, 2024 the tame impala sample part is sooo smooooth, lisa ure a rockstaaaaar pic.twitter.com/iqK8nfyHXf (@badestoutfit) June 28, 2024 Additionally, as rumored on social media, the video featured an impressive ensemble of hundreds of Thai dancers, who joined Lisa in a powerful display of energetic and fiery dance routines, adding to the song's grandeur. IN OTHER BLACKPINK NEWS: BLACKPINK To Focus On Solo Activities In 2nd Half Of 2024 - Why Are BLINKs Divided? What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! KpopStarz Owns This Written by Alexa Lopez Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Permit-less concealed carry law takes effect July 4 in Louisiana; where can you carry? Besides bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, you can't bring a gun within 1000 feet of a school. A commerce ministry spokesperson on Thursday urged Canada not to resort to protectionism in the disguise of "fair competition," after Canada unveiled its plan to launch a consultation process concerning Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). Spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference that the ministry had taken note of Canada's announcement that it would launch a 30-day consultation process on potential policy responses to Chinese EVs, starting from July 2. The development of China's EV industry is a result of open competition, said He, adding that Chinese EVs are welcomed by global users, including those in Canada, and have contributed greatly to tackling climate change and promoting a green transition. Canada has long declared its support for free trade and is a beneficiary of the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules-based multilateral trading system, said He. The spokesperson also said that the Canadian side should respect the facts, abide by WTO rules, and create a fair, non-discriminatory and predictable market environment for the common development of the EV industry in both countries. He said that China will pay close attention to the follow-up moves of the Canadian side and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. Zarazeno pa 28.06.2024 04:06:33 Vydano Zdroj scio.gov.cn Original english.scio.gov.cn/pressroom/2024-06/28/content_117279842.htm lang en China's space agency on Thursday said the United States needs to remove its self-imposed barriers that have hindered collaborative efforts of the two countries' scientists in the space sector. At a press conference in Beijing, Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), responded to an inquiry about the possibility of American scientists investigating the samples retrieved by the Chang'e-6 mission from the far side of the moon. "China has always been open to exchanges and cooperation with the United States in the field of space," said Bian. "However, the current challenges primarily stemmed from U.S. domestic legislation such as the Wolf Amendment." In 2011, the U.S. Congress passed a law known as the Wolf Amendment, prohibiting U.S. government agencies, including NASA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, from cooperating with China on space activities. China welcomes researchers from all countries to submit applications according to the CNSA procedures, according to Bian. "American scientists do hold the prospect of investigating the samples collected in the Chang'e-6 lunar mission. If the U.S. side sincerely hopes to promote cooperation between the two countries, it must take practical measures to remove these obstacles," he said. Noting that China's remarkable achievements in space are a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of its own people, Bian said that the Wolf Amendment had failed to deter China's progress but inadvertently created a stumbling block for the United States itself. Scientists have published more than 1,900 papers using data from China's lunar exploration missions, according to Bian. China encourages Chinese and foreign scientists to collaborate on scientific research involving lunar samples and data, striving for more original and groundbreaking results, he said. Nevertheless, the official cited some examples of the two country's collaborative efforts, such as the establishment of an intergovernmental dialogue mechanism for civil space cooperation. Also, in response to U.S. requests, the CNSA has initiated an exchange mechanism for Mars probe orbital data, a framework designed to evaluate potential collision risks for all Mars probes in orbit, he added. Zarazeno pa 28.06.2024 08:06:37 Vydano Zdroj scio.gov.cn Original english.scio.gov.cn/pressroom/2024-06/28/content_117280420.htm lang en India PR Distribution Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 28: Contabo, global cloud computing provider headquartered in Germany, is proud to announce the launch of its state-of-the-art Data Center in Mumbai, India. This strategic expansion is in line with Contabo's ongoing commitment to delivering cost- effective cloud hosting solutions to the rapidly growing IT sector in India and South Asia. Also Read | Maruti Suzuki Swift Sales in India Crosses Over 3 Million Mark, Brand Achieves 6.5 Million Sales Globally. The Mumbai Data Center is the latest addition to Contabo's robust global network, now spanning 9 regions and 12 locations worldwide. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the new facility is poised to significantly benefit local businesses and offshore clients by offering reduced latency and comfortable affordability for cloud services in the region. "We are thrilled to launch our new Data Center in Mumbai," said Christian Boing, CEO of Contabo. "This expansion stands for to our commitment to supporting the digital growth of businesses in India and South Asia. We're very keen to provide our users with the cloud solutions they need to succeed. Also Read | Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Yatra Marg 2024 Schedule: From Pandharpur Wari Route To Schedule, Know About This Celebration of Faith and Devotion Starting From Alandi. "This new presence of Contabo in India enhances the local digital infrastructure and provides cost- effective cloud solutions, assisting the further growth and competitiveness of Indian businesses in our rapidly evolving IT sector." added Rajani Bhatia, Country Manager India at Contabo. To celebrate this significant milestone, Contabo is running a special launch promotion for its customers: 50 per cent discount on Location Fees in India for Cloud VPS, Cloud VDS, and Dedicated Servers. Key Highlights about the Contabo Mumbai Data Center: * State-of-the-Art Technology: The Mumbai Data Center features advanced infrastructure designed to meet the high-performance demands of modern businesses. * Optimized Local and Offshore Services: Businesses in India and surrounding regions will experience reduced latency and cost-effective cloud services, driving greater efficiency and competitiveness. Embracing New Opportunities in a Growing Market With a regional population exceeding 1.5 billion, India represents a largely untapped market with immense potential for digital growth. The new DC enables Contabo to better serve its customers in this dynamic region, empowering businesses to scale their operations with powerful and affordable cloud hosting solutions. About Contabo Founded in Munich in 2003, Contabo is an emerging global cloud infrastructure provider focusing on cloud instances (VPS, VDS), Bare Metal, as well as Object Storage. Contabo owns twelve data centers worldwide (EU, US, UK, India, Singapore, Japan, Australia regions) that host over 400,000 servers for more than 200,000 customers from 190+ countries. The company is on a mission to deliver German quality to a global audience, striving for having the most helpful customer support in the industry while offering rock-solid cloud infrastructure at an affordable price. For more information about Contabo's Mumbai Data Center and the special launch promotion, please visit https://contabo.com/en/locations/india/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Indian government has introduced new draft rules for Evidential Breath Analysers which are used by law enforcement and other entities, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said in a release. This initiative aims to ensure the accuracy and reliability of breath analyzers used by law enforcement and workplaces, thereby enhancing public safety and trust. Also Read | Maharashtra Budget 2024: Petrol To Be Cheaper by 65 Paise, Diesel by Rs 2.60 in Mumbai Region. Verified and standardised breathalysers accurately measure blood alcohol levels from breath samples, ensuring that drunk drivers are quickly and effectively identified. This helps prevent accidents caused by alcohol, making travel safer for everyone. These analysers provide a non-invasive way to measure blood alcohol content, offering quick and painless sample collection. The rapid analysis capabilities allow law enforcement officers to make swift, informed decisions, enhancing the effectiveness of roadside checks. Also Read | Bad Newz Trailer: Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk Engage in Baap of All Wars in This Quirky Comedy Entertainer (Watch Video). After the new rules come into effect, these analysers have to follow standardised testing procedures, ensuring consistent and reliable results across different devices. This standardisation fosters public confidence in the fairness and accuracy of enforcement actions, the statement read. Evidential Breath Analysers need to be verified and stamped according to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, to ensure their accuracy. This verification protects individuals from wrongful penalties due to faulty equipment and helps maintain the integrity of legal and workplace policies. "The availability of stamped and verified Evidential Breath Analysers to the public can raise awareness about the effects of alcohol on impairment and the legal limits for safe operation of vehicles and machinery. This encourages responsible behaviour and informed decision-making," the department further added. As per the draft rules, Evidential Breath Analysers are the instruments that measure and display the breath alcohol mass concentration of exhaled human breath within specified error limits and are applicable to those types of Evidential Breath Analysers that use mouthpieces for sampling the breath. The rules provide for various types of tests to ensure, the correctness of the instrument. The yearly verification will be needed to ensure the accuracy of this instrument during use, as the statement read. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) VMPL New Delhi [India], June 28: In the bustling city of Hyderabad, where the skyline is a testament to rapid growth and architectural marvels, one name stands out in the realm of home construction: Sudhaary Constructions. This esteemed company has carved a niche for itself by seamlessly blending luxury with affordability, a feat that resonates deeply with the aspirations of modern homeowners. Also Read | MSME TEAM Initiative: Indian Government Announces Initiative To Help Five Lakh Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Onboard ONDC. A Legacy of Excellence Sudhaary Constructions has been at the forefront of the real estate sector, delivering projects that are not just structures but embodiments of grandeur and comfort. Their portfolio is a diverse tapestry of residential complexes that cater to a wide range of preferences, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Also Read | Make Memories, Not Stress: Hero FinCorp's Instant Personal Loan for Your Dream Family Vacation. The Sudhaary Philosophy At the heart of Sudhaary Constructions' success is their unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. They believe that luxury should not be the privilege of a few but an accessible dream for many. This philosophy has guided them in creating homes that are both opulent and within reach, without compromising on the finer aspects of living. The Future Is Bright As Hyderabad continues to grow, so does the vision of Sudhaary Constructions. They are not just building homes but are crafting the future of living spaces. With each project, they push the envelope further, ensuring that luxury and affordability are not mutually exclusive but harmoniously intertwined. Conclusion Sudhaary Constructions stands as a beacon of hope for those who desire the finer things in life but are bound by budgetary constraints. Their work and portfolio are a testament to the fact that with the right vision and dedication, creating homes that are both luxurious and affordable is not just possible but can be done with excellence. As they continue to innovate and inspire, Sudhaary Constructions remains a name synonymous with trust, quality, and the promise of a beautiful tomorrow. For more information on Sudhaary Constructions and their projects, please visit their official website or contact their sales team directly. Website: https://sudhaary.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, June 28: A Vistara flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai received a bomb threat on Friday, after which all passengers were safely disembarked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, the airline said. According to the airline, upon receiving the threat, the airline authorities immediately alerted the police and relevant security agencies. Following standard protocol, the aircraft was directed to an isolation bay upon its landing at the Mumbai airport. Once the aircraft landed safely, all passengers were evacuated without any reported injuries or harm. The police have registered a case under section 304A/337 IPC in this regard and ordered the investigation of the matter, the airline said. Bomb Threat on Vistara Plane: Delhi-Srinagar Flight UK-611 Carrying 177 Passengers Receives Bomb Threat, Lands Safely. "We confirm that a security concern has been noted by our staff while onboard Vistara flight UK 552 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai on 28 June 2024. As per protocol, we immediately alerted the relevant authorities, and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai where all customers have been disembarked," the Vistara said in a statement. Vistara Paris-Mumbai Flight Gets Bomb Threat; Lands at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Amid Emergency Alert. "We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks," the statement added. The coordinated action by the authority and the airline ensured that the threat was managed without causing panic or harm to the passengers. The authorities are now conducting a detailed investigation to trace the origin of the bomb threat. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kozhikode, June 28: A 12-year-old boy has been afflicted by amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters, in Kozhikode district of Kerala, according to sources in the private hospital where he is being treated. This is the third case of a near fatal infection reported from the southern state since May. The first one was of a five-year-old girl from Malappuram who died on May 21 and the second of a 13-year-old girl from Kannur who died on June 25. The third case is of a 12-year-old boy from Kozhikode who was admitted in the Baby Memorial Hospital here on Monday. One of the doctors treating him said that the infection was identified and the treatment commenced on the same day. "We identified the infection in tests done at our labs and informed the DMO who took preventive measures by closing down access to the pond where the child had bathed," the doctor said. Second Death Due to 'Brain-Eating Amoeba' in Kerala: Teen Girl Dies of Rare Brain Infection 'Amoebic Meningoencephalitis' in Kozhikode. The samples were then sent for testing to a lab in Puducherry from where the printed PCR report is awaited officially confirming the infection, he said. "The disease has a mortality rate of 95-100 per cent. The boy continues to be in critical condition," the doctor said. He said that the hospital was able to quickly identify the infection and begin treatment as it was the third case of the disease and the protocols were already in place to deal with it. According to medical experts, the infection is caused when free-living, non-parasitic amoebae bacteria enter the body through the nose from contaminated water. The Health Department on Thursday had asked people to exercise caution against amoebic meningoencephalitis. "Bathing in stagnant water and diving in water should be avoided as much as possible as this disease has been reported in Kerala. Water in theme parks and swimming pools should be properly chlorinated to ensure that it is clean," it had said. Naegleria fowleri, the Brain-Eating Amoeba in India: How Does Infection Occur? Symptoms, Prevention and Safety Measures Everything You Need To Know. The disease was earlier reported in coastal Alappuzha district in the state in 2023 and 2017. The main symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Haveri (Karnataka), Jun 28 (PTI) As many as 13 people died and four others were injured after the van they were travelling in allegedly collided with a lorry at Gundenahalli cross in Byadagi Taluk early on Friday, police said. According to police, the accident occurred around 3.45 am when the van collided with a lorry which was parked on the side of National Highway 48 in Byadagi in Haveri district. Also Read | Delhi Airport Roof Collapse: Six Injured After Portion of Roof Collapses at IGI Airports Terminal 1 Amid Heavy Rainfall, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu Monitoring Situation (See Pics and Videos). A total of 17 persons were travelling in the van. Of them, eleven people died on the spot while two others were declared dead at a hospital, a senior police official said. Among the four injured, two are admitted in the ICU of the hospital, he said. Also Read | Vivian Dsena Birthday Special: 5 Times the Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon Hunk Made News for His Personal Life. "The victims were coming from Chincholi Mayamma Devasthana and heading to their native Yemehatti village in Shivamogga district. The lorry was standing on the side of the highway. The tempo traveller hit the lorry from behind," Anshu Kumar Srivastava, Superintendent of Police (Haveri) told PTI. The bodies have been shifted to the mortuary and the injured have been admitted to Haveri Government Hospital, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) A total of 146 Indian students, including 75 females, have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship in Europe for the academic year 2024-2026, Delegation of the European Union to India said on Friday. A total of 2,603 students from 137 countries have been awarded scholarships for the Erasmus Mundus Joint for the two-year master's programme, which offers a study programme jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions, according to the statement. Also Read | Petrol, Diesel Price Cut: In Maharashtra Budget 2024, Ajit Pawar Proposes Reduction in Taxes on Fuel in Mumbai and Thane. 2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's programme, a milestone that underscores the program's positive impact on students, higher education institutions, and countries beyond the EU, the statement said. According to officials, India has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, with over 2,000 students receiving the scholarship since its inception in 2004. Also Read | NEET 2024 Row: Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Resolution Again Urging Centre To Exempt State From National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. Overall, more than 6,000 Erasmus+ short and long-term scholarships have been awarded to Indian students since the programme opened to international students in 2004, providing access to state-of-the-art education and research facilities, international exposure, and valuable professional networks, and therefore opening up wider professional opportunities, they said. "Over 80,000 Indian students are studying in Europe, reflecting a growing appreciation for the continent's diverse academic offerings, rich cultural heritage, and unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. The fact that India ranks as top recipient of Erasmus+ scholarship since its inception, despite its competitive nature, speaks volumes about the caliber of Indian students," said Herve Delphin, Amabassador of European Union to India. "This is the start of an enriching and transformative experience for them. As they are about to study and live a unique experience in an EU country, they will also become ambassadors of the partnership between the EU and India. I wish them every success," Delphin added. The selected students will have the opportunity to study and conduct research at a minimum of two universities in different European countries, earning joint or double degrees in diverse fields such as sustainability, pharmaceuticals, engineering, quantum, data and various STEM and social science disciplines. The fully funded scholarship covers the recipient's tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, Jun 28 (PTI) Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a contract valued at Rs 3,172 crore with Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) on Friday at AVNL Headquarters in Chennai. According to an official statement, BEL, which is headquartered in Bengaluru, stated the project entails the supply and installation of an advanced, indigenously designed and developed Sighting and Fire Control System (FCS) for the upgrade of BMP 2/2K tanks of the Indian Army, along with a comprehensive engineering support package. Also Read | Sexual Harassment Case: POCSO Court in Thane Sentences Man for 20 Years in Jail for Raping 9-Year-Old Girl. "Additionally, BEL has secured other orders valued at Rs 481 crore following the last disclosure on May 22, 2024 which comprises doppler weather radar, classroom jammers, spares and services etc. With these, BEL has received accumulated orders totaling Rs 4,803 crore in the current financial year," it stated. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Delhi Police on Friday arrested four police officers for conducting a fake raid at a hotel room in the national capital's Shakarpur area, officials said. A case has been registered against the police officers of Laxmi Nagar Police Station, including Inspector Prakash Roy, under sections 420, 388 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code at Shakarpur Police Station in East District, police said. Also Read | CM Siddaramaiah Meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah; Seeks Implementation of Safe City Project in Five Karnataka Cities. Based on a secret tip, it was learned that Inspector Prakash Roy, along with three police officers from Laxmi Nagar Police Station, had raided a hotel room in the Shakarpur Police Station area on May 29. Police officials said that since the Model Code of Conduct was in place and no prior authorization was obtained for the raid, the matter seemed suspicious and was inquired into by the Assistant Commissioner of Police of the East District. Also Read | Defamation Case Against Mamata Banerjee: Governor CV Ananda Bose Files Defamation Suit Against West Bengal CM for Unsavoury Remarks. Based on the inquiry, taking sou moto cognizance in the matter, a case was registered, and subsequently, during the investigation, the chain of events was established and the five accused were arrested, police said. The role and culpability of the four police officers were also fixed, they said, adding they will be presented before the court on Saturday. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, June 28: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former DMK leader Jaffer Sadiq in a drug-related money laundering case. ED interrogated him in Tihar jail where he was lodged in an NDPS case. He was arrested on June 26 after interrogation. ED will seek his remand once he is produced in court. Earlier this month, the court had allowed ED to examine former DMK member Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail. Delhi's Patiala House court had once again granted permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to examine Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail and record his statement under PMLA. The agency wanted to interrogate him about drug-related money laundering case. Drug-Related Money Laundering Case: Delhi Court Allows ED to Examine Former DMK Leader Jaffer Sadiq in Tihar Jail. Special NDPS judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi on June 20 granted permission to ED to examine Jaffer Sadiq on June 25 and 26 and to record his statement under section 50 of PMLA. The court had directed the jail authorities to make necessary arrangements. The special public prosecutor (SPP) for ED N K Matta submitted that the ED officers may be allowed to examine the accused. They may be permitted to take the laptop and printer with them so that the recorded statements may be signed and data may be confronted to the accused persons as there is recovery of 50kg of Pseudoephedrine. It was also submitted the accused was examined on May 8 to 10 but the investigation could not be completed. Earlier on May 1, the court had also granted permission to ED to record statements of Jaffer Sadiq and four others in Tihar Jail. The Enforcement Directorate through Special Public Prosecutor NK Matta had moved an application praying for permission to examine and record statements of accused persons namely Jaffer Sadiq, Mukesh PU, Mujeepur Rahaman R, Ashok Kumar and SG Sadanandan (Sathanantham) u/s 50 PML Act, 2002 for 03 days i.e. from 08.05.2024 to 10.05.2024. Jaffer Sadiq Arrested: Ex-DMK Functionary and Film Producer Who Allegedly Smuggled Drugs Worth Rs 2,000 Crore Arrested by NCB. Noting the submissions, Special Judge Sudhir Kumar Sirohi had allowed ED to examine the accused persons and also granted liberty to ED officials to carry their laptops, printers and other required items for recording the statements of above said accused persons. ED had conducted raids at various sites in Tamil Nadu as part of an investigation into drug-related money laundering involving former DMK member Jaffer Sadiq and others. The move came a month after the ED registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Sadiq, who was earlier arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for his alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking case. ED registered its case against Sadiq, a day after the NCB arrested him. As per official sources, the financial fraud probe agency registered the case against the former DMK functionary after the NCB found Sadiq's links with some "high profile" people. In its inquiry, the NCB found that Sadiq spearheaded the network that sourced pseudoephedrine in India and trafficked it to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia marked as food-grade cargo. Officials in NCB believe that the drug syndicate operated by Sadiq had sent 45 consignments over the three years to various countries, containing 3,500 kilograms of pseudoephedrine. New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) The government on Friday extended the interest equalisation scheme on pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit for two months to promote the country's outbound shipments. The scheme which provides exporters interest benefits was ending on June 30 this year. Also Read | 8th Pay Commission: 8th CPC Proposal Submitted to Govt, Significant Hike in DA, Salary and Pension on Cards; Key Details Here. However, apex exporters' body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) expressed disappointment over the move as the extension was applicable only for MSME exporters. In a notice, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said: "Trade and industry is hereby informed that the Interest Equalization Scheme for Pre and Post Shipment Rupee Export Credit, which had earlier been extended up to June 30 as a fund limited scheme, has been further extended for two months i.e., up to August 31." Also Read | Telangana Factory Blast: Three Workers Killed, 15 Others Injured in Factory Explosion in Rangareddy (Watch Videos). It said, however, this extension is applicable only for MSME exporters, and for such extended period, the total outlay of the scheme is capped at Rs 750 crore. It added that claims of non-MSME exporters will not to be entertained beyond June 30. On December 8, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved an additional allocation of Rs 2,500 crore for the continuation of the scheme up to June 30. The scheme helps exporters from identified sectors and all MSME manufacturer exporters to avail of rupee export credit at competitive rates at a time when the global economy is facing headwinds. Exporters get subsidies under the Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre and post-shipment rupee export credit. The additional outlay of Rs 2,500 crore, over and above the current outlay of Rs 9,538 crore under the scheme, was made available to bridge the funding gap to continue the plan up to June 2024. The scheme was started on April 1, 2015, and was initially valid for five years up to March 31, 2020. It has been continued thereafter, including a one-year extension during COVID-19, and with further extensions and fund allocations. Commenting on the development, Ashwani Kumar, President, FIEO, said that this is quite disappointing for those exporters who are exporting products under 410 tariff lines (or product categories), if they are not manufacturer MSME. "This may affect exports of labour intensive exports , which has lost market share in past few years, as many merchant exporters are playing pivotal role in exporting such products and exports of such products from some large companies may also be impacted," Kumar said. The scheme is fund-limited, and benefits to individual exporters are capped at Rs 10 crore per annum per IEC (Import Export Code). The country's exports in May rose by over 9 per cent to USD 38.13 billion. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, June 28: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Jammu on Friday morning. Before flagging off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims, LG Manoj Sinha also offered prayers at the temple. After flagging off the first batch, in a media address, LG Manoj Sinha said, "First batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims have departed from Jammu. In the last 3-4 years, a lot of arrangements have been made for the yatra and this time also J&K administration has done all the necessary arrangements, security has been heightened." Amarnath Yatra 2024: First Batch of Annual Yatra Pilgrims To Reach Kashmir on June 29 (Watch Video). Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, thousands of pilgrims have reached Jammu. The first batch will travel in high security in a convoy and reach Pahalgam and Baltal base camp where they will start their Amarnath Yatra. In visuals, pilgrims can be seen chanting "Bham Bham Bholey" and dancing in excrement to be part of the first batch of Amarnath Yatra. Amarnath Yatra 2024: Jammu Base Camp Gets Three-Tier Security Ahead of Annual Yatra From June 29. Meanwhile, the BJP leader Devender Singh Rana said, "We hope that with the grace of Bhole Shankar, this year also the yatra will bring happiness and would be a good experience for everyone...like every year. People will get Jammu and Kashmir resident's love, affection and care. The people from all over the nation, will receive the blessings of Lord Shiva. Whole India and Jammu and Kashmir will fasten its way of the path of development. Like every year, this year also all the arrangements have been made." Manoj Sinha Flags Off First Batch of Amarnath Yatra #WATCH | J&K LG Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Jammu. pic.twitter.com/ASC1hVOGnm ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Security Tightened Across Jammu and Kashmir #WATCH | J&K: With the Amarnath Yatra set to begin shortly, security tightened on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Udhampur district, particularly near the Kali Mata temple in the Manthal area of Tikri the first Base Camp of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Visuals from pic.twitter.com/1BrMtbEgFP ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 The CCTVs have also been installed on National Highways to strengthen the security and address the traffic related issues. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai said, " To strengthen the security further, CCTV cameras have been installed on National Highway...around 10 CCTV points have been made from Udhampur to Banihal where continuous monitoring will take place. If any traffic related issue arises, we can address it immediately. Our motive is that Amarnath Yatra pilgrims get all the facilities including food, water and electricity...". Chinese envoy interprets China's concepts on diplomacy at gathering of OAS member states Xinhua) 14:05, June 28, 2024 WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has recently attended a gathering of member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS), where he elaborated China's concept of forging a new type of international relations in the context of China's relations with Latin American countries (LAC). Xie, who was attending the 54th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the OAS also in his capacity as the permanent observer to the OAS, said Wednesday at a dialogue session that China is committed to mutual respect and trust, and advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world. "Global affairs should be discussed by all, and the future of the world should be decided by everyone together. China and LAC need to show mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, make our voices heard to champion an equal and orderly multipolar world, and pool our strengths to foster an international environment for peaceful development," Xie said. He said China puts development first, and upholds a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. "Developing countries should not be kept forever at the low end of international industrial chains. We need to jointly oppose any containment and suppression on the pretext of 'democracy,' 'human rights,' 'rules' and the 'overcapacity' narrative, and work together for an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for development," Xie said. China, the ambassador said, will always be a steadfast member of the Global South, and a crucial force for the development and prosperity of the Global South. "We will actively import more from fellow developing countries, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in various forms, help implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and jointly make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all." Xie said China upholds inclusiveness and mutual learning, and is committed to building a community with a shared future. Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future, China has promoted global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, advocated the common values of humanity, advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implemented the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, he said. On China-LAC cooperation, Xie said such cooperation is the independent choice of both sides. "Such cooperation meets our needs, does not target any third party, and should not be affected by any third party." China has no geopolitical considerations in Latin America, he said. "We will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, pursue the greater good and shared interests, and take further steps to forge a China-LAC community with a shared future." In conclusion, Xie said China will, as always, enhance dialogue and exchanges and engage in friendly cooperation with the OAS, share weal and woe and pursue common development with regional countries, so that together we can usher in a brighter future for the world, where peace, security, prosperity and progress prevail. This year's regular session was held in Asuncion, capital of Paraguay. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Bengaluru, Jun 28 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Friday made a strong pitch for establishing a dedicated Central Business District -- modelled on the lines of Gujarat's GIFT City on the Sabarmati banks in Ahmedabad -- in the state, besides seeking faster clearance for multiple projects across sectors. Ahead of the Union Budget presentation by the Narendra Modi government in its third term, Karnataka IT&BT Minister Priyank Kharge wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union IT, Electronics and I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with a "wishlist" seeking Centre's attention. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Makes Fresh Appeal to BJP Government To Initiate Debate on NEET and Paper Leak Controversy, Says 'Give Students the Respect They Deserve' (Watch Video). In a statement by the minister's office, Kharge said that Karnataka wants to set up a Central Business District that will act as a global financial and IT hub. GIFT City or Gujarat International Finance Tec-City was initiated with a significant investment with initial estimates of USD 1 bn over 886 acres of land. GIFT City consists of a conducive multi-service SEZ and an exclusive domestic tariff area (DTA), with areas split in a 1:3 ratio. Also Read | Sexual Harassment Case: POCSO Court in Thane Sentences Man for 20 Years in Jail for Raping 9-Year-Old Girl. Kharge highlighted that Karnataka has a vibrant economy with IT, BT, aerospace, automotive, textiles, and heavy industries forming the cream of the investment pie. "The state is strategically located, and is well-positioned to replicate a similar business hub in its bosom. Variously described as tech hub and Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru counts semiconductor and electronics domain, fintech space, enterprise tech, e-commerce and ed-tech as emerging fields of interest. "A GIFT City in Karnataka will boost economic growth and create numerous employment opportunities and attract foreign investments," he stated. The minister said Karnataka's IT credentials are beyond compare or dispute, with the state standing third in the country with USD 4.5 billion worth of electronic exports, is the most innovative with 46 per cent of the national share, and contributing 10 per cent to India's industrial output. "The state is home to more than 300 export-oriented manufacturing units, has the largest chip design hub in India, housing 100+ fabless chip design houses and is a leading maker of aerospace and defence equipment in India. It also houses many automobile manufacturing, medical devices manufacturing, heavy electrical machineries companies," he added. He also noted that to upgrade the existing ecosystem to attract investments in the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector, Karnataka is developing two land parcels -- Kochanahalli industrial area in Mysuru district and Kotur-Belur industrial area in Dharwad district -- for setting up a cluster under the Union government's Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme. "We are looking at setting up two more EMCs in and around Bengaluru," Kharge said. The minister made a strong appeal to the Union government to fast-track approvals as investors are waiting for the final land allotment. Key projects in the list are Adinarayanhosahalli in Bengaluru Rural district, and Vasantanarsapura in Tumakuru district, he stated. The minister has sought funding support from the Union government that could be channelised towards galvanising infrastructure upgrade, developing industry-specific skilling programmes and bridging the gap between skill requirement and disposable talent pool present in the state, research and development initiatives, among others, the statement added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena today convened an emergency meeting of all the concerned agencies of the Delhi government including the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Public Works Department (PWD), Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFC), Delhi Police, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), National Disaster Management Control (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The meeting was conducted to review the situation arising in the city due to waterlogging, overflow of un-silted drains and the backflow of the clogged sewer lines in the wake of the pre-monsoons in the city. Also Read | Mobile Tariff Hike for Prepaid and Postpaid May Result in Rs 20,000 Crore Additional Operating Profits for Telecom Industry: Experts. He also reviewed the preparedness and emergency response of the various departments to deal with the situation, considering that the monsoon season is still yet to fully settle. The LG took serious note of the lack of preparedness for the emergency response system in the eventuality of excessive rainfall and resultant water logging across the city. Also Read | Kerala: Differently-Abled Man Moves High Court After Transport Authorities Deny Driving License Test. He further stated in the meeting that the desilting works had not been completed and the Flood Control order had not been issued. Additionally, he issued 11 directions for immediate action. Key directions included a 24x7 emergency control room to be established with the control room number to be issued to the public for reporting waterlogging incidents, utilization of mobile pumps, traffic police to issue regular advisories in case of water logging and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to be in regular touch with the counterparts in Haryana and upper parts of Himachal Pradesh to assess the rainfall levels and discharges from the Hathnikund barrage. Earlier today, people wadded through the waterlogged streets in several parts of the city and BJP councillor Ravinder Singh Negi was seen rowing an inflatable boat on the NH9 road as a symbolic protest against AAP. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, the Safdarjung observatory in the city recorded 228mm of rainfall which ended at 8:30 a.m. today. According to statistics, this marks the second-highest 24-hour rainfall in June. The city had earlier recorded its highest rainfall which was 235.55 mm on June 28, 1936. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hazaribagh, June 28: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested two more accused in the NEET-UG paper leak case. "The duo, Dr Ehsaan Ul Haq and Imtiaz Alam, were working as the principal and vice principal of the Oasis School in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh," CBI sources said. Notably, Haq was appointed the city coordinator by National Testing Agency for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG 2024). Earlier on Thursday, the CBI arrested two people from Bihar's Patna in connection with the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. A senior official with the CBI confirmed the arrest of two persons identified as Manish Prakash and Ashutosh. The arrested individuals were found to be operating from Patna. NEET-UG Paper Leak Case: CBI Arrest School Principal Dr Ehsaan Ul Haq, Vice Principal Imtiaz Alam Tasked by NTA As City Coordinators. The official said that while the accused, Ashutosh, was arranging safe house premises for the students, the other accused, Manish, used to take the candidates to a school to 'prepare' them for the exam."Manish Prakash transported the students in his car. While the students were accommodated in Ashutosh's house," the CBI officer pointed out. These are the first arrests made by the CBI in the NEET paper leak case. Both accused were produced in court, he said. On Monday, the CBI took over the NEET (UG) paper leak case reported in Patna (Bihar), another cheating case in Godhra (Gujarat), and three alleged impersonations in the examination in Rajasthan. Earlier, referring to the irregularities in the NEET-UG examination, President Droupadi Murmu said that the government is committed to a fair investigation of the recent incidents of paper leaks as well as stringent punishment for the guilty. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG examination, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities. This prompted a series of protests across the country, with demonstrators and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. The Supreme Court had sought a response from the National Testing Agency (NTA) on the petition that claimed "inconsistent" calculation of marks on the OMR sheets used for the NEET-UG 2024 exam. NEET-UG Exam Paper Leak Case: CBI Arrests Manish Prakash and Ashutosh From Patna. A vacation bench of Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti issued a notice and sought the NTA's response by July 8, the date of the next hearing. Several petitions were filed in the apex court seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held on May 5. The apex court had already refused to stay the counseling of NEET-UG, 2024. The NEET-UG examination, conducted by the NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, June 28: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to discuss extensive preparations by the railways for the Rath Yatra in Puri. Vaishnaw said that 315 special trains will run this year, which will be much higher than last year. Along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida were also present in the meeting. "Today I have discussed about the arrangements made by Railways for the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri with Odisha Chief Minister and two deputy CMs. This year 315 special trains will run which is much higher than last year. The trains will cover almost all areas of Odisha. Besides the railway, we will make arrangements for the accommodation of more than 15,000 people at Puri," Vaishnaw said. Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2024 Date, Full Calendar & Significance: What Is Rath Yatra? Grand Procession, Religious & Cultural Importance. Discussions regarding development and employment in the IT sector were also held between the ministers. "During the visit to Delhi, met the Union Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. During the Modi government, the railway infrastructure in Odisha has undergone significant changes. I discussed in detail for a better system of railways in the state. Along with this, it was also discussed how to create employment opportunities in the state with development in IT sector," Majhi wrote in a post on X. This year the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is scheduled on July 7. The Ratha Jatra or the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The festival encompasses the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt Goddess Gundicha Devi's Temple and culminates with the return journey after eight days. In reality, the festival stretches from the day of AkhayaTrutiya (in April) and culminates with the return journey of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises. Overcrowding in Train: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Tells Rail Officials to Take Immediate Steps to Resolve Overcrowding in Trains. Apart from numerous Indian cities, the festival is observed with great fanfare right from New Zealand to South Africa and New York to London. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Faridabad, Jun 28 (PTI) As Haryana gears up for assembly elections due later this year, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Congress will target to win all constituencies in Faridabad. Lauding Congress workers for giving the BJP a "tough fight" in the recently held Lok Sabha polls, Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the state, said the party would aim to establish a "safe Faridabad, safe Haryana and developed Haryana", according to a party statement. Also Read | 8th Pay Commission: 8th CPC Proposal Submitted to Govt, Significant Hike in DA, Salary and Pension on Cards; Key Details Here. Addressing a party workers conference in Faridabad on Friday, Hooda said, "You have conquered half the front. After three months, there is a chance to conquer the whole front in the assembly elections. This time our target is a Congress victory in all assembly seats of Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency." Many senior leaders and workers of the party, including Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan, party leader Mahendra Pratap Singh, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Aftab Ahmed and MLA Neeraj Sharma, attended the conference. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, June 28 2024: Know Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. Faridabad is the oldest industrial city of Haryana but the ruling BJP has ensured that people are deprived of even basic facilities, Hooda alleged. During its tenure, the Congress had established the IMT, built six-lane roads, Gurgaon road, bypasses, good water supply and sewage systems among other things, the former chief minister said. "But the BJP has only entrapped the people in problems like water shortage, supply of dirty water, blockage of roads and sewerage," he said. Hooda also assured that the Congress government will bring back the old pension scheme to employees in Haryana. "The elderly will get Rs 6,000 in pension, 300 units of free electricity will be provided as relief from price rise and gas cylinders will be available for Rs 500," he said. More than two lakh vacancies will be filled through permanent recruitment, Hooda said. Congress state president Chaudhary Udai Bhan urged the party workers to ensure a Congress victory in the assembly polls. He said it is the responsibility of Congress workers to "expose the lies of BJP". "We have to tell the public that the Congress government had started a scheme to allot free plots of 100 yards to 7 lakh families. Under this scheme, plots were distributed to about 4 lakh poor, SC and OBC families, but as soon as the BJP came to power, it stopped this scheme and 3 lakh families were deprived of plots," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Jun 28 (PTI) A 21-year-old married woman died under suspicious circumstances in Rajasthan's Dausa district with her in-laws performing her last rites without informing her parents, police said on Friday. Five people, including the victim Sunita Devi's husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law and uncle-in-law, have been booked under sections 304B (dowry death) and 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code, Deputy Superintendent of Police Uday Singh Meena said. Also Read | 8th Pay Commission: 8th CPC Proposal Submitted to Govt, Significant Hike in DA, Salary and Pension on Cards; Key Details Here. The DSP said that when Sunita's parents reached the spot, the funeral pyre was already burning in the field, and her in-laws had absconded. "By the time the police reached the spot, the body of the woman was almost burnt. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has collected evidence," he said. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, June 28 2024: Know Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. Efforts are being made to arrest the five accused. Further investigation is underway, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Shares of luxury furniture brand Stanley Lifestyles Ltd listed with a premium of over 38 per cent on Friday, against the issue price of Rs 369. The stock started the trade at Rs 499, reflecting a jump of 35.23 per cent on the BSE. Later, it soared 38.21 per cent to Rs 510. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, June 28 2024: Know Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. At the NSE, it listed at Rs 494.95, up 34.13 per cent. The initial public offering (IPO) of Stanley Lifestyles got subscribed 96.98 times on the last day of subscription on Tuesday. Also Read | Anjali Birla, Daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Is IAS Officer, Know All About Her. The Rs 537-crore initial share sale had a fresh issue of up to Rs 200 crore and an offer for sale of up to 91,33,454 equity shares. The initial share-sale had a price range of Rs 351-369 per share. 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 the purchase of new machinery and equipment by the company and its material subsidiary, SOSL (Stanley OEM Sofas Ltd) and for general corporate purposes. Bengaluru-based Stanley Lifestyles 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Atlanta, Jun 28 (PTI) With opinion polls showing a very tight race for the November 5 US elections, the first presidential debate here between President Joe Biden from the Democratic Party and his Republican challenger Donald Trump could turn the tide for any one of them. While Biden would try to convince voters that he at 81 is capable of becoming the president of the United States again and steer the nation through the challenges it faces, Trump, 78, could use the opportunity to persuade the people to look past his conviction in a criminal case and see his plans for the country, including its economy. Also Read | US Presidential Elections 2024: Joe Biden, Donald Trump To Face Off in First Presidential Debate. Both the leaders arrived here in the afternoon on Thursday. Also Read | Google Translate Gets 110 New Languages Including Cantonese, Tamazight and NKo Spoken by Over 614 Million Speakers. This debate is going to be "extraordinary" and different as the whole attention will be on the "character of the two presidents", Nadia Bilbassy-Charters Bureau Chief at the Al Arabiya News Channel, who has covered presidential debates since the George Bush era, told PTI. This is "completely different (from the previous ones). It is happening the first time and before the conventions of both the DNC (Democratic National Convention in August) and the RNC (Republican National Convention in July). It is happening without an audience, and there is a microphone that will cut them off when they try to interrupt," she said. "This is extraordinary by every means. We have two candidates that 70 per cent of the American people don't want. There are two candidates who repeat in a scenario of 2020, so this is an extraordinary time for America as well," Bilbassy-Charters said. The choice is between two candidates, and for a country that has 350 million people, it is very narrowed, she said and added that it is also very different because the whole attention will be on the "character of the two presidents" as not really on the issues as it happened in the previous debates. There is a huge focus on the debate tonight because it is seen as a way to "frame not just the issues but the candidates", Bilbassy-Charters said. "The whole world is really anticipating what's going to happen. The expectation is very low for President Biden. Everybody's waiting to see if he's going to stand for 90 minutes, if he's going to make mistakes, if he's going to lose concentration, if he's going to make up names of leaders, if Trump is going to be intimidating as he did before," she said. Richard Latendresse, the White House correspondent for TVA-Canada, said the debate is extremely important for both the camps. "There's this feeling that there's stagnation in this campaign, that nothing seems to stick to Donald Trump, but he cannot bring down more than what has happened until now with Joe Biden, with his government and his administration. So, this is an important moment in this campaign, and each side hopes that from there things are going to get better and better," he said. Lakeyta Bonnette-Bailey, Professor of Africana Studies at the Georgia State University, said she expects from the people to tune in to watch how the candidates are going to behave and to watch the policy issues that the candidates are going to present at the debate. "I expect the candidates to talk about and discuss policy issues that are relevant to their base," she said. Cristina Olea, TVE's chief correspondent in Washington DC, said, "I would say this debate is very important because the country is so divided, the candidates are so different, their policies, their styles." The race is so close, and tonight, Biden has a lot of pressure to show that he is not too old for office and Trump needs to show that he is not so aggressive, he said Running for the State Senate in the 48th District of Georgia, Ashwin Ramaswami, 24, said this debate is a great opportunity for Biden and Trump to actually show the American people what they really believe in. "I believe it's an opportunity for President Biden to show why Democrats up and down the ballot are the right choice for our country," he told PTI. Ramaswami said one of the most important things they need is a leader who is able to create that transition, being able to make sure that the next generation of leaders are able to serve the country in the future. "What that means is we need someone who understands the issues we face, whether it's issues on affordable housing, access to healthcare, preparing us for the technology of the future, and also leading with integrity and balance," he said. Ajay Jain Bhaturia, a major fund raiser for the Biden campaign, said, "The debate between President Biden and Trump, is the debate between the light and the darkness, the debate between progress and regression." "What we saw, the four years of Trump, where he basically incited the mob to go to the Capitol and to turn around the election, or what we saw was the highest number of jobs being lost, manufacturing jobs being lost under Trump administration," he said. "What we have seen under the Biden administration is stability, bringing all the different communities together and the highest number of employment, or the lowest unemployment rate, the largest investment in infrastructure since Roosevelt," Bhaturia added. "There's been growth, and we have seen leadership restored on the world stage. That's what President Biden will be talking about is progress. With the Democrats we are looking at the best days of America ahead while the Republicans talk about the best days which are gone behind," he said. According to Subhash Razdan, an eminent Indian American community leader, Americans are not happy with the quality of the candidates. "In Biden, they see the age factor. And, in Trump they see a credibility factor. Now, it all depends on what lines the voters will choose to vote. If they go by party lines, then Trump would have an edge," he said. "I feel Trump will attack him on his age factor, not being alert and the immigration issues, saying that Democrats have been very weak on the immigration issues. Biden will try to attack him on the credibility factor," Razdan told PTI. Meanwhile, the White House Correspondents Association slammed event host CNN for providing no access to its pool reporters inside the room wherein President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump would be engaging in the first of the three presidential debates here. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Manila, Jun 28 (AP) Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over China's actions in the disputed South China Sea. Details of the agenda of the July 8 meetings of Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru with their Philippine counterparts were not immediately made public, but two officials of both countries told The Associated Press that efforts were underway to finalize a key defense pact which they hope could be signed during the meetings. Also Read | Mongolia Parliamentary Elections 2024: Voting Underway in Mongolia To Elect 126 Legislators. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly. During a visit to Manila last year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to start negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement which would allow troops to enter each other's territory for joint military exercises and strengthened defense cooperation. The move is part of efforts to strengthen their alliance in the face of what they regard as China's growing assertiveness in the region. Also Read | US Presidential Debate 2024: President Joe Biden and Donald Trump Spar on Economy and Abortion, Key Moments From Their 90-Minute Faceoff. Marcos said last year that the proposed defense pact would be beneficial both to our defense and military personnel and to maintaining peace and stability in our region. Kishida announced during the Manila visit that a coastal surveillance radar would be given to the Philippines through a grant, making it the first Southeast Asian nation to become a beneficiary of a newly launched Japanese security assistance program for allied militaries in the region. Additional Japanese patrol vessels, defense equipment and radars will be provided to strengthen the Philippines' law enforcement capability at sea, Kishida said last year. Japan has supplied a dozen patrol ships in recent years to the Philippines, which is now largely using them to defend its territorial interests in the contested waters. Japan has had a longstanding territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships have been involved in a series of tense confrontations in the South China Sea, a key global trade route. In the worst confrontation so far, Chinese coast guard personnel armed with knives, spears and an axe aboard motorboats repeatedly rammed and destroyed two Philippine navy supply vessels at disputed Second Thomas Shoal last week, injuring several Filipino sailors. Chinese sailors seized at least seven Philippine navy rifles. The Philippines strongly protested the Chinese coast guard's actions and demanded payment for the damage and the return of the rifles. China accused the Philippines of instigating the violence, saying the Filipino sailors strayed into what it called Chinese territorial waters despite warnings, prompting its coast guard to take action. Japan, along with the United States and its Asian and Western allied countries and security partners, expressed concern over the Chinese actions. "Japan reiterates serious concern over repeated actions which obstruct freedom of navigation and increase regional tensions, including recent dangerous actions that resulted in damage to the Filipino vessel and injuries to Filipinos onboard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo said after the confrontation. Washington renewed its warning that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. Marcos and other Philippine officials said the Chinese assault on the Filipino navy personnel last week, which was caught on video and photographs that were made public by the Manila government, was illegal and deliberate, but did not amount to an armed assault that would activate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Atlanta, Jun 28 (PTI) Former US president Donald Trump turned in a better performance than President Joe Biden during the first of presidential debates, a shift from 2020 when debate watchers saw the 81-year-old Democrat as outperforming his Republican rival. During Thursday's feisty debate that lasted roughly 90 minutes, President Biden and 78-year-old Trump sparred over the economy, immigration, foreign policy, abortion and national security. Both the leaders called each other a liar and the worst president in the history of the US. Also Read | Mongolia Parliamentary Elections 2024: Voting Underway in Mongolia To Elect 126 Legislators. Sixty-seven per cent to 33 per cent of the registered debate watchers said that Trump turned in a better performance, according to a CNN flash poll conducted by SSRS. CNN was the host of the first of the three presidential debates held in Atlanta. Before the debate, the same voters said, 55 per cent to 45 per cent, that they expected Trump to perform better than Biden. Also Read | US Presidential Debate 2024: President Joe Biden and Donald Trump Spar on Economy and Abortion, Key Moments From Their 90-Minute Faceoff. The poll's results reflect opinions of the debate only among those voters who tuned in and are not representative of the views of the full voting public in their demographics, political preferences or the level of attention they pay to politics. Debate watchers in the poll were 5 points likelier to be Republican-aligned than Democratic-aligned, making for an audience that was slightly more Republican-leaning than all registered voters nationally. But the results are a shift from 2020 when Biden was seen by debate watchers as outperforming Trump in their presidential debates, CNN reported. A 57 per cent majority of debate watchers Thursday night said they have no real confidence in Biden's ability to lead the country, and 44 per cent that they have no real confidence in Trump's ability to do so. Those numbers are effectively unchanged from the poll taken before the debate, in which 55 per cent of those voters said they had no confidence in Biden and 47 per cent that they lacked confidence in Trump. Neither candidate scores highly on this metric, but while just 36 per cent of debate watchers now say they have a lot of confidence in Trump's ability to lead the country, only 14 per cent say the same of Biden, the report said. The CNN poll was conducted by text message with 565 registered US voters who said they watched the debate Thursday, and the poll findings are representative of the views of debate watchers only, CNN emphasised. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], June 28 (ANI): The foundation stone for the construction of the Dormitory Building for Lowo Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling Monastic School was laid on Friday jointly by Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal and Tasi Nharbu Gurung, Chairman, Lomanthang Rural Municipality, the Indian Embassy in Nepal informed in a press release. The dormitory is being built with the Government of India's financial assistance at the project cost of NRs 41.40 million under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation'. Political representatives, government officials, social workers, and representatives of the Monastic school management were also present on this occasion. Also Read | Earthquake in Peru: Strong Quake of Magnitude 7.2 Hits Southern Peru, Tsunami Alert Lifted (See Pics and Videos). The Government of India grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' is being utilized for the construction of a floor dormitory building with other facilities for this Monastic school. The project is taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP), under an Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal, the release added. This project is being implemented through Lomanthang Rural Municipality, Mustang. The project is an important example of the robust development partnership between India and Nepal. Also Read | Earthquake in Peru: 7.2 Magnitude Quake Jolts Southern Peru, No Tsunami Threat. Chairman, Lomanthang Rural Municipality and Chairman, Lowo Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling Monastic School and Political representatives in their remarks appreciated the continued developmental support of the Government of India in the upliftment of the people of Nepal in priority sectors. The new building would be useful in providing better education and accommodation facilities to the students of Lowo Nyiphug Namdrol Norbuling Monastic School in Lomanthang Rural Municipality, Mustang and would create an improved environment for learning as well as contribute to the development of education and religious care and helping in preserving their culture and tradition in this region, it also said. Since 2003, the Government of India has taken up over 551 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and has completed 490 projects. Amongst these, 59 projects are in Gandaki Province in various sectors, including 17 projects in Mustang. In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these, 119 ambulances and 40 school buses have been gifted in Gandaki Province, including 11 ambulances and 5 school buses provided in Mustang District. As close neighbours, India and Nepal share wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the efforts of the Government of Nepal in upliftment of its people, augmenting infrastructure in the field of priority sectors, the embassy also 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) Atlanta [US], June 28 (ANI): Former US President and Republican challenger in the 2024 US Presidential elections, Donald Trump has refused to take any responsibility for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, saying he offered "10,000 soldiers or National Guard" ahead of his speech that day, but was turned down. On being asked about his actions and inactions on January 6, 2021, when rioters attacked the US Capitol Trump, intially during during the Presidential debate on Thursday night (local time) hosted by CNN, tried to sidestep the question by indicating other points in order to criticise Biden. Also Read | Mongolia Parliamentary Elections 2024: Voting Underway in Mongolia To Elect 126 Legislators. "On January 6, we had a great border, nobody coming through--very few. On January 6, we were energy independent. On January 6, we had the lowest taxes ever, we had the lowest regulations ever. On January 6, were respected all over the world, all over the world we were respected, and then he comes in," Trump stated, utterly evading accountability or confronting the uprising on Capitol Hill. In 2021, a group of Trump supporters entered the US Capitol to protest the certification of the 2020 presidential election results from several US states that Trump claimed were fraudulent. Also Read | US Presidential Debate 2024: President Joe Biden and Donald Trump Spar on Economy and Abortion, Key Moments From Their 90-Minute Faceoff. US authorities have arrested more than 725 individuals in nearly all 50 states for criminal offences relating to the riot. Meanwhile, Biden pointed out that Trump had urged people to go to Capitol Hill and had spent three hours "watching, being begged to do something, to call for a stop, to end it," by his vice president and several other Republican colleagues, rather, he spoke of these individuals as outstanding American patriots, reported CNN. "And now, he says, if he loses again -- such a whiner that he is -- that there could be a bloodbath," Biden said. Pelosi, the Speaker of the House at the time of the disturbance, allegedly refused 10,000 National Guard men, claimed Trump during the debate Thursday night. However, his claims were soon slammed by former US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. "Numerous independent fact-checkers have confirmed again and again that Speaker Pelosi did not plan her own assassination on January 6th. The Speaker of the House is not in charge of the security of the Capitol Complex -- on January 6th or any other day of the week. Cherry-picked, out-of-context clips and the unhinged ravings of the instigator of the insurrection do not change that fact," Pelosi's spokesperson Ian Krager said, according to CNN. The fact that Trump and his supporters are "still trying to whitewash the deadly insurrection" was deemed "pathetic" by Krager. "The American people saw for themselves the dangers to democracy on January 6th and can see right through Republicans' revisionist history," he said, as per CNN. President Joe Biden launched his re-election campaign in April 2023, describing the contest between him and Trump as a "stark choice" for voters between the continuation of democracy in America and its possible "destruction" under Trump. Whereas, Trump launched his bid for the US Presidential polls in November 2022. Biden is the oldest president to ever hold office and would be 86 at the end of a second term. Polling shows that voters are far more concerned about Biden's age than his opponent's. But if Trump wins, he would break Biden's record as the oldest president before the end of his term. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Atlanta, Jun 28 (PTI) The White House Correspondents Association has slammed CNN for providing no access to its pool reporters inside the room where President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump engaged in the first of the three presidential debates here, asserting that it diminishes a "core principle" of the coverage. CNN is the host of the first of the three presidential debates in Atlanta. Also Read | Mongolia Parliamentary Elections 2024: Voting Underway in Mongolia To Elect 126 Legislators. Scores of media outlets from across the country have gathered to watch the debate, which unlike in the past has no audience. Media have access only to the spin room. Tonight's debate will have no audience present and includes format rules that can silence candidates' microphones. We don't know how this will play out in real-time," Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association wrote in a strongly-worded letter to CNN. Also Read | Biden vs Trump US Presidential Debate 2024: US President Biden Opens Debate With Several Verbal Missteps As He Tries To Press Criticism Against Donald Trump (Watch Video). "A pool reporter is there to observe what is said and done when microphones are off or when either candidate is not seen on camera but may speak, gesture, move, or engage in some way, O'Donnell said on Thursday. A pool of reporters always travel and are with the President during his official working hours and report to the rest of the members of the WHCA. CNN is also a member of the WHCA, she said. WHCA is deeply concerned that CNN has rejected our repeated requests to include the White House travel pool inside the studio. Through conversations and advocacy, we urged CNN to grant access to at least one print pool reporter for the duration of the debate, the letter said. WHCA has been informed that one print reporter will be permitted to enter the studio during a commercial break to briefly observe the setting. That is not sufficient in our view and diminishes a core principle of presidential coverage," O'Donnell wrote. "The White House pool has a duty to document, report and witness the president's events and his movements on behalf of the American people, the letter said. The pool is there for the 'what ifs?' in a world where the unexpected does happen. A pool reporter is present to provide context and insight by direct observation and not through the lens of the television production. A pool reporter is an independent observer whose duties are separate from the production of the debate as a news event, she explained. Asserting that pool reporter works on behalf of the entire White House press corps, she said that their reports are an important part of the historical record. She said that since the pool is screened by the US Secret Service and travels with the president on Air Force One, there is no security issue. "The Biden campaign told WHCA it supports our request. The Trump campaign told WHCA it would not oppose the inclusion of the White House pool reporter. The Trump campaign has a separate press corps, wrote the WHCA president. O'Donnel said for weeks, WHCA has advocated for the inclusion of the White House travel pool inside the studio for the presidential debate. Our work has included outreach to the White House, the campaigns of both President Biden and former President Trump and the debate host network CNN, she said. We appreciate that CNN is providing a television feed of the debate to other networks, and will grant access to still photographers from various news outlets to cover the candidates inside the studio. Those are positive actions that WHCA fully supports, she wrote. There was no immediate reaction from CNN. White House reporters constantly press organisations hosting the president to allow us access wherever he goes. That's our job. The notion that we would be stiffed by a news organisation is pretty mind-boggling, said Peter Baker, White House Correspondent of The New York Times. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Armed Forces Day (UK) 2024 will be marked on June 29. This annual commemoration is celebrated across the United Kingdom to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces. The celebration of Armed Forces Day in the United Kingdom is a public holiday and was initially referred to as Veterans Day. It is interesting to note that Armed Forces Day in the UK keeps changing every year. As we celebrate Armed Forces Day 2024, here is everything you need to know about this day and how to celebrate Armed Forces Day. When is Armed Forces Day in the United States? Armed Forces Day 2024 Date in UK Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the last Saturday in the month of June every year, across the United Kingdom. Armed Forces Day 2024 will be celebrated on June 29. The first ever celebration of Armed Forces Day was marked in 2006 as Veterans Day and its name was changed to Armed Forces Day in 2009. Armed Forces Day History and Significance Every year, the celebration of Armed Forces Day is marked as a public holiday across the United Kingdom. The celebration of Armed Forces Day was created as a permanent extension of Veterans' Awareness Week first held in 2005. The celebration of Veterans Awareness Week will actually begin on Monday, June 24. The week-long celebration also includes Reserves Day (26 June), which provides the country with an opportunity to recognise our Reserve Forces. When is Army Day in India? To celebrate Armed Forces Day and the week leading up to it, people do their bit to show their support for the communities associated with the armed forces and reserve forces. We hope that the celebration of Armed Forces Day 2024 in the UK helps you to do your bit to make those serving the country feel appreciated. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2024 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Rajasthan: SOG Arrests 2 Foreign Nationals in Fraud Case Worth INR 32.35 Lakh Chamoli Rape Case: Locals Protest Over Rape of Minor Girl in Uttarakhand, Markets Shut Down (Watch Videos) Uttar Pradesh Government Bans Corporal Punishment in Schools, Strict Action to Be Taken Against Teachers Who Violate Directive Mangrol Minor Gang-Rape Case: Accused Dies During Forensic Examination at New Civil Hospital in Surat (Watch Video) On 27 June Brazils Presidentgave an interview to local radio station Radio Itatiaia, in which he said that his government is reviewing where spending cuts can be made. End of preview - This article contains approximately 390 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 27 June Argentinas lower chamber of congress gave final approval to the omnibus bill of reforms sought by Presidentas well as an accompanying fiscal reform. End of preview - This article contains approximately 532 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options After the coup that almost upended the country of Bolivia, the leaders of the coup, including General Juan Jose Zuniga, were arrested for leading a group of soldiers and "conspired to bring down a democratically elected government." "They will be charged with crimes that could see them jailed for between 15 and 30 years," Bolivia Minister of Government Eduardo del Castillo told a local TV channel. Also arrested is Navy Rear Admiral Juan Arnez Salvador, who is also accused of being one of the coup's leaders. The coup itself was designed to topple the government of leftist President Luis Arce, with dissatisfaction in Bolivia rising as its economy continued plummeting under the current president. The soldiers, led by Zuniga, tried to besiege the presidential palace with an armored military vehicle. However, they were soon repelled when the president rallied some civilians to oppose them. Del Castillo added that the coup conspirators had been plotting "this attempt to destroy democracy" for at least three weeks before they tried to force their way into the government palace known as the Palacio Quemado. They were soon stopped by security forces and Arce supporters, with Arce himself confronting Zuniga and ordering him and his men to stand down. They eventually did, with Arce soon replacing the rebelling general. Arce met with the general with one of his senior ministers, telling the then-chief of Bolivia's Army that he had been relieved of his duties because his conduct "was not in line with the political constitution." Zuniga accepted this, telling Arce, "No problem ... I'm a soldier of this homeland ... and will carry out whatever orders you give me." Bolivia General Claims Coup He Led Was a 'Sham' In the moments before his arrest, Zuniga talked to reporters, and he threw the situation into confusion as he accused Arce of staging a sham coup in order to boost his already-faltering popularity, telling reporters, "The president told me the situation was fucked and that he needed something to boost his popularity." READ MORE: Bolivia: Coup Fails as President Luis Arce Mobilizes Citizens Against Military This, of course, led to conspiracy theories regarding the coup, with allies of Arce's top rival, former President Evo Morales, as well as members of the opposition, to promote conspiracy theories regarding the failed coup. According to Al Jazeera, the general had claimed that Arce's government was "impoverishing" the country as it continued to struggle to address Bolivia's economic woes as the country faces low commodity prices, dwindling foreign reserves, and a fiscal deficit. Bolivians Rallying Behind President Luis Arce After the Coup, But Some Remain Weary Despite this, some Bolivians have instead rallied behind the embattled president and slammed the coup plotters, with many marching in a rally to chant, "Lucho, you are not alone!" Luch is a common nickname for Luis. However, some are also wary of this, with many also believing Zuniga's claims of this being a "sham coup," with one lawyer telling the Associated Press, "They are playing with the intelligence of the people, because nobody believes that it was a real coup." READ MORE: Bolivia: 5 of the Weirdest Dishes Served in This Country This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Former army chief arrested after coup attempt in Bolivia fails - CNN Incoming Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced five more cabinet members, including Luz Elena Gonzalez as secretary of energy. Gonzalez, an expert in sustainable development, was previously in charge of Mexico City's finances, according to AP News. Raquel Buenrostro, with 28 years in public administration, will be secretary of public administration. David Kershenobich will be health secretary, Jesus Antonio Esteva Medina will lead communications and transportation, and Edna Elena Vega Rangel will head agrarian, territorial, and urban development. Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O will continue his role. The security chief appointment is pending, with Omar Garcia Harfuch as a potential candidate. READ NEXT: Mexico's President-Elect Sheinbaum Unharmed in Fatal Motorcade Accident Positive and Cautious Reactions Analysts welcomed Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum cabinet choices but expressed concerns about Luz Elena Gonzalez's lack of energy experience. Gonzalez, Sheinbaum's former finance chief, will chair Pemex's board and serve on the CFE board. Gonzalez pledged to ensure national sovereignty and advance the energy transition. Pemex faces massive debt and stagnant production, while Mexico struggles with power capacity amid blackouts. Analyst Julia Gonzalez highlighted the importance of Gonzalez's financial expertise. Political analyst Antonio Ocaranza noted Sheinbaum's focus on sustainability and finances, Reuters reports. Energy analyst Miriam Grunstein warned of Gonzalez's inexperience. Sheinbaum appointed Jesus Esteva as transportation minister, Raquel Buenrostro as federal comptroller, David Kershenobich as health minister, and Edna Vega Rangel as agrarian development minister. Buenrostro currently serves as economy minister in Lopez Obrador's cabinet. Mexico's peso and stock exchange dipped following the announcements. Last week, Sheinbaum named Marcelo Ebrard as economy minister and Juan Ramon de la Fuente as foreign minister. Key Figures in Sheinbaum Cabinet Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former academic, appointed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard as her administration's economy secretary. Ebrard stepped down from that post in 2023 to run against Sheinbaum for their party's nomination. Sheinbaum won decisively in the June 2 election, NBC News noted. Ebrard, 63, was tasked by President Lopez Obrador with obtaining foreign-made vaccines for Mexico during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as mayor of Mexico City from 2006 to 2012, a role often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency. While once a prominent figure in the Morena party, Ebrard's reputation suffered due to two major incidents. A subway line built during his tenure as mayor collapsed in 2021, killing 26 passengers. Additionally, after losing the primary race against Sheinbaum in 2023, he contested the results, alleging irregularities. Sheinbaum chose Juan Ramon de la Fuente as her secretary for foreign affairs. De la Fuente, 72, is the former rector of Mexico's largest National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where Sheinbaum studied and worked. De la Fuente has been Mexico's ambassador to the United Nations under Lopez Obrador and is known for his calm and diplomatic approach. He served as health secretary in the late 1990s and is trained as a psychiatrist. De la Fuente also coordinated Sheinbaum's transition, making him one of her closest advisors. Mexico's current foreign affairs secretary, Alicia Barcena, will now serve as secretary of environment and natural resources. Mexico President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum created a new ministry for science, humanities, technology, and innovation led by Rosaura Ruiz Gutierrez. She appointed Ernestina Godoy as legal adviser and Julio Berdegue Sacristan as agriculture secretary. More appointments are expected next week. READ MORE: Ex-Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez Faces 45 Years for Drug Trafficking This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as its first woman president - From MSNBC Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner has voiced concerns over Judge Juan Merchan's decision to partially lift the Donald Trump gag order during his Manhattan criminal hush money trial. The order, originally aimed at preventing Trump from discussing witnesses and jurors, has been adjusted to allow such commentary but still bars him from targeting prosecutors and court staff, according to HuffPost. Kirschner, known for his "Justice Matters" series on YouTube, highlighted the potential consequences of Trump's newfound freedom of speech, suggesting it could lead to harassment or intimidation of trial participants. He emphasized that such behavior might influence Trump's sentencing, scheduled for July 11. READ NEXT: Trump's Gag Order Relaxed Before Debate Analysis of Judge Juan Merchan's Decision Glenn Kirschner analyzed the implications of Judge Merchan's recent decision to modify the Donald Trump gag order. Originally imposed to protect trial integrity, the order restricted Donald Trump from discussing witnesses, jurors, and their families. Despite multiple violations, including fines totaling $10,000, Trump faced ongoing restrictions until this recent adjustment. In late May, a New York City jury found Trump guilty on 34 charges related to falsifying business records concerning a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. This marks Trump as the first former US president convicted of felony crimes. Trump maintains innocence and plans to appeal, denouncing the case as politically motivated. Judge Merchan's modification allows Trump to comment on witnesses like Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, pivotal figures in the hush money trial. However, Trump remains prohibited from revealing jurors' identities or addresses and criticizing court staff and prosecutors until after sentencing. Kirschner highlighted the significance of Trump's behavior post-verdict in shaping his sentencing. He speculated that any inflammatory remarks by Trump could intensify legal arguments for incarceration. Kirschner cited previous cases where social media posts influenced sentencing decisions, emphasizing their enduring digital footprint. In a conversation with Newsweek, Kirschner discussed applying social media evidence in sentencing, noting its relevance in demonstrating post-conviction conduct. He stressed the importance of deterrence in sentencing, aiming not only to prevent repeat offenses by Trump but also to dissuade others from similar criminal paths. Implications of Trump's Freedom of Speech Judge Merchan's adjustment of the gag order grants Donald Trump new latitude in discussing trial details, excluding prosecution and court personnel. Kirschner expressed apprehension about potential repercussions, fearing Trump's unrestricted speech could jeopardize trial participants' safety. Kirschner speculated that Trump might utilize this freedom to intimidate or threaten witnesses and jurors, behaviors that could exacerbate sentencing deliberations. He pointed out previous attempts by Trump's allies to circumvent the gag order and Trump's own past violations, underscoring Merchan's challenge in maintaining trial fairness. As Trump's July 11 sentencing approaches, Kirschner underscored the role of judicial restraint in curbing Trump's potential misconduct. He emphasized the legal community's scrutiny of Trump's post-verdict behavior and its impact on sentencing outcomes, echoing concerns about maintaining trial integrity amid heightened political scrutiny. Judge Juan Merchant's decision to modify the Donald Trump gag order reflects ongoing legal tensions surrounding Donald Trump's criminal trial, The New Republic noted. Glenn Kirschner's analysis underscores the potential ramifications of Trump's expanded freedom of speech on trial proceedings and sentencing deliberations, suggesting a pivotal juncture in judicial oversight and legal accountability. READ MORE: Trump Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt Clashes with CNN's Kasie Hunt This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Judge partially lifts gag order on former President Trump - From ABC News Authorities in the Bahamas have launched an investigation into the disappearance of Taylor Casey, a Chicago woman who vanished during a yoga retreat on Paradise Island. Local officials discovered Casey's cellphone in the water, prompting concerns about her safety, according to ABC7. Casey, 41, had been participating in a month-long yoga instructor retreat with Bahamas Yoga Retreat when she failed to attend classes starting June 20, according to reports. READ NEXT: California Hiker Found Alive After 10 Days Missing in Mountains Mysterious Disappearance Unfolds Chicago woman's disappearance has left her family and friends in distress as they await news from authorities in the Bahamas. She was last seen on June 19 at the retreat on Paradise Island, a popular tourist destination near New Providence, The Washington Post reports. According to statements from the missing Chicago woman's family, she was passionate about yoga and had traveled to the Sivananda Ashram's Bahamas Yoga Retreat to deepen her practice. She regularly communicated with loved ones until her sudden silence raised alarm. The Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a missing person alert on June 21, seeking information from the public. They confirmed finding Casey's cellphone in nearby waters, although details about its location relative to the retreat remain unclear. Authorities have deployed drones, search-and-rescue dogs, and divers in their search efforts, underscoring the seriousness of the investigation. Casey's mother, Colette Seymore, expressed deep worry over her daughter's well-being, emphasizing that Casey "would never disappear like this." The disappearance occurred against the backdrop of a US State Department travel advisory cautioning visitors about crime in the Bahamas. The advisory, active since January, warns of violent crime, including burglaries, sexual assaults, and armed robberies, primarily on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Retreat Center's Response and Community Support The Sivananda Ashram's Bahamas Yoga Retreat, where Casey was last seen, issued a statement acknowledging her disappearance and pledging cooperation with authorities. They revealed that the missing Chicago woman was absent from morning classes on June 20, prompting immediate notification to local law enforcement and her family. In a heartfelt appeal through social media and local press, Colette Seymore urged anyone with information to come forward. She described her daughter as a vibrant community leader deeply committed to yoga and helping others. Local officials, including Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings, assured the public of their commitment to Casey's safe return. Despite finding her cellphone in the ocean, Casey's belongings remained at the retreat, adding to the mystery surrounding her disappearance, NBC 5 Chicago noted. As the search intensifies, the missing Chicago woman's family and friends are mobilizing on social media platforms to spread awareness and gather information. They described Casey as a loving and caring individual with a strong connection to her community, underscoring her positive impact on those around her. Authorities and the community remain hopeful for Casey's safe return, emphasizing the ongoing investigation's priority to locate her swiftly and ensure her well-being. READ MORE: Wisconsin Youth Counselor Attacked by Teen Inmate Succumbs to Injuries This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ross Key WATCH: Chicago woman's cell phone found 1 week after Bahamas disappearance - From ABC 7 Chicago A proposed 37-story building in Allentown would be one of the most significant development proposals in the Lehigh Valleys history, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. The development application from Umran Global Investment proposes constructing a 37-story building with 206 apartments, 2,651 square feet of retail space and 9,953 square feet of office space. The project at 20 S. Ninth St. is under review by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Essentially, this signals a substantial change in density and dynamic of the city, region and even Commonwealth, a Lehigh Valley Planning Commission review letter says. This proposal is a bellwether of the direction of development in the Lehigh Valley and is one of the most significant development proposals in the city and regions history. While the height of the building looms large, the length and width of the building will be far more diminutive. The proposed footprint of the building is 5,000 square feet, which is slightly larger than an NBA basketball court. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission review expresses concern that a building that tall will be incompatible with the adjoining neighborhoods. Allentown City Council member Cecilia Ce-Ce Gerlach said Thursday the property is zoned in a business district but the majority of uses in the area are residential. A building of that size is not suitable for the area, she said. A skyscraper in a residential neighborhood does not fit, Gerlach said at the planning commission meeting. However, Allentowns zoning laws place no restrictions on a buildings height. The planning commission reviewed a similar proposal in 2015 that was known as The Landmark Tower. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Catastrophic Canadian warming-fueled wildfires last year pumped more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air than India did by burning fossil fuels, setting ablaze an area of forest larger than West Virginia, new research found. Scientists at the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland calculated how devastating the impacts of the months-long fires in Canada in 2023 that sullied the air around large parts of the globe. They figured it put 3.28 billion tons (2.98 billion metric tons) of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air, according to a study update published in Thursdays Global Change Biology. The update is not peer-reviewed, but the original study was. Sending smoke well beyond Canada, including into the Lehigh Valley, the fires spewed nearly four times the carbon emissions as airplanes do in a year, study authors said. Its about the same amount of carbon dioxide that 647 million cars put in the air in a year, based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data. The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, British Columbia, Aug. 18, 2023. Catastrophic Canadian warming-fueled wildfires last year pumped more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air than India did by burning fossil fuels, new research found.Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press File Photo via AP Forests remove a lot of carbon from the atmosphere and that gets stored in their branches, their trunks, their leaves and kind of in the ground as well. So when they burn all the carbon thats stored within them gets released back into the atmosphere, said study lead author James MacCarthy, a research associate with WRIs Global Forest Watch. When and if trees grow back much of that can be recovered, MacCarthy said, adding it definitely does have an impact on the global scale in terms of the amount of emissions that were produced in 2023. MacCarthy and colleagues calculated that the forest burned totaled 29,951 square miles (77,574 square kilometers), which is six times more than the average from 2001 to 2022. The wildfires in Canada made up 27% of global tree cover loss last year, usually its closer to 6%, MacCarthys figures show. These are far more than regular forest fires, but researchers focused only on tree cover loss, which is a bigger effect, said study co-author Alexandra Tyukavina, a geography professor at the University of Maryland. The loss of that much forest is a very big deal, and very worrisome, said Syracuse University geography and environment professor Jacob Bendix, who wasnt part of the study. Although the forest will eventually grow back and sequester carbon in doing so, that is a process that will take decades at a minimum, so that there is a quite substantial lag between addition of atmospheric carbon due to wildfire and the eventual removal of at least some of it by the regrowing forest. So, over the course of those decades, the net impact of the fires is a contribution to climate warming. Its more than just adding to heat-trapping gases and losing forests, there were health consequences as well, Tyukavina said. Because of these catastrophic fires, air quality in populated areas and cities was affected last year, she said, mentioning New York Citys smog-choked summer. More than 200 communities with about 232,000 residents had to be evacuated, according to another not-yet-published or peer-reviewed study by Canadian forest and fire experts. A wildfire burns south of Enterprise, Northwest Territories, Aug. 17, 2023. Catastrophic Canadian warming-fueled wildfires last year pumped more heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the air than India did by burning fossil fuels, new research found.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press File Photo via AP One of the authors of the Canadian study, fire expert Mike Flannigan at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, puts the acreage burned at twice what MacCarthy and Tyukavina do. The 2023 fire season in Canada was (an) exceptional year in any time period, Flannigan, who wasnt part of the WRI study, said in an email. I expect more fire in our future, but years like 2023 will be rare. Flannigan, Bendix, Tyukavina and MacCarthy all said climate change played a role in Canadas big burn. A warmer world means more fire season, more lightning-caused fires and especially drier wood and brush to catch fire associated with increased temperature, Flannigan wrote. The average May to October temperature in Canada last year was almost 4 degrees (2.2 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal, his study found. Some parts of Canada were 14 to 18 degrees (8 to 10 degrees Celsius) hotter than average in May and June, MaCarthy said. Theres short-term variability within trends, so its hard to blame one specific year and area burned on climate change and geographic factors play a role, still there is no doubt that climate change is the principal driver of the global increases in wildfire, Bendix said in an email. With the world warming from climate change, Tyukavina said, the catastrophic years are probably going to be happening more often and we are going to see those spikier years more often. By SETH BORENSTEIN Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. After more than two decades of consistent legislative efforts, Pennsylvania still doesnt have a law protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. The states nondiscrimination act has long prohibited unfair treatment in housing, employment and public accommodations for certain protected classes, including race, sex and religion. But it leaves out gender identity and sexual orientation, making Pennsylvania the only state in the Northeast U.S. to not have those protections codified in state law. State legislators mostly Democrats, but also some Republicans have tried to change that every session since 2001, repeatedly backing bills that would update the language in the states nondiscrimination act. Acceptance of LGBTQ+ people has rapidly increased in recent years, particularly since same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015. Pride Month, which is in June, is more widely celebrated each year, and the percentage of people who openly identify as LGBTQ+ has doubled in the past decade, with nearly 8% of the population now self-identifying as LGBTQ+, according to a 2023 Gallup poll. Laws protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination are also popular with voters, with three in four Pennsylvanians being in favor of them, according to a 2023 poll by the nonprofit public opinion research institute PRRI. Despite that, the proposed legislation has yet to make it through the state legislature. One bill, HB 300, passed the Democrat-controlled House for the first time in May 2023 but has yet to be brought up for consideration in the Republican-controlled Senate. Several House Democrats said they are pushing for the Senate to pass the bill as part of the ongoing budget negotiations. The Senate should really move swiftly on something that has been so hard fought, so long litigated, and is frankly so simple, said Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, the bills primary sponsor and co-chair of the legislatures LGBTQ+ caucus. But Republican support so far has been slim. HB 300 passed the House with the approval of just two Republicans. Senate Republican caucus spokeswoman Kate Flessner noted that federal, state and local protections already exist to prevent discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and raised concerns about the proposed legislation. As currently written, the bill blurs the lines between differing views and discrimination, she said of HB 300. We must make sure any actions taken do not lead to other forms of discrimination and have unintended consequences. Flessner did not respond to follow-up questions asking her to clarify what she meant by other forms of discrimination and unintended consequences. But House Republicans previously told PennLive they feared a ban on discrimination in public accommodations could force medical providers to do things against their best judgment, such as perform gender-related surgeries they believed were medically unsound, or that it could change the rules around transgender athletes participating in sex-segregated sports. Democrats rejected that notion. Its not like were trailblazing here in Pennsylvania, said Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny County, a longtime proponent of the legislation. We can point to all these other states that have embraced civil rights for everybody in their state, and the dire consequences that people claim would take place in Pennsylvania just havent happened anywhere. Patchwork of protections A patchwork of protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians exist at different levels of government and can vary based on where a person lives. A 2020 Supreme Court case, Bostock v. Clayton County, established that federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. But it doesnt include protections in other areas, such as housing or education. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which oversees discrimination complaints statewide, issued guidance in 2018 that Pennsylvanians could file complaints of discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodations, such as schools, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. That change was backed by former Gov. Tom Wolf and formally approved by a state regulatory board in 2022.But it could be undone by a future governor without input from legislators. Four counties and 71 municipalities in Pennsylvania include gender identity and sexual orientation in their local nondiscrimination law, according to Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank that advocates for equality. But Pennsylvania is still one of 27 states that does not explicitly include both gender identity and sexual orientation among its protected classes, and many areas in the state lack local protections. The state recently scored a 71% or a C on how accepting it is of LGBTQ+ people, according to a recent survey by the Franklin & Marshall College Global Barometers LGBTQI+ Perception Index project. Federal civil rights law also does not explicitly include LGBTQ+ people, meaning it is still legal for LGBTQ+ people to be discriminated against in housing, education, public spaces and more. he Equality Act, which would change that, has been introduced in Congress multiple times. LGBTQ+ advocates say its important to include gender identity and sexual orientation protections in Pennsylvania law in order to reduce discrimination, cover Pennsylvanians living in areas without local nondiscrimination laws and protect LGBTQ+ people in the event that federal or local protections change. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman chose to defy a state law by displaying a LGBTQIA+ flag on his balcony on the exterior of the Pennsylvania Capitol to mark the beginning of Pride Month. June 1, 2021 Jan Murphy | jmurphy@pennlive.com LGBTQ+ protections carry wider benefits While research shows nondiscrimination laws are generally associated with positive effects for LGBTQ+ people, its unclear exactly how effective they are. Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ youth in states with protections were less likely to be bullied, transgender veterans living in states with protections were less likely to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and that inclusive statewide laws for transgender people were associated with better mental health outcomes. But other studies have found that nondiscrimination policies are associated with improved health outcomes for gay and bisexual men but not women, and that employment protections had no impact on the average income of gay and lesbian people. Research also shows that having nondiscrimination protections is good for boosting business and tourism. One 2020 study found that if Texas adopted LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections in 2021, it would add 180,000 jobs by 2025. The Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation, which represents about 900 businesses, supports the legislative change. We hear time and again from the business community and also folks that come to visit as tourists, that they are looking for a welcoming community, and we want our laws to reflect that, said Ryan Unger, president and CEO of the chamber. Pennsylvania lawmakers have until the end of the legislative session in November to act on the proposed change. Zack Hoopes and Ivey DeJesus contributed to this reporting. A regional Lehigh County sewer system is going to cost over half of a billion dollars for needed upgrades, according to the sewer authority CEO. The Lehigh County Authority operates the Klines Island Sewer System that services 15 municipalities. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has asked the authority to create a plan by 2025 to address water leaks and overflow issues. An authority report estimates the cost of repairs to be $561 million to $595 million. The sewer system serves Allentown and 14 other surrounding municipalities, which totals over 270,000 people. That amounts to 32 million gallons of wastewater per day. Authority CEO Liesel Gross said some of the pipes in the system are over 100 years old. So, a very old and a very large system, Gross told the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission at Thursdays meeting. The planned overhaul would address the aging system and allow for anticipated growth in the region in the future. During wet weather, 160 million gallons of water enter the system per day, according to the authority. The system can only handle half of that. When there is no place for water to go, it overflows. The 10-year plan to fix the system includes $267 million for an industrial pretreatment plant, $51 million for the Klines Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Allentown and up to $128 million for interceptor systems. Individual municipalities will be responsible for paying for system upgrades within their borders, which in total could cost $90 million. Its an investment and its one of the largest investments well make in Lehigh County on protecting public health and the environment, certainly in my lifetime and the lifetime for many generations, Gross said. In addition to Allentown, included in the sewer system are the boroughs of Emmaus, Macungie, Alburtis, Coplay, and Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie, South Whitehall, Salisbury, Whitehall, Upper Milford, Hanover, North Whitehall, Weisenberg and Lowhill townships. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. More than 8,000 residents remain without power a day and a half after windy storms swept through the Lehigh Valley and northwestern New Jersey. About 5,000 residents of Northampton and Lehigh counites still have no power and close to 3,500 are without power in Warren County, according to outage maps provided by local utility companies. High winds blew down trees and limbs, which tore down power lines Wednesday evening across the region. More than 100,000 customers initially lost power. The storm sent police scrambling to respond to storm-related calls. Bethlehem and Lower Saucon Township are among hardest hit regions in the Lehigh Valley. Liberty Township was hardest hit in Warren County. Outage maps say most power should be restored by 11 p.m. Friday. PPL customers without power for 24 hours can be reimbursed for the purchase of three gallons of bottled water and three 10-pound bags of ice per day, according to the utilitys website. JCP&L lists locations on its website where its customers without power can get vouchers for ice and water. Here are the latest totals as of 8:15 a.m. Friday: Northampton County: 1,984 outages Lehigh County: 1,122 outages Northampton County: 1,786 outages Lehigh County: Fewer than 20 outages Warren County: 3,469 outages A tree is snapped off at the base of its trunk Thursday, June 27, 2024, along North Boulevard in Bethlehem following powerful thunderstorms the previous night.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com A tree fell on this car in the 200 block of East Elm Street in Allentown on the evening of June 26, 2024.Mike Nester | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Bangor and Roseto have been at loggerheads regarding sewer flows but plans for corrective action are moving forward, according to a discussion at Thursdays Lehigh Valley Planning Commission meeting. The Bangor Borough Authority operates a wastewater treatment plant in Bangor. Per an intermunicipal agreement, neighboring Roseto Borough pays to tap into Bangors plant for its sewer needs. The Bangor authority has said Roseto Borough Sewer Authority has been exceeding the maximum allowable amount of flow into the system for years. A Bangor authority lawsuit filed in October against the Roseto authority and Roseto Borough alleged excess inflow and infiltration from damaged underground pipes in Roseto has caused the problems. Roseto authority officials have questioned the reliability of Bangor authority meters that keep track of flow. The Bangor authority eventually placed restrictor plates on the sewers to reduce Roseto sewer flows into the system. A judge ordered in March that the restrictor plates be removed. In May, the Bangor authority agreed not to reinstall restrictor plates and the Roseto authority agreed to hire a sewer system operator. The Roseto authority submitted a draft corrective action plan to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission to address hydraulic overload conditions identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Roseto sewer flows are monitored at two locations, which are owned and operated by the Bangor authority. The Roseto authority is proposing to install permanent flow meters within its system to serve as backups to the Bangor meters. The Roseto authority has also obtained grants to address the inflow and infiltration issues, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Other efforts like conducting in-home sump pump inspections, roof drains, or other cross-connections are also being proposed. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. A man was arrested Thursday and accused of fatally shooting a person in Warren County earlier in the day, officials said. Anthony J. Garvin, 34, of Netcong, was charged with murder and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, according to statement from the Warren County Prosecutors Office. Police responded to a reported shooting incident Thursday morning in Independence Township, the office said earlier. A suspect, identified Thursday afternoon as Garvin, was taken into custody during the incident, authorities said. The shooting was reported at about 8:20 a.m. on Alphano Road, according to the release from Acting Prosecutor Anthony Picione. No other details have been released, including the identity of the victim of the shooting or the persons relationship to Garvin. Garvin is being held in the Berks County Prison in Leesport, Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New Jersey, the office said. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. A man who had ten bags of cocaine hidden in his hotpress claimed the drugs were for a party in Galway. Robert Quigley (35) of 52 Esker Gate, Mountmellick admitted having cocaine for sale or supply at his address on December 14, 2023. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the ten bags of cocaine were found hidden in a cylinder in the hotpress of the house. He said the man had no previous convictions and the estimated value of the drugs was 1,400. Paul Noctor BL said the man was out of work for the past nine weeks due to a hernia. He said he was anxious not to get a conviction. He said the drugs were to be used by a group who were going to a party in Galway. He would lose his job as a result of a conviction, he remarked. The drugs that he had that day were for his own use, Mr Noctor told Judge Nicola Andrews. Individually bagged for his own use noted Judge Andrews. She asked how the drugs were discovered by gardai. Sgt Kirby explained that the house had been searched on foot of a search warrant. Judge Andrews said she would refer the defendant to the probation services for a report. Noting the drugs were found during a planned search, Judge Andrews said she wasnt convinced by the defendant's contention that the drugs were for a party in Galway. I dont necessarily buy it, she said. However, she said the man had to be given credit for admitting possession of the drugs. She remanded the man on bail and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on October 7. A Midlands man who sexually abused his young niece when he was a teenager over a prolonged time has been jailed for two years. The man, now aged 33, can't be named to protect the anonymity of his victim. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece at various locations in Offaly on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. She was aged between six and nine at the time, while he was aged between 13 and 17. The abuse occurred primarily at the girl's grandparents' home when she was being minded and where her uncle was living with his parents at the time. His parents the girl's grandparents continue to support him. Sentencing him on Friday, June 28, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found the man had demonstrated little insight or remorse. He maintained that he was very young himself at the time of the offending. The judge noted that while he was 13 years' old when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17 years' old. While he noted the man is talented and well-educated, the judge added: I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong. He noted the man had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of the child. He said these were clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved the teenager repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. On one occasion, his friend hid in the wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone, the court heard. In her victim impact statement which she read out in court earlier this week, the now 26-year-old woman said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy friendly child, which it makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard that the woman started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with her uncle on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, the man maintained his innocence to family members and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered the guilty pleas. The woman said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at his hands. In her victim impact statement, the woman said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed the abuse in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and then be left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She said she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But (he) is the criminal here, not me. The woman's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard the man worked in finance, most recently in London. He took the stand and told the court he was very sorry for what he had done. He has no previous convictions. His partner also took the stand and outlined the difficulties they will have in the future as a result of his convictions and his being on the sex offenders register. She said they have had to put their lives on hold, including marriage and children, as a result. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC urged the judge to be as lenient as possible. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing him as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline of three years and six months, given he was underage at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including his lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as at a low risk of re-offending. He declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting the man's stated intention to return to the UK once he has served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. Laois and Offaly are not getting an equitable amount of money for youth services despite both counties having large numbers of young people. That's according to Laois Offaly Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley who has raised funding for the Laois Offaly Eduction and Training Board (LOETB) in the Dail. "Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board has not been receiving its fair share of it. Laois-Offaly has the highest percentage of young people aged between ten and 24 years of age. "The 2022 census verified this. Based on what I see locally, if a census were taken today, two years later, it would show that it has increased further. Laois and Offaly ETB has consistently received the lowest level of youth services funding compared with the other 15 ETBs. "The total funding for Laois-Offaly ETB youth services in 2021 was 427,000, almost 300,000 less than the second lowest region which received 706,000. At the time this equated to 13.68 per person aged between ten and 24. That is a very small amount of money and considerably less than the average in that year, which was 43.84 across the 16 education and training boards in the State. It has not stopped at that because last year, in 2023, the level of funding per young person between the ages of ten and 24 in Laois-Offaly was 15.82," said the TD. He added that Laois-Offaly has had the lowest number of special youth projects, with four in total, two in each county. He contrasted this with other counties which had seven or eight and in some counties more than that. He said this showed that Laois-Offaly has had much less funding and far fewer funded projects. Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, replied. "A total of over 800,000 is being allocated to Laois and Offaly ETB this year to support the provision of youth services in the area. Over 420,000 is being allocated under the UBU scheme. This funding is directed at young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable. It is allocated on the basis of an area needs analysis carried out by the ETB. This ensures that funding is directed to where it is most needed," he said. He said an additional 385,000 has been allocated to Laois and Offaly ETB to support youth services in 2024 under a number of funding schemes. In addition, 130,000 has been allocated, to administer youth services. "The Department recognises the important work of Laois and Offaly ETB as a key partner in the delivery of crucial youth funding schemes," he said. On the lower levels of funding for Laois ETB under the UBU for helping marginalised funding he said there is no average per capita funding for for such services adding that "it is not satisfactory". WATCH BACK IN FULL HERE The LOETB says its Youth Development Office supports Youth Work Schemes such as: UBU Your Place Your Space UBU Resilience and Effectiveness Initiative Local Youth Club Grant Scheme Youth Capital Funding Scheme for Youth Services and Clubs/Groups Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative Integration Grant Supports to Ukraine (Migrant) Young People Minor Grant Scheme for Youth Services and Youth Clubs TEXT of Topical Issues debate from June 26, 2024 below. Brian Stanley, Laois Offaly TD. I am raising the very important issue of funding for youth services across Laois and Offaly. Funding for youth services comes through the local education and training board. Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board has not been receiving its fair share of it. Laois-Offaly has the highest percentage of young people aged between ten and 24 years of age. The 2022 census verified this. Based on what I see locally, if a census were taken today, two years later, it would show that it has increased further. Laois and Offaly ETB has consistently received the lowest level of youth services funding compared with the other 15 ETBs. The total funding for Laois-Offaly ETB youth services in 2021 was 427,000, almost 300,000 less than the second lowest region which received 706,000. At the time this equated to 13.68 per person aged between ten and 24. That is a very small amount of money and considerably less than the average in that year, which was 43.84 across the 16 education and training boards in the State. It has not stopped at that because last year, in 2023, the level of funding per young person between the ages of ten and 24 in Laois-Offaly was 15.82. Those figures can be tracked. The figures also show that in the two years since 2022, Laois-Offaly has had the lowest number of special youth projects under the UBU scheme, with four in total in Laois-Offaly, two in each county. That can be compared with other counties which had seven or eight and in some counties far more than that. Laois-Offaly has had much less funding and far fewer funded projects. The population of Laois-Offaly has increased dramatically, as it has across the State. Between 2002 and 2022, there was an almost 60,000 increase in population in the two counties. The population in Laois in particular shows a sharp upward line on the graph. The last census in Laois showed that there are almost 92,000 people and that has increased dramatically in the last two years. The same is true in Offaly, which had a 6.6% increase in population. The increase in Laois was 8.5%. The population is increasing and with all those young families, there is an increase in the young population. I cannot understand why the level of funding given by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to the Laois and Offaly ETB region is less per head of population than anywhere else in the country, particularly per head of youth population. We have a very progressive and active ETB. I used to be on its forerunner, the old VEC in Laois and Offaly, which did good work. The ETB is providing a huge number of services right across the educational range. What is happening and why is this? What will the Minister do about it? Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, replied. Gabhaim buiochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo. I also recognise the important work that youth organisations and ETBs do for our young people across the country. It is vital. The Minister, Deputy OGorman, is committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth work services and opportunities for young people throughout the country. In 2024, the Government is investing 78 million in this sector, which represents a 26% increase in the budget since 2020. A total of over 800,000 is being allocated to Laois and Offaly ETB this year to support the provision of youth services in the area. Over 420,000 is being allocated under the UBU scheme. This funding is directed at young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or vulnerable. It is allocated on the basis of an area needs analysis carried out by the ETB. This ensures that funding is directed to where it is most needed. An additional 385,000 has been allocated to Laois and Offaly ETB to support youth services in 2024 under a number of funding schemes, including 12,000 under the resilience and effectiveness scheme 2024. This enables youth organisations to build capacity and respond to emerging needs. There is 36,000 under the new targeted youth employability support initiative in 2024. This funding helps young people to engage in progression pathways leading to education, training and employment opportunities. There is 75,000 under the migrant integration fund, to support the integration of young Ukrainians into youth services. There is 50,000 under the minor grant scheme, for additional programme-related costs associated with the provision of universal youth work supports for all young people, and 82,000 has been made available to support clubs in Laois and Offaly under the local youth club grant scheme. In addition, 130,000 has been allocated to Laois and Offaly ETB under the ETB youth grant to support the ETB in carrying out its functions relating to the administration of the Departments funding and its role in co-ordinating and supporting youth services. In addition to funding targeted youth services administered by the ETB network, the Department provides funding to national youth organisations who provide volunteer-led youth services nationwide. Many of these organisations are active in counties Laois and Offaly, including 23 Foroige youth clubs and 11 scout troops. The Department recognises the important work of Laois and Offaly ETB as a key partner in the delivery of crucial youth funding schemes. The Minister's officials work closely with all 16 ETBs throughout the country, which are responsible at local level for supporting the provision, co-ordination, administration and assessment of youth work in their areas to ensure that the needs of young people continue to be met. On the specific disparity in Laois and Offaly referenced by the Deputy in terms of lower levels of funding, the allocation of funding to Laois ETB under the UBU is based on funding the ETB received under previous youth services funding schemes administered by the Department including SPY and YPSF 1 and YPSF 2. The UBU services are targeted at marginalised, vulnerable and deprived young people, with areas of greater needs receiving the most. There is therefore no average per capita funding for UBU services. That might go some way to explaining it, although it is not satisfactory. Some ETBs were more successful in attracting grants under previous funding schemes and this has resulted in a wide disparity in funding of youth services. In 2022, for example, the City of Dublin ETB youth services received 160 for every young person aged between ten and 24 in the Dublin city local authority area while Louth and Meath ETB received 15.50. That is a major disparity in per capita funding for young people. I acknowledge the wide range of services provided not just by the ETBs but by Foroige and other youth organisations throughout the constituency. Deputy Brian Stanley The Minister of State listed off a lot of sums for once-off funding that are relatively modest. The particular funding stream that goes to ETBs for distribution in Laois - he also referred to Louth - is far lower. It is just above 15 per head of youth population in 2023. I accept and understand that there are parts of Dublin with the highest needs, but a gap of 1,000% needs to be looked at. The Minister of State also stated that what was received in previous years is taken into account. That is a bit like trying to get going from the lowest start with a handicap. This needs to be looked at. I remind him, without complaining or putting on the poor mouth, that there are parts of Laois and Offaly with high levels of deprivation. There is a huge migrant population. There are schools in Portlaoise town with 800 or 900 pupils, the majority of whom have non-Irish parents. They are foreign nationals. There is nothing wrong with that, but I am making the point that this gives rose to many challenges in trying to provide youth services locally. I ask that in the annual allocation of core funding to the ETBs, another look be taken at Laois and Offaly. Will the Minister of State communicate that to his party colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman? Will the officials look at that again? It is stubbornly low in comparison with other counties and needs to be reviewed. Deputy Malcolm Noonan There is a disparity between the 160 for every young person in Dublin city and then 15.50 in Louth and Meath. The average works out at approximately 51.60 per young person, but I do not think putting a price on every young person is the issue. It is being able to provide as wide a range of services. Deprivation is deprivation be it in inner-city Dublin or in rural parts of the country in Laois and Offaly. The issues might be different, but many are the same in terms of child poverty and access to services and education for Travellers and migrants in particular. During his tenure, the Minister has consistently worked hard to try to ensure the trajectory has been an upward one over four budgets. I have no doubt that he will argue his corner for budget 2025 as well. I am more than happy to take back the specific request about Laois and Offaly ETB. There are other areas of funding around LECPs, the local development companies that do work with migrants, Travellers and local authorities. There is a broad coalition of organisations that work with and for young people and their families. This in particular is a specific issue the Deputy has raised about the ETBs and the Minister will not be found wanting in trying to maximise the funding for youth work across the country. The Mayor of Waterford City and County says people across the Deise are still trying to comprehend the death of two teenage boys in a road crash earlier this week. The boys, who died when an e-scooter was in collision with a bus at Cork Road, Waterford, have been named locally as Gilbert Collins, 15, and Abuzwa Idris, 17. Both lived in the Ballybeg area of Waterford, close to the scene of the crash. Gilbert, who recently completed his Junior Cert exams, was pronounced dead at the scene while Abuzwa was taken to Waterford University Hospital with serious injuries, where he later died. The driver of the JJ Kavanagh-operated bus was not physically injured. Tributes have been made for the two young teenagers who tragically lost their lives, with friends of the boys leaving heartfelt messages across their social media accounts. Friends of Gilbert left messages on the teenager's last post on TikTok, with one friend adding 'fly high Gilly'. Many other friends referred to Gilbert as 'bro' in their condolence messages, and added that he would be 'sadly missed'. Speaking this Friday morning, Cllr Jason Murphy said everyone's thoughts were with the families of the deceased. "The whole community has been under a cloud since yesterday - we can only imagine what both families are going through for two young boys to die as such a young age," he told Newstalk Breakfast. "It's very hard for us to comprehend what has happened with both of them taken away in such tragic circumstances early on Thursday morning - everyone is processing it," he added. Cllr Murphy, who know both boys, said his thoughts are also with the bus driver and his family. "My thoughts are just with the families of the poor deceased boys and the bus driver. Now, in this moment, our thoughts and prayers should be with the families who are going through and awful time and they need time to mourn their poor boys to be honest." The Mayor of Waterford City and County said any discussion about the use e-scooters and safety should take place at an appropriate time in the future. A technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators was completed on Thursday and a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to provide support to the families at this time. READ ALSO: Excitement as Penneys confirms official opening date for its newest Irish store Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Cork Road in Waterford city between 1:45am and 2:15am on Thursaday are asked to make this footage available to fardai. Portlaoise College student George Pham has an exciting weekend ahead of him as he travels to London to take part in a poetry competition at the famous Shakespeare's Globe theatre. George is one of three students representing Poetry Ireland at Poetry By Heart 2024 which invites young people to choose, learn and perform a poem by heart. It comes after George was among the winners of the Poetry Aloud competition organised by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and Poetry Ireland. George was the Junior Category winner in the competition while Ellie Reynolds, Lismore College, Co. Armagh was the senior category and overall winner and Shay Collins, Glenamaddy Community School, Co. Galway took home the top prize in the Intermediate category. "The Poetry Aloud winners 2024 are heading over to London to represent us at Poetry By Heart this weekend. Congratulations to George, Ellie and Shay on their success again and we hope they have an amazing experience performing at Shakespeare's Globe," said Poetry Ireland. "They will be meeting other young people from all over the world who take part in poetry speaking competitions and visiting London at the height of summer." A Fine Gael councillor and Social Democrats Cllr have been elected as the new Cathaoirleach and leas Cathaoirleach of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) respectively. Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer was nominated to the Cathaoirleach role, while Cllr Chris Pender has been announced as the new leas Cathaoirleach. The announcements were made today during the MD's annual meeting, which commenced at around 12pm. Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer proposed the nomination for Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer, and the nomination was seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Noel Heavey. Commenting on her appointment, Cllr O'Dwyer told her fellow local representatives: "I would like to thank everyone here. As we know, the MD is a huge geographical area, so I am very aware of the busy year ahead of us, as well as the next five years." She added: "For Newbridge in particular, we are heading up to the Local Area Plan, so it is probably fitting that I represent the area." The Cathaoirleach also pointed to her husband in the public gallery, and jokingly added: "He has been my campaign director for the elections, although we have been directing one another for forty years now!" She concluded by promising those in attendance that she would work hard for the MD. Following her brief speech, she nominated for Cllr Chris Pender (who attended the meeting virtually) as the leas Cathaoirleach, and this nomination was seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Suzanne Doyle. File photograph: Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, the new leas Cathaoirleach of the MD. Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer will succeed Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Curran, who was co-opted to replace former Fine Gael Cllr Mark Stafford, while Cllr Chris Pender will replace Fianna Fail Cllr Anne Connolly as leas Cathaoirleach, after she announced that she would not be contesting the Local Elections 2024. The meeting was also the first to feature three newly elected councillors: Sinn Fein Cllr Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh (who attended virtually), Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell and Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe. The last two items on the agenda were for the members to approve the minutes of the monthly MD Municipal District meeting (which was held on Wednesday, May 15 last) and to consider the meetings calendar for the remainder of the year (it was agreed to hold the monthly MD meeting every third Wednesday). As the meeting came to a close, Cathaoirleach O'Dwyer wished everyone who was attending the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby over the weekend well, while leas Cathaoirleach Pender wished everyone a Happy Pride. The meeting concluded at around 12.20pm. A man who took goods from a number of Naas stores is not a particularly good thief, according to his solicitor. Before Naas District Court was Grezgorz Derkowski, 42, whose address was given as Fr Peter McVerry Trust, Kerdiffstown House, Naas. He stole items valued at 29.99 at Mr Price, Kilcullen Road, Naas on September 14, 2023; food valued at 51.96 from Aldi, Newbridge Road, Naas, on September 23, 2023; vodka and a power tool value 40.99 from the Aldi store on March 22, 2023; vodka value 20 from SuperValu, Naas on October 8, 2020, a vacuum cleaner value 70 at the Monread Shopping Centre on November 10, 2020; a drill value 609 at Woodies, Naas, on February 16, 2021; three light fittings value 104.97 at Woodies, Naas, on May 8, 2022; make-up and beauty items value 250 at Boots pharmacy, Dublin Road, Naas on June 27, 2023 and a rotary tool value 24.99 at Lidl, Newbridge on April 16, 2022. The court heard that the defendant has 29 previous convictions, including some for theft and for being intoxicated in a public place in November, 2022. Tim Kennelly, solicitor, said the man has been in Ireland for a number of years and has worked as a welder. Mr Kennelly said his client had never committed an offence of violence and wants to be part of his childrens lives. He added the man either stole alcohol or took items that could be exchanged for money or alcohol. He said the defendant had a good relationship with his family when he is not drinking. He said he is not a particularly good thief since he has been caught so often and Sgt Dave Hanrahan said it was easy for the gardai to identify him on CCTV because they know him so well. Referring to the defendant's issue with alcohol, Judge Desmond Zaidan commented that he has sent him to prison before and he has come back all to feed his alcohol addiction. Read more Kildare news He said the defendant is not aggressive or violent. He said he could send him to jail but this has not worked and he will do time, be released and hes still an alcoholic. Judge Zaidan added: Im not sure I can impose a punishment thats worse than being an alcoholic which itself is a life sentence. He referred the case to the Probation Service and the man is to successfully complete an alcohol treatment programme. He said if he didn't do this he would send him to prison for two years because he has a duty to protect the public. Adjourning the case, he said if he comes before the court in the meantime he will be jailed for two years. NowVertical Announces Grant of Options and Restricted Share Units TORONTO, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NowVertical Group Inc. (TSXV: NOW) (OTCQB: NOWVF) ("NOW" or the "Company") announces the granting of 1,775,000 stock options ("Options") and 1,775,000 restricted share units ("RSUs") to certain members of the board of directors of the Company and members of the Company's management team pursuant to the Company's omnibus incentive compensation plan (the "Plan"). Each Option will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) Class A subordinate voting share of the Company (the "Shares") at an exercise price of $0.20 per Share, subject to vesting. The Options will vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The Options expire after five (5) years, unless forfeited earlier through departure of such participant. The RSUs will be issued pursuant to the Plan and each vested RSU will entitle the holder thereof to receive one (1) Share or a cash amount equal to the equivalent of one (1) Share. The RSUs will vest in equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. The grants were made as part of NOW's annual compensation process and are intended to appropriately reward past and ongoing contributions and to incentivize contributions to NOW's success in the future. About NowVertical Group Inc. The Company is a data analytics and AI solutions company offering comprehensive solutions, software and services. As a global provider, we deliver cutting-edge data, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications to private and public enterprises. Our solutions form the bedrock of modern enterprises, converting data investments into business solutions. NOW is growing organically and through strategic acquisitions. For further details about NOW, please visit www.nowvertical.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information, please contact: Andre Garber Chief Development Officer [email protected] Glen Nelson Investor Relations and Communications e: [email protected] t: (403) 763-9797 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (together "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, and contingencies. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect the Company's expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon, 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 statements are the following: timing and receipt of regulatory approvals, adverse market conditions; risks inherent in the data analytics and artificial intelligence sectors in general; regulatory and legislative changes; that future results may vary from historical results; inability to obtain any requisite future financing on suitable terms; any inability to realize the expected benefits and synergies of acquisitions; that market competition may affect the business, results and financial condition of the Company and other risk factors identified in documents filed by the Company under its profile at www.sedarplus.com, including the Company's managements' discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 dated May 6, 2024 and the prospectus supplement (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) dated February 22, 2023. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended and such changes could be material. All of the forward-looking statement contained in this press release are qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements, and there can be no guarantee that the results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or effects on our business, financial condition or results of operation. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise indicates, the forward-looking statements contained herein are provided as of the date hereof, and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law. Investors are cautioned that, trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. 27 june 2024 at 22:30 News published onand distributed by: EQT to sell majority stake in real estate platform idealista in EUR 2.9 billion transaction EQT, which acquired idealista in 2020 at a EUR 1.3 billion valuation, will retain an 18 percent stake valuation, will retain an 18 percent stake Cinven will acquire 70 percent of idealista; funds advised by Apax and Oakley will sell their shareholdings Jesus Encinar, founder and Chairman of idealista, will also retain his stake and continue to lead the Company alongside the management team STOCKHOLM, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to share that the EQT IX fund ("EQT") has sold its majority stake in idealista (the "Company"). The transaction values idealista, which is the leading real estate platform in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, at EUR 2.9 billion. Cinven has signed an agreement to acquire a 70% stake in the Company. EQT originally acquired idealista in 2020 in a deal that valued the firm at EUR 1.3 billion and will retain an 18 percent share in the Company following the transaction. Bert Janssens, Partner and Head of the Private Equity Europe advisory team, said: "Over the past four years idealista has entrenched its leading position in the Spanish and Portuguese market and strengthened its presence in Italy, all while implementing new digital and sustainability initiatives that create a foundation for further growth. We believe strongly in idealista's future potential and are excited to remain invested." Jesus Encinar, founder and Chairman of idealista, will continue to lead the Company alongside the existing team, added: "This is excellent news for idealista and our team. We're pleased that EQT will remain a minority shareholder and look forward to continuing our successful partnership for the coming years." The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approval. Contact EQT Press Office, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-to-sell-majority-stake-in-real-estate-platform-idealista-in-eur-2-9-billion-transaction,c4008246 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/4008246/2890350.pdf PR_EQT sells stake in idealista_27.06.24 https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/istock-1287644982,c3315806 iStock-1287644982 28 june 2024 at 02:13 News published onand distributed by: Up-and-Coming Chinese Skincare Expert PMPM Bags International Industry Influential Brand Award at United Nations Forum NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The emerging beauty brand, PMPM, cliched the International Industry Influential Brand Award at the Corporate Globalization and Sustainable Development Forum 2024 organized by the United Nations (UN). During the event, Shan Shuo, CEO of PMPM's parent company Shin Corporation, signed the China Brand UN Declaration. The landmark moment coincided with the unveiling of the brand's declaration alongside its new Chinese identity, Pian Pian, at New York's Times Square, concluding PMPM's remarkable four-year growth as it is posed to open up a new chapter on its go-global journey. Chinese beauty brands, or "C-beauty" brands, are edging out J-Beauty (Japanese) and K-Beauty (Korean) brands to secure high recognition from domestic consumers in recent years. Born in a digital-first environment, C-brands, more adept with online sales channels, experienced a 51% growth from 2017 to 2022, higher than the 42% in the market overall, according to data from Euromonitor International. In the first half of 2023, China's beauty product exports reached $2.8 billion (20.9 billion RMB), a 32.5% increase from the year before, according to China Customs. The continuous success in the overseas market has further boosted the confidence in C-brands in capturing a larger international market share. PMPM, founded in China with a global vision, is one of these beauty startups that has risen quickly to the top of the C-Beauty charts. On May 8, 2024, the UN Headquarters hosted an event aimed at enhancing CSR practices among Chinese companies, facilitating their integration into the global market while boosting their international competitiveness. PMPM was among the 20-plus China-based rising stars and international enterprises, that took to the stage to share their brand success and stories behind their rapid global expansion rooted in sustainable development principles. As the youngest China homegrown brand listed in the Chinese Brand Innovation Development Project, PMPM has embedded globalization in its DNA from inception, partnering with top-tier scientific institutions such as Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF) to design and develop skincare solutions for young consumers in China. PMPM's R&D endeavor allows it to bridge the gap in dermatology development for China's demographics, carving out a niche market that focuses on innovative, science-based skincare tailored to the specific needs of Chinese youth. Technological prowess aside, PMPM's brand spirit deeply resonates with its followers. The name, which is inspired by the French phrase "Pour le Monde Pour le Monde", invites users to "go to the world, explore the world", encouraging a sense of adventure and discovery that aligns with the brand's mission to merge high-quality ingredients from the East and West, creating a unique fusion that caters to the evolving skincare needs of its global-minded consumers. PMPM's innovative approach to skincare formulas has proven successful. Its Truffle Collagen Bottle, an anti-aging product that combines black truffles from Yunnan, China, and white truffles from Italy's Piedmont Forest, has become one of the best-selling beauty products in China. Another market champion is PMPM's Rose Essential Oil, a brightening and repairing solution sourced from China's crimson glory with French rosa centifoliato. "Being able to stand on the stage of UN validates our brand spirit of 'No Destination is Too Far.' Last year, we established our global R&D team, bringing together a host of leading skincare scientists from around the world, coupled with multiple innovation centers established in Europe and Asia to strengthen our fundamental research," said Shan Shuo, CEO of PMPM. "For product innovation, we strategically partner with world-leading global ingredient R&D laboratories to craft high-quality products, earning 58 patents and international quality certifications and contributing to industry standards. On the environmental front, PMPM has adopted eco-friendly packaging, saving an estimated 30,000 rolls of plastic tape annually and using FSC-certified paper to minimize environmental impact. Our years of dedication to sustainability culminated in achieving an ESG certificate in this June, a testament to our social responsibility accomplishments, received from the NOA Testing & Certification Group." she added. Looking forward to future growth after building a strong domestic and international footprint, PMPM remains committed to scaling up investment in product research. Dedicated to sustainability, biodiversity, philanthropy, and ecological preservation, PMPM is driven to create value for society, the environment, and corporate development through innovation as it continues to evolve into a global brand that fulfils social responsibility and pushes the boundaries of personal skincare. With the unveiling of our Chinese brand name, PMPM has completed its metamorphosis from a brand being made in China to made for China, which launches PMPM into a new era that will see the brand drive deeper connections with local consumers with unique, innovative beauty formulas. SOURCE PMPM 28 june 2024 at 04:28 News published onand distributed by: 'Visit Annapolis' Out of Home Campaign Dominates Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) as Record-Breaking Summer Travel Season Kicks Off 'Visit Annapolis' BWI Takeover of the 'Concourse Tunnel' and 20+ LCD Digital Screens will Reach 27 Million Leisure and Business Travelers Annually via Clear Channel Outdoor's Cutting Edge Media Network BALTIMORE, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Clear Channel Outdoor, Airports Division, the Americas-based airports business of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO), today announced a new partnership and sponsorship with Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC), a nonprofit Destination Marketing/Management Organization whose mission is to foster a welcoming destination and promote tourism on behalf of its visitors, partners, and community, to activate a cutting-edge, first-of-its-kind brand takeover of the Concourse at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall Airport). VAAAC will dominate BWI with its newest ad campaign starting in June, running for 16 months with arrival passengers experiencing the 'Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County tunnel' in the Concourse heading to baggage claim, immersing travelers in all the great things to do and experience in Annapolis, Maryland. With 26.2 million passengers served in 2023, BWI airport was the busiest airport in the entire region. The stunning out-of-home campaign includes large tension fabric displays, lit tension fabric displays, wall graphics, and wide-format vinyl graphics along the glass panels of the floor-level escalator. "We are proud to partner with Visit Annapolis on this innovative and immersive brand takeover of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport," said Morten Gotterup, president, Clear Channel Outdoor, Airports Division. "Our team worked very closely with the Visit Annapolis team to develop a one-of-a-kind ad campaign that will blanket the airport and captivate passengers as they travel through one of the busiest airports on the East Coast. As the bustling summer travel season just kicked off, it couldn't be a more opportune time for Visit Annapolis to activate this campaign to drive awareness of what their beautiful city has to offer visitors from all over the world." "Expanding our tourism footprint at BWI Marshall Airport marks a significant milestone in our mission to highlight the unparalleled charm and experiences of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County," said Kristen Pironis, executive director of VAAAC. "Through this bold marketing campaign, we are poised to capture the hearts and imaginations of the 27 million travelers passing through the airport annually. Leveraging this opportunity not only enhances our destination's visibility but also underscores our commitment to creating a welcoming destination for all." The number of air travelers through U.S. airports hit a new record-high on Sunday, June 23 with 2,996,193 people screened. TSA expects this record to be broken again over the Independence Day holiday - forecasting that it will surpass 3-million people screened in a single day for the first time. Moreover, it's projected that a record 5.74 million people will fly to their July 4 destinations. Additionally, U.S. airlines are expected to carry a record number of travelers this summer. It's predicted that U.S. carriers will transport an estimated 271 million passengers around the world this summer. This estimate for the period between June 1 and August 31 represents a 6.3% increase from last summer and would surpass the previous record of 255 million customers transported. To accommodate the increased demand, U.S. airlines will offer expanded service this summer, with more than 26,000 scheduled flights per day, an increase of nearly 1,400 from last summer. In addition to the airport, VAAAC will have exposure on Clear Channel Outdoor billboards in the Baltimore Metro area extending their campaign messaging to local consumers and travelers once they leave the airport. About Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is at the forefront of driving innovation in the out-of-home advertising industry. Our dynamic advertising platform is broadening the pool of advertisers using our medium through the expansion of digital billboards and displays and the integration of data analytics and programmatic capabilities that deliver measurable campaigns that are simpler to buy. By leveraging the scale, reach and flexibility of our diverse portfolio of assets, we connect advertisers with millions of consumers every month across more than 500,000 print and digital displays in 21 countries. Follow & Like: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook About Visit Annapolis Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is a nonprofit, partnership-focused Destination Marketing/Management Organization (DMO). VAAAC's mission is to foster a welcoming destination and promote tourism on behalf of our visitors, partners, and community. VAAAC's efforts are guided by four core priorities: to cultivate and lead a diverse and inclusive hospitality and tourism community, to collaborate with partners across the destination, to drive prosperity and sustainability, and to strengthen organizational capacity. SOURCE Clear Channel Outdoor 28 june 2024 at 08:05 News published onand distributed by: HireRight Announces Completion of Acquisition by General Atlantic and Stone Point Capital HireRight Holdings Corporation ("HireRight" or the "Company"), a leading provider of global background screening services and workforce solutions, today announced the completion of its sale to investment funds affiliated with General Atlantic, L.P. ("General Atlantic") and Stone Point Capital LLC ("Stone Point", and together with General Atlantic, the "Sponsors") in an all-cash merger transaction representing a total enterprise value of approximately $1.7 billion. As previously disclosed, HireRight stockholders voted to approve the transaction at the Company's Special Meeting of Stockholders on June 21, 2024. Pursuant to the merger, the Sponsors acquired the Company, and all of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock (other than shares of the Company's common stock that were already owned by the Sponsors and those in respect of which holders have validly exercised their statutory rights of appraisal) were converted into the right to receive $14.35 per share in cash. With the completion of the transaction, HireRight's common stock has ceased trading and will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Centerview Partners LLC served as financial advisor to the committee of independent and disinterested directors established by the board of directors of HireRight (the "Special Committee") and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as the Special Committee's outside legal advisor. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC served as financial advisors to the Sponsors. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to the Sponsors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to Stone Point. About HireRight HireRight is a leading global provider of technology-driven workforce risk management and compliance solutions. We provide comprehensive background screening, verification, identification, monitoring, and drug and health screening services for approximately 37,000 customers across the globe. We offer our services via a unified global software and data platform that tightly integrates into our customers' human capital management systems enabling highly effective and efficient workflows for workforce hiring, onboarding, and monitoring. In 2023, we screened over 26 million job applicants, employees and contractors for our customers and processed over 95 million screens. For more information, visit www.HireRight.com. About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth investor with more than four decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 520 growth companies throughout its history. Established in 1980 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs and deliver lasting impact, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector-specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great entrepreneurs and management teams to scale innovative businesses around the world. General Atlantic has approximately $84 billion in assets under management inclusive of all products as of March 31, 2024, and more than 300 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Munich, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, Stamford and Tel Aviv. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit: www.generalatlantic.com. About Stone Point Stone Point is an alternative investment firm based in Greenwich, CT, with more than $55 billion of assets under management. Stone Point targets investments in companies in the global financial services industry and related sectors. The firm invests in alternative asset classes, including private equity through its flagship Trident Funds and credit through commingled funds and separately managed accounts. In addition, Stone Point Capital Markets supports our firm, portfolio companies and other clients by providing dedicated financing solutions. For more information on Stone Point, please visit: www.stonepoint.com. 28 june 2024 at 09:00 News published onand distributed by: A total of 36,000 women are expected to benefit from the livelihood and grants under the project. The protesters set ablaze several buildings including the SRC administrative office and the plantation managers residence. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close THE FACTORS judges take into account when sentencing a person and how the appeal system works have come into sharp focus following the case of DPP v Cathal Crotty. Limerick woman Natasha OBrien, who was beaten unconscious in the random street attack two years ago, has been a vocal voice for change since her attacker Cathal Crotty received a suspended sentence at Limerick Circuit Court last week. Seamus Clarke, senior counsel and member of the Council of the Bar of Ireland, was invited on RTEs Morning Ireland to give his insight. He was first asked by the presenter Karen Creed to explain the parameters that a judge uses in sentencing somebody. The first parameter used by a judge in sentencing someone is the maximum sentence imposed by legislation, and that would vary from offence to offence. Then, as a general rule, a judge is required to impose a sentence that is proportionate, both to the crime, and to the individual offender. In order to do that, a judge will identify where on the sentencing range a particular case lies - thats called applying the headline sentence. In doing that, a judge will choose from a range of either low, mid or upper range, up to the maximum sentence in picking the headline sentence, and then the judge will adjust the sentence depending on whether there are any aggravating factors or any mitigation in the case, explained Mr Clarke. One of the largest pieces of mitigation in any case will be a plea of guilty, and particularly how early that plea of guilty is entered, he said. Recent case law from the Court of Appeal suggests that if somebody comes forward from the district court on a signed plea, that theyre entitled up to one third off the headline sentence. That is the largest mitigation that would be in a case. Then, another factor might be cooperation in investigation, lack of previous convictions, youth of the offender, and collateral hardships - in other words, any other, I suppose, deterrents which are suffered by a person, said Mr Clarke. The senior counsel was asked if job loss is a factor in mitigation? Yes a job factor would be whats called loosely collateral hardships that might be on a person, said Mr Clarke. Regarding the margin of discretion that a judge has in sentencing, are there specific guidelines surrounding that margin that you must stick by, asked the presenter. Yes, well there are certain sentencing guidelines in relation to particular types of offences, but, I suppose, its a general principle that if somebody is given a sentence where a headline sentence is fixed, well then there would be reduction downwards for mitigation. And then, I suppose, a final decision that a judge would have to make is whether or not a sentence should be suspended in part or in full, and, I suppose, the intrinsic seriousness of the offence would dictate whether or not a fully suspended sentence should be applied, said Mr Clarke. The conversation turned to what the Director of Public Prosecutions can do if they believe that a sentence is too lenient? The Director of Public Prosecutions has the power to apply to the Court of Appeal to have a sentence reviewed if it appears to her that the sentence was unduly lenient. In order to do that the director would have to show a substantial departure from what would be the appropriate sentence in all the circumstances - a clear divergence from the norm. They would have to apply to the Court of Appeal within 28 days, it can be extended to 56 days if necessary but its a fairly quick appeal. Once the parties appeal the case, if that is what is done in any case, and once the written submissions are filed by the moving party, well then there would be a case management and typically a case, particularly an undue leniency case, would get on within six to nine months off the papers being lodged. And then once the judges hear both parties they will have to assess whether some error in principle had occurred, said Mr Clarke. He continued: An error in principle could be, for example, choosing the wrong headline sentence, not putting enough weight on aggravating factors, or perhaps putting too much weight on mitigating factors, or also perhaps not having cognisance of the fact that the intrinsic seriousness of the case dictates that no fully suspended sentence could be imposed. Ms Creed said the DPPs annual report for 2022 shows that of 38 undue leniency cases brought by the DPP to that Court of Appeal, 31 were successful, and if you look at the figures going back to 2018 it seems there does seem to be a fairly high success rate in these appeals. I think the director only applies to the Court of Appeal if shes satisfied that she can make out a strong argument that the trial judge has substantially departed from what would be considered the norm by the director and therefore we do see that, particularly in latter years, the director has a very high success rate, up to about 80% in relation to appeals that she brings for undue leniency, said Mr Clarke. The barrister concluded by saying the legislator has increased the maximum penalty for Section 3 assault causing harm cases to ten years for offences after November of last year, but if an offence occurred before November of last year, then the maximum penalty would be five years because that would be the penalty that applied at the time of the offence. A MAN charged in connection with the death of 21-year-old Laois student Joe Drennan in Limerick city last October has been sent forward for trial at Limerick Circuit Court. Kieran Fogarty, aged 20, of Hyde Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston appeared before Judge Mary Cashin at Limerick District Court this Friday. Garda Oliver Gee told Judge Cashin he served the book of evidence, containing four counts, on the accused in Limerick Courthouse. The four charges are dangerous driving causing death, failing to offer Mr Drennan assistance knowing that he was dead or injured; failure to report the occurrence to gardai and criminal damage to a vehicle. All four charges are in connection with the death of Mr Drennan at Dublin Road, Limerick on Friday, October 13, 2023. Mr Drennan, (pictured below) who was originally from Knocknagad, Camross, Mountrath in Co Laois, was an award-winning fourth-year journalism student in University of Limerick and editor-in-chief of the Limerick Voice publication. Members of Mr Drennan's family were in the district court this Friday for the brief procedural matter. Sergeant Sean Murray, prosecuting, said the DPP consents for Mr Fogarty to be sent forward for trial to the present sitting of Limerick Circuit Court. There is no consent to going forward on a signed plea. There are six other tracking charges, said Sgt Murray. The six tracking charges to be dealt with at district court level are dangerous driving at College Road, Castletroy, driving without insurance, driving without a driving licence, a second count in relation to failing to offer assistance to Mr Drennan, failing to give appropriate information to any person who was entitled to demand such information, and a second count in relation to failing to report the occurrence to gardai. Mr Fogarty made no reply to any of the charges a previous court heard. Judge Mary Cashin gave Mr Fogarty an alibi warning this Friday. When asked if he understood what that is, Mr Fogarty said yes. READ MORE: Motorist charged over death of University of Limerick student is refused bail Darach McCarthy, solicitor for Mr Fogarty, made an application for legal aid for a senior counsel and junior counsel due to the gravity of the charges. Judge Cashin granted the application. Mr McCarthy also made a Section 56 order which is an application for a copy of recording of questioning by An Garda Siochana, which was granted. Judge Cashin remanded the defendant in continuing custody to appear via videolink in Limerick District Court in a month on the six tracking charges. The judge sent Mr Fogarty forward for trial at the present sitting of Limerick Circuit on the charges contained in the book of evidence. FIANNA Fail councillor Kieran O'Hanlon has been elected as the leader of Limerick's metropolitan district. The City North area member, who lives in Rhebogue, has been a councillor since 1991, and previously worked for Wyeth in Askeaton. As a result of his years of service, he now has the honorific title of 'Father of the Council'. He secured the chain of office at the annual general meeting of the metropolitan district this Friday morning. His election came as part of a Fianna Fail-Fine Gael-Labour power sharing pact, which saw Patrickswell councillor Dan McSweeney named priomh chomhairleoir last week. READ MORE: Limerick - Cork rivalry to start at Charleville Show! Cllr O'Hanlon was nominated by party colleague Catherine Slattery and seconded by Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne. Cllr O'Hanlon, who flew back from holiday in France for the occasion, secured 15 votes. As well as Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, he won the backing of newly elected Aontu councillor Sarah Beasley and Independent Frankie Daly. There was competition from Sinn Fein's councillor Sharon Benson, who polled six votes. Meanwhile, fellow Fianna Fail councillor Kilcoyne been elected as deputy leader of the district besting Social Democrats member Elisa O'Donovan Speaking upon taking the chain of office, Cllr O'Hanlon said it was an "honour" to be elected district leader. "It's a position I've never held in my 33 years of public serice even though I was the first 'official' deputy mayor of Limerick City," said Cllr O'Hanlon who was joined at the top table by Mayor John Moran. He was first deputy mayor in the late 1990s when that became a salaried position. Cllr O'Hanlon thanked those who have supported him in helping him secure re-election for a seventh straight occasion at Limerick Racecourse earlier this month. Among those present in the gallery were his wife Mary, friends and family. "I believe there is now an opportunity to reset the dial and make council more efficient and relevant in Limerick City," he said. "The metropolitan district does not reflect the importance of our role and is not clearly understood. A council elected by over 110,000 people is more than a district in my opinion needs to renamed Limerick metro council," he added. Among his goals for his year in office include ensuring Thomond Park stays the home of Munster Rugby, a greater garda presence on city streets, and bringing the Fleadh Cheoil to Limerick. He has pledged to also invite Natasha O'Brien, who spoke powerfully after being the victim of an attack by soldier Cathal Crotty, into the chamber for a special reception. He described her as a "great courageous lady" and said what happened to her was "deplorable". "She has shone a light on what is unacceptable behaviour of any individual," he said. A total of 68 members of the Defence Forces have been convicted or are before the courts charged with criminal offences. They include public order, drink driving, drugs, physical assault and sexual offences. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheal Martin asked for a review of members of the Irish military who were charged with offences after the case of an Irish soldier who assaulted a woman until she was unconscious prompted protests across Ireland in the past week. Victim Natasha OBrien called on politicians and the Defence Forces to do your job to protect women and other civilians. A spokesman for Mr Martin said he is adamant that the Defence Forces is a place where no one convicted of serious physical assaults, sexual offences or domestic or gender-based violence can continue to be in active service. Following the Natasha OBrien case, the Tanaiste was informed last Friday of another case involving a Naval Service member who is still serving after being convicted of assault causing harm last November, the statement said. In light of this, he requested a report from the Chief of Staff to find out how many serving members of the Defence Forces have civil convictions, or are before the civil courts on serious criminal offences. Last night, the Tanaiste was informed of 68 Defence Forces personnel who have been convicted, or are currently before the civil courts, on a range of criminal offences including public order, drink driving, drugs offences, physical assault and sexual offences, the spokesperson said. He also received the report requested on the case of the Naval Service member convicted of assault causing harm. The Tanaiste has now asked officials to provide a concise report based on the information received. He has sought legal advice from the Attorney General on how this information can be published in an appropriate and legally sound way. As of May last year, there were 7,764 permanent members of the Defence Forces. Aer Lingus will cancel a further 122 flights due to industrial action taken by pilots every day next week. It comes on top of the more than 200 flights cancelled already due to the planned work-to-rule and strike action from pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA). Its understood that the further cancellations have been made on a contingency basis from Monday 1 July to Sunday 7th July, despite hopes that progress can be made in the ongoing industrial dispute. In a statement earlier this week, Aer Lingus said: Implementing these cancellations is to enable us to protect as many services as possible for as many of our customers as possible. READ ALSO - Aer Lingus announces further 122 flight cancellations next week Aer Lingus said the further flight cancellations are a measure to protect as many services as possible from the impact of IALPAs continuing industrial action. The Irish airline company added that customers scheduled to travel between 26th June and 7th July will continue be given the option to change their flights for free. They can also cancel their flight and claim a refund or voucher. The statement added the airline fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers and that it will give customers as many options as possible, should they wish to change their plans. The full list of flights cancelled that were due to depart from Dublin Airport next week can be found below. For other cancelled flights, travellers are encouraged to visit the Aer Lingus site. Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Saturday 29th June Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Sunday 30th June Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Monday 1st July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Tuesday 2nd July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Wednesday 3rd July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Thursday 4th July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Friday 5th July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Saturday 6th July Flights from Dublin Airport affected - Sunday 7th July Met Eireann forecasters have made an unsettling prediction for our weather in Ireland this weekend. Ireland had been in the grips of warm and humid weather but Thursday saw a severe dip in temperatures as well as the arrival of wet and windy conditions for most counties. The trend of intermittent sun and unsettled weather looks set to continue with a proverbial mixed bag on the way for the weekend. While temperatures could hit 20C on Sunday, Saturday could see rain in most places with strong breezes likely on both days of the weekend. Met Eireann's general outlook warns of "mixed" weather "with the North Atlantic dominating, feeding in alternating wet and dry spells." Forecasters at Met Eireann say Friday "will start off with sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly in the north and west. Cloud will increase across the west and south through the afternoon and outbreaks of rain will develop in Connacht and Munster. Maximum temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees, highest in the southeast, with light to moderate west to southwest winds. READ NEXT: Warning over 'hidden dangers' as teens swim in canals after school exams "Low cloud and scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle will gradually extend eastwards [on Friday night]. It will remain driest, coolest and clearest for Ulster. Lows of 7 to 13 degrees in light southerly or variable breezes." Looking at the weekend, they predict "a damp, locally wet start" on Saturday "with overnight rain and drizzle gradually clearing away southeastwards. "Sunny spells will develop across the northern half of the country. Highs of 15 to 19 degrees in mostly moderate northwest breezes. Dry with clear spells and just light northwesterly breezes [on Saturday night]. Cool with lows of 6 to 9 degrees. "Some showers will affect Ulster with showery rain arriving into Atlantic counties during the afternoon [on Sunday]. Driest and mildest across the Midlands, South and East with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 13 to 20 degrees, all in light to moderate westerly breeze. "Scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, but with some areas staying dry [Sunday night]. Mild with lows of 11 or 12 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly breezes." Beyond that and into next week, Monday is likely to see "cloudy outbreaks of rain and drizzle giving way to sunny spells and well scattered showers. Breezy in moderate to fresh northwest winds. Highs of 13 to 20 degrees, mildest across the Southeast." Cryptocurrencies have already become part of modern realities. The indisputable fact that there is still a lot of work to be done before they are fully adopted does not in the least prevent the sale of XMR to BTC. But progress does not stand still and something new is constantly appearing in the industry. For example, the idea of the Internet of Things (IoT) is to connect the objects around us into a global network using machine-to-machine (M2M) technology. This concept implies. that all household devices, life support systems and products equipped with radio frequency labels can be combined into a single computing system. To carry out mutual settlements in the global Internet of Things network, an internal financial instrument is required, and the IOTA cryptocurrency (MIOTA) has already become one. What is IOTA and why is it remarkable? IOTA is a new generation cryptocurrency using Tangle technology. The IOTA project team is collaborating with technology giants such as Google, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung to bring the idea of an M2M global computing network to life. The IOTA digital token was designed to serve the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT system consists of billions of small computing devices with radio frequency modules that are increasingly embedded in various household appliances and other objects around us, allowing them to exchange data. IOTA transforms these connected devices into autonomous economic agents, ushering in a new things economy. Data structure Blockchain is a sequential chain of blocks, similar to a linked list. Each block contains information about completed transactions, and they are formed at certain time intervals. Unlike blockchain, in Tangle each transaction references the previous two, forming a complex web structure known as a Directed Acyclic Graph, or DAG in mathematics. The DAG structure allows transactions to occur simultaneously, asynchronously and continuously, which is different from the linear extension of the blockchain. Scalability IOTA increases network throughput by processing transactions in parallel. In blockchain, confirmation of each block requires the creation of several subsequent blocks to prevent the problem of double spending. Consensus Unlike other systems where the longest chain rule is adopted, the IOTA blockchain applies the heaviest ball rule. To send funds, the user must verify 2 transactions on the network. The more active MIOTA holders are, the more checks there are, which speeds up transaction confirmation. In case of double spending or other types of fraud, the "invalid" branch of the IOTA blockchain becomes isolated and ignored. Safety IOTA does not require significant computing power to verify transactions, so there are no commission fees. Unlike other blockchain networks, where Proof-of-Work resembles a decentralized lottery, in Tangle transaction verification serves as a means of preventing spam. Advantages and disadvantages of the IOTA crypto project IOTA's cooperation with global technology giants is an undoubted confirmation of its importance in the context of the global IoT. The partnerships of these large companies not only expand the capabilities of IOTA, but also contribute to the development of the global economy as part of the new generation of things economy. In the context of the practical application of the network, it is worth noting that transactions in this payment network are free, which is certainly a significant advantage. Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, IOTA allows instant micropayments. The Tangle system used in the project is an innovative approach, although calling it a layer 3 blockchain may be misleading because no blocks are created. However, this feature does not prevent the possibility of exchange IOTA to ETH. The IOTA development team has proposed a solution to a number of problems inherent in traditional blockchain networks: Loss of decentralization. In proof-of-work (PoW) systems, miners are pooled, which can lead to a loss of decentralization. IOTA solves this problem without moving to a PoS consensus algorithm. Difficulty performing microtransactions. IOTA provides high throughput and low transaction fees, which is important for the Internet of Things. Impossibility of separation. Unlike most blockchains, IOTA allows transactions to be carried out offline without being fully connected to the network. High requirements for equipment. IOTA does not use the unique data processing scenarios associated with PoW, which reduces computational complexity. However, the IOTA project is not without its shortcomings. Historically, the use of ternary code has been controversial, and the Tangle system has been criticized for vulnerabilities in the Curl hash function. The developers responded to these comments by updating the system to the Chrysalis version, eliminating controversial decisions and admitting errors. It is important to note that the IOTA network and Tangle technology have not yet experienced full load, and their reliability will only be proven as the Internet of Things vision progresses. Potentially, investments in IOTA can be profitable in the long term. However, the unproven reliability of the network creates additional risks for potential investors. New Delhi: Air India is weighing a potential entry into India's growing regional aviation space, stepping up rivalry with market leader IndiGo which is growing its own turboprop fleet to advance its regional ambitions. The Tata group airline has held internal discussions on a potential regional expansion, two people aware of the matter said. Regional aviation includes flights from metros to smaller cities, as well as between smaller cities. Discussions were held on the matter. These are internal discussions and there will be further rounds of assessment on this before a final decision is taken. The opportunity in the regional space is staring us in the face and the intent is to provide a complete travel solution to Indian travellers," one of the officials cited above said on condition of anonymity. An Air India spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment sent on Wednesday. Benefits of connectivity Indias regional aviation has benefited from a government-funded regional connectivity scheme called UDAN, and an increase in airport infrastructure in smaller towns. According to industry estimates, Indian airlines operated close to 200,000 regional flights during 2023, the bulk of which were flown by IndiGoandSpiceJet. As per data from global aviation data company OAG, India, along with Central and West Africa have been outliers in regional flight operations, clocking an increase of 4-5% in regional jet frequencies since 2019, in contrast to the global scenario where the regional jet frequencies have decreased 33.5%. While Air India was under government control, its subsidiary Alliance Air operated in the regional space. However, Alliance Air was not part of the Air India divestment, and continues to operate as a government-run airline. For now, the group is exploring an organic growth opportunity for the regional aviation segment. Hence, there are no plans for now regarding any stake acquisition opportunity for Alliance Air. Currently, it looks like that product (Alliance Air) does not align with the new Air India vision," the second executive aware of the discussions said. Air Indias ambitions come at a time IndiGo is planning to bulk up its fleet of ATRs, a favourite of regional airlines. IndiGo is also the country's largest regional aircraft operator with 45 ATR-72 and five more on order. ATR-72 is a regional aircraft produced by Franco-Italian manufacturer ATR, which can seat around 78 passengers. The Tata group now operates four airlinesAir India, Vistara, Air India Express, and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). Beginning 2025, they will be merged into twoAir India and Air India Express, once the integration is completed by the end of the current year. ATR is one of the options that the Air India group is looking at with a lot of interest," the first person added. It is, however, not yet clear whether the low-cost AI Express or full-service Air India will house the regional expansion. The Tata group won Air India in January 2022, bidding 18,000 crore as the airline's enterprise value. As a result, it acquired 100% stake in Air India, its subsidiary Air India Express and the entire 50% stake in ground and cargo handling joint venture Air India SATS. Among India's regional aircraft, SpiceJet has 21 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s, Alliance Air has a mix of 21 ATRs and one Dornier, and Indore-based Flybig has three de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. Star Air operates nine Embraers, Indiaone Air two Cessnas and FLY91 -- the latest entrant in the regional space - two ATRs. Looking at a comprehensive package With an air travel penetration rate of 3-7% in India, rising income levels, and the growing propensity to travel by air in smaller towns and cities, Air India is looking to offer a comprehensive package to travellers, not just from metros, but also those who want to travel from the interiors of the country to faraway destinations, the first person added. Ameya Joshi, founder of aviation research platform Network Thoughts said that with SpiceJet reducing its presence, there remains scope for regional turboprop operations. "With the government likely to extend the UDAN scheme, any airline which invests in regional network is likely to benefit for the next five years, if not more. From a volume perspective, the numbers are low; however, many have seasonal variations and yields which are higher than many metro routes at times," Joshi said. A regional aircraft is often called a turboprop jet as the airplane uses a turbo-prop engine to turn the propellers. These are typically used for last-mile connectivity, but these jets have also found a spot in India to connect short to medium-haul destinations. The seating capacity of such jets can range anywhere between 2 to around 80-90 passengers. India currently has 108 regional aircraft including ATRs, up nearly 12.5% from 88 aircraft at the end of 2023, data from aircraft tracking website Flightradar24 showed. New Delhi: Telecom major Bharti Airtel has raised mobile tariffs effective 3 July, following in the footsteps of Reliance Jio, which hiked tariffs on 27 June. In an exchange filing, Airtel said it maintains that the mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) needs to be upwards of 300, to enable a financially healthy business model for telcos in India. We believe that this level of ARPU will enable the substantial investments required in network technology and spectrum and offer a modest return on capital. In this light, we welcome the announcements in the industry to repair tariffs. Airtel will also revise its mobile tariffs as indicated below, from July 3rd, 2024, it stated. On the price increase, Airtel said it was modest to not burden customers' budget Airtels tariff increase ranges between 11% and 21% across prepaid plans and between 10% and 20% on postpaid plans. Its entry level prepaid plan will cost customers 11% more at 199 a month, up from 175 a month. The baseline of the entry level tariffs were increased from 155 a month last year, thus making them more than 28% heavier on the consumer wallets within a years time. The sharpest increase of 20-21% will be on the full year validity plan costing 2,999 which will now be 3,599, and the 56-day validity plan which gives 2GB data free per day, which will now cost 579, up 21%. The entry level postpaid plan will cost 12.5% more, up from 399 a month to 449 a month, while the 999 plan will now cost 1199, up 20%. This includes four connections, 190GB data with roll-over and annual subscriptions to Xstream Premium and Disney+Hotstar, and six months subscription of Amazon Prime, plus Wynk Premium. We have ensured that there is a very modest price increase (less than 70p per day) on the entry level plans, in order to eliminate any burden on budget challenged consumers, it added. The No 2 carriers tariff hikes are surprisingly lower than market leader Reliance Jios, which announced hikes between 12% and 25% on Thursday. The No 1 carrier by subscribers backed by Reliance Industries Limited, was the first to announce the hikes, unlike previous instances where Airtel in 2021 and Vodafone Idea in 2019 led with any tariff changes. New plans from both companies will be effective from July 3 and will continue to have free voice calls and text messages bundled in. However, Airtel has not segregated 5G tariff plans on the lines of Jio, which announced that it will give unlimited 5G data only on plans that provide 2GB data per day and above. According to brokerages tracking the sector, they saw this move from Jio as a first step towards monetisation of 5G. If consumers want to continue using unlimited 5G services, they will need to move to the 2GB a day plan costing 349. Thus consumers will have to pay 46% more to continue using 5G. We see this as a start of 5G monetisation, said Kunal Vora at BNP Paribas in a note on Friday. At present, Airtel and Jio are giving 5G services at the same tariffs as 4G. Airtels top boss Gopal Vittal has maintained that the carrier will not charge consumers a differential pricing or premium pricing for 5G services versus 4G services. Vora added that the tariff hike coupled with moderation in capex bode well for the industry. Revenue growth is likely to remain in double digit as customers will upgrade to bundled plans, which will also boost free cash flows of carriers. A large part of the tariff hike was factored in by the market, which was seen in the strong rally of telecom stocks. Airtels scrip rose more than 71% over last year versus Nifty 50s 28% gain, he noted. Industry insiders expect Vodafone Idea to announce changes to its tariffs as well. The tariff hikes by carriers and a shift in focus to improving returns on investments by Reliance Jio, specifically, bodes well for the industry. Unlike, Bharti and Vi, who have been very vocal on the need for industry tariff repair, R-Jio has not been upfront about the need for industry-wide tariff hikes. However, as we noted earlier, the need for R-Jio to raise tariffs was equally (if not more) pressing, given: 1) its larger 5G investments; and 2) further moderation in RoCEs and FCF, said analysts at Kotak Institutional Equities. Check Updated Tariff Plans Below Airtel updated tariff plans from July 3 Updated Post-Paid tariff Plans Below (Bloomberg) -- Colombias state energy company Ecopetrol SA is in talks with suppliers of liquefied natural gas as the nations domestic gas production dwindles, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials are particularly interested in LNG from the US, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential. It comes as Colombia explores building its second LNG import terminal to head off a gas shortage forecast to hit within the next two years. Ecopetrol did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the Latin American country makes up a tiny fraction of global LNG imports, its proximity to the US the largest LNG exporter gives Colombia an advantage to seek supply and provides an edge for traders looking for a new market to sell excess cargoes. The challenge will be finding an adequate floating LNG vessel during a time when Europe has rapidly snapped up vessels to replace its Russian gas with LNG in the wake of the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Ecopetrol is mulling over options from at least 10 companies to develop an independent terminal. The deadline to receive offers is early July. The state-owned company is considering as much as 0.6 million metric tons (about eight LNG cargoes a year), for a period between three and seven years, the people said. Timing of the supply, as well as the location, would depend on first developing the terminal. Possible sites are on the Caribbean coast or the Pacific side of the country, one person said. A separate LNG import project on the Pacific coast of Colombia has long been considered for development but has failed to advance due to lack of commercial interest. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- France and Germany are used to getting their way on the EU stage. But when the blocs two biggest economies turned up at Thursdays crucial European Union summit distracted by their own domestic troubles, they found it harder to throw their weight around. Other member states reacted furiously when President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz attempted to force through a last-minute rewrite of their long-term policy priorities, according to people inside the room who asked not to be named when discussing confidential negotiations. Almost all of France and Germanys amendments were rejected. Its rare that a proposal by the two biggest member states draws such a strong reaction, according to one EU diplomat. But both their leaders arrived at the summit weakened by their crushing defeats in this months European elections. There was no mood to break up the whole text, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said afterward. An official from Berlin said the pair were just trying to bring clarity to a difficult process. The French president followed up his dire EU result by calling a parliamentary election at home. The idea was to revive his political fortunes with a rousing campaign, but polls suggest hes heading for another crushing reversal that could hand power to Marine Le Pens far right. The erratic behavior from the blocs two biggest powers is a worrying sign for EU leaders as they try to deal with a growing list of challenges, from Russias aggression in Ukraine, to trade tensions with the US and China and lackluster economic growth. Scholz hinted after the summit that hed discussed the situation in France with Macron, without offering any details. Of course, everyone is talking about it, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said of the forthcoming French vote, as he arrived at the summit. French ministers looked exhausted during meetings in Brussels this week, according to one EU diplomat, staying for an hour and then rushing out to work on the campaign. One diplomat said they were concerned about the effect that successive defeats for Macron would have at future summits, when he will almost certainly be further weakened. A person close to Macrons team said that the mood among French officials was grim. In a sign of his increasingly desperate efforts to lock things down before the French vote, Macron announced that he plans to reappoint his compatriot Thierry Breton to one of the EUs most senior roles when he spoke to reporters after the meeting. He has the experience and the quality, Macron said, as he attacked the arrogance of his opponents for drawing up plans for cabinet appointments before the French have cast their ballots. If Le Pens National Rally wins an absolute majority in the parliamentary elections whose first round is on Sunday, the euroskeptic party would get to pick a prime minister and could weigh in on key European appointments. Breton, 69, currently holds the post of Internal Markets Commissioner. --With assistance from Olivia Fletcher, Sanne Wass, Kevin Whitelaw, Max Ramsay, Michael Nienaber, Milda Seputyte, Donato Paolo Mancini, Alberto Nardelli, Ania Nussbaum, Jorge Valero, Natalia Drozdiak and Andrea Palasciano. (Updates with comment from French and Danish leaders in 7th, 11th paragraphs) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- A divided US Supreme Court threw out a decades-old legal doctrine that empowered federal regulators to interpret unclear laws, issuing a blockbuster ruling that will constrain environmental, consumer and financial-watchdog agencies. The 6-3 decision raises new questions about longstanding rules and puts more of the onus on Congress to directly tackle policy issues with new laws. It gives judges a broader mandate to rein in regulators when they exceed their authority. The ruling, which came in a fight over a fishing-industry regulation, is a long-sought triumph for opponents of big government. The court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 ruling that Democratic administrations had used as a legal building block for new regulations. The majority said the Chevron decision improperly transferred the power to interpret the law from the judiciary to federal agencies. Under Chevron, judges were required to defer to agencies that offered a reasonable interpretation of an unclear statute. Chevron was a judicial invention that required judges to disregard their statutory duties, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. He said judges must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority. The court divided along ideological lines, with liberal Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent. A longstanding precedent at the crux of administrative governance thus falls victim to a bald assertion of judicial authority, Kagan wrote for the dissenters. The majority disdains restraint, and grasps for power. Chipping Away The conservative-dominated court had already chipped away at Chevron and slashed agency authority in recent years. The court in 2022 required regulators to have clear congressional authorization before acting on major questions. The majority tempered the latest ruling to some degree by saying past decisions that upheld regulations on the basis of Chevron would remain in force. Still, the court might soon deliver a fresh blow to agencies by letting some entities challenge regulations decades after they were adopted. In a case involving debit-card transaction fees, the justices are considering allowing suits by companies that werent in business at the time the regulation was enacted, even if the statute of limitations has expired for other potential challengers. The court is expected to rule in that case on Monday, when it will issue the final decisions of its nine-month term. Gorsuch Connection The Chevron ruling originally was a victory for the deregulatory agenda of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Anne Gorsuch Burford, the mother of future Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justice Antonin Scalia hailed Chevron in a 1989 law review article as providing needed flexibility, and appropriate political participation, in the administrative process. But conservatives eventually came to loathe the doctrine as liberal administrations relied on it to justify broad regulations. Then-President Barack Obama used Chevron to defend a rule encouraging states to adopt more renewable power. And President Joe Biden said courts should defer to regulators seeking to expand federal oversight of waterways. Gorsuch joined Roberts in the majority, along with fellow conservatives Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Roberts said Chevron couldnt be squared with the Administrative Procedure Act, the law that governs judicial review of agency actions. Chevrons presumption is misguided because agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities, Roberts wrote. Courts do. Roberts said Chevron had fostered legal instability and become an impediment, rather than an aid, to accomplishing the basic judicial task of saying what the law is. Enormous Impact Spokespeople for the EPA referred questions on the ruling to the White House. The White House did not immediately comment on the decision. The impact will be enormous, said Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. By paralyzing federal agencies and inviting lawsuits against the rules these agencies implement, this decision will profoundly undermine bedrock laws like the Clean Air Act that are meant to protect public health. The case could be especially in emerging fields such as cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, where Congress hasnt passed significant legislation to address new problems. Conservatives in Congress hailed the decision. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After 40 years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Representative Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Arkansas, said the ruling puts Congress back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority. Herring Boats The case centered on a federal requirement that some herring boats host government-approved observers aboard their vessels and cover an estimated $710 daily cost. Two groups of fishing companies sued, saying Congress didnt authorize the National Marine Fisheries Service to require them to pay for the observers. Two federal appeals courts said the rule was based on a reasonable interpretation of the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Act, which governs the management of marine fisheries in federal waters. The monitoring program is part of a broader effort to conserve and manage the US Atlantic herring fishery, which stretches from North Carolina to the Canadian maritime boundary. Even before the Supreme Court ruling, the program had been on hold because Congress hadnt appropriated money to cover the administrative costs assigned to the federal government. The Supreme Court majority didnt explicitly toss out the disputed regulation, instead kicking the case back to the appeals courts for reevaluation. The cases are Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 22-451, and Relentless v. Department of Commerce, 22-1219. --With assistance from Kimberly Robinson and Erik Larson. (Updates with excerpt from opinion, reaction starting in 16th paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com By Chris Prentice and Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court's move to curb federal agency powers could curtail efforts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to establish new rules to police Wall Street and invite more litigation, legal experts said in the wake of Friday's landmark ruling. The court overturned a 1984 precedent that had given deference to government agencies in interpreting laws they administer. The decision raises the specter of fresh grounds on which to challenge the markets watchdog in court as it rolls out new policies or seeks to regulate new corners of the markets. The SEC is already fending off an increasing legal assault from public companies, major Wall Street firms and well-heeled cryptocurrency players. The SCOTUS decision, made 6-3, is likely to tie the SEC's hands as it rolls out new rules, according to half a dozen legal experts. The SEC did not respond to a request for comment. SEC Chair Gary Gensler told Reuters this month that the agency pivots as required by courts' interpretation of the law. The ruling is a "game-changer," said Richard Hong, a former SEC trial lawyer and partner with the Morrison Cohen law firm. The SEC will likely have more reason to pause before acting when seeking to police new financial instruments, said Cary Coglianese, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in regulation. "It will make it more difficult for agencies to adapt their understandings of statutes in the face of new circumstances," Coglianese said. The precedent, known as the Chevron deference after a ruling involving the U.S. oil company, had been cited by the SEC and other agencies in prior court cases to justify new regulatory efforts, as they deemed the activities within their purview. But now it would fall solely to a court to determine if the agency is acting within the law, which experts said could have a chilling effect. Proponents of the approach argue that the Chevron deference allows federal regulatory bodies to adapt to changing times and circumstances. But the Chevron doctrine has come under growing criticism from conservatives, arguing it allows rule-writers to overstep their legal authorities. While the SEC and other regulators have other tools on which to lean, Chevron has been a bedrock of agency rulemaking. Between 2003 and 2013, Chevron was applied 66.7% of the time when litigating SEC rules in circuit courts and in those cases the agency won just over 81%, according to 2017 research published in the Michigan Law Review. "Going forward, agency action will be under even greater scrutiny and there will likely be more opportunities for the regulated community to challenge agency rules and adjudications," said Varu Chilakamarri, a partner at K&L Gates. Friday's ruling is the latest effort of the conservative "war on the administrative state", which aims to weaken federal agencies across the board. Gensler's ambitious agenda has made the agency, which oversees around 40,000 entities, a top target. The SEC stayed this year's landmark climate disclosure rule due to legal challenges. A federal appeals court this month struck down its overhaul of private fund oversight on the grounds the agency exceeded its authorities. The challenge to the SECs climate rule was already poised to be a difficult fight for the agency," said Leah Malone, leader of Simpson Thachers ESG and sustainability practice. Friday's shift "raises even further questions about the survival of the climate rule, as well as other pending rule proposals that have been in the spotlight, Malone said. Friday's ruling is the second blow to the SEC's authority in as many days from the Supreme Court. On Thursday, the justices ruled the agency's reliance on in-house courts to handle enforcement cases was unconstitutional. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court has four cases still undecided. In particular, the justices are still weighing whether former President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution in the election interference case against him, roughly two months after hearing arguments. Though the justices typically issue all of their rulings by the end of June, this term they are expected to continue into early July. The court heard 61 cases this term. Here's a look at three of the major undecided cases: Presidential immunity Donald Trump is arguing that former presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts they took in office and that the indictment he faces on charges of election interference must be dismissed. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that former presidents cant be sued in civil cases for what they did in office, but it has never weighed in on criminal immunity. The timing of the decision may be as important as the outcome. Trumps trial in Washington, D.C., may not take place before the November election, even if the court rules he is not immune. Social media Two cases involve social media laws in Texas and Florida that would limit how Facebook, TikTok, X, YouTube and other social media platforms regulate content posted by their users. While the details vary, both laws aimed to address conservative complaints that the social media companies were liberal-leaning and censored users based on their viewpoints, especially on the political right. ___ (Bloomberg Opinion) -- In a defeat for advocates of the unhoused, the US Supreme Court has rejected the argument that it is cruel and unusual punishment to outlaw sleeping outdoors in urban spaces. The 6-3 decision broke down along ideological lines, with the conservatives refusing to apply the Eighth Amendment to prohibit cities from trying to keep homeless people from sleeping in the streets, and the liberals in dissent arguing that sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime and that outlawing it unconstitutionally criminalizes the status of being homeless. The outcome is a reminder that if progressives ask this Supreme Court to create new rights for marginalized people, the effort is going to be more symbolic than practical. The current conservative majority is in the business of rolling back constitutional rights, not making new ones. The arguments in the case felt like a throwback to the 1960s, when the Warren court, at the height of liberal judicial activism, was in the habit of interpreting the Constitution creatively to expand individual liberties. One of those decisions, Robinson v. California, from 1962, made new law under the Eighth Amendment by holding that it was cruel and unusual punishment for California to enact a law that made it a crime to be addicted to the use of narcotics. In an opinion by Justice Potter Stewart, the court held that being an addict was a status, not an act, and that it should count as cruel and unusual punishment for the government to outlaw a state of being. In the homelessness case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit took a page out of the Warren courts handbook. Like many municipalities, the town of Grants Pass, Oregon, has ordinances that criminalize camping or parking overnight on public property. The plaintiffs in the case brought a lawsuit against the town seeking to block it from enforcing its laws against unhoused people. (With 38,000 residents and some 600 unhoused people, it would be fair to say the town has a homelessness problem.) The plaintiffs theory, adopted by the Ninth Circuit, was that being unhoused is a status, much like addiction was in the Robinson case. Thus, they reasoned, it would be cruel and unusual to punish a person for sleeping in public when they have nowhere else to sleep. Morally, its easy to see why this argument is powerful. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed out in her impassioned and compassionate dissent, the laws dont really apply to backpackers or to someone who happened to fall asleep while reading a newspaper in the park on a sunny day. They are used against people for whom sleeping outside is their only option. And for such people, the law effectively criminalizes their biological, human need to sleep and thus their status as people with no homes. The trouble with this argument, constitutionally speaking, is that the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment has been classically understood to focus on the means of punishing criminals, not the substantive conduct that is criminalized by the law. The 1962 Robinson case is an outlier, as Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed out in his majority opinion. Gorsuch also explained that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is the more natural place to look for the limits of what may be made criminal. Most crimes, he argued, require proof that someone has engaged in an act with some requisite will. And he pointed to a 1968 decision in which even the great liberal lion, Justice Thurgood Marshall, declined to extend the logic of the Robinson case to overturn a law that criminalized public drunkenness, because Marshall didnt think being drunk in public was a status crime even though the defendant was an alcoholic. If Marshall wouldnt extend Eighth Amendment protection to public drunkenness, Gorsuch argued, it shouldnt be extended to homelessness. Gorsuchs majority opinion didnt call for the overruling of the Robinson precedent, as Justice Clarence Thomas unsurprisingly did in a separate concurrence. It just refused to extend the status/conduct distinction to the situation of homelessness. Thats to be expected, given that the conservative majority doesnt like to create new rights unless they are for gun owners under the Second Amendment. That in turn raises the question of why the plaintiffs brought the case, knowing as they mustve done that the justices were not going to create new constitutional protections for homeless people. One answer is that they did win in the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court could in theory have allowed the Ninth Circuits opinion to stay in place by not reviewing it. More likely, the answer is that advocates for the unhoused wanted to draw attention to the horrific scale and consequences of homelessness. Morally, the advocates are right: It really is cruel to address a social crisis by using criminal law to punish societys most vulnerable people. Advances, however, are going to have to come from legislation and creative social policy, not from this Supreme Court. More From Noah Feldman at Bloomberg Opinion: This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A professor of law at Harvard University, he is author, most recently, of To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People.' More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion Area under kharif crops in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June) as of 28 June rose 33% year-on-year to 24.1 million hectares (mh), according to data released by the agriculture ministry on Friday. The increase in acreage is largely due to a rise in cultivation of pulses, oilseeds and cotton. Depending upon region, farmers kick off plantation of kharif crops with the first showers of the four-month southwest monsoon season that begins in June. Unlike Rabi or winter crops, Kharif crops such as paddy and maize require plentiful rainfall. Also Read: First cabinet meeting of new government to declare MSP for kharif crops The southwest monsoon, crucial for the world's fifth-largest economy, makes the onset over the Kerala coast on 1 June and covers the entire country by 15 July. Importance of monsoon The timely arrival of the monsoon is crucial, especially for the agricultural sector, as around 56% of the net cultivated area and 44% of food production depend on monsoon rains. Normal precipitation is essential for robust crop production, maintaining stable food prices, especially for vegetables, and bolstering economic growth. Agriculture contributes about 18% to India's gross domestic product, underscoring the importance of a good monsoon. This year's monsoon lost momentum after reaching Mumbai on 9 Junetwo days ahead of schedule and remained stuck in the eastern region for about three weeks, preventing the agriculture ministry from releasing the acreage data until Friday. With the monsoon's progress over the eastern areas and the India Meteorological Department declaring the arrival of the rain-bearing winds in Delhi, the ministry on Friday released the kharif crop acreage data for the first time this season. Also Read | Mint Primer: Ever seen the rain? The price of a truant monsoon Precipitation in the country as of 28 June was 14% deficient since the beginning of the June-September monsoon season, according to IMD. Pulses take the lead While the area under paddy or rice, the main kharif crop, was a tad lower year-on-year at 2.2 mh, pulses acreage was 181% higher at 2.2 mh, including 1.3 mh area under tur or arhar and 318,000 hectares area under urad. Also Read: Govt weighs 3-8% increase in MSP for kharif crops The government has been trying to encourage farmers to cultivate more area under pulses, especially tur, in view of crop failure in the past two consecutive years and achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds by 2027. Consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare earlier this month told Mint that food prices, especially those of pulses, which have been skyrocketing for over a year will ease after July as farm output is expected to be good amid normal monsoon. According to the agriculture ministry data, the area under oilseeds rose 18.4% to 4.3 mh, primarily due to a higher coverage under soybean. As of Friday, farmers planted soybean across 3.36 mh, sunflower across 37,000 hectares and sesamum across 43,000 hectares, against 163,000 hectares, 26,000 hectares and 26,000 hectares, respectively in the year-ago period. The area covered under groundnut, however, was lower at 819,000 hectares compared to the previous years 1.45 mh. In the case of millets, the area was nearly 15% down year-on-year at 3 mh. Bajra was sown over 409,000 hectares compared to 2.5 mh last year. The maize area was 2.3 mh against 810,000 hectares a year ago. Mumbai: The share of bad loans at banks could decline to 2.5% by the end of FY25 in case of a baseline stress scenario, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Thursday, pointing to the sector's improving health. Gross bad loan ratio hit a 12-year-low of 2.8% last fiscal year; however, it could rise to 3.4% under a severe stress scenario, RBI said in its semi-annual Financial Stability report. State-owned banks continued to have the highest bad loan ratiotoxic assets as a percentage of gross loansamong peer banks, although lower than where they were even a year ago. While the gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio of public sector banks was at 3.7% as on 31 March, private sector banks and foreign banks were at 1.8% and 1.2%, respectively. The report pointed out that the continuous decline in bad loans since March 2020 has been on the back of a lower addition of fresh NPAs and increased write-offs. This issue of the FSR highlights the strengthening of balance sheets of financial institutions with low levels of impairments, robust earnings and strong buffers that render the financial system resilient to shocks," RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said in the foreword. As per the report, a metric known as the banking stability indicator (BSI) provides a comprehensive assessment of the health of the domestic banking system. The BSI, it said, shows that overall stability of the banking system improved on the back of stronger capital levels, higher earnings, and a decline in the stock of NPAs, including restructured loans. Efficiency indicators weaken While profitability indicators like return on assets, return on equity and net interst margin remained strong in March, it was marginally lower than September 2023. However, efficiency indicators weakened because of the increase in staff costs and the cost-to-income ratio. Today, the matrix of financial stability is perhaps at its best, but the real challenge is to maintain it and improve upon it further," said Das. The regulators, on their part, remain committed to these goals. We are focused on having in place an ecosystem that is adaptive and proactive in safeguarding the stability of the financial system." On retail loans, the report listed some concerns that it said require close monitoring. In November, RBI raised the risk weights assigned to unsecured consumer credit like personal loans and credit card dues. Overall asset quality of outstanding credit showed an improvement, except personal loans," the report said. It said that delinquency levels among borrowers with personal loans below 50,000 remain high. Second, vintage delinquencya measure of slippageremains relatively high in personal loans at 8.2%. Vintage delinquency is the percentage of loan accounts that have ever turned delinquent within a year of onboarding. It is a key metric to assess the efficiency of the loan underwriting process. Third, little more than a half of the borrowers in this segment have three live loans when they were onboarded, and more than one-third of the borrowers have availed of more than three loans in the last six months. Das extols Indian economy In the foreword, Das once again extolled the Indian economy. He said that amid global headwinds, the domestic economy is exhibiting strength and resilience, with strong macroeconomic fundamentals and buffers. Economic activity is expanding at a steady pace, with the financial system being stronger and more vibrant than what it was before the onset of the recent period of crises," said Das. Also read | India needs to grow at 8%, say MPC members who voted for rate cut While saying how the financial sector has remained strong, Das said the central bank is watchful of emerging risks, including those from cyber hazards, climate change and global spillovers. The regulators, including the Reserve Bank, remain committed to promote innovation, financial inclusion, efficient payment and settlement systems, and a robust financial system. New technologies offer gains in efficiency and customer experience, but they can also bring with them sudden and widespread disruptions to the financial system," said Das. New Delhi: The government is looking to tighten the processes around curbing excessive promotional practices by pharmaceutical companies. It has asked pharma associations to appoint nodal officers from each company to oversee the enforcement of the Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices. The move by the government comes after several pharma companies were recently found to be offering freebies like luxury holiday packages, travel and monetary benefits, among others, to doctors to promote their medicines, which is considered unethical as it compromises patients' health. The ethics officer, nominated by the pharma companies, will be tasked with monitoring the company's marketing practices, the government said in a recent communication to the pharma associations. We had a meeting with the department of pharmaceuticals today itself to streamline the things in a fast-track mode A committee has been formed to fast track these things, said a senior official from the Indian Drugs Manufacturing Association (IDMA). Also Read: Government to audit pharma companies in July to review compliance with GMP norms For instance, the makers of Dolo 650, Micro Labs were found to be offering freebies worth 1,000 crore to doctors to promote the anti-fever drug during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an I-T department probe in 2022. On 20 June, the government's department of pharmaceuticals had held a meeting with the pharma associations regarding the implementation of UCPMP, where it had sought details like the name of the nodal officer, the companys name and address, mobile number and email of the concerned person by 2 July. Every pharma association has been asked to develop a portal on UCPMP but everybody should be on the same page. The portal will have the names of our members, companies' record note, etc., the IDMA official said. The associations have already circulated the information to the member companies to seek the details of the nodal officer from each company. Whats the plan? The government plans to keep a close watch on the marketing practices of pharma companies operating in the country through the nominated ethics officer, who can be contacted by the government when required. It also aims to ensure the smooth implementation of its ethical marketing norms through this move. Queries sent to the spokesperson of the department of pharmaceutical remained unanswered till press time. Also Read: Pharma department seeks report on drug misuse, eyes NDPS Act inclusion According to government data, India is home to around 3,000 drug making companies and 10,500 manufacturing units. Further, the country's pharmaceutical market is projected to reach a valuation of $130 billion by 2030. The government has also instructed the associations to set up a dedicated portal for UCPMP violations and complaints on their websites, which is to be fully operational by 4 July. What does the UCPMP say? The UCPMP was announced in March 2024, with an objective to bring transparency in the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies and ensure ethical conduct by them with strict compliance to laid-out norms. The ethical marketing code restricts pharma companies, or any of its agents, distributors, wholesalers, or retailers from offering freebiessuch as gifts, travel, hospitality and/ or monetary benefitsto healthcare professionals or their family members, for prescribing any particular medicine. Also Read: Centre asks states to tackle over-the-counter sale of prescription drugs The code further indicates that free samples of drugs should not be supplied to any person who is not qualified to prescribe them. New Delhi: The Centre is looking to offer a range of incentives in order to build demand for the domestic private space sector. These include establishing a public-private partnership (PPP) model for earth observation (EO) satellites, as well as incentives for conducting satellite launches through domestic rockets from Indian launchpads. In an interview with Mint, Pawan Goenka, chairman of Centre-affiliated space coordination body Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-Space) said, Right now, we are launching an EO-PPP model, which will offer support to private sector companies to launch 12 satellites with some funding from the government. Were also offering funding support via incentives for space launches through India, as well as accessing technologies. Goenka, however, did not provide information about the size of the incentives for either of the activities. Read more: Isro arm NSIL signs $18-million deal with Australian govt for commercial satellite launch Also in the works is the creation of a nodal space data organizationa precedent of which already exists in the European Union through the latters Copernicus programme. Were looking to create a company that will become a nodal data disseminatorby accessing data through Isro as well as other sources, and making it available to multiple entities, Goenka added. Even as private space firms continue to ramp up their offerings, demand generation has been a challenge. On Wednesday, S. Somanath, chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said that the key to generating demand will be in creating new applications that require satellite data. There is so much more possibility in the area of applications, as well as space timings and fusion of earth observation and miscellaneous observations. This will create demand to make satellites in India, which in turn will lead to demand for satellite launch vehicles, Somanath said. Elaborating on this, Goenka added, Creating this demand is not a policy or financial hurdle. Apart from satellite communications, so far, only government bodies have been clients to the space sector. There continues to be very little demand for anything apart from communications. This is why we need to increase visibility of space. Opportunities in space To do this, In-Space has identified two areas of opportunitiesground station as a service, and satellite as a service. Three firms have already sought authorization to set up ground stations. Today, any downlink of satellite data is only done by Isro. Non-Indian satellites passing through Indian airspace presently do not have a facility to download their data to a ground station within Indian borders. If any such data is required here, it is downloaded elsewhere and transferred to India. The private sector can resolve this through commercial ground stations, Goenka said. For satellite services, one of the early instances was Wednesdays $8.5-million space launch contract signed between Australian startup Space Machines and Isros commercial arm, NewSpace India Ltd (Nsil). The formers 450kg satellite observation payload is set to be launched aboard a privatized version of the Isro-designed Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in 2026. Read more: Lack of internal demand hurting Indias fledgling space economy Calling this a big opportunity, Goenka said that satellite services can help India create an all-round commercial space economy. Any payload operator can come to an Indian firm to access a satellite, and subsequently, its data. Three startups from within India have had some success in conducting pilot projects here, with commercial revenue. One of the companies from these three is currently in process of signing a large commercial contract from a foreign firm to carry three payloads aboard their satellite, which will be launched aboard an Indian rocket. The launch should take place this year, he added. Bengaluru-headquartered satellite imagery and data analytics firm Pixxel is among entities that are in the race to capture early commercial satellite clients, and has conducted commercial pilots with revenue, two senior industry officials said. Others currently in contention for a share of the satellite manufacturing and services pie include Chennai-based Galaxeye and Bengaluru-based Digantara, among othersthe officials added. Beyond startups, long-term supplier vendors to Isro are also involved. For instance, Bengaluru-headquartered Ananth Technologies is manufacturing Space Machines upcoming satellite, called Optimus, based on the latters reference design from its team in Australia, Ananth founder Subba Rao Pavuluri told Mint. Chaitanya Giri, space analyst and associate professor of space studies at Flame University, Pune, underlined that while Wednesdays space contract with Australia was not very big, it was still significant. Such contracts are likely to be seen more often, and while they are not major events in the overall space industry of Indiawhich has done far larger launches aboard Isros heavier rocketscontracts of such magnitude will be what small rockets will target at more frequent intervals, Giri said. Rocket launches Now, both Goenka and Somanath expect to see nearly 30 small rocket launches within the next two years. Calling the demand realistic, Goenka added, It wont take 10 more years for small rocket launch operators to build demand to around 30 launches per year. Three things need to come togetherlaunch vehicle, launch pad and market demand. The ability to make up to 12 rockets on-demand will be there in the next two years for each of the private operators. For the small rockets, a new, dedicated launch pad will also be ready within this time. Read more: Private sector participation in LVM3 production could mean a space sector boom Hyderabad-headquartered Skyroot Aerospace is expected to host its second rocket launch later this year, while Agnikul Cosmos is expected to host its second launch in the first half of 2025. The privatization bid for SSLV is currently underway, and a final bid winner is likely to be announced in the months to come, Goenka said. Practically, if we can do 30 small rocket launches in a year including all of the three, that is a very good number. This benchmark can make each of the three ventures commercially viable, but scaling up is always great, he said. New Delhi: Higher demand for summer clothes in the Western world has boosted Indias textile exports to $5.86 billion in the first two months of FY25, an increase of 5.4% from $5.56 billion in the same period a year ago, commerce ministry data showed. Exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, and handloom products increased 8.24% to $1.95 billion in April-May from $1.8 billion a year ago. This increase in demand is due to various factors, including a post-pandemic recovery in consumer spending, a preference for lightweight and breathable fabrics during warm months, and the increasing popularity of sustainable and ethically produced garments from India. A surge in readymade garment exports also contributed to the growth. The export value of readymade garments rose 4.47% to $2.55 billion in April-May 2024 from $2.4 billion in April-May 2023. Handcrafts and handmade carpets saw remarkable growth as well, with exports climbing 11.49% to $273.66 million from $245.46 million. Carpet exports alone rose 11.76% to $241.81 million from $216.37 million. Also read: Centre to set up labs for testing marquee textiles meant for exports A senior government official, who wished not to be named, said, The positive export trend is expected to continue, further strengthening the textile sector and contributing to the overall economic growth of the country. Queries emailed to the textiles secretary and a spokesperson for the ministry remained unanswered. Countries that import Indian textiles include Germany, Sweden and Spain. Germany saw its imports rise by 6.32%, from $210.35 million in April-May 2023 to $223.65 million in April-May 2024. Sweden's imports increased by 15.13% from $35.24 million to $40.57 million, while Spain's imports grew by 4.41%, from $180.56 million to $188.52 million. Textile exports have fallen since 2018 Meanwhile, the Indian government plans to include more products, such as t-shirts and innerwear, in the nearly 11,000-crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the textile sector, as Mint first reported on 18 June. It plans to tweak the PLI scheme, approved in September 2021, to make it more effective as India's textile exports actually declined 11.69% from $16.24 billion in 2018 to $14.34 billion in 2023. India is among the worlds top producers of cotton and jute and the second-largest silk producer. About 95% of the world's hand-woven fabric is made in the country. Ajay Sahai, director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, said, Apparel and textile exports are expected to do well in the coming months. Recently signed free-trade agreements and those in the pipeline are quite robust. Inquiries are also flowing from the US as the threat of further duties on China is looming in importers' minds. However, logistics disruption could be a spoiler. Sea freight and air freight rates have increased tremendously and may go up further, hinterland states are facing container shortages, some shipping lines are skipping our ports, and not enough air freighters are operating to take care of demand. The textiles ministry hopes to attract investments worth 95,000 crore, which it believes could create about 2.25 million new jobs in the next four to six years. Its also looking to increase Indias footprint in technical textiles, a growing market. India currently exports technical textiles, including medical apparel, worth about $2.5 billion and has a target of $10 billion in the next five years. The government has also approved grants of 50 lakh each for seven startups in the technical textiles sector under the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). The decision by the European Union on 24 June to defer its stricter sanctions on the import of Russian diamonds to March 2025 came as a big relief to the Indian diamond industry, particularly the polishing sector. India imports more than 30 percent of rough diamonds from Russia for cutting and polishing. The postponement provides breathing space for major importers such as India and followed persistent lobbying efforts by Indian diamond companies and major players like DeBeers. Mint delves into the intricacies of the proposed sanctions on Russian diamond imports by the EU and the implications for Indias diamond trade. Why did the EU decide to impose sanctions? On December 6, 2023, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders agreed to implement import restrictions on non-industrial diamonds from Russia, originally set to start on 1 January, 2024. These curbs were part of the EU's 12th sanctions package aimed at cutting off a significant revenue stream for Russia, estimated at EUR 4 billion annually, with about EUR 1.5 billion stemming from imports into the EU. The sanctions, following the war in Ukraine, specifically target diamonds controlled by Russia's state monopoly, Alrosa. Previously, Russian diamonds could be processed in third countries, such as India, and then legally re-enter the G7 markets. To close this loophole, the new measures include stringent certification and tracing requirements to verify the origin of diamonds, effectively excluding Russian diamonds from international trade routes. What does the deferring of sanctions mean? The EU has provided a reprieve for Russian diamond importers, including India, by extending the deadline for compliance with their sanctions package to 1 March 2025. Initially, rough diamonds weighing one carat or more were slated for import bans from 1 March 2024 to 31 August 2024. Stricter restrictions were set to take effect from 1 September 2024, lowering the weight threshold to 0.5 carats, significantly impacting India. This extension, known as a 'sunshine period,' allows industry stakeholders additional time to implement a comprehensive traceability scheme for imported rough and polished natural diamonds. The EU also refined its import ban on Russian diamonds to include exemptions to minimise disruptions in the diamond trade. For instance, diamonds already within EU borders or located in third countries (excluding Russia) prior to the ban's enforcement are exempted. Additionally, diamonds that have been polished or manufactured in third countries are exempted. Moreover, the package permits temporary imports or exports of jewellery containing Russian diamonds, facilitating activities such as trade fairs or repair services without violating sanctions. This flexibility aims to support uninterrupted international commerce in the jewellery sector while ensuring compliance with EU regulations. Why is the deferring of sanctions a relief? The postponement of sanctions has brought significant relief to the Indian diamond industry, which heavily relies on imports of Russian diamonds. It gives the industry time to adjust to the new regulatory challenges, particularly logistical hurdles, and provides an opportunity for further negotiations with the EU and G7 to find a balanced approach amid the sanctions. The sanctions have already resulted in delays and financial pressure for Indian companies, significantly impacting the countrys diamond exports, which declined by 27.6% in FY24, according to provisional data from the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Previously, India sourced about a third of its rough diamonds from Russia, which accounted for about 30% of the global supply. However, supplies from Russia have ceased due to the sanctions, leading Indian diamantaires to predominantly turn to DeBeers' trading arm, Diamond Trading Co., owned by Anglo American, the global mining giant. Vipul Shah, chairman of GJEPC, expressed relief at the EU's decision, saying, "The EU has shown an understanding of the industry's needs. We are optimistic that continued collaboration with global stakeholders will lead to a more harmonised and stable regulatory environment, ensuring the ongoing prosperity of the diamond sector." Shah highlighted the profound impact of these sanctions on India. "Approximately 1 million people are directly employed in cutting and polishing diamonds. With Russia accounting for about 33 million carats out of the global 120 million, a substantial portion of these jobs30% to 40%could be at risk due to potential shortages of raw materials. India, lacking its own diamond mines, depends heavily on imports to meet global demand, especially from G7 countries, which constitute 60% to 65% of diamond consumption." Ricky Vasandani, CEO of Solitario, a lab-grown diamond company, emphasised that while the delay provides some relief, challenges remain. "The EU-G7 sanctions will eventually expand to include diamonds as small as 0.5 carats, potentially affecting up to 40% of Russia's diamond output. This could lead to supply shortages and bottlenecks in the global diamond trade. Diversifying supply sources and embracing lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) may be necessary to ensure the industry's long-term viability. India has the capacity to scale up production of LGDs, which could support and maintain stability during this transitional phase." Traceability scheme: Why is it a bone of contention? The G7 nations plan to establish diamond traceability centres, known as rough nodes, in Belgium to prevent the sale of Russian-origin diamonds within their member-nations. Beginning 1 September 2024, Indian diamantaires will be required to send their rough diamonds to Belgium for verification, a move that is expected to increase their operational costs significantly. Mint previously reported on India's stance against the G7's proposal to designate Belgium as the exclusive certification node for diamonds, favouring instead the setting up of a certification node within its territory. This approach aims to simplify the verification process and guarantee that diamonds exported to G7 nations are free from Russian origin. Major diamond processing hubs such as Surat and Mumbai strongly support this initiative. The Mint report noted that the government has proactively formed a panel comprising officials from the ministries of external affairs and commerce, alongside representatives from the Indian diamond processing industry to negotiate with European authorities on this contentious issue, emphasising the country's commitment to safeguarding its diamond trade interests amid international sanctions. Who led the negotiations? The government, particularly the Union Commerce Ministry, has been engaged in negotiations to safeguard India's diamond trade interests. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar highlighted these efforts during a meeting with industry leaders in Surat in April. "The Indian government has prioritised addressing the ban on imports of Russian-origin unpolished diamonds by the European Union (EU) and G7 nations, as it could severely affect our domestic diamond polishing industry," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally discussed this issue with leaders and sent me to countries like Belgium to engage on these matters." GJEPC actively participated in the negotiations, proposing alternatives to the idea of making Belgium the sole certification node for diamonds. The monthly and annual trends in MDF (medium-density fibreboard) imports paint a contrasting picture. In March and April, MDF imports declined sharply by 80% and 60% year-on-year, respectively, to an average of 7,400 tonnes, showed the ministry of commerce data compiled by Emkay Global Financial Services. This compares with the average monthly run rate of around 28,000 tonnes in FY24. But the month-on-month trends in imports points to a different and worrying scenario. MDF imports rose 80% in April on a month-on-month basis, pointing to an influx of cheap imports entering India from countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia. In effect, realizations of the domestic wood product industry suffered, declining 16% month-on-month in April. Further, the delay in implementing Bureau of Indian Standard quality check norms to February 2025 could lead to a surge in MDF imports, thus impacting the domestic industry in FY25. Plus, operating costs remain elevated due to higher sea freight costs. According to analysts at Emkay Global, it is likely that companies in the segment may choose to increase prices, but there could be a lot of planning and caution before any price hike is announced. Against this backdrop, the earnings performance of companies, including Century Plyboards, Greenlam Industries, and Greenpanel Industries, should be tracked Also Read: Wood panel makers continue to face headwinds after a mixed Q4FY23 Shares of Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), a leading engineering and manufacturing company in the energy and infrastructure sectors, have gained 4% to 308 apiece in today's early morning trade after the company secured a significant contract to establish a 1600 MW thermal power plant in Koderma, Jharkhand. Commensurate with the goal of the central government to ensure the energy security of the country, DVC has finalised the tender for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package of Koderma TPS (2X800 MW) in Jharkhand with Bharat Heavy Electricals for 13,300 crore on June 26, 2024, a power ministry statement said. With this investment, which would also have a substantial impact on the local economy and benefit people, the installed thermal generation capacity of DVC would go up to 8140 MW by 2030. The company has secured significant orders in FY24, marking a notable achievement. Among the major orders received last year are the EPC orders for Yamuna Nagar, Lara Super Critical Power Plant, and Raigad Super Critical Power Plant from the Adani Group. Additionally, the company received orders for 80 Vande Bharat trains and 20 super rapid gun mounts for naval ships, with the contractual delivery of Vande Bharat trains set to begin in June 2025. The company has focused heavily on defence, securing a large volume of orders over the past 1.5 years. A significant opportunity lies in the air defence gun sector, for which a bid has been submitted. It is developing a prototype in partnership with an OEM and has also partnered with a European company for marine gas turbines and has submitted a bid, with results expected in early FY26. In the power segment, to ensure timely execution, efforts are to get new vendors on board along with retaining the old ones. Power consumption has grown at 8%10% in FY 2224. With high growth expectations for Indias economy and manufacturing sector, there are concerns about a potential peak power shortage. To address this, the government plans to add 80 GW of thermal capacity by 2032. Currently, 30 GW is under construction, and 4445 GW worth of projects is expected to be awarded by FY27, leading to over 10 GW of annual tendering over the next three years. Reliance share price: Shares of oil-to-telecom-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) jumped over 2 per cent to hit its fresh all-time high of 3,129 in morning trade on Friday, June 28, on BSE. With this, the market capitalisation (mcap) of Reliance stock jumped to over 21 lakh crore mark for the first time. Reliance share price opened at 3060.95 against its previous close of 3061.10 and soon rose 2.2 per cent to its all-time high level. However, the stock pared some gains and traded 1.09 per cent higher at 3,094.50 around 10:30 am. Equity benchmark Sensex was 0.34 per cent up at 79,513.54 at that time. Reliance share price has seen healthy gains this year so far, outperforming the benchmark index. Considering Friday's high, the stock has gained 21 per cent this year so far while the Sensex has risen 10 per cent. In the last one year, the stock has jumped about 36 per cent against a nearly 25 per cent gain in the benchmark Sensex. On a monthly scale, Reliance's share price fell in the last two months but has seen traction this month amid the chatter of healthy topline growth in the company's all group segments. According to Sandeep Pandey, founder of Basav Capital, the market is anticipating topline growth across all Reliance Industries group companies segments, thanks to India's healthy economic growth. "The projected robust economic growth in India is expected to benefit leading Indian companies, including Reliance Industries. The textile, petrochemical, telecom, and retail businesses are all expected to thrive in the upcoming quarters. The market is anticipating a fresh rally in the stock post the Union Budget 2024," Pandey said. More steam left? Some brokerage firms and analysts expect the stock to rise more, especially after its telecom arm Reliance Jio raised the tariff by about 20 per cent which will aid its ARPU (average revenue per user). Jio has raised the prices of its existing plans from monthly to annual. There are six monthly plans. The existing monthly plan of 155 has been revised to 189, and other plans in the category have been revised. The two-month plan of 470 has been revised to 579, and the three-month plan has been revised from 395 to 479. Brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services has a buy call on the stock as it believes the 20 per cent tariff hike would increase ARPU by 15 per cent ( 206 ARPU in FY25E) since the prices are not increased for all plans. Motilal Oswal has slightly raised the target price to 3,275 versus 3,245 previously, ascribing an equity valuation of 840 per share to RJio, 1,593 to Reliance Retail and 37 to the new energy business. It also raised its revenue and EBITDA estimates by 11 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively, for FY25 and FY26. "We expect EBITDA of 70,100 crore and 79,800 crore and factor in a CAGR of 17 per cent and 23 per cent in revenue and EBITDA, respectively, during FY24-26," Motilal said. "RJio is valued at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 12 times on FY26E EBITDA, thereby arriving at a valuation of 840 per share, adjusted for its 66 per cent stake versus 810 per share previously. Based on SoTP, we value the refining and petrochemical segment at 8 times FY26E EV/EBITDA to arrive at a valuation of 1,029 per share for the standalone business," said Motilal. On the technical front, experts say the stock may continue witnessing bullish momentum as long as it trades above the 3,000 mark. Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, pointed out that Reliance share price has surpassed its previous high of 3,029 and is maintaining its position well above this level, which is a positive indicator for the stock's performance. This upward momentum suggests a strong bullish trend. Patel believes the stock may complete its 1:1 leg in the range of 3,160-3,198, as illustrated in the chart given below. Reliance share price technical chart "This range might attract some profit booking from investors, potentially causing temporary resistance. Additionally, the Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum oscillator, has bounced back from the 50 level on the daily chart, signalling a buying opportunity on dips," said Patel. "As long as Reliance holds the critical support level at 3,000, it is expected to continue its upward trajectory, reflecting sustained investor confidence and potential for further gains,' Patel said. Read all market-related news here Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts, and brokerage firms, not Mint. We advise investors to consult certified experts before making any investment decisions. Also Read | IRCON share price Today Live Updates : IRCON stock price falls as markets turn bearish Also Read | Indian bonds back in action with inclusion in JP Morgan index To boost participation of small investors in the securities market, Sebi on Friday increased the threshold for the basic service demat account to 10 lakh from the current 2 lakh. The new guidelines will come into force from September 1, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in a circular. Increasing the limit of securities' value held in the Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) will encourage small investors to trade in the stock market and ensure their financial inclusion. A basic service demat account, or BSDA, is a more basic version of a regular demat account. The facility was introduced by markets regulator Sebi in 2012 to reduce the burden of demat charges on investors with small portfolios. On eligibility for BSDA, Sebi said an individual is eligible for a BSDA if he/she meets certain criteria such as the investor has only one demat account as the sole or first holder, has only one BSDA in his name across all depositories and the value of securities in the account does not exceed 10 lakh for both debt and non-debt securities combined at any time. Before this, an individual was allowed to hold debt securities worth up to 2 lakh and other than debt securities worth up to 2 lakh in a single demat account to be eligible for BSDA. For portfolio values up to 4 lakh, Sebi said that the annual maintenance charge for a BDSA would be nil and for portfolio values of above 4 lakh and up to 10 lakh, the charges would be 100. However, if portfolio value exceeds 10 lakh then BDSA should automatically be converted into a regular demat account. With regards to services for BDSA, the regulator said that electronic statements would be provided free of cost to such account holders, besides, physical statements can be charged at 25 per statement. As per the circular, Depository Participants (DPs) will open only BSDA for eligible accounts unless the account holder opts for a regular demat account via email. DPs must review and convert existing eligible demat accounts to BSDA within two months unless the account holder opts to keep their regular demat account via email. This review will continue at the end of each billing cycle. June 28 - Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group fell in choppy trading on Friday, erasing earlier gains driven by President Joe Biden's shaky performance against Republican rival Donald Trump at the first 2024 U.S. presidential debate. TMTG shares have been volatile all year, as the stock is mostly driven by retail traders amid Trump's quest to return to the White House. The company itself loses money and is by some measures one of the most overvalued stocks among U.S. listings, with a price-to-revenue ratio in the thousands. "Fundamentally speaking, there is nothing much behind the Trump Media & Technology Group. The moves that we see are mostly speculative," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. Trading volumes surged after Thursday's debate and shares shot up in the morning as traders responded to Biden's performance. But the stock was unable to hold on to its gains and was last off by 6%. The stock came under pressure earlier this month after a jury found Trump guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star. The company, owner of Trump's social media platform Truth Social, reported revenue of $770,500 for the March quarter and an adjusted operating loss of $12.1 million. It was last valued at $6.7 billion. TMTG shares rose as much as 8% early in the session as Biden's allies scrambled to contain the fallout from his performance after he struggled to stem a barrage of attacks and false claims from Trump. Retail traders were net buyers of the stock on Friday, with their buy orders outnumbering sell orders by a 1.6 ratio at 12 p.m. ET, J.P.Morgan data showed. Trump owned 64.9% of TMTG as of June 10, worth about $4.2 billion as of the stock's last close, according to LSEG data. Separately, five small exchange-traded funds tied to the two U.S. political parties or their platforms were barely moving after Thursday's debate. The largest of these, the Unusual Whales Subversive Democratic Trading ETF has assets of $94.5 million, and was up 0.7%. The Unusual Whales Subversive Republican Trading ETF was 0.8% higher and has about $24.6 million in assets. Christian H. Cooper, portfolio manager at Subversive Capital, which launched both funds last year, said he is seeing flows of KRUZ "modestly above average" on Friday. Full flows data for Friday won't be available until Monday. Jenny Erpenbecks novel Kairos, winner of the International Booker Prize 2024, is named after a Greek god. Kairos, we read in Michael Hofmanns lyrical translation from the German, is the god of fortunate moments. He is supposed to have a lock of hair on his forehead, which is the only way of grasping hold of him. Because once the god has slipped past on his winged feet, the back of his head is sleek and hairless, nowhere to grab hold of. Luck and time, both fleeting and elusive, are shot through the fabric of this richly woven story of love and betrayal. What begins as an account of an intense affair between 19-year-old Katharina and Hans, a writer and broadcaster 34 years her senior, soon takes on an unexpected turn as the political ideologies of East and West Germany collide, causing the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The attendant turmoil, together with an act of reckless indiscretion by Katharina, shatters the clandestine and already volatile relationship. As the two Germanys unite, Katharina and Hans begin to break away from each other, but not before a painful and prolonged trial, fuelled by toxic co-dependency, sado-masochistic rituals of cruelty and relentless mental abuse. To Hofmanns credit, the suffocating air of Erpenbecks narrative, clogged with repeated rehearsals of manipulation and vertiginous time-frames, becomes viscerally affecting for the reader of the English text. Also read: What to watch this week: Kalki 2898 AD, A family affair and more If Kairos starts with Katharina learning about the death of her lover years into the future, the narrative quickly returns to their first encounter in the 1980s, bringing with it the urgency of the present tense. Flirtatious exchanges, soliloquies and observations are spliced with references to some of the cultural icons of East Germany: the playwright Bertold Brecht, the dissident poet and songwriter Wolf Biermann, and Hans Eisler, the composer of the anthem of East Germany, among a bevy of others. Even though the flow of the narrative is limpid and imagistic, unfolding against the backdrop of Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt, the complex tapestry of personal and political allegiances makes Kairos a difficult novel to read, mostly in the best sense of the term. Erpenbecks ingenuity lies in crafting a narrative style that seems to be continually disintegrating under the burden of thoughts, feelings and histories, both national and personal. The crumbling of the Berlin Wall, bringing together two nations, is a brilliantly counter-intuitive analogy to the rubble of promises that Katharina and Hans leave behind. If the former signifies a new beginning, the latter ushers in the end of an era of radical and (misplaced) idealism. In a telling moment, as Katharina inspects her mothers kitchen after the reunification of Germany, she sees bottles of Coca-Cola, once only available in the West, lying around. A shadow of cynicism crosses her mind as she thinks, Coca-Cola has succeeded, where Marxist philosophy has failed, at uniting the proletarians of all nations under its banner. The breaking of the Wall, in a sense, brought together people as much as it created new divisions in society. Yes, it ended the repressive regime of the Stasi, the East German secret police that kept citizens on a tight leash, denying them passports to travel abroad. At the same time, in the 1990s, as the Stasi files were made available to the public, the archives opened a Pandoras box. Thousands applied to see the files, leading to discoveries of being spied upon by their families and friends. Kairos: By Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann, Granta Books, 304 pages, 599 Historian Timothy Garton Ash, a frequent visitor to East Germany as a doctoral student in the 1970s, wrote about the disturbing revelations contained in his dossier, code-named Romeo, in The File (1997), a riveting work of investigative journalism and meticulous archival research. The 2006 movie, The Lives of Others, provided an inside-out look into the inner workings of the Stasi and the human cost of their surveillance system. Erpenbeck extends the narrative with her novel, where the key characters play hide and seek with each other, their secrets produced like trophies or trump cards at opportune moments. From Hans questionable past as a member of Hitler Jugend (the youth wing of the Fuhrers party) to Katharinas affinity with a fellow Russian student, Kairos is splintered with several inflection points, when the world turns murky even in the clear light of day. Yet, for the majority of the novel, the focus stays squarely on the asymmetric dynamics between Hans and his nubile lover. Katharina is tortured by the ethics of her relationship with Hans, its impact on Ingrid, his aggrieved wife, and Ludwig, their 15-year-old son. Hans, too, oscillates between a fierce attraction to Katharina and loathing of her, especially after learning about her accidental infidelity. In the hands of a lesser writer, the erotic misadventures of Hans and Katharina would likely have turned into borderline insipid and, indeed, creepy. The trope of jilted love between star-crossed lovers with a skewed age difference between them is far from original. In fact, there are moments in Kairos that read like tired stereotypes. As the plot progresses, there are numerous scenes of tempestuous showdowns between a contrite and devoted Katharina and the serial philanderer Hans. There are just as many episodes of passionate make-up sex to put the two back on square one. Also read: Why Carlos Alcaraz is the top contender at Wimbledon 2024 And yet, a profound spirit of inquiry runs through even the most mundane moments in Kairos. There is a witnessing of history taking its course, having a ringside view into lives being upturned, systems being rebuilt, and fortunes changing. The Wall may have erected a physical barrier between Germans in the East and West, but it had also opened the floodgates of emotions. Would there have been these innumerable letters without the Wall? Erpenbeck writes. Did writing have something to do with the abruptness of separation? Kairos, it would seem, is her answer to this question. A novel about the abruptness of separation between a couple, as well as two nations, Kairos doesnt shy away from the wreckage of emotions left in the wake of the reunification of the Germanys. As the 1990s roll in, the joy of becoming one nation, one people, again begins to become muddied by the harsh reality of the collapsing economy of the former East and the gulf that opens up between people from the two sides, attuned to distinctive lifestyles, values and aspirations. The breaking of the Wall was one of many fortunate moments for the past to heal itself in the present and build a robust future. But reality had other plans. What one generation sought to forget imposed itself on the next as a taboo, as Erpenbeck writes, and what the older generation missed out on was performed, with a fifteen-year delay, by the younger generation, who never stopped to ask themselves why. At Everest Base Camp this May, Skalzang Rigzin had an agenda similar to most other climbers. The intent was to get to the top of Everest, but it mattered to him how he got there. Ive never used supplementary oxygen on any of my previous climbs. So my body just doesnt know how it feels to climb with oxygen. Or that there is a more comfortable way of climbing the big mountains. And I was clear that Everest would be no different," Rigzin, 42, says. At 3.40am on 23 May, Rigzin stood on the summit of Everest. Besides avoiding supplementary oxygen, he didnt availthe assistance of a high altitude guide either. It was just him and his abilities, embracing the challenge posed by altitude, persevering, and eventually standing out from the crowd. Also Read Remembering the iconic 1934 Nanda Devi expedition View Full Image Skalzang Rigzin on the summit of Everest. Its been a perpetual debate in the world of mountaineeringthe ethics of climbing, the right style of getting to the top. Supplementary oxygen was used by the early expeditions to Everest in the 1920s, and by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary when they made the first ascent in 1953. It wasnt until 1978 that the first men, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler, reached the top without oxygen. According to The Himalayan Database, of the thousands whove summited Everest over the last decade (until 2023), only 36 have made the climb without oxygen. Only seven Indians have achieved this remarkable feat, all of them from the Indian Army, which makes Rigzin the first Indian civilian to have climbed Everest without supplementary oxygen. Its how Ive always climbed mountains. And every climb has taught me something," he says. While growing up in Ladakh, the mountains were all around Rigzin. Not much of a student, he would bunk classes and wander up the slopes to admire the view from the top. The eldest of four siblings, he dropped out of school in the eighth grade and looked out for work to support the family. He tried joining the Indian Army but that didnt work out because he was too young at the time; he worked as an office boy in New Delhi, all so that he could earn a living and explore the city. I was physically strong and really hard working, open to anything that came my way," he says. Also Read The great Everest mystery: 100 years of the disappearance of Mallory and Irvine It was only when he returned to Leh that he first heard of trekking. Starting out as a kitchen help, he led his first trek with Rimo Expeditions in 1997. While he was working, he pursued his mountaineering certifications as well. Besides finishing his basic and advance mountaineering courses, Rigzin is also an International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA)-certified guide. But his main mountain education happened while climbing peaks such as Rimo IV (7,169m), Arganglas (6,789m) and Padmanabh (7,040m) in the Eastern Karakoram range alongside veteran climbers such as Chris Bonington and Harish Kapadia. It was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The mountains taught me how to take stock of a situation, be resourceful and find possible solutions. I felt alive at the heights. And of course, I enjoyed the view from the top," he says. The first opportunity to visit Nepal arrived in 2021 when he joined an Indian Mountaineering Foundation team where he made an unsuccessful attempt on Nuptse. The following year, he landed the opportunity to work as a high altitude guide on Annapurna I. I was hired as an additional help on the mountain alongside the Sherpas. My plan was to go as far as I could without oxygen. On the summit push, I didnt know what to expect. It was a long climb and we reached the top quite late. It was hot and I felt a bit strange in the head, perhaps some hallucinations as well, but I soon settled down and started descending," he says. Then two weeks later, I climbed Lhotse without oxygen. The two climbs got me to understand my body above 8,000 metres. I also realised the need to use good gear and keep a regular check on my digits, since there are more chances of frostbites when you arent using oxygen. And the fact that I needed to consume more calories on the mountain," he says. The original plan was to climb Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain in the world. But heavy snowfall meant his team couldnt progress beyond Camp 3. Thats when his friend and Boots and Crampons agency founder, Bharath Thammineni, suggested he make an attempt on Everest. I had managed to raise funds for Dhaulagiri through educationist Sonam Wangchuk and a few friends. But I didn't have any money now. I could go to Everest only after Bharath arranged the permit and funded my entire climb," he says. After arriving at Everest Base Camp, he realised that a good weather window was opening up on 19 May and would last for the next five days. It was clear that a lot of climbers would set off early, which would jeopardise his own climb in case he were to get stuck at a bottleneck. Also Read How distance runner Sufiya set a new record at the Shimla Ultra Every second counts [at high altitudes] when you are not using oxygen. I also know my body, so I know when to turn around, which is more important than the summit. But I also wanted to give myself a good shot at climbing Everest, so I planned on summiting right towards the end of that period of good weather," he says. After just three days at base camp, Rigzin started up the mountain. He spent enough time at the camps en route to acclimatise to the altitude. At 6.50pm on 22 May, he said a little prayer and set off for the summit of Everest. There were about 150 people on the mountain that evening, but it was smooth progress. I did get really cold at one point and removed my boots to check if my toes were alright. Besides that, I was quite surprised with how good I was feeling at that altitude," he recalls. But Rigzin didnt leave anything to chance. All through the climb, he kept himself engaged and conscious with little tests for his brain such as remembering capital cities, and recollecting incidents from his life and when they had occurred. Once past the height of Lhotse, he made quick calculations on his rate of ascent and how long it would take to climb the final 300-odd metres. I just wanted to ensure that my mind was as alert as my body and that there was enough coordination between the two," he says.Once on the summit, Rigzin prostrated thrice to thank the mountain for allowing him to complete the climb. The way to get to the top is through hard work, not by using oxygen. Go slow and steady, do something different and challenge yourself every once in a while," he says. Shail Desai is a Mumbai-based freelance writer. Also Read How a 52-year-old trained for a tough ultra marathon in the Sahara Desert NEW DELHI : As India's insurance regulator seeks to insure every citizen by 2047, the life insurance industry wants the government to add more incentives to increase penetration in the Union Budget 2024-25. The industry believes that the incentives would not only make insurance affordable, but would also facilitate long-term funds for investing in key areas of the economy. Indias infrastructure sector is poised for a significant growth and requires a huge investment to support that growth. Life insurance firms, with their long-term assets, can help spur this sector. The upcoming budget may look at incentivizing investments into life insurance products to facilitate infrastructure and overall development of the country," says Subhrajit Mukhopadhyay, executive director, Edelweiss Life Insurance. View Full Image Graphic by Pranay Bhardwaj Here are the four key suggestions from the insurance industry: 1) Tax-free annuities Life insurance companies offer annuity products to help retirees earn regular pension during their lifetime. "Annuities are the only solution, that provide complete protection from the perspective of living longer (i.e. outliving ones corpus), by providing a regular flow of income throughout ones lifetime, purchased in lieu of a single lump-sum amount," says Mukhopadhyay. However, this pension amount is taxable. The industry demands some tax incentive to make it more attractive. "The gap between needed and available retirement funds is expected to reach $85 trillion by 2050. To help close this gap, make taxes simpler or remove them for pension and annuity products to encourage more people to invest in these important financial protections," says Satishwar B., managing director and chief executive, Bandhan Life. 2) NPS-like tax incentive on annuity plans The contribution to the national pension system (NPS) gets tax deduction under Section 80CCD (1b) of the Income Tax Act. Once the account matures, 60% of the accumulated corpus can be withdrawn tax free while the remaining 40% must go into annuity plans to generate regular pension. "The current 50,000 tax exemption for the NPS under Section 80CCD(1B) should also apply to pension and annuity plans provided by life insurers to encourage more people to avail them," says Satishwar. Vaibhav Kumar, senior vice-president and headproduct management and e-commerce channel, Max Life Insurance, agrees. "Currently, annuity products are taxed both at the entry stage (with no benefit under Section 80C) and at the payout stage [with no benefit under Section 10(10D)]. Making annuity payouts tax-free could alleviate the financial burden on retirees and ensure a stable income stream for them. 3) Reducing GST The awareness around term insurance is low. Most people tend to buy traditional life insurance policies. While the GST on term plan premiums is 18%, it is 4.5% (first-year premium) and 2.25% (second-year and future premiums) in traditional plans. Unit-linked insurance policies also attract a GST of 18%. The GST on single-premium annuity policies is 1.8% from 1.5% earlier before the implementation of the GST. "Reducing the GST burden on term insurance and annuity products could make these essential financial tools more accessible to a broader population. These products uniquely cover the two most critical risks for consumers: the risk of dying too early and the risk of living too long. A lower GST could enhance financial protection for families across the country," says Kumar. 4) Exclusive tax deduction for term plans The overall tax deduction limit of 1.5 lakh in section 80(C) is too less. It includes a lot of options including premium paid towards life insurance policies. The limit was last revised in 2014 by the then finance minister Arun Jaitley. The industry demands a dedicated tax deduction for term life insurance policies, if the limit cannot be hiked. Also Read: Why selling your insurance policy is better than surrendering "Permitting individuals to deduct the entire amount paid for term life insurance premiums from their taxable income, without any decrease due to claims made under other sections, such as 80C, will encourage more people to buy insurance. This means they get the full tax benefit for their insurance premiums, making insurance more financially appealing," says Satishwar. Delhi rains: Delhi witnessed heavy rain today, leading to severe waterlogging in several areas and significant disruptions at the Delhi airport. The downpour, which started early in the morning, submerged roads and affected daily commuters across the city. In a symbolic protest against the Delhi government, BJP councillor Ravinder Singh Negi was seen rowing an inflatable boat in a waterlogged area, highlighting the waterlogging issues exacerbated by the rains. Negi criticized the AAP government for neglecting PWD drains, which resulted in Vinod Nagar and other parts of Delhi being underwater, newswire ANI reported. All PWD drains are overflowing. They didn't get it cleaned ahead of Monsoon. This has led to waterlogging...Vinod Nagar has submerged," he told ANI. Negi said he had raised the issue several times; however, it had fallen on deaf ears. The BJP councillor told ANI, The AAP government is shameless, and people in Delhi are helpless. Heavy rains in Delhi also submerged several areas of Noida and Gurgaon causing anxiety to the commuters. The BJP councillor lashed out at the Aam Admi Party government's water minister, Atishi. Vinoba Nagar has submerged, and the PWD road is waterlogged, Ravinder Singh Negi said. Delhi Rains: DMRC announces closure The Delhi Metro also faced operational challenges, with the closure of the Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25 Metro station entry/exit and the suspension of shuttle services to Terminal 1-IGI Airport from Delhi Aerocity Metro station. However, services on other metro lines remained unaffected. Also Read | One dead after roof collapsed at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 amid heavy rainfall Delhi Airport Terminal 1 Roof collapses, 1 dead Meanwhile, tragedy struck at Delhi Airport as the roof of Terminal 1 collapsed, claiming one life and injuring six others. Flight operations at Terminal 1 were halted, prompting authorities to shift flights to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 for continued service, newswire PTI reported. The Aviation Ministry, in a post on X, said that flights to and from Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport have been closed until further notice as a result of the Delhi airport roof collapse. "Alternate arrangements are being made for the smooth operation of the flights," the ministry said in a post on X, according to a PTI report. Also Read | Delhi Water Crisis: Minister Atishi ends hunger strike after hospitalisation Atishi's Satyagraha Delhi Water Minister Atishi went on an indefinite hunger strike from June 22, demanding water supply for the national capital. Her health deteriorated after nearly five days of fasting, and she was admitted to LNJP Hospital. I will sit on the satyagraha until the Haryana government provides water to the people of Delhi. This hunger strike will continue till 28 lakh people of Delhi get water from Haryana, Atishi had said before going for the strike, reported The Hindu. Negi jibed at Atishi, saying that the AAP people are doing water satyagraha in Delhi; they have no shame. The whole National Highway, a PWD road, is submerged. A Vistara flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai received a bomb threat on Friday, after which all passengers were safely disembarked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, the airline said. Upon receiving the threat, the airline authorities immediately alerted the police and relevant security agencies, it added. Following standard protocol, the aircraft was directed to an isolation bay upon its landing at the Mumbai airport. Once the aircraft landed safely, all passengers were evacuated without any reported injuries or harm. The police have registered a case under section 304A/337 IPC in this regard and ordered the investigation of the matter, the airline said. A note saying 'bomb on board' was found by a crew member and they got in touch of the police as the flight landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai around 3.15 pm. "We confirm that a security concern has been noted by our staff while onboard Vistara flight UK 552 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai on 28 June 2024. As per protocol, we immediately alerted the relevant authorities, and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai where all customers have been disembarked," the Vistara said in a statement. "We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks," the statement added. In a major accident that raises questions about the infrastructure of the countrys biggest airport, a large section of the roof at Delhi airports Terminal 1 collapsed in the early hours of 28 Jun after a heavy spell of rain. One person died and eight others were injured in the accident, as per the latest update from the airport administration. Following the accident, the civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu has said that the ministry will inspect other airports as well to prevent such untoward incidents in future. From the ministrys side, this is being taken as a serious incident, not just at this airport but across the country any airports with similar structures...we will have to go through them all again and we will have to do a thorough checking of all necessary airports that come under purview, we will see if there is a requirement for an internal body also, Naidu told journalists after inspecting the accident site. In a statement late on Friday evening, the ministry stated that a war room will be set up to ensure full refund of cancelled flights and to facilitate alternative travel route tickets as per availability for affected passengers over the next few days. All refunds will be processed within a stipulated time of seven days, the ministry added. The ministry has also asked the Airports Authority of India to issue a circular to all major and minor airports to conduct a thorough inspection of structural strength. "These inspections must be completed within the next 2-5 days, and the reports are to be submitted to the ministry of civil aviation," the ministry said in a statement. Delhi airport is Indias largest and busiest airport and handles around 20% of the countrys total domestic and international traffic. During 2023-2024 (April-March), the airport handled 73.7 million passengers, 12.8% higher than the year-ago period. With three terminals, Delhi airport has the capacity to handle around 104 million passengers per year. The terminal in question is the oldest terminal at Delhi airport. Formerly called Palam terminal, it used to be the sole terminal for both domestic and international flights for Delhi. In January 2006, a GMR group-led consortium was awarded the concession to operate, manage and develop the IGI Airport following an international competitive bidding process. The initial term of the concession period is 30 years extendable by another 30 years. GMR group had then commissioned the new domestic departure terminal1D in February 2009. The roof that collapsed at the Delhi airports terminal 1 was constructed during 2008-2009. The work was contracted out by GMR to private contractors, a government official said. As part of its master plan of making Delhi airport future ready, the airport had started expansion work of Terminal 1 in 2019 and is now the largest domestic terminal in the country at a capacity of 40 million passengers per annum, up from 17 million passengers earlier. Currently, it exclusively handles domestic carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet. The revamped terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March this year. The disruption at Terminal 1 led to chaos for passengers with over 80 flight cancellations by IndiGo and around 15 flight cancellations by SpiceJet. The airport generally handles around 190-200 arrivals and departures per day. As a precautionary measure, all flight operations from Terminal 1 have been suspended till further notice and rescheduled by the respective airlines to operate from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, till the impacted areas are restored for operations, a Delhi airport spokesperson said. The airports Terminal 2 has a capacity of 15 million passengers per annum while Terminal 3 has a capacity of 45 million passengers per annum. Naidu said that the terminal 1 will be shut until a thorough inspection of the entire structure is completed. An airport executive further added that the terminal is likely to be shut over the next 2-3 days at least. As a result of the sudden flight cancellations and delays, spot fares for several routes have risen, data from travel portals showed. Spot fares for a one-way Delhi-Kolkata flight have soared to 6,500-25,000 from a fare band of around 6,000-9,000 earlier. Similarly, spot fares for Delhi-Bengaluru flight have risen to 8,000-40,000 from a band of 6,000-10,000 earlier and those for Delhi-Leh rose to 6,500-20,000 from a band of 6,000-9,000 earlier. The ministry has advised airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in air fares to and from Delhi and undertake cancellations and rescheduling without penal charges. Meanwhile, the airport has formed a technical committee to investigate the cause of the incident and said that it is working with all relevant agencies, including Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to assess the situation and restore operations. The airport has announced a compensation of 20 lakh to the family of the deceased, and 3 lakh each to those who received minor injuries. While the cause for the collapse is being assessed, the primary cause seems to be the continued heavy rainfall over the past few hours, the airport said. As per the India Metreological Department, Delhi Safdarjung recorded massive 228.1mm of rains in last 24 hours (mainly in the early morning hours of today). This is the highest 24 hours rain in Delhi in June after 1936, the average rainfall in the area in last 30 years is 75.2 mm, the airport added. Delhi airport roof collapse: Delhiites woke up to heavy rainfall and gentle breezes on Friday morning, bringing respite from the scorching heat. However, the downpour created chaos at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 after the airport's Terminal 1 roof collapsed, crushing cars and cabs, killing one person and injuring six others. Alongside the airport incident, the downpour inundated several areas of both Delhi and the broader Delhi-NCR region. What happened at Delhi Airport? All you need to know 1) The incident occurred at around 5 a.m. today at the departure area of Terminal 1 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi amid heavy rainfall. At least one person was killed and six others injured in this tragic incident. 2) An investigation into the Delhi airport roof collapse has been ordered. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu announced that a thorough inspection of the airport's structure will be carried out. Also Read | AAP Government calls an emergency meeting at 2 pm today 3) Naidu announced that 20 lakh would be given to the family of the deceased and 3 lakh for each injured person. The situation is under control, and Terminal 1 has been temporarily closed. 4) SpiceJet and IndiGo have suspended flight operations at Terminal 1 following the Delhi airport roof collapse incident. However, all SpiceJet arrivals and departures from Terminal 1 are being shifted to T3, and IndiGo's services are being distributed amongst T2 and T3. 5) The minister added that the structure that collapsed on Friday morning was opened in 2009, and airport operator DIAL has been directed to inspect it. "DGCA will supervise the inspection, and they will give a report." Also Read | Delhi airport flight status: Roof collapse grounds SpiceJet and IndiGo flight 6) A DIAL spokesperson stated after the incident that Emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected by the Delhi airport roof collapse. 7) Opposition leaders targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Delhi airport roof collapse incident at Terminal 1, terming it a failure of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. 8) Just like what the condition has been of 'Modi Empire', Terminal-1 has collapsed like that only. For 10 years it was under their upkeeping, despite that it couldn't sustain the first rain. Modi govt will meet a similar fate, they are fully responsible for it, said Congress MP Manoj Tiwari. Also Read | One dead after roof collapsed at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 amid heavy rainfall 9) It is a failure of the Ministry of Civil Aviation...Civil Aviation Minister should issue a statement on the same and tell us what remedial steps are being taken, said TMC MP Saugata Roy. 10) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held "corruption" and "criminal negligence" responsible for the Delhi Airport roof collapse incident and alleged that the PM inaugurated the portion that collapsed on March 10. Terminal-1 of Delhi airport, the country's largest domestic terminal, cancelled over 95 flights after its roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the capital city on Friday, June 28. Following the incident, Indigo cancelled over 80 flights and SpiceJet cancelled around 15 flights. The airport generally handles around 190-200 arrivals and departures per day. The ministry is going to investigate other airports to prevent such incidents in the future, said Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu. From the ministrys side, this is being taken as a serious incident, not just at this airport but across the country any airports with similar structures...we will have to go through them all again and we will have to do a thorough checking of all necessary airports that come under purview, we will see if there is a requirement for an internal body also, said Naidu. Delhi International Airport's Terminal 1 currently has the capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually, according to data from Delhi airport's official website. The airport also handled 4,56,183 flights for the year 2023-24. Indigo and SpiceJet are the two domestic airlines to operate out of the domestic terminal, according to data collected from the website. Recently, Delhi Terminal 1 received an upgrade with DigiYatra gates installed, according to the GMR Group website. Also Read | Delhi airport roof collapse: latest updates on the mishap at Terminal 1 GMR Airport Infrastructure shares closed 2.74 per cent lower at 96.5 on June 28, when compared with 99.23 in its previous close on June 27. About 148.5 millimetres (5.85 inches) of rain fell over three hours in the Delhi airport area in the early morning, more than the average for all of June, reported Reuters quoting the National Weather Office. Delhi's main Safdarjung weather station recorded 228.1 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 a.m. (0300 GMT), its highest 24-hour rainfall in June in 88 years. The central government announced a slew of steps to help people affected due to the roof collapse incident at the Delhi airport on Friday. From ensuring full refunds for cancelled flights to released War Room helpline numbers here's what the government said on Friday: 1. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said a 24/7 War Room will be established. It will ensure full refund of cancelled flights or provide alternative travel route tickets as per availability. All refunds will be processed within seven days. 2. The government also provided contact details in case passengers need immediate assistance. Check out 'War Room helpline numbers' below: Indigo airline | T2 Terminal: 7428748308 | T3 Terminal: 7428748310 Spicejet | T3 Terminal: 0124-4983410/0124-7101600, 9711209864 The government said the emphasis was laid on implementing measures to handle the additional stress on T2 and T3 terminals due to the temporary closure of T1. Also Read | Delhi airport roof collapse: Passengers question if Terminal 1 open on Saturday 3. The Centre also released an advisory to all airlines to ensure that the current situation does not lead to a steep increase in airfare. "Airlines to maintain fare stability to avoid passenger inconvenience," it said in the press release. 4. The Centre directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to issue a circular to all minor and major airports to conduct a thorough inspection of structural strength. "These inspections must be completed within the next 2-5 days, and the reports are to be submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation," the government added. Following the assessment, long-term policies will be formed "to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents will be formulated at priority". 5. IIT Delhi engineers have been roped in to immediately assess the Delhi T1 roof collapse incident. These decisions were taken after Union Minister for Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu held a high-level review meeting on Friday with key officials. Those who attended the meeting were Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Director General of Civil Aviation, Chairman of the Airports Authority of India, Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on Friday, June 28, in a case related to a land scam. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 on accusations of manipulating records with fictitious transactions and using forged documents to acquire land. Soren resigned as the Chief Minister after ED's arrest on the same day. Soren had been in judicial custody at Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi. Alongside Soren, others arrested in connection with the case include former revenue department sub-inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, Mohammed Saddam Hussain, and Afshar Ali. The allegations centered around the illegal acquisition of an 8.86-acre plot in Ranchi. Soren had applied for bail on April 16, arguing that his arrest was politically motivated, a claim he reiterated in earlier attempts for interim bail, including during the Lok Sabha election campaigns. However, the Supreme Court refused interim bail for Soren for Lok Sabha election campaigns. Hemant Soren, who became the Chief Minister for the fifth time in Jharkhand after the 2019 coalition victory of JMM, INC, and RJD, faced further challenges when the asked the Jharkhand governor Ramesh Bais to disqualify Soren as the member of the assembly for getting a mining lease for himself breaking the electoral law. The Enforcement Directorate is actively investigating five cases related to land scams based on FIRs filed by Jharkhand and Kolkata police. Their investigations have led to significant seizures, including approximately 1 crore in cash and 100 live bullet rounds during raids in Ranchi. Prior to today's court decision, there were 55 searches and nine surveys conducted by the ED in various locations related to the land scam cases, uncovering evidence such as forged seals of the Land Revenue Department, records of proceeds of crime, and instances of bribery, along with photographs. Following the news of his bail, supporters of Hemant Soren celebrated by distributing sweets at his residence in Ranchi. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, made a slew of populist announcements while presenting the state Budget for 2024-25 ahead of assembly elections likely to be held in October. 1) Ajit Pawar announced a financial assistance scheme entailing a monthly allowance of 1,500 to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years. 2) Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana will be implemented from July. The scheme will receive an annual budgetary allocation of 46,000 crore. 4) An eligible family of five will get three cooking gas cylinders free every year under the 'Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana'. 5) The government will provide a 5,000 per hectare bonus to all farmers in Maharashtra for their cotton and soybean crops. 6) The state government will also give dairy farmers a 5 per litre bonus even after July 1, 2024. Also Read | Ratan Tata pens a heart-wrenching post to seek donor for a puppy in Mumbai 7) The government has increased the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks; now, the next of kin will get 25 lakh instead of 20 lakh earlier. 8) As many as 44 lakh farmers in Maharashtra to get a waiver of electricity bill dues. 9) Ajit Pawar announced that tuition and examination fees paid for professional courses by girls from OBC communities and economically weaker sections with annual family income up to 8 lakh will be fully reimbursed by the government. Petrol, diesel to get cheaper in Mumbai region The Maharashtra government slashed the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel in the Mumbai metropolitan region, which will make petrol cheaper by 65 paise per litre and diesel by 2.60 per litre. Deputy Chief Minister and state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar made the announcement during the presentation of the annual state budget. ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans lower house of Parliament on Friday denounced a U.S. congressional resolution that called this week for an independent investigation into allegations that Pakistan's parliamentary elections earlier this year were massively rigged. The Pakistani resolution, introduced by ruling party lawmaker Shaista Malik, was adopted by the National Assembly despite objections from lawmakers from the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, who say the Feb. 8 vote was rigged. Malik in a televised speech said the U.S. resolution passed Wednesday was completely against the facts. She said Pakistan would not tolerate any such interference in its internal affairs. The latest development came a day after Pakistan's Foreign Ministry rejected the U.S. congressional resolution, which stunned authorities in Pakistan. On Friday, Islamabad said it has decided to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S. to replace Masood Khan. At a news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baluch, said Khan would be replaced by diplomat Rizwan Saeed Sheikh. However, she said the new appointment had already been under consideration. Baluch said Pakistan regretted the resolution adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives. "The resolution clearly stems from an inadequate and erroneous understanding of the political and electoral processes of Pakistan. It is also an unsolicited interference in Pakistans domestic affairs, she said. The latest development came a day after an appeals court in Pakistan upheld the conviction and seven-year prison sentence for Khan and his wife for their 2018 marriage, which was found to be unlawful. The couple denied they violated a mandatory three-month waiting period a requirement of Islamic law enforced by Pakistani law. Though Pakistan's top leadership expressed anger over the U.S. resolution, Khan's party hailed it, saying its victory in the election was converted into a defeat by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Khan's party won the most seats but fell short of a simple majority to form a government. That paved the way for Khan's political rivals to form a coalition government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after his ouster from power in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament, has repeatedly offered a dialogue with Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which has a strong presence in the parliament. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probing charges against former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa under POCSO Act has alleged in the chargesheet that he and three other accused paid money to the alleged victim and her mother to buy their silence. According to chargesheet, on Yediyurappas directions, aide Rudresh, one of the accused in the case, is said to have paid the alleged victim 2 lakh in cash. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Friday extended by two weeks its interim order restraining the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting Yediyurappa. What chargesheet says On February 2 this year, at around 11.15 am, the 17-year-old alleged victim, along with her 54-year-old mother -- the complainant -- visited Yediyurappa at his residence in Dollars Colonyseeking help in getting justice in a previous case of sexual assault (on the daughter) and other issues. While Yediyurappa was speaking with the mother, he was holding the victim's right wrist with his left hand, reported PTI quoting the chargesheet. The chargesheet claimed that Yediyurappa then called the minor inside a meeting room next to the hall and locked the door. He then asked the victim whether she remembered the face of the person who had sexually assaulted her earlier to which the victim replied twice stating that she did According to chargesheet, the CID has alleged that Yediyurappa asked the victim what her age was when she was allegedly sexually assaulted previously, to which she replied six-and-half years. At this point, Yediyurappa allegedly tried to sexually assault her. The horrified victim pushed Yediyurappa's hand, moved away and asked him to open the door. Also Read | Nandini milk prices hiked by 2 per litre in Karnataka 'Yediyurappa gave money' The chargesheet further claimed that Yediyurappa then opened the door and exited after putting some cash in the hands of the victim from his pocket. He then told the victim's mother that he couldnt help them in the case and also gave her some money from his pocket and sent them away, the chargesheet said. Aide paid 2 lakh PTI reported that according to the chargesheet, Yediyurappa aide Arun ensured that the victim's mother deleted the video from her Facebook account which was uploaded on February 20 and her iPhones gallery. On Yediyurappas directions, Rudresh is said to have paid the alleged victim 2 lakh in cash. Charges against Yediyurappa The 81-year-old Yediyurappa has been charged under Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence) and 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (Bloomberg) -- Mongolians will head to the polls on Friday to vote for a new parliament, with many looking for a party best-suited to deliver on promises of sharing mining wealth and cracking down on entrenched corruption. The election will be Mongolias first since amending the constitution in 2023 to expand the parliament by 50 members and it opens the door for more parties to take seats in the body. Sweeping changes to rules and the makeup of its legislature promise the largest and most diverse collection of lawmakers yet. All 126 seats in the parliament known as the State Great Khural will be up for grabs with the key number being 64 seats to claim a majority. The Mongolian Peoples Party currently has 62 seats in the current, smaller body, while the Democratic Party has 10. A third party called KhUN, which means person in the Mongolian language, has a single seat. The latest revisions offer select voters more than 100 candidates to choose from and establishes a minimum 30% of seats reserved for women, from the current 14 lawmakers in office. Some of the key issues are corruption in Mongolias mining sector after two former government members received guilty verdicts for what state prosecutors say was their part in the pilfering of coal from state-owned stockpiles. Mining represented 28% of Mongolias GDP last year and comprised 86% of all exports, mostly to China. The country has vast resources of coal and copper, a metal deemed crucial to the global energy transition. Its largely untapped deposits of rare earths have attracted mining interests from countries including France, Germany and the US. Adding to the tensions for the vote was an unusual act of violence this month when a member of the Democratic Party was killed, with the suspect being an election campaigner from another party, local news outlet ikon.mn reported, citing police. While the MPP leader said the party would drop the candidacy of Defense Minister Saikhanbayar Gursed, for whose campaign the alleged attacker was working for, the candidate vowed to continue his campaign, ikon reported. The East Asian nation has also struggled to deal with disinformation on social media, including deepfake videos. Civil society groups criticized the governments efforts to crack down on fake news, which have included detaining journalists. The Justice Ministry declined to comment on the arrests. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has sent a team to observe the elections for the landlocked country sandwiched between China and Russia. In addition to being the largest election with about 1,340 candidates, the ballots will also be larger than ever after drastic reform to the organization of election districts. Mongolias dependence on mining revenues from a handful of commodities almost entirely bought up by Chinese buyers keeps the country vulnerable to boom-bust commodity cycles, limited employment opportunities, and inequality. Diversification remains a major, major, major issue of discussion, said Khashchuluun Chuluundorj, a professor of economics who is on the board of Mongolian Mining Corporation and is executive director of the Mongolia Oil Shale Association. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday declared the arrival of monsoon in Delhi, as heavy rains pounded the city, bringing relief from relentless heat but also causing waterlogging and traffic snarls in various parts of the national capital. The severe early-morning rains meant that the national capital recorded its heaviest June downpour in 88 years, leading to widespread chaos. Monsoon arrived in Delhi a day earlier than private weather forecaster Skymet had predicted. Monsoon advances Southwest monsoon further advanced into some more parts of west Rajasthan, remaining parts of east Rajasthan, some parts of Haryana, entire Delhi, some more parts of west Uttar Pradesh; remaining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar; some more parts of east Uttar Pradesh and remaining parts of Uttarakhand, IMD in a statement said. "As the northern limit of monsoon passes through 26N/65E, Jaisalmer, Churu, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Kheri, Moradabad, Una, Pathankot, Jammu, 33N/74E, conditions are likely to become favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of west Rajasthan; remaining parts of Haryana, entire Chandigarh and remaining parts of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during the next two-three days, the weather bureau added. Also Read | Mint Primer: Ever seen the rain? The price of a truant monsoon As per the Safdarjung Observatory weather station, Delhi received 228.1 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours ended 8:30 am Friday, marking the highest 24-hour rainfall in June since 1936, when 235.5 mm of rain was recorded. Typically, Delhi receives an average of 80.6 mm of rain in June. The national rainfall deficit as of 28 June was 14% since the beginning of the four-month (June-September) monsoon season, data from IMD showed. Monsoon crucial for India Sectors such as agriculture, coal-based power plants, and steelmakers rely on summer rains, or the southwest monsoon, as this typically delivers nearly 70% of the rainwater India needs for its farms and to refill reservoirs and aquifers. Also Read | Mint Explainer: Return of La Nina and its impact on Indian monsoon, agriculture The development holds more significance for the kharif crops, as planting depends on the first showers of the southwest monsoon. The agriculture ministry on Friday released data on the area sown under various crops like paddy, pulses, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane. Farmers as of Friday planted kharif crops across 24.1 million hectares, 33% more than a year ago. Monsoon lost momentum after reaching Mumbai on 9 Junetwo days earlier than scheduled, despite its arrival in Kerala on 31 May, a day ahead of schedule and five days earlier than normal in northeast India. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Will heat deliver a torrential monsoon this year? According to IMD, the southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala around 1 June. It then advances northwards, usually in surges, and covers the entire country by around 15 July. The eastern arm of the stream stalled as the Arabian Sea branch was stuck at Navsari on the West Coast for about 10 days, making the eastern arm from the Bay of Bengal worse and monsoon current being stagnant for over 20 days. Under normal conditions, the southwest monsoon covers West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh around this time of the month and enters Uttar Pradesh on 20 June. On the western side, the monsoon reaches Ahmedabad by about 20 June and covers half of Saurashtra and central Gujarat. By 25 June, the stream swallows the entire Saurashtra, covering Rajkot and Jamnagar and swathes of north Gujarat, leaving only the Kutch region. The timely arrival of monsoon is crucial for India's agricultural sector, as around 56% of the net cultivated area and 44% of food production depend on monsoon rainfall. Normal precipitation is essential for robust crop production, maintaining stable food prices, especially for vegetables, and bolstering economic growth. LAJAS BLANCAS, Panama (AP) Panama's president-elect Jose Raul Mulino on Friday arrived at the jungle-clad province of Darien, where he was to face one of his biggest challenges: controlling the worlds busiest migration route from South America bound for the United States. The 65-year-old lawyer, who will take the reins of Panama on Monday, promised during his campaign to shut down the Darien Gap, calling the daily crossings "an odyssey that does not have a reason to exist. More than half a million people crossed the migration corridor on the border with Colombia last year and it is estimated that some 186,000 people have crossed so far in 2024, with most of the migrants hailing from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and China. The migrant route through the narrow isthmus grew exponentially in popularity in recent years with the help of criminal gangs and migrant smugglers who made it an affordable, if dangerous, route for hundreds of thousands of people. The popularity of the Darien also grew after countries, under pressure from the U.S. government, imposed visa restrictions on various nationalities including Venezuelans and Peruvians in an attempt to stop migrants flying into the country just to continue onto the U.S. border. Still, masses of people took the challenge and set out on foot through the jungle-clad Colombian-Panamanian border. A crossing that initially could take a week or more was whittled down to two or three days as the path became more established and entrepreneurial locals established a range of support services. Mulino, who was accompanied by members of his future Cabinet, arrived at a temporary reception center where thousands of migrants arrive every week, including pregnant women and children. On the eve of the visit, migrants staying in the camp of Lajas Blancas after crossing the Darien, recounted their economic and security difficulties and several expressed their support of Mulino's plans to close the migration route. He (Mulino) will have to close it, said Pedro Monte, a Venezuelan migrant who lost his wife on the way to the Darien Gap. "Its the most dangerous thing (...) there are thieves, there are deaths, its a pity that people lose their lives there. Mulino has said he will deport migrants who continue crossing the Darien, but experts caution it will be a difficult and expensive task. He has also hinted that he will seek agreements with the United States at a time when reports of abuses, human rights violations and testimonies of deaths throughout the route persist. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to attend Mulino's inauguration on Monday. ___ On this day: Several events occurred on June 28 in history. Many of them proved to change the discourse of history in the world and India. The day is remembered for the implementation of one of the toughest media censorships imposed in India during the Emergency led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Decades ago, the day marks the finalisation of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 during World War I. Treaty of Versailles in 1919 The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, at the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France, was one of the key peace treaties that ended World War I. It marked the official end of hostilities between Germany and the Allied Powers. Here are some key points about the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was signed by Germany and the Allied Powers, including France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States, though the U.S. Senate did not ratify the treaty and instead signed separate peace agreements with Germany. Press censorship during Emergency in India The period of Emergency in India began on June 25, 1975, and ended on March 21, 1977. That day marked the implementation of one of the toughest press censorships in India during the emergency. To oppose the press censorship, imposed by the Indira Gandhi government, the Indian Express, headed by Ramnath Goenka, ran a blank editorial on June 28 as a mark of protest against the media censorship. Israel annexes East Jerusalem In 1967, Israel annexed East Jerusalem, which it viewed as the reunification of its capital city. However, the international community declared the annexation illegal and considers East Jerusalem to be Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. Prince Harry is "trying to go at it alone" and "not trying to become a working royal" again, according to GB News Royal correspondent Cameron Walker. The Duke of Sussex quit his role as a working royal in January 2020 and moved to the US with his wife, Meghan Markle. Walker was asked if the recent events involving senior Royals stepping backthree in total, one in the hospital and two regularly visiting for treatmentmight have influenced Prince Harry to adopt a more responsible role. Walker believes the situation isn't related to temporary absences of Royal Family members like the Princess of Wales and Princess Anne. Instead, he thinks the individual is attempting to manage on his own and isn't trying to reintegrate as a working member of the Royal Family. "I think he is pretty happy in California from the messages we are getting from him, but clearly it is a huge frustration. I think perhaps for those Royal watchers and those Royal fans who think what could have been if he stayed as a working member and how much he could have perhaps helped, he added. Also Read | Prince Harry plans surprise visit to UK to mend relations with Royal Family Walker commented that, if Meghan had remained a working member of the Royal Family, especially when the monarchy appeared quite slimmed down, the situation would have been very different. Prince Harry angry and frustrated I think over the last few years, it's been pretty clear that Prince Harry has been pretty angry and frustrated with the situation he's ended up being in. There's been long periods of absence, I think, from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, he added. Prince Harry's passion and enjoyment, according to Walker, clearly lie in military engagements and promoting military causes, which is evident in his activities. Indian-American millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was once a rival of former president Donald Trump, has said though he has not been asked, he would be "honoured" to serve in the Trump administration as his running mate. Ramaswamy, however, made it clear that he has not been approached by the Trump Campaign. Ramaswamy, 38, dropped out of the 2024 Republican Party presidential race in January after a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Trump. Previously, some US media reported that Ramaswamy could be among the frontrunners. Virtually unknown before he announced his run for president, Ramaswamy rose to third place in national polls over the summer, amid a slew of appearances on cable news. While talking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the Biden-Trump Presidential debate in Atlanta, the biotech entrepreneur said, "I think one of the things about Donald Trump, I have seen in him and that doesn't really come across on television is that he is more ambitious for the second term, to be even more successful than the first term." Asked about the possibility of being elected as Vice-President on behalf of the Republican Party, Ramaswamy said he hasn't been asked but would be "honoured" to serve in a Trump administration. "We've had a lot of conversations about the future. He has not asked me to be his Vice President, whoever he asks is going to have a remarkable ability to serve this country and take that America first agenda even further," he said. Thursday's feisty debate that lasted roughly 90 minutes was the first of the three presidential debates between the 81-year-old President Biden and 78-year-old Trump ahead of the November 5 election. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom said that the Biden-Trump presidential debate was about "electing the leader of the free world" and will have an impact around the globe. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the debate, Newsom, a Democrat, said, "It has an impact around the globe. It will be felt around the globe. This is about electing the leader of the free world. America matters. It's about our moral authority, not just our formal authority." "India is going to play one of our most important and stable partners as the world's largest democracy," he said. Stressing the importance of US-India relations, Newsom acknowledged that the support that President Biden has received from Indian Americans was 'off the charts', including the support towards Vice President Kamala Harris. Also Read | Donald Trump convicted: Vivek Ramaswamy raises concerns on key figures in trial Ajay Bhutoria, who is also a prominent Democratic fundraiser, said that the first US Presidential debate offered an unparalleled opportunity for both candidates to try to reshape the political narrative. "The debate between President Biden and Trump, means the debate between light and darkness, the debate between progress and regression. What we saw in the four years of Trump where he instigated the mob to go to the capital and to turn around the elections," he said, referring to the unprecedented insurrection in Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. "What we saw was the highest number of manufacturing jobs being lost under the Trump administration. What we have seen under the Biden administration is stability, bringing all communities together and highest number of employment and lowest unemployment rate, and the largest investment in infrastructure," he said. YOU WOULD never know it from a low-wattage campaign but after 14 years of Conservative rule, Britain is on the threshold of a Labour victory so sweeping that it may break records. No party fully subscribes to the ideas that The Economist holds dear. The economic consensus in Britain has shifted away from liberal valuesfree trade, individual choice and limits to state intervention. But elections are about the best available choice and that is clear. If we had a vote on July 4th, we, too, would pick Labour, because it has the greatest chance of tackling the biggest problem that Britain faces: a chronic and debilitating lack of economic growth. Consider first the alternatives. We can discard some immediately. The Scottish National Party wants to dismember Britain, not run it. The Greens make student politics look rigorous. Reform UK, Nigel Farages outfit, offers a fevered, nativist vision of Britain that would accelerate the very decline it says it is striving to prevent. More on this: What of the Liberal Democrats? The logic that led us to endorse them in 2019 no longer holds. Against Boris Johnsons Brexit-obsessed Tories and Labour under Jeremy Corbyn, a hard-left charisma vacuum, they were the only choice. Today the Lib Dems still have some good policiesletting asylum-seekers work, say, or a new land-value taxbut they have become more sceptical on trade and even more nimbyish on planning. The Lib Dems do not aspire to be a credible party of government; they are barely credible as liberals. Trying to make the case for the Tories is like a teacher struggling to say something nice about the class troublemaker. They have done some good things: on educational standards, on regional devolution and on the tax regime for capital investment. Rishi Sunak is a better prime minister than Liz Truss, though if praise came any fainter it would be invisible. The pandemic and the invasion of Ukrainewhere they also did wellvastly complicated their time in office. But the other side of the ledger is long and damning. The public realm has been hollowed out. Prisons are full; local government is badly underfunded; and if the National Health Service is still a national treasure, that may be because treatment is so hard to find. On migration, the Tories are illiberal and ineffective: they want to crack down on it yet have presided over record levels of net migration. They have become increasingly hostile to policies designed to combat climate change. Above all, they have failed to build. Housing supply lags behind demand, and grid connections take years to materialise. The Tories most memorable policy is to have severed the country from its biggest trading partner. That was always going to be bad for Britain, but the chaos of enacting Brexit split the party and voters have had to endure the Tory psychodrama ever since. Each prime minister has undone the work of the previous one. The party has neglected its prosperous voters in the south-east. From drinking sessions in Downing Street during the pandemic to bets allegedly placed on the timing of the election, a film of sleaze clings to the Conservatives. Although the Tory party does not deserve our endorsement, wishing its obliteration would be wrong. The British electorate has become more volatile. The political pendulum could swing away from Labour within a single five-year term. Whenever it does so, Britain will need a capable opposition party to offer an alternative. A Tory catastrophe and a strong showing for Mr Farage, who dreams of staging a reverse Tory takeover, would heighten the risk that the Conservatives lurch towards a dark, populist extreme. Britain needs the party to rediscover its conservative, pro-market instincts. That is the negative case for voting Labour, but there are positive arguments, too. The first is that the party has been transformed. Since the last election Sir Keir Starmer has expelled Mr Corbyn, rooted out many of his fellow travellers and dragged Labour away from radical socialism. The Economist disagrees with the party on many things, such as its plan to create a publicly owned energy provider. But elections are when voters mete out rewards as well as punishments, and Labours reinvention deserves credit. The second positive reason to back Labour is its focus on growth. The party is right in its diagnosis that nothing matters more than solving Britains stagnant productivity. Its young, aspiring, urban supporters will give it permission to act in ways that the Conservatives have avoided. The most obvious of these is building more houses and infrastructure, and forging closer relations with Europe. The party of public services may also have more latitude to reform them than the Tories would. The question that hangs over Labour is how radical it will be in pursuit of growth. It has run a maddeningly cautious campaign, choosing to reassure voters rather than seek a mandate for bold change. It does not help that Sir Keir, having been in Mr Corbyns shadow cabinet before ejecting him, seems to turn with the wind. Having strenuously avoided the subject in the campaign, a Labour government will need to raise taxes (as would a Conservative one if it was not to wreck public services). For all these reasons, having failed to set out a vision to steer by, prime minister Starmer could more easily be blown off course by events or sidetracked by growth-stifling left-wing preoccupations, such as beefing up workers rights, stamping out inequality and doling out industrial subsidies. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood Sir Keirs answer to this criticism of him as a campaigner should be his determination and competence in office. His method is to work relentlessly towards a goal, ratcheting up pressure as he goes. After years of post-Brexit Conservative ideological lurches, that in itself will be worth something. If Labour also succeeds in overhauling the planning regime, strengthening ties with Europe, giving fiscal power to cities, focusing the Treasury on growth and rationalising the tax system, the picture will brighten and Britain will be better off. Sir Keir and his party have earned the chance to try. For subscribers only: to see how we design each weeks cover, sign up to our weekly Cover Story newsletter. Summer Davos concludes, highlighting China's critical role on global stage 14:27, June 28, 2024 By Tao Mingyang, Liu Yang and Yin Yeping ( Global Times Photo taken on June 26, 2024, in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province shows the venue of the 2024 Summer Davos. (Photo: Tao Mingyang/GT) The 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC24), also known as the Summer Davos, wrapped up on Thursday with officials, economists, and business leaders from around the world concluding their three-day discussion covering topics spanning from technology, economics, and geopolitics and highlighting China's key role in driving the global economic growth. At the event, Chinese and international business leaders and scholars hailed "certainties" from China amid a turbulent world and highlighted China's critical role in helping address growing challenges, including the global economic downturn. The AMNC24, featuring the theme "Next Frontiers for Growth," concluded on Thursday in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. It drew the attendance of over 1,600 participants from business, government, civil society, international organizations, and academia from about 80 countries and regions. As one of the most important international economy-themed forums, the Summer Davos offered the world an opportunity to better understand important trends across various fields, Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the Digital-Real Economies Integration Forum 50, told the Global Times on Thursday, noting that hot topics during the forum are more likely to become key elements that steer the world's economy growth. Compared with the first two days' spotlight on specific discussions addressing artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, food, and energy security, panels held on the third day - Thursday - attached more importance to how China could drive the world forward. Peng Sen, president of China Society of Economic Reform, said on Thursday during a panel discussion named "China Economic Outlook" that China's economy achieved a growth rate of 5.2 percent in 2023, contributing around 30 percent to global growth despite significant pressure, and the growth rate hit a remarkable 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024, beyond expectation. "I'm fully confident that China can achieve its GDP growth goal of around 5 percent. We need high-quality growth in order to stimulate our development and our growth. This depends on the transition, the revolutionary transformation, on the technological front, and as for the traditional sectors, they need an upgrade and they need a deep transformation," Peng said. Jin Keyu, professor of economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, said on Thursday at the forum that China is spearheading the structural transformation via electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels, which was much earlier than most Western economies, adding that China will play an essential role in the global green transition. Jin noted that "trillions of dollars of investment is needed" for the global green transition, adding that "China is going to play a very essential role" in the transformation. She highlighted that China's new innovative business models, and the digital economy, accounting for about 40 percent of the country's GDP, are a practical and cost-effective solution to many developing countries' present problems. When Chinese Premier Li Qiang addressed the opening plenary of the Summer Davos, he emphasized that China has unique comparative advantages to foster new industries, including an ultra-large market with a population of over 1.4 billion, a complete industrial system, abundant human resources, diverse application scenarios, and consumers' high acceptance of new technologies. "We have the confidence and capability to achieve the growth target of around 5 percent for this year," Li said. In terms of trade and technology protectionism signs in multilateral cooperation, Premier Li stressed that China will promote inclusive and mutually beneficial development, which was hailed by experts attending the AMNC24. Following a panel discussion theme with "US-China Relations Analyzed," Li Cheng, professor of political science from the University of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Thursday that China-US technology cooperation witnessed a rapid falloff over the past few years due to US policies targeting China. Premier Li said that if countries only think about maximizing their own interests without considering that of others, and even turn back the wheel of history by decoupling and cutting off industrial and supply chains with the "small yard and high fence" policy, it will only raise the cost of global economic operations, sever economic ties between regions and intensify contradictions and disputes. "China has world-leading scientists and engineers, and US' protectionism and bias may force them back to China and other Asian countries. It is actually not in line with US' interests," Li Cheng noted. In order to set a stable foundation for economic growth and avoid the impact of global uncertainty, China will foster new quality productive forces by launching a series of key projects covering AI, integrated circuits, and global computing power network to empower traditional technologies, Peng said. China has seen a steady economic performance so far in 2024, with the country's retail sales of consumer goods hitting 19.52 trillion yuan ($2.69 trillion) from January to May this year, up 4.1 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Hu noted that China might be the only economy that can drive the world out of its current whirlpool of decline in a peaceful and moderate way. "The reason why China-related topics are so important and attract much attention is because the world is looking for certainties in China amid soaring global uncertainties," Hu said. China's economic growth in the second half of 2024 is also a major topic underlined by AMNC24 participants, as Peng noted that stable growth in China will be good news for the world. "Currently, there are still some challenges facing China's economy, including unreleased domestic consumption potential and global uncertainties. But the country's economy can be greatly boosted through countercyclical policies and new growth momentum generated from new quality productive forces," said Peng. Regarding the coming third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee scheduled to be held in July in Beijing, Peng projected that there will be more macro-related policies to be released. Li Cheng said that aside from economic stimulus, China has vast room for conducting urbanization and it might be a new growth engine for China. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Maldives Minister Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem was suspended after being arrested along with her two siblings on charges of performing black magic on President Mohamed Muizzu, said local media reports. Saleem is the state minister for Environment, Climate Change and Energy in Maldives. On June 23, Shamnaz, along with two other suspects, were arrested and remanded in custody for seven days. According to Maldives-based Sun, Shamnaz, once listed as a political appointee on the Environment Ministry's website, has been moved to the list of former political appointees, according to Maldives-based Sun. Police were investigating a case involving Shamnaz and two other individuals, Chief police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan, told Sun. Also Read | Black magic on Maldives President Muizzu? Climate minister arrested Notably, the Maldives government has yet to make an official statement on this situation. Shamnaz previously served as a member of the Male City Council with President Muizzu when he was the city's mayor. After Muizzu's election to President's office last year, Shamnaz resigned from the council, was appointed state minister at Muliaage, and later transferred to the Environment Ministry. Her role is vital in a nation facing the brunt of the climate crisis. UN environmental experts warn that rising sea levels could make it nearly uninhabitable by the end of the century. Maldives' black magic history In April 2023, a 62-year-old woman on Manadhoo was fatally stabbed by three neighbours who accused her of practising black magic, as reported by the Mihaaru news website. After an extensive investigation, police stated they found no evidence to support the claim that the victim was involved in sorcery. In a separate incident in 2012, during a crackdown on an opposition political rally, police claimed the organizers threw a "cursed rooster" at officers raiding their offices. Sorcery is not a criminal offence under the penal code in the Muslim-majority Maldives. However, under Islamic law, it does carry a six-month jail sentence. People across the archipelago widely practice traditional ceremonies, believing they can win favours and curse opponents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed an agreement for a long-term security commitment with the European Union as western allies pledge to maintain military and political support for Kyiv. The documents will formalize a raft of EU initiatives to support the war-torn nation, including arms deliveries, training Ukrainian troops, de-mining as well cooperation in tackling cyber and hybrid threats. No new pledges are expected from the 27-member bloc. This is, yet again, another sign of how the EU countries are united in supporting Ukraine in its fight against a brutal attack by Russia, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told reporters in Brussels on Thursday. We will support with whatever means possible. More than a dozen countries, including EU member states, have forged similar bilateral deals as Kyiv seeks to repel Russias invasion, now in its third year. Earlier this month, the US became the latest nation to enter into a security agreement with Ukraine as President Joe Biden pledged that western allies were not backing down from their support. Zelenskiy on Thursday also signed bilateral security agreements with Lithuania and Estonia. The two countries will contribute at least 0.25% of their economic output to Ukraines security and reconstruction over the long term. Zelenskiys visit to Brussels comes as a summit meeting brings together the 27 EU leaders to discuss aid to Ukraine, as well as the situation in the Middle East and the blocs defense strategy. The leaders are expected to sign off on the key appointments to EU top jobs. The EU on Tuesday formally opened negotiations with Ukraine over its membership in the bloc, an important symbolic step in a process that will take years to play out. Hungary had been blocking the move, citing concerns including the protection of Hungarian minorities in Ukraine, a longstanding demand that Brussels and Kyiv insist has been addressed. Budapest has repeatedly tried to slow-walk EU decisions to provide support to Ukraine or impose new sanctions on Russia before eventually falling in line with the rest of the bloc. I invite everyone in Europe who is still on the sideline of the security work to join us, Zelenskiy said on Thursday. With assistance from Kati Pohjanpalo. Both the Houses of Parliament Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Friday after the Opposition leaders created a ruckus demanding a discussion on alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examinations and the failure of National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts the exams. Members of Parliament (MPs) from Opposition parties, including the Congress, moved adjournment motions demanding discussion on the issues in both the Houses, a demand that was rejected. The decision to move these motions was taken at a meeting of the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc held on June 27 at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in the national capital. Congress MPs Ranjeet Ranjan and Gaurav Gogoi moved the djournment motion notice in Lok Sabha party lawmaker Syed Naseer Hussain moved the motion in Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha session began when the Speaker Om Birla read out the obituary references to members of the House, who passed away recently. After the references, the Speaker insisted that the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President's Address be discussed first. We wanted to send out a message from Parliament to the affected youth of the country that the government and the opposition are concerned about you. That is why we had demanded a discussion before we could discuss the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said. After the first adjournment till noon, the House convened again. The opposition MPs continued their protest following which Speaker Om Birla adjourned the house till Monday. Never before in the history of Parliament has anything else been discussed during the Motion of Thanks to President's Address. I assure that the government will answer all questions but after Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs , said in the Lok Sabha. Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha too after chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the House amid ruckus by INDIA bloc MPs demanding discussion on NEET. The proceedings of Rajya Sabha continued in the afternoon. Also Read | NEET PG 2024 exam date to be announced next week President Bidens performance in Thursday nights presidential debatein which he repeatedly appeared to lose his train of thought and sounded hoarsehas raised the question of what would happen if Biden were to step aside as the Democratic Partys nominee. Biden has won more than enough delegates in party primaries this year to secure the nomination, and the president would need to exit from the race for any replacement to be possible before the November general election. If he were to quit the race, it could make for a particularly dramatic Democratic National Convention in August, complete with many rounds of voting and hotel lobby politics. What happens if Biden stays in the race? Since Biden has enough delegates to win the nomination, if he stays in the race there is not a path for another candidate to become the Democratic nominee. What happens if Biden drops out? If Biden drops out of the race, the Democrats will nominate a new candidate at the Democratic National Convention, which takes place in Chicago this August. How does that work? All of the Biden delegates preparing to go to Chicago would become uncommitted delegates. Before the rise of primaries, this is how conventions worked: candidates had to convince delegates to vote for them. The convention could become a campaign itself, likely to draw out divisions within the Democratic Party. The Biden delegates slated to support him in August were approved by the campaign, meaning they are likely loyal to the president. This could make them more likely to cast their vote for whichever candidate Biden supports upon stepping down. What about Kamala Harris? Harris doesnt automatically become the nominee just because shes vice presidentthe delegates have already been selected, so shes on the same footing as any other person. Still, her status in the Democratic Party and White House connections could make her a viable candidate, especially if Biden gives her his endorsement. Anyone else? The Democratic Party has a host of political stars, including governors like California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. All have been vocal supporters of Bidens campaign. What if Biden drops out after the convention? Once the convention ends, for the Democrats to choose a new candidate, Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison would need to consult with to Democratic governors and members of Congress before filling the vacancy. Write to Owen Tucker-Smith at Owen.Tucker-Smith@wsj.com Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of corruption and criminal negligence in recent infrastructure projects, including in the collapse of the Delhi Airport Terminal 1 roof, the leakage at Ayodhya Ram Mandir, and others. In a post on X, Kharge wrote, Corruption and criminal negligence are responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt. Also Read | One dead after roof collapsed at Delhi Airport Terminal 1 amid heavy rainfall The Congress leader listed several infrastructural failures of the Modi government. These include the Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, the Jabalpur airport roof collapse, the abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram Mandir roof leakage, cracks in the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, the collapse of 13 new bridges in Bihar in 2023 and 2024, submerge of Pragati Maidan Tunnel and the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat. The Congress chief said that these stark instances exposed PM Modi and BJP's tall claims of creating "World-Class Infrastructure. Mallikarjun Kharge added that the Prime Minister had called himself doosri mitti ka insaan while inaugurating the Delhi Airport Terminal 1. All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections! Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a corrupt, inept and selfish government, Kharge added. Responding to these remarks, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu clarified that the building inaugurated by PM Modi at Delhi Airport is on the other side, not at Terminal 1. I want to clarify that the building inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi is on the other side, and the building that collapsed here is an old one which opened in 2009, the minister said after announcing a compensation of 20 lakh for the deceased and 3 lakh for the injured. Delhi Airport Terminal 1 roof collapse One person died and six people were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airport's Terminal-1 fell on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains early Friday, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said. The officials said many vehicles were damaged in the incident, which was reported to the DFS around 5:30 am. They added that the injured persons have been shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Also Read | Delhi airport flight status: Roof collapse grounds SpiceJet and IndiGo flight Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said, Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also, adviced the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing. The roof collapse incident has affected flight operations in the national capital, with SpiceJet and IndiGo temporarily cancelling services till the situation improves at Delhi airport. Due to the heavy rain in Delhi, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has closed entry and exit at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25 Metro station. The DMRC has also suspended the shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport. Ayodhya Ram Mandir roof leakage The Ayodhya Ram Mandir's roof is reportedly 'leaking' amid the onset of monsoon 2024. The holy shrine's chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, while expressing 'surprise' at the incident, said, So many engineers are here, and the Pran Pratishtha was held on January 22, but water is leaking from the roof. Nobody would've thought this. Also Read | Ayodhya Ram Mandir roof leaking within 6 months of Pran Pratistha ceremony The chief priest of Ram Mandir said the temple's roof started leaking right after the first rains. Acharya Satyendra Das said water leakage started specifically near the location where the Ram Lalla idol is housed. He mentioned that the newly constructed Ram Temple lacks proper drainage, causing water to leak from above and accumulate near the idol. Irans presidential election on Friday will decide not only who leads a country increasingly antagonistic to the West but also help shape succession plans for the next supreme leader and indicate whether Iranians are giving up on their system of Islamic governance. The election pits a reformist candidate leading in the polls, Masoud Pezeshkian, who favors re-engaging with the West, against several hard-liners who want to deepen Irans relationships with Russia and China, fortify its alliance of anti-Israel militias and forge ahead with its nuclear program. There is no clear favorite, and there would be a runoff between the two top vote-getters if no one wins a majority. The election was sparked by the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month. Raisi, a hard-line cleric serving his first term, was viewed as a contender to succeed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 85 years old and in poor health. Though no one outside a small circle in Iran is privy to succession talks, Iran analysts said Raisis death removed a safe choice. The ballot will be an informal referendum on the Iranian regime, two years after protests calling for its downfall rocked the streets and were put down violently. Raisi was elected in 2021 in the first Iranian presidential ballot in which fewer than 50% of voters participated, and polls show turnout could be even lower this time. Still, many Iranians are unconvinced that it is worth voting for the narrow list of candidates Khamenei allows. Andia, a 37-year-old Tehran resident who joined the 2022 protests, said she wouldnt vote because a popular moderate, Ali Larijani, was banned from participating. This election wont make any difference to me, she said. Most polls suggest the campaign is dominated by three candidates: Pezeshkian, who favors resuming nuclear talks with Washington and other world powers to lift international sanctions in exchange for curbs on Tehrans nuclear program; hard-liner Saeed Jalili, a Khamenei adviser who is opposed to compromise on Irans nuclear program and any relaxation of the regimes compulsory veil for women; and the speaker of Irans Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, known as a pragmatic conservative seeking a limited re-engagement with the West. On Wednesday, Pezeshkian was leading with 33.1%, followed by Jalili at 28.8% and Ghalibaf with 19.1%, according to a poll published by the Iranian Students Polling Agency, which is affiliated with a research center close to the government. The election is happening at a critical time for Iran. It is under heightened international scrutiny over its nuclear program, which it says is peaceful, and its military support to Russia in the war against Ukraine. It nearly went to war with Israel in April, when the two countries attacked each other on their soil for the first time. And it is dealing with lingering frustrations among young people over the crippled economy and restrictions on freedom, which broke into the open in 2022 in mass protests after the death of a woman in police custody following her arrest for not wearing a proper headscarf. Polls will close Friday, but the final results might not be released until Sunday. If no candidate gets more than 50%, the two lead contenders will compete in a second round on July 5. Under the theocratic system established by founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the 1979 revolution, the president has much less power than the supreme leader, the de facto head of state who must be a senior cleric. The supreme leader has a final say on the countrys most critical matters, from political and social changes to its nuclear program. The president can, however, steer the nation into a hawkish or flexible direction, and the presidency is seen as a steppingstone to becoming supreme leader; Khamenei was Irans president in the 1980s. Analysts view Ghalibaf as the favored choice of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the paramilitary force that defends against anything that threatens the countrys system of governance. Ghalibaf, himself a retired IRGC commander, was involved in violent crackdowns on Iranian university students in 1999 and 2003. Since then, his positions moderated, and he even called for limited changes and argued against excessive crackdowns during the 2022 protests. In foreign policy, he backed the 2015 nuclear deal before rejecting it after Irans economy failed to improve. By contrast, Jalili represents a faction known as super revolutionaries, a group that seeks a return to the firebrand spirit of the regimes early days. Jalili has slammed the 2015 nuclear deal, saying it favored countries that have the greatest hostility toward the Iranian people. Ghalibaf has shown total dedication for the Islamic system but it is channeled in a pragmatic way, said Mostafa Pakzad, an independent Iranian geopolitical analyst. Pezeshkian, the only reformist among five approved conservatives, has suggested Iran was responsible for its economic woeslater citing mismanagement and international sanctions tied to its nuclear program. We are to blame, he told state television on Monday. Pezeshkian was allowed to run to ensure citizens disgruntled with the regime would turn up at the polls, Iran analysts said. Khamenei is concerned that most Iranians have simply stopped voting for his narrow list of candidatesand the resulting loss of legitimacy. Khamenei and the core nucleus recognize a need for more competitive elections, said Sina Toossi, an Iran expert at the Center for International Policy, a Washington think tank. In a town hall meeting with reformist Pezeshkian, young Iranians said they had little hope for change. Your generation reached the conclusion it didnt have a common language with the government and did a revolution, one woman said in an exchange broadcast on state TV. Our generation is reaching this level. A day after Bolivias unpopular president stood down military officers who had launched an apparent coup, his political adversaries and ordinary people are poking holes in the leftist governments version of events. After President Luis Arce confronted the leader of the dissident officers at the presidential palace in a dramatic scene captured on social media, the soldiers retreated and order was restored, without the fatalities of the many coups that have marked Bolivian history. Sixteen military officers and a university professor were arrested for allegedly plotting the rebellion since May, government officials said Thursday. Among those held are two high-ranking commanders the government identified as ringleaders, General Juan Jose Zuniga, the former commander of the army who Arce confronted, and Vice Admiral Juan Arnes, commander of Bolivias navy. Hector Arce Zaconeta, Bolivias ambassador to the Organization of American States in Washington, in a speech Thursday credited the brave and decisive actions by President Luis Arce to directly and personally confront the insurrectionist general." But what could have been a celebratory moment for Arce had by Thursday been overshadowed by various campaigns to control the narrative. Questions emerged over why Zuniga, who had been close to the president, would turn on him so suddenly as part of what appeared to have been a poorly planned, even comedic plot. People now believe the narrative that this is now a fake coup, that this was all staged," said Eduardo Gamarra, who tracks Bolivia at Florida International University and grew up in Bolivia at a time of numerous coups. So the government is having a very, very hard time." Among those raising doubts was a former president, Carlos Mesa, Senate President Andronico Rodriguez and Samuel Doria Medina, a businessman and former presidential candidate who is among the more prominent leaders in the opposition. This erratic act by a military man has left Bolivians confused," Doria Medina said. We ask for a deep investigation on what happened so we know what really transpired and can establish responsibility." The Arce administration on Thursday sought to show it remained in control of the levers of power while looking to quash accusations from those who claimed that the uprising might have been orchestrated to boost the presidents low popularity and distract from the countrys economic challenges. I strongly reject those kinds of assertions, which are totally reckless, because they go against our state policies to preserve our democracy," said Maria Prada, a senior aide to Arce. Prada said she was with the president and cabinet members in a meeting on the 22nd floor of the nearby presidential residence Wednesday in La Paz when they saw from their window armored vehicles approaching the Murillo Plaza. She said Arce began phoning Zuniga but the calls went unanswered. The revolt had been set in motion with the deployment of a few dozen soldiers and armored vehicles to the plaza, where the presidential palace and Congress are located. Traveling in one of the vehicles, Zuniga smashed into the historic doors of the palaceknown as the Burned Palace because it was set on fire in an unsuccessful 1875 coupas soldiers breached the building. When Zuniga emerged, he was quickly challenged by a president who has been publicly criticized for being indecisive. If you respect the military chain of command and are a good military man," Arce told Zuniga, then withdraw all these forces at this moment. Thats an order." Bolivia has weathered dozens of coups, and the presidents actions and the end of the uprising just three hours after it began was welcomed. Opposition leaders on the right and left as well as the U.S. and other governments, condemned the mutiny. And it provided Bolivians with another look at Arce, who, until becoming president, had been known as a bookish technocrat and former economy minister. Thats the photo op you want," said Jim Shultz, author of books on Bolivia who closely follows Bolivian politics. Instead of looking like a technocratic president over an economy in trouble, hes now a defender of democracy." But politicians, analysts and ordinary Boliviansmany of whom recall how there was once a board game here called Coup"wonder why commanders would have launched a planned overthrow without the support of civilians, lawmakers and the press. They also ask why Zunigawhen facing off with the president inside the palace and backed by soldiersdidnt at that moment detain the leader. Zunigas odd actions in recent days also drew scrutiny. On Monday, the general had given an interview to Jimena Antelo of the No Lie" televised talk show and railed against the powerful former president, Evo Morales, who had helped Arce rise to power but now opposes him and wants to run for president next year. Calling Morales a power-hungry liar, Zuniga said he would stand up against him and even arrest him if needed. That Senor can never again be president of this country," Zuniga said on No Lie," a show whose host is allied with the government. Earlier in the day, in a radio interview, Morales had directed criticism at the general, saying that Zuniga planned to kill him, without offering evidence The next day, Tuesday, officials said that Zuniga had been relieved of duty but no one was named in his place. By Thursday, the general, officers who supported him and soldiers and police who Arce Zaconeta, the ambassador to the Organization of American States, said numbered 200 were rebelling in the heart of La Paz. People filming live in the plaza during the revolt and later when Zuniga retreated captured tantalizing and contradictory comments from him. He said in the plaza that he was protesting abuses" and called for the government to free political prisoners. Hours later, as he was being detained, he said that that coup was actually orchestrated by the president. Arce had earlier asked Zuniga for his help to prepare something to lift my popularity," Zuniga said. I asked him, Should we take out the armored (vehicles)?" Zuniga said. Take them out, he told me," the general recounted. In a news conference late Wednesday, after Zuniga comments were ricocheting across social media, Prada held up a document that she said was Zunigas confession to leading the coup. Authorities charged Zuniga on terrorism and rebellion charges. Zuniga told investigators the plan failed because military and police chiefs who had been expected to take part in the uprising didnt show up at the plaza, according to Prada. She said the government was committed to bringing all the conspirators to justice. There will not be any impunity," she said. On Thursday, talking to Colombias Blu Radio, she said that Zunigas comments were a last play to try to evade responsibility he had as head of the failed coup detat." Rafael Archondo, a Bolivian political analyst and professor at the Ibero-American University Puebla in Mexico, said Wednesdays deployment on the Murillo Plaza was the most televised coup in Bolivian history and that surely feeds the spectacle." But he said that Arce is in a very weak and compromised position." He said that in other countries, a ball of support like this would give a leader lots of oxygen, but in Bolivia its worth maybe just a breath." Over the last year, Arce has seen lawmakers from his Movement Toward Socialism party shift their allegiance to Morales, leaving the president with minority support in Congress. An economist trained at the U.K.s University of Warwick, Arce has seen Bolivias natural gas reserves dry up, stripping the government of an income source that had fueled Moraless government from 2006 to 2019. The country, once a major gas exporter to neighbors, is now a net importer of fuels such as diesel. And despite big spending on studies and promoting mining, the governments plans to attract development of vast lithium reserves have failed to increase production. Facing critical dollar shortages, the government last year sold about half of the gold held in Central Bank vaults. As of April, the banks reservesmostly goldstood at $1.9 billion, down 41% from a year earlier, according to official data. Write to Juan Forero at juan.forero@wsj.com and Kejal Vyas at kejal.vyas@wsj.com Samsung is gearing up for the launch of its highly anticipated Galaxy S25 Ultra next year, and as the release date approaches, leaks and rumors about the device are becoming more frequent. These insights are giving enthusiasts a glimpse into what Samsung might have in store for the next iteration of its flagship S-series. A recent rumor, shared by a user on X known as Ice Universe, suggests that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be significantly lighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The tipster expressed strong confidence in this claim, emphasizing that this upcoming model will likely be the "thinnest" Galaxy Ultra variant to date. Additionally, the device is expected to feature curved edges, reminiscent of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, moving away from the flat edges of the current model. Ice Universe confirmed these design changes by stating, "It's really rounded!" Another leak has indicated that the new Ultra variant will have a thickness of 8.4mm, making it the slimmest version in the series so far. However, it is important to note that these details are based on rumors and have yet to be confirmed by Samsung. According to a report by 91Mobiles, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is anticipated to sport a 6.9-inch AMOLED 2x display with an impressive peak brightness of up to 3000 nits. The smartphone is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC, set to debut this year. Camera upgrades are also on the horizon, with the device rumored to feature a 200MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and another 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to be equipped with a 5500mAh battery and support 65W fast charging. The official specifications of the Galaxy S25 Ultra are expected to be unveiled in the first half of 2025, providing conclusive details about Samsung's next flagship smartphone. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. 3.6 Crore Indians visited in a single day choosing us as India's undisputed platform for General Election Results. Explore the latest updates here! Regrowing a missing limb is no big deal for creatures that are well-known for their regenerative "superpowers" like starfish or salamanders. But what about humans? Individual cells in your body are constantly being replaced as they wear out. For example, the outer layer of your skin is shed roughly every four weeks . However, regenerating complete organs and body parts is beyond the scope of human biology. Nevertheless, in recent years, scientists have successfully grown a range of replica human body parts in the lab. These include miniature organs, or organoids , that are grown from stem cells, and organ-on-a-chip models, in which cells from specific tissues are grown on credit-card-sized devices that mimic the physiological conditions of an organ in the body. These approaches allow scientists to study human organs during health and disease at a level of accuracy that was impossible with animal models. As such, it is hoped that they will help expedite the development of new drugs . Here are some recent examples. Fallopian tubes Microscope image of the miniature fallopian tube growing in a lab dish. (Image credit: MPI f. Infection Biology) In 2015 , scientists used stem cells in a lab dish to grow the innermost cellular layer of human fallopian tubes, the structures that connect the ovaries and the uterus. In an accompanying statement , researchers described the resulting organoids as sharing the features of real, full-size fallopian tubes, such as their characteristic shape. They were even able to identify two signaling pathways that are needed for continuous growth of the organoids, meaning that scientists can study them for longer. Brain An example of a "minibrain" grown from human fetal tissue, pictured in high-resolution under the microscope. (Image credit: Princess Maxima Center, Hubrecht Institute/B Artegiani, D Hendriks, H Clevers) Over the past decade , researchers have developed increasingly sophisticated miniature, 3D versions of the human brain, or "minibrains", in the lab. Scientists have grown mini models of the human embryonic brain and spinal cord , minibrains that have their own sets of eyes and models specifically grown from fetal brain tissue . Brain organoids are even being grown in space to study accelerated aging and the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease . Heart Organoids grown from stem cells can be made to replicate details of the human heart's biology. (Image credit: Yonatan R. Lewis-Israeli et al. 2021/Nature Communications, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED In 2024, scientists used stem cells to grow mini human hearts in the lab . These replica hearts, which are smaller than a grain of rice, have blood vessels and all the cell types that are usually found in the human heart. They even beat like the real thing. Separately, researchers are also developing so-called heart-on-a-chip devices to study heart disease , as well as how the heart heals after injury , and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new drugs . Such models have also been sent to space to decipher how microgravity affects the heart. Kidney Microscope image of a mini-kidney formed in a dish. The three colors represent the types of kidney cells that form "nephrons", the functional unit within the kidney. (Image credit: Minoru Takasato) In 2015 , scientists grew a mini kidney in the lab. The organoid, which contained all the different cell types found in the human kidney, was grown from stem cells using a combination of growth-inducing chemicals. It resembled the kidney of a developing fetus and could be used for drug testing, said the team who developed it in an associated statement . Lung The minilungs pictured under the microscope alongside real human lung tissue. (Image credit: University of Michigan Health System) Researchers have grown 3D lung organoids in the lab that developed airway structures called bronchi and small lung sacs known as alveoli. "These minilungs can mimic the responses of real tissues and will be a good model to study how organs form [and] change with disease, and how they might respond to new drugs," Jason Spence , co-senior study author and a professor of internal medicine, biomedical engineering and cell and developmental biology at the University of Michigan Medical School, said in a statement . The minilungs survived in the lab for more than 100 days. Stomach The tiny stomach organoid, pictured above, could be used to study how the stomach develops and is impacted by various diseases. (Image credit: Kyle McCracken) In 2014 , scientists grew mini stomachs in a lab dish. The organoids took around a month to develop and formed "oval-shaped, hollow structures" that had insides with folds like those seen in the human stomach, Jim Wells , one of the researchers who developed it and a professor of developmental biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, told Live Science . The tiny stomachs, which measured about 0.1 inches (3 millimeters) in diameter, will be especially helpful to scientists studying the effects of a certain species of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori that causes gastric disease , Wells said. This is because H. pylori behaves differently in animal subjects than it does in humans, he said. Vagina The miniature vaginas were developed in the lab using human cells that were coaxed to grow on a scaffold in the shape of a vagina. (Image credit: Dr. Yuanyuan Zhang, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine) In 2014, a study published in the journal The Lancet described the successful transplantation of lab-grown vaginas in four teenage patients between age 13 and 18. The organoids were created by nurturing the patients' cells on a vagina-shaped scaffold in the lab. They were transplanted into the patients with the hope of correcting a congenital defect in which the vagina and uterus were either missing or underdeveloped. The teenagers were examined annually for eight years after the transplant surgery, during which time the organs functioned normally, allowing pain-free intercourse, the team reported. Almost a decade later, scientists developed the world's first " vagina-on-a-chip ". The device was around 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) long and contained live human cells which could be inoculated with bacteria that normally reside in the human vagina. Penis Like other organoids, there are many steps involved in growing miniature penises in the lab. Here, a researcher can be seen injecting cells into a scaffold to ensure that they grow into the correct shape. (Image credit: Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine) Scientists have also grown penile erectile tissue in the lab using cells from rabbits. The lab-grown penises, which were developed in 2014 , could be transplanted into male rabbits, who went on to mate successfully. The aim is that these penile organoids could be given to men with groin injuries or congenital abnormalities, such as soldiers injured in combat. However, at the time, the research was still in its experimental stage, with approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required for the team to extend its work and incorporate human tissue and subjects. Ear 3D-printed ears, as pictured above, could one day be used to develop replacement ears for children with congenital deformities. (Image credit: Lindsay France/Cornell University Photography) Scientists have 3D-printed human ears which were made from growing living cells around an ear-shaped mold for approximately three months. The mold was created by modeling a child's ear using 3D software and then sending the model to a 3D printer. Researchers then seeded the 3D printed mold with a cocktail of living cow ear cells, as well as collagen from rat tails to support the cells' growth. The artificial ears were then implanted into rats for one to three months while scientists evaluated how the organs changed in size and shape as they grew. The next step will be to look at the use of human ear cells, rather than those from cows. The hope is to eventually create a replacement ear for children who are born with microtia , a congenital deformity in which the external ear does not develop properly, often leading to hearing loss. Colon A minicolon viewed under a powerful microscope. (Image credit: Luis Francisco Lorenzo Martin and Tania Hubscher, EPFL) In 2024, scientists created realistic, 3D "minicolons" from mouse stem cells that were stimulated to mature in a lab dish using growth-inducing chemicals. The team then triggered colorectal cancer in the organoids by switching on specific cancer-related genes in the tissue. These tumors could be grown for several weeks in a lab dish and resembled cancer seen in mice. This allowed the researchers to study the development of the disease in more detail than ever before. Next, the team plans to grow these minicolons using cells from patients with colorectal cancer to make the work more applicable to humans. Testicles An artificial testicle after around 14 days of development, pictured here under the microscope. (Image credit: Cheli Lev) Miniature, 3D versions of testicles also make it to the list of body parts that scientists have grown in the lab. The organoids were grown for the first time in 2024 from mouse cells with the help of growth-inducing chemicals. They survived in a lab dish for up to nine weeks and looked remarkably like the real thing . Researchers say these organoids could be used to study conditions in which testicular function is impeded, such as sex development disorders and male infertility . Placenta Microscope image of a miniplacenta. The varying colors represent different proteins. (Image credit: Centre for Trophoblast Research) Scientists have also modeled the placenta in the lab in order to study how the organ develops during pregnancy and what causes serious complications to arise. In 2018, scientists created 3D miniplacentas composed of a variety of cells and organ structures. The organoids even secreted hormones that could produce a positive result in an over-the-counter pregnancy test , researchers found. Six years later, the same team used a slightly more developed model to identify proteins that are crucial for healthy placental development . These proteins influence blood flow and the implantation of the placenta in the uterus. Understanding more about their dysfunction could provide important insights into pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia , the team said. Conjunctiva Lab-grown conjunctivae could shed light on common eye conditions, like pink eye, shown above. (Image credit: Uma Shankar sharma via Getty Images) Researchers have grown a 3D model of the eye's clear, protective outer membrane a structure known as the conjunctiva. The organoid was created using stem cells from conjunctival tissue that had been provided by organ donors and patients who were having eye surgery. The organoid contained all the different types of cells that would normally be found in the human conjunctiva, including those that are needed to make mucus-rich tears. It even contained a type of surface cell that had not previously been found in the conjunctiva, but that had been tied to allergies . With further development, researchers hope that the organoid will eventually be used to make replacement conjunctivae for people with eye burns or cancer, for instance. Scientists have also developed a way to grow 3D models of the retina , or the photosensitive area at the back of the eye, in a quick and consistent way. These organoids could be used to develop new therapies for retinal degenerative diseases, the team says. Blood vessels A 3D-reconstruction of a blood-vessel-on-a-chip. (Image credit: MIMETAS & Nikon BioImaging lab) Another addition to the list of body parts that have been grown in the lab is blood vessels. In 2024, scientists created a " blood-vessel-on-a-chip " which mimicked the shape of blood vessels and showcased how blood flows through them. The 3D model contained cells that line human blood vessels, along with the physical framework that supports them. The team hope that it will be used to study the potentially-fatal impacts of snake venom and accelerate the development of new antivenoms. Nominations are being sought for the Sixth annual Roscommon / Longford Garda Youth Awards, in association with Longford and Roscommon County Councils who are sponsoring the initiative again this year. The Roscommon / Longford Garda Youth Awards celebrate outstanding young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years. An Garda Siochana, Roscommon/Longford, in conjunction with Longford and Roscommon County Councils recognise that a lot of good work is being done by young people in every community in these two counties. The nomination process is now open and An Garda Siochana in Longford and Roscommon are inviting the public to nominate a young person or group of young people they know, who were committed to making a difference to their Community during the last year. Chairperson of the Roscommon / Longford Youth Awards Inspector David Cryan commented that the Garda Youth Awards celebrates outstanding young people and recognises the good work being done by these individuals, Having been involved in the Awards for the last four years, I never cease to be amazed and inspired by the resilience displayed by the young people of Counties Roscommon and Longford who strive to make the lives of people in their local Communities better despite often dealing with personal adversity themselves. Roscommon/Longford winners have also been successful winning National Awards each year and I would encourage members of the public to nominate someone whom they know in their locality. Nominations can be made under any of the 4 categories: Individual Award Making a positive contribution to their Community, making it a better place to live in. Group Award Two or more young people making a positive contribution to their Community, making it a better place to live. Special Achievement Award Overcome difficult circumstances, defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition. Community Safety Award Through a crime prevention or safety initiative/innovation, have made their Community a safer place to live in. Last year, Alana Coughlan of Legan, was the worthy winner of the Individual category. Alana gives up her time freely and dedicates this time between Community Games, the Bea Masterson Drama Group, the Darkness into Light annual walk and also helping to promote Youth Suicide Prevention. Also read: Huge turnout in north Longford for Moyne CS 50th anniversary celebrations Winners of the Group category in 2023 went to Granard Youth Club. This group of outstanding young people organised a 5K walk to help raise much needed funds for the refugees fleeing the Ukrainian War. Over 3,500 was collected and this group demonstrated the value of Community. PICTURES | Longford youngsters honoured at Garda Awards ceremony A Special Recognition Award was presented to Oran Hourican who attends Moyne Community School, Longford. Oran is a shining light in his local community through his charity fundraising and helping others, all while dealing with his own personal challenges. Oran was born with cerebral palsy and has required frequent hospitalisation and has received treatment in the US and is part of an advocacy group trying to get the same medical services available here in Ireland. PICTURES | Longford first past the post in style stakes at memorable Punchestown race day Gardai will be distributing nomination forms to schools, youth groups and voluntary organisations right across the counties of Longford and Roscommon via email in the coming weeks. These forms may also be requested from Roscommon.GardaYouth Awards@garda.ie or may be downloaded on the Garda website and also from the Longford and Roscommon Local Authority websites. Nomination Forms can be emailed to Roscommon. GardaYouthAwards@garda.ie or can be posted to The Community Policing Unit, Boyle Garda Station, Co. Roscommon. All nominations must be received by 5pm on Friday, July 12, 2024. MAIN PHOTO CAPTION: At the launch of the sixth Roscommon / Longford Garda Youth Awards were l to r; Roscommon County Council Chief Executive Shane Tiernan; Superintendent John Fitzgerald, Roscommon District; Inspector Paddy McGirl, Longford District; Ms. Janine Bartley, Community Safety Coordinator, Longford County Council; Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon, Roscommon/Longford Division; Inspector David Cryan, Chairperson of the Roscommon/Longford Youth Awards. PICTURES | Longford youngsters recognised for selflessness at Garda awards The funeral of former RTE broadcaster Tommie Gorman is to take place in Co Sligo on Saturday. Mr Gorman died peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday at the age of 68. He will lie in repose at Sean Feehilys Funeral Home in Cartron Cross from 4pm to 7pm. His funeral mass will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Ransboro at 2pm. A burial will follow in Kilmacowen Cemetery. A Sligo native, the beloved broadcaster spent more than 40 years working in the industry, covering developments in the north, in Europe and in his native north-west. In a statement, his family said he died peacefully as they paid tribute to a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend. It was announced yesterday that he died surrounded by his family at the age of 68. A Book of Condolence opened at the Mansion House in Dublin today and will be available to sign from 11am to 4pm until Friday. It is also available to sign online. Tommie Gormans funeral mass will take place at 2pm on Saturday in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Ransboro, Co. Sligo, with burial afterwards in Kilmacowen Cemetery, Sligo. His family have asked that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Sligo Rovers Development Fund. Sligo Rovers on Tuesday described Tommy as one of our most dedicated supporters and treasured figures. The club added that his love and passion for Sligo Rovers shone throughout his whole life and noted that Tommies first byline was for The Sligo Champion on a match report of a Sligo Rovers game in the 1970s. Tommie joined the clubs management committee in 2012, which coincided with Sligo Rovers winning the league for the first time in 35 years. Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said Tommie was one of the clubs greatest champions and that his contribution to the club will live on. Tommie Gormans family have also welcomed people to send memories and stories about the former broadcaster to tommiegormanstories@gmail.com, which is an email managed by his children. President Michael D Higgins was one of many high-ranking Irish politicians to pay tribute to Tommie Gorman, saying that the broadcaster was a widely trusted and deeply insightful commentator during his time in journalism. RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst said he was deeply saddened by Tommies sudden passing and noted that he met with Tommie on Monday evening. He was in good form and optimistic ahead of planned surgery this week, Bakhurst said. Taoiseach Simon Harris also paid tribute to Tommie as someone who had made an incredible contribution not just to broadcasting, but indeed to peace on this island thanks to his work covering the development of Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: June 28 2024 Robert S. Prezant, PhD, assumes new role August 14, 2024. Farmingdale State College (FSC) today announced Dr. Robert S. Prezant has been appointed by the SUNY Board of Trustees to serve as the 10th President of the College, effective August 14, 2024. He will succeed President John S. Nader, PhD, who announced his retirement last year. I am both humbled and honored to be joining Farmingdale State College as the next President. I extend my sincere appreciation to the SUNY Board of Trustees, Chancellor King, Farmingdale's College Council and the presidential search committee for entrusting me with this outstanding opportunity, said Robert Prezant, president-elect of Farmingdale State College. The faculty, staff and students of Farmingdale State clearly stand poised to continue to excel, and to move an already exceptional college to the next level by growing additional exciting and important programs, enhancing external support, finding new corporate partners, and collaborating with the community. Farmingdale State College is fully focused on ensuring that students get a preeminent education with an emphasis on experiential opportunities, all to ensure they are fully prepared for tomorrow. It will be my pleasure and privilege to join this outstanding team. Dr. Prezant joins FSC from Southern Connecticut State University where he is provost and vice president for academic affairs. As provost, he has led in strategic planning, served on New England Commission of Higher Education accreditation visitation committees, led a university-wide branding effort, serves as principal investigator on a $3.2 million NSF Alliance for Minority Participation grant, created the Southern Fellows-in-Residence program to help diversify the faculty, helped grow external funding, and has led on revamping the honors college. As a biologist and administrator, he has been the lead or co-lead in generating over $20 million in external funding to support research and academic programs. His administrative efforts have resulted in creation and support of several centers and institutes, new degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, corporate partnerships, development and enhancement of online and on-ground continuing education programs, and several global affiliations. Dr. Prezant previously served as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Montclair State University, dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Queens College, City University of New York, and chair of the biology department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He holds a PhD in marine biology from the University of Delaware, an MS in biology (marine science) from Northeastern University, and a BA in biology from Adelphi University. Dr. Prezant has a wealth of experience and a record of achievement in public higher education. He understands the college and is clearly well positioned to build on Farmingdales many achievements, said John S. Nader, president of Farmingdale State College. I have no doubt that he will cultivate our growing partnerships with both businesses and philanthropies while advocating for our students and faculty. I congratulate Dr. Prezant on his appointment and look forward to working with him on a smooth transition. Dr. Prezants track record of increasing funding to support student success during his career makes him well-suited to assume the presidency at Farmingdale State College, said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. I would also like to thank Farmingdale State College President John Nader for his incredible career of service to the SUNY system. From his time as provost at SUNY Delhi, to his tenure serving as president of SUNYs largest technology focused campus, President Nader has moved FSC forward in a positive direction and I strongly believe Dr. Prezant will build on the strong foundation laid by President Nader. Reflecting on Dr. Prezants appointment, Farmingdale State College Council Chair Patricia Hill Williams EdD, said, On behalf of the Farmingdale State College Council, Im both proud and honored to congratulate Robert S. Prezant, PhD on his appointment as the tenth President of this dynamic and thriving institution. After a thorough and exhaustive search, Dr. Prezant emerged as an exceptional choice to lead FSC. The entire Council looks forward to working with Dr. Prezant to build on Farmingdales strong foundation, enhance the student experience and foster connections in the College community and beyond. Farmingdale State College is unique in the SUNY System, as the largest college of technology propelled by our highly regarded student-centric programs focused on experiential learning, and continuous improvements to campus facilities, buildings, and grounds. FSC offers four dozen degree programs focusing on emerging, high-demand careers, with graduates ranking in the top 2% nationally in early career earnings. More than half of graduates leave the College debt-free, and 82% of graduates are employed six months after graduation or enrolled in graduate school. With degrees in engineering and technology, the health sciences, business, and liberal arts, FSC offers programs as unique and diverse as its student body. About Farmingdale State College Farmingdale State College offers 46-degree programs focused on emerging, high-demand, and relevant careers to help prepare the next generation of leaders in technology, engineering, business, healthcare, science and the arts. With nearly 10,000 students, FSC is SUNYs largest college of applied science and technology. More than half of our graduating seniors leave debt-free and 82% are employed six months after graduation or enrolled in graduate school. FSC is home to Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, which supports the development of biotech start-up companies and partners with surrounding businesses and research institutions along the Route 110 Business Corridor. Our engaging student experience, highly inclusive campus and sustained commitment to accessibility, affordability, and student support, helps make FSC one of the best values in higher education. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: June 28 2024 Southampton authorities responded to the threats and conducted an intense search. On the morning of Thursday, June 27, Southampton Town police report that a series of bomb threats were sent via email to the Southampton Town Justice Court, prompting immediate law enforcement response. Southampton authorities responded to the threats at approximately 7:52 a.m., where officers, fire marshals court officers and detectives conducted an intense search of the court building itself as well as the surrounding grounds. No explosive devices were located, and a subsequent follow-up conducted by a New York State Trooper K-9 Unit also revealed noting suspicious. Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Brigade operate in southern Gaza on June 27. (IDF photo) The Israel Defense Forces launched a new raid into northern Gazas Shejaiya neighborhood on June 27. The surprise offensive is designed to uproot Hamas terrorists and other terrorist elements that have returned to the area over the last several months. Shejaiya has long been a center of Hamas activity, and the IDF has clashed with the group in this neighborhood in previous wars. The IDF first launched its ground offensive targeting Hamas in northern Gaza in late October in the wake of Hamass October 7 attack on Israel. After initial moves to cut off around a dozen Hamas battalions in Gazas north from the rest of Gaza, the IDF entered areas such as Shejaiya, Jabaliya, Shati, and additional neighborhoods around Gaza City. In December, the IDFs Golani Brigade and other units went into Shejaiya and fought Hamas in a series of difficult battles. The IDF left after these clashes when it appeared the Hamas units had been defeated. The last engagements between the IDF and terrorists in Shejaiya were in April. The tactic of clearing areas and withdrawing has been common throughout northern Gaza, and the IDF has also re-entered many of these areas. It carried out three raids in Zaytun, at least two raids into the Shati camp, and twice operated in Jabaliya. The IDFs 98th Division is leading the current raid in Shejaiya. The division, which includes commando units, paratroopers, and tanks, also conducted a three-week raid in Jabaliya on May 31. Over the last month, the 98th Division briefly took part in a raid on Nuseirat in central Gaza, where four hostages were freed. Therefore, this unit is well placed to lead the way into Shujaiya because of its recent experience conducting precision raids. On June 28, the IDF said that over the past day, following intelligence indicating the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Shejaiya in the northern Gaza Strip, IDF troops began activity in the area, both above and below ground. The IDF called on residents of the area to evacuate south along Salah al-Din Road, a major thoroughfare that links Gaza City with southern Gaza. Asking civilians to leave an area before operations begin is a standard IDF tactic. However, over time, the IDF has also conducted raids while simultaneously asking people to depart, apparently so terrorists cannot easily escape with civilians or plan ambushes. The IDF said it carried out airstrikes on June 27 during the operation. In addition, prior to the operation, the IDF conducted several significant strikes in the northern Gaza Strip, during which dozens of terrorists who were hiding in UNRWA schools and facilities were eliminated, the IDF stated. The IDF also announced it carried out an airstrike targeting a terrorist in central Gaza. The terrorist was operating from within a humanitarian area being used by the Hamas terrorist organization as a shield for their terrorist activity, the IDF said. Prior to the strike, a number of steps were taken to mitigate harm to uninvolved civilians, including evacuating the civilian population located around the structure from which the terrorist was operating, conducting aerial surveillance, using a precise munition and additional measures. If the Shejaiya operation is similar to the one in Jabaliya in May, it may last weeks. However, the IDF appears to have found that each time it conducts one of these neighborhood raids, it does them faster with fewer troops, enabling personnel to leave after accomplishing the task. In Jabliya, the IDF recovered the bodies of seven hostages. It remains to be seen if the Shejaiya raid is aimed at finding hostages, reducing the terrorist presence in the area, or both. Meanwhile, the IDFs Nahal Brigade continued operations in southern Gaza. The soldiers located many weapons in residential buildings. Among the weapons found were grenades, explosives, timers for activating explosives, magazines, and more, the IDF stated. The operation in Rafah appears to be winding down in terms of intensity. Nevertheless, the IDFs statement about Nahal illustrates that Israeli forces continue to search for terrorist infrastructure in this area. 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). Fighting in Chasiv Yar (Ukranian miltary image via Telegram) The 98th Guards Airborne Division, one of the main Russian units currently attempting to take the eastern Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar, apparently has a new commander. Although the reason remains unclear, the change comes as Russian forces struggle to advance in their months-long battle for Chasiv Yar. The 98th Divisions previous commander was 48-year-old Major General Yevgeny N. Tonkikh. Prior to assuming that post in 2022, he had fought in Chechnya and Syria and commanded various units and formations within the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV), most recently, the 106th Guards Airborne Division. Tonkikh was promoted to his current rank in February and was still in command of the 98th Division as of early May. This status had apparently changed by June 22, however. A Telegram channel affiliated with the 98th posted a message from the divisions new commander congratulating its recently reestablished 299th Guards Airborne Regiment on the 80th anniversary of its founding. The message was signed by Major General R. Yevkodimov. While the commanders first name and patronymic are unclear, the officer may be Major General Ruslan L. Yevkodimov, 46. Yevkodimov led the VDVs Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School since 2021 after previously commanding the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade. One possible explanation for Tonkikhs replacement is that he was killed in action. He would hardly be the first Russian general officer to meet such a fate in Ukraine. However, Russian or Ukrainian sources probably would have announced Tonkikhs death. Long War Journal has seen no reports to that effect. Alternatively, Moscow may have simply decided to reassign Tonkikh. The tenures of VDV division and brigade commanders can vary, but stints lasting two to three years are common. Tonkikh would not be the first VDV commander to be reassigned this year. In January, Colonel Aleksandr Nemolyayev, who had led the 83rd Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade since 2021, took command of the 106th Division. He replaced Maj. Gen. Vladimir Selivorstov, who had commanded the division for the past two and a half years. That same month, Maj. Gen. Aleksandr Kornev was reportedly replaced as commander of the 7th Guards Air Assault Division, which he led since 2021. The reshuffle came six months after rumors suggesting Selivorstov and Kornev were being pushed out, although it is unclear whether this had any connection to their eventual replacement. A third possibility is that Tonkikh was dismissed amid frustration over Russias slow progress at Chasiv Yar, a small but militarily significant city in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces from the 98th Division and other units have been attempting to take Chasiv Yar since early April. But Ukrainian troops have largely held their ground, buoyed by favorable terrain. Russia has struggled to advance even after launching a separate offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast on May 10 that compelled Ukraine to redeploy some forces from the Chasiv Yar area. In early June, assault units from the 98th Division did manage to secure a foothold in the easternmost part of Chasiv Yar. But Russian progress has mostly stalled since then. Moreover, Russia has also had to transfer additional forces to Kharkiv, including from the VDVs 83rd Brigade, which had been deployed in the Chasiv Yar area. In fact, according to a Ukrainian Marine fighting on the Kharkiv front, the entire 83rd Brigade had redeployed to Kharkiv by mid-June. The reason for Tonkikhs replacement may emerge with time. Regardless, Moscow surely hopes his successor will deliver better results at Chasiv Yar. However, as Kyiv mobilizes more troops and Ukrainian units receive Western artillery shells in greater numbers, Ukraines defense will probably only stiffen in the months ahead. John Hardie is the deputy director of FDDs Russia Program and a contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. In some corners of the laptop market, the PC versus Mac war is firing up again. Apple reignited the flames by including broad comparisons to PC laptops in its marketing for the M1 and subsequent chipsand then delivered incredible speeds compared to its Intel predecessors. But a downright inferno erupted when Qualcomm introduced its Snapdragon X Elite processor, taking direct aim Apple with claims of faster performance then the M3 MacBook Air. Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X Elite last fall and it finally started shipping in the new Microsoft Surface Pro this month. Our colleagues at PCWorld give it a full review with benchmarks and its worth a read. However, their review is PC-focused and only mentions the Mac in passing, so we decided to take a look at their results with a more a Mac-centric lens. M3 vs. Snapdragon X Elite: Specs Qualcomm takes direct shots at Apples M3 in its marketing, so to get the comparison started, here are the basic specifications for the Snapdragon Elite X and the M3. M3 Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 CPU cores 8 (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) 12 (dual-core boost) Frequencies 3.7GHz performance 2.4GHz efficiency 4.0GHz boost 3.4GHz base Memory (as tested) 16GB 16GB Graphics 10-core GPU Qualcomm Adreno GPU At a glance, the specs dont look equal in the sense that the number of CPU cores and the frequencies dont match. The reality is that Windows and Macs have always been difficult to compare with straight specs, and in the bigger picture, its inconsequential because most customers dont look at it that way. M3 vs. Snapdragon X Elite: CPU performance While PCWorld ran a battery of different benchmarks, well look at two suites in particular. The first is Geekbench 6, which is a popular general-purpose benchmark to gauge the chips performance. The other benchmark results are from Cinebench 2024, a benchmark that performs 3D rendering that demands more of the chips. Apple offers faster variations of the M3 in the M3 Pro and M3 Max, which are included in the test results for reference. Qualcomm also offers variations of its Snapdragon X Elite, but it doesnt specifically target the M3 Pro and M3 Max in its marketing. Besides, the M3 Pro/Max is used in the more expensive MacBook Pro, which Microsoft would probably say isnt comparable to the Surface Pro. Geekbench 6.3 Results are expressed as Geekbench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster. *M3 results shown here were tested with Metal; the Snapdragon X Elite was tested with OpenCL. Qualcomms claims that its Snapdragon X Elite is as fast as the M3 holds up. The benchmarks show that the X Elite is 19 percent faster than the M3 in multi-core performance, which is a difference that should be noticeable when doing certain high-end tasks. However, the M3 is faster in single-core testing by 12 percent, which affects everyday tasks but probably wont have too much of a difference on performance. Cinebench 2024 Results are expressed as Cinebench scores. Higher scores/longer bars are faster. The MacBook Air and Surface Pro probably arent the types of computers that would be picked by someone who performs the kind of work done in Cinebench, but the benchmark is a good indicator of performance. Here, the Snapdragon X Elite is 26 percent faster in multi-core performance, a significant boost. The M3 again is better with its single-core performance, beating the X Elite by a substantial 32 percent. However, anyone doing this kind of work would be using software that is taking advantage of multi-core processing. M3 vs. Snapdragon X Elite: GPU performance If you, as a die-hard Mac fan, are starting to feel a little disappointed by the fact that Qualcomms marketing claims are consistent, theres one place to look at to turn that frown upside down: GPU performance. In the Geekbench Compute benchmark, the M3 blows past the Snapdragon X Elite, especially when Geekbench Compute is set to test with Metal, Apples graphics API that the M3 is optimized for. The M3 boasts a 143 percent improvement over the X Elite. (All of the M-series chips in the Geekbench Compute chart above are tested using Metal.) But even when testing the M3 using OpenCL (Windows framework for graphics), the M3 posts a Geekbench Compute score of 30391, which is 54 percent faster. M4 vs. Snapdragon X Elite If pointing out the GPU performance isnt enough for your debates with Windows devotees, heres another point you can bring up. The M3 may be the current chip in the MacBook Air, but the future is already here with the M4its already in the iPad Pro, and it will likely make its way to the MacBook Air soon. Geekbench results are available for the iPad Pros M4, and its multi-core performance is basically the same as the Snapdragon X Elite. In single-core performance, the M4 is 31 percent faster. Take that, Qualcomm. But before you start to do a victory dance, keep in mind that the M4 MacBook Air might not arrive until next spring, according to reports. Thats a point that could be made against you, though you can easily point out that the M4 chip shipped before the Snapdragon X Elite. In any case, the whole PC-versus-Mac thing is a thing, again, at least from a silicon standpoint. As its often been said, competition is a good thing because it pushes innovation, so even if you have no desire to switch to Windows, the war will inspire chip innovations that will benefit Mac users. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 38F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 38F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. A 77-year-old Massachusetts man injured his spine and had to be taken to the hospital after the machine he was working on violently jolted, the Cohasset Police Department said. The man had been operating an excavator with a hammer drill that was breaking apart large rocks when it slipped off one of the rocks Thursday, police said in a Facebook post. The machine was then violently jolted and slammed down, police said. Around 11 a.m., the Cohasset Fire Department paramedics were able to stabilized the man and remove him from the operators seat. He was then taken to the hospital by ambulance. The police department shared photos of the man being removed from the excavator and put onto a spinal board. Cohasset Police detectives and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the incident. Residents in one part of Haverhill can now return home after an explosive device was detonated by the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad technicians on Friday, State Fire Marshal Jon Davines office announced. At around 8 a.m., Haverhill police were tipped off about an item of concern at 5 Rosebud Avenue, Davines office said in a statement. Haverhill police and firefighters arrived at the address and requested help from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit from Davines office. Residents nearby were evacuated while bomb squad workers assessed any potential hazards, Davines office said. With the help of robotic platforms and other tools, bomb squad technicians determined the device posed a significant danger and could not safely be transported, Davines office continued. Through a controlled detonation, the device was no longer a threat to the area, leaving no one hurt, Davines office said. Residents in the area were allowed to return home, though Rosebud Avenue will remain closed for a short time until emergency vehicles clear the area. A resident at the Rosebud Avenue address was found driving a Freightliner on Route 495 in Wrentham, with state police stopping the Freightliner and arresting the driver, the fire marshals office said. State police shut down Route 495 and swept the Freightliner for any hazards. The driver, a man in his 60s, was taken to the area hospital and Haverhill police will pursue criminal charges in connection with the device, Davines office concluded. A federal judge has sentenced a former driving instructor from Massachusetts who gave out licenses to those who didnt pass or even take their driving tests, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Massachusetts said Friday. Ngan Dinh, 48, of Boston, was sentenced to probation with the first six months to be served as home confinement with GPS monitoring, a fine of $4,000, and a $5,450 forfeiture, the office said. Dinh, a naturalized U.S. citizen who speaks Vietnamese and some English, enlisted customers by handing out business cards to the Vietnamese community. Most of the people Dinh worked with were Vietnamese immigrants who did not understand English. Therefore, these individuals needed Dinhs help to understand the rules and requirements of the RMV, officials said. However, Dinh bribed a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV to convince the RMV that Dinhs customers had passed their driving tests when they did not. Some never even took their test, according to officials. Dinh charged people as much as $1,200 for the drivers licenses and lied to some. For example, he lied to some customers about the RMV not offering road tests during the pandemic, and that he could get them licenses because he was a certified rep for the RMV, officials said. Dinh instead paid an RMV employee a $100 cash bribe for each of his customers and kept the rest of the money for himself. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud in March, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The jury in the murder trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged with the murder of her Boston police officer boyfriend, announced that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict shortly after noon on Friday. Attorneys on both sides of the case were arguing whether enough time had passed to call a hung jury. Judge Beverly Cannone found that there were not thorough enough deliberations and called for the jury to resume its work. Read and her attorneys did not speak to reporters as they exited the courtroom, and later as they made their way to a nearby church where they have spent the past few days while deliberations have been ongoing. As Read approached, a line of her supporters began chanting free Karen Read. Among the supporters gathered in downtown Dedham on Friday was Jennifer Melendez, 40, of Chelmsford who said the community outside has grown into a family. We just want a not guilty verdict, she said. I think its a good sign in a way... Itll give them more time to look into more of the things. Norfolk County prosecutors charged Read, 44, with second-degree murder in the death of John OKeefe, who was found cold to the touch and unresponsive on Jan. 29, 2022, outside of a home in Canton. Read pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death. During closing arguments, Reads attorney, Alan Jackson, asked jurors to do justice and find Read not guilty. He told jurors they were lied to by investigators time and time again throughout the trial and presented the defense team as the ones delivering jurors the truth. Norfolk prosecutor Adam Lally emphasized what investigators described as Reads motive, saying that the couple argued consistently in the weeks and months before OKeefes death and that his injuries were the result of Read backing her car into him. The jury in the murder trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged with the murder of her Boston police officer boyfriend, announced that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict shortly after noon on Friday. However, Judge Beverly Cannone didnt accept the decision, pointing to shortened days of deliberations as a key reason. She said the jury had less than three hours of deliberations on Tuesday, a shortened days on Wednesday and Thursday and less than three hours of deliberations on Friday. The length of the trial, the length of the deliberations ... we heard from 74 witnesses, there are 657 exhibits. Very complex issues in this case. Im not prepared to find that there have been due and thorough deliberations at this point, Cannone said. Clear your heads, have lunch and begin your deliberations again or continue your deliberations, Cannone later added, after bringing the jurors back into the courtroom. Prior to making the decision, Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally echoed similar concerns about shortened days. Lally said in court on Friday that while he isnt in any way shape or form suggesting that they havent done their due diligence in regard to their deliberative process, he didnt think the jury had enough time to come to a conclusion and it is far far far too early in their deliberative process to end the deliberations. Attorney David Yanetti, who is representing Read, said he disagreed with Lallys characterization. He said jurors should be allowed to end their deliberations. He pointed to the word exhaustive in the jurys note which said that the jury hadnt come to a unanimous verdict after their exhaustive review of the evidence and our diligent consideration of all disputed evidence. The word exhaustive is the word thats prominent here. Theyre communicating to the court that they exhausted all manner of compromise, all manner of persuasion and theyre at an impasse, Yanetti said. Theyve only really asked one question which was to try to get a report that they werent able to get. And I think the message has been received that the evidence is closed and they wont be getting anything more. Theyve been working essentially non-stop over the last three, four days, Yanetti later added. Read and her lawyers didnt respond to questions from media as they left the courtroom. Jurors have spent about 18 hours discussing the case since closing arguments on Tuesday. On Friday morning, presiding Judge Beverly Cannone asked the jurors three questions before dismissing them for deliberations the same three questions she has asked them at the start and end of each day of deliberations. Specifically, Cannone asked jurors if they had complied with instructions by not talking about the case, researching the case or consuming any coverage of the case. The jury of 12 affirmed they had been able to follow the instructions. Attorney Alan Jackson, who is representing Read, told reporters he feels great as he entered the Dedham courthouse on Friday. 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. In the murder trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe, deleted phone calls and Google searches took center stage during witness testimony. It was a fitting parallel to another high-profile case involving Read attorney Alan Jackson, who represented actor Kevin Spacey in a trial where sexual assault charges against the actor were ultimately dropped. In that trial, Spacey had been accused of groping the 18-year-old son of former WCVB-TV news anchor Heather Unruh during a night out at Nantuckets Club Car bar and restaurant in 2016. The charges against Spacey were dropped when the teen invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify. During the trial, investigators said the mans account of the assault was backed up by text messages and a video the man took the night of the assault. But as proceedings went on, the whereabouts of the phone became unclear a state of affairs that Jackson denounced in multiple court filings and hearings. Guess who loses because of this? That would be us. Because were entitled to the phone, he said in Nantucket District Court. In a hearing on June 3, 2019, Jackson accused prosecutors of falsely claiming they did not have access to the victims cell phone information and of concealing the fact that his mother had deleted some of her sons texts before turning it over to police. The district attorneys office denied the allegation, saying that the phone had been returned to the victims family in December of 2017. The judge ordered the family to produce the phone for examination by Spaceys defense team. But the familys attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, wrote in a court filing that neither the victim, Unruh or the victims father remembered ever receiving the phone back from police. Later, when Jackson was questioning the young man about the phone, he warned him that manipulating evidence in a police investigation is a felony in Massachusetts after the man denied knowledge of deleting any messages. The man was expected to be the key witness in the Spacey case, and the charges were dropped when he decided not to testify. Now, years later, Jackson has again made digital forensics a critical part of a high-profile defense. In the Read case, Jackson and fellow defense attorney David Yanetti have pointed to phone calls between Jennifer McCabe and OKeefe on the night of OKeefes death they accused her of deleting before turning her phone over to investigators. I do not recall deleting any phone calls at all, McCabe said during testimony in May. I would have no reason to delete anything. Jackson asked if she had deleted calls with any witnesses before she turned over her phone, to which she responded, No. The jury in Reads case is in its fourth day of deliberations on Friday as it weighs her fate on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. Material from previous MassLive stories was used in this report. Update: Residents are allowed to return home after the explosive device was disabled through a controlled detonation. However, Rosebud Avenue residents will have to wait to return home until all emergency vehicles clear the area. An unidentified Haverhill man was taken into custody following a motor vehicle stop on Interstate 495 in Wrentham in connection with a possible incendiary device in a Rosebud Avenue home found Friday morning, officials say. The vehicle was clean of any concerning materials, a spokesperson for the Haverhill Department of Fire Services told MassLive Friday afternoon. However, authorities were still checking a home Friday and people were asked to avoid Rosebud Avenue as Haverhill and state police officials investigate, according to a press release sent around noon. Police were first made aware an item of concern in a Rosebud Avenue home around 8 a.m., officials said. Rosebud Avenue is a short residential street that runs parallel and close to Route 110 and the Merrimack River, according to Google Maps. The Haverhill Police and Fire Departments responded to the home and called for backup from the State Police & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshals office. Bomb Squad technicians and fire investigators were at the scene all day, according to a release. More information will be released when it is appropriate, The Department of Fire Services said Friday afternoon. A man suspected of raping a teenage girl at a Rockland migrant shelter in March was released on cash bail on Tuesday, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office confirmed on Friday. Cory B. Alvarez, of Haiti, was charged with one count each of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference, and rape of a child by force, Cruzs office said in a previous statement. Alvarez was indicted on those charges earlier in May, moving his case to superior court. He was released on $500 cash bail, though prosecutors asked for Alvarez to be released on $10,000 cash bail, Cruzs office said. Judge Susan E. Sullivan imposed the lower bail and ordered Alvarez to submit to GPS monitoring, confine himself to a home at a Brockton address, not interact with the teenage girl, stay in Massachusetts, turn in his passport to authorities and any other travel documents, and check in twice monthly with probation, according to the Boston Globe. During his arraignment in Brockton Superior Court on May 31, Alvarez pleaded not guilty. On the night of March 13, police went to the Comfort Inn in Rockland at 850 Hingham St. after hotel staff reported a girl said she had been raped, Rockland Police Det. Sgt. Greg Pigeon testified in Hingham District Court during Alvarezs dangerousness hearing in March. During that hearing, he was deemed a danger and held. Alvarez remains held without bail, Cruzs office previously said. The hotel has contracted with the state to provide lodging to migrants. Rockland police took the girl to South Shore Hospital for treatment after arriving at the hotel. Alvarez entered the country legally and had undergone two background checks, his attorney, Brian Kelley, said in court, citing Gov. Maura Healeys office. It was not clear how long Alvarez had been living at the hotel and Kelley said he spent time in New York City before arriving in Massachusetts. The girl and Alvarez had no pre-existing relationship before the assault allegation, both prosecutors and Kelley previously confirmed. Before Alvarez was indicted, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who chairs the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, and its co-chair, U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., sent a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding information on Alvarez. Criminal aliens exploit vulnerabilities in our nations immigration system to the detriment of those in the United States, the two lawmakers wrote. The Biden [a]dministrations border and immigration policies only increase the likelihood that criminal aliens will successfully enter and remain in the U.S. Homeland Security officials have described the charges against Alvarez as heinous. (*This story was updated at 10:32 a.m. on Friday, June 28, 2024, to include more information.) Messaging that Massachusetts is out of shelter space, the state will no longer allow families to sleep overnight at Logan Airport, the Healey administration announced Friday. Instead, families currently sleeping at Logan who are on the emergency assistance shelter waitlist will be offered transfers to the states new safety-net system, which includes a recently opened site at the former Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk. The Norfolk site, which opened this week, will be able to accommodate 140 families at full capacity. Otherwise, families traveling to Massachusetts need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or emergency assistance shelters, Emergency Assistance Director Gen. Scott Rice said. The administration has worked diligently in recent months to increase the number of families leaving shelter into more stable housing, Rice said in a statement. With this progress, the recent opening of a new safety-net site in Norfolk and the new nine-month length of stay policy, we are now in a position to end the practice of families staying overnight in the airport. This is in the best interest of families and travelers and staff at Logan, as the airport is not an appropriate place for people to seek shelter. Read more: How migrants sleeping at Logan Airport spend their days and nights Staff on site at Logan Airport will work with families to inform them of the states new policy, as well as their options, including helping them secure transportation to another location where they have family or another option for a safe place to stay, the state said. The Healey administration will also get the word out through fliers in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole to inform families of the new policy. An example of a flier the state is distributing in different languages to inform families about the state of its shelter system.Courtesy For months, migrant families have been sleeping on the floor of Logan terminals as they await their next steps. In March, a 30-year-old Haitian man named Roldy told MassLive he heard that migrants typically spend about two weeks sleeping at the airport before they are admitted into the states overflow shelter sites. Many of them dont speak any English and require translation services. Massport workers have typically led them into taxi cabs outside the terminals, taking them to family welcome centers set up throughout the state. We have nothing, Roldy said in Spanish about his family of three. At the moment, I dont even have a dollar. Earlier this week, Healey sent a team to the southern border to educate federal officials and others on the states immigration challenges. Protest in Norfolk over shelter site On Wednesday, residents in Norfolk organized to protest the arrival of the first 21 families at the former Bay State Correctional Center, according to Boston 25 News. Residents have been very vocal since the state announced it would be turning the former prison, which closed in 2015, into a shelter site. At a community forum earlier this month, they raised issues with Norfolks infrastructure, both emergency services and schooling, not being able to handle an influx of families. Many also raised environmental and health concerns related to the state-owned prison property, which has been vacant since it closed. In May, when the state first announced it would be utilizing the site for homeless families eligible for the states emergency assistance shelter system, Norfolk officials said the town had no role in the decision and wasnt consulted beforehand. A Hopkinton man is charged in connection with failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in excise tax in a three year span, according to the Middlesex District Attorneys office. Ashraf Youssef, 61, was arraigned on June 18, on three accounts of tax evasion. Youssef was the owner of AAA Smoke & Vape Shop in Marlborough and owned other similar operations, according to the district attorneys office. Read more: Two more arraigned on charges linked to crime spree in Springfield In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Youssef purchased Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (vape) products from four different out-of-state distributors, the district attorneys office said. Youssef was responsible for paying excise taxes on those purchases over that three year span but he did not, officials claim. Based on invoices for those purchases, bank records and delivery records, he failed to pay $467,828 in electronic nicotine delivery systems excises taxes, according to the district attorneys office. This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorneys office and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Criminals Investigation Bureau. Youssef is expected back in court on July 9. Jurors in the murder trial of Karen Read were sent home for the weekend after failing to reach a verdict on their fourth day of deliberations Friday, hours after they sent a note to Judge Beverly Cannone informing her they were at an impasse. Cannone had ordered jurors to return to deliberations Friday afternoon, pointing to the lack of time spent on deliberations as a key reason. As of Friday, the jury had been deliberating for four days, but most were not full days. One person is dead after they stumbled and fell in front of an oncoming Orange Line train in Boston Friday, June 28, MBTA Transit Police Spokesperson Richard Sullivan told MassLive, The incident happened at Jackson Square Station in Jamaica Plain shortly before 12:30 p.m., Sullivan said. The MBTA posted on X not long after saying that shuttle buses were replacing train service between Ruggles and Forest Hills because of a medical emergency. An alert for service delays on the Orange Line was still present as of 3:30 p.m. Sullivan said the person was pronounced dead at the scene and that Transit Police detectives are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. No foul play is suspected and the persons name was not released. On behalf of the TPD and the entire MBTA organization we offer our most sincere condolences to the decedents family and loved ones, Sullivan said. Walgreens announced plans to restructure its business model and potentially shutter thousands of stores in the process. Walgreens CEO Tim Wentworth told analysts changes are imminent for about 25% of the companys stores, which are underperforming, the Associated Press reported. A 25% cut would result in about 2,100 stores closing nationally of the chains 8,600 United States locations. Wentworth told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that closures will focus on underperforming stores, including stores struggling with theft or locations that are too close to each other. We are at a point where the current pharmacy model is not sustainable and the challenges in our operating environment require we approach the market differently, Wentworth told analysts. The company has already closed 2,000 stores over the past 10 years, the AP reported. In March, Forbes reported that Walgreens Boots Alliance, parent company to Walgreens, lost nearly $6 billion in its second quarter on a loss in value of its investment in VillageMD, a primary care clinic offered in Walgreens drug stores. The AP reported that Walgreens announced plans in March to close around 160 clinics. We continue to face a difficult operating environment, including persistent pressures on the US consumer and the impact of recent marketplace dynamics which have eroded pharmacy margins, Wentworth said in a press release. The company has not announced where closures are expected to take place, but employees who work at the closing locations will be offered jobs elsewhere, CNN reported. As of June 2024, Massachusetts has over 100 Walgreens locations. Jury deliberations will continue into a fourth day in the trial of Karen Read, a Mansfield woman charged in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John OKeefe. Jurors have deliberated about 14 hours since closing arguments on Tuesday, in a process that is often driven by the various personalities on the jury, according to a professor of law and criminal justice at Northeastern University. Are there one or two dominant personalities? Is it a more collaborative group? And thats sort of impossible to know until later, law expert Daniel Medwed told MassLive on Thursday. Supporters of Read have remained steadfast in their belief that the jury will acquit her of the three charges: second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing death. With deliberations moving into day four, Medwed said its a sign that jurors are taking their jobs very seriously and that theyre looking at the evidence very closely. Another inference is it does suggest, I think, that there probably is some division or dissension within the jury, Medwed said. The disagreements could be over a single count, he said, and there could be one or more holdouts one way or the other. If there was unanimity, they might come to a verdict a little more quickly, right? Jurors heard from more than 60 witnesses over the course of the last nearly nine weeks and have been presented with many photographs, texts, phone call logs and video. With hours upon hours of witness testimony to weigh, itll be up to jurors to determine the credibility of each witness, Medwed said. The defense, of course, has raised a lot of questions about the nature of the investigation, he said. So witness credibility and evaluating, especially a lot of the prosecution witnesses, is presumably a big part of what theyre doing. Wading through all the forensic data location data, surveillance videos, Apple Health data, the hos long to die in cold Google search will be part of deliberations, Medwed said. For almost every piece of evidence, there was an expert and a counter-expert, he said. As a former defense attorney, Medwed said he found that the defense did a good job of creating reasonable doubt for the jury. When you add it all together, and you a look at this case objectively, it feels like there is some form of reasonable doubt about whether she did this, Medwed said. He added that it always struck him as odd that the first two counts presented divergent theories by the prosecution of what happened. The first count is about her intent to kill and the second count is that she was sort of drunk and reckless and hit him by mistake, Medwed said. Ive sort of struggled to reconcile those two. The (prosecutions) theory of the case didnt always strike me as crystal clear. From the start of the trial, Reads attorneys told the jury that shes been framed and that others were responsible for OKeefes death. Offering the jury an alternative to the prosecutions theory of the case, Medwed said, became a strong argument for reasonable doubt. Whats tricky about reasonable doubt is that its a very lawyerly construct, he said. Thats not how we see the world, right? People want to hear the defendants story. They want to understand not just that there are gaps in the government case, but the government got it wrong. Medwed said that between the evidence about whether Read actually struck OKeefe, the taillight evidence, the Apple Health data that her attorneys said placed OKeefe inside the Canton house, his injuries (or lack of bruising and bone fractures) and the possibility of being attacked by a dog, the defense created a lot of reasonable doubt. Not just creating doubt about her involvement, but offering an alternative theory for the jury to grab onto, Medwed said. As for the chances of a hung jury, Medwed said they are seldom seen. Judges give jurors instructions and can charge the jury to continue their deliberations to avoid a deadlock. He said that occasionally there are cases where jurors are wedded to their positions and theres no way they will budge, especially in cases that generate strong feelings. Its hard to speculate, he said. The personalities of the jurors are the biggest variable, he said. Are they collaborating? Is there kind of like an alpha whos leading things? Do people feel like their voices are being heard equally? You just dont know, Medwed said. He added, Of course, I could be wrong, but the longer this plays out, probably the better it is for the defense. It suggests that there are some people who are doubtful now, whether thats an acquittal of charges or just some charges, or a mistrial, I dont know. But I would be surprised if the jury came back and convicted on all three, right? In recent weeks, at least one shark has been spotted off Cape Cods waters, but those waters have been quiet the last week. No tagged sharks were spotted off Cape Cod since June 21, based on data from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, based in Chatham. However, a handful of injured and dead seals indicated the presence of sharks potentially nearby. On July 21 at around 11:09 a.m., a dead seal was seen in Chatham Harbor Inlet with a large bite, according to the conservancys Sharktivity app, which shows where sharks are spotted along the Massachusetts coast and the East Coast. At 12:30 p.m. that day, a live seal was spotted on a beach at South Monomoy Island with shark bite wounds, according to the app. Three days later at around 12:34 p.m., another dead seal was seen with a shark bite at Bank Street Beach in Harwich Port. Where did LeeBeth go? Since she was last seen near Cape Cod, where did the white shark LeeBeth go? LeeBeth was tagged and identified on Dec. 8, 2023, and is the first white shark in the south tagged with a camera, according to the conservancys logbook. She measures at 14 feet in length and was named after Grapevine, Texas, pastor Ed Youngs daughter, who died in 2021 at the age of 34, the Austin American-Statesman reported in March. At the start of the month, she was swimming off of the coast of the Carolinas before she was spotted swimming 31 nautical miles northeast of Nantucket and 40 nautical miles southeast of Barnstable. As of Friday, LeeBeth has been detected swimming off the coast of Nova Scotia. She was last spotted on June 28 at around 3:18 a.m. between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In years past, sharks that have been tagged and named are typically spotted along the coast of Cape Cod. Acoustic tags transmit the data of shark detections in real-time. Sharktivity shares this information and photos of the sharks. As thousands anxiously await a verdict in the murder trial of Karen Read, a white ceiling fan inside the Dedham courthouse where Reads trial is being conducted has gained a sort of internet celebrity status. The fan is shown on the court camera feed as deliberations continue in Reads trial and occasionally served as a placeholder image during moments in the trial not allowed to be videotaped or otherwise shown on camera. With deliberations ongoing, and tens of thousands tuning into streams on YouTube and other platforms, the fan has developed a cult following on social media. The jury wrote that they were unable to come to a unanimous verdict on Friday, but Judge Beverly Cannone told them to continue deliberating, pointing to the lack of time spent on deliberations as a key reason. As of Friday, the jury had been deliberating for four days, but most were not full days. The fan has inspired listings on Etsy and a flurry of social media posts. One post reads Every single trial, is known for something, in this case for the Commonwealth Of MA Vs #KarenRead is the white ceiling fan. Another added, If you would have told me a year ago that Id be watching a ceiling fan for 3 days straight at my own will. #KarenReadTrial is making me hate my ceiling fan, one user wrote. Read, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend John 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 case has garnered national media attention as Read herself has developed a cult following of supporters who maintain her innocence. If Democrats were looking to come away reassured that President Joe Biden is vigorous, in control, and ready to face the rigors of another White House campaign, then Thursdays debate provided little in the way of reassurance. Indeed, Democrats woke up to a soul-crushing crisis on social media on Friday morning, where some mused aloud on whether it might not be too late to replace the nations octogenarian chief executive at the top of the ticket even in the absence of any viable or obvious alternatives. I love Joe Biden. I know hes a good man, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, a part of the Bay States iconic Kennedy dynasty, wrote on X on Thursday. I know his heart is good. I know hes dedicated to our country and is surrounded by good people. Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways. This is a big political moment. Theres panic in the Democratic party. Its going to be a long night. For 90 minutes in Atlanta on Thursday, voters were offered a stark contrast between Biden, who, as halting as he was, trafficked in facts, and former President Donald Trump, who offered a typically hyperbolic and fact-averse performance. The Republican, for instance, falsely claimed that Biden had encouraged Russia to attack Ukraine, even though Biden has tried to rally international support for the country, and took active steps to warn President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia not to invade, according to a New York Times analysis. Biden, meanwhile, showed up for the debate with a voice and an appearance and a manner that reinforced fears that this octogenarian is too old and feeble to serve a second term, Ed Kilgore wrote for NYMags Intelligencer on Thursday night. Bidens most effective moments of anger at Trumps serial lies often bled into stalled sentences and flubbed phrases, Kilgore continued. Even the most sympathetic viewers had to be riveted by concerns for the presidents condition, temporary though it may have been. Were accustomed to seeing Trump lose the thread of his own arguments. It was shocking to see Biden come across little better. That notably was the case with Bidens answer to a question about abortion rights, a topic that should have been in the Democratic presidents wheelhouse. Instead, Biden pivoted to immigration, a topic, more than a few observers noted, is a weak spot. Veteran strategist Steve Schmidt, on X, put it this way: Joe Biden lost the country tonight, and will not get it back. If Trump is a threat and democracy is on the line, then Biden must step aside. His duty, oath and legacy require an act of humility and selflessness, Schmidt wrote. In a fund-raising email on Friday morning, Massachusetts Democrats tried to claim victory, writing that Biden took Trump to task on his reckless hypocrisy and dangerous rhetoric and perfectly made the case for four more years of progress, innovation, and protection of the rights of all Americans. Thursday night proved what we all already know; there is only one moral, competent choice in this election; and its not the convicted felon, the state party wrote in its fundraising appeal. But in a format free of fact-checking, Trump was given wide berth, reframing the Jan. 6, 2021 sacking of the U.S. Capitol, claiming, without basis, that he had asked his backers to peacefully and patriotically gather as Congress certified the 2020 election results. He didnt do a damn thing, Biden said in a rare moment of concision, and these people should be in jail. Trump equivocated on whether he would accept the results of the November election, saying he would accept them if the vote was fair and legal, repeating his baseless claims of widespread fraud and misconduct in his 2020 loss to Biden that he still denies, The Associated Press reported. Pressed on his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump was unapologetic. On Jan. 6, we were respected all over the world, all over the world we were respected. And then he [Biden] comes in and were now laughed at, Trump said. David Axelrod, a onetime adviser to former President Barack Obama, gave voice to fears that rose among Democrats as the debate unfolded. Panic had set in, Axelrod said CNN, according to The Associated Press. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. With polls showing the race between the two men within the margin of error, there was little room for the same for Biden. Still, with four months remaining until Election Day, Biden still has plenty of time to reverse his fortunes. The question will be, of course, whether he can. And whether voters will buy into it. Massachusetts majority-Democrat state Senate passed a $5.4 billion bond bill late Thursday that offers a suite of funding and policy fixes aimed at taming the states crushing housing crisis. Upper chamber lawmakers voted 40-0 to approve the legislation, which straddles the fiscal middle ground between a $4.1 billion proposal backed by Democratic Gov. Maura Healey and a 6.5 billion bond bill approved by a state House also in the hands of Democrats. The legislation approved by both chambers notably does not include language sought by Healey that would have given municipalities the ability to impose an up to 2% tax on high-dollar real estate transactions to help pay for affordable housing. But there was not a consensus about what exactly to do for a transfer tax, Senate Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Middlesex/Norfolk said, according to the Boston Herald. Several lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to amend the bill to include the language during floor debate on Thursday. Backers, however, were not giving up the fight. A wise friend of mine often says, in this business, theres always another day and I think on [the] transfer fee, I feel that way, Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, told the Herald late Thursday night. This debate did not feel like No, were never touching a transfer fee again. The bill adopts several proposals Healey recommended in her version of the bill, including: allowing tenants to seal previous eviction records in certain cases, creating a new designation to address housing availability in seasonal communities, and allowing a simple majority voting threshold for inclusionary zoning ordinances and bylaws at the local level, up to 13 percent of affordable units, State House News Service reported. State Sen. Lydia Edwards, D-3rd Suffolk, the chambers Democratic point person on the legislation, described it as a badly needed course correction on housing policy. The bill is a second chance for people who have an eviction record; regional equity, not focusing on an urban perspective and being as dense as possible in just certain areas, Edwards, of Boston, said, according to State House News Service.. Looking at our rural and seasonal communities, and the infrastructure that comes with those aspects, thats where well start the course correction. We also look at how we look at discrimination in our housing policy, she continued. We have to provide toolkits to our municipalities to address that. We know theres a missing middle class. We look to maintain permanent conversations at how we house our seniors. We cannot continue on the same path. Speaking on the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr, R-1st Essex/Middlesex, stressed the bipartisan challenge facing his colleagues. This is a subject on which there is widespread bipartisan agreement. We are in a very very important situation in the state, and we cannot deny that we have a deficiency of hundreds of thousands of units, Tarr said, according to State House News Service. The fact is, while we often do bond bills, and we often do housing bond bills, this one is somewhat unique, in the extent of its size, but also that it represents a pivot to a stature and a posture with more proaction to housing. Four Pioneer Valley mayors gathered Thursday to lend their support to the effort to keep ride-share and delivery drivers working as independent contractors. Their comments came the same day the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court green-lit an effort to place on the November ballot a question with implications for how drivers for companies such as Uber, Lyft, Doordash and Instacart earn their keep. An effort backed by the industry would ask voters to clarify whether the drivers should be independent contractors. The states attorney generals office has argued they should be considered employees. Les mmebres du gouvernement ont pris note que Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 sera presente en premiere lecture au Parlement, de la promulgation du Motorways and Main Roads (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2024, sur la mise en action de lOperational Plan on Leptospirosis entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 into the National Assembly, which would amend various enactments with a view to meeting international standards of the Financial Action Task Force on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and proliferation. 2. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Water Resources Bill into the National Assembly, which would: (a) provide a legal framework for the use, management, control, protection, conservation, and sustainable development of resources in Mauritius; (b) safeguard the immediate and long-term public interest for an equitable access to water; (c) ensure water security and resilience; (d) establish a Water Resources Commission; and (e) promote the efficient use of water. 3. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Motorways and Main Roads (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2024 in order to amend the description of the Soreze-Chebel-Gros Cailloux Link Road to reflect the official appellation of the Bridge from A1-M1 Bridge to Sir Anerood Jugnauth Bridge. 4. Cabinet has taken note that the Gambling Regulatory Authority (Technical Standards for Gaming Machine, Limited Payout Machine, Amusement Machine and Server) Regulations 2024 would be promulgated. The Regulations would provide for technical standards to which Gaming Machines, Limited Payout Machines, Amusement Machines and servers should comply with. The standards would ensure that the hardware and software used in the gaming machines provide a safe, secure and fair gaming environment to the players. 5. Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Central Water Authority (Dry Season) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations 2024 to extend its application until 31 July 2024. 6. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection and the COMESA Competition Commission. The Memorandum of Understanding would provide for collaboration in the field of Consumer Protection for, inter alia, the: (a) implementation of consumer protection laws in order to foster effective enforcement including the review of laws and designing of institutional arrangements; (b) development of capacity building and technical assistance for competent authorities of Mauritius to enhance effective enforcement of laws; (c) enforcement activities including, conducting joint investigations; and (d) elimination of duplicity and lessening the possibilities of divergence through harmonisation of consumer protection laws at national, regional and continental levels. 7. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of a Statut National Etudiant Entrepreneur (SNEE), for students in Higher Education Institutions, with a view to developing an entrepreneurial outline in such institutions, and improving the employability and strengthening the ability of such students to adapt to the socio-professional world. The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie would be supporting the implementation of the project on the SNEE on a pilot basis in Mauritius at the Universite des Mascareignes. The SNEE would aim at allowing higher education students to enrol on specific elective subjects related to entrepreneurship and also to replace their final year project with a business plan for entrepreneurial activities. 8. Cabinet has taken note of the upgrading of Mauritius from Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 2 in the US 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report. The Report is an annual status update on the state of global anti-trafficking efforts. The Report, inter alia, recognised that the Government of Mauritius: (a) demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period and these efforts included investigating more trafficking cases, including an allegedly complicit official; training law enforcement officials and members of the judiciary on trafficking cases; identifying significantly more trafficking victims, including identifying forced labour victims for the first time in four years; and approving funds for National Action Plan implementation; (b) amended the anti-trafficking law to strengthen governments institutional framework to combat trafficking, including the creation of a specialised law enforcement unit in the Police Force and the non-punishment provisions for trafficking victims; and (c) adopted legislation eliminating worker-paid recruitment fees. 9. Cabinet has agreed to the Mauritius Institute of Education, together with the University of Pretoria, South Africa, co-hosting the Distance Education and Teachers Training in Africa Conference from 22 to 25 July 2025 in Mauritius. The theme of the conference is Distance Education and Teachers Training in Africa and would include other areas of discussion and sub-themes such as Learner Support, Technology and Online Learning, Capacity Building for Teachers in African Countries. The conference is posited to play a key role towards contributing to the development of Mauritius as a knowledge hub in the region while encouraging more interaction among Mauritian and overseas academics and professionals in the education sector. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the holding of the first Mauritius Renewable Energy International Conference (MARENIC) on the theme Empowering Tomorrow: Green Energy, Accelerated Transition, Sustainable Future, organised by the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency (MARENA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, from 10 to 12 July 2024 in Mauritius. The objective of the MARENIC would be to gain insights into emerging policies, regulations market trends and on the latest trends, innovations, and advancements in renewable energy technologies and practices. The conference would serve as a catalyst for sustainable energy development, fostering collaboration and driving the adoption of Renewable Energy solutions. 11. Cabinet has taken note of the implementation of an Operational Plan on Leptospirosis which would comprise, inter alia, key components such as: (a) Surveillance, Epidemiological case definition and Case Reporting; (b) Diagnosis, Triage and Treatment; (c) Measures for control of Leptospirosis, including collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and other stakeholders; (d) Setting up of a Leptospirosis Steering Committee for monitoring evolution of the disease; (e) Interventions at the Infection Source; and (f) Risk communication and community engagement. The Ministry of Health and Wellness would circulate a copy of the Operational Plan on Leptospirosis to all relevant stakeholders for guidance and compliance. 12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Annual General Meeting of the Vanilla Islands Organisation, held in the context of the 10th Edition of the International Tourism Fair Madagascar in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Mauritius would take over the Presidency of the Vanilla Islands Organisation for the period 2024/2025. The following strategic actions were agreed upon by the Member States for the period 2024/2025: (a) setting up of a Centre de Ressources Touristiques to collect data on the Vanilla Islands region with a view to enabling better strategic decision making for the development of tourism in the region. The Centre would be funded by France through Reunion Island; (b) consolidating the cruise sector with a view to promoting sustainable tourism development in the region; and (c) exploring the possibility of Vanilla Islands Organisation securing funding for a study on improving air connectivity in the region. 13. Cabinet has taken note that a team from the Regional Office of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) would effect a visit to Mauritius from 26 to 30 August 2024. The objective of the mission is to provide guidance and support to the Department of Civil Aviation with a view to enhancing safety oversight capability and implementation of ICAO provisions, including policies and standards and recommended practices as well as other safety related issues. 14. Cabinet has taken note of the visit of a delegation of the King Saud Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in Mauritius on 01 July 2024. 15. Cabinet has taken note that, as at 27 June 2024, there were 47 active cases of Dengue Fever in Mauritius, of which four persons had been hospitalised in both public and private hospitals. For Rodrigues, 13 active cases of Dengue Fever had been recorded and three persons were hospitalised. 16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in the Munich Strategy Retreat held in Bellagio, Italy. The purpose of the Retreat was to promote strategic debate on international foreign policy choices and priorities in view of the upcoming Munich Security Conference which would be held in February 2025. During the Retreat, the Attorney General intervened in the Inaugural Session entitled Universal No More? Shared Rules, Norms, and Values in a More Multipolar World. He also acted as a Panellist on the issue of Standard Deviation: Towards a More Honest Debate About Double Standards where he underlined the importance of consistency at all the levels of the international system. 17. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training in the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) held in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILC is an annual event organised by the International Labour Organisation, which brings together representatives of Governments, Workers and Employers organisations to, amongst others, discuss, establish and adopt international labour standards as well as to focus on key social and labour issues. The Minister intervened in the plenary session of the Conference where he highlighted the fact that Mauritius was sparing no effort to come up with national policies and actions towards achieving social justice for all. In the margins of the ILC, the African Regional Labour Administration Centre held its 50B Governing Council Meeting. 18. Cabinet has taken note of the appointment of Mr Sarwansingh Purmessur, Acting Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping, as part-time Chairperson of the Board of the Mauritius Oceanography Institute. 19. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Executive Committee of the National Youth Council for a period of two years, with Ms Varsha Atchamah as part-time Chairperson. The King Baudouin Foundation has awarded the 2023-2024 Africa Prize to Her Initiative, in recognition of its work to unlock womens economic potential, tackle the youth unemployment crisis and accelerate economic and social development in sub-Saharan Africa. Tanzania has made significant progress on womens empowerment and womens rights. Yet, 60% of women still live in poverty and many dont have access to the resources they need to shape their future and participate in economic development[1]. As a youth-first and women-led organisation, Her Initiative offers a range of innovative and holistic programmes which equip young women with the education, skills and resources needed to enter the job market or run their own businesses. Notably, Her Initiative aims to remove persisting barriers by leveraging the power of technology to advance digital inclusion among young women and girls. Its Panda Digital platform uses SMS technology to deliver learning courses in Swahili to young women with limited internet access, and its Digimali project helps young entrepreneurs scale-up their businesses online. Since its foundation in 2019, Her Initiative has reached over 15,000 young women and girls through its programmes, including supporting over 200 women to launch a business through Panda on the Ground and enabling 2,805 more to digitalise an existing business. To support the next phase of its development in Tanzania and beyond, the KBF Africa Prize will provide Her Initiative with 200,000 euros (over 560 million Tanzanian shillings), as well as the opportunity to connect with the King Baudouin Foundations international network of non-profit organisations and development professionals. With this support, Her Initiative aims to expand its programmes in Tanzania and across East Africa to reach 100,000 more women over the next five years. It will also use the funds to bring together an ecosystem of youth organisations to facilitate knowledge sharing, share resources, and harness the power of African youth. Lydia Charles Moyo, Founder and Executive Director of Her Initiative, comments: Gender-based violence, underage marriage and HIV are just a few examples of the problems that are stopping women from going to school, getting a job and breaking the cycle of poverty. My friends and I experienced these barriers when we were in high school, and so started to look for solutions to the challenges we were coming up against. And thats how Her Initiative started. We already support young women to build their financial resilience in six Tanzanian regions, but with the KBF Africa Prize we will be able to scale our work to help so many more women to achieve their dreams in Tanzania and beyond. The 2023-2024 Africa Prize will be presented to Her Initiative at an awards ceremony today at the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels. The organisation was selected from a pool of more than 400 applicants by an independent committee of 12 international experts, including past winners of the KBF Africa Prize. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Chair of the KBF Africa Prize Selection Committee 2023-2024 says: The selection committee was highly impressed with Her Initiatives combined approach to advancing womens rights and financial independence. Coupled with its innovative use of modern technologies and strategic local partnerships, Her Initiative is a highly deserving recipient of this years KBF Africa Prize. We look forward to seeing what the team achieves in the years to come. The KBF Africa Prize recognises African organisations working to drive African-led solutions to the challenges facing the continent and to sustainably improve the lives of Africans. The Prize plays a transformative role in helping organisations scale-up and advocate for their work on a wider stage. Several past laureates, including Dr. Denis Mukwege, Elman Peace and Grameen Bank, have since been awarded and shortlisted for the Nobel Peace Prize. BELMULLET-based councillor Sean Carey will remain as Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District for another year following his election at the AGM of the municipal district. The Fianna Fail councillor served as Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District for the 12 months before the June local elections and it was agreed that he will continue on in the role. He was nominated by his party colleague, Cllr Brendan Mulroy who described Cllr Carey as a capable councillor who served in the role as Cathaoirleach before. He was seconded by Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle who joked that they like to keep the role of Cathaoirleach in Erris for as long as they can. This is the third time that Cllr Carey will wear the chain of office having served two terms as Cathaoirleach in the previous term of the council. Cllr Carey thanked his colleagues for electing him as Cathaoirleach and welcomed the councillors who were reelected following the local election and to Louisburgh-based Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell who was attending his first meeting. He commiserated with former councillor Christy Hyland who lost his seat and acknowledged the work by Padraig Walsh, the former Head of the Municipal District who recently retired. I want to thank all of you for putting your trust in me in giving me your support for the chair in the coming year. I am honoured and grateful for that. I believe by working together we can achieve more and it will be great for that to continue into the future, he said. He was congratulated by his fellow councillors who wished him well in the role as Cathaoirleach. Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara thanked the people who voted for them in the recent elections and put their trust in them to represent them. He said that a lot of work for the region is done during meetings of the municipal district and they are important for the areas he represents. Independent councillor John O'Malley said the municipal district is a vast area and a lot of work needs to be done to represent the people and he looked forward to the next five years. Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle said he never met a person who was elected who did not want to work for their area and there was an onus on the councillors to work together to get work done. He proposed his party colleague Cllr Peter Flynn as Leas Cathaoirleach saying that it was important that the Westport Electoral Area was represented. Cllr Mulroy seconded the proposal. Cllr Flynn, who joined the meeting online, thanked his colleagues for nominating him as Leas Cathaoirleach and stated he was looking forward to working with Cllr Carey over the next 12 months. He said he looked forward to the next five years of the new council and looked forward to all the councillors working well together. Twenty-Seven-year-old, Luke Gibbons from Claremorris has been selected to represent Ireland as a Climate Reality Leader by Former US Vice President Al Gore. Selection is extremely competitive, with many high-quality candidates for a very small number of places. The Climate Reality Project, founded by Al Gore, focuses on empowering individuals to take action on climate change. Mr Gibbons, along with other newly selected Climate Reality Leaders, will undergo comprehensive training designed to equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to advocate for sustainable practices and policies in their home countries. Speaking on his recent appointment, Mr Gibbons said he was honoured to be selected as part of this incredible group of climate leaders. The training in Rome is an invaluable opportunity to learn from Former Vice President Al Gore, experts and fellow academics. I look forward to bringing back new insights and strategies to Ireland, he added. This weekend, Mr Gibbons will spend three days in Rome receiving training from Al Gore himself among other notable climate leaders including Federica Fricano, Co-Chair of the G7, Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome and Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens. The young Claremorris man was selected as an Al Gore Climate Leader on the back of his expertise surrounding climate change. Mr Gibbons will engage in work and discussions with the Former Vice President on a range of topics including, fighting greenwashing, building resilience and deriving climate solutions. Mr Gibbons is an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Scholar and PhD Candidate at Trinity College Dublin and a former Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School. His award-winning research focuses on company directors duties and climate change risks. In February, his research was recognised across the Atlantic when he was named in the Top 40 Under 40 Irish in America, winning the Peoples Choice Award with over 20,000 votes. Mr Gibbons appointment comes just months after his selection as a President Mary Robinson Young Climate Leader, where he has already engaged in dialogue with the Former President as a speaker at the Mary Robinson Climate Conference 2024 in Ballina. As well as holding a First-Class Law Degree with a Gold Medal from Trinity College, Dublin, Mr Gibbons graduated as the Honore Scholar in Law from the University of Oxford. He has also worked on environmental policies as a Legislative Fellow for Congressman Matt Cartwright on Capitol Hill as part of the Washington Ireland Programme, and has published widely in the area. He is an incoming Casimir Pulaski Scholar at the Academy of Young Diplomats, previous Irish Law Student of the Year and in 2021 was awarded as the Most Outstanding Person Under 40 in Ireland for Academic Leadership and Achievement. The former manager of a Dublin dog pound has been fined 500 for allowing a euthanasia drug to be stored and administered unlawfully to two dogs. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Donal Moroney (70) was not present at Ashton Pound in Castleknock over the weekend of July 24, 2020 when a drug called Dolethal was administered orally to a Bichon Frise and an Akita. The lethal medicine, containing Pentobarbital Sodium, is only allowed to be stored at a veterinary practice and to be administered intravenously by a vet. Moroney, of Ayrfield Drive, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to three counts of using the pound for storing an animal remedy designated Veterinary Practitioner Only, possessing the remedy while not a vet himself and permitting a lay person to administer it orally to two dogs. Passing sentence on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan said staff at the pound did not have the experience or qualifications to store or administer the drug in question, but described Moroneys level of culpability as quite low. Judge Nolan took into account mitigating factors including Moroneys guilty plea, his cooperation with gardai, his long history of good work with animals and his serious health problems. Moroney, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to pay a fine of 500 within the next three months. The former owner of the pound, David Stone, was fined 30,000 in February 2023 for three similar charges. Stone (66), of Hazelbrook, Loughlinstown, Ratoath, Co Meath had been running the pound since 1996 and had contracts with local councils including Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown county councils. Moroney started working at the pound as a warden in 2004 and became a manager shortly afterwards, the court heard. Garda Aine McQuillan told Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, that a warden at the pound emailed gardai in July 2020 outlining his concerns about the giving of certain drugs to dogs. Gardai called to the premises and established that staff members had administered the product Dolethal to two dogs on Friday July 24, 2020, by squirting it into their food. The Bichon Frise dog died the following day, while gardai found the Akita in a bad state and suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, before he also died. Mr Carroll told the court that a practice had developed at the pound where staff would collect bottles of this highly lethal product and squirt it into the food of dogs deemed to be violent, aggressive or to be put down. Gda McQuillan interjected to tell the court that the drug was also sometimes squirted into dogs mouths. A vet would then be called sometime later and administer it properly. Payment records collected from the veterinary practice indicated that this had been going on for up to a year prior to these offences. The court heard that there was nothing to suggest that Moroney had administered the drug directly himself, but that he was in a management position which had informed the practice and had on occasion directed others to collect the drug. The bottles of Dolethal were clearly labelled Veterinary Practitioner Only, the court heard. The drug is extremely dangerous to humans also and an accidental spillage of as little as 3 cc on the skin could lead to death, counsel said. Moroney told gardai he was not working the night the drugs were administered to the dogs. Garda McQuillan agreed with Annemarie Farrell SC, defending Moroney, that the practice of making these drugs available at the pound pre-dated Moroney joining the staff in 2004. Ms Farrell said that when Moroney started work, the euthanasia rate at the pound was over 50 per cent and that this had been reduced to four per cent, in line with national levels, by 2019. The court heard that Moroney did not attend the pound after March 2020 because of Covid as he had extensive health problems. In 1989, Moroney had part of his right lung removed, and he suffered five heart attacks between 2000 and 2001. He also underwent a triple heart bypass and suffered several pulmonary embolisms and an aortic aneurism, the court heard. Counsel said the court case had caused enormous shame to Moroney who had dedicated his entire life to the care of animals. Several testimonials were handed in to court on Moroneys behalf, speaking to his exemplary character in the community and his lifelong love of animals. The court heard that Moroney is currently in receipt of the State pension of 277 per week. by Danielle Oster , June 27, 2024 Earlier this month, Spending Spotlight launched as a resource dedicated to providing consumers with tools to make values-based decisions, with an initial focus on highlighting companies that have donated to politicians advancing legislation attacking LGBTQ+ rights. The organization's website rates major companies across eight categories using a traffic light system -- with green-light companies those who do not donate to the most extremist anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, and red-light companies the worst offenders. Consumers can use such information, for example, to decide to switch from shopping at Home Depot -- due to its anti-LGBTQ+ financial ties -- to competitors like Ace Hardware and True Value. Or a consumer might consider having products purchased online shipped via the U.S. Postal Service or DHL, instead of UPS or FedEx. advertisement advertisement Spending Spotlight also provides visitors with resources to contact companies about their decision to switch directly, to share with friends on social media, and highlights the degree to which deciding to switch one or two regular purchase decisions can affect businesses. Spending Spotlight CEO John Mullin started the group out of a desire to provide consumers with an easy way to make an impact with their purchasing decisions. The impetus for the organization, he told Marketing Daily, stemmed from a particularly bleak stretch of time in 2022 -- which saw multiple mass shootings, the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, and escalating attacks on LGBTQ+ rights -- and his feeling that Id had enough, but didnt know what to do. After reading about companies that talked the talk but didnt walk the walk on reproductive rights -- they were vocal about providing financial support to employees traveling out of state to obtain an abortion, while simultaneously supporting politicians whod created the situation in the first place -- he went searching for a resource to easily identify those companies. He realized there wasnt one. He also recognized that the lack of transparency about corporate political donations was a problem stretching well beyond any single issue. In its early stages, Spending Spotlight identified LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence prevention, voting rights and threats to democracy as additional issues people had visceral responses to, ultimately electing to launch around LGBTQ+ rights for Pride Month. Mullin wanted to find a way to distill information about specific politicians attacks on LGBTQ+ rights into something that allowed for the average person to take action on it, he explained. From there, the group looked into how to research the issue using existing data resources, such as Open Secrets and the SECs website. In categorizing brands political donations, Spending Spotlight also chose to limit its focus on donations since 2022 going directly to those extremist politicians most involved in attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. We wanted to make sure the info is very credible, Mullin said. We developed a more detailed and nuanced rubric for identifying legislators [most responsible for driving this issue], which included details like whether they were members of a specific caucus, ratings from advocacy organizations, politicians degree of sponsorship of specific legislation, and how much theyre on the pulpit leading the charge against LGBTQ+ rights. While limiting offending donations to those most responsible for attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, Mullin estimated the data only covers around 20% of those connected to anti-LGBTQ+ positions overall. We want to be accurate but conservative in how we present information, he explained. I do believe there is a group in the center that would like to find common ground on these things, but [those extremists] prevent progress. Having identified target legislators, the group then worked to identify consumer categories and brands to focus on for the initial launch -- with plans to expand later. The aim was to locate categories where consumers have lots of alternatives and low friction to making a change, to provide a small list of easy switches consumers can make to have an impact, he explained. In our testing, even the most motivated consumers get a sense of overwhelm when they think about all the potential things that they might have to switch if they were to do this throughout all of their purchasing, Mullin said. Our thought was, don't let perfect get in the way of good enough. He added: I view where we are as a starting spot. According to Spending Spotlights website, it plans to expand its focus to reproductive rights some time in the coming months, and gun safety this fall. Its getting harder and harder to separate [corporate political donations from brand identity and consumer perception], he notes. Id point to younger generations [who] are very much focused on it, Mullin said. It feels like people are focusing on the total package of the company. Promoting tourism with pitch-dark, bone-dry, counterintuitive humor? Thats a hard nut for an ad to crack. Unless you are Norwegian. And then it seems fitting and almost natural for a viral Visit Oslo spot to feature a hangdog 31-year-old narrator and guide named Halfdan whos so down on his native city that he opens with, I wouldnt come here, to be honest. Then he adds, Is it even a city, you know what I mean? For those who know it all, Oslo is the capital, and largest city in Norway, but technically its a municipality. advertisement advertisement This brilliant reverse psychology strikes at the heart of every classic tourist commercial featuring saccharine couples vibrantly dancing into the sunset. That perfection seems so corny and ordinary by comparison. By contrast, this spot is anti-advertising, anti-crowds, anti-noise -- and so Norse. As he walks us around the city, our Oslovian guide continues to list dilemmas like Everything is just so availabletheres no exclusiveness. Which is true. Oslo feels like a village, maybe. You can walk from one side of town to the other in like 30 minutes, he says, as he pads along. He also notes that he can just step into a sophisticated restaurant without a reservation and get a table, and Im not even famous what does that tell you? As for culture? If you dont have to stand in line for at least a couple of hours, is it even worth seeing? The spot is shot in a natural, (hand-held?) videographic style that also manages to be deadpan. You get to enjoy the quiet and see the ease and beauty of the backdrop -- as those attractions get undercut by the narrators blase-to-sullen comments. Its an unexpected, expertly crafted monologue. And in his slightly depressed monotone, our tour guide delivers it perfectly. Plus, theres visual satire to match. For example, the director seems to have snuck in a surprisingly not-terrible balls joke. When sad sack Halfdan visits a museum and gazes up at a sculpture, hes shot from way back, through the open legs and hanging package of a David-like statue. Then we witness Halfie standing next to Norwegian Edvard Munchs powerful, uber-famous painting, The Scream. A breakthrough for the time, it was the first to express the angst of the almost 20th century-modern person. (Oslo boasts a newish Munch Museum, btw.) Its not exactly the Mona Lisa, Halfdan says, Norwegian burn-style. There are also subtle comic touches that are priceless. For example, we see Halfdan sitting on a dock in the harbor, getting splashed as he says, I dont understand why people go swimming in the middle of a city. Its disgusting. The entire time, he wears a canvas shoulder bag with a giant logo promoting 2 percent milk. Its a hilarious wet blanket, a graphic way to water down the fun. Then theres the post-swim shot of him in a robe and white socks, navigating thongs. He ends by saying I think a city should feel a little hard to get. Its like a good relationship, its not supposed to be easy. I guess its a Nordic thing. Last year, Sweden released a brilliant and biting Were not Switzerland campaign (sand banks, not financial banks.) And post-COVID, Icelands Let It Out ads encouraged people to go there and start screaming at fjords. Halfdans tone in the opener also reminds me of the logic of the raincoated Swede in the old, award-winning Ikea lamp commercial. While we watch this poignant, goose-necked, Pixar-logo-like lamp get pitched to the curb, thrown out of its warm home into the rain and dark of night, the narrator stands outside on the street, getting drenched and observing. Many of you feel bad for this lamp, he says in his slightly accented English as he moves to get near a streetlight. That is crazy. The lamp has no feelings, and the new one is much better. At a time when European tourism otherwise means fighting the heat, mobs, and lines, our narrator tells us about all the grief well have to suffer by visiting Norways airy, interesting, uncrowded capital. Thats where life is so easy-going and egalitarian that you can walk around the corner and bump into the King, and hes just a regular guy. Thats crazy. This city sounds so much better. I cant wait to go. by Ray Schultz , June 27, 2024 The Wall Street Journal is beefing up its national security and enterprise teams in Washington, DC with four new reportorial hires. They include: Alexander Ward, formerly of Politico , is joining the national security team. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his reporting on the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, and has also reported on national security and the White House for Vox. , is joining the national security team. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his reporting on the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, and has also reported on national security and the White House for Vox. Lara Seligman, who is joining the national security team, is also previously from Politico . She has covered geopolitics in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She also has covered the Pentagon and national security for Foreign Policy. Joel Schectman , who is coming on board the enterprise team, previously was an investigative reporter for Reuters, covering national security, espionage, cyberattacks and corruption. He covered the failure of the CIA toward Iranian informants. Maggie Severns, who also joins the enterprise team, most recently worked as an enterprise and investigative reporter at the Allbritton Journalism Institute and NOTUS. She has covered dark money and secret influence campaigns. advertisement advertisement I am confident each of our new additions will be invaluable assets to our Washington coverage, says Emma Tucker, editor in chief. Their unique skills and perspectives will undoubtedly enrich our reporting and bring fresh insights to the newsroom as a whole. by Danielle Oster , June 28, 2024 Beer meets bear for the second consecutive year. Ahead of season three of FXs The Bear, which debuted on Hulu June 26, the show partnered with Stella Artois for a cross-promotional campaign, including a content series and event marketing. FX and Stella Artois hosted A Beer With The Bear celebratory culinary event last Thursday in Los Angeles, featuring a chaos menu mixing fine dining and casual cuisine inspired by the food-focused series. Corey Hendrix (who plays the character Sweeps on the show) was there to tease the upcoming season. The event served as an extension of the brands Lets Do Dinner platform connecting Stella Artois to dining experiences. As part of its Stella Artois Drop Shop hub, the brand will will give fans the chance to win items including neon Stella Artois signs from the show, custom chalices, a The Bear x Stella Artois apron, and Hulu memberships. advertisement advertisement A custom content series from Stella Artois will feature Hendrix alongside Abby Elliott (who plays Sugar on the show), discussing their experiences filming "The Bear"'s third season. Videos will appear before episodes of the series on Hulu, ensuring the brand will be seen by fans of the show. Additionally, the campaign includes a product placement component, placing Stella Artois in key moments of the shows action. The campaign marks a continuation of FX and The Bear partnering with Stella Artois, following last year's effort, which featured activations including a Second Course culinary event in Chicago, bar pop-up events, promotional content, and in-show placements. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, June 28, 2024 The IAB Tech Labs Privacy Sandbox Task Force issued its final report of the Fit Gap Analysis, and its conclusions were no more reassuring for the digital media industry or Google than when it released its report in February. The task force assembled to analyze the implementation still believe that Privacy Sandbox will restrict the digital media industry's ability to deliver relevant, effective advertising, placing smaller media companies and brands at significant risk. The lack of functionality will throttle their ability to compete, ultimately impacting the industrys growth. Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, in January called the endeavor a massive sea-change, and a radical departure from the past three decades in the way the media industry serves and targets advertisements to consumers. advertisement advertisement All this as Emarketer estimates global digital ad spend will reach $767.12 billion next year. The Fit Gap analysis originally opened for public comment in February 6, 2024 and closed March 22, 2024. The changes were documented. We are encouraged that the Tech Lab is turning its Privacy Sandbox focus toward discussing new capabilities and sharing integration guidance with the industry, with input from Chrome, said a Google spokesperson. The Chrome team remains committed to its goal of collaborating with the industry, including many IAB and Tech Lab members, who are working to create innovative solutions using the building blocks provided by Privacy Sandbox." The Google spokesperson said companies are building with Privacy Sandbox and other privacy technologies, but its not possible to predict publisher performance based on effectiveness of one buying platform, as publishers typically work with dozens of demand sources. We expect performance numbers to evolve, and they currently dont reflect how the overall ecosystem will perform in a true marketplace - which wont exist until adoption expands alongside third-party cookieless traffic, the spokesperson said. Criteo CPO Todd Parsons in a blog post shared details on the testing results and recommendations. We believe the Privacy Sandbox has the potential to be a sustainable alternative to third-party cookies, provided our requests are satisfied, a disciplined rollout schedule is maintained, and a clear roadmap is provided, he wrote, saying that the company remains committed to continue helping Google close the gaps. Criteos Privacy Sandbox Market Testing, the basis for the company's final report to the CMA, was conducted over eight consecutive weeks between March 18, and May 12. Prior to testing, Criteo adapted its entire advertising infrastructure to operate in this new environment, which enabled analysts to understand the impact to publisher ad revenue if third-party cookies were deprecated today. Three groups were tested, and the company highlights four key findings: If third-party cookies were deprecated today and the Privacy Sandbox released in its current state, Criteo expects publisher revenue to decrease by an average of 60% for those that have fully integrated the Privacy Sandbox. Publisher adoption overall remains below 55%. The current version of the Privacy Sandbox also creates an advantage for Google's advertising business. Testing showed that Google Ad Manager (GAM) captured the majority of spend in the treatment population, an increase in market share of 360%: from 23% to 83%. This demonstrates a significant increase in publisher reliance on Google for ad revenue. Criteo observed a median increase of more than 100% latency in publisher ad rendering on Privacy Sandbox traffic. Latency negatively impacts consumer experience due to long page load times. Publisher revenue is likewise impacted due to degraded viewability, click-through rates and price per ad slot. Results from various industry participants may vary as testing methodologies differ between companies. Criteo also identified four potential biases that, if not mitigated, may distort test results to erroneously show more favorable performance of the Privacy Sandbox. Complications have repeatedly delayed Google's industrywide rollouts, despite the company providing tools such as Topics, which assigns an interest group to individuals without identifying them, and sidetracking the implementation to 1% of Chrome users globally. U.K. regulators also had warned not to implement the tools until anticompetitive concerns have been resolved. Privacy Sandbox also provides a way for consumers to opt-out similar to what Apple developed for iOS. In April, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority released its quarterly report on Privacy Sandbox, detailing further information about Google's plans for third-party cookie deprecation. It detailed many issues in the 99-page report, listing about 80 issues that it believes must be resolved. Most were technical, and involve functions of specific Sandbox APIs and how Google had planned to reduce its competitive advantage based on its processes and platforms. Around that time, Google had announced another delay. The timeline has changed many times. The IAB Tech Lab working group's report and full analysis states that while the Privacy Sandbox removes many Chrome and Android features which have been leveraged by publishers and advertisers to build a thriving content monetization ecosystem, it introduces a new set of features aimed to fill the gap in functionality that could create new challenges. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 28, 2024 A federal appellate court has rejected Amazon users' request for a new hearing over claims that the company wrongly targets ads to consumers based on their interactions with Alexa-enabled devices. The move leaves in place an opinion issued in May, when a three-judge appellate panel upheld a trial judge's dismissal of the claims. The refusal to reconsider that ruling appears to bring an end to a battle dating to 2022, when Ohio resident James Gray and Massachusetts resident Scott Horton alleged in a class-action complaint that Amazon violated Alexa users' privacy, and engaged in misleading and unfair conduct, by serving targeted ads based on voice interactions. They sued after researchers from the University of Washington, University of California-Davis, University of California-Irvine, and Northeastern University posted the report Your Echoes are Heard: Tracking, Profiling, and Ad Targeting in the Amazon Smart Speaker Ecosystem, which concluded that Amazon processes voice data to infer user interests. advertisement advertisement The researchers didn't allege that Amazon secretly listened to conversations, or directly shared voice recordings with third parties. Amazon responded to the report by acknowledging that it targeted ads to consumers based on their transactions with Alexa. Similar to what you'd experience if you made a purchase on Amazon.com or requested a song through Amazon Music, if you ask Alexa to order paper towels or to play a song on Amazon Music, the record of that purchase or song play may inform relevant ads shown on Amazon or other sites where Amazon places ads, the company stated in response to the research paper. Amazon added that it is not in the business of selling data, and doesn't share Alexa requests with ad networks. U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle dismissed the complaint, ruling that Amazon notified users about its practices in a privacy policy. Gray and Horton appealed to the 9th Circuit, where they argued that Amazon's privacy disclosures were at best ambiguous, and that its Alexa-specific policies don't say anything about targeted advertising. A three-judge appellate panel ruled against the users in May, writing in an unsigned opinion that Rothstein correctly found that Amazon disclosed the relevant conduct in its privacy notice. Gray and Horton subsequently sought a new hearing at the 9th Circuit. They argued in papers filed May 30 that the panel's ruling could encourage companies to make only vague privacy disclosures. It is undisputed that there is not one single disclosure in Amazons Privacy Notice, or any other documentation constituting its user agreement, that says that Alexa voice recordings may be used to target ads, counsel wrote. Lawyers for the pair added that the panel's ruling will greatly incentivize companies to be intentionally vague to obscure the true purpose for which they use customer data. The 9th Circuit on June 25 denied the request for a new hearing, writing that none of the circuit's judges requested a vote on the matter. by Colin Kirkland , June 28, 2024 After signing a bill to ban TikTok in the U.S., President Biden and his administration have announced that the White House will host the first White House Creator Economy Conference in August, according to a VidCon presentation given by Director of the White House Office of Digital Strategy Christian Tom. According to Tom, the conference will invite a group of high-profile social media personalities and industry professionals to talk with senior White House officials about data privacy, artificial intelligence, as well as fair pay and mental health awareness in the creator economy. The inaugural White House Creator Economy Conference will emphasize the Administration's commitment to creators, and reinforce the economic and cultural value they represent, Tom told TechCrunch, adding that the Office of Digital Strategy is prioritizing working with digital creators, especially in regards to how they can help inform policy decisions. advertisement advertisement The conference, which will take place over the course of a day, with main-stage discussions and smaller breakout sessions, builds off previous initiatives and interactions between social media influencers and the Biden administration. In 2021, Biden's administration worked alongside influencers to help persuade people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, then, the following year, briefed 30 top TikTok stars on the war in Ukraine after millions turned to the short-form video app to gain insight on the developing conflict with Russia. Biden also flirted with the idea of designating a White House press briefing room to a hoard of social media influencers, including some with large TikTok followings, in an attempt to reach younger voters in the upcoming presidential election. Per the proposed initiative, the Office of Digital Strategy was to connect with influencers across the nation to target social-media users not yet following the official accounts for the White House or Democratic Party. We're trying to reach young people, White House deputy chief of staff Jen OMalley Dillon told Axios back in April 2023. And despite its efforts to ban TikTok one of the most popular social media platforms among younger voters in the U.S. -- the Biden administration is still using the app as part of its reelection campaign. Trusted Source The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neanderthals? Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Neandertals provided care and support for a young child with Down syndrome in their social group. #DownSyndrome #neandertalswithdownsyndrome Neandertals provided care and support for a young child with Down syndrome in their social group. #DownSyndrome #neandertalswithdownsyndrome Down Syndrome in Neanderthals Fossil of Neanderthal with Down Syndrome Trusted Source External auditory exostoses and hearing loss in the Shanidar 1 Neandertal Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neanderthals? - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9310) External auditory exostoses and hearing loss in the Shanidar 1 Neandertal - (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0186684) The first case of a Neanderthal child with Down syndrome has been identified. The findings highlight that the Neanderthal showed care and support to the child with Down syndrome who lived to at least age six, reports a new study published by an international multidisciplinary team of researchers including faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.The study, The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neandertals? was published in).The research, led by anthropologists at the University of Alcala and the University of Valencia in Spain, studied the skeletal remains of a Neandertal child, whom they affectionately named Tina, found at Cova Negra, a cave in Valencia, Spain long known for yielding important Neandertal discoveries.The excavations at Cova Negra have been key to understanding the way of life of the Neandertals along the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula and have allowed us to define the occupations of the settlement: of short temporal duration and with a small number of individuals, alternating with the presence of carnivores," said University of Valencia Professor of Prehistory Valentin Villaverde.The researchers made micro-computed tomography scans of a small cranial fragment of the right temporal bone, containing the ear region, to reconstruct a three-dimensional model for measurement and analysis. Tina suffered from a congenital pathology of the inner ear associated with Down syndrome that produced severe hearing loss and disabling vertigo . This individual survived to at least 6 years of age, but would have required extensive care from other members of their social group.This is a fantastic study, combining rigorousto document Down syndrome in a Neandertal individual for the first time. The results have significant implications for our understanding of Neandertal behavior, said Binghamton University Professor of Anthropology Rolf Quam.Researchers have known for decades that). However, to date, all known cases of social care among Neandertals involved adult individuals, leading some scientists to discount this as truly altruistic behavior and instead to suggest it more likely represented reciprocal exchange of help between equals."What was not known until now was any case of an individual who had received help, even if they could not return the favor, which would prove. That is precisely what the discovery of 'Tina' means, said Mercedes Conde, professor at the University of Alcala and lead author of the study.Source-Eurekalert Highlights: National Doctor's Day is an opportunity to recognize and thank doctors for their essential role in healthcare Doctors face numerous challenges, including workload stress and emotional toll, yet remain dedicated to patient care The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance and resilience of doctors worldwide Trusted Source July 1 is National Doctors' Day: How to regain the lost public trust in healthcare? Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Happy National Doctor's Day! Let's honor and thank our doctors for their unwavering dedication and care. #NationalDoctorsDay #ThankYouDoctors #medindia Happy National Doctor's Day! Let's honor and thank our doctors for their unwavering dedication and care. #NationalDoctorsDay #ThankYouDoctors #medindia Advertisement Theme for National Doctor's Day 2024 Educate the public about the obstacles that physicians confront, as well as their roles within the medical community. Acknowledge and respect medical professionals' tremendous work to promote public health and well-being. Make a compelling argument for improved resources, infrastructure, and working conditions for medical personnel. Develop an understanding and appreciation for the complicated realities that doctors face daily. Advertisement History of National Doctors Day In India Legacy of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy Establishing National Doctors' Day Beyond The Day Advertisement Significance of National Doctor's Day Appreciation for Doctors: It allows you to express gratitude and admiration for the important role that doctors perform in society. It allows you to express gratitude and admiration for the important role that doctors perform in society. Highlights Obstacles: It highlights the obstacles that doctors encounter, such as stressful surroundings, limited resources, and long working hours. It highlights the obstacles that doctors encounter, such as stressful surroundings, limited resources, and long working hours. Advocating for Improvement: It acts as a catalyst for supporting better resources, infrastructure, and working conditions for physicians in the healthcare industry. It acts as a catalyst for supporting better resources, infrastructure, and working conditions for physicians in the healthcare industry. Inspiring Future Generations: It contributes to the bright future of Indian healthcare by encouraging young people to pursue careers in medicine. How to Celebrate National Doctors Day Send a Thank You Note: Expressing gratitude with a heartfelt note of appreciation can be beneficial. Whether it's through an email, a social media post, or a handmade note, expressing thanks can make a doctor's day. Expressing gratitude with a heartfelt note of appreciation can be beneficial. Whether it's through an email, a social media post, or a handmade note, expressing thanks can make a doctor's day. Donate to medical charities: Consider donating to medical charities or organizations that support medical professionals. Your donation may help those in need gain access to services and assistance. Consider donating to medical charities or organizations that support medical professionals. Your donation may help those in need gain access to services and assistance. Share your story: If a doctor has had a big impact on your life, tell your story on social media with hashtags like #HealingHandsCaringHearts or #NationalDoctorsDay. Your tale can inspire others and highlight the importance of the medical profession If a doctor has had a big impact on your life, tell your story on social media with hashtags like #HealingHandsCaringHearts or #NationalDoctorsDay. Your tale can inspire others and highlight the importance of the medical profession Plan a community event: Plan a modest neighborhood gathering to thank local doctors. This could be an awards ceremony, breakfast, or luncheon to recognize their contributions to healthcare. Plan a modest neighborhood gathering to thank local doctors. This could be an awards ceremony, breakfast, or luncheon to recognize their contributions to healthcare. Gift a token of appreciation: A thoughtful way to demonstrate gratitude is to provide a little gift, such as flowers, personalized items, or a gift card to your favorite restaurant. National Doctor's Day: 1st July 2024 July 1 is National Doctors' Day: How to regain the lost public trust in healthcare? - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6032718/) National Doctors Day, commemorated annually on July 1st in India, is a day for celebrating and thanking the country's medical workers (). It is a day to recognize their dedication, hard work, and commitment to maintaining the country's health and welfare. A single individual inspired India's nationwide Doctor's Day celebration. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was one of India's most known and respected physicians. Every July 1, millions of medical professionals, patients, and organizations recognize this incredible man's life and accomplishments. In 2024, we will gather together to recognize medical professionals who have dedicated their life to enhancing their patients' health and well-being.The theme for National Doctors' Day 2024 is "Healing Hands, Caring Hearts". This topic stresses the compassion and dedication that physicians bring to their everyday work, as well as the vital role they play in providing comfort and care. It emphasizes the value of both technical skills and emotional support that doctors provide to their patients. Regardless of the overall subject, National Doctor's Days 2024 provides a wonderful opportunity to:National Doctor's Day is observed on July 1st in India, and its beginnings may be traced back to Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. Let's take a closer look at its beginnings:In an emotional coincidence, the day chosen for the national commemoration was also Dr. Roy's birthday, July 1st, 1882, and he died on the same day in 1962. He was a well-known physician who graduated with honors from Calcutta Medical College. His dedication to social justice and public health led him to pursue further studies in medicine and public health at the University of London. While serving as West Bengal's chief minister for 14 years, Dr. Roy made significant contributions to the state's social welfare and healthcare systems. He created several hospitals and medical colleges, advocated for universal healthcare access, and promoted preventive health measures.National Doctors Day was established in 1991 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to honor Dr. Roy's exceptional medical contributions and dedication to serving the Indian people. The concept was immediately accepted by the Indian government, which recognized the necessity of thanking and praising the arduous work of medical professionals across the country. July 1st was chosen as the official date to commemorate Dr. Roy's birth and death anniversaries. That demonstrates his long-term influence on the country's healthcare system.Although Doctors Day is a significant occasion for commemorating and thanking physicians, it is crucial to remember that showing support and thanks for them should extend beyond one day. Prioritizing preventative healthcare, valuing their knowledge, and lobbying for improved healthcare facilities can have a long-term impact on their lives and the healthcare system as a whole.National Doctors Day is immensely important in modern India, even beyond simply recognizing Dr. Roy.National Doctor's Day celebrations have progressed beyond formal speeches and ceremonies. Medical institutes, hospitals, and communities host a variety of activities, including seminars, cultural programs, and awareness campaigns. Social media channels are very useful for conveying gratitude and encouraging comments to physicians.Social media channels play an important role in sending doctors messages of encouragement and thankfulness. Here are some meaningful ways of honoring them:July 1st holds significant significance for India because it will be National Doctors Day in 2024. This celebration of doctors' contributions to improving the country's health coincides nicely with the monsoon season, which marks the introduction of new diseases each year. The opportune moment presents an appropriate chance to reflect on the invaluable contributions made by physicians in both metropolitan clinics and remote rural villages. The concept of doctors as frontline troops who are indispensable is visible when medical fraternities across India band together in solidarity on this special occasion in 2024.Source-Medindia Britains GDP grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of this year, according to new Government figures. But behind the good news, growth stalled in April and UK exports and imports fell, warns the international delivery expert Parcelhero. The UKs real GDP (gross domestic product) is estimated to have grown by 0.7% in Quarter 1 (January-March) 2024, according to new figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure was revised up from a first estimated increase of 0.6%. The ONS also revealed GDP increased by 0.3% compared with the same quarter a year ago. However, as the UK emerges from recession, the international delivery expert Parcelhero warns that, behind the positive headlines, other economic results dont look so rosy for UK exporters and importers. Parcelheros Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: In the lead-up to next weeks general election, the big issue for Britains SMEs, importers and exporters is the economy, stupid. However, the encouraging GDP rise in Q1 2024 stalled in April, according to further ONS data, with zero growth. Services output grew by 0.2% in April, but that was offset by falls in both production output (-0.9%) and construction output (-1.4%). Further new ONS figures on the UKs balance of payments also reveal the unwelcome news that the value of UK goods exports decreased by 1.4bn, to 91.2bn, in Q1 2024, and UK goods imports fell by 5.8bn to 135.8bn. The largest decreases in exports were recorded in the following products: finished-manufactured goods (0.9bn) other fuels (0.4bn) semi-manufactured goods (0.3bn) The fall in finished and semi-finished goods exports will be of particular concern to UK companies struggling to find new markets. The largest fall in imports was in finished manufactured goods (3.6bn) Looking at these assorted economic results, its a mixed report card for the Conservative Government going into next weeks election. Only Britains exports to the US kept figures from being more disappointing. UK to US goods exports saw a heartening rise from 59.3bn to 61.7bn between 2022 and 2023, a 2.4bn increase. Thats despite the fact a UK-US trade agreement seems no closer. Its small wonder that the US is also Parcelheros biggest individual overseas market. Sending a parcel to the USA is now no more difficult than shipping to the EU. 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... TOKYO Japans government protested Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American service members on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa which were only recently made public. In one case, an Air Force member is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in December, while the other, which dates from May, involves a Marine who is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman. The case involving the assault of the teenager is a reminder to many Okinawans of the high-profile 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. service members, which sparked massive protests against the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa. It led to a 1996 agreement between Tokyo and Washington on a closure of a key U.S. air station, though the plan has been delayed due to protests at the site designated for its relocation on another part of the island. Some 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, about half of them on Okinawa, whose strategic role is seen increasingly important for the Japan-U.S. military alliance in the face of growing tensions with China. Japan's southwestern shift of its own military also focuses heavily on Okinawa and its nearby islands. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Friday it was extremely regrettable the two alleged sexual assaults occurred within months. Japan takes it seriously and Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed regrets to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, requesting disciplinary and preventive measures, Hayashi said. I believe that the U.S. side also takes this matter seriously, Hayashi said. Criminal cases and accidents by U.S. military personnel cause great anxiety to local residents, and they should never occur in the first place. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo declined to confirm details of the meeting between Emanuel and Okano and how the ambassador responded, citing diplomatic rules. Hayashi said Japanese prosecutors in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, had pressed charges of nonconsensual sex and assault charges against the Marine on June 17, which were only announced on Friday. Both suspects were handled by the Japanese authorities. The Naha District Prosecutors' Office refused to confirm indictments in the two cases over the phone with anyone who is not a local press club member. Okinawa prefectural police said the two cases were never made public out of consideration for the privacy of the victims. Okinawa residents and the island's governor, Denny Tamaki, have long complained about accidents and crime related to U.S military bases, expressed anger over the alleged crime and lack of disclosure. Tamaki, who opposes the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa, said he was speechless and outraged." He stressed the need to reconstruct the communication system in case of crime and accidents involving American service members. I'm deeply concerned about the severity of this allegation and I regret the anxiety this has caused," Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, Commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, who visited the Okinawa prefectural government with several U.S. officials, said on Thursday, though he did not apologize. He promised the US military will fully cooperate with the investigation by the local authorities and the courts. Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda told Evans and other officials that the alleged assaults were serious human rights violations against women. We find them absolutely unforgivable, and we are outraged," he said. Ikeda also protested the delayed notification of the criminal cases, saying they caused anxiety for residents near the U.S. bases. He said the prefecture was only notified this week about the December case, when the suspect was indicted in March, and only after inquiries by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. A Pentagon spending bill that includes $2.5 billion to pay for a major hike in junior enlisted troops' salaries has passed the House, but the White House is contending that amount falls short of what would actually be needed to cover the raises. The House approved its version of the fiscal 2025 Defense Department appropriations bill on Friday in a 217-198 largely party-line vote. The bill will almost certainly be overhauled before it becomes law since it includes a number of conservative policy riders opposed by the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House that would roll back Pentagon policies on abortion, LGBTQ+ troops and diversity. Read Next: Army Makes It Harder for Commanders to Deny Soldiers Leave for Abortions As written now, the bill includes funding intended to pay for a proposal in Congress' separate annual defense policy bill that would significantly boost junior enlisted troop pay next year. "There's no greater responsibility than supporting our service members and their families, which is why the bill includes a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel, plus $2.5 billion toward an additional 15% pay raise for junior enlisted service members," Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's defense subpanel, said in a statement Friday. Under the House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which the chamber approved earlier this month, E-1s through E-4s would get a 15% raise on top of the 4.5% increase all service members are on track to get, for a total 19.5% pay raise for junior troops. When the House debated its NDAA earlier this month, the White House came out in "strong" opposition to the plan for a junior enlisted pay hike, arguing the proposal is too costly and premature amid the Biden administration's ongoing review of military compensation. A White House statement released this week about the Pentagon appropriations bill did not explicitly repeat the words "strongly opposes" about the junior enlisted raises, but it reiterated the administration's concerns with the plan. Among the issues the White House highlighted in its statement this week is that, while the appropriations bill includes $2.5 billion to pay for the raises, the administration projects that the raises would cost about $3.3 billion next year -- an $800 million shortfall that the Pentagon would have to pay for by dipping into funding intended for other purposes. "The administration appreciates and shares the [House Appropriations Committee's] concern for the needs of the most junior enlisted members," the statement said. But "the administration is concerned with the trade-offs that would be required to [cover the raises] within other parts of DoD." The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the House's proposed junior enlisted raise would cost $24.4 billion from 2025 though 2029, but it did not break down how much it could cost just for next year. In Friday's vote on the appropriations bill, five Democrats -- Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina; Jared Golden of Maine; Vicente Gonzalez of Texas; Mary Peltola of Alaska; and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington -- crossed party lines to support the legislation. Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who has been unsuccessfully trying to ban the Pentagon from covering in vitro fertilization for service members struggling with infertility, was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. With the White House opposition and the Senate taking a less dramatic approach to junior enlisted raises, the outlook for junior enlisted personnel getting a 19.5% raise next year is murky. The Senate has not yet released its fiscal 2025 Pentagon appropriations bill, but the version of the NDAA advanced earlier this month by the Senate Armed Services Committee would give E-1s through E-3s just a 5.5% raise. After the House approved its NDAA earlier this month, Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who chaired a bipartisan panel that studied military quality-of-life issues that recommended giving low-ranking troops a massive raise, said he expects the junior enlisted raise that becomes law will be a compromise between the House and Senate proposals. "What the Senate's doing is not adequate to help get our junior enlisted out of the poverty level," Bacon told reporters on a press call earlier this month. "If you don't take care of your people first, our military is going to fail. And we can't let that happen." Related: Money for 19.5% Pay Hike for Junior Enlisted Troops Included in House's Defense Spending Bill China-Serbia FTA to take effect on July 1, further facilitates bilateral exchanges Global Times) 14:39, June 28, 2024 The free trade agreement (FTA) between China and Serbia will officially take effect on July 1, 2024, as the two sides will gradually eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of products in the tariff lines. Tariffs for more than 60 percent of products will be suspended immediately on the same day, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday in a statement. The FTA was signed on October 17, 2023, and both countries have completed respective approval procedures. The final proportion of zero-tariff imports on both sides will reach about 95 percent, covering major trade commodities. The import tariffs on the Serbian side will be gradually reduced to zero from the current five to 20 percent for Chinese products such as automobiles, photovoltaic modules, lithium batteries, telecommunication equipment, machinery and equipment, refractory materials, and some agricultural and aquatic products, according to a separate MOFOCM statement on Friday, citing an official. China will also reduce the 5-20 percent tariffs to zero for major Serbian imports, including generators, electric motors, tires, beef, wine, nuts, and other products. The move will promote the growth of bilateral trade, as consumers in both countries can enjoy better and more favorable imported products. In addition, it will boost the investment cooperation and industrial chain integration and jointly elevate international competitiveness by utilizing both countries' advantages, according to the official. The FTA has also established institutional arrangements for involved fields, including rules of origin, customs procedures and trade facilitation, trade remedies, dispute settlement, intellectual property rights protection, investment cooperation, competition, and other areas. The arrangements will provide a convenient, transparent, and stable business environment for enterprises of both countries. Meanwhile, China will impose the tariff rates it has pledged under the FTA on certain imports from Serbia, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Thursday. The trade and economic exchanges between China and Serbia have been continuously deepened in various sectors. Earlier in June, the Bank of China's Yuan Clearing Bank in Serbia officially went into operation and successfully handled its first cross-border yuan remittance. This remittance involved a 2-million-yuan ($275,224) transfer to North China's Hebei Province from the Smederevo Steel Plant in Serbia, which is owned by HBIS, a China-based iron and steel company. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) The Red Sox announced Friday that theyve recalled left-hander Bailey Horn from Triple-A Worcester for his big league debut. They had an open spot on the active roster after optioning Isaiah Campbell yesterday, and Horn is already on the teams 40-man roster. Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster first reported yesterday that Horn would be called up for his MLB debut. Boston picked up Horn in an April deal with the ChiSox, sending cash back the other way after hed been designated for assignment. Originally a fifth-round pick by the South Siders in the shortened 2020 draft, Horn bounced between the two Chicago clubs in a pair of trades, first going to the Cubs in exchange for Ryan Tepera in 2021 and then going back to the White Sox this past February in exchange for minor league righty Matt Thompson. The White Sox designated Horn for assignment about two months after reacquiring him. Horn was hit hard and battled alarming command issues in his brief return to his original organization. In 10 1/3 innings with their Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte, he was rocked for 13 runs on 14 hits and 10 walks with 15 punchouts. Since landing in Worcester, hes turned things around, however. Hes still walking too many hitters (13.8%), but Horn has fanned 29.2% of his opponents through 16 innings en route to a tidy 1.69 earned run average. Overall, the Auburn product has a 4.37 ERA in exactly 200 minor league innings. Hes missed bats at every level, punching out 30% of his career opponents, but Horns command troubles date back to High-A. Hes issued a walk to 13% of his opponents in pro ball. Horn operates with a low- to mid-90s heater that he pairs with a curveball and a slider. He made 14 starts with the White Sox Class-A affiliates back in 21 but has pitched exclusively in relief since (with the exception of a lone two-inning start this year in a bullpen game for Worcester). HANCOCK, MI The grandson and daughter-in-law of an Upper Peninsula man who was fatally shot at his home in 2023 have been bound over to circuit court on murder charges after disturbing testimony this week, WJMN reports. Alvin Kempainen was fatally shot in the head and chest on Dec. 18, 2023, at his home in Hancock. His grandson, Jacob Kempainen, now 21, and daughter-in-law, Margaret Kempainen, 50, are accused in his death. His 16-year-old granddaughter was also there, authorities have said. Margaret and Jacob are both charged with open murder and conspiracy to commit homicide. Jacob, who is alleged to have fired the gun, is also charged with felony firearm. After hearing testimony at a preliminary hearing this week, the judge bound both cases and all charges over to circuit court, the TV station reported. The next step in the case is the suspects arraignment in that court. The 16-year-old granddaughter testified that her mother had convinced her over the past two years that she was a necromancer, meaning that she could control the dead. They had left their home in Hartland, Wis., on Dec. 7, 2023, because Margaret said her husband, the victims son, was possessed by demons, according to testimony reported by the TV station. While in Colorado with her mother and brother, the teen claims to have had a vision of her grandfather dead and an abandoned well on his property full of bodies. The three then made their way to the house, expecting to find him dead and planning to live there, according to testimony. HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI Police have identified the Michigan sheriffs deputy fatally shot while on the job in Hillsdale County. Deputy William Henry Butler Jr., 51, died Thursday, June 27. Butler served 12 years at the Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office. He was an Iraq War veteran, husband and father of five, according to police and his obituary. Outside the sheriffs office on Friday, June 28, flowers wrapped in blue covered Butlers sheriffs cruiser, now a memorial. I love you read a balloon at the vehicles front and his picture stood on the dashboard. Eric Michael Fiddler shot Butler during a traffic stop at 2:15 p.m. in the area of Beecher and Lamb Roads near Osseo, eight miles southeast of Hillsdale, in Jefferson Township, Michigan State Police reported. The driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old man, was arrested for active warrants by a detective sergeant who initiated the traffic stop. Butler arrived at the scene to assist the sergeant, police said. Fiddler, still in the vehicle, refused to identify himself and fought with the deputies, who were trying to get him out of the vehicle, police said. Fiddler pulled out a handgun hidden in his waistband and shot Butler before running as the deputies returned fire, police said. The detective sergeant grabbed Butler and rushed him to a local hospital, but he died from his injuries, according to the state police. Fiddler, 34, was found hours later, about 6:15 p.m., in a field a couple miles northwest of the site of the traffic stop, near the intersection of Culbert and Osseo roads, and was killed in a shootout with officers, police said. Fiddler was instructed to surrender, but produced a weapon and fired on Michigan State Police troopers, police said. Troopers returned fire and Fiddler died at the scene, police said. No troopers were injured in the shootout, in a rural area of the county, where houses are seperated by woods and large swaths of farm fields. Related: Michigan deputy, suspect die in rural shooting Butler is the first Hillsdale County Sheriffs deputy killed on duty since Undersheriff Harland O. Wood, who died in 1930. Deputy Nelson R. Cook was killed in 1903, according to a stone memorial outside the office. There are no other names listed. This is the second fatal police shooting in a week in Michigan. Another officer, Oakland County Sheriffs Deputy Bradley J. Reckling, was killed on duty while pursuing a stolen vehicle. Related: Deputy killed in line of duty was ambushed while pursuing stolen car, sheriff says Police agencies from across the state have been posting their condolences to the Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office. Rest easy. We have the watch from here, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook. These tragedies remind us of the daily risks faced by law enforcement, the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook. We stand with our law enforcement brothers and sisters and offer our deepest condolences to the personal and professional families of both deputies. The Genesee County Sheriffs Office, far north of Hillsdale County, also mourns the loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with yet another Michigan law enforcement family. Tough week, Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson wrote. Fiddler had a criminal history that included an open case for theft and several older cases from 2018 for resisting arrest and drug use, court records show. He was also facing firearms charges in one of the 2018 cases, but that charge was dismissed with his guilty plea, records show. State police are continuing to investigate. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI A six-day search for a 23-year-old Kalamazoo Township man has ended. The body of Koree Rayshaun Coleman, 23, was located on Thursday, June 27, Kalamazoo Township detectives reported in a news release, just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Detectives do not suspect foul play and said that there is no threat to the general public. Police had reported earlier in the day that Colemans family was concerned he may be in danger of harming himself. He was found deceased hours later after tips from the public helped to locate him, police said. Prior to his body being found, Coleman was last seen riding a mountain bike, in the 2100 block of North Burdick Street on Friday, June 21. The Township of Kalamazoo Police Department would like to thank members of the community for their efforts and tips that helped to locate Coleman. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. SOUTH HAVEN, MI -- Two teens were on an inflatable raft taking on water in rough Lake Michigan conditions when they were rescued after quick action by a deputy, the Van Buren County Sheriffs Office reports. Around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27, marine deputies were called to South Beach in the city of in South Haven, because the inflatable pool raft had drifted out past the pier head with a 16-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl on board. The two kids had been playing in the swim area when the current and wind pulled them out into 4-foot waves and they were unable to get back to shore. They did not have life jackets, police said, and the raft was beginning to take on water. Witnesses indicated the raft was not going to make it back to shore in the water conditions, police said. A marine deputy was on duty nearby in the Black River and immediately took his watercraft to the reported location of the raft, locating the two juveniles. RELATED: 9 water safety tips to know before your trip to the beach The deputy helped the teens onto the boat without any injuries. They were taken back to shore and reunited with their family. The family was extremely thankful for the service, police said. Sheriff Daniel Abbott reminds the public to use extreme caution when out on Lake Michigan and continuously monitor changing weather and water conditions. Monitor children and members of your party regularly for any signs that they may be struggling in the water, Abbott said. RELATED: Watch a robot race over Lake Michigan waves to help a swimmer South Haven has two piers that extend into the lake from the citys beach swimming areas. The sheriffs office did not specify which pier it was closest to. The city of South Haven has not had a municipal lifeguard program in place for several years. The City Council voted recently to make the creation of a lifeguard program one of the citys top priorities for the coming year. A Berrien County Sheriff's Office boat heads out to the Lake Michigan, near the pier in St. Joseph. Police officials up and down the cost of Lake Michigan are asking people to play safe when they go to the beach. (Brad Devereaux | bdeverea@mlive.com) Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Western Michigan Universitys Board of Trustees hiked tuition to $15,252 starting in fall 2024, at its Thursday, June 27 board meeting. Tuition for a resident first-year undergraduate student is increasing by 4.5%, $658 more than fall 2023. The dollar increase is the universitys largest since 2008-09. That year, the university approved a 9.2% increase which, at the time, equated to a $668 jump. Last year, WMU raised tuition by 4.6% which was larger by percentage, but smaller in terms of the dollar increase (up $644). In our budget development and tuition pricing, we balance the crucial need to offer a high-quality education with accessibility for our students and their families, Shelly Edgerton, chair of WMUs Board of Trustees, said in a press release after the meeting. Non-resident students, graduate students and students taking all online courses will have the same percentage increase to tuition. The university has the eighth-highest tuition out of the states 15 public universities, Jan Van Der Klay, vice president of business and finance, said at the meeting. We set our rates around the median of Michigan public universities, Edgerton said in the release. Tuition composes 68% of the universitys general fund budget, Van Der Klay said. The tuition increase will be paired with a 7% increase in financial aid in the universitys 2024-25 general fund budget, also approved at the meeting. The total budget approved for next year was $414.5 million, a 1.4% increase from last years general fund budget. Revenue and expenses for the university will increase by $5.7 million compared to last years budget, Van Der Klay said. The revenue increase will come from an additional $1.8 million from state appropriations and the increased tuition rate, Van Der Klay said. The university is also accounting for an expected small decrease in enrollment, said Paula Davis, vice president of strategic communications. RELATED: See WMUs enrollment each year from 1949 to 2023 The universitys expenses are anticipated to outpace revenue in the coming year by $881,000, but the difference will be taken from a budget stability fund created in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The board also approved a 5% increase to room and board costs for next year. That increase was accompanied by a 3% cost increase for the Stadium Drive and Spindler Hall Apartments as well as a 4% increase for Western View and Arcadia Flats Apartments. A 5% room and board increase is in line with the 5.5% increase trustees approved in June 2023. A 2% increase to room and board rates was approved in 2022. About 85% of freshmen lived in residence halls in fall 2023, the meeting agenda said. In total, 4,110 students lived on-campus. The university operated 14 residence halls and four apartment complexes on campus in 2023-24, said Diane Anderson, vice president of student affairs. WMUs Valley 3 dorms, one of the oldest complexes on campus, will be torn down this summer and replaced with a new complex. In Valley 3s place, Henry Hall will be temporarily reopened this fall. MORE: WMU plans to tear down dorms, build new residence hall Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. LANSING, MI Many Michigan families would receive free pre-K and all high school graduates would receive free community college education under the 2025 spending plan passed Thursday by lawmakers. The $23.4 billion spending plan for education also would continue free breakfast and lunches for all students at a cost of $200 million. Free meals for students was first included in the current budget, and its something Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has wanted to make permanent. The overall $82.5 billion state budget for 2025 was approved early Thursday, June 27, by lawmakers during an overnight session. It now heads to Whitmers desk for her signature. Related: Michigan lawmakers pass $82.5 billion budget mostly along party lines Under the plan, free pre-K for 4-year-olds will be available for families making 400% or less of the federal poverty limit. That collective income limit is $81,760 for a family of two, $103,280 for a family of three and $124,800 for a family of four, according to the federal 2024 poverty guidelines. The $54 million investment will provide free pre-K for about 5,300 additional children in the state, according to state officials. Whitmer had called for universal free pre-K in her budget proposal earlier this year. The spending plan also includes a $30 million investment to expand the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which state officials say most students qualify for. Democratic lawmakers say this investment would allow every Michigan high school graduate to receive an associate degree or skilled certificate tuition-free at a community college. The scholarship expansion would also give more dollars to students attending private and public universities. As a parent, I know our kids are our number one priority, which is why this budget puts students first by making historic investments to improve learning outcomes from pre-K through college, so that every child can get a world-class education, Whitmer said. Together, we are getting things done that make a real difference in peoples lives and ensuring everyone can make it in Michigan and will continue to improve learning outcomes so every student can succeed. What the budget doesnt include for the first time in a decade is a direct increase in per pupil funding, which would remain at $9,608 per student under the proposed spending plan. However, about $589 million in redirected funding to offset retirement costs would save K-12 school districts about $400 per pupil, effectively equating to a 4.2% per pupil increase, according to Democratic lawmakers. The budget would also remove, for next year, a requirement that 3% of teachers earnings pay into the retiree health plan. Hardworking educators have sacrificed 3% of their wages for years to help fully fund the school retiree health plan, and now that it is fully funded, the 2024-25 budget removes that tax on school employees, said Chandra Madafferi, president and CEO of the Michigan Education Association. The vote on the education spending plan fell along party lines, with Republicans accusing Democrats of raiding the teacher retirement fund by redirecting $670 million that would have gone to covering liabilities in the teacher retirement system. Rather than supporting our teachers and robustly funding their hard-earned retirement accounts, Democrats voted to strip those benefits, said Donni Steele, R-Orion Township. Many of these teachers taught thousands of kids over the course of decades, they deserve to be rewarded. Instead, now these same hard-working teachers are left questioning if their benefits will still be there when they need them. Democratic leadership said the budget pays off certain liabilities in the teacher retirement system and protects teacher pensions and retirement benefits all while freeing up that $670 million to be invested back into classrooms. We delivered a school aid budget that invests in our kids by freeing up an average of an additional $400 for every public-school student and continues to make historic investments in funding for at-risk and special education programming, said House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit. Whitmer, who pitched the move in her budget proposal earlier this year, previously likened it to paying off a mortgage early, allowing those funds to be freed up. Related: Free Pre-K and community college top Gov. Whitmers budget recommendations Republicans and K-12 education advocates also took aim at significant reductions to school safety and mental health grants, which were cut from $328 million in funds this current budget down to $26.5 million. There were deep cuts to categorical funding for school safety and student mental health cuts that will need to be navigated at the local level to keep our schools safe learning spaces for all students and employees, Madafferi said. Our hope is that state lawmakers will return after the summer break to pass a supplemental budget that funds these critical student mental health and safety priorities. After President Joe Bidens poor debate performance Thursday night raised further concerns about his age and ability to win reelection, national outlets and pundits have floated possible candidates to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket. Among the names that keep coming up: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The Democratic Party has some prominent figures who I think would be in a good position to defeat Trump in November, among them Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, wrote New York Times opinion columnist Nicholas Kristof in a piece Friday calling for Biden to step aside. And there are many others. From Forbes and Newsweek to Axios and the Guardian, the second-term governor was continually mentioned alongside other prominent Democrats following the debate in articles headlined in variations of Who could replace Joe Biden? In response to questions about her being eyed to replace Biden, a spokesperson for Whitmer told MLive on Friday that Biden is the partys nominee and the governor is proud to support him. Whitmer has been viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 2028 but hasnt herself confirmed those ambitions. She serves as the national co-chair for President Joe Bidens reelection campaign. Related: Gov. Whitmer gives a wink during Washington speech: See you in 2029 In a recent interview with the New York Times, Whitmer declined to confirm her presidential aspirations, saying: I dont know what the heck Im going to do in 2028. So you can ask, but thats the honest answer. But even before Bidens faltering performance Thursday, Whitmers name had come up as a candidate potentially better positioned to beat former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaking at the Mackinac Policy Conference in May, called Whitmer pretty damn popular. Shes definitely a star in your party, Ryan said. But is it even possible that Whitmer or another Democrat could replace Biden, the presumptive nominee, at the Democratic National Convention slated for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago? According to the Associated Press, it would be nearly impossible for Biden to be replaced at the top of the ticket unless he steps aside, as the nominating delegates are pledged to him after his wins in the state presidential primaries. And Bidens campaign spokesperson said after the debate that the 81-year-old is not dropping out, the AP reported. Biden bowing out of the race could also prompt lawsuits around the country about the legality of his name on the ballot, but an expert told the AP that the courts would likely stay out of it so long as the party isnt doing anything that would contradict constitutional rights. In a statement following the debate, Whitmer didnt address any concerns with Bidens performance. Rather, she focused on why Biden is the better choice for voters, saying the difference between the two could not be clearer. Joe Biden is running to serve the American people. Donald Trump is running to serve Donald Trump, Whitmer said. The difference between Joe Bidens vision for making sure everyone in America has a fair shot and Donald Trumps dangerous, self-serving plans will only get sharper as we head toward November. Heres a close look at the weekend weather. Its a fairly predictable and understandable weather situation this weekend. The weather scenario has a period of showers and thunderstorms moving through all of Michigan from today into tonight. The rain will exit southeast Lower Michigan through Saturday morning. Sunday should be dry for almost all of us. Id plan on a partly sunny but somewhat cool Sunday by July standards. Heres the forecast of the rain areas through the weekend. Forecast of rain areas from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday.NOAA A great way to see if you are dry or wet by mid-morning Saturday is to look at the radar forecast at 10 a.m. Saturday. The thundershowers will be in the southeast corner and moving out by noon. Anywhere north and west of the thundershower area should already be dry by 10 a.m. Saturday. Radar forecast at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2024NOAA Lets call it showery through noon for the Detroit area, Ann Arbor area, Flint area and Monroe area. The reason the showers end is a cold front will have moved through. The name of the weather feature says what will happen. Cooler temperatures will be filtering in from the northwest late Saturday. The cool air for July will be with us Sunday. Below are the temperature forecasts from early morning to late afternoon. Saturday starts fairly warm in the 60s. This is because the clouds overnight tonight will hold the temperatures up some. Low temperature forecast for Saturday, June 29.NOAA Saturday afternoon should warm to near 80 degrees for most of us. Youll probably call Saturday afternoon a fairly summery afternoon. It wont be blazing hot for sure. High temperature forecast for Saturday, June 29.NOAA Sunday morning will actually be chilly to cold for July. If you are going to be camping in the western U.P. you might be in for a cold shock by Sunday morning. Southern Lower Michigan will be comfortably cool, and we can rest our air conditioners. Northern Lower Michigan will be on the verge of chilly to start Sunday. Low temperature forecast for Sunday, June 30.NOAA Sunday afternoon should have off and on sunshine but not much heat. High temperature forecast for Sunday, June 30.NOAA It wont be a really wet weekend. In fact much more of the weekend will be dry compared to wet. Is it a summer-like weekend? Not really, especially will a whole day of cool weather Sunday. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept China remains key driving force for global economic growth Xinhua) 16:24, June 28, 2024 DALIAN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Despite the world grappling with a slowdown in economic growth and a challenging recovery, China's economy has maintained steady development, bolstered by the rise of new industries and new growth drivers. During the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the 2024 Summer Davos, which concluded on Thursday, participants hailed China's efforts in cultivating new quality productive forces, noting that it has not only injected new vitality into the Chinese economy but also expanded opportunities for global cooperation. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that China's contribution to world economic growth has stayed at around 30 percent over the years, and it continues to be a key driving force for global economic growth. NEW GROWTH DRIVERS Since the start of this year, the Chinese economy has maintained its recovery momentum. It started strongly in the first quarter with a 5.3 percent year-on-year growth and continued to grow steadily in the second quarter. Official data showed that indicators measuring consumption, trade in goods and value-added industrial output all posted positive performance in May. "We have the confidence and capability to achieve the growth target of around 5 percent for this year," Chinese Premier Li Qiang said when addressing the opening plenary of the event. International organizations and institutions have raised their forecasts for China's economic growth, reflecting strong confidence in the country's future prospects. Recently, the World Bank increased its forecast for China's 2024 economic growth to 4.8 percent, 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous forecast. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also revised China's economic outlook to 5 percent, 0.4 percentage points higher than the previous forecast. This positive outlook rebuffs the narratives of some Western politicians and media, who claimed that China's economic slowdown could pose risks to global economic growth. According to IMF analysis, a 1 percentage point increase in China's GDP growth results in an average of 0.3 percentage point increase in growth for other economies. China's economy has exceeded expectations and shown strong resilience in the first half of this year, especially in emerging industries, Jason Ding, managing partner of Greater China offices with Bain & Company told Xinhua. In particular, China has gained an international edge in electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaics. Renewable energy now accounts for over 50 percent of the country's total installed capacity. "I see huge opportunities in China since it is leading the way in a series of new technologies such as the batteries and new energy vehicles, which have provided new drivers of growth," said Merik Dusek, the managing director of the World Economic Forum. "High-quality growth" is more than just a popular buzzword, said Peng Sen, president of the China Society of Economic Reform. "This is about advanced productivity and innovation." Future growth for China's industries requires a revolutionary transformation on the technological front, as well as a focus on cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and advanced chips, he added. OPENING UP ENDEAVOUR Amid a gloomy global economic outlook, China's sustained economic growth promises positive spillover effects for the rest of the world. At present, China is a major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions. In the first five months of this year, its trade in goods with other countries grew by 6.3 percent year on year, according to official statistics. China has a vast market of over 1.4 billion people, a comprehensive industrial support system, an abundant labor force and talent pool, and diverse application scenarios, said Jason Ding, adding that these unique advantages could not only meet domestic demand but also enhance supply in the international market. For example, the country's cultivation of large-scale new growth drivers in sectors such as green infrastructure, green energy, green transportation and green lifestyle will generate investment and consumption markets with an estimated size of 10 trillion yuan (about 1.4 trillion U.S. dollars) annually, promising enormous potential. Emphasizing the fundamentally global nature of these new technologies, Keyu Jin, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science said, "China might be leading the way in EVs, batteries and solar panels, but they are all embedded in a global supply chain. It's going to involve everybody." In contrast to some countries resorting to regressive actions like decoupling, disrupting supply chains and building barriers, China has reaffirmed its commitment to opening its doors wider to the world and deepening cooperation with international communities. In his speech, Premier Li Qiang called on all countries and regions to work toward deepening scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, bolster the foundation for green development, safeguard an open market environment, and promote inclusive and mutually beneficial development. China remains steadfast in its commitment to opening up. It has pledged to increase imports of high-quality goods and services from all over the world, attract increased foreign investment in sectors such as medium and high-end manufacturing and biopharmaceuticals, further streamline market access, and foster an open, inclusive and transparent business environment for enterprises worldwide. "We definitely need to keep China open for the world, but we also need to keep the world open for China," Jin added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Sacramento, CA Following Thursdays debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, some reporters were questioning California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was on site to support Biden, if the President should step aside so that someone like him could run. Newsom deflected, I know Joe Biden, and I know what he has accomplished the last three and a half years. I know what he is capable of, and I know his vision. I have no trepidation. The Associated Press reports that Bidens debate performance has spurred Democratic panic about his ability to lead the party against Trump. Newsom has often been mentioned as a potential future Presidential candidate. The Governor, who has been growing his national profile, argued that he and fellow Democrats need to have President Bidens back in the presidential race. Thursdays debate aired live on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. By Lambert Strether of Corrente Readers, todays Water Cooler is a post, but I included the bird song and the plant, because I knew youd ding me if I didnt! lambert Bird Song of the Day Eastern Meadowlark, Brazoria NWRAuto Tour Loop and Discovery Center, Brazoria, Texas, United States. . * * * The chaos in the Democrats party is perhaps best understood as a succession crisis, not merely personally, but generationally (Bidens replacement, if any, is unlikely to be 81, and even less likely to be a member of the Senate class of 1973). Moreover, its a crisis that needs to be solved by deadline: The physical Chicago convention is August 19-22, but the Democrat National Committee (DNC) has decided to hold a virtual nomination on Zoom, because Republican Ohio required an August 7 filing date to get the Democrat nominee on their ballot. (Ohio has since moved the filing date to September 1, but Democrats dont trust them.) The date of the Zoom nomination is, however, as yet unrevealed. Lets say the date is August 6. This is June 28, making the deadline 39 days away. If the date turns out to be August 19 after all, the crisis must be resolved in 52 days. Thats not a lot of time. Whether the Democrat succession crisis is of historical significance is as yet unknown (asked the same question of the French Revolution, Chou En-Lai is said to have said Its too early to say). Certainly its significant in the history of the party, though its hard to think of a precedent: When Democrats split in 1860, it was over an important principle slavery and not over the partys aging star and weak bench. Certainly the debate is significant, though whether on the order of Bush v. Gore 2000 (which Gore was thought to have won for a news cycle or so, until the press decided the debate was really about Gore sighing obnoxiously) or Kennedy v. Nixon 1960 (a poor analogy with no Camelot in the offing) is also unknown. I spent a few hours after the debate trawling the Twitter, and a few hours after that reading up on the bigfootery and hot-take-ish-ness, and in what follows Im going to empty out my haul into the following buckets, which correspond roughly to opinion-havers in the Democrat Party structure (ignoring the spooks, press assets, and NGOs): 1) Tragedians 2) The Wizard of Kalorama 3) Party Grandees 4) Bedwetters 5) Non-Bedwetters 6) Party Members and Activists 7) Outsiders 8) Fanciful Scenarists My object is not to predict the future though I do recall asserting that volatility was to be this years theme but to try to reduce the mass of material to some sort of order. (Readers will observe that theres one further category Ive left out: Funders. Thats because squillionaires and even local gentry are few in number, have ideological crotchets, must be serviced, and cover their tracks, which is why Ferguson and his associates need to take time to figure out in granular and not class terms who the string-pullers really are (I say string-pullers rather than puppet masters because the members of every bucket have their own relative autonomy)). Im going to structure the buckets rather like the club sandwich I had for lunch: The bacon, lettuce, and so forth will be the Tweets I collected; the slices of bread will be links to the opinion-havers. Because this is Water Cooler, the sandwich will be large at first, and assume Dagwoodian proportions once orts and scraps are added. But before I start filling up buckets, let me have some fun and do a Wordle for each canidate. Im using the CNN transcript. Biden: Trump: Make of them what you will. (These are simple frequency-based Wordles. Im frankly surprised horrible doesnt assume greater salience in Trumps Wordle; the way he pronounced it really sticks in the mind. Notice, however, that country is central to Trumps appeal, but not Bidens.) Tragedians But still evoking pity and terror: this is the worst production of king lear ive ever seen Erin Overbey (@erinoverbey) June 28, 2024 Time to take the car keys away (1): Never thought thought that "because you'd be in jail" could be eclipsed but this just topped it. The most devastating 30 seconds in presidential debate history. pic.twitter.com/W2HpKwPR2L Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) June 28, 2024 Trump, amazingly, stays controlled, gives a slight shrug, then does what he has to do. Time to take the car keys away (2): Ive been here a lot with my own parents and in-laws in their 80s. The aging and slipping happens real fast. Its like you blink and the walking and talking are slurred and tentative. I greet this with grace and a deep sadness and acceptance of the inevitable. That is what I feel S. Mitra Kalita (@mitrakalita) June 28, 2024 Time to take the car keys away (3): This is elder abuse. The Dem Party has fucked its base like no party in history. Unbelievable. Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) June 28, 2024 Time to take the car keys away (4): All right I will say it: However exactly you characterize the interaction between Bidens age and his stuttering it is not a good combination for the job of presidential nominee and it would be better to have someone else in that role.#brave Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) June 28, 2024 The Democrats have form on elder abuse: Now, surely the Democrats won't continue this charade instead of taking action. pic.twitter.com/T8aWnRxgS2 Eoin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) June 28, 2024 Carefully uncommitted: I love Joe Biden. I know hes a good man. I know his heart is good. I know hes dedicated to our country and is surrounded by good people. Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways. This is a big political moment. Theres panic in the Democratic party. Its going to be a long night. Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) June 28, 2024 The after-party, poor Jill (1): Joe just told the lying two faced pony soldier story again and the post-game speech to an Atlanta audience. Jills jaw perceptibly tensed as he ramped up to it. Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) June 28, 2024 Poor Jill (2): Desperate message recorded on an old iPhone from a dingy backroom with poor lighting and sound. This is what panic looks like. https://t.co/VUmEkT07Yn Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) June 28, 2024 The Wizard of Kalorama UPDATE The Wizard speaks: Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024 The framing is deceptive. The issue isnt one bad debate. The issue is a failing debater. Obamas speechwriter (coined The Blob) takes a view: Telling people they didn't see what they saw is not the way to respond to this. Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) June 28, 2024 From Obamas campaign manager: DEFCON 1 moment Obama campaign vet David Plouffe on the fallout from Bidens debate performance. Plouffe adds Biden did have a couple of good moments but the concern level is quite high. pic.twitter.com/SPi1pcIlDy MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 28, 2024 But from Obamas former chief strategist Axelrod: Biden Is The Nominee Of The Democratic Party, This Isnt The 60s [RealClearPolitics]. [AXELROD:] The point is now he is the nominee of the Democratic Party. This isnt the 60s, okay. Voters choose the nominee. He is the nominee only he can decide whether hes going to continue, and as you point out, this is a guy with a lot of pride who believes in himself. The idea that hes going to say, You know, I had a bad debate, I think Im going to walk away from this. I find it hard to believe. A halting Biden tries to confront Trump at debate but sparks Democratic anxiety about his candidacy [Associated Press]. I think the panic had set in, said David Axelrod, a longtime advisor to former President Barack Obama on CNN, immediately after the debate about Bidens performance. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue.' Party Grandees A Fumbling Performance, and a Panicking Party [Peter Baker, New York Times]. Democrats on Thursday night were imagining scenarios that would require party elders like Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina to intervene with the president, although there was no indication that any of them would agree to do so. See this lightly sourced story from the Daily Mail on June 17, which presents a similar scenario: The only people who could force him out would be Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, one Democratic strategist told DailyMail.com. It would have to be the four of them collectively.' Baker, apparently, substituted Clyburn for Obama. Playbook: Democrats wake up to a nightmare [Politico]. The key names we kept hearing last night were listed in three concentric rings of influence around the president, starting with (1) his family, particularly wife JILL and sister VALERIE BIDEN, (2) his closest advisers (TED KAUFMAN, TOM DONILON, RON KLAIN, STEVE RICCHETTI and ANITA DUNN), and then (3) the bold-faced electeds and former electeds whose opinions he couldnt ignore (Bill and HILLARY CLINTON, Obama, Pelosi, Schumer, Clyburn, Delaware Sen. CHRIS COONS). Regarding ring (1), and why on earth havent Jill and Hunter taken Joe aside and said Honey, lets spend our last months together? That family is not the ideal it is made out to be (as the dogs as vicious as their master show). In The Room Where It Happens [Atrios, Eschaton]. Most of us dont get to be there, but there are always people with access to lawmakers and the administration who are constantly putting pressure on them. The people trying to make noise on the outside furious blog posts, angry tweets, public protest are the ones who dont ever get that access. Some of that pressure comes from big donors, some from their weirdo rich friends in the group chat, some from the numerous lobbying groups who have armies of people who are paid to lie for their cause (and who also have all your favorite journalists in their contact lists). And, of course, those who dangle lifetime friends and family jobs. Its the quiet pressure people should be more worried about. It is constant and relentless and much more effective than anything outsiders can do. So. Bedwetters That escalated quickly: Our only hope is that he bows out, we have a brokered convention, or dies, said an adviser to major Democratic party donors. Otherwise we are f-ing dead.https://t.co/C65OXV31wE POLITICO (@politico) June 28, 2024 Very aggressive panic: CNN: "Right now, there is a deep, a wide, and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party. It started minutes into the debate, and it continues right now. It involves party strategists and involves elected officials. It involves fundraisers, and they're having conversations pic.twitter.com/0yaCJjFkpG KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) June 28, 2024 Multiple lists (flex nets): I am in multiple large group texts with Democratic operatives, elected officials, staffers, and donors. Not one of them feels good about Bidens performance tonight in terms of style, his voice etc. And these are people who aggressively defend him. And I know this is Yashar Ali (@yashar) June 28, 2024 Zero constituency? There is now basically zero constituency for the idea of Biden being on the ballot in November. Whether he stays on the ballot will say a lot about whether our country still has the kind of democratic veins that make a country a real democracy, or if we just have elections Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) June 28, 2024 Wasserman is a sober and independent observer: This debate making abundantly clear that Bidens insistence on running for another term when 66% of voters in our swing state poll believe its likely he wont be able to finish a second term has gravely jeopardized Dems prospects to defeat Trump. Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) June 28, 2024 McCaskill says Biden stumbles raise question of Harris or Newsom at top of Democratic ticket [The Hill]. McCaskill: [Harris and Newsom] are signaling to a whole lot of Americans who are paying attention, How come they are not at the top of the ticket? McCaskill said in an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC after the debate. How come the Democratic party does not have them at the top of the ticket, instead of using them to shore up some pretty glaring weaknesses in our president?' First Democrat regular Ive seen to openly throw Harris under the bus (by proposing Newsom as an alternative). Non-Bedwetters Biden speaks at Georgia Waffle House following debate performance: I think we did well' [FOX]. I think we did well, Biden told reporters at an Atlanta area Waffle House when asked how he performed. When asked if he had any concerns about his performance, the president said, No its hard to debate a liar, New York Times pointed how he lied 26 times. Big lies. Biden was then asked if he was suffering from a cold, which the campaign revealed following the debate performance where many expressed concerns about the sound of Bidens voice. I am sick, Biden said. But not with a cold? Saying what she has to say: Kamala: "It was a slow start but a strong finish." pic.twitter.com/zTcyZCbFqJ Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 28, 2024 Newsom selling hard (1): If you watch and share one thing make it this. pic.twitter.com/mHRHH0TWuo Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) June 28, 2024 Newsom selling hard (2): I just asked Governor Gavin Newsome: are you going to be the next democratic nominee? Thats his answer, while hes glowing pic.twitter.com/W3JjsNtS0h Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) June 28, 2024 Hillary Clintons press secretary coping: Been getting readouts of focus groups of undecideds. Kind of status quo results about 40 percent end with Biden, about 40 percent end up with Trump and 15 percent for third party. It may be that voters saw what they exepected to see tonight and doesn't change race at all. Jennifer Palmieri (@jmpalmieri) June 28, 2024 (She could be right, of course.) Former Biden Press Secretary coping: Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged on MSNBC that there is chatter among Democratic lawmakers about whether the president should be replaced atop the ticket. Follow live: https://t.co/MrxyQv1JaU pic.twitter.com/bJlyIRAkLk The Hill (@thehill) June 28, 2024 Fetterman has a point, kind of: I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. pic.twitter.com/NjWdUw5ugh John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) June 28, 2024 Fetterman had a bad debate post-stroke and still won. But stroke was something Fetterman could recover from, and did. Whatever is happening to Biden doesnt look like a reversible process. Admirably committed to the bit, but still cope: Donald Trump lied about January 6 and refused to commit to abide by the outcome of the 2024 election. That is my takeaway. Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) June 28, 2024 Elias is the Democrat go-to on election law, and a conduit for Steele Dossier money (and to be fair, an expert on election law is needed; perhaps not the fatally compromised Elias, though.) More cope, decoped: That's it! That's it! The mistake we've all been making is trying to model Joe Biden as a classical system rather than a quantum one. He's only coherent until you take a measurement, at which point the wave function collapses into, you know, the thing. https://t.co/qdU2Dar0FQ Eric S. Raymond (@esrtweet) June 28, 2024 Is There a Good Reason Not to Panic? Well, No, Not Really [The New Republic]. The final option, therefore, is to throw the thing open and try to get the nomination to one of the governors, or someone else. This has always had a lot of theoretical appeal, because several of these people look like theyd be good candidates But the two perceived problems with this scenario are these. First, how much bad blood would start boiling within the party if Harris were pushed aside? The assumed answer has always been: a lot. If Biden were to step aside, pollsters would start asking questions about Harris, and if those polls showed that Black women will basically bolt, going around Harris could be a nonstarter. And second, is there really any proof that Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom or Josh Shapiro or Jay Pritzker or anyone else would be a better candidate? Governors sometimes just dont have it when it comes to running for president. Look at Ron DeSantis. Those are real problems. But in this break-glass moment, they start to look like smaller problems than staying with Biden or just handing it to Harris. Well see what the post-debate polls say. Theyll start coming out early to mid-next week. My guess is that Biden will lose four points on average, maybe five. It might be a little less. But the coverage of this fiasco over the next two days will only amplify how bad it was.l Joe Bidens debate gamble backfires [Mark Penn, FOX]. About the best thing the campaign can hope for is that a well-staged convention can undo this damage and that they can get their candidate another look. There will be chatter about a new nominee but, as David Axelrod observed, the delegates have been chosen and the votes cast in a democratic process and the only person who can change that is Joe Biden himself. The party will continue to close ranks behind Biden. Party Members and Activists Sirotas friend: texting with a friend pic.twitter.com/vFOnIX5oAp David Sirota (@davidsirota) June 28, 2024 Replacing the votes of those who voted for Biden, too: CNN literally went from crying that Donald Trump might not accept election results to immediately plotting how to overturn every single Democrat primary election result. Not sure Ive ever seen anything like it. https://t.co/NJO2ODdosT Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 28, 2024 Our democracy. UPDATE Floor fights are exciting, and we havent had one in a long time: Joy Ann Reid says she got a text from a delegate: "We delegates may need to take things into our own hands." She's also the ONLY one on the MSNBC panel who brought up Gaza. Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) June 28, 2024 This seems unlikely to me; for one thing, the delegates are pledged to Biden on the first ballot. That said, the Democratic National Convention (not Committee) has plenary powers; the rules can be whatever the Convention decides they are. But institionally and cultural, the Democrat Party is optimized for authoritarian followers. Therefore, take things into our own hands implies that there would need to be a declared alernative to Biden for a floor fight in that candidates favor to occur. So were back to the same problem: Who would that candidate be? Would the absurdly ingratiating Newsom permit his name go forward? Outsiders Thanks, Obama! Democratic donors, politicians, pundits & operatives knowingly created the disaster you saw on TV tonight they prevented a contested primary from their bench of elected officials, even though they knew that doing so would risk another Trump presidency. https://t.co/ZRB0Z7vWjw David Sirota (@davidsirota) June 28, 2024 Silicon Valley, but not a tech bro, scam artist, or libertarian (sorry for the redundancy): It pains me to say this, but @TheDemocrats need a different candidate for President. Grady Booch (@Grady_Booch) June 28, 2024 Fanciful Scenarists I believe Biden could also release his delegates: I think the only plausible scenario for Biden to withdraw is if the real big-wigs of the Democratic Party, probably led by Obama, stage some sort of intervention. Because as of now, 3,753 DNC delegates are bound to him and nothing changes that other than a voluntary withdrawal Michael Tracey (@mtracey) June 28, 2024 Of the Trillbillies: Whatll happen is there will be an open convention and Biden will still win it. We are damned, we must all come to terms with thie. There is no way out, our souls are damned Tarence Ray (@tarenceray) June 28, 2024 Memory hole? What memory hole? No one seems to be considering the possibility that biden wont step aside and tonights debate gets quietly memory holed to save democracy Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) June 28, 2024 Twenty Fifth Amendment: Democrats will use the 25th amendment if they cant get Biden to resign. Then they will nominate a Republican, so the great national healing can begin or something like that. Whoever it is, the candidate will be 100% certified genocidal. Progressives will fall in line. Dan Kervick (@DanMKervick) June 28, 2024 Too many moving parts in Twenty Fifth Amendment, I think. A faithless elector: OK, here's one. On Election Day, Biden loses the Sun Belt but sweeps the Upper Midwest to win 270-268 EVs. On 12/12, an obscure VA Dem switches his vote to Trump, creating a tie and the House elects Trump. On 1/21, Tim Mellon gives the elector $10M SCOTUS just made that legal Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) June 27, 2024 To Tim Mellon, $10M is a gratuity! It was a set-up (1): CNN assassinated Joe Bidens candidacy. This was a set up from the start. The Democrats were incapable of terminating Biden. CNN did the job for them. The elder abuse has come to an end. Maybe America can be saved from a commander in chief who long ago lost control of his Scott Ritter (@RealScottRitter) June 28, 2024 As Ive said before, I think all parties thought an early debate would bring clarity. It was a set-up (2): Thing we know: 1. The insiders knew Biden was like this. 2. They didnt have to agree to any debate at all. They certainly didnt have to propose and show up for the earliest debate in history. 3. So they humiliated Biden deliberately, but only after the primary voters get no Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) June 28, 2024 * * * And about Bidens hoarseness: Biden has a cold, a person close to the president has confirmed to Axios. His voice was raspy as the debate started, but has strengthened as the night went on. https://t.co/ITSc9ecSqi Axios (@axios) June 28, 2024 What nobodys saying: Conclusion If the Democrats are to replace Biden, they have 52 days at the outside to choose his successor, introduce them to the public, and turn the tanker of the campaign (besides replacing all of Bidens staff). Thats a heavy lift. So who might Bidens successor be? We have two virtually useless data points as of this writing. First, prediction markets: quite the price swing pic.twitter.com/XsszFjlJFJ Rory Johnston (@Rory_Johnston) June 28, 2024 Quite the price swing. Second, this poll at Drudge: Who the heck is Other? Oprah? Arnold? Michelle? Taylor Swift? Then of course there are larger crises that the Biden Administration has on its plate: Mearsheimer putting it very clearly for those in the back who didn't listen: "we're screwed". pic.twitter.com/zveRC3Hy2V Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) June 28, 2024 (Note that one may regard the Israel Lobby as a proxy for the military-industrial complex while still accepting Mearsheimers bottom line.) Busy, busy, busy! APPENDIX The focus groups begin to speak: BREAKING: 50% of CNN's own focus group of undecided voters in Michigan just said President Biden won the debate. The talking heads think they know better than the voters, clearly. Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) June 28, 2024 Undecided voter focus group leans toward Trump after debate [Axios]. All undecided voters in a U.S. swing states focus group hosted by pollster Frank Luntz said President Biden should be replaced as the Democratic nominee after watching his first presidential debate against former President Trump. Why it matters: The 2024 presidential election will be decided by roughly 6% of voters in key swing states. Luntz, who has conducted presidential focus groups since 1996, said he never witnessed one reach a conclusion this overwhelming. Of 14 voters from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina, 12 said the debate made them lean toward electing Trump, one toward Biden and one remained undecided. Nine of the participants said they voted for Biden in 2020. Most voters expressed concern over Bidens mental state and his ability to lead, following some rambling answers from the president. * * * Contact information for plants: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. From EM: EM write: How we doing? I cant wait to inject this into my arm. You and me both. * * * Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for three or four days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals: Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated: If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you! On Friday, 5 July 2024, the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, will give a press conference at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, to preview the NATO Summit in Washington DC. Media advisory 13:00 (CEST) Press conference by the NATO Secretary General Media coverage Media representatives who have annual accreditation to NATO for 2024 can attend the press conference in person. Media representatives without annual accreditation but who wish to cover the press conference should email NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int. This Ad hoc Accreditation may not be guaranteed. The press conference will be streamed live on the NATO website, EBU Worldfeed, to EBU news exchange, as well as on NATO News on YouTube. A transcript of the Secretary Generals remarks, as well as pictures taken by a NATO photographer, will be available. The video will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event. For more information: Contact the NATO Press Office Media representatives with accreditation queries must contact NATO Accreditations via NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int. Follow us on X (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress) (As delivered) President Pellegrini, Dear Peter, Welcome back to the NATO Headquarters. You have been here before but then as Prime Minister, now you are back as President of Slovakia. And I would like to start by congratulating you on your election as President. Slovakia is a dedicated NATO Ally, you contribute to our collective defence, our shared security in many different ways. You host the NATO battlegroup in Slovakia, you contribute forces, troops to our Forward presence in Latvia. And you are also one of the Allies which are now spending 2% of GDP on defence. This is something that is important and I welcome very much. We will in our meeting discuss the preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. This will be an historic Summit, because we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our Alliance, but we will also make important decisions for the future on deterrence and defence to ensure that we have the capabilities, the forces, the readiness to deter any aggression. The purpose of NATO is not to fight the war but prevent war, to preserve peace and we do that by credible deterrence. I welcome also that now 23 Allies are spending 2% of GDP and this shows that we take deterrence and defence extremely serious in our Alliance. We will also of course, address Ukraine and I expect Allies to agree a lead role for NATO in providing security assistance and training and also a long-term commitment because the premise that the stronger our support to Ukraine is, the sooner this war can end because President Putin believes that he can wait us out. If he realises that they cannot win on the battlefield, that increases the likelihood for a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine. I also welcome that Slovakia supports Ukraine territorial integrity and sovereignty. And so actually, you today also repeated your support for instance, the Czech-led ammunition initiative. So there are many issues to be discussed. I welcome you and I'm looking forward our meeting. Expert warns Hezbollah attack on power infrastructure could make Israel uninhabitable within 3 days Since Hezbollah has resumed its daily rocket and drone attacks along Israel's northern border after a short pause for the Islamic Eid al-Adha holiday, an expert warned that Israel's power grid is vulnerable to any attack from the militant group. Worse, as soon as this occurs, it could render major parts of Israel "uninhabitable" within 72 hours. Shaul Goldstein, head of the Israeli Independent System Operation Limited, which manages the infrastructure for Israel's power grid, said that Jerusalem is entirely unprepared for a war with Hezbollah that would likely target the country's power infrastructure. "We are not ready for a real war. We live in a fantasy world, in my eyes," said Goldstein when he spoke at a conference organized by the Institute for National Security Studies in the southern city of Sderot, located less than a mile from Gaza. Goldstein added that the country would be "uninhabitable" after 72 hours without power. "You look at all of our infrastructure, the optical fibers, the ports and I won't go into the sensitive things we are not in a good place," the CEO confirmed. "If [Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan] Nasrallah decides to paralyze Israel's power grid, he only needs to pick up the phone and call the head of Beirut's power grid, which is [technically] identical to Israel's." Even United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his assessment that "one rash move one miscalculation could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination." 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. If that happens "it will be nothing short of a game-changer," said Firas Maksad, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington. Compared to Hamas, Hezbollah is "a much more formidable fighting force and widely recognized as the most powerful non-state military in the world," he said. "Its involvement would have huge consequences not only for Israel but also for the entire region." Founded in 1982 by a group of radical Shia clerics amid the Lebanese Civil War, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group has an estimated manpower of roughly 30,000 active-duty fighters and another 20,000 reservists. Furthermore, the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank warns that the estimated number of active and reserve fighters Hezbollah "likely does not include the thousands of non-combatant workers and volunteers across the country," including women who are not allowed to be official members of Hezbollah but are nonetheless very supportive of the group. Reports indicated that thousands of fighters from other Iran-backed groups in the Middle East are ready to come to Lebanon to join Hezbollah in its battle with Israel "if the simmering conflict escalates into a full-blown war". Meanwhile, Reuters noted that Hezbollah likely possesses over 150,000 missiles and rockets of various types and ranges, including anti-tank, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, suicide drones that explode upon impact on target and precision missiles that can reach deep within Israel and take out precise targets such as high-ranking individuals and military sites. Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging increasingly hostile threats in recent days. Nasrallah warned an invasion of the Galilee (northern Israel) is "still on the table" in the event of war. For its part, the Israeli army announced that its Northern Command had approved operational plans for war with Lebanon. Lebanese Member of Parliament and Hezbollah spokesman Ibrahim Moussawi earlier stated that if Israel wants a full-scale war, the Islamic resistance is ready. "If they want to come to Lebanon, they are welcome. We are waiting for them. 'Ahlan wa Sahlan,' as they say in Arabic," he stated sarcastically. "They can't even manage themselves in Gaza and they want to come here? In Gaza, they are not fighting. They are just bombarding and sending drones. But if they do come, we are anxiously waiting for them. We have made preparations that they can never imagine." Gantz: Israel can destroy Hezbollah's military in days Israel's National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz has rhetorically retaliated to Hezbollah's threat, boasting that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) can destroy Hezbollahs military capabilities in a matter of days. (Related: Israel OKs plans for ALL-OUT WAR in Lebanon to wipe out Hezbollah.) Gantz announced his counter-warning during the 21st Herzliya Conference at Reichman University. "We can bring Lebanon completely into the dark, and take apart Hezbollahs power in days," Gantz said. He added that a major challenge for Israel is to "return the southern and northern residents back to their homes, even at the price of escalation." Gantz who has since left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unity war cabinet and rejoined the opposition said the price to "Israel will be heavy." According to him, his nation needs to back up its institutions and needs to be ready for major incidents of harm to the public. "We should try to avoid it, but if we need to do it, we cannot be deterred from it. We cannot let Hezbollah keep threats close to the northern border," he noted. "We need to get the residents [of northern Israel] back by Sept. 1." He also emphasized that Israel must work hard with the United States to build up Israel's defenses. Israeli leaders have for months threatened to "copy-paste" the destruction of Gaza onto Lebanon if Hezbollah did not halt its attacks from the north, which forced the evacuation of some 200,000 settlers. Visit WWIII.news for updates on the escalating conflicts in the Middle East. The video below released by Hezbollah shows target coordinates inside Israel. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israeli military approves plan for invasion of southern Lebanon and new offensive against Hezbollah. Hezbollah strikes several Israeli army bases, key defense factory Sources include: TheCradle.co TimesOfIsrael.com Yahoo.com JPost.com Brighteon.com High schoolers in Ukraine must now undergo mandatory military firearms training Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing his country for national resistance with a new law establishing mandatory arms training for students in high school and higher education institutions. The bill, which was introduced in March and adopted by the Ukrainian parliament in May, has now been officially signed by Zelensky. It will set up a new course developed in partnership with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to prepare its citizens for war. Six modules will reportedly be featured in the curriculum set up by the bill, with shooting training, terrain orientation, drone control and information warfare among them. However, it is the combat training that is particularly noteworthy as the country struggles with a severe lack of manpower following significant casualties in the conflict with Russia. Earlier this year, reports emerged that schools in Western Ukraine had been giving students rifle and pistol shooting instruction and practice via interactive software as the war forced classes online there amid fighting and destruction to school facilities. Ukrainian soldiers have complained that their reinforcements have been arriving on the front line with a serious lack of basic skills such as assembling and firing rifles. A Washington Post report revealed that frustrated commanders had been retraining soldiers who were not prepared as Ukraine rotates men from posts in the rear to relieve frontline soldiers. This is particularly concerning on their part when you consider the fact that these are not newly conscripted men but are instead soldiers who should have already honed these skills. 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 report also said that Ukraines training centers are not well equipped to supply basic training, with some lacking Soviet-caliber bullets and only having the capacity for trainees to shoot around 20 rounds, which is not nearly enough to refine their skills. The training center is also lacking grenades and grenade launchers, in addition to a proper training system, according to one instructor who spoke to the publication. Ukraine is growing increasingly desperate to address its troop shortage Zelensky has been carrying out a number of increasingly desperate moves to bolster their ranks, such as reducing the conscription age there from 27 to 25 and giving enlistment officers enhanced powers. They have also raised the penalties for those who have been avoiding the draft, including blocking their access to their bank accounts and imposing fines. This spring, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that all Ukrainian consulates abroad would be temporarily suspending services to military-aged men, which was broadly defined as those aged 18 to 60, essentially forcing them to return home to update papers and presumably join the ranks of the country's dwindling troops. Theyre even resorting to drafting prisoners and offering some of them parole in exchange for enlisting. Around 3,000 Ukrainian prisoners have already taken them up on that offer, including people who were behind bars for crimes ranging for theft and drugs to armed assault and murder. When announcing the initiative, Kiev officials said that around 20,000 prisoners could be eligible for entering military service this way, although they only expected a fraction of them to be interested. Russia has also been preparing its students for warfare, with the Russian education ministry telling the media earlier this year that high school students would be learning more about nuclear war and protection against weapons of mass destruction as part of the Russian national curriculum. Sources for this article include: RT.com BusinessInsider.com Israel Defense Forces destroys Rafah crossing with Egypt, rendering it UNUSABLE The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has destroyed the Rafah crossing in the Gaza Strip , which serves as the Palestinian territory's main border crossing with Egypt. According to Great Game India, the actions of the IDF's 401st Brigade which took control of the crossing overnight had rendered it unusable. The brigade reportedly burned down the crossing, with a two-fold effect. Palestinians are now effectively trapped in the Strip, and international aid has been blocked from entering. "This closure adds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza [and impacts] relief efforts severely," Great Game India continued. "Additionally, Israeli actions have obstructed aid and exacerbated conditions, drawing international criticism." A statement from Israeli Army Radio 102.3 said: "This is how Rafah crossing looks today, destroyed and no longer usable after being taken over by Brigade 401 in one night. Due to its relative proximity from the border, the Israeli army used the crossing as a stopping point and resting area." War correspondents have verified that the exterior of the Rafah crossing was indeed destroyed by fire. A report by the Middle East Eye said IDF units "damaged [the] Rafah crossing's halls that were used by locals to exit the [Gaza] Strip." China's CGTN also confirmed that the crossing was indeed damaged, noting that "Israeli forces have razed a number of buildings [in Gaza], besides blocking humanitarian aid and personnel from entering." Egypt's Border Guard Corps and Palestinian officials operated on opposite sides of the crossing for the majority of the conflict, which dates back to the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Cairo has been preparing for a potential refugee crisis for some time, particularly since Israel began its ground battle in Rafah. 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. Sally Abi Khalil, Middle East and North Africa director of the Oxfam nonprofit, openly denounced Tel Aviv. According to her, the Israeli government "claimed weeks ago that it would provide full humanitarian support and medical assistance to civilians it had told to move." However, Tel Aviv refused to fulfill its end of the bargain. "Not only is this not happening, but [Israel's] ongoing impunity, bombardment, and deliberate obstruction have created unprecedented and impossibly dangerous conditions for humanitarian agencies to operate," Khalil remarked. Even U.S.-built Gaza pier rendered unusable Given the state of the Rafah crossing and Israel's control of the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, the remaining way for international humanitarian aid to enter the Strip is through a U.S.-built temporary pier on the northern coast. But this floating dock underwent repairs less than two weeks after it was erected, further delaying much-needed aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the temporary pier had been battered by strong winds and waves. It was withdrawn off the coast and transported to Ashdod in southern Israel. DOD Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed the move, adding that U.S. Central Command would be in charge of repairs. "From when it was operational, it was working, and we just had sort of an unfortunate confluence of weather storms that made it inoperable for a bit," she said. "Hopefully just a little over a week, we should be back up and running." According to a separate Great Game India piece, the temporary dock's repairs followed three U.S. service members being hurt and four vessels being beached due to strong waves that battered it. Singh noted that two of the service members had minor wounds, but the third one is currently in serious condition. Unfortunately, all this effort and taxpayer money went to waste as the U.S. gave up on the pier. ZeroHedge reported that after 10 days of operations, the floating dock will be disassembled with dismantling operations set to begin in July. (Related: SNAFU U.S. gives up on failed $230 million Gaza humanitarian aid pier disassembly to begin as early as July.) Visit IsraelCollapse.com for similar stories. Watch this video of Hamas' Al-Quds Brigade attacking an IDF tank and several IDF soldiers at the Rafah crossing. This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: UN halts food distribution from U.S.-built pier in Gaza due to safety concerns. U.S.-built floating pier in Gaza reopens after undergoing repairs that cost millions. Gaza has "less than a week" of food left now that Israel controls Rafah border crossing. Israel captures Rafah border crossing, cutting of all humanitarian aid to Gaza as hundreds of thousands face starvation. Sources include: GreatGameIndia.com 1 GreatGameIndia.com 2 ZeroHedge.com Brighteon.com CONFIRMED: Israel KNEW the October 7 attacks were planned but chose to do nothing Newly uncovered evidence shows that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) knewin advance of October 7 that Hamas was planning a raid and kidnapping on that day, but the Israeli government chose to do nothing about it. The Jerusalem Post (JP) reported on a document, compiled by the Gaza Division, called "Detailed End-to-End Raid Training" that was distributed to the Israeli military on Sept. 19, 2023. That document details the series of exercises that were to be conducted by the elite units of Hamas. "These exercises included raiding military posts and kibbutzim (collective communities in Israel), kidnapping soldiers and civilians, and maintaining the hostages once they were in the Gaza Strip," JP reported. All of Israel's top intelligence officials knew about the Hamas plot based on this document and its contents. Why, then, did they order a stand-down on October 7 that ultimately resulted in many needless deaths and a subsequent war-genocide? (Related: According to Russian insider Viktor Bout, global nuclear holocaust is at the doorstep.) Great deception in the Middle East For whatever reason, the top brass in Israel just ignored the threat and waited for it to happen. Then it brought out the big guns, killing both Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike in its bumbling and careless response that fateful day. IDF knew precisely where Hamas was going to strike and everything, "but due to prevailing conceptions within the security establishment and possible negligence by senior officials, the warning signs were not acted upon," JP claims. 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 way the document further describes how Israeli intelligence officials basically watched as the exercise took place reeks of a false flag operation as well. It is almost as if this whole thing was planned in detail by both "sides" and executed as an excuse to unleash genocide in the Gaza Strip. "Israeli intelligence officials who monitored the exercise detailed in the document the next steps after breaching into Israel and taking over the posts, determining that the instruction is to hand over the captured soldiers to the company commanders," Kan News reported. "The expected number of hostages, it states, is between 200 and 250 people." Another thing many people missed is the fact that Israel had just upgraded its security barrier two years before the attack. JP describes the barrier as "new and sophisticated," which would "have made such an assault improbable." For some mysterious and unknown reason, this advanced new barrier "failed" during the Hamas attack, which JP says "highlight[s] a significant intelligence and security oversight" either that or it was an inside job from the very beginning. In the coming weeks, the general staff investigation team is expected to present its initial findings about this alleged "failure." Whatever gets presented is what the general public will be told happened, regardless of whether or not it is true. It would seem as though the cover story is going to be that this was a security "failure" and that the public should be angry and demanding that those involved in this "failure" be prosecuted for their "incompetence." "How 3,000 Palestinians armed with AKs and wearing sandals were able to do as much damage as they did against a fully mechanized enemy that had forewarning, I'll never know," is how one commenter put it about the suspicious nature of this whole thing. "But I can understand why the tin foil hat crowd is losing their minds." "Those sandal-wearing Palestinians were able to do so much damage because it was an inside job, just like 9/11 in America" another responded with ease. The latest news about the situation in Israel can be found at IsraelCollapse.com. Sources for this article include: JPost.com NaturalNews.com TimesOfIsrael.com Palestinian child dies of malnutrition as hunger crisis rages in Gaza A Palestinian child named Azzam al-Shaer from Gaza recently died of malnutrition after being denied access to the necessary food and medicine to treat his condition. For over eight months, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has been enforcing a stringent siege on the Gaza Strip to severely restrict the flow of life-saving and essential food and medical supply deliveries. The siege has been particularly harsh on northern Gaza, an area Israel attempted to depopulate of its more than one million residents at the start of the war in October. Aside from relentless bombardments and deliberate targeting of hospitals, the IDF has been using starvation as a weapon of war. (Related: WHO accuses Israel of inflicting ACUTE MALNUTRITION on more than 8,000 Palestinian children under 5 years old.) The hunger crisis in Gaza reached its peak in March, with dozens of children dying from malnutrition and residents resorting to eating grass, as Israeli forces repeatedly attacked aid-seeking individuals. Israel slightly improved food access in some areas after its forces killed several foreign aid workers and a United Nations report warned of an impending famine. But then, its ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, including its capture of the Rafah crossing, has further restricted the few remaining routes for humanitarian aid. Additionally, the Gaza media office announced that no aid has entered the Strip in the last 50 days. This, in turn, resulted in at least four other children dying from malnutrition in the week before the death of Azzam. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. According to Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera correspondent in the Gaza Strip, Azzam passed away at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on June 25, while the hunger crisis raged during the Israeli offensive on the besieged enclave. In a heartbreaking video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Azzam's body shows how he suffered from severe malnutrition, lying flat on a table, his cheeks sunken, his rib cage protruding and his arms shriveled and lifeless. "Azzam al-Shaer died of malnutrition as a result of the ongoing hunger war practiced by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza," al-Ghoul wrote on X. "This child was deprived of treatment due to the ongoing siege and could not find medicine due to the destruction of hospitals and the health sector." Azzam's death serves as evidence to the IPC report, revealing the true situation of Gazans The death of Azzam and the accompanying video put a face to a recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which stated that nearly the entire population of the Gaza Strip is experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity or worse, with half a million people facing starvation. The IPC report, released on the same day Azzam died, described the situation in Gaza as "catastrophic," with nearly half a million people expected to face the most severe level of hunger, where they will experience extreme food shortages, starvation and a collapse of coping mechanisms. IPC also reveals that 96 percent of the population, some 2.15 million people, will endure crisis, emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity at least through the end of September. "The last few months have demonstrated that food and humanitarian access and malnutrition prevalence can change very quickly; the risk of epidemics is increasing and eight months of extreme pressure on the lives of the population make them much more vulnerable to collapse into famine," reads the report. Aside from the death of Azzam, the findings also align with on-the-ground testimonies about the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Nearly nine months of bombardment and siege by Israel have decimated the health care system, damaged water infrastructure and created severe hardship for over 2.2 million people. Increased attacks in Rafah have caused mass displacement and outbreaks of infectious diseases in overcrowded tent camps lacking basic sanitation. Without signs of an imminent ceasefire, relief workers anticipate worsening civilian suffering. "The humanitarian space in the Gaza Strip continues to shrink and the ability to safely deliver assistance to populations is dwindling. The recent trajectory is negative and highly unstable," warned the report. "Should this continue, the improvements seen in April could be rapidly reversed." Follow IsraelCollapse.com for more news about the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Watch Robert Inlakesh explaining the UN's decision to add Israel to the blacklist of countries harming children below. This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: VIDEO: Israelis attack Jordanian aid trucks delivering food supplies to starving Palestinians in Gaza. UN World Food Programme director warns there is "full-blown famine" in northern Gaza. VIDEO: Israeli soldiers shoot starving Palestinians collecting aid in Gaza. Israel "systematically targeted" Gaza food aid workers, new evidence shows it wasn't an "accident!" Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net CNN.com Brighteon.com Florida Rep. Luna: House sergeant-at-arms CAN ARREST U.S. AG Garland According to U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), the House sergeant-at-arms can arrest U.S. Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland for contempt of Congress and she plans to force a vote on it. The National Pulse reported that Luna, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2022, intends to introduce a privileged resolution invoking Congress' constitutional power of inherent contempt. This followed the Biden administration's Department of Justice (DOJ), which Garland leads, saying it would not pursue charges against him. Two weeks prior, the U.S. AG was held in contempt of Congress after refusing to hand over radio recordings of President Joe Biden's interview sessions with former DOJ Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding the mishandling of classified documents. Before the House vote, Garland acknowledged that the transcripts of the interviews had been edited for clarity raising the question of whether evidence of Biden's cognitive decline had been altered. Meanwhile, Biden Justice Department officials argued that the contempt resolution does not preempt the president's assertion of executive privilege regarding the audio recordings. (Related: "Transparent" DOJ REDACTED every page of Biden ghostwriter's interview transcript.) "Releasing the audio would chill cooperation with the department in future investigations," Garland also argued during a hearing before the House contempt vote. "It could [also] influence witnesses' answers if they thought the audio of their law enforcement interviews would be broadcast to Congress and the public. 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 only option to ensure compliance with our subpoena is to use our constitutional authority of inherent contempt. In the next few days, I will call up my resolution holding Garland in inherent contempt of Congress, and I look forward to each of you voting in favor of it," the congresswoman said. "Our ability to legislate effectively and fulfill our constitutional duties is at stake. We must act now to protect the integrity and independence of the legislative branch." Luna issues Garland an ULTIMATUM: Submit recordings ASAP or be ARRESTED True enough, Luna issued Garland an ultimatum to comply with the subpoena or face arrest. She demanded that the head of the DOJ turn over the recordings of the interviews between Biden and Hur by the morning of June 28, with serious consequences for noncompliance. The subpoena was penned by the House Oversight Committee (HOC) and House Judiciary Committee (HJC), with Luna being a member of the first. The congresswoman for the Sunshine State addressed concerns regarding what she described as a double standard within the U.S. justice system during a press conference. "We are here today because of the double standard that exists within the justice system. As you know, on Feb. 27, the [HOC] as well as the [HJC] had sent a subpoena to Garland, of which we received no response. After referring him for criminal contempt within 48 hours or less, the DOJ refused to prosecute," she said. Luna highlighted Congress' inherent contempt authority, citing historical precedents. According to her, inherent contempt was first used in 1795. A 1927 Supreme Court decision on the McGrain v. Daugherty case, which stated that Congress does indeed have this authority, further upheld this power. "It's important to note that when an individual is called before courts across the country, they appear," the congresswoman emphasized. YourNews remarked that the ultimatum "comes as tensions rise over accountability and transparency within the DOJ." Luna stressed the importance of adherence to legislative processes and accountability for those who interfere with these processes. Check out BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch HJC Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) telling Newsmax's Greta Van Susteren that his committee wants all information on Merrick Garland and Robert Hur in the clip below. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DOJ special counsel report describes Biden as having "diminished faculties" and "faulty memory" proving critics right that he is in a state of COGNITIVE DECLINE. Special counsel's finding of Biden's "poor memory" is damaging his re-election chances. Transcript of Biden's interview with Robert Hur reveals president's MENTAL LAPSES. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com YourNews.com Brighteon.com Supreme Court deals crushing blow to American liberty American liberty took a crushing blow earlier today at the hands of Amy Coney Barrett, Chief Justice John Roberts, and the three liberals on the court. The case is called Murthy v. Missouri (Article republished from Revolver.news) USA Today: WASHINGTON?The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed the Biden administration an election-year victory, throwing out a conservative challenge to the administrations push to get social media companies to remove posts it considered misinformation. The 6-3 decision, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, was a response to a suit that came during a hot-button period on social media when people were posting about COVID-19, vaccines, Fauci, and other emotional topics. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas dissented. Barrett, writing for the 6-3 majority, said the challengers argued that unfettered speech on social media is critical to their work as scientists, pundits and activists. But they do not point to any specific instance of content moderation that caused them identifiable harm, Barrett wrote. They have therefore failed to establish an injury that is sufficiently concrete and particularized. SCOTUS finding a lack of standing for the plaintiffs in Murthy v. Missouri effectively means that the government is free to violate your rights so long as they do so through a third party Amber Duke (@ambermarieduke) June 26, 2024 Justice Alito minced no words in describing what a crushing blow this is for our freedoms. USA Today continues: In the dissent, Alito complained that the majority unjustifiably refuses to address this serious threat to the First Amendment. For months, high-ranking Government officials placed unrelenting pressure on Facebook to suppress Americans free speech, Alito wrote in an opinion joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. By dismissing the case without deciding the underlying First Amendment issue, the justices avoided saying when governments go too far in interacting with media platforms about their content. Justice Amy Coney Barrett has now handed the Biden regime a license to censor so-called disinformation with impunity. USA Today continues: The Justice Department said government agencies werent improperly threatening social media companies, but instead, were encouraging them to remove harmful or false information, including about vaccines. There was no retaliation when the platforms did not do what the government requested, the Justice Department said. [] Experts had called the case, Murthy v. Missouri, a unique chance for the court to define how far governments may go to protect against online distribution of harmful content. The court also heard another case this year about content moderation, examining the constitutionality of laws passed by Florida and Texas to limit the ability of social media giants to regulate user content. Both cases grew out of concern from conservatives that their views were being suppressed, including about claims of 2020 election fraud, the origin of and treatments for COVID-19. The Gateway Pundit explains what all of this means for the layman: In a stunning 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Biden Administrations policy of deleting, suppressing, and deplatforming specific people, topics, and ideas, is immune from suit leaving no one able to challenge it in court. In addition, Justice Coney Barrett let the government off the hook for the censorship regime the government created and maintained. Heres the key passage: platforms had independent incentives to moderate content and often exercised their own judgment. To be sure, the record reflects that the Government defendants played a role in at least some of the platforms moderation choices. But the Fifth Circuit, by attributing every platform decision at least in part to the defendants, glossed over complexities in the evidence. There were no complexities in the evidence the evidence was clear: the FBI, White House, and other officials were specifically directing, demanding, and coercing social media companies to take down posts that related to topics they wanted suppressed. Here are some of the key topics brought out in discovery that the government was most interested in suppressing, generally: Hunter Bidens laptop Vaccines Voter fraud in the 2020 election COVID policy, masking, lockdowns, vaccine mandates [] The Supreme Court is making it procedurally impossible for a citizen or a state to challenge the governments ability to silence your digital speech. The practical consequence of this decision is to re-open the floodgates of social media censorship and speech suppression. Jonathan Turley went on Fox News to break it down: Jonathan Turley breaks down the frustrating anti-free speech ruling in Murthy v. Missouri. "The Government is engaging in censorship by surrogate... they have made a mockery of the limits of the 1st Amendment." pic.twitter.com/K2eKnJtloF Media Research Center (@theMRC) June 26, 2024 Justice Alito minced absolutely no words, explaining that the Court shirked its duty and proclaiming that the country may come to regret the Courts failure to declare the Biden regimes lawless behavior unconstitutional. Alito mincing no words in what SCOTUS has done with Murthy ruling: "The Court...permits the successful campaign of coercion in this case to stand as an attractive model for future officials who want to control what the people say, hear, and think" pic.twitter.com/uYYnNifJoF Billy McMorris (@FBillMcMorris) June 26, 2024 Heres a closeup: This says it all: We can all look forward to the return of the Singing Censorship Czar: pic.twitter.com/TOjLgG6Uku Gibbs Calhoun (@GibbsCalhoun) June 26, 2024 Lost in the shuffle is that the Court punted on one of the most important underlying issues, which means that the decision wasnt a total loss. Still, this could be considered dereliction of duty, which could be worse. Benjamin Weingarten: Murthy v. Missouri Perhaps the most significant statement in the otherwise disappointing but predictable majority opinion comes in a footnote. Because we do not reach the merits, we express no view as to whether the Fifth Circuit correctly articulated the standard for when the Government transforms private conduct into state action. Murthy v. Missouri Perhaps the most significant statement in the otherwise disappointing but predictable majority opinion comes in a footnote. "Because we do not reach the merits, we express no view as to whether the Fifth Circuit correctly articulated the standard for when the pic.twitter.com/mfxXuNDuz5 Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) June 26, 2024 It was disappointing, but not at all surprising, that not a single left-wing justice stood up for free speech. The liberal left has completely wasted away and given way to the speech-suppressing, proto-communist left. Libt*rds are doing victory laps. The New Republic: The Supreme Court delivered a surprising opinion on Wednesday, siding with the Biden administration and giving a kick in the face to conspiracy theorists and purveyors of disinformation. [] The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 vote, found the plaintiffs complaints lacked standing, reversing the opinion delivered by the Fifth Circuit. The Supreme Court ruled that they failed to produce any tangible harm (egos dont count) from the government communicating with social media companies to moderate a firehose of garbage spewing out from conservative quacks. Former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark took to X to explain the coming repercussions of this grave blow to liberty (emphasis ours): The Supreme Court wrongly booted the most significant First Amendment case in U.S. history on standing grounds today, Murthy v Missouri. And I say that as a true maven of standing doctrine. In effect, the Supreme Court majority is requiring government-private partnerships aimed at censorship to overlap entirely. If there are situations where private censorship predates and or postdates government calls for censorship, then the majority is saying the actions should be treated as independent and therefore to frustrate satisfaction of the causation and redressability prongs of standing analysis. And the Supreme Court majority did this even where they simultaneously acknowledged there was evidence of government collusion with Big Tech to censor COVID-related and 2020 election-related speech. We need President Trump to be reelected not just to put in place bans on federal government censorship activity using Nig Tech as their cats paw, but to bring enforcement actions against those violating the First Amendment. The Judicial Branch checking out of this issue as it is postured in Murthy cannot be the final word or else censorship to maintain leftist orthodoxies about important matters like COVID and elections will continue and expand. Note as well that this decision could not be more poorly timed. It took til 2024 to tee up the 2020 censorship for Supreme Court review. As a result, Joe Biden and his minions now have carte blanche to censor right on through the 2024 election and those violations of law could only be conceivably redressed if Trump gets back into the White House. There is an inherent lag from First Amendment injury, lawsuits, and winning lawsuits sustainable through appeal. Finally, for all these reasons, we should be able to put to rest forever the nonsense position that the Supreme Court does Trumps bidding. It doesnt. But watch MSM continue their relentless attacks on the Supreme Court and its independence nonetheless. The Supreme Court wrongly booted the most significant First Amendment case in U.S. history on standing grounds today, Murthy v Missouri. And I say that as a true maven of standing doctrine. In effect, the Supreme Court majority is requiring government-private partnerships aimed Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) June 26, 2024 Alex Berenson took to X to declare his free speech lawsuit that last one standing. SUPREME COURT TOSSES THE MISSOURI SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP CASE ON "STANDING" - FINDING THE PLAINTIFFS CAN'T SHOW ANY SPECIFIC CENSORSHIP THAT HARMED THEM RELATED TO GOVERNMENT ACTION. BERENSON V BIDEN (WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM) IS THE LAST CASE LEFT Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 26, 2024 The full Supreme Court decision can be accessed here in PDF form. Read more at: Revolver.news British Prime Minister: U.K. teens will be cut off from banks if they refuse national service British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently issued a warning to teenagers in the United Kingdom who refuse to take part in his controversial election promise of mandatory national service. "Young people who refuse to do National Service could lose their access to finance," Rishi Sunak has said. The prime minister also suggested they could have their driving licenses removed, adding that there are "all sorts of things" countries across Europe can do to ensure young people take part in mandatory national service. "Whether that is looking at driving licenses or their access to finance or all sorts of other things, that's the right thing to do," Sunak said. Sunak threatened the draconian measures during an election "Question Time" special on BBC1. However, he 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. Under the National Service plan, which was announced by the prime minister at the start of the election campaign last month, every 18-year-old in the country would have to either join the military or spend one weekend a month carrying out community service. Sunak insisted that the program would provide young people with life-changing opportunities and real-world skills and would help create a "shared sense of purpose among our young people and a renewed sense of pride in our country." National Service in the U.K., which was previously introduced during World War I and World War II, was ended in 1960. A pilot version of the program is planned to be launched in September of next year if the Conservatives remain in power. It is expected to cost British taxpayers around 2.5 billion ($3.19 billion) a year. (Related: U.K. bringing back mandatory military service as Europe prepares for WAR with Russia.) 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 National Service is one of the key announcements made by the Tories during the general election campaign. The Tory manifesto promised a "year-long full-time placement in the armed forces or cyber defense" for 30,000 18-year-olds, while others will be forced to volunteer for one weekend each month with organizations 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." 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. Foreign office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan even suggested parents could be punished on behalf of their children if the young ones refused to participate. National Service re-introduction was drawn up in secret According to the Daily Mail, the plan to reintroduce national service was drawn up in secret by Sunak and his close advisers. In the confidential 40-page plan, the advisers argued that the growing international threats posed by countries such as Russia and China needed to be addressed by ramping up the U.K. Armed Forces as did the listlessness of many young adults. Nearly 750,000 18 to 24-year-olds are currently out of work and this age group is disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. The civic roles would include supporting flood defenses and communities during natural disasters, the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) support roles, fire safety work or signing up for the charity RNLI or Mountain Search and Rescue. Meanwhile, Sunak's proposed scheme has already been heavily criticized by opposition parties. "This is not a plan. It is a review which could cost billions and is only needed because the Tories hollowed out the armed forces to their smallest size since Napoleon," a Labour spokesman stated last month. Other members of the opposition party have accused Sunak of trying to get 18-year-olds to fix the problems that the government has created. Some critics point out that there are other areas that Sunak can improve. "This ill-thought-out conscription scheme will increase pressure on defense and waste money, the former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, who was first sea lord from 2002 to 2006, wrote, adding: "Rather than enhancing our defense capability, it would further reduce it." Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson said: "He is more interested in taking away young people's bank accounts if they don't do National Service than investing in their education." National Service in Europe varies from country to country. In Switzerland, men must serve for 21 weeks from the age of 19; in Denmark, Estonia and Finland, it is up to a year from 18. Norway is one of few places worldwide where women are also called up. Globally, around 85 countries have some form of obligatory military training. The longest period of required service is 11 years for North Korean men. BigGovernment.news contains stories related to governments' mandatory and tyrannical measures. Sources for this article include: RT.com Independent.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk HuffingtonPost.co.uk Ukraine commences using German weapons to strike targets on Russian soil Weeks after the Biden administration decided to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied artillery inside Russian territory, Kyiv also began using German weapons to conduct strikes on Moscow. According to the German tabloid Bild, Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled guns, which have a range of up to 40km, have been deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the Kharkiv Region. A correspondent of the news outlet went to the area and reported that a German howitzer and its crew remained hidden in a dugout in a wooded area "not far from the Russian border." As per the reporter, as soon as the order to deploy the hardware was given by the commanders, the troops moved the howitzer out of cover to a fixed firing position, made several shots and then quickly retreated. The immediate pullout is said to be due to the threat posed by Russian drones. Ukrainian troops complained to Bild's correspondent about the heat inside the Panzerhaubitze 2000. As per the soldiers, the heat often leads to the breakage of certain devices inside the howitzer. They were surprised when the journalist informed them that there are more modern versions of the hardware that are equipped with air conditioners. Ukraine can now use German arms provided for self-defense "following its international legal obligations," a German government spokesman said. Berlin decided to greenlight the cross-border attacks because Russia has "prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks from positions in the Kharkiv area in particular from the immediately neighboring Russian border region," he explained. (Related: German chancellor pushing WWIII with declaration that Ukraines defensive action is not limited to its own territory.) 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. Back in May, Germany joined the United States in authorizing Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying. Both Germany and the U.S. specifically authorized the use of weapons to defend Kharkiv, whose capital city of the same name lies only 12 miles from Russia. Back then, Ukrainian officials claimed that Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city, killing at least six people. Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that Ukraine's ability to fire U.S.-supplied weapons into Russia goes beyond Kharkiv and "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." This decision came after Ukrainian and other European officials pressed the Biden regime to loosen its restrictions even further. "This is not about geography. It's 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," Sullivan argued. Two U.S. officials, who requested anonymity so they could speak candidly about the matter, maintained 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. "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine can use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," the official said, emphasizing that the policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia "has not changed." Putin will send armaments to North Korea if the West continues to supply weapons to Ukraine In response to the U.S., Germany and other NATO countries providing long-range systems to Ukraine, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow doesn't "rule out supplying weapons to other countries, including North Korea." "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 at the end of his trip to Vietnam, 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. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reacted to Putin's stern warning, saying that the Russian president's remarks are incredibly concerning. "It would destabilize the Korean Peninsula," Miller told reporters and "depending on the type of weapons they provide, might violate UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions that Russia itself has supported." Last week's defense pact 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 closed on Wednesday when Putin went to Pyongyang and met with Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader. Meanwhile, U.S. ally South Korea condemned the treaty and summoned Russia's ambassador on Friday. First Vice Minister Kim Hong-kyun relayed the South Korean government's "stern position" on Kim and Putin's defense pact, urging Moscow to "immediately halt military cooperation" with Pyongyang and abide by UNSC resolutions, the Foreign Ministry said. Kim reportedly 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. Check out RussiaReport.news to read more updates on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. Sources for this article include: RT.com APNews.com Politico.com Edition.CNN.com Washington keeps a close eye as Russian warships enter the Havana Harbor A Russian Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine were at the Havana Harbor from June 12 to 17 . United States officials said the Russian warships were closely monitored the whole time. Even though both the U.S. and Cuba claimed that the stopover was no threat, analysts considered it a brazen show of force from Russia amid the ongoing Russian special military operation in Ukraine. When the warships arrived at the harbor, many curious Cuban onlookers, fishermen and police lined the Malecon esplanade boulevard under gray skies to welcome the ships while they passed the 400-year old Morro Castle at the Havana Harbor's entrance. The worries aren't unfounded because Cuba, a long-time ally of Russia, even saluted the ships' arrival with cannon fire from the harbor. At the same time, Russian diplomats waved small Russian flags and took selfies as the vessels passed the harbor's historic fortresses. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate, and later Kazan, half submerged with its crew visible on deck, were accompanied by a tugboat and fuel ship that had arrived earlier on June 12. (Related: Russias Medvedev warns Poland: Warsaw will get its share of radioactive ash.) Russia's defense ministry said the four Russian vessels sailed to Cuba on June 12 after conducting "high-precision missile weapons" training in the Atlantic Ocean. The ministry added that the submarine and frigate carry Zircon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and Onyx anti-ship missiles. Previously, Cuba claimed that the visit was standard practice by naval vessels from countries on good terms with Havana. The communist-run government's foreign ministry said the fleet carried no nuclear weapons, and U.S. officials said the same thing. 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. On June 12, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that these naval exercises were "routine." According to Sullivan, these things are common and that they are expected to happen again. "I'm not going to read into it any particular motives," said Sullivan. He added that there was no evidence of Russia transferring any missiles to Cuba, but the U.S. would remain vigilant even if it does not "expect anything like that to occur." A well-timed "power play" Havana is located only 100 miles from Key West, Florida, which is also the location of a U.S. Naval Air Station. William Leogrande, a professor at American University in Washington, D.C., explained that the timing of the visit, which took place as the Biden administration is considering how far to go in helping protect Ukraine against Russia, implies that the visit was more than "standard practice. Leogrande added that the visiting Russian warships were Putin's way of telling Biden that Moscow can challenge Washington "in its own sphere of influence." The stopover also took place at the same time as Cuba's worst social and economic crisis in decades, with shortages of food, medicine and fuel. There is also growing discontent on the streets. Leogrande warned that the recent events has "echoes of the Cold War." However, he added that unlike the first Cold War, the Cubans are drawn to Moscow not because of ideological affinity but because of economic necessity. Russia and Cuba has a long history, particularly concerning Russia and its predecessor the Soviet Union. The Cuban missile crisis peaked in 1962 when the Soviet Union responded to a U.S. missile deployment in Turkey by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, which triggered a standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Now, amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russia and Cuba are strengthening ties again. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time in May 2024, when the former attended a military parade. Diaz-Canel also wished Russian forces well in Ukraine and also said that "Moscow could always count on Havana's support." Earlier in March, Russia delivered 90,000 metric tons (99,200 U.S. tons) of Russian oil to help Cuba deal with shortages. The former also promised to help Havana with various projects, such as sugar production, infrastructure, renewable energy and tourism. The history between the two countries was also not lost on many of the Cubans who witnessed the arrival of the Russian warships. Maria Isabel Quesada, 50, from Old Havana, said that she had "never seen a ship of that size so close. She added that she feels safe and satisfied as a Cuban, adding that she was "confident in having a very beautiful relationship" between Moscow and Havana. Visit WWIII.news for more stories about how the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to affect the rest of the world. Watch the video below as "InfoWars" host Alex Jones discusses the Russian warships that visited Havana Harbor in Cuba. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Russia's jamming technology reducing accuracy of U.S. weapons in Ukraine to just 10%. German warship shoots down two Houthi drones over the Red Sea. U.S. warship in the Red Sea shoots down attack drones fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Ex-defense chief: Royal Navy warships are "unsatisfactory" and lack power to attack Houthis on land. Sources include: Reuters.com APNews.com Brighteon.com 49 U.S. states now supplying ILLEGALS with voter registration forms Illegal aliens and other "non-citizens" can receive voter registration forms without needing to show proof of citizenship in at least 49 states. The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 mandates that states facilitate voter registration at their respective departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) and other welfare offices. These agencies must provide voter registration forms alongside application papers. Illegals can then use these forms to access welfare benefits and obtain driver's licenses and mail-in ballots. At least 19 states and the District of Columbia also allow illegals to obtain driver's licenses, said the National Conference of State Legislatures Without a federal law requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration forms, migrants can simply claim to be U.S. citizens to register to vote, easily bypassing the official ban on non-citizens voting. Only Arizona has passed a law preventing this practice, but it applies only to state forms and not federal ones. Probes and audits at both the federal and state level have revealed numerous illegals being included in voter rolls. Even Hans von Spakovsky, a former member of the Federal Election Commission, has highlighted various instances of illegal immigrants voting unlawfully in elections at different levels. "It's a real problem, not an imaginary problem," he told the New York Post. (Related: Big win for election integrity in PA as court confirms improper absentee ballots won't be counted.) Polling suggests at least a fifth of mail-in ballots during the 2020 election were tainted by fraud. This compromised the legitimacy of an election that came down to a few thousand votes in a handful of states, and put incapable President Joe Biden in the White House. 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. Even worse is the fact that left-wing voters groups resort to lawfare to prevent illegals unlawfully casting their vote. In one instance, left-wing voter groups sued Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperer a Republican earlier this year for trying to implement citizenship verification methods. GOP-controlled House approves the SAVE Act to rectify the issue Republicans in the lower chamber of Congress approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in May to combat this problem. Under the SAVE Act, states will be required to seek proof of citizenship when someone registers to vote by mail at DMVs or welfare agency offices. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the measure. "It is incumbent upon Congress to implement greater enforcement measures that secure the voter registration process and ensure only American citizens decide the outcome of American elections," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement following the SAVE Act's approval. "The SAVE Act would defend election integrity and preserve public trust in the voting process, something we need now more than ever," Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) told the Post. "Preventing non-citizens and illegal aliens from registering and voting in American elections should be a 100 percent issue in Congress. Unfortunately, Democrats have taken the stance that it never happens which is false so we shouldn't give states the tools to ensure it doesn't happen, which is absurd." Von Spakovsky expressed belief that if the SAVE Act successfully amends the NVRA, proof-of-citizenship laws would "get passed in a lot of states." Moreover, the SAVE Act would further allow Americans to bring civil lawsuits against election officials who dont have their agencies demand proof-of-citizenship documents. Check out VoteFraud.news for more similar stories. Watch this video about President Joe Biden's amnesty plan that permits illegal aliens to vote. This video is from the Infowars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden campaign adviser scoffs at poll that shows majority of Americans support MASS DEPORTATION of illegals. Poll finds older Arizona voters OVERWHELMINGLY favor Trump over Biden. HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Mexican cartels offer $15,000 VIP border crossing packages to migrants trying to get into the U.S. via tunnels. Large-scale prisons being secretly erected in all 50 states will they be used to house illegals or force Americans into concentration camps? Roger Stone: Democrats will try to put Trump in JAIL before Republican National Convention. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NYPost.com Brighteon.com Age of rage: Americas anti-free speech movement forces us again to choose between our rights and our rage Below is my column on Fox.com on my book and how our current age of rage may be the most dangerous for free speech, but it is not our first such period in history. Indeed, the current debate is returning this nation to the very debate that erupted at the start of our Republic. (Article republished from JonathanTurley.org) Here is the column: As the nation heads into the July 4th holiday, we have rarely been more divided as a people. Ironically, we are still debating the core values that define us, particularly the right to free speech. Indeed, debate hardly captures the rising anger and animosity from campuses to Congress. That is also nothing new. While I have called this an age of rage, it is not our first. The United States was born in rage. Roughly 250 years ago, a group calling itself the Sons of Liberty boarded three ships and dumped almost 100,000 pounds of English tea into the Boston harbor. The Boston Tea Party is still celebrated as an act of defiance that helped spark the American Revolution. It was also an act of rage, a key moment that is the focus of my book out this week, The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage. As a nation, we have gone through almost cyclic periods of unhinged rage, including periods of what I call state rage. The first victim has always been free speech, including in our current age of rage. Indeed, this is arguably the most dangerous anti-free speech period in our history. The Indispensable Right is a reference to the description of Justice Louis Brandeis of core value in our nation. It is also a reference that captures our inherent conflict with free speech. Brandeis and his colleague Oliver Wendell Holmes are enshrined as civil libertarians who became the great dissenters, arguing for rights that remained unrealized for decades. Yet, these two jurists would support some of the most abusive denials of free speech in our history. Holmes would supply the single most regrettable line of any opinion: that free speech protections do not allow citizens to shout fire in a crowded theater. That paraphrasing of his decision in Schenck v. United States continues to be used today as a rationalization for censorship and limits on free speech. On free speech, Brandeis and Holmes were no heroes. Our true heroes are detailed in this book, a collection of true dissenters anarchists, unionists, communists, feminists and others who risked everything to fight for their right to speak. George Bernard Shaw once said a reasonable man adjusts himself to the world. An unreasonable man expects the world to adjust itself to him. Therefore, all progress is made by unreasonable people. These are stories of wonderfully unreasonable people like Anita Whitney, a feminist who left a family of privilege to fight for social and political justice. The descendent of a family on the Mayflower and niece of Supreme Court Justice Cyrus W. Field, Whitney defied threats of the police that she would be arrested if she spoke in California in 1919 in Oakland. With police standing around on stage, she refused to be silent and spoke against the lynchings of Blacks occurring around the country. Her abusive conviction would ultimately go before the court (with Brandeis and Holmes) and they would vote to uphold it. Time and again, this country has abandoned our free speech values as political dissidents were met with state rage in the form of mass crackdowns and imprisonments. It is an unvarnished story of free speech in America and for better or worse, it is our story. Yet, we have much to learn from this history as this pattern now repeats itself. The book explains why we are living in the most dangerous anti-free speech period in our history. In the past, free speech has found natural allies in academia and the media. That has changed with a type of triumvirate the government, corporations, and academia in a powerful alliance against free speech values. Ironically, while these groups refer to the unprecedented threat of fake news and disinformation, those were the very same rationales used first by the Crown and then the U.S. government to crack down on free speech in the early American republic. The difference is the magnitude of the current censorship system from campuses to corporations to Congress. Law professors are even calling for changing the First Amendment as advancing an excessively individualistic view of free speech. The amendment would allow the government to curtail speech to achieve equity and protect dignity. Others, including President Biden, have called for greater censorship while politicians and pundits denounce defenders of free speech as Putin lovers and insurrectionist sympathizers. Despite watching the alarming rise of this anti-free speech movement and the rapid loss of protections in the West, there is still reason to be hopeful. For those of us who believe that free speech is a human right, there is an inherent and inescapable optimism. We are wired for free speech as humans. We need to speak freely, to project part of ourselves into the world around us. It is essential to being fully human. In the end, this alliance may reduce our appetite for free speech but we will never truly lose our taste for it. It is in our DNA. That is why this is not our first or our last age of rage. However, it is not the rage that defines us. It is free speech that defines us. Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage (Simon & Schuster, June 18, 2024). Read more at: JonathanTurley.org Biden admin seeks to delay COVID-19 vaccine safety data release until 2026 The Biden administration is seeking to delay the release of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine safety data until at least 2026. In a motion filed with a district court, the Department of Justice (DOH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reportedly requested for an 18-month stay with regard to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request lodged by America First Legal (AFL) and Just The News. The FOIA request sought to obtain data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). According to the two agencies, an influx of pandemic-related FOIA requests is overwhelming the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They added that releasing vaccine records requires extensive staff training and onboarding, which could take up to two years. While staffers were reportedly hired for this purpose, they are still undergoing training. (Related: The FDA is a front organization that has allowed vaccine manufacturers to pillage the world for decades.) FOIA requires government agencies to release requested information unless it negatively affects interests like personal privacy, national security and law enforcement. But according to the motion filed by the HHS and DOJ, the FDA has been dealing with FOIA requests amounting to "approximately 5.7 million pages of COVID-19 vaccine records in a compressed timeframe." According to the National Pulse, AFL and Just The News are suing the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to obtain data on COVID-19 vaccine reactions. These reports are ostensibly "kept in a back-end, nonpublic system" separate from the publicly accessible VAERS. 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 public-facing [VAERS] database contains only initial reports while the private, back-end system contains all updates and corrections such as formal diagnosis, recovery or death," the lawsuit noted. It also cited examples of vaccine-induced deaths not recorded in VAERS, but present in the private database. Lawyer for AFL blasts government delaying tactic "You just need to wait until 18 months from now, and maybe you'll get to see it. Maybe you won't," said AFL lawyer Gene Hamilton, who represents Just The News, when asked about the government's position on vaccination records. "What they're hoping to do is stretch this out to the point where everybody forgets about it." "This is a typical government excuse which is, 'Oh, we're so busy. We don't have the resources to help provide you, the American people, with the information that you need.'" But this was not the first time the FDA was caught in a fiasco regarding FOIA requests. English novelist Dr. Vernon Coleman pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccines were far from being "safe and effective." He referenced a tranche of documents made public as a result of a FOIA request. The 91-page tranche was part of an extensive report submitted by Pfizer to the FDA as part of its post-authorization adverse event reports. Included were adverse event reports from individuals injected with the Pfizer COVID-19 mRNA injection through Feb. 28, 2021. "What the report exposed was nothing less than criminal," Edit Lang of Natural Health 365 wrote in December 2021. "In fact, only a few weeks into getting shots in the arms, Pfizer received over 42,000 case reports of adverse events." Watch this video about a paper disclosing that 74 percent of "sudden deaths" were caused by the COVID-19 injections. This video is from the American Patriots God Country channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: British cardiologist: There could be 50,000 people in the U.K. with MYOCARDITIS due to COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is a front organization that has allowed vaccine manufacturers to pillage the world for decades. NIH data reveals the agency and its scientists earned $710 MILLION in ROYALTIES during the COVID-19 pandemic. Group of doctors whose COVID-19 criticisms were censored can move forward with case, appeals court rules. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NaturalHealth365.com Brighteon.com Bidens unsecured southern border a domestic terror threat, says U.S. special ops group The Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) has written an open letter expressing deep concern about the "current heightened risk of terrorist attacks against targets inside the United States and both U.S. and allied interests abroad." In light of the recent rise in illegal crossings and suspected terrorist encounters at the southern border, the SOAA, which represents thousands of Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Raiders, Air Force Air Commandos and other special operators who served in the military, decided to let the world know what it thinks about the situation. The Biden regime's complete withdrawal from Afghanistan without a viable plan to avoid creating a vacuum in the region is creating a terrorist problem, according to the SOAA, that combined with the porous southern border has created a funnel for illegals to flood the United States. The risk of old terrorist threats becoming new terrorist threats is compounded by the latest developments in the Middle East as well. There have been numerous instances of individuals on terrorist watchlists and others from adversarial countries attempting to enter the U.S. while the border situation is in chaos. "At the same time, the U.S. has continued to send the Taliban millions of dollars for 'counterterrorism assistance,' which has proved to be only marginally successful due to a lack of partners on the ground in Afghanistan," the SOAA letter explains. "Millions more in aid is being repurposed by the Taliban to bolster their own operations." Special Operations Association of America warns its members gravely concerned about terrorist threat to U.S. after withdrawal from Afghanistan and the unsecured southern border pic.twitter.com/eGqK9JJgvG Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 26, 2024 (Related: The White House claims that if ever you think you've seen a video or heard audio of Biden struggling to speak or behaving cluelessly, you fell for a deep fake.) Are they planning another 9/11-style false flag attack on America? The letter proceeds to quote former White House and CIA Intelligence Agency Mike Morell who recently issued a warning about how "the terrorism warning lights are blinking red again," which "echoes of the run-up to 9/11." In other words, those in the know are sounding the alarm about the patterns they are witnessing that are reminiscent of what happened in the lead-up to 9/11, which could suggest that another 9/11-style event is soon on the way for America. 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. "Time is running out, and urgent executive action is needed to address this ever-increasing threat to U.S. national security, our families, our allies and our homeland," the letter concludes. The reality is more than likely that the border is being purposely left open so that those who are plotting the next 9/11-style attack are free to enter and do their thing. In other words, it appears intentional and deliberately planned for such a time as this. In the comments, someone noted that Morell is the same guy who corralled "51 former intelligence agents" to write a letter claiming that the Hunter Biden laptop story sounds a lot like "Russian disinformation." "They push an unsecured border to get the terror threat so they can use it to clamp down on the freedom of the remaining citizens," wrote another about how everything happen is intentional to destroy America. "With the impeccable timing of a series of attacks a few weeks before the elections that will be 'canceled until further notice," speculated another as to when a coming false flag attack might occur. "The U.S. is now compromised," said another. "Many in the uniparty want cheap labor and consumers." An unsecured southern border means America is no longer a sovereign country. Learn more at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Bolivia announces BRICS membership and suddenly army tank breaches presidential palace in a military coup In a dramatic turn of events, Bolivias recently dismissed Army commander, General Juan Jose Zuniga, threatened to overthrow President Luis Arce, demanding a new cabinet and the release of political prisoners. Zuniga, claiming to act against former President Evo Moraless potential return, led troops and tanks to occupy key government buildings in La Paz. Amidst Bolivias bid to join the BRICS group, President Arce, supported by international allies, confronted and ultimately defused the situation, reaffirming his commitment to democracy and swearing in new military commanders. The crisis highlights the intense political and international pressures surrounding Bolivias future. (Article republished from GreatGameIndia.com) Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, who had been relieved of duty the day before, threatened to overthrow President Luis Arce Catacoras government. He demanded a new cabinet and the release of political prisoners today. Zuniga stated he was seeking to prevent former President Evo Morales from running for President again, alleging he would harm the country. A Bolivian court has already declared Morales unable to run again. Regardless of Zunigas identity or claims, its important to note that this isnt about internal politics. Bolivia is a contender for BRICS membership, which is likely to take place at the BRICS leaders conference in Kazan, Russia, on October 22. President Arce has clearly stated his commitment to the BRICS worldview, and as a special guest of President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5-7, he discussed the importance of the emerging multipolar world, free of neocolonialism and the strictures of the rules-based order. #Bolivia ??: president Luis Arce and his cabinet appeared on the balcony of the Presidential Palace to greet his supporters. A final confirmation that the government survived this coup attempt. pic.twitter.com/IShWEf4vdZ Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 26, 2024 Thus, removing him from power would be convenient for those Anglo-American forces who have also targeted Brazil, the BRICS leader in South America, and who support the miserable Argentine President Javier Milei, who is fighting Brazil and the BRICS momentum in Ibero-America. Today, Zunigas forces took Plaza Murrillo with troops and tanks in front of the historic Palacio Quemado, the presidential residence, as well as the National Congress. His men used a tank to break down the palace door and force their way inside, where President Arce met them and ordered them to stand down. Zuniga initially resisted, but after a few tense hours, ordered his forces to withdraw from the plaza. Earlier in the day, Arce decried the irregular movement of troops and urged Bolivians to organize and mobilize to defend democracy. After the army men left, Arce swore in the new commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In a speech to supporters at the palace, he saluted those officers who wear their uniform with pride and value the Armed Forces in a democratically-elected government, Los Tiempos said. The Presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela all issued statements of support for Arce, while Bolivias Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda urged the international community to come out in support of President Arce and Bolivian democracy. Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that the Democratic Republic of Congos military quelled a deadly coup attempt in Kinshasa, involving a shootout and three deaths. Several people, including Americans, who targeted legislator Vital Kamerhes residence, were arrested. Read more at: GreatGameIndia.com EU okays transfer of $1.5B to Ukraine drawn from frozen Russian assets For the first time, European Union foreign ministers have approved the transfer of approximately 1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) in military and financial aid to Kyiv. This aid will be funded by interest profits drawn from frozen Russian central bank assets. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced the approval on Monday, coinciding with reports that Washington is preparing to send Ukraine another arms package worth $150 million. The EU also imposed a raft of sanctions on Russia, along with entities in China, Turkey and India. (Related: G7 planning to escalate war by using frozen Russian assets to give billions more to Ukraine.) The EU's decision comes amid escalating tensions following Kyiv's long-range missile strikes into Crimea over the weekend. Russia accused Ukrainian forces of using U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of nearly 200 miles and satellite imagery for the attack, which resulted in at least four deaths and over 100 injuries. In response, Russia's Foreign Ministry declared that Washington "has effectively become a party" to the war and threatened "retaliatory measures." Budapest has been vetoing further funding of Kyiv's war effort through an off-budget fund known as the European Peace Facility (EPF) worth 6 billion ($6.4 billion) for almost a year. Another fund holding 5 billion ($5.3 billion) is also blocked. Borrell acknowledged this "structural difficulty" during a press conference following the foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg. Using interest profits from seized Russian assets was seen as a viable alternative. Such measures mark an unprecedented escalation in the economic war against 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. G7 leaders agree to give $50 billion frozen Russian funds to Ukraine Earlier this month, G7 leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with $50 billion by the end of the year using frozen Russian funds. According to the South China Morning Post, a legal analysis noted that Hungary abstained on the decision to use the frozen assets for Ukraine and since the new aid is derived from Russian Central Bank assets, not EU funds, Budapest's veto does not apply. Therefore, Borrell stated, "it's not necessary" to involve Hungary in the decision-making process. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the move, stating it violated EU rules. Approximately 90 percent of the aid will be allocated for weapons to support Kyiv's war, while 10 percent will go toward direct financial aid. EU diplomats indicated that Berlin and Prague would first use the proceeds to send Ukraine more air defenses and artillery shells. The European Commission reported freezing roughly 210 billion ($224.5) in Russian central bank funds. Between the U.S. and Europe, about $280 billion in Russian assets have been seized. Euroclear, a Brussels-based financial institution, holds the majority of European-held assets and claims to have extracted 4.4 billion ($4.7 billion) in interest profits last year. Additionally, the ministers announced new sanctions against Russia, including asset freezes and travel bans on 69 individuals and 47 entities linked to the Kremlin's invasion. Organizations based in China, Turkey and India were also hit with an EU export ban over accusations of supporting Moscows war effort. Following a nine-month grace period, the Zeebrugge port in Belgium will be banned from exporting Russian liquefied natural gas to countries outside the EU. The bloc is also targeting 27 vessels allegedly part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to transport crude oil and circumvent Western economic penalties. Despite the sanctions, Moscow became the top crude supplier to India and China during the first year of the war. Follow RussiaReport.news for more stories about the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Watch this video of former President Donald Trump threatening to end American aid to Ukraine if he wins in November. This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EU and G7 nations to seize profits from frozen Russian assets and give them to corrupt Ukraine. This is how Russia can get its stolen money back while leaving the financial West to collapse all on its own. Hungary hops off "NATO Train," calls West's escalation of war in Ukraine "hopeless." Sources include: News.Antiwar.com Brighteon.com House committee investigation finds Faucis NIAID submitted plans to create a mutant monkeypox virus with pandemic potential in 2015 An investigation by Congress has found that Anthony Fauci's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) submitted plans to create a strain of monkeypox with "pandemic potential" in 2015 A government laboratory in Maryland planned to make the circulating monkeypox strain more lethal in a highly controversial research involving mice. It wanted to equip the dominant clade which mostly causes a rash and flu-like symptoms with genes from another strain that causes severe disease. (Related: EVIL: Fauci-run NIAID funded animal testing on beagles, Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene reveals.) The modified virus would have "posed an exceptionally high risk" to the public if it accidentally leaks, according to Dr. Richard Ebright, a microbiologist at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The scientists in the Maryland lab argue that their work did not involve "enhancing" a pathogen because they were simply swapping natural mutations rather than creating new ones. Meaning, the hybrid could not be more deadly than the existing clades. The plan only received widespread attention in late 2022 amid concerns that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) may have been borne out of similar experiments using U.S. government grant money in China. There are two types of monkeypox virus. Clade I causes severe illness and has killed up to 11 percent of infected individuals, while Clade II is more transmissible but less severe. In October 2022, a team of government scientists wanted to insert genes from the more dangerous Clade I into Clade II, making a hybrid strain that could have been both more lethal and more contagious. 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. Classified as gain-of-function Investigators said this would be classified as gain-of-function, which can result in deadlier and more transmissible viruses and is feared to be behind the creation of COVID-19. While COVID-19 looks more and more like a rebranding of the common cold, the monkeypox creation could have become a full-blown pandemic. The blueprint to create a mutant monkeypox virus raised major concerns among experts and led to an investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which recently released the results from its year-and-a-half probe. The report said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NIAID and National Institutes of Health (NIH) repeatedly "obstructed and misled the committee" about whether the risky experiments had been approved and conducted, describing their cooperation with the probe as "unacceptable and potentially criminal." The investigators wrote: "HHS and the NIH repeatedly told the Committee the experiments had not been 'formally proposed' or 'planned,' had never been approved or conducted, and were not currently under consideration. These repeated assertions were false." They added that NIAID, a branch of the NIH, should not be trusted to carry out this type of research. "The primary conclusion drawn at this point in the investigation is that NIAID cannot be trusted to oversee its own research of pathogens responsibly. It cannot be trusted to determine whether an experiment on a potential pandemic pathogen or enhanced potential pandemic pathogen poses unacceptable biosafety risk or a serious public health threat." Visit FauciTruth.com for more stories about the controversial former head of NIAID. Watch this video about Fauci's lies. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: FEAR PSYOP: High mortality bird flu could already be engineered for rapid human transmission, warns former CDC head Dr. Robert Redfield. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tells Fauci: "You should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity." Fauci STILL blaming the unvaccinated for COVID deaths. Fauci is put on notice, told to preserve records for major free speech lawsuit. Politicians suddenly calling for crimes against humanity charges for "evil" Fauci. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com Brighteon.com How the CIA helped discredit Hunter laptop story for Biden win A congressional report has unveiled that the CIA interfered in the 2020 election by collaborating with the Biden campaign to dismiss the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation. High-ranking CIA officials were aware of this tactic, and some active CIA contractors even signed a misleading statement. This explosive revelation raises serious questions about the integrity of the election and the extent of political manipulation within top intelligence agencies. (Article republished from GreatGameIndia.com) The CIA interfered in the 2020 race by working with the Biden campaign to undermine the Hunter Biden laptop allegation, according to a committee report released on Tuesday. Its inappropriate for a currently serving staff officer or contractor to be involved in the political process, former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell told Congress during its investigation into the event. In 2020, 51 former spies signed a notorious letter calling the reporting on Hunters laptop Russian disinformation ahead of the election. Antony Blinken, the current Secretary of State, is accused of coordinating the tale for political goals. Natasha Bertrand, a CNN reporter, published the infamous, and now discredited, Politico story that employed dozens of former intelligence officials to peddle a false and misleading narrative about the origins of Hunters laptop. During a presidential debate with Donald Trump, President Joe Biden used the narrative to dismiss the laptops contents. The House Judiciary report on Monday asserted three significant facts about the CIAs role in the 2020 election: High-ranking CIA officials, up to and including then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, were made aware of the Hunter Biden statement before its approval and publication. Because several former senior intelligence officials signed the statement, the PCRB sent the draft statement to the CIAs then-Chief Operating Officer (COO) Andrew Makridis, who said he subsequently informed then-Director Haspel or then-Deputy Director Vaughn Frederick Bishop that the statement would be published soon. Senior CIA leadership had an opportunity at that time to slow down the CIAs process for reviewing publication submissions and ensure that such an extraordinary statement was properly vetted. Some of the statements signatories, including Michael Morell, were on active contract with the CIA at the time of the Hunter Biden statements publication. Throughout the Committees investigation, the signatories claimed to not have had access to any classified information when asserting that the allegations surrounding Hunter Bidens laptop had all the hallmarks of Russian disinformation. However, at the time of the statements publication, at least two signatoriesMorell and former CIA Inspector General David Buckleywere on the CIAs payroll as contractors. Due to purported operational concerns, the CIA declined to declassify the entire universe of signatories who were on active contracts. In addition, some signatories to the Hunter Biden statement also had special Green Card access to the CIA at the time of the statements publication, allowing them to gain entry to secure CIA facilities. After the publication of the Hunter Biden statement, CIA employees internally expressed concern about the statements politicized content, acknowledging it was not helpful to the Agency in the long run. At least one employee found it [i]nteresting to see what was submitted and approved when discussing media talking points that the statements co-author, former Senior Intelligence Service Officer Marc Polymeropoulos, submitted related to the statement. When discussing Polymeropouloss talking points, another CIA official stated, It appears [Polymeropoulos] is actively involved in a pro-Biden campaign and may be disclosing classified information in his efforts. The CIAs internal review board, known as the Prepublication Classification Review Board (PCRB), determined that Polymeropouloss talking points contained classified information that had to be removed before publication. According to TIPP Insights polls conducted in 2022, 71% of Americans believe truthful reporting of Hunters Laptop from Hell may have influenced the 2020 presidential election. Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that, according to the AP, Hunter Biden has been found guilty on all three charges in his federal firearms trial, marking the first instance in US history that a sitting presidents child has faced trial. Read more at: GreatGameIndia.com Putin: NATOs focus on Asia-Pacific region poses security threat NATO's increasing focus on the Asia-Pacific region poses a security threat not only to all countries in the region but also to Russia, necessitating a response from Moscow, President Vladimir Putin has warned. He made these remarks during a press conference in Hanoi last week following meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam, and after signing a strategic partnership treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. "We see what's happening in Asia, right? A bloc system is being put together [and] NATO is already moving there as if to a permanent place of residence. This, of course, poses a threat to all countries in the region, including the Russian Federation. We are obliged to respond to this and we will do so," Putin asserted. In Vietnam, Putin announced that Moscow and Hanoi share a mutual interest in establishing a reliable and adequate regional security architecture based on the principles of non-use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes, without selective military-political blocs. "The positions of Russia and Vietnam on these issues largely coincide or are close to each other," Putin noted. Putin emphasized that global developments prioritize strengthening cooperation with partners, especially in significant areas concerning Asia. He also stated that Russia reserves the right to provide arms to its allies, paralleling Western actions of arming Ukraine and could potentially send long-range weapons to North Korea and other countries. Last month, Putin indirectly referenced NATO and other Western-dominated organizations, warning that the Asia-Pacific region is "no place for closed military and political alliances," which both China and Russia view as "harmful and counterproductive." (Related: NATO has become military wing of globalist cabal that promotes the self-destruction of all nations in a depopulated world.) Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. In 2021, the U.S., U.K. and Australia established the AUKUS security partnership, aiming to help Canberra acquire nuclear-powered submarines, with Washington reportedly attempting to fast-track Canada and Japans membership. Last September, China condemned the AUKUS pact as an attempt to create an Asia-Pacific version of NATO. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin argued that it is based on a Cold War mentality, which will only incite an arms race, undermine the international nuclear nonproliferation regime and harm regional stability and peace. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also criticized NATO as a walking war machine that causes chaos wherever it goes, accusing the US-led bloc of meddling in Asian affairs and branding it a terrible monster that extends a "black hand" toward the region. China has strongly opposed NATO's increasing involvement in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized NATO following its July summit in Lithuania, which included leaders from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. They warned: "We have seen what NATO has done to Europe and NATO must not seek to sow chaos here in the Asia-Pacific." Opinions vary on NATO's expansion in the region Some believe NATO should avoid actions that fuel China's concerns about its eastward expansion, while others think NATO should leverage this issue to demonstrate collective strength. However, the consensus is clear: NATO's partnership with the AP4 (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea) is now solidified. At the Vilnius Summit, NATO committed to enhancing dialogue and cooperation to address shared security challenges, with further partnerships likely highlighted at the next NATO Summit in Washington, DC. The U.S. has been a strong advocate for NATO's focus on the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing competition with China. NATO's 2022 Strategic Concept pledged to address the challenges posed by China to Euro-Atlantic security. However, this growing interest is controversial among NATO Allies and Indo-Pacific countries. Many fear NATO's focus on China could escalate regional arms races and push countries into opposing blocs. NATO's cooperation with Indo-Pacific powers has significant strategic implications. The main question is whether NATO's engagement in the region enhances security. There is a risk that publicizing this partnership could heighten tensions with China without providing sufficient resources for Indo-Pacific partners. Head over to WWIII.news for updates on possible escalations of worldwide conflicts into a nuclear war. Find out more about NATO's preparation for wartime contingencies by watching the video below. This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: NATO's great new idea: 'Let's start a war with China!' NATO the greatest threat to civilization. Oblivious NATO chief tells members to stand up to "authoritarian powers" does this include NATO member nation tyranny? Sources include: Rt.com 9dashline.com Brighteon.com North Korea sending troops to Ukraine as WWIII approaches In what media reports are describing as the makings of a critical escalation in the ongoing conflict, North Korea is reportedly sending military units to Ukraine as soon as next month to help support Russian forces. For the first time in 24 years, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to North Korea where he signed a defense pact with host Kim Jong Un on June 19 in Pyongyang. The pact agrees that both countries will provide military assistance to the other as needed. Just days after the agreement was signed, North Korea announced the sending of a unit of military engineers to join Russia's army on the ground in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. This suggests North Korea might soon become an active combatant in the war. Already, North Korea is providing ammunition and missiles to Russia. The country has also reportedly shipped as many as 1.6 million artillery shells to the Russian army to use in its special military operation. "In case any one of the two sides is put in a state of war by an armed invasion from an individual state or several states, the other side shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay," the agreement states. (Related: Did you know that radioactive materials used in the building of nuclear dirty bombs are being shipped from the West to Ukraine right now, raising suspicions of a coming false flag attack?) Pentagon says North Korean soldiers will die in war Responding to the move, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder told journalists at a press briefing that North Korea is basically sending these military soldiers to their deaths. 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. "I think that if I were North Korean military personnel management, I would be questioning my choices on sending my forces to be cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine," Ryder said. According to Ryder, U.S. intelligence will continue to monitor the growing military ties between Russia and North Korea. Because North Korea is an important bridge between Russia and China, it makes sense for Russia to want to partner with the country. The bridge allows Beijing to transfer military equipment to Moscow while avoiding violating Western sanctions. "North Korea is one of key Russian partners and the meaning of the rationale behind them becoming such a partner is because they are acting as a bridge between China and Russia," commented Ilya Ponomarev. "Essentially all this military equipment that is supposed to be delivered from North Korea once was developed for North Koreans by the Chinese." "China is cautious not to get under secondary sanctions by the United States, but North Korea is not in danger. So there is no problem for Chinese to assist North Koreans and then North Koreans to make trade with Russia and benefit from this both financially and in terms of military development." In the comments, some people expressed doubt about the legitimacy of these latest alleged developments, especially the one from Ryder at the Pentagon insinuating that North Korea is simply sending "cannon fodder" to Ukraine. "None of this is true," one wrote. "The West is just jealous because an army of contracted North Korean engineers is arriving in Donetsk to help rebuild the destroyed towns and villages." "North Koreans are the best and fastest builders that finish jobs to perfection in the shortest amount of time." Another wrote that World War III is coming soon, "no doubt about that." "If China also sends troops, it really will be WWIII," added someone else. "God help us all." More news about the situation in Ukraine can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: Express.co.uk NaturalNews.com Russia informs U.S. ambassador We are no longer at peace in chilling message following Crimea attack carried out with US-made weapons The Russian foreign ministry summoned U.S. ambassador Lynne Tracy following a deadly Ukrainian attack on a Black Sea port in Crimea that killed four people and injured more than 150 over the weekend, giving her a chilling warning that indicates a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said that Washington has effectively become a party to the war on the side of Ukraine. Russias message for Tracy during the meeting reportedly included the assertion that We are no longer at peace. It might not be a direct declaration of war, but its certainly something the U.S. should worry about. The harsh warning came after the deadly Ukrainian missile strike on the port city of Sevastopol in Crimea. Two children were among those who died in the attack; they were reportedly hit by falling debris that came from the Ukrainian missiles. It took place while the beach was crowded with visitors enjoying the summer. Footage of the incident showed beachgoers fleeing from the falling debris in sheer panic as the injured were carried away on sun beds. According to Russia, the missiles were American-made ATACMS long-range guided missiles, which means that the U.S. is responsible in their view. The U.S. has supplied Kyiv with these missiles for more than a year, and they enable Ukrainian forces to strike targets as far as 186 miles away. Although the U.S. has demanded that Ukraine avoid using the weapons it supplies to them to strike Russian territory, Crimea is not considered Russian territory by most countries because it was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. 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. A White House National Security Council spokesperson told the BBC: Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions and conducts its own military operations. Moscow threatens unspecified consequences for killing Russian children However, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, accused America of killing Russian children in a strike that he characterized as barbaric. He told reporters in Moscow that the "involvement of the United States, the direct involvement, as a result of which Russian civilians are killed, cannot be without consequences, adding ominously, "Time will tell what these will be." Russia has long maintained that they will consider nations that supply weapons to Ukraine legitimate military targets. In a meeting with international news agencies earlier this month, Putin doubled down on this threat, stating: "If someone thinks it is possible to supply such weapons to a war zone to attack our territory and create problems for us, why don't we have the right to supply weapons of the same class to regions of the world where there will be strikes on sensitive facilities of those (Western) countries?" Although Russia is unlikely to do anything extreme, some analysts believe this means that they could supply weapons to places like North Korea and Iran and terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, which could be enough to provoke a U.S. response. Moscow is also reportedly considering downgrading its diplomatic relations with the West, with Peskov telling reporters: "Due to the growing involvement of the West in the conflict over Ukraine, the Russian Federation cannot but consider various options for responding to such hostile Western intervention in the Ukrainian crisis." However, he emphasized that an official decision has yet to be made and said that they are still considering different types of responses. Sources for this article include: Sonar21.com BBC.com News.Sky.com World Health Organization backtracks on its COVID-19 vaccine stance, says injections are low priority for kids The World Health Organization (WHO) has backtracked on its stance regarding the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections , now claiming that giving children these vaccines is a "low priority." Steve Watson of Modernity News highlighted this sudden turnaround, noting that anyone who didn't recommend the COVID-19 injections would have been "suspended from social media or publicly 'canceled.'" But given that the global health body was the one that changed its opinion, nobody batted an eyelash. The WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) issued the revised guidelines. According to the group, it no longer recommends the COVID-19 injection for "healthy" children aged between six months and 17 years. "The public health impact of vaccinating healthy children and adolescents is comparatively much lower than the established benefits of traditional essential vaccines for children such as the rotavirus, measles and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines," SAGE wrote. Dr. Hanna Nohynek, SAGE chairwoman, explained that the updated guidelines "reflect that much of the population is either vaccinated, previously infected with COVID-19 or both. She continued: "The revised roadmap re-emphasizes the importance of vaccinating those still at risk of severe disease mostly older adults and those with underlying conditions including with additional boosters. The WHO's new policy identifies three priority groups high, medium and low with children and teens in the low category. The definitions assess categories for "risk of severe disease and death." Nevertheless, the global health body still recommended that "children who have compromised immune systems or existing health conditions get the [COVID-19] vaccine." 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. A subsequent revision of the guidelines from December 2023 also acknowledged this change, noting that "re-vaccination [is] not routinely recommended" for both healthy adults, children and adolescents injected with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the WHO still recommended that all adults, alongside children and adolescents with comorbidities, get injected with at least one dose. CDC still recommends COVID-19 injections for kids and teens Meanwhile, Watson pointed out that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends COVID-19 vaccines for children aged six months and older. "It's unclear whether the CDC will follow in adapting its recommendations to this revised WHO policy," he wrote. According to the public health agency's website, "everyone aged five years and older should get one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness." Children aged six months to four years may need "multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up-to-date," it added. The CDC's recommendation for unvaccinated children aged six months to four years is equally outrageous, suggesting that they get injected with "two to three doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine. (Related: CDC is about to add covid-19 vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule, creating total liability protection for Pfizer & Moderna.) The CDC justified COVID-19 vaccines for children by parroting the "safe and effective" line, deliberately ignoring the countless stories of vaccine injuries and deaths caused by the mRNA injection. Moreover, many studies have proven that vaccine-induced immunity wanes over time and that natural immunity remains superior when it comes to COVID-19. "What is clear is that those parents who remained skeptical of putting hastily developed 'authorized for emergency use' mRNA vaccines into their children have been clearly vindicated and this time by no less than the WHO," Watson concluded. Head over to Vaccines.news for similar stories. Watch former Pfizer Vice President and Chief Scientist Dr. Michael Yeadon revealing that the COVID-19 injections were designed to cause permanent injury and death. This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Study: COVID-19 vaccine poses significant risks to children's health. WHO: Vaccines are always safe and effective, unless they're made in Russia. World Health Organization official admits VACCINE PASSPORTS were a SCAM. CDC study: COVID-19 vaccine claimed protection of children PLUMMETS within months. Sources include: BlacklistedNews.com Modernity.news WHO.int CDC.gov Brighteon.com A new study reveals that expectant mothers have an increased likelihood of not being able to breastfeed their babies for long if they come into contact with dangerous polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as forever chemicals. Cause Of Concern The research team monitored the length of lactation of over 800 new mothers in New Hampshire and discovered that higher PFAS exposure has the potential to cause lactation to slow down or stop completely within six months. Lead author Megan Romano, an epidemiologist at Dartmouth University, described the results as "cause for concern." "For all women who are exposed, there's a little bit of a decrease in the amount of time they breastfeed beyond delivery," Romano said. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/26/women-breastfeeding-forever-chemicals?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0-BJq2FTy6WJrr4I1uGubZtJe_3ttqgu3B8LCuQdNQUHgs6tJLW6kecGM_aem_Ctf08KfPoIpYcuCo-eZ11Q While major pediatric groups and the World Health Organization suggest breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond, only approximately one-third of American mothers continue to do so after 12 months. Although financial problems and other variables might also be at play, Romano said that the findings may contribute to the explanation of why many American women cease breastfeeding early. Although scientists are still figuring out the actual mechanism causing breastfeeding periods to shorten, PFAS are known endocrine disruptors. The study looked at five distinct PFAS chemicals and found that the two that are regarded to be the most prevalent and dangerous had the strongest association were PFOS and PFOA. Read Also: Study: 'Forever Chemicals' PFOS in Water-Repellant Causes Liver Cancer Transfer Of PFAS Different studies have been conducted to test the effect of PFAS on women and their children. The data from the Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort published last May, has highlighted the levels, health concerns, and transport protein binding capabilities of PFAS in early life. These artificial substances, which are present in breast milk, cord serum, and mother serum, may be harmful to an infant's development. Under the direction of a research team from Fudan University's School of Public Health, the team carefully examined the effects and pathways of distribution of these persistent chemicals, offering crucial information on how ubiquitous they are from conception to breastfeeding. In the study, 16 distinct types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on 1,076 mother-child pairs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and 6:2 Cl-PFESA were found, with PFOS being the most common in mother serum, along with their detection rates and median values. It is noteworthy that the efficiency of PFAS transfer from the placenta to the fetus was higher than that of nursing, indicating a larger likelihood of these chemicals crossing the placenta and building up in the embryo. The study also used molecular docking to simulate how PFAS will bind to transport proteins and influence their distribution and bodily transportation. These results clearly indicate that there should be stricter rules for PFAS use and more evidence for PFAS harmful impacts on human health and the environment should be collected. "Understanding the pathways and risks associated with these chemicals can lead to better regulatory policies and protective measures for the most susceptible among us," said Yaqi Xu, lead author of the study. PFAS, a group which consists of about 16,000 types of compound, are utilized to provide items with resistance to water, heat, and stains. They are called "forever chemicals" because they are shown to be in humans for a long time and they don't decay naturally. Moreover, the chemicals are responsible for a vast list of serious health problems such as cancer, thyroid disorders, liver disease, birth defects, and decreased sperm counts. Related Article: Forever Chemical Products To Be Ban in France, Claims To Be Harmful To Health And Environment' The United Nations' cultural organization is pushing Australia to establish more aggressive climate goals for the Great Barrier Reef in order to maintain its designation as a World Heritage Site. Great Barrier Reef Is Utmost Priority UNESCO warned that Australia has to take urgent measures to protect the reef and make it the utmost priority of the country. While the organization did not suggest that the reef be added to the list of endangered heritage sites, they requested that Australia provide an update on its conservation efforts by the beginning of next year. They also expressed strong concern over the incompatibility of land clearing rates in catchments that feed into the reef, with the goals aimed at reducing the amount of nutrients and sediments that enter the reef. The UNESCO strongly condemned the widespread coral bleaching catastrophe that occurred on the reef this summer and urged Australia to reveal the full extent of the coral destruction as soon as it was available. "The current bleaching occurs as part of the fourth global mass bleaching, which is likely impacting at least 30% of the world heritage-listed coral reef properties, and the implications across the world heritage system will also need to be considered further," a UNESCO expert said. The World Heritage Committee has threatened to list the largest coral system in the world as one of its "in danger" global heritage monuments, which has caused tensions between Australian authorities and UNESCO over the reef's future. Such an action has been prevented by Australia's covert diplomacy and lobbying, and the Paris-based group has praised Anthony Albanese's Labour government's commitments. Read Also: Great Barrier Reef: Deeper Regions Show Potential Resistance to Rising Ocean Temperatures Wake-Up Call The Australian Minister of Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, welcomes the decision of UNESCO and calls it a "huge win." The federal government announced its plans to cut down greenhouse gas emissions by 43% by 2030, along with a list of reef conservation proposals and an allocation of $1.2 billion in funding. The environment minister strongly mentioned that Australia has an obligation to preserve the reef and leave it intact for future generations. "We are acting on climate change, improving local water quality, protecting our marine life, dealing with invasive species, and investing a record amount of money into reef programs," she said in a statement issued on Tuesday. However, environmental groups said the decision by UNESCO should be a wake-up call to the Australian government. The Climate Council called for a phase-out of fossil fuels and blasted Plibersek for giving UNESCO's warning a positive spin while pointing out the reef's frequent bleaching episodes. "Every new coal and gas project adds harmful climate pollution into the atmosphere and further endangers the reef. The government must build upon their clean energy plans by also planning to phase out fossil fuels," Amanda McKenzie, chief executive of the Climate Council, said. Groups like Greenpeace and the World Wide Fund for Nature also urged Canberra to prohibit new fossil fuel projects and significantly decrease emissions. Located in the northeastern part of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef has the world's greatest collection of coral reefs. The world's greatest collection of coral reefs can be found in Australia's northeastern Great Barrier Reef. There are fifteen hundred fish species, four thousand mollusk species, and four hundred types of coral on its expanse. Also in the area are some endangered species like the big green turtle, dugong, or sea cow. The reef, which is well-known for its biodiversity, welcomes about two million tourists each year. Related Article: Great Barrier Reef Corals Unlock Secrets of Earth's Rainfall History Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. India gives UN $1.16 million for promotion of Hindi I ndia has contributed $1.16 million to the world organisation for the promotion of Hindi. R. Ravindra, the charge d'affaires of India's Permanent Mission, gave the cheque on Thursday to Ian Phillips, the director of the News and Media Division of the UN's Department of Global Communications (DGC). The contribution is a special payment made in addition to the assessments for the UN's regular and the peacekeeping budgets "to mainstream and consolidate news and multimedia content of DGC in the Hindi language", the mission said. India has partnered with the DGC since 2018 when the Hindi @ UN project was launched "to enhance the public outreach of the United Nations in the Hindi language, and to spread greater awareness about global issues among millions of Hindi-speaking people around the world", according to the mission. The UN produces an audio Hindi news bulletin every week on matters relating to the world organisation. The UN also maintains X, Instagram and Facebook social media accounts in Hindi, in addition to a news website. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken at the UN in Hindi, with simultaneous translation provided by India. The late Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first to speak in Hindi at the UN when he addressed the General Assembly as External Affairs Minister in 1977. The UN started with five official languages, English, French, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish, in which simultaneous interpretations of meetings are made, and official documents produced and, starting in 1973, Arabic was added. There has been a push to add to the UN's range of multilingualism, but the main constraint is finance, and that is why India is paying for the Hindi initiative. German-speaking Austria and Germany (at that time comprising East and West Germanies) undertook to cover the expenses for a translation service covering documents of some UN bodies. The DGC has increased the use of Kiswahili and Portuguese, languages used in Africa, in social media and in radio and TV programmes. It also started producing important announcements and officials' messages in Persian, Bangla and Urdu. India gives UN $1.16 million for promotion of Hindi Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! China's Yangtze river sees 'first flood' of this year C hina's Yangtze river is experiencing its 2024 "No.1 Flood", according to the Ministry of Water Resources, as the water level at Jiujiang hydrological station, one of the major monitoring spots for the mainstream's water level in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze has risen to 20 metres, reaching the warning level at 2 p.m. local time on Friday. Affected by persistent heavy rainfalls, multiple tributaries connected to Poyang Lake and Dongting Lake, China's two largest freshwater lakes, have seen major flooding, reports Xinhua news agency. The ministry raised the emergency responses to the flooding to Level III in the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan on Friday and urgently sent four additional working teams to the front line to provide guidance to the flood relief. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency-response system, with Level I being the most severe response. China's Yangtze river sees 'first flood' of this year Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! In a recent study published in The Lancet Global Health, researchers used data from 163 countries and autonomous territories to investigate the global incidence of inadequate physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022. Their results indicate that the prevalence of lower-than-adequate exercise increased from 23.4% in 2000 to 31.3% in 2022. These trends suggest that a relative reduction of 15% by 2030, targeted by global health bodies, will be challenging to meet. Study: National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 57 million participants. Image Credit: grandbrothers / Shutterstock Background Physically active people are at lower risk of developing non-communicable illnesses, have better weight maintenance and mental health outcomes, and show better cognitive and physical function. The most recent exercise guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that adults perform moderate-intensity exercise for 150 minutes or more every week or vigorous activity for at least 75 minutes. People who do not meet this recommendation for aerobic activity are insufficiently physically active. The World Health Assembly (WHA) has set a goal to reduce the relative prevalence of inadequate physical activity by 15% by 2030. However, sufficient and consistent monitoring of behaviors like sedentary time, balance activities among older adults, and muscle strengthening are also needed to set global targets and estimates. Regarding insufficient exercise among adults, the most recent time trend analyses indicated that the global prevalence of this phenomenon remained stable from 2001 to 2016 but with considerably varying trajectories between regions and countries. About the study Since several countries have collected updated data from 2016 onwards, compiling these findings could yield valuable insights into changes in the global estimates of adult insufficient physical activity. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of insufficient exercise among adults aged 18 years and older in 197 countries and territories from 2000 to 2022. Based on WHO recommendations, insufficient physical activity was defined. Data were collated from population-level surveys, including individual-level anonymized data and summary statistics, covering various domains such as work, travel, and leisure. A Bayesian hierarchical model was used to estimate the prevalence by country, year, age, and sex, incorporating data from multiple sources and adjusting for factors like survey design and urban representation. The model accounted for variability in questionnaire types and included obesity prevalence as a covariate. Estimates were produced for each country and aggregated globally, by region, and by income group. The study also projected trends to 2030 to assess progress towards the global target of a 15% reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity. Uncertainty intervals were calculated using Bayesian credible intervals, and posterior probabilities were computed to evaluate the likelihood of meeting the target. Map of (A) age-standardized prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18 years and over in 2022, (B) data coverage and representativeness, and (C) country progress during 201022 toward the global target of a 15% relative reduction in insufficient physical activity prevalence among adults aged 18 years and over between 2010 and 2030. For visibility, small-area countries are listed next to a box indicating their corresponding values. Country progress towards the global target is assessed based on whether the estimated trend in insufficient physical activity during 201022 would be sufficient to meet the global target if trends were to continue to 2030. Higher and lower certainty indicate certainty about whether the estimated rate of change would be sufficient to meet the global target, if continued to 2030. Findings The study included data from 507 surveys across 163 out of 197 countries, covering 93% of the global population. Most surveys (452) were nationally representative, with high coverage in regions like high-income Asia Pacific, Oceania, and South Asia but lower in sub-Saharan Africa (61.5% population coverage). The analysis revealed that nearly a third of adults worldwide were insufficiently physically active in 2022, with a global prevalence of 31.3%. The highest prevalence was in high-income Asia Pacific and South Asia, while the lowest was in Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa. Females had a higher prevalence (33.8%) than males (28.7%), with significant country-specific and regional variations. Insufficient levels of physical activity were also most prevalent among older age groups. Trends from 2010 to 2022 indicated an increase in global prevalence, with the steepest rises in high-income Asia Pacific and South Asia. If current trends persist, the prevalence is projected to reach 34.7% by 2030, making it unlikely that the global target of a 15% reduction will be met. Conclusions In 2022, nearly one-third of adults worldwide (31.3%; 1.8 billion) were insufficiently physically active, showing a marked increase from 23.4% (900 million) in 2000. This trend counters the 2030 global target of a 15% reduction in inactivity from 2010. Female individuals and adults over 60 showed higher inactivity rates, with variations by country and region. Compared to previous WHO estimates, this analysis included more surveys (507 compared to 358) and countries (108 compared to 65), revealing a global increase in inactivity that previous data had missed. High-income Western countries and Oceania showed some positive trends, likely due to effective policies. However, based on current temporal trajectories, most countries will not meet the 2030 target, highlighting the need for greater investment in physical activity promotion. Limitations include the absence of data from some countries, potential biases in self-reporting, and data collection disruptions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Future research should focus on increasing female and older adult engagement in physical activity, improving data collection methods, including device-based measures, and addressing socio-economic disparities. Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University (BU) Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, in collaboration with an international team of scientists, shared findings from a new study published in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation: Heart Failure that explores a common cause of heart disease in older men called transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA). The study examines the relationship between spontaneous loss of the Y chromosome (LOY), a condition in aging men where the Y chromosome is spontaneously deleted in blood cells, and ATTR-CA, a progressive disease that causes heart failure and death. The team found that men with a higher proportion of blood cells missing Y chromosomes have a higher ATTR-CA mortality rate, informing future treatment for patients with ATTR-CA. The study team included investigators from Columbia University, University of Virginia, and Osaka Metropolitan Hospital in Japan. LOY is the most common acquired genetic mutation in men, with more than half of men in their early 90s having lost the Y chromosome in some of their blood cells according to the National Cancer Institute. While LOY has been associated with heart failure survival rates in large population studies, it has never been examined in relation to ATTR-CA. The current study suggests that men with ATTR-CA who have LOY in greater than 21.6% of their blood cells were 2.6 times more likely to not survive this form of heart disease. "Our study suggests that spontaneous LOY in circulating white blood cells contributes both to the development of ATTR-CA in men and influences the severity of disease," said Frederick L. Ruberg, MD, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at BMC, Professor of Medicine at BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and lead researcher in this study. "Additionally, our study's findings indicate that elevated LOY may be an important reason why some patients do not respond to the ATTR-CA therapy that is typically effective." Current treatments for ATTR-CA work well for many patients, but roughly 30 percent of patients do not respond to treatment, leading to hospitalization and death. Findings from this study support elevated LOY as a potential barrier to treatment response. The findings could one day inform a clinician's choice in designing a treatment course for a patient with ATTR-CA and high level of LOY in hopes of a more favorable health outcome. Additionally, the findings could lead to the development of new treatments for those with heart disease, including ATTR-CA. "Our study team represents an international collaboration that sought to explore an association between a common blood disorder and ATTR-CA that has never been previously considered," said Ruberg. "We provide evidence that these two conditions may be related, supporting a new way of understanding how ATTR-CA progresses as well as how to develop new potential targets for treatment." The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is sponsoring a clinical trial to evaluate the safety of an investigational monoclonal antibody to treat enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), which can cause severe respiratory and neurological diseases such as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) similar to polio. Scientists are striving to better understand AFM, which has emerged in the United States with spikes in cases every other year, primarily in the late-summer months over the last decade. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified increases in AFM cases in 2014, 2016, and 2018. EV-D68 is a virus of growing public health concern due to its association with the intermittent AFM outbreaks. There are no Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for severe EV-D68 infection or AFM. Standard care is limited to supportive treatment and treatment for immune disorders, which has not been comprehensively evaluated. EV-D68 likely spreads from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or touches a surface that is then touched by others. Between 2017 and 2019, scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, identified and isolated a neutralizing antibody, called EV68-228, from patients recovering from EV-D68 infection. Then, with collaborators from Utah State University, KBio, Inc., and ZabBio, the scientists developed an experimental antibody, called EV68-228-N, for testing. In laboratory models, the monoclonal antibody potently neutralized multiple clinical EV-D68 strains across multiple epidemic years. Kbio, Inc., is using its plant-based protein development platform to manufacture EV68-228-N. Led by principal investigator C. Buddy Creech, M.D., M.P.H., at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Phase 1 study sponsored by NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will evaluate the safety of EV68-228-N, how long it lasts in the body, and the most effective dose. The trial also will enroll participants at the University of Maryland, College Park, and be led by E. Adrianne Hammershaimb, M.D. The study is being conducted in collaboration with academic medical centers across the U.S. through the NIAID-funded Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium, which includes the NIAID-funded Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units. Clinical Trial NCT06444048 will enroll 36 healthy volunteers ages 18 to 49. Six will receive a placebo (control group) and 30-;in groups of 10-;will receive either a 3, 10 or 30 mg/kg dose of EV68-228-N intravenously. As part of the safety evaluation, scientists will monitor the first two study participants in each group receiving the experimental treatment for at least 72 hours before others receive the infusion. Researchers will then monitor and evaluate study participants during nine subsequent in-person examinations over the next 120 days. According to the CDC, EV-D68 was first identified in California in 1962 and is one of more than 100 non-polio enteroviruses. EV-D68 typically causes respiratory illnesses that are mild. Non-polio enteroviruses are very common. Most infections are asymptomatic or cause mostly mild symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, cough, rash, mouth sores, body aches, and muscle aches. Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing. Beginning in 1987, physicians and public health officials began reporting sporadic EV-D68 cases to CDC. However, between August and December 2014, EV-D68 caused an outbreak of respiratory illness in the U.S. and 120 cases of AFM in 34 states. This raised awareness of EV-D68-associated illness and, beginning in 2014, CDC surveillance for EV-D68 expanded. EV-D68 and cases of AFM have been subsequently detected in the U.S. every year, mostly in late summer and early fall, with pronounced spikes in 2016 and 2018. New clinical guidelines enabling a better understanding of childhood bone cancer will revolutionize treatment for these young patients across Europe, according to a leading researcher from the University of East Anglia. The new guidance, which will be implemented across every hospital and research institute in Europe that works with patients with bone cancer, are ultimately aimed at moving treatment away from untargeted chemotherapy and more towards precision medicine. The new framework includes specifications for biological samples from patients. The hope is that these samples can then be used for additional testing to better understand each child's cancer and lead to personalisation of effective treatments with reduced side effects. Gathering high-quality samples from across Europe, along with the patient's medical information, will help researchers and clinicians to pinpoint different subtypes of disease and understand the genetic, biological, and other factors involved. This can guide the development of tailored treatments for each patient's cancer type. Dr. Darrell Green, of UEA's Norwich Medical School, was one of three joint lead researchers on the project, which brought together more than 60 universities, hospitals and research institutions. Bone cancer treatment is brutal, involving a combination of untargeted chemotherapy and surgery, which sometimes involves limb amputation. Most patients with bone cancer have a limited number of biological samples collected when they are diagnosed; enough to diagnose the cancer but not enough for scientists to perform experiments to better understand the disease, which leads to the development of better treatments with fewer side effects. Chemotherapy has of course saved many lives but is now horribly outdated by today's expectations - developed in the 60s, 70s and 80s - extremely toxic and long-term survival is poor at 40-50pc." Dr. Darrell Green, UEA's Norwich Medical School Jointly led by authors at UEA, The Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in The Netherlands, and Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Italy, the new clinical guidelines include step-by-step procedures and protocols for collecting biological samples that will lead to a better understanding and the development of more effective treatments with fewer side effects. Dr Zoe Davison, Head of Research, Information & Support at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, which funded the work, said: "Our patients have overwhelmingly expressed their support for sample donation, which is why we are committed to improving this process and supporting the use of patient samples in research. "Because some childhood bone cancers are rare and tissue collection and handling is complex, scientists often do not have enough of the right samples for both treating patients and doing research. We are delighted to see our scientific and clinical community uniting to produce these guidelines for patient sample collection. "The new Europe-wide framework is intended to underpin translational research with the hope of identifying more effective and kinder treatments." Two international panels of scientists, clinicians and patient and parent advocates have formed the Fight Osteosarcoma Through European Research (FOSTER) consortium and the Euro Ewing Consortium (EEC). The consortia shared their expertise and institutional practices to formulate the new guidelines. The Bone Cancer Research Trust funds FOSTER and EEC structure and activities and provides the five surgical centres in England with funding to support sample collection. 'Biological sample collection to advance research and treatment: a Fight Osteosarcoma Through European Research (FOSTER) and Euro Ewing Consortium (EEC) statement' is published in Clinical Cancer Research. INTEGRA Biosciences, a leading provider of liquid handling solutions, is dedicated to accelerating scientific discovery while addressing climate change. The company has been taking significant steps to reduce emissions in recent years, and has been working with myclimate since 2020 to record its corporate carbon footprint and track its success on the journey to net zero. The myclimate foundation informs businesses about how their carbon emissions can be avoided and minimized, and how they can support climate protection projects. The firm has supported INTEGRA for several years in monitoring the impact of its global operations, and reports detailing the companys progress in reducing its annual greenhouse gas emissions up to 2023 are now available. Dr Ursula Leuthold, Sustainability Coordinator at INTEGRA, said: Our long term goal is to become net zero by 2050 at the latest. We have also set several targets to achieve by 2030, including reducing our direct and indirect company emissions by 50 percent, and using 100 percent renewable electricity sources across all our operations. Key milestones on this exciting roadmap include: 2019: The photovoltaic system at the INTEGRA headquarters in Zizers, Switzerland was extended to ~830 m 2 , generating 106,000 kWh per year. , generating 106,000 kWh per year. 2020: INTEGRA welcomed its first in-house sustainability coordinator to spearhead emissions reduction projects. The company also launched ECO Rack GRIPTIPS for handheld pipettes containing 60 percent less plastic to reduce manufacturing emissions in the same year. for handheld pipettes containing 60 percent less plastic to reduce manufacturing emissions in the same year. 2021: INTEGRA installed 1500 solar panels at its campus in Hudson, US, generating 640,000 kWh per year. 2022: Air freight of pipette tips from the US to Switzerland was reduced by over 100 tons per year in 2022 and 2023. 2023: INTEGRA received ISO 14001 certification and its carbon reduction targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. In the same year, the Hudson production site entirely switched over to a renewable electricity provider. 2024: Tip manufacturing will soon begin at a new facility in Switzerland, eliminating shipping from the US and reducing transport emissions by an estimated 26 percent. INTEGRA has also sown 50 species of native Swiss flowering plants on the roof of its Zizers headquarters to contribute to local biodiversity. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved so far, but we arent going to stop there. INTEGRA is dedicated to sustainable science and continuously improving its environmental impact. Thats why we will soon start a defossilization journey to further reduce the carbon footprint of our products, support sustainable business practices, and take us closer to net zero, Ursula added. Visit the INTEGRA Biosciences website to learn more about its roadmap to sustainability. A team of researchers led by Penn Medicine will investigate the link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) over the next five years with a $10 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Using an extensive tissue bank including over 1,000 samples, the researchers aim to uncover the underlying biological mechanisms of TBI-related neurodegeneration (TReND) from a variety of brain injury types. Researchers hope that by understanding TReND, they might gain further insight into how ADRD develops, and inform the development of better preventative measures and treatments. "We know that brain injuries increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and they provide a unique opportunity to study neurodegeneration, as the imaging and cognitive testing required for their diagnosis provide a 'baseline' to compare to over time," said co-Principal Investigator, Douglas H. Smith, MD, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair and a professor of Neurosurgery at Penn. "By studying the effects of injuries over time, we hope to understand what happens biologically and structurally to the brain after injury that leads to neurodegeneration and hope that those findings also tell us how ADRD develop in general, even in individuals without a previous brain injury." This grant will support new initiative called Transdisciplinary Research Accelerating Neuropathology Studies and Facilitating Open Research Methods in TBI (TRANSFORM-TBI). In addition to expanding the tissue and imaging archives from the first phase, TRANSFORM-TBI will use samples to investigate why any TBI increases the risk of ADRD, even though brain injuries can vary widely from person to person. Researchers also aim to identify any factors that might increase the risk for developing ADRD. The team of 26 investigators across 12 sites aims to uncover the type and extent of neuropathological changes that emerge after TBI. They will evaluate the pathologies from a variety of types of TBI which could range from a single, severe injury, like from a car accident, to mild, repetitive injuries, which can occur while playing a contact sport. The team will also look at TBI, that results from military combat and intimate partner violence. Brain injuries vary widely from person to person, which can make it difficult to understand how they are associated with neurodegenerative disease later in life. By evaluating samples from different types of TBI and TBI with different causes, we hope to illuminate which types of brain injuries increase the risk of ADRD most, and hopefully use this information to tailor clinical trials for therapies to individuals' specific brain injuries." Edward B. Lee, MD, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine TRANSFORM-TBI is the second phase of research to study TReND. In 2019, Smith, Lee and Willie Stewart of the University of Glasgow, UK, established CONNECT-TBI-;a program spanning 12 institutions to establish diagnostic criteria for TReND. To date, CONNECT-TBI has gathered clinical datasets and tissue archives from over 1,000 cases across participating centers. TRANSFORM-TBI is a collaboration between the Perelman School of Medicine and the University of Glasgow. It is supported by two NIH institutes, the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Aging (NIA)(U01NS137500-01). Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service. The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn's Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school. The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $550 million awarded in the 2022 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of "firsts" in medicine, Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries and innovations that have shaped modern medicine, including recent breakthroughs such as CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities stretch from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. These include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital-;the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others. Penn Medicine is an $11.1 billion enterprise powered by more than 49,000 talented faculty and staff. Income Tax Return Filing AY 2024-25: Moonlighting, the practice of taking on additional employment besides ones primary job, raises concerns when done without the primary employers knowledge. Often undertaken to supplement income or explore personal interests, it requires careful consideration of potential conflicts, time management, and legal implications, especially concerning ones principal employment. Moonlighting presents opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of taxation and regulatory compliance. Suresh Surana, a practicing chartered accountant, provides an overview of the tax implications of moonlighting for taxpayers. 1.0 Taxation of Income from Moonlighting For employees earning moonlighting income, the income tax treatment depends on the nature of the income: 1.1 Income from Salary When moonlighting income is received under an employer-employee relationship as salary, bonus, commission, remuneration, or perquisites, it is taxed under the head Income from Salaries at applicable slab rates. For tax return filing, individuals who have moonlighted during the financial year must obtain Form 16 from all employers and consolidate the gross salary earned from all sources. The total amount of tax deductions/exemptions a taxpayer can claim, such as house rent allowance, leave travel concession, and the standard deduction of Rs 50,000 Under Section 16(ia) of the Income Tax Act (IT Act), 1961, is computed on the total gross salary if the old tax regime is opted for. Further, tax deductions or exemptions allowed u/s 80C, 80D, interest earned on bank accounts, mutual funds, etc., are computed on consolidated income depending on the chosen taxation regime. 1.2 Professional Income Taxpayers earning moonlighting income from a profession carried on in addition to their primary job are taxed under the head Profits and Gains from Business or Profession at applicable slab rates. Taxpayers can claim deductions for profession-related expenses while computing their income under this head. Option for Presumptive Taxation Professionals with a total turnover of up to Rs 50 lakh (enhanced to Rs 75 lakh if cash receipts during the financial year 2023-24 do not exceed 5 per cent of the total gross receipts) can opt for presumptive taxation u/s 44ADA of the IT Act. Under this scheme, a resident taxpayer engaged in specified professions such as legal, medical, accountancy, or engineering can compute profits or gains from the profession at 50 per cent of the total gross receipts. Features of the Presumptive Taxation Scheme: Advance tax payments are required in specified installments every quarter. However, professionals opting for the presumptive scheme u/s 44ADA pay their entire advance tax liability in one installment by March 15 of the relevant financial year. Taxpayers are not required to maintain books of accounts u/s 44AA or audit their books u/s 44AB. Deduction of expenditure u/s 30 to 38 is not available to taxpayers opting for Presumptive Taxation. 3.0 Applicable Income Tax Returns Taxpayers must select the appropriate Income Tax return form based on their income sources and levels. Heres a brief overview: ITR 1 (Sahaj): For resident taxpayers with total income up to Rs 50 lakh, having Income from Salaries, one house property, other sources (Interest, etc.), and agricultural income up to Rs. 5000. ITR 2: For taxpayers not having income from profits and gains of business or profession and/or not eligible to furnish ITR 1. ITR 3: For taxpayers having income from profits and gains of business or profession. ITR 4 (Sugam): For resident taxpayers opting for Presumptive Taxation. 4.0 Other Return Filing Considerations When filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) in India with moonlighting income, taxpayers should ensure compliance with tax laws by: Maintaining Detailed Records: Keep accurate records of moonlighting income, including invoices, receipts, and bank statements. Claiming Deductions: Utilise available deductions such as Section 80C (for specified investments) and 80D (for health insurance premiums) to lower taxable income. Ensure proper documentation to support deductions. Accounting for TDS: Claim credit for TDS if deducted from moonlighting income when filing ITR. Verify TDS details in Form 26AS/ Annual Information Summary (AIS)/ Tax Information Summary (TIS). In a Nutshell While moonlighting offers flexibility and financial benefits, it requires careful tax planning and adherence to regulatory requirements. By following the above guidelines, individuals can ensure proper reporting of income, assets, and payment of taxes under income-tax regulations. The Maharashtra government on Friday announced to cut tax on diesel from 24 per cent to 21 per cent in the Mumbai region, which will reduce its price by Rs 2 per litre. Tax on petrol will be cut from 26 per cent to 25 per cent, which will effectively decrease the petrol prices by 65 paise in the Mumbai region, comprising Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Presenting the Maharastra budget, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar says, Tax on diesel is being decreased from 24% to 21 % for Mumbai region, effectively 2 rupees per litre less prices of diesel. In Mumbai region, tax on Petrol being decreased from 26% to 25% which will effectively decrease rates of petrol by 65 Paise per litre. On June 28, the petrol price in Mumbai stood above the Rs 100 mark at Rs 104.21 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 92.15 per litre. Maharashtra Budget In the Budget, Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, also announced a financial assistance scheme entailing a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years in the state Budget for 2024-25. In his budget speech in the assembly, Pawar said the scheme, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, will be implemented from July, four months ahead of the state polls which are due in October. An annual budgetary allocation of Rs 46,000 crore will be made for the scheme, he said. Announcing another welfare scheme, the finance minister said an eligible family of five will get three cooking gas cylinders free every year under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana. Maharashtras Mahayuti government on Friday presented an eye-popping Rs 612,293 crore (around $73 billion) budget, which is more than Pakistans $67.84 billion and Bangladeshs $68 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25. Deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio in the state, presented the interim budget in the assemblys ongoing monsoon session. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls, which will be in the next four months. The ruling alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, and NCP, which faced unflattering results in the recent Lok Sabha elections, went all out to appease key sections of the states population through budgetary allocations. Pawar, for instance, announced the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme for women as well as a bonus, crop insurance, and electricity bill waivers for farmers. He also slashed the tax on petrol and diesel in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai from 24% to 21%. For women Based on neighbouring BJP-ruled Madhya Pradeshs popular Ladli Behna Yojana, under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 will get an allowance of Rs 1,500 per month from the state government. The interim budget allocated Rs 46,000 crore per year for the plan. The state government has also made it mandatory for those born after May 2024 to add their mothers names to all official government documents in a bid to empower women. Also, under the Pink E-Rickshaw scheme, 10,000 women from 17 cities will be financed to buy these vehicles. For this, the government has made a provision of Rs 80 crore. It has also increased the subsidy from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 for the Shubhamangal Samuhik Nondanikrut Vivah scheme (mass marriages) for women. The government has also provided big relief, particularly to women of the state by providing three free gas cylinders to eligible households under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana. A total of 52,16,412 families are expected to benefit from this. Ajit Pawar also announced that girls from backward and economically weaker classes will get 100% reimbursement of education and examination fees up to Rs 8 lakh. The government feels that this decision will benefit 2,05,499 girls with a provision of about Rs 2,000 crore. Farmers in focus The Mahayuti suffered setbacks in rural Maharashtra during the Lok Sabha polls. With a large section of farmers not being happy with the state governments policies, many top leaders of the ruling alliance faced defeat. Keeping that in mind, the state government has made significant allocations for the agricultural community. Now farmers from the state will get crop insurance for just Re 1. The state government also fulfilled a long-pending demand of many farmers and farm associations, that the system for e-panchanama should be implemented to help conduct panchanamas quickly and help farmers get compensation within a short time. Under the Mahatma Jotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana, 14.33 lakh farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans have been paid Rs 5,190 crore as an incentive amount, with the rest of the amount to be distributed expeditiously. The second phase of the Nanaji Deshmukh Agricultural Sanjeevani Project, worth Rs 6,000 crore, will be implemented in 21 districts. The Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project approved 767 sub-projects worth Rs 1,561.64 crore, benefiting about 9 lakh farmers. The state government also announced a new scheme called Gaon Tethe Godam (godown in every village). In the first phase, the construction of 100 new godowns and the repair of existing ones will be undertaken. Onion farmers of Maharashtra, who were not happy with the export policy of the Centre and didnt vote in favour of the Mahayuti in the general elections, have been somewhat pacified by the announcement of a subsidy. An amount of Rs 851.66 crore at a rate of Rs 350 per quintal for the year 2023-24 has been allocated, and a revolving fund of Rs 200 crore each is being created for the assured purchase of onion and cotton. The state government also announced the launch of a new scheme, Dairy Business Entrepreneurship Project, to create new entrepreneurs in the fields of animal husbandry, dairy farming, animal fodder, and animal feed production. The state has also been running a special campaign to complete irrigation projects. By the end of this financial year, 61 projects are expected to be completed, creating an irrigation potential of 3.65 lakh hectares. Under the Maharashtra Irrigation Improvement Programme, the state government aims to improve the canal distribution systems of 155 projects, benefiting about 4.28 lakh hectares of area from direct irrigation. The state government intends to make all government irrigation schemes solarised, including the Janai-Shirsai and Purandar lift irrigation schemes, to achieve the goal of clean and green energy at an expected cost of Rs 4,200 crore. Youth and employment The state government has also announced various schemes for the youth of the state. Under the Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana, training will be given to 10 lakh youths every year, who will also receive a stipend of up to Rs 10,000 per month from the government. For this, the state government will bear an expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore annually. Every year, 50,000 youths will be trained to disseminate information about government schemes to the people, with a Rs 100 crore fund allocated for financial assistance to self-employment. Fuel tax cut In the municipal areas of Brihanmumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, the tax on diesel has been reduced from 24% to 21%. Also, the tax on petrol is down from from 26% + 5.12 rupees per litre to 25% + 5.12 rupees per litre. This provides relief to common citizens as well as industry and trade. Due to this proposal, the price of petrol per litre in the municipal areas of Thane, Brihanmumbai, and Navi Mumbai will be cheaper by approximately 65 paise per litre and that of diesel by approximately Rs 2.07 per litre. Exemption for paramilitary forces The state government also announced an exemption from professional tax for five Central Armed Forces: Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard, and Sashastra Seema Bal. The government believes this will benefit approximately twelve thousand soldiers. MSME push An India Gems and Jewellery Park will be set up on 25 acres of land at Mahape in Navi Mumbai. It will include 2,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises with an investment of Rs 50,000 crore, which will generate one lakh jobs. An integrated and sustainable textile policy for 2023-2028 has been announced, envisaging a substantial investment of Rs 25,000 crore and generating 5 lakh jobs in the next five years. The Captive Market Scheme will generate large-scale employment in the spinning, loom, processing, packing, and transportation sectors. The government has decided to set up small-scale textile industry complexes and technical textile parks to increase private investment. A scuba diving centre of international stature will be set up in the Sindhudurg district, which will have coral sighting on a sunken ship as a special attraction. The project is expected to cost Rs 20 crore and will provide employment to 800 local people. Infra boost In this budget, Ajit Pawar also focused on big-ticket infrastructure projects. Metro lines of 449 km have been sanctioned in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, out of which 127 km is operational. Another 37 km of metro lines will be made operational in this financial year. The work of the Shivdi-Worli link road under the Shivdi-Nhava Sheva Project is 57% complete and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2025. The proposed Thane coastal road from Balkum to Gaymukh, with a length of 13.45 km, costing Rs 3,364 crore, is expected to be completed by May 2028. The work of the Dharmaveer Swaraj Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road is almost complete and both lanes are partially opened for traffic. The PM E-Bus Seva Scheme will be implemented in 19 municipal corporations to improve transport services and reduce air pollution. The scheme includes providing electric buses, constructing bus shelters, and charging infrastructure. A proposal has been sent to UNESCO to get World Heritage nomination for 12 forts of the Shiva period. Proposals will also be sent for Katal Shilpe in Konkan, Pandharpur Vari, Dahihandi Utsav, and Ganeshotsav. The government has decided to celebrate the Shivarajyabhishek ceremony at Raigad fort every year and necessary funds will be provided for it. A submarine project of international stature will be developed at Vengurla, Sindhudurg district, at an estimated cost of Rs 66 crore. An integrated tourism development plan worth Rs 381.56 crore has been approved for the development of tourist spots in the Western Ghat area of Satara district. This includes Sri Kshetra Mahabaleshwar development, Pratapgad fort conservation, Sahyadri tiger tourism, and Koyna Helwak forest Tourism. An outlay of Rs 18,165 crore has been proposed under the district annual plan for the year 2024-25. This outlay is 20 per cent more than the previous year. An outlay of Rs.1.92 Lakh crore has been proposed under the Scheme expenditure in the Annual Plan 2024-25. It includes an outlay of Rs 15,893 crore for the Scheduled Caste Plan and Rs 15,360 crore for the Tribal Development Sub Plan. An outlay of Rs 6,12,293 crore is proposed for the total expenditure in the year 2024-25. The revenue receipts are proposed as Rs 4,99,463 crore and the revenue expenditure as Rs 5,19,514 crore. The revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 20,051 crore. The government has been successful in keeping the states fiscal deficit and revenue deficit within the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility and Fiscal Management Act. The fiscal deficit for the year 2024-25 is Rs 1,10,355 crore. Petrol, and Diesel Prices On June 28, 2024: Oil marketing companies have announced updated petrol and diesel prices on Friday, June 28. The countrys Petrol and diesel prices depend on crude oil prices internationally. Fluctuations in crude oil prices lead to changes in fuel prices in India. Check the latest petrol, and diesel prices to know if there is an increase in the amount customers will have to shell out for a litre. Government oil marketing companies release the latest petrol and diesel prices daily at 6 am in the country. The prices have remained unchanged in most parts of the country since March 2024 when the central government cut petrol prices by Rs 2. Before that, the fuel prices remained steady since May 2022, following a reduction in fuel taxes by the central government and several states. However, the Karnataka government has recently increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre on higher sales tax. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their websites. Let us know the latest fuel prices. Petrol Diesel Price Today In India (Check city-wise rate list below) Mumbai Petrol & Diesel Price As of June 28, the petrol price in Mumbai continued to exceed the Rs 100 mark, reaching Rs 104.21 per litre, while diesel was priced at Rs 92.15 per litre. Delhi Diesel Price Today As of June 28, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre. Delhi Petrol Price Today As of June 28, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre. Kolkata Petrol & Diesel Price In Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 103.94 and the price of diesel is Rs 90.76 per litre. Chennai Petrol & Diesel Price In Chennai, the price of petrol is Rs 100.85, while the price of diesel is Rs 92.43 per litre. Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on June 28: Petrol-Diesel Rates in other cities (Petrol-Diesel Rates 28 June 2024) Noida: Petrol Rs 94.66 per litre and Diesel Rs 87.76 per litre Gurugram: Petrol Rs 95.05 per litre and diesel Rs 87.91 per litre Chandigarh: Petrol is Rs 94.24 per litre and diesel is Rs 82.40 per litre Hyderabad: Petrol is Rs 107.41 per litre and diesel is Rs 95.65 per litre Jaipur: Petrol is Rs 104.88 per litre and diesel is Rs 90.36 per litre Patna: Petrol is Rs 105.42 per litre and diesel is Rs 92.27 per litre Lucknow: Petrol is Rs 94.52 per litre and diesel is Rs 87.61 per litre Know the price of petrol and diesel through SMS You can also find out the latest petrol and diesel prices in your city through SMS. If you are a customer of Indian Oil, then you will have to write RSP along with the city code and send it to 9224992249. If you are a customer of BPCL, then you can get information about the new price of petrol and diesel by writing RSP and sending it to 9223112222. Whereas, if you are a customer of HPCL, then you can find out the price of petrol and diesel by writing HP Price and sending it to 9222201122. A CBI team on Wednesday started interrogating the principal of Oasis School in Hazaribag, Dr Ehsanul Haque, who was the district coordinator of the NEET-UG exam in Hazaribag. For the last 48 hours, CBI has been questioning the principal of the school, sources said. He was taken to a CBI guest house in Hazaribag along with a few other persons. The family of Dr Ehsanul Haque has reached the CBI guest house with his clothes. CBI trying to establish the discrepancies that happened on May 3rd when the question papers were being transported, sources added. While distributing NEET UG question papers to students, officials of any exam centre are required to open two aluminium boxes one manual, and another digital. While the manual is opened using a key and cutter, the digital one unlocks automatically 45 minutes before the examination. However, the digital lock did not open at the Oasis School, which was a NEET UG exam centre and a cutter was used to open the box prior to the exam. Besides, according to Bihars Economic Offences Unit (EOU), the question papers which are enclosed in a seven-layered plastic envelope had a breach at one end and appeared to have been cut at the Oasis School exam centre. Furthermore, a Central Bureau of Investigation team also visited the main branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in the Hazaribag district on Wednesday to question the manager. He was reportedly the custodian of the question papers. The bank had reportedly received the question papers sent by a courier service operator in an e-rickshaw, reported PTI. The CBI on Thursday made its first arrest in the NEET UG paper leak case. Two men were arrested from Bihars Patna Manish Prakash and Ashutosh Kumar. Ashutosh is accused of providing premises where NEET aspirants studied the leaked question paper, while Manish allegedly arranged the paper. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The Staff Selection Commission has released the online application form for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC and CBN) Examination 2024 today, June 28. Interested and eligible candidates may apply for the recruitment drive by July 31 on the official website at ssc.nic.in. The last date to submit fees is August 1. The window for application form correction will remain open on August 16 and 17. To participate in this recruitment drive, applicants must submit their forms on SSCs official website at ssc.nic.in. The recruitment drive aims to fill 8,326 posts, with 4,887 vacancies for MTS and 3,439 vacancies for Havaldar in CBIC and CBN. The SSC MTS exam aims to recruit candidates for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar positions. These posts are categorized as General Central Service Group C Non-Gazetted, Non-Ministerial roles in various Ministries/Departments/Offices of the Government of India, as well as different Constitutional Bodies/Statutory Bodies/Tribunals across different States/Union Territories. SSC MTS, Havaldar Registration 2024: How to Apply? Step 1: Go to the SSC official website ssc.nic.in. Step 2: Complete the registration process and fill in the application form for SSC MTS and Havaldar. Step 3: Upload all required documents and submit the application fee. Step 4: Obtain a copy of the confirmation page by downloading and printing it for your records. SSC MTS, Havaldar Registration 2024: Application Fees Candidates applying for the SSC MTS 2024 must have passed class 12 and fall within the age range of 18 to 25 years. The application fee for general, OBC and EWS category candidates is Rs 100, while SC, ST, PH, and all category female candidates are exempted from the fee. The SSC MTS (Non-Technical) and Havaldar examination for the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) is scheduled to take place in October-November. The exam will consist of two stages: stage one is a computer-based online examination, and stage two is the physical efficiency test (PET)/physical standard test (PST), which will be conducted offline for successful candidates from stage one. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. The Supreme Court has rejected the petition of the teachers unions of Bihar in which they had demanded the cancellation of the competency test. While rejecting the petition, the apex court said that teachers build the nation and if you cannot face these exams then you should resign. If you cant face these (competency) tests, then you should resign, the SC said. The top court further stated that according to the government rules, they will have to take the competency test. Rejecting the petition, the bench headed by Justice BV Nagarathna said Is this the level of education in the country? The petition was filed by the non-profit Parivartankari Prarambhik Sikshak Sangh, reported NDTV. A postgraduate who gets a job and cannot even write an application for leave? When a state like Bihar tries to improve this system and conducts a qualifying examination for this, it is opposed, Justice BV Nagarathna pointed out. In this petition, the teachers union opposed the Bihar Teacher Rules 2023. According to the rules, if the appointed teachers have to get the status of state employees, then they will have to pass the competency test. The Bihar government said in the court that the computer-based examination conducted for the capacity development of teachers is not mandatory. The appointed teachers who do not take the exam will not be fired from the job. But the teachers who pass this exam will become equal to the state teachers and will get full facilities. Meanwhile, last month in the Jamui district of Bihar, 13 teachers had their salary withheld by the education department for absenteeism due to bed performance, which was a typographical oversight that should have said bad performance. The incident in question occurred on May 22, when education department officials performed surprise inspections at numerous Jamui schools. During these examinations, they discovered numerous teachers absent and several more functioning poorly. Three teachers were penalised for being absent, while 13 others had their salaries deducted for unsatisfactory performance. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. A Thiruvananthapuram-Mumbai flight of Vistara on Friday received a bomb threat following which a search was carried out. We confirm that a security concern has been noted by our staff while onboard Vistara flight UK 552 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai on 28 June 2024, the airline confirmed. As per protocol, the aircraft was immediately alerted to the relevant authorities and was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai where all customers have been disembarked. We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our highest priority, the statement added. A note saying bomb on board was found by a crew member, said an official of Sahar police station. The passengers were informed about the threat after landing and a search of passengers and their luggage was underway though nothing suspicious had been found so far, the official added A much-talked-about book on leadership from an Indic perspective that puts the lens on Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarkable journey was released in Delhi on Friday with a host of eminent people present. Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi promises a roadmap for aspiring public servants and leaders, and has drawn high praise from captains of industry, academics, and civil society leaders in India and around the world. The book was launched by Ajay Piramal, chairman of Piramal Group, former Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, NASSCOM president Debjani Ghosh, and Prof B Mahadevan from IIM Bangalore during an event at Delhis Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya that drew thought leaders, philanthropists, industry captains, policymakers, and avid readers. Piramal cited four qualities that define Narendra Modis leadership Sadachar or alignment with values, Seva or alignment with purpose, Shiksha or eagerness to learn, and Sadhana or alignment with self. He said these qualities together lead to Shakti a quality that helps leaders like PM Modi take decisive and bold decisions like the abrogation of Article 370 sections. The book delves into the Prime Ministers fifty years of public life, exploring the formative years that sowed the seeds of his purpose and leadership. Through anecdotes from colleagues like finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, it sheds light on the qualities that propelled him to the highest office in the country. It also underscores his continuous quest for self-discovery in the service of others, offering a roadmap for those seeking a life of public service. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, said: A thought-provoking book that will undoubtedly change perspectives and perceptions on powerful leadership. American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates considers the book an exploration journey to find out how indigenous knowledge and centuries-old wisdom can inform global leadership today. Piramal said he has read the book and it should be a must-read. Modi will be the most studied global leader in the centuries to come but what one needs is an in-prism understanding of his leadership from our civilisational worldview. Dr Balu fills an important gap here, he said. The author, Dr Ramaswami Balasubramaniam (Dr Balu), who stressed the need for a leadership quality that is not just Western but Indic as well, is a distinguished development scholar. He is also well-known for his pioneering development work with rural and tribal communities in Karnataka. He currently serves as a full-time member of HR in the Capacity Building Commission of the Government of India. Adil Zainulbhai, chairman of the commission, heaped praises on Dr Balu and his newly launched book. Through a meticulously crafted narrative, Dr Balasubramaniam has captured the prime ministers leadership journey, interpreting it through both Western and Indic lenses, he said. This is not just another book on the Prime Minister, neither is it a biography. This is probably the first book of its kind, where a leadership to-do list is being discussed with anecdotes from Prime Minister Narendra Modis life. The author has decided to donate all the proceeds from this book to the PM CARES Fund and select NGOs. One dead, five others were injured after a portion of the roof of the Delhi airports Terminal 1 fell on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains early Friday, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) officials said. Flight operations from Terminal 1 has been suspended till 2pm today. They said a search operation was underway to ensure no one else was trapped in the damaged vehicles. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has also reached the site and is personally monitoring the operations. #WATCH | 4 people were injured after a roof collapsed at the Terminal-1 of Delhi airport. Rescue operation underway pic.twitter.com/A0KHLFFTH6 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Besides the roof sheet, the support beams also collapsed, damaging the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal, the officials said. The injured persons have been hospitalised, they said. Of the six, one was rescued from a car on which an iron beam had fallen, the officials said. Three fire-tenders were sent to the airport after a call about the incident was received by the DFS around 5:30 am. Meanwhile, authorities have diverted the traffic going to the T1 departure of the airport at the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) check post towards the arrival of T1. The incident has also triggered traffic jams near the airport. #WATCH | After heavy rain, traffic jam witnessed at the area of Terminal-1 of Delhi airport pic.twitter.com/Ivz3AQeKHW ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Terminal 1 operations suspended Airport authorities have temporarily suspended operations at Terminal 1 to ensure the safety of passengers. A Delhi International Airport Limited spokesperson said, Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airports Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected. As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologise for any inconvenience caused, he added. DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited) spokesperson says, Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airports Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working pic.twitter.com/6MNNY8M3SX ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Meanwhile, IndiGo Airlines also alerted their passengers about flight cancellations. #6ETravelAdvisory Due to heavy rains, #DelhiAirport is partially closed, and all flights to/from Terminal 1 stand cancelled. For alternate flight options or a full refund, please visit https://t.co/6643rYe4I7. Well continue to keep you updated. IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) June 28, 2024 Union Civil Aviation Minister reacts Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu responded to the incident on social media platform X. Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing. Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) June 28, 2024 He wrote, Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing. Rain triggers waterlogging, tree falls in Delhi Heavy rain for several hours across Delhi-NCR caused waterlogging and tree falls on Friday morning. The region is set to witness more rainfall throughout the weekend. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday confirmed that heatwave conditions have abated throughout the country and monsoon rains are set to cover almost all of North and Northwest India over the next two to three days, with temperatures likely to fall by 3-5C after 24 hours in the region. The latest weather forecast by IMD stated that monsoon had arrived in Punjab today. As Delhi struggled with traffic jams and air traffic due to heavy rains overnight, trains and metro services were affected as well on Friday. With waterlogging on railway tracks and inside some metro stations, the movement of trains was affected. The movement of trains was stopped at the Hazrat Nizamuddin in the morning hours because of waterlogging. Similarly, train movement was also stopped at Safdarjung railway station was also stopped due to waterlogging. Meanwhile, speed restrictions on trains were imposed at the Tilak Bridge station and Old Delhi Railway Station. While rail traffic was affected at Old Delhi, it was restored later. Meanwhile, metro services were also disrupted due to rain and waterlogging. The entry and exit at Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 metro station were closed. The shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal 1, Indira Gandhi International Airport was also suspended after the portion of a canopy at the terminal collapsed on cars, killing one person and leaving five injured. Kashmiri gate is also flooded, how did the puddles of water enter the station? Ainkareswar (@kainkareswar) June 28, 2024 However, Delhi Metro passengers also complained of waterlogging at other stations. Kashmiri Gate is also flooded, how did the puddles of water enter the station, questioned a passenger on X (previously Twitter). Kashmiri gate is also flooded, how did the puddles of water enter the station? Ainkareswar (@kainkareswar) June 28, 2024 Delhi also reported traffic snarls at Ring Road and Minto Road as roads were waterlogged due to overnight rains on Thursday-Friday. Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been granted bail on Friday by the High Court in a land scam case. The high court had on June 13 reserved its decision on Sorens bail plea. Bail has been granted to Soren. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail, Sorens senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury told PTI. During the hearing, EDs counsel SV Raju argued that if Soren is released on bail, he would commit a similar offence. Meanwhile, celebrations began in Ranchi as party workers distributed at the residence of the former Jharkhand Chief Minister after his bail order. #WATCH | Sweets being distributed at the residence of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Ranchi after he was granted bail by Jharkhand High Court in land scam case. pic.twitter.com/20FuAbk9rS ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was one of the first opposition leaders to react to Sorens bail and hoped that Soren would soon begin public activities. Hemant Soren, an important tribal leader, and Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had to resign because of a case, but today he has received bail from the Honble High Court!I am very happy with the great development and am sure that he will start his public activities immediately. Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 28, 2024 I am very happy with the great development and am sure that he will start his public activities immediately. Welcome back, Hemant, amidst us, Banerjee wrote on X. NCP-SCP supremo Sharad Pawar also hailed the High Courts order and said the victory of the truth is not far away. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was jailed in a politically motivated case. The 149-day struggle got justice today. Bail granted to Hemant Soren by the court has strengthened the feeling that the victory of truth is not far away. We will continue to demand from the NDA government, that it should not take any action out of vindictiveness and should take efforts to ensure that democracy flourishes as per the constitution, Pawar wrote on X. Jharkhand High Court had, on May 3, turned down the plea by the former chief minister challenging his arrest. Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with its investigation into the money laundering case. External affairs minister S Jaishankar this week assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin of efforts to secure release of 34 Indian fishermen from the southern state who have been in Sri Lankas custody and told him that the genesis of the issue goes back to the 70s, without directly referring to the Katchatheevu Island issue. The Centre accords utmost priority to the welfare and security of Indian fishermen, Jaishankar wrote in a letter to Stalin. Stalin had written three letters to Jaishankar on June 19, 24 and 25, on the issue. The external affairs minister said the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Indian consulate in Jaffna have been expeditiously and consistently taking up such cases for early release of those detained. You are also aware that the genesis of this issue goes back to 1974, following an understanding between the then Union Government and the state government, Jaishankar said. The external affairs ministry said that S Jaishankar recently visited Sri Lanka and discussed issues of mutual concern and had extensive engagements with the leadership while discussing the issue of detained Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka. On Friday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, when asked about the provision mentioned by the External Affairs Minister in his response to CM MK Stalin, stated, There is a historical context to this issue, which is what has been highlighted in the letter by the External Affairs Minister. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, the BJP raised the issue of the Katchatheevu Island. An RTI reply received by Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai sparked a political storm and Prime Minister Modi launched an attack on the Congress party. When asked to elaborate on the issue of Katchatheevu Island without explicitly naming it, Jaiswal said, The External Affairs Minister recently visited Sri Lanka and had extensive engagements with the leadership, discussing all issues of mutual concern. We should get fishing rights. We need to sit with Sri Lankan authorities and sort it out. Even today, our fishermen are being arrested and vessels are being seized, Jaishankar has said in the past. Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited 285-acre islet located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, approximately 12 miles from Tamil Nadus Ramanathapuram. Until 1974, the island was undisputed, and fishermen from both countries used to fish in the surrounding waters. In 1974, maritime boundaries were demarcated, and according to an exchange of letters between the two countries, India acquired Wadge Bank off Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) from Sri Lanka in exchange for Katchatheevu. This agreement ensured that rights to fishing, pilgrimage, and navigation, which both sides had historically enjoyed, were safeguarded. In another agreement signed in 1976, the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was extended to the Gulf of Mannar and the Bay of Bengal. This agreement granted India and Sri Lanka exclusive rights to properties falling on their respective sides of the IMBL. As incessant rains submerged Delhi-NCR roads on Friday, the India Meteorological Department confirmed that the monsoon has arrived in the region. In an official statement, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the entire Delhi region. The Northern Limit of Monsoon passes through 26 N/65 E, Jaisalmer, Churu, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Kheri, Moradabad, Dehradun, Una, Pathankot, Jammu, 33 N/74 E, it added. ALSO READ | Delhi-NCR Rain LIVE Updates: One Dead After Airport Roof Collapses; AAP Calls Emergency Meet Over Waterlogging The Weather Office said, Southwest monsoon further advanced into some more parts of West Rajasthan, remaining parts of east Rajasthan, some parts of Haryana, entire Delhi, some more parts of West Uttar Pradesh, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar. Although the rains provided relief from the blistering heat, visuals from across Delhi and its adjoining areas, including Sarita Vihar, Connaught Place, Palam Airport, and Dhaula Kuan, showed scenes of waterlogging, traffic jams, road cave-ins, uprooted trees, and broken pillars. #WATCH | A large portion of Delhi faces severe waterlogging after overnight incessant heavy rainfall.Visuals from Jangpura and RK Ashram. pic.twitter.com/bT5wVWg0ce ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Aman, a corporate employee stuck due to waterlogging in his area, told News agency ANI, The rain has provided some respite from the heat. However, it has led to severe waterlogging, and traveling to the office has become very difficult. The water has entered my truck, and it is not moving anymore. I have been stuck here for the last two hours, said Dinesh, a truck driver. The Delhi Traffic Police kept issuing regular updates of inundation and traffic snarls to help commuters plan their day. Traffic is affected on MB road in both the carriageways from Hamdard T-Point towards Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range T- Point and vice-versa due to waterlogging in front of Tughlakabad Fort. Kindly plan your journey accordingly, Traffic Police said in a post on X. The Safdarjung weather station recorded 153.7 mm of rainfall, which began around 3 am. Last year, Delhi had welcomed the monsoon on June 26. In 2022, it arrived on June 30 and in 2021, on July 13. In 2020, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 25, according to the data. On the issue of waterlogging, Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Friday said, The waterlogging situation this time is far better than last time. All departments concerned with the situation are working on the ground, and the work is underway. It will be resolved by this afternoon. The residents of Delhi wont have to face a situation like this after today. Additionally, a recent video showed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor Ravinder Singh Negi symbolically protesting against the Aam Aadmi Government by rowing an inflatable boat amidst the severe waterlogging. He said, All PWD drains are overflowing. They (Aam Aadmi Party) did not get them cleaned ahead of the monsoon. This has led to waterlogging. Vinod Nagar has submerged. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi commented on the waterlogging situation, saying, The waterlogging is something very important that needs to be paid attention to. The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast cloudy skies and varying intensities of rain accompanied by gusty winds in Delhi for the next seven days. In todays digest, News18 brings you the latest updates on roof collapse of Terminal 1 of the Delhi International Airport, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorens release from the jail and other top stories. Delhi Airport Forms Committee To Probe Terminal 1 Roof Collapse; Police File Death By Negligence Case The Delhi International Airport management on Friday formed a committee to probe the roof collapse at Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to the death of one person and injuries to at least eight people. READ MORE After 5 Months, Im Legally: Ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Leaves Jail After Securing Bail In Land Scam Case Ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was released from jail after he was granted bail by the High Court in a money laundering case linked to a land scam on Friday morning. READ MORE Deeply Biased, Driven By Votebank Considerations: MEA Rejects US Religious Freedom Report India on Friday said the US State Departments report on international religious Freedom for 2023, which was critical of New Delhi, was deeply biased and was driven by votebank considerations. READ MORE Chaos in RS After Congress MP Faints While Protesting Over NEET Row, Rushed To Hospital | Video A major drama unfolded in the Rajya Sabha on Friday when opposition leaders staged a walkout from the house after the chairman declined to adjourn the proceedings, despite a Congress MP collapsing inside the parliament premises while protesting the NEET paper leak controversy. READ MORE Monsoon Hits Parched Delhi with Record Downpour: Months Worth of Rain in A Few Hours, Highest since 1936 The southwest monsoon has set in over the national capital triggering the highest amount of rainfall that the city has received in a single day in June since 1936. READ MORE Parliament Session LIVE Updates: Lok Sabha was adjourned till July 1 after a ruckus emerged as the Congress demanded a discussion on the NEET issue before the Motion of Thanks. The INDIA bloc said that it will raise the issue in the house on Monday. Meanwhile, opposition leaders walked out of the Rajya Sabha as the request for the adjournment of the house was declined after Congress MP Phulo Devi collapsed in the parliament during the NEET protest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to respond to it on July 2. Following Anurag Thakurs move, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj will second the motion to express gratitude for the Presidents address. On the other hand, the INDIA opposition bloc has decided to raise the NEET issue in both houses of Parliament today. The decision was taken at a meeting of the INDIA bloc floor leaders on Thursday, they said, adding that opposition members are set to file adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha and under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha. In tribute to the valour and sacrifices of the heroes of the Kargil War, the Indian Army has launched a pan-India motorcycle expedition, flagged off by Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande and Vice Chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi in Delhi on Thursday. This expedition marks the 25th anniversary of Indias victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999, aiming to highlight the significant contributions and honour the legacy of brave soldiers. Led by motorcyclists from the Artillery Regiment, comprising three teams of eight members each, the journey began from three corners of the country Dinjan in the East, Dwarka in the West and Dhanushkodi in the South. These riders have traversed diverse terrains and challenging routes, symbolising the unity and resilience of the armed forces. The teams converged in Delhi on June 26 and will continue along two routes towards Dras now. One route will pass through Ambala, Amritsar, Jammu, Udhampur, and Srinagar, covering 1,085km, while the other route will go via Chandimandir, Manali, Sarchu, Nyoma, Tangtse, and Leh, covering 1,509km. The expedition will culminate at Gun Hill in Dras, a place of strategic importance during the Kargil War. En route to Delhi, the riders interacted with Kargil War heroes and veterans residing in various places. They also paid homage at war memorials, raised awareness, and encouraged youth to join the Indian Army. The teams were welcomed by former army chief Deepak Kapoor in Delhi. The Regiment of Artillery played a pivotal role in ensuring the success of Operation Vijay. The artillerys precision, firepower, and strategic support were crucial in turning the tide in favour of the Indian Armed Forces. India is commemorating Rajat Jayanti of the war this year. Harjit Sajjan, former defence minister and the current emergency preparedness minister of Canada, ordered Canadian military resources to prioritise the rescue of Afghan Sikhs at the directive of a Canadian Sikh group during the 2021 takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban, a news report has alleged. As per the report, the operation to rescue the Afghan Sikhs was unsuccessful. Sajjan is also currently the president of the Kings Privy Council for Canada and the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada. The explosive report by an Alberta-based investigative journalist has prompted questions about the alleged closeness between Sajjan and the pro-Khalistani groups. Interestingly, Sajjan is the son of former World Sikh Organization executive member Kundan Sajjan. As was the case with children of other executive board members of the World Sikh Organization (WSO), Harjit Sajjan was given a powerful portfolio within the Liberal government, that of Minister of Defence. After the 2015 elections, Amarjeet Sohi, the current mayor of Edmonton, who was jailed in India and accused of being a Khalistani terrorist, was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure. Prem Vinning had his other son, Gurpreet Vinning, work under Sohi as a special assistant. Harjit Sajjan not only has family ties to the WSO, but also has family ties to WSO founding president Gian Singh Sandhu as well. Sandhus son, Harjinder Singh Sandhu, is married to Harjit Sajjans sister, Amarjit Kaur Sandhu. The World Sikh Organization is highly influential at all levels of government in Canada. One of its goals is to promote the establishment of an independent Sikh Khalistan state. Is it possible that the World Sikh Organization, the body thats intended to serve as an umbrella organization to Sikh groups, could be the Canadian Sikh group that influenced Harjit Sajjans decision-making? As per top Indian intelligence sources, the investigating report is not wrong. The WSO is an umbrella organisation to handle Khalistani activities across the globe. They are so influential that, on their behalf, government ministers are appointed and given key positions like defence minister. Now, if a Khalistan-backed minster is in place, how can we expect him to be fair and share the correct data? a source said. WSO is not friends and family club WSO has hijacked the real cause of Sikhs in Canada and pushed them into drug smuggling and terror activities. Their links to ISI are also very deep and their funding is coming from ISI too, the source added. Incessant rains that brought respite to the sweltering heat have wreaked havoc in several parts of Delhi-NCR with cars submerged on waterlogged roads and uprooted trees blocking roads. #WATCH | Several vehicles submerged as incessant rainfall causes severe waterlogging in parts of Delhi.(Visuals from Moolchand) pic.twitter.com/yzCBKBLVz8 ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 #WATCH | Delhi: Commuters exiting Saket Metro Station face inconvenience as the surrounding area gets waterlogged due to incessant heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/L0dwi9xLoW ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 #WATCH | Delhi: Commuters exiting Saket Metro Station face inconvenience as the surrounding area gets waterlogged due to incessant heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/L0dwi9xLoW ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 ALSO READ | 6 Injured After Roof Falls On Delhi Airport Cars, Terminal 1 Ops Suspended As A Safety Measure Orange alert issued The Delhi-NCR region has been receiving heavy rains for the second consecutive day on Friday. The Met Office has predicted rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds with speeds of 20-40 km/h would continue to occur over Delhi-NCR for the next two hours. The Weather Office has issued an orange alert for Delhi. Waterlogging outside residences of politicians Rains inundated areas around the houses of several politicians, including AAP Water Minister Atishi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and others. Traffic advisory Traffic police issued advisories alerting commuters about inundated and blocked roads. The police officials have urged people to plan their travel and routes according to the alerts. Traffic is affected on W-Point Tilak Bridge road in both the carriageways from A-Point to W-Point and vice-versa due to waterlogging below Tilak Bridge W-point. Kindly plan your journey accordingly, the traffic police said in a post. Traffic AlertTraffic is affected on W-Point Tilak Bridge road in both the carriageways from A-Point to W-Point and vice-versa due to waterlogging below Tilak Bridge W-point. Kindly plan your journey accordingly. pic.twitter.com/qA4u6dEPZL Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) June 28, 2024 #WATCH | Delhi: BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi rows an inflatable boat amid severe waterlogging as a symbolic protest against Delhi Government. Visuals from NH9 area.He says, All PWD drains are overflowing. They didnt get it cleaned ahead of Monsoon. This has led to pic.twitter.com/eUMivjGYsR ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 BJP Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi was seen rowing an inflatable boat amid severe waterlogging as a symbolic protest against the Delhi Government. He said, All Public Works Department (PWD) drains are overflowing. They didnt get it cleaned ahead of monsoon. This has led to waterlogging. Vinod Nagar has submerged. Monsoon Arrives As incessant rains submerged Delhi-NCR roads on Friday, the India Meteorological Department confirmed that the monsoon has arrived in the region. In an official statement, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the entire Delhi region. The Northern Limit of Monsoon passes through 26 N/65 E, Jaisalmer, Churu, Bhiwani, Delhi, Aligarh, Kanpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Kheri, Moradabad, Dehradun, Una, Pathankot, Jammu, 33 N/74 E, it added. A Quiet Place Day One Movie Review: Third times a charm might be the saying but this time, the amazing charm of the A Quiet Place franchise did not work for me. Starring Lupita Nyongo (Black Panther) and Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) in the lead, the film is the third instalment in the popular horror-thriller franchise and a spin-off prequel to the first film. Now, we all know how much the first movie is loved and adored, so much so that the 2018 film is easily one of the best thrillers in the past decade. With the benchmark set so high, it is quite an uphill climb for the director Michael Sarnoski, who is filling John Krasinskis shoes. While he recreates the world well, it falls short of thrills. As the trailer and synopsis have already revealed, A Quiet Place: Day One is set in New York. It revolves around a terminally ill patient who wants to grab a slice of New Yorks finest pizza. On her trip to New York from a hospital on the outskirts, she decides to visit a pizza shop which she once used to frequently visit. However, when the blind aliens invade, her plans are jeopardised. Although she doesnt let the monsters come her way for a good slice of pizza. As bizarre as it might sound, the concept worked for me. How far would you go to get what you love? In A Quiet Place: Day Ones case, as far as it takes. I mean, Id do the same, minus the humans-eating monster. Although an interesting concept, the film doesnt layer the idea enough to make it convincing for everyone. This is where the film makes an unsteady landing. Director Sarnoski had revealed that he was given only one condition before penning the story it should be set in New York. After watching the film, I understand why John wanted an NYC backdrop. New York being the target of an apocalyptic attack is not new. But watching it go completely quiet is a different experience altogether. The films scale also immediately becomes larger than life. With the Big Apple being one of the most populated cities in the US, it served as an interesting backdrop for the chaos to unfold. But the filmmaker doesnt utilise it to its fullest. A Quiet Place: Day One has all the elements of a quintessential Quiet Place film the demons, the silence, and the close-up shots to induce suspense but has an uneven script. But Sarnoski takes a different turn in the story. He introduces the elements of emotions in the tale, attempting to create a personal connection. He subtly also gives a nod to New Yorks little elements as well. Although a welcomed attempt, it doesnt sink its teeth enough to explore the human touch to it. The film, which is 1 hour 45 minutes long, doesnt give you enough room to associate with the lead characters yearning for a pizza. She risks her life to get a slice but there is not enough depth in the character for you to root for her and celebrate if and when she gets a slice. Also, the film explores the post-apocalyptic world instead of taking audiences through the demolishment of the city and the story behind the monsters. This leaves you with more questions than answers. But the film is not all that bad. Several high points in the film make it a worthy watch. As already mentioned, the concept is interesting. The cinematography is outstanding. Pat Scola beautifully captures the silent New York, invoking an eerie feeling in many scenes. Although there are fewer jump scares than I was hoping for, Pat Scola and editors Andrew Mondshein and Gregory Plotkin deliver some impressive moments in the limited scenes. Lupita Nyongo is outstanding as the terminally ill patient who is craving for a pizza. Her emotional scenes are the best in the film. As for Joseph Quinn, he lights up the screen and brilliantly shoulders the film with Lupita. While Lupita is the heart of the film, I found myself rooting for his character more in the movie. Writers John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski also had me impressed when they identify a certain loophole that allows the characters to scream and talk amid the alien attack. A very smart writing move. Bottom line: A Quiet Place: Day One is a prequel with very few questions about the franchises past being answered. Watch it if you love the Quiet Place franchise. Vitthal Rukmini Mandir of Pandharpur is a cherished spiritual site in Maharashtra, which draws devotees from all over. Maharashtras rich tradition of Wari, a pilgrimage to see the divine form of Vithuraya, holds deep historical and cultural significance. Marathi actor Sandeep Pathak has contributed to this tradition by releasing a devotional song titled Jagat Bhari Pandharichi Wari, penned by lyricist Guru Thakur, with music composed by Vijay Gawande and artful tones by Manish Rajgire. Sandeep, who participates in the Wari annually, shared in an interview that the experience brings unparalleled joy and spiritual fulfilment. He stated that while the Wari is an annual journey, each year offers new enriching experiences. The song aims to bring the essence of Wari to those unable to attend in person and introduces the tradition to younger generations through Sandeeps program and channel. Jagat Bhari Pandharichi Vari | Sandeep Pathak | Vijay Narayan Gavande | Guru YouTube Sandeep Pathak Official2 days ago Sandeep expressed a desire to document the Wari tradition in both documentary and audio-visual formats, believing that such efforts would preserve and celebrate this cultural heritage. The song Jagat Bhari Pandharichi Wari has become popular on social media, adding to the festive momentum of Ashadhi Wari preparations. On this occasion, as chants in praise of Vithala and Panduranga resonate, Sandeep hopes the song will transport devotees spiritually to the sacred courts of Pandhari. Sandeep Pathak is a versatile Indian actor known for his contributions to Marathi and Hindi film, television, and theatre. He has showcased his talent in TV series like Asambhav and Eka Lagnachi Dusri Goshta. His filmography includes notable works such as Harishchandrachi Factory, Ek Hazarachi Note, Rangaa Patangaa, Poshter Girl, and Idak. In the realm of theatre, he has left his mark with plays like Varhad Nighalay Londonla, Sakharam Binder, Asami Asa Mi, and Vyakti Aani Valli. Sandeep has entertained audiences with comedy shows like Hasa Chakat Fu, Fu Bai Fu, and Comedy Express. Months after Asim Riaz and Himanshi Khuranas breakup, an insider has now revealed that it was ugly and messy. Recently, a source close to the Bigg Boss 13 stars told Hindustan Times that the two parted ways over religious beliefs. The insider claimed that Himanshi is sensitive about the issue and therefore, she avoid talking about it. It was quite messy. The reason was their religion and that got ugly by the end. Himanshi is still very sensitive about that matter and avoids talking about it. She didnt even react to his mystery girl pic. It took her a while to move on, the source claimed. It further added that a reconciliation between Khurana and Riaz is unlikely. She doesnt want to get back with him again. There is no turning back, and even if she decides to get involved with someone romantically in the future, it will not be Asim, the insider added. The report also claimed that Himanshi wants to remain single for now and wants to focus on work. She is and wants to stay single presently, and focus on work now. Himanshi has signed an OTT film and is working on that right now. It is her top priority currently. The aim is to do better professionally and dating can happen later, the insider shared. Asim Riaz and Himanshi Khurana met inside the Bigg Boss 13 house and fell in love with each other. They were together for four years before they announced their breakup in December 2023. YES, we are not together anymore, All the time we have spent together has been great but our togetherness comes to an end Now. The journey of our relationship was great and we are moving forward in our lives. We request you to respect our privacy, Himanshi said in a statement. Later, Asim also confirmed the breakup via a statement on his X handle and revealed that they parted ways because of their religious differences. Yes, Indeed we both agreed to sacrifice our love for our respective religious beliefs. We both are 30+ and we have full right to take these mature decisions and we made it. Weve decided to part ways amicably, embracing our individual journeys. Respect for Himanshi and our diverse path and yes indeed i told her to write the real reason for our separation. Request you to all to respect our privacy, he wrote. In May this year, Asim Riaz took to his Instagram handle to share a romantic photo with a mystery girl. In the picture, a girl was seen lying her head on Asims shoulder. Life goes on, Asim wrote in the caption which left everyone wondering if he has found love again. Parents of Sindhi High School in Hebbal, Bengaluru, have reportedly complained about a chapter in the textbooks that refers to Tamannaah Bhatia. According to Deccan Herald, the parents have brought the issue to the attention of the school administration. However, their ignorance and lack of action forced them to approach the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Karnataka Primary and Secondary Schools Association. According to reports, the school has a textbook for Class 7 on Sindhis which includes a chapter on Life after Partition: Migration, Community and Unrest in Sindh, 1947 to 1962. Since Sindhis are a linguistic minority, they were allowed to introduce their community and culture to the students. The chapter reportedly features prominent and successful members of the Sindhi community like actor Ranveer Singh. However, parents reportedly had an issue with the content which involved actress Tamannaah. The reports quoted the parents as saying, We have no objection to children being introduced to a different culture, said a parent who filed the complaint with the commission and the association. Our objection is related to a chapter on an actor which is unsuitable for Class 7 students, said another. Some parents accused the school management of threatening their children with issuing promotion certificates if they objected. The portal reports that the school was not available for comment. A parent said, We have no problem with teaching about veteran actors in the community, but if children were to look up this actress on the internet, they would get inappropriate content. D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the association said, In any case, adding content has to be approved by the concerned authority to which the school is affiliated. So, parents have to raise the same with the school authority. Justin and Hailey Bieber are all set to welcome their first child. The parents-to-be are often spotted in and around the city. Speaking of which, paparazzi recently captured the duo at a church service at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Cameras went clickety-click when they were later seen arriving on a dinner date at Funke, a famous restaurant in Beverly Hills. For the occasion, Hailey Bieber wore an all-black outfit consisting of a black shirt and a similar colour skirt. The mom-to-be wore comfortable loafers. She kept the accessories to the minimum and completed the look with a pair of black sunglasses and a black sling bag that had a scarf tied to it. Her bob-cut hair was styled with minimal curls as they framed her face perfectly. On the other hand, Justin Bieber wore baggy pants with a blue shirt. He completed the look with black shoes, a pair of funky lime green sunglasses, a rose gold watch and his signature beanie. The couple announced they were expecting their first child together on May 10, 2023, via an Instagram post. The post showed Hailey Bieber with a visible baby bump as she wore a lacy Saint Laurent dress that looked like a wedding dress. Set against a scenic backdrop in Hawaii, the announcement post showed Justin Bieber taking photos of his wife. This news came almost five years after the couple got married on September 13, 2018, at a courthouse. They later held another more lavish wedding with family and friends on September 30, 2019. The South Carolina wedding had a guest list of celebrities like the Jenners, Jaden Smith, and Joan Smalls. On the work front, Hailey Bieber is basking in the success of her skincare and makeup brand Rhode Skin. For Justin Bieber, there are rumours that the Grammy-winning pop star is working on a new album. Last year he had to cancel 49 shows of his world tour due to health reasons. Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are undoubtedly one of the most loved couples in BTown. They enjoy a massive fan following and dont shy away from expressing their love for each other. The couple were spotted returning to Bombay on Sunday early morning as they stepped out of airport. Not just that, they even dished out major style goals. Sidharth and Kiara were seen dressed in comfy casuals. While Sidharth donned an denim shirt teamed with grey pants, Kiara on the other hand kept it cool in a white T shirt with jeans. Both also wore masks. Have a look at the video: Kiara Advani married Sidharth Malhotra on February 7 last year in the presence of their close friends and family members in Rajasthan. They fell in love with each other while shooting for their hit film Shershaah. The couple later hosted a mega star-studded reception later in Mumbai. Later, in an interview with News18 Showsha, Kiara opened up on life post her wedding and how it has made her appreciate her mother more than ever. For the first time, Im running a home. I used to live in my parents home. My mum did it all and weve so much respect and value for her right now. But its lovely and a beautiful phase. Im very, very happy, she said. Sidharth and Kiara have a huge fan following. Their fans are waiting to see them on screen together once again after Shershaah. Well, last year in March it was reported that the couple will be seen in a rom-com which will be directed by Karan Johar. However, after that, there was no update. Recently, in conversation with ETimes, the Yodha actor shared an update on the same. He opened up on his already announced rom-com film with Kiara Advani. Sidharth said, Oh yeah, thats very much on the table. We cant say for sure, but we were very interested in working together and finding the correct script combination, where both of us justify our roles. Also, the audience gets to see us after Shershaah, which we got a lot of love for. It is about getting the correct elements in place. In a recent discussion with Film Companion during her visit to Cannes, France, Kiara Advani talked about her experience working with her husband, Sidharth Malhotra. She remarked, I feel like Shershaah gave us a lot of love as a couple. So theres a certain excitement, and people want to see us together. Newly married Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have sparked baby rumours after they visited a hospital in Mumbai on Friday. Sonakshi has been facing immense scrutiny for her inter-faith wedding with Zaheer. The couple opted for a civil marriage which took place on June 23. Days after their wedding, rumours about the couple expecting their first baby have flooded the internet. In a video, shared by Instant Bollywood, Sonakshi and Zaheers white-coloured Mercedes was photographed exiting Kokilaben hospital in Mumbai. The portal claimed the newlyweds were present in the car, but avoided posing for the paparazzi. Soon after, netizens began speculating if Sonakshi was pregnant with her first child, citing example of Alia Bhatt who announced her pregnancy shortly after her wedding to Ranbir Kapoor. One user wrote, Medical check-up, even if shes pregnant, its good news. Another one said, Baby is coming. Is she pregnant? A third user asked. Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal got married at the actress Bandra home with their families and close friends in attendance. The couple dated for seven years before taking their relationship to the next level. Days after their intimate wedding ceremony, a Reddit user dug up an old photo of Sonakshi flaunting a huge diamond rock on her ring finger. The picture also featured a man posing along with the actress but is cropped from the frame. The particular photo was originally shared by Sonakshi on her Instagram account on May 8, 2022. However, at the time, many thought it was a promotional campaign for a jewellery brand. But now, fans are convinced that she and Zaheer got secretly engaged two years ago and the photo was indeed from their engagement as Sonakshi was wearing the same ring on her wedding photos as well. Meanwhile, veteran actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha lashed out at those protesting against his daughter Sonakshis inter-faith wedding with Zaheer Iqbal and calling it love jihad. A wedding is a very personal decision between two people; no one has the right to interfere or comment. To all the protestors I say go, get a life. Do something useful with your life. Aur kucch nahi kehna (I have nothing else to say), the veteran actor told Times Now. During the trailer launch event of Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimmers upcoming film Bad News, the stars also engaged for a quick photo op session at the red carpet. At that time, Vicky was spotted patient sitting at the red carpet while his co-star Triptii posed for the shutterbugs. The hilarious video went viral instantly. Have a look at the video: Earlier in the day, the makers unveiled the highly anticipated trailer of Bad Newz. The trailer surely promises that the film will be a roller coaster ride with the perfect blend of laughter and emotions. In the trailer, Triptii first meets Vicky Kaushals character, and they quickly fall in love. She soon reveals that shes expecting a baby, but shes unsure if Vicky is the father. Later, Ammy Virks character enters the picture, and she falls in love with him too. She then discovers that the baby might be his as well. The chaos intensifies when doctors suggest that due to a rare condition, both Vicky and Ammy could potentially be the father. The trio embarks on a journey to determine the babys true father, all while competing against each other to prove their claim. The film comes from the makers of Good Newwz which featured Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani and Diljit Dosanjh and promises the same fun and emotional journey. The upcoming entertainer is being helmed by Bandish Bandits fame director Anand Tiwari. The film is a Dharma Productions venture. Last year, several photos of Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri went viral when they were shooting in Croatia. In the pictures, Vicky Kaushal was seen holding Triptii close as they shot for a song. In one of the photos, the actor was also seen lifting the Animal star in his arms. The film will be released in theatres on July 19. Meanwhile, Triptii Dimri is currently enjoying the success of Animal. Released in December 2023, the film also starred Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Triptiis chemistry with Ranbir in the movie was widely loved by all. Apart from Bad Newz, she will also be seen in Kartik Aaryans Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Triptii has also shot for Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Voh Wala Video with Rajkummar Rao. She is likely to be seen in Aashiqui 3 with Kartik Aaryan. Vicky Kaushal on the other hand was last seen in Sam Bahadur. Apart from Bad Newz, he will also be seen in Chhava. The film is reported to be a period drama, where Kaushal will share the screen with Rashmika Mandanna. The film is expected to delve into Sambhaji Maharajs bravery, sacrifice, and wartime strategies while incorporating an emotional love story between him and his wife. Vicky Kaushal is currently preparing for the release of Bad Newz, which also features Ammy Virk and Triptii Dimri in the lead. The films trailer is supposed to be out today and ahead of this, Vicky Kaushal addressed a fan theory on Instagram, leaving Karan Johar in splits. The fan theorised that Vicky and Ammy would want to have a child via surrogacy. However, there will be confusion as to whose child Triptii is carrying. The fan added that there would be an emotional scene leading to the three deciding to bring up the child together. However, in the end, they will find out that the child belongs to neither of the fathers. Reacting to this, Vicky Kaushal replied to the fan, Dharma ki film hai, Nolan ki nahi. Dharma Productions head honcho Karan Johar responded to this by sharing the interaction on his Instagram story with laughing reactions. Check it out here: Last year, several photos of Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri went viral when they were shooting in Croatia. In the pictures, Vicky Kaushal was seen holding Triptii close as they shot for a song. In one of the photos, the actor was also seen lifting the Animal star in his arms. The upcoming entertainer is being helmed by Bandish Bandits fame director Anand Tiwari. Meanwhile, on the work front, Triptii Dimri is currently enjoying the success of Animal. Released in December 2023, the film also starred Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Triptiis chemistry with Ranbir in the movie was widely loved by all. Apart from Bad Newz, she will also be seen in Kartik Aaryans Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Triptii has also shot for Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Voh Wala Video with Rajkummar Rao. She is likely to be seen in Aashiqui 3 with Kartik Aaryan. Vicky Kaushal on the other hand was last seen in Sam Bahadur. Apart from Bad Newz, he will also be seen in Chhava. The film is reported to be a period drama, where Kaushal will share the screen with Rashmika Mandanna. The film is expected to delve into Sambhaji Maharajs bravery, sacrifice, and wartime strategies while incorporating an emotional love story between him and his wife. Vikrant Massey recently shared insights from his Shanghai trip where he promoted his film, 12th Fail. Reflecting on an anecdote, Vikrant revealed that renowned film critic Anupama Chopra, the wife of the films director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, initially viewed him as primarily an OTT actor and doubted his appeal in theaters. Despite these reservations, 12th Fail turned out to be one of the financial hits of 2023. Produced on a modest budget of approximately Rs 20 crore, the film impressively grossed Rs 70 crore worldwide before even hitting the Chinese market. During his appearance at a Times of India event in Varanasi, Vikrant recounted the conversation, stating, Vidhu Vinod Chopras wife Anupama Chopra, who is a celebrated film critic, told him that you are making a film after so long. No one came to watch your previous film Shikara. He is an OTT actor. Why will people come and watch him in the theatre? During the 100 days celebration of the film 12th Fail, Vidhu Vinod Chopra shared an interesting anecdote about the films journey. He recalled, When I was making the film, I was told by everyone, including my dearest wife (film critic Anupama Chopra), to put it out on OTT. She said, Nobody will go to see Vinod! Teri aur Vikrant ki film! She told me I dont know, that Im not connected with movies (anymore). Anupama Chopra, present at the event, humorously backed up his story by admitting, Hes right, I did say I dont know who will come to the theatre to see this film. So Im saying in public that I was wrong and you are right. At the same event, Vikrant Massey reflected on the journey of making 12th Fail, highlighting moments of self-realization and confidence. He said, We often had moments of self-realization about the journey we were on. Despite external doubts, we were confident that our film would find its audience because we knew we had made a good film. 12th Fail is inspired by the real-life journey of IPS Officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS Officer Shraddha Joshi. On the professional front, Vikrant has an exciting lineup of projects in the pipeline. The actor will next be seen in Director Ranjan Chandels upcoming thriller film, The Sabarmati Report. The movie centres on the events of February 27, 2002, on the Sabarmati Express near the Godhra railway station in Gujarat. It also stars Ridhi Dogra and Raashii Khanna. It also features Ridhi Dogra and Raashi Khanna. India is home to more than a lakh startups. But how many of them are actually headquartered in India? This is a question that does not strike the minds of aam aadmi but is definitely on the legal minds of lawyers and chartered accountants. The process wherein a company locates its headquarters outside India is known as flipping. The reasons are obvious. A businessman would want to locate a company where there are favourable policies, effective tax considerations, wider visibility, investors, and robust stock exchanges. When these companies were born, India was growing its standards in ease of doing business. Now, we see a new trend reverse flipping or ghar wapsi. Last month in May, Groww shifted its domicile back to India from the United States. PhonePe, in October 2022, shifted back from Singapore. Several other startups like Pine Labs, Razorpay, Zepto, Eruditus, Meesho, and Udaan are planning to move their company domicile back to India. Planning to move its IPO, Flipkart may also be in the process of shifting its headquarters from Singapore to India. It seems like having an overseas entity, holding company or headquarters in the US or Singapore isnt making sense anymore. These companies have a wide range of consumers in India and enjoy mass popularity as well. Their decision to stay overseas over the years must have its rationale in raising funds from foreign capital, listing on foreign stock exchanges, tax benefits, investor confidence, regulatory ease of doing business, etc. Investors abroad would prefer to invest in companies listed in their jurisdictions. But now, we see a shift in mindsets as these companies turn profitable. As their CEOs can work from anywhere, so can these companies. In March last year, the government noted that many Indian startups were domiciled abroad and set up a committee to suggest ways to onshore the Indian innovation to the International Financial Services Centre in Gujarats high-tech GIFT City. The terms of reference of the Committee included suggesting measures to encourage Indian Fintech/Startups domiciled abroad to relocate to GIFT IFSC, identifying issues that may be critical for the development of GIFT IFSC as a global Fintech Hub, and encouraging new Fintechs with a global outlook to set up a commercial presence in GIFT IFSC. Incidentally, Growws Co-Founder & CEO Lalit Keshre is also a member of this Committee. In the intricate symphony of global business, the transfer of corporate entities across borders isnt just a strategic shuffle, its also a fiscal labyrinth. The recent case of PhonePe serves as a stark reminder where the company, on behalf of its investors, had to cough up a staggering Rs 8,000 crore in taxes upon returning to Indian soil. This sheds light on the formidable financial intricacies that accompany such relocation endeavours. Companies like Meesho also need to raise additional funds to counter these additional tax payouts. At the heart of this fiscal journey lies the meticulous navigation of legal and tax frameworks, a task rife with challenges as value migrates between international jurisdictions. Indeed, the crux of such restructuring efforts is to mitigate the tax burdens that come with shifting ownership structures. Companies also need to comply with mergers and acquisitions, competition law, securities law, and regulations from RBI and SEBI. In cases of reverse mergers or transfers of control, the approvals take longer. Valuing startups becomes a pivotal point, guiding the trajectory of tax implications amidst restructuring endeavours. Whether opting for a share swap or sale, a thorough evaluation of tax ramifications for investors and promoters is imperative. Notably, exemptions under relevant tax treaties can ease fiscal strain, especially for investors from countries like the Netherlands or Singapore. However, with limited cases in view, this is an area yet to be explored. The timing also plays a critical role in this fiscal calculus. Apart from present structuring, foreseeing future tax implications upon exit requires foresight, considering grandfathering benefits under existing tax treaties. Additionally, attention must be paid to the potential lapse of accumulated losses within the Indian corporate landscape due to changes in shareholding. The exploration of alternative structural modalities reveals their own complexities and regulatory demands. Inbound mergers, for example, offer a viable pathway, potentially leading to a tax-neutral outcome, provided they adhere to conditions outlined in the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 which are in itself a task to comply with. In conclusion, the saga of the reverse flip extends beyond theory into practical problems of fiscal gravity, where the nuances of timing and structural choices converge to shape tax obligations. As corporate entities embark on transnational relocations, they must grapple not only with performance demands but also with the fiscal shadows that accompany each move. Aditya Trivedi is a Delhi-based corporate lawyer; Harsh Mantri is a Mumbai-based chartered accountant. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Rahul Gandhi is set to become the Leader of Opposition (LoP). The constitutional post, the first one Rahul has ever held, means he is a shadow Prime Minister-in-waiting, presides over a shadow cabinet, and is also, in a manner of speaking, a shadow parliamentary affairs minister. In this role, he is tasked with sharing the enormous burden of making things come together for the lower House to function through consensus. There are many other shadows he will cast as he enacts the several roles he embodies as LoP on the many stages he is likely to grace. But, at least for the next five years, he must accept he isnt going to play the lead role. But we digress. Back to the point and the pertinent question: How will Rahul Gandhi be as the LoP? Thats the only question we need to have answered if the next five years arent going to turn into the vexed legislative doldrum that Parliament had become under Dr Manmohan Singh when he skippered the sinking boat that was UPA-2. Surprisingly this question isnt being asked with the assiduousness that it deserves especially given the consequentiality of Rahul Gandhis new role for Indian democracy. Instead, for the past few days the focus has been on whether the Prime Minister has the delicate touch that is needed to shepherd a coalition. Some observers believe that Modi is not a man given to compromise. They claim he is in the mould of a latter-day Kemalist: A my-way-or-the-highway variety of strongman. And that his unilateralism is going to prove to be the undoing of the NDA. These commentators justify their cynicism by pointing out that Modi has never lost an election which makes him impervious to humility, and that hes always been the big I am in government so he will never yield to another point of view. While it is true that brand Modi has been singularly immune to loss, these professional carpers often forget the times when theyve pointed out just how politically felicitous the Prime Minister can be. If theres one thing the folks who have their daggers out for Modi can agree upon, it is the PMs survival instinct. We tend to forget, the BJP has had and still has coalition arrangements in many states and it is but natural to think that in an alleged hyper-centralised, PMO-directed, governance structure Modi would have had a huge role in managing contradictions associated with such tie-ups. Thus, it is a little naive to gainsay Modis ability to iron out wrinkles when they present themselves. So, there is a good chance the PM will pull through, and for proof, the doubters neednt look further than how he managed the relationship with the late Pranab Mukherjee, a veteran Congressman who was President when Modi took charge as Prime Minister. Lets now talk about Rahul Gandhi. The scion is following in a hoary tradition of big Gandhi names ascending constitutional posts. Most recently Sonia Gandhi, his mother. Like her, Rahul has swanned in to stake claim to the LoP post which entitles him to perform a service that is, among many other things, pivotal to the transactionalism that defines much of parliamentary parlaying. His detractors could say Rahuls surname has had a huge role in ushering him to this position. The Indian parliamentary system is based on the Westminster model. There, in England, the LoP is the leader of the lead Opposition party, elected through a rigorous process. In his new role, Rahul will be undoubtedly tested in the several committee rooms where he will have to work with the Prime Minister. At present, a stalemate is looking most likely. We already have an inkling of what to expect. The Oppositions somewhat unprecedented decision to contest the Speakers post, many in the BJP argue, was mostly Rahuls refusal to accept the fact that the INDIA bloc hasnt been elected to serve. The decision to contest was the first blow to assurances that the Opposition will endeavour to ensure that consensus will prevail in the House. Aside from temperament, there are other issues. Its fair to say until now that the number of days Rahul Gandhi has attended Parliament, the number of questions hes asked relating to his constituency, and even his participation in parliamentary committee deliberations have been well below the House average. In the next five years, he will need to change that. Now that the die is cast, we must hope that Rahul succeeds, because in his success lies the success of our parliamentary system. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. You can soon enjoy your pomfret varuval without being gaslit about killing the poor fish. A research project to develop lab-grown fish meat has started in Kerala, home to some of the most delectable seafood. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have teamed to produce cultivated fish meat or lab grown fish meat. The process involves isolating specific cells from the fish and growing them in the laboratory. The final product captures the flavour, texture and nutritional qualities of the fish. Lab-grown meat is taking quick strides in Singapore, Israel, and the US. In India, it is nascent and there is still no product out there in the market. India, however, has seen a number of plant-based meat startups lately like GoodDot, Imagine Meats, Wakao Foods, Greenest Foods, and Eva Foods. Plant-based meat, also called mock meat or imitation meat, is designed to look and taste similar to traditional meat, but is made entirely from plant-based proteins like soy, pea, wheat gluten, mycoprotein (from fungus), or even jackfruit, along with fats, starches, and flavours to mimic the taste and texture of meat. But here is the problem. The plant-based product may give vegetarians the texture and feel of meat, but it will never quite taste like meat for non-vegetarians. So, while it gives vegetarians a guilt-free food option, non-vegetarians are unlikely to fully adopt it. Bharats philosophical ethos always encourages kindness over cruelty. So, if the aim is to go slaughter-free in the future, non-vegetarians will have to be weaned off the butchers shop with meat that tastes and feels exactly the same, and not just provide vegetarians with the additional plant-meat option. The only way to do that is to encourage mass production of lab or cultured meat, besides creating a licensing and regulatory framework. The Narendra Modi government could seriously consider big incentives for cultured meat research and production. Cultured meat is genuine animal meat, including seafood, which is produced by directly cultivating animal cells. It eliminates the need to raise, farm, and slaughter animals. National Family Health Survey 5 by Indias Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shows close to 77 per cent of Indias population eats fish, chicken and other meat. Also, 83 per cent of Indian men and 71 per cent of women are non-vegetarians. Chicken is the most sought-after meat by Indians, with around 3.96 million tonnes of chicken consumed in the country in 2020 alone, according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development data. It is followed by buffalo, sheep and pork meat. A report by the Vasudha and Shakti foundations shows Indias cattle cause an annual emission of over 200 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Animal advocacy organisation Humane Society International India and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad joined hands in 2019 to advance clean meat technologies and connect regulators with start-ups. Singapore was the first to clear the sale of lab-grown meat for consumption in December 2020. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the sale of cultivated chicken from two California-based companies. Israel gave its first regulatory nod for the sale of lab-grown beef in January 2024. The Netherlands was one of the first to develop a lab-grown beef patty in 2013. Bharat has enough spiritual, ethical, environmental, and economic reasons to give cultured meat a serious policy push. The time for this idea has come, and India can lead the world in slaughter-free lab meat. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Ex-Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was released from jail after he was granted bail by the High Court in a money laundering case linked to a land scam on Friday morning. Addressing the media after being released on bail, Soren said, After 5 months, I have come out of jail legally. The last 5 months remained worrisome for Jharkhand. The whole country knows why I went to jail. He was granted bail two weeks after the court had reserved its order on the plea. A single bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay granted bail to the former Jharkhand CM on a Rs 50,000 bail bond and two sureties of the same amount. Sorens counsel said that the court held the ex-chief minister prima facie is not guilty of the offence. The court has held that prima facie he is not guilty of the offence and there is no likelihood of the petitioner committing an offence when on bail, senior counsel Arunabh Chowdhury was quoted by PTI as saying. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed happiness about Hemant Sorens bail and hoped he would soon begin public activities. Hemant Soren, an important tribal leader, and Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had to resign because of a case, but today he has received bail from the Honble High Court! I am very happy with the great development and am sure that he will start his public activities immediately. Welcome back, Hemant, amidst us! the TMC supremo wrote in an X post. The executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case. The 48-year-old politician had been lodged in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi since his arrest. A major drama unfolded in the Rajya Sabha on Friday when opposition leaders staged a walkout from the house after the chairman declined to adjourn the proceedings, despite a Congress MP collapsing inside the parliament premises while protesting the NEET paper leak controversy. Congress partys Rajya Sabha MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted during the protest and fell inside the parliament. She was later taken to RML Hospital, and her condition is currently stable. #WATCH | Congress partys Rajya Sabha MP Phulo Devi Netam being taken away in an ambulance from Parliament after she felt dizzy and fell. She was protesting in the Well of of the House over NEET issue when the incident happened. She is being taken to RML hospital. pic.twitter.com/ljyXgCfuMA ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge visited the hospital to check on her and expressed his disappointment at the Houses behaviour for not adjourning the session when she collapsed. Regarding Phulo Devis health, Kharge said, Doctors will take her for a CT scan. After that, they will tell everything. She fell but still, the House was not adjourned, it was going on. No one came to see. The members of the House should be treated properly and I condemn this behaviour of the House which they showed. BJD MP Sasmit Patra in an X post informed that the entire Opposition walked out in protest from Rajya Sabha after the demand for adjournment of the House was not met following Devi Netam fainting in the well of the House during the protest. A commotion erupted in the Upper House over alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET, and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed anguish over the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge entering the Well of the House. The proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm. The leader of the opposition has entered the Well of the House. This has never happened, Dhankhar said before adjourning the proceedings till 2 pm. Opposition members also raised slogans while BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi was speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address. The government assured that it will reply on the NEET issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met five Members of Parliament (MP) of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) in his Parliament office. Party chief Chirag Paswan led four of them, of which three are first-time MPs. Prime Minister Modis warmth towards Chirag Pawan was very evident, a source aware of the meeting told News18. Chirag often calls himself the Hanuman and Modi as his Prabhu Ram. The MPs were happy with the personalised conversation made by Modi. He enquired about their background and what let them to joining politics and what is their plan ahead. He spoke to each one of us and understood from us what we wanted to do as MPs. The most touching part was that he listened patiently to each one of us, one of the MPs told News18. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: I had a wonderful meeting with @LJP4India MPs. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji was a very dear friend of mine whose valuable insights I miss immensely. I am happy to see @iChiragPaswan rising to the occasion and fulfilling Ram Vilas Jis vision. Our Parties are strongly together in pursuit of public service. I had a wonderful meeting with @LJP4India MPs. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Ji was a very dear friend of mine whose valuable insights I miss immensely. I am happy to see @iChiragPaswan rising to the occasion and fulfilling Ram Vilas Ji's vision. Our Parties are strongly together in pic.twitter.com/AaIppbFz8P Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2024 Chirag played an important role in raising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliances (NDA) tally, winning five of the five seats he contested. He was rewarded by being made the cabinet minister in the Modi 3.0 government. The prime minister said that Chirag Paswan has a crucial team of MY Mahila and Yuva. And it is their responsibility to work for the people of Bihar, the MP added. The Bihar elections are scheduled to be held in 2025. The BJP is part of the ruling alliance with Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United (JDU). To the MPs, the PM had a key message Make use of every minute available to you in Parliament and never be shy to learn new things. The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of self-help groups and the Mudra Yojana that has benefited people from the back of the beyond, especially in heavily populated states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The PM shared with us his experience with the schemes that not only brought people into the mainstream of financial inclusion, but also helped in the upliftment of their status and gave them a life of dignity. The PM said that this work must really continue through youngsters like you. He asked us to exhaust the schemes. He asked us to bring the benefits of central government schemes to every eligible person, an MP told News18. Ever since the special session of Parliament began, the PM has been meeting MPs from alliance parties of the NDA. A couple of days ago, he met a delegation of MPs from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and on Thursday, he met the JDU MPs. In both these meetings, apart from a personal connect with the MPs, the PM also give them a message on their responsibility as the representative of the people who have elected them to power in the Centre. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday received a report from the BJP Fact Finding Team, constituted to inquire about the incidents of violence against the people and BJP Karyakartas in West Bengal following the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP national president stressed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must be held accountable for her negligence and inaction to deliberate acts of violence against innocent people. The state government has become a mute spectator to deliberate acts of violence against innocent people. CM Mamata Banerjee must be held accountable for her negligence and inaction. Our party stands united with the people of West Bengal and will continue to voice their concerns democratically, Nadda wrote in an X post. Received the report from the BJP Fact Finding Team, constituted to inquire about the grave incidents of violence against the people and BJP Karyakartas in West Bengal following the Lok Sabha elections.The state government has become a mute spectator to deliberate acts of pic.twitter.com/G36ILJKSsU Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 28, 2024 BJP MP from West Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb, who headed the Fact-Finding Team, also hit out at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over her silence on post-poll violence in Bengal. The committee formed to investigate the widespread violence that took place after the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal today met the party president Mr @JPNadda ji and submitted its investigation report. The goons supported by the TMC have spread violence in the state. The administration has been politicized and these people have made the lives of the common people difficult. Mamata Banerjee and her allies have maintained silence on the post-poll violence and cruelty against women in Bengal, which is highly condemnable, the BJP MP wrote in an X post. Modi 3.0 is not the same as Modi 2.0 short of a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, a far cry from its 2019 tally of 303. But with other NDA allies, the BJP is in a safe position to pass legislations. However, in the Upper House, it is still three seats short of the majority mark. In 2019, the Opposition had blocked the Land Reform Bill and Triple Talaq Bills in the Rajya Sabha. The Narendra Modi government could pass the Triple Talaq Bill only in its second stint when it had friendly opposition parties like the BJD, YSRCP, BRS and AIADMK on its side. But a bruised Naveen Patnaik, who lost power in Odisha, has clearly instructed BJDs Rajya Sabha MPs to side with the larger opposition; chances are that Jagan Mohan Reddys YSRCP may follow suit after being defeated in Andhra Pradesh by the National Democratic Alliance. Then theres the AIADMK which had a fallout with the BJP over the latters rising southern star K Annamalai. Next comes K Chandrashekhar Raos BRS which was at the receiving end of PM Modis sharp political attacks and EDs liquor gate investigation, and is now unlikely to be as cooperative with a less-mighty BJP. So, how would the BJP then pass crucial legislations in Modi 3.0 in the Rajya Sabha? HOW IS BJP PLACED IN THE RAJYA SABHA? The BJP-led NDA is just three seats short of a majority in the Rajya Sabha. With the election to 56 Rajya Sabha seats earlier this year, the BJP has inched closer to 100. It managed to win 30 of the 56 seats, taking its score in the Upper House to 97 and the NDA to 118. Now, the majority mark in the 245-member Rajya Sabha is 123. However, five seats are vacant currently. Four of them are from Jammu and Kashmir, which has been under Presidents Rule, and one seat is in the nominated member category. This brings down the strength of the House to 240 and brings down the majority mark to 121. While the BJPs Lok Sabha numbers have dropped from 303 to 240 and the Congresss tally jumped from 52 to 99 seats, the Rajya Sabha remains unaffected by that as its strength is decided by respective parties strength in state assemblies. WHY FRIENDLY PARTIES WONT SIDE WITH BJP While it was always understood that the BJP would fight friendlier opposition parties in the states, this time, it ended up demolishing the house of Naveen Patnaik, bringing down the decades-old BJD government in Odisha. However, what may have caused a serious rapture in the working relationship, particularly with respect to the BJD and the BRS, is the perceived personal attack. During the peak of the election campaign, a video of Naveen Patnaiks aide VK Pandian grabbing his trembling hand during a rally went viral. Top BJP leaders shared the video with even the Prime Minister jumping in to promise an inquiry into the reason behind the BJD chiefs deteriorating health. He sent out two messages Naveen Patnaik isnt in the best of health to rule the state and floated a conspiracy theory behind this deterioration in health. Elections may be over, but Patnaik hasnt forgotten nor forgiven. The BRS is bitter against the BJP for the Enforcement Directorate and CBI investigations against its top leaders in the Delhi liquor scam that saw even K Kavitha, daughter of former chief minister KCR, being arrested by the CBI. The Rao family took it as a personal attack. SO WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? A Union Minister News18 spoke to laughed off the prospect of any challenges in the Rajya Sabha. It is just a matter of few seats. You saw how even INDI Alliance partners backed us on the resolution of the Emergency. Its a divided house. But we arent worried about it right now. We will cross the bridge when we come to it, the minister said on condition of anonymity, referring to INDIA bloc allies like the TMC and the SP supporting the government on the resolution on Emergency. Government sources say that backchannel talks never dried up with few opposition parties, particularly the TMC, which claims the Centre owes it Rs 7,000 crore under the 100-days work scheme, a matter that comes under the Rural Development Ministry. While the TMCs top echelons had an icy relationship with Giriraj Singh in Modi 2.0, they are known to have a warm one with Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the present agriculture minister. A government source suggested that understanding on crucial legislations in the Modi 3.0 always remains an option. Even in the last Lok Sabha tenure, the TMC had gone on record to say it wasnt averse to giving issue-based support to the government. The government source added that writing off YSRCP completely from the picture would be naive. Jagan Mohan Reddy aide Vijay Sai Reddy, who would continue to be YSRCP leader in Rajya Sabha, shares a working relationship with the government. He has already met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw regarding a few rail projects in Andhra Pradesh and the Metro rail project in Vizag. The four Lok Sabha seats that come under J&K have been lying vacant for years. Now with the impending Assembly election in the Union Territory of J&K, that too after the delimitation which politically suits the BJP, the party hopes to get two Rajya Sabha seats as and when elections take place. Is the INDIA bloc tempo still up or has it lost some of the election high amid questions over its unity in the face of lack of support for Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren? The upcoming bypolls to 10 Uttar Pradesh Assembly seats may answer the question. Leaders of both the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress had unofficially announced their alliance not only for the bypolls but also for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections, for which the upcoming bye-elections have been billed as the trailer. The bypolls will also be a test of whether the slump in BJPs Lok Sabha seat tally in the state will have any bearing on the Assembly seats. The Election Commission is yet to announce the schedule for the bypolls but political parties in Uttar Pradesh have started the preparations. The 10 Assembly seats are the ones vacated by MLAs who contested and won the Lok Sabha elections. Our preparations are on. Talks over seat-sharing are in progress. Top-level leaders of both the parties (Congress and SP) are in touch. We will continue to fight in alliance with the SP under the INDIA bloc. We will win the bypolls on all the seats the way we defeated the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on a majority of seats, said Congress UP spokesperson Anshu Awasthi. Awasthi said the SP-Congress alliance will secure more than 300 seats in the 403-member UP Assembly in 2027 elections as well. Congresss UP president Ajay Rai, who contested the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too said the SP and Congress would fight the bypolls together. Samajwadi Party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary echoed similar sentiments. Our alliance with the Congress will continue and we will continue to win in the bypolls, he said. On the other hand, the BJP, having suffered a big setback in Lok Sabha elections, is gearing up for a massive ground campaign to boost cadre morale and reach the voters. We will fight bypolls with full spirit and will retain almost all the seats, said BJP spokesperson Manish Dixit. Among the seats that will head to bypolls is SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs Karhal Assembly constituency that was vacated to retain the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. Other vacant seats include Khair (Aligarh), Kundarki (Moradabad), Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Phulpur (Prayagraj), Ghaziabad (Ghaziabad), Majhawan (Mirzapur), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), and Milkipur (Ayodhya). According to political analysts in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress-SP may pose a formidable challenge to the ruling BJP. I dont think that countering SP-Congress alliance would be that easy for BJP now, especially when the caste dynamics and majority of people went in favour of INDIA on many seats, bringing down the BJPs (Lok Sabha) tally (in Uttar Pradesh) to 33. Also, boosting the morale of the party cadre after its performance in the 20204 Lok Sabha polls would be challenging task for the BJP, said Shashikant Pandey, Head of the Department of Political Sciences at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow. In the Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc secured seats not only in its traditional strongholds, the Yadav-dominated areas of Etah, Etawah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, and Kannauj, but also in the Bundelkhand region, central and east Uttar Pradesh. These regions are primarily dominated by Other Backward Classes (OBCs) such as Kurmi, Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha, Rajbhar, and Nishad communities, as well as Dalit communities, including Jatavs, Pasis, Koris, Valmikis, and Dhobis. The INDIA bloc garnered a substantial chunk of voters from OBCs, Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), and Dalit voters, countering the Bharatiya Janata Partys efforts to consolidate its OBC vote base through alliances with Anupriya Patels Apna Dal (S), Om Rajbhars Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and Sanjay Nishads NISHAD party. Caste politics played a crucial role in the 27 Lok Sabha seats that were contested in the sixth and seventh phases of the general elections. Out of these 27 seats, the National Democratic Alliance secured victory in 10, while the INDIA bloc won 17. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress not only secured victory in 43 seats, but also increased their vote share. The SP, which had won five seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with a 18.11% vote share, increased its tally to 37 seats and its vote share to 33.59%. The Congress, which had won one seat in 2019 with 6.36% vote share, increased its tally to six seats and its vote share to 9.46% in 2024. The NDA experienced a significant setback, with a decline in both seat tally and vote share. The BJPs vote share decreased from 49.98% in 2019 to 41.37% in 2024. The Apna Dal (S) saw its vote share shrink from 1.21% in 2019 to 0.92% now and won only one seat. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which contested solo, also faced a substantial decline, with its vote share dropping from 19.43% in 2019 to 9.39% with zero seats. In a notable shift, the SP, which had not won any reserved seats in 2019, secured seven reserved seats, while its ally Congress won one reserved seat. In 2019, all reserved seats were won by the BJP, BSP, and Apna Dal (S). Actor-turned-politician Sarathkumar, his wife Radhika, their son and his fiancee visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on Friday morning. The visit was to invite the PM for the upcoming wedding and reception of the son. After exchanging greetings with the PM, the power couple spoke to the prime minister about the state of Tamil Nadu. Radhika, who contested the recent elections from Virudhnagar, but lost, got a message of encouragement from the PM. He told me that I fought the Lok Sabha elections very well, but must stay focussed now. PM told me to start working for the upcoming assembly elections in 2026, Radhika told News18. Sarathkumar said he made a promise to the Prime Minister. Both of us pledged that we will do whatever is possible to make sure that we continue to work for the people of Tamil Nadu, he told News18. Just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in March, Sarathkumar merged his party, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The actors wife lost to Congress leader Manickam Tagore. While the BJP was able to increase its vote share in the southern state, it did not win a single Lok Sabha seat, with All 40 seats going to the opposition. The state will see assembly polls in 2026 and the BJP under the leadership of K Annamalai will attempt to make a mark. The prime minister has spoken about the focus of his party and Tamil being among the oldest languages. During his first address in the UN after becoming the prime minister, he had also made a brief address in Tamil. Apart from this, as mark of respect to the rich culture of Tamil Nadu, the Sengol has been established in Parliament to guide towards good governance. Organising the Kashi Tamil Sangam and Satra Tamil Tamil Sangmam are among the steps taken to promote the rich culture and heritage. PM Modi made multiple tours to the southern state, including at least four-five in 2024, even before the Lok Sabha election dates were announced. Imagine a nation where dignity takes a backseat to the basic necessity of sanitation. This was the reality for millions in India for far too long. But then came a man who dared to dream of a cleaner, healthier future, a man who would be forever known as the Toilet Man of India Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak. Dr. Pathaks story is one woven from the threads of Mahatma Gandhis vision of a self-reliant and sanitary India. Gandhi famously declared, Sanitation is more important than independence. He understood that a clean environment is the bedrock of a strong and healthy society. Dr. Pathak, inspired by this vision, dedicated his life to transforming the sanitation landscape of India. Today, as we see the sea change in Indias sanitation ecosystem through 10 years of progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission, we can truly appreciate Dr. Pathaks incredible contribution to the cause. Mission Swachhta aur Paani, an initiative by News18 and Harpic, also walks on the trail that Dr Pathak blazed. A movement that champions the cause of inclusive sanitation, equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes; Mission Swachhta aur Paani strongly advocates the belief that clean toilets are a shared responsibility. So it was only fitting that we paid tribute to Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak at the event celebrating the culmination of Mission Swachhta aur Paani, Season 3. On stage, Actor Akshay Kumar recounted his meeting with Dr. Pathak before the launch of his movie Toilet Ek Prem Katha. He was floored by the stories that Dr Pathak told him. He also showed Akshay the many technologies and systems that are in use or being explored and introduced him to sanitation workers whose lives had changed because of their association with Sulabh International. While today, we know him as a powerful agent of change, Dr. Pathaks journey began not in the corridors of power, but in the stark realities of everyday life. Witnessing the plight of sanitation workers and the indignity of open defecation, Dr. Pathak knew he had to act. In 1970, he founded Sulabh International, an organization that would become synonymous with sanitation reform in India. Sulabh International, under Dr. Pathaks leadership, became a juggernaut of change. The numbers speak for themselves: Sulabh International is responsible for constructing over 1.5 million household toilets, 9,000 public toilets, and impacting a staggering 20 million daily users. But Dr. Pathaks vision wasnt confined to mere numbers. He believed in creating a sanitation revolution that touched every facet of society. Sulabh toilets were not just brick-and-mortar structures; they were symbols of empowerment. Dr. Pathak championed the two-pit toilet system, a sustainable solution that not only provided sanitation but also generated biogas, a clean energy source. This innovation addressed not just sanitation but also the energy needs of communities. Hygiene education became another cornerstone of Dr. Pathaks mission. He recognized that sanitation goes beyond building toilets; it requires a shift in mindsets. Sulabh International spearheaded the construction of toilet blocks in over 6,200 schools, promoting hygiene practices among the future generation. Dr. Pathaks fight for sanitation equality extended to the most marginalized sanitation workers. He challenged the social stigma attached to their profession and actively advocated for their upliftment. Sulabh International provided them with dignified working conditions and opportunities for skill development. Harpic World Toilet Colleges are furthering this mission, with the stated objective of improving the quality of life of sanitation workers through their rehabilitation by linking them with dignified livelihood options. Dr. Pathaks unwavering dedication to the cause didnt go unnoticed. He was bestowed with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, and posthumously, the Padma Vibhushan. The Stockholm Water Prize nominating committee aptly described his impact: Dr. Pathaks impact is extraordinary in scope. How could one mans vision improve the lives of so many? Dr. Pathaks story is not just about toilets; its about the power of one mans determination to rewrite a narrative. He transformed a nations approach to sanitation, championed the dignity of sanitation workers, and instilled the importance of hygiene in future generations. Just as the Harpic World Toilet Colleges have taken their cue from Dr Pathaks vision and are making great strides in creating an ecosystem that supports the safety, dignity and upliftment of sanitation workers, Mission Swachhta aur Paani takes its cue to do the important work of communication and community building. For 3 years now, Mission Swachhta aur Paani has brought together the right stakeholders on a common platform, so that issues of importance can be discussed, and solutions found. As Mission Swachhta aur Paani concludes its third season, Dr. Pathaks legacy serves as a powerful torch. His life is a testament to the fact that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome with unwavering commitment and a vision for a better tomorrow. Let us all carry forward his dream of an India where sanitation is not a privilege, but a basic right for all. Join us here to learn how you can be a part of the solution, and help usher in a Swasth and Swachh Bharat. When we think about sanitation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the first goal that comes to mind is SDG 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all. Given that people all over the globe are experiencing the deleterious effects of climate change, and the evolving conversation on the water crisis, SDG 6 takes on added significance. In India, both the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Jal Jeevan Mission are aligned with the same goals and objectives as SDG 6. However, as we have seen in the last 10 years, providing safe sanitation goes a long way in improving the quality of life of every citizen in many unexpected ways. Sanitation and the other SDGs SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being There is a direct line between public health and sanitation where there are safe and accessible toilets, there are fewer outbreaks of waterborne diseases like Diarrhoea, Cholera, Typhoid, Amoebic Dysentery, Hepatitis A, Shigellosis, Giardiasis and vector borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue Fever, Yellow fever, Chikungunya and others. Children who practice safe sanitation are less prone to parasitic infections, which prevents malnutrition and stunting. SDG 4: Quality Education When they have access to safe toilets at home, children miss fewer days of school, improving outcomes. When they have access to safe toilets at school, we see fewer disease outbreaks. When girls have access to safe, well equipped toilets in school, we see lower dropout rates, particularly in older girls who menstruate. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Proper sanitation infrastructure in urban areas helps create sustainable and resilient cities. Untreated sewage can introduce harmful pathogens, toxic chemicals, and excess nutrients into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites present in human waste. When released into water, they can infect humans and aquatic life, leading to diseases. On the flip side, our wastes often contain high levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. When these nutrients enter water bodies, they can cause imbalances, leading to issues like eutrophication, which leads to algal blooms, which can, in turn, block sunlight and deplete oxygen in the water. When algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen, further reducing oxygen levels in the water. This can suffocate fish and other aquatic organisms. Large algal blooms can create dead zones. The same toxins that leach into water and kill off aquatic organisms also affect organisms in the soil that maintain soil health. As we are learning, the soil is a living system and contains billions of creatures. Beneficial bacteria and fungi work together with nematodes, arthropods and earthworms to cycle nutrients within the soil matrix. Many of these creatures are sensitive to certain toxins and pathogens we regularly excrete, which means that our traditional way of going to the toilet in our fields actually harms the soil structure, balance and fertility. In some cases, toxins we excrete can make their way back into our plates through contaminated food grown on contaminated soil. SDG 13: Climate Action By improving our wastewater treatment capacity, we can play a significant role in mitigating climate change, particularly through the release of greenhouse gases from wastewater treatment and the decomposition of organic matter in sanitation systems. Anaerobic digestion of organic matter in sanitation systems, such as septic tanks and sewage sludge, releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Proper sanitation management, including the capture and utilisation of methane for energy, can help reduce these emissions. By using upcycled materials and recycled materials for toilet construction, following sound construction practices and using long-lasting materials suited to the local climate and geography also helps keep their carbon footprint low. Toilets and sanitation systems can also be designed to be energy-efficient, reducing the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment and promoting sustainable energy use. Moreover, they can also be powered by renewable energy. This can be particularly useful for toilets and sanitation systems in far flung areas, giving them additional autonomy and self-reliance. Beyond toilets, sanitation also addresses the disposal of household wastes. By following effective segregation methods, we can significantly increase the volume of materials that are recycled. SDG 15: Life on Land Sanitation practices also impact terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. Sanitation systems that effectively treat wastewater prevent the release of pollutants into water bodies, protecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. This is particularly important for maintaining healthy rivers, lakes, and wetlands, which support a wide range of plant and animal species. As previously mentioned, improperly managed sanitation systems can lead to soil pollution, which can have long-term impacts on ecosystem health and biodiversity. Proper sanitation management, including the safe disposal of human waste, helps prevent soil pollution and maintains soil health. Sanitation Progress in India Fortunately, the Swachh Bharat Mission has made a giant leap in mitigating these impacts by creating a strong sanitation infrastructure. In just the first 10 years, the Swachh Bharat Mission has constructed over 11 crore toilets, and improved toilet access for all Indians. Over 6 lakh villages are now ODF. However, as the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Mission anticipated, building toilets is just half the solution the rest comes from behavioural change. The gap is one of awareness and education. The Swachh Bharat Mission has been using a multi-pronged approach to communicate the importance of toilet usage and toilet hygiene with context and nuance. Fortunately, it is not alone in doing so. As Indias leading brand in the lavatory care segment, Harpic has been teaching Indians how to care for each other by caring for our toilets for decades now. Three years ago, Harpic joined hands with News18 in Mission Swachhta aur Paani, a movement that upholds the cause of inclusive sanitation where everyone has access to clean toilets. Mission Swachhta aur Paani advocates equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes and strongly believes that clean toilets are a shared responsibility. In these three years, Mission Swachhta aur Paani has brought together the right stakeholders on a common platform, so that issues of importance can be discussed, and solutions found. These stakeholders include govt officials, municipalities, NGOs, activists, grassroots organisations, sanitation workers and affected communities. It also functions as a repository for information on a vast variety of topics surrounding toilet access, toilet hygiene, and how to help improve toilet access and toilet habits across the board. This allows you to take action from a place of strength. In a land as diverse as India, there are so many nuances, and we cant wait for the government to do it all. Some of it falls to us too. Learn what you need from our repository, and take action. The Swachh Bharat Mission is a Jan Andolan first, after all. Join us here, to add your voice to ours, and help us create a Swasth and Swachh Bharat for every Indian. Australian diving champion Rhiannon Iffland has captured attention for her recent visit to Area 47, an adventure park which is home to Europes fastest waterslide. Located in Austria, the slide can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h but is restricted for women due to safety concerns over high-pressure water that could lead to serious injuries. Despite these warnings, Iffland ignored the gender-specific restrictions on extreme rides, took the plunge and shared the exhilarating moment on her Instagram. Her actions sparked a debate online, with some questioning safety protocols, while others admiring her courage. The video features the seven-time Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion preparing to go down the controversial waterslide. In the footage, she even added the text stating, Apparently women are not supposed to do this slide, before going down the slide. Sharing the video, Iffland wrote, Here for a good time not a long time. Another YOLO moment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhiannan Iffland (@rhiannan_iffland) Reacting to Rhiannon Ifflands video, a user wrote, No women allowed- unless you are a cliff diver because then you are used to it. Another shared, Always prove theyre wrong. Im not a doctor but the force of the water going internally can do significant damage. Also why the recommend girls wear wetsuit bottoms when they waterski, a comment read. One more added, I got the worst enema on that slide bahhaha you are brave girl. Meanwhile, Rhiannon Iffland in an interview with news.com.au said, It was never my intent to mock the safety regulations of this waterslide. A persons safety is paramount and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job. To suggest otherwise is wrong. In another incident, a family vacation in Spain took a tragic turn, when a mother of two experienced a shocking incident on the VertiGo slide at Aqualandia water park in Benidorm. Despite following safety instructions to close her legs, she suffered an 8cm internal tear from the slides high water pressure. Monu Bhagat, unaware of the danger, was the first among her family members to try the slide. Speaking to The Sun, the woman said, Ive been on these types of slides before so I knew what I was doing. As I went down I felt a tight pull and to start with I thought I had a wedgie, but as I got out of the pool blood started pouring down my legs. My daughter saw the blood and she was so scared. I knew that it couldnt be my period but I tried to stay calm and not panic the children. The pain was unbearable and I couldnt stop crying. The doctor said it wasnt a small tear and she would stay with me so I wasnt on my own. At the same park, a British tourist narrowly escaped a life-threatening injury when he fractured two neck bones and injured his spinal cord after going down headfirst in the slide. Aryan Anand, a former student of Lehigh University, orchestrated a notorious plan to secure a full scholarship at the prestigious institution in Pennsylvania, USA. His plan included fabricating financial records, and transcripts and even arranging a fake death certificate of his father. His tactics also involved creating a fake email address to look like his school principal. Shockingly, Anand publicly confessed about building his entire life and career on lies in a Reddit post. However, his revelation was exposed after the Reddit moderator conducted a background check and discovered he was a student of Lehigh University. As a result, the universitys police department initiated an investigation that concluded with Anands arrest on April 30. The Indian student was charged with forgery and theft of services. According to ABC News, Northampton County Assistant DA Michael Weinert said, The defendant only had one other university that he followed, which was Lehigh University. So, the moderator actually reached out to Lehigh to give them a heads up. It was difficult to really verify these things. I think that was great work by Lehigh and their police force. They were able to really dig deep and find all this really was false. Meanwhile, Lehigh University, in a statement, said, Appreciates the report to its ethics hotline and the diligent investigation by the Lehigh University Police Department that led to Aryan Anands arrest. The investigation confirmed that Anand wrote the Reddit post. It was further revealed that his father is alive and residing in India. Anand was charged and his bail would have cost $25,000 (approximately Rs 20 Lakh). The student was then taken into custody by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the police investigation, Aryan Anand could have faced 10 to 20 years in prison, but due to an appeal made by university officials, he was only dismissed from the institute and was deported to India as his punishment. In an earlier incident, an Indian student in Canada sparked controversy when he shared a video of how he obtained free food from a local food bank. Mehul Prajapati, a data scientist, admitted in the now-deleted video that he saved money by using a food bank facility. Soon after his footage went viral, many criticised him and Prajapati was later terminated from his employment. this guy has a job as a bank data scientist for @TD_Canada, a position that averages $98,000 per year, and proudly uploaded this video showing how much free food he gets from charity food banks.you dont hate them enough. pic.twitter.com/mUIGQnlYu6 pagliacci the hated (@Slatzism) April 20, 2024 In a conversation with India Today, Mehul Prajapati clarified that he was fired from his job, due to racial bias against him at work. The student explained that he created the video with the intention of educating international students in Canada. A wholesome conversation between a Kashmiri man and a migrant worker from Bihar is winning hearts on social media. The video shows the Kashmiri man, in a car, stopped by two migrants. The local speaks to the camera as he points to the two men and says Yeh dekho Bihar se yeh log aate hain. Yahan ka sab kaam khatam kiya inlogon ne (Look! These people come here from Bihar and take over all the work). He then directly points the camera to the older man, who is initially suspicious of the camera but soon feels at ease as the conversation starts. The Kashmiri man light-heartedly asks the migrant workers why they have not left any jobs for the locals as the migrants are now doing everything from running a barber shop to carpentering. Hearing this, the Bihari man replies, Sab karega. Ab jo fasal lagaate hain na wo bhi hum log seekh lega dheere dheere (We will do everything. Now, we will slowly learn to farm as well). The Kashmiri man then asks them if they also plan to make wazwan, a multi-course meal made on special occasions. The migrant worker asks what wazwan is and after getting the definition he says, Wo log aap banaiye. Hame bas kaam karna hai aur roti chahiye bass (You guys take care of it. We just wanted to earn a livelihood and meals). By the end of the video, the Kashmiri man mentions that he will share this video online, to which the migrant worker agrees and then cheekily adds, Han daalo daalo koi baat nahi! Bolna plaster Rs 7 foot karta hai (Go ahead, share it. Tell them I charge Rs 7 per foot for plaster work). This undated video was recently shared on X with the caption, This is naya Kashmir (This is new Kashmir) This is naya kashmir pic.twitter.com/o9eEICz5XW vijay sheth (@vijaysheth) June 24, 2024 An X user commented, The key factor behind Biharis success in Jammu and Kashmir was their ability to offer affordable labour, good work quality, and timely completion. In contrast, local labourers have a reputation for being demanding, requiring high wages and benefits, and taking frequent days off. The key factor behind Biharis' success in Jammu and Kashmir was their ability to offer affordable labor, good work quality, and timely completion. In contrast, local laborers have a reputation for being demanding, requiring high wages and benefits, and taking frequent days off. Mohammed Tauseef khan (@nothinktanker) June 27, 2024 Someone else wrote, Biharis are single-handedly responsible for keeping this country United! Biharis are single handedly responsible for keeping this country United! https://t.co/9TwxmUO4oO Donald Trump (@BonarparteN) June 25, 2024 Another person wrote, These Bihari labourers are humble and very hard working, please do not mock them. If Kashmiris want to work, who will stop them? You need to have the intent to work hard, dont blame others for your laziness. These Bihari labourers are humble and very hard working, please do not mock them. If Kashmiris want to work who will stop them. You need to have the intent to work hard, don't blame others for your laziness. Rafiz (@Abuinsaan) June 25, 2024 As per estimates by Article 14, every year, about 150,000 to 200,000 workers come to Kashmir. Migrant workers often face discrimination from the local population, which is why the humorous banter in the above-mentioned video is winning over people. Pakistan envoy to the US Masood Khan said that his country needs sophisticated small arms and other modern equipment to ensure that their counter-terrorism operation named Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is a success, Pakistani news outlet GeoNews said in a report. Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the Pakistani government says, is an operation that it claims would eliminate terrorism from the country. Its government approved the fresh operation this week. Pakistan has launched Azm-e-Istehkam, to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment, Khan was quoted as saying by the news outlet. The comments were made during an event organised by Wilson Centers South Asia Institute in partnership with the International Academy of Letters USA in Washington, DC. The event, titled Looking Back, Looking Forward: Assessing the US-Pakistan Relationship, also saw the envoy urging his host country to continue to invest in the reset of Pakistan-US relationship. He also said that Islamabad and Washington should maintain strong security links and that both parties should enhance intelligence cooperation between them. He also urged the resumption of sales of advanced military platforms to Pakistan. He also urged the US to sustain Pakistans US-origin defence equipment This is crucial for regional security and opposing the rising tide of terrorism that also threatens the interests of the US and its allies. Secondly, one or two issues should not hold the entire relationship hostage. It equals trust building, he said. He also urged that the US should consider making Pakistan a partner for a diplomatic comeback in Kabul if that is part of the plan and work with Pakistan in an inclusive setting on counterterrorism efforts and addressing the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Last year, Pakistan reportedly entered into a $364 million arms sales agreement with two private US companies. These weapons were allegedly sent to Ukraine, which is engaged in a war with neighbour Russia. This deal, according to the Intercept, helped to facilitate a controversial bailout from the International Monetary Fund. The Biden administration in 2022 also approved a $450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan. The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan on Friday warned Pakistan that any incursion into its territory will have serious consequences, a day after Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan can target sanctuaries of the outlawed terrorist group TTP in Afghanistan under a newly launched so-called military operation against terrorism. Afghanistan warns that any incursion into our territory, regardless of the pretext or guise, will bear serious consequences and the violators will be held accountable, the Afghanistan Defence Force warned. The latest statement by Pakistans defence minister regarding the potential violation of Afghanistans national sovereignty is both unwise and an attempt to muddy the waters, which benefits no one. Pakistans leadership should refrain from making such sensitive statements on critical issues, it said in a statement. The government announced the launch of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam last week to tackle the rising threat of terrorism in the wake of lukewarm support by the Afghan Taliban to stop the use of their soil by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rebels against Pakistan. In an interview with the Voice of America, Asif said that the decision to launch the counter-terrorism operation was not made in haste, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. The decision about Azm-e-Istehkam was taken because of the economic difficulties, and it may also target TTPs sanctuaries across the border, he told the state-owned American news network and international radio broadcaster. The minister said that it would not be against international law since Afghanistan had been exporting terrorism to Pakistan, and the exporters were being harboured there, the Dawn newspaper reported. Asif said that although the TTP was operating from the neighbouring country, its cadre, about a few thousand in number, are operating from within the country. He also ruled out any chances of dialogue with the banned outfit, saying there was no common ground. The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The group, believed to be close to al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. (with inputs from PTI) At least 60 Indian nationals part of a group engaged in online financial scams have been arrested by Sri Lankas Criminal Investigations Department. They were arrested on Thursday from the Colombo suburbs of Madiwela and Battaramulla and from the western coastal town of Negombo. According to Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the CID conducted simultaneous raids in these mentioned areas, leading to the seizure of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops. The crackdown follows a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions. Further investigation revealed a scheme where victims were coerced into making deposits after initial payments. In Peradeniya, a father-son duo admitted to aiding the fraudsters, Daily Mirror Lanka newspaper reported. Key evidence uncovered during a luxury house raid in Negombo led to the initial arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of 57 phones and computers. Subsequent operations in Negombo yielded 19 additional arrests, exposing international links in Dubai and Afghanistan. Victims included both locals and foreigners, the report added. It is suspected that they were involved in financial fraud, illegal betting and various activities of gambling. A Texas woman traveling with her 16-month-old son and mother claimed on Wednesday that she was removed from a United Airlines flight at San Francisco International Airport after inadvertently misgendering a flight attendant. Jenna Longoria, a womens health and hormone expert from the US state of Texas, said that the incident began during boarding when she mistakenly referred to the United crew member using incorrect pronouns multiple times, the New York Post reported. A woman with her 16-month-old son and elderly mother was denied boarding for a United Airlines flight due to her using the wrong pronounsThe United employees claimed that to be a hate crime, stressing that the three will not be able to fly with the company anymore, the pic.twitter.com/9pxMdgiRJU Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 27, 2024 When [the flight attendant], who identifies as a woman, gave me our boarding passes I said thank you, sir. That is it. That is it, Longoria, still confused over the incident, told the New York-based newspaper. She got upset. I walked to the plane to go down the aisle. Then she held my mother back and wouldnt let her come with me [past the gate], she said. According to Longoria, she initially thanked the flight attendant, who identifies as a woman, with thank you, sir. This led to the attendant becoming visibly upset and preventing Longorias mother from proceeding past the gate with her. Onboard, Longoria sought help from another male flight attendant, informing him that the first attendant had held her mother back. He said he? and I said, yeah. He then said shes wearing a dress,' Longoria recounted. Amid the confusion, with her son in her arms and visibly upset, she stressed her priority was ensuring her sons safety, not the pronouns someone identifies with. The situation escalated when Longoria, her son, and her mother were ultimately denied boarding, with United Airlines citing an alleged dispute over carry-on items, a claim Longoria vehemently denied. United later clarified that it was due to a verbal altercation involving remarks perceived as derogatory toward transgender individuals. In an Instagram post, Longoria shared a video where Gabriella explained they were being prevented from flying due to the comments made. Despite her efforts to seek clarification and understand the situation, Longoria expressed shock and disbelief over the unfolding events. The family, stranded without their luggage and medications left on the departing flight, eventually opted to purchase tickets with American Airlines to return to Austin. Longoria expressed disappointment at the lack of apology or compensation for the incident. Former US president Donald Trump has said his administration opted out of the landmark Paris Climate Accord in 2017 as it was a rip-off which would have cost Washington USD 1 trillion, as he claimed that India, China and Russia werent paying for it. Trump, the presumptive candidate of the Republican Party, made the claims at the first of presidential debates with his Democratic Party rival President Joe Biden on Thursday, where the two 2024 presidential candidates sparred over the state of the economy, border, foreign policy, abortion, national security and climate change. During their roughly 90-minute debate marred by personal attacks, Trump, 78, claimed that the Paris Climate Accord would have cost USD 1 trillion and the US was the only country that had to pay. Calling it a rip-off, he said that China, India and Russia werent paying. In 2017, Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, saying the international deal to keep global temperatures rising below 2 degrees Celsius was disadvantageous to US workers. As part of the Paris Agreement, in 2009, the US and other developed nations committed to collectively contribute USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to help poorer, developing countries, predominantly in the Global South, adapt to the impacts of climate change like sea level rise and worsening heat. According to a CNN report, developed nations met their collective goal two years late in 2022, but the figure has never been as high as Trump suggested. Contrary to what Trump said, the US has never paid USD 1 trillion in international climate finance, according to the report. The US paid nothing to the global finance goal after Trump pulled the country out of the Paris accord. President Biden has pledged USD 11.4 billion annually from the US, but this level of funding hasnt materialised, the report said. Trump, a known climate change sceptic, has continuously argued that countries like China and India are benefiting the most from the Paris Agreement. China is the worlds biggest carbon emitter followed by the US, India and the EU. Zanu PF legislator for Chiredzi West Darlington Chi wa said the Government was not serious when it comes to supporting sugarcane farming despite that it was recently declared a strategic crop. The lack of seriousness, Chiwa said, resulted in communities in Masvingo province starving, notwithstanding that there are too many dams full to capacity not being utilized. Addressing journalists at a cocktail organized by Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) at Triangle Country Club recently, Chiwa said there were many dams in the Lowveld but communities were starving because there was no serious government support. We have drought but our dams are full. Our dams are full yet we have communities around starving. What is the challenge? We have sugarcane as a strategic crop but it remains a political statement. This is where the country should be looking at this time; the land is there and the dams are full but we dont have serious government support. Even when we look at the budget itself you cant be budgeting for tobacco when drought is threatening and when we know most of it will not be irrigated. This is the time that we should be actually budgeting towards an area where water security is certain like this particular area. I know I will be on front page tomorrow but I have to say it, said Chiwa. He said Chiredzi had the capacity to feed all the starving communities if it was getting serious government support. We are facing a drought situation as a nation, but because of the challenges that we have down here; it is the time that maybe we were going to be the Biblical Egypt where the reserve of the nation could be found because of the water security that we have, he said. Chiwa said their expectation as an industry was that since government had taken a stance to declare sugarcane a strategic crop, they expected further interventions to be pronounced in terms of policy so that once it becomes a strategic crop, it is treated the same like other strategic crops. When asked by TellZim at a side interview about how he wanted government to assist considering that THZ is a private company which makes it difficult to be included in the national budget, Chiwa said the situation was now different because there were more out grower sugarcane farmers in the Lowveld. It is possible to be part of the national budget because we now have more individual sugarcane farmers so its no longer Tongaat alone. These farmers need support the same way tobacco farmers are being supported, said Chiwa. Masvingo province has the largest inland dams in the country but there are few irrigation schemes and most of the water is not utilized. Tugwi Mukosi dam was completed about five years ago but has been lying idle despite that it has a potential to irrigate over 20 000 hectares. Its pathetic that people around the dam are starving yet the situation could have been different if government had established irrigation schemes at Tokwe Mukosi dam. Currently the water from Tokwe Mukosi dam is only being used by THZ, and the company indicated that the dam had enough water for irrigation at least for the next five years. Other water bodies like Muzhwi, Bangala, Manjirenji and Mutirikwi are lying idle with the water only being used for domestic purposes.TellZimNews UPDATE Jun 28, 2024 12:00 PM CDT A reward for information on one of the few women ever featured on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list has climbed 20-fold, despite claims that the missing "Cryptoqueen" was murdered. Ruja Ignatov, a Bulgarian-born German citizen accused of running a $4.5 billion cryptocurrency scam, has been missing since 2017. A BBC podcast recently claimed Ignatova had links to the mafia, which may have killed her. Even so, the US State Department this week announced that the reward for information on her whereabouts, previously $250,000, now stands at $5 million. That might just be enough to convince a mafia member to spill the beans, podcast host Jamie Bartlett tells the BBC. Jul 1, 2022 5:07 AM CDT The FBI has added Ruja Ignatova, a Bulgarian woman dubbed the "cryptoqueen," to its Ten Most Wanted listbut she's been missing since 2017 and the agency says she may have changed her appearance. The 42-year-old is accused of running a Ponzi scheme that scammed investors around the world out of more than $4 billion, the BBC reports. The FBI says Ignatova founded OneCoin, a firm that marketed a purported cryptocurrency of the same name. "In order to execute the scheme, Ignatova allegedly made false statements and representations to individuals in order to solicit investments in OneCoin," the FBI says. Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X The federal judge overseeing the classified documents case against Donald Trump said Thursday she'll revisit a past court victory for the prosecution in a hearing, a move that at a minimum will further delay the start of trial . US District Judge Aileen Cannon's ruling says she'll reconsider the decision of another judge to let prosecutors penetrate the attorney-client privilege of one of Trump's lawyers, the New York Times reports. Under what's called the crime-fraud exception, prosecutors can skirt the usual protections for a lawyer's communications with a client if they can show that legal advice was used to commit a crime. In an 11-page order, Cannon also said she'll allow Trump's lawyers to question witnesses about the investigation and search of Mar-a-Lago two years ago for classified documents. "Further factual development is warranted," she wrote, per CNN. The search turned up 103 classified documents, leading to the indictment. A lawyer for Trump had said an FBI agent's affidavit providing probable cause for the search of Mar-a-Lago was too vague, and Cannon found it an argument worth considering. The judge did not say when she'll entertain the issues in court, per the Washington Post. A Trump campaign spokesman praised the decisions in a statement. "The entire documents case was a political sham from the very beginning and it should be thrown out entirely," Steven Cheung said. (More Mar-a-Lago indictment stories.) Pete Arredondo, who was the chief of school district police when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school in 2022, has been indicted and arrested in connection with the police response. "Mr. Arredondo is currently in our custody," Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco texted Thursday to the New York Times . He said Arredondo is being held on the charge of "abandoning/endangering of a child." It took 77 minutes for law enforcement to stop the gunman that day. The indictment found the failures in the police response went beyond poor decision-making; Arredondo is accused of bearing criminal responsibility for his actions. Arredondo was in charge of a six-person department that had jurisdiction over Uvalde schools. Adrian Gonzales, a former school police officer, also was indicted, per CNN. The felony counts are the first criminal charges to be filed in the school massacre; the gunman was killed by police. Arredondo turned himself in to Texas Rangers on Thursday, an official with the Texas Department of Public Safety said. The chief was one of the first officers to arrive at Robb Elementary, minutes after the shooting began. He later said he didn't think he was in charge of the response. (More Uvalde mass shooting stories.) Coming to classrooms in Oklahoma: the Bible. The state's superintendent has ordered the religious text be taught in Oklahoma's public schools, reports the New York Times , which calls it "an extraordinary move that blurs the lines between religious instruction and public education." "Every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom, and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom," Ryan Walters said on Thursday, though the AP notes that the directive from Walters, a 39-year-old conservative Christian and ex-AP history instructor, applies to classrooms from fifth grade through 12th. "Immediate and strict compliance is expected," the order reads. It comes about a week after Louisiana ordered the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools, a move that has already been hit with legal challenges. This, too, will likely face pushback in the courts. "Public schools are not Sunday schools," Rachel Laser, head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, tells the Times, adding to the Wall Street Journal that the decision is a "transparent, unconstitutional effort to indoctrinate and religiously coerce public school students." Her group is also challenging the Louisiana Ten Commandments mandate. Some aren't even sure that Walters has the authority to make such a sweeping order, as state law leaves such authority on instruction and curriculum to individual school districts. The superintendent, however, is adamant that the Bible be a required study topic in his state. It's "a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system," Walters says, per the Times. story continues below The paper notes other states allow the Bible in schools, though typically only in certain classes that study it from a historical or literary standpoint: "Few other states, if any, have issued such a broad requirement" as Walters'. The Journal notes Walters, once a finalist for the state's teacher of the year honor, has been a fierce advocate against what he calls "woke ideology" in public schools, accusing teachers' unions of being terrorist groups and leftists of creating an "Epstein Island" of sexual predators in the classroom. Earlier this week, Oklahoma's Supreme Court blocked an attempt by the state to set up Oklahoma's first publicly funded religious school. (More Oklahoma stories.) Politico uses the term "freaking out" to describe how Democrats are reacting to President Biden's debate performance Thursday night, and that seems to be a near-universal take when following analysis of the first presidential debate of the 2024 election. More: "Toast." Politico was texting with Democratic operatives and activists during the debate, and onethe co-chair of Martin O'Malley's 2016 presidential campaign in New Hampshiresaid, "Biden is toastcalling it now." Another said, "Time for an open convention." Politico was texting with Democratic operatives and activists during the debate, and onethe co-chair of Martin O'Malley's 2016 presidential campaign in New Hampshiresaid, "Biden is toastcalling it now." Another said, "Time for an open convention." Biden's health: At least two Democrats familiar with Biden's condition said the president has a cold, which would explain his raspy voice and, perhaps, the seemingly confused nature of some of his answers. After the arrest of a man accused of setting up "evil twin" WiFi networks in multiple airports to steal people's data, police in Australia warned the public about using free networks. Perth resident Michael Clapsis, 42, appeared in a court in the city Friday and was granted bail on nine cybercrime charges, WA Today reports. He was arrested in April after an airline employee raised concerns about a suspicious network that appeared during a domestic flight, reports the Guardian. Investigators searched his baggage at Perth Airport and seized equipment including a portable wireless device, 9 News reports. The Australian Federal Police allege that Clapsis set up free WiFi networks that mimicked real ones during flights and in locations including airports in Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne. "When people tried to connect their devices to the free WiFi networks, they were taken to a fake webpage requiring them to sign in using their email or social media logins," police said. "Those details were then allegedly saved to the man's devices." Clapsis allegedly used the logins to access personal information including stored images and bank details, reports WA Today. AFP Western Command Cybercrime Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman said the case should serve as a reminder to be careful about using public networks, the West Australian reports. Her advice: To connect to a free WiFi network, you shouldn't have to enter any personal detailssuch as logging in through an email or social media account." "If you do want to use public WiFi hotspots, install a reputable virtual private network (VPN) on your devices to encrypt and secure your data when using the internet." "When using a public network, disable file sharing, don't do anything sensitive, such as banking, while connected to it and once you finish using it, change your device settings to 'forget network.'" Coleman said police also recommend turning off WiFi on phones and other devices before going out, "to prevent your device from automatically connecting to a hotspot." (More cybercrime stories.) After a faltering debate performance against Donald Trump that left some Democrats "freaking out," President Biden visited a Waffle House near Atlanta. He defended his performance in the debate, suggesting he has no intention of rethinking his candidacy, the New York Times reports. "I think we did well," the president said. Asked if he had concerns about his performance, he said, "No. It's hard to debate a liar." Biden's raspy voice raised concerns during the debate. Asked about reports that he had a cold, Biden said, "I am sick," per Fox News. The president, who visited the Waffle House shortly after midnight, plans to hold a rally in North Carolina on Friday, the Times reports. According to a CNN poll, 67% of debate watchers thought Trump had the better performance. Some 96% of Republicans considered Trump the winner, according to the poll, while only 69% of Democrats thought Biden won. After the debate, Vice President Kamala Harris said it was "obvious" that Biden had a "slow start." (More President Biden stories.) The Supreme Court on Friday upended a 40-year-old decision that made it easier for the federal government to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety, and consumer protections, delivering a far-reaching and potentially lucrative victory to business interests, per the AP . The justices overturned the 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron, long a target of conservatives. Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in challenges that could be spawned by the high court's ruling. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer had warned such a move would be an "unwarranted shock to the legal system." Chief Justice John Roberts qualified that past cases relying on Chevron are not at issue. The heart of the Chevron decision says federal agencies should be allowed to fill in the details when laws aren't crystal clear. Opponents of the decision argued that it gave power that should be wielded by judges to experts who work for the government. The court ruled in cases brought by Atlantic herring fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a fee requirement. Lower courts used the Chevron decision to uphold a 2020 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that herring fishermen pay for government-mandated observers who track their fish intake. Conservative and business interests strongly backed the fishermen's appeals, betting that a court that was remade during Donald Trump's presidency would strike another blow at the regulatory state. Forty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled 6-0, with three justices recused, that judges should play a limited, deferential role when evaluating the actions of agency experts in a case brought by environmental groups to challenge a Reagan administration effort to ease regulation of power plants and factories. "Judges are not experts in the field, and are not part of either political branch of government," Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in 1984, explaining why they should play a limited role. story continues below But the current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas all had questioned the Chevron decision. Opponents of the Chevron doctrine argue that judges apply it too often to rubber-stamp decisions made by government bureaucrats. Judges must exercise their own authority and judgment to say what the law is, they argued to the Supreme Court. Environmental, health advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, organized labor, and Democrats on the national and state level had urged the court to leave the Chevron decision in place. (More US Supreme Court stories.) A decades-long halt on Russia's production of shorter- and intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles has come to an end. Vladimir Putin on Friday called for his country to resume the manufacture of ground-based missiles with a range of between 310 and 3,410 miles, which had been banned in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed in late 1987 by then-US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. In 2019, the US pulled out of the treaty under then-President Trump, claiming that Russia had violated the agreementa claim that Russia denied, per Reuters . Russia pulled out of the treaty shortly after. At the Friday meeting of Russia's Security Council, Putin accused the US of producing these types of missiles and recently testing them out during exercises in Denmark, forcing Russia's hand. He then insinuated that the alleged missiles were also brought to the Philippines. "Apparently, we need to start manufacturing these strike systems and then, based on the actual situation, make decisions about whereif necessary to ensure our safetyto place them," Putin said. (More Vladimir Putin stories.) President Biden sought to ease concerns about his universally panned debate performance in remarks to supporters at a North Carolina rally on Friday. "I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," he said, per Axios. "I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job." Whether that will be enough to assuage worried Democrats is another story. CNN has a clip of what it calls a "fiery speech." A supporter's plea: Add the name of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to the list of those expressing a common sentiment on Friday: "Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election," he writes in an op-ed. Friedman implores Biden's advisers and family members to have that tough conversation with him. Add the name of New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman to the list of those expressing a common sentiment on Friday: "Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election," he writes in an op-ed. Friedman implores Biden's advisers and family members to have that tough conversation with him. Still committed: The Wall Street Journal reports that "several lawmakers" were discussing what might happen next, even if the president was not. A senior presidential adviser (speaking before the president confirmed as much at the Friday rally) tells the newspaper that the president had no plans to drop out and is committed to the second debate in September. Said Biden himself: "I would not be running again if I did not believe with all my heart and soul that I can do this job." Former news presenter Joanna Paul-Robie has revealed she has terminal cancer. Speaking to RNZ's Matariki programme about receiving the Icon Award during the Nga Tohu Toi awards on Thursday night, Robie described it as the "most honourable experience of my life". "I was so touched because this award means so much to me coming from Tauranga Moana. "But more importantly, because I am unfortunately dying, I have terminal cancer, and really to have this award before one posthumously gets it is an even better break." She said she received the award with her whanau at her side. "I can't tell you the lightness, the brightness, the feeling of aroha inside me last night." Perth woman Laura Jones told ABC Australia she started experiencing disturbing symptoms within an hour of taking just one gummy and needed to be rushed to hospital with an accelerated heart rate. "I felt, in all honestly, like I was going to die. I was thinking, 'What is going to happen to the kids?'" She said her anxiety had gotten worse in the weeks since. "My heart rate was elevated for two days afterwards. "I'm quite traumatised by the whole thing. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." Another customer told ABC they tested positive for THC, the psychoactive chemical in cannabis plants, after eating the gummies. Food Standards Australia New Zealand on Wednesday issued a recall of the two flavours. They do not appear to be sold in New Zealand. The sole director of the company, Rohan Bandil, has now spoken out, telling The Guardian he's really sorry and "this was not the intention". "We were just intending to bring the product and sell it in the Australian market as similar products have been extremely successful in the global market," he said. Bandil claimed he had consulted widely before distributing the gummies and there were "many other brands selling similar products". Any Aussies that still have the gummies are being urged to bin them. Newshub We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com Downtown Rotana, a prominent hub for art and culture in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has hosted the Dilmunian Ideography Solo Exhibition 2024 by renowned Bahraini photographer, artist, and historian, Mahmood Baglawa. The exhibition showcases Mahmoods exceptional work focusing on the archaeology, history, and heritage of the ancient Dilmun civilisation. Mahmood, who holds a Masters degree in history from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, has dedicated decades to studying the archaeology and history of Dilmun. His profound passion for ancient cultures led him to explore Sumerian cuneiform writings and Mesopotamian history. Mahmoods artworks vividly represent ancient symbols, writings, and beliefs that have significantly shaped Bahrains historical narrative. Excitement Nicolas Gardier, General Manager of Downtown Rotana, expressed his excitement about the exhibition and Downtown Rotanas ongoing support for local artists. At Downtown Rotana, we always strive to support the local art communities in Bahrain, Gardier said. We launched the Downtown Culture Hub initiative in February 2023, where we host fascinating art collections by many amazing artists, displayed in our main lobby. All art lovers are welcome to visit and enjoy the fascinating art galleries of different styles and themes. Gardier praised Mahmoods contributions, emphasising the importance of his work in understanding the Dilmun civilisations identity. We are honoured to be working with Mahmood, a fantastic artist whose work showcases amazing talent, as part of our 9th edition of the Downtown Culture Hub. Mahmood specialises in the archaeology and culture of Bahrains ancient Dilmun civilisation, presenting Dilmuns existential symbolism in visual arts in his very own Dilmunian Ideography Solo Exhibition 2024 at Downtown Rotana, Gardier remarked. Ancient civilisation Mahmoods artistic techniques bring to life the rise of an ancient civilisation recognised as a cultural heritage, placing the Kingdom of Bahrain on the list of World Heritage Sites. His creative approach and artistic vision provide Bahrains society with unique artistic and cultural experiences. In line with our aim to support local art communities at Downtown Rotana, we extend our sincere thanks to Mahmood for his valuable contribution to Bahrains art scene, Gardier said. His creative approach and artistic vision provide Bahrains society with unique artistic and cultural experiences. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com More than 30 Filipinos attended the meat processing training sponsored by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in collaboration with Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN) held at the Philippine Embassy. In his welcome address, OWWA Welfare Officer, Dr. Amelito S. Adel, extended his gratitude for the participants for attending the training and encouraged each one of them to actively participate and ask questions to the trainors. Your input is invaluable, and together, we can foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence, he said. OWWA initiated programs to equip the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with practical knowledge and skills can help them to start their own businesses to secure better employment opportunities. During the training, Jeffrey Kerr Fredeluces, the trainor and Nicomedes Cordero, Jr., his assistant extended their knowledge to the participants of transforming raw meat into food products through various techniques and processes of making nuggets, siomai, tocino and longganisa (Filipino sausage) ensuring the attendees understood each step. Participants who come came from various places in Bahrain were also were enthusiastic and happy to learn meat processing techniques and expressed their positive feedback. Dinah Sta Ana, president of Pinay Ikaw Na (PIN), has emphasised that the third batch training of the meat processing is not only about enhancing the technical skills but also about improving the economic capability of the participants. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code The mother of an infant who died after ingesting a sedative drug in Burlington County has been charged with manslaughter, authorities said. Vanessa Hampton, 32, of the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, was arrested by Philadelphia police last week. In addition to the manslaughter charge, she is also facing the third-degree offense of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said in a news release on Thursday. Hamptons 10-month-old son was found unresponsive at a home in Medford in November 2022, officials said. After police arrived, the boy was rushed to Virtua Hospital and later Philadelphia Childrens Hospital, where he died about a week later, authorities said. An autopsy determined the boy died from intoxication from a drug called Xylazine. The medicine is used as a sedative, muscle relaxant and painkiller for animals and is not approved for human consumption by the FDA. Last year, the FDA announced plans to restrict the unlawful import of the medication following numerous reports that fentanyl and heroin were being laced with it, leading to fatal overdoses. Hampton is still in the custody of the Philadelphia police and is awaiting extradition to Burlington County. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. An Essex County man admitted Thursday of participating in two schemes to defraud the Department of Defense, authorities said. Alan Aranowitz, 75, of Roseland, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, the U.S Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a release. One of the schemes ran from 2015 through August 2018, where Aranowitz and others who were not identified, entered into contracts with the DoD to supply replacement parts for the military, such as screws, nuts and bolts, through Aranowitzs company, Arlo Corporation, the office said. An unusual New Jersey food concept where diners could order from multiple restaurants at once has closed. Cherry Hills FoodieHall shut its doors for good on June 15. A specific reason for the closure was not disclosed. It is with mixed emotions that Im announcing the closing of Foodiehall. This has been a difficult decision, and we are sad to say goodbye, owner Dan Gilbert wrote in a statement on the eaterys website. The 4,200-square-foot dining hall opened at 1930 Only Ave. in February 2022 as a virtual dining hall for delivery and takeout orders. FoodieHall went on to provide indoor dining as well as COVID-19 restrictions subsided after the pandemic. Its food options ranged widely as the eatery served Dando Tacos, Genos Steaks, Canting Wok and Noodle Bar, DaNicks Craft Burgers, Criss Crust Pizza, Simply Fowl, Mac N Toastie and Fornire Italian Kitchen. I would like to thank our staff, past and present, for being such an important part of our business. Without you, there wouldnt have been a Foodiehall, the statement read. In 2021, we set out to create a delivery and takeout only, multi-concept, food hall that would change how people viewed food delivery. With the help of several talented culinary professionals, a sophisticated ordering system and tech stack, and plenty of support from Foodiehall fans, we accomplished that. More food coverage Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/. Six Walgreens stores in South Jersey were among 20 across the country to receive bomb threats that proved to be unfounded on Thursday, authorities said. One was in Evesham at 11:35 a.m. when someone called the pharmacy retail store on Route 73 and claimed an explosive device was inside, township police said. Officials evacuated the Walgreens and nearby stores and closed a portion of Route 73 while Evesham police officers and a Burlington County Sheriffs Office K9 searched the store, officials said. The highway reopened about 1:15 p.m. A store in Glassboro was also targeted, police said. The locations of the other stores wasnt immediately clear. The threat came a day after Walgreens said it may close hundreds of underperforming stores over the next three years. Anyone with information is asked to call Evesham police at 856-983-1116. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com A California man has been charged with installing a skimming device on an ATM at a store in Central New Jersey, authorities said. Alexanderu Crisan, 34, of Los Angeles, was charged last week with defrauding others through the use of a scanning device in Middlesex Borough, local police reported Thursday. The device was located on March 22 and reported to police the same day, Detective Lt. Sean Flanagan said. Police declined to say how Crisan was caught or name the business, except it to say it is on Union Avenue. Crisan was released on summons and is due in court on July 11. He is not charged in any other related cases in New Jersey, according to municipal court records. Attorney information wasnt immediately available. The store in Middlesex Borough was among numerous businesses across the state where skimming devices were found on ATMs this year. Devices were also installed on ATMs at stores and banks in Cinnaminson, Galloway, Pennsauken, Nutley, Bayonne, Roselle and Union, authorities said. The Roselle and Union devices were installed at Aldi stores during the winter. Previous arrests this year have been in skimming device cases in Westfield, where two men were charged with installing device on ATMs around town. One of the men is from Anaheim, California, the other from Brooklyn, New York. The two are suspected of stealing $165,500 in the New Jersey area and $142,360 in the Chicago, area Westfield police said at the time. Once an ATM card is swiped, the skimming device stores the victims information, according to officials. The device is later removed by the thieves. With the right technology, the thieves dont even have to return to the business, though. The increasing use of cellular and Bluetooth technologies enables threat actors to remotely access data quickly with a low likelihood of detection, the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Investigations Cell said. Besides skimmers, hidden cameras and fake numerical keypads can capture and record keystrokes of pin numbers or passwords, the cybersecurity officials said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. A driver was seriously injured after crashing a stolen car into a utility pole Friday on Route 1 in South Brunswick, authorities said. The crash took place on the southbound side of the highway near Beekman Road at 12:30 p.m. and involved a vehicle reported stolen earlier in the day in Paterson, South Brunswick police said. Witnesses told police the driver was operating the car erratically before crashing, authorities said. Only one lane will be open on Route 1 South through the area for the next three hours, police said at 1:10 p.m. The driver was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, Deputy Chief Jim Ryan said. Charges are pending. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com A man who shot a person 14 times during a robbery attempt in Middlesex County in 2020 has been sentenced to federal prison. Jonathan Rosales, 23, of New Brunswick, received a nine-year prison sentence in Newark federal court on Thursday, the U.S. Attorneys Office District of New Jersey said in a news release. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and attempted Hobbs Act robbery. A robbery is considered a violation of the Hobbs Act when it affects interstate or foreign commerce, according to the Department of Justice. Rosales and two other men tried to rob the victim in New Brunswick on Dec. 28, 2020. During the struggle, the man was shot a total of 14 times, causing him to suffer serious injuries, federal authorities said. His accomplices Saul Peralta and Giovanni Hoyos-Jaimes have both pleaded guilty. Peralta was sentenced last month to six-and-a-half years in federal prison. Hoyos-Jaimes will be sentenced on July 24. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. The official July 4th holiday falls on a Thursday in 2024, setting the stage for fireworks, parades, concerts and special events throughout New Jersey this weekend and into next week. From small town celebrations to the massive fireworks displays in New York and Philadelphia visible from New Jersey, scores of events are planned to celebrate Independence Day. NJ Advance Media has combed through events scheduled throughout all 21 counties to provide our readers with this list. Many towns have celebrations scheduled for multiple days. (Have an event we should add? Send the information to press@njnpublishing.com.) A 25-year-old woman found Thursday with a gunshot wound to the stomach in Manchester later died at a local hospital, authorities said Friday. Police were called to the area of Ridgeway and Hope Chapel roads for a reported shooting at 4:55 p.m., according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. The woman, whose name was not released, was flown by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she later died, authorities said. This incident is currently under investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit; there is no known danger to the public at this time, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a statement. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson My appetite is returning today after the nausea I experienced watching President Biden, or at least whats left of him, suffer through 90 minutes of what felt at times like elderly abuse in the Thursday night debate. Trump was his usual self, a power-hungry cynic gushing lies on every topic, doing his best to stir anger and hatred. Several times, he refused to promise that hell respect the results of the November election, even after exhausting his legal challenges. If the devil walked the Earth, he could take lessons from this man. But after this disastrous debate, there is one consolation: the calendar. This TV debate, for the first time in history, took place before the party convention in August. There is still time to replace Biden as the nominee, should he be convinced to hand the baton to one of several younger and more popular Democrats. Team Biden proposed the early date, which makes you wonder: Did they choose June so theyd have a safety net? Was this the only way to convince the boss that his time has come? That time has surely come. Biden is a good man, and hell go down in history as a successful president. Hes gotten big stuff done, a miracle in this crazy political time. But hes a very old man, and his verbal skills are gone. He was only a few minutes in when he ended an incoherent ramble about the national debt by saying, We finally beat Medicare and staring into the camera blankly. It didnt make a scrap of sense. On the border, he fell apart again. Instead of skewering Trump for derailing a tough bipartisan bill to secure the border, he slurred a word salad without meaning, citing his total initiative relative to what were going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers. Got that? It went on like this. He even lost the exchange on abortion, a miracle of incompetence. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. And a third time is between the doctor I mean, itd be between the woman and the state. Ouch. Most painful of all, though, was the failure to smack down Trumps lies. Trump is way ahead of Biden among disengaged voters who dont follow politics, and may not have seen the lies, plentiful as they were. Listening to the CNN fact check after the debate sounded like a skit from Saturday Night Live. Trump said that some Democratic states allow doctors to kill newborn babies. He said everyone agreed Roe v. Wade should be overturned. He said Biden had the biggest budget deficit ever, and the biggest trade deficit with China in both cases, that honor goes to Trump. He said Biden wants to quadruple taxes, a flat-out fabrication. CNN found 30 statements like this. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: How could Biden let him get away with that? A split screen showed Trump, who seemed vigorous, building a mountain of lies while Biden looked downward, often with his mouth slightly open, as if waiting for a spoon of oatmeal. This was painful, start to finish. Sure, even a diminished Biden would make a better president than Trump. As the comedian Bill Maher put it, Id vote for Bidens head in a jar of blue liquid versus Trump. But Democrats have stronger options, and Im not talking about Kamala Harris, who was an awful candidate in 2020, an ineffective senator before then, and a cowardly attorney general before that. We can do better. Start with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a swing state where she won reelection in a landslide two years ago. How about teaming her up with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Black Rhodes Scholar and former Army Captain who won in an even bigger landslide last year. Other possibles include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock. But will Biden quit? Hes down in the latest polls, especially among disengaged voters who dont follow politics closely and seem to buy the nonsense that Trump is selling. This debate will inflame the acute concerns about Bidens age. Robert Kennedy Jr. and the other flakes with no hope will probably get a boost, based mostly on refugees from Camp Biden. This debate was a political disaster on every front. Will Biden ever give up? That may depend on the people around him, starting with First Lady Jill Biden, and perhaps including former President Obama, and Bidens closest circle of top advisors, people like Ron Klain, his former chief of staff. If they love Biden, nows the time to be honest with him. If they believe Trump presents a threat to our democracy, then its a patriotic obligation. My nausea returns when I think of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the esteemed Supreme Court Justice who refused to step down while Obama was in the White House, despite her advanced age and declining health. That allowed Trump to replace her with Amy Coney Barrett, one of the justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Bader Ginsburg didnt take the risk seriously. Lets hope that Biden does. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. A Paterson man was arrested early Friday and charged with carjacking and kidnapping a mother and her 2-year-old child at gunpoint in an incident that triggered at least three Amber Alerts overnight, authorities said. Police were called about 10:40 p.m. Thursday to the area of Piercy and Holsman streets on a report that the 34-year-old woman and child had been kidnapped , according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes. Based on the investigation, police identified Junior Nunez as the assailant and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Valdes said in a joint statement with Paterson Police Department Officer-In-Charge Isa Abbassi. Statewide Amber Alerts were issued beginning about 1:30 a.m. Friday. Nunez, 33, was arrested shortly before 7 a.m. The victims were found in good health, Valdes said. Nunez was charged with kidnapping and carjacking, both first-degree offenses, along with three second-degree weapons offenses, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of simple assault. Nunez was held at a local jail pending a first-appearance court hearing. Attorney information for Nunez was not listed in court records. Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call the Passaic County Prosecutors Office at 1-877-370-PCPO or email tips@passaiccountynj.org. Paterson police can be reached at 973-321-1342. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Conservative radio host Bill Spadea will not be forced to give up his morning talk show on New Jerseys largest radio station, at least not yet, as he runs for governor. Instead, the states election watchdog agency said Friday it will keep a close watch on what the Republican candidate says on the program and could take action later. The state Election Law Enforcement Commission called a hearing in Trenton to examine whether the four-hour morning drive show Spadea has hosted for nine years on New Jersey 101.5-FM amounts to an in-kind campaign contribution from the station that exceeds the legal limit because of the name recognition and platform he receives. After three hours of testimony and an hour of deliberation, ELEC took no formal action against Spadea, who is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy next year. But Thomas Prol, ELECs chairman, said the bipartisan, four-member commission found Spadeas campaign benefits from the show and added the panel is troubled by reports of expressed and explicit communications on the program after Spadea announced his candidacy last week. Prol also said the guidelines 101.5 has installed are insufficient. That includes a 13-second delay the station has installed to block any content related to the campaign, which Prol said isnt being properly used. He added that ELEC will act if it receives a bona fide complaint from the public and will hold the candidate and campaign accountable if it determines there is a violation. The radio show can go on, Prol said. But we will be monitoring vigorously. Spadea, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, announced his candidacy after months of buildup. The 55-year-old has hosted his show since 2015, often discussing politics and espousing his sometimes-controversial views on issues such as education and COVID-19. The day he announced his campaign, Townsquare Media, the company that owns 101.5, said Spadea would remain on air until he becomes a legally qualified candidate. That, attorneys for the company said this week, is when Spadea files nominating petitions to run in next years primary. The deadline for that is usually late March or early April, meaning it could permit him to host his show for more than half a year. The company also said it has taken steps and imposed guidelines to ensure that Bills on-air presence over the coming months ... are in accordance with New Jersey election law, applicable (Federal Communications Commission) guidance, and industry standards and best practices for such circumstances. But that sparked questions over whether the station was unfairly giving Spadea the equivalent of free campaign advertising for hours each day that his opponents who have to pay the station big bucks to receive and whether that is effectively an in-kind donation to his campaign. Those are donations that arent explicitly money contributions, and are capped at $5,800. Should ELEC have ruled it was, the agency could have found Spadea was immediately violation of state election finance laws by continuing the show, and he might have been forced to decide between keeping the program or his campaign. In addition, the campaign could be held liable if ELEC determined the radio exposure was a campaign contribution that exceeded the states donation limits. Attorneys for Spadea, Townsquare Media, and two of Spadeas Republican primary opponents state Sen. Jon Bramnick and former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli gathered in the agencys conference room to testify Friday. Spadeas attorneys said in a filing earlier this week that Trenton power brokers are trying trying to silence the outsider candidate by throwing due process to the side. They argued Spadeas show isnt an in-kind contribution because its a bona fide news program, does not give his campaign any direct or tangible benefit, and does not fit the states definition of political communication because it does not include an explicit appeal for the election or defeat of a candidate. The attorneys suggested the issue could end up in court if ELEC ruled against Spadea. Charlie Spies, an attorney for Spadea, called Fridays hearing totally illegitimate and said it violates Spadeas First Amendment rights. Im not going to deny Bill Spadea being on the air to some people helps his campaign, Spies said via conference call. I get that it could help. But theres a bright line between his expressly advocating for his campaign or against opponents and his talking about issues. Angelo Genova, an attorney for Townsquare Media, argued the show is Spadeas job and it wasnt created for the purpose of running for office. The station plans to take Spadea off the air once he formally files to run, added Genova, a powerful lawyer who often works for New Jersey Democrats And he knows that, Genova said. Because we dont want the obligation to provide equal time to other candidates. Genova also pointed to how Bramnick receives a name ID boost from billboards his law firm has bought on highways and from comedy shows he performs across the state. Bramnick moonlights as a standup comic. Whos paying for that? Genova asked. William Burns, Bramnicks attorney, said the show offers substantial promotional advantages to (Spadeas) campaign, including unrestricted market access and significant advertising influence typically purchased by other candidates. Genova argued that Spadeas show has no value to his candidacy unless it contains express advocacy. But Mark Sheridan, Ciattarellis attorney, warned ELEC it would be opening Pandoras box to rule in favor of Spadea. He argued it would allow people to buy billboards and TV space to support a candidate without restrictions as long as there is not express advocacy. You would be abdicating your role as regulators, Sheridan said. Both Burns and Sheridan also noted how 101.5 has begun airing a disclaimer about Spadeas show to say it does not endorse campaigns run by its on-air personalities but they said the disclaimer mentions Spadeas name and candidacy multiple times. The disclaimer itself on the radio program is a thing of value, Burns said. Ryan Peters, an ELEC member and a Republican former member of the state Assembly, said the disclaimer sounds like a promotion for Spadeas bid. Genova said the station would be open to changing it. Peters also questioned why Spadeas team didnt approach the commission about any potential conflict before he announced his run. I feel like this is a benefit to Mr. Spadea rather than a detriment to him, Peters said of the hearing. Spadea, who did not attend the hearing, called ELECs decision to hold off a victory for middle-class New Jerseyans who aspire to make a difference in this state. This attempt at silencing me and removing me from the radio was about protectinng the career policians and bureaucrats that have broken our state, he added. Theyre afraid of the power of OUR VOICE and what we can do together. Well, afer todays ruling, Im proud to say Im not going anywhere! Though the June 2025 primary is still a year away, Spadea, Bramnick, and Ciattarelli are among five declared candidates on the Republican side of the governors race, along with real estate broker Robert Canfield and former state Sen. Ed Durr. There are also four declared Democratic candidates: Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Others are expected to follow. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01. Former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum has had enough of the Democratic handwringing over Joe Bidens performance in Thursdays debate against Donald Trump. A word to everybody writing, The Democrats have nobody to blame but themselves takes ... Frum posted to X. The fundamental reason were in this crisis this morning is that the party of Lincoln, Eisenhower, and Reagan is about to nominate for president a dictator-loving criminal against the Constitution. That disgrace and shame is theirs, he said. If President Biden had posted an equally poor performance against presumptive GOP nominee Nikki Haley, then in that case yes, the Democrats would have nobody to blame but themselves - too bad for them, but the Constitution would not be in danger. Frum added: The Republicans could have nominated somebody else. They chose Trump over many alternatives. They did it because their core voters like and enjoy Trump. Tell me again, who has nobody to blame but themselves? The Republicans could have nominated somebody else. They chose Trump over many alternatives. They did it because their core voters like and enjoy Trump. Tell me again, who has nobody to blame but themselves? David Frum (@davidfrum) June 28, 2024 Bidens uneven performance crystallized the concerns of many Americans that, at age 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to step aside. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Trumps rhetoric offered Americans an unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office, as he struggles to win over skeptical voters. He declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election, four years after he promoted conspiracy theories about his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. President Joe Biden is scheduled to be in New Jersey this weekend for a private campaign fundraiser at Gov. Phil Murphys home, two days after his much-scrutinized presidential debate with former President Donald Trump. The Saturday night event at Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphys Middletown mansion is still on, a source close to the governor confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Friday morning. Former President Barack Obamas campaign manager, David Plouffe, knows something about bad debate performances. Plouffe was one of the senior Obama officials in 2012 who broke the news to the president that he bombed in the debate against Mitt Romney. And now Plouffe is sounding the alarm on Joe Biden after the first of two debates against Donald Trump. Its kind of a DEFCON 1 moment, Plouffe said after the event on MSNBC. Ive been deeply involved in presidential campaign debates. Some went well, some didnt go well. The only thing that matters, and you wont really know for three or four days, is how the voters that will decide this election, will react, he said. I would also add that I have deep suspicion that Donald Trump, with swing voters, bombed as well, and thats the tragedy, because I think Joe Biden the biggest thing in this election is voters concerns both swing voters and base voters with his age, and those were compounded tonight. Plouffe added: And Biden did have a couple of good moments. But I think at the end of the day, the overwhelming reaction, again, it doesnt matter, quite frankly, what people like us say, its what voters say, and if they were already concerned about his effort. And the way I think about it is, sadly, is really pains me to say this: Theyre three years apart. They seemed about 30 years apart tonight. And I think thats going to be the thing that voters really wrestle with coming out of this. A raspy and sometimes halting Biden repeatedly sought to confront Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Bidens criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Bidens uneven performance crystallized the concerns of many Americans that, at age 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to step aside. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Trumps rhetoric offered Americans an unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office, as he struggles to win over skeptical voters. He declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election, four years after he promoted conspiracy theories about his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. President Joe Bidens debate performance against former President Donald Trump has prominent Democrats shaken. So much so that some senior Democrats are considering going to the White House to call on Biden to step aside ahead of his partys convention and clear the path to nominate someone else, per veteran CNN journalist John King, who said his phone lit up from sources throughout the event. This was a game-changing debate in the sense that right now, as we speak, there is a wide and very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party. It started minutes into the debate and it continues right now, King said on CNN immediately after the debate. It involves party strategists, it involves elected officials, it involves fundraisers. And theyre having conversations about the presidents performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people the party in the ticket, and theyre having conversations about what they should do about it, he said. Just now, @JohnKingCNN says senior Democrat officials are now considering going to the White House to call on #Biden to step down, following tonights #DebateNight. We have a problem, they are saying. Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) June 28, 2024 King said some people were mulling taking a trip to the White House while others may speak out publicly. A raspy and sometimes halting Biden repeatedly sought to confront Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Bidens criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Bidens uneven performance crystallized the concerns of many Americans that, at age 81, he is too old to serve as president. It sparked a fresh round of calls for the Democrat to step aside. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Trumps rhetoric offered Americans an unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office, as he struggles to win over skeptical voters. He declined to clearly state he would accept the results of the November election, four years after he promoted conspiracy theories about his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection. I think there was a sense of shock, actually, of how he came out at the beginning of this debate, how his voice sounded. He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on but by that time, I think the panic had set in, said David Axelrod, a longtime advisor to former President Barack Obama, said on CNN. And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Said Van Jones, another Democratic strategist, on CNN: He did not do well at all. David Plouffe, Obamas former campaign manager, described the debate on MSNBC as a DEFCON1 moment for Democrats. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. VALPARAISO A 25-year-old Porter Township man pleaded guilty Friday morning to murder in a brutal Oct. 29 stabbing at a Valparaiso health club. Jordan Andrade pleaded guilty, but mentally ill to the charge of murder. Sentencing will be argued with a cap of 60 years behind bars, according to the court. Man pleads guilty to sexually battering underage Portage co-worker VALPARAISO A 37-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday morning to allegations of sexually touching a 15-year-old co-worker last year at the Port The only difference with the mentally ill component of the charge comes after sentencing in that Andrade could wind up in a state mental health hospital or prison, said Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer. When Andrade was questioned Friday about his guilty plea, he hesitated when asked if he intentionally stabbed Valparaiso University student Varun Raj Pucha. Andrade then admitted to knowing what he was doing at the time and causing Pucha's death, but said he was also suffering from a mental illness. Clymer mentioned bi-polar disease and schizophrenia. The judge also said Andrade underwent three mental health evaluations and two of those found him competent to stand trial. The judge took the guilty plea under advisement until Sept. 5. Police say Pucha was seated in a massage chair early Oct. 29 at the Planet Fitness club at 1270 Strongbow Center Drive in Valparaiso when fellow gymgoer Andrade came into the room and plunged a knife through Pucha's right temple and into his brain stem. New details say truck was not slowing at time of fatal crash, Porter County cops say "The witness stated the Semi appeared to not be slowing at the same rate that the SUV was and the Semi went around the SUV as it was making the turn," Porter County police said. Andrade said he thought Pucha was acting "a little weird," but that Pucha never got out of his chair and did not instigate any problems. "I believe he said he was going to assassinate me," Andrade reportedly told police. Andrade said he pulled the knife out of his pocket and used the blade to open boxes while at work at the Menards store. "Officers also spoke with Planet Fitness staff who indicated that (Pucha) was a regular gym member and generally kept to himself, was quiet and reserved, nothing indicating that he was 'creepy,'" police said. Pucha died just more than a week after the attack, officials said. Valparaiso University President Jose Padilla had said Pucha came to Valparaiso University from Hyderabad, India to pursue a graduate degree in Information Technology. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office is suing the former owners of Merrillville's Hickory Ridge Apartments, whom they alleged unlawfully forced seniors and other vulnerable tenants out of their homes by failing to maintain the property. ROCO Chetrit Entities LLC owned the 12-building complex until September 2023. In June of that year, the Merrillville Fire Department found extensive mold, electrical hazards, accumulated trash and structural issues throughout its buildings. Two of the buildings were determined to be unsafe for habitation and 12 families were evacuated from the complex. The state's 44-page complaint against ROCO Chetrit, filed in Lake County Court on Thursday, alleges that the company and four related entities violated Indiana's Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and Home Loan Practices Act through their handling of Hickory Ridge. Unlivable conditions for tenants, the AG's office argued, stemmed in part from financial mismanagement by the owners that left them "severely undercapitalized." In 2019, the Chetrit Group borrowed nearly half a billion dollars from in order to purchase more than 10,000 housing units from Michigan-based ROCO Real Estate LLC. In July 2022, ROCO Chetrit defaulted on the loan, and creditor JPMorgan Chase Bank demanded repayment in full. Strapped for cash, the company "refused to properly fund operations" at Hickory Ridge and other apartments it owned, according to the filing. In September 2023, former ROCO co-CEO Tyler Ross pled guilty to charges that he misled lenders by by fraudulently inflating the income of his companies' properties. The AG's filing includes photos of deteriorating balconies, cracked walls overflowing trash cans at the complex, as well as accounts from eight current and former Hickory Ridge tenants. According to the filing, conditions at the complex were dire long before the evacuations. One resident, who has lived at Hickory Ridge with her two children since 2021, has experienced two instances of flooding that left standing water in her apartment for a week, the AG's Office wrote, after which the property manager never replaced her carpeting. Another individual was forced to leave her apartment in 2022 after the third instance of flooding in her unit. She was left with an inflated electric bill from the energy used extracting water from the apartment, the AG's Office alleged. "Hoosier tenants who had the experience of renting property within the Chetrit ROCO portfolio found themselves in the middle of an unmitigated disaster," the complaint read. The defendants, the state alleged, knowingly misled tenants about the suitability of Hickory Ridge's units despite not paying for multiple utilities at the property, continuing to sign new leases and lease extensions as conditions continued to deteriorate. Tenant abuse is unacceptable, and my office fights hard to hold landlords accountable particularly greedy, out-of-state actors who clearly don't respect the rent being paid by hardworking Hoosiers, Rokita said in a Friday press release. No one who is spending their money for a place to live should be disregarded or disrespected like these elderly and vulnerable tenants in Merrillville. The AG's Office is seeking restitution for damages incurred by tenants who were forced to move out of their apartments and for emotional distressed suffered by tenants, as well as civil penalties for knowingly violating Indiana law. The defendants could not be reached for comment. Close Student Sierra Vasquez proudly displays Pride flags Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Staff member Kevin Garcia takes a photo of the marchers Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff prepare to head out Tuesday for the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march along Broadway Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march along Broadway Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. PHOTOS: IUN's annual Pride Walk Student Sierra Vasquez proudly displays Pride flags Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march around the campus Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Staff member Kevin Garcia takes a photo of the marchers Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff prepare to head out Tuesday for the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march along Broadway Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. Students and staff march along Broadway Tuesday at the annual Pride Walk at Indiana University Northwest. A Gary man convicted of murder last year for beating to death his live-in girlfriend's 3-year-old son in 2021 received a fair trial, according to a ruling issued Thursday by the Indiana Court of Appeals. Joseph Pridemore, 35, was sentenced to 65 years in prison for repeatedly striking Keegan Fugate so badly he inflicted injuries to the child's brain, liver, pancreas, lung, brain and neck prior to causing the boy's death by blunt force trauma, according to court records. Pridemore argued in his appeal that prosecutors presented insufficient evidence to convict him of murder. He also claimed the judge admitted improper hearsay evidence during Pridemore's trial. The appeals court rejected both assertions in a 3-0 ruling penned by Chief Judge Robert Altice. Altice explained that in a sufficiency challenge the appeals court considers only the evidence most favorable to the judgment and will affirm a defendant's conviction unless no reasonable fact-finder could find the elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, Altice said, prosecutors presented evidence showing Pridemore was alone with the child just before the boy was found not breathing and with blunt force injuries to his head, neck and torso. Altice also cited evidence showing Pridemore previously expressed dislike for Fugate, fled his home when Fugate stopped breathing and prior to paramedics arriving, deleted text message exchanges with his girlfriend covering the days prior to Fugate's death, and devised a plan to flee the jurisdiction. "We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support Pridemore's conviction for murder," Altice said. As to the alleged hearsay evidence, Altice said Pridemore's failure to object to it at trial means it's waived for appellate review. Though even if were not waived, Altice said it's not a basis for overturning Pridemore's conviction. "Judgment affirmed," Altice said. Pridemore still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing his conviction. The child's mother, Kylie Fugate, 25, separately was sentenced to 13 years after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony, for taking no action after repeatedly noticing marks and bruises on her son's face on days when she left the boy alone with Pridemore, according to court records. Gallery: Get to know these new Indiana laws that took effect July 1 Beekeeping Biomarker testing Bobcat hunting Boundary marker Contraceptives Digital currency Dog sales Drink server Driver safety Drones Food and beverage tax Foreigner land acquisition Gary gun lawsuit Green alert Guardian ad litem Happy hour Intellectual diversity Lake Michigan Mixed beverages Penal facilities Phones in schools Psilocybin Public access counselor Reading Regional planning Religious instruction Sanctuary cities State superintendent Thirteenth check Virtual revenge porn Website age verification Wetlands Xylazine The movie serves up a light critique of Hollywood. Discussing Chriss latest project, Zara repeats the log line, Its like Die Hard meets Miracle on 34th Street, to which her pal replies, So its not about anything. The beacons of integrity here are Zaras mom, Brooke (Kidman), described by Zara in one of her frequent outbursts as a Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award whatever, and Zaras paternal grandmother, Leila (Bates). Important plot point: Brooke is a widow who hasnt been on a date in a long time. One afternoon, while dusting the house, Brooke is interrupted by Chris (semi-repentant, hes looking for Zara, whom hes just fired for the umpteenth time); they hit the tequila together and erotic attraction flares up. Awkward. But theres something real between them, they insist to Zara, whose reaction to this development is vehemently off the charts. Until her grandmother gives her a good talking to, Kings character has three modes: peeved, indignant and grossed out. You could almost call the movie The Longest Eye Roll. (By contrast, Kidman, once a consistently expressive actress, performs with an inertia that could be read as a form of serenity.) King gets to show a little charm in the final third of the movie, and its refreshing. But every now and then you wonder whether A Family Affair, directed by Richard LaGravenese in a mode that vaguely recalls the work of Nancy Meyers, might have been more compelling as, instead of a rom-com, a drama about an entitled, manipulative daughter who almost ruins the lives of those around her. A Family Affair Rated PG-13 for adult themes and language. Running time: 1 hour 51 minutes. Watch on Netflix. Some jailbreaks require elaborate planning. Others demand feats of strength or agility. Few have relied on the New York City bus system. But that system unwittingly supplied the getaway vehicle when a Rikers Island detainee made a break for it outside Bellevue Hospital Center on Wednesday night, two people with knowledge of the incident said. The detainee, James Mossetty, had been jailed since January on assault and drug charges, and he was taken earlier this month to Bellevue, where he was treated for psychiatric problems, among other things, one of the people said. On Wednesday night, just before 10 p.m., two New York City Department of Correction officers were supposed to be putting Mr. Mossetty into a van for a return trip to Rikers when he somehow escaped from the hospitals secure loading area, the city officials said. Theodore Roosevelts favorite pocket watch, which he carried around the world and wore in the White House, was returned Thursday to the presidents former home on Long Island decades after it was stolen from a mansion in Buffalo. The watch itself is fairly pedestrian, with an inexpensive coin silver case, the F.B.I. said in a news release. But its historical value is significant. The watch accompanied Roosevelt in 1898 as he led the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, nicknamed the Rough Riders, at San Juan Hill and other battles in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, the military campaign that made him famous, according to the National Park Service, which owns the timepiece. It traveled with him down the Amazon River, across Africa and during his administrations as New Yorks governor and the nations 26th president. It was a present from Roosevelts sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson, and he cherished it. You could not have given me a more useful present than the watch; it was exactly what I wished, he wrote in a letter to her. Tweed Roosevelt, Teddys great-grandson, learned about the watch this Tuesday, when the Park Service contacted him about its recovery, he said. When he realized the former president had carried the watch for decades, and had sent it to be fixed while recuperating from a disastrous trip on the Amazon, in 1913, Mr. Roosevelt said, the objects importance to his ancestor became clear. Uber and Lyft settled a yearslong legal dispute with the attorney general in Massachusetts on Thursday, agreeing to pay their drivers in the state a minimum rate with some benefits. As part of the settlement, Uber and Lyft will pay $175 million to resolve claims that the companies violated state labor laws, with most of the money to be distributed to gig workers, state officials said in a statement. But in a win for the ride-hailing companies, drivers will continue to be classified as independent contractors and not employees. Among the benefits that the state won for its gig workers were a health insurance plan for drivers working at least 15 hours a week, expanded accident insurance and a minimum pay rate of $32.50 per hour for time spent on a ride. The settlement followed similar pay and benefit provisions enacted in New York, California, Washington State and most recently Minnesota. Uber and Lyft have spent tens of millions of dollars on local government lobbying against efforts by workers and labor groups to increase driver pay. The publicity for N/A, a two-hander that opened at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater on Thursday, has been careful to point out that, despite all appearances, the N in the title is not Nancy Pelosi, and the A is not Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rather, the playwright, Mario Correa, argues in a program note that N/A is about a battle of ideas and ideals, which are bigger than any one person (or even two). I vote nay on that proposition. The plays ideas and ideals are fine, and modestly if repetitively dramatized, but what makes this swift summer trifle so diverting is the embodiment of the women themselves. N and A are perfect incarnations of their congressional doppelgangers, down to Pelosis golden Mace of the United States House of Representatives brooch and A.O.C.s signature Beso red lipstick. The gimmick also gives Holland Taylor (as N) and Ana Villafane (as A) tasty roles and a meaty conflict to sink their teeth into. Correa frames that conflict as ideological, not personal. In five scenes starting with the 2018 midterms (when the Democrats win control of the House) and ending with the 2022 midterms (when they lose it), he broadly traces their seesawing power. At first the seesaw is profoundly unbalanced. We meet A just after her surprise primary victory against a machine Democrat and Ns handpicked successor. (In real life, that would be Joseph Crowley.) Though still a savvy street fighter, A is awed and a little cowed by the Washington she discovers. So, yeah, we are not in Kansas anymore, she tells her Instagram Live followers, invoking a surprising image of fragility. President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump will turn back the clock when they square off on Thursday in at least one way: This will be the first general election presidential debate without an in-person audience in more than six decades. The last time was in 1960, when Richard M. Nixon, the Republican vice president, and John F. Kennedy, the junior Democratic senator from Massachusetts, participated in the first televised debates between presidential candidates. Their first encounter is remembered for the stark contrast between their appearances: Kennedy looked relaxed and tanned, while Nixon, who decided to forgo makeup, looked ashen and unshaven. The telegenic Kennedy went on to win the election after facing Nixon three more times, including in an ABC debate that used a split screen so that the rivals could appear remotely from New York and Los Angeles. Pete Arredondo, the former chief of the school district police in Uvalde, Texas, has been indicted over his actions during the police response to the 2022 school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers. The charges in the indictment are the first to stem from the school shooting, one of the deadliest on record in the United States. The indictment, made public on Friday by the district clerk in Uvalde, accuses Mr. Arredondo of failing to identify the incident as an active shooter situation and failing to follow active-shooter incident training, delaying care for 10 school children who survived the massacre. Mr. Arredondo faces 10 counts of abandoning and endangering a child. Mr. Arredondo was arrested and released on a $10,000 bond Thursday. According to the indictment, which is dated June 26, Mr. Arredondo chose to negotiate with the gunman while he was engaged in an active shooter incident, delaying the response by law enforcement officers to a gunman who was hunting and shooting a child or children in Room 112 at Robb Elementary School. The indictment, which comes more than two years after the massacre at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, suggests that there were failures in the police response beyond poor decision-making. At first, they heard the sirens. Then, peering out over the countrys main political plaza on Wednesday, Bolivias top ministers saw the armored vehicles and troops spilling out their doors. A shiver ran down the interior ministers spine, she later said. Within moments, the president, Luis Arce, addressed his inner circle We are facing a coup! before heading to the presidential palace to confront, face to face, the general trying to remove him from power. The coup attempt failed, lasting a mere three hours, and ended in the arrest of the general, whose motivation for the attack appeared to be, at least in part, anger over his firing by Mr. Arce the day before. But it was hardly the end of Mr. Arces problem, or the challenges facing Bolivia. Mr. Arce, 60, a former finance minister, took office in 2020 during a democratic election that seemed to symbolize a new, more hopeful chapter in a country coming off a period of intense political tumult. Part of the roof at a terminal at Indias busiest airport collapsed early Friday amid heavy thunderstorms and rains, killing at least one person and injuring eight others, according to a fire official. Indias minister of civil aviation said in a social media post that rescue operations were taking place Friday morning at Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Airport officials said that the collapse happened around 5 a.m. local time in the departure area of the terminal and that all departures from the terminal had been suspended. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights. A cabdriver was killed when a pillar holding up part of the roof fell onto his car, according to Ravinder Singh, an official with Delhis fire department. Eight others were taken to the hospital with injuries, he said. Photos and videos of the scene on social media and on local television showed that an expansive section of the overhang outside the airport had buckled onto the pavement of what appeared to be the pickup and drop-off area outside the terminal. Several cars appeared crushed under collapsed pillars. Early in the war against Hamas, as Israeli forces made their way from the north of the Gaza Strip toward the south, a neighborhood in Gaza City called Shajaiye loomed large in the battle. In December, nine soldiers were killed there on what Israels military said was one of the deadliest days of the war for its forces. Later, with Shajaiye ravaged and the Gaza City appearing pacified, the soldiers moved on, eventually taking the fight to Gazas southernmost city, Rafah, described as Hamass last major stronghold. In turn, Palestinian civilians who had fled the fighting in Gaza City began making their way back. On Thursday, they were fleeing again. Israel ordered people in part of eastern Gaza City to evacuate as Palestinian officials and residents reported heavy strikes and multiple casualties. People in the area described a frantic effort to get out as explosions sounded around them. Palestinian officials said the strikes had hit Shajaiye. On Friday, the Israeli military said it had begun an operation in Shajaiye targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure. The U.N. office of humanitarian affairs said that 60,000 to 80,000 people had been displaced from areas east and northeast of Gaza City overnight. On the night of June 29, 1974, after a performance with a touring Bolshoi Ballet troupe in downtown Toronto, Mikhail Baryshnikov made his way out a stage door, past a throng of fans and began to run. Baryshnikov, then 26 and already one of ballets brightest stars, had made the momentous decision to defect from the Soviet Union and build a career in the West. On that rainy night, he had to evade K.G.B. agents and audience members seeking autographs as he rushed to meet a group of Canadian and American friends waiting in a car a few blocks away. That car took me to the free world, Baryshnikov, 76, recalled in a recent interview. It was the start of a new life. His cloak-and-dagger escape helped to make him a cultural celebrity. Soviet Dancer in Canada Defects on Bolshoi Tour, The New York Times declared on its front page. Small museums that have helped define the unique character of New York Citys artistic scene are moving, changing or calling it quits, citing a challenging economic climate. Last week, the Center for Italian Modern Art ceased operations after more than a decade in Manhattans SoHo neighborhood and said it was looking for a university to take its archive. In May, news came that Fotografiska New York, an outpost for the global photography museum in Gramercy Park, was looking for a new home, even as it laid off employees with a closure notice that cited economic reasons. During this NYC Pride Week, the name of the place and event that gave it birth, Stonewall, has been more than usually in the air, and efforts to monumentalize it continue. News has come that a local subway station will be rechristened in its honor (new name: Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument Station), and a brand-new cultural space called Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center opens today in the neighborhood. You know the Stonewall story. On the night of June 28, 1969, 55 years ago this Friday, a bunch of L.G.B.T. people in a Greenwich Village dance bar called the Stonewall Inn went ballistic. Theyd finally had it with police showing up with clubs and cuffs because of how they dressed, and who they kissed, and who they were. So they hit back, shouting, breaking things, throwing things, giving the cops a taste of what it felt like to be hounded and treated like dirt. What you may not know is how dangerous it was to do that. The police had pretty much unaccountable power. They could lock you up, beat you up, and disappear you, especially if you were queer, because who would care? Your very existence was against the law. Good riddance. Photos of the Stonewall shove-back variously referred to as a riot, a rebellion, and an uprising make it look kind of glam, like a rave, but it wasnt. It was a big, deeply furious No to a history of repression and persecution. And the No didnt end that night. Diplo, the Grammy-winning electronic dance music D.J. and producer, was accused in a lawsuit filed on Thursday of sharing sexually explicit images and videos of a woman without her consent. The woman, who filed the lawsuit anonymously, said in the court filing that she had a seven-year intimate relationship with Diplo, whose full name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, during which he recorded them having sex and later distributed those images and videos against her wishes. Throughout their relationship, which started in 2016, the woman sometimes gave him permission to record them having sex, the lawsuit said, but told him that she did not want him to share the videos with others. Last November, the lawsuit said, the woman was contacted by someone who said that she was in possession of images and videos of the woman having sex with Diplo, and that Diplo had sent her the sexually explicit materials on the social media app Snapchat in 2018. The lawsuit said the woman reported the distribution of the materials to the police in Brooklyn, where she lives. Michael Jacksons debts and creditors claims at the time of his death in 2009 totaled more than $500 million, according to a court filing by the pop superstars estate that provides details of his financial woes toward the end of his life. Jackson owed about $40 million to the tour promoter A.E.G., according to the filing, which was made in Los Angeles County Superior Court this month and earlier reported by People magazine. The filing said that 65 creditors made claims against the singer after his death, some of which resulted in lawsuits, and that some of his debt had been accruing interest at extremely high interest rates. A representative for the Jackson estate, which is executed by John Branca and John McClain, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The estate filed the court papers as a request to authorize the payment of about $3.5 million to several legal firms for their work in the second half of 2018. In the court filing, the executors say that they have eliminated the estates debt and that almost all of the creditors claims and litigation have been resolved. The long-awaited American premiere of a new season of the German hit Babylon Berlin was the big news this week in the realm of international television series. But interesting shows from other countries arrive on an almost daily basis. Here are five recent series to check out. All This I Will Give to You This six-episode mini-series on MHz Choice is a lot like a British country-house mystery, except that its French. So the matriarch of the aristocratic family visited by murder is even colder and more controlling, her out-of-control second son is an even more dire cokehead, and the food looks edible. Also, everyone is better looking than they would be in a British series, particularly the artisanally scruffy husband (David Kammenos) of the suspiciously dead eldest son, who kept the husband a secret from his family and the family a secret from his husband. (To stir the cultural pot further, the series is based on a novel set in Galicia by Dolores Redondo, the popular Spanish mystery writer.) Viewers weary of the variously arch or dreary contrivances of most modern American thriller mini-series may appreciate the straightforward traditionalism of All This I Will Give to You, which has enough narrative pull to overcome the usual fits of melodrama that break out as the mystery nears solving. Kammenoss Manuel, shocked by the discovery of his husbands hidden life and disgusted by his new in-laws, is a testy, twitchy, holier-than-thou pain in the derriere for more than half the show, which is a nice change of pace. And the camaraderie that slowly develops between him and a retired cop with a personal interest in the husbands death is nicely drawn. Kafka This German mini-series demonstrates that, even in an era of consolidation, distinctive shows still sneak in through the side door of the streaming business, in this case via ChaiFlicks, which specializes in Jewish-themed content. (The fourth of six episodes premiered this week.) The series takes a meta-fictional, Wes Anderson-ish approach to the life of the writer Franz Kafka (Joel Basman) it moves back and forth in time and among Kafkas acquaintances, looking for crucial moments, and characters break the fourth wall to reinforce or angrily disagree with the narrators observations. The Democratic Party is facing a growing crisis after President Bidens struggles in his debate against Donald Trump last night. A wide range of lawmakers, advisers and activists mulled a shocking scenario: replacing him on the ticket roughly four months before Election Day. During a rally in North Carolina this afternoon, Biden sought to reassure his supporters. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, he said, using a teleprompter. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. So far, top elected Democrats and the Biden campaign have ruled out replacing him. But privately, others in the party said Biden should not be the nominee. Its a five-alarm fire, said Astead Herndon, a Times politics reporter who hosts the The Run-Up podcast. Democrats are coming to the knowledge that the presidents age is not just a sideshow in this election, but its the core of why he remains so unpopular. In the first 2024 debate, Biden struggled and Trump blustered Former President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked a disjointed President Biden during the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign yesterday. Trump, 78, spoke clearly and forcefully, assailing Bidens record, making wild assertions and lying repeatedly. Many of Trumps claims have become campaign trail staples, like the counterfactual that there would be no war in Ukraine if he were in the White House or the false claim that the Justice Department was involved in the state cases against him. Trump criticized Biden for fostering Biden migrant crime with his border policy and for corruption, among other things. Biden went after Trump for threatening to pull the U.S. out of NATO and not respecting veterans, but stumbled when he tried to draw a contrast with Trump on abortion Biden also exaggerated some issues, like how much Trumps tariff plan for most imported goods would cost U.S. citizens. Here is our fact check of the candidates claims. Volkswagen, the German car company, said this week that it would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian, the American electric vehicle manufacturer that makes electric pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and delivery vans. The deal will help Rivian, which has never turned a quarterly profit, make more electric vehicles and help convince investors of its stability. It will provide Volkswagen with the software expertise that auto analysts say it sorely lacks. And its a bet by Volkswagen, which could become a large shareholder of Rivian if regulators approve the deal, that Rivian will meet its promise of becoming the next Tesla, something that has so far proved elusive. Rivian, which was founded in 2009 as Mainstream Motors, had billions in investments by 2021, including from Amazon, BlackRock and Ford. But as the case with many new electric vehicle companies, Rivian has also experienced hiccups in trying to ramp up to production, made harder by supply chain issues during the pandemic. In March, Rivian said it would pause construction of a $5 billion factory in Georgia to save money. (It already has a factory in Normal, Ill.) The Bible has been a presence in American classrooms to at least some degree since before the origins of the countrys public school system in the 19th century. But the announcement by Oklahomas state superintendent on Thursday that all public schools in the state must teach the Bible represented a major effort to expand its role and bring a Christian historical perspective to most all students. Schools have become the arena for an array of moral and cultural conflicts, and conservative Christians are asserting their political muscle even as they decline as a share of the American population. In Oklahoma, we are very proud to lead the country on pushing back on the leftists trying to rewrite history and say, No, we will teach from the Bible, the superintendent, Ryan Walters, said in an interview on Friday. Mr. Walters, a Christian conservative and former history teacher, said the mandate would focus on fifth through 12th grades, with an emphasis on the Bibles influence in history and literature, areas where the Bible has historically been accepted in public education. A scientist whose research has been at the center of controversy over an Alzheimers drug candidate has been charged with fraud. A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Hoau-Yan Wang, a professor at the City College of New York, on charges of falsifying data to obtain grants totaling roughly $16 million from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Wangs studies underpinned research into a diagnostic test for Alzheimers disease and simufilam, a drug in advanced clinical trials. Simufilams manufacturer, Cassava Sciences, a pharmaceutical company based in Texas, has said the drug improves cognition in Alzheimers patients. Alzheimers disease affects roughly six million Americans a number that is expected to double by 2050 and promising treatments generate tremendous excitement. Cassavas stock soared after each round of reported results from its trials. If From Every Tongue It Drips Stream it on the Criterion Channel. Part of the Criterion Channels ongoing Queersighted series, this debut feature by the Pakistani Canadian artist Sharlene Bamboat deploys cinema as a kind of metaphysical ferry: It moves irreverently across the boundaries between countries, languages and genres, and between image and text. Filmed in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka, scored in the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and edited in Montreal, Canada, the movie is in part a portrait of a lesbian poet, Ponni, shot intimately on video by her partner, Sarala. Speaking in a mix of Tamil and English, Ponni meditates on notions of duality in quantum physics and Urdu poetry, and the history of British colonialism and protest art in South Asia. Onscreen captions by the group Collective Text offer not just linguistic translations but also sensory notations. Appearing in various parts of the screen, the text lyrically describes the sounds and moods of the film (horn bleaaats; flowing water gently laps the shore), with different colors indicating different tenors. A layered, often prismatic experience, If From Every Tongue It Drips invites us to read, listen, see and think with extraordinary curiosity, embodying the questing thrill of queerness in form as much as content. Lumberjack the Monster Stream it on Netflix. Any new feature by the prolific Japanese director Takashi Miike should be celebrated as a cinematic event, and its a mystery that his latest has arrived on Netflix without a ton of buzz. Lumberjack the Monster is a gory serial-killer thriller that would be electrifying in a theater, though it is deliciously entertaining even on the small screen. A murderer dressed as a lumberjack is on the loose, bludgeoning a selective breed of victims clinical psychopaths and then stealing their brains. When he targets Akira Ninomiya (Kazuya Kamenashi), a ruthless lawyer with plenty of blood on his own hands, a three-way chase ensues between the two men and a forensic profiler, opening up an old, sinister case about a mad couple who experimented on children. Two of the biggest movies of the 1970s and one of the biggest of the 80s are among the movies leaving Netflix in the United States in July; other highlights include a family favorite, a comic book oddity and an unconventional biopic. (Dates indicate the final day a title is available.) Abducted in Plain Sight (July 14) Stream it here. This true-crime documentary became such a must-watch (and must-discuss) sensation on Netflix, it ended up spawning a limited series dramatization on Peacock. Its not hard to see why: This is truly stranger-than-fiction stuff, detailing how the 12-year-old Jan Broberg was abducted by a neighbor and family friend, Robert Berchtold and then, somehow, abducted again by the same man several years later. The internet outrage surrounding the film (and blaming Brobergs parents) missed the point; the director Skye Borgman sensitively and intelligently explores how Berchtold used brainwashing and grooming to commit his shocking crimes. Big Eyes (July 23) Stream it here. In an era of increasingly dreary, paint-by-numbers biopics, the works of the screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski seem like oases in the desert witty, insightful, poignant and frequently cockeyed portraits of unconventional subjects like Larry Flynt, Andy Kaufman and Rudy Ray Moore. This 2014 effort reunited the writers with their Ed Wood director, Tim Burton, telling the story of the artist Margaret Keane, whose wildly popular and undeniably distinctive paintings were originally believed to be the work of her monstrous husband, Walter. Amy Adams plays Margaret with sympathy and grace, while Christoph Waltzs turn as the egomaniacal Walter is the best work he has done outside of the Tarantino-verse. American Graffiti (July 31) Stream it here. This 1973 coming-of-age comedy-drama was a mind-boggling launchpad. First and foremost, it started a movement of 50s nostalgia (even though it is set in 1962, it still feels like the 50s) that continued through the decade with the likes of Grease and the films unofficial TV spinoff, Happy Days. It was also a big break for several members of its then-unknown cast, including Candy Clark, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, Charles Martin Smith and Cindy Williams. And perhaps most important, it was the first big hit for its co-writer and director, a quiet young California filmmaker named George Lucas, who based the picture on his own youth as a Modesto hot-rodder. Its critical and commercial success allowed him to take on his dream project, a sci-fi epic called Star Wars, and well, you know the rest. From our review: Indeed, the action set pieces are fine but also perfunctory, as if they were a nonnegotiable item Sarnoski had to cross off a checklist. Day One is on much surer ground when dealing with the quiet that bookends the storms. And it is at its very best whenever Nyongos face fills the screen, like the postapocalyptic heroine of a silent movie. What she can do with relatively little is simply astonishing, and you absolutely believe in both Samiras despair and her determination. Ever since Adam Clayton Powell Jr.s reign, beginning in the late 1930s, Abyssinian Baptist has been one of the most influential Black churchs in the country, a force in the political life of New York and an economic and social engine in Harlem, where it has stood for a century. When the Rev. Calvin O. Butts III, who presided over the church for three decades, died two years ago at the age of 73, his legacy was felt both at the level of spiritual inspiration and material advantage. As chairman of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, he delivered roughly $1 billion to residential and commercial projects in Harlem, brought a new high school to the neighborhood and worked to blunt the sharpest edges of gentrification. As former Mayor Michael Bloomberg put it when the pastor died, Reverend Butts took the idea of building the kingdom of God literally. Perhaps because of this outsize imprint, the process of naming his successor has been divisive, raising questions among some congregants around transparency and bias and whether the church, with a few thousand members, can sustain its prominence, or even stability. Over the past two years, the search for a new leader has been consuming. On Sunday, it resulted in the controversial election of a Philadelphia pastor named Kevin R. Johnson, who is described on the website for his current congregation Dare to Imagine Inc. less in the language of liturgy than in the parlance of LinkedIn: a proven executive in transforming organizations into innovative, high-performing, fiscally sound and pioneering institutions. In a statement issued right after the election, the Rev. Dr. C. Vernon Mason, a longtime Abyssinian deacon and a well-known former civil rights lawyer, said that the past two years had sent him on a heartbreaking journey. According to institutional rules, he explained, a viable candidate needed a proven record of at least 12 to 15-plus years of successful leadership over a large Black Baptist church. He went on: The relentless pursuit to advance a particular candidate who did not meet the most basic requirement defies me. In May 2022, nine months after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, I visited a girls secondary school that was still open in the north in spite of a ban on education for girls above sixth grade. Communities in the area, which has a long history of valuing education, had refused to comply. I met with a group of 11th-grade math students who told me about their hopes for the future. I dont want to end up trapped at home and condemned to a domestic life, one female student told me. I want to finish school and become a teacher so that I can help my family and others. I ended that visit to Afghanistan with hope that perhaps the situation would not become as dire as I and many Afghans feared. But when I returned a year later, everything had changed. The school was closed. Instead of attending lessons, the student and her classmates were forced to stay at home, their teachers transferred to a primary school. Now, among the many other challenges facing girls and women under the Talibans rule, a mental health crisis has gripped the country. Girls report anxiety, depression and hopelessness, and there have been reports showing an alarming surge in suicides. It is against this backdrop that the United Nations will convene a third meeting of international special envoys in Doha, Qatar, next week to discuss a political path forward for Afghanistan. The Taliban have accepted the U.N.s invitation to join. (They declined to attend Februarys meeting.) After discussions with the Taliban, the meetings agenda will focus on fighting narcotics and helping the private sector and does not include human rights or womens issues, and neither women nor Afghan civil society representatives will be included. If these exclusions are the price of the Talibans presence in Doha, the cost is too high. When the Taliban retook power in August 2021, their leaders initially said that education for girls above the sixth grade would be suspended until conditions were suitable under Islamic rules. Now, more than 1,000 days later, school remains off limits for girls older than 12, and restrictions on education have expanded to universities. The Taliban now say education is an internal matter, and it remains unclear when or if schools will reopen to girls. Times Opinion asked 12 of our columnists and contributors to watch the presidential debate on Thursday night, assess who won and who lost and distill what stood out to them. They rated the candidates on a scale of 0 to 5: 0 means the night didnt change anything; 5 means one man triumphed. Heres what our columnists and contributors thought of the event. Who won and why Josh Barro Joe Biden failed at his key task: showing voters hes still cut out for the presidency. In the first 20 minutes he was especially disastrous: mumbling, at times incoherent, and seeming really, really old. Trump seemed more normal than usual enough for a clear win. Jamelle Bouie Well, we had a raspy and stumbling President Biden and a deranged and incoherent Donald Trump, who spent two hours unleashing a stream of lies. Is there a winner here? Nah. David French Trump won, but not because of Trump. The best that can be said about his comprehensively dishonest performance is that he didnt seem unhinged. The lower-information voters who are propping up his campaign wont know how much he lied. Biden lost this debate for a simple reason: He acted his age in a way that cant be spun and cant be explained away. To modern eyes, 19th-century wars protected commerce and finance to a degree that is almost unbelievably generous, the Cornell historian Nicholas Mulder wrote in his 2022 book, The Economic Weapon: The Rise of Sanctions as a Tool of Modern War. During the Crimean War (1853-56), the British and Russians dutifully paid interest to the other on old debts even as they slaughtered each other on the battlefields. For civilized nations, a British government minister said, it was simply obvious that public debts should be paid to an enemy during war. Attitudes, practices and legal theories have clearly changed in the last 170 years. The question is, how much? How far will nations go today in using economic sanctions to punish their enemies? Im interested in the case of, once again, Russia. It appears that the United States is willing to hit Russia over its invasion of Ukraine a lot harder than the Europeans are. Thats putting stress on Western alliances. This week I interviewed Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, who is the departments point person on economic sanctions. Adeyemo, who immigrated from Nigeria as a child with his family, has a law degree from Yale and a broad remit that includes national security as well as economic inequality. This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions. kevin roose Casey, today I learned something new. Im in New York. Im visiting some friends and going to some weddings. And Im at The New York Times building, and I learned just today that theres an entire podcast studio at The Times building that Ive never seen. casey newton Thats how big The New York Times is. Its just full of nooks and crannies that very few people have ever seen with their own eyes. kevin roose Yeah. So up on the 28th floor, apparently theres a gleaming new audio temple. I hear its very fancy, but Ive never been. So right after we tape today, Im going to go up there and Im going to see the promised land. casey newton You know what I would do if I got to see the studio, Kevin, and I were in New York? kevin roose Whats that? casey newton I would sneak in, and Id get a little pocket knife, and Id just carve Kevin + Casey forever kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton into one of the brand new desks. And I would dare them to say anything to me about it. kevin roose Yeah, Lets not let you up there. casey newton [LAUGHS]: kevin roose Im going to actually ask security to specifically casey newton Can you imagine kevin roose not let you in there. casey newton Ezra Klein sits down to interview the Secretary General of the United Nations and he just sees carved into the desk, Casey + Kevin forever? kevin roose Casey was here. casey newton Suck it, Klein! [MUSIC PLAYING] kevin roose Im Kevin Roose, a tech columnist from The New York Times. casey newton Im Casey Newton from Platromer. And this is Hard Fork. This week, the record label sued two leading AI music apps, accusing them of copyright infringement. RIAA CEO Mitch Glazer joins us to make the case. Then we go inside the pentagons tech turmoil with Chris Kirchhoff, author of the new book Unit X. And finally, a round of Hat GPT. [MUSIC PLAYING] Now, Kevin, not a lot of people know this, but we have something interesting in common. kevin roose Whats that? casey newton Well, we were a couple of the few teenagers who managed to survive the Napster era without getting sued by the Recording Industry Association of America. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: Yes, although one of my friends actually did get sued by the recording industry and had to pay thousands of dollars. casey newton And is he still in prison or did he get out? kevin roose No, he got out. Hes fine. casey newton Oh, thank god. Thank god. Well, look, Kevin. Its always a strange day when you find yourself siding with the RIAA. And yet, when I heard this weeks news, I thought, well, I want to hear what they have to say. kevin roose Yeah, lets talk about it. casey newton So these are, I think, the biggest lawsuits to come out against AI companies since your newspaper, The New York Times, sued OpenAI. This week, the RIAA announced that major record labels are suing two of the leading AI music companies, alleging massive copyright infringement, and are maybe trying to shut them down. kevin roose Yeah. So the companies that the music labels sued are Udio and Suno. Weve talked about them a little bit on this show before. Basically, these are tools that sort of work like ChatGPT. You can type in a prompt. You can say, make me a Country Western song about a bear fighting a dolphin, and itll do that. But basically, these companies have come under a lot of criticism for allowing people to create songs without compensating the original artists. Like other AI companies, these companies do not say where theyre getting their data. Suno is releasing statements using words like transformative and completely new outputs, basically arguing that this is all fair use and that they dont owe anything to the holders of the copyrighted songs that they were presumably using to train their models. But well see how the courts see that. casey newton Well, and if youve never heard one of these, Kevin, I think we and I know you have we should play a clip, I think, just so people get a sense of just how closely these services can mimic artists you might be familiar with. So, Kevin, were about to hear a song called Prancing Queen, and this was made with Suno. ["prancing queen" playing] archived recording (SINGING) You can dance You can jive Having the time of your life Ooh, see that girl Watch that scene Take in the dancing queen Friday night and the lights are low Looking out for a place to go. casey newton Can you believe what theyre doing to ABBA, Kevin? kevin roose [LAUGHS]: You know, I actually saw an ABBA cover band once, many years ago. And that was better than the ABBA cover band. casey newton You know what I liked about that clip is it reminded me if I had had, like, six beers and someone shoved me onto a karaoke stage and said, sing Dancing Queen from memory, thats exactly what it would have sounded like. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton So we wanted to get to the bottom of this, so we reached out to the RIAA. And they offered up Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazer, so were going to bring him on and ask him what this lawsuit is all about. kevin roose Lets do it. [MUSIC PLAYING] casey newton Mitch Glazer. Welcome to Hard Fork. mitch glazer Thanks. Thanks for having me. casey newton So make your case that these two AI music companies violated copyright law. mitch glazer Pretty easy case to make. They copied basically the entire history of recorded music. They stored it. Then they used it by matching it to prompts so that they rejiggered the ones and zeros. And, basically, they took chicken and made chicken salad and then said they dont have to pay for the chickens. casey newton Right. [laughs] Well, some people out there say that this is a transformative use, that no matter what you put into a Udio or a Suno, youre not going to get back the original track. Youre going to get something that has been transformed. What do you make of that case? mitch glazer Well, there is such a thing as transformative use. Its actually a pretty important doctrine. Its supposed to help encourage human creativity, not substitute for it. There was a really important Supreme Court case on this issue, thank god, that just happened last year, where they kind of dispelled this notion that any time you take something and splash a little bit of color on it, its transformative. Thats not what that means. And this is very similar. kevin roose Mitch, you said that these companies have scraped the entire sort of history of recorded music and used them to train their models. But I read through the complaint that came out, and there isnt direct evidence. Theres no smoking gun. They havent said outright, yes, we did train on all this copyrighted music. Presumably, that is something you hope will come out in the course of this case. But do you actually need to be able to prove that they did use copyrighted music in order to win this case? Can the lawsuit succeed without that? mitch glazer I think, ultimately, we do have to show that they copied the music, but they cant hide their inputs and then say, sorry, were not going to tell you what we copied. So youre not allowed to sue us for what we copied. That, they cant do. So what we were able to do was show in the complaint that theres no way they could have come out with this output without copying all of this on the input side. Its sort of this equitable doctrine in fancy legal terms that says, youre not allowed to hide the evidence and then say you cant sue me. casey newton Right. Well, on that point, one of my favorite parts of the Suno lawsuit is where it discusses Suno reproducing what are called producer tags, which is when a producer says their name at the start or end of a song. What does it mean that Suno can nail a perfect Jason Derulo? mitch glazer [LAUGHS]: Well, thank god Jason derulo likes to say his name in the beginning of his songs. Right? And in The Blender, that piece wasnt ripped apart enough. And so that was sort of one of those smoking guns where were able to show if you look at the output, right, and Jason Derulos tag is in the output, I think they copied the Jason Derulo song on the input. kevin roose Yeah. So one of the arguments weve heard from AI companies not just AI music companies, but also companies that train language models is that these machines, these models, theyre basically learning the way that humans learn. Theyre not just regurgitating copyrighted materials. They are learning to generate wholly new works. And I want to just read you Sunos response that they gave to The Verge and have you share your thoughts on it. Suno said, quote, We would have been happy to explain this to the corporate record labels that filed this lawsuit and, in fact, we tried to do so. But instead of entertaining a good faith discussion, they reverted to their old lawyer-led playbook. Suno is built for new music, new uses, and new musicians. We prize originality. What do you make of that? mitch glazer Yeah, I love this argument. I love that machines are original and machines and humans are the same. If you just use human words around machines, like learning, well, then theres no difference between us. If you read a book, its the same as copying it on the xerox machine, and then mixing all the words around, and then coming out with something new. Has nothing to do with the fact that they actually happened to take all of these human created works. Machines dont learn. Right? Machines copy, and then they basically match a users prompt with an analysis of patterns in what theyve copied. And then they finish the pattern based on predictive algorithms or models. Right? Thats not what humans do. Humans have lived experiences. They have souls. They have genius. They actually listen, get inspired, and then they come out with something different, something new. They dont blend around patterns based on machine-based algorithms. So nice try, but I dont think that argument is very convincing. And I also love that they say that the creators and their partners are the ones that have resorted to the old legal playbook. Theyre not resorting to, oh, we can do this. Its based on fair use. Its transformative. Were going to seek forgiveness instead of permission. casey newton Well, I mean, you also have the investor in the company who you quote in the lawsuit saying because he said this to a news outlet I dont know if I would have invested in this company if he had a deal with the record labels. Because then they probably wouldnt have needed to do what they needed to do, which I assume he sort of meant Hoover up all this music without paying for it. mitch glazer Yeah. Thats in the legal world, what we call a bad fact. archived recording [LAUGHS]: mitch glazer That is a bad fact for the other side. You dont want your investor saying, gee, if they had really done this the legal way, I dont think I would have invested because its just too hard. Its just too hard to do it the legal way. kevin roose Mitch, weve seen other lawsuits come out in the past year from media companies, including The New York Times, which sued OpenAI and Microsoft last year, alleging similar types of copyright violations. How similar or different from the sort of text-based copyright arguments is the argument that you are making against these AI music generation companies? mitch glazer I think the arguments are the same, that you have to get permission before you copy it, just basic copyright law. The businesses are very different. And I think looking at the public reports on the licensing negotiations going on between the news media and companies like OpenAI, news is dynamic. It has to change every single day. And so there needs to be a feed every single day for the input to actually be useful for the output. Music is catalog. Right? You copy the song once. Its there forever. You dont have to change it. You dont have to feed the beast every single day. So I think the business models are quite different, but I think that the legal basis is very similar. casey newton Well, and does that suggest that, for you all, its actually essential that you are able to capture the value of the back catalogs for training, whereas for these media outlets they might have a better chance of securing ongoing revenue? mitch glazer I think thats right. I also think that we have an artistic intent element thats very, very different. Its one thing for somebody to say, you can copy this into your input. Its another to say that you can then change it so that the output uses the work of the artist, but it doesnt match their artistic intent. To say that these sort of what Kevin was saying earlier. Theyre saying, look, were just we had discussions. Whats your problem? Well, the problem is we work with human artists who care about the output. And so they need to have a role and a place in deciding how their arts being used. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton My understanding is that its actually gotten much more difficult and expensive to sample lately than it used to be in ways that dont really like. Id probably like to see more sampling than we do. But it seems like something changed around the time that the song Blurred Lines came out, and now all of a sudden everybody has to like even just a whisper of familiarity. Is there anything sort of in whatever led to that situation that you expect youll bring to this lawsuit? mitch glazer I think sampling is actually a pretty good example because samples are licensed today. And theres plenty of sampling going on. Now, does it mean that anybody can sample anything they want without permission? No. Do we have to have clearance departments that go out, whether youre talking about a video, or a movie, or another song, and get those rights especially from publishers and prior artists? Yes, you do. Thats called ownership. And you actually get to control your own art and what you do, and its not a simple process all the time. It takes work. We Im sure that our companies get frustrated and trying to do clearances, but its what you got to do. kevin roose Yeah there have been some companies that have faced copyright challenges in AI generative products that have responded by basically limiting the products, by saying you cant refer to a living artist in a prompt. It wont give you a response, basically to try to quell some of these concerns. Would that satisfy your concerns or are you trying to shut these things down altogether? mitch glazer Theyre trying to confuse the issue. Theyre pretending that this is about the output. The lawsuit is about the input. Right? So actually, by saying you cant type Jason Derulos name, you cant type Adeles name, what theyre basically doing there is further hiding the input. Theyre making it so that you cant see what they copied. And theyre pretending that this is all about the output in order to say, look, were putting guardrails on this thing. Thats not what this lawsuits about. This lawsuit is about them training their model on all of these sound recordings, not on limiting prompts on the output to further hide the input. But its clever. Its clever. kevin roose OK. So you want to shut this down. mitch glazer Well, I dont think that we want to we call it an injunction, Kevin. We would like to shut down their business as its operating now, which is something illegally trained on our sound recordings with output that doesnt reflect the artists integrity. Yes. Does that mean that we want to shut down AI generators or AI companies? No. Theres 50 companies that are already licensed by the music industry. And I think its important and this differs a lot from, I think, the old days but nobodys scared of this technology as in they want to shut down the technology. Everybody wants to use the technology. But they definitely see good AI versus bad AI. Good AI complements artists, helps them stretch music, helps assists them in the creation of music. Bad AI takes from them, gives no attribution, no compensation, asks no permission, and then generates something thats a bunch of garbage. kevin roose Yeah. I know of some artists who would say they want to shut down this stuff entirely, that they dont think theres any good form of it. But you mentioned the old days. And so I want to ask you about this. I think a lot of my fellow millennials think of the RIAA as the group that went around suing teenagers for pirating music during the Napster era. The RIAA has also sued a bunch of other file sharing and music sharing platforms, and actually fought the initial wave of streaming music services like Spotify because there was this fear that these all-you-can-eat streaming services would eat into CD sales. Now, of course, we know that streaming wasnt the death of music or music labels, that actually it ended up being sort of saving the music industry. Do you think theres a danger here, that actually these AI music generation programs could ultimately be great for music labels just like Spotify was, and that you might be trying to cut off something productive before its actually had the chance to mature? mitch glazer I dont think its really the same at all. I think that theres an embrace of AI, and there was well before these generators came out or well before OpenAI, especially within the tech content partnerships that have existed, and have grown, and matured, and gotten sophisticated through the streaming age. So even though the RIAAs job is to be the boogeyman and to go out there and enforce rights, which we do with zeal and hopefully a smile doing our job here, I think that really what were trying to do is create a marketplace like streaming, where there are partnerships and both sides can grow and evolve together. Because the truth is, you dont have one without the other. Record companies dont control their prices. They dont control their distribution. Theyre now gateways, not gatekeepers. The democratization of the music industry has changed everything. And I think theyre seeking the same kind of relationships with AI companies that they have with streaming companies today. kevin roose What would a good model look like? There are reports this week that YouTube is in talks with record labels about paying them a lot of money to license songs for their AI music generation software. Do you think thats the solution here, that there will be sort of these platforms that pay record labels and then they get to use those labels songs in training their models? Do you think its fine to use AI to generate music as long as the labels get paid? Or is there sort of a larger objection to the way that these models work at all? mitch glazer I think it works as long as its done in partnership with the artists and, at the end of the day, it moves the ball forward for the label and the artist. The YouTube example is interesting, because thats really geared towards YouTube Shorts. Right? Its geared towards fans being able to use generated music to put with their own videos for 15 or 30 seconds. Thats an interesting business model. BandLab is a tool for artists, Splice, Beatport, Focusrite, Output, Waves, Eventide every digital audio workstation thats now using AI Native Instruments, Oberheim. I mean, there are so many AI companies that have these bespoke agreements and different types of tools that are meant to be done with the artistic community, that I think the outliers are the Sunos and the Udios, who frankly are not very creative in trying to help with human ingenuity. Instead, theyre just substitutional to make money for investors by taking everybody elses stuff. casey newton Weve seen some pretty different reactions to the rise of AI among artists. Some people clearly seem to want no part of it. On the other hand, weve seen musicians like Grimes saying, here, take my voice. Make whatever you want. Well figure out a way to share the royalties if any of your songs becomes a hit. Im curious, if youre able to get the deals that you want, do you expect any controversy within the artist community and artists saying, hey, why you sell my back catalog to this blender? I dont to be part of that. mitch glazer Yeah. I think, look, artists are entitled to be different. And there are going to be artists I think. Kevin, you said earlier, you know artists who are so scared of this they just they do want to shut the whole thing down. They just dont want their music and their art touched. Right? I know directors of movies who cant stand that the formatting is different for an airplane. Thats their baby and they just dont want it. Then there are artists like Grimes who are like, Im finding experimental. Im fine having fans take it, and change it, and do something with it. All of that is good. Theyre the artist, right? I mean, its their art. Our job is to invest in them, partner with them, help find a market for them. But at the end of the day, if youre trying to find a market for an artists work that they dont and they dont want that work in the market, its not going to work. kevin roose Yeah. Have you listened to much AI generated music? Are there any songs youve heard that you thought, thats actually kind of good? mitch glazer Yeah. I think in the sort of overdubbing voice and likeness thing, that its a little bit better than some of the simple prompts on these AI generators like Udio and Suno. But I heard a I Billie Eilishs voice on a Revivalist song, and I was like, wow, she should cover this song. It was really great. Right? It just kind of seemed like a perfect fit, and its fun to play with those things. But again, like in that case, I think Billie Eilish gets to decide if her voice is used on something. I think she gets to decide if she wants to do a cover. I dont think that its up to Overdub to be able to do that. I did do a bunch of prompts, as you can imagine, on some of these services, trying to see what happens if you just put in a few words, like a simple country song. And then what happens if you put in 20 different descriptors? And whats amazing is you can every 10 seconds you get a new song. So if you dont like it, just put in a few more words and it rejiggers the patterns. And you can start getting to a point where youre like, OK, its not human and the lyrics kind of suck. But its not terrible. We are only six months into the huge progression of this technology. And if you had listened to a prompt where you were allowed to put in Jason Derulo or Mariah Carey six months ago versus now, you would notice a marked improvement. And thats one of the reasons why we needed to get out there now. We needed to bring this suit. We need the courts to settle this issue so that we can move forward on a thriving marketplace before the technology gets so good that it is a seismic threat to the industry. casey newton Ive seen a lot of support for this lawsuit among people I follow who are more inclined to side with artists and musicians. But there have also been some tech industry folks who think this is all kind of it sounds like the RIAA is just sort of anti-progress, anti-technology. I even saw one tech person call you the ultimate decels, which is like in Silicon Valley, thats sort of the biggest insult. Decels are people who want to basically stop technological progress, basically Luddites. What do you make of that line of argument from the Valley? mitch glazer This has been the same argument that the Valleys had since 1998. To me, thats a 30-year-old argument. If you look at the marketplace today, where Silicon Valley thrives is when rights are in place and they form partnerships. And then they grow into sophisticated global leaders where they can tweak every couple of years their deals, and come up with new products that allow them to feed these devices that are nothing without the content on them. Theres always sort of this David versus Goliath thing, no matter what side youre on. But if you think about it, music, which is a $17 billion industry in the United States I think one tech companys cash on hand is five times that, not to mention theyre $289 billion market caps. Right? But they are completely dependent on the music that these geniuses create in order to thrive. And to say that these creators are stopping their progress, I think is sort of laughable. I think whats much more threatening is if you move fast and break things without partnerships, what are you threatening on the tech side with a no holds barred, culture destroying, machine-led world? It sounds pretty gross to me. casey newton So what happens next? The lawsuits have been filed. This stuff tends to take a long time. But what can we look forward to? Will there be sort of scandalous emails unearthed in discovery that youll post to your website? Or what can we look forward to here? mitch glazer Well, moving forward in discovery, I think well be prohibited from posting anything to our casey newton Aw, man. mitch glazer I know. You think youre disappointed. kevin roose If you want to just send them to HardFork@NYTimes.com, thats fine. mitch glazer I live for that stuff. But we will, of course, follow the rules. But, you know, we have filed in the districts where these companies reside. And so I hope that within a year or so we will actually get to the meat of this. Because if you think about it, the judge has to decide when they raise fair use as a defense. Is this fair use or not? Right? And that is something that has to be part of the beginning, part of the lawsuit. So were hopeful that when I say a short time, in legal terms, that means a year or two. But were hoping that in a short time we will actually get a decision, and that it sends the right message to investors and to new companies, like theres a right way and a wrong way to do this. Doors are open for the right way. kevin roose Yeah. I think theres a story here about startups that are sort of moving fast, breaking things, asking for forgiveness, not permission. But I also think theres a story here that maybe we havent talked about, about restraint. Because I know that a lot of the big AI companies had tools years ago that could generate music, but they did not release them. I remember hearing a demo from someone who worked at the big AI companies one of the big AI companies maybe two years ago of one of these kinds of tools. But I think they understood. They were scared because they knew that the record industry is very organized. It has this kind of history of litigation. And they sort of understood that they were likely to face lawsuits if they let this out into the public. So have you had discussions with the bigger AI companies, the more established ones that are working on this stuff? Or are they just sort of intuiting correctly that they would have a lot of legal problems on their hands if they let this stuff out into the general public? mitch glazer You know, youre raising a point that I dont think is discussed often enough, which is that there are companies out there that deserve credit for restraint. And part of it is that they know that we would bring a lawsuit. And in the past, we havent been shy, and thats useful. But part of it is also because these are their partners now. There are real business relationships here and human relationships here between these companies. And so their natural I think theyre moving towards a world where their natural instinct is to approach their partners and see if they can work with them. I know that YouTube did its Dreamcast experiment, approached artists, approached record companies. That was sort of the precursor or the beta to whatever they might be discussing now for whats going to go on Shorts that we talked about earlier. And Im sure that there are many others. But youre right. Yes, there are going to be companies like Suno and Udio that just seek investment, want to make profit, and steal stuff. But there is restraint and constructive action by a lot of companies out there who do view the creators as their partners. kevin roose Well, its a really interesting development and I look forward to following it as it progresses. casey newton Thanks, Mitch. kevin roose Thanks so much, Mitch. Thanks for coming by. mitch glazer Thanks, guys. Bye. [MUSIC PLAYING] casey newton When we come back, were going inside the Pentagon with Chris Kirchhoff, the author of Unit X. Are we allowed inside the pentagon? [MUSIC PLAYING] kevin roose Well, Casey, lets talk about war. casey newton Lets talk about war. And what is it good for? kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Some say absolutely nothing. Others write books arguing the opposite. kevin roose Yeah. So Ive been wanting to talk about AI and technology and the military for a while on the show now. Because I think whats really flying under the radar of the mainstream tech press these days is that theres just been a huge shift in Silicon Valley toward making things for the military, and the US military in particular. Years ago, it was the case that most of the big tech companies, they were sort of very reluctant to work with the military, to sell things to the Department of Defense, to make products that could be used in war. They had a lot of ethical and moral quandaries about that, and their employees did, too. But weve really seen a shift over the past few years. There are now a bunch of startups working in defense tech, making things that are designed to be sold to the military and to national security forces. And weve also just seen a big effort at the Pentagon to modernize their infrastructure, to update their technology, to not get beat by other nations when it comes to having the latest and greatest weapons. casey newton Yeah. And also, Kevin, just the rise of AI in general, I think, has a lot of people curious about what the military thinks of what is going on out here, and is it eventually going to have to adopt a much more aggressive AI strategy than the one it has today. kevin roose Yeah. So a few weeks ago I met a guy named Chris Kirchhoff. Hes one of the authors, along with Raj Shah, of a book called Unit X. Chris is sort of a longtime defense tech guy. He was involved in a number of tech projects for the military. He worked at the National Security Council during the Obama administration. Fun fact he was the highest ranking openly gay advisor in the Department of Defense for years. And, most importantly, he was a founding partner of something called the Defense Innovation Unit, or DIU. It also goes by the name Unit X, which is basically this little experimental division that was set up about a decade ago by the Department of Defense to try to basically bring the Pentagons technology up to date. And he and Raj Shah, who was another founding partner of the DIU, just wrote a book called Unit X, that basically tells the story of how the Pentagon sort of realized that it had a problem with technology and set out to fix it. So I just thought we should bring in Chris to talk about some of the changes that he has seen in the military when it comes to technology and in Silicon Valley when it comes to the military. casey newton Lets do it. [MUSIC PLAYING] kevin roose Chris Kirchhoff, welcome to Hard Fork. chris kirchhoff Glad to be here. kevin roose So I think people hear a lot about the military and technology, and they kind of assume that there are very futuristic things happening inside the Pentagon that well hear about at some point in the future. But a lot of whats in your book is actually about old technology and how underwhelming some of the militarys technological prowess is. Your book opens with an anecdote about your co-author actually using a compact digital assistant because it was better, it had better navigation tools than the navigation system on his $30 million jet. That was how you introduced the fact that the military is not quite as technologically sophisticated as many people might think. So Im curious. When you first started your work with the military, what was the state of the technology? chris kirchhoff Well, its really interesting. You go to the movies and weve all seen Mission Impossible and James Bond. And wouldnt it be wonderful if that actually were the reality behind the curtain? But when you open up the curtain, you realize that actually, in this country, there are two entirely different systems of technological production. Theres one for the military and then theres one for everything else. And to dramatize this on the image of our book, Unit X, we have an iPhone. And on top of the iPhone is sitting an F-35, the worlds most advanced fighter jet, a fifth generation stealth fighter known as a flying computer for its incredible sensor fusion and weapons suites. But the thing about the F-35 is that its design was actually finalized in 2001, and it did not enter operations until 2016. And a lot happened between 2001 and 2016, including the invention of the iPhone, which, by the way, has a faster processor in it than the F-35. And if you think about the F-35 over the subsequent years, theres been three technological upgrades to it. And were now what were almost in iPhone 16 season. And once you understand that, you understand why it was really important that the Pentagon thought about establishing a Silicon Valley office to start accessing this whole other technology ecosystem that is faster and generally a lot less expensive than the firms that produce technology for the military. kevin roose Yeah. I remember, years ago, I interviewed your former boss, Ash Carter, the former Secretary of Defense who died in 2022. And I sort of expected that hed want to talk about all the newfangled stuff that the Pentagon was making autonomous drones, stealth bombers. But instead, we ended up talking about procurement, which is basically how the government buys stuff, whether its a fighter jet or an iPhone. And I remember him telling me that procurement was just unbelievably complicated, and it was a huge part of what made government and the military in particular so inefficient and kind of backwards technologically. Describe how the military procures things, and then what you discovered about how to maybe short circuit that process or make it more efficient. chris kirchhoff If youre looking to buy a nuclear aircraft carrier or a nuclear submarine, you cant really go on Amazon and price shop for that. casey newton I learned that the hard way, by the way. chris kirchhoff Should have upped your credit limit, Casey. casey newton Yeah. chris kirchhoff And so, in those circumstances, when the government is representing the taxpayer and buying one large military system, a multibillion dollar system from one vendor, its really important that the taxpayer not be overcharged. And so the Pentagon has developed a really elaborate system of procurement to ensure that it can control how production happens, the cost of individual items. And that works OK it youre in a situation where you have the government and one firm that makes one thing. It doesnt make any sense, though, if youre buying goods that multiple firms make or that are just available on the consumer market. And so one of the challenges we had out here in Silicon Valley, when we first did a defense innovation unit, was trying to figure out how to work with startups and tech companies who, it turns out, werent interested in working with the government. And the reason why is that the government typically buys defense technology through something called the Federal Acquisition Rules, which is a little bit like the Old Testament. Its this dictionary-size book of regulations. Letting a contract takes 18 to 24 months. If youre a startup, your investors tell you not to go down that path for a couple reasons. One, youre not going to make enough money before your next valuation. Youre going to have to wait too long. Youre going to go out of business before the government actually closes the sale. And two, even if you get that first contract, its totally possible another firm with better lobbyists is going to take it right back away from you. So at Defense Innovation Unit, we had to figure out how to solve that paradox. kevin roose Part of what I found interesting about your book was just the sort of accounts that you gave of these sort of clever loopholes that you and your team found around some of the bureaucratic slowness at the Pentagon, and in particular this loophole that allowed you to purchase technology much, much more quickly that one of your staffers found. Tell that story, and maybe thatll help people understand the systems that you were up against. chris kirchhoff Its an amazing story. We knew when we arrived in Silicon Valley that we would fail unless we figured out a different way to contract with firms. And our first week in the office, this 29-year-old staff member named Lauren Dailey, the daughter actually of a tank commander whose way of serving was to become a civilian in the Pentagon and work on acquisition, happened to be up because shes a total acquisition nerd late at night reading the just-released National Defense Authorization Act, which is another dictionary-sized compendium of law that comes out every year. And she was flipping through it, trying to find new provisions in law that might change how acquisition worked. And sure enough, in section 815 of the law, she found a single sentence that she realized somebody had placed there that changed everything. And that single sentence would allow us to use a completely different kind of contracting mechanisms called other transaction authorities that were actually first invented during the space race to allow NASA, during the Apollo era, to contract with mom and pop suppliers. And so she realized that this provision would allow us not only to use OTAs to buy technology, but the really important part is that if it worked, it was successful in the pilot, we could immediately go to buy it at scale, to buy it in production. We didnt have to recompete it. There would be no pause, no 18-month pause between demonstrating your technology and having the Department buy it. And when Lauren brought this to our attention, we thought oh, boy, this really is a game changer. So we flew Lauren to Washington. We had her meet with the head of acquisition policy at the Department of Defense. And in literally three weeks, we changed 60 years of Pentagon policy to create a whole new way to buy technology that, to this day, has been used to purchase $70 billion of technology for the Department of Defense. kevin roose You just said that the reason that Silicon Valley tech companies, some of them didnt want to work with the military, is because of this sort of arcane and complicated procurement process. But there are also real moral objections among a lot of tech companies and tech workers. In 2018, Google employees famously objected to something called Project Maven, which was a project the company had planned with the Pentagon that would have used their AI image recognition software to improve weapons and things like that. And there have been just a lot of objections over the years from Silicon Valley to working with the military, to being defense contractors. Why do you think that was? And do you think thats changed at all? chris kirchhoff To me, its completely understandable. So few Americans serve in uniform. Most of us dont actually know somebody whos in the military. And its really easy here in Silicon Valley, where the weathers great sure, you read headlines in the news. But the military is not something that you encounter in your daily life. And you join a tech company to make the world better, to develop products that are going to help people. You dont join a tech company assuming that youre going to be making the world a more lethal place. But at the same time, Project Maven was actually something that I got a chance to work on, and Defense Innovation Unit and a whole group of people led. casey newton Remind us what Project Maven was. chris kirchhoff So Project Maven was an attempt to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to take a whole bunch of footage, surveillance footage that was being captured in places like Iraq, and Afghanistan, and other military missions, and to use machine learning to label what was found in this footage. So it was a tool to essentially automate work that otherwise would have taken human analysts hundreds of hours to do. And it was used primarily for intelligence, and reconnaissance, and force protection. So Project Maven this is another misconception. When you talk about military systems, theres really a lot of unpacking you have to do. The headline that got project maven in trouble said, Google working on secret drone project. And it made it look as if Google was partnering with Defense Innovation Unit and the Department of Defense to build offensive weapons to support the US drone campaign. And thats not all what was happening. What was happening is Google was building tools that would help our analysts process the incredible amount of data flowing off many different observation platforms in the military. kevin roose Right. But Google employees objected to this. They made a big case that Google should not participate in Project Maven, and eventually the company pulled out of the project. But speaking of Project Maven, I was curious because there was some reporting from Bloomberg this year that showed that the military has actually used Project Mavens technology as recently as February to identify targets for airstrikes in the Middle East. So isnt that exactly what the Google employees who were protesting Project Maven back when you were working on it at the Defense Department isnt that exactly what they were scared would happen? chris kirchhoff Well, Project Maven, when Google was involved, was very much a pilot R&D project. And it since transitioned actually into much more of an operational phase. And its being used in a number of places. In fact, its actually being used in Ukraine, as well, to help the US identify military targets in Ukraine. And so this, again, speaks to AI think, a sea change in Silicon Valley since that original protest of 3,000 Google employees over Project Maven, where the world has changed a lot and not for the better. We have a land war going on in Europe, on the border of NATO. And, in fact, that war the Ukraine conflict has mobilized a lot of people in Silicon Valley to want to try and help support Ukraines quest to defend its territory. And so I think were in a very different time and moment right now, as people watching the news realize that our security is actually quite a bit more fragile than we might have first imagined. kevin roose I think one reaction that our listeners may have to this is they are very concerned about the use of AI and other technologies by the military. And I also hear from a lot of people at the tech companies who are really concerned about some of these contracts. I remember, during the Project Maven controversy, talking with people at Google who were part of the protest movement. And some things that they would say to me are like, well, if I wanted to work for a defense contractor, I would have gone to go work for Lockheed Martin or Raytheon. Im curious. What moral argument would you make to someone who maybe says, look, I did not sign up to make weapons of war, I am an AI engineer, I work on large language models, or I work on image recognition stuff? What do you tell that person if youre working at the DIU, trying to persuade them that its OK to sell or license that technology to the pentagon? chris kirchhoff I think you tell them that were at an extraordinary moment in the history of war where everything is changing. And Ill just give you a couple data points. A few weeks ago, the United States asked the Ukrainian military to pull back from the front lines all 31 of the M1A1 Abrams tanks that we had deployed to Ukraine to allow their military to better repel a Russian invasion. These are the most advanced tanks, not only in our inventory, but in the inventory of any one of our allies. And they were getting whacked by $2,000. Russian Kamikaze drones $2,000 drones killing tanks. What does that tell me? That tells me that a century of mechanized warfare that began in the first World War is over. And if youre building an army thats full of tanks, you now are the emperor with fewer clothes anyway. And Ill give you one other a couple other data points. Hamas has kicked off the largest ground war in the Middle East because of its attack in Israel on the 7th of October since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, threatening to destabilize the Middle East into a wider war. How did they do it? They did it by taking quadcopters and using them to drop grenades on the generators powering the Israeli border towers. Thats what allowed the fighters to pour over the border. Another data point Houthi rebels in Yemen right now are holding hostage 12 percent of global shipping in the Red Sea because theyre using autonomous sea drones, missiles, and loitering munitions to harass shipping. And so were at this moment where the arsenal of democracy that we have, this incredibly forceful military thats full of things like aircraft carriers and tanks, are wielding weapons that are no longer as effective as they were 10 years ago. And if our military and our adversaries doesnt catch up quick, we may be in a situation where we dont have the advantage we once did. And we have to think very differently about our security if thats the case. kevin roose I mean, it sounds like youre kind of saying that the way to stop a bad guy with an AI drone is a good guy with an AI drone. Am I hearing you right, that youre saying that we just we have to have such overwhelmingly powerful lethal technology in our military that other countries wont mess with us? chris kirchhoff I totally hear you, and frankly, hear all the people that years ago were affiliated with the Stop Killer Robots movement. I mean, these weapons are theyre awful things. They do awful things to human beings. But, at the same time, theres a deep literature on something called strategic stability that comes out of the Cold War. And part of that literature focuses on the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the fact that, actually, the proliferation of nuclear weapons has actually reduced great power conflict in the world. Because nobody actually wants to get in a nuclear exchange. Now, would it be a good idea for everybody in the world to have their own nuclear weapon? Probably not. So all these things have limits. But thats an illustration of how strategic stability in other words, a balance of power can actually reduce the chance of conflict in the first place. kevin roose Im curious what you make of the Stop Killer Robots movement. There was a petition or an open letter that went around years ago that was signed by a bunch of leaders in AI, including Elon Musk, and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind. They all pledged not to develop autonomous weapons. Do you think that was a good pledge or do you support autonomous weapons? chris kirchhoff I think autonomous weapons are now kind of a reality in the world. Were seeing this on the front lines of Ukraine. And if youre not willing to fight with autonomous weapons, then youre going to lose. casey newton So theres this former OpenAI employee, Leopold Ashenbrenner, who recently released a long manifesto called Situational Awareness. And one of the predictions that he makes is that by about 2027, the US government would recognize that superintelligent AI was such a threat to the world order that AGI, a sort of artificial general intelligence, would become functionally a project of the national security state, something like an AGI Manhattan Project. Theres other speculation out there that maybe at some point the government would have to nationalize an OpenAI or an Anthropic. Are you hearing any of these whispers yet? Are people starting to game this out at all? chris kirchhoff I confess, I havent made it all through each 155 pages of that long manifesto. casey newton Yeah. It was very long. You could summarize it with ChatGPT, though. chris kirchhoff Fantastic. But these are important things to think about. Because it could be that in certain kinds of conflicts, whoever has the best AI wins. And if thats the case, and if AI is getting exponentially more powerful, then to take things back to the iPhone and the F-35 its going to be really important that you have the kind of AI of the iPhone variety. You have the AI that thats new every year. You dont have the F-35 with the processor that was baked in in 2001, and youre only taking off on a runway in 2016. So I do think its very important for folks to be focused on AI. Where this all goes, though, is a lot of speculation. casey newton If you had to bet in 10 years, do you think that the AI companies will still be private? Or do you think the government will have stepped in and gotten way more interested and maybe taken one of them over? chris kirchhoff Well, Id make the observation that we all watched Oppenheimer, especially employees at AI firms. They seemed to love that film. And nuclear technology, its what national security strategists would call a point technology. Its sort of zero to one. Either you have it or you dont. And AI is not going to end up being a point technology. Its a very broadly diffuse technology thats going to be applied not only in weapons systems but in institutions. Its going to be broadly diffused around the economy. And for that reason, I dont think or its less likely, anyway, that were going to end up in a situation where somebody has the bomb and somebody doesnt. I think the gradations are going to be smoother and not quite as sharp. kevin roose Part of what weve seen in other industries, as technology sort of moves in and modernizes things, is that often things become cheaper. Its cheaper to do things using the latest technology than it is to do using outdated technology. Do you think some of the work that youve done at DIU, trying to modernize how the Pentagon works, is going to result in smaller defense budgets being necessary going forward? Is the $2 trillion or so that the DOD has budgeted for this year, could that be $1 trillion or half a trillion in the coming years because of some of these modernizations? chris kirchhoff Youre giving us a raise, Kevin. I think its more like $800 billion. kevin roose Well, Im sorry. I got that answer from Googles AI overview, which chris kirchhoff There you go. kevin roose also told me to eat rocks and put glue on my pizza. chris kirchhoff We should get the Secretary of Defense to try that. Hed like that answer if he had that large of a budget. You know, its certainly true that, for a lot less money now, you can have a really destructive effect on the world, as drone pilots in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world are showing. I think its also true that the US military has a whole bunch of legacy weapons systems that unfortunately are kind of like museum relics. Right? If our most advanced tank can be destroyed by a drone, it might be time to retire our tank fleet. If our aircraft carriers cannot be defended against the hypersonic missile attack, its probably not a good idea to sail one of our aircraft carriers anywhere near an advanced adversary. So I think it is an opportune moment to really look at what we are spending our money on at the Defense Department and remember the goal of our nations founders, which is to spend what we need to on defense and not a penny more. casey newton So I hear you saying that its very important for the military to be prepared technologically for the world were in. And that means working with Silicon Valley. But is there anything more specific that you want to share that you think that either side needs to be doing here, or something specific that you want to see out of that collaboration? chris kirchhoff One of the main goals of defense innovation unit was literally to get the two groups talking. Before Defense Innovation Unit was founded, a Secretary of Defense hadnt been to Silicon Valley in 20 years. Thats almost a generation. So Silicon Valley invents the mobile phone. It invents cloud computing. It invents AI. And nobody from the Defense Department bothers to even come and visit. And thats a problem. And so just bringing the two sides into conversations itself, I think, a great achievement. kevin roose Well, Chris, thanks so much for coming on. Really appreciate the conversation. And the book, which comes out on July 9, is called Unit X, How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War. chris kirchhoff Thank you. casey newton Thank you, Chris. When we come back, well play another round of Hat GPT. [MUSIC PLAYING] All right, Kevin. Well, its time once again for Hat GPT. [MUSIC PLAYING] kevin roose This, of course, is our favorite game. Its where we draw news stories from the week out of a hat, and we talk about them until one of us gets sick of hearing the other one talk and says, stop generating. casey newton Thats right. Now, normally we pull slips of paper out of a hat. But due to our remote setup today, I will instead be pulling virtual slips of paper out of a laptop. But for those following along at YouTube, you will still see that I do have one of the Hat GPT hats here, and I will be using it for comic effect throughout the segment. kevin roose Will you put it on, Actually? casey newton Sure. kevin roose If we dont need it to draw slips out of, you might as well be wearing it. casey newton I might as well be wearing it. kevin roose Yeah. Itll look so good. casey newton Thank you so much. And thank you once again to the listener who made this for us. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Youre a true fan. kevin roose Its so good. casey newton Perfect all right, Kevin, let me draw the first slip out of the laptop. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Ilya Sutskever has a new plan for safe superintelligence. Ilya Sutskever is, of course, the OpenAI co-founder who was part of the coup against Sam Altman last year. And Bloomberg reports that he is now introducing his next project, a venture called Safe Superintelligence, which aims to create a safe, powerful artificial intelligence system within a pure resource organization that has no near-term intention of selling AI products or services. Kevin, what do you make of this. kevin roose Well, its very interesting on a number of levels, right? In some sense, this is kind of a mirror image of what happened several years ago, when a bunch of safety-minded people left OpenAI after disagreeing with Sam Altman and started an AI safety-focused research company. That, of course, was Anthropic. And so this is sort of the newest twist in this whole saga is that Ilya Sutskever, who was very concerned about safety and how to make superintelligence that was smarter than humans, but also not evil, and not going to destroy us, who has done something very similar. But I have to say, I dont quite get it. Hes not saying much about the project. But part of the reason that these companies sell these AI products and services is to get the money to buy all the expensive equipment that you need to train these giant models. casey newton Right. kevin roose And so I just dont know. If you if you dont have any intention of selling this stuff before it becomes AGI, how are you paying for the AGI? Do you have a sense of that? casey newton No, I dont. I mean, Daniel Gross, who is one of Ilyas co-founders here, has basically said, dont worry about fundraising. We are going to be able to fundraise as much as we need for this. So I guess we will see. But, yeah, it does feel a bit strange to have someone like Ilya saying hes going to build this totally without a commercial motive, in part because he said it before. Right? This is what is so funny about this, is it truly just is a case where the circle of life keeps repeating, where a small band of people get together and they say, we want to build a very powerful AI system and were going to do it very safely. And then, bit by bit, they realize, well, actually, we dont think that its being built out safely. Were going to form a breakaway faction. So if youre playing a lot at home, I believe this is the second breakaway faction to break away from OpenAI after Anthropic. And I look forward to Ilya quitting this company eventually to start a newer, even more safe company somewhere else. kevin roose The really, really safe. Superintelligence company. casey newton Yeah. His next company, youve never seen safety like this. They wear helmets everywhere, in the office, and they just have keyboards. kevin roose All right, stop generating. casey newton All right, pick one out of the hat, Kevin. kevin roose All right. Five men convicted of operating JetFlix, one of the largest illegal streaming sites in the US this is from Variety. JetFlix was a sort of pirated streaming service that charged $9.99 a month, while claiming to host more than 183,000 TV episodes, which is more than the combined catalogs of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video combined. casey newton Ooh, that sounds great. Im going to open an account. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton What a deal. kevin roose So the Justice Department says this was all illegal. And the five men who were charged with operating it were convicted by a federal jury in Las Vegas. According to the court documents and the evidence that was presented at the trial, this group of five men were basically scraping piracy services for illegal episodes of TV and then hosting them on their own thing. It does not appear to have been a particularly sophisticated scam. Its just, what if we did this for a while and charge people money and then got caught? casey newton Well, I think this is very sad. Because here, finally, you have some people who are willing to stand up and fight inflation. And what does the government do? They come in and they say, knock it off. I will say, though, Kevin, I think these I can actually point to the mistake that these guys made. kevin roose Whats that? casey newton So instead of scraping these 183,000 TV episodes and selling them for $9.99 a month, what they should have done was feed them all into a large language model. And then you can sell them to people for $20 a month. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton When these guys get out of prison, I hope they get in touch with me. Because I have a new business idea for them. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: All right. Stop generating. casey newton All right. Heres a story called 260 McNuggets? McDonalds Ends Drive-Through Tests Amid Errors. This is from The New York Times. After a number of embarrassing videos showing customers fighting with its AI-powered drive-through technology, McDonalds announced it was ending its three year partnership with IBM. In one TikTok video, friends repeatedly tell the AI assistant to stop, as it added hundreds of Chicken McNuggets to their order. Other videos show the drive-through technology, adding nine iced teas to an order, refusing to add a Mountain Dew, and adding unrequested bacon to ice cream. Kevin, what the heck is going on at McDonalds? kevin roose Well, as a fan of bacon ice cream, I should say, I want to get to one of these McDonalds before they take this thing down. casey newton Ooh, me too. kevin roose Did you see any of these videos or any of these casey newton I havent. Did you? kevin roose No, but we should watch one of them together. casey newton Yeah. kevin roose Lets watch one of them. archived recording 1 [LAUGHS]: No. archived recording 2 Stop! kevin roose The caption is, The McDonalds robot is wild. And it shows their screen at the thing where it has it is, like, just tallying up McNuggets and starts charging them more than $200. casey newton Heres my question. Why is everyone just rushing to assume that the AI is wrong here? Maybe the AI knows what these gals need. Because, Kevin, heres the thing. When superintelligence arrives, were going to think that were smarter than it. But its going to be smart. So theres going to be a period of adjustment as we sort of get used to having our new AI master. kevin roose Have you been to a drive-through that used AI to take your order yet? casey newton No. I mean, I dont even really understand what was the AI here? Was this like, an Alexa thing where I said, McDonalds, add 10 McNuggets? Or what was actually happening? kevin roose No. So this was a partnership that McDonalds struck with IBM. And basically, this was technology that went inside the little menu things that have the microphone and the speaker in them. And so instead of having a human say, what would you like, it would just say, what would you like. And then said it, and they would recognize it and put it into the system. So you could sort of eliminate that part of the labor of the drive-through. casey newton Got it. Well, look. I for one, am very glad this happened because for so long now Ive wondered, what does IBM do? And I have no idea. And now, if it ever comes up again, Ill say, oh, thats the company that made the McDonalds stop working. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: We should say its not just McDonalds. A bunch of other companies are starting to use this technology. I actually think this is probably inevitable this technology will get better. They will Iron out some of the kinks. But I think there will probably still need to be a human in the loop on this one. casey newton All right. Stop generating. kevin roose OK. casey newton Kevin, lets talk about what happened when 20 comedians got AI to write their routines. This is in the MIT Technology Review. Google DeepMind researchers found that although popular AI models from OpenAI and Google were effective at simple tasks, like structuring a monologue or producing a rough first draft, they struggled to produce material that was original, stimulating, or crucially funny. And Id like to read you an example LLM joke, Kevin. kevin roose Please. casey newton I decided to switch careers and become a pickpocket after watching a magic show. Little did I know, the only thing disappearing would be my reputation. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: Waka, waka, waka. casey newton Hey, I got a laugh out of you. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Kevin, what do you make of this? Are you surprised that AI isnt funnier? kevin roose No, but this is interesting. Its like, this has been something that critics of large language models have been saying for years. its like, well, it cant tell a joke. And, you know, I should say, Ive had funny experiences with large language models, but never after asking them to tell me a joke. casey newton Yeah. Remember when you said to Sydney, take my wife, please? kevin roose [LAUGHS]: I get no respect, I tell ya. No, but this is an interesting. Because this was a study that was actually done by researchers at Google DeepMind. And basically, it appears that they had a group of comedians try writing some jokes with their language models. And in the abstract, it says that most of the participants in this study felt that the large language models did not succeed as a creativity support tool by producing bland and biased comedy tropes, which they describe in this paper as being akin to cruise ship comedy material from the 1950s, but a bit less racist. So they were not impressed, these comedians, by these language models ability to tell jokes. Youre an amateur comedian. Have you ever used AI to come up with jokes? casey newton No, I havent. And I have to say, I think I understand the technological reason why these things arent funny, Kevin, which is that comedy is very up to the minute. Right? For something to be funny, its typically something that is on the edge of what is currently thought to be socially acceptable. And what is socially acceptable or what is surprising within a social context, that just changes all the time. And these models, they are trained on decades, and decades, and decades of text. And they just dont have any way of figuring out, well, what would be a really fresh thing to say. So maybe theyll get there eventually, but as theyre built right now, Im truly not surprised that theyre not funny. kevin roose All right, stop generating. Next one. Waymo ditches the waitlist and opens up its robotaxis to everyone in San Francisco. This is from The Verge. Since 2022, Waymo has made its rides in its robotaxi service available only to people who were approved off of a waitlist. But, as of this week, they are opening it up to anyone who wants to ride in San Francisco. Casey, what do you make of this? casey newton Well, I am excited that more people are going to get to try this. This is, as youve noted, Kevin, become kind of the newest tourist attraction in San Francisco, is when you come here, you see if you can find somebody to give you a ride in one of these self-driving cars. And now everyone is just going to be able to come here and download the app and use it immediately. I have to say, I am scared about what this is going to mean for the wait times on Waymo. Ive been taking Waymo more lately, and it often will take 12 or 15 or 20 minutes to get a car. And now that everyone can download the app, Im not expecting those wait times to go down. kevin roose Yeah. I hope they are also simultaneously adding more cars to the Waymo network because this is going to be very popular. Im a little casey newton Youre saying they need way mo cars. kevin roose They do. Im worried about the wait times, but Im also worried about the condition of these cars. Because Ive noticed, in my last few rides, theyre a little dirtier. casey newton Oh, wait. Really? kevin roose Yeah. I mean, theyre still pretty clean, but I did see a takeout container in one the other day. casey newton Really? Oh, my god. kevin roose So I just I want to know how they plan to keep these things from becoming filled with peoples crap. casey newton All right, stop generating. kevin roose All right, last one. This one comes from The Verge. TikToks AI tool accidentally let you put Hitlers words in a paid actors mouth. TikTok mistakenly posted a link to an internal version of an AI digital avatar tool that apparently had zero guardrails. This was a tool that was supposed to let businesses generate ads using AI with paid actors, using this AI voice dubbing thing that would make the actors repeat whatever you wanted to have them say, endorse your product or whatever. But very quickly, people found out that you could use this tool to repeat excerpts of Mein Kampf, Bin Ladens letter to America. It told people to drink bleach and vote on the wrong day. [LAUGHS] casey newton And that was its recipe for a happy Pride celebration. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Listen. Obviously, this is a very sort of silly story. It sounds like everything involved here was a mistake. And I think if youre making some sort of digital AI tool that is meant to generate ads, you do want to put safeguards around that. Because, otherwise, people will exploit it. That said, Kevin, I do think people need to start getting comfortable with the fact that people are just going to be using these AI creation tools to do a bunch of kooky and crazy stuff. kevin roose Like what? casey newton Like, people are in the same way that people use Photoshop to make nudity or offensive images and we dont storm the gates of Adobe saying, shut down Photoshop the same thing is going to happen with these digital AI tools. And while I do think that there are some notable differences and it is sort of it varies on a case by case basis, and if youre making a tool for creating ads, it feels different, there are just going to be a lot of digital tools like this that use AI to make stuff. And other people are going to use it to make offensive stuff. And when they do, we should hold the people accountable, perhaps, more than we hold the tool accountable. kevin roose Yeah, I agree with that. And I also think this sort of product is not super worrisome to me. I mean, obviously it should not be reading excerpts from Mein Kampf. Obviously, they did not mean to release this. I assume that when they do fix it, it will be much better. But this is not a thing that is creating deepfakes of people without their consent. This is a thing where if you have a brand, you can choose from a variety of stock avatars that are created from people who actually get paid to have their likenesses used commercially. The specific details of this one dont bother me that much, but it does open up some new licensing opportunities for us. We could have an AI set of avatars that could be out there advertising crypto tokens or whatever. And I, for one, Im excited to see how people use that. casey newton Oh, man. Well, and if TikTok werent banned, we could probably make a lot of money that way. But instead, were out of luck. kevin roose Yeah. Get it while its good. All right. casey newton Close up the hat! [music playing, applause] kevin roose Near the end of Stephen Sondheims musical A Little Night Music, the orchestra swells to what he is said to have called his Max Steiner moment, something out of Casablanca or Gone With the Wind. Desiree and Fredrik, former lovers who reconnect but nearly miss out on happiness again, come together and kiss. The instruments respond with a grand, emotive reprise of the shows 11 oclock number, Send in the Clowns. At a concert performance of A Little Night Music at David Geffen Hall on Thursday, the premiere of a new orchestration by Sondheims longtime collaborator Jonathan Tunick, the 53-piece Orchestra of St. Lukes let out a fortissimo tutti. Strings and winds soared with the melody, but there was more: resonant, staggered chords to support it in the low voices, and florid counterpoint. It was a moment fit not only for the movies but for the opera house, which, perhaps, is where this new orchestration belongs. Not all musicals are fit for stages beyond Broadway, but some are. And there has been a resurgence, since Sondheims death in 2021, of large-scale revivals of his work. (This, after years of skillfully stripped-down productions by John Doyle.) Sweeney Todd returned to Broadway with Tunicks original orchestration for nearly 30 players, crackling with detail and musical drama. Last week, Follies was presented at Carnegie Hall with a similarly sized ensemble and a starry cast in concert. Lanzarote is a place of secrets and mysteries, the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar once said of the place he used as a backdrop for his 2009 film Broken Embraces. After I set foot on the island, the tensions I bring from Madrid disappear, as if this land had healing qualities. Mr. Almodovars words, in a 2008 interview with the Spanish newspaper El Diario, kindled my own fascination with Lanzarote, the easternmost of the seven main Canary Islands. His description also made it sound like the ideal wind-down destination for anyone attending Pride events on nearby Gran Canaria, an island thats one of the most popular gay destinations in Europe. So this May, as revelers flocked to Gran Canaria, I went to Lanzarote. The television commentators on the ballrooms giant screen the ones questioning whether President Biden should be the Democratic nominee this fall had been muted. A D.J. had been firing up the crowd, and a crush of Democrats had thickened along barricades, readying for selfies and handshakes. Mr. Bidens campaign was on the defense in many corners after his debate on Thursday night with former President Donald J. Trump. But as midnight approached in a windowless ballroom at a Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, where supporters watched the debate and then received Mr. Biden and his wife just after it ended, just about everything, it seemed, had gone perfectly fine. Joe, you did such a great job, Jill Biden, the first lady, gushed as she turned toward her husband less than 30 minutes after he had left the debate stage. You answered every question. You knew all the facts. For his part, Mr. Biden spent no time dwelling on his showing. He preferred to talk about the performance of his adversary, Mr. Trump. They started the night hoping that President Biden would use the first debate of 2024 to his advantage, that he would finally quash fears about his age and give the impression of a determined statesman compared with former President Donald J. Trump. But for the roughly 40 Democrats who gathered Thursday night at a union hall in Sacramento, it did not take long for the mood to descend into something between grim despair and mild panic. Within minutes, even ardent supporters in the capital of California fell silent, exchanging glances and acknowledging quietly that Mr. Biden, his virtues aside, seemed less forceful than Mr. Trump, and weary. Toward the end, some of the younger attendees left before the debate was over. Neither of them inspires confidence, said Dubrea Sanders, 25. Its going to be a very scary November for a lot of people, including myself. The crowd, mostly state workers, policy analysts, labor activists and members of a local Young Democrats organization, cheered from white folding chairs when the president took the stage and heckled Mr. Trumps false claims, roaring with laughter as Mr. Trump mispronounced China and talked about immaculate water. Nicole Miller had gone to the emergency room in Boise, Idaho, after waking up with heavy bleeding in her 20th week of pregnancy. By afternoon, she was still leaking amniotic fluid and hemorrhaging and, now in a panic, struggling to understand why the doctor was telling her that she needed to leave the state to be treated. If I need saving, youre not going to help me? she recalls asking. She remembers his answer vividly: He told me he wasnt willing to risk his 20-year career. Instead, that evening, hospital workers at St. Lukes Boise Medical Center put Ms. Miller on a small plane to Utah, where she said she gripped her husbands hand scared of flying but more terrified that she would never see her young daughters again. I just need to stay alive so I can be around for my two other kids, nurses reported her saying as she arrived at the hospital in Salt Lake City, 14 hours after she had arrived in the emergency room back home. Only when she woke up the next morning did she understand, because a nurse told her, that she was airlifted so she could have an abortion. Around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Cal Fire said the fires near Fresno were 37 percent contained. While the size of the fires near Fresno has swelled over the past few days, the containment has strengthened, too, as firefighters worked to merge some of the fires, a tactic to stop them from spreading by encircling them, according to Sergio Arellano, a spokesman for Cal Fire. Firefighters were likely to cover more ground overnight as lower temperatures raised the relative humidity of the air, Mr. Arellano said. The containment lines are holding well, he said, adding that he expected the evacuation orders and warnings to be lifted in the next day or two. There were no reports of fatalities, Cal Fire said. The National Weather Service said that an area of high pressure coming over the deserts from the southwest was pushing the smoke from the fires to the northeast. Dry and gusty conditions were expected over the weekend, raising the risk of grass fires across the region, it said. Hawaii is reeling from one of the largest corruption scandals in its history. Former State Senator J. Kalani English and former State Representative Ty Cullen pleaded guilty in February 2022 to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes during their time in office. Starting as early as 2014, and continuing until at least 2020, state and local politicians raked in campaign contributions at late-night fund-raising parties. Hawaii had passed an anti-corruption law in 2005 that was billed as one of the nations most ambitious efforts to end pay-to-play government contracting. Join journalists from The Times and Honolulu Civil Beat, a nonprofit newsroom, for a hybrid discussion about how they uncovered systematic failures in Hawaiis reform efforts at 10:30 a.m. Hawaii time (4:30 p.m. Eastern time) on Wednesday, July 10. Register here. Blaze Lovell, the reporter, and Dean Baquet, who edited the investigation, will discuss the project, which included an analysis of hundreds of thousands of campaign contributions and more than 70,000 state contracts. The conversation will be moderated by Patti Epler, the editor and general manager of Civil Beat. Los Angeles residents, long exhausted by homelessness, were optimistic when Mayor Karen Bass started an aggressive effort to move people from encampments into motel rooms in late 2022, soon after she took office. Piles of belongings were removed from freeway underpasses. Sidewalks that had been blocked by lines of tents were cleared. But even as Ms. Bass touted the success of Inside Safe, her signature program aimed at moving people off the streets, she warned that the population of homeless Angelenos could still grow before her efforts made a dent. Ms. Bass and her allies on Friday received major validation: For the first time in six years, the number of people who were homeless in Los Angeles decreased from the year before, according to the regions most recent point-in-time count, which took place in January. In Los Angeles, the nations second largest city, where encampments have vexed neighbors for years, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness decreased by 2.2 percent, while the number of unsheltered people in the city homeless people who are not in emergency shelter and are sleeping on the street, in tents or in cars decreased by 10.4 percent. Conservative Christian activists and lawyers are celebrating the Chevron decision as a significant win for their ambitions to target medication abortion and rights for transgender people. Anti-abortion activists see the ruling as a critical tool to fight the Food and Drug Administration, especially after the court rejected their bid to undo the F.D.A.s approval of a medication abortion drug earlier in June. Getting rid of Chevron is the first domino to fall, Kristi Hamrick, a strategist for Students for Life, said in a statement. They see the decision as a new precedent as they seek to bring a future case against the F.D.A. to the Supreme Court. Ms. Hamrick said such a case was likely to get a better reception when the F.D.A. is no longer given the benefit of the doubt. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative Christian legal advocacy group that argued against the F.D.A.s approval of the abortion pill and lost, also praised the ruling. The Democratic Party faced a brewing crisis on Friday as a wide range of lawmakers, party officials and activists began to actively consider what had previously been a pipe dream for pundits and worried voters: the prospect of replacing President Biden on the ticket roughly four months before Election Day. For two years, leading Democrats limited their concerns about Mr. Bidens performance and age to private meetings and off-the-record conversations, leery of undermining an incumbent president in a rematch against former President Donald J. Trump. But with Mr. Bidens debate performance on Thursday uneven and at times incoherent, halting even on politically advantageous subjects like abortion rights that conversation has exploded into the public domain. Biden did not rise to the occasion and is going to cause a serious reassessment among his party: Are they going to say, Is he just having a bad night, or is he prepared to go forward? the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader who has had a warm relationship with Mr. Biden for years, said in an interview hours after the debate. Joe Scarborough pursed his lips and jotted down a few notes at his desk. It was 6 a.m. on Friday, seven and a half hours after a diminished President Biden had gingerly stepped off the debate stage, and the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC was about to deliver a painful message to viewers of televisions most reliable redoubt of Biden support. I love Joe Biden, Mr. Scarborough began as the cameras flipped on in his home studio in Maine. I think his presidency has been an unqualified success. But. He spent much of the night with his mouth agape and his eyes darting back and forth, the anchor said. He couldnt fact-check anything Donald Trump said. He missed one layup after another after another. Now, he concluded, is the last chance for Democrats to decide whether this man weve known and loved for a very long time is up to the task of running for president of the United States. This was no mere act of punditry. Mr. Biden, 81, is a skeptic of the news media, but Mr. Scarborough is among a tiny group of commentators who have his ear. The president regularly speaks with the anchor and is a devoted watcher of Morning Joe, a show that has defended him against all manner of attacks. President Biden brushed off Democrats complaints about his performance at the debate with former President Donald J. Trump and indicated that he had no plans to rethink his candidacy. I think we did well, he told reporters during a stop at a Waffle House in Atlanta shortly after midnight. Asked about Democrats concerns about his showing and calls for him to consider dropping out of the race, he said: No. Its hard to debate a liar. He indicated that his raspy voice stemmed from a minor ailment. I have a sore throat, he said. His aides said he had been fighting a cold. Mr. Biden then headed to an Air Force base for a late-night flight to Raleigh, N.C., where he plans to hold a rally on Friday. Democrats confronted a nightmare scenario on Friday as they surveyed the wreckage of major political, policy and legal disasters piled atop one another with elections for control of the White House and Congress less than five months away. Even as they reeled from President Bidens poor performance on Thursday night in a make-or-break debate with former President Donald J. Trump, Democrats were slammed anew on Friday by the Supreme Court. In one far-reaching ruling, the court undercut the governments longstanding power to regulate health care, public safety and the environment a core tenet of Democratic orthodoxy. In another, the justices handed down a decision that could make it more difficult to prosecute those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and potentially Mr. Trump himself, for their roles in the violent insurrection. It was a day that encapsulated the partys worst fears about the coming elections and the rightward tilt of the Supreme Court. And it drove home how Republicans and Mr. Trump are within reach of victory in November putting them in position to achieve a host of policy objectives vehemently opposed by Democrats even with a presumptive nominee who is a convicted felon and a party that has been in deep disarray and shown little ability to govern. The United States is in the midst of an intense diplomatic push to prevent full-on war between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, as the risks rise that either side could initiate a broader regional fight. In recent days, U.S. officials have pressed their Israeli counterparts and passed messages to Hezbollahs leaders with the goal of averting a wider regional conflict that they fear could draw in both Iran and the United States. Israels defense minister, Yoav Gallant, met with several Biden administration officials in Washington this week, in large measure to discuss the escalating tensions along Israels northern border with Lebanon. That visit followed one last week by Israels national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, and its minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer. Also last week, a senior White House official, Amos Hochstein, who has assumed an informal diplomatic role mediating between the two sides, visited Israel and Lebanon. Mr. Hochstein warned Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, that the United States would not be able to restrain Israel should it commit to an all-out war with the militia group. A once politically far-fetched question can President Biden be replaced at the top of the Democratic Party presidential ticket has taken on new urgency after Mr. Bidens halting debate performance in late June against former President Donald J. Trump. The short answer is yes assuming Mr. Biden decides on his own to step aside. But if Mr. Biden decides not to step aside, the short answer is probably no. Either way, the process would be complicated and would open the door to political upheaval between now and when Democratic delegates gather to vote for a nominee at their convention in August. Mr. Biden has the power to leave the race and release all the pledged delegates he has accumulated 3,894 of 3,937 committed so far, according to a tally by The Associated Press during his march to the nomination. If he were to do so, those delegates would be free to vote for whomever they chose. That would lead to an open convention, a rarity in modern American politics. And in a 2020 ruling, the five Republican appointees then on the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the law Congress enacted to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that had protected its head from being fired by a president without a good cause, like misconduct. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Fridays decision was the latest example of the Supreme Court blocking common-sense rules that keep us safe, protect our health and environment, safeguard our financial system, and support American consumers and workers. The court has not always gone as far as libertarians wanted, however. Earlier this term, the court rejected a challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded. Striking it down would have opened the door to lawsuits to nullify every regulation and enforcement action it has taken in its 13 years of existence, including ones concerning mortgages, credit cards, consumer loans and banking. While overturning Chevron is now the capstone victory for the conservative legal movements assault on the administrative state, it may not be the end of the story. More extreme opponents of regulation hope the court will someday embrace a sweeping version of the so-called nondelegation doctrine. Under that vision, the Constitution does not allow Congress to delegate any of its legislative authority to executive branch agencies. If so, all regulations should be struck down because the only way society can impose a legally binding rule on business interests is if Congress manages to specifically enact one via statute. Stephen K. Bannon, the longtime ally of former President Donald J. Trump, will have to report to federal prison on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected his final effort to stave off a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. In a single-sentence decision issued on Friday, the court rejected Mr. Bannons request to remain free while he challenges his conviction on charges of defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Mr. Bannon had filed a last-ditch petition to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. last week, asking for permission to hold off on surrendering to the authorities. In July 2022, Mr. Bannon was found guilty at a trial in Washington of ignoring the subpoena, which sought information about his role in the events of Jan. 6. Even though he was sentenced to four months in prison, he was initially allowed to remain free while he pursued a lengthy appeals process. Last month, however, a federal appeals court upheld his contempt conviction and within a few weeks the judge overseeing his case, Carl J. Nichols, said he would have to start serving his time. When Donald J. Trump returned to the green room after Thursday nights debate, he flashed two thumbs up to waiting advisers who greeted him with a standing ovation for his performance against President Biden. The former president and his team were still basking in the glow of Democratic recriminations, hand-wringing and second-guessing on Friday morning over Mr. Bidens lackluster showing, when the Supreme Court handed Mr. Trump a second political gift in less than 24 hours. The high court ruled that prosecutors had overstepped in their use of an obstruction law to charge a rioter who had stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The decision could have sweeping consequences for hundreds of defendants charged with crimes that day. Of course, the most prominent person indicted partly on an obstruction charge is Mr. Trump himself, though his case could continue even after the narrowing of the law. BIG WIN! Mr. Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social, after the court ruling. The one-two burst of successes reinvigorated Mr. Trumps campaign almost exactly one month after he became the first major party nominee ever convicted of a felony. Mr. Trump was headed on Friday to a campaign event in Virginia, a state that has not chosen a Republican president for two decades but that Trump advisers now claim could be on the battleground map in 2024. A Texas man who drove into a crowd of migrants outside a shelter in the border city of Brownsville last year, killing eight people, was convicted on Friday of eight counts of intoxication manslaughter and sentenced to 60 years in prison, a prosecutor said. The sentence was handed down after a jury found the man, George Alvarez, 35, of Brownsville, guilty after a weeklong trial, according to the prosecutor, Edward Sandoval, of the Cameron County District Attorneys office. According to witnesses and the authorities, Mr. Alvarez drove a Range Rover through a red light at around 8:30 a.m. on May 7, 2023, and plowed into a crowd of newly arrived migrants outside the Ozanam Center, a shelter for the homeless in Brownsville that serves many migrants. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Peru early Friday, injuring at least three people, triggering a tsunami alert and shaking buildings as far as the capital, Lima, about 600 miles away, according to officials. The quake struck about a mile off the coast of the Arequipa region of Peru at 12:36 a.m. local time, the U.S.G.S. said. Several aftershocks were also recorded off Arequipa, Perus National Seismological Center said. The Peruvian authorities issued a tsunami alert on the countrys coast and warned that waves could reach the town of Puerto Atico by 12:52 a.m. The United States Tsunami Warning Center said about an hour later that the tsunami threat had passed. No deaths have been reported, but eight people were treated for injuries, according to the Peruvian Health Ministry, as officials continued to monitor the aftermath of the quake. Doris Allen, an Army intelligence analyst during the Vietnam War whose warning in early 1968 about the impending attacks by North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces that became known as the Tet offensive was ignored by higher-ups, died on June 11 in Oakland, Calif. She was 97. Her death, in a hospital, was confirmed by Amy Stork, chief of public affairs for the Army Intelligence Center of Excellence. Specialist Allen, who enlisted in the Womens Army Corps in 1950, volunteered to serve in Vietnam in 1967, hoping to use her intelligence training to save lives. She had been the first woman to attend the Armys prisoner of war interrogation course and worked for two years as the strategic intelligence analyst for Latin American affairs at Fort Bragg, N.C., now Fort Liberty. Working from the Army Operations Center in Long Binh, South Vietnam, Specialist Allen developed intelligence in late 1967 that detected a buildup of at least 50,000 enemy troops, perhaps reinforced by Chinese soldiers, who were preparing to attack South Vietnamese targets. And she pinpointed when the operation would start: Jan. 31, 1968. Amid a faltering performance by President Biden in the presidential debate Thursday night, former President Donald J. Trump caused anxiety among Americas allies with a simple shrug. Mr. Trump has regularly disparaged NATO and even threatened to withdraw the United States from it, and during the debate, he did nothing to assuage European concerns about his antipathy toward the military alliance. Asked by Mr. Biden if he would pull out of NATO, Mr. Trump did not answer but shrugged. I was very worried prior to this debate and Im even more worried now, said Jana Puglierin, director of the German office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Trump may or may not want to leave NATO officially, but he has every means to undermine NATO. At the heart of NATO is Article Five of its charter, committing each member country to the defense of all the others. Deterrence is all about credibility, and deep down, Article Five, has always been what you make of it, Ms. Puglierin said. So it depends on the U.S. president making it a credible threat. So many locals over so many decades have left Gourin in rural Brittany for the United States that Air France awarded the town a miniature Statue of Liberty. So proud were residents of that binational identity, they fund-raised four years ago to have the statue recast in bronze. It sits in a place of prominence, in Gourins main square, encircled by poles bearing international flags. And yet, in the recent elections for the European Parliament, almost one-third of local voters opted for the far-right National Rally, a French party built on intense anti-immigration sentiment. This is an area that knows what it means to be immigrants, said Pierre-Marie Quesseveur, a member of the local Brittany TransAmerica association, who expressed surprise at the election results. We are very open to all cultures. Princess Anne, the younger sister of King Charles III, was released from a hospital on Friday, five days after suffering a concussion and other injuries in an accident at her country residence, northeast of Bristol, England. Anne, 73, was hospitalized on Sunday after the incident, according to Buckingham Palace, which announced her release. Officials have been vague about what happened but have said they believe it involved some kind of impact with horses on the estate, Gatcombe Park. It was not clear whether Anne remembers the incident or whether there were any witnesses to it. On Monday, the palace said Anne would make a full and swift recovery and was being treated at in Southmead Hospital as a precautionary measure for further observation. But her husband, Timothy Laurence, visiting her a day later, acknowledged that her recovery, while steady, had been slow. In a statement on Friday, Mr. Laurence said, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to all the team at Southmead Hospital for their care, expertise, and kindness during my wifes short stay. Follow our live updates on the U.K. election. Last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a speech that he was proud to be Britains first prime minister of Asian heritage, but even prouder that its just not a big deal. On Friday, Mr. Sunak said he was hurt and angry after a man campaigning on behalf of Reform U.K., an anti-immigration party, was recorded on video using a racist slur to describe him. The same man also called for migrants to be used as target practice. The comments appeared in an expose by Channel 4 News, in which an undercover investigator secretly filmed Reform campaigners in Clacton, a seaside area north east of London. The partys leader, the veteran political disrupter Nigel Farage, hopes to win his first parliamentary seat there. The investigation, broadcast on Thursday night, raised uncomfortable questions about Reform, which has shaken up the countrys general election campaign ever since Mr. Farage reversed an earlier decision not to stand for Parliament. President Vladimir V. Putin declared on Friday that Russia would produce new intermediate-range nuclear-capable missiles and then decide whether to deploy them within range of NATO nations in Europe and American allies in Asia. Mr. Putins threat was vaguely worded: He said nothing about timetables for deploying the weapons, and by blaming the United States for bringing similar missiles into training exercises in Europe and Asia, he seemed to be signaling he was open to negotiations. But his timing was critical, because he made the announcement just as major elections were about to begin in Britain and France, and days ahead of the 75th anniversary NATO summit in Washington that starts on July 9. And it appeared to be Mr. Putins latest attempt to raise the stakes in his conflict with the West, coming less than two weeks after his visit to North Korea rattled nerves in the United States and those of American allies in Asia. The United States pulled out of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, during the Trump administration, after years of American accusations that Russia was cheating on the accord. The treaty had banned U.S. and Russian forces from having land-based cruise or ballistic missiles with ranges between about 300 and 3,400 miles. China sets to expand int'l cooperation in lunar exploration missions Xinhua) 08:06, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China is set to expand its international collaborations in upcoming lunar exploration endeavors following the successful operation of payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy, and Pakistan in China's Chang'e-6 mission. The country's Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission will carry six international scientific instruments, and Chang'e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has garnered over 30 applications, said Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's (CNSA) international cooperation department. The Chang'e-7 mission, scheduled for launch around 2026, is poised to survey the lunar south pole region. The Chang'e-8 probe will be launched around 2028 to carry out experiments on lunar resource utilization and, along with Chang'e-7, constitute the basic model of an international lunar research station by 2035. The CNSA has signed cooperation documents with more than ten countries and international organizations on the International Lunar Research Station project, said Liu at a press conference on Thursday. In the Chang'e-6 mission, China has fulfilled its commitment to allocate 10 kilograms of payload capacity on the lander and another 10 kilograms on the orbiter for international cooperation, said Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission, at the conference. According to Liu, the international collaborative tasks in the mission have been going well. The French payload DORN worked for 32 hours, and ESA payload NILS worked for 3 hours and 50 minutes on the moon's surface. Liu also said that the Italian laser retroreflector installed on top of the lander operated normally. China delivered data provided by a CubeSat aboard its Chang'e-6 spacecraft to Pakistan on May 10. The cube satellite, ICUBE-Q, was developed by Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University. "Despite differences in language, work culture, and developmental protocols, we have worked hand in hand to conduct an extensive array of tests over the past year and more and completed the task successfully," said Hu. "The invaluable experience can enrich our expertise and prepare us to tackle even more sophisticated tasks in the future," Hu added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Shanghai will host some big-name artists from all over the world at an upcoming music festival, with the premiere of new compositions and arrangements. Music in the Summer Air, or MISA, is a festival held by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which will take place from Monday to July 15. The 24 live concerts and an extensive collection of other music events around Shanghai will feature artists and ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, cellists Wang Jian and Qin Liwei, violinist Ning Feng, pianist Zhang Haochen, harpsichordist Fabio Bonizzoni and the Makoto Ozone Jazz Quartet. A vintage program card in the archives of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra shows that Mario Paci, then director of the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra, conducted the orchestra and played a concert at Hongkew Park, now known as Lu Xun Park, on a summer evening in 1926. The program card is the earliest documentation of summer outdoor concerts in Shanghai, says Zhou Ping, director of the orchestra. "If we count from that concert, the tradition of summer outdoor concerts has carried on for almost a century in Shanghai." The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 145th birthday this year and its 15th installment of the MISA festival. "The orchestra has come a long way, following the development of urban civilization in Shanghai. Step-by-step, we have helped to bring people and music closer, which has become an indispensable part of everyday life in the city," Zhou says. MISA, jointly hosted by the orchestra and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, is a cross-genre music festival centered on classical music committed to integrating it into the urban lifestyle and cultural scenes. This year, in addition to performances in the concert hall and chamber hall at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall, the MISA program also includes seven free open-air events, five cultural talks and 13"Across the City" activities, which will see musicians performing at landmarks around the city. The opening gala concert will take place on the main stage of the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall on Monday under the batons of four conductors Yu Long, music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Yang Yang, Huang Yi and Sun Yifan performing with some of the most celebrated Chinese soloists in the global music scene. The New York Philharmonic, in its long-term strategic partnership with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the MISA festival, will be returning to Shanghai with the full orchestra for the first time since 2019. Music director Jaap van Zweden will conduct the orchestra in two concerts at the MISA festival. The first show on Tuesday will feature baritone Thomas Hampson, who will sing selections from Mahler's song cycle Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Also, a new composition titled Lumina by Nina Shekhar will make its China premiere at the concert. The young female composer has been praised as "tart and compelling" by The New York Times and a "rare composer who opens our ears a little wider each time" by the Chicago Tribune. Some instruments that are less heard in symphony concerts, such as the harmonica, accordion and saxophone, will take center stage at MISA this year. "I've waited for 10 years for this phone call inviting me to perform again in Shanghai," Gianluca Littera, a renowned Italian harmonica performer, says about his excitement for the concert with conductor Zhang Lu and string players of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on July 5. Together they will present a free concert at the Shanghai Urban Music Lawn Gordon Jacob's Five Pieces for Harmonica and Strings, as well as some of the most popular film music by Ennio Morricone. On July 15, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will conclude this year's MISA with a concert celebrating the centennial commemoration of martial arts novelist Louis Cha. Yu Long will join hands with violinist Wang Jing and Chinese zhudi (bamboo flute) player Feng Tianshi to present Wu Xia (Martial Art Heroes), a new composition celebrating Cha's life and art, by Liang Haoyi, alongside violin concerto Hero by Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun. The Dutch Volleyball Association and Dutch Olympic organizers are standing by their decision to send a man convicted of rape to the Paris Olympics this summer to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball. In 2014, the man, Steven van de Velde, now 29, traveled to England, where he raped a 12-year-old girl whom he had met on Facebook. A British court sentenced him in 2016 to four years in prison. After a year, he was transferred to the Netherlands, where his sentence was adjusted based on Dutch law. In total, Mr. van de Velde spent just over a year in prison. Afterward, he received professional counseling, the volleyball association said. The Dutch Olympic Committee and the Dutch Volleyball Association are allowing Mr. van de Velde to compete based on the advice of experts who they say have deemed the chance of a repeat offense very low, according to the associations website. Mr. van de Velde resumed his beach volleyball career in 2017. While international news media covered his Olympic participation with a sense of outrage, the story did not gain much traction in the Netherlands. Dutch news outlets largely reported on international media and how they covered the case. Designed and built by eight Dutch engineers, the worlds longest rideable bicycle is 180 feet long (55.16 meters), roughly the same length as four double-decker buses. 39-year-old Ivan Schalk had been thinking about building the worlds longest bicycle since reading about it in a Guinness Book of Records when he was a child, but he only embarked upon this project in 2018, as a way to fill up his free time. He knew it wasnt the kind of thing he could build himself, so he sought the help of like-minded people in his home village of Prinsenbeek, which is apparently well-known in the Netherlands for its tech-savvy residents. Together, they spent about four years not counting the two years of interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic working on the worlds longest bicycle, a metal behemoth that needs at least two riders. Ive been thinking about the idea for years, Schalk told Guinness Records. The goal was to break the world record for the longest bicycle in the world. To achieve this, we took into account all the rules of Guinness World Records (GWR) when building our bicycle. But nailing the record was a bit harder than its creators originally thought. Their first attempt took place on June 3, 2023, but they only received confirmation from Guinness around November of last year, and it stated that the record was for the worlds longest tandem, not the worlds longest bicycle. For Schalk, it was an important distinction, because, from his standpoint, the team had respected the Guinness record rules for a bicycle. According to the Guinness rulebook, a maximum of two people are allowed to sit on the 55.16-meter-long bicycle, one at the front at the handlebars and one at the back to pedal. However, Schalk also allowed three other people to sit on the long metal structure connecting the front and the back of the bike. They didnt help in any way, on the contrary, they were added weight, but Guinness decided that there were too many people riding the contraption to qualify for the longest bicycle record. The team was slightly disappointed by the original decision, but they decided to simply take the record for the worlds longest tandem and then go for the record for the worlds largest rideable bicycle as well, this time with the required two people on it. They recently got the confirmation from Guinness that they are the proud owners of two world records. Interestingly, the front and the back sections of the bicycle is where the magic happens, as the long section between them is simply rented from a from a metal production company in Breda that specializes in building stages for events. After setting the record, they returned that section to the company, while the rest of the bike is going to the local history museum in Prinsenbeek. Bicycle-related records have been very popular on Oddity Central lately, as weve recently featured the worlds tallest rideable bicycle, the worlds smallest rideable bicycle, as well as the worlds heaviest rideable bicycle. Jon Gingerich In June, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy shocked the country when he called on Congress to pass legislation mandating tobacco-style warning labels to be placed on social media platforms in an effort to advise parents on the potential harms those sites place on teens mental health. In a June New York Times opinion essay, Dr. Murthy explained that such measures would prevent platforms from collecting kids private data and would also protect young people from harassment, exploitation and exposure to extreme content. Additionally, such a law would require social media companies to allow safety audits as well as share mental health data with scientists and the public. Its a challenge that local governments across the country have been dealing with for some time. The state of New Hampshire in June filed a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming the site is knowingly harmful to kids. Meanwhile, New York City is slated to ban student cellphone use altogether in public schools. According to a June report released by New Yorks Health Department that surveyed nearly 23,000 NYC parents, a whopping 78 percent think the government should step in to limit kids social media access. Florida and Indiana have already succeeded in banning cellphone use in classrooms and California is currently poised to issue a similar ban. Of course, these developments come on the heels of a rare bipartisan effort in Washington to ban TikTok due to the Chinese governments potential ability to use that platform to collect data on American users. In a move that wont help his dwindling loyalty among young voters, President Biden in April signed a bill into law forcing Chinese-based parent company ByteDance to divest itself from the video platform in one year, lest it disappear from phones altogether in the United States. This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jul. '24 Travel & Tourism PR Magazine With social media now likened to smokingand tech companies now effectively the new Big Tobaccoweve clearly reached a turning point in our conversation about digital technologies. Americans seem to begrudgingly acknowledge how potentially harmful these platforms can be, but these outlets are so embedded in our culture and so fundamental to how we communicate, one cant help but wonder how we can unring this bell. Lets face it: The idea that social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are contributing to young Americans mental health troubles isnt exactly news. A landmark 2022 study authored by researchers at Bocconi University, Tel Aviv University and MIT suggested a causal link between an uptick in mental illness among U.S. adolescents and young adultsnamely, increased rates of anxiety and depressionand the debut of social media platforms like Facebook in the early 2000s. We also know, thanks to a former Facebook employee turned whistleblower who in 2021 leaked a trove of internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wall Street Journal, that Meta willfully allowed the spread of misinformation and divisive content over its platforms because it boosted site engagement, despite knowing the harmful effects sites like Instagram have on teens mental health. With behavior like that, the Big Tobacco analogy doesnt seem far off the mark. Finally, we know that daily screen time for kids has gone through the roof. A recent Gallup survey found that the average teen spends nearly five hours per day on social media sites. And social media is so deeply ingrained in the habits of young people today that theyre no longer using these platforms merely for socializing. According to recent findings by Forbes Advisor, nearly half (46 percent) of Gen Z members are now more likely to use social media apps for search than Google. According to a November study from Pew Research Center, a third of U.S. adults under 30 now get their news from TikTok. Social media and the Internet have become interchangeable terms. Granted, a government-mandated warning label sounds excessive. Because no matter how you slice it, a social media site isnt a pack of cigarettes, or a power tool or a plate of raw shellfish. Im guessing social media companies would fight this precedent by invoking the First Amendment, but who knows how that would pan out, given the Supreme Courts historic June ruling, in which it sided with the Biden administrations efforts to put pressure on social media companies to combat misinformation. Either way, the debate is shaping up to become one of the most important free-speech issues weve witnessed in recent years. In his new book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt recommends keeping smartphones out of kids hands until theyre in high school as well as raising the minimum age of social media membershipor Internet adulthood, as he calls isto sixteen. Thats not a bad idea. I would add my own proviso here. Kids model their behaviors on adults, and teens clearly arent the only ones exhibiting addictive scrolling behaviors. If protecting our kids is really our main objective here, I suggest that a good place to start would be considering how much time we spend on these sites and if our lives wouldnt be improved without them. Las Cruces Plans to Hire Travel PR Partner Wed., Oct. 9, 2024 Visit Las Cruces, which is the convention and visitors bureau of New Mexicos second largest city, wants a PR firm to help position it as a premiere tourism destination. The leading architect and town planner, Fergal MacCabe has called for Tullamore canal harbour to be opened to the public in the near future so people can see what a magnificent asset it is. An opening which gives access to the dockside should be provided at a very early date in order to allow the people of Tullamore to enjoy, even in a very limited way, this extraordinary amenity which has for over two centuries lain hidden in the middle of their town, said Mr MacCabe Mr MacCabe, who also attended the open day for the plans in Tullamore library last week, congratulated the council and Waterways Ireland on their visionary appointment of Grafton Architects to generate ideas which will eventually lead to the incorporation of this strategic site into the urban fabric of Tullamore. Grafton's analysis and range of options are imaginative but realisable and provide a firm basis for the debate which now commences . Their scheme sets out the high standards which will, in the fullness of time, deliver a scheme of international class and which will be a showpiece for Tullamore, he added. Continued Mr MacCabe: I particularly note Grafton's suggestion that, as the project may take many years to be fully realised, a small and confined area which gives access to the dockside should be provided at a very early date in order to allow the people of Tullamore to enjoy, his extraordinary amenity. This is the first but firm step on a long and exciting journey and I for one, am thrilled to see it. The preface to the Harbour Study clarifies that the whole exercise is subject to detailed cost benefit analysis and contingent on the right funding model at appropriate times. It proposes to set up a working group to prioritise masterplan opportunities, identifying related pathways and optimum developing and operating models. Caroline McCarroll, of Waterways Ireland's head office in Enniskillen, said the plan was essentially a catalogue of future possibilities for the development of the harbour. We don't want people to think that there is a plan which will be railroaded through, stressed Ms McCarroll. She added that the harbour would be ideal for residential, economic and tourism projects. A man who sexually abused his young niece when he was a teenager over a prolonged period of time has been jailed for two years. The 33-year-old man, who can't be named to protect the anonymity of his victim, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece at various locations in Offaly on dates between June 18, 2004 and June 17, 2008. She was aged between six and nine at the time, while he was aged between 13 and 17. The abuse occurred primarily at the girl's grandparents' home when she was being minded and where her uncle was living with his parents at the time. His parents the girl's grandparents continue to support him. Sentencing him today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found the man had demonstrated little insight or remorse. He maintained that he was very young himself at the time of the offending. The judge noted that while he was 13 years' old when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17 years' old. He noted the man is talented and well-educated. I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong, the judge said. READ NEXT: 'Reunited in heaven' - Shock as Offaly couple described as 'soul mates' die two days apart He noted the man had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of the child. He said these were clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved the teenager repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. On one occasion, his friend hid in the wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone, the court heard. In her victim impact statement which she read out in court earlier this week, the now 26-year-old woman said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy friendly child, which it makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard that the woman started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with her uncle on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, the man maintained his innocence to family members and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered the guilty pleas. The woman said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at his hands. In her victim impact statement, the woman said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed the abuse in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and then be left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She said she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But (he) is the criminal here, not me. The woman's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard the man worked in finance, most recently in London. He took the stand and told the court he was very sorry for what he had done. He has no previous convictions. His partner also took the stand and outlined the difficulties they will have in the future as a result of his convictions and his being on the sex offenders register. She said they have had to put their lives on hold, including marriage and children, as a result. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC urged the judge to be as lenient as possible. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing him as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline of three years and six months, given he was underage at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including his lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as at a low risk of re-offending. He declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting the man's stated intention to return to the UK once he has served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. Assange, presidential debates, Bolivia, genocide, and three documentaries free to watch Note to all recipients: As a REMINDER this list sends messages of information not seen in mainstream media and puts forward ideas and actions that common people can or are taking to effect a society we all aspire to: Sustainable human and natural communities living in harmony and peace. Feedback is encouraged on direction and size and intensity of posts. Also, PLEASE let us know if you like to unsubscribe from this email list. My presentation on human rights and environmental justice 23/6/2024 After a global campaign, Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange is finally free on a plea bargain. The empire will continue to punish andstop anyone from release of information even if the information provided evidenec of war crimes, crimes against humanity and even genocide. Wikileaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. For this invaluable service to humanity, Assange was persecuted and spent five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day. This after 7 years of persecution and taking asylum in a foreign embassy. He reunited with his wife Stella, and their two children after 12 years of suffering. The criminals who ordered the killing of civilians in Iraq and Palestine and elsewhere are still free. We need more disclosure and actions to bring down this global empire! Wikileaks not only exposed the horrors caused by the US but also of Israel and leaked papers about corrupt Arab leaders (including the Palestinian government). The US/Israel empire marches on with some successes and some setbacks. Zionist picked Conman Trump faced off against Zionist picked Genocide Joe in a presidential debate mwith no public moderated by two committed Zionist Jews Jack Tapper and Dana Bash. All four as many other media and political elite support genocide for profit (and in some cases in response to blackmail by those wo profit). It gives the US public a distraction to keep the delusion that they still have democracy instead of dealing with real challenges like climate change, rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, the madness of war etc. The empire just attempted and failed in having a military coup in Bolivia. Bolivian leftist government had condemned the US/Israel ongoing genocide!. Sephardic Israeli Chief Rabbi says there will not be a ceasefire. There will be either an end to Israel or the progress towards a greater Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates. He is right. Israel as an apartheid regime must end or the US/Israel killing machine goes on and will lead us to global catastrophic war thanks to the lobby/special interests. We need to focus efforts on stopping the addiction to war (and genocide) for profit and to work to build a sustainable future. Latest genocide numbers (and we are not just numbers): Case of genocide well documented Here are samples of outcome of US/Israel partnership in crime (You must watch these, we will not stop posting, no one can say they did not know): 4,000 kidnapped political prisoners being tortured and even killed in a prison that is more horrific than AbuGhraib. Now some information is leaking even to: Israeli site 972 Magazine, New York Times and FaceBook. But the collapse of Zionism is inevitable as Ilan Pappe wrote. Three documentaries worth watching The night won't end. Landscape of occupation. Four Women of Egypt. Stay Human and keep Palestine alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French Is there a world with no Democrats or Republicans? A world with no left-wing or right-wing zealots? Can we create a world of peace, with no war or no bloodshed"? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives of Civilization Yet despite the incantations of politicians who promise to restore the integrity of borders and the nation-state, migration is an increasingly global phenomenon, and migrants from Asia and Africa make up a growing share of those apprehended at the border; like climate change, the rich world's migration crisis cannot be properly understood at the national scale. Instead, it raises fundamental questions about what it means to be an ethical citizen. Mattieu Aikins, "A New Book Reckons with the Border Crisis, in All Its Complexity" Breast-feeding babies of migrant parents were separated at the US-Mexican border while Honduran, El Salvadoran, Mexican, Haitian parents are put aboard buses or flown back to horrendous living conditions they temporarily escaped. Under the Trump administration, we watched those anguished parents, pleading, and witnessed children, babies, placed in immigration detention camps, crying and crying for days. Two years ago, the US Supreme Court struck down Roe. In the 1950s and early 1960s, I remember being introduced to white women, in white dresses, in white kitchens. Fast forward to the display of white men saluting images of Hitler while others wearing the familiar red MAGA caps appearing behind the figure of their fearless leader at rallies similar to the ones the Nazis held in Germany. This is a white, Christian country, they shout. And so it seems that the wombs of white women matter. Reminiscent of the days during slavery when Black women's wombs mattered. The Trump's administration concocted a scheme to deter people from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti, and Mexico from residing in the US as voting citizens. Few on the left will say it out loud, but the right has a plan. The Right always has had a plan. It has an image of a white America. It believes in that image. It's like a religion; it's congregation of Christian nationalists are willing to die for this image. Certainly, they are willing to spend millions. Or their last five dollars! The Right has an image of a white America and folks from the wrong countries just don't fit in to that radical scheme of change. A former administrator of Homeland Security personnel warned New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer in 2017, of the Right's fear of the pollution of a dream. He didn't say as much. He didn't have to. It was understood when he did say that "'unless you send a message,'" they "'will keep coming.'" And by they , he means people not classified as white! Fine people are Guatemalans who pick strawberries. Forever! And never think of freedom from exploitative labor. Mexicans as farmer hands. Also forever. But the children of these people represent a future that is a nightmare for the American dream. Evangelical Christian Nationalists are looking to the future when their leadership determines the worth of a woman carrying a fetus. And it would seem that agrarian workers' children, like those of Palestinian children, are worth much. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). By Ashleigh Fields and Robert Weiner Though Generation Z has never seen nuclear warfare, it is well clear that they understand the posed threat. As Gen Z obliterates social media with heartfelt posts about the war in Gaza propelling President Joe Biden to draft an amenable ceasefire proposal, the world is learning to draw a powerful parallel from today's unrest in Gaza and Ukraine to the mission of soldiers fallen 80 years past in Normandy. Humanity and the desire for peace are constants. Biden's proposal for a truce was accepted by Israel, refuted by Hamas. Over a month ago, Egypt and Qatar authored an agreement, agreeable to Hamas but rejected by Israel. However, both outline Israel's full withdrawal as the first step in the proposal, which is crucial. After losing Rafah as a safe haven, international onlookers are questioning the possibility of peace. Both Israel and Hamas must accept that neither can be eliminated at this time without delivering an overwhelming and unnecessary blow to humanity. For this reason, their desires must take a backseat to the indignance of the world. Society will not allow neither to blunder. Those who are dead long and deserve to be returned to their families as outlined. Though amends may never be accepted, solemnness can be secured. The end goal seems to be getting both sides out of the very serious box. The world's goal is peace; it is a major lesson of D-Day's 80th Anniversary ceremonies, and the G-7. Utilizing age-old remedies from decades past, a resolution can be confirmed. However, many viewing bloodshed recorded moment by moment must recognize generating a truce is complicated. The dilemma's got Biden's hanging on a cliff, both literally and physically. We saw that as he honored the 225 lost at Pointe du Hoc off the French coast. "As we gather here today, it's not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery on that day, June 6th, 1944. It's to listen to the echoes of their voices, to hear them, because they are summoning us, and they're summoning us now," Biden said. "They're asking us: What will we do? "They're asking us to do our job: to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy, to stand up aggression abroad and at home, to be part of something bigger than ourselves," he continued indirectly referencing wars that have gotten the world involved. Earlier in his speech, Biden said, "the most natural instinct is to walk away, to be selfish, to force our will upon others, to seize power and never give up". But upon conclusion, he reiterated that American recusal could not transpire citing involvement as a " a solemn vow to never let them [Pointe du Hoc soldiers] down". The image of 225 slain is starkly magnified amidst today's death toll. The 34,900 Palestinian lives and 1,139 Israeli souls diminished, lost, tortured, and family members bereaved can never be repaired but the mainline proposal for the release of prisoners in exchange for hostages is a worthy jumpstart to align both groups on one accord. "In Gaza, innocent civilians are suffering the horrors of the war between Hamas and Israel," Biden released in a statement in honor of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. "Too many innocent people have been killed, including thousands of children." United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said a child in Gaza is killed or wounded "every 10 minutes". A new war strategy has been developed by Hamas, using hospitals, schools and churches to cover from Israeli air strikes, purposely positioned with civilians as human shields. According to Al Jazeera, whose television channel has been banned 62 percent of homes have been destroyed, 26 hospitals and hundreds of medics have been killed. "The world needs to wake up and realize that Israel has no choice but to protect its citizens and you shouldn't be surprised when it does so with greater and greater strength and resolve, and don't come to us with complaints when the situation gets out of control," Israeli President Issac Herzog warned last week after facing "attacks" from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Middle East is sitting on a powder keg, and every minute that passes brings heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Canada, the US, Great Britain and Kuwait have all warned its citizens in Lebanon to evacuate. The impending war is caused because Israel refuses to a ceasefire in Gaza. Hezbollah says they will continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza as the continuing genocide is perpetrated by Israel, but as soon as a ceasefire begins, Hezbollah's response will cease. Hezbollah is a Lebanese resistance group which is heavily armed. Most experts agree that the military might of Hezbollah and Israel are quite comparable on many levels, but Israel has air superiority. Israel has a sophisticated air defense system, the 'Iron Dome'. However, this system can be overwhelmed by Hezbollah if they were to launch a massive amount of missiles at Israel, and all agree that Hezbollah has a huge arsenal of missiles. If the 'Iron Dome' was inundated by missiles launched from Lebanon, the effectiveness of the Israeli defenses would stop, and Israel could suffer destruction on a scale it has never experienced before. We have witnessed the destruction of Israeli missiles on Gaza, and homes and buildings across Israel could face a similar disaster. Hezbollah demonstrated it has an air defense system, but it has been secretive in showing the capabilities of its defense from Israeli jets; however, on at least one occasion Hezbollah utilized their air defenses to repel an Israeli jet flying over Lebanon. Amos Hochstein, the US special envoy dispatched recently to Israel and Lebanon in hopes of averting a war between Israel and Hezbollah, came back empty-handed. Hochstein had been successful in a negotiation between Israel and Lebanon in 2022 over the maritime borders, but this time he was not negotiating with the Lebanese government alone, but with the most powerful resistance group in the Middle East. The root cause of all conflicts in the Middle East emanate from the brutal Israeli occupation of Palestine, which has stripped away all human rights, and civil rights, from about six million Palestinians, while the six million Jews in Israel live in a quasi-democracy with human rights and civil rights comparable to most western democracies. US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have repeatedly told Israeli officials the US does not want to see a wider war in the Middle East, where other nations could be involved should Lebanon face destruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel would "turn Beirut into Gaza" in the event of a war. Experts agree that Biden would continue to support Israel even in the face of a war on Hezbollah. The international community has come out against Israel and its genocide on Gaza, but Biden continues to support war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel. Biden has sponsored a ceasefire plan, but Israel refused it, and experts suggest that the Biden plan was not designed by Washington to succeed, but was drafted only as an exercise in buying time for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli public and military are divided on the war on Gaza. Many are demanding Israel stop the war and get the hostages out after almost 9 months of captivity. Others support the war on Gaza as part of the Zionist plan to eliminate all non-Jews and create one Jewish nation from the 'river to the sea'. Netanyahu firmly demands the continuation of the war on Gaza and demands that Hamas be destroyed, but his military leaders have said that is an impossible task, as Hamas is an ideology, that of resistance to occupation, which is guaranteed to all people through the Geneva Convention. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). By Robert Weiner and Jonathan Person Originally printed in The Charlotte Observer On May 16, a statue of the late Rev. Billy Graham was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol. It's North Carolina's official entry in the Crypt of the U.S. Capitol. For the people of Graham's home state, and for the world, this is a worthy honor for one of the most famous modern religious leaders. However, the statue brings up an interesting question about the relationship between church and state in the United States. For some, this statue immortalizes a man who was a staple on television for close to 60 years and helped spread the importance of religion and morality throughout the United States. For others, by erecting this statue in the U.S Capitol, it immortalizes the word and teachings of Christianity, and is in direct competition with the thought that religion and state should be separate, as stated in the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the exercise thereof." To be clear: We believe that Graham's statue deserves to stay. It's the two religious inscriptions at the base that cross the dividing line between church and state, and we'd like to see those removed. It is important to note that Graham isn't the only religious leader honored with a statue in Congress, as many states have gifted statues of significant religious figures. In the National Statuary Hall, Utah gifted a statue of Brigham Young, the second president of the Church of Latter Day Saints. There is a statue of Father Damian in the Hall of Columns, who was an ordained priest and philanthropist in Hawaii. The argument for these peoples' inclusion seems to be based on them as founders and servants of the state, as opposed to being religious leaders. However, this line remains blurry, and is further complicated by the Graham statue. Despite the legitimate justification for the statue and its inclusion, there are aspects of the statue that suggest a more religious undertone, and seems to be actively trying to spread scripture to those that view it. First, the statue features Graham holding an open Bible, open to Galatians 6:14: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Second, there are two lines inscribed at the base of the statue. The two scriptures are John 14:6 and John 3:16, both of which were read out loud at the ceremony. These inscriptions were mentioned at the ceremony by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who himself is an evangelical Christian. Johnson said: "Millions of people will walk by and read John 14:6 and John 3:16... And at the base of the foundation those two verses will be shared broadly." While this is a great accomplishment for Graham and his family, not everyone was totally thrilled with the statue, and some close to him raised concerns about how Graham would view this honor. Many believe that Graham always strived to put the word of God over individual achievement and recognition. Based on the opinions of those who knew him, it seems Graham always pushed focus off himself and onto the words of the Bible. In this case, his new statue succeeds in doing that. However, the focus of scripture over the man suggests that the statue is looking to promote Christian rhetoric, rather than celebrate someone for their cultural relevance. Graham was a great man and deserves to be celebrated, but not at the expense of promoting religion in a place that we have been encouraged to keep religion away from. The difference between Graham's and other religious statues is important: the base of Graham's statue and also the Bible he is holding have verses of scripture. The Graham statue could be fixed but right now, it goes over the line. (Article changed on Jun 28, 2024 at 7:54 AM EDT) Timely and accurate diagnosis is the bedrock to stop misuse and overuse of medicines SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS Protect the medicines that protect us (Image by CNS) Details DMCA Drug-resistant disease-causing microbes can infect any one of us. Bhakti Chavan, a promising biotechnologist, who never had TB before, got infected with extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) bacteria. XDR-TB is one of the most serious forms of TB. After some delay, an accurate XDR-TB diagnosis helped her access the right treatment, thanks to an MSF clinic. With steely resolve and grit, she went through the difficult treatment of XDR-TB and got cured. Not only has she defeated XDR-TB, but she also champions the cause of helping those who are fighting TB as well as drug resistance or antimicrobial resistance worldwide. Bhakti got the WHO recommended molecular test diagnosis. But 79% of people with TB disease in India are not diagnosed on WHO recommended molecular test, but through sputum microscopy which underperforms in diagnosing TB (as per India TB Report 2024). That is why WHO has called upon all the countries to completely replace microscopy with upfront molecular tests for TB diagnosis by 2027. All world leaders re-echoed this call for 100% upfront molecular test diagnosis at the UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on TB last year. Unless we ensure that timely and accurate diagnosis for TB and all other diseases is a reality on the ground, how will we stop misuse or overuse of medicines and prevent antimicrobial resistance? People-centred diagnostics, treatment and care is key Even though they face the brunt of it, most people have very little understanding and awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bhakti Chavan blames it on the lack of people-centred responses to address AMR. Bhakti, who has done her post graduation in Biotechnology and currently works with a biotech company, says that, "Many countries have National Action Plans to address AMR, but the ground level realities are very different. Take for example TB. Despite India having a National Strategic Plan to end TB (2017-2025), there are many gaps in TB care- like shortage of medicines, restricted access to novel medicines, diagnostic delays due to non-accessibility of molecular tests. All these act as roadblocks for the underprivileged in accessing the best of diagnostics and treatment. Our public health programmes must ensure that the best possible care is available to all those in need, and also ensure prevention of spread of infection. So patient-centred diagnostics (including upfront drug sensitivity testing), treatment and care is most important to combat AMR." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Nine former seasonal employees who say they were groped or sexually harassed while working at Oregons famed Black Butte Ranch filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking more than $13 million from the destination resort. The suit centers on the workplace conduct of Michael Woosley, a server for 38 years at the ranch bar, Roberts Pub, who was fired in July 2022 after four of the plaintiffs named in the suit and other workers went to the police, according to a police report. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday reversed lower court rulings, finding that public camping restrictions issued by southern Oregons Grants Pass do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The court split 6-to-3 largely along ideological lines in a decision that likely will have significant reverberations around the country. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the majority that the enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property is commonplace and not barred by the Eighth Amendment. He found that homelessness is complex and that the citys limited fines for first-time offenders, bans from public parks for repeat offenders and a maximum of 30 days in jail for any violators are punishments that dont add terror, pain or disgrace. Citing a brief from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Gorsuch wrote that many broadly agree that policymakers need access to the full panoply of tools in the policy toolbox and must have the latitude to tackle the complicated issues of homelessness and lack of housing. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment does not authorize federal judges to dictate this Nations homelessness policy, the opinion said. The court found that prior rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the Grants Pass case and another case in Boise -- which both narrowed what cities can do to restrict public sleeping on streets, parks and sidewalks -- may have inadvertently increased the homelessness problem by weakening how cities can respond. In Portland, for example, residents report some unsheltered persons often return within days of an encampments clearing, understanding that case law has prohibited the city from taking more stringent measures, Gorsuch wrote. And while homeless plaintiffs who challenged the Grants Pass laws argued that the city unfairly issued fines and trespass notices only to homeless people, Gorsuch said they didnt make a specific legal challenge of such selective prosecution, so he couldnt address that issue though he suggested the argument had merit. In a strongly worded dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called sleep a biological necessity, not a crime and said the citys laws punish people with no access to shelter for the status of being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional, she wrote, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles, Sotomayor wrote. Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The courts opinion was released just over two months after it heard oral arguments. The case has been touted as one of the most significant involving homelessness to come before the court in decades and has been closely watched by state and city officials across the country grappling with how to address a growing homeless crisis. It arose when several homeless people filed suit in federal court against Grants Pass in 2018, alleging the citys aggressive enforcement of its public camping and sleeping ordinances were intended to banish them from town. Police repeatedly told them to move along and then issued tickets that carried fines starting at $295, park exclusions and then criminal trespass charges. The ordinances barred people from using blankets, pillows or cardboard boxes for protection from the elements while sleeping within the city limits. A federal district judge in Medford blocked the city from enforcing its public camping laws during the day without a 24-hour notice and stopped it from enforcing the rules at night. Then a sharply divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district judges ruling, finding the Grants Pass set of ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless in violation of the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and the city petitioned for the Supreme Courts review. Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol applauded the Supreme Court opinion. This lawsuit was about whether cities have a right to enforce camping restrictions in public spaces, and Im relieved that Grants Pass will be able to reclaim our city parks for recreation, she said by email. Homelessness is a complex issue and our community has been trying to find solutions. The city council will need some time to review this decision, as well as state law, and discuss our steps moving forward. Ed Johnson, litigation director at the Oregon Law Center who was the lead counsel for the homeless plaintiffs who challenged the Grants Pass laws, and Jesse Rabinowitz, a spokesperson for the National Homelessness Law Center, both said they are profoundly disappointed in the courts decision. We are disappointed that a majority of the Court has decided that our Constitution allows a city to punish its homeless residents simply for sleeping outside with a blanket to survive the cold when there is nowhere else for them to go, Johnson said in a statement. Johnson pledged to continue to mount legal challenges to such policing and punishment policies used against vulnerable people who have nowhere to sleep in cities and towns. He said the court only addressed his clients claims that the citys actions constituted cruel and unusual punishment, but didnt consider their claims that Grants Pass issued excessive fines or that its anti-camping ordinances were too vague. He said he expects asking the federal judge in Medford, where the case began, to reconsider those claims as the case is sent back to the district court. The legal fight on this issue will continue today and every day until cities stop punishing their homeless residents who are trying to survive, he said. Rabinowitz called the courts decision a severe blow to the rights of homeless people. Arresting or fining people for trying to survive is expensive, counterproductive, and cruel, he said. While we are enraged, we are not surprised that this Court has again put the needs of the rich and powerful before the needs of everyday people struggling to get by. The National Homelessness Law Center said the ruling will make homelessness worse in Grants Pass and nationwide and called on the Biden administration and Congress to invest at least $356 billion in the next year to ensure that everybody has safe, decent housing that they can afford. In April during more than two hours of lively argument, conservative justices questioned why federal judges should weigh into municipal policy decisions. They wondered why those affected by camping ordinances in Grants Pass cant raise the defense in state courts that their individual circumstances have left them with nowhere else to sleep once theyre fined or charged with a crime, instead of seeking a preemptive broad ban on the citys ordinances. The liberal justices, in turn, hammered the citys lawyer Theane D. Evangelis, who claimed that homelessness isnt a status, and that the city wasnt punishing people based on their status. During the arguments, Kagan called sleeping a human necessity, adding, Its sort of like breathing. She said she found the citys stance quite striking and off track and that the Eighth Amendment is clear that it protects punishing people based on their status versus their conduct. The 9th Circuits rulings in the Grants case and a prior case in Boise rested on a constitutional principle from the 1962 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Robinson v. California, which found that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the government from punishing people based on their condition or status. In that case, a man could not be punished for being addicted to drugs, only for illegally using drugs. Gorsuch, in the majority opinion, said no one asked the Supreme Court to reconsider Robinson. The majority found that Grants Pass public camping ordinances dont criminalize status but forbid actions like occupying a campsite on public property for the purpose of maintaining a temporary place to live. Under the citys laws, it makes no difference whether the charged defendant is homeless, a backpacker on vacation passing through town, or a student who abandons his dorm room to camp out in protest on the lawn of a municipal building, Gorsuch wrote. The majority found that states are free to add further protections for homeless people, citing Oregons law adopted in 2021 that allows for objectively reasonable time, place and manner limits on sitting, lying or sleeping outside. The 9th Circuits ruling in the Boise case, which restricted anti-camping ordinances if cities dont have enough shelter beds for the homeless, was based on back-of-the-envelope arithmetic, that was all but impossible to administer in practice, Gorsuch wrote. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, the opinion said. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not. Sotomayor countered in dissent that many local governments have made criminalization a frontline response to homelessness, which can cause a destabilizing cascade of harm. For people with nowhere else to go, fines and jail time do not deter behavior, reduce homelessness, or increase public safety, she wrote. She argued that the Eighth Amendment is not limited to outlawing medieval tortures and that the majority has misunderstood the findings in the Robinson case. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, Sotomayor wrote. The majority protests that the Ordinances do not criminalize mere status....Saying so does not make it so. Every shred of evidence points the other way. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. Justice Clarence Thomas, in a separate concurring opinion, said he joined the majority opinion but argued that the 1962 Robinson case - which found a man could not be punished for being addicted to drugs - was wrongly decided. He argued that the Supreme Court 62 years ago failed to analyze the original meaning or text of the Eighth Amendment and instead considered contemporary human knowledge in deciding that a criminal offense involving an addiction would be considered cruel and unusual punishment under the amendment. Modern public opinion is not an appropriate metric for interpreting the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause - or any provision of the Constitution for that matter, Thomas wrote. Johnson, the lawyer who represented those who challenged the Grants Pass laws, said Oregons relatively recent law that allows restrictions as to time, place and manner of public camping and sitting, lying or sleeping outside will prevent Grants Pass - and any other city in the state - from doing what Grants Pass wants to do, which is make it illegal to prevent homeless people from sleeping on every inch of property, 24 hours a day. The state adopted the law after Grants Pass passed its anti-camping and sleeping ordinances. We intend to use that law which is more important than ever to protect homeless people in the state of Oregon, he said. I would encourage other states, especially after todays decision to look at the wisdom of that policy decision and to pass similar laws. During arguments before the Supreme Court, the justices appeared to struggle with where to draw the distinction between a persons status and conduct in trying to determine whats cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Edwin S. Kneedler said the Grants Pass laws went too far, calling the laws the equivalent of banishment for people who have nowhere to sleep. But he urged the court to throw out the involuntary homeless class certification in the case and instead require cities and law enforcement officers to make individual assessments of whether people actually have nowhere else to stay before issuing any citations, fines, park exclusions or trespass arrests. Advocates for homeless people who have anxiously awaited the ruling said no opinion from the nations high court will end homelessness. Whats needed is housing and supportive services, they said. There are more than 256,000 people living unsheltered in the United States on any given night and a shortage of 7.3 million units of affordable housing, according to Ann Oliva, chief executive officer of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. In 2022, about 17,000 people became homeless each week for the first time over the course of the year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Oliva called for a need to fund safe and affordable housing and wrap-around services in the long term, and in the short-term, support for housing outreach, housing subsidies, safe parking sites with behavioral support and other services and low-barrier shelters. This decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free rein to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, Oliva said. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future. William Knight, a former public defender in Arizona who now works as decriminalization director for the National Homelessness Law Center, said the 9th Circuit court ruling in the Grants Pass case and Boises Martin case never provided solutions to homelessness but instead were emergency backstops for when cities like Grants Pass were making things worse, much worse, by criminalizing homelessness. Helen Cruz, who was formerly homeless in Grants Pass for about six years and had racked up more than $2,000 in fines for sleeping in local parks, now lives at a church near a park and supports others who live on the citys streets. She said people locally have been on edge, awaiting the Supreme Court ruling. On Friday, she said she and others are absolutely devasted. They have taken any ounce of hope that the homeless community of Grants Pass had and stripped it right away from them, she said. What people dont seem to understand is they dont want to be in the parks. People living in tents or sleeping in parks want a place to live, you know, and we all have that right to have a place to live, she said. Sara K. Rankin, professor at Seattle Universitys School of Law and director of the Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, said the courts decision is likely to embolden cities to take more punitive approaches to involuntary homelessness even as we are enduring an escalating housing crisis. The decision is crushing because it further denies vulnerable people even modest protections under the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution. However, it does not affect the ability of civil rights attorneys to fight punitive laws using other provisions of the federal constitution, various state constitutional provisions -- including state versions of the 8th Amendment, and various federal and state statutes -- such as the Americans with Disabilities Act among other avenues, she said by email. Rather than calming the waters, this decision has likely agitated a new cycle of punitive laws that will be met with new lawsuits. Attorneys for the League of Oregon Cities, the city of Portland and Washington state and Idaho city associations had argued in a joint brief before the Supreme Court that the 9th Circuit made an extraordinary incursion into local autonomy and turned judges into townhall chancellors. Gorsuch cited the brief in the majority opinion, noting that even as some cities like Portland have expanded shelter capacity and other public services, their unsheltered populations have continued to grow. Between April 2022 and January 2024, over 70% of Portlands approximately 3,500 offers of shelter beds to homeless individuals were declined, the briefs citation said. Portland is set to start enforcing its scaled-back homeless camping ban on Monday, nearly two months after the City Council unanimously approved the new ordinance to replace a more stringent measure tied up in court. The new rules require people who are offered shelter to accept it or face penalties and it directs homeless individuals that they must keep their camping area tidy if they cant access shelter. The ordinance scales back the potential of a 30-day stint behind bars for violators to just seven days and emphasizes a preference to offer offenders diversion. Jeffrey Selbin, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and director for its Policy Advocacy Clinic, said both the majority opinion and dissent made clear the ruling greenlighted the criminalization of homelessness but also that state and local lawmakers are not required to go down that path. He said local officials can reject inhumane approaches and state legislators can pass laws establishing minimum protections for people experiencing homelessness as Oregon did after Grants Pass adopted its ordinances. This case will be a Rorschach test for elected officials, he said. Will they redouble their efforts to provide shelter and housing or fall back on laws that punish people for being homeless? -- 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. Phillip Andryushin could have easily killed someone when he and two friends hurled stones and a cinder block off an overpass in Fairview a year ago. Luckily for him and the drivers down below on Interstate 84 that didnt happen. Comet 13P/Olbers will pass by our planet for the first time in almost 70 years this summer. The comet may be visible from Earth, though that will depend on a few factors. Astronomy website StarWalk says that youll have the best chance of viewing the comet on Sunday, June 30, when it is expected to shine with a magnitude of 6.5, visible through binoculars. StarWalk says that Olbers is well-placed in the sky and people can already observe it with your backyard telescope. If visible, the comet will appear in the western sky, according to astronomy news site Universe Today, between 20 and 30 degrees above the horizon. Evening will be the best time for viewing. Take note, though currently, there are clouds in the forecast for western Oregon on Sunday. Olbers is a Halley-type periodic comet, according to NASA, which means that it reappears near Earth at regular intervals. NASA graphic showing the orbit of Comet 13p/Olbers in our solar system.NASA Universe Today says that the Olbers comet is named for astronomer Heinrich Olbers, who first observed the comet on March 6th, 1815. Earlier this year, Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, aka the Devil Comet, was visible in the night sky over Oregon. Local photographer Jeremy Likness captured stunning images of that comet. Oregon coast astrophotographer Jeremy Likness, of Newport, Oregon, captured specular shots of the Devils Comet, AKA Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, in Otter Rock, Oregon, Sunday, March 31, 2024. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Likness Comet 13p/Olbers wont be nearly that bright, but you may have a chance of seeing it before it disappears again for another 69 years. EUGENE Veteran Clayton Murphy won his heat of the mens 800 meters in what was a homecoming of sorts Thursday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Hayward Field. Murphy used a final push on the home straight to finish in 1 minute, 47.05 seconds to qualify for Fridays semifinal. He is familiar with Oregon. Murphy trained in Portland as a member of the Nike Oregon Project before returning to Ohio, and is married to former University of Oregon sprint star Ariana Washington. Murphy won the bronze medal in the 800 at the 2016 Olympics, and has a veterans perspective. You can feel great the for the week of the first round of the USAs, and feel incredibly flat and terrible in the first round, Murphy said. You can feel great the whole week and feel incredibly flat. Who knows what is going to happen in the first round of the 800? It felt really good. So, Ill just get some recovery tonight, some rest, spend some time with the wife and kid, check out for a few hours and lock back in tomorrow. -- Ken Goe for The Oregonian/OregonLive McKinely to Close Port Angeles Paper Mill, Nearly 200 Workers Get 60-Day Notice The Port Angeles paper mill in Washington, produces 100% recycled containerboard, such as liner and corrugated medium. The Port Angeles paper mill in Washington, produces 100% recycled containerboard, such as liner and corrugated medium. June 28, 2024 - McKinely Paper plans to shut-down operations at its paper mill in Port Angeles, Washington, and lay-off 193 employees on August 25. The Peninsula Daily News reported that the company sent an email to employees earlier this week notifying them of an "indefinite mass layoff affecting approximately 193 employees." The letter served as an official notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires most employers with more than 100 employees to provide 60 days notice of pending layoffs or closures. "We expect that Aug. 24, 2024, which is the end of the 60-day WARN notice period, will be the last day of work for the majority of the effected employees before the indefinite layoff," the letter said. "Based on the information available to us at this time, we hope that the facility will resume operations at some point in the future but we cannot say when." The letter was sent to employees Tuesday afternoon and posted to social media shortly afterward, Peninsula Daily News reported. According to the letter, employees released from employment before Aug. 24 will receive their full pay and benefits for the full 60-day period. Employees who are assigned work but choose to leave the company will not be entitled to pay or benefits beyond their final day of work. McKinley Paper operates three paper mills in the United States: Prewitt, New Mexico; Combined Locks, Wisconsin; and the Port Angeles mill. The three mills produce 100% recycled containerboard (liner and corrugated medium) and other packaging grades of paper. McKinely is a subsidiary of Bio Pappel, which is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. In February of 2022, Bio Pappel, through McKinley Paper, acquired Midwest Paper Group (the Combined Locks mill in Wisconsin), a privately held manufacturer and distributor of recycled containerboard and natural kraft packaging grades. The mill has an annual production capacity of 500,000 tons. McKinley Paper purchased the Port Angeles mill in April 2017 from Nippon Paper Industries USA for $20.6 million, including a biomass cogeneration electric plant. SOURCE: Regional news reports A 16-year-old prisoner at a juvenile correctional facility in Wisconsin is facing liabilities of manslaughter and killing after the passing of a staff member he allegedly assaulted, according to court documents. 16-Year-Old Inmate in Juvenile Facility Faces Homicide Charges The circumstances happened on Monday night at Lincoln Hills School in Irma, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC). The casualties, determined as 49-year-old Corey Proulx, a youth counselor at the school, sustained crucial wounds while trying to constrain the teen after he reportedly attacked another staff member. Proulx died on Tuesday due to his wounds. The teen has been accused of second-degree imprudent homicide, felony murder-battery, and two counts of battery connected to the circumstances. At a court investigation on Wednesday, the judge decided to accuse the suspect, Javarius Hurd, as a grown-up. Hurd's bond was settled at $100,000, and he was mandated not to have contact with school staff or the casualty's family members. If ever found guilty, he could face up to 58 years in prison. According to the criminal accusation, the teen supposedly concealed anger toward the primary casualty, blaming her for abusing authority and treating him unjustly. He reportedly planned to oppose her and threw soap at her before physically attacking her. When Proulx interceded to arrest him, the teen allegedly assaulted Proulx, causing him to fall and sustain deadly wounds. Surveillance footage reportedly seized the circumstances, displaying the series of incidents resulting in Proulx's intense wounds. Proulx was transported to a hospital in a crucial situation but was announced brain-dead the next day. The female staff member obtained medical medication for her wounds and has since been released from the hospital. The DOC has verified that no other youthful inmates were included in the circumstances. Governor Tony Evers mandated flags to fly at half-staff in respect of Proulx, characterizing him as a devoted public servant known for his compassion and engagement in supporting youth. DOC Secretary Jared Hoy also acclaimed Proulx's devotion and defined the difficulties faced by corrections staff in their roles. Proulx was recognized dearly by his fiancee, daughter, and colleagues for his kindness and devotion to his work. State Representative Michael Schraa, chair of the Assembly's corrections committee, conveyed concern about the Department of Corrections' operational state, questioning if it is in "crisis mode." He declared plans to quickly hold a hearing on the agency's operations. Authorities Investigate State Prison Inmate's Death Officials are examining the passing of a prisoner at a state prison in Sacramento County after guards constrained him on the ground during circumstances. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), inmate Christopher Leong supposedly assaulted staff, immediately efforts to constrain him. He persisted in resisting and spitting at officers. Subsequently, he lost consciousness and stopped breathing while subdued on the ground. Despite receiving medical aid, Leong was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m. Ten staff members suffered minor injuries. The Sacramento County Coroner will verify the cause of the passing. Leong had been confined since June 7, 2011, for violations including firearm discharge and attempted murder including a gang. The incident is being investigated by CSP-Sacramento's Investigative Services Unit, CDCR's Deadly Force team, and the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, overseen by the Office of the Inspector General. As new COVID cases arise in certain regions of the country, health officials are preparing for a fall immunization campaign. CDC Urges COVID Vaccinations This Autumn On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested new immunizations for all Americans this autumn. CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen suggested that the best way to safeguard yourself and your loved ones from respiratory disease is to get immunized. Officials identify that the importance of immunizations is not as crucial as it was a few years ago. Most Americans have acquired some immunity through viruses, former immunizations, or both. COVID-related passings and hospitalizations last month were among the shortest since the pandemic started in 2020. However, immunity can decline over time, new variants of the coronavirus progress to emerge, and hundreds of COVID-related demises and thousands of hospitalizations are still recorded weekly. Moreover, health officials have observed a rise this month in COVID-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations, along with an important increase in positive test results in the southwestern U.S. Lauren Ancel Meyers from the University of Texas, who leads a COVID tracking research team, said that it is uncertain if this signifies a forthcoming summer wave or just a brief raise. She mentioned that the outcome in the weeks ahead remains ambiguous. Experts Recommend Updated COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages 6 Months and Up On a Thursday meeting at the CDC in Atlanta, infectious disease experts voted to suggest updated COVID-19 antibodies for Americans aged 6 months and older. Health officials have informed Americans to anticipate annual updates to COVID-19 vaccines, akin to the yearly flu shot suggestions. Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended vaccine manufacturers to target the JN.1 version of the virus. However, a week later, the FDA advised that a better target might be the KP.2 subtype if possible. On Thursday, the CDC advisory panel voted 11-0 in favor of a new round of shots, anticipated to be available in August and September. Despite the CDC's suggestions, many Americans are not following the recommendations. As of last month, less than a quarter of U.S. adults and 14% of kids were up to date on their Covid vaccinations. Surveys signify that fewer Americans consider COVID-19 a major health threat, and fewer doctors are encouraging patients to get updated vaccines. Recent survey data presented by the CDC showed that about 23% of respondents planned to get an updated Covid shot this fall, while 33% said they definitely would not. Additionally, the CDC's Bridge Access Program, which has been funding shots for uninsured U.S. adults, is expected to end in August due to discontinued funding. The program provided nearly 1.5 million doses from September to last month. Shannon Stokley from the CDC commented that the program's discontinuation presents an objection. The CDC reports approximately 1.2 million Covid-related deaths in the U.S. since early 2020. The most intense period was the winter of 2020-2021, with weekly demises surpassing 20,000. CDC officials said, on Thursday, that in the last four years, about 1 in 100 Americans aging 75 and older required hospitalization due to COVID. Emergency abortions in Idaho might be poised for approval by the Supreme Court after a draft has briefly become available on the Court's official website. The abortion ban in Idaho is known to be one of the most stringent in the country. However, expecting mothers who are delivering with significant medical emergencies might soon be able to access abortion within the state. Supreme Court's Unintentional Release The Supreme Court inadvertently posted a document on its website, revealing a potential decision that would allow hospitals in Idaho to perform emergency abortions to protect a pregnant patient's health. The court's spokeswoman, Patricia McCabe, confirmed that the opinion in the Idaho case would be issued "in due course" and acknowledged the unintentional publication. The draft opinion suggests that the court should not have intervened so quickly in Idaho's strict abortion ban case. In a statement released by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, she emphasized that this significant move is not yet a victory towards the health of expecting mothers but rather, a delay for patients in Idaho. Implications for Idaho's Abortion Ban and Future Legal Battles If this decision becomes official, it would reverse the Supreme Court's earlier order that allowed Idaho's abortion ban to take effect, even in medical emergencies. This procedural focus could indicate the court's reluctance to address abortion-related decisions on their merits in an election year, according to Greer Donley, a reproductive law scholar at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Idaho doctors have reported that several women required medical airlifts out of state for treatments that included abortion to avoid severe health risks. Furthermore, Xavier Becerra, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, met up with doctors and patients in Idaho to discuss more about the serious implications of the state's abortion ban. An OB/GYN in Idaho, Dr. Sarah Thompson, expressed the harsh reality that the people in the medical field are now facing in the state, emphasizing the risks of not being legally able to treat patients during medical emergencies under the current law of the state. Potential Change in Abortion Ban Ruling The opinion that was quickly displayed features Justice Elena Kagan, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson emphasizing the significance of having access to all essential medical treatments as promised by EMTALA. In addition, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh all agreed in her concurring opinion that the extent of the disagreement has become uncertain after the Supreme Court's initial participation. In opposition, Justice Samuel Alito, along with Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, denounced the majority for what he called a sudden change in opinion. He claimed that the court was sidestepping a politically controversial matter. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is anticipating that the Supreme Court will approve urgent abortion services for the health of pregnant women and mothers in danger, relying on medical professionals and scientific proof. Idaho's restrictive abortion legislation, implemented following the Supreme Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade in June 2022, permits abortion solely when necessary to protect the mother's life or in instances of rape or incest. The Biden administration asserts that EMTALA mandates hospitals to offer stabilizing treatment, which includes abortions, during emergencies, superseding state limitations. Idaho officials argue that EMTALA does not require abortions and cannot supersede state laws. Doctors recommend antibiotics to most children and adolescents diagnosed with pink eye, despite guidelines preventing this practice, researchers disclose. Two-Thirds of Young Pink Eye Patients Received Antibiotic Drop According to their findings, more than two-thirds of young patients in the U.S. who sought medical attention for pink eye obtained medicine for antibiotic eye drops. The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests against routine antibiotic use for conjunctivitis, noting that it commonly deals with it on its own, even when caused by mild bacterial viruses. Pink eye is highly infectious, described by red, swollen, and infrequently itchy eyes. Simple solutions such as a cool, damp cloth and artificial tears are often adequate to lessen manifestations. The research, based on 2021 insurance claims data nationwide, includes approximately 45,000 children cured of pink eye across numerous medical settings. It found that 69% of these patients were recommended antibiotics, either in drops or ointments. Despite the high recommendation rate, return visits to healthcare providers for pink eye were unusual, accounting for less than 4% of cases, advising that restraining antibiotics does not commonly result in raised difficulties. Among different medical settings, doctor's offices were most likely to recommend antibiotics (72%), followed by emergency rooms (57%) and eye clinics (34%). Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Honolulu Eye Clinic and spokesperson for the ophthalmology group, recommended that eye clinics may better diagnose the basic cause of pink eye, possibly affecting lower antibiotic prescription rates. Dr. Daniel Shapiro, a pediatric emergency physician and study co-author, recognized the concern parents feel when their child has an eye infection, indicating the devastating appearance of red and inflamed eyes. However, he highlighted that antibiotics should not be unneeded when they may not give advantages. The study did not delve into specific reasons for antibiotic prescriptions or their outcomes. Dr. Wong highlighted the accessibility of alternative supportive measures to soothe kids without relying on antibiotic eye drops. How to Treat Pink Eye Effectively in Children and Teens? Pink eye, which is highly infectious and can spread through direct or indirect contact like touching, coughing, and sneezing, emphasizes the significance of practices such as covering coughs and regular handwashing to refrain transmission. It can be infectious before manifestations emerge and remain so until manifestations decline. Neonatal conjunctivitis is a concern for babies born to mothers with sexually transmitted infections during giving birth. However, routine STI screenings during prenatal care support diminish this danger. After birth, newborns may get antibiotic eye drops as protection. Diagnosis: Consulting a primary care provider is important to identify the suitable medication based on the particular type of conjunctivitis, whether viral, bacterial, or caused by allergies or irritants. Consulting a primary care provider is important to identify the suitable medication based on the particular type of conjunctivitis, whether viral, bacterial, or caused by allergies or irritants. Medication: Antibiotics may be recommended for bacterial viruses to lessen the span and intensity of manifestations. Viral infections generally improve on their own, with symptom relief as the focus. Antibiotics may be recommended for bacterial viruses to lessen the span and intensity of manifestations. Viral infections generally improve on their own, with symptom relief as the focus. Home Remedies: Utilizing methods like warm or cool compresses and over-the-counter medications can alleviate discomfort and aid recovery. Swift and accurate diagnosis, adherence to prescribed treatments, and supportive care are pivotal in managing pink eye effectively. During the initial presidential debate of the current election cycle, there were tense moments between ex-President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden regarding abortion and reproductive rights. The legal terrain of issues related to women, mothers, families, and children nationwide is at the forefront of the upcoming 2024 elections. Biden and Trump Debate on Abortion and Reproductive Rights The debate became intense after CNN host Dana Bash asked the candidates about their views on abortion. President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to restoring Roe v. Wade, the important Supreme Court decision that protected abortion rights nationwide, before it was overturned in 2022. The current president criticized Trump for his involvement in the current landscape of abortion due to the judges he appointed during his term. However, Trump praised the Supreme Court for reversing Roe v. Wade and suggested that states should have the power to decide on abortion laws. He restated his backing for exemptions in situations involving rape, incest, and the mother's life. Nevertheless, Trump sparked controversy and spread misinformation by falsely alleging that Democratic states support post-birth abortions, a claim promptly dismissed by Biden as just not accurate. Biden emphasized that his administration does not support late-term abortions and firmly declared, "not for late-term abortion. Period, period, period." Disagreements Over Economic Tax Policies Aside from the heated exchanges on abortion, the two candidates boasted about their contributions to the nation's economy and the beneficial tax policies they implemented. Former President Trump highlighted the success of his previous administration, saying it was able to reduce and alleviate the burden of taxes multiple times. He added that his administration decreased taxes on four occasions. On the other hand, Biden completely rejected his assertion of presiding over the strongest economy ever seen in our nation's history. Biden criticized Trump as the most terrible president in American history, mentioning an agreement among historians. He criticized Trump's tax policies for favoring the wealthy and raising the national debt. He pointed out his government's actions to establish a more equitable society. Biden highlighted his administration's efforts to create a fairer tax system and reduce economic inequality. Trump, however, maintained that his tax cuts stimulate economic growth and benefited all Americans. Read Also: Louisiana Families Sue Over New Law Mandating Ten Commandments in Public Schools Misinformation and Verifying Facts During the discussion, both contenders were carefully examined for their remarks. Trump's numerous untrue statements regarding post-birth abortions and Biden's position on late-term abortions received a lot of focus. Reproductive rights organizations quickly responded on social media, criticizing Trump's statements. Planned Parenthood Action, for example, shared on X, saying that the purpose of this false information on abortion is to mislead individuals and divert attention from Trump and his supporters' true agenda of prohibiting all abortions. Thats literally not how abortion works. This disinformation about abortion is meant to confuse people and distract from what Trump and his allies really want to do ban all abortions. Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) June 28, 2024 Biden's team also verified Trump's economic statements, highlighting inconsistencies and errors. The president's team stressed the significance of being factually accurate and transparent in political conversations. The discussion prepared for what is expected to be a heated and closely monitored election period. The dialogue is ready for a potentially intense and closely watched election season. When deciding on abortion and reproductive rights, voters will be selecting between two different candidates for the country's future. As the election approaches, the debate on these crucial issues is likely to intensify, shaping public conversations and influencing voters' decisions. The U.S. Justice Department has filed criminal liabilities against 193 people, including 76 medical professionals, for participating in healthcare fraud summing $2.75 billion, declared on Thursday. DOJ Charges 193 Individuals in Health Care Fraud The operation, ranging two weeks, targeted people liable for unlawfully offering large volumes of the stimulant Adderall. It also revealed $176 million in fraudulent actions connected to drug and alcohol medications, with accusations including incorrect billing to Medicaid for insufficient or non-existent medication. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized these efforts, mentioning that the crackdown also addressed fraudulent telemedicine schemes, with 36 defendants collectively indicted of submitting over $1.1 billion in false claims to Medicare. Garland highlighted the Justice Department's responsibility to prosecute those who deceive Americans, abuse taxpayer-funded programs, and imperil public health for financial gain. The enforcement action, administered across 32 federal districts, led to the confiscation of over $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets. One notable case involved charges against seven individuals linked to the San Francisco-based telehealth startup Done Global for illicitly distributing Adderall. Allegations included a nurse practitioner prescribing 1.5 million Adderall pills with minimal patient interaction. The company's founder and lead physician had already faced charges earlier in the month. Authorities suggested that these fraudulent activities might have contributed to reported shortages of Adderall in recent years. The investigations were coordinated by the Justice Department's criminal fraud unit, alongside the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, FBI, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Officials underscored the growing role of data analytics in identifying fraud schemes that jeopardize patient safety and strain government resources. Read Also : 16-Year-Old Inmate in Juvenile Facility Faces Homicide Charges for Death of Staff Member During Attack Accountability for Illegal Substance Distribution and Massive Fraud Schemes Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that regardless of whether you are a drug cartel trafficker, corporate executive, or medical professional, if you profit from the illegal distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable. The charges allege that five individuals and a digital technology company were involved in a $900-million fraud scheme in Arizona related to amniotic wound grafts and the illegal distribution of Adderall and other stimulants. Prosecutors claim two owners of a wound care company fraudulently billed Medicare $330 million by pressuring nurse practitioners to apply unnecessary wound grafts, including to hospice patients who died the day they received the care. Company owners Alexandra Gehrke and Jeffrey King were arrested at Phoenix airport before boarding a flight to London. Officials found evidence in their home suggesting they planned to erase digital footprints. The DOJ also alleges corporate executives committed a $90 million fraud scheme involving adulterated HIV medication, $146 million in fake addiction treatment schemes, over $1.1 billion in telemedicine and laboratory fraud, and $450 million in other healthcare fraud and opioid schemes. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized his department's role in the multi-agency investigation, declaring that this action sends a clear and strong message from federal law enforcement: healthcare providers and prescribers who exploit their patients for profit and ignore the fundamental rule of medical care, "do not harm," will be held accountable. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters orders Bible teaching in public schools as a part of a historical document that children need to learn. Just a couple of days after Louisiana directs its public schools to display the Ten Commandments, another educational mandate on the matter of religion will be set in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Superintendent's Compulsory Compliance The order from Walters requires school districts throughout the state to comply immediately and strictly. Walters explained the decision by saying, that the Bible is a crucial reference point for history and culture. Lack of fundamental understanding of it prevents Oklahoma students from grasping the origins of our nation, which is why Oklahoma educational standards ensure its inclusion in the curriculum. The Attorney General Gentner Drummond spokesperson, Phil Bacharach, stated that there is an existing law in Oklahoma allowing the teachers to use the Bible as a school material. However, questions remain about whether Walters possesses the authority to enforce such a mandate. Furthermore, school districts in the state still hold no instructions for the implementation, curriculum, reading lists and other needed materials. Civil Rights Groups Respond to Mandatory Bible Teaching in Schools Civil rights groups have strongly opposed the directive. Adam Soltani, leader of the Oklahoma branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, condemned the action as a blatant breach of the Establishment Clause in the U.S. Constitution, which bars the government from endorsing a particular religion. Soltani declared that we strongly reject any mandates for religion to be taught or mandated in public school lesson plans, in Oklahoma, or anywhere in the nation. Rachel Laser, the head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, reiterated these feelings, saying that public schools are different from Sunday schools. This is a classic example of Christian Nationalism: Walters is misusing his position in public office to enforce his religious views on all children. "Not while we're here." The Interfaith Alliance, a group dedicated to protecting religious freedoms, also condemned the directive. In a statement, the organization called the mandate blatant religious coercion and emphasized that true religious freedom means ensuring no single religious group imposes its viewpoint on all Americans. Read Also: Emergency Abortions in Idaho Is Poised for Supreme Court Approval A Pattern of Conservative Push This directive is part of a broader trend by conservative-led states to influence public school curricula. Recently, Louisiana required schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while other states face pressure to teach the Bible and ban lessons on race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked an attempt to establish the nation's first publicly funded religious charter school. In 2022, Ryan Walters, who used to be a teacher in public schools, ran for office on a platform that focused on fighting against woke ideology, prohibiting certain books, and expelling radical leftists from educational settings. During his time in office, he has faced conflicts with politicians from all sides regarding cultural topics such as transgender rights and banning books. In January, he received backlash for selecting a conservative social media influencer to serve on a state library committee. The legal ramifications of Walters' directive remain uncertain, but it has undoubtedly intensified the ongoing debate over the role of religion in public education. As Oklahoma schools grapple with this new mandate, the conflict between conservative educational policies and constitutional protections continues to unfold. New court details have appeared about the dreadful passing of Bobby Maher, who was killed while protecting his girlfriend in Wyoming. Teen Suspects Plead Not Guilty in Fatal Stabbing of Boy The 14-year-old was badly stabbed outside a bustling shopping mall in April, supposedly by two 15-year-olds, Dominique Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, who were reportedly following his girlfriend. Both Harris and Plunkett are being investigated as adults, and at a current preliminary hearing, Harris appealed not guilty to numerous liabilities, including conspiracy to commit the killing. The court heard that Harris and Plunkett targeted Maher after an incident the previous week, where Maher had referred to them as 'freaks' after encountering them exiting a portable toilet together. During the mall confrontation, Harris allegedly pinned Maher to the ground while Plunkett used a stolen knife from Target to badly stab him. Bobby's deadly demise sparked extensive shock and grief in Casper, Wyoming, where vigils and tributes have honored his memory. Reports signify that Maher knew both of his supposed killers, and prosecutors contend that the crime was prompted by the earlier park circumstances. According to reports, Maher's girlfriend called him to alert him about Harris and Plunkett following her at Eastridge Mall. Maher rushed to her aid, where video footage reportedly showed the masked suspects confronting him at the mall entrance. Despite Maher's pleas that it wasn't fair and his reluctance to fight, Harris allegedly wrestled him down while Plunkett continued the attack. Read Also : 16-Year-Old Inmate in Juvenile Facility Faces Homicide Charges for Death of Staff Member During Attack In a police interview, Harris admitted holding Maher down during the altercation, claiming it was to end the fight. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery, assault, and misdemeanor theft. Plunkett had previously pleaded not guilty and cited mental illness or deficiency. The community has mourned Maher's loss deeply, with heartfelt tributes remembering his bravery. His girlfriend described him as the bravest boy and shared their shattered dreams of a future. Maher's father expressed the family's profound grief, calling the memory of his son's stabbing an unshakeable nightmare. Teen Fatally Stabbed Defending Girlfriend at Wyoming Mall Bobby Maher, 14, confronted two 15-year-old boys from Evansville and Casper who allegedly harassed his middle school girlfriend at a mall, leading to his fatal stabbing. Authorities have charged Jarreth Plunkett (JJ) and Dominique Harris (Dom) as adults in connection with Maher's death. Maher responded to his girlfriend's distress call by urging the alleged harassers to leave while attempting to ensure her safety. Surveillance footage shows Maher trying to avoid the hooded assailants, with Plunkett provoking a physical altercation. Harris restrained Maher before allegedly assaulting him, while Plunkett reportedly used a kitchen knife to fatally injure Maher. Afterward, Plunkett and Harris fled, discarding the weapon and masks nearby. The suspects claimed Maher had insulted them as "freaks." Casper Police answered a call about an unconscious youth at the mall, conducting CPR on Maher, who had suffered two stab injuries. The community has rallied in support of Maher's family, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $54,000. Harris, already on probation for drug possession, and Plunkett face serious liabilities including first-degree murder and felony, with bond set at $500,000 and $450,000 respectively. New York City public schools are close to putting into effect a cell phone prohibition that will affect nearly one million students. The Schools Chancellor, David Banks, announced that the official statement will come within the next two weeks, with the goal of addressing the disruptions caused by cell phones in classrooms. NYC Cellphone Ban on School Premises The suggested prohibition in New York City is in accordance with the decision made by the Los Angeles Unified School District, who also recently endorsed a comparable ban on cellphones to start in January. Banks highlighted the importance of students having phones for communication after school, while also underlining the significance of restricting their usage during school hours to improve the learning atmosphere. Banks mentioned in an interview that students should be allowed to have their phones at school to stay in touch with family after school hours. However, he aim to implement a system that prohibits its use throughout the school day. The suggested prohibition has garnered widespread backing from various parties, such as parents, educators, and school officials. Around 70% of high school teachers and one-third of middle school teachers believe that cellphones are a major distraction in their classrooms, as stated by the Pew Research Center. Banks stated that everyone has been advised to take the phones but has remained as a significant issue. The ban in New York aims to establish a uniform policy in public schools citywide, where many currently have individual regulations. Some schools currently mandate students to secure their devices while on campus. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also indicated her backing for a ban on cellphones in schools across the state, with intentions to introduce the proposed law in the upcoming 2025 legislative session. This move follows a history of cellphone policy changes in the city. The former Mayor Michael Bloomberg once implemented a cellphone ban in public schools two decades ago. However, this city mandate was lifted by the administration of his successor, Bill de Blasio, in 2015. Bloomberg, now advocating for the reinstatement of the ban, cited the devastating effects on learning caused by smartphones in an opinion column this week. Read Also: Emergency Abortions in Idaho Is Poised for Supreme Court Approval Challenges and Concerns of the Cellphone Ban Implemention Despite the general support for the ban, some educators highlight the potential benefits of phones in educational settings. A Queens educator who chose to remain unnamed suggested utilizing phones for speedy assessments and exit tickets to customize daily lesson plans and enhance student comprehension. The teacher mentioned that they evaluate their students regularly through their phones and exit tickets to better prepare for the next day and identify areas that require more focus. Yet, the teacher recognized the adverse effects of cellphone usage, such as bullying, conflicts, and reduced teaching time. Students sharing information about their peers during lunch or in a classroom can result in bullying, conflicts, and feelings of depression - as well as causing significant disruptions to learning and focus, they stated. Parent Jean Hahn, who supports Banks' plan, criticized the education department for contributing to students' dependency on devices during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote learning became the norm. As of writing, the New York City Department of Education has not yet provided additional details about implementation of the potential ban. The Bolt Accelerator Program Ghana concluded its journey, culminating in a prestigious Award Ceremony held at the Kempinski Hotel on 25th June 2024. Launched in collaboration with The Nest Innovation Technology Park, this program empowered a dynamic group of Ghanaian entrepreneurs to transform their bold ideas linked to sustainable transport to life. Launched in April 2024, the Bolt Accelerator Program received hundreds of applications from drivers and couriers in Ghana. From the pool of applicants, 120 entrepreneurs were shortlisted and went through Bolt Academy, the business skills training phase. After presenting their video pitches, top 20 participants progressed to the next phase, which included exclusive training sessions led by seasoned industry experts. The Participants honed their entrepreneurial skills and developed their concepts further, readying themselves for the ultimate test on Pitch Day. At the Pitch Day session, the top 20 finalists presented their inventive business solutions to a panel of judges including Weyinmi Aghadiuno, the Acting Head of Regulatory and Policy, Africa at Bolt, Jemima R. Rockson, the Business & Project Manager GNBCC, Walter Dzimey, Technical Advisor GIZ and several others. They evaluated the pitches based on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, and potential impact. The judges' insights and feedback were crucial in determining the winners of the seed funding. At pitch day, drivers and couriers showcased a range of innovative ideas, including creating charging stations for EVs (bikes, cars), automobile wash on-the-go, modern automobile stores offering a variety of services, and efficient grocery stores aimed at enhancing community access to fresh produce. These concepts, among others, highlighted the diverse and practical solutions being developed to address various needs within the community. Regional Manager, North and West Africa, Lola Masha, speaking for Bolt in Ghana, stated, We are incredibly proud of all the Bolt drivers and couriers who participated in the Bolt Accelerator Program. Their dedication and creativity have been truly inspiring, and we are excited to see the positive impact their innovations will have on communities across Ghana. Drivers and couriers are the backbone of our business, and we remain committed to supporting entrepreneurial growth and development in the region. "The Ministry of Transport Chief Director, Mrs. Mabel Sagoes said We are excited to see Bolt's dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through the Bolt Accelerator Program. By supporting drivers and couriers through this entrepreneurship program, Bolt is not only enhancing individual livelihoods but also contributing significantly to the advancement of Ghana's transport sector. We are committed to collaborating with Bolt to ensure these innovative ideas are seamlessly integrated into our transport infrastructure, driving progress for the nation." Following a rigorous selection process, the Top 10 most promising ideas were unveiled at the Award Ceremony. These exceptional entrepreneurs received a well-deserved 2,000 seed fund each and will embark on a transformative 6-week post mentorship program. This comprehensive program will provide guidance, mentorship, and access to a network of industry experts, equipping them with the tools and support needed to propel their businesses to success. Deputy Director, DVLA, Abraham Zaato said On behalf of DVLA, we are happy to see Bolt empowering drivers and couriers on their platform. We will continue to work with Bolt on ensuring prompt processes from DVLA that will continue to see a drivers license seamlessly processed. Oluwajoba Oloba, Co-Founder of The Nest Innovation Technology Park, remarked on the program's significance: "Initiatives like the Bolt Accelerator Program are vital for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana. By providing resources, mentorship, and financial support, we empower individuals and contribute to the growth of Ghana's GDP. A thriving startup culture leads to job creation, foreign investment, and economic resilience. We urge organizations and government agencies to support such programs to unlock Ghana's full entrepreneurial potential." The Bolt Accelerator Program Ghana has demonstrated a concerted effort to provide robust and comprehensive support for aspiring innovators within its driver network. Through this strategic partnership, Bolt enforces its commitment to nurturing innovation, uplifting drivers and couriers, and contributing to the growth of entrepreneurial initiatives. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In the ongoing trial, the third accused person has testified that the letter from the first accused, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, regarding the establishment of Letters of Credit (LCs), was addressed to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and not to the Controller and Accountant-General's Department (CAGD). Mr Jakpa highlighted that the letter authorising the establishment of Letters of Credit (LCs) for the procurement of ambulances was addressed to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and was on the then Finance Minister, Seth Terkper's behalf. This detail, he argued, is crucial in understanding the context and appropriateness of the authorisation process. Jakpa's assertion came as a defense against the allegations that Dr. Ato Forson acted improperly in the ambulance procurement process. The 3rd accused emphasised that the procedure followed by Dr. Forson was consistent with standard governmental practices, and the letter directed to the BoG aligns with the usual protocols for such financial transactions. This, Jakpa noted, should mitigate claims of wrongdoing attributed to Dr Ato Forson. The controversy surrounding the procurement of the ambulances has seen Dr. Ato Forson accused of financial malfeasance, with prosecutors arguing that he bypassed established procedures. However, Jakpa countered this by stating that addressing the letter to the BoG was not only appropriate but also necessary for the timely and efficient execution of the procurement. He argued that the BoG is the correct entity for handling such transactions, as it oversees the country's monetary policy and financial operations. In court, Jakpa detailed how the BoG, rather than the CAGD, is typically responsible for issuing LCs due to its role in managing the nation's foreign exchange and international financial transactions. He pointed out that this distinction is critical in ensuring that financial processes adhere to proper channels, thus reinforcing that Dr. Ato Forson's actions were in line with standard practices. However, the prosecution argues that the seal on the document indicates the authority of the former Deputy Minister, not the Minister Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ing. David Owusu Adonteng, the Acting Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has urged political parties in Ghana to prioritize road safety measures in their manifestos. This call comes as road traffic accidents continue to pose a significant public health challenge in the country. Ing. Adonteng emphasized that integrating road safety into political agendas is crucial for reducing accidents and saving lives. By doing so, political parties can demonstrate their commitment to the well-being and safety of citizens, making road safety a pivotal issue in national development. He highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies that address various aspects of road safety, including infrastructure improvements, strict enforcement of traffic laws, and promoting safe driving practices. He stressed that road safety should not be treated as a peripheral issue but should instead be a central component of national policy, deserving serious attention in political discourse. The Acting Director General pointed out that election periods in Ghana witness heightened political activities, increased movement of people, and a surge in vehicular traffic due to rallies, campaigns, and other election-related events. This situation underscores the urgency of prioritizing road safety measures during such critical periods to mitigate the risk of accidents and ensure public safety. In engaging with transport and logistics officers from various political parties, Adonteng urged them to collaborate in revising and introducing road safety codes. He encouraged political parties to incorporate robust road safety strategies into their 2024 manifestos, demonstrating a proactive approach to safeguarding lives and promoting responsible governance. Overall, Adonteng's appeal highlights the intersection of public health, governance, and safety, urging political stakeholders to embrace proactive measures that enhance road safety and contribute to national development goals. Adonteng's engagement with transport and logistics officers from political parties underscores the NRSA's proactive stance in advocating for road safety. By collaborating directly with political stakeholders, he aims to ensure that road safety measures are not only discussed but also effectively implemented as integral components of national policy and party manifestos. The call to revise and introduce road safety codes reflects a commitment to updating regulatory frameworks to align with evolving road safety challenges. This proactive approach is crucial given the dynamic nature of road traffic and the increasing complexity of urban transport systems. Moreover, emphasizing road safety during election periods is particularly pertinent. The heightened political activities and increased vehicular movement present heightened risks for road accidents. By integrating road safety into their agendas, political parties can demonstrate their responsiveness to public concerns and prioritize the safety of citizens amidst the fervor of electoral campaigns. Adonteng's advocacy also underscores the broader societal impact of road safety initiatives. Beyond reducing accidents and fatalities, effective road safety measures contribute to economic productivity by minimizing disruptions caused by accidents and enhancing public confidence in transportation systems. Looking ahead to the 2024 manifesto development, the NRSA's engagement serves as a pivotal opportunity for political parties to differentiate themselves through concrete commitments to road safety. By outlining comprehensive strategies that encompass infrastructure improvements, stringent enforcement measures, and public awareness campaigns, parties can set benchmarks for responsible governance and societal well-being. Ing. David Owusu Adonteng's proactive engagement with political parties not only highlights the urgency of prioritizing road safety but also positions the NRSA as a catalyst for meaningful policy dialogue and action. By fostering collaboration and advocacy, he underscores the critical role of political leadership in shaping a safer and more resilient transportation environment for all Ghanaians. Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah/Peace FM Newsroom Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The American Soybean Association (ASA) through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program, has partnered Agrihouse Foundation to organize the 4th edition of the Ghana Poultry Day, scheduled to hold on Monday July 1, 2024, at the forecourt of the statehouse. The annual advocacy event, which is pushing for the recognition and celebration of July 1, as the Ghana Poultry, is also intentionally putting to light the market opportunities, trade and investment components, as well as the nutritional values in patronizing and consuming our poultry. In his statement, the Africa Director for The American Soybean Association (ASA) through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program, Mr. Chris Slemp, expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Our partnership with Agrihouse Foundation for the 4th Ghana Poultry Day aligns perfectly with our mission to improve food security." The WISHH program has a crucial mission to improve nutrition, through the continuous promotion of soy in human health and Poultry as a key source of protein, Mr. Chris Slemp added. "In 2019, Ghana was recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but inefficiencies in the poultry value chain have hindered sector growth and protein production. Poultry and egg producers in the country continuously face challenges such as high production costs, limited access to quality feed, and widespread misconceptions about poultry products. "By our partnership with Agrihouse Foundation, we aim to contribute to education, knowledge sharing and offer practical approaches and success modules, that stakeholders and potential investors could consider and adopt, to improve their poultry business, enhance the quality and accessibility of poultry feed for producers, strengthen market connections for locally produced commodities used in feed and poultry production, and enhance poultry quality to meet Ghanas protein needs." He remarked expressing his profound gratitude to the American Soybean Association (ASA) through the World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) Program for their sponsorship of this year's 4th Ghana Poultry Day, Ms. Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, stated, We are excited to have the American Soybean Association (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) on board as a key partner for the organization of the 4th Ghana Poultry Day." WISHHs expertise and commitment to improving the Poultry sector and ultimately ensuring food security is invaluable. Our utmost desire is to advocate for, empower, build capacity and share in-depth knowledge on how, we could develop, build and sustain a strong Poultry sector, with all value chains and players vibrant and active, and having this strong support from WISHH, is very instrumental in helping us achieve this aim. We remain confident, that together, we can collectively inspire and build a greater appreciation, value, positive outlook, visibility, acceptance and increase in consumption and patronage of our poultry. The Ghana Poultry Day, set to take place at the forecourt of the State House on Monday, July 1, 2024, will feature a dynamic program of activities headlined by a personality-advocate chef cooking competition. About twenty (20) chefs including Members of Parliament, Queen-mothers, women farmers, students and media personalities will be cooking different recipes, with chicken, free for the public to sample. Additionally, the event will host insightful town hall discussions, bringing together industry leaders to explore opportunities in the poultry sector and discuss strategies for driving investment in the poultry value chain. There will also be an Exhibition; where stakeholders across the value chain and other industries will come together to showcase their products and services, forging new partnerships and driving economic growth. The full day event is open to the general public. We encourage and invite everyone to come through the Forecourt of the State House to gain more insight, network and sample for free, the many different food recipes, that will be made, with our poultry, Alberta concluded. Other partners on board supporting to champion and advocate for the declaration of July 1st as the Ghana Poultry Day includes, Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana National Egg Secretariat, Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers, Amass Farms, Labianca Company Limited. Others includes Safaree Tissue, Wilmar International, Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Project, Wilmar International ,September Spices, Maphlix Trust Ghana limited, Agrogenics . Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah/Peace FM Newsroom Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The first-ever Association of Professional Development Communicators-Ghana (APDC-Ghana) will officially be launched to advocate for policies that will ensure meaningful development in the country. The event scheduled for July 5, 2024 will be held at the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra. The association's Acting Media Liaison & Communications Officer, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri announced via a statement dated June 27, said APDC-Ghana aims to enhance how development issues are communicated to communities and the public through various forms and strategies. "APDC-Ghana aims to foster collaboration, advocate for development issues, and promote behaviour change through diverse yet effective communication techniques, he stated. Some of the association's key objectives, he noted, include researching and promoting best practices in communication for development, building the capacity of communicators, and advocating for marginalized voices. "It will also utilise diverse methods through partnerships to address development challenges in sectors like health, education, agriculture and the environment. "Our mission is to enhance development communication in Ghana, focusing on various sectors and issues confronting our beloved country," he stressed. According to him, the new association will also focus on community engagement and cross-cultural communication to drive behavior change for development. Read a copy of the statement below: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27TH JUNE 2024 LAUNCH OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATORS GHANA The Association of Professional Development Communicators - Ghana (APDC-Ghana) is pleased to announce its official launch on July 5, 2024, 10:00 AM, at the GNAT Hall in Accra. APDC-Ghana aims to enhance development communication in Ghana, focusing on various sectors and issues confronting our beloved country, including but not limited to health, education, agriculture, environmental conservation, and governance. Our mission is to foster collaboration, advocate for development issues, and promote behavior change through diverse yet effective communication techniques. Our objectives include: Researching and promoting effective communication for development. Building the capacity of development communicators. Advocating for marginalized voices in development projects. Fostering community engagement and collaboration. Promoting behavior change through cross-cultural communication. Utilizing diverse communication methods for development challenges through partnerships. We therefore call on our stakeholders to join us in this important initiative. Your support has always been invaluable, and we look forward to your participation. END. For further enquiries, kindly contact: Mr. Emmanuel Seidu Ajarfor Abugri (Media Liaison & Communications Officer) Mob: 0247414780. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On Thursday, June 27, a protest took place at the High Court in connection with the ongoing ambulance purchase trial involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and the third accused, Richard Jakpa. Protesters gathered at the forecourt of the Law Court Complex following the fourth proceeding of the trial, demonstrating their support for Dr. Ato Forson. The demonstrators chanted local Ghanaian songs, with red cloth strips tied around their necks as a symbol of solidarity. Notably, for the first time, traditional rulers from the Central Region were present at the court to show their support for Dr. Forson. Members of Parliament from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), along with the Central Regional Chairman of the party, also attended the Law Complex to back the Minority Leader. After the proceedings, NDC National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi briefed the media, accusing the Attorney General of displaying ignorance. He argued that the only person whose case has weakened and whose character has been revealed as dishonorable throughout the trial is not Richard Jakpa or Dr. Ato Forson, but rather Attorney General Godfred Dame. Mr. Gyamfi claimed that evidence presented by the third accused, Mr. Jakpa, during cross-examination indicated that it was actually the Attorney General who first suggested a meeting with Mr. Jakpa. He emphasised that this revelation has significant implications for the integrity of the prosecution's case. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Persol Limited, an IT company, have been led by Hon. Joe Ghartey, Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Constituency, and Charles Bissue, NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado Ketan to donate a total of Ghc 150,000 to victims of the Egyiresia premix fuel explosion victims. GNPC donated a total of Ghc 100,000 to the fire victims. On its part, Persol Limited donated Ghc 50,000 to the fire victims. The separate donations were made recently when officials of the two entities, led by Hon. Ghartey, and Charles Bissue led the companies to Essikado to support the victims. The donations are to help support the medical bills of the victims. Steven persons, among some sixteen persons caught up in the premix fuel explosion, have since succumbed to their injuries. Already, Hon. Ghartey, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has made personal donations in support of the fire victims. A couple of days ago, he visited some victims of the fire incident who were on admission at the Burns Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Aside his personal contributions to support the community in its trying time, Hon. Ghartey successfully solicited for funds from STL Amandi Foundation to support the victims of the Essikado premix fuel explosion. Charles Bissue the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado Ketan has also made substantial contributions to the victims of the fire incident. Ghana Revenue Authority have also made a donation Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A UK court has sentenced 37-year-old Ghanaian, Solomon Amissah, to 11 years and six months in prison in a drunk driving trial. The conviction comes after drunk Amissah, caused an accident that claimed the life of a mother in her 30s. The tragic incident occurred in December 2022 when Amissah, after attending a Christmas party in Bracknell, Berkshire, drove on the wrong side of the road at high speed. His reckless act was captured on dashcam footage as he entered a roundabout incorrectly and continued against the flow of traffic on a dual carriageway. The collision with the mother of three's car, resulted in her death at the scene. Amissah's admission of guilt for dangerous driving, driving over the alcohol limit, and driving without insurance led to his sentencing at Reading Crown Court. The court detailed how Amissah, despite being intoxicated, chose to drive at around 10 pm on December 17, 2022, leading to the fatal outcome. Detective Constable Joy Jarvis of Thames Valley Police condemned Amissah's actions, noting his distraction by a mobile phone while driving under the influence. This piece of driving was one of the most dangerous pieces of driving that I have investigated. Amissah, selfishly, got into his car after consuming so much alcohol that he was too intoxicated and impaired to drive and disregarded the safety of other road users. He drove along the wrong carriageway for almost a mile, intoxicated and distracted by his mobile phone. This sentencing demonstrates how it is totally unacceptable to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol and using your mobile phone. Our thoughts remain with the family of the victim, he is quoted in a report published on the website of the Thames Valley Police. In addition to his prison term, Amissah has been banned from driving for eight years and will be required to pass an extended re-test to regain his license. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has stated that the op-ed piece by Elizabeth Ohene, the Board Chair of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), regarding the controversy surrounding the sale of 60% shares in four SSNIT hotels to Rock City, does not represent the views of the entire board. Elizabeth Ohene has justified the integrity of the process that led to the selection of Rock City Hotel as the preferred company to acquire a 60% stake in the four SSNIT-owned hotels. In an article titled Coming out of the Hotels, Elizabeth Ohene stated that she would assume responsibility and expects to be prosecuted if any evidence of corruption is found in the process leading up to the decision to pick Rock City, owned by Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong. According to her, the process was transparent and adhered to all relevant regulations. She emphasised that SSNIT did not seek the presidents permission because it is not obliged to do so. I am able to say with the utmost certainty that the process that led to the selection of Rock City as the Preferred Bidder was clean, above board and met every rule and regulation and can withstand every scrutiny. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa claims to have God and Ghana on the side of his campaign, and I would hope all of Gods Angels and Ghanas investigative agencies, temporal and spiritual, would examine the process and tell the world if they find any irregularity or trace of corrupt practice. Indeed, if they should find any evidence of corruption, I will assume and accept responsibility and expect to be prosecuted. Speaking in an interview with Citi Fm on Wednesday, Mr Ablakwa stated that Ms Ohenes op-ed piece was her personal opinion and personal observation and analysis on the matter. He indicated that the expectation was for the SSNIT Board Chair to speak on behalf of the board and address the concerns of some members of the board who had come out to state their disagreement with the transaction. It is her personal opinion and personal observation and analysis on this matter. That is the first challenge I have on this piece. One would have thought that as the board chair breaking her silence on this matter she would be speaking officially and authoritatively on behalf of the organisation, carrying the views of all board members. She hasnt done that in this case. Remember that on the 20th of May this year, organised Labour held a press conference at which press conference they announced to the whole world that their reps on the board, four reps on the board, the board Elizabeth Ohene chairs opposed this transaction and that they told SSNIT to stop the transaction. I thought that the honourable Elizabeth Ohene would address that. She doesnt address this. So to the extent that you have other board members speaking on the platform of organised labour telling us that they dont support this transactionWe cannot therefore take the honourable Elizabeth Ohenes op-ed on this matter as representing the views of the entire board, he stated. He further underscored that Ms Ohene deliberately avoided the fundamental issues in her writeup. The honourable Elizabeth Ohene deliberately avoids all the fundamental issues, all the substantive matters. This issue has gathered the public opprobrium, he stated. Source: citinewsroom Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NDC Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has thrown a jab at the former Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Freddie Blay, over the ongoing impasse surrounding the alleged sale of some hotels belonging to Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The North Tongu lawmaker has petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the alleged sale of some hotels belonging to SSNIT to Rock City Hotel, a hotel belonging to the NPP Member of Parliament for Abetifi and the minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong. Mr. Blay, in an interview on TV3 on June 24, 2024, affirmed that his son, who is into the Tourism and Hospitality sector, submitted a bid of not less than 200 million for about seven SSNIT hotels but lost to the highest bidder. In spite of his inability to discuss the denomination in which the bidding was conducted, all indications revealed that the bidding was done in the United States Dollars (USD). In his official Facebook Page, Mr. Ablakwa wrote, We were told Bryan Acheampong offered the highest bid of US$ 61 million; now former NPP Chairman, Freddie Blay also says his 34-year-old son offered 150 to 200 million for the SSNIT hotel. However, in a related post on Facebook on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Mr. Ablakwa posted, Mr. Freddie Blay must understand that even though I dont know how US$200million looks like, I certainly know how the truth looks like." Read his full facebook post below: Mr. Freddie Blay must understand that even though I dont know how US$200million looks like, I certainly know how the truth looks like. See attached a full publication of the November 2020 Joint Venture Agreement between Freddie Blays son, Kwaw Blay; his estranged business partner Loic Devos Jnr; and Labadi Beach Hotel. This JV covers the same beachfront the Blays are now publicly claiming ownership over. If the beachfront did not belong to Labadi Beach Hotel as Mr. Freddie Blay now claims, why did they first approach Labadi Beach Hotel and why did they enter into a joint venture agreement which concedes the obvious that Labadi Beach Hotel owns its beachfront. Insiders at the helpless Labadi Beach Hotel now regret signing this JV as they couldnt have predicted at the time that it was all a trap meant to give Kwaw Blay initial access. Remember the JV was violently breached causing Labadi Beach Hotel to lose substantial revenue even ahead of Labadi losing its beachfront. I am also attaching a statement by the management of Labadi Beach Hotel issued on November 13, 2023 following a Bright Simmons social media post about political heavyweights encroaching on the hotels beachfront. From the statement, Labadi Beach Hotels MD promised to reclaim its beachfront unfortunately, the forces they came up against were just too powerful. Please analyze the documents and make your own conclusions. I wont be intimidated with threats of legal action truth stands, and only truth guarantees freedom. State Capture shall surely be defeated. For God and Country. Ghana First Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President and flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed his gratitude to the government of South Korea for forgiving Ghana's debt. He said the gesture "will significantly bolster our debt restructuring efforts during these challenging economic times." The former President expressed his appreciation for the South Korea's gesture when the Ambassador of the country to Ghana, Park Kyongsig, paid a courtesy call on him in his office. Mr Mahama, who shared snippets of his interaction with the South Korean Ambassado on his social media page highlighted some of the initiatives he intends to undertake when he is voted for as President in the upcoming December 7 general elections. "I also shared with Ambassador Park the National Democratic Congress plans to establish rice mills and Farmer Service Centres to boost our agricultural sector," he said. In addition, he said, "It was an honour to meet with Ambassador Park Kyongsig of South Korea to discuss the invaluable support and investments South Korea has committed to Ghana." Mr Mahama said their interaction also focused on a "$2 billion framework arrangement, a substantial investment that will significantly impact crucial sectors such as healthcare, education, environment, and agriculture. This arrangement, coupled with the introduction of new rice varieties, holds immense potential for enhancing food sufficiency in Ghana. South Korea's commitment to bolstering our agricultural sector is truly commendable and will undoubtedly make a substantial difference." The NDC flagbearer also raised concerns about the independence of the Electoral Commission as the country prepares for the upcoming December polls, saying "I urged South Korea and the international community to swiftly advocate for free and fair elections in Ghana, an issue of utmost importance." Source: graphiconline.com/fakebook Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Kenyan protester smoked teargas from a canister thrown at him by the Anti-Riot police officers during the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests in Kenya. Youths of Kenya have displayed courage as they take to the streets to protest the bill. At least 22 citizens have died in the protests after being shot by Anti-Riot police. Yet, Kenyan youths remain undeterred and have continued to protest. In one incident, tear gas was thrown in the direction of protesters and one protester who caught the canister smoked it like a vape. He even shared it with another protester. The young man can be heard saying he wants one with strawberry flavour. This makes him the first human known to smoke tear gas. After days of protests, Kenya's President William Ruto made a dramatic U-turn. Ruto announced that the government's controversial tax bill will be withdrawn. In spite if the President's declaration, Kenyan demonstrators plan to resume protests on Thursday, June 27. Prominent protesters dismissed his comments, with one, Hanifa Adan, labelling it a PR move after the violence at rallies earlier in the week. Adan said earlier that protesters would march peacefully again as we wear white, for all our fallen people, with some supporters planning to bring flowers in memory of the dead. You cannot kill all of us, she said on X. Another protester, Nelly, said she intended to join the march on Thursday, criticising Rutos approach as a case of too little, too late. He could have done this earlier without people having to die, she said. So let it be known that we are marching tomorrow for a better future Kenya. Watch the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voice of Africa (@__african__motivation) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah has welcomed the news about Energy Minister possibly selected as NPP Running Mate. Vice President and presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is said to have had a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to present the name of his Running Mate. A source within the Presidency revealed Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Energy Minister, was discussed as the potential candidate for the Running Mate position. I know Dr Matthew Opoku Prempehs name was discussed and the President is okay with that, the source said. Although Dr. Opoku Prempeh, also called NAPO who doubles as Manhyia South lawmaker, may be the choice for Running Mate, the Vice President is yet to present the Ministers name to the partys National Council and should the Council accept the candidate, Dr. Bawumia will finally and officially unveil his Running Mate. Commenting on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, the Governance lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah was of the view that Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is a good choice for the Running Mate position. Although his favorite is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu, Dr. Otchere-Ankrah however believes the Minister, popularly called "NAPO", has equally got the leadership qualities to partner the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. "There must be something in him that has informed the Vice President to choose him to contest the presidential seat. So, we wish them well," he said. Watch video below Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A retired Harrisburg detective in 2015 did not act on DNA evidence that could have proven a Harrisburg teen tried to rape a girl in 2013. Detrail Foster, 26, gave his DNA as part of his sentence for an unrelated robbery in 2015. That DNA automatically matched to DNA left at the scene of the 2013 assault, and that match should have been sent to the Harrisburg detective who oversaw the investigation into the 2013 case. But the detective, who has since retired and whom officials declined to name, did not act on the information. And after Foster left prison, he broke into a Harrisburg home and raped a woman when she was home alone with her son in 2018. These facts came to light after Foster pleaded guilty last week to the attempted rape in the 2013 case, two counts of rape in the 2015 case and burglary charges and more in both. He is expected to be sentenced Sept. 17. On August 22, 2013, Foster entered the unlocked second-story door of a home on Jefferson Street and tried to rape a 13-year-old girl. She bit the hand he used to cover her mouth, and he fled, leaving behind a Steelers jersey. DNA from that jersey was stored in a federal database as the case ran cold. On Sept. 21, 2015, Foster was sentenced to 3.5 to 8 years in prison on an unrelated robbery charge. Foster was ordered to give DNA to be placed in CODIS, a federal database of DNA profiles for local, state and national agencies. CODIS allows different jurisdictions to exchange and compare DNA profiles so police can match DNA taken from crime scenes to those convicted of other crimes, or use DNA to link different crimes to one another. Local jurisdictions and prisons send DNA samples to state polices Greensburg DNA laboratory, where state police create a DNA profile, then place that profile into CODIS, which runs automatic searches nightly to compare existing profiles to newly uploaded profiles, according to Myles Snyder, Pennsylvania State Police Communications Director. If there is a match to DNA collected in a cold case, state police automatically notify the detective involved in that case. Fosters DNA profile from his 2015 incarceration matched the DNA profile collected from the Steelers jersey in 2013, and notification was sent to the Harrisburg detective responsible for that cold case. But for unknown reasons, the now-retired detective responsible for the 2013 case never filed charges, according to Jennifer Gettle, a prosecutor with the District Attorneys Office. We dont know why that detective didnt do anything. He has no recollection and hes retired, Gettle said. After serving his sentence on the robbery charge, Foster left prison and later broke into a home on Waldo Street in Harrisburg on Oct. 3, 2018. He raped a woman there, threatening to harm her if she screamed, according to court documents. When Harrisburg detectives ran the 2018 DNA profile against CODIS, it not only came up with a match to the 2015 profile for Foster it produced a match to the 2013 case as well, dragging that cold case into the light. Gettle said that since the incident, Harrisburg police have put into place policies requiring CODIS matches to not only go to the detective in charge of cold cases, but also to all the supervisors in the detective unit. Additionally, Harrisburg police have begun reviewing cold cases more frequently to try to catch problems like this ahead of time. Kyle Gautsch is the head of criminal investigations for Harrisburg police, although he was not in 2015, when he worked on a separate unit from the unit that handled the case. He said the detective in question retired before 2018, before the police investigation. Harrisburg police has a responsibility to take corrective actions to minimize failures such as this from ever happening again. I wish there were steps in place back then like they are now So that other people (detectives, supervisors) are being made aware of matches so appropriate follow steps are being taken in an appropriate time frame, Gautsch said. Ultimately, the worst part is that someone else was potentially victimized as a result of our failure to perform our duties and responsibilities, Gautsch said. Ultimately, thats who we work for. The victims. Gettle added, While it is terribly unfortunate the police did not follow up on the CODIS hit as soon as it was received, the reality is theres one person and one person alone who could have prevented the 2018 rape the defendant, Detrail Foster. Police also originally accused Foster of indecently assaulting the womans 6-year-old son during the 2018 incident. But Gettle withdrew the charge in the months leading into trial because in order to prove that charge, the now-10-year-old who has autism and is traumatized by the incident, said Gettle, would have needed to testify at trial. There were enough charges to cover the situation without putting that little boy through more trauma, Gettle said. Foster entered an open plea, leaving it to the judge to determine his sentence. Were glad there can be some closure for the victims in this case and we look forward to sentencing, Gettle said. Gettle said she will ask the sentencing judge to sentence Foster to a minimum of 25 years in prison. A Philadelphia woman has been arrested after authorities say she caused the death of her 10-month-old son by exposing him to a dangerous animal tranquilizer that has been used to Vanessa Hampton, 32, was arrested last week in Philadelphia. She is being charged with charged with second-degree manslaughter and possession of a controlled dangerous substance and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey, according to 6ABC and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Police in Medford Township originally responded to a call about an unresponsive infant at a home in Medford Township back in November 2022. The child was taken to a hospital, but died a week later. An autopsy done by the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office found that the boy had died of drug intoxication after being exposed to xylazine. Xylazine is used by veterinarians as a sedative and muscle relaxant. It is not approved for human use in the U.S., but is sold illegally as tranq and has been found mixed into opiates like fentanyl. By Kevin Fixler, The Idaho Statesman (TNS) BOISE, Idaho The trial date for Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the University of Idaho student homicides, is set. But where the trial may be held is still undecided. Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District in Latah County at a hearing Thursday scheduled Kohbergers murder trial for June of next year and planned for a three-month long trial. That timeline would carry the trial through most of August 2025. As I look through all of this, theres going to be a lot of motions, a lot of hearings, a lot of work, Judge told the court Thursday. And I tried to balance this out, and I do think its a pretty fair balance and I hope realistic. After the hearing, Judge issued his written order for the trial to begin on June 2, 2025, and run through Aug. 29, 2025. The filing lists a slew of other motion and hearing deadlines leading up to the closely watched case. Judge said he expected it to take two weeks to seat a jury and eight weeks for the trial. Kohberger, 29, faces four first-degree murder charges in the stabbing deaths of the college students in November 2022. The victims were seniors Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20. The four University of Idaho students stabbed to death in November 2022 were Kaylee Goncalves, top left; Xana Kernodle, top right; Ethan Chapin, bottom left; and Madison Mogen, bottom right. (Moscow Police Department/TNS, file)TNS Sentencing, if Kohberger is convicted, could take up to two weeks, Judge said, including arguments for and against execution. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Kohberger. Prosecutors and Kohbergers public defense team offered no objection to Judges proposed timeline. The scheduled date met the prosecutions prior request for a trial over the summer to avoid conflicts with the local high school and the academic calendar for the University of Idaho in Moscow, where the four victims attended college. Anne Taylor, Kohbergers lead public defender, called the trial schedule reasonable, but noted she had yet to present evidence over her push to move the trial out of Latah County over concerns of local juror bias against her client. The prosecution opposes moving the trial elsewhere in the state, and a hearing over the issue is scheduled for Aug. 29. If that motion is granted, the court anticipates that the trial dates will not change, although the location of the trial would, Judge said in his written order. At the time of the homicides, Kohberger was a graduate student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington. He was arrested about seven weeks after the homicides in December 2022 while visiting his parents in eastern Pennsylvania during winter break from school. Kohberger has remained in the Latah County Jail beneath the courthouse now at 18 months and counting since arriving in Idaho in early January 2023 to answer to the charges. The costs of the case to taxpayers over that time have already surpassed $3.6 million, the Idaho Statesman has reported. Kohberger was arraigned in May 2023 and stood silent when asked for his plea to the charges, which also includes one felony burglary count. Judge entered a plea of not guilty on Kohbergers behalf and set a trial date of October 2023. Until Thursday, that initial date was indefinitely postponed after Kohberger later waived his right to a speedy trial within six months of his arraignment. By Taylor Croft and Shannon McCaffrey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS) President Joe Bidens performance at the CNN Presidential Debate against former President Donald Trump has some questioning whether he should remain the Democratic nominee for president. After witnessing Bidens verbal missteps Thursday night during the debate, several people took to social media to urge the Democratic Party to replace him as the nominee mere months before the general election in November. Former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang posted to X, the site formerly known as Twitter, urging Democrats to nominate someone else before its too late. Others joined in, calling on the Democratic Party to replace Biden, including conservative media pundit Ann Coulter and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz posted to X that he believes the odds are now 80% that the Dems dump Biden. But replacing Biden is not that simple. Because he won the May Presidential Preference Primary election, delegates to the Democratic National Convention are pledged to support him for the nomination. Plus, the party rules discourage challenging incumbent Democrats within the party. The Democratic National Convention will be held in August. Thats when the party will officially select its nominee for president. The issue was a major topic of discussion for CNN panelists after the debate ended Thursday night. Political analyst Van Jones, a special adviser to former President Barack Obama, called Bidens debate performance painful and suggested he should step aside. I love Joe Biden. I worked for Joe Biden. He didnt do well at all, Jones said on CNN. Hes doing the best that he can, but he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base and he failed to do that. There is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, said if Biden chose to withdraw, delegates who were pledged to Biden through the primary election process would then be free to throw their support behind another candidate at the convention. After the convention, the decision would go to members of the Democratic National Committee. If Biden did not agree to step aside, delegates could still change their alliances at the convention but things could get messy, Bullock said. Unless Biden steps aside, the path forward with another candidate is significantly less clear. Democrats in Georgia remained steadfast in supporting Biden after the debate while avoiding questions about whether Biden should let someone else run. The people Im talking to in the state of Georgia, theyre not focused on style. Theyre thinking about their families. Theyre thinking about whether or not they can afford childcare so they can get to work, said Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Joe Biden has earned the respect of the American public, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. You know, tonight is one night. Biden has shown over the last three and a half years that hes right there with the American people. By MEG KINNARD, The Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) The first general election debate of the 2024 election season is here, and its a historic moment no matter what happens on stage. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are taking part in Thursday nights debate in Atlanta. Not only is it the first-ever matchup between a sitting president and a former one, but its also the first debate for either candidate in this years election. And its happening so early in the general election campaign cycle that neither man will have accepted their partys formal nomination yet. Heres how to watch: What time is the debate? The debate will start at 9 p.m. Thursday. Its being moderated by CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Dana Bash on CNN in 2020. What channel is the debate on? CNN is carrying the debate live on its broadcast network, as well as on CNN International, CNN en Espanol and CNN Max. Viewers can also stream it without a log in on CNNs website. Several networks have also agreed to carry the event live. Heres how to stream the program if you dont have cable. Where is the debate? The setting for the first general election debate is CNNs studios in Atlanta. Unlike the Republican primary debates, no audience will be present. Once a Republican stronghold, Georgia was a pivotal battleground in 2020. Both parties are preparing for another closely contested race in the state this year. Trump also faces an indictment in Georgia for his push to find 11,780 votes and overturn Bidens victory based on false or unproven theories of voter fraud. Supporters of Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. protest that he won't be allowed in the CNN debate June 28. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)AP Which candidates will be on stage? Two candidates Biden and Trump will be on stage. For a time, it seemed like they wouldnt be meeting up at all. Bidens campaign had proposed excluding third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from the debates outright. Under the debate commissions rules, Kennedy or other third-party candidates could qualify if they secured ballot access sufficient to claim 270 electoral votes and polled at 15% or higher in a selection of national surveys. Both CNN and ABC announced the same qualification threshold, saying candidates will need to reach at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet their standards, between March 13 and a week ahead of Thursdays match-up. Last week, CNN announced that Kennedy hadnt met those markers. Trump didnt take part in any of the GOP primary debates, so this is his first time on stage this cycle. Biden didnt debate any of the Democrats challenging him, either. This combination of photos show Donald Trump, left, and Joe Biden during their presidential debate on Sept. 29, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)AP Last month, Biden announced that he would not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Instead, his campaign proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees. Hours later, Biden said he had accepted an invitation from CNN, adding, Over to you, Donald. Trump, who had insisted he would debate Biden anytime and anyplace, said on Truth Social hed be there, too, adding, Lets get ready to Rumble!!! Soon after that, they agreed to a second debate. Whats up next? ABC will host the second debate on Sept. 10. The network has not offered details on where its event would be held, only that it would be moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. Dont forget about the running mates. Trump hasnt named his yet, but Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CBS News to debate her eventual rival in studio on either July 23 or Aug. 13. A beloved rock and roll group, which features several members from central Pennsylvania, will be hitting the road once again in 2025. Rikki Rockett, the drummer of metal band Poison, posted to social media on Monday that the group will be on tour next year. POISON will be touring in 2025, the post read, according to Blabbermouth. As usual, there will be no backing tracks. Live, raw and uncut. Warts and all. Rockett, along with Poison singer Bret Michaels and bassist Bobby Dall, all grew up in the Mechanicsburg area. The groups guitarist C.C. DeVille hails from New York City. Poison joined with fellow rockers Motley Crue, Deff Leppard and Joan Jett for The Stadium Tour in 2022. You can read the concert recap for their performance in Hershey here: READ MORE: Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison and Joan Jett at Hersheypark Stadium: How hard did they rock? Blabbermouth reported that Michaels gave an interview in February where he also suggested that Poison would be on tour again in 2025, though not as definitively as Rocketts statement. When we go back, I think in 2025, its always been, to me, all-original Poison, Michaels said in the interview. Well have C.C and Bobby and Rikki and myself and go do another big stadium tour and arena tour in 2025. Michaels has been on his Parti-Gras tour as a solo act, including a stop at Grantvilles Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in 2023, and another planned appearance this September. Michaels also made an appearance in the area earlier this summer, including stopping by a York County clothing store where posed for photos with the staff. NEW YORK The original illustration for the cover of the original book in J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter series sold this week for a record-breaking $1.9 million. The watercolor artwork was used on the cover of Rowlings 1997 novel Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. It was expected to fetch up to $600,000 at Sothebys in New York, but bidding surged to more than three times that amount, CNN reported. It took nearly 10 minutes for the four-way bidding to conclude in New York on Wednesday, Sothebys told CNN. The cover was the work of Thomas Taylor, 23, who was fresh out of art school in 1997 and had taken a train into London. Taylor dropped off some sketches of dragons at the offices of Bloomsbury, the publishing house, according to Sothebys. A week later, he got a call from the publisher, who had seen his sketches and asked if Taylor would like to do the cover for a book from an as-yet unknown author. Taylor created the cover design in just two days, Sothebys said. Taylors image shows Harry Potter with his unmistakable dark, brown hair, round glasses and lightning bolt scar getting ready to board the Hogwarts Express train for his first trip to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The image was used on the cover of Rowlings books sold in the United Kingdom, and on several translated versions of the book, the auction house said. It was not used for the U.S. edition of the book, which was sold under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. At the time of the books publication, Taylor worked in a bookshop. His colleagues in the store would inform customers that their local bookseller was the illustrator of the high-selling novel, Sothebys said. The illustration first went up for auction at Sothebys in London in 2001, selling for about $106,000 in U.S. dollars, according to Sothebys. The record for an item related to the book series was previously held by an unsigned first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, which sold for $421,000 at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, in 2021, Sothebys said. More: Proof copy of Harry Potter book, bought for pennies in 1997, sells for more than $13K Harry Potter books to be recorded as full cast audio productions June is globally recognized as Pride month, a period dedicated to celebration, remembrance and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. It can be a lively celebration of diversity and self-affirmation, encouraging people to promote equality, acceptance and respect for all. Friday is the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. It was sparked by a police raid on a gay bar, the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Patrons fought back against the raid on June 28, 1969, sowing the LGBTQ+ rights movement. As Pride month comes to an end, we asked five Harrisburg-area community members what Pride means to them: Shannon Cunningham, a volunteer at GLO Harrisburg. June 24, 2024 Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJoe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Shannon Cunningham Pride is a celebration. It is a chance for us to be authentically ourselves. In a space where we can all celebrate each other. Every celebration that is a Pride theme, it is like family. We might not share DNA, but we are all family. Alexis Zeno-Torres, a staff member at GLO Harrisburg. (Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Alexis Zeno-Torres Pride means love and acceptance. It means loving yourself and loving others. It doesnt matter the way they look, act, dress or who they have sex with. It is important to celebrate Pride to show the world that we are a community that is united. Cole Spitz, owner of Color With Cole in Lower Paxton Township. (Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com)Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Cole Spitz Pride means that everyone is able to be free and express themselves. It is important to celebrate because we are able to bring awareness to people who are not in the community and show them what pride stands for and that we can all love each other. Ashleigh Strange, executive director of the Governors Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Affairs. (Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Ashleigh Strange Pride is a celebration of all the things that the LGBTQ community has survived, a celebration of all the things we have accomplished. It is a chance for us to get together as a community. A community of people that love each other, that understand each other. Corinne Goodwin, Executive Director of Eastern PA Trans Equity Project (Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com)Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Corrine Goodwin Pride is not just about festivals, its not just about parties, its about stories. Its about us telling our stories and really being able to build that larger sense of community around each other. Its about giving that safety to people so that they know they have a group of individuals around them in their community who they can go to in their time of need, who will provide them with a way to be heard and help raise their voice for equity and equality. By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court decided on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the U.S. are without a permanent place to live. In a 6-3 decision, the high court reversed a ruling by a San Francisco-based appeals court that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. A bipartisan group of leaders had argued the ruling made it harder for them to manage outdoor encampments encroaching on sidewalks and other public spaces in nine Western states. That includes California, which is home to one-third of the countrys homeless population. Homeless advocates, on the other hand, said that allowing cities to punish people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness and ultimately make the crisis worse. Cities had been allowed to regulate encampments but couldnt bar people from sleeping outdoors. Advocates for the homeless marched and rallied outside the US Supreme Court as it heard arguments in the Grants Pass homelessness case. (Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian file)Maxine Bernstein | Staff The case came from the rural Oregon town of Grants Pass, which appealed a ruling striking down local ordinances that fined people $295 for sleeping outside after tents began crowding public parks. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over the nine Western states, has held since 2018 that such bans violate the Eighth Amendment in areas where there arent enough shelter beds. The ruling comes after homelessness in the United States grew a dramatic 12% last year to its highest reported level, as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more people. More than 650,000 people are estimated to be homeless, the most since the country began using a yearly point-in-time survey in 2007. Nearly half of them sleep outside. Older adults, LGBTQ+ people and people of color are disproportionately affected, advocates said. In Oregon, a lack of mental health and addiction resources has also helped fuel the crisis. More: As one community for homeless veterans in Harrisburg opens, another takes shape Health issues stole promise of man who died homeless in Harrisburg: Life can be cruel Supreme Court halts enforcement of EPAs power-plant pollution plan By Shalina Chatlani, Stateline.org (TNS) NEW YORK As temperatures soared into the 90s, the heat and humidity hit the concrete in Astoria, Queens, and bounced into the air. People moved along the scorched sidewalk slowly, their clothes drenched with sweat. Elianne Alvarado, 44, who was raised in New York City and has lived here for most of her life, ascended the steps to the elevated Astoria Boulevard subway station, fanning herself with a sheet of paper. She was looking forward to escaping the heat in an air-conditioned train. I dont ever remember it being this hot, Alvarado told Stateline. I remember other summers being nice, not that hot. But this week has been crazy. The heat wave that pummeled New York state and much of the East Coast and Midwest last week and into the weekend broke daily records in several cities. On June 19, Boston (98 degrees); Hartford, Connecticut (97); and Providence, Rhode Island (91), all set new highs for that date. In New York City, temperatures reached the low 90s not a record, but plenty hot enough to cause misery, especially with humidity and the radiant heat from concrete and asphalt. The Northeast is not the hottest part of the country, but several states in the region are among those where average temperatures have increased the most over the past two decades. In recent years, climate change has forced states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York to take extreme heat more seriously. In preparing for a hotter future, some of them are copying the policies of states that are used to sizzling temperatures, such as Arizona, Florida and Louisiana. Public health officials in Connecticut and New York, for example, are partnering with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that their most vulnerable residents older and lower-income people are better prepared for extreme heat and other aspects of climate change. And in April, New Jersey published a draft Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, recognizing that, while the state remains committed to reducing emissions, New Jersey is past the point of avoiding all climate change impacts and needs to enact measures to adapt. New Jersey is a northern state, and it is not necessarily the folks that are hardest hit by this phenomenon of extreme heat compared to, for example, the desert Southwest, said Nathaly Agosto Filion, deputy chief climate resilience officer for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. But for that reason, much of our built environment is maybe not as well designed to withstand the impacts, and much of our population sort of undervalues the extent to which it is a problem for our communities. New Jerseys draft plan includes 133 action items, but the first priority is helping New Jerseyans cope with the heat. The state aims to do that by beefing up emergency preparedness and response; providing public cooling centers; planting more trees; and adopting workplace safety rules, among many other steps. It also plans a public information campaign to make people especially vulnerable populations such as older and homeless people aware of the risks of extreme heat. Were also talking about outdoor workers, were also talking about athletes, were also talking about folks that are pregnant or breastfeeding these are all subpopulations that are really important to engage, Agosto Filion said. Hot box apartments Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States and those deaths are increasing as average temperatures rise, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 2,302 people died from heat-related causes last year, up from 1,722 in 2022 and 1,602 in 2021. Meg Johansson, 38, has lived in New York for 15 years and cant remember it being so hot so early in the summer. (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline/TNS)TNS Those totals are likely an underestimate, because heat waves make death more likely from other causes as well. A New York City analysis in 2022, for example, found an annual average of 360 heat-exacerbated deaths in the city compared with 10 caused directly by heat. Last week on 31st Street in Astoria, Hassan Johnson was standing outside a bank with a water bottle and a towel, which he used to wipe the multiplying beads of sweat on his forehead. The 48-year-old truck driver blasts his three air conditioners when hes at home, but the one in his truck is broken and its hot as hell as he makes deliveries. Driving in such conditions can be dangerous: In July 2022, paramedics had to cover a New York UPS driver in ice packs and take him to the hospital after he nearly collapsed at the end of his Long Island route. Not far away, Meg Johansson was braving treeless Broadway to get an iced coffee. Its a bad one, said Johansson, 38, who has lived in the city for 15 years. There have been a few summers where I remember really hot days, but I dont remember one this early that was so prolonged. So its just been like torture trying to leave the house. Back at the Astoria Boulevard subway station, Alvarado said she was coping by staying hydrated, walking in the shade and taking cold showers. Shes fortunate to have air conditioning in her home, but she said shes nervous about what the future will bring. You feel like youre burning, she said. Its like we are in a walking sauna. Ladd Keith, an associate professor of planning at the University of Arizona who focuses on climate change, said cities and states should have different plans to cope with extreme heat, because housing and development differ so dramatically among communities. One challenge, Keith explained, is that many homes were designed for climates that have changed dramatically. Many hot box apartments in New York dont have air conditioning because decades ago it was rarely needed. In the Pacific Northwest, many homes have large windows to let in light, but they let in too much heat during the now-warmer summers. Homes designed to rely on air conditioning, like those in Arizona, quickly become miserable if the power goes out. Keith said that for the most part, the rising temperatures havent been enough to convince most Americans that heat is a serious threat yet. Even though the awareness is growing, we really havent had this watershed moment, or what I call a heatshed moment, where weve said, We really need to take this seriously as a climate risk, Keith told Stateline. Southern experience But public officials in some states are focused on the threat. The New York State Department of Health is one of 13 recipients, mostly state and local agencies across the country, of a CDC climate resilience grant. Neil Muscatiello, who heads the departments Bureau of Environmental ealth, said the goal is to identify how we think climate change is going to be impacting New Yorkers, particularly vulnerable populations, and then work on adaptations or interventions to help reduce those risks. The agency, noting that people can fall ill at lower temperatures, recently changed New Yorks heat alert threshold from 100 degrees to 95 degrees. Last week, it was tracking emergency room visits and coordinating with other state and local agencies on getting vulnerable people to cooling centers. Hassan Johnson, 48, stands outside a bank in Queens with a water bottle and a towel. Johnson said his truck is hot as hell since the air conditioner stopped working. (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline/TNS)TNS Muscatiello said the department is also learning from other jurisdictions that have dealt with heat for years. It is a really collaborative process, not only with CDC, but also with other state partners. Were always interested to hear what theyre doing. Southern cities and states have long integrated heat resilience into their public health programs and have lessons to share. In 2021, Miami-Dade County, Florida, became the first jurisdiction in the world with a chief heat officer. Since then, Phoenix and other cities have followed suit. One policy change Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dades heat officer, made was to lower the thresholds for heat advisories and warnings. The county now issues advisories when the heat index what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature reaches 105 degrees, down from the previous 108 degrees. The new standard for a heat warning is a heat index of 110 degrees, down from 113 degrees. She made the changes because heat-related illness can happen at the lower temperatures. Gilbert also created an outreach strategy to help homeless people cope with extreme heat, including placing cooling centers in areas where there are many people living on the streets. We are doing a lot of great services to people who are unsheltered. That doesnt mean we dont miss people. We are doing a lot of messaging to employers with employees doing work, but that doesnt mean we wont miss people, Gilbert said. We know there are gaps. There is definitely more work to be done. Thats what we are focused on. Like Florida, Louisiana has long experience with extreme heat. But the states public health response still has to evolve with the warming planet, said Michelle Lackovic, who is the project lead for Louisianas Occupational Heat-Related Illness Prevention Program at the Louisiana Department of Health. Last year, she said, the state had more heat-related emergency department visits and fatalities than ever before. Last summer the Louisiana Department of Health created a public, online dashboard for heat-related illness and daily counts of emergency room visits that it updates weekly during the hot months. The data is also broken down by sex, age, race and geography, so that the public can be aware of who may be most susceptible to the rising temperatures. The state experienced over three weeks of temperatures above 95 degrees last year, Sundee Winder, an executive director at the health department, told Stateline. Drought, wildfires, saltwater intrusion, all of those things were a result of that extensive heat last year that was unprecedented for our state, Winder told Stateline. So, we continue to improve our dashboard, make it more user-friendly, and share the times of day that we see [people should] avoid. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy. 2024 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In addition to packing sunblock, a beach towel, sandals and shades for your summer, it might also be a good idea to keep a spare mask within reach. COVID-19 infections are on the rise nationally once again, right in time for the summer season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases are increasing in 39 states and arent on the decline anywhere in the U.S., evidence that an anticipated summer wave is headed our way. Even though the CDC no longer tracks COVID cases, it estimates transmission focused on ER visits. As a result, both COVID deaths and emergency department visits have increased in the last week, as well as hospitalizations, which have risen 25% from May 26 to June 1, per the latest data available. One area thats seeing a notable rise in infections is California, where COVID has gotten more prevalent since May, judging by the state data suggesting high levels of coronavirus in wastewater. Documented positive COVID tests has also increased in the state from around 3% to 7.5% in the last month. It looks like the summer wave is starting to begin, Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said to NBC News. A spike in COVID infections during the summer isnt totally out of the norm. Infections have historically spiked during that season due to an increase in travel and everyone hanging out outdoors. It appears the same thing will happen this year, but the good news is experts believe this seasons summer wave to be milder. Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said that multiple variants are to blame for the rise in cases. Were seeing the start of an uptick of infections that is coincident with new variants that are developing: KP.2 and KP.3 and LB.1. It does appear that those variants do have an advantage over the prior ones, he said to NBC News. As it turns out, the three variants are descendants of JN.1, which experts have dubbed as cousins. JN.1 is the version of the coronavirus that took over this past winter. While KP.2 took over as the dominant variant in the U.S. last month, KP.3 then took over as the dominant variant in early June. Together, with a third variant that shares the same key mutations, KP.1.1, the group collectively accounts for around 63% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. Meanwhile, LB.1 accounts for another 17.5% of Covid infections. Due to its rapid growth, LB.1 is on track to be the dominant one soon. Its sort of the newest kid on the block, Barouch said to NBC News. Theres not much known about it. In fact, a preprint paper released this month, which hasnt been peer-reviewed, suggests that LB.1 is more infectious than KP.2, KP.3 and KP. 1.1 collectively known as the FLiRT variants and could be better at dodging protection from vaccines. Assuming that preliminary data is true, that its more immune-evasive and that its more infectious than KP.2 and KP.3, thats a winning formula to infect more people, Russo said to NBC News. But aside from variants, other factors could contribute to the spread this summer, and experts believe cases will likely continue to rise as people shelter indoors to escape the heat, not to mention gatherings celebrating the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. For older people or the immunocompromised (the most vulnerable to infections) planning to attend large parties or gatherings, Russo recommends getting the latest COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, per experts, most young, healthy people can wait for the updated COVID vaccines THAT ARE expected to arrive this fall. By JIM VERTUNO, The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The former Uvalde schools police chief was indicted over his role in the slow police response to the 2022 massacre at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead, the local sheriff said Thursday. Pete Arredondo was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of felony child endangerment/abandonment and briefly booked into the county jail before he was released on bond, Uvalde Sheriff Ruben Nolasco told The Associated Press in a text message Thursday night. The Uvalde Leader-News and the San Antonio Express-News reported that former school officer Adrian Gonzales also was indicted on multiple similar charges. The Uvalde Leader-News reported that District Attorney Christina Mitchell confirmed the indictment. Mitchell did not return phone and email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Several family members of victims of the shooting did not respond to phone messages seeking comment. The indictments make Arredondo, who was the on-site commander during the attack, and Gonzales the first officers to face criminal charges in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. A scathing report by Texas lawmakers that examined the police response described Gonzales as one of the first officers to enter the building after the shooting began. The indictments were kept under seal until the men were in custody. It was unclear when Arredondos indictment would be publicly released. Over two years ago, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a fourth-grade classroom, where he remained for more than 70 minutes before officers confronted and killed him. In total, 376 law enforcement officers massed at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, some waiting in the hallway outside the classroom, even as the gunman could be heard firing an AR-15-style rifle inside. Today is another day in an impossibly painful journey, state Rep. Joe Moody, who helped the state lawmakers investigation, posted on the social platform X. The hurt for them will never subside. Today, I pray that there is justice and some sense of closure for them in this process rather than prolonged suffering. The office of a former attorney for Arredondo said they did not know whether the former chief has new representation. The AP could not immediately find a phone number to reach Gonzales. Uvalde schools police Chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo listens during a news conference at Uvalde County Fairplex after 19 students and two teachers were killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News/TNS, file)TNS Arredondo lost his job three months after the shooting. Several officers involved were eventually fired, and separate investigations by the Department of Justice and state lawmakers faulted law enforcement with botching their response to the massacre. Whether any officers would face criminal charges over their actions in Uvalde has been a question hanging over the city of 15,000 since the Texas Rangers completed their investigation and turned their findings over to prosecutors. Mitchells office has also come under scrutiny. Uvalde city officials filed a lawsuit in 2022 that accused prosecutors of not being transparent and withholding records related to the shooting. Media outlets, including the AP, also sued Uvalde officials for withholding records requested under public information laws. But body camera footage, investigations by journalists and damning government reports have laid bare how over the course of over an hour, a mass of officers went in and out of the school with weapons drawn but did not go inside the classroom where the shooting was taking place. The hundreds of officers at the scene included state police, Uvalde police, school officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents. In their July 2022 report, Texas lawmakers faulted law enforcement at every level with failing to prioritize saving innocent lives over their own safety. The Justice Department released its own report in January that detailed cascading failures by police in waiting far too long to confront the gunman, acting with no urgency in establishing a command post and communicating inaccurate information to grieving families. Investigators search for evidence outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, May 25, 2022, after an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)AP Uvalde remains divided between residents who say they want to move past the tragedy and others who still want answers and accountability. During the first mayoral race since the shooting, locals voted in a man who had served as mayor more than a decade ago over a mother who led calls for tougher gun laws after her daughter was killed in the attack. Robb Elementary School is permanently closed. The city broke ground on a new school in October 2023. CARLISLE A Cumberland County judge has agreed to ask Pennsylvania Supreme Court to form a jury pool from elsewhere in the state for the scheduled trial in October of a man charged in a high-profile May 2021 homicide in a downtown Carlisle barber shop. Judge Edward Guido agreed to seek the out-of-county jury after hearing both prosecutors and defense attorneys representing Michael Baltimore agree that past and projected publicity surrounding the charges will make it difficult to find an impartial jury within Cumberland. U.S. President Joe Biden and Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate on June 27, 2024. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images With four months to go until Election Day, the earliest-ever general election debate featured two presidents one current, one former and a lot of bitter personal attacks. Joe Bidens universally acknowledged poor performance surprised and even panicked Democrats; Donald Trump gave a more forceful if not truthful performance. The Conversation asked two scholars, Mary Kate Cary and Karrin Vasby Anderson, to watch the debate and analyze a passage or a moment that stood out to them. Anderson is a communications scholar with a specialty in gender and the presidency, as well as political pop culture. Cary teaches political speechwriting and worked as a White House speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush, for whom she wrote more than 100 addresses. Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University Department of Communication Studies One of the first definitions of good public speaking I learned as a college debater and student of rhetoric came from the ancient Roman scholar and rhetoric teacher Quintilian. In his 12-volume Institutio Oratoria, Quintilian said the ideal orator was a good person, speaking well. He was particularly concerned about the danger that a skilled rhetorician who lacked character could pose to society. A presidential debate ought to showcase ideal orators skilled speakers who are also people of character. The June 27 debate offered voters an either-or scenario. Former President Donald Trump was aggressive, confident and disciplined, but he peppered his remarks with a steady stream of lies, half-truths and misinformation. President Joe Biden focused on Trumps documented record both criminal and political but failed as an orator, demonstrating none of the charisma and command on display during his most recent State of the Union address just four months ago. The contrast was clear early in the debate when CNNs Dana Bash asked Trump whether he would block access to abortion medication. Trump said that he would not. He then falsely claimed that, in the lead-up to the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and removed the federal protection for abortion rights, everybody wanted to get it back to the states, everybody, without exception. Trump then went on offense, accusing Democrats of taking the life of a child in the eighth month, ninth month, even after birth. Bidens response was initially clear and resolute: Its been a terrible thing, what youve done, he said. And he pushed back against the preposterous claim that everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, saying, the idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying were going to turn civil rights back to the states (and) let each state have a different rule. But the rest of Bidens response was muddled. After veering inexplicably into an anecdote about a woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant, Biden expressed his support for peoples right to choose by saying on three separate occasions that the decision should be up to a doctor, rather than the pregnant person. Trump closed out the segment by reiterating his blatant lie in stronger terms: So that means, he can take the life of the baby, in the ninth month and even after birth because some states, Democrat run, take it after birth. The Associated Presss fact check of this claim is succinct: Infanticide is criminalized in every state, and no state has passed a law that allows killing a baby after birth. After nearly a decade of exposure to Trumps habitual misinformation, lies about states murdering babies may not stand out as shocking in a presidential debate. And, certainly, its an argument that should have been easy for Biden to refute. But if the populace must choose between a good person and someone who spoke well, Quintilian would remind us that someone who speaks well but has no integrity is dangerous. The consequences for the republic could be dire. Mary Kate Cary, University of Virginia Department of Politics I think America just saw history being made. Within 10 minutes, a very hoarse President Joe Biden, was asked about deficit spending, lost his train of thought, and ended his answer by muttering something about beating Medicare. It was awful. There were so many moments when Biden looked confused and unable to process what was happening. I took notes on key exchanges, but the number of embarrassing episodes, unfinished sentences and incoherent phrases by Biden is too long to list. His answer on why he should be president in his 80s somehow veered into computer chips being made in South Korea. Former President Donald Trump made his own share of missteps, but overall, he was relatively sharp, and restrained when he was provoked. He scored some points on the issues and did much better than he did in their first debate four years ago. Trump did better than I think many people thought he would. Our assignment tonight was to find a moment to react to and put it in context. Ive been to multiple presidential debates and watched many more on television over the years, and have never seen anything like this. Is there any way the Democrats can convincingly argue for keeping Biden as their nominee? The bottom line: Moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash did a good job of asking substantive questions and keeping control of the debate; Trump missed an opportunity to knock it out of the park but got through it; and Biden will most likely have caused a disaster for the Democratic Party. Mary Kate Cary, Adjunct Professor of Politics and Director of Think Again, University of Virginia and Karrin Vasby Anderson, Professor of Communication Studies, Colorado State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Anyone who thinks its OK to march into a public school and mount the Ten Commandments on the wall doesnt know much about history. Of course, Louisiana, where that was recently ordered, ranks 47th among 50 states in education. Just saying. Much is good in the commandments. The parts about not killing people and not stealing are wise words to promote peaceful living. The whole world would be a better place if folks took those ideas to heart. Louisiana would benefit there too, since U.S. News ranks it 50th in crime and corrections. A couple of the commandments can be puzzling to children. As a kid, I didnt know what adultery was, and if I asked, no one was forthcoming. That left me wondering what I wasnt supposed to do. FILE - Workers repaint a Ten Commandments billboard off of Interstate 71 on Election Day near Chenoweth, Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)AP And that other one, the one that forbids a person from coveting the neighbors wife, messed with my mind too. I couldnt wrap my head around its meaning. Why would someone want the neighbors wife? Truth be told, I was in high school before I realized what that was all about. I had a schoolmate whose dad left home and moved into another home with a woman who wasnt his wife. What a scandal! Things like that just didnt happen back in the good, old days. (Or if they did, no one told the kids about it.) Anyway, back to the history part. It took me a lot of years and a lot of reading to realize just how much religion has blown up the world. Thats when I came to realize how problematic those first three commandments can be. All that stuff about strange gods and the lords name and his (or is it her?) day. The God I was raised on wasnt strange to me, but look what happened all over the world when zealots shoved that God down the throats of native peoples. Check out the Spanish Inquisition. Read about the Puritans and the Amish and the Mennonites. Remember Hitler. Geez, look whats happening in Israel and Palestine these days. I grew up being told that Martin Luther was a heretic who was, no doubt, burning in the fires of hell. A little reading when I was older made me realize he had darn good reasons to hang those theses on the church door in Germany. Every story has two sides. No one mentioned that when I was a kid. The people who founded this country were well aware that two sides exist. In fact, I think they realized three or four or five sides might come into play. The whole point of the experiment that became the United States was to prevent people from telling other people what to believe. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry addresses members of the House and Senate on opening day of a legislative special session, Feb. 19, 2024, in the House Chamber at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP, File)AP In this country, we are free to join whatever religion speaks to us. Want to be a Catholic? OK. Evangelical? No problem. Jewish? Muslim? Buddhist? Wiccan? Its OK. Be agnostic. Be atheist. Its a free country. Or, at least, its supposed to be. Whats not OK is somebody demanding that his religious tenets hang on the wall where my kid attends public school. Because then, you see, you are forcing your religion on my family. The founders never intended that to happen. The governor of Louisiana, who ordered schools to hang the commandments, said, I cant wait to be sued. Well, Gov. Landry, you got your wish. But while you wait for courts to respond, maybe turn your attention to child poverty. Your state ranks second in that. NANCY ESHELMAN: columnist1@verizon.net The Ten Commandments are the rules all God-fearing Christian are supposed to obey. And in a Christian school, no one should have any objection to their being displayed in the cafeteria, locker rooms, gym and on the walls of every classroom. Thats ok for a Christian school. But its not the right thing to mandate in public schools. The Liyunhe (Li Canal) Cultural Corridor in Huai'an, East China's Jiangsu province, brims with hustle and bustle on summer evenings. Residents and tourists come here, strolling along the bank, shopping at the night market to find local snacks and handicrafts, enjoying the iconic Huaiyang cuisine at restaurants overlooking the canal, or going on a boat ride on Liyunhe. With colorful lighting teasing reflections of trees and ancient-style architecture along the banks, the 30-minute ride allows tourists to fully take in the canal's nighttime beauty. A vital section of the Grand Canal, Liyunhe was known as Qingjiangpu during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Boat riders can have a close-up view of the Qingjiang Sluice, one of the 58 heritage sites dotted on the 3,200-kilometer Grand Canal, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Constructed in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the sluice, measuring 11.5 meters high and 7.3 meters wide, is the oldest and best-preserved boat lock on the Grand Canal. It was for preventing the backflow of the Yellow River and the silting up of the waterway. "When closed, it could create a roughly one-meter water level difference on both sides," Ji Yu, a veteran local tour guide specializing in Grand Canal tourism, told the China Daily website during a media tour on Sunday. "When the sluice was opened, it pushed boats to move northward. The opening and closing of the sluice gates were carefully managed to regulate water levels to ensure the Caoyun system's smooth operation." Caoyun, meaning water transport of tribute grain, was the centralized transportation system used by central governments of imperial China to collect grainan important form of tax levied on agricultural land in the lower Yangtze regionand transport it via the Grand Canal to locations such as capitals and border garrisons. A factor of stability for the Chinese Empire for more than 2,000 years, Caoyun "contributed to the fundamental link between the peasant economy, the imperial court, and the supply of food to the population and troops," according to UNESCO. "During the Caoyun season, the Qingjiang Sluice would witness more than 10,000 boats carrying tribute grain and 120,000 Caoyun soldiers passing through, stringing miles on the canal," Ji said. Lying on and named for the Huaihe River, the historical boundary between Northern and Southern Chinese culture, Huai'an is also where the Grand Canal connects with the Huaihe River, making it a natural transportation hub in ancient times. A strong testament to Huai'an as the Caoyun capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties is the Site of Caoyun Governor's Mansion, discovered in 2002 in the city's Huai'an district during an urban renewal project. Historical records indicate that China's imperial governments started setting up Caoyun administrations in Huai'an in the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and in the early Ming Dynasty, the central government designated Shanyang (today's Huai'an) as the seat of the empire's top Caoyun authority Caoyun Governor's Mansion. The mansion, at its peak, was a sprawling complex consisting of as many as 213 rooms, according to archeological studies. "The following archeological excavation of the site in 2011 revealed that the Caoyun Governor not only oversaw the Caoyun affairs of seven provinces but also had the power to deploy troops," said Zhang Chi, curator of the China Caoyun Museum, which opened in 2011. On display at the museum, there includes ancient water transport tools, letters of Caoyun officials, various tribute grain gauges and relics recovered from shipwrecks unearthed in the city, presenting the history and culture associated with the Caoyun system as well as Huai'an's illustrious past as a transportation hub along the Grand Canal. For example, one of the highlights at the museum is a pile of more than 10,000 broken ceramic pieces, which is from an accumulation of Longquan celadon shards unearthed from the city's Hexia Ancient Town in 2008. The exquisite celadon porcelain produced by kilns in Longquan, Zhejiang province was mainly used as royal tribute in ancient China. "In the Ming Dynasty, large quantities of Longquan celadon were transported via the Grand Canal from Zhejiang to the capital as tribute or other places for sale. When porcelain ships arrived in Huai'an, checks were made to get rid of those defective or broken ones," Zhang said. "The accumulation weighed more than 20 tons, begging the question of how large the transportation scale really was on the Grand Canal." The curator argued that the archeological finding is another testimony to Huai'an being a water transport hub with active commodity circulation hundreds of years ago. The Ancient Mokou Site Museum, a new museum that opened in May, unveils the genesis of Huai'an as the ending point of China's first canal excavated some 2,500 years ago. History has it that to ship supplies north in case his forces should engage the northern states, King Fuchai of the Wu State - during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) - dug the Hangou Canal to connect the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River. Fuchai's canal started in today's Yangzhou and ended in Mokou, where Huai'an stands today. The museum features ruins of a dam and a wharf dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Visitors can find bricks engraved with "Huai'an Zhou" (Huai'an City) in the walls of the ruins. With stunning multi-media visuals, enchanting interactive installations and an immersive market, the Ancient Mokou Site Museum offers the audience a way to time-travel into Huai'an's brilliant past inextricably intertwined with the Grand Canal for millennia. Argentinas Franco Spitale has emerged victorious in Event #54: $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em at the 2024 World Series of Poker at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas for $1,250,125 and his first gold bracelet. He defeated Justin Carey in a heads-up battle that spanned more than two levels. Moments after achieving millionaire status, PokerNews asked Spitale how he felt about joining such an exclusive club: It's still, it's hard for me to believe it. You know, it's too much. Really? I dreamed about this all my life. I promised my little girl, I have a daughter called Emma that the next trophy would be for her, so this trophy is for her. Spitale topped a record-breaking field of 10,939 entrants to secure the lions share of the $14,603,565 prize pool. Before this score, Spitale had earned over $680,000 in live tournament winnings, with his largest cash of $102,944 occurring just a year ago. This seven-figure score marked Spitales first cash at this years WSOP. When asked about his plans for other events this summer: "The main event, of course, I am qualified, so maybe that, maybe not. Let's see tomorrow. I want to know when I wake up. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Franco Spitale Argentina $1,250,125 2 Justin Carey United States $1,001,169 3 Stephen Dauphinais United States $651,039 4 Paul Saso United States $500,109 5 Harvey Jackson United States $376,469 6 Charles Kersey United States $289,630 7 Jason Hickey United States $224,270 8 Alex Kim United States $174,800 9 Owen Savir United States $137,150 10 Adam Croffut United States $108,320 Final Table The final table of ten was reached yesterday, with Spitale as the commanding chip leader. Adam Croffut was the first to fall when his ace-jack suited failed to improve against Alex Kims cowboys. Croffut earned $108,320 for his tenth-place finish. Owen Savir was the next to be eliminated just an orbit later. As the table short stack, he put in the last of his chips with ace-ten, but ran into Careys pocket nines. Carey hit a set of nines on the flop, ending Savirs run. Savir collected $137,150 for his efforts. Carey caused the next final table casualty, eliminating Kim in eighth place after his pocket sixes held up against Kim's ace-queen. Although Kim was understandably disappointed at his exit, a career-best score of $174,800 softened the blow. Alex Kim Jason Hickey started the final table last in chips with just one big blind. He dug in, battled hard, and maneuvered his way up the pay ladder until his ace-king failed to win against Stephen Dauphinais' jack-ten, ending his deep run in seventh place for $224,270. Day 5 Action When the day started, just six players remained, all of whom were guaranteed at least $289,630. The top two spots on the podium locked up a seven-figure score, hence why the tournament was named the Millionaire-Maker. Charles Kersey started the day with just nine big blinds, knowing he needed the cards to go his way to make a surge up the leaderboard. After just one orbit of play, Kersey went all-in from the button with ace-jack, only to find himself in a flip against Dauphinais' pocket tens. The board provided no help for Kersey, and he took home $289,630 for his sixth-place finish. Harvey Jackson Dauphinais had looked to be the most aggressive at the table, regularly raising and three-betting in the first few orbits. His aggression paid off when he three-bet over a Spitale open with queen-seven of hearts and then felt compelled to call a shove from Harvey Jackson. Dauphinais continued his sun run in this event by flopping a flush against Jackson's Big-Slick. Unfortunately for Jackson, no miracle runner-runner boat appeared, leading to his exit in fifth place with $376,470 for his accomplishment. The remaining four players had locked up at least half a million dollars. They were only three more eliminations away from more than doubling that sum and winning the prestigious bracelet. Paul Saso entered the final day second from the bottom with just eleven big blinds. Today, he boosted his earnings by almost a quarter of a million dollars. Unfortunately, the cards didnt fall favorably for Saso when he shoved his last two big blinds into the middle with ace-eight against Carey's ten-eight. A ten in the window spelled the end for Saso, leaving him shy of a podium finish in fourth place, taking home a cool $500,110. Stephen Dauphinais When three-handed play began, less than one big blind separated the remaining players. Dauphinais was the first to gain a noticeable chip lead over his opponents after his aggressive style earned him many small pots. However, a few untimely bluffs saw him go from first to last on the leaderboard, losing a significant portion of his chips when his two pair fell to Spitale's turned straight. Dauphinais' end came at the hands of the eventual champion Spitale, as his king-jack suited was unable to improve against Spitale's ace-queen, taking home $651,040 for his third place finish Justin Carey Carey started heads-up play with a slight chip lead, but Spitale quickly gained momentum and regained the pole position. Spitale continued to chip away at Carey's stack, steadily extending his lead. Spitale's sharp focus was evident despite the rowdy crowd, especially when he correctly value bet deuces over two streets, persuading Carey to call him down with just king-high. In the final hand of the tournament, Carey limped-jammed from the button with pocket deuces, only for Spitale to call with ace-ten. Carey seemed poised to reclaim the chip lead after flopping a set on the ten-high board. However, an ace on the turn gave Spitale hope as he improved to two pair. As fate would have it, Spitale hit a boat on the river with the ace of hearts, cementing Spitale's name in the history books as the biggest-ever Millionaire Maker champion. Showing true professionalism, Carey took the beat on the chin and congratulated his opponent, walking away with $1,001,170 for his runner-up finish. Franco Spitale Spitale was asked about how his rail helped him along the way to becoming a WSOP champion: "They gave the energy to continue when things didn't went that well, the rail was crazy!" That concludes PokerNews coverage of the $1,500 Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold'em. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the 2024 WSOP! After ten levels of play at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the 2024 World Series of Poker Event #65: $5,000 Seniors High Roller No-Limit Hold'em has come to a close. Kevin Nathan leads the way with 7,300,000. The Californians largest score to date came at the WSOP in 2006 when he won a $1,500 No Limit Holdem event for $171,987. That score included a WSOP gold bracelet and he will return to the felt tomorrow looking to win another. With 680 total entries, only 161 players made it to Day 2. Of those 161, the final ten have bagged up their chips and will return for Day 3 tomorrow. The prize pool sits at $3,128,000 with a whopping $573,876 and a coveted gold bracelet for first place. Final Day Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Kevin Nathan United States 7,300,000 91 2 Bruno Lopes France 6,535,000 82 3 Samuel Wagner United States 4,220,000 53 4 Arie Kliper Israel 4,125,000 52 5 Michael Vela United States 4,015,000 50 6 Mark Checkwicz United States 3,610,000 45 7 Angela Jordison United States 1,890,000 24 8 John Thornton United States 1,455,000 18 9 Richard Lowe United States 1,410,000 18 10 Judith Bielan United States 980,000 12 Angela Jordison remains in the mix with 1,895,000 after losing a brutal hand to end the night. The Day 1 chip leader will look to build momentum tomorrow in order to make a final table run. Notable players that returned for Day 2 but did not make it to the final day include Cliff Josephy, Mike Matusow, Keith Lehr, Eli Elezra and John Juanda. Thomas Graupner was on the wrong side of the bubble after Mark Fisher eliminated him with trip nines, taking down his pocket Jacks. Bruno Lopes sits in second place with 6,535,000. The 58-year-old Frenchman has an impressive resume with over $2,000,000 in live tournament winnings. Lopes has had some positive results this summer, including 76th place in Event #44: $2,000 No Limit Holdem for $5,851. Lopes will look to add to his success tomorrow with a chance to win his first WSOP bracelet and largest score to date. Bruno Lopes Day 3 begins at noon local time on June 28, with blinds starting at 40,000/80,000. The plan is to play 60-minute levels until a winner is crowned. PokerGO has selected this event for live-stream coverage, which starts when the official final table is reached. Dont miss out on any PokerNews coverage; the live reporting team will be back to provide Day 3 updates. Stay tuned to see who has what it takes to go all the way. Event #67: $500 Salute to Warriors No-Limit Holdem hosted by Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was a smashing success with a tremendous 4,517 entries generating a total prize pool of $1,851,970. Out of those who joined the fray, only 678 players advanced to Day 2. Those who made Day 2 are guaranteed a cash of $1,001 but all eyes will be on $207,486 first prize that comes with the much sought-after gold bracelet. The 2006 Main Event winner, Jamie Gold, (428,000) bagged healthy enough to be a threat on Day 2 and hes no stranger to the spotlight. Steven Kelly (1,069,000) and Joseph Dulaney (824,000) are also looking to add to their WSOP bracelet collections. End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chips big Blinds 1 Don Patrick United States 1,400,000 117 2 Lucas Tae United States 1,341,000 112 3 David Gallimore United States 1,324,000 110 4 Ron Schindelheim Canada 1,290,000 108 5 Rami Hammoud Canada 1,250,000 104 6 Jonathan Kwon United States 1,236,000 103 7 Juan Campayo Spain 1,230,000 103 8 Uday Kwatra Ireland 1,180,000 98 9 David Medley United States 1,153,000 96 10 Luigi Scarpeccio Argentina 1,141,000 95 Play begins at 11 a.m. local time in the Horseshoe Event Center. Players will be returning to just a few minutes of 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind antes before they increase to 8,000/16,000 with a 16,000 big blind ante. There will be 15 to 17 levels of play on Day 2, depending on the rate of eliminations. Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews for all the most up-to-date information on the 2024 World Series of Poker. The following is an editorial by Sarah Jones. If you are someone concerned about the state of democracy under a potential Trump second term, last night probably upset you. Last night, President Joe Biden took the stage to face off against an infamous troll and he, like all of Trumps opponents before him, didnt fare well. Biden came to the debate with a cold, so right off the bat his voice was so low it was hard to hear at times. He ceded his time repeatedly, letting Trump dominate the discussion. Biden struggles with a stutter. His cold and the format of short answers were both obstacles he was unable to overcome consistently, though he did well with answers on Roe, January 6th and Donald J Trumps historical disrepute that has recently been enshrined via the legal system finding him liable for rape, being a con artist, and of course his 34 felonies and counting. One of President Bidens best moments was when he called Trump a whiner for not accepting his huge loss in 2020: I doubt whether youll accept it because youre such a whiner. The idea, if you lose again, you accept anything. You cant stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost the last time. The Presidents worst moment was when his stutter and cold seem to have taken the wind out of his sails and he, who has fought to protect Medicare (the Republican lie that he cut Medicare by billions has been debunked by experts) and has a plan to extend Medicare solvency permanently, jumbled his words, ending with, We finally beat Medicare. Thats a line that youll be hearing replayed by conservatives for the next ten years, but that doesnt make it accurate. Its actually disturbing that this line will be used as a cudgel by people whose policies seek to undermine the benefits of Medicare and Medicaid. Trumps policy advisers at Project 2025* make it clear that Trump would strip Medicaid and raise drug prices for those on Medicare if president again. But Biden did several key things that Trump was unable or unwilling to do; Biden spoke about his own policies that have helped the American people, he made a valiant effort to remain honest, and he upheld democratic principles and norms even while Trump attacked his son Hunter Biden. Those things should have been rewarded, but some of legacy media had already set the stage to make Joe Bidens age the issue of this election and so instead of focusing on the fact that Joe Bidens character remained true to the decent guy who wants to help people and feels compelled to stick to facts (with a Democratic agenda as a given), Biden was at a disadvantage. Biden wasnt at his best, but its also unfair to expect any candidate to fact-check a Gish galloping notorious liar during a debate a feat even fact-checkers who arent on a stage trying to focus on their policy thoughts ever managed during Trumps entire political career. Why? Because Trump is the problem. Trump spent his time on stage lying and smearing as cover for his refusal to discuss policy. Policy is the thing that is going to make an actual difference in voters lives, and they deserve to hear about it from candidates. But instead, Trump, who bragged about being responsible for overturning Roe, then dodged accountability claiming everyone could just follow their heart. This line shouldnt be overlooked, Trump at least twice used the word heart during this debate, which is an age old political strategy to avoid accountability for actions by citing a mythical heart. Think of it as a murderer (or in this case, a convicted criminal) saying in court, I have a good heart. Its meaningless, but its meant to diffuse and excuse harmful actions. Its a Get Out of Jail Free card for deceitful people. Project 2025 also lays out plans to take away womens freedom nationwide by using the Comstock Act to ban the mailing of drugs used in medication abortions, instruments and equipment used in surgical abortions and even information about abortion. So it was noteworthy to hear Trump lie about Roe saying everyone wanted to get it back to the states everybody, without exception, Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives. Trump then claimed he believed in exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, telling people to Follow your heart, as if women in states where abortion is banned can simply follow their heart if they want to live or not be medically tortured. Perhaps something everyone in the media should be able to agree on is that Trumps refusal to accept the results of the last election and his incitement of an attempted insurrection are way more problematic than anything Joe Biden has ever done. When asked twice if he would accept the results of the election, Trump started to reveal some of his most noxious personality traits a combination of perpetual persecution, delusion, and stunning immaturity. He could only agree to accept the results if its a fair and legal and good election. Oh, okay, but 2020 was the most secure election in modern history and Trump refused to accept that, so he continued to lie about the 2020 election, But the fraud and everything else was ridiculous. So about last night Biden was constrained by reality; Trump was free to lie so much he blamed Nancy Pelosi and the Capitol Police for 1/6. This isnt Bidens fault nor is it CNN s fault. Havent we had enough of blaming Trumps victims for his behavior? Trump is unfit for the president. The fact that he was up there on that debate stage at all is the fault of the Republican Party, whose standards now reside beneath the dankest level of Hell alongside their alleged conservative principles. President Biden needs to reassure voters that hes got this via another State of the Union type performance, but none of us should lose sight of the fact that Donald Trump turned off swing voters in focus groups last night. That nausea you had while even thinking about watching this debate is not yours alone; it is shared by far more Americans than you can imagine. If we look at last night as a litmus test as to which one of these people showed us they could handle being president, there is only one person standing even given his weak performance. That person is Joe Biden. Like many incumbents before him, Biden had a bad debate. But a bad debate does not a bad president make. Biden made this case for himself on Friday , admitting he doesnt debate as well as he used to: Biden speaks honestly to America about his debate performance, " I don't debate as well as I used to but I know what I do know, how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to get things done. When you get knocked down, you get back up." pic.twitter.com/DcfaL0TUi0 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 28, 2024 This president has shown us every day in his priorities that he is running this country with an expertise that only comes with age and experience. *Project 2025 is the work product of Trump advisors, former Trump administration officials with the Heritage Foundation that is supported by over 100 Right-wing groups. PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 05:00:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 926 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), following the establishment of agreements with prominent companies in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Spain, and the United Kingdom, is proud to announce its first agreement on the African continent, specifically with Mbombo Investment Group, a reputable company located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This milestone not only signifies BGEB's expansion into these countries but also highlights its growing international presence and commitment to fostering sustainable environmental development across diverse regions.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2024 /Julio Montenegro, CEO of BluegGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), has indicated that BGEB and Mbombo Investment Group (MIG), a leading Congolese consulting and impact investment firm, are committed to acquiring 80 million hectares for sustainable development projects in a public-private partnership in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).Mbombo Investment Group is eager to support the Congolese government in three key sectors: national education, the environment, and sustainable development through the creation of carbon credits. This collaboration promotes a public-private partnership between the Congolese Environment Agency, Mbombo Investment Group, and BGEB.Currently, Dr. Louison Mbombo is conducting working sessions with representatives of the Congolese Environment Agency at their offices in Kinshasa-Gombe to finalize the details of this public-private partnership.Mbombo Investment Group and BlueGrace Energy Bolivia aspire to a partnership for the acquisition and management of 80 million hectares of land for sustainable development projects, which will have a significant impact on the entire population of the DRC and on environmental protection. Furthermore, the company is committed to contributing to the well-being of Congolese citizens by proposing the creation of a Carbon Credit Bank and the construction of schools for the education of Congolese children.Dr. Louison Mbombo, founder of Mbombo Investment Group, seeks the involvement of the President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, as well as the support of the Ministry of Environment to realize this project, which aims to address the multiple societal challenges that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been facing for a long time.According to the CEO of MIG, this partnership will contribute to achieving President Felix Tshisekedi's vision of creating 6 million jobs for young Congolese. It is important to emphasize that this collaboration will generate substantial benefits for the environment and local communities, thus demonstrating the effectiveness and potential of this partnership model.BGEB's collaborations are focused on empowering impoverished and indigenous communities around the globe through comprehensive social initiatives and sustainability, guided towards universally accepted principles in human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. By enhancing access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, BGEB is committed to fostering community development alongside its environmental efforts. This integrated approach, which marries environmental conservation with the transition to clean energy and community empowerment, establishes BGEB as a frontrunner in both ecological preservation and clean energy innovation which underscores the ongoing importance of the partnership as it strives towards a sustainable and carbon-neutral future, serving as a compelling example of what collective action and innovation can accomplish.As a registered issuer and observer of sustainable financial instruments with the Capital Market Association (ICMA) and recognized by the United Nations Global Compact, BGEB prioritizes authenticity and sustainability, ensuring the integrity of its carbon credits. In that regard, BlueGrace Energy Bolivia, in partnership with MAXIMANCE 2030 LTD, has secured the approval of ISIN UK.BG.MAX 785.985257 which facilitates the support of Forest Conservation Projects through equities, prioritizing due diligence to uphold the integrity of the carbon credits issued by the company.In recent months, BLUEGRACE ENERGY BOLIVIA has forged agreements with various global companies, includingAPRISCO ENERGY INDUSTRIES S.L., a Spain-based company dedicated to a fair and sustainable energy transition; PH Plus, a prominent leader in alkaline water production and distribution in the United States;Healthy Grains S.A. , a Guatemalan producer and exporter of nutrient-rich Seeds Like Hemp, Chia, and Flaxseed, and FRIGORIFICOS KOBEFOODS (KFK) a leading Peruvian entity championing the vegan movement in South America. These collaborations are expected to make substantial contributions toward achieving the sustainable development goals set for 2030.Mr. Julio Montenegro, indicated that BGEB's dedication to sustainability is evident in its commitment to conserving 20.5 million acres of the Amazon Rainforest and aligning with the UN's Global Compact. Utilizing advanced technology for carbon credit quantification, this initiative significantly contributes to global climate goals.BGEB's journey inspires us all to take action, as together, we can address climate change and protect our planet for future generations.About BlueGrace Energy Bolivia:BlueGrace Energy Bolivia (BGEB), a global consortium of experts in diverse areas, is committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero future in response to climate change challenges. Boasting decades of experience, our team is pioneering 21st-century energy transition projects. Grounded in professional expertise and unwavering integrity, we aim to create genuine value for business and society Learn more at:Web: https://bluegracebolivia.com/ Youtube: http://tinyurl.com/1BGEB Instagram: http://tinyurl.com/0BGEB LInkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/56BGEB For further information, please contact:JULIO JOSE MONTENEGRO jmontenegro@ bluegracebolivia.com +1 (305) 972-6173 (Miami - EE.UU.) NELSON PINEDA MARTINEZ nelopineda@ bluegracebolivia.com +591 714-72257 (Bolivia)For all media inquiries, please contact:Ivan Linde ivan.linde@bluegracebolivia.com +1 (786) 273-7068 (Miami - EE.UU.) About Mbombo Investment GroupMbombo Investment Group (MIG) is a leading consulting and impact investment firm that manages alternative asset classes, global markets, and a private investments portal. The company supports global decision-makers with business intelligence to help them achieve their investment goals. It has a network of investors from the US, EU, Israel, Brazil, and African countries, providing them with updated global business information. The group's portfolio includes investm PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 13:51:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 400 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Bright-Path Capital , a top-tier platform in the crypto trading market, has unveiled its innovative Arbitrage AI-powered system, which aims to revolutionize the way traders exploit arbitrage opportunities across global crypto exchanges.LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / To address the latest approach, Bright-Path Capital launches its innovative Arbitrage AI-powered system. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, the platform's newly released software aims to revolutionize the way traders exploit arbitrage opportunities across global crypto exchanges. This Arbitrage AI analyzes exchange rates and price differentials worldwide in mere seconds, swiftly identifying and executing profitable trades.In addition, the software's automated trading system and crypto arbitrage strategies help to execute trades at lightning speed, capitalizing on price discrepancies across markets. Bright-Path Capital's Arbitrage AI sets new standards by integrating sophisticated algorithms that perform intricate calculations and analyses in real-time as well as ensures that arbitrage opportunities, whether triangular or cross-exchange, are swiftly identified and acted upon, maximizing profitability for its users.At the core ofBright-Path Capital'soffering are advanced AI-powered arbitrage tools that employ machine learning algorithms. These algorithms continuously learn from market data, adapting and optimizing trading strategies to current market conditions, enhancing the accuracy of arbitrage executions but also mitigating risks associated with volatile crypto markets. Along with that, the integration of Bitcoin ETFs and DeFi tokens into Bright-Path Capital's arbitrage strategies further diversified opportunities, appealing to a broad spectrum of investors seeking balanced and diversified crypto portfolios.Furthermore, Bright-Path Capital stands at the forefront of innovation in crypto arbitrage with its innovative Arbitrage AI. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Bright-Path Capital empowers traders with unparalleled capabilities to capitalize on arbitrage opportunities across global crypto markets. As institutional interest grows and market trends evolve, Bright-Path Capital remains committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions that redefine automated trading in the cryptocurrency landscape.About Bright-Path Capital:Bright-Path Capital , a leading platform in the crypto trading market anticipates significant growth in demand for AI-assisted arbitrage trading. As the crypto market matures, the need for sophisticated risk management tools becomes paramount. Bright-Path Capital addresses this need with its safe trading strategies and robust risk management protocols embedded within Arbitrage AI. These features ensure consistent returns while safeguarding against market volatility and price fluctuations.Media Details:Contact Person: Edward Thompson (BrightPath-Capital Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Website: https://brightpath-capital.co/ Company Name: BrightPath-Capital Email:support@ brightPath-Capital.com Address: One Canada Square, London, E14 5AB , United KingdomSOURCE: BrightPath-Capital PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 17:10:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1000 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 This corrects and replaces the headline in the release that was published earlier today.CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 /The Shine Hope Company (TSHC) -The Shine Hope Companyis thrilled to announce that Kathryn Goetzke, Chief Hope Officer and CEO, will deliver a transformative keynote address at theNational Association of School Nurses (NASN) 2024 Conference . This pivotal event, showcasing cutting-edge strategies in hope science, will take place on June 29, 2024, at 8 AM at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Following the keynote, Goetzke will host a book signing session at 12:00PM in the School Health booth.Goetzke's keynote, "Activating Hope to Foster Student Mental and Physical Health, Safety, Connection, and Performance," will draw from over a decade of pioneering research in hope science. Attendees will gain actionable solutions for enhancing hope among adults, children, and adolescents - crucial for mental health prevention, violence reduction, and addiction intervention. Studies indicate that individuals with higher levels of hope had significantly better outcomes during COVID-19, underscoring hope's vital role in overcoming adversity.Photo from the Hopeful Minds Program: A teacher and students collaborate on sunflower artwork, creating a classroom definition of hope and sharing what strengthens their hope.This week the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy,declared gun violence a public health crisis , driven by thefast-growing number of injuries and deathsinvolving firearms in the country. Hopelessness is asignificant predictorof risk behaviors in youth, such as violence, weapon-carrying on school property, self-harm, unprotected sex, bullying, and partner violence. Researchers have found that ahistory of violent behavioris the only consistent predictor of gun violence. Notably, over 40% of adolescents and 57% of teen girls in the United States report persistent hopelessness. Evidence suggests that programstargeting hopelessnesscan reduce violent behaviors; thus, teaching hope to all is crucial.We urge lawmakers, leaders, and community members to start thinking about proactive, upstream approaches, and we aim to bring this message to the school nurses. Hopelessness is a normal experience of life, how we react to it predicts if we use violence, addictive substances, or self-harm to manage it, or find healthier alternatives. Yet we can not expect any of it to stop unless we get to the root cause, so ensuring all know what hopelessness is, and how to proactively manage it and get to hope is critical to solving this national public health crisis.Students filling out Workbooks from the Hopeful Minds Program.The Shine Hope Company stands at the forefront of integrating hope science into comprehensive mental health and violence prevention strategies. Innovative hope programs for youth, available through the partnership withSchool Health , offer evidence-based skills to increase hope, thereby enhancing well-being and resilience among students as well as those delivering the programming.Susan Rogers, Chief People Officer at School Health Corporation, shares: "We as a company are committed to hope science and have activated all of our employees. All our employees know what hopelessness is, how to Shine Hope, and how to access resources when struggling with challenges. We want the same for school nurses and the children around the world. Violence and mental health disorders must be addressed upstream, as waiting until times of crisis to address these pressing societal issues is reactionary and expensive, so we are grateful to help activate this work." From Left to Right: Rob Rogers, President of School Health Corporation, Susan Rogers, the Chief People Officer of School Health Corporation, and Kathryn Goetzke, the CEO and Chief Hope Officer of The Shine Hope Company.Among nurses, the risk of death bysuicide is twicethat of the general population, with female nurses 70% more likely to die by suicide, and nearly64%reporting feelings of depression due to the pandemic. The CDC's survey of nearly 8,000 school nurses revealed that 45% experienced symptoms of at least one adverse mental health condition in the two weeks preceding the survey in March 2022. Increasing hope is linked to numerous positive outcomes, such as reduced turnover and increased job satisfaction for nurses. Forstudents , those benefits include improved academic retention, higher grades, greater engagement, and a reduced risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, andrisky behaviors .Kathryn Goetzke,UN Representative for the World Federation of Mental Health , founder ofiFred , and CEO/Chief Hope Officer ofThe Shine Hope Company , highlighted the need for early intervention: "We are waiting way too long to address critical issues such as suicide, violence, and addiction, we need to legislate prevention programming and fix at the root cause. This includes a comprehensive, whole-society approach to normalizing hopelessness and teaching evidence-based skills to increase hope. We know those higher in hope did better during COVID-19 as they increased their Stress Skills and Happiness Habits, set new goals through Inspired Actions, kept connected to others cultivating their Nourishing Networks, and Eliminated Challenges by focusing on what they could control. I'm proud to be keynoting this critical talk in my hometown of Chicago, where I am encouraging city leaders to join the Hopeful Cities movement, and empower school nurses at this conference to write their own Shine Hope Story and see themselves as the heroes they were leading our children through a very challenging time. I'm excited for them to then bring that wisdom back to our children with evidence-based programming, as our youth so desperately need these skills and Dr. Murthy's recent statement only reinforces our knowledge that the root cause must be addressed." Event Details:NASN Conference Dates: June 28 - July 1, 2024Keynote Address: June 29, 2024, at 8 AM Book Signing: June 29, 2024, at 12 PM at the School Health booth Venue: Hyatt Regency Chicago For registration and more information: http://www.nasn.org/NASN2024 Consider joining us at the conference, or bringing our programming to your school, city, community, college, or workplace today. Hope is measurable, and teachable. It's time for collective action.About School Health:School Health is a national, full-service provider of health supplies and services to professionals in educational settings from pre-school to college. For over 60 years, they have been advocates for the health and safety of students, staff, and their communities. School Health serves their customers by pro PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 19:15:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 357 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 With 30 hours of run time, CUCKOO's cordless circulator is ideal for indoor and outdoor useCERRITOS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 /CUCKOO, a leading Korean brand in kitchen and home appliances, is proud to introduce its latest innovation in home cooling technology, the Cordless Foldable Air Circulator (CF-ECL1010WH), to the North American market.Cordless Foldable Air Circulator Designed for indoor and outdoor use, like summer camping, this product offers versatility with its portability and strong air circulation. Its foldable design enhances convenience without compromising performance, while fully detachable parts ensure compact storage, quick assembly, and easy cleaning. Additionally, it features a magnetic remote that attaches securely to the air circulator, ensuring it is never lost.The Cordless Foldable Air Circulator features a 10-inch 7-blade design, reaching speeds up to 13.1 ft per second for efficient air circulation. With 4 wind modes (eco, general, sleep, turbo) and 12-speed adjustments, users can easily find their perfect setting. An integrated temperature sensor automatically adjusts the fan speed based on surrounding conditions, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency. Additionally, it offers up to 30 hours of run time on a single charge, ensuring long-lasting performance.CUCKOO prides itself on creating cutting-edge products that cater to diverse consumer needs. The Cordless Foldable Air Circulator is a testament to this commitment, offering robust performance and seamless integration into any setting.The Cordless Foldable Air Circulator is priced at $149.99 on the CUCKOO US website and $199.99 on the CUCKOO Canada website. It will soon be available on Amazon.ABOUTCUCKOO is a renowned South Korean brand specializing in kitchen and home appliances. Recognized as the #1 rice cooker brand in South Korea, CUCKOO leads the market with innovative technology, sleek design, and premium quality. In 2016, CUCKOO successfully ventured into North America, establishing CUCKOO Electronics America and securing its place among major US retailers. CUCKOO is committed to manufacturing products that make life simpler and more enjoyable.For more information, visit https://cuckooamerica.com . Follow us on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/cuckoo_america , and TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@cuckooamerica Contact InformationJennifer SierraPR Associatepr@ cuckooamerica.com (323) 433-7606 EXT. 1017SOURCE: CUCKOO Electronics AmericaView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 18:15:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 541 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of all investors of UiPath, Inc. ("UiPath") (NYSE: PATH) between December 1, 2023, and May 29, 2024.NEWTOWN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a leading class action law firm, is investigating securities fraud claims on behalf of all investors of UiPath, Inc. ("UiPath") (NYSE:PATH) between December 1, 2023, and May 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period").If you purchased UiPath stock during the Class Period and wish to move the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to be appointed as lead plaintiff, you must do so byAugust 19, 2024 . Please contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP to discuss your investment losses at 844-696-7492, or by e-mail at elechtzin@ edelson-law.com . A copy of the class action complaint can be viewedHERE .What is a Lead Plaintiff?Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, any investor who purchased securities during the applicable Class Period may seek appointment as the lead plaintiff in the class action. Generally, the investor or group of investors with the largest financial interest in the litigation is the presumptive lead plaintiff. As a court-appointed representative of a class of purchasers of securities, the lead plaintiff selects the law firm that will represent the class in the lawsuit, and if necessary, provides testimony at trial.Background on UiPath, Inc.UiPath is a business automation software company based in New York City.The Securities Fraud ClaimsThroughout the Class Period, the Complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) UiPath's turnaround strategy had failed; (ii) UiPath's AI-powered Business Automation Platform caused "confusion" among customers and was not capable of being adequately scaled; and (iii) UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding multiyear deals.On May 29, 2024, UiPath reappointed Defendant Dines as CEO after disappointing Q1 2025 results and a 10% revenue forecast cut. Issues included poor contract execution, inadequate AI strategy, and failed growth investments. Dines emphasized improving execution, sales efficiency, and a customer-centric approach, noting AI confusion among customers. On this news, the price of UiPath stock declined $6.23 per share, or more than 24%, from $18.30 per share, on May 29, 2024, to $12.07 per share on May 30, 2024.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: 2024-06-28 17:08:39 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 550 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LANDRUM, SC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Epica International, a leader in advanced imaging solutions and industrial robotics, is thrilled to announce that its cutting-edge See Factor CT3 System has received an updated 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This landmark achievement underscores Epica International's commitment to revolutionizing high-resolution CT imaging for human point-of-care applications, particularly in operating rooms. The latest clearance reflects significant enhancements made to the device since its original 2019 release, empowering Epica International to market and distribute the newly upgraded See Factor CT3 across the United States.Empowering Healthcare Professionals: The See Factor CT3 now boasts unparalleled mobility and multi-modality capabilities, featuring an innovative indexing gantry designed to deliver high-resolution, orthogonal, and three-dimensional CT images for diverse clinical applications. This advanced imaging technology enables clinicians to conduct computed tomography, fluoroscopy, and digital radiography in any adequately shielded location, eliminating the need to transport patients. With its onboard DICOM viewer, images can be reviewed by the treating physician within minutes, enhancing diagnostic and treatment efficiency.Indications For Use: The See Factor CT3 is a flat-panel cone beam computed tomography X-ray imaging system designed for acquiring detailed images of the head, neck, and limbs in adult patients. It also captures images of portions of the thorax, spine, and pelvic bones, focusing on high x-ray attenuation areas such as bony structures. With a 62.5cm gantry bore and a 30cm field of view, the device provides 2D and 3D imaging for both intra-operative and clinical use. Additionally, it is capable of acquiring digital radiography and fluoroscopy images, operated by physicians, x-ray technologists, and other qualified professionals.Key Features of the See Factor CT3 System:High-Resolution Imaging: Exceptional image clarity and detail down to 0.1mm (100 microns), ensuring precise diagnostics.Mobility: Requires no extensive infrastructure to house, cool, or power large, fixed scanning equipment-only adequate lead shielding.Multi-Modal Capabilities: Integrates various imaging modalities into a single, flexible platform.User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design promotes ease of use for healthcare professionals, reducing training time and boosting efficiency. Onboard viewer allows bedside image review.Compact and Versatile Design: Perfectly suited for a wide range of clinical settings, from large hospitals to small clinics.Joe Soto, CEO of Epica International, Inc., remarked, "This is another significant achievement by Epica's regulatory team. These additional indications for use further illustrate our technology's expanding capabilities." About Epica International, Inc.:Epica International is a global leader in advanced medical imaging and precision robotics, serving human, animal, and industrial markets worldwide. Epica designs, develops, and distributes proprietary advanced medical imaging platforms and cutting-edge robotic systems that enhance user accuracy and outcomes. The company holds 75 issued and pending patents on its medical imaging and robotics platforms in the U.S., EU, and other countries. Epica International is headquartered in Landrum, SC.For more information on Epica International, please visit our website at www.epicainternational.com For more information on the See Factor CT3, please visit our website at www.epicahumanhealth.com For further inquiries on this clearance and business development, please contact:Ben HillPresidentEpica International, Inc.910-352-0601 b.hill@ epicainternational.com Craig Glaiberman, MDChief Medical OfficerEpica International, Inc.916-850-5866 c.glaiberman@ epicainternational.com Contact InformationCraig Glaiberman, MDChief Medical Officerc.glaiberman@epicainternational.com 916-850-5866SOURCE: Epica International, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 01:05:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 892 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Celebrating growth: US Quality Construction breaks ground on a new headquarters in Pettis County, symbolizing community potential and a commitment to quality.KANSAS CITY, MO / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2024 / On Monday, June 3, guests gathered under tents in a freshly cut field near Menefee Road in western Pettis County to celebrate the groundbreaking of the newUS Quality Constructionheadquarters."Today we not only celebrate the groundbreaking of our new headquarters," said host Denis Grigoryev, "but also the growth and potential of our community. US Quality was founded with a vision and a desire to make home renovation a great experience, with great attention to detail." Grigoryev welcomed special guests Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson to the event."It's great to see so many folks come out to celebrate a business expansion and opening in Pettis County," Kehoe said. "Investing everything my family has to provide more jobs, especially for Missourians, is an incredible step. This expansion will significantly benefit the industrial park and the company itself." Kehoe shared his experiences as an automobile dealer and offered valuable advice from his mother. "She said if you believe in the Lord and work hard, you can get what you want in this world," Kehoe recalled. "Vladimir and Tim have demonstrated this over the past several years, building this company and now committing to the next level." Kehoe thanked the assembled politicians, including state Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, Mayor Dawson, and Pettis County commissioners Jim Marcum and Bill Taylor, but added, "I love the elected officials here, but it's not elected officials that make Missouri great; it's the people standing here outside and under the tent. It's the people investing in expanding these jobs that make this state a great place to live, work, and raise a family." Mayor Dawson then addressed the crowd from atop a trailer used as a speaking platform. "This symbolizes growth, resilience, and the potential of our community," Dawson said. "US Quality Construction has been a leader in home renovation and exterior remodeling. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has transformed countless homes and improved the lives of many residents. Their expansion into our community is a testament to their belief in our potential and their commitment to contributing to our shared future." The development of the soon-to-be-constructed 35-acre commercial park, a $10 million investment, will provide 40 new jobs with a state-of-the-art supply center that will enhance both the local economy and the quality of services available locally."US Quality Construction's investment in the community demonstrates their confidence in our future and dedication to being part of our growth story," Dawson said. "The impact of this project extends beyond economic benefits. It symbolizes the power of collaboration between local businesses, government, and community members. Together, we are building a brighter future." Founder Vladimir Tutevich, a Ukrainian immigrant, then shared his American success story. "When I was 19 years old, I stepped on American soil with $9 in my pocket and no place to stay," Tutevich recalled. "God had a different plan for me, and from the first day I stepped on this American soil, I sought His presence in my life. I have a beautiful wife. He blessed us with eight kids, and I praise God for His blessings in my life." Tutevich explained the slow but steady progress in construction after landing his first big job in St. Louis and hiring 10 young men from Sedalia to help. Keeping those employees working quickly became his focus. "Our goal was not to make a lot of money," Tutevich said. "Our goal was to give an opportunity for our people to work for US Quality Construction. It was a blessed time. This new headquarters is more than just a building; it stands for our promise to be leaders in construction and create job opportunities not just here but where our branches are located." CEO Tim Kondratyuk delivered closing comments before priests blessed the site and the first shovels of dirt were turned. "Today marks a significant milestone in the life of US Quality Construction. We started with humble beginnings, and every day was a challenge for us," Kondratyuk said. "Most people told us when we were beginning, Who starts a business during COVID?' This is our first-ever building for US Quality Construction. Although we plan to set up more around the nation, this one will always be memorable as our start. From this building, many stories will be told, many legends will be made, and I'm honored to be here today, standing here with our team." About US Quality ConstructionUS Quality Construction is a leading home renovation and exterior remodeling company dedicated to delivering exceptional craftsmanship and outstanding customer service. The company has grown from humble beginnings to become a trusted name in the industry. Specializing insiding replacement ,deck installation , window replacements, and more, US Quality Construction is known for its commitment to quality, innovation, and community engagement. With a focus on creating job opportunities and enhancing the quality of homes across the region, US Quality Construction continues to set the standard for excellence in construction.Media Contact:Rachel HarrisPulse Media rachel@ pulsemediapr.com SOURCE: US Quality Construction PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 11:03:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 633 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Harbor Diversified, Inc. ("Harbor Diversified" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:HRBR) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Harbor Diversified securities between May 10, 2022 and March 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR Case Details:According to the Complaint, Harbor Diversified describes itself as "a non-operating holding company that is the parent of a consolidated group of subsidiaries, including AWAC Aviation, Inc. (AWAC'), which is the sole member of Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC (Air Wisconsin'), a regional air carrier. Harbor is also the direct parent of three other subsidiaries: (1) Lotus Aviation Leasing, LLC (Lotus'), which leases flight equipment to Air Wisconsin, (2) Air Wisconsin Funding LLC (AWF'), which provides flight equipment financing to Air Wisconsin, and (3) Harbor Therapeutics, Inc. (Therapeutics'), which is a non-operating entity with no material assets." The Complaint alleges that Harbor Diversified made materially false and/or misleading statements because the Company misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) Harbor Diversified's financial statements from May 9, 2022 to the present were misstated due to improper revenue recognition;(2) Harbor Diversified lacked adequate internal controls; and(3) as a result, Harbor Diversified's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.The truth began to emerge, according to the Complaint, on March 29, 2024, when Harbor Diversified filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K in which it announced that certain of its previously-issued financial statements would need to be restated as a result of improper revenue recognition. Further, Harbor Diversified disclosed a material weakness in its internal controls that has the company's management evaluating "appropriate remediation actions." On this news, according to the Complaint, the price of Harbor Diversified stock fell by $0.28 per share, or14.25% , to close at $1.73 on April 1, 2024.Therefore, the Complaint further alleges that as a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Harbor Diversified's common shares, investors have suffered significant losses and damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Harbor Diversified you have until July 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 14:01:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 JENBACH, AUSTRIA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / INNIO Group and the Saarbrucken-based energy provider Energie SaarLorLux aim to fully convert the existing 53 MW GAMOR power plant with its Jenbacher engines to green hydrogen by 2032. A joint memorandum of understanding has been signed for this purpose. This involves five Jenbacher engines from INNIO Group, which are to be fully operated with this CO2-free energy source. The highly efficient Jenbacher with combined heat and power (CHP) plant, commissioned in 2022, currently operates on natural gas, replacing a former coal-fired power plant. The conversion to green hydrogen will enable CO2-free electricity supply for 65,000 households and CO2-free heat supply for 11,000 households. The Jenbacher engines can also function as a black start power plant, supporting the city's water distribution infrastructure during a blackout. This step towards climate-neutral power generation is significantly ahead of the German federal government's target of 2045."With the commissioning of our Jenbacher large engines, Energie SaarLorLux completed the coal phase-out in 2022. We are pleased to now start the next milestone towards climate neutrality by 2032 with the conversion of GAMOR to green hydrogen," explains Dr. Olaf Berlien, president and CEO of INNIO Group."By planning to convert GAMOR to green hydrogen by 2032 at the latest, we not only are supporting the transformation of the energy supply in Saarland but also can take a pioneering role nationwide," says Joachim Morsch, board member and spokesperson of Energie SaarLorLux AG.About INNIO GroupINNIO Group is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With its Jenbacher and Waukesha product brands and its AI-powered myPlant digital platform, INNIO Group offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. With its flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO Group enables its customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey. INNIO Group is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada).For more information, visit INNIO Group's website at innio.com . Follow INNIO Group and its brands on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn.INNIO, Jenbacher, Waukesha, and myPlant are trademarks or registered trademarks of the INNIO Group, or one of its subsidiaries, in the European Union, the United States and in other countries. For a list of INNIO Group trademarks, please click here. All other trademarks and company names are the property of their respective owners.In general, "Ready for H2" Jenbacher units can be converted to operate on up to 100% hydrogen in the future. Details on the cost and timeline for a future conversion may vary and need to be clarified individually.Contact InformationSusanne ReicheltINNIO Media Relationssusanne.reichelt@innio.com +43 664 80833 2382Kevin DorrEnergie SaarLorLux Media Relationskevin.doerr@energie-saarlorlux.com +49 (0)681 / 587 - 4213SOURCE: INNIO GroupView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 20:46:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 479 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Roosterly , a technology-driven content firm specializing in social media, reputation management, and public relations (PR), announces the addition ofKaren Stillman , a highly respected PR industry expert, to the Advisory Board. Stillman will serve as an expert industry adviser for Roosterly, leveraging her extensive experience to further empower the company's growth and brand storytelling.(Image Credit: Karen Stillman)Karen Stillman boasts an impressive 30-year career in PR, holding senior positions at global PR firms, including Executive Director and Top Client Leader at Golin, Executive Vice President at DeVries Global, and Senior Vice President/Partner at Fleishman-Hillard. Throughout her career, she has advised C-suite executives across various industries, from Fortune 100 companies to emerging startups.Stillman's expertise lies in crafting compelling brand narratives, shaping public perception, and safeguarding reputations through strategic storytelling and media and influencer engagement. Her campaigns have received numerous awards, solidifying her reputation for excellence in the PR landscape.Stillman's commitment to building long-term client relationships and her relentless pursuit of excellence aligns strongly with Roosterly's core values. Her unique strategic and creative approach will undoubtedly contribute significantly to Roosterly's continued success."We are excited to begin leveraging Karen's expertise and insights at Roosterly," saidIrfan Jafrey , CEO of Roosterly. "Her experience, strategic vision, and ability to help us execute will be invaluable assets as we continue to expand our services and serve our growing base of enterprise clients. Karen's deep understanding of brand storytelling and engagement perfectly aligns with our goals." "Irfan and his team at Roosterly are leading the way with innovative digital solutions across the social and editorial media landscape," says Karen Stillman. "I'm impressed by their nimble, cost-efficient offerings and the value they provide to organizations and individuals looking to drive awareness, enhance reputation, and drive strategic narratives to achieve growth. I'm excited to join their team as a strategic adviser and bring my deep PR industry knowledge to the agency while serving as an ambassador of their services in the marketplace." Contact Roosterly for more information.About RoosterlyRoosterly is a leading social media and PR firm offering strategic social media, public relations, and enterprise content distribution solutions, specializing in providing effective solutions for small, medium, and enterprise-sized businesses. Leveraging innovative processes and technology, Roosterly delivers exceptional results without compromising quality. Their vision is to empower businesses, whether amplifying brand stories or driving growth. Roosterly is committed to making the process simple, efficient, and affordable for all clients, ensuring their data-driven results.About Karen StillmanKaren Stillman has over 30 years of public relations experience across various categories. She has advised C-level executives from Fortune 100 companies to emerging brands and startups and has led award-winning campaigns for some of the world's most iconic brands.Media Details:Company Name: Roosterly Media Contact Name: Lily Blake Email:lily@ roosterly.com Website: https://roosterly.com/SOURCE: Roosterly PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 13:01:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 995 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / The Shine Hope Company (TSHC)is thrilled to announce that Kathryn Goetzke, Chief Hope Officer and CEO, will deliver a transformative keynote address at theNational Association of School Nurses (NASN) 2024 Conference . This pivotal event, showcasing cutting-edge strategies in hope science, will take place on June 29, 2024, at 8 AM at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Following the keynote, Goetzke will host a book signing session at 12:00PM in the School Health booth.Goetzke's keynote, "Activating Hope to Foster Student Mental and Physical Health, Safety, Connection, and Performance," will draw from over a decade of pioneering research in hope science. Attendees will gain actionable solutions for enhancing hope among adults, children, and adolescents-crucial for mental health prevention, violence reduction, and addiction intervention. Studies indicate that individuals with higher levels of hope had significantly better outcomes during COVID-19, underscoring hope's vital role in overcoming adversity.Photo from the Hopeful Minds Program: A teacher and students collaborate on a sunflower artwork, each contributing their personal descriptions of hope.This week the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy,declared gun violence a public health crisis , driven by thefast-growing number of injuries and deathsinvolving firearms in the country.Hopelessness is asignificant predictorof risk behaviors in youth, such as violence, weapon-carrying on school property, self-harm, unprotected sex, bullying, and partner violence. Researchers have found that ahistory of violent behavioris the only consistent predictor of gun violence. Notably, over 40% of adolescents and 57% of teen girls in the United States report persistent hopelessness. Evidence suggests that programstargeting hopelessnesscan reduce violent behaviors; thus, teaching hope to all is crucial.We urge lawmakers, leaders, and community members to start thinking about proactive, upstream approaches, and we aim to bring this message to the school nurses. Hopelessness is a normal experience of life, how we react to it predicts if we use violence, addictive substances, or self-harm to manage it, or find healthier alternatives. Yet we can not expect any of it to stop unless we get to the root cause, so ensuring all know what hopelessness is, and how to proactively manage it and get to hope is critical to solving this national public health crisis.Students filling out Workbooks from the Hopeful Minds Program.The Shine Hope Company stands at the forefront of integrating hope science into comprehensive mental health and violence prevention strategies. Innovative hope programs for youth, available through the partnership withSchool Health , offer evidence-based skills to increase hope, thereby enhancing well-being and resilience among students as well as those delivering the programming.Susan Rogers, Chief People Officer at School Health Corporation, shares: "We as a company are committed to hope science and have activated all of our employees. All our employees know what hopelessness is, how to Shine Hope, and how to access resources when struggling with challenges. We want the same for school nurses and the children around the world. Violence and mental health disorders must be addressed upstream, as waiting until times of crisis to address these pressing societal issues is reactionary and expensive, so we are grateful to help activate this work." From Left to Right:Rob Rogers, President of School Health Corporation, Susan Rogers, the Chief People Officer of School Health Corporation, and Kathryn Goetzke, the CEO and Chief Hope Officer of The Shine Hope Company.Among nurses, the risk of death bysuicide is twicethat of the general population, with female nurses 70% more likely to die by suicide, and nearly64%reporting feelings of depression due to the pandemic. The CDC's survey of nearly 8,000 school nurses revealed that 45% experienced symptoms of at least one adverse mental health condition in the two weeks preceding the survey in March 2022. Increasing hope is linked to numerous positive outcomes, such as reduced turnover and increased job satisfaction for nurses. Forstudents , those benefits include improved academic retention, higher grades, greater engagement, and a reduced risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, andrisky behaviors .Kathryn Goetzke,UN Representative for the World Federation of Mental Health , founder ofiFred , and CEO/Chief Hope Officer ofThe Shine Hope Company , highlighted the need for early intervention: "We are waiting way too long to address critical issues such as suicide, violence, and addiction, we need to legislate prevention programming and fix at the root cause. This includes a comprehensive, whole-society approach to normalizing hopelessness and teaching evidence-based skills to increase hope. We know those higher in hope did better during COVID-19 as they increased their Stress Skills and Happiness Habits, set new goals through Inspired Actions, kept connected to others cultivating their Nourishing Networks, and Eliminated Challenges by focusing on what they could control. I'm proud to be keynoting this critical talk in my hometown of Chicago, where I am encouraging city leaders to join the Hopeful Cities movement, and empower school nurses at this conference to write their own Shine Hope Story and see themselves as the heroes they were leading our children through a very challenging time. I'm excited for them to then bring that wisdom back to our children with evidence-based programming, as our youth so desperately need these skills and Dr. Murthy's recent statement only reinforces our knowledge that the root cause must be addressed." Event Details:NASN Conference Dates: June 28 - July 1, 2024Keynote Address: June 29, 2024, at 8 AMBook Signing: June 29, 2024, at 12 PM at the School Health boothVenue: Hyatt Regency ChicagoFor registration and more information: http://www.nasn.org/NASN2024 Consider joining us at the conference, or bringing our programming to your school, city, community, college, or workplace today. Hope is measurable, and teachable. It's time for collective action.About School Health:School Health is a national, full-service provider of health supplies and services to professionals in educational settings from pre-school to college. For over 60 years, they have been advocates for the health and safety of students, staff, and their communities. School Health serves their customers by providing products and solutions that will help students stay healthy and succeed inside and outside the classroom. Visit ww PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 13:40:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 383 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 /Kendu Inu is proud to announce the launch of its newly launched memecoin, which has achieved notable success, reaching a peak ranking of #218 among all cryptocurrencies within four months. This growth has occurred despite limited coverage by mainstream crypto influencers, highlighting the dedication of the Kendu Inu community.Community-Driven EffortKendu Inu's entry into the crypto community is marked by a strong work ethic among its members. The community's approach is organized, focused, and driven, reminiscent of the early days of other successful memecoins.Ethos and Community EngagementThe mantra of "We do not gamble, we work" is central to the community. Each member is encouraged to contribute to the project's growth independently, without relying on external catalysts. This ethos has fostered a robust and self-sustaining community.Upcoming DevelopmentsKendu Inu plans to introduce an ecosystem featuring decentralized apps (DApps) and a business model. These utilities aim to enhance the user experience and drive long-term growth. However, the community remains at the heart of Kendu Inu's efforts, with members leveraging their unique skills to support the project.Global PresenceThe dedication of the Kendu Inu community has led to visibility across the globe, including billboards in Times Square and various public spaces. These initiatives are voluntary and driven by the community's commitment.Key Attributes of Kendu InuCommunity-Centric Approach: Members are empowered to take initiative, contributing to the project's growth.Experienced Leadership: Kendu Miazaki, the Australian pseudonymous founder, brings significant experience to the project.Veteran Support: The community includes experienced individuals from various fields, contributing to a balanced approach.Growth and ExpansionKendu Inu has nearly 12,000 unique holders and a growing community. The KENDU token is gaining over 100 new holders daily. By the second time Kendu Inu reached a $200 million market cap, it had gained approximately 3,200 new holders in just a few weeks. The influx of new buyers continues to outpace sellers.About Kendu InuKendu Inu is a memecoin focused on community-driven growth and development. With a commitment to fostering a strong community and exploring innovative solutions, Kendu Inu aims to make a significant impact in the cryptocurrency market.Find out more about Kendu Inu:Person Name: Kendu Miazaki Website: https://kenduinu.com Email: Kenduinu@ proton.me SOURCE: Kendu Inu PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 18:00:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 717 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / 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 Roblox Corporation ("Roblox") (NYSE:RBLX). The action charges Roblox 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 Roblox's materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, Roblox's investors have suffered significant losses. The lead plaintiff deadline is August 12, 2024.If you suffered Roblox losses, you mayCLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/roblox-corporation?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=rblx&mktm=r CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE. YOU CAN ALSO COPY AND PASTE THIS LINK IN YOUR BROWSER: https://youtu.be/KwIsAM7ucQo You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at info@ ktmc.com DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCTIn November 2023, Roblox provided investors with material information concerning the company's expected revenue for the first quarter of 2024 and fiscal year 2024. This was the first time Roblox offered earnings and revenue guidance to its investors since the company went public in 2021. Roblox's statements included, among other things, that Roblox expected $4.14 billion to $4.28 billion of "bookings" in fiscal year 2024-reflecting 25%-27% annual growth-and $3.3 billion to $3.4 billion annual revenue.Then on February 7, 2024, during an earnings call, Roblox reiterated its first quarter 2024 and fiscal year 2024 earnings projections as well as its strength in its new technology and digital economy.On May 9, 2024, Roblox reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 and provided updated guidance. Among other things, Roblox advised that the company expects bookings revenue of $870 million to $900 million for the second quarter of 2024, compared to analyst expectations of $929 million, and bookings revenue of $4 billion to $4.1 billion for the full year, significantly lower than the Roblox's earlier forecast of $4.14 billion to $4.28 billion.On this news, Roblox's stock price fell $8.61 per share, or 22.06%, to close at $30.42 per share on May 9, 2024.WHAT CAN I DO?Roblox investors may, no later than August 12, 2024, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPencourages Roblox investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against Roblox, Li v. Roblox Corp., et al., Case No. 24-cv-03484, is filed in the United States District Court for the Norther District of California.CLICK HERETO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/roblox-corporation?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=rblx&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, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPprosecutes 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, LLPplease visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPJonathan Naji, Esq.(484) 270-1453280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087info@ ktmc.com May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 05:05:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilAugust 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: 2024-06-29 00:30:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 552 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Destination Wagyuis a new meat specialist aiming to change the standard for luxury in home-delivered beef by selling high-quality, authentic Wagyu with a simple subscription model. Recently founded by entrepreneur Golan Haiem, Destination Wagyu's core goal is to bring nothing but the very highest-quality meat to its customers, and they are quickly earning a reputation for quality and consistency.Inspired by the Power of a Great MealWhile he was growing up, Haiem enjoyed seeing how a big meal could bring family and friends together, encouraging conversation and shared memories. "When unique ingredients were part of the dining experience, I noticed the gathering was more memorable," he says.Golan Haiem's first culinary passion was beef, a core part of his childhood memories of cooking and eating with his family. Haiem learned as a young child that the source and quality of red meat are all-important, which is something many meat-selling companies still undervalue. The right ingredients bring something important to the table, and sophisticated consumers deserve a company that knows and values this distinction."As an adult, I have carried these memorable dining experiences forward by seeking food that elevates my palate and sharing it with close friends," said Haiem. From that experience, Haiem has helped to create a community that finds pleasure in the experience of high-quality food and community.Incomparable, Authentic Wagyu BeefMeat lovers who want top-quality Wagyu are often left disappointed by what they find in supermarkets and even most local butchers. Not only is some meat mislabeled and erroneously sold as Wagyu, but it's also common for suboptimal cuts to be sold intentionally if top-quality cuts are scarce. Destination Wagyu solves this issue for its customers by providing them with the highest quality cuts of ethically raised, grass-fed, authentic A5 Wagyu beef from Japan, Australia, and local sources on a monthly basis."We believe you will notice the difference in our superior quality Wagyu beef from Japan, Australia, and the United States. But it's more than that. With our signature Concierge Service, you will feel like you are part of a luxury experience the moment you begin your Wagyu journey," Haiem says.The concierge service, which provides meat education, recipes, recommendations, and wine pairings, is another example of Destination Wagyu going above and beyond.The monthly service is easy to subscribe to and simple to adjust if you need to pause or cancel for any reason. Destination Wagyu's customers can also learn all about where their steaks come from, how best to cook them, and the difference between the different cuts on theirwebsite .About Destination Wagyu:At the heart of Destination Wagyu's mission is a passion for the highest quality Wagyu beef. The company strives to offer an unparalleled experience that is more than a meal, it is an experience filled with luxury and memories. The company offers a Concierge Service to help with education, recipes, and recommendations, enhancing each aspect of the Wagyu journey. Destination Wagyu sources its beef from Japan, Australia, and the United States, embracing a holistic approach that ensures each product meets high-quality standards while supporting sustainable and ethical farming.Media Details: Company Name: Destination WagyuCompany Media Contact: Golan HaiemEmail:contact@ destinationwagyu.com Website: https://destinationwagyu.com/ SOURCE: Destination Wagyu PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 13:02:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 487 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Iron Fish Distillery, a family-owned farm distillery in Michigan, has been awarded multiple prestigious whiskey awards for their 'Mad Angler' series. Each product in the series is aged for over five years, demonstrating their commitment to excellence. Inspired by Michael Delp's portrayal of the Mad Angler's deep frustration with the uncertain fate of rivers, Iron Fish named its estate farm-distilled and aged whiskies 'Mad Angler.' This initiative aims to draw attention to the critical issue of protecting watersheds and preserving rivers.TRAVERSE CITY, MI / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Iron Fish Distillery is thrilled to announce that all three of our Mad Angler whiskeys have been awarded top honors in the 2024 ASCOT Taste Competition, with Mad Angler Bourbon 5 yr. earning the prestigious Double Platinum award, one of 100 awarded nationally.Iron Fish Mad Angler Awards ASCOT award winners for Mad Angler Bourbon, Mad Angler Bottled-In-Bond, and Mad Angler Rye Whiskey.The Mad Angler name is inspired by the works of celebrated northern Michigan writer Michael Delp, advocate of rivers, who often finds creativity in fly fishing on his beloved Boardman River.Iron Fish Distillery's 'Mad Angler' whiskies are inspired by poems highlighting the river's lack of control over its future. Named to raise awareness about river conservation, these award-winning whiskies use grain from Iron Fish's 120-acre farm, which adheres to sustainable practices under the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP). The distillery supports watershed organizations, including the Iron Fish Arctic Grayling Research Fund, promoting the reintroduction of Arctic Grayling to Michigan rivers.Mad Angler Whiskey Story - See Video with Michael Delp"Our Mad Angler Bourbon Batch #4 marks the beginning of our commitment to ensuring that every product under the Mad Angler brand is aged for over 5 years," said David Wallace, co-founder and master distiller of Iron Fish.The ASCOT Awards, created by spirits expert Fred Minnick are a prestigious international spirits competition. These awards honor exceptional distillers and marketers, divided into Marketing + Design and Taste Competitions. In the Taste Competition, entries are blind-tasted and scored on a 100-point scale for appearance, aroma, taste, and finish.Mad Angler Bourbon 92 Proof / Batch #4 750ML - Aged 5 YearsDouble Platinum Award Best Small Batch BourbonMad Angler Bottled in Bond 100 Proof / 750mlPlatinum Award Best Wheat WhiskeyMad Angler Rye 92 Proof / 750mlGold Medal Best Craft Rye Whiskey (Not Sourced)About Iron Fish DistilleryEstablished in 2016, Iron Fish Distillery stands as Michigan's first farm distillery, cultivating grains, distilling spirits, and aiming to perfect the art of barrel-finishing sourced whiskey. This third-party environmentally audited working farm and distillery attracts over 150,000 guests annually to the agricultural destination, reborn on a long-abandoned 120-acre farm located in rural Springdale Township in Manistee County.Iron Fish Distillery's vision is to be a beloved legacy distillery leaving the land and community a better place than they found it.Contact InformationJesse DenHerderMarketing Directormarketing@ ironfishdistillery.com 231.590.3583SOURCE: Iron Fish DistilleryView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 16:10:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 591 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / NetElixir, an independent AI-first digital agency celebrating its 20th year in business, has unveiled a new feature of its game-changing LXRInsights platform which uses artificial intelligence and rapid experimentation for search and social media advertising. The new rapid experimentation feature was introduced at NetElixir's 20th anniversary event at ARTECHOUSE in New York.This summer, NetElixir will host a free webinar series on Generative AI, which will explore its transformative potential in marketing and beyond. The webinar series will bring together CMOs from mid-size and large brands from around the globe, industry leaders, experts, clients and enthusiasts to delve into how AI is driving business growth and fostering innovation. Registration to attend the webinars can be completed here.NetElixir now has the ability to amplify performance by analyzing live stream data, segmenting the customer data based on their predicted lifetime value and providing higher quality audience signals to the Google and Meta ad platforms for finding look-a-like audiences. After investing seven years in building their own custom machine learning models, NetElixir can now also predict customer churn propensity with over 90 percent accuracy and the likelihood of near-term purchase for every customer.Over the past two decades, NetElixir has revolutionized the tech landscape with its products such as LXRInsights and LXRMarketplace, but the company has also been a champion for equality, embracing diversity in its workforce. Founder and CEO Udayan Bose has created an inclusive environment internally, also using those principles to educate marketers on the fast-changing world of Generative AI and sharing the financial benefits to those with fewer opportunities, or who may even lack basic access to the internet.NetElixir has long made some of its most popular tools freely available to the market, including the LXRMarketplace, a complete suite of digital marketing tools providing new entrants and small businesses with the tools they need to grow and establish themselves amongst established competitors. Sharing such corporate values as these with UPS, NetElixir partnered with the global shipping and logistics giant in a combined outreach to help small businesses succeed."This year I have heard so many stories of retailers facing significant margin shrinking - and they don't have the tools to fix it. Performance Max and Advantage+ have essentially become black boxes, but now thanks to LXRInsights we have a proven way to make these modules work," said Udayan Bose, NetElixir's Founder and CEO. "LXRInsights offers the predictive analytics needed to bring back the transparency and identify the evangelist customer. The future of search is in rapid AI- powered experimentation." LXRInsights enables advertisers to identify high-value customer segments and, through a single click, they can launch a new experiment in Google Performance Max or Meta Advantage+. NetElixir is the first in the world to offer AI experimentation for search and social media advertising.ABOUT NETELIXIR:NetElixir is the AI-first digital marketing agency for leading retail, DTC, and B2B brands. The company has been driving profitable growth for e-commerce businesses since 2004, by combining a high-tech and high-touch approach to digital marketing. The team specializes in predictably winning high-value customers through targeted demand generation campaigns on Google Ads and Meta remarketing campaigns. NetElixir's strategic insights empower brands to humanize their customer relationships through search, social, programmatic display, and retail media channels and draw the line between invasive and inventive marketing.Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, NetElixir has wholly-owned subsidiary offices in Hyderabad, India. For more information, please visitwww.netelixir.com For media inquiries, please contact:Gareth Edmondson-JonesGEJ Ink gejink@ gmail.com 917 399-9355SOURCE: NetElixir PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 15:38:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 662 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces it has filed a lawsuit against UiPath, Inc. ("UiPath" or the "Company") (NYSE:PATH) and certain of the Company's senior executives.Investors have until August 19, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in UiPath securities between December 1, 2023 and the close of trading on May 29, 2024 inclusive (the "Class Period"). The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Zack Steiner v. UiPath, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-4702.If you suffered losses on your UiPath investment, you are encouraged to submit your information at https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/uipath-inc-investigation What is the Lawsuit About?The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the success of UiPath's turnaround strategy. For instance, defendants represented that the Company was "executing against that strategy, and we're seeing [the] results in the deal quality and the customer quality," asserted that "our strategic investments in innovations and our go-to-market ecosystem positions us well for continued momentum," and that "there's no doubt there's [been] better execution" since the implementation of the turnaround strategy.These statements were allegedly materially false and misleading. In truth, UiPath's turnaround strategy had failed. Fruitless investments and inconsistent execution plagued the Company's overhauled go-to-market strategy. Additionally, UiPath's AI-powered Business Automation Platform caused "confusion" among customers and was not able to be adequately scaled. As a result, UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding large multiyear deals.On May 29, 2024, UiPath announced the sudden departure of CEO Robert Enslin. On the same day, UiPath announced disappointing 1Q 25 financial results and significantly cut its FY 25 revenue guidance by 10%, or $150 million. The Company attributed the poor results and guidance to several factors related to its failed turnaround strategy, including an inadequate "execution strategy to scale" the Company's AI-powered growth products "to reach their full potential," and that AI had "create[ed] a little bit of confusion with our customers." Ui Path also described how the "investments we have made to reaccelerate growth have fallen short of our expectations, [and] made us less agile in responding to customer needs" while experiencing "contract execution challenges on large deals." This news caused the price of UiPath stock to decline $6.23 per share, or more than 34%, from $18.30 per share on May 29, 2024, to $12.07 per share on May 30, 2024, resulting in significant harm to investors.Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/uipath-inc-investigation What Can You Do?If you invested in UiPath, Inc. you have rights and are encouraged to submit your information to speak with an attorney.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The Firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information:Or contact us at:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 22:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 676 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that all matters proposed by management were approved at Pelangio's annual meeting held Friday, June 28, 2024 (the "Meeting").At the Meeting, shareholders of Pelangio re-elected Ingrid Hibbard, JC St. Amour, David Mosher, Kevin Thomson, and Al Gourley to the board of directors. The shareholders also approved the reappointment of its auditor and reapproved the Company's stock option plan. No additional business was brought before the Meeting.About PelangioPelangio acquires and explores prospective land packages located in world-class gold belts in Ghana, West Africa, and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is focused on its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of eight near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the Dankan property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario at its gold, silver, zinc polymetallic Kenogaming project, located 63 km southwest of Timmins and at its Gowan polymetallic project, located 16 km east of the Kidd Creek Mine. See www.pelangio.com for further details on all Pelangio's properties.For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact:Ingrid Hibbard, President, and CEOTel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@ pelangio.com Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words 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 statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. Regarding forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made many assumptions, including about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, delays due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.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: Pelangio Exploration Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 22:25:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 563 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / In a groundbreaking triumph,Saharahas clinched theNetty Awardfor Best Cross-Channel Campaign in Hospitality for its 'Where Luxury Meets Tradition" campaign for Torfhus Retreat. This innovative campaign skillfully combines historical Viking allure with the opulence of modern luxury travel, setting new standards in the travel marketing industry.Innovation and DifferentiationSahara's campaign for Torfhus Retreat showcases a unique blend of ancient Viking themes and contemporary luxury. Through its strategic content layering, from broad historical narratives to targeted booking prompts, Sahara captures the spirit of adventure and delivers a personalized marketing journey to each viewer. This approach highlights the campaign's outstanding ability to engage and convert in a competitive market, establishing a new benchmark for digital storytelling.Measurable Impact and SuccessThe 'Where Luxury Meets Tradition' campaign dramatically transformed Torfhus Retreat's digital footprint, achieving an 88.5% increase in bookings and a 101.2% rise in room revenue. The campaign's sophisticated funnel strategy and optimized Google Ads performance not only enhanced metrics but also deepened customer engagement, proving its effectiveness in driving both interest and profit.Creative Elements and ExecutionThe creative success of the campaign is rooted in its ability to weave together the rich Viking heritage with the luxury of the retreat. Through captivating visuals and evocative narratives that span Iceland's stunning landscapes, Sahara crafts a travel experience that feels both timeless and luxurious. The campaign's execution across various platforms ensures a seamless and engaging user experience, converting interest into action.Overall Excellence and Industry AdvancementSahara's innovative campaign represents a milestone in the evolution of digital marketing within the hospitality sector. Its integrated approach across digital channels has not only enhanced Torfhus Retreat's brand but also set unprecedented levels of engagement and revenue growth. This campaign serves as a testament to Sahara's innovative capabilities and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in hospitality marketing.A Word from the CEO"This award is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our team at Sahara," stated Sigurdur Svansson, CEO of Sahara. "Our campaign showcased our expertise in digital marketing within the travel and hospitality sector and highlighted the effective collaboration among our Digital, Creative, and Web departments. When we unite as a team, we can develop and implement narrative-driven marketing strategies that engage and captivate our audience. We are proud to have made a significant impact in the hospitality marketing field and remain dedicated to driving the industry forward with innovation and excellence." About SaharaAs a leader in digital innovation, Sahara stands at the forefront of digital innovation, specializing in creating bespoke campaigns that seamlessly integrate across platforms, creating a powerful journey for the audience by tailoring the creatives and strategy to fit each unique occasion. Known for its transformative storytelling and powerful marketing strategies, Sahara consistently redefines industry benchmarks and demonstrates its prowess with each successful campaign.About the Netty AwardsThe Netty Awards are a prestigious awards program that honors top leaders and companies across various industries in the digital age. With over 100 unique categories and a longstanding track record as one of the most trusted organizations in the industry, the Netty Awards celebrate achievements in Design, Social Media, Influencers & Creators, Web, Advertising & PR, and Apps & Software.Contact Information:Name: Sigurdur SvanssonEmail: siggi@ sahara.is Website: www.sahara.is/en SOURCE: The Netty Awards PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 18:15:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 346 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 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 nameDate of birthSocial Security numberHealth insurance informationMedical informationWHAT'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.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: 2024-06-28 13:32:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 987 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SGQ)(HK:1878) ("SouthGobi" or the "Company") hereby announces: (i) the resolutions set out in the Management Proxy Circular of the Company dated May 13, 2024 (Vancouver time) (the "Circular") were duly passed by ballot at the annual general meeting (the "Meeting") of the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") held on June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time), at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, 900 Canada Place Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; (ii) the appointment of Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi as an independent non-executive director of the Company, with effect from June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time); (iii) the appointment of Mr. Yingbin Ian He as the lead director of the Company (the "Lead Director"), with effect from June 27, 2024 (Vancouver time); (iv) the change in composition of board committees of the Company; and (v) the dissolution of operations committee of the Company (the "Operations Committee").VOTING RESULTS OF THE MEETINGReference is made to the Circular. Unless the context otherwise requires, the capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as those defined in the Circular.In respect to the Meeting, the following sets forth a brief description of each matter which was voted upon at the Meeting and the outcome of the vote:ORDINARY RESOLUTIONFORWITHHELD(note (a))1.Appointment of AuditorsTo appoint BDO Limited, Certified Public Accountants (Practicing), Hong Kong, as auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at a remuneration to be fixed by the board of directors.132,914,920(99.99%)200(0.01%)ORDINARY RESOLUTIONFORAGAINST2.Number of DirectorsTo fix the number of directors of the Company to be elected at the Meeting at eight (8).132,912,020(99.04%)1,281,950(0.06%)ORDINARY RESOLUTIONFORWITHHELD(note (a))3.Election of DirectorsThe following Director nominees proposed by management of the Company for election:Ruibin Xu132,914,920 (99.99%)200(0.01%)Chonglin Zhu132,914,920 (99.99%)200(0.01%)Chen Shen132,912,020 (99.99%)3,100(0.01%)Zhu Gao132,912,920(99.99%)2,200(0.01%)Zaixiang Wen132,912,920(99.99%)2,200(0.01%)Yingbin Ian He132,912,320(99.99%)2,800(0.01%)Jin Lan Quan132,912,320(99.99%)2,800(0.01%)Fan Keung Vic Choi132,912,920(99.99%)2,200(0.01%)Notes:Please refer to the announcement of the Company dated April 3, 2023 (Vancouver time) and the paragraphs headed "Majority Voting Policy for Directors" and "Majority Voting Policy for Auditors" under the Circular for details of the waiver from Hong Kong Listing Rules granted by HKEX on two-way voting and the relevant majority voting policy adopted by the Company. As more than 50% of votes were cast in favor of resolutions #1, #2 and #3 above, all such resolutions duly passed as ordinary resolutions at the Meeting. As at the Record Date of the Meeting, the total number of issued shares of the Company was 295,768,529 Common Shares, being the total number of shares entitling the holders to attend and vote on the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. The full text of the aforesaid resolutions was set out in the Circular. Save as disclosed in note (a) above, there were (i) no Common Shares entitling the holders to attend and abstain from voting in favor of any resolution at the Meeting as set out in Rule 13.40 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules at the Meeting; and (ii) no Shareholder was required under the Hong Kong Listing Rules to abstain from voting on the resolutions at the Meeting and these were no restrictions on any Shareholder casting vote on the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. None of the Shareholders have stated their intention in the Circular to vote against or to abstain from voting on any of the resolutions proposed at the Meeting. The Company's principal share registrar, TSX Trust Company, acted as the scrutineer for the vote-taking at the Meeting. The executive directors, Messrs. Ruibin Xu, Chen Shen and Ms. Chonglin Zhu attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities. Of the non-executive directors, Mr. Zaixiang Wen attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities and Mr. Zhu Gao was absent due to his other business commitments. The independent non-executive directors, Mr. Yingbin Ian He attended the Meeting in person and Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi and Ms. Jin Lan Quan attended the Meeting through telecommunication facilities.There was no further item brought before the Meeting and no amendment or variation were proposed at the Meeting.APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORThe Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi was elected and appointed as an independent non-executive director and appointed as Chair of the Compensation and Benefits Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees immediately upon conclusion of the Meeting.The biographical details of Mr. Choi are as below:Mr. Fan Keung Vic Choi, aged 59, is a solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong. Since September 2018, Mr. Choi has been a consultant solicitor of Messrs. Howse Williams, an independent Hong Kong law firm, primarily focused on advising and representing banks and financial industry participants in defending investigations and prosecutions brought by regulators and law enforcement agencies. He is an independent non-executive director of Shoucheng Holdings Limited (HKEX stock code: 0697), an investment holding company mainly engaged in the management of private funds and management and operations of car parking assets.Mr. Choi's career has spanned over 40 years, with a focus on regulatory compliance, compliance management, prevention and control of commercial crime and investigation and has extensive experience in legal practice and, crime investigation and prosecution. In addition to his practice at Messrs. Howse Williams, Mr. Choi has acted as General Counsel for listed company and regulated fund management firm. He was employed by HSBC Bank (China) Co., Ltd. (May 2010 to December 2014), and served as deputy head of compliance, area compliance office in China and head of compliance where he managed over 160 compliance officers and was responsible for regulatory compliance and prevention and control of financial crime in over 60 cities in China.Mr. Choi obtained a bachelor degree, Post graduate certificate and a Master's degree in Law from the University of Hong Kong. He is a member of the Law Society of Hong Kong, a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a dire PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 21:45:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 539 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Duane Boise President of MMJ companies applauded the supreme court ruling saying "after years of DEA gross misconduct and blatant misinterpretation of marijuana research and development policy the Constitution still matters. Now the DEA will have to clean up their in-house kangaroo court system to allow a fair and impartial administrative law hearing".WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court has ruled in Jarkesy v. SEC that defendants are entitled to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment when facing enforcement actions from federal agencies. This decision challenges the constitutionality of using administrative law judges (ALJs) in federal agencies like the DEA, suggesting that enforcement actions must be brought in federal court where defendants can have a jury trial. This ruling has significant implications for MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's ongoing legal battles with the DEA.Key Points of the Jarkesy Ruling as Related to MMJ:Seventh Amendment Right to Jury Trial: The ruling affirms that defendants have the right to a jury trial in enforcement actions by federal agencies.Constitutionality of In-House Tribunals: The court found that using in-house tribunals for enforcement actions violates the Constitution.Implications for ALJs: The decision challenges the authority and independence of ALJs in federal agencies, suggesting administrative actions should be heard in federal courts.Failed DEA Marijuana PolicyDespite public assurances from the Biden administration, there has been little meaningful action on marijuana policy reform. The DEA's anti-marijuana stance continues to stymie research and development. With six approved DEA growers, none are currently cultivating marijuana for research, and the University of Mississippi remains the only source of marijuana for research purposes. MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has faced significant delays from the DEA in processing their application to cultivate strain-specific cannabis, impacting their research and development efforts.Statements from MMJ BioPharma CultivationDuane Boise, President of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, applauded the Supreme Court ruling, stating, "After years of DEA gross misconduct and blatantly unconstitutional actions interpreting policy to benefit their anti-marijuana sentiment, the United States Supreme Court ruled and the Constitution still matters." Tim Moynahan, Attorney and Chairman of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, emphasized the critical need for MMJ to complete its research to help patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and Huntington's Disease. He hopes that challenging the constitutionality of the DEA's actions will lead to a resolution.Moving ForwardThe Supreme Court ruling in Jarkesy v. SEC significantly constrains the power of federal agencies to use in-house administrative proceedings for enforcement actions, which will positively impact MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's case against the DEA. By challenging the use of ALJs and insisting on a jury trial in federal court, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation will find a more favorable legal pathway in obtaining their Bulk Manufacturing registration to grow pharmaceutical cannabis.MMJ BioPharma Cultivation's case will become a landmark case in shaping how the DEA interprets regulations and handle disputes, potentially leading to more transparent and constitutionally sound procedures. The outcomes of these legal battles and the forthcoming Supreme Court decisions will be pivotal in shaping the future of pharmaceutical cannabis research and ensuring patients have access to new treatments.MMJ is represented by Attorney Megan Sheehan and associates.CONTACT: Madison Hisey media@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 15:00:36 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 392 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Thira Health Expands Clinical Expertise With Appointment of Dr. Al TsaiBELLEVUE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 /THIRA Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Al Tsai, MD, as the new Medical Director, effective July 2024. Dr. Tsai joins THIRA Health with a distinguished career characterized by rigorous training, diverse clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to advancing psychiatric care.THIRA Logo Dr. Tsai earned his Doctorate of Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His military psychiatry experience includes serving as Chief of Psychiatry at Womack Army Medical Center and clinical deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom in Bagram, Afghanistan.In his civilian career, Dr. Tsai has made significant contributions at notable institutions such as Overlake Hospital Medical Center and Overlake Medical Clinics, where he directed the Partial Day Hospital. At the Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center in Seattle and Bellevue, Washington, he spearheaded innovative treatments for treatment-resistant depression, including intranasal ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation.Dr. Tsai's expertise in integrating psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been instrumental in developing comprehensive care programs. His leadership in managing suicidality and self-harm behaviors has been widely recognized, and he has presented his research and insights at prestigious forums including the American Psychiatric Association and the Association for Academic Psychiatry.Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Tsai is a passionate advocate for mental health education and stigma reduction. He actively engages in community outreach and mentorship initiatives, reflecting his dedication to improving mental health care and patient advocacy."We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Al Tsai to THIRA Health," said Dr. Mehri Moore, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and founder of THIRA Health. "His extensive experience, innovative approach, and compassionate care philosophy align perfectly with our mission. The entire team is excited about the new perspectives and expertise he brings to our practice." Dr. Tsai's arrival at THIRA Health marks a significant step in our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional psychiatric care. His clinical excellence, research leadership, and compassionate approach align perfectly with THIRA Health's mission to advance mental health treatment and support.Contact InformationSarah SkoterroDirector of Business Developmentsarahs@ thirahealth.com 206-718-0866SOURCE: THIRA HealthView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-28 22:30:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 518 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / In a remarkable achievement in the field of digital marketing,Tribalism'sinnovative analytics tool, "DJ's Customer Journeys," has been honored with the prestigiousNetty Awardfor Best Use of Analytics for Insights. This accolade recognizes Tribalism's dedication to advancing data analytics by delivering actionable, visually intuitive insights that drive significant business transformation.Innovation and DifferentiationTribalism has revolutionized traditional analytics approaches by integrating advanced technologies like D3 and Observable into their analytics framework. The project extends Kerry Rodden's sunburst visualization technique to craft a comprehensive tool that elucidates complex customer journey sequences in a dynamic, filterable interface. This innovation not only surpasses the capabilities of standard platforms like GA4 but also customizes data insights for precise strategic application in daily business operations.Measurable Impact and SuccessAlthough newly implemented, "DJ's Customer Journeys" has profoundly impacted decision-making for a major Australian retailer. It has reshaped marketing strategies and website design, offering deep insights into consumer behavior across various brands. This strategic tool is instrumental in refining marketing efforts and optimizing resource distribution, showcasing the transformative potential of Tribalism's analytics solutions.Creative Elements and ExecutionTribalism's use of Observable enables intricate and interactive data analysis, which is both user-friendly and technically sophisticated. The central sunburst diagram, enhanced with D3, provides a visually compelling and functional display of user navigation paths. This not only improves the aesthetic appeal of data presentation but also enhances its practical utility, making complex data sets accessible and engaging.Overall Excellence and Industry AdvancementTribalism's "DJ's Customer Journeys" tool signifies a leap forward in data analytics, setting new industry standards for how data can influence business strategy and customer understanding. By liberating analytics from traditional constraints, Tribalism encourages continuous innovation and discussion within the industry, shaping the future of web analytics with their visionary approach.A Word from the Founder/Lead Consultant"We are incredibly proud to receive this Netty Award for our work on 'DJ's Customer Journeys.' This project represents our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what analytics can do for businesses today," said Scott Sunderland, Founder/Lead Consultant of Tribalism. "Our goal was to turn complex data into not just information, but a roadmap for actionable insight, and this recognition confirms that we are on the right track. We look forward to continuing our work in transforming data into powerful strategic tools." About TribalismTribalism is a leader in data analytics innovation, specializing in transforming intricate data sets into clear, actionable insights tailored to specific business needs. Their cutting-edge work in digital marketing analytics challenges traditional methodologies and leads the way in custom analytics solutions.About the Netty AwardsThe Netty Awards are a renowned awards program celebrating top achievements in the digital realm. Recognized by USA Today in their Top Agencies List, the Netty Awards commend innovations in Design, Social Media, Influencers & Creators, Web, Advertising & PR, and Apps & Software, establishing them as a pivotal recognition platform in the industry.Contact Information:Name: Scott SunderlandEmail: info@ tribalism.com.au Website: https://www.tribalism.com.au/ SOURCE: The Netty Awards Fourteen months after Sudans civil war began, the country faces humanitarian disaster. At least 16,000 Sudanese have died in the military power struggle that erupted in April 2023 when General Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalos Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked General Abdel Fattah al-Burhans regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The African Unions Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) on 21 June expressed grave concern over the unprecedented catastrophic humanitarian situation, indiscriminate killings of civilians, and destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, water purification and electricity generation plants. The warfare has included mindless cruelty, including mass rape and ethnic pogroms by the RSF, particularly in Darfurs western region. But the gathering famine is now most worrying. The war has displaced nearly 10 million people, destroyed agricultural infrastructure and collapsed the countrys economy. The WFP says nearly 18 million Sudanese face acute food insecurity almost five million of whom are in emergency levels of hunger. The war has raged across the country, with the SAF dominant in the east and RSF in the west, including Darfur. In its previous incarnation as the Janjaweed, RSF rampaged, killed, looted and raped in Darfur in the early 2000s. The current epicentre of the clashes is El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and the last SAF stronghold in the area. Although SAF is supported by militias, the RSF has besieged the city. The El Fasher area hosts over a million civilians, many already displaced by the conflict and teetering on the edge of survival, says the International Crisis Group (ICG). Even a prolonged siege threatens their lives, but an escalating battle for the city could lead to mass slaughter and other atrocities. The most pressing need is to deliver humanitarian aid to the millions who risk starvation but even that is proving almost impossible. As several commentators have pointed out, both the SAF and RSF have denied virtually all humanitarian access to each others strongholds. The ICG says the RSF should allow civilians to leave El Fasher safely, although these people have nowhere to go since most belong to ethnic groups the RSF has targeted. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In Foreign Affairs last week, World Peace Foundation Executive Director and Sudan expert Alex de Waal wrote that the looming famine is no accident: both Burhan and Hemedti are using mass starvation as a weapon of war. The RSF fighters operate like human locusts, stripping cities and countryside bare of all movable resources to sustain their war machine. The SAF has blocked humanitarian aid to the vast areas of the country under RSF control. De Waal says by one projection, as much as 5 per cent of Sudans population could die of starvation by year-end. The international community is protesting but achieving little to end the war or ensure emergency aid reaches the neediest. Early on, the United States and Saudi Arabia convened talks between the two sides, culminating in an agreement to allow humanitarian aid and protect civilians. Neither side has complied. This month, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2736, demanding civilian protection and unimpeded humanitarian access, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and an end to the El Fasher siege and external interference. The G7 has said much the same. The AU has made some attempts, but not enough, including futile efforts last year to bring the parties to the negotiation table. Last Friday, as El Fashers looming catastrophe became unignorable, the PSC again called on both sides to begin peace talks and at least allow humanitarian aid into the war zones. It commended efforts by AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU High-Level Panel on Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to convene next months all-inclusive Sudan political dialogue process in Addis Ababa. The PSC directed Mahamat to set up a committee comprising a leader from each of Africas five regions to urge Burhan and Hemedti to meet face-to-face to resolve this ultimately personal power struggle between them. However, a big question mark hangs over any peace efforts by Africa alone, because of foreign forces unprecedented meddling in the conflict. The fingers of suspicion point mainly towards the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is widely suspected of arming and funding the RSF, while Saudi Arabia is believed to be backing the SAF. De Waal says this includes permitting Egypt, Qatar and Turkey to provide it with weapons and block peace initiatives. Last year Iran sent drones to the SAF as part of efforts to revive its links with Sudans Islamists, who support the SAF, he says. Meanwhile, Russia seems to be playing both sides. Wagner has been involved in Sudan for years, backing the RSF. But Moscow recently shifted to a more even-handed posture as it wants to establish a naval facility in Port Sudan (where Burhans government has retreated) in exchange for arms to the SAF. De Waal believes only Saudi Arabia and UAE can bring Burhan and Hemedti to talks. Like the ICG, he has urged Washington and the West to use their influence on the two Gulf states to do that. However, there is another locus of pressure on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other interferers. The BRICS bloc now includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iran and Russia all suspected of meddling in Sudan. Yet when its foreign ministers met in Russia this month, they all intoned the mantra of African solutions for African problems regarding Sudan saying nothing about their own complicity. Conversely, the ICG found it encouraging that in last weeks PSC communique, the AU condemned external actors for the first time even if it didnt name them. Sudans beleaguered democrats could also still play a role. The Coordination Body of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), comprising Sudanese civil society and political actors, held its founding conference in May. It brought together nearly 600 participants from Sudans 18 states and elected former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok as its leader. As Chatham House notes, Taqaddum has been accused by both warring sides of bias towards the other, and must remain united and strong so it can contribute to peace efforts. Taqaddum probably remains hostage to Burhan and Hemedtis reckless ambitions. But its conference was a useful reminder that neither of the two leaders destroying the country for their own gain would be the rightful heir were peace achieved. They joined forces in October 2021 to hijack the transition to civilian democracy, and neither deserves a role in Sudans future. 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). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has inaugurated an eight-man ministerial task force committee on illegal private chartered operations and related matters to address alleged money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities by private jet operators in Nigeria. In a statement issued Thursday by the Ministrys Head of Press & Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi, the minister said the move is part of an effort to address illicit activities causing financial losses to the federal government across airports in the country. To stem the practice of illegal chartered operations including illicit activities raising security and safety concerns culminating to significant financial losses to the Federal Government, Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FciArb. (UK), has inaugurated a Ministerial Task Force Committee on illegal private chartered operations and related matters, the statement said. The minister highlighted his 5-Point agenda to include safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity deployment and revenue generation, adding that the agenda serves as a guide in discharging the mandate of President Bola Tinubu. He emphasised that the operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated going by the security reports on the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in Nigeria. Mr Keyamo said he is compelled to take decisive action after meeting with the regulators and stakeholders within the aviation industry by setting up a ministerial task force. He urged the task force members to work diligently to restore confidence in the aviation industry, to eliminate illegal operations and also to ensure that every flight in the countrys skies adheres to the highest standards of safety and legality. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Terms of reference According to the statement, the task force members who have been carefully selected from within and outside the aviation industry were charged with the responsibility to take inventory of all Private Non-commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders. The minister tasked the members to determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country despite regulatory controls and to call in all professional licences of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity. Mr Keyamo also mandated the task force to recommend any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem the ugly tide, and to recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters. To recommend additional measures to further monitor the operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria, the statement said. The members of the task force are Ado Sanusi (chairman); Roland Iyayi, (vice-chairman); Ag. director of Air Transport, FMA &AD, (secretary); Theresa Babayo (DAYR-NCAA), (member) and a nominee from the national security adviser, who will serve as a member. Others are Daniel Quansah, Patrick Ogunlowo and Obafemi Bajomo (SA-HMA). In his reaction, the committee chairman, Mr Sanusi appreciated the Minister for the opportunity given to the committee and promised to get to the root of the problems. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nollywood actors Ejike Asiegbu and Uche Nnanna-Maduka have apologised to the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, over a video criticising his administration. Actress Nnanna-Maduka, 21 June, shared a video on her Instagram page, calling out Mr Uzodinma over a blackout at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Imo. In the video, which featured Asiegbu, Fred Amata, Keppy Ekpenyong, Gloria Nobert Young, and Grace Amah, Nnanna-Maduka expressed frustration that their luggage had to be claimed outdoors due to a power outage rather than inside upon arrival. The actors were in the state for an event organised by Lucky Chukwu, a former gubernatorial candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 elections, which coincided with his (Chukwu) 50th birthday. The actress, who captured the bleak scene at the arrival terminal, questioned the states governance, noting that it was shameful. Displeased with the video, Mr Uzodinmas Chief Press Secretary, Oguwuike Nwachuku, in an opinion piece titled Role Models Without Character, published in Source Magazine on 26 June, claimed that Nnanna-Maduka was hired to make the video. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Nwachuku said the actress deliberately planned to insult the governors office and the governor. Apology However, on Thursday, Asiegbu apologised to Mr Uzodimma regarding the video on behalf of his colleagues. The 64-year-old confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES in a phone interview on Friday. I have responded and made my reaction known. Its not a big deal; people love sensationalised things. My response is online, and its not a big deal to apologise on behalf of colleagues for making a video calling out the governor of a state. Anything you see there is what I said, he said. In his apology statement circulating on social media, the University of Port Harcourt alumnus clarified that the video was not intended to belittle the governor but was maliciously misinterpreted. I most respectfully apologise on behalf of my colleague Uchenna Maduka to my friend, brother, elder statesman, and governor, His Excellency Chief Dr Hope Uzodimma, for the embarrassment this video may have caused him. While I do not come from Imo State, I am married to a wonderful and loving wife from Imo State. Besides, we Abia State people were part of the old Imo State and would always want the best for Imo State and its people because we are all brothers and sisters. Let me state for the record that we are men and women of honour and integrity. Apples and carrots do not sway us as Mr Oguwike has maliciously adduced. Asiegbu joined Nollywood in 1996 and made his acting debut in Silent Night, a movie that brought him to the limelight. He often stars alongside Pete Edochie, Clem Ohameze, Kanayo O Kanayo and Kenneth Okonkwo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday appointed the Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, as the chairman of its campaign organisation for the Ondo State governorship election slated for 16 November. The party also appointed the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, as the chairman of the campaign council for the Edo State governorship election, which will be held on 21 September. The campaign councils were inaugurated on Thursday by the National Chairman of the party, Illiya Damagum, in Abuja. Mr Damagum urged the committee members to give all their support in ensuring that the party triumphs in both states, adding that they were selected for the task because they have done it effectively before. He said he had observed President Bola Tinubus remarks on Ondo and Edo States but noted that the two states were not Lagos. We will not sit down and allow anybody to snatch, grab, and steal. We will be battle-ready for any thief that attempts to steal our fortune, he said. We have done so well in Edo State. We thank the governor. We are very proud of him. And our records in that state speak volumes. It is part of our pride and will be one we will use to continue giving them that dividend that they have enjoyed during Godwin Obasekis term. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later So to those that think they will take Edo, I want to tell them that it is going to be very difficult for them because we are in a democratic dispensation. We will not make the mistake we made before. And this time around, there is no announcement of the result in the middle of the night, he added. Mr Damagum enjoined party faithful who would spearhead the campaign in Edo State to make the party proud, as the governor had laid a good foundation to make their work easy. For those going to Ondo, you have a very daunting task before you. You have to shine your eyes. They will come with all sorts of antics, but this time around, we are ready for them. Im encouraging you to be fearless. Already, they are campaigning for us. Hunger alone in this country is enough to change your sight, he said. Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Fintiri said the party was prepared and would not leave anything to chance. We should go with all seriousness. We will match APC. With technology, rigging is very minimal. PDP has bright chances in the two states. Edo has registered over 2000 since new registration has started, he said. Mr Fintiri will be assisted by his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori and Agu Kefas of Taraba State, in the committee of 148 members. Mr Adeleke will be assisted by Caleb Mutfwang from Plateau State and Dauda Lawal from Zamfara State in a council of 177 members. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) says lack of access caused a delay in putting out the fire at the Karu old market in Abuja on Thursday. The acting Director-General of the department, Florence Wenegieme, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday. Mrs Wenegieme underscored the need for access to market, public and private buildings by fire service personnel and trucks during fire outbreaks for quick interventions to reduce losses. She said the fire started around 6:30 p.m. but was brought under control by the combined team of FEMD, FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service. According to her, the efforts prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding houses. She, however, explained that it was not the new Karu Market currently under construction that was engulfed by the fire, but an informal market and settlement behind the new market. She said: There are Fire Stations at two locations in Karu; we have the Karu Fire Station, and a Fire Station and firefighting truck in the new Karu Market under construction. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Firefighting trucks arrived at the scene of the fire on time but could not get access to the market to put out the fire on time. We had to break walls to pass the firefighting water hoses through, to be able to put out the fire, the acting DG said. She added that goods worth millions of naira were lost, but no life was lost to the fire. She further said that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also on ground for crowd control. Mrs Wenegieme thanked the Department of Engineering, Federal Capital Development Authority for activating Julius Berger Fire Service to provide the needed support. She said that investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, says national reorientation is critical to fostering unity and cohesion within Nigeria. Mr Idris said this at the Diamond Celebration of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held in Abuja on Thursday. He said President Bola Tinubu has directed that national orientation should be given priority in governmental affairs. What President Bola Tinubu is trying to do is to put national orientation in the centre of affairs of this country because you can do all the roads, you can improve on all the infrastructure, and you can do everything, but once the right atmosphere is not there, you will lose everything. Infrastructure development is crucial, but without a cohesive societal framework, our progress is unsustainable, the minister said. Mr Idris highlighted the cultural impact of events like Davidos wedding to illustrate the power of music in promoting patriotism and national unity. We must harness music and other cultural expressions to instil hope and foster reconciliation, he stressed, advocating for a renewed emphasis on trustworthy public communication. Also speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, lamented external pressures hindering Nigerias economic progress and urged Nigerians to reclaim their pride and resilience. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Justin Green, urged the Nigerian government to engage public relations professionals to foster national development and address the countrys reputational challenges. According to him, the Nigerian government, the minister of information and national orientation, and policymakers must involve NIPR in enhancing effective communication and managing national reputation. The NIPR has achieved significant milestones in the past 60 years. However, it is not just its history that sets it apart; it is its ambitious vision for the future. NIPR represents a core community of PR practitioners excelling not only in Africa but globally, he stated. Mr Green expressed confidence in the leadership of the NIPR which has led to greater heights, reaffirming the Global Alliances commitment to supporting and collaborating with the institute. Arik Karani, president of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), hailed NIPRs 60-year legacy as a beacon for public relations across Africa. He urged Nigerians to lead by example and support regional integration efforts. Obiora Okonkwo, chairman of United Nigeria Airline, urged NIPR members to enhance Nigerias international image, stressing the need for tangible benefits from governance visible to all Nigerians globally. Earlier in his opening address, NIPR President, Ike Neliaku, celebrated initiatives such as the nationwide planting of 60 trees, symbolising unity amidst diversity as part of the institutes efforts. He said the institute is committed to a transparent model of governance built on trust and truth, just as he called for greater accountability and support for local industries like Innoson. Dapo Oyewale, a presidential aide, moderated a panel of discussion at the event themed Public Relations, Value Reorientation, and Economic Transformation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Anambra State has arrested four suspects in alleged illegal mining activities. The NSCDC Commandant in Anambra State, Olatunde Maku, announced this on Friday while parading the suspects in Awka, according to a statement by the agencys spokesperson in the state, Edwin Okadigbo. Mr Maku said the suspects were separately arrested on Thursday in collaboration with the Federal Mines Officer, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in charge of Anambra State, Henry Bolarinwa. The state commandant explained that the arrest was in strict compliance with the directives of the commandant general of the NSCDC to end illegal mining activities across Nigeria. He identified three suspects as Chidubem Nnamani, 19, Ifeanyi Ekemezie, 34, and Okolie Patrick, 34 all males and indigenes of different communities in Enugu State. The fourth suspect, Onyedika Somtoo, 36, hails from Ire Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. These suspects were caught mining laterite without approval from the relevant authorities, causing environmental degradation in the area. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later With what we have done today, it is an indication and a strong signal to those illegal miners that it is no longer business as usual, he said. Mr Maku noted that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage and poses environmental risks, emphasising the need for miners to operate with valid licences and approved mining sites. A truck loaded with laterite, nine heavy-duty batteries, one heavy duty hydraulic jack, and four fuel filters were recovered from the suspects, according to the NSCDC. The NSCDC commandant commended the Solid Minerals Unit led by Ewogu Chinedu for sustaining the tempo of stamping out illegal miners in Anambra State. He announced that he had ordered the Intelligence and Investigation Department of the NSCDC to investigate the matter for possible arraignment of the arrested suspects. On his part, the Federal Mines Officer in the state, Mr Bolarinwa, an engineer, lamented that illegal mining has been causing revenue losses for the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has approved Nigerias 3rd Progress Report since the country was added to the list of jurisdictions under monitoring (the grey list) in February 2023. The approval was given at the FATF June 2024 plenary meeting hosted by Singapore. The plenary approved a further two upgrades in this round, and Nigeria has now completed 30 per cent of the Action Plan developed as part of the listing process. The country is on track to exit the grey list in early 2025. A statement released on Friday by the Strategic Communications Office of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) stated that during the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, who is also the current Chair of the Technical Commission of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Hafsat Bakari, reiterated Nigerias commitment to fully implement the Action Plan and updated the plenary on GIABAs continued progress to strengthen its technical capacity. The Nigerian delegation to the plenary also included the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Director of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) and the Chief of Staff to the CEO of the NFIU. Signed: Sani Tukur Head: Strategic Communications Office NFIU, Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Oyo State Government has approved the recruitment of 7,500 teachers, and 3,000 non-teaching staff into the state teaching service, as part of efforts to improve the post-Primary education sector. The chairperson, Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission, (TESCOM), Akinade Alamu, made this known on Friday in a statement in Ibadan. He said the recruitment of new teachers will be based on merit, and advised all qualified candidates, including the physically challenged, to jump on the offer. According to him, merit-based employment is key to qualitative education, hence the need to adhere strictly to the stated guidelines on the application portal. He warned applicants against applying simultaneously for both categories, saying that each applicant is entitled to either the teaching or non-teaching category. Interested candidates with requisite credentials are to apply through the link, for about two weeks. Applicants are expected to have a National Identification Number, functioning email, and phone numbers, among other requirements. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Alamu disclosed that the steps to be taken for the employment exercise included online application, CBT examination, and oral interview. He applauded the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, for approving the mass recruitment exercise. READ ALSO: Makinde reshuffles Oyo cabinet Oyo State governments huge investment in the education sector is yielding positive results as our students are doing well on all fronts. Therefore, the government is set to recruit more teachers, in addition to those on ground, he said. According to Mr Alamu, the recruitment exercise is being supervised by an inter-ministerial committe that would ensure a seamless exercise. The Permanent Secretary, TESCOM, Haroon Lawal, was quoted as saying that the recruitment is aimed at fortifying the teaching and non-teaching sector of the states secondary education. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print PREMIUM TIMES can report that barring any change in plans, the Nigerian government will purchase an Airbus A330 aircraft seized from an unnamed Arab prince and businessman who could not pay hundreds of millions of dollars he owed a German bank. Presidency officials have kept their lips shut about plans to buy a new presidential jet. However, this newspaper has obtained information that the government has already identified an aircraft for purchase but is scrambling for funds to consummate the transaction. The identified aircraft is said to be a repossessed one recovered from a troubled oil sheikh who used the aeroplane as collateral for a loan he obtained from an unidentified German bank to buy it. When a bank loan is taken to purchase an aircraft, the aircraft is usually pledged as collateral. Our sources said the bank repossessed the aircraft from the debtor businessman but found it challenging to sell due to its executive customisation. The aircraft is now in the possession of L & L International LLC, an American aviation firm based in Miami, Florida. L & L International LLC is trying to help the German bank sell it to the Nigerian government. The multi-engine prestige jet, which has an elaborate VIP configuration, is said to be worth $600 million. But the Nigerian government is offering a little over $100 million. Our sources say they are unsure if that offer is acceptable to L & L International LLC. If L & L International accepts the amount offered, it will be an excellent deal for Nigeria, one of our sources, an aviation expert, said. Nigeria can resell it twice or triple that amount. And it is a perfect aircraft. An L & L International spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday that he has no details to share concerning the transaction. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Another source said AMAC Aerospace AG, a Swiss aviation company, is coordinating the Nigerian governments purchase of the aircraft. AMAC Aerospace AG has a long-standing aircraft maintenance contract with Nigerias Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). According to the source, the company identified the aircraft and recommended that the Nigerian government purchase it, citing its affordable cost and reliability. The company is now coordinating the purchase by liaising with L & L International and Nigerias presidential air fleet officials. When contacted, Alexis Ott, AMAC Aerospaces director of maintenance sales and key account management, declined comment, saying he could not discuss his companys business relationships with unrelated parties. Multiple presidential sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the government is now scrambling to find the funds to buy the aircraft. While the government has put three of the aircraft in the fleet for sale, it is believed that they may not fetch enough money to settle the cost of the aircraft to be acquired as a replacement. An official said some of the money to purchase the plane would come from the N180 billion contingency fund provided for a service-wide vote in the 2023 supplementary budget. On Thursday, the National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubus request to extend the lifespan of the 2023 supplementary budget to December 31. The government did not envisage the purchase of aircraft this year, so there is no provision for it in the 2024 budget, one official said, asking not to be named because he has no permission to speak on the matter. But with the airworthiness of some aircraft in the presidential air fleet now suspect, at least one aircraft will have to be replaced to resolve that emergency. In a June 4 report forwarded to the presidency after an investigative hearing, the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence asked the federal government to immediately procure two aeroplanes for Messrs Tinubu and Shettima to secure the transportation of the countrys top officials. The House Committees call immediately triggered widespread criticism from some Nigerians, who questioned the wisdom of buying new aeroplanes when Nigeria faces severe economic hardship. However, a few days later, the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence supported the recommendations made by its House of Representatives counterpart. The Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Buba, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES exclusively from Saudi Arabia, where he performed this years hajj, said not quickly overhauling the presidential air fleet could endanger the presidents and his deputys lives. Mr Buba said, It is true that our country is facing economic difficulty, but that will not justify jeopardising or endangering the lives of our president, our vice president, other top government officials, and any citizen for that matter. We are all aware of the air mishaps in Iran and Malawi recently, which claimed the lives of the president and vice president of those countries, respectively. We commiserate with the people and governments of those countries. But we must also, as a people, do whatever is necessary to lower the possibility of such disasters in our country. No sacrifice is too much to pay for the safety of our leaders and citizens. We elected them. So, we have a collective responsibility to protect them at all times. When asked why lawmakers are pushing for new aircraft for the nations top leaders but uninterested in calling on the government to pay workers a decent minimum wage, the Senator said, The recommendations they (House Committee) made are related to those matters. The safety of our leaders and the health of the presidential air fleet are matters of national security concern. Raising those matters does not mean the committee members do not care about the issue of minimum wage, which is already being well handled by government and organised labour. A senior aide to Mr Tinubu told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night that the government could not heed the National Assemblys call to purchase two new aircraft. He said, The best the government can do is to go for one at the moment, and it is gladdening that we are getting a good second-hand aircraft at a good price. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) spokesperson, Zakari Minjiyawa, declined to comment on Thursday when asked about the status of the presidential jet transaction. He said the Presidential Air Fleet, domiciled in ONSA, had yet to brief him on any development on the matter. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate of the University of AbujaUniversity of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has appointed Aisha Maikudi, a 41-year-old Professor of Law, as the institutions vice-chancellor. According to the institutions spokesperson, Habib Yakoob, Ms Maikudi, currently the universitys deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs, is the youngest professor on the campus. She is expected to assume office in an acting capacity on Sunday, 30 June, when the five-year single-term tenure of the incumbent vice-chancellor, Abdul-Rasheed NaAllah, is expected to end. Mr NaAllah was appointed the universitys vice-chancellor in 2019 after serving a 10-year tenure as the pioneer vice-chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Kwara State. Ms Maikudis appointment followed a recent directive by the National Universities Commission (NUC) that the outgoing vice-chancellors of federal government-owned universities nominate one of their deputies to serve in an acting capacity pending the inauguration of the universities governing councils. Mr Nallah said Ms Maikudis appointment was confirmed on Wednesday at the valedictory senate meeting held at the universitys main campus. Ms Maikudis appointment was in a temporary capacity effective after the tenure of the current vice-chancellor, pending the ratification by the governing council, the university spokesperson said in a statement. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In her acceptance speech, Ms Maikudi expressed gratitude to the Senate members for their confidence in her. She said: I want to extend my deepest respect and appreciation to you all for the strong support and unwavering commitment that you have accorded me. Background In April, the universitys management launched an advertorial for the VC position to kickstart the process of appointing a successor for Mr NaAllah. However, the institutions chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) opposed the move, insisting that the appointment and promotion of staff, including the VC, is the responsibility of the universitys governing council. Meanwhile, UniAbuja, like other federal universities, has been without a governing council since a sweeping dissolution by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023. ASUU-UniAbuja, which accused the Mr NaAllah-led management of several other infractions including the employment and promotion of staff without a council, declared an indefinite strike. Few weeks later, the National Executive Council (NEC), the highest decision making body of ASUU, gave the federal government a twoweek ultimatum to reinstate councils whose tenures were yet to expire and reconstitute those whose tenures had elapsed. ASUU National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor of soil science, described Mr Tinubus dissolution of the university councils as illegal, adding that it has paved the way for a series of illegalities in the universities. Days after the ultimatum, the education ministry released a list of five-member governing councils for each of the 111 tertiary institutions, including universities. The list was instantly met with controversy, as members of the public accused the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, of violating the federal character provisions. Mr Tinubu, therefore, directed the review of the list, forcing the education ministry to suspend their inauguration earlier scheduled for Thursday 30 May. New council Two weeks ago, the government released a reviewed list of external members of the councils of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. According to the new list, Sadiq Ismail, a retired Air Vice Marshal in the Nigerian Airforce, chairs the University of Abujas governing council. Other members of the council are Ralph Akinfeleye, a professor; Sabo Ahmed, Dorcas Obih, and Rekiya Alfa. About Aisha Maikudi Aisha Maikudi was born on 31 January 1983. She attended Queens College, Lagos where she obtained her West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE). She proceeded to the University of Reading, graduating with LLB in 2004, and LLM from the London School of Economics & Political Science in 2005; and later bagged a PhD in International Law in 2015 from the University of Abuja. Ms Maikudi joined the service of the University of Abuja on 4 September 2008 as Lecturer II and rose to the rank of professor in 2022. She became the first female Deputy Dean at the Universitys Faculty of Law in 2018 and later the pioneer director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Government has reported significant boosts in the nations economy with the Excess Crude Account standing at $473.75 million and the Stabilisation Account at over N28.7 billion. The government also said that the nations Natural Resources fund stood at over N53.89 billion. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this at the 142nd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by its Chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, A statement on the NEC meeting was made available to journalists by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Stanley Nkwocha. Mr Nkwocha said the vice president linked the boost in Nigerias economic outlook to the financial prudence and transparency framework adopted by President Bola Tinubu. In the statement, the vice president said: At the helm of the nations affairs is a leader who always reminds us of the necessity of making the right calls to deliver on our promises to the nation. Mr Shettima also explained why Mr Tinubu earned and deserves the title, Jagaban, conferred on him by the Emir of Borgu. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The President is Jagaban (the front-row commander), he has a rare political virtue that has made him the unifying nub of the zeal to serve the country. We highlighted Nigerias improved credit outlook by Fitch Ratings, owing to Mr Presidents transparency and effective financial management to further the nations economic progress. Today, as we prepare for the agenda of the day, I am excited by the presence of His Excellency, President Tinubu, a reservoir of ideas, a visionary extraordinaire, as he guides us towards finding a common ground. Nobody can do so better than he does, and it is this rare political virtue that has made him the unifying nucleus of our aspirations to serve the nation. He is the Jagaban, the front-row commander, for a reason. Also in the statement, Mr Nkwocha said that NEC ratified the nomination of six state governors as members of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). He said the governors, representing the six geopolitical zones, were from Borno, Katsina, Imo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Akwa Ibom States. Mr Nkwocha said NEC noted the importance of NDPHC to the countrys economic development in approving the nominations. He said the meeting saw the presentation of key updates and recommendations from various ad hoc committees. Notable among them was the Ad Hoc Committee on Flood, Erosion, Drought and Desertification (Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response), presented by Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi. He said the flood committee called for the revitalisation of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and improved coordination between different levels of government. Mr Nkwocha said the council also resolved that the Vice President, Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Budget and Economic Planning would meet on Monday to strategise on funding sources to mitigate the climate challenges facing the states. He said the outcome of the meeting would be presented to the president on Tuesday. Mr Nkwocha said the council equally adopted the recommendations of the committees report on the implementation and provision of funds to states and relevant MDAs to address the problems. He added that an update from the NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Economic Affairs was presented by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara. The spokesperson said the council resolved that the committee should align its mandate with the National Economic Management Team to come up with robust solutions to the nations economic challenges. According to him, the committee is working closely with states to address challenges related to foreign exchange loan facilities and fuel pricing. He said the Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo presented key recommendations as part of interim measures to improve security at oil and gas terminals and enhance regulatory oversight in the sector. Mr Nkwocha said Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo was co-opted into the committee as a subject matter expert and the committee was mandated to submit its final report to council within one month. In a related development, Mr Nkwocha said the council received an update on the ongoing discussions regarding the establishment of state police, urging states to expedite their submissions on the matter. In a move to bolster food security, he said the vice president announced the presidential approval for operationalizing the Presidential Food System Coordinating Unit. He said the unit is charged with the responsibility of developing robust economic solutions for the countrys food system. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A 65-year-old pastor has allegedly raped his seven-year-old house help in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria. The suspect, Francis Ogwu, hails from Imo State but resides in Awka, Anambra State, according to a statement by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, a media aide to the State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, on Thursday. Arrest Ms Ikeanyionwu said Mr Ogwu, a pastor and general overseer of Jesus House of Joy Church, Awka, has been arrested over the alleged crime. The media aide said the suspect was arrested in response to an alarm raised by some residents in the neighbourhood that he had been raping the girl child. She said the suspect lives with his wife and children alongside the house help in Awka. The statement did not indicate when the suspect allegedly raped the survivor. My wife starves me of sex. A video clip, which showed the suspect and the survivor being interrogated, was uploaded on Facebook on Thursday. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In the clip, Mr Ogwu denied raping the survivor. I only fingered her once, he claimed. Asked why he did not go to his wife instead, he replied, The problem with my wife is that each time I wanted her, she would tell me that she was fasting or doing night vigil. Mr Ogwu also claimed that the devil must have pushed him into the act, given that the survivor had yet to develop breasts that could possibly attract him to her. Since 1991 till now, I have been preaching the gospel, he claimed and pleaded for forgiveness. The suspects wife was asked to respond to her husbands claim that she frequently denied him sex, but she said she would not be able to answer the question. She said she was not aware that her husband was raping the survivor. How he raped me Survivor Ms Ikeanyionwu said the survivor narrated to the commissioner how the suspect allegedly raped her. The survivor, according to the statement, said the suspect had allegedly raped her three times, after which he gifted her between N500 and N1000. She said the suspects wife later accused her of attempting to snatch her husband from her. She added that she was forced to leave the house following frequent beatings by one of the suspects daughters. The survivors mother speaks Destiny Nwabueze, the mother of the survivor, said she allowed her daughter to live with Mr Ogwus family due to the friendship existing between the two families. Mrs Nwabueze, however, said she was shocked when she learnt from the daughter that the suspect had been raping her. She said the suspect denied the allegations when confronted, which prompted her to involve people in the neighbourhood in raising the alarm. Meanwhile, the suspects family later arrived at the commissioners office and pleaded that the suspect be forgiven. But the commissioner told them the matter had been handed over to the police. The case will be charged to court, she said. Dont starve your husbands of sex Reacting, the State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Obinabo, vowed to ensure the survivor gets justice. The commissioner advised married women to avoid starving their husbands of sex, stressing that such could push the husband to misbehave. She also urged women always to protect their girl child at all costs, noting that rape was no longer excusable in Anambra State. Prohibited in Nigeria Nigeria, in 2015, enacted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which outlawed all forms of violence against women and girls, including rape, female circumcision and forceful ejection. Offenders, on conviction, face life imprisonment or a maximum of 14-year jail term, depending on the age of the offender and the type of violence committed. Various courts of rape have convicted several persons. An Ado-Ekiti High Court, in July 2022, sentenced a 49-year-old man, Dele Adeyanju, to four years imprisonment for raping an 11-year-old girl. A Bauchi High Court, in 2017, sentenced two middle-aged men to life in prison for raping a 40-year-old woman and plucking her eyes. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Three Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the ongoing Operation Lake Sanity II. The MNJTF Chief Military Public Information Officer, Ndjamena Chad, Abubakar Abdullahi, made this known in a statement released in Maiduguri. In Cameroons Sector I, two terrorist fighters surrendered to the troops at Wulgo. They have been identified as Rawagana Mustapha, 18, and Mustapha Ali, 20. Similarly, Sector III in Nigeria reported the surrender of one terrorist fighter, Ibrahim Malam, 28, to the 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga. Preliminary investigations revealed that Malam had been a Boko Haram fighter living in Kwaleram, south of Lake Chad, for six years, he said. As Operation Lake Sanity II progresses, MNJTF urges other terrorists to surrender and lay down their arms for lasting peace and prosperity in the region. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vice President Kashim Shettima has said a business environment that fosters innovation, creativity, and productivity must be built on the pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus 8-point agenda. He implored members of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to be driven by the dreams of all Nigerians aspiring to grow their businesses and looking up to the government for direction towards a future of prosperity. Mr Shettima gave the charge during the PEBEC Town Hall meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting followed the successful completion of the 90-day Regulatory Reform Accelerator Action Plan. The VP noted that no matter the depth of the reforms introduced, government will fail to achieve its goals unless MDAs function at their best and align seamlessly with the agenda of the Tinubu administration. He described the PEBEC town hall meeting as a rescue mission for a country that has saddled its citizens with the critical role of creating an environment where every idea can germinate into an enduring business. Our success is not merely a matter of policy but is measured by its impact, from the small-time trader in Kafanchan to the large corporation on Lagos Island. Today, I feel the pulse of our collective desire to make this objective a reality, the VP added. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He urged all stakeholders, especially the MDAs, to build on the gains of the past 120 days with a sense of urgency and purpose, as they reflect on the measurable outcomes of the Regulatory Reform Accelerator. Imploring them to continue to improve Nigerias business environment through timely feedback, rigorous monitoring, and shared responsibility, the vice president said, We are the vehicles of the promises made by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Regulatory Reform Accelerator is an avenue to inject life into our economy and renew the hope of our nation. The quality of your ideas and the intensity of your energy today are the very sparks we need to stay on track and to always remind ourselves of the burden of expectations upon us. We must align with the vision of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and ensure that our pursuit of a business environment that fosters innovation, creativity, and productivity is built upon the pillars of the 8-point agenda. Today, we stand on a robust foundation, recognising that achieving PEBECs mandate directly contributes to our shared economic prosperity as a nation. VP Shettima announced that PEBECs public sector reforms have achieved a collective score of over 80 per cent at the beginning of the 90-Day Regulatory Reform Accelerator, adding that despite a slow start, the collective commitment and actions of every minister, head of agency, Reform Champion, and BFA Committee Member have significantly increased reform implementation during the 30-Day extension. He described PEBEC as an enabler for the MDAs in government whose role requires a unified and collaborative effort across the councils and MDAs. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the long-term success of PEBEC hinges on our ability to institutionalise reform capabilities, foster deep collaboration across government, and maintain a commitment to continuous improvements. These reforms must become ingrained in the fabric of our public institutions. By doing so, we pave the way for sustained progress and lasting impact that will outlive us all, creating a better Nigeria for our children and their children afterward, the vice president further noted. Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia, said key aspects of the PEBEC initiatives such as the New PEBEC Business Champions, 90-Day Regulatory Reform Accelerator (RRA), and legislative & judicial reforms are being deployed and implemented across MDAs. He expressed confidence that the outcome of the town hall meeting will contribute significantly to the overall efforts aimed at improving the business environment in the country. On her part, the Special Adviser to the President PEBEC and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, while responding to questions posed by some participants in the meeting, said the Tinubu administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring steady improvements in the countrys business environment. She attributed the progress made so far in the reform process largely to the personal commitment, unwavering support and overall leadership of Vice President Shettima, even as she identified his approval for a 30-day extension of Regulatory Reform Accelerator as a milestone in the reform efforts. Mrs Oduwole underscored the significance of the town hall in the overall reform process, noting that the feedback would be key to strengthening and making the different initiatives and programmes undertaken by PEBEC more effective. Present at the event were Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Budget & Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijanni, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari. Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) 28th June, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print the intelligence community and other security agencies, including the police and military, should take proactive measures in dealing with any action that can undermine the peace in Kano metropolis and its environs. The is because fake news, hate speeches and unguarded utterances have been identified as among the major catalysts for the breach of national security and undermining peace in any given society. Over a month ago, the ancient city of Kano became a staple in the Nigerian media. This followed the dethronement of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and subsequent reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. We should recall that Muhammadu Sanusi was earlier deposed from the same throne in 2020 by the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, after the amendment of the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2019, which paved the way for the balkanisation of the sole Kano Emirate into five, which included Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya Emirates respectively. In a situation that can be described as back to square one, the Kano Emirate Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, scrapped four of the five emirates councils of the state last month and removed all the five emirs. However, the situation is far from straightforward. A complex web of accusations and counteraccusations, coupled with a series of intense legal battles, have unfolded between the two camps (Kano State Government and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero). The latter continues to challenge what he described as his unjust removal from the venerated throne. Despite the ongoing debate among pundits and analysts about the legality of the dethronement of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and his replacement with the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, its crucial to recognise the potential threat this Kano Emirate tussle poses to the fragile peace in Kano State and the national security as a whole. This is a matter of utmost urgency and seriousness. This is because, up till now, while Emir Muhammadu Sanusi continues to take shelter at the main Palace in Kofar Kudu, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero has been occupying the mini Palace at Nasarawa, under the protection of federal security agents. And both emirs are claiming legitimacy to the throne! We should also recall that until the recent move made by the Kano State Police Command, Emir Muhammadu Sanusis palace had been protected by hunters (also known as Yan Tauri in Hausa dialect), who were mobilised from the states local councils to the city. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Meanwhile, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while jumping in defence of his political mentee on this lingering Emirate fracas, has accused the Federal Government of participating in instigating crisis in Kano, while describing the situation as tantamount to breeding another set of Boko Haram insurgents in Northern Nigeria. In his words, We will not fold our arms and watch enemies of the state destroy the peaceful co-existence of our dear state, we shall do everything possible to support the governor to succeed. I am happy he is not distracted and focused on achieving his goals. However, a lot of people, I inclusive, believe that this kind of unguarded statement from an elder statesman of his calibre is uncalled for, especially at this critical moment when the peace-loving state is facing a difficult moment of testing its widely acknowledged perseverance and commitment to harmony. Looking at the number of large followers he commands in the state due to his political prowess, his words may influence the minds of some supporters, which could incite them to take the law into their own hands, thereby causing public disorder. It is gratifying that for more than a decade, Kano has never experienced any security threat from the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who are mostly operating in the North-Eastern part of the country. Therefore, it is not proper for any responsible citizen to wish for that, whether willfully or unintentionally, due to his actions or sayings. Therefore, the intelligence community and other security agencies, including the police and military, should take proactive measures in dealing with any action that can undermine the peace in Kano metropolis and its environs. The is because fake news, hate speeches and unguarded utterances have been identified as among the major catalysts for the breach of national security and undermining peace in any given society. Still, on this matter, it can be recalled how the Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Abdulsalam Aminu Gwarzo, made a similar unsubstantiated accusation against the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which he later retracted and tendered a public apology for lack of evidence. Again, it is also fresh in our minds how in October 2020, fake news amplified the #ENDSARS movement staged by the Nigerian youths, and almost came close to burning the country to ashes, but was only brought under control by the swift intervention of security forces. Thus, similar efforts need to be replicated here in Kano at this dire moment to avert a breach of law and order that can or may be sponsored by mischief makers who wish to satisfy their selfishness, without recourse to the interest of the masses. The recent posting of Garba Salman Dogo, a native of Kwara State, as the new Commissioner of Police in charge of Kano, has sparked rumours suggesting that his appointment aims to facilitate Emir Aminu Ado Bayeros return to the main palace, currently occupied by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi. However, it is essential to note that these claims are merely speculative and lack concrete evidence. The new Commissioners primary focus is expected to be on maintaining law and order in the ancient city, rather than an involvement in palace intrigues. The ongoing emirate saga in Kano State has sparked concerns about potential Federal Government interference, with some individuals and groups, including the state government, alleging that federal agents are supporting one party in the conflict. It is essential to refrain from spreading unverified information that could jeopardise peace and security in the state, particularly given the current economic challenges. Therefore, the security apparatus, comprising the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Service (DSS), the military, and the Police, must exercise caution and treat this matter with the urgency it demands. The security and peace of the people are non-negotiable and far better than the interests of a single individual or any group of people. Mukhtar Yau Madobi, an NDA research student, is the author of National Security Strategies: A Young Writers Perspective. Email: ymukhtar944@gmail.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print It must be made clear that the Drill or Drop policy is a provision of the law and not a unilateral move by any individual. The industry regulator is duty-bound to ensure compliance in the overall interest of the country, even if it means revocation of any idle license. It should expect some push-back, including blackmail, from the cabals and their cronies, but it must stand its ground, with the law as its armour. Nigeria keeps hoping that its economy will improve. The Federal Government seems desirous of a vastly improved economy as it keeps tweaking the drivers and pushing the enablers to ensure that the economic fundamentals assume a sustainable upward trajectory. For some decades now the country has been hedged in a mono-cultural economy, largely managed by proceeds from hydrocarbon resources. Other sectors that could do better to fundamentally drive the countrys gross domestic product (GDP) to higher levels are distressed. Because this has been the case, whenever the petroleum sector sneezes, the country catches cold. In terms of GDP crude oil does not contribute substantially for now (about 9 per cent), but it remains the major working capital and lubricant for the countrys economy which is largely import-dependent. This underscores the need for drastic steps towards optimum performance in the hydrocarbon sector as the country continues to battle the challenges of reviving and broadening other revenue streams. Even in the diversification pursuit, Nigeria needs oil, the most readily available resource, to free itself from a dominantly oil-propelled economy and launch out into a more resilient and sustainable growth landscape. Therefore under-production and under-delivery in the petroleum sector could pose major upsets in a struggling economy whose major source of foreign exchange earnings (about 90 per cent) is proceeds from hydrocarbon exploitation. A transactional approach to the challenges of the oil and gas industry is not likely to help matters. It could send the economy into a tailspin and re-enact the 2016 scenario, with long-term implications. A transformational approach to grow oil and gas reserves, enhance security and streamline accounting processes in the sector seems a more pragmatic means of achieving better returns and a veritable route to faster and more sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity. In 2016 Nigerias economy slipped into a recession. Although the slide was caused by exogenous shocks triggered by the global slump in oil prices, the major reason was the massive reduction in output caused by disruptions in oil operations by non-state actors in the countrys oil-bearing regions. In the following years, vandalism coupled with massive oil theft posed a major threat to the countrys economy. While disruptions by militants affected production levels, theft of crude by vandals greatly affected financial returns. In spite of several efforts, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to address these challenges, the last is yet to be heard of the menace. Their persistence and scourge triggered a wave of regulations and actions to salvage the sector from the vicious grip of vandals and cabals. It compelled a trained focus toward reducing disruptions and pursuing production levels that can buoy the economy and keep it afloat until the cylinders of other economy enablers, like agriculture and manufacturing, start firing again. As a matter of fact, the countrys economy has been structurally weak for decades; but to jettison that narrative and build a resilient economy that is globally competitive, it bears repetition that concerted efforts are mandatory to deal with the challenges in the petroleum sector while enabling the drivers of other sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, services, construction and tourism. This requires diligent interrogation of the reasons for the slump and the focused implementation of strategically-reviewed prescriptions. The initial steps may bring knocks and pain, but the deliberate implementation of the remedies could trigger a chain of outcomes that may soothe the pains and bring lasting relief to the economy and the people. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 was therefore a major step forward in the repositioning process in the oil and gas sector. The Act has an overriding intendment of entrenching a stable business environment with a clear regulatory framework that assures investors of profitability and guarantees sustained investment in the nations huge hydrocarbon resource. It aims to use the petroleum sector to jumpstart the countrys economic and industrial growth for shared prosperity. One of the creations of the Act is the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and guidelines governing operations in the upstream oil and gas sector. In consonance with the desire for a greater and responsible level of activities in the sector for enhanced productivity and increased revenue, the NUPRC is already pursuing its key mandate of growing oil and gas reserves, optimising production, enhancing oil and gas revenue, ensuring transparency in hydrocarbon metrics, facilitating smooth operating environment and developing frontier basins. It is not likely that these mandate areas can be effectively achieved without stringent regulations that align with global best practices and capable of arresting the menace bedevilling the sector. Without stemming the unrest and plugging leakages, efforts at growing reserves and increasing productivity would largely go down as wasted. Just as there was a need for strong regulations, there was also an urgent need for an effective accounting system through a metering process that would indicate online real-time daily production levels, the volume being sold and where the proceeds are going. The cheering news is that the Commission has made tremendous progress in those directions and is focusing on the host community development trusts to deal with issues that often draw battle lines between host communities and operators, resulting variously in low productivity and huge revenue losses. The efforts seem to be yielding results as reserves are growing and theft levels are falling. It might take some more time to reflect in terms of massive production levels, but at least there is an observable level of stability in the sector. It is still a work in progress as both crude oil and condensate production have so far not reached the 2024 budget benchmark of 1.7 million barrels per day (mbpd). Available data show that in January, February and March the total volumes of crude oil and condensates produced were 1.643mbpd, 1.539mbpd and 1.438mbpd respectively. And, in April and May, OPEC reported 1.28mbpd and 1.25mbpd respectively. The January figure indicated the third consecutive month of steady increases which were within range of the OPEC quota of 1.5 mbpd. On the surface, it looks as if recent production levels are declining, but OPEC acknowledged in its recent monthly report that generally crude oil output increased in Nigeria, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from what it used to be in the recent past. The same could not be said of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya and Congo. Nigeria remains Africas largest oil producer. A number of factors contribute to the seemingly declining levels, including realignment of some corporate governance issues and comprehensive maintenance services being carried out by some major operators. It has been observed that within the last one year, decisive steps have been taken to boost production levels. This includes the Presidential Executive Orders issued in March this year, which aim principally at improving the efficiency and attractiveness of Nigerias oil and gas sector, incentivising oil and gas development and ensuring that local content bottlenecks do not hinder oil and gas development. It also includes directives on reducing contracting costs and timelines to enhance the global competitiveness of the oil and gas industry and in the process achieve a higher rate of return on oil and gas investments. In a bid to unlock Nigerias vast hydrocarbon potential and attract investments that would propel Nigeria towards greater economic growth and shared property of the stakeholders, the NUPRC beginning late last year started a process for another oil bloc licensing round. At a pre-bid conference in Lagos on 11 June to explore the opportunities in the 2024 Licencing Round, the NUPRC Chief Executive (CCE), Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, told stakeholders that Nigeria has embarked on a transformative agenda that aligns with the most stringent global standards and commitments, in its bid to chart deliberate pathways to a collective energy future as the country progresses through an era of unprecedented challenges and opportunities. The commitment to these standards seems to be pitching industry players who have been used to the business-as-usual climate against the Commissions management which is now bent on strictly implementing them. On Tuesday, 18 June, Engineer Komolafe hinted that in pursuit of the Commissions abundant oil and gas reserves and increased production, his team has been working relentlessly with multi-client companies to undertake more exploratory activities to acquire more data to foster and encourage further investment in the Nigerian upstream sector. Additional data acquired from that exercise yielded another 17 deep offshore blocks which have been added to the 2024 licensing round. However, growing reserves in terms of fields allocation is just one move towards increased productivity, but the major issue is driving the productive capacity of the fields. Unfortunately, some operators who had been allocated mining leases in the past are still sitting on them years after without getting them into production. This is pure sabotage, especially for a country facing severe revenue challenges. It has been going on over time and it is that indulgence that the Drill or Drop provision in the PIA is meant to cure. Either a licensee puts allocated fields into productive use or forfeits them. The industry regulator now has the backing of the law to enforce it. Diligent implementation is sure to meet with some resistance but the regulator has a responsibility to revoke some of the dormant oil field licenses and release the detained wells to those with the required capacities to drill them. It is unfortunate, that some privileged persons act as speculators. They get oil licences and win bids only to either lock the fields down for self-serving reasons or sell them off to entities that lack the capabilities to develop them. The fields then lie fallow with the consequent declining barrel yields and low returns from crude, compounding the countrys revenue situation in the process. But the country needs revenue. Such entitled persons should not be allowed to continue to sit on covered wells while the countrys revenue streams run dry. Nothing should be spared in harvesting revenue wherever there is potential, damning every resistance from economic saboteurs of whatever hue. It must be made clear that the Drill or Drop policy is a provision of the law and not a unilateral move by any individual. The industry regulator is duty-bound to ensure compliance in the overall interest of the country, even if it means revocation of any idle license. It should expect some push-back, including blackmail, from the cabals and their cronies, but it must stand its ground, with the law as its armour. Akpandem James is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State Government has launched an initiative to plant three million trees to check heat waves being experienced in the state. The World Bank facilitated Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative aims to plant the trees within the next 365 days. The states ACReSAL coordinator, Dahir Hashim, said the initiative is crucial for Kanos future. He said it will directly address environmental challenges facing the city and the communities surrounding it. In recent years, the air quality in Kano has continued to fall below standard and the carbon emissions caused by human activities continue to rise. This menace creates a hot and unfavourable environment to reside in or adjust to. With trees around, this kind of situation will not be seen. Trees are the lifeblood of any community. They provide us with clean air, regulate temperatures, prevent soil erosion, and beautify the surroundings. So also a nature based solution to the menace of climate change, Mr Hashim said. The official said the tree planting initiative will address the threat of heat waves that recently became worrisome in the city, and address urban flooding and desertification caused by uncontrolled felling of trees. The official said Governor Abba Yusuf flagged off the exercise at State Road Kano with planting completed in Ahmadu Bello Way, Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Aminu Kano Way and is currently ongoing at BUK Road, within the metropolis. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This reveals his passion and friendship with the environment which gives the ACReSAL project the courage to take this fight on. For this initiative, one million seedlings will be used for avenue planting and distribution to our local communities, tertiary institutions, MDAs, and public organisations to make it community-based, community-driven, and community-led. This will ensure widespread participation and empower residents to green and own their neighborhoods. This will see about 5,000 seedlings being planted along 10 major roads in Kano which include Hadejia Road, Audu Bako Way, Airport Road, Sharada Jaen, and some parts of Katsina Road.These trees that are so strategically placed will improve cooling, promote air quality, provide shade, and beautify the city. This will address desertification, promote green business, and ensure food security. He said the government takes the sustainability of the initiative seriously, reasons why several locations were designed to raise seedlings for distribution to the general public annually. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen have killed six persons during an attack on Ama Hausa in Garki, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, south-east Nigeria. The hoodlums were said to have invaded the community at about midnight on Wednesday, according to reports in the national media. The development occurred hours before a separate attack on a police facility in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, another state in the South-east where five persons were confirmed dead. Like in Ebonyi, the gunmen who carried out the attack in Imo State were suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network. How it happened During the attack in Okigwe, Imo State, the attackers operated in the community until 9 a.m. on Thursday before Nigerian troops repelled the attack, the Punch newspaper reported. We ll leave no stone unturned The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, has vowed that the police in the state will track down the killers. Mr Danjuma spoke during his visit to the scene of the attack on Thursday, the paper reported. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later I assure you that the command will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are all arrested and brought to book, he said. The commissioner said the police in collaboration with the military and the local vigilantes were currently carrying out intensive operations in the area to clamp down on the hoodlums responsible for the killing. The police chief commiserated with families of the deceased victims and urged the residents of the area to go about their lawful businesses without fear, assuring that adequate security measures had been placed to forestall any future occurrence. He appealed to the residents to continue to support the police and other security agencies with information about any suspicious person or clandestine activity observed within their neighbourhood. Worsening insecurity Like other states in Nigerias south-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks. IPOB is a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print FORT WORTH, Texas, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Worth's Fourth, one of North Texas' largest Independence Day celebrations, will return to Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth next Thursday, July 4 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Now in its 17th year, the event will again be highlighted by the largest fireworks show in Dallas-Fort Worth, which begins at 9:30 p.m. Admission to Fort Worth's Fourth is free. Attendees will enjoy festival food, cold drinks, swimming and floating on the river, and live music by Poo Live Crew and Chattahoochee on the waterfront stage. Numerous activities for kids include face painting, water slides, and a zip line. Free loaner lifejackets will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. This year's event features a new title sponsor, U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self Defense organization. "At U.S. LawShield, we are committed to our members, and this exciting event aligns with our mission to uphold the freedoms we enjoy in this country," said Brooksy Smith, U.S. LawShield CEO. Festivalgoers are allowed to bring their own chairs, blankets, tubes, and one unopened water bottle that can be refilled inside the venue for free by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). In addition, vendors will be onsite for those who would like to purchase food or drinks at the event. Outside coolers, food, and drinks are not allowed on the festival grounds. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early to secure their seats for the fireworks show. In addition, the river will be cleared at 8 p.m. in preparation for the show. Parking lots open at 3 p.m. and the gates open at 5 p.m. Fort Worth's Fourth is brought to you by U.S. LawShield, presented by Andrews Distributing and TRWD, and generously supported by Lockheed Martin. The event is produced by Streams & Valleys. In 2023, more than 90,000 patrons attended the star-spangled annual event. For more information, please visit www.fortworthsfourth.com About Streams & Valleys, Inc. (S&V) Streams & Valleys (S&V) is a non-profit organization and river steward whose mission is to inspire, fund, and advocate for projects that improve and expand community access and use of the Trinity River and its trails. The organization was formed in 1969 to re-establish the river as a clean and healthy waterway. S&V plans and coordinates recreation enhancements, beautification efforts, and promotes the Trinity River and its tributaries in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Operated by a small staff and volunteer board, the organization currently focuses on fundraising for river projects, as well as programming of public events and various river-oriented campaigns. About the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) Enriching Communities & Improving The Quality Of Life Since 1924 For the last 100 years, the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) has provided quality raw water to its customers, implemented vital flood control measures and created recreational opportunities for Tarrant County residents and communities. Led by a publicly elected five-member board, the Water District owns and operates lakes Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain, Cedar Creek and Richland-Chambers. Their water supply efforts ensure that more than 2.3 million people in 11 North Texas counties have a safe, clean water supply now and for decades to come. TRWD serves as the local sponsor for the 27-mile Fort Worth Floodway that stretches through much of Fort Worth and has also constructed more than 70 miles of Trinity River Trails throughout Fort Worth. About U.S. LawShield Founded in 2009, U.S. LawShield, America's premier Legal Defense for Self Defense organization, offers coverage in 46 states and has served more than 2 million members. A network of 300+ Independent Program Attorneys is readily available, plus access to a 24/7/365 emergency hotline and protection for members throughout the legal process after acts of self-defense. Educate. Prepare. Protect. U.S. LawShield is committed to informing and updating you on self-defense laws, providing comprehensive instruction and training, and defending you in your greatest time of need. For more information on U.S. LawShield and its Legal Defense for Self Defense program, visit uslawshield.com. SOURCE U.S. LawShield, LLC A class action settlement totaling $650,000 may affect your legal rights if your Personal Information was compromised in the Data Breach disclosed by Fitzgibbon on or about May 14, 2023. If so, you may be eligible for compensation by submitting a Claim Form. PHILADELPHIA, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A proposed class action settlement has been reached with Fitzgibbon Hospital ("Fitzgibbon") in the lawsuit captioned Billie Culp, et al, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated v. Fitzgibbon Hospital, Case No. 23SA-CV00020 in the Circuit Court of Saline County at Marshall, Missouri, Division Four. The settlement resolves claims arising out of a data security incident that occurred between May 14 and June 6, 2022, whereby an unauthorized user was able to access files stored on Fitzgibbon's computer system. As a result, Personal Information of individuals who are or were patients or otherwise affiliated with Fitzgibbon may have been accessed (the "Data Security Incident"). The settlement entitles Settlement Class Members to compensation as described further below. Who is Included? The proposed settlement class includes all natural persons who are residents of the United States whose Personal Information was compromised in the Data Breach disclosed by Fitzgibbon on or about May 14, 2023, including all who were sent notice of the Data Security Incident. What does the Settlement Provide? The Settlement establishes a $650,000.00 Settlement Fund to be used to pay for Credit Monitoring and Insurance Services, Documented Loss Payments for reimbursement of Documented Losses, or Alternative Cash Benefit Payments to valid claimants; costs of Notice and administration; Service Awards to the Class Representatives; and Fee Award and Costs. Also, Fitzgibbon has agreed to undertake certain remedial measures and enhanced data security measures. Claimants may select one of the following forms of Settlement relief: (a) one year of Credit Monitoring and Insurance Services; OR (b) reimbursement for certain Documented Losses, i.e., money spent or lost, that is more likely than not related to the Fitzgibbon Data Breach (up to $10,000), which may be pro-rated in accordance with the Settlement Agreement; OR (c) a cash payment in the amount of $50.00, which may be pro-rated in accordance with the Settlement Agreement, which is available at www.FitzgibbonSettlement.com. How To Get Benefits: To receive a payment or Credit Monitoring and Insurance Services, you must complete and file a Claim Form. Claim Forms can be submitted online at www.FitzgibbonSettlement.com, and can also be mailed to the Fitzgibbon Data Security Incident Claims Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA, 19103. You can contact the Claims Administrator via email (at [email protected]) or by calling 1-833-283-2225 to request a claim form. Claim Forms must be postmarked or submitted online by September 24, 2024. Your Other Options. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by August 12, 2024. If you do not exclude yourself, you will release any claims you may have against Fitzgibbon or Released Parties related to the Fitzgibbon Data Breach, as more fully described in the Settlement Agreement, available at www.FitzgibbonSettlement.com. If you do not exclude yourself, you may object to the Settlement by August 12, 2024. The Final Approval Hearing . The Court has scheduled a hearing in this case for September 10, 2024, to consider: whether to approve the Settlement, Service Awards, attorneys' fees and expenses, as well as any objections. You or your attorney may attend and ask to appear at the hearing, but you are not required to do so. The hearing may be held remotely, so please check the settlement website for those details. This notice is only a summary. For more information, including the full Notice and Settlement Agreement, visit www.FitzgibbonSettlement.com, email [email protected], or call 1-833-283-2225 Media Contact: Angeion Group Shiri Lasman (215) 563-4116 SOURCE Angeion Group BEIJING, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 18, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted this old Chinese proverb when delivering a keynote speech titled Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Humankind at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland. The quote derives from the Book of Documents, an ancient compilation of historical legends spanning from mythical origins to the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046-256 B.C.) in Chinese antiquity. Impartial and fair, the kingly approach always prevails It cautions people to act with impartiality, not abuse their power for personal gain and always follow the path of justice. "Unilateralism driven by greed is leading usrich and poor, strong and weakto a catastrophe," Tanzanian Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango said at the General Debate of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2022. In recent years, developing countries have elevated their cooperation, and collectively demanded a more equitable international order. In doing so, they have fostered more impartial international relations. However, the world continues to face challenges such as unilateralism and hegemonism, which perpetuate global injustice. China's Law on Foreign Relations, which took effect on July 1, 2023, states China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, and observes the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These principles, commonly known as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, were first put forward by Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on December 31, 1953, when he met with a visiting Indian delegation. They were elaborated at the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955 and incorporated into the 10 principles for conducting international relations, or the 10 Principles of Bandung, adopted at the conference. Over the past decade, China has put forward a series of proposals for improving global governance. These include building a community with a shared future for humanity, the Belt and Road Initiative which aims to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. The concepts and initiatives resonate with the global pursuit of peace, justice and progress, and have garnered widespread recognition and support, especially among developing nations. Additionally, they form the legal foundation of the Law on Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China. China has been calling for dialogue to resolve the dispute between countries, and has been trying to bring both sides to the same table. China upholds the ideal of pursuing impartiality in handling international issues, and stands on the side of equality and justice. China observes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguards world peace and security and promotes global common development. It is committed to settling international disputes by peaceful means, and opposes hegemonism and power politics, as well as the use of force or threat of force in international relations. The country upholds the principle that all countries are equal, regardless of size, strength or development level, and supports humanity's common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. "Impartial and fair, the kingly approach always prevails." As long as the international community can adhere to the principles of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, it will surely be able to solve challenges such as regional conflicts and unilateralism, and foster a truly equal and just international relationship. Comments to [email protected] TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cachinachic/video/7385377716943473951?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7227134149436605995 X https://x.com/BeijingReview/status/1806499725623099445 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BJReview/videos/3161144854022356/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRv_sI0_Fw0 Weibo http://t.cn/A6QKUU25 Website https://www.bjreview.com/Multimedia/Video/Wisdom_Without_Borders/202404/t20240429_800364217.html SOURCE Beijing Review The company was also the winner of Microsoft United States Security Partner of the Year for the third time, and the Microsoft Canada Security Partner of the Year. NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueVoyant, a cybersecurity company that offers a comprehensive, outcomes-based, cloud-native cyber defense platform, today announced it has won the 2024 Microsoft Worldwide Security Partner of the Year Award, recognizing its leading-edge cyber defense and strategic relationship with Microsoft. The company has additionally been named the Microsoft United States Security Partner of the Year for the third consecutive time, and the Microsoft Canada Security Partner of the Year for the first time. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology. "We are honored to be recognized by the Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Awards, which celebrate partners who deliver exceptional Microsoft-based solutions," said Milan Patel, global head of managed detection and response (MDR) at BlueVoyant. "This recognition underscores our commitment to helping clients maximize their Microsoft Security investment with worldclass expertise through the BlueVoyant Cyber Defense Platform. BlueVoyant empowers customers to deploy and manage their Microsoft Security stack with advanced cyber defense solutions that surpass traditional MDR or Security Operations Center (SOC) offerings. Our innovative approach has significantly grown our Microsoft customer base over the past three years, positioning us at the forefront of next-generation security operations by providing a programmatic approach to protecting customers' networks, supply chains, and brands. As we transition to a world where AI is foundational, BlueVoyant is partnering with Microsoft to be at the cutting edge of generative AI. As part of the Microsoft Copilot for Security Design Council, we offer diagnostic and deployment services to help clients turn AI into a strategic cybersecurity asset." The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognizes Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered outstanding Microsoft Cloud applications, services, devices, and AI innovation during the past year. Awards were classified in various categories, with honorees chosen from 4,700-plus nominations from more than 100 countries. BlueVoyant was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in cybersecurity worldwide, and in the U.S., and Canada. The Security Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner who is doing an exceptional job of providing customers with end-to-end security solutions (versus one-point solutions) based on Microsoft Security capabilities in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure Security. "Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards!" Said Nicole Dezen, chief partner officer and corporate vice president at Microsoft. "The momentum generated by numerous AI and Copilot announcements this year fueled innovation from our partners, enabling groundbreaking services and solutions to customers. I am inspired by the capability and creativity in our partner ecosystem and this year's winners beautifully demonstrate the best of what's possible with AI and the Microsoft Cloud." BlueVoyant is committed to delivering industry-leading cyber defense and helping clients across the globe maximize their Microsoft Security investment with purpose-built advanced technologies that deploy and manage the full cybersecurity stack. With its focus on cyber defense, BlueVoyant offers cutting edge managed extended detection and response (MXDR) services for client's Microsoft Security technology. BlueVoyant's MXDR is part of a broader platform that includes advanced threat detection, continuous clear, open, and dark web monitoring, automated remediation playbooks, malicious phishing site takedowns, and supply chain monitoring and issue mitigation, to deliver a more complete internal and external security solution. The company uses ML to cut cybersecurity alert noise, and to quickly and accurately predict the severity of emerging vulnerabilities. BlueVoyant additionally can help clients maximize Generative AI, such as Microsoft Copilot for Security, through readiness assessments and advisory services. BlueVoyant has expanded its worldwide presence, including the opening of a new SOC in Leeds, England, with an additional EMEA SOC coming to join our existing SOC in Hungary, bolstering its presence in Japan, while also strengthening its Americas team. Winning these awards is among a long list of recognition BlueVoyant has received from Microsoft. In 2023, BlueVoyant was named the Security MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) of the Year in the Microsoft Security Excellence Awards, and a member of the Microsoft Copilot for Security Design Council. In 2022, BlueVoyant achieved Microsoft verified Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) solution status, and was one of Microsoft's top 150 managed security partners. In 2021, BlueVoyant was named a Microsoft Security 20/20 Partner Awards Winner for the Top MDR Team. The 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced ahead of MCAPS Start 2024 Microsoft for Partners, Microsoft's digital event on July 10 and 11. Partners will receive recognition at MCAPS Start for Partners ahead of in person celebrations during the week of Microsoft Ignite in November. Additional details on the 2024 awards are available on the Microsoft Partner blog: https://aka.ms/POTYA2024_announcement. The complete list of categories, winners and finalists can be found at https://aka.ms/2024POTYAWinnersFinalists. If you are interested in learning more about BlueVoyant's Microsoft offerings, please visit http://bluevoyant.com/microsoft. About BlueVoyant BlueVoyant delivers a comprehensive, cloud-native security operations platform that provides real-time threat monitoring for networks, endpoints, and supply chains, extending to the clear, deep, and dark web. The platform integrates advanced technology with expert human insight to offer extensive protection and swift threat mitigation, ensuring enterprise cybersecurity. Trusted by more than 1,000 clients globally and the 2024 Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year, BlueVoyant sets the standard for modern cyber defense solutions. BlueVoyant Press Contact: Jennifer Schlesinger [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2006175/BlueVoyant_Logo.jpg Wound Malodors Are a Common, Underserved Area of Patient Care. Cinesteam's Breakthrough Secondary Dressing Effectively Adsorbs Unwanted Smells. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Patient quality of life is an important part of long-term care. However, the quality of life for their caregivers is one area that is often unaddressed. Cinesteam's secondary dressings are a practical solution that can improve a caregiving environment, easing physical discomfort and psychological distress by removing strong unwanted smells stemming from chronic or infected wounds. The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management reports that as much as 30% of family caregivers experience significant psychological distress while tending to a cancer patient in a long-term care setting. Other reports find that 40% of caregivers deal with serious conditions, such as mood swings, depression, and resentment while tending to a patient's needs. Certain situations can also lead to physical exhaustion, a weakened immune system, and the development of a caregiver's own chronic health conditions. The takeaway here is that caregivers go through a lot as they care for their patients, and it is important to invest in maintaining a peaceful and conducive environment, not just for a patient to recover in but for their caregivers to operate within, as well. This is a major benefit of Cinesteam's odor-control secondary dressing. "Cinesteam is the first natural-based dressing to manage and reduce bad smells from malodorous wounds," explains Clemence Desjardin, Director of Operations and Business Development at Cemag Care. "It effectively masks smells by adsorbing unwanted odors and replacing them with its own pleasant smells. This improves quality of life, not just for patients but the people around them including caregivers." Cinesteam's unique concept was initially developed by the head of the wound cancer unit at Curie Institut in Paris. The elegant solution utilizes cinnamon (which is scientifically proven to be a superior odor-control agent) to control ongoing smells from fungating, chronic or infected wounds. It puts caregivers back in control of a patient care environment, helping them restore quality of life for their charges and making their own jobs easier, as well. This eases pressure, reduces stress, and helps caregivers stay capable and focused on executing their tasks at a high level. About Cinesteam: Cinesteam is a brand owned by a French pharmaceutical company based in Paris, Cemag Care, which was founded in 2016 by Dr. Andre Ulmann. The brand is built on an innovative over-the-counter medical solution that uses a single natural ingredient (cinnamon) as a secondary dressing for those managing malodorous wounds from tumors, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and more. Cinesteam effectively masks unwelcome odors and improves quality of life. (It does not heal the wound itself). The patented concept was developed from 2015 to 2019 and brought to market in Europe in 2020. NOTE: Cinesteam is a class one medical device. Please read the instructions before use. Learn more at cinesteamcare.com and cemagcare.com. Media Contact: Clemence DESJARDIN, PhD Business Development Manager 55 rue de Turbigo 75003 Paris France Tel : +33 (0) 1 86 22 02 22 Mob: +33 (0) 6 63 04 32 77 Fax : +33 (0)1 73 79 35 54 email : [email protected] SOURCE Cinesteam MARLTON, N.J., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately six million consumers are being notified that their Social Security numbers and other confidential information were compromised as a result of a data breach at Infosys McCamish Systems, Inc. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of anyone affected by the Infosys McCamish breach, hoping to fully inform them of the risks they face in the wake of the breach as well as their legal rights. The sensitive personal data of 6,078,263 people has been compromised. Now, victims' names, Social Security numbers, financial information, and medical information may be in the hands of criminals, putting victims at a greater risk of identity theft and other frauds. On June 27, 2024, Infosys McCamish filed a notice with the Attorney General of Maine describing a data breach affecting consumers nationwide. In this notice, Infosys McCamish explains that customers of Oceanview Life & Annuity Company were among those affected. However, in previous filings, Infosys McCamish has indicated that customers of other companies were also affected, including Union Labor Life Insurance, Newport Group, Inc., and more. Infosys McCamish notes that the incident stemmed from a ransomware attack that gave an unauthorized party access to the company's computer network between October 29, 2023, and November 2, 2023. The list of sensitive information that was exposed includes: Names, Social Security numbers, Medical information, Biometric data, Financial account information, and Passport numbers. If you receive a data breach notice from Infosys McCamish, you could now be at risk of identity theftand the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it. What Should You Do if You Receive an Infosys McCamish Data Breach Letter? Individuals who receive a data breach letter from Infosys McCamish should take steps to protect themselves. (See our Guide for Victims of Data Breach for more details at https://databreachclassaction.io/blog/guide-for-victims-of-a-data-breach ). Additionally, victims should consider contacting a data breach attorney immediately, as anyone who receives a data breach letter from Infosys McCamish may be entitled to financial compensation. If you wish to discuss this data security incident, please contact Console & Associates, P.C. at (866) 778-5500. You can also learn more about this data breach and potential lawsuit at https://databreachclassaction.io/blog/oceanview-life-annuity-company-infosys-mccamish-systems-data-breach-investigation . This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Console & Associates, P.C. 866-778-5500 [email protected] SOURCE Console & Associates, P.C. HANGZHOU, China, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Coohom Cloud, a leading provider of data services and solutions for the AI industry, proudly unveiled its latest advancements in 2D and 3D interior dataset products at the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR) 2024. This preeminent event, held from June 17-21 in Seattle, brought together top researchers, scientists, and industry leaders to explore breakthroughs in computer vision, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and much more. Photorealism Comparison: Real World Image vs. Synthetic Image Embodied intelligence emerged as a focal point at CVPR this year, representing an advanced field that merges computer vision, machine learning, and robotics. The demand for large-scale and high-quality datasets has become increasingly evident, whether for training humanoid robots or constructing robust AI models. Coohom Cloud was established by Koolab Innovation Laboratory of MANYCORE TECH INC. in 2017, after realizing that many industries were on the verge of significant investments in high-quality data. MANYCORE TECH INC. is a leading global cloud based interior design software platform, Coohom Cloud leverages its parent company MANYCORE TECH INC.'s extensive indoor data resources, combined with high-performance rendering engines and advanced data processing technologies, to deliver realistic and physically accurate 2D and 3D interior datasets and services to the AI industry. In 2018, MANYCORE TECH INC. collaborated with Imperial College London and the University of Southern California to introduce the InteriorNet, which was then the largest publicly available indoor scene dataset. Building upon this, the MANYCORE TECH INC.'s platform now generate over 400,000 3D designs daily and houses approximately 360 million 3D models, encompassing furniture, appliances, household items, and more. This forms a robust data foundation provided by Coohom Cloud for research in indoor environment understanding, 3D reconstruction, robotics simulation and beyond. Regarding 2D image rendering technology, Coohom Cloud employs a proprietary rendering engine to capture image data in diverse indoor settings through adjusting camera parameters, path trajectories, lighting conditions, etc., resulting in 2D datasets in formats such as RGB, depth, semantic, normal, point cloud, and others. This capability allows Coohom Cloud to produce 300,000 sets of 2D datasets daily, serving as ample training materials for AI agents' navigation, visual perception, and environmental understanding capabilities. To provide cost-effective data service solutions, Coohom Cloud utilizes its self-developed data processing engine designed for efficient data transformation, converting the accumulated database into formats suitable for AI training. This data engine can offer more comprehensive support on the physical, diversity, and data labeling fronts. Physical Enhancement: Embodied intelligence's real-world interactive capabilities are a key indicator of its level of intelligence. Coohom Cloud integrates cutting-edge simulation platforms like NVIDIA Isaac Sim to create 3D environments with realistic physical properties, allowing robots to undergo extensive interaction testing within a virtual realm. This significantly reduces training costs, enhances training safety, and improves repeatability. Environment Augmentation: Coohom Cloud's environment enhancement tool enriches the complexity of virtual environments through model element diversification, material variations, as well as lighting adjustments, etc. to simulate the diversity and complexity of the real world, enhancing the adaptability and generalization ability of robots. Segmentation & Annotation: Coohom Cloud utilizes advanced synthetic data generation techniques to customize segmentation and annotation data, supporting various labels such as semantics, materials, spatial states. This approach significantly enhances data processing efficiency and accuracy. Moreover, Coohom Cloud remains committed to exploring additional possibilities and value for computer vision and the entire AI field through technological innovation and industry partnerships. About MANYCORE TECH INC. MANYCORE TECH INC. is a leading global cloud based interior design software platform founded in November 2011. Specializing in the development and application of cloud based design software systems, the company aims to "Realizing Imagination". MANYCORE TECH INC. provides software products and digital solutions for design rendering, marketing display, production integration, and construction implementation in home decoration, commercial spaces, and real estate construction. The company's focus on cutting-edge research in computer graphics and AI has resulted in multiple research papers being selected for top international academic conferences such as SIGGRAPH Asia, CVPR, ECCV, and BMVC. About Coohom Cloud Coohom Cloud is a professional data service provider incubated by the parent company, MANYCORE TECH INC.'s innovation laboratory in 2017. Building upon the outstanding interior design digital assets of the parent company globally, Coohom Cloud offers an array of dataset services, including interior synthetic data generation and 3D virtual assets creation. This aims to accelerate the advancement of diverse industries such as AIGC, Robotics, AI Agents, XR and more. For more information, please visit or follow us on: Contact: [email protected] Website: www.coohomcloud.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/coohomcloud X: x.com/Coohom_Cloud SOURCE MANYCORE TECH INC. TFG highlights community engagement and showcases expertise at national and regional conferences WASHINGTON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TFG, a leading provider of federal advocacy and grant services, continues to demonstrate its commitment to local communities through active participation in conferences across the nation. "Attending these conferences is invaluable for TFG," said Roger Gwinn, TFG CEO. "Having our team present and engaging directly with those working at the community level gives us insight into the challenges communities are facing and allows us to tailor our services to meet those needs." Engaging directly with those working at the community level gives TFG insight into the challenges communities are facing Post this Here is where you can find TFG at upcoming events: International City/County Management Association (ICMA) 2024 Annual Conference | Pittsburgh, Penn. Zachary Israel, Principal and Manager of Legislative Affairs, and Heidi Schott, Grants Principal, are slated to present at the ICMA 2024 Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in September. This conference, renowned for its educational sessions, will feature a diverse range of topics pertinent to local government leaders. TFG's presentation on September 23 will build on the success of their previous sessions and explore innovative strategies for securing federal funding in an election year. Roger Gwinn, Jennifer Imo, Managing Partner of Advocacy, and Kristi More, Managing Partner of Grants, will also attend the annual conference. California State Association of Counties Annual Conference | Los Angeles, Calif. Kristi More and Heidi Schott along with Kristen Long, Senior Grants Specialist, and Chris Wagoner, Grants Specialist, will attend the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) 130th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles County in November. TFG and CSAC partnered to create the CSAC Grants Initiative (CGI) to help connect counties with federal, state, and foundation grants. CGI leverages CSAC's knowledge of California communities and TFG's over 40 years of experience to provide direct grant services to all California counties. American Municipal Power Conference | Columbus, Ohio TFG will also participate in the 2024 Annual AMP Conference in October. This conference brings together public power stakeholders to discuss issues and technologies affecting municipal systems, local government, and the electric utility industry in general. TFG will offer participants specialized federal funding information tailored to specific projects. In 2023, Chris Griffin, Senior Associate, and Wyatt Fritz, Grants Analyst, attended the conference to meet with AMP members and offer tailored funding opportunities to support priority projects and will do so again this year. National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Annual Conference | Washington, D.C. Additionally, TFG will attend the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2024 Annual Conference in July. NACo brings together leaders from over 3,000 counties nationwide to discuss the impact of federal policies on counties, hold workshops highlighting best practices, and provide opportunities for county leaders to connect. With county clients in 11 states, NACo not only represents an opportunity for TFG professionals to meet with clients but also to gain valuable insight into the topic issues impacting county government. Here is what TFG experts have been up to this past year: American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally | Washington, D.C. Chris Kearney, Principal, and Lane Dickson, Principal, attended the American Public Power Association Legislative Rally with clients in February. This event brings public power utilities from across the country to D.C. to explain the impact of federal action at the local level to members of Congress and agency leaders. Association of California Water Associations (ACWA) Conferences | Washington, D.C. and California TFG is an active participant in Association of California Water Associations (ACWA) events throughout the year. In February, the National ACWA DC2024 Conference brought water managers from throughout California to D.C. Lane Dickson and Chris Kearney participated in the fly-in with multiple clientshelping to set up and attend congressional meetings as well as meetings with federal agencies. Lane also served as a conference panelist and spoke to attendees about effective advocacy strategies at the federal level. Chris offered his expert perspective on a panel about current water-related legislation in the 118th Congress as well as the potential impact of the 2024 elections on legislation in the upcoming Congressional session. Each year, TFG water experts also attend the ACWA Fall and Spring Annual Conferences and Expos held in California. Family Farm Alliance Annual Conference | Reno, Nev. Family Farm Alliance advocates on behalf of western irrigated agriculture to protect water resources and food security. Mark Limbaugh, President, moderated a panel on key federal policies relevant to western water stakeholders at the Annual Conference titled "Resilience in Every Drop: Safeguarding America's Food Security" in February. ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conferences | Palm Desert, Calif. and Boston, Mass. As an ICMA Strategic Partner and Friend of NACA, Roger Gwinn, TFG CEO, and Nicole Sibilski, TFG Senior Grants Specialist presented, "Prompt Engineering: How Local Governments Should Utilize AI as Part of a Federal Funding Strategy," at the ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conference in Palm Desert, California. The presentation focused on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the federal funding process. In April, TFG also participated in the ICMA Boston Local Government Reimagined Conference and NACA Idea Exchange regarding the implications of AI on public policy. Idaho Water Users Association Annual Convention | Boise, Idaho The Annual Idaho Water Users Convention brings together a broad array of water users to present innovative water use approaches for this generation and the next. Mark Limbaugh served as a panelist to provide a federal update on the latest legislative, grant, and regulatory information relevant to Idaho water users. Kentucky Hydrogen Summit | Lexington, Ky. In June, the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association held the Kentucky Hydrogen Summit which offered informative session on hydrogen production and applications including low-carbon technologies. Chris Kearney presented an update from Washington, D.C. and provided insights into the impact of federal regulations on small oil and gas operators. Mid-Pacific Water Users' Conference | Reno, Nev. Co-hosted by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), the Mid-Pacific Water Users' Conference is attended by managers, directors, operations and management personnel, consultants, and representatives from districts served by USBR facilities in California, Nevada, and Oregon. The conference spanned topics from floodplain management to water supply management and policy. Mark Limbaugh presented on the implications of legislation in the 118th Congress and the upcoming 2024 elections. National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference | Washington, D.C. Jennifer Imo, Charmayne Anderson, Partner, and Kaj Gumbs, Associate, attended the NLC Congressional City Conference in March. Thousands of city leaders attend this conference to learn and advocate on behalf of cities nationwide. TFG partners with cites in 17 different states and the conference enables our advocates the chance to connect with council members and city staff as well as learn about the key priority initiatives being advanced by NLC at the federal level. North Carolina Law Enforcement Planners and Analysts Association (NCLEPAA) Annual Conference | Atlantic Beach, N.C. The NCLEPAA Annual Conference highlighted topics in public safety including grant opportunities and 21st century technology. Dan Miglin, TFG Grants Specialist with over two decades of experience as a grant writer and over 30 years in law enforcement, presented in-depth insights into grant proposal development to conference attendees. U.S. Conference of Mayors | Washington, D.C. In January, Zach Israel and Jennifer Imo attended the Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Each year, mayors from across the country come together in Washington D.C. at the meeting to engage with the White House and Congress on key priority policies and issues. Western States Water Council 2024 Spring Meetings and Washington Roundtable | Washington, D.C. The Western States Water Council's mission is to achieve cooperation among 18 western states to advance conservation, development, and management of water resources. Lane Dickson spoke on a panel to the Council's Water Resources Committee regarding OpenET water data management and other policy efforts at the 2024 Spring Meetings and Washington Roundtable. Founded in 1982, TFG has a long history of providing federal advocacy and grant services for over 200 entities across 31 states, including cities, counties, special districts, and public and private agencies. Since 2015 alone, TFG has helped clients secure over $5.1 billion for its clients. For more information about TFG, please visit our website at www.thefergusongroup.com. Contact: Alexandra Yiannoutsos TFG 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 Phone: (202) 717-5755 [email protected] SOURCE The Ferguson Group, LLC The Central Austin Location opens on Saturday, June 29th WASHINGTON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Framebridge, the leading custom framing brand, announces the opening of their first Texas retail location in Austin, Texas on Saturday, June 29th. The new Austin store, located at 1601 West 38th Street, is the first of several Texas doors that Framebridge will open in 2024 and 2025, with Dallas and Houston to follow. Founder Susan Tynan originally launched Framebridge in August of 2014 as an online direct-to-consumer business, reinventing the custom framing experience to offer an delightful alternative to traditional frame stores, enabling customers to easily and beautifully celebrate frame-worthy moments in their lives. In 2019, after seeing an opportunity to build on growing customer demand for the brand's proprietary mix of ease, customization and design services, Framebridge opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Washington, DC. The company has since continued to extend their brand, offering both an online and physical presence, bringing their retail experiences to vibrant communities across the country. "Texans are known for their Texas Pride, which we've been framing online for years. Austin was our dream first city when we started looking at Texas for our stores. The people of Austin are as dynamic and interesting as the city they live in - with its legendary live music scene, delicious restaurants, and start-up scene, we can't wait to see what Austin will bring in store to frame." says Framebridge founder Susan Tynan. "The more interesting the people, the more they have to frame! We know Austin will be full of inspiration." The Austin store is Framebridge's 23rd retail location. With their retail stores, Framebridge meets existing customers where they live, offering in person design services, design inspiration through city-specific gallery walls, and events. About Framebridge: Founded in 2014 by CEO Susan Tynan, Framebridge has revolutionized custom framing. Framebridge recreated the traditional framing experience by offering high-quality, affordable and fast custom framing direct-to-consumer through its website, app and stores. Framebridge is headquartered in Washington D.C. and operates two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Richmond, Kentucky and Winchester, Virginia. For more information, please visit framebridge.com or check out Framebridge on Instagram . SOURCE Framebridge, Inc. Climate change and poverty at the center of the side event promoted by illycaffe and the Fondazione Ernesto Illy on the 25th anniversary of the Universita del Caffe TRIESTE, Italy, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The collateral event "The Role of Education and Professional Training: The Case Study of the Coffee Supply Chain to Promote Sustainable Development," organized by illycaffe and the Fondazione Ernesto Illy, marked the opening of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Education in Trieste, chaired by Minister Giuseppe Valditara. The meeting focused on the value of training as a tool to combat climate change and poverty. Attendees included Giuseppe Valditara (Minister of Education and Merit), Gerardo Patacconi (Head of Operations of the International Coffee Organization), Tidiane Ouattara (Representative of the African Union), Andrea Illy (President of illycaffe), Andrea De Marco (Industrial Development Expert & Project Manager of UNIDO), Stefania Giannini (Deputy Director General of UNESCO for Education), Laura Frigenti (CEO of the Global Partnership for Education), and Fernanda Maria Roche Soares dos Santos (Counselor of the Embassy of Brazil). The coffee market, already highly volatile and characterized by inadequate access to credit and low investment propensity, is now facing the compounded effects of climate change and a shortage of young labor. These factors make coffee communities extremely vulnerable. Education and training are essential to ensure the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of coffee producers. "Education is a key factor in achieving the objectives of resilience, environmental sustainability, added value, circularity of the value chain, and support for the families of coffee producers, as indicated in the declaration of the G7 summit in Puglia," said Andrea Illy during the event. "Climate change, which puts more than 50 percent of arable land at risk, necessitates a significant improvement in agronomic practices and, consequently, in the skills and capabilities of farmers. Furthermore, education is known to be the first and most effective action to combat poverty, a major issue affecting coffee growing. Much of the knowledge on coffee supply chains is produced in Trieste, and for over 25 years, illy, through the Universita del Caffe (University of Coffee), has been engaged in technology transfer in 23 countries, connecting producers and consumers. We are particularly honored to represent a case study to the world's leading institutions." The Universita del Caffe, illy's training center, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, creates value through training activities and awareness-raising actions aimed at fostering a sustainable coffee supply chain that respects the environment and biodiversity, promotes employability and entrepreneurship among young people, and strengthens dialogue and cooperation between various actors in the coffee sector. While training is the underlying theme of every activity and forms the basis for the development of coffee communities, the Fondazione Ernesto Illy addresses specific local needs with projects aimed at mitigating and preventing social problems and promoting the well-being of local communities. Many countries, for example, lack effective social infrastructure, and minors are sometimes not sufficiently protected. The Fondazione Ernesto Illy supports the construction of schools, educational services, and healthcare for the children of coffee workers. "About a third of the over 4.9 billion people who live in coffee-producing countries are aged between 15 and 34 years," observed Gerardo Patacconi. "Only by filling the gaps in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in these countries, investing in young people, and reducing gender gaps and gaps in access to knowledge and technologies, will it be possible to effectively address the threats that characterize the global coffee supply chain: climate change and low farmers' income. As the ICO, the World Coffee Organization, with 75 member governments from coffee-producing and consuming countries, and integrating the industry through a task force, we are convinced that only by promoting good practices through training and investments in education via public-private models can we overcome the challenge of sustainability in the sector, ensure the well-being of producers and all operators in the supply chain, and respond to the demands of the millions of us who consume around 3 billion cups of coffee every day." The recognition in the final declaration of the G7 in Puglia of support for a public-private initiative to promote policies and allocate resources aimed at increasing the value of the circular coffee economy and supporting small producers encourages the industry to continue its commitment alongside institutions, positioning itself as a key actor in the transfer of know-how and technical assistance to producing countries, essential pillars for creating a sustainable economy. SOURCE illycaffe "This delivery represents the beginning of a new era and a pivotal moment in our ongoing work with the U.S. Army," said Amy Gowder, president and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. "The T901 engine will ensure warfighters will have the performance, power, and reliability necessary to maintain a significant advantage on the battlefield." Today's announcement comes on the heels of the first ever ground run of an aircraft powered by a T901 engine. In April, a T901 engine successfully powered Sikorsky's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype, Raider X, gathering data to support the engine integration into the service's UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. "Our team is immensely proud to announce the latest T901 deliveries to the U.S. Army," said Tom Champion, GE Aerospace's T901 program director. "At every stage, these engines have demonstrated a level of performance that will undoubtedly help meet the demands of military missions for decades to come." The T901 engine was built on GE Aerospace's unparalleled experience powering the Black Hawk and Apache for the past four decades with its combat-proven T700 engine, a run that has resulted in more than 100 million flight hours. The T901 was developed in response to a need from the U.S. Army for increased power and reduced fuel consumption. The T901 design draws from an impressive stack of commercial technologies, including 3D-modeling, the use of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), and 3D-printed (additive) parts. The use of CMCs and additive manufacturing enables the engine to produce more power with less weight. Another notable design feature of the T901 is the engine's modular design, an aspect that was carried over from the T700. The modular design is one key to the T901's low cost, reliability, maintainability, and reduced life-cycle costs. Through the application of this proven modular architecture, the T901 can easily integrate with the Army's existing helicopters and sustainment philosophy while exceeding performance requirements. About GE Aerospace GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of 52,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow and the future at www.geaerospace.com. SOURCE GE Aerospace PHOENIX, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul wants everyone's Fourth of July barbecue to go off without a hitch. That means having your grill ready to fire with propane from your neighborhood U-Haul facility, where certified technicians will be performing free inspections and qualification checks on propane tanks to ensure safe holiday celebrations. U-Haul is offering free safety checks at more than 1,180 stores. Propane sales typically spike prior to July 4, one of the busiest grilling days of the year. In anticipation of holiday gatherings, U-Haul encourages customers to make sure their propane cylinders are filled and in good condition to by visiting the nearest U-Haul location where propane is sold. To celebrate 40 years as a propane retailer, U-Haul has expanded its free tank safety inspections to include free dust caps and plugs and fresh tank sleeves. "U-Haul takes propane safety seriously," noted Scott Johnson, U-Haul Propane manager. "We want people to enjoy their holiday without worrying about their tank safety. All types of customers rely on U-Haul for high-quality products and a safe experience. U-Haul certified propane technicians are available to check the qualification date on each cylinder, examine the valve for leaks, and inspect the tank for dents, cracks, gouges and rust." Johnson estimates that as many as 40 million propane tanks are sold in the U.S. each year, many of which lapse in routine checks and cannot legally be filled without inspection and requalification for safety purposes. Propane tanks are qualified for 12 years from the original manufactured date, which is typically stamped on the tank collar or foot. If qualification has lapsed, customers have two options: Visit a propane company to have the tank requalified if it passes inspection. That can cost about $25, and requalification lasts five years. Purchase a new 20-pound BBQ tank with a fuel gauge that is qualified for 12 years, and is available at U-Haul stores for $49.95 . U-Haul utilizes the S.T.E.P. program (Safety, Training, Equipment and Promotion) to deliver propane safely, cleanly and conveniently. The U-Haul propane certification program for Team Members, and the U-Haul propane website promoting consumer safety tips and education information, all align with the Propane Education Research Council (PERC). Along with strict safety training standards, U-Haul deploys an online service request system that connects U-Haul centers to propane vendors to report any equipment issues and to ensure there is propane available daily and safe to dispense. The S.T.E.P. program gives U-Haul the edge in safely and effectively meeting customer demand. "When handled correctly, propane is a safe and efficient energy source," Johnson said. "We have over 6,000 certified Team Members who are trained to identify any issues with the cylinders and dispense the cleaning-burning gas safely at low prices. We empower each customer to take advantage of the free inspections before they open the grill and start celebrating." Propane is the focus of several U-Haul sustainability initiatives. The Company continues to grow its propane locations to service alternative-fuel vehicles, and champions products like the 5-pound refillable propane cylinder and appliance adapters, a safer and more responsible option to disposable tanks. Find more information on ecofriendly practices at uhaul.com/about/sustainability. About U-HAUL Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The U-Haul app makes it easy for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and -return options on their smartphones with our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 188,700 trucks, 139,400 trailers and 43,700 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America with 1,004,000 rentable units and 86.8 million square feet of self-storage space at Company-owned and -managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play . Contact: Yasmine Esparza Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected], Phone: 602-263-6194, Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul SHANGHAI, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At MWC Shanghai 2024, Li Peng, Huawei's Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, delivered a keynote on how carriers can more effectively maximize the value of 5.5G. Li Peng, Huawei's Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, delivered a keynote Years of concerted effort across the industry have prepared networks, services, and the business ecosystem for the large-scale commercial use of 5.5G. For carriers to hit the ground running, Li believes that business model innovation and capability integration are key to maximizing return on investment in 5.5G with a focus on delivering a differentiated user experience. "The mobile AI era is here," said Li. "To stimulate new forms of untapped demand, carriers can integrate their network, cloud, and AI capabilities to deliver a differentiated range of connected experiences. Carriers should grasp this good opportunity to explore innovative business models, driving a shift from single-factor to multi-factor monetization from monetizing traffic to monetizing experience itself. This is key to creating greater value for users of all types and leading industry development in the mobile AI era." Li stressed that high-quality supply is key to stimulating new demand. He compared the mobile industry to the aviation industry in the 1970s, when airlines began providing passengers with differentiated cabin services by classifying cabin seats into first class, business class, and economy class, and then launching more personalized service offerings such as airport lounges and third-party privileges. This opened a new chapter of experience monetization for the aviation industry. To date, the mobile communications industry has achieved incredible growth through nonstop technological and business model innovation. And now, according to Li, the time has arrived to work on more innovative supply. As mobile communications technology evolves to 5.5G, the industry should integrate its network, cloud, and AI capabilities to stimulate new and latent demand among users. This will help drive industry upgrade and more robust, high-speed growth. Deterministic network experience for a diverse range of requirements Different people have different requirements for network experience. Business travelers tend to prefer greater downlink speeds, whereas livestreamers and gamers might care more about uplink and network latency. 5.5G networks improve bandwidth by a factor of 10, and allow carriers to guarantee a solid connected experience anytime and anywhere with wireless QCI-based scheduling, guaranteed bit rate (GBR), and intelligent user and service evaluation and policy generation through the core network's Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF). Carriers can design a diverse range of targeted packages for different groups of people and provide personalized services that increase revenue and improve loyalty among high-end customers. Cloud phones: Integrating connectivity, computing, and ecosystems for a new model of innovative supply According to Li, powered by the high bandwidth and low latency provided by 5G networks and on-demand deployment of cloud resource pools, cloud phones can better meet the needs of different types of users for real-time computing power, data isolation, and online collaboration. He cited China Mobile Zhejiang as an example. The carrier has released a cloud phone package that integrates computing, network, and cloud capabilities. Subscribers to this service can enjoy one-stop access to on-demand streaming and other member privileges on their virtual cloud devices. The carrier has also achieved multi-factor monetization by offering 1 TB dedicated data plans with three different levels of computing power packages. By sharing third-party privileges, the carrier has also profited from sponsored data plans. 5.5G enables a richer array of B2B products and offerings 5.5G delivers enhanced capabilities in terms of uplink and downlink speeds, latency, positioning, and deterministic networking. Li added that these can be used to further upgrade the 30,000+ industry-specific private networks that have already been deployed, effectively extending network capabilities from auxiliary systems to core production systems and creating greater industrial value. On top of basic 5G network services, carriers can also provide SLA-guaranteed services and value-added services like reliable network design, intelligent edge services, and high-precision positioning. Li noted that 5.5G is a perfect fit for train operations. With 5.5G's high-precision positioning in tunnels, alongside applications such as 5G-powered automatic video inspection and AI-powered vehicle inspection, all train lines can make intelligent O&M a practical reality. MWC Shanghai 2024 will be held from June 26 to June 28 in Shanghai, China. During the event, Huawei will showcase its latest products and solutions at stands E10 and E50 in Hall N1 of Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). 2024 will see the commercial launch of 5.5G, while F5.5G, marked by gigabit optical networks, is already underway. Synergy across networks, cloud, and intelligence is diversifying user experience and making intelligent applications pervasive. Together with global operators, industry professionals, and opinion leaders, we dive into topics such as amplifying 5G's success in the 5.5G era, tapping the potential to grow operator revenues, and speeding up towards an intelligent world. For more information, please visit: https://carrier.huawei.com/en/events/mwcs2024 SOURCE Huawei Request Sample Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/6773 Market Dynamics: The industrial filter market is driven by the rapid industrialization across developing regions of Asia Pacific and Latin America. Growing manufacturing sector coupled with strict regulations regarding industrial wastewater discharge is propelling the demand for industrial filters. Industrial filters aids in removing solid and liquid impurities from industrial wastewater and flue gases before their final discharge. Additionally, technological advancements in filter media and introduction of filter bags with extended service life is further fueling the market growth. Industrial Filter Market Report Coverage Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $3.94 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $6.12 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% Historical Data 20192023 Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Product Type, By End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Growth Drivers Environmental regulations Process efficiencies Restraints & Challenges Environmental regulations Process efficiencies Market Trends: Stringent emission norms for industries is one of the key trends shaping the industrial filter market. Government agencies worldwide are implementing new regulations to curb air and water pollution caused by industries. This is aumenting the replacement demand for upgraded industrial filters compliant with latest emission standards. Moreover, growing preference for eco-friendly and cost-effective filter bags made from membranes, cotton and synthetic fabric instead of traditional filter media such as fiberglass is also gaining traction in the market. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/6773 Liquid filter media segment accounts for around 30% of the total industrial filter market. It is used across various end-use industries like food & beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, etc. for filtration of liquid solutions. Some of the commonly used liquid filter media include woven monofilament mesh, depth cartridges, bag filters, etc. The demand for liquid filter media is expected to grow steadily over the forecast period owing to stringent regulations regarding wastewater treatment and reuse across countries. Air filter media segment holds the major share of over 35% in the industrial filter market driven by rising demand from manufacturing industries. It is used for filtration of airborne particles, dust, fumes, etc. in industries. Some of the commonly used air filter media are cartridge filters, dust collectors, dust bags, etc. The air filter media demand is forecast to increase at a higher rate during the forecast period due to stringent air pollution control norms and growth in application industries. Key Market Takeaways: The global industrial filter market size was valued at USD 3.94 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period 2024-2031. Stringent regulations regarding air and water pollution control across countries are driving the market. On the basis of type, air filter media segment is expected to hold a dominant position owing to wide application in manufacturing industries for particle filtration. By end-user, food and beverage industry is dominating the market due to usage of industrial filters for liquid and air filtration in various food processing applications. Regionally, North America is expected to hold a dominant position in the industrial filter market over the forecast period due to stringent regulatory norms around industrial emissions. Some of the prominent players operating in the industrial filter market include Sefar AG, Lydall Inc., Fibertex Nonwovens A/S, Valmet, Clear Edge Filtration Group, Nordic Air Filtration, etc. Strategic collaborations and new product launches are some of the key strategies adopted by major players to gain competitive edge in the market. Recent Developments: In October 2020, Valmet announced an investment in a filter fabric manufacturing plant in India to meet the growing demand from customers and improve delivery times of filter fabrics to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East areas. In January 2020, Ahlstrom-Munksjo announced the expansion of a manufacturing platform for high-performance filtration and energy storage applications at the Malmedy Plant, Belgium. The plant consists a significant expansion of its micro-glass capacity and further growth in industrial filtration capacity in Italy. Request For Customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/6773 Market Segmentation By Product Type: Liquid Filter Media Non-woven Fabrics Mesh Woven Fabrics Air Filter Media Non-woven Fabrics Fiberglass Activated Carbon Others By End-User: Food and Beverage Chemical Power Generation Metal and Mining Pharmaceutical Others By Regional: North America: U.S. Canada Latin America: Brazil Argentina Mexico Rest of Latin America Europe: Germany U.K. Spain France Italy Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific: China India Japan Australia South Korea ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East: GCC Countries Israel Rest of Middle East Africa: South Africa North Africa Central Africa Browse More Trending Reports: Industrial Garnet Market: Global Industrial Garnet market was valued at US$ 652.7 Million in 2022, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.8 % in terms of revenue, over the forecast period (2023 to 2030) to reach US$ 1024.4 Million by 2030. Industrial Flooring Market: Global industrial flooring market is estimated to be valued at USD 9.51 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 13.84 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2024 to 2031. Industrial Greases Market: The global industrial greases market is projected to reach around US$ 2623.3 million by the end of 2027, in terms of revenue, growing at CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period (2020-2027). Fiber Reinforced Concrete Market: The Global Fiber Reinforced Concrete Market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.67 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 4.23 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% from 2024 to 2031. About Us: Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Senior Client Partner Business Development Coherent Market Insights Phone: US: +1-206-701-6702 UK: +44-020-8133-4027 Japan: +81-050-5539-1737 India: +91-848-285-0837 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451016/Coherent_Market_Insights.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/902389/Coherent_Market_Insights_Logo.jpg SOURCE Coherent Market Insights SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. (Innovent) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune, ophthalmology and other major diseases, provided interpretation and updates on clinical data from Mazdutide's GLORY-1 study and its general biomedicine pipeline at an investor conference call on June 25. At the 2024 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Meeting, the company reported the results of its first Phase 3 clinical study (GLORY-1) on the GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist mazdutide (Innovent R&D code: IBI362) in overweight or obese adults in China, along with the exploratory analysis results on liver fat content. During the June 25 conference call, leadership offered an in-depth interpretation of the clinical data. Innovent's Chief Financial Officer Rachel You and General Biomedicine Vice President of Clinical Development Lei Qian attended the meeting and made reports. Professor Linong Ji, MD, the principal investigator of the GLORY-1 study and Director of Peking University Diabetes Center and Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People's Hospital, also provided commentary. GLORY-1 is the first Phase 3 clinical study worldwide evaluating a GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist for weight loss. The findings demonstrate significant weight reduction, robust safety, unique liver fat reduction and comprehensive improvement in metabolic indicators, confirming the distinctive advantages of mazdutide as a dual agonist targeting GLP-1R and GCGR. At the same time, Innovent is actively pursuing new development pathways, including innovative molecules that extend beyond T2D and weight management, with the aim to deliver transformative treatments in metabolic health. Mazdutide is an analogue of oxyntomodulin (OXM), a natural peptide hormone existing in humans that activates both glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR), to scientifically and effectively reduce weight, increase energy expenditure, burn fat and improve liver fat metabolism. It can also achieve comprehensive metabolic benefits and improve physical health. The findings from GLORY-1 underscore mazdutide's impressive weight loss effects, safety and tolerability, and further highlight its ability to significantly reduce liver fat content and improve multiple cardiovascular metabolic risk factors. These results reaffirm the distinct advantages of new-generation of GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonists. Excellent weight loss efficacy The GLORY-1 study demonstrated mazdutide's remarkable weight loss efficacy. After 48 weeks of treatment, the mazdutide 6mg group experienced an average weight reduction of 14.3% compared to baseline. Additionally, mazdutide showed significant reductions in waist circumference, hip circumference, and neck circumference, indicating its potential in reducing body fat. Unprecedented liver benefits In addition to its exceptional weight management capabilities, mazdutide also demonstrated an 80.2% reduction in liver fat content in the GLORY-1 study, indicating improvements to liver health. Acting directly on the liver as a GLP-1R/GCGR dual agonist, mazdutide shows promise in treating metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), enhancing liver metabolic function and mitigating factors contributing to liver metabolic dysfunction. Significant reduction in multiple cardiovascular metabolic risk indicators The data at week 48 showed that mazdutide outperformed placebo in reducing waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, blood uric acid, and ALT levels compared to baseline. Furthermore, mazdutide significantly normalized blood sugar level for participants with HbA1C5.7%. These findings highlight mazdutide's potential to mitigate cardiovascular metabolic risk factors and improve blood sugar management. Well tolerated and favorable safety profile Mazdutide showed excellent safety and tolerability in the GLORY-1 study, establishing itself as a safe treatment choice. Most gastrointestinal symptoms observed in the treatment group, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, were mild or moderate, with no signals indicating increased cardiovascular risk. These findings underscore mazdutide's effectiveness in weight loss and improving metabolic conditions, while also highlighting its promising safety profile, positioning it as a potential best-in-class treatment option. The marketing application for mazdutide's first weight loss indication is currently under review by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). If approved, mazdutide is positioned to be a safe, effective, and comprehensive solution for chronic weight management among obese and overweight individuals in China, and could aid them to improve liver fat metabolism and address obesity-related comorbidities. Moving forward, Innovent plans to explore additional indications for mazdutide, advance the research and development of next-generation GLP-1 products, and contribute to improving the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases. Additionally, Innovent discussed its products in the cardiovascular and metabolic (CVM) field targeting various clinical needs currently in development. SINTBILO (PCSK9) is the first and only Chinese-developed PCSK9 monoclonal antibody approved for treating hyperlipidemia. IBI128 (a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor) represents a next-generation candidate for managing gout and hyperuricemia, with ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials overseas and planned Phase 1/2 studies in China starting in 2024. IBI3016 (AGT siRNA) is an innovative siRNA therapy for hypertension, with a Phase 1 clinical trial scheduled to commence in 2024. Furthermore, several early-stage projects are poised to enter the IND stage, bolstering Innovent's strategic positioning and competitive edge in CVM. Metabolic diseases significantly affect quality of life and overall well-being. Innovent is accelerating innovation in this crucial area, dedicated to addressing unmet clinical needs and delivering safer, more effective treatments to patients. Over the next five years, Innovent plans to introduce 5-6 new metabolic products targeting diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular conditions and other indications, aiming to establish itself as a leading research and development company in the field of cardiovascular metabolic diseases in China. Autoimmune: addressing global unmet clinical needs In the field of autoimmune, Innovent has successfully launched SULINNO (adalimumab injection), which is approved for eight indications including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis and is covered under the National Reimbursement Drug List. Picankibart (R&D code: IBI112), a recombinant anti-interleukin 23p19 subunit (IL-23p19) antibody injection, successfully met primary and key secondary endpoints in its Phase 3 clinical study (CLEAR-1) for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in China. CLEAR-1 is global the first Phase 3 registration study in IL-23p19 class that reported over 80% of subjects achieved PASI 90 after 16 weeks of treatment in psoriasis patients, and Innovent is preparing for a NDA submission to the CDE of NMPA. Innovent continues to explore unmet clinical needs in autoimmune diseases globally with advancements like IBI355 (CD40L), IBI356 (OX40L), IBI3002 (IL-4R/TSLP) and other innovative First-in-class/Best-in-class molecules targeting indications including primary Sjogren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and other diseases. Ophthalmology: advancing treatment standards In the field of ophthalmology, Innovent's new drug application for IBI311 Injection (recombinant anti-insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) antibody, R&D) has been accepted for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED). This biologic with an innovative mechanism of action is poised to address a 60-year gap in domestic TED treatment, meeting significant clinical needs and offering effective, safe, and accessible treatment options for Chinese TED patients. In addition, Phase 3 clinical trials for IBI302 (VEGF/C) have commenced to address neovascular age-related maculopathy, with long-interval administration expected to achieve significant efficacy and potentially enhance management of geographic atrophy. Furthermore, IBI324 (VEGF-A/ANG-2) and IBI333 (VEGF-C/VEGF-A) are currently in Phase 1 clinical trials to explore their differentiated clinical value. About Innovent Biologics: Innovent is a leading biopharmaceutical company founded in 2011 with the mission to empower patients worldwide with affordable, high-quality biopharmaceuticals. The company discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes innovative medicines that target some of the most intractable diseases. Its pioneering therapies treat cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic, autoimmune and eye diseases. Innovent has launched 10 products in the market. It has 4 new drug applications under regulatory review, 4 assets in Phase III or pivotal clinical trials and 18 more molecules in early clinical stage. Innovent partners with over 30 global healthcare companies, including Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Incyte, Adimab, LG Chem and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Guided by the motto, 'Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action,' Innovent maintains the highest standard of industry practices and works collaboratively to advance the biopharmaceutical industry so that first-rate pharmaceutical drugs can become widely accessible. For more information, visit www.innoventbio.com, or follow Innovent on Facebook and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent" or "Company"), are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of the Company with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, the Company's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company, the Directors and the employees of the Company assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect. SOURCE Innovent Biologics Administrators from both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) launching the new 3+3 Accelerated Law Program on Thursday, June 27, at the Jackson State Student Center. For the first time, JSU students will be able to complete both their undergraduate and law degrees in just six years. The program is one of four initiatives that First Lady LaToya Redd Thompson, Esq., is dedicated to implementing at Jackson State. "As a lawyer and proud alumna of the University of Mississippi Law School, the partnership between Jackson State's pre-law program and my alma mater holds a special place in my heart," said Redd Thompson. "I am embracing this opportunity to help Jackson State students enter the legal field, which I am deeply passionate about, through the very institution that shaped my own career. I am grateful to President Thompson, Chancellor Boyce, and others for supporting this initiative, and I'm optimistic about the positive impact this program will have on our students." The streamlined "Pathway to Law School" program not only offers a diverse and enriching academic experience but also gives JSU undergraduate students the opportunity to shave a year off their education by beginning law school courses in their senior year. JSU President Marcus Thompson, Ph.D., described the accelerated law program as more than an initiative, calling it a pathway to success and a bridge to the future. "It is a testament to the power of collaboration. Access to the legal profession is crucial, especially for students from historically black colleges and universities. Through programs like this, we are breaking down barriers and providing a clear, attainable path for our students to achieve their dreams," he said. Added benefits of the initiative include waiving the application fee for program students applying to UM's law school and a lecture series bringing UM professors to JSU. Additionally, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law Preview Day will offer undergraduates an opportunity to meet UM's law school professors and students. "This historic partnership provides Jackson State University students the opportunity to immerse themselves in legal topics and the law school application process through the lecture series we will offer. This preparation will benefit the University of Mississippi School of Law by ensuring our admitted students are equipped to develop the critical thinking, legal reasoning, and creative problem-solving skills necessary to be successful members of the legal profession and provide access to justice for all," said Fred Slabach, Dean of the University of Mississippi Law School. Jackson State is the first state public institution to partner with the University of Mississippi's accelerated law program, which Chancellor Glen Boyce Ed.D., shared is the leading force among the graduate and professional programs that they offer. "We're very, very proud of it. We have fantastic clinical programs in a wide range of fields to get students real world preparation where they pursue all their academic responsibilities. We're consistently ranked as one of the best regional law schools for African American students and a leader in access," he said. Aside from their pre-law program, JSU offers the Bob Owens Pre-Law Center, named for the noted attorney, JSU alumnus, and former Mississippi State Institutions of Higher Learning trustee, who attended the MOU signing. The Center's premiere program is the Bob Owens Pre-Law Academy, which serves as an accelerated and interdisciplinary boost to prepare students for the LSAT exam and the complexities of law school. JSU students can begin applying for the 3+3 Accelerated Law Program in Fall 2024. Redd Thompson's additional initiatives include promoting campus voting, encouraging healthy eating, and supporting students in financial need through the Mary E. Peoples Scholarship Luncheon. SOURCE Jackson State University WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED BOSTON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC (the "Adviser") and subadvised by Wellington Management Company LLP (the "Subadviser"), announced today sources of its quarterly distribution of $0.2500 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of June 13, 2024, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund (NYSE: HEQ) with important information concerning the distribution declared on June 3, 2024, and payable on June 28, 2024. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: June 2024 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.2500 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable June 28, 2024, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. For the period 04/1/2024-06/30/2024 For the fiscal year-to-date period 01/1/2024-06/30/2024 1 Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions ($) % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income 0.1877 75 % 0.3127 62 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0075 3 % 0.1800 36 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0548 22 % 0.0083 2 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Total per common share 0.2500 100 % 0.5010 100 % _______________________ 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on January 1, 2024 and will end on December 31, 2024. Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on May 31, 2024 6.49 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of May 31, 2024 8.33 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through May 31, 2024 5.82 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of May 31, 2024 4.17 % You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the June 2024 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed quarterly distributions in the amount of $0.2500 per share, which will continue to be paid quarterly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Wellington Management Company LLP is an independent and unaffiliated investment subadviser to John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene the third plenary session of its 20th central committee on July 15 in Beijing. The plenum, which will primarily examine issues related to further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization, will last until July 18, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Thursday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired Thursday's meeting. The meeting decided to submit a draft decision on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization to the plenum for deliberation. At the meeting, Political Bureau members were briefed on comments on the draft, which were taken from both within and outside the Party. The draft will be updated after discussions at the meeting. The draft has thoroughly analyzed the new situations and problems in advancing Chinese modernization and scientifically planned the overall arrangements for further deepening reforms, according to the meeting. It was noted at the meeting that the draft serves as a programmatic document guiding deepening reform across the board on the new journey and demonstrates the resolve of the Party Central Committee with Xi at the core to open up broad prospects for Chinese modernization through further deepening reform. Elaborating on the goals and objectives of further reform, the meeting said China will complete building a high-standard socialist market economy by 2035. The system and capacity for governance will be basically modernized and socialist modernization will be basically achieved by 2035, it added. The meeting spelled out principles to be upheld in furthering reform. It emphasized upholding the Party's overall leadership and safeguarding the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized and unified leadership. It stressed the people-centered philosophy, adding that the principal position of the people and their creativity should be respected. The meeting stressed seeking innovation while adhering to what has been done right. It said socialism with Chinese characteristics should be unswervingly upheld and innovation should be explored in theoretical, practical, institutional, cultural and other aspects. The meeting also called for seeking institutional improvement and improving top-level design. It underscored the importance of deepening reforms and advancing Chinese modernization under the rule of law. The meeting also emphasized the importance of adopting systems thinking to balance key relationships between the economy and society, government and market, efficiency and fairness, vitality and order, as well as development and security. "The Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization," the meeting noted, calling for turning the reform plan into a powerful driving force for advancing Chinese modernization. BOSTON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of June 13, 2024, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Notification of Sources of Distribution This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on June 3, 2024, and payable on June 28, 2024. No action is required on your part. Distribution Period: June 2024 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0825 The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable June 28, 2024, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount. For the period 06/1/2024-06/30/2024 For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2023-06/30/2024 1 Source Current Distribution ($) % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions ($) % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative Distributions Net Investment Income 0.0452 55 % 0.3944 60 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains 0.0000 0 % 0.0000 0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source 0.0373 45 % 0.2656 40 % Total per common share 0.0825 100 % 0.6600 100 % 1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2023 and will end on October 31, 2024. Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on May 31, 2024 5.39 % Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of May 31, 2024 7.79 % Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through May 31, 2024 26.42 % Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of May 31, 2024 5.19 % You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan. The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The Fund has declared the June 2024 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. About John Hancock Investment Management A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship. About Manulife Investment Management Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com. SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management Keyes coverage accelerates growth in Florida with acquisition of two independent agencies TAMARAC, Fla., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Keyes Coverage, a rapidly growing insurance broker, has announced the acquisition of A & C Insurance and Suntree Insurance, significantly expanding its presence north of Southern Florida and strengthening its position in the Melbourne area. A & C Insurance, a prominent commercial insurance agency for over 30 years, brings a wealth of expertise in serving businesses, while Suntree Insurance, a respected personal lines agency, enhances Keyes Coverage's capabilities in serving individuals and families. These milestones mark Keyes Coverage's 11th and 12th acquisition in the past three years, demonstrating the agency's rapid growth and strategic expansion strategy. Keyes Coverage has experienced a remarkable three-year growth trajectory, doubling in size with significant growth in both revenues and employee count since 2021. "We're thrilled to welcome A&C Insurance and Suntree Insurance to the Keyes Coverage family," said David Ragno, CEO of Keyes Coverage. "These acquisitions align with our strategic growth plan, enabling us to better serve our clients and expand our reach in the region." Wayne Glisson, former Principal of A&C Insurance, will join the Keyes Coverage team, ensuring a seamless transition for clients. "We're excited to join forces with Keyes Coverage, leveraging their resources and expertise to better serve our clients," said Glisson. "As we continue to grow and expand, our commitment to exceptional service and personalized attention remains unwavering," said David Ragno. "Our success is a testament to the trust our clients have placed in us, and we're proud to be one of the fastest-growing brokers in Florida." About Keyes Coverage Since 1975, Keyes Coverage has been a trusted partner to the South Florida community, providing tailored insurance solutions for businesses and individuals alike. The Keyes team of over 110 professionals, spanning across their six locations throughout Florida, is committed to delivering exceptional service and personalized support to our clients, building lasting relationships founded on trust and a deep understanding of their unique needs. For more information, please visit: www.keyescoverage.com. Keyes Coverage is a platform partner of Keystone Agency Partners ("KAP"). About Keystone Agency Partners Keystone Agency Partners is a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform that acquires and partners with independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. KAP provides best-in-class services and capital investment that unlocks potential and delivers outsized and profitable growth within its platform agencies. Keystone Agency Partners was founded in 2020 in 2020 in partnership with Keystone Insurers Group, Inc. and affiliates of Bain Capital, LP. For more information, please visit: www.keystoneagencypartners.com. Media Inquiries Stuart Kail, Director of Brand & Communications [email protected] SOURCE Keystone Agency Partners Each year, the Southlake Award Program identifies companies we believe have achieved exceptional success in their local community and business category. These local companies enhance small businesses' positive image through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Southlake area a great place to live, work and play. Badii Group Private Wealth Management is an independent firm that specializes in managing the wealth of high-net-worth individuals and families. Kirk Badii, a Westlake resident and the firm's founder, has extensive experience working closely with accomplished clients to create personalized investment portfolios. As a top private wealth manager in Southlake, Texas, Badii Group provides highly customized services to ensure every client feels valued and important. At Badii Group, there are no salespeople, only a support system. They focus on building intimate relationships to create personalized financial plans for a diverse clientele. Quality is their priority, and they aim to provide top-notch service to clients accustomed to a six-star lifestyle. So, when you work with Badii Group, you are not just another number or a portfolio but their top priority. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2024 Southlake Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Southlake Award Program and data provided by third parties. About Southlake Award Program The Southlake Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Southlake area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Southlake Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy. SOURCE Badii Group Private Wealth Management DALLAS, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- La La Land Kind Cafe, a chain of coffee shops with the purpose of normalizing kindness and hiring and mentoring foster youth, is expanding its celebrated brand in Texas and California with the launch of four new locations this summer, with an aggressive expansion plan for 2025. Founder and CEO Francois Reihani opened the first La La Land Kind Cafe location in 2019 at just 23 years old. Since then, La La Land Kind Cafe has opened 13 store locations throughout Texas and California. Each location is thoughtfully designed to immediately draw in customers with its clean and bright aesthetic, joyful music, and warm and friendly staff; doling out messages of kindness and compliments, "Kindness first, coffee second," says Reihani. The stores are all created to make you feel like you are in a dreamworld, while evoking a feeling of nostalgia with their signature bright yellow cups filled with colorful drinks in the brand's signature sippy cup designs. "As we close another dynamic year, I am proud to announce the expansion of La La Land Kind Cafe to two additional Caruso centers in California, as well as new locations in the Houston and Dallas areas. This growth is a cornerstone of our ambitious plan, driving us toward a future where our mission of kindness and iconic yellow cups reach even more communities across the nation," states Reihani. La La Land Cafe's upcoming locations in Fort Worth and Plano, Texas were brought on by customer demand as the brand expands its footprint in Texas. The California based openings at Caruso's The Americana At Brand and The Promenade in Westlake Village, continue to cement La La Land as THE go-to destination for coffee in the LA-area, providing an unparalleled experience within the real estate and hospitality realms. Reihani notes, "In hospitality we are normally the only "strangers" someone speaks to outside close friends or family. This means we physically represent humanity. We're changing standards by not only creating the environment that brings happiness but interactions that show the power of humans being connected." La La Land Cafe is continuing to raise the standard of what we should all expect from businesses by providing consistency with expertly crafted and thoughtful drink and food offerings. While the brand is known for their high quality of coffee and tea, customers also flock to each location for their coveted branded merchandise, which quickly sells out due to the exceptional design and fabrications. This summer, La La Land will be rolling out exciting new hand-drawn apparel in the brand's signature aesthetic for the Los Angeles area locations. Furthermore, La La Land is excited to officially launch their new and improved app, where customers can not only place their desired order for pick up, but stay in touch in real time for community events, exclusive offerings, and earn hearts for every dollar spent. La La App and Rewards will launch on July 15, 2024. If you can't make it in-store, you can find La La Land Cafe's mission of kindness being spread on the brand's IG @lalalandkindcafe and TikTok Channel @lalalandkindcafe , made popular by their Drive By Kindness series, which boasts over 6.4M followers. About La La Land Kind Cafe La La Land Kind Cafe is a chain of coffee shops with the purpose of normalizing kindness and hiring and mentoring foster youth. The company was founded in 2019 by Francois Reihani. To learn more about La La Land and the La La Land Foundation's mission to support foster youth and those that have aged out of the foster care system please visit www.lalalandkindcafe.com and follow along at @lalalandkindcafe . Media Contact: Sarah Nazzal [email protected] SOURCE La La Land Kind Cafe MIAMI, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mammha, the premier solution provider for perinatal mental health care, is thrilled to announce that it has received funding from the American Heart Association Social Impact Funds. This support, awarded on June 5th, 2024, will enable Mammha to expand its innovative mental health services and reach parents and providers across the nation. The Association's Social Impact Funds are designed to support organizations that are creating scalable, community-focused solutions to health inequities. This funding will allow Mammha to accelerate its growth, enhance its technological infrastructure, and implement new programs aimed at increasing mental health awareness and accessibility. Mammha Receives Funding from the American Heart Association Social Impact Funds to Grow Maternal Mental Health Solution Post this "For many small businesses or social enterprises, a lack of funding can hinder success and growth," said Ashlye Stewart, national vice president and managing director of the Social Impact Funds at the American Heart Association. "The Social Impact Funds provide critical funding to empower community organizations to create scalable solutions to ensure every person has the same opportunity for a full, healthy life." "Support from the Association's Social Impact Funds will allow us to further develop the platform, incorporate perinatal mental health into primary care, and ultimately help all parents and providers in need." says Maureen Fura, founder of Mammha. With the mission to make mental health support accessible for all, Mammha leverages digital screening, personal telehealth care coordination, and individualized support, to put parents and providers in control of their mental health. Interviews with Maureen Fura, Founder and CEO of Mammha, are available. For media inquiries, please contact Andrew Goheen at [email protected]. Learn more at the American Heart Association SOURCE Mammha JERSEY CITY, N.J., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) today announced three presentations on investigational ND0612 in Parkinson's disease (PD) will be shared at the 10th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), being held in Helsinki, Finland, June 29 July 2. "We are excited to be at EAN this year to showcase our ongoing research and engage with the scientific community," said Gustavo A. Suarez Zambrano, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs, MTPA. "These findings highlight our dedication to advancing the understanding of investigational ND0612 and our commitment to recognizing the unmet needs of people living with Parkinson's disease." Presentation Details: Presentations include findings from subgroup analyses of the pivotal Phase 3 multi-center, randomized, double-blind double-dummy BouNDless trial (NCT04006210) evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of investigational ND0612 in people with PD experiencing motor fluctuations, as well as a secondary analysis from a Phase 2 study (NCT02577523), which evaluated the onset of efficacy with ND0612 utilizing patient and clinical global ratings. Additionally, findings from an analysis characterizing infusion site reactions in patients who received 24-hour subcutaneous infusion of ND0612 will be shared. Subgroup Analyses of a Phase 3, Randomized Study of Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) for Parkinson's Patients ( Nelson Lopes , M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePresentation Session : "Movement Disorders 1" (EPR-082): 2:10 p.m. 2:15 p.m. CEST , June 29 : Onset of Efficacy with Levodopa/Carbidopa Infusion (ND0612) for Parkinson's Patients ( Nelson Lopes , M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePresentation Session : "Movement Disorders 1" (EPR-083): 2:15 p.m. 2:20 p.m. CEST , June 29 : Characterization of Infusion Site Reactions With 24-hour Subcutaneous Infusion of ND0612 ( Nelson Lopes , M.D.; NeuroDerm) ePresentation Session: "Movement Disorders 1" (EPR-084): 2:20 p.m. 2:25 p.m. CEST , June 29 About ND0612 ND0612 is an investigational drug-device combination therapy a 24-hours/day, continuous subcutaneous (SC) infusion of liquid levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) for the treatment of motor fluctuations in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Development of investigational ND0612 is being led by NeuroDerm, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC). It was established by MTPC to develop and advance our pipeline as well as commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook and LinkedIn . About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), the pharma arm of Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG), is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in the world, founded in 1678. MTPC is headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka, the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. MCG has positioned health care as its strategic focus in its management policy, "Forging the future". MTPC sets the MISSION of "Creating hope for all facing illness". To that end, MTPC is working on the disease areas of central nervous system, immuno-inflammation, diabetes and kidney, and cancer. MTPC is focusing on "precision medicine" to provide drugs with high treatment satisfaction and additionally working to develop "around the pill solutions" to address specific patient concerns based on therapeutic medicine, including prevention of diseases, pre-symptomatic disease care, prevention of aggravation and prognosis. For more information, go to https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/ . About NeuroDerm, Ltd. NeuroDerm, Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC), based in Israel, inspired to reduce disease burden and improve the quality of life of patients and their families through innovative drug-device combination therapies and technologies. NeuroDerm is an integrated pharmaceutical and medical technology company developing central nervous system (CNS) product candidates. For additional information, please visit NeuroDerm's website at www.neuroderm.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn . Media inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America CALGARY, AB, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Nanalysis Scientific Corp. ("Nanalysis" or the "Company", TSXV: NSCI, OTCQX: NSCIF, FRA: 1N1), is pleased to report that all proposed resolutions were approved at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders held on June 26, 2024 (the "Meeting"). The number of directors was set at 6 and all director nominees, as listed in the Management Information Circular dated May 28, 2024, were elected as directors of the Company at the Meeting to serve for a one-year term and hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders. According to the votes received from shareholders, the results were as follows: Nominees % For % Withheld Sean Krakiwsky 96.991 % 3.009 % Martin Burian 98.868 % 1.132 % Werner Gartner 98.868 % 1.132 % Michal Okoniewski 98.868 % 1.132 % Dr. Rene Lenggenhager 97.275 % 2.725 % Jennifer Stubbs 98.819 % 1.181 % Shareholders voted 99.869% in favor of setting the number of directors at six, 99.056% in favor of appointing Ernst & Young LLP, as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the Directors of the Company to fix the auditor's remuneration and 98.629% in favor for the re-approval of the stock option plan of the Company. Corporate Update Board of Director Changes The Company is pleased to welcome Ms. Jennifer Stubbs to Nanalysis' Board of Directors with immediate effect following shareholder approval at the Meeting. The Company also announces that Guido Cloetens has stepped down as a director of the Company as he did not stand for re-election at the Meeting. The Board of Directors wishes to sincerely thank Mr. Cloetens for his many valuable contributions to the Company during his time as a director and wishes him well in the future. Ms. Stubbs currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of FLINT Corp. and was appointed to this role in July 2023. Ms. Stubbs started her career at KPMG in Assurance and went on to hold financial roles in various industries, including engineering, manufacturing, real estate and energy infrastructure. Prior to joining FLINT, Ms. Stubbs was with Pembina Pipeline Corporation for 11 years. She progressed through various financial roles with the organization with her last role as Vice President, Continuous Improvement, which included responsibilities for Internal Audit, oversight and reporting of corporate productivity initiatives and capital project governance. Ms. Stubbs is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia. About Nanalysis Scientific Corp. (TSXV: NSCI, OTCQX: NSCIF, FRA:1N1) Nanalysis Scientific Corp. in operates two primary business segments: Scientific Equipment and Security Services. Within its Scientific Equipment business is what the Company terms "MRI and NMR for industry". The Company develops and manufactures portable Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers or analyzers for laboratory and industrial markets. The NMReady-60 was the first full-feature portable NMR spectrometer in a single compact enclosure requiring no liquid helium or any other cryogens. The Company has followed-up that initial offering with new products and continues to have a strong innovation pipeline. In 2020, the Company announced the launch of its 100MHz device, the most powerful and most advanced compact NMR device ever brought to market. The Company's devices are used in many industries (oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharma, biotech, flavor and fragrances, agrochemicals, law enforcement, and more) as well as numerous government and university research labs around the world. The Company continues to exploit new global market opportunities independently and with partners. With its partners, the Company provides scientific equipment sales and maintenance services globally. In 2022 the Company was awarded a five-year, $160 million contract to provide maintenance services for passenger screening equipment in Canadian airports. This has resulted in expansion of the Company's Security Services business. The Company is providing airport security equipment maintenance services in each province and territory of Canada. In addition, the Company provides commercial security equipment installation and maintenance services to a variety of customers in North America. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements and Legal Disclaimer This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Nanalysis Scientific Corp. First-and-only FcRn blocker to demonstrate superiority in activities of daily living (MG-ADLa) over placebo when added to standard of care over 24 weeks in antibody positive patients: anti-AChR+, anti-MuSK+, anti-LRP4+ HELSINKI, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced positive results from the nipocalimab Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Patients treated with nipocalimab plus standard of care (SOC) achieved superiority over placebo plus SOC as measured by the primary endpoint of improvement in the MG-ADL score from baseline over 24 weeks. These data are included in a presentation and are among eight abstracts that Johnson & Johnson will present at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) 2024 Congress1 and will be included in submissions to regulatory authorities later this year. Hear from Katie Abouzahr, M.D., about the need for new treatment options for generalized myasthenia gravis, a chronic, autoantibody-driven disease. Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9276951-johnson-and-johnson-nipocalimab-results-myasthenia-gravis-ean-2024 "The sustained response of nipocalimab over six months among this broad myasthenia gravis population is an important finding given the chronic, unpredictable exacerbations typically seen with myasthenia gravis," said Carlo Antozzi, M.D., Neuroimmunology and Muscle Pathology Unit of the Neurological Institute Foundation C. Besta of Milan, Italyb. "We are encouraged by the potential of nipocalimab to uniquely help address this gap for people living with myasthenia gravis." The double-blind placebo-controlled study enrolled a broad population of anti-AChR+, anti-MuSK+ and/or anti-LRP4+ patients, which account for approximately 95 percent of the gMG patient population.2 Patients receiving nipocalimab plus SOC improved by 4.70 points on the MG-ADL, significantly more than the 3.25 point improvement from baseline observed with placebo plus SOC from baseline over Weeks 22, 23 and 24 (P=0.002)c. For someone living with gMG, a 1- to 2-point change on MG-ADL may be the difference between normal eating and frequent choking on food, or shortness of breath at rest and being on a ventilator.3 In addition to achieving this primary endpoint, critical secondary endpoints were also met: Improvement in strength and function of different muscle groups, as measured by QMG d , was significantly greater with nipocalimab plus SOC compared with placebo plus SOC over Weeks 22 and 24 ( P <0.001) e . , was significantly greater with nipocalimab plus SOC compared with placebo plus SOC over Weeks 22 and 24 ( <0.001) . MG-ADL response (2-point improvement from baseline) was significantly greater in nipocalimab plus SOC compared with placebo plus SOC (P=0.021) over Weeks 22, 23 and 24, further underscoring the potential of treatment with nipocalimab to mitigate the impact of gMG on a patient's day-to-day life. Safety and tolerability were consistent with other nipocalimab studies. The overall incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events and adverse events leading to discontinuation was similar to that in the placebo plus current SOC group. "We are thrilled to present yet another dataset for nipocalimab at the EAN 2024 Annual Meeting highlighting our commitment to providing innovative treatments for autoantibody-driven diseases," said Katie Abouzahr, M.D., Vice President, Autoantibody and Maternal Fetal Immunology Disease Area Leader, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. "We are developing transformative therapies that have the potential to address significant unmet patient need." Editor's notes: a. MG-ADL (Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living) provides a rapid clinical assessment of the patient's recall of symptoms impacting activities of daily living, with a total score range of 0 to 24; a higher score indicates greater symptom severity. b. Dr. Antozzi is a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson. He has not been compensated for any media work. c. Patients who received nipocalimab plus current SOC had a mean change of -4.70 [standard error (SE) 0.329]. Patients on placebo plus current SOC had a mean change of -3.25 (SE 0.335); difference of least-squares (LS) means -1.45 [0.470]; P=0.002. d. QMG (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis) is a 13-item assessment by a clinician that quantifies MG disease severity. The total QMG score ranges from 0 to 39, where higher scores indicated greater disease severity. e. Patients who received nipocalimab had an average score of -4.86 (SE 0.504) from baseline over Weeks 22, 23 and 24. Patients randomized to placebo plus current SOC had an average score of -2.05 (SE 0.499); difference of LS means -2.81; P<0.001. ABOUT GENERALIZED MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (gMG) Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody disease in which autoantibodies target proteins at the neuromuscular junction, disrupt neuromuscular signaling, and impair or prevent muscle contraction.4 In MG, the immune system mistakenly attacks muscle receptors by producing anti-receptor antibodies (e.g., anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR], anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase [MuSK] or anti-low density lipoprotein-related protein 4 [LRP4]) that can block or destroy these muscle receptors, preventing signals from transferring from nerves to muscles.5 The disease impacts an estimated 700,000 people worldwide. Initial disease manifestations are usually ocular but in 53 percent or more,6,7 the disease generalizes (gMG) which is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the skeletal muscles leading to symptoms like limb weakness, drooping eyelids, double vision, and difficulties with chewing, swallowing, speech, and breathing.8,9 Although gMG may be managed with current SOC therapies, research is needed to develop new treatments for those who may not respond well enough to or tolerate those therapies. ABOUT THE PHASE 3 VIVACITY-MG3 STUDY The Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study was specifically designed to measure sustained efficacy and safety with consistent dosing in this unpredictable chronic condition where unmet need remains high. Antibody positive or negative adult gMG patients with insufficient response (MG-ADL 6) to ongoing SOC therapy were identified and 199 patients,153 of which were antibody positive, enrolled in the 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Randomization was 1:1, nipocalimab plus current SOC (30 mg/kg IV loading dose followed by 15 mg/kg every two weeks) or placebo plus current SOC. Baseline demographics were balanced across arms (77 nipocalimab, 76 placebo). The primary endpoint of the study was mean change in MG-ADLa score from baseline over Weeks 22, 23 and 24 in antibody positive patients. A key secondary endpoint included change in QMGc score. Long-term safety and efficacy were further assessed in an ongoing OLE phase.10 ABOUT NIPOCALIMAB Nipocalimab is an investigational monoclonal antibody, purposefully designed to bind with high affinity to block FcRn and reduce levels of circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, while preserving immune function without causing broad immunosuppression. This includes autoantibodies and alloantibodies that underlie multiple conditions across three key segments in the autoantibody space including Rare Autoantibody diseases, Maternal Fetal diseases mediated by maternal alloantibodies and Prevalent Rheumatology.10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 Blockade of IgG binding to FcRn in the placenta is also believed to prevent transplacental transfer of maternal alloantibodies to the fetus.19,20 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have granted several key designations to nipocalimab including: Fast Track designation in hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) in July 2019 , gMG in December 2021 and fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) in March 2024 , gMG in and fetal neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) in Orphan drug status for wAIHA in December 2019 , HDFN in June 2020 , gMG in February 2021 , chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy CIDP in October 2021 and FNAIT in December 2023 , HDFN in , gMG in , chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy CIDP in and FNAIT in Breakthrough Therapy designation for HDFN by the FDA in February 2024 Orphan medicinal product designation for HDFN by the EMA in October 2019 ABOUT JOHNSON & JOHNSON At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ or at www.janssen.com/johnson-johnson-innovative-medicine . Follow us at @JanssenUS and @JNJInnovMed . Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc. are Johnson & Johnson companies. Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of nipocalimab. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Johnson & Johnson's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Janssen Biotech, Inc. nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments. Media contact: Bridget Kimmel Mobile: (215) 688-6033 [email protected] Investor contact: Raychel Kruper [email protected] Antozzi, C et al., Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab in patients with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis- Top Line Results from the Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Phase 3 Vivacity-MG3 study. 2024 European Academy of Neurology Congress. June 2024 . Meriggioli MN, Sanders DB. Muscle autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis: beyond diagnosis? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2012; 8: 42738 Hartford CA, Sherman SA, Karantzoulis S, Guillemin I, Phinney MG, Kelly KL, Negron KE, Raja SM, Rofail D. Experience of Daily Life with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: A Qualitative Investigation and Assessment of Instrument Content Validity. Neurol Ther. 2023 Dec;12(6):2079-2099. doi: 10.1007/s40120-023-00544-y. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37747661; PMCID: PMC10630275. Chen J, Tian D-C, Zhang C, et al. Incidence, mortality, and economic burden of myasthenia gravis in China : A nationwide population-based study. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. 2020;5(100063). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2020.100063. Wiendl, H., et al., Guideline for the management of myasthenic syndromes. Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, 16, 17562864231213240. https://doi.org/10.1177/17562864231213240 . Last Accessed April 2024 . Bever, C.T., Jr, Aquino, A.V., Penn, A.S., Lovelace, R.E. and Rowland, L.P. (1983), Prognosis of ocular myasthenia. Ann Neurol., 14: 516-519. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.410140504 Kupersmith MJ, Latkany R, Homel P. Development of generalized disease at 2 years in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Arch Neurol. 2003 Feb;60(2):243-8. doi: 10.1001/archneur.60.2.243. PMID: 12580710. Myasthenia gravis fact sheet. Retrieved April 2024 from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/sites/default/files/migrate-documents/myasthenia_gravis_e_march_2020_508c.pdf . Myasthenia Gravis: Treatment & Symptoms. (2021, April 7 ). Retrieved April 2024 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17252-myasthenia-gravis-mg . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04951622. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04951622 . Last accessed: June 2024 . ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03842189. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03842189 . Last accessed: June 2024 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05327114. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05327114 . Last accessed: June 2024 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04119050. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04119050 . Last accessed: June 2024 . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05379634. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05379634 . Last accessed: June 2024 . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05912517. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05912517 . Last accessed: June 2024 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06028438. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06028438 . Last accessed: June 2024 . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04968912. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04968912 . Last accessed: June 2024 . ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04882878. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04882878 . Last accessed: June 2024 . Lobato G, Soncini CS. Relationship between obstetric history and Rh(D) alloimmunization severity. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008 Mar;277(3):245-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-007-0446-x. Last accessed: June 2024 . Roy S, Nanovskaya T, Patrikeeva S, et al. M281, an anti-FcRn antibody, inhibits IgG transfer in a human ex vivo placental perfusion model. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019;220(5):498 e491-498 e499. SOURCE Johnson & Johnson With the Coliseum sale in jeopardy, union members fight for urgent action OAKLAND, Calif., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to criticisms of balancing the budget with one-time funds, unions representing Oakland city employees assert their firm stance that the Coliseum sale must move forward on time and be used to protect public services. The coalition of unions includes 4,000 city workers in IFPTE Local 21, SEIU 1021, IBEW 1245, and Oakland Firefighters Local 55. City workers plan on attending the Friday, June 28 City Council meeting to advocate for these priorities in the 2024-2025 Mid-cycle Adjustments Budget. Represented union members serve as firefighters, 911 dispatchers, illegal dumping crews, head start coordinators, and librarians along with hundreds of other jobs that keep Oakland running every single day. "This potential setback will severely undermine efforts to keep Oakland clean, safe, and healthy by harming the communities that need it most and those who perform the critical work of providing and keeping Oakland clean and safe," stated Antoinette Blue, Police Communications Dispatcher and SEIU 1021 Chapter President for the City of Oakland. "The revenue coming from the Coliseum sale right now is a life raft for public safety, our libraries, our parks, our infrastructure, and more," said Zac Unger, firefighter and IAFF 55 President. "The fiscally responsible thing to do is to use the sale to save our services." "City workers are the backbone of our essential services," said lead electrician Michael Patterson, IBEW Local 1245. "Cutting staff means cutting services. Residents deserve better." "Why would anyone scapegoat workers when corporations in Oakland aren't even paying their taxes?" said Julian Ware, IFPTE Local 21 Oakland Vice President. "After this is over, the City must explore every avenue to collect revenue." City workers have made many sacrifices over the years to balance the City's budget, including millions in concessions during the Great Recession. In 2017, the City of Oakland commissioned a third party to conduct a study of compensation for civilian employees, which found that many of our staff were paid on average 10% less than neighboring agencies, with some positions more than 20% behind. The City's own staffing reports have found that Oakland's job vacancy rate has hovered between 18% to 19% since 2022, compared to 11.03% in San Francisco, 13.46% in San Jose, 12.93% in Berkeley and 8.85% in Concord. SOURCE IFPTE Local 21 DALIAN, China and SEOUL, South Korea, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DEEPX, a pioneering AI semiconductor technology company led by CEO Lokwon Kim, has made history as the first AI semiconductor company in the world to be invited to the World Economic Forum. This esteemed gathering of global economic leaders took place at the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian, China, from June 25-27. The 15th edition of this prestigious event centered on the theme "The Next Frontier for Growth." On-Device AI Chip Company DEEPX Officially Invited to World Economic Forum This year's forum brought together influential figures from governments, international organizations, businesses, civil society, and academia. Discussions revolved around six central themes: the new global economy, China and the world, entrepreneurship in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), frontiers for new industries, human investment, and the climate-nature-energy nexus. During the forum, DEEPX CEO Lokwon Kim met with leaders of global AI companies, governments, and international organizations. He unveiled an innovative strategy and presented solutions to address critical challenges such as excessive power consumption and carbon emissions as humanity progresses into the AI era. Kim emphasized the importance of significantly reducing energy consumption in AI computational processing to enable seamless technology integration across economic, social, and cultural domains. He pointed out that current AI computational methods have hit an energy consumption ceiling, and energy-efficient technologies must emerge to pave the way for wider AI utilization. To this end, Kim proposed an "energy trading system for AI computing," where organizations employing energy-efficient solutions sell energy usage permits to those utilizing energy-intensive solutions. This system would incentivize improved energy efficiency and promote technological innovation by providing additional economic benefits to permit buyers. "The advent of energy-efficient AI technology will mark a pivotal point in humanity's quest towards an AI-driven superintelligent civilization," Kim elaborated. "DEEPX's founding mission is to contribute to advancing human civilization through AI technology. By presenting and spearheading this global agenda at the World Economic Forum, we are furthering our commitment to facilitating the transition to the AI era." Verena Kuhn, Head of Global Innovators at the World Economic Forum, expressed enthusiasm about DEEPX's participation, stating, "We are delighted to welcome DEEPX to the World Economic Forum. With its domain expertise and AI-powered innovations, DEEPX will make valuable contributions to our AI-related initiatives as a Global Innovator." SOURCE DEEPX CASTRES, France, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Commission (EC) has authorized the marketing of OBGEMSA (vibegron) by Pierre Fabre Laboratories for the symptomatic treatment of overactive bladder syndrome in adults, a particularly debilitating condition affecting over 70 million patients* in Europe. In 2022, Pierre Fabre Laboratories acquired the exclusive license for vibegron from Urovant Sciences Gmbh for the registration and commercialization of this innovative treatment in the European Economic Area. The decision of the EC will be applicable to all EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. OBGEMSA is a trademark owned by Urovant Sciences. View PDF Pierre Fabre Laboratories announce granting of European marketing authorization for OBGEMSA (vibegron) in overactive bladder. "We are delighted with this development, which will allow European patients to benefit from a new therapeutic option for overactive bladder syndrome and further strengthen our expertise of over 40 years in urology. This decision confirms Pierre Fabre Laboratories' commitment to offering patients innovative therapies that provide better management of chronic debilitating diseases," said Eric Ducournau, CEO of Pierre Fabre Laboratories. The decision of the EC follows the favorable opinion issued on April 25 by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is based on the results of two pivotal, multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 3 studies in adults with overactive bladder symptoms. Study RVT-901-3003 (EMPOWUR) evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of vibegron (at a dose of 75 mg per day) over 12 weeks compared to placebo and with tolterodine as a positive control. Its extension, study RVT-901-3004 (EMPOWUR Extension), double-blindly evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of vibegron over 52 weeks, with tolterodine as an active comparator. In these studies, vibegron, as a new selective agonist of beta-3 adrenergic receptors (AR), demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile in the symptomatic treatment of urgency, increased frequency of urination, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) that can occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Contact: Laurence MARCHAL [email protected] PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451098/Pierre_Fabre.pdf Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2416854/4789117/Pierre_Fabre_Laboratories.jpg SOURCE Pierre Fabre CASTRES, France, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Commission (EC) has authorized the marketing of OBGEMSA (vibegron) by Pierre Fabre Laboratories for the symptomatic treatment of overactive bladder syndrome in adults, a particularly debilitating condition affecting over 70 million patients* in Europe. In 2022, Pierre Fabre Laboratories acquired the exclusive license for vibegron from Urovant Sciences Gmbh for the registration and commercialization of this innovative treatment in the European Economic Area. The decision of the EC will be applicable to all EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. OBGEMSA is a trademark owned by Urovant Sciences. View PDF Pierre Fabre Laboratories announce granting of European marketing authorization for OBGEMSA (vibegron) in overactive bladder. "We are delighted with this development, which will allow European patients to benefit from a new therapeutic option for overactive bladder syndrome and further strengthen our expertise of over 40 years in urology. This decision confirms Pierre Fabre Laboratories' commitment to offering patients innovative therapies that provide better management of chronic debilitating diseases," said Eric Ducournau, CEO of Pierre Fabre Laboratories. The decision of the EC follows the favorable opinion issued on April 25 by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It is based on the results of two pivotal, multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 3 studies in adults with overactive bladder symptoms. Study RVT-901-3003 (EMPOWUR) evaluated the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of vibegron (at a dose of 75 mg per day) over 12 weeks compared to placebo and with tolterodine as a positive control. Its extension, study RVT-901-3004 (EMPOWUR Extension), double-blindly evaluated the long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of vibegron over 52 weeks, with tolterodine as an active comparator. In these studies, vibegron, as a new selective agonist of beta-3 adrenergic receptors (AR), demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile in the symptomatic treatment of urgency, increased frequency of urination, and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) that can occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Contact: Laurence MARCHAL [email protected] PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2451098/Pierre_Fabre.pdf Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2416854/4789117/Pierre_Fabre_Laboratories.jpg GOUVERNEUR, N.Y., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PureSky Energy, a leader in sustainable energy solutions, is excited to announce the operational launch of a new community solar farm project in Gouverneur, NY, marking PureSky's eighteenth site in the state of New York, making PureSky a leader in the state. ASA Gouverneur NY Solar II Location: Gouverneur, NY Size: 5,225 kW DC Solar Panels: 13,572 high-efficiency units Estimated Annual Generation: 6,364,050 kWh. Estimated Homes Powered Annually: 878 Estimated Annual Co2 Reduction: 9,943,047 lbs. (Equivalent to removing 1003 cars o the road) Estimated 30-Year Customer Savings: $2,292,249 "We are thrilled to announce the operational launch of ASA Gouverneur NY Solar II, in Gouverneur, NY. Community Solar is intended to assist every part of the community, from a residential customer to a small business owner, and we are so pleased that Glen Falls Hospital, which serves 20+ communities in New York's an anchor customer of this farm. Our goal is to empower communities with renewable energy and ASA Gouverneur NY Solar II is a shining example of that mission in action," said Nicole LeBlanc, Chief Operating Officer at PureSky Energy. The project also marks a major milestone for PureSky's partnership with Albany Med Health System, as both their Columbia Memorial and Glens Falls Hospitals are now benefiting from long term operating cost savings as anchor subscribers on two of PureSky's solar farms. These crucial partnerships help make Community Solar development possible, and PureSky applauds Albany Med for their continued support of sustainable practices. Karen Seward, Director of Energy Management for Albany Med Health System Hospital said "Glens Falls Hospital is pleased to partner with PureSky on this project to provide a sustainable, renewable resource option for our power needs while also achieving important energy cost savings." The Gouverneur NY Solar II farm exemplies economic and environmental progress, underscoring PureSky Energy's dedication to forging a sustainable future, while also providing signicant social and economic growth through local jobs and tax generation. For more information about the Gouverneur Solar Farms or PureSky Energy's initiatives, please visit our website: ASA Gouverneur NY Solar II (pureskyenergy.com). PureSky is committed to the Upstate New York market and has additional anchor capacity available for upcoming community solar projects. Corporations, municipalities, organizations, and institutions interested in learning more about becoming project anchors should contact [email protected]. About PureSky Energy: PureSky Energy is a leading developer, owner, and operator of US community solar, C&I and storage projects with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Since entering the US market in 2016, the company has rapidly expanded its scale and currently operates a portfolio with generation capacity of approximately 233MW across forty-four sites or under-construction projects expected to be completed in the short term. The company has a large pipeline of solar and battery storage projects across existing and new US markets, placing the platform in a primary position within the distributed generation market. The company's mission is to make clean energy accessible and aordable to local communities across the United States, while shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come. Website: www.pureskyenergy.com Host A Solar Farm: https://www.pureskyenergy.com/community-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/puresky-energy SOURCE PureSky Energy NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global retirement communities market size is estimated to grow by USD 394.5 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 4.25% during the forecast period. Rising life expectancy is driving market growth, with a trend towards favorable business opportunities for real estate developers. However, offering proper healthcare solutions poses a challenge. Key market players include Affinity Living Communities, AlerisLife Inc., American Retirement Homes Inc., British United Provident Association Ltd., Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Enlivant Master Mgmt CO LLC, Erickson Senior Living Management LLC, Front Porch, Genesis Healthcare Inc., HC One Ltd., Honor Technology Inc., Interim HealthCare Inc., Korian, Life Care Companies LLC, Senior Lifestyle, Sienna Senior Living Inc., Sonida Senior Living Inc., Sunrise Senior Living LLC, Village Concepts, and Wickshire Senior Living. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global retirement communities market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report Retirement Communities Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.25% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 394.5 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.08 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 32% Key countries US, Germany, China, UK, and France Key companies profiled Affinity Living Communities, AlerisLife Inc., American Retirement Homes Inc., British United Provident Association Ltd., Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Enlivant Master Mgmt CO LLC, Erickson Senior Living Management LLC, Front Porch, Genesis Healthcare Inc., HC One Ltd., Honor Technology Inc., Interim HealthCare Inc., Korian, Life Care Companies LLC, Senior Lifestyle, Sienna Senior Living Inc., Sonida Senior Living Inc., Sunrise Senior Living LLC, Village Concepts, and Wickshire Senior Living Market Driver The retirement communities market presents significant opportunities for real estate developers, particularly in the outskirts of urban areas. Buyers prefer peaceful environments with open spaces, leading to strong demand for projects in suburban locations. Developers benefit from lower land costs and reduced construction expenses due to smaller home sizes. This trend is expected to increase investments in retirement communities, boosting demand for related services. The retirement community market is experiencing significant growth, with a focus on providing facilities for active seniors. Living facilities, such as homes and apartments, are in high demand. Residences come with various amenities like pools, fitness centers, and social spaces. Markets also offer care services for those with health concerns. Communities are designed to meet different needs, from independent living to assisted living and memory care. Older adults prefer communities that offer activities, such as clubs and classes, to keep them engaged. Technology is a key trend, with communities implementing smart home systems and telehealth services. Communities are also becoming more eco-friendly, with sustainable features and energy-efficient designs. Overall, retirement communities are becoming more comprehensive, catering to seniors' physical, social, and emotional needs. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges Retirement communities face the challenge of providing healthcare services that cater to the unique needs of their aging population. To meet this demand, communities can partner with healthcare providers for on-site medical professionals and services. Access to specialists like geriatricians, neurologists, and cardiologists is crucial. Encouraging healthy lifestyles through exercise programs, healthy food options, and wellness activities also helps prevent and manage chronic conditions. A collaborative effort between healthcare providers, retirement communities, and policymakers is essential to ensure high-quality healthcare for older adults. Retirement communities are becoming increasingly popular as seniors seek comfortable living arrangements in their golden years. However, the market faces several challenges. One major issue is the rising cost of facilities and services, which can be a significant burden for retirees on fixed incomes. Another challenge is the need to cater to diverse needs and preferences of different age groups and health conditions. Additionally, the competition among retirement communities is fierce, making it essential to offer unique features and amenities to attract residents. Furthermore, the ongoing pandemic has introduced new challenges, such as safety protocols and social distancing measures, which must be addressed to maintain the health and well-being of residents. Overall, the retirement community market requires innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs and expectations of seniors while ensuring affordability and quality. For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report! Segment Overview This retirement communities market report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 Assisted living facilities 1.2 Continuing care retirement communities 1.3 Rest homes Application 2.1 Elderly people 2.2 Disabled people Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Assisted living facilities- Retirement communities provide senior living solutions, catering to the unique needs of older adults. These communities offer housing options, amenities, and services designed for ease and comfort. They foster social engagement and independence, allowing seniors to enjoy their golden years. Businesses play a crucial role in this market, providing essential services and products to these communities. From healthcare to recreational activities, businesses help enhance the quality of life for retirees. The retirement communities market continues to grow, driven by the increasing population of older adults and their desire for age-appropriate living solutions. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis In the rapidly evolving landscape of housing solutions, the Retirement Communities Market has emerged as a significant sector, catering to the unique needs of an aging population. Senior citizens, whether in major cities or suburbs, increasingly require specialized living facilities due to escalating medical needs. The demand for such communities is not limited to metropolitan areas but also extends to non-metro cities. Attractive financing options have made these Senior Living Facilities an increasingly popular choice for retirees, offering Active Adult Housing that caters to their lifestyle preferences. Security is a paramount concern, and these communities prioritize it to ensure peace of mind for parents of businessmen and other seniors. Old Age Homes, with their focus on providing a comfortable and secure environment, have become an essential consideration for those entering their golden years. Market Research Overview The Retirement Communities market encompasses a variety of housing options designed for senior citizens, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. These communities offer amenities such as social activities, healthcare services, and transportation, catering to the unique needs of older adults. The market is driven by demographic trends, including the aging population and increasing life expectancy. Additionally, technological advancements and government initiatives are shaping the retirement communities landscape. The sector is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, providing new opportunities for investors and service providers. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Assisted Living Facilities Continuing Care Retirement Communities Rest Homes Application Elderly People Disabled People Geography North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new world-class airline and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), in collaboration with the Saudi fashion designer Ashi, founder of Parisian couture house ASHI Studio, has unveiled its first-ever fashion collection, during Haute Couture Week in Paris. Riyadh Air and Saudi Arabian creative director Ashi reveal stunning collection during Haute Couture Week in Paris Riyadh Air and Saudi Arabian creative director Ashi reveal stunning collection during Haute Couture Week in Paris The airline took to the runway in style showcasing its stunning new lifestyle collection for its frontline team members in the fashion capital of the world. The exclusive fashion line is made up of dozens of male and female looks, of which 15 were revealed during the most prestigious fashion week of the year. The luxury Riyadh Air concepts unveiled in Paris comprised of timeless cashmere outerwear, dresses and trousers made of fine wools, custom leather footwear, amethyst earrings, and iconic pillbox hats, all of which are inspired by 1950s airline fashion, widely considered as the 'golden age' in aviation, but with bold, modern styling for a future-forward brand. Riyadh Air and Lucid, maker of the world's most advanced electric vehicles, also took the opportunity during Haute Couture Week in Paris to reaffirm their shared commitment to sustainable transport and eco-friendly practices. Lucid and Riyadh Air have an innovative partnership with a shared vision for the future of sustainable transportation exploring the collaboration across co-marketing, commercial, and operational streams for guests. Ashi has cultivated completely new color tones for the looks, including the chic and elegant Electric Amethyst for womenswear, and Dark Amethyst for menswear, of which the full collection is scheduled for launch early next year. The amethyst shades pay homage to Saudi Arabia's lavender fields and are rooted within Riyadh Air's primary color. Ashi took inspiration from the Riyadh Air aircraft livery to deliver completely bespoke colors for the new timeless collection. They were also carefully designed to complement the cabin interiors which will be revealed later this year. Ten womenswear looks were showcased on the runway, each of which were complemented by accessories such as trademark shoes and hats. Five menswear looks were also unveiled during the showcase. Ashi included distinctive Riyadh Air elements within the concepts, such as the iconic canopy twist found in the Riyadh Air brand, and incorporated them in the lines, shadows and the silhouettes of the new fashion line. The coats and jackets worn at the Paris launch also include the same modern lines as seen on the Riyadh Air logo. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: "This has been a landmark occasion for Riyadh Air, and it shows just how far we've come in a short space of time. For a start-up airline to be showcasing our new fashion collection during Haute Couture Week in Paris shows what an impact Riyadh Air is having globally. Working with Ashi on these designs has been a tremendous experience for all of us and we're all very proud to be able to show off the creations and the full range early next year. We have no doubt that the fashion line will soon be recognizable to people all over the world, and that the designs will leave a lasting impression on our guests by the proud team members that wear them. When you get up close to the garments you can see the level of detail and intricacy that Ashi has included, which is in complete alignment of our values and attention to detail at Riyadh Air." Ashi, Founder and Creative Director of ASHI STUDIO said: "Designing for the new national airline from Saudi Arabia has had a big impact on me knowing that we are making a mark in history. Fashion and aviation have seen collaborations in the past, but its pinnacle was over 50 years ago and I was keen to be inspired by that time. This is an amazing collaboration where fashion is helping to make an airline modern with completely unique looks. It shows that Riyadh Air has no limits and that luxury and attention to detail is key across every aspect of the experience. It's another first for Riyadh Air and I'm proud to collaborate with the airline." Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jXLJ0srNRgs5oA2pOoXye3RmsUX_X6lC Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450749/Haute_Couture_Week.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450750/Haute_Couture_Week_Paris.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2367414/4788473/Riyadh_Air_Logo.jpg SOURCE Riyadh Air Importance of the Event: This training event marked a significant step in the District's commitment to improving literacy outcomes and ensuring all students have access to high-quality learning experiences. By equipping educators to use the science of reading principles with Imagine Learning EL Education, the District aims to transform literacy instruction. The Summer Institute provided educators with in-depth training on evidence-based practices crucial for helping students develop strong literacy skills. This approach supports personalized learning and promotes equitable access to educational resources, addressing current challenges and ensuring all students can thrive academically. "Embracing the science of reading is a testament to our commitment to accelerating our students' academic achievement," said Tony B. Watlington Sr. Ed.D., Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. "The School District of Philadelphia had the second-fastest recovery for reading in grades three through eight among all large urban peer districts included in the Education Recovery Scorecard released by the Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. We are excited to continue leading the way in literacy education and empowering our educators to transform their classrooms with this Summer Institute." Event Details: The Summer Institute offered educators hands-on training, interactive sessions, and opportunities to explore and implement science of reading principles in their classrooms. Keynote speakers Nicole Ormandy, Senior Director of Content Development at AIM Institute for Learning and Research, and Dr. Megan Gierka, Senior Content Developer at AIM Institute for Learning and Research, highlighted best practices, leveraging their expertise and insights. District educators examined the structure and design of Imagine Learning EL Education, gained insights into year-long planning, and learned effective strategies to engage students and enhance their literacy skills. Participants built their understanding and application of effective literacy practices to support students as they learn to read and, ultimately, read to learn. "Imagine Learning is proud to support the School District of Philadelphia in this transformative initiative," said Terry Gilligan, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Core Curriculum at Imagine Learning. "Our role is to provide the necessary tools and resources along with strategic professional learning to ensure educators can effectively implement the science of reading and foster a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom." The Summer Institute was a significant milestone in SDP's ongoing efforts to enhance teaching and learning through innovative educational solutions. Main Takeaways: The Summer Institute emphasized the critical role of evidence-based practices in literacy instruction, equipping educators with strategies to enhance phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This initiative was deeply personal for the leaders and teachers at the School District of Philadelphia . Participants expressed a strong commitment to creating better futures for SDP students, recognizing that it all starts with teaching every student to read proficiently. . Participants expressed a strong commitment to creating better futures for SDP students, recognizing that it all starts with teaching every student to read proficiently. The overarching goal is clear: to ensure that every student in the district achieves reading proficiency. SDP's excellent educators are dedicated to pursuing this ambitious endeavor, supported by the high-quality curricular materials and practices provided by Imagine Learning EL Education. About the School District of Philadelphia: The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth-largest school district in the nation and the largest school district in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Enrollment includes nearly 198,000 students in public, charter, and alternative schools, and approximately 19,000 employees. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr., the School District's vision is to prepare students to imagine and realize any future they desire. For more information about the School District, visit www.philasd.org. About Imagine Learning: Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That's why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of people, curricula, and technology. Imagine Learning creates K12 digital-first solutions working alongside educators to support 15 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Imagine IM, Imagine Learning EL Education, Twig Science, and Traverse. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity is our flagship courseware solution, complemented by Imagine School Services' Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more at imaginelearning.com. SOURCE Imagine Learning LLC MECHANICSBURG, Pa., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical") (NYSE: SEM), will release the financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024 on Thursday, August 1, 2024 after the market closes. Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its second quarter results, as well as its business outlook, on Friday, August 2, 2024, at 9:00am ET. The conference call will be a live webcast and can be accessed at via this Earnings Call Webcast Link or via link at Select Medical Holdings Corporation's website at www.selectmedicalholdings.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call through the same link. For listeners wishing to dial-in via telephone, or participate in the question and answer session, you may pre-register for the call at Select Medical Earnings Call Registration to obtain your dial-in number and unique passcode for the call. Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on the number of facilities. Select Medical's reportable segments include the critical illness recovery hospital segment, the rehabilitation hospital segment, the outpatient rehabilitation segment, and the Concentra segment. As of March 31, 2024, Select Medical operated 107 critical illness recovery hospitals in 28 states, 33 rehabilitation hospitals in 12 states, 1,922 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 39 states and the District of Columbia, 547 occupational health centers in 41 states, and 151 onsite clinics at employer worksites. At March 31, 2024, Select Medical had operations in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com. Investor inquiries: Joel T. Veit Senior Vice President and Treasurer 717-972-1100 [email protected] SOURCE Select Medical Holdings Corporation NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global sexual enhancement supplements market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.03 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 11.71% during the forecast period. Availability of supplements in multiple dosage forms is driving market growth, with a trend towards rapid growth of E-commerce. However, availability of substitutes in sexual enhancement supplements market poses a challenge. Key market players include Ambic Ayurved India Pvt. Ltd., Atlantic Essential Products Inc., Aytu BioPharma Inc., BioFilm Inc., Church and Dwight Co. Inc., Cyanotech Corp., Dabur India Ltd., Doc Johnson Enterprises, GNC Holdings LLC, Good Clean Love Inc., Herbalife International of America Inc., Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc., Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd., Leading Edge Health Inc., Lovehoney Group Ltd., NOW Health Group Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Vox Nutrition Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global sexual enhancement supplements market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), Product (Male and Female), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Region Covered North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled Ambic Ayurved India Pvt. Ltd., Atlantic Essential Products Inc., Aytu BioPharma Inc., BioFilm Inc., Church and Dwight Co. Inc., Cyanotech Corp., Dabur India Ltd., Doc Johnson Enterprises, GNC Holdings LLC, Good Clean Love Inc., Herbalife International of America Inc., Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc., Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd., Leading Edge Health Inc., Lovehoney Group Ltd., NOW Health Group Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Vox Nutrition Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The global sexual enhancement supplements market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of e-commerce for distribution and sales. This trend is driven by the convenience offered to patients unwilling to purchase from retail or hospital channels. The rising prevalence of sexual health issues, particularly ED in men, has boosted demand, creating a supply gap. Major vendors like Amazon, Doc Johnson, and Innovus Pharmaceuticals sell supplements through their websites and specialized e-commerce platforms. This expansion of e-commerce channels is expected to fuel market growth during the forecast period. The market for Sexual Enhancement Supplements is experiencing significant growth. Key ingredients like Saffron, Horny Goat Weed, and Maca Root are in high demand. Preventive measures and natural remedies are trending, with many consumers seeking alternatives to prescription drugs. Ecormce and Hypnosis are also gaining popularity. The market is competitive, with companies focusing on differentiating their products through unique formulations and marketing strategies. Dosages and delivery methods vary, from capsules to liquids and gummies. The industry is expected to continue growing, driven by increasing consumer awareness and acceptance of these supplements. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges The sexual enhancement supplement market may experience limited growth due to the availability of substitute products, particularly lubricated condoms, sex toys, and erotic lingerie. These alternatives, popular among the LGBT community, produce positive sexual outcomes and have increased demand in developed countries like the US. The LGBT population, which accounts for approximately 7.2% of US adults, is the primary user of sexual wellness products, including sex toys, dildos, vibrators, and anal beads. Lubricating condoms and erotic lingerie are also commonly used as substitutes for sexual enhancement supplements. The Sexual Enhancement Supplements market faces several challenges. Economic conditions impact consumer purchasing power. Consumers seek affordable prices for these products (Factors, Costs). Regulatory restrictions limit marketing strategies (Regulations, Restrictions). Consumer education is essential to increase awareness and acceptance (Education, Awareness). Product innovation is necessary to meet diverse consumer needs (Products, Innovation). Sustainability and ethical production are growing concerns (Sustainability, Ethics). Competition from alternative treatments and prescription drugs poses a threat (Competition, Prescription Drugs). Understanding these challenges can help businesses adapt and thrive in the Sexual Enhancement Supplements industry. (Issues, Adapt, Thrive) For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This sexual enhancement supplements market report extensively covers market segmentation by Distribution Channel 1.1 Offline 1.2 Online Product 2.1 Male 2.2 Female Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 Asia 3.4 Rest of World (ROW) 1.1 Offline- The sexual enhancement supplements market relies significantly on offline distribution channels. These traditional sales methods include health stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets, expanding market reach for consumers without internet access or preferring in-person purchases. Due to product sensitivity and privacy concerns, offline channels are commonly used despite restrictions from companies and governments. Effective utilization of offline channels can boost market share and brand recognition, with moderate growth expected during the forecast period. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Sexual Enhancement Supplements Market caters to the Male segment, addressing sexual health issues that arise from various factors such as Stress, Aging, and Economic Factors. With an Ageing Population, the prevalence of Diminished libido and Erectile dysfunction is on the rise. Preventive healthcare is a significant trend, leading to the demand for Natural supplements. These supplements may contain Synthetic and blends of Natural ingredients, including Minerals like Zinc, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Folic acids, and other essential nutrients. Alternative medicine's popularity is driving the E-commerce sector, making these supplements easily accessible. However, Distribution Issues pose a challenge due to regulatory restrictions and quality concerns. Key ingredients like Kidney disease-friendly minerals and vitamins are crucial for formulation development. The Flu season may impact the market, as some supplements may boost immunity. Market Research Overview The Sexual Enhancement Supplements market encompasses a variety of products designed to improve sexual function and performance. These supplements typically contain natural ingredients such as L-arginine, zinc, and ginseng. They are marketed to both men and women, addressing issues like low libido, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation. The market is driven by factors such as increasing awareness of sexual health, rising disposable income, and the growing acceptance of alternative treatments. The market is segmented based on product type, gender, and distribution channel. The market is expected to grow significantly due to the increasing demand for natural and herbal remedies for sexual health concerns. The market is competitive, with numerous players offering similar products, necessitating continuous innovation and differentiation to gain a competitive edge. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Distribution Channel Offline Online Product Male Female Geography North America Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) 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 Development of PCB01, 5 th generation of 8-channel PCIe, to be followed by mass production within this year PCB01, industry's best SSD for PCs, optimized for on-device AI Advancement in NAND solution to extend success story of HBM, solidify leadership in AI memory space SEOUL, South Korea, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SK hynix Inc. (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) announced today that it developed PCB01, an SSD product with the industry's best specifications, for on-device* AI PCs. *On-device AI: a technology that implements AI functions on the device itself, instead of going through computation by a physically separated server. A smartphone's direct collection and computation of information allows fast reactions of the AI performance, while promising an improved customized AI service. SK hynix develops PCB01 (PRNewsfoto/SK hynix Inc.) The product marks the first case where the industry adopts the fifth generation of the 8-channel** PCIe*** technology and brings innovation to performance including the data processing speed. **Channel: a route for the input/output of data between a NAND Flash and a controller on the SSD. An increase in the number of channels leads to advancement of the PCIe to the next generations and an improvement in the data processing speed. A 4-chnnel SSD is typically adopted for the conventional PCs, while an 8-channel SSD is for high-performance PC. ***Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCle): a serial-structured, high-speed input/output interface used on the motherboard of digital devices The company expects the latest advancement in the NAND solution space to add to its success stories in the high-performance DRAM area led by HBM, enhancing its leadership in the overall AI memory space. With a validation process with a global PC customer underway, SK hynix plans to mass produce and start shipping the products to both corporate customers and general consumers within this year. PCB01 comes with the capabilities of sequential read and write speeds of 14GB and 12GB per second, respectively, bringing the performance of an SSD to the level unseen before. The speeds allow the operation of a large language model****, or LLM, for AI training and inference, in a second. ****Large language model (LLM): a language model trained on vast amounts of data, which is essential for performance of generative AI tasks such as creating, summarizing, and translating texts The product also comes with an improvement in power efficiency of more than 30% compared with the previous generation, enhancing the stability of the large-scale AI computing tasks. SK hynix also adopted the SLC***** caching for the production of PCB01. With the adoption of the technology that places the single level cell, or SLC, in some parts of the NAND cell to accelerate performance, a PC user can experience a faster performance for both AI services and conventional computing. *****Single-level cell (SLC): a type of memory cell used in NAND Flash that stores one bit of data in a single cell. As the amount of data stored increases, the memory cell becomes a multi-level cell (MLC), a triple-level cell (TLC), and a quad-level cell (QLC). An increase in the data storage means more data can be stored in the same area, but the speed and stability decreases. An SLC enables faster processing of selected data. The product is also equipped with the capability aimed at protecting personal data. SK hynix engineers built the root of trust, or ROT******, a security solution, in the PCB01 to prevent external cybersecurity attacks and forging and falsification of information, while protecting a user's password. ******Root of Trust (RoT): an area of the hardware that can always be trusted in terms of security, while enabling prevention of forging and falsification of information The company plans to launch PCB01 in three capacities 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Ahn Hyun, Head of the N-S Committee at SK hynix, said that numerous global providers of CPU for on-device AI PCs are requesting collaboration for compatibility validation process. "We will work towards enhancing our leadership as the global top AI memory provider also in the NAND solution space by successfully completing the customer validation and mass production of PCB01, which will be in the limelight." About SK hynix Inc. SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM"), flash memory chips ("NAND flash") and CMOS Image Sensors ("CIS") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com. SOURCE SK hynix Inc. IOANNINA, Greece, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- snappi, the pioneering Greek neobank, announces that it has received a universal banking license from the European Central Bank (ECB), following the proposal of the Bank of Greece. The regulator's approval comes as the first milestone in snappi's plans to provide next-generation financial services. The licensing process was facilitated by snappi's experienced team, working in strong collaboration with regulatory authorities. With the full banking license, snappi is authorized to conduct a comprehensive range of banking activities, including accepting deposits and offering loans. Christos Megalou, Chairman of snappi's Board of Directors and CEO of Piraeus Bank, remarked: "I am very pleased that snappi has been granted a Eurozone-passportable banking license. This is a significant step in the bank's development and marks a new era in snappi's journey to become part of the new banking landscape in Europe, starting from Ioannina, Greece. As a fully licensed institution, our goal is to serve our clients and society by offering innovative digital products." "We know that banking is built on trust, and receiving the banking license is an important milestone for us. Our aim is to evolve the client banking experience by providing customer-centric, innovative, and competitive financial products and solutions. We believe in fostering a more inclusive banking environment and strive to serve our clients and stakeholders with integrity and excellence" said Gabriella Kindert, who will be assuming the role of CEO at snappi. Thanasis Navrozoglou, Vice Chairman of snappi's Board of Directors and President & CEO at Natech, an Ioannina-based fintech firm and the technology partner of snappi, specialized in banking software solutions, commented: "snappi is all about modern people, and this license unlocks a future of banking experiences that will speak to their hearts. Now, we are focused on rolling out snappi's digital strategy, leveraging state-of-the-art offerings and cutting-edge technologies for everyone who wants something better. Kudos to the snappi team and everyone who have been passionately working to create this new digital bank from the ground up". Strategically located in Ioannina: Promoting decentralization and supporting the local community snappi's headquarters in Ioannina, strategically positioned outside the Greek capital, reflect the neobank's commitment to decentralization. This choice is intended to support the local community, foster the development of an emerging regional technology ecosystem, and inspire innovation beyond traditional urban centres. In the following period and ahead of public launch, snappi will focus on enhancing the setup of its banking operations and integration points to deliver a fresh customer digital experience with top-notch standards of quality and reliability. About snappi snappi is a joint initiative between Piraeus Financial Holdings, the parent company of Piraeus Bank, and Natech, a premier fintech firm specializing in core banking software solutions. At snappi, our mission is to revolutionize the financial experience for individuals and businesses by providing a fully digital, user-friendly platform that ensures accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. Our vision is to be the leading digital bank, delivering innovative financial solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our clients. By prioritizing transparency, efficiency, inclusion, and customer satisfaction, we aim to build lasting relationships and assist our clients to realize their aspirations for a fulfilling life. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2450882/snappi_Logo.jpg SOURCE snappi Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Decision Opens the Door for Widespread Attack on Employee Rights BOSTON, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are condemning the decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to allow Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Instacart to go before voters this November with an anti-worker, anti-taxpayer referendum. The ballot question, if passed, would legitimize Big Tech companies' practice of unlawfully misclassifying employees as independent contractors. "These billion-dollar companies like Uber and Lyft are brazenly using worker misclassification as a cover while they engage in wage theft and deny fair wages, benefits, and job protections to their workforce," said Tom Mari, Teamsters Local 25 President. "This misguided decision paves the way for these greedy corporations to continue abusing workers and externalizing their labor costs onto the public. Despite this setback, we will continue fighting for workers in Massachusetts." The measure, as written, contradicts the Commonwealth's standard for independent contractor classification the ABC Test and the U.S. Dept. of Labor's standard, the Economic Realities Test. Beyond the negative impact on workers, worker misclassification robs state coffers: a recent study found that many gig workers earn less than minimum wage after expenses, and an inquiry by the state auditor found that gig companies have been bilking government programs for millions of dollars in revenue. Teamsters Local 25 represents more than 12,000 members and their families in greater Boston and southern New England. For more information, visit teamsterslocal25.com. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (617) 894-0669 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 25 The event showcased urgency for formal recognition of Hinduphobia via initiatives like H.Res 1131 WASHINGTON, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawmakers, Hindu students, researchers, and community leaders came together in a packed room during the 3rd National Hindu Advocacy Day on the Hill, to discuss the concerns Hindus living in the US face. Close to 25 lawmakers (a mix of congressional representatives and staffers both Democrat and Republican) attended the event, organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) which highlighted the multi-pronged attacks Hindus face. These range from the continued usage of stereotypical colonial frameworks, to gaslighting and verbal slurs, and all the way to the vandalizations of multiple temples. Over 100 delegates (including a large number of Hindu youth) from 15 states attended the event and 40 plus core CoHNA volunteers visited over 115 congressional offices to advocate support for H.Res.1131, which condemns Hinduphobia and attacks on temples, while celebrating the contribution of the Hindu American community. Watch vignettes from the day here. The CoHNA Team at Capitol Hill for the 3rd National Day of Hindu Advocacy that saw over 100 American Hindus from 15 states gather to draw attention to Hinduphobia. "From students to retired community members of diverse backgrounds, CoHNA's Advocacy Day has grown steadily to become an important mechanism through which our community engages with lawmakers on the Hill," remarked CoHNA President Nikunj Trivedi. "We are also glad to see other organizations as well as non-Hindu allies join us in support of the causes that matter to our community and especially our youth." The highlight of the event was the multiplicity of student voices. Attendees heard heartfelt personal testimony from a powerful panel of Hindu students from Stanford, UC Berkeley, and University of Georgia. They delved into the challenges they face on campus, in academic settings, and even in their dorm rooms. Their voices and stories brought home the prevalent Hinduphobia on campus and the way it shapes their lives and the choices they make. Rutvij Holay spoke of being mocked for having a small space for Hindu worship in his dorm room and of having to console a close Kashmiri friend who was traumatized by the display of on-campus displays sanitizing the ethnic cleansing his community had faced. Aryan Sawant shared his isolation in being an openly proud Hindu on campus and having to deal with the disapproval of peers. He highlighted the misinformation by professors who deny anti-Hindu hate, even as they peddle it by denying the religious nature of recorded pogroms against Hindus around the world such as the 1971 Bengali Hindu Genocide. Anvita Yerramsetty shared how growing awareness of anti-Hindu hate in her high school years strengthened her resolve to stay proud of her roots and reshaped her decision and research on something as fundamental as where to apply and go to college. Surya Naga, the Youth Director for Hindu on Campus, presented data collected from student testimonials across the United States and the impact of such experiences on a student's psyche - from students being told to wipe off the bindis on their foreheads and attempts to rip of their sacred threads, to being made fun of for worshiping Hindu deities with "weird names," to being accused of supporting extremism and oppression of minorities just because of one's Hindu identity, etc. American Hindus have just lived through a turbulent year and these issues were highlighted throughout the event. Data shows a rise in hate against Hindus. Academic Hinduphobia has been amplified as a result of the turmoil on college campuses and Hindu students shared personal stories of the many ways they get targeted on campus. And even sacred spaces are not safe -- SIX Hindu temples were attacked in California between Nov. 2023-Jan. 2024, with no resulting action and little lasting outrage. A detailed list of the incidents was published in April . Congressional Support The event began with Congressman Max Miller (R-OH), talking about the importance of freedom of religion and sharing how proud he was for supporting H.Res 1131. He expressed empathy with the issues the Hindu community has been facing, and assured that he would continue to stand against all forms of hate and bigotry throughout the country. He acknowledged that it was a tough time for the country, but that he would be there for the Hindu community: "If anything were to happen to your community, I'll be there standing shoulder to shoulder with you." He also asked the audience to stand strong and never back away from their values. CoHNA was excited to host the force behind H.Res 1131 - Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) - who stressed he will not tolerate Hinduphobia, discrimination, or other forms of hate. "We are here and we are fighting," he said, drawing attention to "the voice you all have, the voice the Hindu community has in Congress." Thanedar spoke of why H.Res. 1131 was needed in the first place and also shared his own immigration story as a way of illustrating the great American story and the ability to surmount hurdles. Sharing his excitement at being back at CoHNA's event, Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) welcomed the continued and growing engagement of the Hindu American and Indian American community in policy making and its potential to transform the future of America. He called attention to his support for H.Res 1131, honoring the contributions of Hindu Americans, and asked the community to continue pursuing the American dream which celebrates innovation, hard work, success, AND its traditions. Other lawmakers like Congressman Glen Grothman (R-WI) also expressed solidarity with the community and congratulated CoHNA for being a force in advocating for the community Closing out the day, Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) celebrated the growth of the community's advocacy over the past decade, and lauded CoHNA's efforts in ensuring the community has a growing voice on Capitol Hill via advocacy events. He exhorted everyone to be proud of who they are and congratulated the audience on making time to come to DC for an event that exemplified pride in their heritage and roots. Several lawmakers also spoke about the importance of tackling immigration - especially problems like the Green Card backlog - an issue that has an outsized impact on the Hindu American immigrant community. In addition to lawmakers and staffers, the event was also attended by community leaders and representatives from various organizations such as HinduACTion, Howard County Jewish Advocacy Group (HoCoJAG), ISKCON, Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples, Americans for Hindus (A4H), Indian Cultural Association of Howard County, etc. Data and Research Aaron Gross, Research Fellow at Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), highlighted the alarming rise of Hinduphobia in North America, driven by the Khalistan extremist movement and attacks on temples, along with the need for law enforcement to tackle online hate before it escalates into further violence. NCRI's analysis of online chatter surrounding real life anti-Hindu hate incidents (attacks on temples, vandalization of Gandhi statues, etc.) pointed to the involvement of Khalistan movement supporters, a group advocating for the creation of a separate Sikh nation out of Punjab, India. Each attack was preceded and followed by a spike in online posts promoting violence, powered by a bot network designed to amplify anti-Hindu sentiment. Often, these posts include videos from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of Sikhs for Justice, who openly incites his followers to target Hindus in Canada, US, and India. Interestingly, about 20% of these Twitter accounts purport to be from Pakistan, where Sikhs constitute less than 0.02% of the population. This suggests that many of these accounts do not genuinely support Sikh separatism but are driven by Hinduphobia and geo political considerations. Rana Reddy, CoHNA's Policy Fellow, shared his analysis of a report recently published by Carnegie Mellon University . He showed how geo-political players use Hinduism to target India even though India is a secular country. And in a digital world, these anti-India tropes are used to target Hindus across the globe. The key report findings - organized cybercrime, bot networks, and sophisticated disinformation tactics to propagate Hinduphobia globally by exploiting/misrepresenting Indian political narratives for targeted information attacks. He concluded that counter strategies and reporting mechanisms are required by private distribution platforms to mitigate this digital threat through robust cybersecurity measures and international regulatory bodies. About CoHNA CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit https://cohna.org or follow us on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and on Instagram . SOURCE Coalition of Hindus of North America In the face of industry upheavals and mounting competitive pressures, a new resource from Info-Tech Research Group offers wholesale industry leaders a roadmap to integrate Exponential IT principles that emphasizes real-time decision-making, infrastructure transformation, and AI technology integration. The research delivers actionable strategies to foster innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and navigate market shifts effectively. By adopting these transformative IT strategies, wholesale organizations can overcome challenges, drive sustainable growth, and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving market landscape. TORONTO, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - As the wholesale industry contends with escalating challenges such as supply chain complexities, emerging market players, and the demand for seamless customer experiences, there is an increasing need for strategic technological transformation. Against this backdrop of industry disruption and intensifying market pressures, Info-Tech Research Group has published its latest blueprint, Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Wholesale Industry. The global research and advisory firm's insights emphasize the critical importance of organizations adopting Exponential IT strategies. This forward-thinking approach helps IT leaders seamlessly integrate advanced technologies, agile methods, and ongoing adaptability. By embracing Exponential IT, the wholesale sector can drive innovation, boost operational efficiency, and secure sustainable growth in the face of rapid digital disruption. Info-Tech Research Group's "Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Wholesale Industry" blueprint outlines three key priorities that IT leaders in the industry must consider to optimize and autonomize their operations. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) "As technology continues to see game-changing innovation, organizations are faced with the real possibility of being left behind their competition," says Donnafay MacDonald, research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "It is imperative that organizations are prepared for the next wave of rapid, exponential evolution of technology. Organizations that are positioned to pivot, adapt, and adopt new technologies have the greatest potential to unlock value for their organizations." Info-Tech's new industry resource underscores the growing importance of real-time data-driven capabilities in enabling dynamic adaptability that will allow the organization to thrive despite market shifts and competitive pressures in the wholesale industry. Currently, wholesalers are encountering challenges in maintaining competitiveness due to heightened competition, reliance on legacy equipment, and substantial technical debt. The firm advises that fostering innovation is essential for enhancing the industry's competitive positioning. IT leaders need to be recognized as valued business partners to empower the organization to embrace exponential technologies. The firm's blueprint highlights the significance of embracing an Exponential IT mindset in the industry, which involves preparing for growth by evaluating existing operations and organizational structures and taking steps to modernize them. Consequently, Info-Tech explains, it is paramount for IT leaders in the wholesale sector to acknowledge the urgency of adopting Exponential IT to address and capitalize on industry disruptions. Info-Tech recommends three key priorities that IT leaders in the wholesale industry must consider to optimize and autonomize their operations: Transform Infrastructure and Applications Into Utilities: IT leaders must develop strategies to transform infrastructure and applications into utilities. This transformation enhances operational efficiency and creates a more agile and responsive IT environment capable of meeting evolving industry requirements. This priority also involves optimizing existing operations, modernizing organizational structures, and leveraging advanced technologies to support rapid adaptation and value creation. Treat Data as a Product: Optimizing data for real-time decisions and treating it as a valuable commodity is crucial. By leveraging data as product, organizations can gain actionable insights, drive innovation, and enhance operational efficiency. This approach includes creating scalable data architectures, implementing data pipelines for real-time processing, and using data to predict future trends and inform strategic decisions. Let AI Take Over Core Operations: Shift to autonomized capabilities by enabling AI to take over core operations. Integrating advanced AI technologies allows wholesale organizations to streamline operational processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce manual intervention in critical tasks. The process involves automating routine operations, improving real-time insights, and increasing the agility and responsiveness of IT systems. The resource from Info-Tech emphasizes that adopting new technologies and leveraging AI and ML across the organization will enable the wholesale industry to remain competitive and profitable. As organizations strive to succeed in the next phase of technology-driven transformation, CIOs have a unique opportunity to demonstrate their leadership by focusing on delivering organizational capabilities. This approach requires a shift from merely providing services to taking ownership of organizational goals and driving strategic initiatives that align with the evolving technological landscape. For exclusive and timely commentary from Donnafay MacDonald, an expert in the retail and wholesale industry, and access to the complete Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Wholesale Industry blueprint, please contact [email protected]. Info-Tech LIVE 2024 Registration is now open for Info-Tech Research Group's annual IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2024, taking place September 17 to 19, 2024, at the iconic Bellagio in Las Vegas. This premier event offers journalists, podcasters, and media influencers access to exclusive content, the latest IT research and trends, and the opportunity to interview industry experts, analysts, and speakers. To apply for media passes to attend the event or gain access to research and expert insights on trending topics, please contact [email protected]. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group CHENGDU, China, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the list of candidates for 2024 Sichuan Province university admissions with guaranteed enrollment is being publicly announced. This year, 133 individuals are slated for admission to Tsinghua University, and 185 to Peking University. Among them, 18 individuals from Sichuan have secured spots with both universities, including students from the national team training for Olympiad competitions and outstanding students from foreign language schools. Among them is Chen Zhouyuanhang, a student from Luzhou Tianli School, who won a gold medal in the 32nd National High School Biology Olympiad and was selected for the national biology training team. In recent years, nearly 60 Tianli students have won first prizes in provincial and higher-level competitions, with many selected for national training teams. Through continuous breakthroughs in competitions and direct admissions to top universities like Tsinghua and Peking, Tianli Education is steadily transforming the landscape of basic education in its locality. Over the years, Tianli Education has actively responded by investing substantial resources to establish an advanced academic competition management system, creating smooth pathways for selection and development, and leveraging professional platforms to help teachers and students forge successful "competition" careers. Tianli Education has consistently built upon its educational advantages, integrating across elementary, middle, and high school stages, continuously optimizing management and teaching mechanisms, mobilizing top-tier faculty, curriculum, and other resources, and constructing integrated mechanisms for cultivating outstanding innovative talents. This approach revolves around five major academic competitions and direct admissions to top universities, achieving sustained breakthroughs in fostering talent for the Party and the nation. SOURCE TIANLI International Holdings Limited PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC ("CrossingBridge") is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with NCI Advisory A/S ("NCI Advisory"), a strong performing debt asset management firm based in Denmark. David Sherman, CEO of CrossingBridge, states, "The Nordic debt market has provided us with attractive investment opportunities. Establishing a strategic cooperation with an experienced, local team is crucial for our future growth in the Nordics. We have worked with the NCI Advisory team on several transactions and found a good cultural and strategic fit, as well as a shared approach to investing. We see this strategic partnership as key to our ambition to become a leading Nordic high-yield asset manager." Jrgen Beuchert, CEO of NCI Advisory, comments, "We believe that the Nordic debt market will become even more interesting in the future, particularly for experienced, active managers capable of handling complex situations. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in NCI Advisory's growth and expansion plans. CrossingBridge brings a wealth of expertise, which complements NCI Advisory's 16-year track record of delivering attractive returns across more than 100 exits. Our partnership establishes a strong foundation for growth and opens opportunities for additional debt investment strategies." About NCI Advisory NCI Advisory is a Nordic debt asset manager, founded in 2008 and owned by Jrgen Beuchert. NCI Advisory has EUR 100 million under management and operates in the primary and secondary Nordic high-yield bonds and direct loans market. The company's oldest fund has generated an average return of 10.1% since 2008 and paid an average of 9.3% in dividends. About CrossingBridge CrossingBridge Advisors LLC, founded by David Sherman and owned by ENDI Corp. (OTCQB: ENDI), has more than USD $2.9 billion under management focusing on Corporate Credit strategies. CrossingBridge has a deep and highly experienced team led by the CEO and majority shareholder, David Sherman. SOURCE CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC Well intervention is essential to maintain and optimize the productivity of oil and gas wells throughout their operational life. It encompasses various operations to alter the well's state, enhance production, mitigate issues, and extend the well lifespan. Properly targeted interventions can increase production rates, improve reservoir performance, and maximize oil and gas recovery. Ultimately, it ensures efficient resource extraction, cost-effectiveness, and safety in oil and gas operations. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1099 Browse in-depth TOC on "Well Intervention Market" 241 - Tables 60 - Figures 304 - Pages Well Intervention Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $9.2 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $11.3 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% Market Size Available for 20192029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Service, Intervention Type, Well Type, Application and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and South America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing oil and gas well discoveries Key Market Drivers Growing need for maximizing the production potential of mature oil & gas fields Medium Intervention, by intervention type, is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. Based on end users, the Well Intervention Market has been split into light intervention, medium intervention and heavy intervention. The medium intervention sub-segment is poised for rapid growth due to its increasing application in enhancing subsea well quality. This segment addresses crucial intervention needs in subsea environments, where maintenance and optimization are vital for efficient oil and gas extraction as the industry focuses more on subsea operations, demand for medium intervention services rises, driving market growth. Additionally, advancements in technology and methodologies tailored for subsea interventions further propel the medium intervention sub-segment's expansion, making it the fastest-growing segment in the Well Intervention Market. The logging and bottomhole survey segment, by service segment, is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period. This report segments the Well Intervention Market based on services into logging and bottomhole survey, tubing/packer failure & repair, stimulation, remedial cementing, zonal isolation, sand control services, artificial lift, fishing, re-perforation, and others. The logging and bottomhole survey segment is critical in assessing well conditions and optimizing production. As it offers insights into reservoir characteristics and well integrity, its demand increases alongside rising exploration activities and the need for enhanced recovery techniques. Additionally, the surge in the number of active rigs globally further boosts the significance of this sub-segment, positioning it as the largest within the Well Intervention Market. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1099 North America is expected to be the largest region in the Well Intervention Market. North America dominates the Well Intervention Market due to its extensive oil and gas reserves, particularly in regions like Texas and New Mexico. As the largest market, the US experiences substantial growth driven by unconventional resource exploration. Rising exploration and production activities, coupled with technological advancements, contribute to the region's market dominance, projected to continue leading the industry during the forecast period. Additionally, supportive regulatory frameworks and investments in infrastructure further fuel market expansion in North America. Key Market Players of Well Intervention Industry: Some of the major players in the Well Intervention Market are Halliburton (US), SLB (US), Baker Hughes (US), Weatherford (US), Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (US), Archer (US), Expro Group (US), Trican (Canada), Patterson -UTI (US), and Interventek Subsea Engineering (UK) . The major strategies adopted by these players include sales contracts and agreements. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=1099 Related Reports: Offshore Decommissioning Market by Service (Well Plugging & Abandonment, Platform Removal, Conductor Removal) Depth (Shallow, Deepwater) Structure (Topsides, Substructure) Removal (Leave in Place, Partial, Complete), and Region - Global Forecast to 2027 Coiled Tubing Market by Fleet (Operator, Region), Service (Well Intervention Service (Well Completions & Mechanical Operations, Well Cleaning & Pumping Operations) Drilling Service, Others), Application (Onshore, Offshore), Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Sand Control Solutions Market by Location (Onshore, Offshore), Application (Cased hole, Open hole), Well Type (Horizontal, Vertical), Type (Gravel Pack, Frac Pack, Sand Screens, Inflow Control Devices, Others), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Get access to the latest updates on Well Intervention Companies and Well Intervention Industry Growth About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. 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Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1951202/4609423/MarketsandMarkets.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Chandigarh, June 28 : Punjab Police on Friday said they have busted one of the biggest interstate drug smuggling syndicates operating from Jharkhand and arrested the main culprit besides seizing 66 kg of opium. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav wrote on X, "Fazilka police busts one of the biggest Interstate Opium smuggling syndicate operating from #Jharkhand with the arrest of #BigFish and effective seizure of 66 Kg Opium and meticulously followed up financial trail which led to freezing of a1.86 crore in 42 bank accounts after arresting 2 smugglers." "Further investigations ongoing for forward & backward linkages," the DGP wrote further and added that the police were committed to making the state drug-free as per the directions of the CM. Punjab Police on Wednesday destroyed over 83 kg heroin, 10,000 kg poppy husk, 100 kg ganja, 4.52 lakh pills and capsules at 10 locations in the state to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The police have so far disposed of at least 2,700 kg heroin, 3,450 kg opium, 1.77 lakh kg poppy husk, 1.40 crore pills and tablets and two lakh injections since the formation of the Bhagwant Mann-led government in the state. New Delhi, June 28 : In 2025, it will celebrate its bicentenary as an independent nation, but Bolivia - named after South America's liberator Simon Bolivar - has had quite an eventful 200 years, witnessing at least 190 revolutions or coups, mostly led by military officers, from soon after its freedom to the 1980s. However, given how the latest attempt by Army chief Juan Jose Zuniga fizzled out in a few short hours amid widespread people protests, condemnation by national - including political rivals - and international leaders, and most notably, President Luis Arce's spirited confrontation with the coup leader, further changes of leadership by force of arms is no longer a feasible option. Even the example of the last coup - which came 40 years ago - is telling. While the accession of Jeanine Anez as Bolivia's 66th President in 2019 following widespread protests over the re-election of longtime Leftist leader Evo Morales was termed a coup - and the country's second woman leader is serving a ten-year prison sentence after being convicted of conspiracy and terrorism, the 1984 coup was the previous attempt by the military to gain power. However, the attempt by a group of right-wing military and police officers, who abducted President Hernan Siles Zuazo from the presidential palace and held him hostage, ended in a matter of hours as they failed to gain support from the rest of the armed forces. The US also did not back the plotters, leading them to agree to a negotiated solution that saw Zuazo released and the officers treated leniently. Notably, this came years after the military, in a unique move, itself decided in 1982 to restore civilian rule, summoning the Parliament elected in 1980 and tasking it with choosing a leader. This ended a turbulent period in Bolivian history, as coups followed coups with military officers displacing their own comrades, with the country having nine Presidents between 1978 and 1982. There was just one in the earlier 1970s - Hugo Banzer, who was a military dictator from 1971 to 1978 and a democratically elected President from 1997 to 2001. Even before Banzer, there was another spell of military rule and instability after longtime civilian President VActor Paz Estenssoro, elected in 1960 was deposed by his own Vice President - and soldier - Rene Barrientos and air force chief General Alfredo Ovando in November 1964. Barrientos was elected as President in his own right in 1966 but died in April 1969 in a helicopter crash allegedly masterminded by Ovando. Notably, it was under Barrientos, that famed revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, who was trying to kindle a revolution in the country, was arrested and executed - on his direct orders. He was succeeded by his civilian Vice President Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas, who was overthrown by Ovando in September 1969. Ovando went to be deposed himself in October 1970 by a coup led by chiefs of all three armed forces, but the military triumvirate did not last even a day before Ovando loyalists regained power. However, Ovando agreed not to become President again, entrusting the post to his loyalist Juan Jose Torres, who lasted less than a year in the post before being overthrown by Banzer. The same story of coups, interspersed with small periods of civilian rule, was the pattern in the 1950s too and way back to the 1930s when the country's defeat to Paraguay in the Gran Chaco war - and subsequent loss of territory - caused resentment among the officer cadre. Not that the country had fared much better under the military - Bolivia became a landlocked country in the 1880s when it had to cede its territory giving it access to the Pacific Ocean to Chile after the latter defeated the combined Peruvian and Bolivian forces in the War of the Pacific (1879-84). But what lay behind the regular incidences of military takeovers in Bolivia? Most of the time, it was personal ambition or opposition to the political course of a particular dispensation or the tensions between political factions and social classes. Economic distress - as touted in the present case by Zuniga, or military defeats, involving loss of territory, also played a role, as seen above. In the 20th century, the Cold War calculations, especially to counter leftist tendencies of elected leaders or left-wing uprisings, were also a cause. However, what is heartening now is the broad political support. While Arce, surrounded by soldiers, deserves plaudits for telling Zuniga: "I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination", his estranged mentor Morales came out in his support, and so did the jailed Anez who denounced the coup attempt and championed elections for change of governments. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Tokyo, June 28 : Several civic groups and the prefectural government in Japan's Okinawa have expressed strong anger over the indictment of a US airman for the alleged kidnap and sexual assault of a girl under 16. At the prefectural government office on Thursday, Takekuni Ikeda, vice governor of Okinawa, told Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, commander of the US 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in the prefecture, that the incident was serious and malicious as it trampled on the victim's human rights, and that it cannot be forgiven, reports Xinhua news agency. Evans said, "I'm deeply concerned by the severity of this allegation, and I regret any anxiety this has caused," indicating that the US side will cooperate with the investigation and trial. But he did not offer an apology. The vice governor said that he could not help but say that education and management at US bases in Okinawa are inadequate and criticised the US side for failing to provide sufficient information about the case. Ikeda protested the fact the prefecture was not notified about the indictment that was made in March until it was contacted by the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa office on Tuesday. Ikeda also demanded speedy and effective steps to prevent a similar case, an apology to the victim, and early compensation for her, saying this is a worrying incident for people who are forced to live next to US bases in the prefecture. Meanwhile, at a news conference at the prefectural government office on Thursday, representatives from six civic groups in Okinawa called for the removal of all existing US bases and a ban on building new ones. Keiko Itokazu, who co-heads a group of women protesting bases and troops in Okinawa, said she feels heart-wrenching pain when she thinks about the terror and despair inflicted on the victim. She criticised the Japanese and US governments and the US forces in Okinawa for promising to ease the burden of the bases while doing nothing about the actual situation, where the lives and livelihoods of the people in the prefecture are threatened by such serious and vicious crimes. The Naha District Public Prosecutors Office filed charges against the US Air Force member Brennon Washington, 25, on March 27 for allegedly kidnapping a girl under the age of 16 in December and committing nonconsensual sexual intercourse, local media reported. Okinawa hosts 70 per cent of all the US military bases in Japan while accounting for only 0.6 per cent of the country's total land area. Crimes committed by US service members and nonmilitary personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals. Haveri, : June 28 (IANS) At least 13 people were killed, including eight women and two children, after a tempo traveller rammed into a parked truck in Haveri district of Karnataka on Friday. The incident took place near Gundenahalli Cross on the Bengaluru-Pune National Highway. The deceased were identified as Parashuram (45), Bhagya (40), Nagesha (50), Vishalakshi (50), Subhadra Bai (65), Punya (50), Manjula Bai (57), Adarsh (23), Manasa (24), Rupa (40), and Manjula (50). Two children, aged four and six years, also died in the incident. Four other persons are in serious condition and are being treated at the hospital. Police said that the deceased hailed from Emmehatti village near Bhadravathi town in Shivamogga district. One of the deceased, Adarsh, had purchased a tempo traveller vehicle, and his family, relatives, and friends had gone to Tiwari Lakshmi Temple in Maharashtra and performed a special worship ceremony for the new vehicle. They later visited Tulja Bhavani Temple and then the famous Renuka Yellamma Temple in Saundatti Yellamma, Belagavi district of Karnataka. The incident occurred while they were returning to their native place from Belagavi. The initial investigation suspects that the driver could not see the parked truck on the side of the road due to mist and rammed into it. The police also suspect that the driver may have dozed off. Haveri SP Anshu Kumar said that there were over 15 persons in the tempo traveller vehicle and the accident took place while they were returning to their home. "The bodies have been shifted to the Haveri District Hospital mortuary. The incident took place within the Byadagi police station limits," Haveri SP said. New Delhi, June 28 : Amid the political slugfest that erupted following the collapse of the canopy at Terminal-1 of Delhi's IGI Airport on Friday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said the structure was built in 2009. Pointing out the misinformation being spread about the inauguration of the structure, he said, "This structure was built in 2009." "PM Modi had inaugurated another building, not the Terminal 1. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was in power at the time the canopy was built and inaugurated," said the Minister. Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the Centre on the incident. He wrote on X, "Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt." "Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram Mandir leakage, Cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, 13 new bridges falling down in Bihar in 2023 & 2024, Pragati Maidan Tunnel submerging, Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat, ... are some stark instances which expose the tall claims by Modi ji and BJP of creating "World Class Infrastructure" !, wrote Kharge. The Congress chief also said, "On March 10th, when Modi ji inaugurated the Delhi Ariport T1, he called himself "Doosri mitti ka insaan..." All this false bravado and rhetoric was only reserved for quickly indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies before Elections! Our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Delhi airport tragedy. They bore the brunt of a Corrupt, Inept and Selfish Govt." Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Minister visited the spot at the Delhi Airport. "We have asked the Delhi International Airport Limited to do a verification and inspection from their side. But we are not leaving it up to them. From the Ministry, we have the DGCA, which underlooks the safety aspect, which will be supervising this inspection and will submit its report. From the ministry side, I can assure you that this is taken as a serious issue, not just in this airport but all across the country, with similar structures." He said that all the airports in the country will be checked. "We will conduct a thorough check on all the airports that come under our purview.. we will make the necessary report and see if there is a requirement for an independent body for this. At least one person died and four others were injured when the canopy at the Terminal-1 of Delhi Airport collapsed on Friday amid heavy rain. New Delhi, June 28 : Congress MPs on Friday gave a suspension of business notice in Parliament over the alleged NEET-UG and UGC NET paper leaks and the failure of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Congress MPs Vijay Vasanth and Gaurav Gogoi sought suspension of all listed business in the Lok Sabha to discuss "unprecedented cases of paper leaks in the conduct of exams including NEET-UG and UGC NET and the failure of the NTA." "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely: Alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2024," Gogoi said in the notice. Gogoi said, "There are widespread concerns and allegations of irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This issue has caused immense distress and anxiety among lakhs of students who appeared for the exam and their families." "Reports of alleged paper leaks, discrepancies in question papers, and malfunctioning of test centres have created a sense of injustice and raised serious doubts about the fairness of the entire examination process. These irregularities, if true, have the potential to shatter the aspirations of deserving students and undermine the credibility of this crucial entrance exam," he said. "It is imperative for the government to take immediate and decisive action to address these concerns. This is a matter of grave national importance that requires urgent attention," Gogoi added. "Therefore, I urge the House to take up this issue for a discussion on priority so we can ensure that the concerns of the students and their families are heard and addressed effectively," he said. Congress Rajya Sabha MPs Syed Naseer Hussain and Ranjeet Ranjan gave the suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss "unprecedented cases of paper leaks in the conduct of exams including NEET-UG and UGC NET and the failure of NTA." The notice was given under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) seeking suspension of business listed for Friday. Hyderabad, June 28 : The Telangana High Court on Friday reserved its orders on maintainability of a writ petition filed by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, seeking a stay on further proceedings of Justice L. Narasimha Reddy Commission to investigate the power purchase agreement with Chhattisgarh and the construction of the Bhadradri and Yadadri Thermal Power Plants during the BRS government. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, reserved the orders after hearing the arguments of Advocate General A. Sudharshan Reddy. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief has sought to strike down the Government Order constituting a one-man Commission headed by a former judge of the High Court. The court, which heard the arguments of KCRas counsel on Thursday, took up further hearing in the case on Friday. The Advocate General dismissed the contention of the petitioneras counsel that the Commission acted unilaterally. Earlier, the High Court Registry had declined to allot a number to the petition, raising objection over impleading the retired High Court judge in a personal capacity. KCRas counsel Aditya Sondhi had argued that it was necessary to name Justice Narasimha Reddy as a respondent. He contended that Justice Reddy held a press conference and concluded that the previous government committed irregularities causing a loss of Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer without giving KCR the opportunity to present his contentions before the Commission. Sondhi argued that Justice Reddy holding a press conference was inappropriate as the Commissionas sole duty was to submit the report to the government. The High Court overruled the Registry's objections and directed it to allot a number to the petition. The bench later heard whether KCR's petition should be admitted. KCR's counsel also argued that the order constituting the Enquiry Commission was without jurisdiction since the terms of reference were under adjudication by both the Telangana and Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commissions. He submitted to the court that the Commission of Inquiry, as constituted under the Act, lacks jurisdiction to make findings on matters already adjudicated by a quasi-judicial authority. The court was told that the Commission had issued notice to KCR seeking details relating to power purchase agreements and construction of power plants. Since he was busy campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections, he sought more time to respond. Even before he could submit his reply, Justice Narasimha Reddy held a press conference on June 15 to say that there were irregularities in power purchase agreements and the construction of power plants. New Delhi, June 28 : Driven by political stability and a skilled workforce, India's importance as an investment location for global companies is growing sustainably and at least six out of 10 (59 per cent) of German companies plan to increase their investments in India during the current financial year, according to a new report. Moreover, 78 per cent of respondents expect rising sales and 55 per cent expect increasing profits for the current financial year, an increase of 7 per cent against the previous year, according to the report by KPMG in Germany and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK India). The top three location factors that make India attractive are low labour costs (54 per cent), political stability (53 per cent) and qualified specialists (47 per cent), revealed key findings of the "German Indian Business Outlook 2024". "India continues to show enormous potential. And further to this, it continues to gain in importance as a location for regional production and global development," said Stefan Halusa, Managing Director of AHK India. Around 45 per cent of German companies want to use India as a production location for both the local and the Asian market by 2029. Expectations for the next five years are even more positive: 82 per cent expect an increase in turnover and 74 per cent expect higher profits. "With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election, German companies hope that many structural problems will be tackled. These include the infrastructure deficits in the areas of transportation, energy, information and communication, the complex tax system and the highly varying regional regulations," explained Andreas Glunz, Managing Partner, International Business at KPMG in Germany. By 2029, 37 per cent of respondents expect sales growth of more than 20 per cent and 25 per cent of them anticipate profit growth of more than 20 per cent, said the report. In comparison with other Asian countries, 69 per cent of German companies appreciate the steady growth of India's economy as a particular advantage and the weakening economy in China compounds this view. The world's most populated country offers German companies enormous potential. Currently, a third (33 per cent) use India as a production location for the local market. By 2029, 45 per cent of companies are intending to do so, the report mentioned. Kolkata, June 28 : The office of the West Bengal Governor, C.V. Ananda Bose, on Friday, reacted strongly to the comments made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinting towards the "general fear" among women to go to the Raj Bhavan. On Thursday she made this comment while expressing her displeasure over the confusion regarding the oath ceremony of two newly elected party MLAs namely Sayantika Banerjee from Baranagar and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from Bhagawangola. Supporting the demands, CM Banerjee and Sarkar said that either the Governor come to the Assembly to administer the oath or nominate the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker to do the same. The Chief Minister questioned why the two MLAs would go to the Raj Bhavan. "As it is, after what happened in the Raj Bhavan, women are scared to go there. I have received complaints," the Chief Minister said on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, the office of the Governor issued a strongly worded statement lambasting the Chief Minister's comments on the matter but without directly referring to comments. "As regards the Chief Minister's malicious tirade reported in newspapers today, Raj Bhavan neither cares for the absurd machinations nor deems it appropriate to respond to waste-bin material," the statement issued by the office of the Governor read, a copy of which is available with IANS. "God help my beloved people of Bengal and give them strength to bear this circus of absurdities. People want progress, development, accountability, transparency and a violence-free and corruption-free Bengal. It is the Chief Minister's duty to ensure them that. I am with my people and shall always be with them, come what may," read the statement quoting the Governor. "Finally, through the statement, the Governor has reiterated that his fight against corruption and violence shall not be hindered by "such preposterous and laughable tactics," read the statement. New Delhi, June 28 : The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI) has developed a compact, affordable and easily manoeuvrable tractor of low horsepower range to meet the requirement of the marginal and small farmers, the Ministry of Science & Technology said on Friday. CSIR developed the tractor with support from the Science for Equity Empowerment and Development (SEED) Division of the Department of Science & Technology (DST). Marginal and small farmers comprise over 80 per cent of cultivators in India. A large population of them still depend on bullock-driven farming in which operational costs, maintenance costs and poor returns pose a challenge. "Though power tillers are replacing bullock-driven ploughs, they are cumbersome to operate. Tractors on the other hand are unsuitable for small farmers and unaffordable for most small farmers," the ministry said. CSIR-CMERI is discussing licensing the technology to local companies for large-scale manufacturing so that the benefits can reach the local farmers. A Ranchi-based MSME has shown interest in manufacturing it by setting up a plant for mass production of the tractor. They plan to supply the developed tractor to farmers through different state government tenders at subsidised rates, the ministry mentioned. The tractor has been developed with a 9 hp (horsepower) diesel engine with 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds, PTO with 6 splines at 540 rpm. The total weight of the tractor is around 450 kg, having front and rear wheel sizes of 4.5-10 and 6-16 respectively. The wheelbase, ground clearance, and turning radius are 1200 mm, 255 mm, and 1.75 m, respectively. Kolkata, June 28 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Friday, expressed pleasure over former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren getting bail in the land scam case. In a post on X, she expressed hope that now being released on bail, Soren will surely start his full-fledged political activities. "Hemant Soren, an important tribal leader, and Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had to resign because of a case, but today he has received bail from the Hon'ble High Court! I am very happy with the great development and am sure that he will start his public activities immediately. Welcome back, Hemant, amidst us!" the post read. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader was arrested on January 31 in connection with money laundering linked to the land scam case. "I strongly condemn the unjust arrest of Hemant Soren, a powerful tribal leader. The vindictive act by BJP-backed Central agencies reeks of a planned conspiracy to undermine a popularly elected government," Mamata Banerjee had said. However, the Congress and the Left Parties then described her concern for Soren as an eyewash. New Delhi, June 28 : A delegation of Karnataka ministers led by Chief Minister Siddramaiah and Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar on Friday met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at his office in the national capital and submitted a memorandum seeking his cooperation regarding projects connected with the state. The delegation included State Power Minister K. J. George and Home Minister G. Parameshwara. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted the memorandum to Union Minister Gadkari. The memorandum said, "On behalf of the people of Karnataka, I would like to express my gratitude for sanctioning many prestigious projects for the State of Karnataka. I am thankful to you and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for having approved the four green field corridors in the State including Satellite Town Ring Road to Bengaluru City. These corridors will optimise the efficiency of freight and passenger movement, and enhance the socio-economic development of the state and the country. "I would like to draw your attention to the long-standing issue of declaration of 39 'in-principle approved roads' as National Highways for a length of 5,225 kms. The Ministry has initiated action to foreclose the DPR preparations to the nearest stage of study. However, I would like to request you to reconsider the issue and take a decision to upgrade state highways with traffic intensity of more than 10,000 PCU/day," Siddaramaiah said. Mumbai, June 28 : Sonu Sood, well-known actor and humanitarian, has expressed admiration for Sonakshi Sinha's achievements and wished her well on her wedding to Zaheer Iqbal. Sonu Sood, was interacting with the media during an event. When asked about her Dabangg co-star Sonakshi tying the knot with Zaheer Iqbal, he said: "Sonakshi Sinha got married, such an amazing thing, I wish her all the best, she made her debut with our film, and she has done very well for herself, I just want to wish a great life ahead." Having made his mark in acting, Sonu Sood will soon make his directorial debut with action film Fateh, which also stars Jacqueline Fernandez in the lead role. When asked about the progress of the movie, Sonu Sood said: "We are editing the film, I am just coming from the editing, but all I can promise you that it will be the most special film for everyone." The film revolves around the complexities and challenges of cybercrime. The film will also showcase some breathtaking action sequences, which have been done under the supervision of Hollywood stunt expert Lee Whittaker. The movie, produced by Shakti Sagar Productions and Zee Studios, has been shot across global locations including India, the US, Russia, and Poland. New Delhi: Media persons at the Supreme Court complex on the day of the court's verdict. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, June 28 : The Supreme Court on Friday allowed withdrawal of a plea filed by an NRI accused in a money laundering case linked to an alleged imported coal scam. The counsel appearing on accused Ahmed AR Buhari's behalf requested a Vacation Bench presided over by Justice Abhay S Oka for withdrawal of the Special Leave Petition with the liberty to approach the appropriate forum with application seeking bail. Acceding to the request, the Bench, also comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, disposed of the plea as withdrawn keeping all the questions of law open. In its March 8 order, the Madras High Court said that Buhari had kept on filing petitions and thereafter, claiming that a petition is pending, protracted the trial and invited delay in investigation on himself. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated the money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), against Buhari, the promoter of Coastal Energy Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, and other unknown officials of PSUs under various Sections of the IPC, and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The probe revealed that Buhari was controlling the Coastal Energy Private Limited, Coastal Energen Private Limited, Coal and Oil Group Dubai and other offshore entities located in Mauritius and the British Virgin Islands. The PSUs were supplied coal of lower calorific value instead of the higher specification for which the tenders were floated and executed by the CEPL or MMTC and the coal was supplied by CEPL either directly or through MMTC on the strength of overvalued invoice for lower quality supported with fraudulent Certificate of Sampling and Analysis (COSA) whereas the original COSA depicting the genuine quality of coal was suppressed. In the course of investigation, it was further revealed that Buhari generated proceeds of crime (POC) to the tune of Rs 564.48 crore from the over valuation of coal. Seoul, June 28 : Senior diplomats of South Korea and Japan on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to closely working together to deter North Korean threats amid the growing military cooperation between Russia and the North, Seoul's foreign ministry said. First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano reached an understanding during a bilateral strategic diplomatic dialogue in Tokyo, the ministry said. They voiced "grave concerns" over Moscow and Pyongyang pledging mutual military assistance in a new treaty signed between their leaders at talks in Pyongyang last week, reports Yonhap news agency. "The two ministers shared the need for close coordination between South Korea and Japan, as well as trilaterally with the United States and together with the international community, to work to deter North Korean threats amid the serious security situation posed by the North's deepening military cooperation with Russia," the ministry said. They also discussed bilateral issues, including Japan's push to inscribe its Sado gold and silver mine complex on the UNESCO World Heritage list. South Korea has expressed concern over Tokyo's reluctance to reveal the mine's history as once being the site where thousands of Koreans were forcibly mobilised to toil during World War II and called for Japan to reflect the "full history" of the mine. "The ministers agreed to make efforts to continue the momentum for the development of their bilateral relations," the ministry said in relation to the Sado mine, without elaborating. The ministers also discussed efforts to further improve ties, as next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral relations. Following the talks, Kim paid a courtesy call to Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. New Delhi, June 28 : Proudly bearing the name of South America's liberator Simon Bolivar, it will celebrate the bicentenary of its freedom in 2025, but Bolivia's 200 years have been eventful, with at least 190 revolutions or coups, mostly led by the military, from soon after its independence to the 1980s. However, with the latest attempt by Army chief Juan Jose Zuniga fizzling out in a few short hours amid widespread public protests, condemnation by national - including political rivals - and international leaders, and above all, President Luis Arce's spirited confrontation with him, further changes of leadership by force of arms no longer seem feasible. Nor will such attempts gain political support. As Arce, surrounded by soldiers, forthrightly told off Zuniga. "I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination." his estranged mentor and former President Evo Morales came out in his support, and so did Arce's jailed predecessor Jeanine Anez who denounced the attempt and championed elections for change of governments. An element of discordance has been injected, though, with the arrested Zuniga now alleging the coup was staged in connivance with Arce to boost his popularity, drawing a strong rebuttal from the President. Nevertheless, the manner in which the people mobilised in protest and the political condemnation are telling. Even the example of the last coup - 40 years back - is telling. While the accession of Anez as Bolivia's 66th President in 2019 following widespread protests over the re-election of Morales was also termed a coup - and the country's second woman leader is serving a ten-year prison sentence for conspiracy and terrorism, the 1984 coup was the previous - and equally shortlived - attempt by the military to gain power. The bid by a small group of right-wing military and police officers, who abducted Hernan Siles Zuazo from the presidential palace, had ended in a matter of hours as they failed to gain support from the rest of the armed forces - or for that matter, the US. This came barely two years after the military, in a unique move, itself decided in 1982 to restore civilian rule. This episode ended a turbulent period in Bolivian history, where military coups followed military coups, with nine Presidents between 1978 and 1982, against just one in the earlier 1970s. But then, Hugo Banzer, a military dictator from 1971 to 1978, became a democratically elected President in 1997 and held office till 2001. Banzer's accession ended another spell of military rule and instability after (civilian) President VActor Paz Estenssoro, elected in 1960 was deposed by his own Vice President - and soldier - Rene Barrientos and air force chief General Alfredo Ovando in November 1964. Barrientos was elected as President in his own right in 1966 but died in April 1969 in a helicopter crash allegedly masterminded by Ovando. Notably, it was under Barrientos, that famed revolutionary Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, who was trying to kindle a revolution in the country, was arrested and executed - on his direct orders. He was succeeded by his civilian Vice President Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas, who was overthrown by Ovando in September 1969. Ovando went to be deposed himself in October 1970 by a coup led by all three armed forces chiefs, but the military triumvirate did not last even a day before Ovando loyalists regained power. However, Ovando agreed not to become President again, entrusting the post to his loyalist Juan Jose Torres, who lasted less than a year in the post before being overthrown by Banzer. The same story of coups, interspersed with small periods of civilian rule, stretched back to the 1930s when the country's defeat to Paraguay in the Gran Chaco war - and subsequent loss of territory - caused resentment among the officer cadre. Not that the country had fared much better under the military - Bolivia became a landlocked country in the 1880s when it had to cede its territory giving it access to the Pacific Ocean to Chile after the latter defeated the combined Peruvian and Bolivian forces in the War of the Pacific (1879-84). But what caused the regular incidences of military takeovers in Bolivia? Most of the time, it was personal ambition or opposition to the political course of a particular dispensation or the tensions between political factions and social classes. Economic distress - as touted in the present case by Zuniga, or military defeats, involving loss of territory, also played a role, as seen above. In the 20th century, the Cold War's geopolitical calculations, especially to counter leftist-leaning leaders or uprisings, were also a cause. Zuniga's claim may gain adherence from Ence's opponents but it was the public reaction that is significant. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Kolkata, June 28 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Friday, directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate a case involving a Bangladeshi resident with an expired Indian visa running his business from here. The division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya has directed ED to start the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the Bangladeshi resident, Umashankar Agarwal. Agarwal has been accused of residing in India with an expired visa, running business illegally and even laundering money outside India. As per the charges, a company owned by Agarwal had invested huge funds diverted from Bangladesh in several real estate projects in West Bengal. An investigation against Agarwal has already been initiated by Kolkata Police based on the complaints filed against him in this regard. He was arrested by the city police but was later released on bail by a lower court. Now, as per the court order, the city police will have to hand over the investigation and the case details to the ED officials. There are allegations that the funds of the company owned by Agarwal were diverted to different cross-border smuggling rackets and even to some underground terrorist groups. On Friday, the counsel of Agarwal claimed that his client had been falsely implicated in the case. New Delhi, June 28 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that all MPs and Union Ministers from the state have assured him to fight unitedly for the good of the state. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that on Thursday night a meeting between the Karnataka government and MPs and the Union Ministers from the state was held. "All details of the projects have been made available to them. All MPs and Union Ministers have assured me that they will fight unitedly, burying differences, for the state," the Chief Minister said. He said that he has urged them to pressure the Central government and approve the state projects. "When it comes to state's land, water and language, politics should not be brought in. We are trying to rise above the party politics," the Chief Minister said. He said that one of the Union Ministers lied regarding the Mahadayi. "He claimed that the Mahadayi drinking water project is stuck in the court. The gazette notification is done while permission is required from the Central Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department. The matter is presently before the Central government. Still, it is falsely claimed that the matter is before the court," he said. He said that the Upper Bhadra project was also discussed in the meeting. "The money announced for the project has not been released yet. They claim that there is a technical issue from the side of the state government. We have clarified that there is no technical issue. We have written letters and sent the files as well. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has agreed to it and we have demanded to announce it as a national project. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai has also supported it," Siddaramaiah said. He said that the Mekedatu project has been pending since 2018 while the DPR is ready and the approximate cost of the project is Rs 9,000 crore. "The project will benefit Tamil Nadu as well. However, Tamil Nadu has filed a case in the court. But, the court has not issued a stay on the project. This has been brought to the notice of union ministers. The Mekedatu project would help with drinking water and the production of electricity," he said. Regarding the Krishna water distribution, the gazette notification is yet to be prepared. The Central government has to convey it to the Supreme Court and this has also been brought to the notice of the union ministers, he said. The 15th Finance Commission has considered the 2011 census report. The population in Karnataka has been contained. The 1971 census must be considered and the state should not be penalized for controlling the population. The state's allocation has been reduced by 23 per cent. From Karnataka Rs 4.5 lakh crore tax is being paid to the Central government, he maintained. "We are getting only 12 per cent. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has suggested bringing this matter before the 16th Finance Commission. The Centre has not released special grants to the state and towards the crucial peripheral ring road. We have requested to work on these matters," CM Siddaramaiah stated. --IANS mka/dan New Delhi, June 28 : India has achieved a commendable level of technical compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements, and its efforts in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering Terrorist Financing (CFT), and Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CPF) have yielded positive outcomes, according to a statement by FATF. India has achieved remarkable success in the Mutual Evaluation conducted by the FATF during 2023-24. The Mutual Evaluation Report of India, adopted at the FATF plenary in Singapore from June 26 to June 28, 2024, categorises India under 'regular follow-up,' a distinction held by only four other G20 countries. This milestone underscores India's significant strides in combating money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF). FATF has acknowledged India's efforts in several areas, including: Addressing risks associated with money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF), particularly concerning the laundering of proceeds from corruption, fraud, and organised crime Implementing effective measures to shift from a cash-based to a digital economy, aimed at reducing ML/TF risks. Introducing the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) Trinity and stringent regulations on cash transactions. These initiatives have significantly enhanced financial inclusion and digital transactions, making transactions more traceable and thereby mitigating ML/TF risks. India's performance in the FATF Mutual Evaluation brings substantial benefits to its burgeoning economy, showcasing the stability and integrity of its financial system. Positive ratings promise improved access to global financial markets and institutions, boosting investor confidence. Additionally, it supports the global expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's rapid payment system. This recognition from FATF underscores India's decade-long commitment to implementing rigorous measures safeguarding its financial system from money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) threats. It sets a benchmark for regional countries to adopt international standards effectively in combating terrorist financing. India's outstanding rating enhances its capacity to lead global efforts against cross-border terror financing and money laundering. Since 2014, India has enacted legislative changes and strengthened enforcement to combat ML, TF, and illicit funds effectively. These efforts align with international standards and have proven successful, particularly in disrupting terror funding networks based on actionable intelligence. Operations have curbed the flow of terror funds, illicit money, and narcotics, even along coastlines. According to experts, this recognition from FATF suggests that India is making significant strides in strengthening its financial regulatory system to combat illicit financial activities and ensure compliance with international standards aimed at maintaining global financial stability and security. Established in 1989, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organisation tasked with overseeing global efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats to the integrity of the international financial system. India joined FATF as a member in 2010. Mumbai, June 28 : Months before the Assembly elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance and planning portfolios, presented a full budget for 2024-25 in the state Assembly on Friday with freebies and sops worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. Pawar announced the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' with a monthly aid of Rs 1,500 to eligible women between 21 and 60 years of age with an annual outgo of Rs 46,600 crore. In a bid to lure the farmers of the state, who are in distress due to damage to crops and a dip in prices of agricultural produce, the government announced the 'Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana' to provide free electricity for running agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 horsepower capacity. This will benefit 44.06 lakh farmers with an annual subsidy of Rs 14,761 crore. The government also proposed a Rs 5 per litre subsidy for dairy farmers. Tabling the budget, Pawar announced the 'Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana' wherein three gas cylinders will be given for free per household each year. The scheme will benefit 52,16,412 families. The government will also provide financial assistance to 10,000 women from 17 cities to buy Pink E-rickshaws with a provision of Rs 80 crore. A scheme for solarisation of irrigation to achieve the goal of clean and green energy at the cost of Rs 4,200 crore was also announced. Under the 'Shubhmangal Samuhik Nondanikrut Vivah' (mass marriages), the government increased the subsidy to the beneficiary girls to Rs 25,000 from Rs 10,000. Further, the government proposed free higher education for girls whereby 100 per cent reimbursement of education and examination fees will be made to Other Backward Classes and economically weaker sections with an annual family income of Rs 8 lakh. This will benefit 2,05,499 girls with an annual financial outlay of Rs 2,000 crore. The government also proposed the 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Startup Yojana' for women entrepreneurs and repayment of interest on loans up to Rs 15 lakh to small women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector under the 'Aai Yojana'. This is expected to create 10,000 jobs. A slew of sops were also announced for the youth in the budget. Under the 'Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana' (training programme), 10 lakh youth will be given an annual stipend of up to Rs 10,000 per month. The expenditure for this scheme will be around Rs 10,000 crore annually. Also, 50,000 youth will be imparted training each year to disseminate information about the government's schemes to the people. The government also proposed the 'Applied Knowledge and Skill Development for Human Development', a World Bank-assisted project costing Rs 2,307 crore wherein upgradation of 500 industrial training institutes and strengthening of various other institutions will be undertaken. For students from minority communities, a scholarship scheme for foreign education will be implemented, the government announced. Under the 'Dnyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Aadhar Yojana', the government has proposed an increase in the accommodation allowance of the students for higher education to Rs 60,000 from the present Rs 38,000, which will benefit students from Other Backward Classes, Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes, and Special Backward Classes. Pawar estimated a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1,10,355 crore by the end of 2024-25, besides proposing an outlay of Rs 6,12,293 crore with revenue receipts of Rs 4,99,463 crore and revenue expenditure of Rs 5,19,514 crore. An outlay of Rs 18,165 crore has been proposed under the 'District Annual Plan' for the year 2024-25, which is 20 per cent more than the previous year. Further, an outlay of Rs.1.92 Lakh crore has been proposed under the scheme expenditure in the 'Annual Plan' for 2024-25. This includes an outlay of Rs 15,893 crore for the 'Scheduled Caste Plan' and Rs 15,360 crore for the 'Tribal Development Sub Plan'. New Delhi, June 28 : BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Friday made sharp comparisons between three-time Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the first PM of the country to have three-consecutive terms. The BJP MP, starting off the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Upper House, spoke at length explaining how PM Modi remains "much ahead and matchless" as compared to Indiaas first PM Jawaharlal Nehru and cited many examples of their leadership traits amidst a loud uproar by Congress members. Sudhanshu Trivedi took many jibes at the Congress and said that he, too, agreed with them that the two Prime Ministers can't be compared. "First, the Opposition got bewildered and perplexed over PM Modi becoming Prime Minister for the third time and when they saw it happening, switched to another rhetoric that he can't be compared with India's first PM. I agree with them on this," he said sarcastically. The BJP MP then went on to list three key points to explain why PM Modi edges ahead of his three-time counterpart, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He narrated how Narendra Modi refused to attend the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in September 2013, where his name was being considered for the party's prime ministerial candidate. Dr Trivedi said that it was he who took the then Gujarat CM to the party office and saw him waiting till the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting ended. This shows his "humility and respect for the democratic process," he added. In contrast, he pointed out that Pandit Nehru was selected as the prime ministerial candidate in 1946 after Mahatma Gandhi urged Maulana Azad to withdraw his candidacy as he wanted Jawaharlal Nehru to become the PM. Citing several historical books, the BJP MP said, "Nehru did not receive a single vote in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, but despite getting zero votes in the meeting, he was selected as the candidate." "How can the two be compared when one was selected unanimously while the other got zero votes? On one side, there is one leader who won support across party lines while there was another leader whom his own party abandoned?" the BJP MP said. Pointing out another difference, Sudhanshu Trivedi cited the case of poet Majrooh Sultanpuri, who wrote a critical verse on the then PM, saying that Jawaharlal Nehru was a reflection of Adolf Hitler and subsequently faced a two-year jail sentence. "In contrast, today, there are multiple instances of leaders hurling abuse and insulting remarks at PM Modi, but they enjoy full freedom. Some of the noted ones with atukde-tukdea reference have also been elected to the other House," he said. Sudhanshu Trivedi then went on to point out the honours bestowed on PM Modi by many foreign countries, including Muslim nations. "Bhutan, France, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Russia, and Maldives, along with Muslim-majority countries like Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and Palestine, have bestowed their highest honours on PM Modi," he told the House members. Drawing attention to the Modi dispensation's inclusive governance, he said that not just veterans like Lal Krishna Advani and late Atal Bihari Vajpayee were bestowed with the nation's highest civilian awards but three senior Congress leaders too were accorded the same honour, namely Madan Mohan Malviya, Pranab Mukherjee and PV Narasimha Rao. Many others, like SC Jamir and Tarun Gogoi, were awarded Padma Bhushan, a practice unseen during Congress regimes. Trivedi asserted that PM Modi's leadership and electoral success remain unmatched and unparalleled. "PM Modi's standards and achievements in terms of electoral race and governance remain incomparable to anyone," he added. Damascus, June 28 : Iranian nationals residing in Syria started casting their votes on Friday for Iran's 14th presidential election just weeks after their former president died in a helicopter crash. According to Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari, among approximately 12,000 Iranian residents in Syria, over 6,000 are eligible to vote, reports Xinhua news agency. Seven polling stations and a mobile ballot box for special circumstances have been established in Syria to accommodate the voters, Akbari told reporters at the Iranian embassy, one of the polling stations in Syria. Voting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Friday, with provisions for extending hours if necessary, according to the ambassador. "The citizens are participating in these elections with full freedom to vote for their preferred candidate," said Akbari. New Delhi, June 28 : The Round of 16 is all set to begin on Saturday. Following the impressive performances by teams like Germany and Spain, many are wondering if the 2024 Euros is the tournament where these giants will end their trophy drought. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia revealed that he believes the Germans are the favourites heading into the knockout stages. "I think Germany's got a history of, it's like Real Madrid in the Champions League. It's the same with Germany, Spain and Italy, they always do well in all these knockout matches. Germany definitely is one of the favourites and they've started very well and they look a very strong, balanced side and is one of the few teams that have really played so far very well," Bhutia told IANS. A lot of questions currently revolve around Kai Havertz and his place in the German national team. The striker has performed well and got a goal and an assist in the opening game. Despite the two contributions, many are hailing for the inclusion of Niclas Fullkrug in the side after the Dortmund forward scored the late equaliser against Switzerland to secure the top place in Group A. "I think when the team is doing well, you don't want to make those changes upfront. Yes, we could have seen much more from Kai Havertz, especially getting a few more goals for them, but it's not happened I think it's linking the team well. The substitutes have come in and really delivered. I don't think they should make many changes in terms because it's really working well for them. It's just that he needs one or two goals to, you know, get him going," he added. Alongside Germany, Spain have looked a lot like their past self. They started the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Croatia and were the only team to win all their games in the Group Stage. They now face Georgia in the Round of 16 and can potentially be pitted opposite hosts Germany in the quarterfinals. "I think there has been a great combination of youth and experience on their side. The captain (Alvaro Morata) has been fantastic. He's getting back to his form and he's got two young players( Yamal and Williams) at the side playing alongside him. I think Spain has been the best team so far but again, with the team and players, young players like that, when it gets going, when you're leading, when you score goals, when you're winning, it's a great thing." "How do you react when you're a goal down and when you are in that pressure kind of situation? That is a time we'll have to see if they're a goal down, what is the kind of reaction these younger players can bring in? And sometimes it's quite difficult for younger players. The mindset is a bit difficult when you concede," concluded the former Indian striker. Lima, June 28 : A 7.2 magnitude quake rocked Peru on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. The temblor hit 8.8 kilometers from Atiquipa district, the USGS said. Initially, an alert warning of "possible" tsunami waves reaching up to 1 to 3 meters along some coastal areas in Peru was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) but it later dropped the alert, reports CNN. The PTWC said that there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake. In a post on X, the Peruvian Presidency posted that the government is monitoring the situation and evaluating any possible damage. Imphal, June 28 : Thousands of people in Manipur participated in a rally demanding territorial and administrative integrity of the state and strongly opposed the demand for division of the state. The rally, which was organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of civil society groups of the Meitei community, began at Thau ground in Imphal West district and culminated at Khuman Lampak stadium covering 5 km in the heart of the state capital. Thousands of people including students, women, youths, elderly persons and village volunteers took part in the march and shouted slogans against illegal immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar, militancy, illegal encroachments of forest land and drug smuggling. Meanwhile, state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi on Thursday held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed the prevailing situation in the troubled state. BJP sources said that she urged HM Shah to take immediate steps to bring a permanent solution and peace to the state. Devi said in a post on X, "Met Hon'ble Home Minister, Mananiya Shri Amit Shah ji, for an extensive discussion on the current situation in Manipur. Conveyed the people's aspirations and urged immediate attention to bring permanent solution and tranquility to the state, while appreciating the ongoing efforts." The BJP leader said, "Additionally, highlighted the need for resettling IDPs and providing maximum support for smooth rehabilitation. He assured that the Centre was aware of the delicate situation on the ground and committed to uplifting the people's aspirations." Various Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribal organisations including Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) along with ten tribal MLAs, including seven BJP legislators, have been demanding separate administrations (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Nagas and Kukis constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. Over 220 people were killed, 1,500 injured and over 70,000 people displaced after the ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last year after a 'Tribal Solidarity March', organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The rioting also left thousands of houses, government and non-government properties, and religious installations destroyed or damaged. Hyderabad, June 28 : With the term of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy as the President of the Congress' Telangana unit set to end early next month, an intense race has begun in the ruling party for the top state party post. Several contenders for the post are camping in the national capital and lobbying hard with the partyas central leadership. Revanth Reddy, whose term as state President is ending July 7, has already requested the leadership to entrust the responsibility to some other leader so that he can concentrate on governance. Sworn in as the Chief Minister on December 7, 2023, he has been holding dual posts since then. As not much time was left for the Lok Sabha elections, the central leadership had asked Revanth Reddy to continue as the state chief. After leading Congress to victory in the November 2023 polls, Revanth Reddy led the campaign in Parliamentary elections. He claims that the Congress performed well in the Lok Sabha elections as it increased its number of seats to eight from three in 2019. It also increased its vote share to 41 per cent from 39.5 per cent it secured in Assembly elections. The Congress won eight out of 17 Lok Sabha seats but a section of the party leaders were not fully satisfied as they were expecting 10-12 seats. They voiced concern over the increased strength of the BJP, which improved its tally to eight from four in 2019. The central leadership of the Congress also acknowledged the need to have a full-time state unit President to strengthen the organisation. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, party in-charge for Telangana Deepa Dasmunshi and other leaders have been holding consultations with Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, and some other senior leaders camping in Delhi for the last few days. Since a leader from the Reddy community is the Chief Minister, the central leadership may appoint someone from backward classes as the state chief. Political analysts say this is the formula Congress adopted whenever it was in power in united Andhra Pradesh. Since a Reddy is not likely to be appointed state party chief, few aspirants considered rivals of Revanth Reddy may be disappointed. Senior leaders like Jeevan Reddy, Jagga Reddy, and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy were said to be aspiring for the post. Stating that he is looking forward to working in close coordination with the new state President, Revanth Reddy said the party leadership will take an appropriate decision. He claimed that he did not have any special choice regarding the appointment. Since backward classes are about 50 per cent of the stateas population and have been demanding adequate representation in the state Cabinet, the Congress leadership is most likely to name a leader from the community as state chief. State Working President and MLC B. Mahesh Goud is seen as a front-runner for the post. The name of former MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud is also doing the rounds. A leader from Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities could also be given the responsibility. Congress Secretary S.A. Sampath Kumar, a leader from SCs, is another strong contender. Former Union Minister and Mahabubabad MP P. Balram Naik, an ST leader, may also get the chance. The names of ministers Dansari Anasuya alias Seethakka, and Ponnam Prabhakar and MLA Adluri Laxman are also said to be under consideration for the top post. The Congress leadership may prefer a leader who can work in coordination with the Chief Minister and is acceptable to various sections within the party. The long-pending Cabinet expansion will also be kept in mind while appointing a new state unit President. Revanth Reddy is likely to go for Cabinet expansion in the first week of July by inducting 4-5 ministers. The party leadership will be careful to ensure a social equation while undertaking the exercise. New Delhi, June 28 : Amid an uproar over the canopy and metal beam collapse at the pick-up and drop-off point at Delhi airport's Terminal 1, which killed one person and injured six, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu told newsmen on Friday that it was constructed and inaugurated in 2008-09 when the Congress-led UPA government was in power. Now, further evidence has surfaced, corroborating the claims by the Aviation Minister. The canopy collapse at Delhi airport resulted in a political blame game, with the Congress accusing the BJP dispensation of 'promoting low-quality infrastructure' and compromising the nation's resources. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the incident exposes tall claims of the Prime Minister and also the BJP's promise of creating 'world-class infrastructure'. Now, a couple of newspaper clippings and videos from 2009 have surfaced which show that the structure 'did suffer damage' soon after its inauguration. BJP IT cell chief, Amit Malviya took to X and shared some news articles dating back to 2009, reporting about the government's enquiry into damage at the airport's Terminal 1. "The Terminal 1 was built and operationalised in 2009 and was of sub-optimal workmanship, as it couldn't withstand the downpour. The first enquiry was ordered in 2009 itself," he said. Malviya further stated that despite the structure getting built and damaged during the Congress-led UPA's rule, it has the "audacity to blame the BJP." Some news video clips from 2009 have also gone viral on social media, which show a portion getting damaged due to rains. The news clipping (dating back to July 29, 2009) shows rain water leaking out of the structure and a portion caving in. The evidence linking Terminal 1 with UPA also 'nails the lies' of Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi who reportedly claimed that this was recently inaugurated by PM Modi. Earlier, the Civil Aviation Minister also dismissed the 'misinformation' by Congress leaders and told newsmen that not Terminal 1 but some other building of the airport was inaugurated by PM Modi, sometime ago. -- IANS mr/rad New Delhi, June 28 : The US in its 2023 report on International Religious Freedom on Wednesday, criticised India over religious freedom and also voiced alarm over rising bigotry against certain religious groups across the world. Many religious leaders have also expressed strong reservations to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's assertions that there was a concerning rise in hate speech and anti-conversion law in India. Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, President of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council and successor to the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah denounced the report as "false, bogus, and fabricated". He asserted: "Our Constitution provides complete freedom to people of all religions. The government of India ensures that all kinds of religious faiths and its followers co-exist without any restrictions." Haji Syed Salman Chishti, President of the Chishti Foundation of Ajmer, Rajasthan, dismissed the report, stating: "Opinions of other countries do not matter to us. Our Constitution, law and order, and infrastructure are capable of handling internal matters. Our Constitution protects all our rights and allows us to follow any religion of our choice." Nirmal Singh, President of the Central Singh Sabha Gurdwara, also criticised the report, claiming: "The American report is wrong. India is living in a golden age. Today, people of every religion are represented in the Parliament." "If America had raised this question in the 1980s or 1990s, I would have supported it. But today, festivals are celebrated grandly, and we also receive funding," he added. The National Coordinator of the Indian Sarva Dharma Parliament, Maharshi Bhrigu Peethadhishwar Goswami Sushil Maharaj, denounced the report and said: "India is the only country where everyone is safe, regardless of religion or community. I reject this report. Minorities are the safest in India, and this report is just an attempt to weaken the country." Labelling the report as "baseless and fabricated", President of Takht Sri Patna Sahib Jagjot Singh Sohi echoed similar sentiments. He said: "The minorities in India are safe and secure in India, especially under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They (minorities) are getting equal opportunities, and they are flourishing in every sphere." Wamik Warsi of Deva Sharif Dargah in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, also expressed his disapproval of US report. Chennai, June 28 : Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T. R. B. Rajaa on Friday said the government will come out with policies for the space technology industry, toy manufacturing and circular economy investment promotion. Speaking in the state Assembly, Rajaa also said the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) will be setting up industrial parks in several parts including land acquisition for tourism development under the public-private-partnership (PPP) model. He also said the state's stellar performance in the industrial sector continued to be impressive in 2023-24, contributing 11.46 per cent of India's Industrial Gross Value Addition (GVA) and 13.12 per cent of India's manufacturing GVA. Within the State, the manufacturing sector contributed to 18.33 per cent of the State's gross domestic product (GDP) generating a GVA of Rs.4.9 lakh crore. In 2023- 24 the State's GDP reached Rs 27 lakh crore, with a year-on-year growth of 14.19 per cent with a share of 9.19 per cent of India's GDP, thereby retaining its position as the country's second-largest State economy. Along with Chennai, in recent times, tier II cities in the State are also attracting Global Capabilities Centres (GCCs), Engineering R&D Centres, and Business Processing Firms creating higher-order jobs for the technologically strong youth, Rajaa said. The State has been able to attract investments from domestic and global companies across diverse sectors and value chains, through focussed policy interventions and effective facilitation. This has enabled investments to the tune of Rs 9.74 lakh crore with employment to 18.7 lakh persons since May 2021. These investments have led to the creation of new growth centres across the State, Rajaa added. SIPCOT is developing a land bank of around 45,000 acres in strategic locations with a special focus on industrially backward districts. Initiatives have also been taken by SIPCOT and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to establish sector-specific industrial parks with special infrastructure and common facilities and testing centres that would enable mutual growth of large industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and other support services, Rajaa said. Seoul, June 28 : South Korea will lift a travel advisory for Japan, except for the Fukushima regions, and lowered the travel warning level placed on Iran, the foreign ministry said Friday. The Level 1 travel alert out of its four-scale system has been applied to Japan, which calls for exercising normal precautions, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent decline in the number of travelers there, reports Yonhap news agency. Beginning Monday, the Seoul government will lift the advisory given the growing number of travelers in Japan after the removal of antivirus measures and decent public order in the neighboring country. The Level 3 warning of "recommending departure," however, will remain in place for regions within 30 kilometers of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant and other areas under an evacuation order issued by the Japanese government, according to the ministry. It will lower the travel warning for Iran to the Level 2 "travel restriction," the ministry said, adding that it will also lower the warning level for Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Senegal by one notch to Level 1 as part of its regular adjustment of the warning system. The warning level will be raised by one notch for Colombia's Norte de Santander to Level 3 in consideration of the possibility of terrorist attacks and other serious crimes there, the ministry said. New Delhi, June 28 : As the field of humanoid robotics is evolving rapidly, influencers on social media platform X are actively discussing how these technological advancements could transform various sectors, which led to an 80 per cent rise in conversations during the first half (H1) of 2024 (January-June), a new report showed on Friday. According to data and analytics company GlobalData, their insights delve into the potential enhancements that might soon redefine human interactions with their sophisticated mechanical counterparts. "Influencers exhibit a nuanced view on humanoid robots, blending optimism with significant caution. They recognise the potential for transformative impacts in sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and Defence, where enhanced efficiency and safety could be game-changing," said Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData. "However, they also emphasise the need for thorough ethical consideration, strong regulatory frameworks, and public acceptance to manage concerns around job displacement, psychological impacts, and the financial implications of adoption," she added. As mentioned in the report, influencers were particularly enthusiastic about the enhanced emotional intelligence of humanoid robots, which will allow them to better understand and react to human emotions, making them invaluable in customer service, caregiving, and companionship roles. The improvements in mobility and dexterity were also a major point of discussion. Influencers predicted that the next generation of humanoid robots will be able to handle more complex tasks and navigate more challenging environments. Finally, the advancements in autonomous decision-making were forecasted to empower humanoid robots with greater independence in their operations. According to Majumder, while the potential for positive transformation is immense, "a balanced approach that considers ethical, regulatory and societal impacts will be crucial in integrating these sophisticated technologies into our daily lives." Washington, June 28 : US President Joe Biden said he did well at the Thursday debate with former President Donald Trump and dismissed the likelihood of him stepping aside, as being demanded by some Democrats disappointed by his performance, telling supporters: "Let's keep going." "I think we did well," Biden told a reporter when asked for his thoughts on his performance. Asked about calls for him to quit and if he had any concerns, he said: "No. It's hard to debate a liar. The New York Times pointed out he (Trump) lied 26 times." But Bident did acknowledge he was not well and had a sore throat. "Tonight, President Biden presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America one in which every American has a fair shot at the American dream, where every one of our rights are protected, and where our President fights to strengthen our democracy not to tear it down," Jen O'Malley Dillon, the Biden campaign chair, said in a statement defending the President. Many Democrats, however, were concerned Biden may not be able to beat former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee. He looked his age (81), and perhaps older, fumbled for words, seemed confused at points, and lost the train of his thoughts. They are calling for him to step aside. The names doing the rounds as his replacement were Vice-President Kamala Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. "There is a sense of shock at how he came out at the beginning of this debate. How his voice sounded. He seemed a little disoriented. ... There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue," David Axelrod, a top adviser to former President Barack Obama, said of Biden's performance on CNN. David Plouffe, another adviser to Obama, called Biden's debate performance a "DEFCON 1 moment", which is the most severe level of alert for military readiness used by the US military. Andrew Young, a Democrat who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination against Biden in 2020, posted on X: "Guys, the Dems should nominate someone else - before it's too late". He added a hashtag to the post "#swapJoeout". Some progressives in the party have also called for the President to step aside. But Plouffe has called for patience for three to four days to assess how exactly voters reacted. He thinks Trump may have had an even worse night because his bid for swing voters "bombed as well". Plouffe ran Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns and has intimate experience of presidential debates. Replacing Biden will be difficult if not impossible. The Democratic party's rules regarding presidential conventions rule that the delegates coming up through the primaries are bound to their respective candidates. The party could, however, hold a convention before the August 19 convention and change the rules Three killed in blast at a factory in Telangana. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, June 28 : At least three workers were killed and 15 others injured in an explosion in a factory in Telangana's Rangareddy district on Friday, officials said. Hyderabad, June 28 (IANS) At least three workers were killed and 15 others injured in an explosion in a factory in Telanganaas Rangareddy district on Friday, officials said. The blast occurred in the South Glass factory on the outskirts of Shadnagar town, about 55 km from Hyderabad. According to officials, a compressor exploded at the factory, resulting in a fire. Firefighting personnel rushed to the spot and were trying to douse the fire. Police and firefighters were engaged in rescue and relief operations. The injured were shifted to a hospital and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical. The workers are said to be migrants from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Meanwhile, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who is in Delhi, directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. According to the Chief Ministeras Office, he asked the Collector and officials of Revenue, Police and other departments to intensify rescue and relief works. New Delhi, June 28 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday made a fresh appeal to the government to initiate a debate on the National Eligibility and Entrance Examination (NEET) and also over the paper leak controversy, to assuage the concerns and anxiety of lakhs of candidates and their families. The Congress leader, issuing a video message on his social media handle, urged the government for a constructive and dedicated discussion on the issue while underlining the gravity of the issue, claiming that 70 times in 7 years, the papers have been leaked. "We urge the Prime Minister to debate on this issue and give the students the respect they deserve," he wrote while sharing his two-minute video appeal. He described the recently conducted NEET exams as a 'disaster' for lakhs of aspirants and said, "their dreams and aspirations have been destroyed and ridiculed while middlemen made crores of money. Over 2 crore students have been affected due to this". Rahul Gandhi said that as Leader of Opposition in the House, today he tried to raise the issue in Parliament, but his voice was suppressed, apparently at the behest of the Prime Minister. "I tried to raise the issue in Parliament, but I wasn't allowed to speak. There is a systemic problem, there is a huge amount of corruption. It can't continue like this," he stated. The Congress leader further said that there was unanimous agreement among the Opposition members that an issue like NEET mandates a serious and dedicated discussion and added that it is unfortunate that the government did not want this. "When I sought the opinion of Opposition members for detailed debate on NEET, all concurred on it," he said. He said that the NEET imbroglio has affected a vast number of students and the government must be seen 'comforting' the students in such times of anxiety. "Students want a permanent solution quickly. The idea was to have a resolution on fighting this exam mafia menace and provide the affected families clarity on their wards future," Rahul Gandhi said. He further accused the Prime Minister of stalling a debate on the NEET issue in Parliament and said the directions for stopping him from asking questions came directly from the top. "When Prime Minister should be seen leading the discussion on the issue and should be briefed about what steps his government is taking on the issue, he doesn't want to debate," he said, while adding that the INDIA bloc just wants to place its views on the table. Notably, the NEET (UG) 2024 examinations were conducted on May 5 in around 570 cities, including 14 cities abroad. Over 23 lakh students and medical aspirants appeared for the examinations. However, it got marred by the paper leak controversy, thereby putting the future of many students in peril. Mumbai, June 28 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has hailed the 'please all' budget presented by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in the state Assembly on Friday, saying that it is a comprehensive budget aimed to cover almost all sections of the society, including farmers, women, youth, and workers. Shinde, whose stamp is there in the budget formulation as most of the schemes were proposed as 'CM' schemes, said the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' and the supply of three domestic LPG cylinders to women saffron and yellow ration card holders for free are path-breaking moves. He also took a swipe at his predecessor and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, claiming that the latter implemented the 'Lanka Beta Yojana' (without naming Aaditya Thackeray) during the two-and-a-half years of Maha Vikas Aghadi rule. Shinde was responding to Uddhav Thackerayas jibe that if the government is bringing the Ladki Bahin scheme, what about the scheme for the 'Lanka Bhaus' (brothers). Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "The budget is a gift to our sisters. The government will give them Rs 1,500 every month, free electricity will be supplied to the farmers, and three free gas cylinders will also be provided. The budget aims to provide benefits to all sections of society." Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the budget has been presented by reiterating the governmentas resolve to achieve the ambitious target of a $1 trillion economy. "The budget has been formulated by striking a balance between fiscal management and the several proposals for the benefit of almost all sections of the society," he said. Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde thanked Ajit Pawar for announcing financial aid of Rs 5,000 per hectare for cotton and soybean farmers who were hit due to low market prices. He also welcomed the announcements with regard to the allocation of Rs 100 crore for the use of Artificial Intelligence in research and development in agriculture, the introduction of E-Panchanama across the state, Rs 650 crore for the implementation of Jalyukt Shivar 2.0 and godowns at every village for agricultural produce. The Maharashtra State Womenas Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar said, "By making substantial budgetary provisions, the government has honoured women." Shiv Sena women's wing also welcomed the budget, especially the Chief Ministeras Ladki Bahin Yojana, saying the significant initiative underscores the MahaYuti governmentas unwavering commitment to prioritising womenas welfare. Jaipur, June 28 : Rajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel on Friday held a public grievance redressal session at the Jodhpur Circuit House after making a surprise inspection in the ditrict. Speaking on the incident of a man drowning in Jodhpur after heavy rain on Thursday, Patel, who is in-charge of the Parliamentary Affairs and Justice Departments, said. "We are sorry about the accident in which a person died due to rain. Wherever there is a mistake, it will be rectified. If the drains are not cleaned, cleaning will be done. Instructions have been issued in this regard." "A meeting is being held with the officials to discuss how such incidents can be prevented from taking place in the future. Complete arrangements will be made to fix the drainage system in Jodhpur district," he added. Talking about Friday's surprise inspection, Patel said, "By conducting surprise inspections, we aim to ensure that the employees are present in all the government offices to deal with people's issues. Public work should be given priority and people should not be made to run around." "The government led by CM Bhajanlal Sharma is committed to resolving every issue of social concern. The pension amount has been increased in the state. Be it raising the Kisan Samman Nidhi amount, pension amount, or MSP, we are trying to fulfil whatever resolutions we have taken," Patel said. Defections will have no impact on BRS, says KCR. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, June 28 : With another of its MLAs defecting to Congress on Friday, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said the defections would have no impact on the party. Interacting with BRS workers at his farmhouse at Erravelli in Siddipet district, he said that it is the party which produces leaders and leaders donat impact the party. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, commented that a party which fought and achieved Telangana is not at all bothered about those who quit and joined hands with "thieves". There was no need to even think about them, he said. "If one leader goes, the party will produce 10 new leaders," he said. The BRS supremo said the party would produce miracle-like young leaders and called for working with greater vigour in tune with the peopleas aspirations. "Only we have the capability and depth to fulfil the unfulfilled aspirations of people," he said. KCR stated that there are many milestones to be achieved in Telanganaas development journey and claimed that only BRS has the awareness to fulfil the aspirations of the state's people. According to BRS, hundreds of party workers came to meet KCR and raised slogans of "Jai Telangana" and "KCR Zindabad". The party claimed that every day people were flocking to Erravelli to see the former Chief Minister. The BRS chiefas comments came after Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah joined the ruling Congress on Friday. Yadaiah, who represents the Chevella constituency in Rangareddy district, joined the Congress in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, state in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi and other leaders in Delhi. He is the sixth MLA of BRS to defect to the Congress in the last four months. The BRS has lost three MLAs to the Congress during the last week. Several senior leaders of BRS switched loyalties to Congress since the latter came to power in December 2023. Amritsar, June 28 : Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday offered prayers at the Golden Temple and Ram Tirath, saying he found great peace of mind by visiting the sacred city of Sikh Gurus. After paying obeisance with folded hands before the holy book at the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine, the Chief Minister went to the Guru Ram Das Jee Langar Hall where he tried rolling out 'parshada' (chapattis) and did voluntary kitchen work in the hall. The Chief Minister took the 'prasad' and sat with the 'sangat'. After partaking in the 'langar', he performed 'seva' for 15 minutes. Minister of State for Transport Aseem Goyal accompanied him. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presented a 'saropa' and a picture of Sri Darbar Sahib to the Chief Minister. Later, the Chief Minister visited the Bhagwan Valmiki pilgrimage site Ram Tirath mandir, near here, to pay obeisance. He highlighted people from all over the country visit here to pay respects and seek blessings. The temple committee presented a 'saropa' and a picture of Bhagwan Valmiki to the Chief Minister. Later, talking to the media, the Chief Minister said: "Today, I have found great peace of mind by visiting Amritsar, the sacred city of Sikh Gurus. This is a holy place where we should pledge to follow the path shown by the Gurus." On the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which is running about 121 km in Punjab and 90 km in Haryana, Chief Minister Saini said: "Punjab is our elder brother, and it is the duty of the elder brother not to let the younger brother be disappointed." Stressing on the bond between Punjab and Haryana, he added: "Punjab-Haryana is one family, one household, and I appeal to our elder brother to share water with us." New Delhi, June 28 : The government on Friday said that new regulations to curb the practice of fraudulent SIM swaps or replacement by cyber criminals will be applicable from next Monday. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had issued the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations 2024, in March this year, which will come into force on July 1. "These amendment regulations are aimed at curbing the porting of mobile numbers by way of fraudulent SIM swap/replacement by unscrupulous elements," the TRAI said. Through these amendment regulations, an additional criterion for the rejection of the request for allocation of a Unique Porting Code (UPC) has been introduced. Specifically, a UPC will not be allocated if the request for the UPC has been made before the expiry of seven days from the date of SIM swap/replacement. There has been a rise in such fraudulent SIM-swapping practices in the recent past, with dire financial implications for the users. Hyderabad, June 28 : At least five workers were killed and 10 others injured in a blast in a factory in Telangana's Rangareddy district on Friday, officials said. The blast occurred in South Glass Private Ltd on the outskirts of Shadnagar town, about 55 km from Hyderabad. According to officials, a compressor exploded at the factory resulting in the fire. Firefighting personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire. Police and firefighters undertook rescue and relief operations. Horrific visuals were seen at the spot as body parts of the deceased were found strewn around. The injured were shifted to a hospital and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical. Rangareddy Collector K. Shashank visited the accident site. He said the preliminary probe shows the blast occurred as the safety valve of the compressor was not working. The deceased and injured workers are said to be migrants from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. Leaders of the All India Trade Union Congress demanded that the management pay compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who is in Delhi, directed officials to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured. According to the Chief Ministeras Office, he asked the Collector and officials of Revenue, Police and other departments to focus on relief works. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao expressed shock over the death of workers in the blast. He conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for the swift recovery of those injured. He appealed to the state government to immediately conduct a thorough safety audit and review disaster management plans in all industrial areas to prevent any recurrence. New Delhi, June 28 : Milind Deora, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) MP in Rajya Sabha on Friday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his third consecutive tenure and said that despite three terms in power, the 'leader with global appeal' enjoys massive support of the masses. His unique style of congratulating the Prime Minister and his government drew the attention of members and also made them curious for more, as the Sena leader compared his 10-year term with multiple 'change of guards' in other nations ranging from Asia to Europe and America. Milind Deora claimed that in this age of anti-incumbency, ten years of PM Modi-led government outlasted 6 Prime Ministers of Pakistan, 5 Prime Ministers of the UK, 4 Presidents of Sri Lanka, 3 Presidents of the US and 2 Presidents of France. The Sena leader said there was growing anti-incumbency across the globe and despite that Modi government braved the wave on the back of the Prime Minister's popularity. "Fighting anti-incumbency has become more challenging, because of a more aware and aspirational population, social media playing a critical role in elections and also the demographic transitions across the world," he said. Notably, the change in guards in Pakistan in the last decade saw six Prime Ministers assuming office. They included Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-N (2013-2017), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-N (2017-18), Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2018-2022), Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-N serving two terms, first from 2022-23 and then again becoming PM after 2024 elections. Five PMs of the UK include David Cameroon (2010-2016), Theresa May (2016-19), Boris Johnson (2019-2022), Liz Truss (2022-2022) and Rishi Sunak (2022- till date). Four Presidents of Sri Lanka include Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005-2015), Maithripala Sirisena (2015-2019), Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2019-2022) and Ranil Wickremsinghe (2022-til date). Three Presidents of the US include Barack Obama (2009-2017), Donald Trump (2017-2021) and Joe Biden (2021-till now). Two Presidents of France include Francois Hollande (2012-2017) and Emmanuel Macron (2017-till date). Taking an indirect dig at Congress, Deora remarked that the Lok Sabha got its Leader of Opposition after a gap of ten years, in the form of Rahul Gandhi. Notably, Sushma Swaraj was the last person to hold this position, in the UPA II government. In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha, Congress could not claim the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post as the party failed to get the minimum number of 55 members elected to the House. Guwahati, June 28 : Assam Forest and Wildlife officials accompanied by conservationists have recorded the first photographic proof of the Mainland Serow, a vulnerable mammal species notified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an official said on Friday. Forest officials said that the Mainland Serow was spotted in the newly declared Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district of Assam, adjoining West Bengal and Bhutan. Assam Forest Department officials accompanied by conservationists of Aaranyak, northeastern region's foremost biodiversity conservation organisation, recently captured the photographic evidence of Mainland Serow in two separate events near the Ganda Bajrum Anti-poaching camp, located in the western range of Raimona National Park, using white flash passive Panthera V6 digital camera traps. The finding is published as a scientific paper in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. Divisional Forest Officer of Kachugaon Forest Division Bhanu Sinha said that the discovery of Mainland Serow in Raimona National Park is good news for biodiversity conservation aspects, and we are thrilled by the finding. "Our goal is to conserve this species and other wildlife extensively in the national park," he said. The mainland Serow population is widely distributed in the neighbouring Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and the Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan, which may contribute to Raimona National Park's population recovery. Senior scientist with 'Aaranyak', M. Firoz Ahmed said: "We would like to extend our thanks to the National Park Authority for their collaborative efforts that led to the discovery of this beautiful species. "There is a wealth of wildlife in Raimona National Park, and the finding of this species is good news for the conservation world. The Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis thar) is present across various habitats extending from the Himalayas on the Indian subcontinent to southern China, mainland southeastern Asia and Sumatra." The species' populations are fragmented, isolated, and rapidly declining due to poaching, habitat destruction, and habitat loss. "The lack of reliable data on this species' abundance and distribution makes it difficult to implement effective conservation actions to ensure long-term survival," said Dipankar Lahkar, a senior conservationist in 'Aaranyak'. Occasional poaching for bushmeat and habitat alteration due to logging during the ethnopolitical violence are the primary conservation concerns of the Raimona National Park. With the government now protecting the park, future conservation efforts should consider securing and recovering the species' population and restoration of the degraded habitats, forest officials said. The Assam government declared the area a national park in June 2021. After nearly three decades of ethnopolitical violence, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTR) was established in 2020 and conservation efforts have been fueled since then. Bengaluru, June 28 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, claimed on Friday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ensured the defeat of Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's brother D.K. Suresh in the recently-held Lok Sabha elections. Suresh, a three-time Congress MP from Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, went down to BJP's C.N. Manjunath by a margin of over 2.69 lakh votes in the recent polls. After taking part in a protest staged in Kolar against the Congress government over the alleged tribal welfare board scam, Ashoka said, "To get rid of Shivakumar's harassments, CM Siddaramaiah got Suresh defeated. However, in return, Shivakumar arranged for a statement from a prominent Vokkaliga seer demanding Siddaramaiah to vacate the CM's chair. Amid all this, Congress ministers are now demanding the creation of three more Deputy CM's posts. This government is going to collapse due to the curse of its legislators." "The Vokkaliga seer has called for appointing Shivakumar as the Chief Minister. If the CM had any self-respect, he should have resigned by now," he added. The senior BJP leader also alleged that Siddaramaiah is directly involved in the Rs 187 crore Valmiki tribal welfare board scandal, and demanded his immediate resignation from the CM's post. "Former minister B. Nagendra, who resigned following the scam, swallowed 20 per cent of the money while Siddaramaiah usurped the remaining 80 per cent. Now the demand for CM's resignation will be made on the floor of the House. This agitation will continue until Siddaramaiah resigns," Ashoka said. The opposition leader also claimed that in the name of freebies, the Congress government has hiked the prices of milk in the state. "Milk prices have been hiked, but the additional money is not going to the farmers. The prices of liquor consumed by the rich have decreased, but the liquor consumed by the common man has become costly," Ashoka claimed. Guwahati, June 28 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday expressed his strong displeasure with the Deputy Commissioner of state's Nalbari district over the extravagant food arrangements during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. The Chief Minister, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Nalbari district, mentioned that in spite of repeated instructions from his office to arrange simple vegetarian meals during the Cabinet Meeting held on Thursday in Nalbari, the instructions were not followed accordingly. "Rather, elaborate arrangements were made for serving the lunch with too many items. I express my extreme displeasure at such action on your part. Henceforth, such instructions should be carried out scrupulously," CM Sarma said in his letter to the DC Nalbari. According to sources, the menu for the lunch contained plain rice, jeera rice, and pulao, mutton curry, special fish curry, fried fish, small fish cooked with ginger, mixed lentil soup, fried small potatoes, fried brinjal, mashed potatoes with mustard oil, sesame seed chutney, pickle, sweet yogurt, gulab jamun, among 22 other items. Chaired by the CM, Cabinet meetings in Assam by rotation are held in different districts of the state. The state government had earlier asked all Deputy Commissioners concerned to make simple arrangements and not indulge in lavish arrangements for the visiting ministers. Bengaluru, June 28 : Former Karnataka Minister B. Nagendra, who quit his position following corruption allegations of Rs 187 crore in connection with the state tribal welfare board, is fearing arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sources said on Friday. One of the accused Satyanarayan Varma, who is named in the scam, has admitted before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court and made allegations against the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID is protecting the accused and CID officers are pressuring to agree to whatever they say, sources added. Varma has also told the court that the authorities have not given information to his family for four days after his arrest. He also requested the court to allow him to make a statement in the court confidentially without the absence of CID officers. The submission was made in the court when the CID produced him before the court, sources said. State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra has said that accused Satyanarayana Varma, had told the court that he was being threatened by the close aides of former Minister Nagendra. "It is a serious charge. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has not dared to question former Minister Nagendra till now," Vijayendra added. The CBI has already started a probe since the alleged scam involving Rs 187 crore and is likely to summon former Minister Nagendra for questioning soon. The probe agency has also recorded the statements of two of the accused who are lodged in jail. Sources also said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating the matter. The scam in the corporation came to light following the suicide of Chandrashekaran (50), who was working as an Account Superintendent in the Karnataka Tribal Welfare Board. He was allegedly pressured to transfer large amount of money to various illegal accounts. It was alleged that the funds were diverted to Hyderabad to be used by the Congress for the Lok Sabha election in Telangana and other states. The Congress, however, has denied all the allegations. Meanwhile, BJP MLC C.T. Ravi has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the state tribal welfare board scam. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should take moral responsibility and the investigation has to be taken over by the CBI," he said. "This is the scam which had taken place in the purview of the department under his portfolio. But, CM Siddaramaiah is diverting the issue," he added. "We have doubts over the probe conducted by the government... but the Karnataka government is yet to handover the case to the CBI," Ravi said. "Nagendra is protected by the state government for the fear of getting exposed to kickbacks from him. Eleven people have been arrested and just Rs 14.07 crore is seized so far. Where has the remaining money gone? Why is it not seized? The money has gone to 700 bank accounts. Where has the money gone after withdrawal?" the BJP MLC asked. Patna, June 29 : A special vigilance court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur on Friday awarded four years' imprisonment to a retired engineer in connection with a scam of Rs 20,000 related to the Triveni canal repair case that occurred around 38 years ago. Special judge Satyaprakash Shukla found retired engineer Surendra Nath Verma (76), a resident of Patna, guilty and sentenced him to jail for four years besides imposing a fine of Rs 10,000. The scam was reported in 1986-87 during the repair of the Triveni canal under the Ramnagar sub-division in East Champaran district. Verma was then posted as an assistant engineer in the Water Resources Department. An FIR was lodged by the then vigilance inspector Arun Kumar Singh Vineet against four persons for their alleged involvement in a scam of Rs 20,925. Apart from Verma, the then executive engineer Ramchandra Prasad Singh, junior engineer Naval Kishore Prasad Singh, and contractor Sami Khan were accused in this case. Special public prosecutor Krishnadev Shah said, "In the vigilance investigation, it was found that contractor Sami Khan did some work for Rs 1,031 but was paid Rs 21,956. In this way, a scam of 20,925 took place." After the investigation, the vigilance bureau filed a charge sheet against the four accused persons. Three of them -- Ramchandra Prasad, Naval Kishore, and Sami Khan -- died during the trial. Jaipur, June 29 : BJP MP from Rajasthan's Jalore, Lumbaram Choudhary, has written to Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, urging him to facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains of a trader from the state who was reportedly kidnapped and murdered in Guangdong, China, recently. The deceased Satish Kumar, a resident of Bhinmal town in Jalore district, ran a mobile parts business for which he used to frequently travel to China. A few days back, his family members received a call wherein the caller claimed that Satish had been kidnapped and would be released only after a ransom payment of Rs 1 crore. However, as Satish's family could not arrange Rs 1 crore, his brother Hitesh sent an email to the Indian Embassy in China on June 23, informing the authorities about his brother's kidnapping. On June 26, the Indian Embassy informed Hitesh that Satish reportedly died after falling from a four-storey building in Guangzhou, leaving his entire family in shock. The family members are presently in Delhi trying for a visa to bring Satish's body back from China. In his letter to MEA Jaishankar, Chaudhary sought help for the repatriation of Satish's mortal remains so that the family can perform his last rites as per Hindu customs. Islamabad, June 29 : In a tit-for-tat move against a recent US resolution calling for a probe into the February 8 elections, the Pakistan National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution proposed by a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), condemning the move and demanding US intervention into what it termed as 'ongoing human rights violations' in Kashmir. Islamabad, June 29 (IANS) In a tit-for-tat move against a recent US resolution calling for a probe into the February 8 elections, the Pakistan National Assembly on Friday passed a resolution proposed by a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N), condemning the move and demanding US intervention into what it termed as 'ongoing human rights violations' in Kashmir. The resolution, introduced by PML-N member Shaista Pervez Malik, slammed the US resolution calling for a "full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan's February 2024 elections" that was passed on June 25 by the United States House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority, stating that it deliberately remained ignorant towards Pakistan's electoral process. It said the National Assembly takes serious notice of the resolution passed by the lower house of the US Congress concerning Pakistan, terming it as a blatant attempt to interfere in the country's internal affairs. "Such interference in Pakistan's internal affairs was inappropriate and unbecoming of global powers. This kind of meddling in our country's internal matters is unacceptable. It is not appropriate for any global power to interfere in the internal affairs of another country," Malik added. She also raised the Kashmir issue in her address, calling on the US Congress to adopt a resolution on what she termed the "ongoing genocide in Gaza", "serious human rights violations in Gaza and Kashmir" and "state-sanctioned atrocities against minorities, particularly Muslims, in India". Seeking the US' intervention in the Kashmir dispute, the resolution called on the international community to take immediate steps to "alleviate the sufferings of people" in Gaza and Kashmir. The resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority with at least 368 members voting in favour, with only seven opposing it. As the resolution sailed through the National Assembly, the opposition benches continued to chant slogans against the government as Malik lashed out at them, accusing them of encouraging an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty in light of foreign intervention in the country's internal affairs. "It is shameful that Pakistan's sovereignty is under attack and some among us are encouraging this assault. It is regrettable that foreign powers are meddling in our internal matters," she said. Pakistan's Foreign Office also raised serious concerns over the timing of the US resolution, stating that it "does not align well with the positive dynamics of bilateral relations between the two countries". Ramallah, June 29 : The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has condemned the Israeli cabinet's move to legalise five settlement outposts in the West Bank and advance plans to build thousands of new units across the occupied territory. The Ministry said on Friday in a press statement that it "views with extreme seriousness that the Israeli government continues to commit the crime of settlement expansion and deepening apartheid, with the aim of closing the door to any opportunity to materialise a Palestinian state". The statement held the Israeli government responsible for the results of settlement expansion and its dangerous repercussions on the conflict arenas and the entire region, Xinhua news agency reported. It called for international intervention to stop the Israeli government's "unilateral, illegal actions and to exert real pressure on it to stop settlement activity and submit to the international will for peace". On Thursday, the Israeli security cabinet approved Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's plan to address several countries' recognition of a Palestinian state and measures taken against Israel in international courts, according to Israeli state-owned Kan TV. Kan TV said the plan is to take measures against the Palestinian Authority, legalise five settlement outposts in the West Bank, and issue tenders for building thousands of housing units in the settlements. According to Smotrich's proposal, five settlement outposts will be recognised and legalised as a response to the five countries that recognised a Palestinian state after the onset of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict on October 7, 2023. Some of the Ministers and military personnel who attended the meeting expressed their opposition to Smotrich's plan, according to Kan TV, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not express his position on the plan, but he temporarily suspended the session for consultations. Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and has since established settlements there, which are considered violations of international law. Visitors flock to Mexico's Pacific coast paradise to participate in this bucket list event each July through December NEW YORK, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As the summer sun graces the shores of Puerto Vallarta, an extraordinary natural spectacle unfolds: sea turtle hatching season. With its rich biodiversity and commitment to conservation, the destination has earned its reputation as a sanctuary for these magnificent creatures, drawing thousands of visitors each year to witness this awe-inspiring event. From families seeking educational experiences to nature enthusiasts craving unforgettable encounters, the releases offer something truly extraordinary for every visitor. Each year, from July through December, Puerto Vallarta's pristine beaches become the stage for the emergence of baby sea turtles from their nests. Guided by marine biologists and conservation experts, these releases provide a unique opportunity for tourists to actively participate in the preservation of endangered sea turtle species. Participants witness the magic of sea turtle hatchlings making their way to the ocean while gaining valuable insights into sea turtle biology, ecology and conservation. With an average of 70 to 230 nests releasing from 60 to 500 sea turtles daily, Puerto Vallarta's commitment to sea turtle conservation is evident. Six out of the seven species recognized worldwide nest on Mexican seashores, with the Olive Ridley predominantly found along the coast of Puerto Vallarta's Banderas Bay. Since 1990, all sea turtle species have enjoyed comprehensive federal protection, emphasizing the country's dedication to their well-being. Sea turtle releases are more than just a tourist attraction; they are a vital component of the resort city's commitment to environmental stewardship. By supporting local conservation efforts and promoting the preservation of marine ecosystems, participants in these releases play a direct role in safeguarding their future. Beyond the positive environmental impact, turtle releases also serve as educational opportunities, fostering a deeper appreciation for marine life and inspiring a sense of responsibility towards conservation especially while traveling. During a summer vacation in Puerto Vallarta, sea turtle releases often take place at sunset and offer one of the best and free activities to enjoy. Visitors have a variety of options to choose from to witness this natural wonder, including: HOTELS Plenty of Puerto Vallarta hotels are actively engaged in conservation and facilitate participation in sea turtle releases. With more than 20 years of commitment to protecting sea turtles, the iconic Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa offers guided releases supervised by resident biologists, ensuring a responsible and informative experience. Nestled in a secluded cove near Conchas Chinas beach, the beaches of the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta luxury resort provide natural shelter for sea turtles. Hotel guests and the general public are welcome to take part in the releases through the hotel's conservation program led by trained staff. TURTLE CAMPS Turtle camps operate their own conservation initiatives, with several offering guests the opportunity to accompany hatchlings from their nests to the shore. At Boca de Tomates Turtle Camp, visitors can adopt a nest, select its name, and gain insight into the hatchlings' birth day. They can then actively participate in releasing these hatchlings into the ocean, providing hands-on experience in conservation efforts. TOURS For a completely immersive experience, specialized tours are available during release season. Wildlife Connection offers guided tours to the official camp of the National Sea Turtle Conservation Program, ensuring an informed and respectful encounter with nature led by bilingual biologists with experience in marine ecology. The tours are conducted in small groups and offer the opportunity to patrol the beaches north of Puerto Vallarta looking for nesting turtles. For nearly 30 years, Ecotours Vallarta has offered close-up encounters at Sea Turtle Camp, where visitors are accompanied by a guide who provides insight into the workings of a turtle camp with the opportunity to build a nest. Proceeds support the dedicated team of biologists and volunteers to prevent the species from facing extinction. About Puerto Vallarta Nestled between the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay on Mexico's balmy Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is the quintessential Mexican beach destination. Puerto Vallarta's year-round warm climate, easy direct access from major markets in the United States and Canada, and a range of accommodation options have made it a top choice for a stress-free tropical escape. Authentic culture can be discovered around every corner in Puerto Vallarta, from the charming cobblestone streets downtown to the art-filled Malecon, and the lively Romantic Zone a favorite enclave amongst LGBTQ+ travelers. Puerto Vallarta's picturesque beaches and aquatic activities lure travelers, and its welcoming hospitality, top-notch gastronomy, and outdoor adventures keep them coming back time and time again. Media Contact Allyson Doyle, PTG Consulting, 1 646 465 9789, [email protected] SOURCE PTG Consulting The pet supplement brand partnered with LifeStream Blood Bank and the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation for a successful event TEMECULA, Calif., June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Service animals from the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation provided soothing support to donors at a community blood drive hosted by NaturVet, the 30-year pioneer and present-day innovator of the pet health and wellness industry. NaturVet partnered with LifeStream Blood Bank at the pet supplement brand's headquarters in Southern California, where the event received tremendous community response with 31 total donations that have the potential to save up to 93 lives. The unique and heartwarming addition of service dogs helped create a calm and comforting atmosphere. The Patriotic Service Dog Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders by providing highly trained service dogs to assist with both physical and emotional needs. The foundation's comfort dogs are also deployed to provide support and companionship throughout the community for a variety of events. CLICK TO POST: @NaturVet hosted a successful Temecula community blood drive with @lifestreamblood, featuring service dogs from Patriotic Service Dog Foundation that brought comfort and fun to donors. https://naturvet.com/ "Our dogs play a crucial role in providing comfort and support, and whether it's through lifelong assistance or during short-term events like these, it's always heartwarming to see the positive impact they have on people's lives," said Tom Tackett, Executive Director at the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation. "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to support this important cause with Lifestream and the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation," said Geoff Granger, CEO at The Garmon Corporation and NaturVet. "The turnout exceeded expectations and knowing that our community's generosity can save almost 100 lives is truly humbling. As advocates for pets and the powerful bond they have with humans, we're honored to have the opportunity to support both incredible organizations." NaturVet looks forward to collaborating with both local and national organizations to foster a spirit of community service, and continuing to support the wellbeing of pets and humans alike. For more information about NaturVet visit https://naturvet.com. About NaturVet NaturVet is a 30-year pioneer and present-day innovator manufacturing high-quality pet products designed to support the health, wellness and quality of life for pets and pet parents. Headquartered in Southern California, NaturVet produces dog, cat and equine supplements including all-in-one vitamins and targeted solutions for calming, digestion, allergy aids, skin and joint support. Formulated by veterinarians and manufactured in-house to ensure quality, NaturVet's products are made with ingredients which are sourced from trusted global suppliers and tested to meet rigorous standards by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC). For more information, visit https://naturvet.com/. Media Contact Jessica Sepic, NaturVet, (916) 285-9835, [email protected], https://naturvet.com SOURCE NaturVet HarperCollins has ample reason to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the My Weird School series by Dan Gutman, which includes 101 titles published under 10 different series arcs. The series has been published in more than 12 languages and boasts worldwide sales of more than 35 million copies. Illustrated by Jim Paillot, My Weird School kicked off on June 29, 2004, with Miss Daisy Is Crazy! and will add a total of six novels to its roster in 2024, most recently this months Mrs. Marge Is in Charge!, the sixth volume in the My Weirdtastic School story arc. Though two decades have passed since My Weird School first opened its doors, the authors memory of his inspiration for its premise is crystal clear. When his daughter Emma, now 28, was in second grade, she began reading Barbara Parks novels starring plucky Junie B. Jones. Emma, like a lot of kids, loved those books, Gutman recalled. And I thought, What if there was something like that, but written from a boys point of view? The author decided to put that idea to the test, and wrote Miss Daisy Is Crazy!, narrated by video game-loving and school-hating A.J., whose second-grade teacher at Ella Mentary School doesnt even know how to add or subtract. I never viewed the novel as the start of a series, Gutman said. I was happy to sell one book to HarperCollins, and then they asked for three more, and then another four after thatand so it became a series. Though it wasnt his original plan, Gutman was not surprised that the premise of My Weird School had series potential. Each book focuses on the same classroom of kidswho have progressed, if gradually, from second to third to fourth grade over 20 yearsyet their teachers and the schools other adult characters vary. Since a new grownup is introduced in every book, there are infinite plot possibilities, the author said. The series is set in a school where the students are normal, but all the grownups are crazy, and kids like to read about grownups doing dumb things. His connection to his readers is innate, Gutman added, noting, Im lucky that I have the brain of an eight-year-old, which helps me relate to kids that age. I knew that it was important to make the book funny and sillyand it helped that the art is too. A Winning Author-Illustrator Team An upbeat amalgam of text and images emerged after Gutmans first editor at HarperCollins, Stephen Fraser, lined up Paillot to illustrate Miss Daisy Is Crazy! I knew from the start that Jim was a perfect match for the story, Gutman recalled. Over 20 years, Paillot has illustrated every novel in the bestselling series. Describing their creative synergy, Gutman cited a common sense of humor (Jim and I both grew up reading Mad magazine and then moved on to National Lampoon and SNL) and their mutual flexibility. We both know that you cant make demands or get your way all the time, he said. Generally, I dont have an image in my mind of what characters or scenes look like. Its Jims vision that brings it all to lifeand I rarely suggest any changes. Karen Chaplin, executive editor of Quill Tree, who has edited Gutmans series for four years, underscored the collaborators complementary strengths. Jim never ceases to amaze us, she observed. His illustrations feel familiar yet different for every book, and they enhance Dans humor and irreverence to make these characters feel like classmates and friends. My Weird Schools fusion of spirited characters, storylines, and images is well suited to reluctant readersan audience Gutman knows well. I was a reluctant reader myself, and I thought readingand schoolwere boring and hard, he said. I know what bored me as a young reader, and as a writer I avoid things like useless adjectives and descriptions that go on and on. I like to get right to the action and make kids feel that the story speaks to themand that even if they dont like to read and dont like schoolthis book is funny! Its a successful strategy. Parents, teachers, and librarians frequently thank Gutman for igniting kids interest in reading. Not a day goes by that I dont get an email about children who never picked up a book until they read My Weird School, and who now read under the covers with a flashlight, the author said. That makes me feel so good! Its not that writing silly words on a page helped me save the world, but I like to think that Im doing something that makes the world a better place in a small way. Gutman, who recently completed his 190th childrens book, expanded his oeuvre in a different direction with Holiday Houses June release of The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatras Needle, an account of how the ancient obelisk now standing in New York Citys Central Park was transported there from Egypt in 1880. At a LinkedIn Live panel titled "Beyond Publishing: When AI Is Your Ally," on June 26, industry experts gathered to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on the publishing world. The conversation, hosted by Christopher Kenneally, featured PW's Edward Nawotka, Shimmr.ai CEO Nadim Sadek, and Circles of AI cofounder Rochelle Grayson. Shimmr.ai's Sadek framed AI as "allied intelligence" rather than artificial intelligence, emphasizing its role in enhancing creativity. "AI liberates creativity amongst the silent," Sadek said. "I'm really excited by that because there's a whole pile of thinking, probably in the majority of the population, that we haven't heard or seen." Sadek highlighted AI's potential to spark innovation through "conceptual collision" and enable creators to explore unfamiliar topics. He explained, "What AI allows you to do is to get out of your groove. And to tramp around in a different groove, which five minutes previously, you knew nothing about." Discussing Shimmr.ai's focus on book advertising, Sadek described their process: "We've got three machines. The first one extracts the book DNA by looking at plots, its structure, its tensions, its protagonists, antagonists... plus a psychological profile." The data is then used to generate targeted advertising and find potential readers. Grayson of Circles of AI emphasized the importance of making AI accessible to non-technical users. "We decided to launch Circles of AI to allow a variety of circles to come together and talk about AI often with perhaps different lenses," she explained Grayson outlined her approach for how publishers can integrate AI: "The first step is to identify the areas that you want to do the integration for and ideally start with something small." She stressed the importance of understanding AI's decision-making process, suggesting users ask "why" the AI made specific changes. Addressing ethical considerations, Grayson said, "there definitely needs to be a very transparent conversation around how you are using AI both internally and externally." She also emphasized the need for crisis management planning: "You should have a plan in place. Who's responsible, who's accountable? Who responds?" Nawotka discussed recent developments in AI rights management, highlighting the launch of Created by Humans, a company started by Scribd co-founder Trip Adler that officially went live June 25. "The idea is to find a way to compensate authors specifically for their work and for the use of their work in LLMs [large language models], Nawotka explained. The panelists agreed that AI presents both challenges and opportunities for the publishing industry. Sadek suggested that publishers should invest in "developing author-facing, enhancing of creativity and productivity AI bots." Grayson noted varying attitudes towards AI across age groups: "The younger the students, the more excited they are about the possibilities. But the older the students, a lot more skepticism seems to have crept in." Nawotka concluded by emphasizing the need for balance in AI adoption: "We tend to use this default word 'content,' which I think really devalues everybody's work. I think we need to refer to things as to what they are. Are they essays? Are they memoirs? Is it a piece of fiction? This specificity, as well as putting a work in context, is how we assign value to content. If we can force tech to use the same diction we do, it can go some way toward hopefully balancing the conversation. "Beyond Publishing: When AI Is Your Ally" is available to watch in full on LinkedIn. DALIAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China's northeastern coastal city of Dalian currently finds itself at the nexus of world attention, as the host of the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions. Running from June 25 to 27, the ongoing event, also known as Summer Davos, has drawn over 1,700 representatives of the political, business, academic and media communities in more than 100 countries and regions to explore new frontiers in revitalizing the sluggish global economy. Amid discussions among the leading figures, several keywords have emerged, shedding light on the economic trends commanding the world's attention. ECONOMIC GROWTH & COOPERATION The global economy is facing challenges such as complex and volatile geopolitical landscapes and increased economic uncertainty. According to the World Bank, global economic growth is projected to slow for the third consecutive year, declining from 2.6 percent in 2023 to 2.4 percent in 2024. The period from 2020 to 2024 is set to become the slowest five-year span for global economic growth in the past 30 years. The question of how to stimulate global economic growth and make the economic pie bigger has become a topic of discussion among participants at the three-day grand gathering. At this year's forum, Chinese Premier Li Qiang provided a feasible solution. When meeting with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab at the event's opening plenary, Li called on all nations and regions to maintain an open mindset, enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly seek new frontiers of economic growth. Echoing Li's remarks, Schwab highlighted the necessity of global cooperation and innovation. "To drive future economic growth, we must embrace innovation and foster collaboration across sectors, regions, nations and cultures to create a more peaceful, inclusive, sustainable and resilient future," he noted when addressing the opening plenary. NEXT FRONTIERS & AI As a term included in the theme of this year's forum, "next frontiers" for development in the future have been observed as a major topic of several sub-forums. Future growth points will revolve around new growth engines from technological innovation and green, low-carbon exploration amid a global transformation, said Chen Liming, chair of Greater China of the World Economic Forum. Among the frontier sectors widely discussed by one panel after another lies the most powerful engine for economic growth: artificial intelligence (AI). Recent breakthroughs in AI, such as deep learning, generative AI and foundational models, have catalyzed remarkable progress in enhancing human innovation and driving economic development. "The world is on the cusp of a scientific discovery revolution driven by AI," proclaimed the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report released at this year's Summer Davos. CHINA This year marks the 15th occasion that the Summer Davos has been held in China. When the inaugural event convened in Dalian in 2007, China's GDP was approximately 3.5 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for about 6 percent of the global economy. By 2023, China's economic output had surged to nearly 18 trillion U.S. dollars, representing over 17 percent of the global share and establishing China as a primary trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions. This substantial economic scale and steady growth trajectory have consistently placed "China" among the top buzzwords at both winter and summer Davos in recent years. In an increasingly contentious geopolitical environment, China, as the largest emerging economy, plays a vital role in promoting international cooperation and multilateralism, said Elizabeth Ingleson, assistant professor of international history at the London School of Economics. Meanwhile, in various domains, ranging from technological development represented by AI to business-model innovation spearheaded by internet platforms, industry insiders participating at the event recognized that China is among the flagbearers, eyeing more spillover effects from China's development of new quality productive forces. "We're bullish about China going forward," said Shin Hak-Cheol, CEO of LG Chem. The chemical giant from the Republic of Korea has built over 10 production bases in China since it entered the market over three decades ago. "We're not downsizing here, and we're really investing for the future." According to most recent data from the Institute of Museum and Library services annual Public Library Survey, released earlier this month, gate counts at U.S. public libraries (that is, in-person visits) rose in 2022 over 2021. Overall, however, physical library visitswhich have been in a troubling decline for more than a decaderemain dramatically lower than before the pandemic. IMLS counted about 671 million physical visits in 2022 vs. roughly 1.25 billion in 2019, the year before the pandemic shutdowns. And over the last decade, the average number of library visits per user per year has fallen by nearly half (49.1%). The decade-plus declines are nationwide: In New York, visits have fallen by 47% since 2012; in Los Angeles by 74%; San Francisco by 65%; Chicago by 66%, Miami by 52%, Philadelphia by 72%. In the big county library systems, visits are also down by large margins: visits in King County (in Washington state) are down by 51%; Multnomah (in Oregon), 54%; Cuyahoga (Ohio) 61%; and Broward County (Florida) 48%. Also of concern, the IMLS data show a continuing drop in the number of print books held in U.S. library collections. In 2022 there were 162 million fewer books on U.S. library shelves than in 2010, a roughly 20% decline. So what's driving the decline in visits? For five years now I have been publishing The Freckle Report, in which I present statistical evidence drawn from the IMLS (going back to 2010) alongside data from a consumer survey that Ive been running since 2019 (with support from the EveryLibrary Institute). And as I opined in Publishers Weekly last year, I remain convinced that shrinking print book collections is the single biggest factor contributing to the decline in U.S. public library usage. I recently concluded the user survey portion for the 2024 Freckle Report, and while the final report is forthcoming, my initial findings once again suggest that print books very likely hold the key to reversing the decline in library visits. For sure, more programming is not the answer to the decline in library usage. While many library programs are innovative and useful, the numbers show that library users are far more interested in reading and borrowing books from their libraries than attending programs. Fortunately, despite more years of decline in physical visits, there is still great strength in U.S. public libraries. The data suggests that the shrinking gate counts is largely coming from existing users visiting libraries less often, rather than a falling number of people using libraries at all. There is no evidence to suggest that peoples need or desire for libraries has waned. On the contrary, much of the survey data (my own and elsewhere) shows that the desire for library books has remained steady over the last decade and that Americans, particularly parents and their children, value their library service. And despite a dangerous wave of book banning across the U.S., there is also no shortage of public and political support for libraries. Of course, that could change. After all, when political leaders believe they are paying for something their constituents aren't using, experience dictates they will eventually look to slash that funding. On that score, the U.K. stands as a cautionary tale, where library funding has been slashed by more than 50% over the past decade, and a third of the U.K.s public libraries have now closed. In any other operationwhether commercial or non-profitsuch steady declines in usage would be the cause of great alarm and would almost certainly lead to action. But curiously, as Ive pointed out in past articles, there has been scarcely any real discussion of these declines among U.S. library leaders, much less any ideas or potential actions to address the trend. I believe his must change. With the 2024 American Library Association annual conference now underway, I am once again callingloudly, and urgentlyfor U.S. library leaders to address the troubling declines in library visits. Tim Coates has worked in the book industry for four decades, including as the former CEO of Waterstone's and WH Smith in Europe. He has tracked, advised, commented on, and worked in the public library service for 20 years in the U.K., U.S., and other countries. He can be reached at tim@freckle.us. Nick Hagen Ronald Taylor. Roxanne Frith Paula Cunningham. Detroit Area Agency on Aging The Inclusive Health Care Taskforce hosted an information and resource fair on June 13. Steve Koss Caira Boggs. Whether living in the United States or in a European country, there is a greater chance of wearing a garment made in Bangladesh than in ones homeland. However, the south Asian countrys dominance in the manufacture of clothing is being threatened by a green agenda undermining the power supply. With availability of cheap labor and plentiful raw materials, Bangladesh is the worlds second biggest garment exporter and trails only China, having surged ahead of other Asian competitors such as India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. A key to sustaining this manufacturing boom is maintaining supplies of electricity to run factories. Made In Bangladesh The "Made in Bangladesh" label has become synonymous with affordable, quality garments for much of the globe and with the economic growth of a country that achieved independence from Pakistan in 1971 and now shares borders with India and Myanmar. Bangladesh garment-making is more than just another economic sector; it is the lifeline of the national economy. In a nation of 168 million, the industry employs more than 4 million workers, the majority of whom are women, and accounts for approximately 84% of the country's total exports . Bringing in $47 billion to the economy, Bangladeshi clothing supplies global brands such as Walmart, H&M of Sweden and Zara of Spain. In 2023, knitwear export earnings reached nearly $26 billion, while woven garments earned more than $21 billion. Both categories realized year-on-year growth of approximately 11% and 9% percent, respectively. This success is built on factories that operate within tight schedules to meet international demands and deadlines. They require a steady flow of electricity to light facilities and operate machinery. Any disruption can result in significant financial losses for factory owners and hourly workers. In a country where the minimum wage for garment workers is around $113 per month (about $4 a day), even a small reduction in working hours makes a huge difference in a persons life. Nonetheless, intentional disruptions in the power supply occur almost every day to manage Bangladeshs chronic shortage of electricity. The exception to these interruptions has been winter when overall energy demand is lower. The large gap in the supply and demand for electricity also sometimes leads to sudden, unplanned blackouts such as one in October 2022 when 80% of the country (including key industrial hubs of Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Mymensingh) were left without electricity. Lasting for up to eight hours, the outage affectedproduction in garment factories and small and medium industries as millions suffered in sweltering heat, according to news reports, Net Zero and Green Fantasies Present More Uncertainty Now, the national government in Dhaka has announced plans to saddle the struggling power system with the reliability issues of the so-called green energy of wind and solar as part of a net zero scheme to be carbon neutral by 2050. This would be disastrous. Relatively reliable fossil fuels provide more than 98% of Bangladesh's electricity and still the grid has issues managing the supply-demand gap. The well-known intermittency of solar panels and wind turbines makes them available only 10% to 30% of the time and sometimes overproducing when they are. Such erratic operational features add complexity, risk of damage to equipment and more uncertainty to an already shaky grid. Instead of wasting time and money on renewables, the country should focus on increasing its power capacity from conventional energy sources like coal and natural gas. Even analysts supporting green energy say the country must allocate more funds towards oil and gas exploration in order to reduce dependency on imported liquified natural gas to fuel plants that now generate 70% of the electricity. Bangladesh should stick to its current course of giving energy security top priority and reject pseudoscientific theories about climate change that promote unreliable energy sources. The beneficiaries would be millions of Bangladeshi workers, the country's development goals and clothing shoppers worldwide, Hospitality has been a sacred duty in Arab culture for over a millennium. One must always welcome strangers into your home, providing them with food and protection. Roughly 75% of the population of Gaza is now internally displaced by war. Why wont their Arab neighbors show hospitality and take them in? Immediately after the horrendous October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Egypts President Al-Sisi and Jordans King Abdullah II insisted publicly that Palestinian refugees would not be allowed into their countries, ostensibly because they do not want to give in to ethnic cleansing in Gaza. They are right to worry that the displacement of millions of Gazans across their borders would become permanent. Massive out-migration also would reduce pressure on Israel for a two-state solution a solution only pitched by the United States and Israeli doves. If Israel was committing ethnic cleansing, they would forcibly be expelling Gazans across Israeli borders. Certainly, the Israelis do not want to allow Hamas terrorists to escape amidst a refugee flow. But if neighboring Arab countries were pressing the Israelis to allow Gazans to flee into their countries, it would be difficult for Israel to refuse. Former US Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who spent four decades in the Middle East, says that other Arab states look on the Palestinians with fear and loathing. There are many reasons why these neighbors refuse to welcome Palestinian refugees. Jordans King Abdullah II has little desire to accept refugees. There are already nearly 60 designated Palestinian refugee camps across the Middle East, including ten in Jordan with more than two million residents. Most of these camps were established in the 1950s and 60s and are now more like concrete slums than tent camps. Establishing massive new camps would be a financial and logistical nightmare. Further, Jordan already has a troubled relationship with Islamist movements, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood. Two decades after accepting 300,000 Palestinian refugees, King Hussein of Jordan expelled the Palestine Liberation Organization in September 1970 because of its escalating terrorist activities and an attempted coup. The Muslim Brotherhood continues to operate in Jordan and supports Hamas, and acts as a sort of fractured opposition party. Egypt also has a fraught history with Muslim extremism. Founded in 1928 in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has battled the secular Egyptian government for nearly a century, including its assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. Hamas and ISIS have both carried out attacks on Egyptian soil, from murdering tourists in Cairo to terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula. There are no Palestinian refugee camps in Egypt, and President Al-Sisi will refuse to open camps and face the associated terrorism likely to emerge. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Palestinians are also unwelcome by other secular governments in the region, including Iran, Syria, Iraq, and the Saudis. Nobody wants to risk introducing a dangerous movement onto their own soil. Indeed, after decades of cynical support for Hamas and the PLO, regional leaders may have had enough. In 2020, the Trump Administration launched the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with Morocco soon joining and Sudan now pending. The timing of the October 7 attacks was the latest in a series of attempts by Islamist terrorist groups to disrupt impending peace. Even as the Oslo Accords were being signed in 1993 and 1995, Hamas surged in power and recognition as it carried out suicide attacks that Yasser Arafat and the PLO were unable to prevent. The PLO also accused Hezbollah in 1995 of trying to derail the peace agreements. With the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, Hamas has been able to scuttle or at least cause a lengthy pause in the next major step with the Abraham Accords getting Saudi Arabia on board. Hamas knows that if the Saudis agree to the Accords, Egypt and others might soon follow. The misery and death of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is a tragedy caused by Hamas. Yet Israel is fighting the war in a way to minimize those casualties as much as possible, hampered by Hamas clear efforts to make the situation far worse. Where are Palestinians to go? Other Arab states seem to believe that good fences make good neighbors. Dr. Tom Copeland is the Director of Research at the Centennial Institute of Colorado Christian University. He writes regularly on public policy and the intersection of politics, culture, and religion. The views expressed by the author are his own and do not represent the views of Centennial Institute or Colorado Christian University. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Roadside Attractions released a 3-minute, behind-the-scenes featurette for My Penguin Friend on Thursday. The film opens in theaters Aug. 16. ADVERTISEMENT The film tells the true story of Joao ( Jean Reno ), a Brazilian fisherman who rescues a penguin covered in oil. The penguin then visits Joao every year afterward. Joao is grieving an unspecified loss, and Reno says the film shows how interconnected all species are. "You talk about the relationship with mankind and animals," Reno said, adding that the film's message speaks to "how you try to preserve our planet through that story." Adriana Barraza co-stars with Reno. Barraza said the cast and crew spoke about the film's themes while making it. "We will talk not only about Mother Nature," Barraza said. "We will talk about [themes like] be careful with your heart, with your relationships, with your family." David Schurmann, who directed My Penguin Friend in Brazil and Argentina, said the animal story has a lot to say about humanity. "A little penguin actually shows us how to become more human," Schuman said. 'The more educated a young person is, the higher the chances of him or her remaining unemployed.' IMAGE: Government job-seeking candidates stage a protest demanding immediate recruitment at Esplanade in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo In March 2024, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) jointly published the India Employment Report 2024. The highlight of which was the unemployment crisis the country experienced. The report stated that 83% of India's unemployed workforce are young people, and the unemployment rate for young people with secondary or higher education is six times higher than the rate for those who can't read or write It said, 'A large proportion of the population is of working age, and India is expected to be in the potential demographic dividend zone for at least another decade. But the country is at an inflexion point because the youth population, at 27 per cent of the total population in 2021, is expected to decline to 23 per cent by 2036. Each year, around 7-8 million persons are added to the labour force whose productive utilization could lead to India reaping a demographic dividend.' Though unemployment is the biggest worry for young India, sadly, it was not a priority for the politicians during the elections. "Has any politician spoken about the high unemployment the country is facing, or lack of employment opportunities? Was it a topic of discussion during the elections? Has any politician made any suggestion on how India should move forward?", Professor Kodoth Prabhakaran Nair, former National Chair of the Science Foundation, The Royal Society, Belgium and a Senior Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Research Foundation of The Federal Republic of Germany, asks Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. You wrote recently that India was in the demographic dividend zone where the working age population exceeded that of the very young and the old. What happens when a country is in that zone? If you take India's demographic dividend, it has an age group which can work. And this demographic dividend will be there for another decade and a half, at the most. But the tragedy of this is that they are not in any meaningful employment. If you take a state like Kerala for example, because the employment opportunities are very less here, this demographic divided migrate from here. What will happen when you treat only the symptoms and not the cause of the disease you suffer from? Now, why I gave the analogy of disease is because the cause for the disease here is the educational system that is followed in India. Unfortunately, our educational system does not meet the needs of the emerging society. Here, irrespective of what the child's aspirations or capabilities are, he or she is forced to learn many things. A child's real capabilities are not tapped or explored. When nothing is forced upon a child of 5 in Germany, here a child of 5 carries a big bag full of books to school. IMAGE: Job seekers at a job fair in Chinchwad. Photograph: The Late Danish Siddiqui/Reuters You mean the disease you spoke about is India's education system? Exactly. It is like a doctor treating the symptom without looking into what caused the disease when a person is sick. Having worked all over the world, I feel pushing a child into the system at the primary level itself, is harming the child. I will give you another example from my experience. When I was heading the National Chair of Science Education in Belgium, I had to guide research students too, and I had students from all over the world. One of them was an Assistant Professor from India. There I was discussing a science problem with a European doctor student on what had to be done, and after that he was on their own. On the other hand, the assistant professor from India had to be spoon-fed at every step. Why is it so? The rot starts at the primary school level itself. The problem with India is, we have a vast number of the so-called educated people in India. Unfortunately, they are not employable. IMAGE: Labourers rest on a cart loaded with spice sacks at a wholesale market in Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Industry in India has been complaining for a long time that engineering graduates in India, for example, are unemployable... Yes, they may be educated but they are not employable. It clearly shows education does not make a person eligible for a job. And unemployment is higher among the educated youth, who account for 66% of the country's unemployed people. The more educated a young person is, the higher the chances of him or her remaining unemployed. As per a study, 29% of the educated youth are unemployed. IMAGE: Employees at a factory in the Sanand Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Gujarat. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters Then, what is the demographic dividend or advantage we are talking about? Take Kerala for example. Notwithstanding what (Kerala Chief Minister) Pinarayi Vijayan is saying, a huge percentage of the young population from Kerala is migrating to other states. That's because there are no jobs here. Now, it is not the case of Kerala alone. According to the World Bank's latest report Jobs for Resilience, South Asia has the highest outflow of migrants among the emerging markets and developing economies. It includes India too. And because of lack of job opportunities, Indians are migrating to other countries. And 90% of the global youth population reside in the developing and poor countries, including India. It is because these countries cannot generate enough employment opportunities to meet the growing aspirations of the youth that they are migrating. Because these countries are not creating employment, they will not be able to take advantage of the demographic divided they have. Has any politician spoken about the high unemployment the country is facing, or lack of employment opportunities? Was it a topic of discussion during the elections? Has any politician made any suggestion on how India should move forward? No. 90% of the newspapers write about what every politician said. Did we see a single concrete idea written about in any of the papers? Unless radical changes are made right from the primary education level, you are not going to solve the problem. IMAGE: Qualified aspirants in the teachers recruitment exams-2023 protest demanding jobs in the state government services at the BJP's Madhya Pradesh headquarters in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo When most of the developed countries are aging, we have a huge young population, but we are not able to give them employment and take advantage of the situation. What will this lead to? They will migrate where they are needed. Kerala is a classic example of the migration of the working age population. If you take countries on the European continent, a very large number of migrants are working there. That's because these countries are aging and there are no young people to do the jobs. These young migrants are replacing a working population which is above 70 and are not able to work. They live long but are not able to contribute anything to the economy. The migrants fill the gap so that the system works there. So, if India which has this demographic dividend advantage right now, needs to take advantage of the situation, the planners sitting in Delhi or any other place who are writing the destiny of this nation, has to start changing things at the base level, at the educational level. IMAGE: Kodoth Prabhakaran Nair with then President A P J Abdul Kalam. Photograph: Kind courtesy Kodoth Prabhakaran Nair Now, only 6.1% of India's population is above the age of 65. Once India starts aging...? As of now, we have the advantage of the population demographic dividend but it will not last forever. The 2018-2019 Economic Survey says that the demographic dividend would peak around 2041, when the working age group will be 59% of India's total population. You have to also realise that India will have this advantage for a decade-and-a-half, at the most. This won't last forever. According to ILO, the youth population of India will dip from 27% in 2021to 23% by 2036. You have to also remember Indian youth account for nearly 83% of the total country's unemployed population. And every third young Indian is unemployed. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com To burnish production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, the government is considering an overhaul of some of them relating to sectors such as textiles and pharma, and making incentive payments quarterly, officials in the know said. In a bid to cut the delay in processing incentive claims, the government is looking at switching to a quarterly disbursement of incentives. Currently, in most schemes, incentives are annual. As a result, hardly any progress is seen for most of the year. The industry department, in charge of coordinating the development and progress of the schemes, has been asking other departments to shift to it. During 2023-24, Rs 6,800 crore has been disbursed as compared to the governments estimate of Rs 11,000 crore. New schemes for labour-incentive sectors such as apparel, toys, and footwear are also in the offing as part of the governments efforts to create jobs, officials aware of the matter said. The timing of the launch of the new PLI schemes has not been decided. "A Cabinet note is being prepared for the new schemes as well as for the (proposed) changes in the existing one, one of the persons cited above said. Questions sent to the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade via email did not elicit any response till the time of going to press. In 2020-21 and 2021-22, PLI schemes for 14 sectors, including mobiles, drones, telecom, textile, automobile, white goods, and pharmaceutical drugs, were launched. However, progress has been uneven. The scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing that mainly focuses on smartphones has been most successful, propelling a sharp jump in exports over the last two years. On the other hand, the government had recognised progress was largely on track in sectors pharmaceutical drugs, telecom, food products, drones, with slower than expected progress in the case of some sectors such as steel, textile, battery, and automobiles. For instance, due to a lukewarm response from private players, the textiles ministry has been pushing to make the PLI scheme attractive by offering more flexibility by adding more product lines. The government hopes to see more applications and investment proposals with the change. In the case of PLI for bulk drugs, some changes in guidelines are expected and the tenure of the scheme may be extended to 2028-29 from 2027-28. All these changes will require approval from the Cabinet, one of the officials cited above said. 'Patients under the scheme may ultimately have to go to private hospitals.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi interacts with beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat and PMAY Rural schemes in Varanasi. Photograph: ANI Photo Health and education sector experts on Thursday, June 27, 2024, urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman to address issues of low reimbursement rates in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, focus on the availability of subsidised adult vaccinations, and help states in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) in a pre-budget meeting. While sources suggest that the government may expand the ambit of the Ayushman Bharat scheme to cover everyone over 70 years, experts at the meeting suggested the government to look into issues faced by hospitals due to the low reimbursement rates in the scheme. One of the experts suggested that several high-end hospitals that run tertiary care services may not empanel themselves in the scheme as the present reimbursement rates are too low to cover the treatment costs borne by the hospital. "Patients under the scheme may ultimately have to go to private hospitals as 85 per cent of tertiary care beds are in the private sector," he said. "We have suggested the government to either increase Ayushman Bharat and Central Government Health Services (CGHS) rates to cover costs or opt for a co-payment scheme," an attendee said on the condition of anonymity. IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the pre-Budget consultation with experts from the health and education sectors, June 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo During the pre-Budget meeting with the finance minister as well as top officials from the finance, health, and education ministries, experts called for measures to enhance and increase the scope of healthcare services at the grassroots level. "There was discussion to introduce specific projects to tackle sickle cell anaemia in tribal population, along with ways to address congenital diseases such as congenital deafness and juvenile diabetes in children," Dr Anant Pandhare, vice chairman, Indian Red Cross Society and medical director, Hedgewar Hospital said. "The government wanted to understand what more can be done to help the poor and we gave suggestions accordingly," Dr Pandhare added. Health experts also proposed that awareness should be created about vaccines for adults, such as the influenza vaccine or cervical cancer vaccine, adding that they should be available at subsidised rates. "Many people might not be knowing about the importance of influenza and cervical cancer vaccines. So there is a need to create awareness and provide these vaccines either free of cost or at subsidised rates," Giridhar Gyani, director general of the Association of Health Providers-India said after meeting the finance minister. Experts from the education sector asked the government to help state and Union Territory administrations in understanding the NEP. "We suggested that the government form a separate cell to assist states in NEP implementation," an expert who attended the meeting said. Experts also highlighted the need to increase the availability of hospital beds across the country. "We have presented the government data that currently there are two beds per thousand in the country while World Health Organisation standards require that number to be at least 3.5 beds per thousand," Gyani said. "This has caused a bed disparity among states, which needs to be addressed by the government by investing more in beds in primary, secondary, and tertiary care," an expert added. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Most of the pharma units are failing in documentation, and validation processes, and many don't have full-fledged quality control laboratories. IMAGE: Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy jorono/Pixabay.com Sohini Das Around 36 per cent of the pharmaceutical manufacturing units inspected by the Indian drug regulator in recent times were forced to shut down due to non-compliance with quality standards, a senior government official said here. The Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has been conducting risk-based inspections of manufacturing facilities since December 2022. Speaking at the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance's Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit, 2024, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Rajeev Raghuvanshi said that about 400-odd units were inspected and nearly 36 per cent had to be closed as they failed to meet the standards. "Of those who had to temporarily shut down, around 10 per cent of the units were permanently moved out of the system as they realised they would not be able to comply with the quality standards. "The remaining came back with corrective and preventive action plans," Raghuvanshi said, adding that the move helped in getting rid of the sub-standard facilities. India has around 10,000 pharma manufacturing units, of which nearly 80 per cent are micro-small and medium-scale facilities. Most of the pharma units are failing in documentation, and validation processes, and many don't have full-fledged quality control laboratories. In essence, the quality management system is failing, Raghuvanshi said. The stringent audits and inspections seem to have helped, Raghuvanshi said, adding that since July 2023, there have been no significant international quality complaints. "Earlier, we were getting around two complaints every month," Raghuvanshi said, alluding to the aftermath of the Gambia cough syrup controversy where children died in the African nation, following consumption of Indian-made cough syrups. The CDSCO is stepping up efforts for auditing facilities connected with the pharma ecosystem. It started with the manufacturing sites, then moved on to public testing labs, and now is also inspecting clinical research organisations (CROs). In all, around 600 units have been inspected. Come July 1, the regulator will start auditing large pharma units to check for compliance with the revised Schedule M guidelines which were notified in early January. Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule 1945 prescribes good manufacturing practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products. Around 250 companies have been identified for the audits starting next month. The regulator is also ramping up its manpower by planning to recruit at least 250 engineers. Raghuvanshi also floated the idea of having an internal scientific cadre at the CDSCO that will review the applications made by companies. "This is a big gap area that we have identified. There is no scientific cadre to review the applications that come, and we depend entirely on external subject expert committees. "We have spoken with the Centre on this, and hopefully things will move forward soon," he said. The official expects that having an in-house scientific cadre can lead to 50-60 per cent of the file reviewing process internally, which will improve consistency in decision-making. The CDSCO is also adopting tough measures to ensure commitment to good practices internally within the organisation. Raghuvanshi said 207 transfers were done last year, and there have been departmental enquiries for malpractices that have also led to the termination of employees. A process of internal auditing has been initiated and the CDSCO is looking into its own working -- auditing ports and airports for process improvements. The coordination with states has increased too. There are monthly meetings with state drug controllers. The DCGI has been meeting stakeholders twice a week at his office since February. "More than 100 issues have been solved as a result of these walk-in meetings with stakeholders," he said. A request for proposal (RFP) has been floated for the Digital Drug Regulatory System (DDRS) which will be an umbrella portal for all things related to pharmaceutical regulations. Initially, Raghuvanshi said, it would be an improved version of the SUGAM portal, and all activities of the CDSCO will be on the portal. Eventually, the state drug controllers will also come on board, followed by other agencies like the Customs, and GST departments, the Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) that will be linked. The supply chain track-and-trace mechanism will also be added to track raw material sources, and lastly, the retailers will also be connected to know about real sales in the market. Raghuvanshi said the idea is to have a raw material-to-patient structure all under the same roof. FDA has expressed concern over the quality of drugs manufactured in India Anjali Singh Such persistent quality issues could tarnish the reputation of the generic medicine industry, and raise questions about the reliability of generic drugs, which comprise over 90 per cent of US prescriptions. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), a division of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has expressed concern over the quality of drugs manufactured in India, asserting that it found violations at 11 per cent of the facilities it inspected in the country, the highest in any other global region, a senior official said. Data integrity problems were found in bioavailability and bioequivalence studies conducted by contract research organisations (CROs). These data integrity issues found in Indian manufacturers, included falsified pharmacokinetic (PK) data which is the study of how the human body interacts with administered substances, deliberate distribution of subject data into distinct cohorts to pass the bioequivalence study, questionable practices in reanalysing samples schemes and deficiencies poor quality management of systemic procedures. Such persistent quality issues could tarnish the reputation of the generic medicine industry, and raise questions about the reliability of generic drugs, which comprise over 90 per cent of US prescriptions. USFDA emphasised the importance of strong quality culture and proactive problem-solving to maintain drug quality and public trust. Patrizia Cavazzoni - Director, CDER, USFDA stated: The FDA plays its part by collaborating closely with manufacturers to ensure that there is a strong quality culture in their organisations, and that everybody understands what is expected of them, and that is to operate with integrity and to the highest quality. We urge organisations to cultivate a culture where any concerns about data quality are promptly communicated to the FDA. This approach will allow us to address issues before they escalate into serious problems that could necessitate FDA actions, manufacturing interruptions, shortages, and other critical issues, Cavazzoni said. Concern was also raised over the entry of new manufacturers, including industrial firms, into the drug-making business. These newcomers often lack awareness of US regulatory requirements, leading to quality issues. Cavazzoni called for stronger management support and a robust quality culture within pharmaceutical organisations to ensure continuous improvement in drug manufacturing standards. The US FDA also revealed that they were piloting the Quality Management Maturity (QMM) programme to assess the quality culture of drug manufacturers. The FDA's QMM programme, highlighted at IPA's 9th Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit 2024, aims to reduce drug shortages and improve supply chain resilience by promoting advanced quality management practices. The QMM programme aims to encourage drug manufacturers to implement quality management practices that go beyond current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements US FDA claimed the QMM programme offered advantages to patients, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, and the FDA itself. Patients can expect a more reliable supply of drugs with fewer recalls and shortages. Manufacturers can leverage the programme for continuous improvement and gain a competitive edge. Healthcare professionals will have access to medications needed by their patients, and pharmacies will face fewer risks of stockouts. Finally, the FDA will benefit from a risk-based approach to inspections, allowing them to focus on areas of higher concern. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Those familiar with intricate Kashmir politics do not rule out further delay in the assembly elections. Primarily, because the BJP having 'invested' so much for so long in Kashmir would try its best to wait a little longer if only to secure the 'gains' it believes to have achieved after its deafening action on August 5, 2019, points out Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the veteran commentator on Kashmir affairs. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi leads International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar, June 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo If there is anything certain, at this moment, about Jammu and Kashmir it is the uncertainty about whether the long delayed assembly elections in the Union Territory are actually going to be held 'by September, 2024' as ordered by the Supreme Court and reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the Kashmir Valley. On the face of it, the pre-election drill is on and the topic is very much in circulation. Yet, a wiser experience does not rule out the probability of things turning out differently. The last assembly elections (in erstwhile J&K state including Ladakh) were held in 2014, followed by the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Since then, everything about the territory has changed -- geography, history and, of course, politics. The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections was the first major exercise to gauge the parameters of change on the ground and analyse its dynamics. And it is this particular factor that does not rule out the probability of delayed assembly elections. To put it bluntly, the ruling party at the Centre which has had a virtual free run on the local ground all these years finds nothing to celebrate or worth selling to voters, not only in the Muslim-majority Valley which has 47 of the total 90 assembly constituencies but also in Jammu region with its 43 segments. If anything, the outcome of the parliamentary elections has come to them as a dampener. The BJP lost the only Lok Sabha seat in the Ladakh Union Territory which it had won handsomely in the 2019 elections. The ground conditions in Ladakh have worsened for the party with political implications far beyond the electoral arithmetic. The Kashmir Valley has been -- and understandably remains -- as the BJP's most coveted trophy in terms of politics in general and elections in particular. It is an irony that the party was not able to harvest any reckonable gains in rest of the country over its, undoubtedly, bold action in J&K in 2019. And locally too, as it now turns out, it has not been able to gather any mass on the ground. Poll results expose the superficial, shallow character of various contraptions set afloat in the local arena in the post-2019 period. However, the BJP can draw cold comfort from the drubbing of Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (Peoples Democratic Party) by the electorate. But it is also an equally important fact that both these parties did far better in overall assessment. Both the NC and the PDP remain as substantial reckonable factors in the assembly elections whenever held. Perhaps a far more significant development of the electoral politics in J&K is that thrown up by the yet-to-be fully assessed dynamics of 'Engineer' Rashid's resounding victory in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency. Impelled by unforeseen 'youth power', the vibrancy of his campaign-in-absentia were felt across the Valley and, to some extent, up to peripheral areas of Jammu region. 'Engineer' Rashid won the seat defeating Omar Abdullah of the National Conference and Sajad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Abrar Rashid, Independent candidate 'Engineer' Sheikh Abdul Rashid's son, campaigns in the Baramulla constituency during the Lok Sabha elections.'Engineer' Rashid won the seat defeating Omar Abdullah of the National Conference and Sajad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference. Given the unfathomable intricacies of complicated Kashmir politics it is not only important to determine 'who is who' but more important to look deeper and find out 'who is whose'. More so, when a person under indefinite detention finds a smooth passage to file his nomination, survive scrutiny of his documents and go on to win so resoundingly. Politics in Kashmir has a long history of the proverbial 'invisible hand' being ever present. The other aspect of this story is that as far as the emergence of 'youth power' is concerned it requires a closer look. For, it was here (in the Baramulla constituency) where the electorate were 'gifted' a youth-backed alternative to the erstwhile mainstream contestant (Omar Abdullah) and the voters didn't have to think twice. They flocked to 'Engineer' Rashid's side lock, stock and barrel. In contrast, no such alternative/option existed in the other two Valley constituencies, Srinagar and Anantnag. It was like the familiar old pattern. The NC and the PDP viewed as favourites and untested entities like the Apni Party and Ghulam Nabi Azad's outfit were consigned to limbo. IMAGE: Modi during an election meeting ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Udhampur, Jammu, April 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo One conclusion that appears to be writ large is that in the assembly elections, if and when held, would most likely be dominated by the untested 'youth factor' across the board. Having 'tasted blood' in the Baramulla contest, the restive youth in the valley simply would not stop at that. Implications of this particular phenomenon are not easy to assess, given the complicated format of Kashmir politics. It has the potential to rewrite the post-2019 political paradigm, especially as the trial-and-error contraptions floated with New Delhi's undisguised assistance have failed to take off; indeed crashed miserably in the very first trial of strength. In simple terms, a prolonged vacuum allowed to prevail on the political front in Kashmir is beginning to take its toll. Obviously, stretching it any longer would only complicate matters. So, the plunge has to be taken with all its concomitants. However, those familiar with intricate Kashmir politics do not rule out possible further delay in the assembly elections. Primarily, because the BJP having 'invested' so much for so long in Kashmir would try its best to wait a little longer if only to secure the 'gains' it believes to have achieved on other fronts after its deafening action on August 5, 2019. IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard during a dry run of the Amarnath Yatra convoy being conducted on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Tikri. Photograph: ANI Photo Of immediate interest to the people in the state are two main issues: When will full statehood be restored and what would the new administrative structure look like in terms of distribution of powers between the Centre and the state. Local temperament has grown up in the lap of a semi-autonomous Constitutional structure. To what extent it would adjust itself in a vastly different environment could possibly be perceived from the outcome of the Assembly elections -- whenever held. If there is anything definite perceptible it is the feeling of deprivation on this score. Analysis and political interpretation of results of parliamentary elections held recently for the Six (including Ladakh) Lok Sabha seats underline the need for an imaginative approach rather than a shallow partisan outlook. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'If a Brahmin child by birth is poor then he must get reservation benefits rather than an OBC child who is rich and born in a rich family.' IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives A group of doctors from the Other Backward Castes have decided to give up the reservation benefits due to their future generations. Leading them is Dr Rahul Ghule, who availed of reservations in 2003 as a medical student under the OBC-Nomadic Tribe quota to get a seat in King Edward Memorial hospital in Mumbai. Their decision comes at a time when there is a strong demand in Maharashtra for reservations for the Maratha community. This has led to a rift with Other Backward Communities who feel that their share will shrink if the Marathas get reservations as OBCs. Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Dr Ghule to discover why he took this decision along with others. When every other community is asking for reservations you are willing to relinquish the same for your future generations. Why? I became an MBBS after getting a reserved seat in 2003 from the OBC-NT quota. I did my education from KEM hospital and became a doctor in 2008. In the last 16 years I have worked in private as well as government sectors. Now I am stable financially and do not require reservations (for my next generation). The reason is that I want to pass on the benefit to other lower class society people who are not financially stable. The poor are not getting reservations and they are being denied and I am getting it though I am rich. You mean you want to give your children's reservations to the economically weaker sections (EWS)? Not EWS alone but the other backward caste poor too. If my child gives up reservations for his seat then those who are poor in my caste will benefit. My child who is an OBC by birth and a poor farmer's son who too is an OBC by birth cannot compete with each other because my child is in an advantageous position as I got the reservation in my lifetime and made it big. For the poor there is EWS reservations. So what difference will your decision make even if you give up your quota? The EWS reservations income bracket limit is Rs 8 lakh per annum for a family. Now, you tell me how many people openly state or honestly declare that they are earning more than Rs 8 lakh per annum? The answer is not many. If you are in a job you will have to declare your income but if you are in business or in some other profession like even a doctor, you can always hide your annual income. Ninety percent of the people who give EWS certificates are fake certificates. The Government of India will not personally go and cross-check EWS income certificates proof before giving them benefits. Why did you feel the urge to take this step? The fight between OBCs and Marathas over reservations made me think about this matter. If you see the OBC community who got reservations, you will find out that it is only those people who have already benefitted a generation or two before who have benefited by the reservation. New entrants in the OBC list who are poor do not get entry. They really need it but they are not getting it. The reservation sector is in crisis. Do you mean the creamy layer of OBC families must voluntarily give up their reservations? Yes, they must pass on the reservation benefits to families that have not been able to avail of the benefit. Are you alone in saying such things? I am the president of OBC Medicos and we have 400 to 500 doctors in our association who are with me. They all are saying that they will voluntarily give up reservations. This is the first time this is happening in India. Proponents of OBC and Dalit reservations state that those who are socially discriminated against for 1000s of years need to get reservations and it does not matter even if they are the creamy layer. If a Brahmin child by birth is poor then he must get reservation benefits rather than an OBC child who is rich and born in a rich family. There has to be natural justice. Within my limitations what I can do best is not to allow my children to get the benefits of reservations, and pass on the benefit to that poor Brahmin boy to get the reservation. And, I sincerely feel everyone who is economically stronger from the OBC community must voluntarily give up their reservations. If rich OBC students give up on their reservation benefits, the poor upper caste students will benefit. This is how we can develop a good society. If your child who is an OBC is not that clever and cannot score good marks, don't you think he should avail of reservations? I am a doctor and I am financially stable. My child goes to the best schools in the city. If my child is not capable to get good marks or merit after getting so many facilities, the child does not deserve to get reservation just because of his caste. He will snatch the seat of a poor person's child only because of his caste. What is your opinion about the demand for Maratha reservations? People from any caste ask for reservation because they feel they do not have the resources to meet their expectations. I am not talking about any particular caste as such but I am only saying that the needy people should get reservations. I am a doctor by profession and I know which patient needs a walker and who does not. I cannot give a walker to a patient who is not in need of a walker. In the same way, one cannot give reservations to a person who is from a wealthy family. The Constitution does not state what you are saying. Do you think we need to amend the Constitution? I am starting a movement now. I am hopeful and I believe in future many more people will join me in my efforts. People are watching us. You take the example of gas subsidy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the rich people to voluntarily give up their gas subsidy if they can afford a gas cylinder. So many people gave up on their gas subsidy willingly. In the same way I feel privileged and rich families from deprived castes will give up reservations in future. But then someone has to make an appeal. I believe people will come forward and give up their reservations once they understand my viewpoint. How did you benefit from reservations in your MBBS admission? What is your story? I got good marks in the Common Entrance Test (CET). At that time there was CET and not National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). I got 183 marks out of 200 and I got into KEM hospital in Mumbai due to my OBC certificate. The general category closing marks was 190 for the KEM hospital. I was the topper in my OBC-NT class. If I was from the general category I would have got a medical college in Solapur. I got reservations benefit in my time so I feel the reservation quota for my next generation is done. Ravinder Kumar was sleeping after finishing his night shift Friday morning when a call from Indira Gandhi International Airport Police Station turned his life upside down. IMAGE: A view of the T1 terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, where a portion of the roof collapsed, in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo "I was sleeping when I got a call from the police station asking me to come to the Delhi airport's Terminal 1 immediately. Me and my family members had no clue about anything. When I reached there, I got to know that my father has died after a portion of the roof collapsed on his car," Ravinder told PTI. Ramesh Kumar, a cab driver, was waiting for some passengers at the IGI T-1 early morning when a portion of a canopy covering the departure area collapsed on parked cars amid a three-hour heavy rains in the national capital. Six people were also injured in the incident, prompting authorities to suspend flight departures. Ramesh's family have called for strict action against those responsible for the incident. "Why did the airport authorities not check everything before the monsoon," he asked. "We will surely file a police complaint and will fight for the justice. Police must investigate the matter properly and to arrest those who are responsible," Ravinder said. Due to the rain there were very less passengers Friday morning and many cab drivers were waiting for passengers under the canopy, he said. "He was about to end his duty and was waiting for some passengers who were going towards Rohini which is close to our residence," Ravinder said. "Since 8 am, I was asked to sit at the police station at IGI Airport and now we are waiting at the Safdarjung Hospital for the autopsy. We got to know that the hospital will hand over the body on Saturday after the post-mortem. "I lost my father and now we also have to deal with these formalities," Ravinder said with a choaked voice. He said that he will fight for justice and file a police complaint against officials responsible for his father's death. Ramesh is survived by his wife Asha, two sons, Ravinder (25) and Ashish (22), and two daughters, Rashi (21) and Bhawana (18) -- all of whom stay at a rented house in Vijay Vihar area of Rohini close to Sector 7. Asha works as a domestic help in Rohini. Upset over the compensation amount offered by the government, Ravinder said that he had recently purchased the vehicle for Rs 5 lakh and had to make a down payment of Rs 1 lakh. "I also drive a cab. We were collecting money for my younger sister Rashi's marriage. The announced compensation is very meagre for my family as we are four brothers and sisters and I had to marry them all. The government must announce at least Rs 1 crore as compensation," he added. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, who visited took stock of the situation at T1, announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family. The Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday once again passed a unanimous resolution urging the Centre to exempt the state from National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test and allow it to admit students to medical courses based on Plus Two exam marks. IMAGE: Chief Minister M K Stalin pilots the resolution against NEET in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Chennai, June 28, 2024. Photograph: Screen grab courtesy mkstalin/X The resolution, adopted by the house amid the Bharatiya Janata Partys opposition and walkout, called upon the Centre to amend the National Medical Commission Act and abolish the country-wide screening test taking into account the irregularities and increasing opposition to the test in several states, which toed Tamil Nadu's line. The BJP's ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi, however, supported the resolution piloted by Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M K Stalin, who argued that the test was discriminatory and deprived an opportunity for the rural and poor students to access medical education and denied states their rights to admit students with Plus Two marks as the qualifying criteria. AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami accused the DMK of having done precious little to abolish NEET, and asked, "What is the point in bringing a resolution in the assembly for the third time?" "This is just another political drama of the DMK government. People no longer believe in such futile political gimmicks that try to conceal the Kallakurichi illicit liquor deaths," Palaniswami said in a post on the social media platform X. In the assembly, BJP leader Nainar Nagendran argued that the NEET was required as it had many benefits. On the argument that the poor and rural students found it difficult to pursue medical education because of the test, he said then Union Health Minister J P Nadda and then chief minister Palaniswami ensured 7.5 per cent reservation for state government school students who passed the test. "NEET is needed. The assembly resolution against NEET is unacceptable and we are staging a walkout," Nagendran said and walked out along with the BJP legislators. The principal opposition AIADMK was not present in the house as all the members were suspended for the brief session concluding on June 29 for disrupting the house over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy incident. Moving the resolution, Stalin said apart from making medical education inaccessible to the poor and rural students, NEET will affect the medical services in the rural and backward areas. "The DMK has consistently been opposing NEET since it was made mandatory in 2017 and had even launched a massive signature campaign aiming to abolish the test," the chief minister said. He recalled that as per the recommendation of retired judge A K Rajan committee, the assembly adopted a resolution seeking presidential assent to exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET in 2021, but it was returned by Governor R N Ravi in 2022. The House again re-adopted it in 2022. Further, the irregularities in the conduct of NEET, scams that surfaced in many states and grace marks that were awarded and later rescinded, leading to the Centre order an enquiry by the CBI, led to the states opposing the test, the chief minister said. Stalin referred to the letters written by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav to the Centre demanding scrapping of the NEET in the aftermath of irregularities in the conduct of the test. "The voice of Tamil Nadu has now become the voice of the country," he said and appealed to the members to support his resolution against NEET. "NEET should be abolished. Tamil Nadu should be allowed to admit students to medical courses taking the Plus Two marks as the qualifying criteria. Taking into account the irregularities in several states and opposition to the test, the Centre should appropriately amend the National Medical Commission Act to totally scrap NEET," the resolution said. It was unanimously passed, Speaker M Appavu said. In a lengthy post on X, Palaniswami said the string of events from the Supreme Court's observations in the NEET case, the verdict, irregularities in the conduct of NEET exam, various states taking a stand against NEET, the removal of the head of National Testing Agency conducting the test, and the postponement of screening exam for post-graduate medical courses, clearly stated that NEET should be completely scrapped. "What is the point in bringing a resolution in the assembly for the third time when the DMK, which has hardly done anything to abolish NEET, despite having 38 MPs in the past, has not brought a resolution on NEET in the Parliament after winning 40 MPs, the former chief minister said. "This is just another political drama of the DMK government. People no longer believe in such futile political gimmicks that try to conceal the Kallakurichi illicit liquor deaths," he added. Palaniswami pointed out that it was time to review the NEET examination in the Parliament and urged the BJP coalition government at the centre to table and pass in the coming Parliament session itself the bill to abolish NEET. "The voice of @AIADMKOfficial, the only party that has been opposing it in all forums, will continue to be heard till the NEET examination which is destroying the medical dreams of the poor students, since its introduction by the DMK-Congress combine in 2010, is abolished," Palaniswami, who is the leader of the opposition in the assembly, said in the post. The Karnataka high court on Friday extended by two weeks its interim order restraining the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from arresting former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, against whom the probe agency has filed a chargesheet in connection with a case registered against him under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. IMAGE: B S Yediyurappa. Photograph: ANI Photo The CID, probing charges against Yediyurappa of sexually assaulting a minor girl, has alleged in the chargesheet that he and three other accused paid money to the alleged victim and her mother to buy their silence. The 81-year-old Yediyurappa has been charged under Section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) of the POCSO Act and Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 204 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evidence) and 214 (offering gift or restoration of property in consideration of screening offender) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The other three co-accused -- Arun Y M, Rudresh M and G Mariswamy who are aides of Yediyurappa -- are charged under IPC Sections 204 and 214, in the chargesheet filed at the Fast Track Court 1 for POCSO Act cases here on Thursday. On Friday, the HC bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit continued its June 14 order, as it permitted the prosecution to file its objection to the petition filed by Yediyurappa seeking quashing of the case against him. The Special Public Prosecutor sought time to file objections, and maintained that Yediyurappa's petition may not survive as a chargesheet has already been filed. The court then said: "Call these matters week after next at request of learned Special Public Prosecutor for filing statement of objections if any. Interim order granted earlier to continue till next date of hearing." According to the chargesheet, on February 2 this year, at around 11.15 am, the 17-year-old alleged victim, along with her 54-year-old mother -- the complainant -- visited Yediyurappa at his residence in Dollar's Colony here seeking help in getting justice in a previous case of sexual assault (on the daughter) and other issues. While Yediyurappa was speaking with the mother, he was holding the victim's right wrist with his left hand, it said. Yediyurappa then called the minor inside a meeting room next to the hall and locked the door. He then asked the victim whether she remembered the face of the person who had sexually assaulted her earlier to which the victim replied twice stating that she did, the chargesheet said. After this, Yediyurappa asked her what her age was when she was allegedly sexually assaulted previously, to which she replied six-and-half years, according to the chargesheet. At this point, Yediyurappa allegedly tried to sexually assault her, the CID alleged. The horrified victim pushed Yediyurappa's hand, moved away and asked him to open the door. Yediyurappa then opened the door and exited after putting some cash in the hands of the victim from his pocket. He then told the victim's mother that he couldn't help them in the case and also gave her some money from his pocket and sent them away, the chargesheet said. After the victim's mother uploaded a video related to the incident on her Facebook account, on February 20, at the behest of Yediyurappa, the other accused -- Arun, Rudresh and Mariswamy -- went to their house and brought them to his residence, it said. According to the chargesheet, Arun then ensured that the victim's mother deleted the video from her Facebook account and her iPhone's gallery. On Yediyurappa's directions, Rudresh is said to have paid the alleged victim Rs two lakh in cash. A Bengaluru court on June 13 issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Yediyurappa in the case registered against him on March 14 this year. The Karnataka high court on June 14 restrained the CID from arresting Yediyurappa, while directing him to appear before it for probe. Yediyurappa was questioned for over three hours by the CID on June 17. The victim's mother, who had leveled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital here last month, due to lung cancer. The victim's brother filed a petition in the court earlier this month alleging that though the case was registered on March 14, no progress has been made in the investigation. The petitioner prayed that Yediyurappa should be arrested and interrogated. Yediyurappa has denied the charge and said he would fight the case legally. Monsoon's first spell in Delhi early Friday inundated the most posh areas of the city alike, including the Lutyens' Delhi which is home to several ministers and MPs, giving them a hard time reaching Parliament for the 18th Lok Sabha session. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav being helped by members of his staff and others to his car as the area around his residence is completely inundated after heavy rainfall, in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo From braving the flood-like situation with rolled up trousers and carrying shoes in their hands to being carried up by aides, the political figures opted for different and peculiar ways to reach Parliament. Taking a dig at the situation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said he 'wouldn't be able to make it to Parliament without a boat'. Sharing visuals of waist deep waterlogging outside his residence, the minister wrote on X, 'This is the corner just outside my home in Lutyens' Delhi. Woke up to find my entire home under a foot of water -- every room. Carpets and furniture, indeed anything on the ground, ruined.' 'Apparently the storm water drains in the neighbourhood are all clogged so the water had no place to go. And they switched off the electricity since 6 am for fear of electrocuting people. Warned my Parliament colleagues that I might not make it there without a boat. But the city managed to pump water out of the roads and I did arrive in time,' he said. In another post in which he shared a video of a road towards AIIMS where cars were seen completely submerged in water, and trucks and buses barely visible, he wrote, "Now on my way to the airport to fly to my constituency for the weekend as usual. This was our usual route, which we avoided today." Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena took stock of the situation and ensured speedy action to deal with the issue, Tharoor claimed. 'Amazed and impressed that this tweet elicited, within minutes, a phone call from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi himself! VK Saxena was courteous and responsive and explained the constraints on effective action arising from the division of responsibilities between Union and State Governments. 'He does understand the principal problem lies in the failure to clear clogged drains regularly and pledged to do everything in his power to ensure this is done before the next major shower. Hats off to a conscientious civil servant,' he wrote. Congress MP from Chandigarh Manish Tiwari posted his video while heading for Parliament. He was seen carrying his shoes in his hands and rolled up his trousers while walking through the accumulated water inside in the premises of his residence. 'On the way to Parliament in the morning,' he captioned the video. In a photo shared on social media, the lawn of his residence was seen having turned into a pool due to the heavy rains. Rain water also accumulated inside the premises of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav's residence at Lodhi Estate. The MP, dressed in white kurta-pyjama, had to be carried with the support of two people to his car to help him leave for a meeting. Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi water minister Atishi's residence at Mathura road was also inundated following the heavy rains that lashed Delhi in early hours of the day. On Friday, a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address was scheduled for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Joe Biden, seeking a second term in the White House, stumbled in his first televised presidential debate with his predecessor Donald Trump, setting off alarm bells among top Democrats about whether the incumbent President can stay atop in the gruelling months ahead of the elections. IMAGE: United States President Joe Biden and former president Donald J Trump hit out at one another in a televised debate -- the first of the 2024 US presidential election -- on June 27, 2024. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuter During their roughly 90-minute debate defined by personal attacks on Thursday night, Trump, the presumptive Republican Party candidate in the November 5 presidential election, clashed right from the start with 81-year-old Biden, arguing pointedly about the American economy, foreign relations and migration. "We're like a Third World nation and it's a shame," Trump, 78, said. "We're no longer respected," he said, blaming a halting and raspy-voiced Biden. "They think we're stupid." Trump, appearing very confident during the high-stakes debate at the CNN headquarters in Atlanta, also repeated falsehoods -- from abortion to taxes and the deficit -- and at first avoided answering if he would accept the 2024 election result. Trump also linked the country's problems to the influx of migrants crossing the porous southwestern US border with Mexico, saying they were hurting the American economy. "We had the safest border in the world," Trump said about his 2017-2021 term in the White House. Now, he claimed, "It's the most dangerous place in the world." Responding to Trump's statement, Biden said, "He is exaggerating, he's lying," underlining that 40 per cent fewer migrants are now crossing the border since he recently imposed tighter entry restrictions. The two leaders called each other a liar and the worst president in the history of the United States. Biden called Trump a sucker and loser. "I was recently in France for D-Day, and I spoke to all about those heroes that died. I went to the World War II cemetery -- the World War I cemetery he refused to go to," Biden, the presumptive candidate of the Democratic Party, said, referring to Trump, who declined to visit the cemetery in 2018. "He was standing with his four-star general, and he told me, he said, 'I don't want to go in there, because they're a bunch of losers and suckers'. My son was not a loser. He's not a sucker. You're the sucker. You're the loser," Biden said. Trump said that the quotes were made up in a third-rate magazine and he later fired the general. On the age factor, Biden reminded Trump that he was just three years younger than him. At 81, Biden is the oldest president in US history. Trump called Biden a criminal after the latter called him a 'convicted felon', referring to his conviction in a New York hush-money case. "Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that he's done, he's done horrible things. This man is a criminal. This man, you're lucky, you're lucky, I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting," Trump said. "When he talks about a convicted felon, his son (Hunter Biden) is a convicted felon, at a very high level," he alleged. As the two leaders sparred over various issues, Biden accused Trump that he does not know what he is talking about. Biden alleged that Trump has the morals of an alley cat. "How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for, for molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, for having sex with a porn star on the night -- while your wife was pregnant? What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat," he said. "Could you ever think you heard any president say that 'I'm going to seek retribution'? This guy has no sense of American democracy," Biden said. Trump slammed his successor Biden on his immigration policies, alleging that it made the country insecure. "We're literally, an uncivilised country now. He doesn't want it to be. He just doesn't know. He opened the borders nobody's ever seen anything like, and we have to get a lot of these people out and we have to get them out fast because they're going to destroy our country," Trump said. "They (illegal immigrants) are living in luxury hotels in New York City and other places. Our veterans are on the street. They're dying because he doesn't care about our veterans. He doesn't like the military at all, and he doesn't care about our veterans," he asserted. Biden responded strongly against Trump. "Every single thing he said is a lie, every single one....One million of them now have insurance and their families have it," he said. Trump also slammed Biden on his foreign policy that could not stop the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. "This is a war (Ukraine) that never should have started. If we had a leader in this war -- he led everybody along. He's given $200 billion now or more to Ukraine. That's a lot of money. I don't think there's ever been anything like it. Every time that Zelenskyy comes to this country, he walks away with $60 billion," Trump said, referring to the Ukrainian president. "He's the greatest salesman ever. And I'm not knocking him, I'm not knocking anything. I'm only saying, the money that we're spending on this war, and we shouldn't be spending. It should have never happened. I will have that war settled between Putin and Zelenskyy as president-elect before I take office on January 20th," he said. Biden in response called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal. Responding to a question on the war in the Middle East, Biden said everyone from the UN Security Council, straight through to the G7, to the Israelis and Benjamin Netanyahu himself have endorsed his peace plan put forward by him. "We saved Israel. We continue to send our experts and our intelligence people as to how they can get Hamas like we did bin Laden," Biden said. Trump said he would let Israel finish its job against Hamas militants. "As far as Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, the president that knew that was respected by Putin, he would have never invaded Ukraine," he said. "I will tell you what happened. He was so bad with Afghanistan. It was such a horrible embarrassment, the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country that when Putin watched that and he saw the incompetence that he should have fired those generals like I fired," Trump said. In the end, Trump was asked if he would accept the results of the 2024 election. The former president said he'll accept the election result if he thinks it's fair. However, Biden said, "I doubt whether you'll accept it." Meanwhile, registered voters who watched the debate between Biden and Trump say, 67 per cent to 33 per cent, that the former president turned in a better performance, according to a CNN flash poll of debate watchers. Thursday's presidential debate offered a key test for the president to exhibit vigour and energy -- and Democratic sources reacting to the debate described emotions ranging from concern to straight-up panic about Biden's biggest vulnerability CNN reported. Vice President Kamala Harris conceded that Biden got off to a 'slow start'. "What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish," Harris said in an interview with CNN. When pressed further on Biden's performance, Harris said, "People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear." "It was a slow start. That's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to debate that point," Harris, the Indian-origin running mate of Biden, said. The debate took place before both Biden and Trump were formally nominated at their respective party conventions. The Democrats will hold their convention on August 19 in Chicago. The Republicans will elect their candidate during their convention from July 15 to 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No serious Democratic challengers have stepped up to run against Biden, and at this point in the campaign, Biden would have to decide to step aside if Democrats were to pick another nominee. If Biden did withdraw, the Democratic nomination would be decided on the floor, CNN reported. "It's hard to argue that Biden should be our nominee, it quoted an unnamed operative who's worked on campaigns at all levels for over a decade. 'We can save 70 patients out of 100, if they reach a hospital well within time.' 'The most crucial aspect is time.' IMAGE: A hot summer day in New Delhi, June 6, 2024. Photograph: Ishant/ANI Photo On June 19, a record 17 people suffering extreme symptoms of a heatstroke, many of them unconscious, were brought in to Dr Amlendu Yadav's newly-established, specially-prepared heatstroke unit at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, near Talkatora stadium, in New Delhi. Another 15 to 20 were wheeled in lifeless, suspectedly from heatstroke too, triple the hospital's usual 'brought dead' rate. At this unit, a part of RML Hospital's critical caredepartment, that Dr Yadav heads as professor, the heatstroke victims were quickly and unceremoniously dunked into ice baths to, as quickly as possible, lower the temperature of their internal organs and instantly revive them and save them from imminent death. IMAGE: A view of the immersion tub that is placed in the Heat Stroke room of the Heat Stroke Unit at the RML Hospital in New Delhi. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Amlendu Yadav Each 300-litre ceramic tub, that takes two minutes to fill, requires 50-60 kg of ice to bring it to an optimum reviving temperature of 1-5 C (because the water is being piped in from overhead external storage tanks). That reduces the patient's temperature -- which is being meticulously monitored, core temperature too, and he is also hooked up to a ventilator -- from the alarming and highly dangerous 105 to 110 F to 98.6 to100. 4 F, in abut 30-40 minutes. S/he is then pulled out of the bath, so as to not allow shivering or the reverse of a heat stroke, hypothermia, to set in. And usually within 20 minutes the patient gained consciousness. "That is the fastest way of bringing down the patient's temperature," explains Dr Yadav and other means, like say refrigerated/cold rooms or something else, would not do it that swiftly, because a cold-water tub has the maximum surface area impact. He says the fact that they did not begin to shiver themoment their bodies reached normal temperatures was an unusual phenomenon and the positive result of careful supervision. Most of the patients Dr Yadav saw on June 19, and the days preceding it, ever since the unit opened as per central government standards on May 8, fortuitously a few days before the heat wave, were from economically underprivileged backgrounds, usually the "bread earner of the family" and had journeyed in from a few kilometres away. Had they ventured to this specially-equipped clinic at RML Hospital from longer distances, they would not have survived the journey, so "serious was their state." IMAGE: This is the first setup in the state to treat heat stroke patients. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Amlendu Yadav Cases of heatstroke have been rising for some time in New Delhi, says Dr Yadav, as global warming causes summer mercury levels to shoot higher and higher, year on year, and the increasing concretisation of urban areas, like NCR, certainly does not help. Studies have shown, according to Dr Yadav, readings closer to the tarmac of a road, and vehicular heat, are 15 degrees higher than the measured temperature of a place. But this summer was particularly brutal in Delhi -- 48-49 C on some days -- with not even brief intermittent showers to break the spells of harshheat. "We have seen an exponential rise in heatstroke cases this year. We have also seen an exponential rise in the number of cases which are coming as 'brought dead' too. "Temperatures have gone to the extreme, because there were no rain spells, pre-monsoon showers in Delhi. "More severe cases are presenting this year and definitely the number of cases is much more this year too." IMAGE: A patient is immersed in an ice filled tub. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Amlendu Yadav The severer heatstroke cases had a slightly different clinical presentation as well. Says Dr Yadav, "They are presenting in an extreme situation, extreme condition. Yes, with more damage (from the heat). "They are coming with very high temperatures, ranging from 105 F to 110 F, which is very high. Normal is usually 98. "Most of them are actually presenting in an unconscious state. Some of them are also presenting with seizure disorders, because of the heat they are having convulsions, which is basically failure of the brain." The cases labelled as 'brought dead' were likely from heat stroke too, because they came on days when the weather was impossibly sweltering, but only a postmortem could categorise them and would deem them suspected heat stroke deaths. Casualties were considerably worse across the NCR because there was no awareness on what should be done if an individual was suffering a certain distinct and alarming collection of symptoms, in the face of such life-threatening heat. The excessive temperatures also caused the symptoms to escalate significantly faster leading to unconsciousness and multiple-organ failure, especially when the victim did not move towards coolness or a hospital pronto. IMAGE: A view of the ice-making machine that is placed in the Heat Stroke room of the Heat Stroke Unit, at RML Hospital. Photograph: ANI Photo Apart from the establishment of many more units like the one Dr Yadav is operating, raising awareness is the need of the hour too, he declares. That would save lives. "We need to need to create awareness about heatstrokes for the laymen, especially to people belonging to the lower socioeconomic (strata), the daily wage workers and those working outside directly under the sun. "We also need to modify our working conditions for these informal labourers." IMAGE: A worker sprays water on another worker to beat the heat on a hot summer afternoon in New Delhi, June 8, 2024. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo Battling loo (the hot, dry wind of north Indian summers) and the baking sun are not new scenarios for Indians, who generally know how to keep themselves safe when summer temperatures skyrocket. Rajasthan, as Dr Yadav points out, sees 55 C heat often in some areas. But they are prepared for it and know how to face it. "Those people are very familiar with that kind of environment. They know the right precautions. "Over a period of time, they have learned when to not go outside, what is to be taken and so on." It was the sudden upswing of temperatures, taking them to levels of heat never experienced before in Delhi and areas nearby, and some other states, that lead to a drastic rise in heatstroke casesand fatalities. "This was not the usual scenario in Delhi. Even in Odisha it started in the month of May. "This year definitely the temperatures were very high and these people, (of low-income status), were not aware, they got caught unawares. Also, the weather changed very rapidly, sudden rapid rise of temperature." Dr Yadav further clarifies that heat strokes are about a person being exposed toan abrupt change in environmental temperatures,that their body is not familiar with, that can change the scenario medically. "By definition, it is basically if there is any rise of five to six degrees temperature, over and above the normal, for that time. "So, heatstroke warnings were declared in London at even 26 C. It's a comfortable range for Indians. "Our AC runs at 26 C, but it was heatstroke weather for them at 26." The effects of a heatstroke on the human body, and the outcome for a patient are poorer, the higher the temperature outside. "Yes, they will have much worse symptoms. Yes, definitely their chance of surviving is also less." But he further adds: "So if we talk about chances of survival, we have observed that there was a higher mortality in those cases that reporteda little late. "If the gap between suffering the heatstroke and the time when they report to the hospital increases, chances of survival decreases. "The important part is that if a heatstroke patient doesn't get treatment, there is an 80 per cent chance of dying. "If the same heatstroke patient reported well within time, this mortality can be reduced to just 10 per cent. "We can save 70 patients out of 100, if they reach a hospital well within time. The most crucial aspect is time. Because time is tissue." In other words, the passing of time allows less tissue to be rescued. So 'time is life'. IMAGE: Dr Amlendu Yadav. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Amlendu Yadav IMAGE: Dr Amlendu Yadav. Setting up areas in hospitals to offer special heatstroke treatment has been on the government's agenda for many years now, but the actioning has been slow apparently. Says Dr Yadav, "The ministry of health and family welfare have been preparing the documents for the last two or three years, and they have released it, with the guidelines this year. "They directed the central government hospitals and hospitals all over India to set up facilities for heatstroke cases." More and more heat wave cases began trickling into Dr Yadav's two-tub unit (there's a provision for an extra inflatable tub and beds in their new ICUs) in the first week of June and then there was a lull. After June 15, the cases again picked up with June 19 being the worst day. In this period, Dr Yadav says, his hospital saw about 50 cases of extreme heatstroke in all, andan uncountable 'brought dead'. Delhi recorded officially 275 heatstroke deaths ('brought dead' will not make this count). Excessive heat can have a radical effect on the body. Since much of our body is protein, like an egg, Dr Yadav describes, that is being boiled, the tissues of our body begin to sizzle and simmer in the sun. "If I have to give an analogy, if we boil an egg, the protein gets denatured and the egg gets hardened. "Similar things happen to our body when its temperature remains high for a longer duration. "The enzymes -- which facilitate chemical reactions and metabolism in our body --become non-functional. "Because of non-functionality of those enzymes, various organs, kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, also become non-functional and these organs go into failure. "Such multi-organ failure patients are very difficult to be salvaged. "A heatstroke in an extreme situation leads to failure of multiple organs, which leads to high mortality." Folks in rural areas, far from urban centres, may not have access to better heatstroke treatment facilities, temperature management machines, or care. Dr Yadav advises: "First and foremost is to bring that patient into ashaded area. Then sponge them with cold water. "Give them cold water to drink. Place ice packs on body in the axilla (underarms), in the groin, across the abdomen. "Even during transportation to the hospital, such measures should also be started at once. "Cold IV fluid should be given... It will take more time, maybe two hours to bring the temperature down this way." When temperatures are so high, the most prudent thing you can do is to not leave home and "modify your work profile." In the event that you have togo out and are going to be exposed to heat, it's highly important to take these precautions, according to Dr Yadav: Keep hydrating yourself via water, ORS (oral rehydration solutions), neebupani, juices, fruits. Cover yourself, use an umbrella, wear a hat and light cotton clothing. Seek shaded areas all the time. IMAGE: Students undergo treatment in hospital after they fainted during the school assembly amid severe heatwave conditions at a school in Sheikhpura, Bihar, May 29, 2024. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo And how would you know a heat stroke is coming on? "The common symptoms are they feel exhausted, malaise, headache. They feel like vomiting and also vomit. "They can experience drowsiness, dizziness and have seizures. "In an extreme situation their heart rate also increases. "The body stops producing sweat. When the body stops producing sweat there is a high likelihood the patient will go into heat stroke. "If the body is not able to control its own temperature and that mechanism is lost, that is the sign of a heatstroke. Things have calmed down at Dr Yadav's RML unit after the rain last Friday, June 21 and there are no longer seeing victims of the heat or 'brought dead' from probable high-temperature causes, but it was a busy 44 days for the capital's first heatstroke clinic. Public Health Advisory: Extreme Heat/Heatwave Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com BRATTLEBORO If you're coming by the Royal Diner on a Friday evening for ice cream or a smash burger and fries, you might find yourself walki An aerial view of Melrose Terraces floodplain restoration on Dec. 30, 2022, which helped relieve the water pressure on Whetstone Brook during the flooding on Dec. 24, 2022. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Nancy Braus is a regular columnist for the Reformer who writes from Guilford. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. A video of an American legislator yelling in outrage emerged in social media posts that claim it shows the lawmaker was angry about the recent passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. But the claim is false. The video, taken from 2012 footage, shows the-Illinois House of Representatives member and current Illinois Republican congressman Mike Bost criticizing a reform plan for social security. The video was shared on X by Chinese diplomat Zhang Heqing on June 8, 2024. It looks like he is angry, Zhang said in the post. The 44-second video shows a man dressed in a suit shouting in outrage at what appears to be a meeting of the U.S. House. The U.S. putting out this act about the Jews is a shameful disgrace, a superimposed caption in Chinese reads. Chinese diplomat Zhang Heqing circulated a video claiming that a U.S. legislator lost his temper and publicly went off on the recent Antisemitism Awareness Act passed by the House of Representatives. (Screenshot/X) The House passed a bipartisan bill, Antisemitism Awareness Act, on May 1 to combat antisemitism as pro-Palestinian protests roil colleges across the U.S. The bill would mandate that the Education Department adopt the broad definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, an intergovernmental group, to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The group defines antisemitism as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. It adds that rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism include such things as calling for the killing or harming of Jews or holding Jews collectively responsible for actions taken by Israel. The video had previously been shared by other Chinese influencers on social media platforms such as Douyin, Weibo and X. Some online users commented that even U.S. lawmakers have grown fed up with U.S. support of Israel and the Jewish community citing the video. But the claim is false. Old video A reverse image search found the video published in a report by the American broadcaster CBS on May 30, 2012. IL Rep. Mike Bost Is Furious Over Pension Reforms by Steve Lehocky on YouTube, the caption of the video reads. The report details the Democrat-led plan to overhaul the state pension system. Both the figures and scene from the footage of Bost in 2012 (top) matches the recent footage Chinese netizens purportedly claim shows a legislators outburst over the Antisemitism Awareness Act. (Screenshots /CNN and X) A downstate lawmaker screamed, yelled and threw papers Tuesday, as he expressed frustration about the Democrat-led plan to overhaul the state pension system, the report reads in part. One of those lawmakers is Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), who launched into a tirade Tuesday as he complained about the amount of power Madigan wields. Bost on the Antisemitism Awareness Act Bost did not speak at all during the near hour long House deliberation on the Antisemitism Awareness Act broadcast by CSPAN on May 1. The act eventually passed the House by a vote of 320 in favor, 91 against and 18 abstentions, with Bost officially recorded as voting for the act. While legislators from both parties openly opposed the bill, none of them expressed their disagreement in emotional language or exaggerated movements during the proceedings. The act awaits approval by the Senate before it can be sent to the president to be signed into law. 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. Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were both accused of causing 'enormous damage' to the party and military. Wei Fenghe, left, and Li Shangfu, are former defense ministers in China. Chinas ruling Communist Party on Thursday expelled ex-Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor over corruption charges, state media said, in the latest move in a purge that has toppled more than a dozen senior military officers and defense industry figures. Lis removal from the party came 10 months after he disappeared from public view, and was reported to be under investigation in connection with the procurement of military equipment. He was sacked without a replacement in October, amid a series of sudden firings and disappearances. Li seriously violated political and organizational discipline, the official Xinhua news agency reported. China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu delivers a speech at the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 4, 2023. (Roslan Rahman/AFP) He sought improper benefits in personnel arrangements for himself and others, took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others, and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables in return, the agency said in a report also carried by state broadcaster CCTV. Li's violations are extremely serious in nature, with a highly detrimental impact and tremendous harm, according to the investigation findings, the Xinhua report added. The official agency used almost identical language for the case of Wei Fenghe, Lis predecessor as defense minister from 2018 to 2023. Wei lost his faith and loyalty, it said. Weis alleged misdeeds severely contaminated the political environment of the military, bringing enormous damage to the Party's cause, the development of national defense and the armed forces, as well as the image of senior officials, the agency added. The two generals were stripped of their military ranks, and their cases have been handed to the military procuratorate for prosecution, Xinhua said. The expulsion of Li and Wei came almost a year after Communist Party chief Xi Jinping fired two top generals of the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force, which controls the country's nuclear missiles. Xi also heads the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). China's President Xi Jinping walks past China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, left, after the opening session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 5, 2023. (Noel Celis/AFP) In the dozen years since Xi Jinping came to power, his wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign has targeted party, state and PLA officials. Nine senior officers and at least four defense industry executives have been sacked. In 2014, Xu Caihou, a former CMC vice chairman, was expelled from the party and the PLA for corruption. A month later, another vice chairman of the Commission, Guo Boxiong, was ousted from the party, and later given a life prison sentence. "The signal sent to other PLA leaders is very obvious." said Ye Yaoyuan, a professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas. "For Xi Jinping, he hopes to set a more authoritative example before the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party Central Committee, he told Radio Free Asia, referring to a key party meeting in mid-July. Chinas President Xi Jinping meets with senior officers of troops stationed in China's Yunnan province, in Kunming, Jan. 20, 2020. (Li Gang/Xinhua via Getty) That is, if something happens to the PLA leaders, I am really willing to take action, and my means of handling it are definitely not a simple transfer or other simple ways to end it." Ye said. Thursdays report, the first official confirmation that graft was the reason for the sudden and secretive removal of Li and Wei, made no mention of another mystery high-level purge: that of former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Qin has been absent from public view since he met with the foreign ministers of Sri Lanka and Vietnam in Beijing on June 25, 2023. His disappearance came amid widespread and unconfirmed rumors that he was under investigation for having an affair, and possibly a child, with Phoenix TV reporter Fu Xiaotian. Edited by Paul Eckert. Charges are linked to misusing visas and not cybercrimes because scam allegedly targeted Malaysians. Members of the Bali Becik task force stand guard over Taiwanese citizens who were arrested in connection with alleged cybercrime in Bali, Indonesia, in this photo released June 28, 2024. Indonesian authorities said Friday that they had arrested scores of Taiwanese citizens in Bali this week for suspected roles in online scams and would be deporting them for misusing their visas. Slapping cybercrime charges on the 103 suspects from Taiwan, who were taken into custody Wednesday, would be difficult because they allegedly confessed that their victims were outside Indonesias jurisdiction, immigration officials said. The foreign nationals did not arrive in Indonesia simultaneously but through several airports, Saffar Muhammad Godam, Indonesias director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement, told reporters on Friday. Their activities are suspected to be inconsistent with their visa purposes, allegedly conducting cybercrimes targeting individuals outside Indonesia, including Malaysia. He said the 91 men and 12 women were being held at the immigration detention center in Denpasar before deportation. Indonesian authorities said the detainees were not linked to a recent cyberattack by the Lock Bit ransomware group. The group hacked Indonesias national data center on Monday and demanded a ransom of U.S. $8 million (130 billion rupiah) for the release of encrypted data, Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi said. Government officials refused to pay. Prior to the arrests of the Taiwanese, authorities launched a surveillance operation targeting the foreign citizens and seized 450 mobile phones, dozens of laptops, printers, power supplies, routers and identity cards. Indonesian immigration officials show passports and mobile devices seized while Taiwanese citizens arrested during a cybersecurity investigation are presented at a news conference in Bali, June 28, 2024. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP) Beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, an immigration team conducted covert surveillance on a villa in Marga, a district in Tabanan regency, according to Godam. At 2 p.m., the team received information about foreign citizens activities at the location. Three hours later, 103 foreigners were detained. At 6 p.m. the Bali Becik task force secured all the foreign nationals along with preliminary evidence found at the location. They are temporarily placed at the Denpasar immigration detention house, Godam said. I reiterate to all foreign nationals in Indonesia, especially in Bali, always comply with the prevailing regulations and laws, he said. Mepi Lin, a staff member of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) representing the Republic of China in Indonesia acknowledged the report. The Republic of China is the official name for Taiwan. It was handled by the TETO Surabaya division. Previously, there were only about 14 Taiwanese nationals. However, according to the latest data, it appears that many more Taiwanese nationals are involved, she said. Common phenomenon Cybersecurity analyst Alfons Tanujaya, with computer security firm Vaksincom, said arrests of scammers were an increasingly prevalent global phenomenon. Its not just in Indonesia scamming often targets certain countries while being based in another, he told BenarNews. This is common. For instance, Cambodia has many scammers, he said, adding that the nation has a negative reputation as a haven for gambling operators. Alfons said scammers typically operate from foreign countries to avoid severe penalties. If they were in their own country, the laws would severely punish them, but in another country, at worst, they get deported, he said. Taiwanese citizens are led out following a news conference at an immigration detention center in Bali, June 28, 2024. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP0 Ardi Sutedja, a cybersecurity analyst and chairman of the Indonesia Cyber Security Forum, highlighted the persistent issue of cybercrime, attributing it to the governments lack of action. Evidently, tourists arriving in Indonesia often lack clear origins and purposes, potentially resulting in a criminal influx due to the absence of a screening mechanism, he told BenarNews. Its time for the government to wake up and implement restrictions targeting mass tourism should not come at the expense of declining visitor quality, he said. We neglect to filter them. When we travel abroad, we face stringent questioning, even about our savings. The challenge, Ardi said, lies in the overlapping regulations that inadvertently threaten Indonesias national cybersecurity. We need to profile visitors, but Indonesia lacks the human resources for this. Hence, the government is encouraged to collaborate with community organizations. For instance, in Bali, involving local security groups like Pecalang, he said. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. School bus attendant Hu Youping died from her injuries after trying to protect a Japanese mother and child. Scenes from the aftermath of the June 24, 2024 knife attack that left a Chinese bus attendant (left) who tried to protect them dead, and injured a Japanese mother and child (right). China and Japan on Friday paid tribute to a school bus attendant in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou who died from stab wounds after defending a Japanese mother and child in a June 24 knife attack, while government censors deleted hundreds of anti-Japanese posts from social media platforms. "Hu Youping, a resident of the Chinese city of Suzhou who lost her life after attempting to stop a knife attack that injured two Japanese nationals, will be honored for her heroic deeds," state news agency Xinhua cited local authorities as saying. The focus on Hus heroic actions came as the authorities sought to defuse anti-Japanese sentiment on Chinese social media platforms, and as Japan warned its citizens living in China to take additional precautions to guard against similar attacks. Hu was "seriously injured" in the attack that occurred at around 4 p.m. on Monday at a bus stop in the Suzhou New District in Jiangsu Province, and died in hospital on Wednesday, the Xinhua report said. Hu was stabbed as she tried to restrain the attacker, allowing the Japanese woman's son to escape. The attacker then turned to Hu, stabbing her before being subdued by passers-by and police, according to the agency. "If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," it quoted an eyewitness as saying. Related stories Japanese mother and child stabbed in China 4 American teachers are stabbed in knife attack in China Police in China's Zhejiang hold man after stabbing spree leaves six people dead China suspends news anchor for calling Japan quake 'retribution' The Japanese Embassy in China released a short video clip of its flag lowering to half-mast in Hu's honor on its official Weibo account at about 10:00 a.m. on Friday, with the hashtagging the post "The woman who bravely rescued the Japanese mother and child dies." "We are deeply saddened to hear that Ms. Hu Youping passed away after attempts to resuscitate her failed," the post said. "Ms. Hu single-handedly protected an innocent woman and child from a criminal." "We believe that her courage and kindness are representative of the vast majority of Chinese people. May she rest in peace." Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa speaks during a press conference, May 4, 2024 in Colombo. Kamikawa expressed her condolences during a press conference Friday, June 28, 2024 stating, Ms. Hu Youping stepped forward regardless of her own safety and prevented the Japanese students on the school bus from being harmed. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect for this heroic act and express my deep condolences. (Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP) Shizuoka University professor Yang Haiying said the gesture showed how seriously Japan took the attack, and Hu's actions. "It shows that Japan is very concerned about this," Yang said. "Lowering the flag to half-mast is a huge deal, and the Japanese Embassy did a good job by talking about this from a humanitarian perspective." Authorities in Suzhou will confer the title of Role Model of Righteousness and Courage upon Hu Youping posthumously, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular news conference in Beijing on Friday. "We extend deep condolences over her passing and our thoughts are with her family," Mao said, calling Hu a "shining example of the kindheartedness, bravery and everyday heroism in Chinese people, who would not hesitate to stand in harms way to help others." Suzhou's police department and the city's Bravery Foundation jointly nominated Hu for the award, in recognition of her heroism in tackling the assailant. "She was really brave, because there were a lot of other people around, and it was around the time when school was getting out, and those people could have been in danger," a woman who answered the phone at a number given on the joint announcement told RFA Mandarin on Friday. The woman, who gave only the surname Chen, said Hu's family would likely be in line for "rewards or a pension" in honor of her actions, but that the details would need to be hammered out by a review committee. Offsetting applause for attack Veteran U.S.-based political commentator Hu Ping said the honoring of Hu was likely an attempt to stem the tide of anti-Japanese sentiment on Chinese social media platforms. "The government thought it necessary to honor her in order to offset the effects of the applause for the stabbing attack on Japanese people," Hu said. "That is the intention behind it." While some social media users praised Hu as an "upstanding Chinese citizen" and "a hero of the common people," government censors were also scrambling to remove anti-Japanese comments from social media platforms in the wake of Monday's attack, state media reported. Sina Weibo punished 36 accounts and removed 759 posts that "spread extreme speech that incites nationalistic sentiment, promoted group hatred, and even applauded criminal acts in the name of patriotism," the Global Times newspaper reported on Wednesday. The company called on users "not to overly interpret isolated incidents, nor to promote violence and glorify crime in the name of patriotism," the report said. Chinese police have detained a 52-year-old man surnamed Zhou in connection with the attack. Two Japanese nationals were also injured in the attack. One is receiving hospital treatment but is not in a life-threatening condition, and the other was discharged following treatment on the day of the attack, according to the Global Times. The Global Times said in an op-ed article published Friday that China "is undoubtedly still one of the safest countries in the world," citing low reported homicide rates and one of the lowest incidences of firearm-related crime anywhere in the world. "The country is continuously moving toward social stability and the safety of its people, and foreign nationals in China will also enjoy a more legal and secure living environment," it said. Mao also told reporters in Beijing that China will continue to "take effective measures" to protect foreign nationals in China. Mondays attack was the latest in a string of knife attacks in China. Earlier this month, four American teachers were stabbed in a park in the northeastern city of Jilin. Last month, a knife attack at a hospital in Yunnan province left two people dead and 21 people injured. The Japanese Embassy in Beijing warned Japanese nationals living in China to take precautions against stabbing incidents while in public places including schools and parks, the Associated Press reported. Japanese schools in China had also requested extra security in the wake of Mondays stabbings, Japanese media outlet NHK said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Usually this is done in the winter, when it is less smelly and there are fewer flies. North Koreans are in deep doo doo, literally, as their government has ordered each household to collect 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of human waste and dry it for use as fertilizer, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia. North Koreans are used to donating human waste for agricultural purposes, but usually this is done in the winter ahead of planting season. Recently, a summer collection was announced as one of the policies under leader Kim Jong Uns new agriculture-first initiative. Residents are complaining that this time they are being asked to dry feces in their yards in the summer heat, when smells travel more easily and flies and maggots are attracted. The entrance to toilets is reflected in a mirror in the lobby of Yanggakdo International Hotel, Oct. 11, 2015 in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters) As in the past, those who can afford it can pay their way out of it can avoid doing their duty. This time it will cost 5,000 won or about 30 US cents, a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons. That's a rather large sum for many North Koreans. Today, the neighborhood-watch unit held a residents meeting and issued an order from the party to dry human waste and donate it for collection, he said. Residents could not hide their bewilderment at the partys order to dry human waste in the hot weather. He said that they were told to deliver the 10 kilograms of dry dung to a nearby fertilizer factory where they would receive a certificate as proof of their contribution. Related Stories Yearly battle begins in North Korea over human waste for fertilizer Radio Free Asia North Korea Orders Farmers to Collect Urine for Fertilizer Amid Shortage Radio Free Asia North Korean Community Leaders Granted Right to Sell Sewage as Fertilizer for Farms Citizens Fight Over Feces to Fill Human Fertilizer Quota in North Korea Residents expressed their dissatisfaction, saying that this was the first time they had been ordered to dry human waste in the summer when flies were flying around, he said. At least the households in single family homes can scoop up and dry the waste with some privacy, he said. But households living in apartments protested, asking how they are supposed to accomplish this. From left, North Korean balloons carrying waste, June 2, 2024 in Incheon, South Korea, May 29, 2024 in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, and June 2, 2024 in Incheon, South Korea. (Yonhap via Reuters/South Korea Defense Ministry via AP/Yonhap via Reuters/RFA illustration) Another Ryanggang resident likened the order to an unofficial tax, because most households would rather pay the 5,000 won than go through the smelly ordeal of drying their own excrement. The party is always saying that we live happily under a tax-free socialist system, but the partys orders are always a tax, 100%, she said. Every time the party gives us instructions its all about collecting payment. Translated by Claire S. Lee Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. The military is fighting ethnic Taang rebels, who launched the second phase of a major offensive on Tuesday. Intense fighting between the military and rebel forces in central Myanmars Mandalay region this week has displaced thousands of civilians from more than 10 villages, anti-junta fighters and residents said. Fighting in Mandalays Madaya township began on Tuesday as part of the second round of Operation 1027 an anti-junta offensive launched in October by the Taang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, along with two other ethnic armies that comprise the Three Brotherhood Alliance. On Thursday, a member of the Madaya township defense force who took part in frontline fighting told Radio Free Asia that his group had captured the juntas No. 1014 Air Defense Battalion in Madayas Myaing village. Madaya is about 32 km (20 miles) north of junta-controlled Mandalay, which is Myanmars second largest city. They [the military] are conducting airstrikes, as we have seized their battalion, said the defense force fighter who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. We took control of this battalion [on Wednesday]. The Madaya township defense force is one of scores of anti-junta rebel groups that formed in response to the militarys Feb. 2021 coup and are collectively known as the Peoples Defense Force, or PDF. In addition to local PDF groups, the Mandalay Peoples Defense Force, the Danu Peoples Liberation Army, and the Northern Shan State Alliance Army have joined the TNLA in this weeks offensive operations. The air defense battalion in Madaya is one of 26 military outposts that the TNLA said it had jointly seized with PDF groups in Mandalay and the neighboring Shan state townships of Nawnghkio, Kyaukme and Mongmit over the past several days. The junta has yet to issue a statement related to the takeover of its battalion in Madaya. Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun went unanswered Thursday. Nonetheless, rebel scout groups reported Thursday that the military had tightened security at the entrance to Madaya township and dispatched reinforcements to the area from Mandalay. Clashes in Mogoke Amid the fighting, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee from more than 10 villages in the township, as fighting intensified near Gyin Myaing village, residents said. Many had escaped with nothing except the clothes we were wearing, one recounted. A volunteer assisting the displaced said that they are sheltering in safe locations that airstrikes and artillery attacks cannot reach. Additionally, clashes are intensifying between the junta and joint forces of the TNLA and PDF in Mogoke township in an area known for its ruby mines, according to the TNLA and residents. Mogoke is about 200 km (120 miles) north of Mandalay. The TNLA said Thursday that it had started an offensive against the militarys No. 148 Infantry Battalion, stationed in Mogokes Aye Pagoda. A Mogoke resident told RFA that those who have not fled the fighting are sheltering in their homes. No one dares to go outside its too dangerous, he said, adding that the military is targeting the area with heavy artillery. A TNLA rebel on June 27, 2024, in an unknown location. (PSLF/TNLA via Telegram) Another resident said that three Buddhist monks were killed by an artillery shell that hit a monastery Thursday night. It was unclear who launched the shell. The weapons fell without any active combat, the resident said. Moreover, it was far from the battlefield where the conflict occurred. Two other injured monks were sent to Mogoke townships public hospital. RFA attempted to contact Thein Htay, the juntas Mandalay regional spokesperson, to gather further information about the incident, but received no response. Weapons and ammo seized On Friday, the TNLA announced it had seized about 380 large and small weapons during an attack on a military junta camp in Nawnghkio in Shan state near the Mandalay border. Among the seized weapons were 81 mm and 60 mm heavy weapons, RPG-7s, machine guns and assault rifles. Additionally, the TNLA confiscated mines, communication equipment, more than 50,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and more than 500 rounds of ammunition for RPGs and other heavy weapons. The TNLA and their allies now control nearly all areas in the township, including government offices in Nawnghkio. The military council has not issued any official statement on this situation. RFA attempted to contact Khun Thein Maung, the juntas spokesperson for Shan state, but received no response.Also in Shan state, aid workers in Kyaukme township told RFA that they had buried 23 bodies since fighting began there on Tuesday, including those of six civilians killed by artillery fire. An aid worker who took part in the burials said that corpses of junta soldiers were among the dead. The junta has not released any news about the latest fighting in Shan state, and RFA was unable to contact Khun Thein Maung, the juntas spokesperson and economic minister in the state, for additional information. Translated by Aung Naing and Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Medicine and doctors are inaccessible for tens of thousands sheltering from conflict, residents said. Updated June 28, 2024, 1:32 p.m. ET. International aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres has withdrawn from three strife-torn areas in western Myanmar where fighting between ethnic minority insurgents and junta forces has trapped more than 10,000 civilians. The French non-governmental organization, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said on Thursday it had been forced to pull out of three townships in Rakhine state because of the violence and restrictions on its humanitarian work. More than 10,000 civilians have been sheltering in a school in Maungdaw town for two months. Some of them told Radio Free Asia this week they had extremely limited access to hospitals, medicine and food. Clashes between junta forces and the Arakan Army insurgent group, which is battling for self-determination in the western state, have surged since late last year. The fighters, who have made progress against the military, have said they aim to capture Maungdaw town. Because of the fighting, northern Rakhine states population, many of them members of the persecuted mainly Muslim Rohingya minority living in camps for the internally displaced, have faced travel bans, junta conscription under threat, blockades and shortages of water, medicine and food. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELATED STORIES Neither hospitals nor doctors for 10,000 displaced in Myanmar Myanmars displaced tell their stories on World Refugee Day Arakan Army tells residents to evacuate ahead of attack on western Myanmar city ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One person sheltering in the school in Maungdaw said the withdrawal of Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF, could be devastating. It may cause a lot of difficulties. How can people injured by the bomb blasts get access to medical treatment if they lose access to medical care from them? said the residents, who declined to be identified for safety reasons. We have absolutely no access to medical treatment, he said. Getting to the MSF office had already become increasingly dangerous because of the fighting in the town, the resident said. The office is in Ka Nyin Tan neighborhood and even residents of Ka Nyin Tan are on the run due to so many shells landing there, he said. The junta has banned all transport of medicine since the fighting with the Arakan Army resumed in Rakhine state in November. The ban was aimed at insurgents getting medical care. Junta forces have shut down and bombed hospitals, but the result has been that many civilians have died, residents said. MSF said it had been unable to provide regular health services in the central and northern parts of Rakhine state since November. On April 15, its office and medicine storage facilities in Buthidaung township were destroyed by fire. Since then, other private and public health services have been unable to operate in the area, MSF said in its statement. Warehouse blaze In Maungdaw, other humanitarian groups have also encountered disruption to their operations. On Tuesday, the World Food Programme, or WFP, announced its warehouse in Maungdaw township had been burned down. The Arakan Army, in a video released on Tuesday, accused the junta army and affiliated groups of breaking into and looting the warehouse on June 21. The junta denied that accusation. The World Food Programmes food warehouse in Maungdaw township, Rakhine state was destroyed by the junta on June 21, 2024, according to the Arakan Army. (AA Info Desk) Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told the junta-controlled Myanma Alin on Thursday that the warehouse had not been vandalized, and he accused Rohingya of stealing food from it. The newspaper said the Arakan Army had burned the warehouse down with a drone attack. Junta forces delivered the WFP food aid to families in need on June 22, Zaw Min Tun told the paper. The rice bags intended to support the displaced people were delivered to more than 2,000 households in neighborhoods 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Ka Nyin Tan and Maung Ni neighborhoods, by the military councils security forces, he said. One rice bag per household was distributed. However, the junta said in a statement on Monday that the Western Region Military Headquarters and departmental officials had delivered more than 2,000 rice bags, but did not mention any affiliation with the WFP. RFA could not confirm that the sacks of rice seen being distributed in photographs provided by the military had any WFP labels on them. The WFP said in a statement, the warehouse contained enough emergency relief food to feed nearly 65,000 people for a month. The organization has been unable to travel to Maungdaw since May. All people are in trouble On Wednesday, the Arakan Army coordinated the evacuation of more than 4,000 Rohingya from two villages outside of Maungdaw town amid artillery shelling and airstrikes from surrounding junta forces that have killed around 20 Rohingya over the last few days, residents told RFA. Our Muslim village was surrounded by junta troops, one resident said. We heard gunfire the whole night. Some people were shot. We saw the deaths of people. Then, we fled our village. The Arakan Army used vehicles to transport the Rohingya, some of whom are elderly or have health issues. It was unknown where they were taken. Junta troops and border guard police have recently been staying in and around several villages some of them Rohingya in Maungdaw township. Another 2,000 Rohingya from the area have recently fled into Maungdaw town to avoid the fighting on the outskirts, joining the thousands of others who have taken refuge there over the last few weeks. But the junta has also targeted Maungdaw town with heavy artillery, several Rohingya people staying in Maungdaw said. We dare not go outside, one elderly Rohingya woman said. All people are in trouble, and there is no safe place to live. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan, Mike Firn and Matt Reed. This story has been updated to include details on artillery shelling in Maungdaw. The Chinese coast guard has increased patrols in prohibited waters around Kinmen islands. Fujian coast guard ships conduct a patrol in the waters near Kinmen on June 25, 2024. China is attempting to normalize its increased incursions into the waters around the outlying Kinmen islands in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwans Defense Minister Wellington Koo has warned. Koo told a hearing at the Taiwanese legislature on Wednesday that by stepping up its activities in the prohibited and restricted waters around Kinmen, China is trying to establish a new normal. Kinmen is less than 10 km (6.2 miles) from Chinas Fujian province. Prohibited and restricted waters are the tacit boundaries between Taiwans outer islands and Chinas mainland that both sides have been adhering to. Prohibited waters refer to the territorial waters around Kinmen that extend about halfway to the Chinese coast, or roughly 4 km (2.2 nautical miles) to the north and northwest, and about 8 km (4.3 nautical miles) to the south. Restricted waters extend a little further to the south, about 24 nautical miles from Taiwans main island. Taiwan Coast guard boats seen at a port in Kinmen, Taiwan, Feb. 20, 2024. (Ann Wang/Reuters) On Tuesday, Chinese and Taiwanese coast guards had a tense two-hour standoff after four coastguard ships from mainland China were seen patrolling in Kinmens restricted waters. Such incursions have become regular, according to the Taiwanese coast guard, which reported in May a record number of 11 Chinese vessels intruding into Kinmens waters. The Chinese coast guard has organized a new fleet of cutters to establish a new enforcement model around Kinmen in an attempt to demonstrate their sovereignty over Taiwan, said Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwans state-run Institute for National Defense and Security Research, or INDSR. This can be seen as an expansion of the gray zone tactic, that is the use of the coast guard fleet to expand Chinas maritime control, not only against Taiwan, but also against the Philippines in the South China Sea, and against Japan in the Senkaku islands, Su told Radio Free Asia. Gray zone activities are not explicit acts of war but harmful to a nations security as they are aimed at achieving security objectives without resort to direct use of force. RELATED STORIES Taiwan's Kinmen Island: On the front lines of tension with China Rudd says China using 'gray zone' tactics against Taiwan Cross-Strait tensions at risk of rising after Kinmen incident New model of law enforcement Chinas Global Times reported that the Chinese coast guard has adopted a new model of conducting law enforcement near Kinmen, by expanding its scope and intensity, as well as making it all-weather enforcement. According to the news outlet, since June the Fujian coast guard has organized a fleet of warships to conduct extensive patrols and further strengthen Chinas control over the area. The newspaper quoted a Chinese Taiwan expert, Liu Kuangyu, as saying that this new maritime enforcement method can serve as an example for promoting a one country, two systems formula, providing an optional solution for resolving the Taiwan question. The Taiwanese government has repeatedly said that Chinas incursions are harmful to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Beside activities at sea, Beijing has also flown military aircraft over the median line in the Strait into Taiwans air defense zone on a daily basis. This month, Taiwan has tracked 389 flyovers by Chinese military aircraft, including 141 over the past week, according to the defense ministry in Taipei. To respond to Chinas gray zone activities it requires the alertness and joint efforts of the Indo-Pacific countries and the ASEAN, because the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea are connected, said INDSRs Su Tzu-yun. Regional sea lanes bear a great importance on the world's economic development as well as serve the common interests of neighboring countries, the analyst said, adding that China needs to be prevented from monopolizing and controlling them. Edited by Mike Firn. The Buddhist spiritual leader enjoys strong support in the US, where the operation took place. The Dalai Lama (C) arrives at the Park Hyatt New York hotel as supporters greet him in New York, June 23, 2024. The Dalai Lama had successful total knee replacement surgery at a top New York hospital and will be discharged on Saturday, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders personal physician said as Tibetans around the world rejoiced at the news. The Dalaia Lama, who turns 89 on July 6, has experienced health problems for years. His knee issues required medical attention outside northern India where he has lived in exile for 65 years following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. The Nobel Prize winner enjoys strong support in the United States, especially among prominent lawmakers who have spoken out about human rights issues in Tibet, despite objections by China which views him as a separatist and bristles at his interactions with foreign officials. After the surgery, he returned to his room in the hospital in a very stable condition and has already had his lunch, said Dr. Tsetan Dorjee Sadutshang, who gave a video briefing on the Dalai Lamas condition just hours after his operation Friday at New Yorks Hospital for Special Surgery, a top medical facility for musculoskeletal health. Crowds wait outside a hotel where Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will stay in New York City, June 23, 2024. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters) The operation began in the early morning amid mass prayers and religious rituals by Tibetans worldwide, including those inside Tibet, for the Dalai Lamas successful surgery and swift recovery. The entire team looking after His Holiness at the hospital has been very supportive and caring, said Sadutshang, who was accompanied by Tenzin Taklha, the Dalai Lamas secretary, at the briefing. The treatment was successful, and the surgery ended around 7:30 a.m., said another source with knowledge of the matter. The Dalai Lama arrived in New York on June 23, marking his first visit to the United States in over seven years and his first overseas trip since November 2018. Tibetans across Tibet have been offering prayers for his well-being ever since news of his U.S. visit reached people in various corners of the region and in Tibetan-populated areas of Chinas western provinces, Tibetan sources said. In Lhasa, Tibetans offered prayers at the Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple and other monasteries on Friday, as China tightened security at religious sites amid news of widespread prayer by Tibetans inside Tibet for the Dalai Lamas successful surgery, the sources said. People await the arrival of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at his hotel in New York before he undergoes knee surgery, June 23, 2024. (Adam Gray/AFP) Tibetans worldwide also took to social media to express their joy and gratitude. Thank you so much for the updates, Doctor. Wishing His Holiness the Dalai Lama a speedy recovery, wrote one Tibetan netizen, commenting on the press briefing video posted on YouTube. Another wrote: Thank you, USA medical team. This is really good news for us. The Dalai Lamas trip to the U.S. comes in the wake of the passage of a bill in the U.S. Congress urging Beijing to re-engage with him and other Tibetan leaders to peacefully resolve their dispute over the status and governance of Tibet. Translated by RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Paul Eckert. A Tibetan writer and advocate for the preservation of the Tibetan language who is serving a nearly 4.5-year jail sentence for engaging in separatist acts and social disorder, is being treated at a hospital for a serious illness, two Tibetan sources said. Thupten Lodoe, also known by his pen name Sabuche, is in his 30s and hails from Seshul county, called Shiqu in Chinese, part of the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. He was arrested in October 2021 and detained for six months before being sentenced to four years and five months in prison in June 2022 for writing articles deemed a threat to national security and unity. Lodoe has been detained in a prison in Dartsedo, or Kangding in Chinese, where he has endured harsh conditions, including hard labor, inadequate food and poor living conditions, said the sources who requested anonymity for safety reasons. Authorities said Lodoe is receiving medical treatment, but they did not disclose his illness or the hospitals location, the sources said. Lodoes arrest was part of a larger crackdown on Tibetan writers, intellectuals and cultural figures arbitrarily imprisoned in undisclosed locations, usually for long periods and with no disclosure of their whereabouts. Most were arrested after sharing their views or information about conditions in ethnic Tibetan areas under Chinese government rule. Following his sentencing, his family was harassed by Chinese authorities, and his two children were barred from attending school. Fluent in Tibetan, Chinese and English, Lodoe studied at a school established by the Panchen Lama, whose Buddhist spiritual authority is second only to that of the Dalai Lama, in Sichuan province. Despite a job offer from the Chinese government, he chose to work independently as an author, writing extensively about the Tibetan language which Beijing has sought to repress along with Tibetan religion and culture and translating the American national anthem and poems by an ancient Persian poet into Tibetan. Chinese police previously warned him to stop writing such articles, but he kept doing so, a friend of Lodoe told Radio Free Asia in an earlier report. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Matt Reed. Six men were sentenced to between five and seven years in prison at the Dak Lak court on Thursday, June 27, 2024. The Dak Lak Peoples Court on Thursday sentenced six farm workers to between five and seven years in prison on charges of destroying assets, amid a longstanding dispute between an indigenous Ede village and a coffee company. According to a report from state-owned media outlet, Cong Ly, Y Luh Nie and Y Coh Nie were each sentenced to seven years in prison; Y Luong Hlong, Y Nguot Hdok, and Y Hoan Bya, to six years in prison; and Y Rosi Nie to five years. The six men were found guilty of cutting down and destroying coffee trees belonging to a local company, causing a loss of over VND2.7 billion (around US$108,000), according to the indictment, which also alleged the group incited and aided neighbors to create petitions to claim their land back. Residents of Ea Pok town have long struggled with Ea Pok coffee, which has for decades held the rights to cultivate land residents say was once theirs. According to the indictment summarized by Cong Ly, in 1987, the state-owned Ea Pok Coffee Company invested in planting coffee in Cu Mgar district. Local residents were contracted to look after the coffee trees and were allowed to keep a small part of the harvest as payment. The arrangement left many in debt, villagers reported to Radio Free Asia in 2022. In 2018, the Ea Pok Coffee company was privatized, and the governments share was reduced to 32 percent. A year later, villagers petitioned the government to restore their farming rights, without success. After going private, the company announced it would replace some of the coffee trees with durian, avocado, and jackfruit. Though residents opposed the plan, the company started destroying coffee trees in 2022 to clear the way for the new crops leading to mass protests in May 2022. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Abby Seiff. Four senators said they were concerned the Biden administration is straying from a priority on human rights. Vietnamese blogger Truong Duy Nhat (C) sits in a courtroom during his trial, March 9, 2020, in Hanoi. The United States must prioritize the protection of human rights in Vietnam in its dealings with Hanoi, a group of senior lawmakers said in a letter sent this week to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Signed by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin and senators Chris Coons, Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, all of whom are Democrats, the letter urges Blinken to integrate human rights into all aspects of Americas budding ties with Hanoi. We urge you to impress upon Vietnamese officials that genuine progress in human rights will enable a deeper economic, trade, and security relationship with the United States, says the letter, which is dated Wednesday and questions Hanois recent rights record. US Senator Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee speaks during a hearing, Oct. 18, 2023 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP) In particular, Blinken must voice his opposition to Vietnams purported Directive 24, which portends further crackdowns, it says. The alleged directive, which was uncovered by the Illinois-based Vietnamese human rights group Project 88 in February, says all forms of international cooperation by Vietnamese citizens should be treated as potential national security threats and punished harshly. It has been criticized by civil society groups who say the instructions effectively criminalize activism, including by monitoring the overseas travel of activists and banning any independent organizations. The directive was reportedly issued two months before U.S. President Joe Bidens high-profile trip to Hanoi late last year, when he upgraded diplomatic ties with Vietnam to the highest possible level amid surging bilateral trade and shared concerns about Chinas rising influence. During the trip, Biden described the United States and Vietnam as critical partners in a critical time for international relations. An important reminder Human rights observers praised the letter, telling Radio Free Asia the Biden administration seemed to be more willing to overlook abuses in Vietnam because it was a partner in the U.S. rivalry with China. Vietnamese Internet activist Nguyen Lan Thang chats on Facebook, Nov. 27, 2013 at a cafe in Hanoi. (Kham/Reuters) Josef Benedict, a researcher with the global civil society alliance CIVICUS, said he believed the letter to Blinken was an an important reminder not to let short-term strategic interests cloud the U.S. commitment to supporting human rights around the world. The Vietnamese government has failed to undertake any meaningful reforms since the partnership [with Biden] was signed in September 2023, he said, and we continue to see a systematic crackdown on civic freedoms and the jailing of human rights defenders, including environmental activists and journalists, on trumped-up charges. Vietnams government has recently come under fire for its treatment of political prisoners, including for holding environmental activist Nguyen Duc Hung in solitary confinement for 18 months and for denying food to activist and environmental lawyer Dang Dinh Bach for two weeks. Vietnam Human Rights Network executive director Nguyen Ba Tung said Hanoi valued its relationship with Washington enough that U.S. officials would be listened to if they demanded changes in Vietnam. In my opinion, if the U.S. attaches human rights requirements to negotiations, the human rights situation [in Vietnam] will be improved because the Vietnamese government wont make progress until they are under economic and financial pressure, he said. Anti-China protester and political blogger Nguyen Tuong Thuy (R) holds flowers with the words "Paracels-Vietnam" written on the wrapper, Jan. 19, 2014 in Hanoi. (Kham/Reuters) The United States could use economic and trade leverage to force Vietnam to improve its human rights record, he said, given that America is Vietnams second-largest trade partner after China. In 2023, two-way trade stood at almost US$111 billion. RFA bloggers included In their letter, the four U.S. senators expressed particular concerns over the imprisonment of numerous human rights activists, journalists and environmentalists, including Nguyen Vu Binh and RFA bloggers Nguyen Lan Thang, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Truong Duy Nhat. According to the letter, advancing human rights in Vietnam would help to build meaningful ties between the people of the two nations, with the Vietnamese people appreciating U.S. support for their rights. The wife of one of the political prisoners, who asked not to be named for fear for her safety, told RFA she was thankful to the senators and said she hoped Blinken would pressure Hanoi to free the prisoners. My husband and other prisoners of conscience are innocent, she said, adding that the prisoners named in the letter had only exercised their human rights to build Vietnam towards a country of freedom, civilization, fairness, and sustainable development. Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. State Department both did not respond to requests for comment from RFA. At least 22 people were killed and 117 others injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported on October 10 after an Israeli strike on a school sheltering Palestinians in Gaza killed dozens of people. Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported two evening air raids in central Beirut. The first targeted an eight-story building and the second a four-story building that completely collapsed as a result of the strike, NNA said. A Lebanese security source quoted by Reuters said at least one senior Hezbollah figure was targeted in the attacks, which were the third on Beirut since Israel started a military campaign in southern Lebanon last month targeting the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia and sparking fears of an all-out regional war. Hezbollahs Al Manar TV reported after the strikes that an attempt to kill Wafiq Safa, a top security official with the group, had failed. It said that Safa had not been inside of either of the targeted buildings. Hezbollah kept up rocket fire into Israel on October 10. The military said several drones heading toward Israel were intercepted. Earlier on October 10 an Israeli strike on a school in the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 people, Palestinian medical officials said, while a separate Israeli strike hit UN peacekeeper headquarters in southern Lebanon, prompting Italy to summon the Israeli ambassador. The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike on terrorists" who had a command and control center embedded in the school. "This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organization's systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law," a military statement said. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU, has denied such accusations. People who had been sheltering at the school said the strike hit a meeting of aid workers and injured 54 other people. Israel has continued to strike at what it says are militant targets across Gaza as it battles Hamas militants even as the war broadened to include Hezbollah in Lebanon amid rising tensions with Iran. In a separate incident on October 10 the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said an Israeli tank fired on its headquarters in the town of Naqoura, hitting an observation tower and wounding two peacekeepers. The nationality of the injured peacekeepers was not released. The UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL said in a statement that Israeli forces also fired on a nearby bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, damaging vehicles and a communication system. The Italian Defense Ministry summoned Israel's ambassador in protest, and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told a press conference that "hostile acts committed and repeated by Israeli forces against the base...could constitute war crimes." Crosetto added that Italy has asked for an official explanation "because it was not a mistake." The French Foreign Ministry said that while no French solider was injured in the incident, it also demanded an explanation. The Israeli military announced earlier on October 10 that it had eliminated another important Hezbollah member as it kept up its attacks against the Iran-backed group. Adham Jahout, a member of Hezbollah's Golan Terrorist Network was killed in an air strike in the area of Quneitra in Syria, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. Jahout was relaying intelligence from Syrian regime sources to Hezbollah and facilitating operations against Israel in the Golan Heights, the IDF said. Israel annexed the Golan Heights after capturing them from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war. The annexation has not been recognized by most countries. Separately, the Israeli military said on October 10 that it had eliminated two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon and its warplanes attacked munitions depots in the Beirut area and in southern Lebanon. It did not immediately reveal the identities of the two commanders. Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its party, which has seats in the Lebanese parliament. The latest strikes came as the United States, Israel's main ally, warned against bombardments in Lebanon similar to those that caused large-scale destruction in Gaza as Israel retaliated against Hamas following the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that left more than 1,100 people dead. Israel's bombardment of central and northern Gaza in recent days has killed dozens of people and trapped thousands in their homes, Palestinian officials say. "There should be no kind of military action in Lebanon that looks anything like Gaza and leaves a result anything like Gaza," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists on October 9. The warning came after U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized in a call on October 9 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the border. The United States warned Israel on October 9 against launching a military action in Lebanon like the one it has conducted in Gaza, and U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the border. Biden also condemned Iran's ballistic-missile attack on Israel on October 1, a White House statement said. Biden "affirmed Israel's right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut," the statement said. U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, clashed over foreign policy and Russias war against Ukraine in a televised debate between the two oldest candidates ever to seek the U.S. presidency. After taking the debate stage on June 27 without shaking hands and with no audience in the hall, the current president and his predecessor laid out starkly differing views on Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. But it was Bidens performance, his words delivered with a raspy voice and often haltingly, that overshadowed the topics being discussed and raised concerns over the 81-year-old's ability to lead the country for another four years. Trump, who in the past has called Russian President Vladimir Putins tactics in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine "genius" and "very savvy," attacked Biden saying that if the United States had a "real president," Putin would not have attacked Ukraine. "He knew not to play games with me," Trump said referring to Putin. Biden, 81, countered by calling Putin a "war criminal" and warning that if Russia is allowed to succeed in its war, Putin would not stop at Kyiv. "He's killed thousands and thousands of people," said Biden, who several times appeared to lose his train of thought while delivering responses. Since the beginning of the war, the Biden administration has staunchly backed Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The United States has been the largest single contributor of military and financial aid to Kyiv during the conflict, though the most recently approved package of aid totaling $61 billion was delayed for some six months as Republican lawmakers held up the process demanding deep changes to border policy in exchange for their support. The aid package was eventually approved though no deal on the border was reached. Biden noted in the debate -- which was dominated by domestic policy issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion -- that while Washington has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, he has rallied leaders from more than 50 countries around the world in a coalition to help Ukraine repel Russian troops. "This is a guy who wants to pull out of NATO," Biden, who at times appeared halting and unfocused in his responses, said of Trump. Earlier this month, Putin said Russia would end the war in Ukraine only if Kyiv met conditions including renouncing its NATO ambitions and ceding four partially occupied regions that Russia claims in their entirety, as well as Crimea. Ukraine dismissed the conditions as absurd and said they amounted to capitulation. When asked about Putins remarks, Trump, 78, said the conditions laid out by the Russian leader are not acceptable. But Trump, who voiced a litany of falsehoods during the 90-minute debate, also called Zelenskiy the "greatest salesman ever" for the Ukrainian leaders military aid requests. "Look, this is a war that never should have started if we had a leader," Trump said, claiming again he would be able to "settle" the war if re-elected in November. He gave no details of how he would achieve such a result. The Kremlin said it had no comment on the debate or the comments made during it. I dont think you expect the president of Russia might set an alarm clock, wake up before morning, and watch the debates in the United States of America?" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow when asked if Putin, who has said previously he has no preference for either candidate, had watched the debate. Concerns Over Age Bidens at times stumbling performance in the debate underscored concerns about his age and whether, at 81, he is too old to serve another four-year term, and prompted questions among some Democrats over whether he should step aside as their partys nominee. At one point, Biden seemed to confuse Trump with Putin; at another point, in a section on immigration and border security, he gave a meandering answer, prompting Trump to counter: "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said." Biden "did get stronger as the debate went on but by that time, I think the panic had set in," David Axelrod, an adviser to former President Barack Obama, said on CNN. "There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue." Speaking to supporters afterward, Biden appeared much more energetic as he kept up his attacks on Trump. "I can't think of one thing he said out there that was true," said Biden, whose advisers said was suffering from a cold. Elsewhere in the debate, Trump also slammed Biden for failing to gain the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in Russian detention for more than a year on espionage charges that he, his employer, and the U.S. government have rejected as politically motivated. The former president said Biden should have had Gershkovich, whose trial began on June 26 and is being held behind closed doors, "out a long time ago" and that Putin is "probably asking for billions and billions of dollars" for the reporters release. Trump didnt elaborate or substantiate his assertion, but it appeared to be a reference to a 2023 deal that saw the release of five detained Americans in Iran in exchange for the transfer of billions of dollars worth of frozen Iranian assets from banks in South Korea to Qatar. Washington has said several times the funds are being held in special accounts with restricted access that allow for them to be used by Iran solely for humanitarian goods, such as medicine and food. Trump also accused Biden of being responsible for the "most embarrassing moment in the history of our country" for the U.S.-led withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. While Trump himself had agreed to the withdrawal of international troops with the Taliban leadership a year before he left office, he did not finalize the plan and it fell to Biden to oversee the operation several years later. Biden said that when Trump left office after losing the November 2020 election, "things were in chaos." Trump is scheduled to speak in Virginia later on June 28, while Biden has remained in Atlanta, where the debate took place, and will speak at a campaign event. With reporting by Reuters As Ukrainians marked Constitution Day on June 28, Moscow unleashed a fresh wave of drone and artillery strikes on southern and eastern regions for the second day in a row, killing at least four people in a village in the Donetsk region, one person in Dnipropetrovsk, and injuring others in Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials in the regions said. At attack by Russian troops on Toretsk in the Donetsk region hit an apartment building, destroying the entrance of the five-story building, the regional prosecutor's office said. Four civilians, ages 43 to 76, died. Among the injured are a 39-year-old woman and her 8-year-old daughter, who was in serious condition. The attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region hit a nine-story apartment building in the city of Dnipro, killing one person and injuring six others, including a 7-month-old baby, said Dnipropetrovsk regional Governor Serhiy Lysak. Several floors were destroyed, the governor said. The attack in Kharkiv occurred in the village of Tsyrkuny, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said. Russian troops fired at least three anti-aircraft missiles at the settlement, Synyehubov said on Telegram. "At this moment, there are eight victims," he said. He added that two houses and smaller buildings caught fire. Another 10 houses were damaged. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the attacks were another reminder that Ukraine needs better air defense. "'That's why we keep reminding all our partners: Only sufficient quantity and quality of air defense systems, only sufficient determination of the world, can stop Russian terror," he said on Telegram. "We need these solutions. We need a reliable air shield for Ukraine." In a video message posted earlier on Telegram, Zelenskiy congratulated his compatriots on Constitution Day, which is marked on June 28, and highlighted the importance of national solidarity in times of war. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. "The 17th article of the constitution: The protection of Ukraine is the most important function of the state and the cause of the entire Ukrainian people. Millions of Ukrainians prove their devotion to this every day. Heroes on the front lines and those who work hard to strengthen the state. Ukrainians who changed their lives, changed their profession, but did not change their choice in favor of freedom, Ukraine, Europe," Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy's message came as Russia targeted Nikopol, a city that lies on the right bank of Dnieper River, for a second day on June 28. "From very early in the morning, the Russian military struck the city of Nikopol again, targeting the district center with kamikaze drones," Dnipropetrovsk regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram, without specifying the number of drones. "There are no dead or wounded," Lysak said, adding that several houses and industrial facilities in the city had been damaged in the attack. On June 27, Russia launched a massive artillery attack on Nikopol, causing extensive damage to several schools. Another southern Ukrainian region, Kherson, was also targeted by a fresh round of Russian strikes, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on June 28. Prokudin said in a message on Telegram that 28 settlements across Kherson were targeted in the attack that wounded a total of six people and damaged a critical infrastructure facility. He did not elaborate. Meanwhile, a suspected Ukrainian drone attack set an oil depot on fire in Michurinsk, in Russia's Tambov region, some 400 kilometers southeast of Moscow, regional Governor Maksim Egorov reported on June 28. Egorov said the fire was small and it was under control. Aleksandr Bogomaz, the governor of Russia's Bryansk region, reported that five drones had been shot down over his region on June 28. The governor of Smolensk region, Vasily Anokhin, said nine drones had been downed over a military facility in the Pochinovsk district. Russia's Defense Ministry said a total of 25 drones had been downed over five regions. The claim could not be independently confirmed. Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure has been devastated by constant Russian attacks, has over the past several months increasingly targeted fuel-production sites inside Russia, mainly oil-refining facilities that work for the Russian military. ASTANA -- A series of scars that run horizontally across Rustem Amangeldys forearm recall a prison sentence that redefined his life and later his work as an anti-corruption activist in Kazakhstan. I simply couldnt come to terms with the unfairness. They were telling me that I was a thief, but I knew that I wasnt. They couldnt even be bothered to fabricate the evidence against me well enough to make it believable, said Amangeldy, who co-owned a construction company at the time he was investigated for embezzlement. Amangeldy survived a suicide attempt in 2012 and walked free in 2016 after four hard years in prison. During the first year of his freedom he slept with his eyes half open -- a habit ingrained in him from his time behind bars. But when it comes to Kazakhstans justice system, his eyes are wide open -- and he is not the only one. Amangeldy is one of hundreds of Kazakhs who are joining forces to call for a special commission to review controversial court rulings and promote broader justice reform. The diverse group of convicts and those who have lost administrative cases even recently formed a public association to lobby the government that is called New Kazakhstan, Fair Kazakhstan. They are the slogans that President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has trumpeted to establish a break with the legacy of his long-ruling predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbaev, after regime-shaking unrest at the beginning of 2022. We want to support these stated aims, said Amangeldy, who now runs the watchdog-style Altynbas YouTube program on corruption, government policy, and lawlessness in the construction sector, where he once worked. Even if they are a long way from reality at the moment, he added. 'The Bribes Have Been Doled Out' Almaty-based Amangeldy is not officially a member of New Kazakhstan, Fair Kazakhstan, as legal reasons prevent him from officially joining civic organizations. But he is one of at least 300 members of a WhatsApp group of the same name that has served as an organizing platform. They are a diverse bunch. One of the more vocal members of the group is former Colonel Mukhtar Karabekov, who has been pressing for the reversal of his corruption conviction and other judgments and dismissals concerning more than 200 military officers. Thus far, fewer than 10 officers have been able to reverse the decisions against them and return to service, he said. Other members of the group who met with RFE/RL in the Kazak capital, Astana, included women who lost property in civil lawsuits. Alia Mamedova has been trying for two years to get the proceeds of a house worth nearly $100,000 that was confiscated in a court ruling. She is part of a smaller group that has regularly camped outside the Supreme Court and other government buildings in Astana in a bid to get their cases reviewed. On one occasion, she was arrested and sentenced to nearly a week in administrative detention. Angelika Glinskaya, who is from the northern city of Pavlodar, contacted RFE/RL when she heard that the groups struggles were being covered. Glinskaya claims her husband paid judges to ensure that she emerged from their divorce settlement not only impoverished but in large debt to her former spouse. Her appeals to Toqaevs office and the anti-corruption agency have yet to yield any result. One thing that unites the vast majority of the members of New Kazakhstan, Fair Kazakhstan is their inability to get a proper hearing at Kazakhstans highest appeals court -- a fact they say deprives them of a constitutional right. Instead, they are stuck with the judgments issued at the local level (a district court, followed by a city court) where Karabekov argues corporate solidarity solidifies corruption. The Supreme Court doesnt want to get involved in our cases, because the bribes have already been doled out here and there. Acknowledging these mistakes would require the relevant judges and investigators to be punished. And there are a lot of them, Karabekov said. Jury Trials No Panacea Galym Ageleuov, a rights defender and the director of the Liberty nonprofit, says that second-instance courts rarely, if ever, look into the substance of the case, meaning that they dont affect acquittal rates that are typically lower than 5 percent in such criminal courts. Those cases that do go to the Supreme Court, in turn, find a ready decision as opposed to due process, Ageleuov argued. Bribe-givers, he said, have multiple paths to influence the courts decision -- if they cannot access judges directly, they often attempt to reach officials in city administrations who then put pressure on judges. Toqaev and his administration have so far shown no appetite for any form of lustration, a process that earns its name from an ancient Roman purification ceremony and entails the mass canceling of officials or judges associated with systemic malpractice and corruption. But after the presidents meeting with Supreme Court Chairman Aslambek Mergaliev in March, his office reported there was an increase in the number of trials by jury. According to Ageleuov, an expansion of jury trials, including for civil cases, enjoys widespread popular support. But even this system needs to be overhauled, with full transparency in jury selection and rules preventing judges joining jurors in their deliberation. At the moment, the judges do everything to form the opinion of the jurors. And the judge is in turn politically dependent, Ageleuov said. Amangeldy, the businessman-turned-citizen journalist, has been fighting his case for more than a decade. Once a millionaire, he now spends most of [his] annual salary on legal fees, both to clear his name and try to restore personal, business, and family assets appropriated by the countrys largest bank after a court process that he described as packed with irregularities. Earlier this year, he won his first small victory when he managed to gain a hearing with Kazakhstans deputy prosecutor-general, who agreed that his case deserved consideration. A prosecutorial protest -- which may now follow -- is one of the few means through which citizens can force a reversal of their verdicts. Not everyone can get that kind of audience, he acknowledges. People like me will use all our resources to address their problems via the legal avenues that the system provides. Other people are at the end of their tether. They can become radicalized, set fire to themselves, or even worse because the system will not hear them, Amangeldy said. NATO leaders will meet in Washington on July 9-11. The war in Ukraine will again dominate discussions amid a push for the organization to send more weapons and to take a more formal role in aiding Ukraine. But elections in France and a potential return to power by Donald Trump will also be on the minds of delegates. RFE/RL's Rikard Jozwiak reports. One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history. In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group. Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war. RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack? Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences. There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings. Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good. RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis? Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months. RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices? Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term." So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire. Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home? One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective. RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families? Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular. At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families. Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen. RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas? Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk. It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important. Why? For a couple of reasons. First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005. RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future? Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent. I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term. 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. A Ukraine peace proposal handed to former President Donald Trump ahead of the U.S. election would face huge hurdles, experts say, and critics fear it would benefit Russia. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. 'Easy' Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said that repeatedly he will quickly bring an end to Russia's war on Ukraine if he returns to the White House in January. "If I were presidentI will end that war in one day -- it'll take 24 hours," he said in May 2023, adding that "it would be easy." In the June 27 debate against incumbent President Joe Biden, Trump asserted that if he defeats Biden in the November 5 election, he will "have that war settled" before he even takes office on January 20. But he has said little about how he would hope to do it. Enter Fred Fleitz and retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, advisers to Trump who were chiefs of staff on Trump's National Security Council during his 2017-2021 term and have presented him with a proposed path to peace, or at least to peace talks. The proposal, which is part of a research paper written by Kellogg and Fleitz, both at the Washington-based Center for American Security, has made waves since it was first reported by Reuters on June 25. 'Come To The Table' Kellogg told Reuters that it would be important to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table quickly. He made clear that the proposal would seek to use U.S. weapons supplies and financial aid to Ukraine as a lever of influence on both sides. "We tell the Ukrainians, 'You've got to come to the table, and if you don't come to the table, support from the United States will dry up,'" he said. "And you tell Putinif you don't come to the table, then we'll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field." Along with that stick, a potential carrot for Russia would be an offer "to put off NATO membership for Ukraine for an extended period," the report says. Ukraine would be offered security guarantees that Fleitz told Reuters would likely involve "arming Ukraine to the teeth." The proposal calls for a cease-fire based on the existing battle lines during the peace talks -- and that underscores the massive obstacles such a plan would face from the get-go, because neither side is likely to be content with such a situation for long, if at all. Rewarding Aggression? Ukraine wants Russian forces out of Ukraine, of course. Describing a 10-point "peace formula" in 2022, months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion that February, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity was "not up for negotiation." "What Kellogg is describing is a process slanted toward Ukraine giving up all of the territory that Russia now occupies," Reuters quoted Daniel Fried, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state, as saying. "I see the proposal as unbalanced in favor of Russia's aims and likely to reward aggression and brutal violence," Gordon "Skip" Davis, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis and a retired U.S. Army major general, told Newsweek magazine. Russia now holds the Crimean Peninsula and parts of four other Ukrainian regions in the east and south, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson -- about one-fifth of the country. 'New Realities' Russian officials have frequently said any talks to halt or end its war against Ukraine must take the "new realities" into account. While that might sound like it refers to Russia's control over that territory, it actually refers to something that does not reflect reality at all: Moscow's claim that those four regions, in their entirety, are part of Russia. Putin stated that more clearly than ever on June 14, saying that Russia would start peace talks only if Ukraine cedes the four regions in their entirety and renounces its ambition of joining NATO. Those remarks and other evidence suggest that the proposal to keep Ukraine out of NATO for an "extended period" would be dismissed by Russia. One of the demands Russia made in December 2021, as it was massing troops at Ukraine's border ahead of the full-scale invasion, was a binding guarantee that Ukraine would never join the alliance and there is no sign that position has changed. The prospect that the United States would continue to arm Ukraine, both during talks and as part of security guarantees after a deal is reached, is also likely to irk Russia, which has sought -- again, since before the invasion of February 2022 -- to secure an agreement under which Ukraine would be allowed only a limited -- and very small -- arsenal. Arms And Energy "The intention to continue arming Ukraine will be particularly unacceptable [to Russia] and is likely to be immediately rejected," Tatyana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in a post on X. She also indicated that a proposal to use levies on Russian energy sales to pay for reconstruction in Ukraine was unrealistic, writing that it "could only be taken seriously in the event of a Russian defeat -- which seems unlikely -- or a regime change." But she and other analysts suggested obstacles to the proposal are broader than issues such as territorial control, weapons supplies, energy sales, and reconstruction. And that amount to this: Russia wants to subjugate Ukraine. 'Incompatible Objectives' "This plan overlooks the core issue of the conflict," Stanovaya wrote. "For [Putin] it's not about territory but about ensuring Ukraine becomes 'friendly.' I don't think it's achievable (which is why Putin's war is doomed), but it remains Putin's primary and most compelling motivation for the war." "The two countries' objectives are incompatible," Brian Taylor, a professor of political science at Syracuse University and the author of The Code Of Putinism, told Newsweek. "Russia wants to have political control over Ukraine and eliminate the idea of Ukraine as a separate nation," he said, "and Ukraine wants to defend its territory, its people, and its democracy from Russian violence and domination." Despite aspects that may be unpalatable to the Kremlin, Russia might agree to enter talks if Putin sees them as a chance to further the goals of undermining Zelenskiy's government, gaining control over Ukraine, and getting more of a say on decisions about regional and global security -- something he has been seeking for decades. Putin often portrays Russia as being ready for talks and Ukraine as recalcitrant. Asked about the plan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters that "Putin has repeatedly said that Russia has been and remains open to negotiations, taking into account the real state of affairs on the ground." The proposal "has a specific feature that might appeal to Putin: It initiates a new geopolitical game where Moscow could have much more room to maneuver. The plan compels Ukraine to cease resistance -- exactly what Putin currently desires," Stanovaya wrote. "It mandates direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow, which, in Putin's view, could weaken Ukraine domestically," she wrote. "The plan could be seen as a tactical opportunity, a starting point for a new geopolitical scenario in which an exhausted Ukraine would have to reassess its domestic political situation, becoming more susceptible to Russian influence and more pliable." 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. Eoin Reynolds Ex-Real IRA man Nathan Kinsella has been jailed for one year for failing to pay taxes on hundreds of thousands of euros he claims he was "gifted" by a millionaire friend while on unemployment benefits. Kinsella has previously told gardai that the money was not "dodgy" and that he "didn't see an issue" with someone giving him large amounts of cash, even though Kinsella said he did not work for the millionaire. Jailing Kinsella on Friday at the Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said the court has "concerns" about the explanations Kinsella gave of receiving money from a wealthy friend. The judge also noted that Kinsella has a previous conviction for IRA membership and said the sums involved in this case, totalling 230,000, put it in the upper mid-range for seriousness. The judge set a headline sentence of 40 months imprisonment but gave Kinsella the maximum one-third reduction for the fact that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He further reduced the sentence after considering Kinsella's health difficulties that were outlined in a number of medical reports handed into the court. The final sentence imposed is one of 18 months with the final six months suspended for two years. The court agreed to defer the sentence to allow Kinsella's doctors to liaise with prison medical staff to ensure that he has access to medication while in prison. Kinsella undertook to present himself at Portlaoise Prison at noon next Wednesday, July 3rd. Kinsella (45) of Richmond in Blackrock, Co Dublin, entered three guilty pleas on tax offences at a November sitting of the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. At another hearing earlier this year, Dominic McGinn SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the guilty pleas related to failures to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Mr McGinn said that during the period under investigation a total of 230,000 had been lodged into the three accounts, two controlled by Kinsella's partner and one by Kinsella himself. Kinsella admitted to gardai he had no taxable income for that period and had been on unemployment payments. Kinsella told gardai in voluntary interviews that he had lived with a friend, a multi-millionaire, who would loan or gift money to him. Mr Justice MacGrath noted today that Kinsella told gardai he lived with this man at Tassagart House in Saggart, west Dublin from 2016 to 2019, that he did not pay rent and when he needed money, he would ask for it and his friend would provide it. The three-judge court heard that when asked about specific amounts transferred into the three accounts, Kinsella said they had been received by him and then lodged by his partner, Jennifer Dunne. Kinsella told gardai he believed that there was nothing illegal about the lodgements. Mr McGinn told the non-jury court that Kinsella told gardai that there was no dodgy money involved in the lodgements, that the accused didnt see an issue with it and that a man gave him money on multiple occasions but that Kinsella did not work for him. He said the cash had since been spent. Kinsella had 17 previous convictions, 14 for road traffic offences and two for impeding a prosecution. Kinsella was jailed by the Special Criminal Court 10 years ago after a Garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan. The defendant had pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 13th, 2012 and was sentenced to two years. The charges that Kinsella pleaded guilty to are that whilst having an address at Tasaggart House, Saggart in Co Dublin, he failed without reasonable excuse to deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a full and true return for the purposes of capital acquisitions tax as required by section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 on or before October 31st, 2018. He further pleaded guilty to two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, whilst having an address in Dublin, and on or before October 31, 2020, whilst having an address at Richmond, Newtownpark, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Money laundering charges that had been filed against Kinsella have now been dropped. High Court reporters The High Court has approved the Irish will of a late US-based priest after a subsequent American will raised an issue about whether his Irish property had been left to his two cousins. The priest was attached to an Archdiocese in the US before his death and owned 40 acres of farmland in Ireland, which he left to two of his cousins in a 2001 Irish will. However, when he made a US will in 2017 for his American property, it included a revocation clause which did not mention the Irish land and was not intended to revoke the 2001 Irish will, the cousins argued. The priest died in 2019, aged in his 70s, after suffering a heart attack. The cousins brought a High Court application, with the American lawyer who drew up the US will as respondent, seeking to have the Irish will declared valid. The court heard the priest made the Irish will in August 2001 and appointed three members of the cousins' family as executors. The cousins looked after the priest's land, and it was intended it would go to one of them and become part of his farm. However, in April 2017, he made another will which contained the standard revocation clause of all previous wills and codicils, and in which he made arrangements for his American property after he died. This included investments and a motor vehicle and his funeral arrangements. The cousins, in their court application, said they had a very close relationship with the priest and often discussed farming matters with him. The American lawyer who drew up the US will was not aware of the Irish property and had said the standard revocation clause inserted into that will was not intended to revoke the 2001 Irish will, they said. The application was heard by Mr Justice David Nolan on Friday following submissions from Daniel Cronin SC, for the cousins. There was no appearance for the US lawyer. The judge said he was satisfied to grant the order sought, and admitted the Irish will to probate. The judge said, before his death, the priest had strong links with the defendants and discussed with them how his 40 acres were looked after. The judge noted it was clear the priest and his cousins had a close relationship. He added it was also clear from his American will that he was "a man of particularity", and if he had wanted his Irish estate to be included in the US will he would have said so. The judge added that the priest also had discussions with one of his cousins about the land three months before he died. His US attorney had also expressed surprise that there was any Irish land, the judge said. He found it would be contrary to the priest's intentions if the court was to find the Irish will had been revoked, and he therefore declared it to be valid. Delhi Airport Roof collapse: Roof at Delhi Airport's Terminal-1; departures suspended till 2pm All the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital while one of them succumbed to the injuries. Delhi Airport Roof collapse, Terminal-1 accident, heavy rain weather update news today: In a shocking incident, as many as six people were injured after a portion of the roof collapsed on cars, including taxis, amid heavy rains at Terminal-1 of New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Friday. According to the report, a roof collapsed at Delhi airport after which the Delhi Fire Services were informed at around 5.30 am today. Apart from the roof sheet, the support beams also collapsed and damaged the cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal. Advertisement Meanwhile, all the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital while one of them succumbed to the injuries. Notably, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has temporarily suspended all departures from Terminal 1, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. The Delhi Airport stated, "Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhi Airport's Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected." Advertisement "As a result of this incident, all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. We sincerely regret this disruption and apologize for any inconvenience caused," it added. It is pertinent to mention that the weather department has issued an alert for the rain for over a week. (For more news apart from Delhi Airport Roof collapse, Terminal-1 accident, heavy rain weather update news today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) June 28, 2024 A roundup of local and international news. Newsflash Elena Enache, 28.06.2024, 13:55 EU Attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, the Romanian President, Klaus Iohannis, emphasized, during the talks on the EUs Strategic Agenda for the period 2024-2029, that the document must mirror the joint commitment to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU. The Romanian head of state emphasized that the new Agenda must highlight the advancement of the enlargement policy, the unity of the Union in terms of support for Ukraine and the importance of cooperation between the EU and NATO. Also in Brussels, the European leaders decided on the top positions in the EU institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, while former Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, will take over the presidency of the European Council. US ELECTIONS The Republican Donald Trumps campaign team claims his victory in Thursday nights first televised election debate with his contender, the Democratic President Joe Biden. Biden believes, however, that he did well, while the reactions to his performance are divided even in the democratic camp. The American and international media notes that the debate between the two candidates to the US presidency has been marked by personal attacks, hesitations by Biden and lies told by Trump. Abortion rights, migration, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the assault on the Capitol in January 2021 and the countrys economy were the main topics covered. LAW Penalties for slavery and human trafficking can no longer be suspended prison sentences in Romania, under the new law promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. The document, which takes effect this week, also provides for harsher penalties for such crimes, with sentences going as high as 15 years in prison. In addition, the production, storage, exposure, promotion and distribution of pornographic materials with minors, is punished with 3 to 10 years behind bars. OSCE Bucharest hosts, as of Saturday, the 31st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The theme of the summit is the parliamentary perspective on the role of the OSCE in the current security climate. The participants parliamentarians from over 50 member states of the Organization will adopt the Bucharest Declaration, a document that will include the resolutions of the general committees and the additional ones initiated by members of the Assembly. Among them will be a resolution regarding the worsening of the human rights situation in the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, in the Republic of Moldova. Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the meeting in Bucharest. WEST BANK The Israeli War Cabinet has legalized five settler outposts in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a move likely to further strain the situation in the region and complicate Israels relationship with the United States. Israel considers that most Jewish settlements in the West Bank are legal and that only a few, established without approval, are illegal. The international community, however, sees all colonies as illegal. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating by the day. On the other hand, France, Germany, Canada and the United States have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon, amid fears of conflict expansion in the Middle East. POLL The first round of the snap elections for the appointment of representatives in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French Parliament, will take place on Sunday. The almost 49 million people with the right to vote will choose between a nationalist-populist right, at the top of the electorates preferences, a left wing which is struggling to remain united and a pro-Macron majority unprepared to give up the government. The second round is scheduled for July 7. We remind you that President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly on June 9, after his partys failure in the European elections. (EE) June 28, 2024 UPDATE Click here for a roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 28.06.2024, 20:00 LAW Penalties for slavery and human trafficking can no longer be suspended prison sentences in Romania, under a new law promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. The document, which takes effect this week, also provides for harsher penalties for such crimes, with sentences going as high as 15 years in prison. In addition, the production, storage, exposure, promotion and distribution of child pornography is punished by 3 to 10 years imprisonment. ELECTIONS The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu announced he would invite the leaders of all political parties for consultations next week on the calendar of the presidential election. The announcement comes after the Social Democrats and the Liberals in the ruling coalition failed to reach an agreement on a date for this election. The prime minister pointed out that the talks were necessary as the Liberal interior minister Catalin Predoiu was not allowed by his own party to present in this Fridays Cabinet meeting the resolution setting September 15 as the presidential election date, as previously decided by the coalition. Ciolacu mentioned that as head of government he cannot favour any party or coalition, and a consultation with all political parties in Romania was the right approach. He also indicated that he would not dismiss the interior minister, so as not to create a governmental crisis and instability in the country. POVERTY As many as 4 million Romanians were affected by poverty last year, nearly 60,000 people fewer than in 2022, according to the National Statistics Institute. The institution also says that if pensions and other social transfers had not been made last year, nearly half of the countrys population would have been below the relative poverty threshold, especially the elderly. The highest poverty risks were reported in households with 3 or more children, followed by single-parent families. In terms of regions, the highest poverty rates were reported in the south-east, followed by the south-west (Oltenia), and the lowest in Bucharest and Ilfov County. EU Attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis emphasised, during the talks on the EUs Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029, that the document must reflect the joint commitment to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU. The Romanian head of state said the new Agenda must highlight the advancement of the enlargement policy, the unity of the Union in terms of support for Ukraine and the importance of cooperation between the EU and NATO. Also in Brussels, the EU leaders decided on the top positions in the blocs institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, while former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa will take over the presidency of the European Council. OSCE Bucharest hosts, as of Saturday, the 31st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The theme of the summit is the parliamentary perspective on the role of the OSCE in the current security climate. The participants, MPs from the over 50 OSCE member states, will adopt the Bucharest Declaration, a document that will include the resolutions of the general committees and additional ones initiated by members of the Assembly. Among them will be a resolution regarding the worsening of the human rights situation in the Russian-speaking breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, in the Republic of Moldova. Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the meeting in Bucharest. WILDFIRES Eighty Romanian fire-fighters are going to France to help the local authorities there put out the wild fires that may occur this summer. The measure is designed to reduce response times in the case of wild fires, to make training more efficient and to improve cooperation among the participating forces. A first group of 40 fire-fighters and 8 engines has already left for France, the General Emergency Inspectorate announced. This assistance programme is financed by the European Union as a support measure for the French communities, following the wild fires reported in the past few years in that country. AIRCRAFT Another 3 F-16 aircraft purchased by Romania from Norway reached the Campia Turzii air base in the centre of Romania, the defence ministry announced. The Romanian Air Forces have so far received 9 of the total 32 planes it has purchased, with the rest of them scheduled to reach the country by the end of next year. POLL The first round of the snap elections for the appointment of representatives in the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French Parliament, takes place on Sunday. The almost 49 million eligible voters will choose between a nationalist-populist right, at the top of the electorates preferences, a left wing which is struggling to remain united, and a pro-Macron majority unprepared to give up the government. The second round is scheduled for July 7. President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly on June 9, after his partys failure in the European elections. (EE, AMP) Romania clamps down on crime Romania takes another move against labour and human trafficking Photo: pixabay.com Daniela Budu, 28.06.2024, 14:00 Romania takes tougher measures against labour and human trafficking and the sentences in these cases can on longer be suspended, under a new law promulgated by the countrys president Klaus Iohannis. The law, endorsed by the decision-making Chamber of Deputies on May 28 is aimed at fighting trafficking in minors and people. The new regulations do away with the possibility of suspended sentences regarding the crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking, sentences, which can reach up to 15 jail years and the cancellation of some rights. Furthermore, if criminals prove to be public servants, family members or foster parents, prison sentences can go up to 20 years. Under the aforementioned law, other crimes such as the production, storage, presentation and promotion in any way of pornographic materials with minors by means of IT systems or other electronic communication means are punishable with prison sentences from one to three years. The law also covers the attempted crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking while the victims consent cannot serve as mitigating circumstances. This law is not the only measure taken by Romania in an attempt to fight the scourge. The 2024-2028 national strategy against human trafficking has been recently launched in Bucharest with a view to curbing this phenomenon, identifying and offering assistance to the victims and punishing traffickers. According to the authorities, the country has made significant headway in its efforts to fight the phenomenon as compared to the early 2000s, both in terms of setting up the legal framework and the necessary institutional organization. However, authorities have admitted there is still room for improvement. The latest annual report on human trafficking issued by the US Department of State last year said that Romania did not fully meet the minimum standards regarding the fight against human trafficking. According to the aforementioned document the justice, investigators and child protection authorities in Romania rather sided with traffickers and proved extremely tough on victims. Another report released this year by the International Justice Mission, an international organisation fighting against the vulnerability of the victims of human trafficking has described the legislative amendments in the field as not being in accordance with the human trafficking problematic but rather punctual and uncorrelated. According to data released by the National Agency against Human Trafficking since this institutions foundation in 2005, Romania reported 19 thousand cases of human trafficking and roughly four thousand convictions. (bill) Who are the new leaders of European institutions? The President of Romania took part in the European Council meeting in Brussels, where the European leaders picked the next leaders of EU institutions Charles Michel, Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas on the sidelines of the European Council meeting Corina Cristea, 28.06.2024, 13:50 Meeting for the second time after the European Parliament election at the start of June, EU leaders decided who will occupy the key positions in EU institutions. Ursula von der Leyen was nominated for the presidency of the Commission, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas for the position of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa will take over the presidency of the European Council. The three positions are thus divided between the three political groups that form the majority in the European Parliament the European Peoples Party, Renew and the Social-Democrats. As head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas will also have to tackle the issue of Union security. This is enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. Theres war in Europe, theres also growing instability globally that are also the main challenges of European foreign policy. The appointments were agreed on the sidelines of a negotiation meeting held within in a limited framework, attended by six European leaders from the three pro-European political groups, which favor the deepening of European integration and the consolidation of the EUs prerogatives, something that irritated the head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, who was left out of these talks. Negotiating the positions were German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Polish and Greek Prime Ministers Donald Tusk and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Interim Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Meloni, whose party is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the European Parliament, said the six negotiators had formed an oligarchy to decide upon the next positions without taking into account will of citizens who voted in the European Parliament election of June 6-9. The election confirmed an increase in voters choices for Eurosceptic conservative parties, without, however, overturning the majority formed by the EPP, S&D and Renew. Leaders of EU member states also adopted the strategic agenda of the Union for the next five years, with economic competitiveness, the defense of democratic values, internal reforms for the expansion of the Union and security among the top priorities. The agenda also stipulates budget allocations for defense spending. According to Ursula von der Leyen, the EU needs an additional 500 bln EUR for defense in the next 10 years Ukraine remains another priority, both in terms of EU accession and financial and military assistance. During talks regarding the EU Strategic Agenda, Romanias president, Klaus Iohannis, said the document must reflect joint commitments to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential EU at global level. (VP) If launched, new Honda Freed would be a versatile rival to Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, XL6, Kia Carens and Mahindra Marazzo MPVs in India Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) once offered a comprehensive lineup including the Accord and CR-V. Now, the company has three models Amaze, City and Elevate. New Gen Amaze is speculated to be in development and there is potential for Honda to expand its Indian portfolio. Should the just-launched Honda Freed be a prospective offering? We think so. New Honda Freed Most Versatile Compact MPV? MPVs in India have been a popular choice for large families or just general purpose. We have Renault Kiger in the sub 4m segment, Maruti Ertiga, XL6, Mahindra Marazzo and Kia Carens in compact segment and a few premium ones higher up the range. At 4,310mm in length and 2,740mm in wheelbase, new Honda Freed will rival the likes of Ertiga, Carens, Marazzo and XL6. Price-wise, new 3rd Gen Honda Freed costs between JPY 2.5 million and JPY 3.4 million. Roughly Rs 13 lakh and Rs 17.8 lakh, in todays currency exchange. With the 3rd generation model, Honda Freed gets an all-new design language, offered in two different flavours Air (standard) and Crosstar (crossover DNA). While overall silhouette is identical, Crosstar gets crossover elements like body cladding all around along with unique front fascia with a distinct grill, bumper design and added fog lights. This new iteration packs a flat bonnet, upright face, rectangular conventional headlights with twin LED DRL bars. Both Air and Crosstar get rear sliding doors, but wheel designs are unique. At the rear, we now get vertical pixel-style LED tail lights and a massive tailgate that scratches the entirety of this vehicles rear section. Honda Freed Air can be had with 2+2+2 or 2+2+3 seating layout options. However, Crosstar can be had with either 2+3 or 2+2+2 layouts. Honda Freed Crosstar 5+2 has a large modular boot area that can be utilised for outdoor activities and even a pegboard. On the inside, there is a large central free-standing infotainment screen, dashboard-mounted gear selector, 2-spoke steering wheel, a fully digital TFT instrument screen, ventilated seats, electronic parking brake, rear AC vents with dedicated blower, a lot of cubby holes, swivelling front passenger seat, fabric-clad plastic trims and other attributes. Powertrain and performance While the new Honda Freed ticks all the boxes for being a versatile MPV, many more boxes are remaining to tick, where powertrains are concerned. There are two powertrains to speak of. Firstly, it gets a 1.5L NA petrol L15D 4-cylinder DOHC engine (117 bhp and 142 Nm), paired with a CVT gearbox. Secondly, Honda Freed also offers the e:HEV hybrid system (LEB) with a 1.5L NA petrol engine and a 121 bhp and 253 Nm electric motor driving front wheels. Honda is offering AWD option with both NA petrol and Hybrid powertrain options. Fuel efficiency is 16.1 km/l with petrol-only and 25 km/l with petrol hybrid (both WLTC claimed). Who wouldnt want a Honda vehicle that offers seating options of 2+3, 2+2+2 and 2+2+3, powertrain options between petrol and petrol hybrid, drivetrain options between FWD and AWD, fuel efficiency between 16.2 km/l to 25 km/l along with packing a modern interior, funky crossover exterior and sliding doors? Right? 1 of 11 Also read Honda offering 3rd party CNG kit officially via dealers Underpinned by Geelys CMA platform, Renault Grand Koleos SUV has a lot in common with Geely Xingyue L mid-size crossover SUV Renault has showcased the 3rd-gen version of its Koleos SUV at the ongoing Busan Motor Show 2024. It will go on sale as the Grand Koleos. The latest 3rd-gen Koleos is based on Geelys Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform. Geely has around one-third share in Renaults Korea unit. Heres the first official look. Renault Grand Koleos Unveiled Key details Koleos has some relevance in India. First-gen Renault Koleos was introduced here in September 2011. It was later discontinued due to a lack of sales for sustenance. Around a decade later, test mules of 2nd Gen Renault Koleos were spotted multiple times in 2022. However, there was no further development. Measuring 4,780 mm in length, the 3rd-gen model is the longest version ever of the Koleos SUV. Thats longer than the Tata Safari which is 4,668 mm long. In effect, Renault Grand Koleos will have a dominating road presence. With its crossover styling, Grand Koleos will be easily distinguishable on the streets. Based on Geely Xingyue L SUV When under development, Grand Koleos was internally codenamed the Renault Aurora 1 project. It was one of the two new SUVs that the French carmaker was developing in Korea. Grand Koleos does not have any linkages with any of the mainstream indigenous Renault models on sale globally. Second-gen Koleos was based on the CMF-CD platform, jointly developed by Renault-Nissan. The 3rd Gen model, however, is based on Geelys CMA platform which can also be seen with Volvo XC40. It is also in use with various other models including Lynk & Co vehicles. Renault and Geely have partnered in another venture named the HORSE Powertrain Limited. This entity focuses on design, development, production and sales of hybrid powertrain systems and components such as battery packs. In addition to the Grand Koleos, there will be multiple new SUVs that will be jointly developed by Geely and Renault. Performance, Design and Features Powering the Grand Koleos will be a hybrid powertrain, comprising a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and twin electric motors. Total power output will be 245 hp. Drive and terrain modes will be offered as standard. More specific details about the SUVs performance are yet to be revealed. Talking about exteriors, the core silhouette is familiar with the Geely Xingyue L SUV sold in China. Much of the sheet metal panels of Grand Koleos are the same as Xingyue L SUV. However, the front and rear sections have a unique look. For example, Grand Koleos has a new borderless grille and a unique design for the front and rear bumpers. Side profile is distinguishable with a new set of alloy wheels. Inside, Renault Grand Koleos has three 12.3-inch screens. Theres the infotainment screen, the instrument console and a dedicated screen for the front passenger. The infotainment system supports 5G, OTA updates, video streaming and more. Other key features on the inside include leather seats, a panoramic sunroof, and wood and faux aluminium trim. Renault Grand Koleos India launch? It is unlikely that Renault has any immediate plans to bring the Grand Koleos to India. For now, Grand Koleos will only be available in Korea. For the Indian market, Renault is readying the Duster and probably, Bigster SUVs. Renault is also planning some updates for its existing line-up in India. A new top-spec sporty version of Kiger SUV and an electric Kiger are under development. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam held a meeting to discuss strategic transport infrastructure development and cooperation on Thursday in Beijing. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in an address that China is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached between the two parties' top leaders. China is ready to speed up the connectivity of transport infrastructure, promote bilateral economic and trade exchanges, and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Zhang said. Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh said at the meeting that Vietnam is willing to promote bilateral economic ties through transport connectivity, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and boost the two countries' development for the benefit of the two peoples. A team of paleontologists from the United Kingdom and the United States has analyzed the fossil record of ammonites marine mollusks often distinguished by their coiled shells through the Late Cretaceous epoch (100.5 to 66 million years ago), characterized by some scientists as an interval of decline prior to their total extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Their results show that instead of fizzling out ahead of their extinction, ammonoids were still going strong across the globe in the Late Cretaceous. Ammonoids flourished in Earths oceans for more than 350 million years until they died out during the same chance event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Some paleontologists have argued that their demise was inevitable and that the diversity of ammonites (the last major lineage of ammonoids) was decreasing long before they went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period. However, the new study shows that their fate was not set in stone; instead, the final chapter in ammonite evolutionary history is more complex. Understanding how and why biodiversity has changed through time is very challenging, said Dr. Joseph Flannery-Sutherland, a paleontologist at the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol. The fossil record tells us some of the story, but it is often an unreliable narrator. Patterns of diversity can just reflect patterns of sampling, essentially where and when we have found new fossil species, rather than actual biological history. Analyzing the existing Late Cretaceous ammonite fossil record as though it were the complete, global story is probably why previous researchers have thought they were in long-term ecological decline. To overcome this issue, Dr. Flannery-Sutherland and his colleagues assembled a new database of Late Cretaceous ammonite fossils to help fill in the sampling gaps in their record. We drew on museum collections to provide new sources of specimens rather than just relying on what had already been published, said Cameron Crossan, a researcher at the University of Bristol. This way we could be sure that we were getting a more accurate picture of their biodiversity prior to their total extinction. Using their database, the paleontologists then analyzed how ammonite speciation and extinction rates varied in different parts of the globe. If ammonites were in decline through the Late Cretaceous, then their extinction rates would have been generally higher than their speciation rates wherever the team looked. What the researchers instead found was that the balance of speciation and extinction changed both through geological time and between different geographic regions. These differences in ammonoid diversification around the world are a crucial part of why their Late Cretaceous story has been misunderstood, said Dr. James Witts, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum, London. Their fossil record in parts of North America is very well sampled, but if you looked at this alone then you might think that they were struggling, while they were actually flourishing in other regions. Their extinction really was a chance event and not an inevitable outcome. To find out what was responsible for the continued success of ammonites through the Late Cretaceous, the scientists looked at potential factors might have caused their diversity to change through time. They were particularly interested in whether their speciation and extinction rates were driven mainly by environmental conditions like ocean temperature and sea level, or by biological processes like pressure from predators and competition between ammonites themselves. What we found was that the causes of ammonite speciation and extinction were as geographically varied as the rates themselves, said Dr. Corinne Myers, a paleontologist at the University of New Mexico. You couldnt just look at their total fossil record and say that their diversity was driven entirely by changing temperature, for example. It was more complex than that and depended on where in the world they were living. The teams results appear in the journal Nature Communications. _____ J.T. Flannery-Sutherland et al. 2024. Late Cretaceous ammonoids show that drivers of diversification are regionally heterogeneous. Nat Commun 15, 5382; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49462-z London stocks were set to rise at the open on Friday as investors mulled better-than-expected UK GDP data. The FTSE 100 was called to open around 24 points higher. Data released earlier by the Office for National Statistics showed that the economy grew faster than first thought in the first three months of the year. Gross domestic product grew by 0.7% in the first quarter, up from an initial estimate of 0.6% growth. The figures showed that the services sector expanded by 0.8%, up from the initial estimate of 0.7% growth. Meanwhile, production was up 0.6% in the first quarter, down from 0.8% initially estimated. The construction sector contracted 0.6%. Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said the upward revision to Q1 GDP "suggests whoever is Prime Minister this time next week may benefit from the economic recovery being a bit stronger than our already above-consensus forecast". Looking ahead to the rest of the day, investors will be eyeing US personal consumption expenditure for May at 1330 BST. In corporate news, Quanex Building Products announced an increased and final recommended cash and share offer for Tyman. It said that after feedback from Tyman shareholders, the revised proposal included a special interim dividend of 15p per share in addition to the previous consideration of 240p and 0.05715 of a new Quanex share per Tyman share. The Tyman board has unanimously recommended the revised offer, and secured an irrevocable undertaking from Alantra EQMC Asset Management to support the scheme, representing 10.05% of its issued share capital. Scientific instruments group Judges Scientific has spent 2.25m on the purchase of Wales-based Rockwash Geodata, a specialist in rock cuttings and chippings digitalisation. The company said Rockwash is a market leader in its niche and has a business that is strongly synergistic with the core digitalisation activities of its subsidiary Geotek. The podcast Serial resulted in such a remarkable surge in popularity for true-crime podcasts that researchers have since studied the "Serial effect" on real-life court cases and juries. The first season of the series came out in 2014, and is the subject of Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial by Rabia Chaudry (St. Martin's Griffin, $20). In the decade since, true-crime podcasts have come to represent nearly a quarter of chart-topping podcasts across platforms. With such incredible growth in the genre, it's perhaps no surprise that several novels have since centered on the journalistic process of using real life crimes to inspire popular media. Rebecca Makkai probes the ethics of investigating old crimes in I Have Some Questions for You (Penguin, $19), as a podcaster returns to her high school campus to teach a podcasting class and winds up encouraging a student to dig into the 20-year old case of a murdered classmate. The novel has some notable parallels to the arc of the Serial podcast (a journalistic revisiting of a crime believed to be solved by local police, but with more than a few gaping holes in the case), but in Makkai's skilled hands, it never feels derivative, grappling not only with the ethics of true-crime podcasting but also questions of race, class, privilege, and social media in careful and thoughtful ways. The case at the center of Katie Gutierrez's More Than You'll Ever Know (Morrow, $19.99) is also decades old, as a true-crime writer becomes obsessed with the details of a case against a husband accused of murdering his wife's secret second spouse. Though it seems cut-and-dried at first blush--a jealous lover sent into a rage by his wife's betrayal--the writer's mind is caught on just a few too many loose ends, threads she is determined to tie up despite the family's unexpected resistance to revisiting the case. Meanwhile, Denise Mina's Conviction (Mulholland, $18.99) moves from the perspective of the true crime journalist to that of a listener, as an avid podcast fan realizes the victim of her latest listen is connected to her past. Kate Clayborn moves the true-crime premise into the romance genre with The Other Side of Disappearing (Kensington, $17.95), as a seasoned journalist and her apprentice investigating a conman link up with the daughters of the man's partner on an epic road trip in search of answers. Most recently, I devoured None of This Is True (Atria, $28) by Lisa Jewell, swept up in the story of a podcaster who realizes partway through recording that she's making a true-crime podcast of her own life as she interviews the most unreliable of narrators for a feature. And as summer reading season commences in my part of the world, I'll be sticking with my paradoxical trend of true-crime novels on the beach this month. Next up: Amy Tintera's 2024 new novel, Listen for the Lie (Celadon, $26.99), which our reviewer called "quite sexy, compulsively readable, and laugh-out-loud funny." --Kerry McHugh, freelance writer In a significant development, Ambuja Cements, a key entity of the Adani Group, announced the approval of its board for the merger of Adani Cementation Ltd with the company. Adani Cementation, presently a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, will transition into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ambuja Cements once the Scheme of Amalgamation gains regulatory and shareholder approvals. The merger is designed on a share swap basis. Under this arrangement, Adani Enterprises will receive 8.7 million shares of Ambuja Cements in exchange for its holdings in Adani Cementation. The specified swap ratio is 174 shares of Ambuja Cements for each share of Adani Cementation. This strategic move aims to enhance operational efficiency and fortify Ambuja Cements footprint along Indias coastal regions. The integration of Adani Cementation is poised to significantly augment Ambuja Cements operational capabilities, particularly due to Adani Cementations strategic assets near Dahej Port in Gujarat and the Amba River in Raigad, Maharashtra. These locations are expected to facilitate efficient sea and rail logistics for clinker sourcing, thus better serving the burgeoning markets of South Gujarat and Mumbai. Furthermore, the merger is set to boost Ambujas limestone reserves, vital for cement production. Adani Cementation has already acquired land to establish a 2.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) cement plant along with a captive jetty at Amba River. Additionally, it has commissioned a 1.3 MTPA cement grinding unit at Dahej, with plans for a further 1.2 MTPA expansion. Ambuja Cements highlighted that this merger would provide a competitive edge by optimizing logistics and accessing strategic markets. The consolidation is expected to lead to better synergies and operational efficiencies, crucial for the companys growth in high-demand regions. This merger aligns with the Adani Groups ambitious expansion strategy in the cement sector. Currently, Ambuja Cements has an installed capacity of 79 MTPA and aims to scale up to 140 MTPA by 2028. The groups recent activities reflect this aggressive growth trajectory, including the acquisition of Hyderabad-based Penna Cement at an enterprise value of Rs 10,422 crore. This acquisition, adding 14 MTPA, will bring Ambujas capacity to 93 MTPA. This follows the December acquisition of Sanghi Industries Ltd in Saurashtra for Rs 5,185 crore. Ambuja Cements from the Swiss firm Holcim, a deal valued at approximately USD 6.4 billion (about Rs 51,000 crore). Ambuja subsequently launched a Rs 31,000 crore open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake from public shareholders. Ambuja Cements also holds a 51% stake in ACC Ltd, enhancing its competitive positioning in the market. Adani Groups entry into the cement industry began in September 2022 with the acquisition of controlling stakes infrom the Swiss firm Holcim, a deal valued at approximately USD 6.4 billion (about Rs 51,000 crore). Ambuja subsequently launched a Rs 31,000 crore open offer to acquire an additional 26% stake from public shareholders. Ambuja Cements also holds a 51% stake in ACC Ltd, enhancing its competitive positioning in the market. The Indian cement industry, which boasts a total installed capacity of 541 MTPA according to the Cement Manufacturers Association, is led by UltraTech Cement Ltd with a capacity of 152.7 MTPA. Adani Groups strategic moves through acquisitions and expansions underscore its commitment to becoming a formidable player in this sector, capitalizing on synergies from its wide-ranging assets and investments. The Market Research Society of India (MRSI) has announced Nitin Kamat as its new President for the tenure of 2024-2027. Kamat, currently Chief Growth & Partnerships Officer at TAM Media Research, succeeds Paru Minocha of Kantar. His election was confirmed during MRSIs 36th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai. Kamat, previously serving as Treasurer and a member of MRSIs ISEC Committee, brings a wealth of industry experience to his new role. His election underscores the confidence in his leadership within the market research community. Joining Kamat in the new Managing Committee are Puneet Avasthi and Shuvadip Banerjee as Vice-Presidents, Anila Vinayakas as Secretary, and Parijat Chakraborty as Treasurer. This committee represents a broad spectrum of research agencies, research users, and service providers, aiming to uphold and promote high standards in market research practices in India. Reflecting on her tenure, outgoing President Paru Minocha acknowledged key accomplishments under her leadership, including the launch of the Socio-economic Classification System (ISEC) and the Market Sizing report for FY 2022-23. These initiatives have significantly advanced MRSIs vision and impact in the industry. industry stakeholders such as The Indian Society of Advertisers and major research agencies has strengthened MRSIs position in the market research landscape. Under Minochas leadership, MRSI focused on three strategic pillars: building Profile, building Pride, and expanding Network and Reach. The successful adoption of ISEC bysuch as The Indian Society of Advertisers and major research agencies has strengthened MRSIs position in the market research landscape. Looking forward, Nitin Kamat outlined his vision for MRSI, emphasizing the need for agility and innovation in response to industry shifts. He aims to enhance global and governmental relations, foster collaboration among members, and promote the professional development of market research professionals. MRSI plans to announce the Indian Research & Insights Industry 2024 Update in September, highlighting the sectors growth and prospects. Kamat expressed confidence in achieving these goals alongside the new Managing Committee, promising to uphold MRSIs commitment to excellence and integrity in market research. Stocks to Watch on Friday, June 28, 2024: Benchmark equity indices may extend their winning streak on Friday, backed by a positive trend in Asian peers. At 8:20 am, GIFT Nifty futures quoted around 24,190 levels, hinting at a likely gap-up of over 50 points on the Nifty 50. Reliance Industries: On Thursday, June 27, Reliance Jio announced a 12 percent to 25 percent tariff hike on its prepaid and postpaid plans, marking its first price increase in two and a half years. Telecom Stocks: The new plans will take effect from July 3. This announcement follows Jio's acquisition of 14.4 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band for Rs 973 crore in the recent auction. Other major telecom operators, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, are also expected to raise their tariffs soon. Wockhardt Hospitals: Wockhardt Hospitals in Mira Road has been accredited for its Advanced Stroke Centre by the Quality and Accreditation Institute's (QAI) Centre for Accreditation of Health and Social Care (CAHSC). CAHSC operates accreditation and certification programs in the health and social care sector. Raymond: Raymond shareholders approved the reappointment of Gautam Hari Singhania as Chairman and Managing Director for a five-year term starting on July 1, 2024. Singhania received majority support during the companys Annual General Meeting on Thursday. JSW Infrastructure: JSW Infrastructure has announced its acquisition of a 70.37 percent stake in Navkar Corporation for approximately Rs 1,012 crore on Thursday. This move marks JSW's entry into the logistics industry. The company has entered into a share purchase agreement with certain promoters and members of the promoter group of Navkar Corporation to acquire 10,59,19,675 equity shares, representing 70.37 percent of Navkars total equity share capital, at a price of Rs 95.61 per share, as per a filing by JSW Infrastructure. BHEL: State-owned engineering firm BHEL has been awarded a Rs 13,300 crore contract to build a 1,600 MW thermal power plant in Koderma, Jharkhand, by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). The DVC finalized the tender for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) package of Koderma TPS (2X800MW) with BHEL on June 26, 2024, as stated by the power ministry. This investment is expected to significantly boost the local economy and benefit residents, raising DVCs installed thermal generation capacity to 8,140 MW by 2030. AU Small Finance Bank: The private sector lender plans to raise up to Rs 5,000 crore through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) and other methods and intends to borrow up to Rs 6,000 crore by issuing debt instruments. India Cements: Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani and his associates sold a 23 percent equity stake in India Cements for Rs 1,889 crore. The transaction was completed at an average price of Rs 267.74 per share on the BSE. UltraTech Cement, India's leading cement manufacturer, acquired the entire block with the aim of bolstering its presence in the southern market. UltraTech Cement: India's largest cement company, UltraTech Cement, has approved the acquisition of a nearly 23 percent stake in India Cements, as per their board's announcement. Polycab: The promoters plan to sell up to a 2.04 percent stake through block deals at an offer price ranging between Rs 6,535 and Rs 6,989.25 per share. This represents a discount of up to 6.5 percent from Thursdays closing price. At the lower end of the price band, the offer size totals Rs 2,005.9 crore. Additionally, there will be a 90-day lock-up period on any further sale of shares. Ambuja Cement: On Thursday, June 27, Adani Groups Ambuja Cements Ltd announced that its board of directors has approved the merger with Adani Cementation Ltd (ACL). RBL Bank: The board has approved plans to raise funds totaling Rs 3,500 crore in one or more stages, which will make up 15 percent of the bank's equity share capital after the issue. Additionally, the bank has authorized the The board has approved plans to raise funds totaling Rs 3,500 crore in one or more stages, which will make up 15 percent of the bank's equity share capital after the issue. Additionally, the bank has authorized the issuance of debt securities through private placement, with the goal of raising up to Rs 3,000 crore in one or more stages over time. Samhi Hotel: GTI Capital Alpha is planning to sell a 3 percent stake in Samhi Hotels through block deals. The floor price is set at Rs 187.07 per share, which is a 1 percent discount to Thursdays closing price. The initial size of the deal is 3 percent, but there is an option to increase it to 5 percent. At the base size, the deal amounts to Rs 120 crore, and if upsized, it could reach Rs 193 crore. As of the end of the March quarter, GTI Capital Alpha held a 6.24 percent stake in Samhi Hotels. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The NYPD is touting a recent operation in which more than a dozen illegal mopeds were taken off the streets of Staten Island. On Tuesday, the NYPD Patrol Borough Staten Island conducted a joint operation with NYPD Highway following numerous community complaints about the illegal operation of mopeds, according to a post by NYPD Staten Island on X, formerly known as Twitter. Responding to numerous community complaints about the illegal operation of mopeds, we conducted a joint operation w/ @NYPDHighway yesterday. This effort lead to 4 arrests & 14 illegal mopeds confiscated. We will continue these efforts to ensure the safety of all this summer. pic.twitter.com/Utbp1BrNzX NYPD Staten Island (@NYPDstatenIslnd) June 26, 2024 The effort resulted in four arrests and the confiscation of 14 illegal mopeds, as reported in the post. We will continue these efforts to ensure the safety of all this summer, the post reads. THE WAR AGAINST ILLEGAL MOPEDS This latest seizure comes on the heels of an announcement at the beginning of June by Mayor Eric Adams and the NYPD marking the start of a campaign against illegal mopeds, motorized scooters, ATVs and bikes. Gathering together at the Fresh Kills Landfill, Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban then oversaw the demolition of more than 200 illegal vehicles seized during the first five months of the year. In recent years, the use of illegal scooters, mopeds and bikes in street robberies and grand larcenies has increased exponentially, according to data provided by the NYPD. These illegal vehicles have no place in New York City, said Caban. These motorbikes are dangerous and reckless, and they put everyone on our streets and sidewalks at risk. On top of that, these bikes have become the vehicle of choice in the commission of robberies and other violent crime patterns across our city. Through the first five months of 2022, police tracked 10 robbery patterns made up of 44 complaints regarding these types of vehicles. Those figures more than doubled to 22 robbery patterns made up of 104 complaints during the first five months of 2023, before soaring to 79 robbery patterns made up of 415 complaints during the initial five months of 2024. When it comes to protecting public safety, this administration is crushing it and that includes our efforts to crack down on the ongoing issue of illegal mopeds and scooters on our streets and sidewalks, said Adams. Mopeds and scooters are not only endangering pedestrians when they are driven recklessly, but we have also seen an exponential increase in criminals using them to ride around and snatch property from New Yorkers. Throughout 2023, the NYPD confiscated 18,430 illegal and unregistered motorized scooters, bikes and ATVs, representing the highest one-year total in New York City history, and is on pace to shatter that record this year with more than 13,000 seizures through the end of May. As the operation of these vehicles is expected to spike over the summer months, officials noted that they were ramping up their efforts. The NYPD will strategically deploy Community Response Team (CRT) officers to laser in on getting these illegal vehicles off city streets. Additionally, law enforcement announced it would increase the use of checkpoints staged at bridges, tunnels and other major roadways and crossings. As of late, law enforcement has been cracking down on ghost cars and toll evaders through various operations conducted at bridges throughout New York City. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Richmond man was arrested Wednesday in the wake of an incident in which he allegedly yelled antisemitic statements at passengers aboard a Manhattan train. Anas Saleh, 24, of the 300 block of Ardsley Street, was charged with attempted coercion and released with a bench appearance ticket, a police spokesperson said. According to police, on Monday, June 10, at approximately 8:45 p.m., a 35-year-old male victim was aboard a northbound train when Saleh made antisemitic statements towards him. An NYPD social media post alleged that Saleh shouted: Raise your hands if youre a Zionist; this is your chance to get out. The New York Post reported that Mayor Eric Adams condemned the ordeal as vile. A City Hall spokesperson told the outlet that while New York City will always protect the right to free speech, it will never allow the city to descend into lawlessness. The Manhattan DAs office and NYPD have been actively investigating this incident since it occurred, said a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. We encourage anyone with additional information to call 212-335-9040. Police say the incident is still under investigation. Salehs next court appearance is scheduled for July 1. An attorney for Saleh was not listed in court documents. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Local Staten Island rock trio, Our Own Yokos, has released their new single, Carry On, to recount the ebbs and flows of a dwindling relationship by way of New York City. When first meeting through a mutual friend in 2013, guitarist and vocalist Shaun Gold and bassist Brian Buchanan, instantly connected through their discussion of The Beatles and Zeppelin soon realizing they wanted to make music together. They then completed the group with the addition of drummer Cole Rice. When it came to naming the band, Our Own Yokos had their name set years before they ever played. Brian (Buchanan) and I were discussing The Beatles as we usually do, recalls Gold. Not only does Yoko Ono get a bad rap, she also brought some of the most emotional and visceral feelings out of John; something the world overall became better for. I think we all saw that on full display during the latest Peter Jackson documentary. In our opinion, everyone should have their own Yoko. Local Staten Island rock band, 'Our Own Yokos,' formed by Shaun Gold, Brian Buchanan, and Cole Rice. (Photo Courtesy of Our Own Yokos)Our Own Yokos Following their last single, Deriving Dariya, Carry On releases today, June 28, and is the fifth single in Our Own Yokos discography. This is perhaps our most universal song, said Buchanan. Dancing between acoustic, rock, and jazz with our most on-point messaging in the chorus we pack in a little something for everyone. Carry On opens with an acoustic guitar intro, setting the scene of an emotionally charged love song with Gold lamenting at the passage of time and unanswered phone calls. The song then kicks into high gear with the contribution of Buchanans piano and organ, and Rices drums. That line about having no change for the pay-phone and the ferry missing in action thats taken straight out of a night in Manhattan, said Gold. I ended up waiting an hour for the next boat back home to Staten Island, with no ability to call anyone and let them know where I was. Every commuting New Yorker has experienced that feeling, but every human has shared the experience of feeling trapped whether it is with a person, in a situation, or both! Local Staten Island rock band, 'Our Own Yokos,' formed by Shaun Gold, Brian Buchanan, and Cole Rice. (Photo Courtesy of Our Own Yokos)Our Own Yokos All we want to do is write songs we want to hear, and be who we are, stated Gold. Were a rock band, we just love what we do, and we hope that rubs off on those that choose to rock with us. As of now, Our Own Yokos has three upcoming live shows on Staten Island. With The Rock House on Aug. 2, the Raritan Bay Festival at The Conference House on Aug. 3, and the Summer Jam Series at the Staten Island FerryHawks Stadium on Aug. 22. Recorded by Jerry Farley at Nova Studios, Rain Johannes at Goose Room, and Nick Pitman at Star Command Audio Solutions, mastered by Joe Ippolito and now out on all streaming services via Galloping Root Publishing, Carry On can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Check out the band on Instagram and their website. Our Own Yokos will be performing at the Staten Island FerryHawks Summer Jam Series. (Photo Courtesy of Our Own Yokos)Our Own Yokos STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- More than 200,000 migrants have come through New York City since the start of Spring 2022, with the city spending close to $5 billion to provide them with food and shelter over the past two years. The city has claimed that many of the migrants are seeking asylum in the United States, meaning they may soon be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program provides electronic benefits that can be used to purchase select food items from thousands of grocery stores and other retailers to help low-income working residents, senior citizens, those with disabilities and others put food on the table. Many assume that SNAP benefits are only available to U.S. citizens, but there are various groups of non-citizens who may be eligible, so long as they meet all other standard requirements for the program. Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens may receive SNAP benefits. SNAP is not and has never been available to undocumented non-citizens. Non-citizens, like tourists and students, are generally not eligible. Non-citizens who are eligible based on their immigration status must meet SNAP eligibility requirements, such as income and resource limits, and may also need to meet a waiting period, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The following non-citizen groups are immediately eligible for SNAP benefits, with no waiting period, as long as they meet all other SNAP financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. Refugees Individuals granted asylum Victims of severe trafficking Deportation withheld Amerasians Cuban and Haitian entrants Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants (SIV) Certain American Indians born abroad Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members While those who are granted asylum are immediately eligible to apply for SNAP benefits, those who have applied for asylum, but have not yet been approved, must wait until a decision is rendered in their case. The following non-citizen groups are eligible for the program after a five-year waiting period, as long as they meet all other SNAP financial and non-financial eligibility requirements. Lawful permanent residents (LPR) or Green Card holders Those granted parole for a period of at least one year Conditional entrants Battered non-citizens Individuals in one of these four groups may still be eligible for SNAP without a waiting period if they: Are a child under 18 years old Are blind or disabled and receiving benefits for assistance for your condition Were lawfully residing in the U.S. and 65 or older on Aug. 22, 1996 Have a U.S. Military connection For more information on SNAP eligibility for non-citizens, visit the FNS website. The aforementioned groups must also meet the following income and work requirements in order to qualify for the program, but the only true way to know if youre eligible is to apply. If your households gross income is below these amounts, it does not ensure that you will be eligible for a benefit. A SNAP budget must be calculated for your household in order to determine eligibility and benefit amount. The only way to determine if your household is eligible for SNAP benefits is to apply, according to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). INCOME REQUIREMENTS To qualify for SNAP benefits, residents must earn below certain income thresholds, which vary based on the number of family members in the household. Heres a look at the income eligibility thresholds for SNAP through September 2024. Income Guidelines for Households without Earned Income (no elderly or disabled member) 1-person household Monthly Gross Income: $1,580 Annual Gross Income: $18,960 2-person household Monthly Gross Income: $2,137 Annual Gross Income: $25,644 3-person household Monthly Gross Income: $2,694 Annual Gross Income: $32,328 4-person household Monthly Gross Income: $3,250 Annual Gross Income: $39,000 5-person household Monthly Gross Income: $3,807 Annual Gross Income: $45,684 6-person household Monthly Gross Income: $4,364 Annual Gross Income: $52,368 7-person household Monthly Gross Income: $4,921 Annual Gross Income: $59,052 8-person household Monthly Gross Income: $5,478 Annual Gross Income: $65,736 Each additional person Monthly Gross Income: $557 + Annual Gross Income: $6,684 + Income Guidelines for Households with Earned Income (no elderly or disabled member) 1-person household Monthly Gross Income: $1,823 Annual Gross Income: $21,876 2-person household Monthly Gross Income: $2,465 Annual Gross Income: $29,580 3-person household Monthly Gross Income: $3,108 Annual Gross Income: $37,296 4-person household Monthly Gross Income: $3,750 Annual Gross Income: $45,000 5-person household Monthly Gross Income: $4,393 Annual Gross Income: $52,716 6-person household Monthly Gross Income: $5,035 Annual Gross Income: $60,420 7-person household Monthly Gross Income: $5,678 Annual Gross Income: $68,136 8-person household Monthly Gross Income: $6,320 Annual Gross Income: $75,840 Each additional person Monthly Gross Income: $643 + Annual Gross Income: $7,716 + Income Guidelines for Households with an older or disabled member and households with dependent care expenses 1-person household Monthly Gross Income: $2,430 Annual Gross Income: $29,160 2-person household Monthly Gross Income: $3,287 Annual Gross Income: $39,444 3-person household Monthly Gross Income: $4,143 Annual Gross Income: $49,716 4-person household Monthly Gross Income: $5,000 Annual Gross Income: $60,000 5-person household Monthly Gross Income: $5,857 Annual Gross Income: $70,284 6-person household Monthly Gross Income: $6,713 Annual Gross Income: $80,556 7-person household Monthly Gross Income: $7,570 Annual Gross Income: $90,840 8-person household Monthly Gross Income: $8,427 Annual Gross Income: $101,124 Each additional person Monthly Gross Income: $857 + Annual Gross Income: $10,284 + WORK REQUIREMENTS In order to receive SNAP benefits, residents must also fulfill general work requirements, which include registering for work, participating in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) or workfare if assigned by your state SNAP agency, taking a suitable job if offered, and not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing your work hours below 30 a week without a good reason. While SNAP is intended to ensure no one in our land of plenty should fear going hungry, its rules also reflect the importance of work and responsibility, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Applicants are excused from the general work requirements if they meet any of the following criteria. Already working at least 30 hours a week (or earning wages at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours); Meeting work requirements for another program (TANF or unemployment compensation); Taking care of a child under 6 years old or an incapacitated person; Unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation; Participating regularly in an alcohol or drug treatment program; Studying in school or a training program at least half-time (but college students are subject to other eligibility rules). The program has an additional set of work requirements for able bodied adults without dependents that limits those who can not verify their employment or job training status to three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period. However, New York is currently operating under a federal waiver that has temporarily voided the time limit requirement through Feb. 28, 2025. HOW TO APPLY New Yorkers can apply for SNAP benefits online by following these simple steps. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The nations birthday is right around the corner, and Macys is planning its annual firework extravaganza. The 48th annual Macys 4th of July Fireworks show will light up the sky with vibrant colors and intricate designs. As the nations largest Independence Day celebration, the pyrotechnicians working on the project want this years show to be even more breath-taking than in years past. Gary Souza, the show designer of Macys 4th of July Fireworks for the past 40 years, is thrilled to see his extravagant vision coming together for another year of patriotic festivities. This years show to me is magical because the fireworks are magical, they change. Its almost like something appears and disappears right in front of you, with some of the fireworks changing colors and effects eight different times, so theyre much more dimensional appearing this year, Souza said. Show designer Gary Souza on Thursday, June 27, 2024, while Macy's is preparing for their 48th annual 4th of July Fireworks show at a New York City pier. (Staten Island Advance/Sonya Gugliara) Sonya GugliaraSonya Gugliara The 25-minute show will take place along the Hudson River on July 4th between West 14th and West 34th streets in Manhattan, and will also be visible from New Jersey, but preparations are ongoing at a New York City pier. The team wishes to keep this location under wraps for the sake of security. The 60 pyrotechnicians are already several days into the 12-day setting-up period, but Souza explained that this show has been in the works for months. It all started with compiling an energetic soundtrack for the fireworks to synchronize with. And this is no ordinary fireworks show. According to Souza, about 30% of the aerial shells have never been seen before and about 5% are from America. The Macys display includes over 60,000 shells and five barges of fireworks. Viewers should expect to be utterly wowed, he said. Weve acquired fireworks from Spain, from Portugal, in Italy, some down in China with some very unique special manufacturers, not just your basic fireworks, Souza continued, So we have fireworks that have never been seen before in New York. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Citys public library systems received a full restoration of funding in the upcoming city budget which could mean a return of service hours on Sundays. Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced Thursday the funding going back to libraries and cultural institutions in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. That includes a total of $58.2 million to the three public library systems New York Public Library (NYPL), Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library. Adams said the funding restoration was a top priority for the City Council. Since day one, our administration has been laser focused on delivering for working-class New Yorkers and by working side-by-side with our partners across the hall, we are proud to announce a full restoration of funds to both our libraries and cultural institutions in the upcoming budget, said Adams in a statement. This restoration means the return of seven-day service, with branches able to reopen on Sundays, according to the three systems in a statement on Friday. Currently, all three library systems close branches on Sundays offering services six days a week. The seven-day service was suspended in November following mid-year cuts. Brooklyn Public Library President Linda E. Johnson, Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott, and New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx, stated that the service on Sundays will begin in the coming weeks. Branches will go back to the same hours of operation prior to cuts made in November. Brooklyn, Queens, and New York Public libraries are thrilled that the budget agreement includes the full restoration of funding for public libraries a resounding victory for all New Yorkers, said the three library presidents. We are honored to be able to continue the vital programs, initiatives, and hours of operation that this great city so clearly wants, needs and deserves. Thank you, New York, for the overwhelming show of support on behalf of public libraries. Prior to the restoration, library systems said the potential cuts could mean a vast majority of branches would only be open for five days a week. Branches also faced staffing shortages, unplanned closures, deferred maintenance, canceled storytimes and additional harmful impacts, according to the three library systems. WASHINGTON, D.C. In light of states across the country passing anti-LGBTQ+ laws, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation that would outlaw discriminatory practices against both LGBTQ+ children and adopters in the foster care system. The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act would prohibit discrimination by federally funded child welfare agencies against individuals and couples on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or marital status. As states across the country attempt to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, this bill will solidify protections for some of our most marginalized and vulnerable children, and enable them to find loving homes, said Gillibrand. It will ensure that taxpayer-funded adoption service and foster care providers cannot engage in discrimination against children or potential parents. It will ban deeply damaging practices like conversion therapy, and help place foster youth in safe and loving homes. Im proud to be introducing this legislation and I look forward to fighting to get it passed, she added. The bill is also written to improve the safety of LGBTQ+ children involved with federally funded child welfare services by establishing a National Resource Center for LGBTQ+ youth. Thirteen states in the country allow child welfare agencies to turn away qualified foster and adoptive parents on the basis of their social identity, despite hundreds of thousands of children in the American foster care system seeking adoption. A brewery in Austin, Texas, is hosting a Pride Sock Hop during Pride Month. (AP photo/Nelson Antoine)AP Oklahoma, for example, passed a bill in 2018 allowing religious-based adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, single people and non-Christians. Several other states have passed or are considering similar legislation, according to Gillibrand. LGBTQ+ children, who make up at least 30% of children in foster care, suffer greater rates of mistreatment and experience worse outcomes than their peers, according to the senators office. Discrimination against LGBTQIA+ children, youth and parents has no place in child welfare services, said Linda Spears, president and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America. Discrimination too often creates stress and leads to trauma in the lives of children, especially for those children and youth in foster care, who may not have the stable and loving family they deserve. To ensure that LGBTQIA+ children and youth in care have the quality care they deserve, we must have the broadest possible pool of foster and adoptive families. We can accomplish this by identifying and assessing applicants on the basis of their ability to successfully parent a child and work with diverse family dynamics, not on the basis of their gender identity or sexuality, she added. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and X * The 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, concluded on Thursday in the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province. * China's high-quality development amid its drive to foster new quality productive forces has been a boon for countries and multinational companies across the globe. * In promoting emerging industries, China has achieved its own economic growth and also made significant contributions to global innovation and sustainable development. DALIAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Five years on, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions brought worldwide business gurus, political leaders and academic elites back to northeast China's coastal city of Dalian, exploring new horizons for future growth. Many dialogues at the event, also known as Summer Davos, led to a consensus that China's high-quality development amid its drive to foster new quality productive forces had been a boon for countries and multinational companies across the globe, helping them weather the predicament of the world economy. In various domains, ranging from technological development represented by artificial intelligence (AI) to green innovation spearheaded by new energy technologies, industry insiders at the event recognized that China is among the flagbearers, eyeing more spillover effects from China's progress. China's continuous recovery and long-term improvement, as well as the transformation, upgrading and profound changes in its economy, will surely provide new and broad space for the development of global enterprises, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang, when attending a symposium for foreign business representatives at the event. NEXT FRONTIERS WITH AI According to Chen Liming, chair of Greater China of the World Economic Forum, future growth points will revolve around technological innovation and green low-carbon exploration, creating new engines for growth amidst global transformations. Rapid advancements in areas including AI and energy transition are set to provide unprecedented momentum for the high-quality and steady development of the global economy, Chen noted. For many distinguished panelists at the event, China serves as a prominent trendsetter and a second-to-none magnet for related industries amid the trend of exploring new frontiers of AI and new energy sectors. "China's AI industry remains at the forefront globally. As a strategic technology that will lead the future, AI is considered a crucial engine for creating new quality productive forces," said Cai Wei, chief strategy officer of KPMG China Advisory, noting that the rapid development of AI in China is empowering various industries, enhancing efficiency and providing new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. China is leading the way in AI spending and serves as a significant contributor to the world economy growth brought by AI-related sectors, said Jessica Zhang, senior vice president, APAC at Automatic Data Processing Inc., an American provider of human resources management software and services, regarding China as one of the major global players in AI sector. Speaking to Xinhua, Zhang said that China's development opportunities, openness and massive data resources are surely benefiting both domestic and foreign companies. "We also see these great opportunities in China, and will continue investing in China and building our own channels to AI and AI tools." For Kang Xi, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University in the United States, AI technologies advanced in China will benefit other countries. "The technology advancements in many countries including China are open-sourced, with a spillover effect benefiting other developers globally," Kang told Xinhua. "China's computing power and its vast consumer data are going to refine the foundation of AI models and also help create customized smaller models that can be implemented in other countries." SHARING GREEN DEVELOPMENT Besides AI, China has been vigorously developing the new energy sector to meet its dual carbon commitments and help fight the climate crisis. China provides 50 percent of the world's wind power equipment and 80 percent of global photovoltaic equipment. It has driven down the cost of renewable energy and helped some other countries obtain clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Espen Mehlum, head of Energy Transition Intelligence and Regional Acceleration, World Economic Forum, spoke highly of China's green transition and highlighted its reference significance. "We need to make sure that the clean energy revolution touches all countries of the world. That's where China is playing a leading role," Mehlum said, adding that China's related industries are effectively reducing the cost of clean energy for consumers in many countries and providing them access to this green technological revolution. Benoit Boulet, associate vice principal, Innovation and Partnerships, at McGill University in Canada, also hailed China's vigorous energy transition efforts. "We have to move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible to renewable energy," Boulet said. "China is really pushing hard right now, and I think that's a signal to the world." CHINA OPPORTUNITIES Business leaders from across the world reaffirmed their commitment to China's opportunities at the event, applauding the country's rapid progress in new energy and AI as well as its open and expansive market. China's innovations in the new energy sector, such as photovoltaics and lithium-ion batteries, have captured the world's attention, and there is also ample room for growth in AI, according to Martin Franc, chief executive officer of Invesco Australia. Franc said the new sectors offer opportunities for multinationals and international organizations, and the company looks forward to future innovation and cooperation opportunities in China. Premier Li Qiang said at the opening plenary of the event that the rapid growth of new industries and new drivers has buttressed the sound and sustained development of the Chinese economy. China has the confidence and capability to achieve the growth target of around 5 percent for this year, Li said. Gaven Chai, vice president of Honeywell Industrial Automation and general manager for China, emphasized that China's opening up brings growth opportunities and new growth points, which is the reason why the country has attracted a huge amount of foreign investment. Chai added that China's vast market offers diverse application scenarios for testing innovative solutions. "For Honeywell, the Chinese market serves as an ideal testing ground to validate our innovative solutions," he said. In promoting emerging industries such as new energy vehicles and AI, China has achieved its own economic growth and also made significant contributions to global innovation and sustainable development, said Cai Wei, suggesting businesses should fully seize these opportunities and work together to achieve a win-win situation for economic growth and global development. Whitebark Energy believes geothermal energy deserves greater recognition from both the Australian Government and industry as a reliable source of baseload power in line with the global perception of its dependability. The company is aiming to develop Australias first geothermal energy-to-hydrogen project at its tenements in Queensland and is pushing towards a final investment decision (FID) in the first half of next year. It says the project represents a significant milestone within Australia and will validate its use of the earths heat energy being used to produce hydrogen. Whitebark Energy is calling for a stronger thumbs-up to geothermal energy from the Australian Government and industry. And management confirmed today that its mission had received timely financial impetus through a $500,000 share placement to sophisticated and institutional investors. An entitlement offer allowing shareholders to take part in a further capital raising of up to $1 million for securities offered at the same price as under the placement will also be open shortly. 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 Zahra Newman is describing the nightmare she had last night. For someone who is in the middle of rehearsing Dracula, it is not the blood-soaked nightmare one would expect. Nor do her teeth (or should that be fangs?) fall out in an anxiety-riddled fever dream. I thought Id learnt the whole play, she says. But then, actually, I realised that I only learnt Harker. That was my nightmare last night, that actually we were getting to tech and it was like, No, Zahra, theres a whole extra bit. Theres three quarters of a play to go. Zahra Newman (with prosthetic dentistry) is starring in Sydney Theatre Companys Dracula. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer As Newman recounts her dream, director Kip Williams chuckles away. Dracula is the final piece in his Sydney Theatre Company Gothic trilogy, which started with The Picture of Dorian Gray in 2020, and continued with 2022s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Like those two productions, Dracula is also adapted from a Victorian classic Bram Stokers 1897 novel and it deals with the monster that lurks within us all. Dorian is very much about the relationship that an individual has with themselves and how they navigate that interior dialogue and express it in the public sphere, says Williams. Jekyll is very much about the compartmentalisation of self and those rare friendships that you find where you can express yourself authentically. Eryn Jean Norvill in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Credit: Daniel Boud And Dracula is much more about the element of yourself that you wish to deny, that youre afraid of existing within you. And that human phenomenon where we take that fear and project it into a monster, and seek to defeat the monster. And in doing so, say, Therefore, that thing is not within me. Advertisement The pair are sitting in the sun during their lunch break from rehearsals theres no method acting here, unlike Dracula, Newmans powers do not diminish in daylight. Its two weeks until opening night in what will be a bittersweet moment for Williams: Dracula is not only the conclusion of his trilogy, it is also the final show he will write and direct as artistic director of the STC. Zahra Newman and Kip Williams in rehearsals for Dracula for the Sydney Theatre Company. Credit: Daniel Boud Im in denial about leaving, but very excited to see who the next person is going to be, says Williams, who was appointed as artistic director in 2016. And to see what amazing things they do. And hopefully, theyll have me back, from time to time. As a farewell piece, Dracula slots perfectly into Williams body of work: a knotty piece of Victorian literature that still has plenty to say to a modern audience. Its quite interesting that the figure that has been taken to heart over decades and the century-plus since is the monster, says Williams. That the monsters sort of become culturally the antihero. Thats the figure that people on some level that Stoker posited as a monster and something to be feared but actually something that people have been drawn to. And thats probably the portal through which we enter into a particular exploration of the story [Dracula] hes an antihero, of sorts. Matthew Backer (left) and Ewen Leslie in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Credit: Daniel Boud For a quick recap, Stokers story begins with young British solicitor Jonathan Harker travelling to Transylvania to meet with a client, Count Dracula. But what starts as a simple property transaction (there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it), ends with Harker being seduced by three vampire brides and trapped in the castle. Count Dracula, meanwhile, departs for England. Advertisement The story is told through a series of letters, diary entries and telegrams and is the starting point for a whole genre of literature and film, from Nosferatu through to the sexy vampires of True Blood, the twinkly emo bloodsuckers of Twilight and Sesame Streets numbers-obsessed Count Dracula. Zahra Newman will play more than 10 roles in Dracula, which is adapted from Bram Stokers 1897 classic. Credit: Daniel Boud But where many critics have interpreted Stokers work as either fear over Eastern Europeans invading the West or an exploration of suppressed sexual desire, Williams has taken a slightly different view. Loading One of the ideas that interests us, and has certainly governed the adaptation of the work, is the idea that monsters and vampires, being a kind of iconic, mythological monster, are often projections of things that we fear within ourselves, says Williams. And particularly in Stokers novel, that thing often is about desire. And, in terms of where Stoker arrives at the end of the novel, he wants to vanquish the monster [but for us] there is a real sense of a different perspective on who Dracula is. For Newman, she considers her Dracula as a man of permission. My Dracula is someone who is perceived as being something and that is not necessarily the whole truth of who that person is, she says. But also like a person of permission, more than just a fixed idea, like fear. Advertisement Newman plays, she thinks, about 10 characters shes lost track from Dracula, to Harker, the vampire brides, as well as Harkers fiancee Mina and the legendary vampire hunter Van Helsing to name a few. And, like Dorian and Jekyll, it will be presented as cine-theatre, with Newman interacting with live cameras on stage and pre-recorded video pieces. The relationship to the screen is very different in this piece, quite radically different from the other two, says Williams. And the screen operates much more as a place of memory and much more as a sort of psychological landscape that sits in opposition to the character and to the performer. Loading And that really feels like the battle of the piece between these characters and their minds. Because Dracula, in some ways, is a real figure in the story, but the vampire is a creation of our minds. And while Williams and Newman are loath to give too much away they keep asking each other can we say that I get a nod when I ask about coffins and, maybe, a bloody, gory end. As he prepares to wrap up his trilogy, what does Williams think the three productions say about him? Lay down on the couch, lay it all out, Newman, says laughing, just as Williams lowers his head and whispers, I dont know. Advertisement Fadi Ibrahim, a central member of the Kings Cross nightclub family, has avoided prison for an act of familial generosity after his underworld brother, Michael, repaid a loan with $600,000 sourced from a black market tobacco deal. Fadi, the younger brother of nightclub boss John Ibrahim, faced the Downing Centre District Court on Friday, seven years after he was arrested in Dubai alongside Michael in a multi-agency sting on crime syndicates. Fadi Ibrahim, centre, outside court before the hearing. Credit: Nikki Short Michael, 46, and a slew of other organised crime figures are now spending decades in prison for varying roles in a series of MDMA and tobacco imports from the Netherlands which had been compromised by undercover officers. There is no suggestion John Ibrahim was involved in any illegal activity or wrongdoing, or that Fadi was involved in any of his brothers underworld deals. 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 Narelle Onley woke just before 6am to the sound of kookaburras outside her hospital window. She listened to her children, grandchildren, and in-laws trickle in through the morning, exchanging stories about her life and how much they would miss her. She watched the clock tick past 11am, then midday, before the doctor and volunteer witness arrived via plane with the injections that would end her life. Then it was time for Onleys family to say their goodbyes, one by one, in the same way they always had: Hooroo, Grandma. Three breaths and she was gone. At 12.34pm on April 4, Narelle Onley became the first person to end her life through voluntary assisted dying (VAD) at Baringa Private Hospital in Coffs Harbour. Onley watched her husband succumb slowly to prostate cancer in 2014. When she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer two years ago at the age of 83, she was determined not to put herself or her family through the same. It was much kinder for her, says daughter Kris Gray. With Dad, we all slept on the floor of his room at the hospital for three days and three nights, waiting for the morphine to kill him he just kept saying all the time, please turn me off. Narelle Onley with daughters Sue and Kris Gray (right). For Onley, a straight-shooter who drove tractors and raised four children on a cane farm at Palmers Island, it was a simple equation. On the farm, if we had a sick or injured animal, you just put it out of its misery, Gray says. In November, NSW became the last state in Australia to allow terminally ill patients to die with the help of doctors. Advertisement In the programs first three months, 517 people requested access to VAD, and 131 people died, according to the program boards first report released on Friday. Two-thirds of applicants were from regional NSW. Gray applied for VAD at her mothers request in mid-March. From when the first assessing doctor flew up from Sydney right up to her final injection, her medical team checked in at every point to ensure she was aware of her decision and that she could pull out at any time. She struggles to see how the program could be abused. In fact, we say ourselves theres maybe too many safeguards, if anything, Gray says. If Mum had slipped into a coma, then its off the table. People really want to live, I know thats stating the obvious, but they come to this really because its the only option. Dr Wade Stedman, NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Implementation Clinical Lead Critics of voluntary euthanasia have argued palliative care is already a decent and dignified option for those at the end of their lives. But Dr Wade Stedman, an intensive care specialist charged with leading its implementation in NSW, says the past six months have shown VAD is a complement, rather than an alternative, to palliative care. Ive had to remind many patients who are seeking voluntary assisted dying that you can do a lot better with your palliative care [while theyre applying for VAD], Stedman says. Advertisement In a national survey released by Go Gentle on Thursday, one in five people who applied for VAD said access to trained medical practitioners was a barrier, and others called for restrictions on telehealth consultations to be removed. Federal independent MP Kate Chaney introduced a private members bill in February to change the Commonwealth criminal code to protect doctors consulting terminally ill patients about euthanasia via telehealth. Theres not much we can do until that ... goes through, Stedman says. In Queensland, a coronial inquest is investigating how an elderly man was able to take a voluntary assisted dying substance intended for someone else. In Victoria, GPs and advocates are fighting to remove a restriction that prevents doctors from raising VAD as an option unless the patient raises it themselves (in NSW, doctors can do so if they also mention other treatment and palliative options at the same time). Stedman says he believes the law in NSW gets the balance right between protecting practitioners and giving patients another option at the end of their life: People really want to live, I know thats stating the obvious, but they come to this really because its the only option. Of the 131 people who died in the three months from November, 40 of those gave themselves the lethal substance, and 91 had the substance administered by a nurse or doctor. Advertisement Onley had wanted to die at her home overlooking the ocean at Sapphire Beach, but complications from her cancer meant she spent her last days in hospital. While the figures dont specify where people died, Stedman says his experience had been divided pretty evenly between the hospital and the home. Its a real privilege for a practitioner when youre invited into somebodys home, theyve got music playing, and theyve got a family there. Its pretty moving, he says. Sometimes its seen as a little bit harder to have it at home, and theyd prefer to have it in hospital. Its a really personal choice. Dr Linda Swan, the chief executive of Go Gentle Australia, said the high number of applicants showed the laws were long overdue. As awareness grows, we expect more dying people will choose VAD at the end of life, she says. Lynne Spender (left) with sister Dale. Both advocated for voluntary assisted dying. Im going now On a warm day in late April, Lynne Spenders family and closest friends gathered in her Coogee apartment to say goodbye. Advertisement Melbournes tram network will be handed over to a new operator at the end of this year, with promises of improved reliability and customer service on the worlds largest light-rail system. Victorian Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said on Friday morning that Keolis Downers contract would not be renewed. The company has run the network for the past 14 years. Melbournes tram network is the largest in the world. Credit: Penny Stephens French outfit Transdev and Chinese-government-owned construction giant John Holland will take over from December 1 and run the network for nine years under a contract worth $6.8 billion. Williams said the new contract included strict benchmarks for service performance, and new technology would be rolled out to give passengers better real-time information about tram arrivals. So as the state discusses decisions that could change and even cost lives, the key people are banned from contributing publicly. Some sources say about 10 per cent is to be cut from the state health budget, or around $3 billion. That would be devastating. One source said a rough estimate on the worst outlook could mean 15,000 jobs go. There are 340,000 people employed across the health industry. Several sources said there had already been discussions that elective surgery would be simply stopped in some areas. Loading In extreme cases, some patients could be left to pay for their own life-saving cancer drugs. There seem to be two possibilities here. One, its a government tactic, an ambit claim to force significant but not drastic cuts in health. If thats true, we are looking at the most cruel and dangerous politicking in recent history. Staff are already walking away because of the uncertainty around their jobs. The second possibility is that the government is serious. It is wallowing so deep in the mud of overspend and obsession with infrastructure that reality has dawned and debt must be cut. Loading Sources say behind the scenes there is tension between the state Treasury and Health departments. Health is nervous, Treasury is unbending. As the pressure builds and information leaks, there has been nothing but defensive waffle from the premier and the health minister. At the very time Jacinta Allan was labelling leaks scaremongering and claiming all was happy in hospitals, a memo from the chief executive at The Alfred, Professor Andrew Way, lamented the difficulties and said times were so tough he wanted staff to turn off the lights when they left a room. Officially, The Alfred added to the waffle, but his leaked message to staff was damning. Is money so short that the hospital must behave like the father of every teenager with an addiction to electricity? This is what sources say is under discussion if the razor slashes as threatened: Mass redundancies, devastating to a system already understaffed. A freeze on hiring. Some cancer patients paying for their own life-saving drugs until they can leave the hospital and the federal government pays. Allied health support, like psychology and physiotherapy, being unavailable to patients who need it. (This is an emotional area. Imagine removing psychological support from a dying patient. And anybody in the system will explain how the need for psychiatric and psychological care has trebled since the lockdown trauma.) Huge delays for elective surgery that condemn patients to living with pain while they wait longer. Cuts to breast cancer screening and some other screening. The Alfred is trying to cut between $120 million and $150 million. It plans to axe all new programs without evaluation. This includes various schemes designed to move patients through the system quicker, which is better for their health and eases bed shortages. At The Alfred, a disability liaison officer whose job it was to help the intellectually and physically disabled negotiate the emergency system, has been axed. A reduction in intensive-care beds or at least a freeze on installing new ones. Epilepsy monitoring beds to be cut. Concussion clinics to be reduced. Many in the health industry argue that no increase is an effective cut, so a 10 per cent cut given the states growing and ageing population is effectively much more. They say the pay rise for nurses effectively turns a 10 per cent cut to an 11 per cent cut. Is all this part of a counter ambit tactic from doctors? Possibly, but it comes from a broad number of trusted sources across several hospitals who seem genuinely worried that Victoria is on the verge of seriously damaging its public health system, at a time when the private system is also in trouble. Loading And some reality: none of these sources deny the need to trim. All are willing to help do it in a sensible way without affecting patients or undermining care. All agree the health system needs a total re-organisation, but that has been the case for decades and nobody has been willing to even begin the job. Theres also a thread through this: does this government care about roads more than people? And there is perhaps the beginning of an answer. The Big Build, much of it needed but mostly badly managed, has blown out by tens of billions of dollars. The first two stages of the farcical Suburban Rail Loop are predicted to cost $216 billion, including $120 billion to operate the line for 50 years, but good luck finishing anywhere near that figure. Loading Traditionally health does not swing elections. But the hope in hospitals is that this crisis and the tension between the Treasury and Health departments will provide the perfect political opportunity for Jacinta Allan. Theres a need for a heroic knight on a white horse. She could pause some of the build, particularly the loop, order gentler cuts to hospitals, and talk to those on the ground about how to save money but not hurt people. Some good sense mixed with the inevitable spin could provide Allan the personal political capital she needs if she faces a genuine electoral threat. More importantly, if she embraces common sense instead of dogma, it will do much to protect those vulnerable and the valuable about whom she claims to care so much. When university students return after the winter break, Renee Nayef wont be joining them. She is banned from setting foot on the campus for the semester. The Deakin University student was suspended after she took part in pro-Palestine protests at its Burwood Campus. Nayef was the first Deakin student to be called before a misconduct hearing for her part in organising the student encampment, which was dismantled in May. University protesters Madeline Curkovic and Renee Nayef. Credit: Joe Armao More students from Deakin, Melbourne University, Latrobe and Monash universities will face disciplinary action in coming weeks. Staff at Melbourne University are also facing penalties for the part they played in protesting against the conflict in Gaza on campus until late last month. At an institution like university, you should be afforded the right to freedom of speech and academic inquiry, Nayef said. To know that universities are the ones that are cracking down, that is a real shock. As the respectable face of Assangeism presented the cause at the front of the room, the cult was in evidence at the back of the room. Unseen on the news broadcasts, a crowd of Assangeists pressed forward to try to enter the room, already crowded with reporters, cameras, microphones and a few members of parliament trying to associate themselves with the triumphal moment. Loading The Assange supporters, numbering somewhere between 100 and 200, pushed and jostled in what the ABC reporter Matt Doran described as a mosh pit. And some of the supporters heckled reporters when they posed questions deemed insufficiently worshipful to the Assange spokespeople. The cult members were seeing journalism at work, but wanted to see conformity. The broad exhortations for free journalism soon resolved into a very specific campaign demand a pardon for Assange. Stella Assange specifically urged reporters to keep probing into her husbands case: Julian isnt allowed to request freedom of information, make information requests [to] the US government, but you can and I encourage you to so please do. And so the campaign for Assange has not ended with his release and return to Australia a free man; its just moved into a new phase. Apparently he intends to keep on campaigning, but now from Australia. Julian is the most principled man I know, said Stella, and he will always defend human rights and speak out against injustice, and he can choose how he does that because hes a free man. Loading The Albanese government is already a little uncomfortable over exactly how Assange intends to show his appreciation for his newfound liberty. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong took the precaution of pointing out that Australias classified national security information is protected by law: We expect those laws to be observed by all citizens and by all entities. And while Albanese was happy to have his phone chat with Assange publicised, note that he didnt meet him. He kept him at arms length, wary of Assanges methods and motives. The Coalition leadership thought that even the phone call was too much and complained that Albanese should not have given him a heros welcome. But wouldnt it be a wonderful thing for Assange to use his global celebrity status to campaign for public interest journalism and human rights? It depends. Australian journalism could do with some advocacy, absolutely. It is constrained by a few factors. One involves the laws of defamation, which make it extraordinarily risky and potentially costly for media outlets to report fearlessly. Another is the poor state of laws to protect whistleblowers. There are new federal laws but theyre proving too feeble to provide meaningful protection for the brave people who step forward to bear witness against corruption or other wrongdoing. Military whistleblower David McBride just last month was jailed for nearly six years for stealing secrets. And human rights everywhere could benefit from prominent campaigning by a famous figure like Julian Assange. But Assanges history suggests that hed need fundamentally to change his ways to advance the cause of public interest journalism for human rights. For a start, his claims to be a journalist is hotly contested by actual journalists. The Australian journalist Peter Greste, who worked for Reuters, the BBC, CNN and others before being locked up in an Egyptian jail on fake charges of terrorism, is now a professor of journalism at Macquarie University. Loading Journalism comes with the responsibility to process and present information in line with a set of ethical and professional standards, Greste wrote this week. I dont believe WikiLeaks met that standard; in releasing raw, unredacted and unprocessed information online, it posed enormous risks for people in the field, including sources. The US government has conceded that Wikileaks did not result in the known killings of any US sources. But there were many other victims of Assanges project. For instance, Associated Press reported in 2016: Wikileaks global crusade to expose government secrets is causing collateral damage to the privacy of hundreds of innocent people, including survivors of sexual abuse, sick children and the mentally ill ... In the past year alone, the radical transparency group has published medical files belonging to scores of ordinary citizens while many hundreds more have had sensitive family, financial or identity records posted to the web. In two particularly egregious cases, WikiLeaks named teenage rape victims. Loading This is not holding power to account; its an abuse of power. Its not journalism and its not in the public interest. And its not necessary to harm the innocent to expose the guilty. The Assangeists strongest defence of his actions is that he exposed US war crimes. True, but many journalists have exposed war crimes by the US and none has been prosecuted under the Espionage Act. Why not? Because they exercised professional due diligence to protect the innocent and national security. An Australian case study in how to expose war crimes ethically is the reporting for this masthead by Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters. They reported the illegal murders of Afghan civilians by Australian Special Forces troopers including Ben Roberts Smith. Official proceedings are still under way. These reporters exposed the guilty, protected the innocent, and have not been prosecuted by any government. If Assange had behaved as an actual journalist, he never would have inflicted misery on the innocent or exposed himself to prosecution under the Espionage Act. Theres another important test of Assanges principles and professionalism as he apparently moves into the next phase of campaigning for human rights. His big 2016 data dump contained emails that Russias FSB stole from Hillary Clinton and gave to Wikileaks to harm Clinton and help Donald Trump. Clinton has said these were partly responsible for her loss of the 2016 election to Trump. If Assange knew this at the time, or if history repeated itself, would he co-operate with Moscow, Beijing or other enemies of human liberty to advance his campaign? Even if it helps the most repressive foreign governments wishing to harm our country, our democracy or our allies? Assange may be out of jail, but in Australian public life he is on probation. Is he capable of actual, ethical journalism? How will he repay the Australian government for its intense efforts in his cause for having saved his life? In the folk tale of the frog and the scorpion, the frog agrees to carry the scorpion across the river on its back. The frog doesnt fear its sting because, if the frog died, the scorpion would drown. But, halfway across, the scorpion stings the frog. The dying frog asks the scorpion why it stung him? Because Im a scorpion. A bitter brawl has split the NSW Coalition after Opposition Leader Mark Speakman sacked a Nationals MP from his shadow cabinet for making derogatory comments about the Liberals. Speakman on Friday axed Nationals MP Wes Fang from his front bench, prompting Nationals leader Dugald Saunders to return serve, insisting the opposition leader had no right to do so. Saunders said Fang would remain shadow assistant minister for police, regional NSW and agriculture. NSW Nationals MP Wes Fang was sacked from shadow cabinet on Friday, sparking an internal war. Credit: James Brickwood The extraordinary internal war erupted after Fang, known for his outspoken outbursts, slammed Speakman on social media for travelling to the Riverina, where Fang lives, without telling him. Fang, an upper house MP, posted on X: So ... the leader of the NSW Liberals Mark Speakman slinks into Wagga Wagga pretending like the Libs actually care about the Riverina. As the halfway mark of 2024 nears, the year has already clocked up an impressive roll call of house sales making our already rich citizenry even richer, but records also show there have been plenty of hefty discounts to get many of these deals done. Sympathy is likely to be in short supply for this years biggest discounters given they tend to be the same sellers scoring some of the highest prices. Rockleigh at Point Piper sold for $80 million, the highest price for a home this financial year. Credit: James Brickwood Take Rockleigh, the Point Piper trophy home owned by medico specialist Dr Philippa Harvey-Sutton. Before it sold for more than $80 million to businessman Frank Geng, it was being quietly offered for $100 million. So, ouch to the $20 million shortfall, but congratulations on scoring this financial years highest house price sale. Just this week the award-winning designer residence Perpetua in Northbridge owned by venture capitalist John Riedl and his wife Dianne sold after a fairly big price adjustment. A string of liveable Sydney suburbs that were affordable for home buyers until recently have recorded soaring price growth, pushing them out of reach. Sixteen suburbs that had starred in the PRD Affordable and Liveable Property Guide reports over the last decade have now risen above Sydneys median house price of $1,421,413 on PRD data. House prices in Croydon Park were once considered relatively affordable but have slipped out of reach. Credit: Peter Rae Concord last featured in the semi-annual report - which highlights amenity-rich areas below the median house price - in 2015. It has since jumped 109 per cent to a median house price of $2.8 million. Hornsby recorded a 50.3 per cent jump since it last made the report in 2019. The median house price in the leafy suburb is now $1.61 million. The prosecution has argued Read struck her boyfriend while performing a three-point turn, causing catastrophic head injuries and leaving him for dead. Points of contention included a broken tail light on Reads car, witness claims that Read said I hit him after his body was found, and whether OKeefes injuries are consistent with being run over. Karen Read watches as the jury enters the courtroom earlier this week. Credit: AP Reads defence is that the entire prosecution case is based on lies by officers sticking together to protect themselves. Her lawyers say the pieces of tail light and the hair were planted during the hours before the crime scene was secured. They suggested OKeefe might have been beaten up by a federal agent he was with that night, who had flirted with Read over texts, and that the men panicked before trying to cover up the crime. Since the trial began in April, a sea of people adorned in pink Free Karen Read T-shirts have descended on the town of Dedham, Massachusetts, where she is on trial, to protest her innocence. Loading Each day, armed with placards, flags and pom-poms, they fuel themselves with freshly grilled hot dogs and set up camp outside the judges 200-foot buffer zone from the court. On her way into court, Read has been continually met with the adulation usually reserved for Hollywood movie stars. The cause celebre has fired up supporters across the world, with one British couple spending 3000 ($5700) to travel from Manchester to attend the trial in person. After making the 5000-kilometre journey across the Atlantic, Tom Murphy and Jill Boothman met Read outside court. Mothers have turned up with their home-schooled children to educate them about the justice system, while others have attended with their pet budgies and dogs dressed in pink outfits. Those who have protested Reads innocence outside court include Liz Erk, who said she felt compelled to get involved after reading about the case. I felt like Karen Read could be me, the 47-year-old single parent said. Its easy to brush something off and say, T hats crazy, this doesnt happen, Erk added. Former Boston police officer John O'Keefe. Credit: AP You dont want to believe that it happens, but I think once people begin to look at the details that its really hard to ignore. As well as showing up in person, Reads supporters have pored over court documents and evidence, sharing their findings with 45,000 others in a dedicated Facebook group. The defence has argued Read was framed by the well-connected Albert family and Michael Proctor, the lead investigator and Massachusetts state trooper, who is a family friend. On the stand, Proctor was confronted with a series of texts in which he described Read as a wack job and joked about not finding nude photographs of her while going through her phone. In one text to his sister, Proctor said that he wished Read would kill herself. Reads lawyer, Alan Jackson, said in court earlier this month: You werent so much as objectively investigating her as objectifying her in those moments. Supporters of Karen Read display signs near court. Credit: AP Proctor denied he was looking for nude images and apologised for the language used in the messages. Reads army of sleuths has raised over $US340,000 ($511,000) selling everything from bum bags to candles to help fund her legal team led by Jackson, who represented Kevin Spacey when he was cleared on sexual assault charges in 2019. Campaigners have organised a billboard professing Reads innocence with a QR code to donate cash. Loading Aidan Kearney, a blogger who goes by the moniker Turtle Boy, has posted hundreds of videos speculating about the case. Kearney, who filmed himself confronting witnesses, was arrested in October and indicted on more than 15 felony charges involving witness intimidation and conspiracy. Last year, he organised a rolling rally, in which hundreds of supporters went to the address where OKeefe was found, to the last bar they had been at and to the homes of different witnesses. Nick Rocco, a 29-year-old hairdresser, first heard about Reads case in April 2023 through one of Kearneys videos. Now, he says he and his wife Jenna Rocco are key players in the movement. He founded the Justice For Officer John OKeefe & Karen Read Facebook page and has raised close to $200,000 by organising giveaways, Halloween parties and selling bracelets. Its absolutely insane. The movement just keeps getting bigger and bigger, he said. As well as manning the online page and fundraising, the father of three goes to court every Monday and Tuesday his days off to support Read. He said she is very appreciative of the support. I didnt know her before this at all, I had no idea who she was, and then it came to a point where, like, you know, she trusted me, she saw what I was doing for her, he added. He is not a true crime person, he said. I just felt bad for this woman. I felt bad. I wanted to help her. Responding to claims he is promoting a conspiracy theory, he said: Put it this way, weve seen many conspiracies and I dont want to be political, but weve seen many conspiracies that have come true. Jon Silveira is the only one of the nine administrators on the Facebook page who knew Read before her arrest. Loading The pair grew up together, and she and OKeefe had visited him in Florida three months before her partners death. Silviera, 44, who works offshore on an oil tanker, has been supporting Read in court throughout the trial. The movement is massive, he said, with people taking time off work just to stand outside in the rain to protest. When you pull up in the morning, seeing everybody dressed in pink with the signs, its really refreshing, its really motivating, he said. Before OKeefes death, Canton was like any small town, quiet and family-oriented, Rocco said. Now it is very much divided. You have the Karen Read is guilty and then you have the Karen Read is innocent, he said. With the 12-strong jury now deciding Reads fate, whatever the outcome, its going to be a rocky ride yet for that once peaceful town. The Telegraph, London The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a NASA mission designed to study activity on the sun, learn what drives that activity, and explore its impact on space weather, which can ultimately result in dramatic geomagnetic storms on Earth. In particular, SDO is seeking to discover the secrets of the sun's magnetic field . For example, how does the sun generate a dynamo effect to produce its magnetic field? What structure does the magnetic field take as it emanates from the sun's surface, known as the photosphere? How is the magnetic field reflected in the sun's 11-year cycle of activity? And how does the energy carried within the sun's magnetic field ultimately transform into the energy that drives charged particles in the solar wind ? Solar Dynamics Observatory FAQs What is the Solar Dynamics Observatory? The Solar Dynamics Observatory is a mission designed to observe the sun from 22,245 miles above Earth, measuring how solar magnetic activity affects space weather by releasing solar wind and coronal mass ejections. Is the Solar Dynamics Observatory still operating? The SDO mission has been in operation since the spacecraft launched in February 2010 and is expected to continue until at least 2030. What has the Solar Dynamics Observatory learned about the sun? By focusing on what drives the sun's magnetic activity, SDO has given solar scientists a better understanding of the solar cycle and how to predict when one cycle will end and another will begin, as well as revealed explosive activity and magnetic tornadoes on the solar surface. When did the Solar Dynamics Observatory launch? During the launch of the SDO, the Atlas V rocket flew past a sundog. A phenomenon where light passes through hexagonal shape ice crystals in cirrus clouds. (Image credit: NASA SDO) SDO blasted off on Feb. 11, 2010, riding into space on an Atlas V rocket, which initially placed SDO into an orbit 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) above Earth's surface. A series of engine burns then raised the spacecraft's orbit, until it achieved its final geosynchronous orbit 22,245 miles (35,800 km)above the surface on March 16, 2010. A geosynchronous orbit keeps a spacecraft directly above a specific location on the ground in other words, the spacecraft's orbital period matches the period of Earth's rotation. The European Space Agency describes how a spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit must have an orbital velocity of 1.86 miles per second (3 kilometers per second) to keep pace with Earth's rotation. In a 2011 paper published in the journal Solar Physics , SDO project scientists William Dean Pesnell, Barbara Thompson and Phillip Chamberlin explained why it is vital for SDO to be in geosynchronous orbit. Every day, SDO collects as much as 1.4TB of data , and back in 2010, when SDO launched, there was no space-qualified data recorder that could store that much data. Instead, the data must be relayed to the ground instantly, meaning SDO must always be in sight of a receiving station on the ground. This is why geosynchronous orbit makes sense for SDO: The spacecraft is always above the ground station at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, maintaining constant communication and transfer of data. What does the Solar Dynamics Observatory do? The SDO carries three instruments to observe the sun. (Image credit: NASA SDO. Both images combined in Canva.) SDO carries three instruments: the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), and the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment. With these instruments, SDO can observe the full disk of the sun . According to the official website for the HMI, which was built by solar scientists at Stanford University, the instrument is "designed to study oscillations and the magnetic field at the solar surface." It observes the sun with a resolution of 1 arc second (1 angular degree equals 3,600 arc seconds) centered on a wavelength of 6,173 angstroms (A). An angstrom is equal to 0.1 nanometers, or 10 billionths of a meter, so 6,173 A is about 61 millionths of a meter. This wavelength corresponds to yellow-orange light. By observing and measuring the amount of motion on the sun's surface, the HMI can study oscillations rippling through the sun . Just as seismic waves reverberating through Earth teach us about our planet's interior, solar oscillations can reveal details about the sun's interior and the processes there that generate magnetic activity. NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded seismic activity following a solar flare on July 30, 2011. The left frame shows the active region in visible light (amber) and the right shows the active region in extreme ultraviolet (red). (Image credit: NASA/SDO) AIA can reveal activity in the sun's corona, also to a resolution of 1 arc second. According to Lockheed Martin's website for the instrument, the AIA "takes images that span at least 1.3 solar diameters in multiple wavelengths nearly simultaneously." These wavelengths are much shorter than those observed by the HMI; they are in what's called extreme ultraviolet light, between 131 and 335 A, from spectral lines of ionized iron and helium . Studying the sun in ultraviolet light is essential because many of the high-energy processes on the sun emit in ultraviolet light, particularly in the corona, where the temperature exceeds a million degrees . In particular, the AIA is looking at what heats the solar corona and how energy is stored in the corona before being released into space in the solar wind . EVE measures the total amount of ultraviolet light emitted by solar flares and how the amount of ultraviolet varies. This is important because it is this ultraviolet irradiance that heats our planet's thermosphere (the upper part of Earth's atmosphere). What has the Solar Dynamics Observatory learned about the sun? Earth's moon photobombs the sun in this view from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, a spacecraft that continuously stares at the sun from its geosynchronous orbit. During this lunar transit on Nov. 7, the moon blocked about 44 percent of the sun. The eclipse wasn't visible from Earth. (Image credit: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory) SDO has learned a great deal about the sun and the space weather it produces. In 2020, NASA summarized 10 things that SDO has discovered . Late phase flares First up, by observing about 200 solar flares , SDO found that 15% of them have a "late phase flare" a second flare that follows minutes to hours after the primary flare, a bit like an earthquake aftershock. SDO also found magnetic vortices that produce tornadoes of plasma whirling at 186,000 mph (300,000 km/h). Spontaneous events Even more explosive are spontaneous magnetic reconnection events , which SDO discovered occurring on the sun. During these events, magnetic-field lines on the sun, taut with magnetic energy, snap after interacting with the falling plasma in a solar prominence. After the energy is released, the magnetic-field lines reconnect, hence the name. Plasma waves and the birth of sunspots There are also giant, complex waves of plasma that ride across the sun's photosphere at up to 149 miles per second (238 km per second), which SDO found are likely connected to the disturbances caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). On grander scales, SDO mapped the meridional flow, which describes large-scale circulation patterns across the sun and how they might be linked to the birth of sunspots. Sunspots are connected to the sun's 11-year cycle of magnetic activity, with the most sunspots appearing at solar maximum , the peak of solar activity. SDO has now seen one solar cycle number 24 from beginning to end, giving solar physicists insight into the signs that one cycle is about to end and another is about to begin . Understanding the solar cycle and the space weather it instigates is important for protecting satellites, communication networks and power grids from potentially harmful geomagnetic storms. This side-by-side animation shows sunspots on the sun on Feb. 27, 2014 (left) and the sunspot-less day of March 20, 2017 as seen by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. (Image credit: Joy Ng/NASA's GSFC/SDO) Coronal dimming Then, there's the solar corona. SDO measured how CMEs can cause the corona to dim, and this knowledge could be applied to other stars to better understand their activity. SDO also saw the disappearance of coronal holes , which are tied to the solar cycle, and used the demise of these coronal holes to predict the reversal of the sun's magnetic field and the beginning of a new solar cycle. Solar scientists have also used SDO's observations to model how a CME leaves the sun and travels through the solar system to predict how CMEs could affect Earth. Comet watch Finally, SDO has watched comets pass dangerously close to the sun. One, comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy), came within 516,000 miles (830,400 km) of the sun and initially survived, before later crumbling due to thermal stresses . Another comet, ISON , broke up more quickly and vaporized when it got too close to the sun in 2013. These discoveries, coupled with the clearest images of the sun's disk taken up until then, mean SDO has played a crucial role in scientists' understanding of solar activity. Is the Solar Dynamics Observatory still operational? Yes, as of June 2024, SDO was still observing the sun and returning images of solar activity daily. You can see SDO's latest imagery on its website . SDO's original mission was to operate for five years, which would have taken it up to 2015. Since then, however, it has received a series of mission extensions and is now expected to last until at least 2030. Additional resources SDO is part of NASA's Living With a Star program, which is designed to explore space weather that can affect Earth. You can read more about it on NASA's Living With a Star page .SDO has worked closely with another solar observing mission from NASA, called the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO). STEREO consists of two spacecraft, A and B, which monitor the space between the sun and Earth for solar storms. Visit the STEREO mission website to learn more. Learn about the different wavelengths of light that SDO observes on this page from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio . Bibliography 'About the SDO Mission', NASA, https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/ 'SDO Science: The sun and Magnetism', NASA, https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/science.php#:~:text=The%20sun%20and%20Magnetism,in%20the%20sun's%20convection%20zone . 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Chamberlin, 'The Solar Dynamics Observatory', Solar Physics, Vol 275, pp315 (2012), https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11207-011-9841-3 'Solar Dynamics Observatory Brochure', https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/docs/SDO_Brochure.pdf Marco Midon, Thomas Bialas, Hollys Allen, 'NASA Ground Station Support of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Mission', SpaceOps 2006 Conference, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (2006), https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdfplus/10.2514/6.2006-5837 Stanford Solar Group, 'Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager Welcome to the HMI Home Page (2010), http://hmi.stanford.edu/ J. 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Woods et al, 'Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): Overview of Science Objectives, Instrument Design, Data Products, and Model Developments' Solar Physics, Vol 275, pp115143 (2012), https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11207-009-9487-6 NASA Space Place Explorer Earth and Space! https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/thermosphere/en/ Katy Mersmann, 'Ten Things We've Learned About the sun From NASA's SDO This Decade' (2020), https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/ten-things-weve-learned-about-the-sun-from-nasas-sdo-this-decade/ 'Solar Tornados as Seen by SDO (February 7, 2012) NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio (2012), https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3919 Vanessa Thomas, NASA's SDO Sees New Kind of Magnetic Explosion on sun (2019), https://www.nasa.gov/missions/sdo/nasas-sdo-sees-new-kind-of-magnetic-explosion-on-sun/ Wei Liu et al, 'First SDO AIA Observations of a Global Coronal EUV 'Wave': Multiple Components and Ripples', The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 723, L5359 (2010), https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2041-8205/723/1/L53/pdf W. Dean Pesnell, 'Lessons learned from predictions of Solar Cycle 24', Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, Vol 10 (2020), https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/full_html/2020/01/swsc200057/swsc200057.html Coronal Holes, Space Weather Prediction Center, https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-holes Zdenek Sekanina and Paul Chodas, 'Comet C/2011 W3 (Lovejoy): Orbit Determination, Outbursts, Disintegration of Nucleus, Dust-Tail Morphology and Relationship to New Cluster of Bright sungrazers', The Astrophysical Journal, Vol 757, No 2 (2012), https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/757/2/127 'Not crazy to be optimistic' on climate tech, Gates tells investors London, June 27 (AFP) Jun 27, 2024 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Thursday urged investors to get behind cutting-edge climate technologies he says would drive a "green industrial revolution" and a next wave of global prosperity. Over three days in an upmarket London venue, Gates showcased more than 100 companies making ground on cutting planet-heating emissions from carbon-intensive sectors most responsible for climate change. Gates is a firm believer in the power of innovation to drive breakthroughs in heavily polluting industries like manufacturing, energy and transport. He is the single largest investor in a fund he established in 2015 that has ploughed around $2.2 billion into early-stage technologies like low-carbon cement, zero-emissions aviation and sustainable building materials. But in the quest to deploy these technologies more quickly at scale, Gates is seeking to widen the investor base from venture capitalists to pension and sovereign wealth funds. Many of the innovations he has bankrolled are still at the lab level and not making a dent on the heat-trapping gases that drive global warming, let alone a return on investment. Critics say climate technology is a costly distraction when deep reductions in emissions are needed today, as well as money to help the developing world cope with climate change. Gates acknowledged that innovation alone would not solve the problem, but said there were several reasons to be optimistic. Some of these companies are already rolling out innovations, he said, while others are showing great progress in short time. "I think the clock is moving forward because of human ingenuity," he told reporters at the close of his Breakthrough Energy summit at a 19th-century dockyard in London. "I do think we can provide all services that mankind wants with zero emissions without making the cost of those services higher... I don't think I am crazy to be optimistic." - 'Green industrial revolution' - Less than a decade ago, Gates said, there was very little investor interest in climate technologies. He raised an initial $1 billion with other ultra-wealthy investors including Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Alibaba's Jack Ma, and their first summit in 2022 attracted a few hundred attendees. But investors beyond deep-pocketed philanthropists are starting to pay attention to climate start-ups long deemed too risky a bet, industry figures show. At the London event, Gates brought together around 1,500 executives from banks, state-backed investment funds and major businesses. In one pavilion, potential investors inspected hydrogen-electric aircraft engines designed by ZeroAvia, hunks of low-carbon steel manufactured by Boston Metal, and an enormous magnet used by Commonwealth Fusion Systems to test fusion power. Source, a company that uses a "hydropanel" to harvest water from vapour in the atmosphere, quenched thirsts on a hot summer's night. The fast rise in investor interest was obvious and understandable, said Tim Heidel, CEO at Veir, a company backed by Gates that is exploring high-temperature conduction to improve electricity transmission. "They have an opportunity to build some of the largest companies on the planet," Heidel told AFP at a reception night where attendees drank cocktails with names such as "electricity elixir" and listened to a string quartet. Gates told investors that "if you're helping to solve climate, the chance of building very large, very profitable companies" would follow. "I think it's fair to say that what you're seeing... (with) those companies is the foundation for this green industrial revolution," he said in an opening pitch after walking on stage to the sound of "Revolution" by the Beatles. - 'Life or death' - The optimism stood in stark contrast to the diplomatic climate meetings hosted by the United Nations. Crucial negotiations in June toward a new target on climate finance ended in bitter disagreement over how much rich countries should pay poorer ones for their emissions. Veteran US diplomat John Kerry said it would be the private sector -- not governments -- that would raise the trillions of dollars needed every year to confront the challenge, and new technology would drive that progress. "It's not your average technology mission. This is life or death, literally," the former American climate envoy said Thursday. This year is shaping up as the hottest on record, with floods devastating swathes of the globe while many parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America are sweltering under record-breaking heatwaves. Without urgent emission cuts this decade, the world risks breaching 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above industrial levels, the benchmark limit of the Paris climate accord. Julia Reinaud, a senior director at Breakthrough Energy, said it was time to "double down" and get early-stage technologies from prototype to power grid. "We don't have the 30 years that it took to develop solar to where it is today," she told AFP. np/js MICROSOFT Amazon.com Alibaba EU questions Shein, Temu over consumer protection Brussels, Belgium, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 The EU on Friday demanded wildly popular shopping platforms Shein and Temu explain what action they are taking to protect consumers, including children. The query was made under the EU's breakthrough law known as the Digital Services Act (DSA) that forces platforms to do more to tackle the sale of illegal and harmful goods. The European Commission said it wants to know what action the Chinese-founded platforms have taken to make sure users can notify them about illegal products. It also wants to know how Shein and Temu are complying with rules regarding online interfaces to avoid "dark patterns", the practice of tricking users into making unwanted purchases or opting-in to certain settings without their knowledge. The commission added it wants more information about how they are guaranteeing the transparency of their recommender systems -- algorithms used by platforms to push more personalised content -- and the ease with which sellers can be traced. Both companies must provide the information by July 12. Shein said it was "working to promptly address" the demand for information. "We share the commission's goal of ensuring that consumers in the EU can shop online with peace of mind, and we will continue working closely with the commission," a Shein spokesperson said. Temu said it was "cooperating fully" with the EU. "We'd also like to reiterate that we are fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations in the markets where we operate," a Temu spokesperson said. The commission said its request for information was also based on a complaint submitted by consumer organisations. In May, Europe's BEUC umbrella consumer rights group filed a complaint against Temu with the European Commission, accusing the app of using "manipulative techniques". Both platforms have a sizeable European user base. Shein, a Chinese-founded company which is headquartered in Singapore, has said it has around 108 million monthly active users in the 27-nation EU. Temu only arrived in Europe last year and has said it has on average around 75 million monthly active users in the bloc. Shein and Temu also recently joined fellow marketplaces AliExpress, Amazon and Zalando on a list of 24 "very large online platforms" facing stricter safety rules under the DSA, which have more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union. raz/ec/rl Alibaba Amazon.com Kosovo bans TikTok use by government institutions Pristina, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 The Kosovo government said Friday that government institutions would be banned from using the popular social media app TikTok, citing security risks. The move is the latest in a series of policies and threats targeting the China-based app by governments worldwide, on fears that personal data could be accessible by Chinese authorities. "All public institutions that own and administer state communication networks are obliged to impose the necessary technical restrictions to stop the operation of the services of the social network 'TikTok' in official workplaces," Prime Minister Albin Kurti's office said in a statement. The statement cited "cyberthreats" emanating from the app as the reason for the ban. The new policy also stated that employees in government institutions must delete the app from their work phones and other official devices. The move comes months after the US government handed TikTok an ultimatum to separate itself from its Chinese owner ByteDance or face a ban on concerns the app could be used to influence Americans. US lawmakers claimed that TikTok could be used by the Chinese government for espionage and propaganda as long as it is owned by ByteDance. US tells China that Philippines support 'ironclad' Washington, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 A top US official on Thursday told a Chinese counterpart that Washington's defense commitments to the Philippines were "ironclad" after a violent clash in the South China Sea. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell "raised serious concerns" about Chinese actions in a call with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, the State Department said. Campbell "reiterated that US commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty remain ironclad," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Campbell also called for "peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait, in the wake of China's military drills around the self-governing democracy following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, and renewed US concerns about Chinese exports that support Russia's defense industry. Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an ax surrounded and boarded three Filipino navy boats last week, in the most serious of a number of escalating confrontations. China has been asserting claims in the strategic South China Sea and separately has put pressure on Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory awaiting reunification. The United States provides weapons to Taiwan but has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would come to its defense in a Chinese invasion. By contrast, the United States has a defense treaty with the Philippines that dates to 1951 that says Washington will come to its former colony's aid in case of an "armed attack." The United States has repeatedly stressed its commitments to the treaty without spelling out publicly at which point China has crossed a line. Despite multiple areas of tensions, President Joe Biden's administration has worked to expand communication with China to reduce the chance of greater conflict. Campbell's call was "part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication" between the two powers and "responsibly manage competition in the relationship," Miller said. EU chief estimates EU defence needs at 500 bn euros Brussels, Belgium, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told leaders Thursday that the bloc needs to invest 500 billion euros ($535 billion) in the next decade to bolster its defences. European Union countries are pushing to ramp up their defence industries and rearm their militaries in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, after years of underinvestment. "We estimate that additional defence investments of around 500 billion euros are needed over the next decade," von der Leyen said. The head of the EU's executive did not, however, provide a detailed breakdown of what her projected sum covered. "We didn't see spreadsheets, we didn't see details, this is pie in the sky money," an EU diplomat said. There is also no clarity as yet on how the EU would finance the investment -- with options being mooted including national spending or joint EU defence bonds. There is a standoff over whether the EU should consider joint borrowing, similar to how it financed its recovery programme after the Covid pandemic. "Several countries, including France and Estonia, are in favour of eurobonds," an EU official said. "But Germany and the Netherlands are against." "None of these options are easy, but all of them have to be looked at with the political will to decide what to do together, but they have to be looked at seriously," von der Leyen said. EU countries have already increased their defence spending in the decade since Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. That trend has accelerated since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a sharp increase in the number of EU countries hitting NATO's target of spending two percent of GDP on defence. The bloc's defence agency says EU countries spent a total of 240 billion euros on defence in 2022. The increases in EU defence spending in recent years have nonetheless been dwarfed by those of China and Russia. "If you look at the combined EU spending on defence from 1999 to 2021 so in three years, it increased by 20 percent in that same timeframe, China's defence spending increased by almost 600 percent and Russia's defence spending by almost 300 percent," said von der Leyen. "This is even before Russia massively increased over the last two years its defence spending." As part of its push to bolster defence industries across the bloc, the EU is looking to appoint commissioner dedicated to working on the issue. CORRECTED: Philippines, Japan to hold security talks next month Manila, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Japan and the Philippines will hold high-level defence talks next month, Manila said Friday, as the two countries seek to boost ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China. Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will discuss "bilateral and defence and security issues affecting the region" at the July 8 meeting in Manila, a Philippine foreign affairs department statement said. The talks follow escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea. Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea. Japan, which occupied the Philippines during World War II, is negotiating a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Manila that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other's territory. Ex-defence minister Itsunori Onodera, now a ruling-party member of the Japanese parliament, said Friday he hoped negotiations on the defence pact would "make rapid progress" at next month's meeting. "We recognise the need to further deepen security and defence cooperation between our two countries," Onodera told a press conference on the last day of a five-day visit to Manila. Onodera said he had met with National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Eduardo Manalo to reiterate Japan's commitment to a strategic defence partnership with the Philippines. "Japan is committed, ready to provide necessary assets to Philippines to protect Philippine security," said Yoshiaki Wada, another member of Onodera's parliamentary delegation. Tokyo has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manila's efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Tokyo's Maritime Self-Defence Force also held joint naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and the Philippines in the strategic waterway in April. The drills aimed to demonstrate what the participants said was their "collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific". Philippines, Japan to hold security talks next month Manila, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Japan and the Philippines will hold high-level defence talks next month, Manila said Friday, as the two countries seek to boost ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China. Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will discuss "bilateral and defence and security issues affecting the region" at the July 8 meeting in Manila, a Philippine foreign affairs department statement said. The talks follow escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to nearly all of the South China Sea. Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea. Japan, which occupied the Philippines during World War II, is negotiating a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Manila that would allow the countries to deploy troops on each other's territory. Ex-defence minister Itsunori Onodera, now a ruling-party member of the Japanese parliament, said Friday he hoped negotiations on the defence pact would "make rapid progress" at next month's meeting. "We recognise the need to further deepen security and defence cooperation between our two countries," Onodera told a press conference on the last day of a five-day visit to Manila. Onodera said he had met with National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to reiterate Japan's commitment to a strategic defence partnership with the Philippines. "Japan is committed, ready to provide necessary assets to Philippines to protect Philippine security," said Yoshiaki Wada, another member of Onodera's parliamentary delegation. Tokyo has been building the newest and largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, a key element of Manila's efforts to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea. Onodera said Japan was "very concerned" by China's behaviour during the latest confrontation between Manila and Beijing off the Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino sailor lost a thumb on June 17 when Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply a garrison on a derelict warship deliberately grounded on the shoal to assert Manila's claim there. "We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, or any action that will escalate tension," Onodera said. Tokyo's Maritime Self-Defence Force held joint naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and the Philippines in the South China Sea in April. The drills aimed to demonstrate what the participants said was their "collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific". Myanmar ethnic fighters battle junta in ruby mining hub Yangon, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 A Myanmar ethnic minority armed group was battling junta troops in a ruby and gem-mining hub on Friday, the group and residents told AFP, with reports of civilian casualties in shelling and air strikes. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched attacks on junta troops earlier this week in Mandalay region and neighbouring Shan state, shattering a ceasefire brokered by China in January. Its fighters were inside Mogok, a town surrounded by hills rich with rubies, sapphires, spinel, aquamarine and other semi-precious stones, General Tar Bhone Kyaw told AFP, without giving details. AFP was unable to reach a junta spokesman for comment. Mogok residents told AFP the town had been hit by artillery shelling and air strikes by military planes since fighting in the area started on Tuesday. "As far as I know, four people including two women were killed yesterday because of artillery shelling," one 57-year-old Mogok resident, who did not want to give his name, told AFP. He said he and his family were sheltering elsewhere after the roof of their home had been damaged in an air strike. "We have no experience like this. It's the first ever serious fighting in Mogok town." Myanmar produces much of the world's rubies, and top quality stones from Mogok -- known as "pigeon's blood" for their deep red colour -- can fetch more per carat than diamonds. The industry is notoriously opaque, with high-value rubies often smuggled over the border into Thailand or China to be sold directly to private buyers or made into jewellery. For decades Myanmar's junta and its opponents have taxed local miners for income. Fighting was ongoing in Kyaukme town in neighbouring Shan state, a local rescue worker told AFP on Friday. At least 10 civilians had been killed and more than 20 wounded there since clashes broke out on Tuesday, he said. The fighting has breached the China-brokered ceasefire that earlier this year ended weeks of fighting in Shan state between the military and the TNLA and two other allied ethnic armed groups. In a surprise October offensive the alliance seized swathes of territory and several lucrative trade crossings with China, dealing the junta its biggest blow since it seized power. Second US service member charged with rape in Japan's Okinawa Tokyo, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 A US Marine in Okinawa has been charged with non-consensual sexual intercourse resulting in injury, Japanese authorities said Friday, stoking discontent among residents over American military bases in the region. The case came to light just days after it emerged that a US airman in Okinawa had been charged in March with raping a minor three months earlier. Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said local prosecutors had brought the new charge over another rape that allegedly took place in May. In the latest case, the 21-year-old US Marine Corps member is accused of "assaulting the victim for the purpose of sexual intercourse and injuring her", an Okinawa police spokesman told AFP. "The fact that he used violence for that purpose and wounded her constitutes non-consensual sex resulting in injury," the police spokesman said. The woman had been "bitten in the mouth" and had taken two weeks to fully recover, he said. Media reports said she had also been choked. The two cases have sparked outrage and echo Japan's fraught history with US troops, including the 1995 gang rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen. Hayashi said on Friday the government has protested to US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, calling for stricter oversight and steps to prevent a recurrence. Details emerged this week of the alleged December incident in which a US airman was accused of raping a teenage Japanese girl. In that case, the 25-year-old has been charged with assault as well as kidnapping for indecent purposes, said a spokesman at a court in Naha, Okinawa's main city. Initial reports in that case had described it as sexual assault, although authorities confirmed it was being treated as rape. Despite making up just 0.6 percent of Japan's landmass, Okinawa accommodates about 70 percent of all the US military bases and facilities in Japan. "We take it very seriously that a sexual crime allegedly committed by an American soldier happened again after the December incident by the US airman," Hayashi said. "It is our understanding that the United States also appreciates the extreme gravity of what happened," he said. A litany of base-related woes has long grieved Okinawans, from pollution to noise and helicopter crashes, leading to complaints that they bear the brunt of hosting US troops. "It's heart-rending to imagine how terrified and in despair the victim must have felt," Keiko Itokazu, head of an anti-base civic group, told reporters this week. "Central governments in Japan and the US, as well as the American military, are pledging to reduce base-related burdens, but in reality turning a blind eye to the fact that our lives and safety are being threatened by these grave, malicious crimes," she said. Ukrainian forces say Western ammo supplies increasing Kyiv, Ukraine, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 After months of acute shortages, sources in Ukraine's armed forces on Friday told AFP that supplies of Western ammunition are increasing sharply. The general staff of Ukraine's armed forces and members of three brigades serving in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said they had noticed the change from the start of the year. "It's become better over the past month and it keeps getting better, at least for 155mm calibre artillery shells," a Ukrainian sergeant using the call sign "Luntik" told AFP. He said that in the first quarter of the year ammunitions in his unit had been strictly rationed to "six shells every 24 hours" while the limit today was "up to 40 per day", the sergeant said. In areas like the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched a land offensive last month, he said that "there is no limit". In Kharkiv "the occupier has failed," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, while admitting the situation remained difficult. "Our Ukrainian forces have stabilised the situation and stopped the offensive," he said. The outnumbered Ukrainian army has been heavily reliant on Western supplies against a better armed enemy. Ukrainian forces have been particularly vulnerable since the end of 2023 because of major delays in European and US arms deliveries. The US Congress in April voted through a $61-billion aid package for Ukraine but deliveries to the front can take weeks or even months. New supplies have still not brought levels back to those of 2023 "but it seems we should reach the same level soon", said the sergeant. An artillery serviceman in a different brigade in the same region said: "It has become a lot better." But he added: "Unfortunately the enemy still has an advantage in terms of personnel and artillery systems." According to a source at the general staff, the ratio between Ukrainian shelling and Russian shelling has gone down in Kyiv's favour thanks to the arrival of new Western supplies. "At the moment, the ratio of use of ammunition is one to three" in Russia's favour, compared to "one to seven" before. "Our supplies have gone up and theirs have gone down," he said. Zelensky says preparing 'plan' to end war with Russia Kyiv, Ukraine, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said he was drawing up a "comprehensive plan" for how Kyiv believes the war with Russia should end. There are no public talks ongoing between Ukraine and Russia and based on public statements by Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two sides appear as far apart as ever when it comes to the terms of a potential peace settlement. Zelensky hosted a major international summit in Switzerland earlier this month -- to which Russia was not invited -- to rally support for Ukraine's position. "It is very important for us to show a plan to end the war that will be supported by the majority of the world," Zelensky said on Friday. "This is the diplomatic route we are working on," he said at a press conference in Kyiv alongside Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar. More than 90 countries sent leaders and senior officials to the two-day summit with Zelensky in Switzerland. The vast majority of whom agreed to a final communique that stressed the need for Ukraine's "territorial integrity" to be respected in any settlement. But some key countries that attended, like India, did not agree and others, like Russia's ally China, boycotted the summit in protest at Moscow not being invited. Ukraine has repeatedly said Russia must pull its troops out of its internationally recognised territory, including the peninsula of Crimea that Moscow annexed in 2014, before peace talks can start. Meanwhile Putin, who launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, is demanding Ukraine effectively capitulate by evacuating even more territory across its east and south. In Brussels on Thursday, Zelensky said he would put forward a "detailed plan" in a matter of months. "We don't have too much time," he said, pointing to the high casualty rate amongst soldiers and civilians. Russia's troops are slowly advancing on the battlefield, claiming to have seized another small frontline village on Friday. They currently occupy around a fifth of Ukraine and in 2022 claimed to have annexed four more regions, none of which they fully controlled. Ukraine relies on Western financial and military aid to push back the invading Russian forces, but its troops are outgunned, outmanned and exhausted after more than two years of fighting. Ukrainian forces say Western ammo supplies increasing Kyiv, Ukraine, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 After months of acute shortages, sources in Ukraine's armed forces on Friday told AFP that supplies of Western ammunition are increasing sharply. The general staff of Ukraine's armed forces and members of three brigades serving in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said they had noticed a recent change compared to the start of the year. "It's become better over the past month and it keeps getting better, at least for 155mm calibre artillery shells," a Ukrainian sergeant using the call sign "Luntik" -- a type of military nickname -- told AFP. He said that in the first quarter of the year, ammunitions in his unit had been strictly rationed to "six shells every 24 hours" while the limit today was "up to 40 per day", the sergeant said. In areas like the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched a land offensive last month, he said that "there is no limit". In Kharkiv "the occupier has failed," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, while admitting the situation remained difficult. "Our Ukrainian forces have stabilised the situation and stopped the offensive," he said. The outnumbered Ukrainian army has been heavily reliant on Western supplies against its better armed enemy. Ukrainian forces have been particularly vulnerable since the end of 2023 because of major delays in European and US arms deliveries. The US Congress in April voted through a $61-billion aid package for Ukraine but deliveries to the frontline can take weeks or even months. New supplies have still not brought levels back to those of 2023 "but it seems we should reach the same level soon", said the sergeant. An artillery serviceman in a different brigade in the same region said: "It has become a lot better." But another soldier in a third brigade said: "Unfortunately the enemy still has an advantage in terms of personnel and artillery systems." "For a war of this intensity, we will need more and more," he said. Luntik said that even when Ukrainian forces destroy Russian artillery systems, "they are replaced the next day". According to a source at the general staff, the ratio between Ukrainian shelling and Russian shelling has moved in Kyiv's favour thanks to the arrival of new Western supplies. "At the moment, the ratio of use of ammunition is one to three" in Russia's favour, compared to "one to seven" before. "Our supplies have gone up and theirs have gone down," he said. CORRECTED: Bolivia president denies conspiracy after failed coup La Paz, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Bolivian President Luis Arce on Thursday denied conspiring with his former army chief, who was arrested after deploying troops and tanks to the heart of the capital La Paz, where they tried to break down a door of the presidential palace. Fourteen civilians who opposed the coup were wounded by lead pellets, according to the authorities. Some had to be hospitalized and operated on, Arce told journalists. Authorities paraded handcuffed detainees in front of the media on Thursday, announcing 17 arrests including ex-army chief Juan Jose Zuniga, and riot police kept close watch over government buildings a day after the botched coup. Tensions in the Andean nation have been rising in recent weeks over surging prices, shortages of dollars and fuel, and a feud between Arce and the powerful former president Evo Morales ahead of the 2025 election. In his first public appearance since announcing the coup attempt was over Wednesday night, Arce denied he had conspired with Zuniga. The army chief claimed he was following orders and that the president had hoped to trigger a crackdown that would boost his popularity. "How could one order or plan a coup on one's self?" Arce told reporters. Flanked by soldiers and tanks outside the presidency, Zuniga said that "the armed forces intend to restructure democracy, to make it a true democracy and not one run by the same few people for 30, 40 years." Shortly thereafter, the soldiers and tanks pulled back from the historic Plaza Murillo square and local television broadcast images of Zuniga's arrest. Bolivia's naval chief, Juan Arnez Salvador, was also arrested. The two men face up to 20 years in prison for the crimes of terrorism and armed uprising, prosecutors said. - Defend democracy - Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo announced a total of 17 arrests, including active and retired military personnel and civilians, in connection with the attempted coup. Other suspects are still being sought. The government broadcast a conversation between Arce and Zuniga at the doors of the presidential mansion, surrounded by military personnel, in which Arce ordered his army chief to withdraw his troops to their barracks. Zuniga replied with a blunt "No," but left the presidential palace a few minutes later. "We are going to defend democracy and the will of the Bolivian people, whatever the cost!" the 60-year-old Arce wrote on social media platform X. He has since sworn in new military leaders. The coup plot, however, took an unusual twist as Zuniga told reporters that Arce had ordered a staged uprising in order to trigger a crackdown that would make him look strong and "raise his popularity." "It is absolutely false," said close presidential aide Maria Nela Prada. Former centrist president Carlos Mesa (2003-2005) wrote on X that the troop deployment "resembles a farce." Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Thursday that he would soon visit his "friend" Arce to support him following the unrest. In an interview with Itatiaia radio, Lula said he would travel to the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra to "strengthen Luis Arce, strengthen democracy." Russia "strongly" condemned the attempted military coup, its foreign ministry said Thursday, warning against "destructive foreign interference" in the South American country. UN chief Antonio Guterres "welcomes the peaceful resolution of the situation," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, having earlier expressed alarm over the abortive coup. Condemnations of the coup bid also poured in from Madrid, Washington and across Latin America. - Political tug of war - Bolivia, which has a long history of military coups, has in recent weeks been rocked by an economic crisis due to a drop in natural gas production, its main source of foreign currency until 2023. The country has had to reduce fuel imports and there is a shortage of dollars, which has triggered protests by powerful unions of merchants and freight transporters. Gustavo Flores-Macias, a professor of government at Cornell University in New York state, told AFP the failed coup was "a symptom of a significant and broad discontent" in the country. For now, "we must carefully evaluate how widespread the discontent is within the armed forces," he said, adding that Arce's government was facing "a critical moment of weakness." Bolivia is also deeply polarized after years of political instability, and the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party is riven by internal conflict between supporters of Arce and his former mentor Morales. bur-fb/ssy/cwl/fb/bjt Myanmar ethnic fighters battle junta in ruby-mining hub Yangon, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 A Myanmar ethnic minority armed group was battling junta troops in a ruby and gem-mining hub on Friday, the group and the junta told AFP, with reports of civilian casualties in shelling and air strikes. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) launched attacks on junta troops this week in the Mandalay region and neighbouring Shan state, shattering a ceasefire brokered by China in January. Its fighters were inside Mogok, a town surrounded by hills rich with rubies, sapphires, spinel, aquamarine and other semi-precious stones, General Tar Bhone Kyaw told AFP, without giving details. "We are having fighting in Mogok town," junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP. "Security forces have been working to get control of the region," he said. Mogok residents told AFP the town had been hit by artillery shelling and air strikes by military planes since fighting in the area started on Tuesday. "As far as I know, four people including two women were killed yesterday because of artillery shelling," one 57-year-old Mogok resident, who did not want to give his name, told AFP. He said he and his family were sheltering elsewhere after the roof of their home had been damaged in an air strike. "We have no experience like this. It's the first-ever serious fighting in Mogok town." Myanmar produces much of the world's rubies, and top-quality stones from Mogok -- known as "pigeon's blood" for their deep red colour -- can fetch more per carat than diamonds. The industry is notoriously opaque, with high-value rubies often smuggled over the border into Thailand or China to be sold directly to private buyers or made into jewellery. Myanmar's junta and its opponents have taxed local miners as a source of income for decades. There was also fighting in Kyaukme town in neighbouring Shan state, a local rescue worker told AFP on Friday. At least 10 civilians had been killed and more than 20 wounded since clashes there broke out on Tuesday, he said. Zaw Min Tun confirmed the fighting in Kyaukme, and said there had been "some civilian casualties", without giving further details. The fighting has breached the China-brokered ceasefire that ended weeks of fighting in Shan state between the military and the TNLA and two other allied ethnic armed groups. The alliance seized swaths of territory and several lucrative trade crossings with China in a surprise October offensive, dealing the junta its biggest blow since it seized power in 2021. Israeli troops, warplanes strike north Gaza Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Israel's military on Friday said it was conducting raids backed by air strikes in northern Gaza, killing "dozens" of militants in an area where it had declared the command structure of Hamas dismantled months ago. The operation in Shujaiya, on the edge of Gaza City, caused numerous casualties, witnesses and medics said on Thursday when it began. Renewed fighting in Gaza's north followed comments on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months. Experts say they foresee a potentially prolonged next phase. Omer Dostri, a military expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said he expects the army to reduce its ground presence and to increasingly use drones and fighter jets "to further dismantle Hamas". On Friday in the Shujaiya area, an AFP correspondent witnessed an air strike and saw smoke rising. Artillery fire boomed. In a statement, Israel's military said that, overnight Thursday, troops "started to conduct targeted raids" in the Shujaiya area as part of an operation that began earlier in the day. Intelligence had indicated "the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Shujaiya", the military said, in its first details of the operation. As troops went in, warplanes struck dozens of Hamas targets, it said, following other "significant" strikes that killed "dozens" of militants in the north. Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, said on Friday it was fighting in the northern Gaza neighbourhood of Shujaiya and had targeted Israeli troops with mortar shells. Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces had targeted the agency's headquarters while advancing in western Rafah. Multiple agency staff were wounded, while two fire engines, an ambulance and an excavator used for rescuing people from under rubble were damaged, one of the agency's officials Mohammad al-Mughair told AFP. - 'Significant strikes' - On Thursday, a military spokesman told residents and displaced Gazans in a social media message to leave "for your safety". They were asked to head south, to a declared "humanitarian zone" about 25 kilometres (15 miles) away. An AFP photographer saw many Palestinians leaving on foot, carrying their belongings through rubble-strewn streets. Hamas said Israeli forces were "starting a ground incursion", reporting "several" dead as "thousands flee under relentless bombing". The war started with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 42 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,765 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. On Friday the military announced the death of another soldier, aged 19, during combat in southern Gaza. This brings to 314 the number killed since ground operations began in the territory. Elsewhere in the coastal strip, paramedics on Friday reported three people killed in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. AFP images showed the municipal building had been destroyed. Colleagues prayed over the bodies of four civil defence volunteers killed during bombardment of the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp, other AFP images showed. Orange work vests lay on top of their white-shrouded bodies. Witnesses on Friday reported artillery fire in Nuseirat. - 'Milestone' - Fighting in Gaza comes alongside growing fears of a wider regional conflagration involving Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement. The two sides have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire since the war in Gaza began. Such exchanges have escalated this month. US officials have voiced hope a Gaza ceasefire could also lead to a reduction in hostilities on Israel's northern border, but months of on-off mediation, also involving Egypt and Qatar, have not brought a deal. On Thursday, Hezbollah said it fired "dozens" of rockets at a military base in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Hezbollah said four of its fighters had been killed. Israel's military said air strikes killed three Hezbollah operatives. In Gaza, most of the population has been uprooted and much of the territory's infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving residents struggling to survive. A UN-backed assessment this week said almost half a million people in Gaza are still experiencing "catastrophic" hunger. An Israeli government spokesman dismissed the report, partly because "it's based upon data from Hamas's own health institutions". But the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, on its website, says it was created "precisely to supersede potential political interferences through technical neutrality", and that its parameters are based on international standards. Netanyahu's announcement that intense fighting is winding down comes with his right-wing coalition under a range of pressures. Thousands of protesters again gathered in front of his Jerusalem residence on Thursday to call for a hostage release deal, an AFP reporter said. In the Tel Aviv area, mounted police dispersed ultra-Orthodox men protesting a Supreme Court ruling that they must be drafted for military service. burs-dcp/jsa CORRECTED: Israeli troops, warplanes strike north Gaza Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Israel's military on Friday said it was conducting raids backed by air strikes in northern Gaza, killing "dozens" of militants in an area where it had declared the command structure of Hamas dismantled months ago. The operation in Shujaiya, on the edge of Gaza City, caused numerous casualties, witnesses and medics said on Thursday when it began. Renewed fighting in Gaza's north followed comments on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months. Experts say they foresee a potentially prolonged next phase. Omer Dostri, a military expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said he expects the army to reduce its ground presence and to increasingly use drones and fighter jets "to further dismantle Hamas". On Friday in the Shujaiya area, an AFP correspondent witnessed an air strike and saw smoke rising. Artillery fire boomed. In a statement, Israel's military said that, overnight Thursday, troops "started to conduct targeted raids" in the Shujaiya area as part of an operation that began earlier in the day. Intelligence had indicated "the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Shujaiya", the military said, in its first details of the operation. As troops went in, warplanes struck dozens of Hamas targets, it said, following other "significant" strikes that killed "dozens" of militants in the north. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, said on Friday it was fighting in the northern Gaza neighbourhood of Shujaiya and had targeted Israeli troops with mortar shells. Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces had targeted the agency's headquarters while advancing in western Rafah. Multiple agency staff were wounded, while two fire engines, an ambulance and an excavator used for rescuing people from under rubble were damaged, one of the agency's officials Mohammad al-Mughair told AFP. - 'Significant strikes' - On Thursday, a military spokesman told residents and displaced Gazans in a social media message to leave "for your safety". They were asked to head south, to a declared "humanitarian zone" about 25 kilometres (15 miles) away. An AFP photographer saw many Palestinians leaving on foot, carrying their belongings through rubble-strewn streets. Hamas said Israeli forces were "starting a ground incursion", reporting "several" dead as "thousands flee under relentless bombing". The war started with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 42 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,765 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. On Friday the military announced the death of another soldier, aged 19, during combat in southern Gaza. This brings to 314 the number killed since ground operations began in the territory. Elsewhere in the coastal strip, paramedics on Friday reported three people killed in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. AFP images showed the municipal building had been destroyed. Colleagues prayed over the bodies of four civil defence volunteers killed during bombardment of the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp, other AFP images showed. Orange work vests lay on top of their white-shrouded bodies. Witnesses on Friday reported artillery fire in Nuseirat. - 'Milestone' - Fighting in Gaza comes alongside growing fears of a wider regional conflagration involving Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement. The two sides have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire since the war in Gaza began. Such exchanges have escalated this month. US officials have voiced hope a Gaza ceasefire could also lead to a reduction in hostilities on Israel's northern border, but months of on-off mediation, also involving Egypt and Qatar, have not brought a deal. On Thursday, Hezbollah said it fired "dozens" of rockets at a military base in northern Israel in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Hezbollah said four of its fighters had been killed. Israel's military said air strikes killed three Hezbollah operatives. In Gaza, most of the population has been uprooted and much of the territory's infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving residents struggling to survive. A UN-backed assessment this week said almost half a million people in Gaza are still experiencing "catastrophic" hunger. An Israeli government spokesman dismissed the report, partly because "it's based upon data from Hamas's own health institutions". But the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, on its website, says it was created "precisely to supersede potential political interferences through technical neutrality", and that its parameters are based on international standards. Netanyahu's announcement that intense fighting is winding down comes with his right-wing coalition under a range of pressures. Thousands of protesters again gathered in front of his Jerusalem residence on Thursday to call for a hostage release deal, an AFP reporter said. In the Tel Aviv area, mounted police dispersed ultra-Orthodox men protesting a Supreme Court ruling that they must be drafted for military service. burs-dcp/jsa Israeli troops, warplanes strike north Gaza Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Israel's military on Friday said it was conducting raids backed by air strikes in northern Gaza, killing "dozens" of militants in an area where it had declared the command structure of Hamas dismantled months ago. The operation in Shujaiya, on the edge of Gaza City, caused numerous casualties, witnesses and medics said on Thursday when it began. Renewed fighting in Gaza's north followed comments on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said the "intense phase" of the war was winding down after almost nine months. Experts say they foresee a potentially prolonged next phase. Omer Dostri, a military expert at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said he expects the army to reduce its ground presence and to increasingly use drones and fighter jets "to further dismantle Hamas". On Friday in the Shujaiya area, an AFP correspondent witnessed an air strike and saw smoke rising. Artillery fire boomed. In a statement, Israel's military said that, overnight Thursday, troops "started to conduct targeted raids" in the Shujaiya area as part of an operation that began earlier in the day. Intelligence had indicated "the presence of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Shujaiya", the military said, in its first details of the operation. As troops went in, warplanes struck dozens of Hamas targets, it said, following other "significant" strikes that killed "dozens" of militants in the north. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, said on Friday it was fighting in the northern Gaza neighbourhood of Shujaiya and had targeted Israeli troops with mortar shells. Hamas's own armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, also said it was engaged in fighting in Shujaiya and that there were "dead and wounded" Israeli troops. Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces had targeted the agency's headquarters while advancing in western Rafah. Multiple agency staff were wounded, while two fire engines, an ambulance and an excavator used for rescuing people from under rubble were damaged, one of the agency's officials Mohammad al-Mughair told AFP. - 'Significant strikes' - On Thursday, a military spokesman told residents and displaced Gazans in a social media message to leave "for your safety". They were asked to head south, to a declared "humanitarian zone" about 25 kilometres (15 miles) away. An AFP photographer saw many Palestinians leaving on foot, carrying their belongings through rubble-strewn streets. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA estimated that "about 60,000 to 80,000 people were displaced" from the area overnight Wednesday to Thursday. Hamas said Israeli forces were "starting a ground incursion", reporting "several" dead as "thousands flee under relentless bombing". The war started with Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. The militants also seized hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza although the army says 42 are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 37,765 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. On Friday the military announced the death of another soldier, aged 19, during combat in southern Gaza. This brings to 314 the number killed since ground operations began in the territory. Elsewhere in the coastal strip, paramedics on Friday reported three people killed in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. AFP images showed the municipal building had been destroyed. Colleagues prayed over the bodies of four civil defence volunteers killed during bombardment of the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp, other AFP images showed. Orange work vests lay on top of their white-shrouded bodies. Witnesses on Friday reported artillery fire in Nuseirat. - 'Milestone' - Fighting in Gaza comes alongside growing fears of a wider regional conflagration involving Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement. The two sides have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire since the war in Gaza began. Such exchanges have escalated this month. On Friday, Hezbollah said it had launched multiple attacks on Israeli military positions and troops said that one of its fighters had been killed by Israeli fire. Lebanon's official National News Agency reported three people, including two Palestinians, had been killed in an Israeli strike on a building in the border village of Kfar Kila. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said three drones and "around 25 launches" were identified crossing from Lebanon. The military said it responded with artillery fire. In Gaza, most of the population has been uprooted and much of the territory's infrastructure has been destroyed, leaving residents struggling to survive. A UN-backed assessment this week said almost half a million people in Gaza are experiencing "catastrophic" hunger. An Israeli government spokesman dismissed the report, partly because "it's based upon data from Hamas's own health institutions". But the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, on its website, says it was created "precisely to supersede potential political interferences through technical neutrality", and that its parameters are based on international standards. The medical situation also remains critical, with the World Health Organisation reporting on Friday that 32 hospitals in the Gaza Strip had been damaged during the war, while only two hospitals in the Gaza governorate, which includes Gaza City, are undamaged. burs-dcp/jsa * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME * EMAIL Your email address * PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show * YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 * Required fields I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice CREATE ACCOUNT I'LL TRY LATER Already have an account? SIGN IN By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Joshua Mahony at Scope Markets said: For UK businesses, the resurgence seen in the first quarter serves to highlight improving sentiment, with the worst largely behind us. With the UK election looking unlikely to throw up any curveballs, and the Bank of England rate cuts expected to spark the economy back into life, there is plenty to be optimistic about. However, I do not think it was necessary in the first place to single out any community, let alone the Bangladeshi one, to score political points on asylum and migration. I came to this country as a baby when my family fled conflict during the independence war, which is why this feels so personal. He added: I have never discussed immigration with either Nigel Farage or the Reform Party and that any comments made by me during those recordings are my own personal views on any subject I commented on. At no time before I was sent out to canvass did I discuss my personal views with any representative of the Reform Party UK or Nigel Farage. A contingent of Romanian soldiers will be in France, from July 1-31, as part of a pre-positioning program, organized by the General Directorate for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations - DG ECHO, in order to strengthen the resilience of the French authorities in fire risk management. "During July 1-31, the Department for Emergency Situations within the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, participates with a specialized national module for extinguishing forest fires in a program aimed at reducing the response time in the event of forest fires, streamlining the activity of preparing the intervention modules belonging to the member states, as well as improving the interoperability between the participating forces," informs a press release from the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU). The activation and operationalization of the specialized module for extinguishing forest fires is carried out for the execution of the specific missions of monitoring and extinguishing outbreaks on the territory of France, in the locations established by the French partners. "The first contingent, which includes 40 firefighters and eight technical means, started moving on Friday, on the route Arad - Budapest - Maribor - Ljublijana - Padova - Piacenza - Nice - Montpelier - Sainte-Marie-la-Mer," the cited source says. The addition of intervention equipment and personnel will be carried out depending on the dynamics of the situations recorded in the field, at the request of the French authorities, through the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The change of personnel will take place on July 16, with another 40 firefighters replacing the staff. The assistance program is financed by the EU and was envisaged as a measure of support for French communities, after the fires registered during the past years. Based on the pre-positioning pilot program organized by the European Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) in 2022 and the availability declared by DG ECHO to support in 2024 the pre-positioning of specialized modules to extinguish forest fires in countries affected by summer fires in the past, the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU), in its capacity as the national contact point, received, on May 27, the request of the French authorities to pre-position modules specialized in extinguishing fires of the forest in July this year. This request was sent to IGSU through the Emergency Response Coordination Center of the European Commission (ERCC), through CECIS. The government approved on Friday a Decision on the opening of the international border crossing point Giurgiu, Romania - Ruse, Bulgaria II, in ferry mode, for passengers and for the transport of motor vehicles with total weight up to 40 tonnes, with permanent operating schedule. The state border crossing point will be put into use after the administrator of the building fulfills all the obligations provided by law for carrying out the specific activity at the point, respectively after the construction of the necessary infrastructure and utilities in order to carry out the border control in good conditions, in accordance with the norms and standards in force, as well as after ensuring the necessary personnel by all the authorities provided for in art. 12 of Emergency Ordinance no. 105/2001 regarding the state border of Romania. The spaces and utilities necessary for carrying out control activities at the state border crossing are provided by the building administrator. The administrator of the building where the border crossing point will operate is the private operator RO-RO Trans Frontalier Ltd. The implementation of Romania's aggregate national budget in the first five months of 2024 ended on a deficit of RON 60.10 billion, or 3.4% of GDP, as against RON 36.91 billion - 2.30% of GDP - one year before, according to the Finance Ministry. The increase in government revenues was mainly supported by receipts from current revenues - corporate income tax, social insurance contributions, payroll tax, VAT and non-tax revenues. Receipts from payroll and income tax totalled RON 21.12 billion, which is a positive dynamics of 19.7% (year-on-year), while receipts from tax on pension income contributed 58.3% and those related to single tax declaration 13.7%. Insurance contributions recorded RON 78.18 billion, up 20.7% (year-on-year), outperforming the developments in wages. Income tax revenues amounted to RON 10.09 billion, up 37.9% (year-on-year) on the advance of revenues from corporate income tax, including the minimum tax on turnover from business operators and the corporate tax on commercial banks (+38.2%). Net VAT receipts totalled RON 47.89 billion, up18.1% (year-on-year). Also, the value of VAT refunds increased by 8.5% year-on-year - RON 12.90 billion in January - May 2024, as against RON 11.89 billion in January - May 2023. Excise tax revenues amounted to RON 15.80 billion, up 3.8%, on an increase in excise duty revenues from energy products (+13.3%), as a result of rising fuel consumption trends. At the same time, the decline in excise revenues from tobacco products levelled out at -8.3% amid a significant positive advance in May 2024. Non-tax revenues amounted to RON 17.62 billion, up 17.5% (year-on-year). The government approved on Friday an Emergency Ordinance on the provision of humanitarian support and assistance by the Romanian state to foreign citizens or stateless persons in special situations, coming from the area of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The said Emergency Ordinance (OUG) ensures the primary legislative framework for the social inclusion of foreign citizens or stateless persons from the area of the armed conflict in Ukraine, by adopting clear rules on granting this category of citizens lump sums, to cover accommodation and food expenses, for a period determined by time, from the budget of the county inspectorates for emergency situations/the Bucharest-Ilfov Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. The support is granted for the purpose of including these citizens, ensuring them rights similar to those of Romanian citizens in the field of health, education and work, the Executive said. The OUG provides that foreign citizens or stateless persons from the area of the armed conflict in Ukraine who obtained the temporary protection permit before July 1, 2024 will be entitled, based on the renewal of the temporary residence permit and provided that the legal eligibility conditions are met, to a series of social benefits provided for in the Romanian legislation, which include, among others, the state allowance for children, the minimum inclusion income, the unemployment benefit, the disability allowance, the monthly allowance for raising children. These benefits are granted conditionally, depending on the specifics of each benefit, under conditions similar to those provided by the related legislation in Romania. In turn, citizens who obtain the temporary protection permit for the first time starting with July 1, 2024 will be entitled, only once for a period of 4 consecutive months, to a monthly lump sum of the amount, conditions and mechanism of granting which will be established by Government Decision. At the end of the four consecutive months, the beneficiaries in this category will have access to the social assistance and protection system in Romania Romania is expected to collect over 120 billion RON in VAT to the state budget, the Minister of Finance, Marcel Bolos, said on Friday at the briefing at the end of the Government meeting. "We had consultations with the Chamber of Accounting Experts and Chartered Accountants, as well as with representatives of the Romanian Business Leaders business environment, also with representatives of Concordia, with representatives of the National Council of Small and Medium Enterprises, with representatives of AmCham and the Foreign Investors Fund. It was a consultation that resulted in observations that we transposed into the draft Emergency Ordinance that the Government approved today (Friday ed.n) As is known, VAT is the most important tax that Romania has and collects to the state budget. This year, over 120 billion RON are expected to be collected in the state budget. It is our main tax from which all other categories of public services are financed, from schools, hospitals, health units and also social assistance rights, including pensions," said Bolos. The Minister of Finance mentioned, at the same time, that the VAT tax is not a cost for small and medium enterprises, for companies in Romania, but is a neutral tax and "as such, it does not affect the operating costs of the companies". "Digitalization must bring more money to the state budget and effectively combat tax evasion, and for what it means the activities of the companies must support the activities of the companies, especially in this digitalization process. (...) Why this mechanism , why do we need VAT? Because we have an obligation to reduce the VAT gap by five percentage points, according to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, starting in 2025. We must also align ourselves with the objectives and standards of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development editor's note), which stipulate that tax authorities work with pre-filled tax returns and pre-filled account statements in the relationship with taxpayers. This is the future of tax administrations, where the information on taxes and duties is contained in these pre-completed statements of accounts, which we have been working on under the VAT mechanism," the official emphasized. According to the data presented by the official, several European countries have implemented this mechanism, which "also brought them a corresponding reduction in the VAT gap". He added that, at the moment, Romania is in first place in the ranking of countries that collect small amounts of VAT, with a gap of 35.7%. Under an emergency ordinance passed on Friday, the government amended the Romanian Police regulations to ban face or neck tattoos on police officer candidates. According to a press statement released by the government, the ordinance reconsiders the provisions regarding tattoos, and now police officer candidates would be banned from having tattoos or any ornament of any nature applied, inserted or implanted on face and/or neck, or in other areas of the head. On the other hand, tattoos or ornaments on the candidate's body should not depict symbols, messages, slogans or representations of a nature to incite violence, hatred or discrimination or to carry political, fascist, racist or xenophobic connotations. Brussels, June 28 - AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: President Klaus Iohannis emphasized in Thursday's discussions at the European Council the crucial importance of the Black Sea for regional security, but also for the security of the entire European Union, especially in the current geopolitical context, and insisted on a new strategic approach to the Black Sea at European level. The leaders set as an objective for the future European Commission and the High Representative to prepare a Joint Communication on a European Union strategy for the Black Sea region, the conclusions "representing a result of Romania's sustained diplomatic efforts in recent months", shows the Presidential Administration. As regards the package of appointments for the next institutional cycle, the Romanian president emphasized the need for "a fast and predictable process, that will ensure the efficient and credible functioning of the European institutions in the transition to the next institutional cycle, but also in the long term". He referred, at the same time, to "the importance of respecting the political and geographical balance at the level of the European institutions' leadership and appreciated that their future leaders must show vision and determination in achieving common goals". During the discussion on the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, Klaus Iohannis emphasized that the document "must reflect the common commitment to continue efforts towards a stronger, more resilient and more influential Union at international level". He also emphasized that the new Strategic Agenda must highlight the advancement of the enlargement policy, but also the unity of the Union in terms of support for Ukraine and the importance of cooperation between the EU and NATO. In the context of the discussion on the situation in Ukraine, the president of Romania insisted on the need to continue support for the neighboring country as long as necessary, on all levels, with a particular emphasis on ensuring an adequate response to immediate military needs, especially in terms of air defense. The Romanian president pointed out that, from our country's perspective, the adoption of the negotiation frameworks and the organization of the first Intergovernmental Conferences for the opening of accession negotiations with both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova represent a confirmation of concrete support for the two states, an important investment in their future, but also in the future of the EU. He also emphasized the need to continue and extend support to the Republic of Moldova and welcomed the remarkable progress achieved by the Republic of Moldova, including on the path to EU accession, despite the multiple challenges it faces from the Russian Federation. In reference to the situation in the Middle East, the Romanian president highlighted the importance of a balanced and principled EU positioning in relation to the situation in the Middle East and the prevention of further escalation and expansion in the region. In this regard, Klaus Iohannis supported the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2735 as a rapid solution to the grave humanitarian situation and emphasized the need to continue coordination with the United States of America and other like-minded actors in order to start an irreversible political process based on a two-state solution. In the discussions on security and defense, the president strongly supported the strengthening of the EU's profile in these areas, underlining the need to ensure adequate funding. In this regard, he called for exploring all available financing options, including through the European Investment Bank, to strengthen the defense technological and industrial base. At the same time he emphasized the importance of advancing these efforts while ensuring interoperability and complementarity with NATO. In relation to European competitiveness, Klaus Iohannis reiterated the essential nature of the principles of convergence and cohesion, as well as connectivity as basic factors in strengthening and deepening the single market, reducing disparities and stimulating sustainable growth At a news conference on Friday, the Romania Renaste Movement has asked the current NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoana, to enter the electoral race for the highest position in the Romanian state, that of president. National leader of the Romania Renaste Movement Dumitru Bortun called on all the "democratic and sound" forces of Romania to support Geoana in this electoral race. "We are asking you; we are urging you and we are encouraging you! You will not be alone!" Bortun told the news conference. He added that the Romania Renaste Movement strongly believes in a truly renewed, democratic, dignified and prosperous Romania, which should take its deserved place on the international scene. "It's not too late yet. It is not too late to ask to be governed by deserving people, whose calling card consists of professional value, moral probity and love of country. It is not too late to ask to be treated with respect as citizens, to demand that the state responsibly take care of the public services to which we are entitled, such as healthcare, education, access to justice. It is not too late to want a Romania respected internationally for its ability to promote its interests and respect its partners. (...) In order to put into practice what we suggest, Romania needs to be led by an involved, competent and visionary president, a well-known and respected professional inside and outside the country, a person who believes with the same power as we do in the rebirth of Romania. We recognize the president we need in the person of Mircea Geoana," Bortun said. He mentioned that among all the possible candidates in this year's presidential election, Geoana is the only one who has a transformative vision and who will be able to unleash the positive energies of the nation. One hundred children from the Romanian communities in Leonidio - Peloponnese, Greece will be beneficiaries of the first edition of the project Romanian-Greek Cultural and Artistic Intercrossings in the Peloponnese, launched by the administrative-territorial unit Polovragi. Financed by the Department for Romanians Everywhere, the project will run between July 3-7, announced Andreea David, representative of the Constantin Brancusi Folk School of Arts and Crafts. The RON 130,400 financing is intended to promote the image of Romania outside country borders, in a bid to perpetuate the Romanian spirit as well as to preserve local traditions and customs in areas with significant Romanian communities. The project Romanian-Greek Cultural and Artistic Intercrossings in the Peloponnese contributes to improving knowledge of Romanian identity elements (traditions, customs, cultural personalities, important national events) for 100 children from the Romanian communities in Leonidio through their participation in skill demonstration events, craft workshops, folklore performances with Gorj region specific songs by well-loved artists, and a display of traditional items from all Romanian ethnic and folkloric regions, so that all participants feel part of the show, regardless of what Romanian region they hail from. The Cheile Oltetului folk dance ensemble of UAT Polovragi will perform suites of dances specific to all the Romanian historical regions musically represented in the show. "Having viewed on social networks the artistic and cultural activities of the Constantin Brancusi Folk School of Arts and Crafts in Targu Jiu, the socio-cultural association 'United Romanians' from the Southern Peloponnese proposed us to organize a Festival of Romanian traditional songs and dances this July, in the city of Sparti. The two musical and choreographic shows, as well as the craft workshops prepared with care and passion by artisans Claudia Draghescu - weaving, Tiberiu Ecobescu - icon art, Marian Magureanu - pottery, and Marin-Daniel Predut - woodworking, will take place as follows: July 5 - Leonidio, starting at 8:00 p.m., and July 6 - Sparti, starting at 8:00 p.m., as part of the Festival of Romanian traditional songs and dances," said Andreea David. The project is also an opportunity for the participants to attend non-formal education courses offered by the Constantin Brancusi Folk School of Arts and Crafts, with a duration of three years and ending with a cycle-completion exam that will provide the students with a diploma. The partnerships with the South Kynouria municipality and the Athens-based Romanian-Hellenic Intercultural Association "Dacia" will be scaled up, but new partnerships will also be concluded with the Sparti City Hall and the 'United Romanians' Socio-cultural Association from the South Peloponnese by organizing in-person or online activities aimed at preserving local traditions and customs, as well as promoting Romania's image abroad. The event will provide an opportunity to share and celebrate cultural diversity, while the communities of Polovragi and Leonidio explore the possibility of a twinning relationship, the cited source mentioned. The government approved in Friday's meeting the granting of the resilience scholarship, in the amount of 300 RON per month, as a form of stimulating students in order to achieve progress in learning. Resilience scholarships are also awarded to students with oncological and/or chronic diseases enrolled in school, for a period of more than 4 weeks, within the "School in the Hospital" or at home, in the school year following the return to the educational unit in which they were previously enrolled. At the same time, the scope of the beneficiaries of the social scholarship is expanded, in the amount of 300 RON per month, by including students up to 30 years old, not employed on the labour market and enrolled in part-time forms of education or in "Second Chance" educational programmes. The merit scholarship is 450 RON per month. The government clarifies the legal framework by which the Ministry of Education can annually grant scholarships for full and partial bachelor's, master's and doctoral university studies, for postgraduate and postdoctoral studies, for research internships abroad, from funds established for this purpose, by Government Decision. These scholarships are obtained through a competition organized at national level. At the same time, the granting of scholarships to Romanians everywhere is regulated, given that at the level of state higher education institutions in Romania, Romanian students from all over the world have very good academic performances, taking into account the context of the Romanian government's policy of supporting Romanian communities everywhere. Julys concert schedule packs plenty of heavy hitters: Niall Horan, Phish, Luke Bryan, Alanis Morrissette, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maren Morris, Santana, AJR and others. But there are also a lot of terrific comedy shows happening, too, including Jordan Klepper (The Daily Show), Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live), Demetri Martin and Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall). You can laugh or rock out all month or both! Its your choice. Iron & Wine with Amythyst Kiah When: 8 p.m. July 6 8 p.m. July 6 Where: The Pageant, 6133 Delmar Boulevard The Pageant, 6133 Delmar Boulevard How much: $37.50-$47.50 $37.50-$47.50 More info: ticketmaster.com Sam Beam, once again dba Iron & Wine, has returned with a new album, Light Verse, his first in yikes, seven years. Light doesnt mean to imply happy, however, and the album is mostly mellow and melancholy. Get there early enough to catch opening act Amythyst Kiah a fine solo artist as well as a member of Our Native Daughters. Kiah recently released a new single, In the Pines, a treatment of the traditional folk tune. Jeezy When: 8 p.m. July 10 8 p.m. July 10 Where: The Pageant The Pageant How much: $65 and up $65 and up More info: ticketmaster.com Divorce, custody battles and nasty accusations are dominating headlines involving Jeezy these days, but this is the guy who titled his 2023 memoir Adversity for Sale: Ya Gotta Believe. Kind of along the same lines, the Atlanta rappers latest album also from last year is titled I Might ForgiveBut I Dont Forget. Hmm. Niall Horan The Show Live on Tour When: 7:30 p.m. July 12 7:30 p.m. July 12 Where: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights How much: $22-$149 $22-$149 More info: livenation.com Niall Horans 2020 tour was scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the former One Direction heartthrob has been making up for lost time for more than a year now touring behind his album The Show. Were happy his fans finally get to see him again, but youd better bring earplugs to this one; not to block out the music, but rather the high-decibel scream-singing of the Niallers. Its all in good fun, but tinnitus is real, people. Lake Street Dive Good Together Tour When: 8 p.m. July 16 8 p.m. July 16 Where: St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Drive, Maryland Heights How much: $30-$75 $30-$75 More info: ticketmaster.com Lake Street Dives latest album, Good Together was only recently released, but early listens reveal its what weve come to expect from the group: impeccable musicianship, great lead vocals from Rachael Price, and well-constructed, tuneful material. For the first time, all of the band members got together to write the songs from scratch. Jordan Klepper Suffering Fools When: 8 p.m. July 20 8 p.m. July 20 Where: The Factory, 17105 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield The Factory, 17105 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield How much: $39-$49 $39-$49 More info: ticketmaster.com In this insane political climate, has anyone captured the absurdity and cluelessness of both the pols and the general public better than Jordan Klepper? The Emmy-nominated Daily Show correspondent and sometimes host recently released a new comedy special, Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Moscow Tools. It (along with everything else Klepper does) is recommended viewing. Maren Morris 'RSVP Redux Tour' When: 8 p.m. July 21 8 p.m. July 21 Where: The Factory The Factory How much: $50-$70 $50-$70 More info: ticketmaster.com Earlier this month, Maren Morris went on Instagram and wished everyone Happy pride. She also announced that she was happy to be the B in LGBTQ+. Thats neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things, but if it further infuriates the haters that drove Morris from country music to pop, so be it. Ever since her hit The Middle, shes been heading that direction anyway. Morris other hits include My Church, 80s Mercedes and The Bones, and shes also a member of the supergroup the Highwomen. Alanis Morissette The Triple Moon Tour When: 7 p.m. July 23 7 p.m. July 23 Where: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre How much: $37-$307 $37-$307 More info: livenation.com The Triple Moon Tour offers a strong triple bill of artists from different eras. Alanis Morissettes prime time was the 1990s and into the aughts, with albums such as Jagged Little Pill and Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. Joan Jett, who started rocking in the 70s, at first with the Runaways and then on her own, generating undeniable hits including I Love Rock n Roll and I Hate Myself for Loving You. Fast-rising country star Morgan Wades time is now. Her second album, calmly titled Psychopath, was released last year. Barry Manilow The Last St. Louis Concert When: 7 p.m. July 25 7 p.m. July 25 Where: Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Avenue Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Avenue How much: $15.50-$245.50 $15.50-$245.50 More info: ticketmaster.com Barry Manilow isnt under oath, and thats a good thing. This concert is billed as The Last St. Louis Concert, and it may indeed be true. But Manilow purveyor of a plethora of hits including Mandy, Looks Like We Made It and Copacabana has been saying that hes retiring since at least 2015. He just turned 80, so maybe this time its true. But dont be surprised if its not. Santana and Counting Crows Oneness Tour When: 7 p.m. July 27 7 p.m. July 27 Where: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre How much: $41-$171 $41-$171 More info: livenation.com Man, its a hot one, is the opening lyric to Santanas 1999 mega-smash Smooth. And really, couldnt every St. Louis meteorologist lead their forecast with a few bars of that nowadays? Summer is also when Santana seems to show up here and the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers shows tend to be pretty hot, too. This time, Counting Crows, of Mr. Jones and A Long December fame are coming along, making for a fine double bill. Phish When: 7:30 p.m. July 30-31 7:30 p.m. July 30-31 Where: Chaifetz Arena, 1 South Compton Avenue Chaifetz Arena, 1 South Compton Avenue How much: $78-$251 $78-$251 More info: ticketmaster.com If you havent seen Drew Careys unabashed and we mean REALLY unabashed rant on TVs After Midnight about seeing Phish at Las Vegas Sphere well, check it out, but its NSFW. Trey, Page, Jon and Mike are playing other cities, too, of course, including a two-night stand in ours. Maybe it wont be as visually splendiferous as the Sphere shows, and maybe it wont melt your brain like it did Drews. But its Phish, man. The real show is inside your own head. Honorable Mentions Musiq Soulchild, 6 and 9:30 p.m. July 2-3 and 5, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, $65-$85, citywinery.com/st-louis Celebrate St. Louis Lupe Fiasco, Locash, the Urge, Feel, 4:15 p.m. July 4, Gateway Arch Park, free, celebratestlouis.org Def Leppard and Journey The Summer Stadium Tour with Cheap Trick, 6 p.m. July 6, Busch Stadium, 700 Clark Avenue, $49-$550, mlb.tickets.com AJR The Maybe Man Tour with mxmtoon and Almost Monday, 6:45 p.m. July 6, Enterprise Center, $45.50-$145, ticketmaster.com The Kid Laroi First Time Tour with Glaive and Chase Shakur, 7:30 p.m. July 9, the Factory, $50-$70, ticketmaster.com Hiatus Kaiyote, 7 p.m. July 10, the Big Top, 3401 Washington Avenue, $35-$40, metrotix.com Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago Heart & Soul Tour, 7:30 p.m. July 10, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $41-$171, livenation.com Futurebirds with Pernikoff Brothers, 8 p.m. July 10, Old Rock House, 1200 South 7th Street, $22, etix.com Sarah Sherman, Sarah Squirm: Live + In the Flesh, 7:15 p.m. July 11, Helium Comedy Club St. Louis, 1151 St. Louis Galleria Street, $27-$37, st-louis.heliumcomedy.com Demetri Martin, 8 p.m. July 12, River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Boulevard, $20-$50, ticketmaster.com Whiskey Myers with Whitey Morgan & the 78s and Reid Haughton, 6:30 p.m. July 13, St. Louis Music Park, $36-$99, ticketmaster.com OK Go with Winona Forever and Mirthquake, 7:30 p.m. July 13, the Pageant, $30-$45, ticketmaster.com Train and REO Speedwagon Summer Road Trip with Yacht Rock Revue, 6:25 p.m. July 16, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $37-$245, livenation.com The Wallflowers with William Matheny, 8 p.m. July 16, the Pageant, $29.50-$49.50, ticketmaster.com Chuck Mead, 7 p.m. July 17, the Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street, $20, etix.com Loserville 2024, 6:30 p.m. July 18, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $48-$221, livenation.com Pecos & the Rooftops 8 p.m. July 18, the Hawthorn, 2231 Washington Avenue, $22, ticketweb.com Alex Bugnon, 7:30 p.m. July 19, City Winery, $40-$48, citywinery.com/st-louis Dan + Shay Heartbreak on the Map Tour, 7 p.m. July 20, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $30-$134, livenation.com Fruit Bats, 7 p.m. July 20, the Big Top, $30-$35, metrotix.com Kidz Bop Live 2024, 4 p.m. July 21, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $37-$152, livenation.com Jazz Triple Play featuring Norman Brown, Paul Taylor, and Brian Simpson 7 p.m. July 21, Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle, $55-$75, touhill.universitytickets.com The Head & the Heart with Phosphorescent, 8 p.m. July 21, St. Louis Music Park, $39-$59, ticketmaster.com Lucky Daye The Algorithm Tour with Fana Hues, 8 p.m. July 21, the Pageant, $32.50, ticketmaster.com Mates of State, 8 p.m. July 21, Old Rock House, $25, etix.com Jason Mraz & the Superband, The Mystical Magical Rhymical Radical Ride with Molly Miller Trio, 7:30 p.m. July 23, St. Louis Music Park, $25-$99, ticketmaster.com Kevin McDonald featuring stories from The Kids in the Hall, 7:30 p.m. July 24, City Winery, $30-$40, citywinery.com/st-louis Vampire Weekend Only God Was Above Us Tour with Ra Ra Riot, 7 p.m. July 25, St. Louis Music Park, $47-$89, ticketmaster.com Dailey & Vincent, 8 p.m. July 26, $36-$51, the Sheldon, metrotix.com Kaskade, 10 p.m. July 26, Ryse Nightclub, 1 Ameristar Boulevard, $55-$1350, ticketmaster.com The Struts with Barns Courtney, 8 p.m. July 27, the Factory, $32-$54, ticketmaster.com Luke Bryan Mind of a Country Boy Tour, 7 p.m. July 28, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $58-$248, livenation.com Red Hot Chili Peppers Unlimited Love Tour with Otoboke Beaver and Irontom, 7 p.m. July 30, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, $133-$542, livenation.com Tate McRae Think Later Tour, 8 p.m. July 30, St. Louis Music Park, $154-$588, ticketmaster.com ACQUISITIONS St. Charles based Lage Real Estate Management acquired Sarah Bernard Vacation Rentals with approximately 35 properties, mostly in Innsbrook, Missouri. GETTING BETTER The More Than Just Great Dancing! community accepted Ignite School of Dance into the international dance affiliation program. The Park Hills, Missouri, licensed studio will join nearly 300 More Than Just Great Dancing! studios across five countries. HELPING OUT Rotary Club of St. Louis donated more than $71,000 to 18 local charities through the Clubs Community Service Grant Awards. Unleashing Potential, founded as Neighborhood Houses in 1913, received 372 books in support of literacy in early childhood education from Books for STL Kids. MILESTONE On the Wall Productions and founder Robert Fishbone, celebrated 50 years designing and painting public art projects in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. PROJECTS Joni and Friends broke ground on Jonis House, a faith-based center for disability respite care in East St. Louis. This is the ministrys first center in the United States. IMPACT Strategies completed construction management work on The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis-West County, at 998 and 1002 Woods Mill Road. The 40-bed inpatient hospital will be jointly operated by BJC Health System and Encompass Health. RECOGNITION The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services gave Clinton Manor Living Center, New Baden, Illinois, a Five-Star rating, the highest on the Care Compare scale. USA Today 10Best Editors voted Grandmas Cookies, 401 South Main St., St. Charles, Missouri, the Best Cookie Shop in the Nation. ST. LOUIS Some high school students would take MetroBus and several schools would shift schedules under an emergency plan to reduce bus routes in St. Louis Public Schools starting in August. District leaders are scrambling this summer to fix a transportation crisis and driver shortage that led to an average of 20 school bus routes canceled daily last school year. About 70 buses will be eliminated in the fall, or one-third of the total needed to transport about 14,000 students, said Ashley Davies of consultant Better Education Partners, based in Washington state. The consultants plan is framed as stabilization for the coming school year, Davies told the SLPS board during a meeting this week. Students who have transportation needs in their special education plans and those who are homeless will have priority, she said. The plan includes five main strategies for the board to vote on at its meeting Tuesday: Change school start and end times to create three tiers 65 minutes apart: Schools will be distributed evenly to start in the 7 a.m., 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. hours and end in the 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. hours. Spacing out the tiers allows one driver to drive to schools on all three schedules. The schools that will have their schedules changed were not released. Public transit for high school students: A subset of high school students that meet certain criteria will be given passes to ride MetroBus. The students would not be required to transfer buses, and must live within a certain distance from the bus stop. The districts school resource officers or MetroBus security could be assigned to bus stops and on buses. Opt-out campaign for parents who can drive: The district is surveying parents to see who can provide their own transportation. A major source of inefficiency is students not riding a bus who are assigned a seat, Davies said. Reduce the number of stops: Consolidating stops would mean a longer walk to the bus stop but would reduce the ride time to and from school. Currently, more than half of the one-way trips take between 45 minutes and one hour, according to the district. Strategic routing: Students fill 44% of bus seats on the average trip. About half of the trips have fewer than 18 riders. One-quarter of the trips have fewer than nine riders, which means they could be assigned to a 10-passenger van instead of a bus. The five-point plan is the latest in an ongoing effort to address the crisis exacerbated in the spring when bus company Missouri Central decided to terminate its contract with the district one year early. Parents received gas cards or cash in May to drive their kids to the last two weeks of school. Earlier this month, all SLPS staff were asked about their willingness to drive school buses this fall, a request that district leaders later said was not intended for teachers. The SLPS board has approved plans to work this fall with 19 transportation vendors, which include several day care centers and churches with vans. The largest vendor, First Student, will include a fraction of the buses it provided before the district ended that partnership in 2022. Transportation in SLPS has long been an inefficient and expensive undertaking. The cost per bus of $113,230 is nearly double the national median of $57,612 for urban school districts, according to district records. The districts large number of magnet schools means students are regularly bused across the city instead of walking to a neighborhood school. And many of the SLPS buildings are only half full. There are 16,542 students in kindergarten through high school across the districts 68 schools. By comparison, Rockwood School District in west St. Louis County has 19,424 students in 29 schools. The school boards meeting set for Tuesday was moved up a week to expedite the vote on the transportation plan. This is a very trying time for everyone right now, said school board president Toni Cousins. The families and staff need to know answers sooner rather than later. China is poised to meet its annual growth target of around 5 percent this year, given strong policy stimulus and the gradual recovery in confidence and expectations, experts and global entrepreneurs said on Thursday at the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos. The world's second-largest economy is a key source of global demand, playing a significant role in driving the world's economic growth and offering growing opportunities for global stakeholders, they said at the event held in Dalian, Liaoning province. Despite pressures and mounting uncertainties at home and abroad, they said they believe that China has the capabilities and conditions to deal with structural issues and foster new quality productive forces in the long run. Peng Sen, president of the China Society of Economic Reform, said he is fully confident that China will achieve its annual growth target of around 5 percent this year, given the support of the adopted macroeconomic policies and the country's accelerated push for fostering new quality productive forces. "China's economy is on the upswing," Peng said on Thursday at a subforum whose theme was the country's economic outlook. However, "the recovery process doesn't yet have very firm foundations amid insufficient demand, still-weak expectations among the public, and uncertainties, particularly from the external environment", he added. Advancing reforms will be key to tackling the issues facing the economy, Peng said. More efforts should be made to provide policies supporting the innovative development of the private sector, accelerate the push for building a unified national market, deepen market-oriented reforms of production factors such as land, capital, labor, technology and data, and address institutional improvements in the market economy system, he added. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday that industrial enterprises with annual revenue of at least 20 million yuan ($2.75 million) saw their total profits increase 3.4 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2024, compared with 4.3 percent in the first four months. In May, China's industrial profits rose 0.7 percent year-on-year, compared with 4 percent year-on-year growth in April. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Joe Ngai, chairman of management consultancy McKinsey China, said the broader economy is still facing pressures from sluggish demand, pointing to market concern over a mismatch in supply and demand. He said on the sidelines of the Summer Davos that more efforts are needed to improve the offering of consumer goods and services, create more jobs and increase people's incomes. Meanwhile, Ngai said China's 2024 annual growth target of around 5 percent is achievable amid a steady recovery in confidence, and the country is poised to contribute around one-third of global economic growth. Zhang Xiaoyan, associate dean of Tsinghua University's PBC School of Finance, said the Chinese economy is gradually shaking off the impact of COVID-19. Technological innovation, notably artificial intelligence and green industries, will serve as new growth drivers boosting China's growth, Zhang added. NBS data showed that the equipment manufacturing sector registered rapid profit growth with advanced, intelligent and green development. In the first five months of the year, profits recorded by equipment manufacturing enterprises surged 11.5 percent year-on-year, which was 8.1 percentage points higher than the figure for overall industrial profits. Svein Tyldum, CEO for North Asia at consultancy Marsh McLennan, said, "The Chinese economy got off to a pretty good start in the first quarter and has some positive factors that have been laying a foundation for achieving its annual growth target. "China's pursuit of high-quality drivers of production and China's economic development have created greater cooperation space for companies around the world to work together in a more harmonious way," he added. Tyldum noted that China is Marsh McLennan's second-largest operation in Asia, and the company is committed to the China market, with more investment plans. US-based smart building solutions provider Johnson Controls expressed strong optimism about the Chinese economy and opportunities in China, saying the company has benefited from the country's steady economic growth over the past few decades. Anu Rathninde, president of Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific, said: "We appreciate the continuous opening-up in China, and we appreciate the continuous reforms and the support and welcome for foreign enterprises. As China's economy grows, the foreign enterprises grow and benefit equally." Air Force Lt. Col. Brent Byng, 44, was arrested June 23, 2024, and charged with felony counts of child abuse, obstructing justice, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of domestic battery by strangulation, according to service and law enforcement officials. (Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office) An Air Force officer has been removed from command of a special operations training squadron after his arrest this week on charges that he attacked his wife and child, according to service and law enforcement officials. Lt. Col. Brent Byng had commanded the 19th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field in Florida for about one month before his June 23 arrest, according to the Air Force. He was charged with felony counts of child abuse, obstructing justice, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of domestic battery by strangulation after his arrest by Santa Rosa County sheriffs deputies, according to his arrest report. Lt. Col. Byng was removed from command of the 19th Special Operations Squadron due to the ongoing investigation stemming from charged related to his arrest, an Air Force Special Operations Command spokesperson said in a brief statement on Friday. Byng, 44, has served on active duty since his commission as a special operations combat systems officer in 2007, according to his service biography. As the commander of the 19th Special Operations Squadron, Byng had been charged with overseeing training for special operators serving on AC-130H, AC-130U and MC-130E special missions aircraft. Byng is charged with choking his wife the evening of June 23 until she could not draw breath after accusing her of cheating and demanding she give him her phone, according to the arrest report. His wife gave her phone to one of their two children in the house and told them to run away from Byng, according to the report. Police said Byng then took out a small pocketknife and demanded the phone, following the children with the knife as they attempted to escape. Byng grabbed the neck of one of the children and picked up the child before halting as a friend pulled into the driveway in a vehicle, according to the arrest report. Byngs wife told police that she had her children hide inside the house and scaled a fence in the backyard to go to a neighbors home to call the police. She said Byng was trying to take her phone to prevent them from calling law enforcement or for help. It was not clear Friday whether Byng had hired an attorney. Jail records show he was released from custody on June 24. A Marine Corps AH-1Z attack helicopter fires an AGM-179 joint air-to-ground missile during an exercise off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2024 (Christopher Lape/U.S. Marine Corps) A U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopter sank a moving training target in the Philippine Sea during a recent exercise, the first use of a new air-to-ground missile in the region, the Corps announced Friday. An AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 sank a towed training vessel Wednesday with an AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit spokesman Capt. Pawel Puczko said in a Friday news release. It was the first use of the missile in the Indo-Pacific, according to information from the 31st MEU posted Thursday on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. The precision-guided missile is intended for high value targets moving or stationary on land and at sea. It can also be used to defend key maritime terrain against a wide-range of targets from armored vehicles to maritime patrol craft during conflict, Puczko said in the news release. Defending key maritime terrain applies to the Marine Corps updated role as a stand-in force seizing islands within range of enemy fire to control key ocean straits in the chain stretching from Japan to the Philippines. U.S. Marine Corps aviation ordnance technicians lload an AGM-179 joint air-to-ground missile onto an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2024. (Christopher Lape/U.S. Marine Corps) Refueling and rearming took place at a training area on Okinawa, and the live-fire exercise in the Philippine Sea, Puczko told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. The exercise allowed pilots to increase their proficiency and get proof of concept on their tactics and targeting capabilities, he added. A similar exercise took place off the coast of California in December, when a Viper from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 fired the missile during Exercise Steel Knight 23.2, according to a Dec. 20 news release from the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The AGM-179, also known as JAGM, is the replacement for the laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missile and its radar-guided variant, the Longbow, that combines the abilities of both into one weapon, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martins website. It can be fired from helicopters, fighter jets and ground vehicles. Its newest variant, the medium-range JAGM-MR, has a range of approximately 10 miles, according to Lockheed Martin. (Facebook/NASIC) (Tribune News Service) The National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base welcomed not only a new commander but broader responsibilities Friday as the center shifted to a field operating agency under the Space Operations for Intelligence. That means the center is now focused not simply on space intelligence but wider national intelligence, helping to produce data that will go toward future weapons and satellites. It may also mean more personnel at Wright-Patterson. A substantial chunk of the U.S. Space Forces intelligence apparatus is anchored at Wright-Patterson, observed Space Force Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, deputy chief of space operations for intelligence. Fundamentally, intelligence is meant to warn and inform, Gagnon said during a ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. That warning in space starts here, the two-star general said. It starts in Dayton. The NSIC saluted Col. Marcus D. Starks as its new commander in the centers first change of command ceremony. The ceremony saw the NSIC guidon, or banner, handed off from NSICs first commander, Col. Marqus Randall, to Lt. Gen. David Miller, commander of Space Operations Command. Then the guidon shifted to Gagnon, and from Gagnon to Starks. The transition of NSIC to a field operating agency broadens the centers customer base, allowing it to meet responsibilities to both national and Space Force intelligence efforts. The role of the Space Force and the NSIC in safeguarding the satellite network that makes possible travel and commerce not just military operations cannot be discounted, NSIC advocates say. Space Intelligence today is not just military intelligence, Gagnon said. It is national intelligence. Our work to secure a FOA (field operating agency) for NSIC under Gen. Gagnon helps secure NSICs growing importance. The realignment will bring a need for more mission capacity and personnel to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Friday. Randall first took command of NSIC in a ceremony at Wright State Universitys Ervin J. Nutter Center in June 2022. In that same ceremony, the NSIC was born, focused on gathering intelligence on what adversaries are doing in space, an arena increasingly important to American military readiness and the U.S. economy. Wright-Patterson-anchored NSIC or Delta 18 is considered the 18th member of the nations intelligence community. In farewell remarks, Randall thanked his team for producing intelligence that has found its way to the desk of the president multiple times. And Starks a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who spent 28 years in the Navy before moving to Space Force sought to prepare his squadrons for the work ahead. We will work to ensure the domains (spaces) safety, stability and security, Starks said. The joint force military language for every military branch, active-duty and Reserve is ever reliant on space, he also said. It doesnt take a masters degree to realize that everything we do now is linked to space, Starks said. The shift to new responsibilities for NSIC has been in the works for some time. In fiscal year 2023 intelligence and defense legislation, Turner, who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, crafted language that aimed at gauging the effectiveness of the centers organizational and command structure. Talks with appropriators in both the House and Senate proved successful in permitting the establishment of NSICs new status, Turners office said. (c)2024 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) Visit the Dayton Daily News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Texas Veterans Land Board has introduced the next installment of its Voices of Veterans Program highlighting the service of WWII veteran Capt. Gerald Groden. (Facebook) AUSTIN (Tribune News Service) Texas Land Commissioner and Veterans Land Board (VLB) Chairwoman Dr. Dawn Buckingham introduced the next installment of the series highlighting the VLBs Voices of Veterans oral history program. In this special episode, we highlight the service of Capt. Gerald Groden, who moved to Texas after he served with Great Britains Royal Air Force as a Lancaster Bomber Pilot. There are many stories from World War II that leave us in awe of what our Veterans have done to help preserve our freedom but one such story in our Voices of Veterans archive comes from a Texas resident and native of Great Britains Royal Air Force. Born May 13, 1921, in Kent, England, Gerald Groden was one of seven children. His father, an engineer, moved the family when he was young to Langford following a promotion to oversee a Water Works plant near Essex. I worked a lot of odd jobs when I got older, Groden said as he talked about his youth. I worked for a butcher, I remember that, because I got to drive a little pony and cart to deliver meat all over the place. Groden had bigger goals for his life other than delivering meat and earned a scholarship to Cambridge with the hopes of working with animals. In 1937 or 38, somewhere in there, I went to Cambridge, and I was going to be a veterinary surgeon, and I was in my first year and my eldest brother, Bill, was killed when he was on a ship to Jamaica, and it was torpedoed, Groden recalled. There were no survivors. That was two weeks before war was declared. Groden said he soon quit Cambridge and volunteered to join the Royal Air Force. It was there he served as a Lancaster bomber pilot and took part in numerous missions. Flying was considered glamorous back then, he recalled, and at first, they told me they had too many pilots and navigators but said they could get me flying quickly if I would go in as an Air Gunner, which I took. Groden said he went to Yatesbury to undergo training and learn morse code and the basic things he needed to know to help communicate while out on missions. Once he finished training, he was linked to a Wellington Squadron, which was a twin engine, big bomber of its day. I was with them for the next two years, we did all sorts of maritime stuff, air-sea rescue, well, not just that but anti-war submarine warfare, we had all sorts of things on board, Groden said, his words carefully chosen. Interestingly, we had this thing called a Leigh Light Wellingtons, which was a system that you had a big search light in the airplane, and wed drop down before you got to a suspected submarine, illuminate the target and we bombed it. Groden said he didnt think they did a great job of hunting U-Boats during that time but felt they did a good job of not allowing them to surface like they were supposed to. He said after those missions, the squadron was reappointed to Lancaster Bombers, a big four engine bomber. I got put into Bomber Command in a place called Waddington, which was of the stations we had, Groden shared. Our mission was to bomb military targets in France, Germany anywhere, really. Groden said the first time he went on a bombing mission was a mix of emotions. It was all exciting, it was, but also terrifying at the same time, we lost an awful lot of aircraft, Groden recalled about his first mission. We werent really equipped to do the job really. (c)2024 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Simon & Schuster) For service members and Defense Department civilians, this book is best read after taking mandatory ethics training. With all the governments tight rules about gifts from vendors and ethical conduct still fresh in the mind, the reader will marvel at the extent to which senior officers of the Seventh Fleet blithely ignored regulations, common sense and marriage vows while accepting expensive gifts, feasting on $1,000-per-person meals and partying with high-priced hookers in Asian fleshpots. All that high living came care of an obese Malaysian convicted felon and high school dropout who bilked the Navy out of tens of millions of dollars over two decades. Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy is the product of years of reporting by Craig Whitlock, an investigative reporter and former Pentagon correspondent for The Washington Post. Citing a rich trove of emails, official documents and interviews with key figures, Whitlock traces the meteoric rise of Leonard Francis, whose company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, provided husbanding services fuel, tugboats, security, waste management, food and water to 7th Fleet ships, often at inflated prices that few questioned because of his connection to admirals and skippers. To manage his empire and fend off inquiries by honest Navy contracting officers, Francis, known as Fat Leonard because of his 350-pound frame, recruited a network of paid Navy informants who handled his contracts, channeled business his way and kept him informed of classified ship movements. This isnt some lowly supply clerk pilfering a few blankets or foodstuffs. This is one of the biggest corruption cases in U.S. history - so big, in fact, that investigators still arent sure how much tax money was stolen. Eventually, Fat Leonards excesses caught the attention of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Its investigation was complicated by the presence of a paid mole in NCIS senior ranks and concern over damage to the Navy itself at a time of rising tension in the Western Pacific. Many aspects of the long-running scandal have been reported incrementally, including Francis 2013 arrest, his 2022 escape and his return to the United States last year in a prisoner exchange with Venezuela. However, seeing the breadth and depth of the scandal laid out in a well-documented, well-written fashion is breathtaking. A total of 91 active and retired admirals were investigated for taking gifts or for their connections to Francis, but only one Robert Gilbeau went to prison. Those admirals caught up in the investigation included the chief of naval intelligence, the commander of all U.S. military forces in the Pacific, the superintendent of the Naval Academy and two admirals who had served as the chief of naval operations, Whitlock writes. A total of 34 defendants have been prosecuted in federal court. Another 685 cases involving U.S. service members were referred to the military disciplinary authorities for review but with varied results. The Navy adjudicated almost all its cases in the dark, Whitlock writes. Many of the officers found to have violated the rules got away with little more than a wrist slap, in part because of prosecutorial misconduct by the Justice Department and, according to the author, a Navy culture that considers snitching on a fellow officer a more heinous offense than blowing the whistle on rampant corruption. How did Francis get away with it for so long? For one thing, Francis was a master in spotting moral weaknesses alcohol, women and greed. He was not above collecting embarrassing photos and other evidence to keep his moles loyal to him. Francis also exploited a culture of entitlement that infected parts of the U.S. military during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Whitlock writes. Accustomed to civilians placing them on a pedestal in gratitude for their service, some Navy officers felt they were owed something extra. Researchers discovered a historic Ryukyu Kingdom-era forest in August 2022 inside the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Okinawa, Japan. (Okinawa Municipal Museum) A plant survey at a U.S. military construction site on Okinawa discovered a historic forest where timber was harvested during the 450-year era when the island was its own kingdom. At least some of the trees will be cut down, and the site documented, a spokesman for the Okinawa Defense Bureau, an arm of the Japan Ministry of Defense, told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday. The trees were found in August 2022 inside the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, a 10 square-mile area northeast of Kadena Air Base that lies within two cities, two villages and a township. Researchers discovered a historic Ryukyu Kingdom-era forest in August 2022 inside the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area, Okinawa, Japan. (Okinawa Municipal Museum) U.S. and Japan governments agreed in April 2013 to relocate some Defense Department support facilities from the Marine Corps Camp Kinser and elsewhere to the Chibana area of the storage area as part of plan to consolidate some U.S. facilities on the island, according to the Defense Ministry website. The vegetation survey in 2022 and 2023 was part of a wider survey of cultural assets prior to construction starting, Takeshi Kuba, director of the Okinawa Municipal Museum told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. We wandered through the forest to identify the various species present. We documented the location and species of all the large trees, he said. The survey yielded surprising results, Kuba said. Somayama We found unique species of trees that cannot be found in other places; then we thought that it might be a somayama, he said. Somayama refers to forests that were established and administered by the Ryukyu Kingdom following a wood shortage caused by the burning of Shuri Castle in 1709, with the intention of creating a sustainable source of wood. The Ryukyu Kingdom lasted from 1469 to 1879. It became part of Japan under the shogunate in 1609 although it retained its own royal system and relations with China. Under the kingdom, the prefecture developed its own distinctive arts, crafts and culture. The somayama timber was mainly used to build houses, Kuba said. The last vestiges of an Okinawa somayama were believed lost during the Battle of Okinawa from March to September 1945 and development that followed, Kuba said. But the survey discovered a healthy example of the historic forest. More than 3,000 large trees and 362 species of plants were found at the area, some were hundreds of years old, Kuba said. We also found two Japanese yews that were 45-centimeters thick, we think that these were not able to be preserved if people did not administer them for generations. Japanese yew, an ornamental evergreen tree native to Japan, Korea and northeast China, was also used as a material to build Shuri Castle. The discovery of two on Okinawa was a bonus, a forestry expert said. If that place is a somayama, most of the records about somayamas in central Okinawa are about Ryukyu pines. As far as I know there are no records about Japanese yews; that is valuable, Kazuhiko Saito of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute told Stars and Stripes by email June 21. The city in August 2022 asked the defense bureau to consider preserving 20 acres of the site, Kuba said. The bureau decided instead to simply document the site and take down the trees as necessary, the bureau spokesman said Thursday. Some government officials in Japan may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base by email June 20 referred questions from Stars and Stripes to the Okinawa Defense Bureau. It is a very valuable cultural asset. We think it is important to preserve the area to be able to research how the mountains have been used not only since the Ryukyu kingdom-era but also after World War II, Kuba said. Personnel stage M1 Abrams tanks at the Powidz APS-2 Worksite on June 27, 2024, in Powidz, Poland. The Powidz site received the standard makeup of a U.S. Army armored brigade combat team. (Michael Mastrangelo/Army) GRAFENWOEHR, Germany The first Army tanks and vehicles that could one day supply an entire armored brigade as a bulwark against Russian aggression along NATOs eastern flank have arrived at a new storage facility in Poland. Fourteen M1 Abrams battle tanks and an M88 armored recovery vehicle arrived by rail Thursday at the Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Powidz, Army spokesman Terry Welch said in an emailed statement Friday. The site, approximately 250 miles west of the Ukrainian border, will soon host as many as 85 battle tanks, 190 armored combat vehicles, including the M2 Bradley, and 35 artillery pieces, such as the M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and munitions. The facility, maintained by the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, is NATOs most significant single infrastructure endeavor in over three decades, an Army statement said Friday. It will be fully operational sometime next year. Sarah Floyd and the production control team inspect an M1 Abrams tank after its arrival at the Powidz Army Prepositioned Stock-2 Worksite in Powidz, Poland, on June 27, 2024. The APS-2 site received the standard makeup of a U.S. Army armored brigade combat team. (Michael Mastrangelo/U.S. Army) This facility has a huge impact on NATO, brigade commander Col. Ernest Lane II said in the statement. The strategic location allows us to have multiple avenues of approach and routes of departure and embarkation. The Army operates pre-positioned stock sites in seven regions worldwide, with six in Europe. The sites and their stockpiles can be tapped when a commander requires additional combat power for contingency operations, exercises or training. That reduces deployment timelines from 60 days to as little as a week. M1 Abrams tanks wait to be moved off a rail car to the staging area at the Powidz APS-2 Worksite in Powidz, Poland, on June 27, 2024. The newly arrived vehicles and equipment will serve as pre-positioned stock for armored brigades deploying to or training in Poland. (Michael Mastrangelo/U.S. Army) Powidz will have the ability to fully equip a deploying armored brigade arriving in Europe within 48 hours, said Lt. Col. Omar McKen, the brigades commander in Poland. Work began on the more than $360 million NATO-funded Powidz site in 2020 and was recently completed. It features a 650,000-square-foot warehouse, vehicle maintenance and support facilities and a 58,000-square-foot munitions storage area. French Rassemblement National party leader Marine Le Pen seen in Paris on Oct. 20, 2021, and Frances President Emmanuel Macron seen in Paris on March 7, 2017. (Joel Saget and Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)) (Tribune News Service) President Emmanuel Macrons approval rating fell to the lowest level in three months, delivering a boost to Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party just two days before voting starts in Frances legislative election. Support for Macron dropped six points to 36%, the worst showing since March, according to a Toluna-Harris Interactive poll for LCI TV published on Friday. Separate polls are putting National Rally on course to be the biggest group in the lower house of parliament, with Bloombergs poll of polls projecting it will get 36.2% support in Sundays vote. A left-wing alliance called the New Popular Front would get 28.3% while Macrons centrist group would get 20.4%. Macron dissolved the National Assembly earlier this month and called a snap vote after his group was trounced in European Parliament elections, a decision that initially led to the worst bond rout since the sovereign debt crisis and wiped almost $200 billion off the value of stocks. On Friday, Frances 10-year bond yield rose as much as six basis points to 3.33%, its highest level since November. Frances two-round election makes seat predictions tricky. While polls have mostly indicated Le Pens group would fall short of the 289 seats lawmakers needed to form an absolute majority, a survey of 2,004 adults by Elabe published Friday estimated it would get 260-295. Tensions are already emerging over who controls certain areas of policy after the election in the event National Rally finishes first, ushering in a power-sharing arrangement in government between two opposition parties. Macron and Le Pen have started exchanging barbs over who has the right to nominate officials to institutional positions in Brussels and who calls the shots on defense policy. The challenges of this arrangement called cohabitation in France were put in the spotlight on Friday. After French officials said Macron was pushing to obtain another mandate in the European Commission for Thierry Breton, Le Pen told Europe 1 radio that was wishful thinking. Emmanuel Macron is projecting a victory he cant achieve, she said. So there will be another government than the one we know, and it is the prime ministers prerogative to appoint the European commissioner. Its not the prerogative of the president. Another area where the constitution isnt entirely clear is who handles defense. While the text says the president heads the army, and Le Pen has backed Macrons military funding law for 2024-2030, a National Rally majority could weigh on more recent decisions to help Ukraine, including through budget negotiations. Le Pen and party chief Jordan Bardella, who has said he would agree to be prime minister only after getting an absolute majority, have both said they support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But contrary to Macron, they also said they would oppose sending troops and long-range weapons able to target deep strikes inside Russia. After Le Pen said the title of army chief conferred to the president by the constitution was merely honorific, Macrons prime minister, Gabriel Attal, insisted the president is responsible for defense and warned of the fallout from confusion over national security. Foreign powers are rubbing their hands, saying to themselves: look, theres going to be chaos at the top of the state and they wont agree with each other, he told BFM TV on Friday. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Civilians try to put out fires caused by multiple Israeli strikes that hit targets next to the towns main road on June 26, 2024, in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) North Israel is a series of ghost towns abandoned houses and scorched forests from Hezbollah missiles. Parts of south Lebanon have been hit so hard by Israeli bombs that theyve been reduced to rubble. Tens of thousands of residents have been driven from homes on both sides. A steady, if ugly, tit-for-tat between Israel and Hezbollah since the October outbreak of the Gaza war has been shifting into something more alarming. Record numbers of Hezbollah projectiles some 900 have hit Israel this month and its chief says hes overwhelmed by volunteers ready to fight Israel without any rules, restraints or ceiling. Israel, meanwhile, is carrying out deeper and more destructive attacks in Lebanon and its northern military command has just approved a battle plan for the country. While Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel say they do not want a full-blown war, concern is higher than ever theyre stumbling into one or will deliberately start one. Israelis advocating it believe that such a conflict could be kept short, a matter of weeks. Others are far more pessimistic. The Middle East could be in for a major regional war, rising oil prices and plunging financial markets, Aaron David Miller, a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Senior Fellow and former State Department Arab-Israeli negotiator, told Bloomberg TV. No one wants to see anything like that. Senior U.S. and French diplomats have visited Jerusalem and Beirut as part of an intense push to stave off escalation that could draw in Iran, along with its allied militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as well as the U.S. President Joe Biden is especially keen to avoid a new war so close to Novembers elections. While Washington doesnt communicate directly with Hezbollah, it uses Lebanons speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, as a conduit. The plan to end hostilities hinges on Hezbollah moving its fighters from the border. While U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed in 2006 after the last round of combat between Israel and Hezbollah, requires it to be some 30 km (18 miles), negotiations are starting with 10 km. They would be replaced by international forces and members of the Lebanese army while a panel would address disputes over the shared boundary line. But Hezbollah says the current round of tension has a source the war in Gaza and a solution a Gaza cease-fire. Only once Israel and Hamas put down their arms, Hezbollah says, will it be open to its own border negotiations. Berri told a U.S. envoy, Amos Hochstein, last week that the most he can do is lean on the group to reduce tensions by not firing too deeply into Israeli territory, according to a Lebanese official briefed on the talks. Visiting Washington this week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is being urged to give diplomacy a chance and hold off any military expansion. One rash move, one miscalculation could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the borders and, frankly, beyond imagination, warned United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres last week. Lets be clear. The people of the region and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza. Parallels with Gaza are inevitable and real: Hamas and Hezbollah, viewed as terrorist groups by the U.S., are heavily backed by Iran. Both consider Israel illegitimate and their conflict with it to be holy and existential. And just as Hamas in Gaza was born in the 1980s as a militant movement challenging Israeli occupation, so too was Hezbollah in Lebanon. But important distinctions mean war with Hezbollah would be even more devastating. The group is much more important to Iran than Hamas. And as traumatic as the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas was for Israel, Hezbollah is a much more powerful military force. Through intense focus and preparation over the past 18 years, it has assembled perhaps 100,000 men while amassing 150,000 rockets and missiles, about half of which can reach major Israeli cities, along with a growing arsenal of attack drones. Israels lauded air defense systems Iron Dome, Davids Sling, Arrow would be overwhelmed by a Hezbollah assault expected to amount to 3,000 rockets a day for weeks especially if it were joined by other militias in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Power stations, offshore gas rigs, military bases, airports and thousands of ordinary citizens would be at risk, as illustrated in a video released by Hezbollah last week showing drone footage of key facilities that it would target. Pressure on the economy would be immense. The chief economist of Israels finance ministry estimates GDP growth rate would fall from a current 1.9% to -1.5% because of reserve recruitment and disruptions to infrastructure and education, and that would likely lead to a further credit downgrade for the country. On the other side of the border, the picture would be even more grim, starting from a much more dire place. Neighborhoods in southern Lebanese villages, including Aita Al-Shaab, Aytaroun and Khiyam, have been leveled by Israeli air strikes, prompting thousands of people to flee and straining an economy still reeling from a financial meltdown four years ago that saw the country default on its Eurobonds for the first time in its history and the currency collapse. When the 2006 war ended after 34 days, Arab Gulf countries pledged billions to help Lebanon rebuild infrastructure including airports, ports, telecom towers, power plants and bridges as far as 140 km from the border with Israel. The Lebanese public isnt interested in another round of combat, which would bring more death, injury and damage that might never be repaired. Its a different Middle East today. Saudi Arabia once a key donor with significant influence in Lebanese politics has lost interest, leaving Shiite Muslims led by Hezbollah to become the unrivaled power in the country. I dont think any of the potential belligerents actually want to see a war or conflict spread, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week, but like Guterres, he noted that a miscalculation or misunderstanding could set one off. Apart from its diplomats, Bidens administration is using its supply chain slowing weapons deliveries to Israel to try to avoid a broader conflict. It is assuring Israel of help if war erupts while stopping short of promising all out support. In truth, Israel wouldnt want to open a second front until its campaign against Hamas in Gaza is over. That could be weeks or months. Yet Israelis consider Hezbollahs barrage of rockets and missiles to be acts of pure aggression. So, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have broad public support for his threats to push Hezbollah away from the border, despite all the risks. You have a lot of bluster going on between Hezbollah and the Israeli government at the moment, but that doesnt mean it couldnt spill over into something more serious, Hagar Chemali, founder of Greenwich Media Strategies, a Connecticut-based geopolitical consultancy, told Bloomberg TV on June 21. This summer is when well see tensions increase significantly. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sarah Beth Clendaniel of Catonsville, Maryland, above, and Brandon Clint Russell of Orlando, Florida, were charged with conspiracy to attack a Baltimore power grid. (Amy Davis/The Baltimore Sun/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Federal prosecutors said they are willing to disclose whether they used a controversial surveillance program to foil a Florida neo-Nazi leaders alleged plot to attack Baltimores power grid last year, but will only do so in secret, during a classified meeting with the judge handling the case. Government lawyers refused Thursday to disclose publicly whether they used Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to build the case against the accused plotter, Brandon C. Russell, but agreed to a private meeting with Senior U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar where they will provide more information. Russells defense team remains skeptical. After Thursdays hearing, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who recently joined the case said the government has a history of using a narrow interpretation of the law to avoid disclosing uses of FISA in prosecutions. Russell, 28, is accused of plotting with a Catonsville woman, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, to destroy multiple electrical substations in the Baltimore region. The pair allegedly hoped to cause a cascading failure of the power grid by targeting energy facilities in Norrisville, Perry Hall, Reisterstown and other areas around Baltimore. Clendaniel, 36, pleaded guilty in May in exchange for a recommended sentence of 18 years in prison. Russells case has become increasingly shrouded in secrecy. Bredar ruled Thursday that three undercover witnesses will be able to testify at Russells trial using light disguise, such as altered facial hair or hairstyles, and will be able to use pseudonyms to protect their identities. The government calls Russell a racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist. He is accused of offering instructions to Clendaniel and an undercover FBI informant online and tasking the pair with carrying out the energy station attacks, according to the indictment. Russell communicated over an encrypted messaging app in chat groups known as the Terrorgram Collective, an ideological hub for people who share white-supremacist and accelerationist views that call for the intensification of racial conflict and societal collapse, according to the governments court filings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Gavin said in court that the undercover witnesses against Russell would be at risk of being doxxed, or having their personal information exposed online, if they testified under their true names. Russells attorney, Ian J. Goldstein, responded that the witnesses are not good Samaritans, but paid informants. We need to know who these witnesses are so we can conduct our own investigation, Goldstein said. Bredar appeared at first to be favoring the defenses argument, but reversed course and granted prosecutors requests for secrecy after closing the courtroom to the public for a confidential discussion. Russells defense team will not know the true identities of the secret witnesses and the public will have to leave the courtroom during their testimony at Russells trial, though audio of the testimony will be played in another room for the public to hear. It creates a huge impediment to investigating and creating a defense, Goldstein said after the hearing. The defense also has demanded to know whether the government used FISA to collect evidence as part of the case. The spying tool allows the government to collect intelligence on non-Americans outside the United States but is controversial because it also captures data from Americans. The government is supposed to provide notice to criminal defendants if it plans to use information obtained through or derived from FISA surveillance. The defense made an unusual argument, noting that the FBI publicly revealed earlier this year that it used data collected under FISA to prevent a potentially imminent terrorist attack against critical infrastructure in the United States. The FBI told Politico in February that the ability to search the Section 702 database without a court order showed that a person located inside the U.S. was in regular contact with an unspecified foreign terrorist group, had acquired the means to conduct an attack and had already identified specific targets in the U.S. The FBI also said it thwarted the plot about 30 days after discovering it. Russells case is the only one that his lawyers have been able to locate that matches the details the FBI disclosed, the defense wrote in court papers, setting off alarms that the government may have used data gleaned under FISA against Russell but failed to notify him. The government has not clarified whether the FBI was, in fact, referencing Russells case in those public remarks. Bredar noted in court that the defenses argument is based on speculation that the remarks were about the Baltimore power-grid case, but he asked whether the government would be willing to say whether FISA was used. The answer is, as I understand, classified, Gavin replied. After checking with attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justices National Security Division, Gavin clarified that she would be able to share the answer with Bredar in a classified setting. The defense will not be part of that discussion. The meeting will take place in the next three weeks, Bredar said. The FISA aspect of the case recently led three attorneys from the ACLU to join Russells defense team. Ashley Gorski, a senior staff attorney with the ACLUs National Security Project, said in a statement that the group joined Russells defense for the limited purpose of challenging the governments secretive warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. For the ACLU, this is about government abuse of power. Russells case, Gorski said, is a rare and important opportunity to challenge the governments practice of conducting warrantless backdoor searches of its Section 702 databases to locate the communications of Americans. The ACLU has argued for years that the surveillance is unconstitutional and disproportionately used against people of color and Muslims. The recently reauthorized spying authority also could be abused by a future administration against political opponents, protest movements, and civil society organizations, as well as racial and religious minorities, abortion providers, and LGBTQ people, Gorski said in the statement. In court, Gorski warned that prosecutors have been known to use a narrow interpretation of the law to avoid revealing the use of FISA, unilaterally deciding that the evidence they plan to use is too far removed from information gleaned through the spying program to require disclosure. The government has not notified any criminal defendants of surveillance under Section 702 of FISA since 2018, Gorski said, despite its widespread use of the surveillance tool. Russell, who appeared in court Thursday in a maroon prison jumpsuit, is set to face trial in November. He was sentenced in 2018 to five years in federal prison for possessing chemicals used to create explosives. Law enforcement found the materials while they were investigating the murder of two of Russells roommates in Florida in 2017. Russell told investigators that he started his own local violent extremist group with Nazi beliefs called the Atomwaffen. His three roommates were members of Atomwaffen until one murdered the other two in 2017 for bullying him after he converted to Islam, according to an FBI affidavit. Russell was not home when the murders took place. 2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Leading veterans organizations are pressuring lawmakers to approve an omnibus bill to expand community services for aging and disabled veterans as the top official for the Department of Veterans Affairs criticized its $1.7 billion price tag. (Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Leading veterans organizations pressured lawmakers this week to approve an omnibus bill to expand community services for aging and disabled veterans as the top official for the Department of Veterans Affairs criticized its $1.7 billion price tag. I have concerns about new programs that dont come with new money, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Tuesday about the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which contains 22 provisions for providing veterans health benefits and services in community-based settings and at home. Hours after McDonough discussed the omnibus bill at his monthly news conference, a coalition of veterans organizations held their own news conference at the Washington headquarters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars to voice support for the bill. Participants included the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and Wounded Warrior Project, among others. With the November elections approaching, the next few weeks are the last and best opportunity for Congress to pass meaningful legislation supporting veterans, the coalition said in a joint statement about the Dole Act. The bill was introduced in May by Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., and it has 27 Republican co-sponsors. No hearings have been scheduled on the legislation, which was referred to the House committees on Veterans Affairs, Natural Resources and Armed Services. But opposition from some Democratic lawmakers has raised doubts about passage of the bill. House Republicans have hijacked a historically bipartisan, bicameral process for veterans packages to push their main priority of privatizing VA health care, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., said earlier this month. McDonough questioned how to fund the bill. There are a lot of provisions in the bill and none of them come with new funding, he said. And Ive discussed a lot about making sure that were meeting all the demands for VA in the context of the budget agreement and its a very generous budget agreement. The proposed VA spending plan for fiscal 2025 is $369.3 billion, a 10% increase from 2024. I know the secretary has concerns about the funding VA will require. However, creating or expanding programs before funds are requested and approved is a standard legislative process, said Randy Reese, the executive director of the Disabled American Veterans in Washington. Veterans have waited long enough, and we demand Congress send the Dole Act to the presidents desk immediately. VA should then seek Congress approval for the necessary appropriations to implement the legislation. McDonough in recent weeks has talked about the challenge of continuing to fund VA health programs as the demand for private care increases. Either [the VA] purchases the care for the veteran in the community, or we ensure that the VA has all the capacity in-house to provide that care, he said. That gets more difficult as more veterans are referred to private doctors for their care. Nurses and other staff at VA facilities recently warned jobs at VA hospitals and clinics have remained vacant with little or no attempt to fill them. VA nurses staged a rally this month outside VA headquarters in Washington to call attention to chronic staff shortages at department health care facilities. The nurses claimed the VA is intentionally not filling positions for nurses and other staff to keep costs down, an assertion the VA denied. Reese said Tuesday that the goal of Disabled American Veterans and other veterans groups is not to take away resources from VA hospitals and clinics but to address deficiencies in the delivery of health care to veterans in greatest need. He said the bill has provisions that cover more services for enabling disabled and aging veterans to live at home and in their communities, in lieu of round-the-clock nursing home care. Heather Ansley, chief policy officer at Paralyzed Veterans of America, said her organization supports the bill because it increases coverage for at-home care for veterans with catastrophic disabilities. When veterans hit the current cap [on reimbursements], they are often forced to make decisions that tear them away from their families and their communities because of an arbitrary limitation on their ability to receive care in their homes, she said. Kathleen McCarthy, press secretary for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said GOP bill sponsors anticipate the cost of the Dole Act could be covered by an extension of the VA home loan funding fee. This is a bipartisan effort that has been used to fund new VA programs for decades, she said. The VA fee is a one-time payment borrowers pay on VA-backed or VA-direct home loans, according to the agency. The VA does not have legal authority to reallocate savings from funding fees to other budgetary accounts, said Terrence Hayes, the VA press secretary. Savings associated with funding fees are associated with a mandatory budgetary account distinct from the accounts that would be used to fund and implement other provisions in the Elizabeth Dole Act. Fee collections finance VA credit programs and are not considered government revenues for the federal budget deficit or surplus calculations, he added. The projected $1.7 billion price tag of the omnibus bill covers community programs and home services for 10 years. Negotiated by the chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees, the sweeping package includes proposals to expand end-of-life home care, extend high-tech job training and connect homeless veterans with telehealth services. The men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation have earned a VA that works with them not against them, Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said when the bill was introduced. Proposed measures also would bring greater urgency to providing intensive mental health treatment for veterans in crisis, according to lawmakers and veterans advocates. The Dole Act condenses dozens of critical provisions found in several bills introduced over the past year that are of utmost urgency to the lives of Americas veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors, Reese said. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden face off during their first presidential debate at CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (TNS) (Tribune News Service) Democrats were hoping for a repeat of President Joe Bidens energetic State of the Union address to counter stubborn questions about his health and mental fitness. Instead, Biden delivered a fumbling and, at times, incoherent debate in Atlanta that has only magnified questions about whether the 81-year-old is capable of serving another four years as commander-in-chief. The Democrats disjointed performance played directly into the hands of former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, who have long painted Biden as a doddering dolt. After the 90-minute debate, it was Democrats who suddenly confronted the question that has long been the center of speculation in Republican circles: Should he be replaced on the partys ticket? No less than Vice President Kamala Harris was pressed on that question minutes after she was rushed on CNNs air by the campaign, a telling sign of how a scenario once laughed off by party leaders was now front-and-center. Harris acknowledged Bidens slow start but said the president offered a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues. Left unanswered was the part of the query seeking her message to Democrats calling for the president to step aside. Video from CNN Presidential Debate Trump didnt have a stellar showing himself, with rambling and sometimes unintelligible answers of his own, along with a steady stream of falsehoods and misleading statements about Bidens agenda and Trumps own tenure in office. But those swipes routinely went unchecked by Biden or the moderators. And Trump was allowed to deflect many of the toughest questions, sometimes by simply ignoring them. Trumps detractors begrudgingly conceded he projected a sense of energy Biden lacked. Theyre three years apart. They seemed about 30 years apart tonight, said David Plouffe, a former Barack Obama adviser, on MSNBC. And I think thats going to be the thing that voters really wrestle with coming out of this. The damage inflicted by Bidens debate flop was hard to immediately determine, though worry and even panic seeped into different factions of his coalition. Plouffe compared the showdown to a DEFCON 1 moment, while Van Jones pondered on CNN whether there was time to figure out a different way forward. Mike Murphy, a veteran Republican strategist who is backing the president, wondered aloud why Biden and his staff would have pushed for the earliest debate in modern U.S. history despite how limited Bidens toolbox now is due to age. My only guess: Biden drove the whole thing, he said. Otherwise its the biggest blunder in presidential political history. Others offered private recriminations. Some noted that rather than allay concerns about his health, the president assured it remain at the heart of the 2024 race. One Democratic donor texted three-word advice to the party: Get someone else. Indisputable fact Thats not easily done. No incumbent president has quit the race at this late stage in the campaign cycle, with about four months until the vote. Theres no consensus around replacing him with Harris or another party leader, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom. And party rules are designed to insulate nominees from outside challenges, meaning that Biden would only be replaced if he consented to it a notion he has unerringly rejected. With almost 99% of delegates and one win over Trump already, Biden argues that hes the partys overwhelming choice and has the best shot at defeating the former president. Newsom told reporters after the debate thats still the case. I would never turn my back on President Bidens record, he said in the spin room at the McCamish Pavilion. I would never turn my back on President Biden. And I dont know a Democrat in my party who would do so especially after tonight. Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who has taken to calling Trump a plague, used much the same tactic he employed on the 2022 campaign trail to defend Biden. The Georgia Democrat characterized the criticism as petty punditry not focused on real-world problems. You all are talking about style, Warnock told reporters. The people Im talking to in the state of Georgia, theyre not focused on style. Theyre thinking about their families. Theyre thinking about whether or not they can afford child care so they can get to work. And Biden, who said a sore throat accounted for his raspy delivery, suggested that one poor night shouldnt erase decades of public service. Besides, he told reporters at a late-night Waffle House stop, its hard to debate a liar. But internal divisions over Bidens health may sharpen as Democrats prepare for the partys four-day convention in Chicago. Bidens next chance to redeem himself on the debate stage isnt slated until Sept. 10 if it happens at all. There was already rampant talk that Trump skip the second debate, particularly if his polling leads in Georgia and other battleground states hold steady. With his base all but secure, Trump could shift resources to winning over swing voters uneasy with Bidens health by bringing up global crises. Im worried that we have a situation in the world where the president seems to be compromised, said Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. What we saw tonight was a man who was more confused than not. The bad guys are watching, too. Georgia Senate GOP Leader Steve Gooch senses that the trajectory of the race has irrevocably changed. Joe Biden is not mentally fit to serve as president, he said. That is not a political statement. It is an indisputable fact proved on live TV tonight. Staff writers Taylor Croft and Maya T. Prabhu contributed to this report. 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, with VOTE printed on her dress, gesture to supporters at a post-debate campaign rally on June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images/TNS) Opponents to President Joe Bidens response to Israels war in Gaza showed up in Raleigh on Friday to voice their anger as they have in the Triangle and around the country for months. The protesters represented various groups opposing Israels actions in the Palestinian territory but they were unified in their call for Biden to push for a ceasefire and pull the United States aid to Israel. From Raleigh to Palestine, we are the red line, the protesters chanted. Biden, Biden, you cant hide, Gaza is our red line. Nearly 75 protesters with Palestinian flags and banners calling for Biden to stop arming Israel gathered outside the North Carolina State Fairgrounds by 12:45 pm, before Bidens campaign rally. A handful of demonstrators stood outside Gate 9, where registered rally attenders were entering the fairgrounds. About 30 other pro-Palestinian protesters stood on Trinity Road with flags and signs as they chanted Free, free Palestine! Several cars honked in support as they waited in line to get to the Biden rally. Farrah Khan was the first protester to arrive on the scene, holding a sign calling for a ceasefire now. A Raleigh resident, Khan said she voted for Biden in 2020, but she wont in 2024. While she will still vote for the next president, she is still deciding who she will cast a ballot for. He has lost my vote and he will lose millions of other votes in an election that is so contested right now, Khan said. This is not a good strategy for him because this is not what the people want. Ruby Sinreich, a Jewish Durham resident and a member of Mothers for Ceasefire present at the protest, said she is concerned by Bidens support for Israel. Sinreich wants Biden to be the visionary leader that ends the United States unconditional support of Israel. No matter what he says, you can see through his actions, she said. Hes doing everything possible to go around Congress to fund Israel and I think hes risking losing the election by supporting Israel so strongly. Sinreich said she registered to attend the Biden rally, but she was unable to enter the fairgrounds because she did not have a table on her registration. Noor Abualhawa, a Palestinian-American native to Raleigh, called on Biden to invest American tax dollars back into the United States rather than providing aid to Israel. First, we need an immediate ceasefire. Biden is basically pretending like he doesnt have that power, but we know that if Biden picked up the phone in a minute, he could end this war, she said. The protest was organized by Triangle Jewish Voice for Peace, Mothers for Ceasefire, UNC Students for Justice in Palestine, Demilitarize! Raleigh to Palestine Coalition, Raleigh Party for Socialism and Liberation and Raleigh Palestine Car Convoy. The organizations planned the protest to demand that Biden stop arming Israel when it commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, according to a press release. Despite widespread condemnation from the international community for Israels war crimes in Gaza, in April, the Biden administration approved over $14 billion in military funding and weapons to the Israeli government, giving Netanyahu the greenlight to continue their indiscriminate attacks, the press release states. Penny Laprebendere, another protester outside the fairgrounds, was there because she saw a social media post from Triangle Jewish Voice for Peace about the organized pro-Palestinian protest outside the Biden rally, she said. Laprebendere also voted for Biden in 2020, but is unsure who she will vote for in 2024 because she is unhappy that Biden has not called for a ceasefire in Gaza or paused funds provided to Israel. Im really disappointed with both parties right now and most of my disappointment with the Democratic Party is the way theyre carrying out this war in Gaza, she said. A few hundred feet away from the protesters calling on Biden to take action in Gaza, a small number of Trump supporters also gathered to protest outside the Biden rally at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. A few residents in the apartments across Trinity Road flew Trump 2024 flags. 2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Gerald Leon Ray III, a former commissary agency employee in South Korea, was sentenced June 27, 2024, to one year and eight months in prison for throwing a single punch that seriously injured a U.S. soldier in South Korea in July 2020. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force) An Air Force veteran and former Defense Department civilian employee was sentenced this week to a year and eight months in prison for punching a U.S. soldier in South Korea so hard that prosecutors say he could have killed him. Gerald Leon Ray III, 27, of Lathrop, Calif., pleaded guilty in March to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He was sentenced Thursday by District Judge Daniel Calabretta in Sacramento, Calif., nearly four years after the crime. Prosecutors sought a sentence of two years and nine months, in large part based on the damage Ray inflicted on the victim, who was referred to in court documents as Mr. Hibbler. Hibbler suffered a broken jaw and a brain hemorrhage, and had to be placed in a medically induced coma. His long-term injuries include a seizure disorder, almost daily migraines, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to court documents. In a sentencing memorandum addressed to Calabretta, Ray expressed remorse, submitted letters of support and asked for a prison term of a year and a day, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Air Force investigators determined that Hibbler instigated the fight, which happened July 26, 2020, in Pyeongtaek, near Osan Air Base and the U.S. Armys Camp Humphreys, according to court documents. At the time of the assault, Ray was employed by the Defense Commissary Agency at Osan and previously served in the Air Force for five years. Hibbler, who was hit with a single punch to the face, may have died without immediate medical attention, the Justice Department said in a statement Thursday. Ray was arrested in October 2021 in Germany, where he was working part time at a club on a U.S. military base in the Kaiserslautern area after leaving South Korea, according to court documents. He was flown to the United States and originally faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The case against Ray fell under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which establishes U.S. jurisdiction over certain offenses committed abroad by, among others, civilian employees of the armed forces. Hibbler began his military service in October 2019 and arrived in South Korea six days before the assault, according to prosecutors. He had to be medically discharged, ending his dreams of becoming a drill sergeant and an officer, court papers state. In one letter to the judge, Ray said that on the night of the assault, he and his friend Trent Hudson were talking outside a restaurant in what is called the Opera District. Hibbler was in the same area with a friend, who kicked over a half-full glass bottle of soda belonging to Hudson, Ray wrote, adding that Hibbler then pulled out his phone and started recording, using profanities to provoke a reaction from them. The situation escalated and Ray eventually stepped in to punch Hibbler, who had approached Hudson with closed fists, according to the letter. Ray said he threw the punch to stop the fight and protect his friend. Because Gerald is not an experienced fighter, he did not consider the risks of striking someone standing over pavement, or the level of force he put into the punch, according to court documents. A mural of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen outside the Vanessa Gate at Fort Cavazos in Killeen, Texas, in October 2020. (Rose Thayer/Stars and Stripes) A national civil rights organization is raising funds to restore a Texas mural for Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen and add a mural to Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Caserta. Their deaths in 2020 and 2018, respectively, led Congress to reform Defense Department policies on sexual harassment and access to mental health care in the military. The mural, a memorial to Guillen at the Vanessa Gate of Fort Cavazos in Killeen, Texas, was the site of protests seeking answers to Guillens disappearance and death. Guillen was reported missing from Fort Hood, now Cavazos, in April 2020; her remains were found June 30, 2020. Today the mural, dedicated in July 2020, is fading in the Texas heat and rain. Its been defaced by graffiti three times, according to the League of United Latin American Citizens. The league recently began a GoFundMe campaign, Vandalized Vanessa Guillen Mural Needs Our Help! to restore Guillens mural and add a mural dedicated to Caserta. The campaign has raised $920 of its $10,000 goal as of Friday, according to its GoFundMe page. The donations will purchase materials, including nails, wood glue, stain sealant, sandpaper and brushes, AnaLuisa Carrillo-Tapia, a Killeen resident and director of Texas District 17 for the league, told Stars and Stripes by phone June 24. Remaining funds will go to the Brandon Caserta Foundation. The murals connect through the care and concerns that our community has for our service members, she said. The I Am Vanessa Guillen Act took effect Jan. 1, 2022. It criminalizes sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and removes commanders from sexual assault and sexual harassment investigations. Months before her murder, Guillen reported being sexually harassed by a senior noncommissioned officer, but leaders in her chain of command failed to take appropriate action. Castera died by suicide June 25, 2018, at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. A command investigation found that a combative and toxic leadership contributed to his death. Two months later, his parents, Teri and Patrick Castera, started an uphill push by phone calls and trips to the Pentagon to pass the Brandon Act, a set of policies that provide service members with a confidential evaluation and greater access to mental health care. In July, the Navy and Marine Corps became the first service branches to implement the act. And the two acts together are the largest reform of the military since Dont ask, dont tell, by far, Patrick Castera told Stars and Stripes by phone June 24. When you pair the two together, it is a significant milestone in history. What is unique about it is we the people did it. These acts are helping our service members. Money raised by the GoFundMe campaign will also pay for enhanced security measures to deter vandalism, Carillo-Tapia said. That includes higher quality security cameras installed near the mural. The league wanted to start work on the new mural on the anniversary of Casteras death but were unable to do so, Carillo-Tapia said. Its tough, its going to be tough, Patrick Castera said about the anniversary of Brandons death. It was a tough loss; he is our only son, and [we] will never have grandkids and the command is definitely at fault. The Casteras said they were honored that the league thought to add Brandon to the mural. It will give people hope and awareness as they drive in and out of the gate if theyre in the military or having any issues they can invoke the Brandon Act and that help is there for them, and its their right, Patrick Castera said. The U.S. Capitol in Washington in June 2023. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON House Republicans narrowly pushed through a defense spending bill on Friday that provides a significant pay raise for troops while also undoing social policies conservatives deemed a distraction from the Pentagons warfighting mission. The 217-198 vote was split along party lines, with Democrats refusing to support provisions in the legislation that roll back travel reimbursement for service members who are stationed in states with abortion restrictions, ban funding for gender-affirming care and gut diversity initiatives. This bill contains a laundry list of partisan proposals that divide Americans, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. Republicans dismissed the cut programs as wasteful spending that took attention and resources away from readying the military for an increasingly aggressive China and other growing threats around the world. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, argued the Defense Department has been turned into a woke social engineering experiment that is more concerned about transgender surgeries and pushing a radical agenda than ensuring that we have the military that is necessary to defend the United States of America. There is no wonder that recruiting levels are down, he added. The bill provides $833 billion for the Pentagon to innovate and modernize and gives all troops a 4.5% pay raise as well as an additional 15% pay raise for junior enlisted service members. It also contains $18 billion in cuts to the White Houses requested defense budget, including $612 million from climate resiliency efforts and $53 million from diversity, equity and inclusion programs. It also notably excludes money for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a decade-old training and weapons procurement program that receives funding from Congress every year. Democrats lined up in opposition to the bill at every step of the legislative process. Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, accused Republicans of pandering to their extreme right base and warned the legislation as written would never become law. Enough already. Stop with the culture-war nonsense, he said. I dont know whats wrong with you people, but all you seem to care about is attacking womens reproductive freedom and womens reproductive rights and beating up on the LGBTQ+ community. It is offensive. It is sick. House Republicans muscled through a similarly divisive spending bill last year for fiscal 2024 but all partisan social riders were stripped out during negotiations with the Democrat-led Senate. The Senate has yet to release its fiscal 2025 spending bill for the Defense Department. The House Rules Committee this week refused to grant a floor vote on several contentious amendments, including a proposal by Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., to defund IVF fertility treatments for troops. Lawmakers also voted down a proposal by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to reduce Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins salary to $1. The White House warned this week that President Joe Biden would veto the bill over provisions that infringed on abortion access and other rights, arguing they would have devastating consequences for the readiness of the military and the wellbeing of military families if passed. Rep. Ken Calvert of California, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committees defense subpanel, said the bill prioritized supporting service members and equipping them for training and warfare, not culture wars. He touted investments in major weapons systems and Americas defense industrial base as well as ramped up efforts to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the country. The bill also contains a provision that would move Mexico from Northern Commands area of responsibility to Southern Command for improved coordination and prioritization. This bill procures where we can, trains where we must, and invests in capabilities that will make our adversaries wake up every day and say, Today is not the day to provoke the United States of America, Calvert said. A video screen grab shows Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., presenting a Purple Heart to Tim Vanover, the father of World War II veteran Eler Vanover, who survived the Bataan Death March in the Philippines. (X/Senator Markwayne Mullin) ENID, Okla. Tim Vanovers father died on Sept. 8, 1990; since then, Tim has been on a mission to find closure. On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Tim found a bit of closure when his father, Elmer Vanover, was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart during a ceremony at Oklahoma State University. Elmer was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained as a prisoner of war in World War II. Elmer was captured by Japanese forces during the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines and survived the Bataan Death March, only to spend the next three years and six months as a prisoner of war. When his father passed, Tim, then a vocational agriculture teacher at Waukomis High School, was at a livestock show near Enid with his students. The night before his father died, his father was asking for him from his hospital bed in Muskogee. The sound of the air conditioner in Tims home drowned out the sound of the phone calls from family telling him he needed to visit his father. He did not hear the phone until the morning of his fathers death. He left for Muskogee as soon as he was off the phone but did not arrive in time to say goodbye. A family man Elmer Red Vanover rarely went by his legal first name, instead, those who knew him called him Red, a reference to his red hair. When Red returned home, he was 70% disabled, according to Tim. He also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He often was found sitting, looking out at the pasture on his property, staring. Red suffered from what many call the thousand-yard stare. According to Healthline, the thousand-yard stare is a term used to describe the often blank, expressionless expression on the face of those experiencing flashbacks and dissociation related to traumatic experiences. Tim believes his father likely was experiencing flashbacks to his time as a prisoner of war. In spite of his PTSD and disabilities, Red immersed himself in work and family. When he first returned, hoping to farm, he bought land in Vinita, where he was raised. Unfortunately, due to his disabilities, he was physically unable. After a short stint as a farmer, Red began working at the now-defunct Eastern State Hospital, a hospital for those experiencing mental health issues. While working at the hospital, the Will Rogers Turnpike was announced in 1954. Red left the hospital and began working for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority in the paint and signage department. By the end of his time working on the Will Rogers Turnpike for the OTA, he was the head of the department. Reds work for the OTA allowed him to take care of his family and put his son, Tim, through school at Oklahoma State University. To his family, Red was a loving individual who sought the best for those around him and always made sure they had what they needed. Red loved hunting, fishing and time with his family. Both Tim and his son, Taylor, said their most fond memories of Red are fishing and hunting. Taylor, who was 10 when his grandfather passed, said he fondly remembers his time with Red. I remember going and picking blackberries and stuff with him, Taylor said. Just an awesome grandpa, someone that we miss dearly. For Reds son, Tim, nothing topped fishing and hunting with his dad. Standing out there side by side fishing, catching fish and seeing who could catch the most, catch the biggest one just having fun with my dad, Tim said. Quail hunting was probably right there with it. He loved to hunt. He was a tremendous shot. Red wasnt one for hugs and kisses, likely because of the traumatic experiences from his past, but nonetheless, those who knew he loved and cherished them as much as they did him. Bataan Death March During World War II, Red was a member of the 200th Coast Artillery. The units mission was to push back Japanese forces and delay Japanese advances in Manila Bay, according to the National World War II Museum. On Jan. 7, 1942, the Battle of Bataan began. Japanese victory ensued, and the battle ended on April 9, 1942. But the horrors were just beginning for the surviving American and Filipino soldiers. From April 9 to April 17, 1942, 60,000 to 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war marched 65 miles from the Bataan Peninsula to the modern-day Camp ODonnell, where they were subjected to starvation, hard labor and death. Those who could not continue the march to Camp ODonnell were subjected to brutal conditions. At Camp ODonnell, more than 1,500 Americans died. Red labored in the coal mines, many of which had been previously mined. During his time in the coal mines, he experienced a cave-in that left him injured, according to Tim. Because of his injury, he momentarily stopped working. This led to him being beaten by a two-by-four object, Tim said. After the beating, Red began working once again. After three years and six months, Red returned home. But he was a changed man and had been recommended for a Purple Heart by a military doctor due to the injuries he had sustained in captivity. Journey to closure When Tims father passed, he began going through his fathers records. In those records, he found the Purple Heart recommendation. As Tim was not present for his fathers death, finding the recommendation sparked something inside of him. It became a way to find closure. He wanted to honor his father and make sure the United States honored him as well. The road to getting the Purple Heart and closure was bumpy and long. It took Tim a decade of work to secure his fathers Purple Heart. Tim contacted Oklahoma state government officials, U.S. representatives and the governor of New Mexico. But he was repeatedly told the records of many World War II veterans, including his fathers, were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Because there were no records, Tim was told he had to find a way to substantiate the recommendation. The only thing I had was this one piece of paper with a doctor signed off on it, saying, you know, that he examined my father when he came back and the shape he was in and the wounds and scars that he had on his body, showing where hed been hurt and crippled and everything, and had recommended him for a Purple Heart, Tim said. He began losing hope until the Vinita American Legion decided to honor Red with a bench in Vinitas Veterans Park, where he met Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita. As Tim and Cornwell talked, Cornwell told Tim that something more should be done to honor Red. The next thing we know, they had got together, the American Legion and some politicians up there, and they named a section of Highway 60, Tim said. In 2023, a portion of U.S. 60 just east of Vinita was designated the Bataan Death March Survivor Elmer Red Vanover Memorial Highway. Prior to a celebration of the designation, Cornwell asked Tim to bring documentation from Reds time in the military, which included the Purple Heart recommendation. When Cornwell learned Red had never received his Purple Heart, he stepped into action. Cornwell sent the documentation to U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin the same weekend of the designation. By the following Monday, Mullins office was asking for more information. About a month later, I get a phone call saying that they had got my dads Purple Heart awarded to him, and they couldnt figure out why he never got it, Tim said. He (Red) never worried about getting his Purple Heart. He was trying to live, just trying to survive. Had it not been for Cornwell, his wife, Sherry Cornwell, and the help from Mullin and his staff, Tim said he wouldve given up on his years-long pursuit. But he didnt have to, instead, he found closure and a way to honor his beloved father. I couldnt talk, Im just about like I am right now, said Tim, while he choked up over the phone. We get emotional every time I think its, you know, just to think of what my dad went through everything he went through in war and his life. Its been really emotional for me. To Tim, his dad was an amazing father, but above all else, he was proud to be an American. I got to say goodbye to him yesterday, Tim said. (c)2024 the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) Visit the Enid News & Eagle Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The annual one-night, nationwide count of homeless conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is failing to capture the scope of the problem, including among veterans, House lawmakers said June 27, 2024. (VA.gov) WASHINGTON The annual one-night, nationwide count of homeless conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is failing to capture the scope of the problem, including among veterans, House lawmakers said Thursday. The point-in-time census conducted in January 2023 seemed to under-represent homeless veterans at 36,000 when 300,000 veterans each year access homeless services through the Department of Veterans Affairs, Rep. Michael Levin, D-Calif., said during a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Committee subpanel on economic opportunity. The hearing was held to look at ways that real-time data could be applied to identify and track veterans experiencing homelessness and provide them housing and other services more quickly. But lawmakers also discussed problems with HUDs point-in-time census that relies on volunteers to conduct head counts of people living on the streets or staying in emergency shelters during one night in January. Homeless advocates have said the count fails to reach homeless people living in cars, staying with friends or trying to keep out of sight. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty described the count as severely flawed. Its important that we get the numbers right, as we consider public policy. We play from the same data set, Levin said. Each January, there is a point-in-time count that identifies the number of homeless veterans. But it is an imperfect picture of reality. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., the subcommittee chairman, questioned VA officials about how the $3.2 billion budget to address homeless veterans is being used and why that level of spending is not more effective. This subcommittee needs a better picture from the VA about the actual issues veterans are facing. Weve got to focus on the root cause of homelessness. Doing this will keep veterans off the streets, save the taxpayer money and save lives, he said. Thomas OToole, deputy assistant undersecretary for health and clinical services at the Veterans Health Administration, said the $3.2 billion reflects VAs large scope of services to address homelessness. The budget funds housing, mental health counseling, addiction treatment, job training and many other services, he said. It is a generous budget and were appreciative of congressional support, OToole said. Our job is to help veterans who are homeless and prevent individuals from becoming homeless, move them into housing and keep them there with the necessary supports and care. Van Orden also urged the VA to look at alternative community models that are yielding results, including by-name lists that electronically track veterans who are homeless to ensure they get services, one-stop shops that enable veterans to get most services at a single location, and faith-based programs that help heal the psychological wounds of combat. Jeff Olivet directs the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the sole federal agency with a mission to end homelessness. Olivet told lawmakers that Dallas recently joined 83 other U.S. communities to declare a functional end to veteran homelessness. The city has committed to placing any veteran who becomes homeless into permanent housing within 90 days, according to city leaders. Van Orden said it is important for the subcommittee to hear about best practices adopted in Dallas and other communities for securing permanent housing for veterans. Rosanne Haggerty, president of Community Solutions, discussed her companys development of electronic by-name lists, which she described as person-specific data that is tracked to give communities a better understanding of homelessness. Her nonprofit company provides a homeless management information system, which is a database that enables communities to identify people by name who are homeless and understand where and how they receive local services. Communities use the software to identify everyone who is homeless and support them from first contact all the way to achieving permanent stable housing, according to the companys website. The key to this methodology is the creation of a comprehensive by-name, real-time list of each person experiencing homelessness in that community. Real-time, by-name data has proven to be a game-changer for every type of community working to end veteran homelessness, Haggerty said. She said communities use the information to identify problems a veteran might be experiencing, coordinate services, follow progress and course correct as needed. Haggerty said personalized tracking of veterans facilitates the delivery of services and speeds up getting them housing. Van Orden urged lawmakers to consider a variety of ways for addressing veteran homelessness. He said he benefited from a faith-based program for veterans after serving in the military for 26 years, including as a Navy SEAL. If the VA is not taking in and considering all solutions, then they are sticking with modalities that have proven to be not effective, so lets do something different, Van Orden said. Vasa Markovic (24) should have rang 999 and contacted the emergency services, a judge said. A disqualified driver got behind the wheel of a car in a panic after his wife rang him and told him their young daughter, who suffers from asthma, was having trouble breathing, a court has heard. Vasa Markovic (24) should have rang 999 and contacted the emergency services, a judge said. Judge David McHugh ordered Markovic to complete 150 hours community service, in lieu of four months in prison, and the judge disqualified him for five years. Judge McHugh adjourned the case to a date in September for the preparation of a community service report to see if Markovic was suitable to complete the work. The defendant, with an address at Cedarbrook Way, Cherry Orchard, admitted driving without insurance or a driving licence on June 9, 2024. Garda Ronan Culligan told Blanchardstown District Court he was stopped Markovic driving a BMW at Cappagh Road in Finglas shortly after 10pm on the night in question. Read more Son of steakhouse murder victim Jason Hennessy sent forward for trial at Special Criminal Court Gda Culligan said he made the lawful demand for Markovic to produce his insurance and driving licence at a garda station but he failed to produce them. The court heard the defendant had four previous convictions, including two for uninsured driving. He was serving a two-year driving ban at the time of this incident. Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said Markovics family was originally from Serbia but he was born in Ireland. He was married and had two children, aged seven and four years old. In relation to the incident, Mr Fleming said that the defendants wife rang him to say that there was a medical emergency at home. One of the children suffered from asthma, and the child was having difficulties breathing and was panicking because they could not breathe. Mr Fleming handed a number of medical letters into the court, confirming the couple took their child to Tallaght Hospital later that evening, and they were referred from there to a private hospital for treatment. Judge McHugh said Markovic should have contacted the emergency services. Mr Fleming said Markovic handled the situation badly, and no one was saying he did the right thing. However, his family was panicking at home, he was worried about his child and it was simply an explanation for why the defendant was driving. The solicitor said Markovic was throwing himself at the mercy of the court. He understood he was in difficulty but he was asking the court not to jail him. The defendant was supported in court by his wife and parents, Mr Fleming added. Kinsella told gardai in voluntary interviews that he had lived with a friend, a multi-millionaire, who would loan or gift money to him. Nathan Kinsella(45) of Richmond in Blackrock, Co Dublin, entered three guilty pleas on tax offences at a November sitting of the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court Pic Collins Courts Ex-Real IRA man Nathan Kinsella has been jailed for one year for failing to pay taxes on hundreds of thousands of euros he claims he was "gifted" by a millionaire friend while on unemployment benefits. Kinsella has previously told gardai that the money was not "dodgy" and that he "didn't see an issue" with someone giving him large amounts of cash, even though Kinsella said he did not work for the millionaire. Jailing Kinsella today at the Special Criminal Court, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said the court has "concerns" about the explanations Kinsella gave of receiving money from a wealthy friend. The judge also noted that Kinsella has a previous conviction for IRA membership and said the sums involved in this case, totalling 230,000, put it in the upper mid-range for seriousness. Nathan Kinsella outside court The judge set a headline sentence of 40 months imprisonment but gave Kinsella the maximum one-third reduction for the fact that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. He further reduced the sentence after considering Kinsella's health difficulties that were outlined in a number of medical reports handed into the court. The final sentence imposed is one of 18 months with the final six months suspended for two years. The court agreed to defer the sentence to allow Kinsella's doctors to liaise with prison medical staff to ensure that he has access to medication while in prison. Kinsella undertook to present himself at Portlaoise Prison at noon next Wednesday, July 3. Kinsella (45) of Richmond in Blackrock, Co Dublin, entered three guilty pleas on tax offences at a November sitting of the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. At another hearing earlier this year, Dominic McGinn SC for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the guilty pleas related to failures to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Mr McGinn said that during the period under investigation a total of 230K had been lodged into the three accounts, two controlled by Kinsella's partner and one by Kinsella himself. Kinsella admitted to gardai he had no taxable income for that period and had been on unemployment payments. Kinsella told gardai in voluntary interviews that he had lived with a friend, a multi-millionaire, who would loan or gift money to him. Mr Justice MacGrath noted today that Kinsella told gardai he lived with this man at Tassagart House in Saggart, west Dublin from 2016 to 2019, that he did not pay rent and when he needed money, he would ask for it and his friend would provide it. The three-judge court heard that when asked about specific amounts transferred into the three accounts, Kinsella said they had been received by him and then lodged by his partner, Jennifer Dunne. Kinsella told gardai he believed that there was nothing illegal about the lodgements. Mr McGinn told the non-jury court that Kinsella told gardai that there was no dodgy money involved in the lodgements, that the accused didnt see an issue with it and that a man named Jimmy gave him money on multiple occasions but that Kinsella did not work for him. He said the cash had since been spent. Kinsella had 17 previous convictions, 14 for road traffic offences and two for impeding a prosecution. Kinsella was jailed by the Special Criminal Court 10 years ago after a garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan. The defendant had pleaded guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on September 13, 2012 and was sentenced to two years. The charges that Kinsella pleaded guilty to are that whilst having an address at Tasaggart House, Saggart in Co Dublin, he failed without reasonable excuse to deliver to the Revenue Commissioners a full and true return for the purposes of capital acquisitions tax as required by section 46(2) of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act 2003 on or before October 31, 2018. He further pleaded guilty to two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, whilst having an address in Dublin, and on or before October 31, 2020, whilst having an address at Richmond, Newtownpark, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Money laundering charges that had been filed against Kinsella have now been dropped. . The human trafficking and organised prostitution charges were dropped against Vailones. Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis (46) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie A woman has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for money laundering charges. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Ivanilce Vailones (47) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Co. Roscommon, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering between 2018 and 2021, with ten other counts to be taken into consideration. She has a number of previous convictions, including assault and road traffic offences. Passing sentence today, Ms Justice Patricia Ryan said the court has been advised that the maximum sentence available was 14 years on each count. She noted that the co-accused, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and organised prostitution charges, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended. Judge Ryan said the aggravating factors in this case were the serious nature of the offending, the amount of money involved and the period of time that the offending continued for. The judge said the mitigating factors were Vailoness guilty plea, her remorse, her employment, her contribution to society, and that she had not coming to garda attention since she was released from custody. Judge Ryan sentenced Vailones to four years in prison and suspended the final 28 months for two years. She also said credit is to be given for time already served in custody. Ivanilce (Lisa) Vailones Fidelis (46) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie Vailones has previously gone on trial with a co-accused charged with human trafficking, organised prostitution and money laundering. This trial collapsed, and the jury was discharged. The human trafficking and organised prostitution charges were dropped against Vailones. Detective Garda Peter Breen told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that a gardai investigation was launched after two witnesses came forward and gave an account of their time in Ireland, where they were working in prostitution. These witnesses told gardai about the persons they had dealt with and the money they had paid into certain bank accounts. Based on this information, the gardai arrested Vailones and a co-accused. The court heard that Vailoness premises were searched, and items linking her to certain bank accounts were located. The court heard that a bank account, which was referred to as the Paulina account, had 68,880 in it. This account was owned by a former sex worker who had left the country in 2016. A bank card for this account was found in Vailoness property. Vailones denied knowing anything about this Paulina account but gardai showed her CCTV footage of her using the card to withdraw money from an ATM. Det Gda Breen said a second bank account, which was in Vailoness name, had 57,358, and 50,709 of this money was transferred to an overseas account, which was also traced to Vailones. The State's case is that the money in these accounts came from prostitution. The court heard that while Vailones has been on bail, she has not come to garda attention and has complied with her bail conditions. Mr McCormack told the court that the maximum sentence available was 14 years on each count. Det Gda Breen agreed with Padraig Dwyer, SC, defending, that the guilty plea was of benefit to the gardai and the prosecution. Mr Dwyer handed letters into the court from Vailones, her mother, and her sister. Vailones expressed her remorse for getting involved in this offending. Counsel said while his client was on remand in prison, she engaged in many courses and that the 20 months she has already served on this matter has had an impact on her mental health. He said that his client has now opened an online clothes shop, is raising money for cancer patients, and is giving back to the community. He asked the court to impose a sentence that would not extend the time she had already served in prison. Mr Danca was refused bail at Dublin District Court today after gardai said they had serious concerns that he was a flight risk. A MAN struck a Canadian tourist full force" in the face with a "running kick" while he was lying on the ground in central Dublin, it is alleged. Ionut Danca (24) is charged with assaulting the holidaymaker who remains in an unresponsive condition in a hospital intensive care unit five days after the alleged attack. Mr Danca was refused bail at Dublin District Court today after gardai said they had serious concerns that he was a flight risk. The construction worker of Rathdown Square, North Circular Road, Dublin is accused of assault causing harm to Neno Dolmajian at OConnell Street Upper on June 23. He is the second man to be charged over the incident. Garda Sergeant Eoghan Byrne told Judge Bryan Smyth he arrested Mr Danca at Store Street station at 5.01am this morning. He made no reply after caution and was handed a copy of the charge sheet. Objecting to bail, Sgt Byrne said the accused was with a group of friends at Cathal Brugha Street at 12.40am on the morning of the incident. Mr Dolmajian, who is in his 40s, approached the group and they had a conversation that turned into an argument, Sgt Byrne said.There had been no contact between them prior to this. One of the group allegedly struck Mr Dolmaijan a number of times and others interjected. The group then made their way to OConnell Street Upper. The alleged victim got back to his feet and also went to OConnell Street where there was another interaction a short time later which became hostile. They were separated and the group stayed on OConnell Street where Mr Dolmajian again approached them, Sgt Byrne said. One of the group pushed him and he stumbled and fell, after which Mr Danca allegedly hit him to the face with a running kick. This was a full force blow which gardai believed was the reason for Mr Dolmajians condition. The court heard there was CCTV footage from various locations capturing all the interactions. Sgt Byrne said there could be further more serious charges brought given the nature of Mr Dolmajians injuries. He said he believed Mr Danca, who had no direct ties to Ireland was a serious flight risk. While gardai were trying to contact him, he altered a flight he had booked from Dublin to Bucharest. Officers were in position at the airport but he did not turn up and instead flew from Belfast to Edinburgh and on to Naples, showing a clear attempt to leave the jurisdiction. He returned to Ireland voluntarily when contact was made. Sgt Byrne agreed with defence solicitor Evan Moore that the flight had been altered before gardai were actively seeking Mr Danca. While the accused returned to Ireland of his own volition, it was after two days of avoiding calls, texts and emails, the sergeant said. Mr Danca, from Romania, had been in Ireland for six years, worked in construction and had no previous convictions or any drug issues, Mr Moore said, applying for bail. Sgt Byrne said there were no conditions that could satisfy him that Mr Danca would turn up in court if bailed. Now that he was aware of the full severity of the situation, gardai feared he would leave the jurisdiction. Judge Smyth said it was clearly a serious charge and said the accused does constitute a flight risk. He refused bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on July 5. Members of Mr Dolmajians family were present in court, having asked to attend the bail hearing. Earlier this week, another man, Madalin Ghiuzan (23) of Summerhill Parade, Dublin 1 was refused bail when he appeared before the same court charged with two counts of assault causing harm to Mr Dolmajian. The inquiry heard that the DPP had directed that no prosecution should arise from the incident after it was reported to gardai. A physiotherapist at a HSE centre in Tipperary allegedly sexually assaulted a female colleague and engaged in sexual harassment and stalking of her over several months, a fitness-to-practise inquiry has heard. A clinical psychologist claimed the physio, Sarath Divakaran, sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Clonmel on May 27, 2019, when he placed his hand on her pubic area while sitting beside her at a conference. The inquiry heard that the DPP had directed that no prosecution should arise from the incident after it was reported to gardai. The psychologist who was identified only as Miss A broke down crying several times while giving evidence over Mr Divakarans taunting, intimidating and menacing behaviour. Read more Son of steakhouse murder victim Jason Hennessy sent forward for trial at Special Criminal Court She described how she ended up carrying a rape whistle and a flashlight with a strobe effect for protection at her job. The inquiry heard that Miss A first began to feel unsafe at work due to the unwanted attention of the physio who made repeated comments about her appearance and posture, including a suggestion that she should stand in front of a mirror naked. She described feeling very uncomfortable after being informed by Mr Divakaran that he had been watching her movements where they worked at South Tipperary Therapeutic Services in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. Mr Divakaran is facing a total of 18 allegations of professional misconduct before a fitness-to-practise inquiry being held by CORU the regulatory body of health and social care professionals. The allegations relate to claims of inappropriate behaviour and failing to maintain professional boundaries in his interactions with two female psychologists working at STTS between 2019 and 2022. Mr Divakaran, a native of India who has worked in Ireland since 2003, claims his behaviour towards the two women has been misinterpreted and gravely misunderstood. While the physio, whose wife also worked at STTS at the same time, accepts that he had sometimes crossed professional boundaries, he denied engaging in any harassment or conduct of a sexual nature with his work colleagues. On the second day of the inquiry on Thursday, Miss A described how she started receiving unannounced and uninvited visits to her office from Mr Divakaran shortly after she began working at STSS in January 2019. Miss A said the visits which increased in frequency over time had no professional purposes. She told CORUs fitness-to-practise committee that she declined all Mr Divakarans invitations to go for a coffee or a walk. Suddenly I felt unnerved because he was watching me, Miss A observed after the physio told her that he had been studying her movements. She outlined how she had to restrict where she went at STSS in order to feel safe. Miss A said his comments about standing naked in front of a mirror and inviting her to a physio room to check my tone demonstrated he wanted to physically touch her. She claimed such remarks were unsolicited and unethical and left her feeling humiliated. On another occasion the physio told her that she rubs well which Miss A came to understand was a reference to masturbation. At a conference on May 27, 2019, Miss A said Mr Divakaran gave her a portrait that he had drawn of her which she declined as it made her feel very uncomfortable and violated. On the same day, she claimed she was sexually assaulted by the physio when he touched her on her groin with the back of his upturned palm as he gave her back a leaflet that he had picked off her seat. I froze. I felt really confused. I felt frightened, she told CORU counsel, Neasa Bird BL. I was in complete disbelief. Miss A said she did not report the incident to anyone at the time because she felt so humiliated and also because of the power dynamics of a situation involving an experienced senior physio. The inquiry heard that Miss A discovered later that summer that Mr Divakaran had also engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment and stalking of another female worker at STSS (known as Miss B). She reported the matter to HSE management as she had grave concerns for the safety of female staff at the Clonmel facility because of the physios behaviour. The inquiry heard that a decision was taken to deal with the matter informally through the implementation of a safety plan at the end of 2019 which included instructions to Mr Divakaran not to park near the cars of his two colleagues or to walk near their offices. Asked if she was unhappy with how HSE management had dealt with the issue, she replied that she had received conflicting advice. Miss A said she became very frightened again after Mr Divakaran started parking his car near her vehicle and walking on her corridor again in December 2020. The inquiry heard he also tried twice to interact with her the following month when he wished her a Happy New Year and held a door open for her. Miss A said she reported both incidents to management straight away. I knew I was very unsafe around this man, she added. The witness said the physio had shown no remorse for his actions and had demonstrated no insight into the impact of his behaviour. The inquiry heard Miss A relocated to an office in Cashel where she still felt unsafe before eventually resigning from her job after taking time off work with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms because of Mr Divakarans behaviour. She fought back tears as she explained his actions had affected her career as she had to walk away from a job I loved and give up promotional opportunities because she was concerned for her physical and mental health. Asked about the physios claims that his actions had been misinterpreted, she replied that they demonstrate what a real danger and threat he is to women. Under cross-examination by counsel, Elaine Finneran BL, Miss A rejected various explanations offered by Mr Divakaran over how his behaviour had been misunderstood. Ms Finneran said the physio had only been trying to be friendly towards her as a new employee such as recommending the canteen as a good place to meet colleagues. However, Miss A said such a suggestion was frankly insulting. She claimed his comments about her gait and posture were part of a repeated pattern of behaviour and a formula for grooming people rather than the concern of a physio. Ms Finneran said her client apologised for attempting to compliment his colleague on her clothing and make-up which he realised in hindsight was inappropriate. The barrister said Mr Divakarans quick caricature of Miss A was meant as a joke but which he now accepted was inappropriate. However, Miss A retorted: I didnt find it funny. I found it traumatic. The inquiry heard earlier in the week similar evidence from Miss B who described being terrified and scared by the physios unwanted physical touching and comments of a sexual nature. Both women confirmed that they are taking legal actions against both Mr Divakaran and the HSE. The inquiry was adjourned until next Tuesday when it is expected to conclude. Tomasz Surowiak was later charged with assault, public intoxication as well as using threatening and abusive behaviour Tomasz Surowiak pleaded guilty to spitting at a bouncer during a disturbance at a nightclub in Mullingar last October. Judge Bernadette Owens ordered Tomasz Surowiak to return to court in October to show evidence of his attendance with an alcohol addiction counsellor. A rowdy man who spat at a bouncer and hurled abuse at revellers inside a Mullingar nightclub has pledged to undergo counselling to curb his alcohol issues. Tomasz Surowiak (31), Longfield, Edgeworthstown, Longford, was arrested by gardai arising out of an incident on October 28 last year. Gardai had been called to reports of an intoxicated male who was causing a disturbance on Dominick Street shortly after 1am. When officers arrived at the Final Fence nightclub, they were informed Surowiak had spat at a bouncer and was shouting abuse at customers inside the premises. Judge Bernadette Owens ordered Tomasz Surowiak to return to court in October to show evidence of his attendance with an alcohol addiction counsellor. The accused, who is from Poland, was later charged with assault, public intoxication as well as using threatening and abusive behaviour, offences he previously pleaded guilty to at the beginning of last month. On that occasion, Surowiak who, the court was told had ten previous convictions to his name, was ordered by Judge Bernadette Owens to return to court and show proof of the counselling he was undertaking. However, when the case returned before Mullingar District Court today (Thursday), Judge Owens was informed by defence solicitor John Quinn that Surowiak had still to commence those sessions. That revelation prompted an angry response from Judge Owens. Thats not what I was told, she said. Who told who on May 2 that he was attending a counsellor? Tomasz Surowiak pleaded guilty to spitting at a bouncer during a disturbance at a nightclub in Mullingar last October. Following a brief adjournment, Mr Quinn said his client had been unable to secure the required levels of counselling ordered by the court because of a lengthy waiting list that was currently in place. He said compensation monies had also been handed over, adding Surowiak needed additional breathing space in which to meet those conditions. He will need more time, but he is prepared to do the counselling and he has undertaken to me he will carry out the counselling as directed by his GP to get it underway, he said. Surowiak was remanded on continuing bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on October 24. The man, aged in his twenties, is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning. A second man is due in court in relation to the attack on a Canadian tourist in Dublin city centre last Sunday. The man, aged in his twenties, is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning. He was charged after being arrested yesterday and detained at a Garda station in Dublin. This is the fourth arrest made by gardai as part of this investigation. He is the second to appear in court in relation to the serious assault that took place on Cathal Brugha Street and OConnell Street in Dublin 1 on June 23. The victim of the alleged assault is still in hospital and remains in a serious condition. A man in his 30s, who was arrested on Monday, has been released without a charge. Gardai continue to appeal to any individuals who were in the Cathal Brugha Street area, near the Living Room Bar, between 12.40am and 1.00am, and any individuals who were on OConnell Street Upper near the Spar shop, Funland, the tourism office or opposite the Spire, between 12.40am and 1.00am on Sunday morning, to contact them. Anyone who has camera footage (including dash cam) is asked to make this available to Gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations into the assault are ongoing. One member of the gang had travelled to the Miami area to hand over $60,000 to have associates brought by boat from The Bahamas, it was added. Andy Cock Wall is escorted to a flight by US law enforcement agents Irish criminal gangs are paying thousands of dollars to people smugglers to get associates and relatives into the United States. Two men connected to what US authorities call an Irish Traveller Conmen Fraud Group were arrested in Florida last month, according to sources. One member of the gang had travelled to the Miami area to hand over $60,000 to have associates brought by boat from The Bahamas, it was added. He had travelled from Illinois after entering the US via the Mexican border, where authorities had placed a locator bracelet on his ankle. Patrick Purcell It appears the person contacted to organise the 80-kilometre crossing from the tiny island of Bimini was a confidential informant for the US authorities. Two men had made contact to carry out the smuggling operation, which planned to bring as many as 12 people on the trip. Meetings with the fraud gang members were put under surveillance by police and two men were arrested when the cash was handed over. One of the people on the island of Bimini had told the informant they had been waiting a couple months there trying to organise the trip. He asked him to meet an associate in Miami to set up the smuggling trip. Bimini has been the staging point for Irish and British citizens trying to enter the US illegally. In August 2022, two Irishmen were arrested by Homeland Security agents on a boat smuggling people into the US and seized $32,000. Andy Wall The alleged smuggler picked up the Irish pair along with six others from the UK in the Bahamas and charged them $4,000 each for the trip to the US coast. Each of the passengers were identified as foreign: six were from the United Kingdom, two were from Ireland, according to an affidavit from a US agent. The results of these checks confirmed none of the passengers had visas or were otherwise authorised to enter the United States. In a separate case this week, an Irishman whose brother-in-law is a member of one of Irelands most infamous burglary gangs was deported from the US. Sources say convicted sex-offender Patrick Padoo Purcell was flown back to Ireland from the US last week. The Sunday World previously revealed how Purcell, who was convicted of a sex attack on a teenage girl and the savage robbery of an elderly widow, had fled to the US. In 2018, Patrick Padoo Purcell walked free from prison after serving 11 years of an indeterminate sentence handed down in 2007. His brother-in-law, Andy Cock Wall, was deported from the US in 2018 for entering the country illegally. A leading member of a burglary gang who has over 35 convictions, Wall has also been a Criminal Assets Bureau target. Dubliner Stephen Keating, aka Stiofan Ceitinn, is at the centre of a major deportation row that has gripped Australia in recent days. An Irishman who was jailed for leading a 1.28m fraud gang has launched a new plea to be allowed stay in Austrlia saying he has reformed my life. Dubliner Stephen Keating, aka Stiofan Ceitinn, is at the centre of a major deportation row that has gripped Australia in recent days. In 2020, Keating was sentenced to eight years in prison for leading a group of predatory fraudsters who duped more than 160 people out of Aus$2.1m (1.28m) over 18 months across Australia. Dubbed the Irish Boys, Keating headed up a Wolf of Wall Street style cold-call scam operation from boiler rooms employing at least 45 people on Australias Gold Coast The gang convinced victims into paying around $18,000 each after telling them they would make up to $80,000 a year in profit. After he was released from prison in 2023, Keating had his visa to live in Australia reinstated under a new rule which gave greater weight to the 20 years he had lived in Australia, as well as his teenage daughter who was born there. For 15 months, Keating openly lived and worked in Australia but was taken back into custody on June 13 by Border Force officials upon the Immigrant Ministers instruction. He is now facing deportation back to Ireland. Writing on social media, Keating said: Ive always been honest about my past. Convicted of fraud in 2020, I served 2.5 years in prison and 5.5 years on parole. "My visa was revoked during this time, but I fought and won its reinstatement fairly and through the government processes. "My main goal has always been to stay with my daughter, an Australian citizen. Ive reformed my life and havent committed any crimes in a decade. "My visa cancellation now is a political move, in my opinion and Ive been unfairly and unjustly caught in the crossfire. This error by Minister Andrew Giles must be corrected. "I need your help to overturn this decision and reunite me with my daughter. Stephen Keating with his daughter Leating was one of a number of people jailed over the Irish Boys scam gang's operations. Australian police believe victims handed over $18m to the gang since 2006 but they were only charged in relation to an 18 month period and a large number of suspected victims declined to give statement. During Keating's trial, the court heard they were adept at using subterfuge by setting up fake websites for fictitious competitor, producing brochures with fabricated figures and giving false information to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. All the victims lost money but Keating pocketed $230,000 from the victims he was charged in relation to while his co-accused Aaron East made $301,000 and Daniel East made $282,000. By the time the scam was shut down there was only $17,000 left in the bank and none of the victims were offered compensation. In a petition launched online, entitled Keep Stephen and Keira together! Dont deport a loving father from a beautiful girl , Keating says he does not want to be separated from his teenager daughter. He writes: I am originally from Ireland, having spent 19 years there before moving to the UK for a couple of years I moved to stay Australia aged 21 and I have lived here almost 21 years, half my life and lived longer here than any other country I am the father of one amazing Australian daughter, Keira, aged 15. In 2015, I was arrested and later convicted of fraud in 2020. I was sentenced to 8 years, with parole eligibility after 2.5 years. "My visa was cancelled in November 2020. I have consistently expressed deep remorse for my actions, acknowledged by both the judicial system at sentencing and during Tribunal proceedings. Due to my strong bond with my daughter and other significant ties to the Australian community, my visa was reinstated in March 2023. " After 2.5 years of separation, I was reunited with her and have spent the last 15 months attempting to rebuild my family life, staying crime-free and aspiring to contribute positively to society. "The moment I was reunited my daughter was the single happiest moment of my life I worked tirelessly to present a strong case to the AAT, self represented I poured my heart and soul into the proceedings because being with my daughter is all I really desire and what she needs for child fulfilment. On June 13, 2024, I was detained by Border Force and now reside in immigration detention, facing limited prospects of returning to the community. A complete 180 of emotion. What was meant to be an amazing family holiday has turned into a nightmare A fundraiser has been started to help an Irish woman who has fallen dangerously ill in Turkey. Wexford woman Sarah Stephenson, described as well-known and loved in our community, is in a serious condition in the Mediterranean country. Friends say that she desperately needs help, after catching pneumonia and being hit with exorbitant medical bills. The GoFundMe page created by Sarahs friend Jane states: Recently, Sarah went on holiday to Turkey with her husband, Crizan, and their son, Matheo. What was meant to be an amazing family holiday has turned into a nightmare. "Unfortunately, during their trip, Sarah fell severely ill and her condition quickly deteriorated. She is now in intensive care, fighting for her life with a severe case of pneumonia. "This is an incredibly difficult time for Sarah and her family. The emotional and physical pain they are experiencing is unimaginable. To make matters worse, Sarah did not have medical insurance for this trip. "This unforeseen circumstance has left them with overwhelming medical expenses. Her medical fees are over 1000 per day and are rapidly increasing. Jane is asking for anyone who can help to please do so. We are reaching out to our amazing community to come together and support Sarah, Crizan, and Matheo during this crisis. "We aim to raise enough funds to ensure Sarah receives the best possible medical treatment and to alleviate the financial burden so that Crizan and Matheo can stay by her side without the added stress of covering these enormous fees. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference. Lets show Sarah and her family the power of our community and help them through this challenging time. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. The fundraiser can be found here. The information held by Gabriel Paul Meehan included a handwritten note containing the vehicle registration mark of a serving soldier and digital images of an improvised firearm A Co Tyrone man caught with information likely to be useful to a terrorist has been handed a two-and-a-half year sentence. The information held by Gabriel Paul Meehan included a handwritten note containing the vehicle registration mark of a serving soldier and digital images of an improvised firearm and also Enniskillen Police Station. Meehan (45) was arrested after searches at his home in the aftermath of security alerts in Fermanagh. Following his arrest, he voiced support for dissident republican violence and told a probation officer that whilst not being actively involved, if the need arose he would be 'one of the first on the front line.' From Meelmore Drive in Omagh, Meehan pleaded guilty to a charge of collecting or making a record of information likely to be useful to terrorists on dates between March 15 and May 7, 2021. He was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court by Mr Justice O'Hara who spoke of a "total absence of remorse". The court had heard that at the time of the offence Meehan lived in Irvinestown. Setting out the background, Mr Justice O'Hara said that on March 15, 2021 a call was made to a local newspaper by a male claiming to represent the North Fermanagh CIRA. He said shots had been fired at Enniskillen Police Station and a device left at Shore's Pass so that area should be cleared. Later than evening, the PSNI released a statement saying nothing untoward had been found and there had been no reports of shots being fired. On March 16, 2021 Meehan was observed walking in Enniskillen then seen in his car. Police tracked his movements and that afternoon he was seen near the Territorial Army Centre in the town. A soldier drove out of the centre with Mr Justice O'Hara revealing that it was his vehicle registration that was later found in Meehan's possession when his home was searched later that month. He was also seen in the Lough Shore Path area of Enniskillen close to the police station of March 16 and the following day, a call was made to another media outlet detailing the location of an item in that area. When the location was searched by police on March 17, officers located an improvised firearm. Meehan's Fermanagh home was searched on March 30, 2021 where a piece of paper with the soldier's vehicle registration was located hidden in a void within an internal door. His home was searched again on May 6, 2021 and on this occasion two mobile phones were seized. Found on these phones were images of the improvised weapon in the exact spot it was located by the PSNI on March 17 and in the same place Meehan had been seen on March 16. Mr Justice O'Hara said: "This suggests the defendant knew where the device was before the police found it." Also found on the phone were photographs of Enniskillen Police Station as well as images and messages which the judge said "revealed his support and sympathy for the use of violence to achieve a united Ireland." Meehan was arrested on May 25, 2021 and when asked about the images of his phone, he said he wanted to expose the police for putting members of the public at risk. Regarding the soldier's car registration, Meehan said he had noted it as the soldier had been following him. He also said he was not involved in the attack on the police station and said "I have taken a step away from Republican Sinn Fein in this area." Mr Justice O'Hara noted that whilst Meehan was not accused of using the improvised item, his possession of the registration number could have been shared and would have been useful to terrorists. Also noted by the senior Judge was Meehan's admission of support for dissident activity to a probation officer Defence barrister Brenda Campbell described Meehan as a "vulnerable man" with "mental ill health" who was preyed upon "by people more sophisticated than him." Revealing he did not have a relevant criminal, Ms Campbell spoke of Meehan's stable home environment and said the "limitations of his actions" regarding the offence he pleaded guilty to. Meehan - who has already spend 10 months in custody - will serve two thirds of his sentence in jail before his release is considered by the Parole Commissioners. Following his release, he will spend an additional year on licence. This years event will kick off at 12pm on Saturday Broadcaster Maia Dunphy has lashed out at online accounts criticizing her for bringing her child to Pride parades. A number of users attacked Maia after she posted an image of her son wearing the pride rainbow colours. Blocking apace here, but genuinely confused as to why all these loons see bringing our kids out to support our friends as sexualising them?!" she said. Its quite bizarre. Weve been to several parades and protests over the years, its about community and support, thats it, Maia added. On Thursday she posted the below image of her young lad. Maia posted this image on X "I have a little treat for all the p****s who love chucking around the aul VIRTUE SIGNALLING!! tired shite. JUST for you, heres Tom heading off to his first Pride festival in 2018, she wrote. A number of accounts, mostly anonymous, said things to the effect that Maia was using her family member to gain woke points. Another account wrote that using a kid like this is shameful. Maia responded: He was three, it was a fun day out with rainbows and unicorns. "As hes gotten older, Ive explained to him that were supporting a group of people whove been treated unfairly for a long time. Its not that complicated. Meanwhile, thousands of people will take to the city centre streets tomorrow to celebrate 50 years of Dublin Pride. What began with eight people protesting anti-gay laws outside the Department of Justice in June 1974, has since grown to become one of the biggest national and international celebrations. Since the 1990s, there has been an annual Pride parade every summer, and this years event will kick off at 12pm on Saturday, under the theme, shine. The parade is divided into two sections: the first reserved for LGBTQ+ support, advocacy, youth, and social groups, while corporate organisations wave their flags in the second part. Led by the Grand Marshal, Belong TO, an LGBTQ youth organisation, participants will gather along OConnell Street before marching past Liberty Hall, crossing the Liffey, and finishing up at the Pride Village in Merrion Square. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the full route, however, due to the size of the crowds, it can take about 90 minutes for everyone to start moving depending on their position. A free festival of LGBTQ+ community and culture will follow in Merrion Square Park from 1pm-6pm. Dublin Bus is operating diversions from 11.30am onwards due to the closure of Merrion Square South and OConnell Street, while there will also be changes to Luas Green and Red Line services. Later in the day, the Pride Block Party, headlined by international acts COBRAH and Princess Superstar, is taking place at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, from 4-11pm. In the company of hosts Sasha Velour and Blu Hydrangea, this event promises a glittering extravaganza featuring top drag performers, DJs and activities like Drag Aerobics and Sing Along Social. Tickets are 45. Taking to Instagram to thank the band, Swift wrote: Already feeling that Irish hospitality. U2, thanks for always being the classiest and coolest. The message U2 sent to Taylor Swift ahead of her first night in the Aviva Stadium Taylor Swift has said she is already feeling the Irish hospitality after she got a message from U2 ahead of her first night in the Aviva. The US superstar will enthrall 165,000 fans in Dublin over three nights this weekend, having arrived in her private jet on Friday. "Dear Taylor, Welcome back to our hometown leave some of it standing?! Irish rock band U2 wrote in a card for the US star. The group signed the card Your Irish fan club from Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry, accompanied with a bouquet of flowers. The message U2 sent to Taylor Swift ahead of her first night in the Aviva Stadium Taking to Instagram to thank the band, Swift wrote: Already feeling that Irish hospitality. U2, thanks for always being the classiest and coolest. The Love Story pop-star will take to the Aviva this Friday for a three and a half hour set, detailing her various eras of her career through her music. Swift is expected to take to the stage at 7.30pm, following the warm-up act of American rock group Paramore. Swifties were filling out the Aviva Stadium, dressed in cowboy boots, mini-dresses, fringed skirts and wearing the customary friendship bracelets now synonymous with the tour. First Taylor Swift fans arrive for Dublin gig Last years run of the Eras tour was the first in history to reach more than $1 billion in revenue, making it the highest grossing music tour of all time, earning Swift a place in the The Guinness Book of Records. Dublin businesses are expected to benefit from tens of millions of euros to the local economy due to the concert and its travelling fans. Meanwhile, the colourful outfits and friendship bracelets were out in force all day at the Aviva Stadium before Taylor Swift takes to the stage tonight. Fans had been queueing since this morning in the hopes of getting close to their musical idol. Belfast ladies Zoey, Jacqueline and Caroline were dropped off in Ballsbridge shortly after 10am by one of their husbands, who will be sitting in his car until the gig is over later tonight. Its been a long time coming, we last saw her six years ago at the Reputation Tour in Croke Park. Well be queuing for the whole day, they said. The surprise songs are so hard to predict. She might sing Sweet Nothing because it mentions Wicklow, The Last Time as well with Gary Lightbody. You never know whats going to happen. Fay, who travelled from Limerick, was sent on a mission to get food for her friends in the queue. Theres about 50 people in front of us, she said. We want to get as close as we can. People are trading bracelets in the queue, theres ones actually making them, too. Elisa and Carla from Mexico City took two flights so they could see the Eras Tour in Dublin tonight. We are fans of the Kansas Chiefs. Weve the T-shirts and were wearing friendship bracelets. It was expensive to come here all the way from Mexico, but I think its cheaper than the US, they said. This is our first Eras concert. Taylor was in Mexico a year ago, but we couldnt find tickets. Its cold here, its not like Mexico. We hope Travis [Kelce] is here. Meanwhile, Ciara was head-to-toe in Taylor-inspired clothing and accessories. Taylor wore this outfit at the iHeart Music Awards back in 2019, she said. 1989 is my favourite Era, so I have 1989 earrings, a necklace, Ive gems in my hair because Im bejewelled and 13 on my hand, its her lucky number. I made some bracelets, one says Dublin night one to commemorate the event, Ive some of my favourite songs like Champagne Problems. Theres rumours Stevie Nicks is going to come out, thatd be really exciting. Im hoping Travis on stage in London isnt just a one-time thing and he might make an appearance tonight too. Taylor Swift fans, we thrive on delulu, Id like to think shed re-release Reputation. Youngsters, Chloe and Caitlin from Downpatrick have spent their entire lives listening to the popstar, and tonight is the night they get to see her live. Were excited for tonight. Weve been Taylor fans for forever. We went to the 3Arena to get our merch this morning, they said. Were going as Reputation and Midnights. Weve been organising our outfits for the past year. Were staying here for the whole weekend. Well be making more friendship bracelets. Its some of New Zealands best poetry presented in a unique way. Maungatapu resident and internationally acclaimed composer Nigel Williams has put the words from six Kiwi poets to music for two special performances by Tauranga Civic Choir. Theyve been wonderful words to work with, says Nigel. Matariki is our story to tell, so I wanted to make sure that my music was inclusive. Thats why its not just choir and piano, we also have a string quartet, a flute and two percussionists. Nigel says the flute imitates birds. We live in a country of birdsong. One of the poems is a love story about a bellbird. Another is a piece of music that I wrote when my brother was dying. Its four minutes of stillness and beauty. Remembering the recently departed is part of Matariki. Composer Nigel Williams. Photo: supplied. One of the poets, Apirana Taylor, will be there. Theres a lovely line in his poem, Harakeke; flax fingers weave the moonlight. I made that the title for all eight pieces of music that Ive written. The MC is head of Te Reo Maori at Tauranga Girls College, Carol Storey, who will explain the significance of each piece of music. Were on a journey together and thats something to celebrate, says Nigel. Flax Fingers Weave the Moonlight will be performed at St Peters Church, Spring St, Tauranga, on Saturday, July 6, at 1.30pm and again at 4pm with shared food for everyone. Tickets $25 each at eventbrite.co.nz Door tickets are cash only. A Papamoa woman is gathering two teams of Kiwi volunteers to build a second classroom for students at a Vanuatu school. Diana Judge is doing her part to help the Port Vila community by taking her charity organisation, Volunteer Build, back to Vanuatu in August to build a second classroom for the V2 Life School, which continues to outgrow its facilities. Volunteer Build was set up to provide cost-effective travel options, connecting people with projects around the world that directly assist with relieving the effects of poverty, she says. Volunteer Build constructed one classroom last year and is preparing to return to build a second after the schools roll exploded in the past 3 years. Diana says the new classrooms offer a space for children to learn in an environment safe from the weather, such as cyclones. They are desperate for additional space. The school aims to meet the issues ... faced by the Teouma Valley community. Education issues Diana says these issues include a lack of accessible local schools, out-of-area schools being full and not taking new enrolments, no local secondary schools and affordable education being out of reach for many parents. Well build another 96-square-metre concrete block classroom over nine days, which is large enough to split into two separate classrooms. It takes a team of 20 volunteers to build half of a double classroom and the children would not otherwise have an indoor space in which to learn. We built a double school classroom at the same school last year, says Diana. The school roll has grown hugely from 40 in 2019 to 200 with more on a waitlist so theyre desperate for more space. This classroom will be the same design as the previous one. In 2023, Hutt International Boys School built the first half and another Volunteer Build team built the remainder. It took nine days to do from the slab up. We finished Friday and the kids were in class on the Monday. Six places left Diana was in Vanuatu two weeks ago preparing for the project, which starts on August 13. Two teams of volunteers will head over. One group is open to anyone aged 12-79 with no prior building experience required. The other team is a private business arriving in Vanuatu the following week. Last years volunteer team with children from V2 Life School. Photo: supplied. Diana says the 2023 classroom has since been rendered inside out, so its waterproof and painted, and tiles have been laid. They will put in drop ceilings and more lighting once funds permit. The kids and teachers told me they loved their new class. Six places are still available for the volunteering trip from August 13-19. Find out more at www.volunteerbuild.com/vanuatu. All volunteers donate $1000 towards building materials, then the balance is made up from donations and fundraising. Building materials for the classroom cost $45,000, and we need to raise another $6000. We use 2000 concrete blocks, and the cost of the block, mortar and block fill needed for each block is approximately $3. Donors can sponsor one, 10, or 100 blocks however many blocks you want. To donate, visit: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/sponsor-a-concrete-block-for-vanuatu-classroom Dry July 2024 begins in just one week, with funds raised to be used to support Kiwis affected by cancer. Its cancer. Those life-changing words stop hearts and alters lives. Every 22 minutes, another New Zealander hears this devastating news. In July alone, over 2,200 Kiwis will be diagnosed with cancer. Dry July is calling on New Zealanders to give up alcohol for a month and raise essential funds that provide free wellbeing sessions, education, support, advocacy, and rehabilitation programmes led by certified oncology physiotherapists. These services are crucial for helping cancer patients navigate life beyond their diagnosis and treatment. Why go Dry this July? Because by doing something good for yourself, you are helping another Kiwi battle cancer. The best way to understand the impact of Dry July is through the stories of those who have benefited from the services funded by the campaign first-hand. Celia was diagnosed with ovarian cancer aged 37 "As a single mum with three young children, it was really tough to be diagnosed with cancer and remain strong for them. After chemo and surgery, I went into surgical menopause accompanied with extreme fatigue and depression. I was struggling mentally and physically, having lost a lot of confidence and trust in my body. Going to these classes, seeing a whole bunch of women who were going through similar journeys, my ability and confidence grew, and I realised I was capable of exercising, and I felt so much better for it, says Celia. Nick was just 45 years old when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer Prostate cancer is not just an old mans disease, I was the youngest male my specialist had ever operated on. There are many lasting effects beyond the physical. The mental journey is a major part of any cancer. Men are unlikely to sit around and share their cancer stories, but if you do an activity together, you share stories in a safe space. These classes provided that for me, helping me rebuild my physical strength and process the emotional impact of cancer." Nick Hamlin. Photo supplied. Melissa is coming to terms with her new normal "I found out I had triple-negative breast cancer, and my world came crashing down. How am I still standing here after five months of poison? I just want to get rid of this cancer. Every Monday is blood work, every Wednesday chemo but in between that, I have my classes. I did makeup, hair loss and the scarves, the eyebrow focus, chair yoga, and Pilates. It gives some fun in my life and something to look forward to." By going alcohol-free for a month, participants will experience personal health benefits, including improved sleep and energy levels. The impact of Dry July goes beyond the health benefits for our fantastic participants; its there to provide vital programmes to New Zealanders at every stage of their cancer journey. Dry July NZ Trust is excited to expand its partnership network, adding non-alcoholic beverage retail store The Chiller and vitamin and mineral supplement brand Berocca as partners in 2024. The new partnerships complement official campaign partner Lyres Non-Alcoholic Spirit Co., marking a significant milestone in the campaign's mission to unite like-minded organisations committed to making a difference for those affected by cancer. Registrations for Dry July 2024 are now open and every contribution makes a difference. Visit www.dryjuly.co.nz to get involved. Registrations for Dry July 2024 are now open and every contribution makes a difference. For updates, follow Dry July on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Alba Tenza Campillos Friday, 28 June 2024, 12:12 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads For more than 50 years the people of Campillos, a town in the north of Malaga province, have been calling for efforts to be made to find the location of a mass grave containing bodies of victims of the Franco dictatorship. For the last year a team of archaeologists, coordinated by Malaga University lecturers Maria Jose Berlanga and Encarnacion Barranquero, have been working on a project aimed at providing some answers for local people. Jose Carlos Escalante is from Teba but has regularly visited Campillos over the last 15 years and since then has heard much said about the subject. Now he is one of the archaeologists working on the project and has recently been carrying out the first archaeological surveys in the local cemetery. The aim is to locate and assess the state of conservation of the mass grave in the area. "Relatives have given us clues as to the possible location of the grave near the entrance to the local cemetery," said a researcher "We expect to find around a hundred bodies of victims of the dictatorship, although we haven't got an exact figure yet, but according to the initial studies we've made we think it will be more or less that amount," the researcher told SUR. The project does not only want to physically recover the buried history of Campillos, but also provide a sense of closure to the local community. It has been the relatives of the victims of repression during the Franco regime who have provided the archaeologists with clues. "They told us it could be near the entrance to the cemetery," said Escalante. "There could be people buried there dating back to when the first [of Franco's] rebels arrived in the town," he added. Irene Quirante Friday, 28 June 2024, 15:33 | Updated 17:15h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads A two-year-old child has been treated at the Hospital Materno-Infantil Hospital in Malaga after being rescued from a swimming pool in Marbella. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 26 June, when the little boy was at a private property. His progress, however, is favourable, according to sources consulted by SUR. The 112 Andalucia emergency service operators received the alert at around 8.40pm. According to the caller, a child had been pulled out of a private swimming pool in the Nueva Andalucia area, specifically in Calle Camelias. The child, according to the caller, was unconscious and appeared not to be breathing. The 061 medical services were immediately mobilised, as well as the National Police and Marbella Local Police. The little boy was first taken by ambulance to the Costa del Sol Hospital, from where he was transferred to the Hospital Materno-Infantil de Malaga. According to what SUR has been told, this Friday the child was still admitted to the hospital in Malaga city, although he is progressing favourably. This is the third case in which a minor has had to be hospitalised after being rescued from water since the beginning of June. On 8 June, a 10-year-old boy was also admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at the Materno after being rescued from a swimming pool. On that occasion, the incident happened at a hotel in Manilva at around 3.15pm. A doctor who was on the scene carried out resuscitation manoeuvres, as did the 061 staff, who finally transferred the minor by helicopter to the Hospital Materno-Infantil de Malaga, where his progress was favourable. Another similar incident happened on the 19th in the municipal swimming pool in Benahavis, where a five year old boy was rescued from the water . That child was also transferred by 061 air ambulance to the hospital in Malaga city. Apparently, during the transfer, he had already regained his speech and was breathing on his own. How to react: These are the guidelines recommended by the Spanish Association of Paediatrics in the event of child drowning: 1. Remove the child quickly from the site of the drowning. 2. If he/she is conscious and breathing, it is recommended that they be placed lying on his side. This position prevents the airways from becoming obstructed again and encourages coughing up water or vomiting of any liquid that may have been swallowed. 3. If the child is not breathing, first aid, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), should be initiated immediately. 4. While resuscitation manoeuvres are being carried out, help should be summoned by calling the 112 emergency telephone number. 5. If there is only one person to care for the child, it is not recommended to interrupt resuscitation manoeuvres to call for help for more than one minute, and resuscitation should be continued without interruption until the arrival of help from 112. 6. Prevent heat loss from the child: remove wet clothes, dry the child and cover him/her with any material. 7. Abdominal compression manoeuvres to expel liquid contents are not recommended, unless there is a clear suspicion of airway obstruction by an aspirated foreign body. C. Vallejo Malaga Friday, 28 June 2024, 11:02 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X (antes Twitter) LinkedIn Telegram Threads The story of 50-year-old Sidy Sarr is similar to those of many other Senegalese who have been leaving their country since 2021. Protests, persecutions, changes of government, violence, assassinations and imprisonment are the day-to-day life of the population. "My problem was the death threats against me," Sarr explained. The clothes business he had there, which supported him, his wife and their five daughters, was burned down in 2022. It was his wife who encouraged him to leave because of his fear of being killed. First he sought refuge in a neighbouring country and then, from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, he embarked alone, without friends or family, on a boat that took him to the Canary Islands, from where he went to Cadiz and from there to Malaga. His family stayed in Senegal because the persecution was strictly against him for his political involvement. He speaks hesitant but decent Spanish. This is not his first time in this country. Years ago he came to work in Spain, in Valencia, to gather savings that helped him to set up his business in Senegal, the one that was later burnt down. That is why he cannot return to his country: he has lost his livelihood. And, above all, because he still fears that if he returns, they will come looking for him again to kill him. His story of flight has had a great personal cost for Sidy Sarr. Although he came to Spain in the autumn of 2023, he has not seen his daughters for almost two years. What's more, in April his wife died and he was unable to say goodbye to her. He is now in the process of having his refugee status recognised, In other words, he is applying for international protection and is waiting for the paperwork to go through. In the meantime, he is studying at adult school. And he is calm, which is the most important thing, after years of fleeing his persecutors and fearing death at any moment: "Spain is a safe, calm country. There is a lot of peace. I feel safe. I'm fine now. I want to stay," he said. He does not know whether it will be in Malaga or elsewhere in Spain, but he promises he wants to bring his five daughters with him. Sidy Sarr's first migration to Spain was for economic reasons and he was able to return home with savings a few years later. The second has been to save his life, but this one is not yet secure. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. A catering company that specializes in charcuterie boards and sandwiches will no longer operate a stall at Syracuses Salt City Market. She Fancy Grazing Co. joined the popular downtown food hall in December 2023. It closes this weekend after seven months. She Fancy is owned by Anna Sofer, a chef who previously owned restaurants in Utica and Clinton, N.Y. It just wasnt a great fit for us and our concept, and where we see ourselves growing, said Sofer. We did love working in close proximity with other business owners, which was a treat coming from brick-and-mortar life. I still do fully believe in the market. Located directly behind Cake Bar, the She Fancy stall is one of two standalone food counters in the Salt City Market. It doesnt have a full kitchen like other market spaces, but it can accommodate refrigerated items. I was really ambitious thinking the charcuterie itself would drive the concept, Sofer said. Turns out youre not going to make a bunch of money selling single-use charcuterie boards. It was definitely a good learning experience. While operating at Salt City Market, Sofer also ran She Fancy as a full-time catering business, crafting charcuterie boards for weddings, graduations and parties. That arm of her business will continue. Catering is stronger than ever, Sofer said. I couldnt commit myself to the market hours simply due to catering. I got into owning a business to make my own rules...My autonomy and flexibility are important. Sofer recently moved to Syracuses Eastwood neighborhood and will keep hosting She Fancy pop-up events at bars and restaurants this summer. She plans to launch an Italian fusion dining series with Joe Chisari of Mojos Miscellaneous, a vegan delivery and pop-up food service. Im not going anywhere, Sofer said. Onward and upward. The original Farm Girl Juicery stand in the Salt City Market offered cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Owner Abigail Henson closed the stall in November 2023 to focus on her new baby. She Fancy Grazing took over the stand in December 2023 and will close on June 30, 2024. (Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com) CJ Butler, Salt City Markets communications manager, said changes in the market are always expected, though She Fancys early closure was unfortunate. Its really sad; we were really starting to see them grow wings and branch out, said Butler. The situation is not ideal for anyone, but were rolling with the punches and supporting her as much as we can. We still want She Fancy to be successful. Butler said the market will involve the public in choosing a new local food vendor to take over the empty space. We put She Fancy in because folks wanted more sandwiches in the market, said Butler. Now, has that desire changed? I think we have to do some research and get more feedback from our customers about what they want to see next. The She Fancy stall was previously occupied by Farm Girl Juicery, which offered cold-pressed juices and smoothies. Owner Abigail Henson closed the stall in 2023 to focus on her new baby. The new mural facing Salt City Market is titled "Everything But The Kitchen." It was designed and painted by Audra Linsner. (Katrina Tulloch) The Salt City Market food hall opened at 484 S. Salina St., across from the Marriott Syracuse Downtown hotel. The market is operated by the nonprofit Allyn Family Foundations Syracuse Urban Partnership. New market vendors added this year are SinBun, a growing business that makes sweet and savory filled buns, and ElleRaes Tacos, which specializes in Cali-Mex cuisine like tacos, quesadillas and street corn. SinBun took over the soul food stand Miss Prissys, which will open its own standalone restaurant on Warren Street downtown. ElleRaes Tacos took over a spot run by the Asian food stand Big in Burma, after the owners retired. The Salt City Market is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Don Cazentre contributed to this report. Katrina Tulloch is the editor of This is CNY. She also writes stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Contact Katrina: Email | Instagram | Facebook More food news in CNY Are gyros the new hot dogs? All 3 of downtown Syracuses food trucks serve them Popular diner slinging frittatas by day transforms into a ghost kitchen smashing burgers by night Rosalies in Skaneateles is as good as it ever was (Dining Out Review) CNY Pizza Tour, stop #25: Dont overlook this lesser-known treasure flanked by two heavyweights Hidden Fish in Skaneateles is worth finding (Dining Out Review) Buffalo, N.Y. Come on in! The water is more than fine in Upstate New York. Lake Erie, which shares part of its impressive shoreline with Western New York, has been named the best lake in the United States by USA Todays 10Best. While Lake Erie snagged the top spot, it was not the only lake with New York real estate on the list: Lake Champlain, which spans the New York-Vermont border and stretches into Canada, ranked No. 8. It wasnt the only laurel the two stunning lakes claimed at the start of the 2024 vacation season. Both lakes earned spots on 10Bests list of the best lakes in the nation for water sports. Lake Erie was again voted the No. 1 lake, while Lake Champlain was dubbed No. 9. In addition, Lake Erie was named the third-best lake for swimming in the United States. It marked the second year in a row Lake Champlain and Lake Erie made 10Bests roundups of the nations most winsome waterways. Kayakers, a jetskier and a boat ride on Lake Erie by Woodlawn Beach. Joed Viera for New York UpstateJoed Viera for New York Upstate Lake Erie Lake Erie has shoreline in Canada and four states: New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Buffalo, the biggest city Upstate, is perched near the Great Lakes northeastern tip. It may be the shallowest of North Americas Great Lakes, but Lake Erie has a massive amount of potential when it comes to both tourism and outdoor adventure, 10Best wrote in its ranking of the nations best lakes. Along with serving as a fishing paradise, 10Best lauded Lake Erie for offering adventures ranging from explorable shipwrecks to bird watching. The Empire States stretch of Lake Erie is full of stellar spots for vacations and day trips, including the Outer Harbor in Buffalo, where visitors can bike, boat, walk, grab drinks and catch concerts; Woodlawn Beach State Park, a popular 1-mile-long natural sand beach in Blasdell; and the Dunkirk Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse that ghost chasers consider haunted. Lake Champlain Lake Champlain, which had a brief but official stint as the sixth Great Lake, separates the Adirondacks in New York from Vermont. Charming communities dot its shore, from Westport and Essex in New York to Burlington and Charlotte in Vermont. The stunning natural beauty of both New York and Vermont are on full display across Lake Champlain, a natural water feature thats been a fixture of the landscape for thousands of years, 10Best wrote in its ranking of the best lakes for water sports. In Upstate, Plattsburgh a small city that borders the lake is a popular place for travelers looking to explore the lake. Beachgoers visit Cumberland Bay State Park to take a dip in Lake Champlain and fuel up with Michigans, a Plattsburgh specialty that has earned a national historic marker. When Eric Hart designed Syracuses official First Light flag, he was living in Japan. Hart is the product of eight generations born and raised in Syracuse. He went to Corcoran High School, earned his associate degree in graphic design at Onondaga Community College, then attended Syracuse University. At 27, he left Syracuse in search of design jobs. Hes lived and worked in some of the worlds biggest cities. Now hes back. After 14 years away, living in New York City, Tokyo and Yokohama, Hart and his wife, Mahoko, moved back home to Syracuses Valley neighborhood, where theyre raising their new baby, 5-month-old Lucy. Its been a warm homecoming, with Hart returning to his favorite old haunts, walking around his former neighborhood and even catching up with Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. Hes navigating a very different Syracuse than the one he left. Its weird in this funky, nostalgic way, said Hart. So much has changed in 14 years. So much stuff has improved. Its really exciting to see the differences. It feels more lively here now than it did 14 years ago. A Central New Yorkers boomerang journey Driven by career aspirations, Hart first left Central New York to seek opportunities in the design industry. Entering the design world, New York [City] was the place, he said. Nothing was going to stop me from doing that. Hart worked as a designer for multiple streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max. During his time with each company, he helped design homepage layouts, episode detail pages and app designs for mobile streaming. He also worked with Oreo, Bravo and AT&T. Having had that time away, growing in myself, and accruing the experience that I wanted in my career, it really just made sense to come back to share my experience and my skills with the local community, Hart said. Hart launched his own design firm called Hartbreakers Creative. Within that company, he created the brand First Light Syracuse Goods to produce city pride necessities with flags, pins, shirts, hats, stickers and more. I feel now I have something to give back, Hart said. Where maybe at the time, I didnt feel like I had anything to give and I didnt feel like Syracuse had anything to give me. But I was wrong. And I didnt know I was wrong. Everything I needed was already here. Coming home made sense for him and his wife to raise their daughter with support from family. Having access to a network of family and friends was key for us, and theyre all here, Hart said. But outside of that, access to all these beautiful parks at any time is such a wonder. My wife being a yoga instructor, she would love places like [Onondaga Lake Park] to practice and instruct. Part of their decision to move back stemmed from Hart learning about his familys long history in the area and his work designing the new city flag. All that research and history was top of mind when we were having discussions about where to raise little Lucy, he said. Were really happy we did it. Its great to be back. There were a few nostalgic experiences Hart had been looking forward to upon returning to Central New York. Some of his favorite spots had closed (like Luigis in the Valley), but Hart looked forward to his daily walks to Green Hills. And he was craving Gannons. I needed Gannons ice cream, said Hart, laughing. There was a good ice cream in New York and good ice cream in Japan. But it wasnt Gannons. I really needed it. We brought the whole family to Gannons, then we went to the duck pond. A quintessential Valley afternoon. Eric Hart waves his "First Light" flag that he designed for Syracuse Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Onondaga Lake Park in Liverpool. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com The First Light flags future Hart felt some initial apprehension about how his First Light flag design would be received. It was simpler than many of the other submitted designs, and he had created hundreds of different versions of it. Hart drafted 269 flags before finally perfecting the 270th. It debuted at Syracuse City Hall in June 2023, while Hart was still living abroad, after a lengthy flag redesign process. From February to May 2023, a 14-person flag committee narrowed down nearly 300 flag submissions to four semi-finalists, including Harts design. Adapt CNY, who managed the flag redesign effort, said over 1,000 citizen votes were submitted before Harts design was declared the final decision. It felt really good that something I could contribute to the city was taken with open arms, he said. Having been outside of Syracuse for so long, I think it allowed me the distance and perspective to take that project on in a way that I probably wouldnt have done if I had been here. The "First Light" flag by 8th-generation Syracusan and artist Eric Hart. Photo provided by the Syracuse Flag Initiative The First Light flag is just over a year old. Now that hes home, Hart felt touched to see neighbors, local businesses and complete strangers flying the flag. Different versions of the flag appear at local festivals with remixed colors for CNY Pride Fest and Juneteenth. Its what I hoped would happen, Hart said. You have a future in mind for something you create. To see it moving on this path I hoped for, it feels awesome. It means this flag could have staying power in the community. I want this to be a symbol anyone can use to show their pride in the city. Harts been busy speaking to community groups and school classes about vexillology, and the Syracuse flags colors and symbolism. He doesnt get tired of talking about it. I feel a duty to continue to educate on it forever. The six points of the flags star symbolize the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee and Syracuses six historical names. Its spot in the center of the flag represents Syracuses location in Central New York. The stars orange color is inspired by the rising sun over Syracuse, and the central white triangle symbolizes the salt and snow of Upstate New York. The flags azure and dark blue triangles illustrate the hills and valleys of Central New York as the sun passes over the region and over Onondaga Lake. Anyone interested in buying a Syracuse flag for their home, or flag merchandise, can find Harts work at firstlightsyr.com. Katrina Tulloch is the editor of This is CNY. She also writes stories for Syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Should we feature your neighborhood next? Contact Katrina: Email | Instagram | Facebook Eric Hart waves his "First Light" flag that he designed for Syracuse Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Onondaga Park Liverpool. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com)N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com More stories by this author: Tipperary Hill: Everything you need to know about this spirited Syracuse neighborhood Eastwood, Syracuse: Discover this close-knit, magical neighborhood on the rise Triple the fun: Meet the Syracuse family with three sets of identical twin girls (video) From Senegal to Syracuse, hes forging new paths for refugees in CNY Jim Boeheim mural? Philadelphia artist wants to honor Syracuse basketball coach The Rev. Michael Heath, of Fayetteville, is a licensed mental health counselor and a United Church of Christ minister. Recently, you may have heard that the Surgeon General of the United States urged Congress to place a black box warning label on social media. Weve all seen them before on various prescription bottles as well as on all tobacco products. In this case, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told Congress that the labels are needed because compelling evidence shows that children who watch more than five hours of social media a day are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to those who do not. In addition, studies reveal that kids who are heavily involved in social media like Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok develop poor body image and self-esteem. The constant exposure to the perfect bodies and amazing accomplishments posted by their peers lead kids to experience a false sense of inferiority and inadequacy. Many folks have been concerned about the long-term effects of smartphones and social media on child development for years. The conclusions of repeated studies regarding the impact of social media on a childs mental health are clear. Admittedly, smartphones and social media have become integral parts of modern life. Thinking that children can be protected from any exposure is unrealistic. That said, there are basic steps that parents can do to reduce exposure and thus minimize this risk for their children. Here are some tips to consider for your family: 1. Talk to your kids about social media. The first-line of defense against social media is nonjudgmental communication with your children. Be empathic. Listen to their concerns and try to understand their concerns. Talking without condemning can build trust and help your messages increase their awareness about the risks of social media. 2. Restrict owning a smartphone to high school age. This will not be easy but its doable. The best way to protect your childs emotional development and overall mental health is to restrict access to social media. Smartphones are the biggest source of exposure to social media. Studies show that older teens are less impacted by social platforms than younger kids. Flip phones are a better option than smartphones for kids. They can allow emergency communication without the perils of the internet. 3. Limit the places smartphones may be used. Parents must understand that they control the access and use of smartphones in the home and elsewhere. Although there are exceptions, as a rule, smartphones should not be allowed in school and other places like the at dinner table or at bedtime. 4. Establish time limits for social media. Research shows that 5 hours a day of social media exposure is too much. Each family needs to decide what is right for their individual situation. Technological innovation always upsets social order and is anxiety-producing. The introduction of smartphones and social media is no exception. Realistically, since computer phones and the internet are barely a generation old, the full impact of their presence is not fully understood. We still have a lot to learn. One last thought: While placing limits on social media is crucial for the healthy emotional development of children, it is also important for adults, especially in marriage. More on this topic another time. With temperatures last week soaring into the high 80s around much of New York State, a few hikers required rescue from Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers. On the afternoon of June 21, an 18-year-old woman from Holbrook fell ill while hiking the Breakneck Ridge Trail in Putnam County. The hikers companion reported that she was going in and out of consciousness. Rangers gave the sick hiker food, water, and electrolytes, then transported her on a wheeled litter to an ambulance. A group of five hikers from Queens got lost in Roosa Gap State Forest on June 22, unprepared for the extremely hot weather. A ranger provided them with food, water, and electrolytes and guided them to the trailheadNYSDEC The next day, a group of five hikers from Queens got lost in Roosa Gap State Forest. They mistakenly believed they were on a different, shorter trail and were not prepared for the extremely hot weather. Each member of the group carried only one bottle of water, and one hiker was dizzy and nauseated from heat exhaustion. A ranger reached the group approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead and provided food, water, and electrolytes to everybody so they could continue hiking down. Members of Summitville Fire Department hiked in with additional water for the group, which arrived at the trailhead just before nightfall. On the evening of June 22, a 19-year-old got separated from his party after hiking ahead on the trail up Mount Marcy, the states highest peak. A summit steward told rangers that the hiker had been spotted near the peak earlier that morning, and again near Johns Brook Lodge later in the day, lying on the ground from exhaustion. A ranger met the hiker as he reached the trailhead and reunited him with his hiking party. The following reports are excerpted from DEC: A wildfire burns in the town of Volney on June 17. A homeowner was ticketed for leaving a fire unattended.NYSDEC A wildfire ignited on the afternoon of June 17 on Route 3 in the town of Volney. Three fire departments and two rangers had it contained by 2:30 p.m., but remnants continued to smolder for days. The homeowner was ticketed for leaving a fire unattended. A 67-year-old Warwick man fell and broke his leg on June 20 across the water from Putnam Pond Campground. Three rangers, EMTs, and the Ticonderoga Fire Department used motorboats to reach injured man. They strapped him onto a back board and transported him across the water to a waiting ambulance. On the evening of June 19, a kayaker became separated from his paddling partner and couldnt find his way back to their camp on Bog Lake. A ranger found the kayaker on Grass Pond and helped him back to the campsite. Around midnight on June 18, rangers began searching for a 45-year-old Glens Falls man last seen the day before on the Pack Forest nature trail. Rangers performed linear searches overnight with no success. The next morning a Warren County Sheriffs deputy found the man walking on Route 9 without shoes or a shirt and took him to the hospital for dehydration treatment. On June 6, a ranger noticed that a 2022 Mercedes had been parked for two days in the lot at Stewart State Forest, in the town of Rock Tavern. The car had been reported stolen in Hackensack, NJ. New York State Police processed the vehicle and had it towed. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: READ MORE Elderly hiker lost overnight on NYs highest peak rescued by rangers - newyorkupstate.com Rangers rescue three injured, disoriented elderly hikers in Adirondacks - newyorkupstate.com Rangers rescue ADK hiker badly injured in 20-foot fall - syracuse.com Elderly man lost in ADKs rescued by forest rangers - newyorkupstate.com Forest rangers rescue injured ADK hikers; conduct prescribed fires on 100 acres - newyorkupstate.com Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. A national restaurant chain has officially changed its name and updated its menu. Perkins American Food Co., previously known as Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, said its undergoing a major makeover at its nearly 300 restaurants in hopes of attracting new and younger customers. The changes include a rebranding and an updated logo, unveiled at its 2024 Brand Conference in Minnesota. Perkins is an American-born brand where hospitality comes to life for the eclectic tastes of todays adventurous diners. We are bringing the same soul, with a new attitude, said Toni Ronayne, President of Perkins American Food Co. Our rebrand is way more than a new logo and descriptor. This is a declaration of our values, our food and our roots, by showing how modern American hospitality comes to life. Were always stepping forward and evolving, just like the communities we serve. Perkins began in 1958 as a pancake house and has grown to nearly 300 diner-style restaurants in 32 states. New York locations include Cortland, Newburgh, Olean, Plattsburgh, Staten Island and Wappingers Falls. According to CNN, Perkins restaurants will be remodeled in the coming years to reflect the changes, including a new lighter green with a retro feel for its logo, modern subway tiles along the walls, brighter flooring, and revamped uniforms. And despite dropping the word bakery from its name, the company will still feature bakeries with pies, muffins, cookies and other, expanded offerings near the entrances. Menu changes include new hamburgers and updated ingredients, such as new seasoning on its french fries, to appease customers beyond breakfast. Perkins said its focusing on value with food that is hand-crafted, culturally inspired, and generously portioned, just how modern American food should be. We know that value is so critical right now and were very mindful of that, Ronanye told CNN. We want to be the leader of family dining and be able to reach guests that are looking for both value and premium options. According to CNN, Perkins sales have decreased about 5% every year since 2019, partly due to economic challenges and competition from similar restaurants like IHOP and Dennys. The first redesigned Perkins store is scheduled to open in Orlando later this year. The diner chain is also hoping to expand with new locations, including smaller restaurants dubbed Perkins Express that can fit in airports or mall food courts. Brendan J. Lyons, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS) ALBANY, N.Y. Albany police officials declined to notify the public last month after a 15-year-old girl who had run away from a group home was allegedly forced into the vehicle of a 21-year-old man near Albany Medical Center before he drove her to an isolated area in the citys South End and raped her. The suspect, Sakir Akkan, is a Turkish immigrant who was arrested seven months ago by U.S. Border Patrol agents in San Diego after he crossed the southern border illegally into the United States. Its unclear what led Akkan to come to the Capital Region. An arrest report indicates he was unemployed when he was taken into custody on June 18 and charged with first-degree rape. Interviews with multiple people familiar with the investigation, and also information gleaned from police reports and court records, raises questions about why Albany police did not issue a news release or warn the public after the young girl was abducted as she walked on New Scotland Avenue in what appears to have been a random attack. The incident began after midnight on May 14 when the teenage girl left a residential group home off New Scotland Avenue without authorization. She told police that Akkan, whom she was later able to identify from a photo lineup, drove up to her in a green Toyota Prius, got out and was clutching a metal rod as he threatened to beat her if she didnt get in his vehicle. Security cameras affixed to utility poles and businesses helped detectives confirm the girl was walking on New Scotland Avenue just before Akkans vehicle drove in her direction that night and made a u-turn. Moments later, other cameras captured video of her red clothing as she sat in the passenger seat of Akkans car as he drove across Albany to an isolated area off South Pearl Street. She told detectives that he threatened to hit her with the metal pipe if she didnt follow his orders to get in the back seat, where he removed her clothing and forcibly raped her. A police report indicates she suffered scratches on her legs as she tried to resist the attack. After the alleged sexual assault, Akkan let the girl out of his car and drove away; she ran to a nearby residence for help. Security cameras helped police identify and trace the movements of Akkan both before and after the incident. He had a New Jersey drivers license and his car had New Jersey license plates that were registered to a different Toyota Prius. Its unclear if the plates were stolen. When asked why the department had not released information about the case, Officer Megan Craft, a spokeswoman for the Albany Police Department, said that during further investigation by detectives, some inconsistencies were found regarding this incident. But its unclear what those alleged inconsistencies were, or why they had any bearing on the departments decision not to notify the public about the abduction and sexual assault. Information shared with the Times Union indicates that the girls statements to police were consistent, including the night of the assault when she was interviewed at Albany Medical Center Hospital. When the girl was interviewed a second time by detectives on May 30, more than two weeks after the incident, she made statements that were consistent with her earlier statements to the officers who responded to the call, records show. Those records also indicate that the girls account of where and how she was abducted, as well as footage of her leaving the area of South Pearl Street on foot after the sexual assault and running to a nearby residence to get help, were also affirmed by video surveillance cameras. It would be inappropriate for me to go into detail on this case as it is currently being adjudicated in the courts, Craft said in response to follow-up questions about the inconsistencies she cited. Although Akkan was not arrested for more than 30 days, Craft said: It was determined that there was no immediate threat to public safety during that time. Had there been a perceived threat to the public, appropriate information would have been released. As far as the release or sexual assault reports and arrests that do not pose a threat to the public are generally not released in order to prevent retraumatization of the victim, Craft added. But the department has released information on sexual assaults and rapes in the past. On June 5, the department issued a news release a day after a 17-year-old boy in Albany was charged with forcibly raping a 15-year-old girl while pressing a handgun against her head. Craft declined to clarify why that case, which resulted in an almost immediate arrest, was the subject of a news release, but not the case involving Akkan. The department said Akkans immigration status was not a factor in their decision not to notify the public at the time of the sexual assault or after he was arrested last week. The Albany police were not aware of the defendants immigration status until your inquiry (on Monday), Craft said. With that being said, his immigration status had no impact whatsoever on our decision regarding a news release. A spokesman for Mayor Kathy Sheehan on Tuesday said the mayor had not been briefed on the rape investigation, and added: Additionally, we were not aware of the individuals immigration status prior to your inquiry. But information shared with the Times Union confirms that when Akkan was fingerprinted last week by Albany police, following his arrest on June 18, they received a notification regarding his immigration status through an FBI database. That information included the date of his arrest last year in California by Border Patrol agents Nov. 5 and noted that his charges were listed as alien removal. A person familiar with the work flow of Albany police said that type of information would normally be funneled up the chain of command, including to the chiefs office. Setting aside Akkans immigration status, a person involved in the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly, questioned the police administrations decision not to alert the public about the alleged abduction and rape. If an asylum-seeker snatching a kid (off a public street) and raping them and remaining on the loose is not a threat to public safety, then what is a threat to public safety? the person said. Immigration records obtained by the Times Union indicate Akkan had been seeking asylum following his apprehension last year by Border Patrol agents. But following his arrest last week, a federal detention warrant was filed at the Albany County jail by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. That warrant was filed two days after his arrest by Albany police, which is when federal immigration authorities became aware of his rape charge. Akkan has been held at Albany County jail without bail since his arrest. A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled to take place Thursday in Albany City Court. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment. ___ (c)2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. (AP) A 24-year-old man fatally shot his 80-year-old grandfather and eventually killed himself Thursday, authorities said, leading police to evacuate and close an Upstate New York state park for several hours while they searched for him. Andrew Vahey, 24, died on a hiking trail in Letchworth State Park as police officers closed in during a search that drew numerous law enforcement agencies along the Genesee River, Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said at an evening news conference. Vahey was wanted for the shooting death earlier in the day of his grandfather, Joseph Deponceau, whose body was found in his home in Irondequoit by police responding to a 911 call, Peters said. Vaheys roommate told police he received texts from Vahey that said he had just killed his grandfather and was now going to kill himself, Peters said. Law enforcement officers spotted Vahey, carrying a long gun in the park at about 12:30 p.m. and tried to make contact, but he immediately turned the gun on himself, the chief said. He said Vahey and Deponceau had argued recently over property and officers were called to Deponceaus home last week during a family dispute over parking on the grass. AnAcademic Newbie Join Date: Jun 2024 Location: Delhi/NCR Posts: 10 Thanked: 53 Times Re: 2024 Mahindra XUV 3XO Review Quote: AnAcademic Originally Posted by <...> I have been driving around only in Zip mode which was the default mode when I took delivery of the car. Hello everyone and this is my first post here!<...> So, here are my updates and there are quite a bunch of them. A few additional notes on the car at delivery: For those who may wish to compare what they have (or will have): My car (AX5 L) came equipped with Apollo Apterra Cross tyres. I have nothing to compare against and the tyres have been good and not given me anything to make a particular note about. I have an Exide battery in the car for what it's worth. I took the dealer/Mahindra provided ICICI Lombard insurance with all features that the insurance provides included, and it cost me 46k. I believe someone else here also posted this and at least it corroborated that the dealership quote was appropriate. Some notes on the experience and performance: The minor issue with a vibration during auto hold on braking with AC on which I had noted in my original post seems to have, thankfully, resolved itself. This is no longer noticeable. The AC seems to be pretty but, I don't have anything recent or concrete to compare with. I try to keep it at 24C in both zones mostly. Except when the outside temperatures (for reference, I'm in Delhi) was 43C and I had to be driving somewhere in that, setting to 22C or 23C was good enough for the cooling. Nothing about the AC seems like a point to write a negative about. Sidenote: I have only used the (default?) interior circulation mode and with all windows rolled down for a minute or two at start. I'm very glad I went for a seat upgrade: it is one of the black-colored "bucket" seats listed in an accessories document labeled v1.3 (or something like that) that was posted in this thread around late May 2024. These seats (Mahindra approved) were on display on a XUV 700 at the showroom we bought ours from, and my partner and I really liked it than the fabric covers that come as the default. Sidenote 2: Thankfully, haven't felt the need for ventilated seats thus far, and our accessoried seats feel a bit "premium" (whatever you can infer that to be!) and they are sort of like leatherette. I still haven't really driven the car much: in the 18 days since delivery, it has only been totally driven for about 725 kms; nevertheless, I took it for the first service yesterday (a bit more on it subsequently). Given this preface, I have not really had any major niggle or any issue so far: still don't feel any turbo kick/lag, or anything else that has caught my attention save one niggle and one other turn camera observation (see below). Unlike a poster here, I don't think I had an issue with a sudden lurching forward or backward of my car. However, I have been waiting a minute or two after start before switching to the R or D mode to allow for the air ventilation. I have consistently filled only 95 RON petrol thus far, and about 75 liters in total in two visits to the pump. I would think (without having measured) that the car is providing something like 8-10 kmpl mileage the moment. It's not bothersome to me yet (as I had also noted in my first post) given the traffic, temperature and length of my driving so far, and given Mahindra's note about the car requiring about 1000 kms to break in. Other notes and learnings about the car: A "gotcha" for me was the tyre pressure monitoring system. (It also gently exposes the showroom folks' lack of depth in knowing about the car.) I ended up with the rear left tyre showing low pressure at start some time ago (31 psi instead of 32 psi the other rear tyre had), and I took about two days to get it fixed. The showroom gave me a complimentary air pump (and a few other similar items) but I was a bit too occupied to getting to learn how to use it. So, some two days later, I ended up filling air at a petrol station where the person filling the air set the tyre pressure to 32 psi and filled it up. This did not fix the TPMS's lower pressure warning although it was now displaying the tyre pressure as 32 in that left rear tyre. I happened to be in one of the other NCR cities: Gurgaon for something unrelated on a Sunday and therefore went to the other showroom owned by the same franchise folks and spoke with a sales person (or someone like that) there. (That is, this guy was not the one who helped me with buying the car.) The guy told me that the TPMS is still showing me a warning for lower pressure because of the spare tyre and I should get that inflated a bit too: I knew that there was no point in discussing this with him any further. So, this continued on for another week, and then the right rear tyre also started showing a lower air pressure at 32 psi (the rated pressure), and now I had two tyres showing low tyre pressures in the TPMS console. I assumed that this was going to be a quality control or electronic issue, or perhaps a faulty TPMS. In fact, this along with my Monday (yesterday) afternoon schedule unexpectedly freeing up led me to go to the service center at 700-ish kms itself. (I also guessed that a service center may be relatively less busy on a Monday afternoon!) So, this (along with the other niggle noted below) was what I apprised the customer service agent who was assigned to deal with me. A little later, the technician assigned to me told me what had gone wrong (or perhaps right!): apparently, and as noted in the car's manual, there is a learning program for the tyre pressures, and one is supposed to fill air beyond the stated ratings for a tyre until the TPMS turns green on it! That gently blew my mind and it was really one of the only few things that quite caught me completely unaware. So, for anyone reading, if you have a TPMS in your variant, please continue filling air beyond the recommendation and until the TPMS is in the green. This did not fix the TPMS's lower pressure warning although it was now displaying the tyre pressure as 32 in that left rear tyre. I happened to be in one of the other NCR cities: Gurgaon for something unrelated on a Sunday and therefore went to the other showroom owned by the same franchise folks and spoke with a sales person (or someone like that) there. (That is, this guy was not the one who helped me with buying the car.) The guy told me that the TPMS is still showing me a warning for lower pressure because of the spare tyre and I should get that inflated a bit too: I knew that there was no point in discussing this with him any further. So, this continued on for another week, and then the right rear tyre also started showing a lower air pressure at 32 psi (the rated pressure), and now I had two tyres showing low tyre pressures in the TPMS console. I assumed that this was going to be a quality control or electronic issue, or perhaps a faulty TPMS. In fact, this along with my Monday (yesterday) afternoon schedule unexpectedly freeing up led me to go to the service center at 700-ish kms itself. (I also guessed that a service center may be relatively less busy on a Monday afternoon!) So, this (along with the other niggle noted below) was what I apprised the customer service agent who was assigned to deal with me. A little later, the technician assigned to me told me what had gone wrong (or perhaps right!): apparently, and as noted in the car's manual, there is a learning program for the tyre pressures, and one is supposed to fill air beyond the stated ratings for a tyre until the TPMS turns green on it! That gently blew my mind and it was really one of the only few things that quite caught me completely unaware. So, for anyone reading, if you have a TPMS in your variant, please continue filling air beyond the recommendation and until the TPMS is in the green. A second gotcha (also a mild SNAFU on Mahindra's part for not letting customers know) is that apparently the car's Adrenox is up and running. I have no idea why Mahindra failed to let me know so clearly. So, even though I had the AdrenoxConnect App, until yesterday I simply failed to create an account there using my registered mobile number. It appears that Mahindra has provided me with a year's worth (complimentary or already priced into the car) of Adrenox subscription. On a related note, apparently the car is "internet connected" in a way I was thoroughly oblivious about. Post service, the car's time was incorrect by about 30 minutes, and the servicing technician let me know that it would resolve itself automatically since the car is going to sync with their server anyways. This is what led me to understand that Adrenox was already live. Niggles and/or "watch out"'s: The biggest issue for me by far is an electronics issue that has consistently happened over all my drives. It is probably minor in the larger scheme of things but this is the one niggle that my car has: after some length of driving (say, 15 minutes or so), the turn indicator's alert sound goes silent when the turn lights are on. The turn indicator is then silent for about 15-30 seconds before the alert sound inside the car comes on again. I flagged this during my service but I don't think the technicians quite know what this could be due to. Multiple software on the car were updated during the servicing, and in my 30 minutes drive back, I did not have this issue. So, I will have to wait to see if it has been fixed in software or continues to persist. (The technician's solution was to switch to a different alert sound for the turn signal!) A second "watch out" is this: the turn signal's camera feed is fractionally lagging. I suppose this has been also pointed out over here and/or by some reviewers. It may be an issue for some. But because I have done all my driving earlier in cars without such cameras (not even a rear camera), my instinct on switching on the left/right turn signal is to immediately peek at the respective rear view mirror first and then at the dashboard for the camera feed. So, it does not bother me but if you are a younger person or more experienced with these visual aids, then I can see the fractionally late camera feed being discernibly uncomfortable. Final notes for this post: So far, the showroom and service experience have all been very good for me, and to the extent of them being a 9/10 or maybe even a half point better. During my first service, I assumed I would just be asked to wait but the agent took me to the car so that I can watch all the checks under the hood and so on. Of course, nothing much beyond the absolute minimal routine happened but actively asking me to be present there was a pleasant surprise. Following this, another technician came in and made me sit in the passenger seat to let me watch the software updates being installed. This took about 45-55 minutes in total. The first service, therefore to address someone's query here, is all really about software updates! The agent assigned to me went a bit out of the way to get me tea and coffee including bringing me a cup while I was in the car watching the software updates installing! I was gently amused and slightly bemused by what felt a bit like a performance. After this, they were going to vacuum and clean up the car a bit and for this I waited about 45 minutes in the service center's customer lounge. I was upfront told that no water wash was possible and I was okay with this because I had in fact got my car professionally washed only on the Sunday before. (The water wash not available may be related to an acute water shortage in NCR as of the time of this writing.) While I was at the service center, I was offered extended warranty and I took it up for two years. Mahindra is charing 15k for one year extension and 22.5k for a two year extended warranty with 1,50,000 kms as as the cap. I found it agreeable and took it for two years. A few hours later, this extended warranty also reflected on my M4U app. No sign of Apple CarPlay or Alex yet though, and the service agent told me that it might take another month for this. (I am especially keen on CarPlay being made available as soon as possible.) So, that's that for now, and I will try to chip in and answer some other queries as they relate to my experiences here on. Cheers and best! Hello everyone again! It's been quite a bit since my original post here and I thought I'd provide some updates. In my previous post, alas, I made one tiny mistake which folks who own the car may have perhaps noticed. The default driving mode on my car (and perhaps in other similar variants) is the Zap mode and not the Zip as I had erroneously noted in the quoted post.So, here are my updates and there are quite a bunch of them.For those who may wish to compare what they have (or will have):So, that's that for now, and I will try to chip in and answer some other queries as they relate to my experiences here on. Cheers and best! What just happened? China Mobile just took the wraps off its new "super SIM card" and it's rather fancy, packing a fully-fledged 32-bit RISC-V processor core clocked at 120MHz. It's based on the CC2560A, a single-chip device from Texas Instruments, representing a massive upgrade over the modest SIM cards currently powering our smartphones. For starters, the card offers 2.5MB of flash storage a tenfold increase over regular SIMs and twice the capacity of existing super SIMs already deployed in IoT use cases, as highlighted by Tom's Hardware. But the RISC-V CPU core is the real star of the show here. China Mobile claims it enables communication speeds up to 10x faster than a standard SIM, while providing double the raw compute power of other high-end super SIMs. The chipmaker rates algorithm performance at over 2x better on average. The SIM also packs some serious security smarts baked in at the hardware level. Over 100 different hardening techniques are present, such as bus encryption, anti-side-channel defenses, sensitive signal masking, and physical anti-cloning capabilities, meeting EAL5+ certification standards. With this SIM, China Mobile is targeting heavy-duty IoT and connected applications where resilience and advanced features are paramount. These include digital ID cards for students, smart car key systems, access control hardware, and facilitating digital payment services. The super SIM card is also pretty robust from a connectivity standpoint. In addition to the traditional 7816 SIM interface, it touts SWP, QSPI, SPI, I2C, and UART interfaces to talk to all manner of radios, storage chips, biometric sensors, and more in a highly integrated package. It's worth highlighting here that China's use of the RISC-V standard is being probed by the United States amid escalating tensions between the two nations, potentially putting a damper on future innovation with this platform. Lawmakers have raised concerns that the open instruction set architecture undermines efforts to limit advanced chip exports to China, as the free RISC-V license allows anyone, including Chinese firms, to design their own implementations. Super SIM cards are growing in popularity in China. Last year, the People's Bank of China unveiled new models for mobile users that provide digital wallet functions supporting central bank digital currency transactions. They even feature NFC support to enable digital ID scans. A hot potato: More police forces are considering the use of drones in first responder (DFR) programs, in which the UAVs are sent to 911 calls ahead of officers to assess a situation. Digital rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warns that while this may sound good in practice, the programs can be used for privacy-invading surveillance and over-policing. It was reported in May that several law enforcement agencies in Colorado are planning to use drones as first responders to 911 calls instead of police. The idea is that they can gather information about an incident ahead of the arriving officers. They could also be sent out to less urgent calls, and decide whether a police presence is required. The EFF warns that using drones to get a view of the scene can become justification for over-surveilling neighborhoods that produce more 911 calls, as well as collecting information on anyone who happens to be in the drone's path. The organization gave an example of how a drone responding to a vandalism case may capture video footage of everyone it passes along the way. The EFF also warns that drones could be used to police homelessness or low-level infractions that otherwise wouldn't merit police resources. Even if you don't think police drones are a problem because you're not doing anything wrong, the fact that they can observe people in constitutionally protected spaces, like backyards, roofs, and through home windows, should be a concern. They can also capture crowds of people who are legally and peacefully gathering. The EFF highlights how drones can be equipped with cameras, thermal imaging, microphones, license plate readers, face recognition, mapping technology, cell-site simulators, weapons, and other payloads. "Proliferation of these devices enables state surveillance even for routine operations and in response to innocuous calls situations unrelated to the original concerns of terrorism or violent crime originally used to justify their adoption," writes the EFF. Drones are also being used to respond to ShotSpotter gunshot detection alerts, which are known to send false positives. This could lead to drone surveillance of communities that happen to have a higher concentration of gunshot detection technologies. The use of AI to analyze collected data, which has long been a contentious subject in the field of law enforcement, is also part of the police's plan. After first being launched by the Chula Vista Police Department in 2018, a few dozen police departments now have DFR programs. A Wired investigation found that each average drone flight exposes nearly 5,000 city residents to enhanced surveillance. It's not just the US where DFR programs are gaining popularity. The UK is also investing more money into these schemes, raising concerns that they can be used to target poor and marginalized communities. In brief: Valve has just revealed some interesting statistics about its products: a new Charts page showing the most-played games on the Steam Deck, and how many users are playing Steam games with a controller. In the case of the former, the data is updated daily across a rolling time window covering the past seven days of stats, though it doesn't include actual player numbers. Elden Ring has been the top Steam Deck game over the last week, likely a result of the new Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It's followed by Stardew Valley and card game Balatro, two titles well suited for Valve's handheld. Baldur's Gate 3 is next, followed by Kingdom Hearts: HD 1.5 & 2.5 Remix, strangely. It's also possible to see the top games over the past month Elden Ring is still top and past year. Baldur's Gate 3 is the leader over the last 12 months. The vast majority of titles on the list are Steam Deck verified, though some are down as being "Playable," such as GTA V, Helldivers 2, and Red Dead Redemption 2. One would normally assume that the charts are based solely on the number of people playing a game, but that isn't the only metric Valve is using to determine its position. Company employee Lawrence Yang told The Verge that it uses a combination of unique users and "interest." "Hades 2 has only been out for a month, but so many Steam Deck players have it as one of their top played games for the entire year, that it was lifted in the rankings," Yang explained. The chart also includes each game's current price. With the Steam Summer sale having started yesterday, many of the titles are discounted by 10% to 95% (in the case of Civilization VI). In addition to the Steam Deck chart, Valve revealed how many users are playing games on its platform using a controller. It notes that daily average controller use has tripled from 5% in 2018 to 15% today, and 42% of these controller sessions are using Steam Input. As for which controllers people are using, Xbox controllers are the most popular (58%), followed by PlayStation controllers (26%), while 10% are on Steam Decks. What just happened? Google Translate has added support for 110 new languages in what the company claims is its largest expansion drive ever. The newly supported languages, which include Afar, Cantonese, Manx, Nko, Punjabi (Shahmukhi), Tamazight (Amazigh), and Tok Pisin, represent over 614 million speakers, or around 8 percent of the world's population. Google is using AI to expand the number of supported languages as part of its "1,000 Languages Initiative," which was announced back in 2022. The company says it is committed to building AI models that will support the 1,000 most-spoken languages around the world. To add support for the new languages, Google used its PaLM 2 large language model, which also powers generative AI features like email summarization in Gmail and rewriting in Google Docs. PaLM 2 is trained on parallel multilingual text, and according to Google, helps its translation service more efficiently learn languages that are closely related to each other. We're using AI to add over 100 new languages to Google Translate, our largest expansion ever. Learn more https://t.co/jLGouceAIG Google (@Google) June 27, 2024 The newly added languages include some major ones that are used by more than 100 million people, while others are spoken by small indigenous communities. A few of the languages have almost no native speakers, but Google hopes that this update will help their revitalization efforts. This is also Google Translate's largest expansion of African languages to date, with almost a quarter of the new languages, like Afar, Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof, coming from the continent. On the other end of the spectrum, there's Cantonese, which is a massive language with millions of speakers in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. However, it was not part of Google Translate until now, despite being one of the most requested languages, as it often overlaps with Mandarin in writing, making it difficult to find data and train models. The update marks the most significant expansion of Google Translate since 2022, when the service added support for 24 new languages using Zero-Shot Machine Translation. It added languages like Mizo, which is native to around 800,000 people in northeast India, and Lingala, used by over 45 million people across Central Africa. It also introduced support for multiple Indigenous languages of the Americas, such as Quechua, Guarani, and Aymara, as well as a Sierra Leonean English dialect called Krio. In context: Demand for GPUs and other AI accelerators isn't expected to decrease anytime soon, and the cost of DRAM will be directly influenced by the strong "generative bubble" we are experiencing right now. Market intelligence company TrendForce has made some estimations for the third quarter of the year, and, unsurprisingly, prices are going up. The latest TrendForce report predicts a slight increase in the price of DRAM products during the third quarter of the year. The company expects memory chips will experience a cost fluctuation of five to 13 percent year-over-year, with "conventional" DRAM memory seeing a five to 10 percent increase and all DRAM products (including HBM chips) experiencing an eight to 13 percent rise. The main reason behind the price hikes is a recovery in demand for general server memory chips, coupled with an increase in the production share of HBM (high-bandwidth memory) products by major DRAM suppliers. The average selling price of DRAM during the third quarter is rising because manufacturers are keen on hiking their prices, although different types of memory products will behave in different ways. TrendForce stated that PC DRAM chips will continue their upward trend with a three to eight percent price increase, as "general servers" are now in demand and memory suppliers are more focused on manufacturing HBM chips. PC customers can expect a smaller price hike compared to server DRAM buyers, as inventory for PC consumer products is higher and customer demand isn't growing significantly. Server DRAM products are expected to see an eight to 13 percent price increase. Storehouses are full of DDR4 chips, TrendForce said, which means that the Q3 "purchasing momentum" will mostly focus on DDR5. Mobile DRAM prices will experience a three to eight percent price increase, as inventory levels are still high while manufacturers are try to increase their profitability by influencing the supply-demand balance over the next year. Prices for VRAM will increase by three to eight percent as well, TrendForce predicts, as overall demand for this kind of memory product remains "relatively flat." Buyers have adopted a "continuous stocking strategy" that will bring costs down, while manufacturers are expected to increase adoption of new GDDR7 memory chips for the upcoming gaming GPU refresh cycle. GDDR7 production costs 20 to 30 percent more than GDDR6, TrendForce said, and the increase in GDDR7 shipments for the new generation of GeForce RTX 50 GPUs will likely push ASP levels higher despite inventory strategies. Finally, older memory products such as DDR3 and DDR4 will cost three to eight percent more. Taiwanese manufacturers are converting their production capacity to HBM, and the three main suppliers of memory chips are clearly interested in raising prices wherever they can. Toyota's ambitious "Woven City," a cutting-edge "smart city" project near Mount Fuji, Japan, is poised to welcome its first residents soon. This innovative urban space, announced nearly four years ago, is designed as a "living laboratory" to test and refine new technologies, including hydrogen power, autonomous vehicles, robots, and artificial intelligence (AI). Transformation of Toyota's 'Woven City' in Japan Estimated with a total cost of $10.13 billion, "Woven City" is nearing completion. According to Toyota, the initial group of residents is expected to move in by the end of this year. This early occupancy will enable experts to collect valuable data on the city's mobility patterns and other technological interactions, paving the way for further advancements. Interesting Engineering reported that residents will live in eco-friendly smart homes made mostly of wood, powered by hydrogen, and featuring solar panels for energy. Toyota President Akio Toyoda highlighted the project's significance, describing it as a rare chance to pioneer future technologies from scratch. The "Woven City" project is structured into three zones: pedestrian-only spaces, roads for autonomous vehicles, and lanes for active transportation like bicycles. Toyota collaborated with the global architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to realize its vision. BIG has been the creative force behind notable projects such as VIA 57 West in New York, LEGO House in Denmark, and VM Houses in Copenhagen. Covering 7,620,849 square feet, "Woven City" is located on the former site of Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Plant, which ceased operations four years ago. Vision, Objectives of 'Woven City' of Toyota According to Toyota, "Woven City" will be a hub for co-creation among inventors and residents who share a passion for pioneering innovations for others. The company aims to transition from solely being an automotive manufacturer to a "mobility" company. This shift involves redefining mobility beyond mere transportation in vehicles from point A to point B. It also enriches lives by providing efficient, practical, and enjoyable mobility solutions for people, goods, information, and energy. "Woven City" is designed to include roads, plazas, shops, offices, and homes, mirroring a real urban environment where inventors and residents can collaboratively develop new ideas, products, and services. Toyota underscored that Woven City's robust support systems are designed to accelerate advancements in technology and services. It emphasized that the extensive support provided by Woven City will expedite progress in technology and service innovations aimed at redefining the future of mobility and enhancing well-being for all. Following the impact of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan's Tohoku region, Toyota's Higashi-Fuji Plant ceased operations. In 2020, Toyota announced its plans to transform the closed site into Woven City, with construction commencing the following year. According to the proposed plans, researchers and businesses from around the globe will have opportunities to collaborate on projects focusing on personal mobility, autonomous technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics. The city is named in honor of Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota, who invented an automatic loom to simplify the weaving process for his mother. This invention laid the groundwork for the industry giant established by his son and continues to inspire innovation today. A new study found that ChatGPT-generated written exam answers can not only evade detection but also achieve higher scores than those by real students. Amazingly, 94% of AI-generated submissions were undetected, seamlessly blending in with real students' work. ChatGPT Outperforms Human Students in UK University Exam According to Interesting Engineering, the researchers at the University of Reading discovered that AI-generated exam answers outperformed real students, consistently achieving higher grades than the students. The research focused on submitting exam answers generated by ChatGPT-4 on behalf of 33 fake students to the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences' exam system. The study found that 94% of the AI-generated submissions went undetected, with ChatGPT-4 consistently achieving higher scores than real students. Moreover, in 83.4% of instances, the AI submissions outperformed grades from randomly chosen real student submissions, prompting concerns about the reliability of current AI detection methods and the possibility of widespread academic dishonesty facilitated by AI. Implications of AI on Academic Integrity and Future Education Although the AI faced no time constraints, the study was designed to simulate realistic exam conditions wherein students might employ AI within prescribed time limits. It concentrated on exams featuring short-answer questions and essays. Short-answer exams allowed 2.5 hours, while essays had an eight-hour timeframe for completion. Associate Professor Peter Scarfe, who led the study, told Interesting Engineering that these were unsupervised take-home exams, providing ample opportunity for students to utilize AI within the given time constraints. The researchers speculated that some students might have successfully submitted AI-generated work during the study. Scarfe noted that the content of the questions plays a crucial role, potentially affecting the performance of AI-generated responses compared to those written by students. Essays, for instance, might allow for more complex reasoning to be demonstrated compared to multiple-choice questions. The study employed two distinct methods to compare ChatGPT-generated answers with real students' answers. One approach directly compared all AI-generated responses to all student submissions across various modules. Another method utilized resampling techniques, in which random student submissions were compared against AI-generated responses. In a press release, the researchers expressed deep concerns about the implications for academic integrity. Scarfe emphasized that educators worldwide should take these findings seriously as a wake-up call. While handwritten exams may not fully return, Professor Elizabeth McCrum, the University of Reading's Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, highlighted the need for global education to adapt to the rise of AI. She emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance teaching with technology, aiming to improve student experiences and prepare graduates with essential skills. The researchers urged a more comprehensive discussion about AI's role in society and the critical need to uphold academic and research integrity in this changing landscape. In a Tuesday announcement, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District demanded Tesla address air quality issues at its electric vehicle manufacturing site in the San Francisco Bay Area after over 100 violations for allegedly emitting toxic pollutants over the past five years. Later this week, the district will issue an abatement order for the offenses, which could potentially release massive unlawful air pollutants. According to AP News, the agency's independent hearing board cited the EV plant's Fremont and East Bay paint shop activities as a major issue. For clearance to reduce hazardous emissions, the board has ordered Tesla to employ an independent expert and provide an implementation plan. In a press statement, Bay Area Air Quality Management District executive director Philip Fine noted that the EV maker's violations at its Fremont facility threaten public health and "air quality in the surrounding community." He stressed the importance of the abatement order in forcing Tesla to fix these flaws quickly and comply with air quality rules to protect neighboring people. In February, a California judge ordered Tesla to pay $1.5 million to resolve a civil action claiming hazardous waste mismanagement at its service centers, energy facilities, and factories. Tesla's Improper Waste Management Cited The San Joaquin County lawsuit accused Tesla of improper hazardous waste dumping, waste storage, and management offenses. Prosecutors claim that Tesla cooperated with the inquiry and enhanced compliance upon learning about these difficulties. The air quality board's statement coincides with Tesla's efforts to fix its new Cybertruck pickup. The windshield wiper and bed trim issues affect almost 12,000 cars in this latest recall. Read Also : Uber Locking New York City Drivers Out of Its App Over Pay Rule; Lyft Threatens to Do the Same Read also: TechTimes reported that Tesla's requirements may have led to an incorrect placement of the sail applique, an adhesive cosmetic element, on the bed trim. This incorrect installation might loosen or dislodge the trim from the car. Tesla issued a recall notice to the NHTSA. According to the NHTSA notification, Tesla service locations will add an adhesion promoter and pressure-sensitive adhesive to the damaged trim or replace the applique for free. Tesla claims the issue affects 11,383 cars manufactured since May 26, 2024. The business guarantees any repairs or replacements to ensure the sail applique meets standards and stays attached to the vehicle's deck rail. Experts Remain Confident About Tesla's Growth Despite recent woes, Tesla's shares rose over a critical buy milestone on Wednesday after Stifel initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $265 price target. In Thursday morning trade, the firm's shares fell. Investors Business Daily says Stifel is positive about Tesla because a new Model 3 and Model Y might boost EV sales. The investment firm was confident that Tesla would grow from 2025 to 2027. Stifel noted that Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology and "robotaxi" autonomous driving activities might produce considerable value through sales and licensing agreements. Related Article : Supreme Court Halts EPA's Pollution Program Amid Legal Disputes Meta, Google, and TikTok representatives have reportedly been invited to a public hearing in Australia to provide insights about social media platforms' societal influence and impact. The inquiry is also set to look into the fallout of a deal that made Meta pay for news content in Australia. The investigation into social media's "influence and impacts" on Australian culture will continue at its second public hearing on Friday. Speakers from TikTok Australia, Meta, Snap Inc., and Google will share their perspectives on the evolving field. Antigone Davis, vice president and head of global safety, told the Joint Select Committee she doesn't believe social media has hurt kids. According to Ms. Davis, concerns about the mental health of teenagers are complicated and multifaceted. Whether their apps or any other apps would translate, she believes it is their corporate duty to ensure teens can benefit from social media in a secure and encouraging environment. According to Ms. Davis, Meta is dedicated to providing a secure and enjoyable experience for all users, especially teenagers. The committee is also investigating the potential ramifications for Australian media of Meta's decision to withdraw from agreements made under the News Media Bargaining Code. Facebook News Dwindles According to Mia Garlick, Meta's regional director of policy for Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, the number of Facebook users using the Facebook News site has decreased by 80%. Although Meta wasn't attempting to stop people from getting news on Facebook, according to Ms. Garlick, the company discovered that only 3% of users used its platforms to get news after it modified how people viewed public content. Ms. Garlick stated that the "vast majority" of its users had made a "massive shift" to short-form video. The committee has set a deadline of August 15 for the interim report and November 18 for the final report. Social Media Algorithm Ban Australia's inquiry on social media's effects continues the string of investigations concerning platforms from Meta and TikTok. According to recent reports, New York may soon prohibit social media corporations from using content algorithms on teenagers. A state-led initiative to shield young people from automated feeds that the city has long considered harmful. With or without parental consent, the legislators' draft agreement seeks to restrict social media algorithms. This week's vote on the bill, which is currently in the final stages of development, is expected to prohibit platforms from informing children while they are asleep without their parents' consent. Due to their propensity for addiction and the negative consequences it has on youth, social media platforms have recently come under scrutiny. In February, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said his administration had filed lawsuits against Facebook and Instagram. These two social media platforms are a part of Meta Platforms because they were responsible for the rise in teenage mental health disorders. The mayor warned about the dangers of social media and mentioned that his city is the first in the country to take such action. He declared that the city would now treat social media like other health risks to the public, making sure digital firms take responsibility, much like how the surgeon general addressed tobacco and guns. Amazon Web Services is currently probing Perplexity AI over potential violations of its regulations. The investigation revolves around allegations that the AI search startup may be scraping internet sites that have explicitly prohibited such actions using the Robots Exclusion Protocol, a standard web method for limiting automated access. Web scraping is the method of using bots to extract content and data from an internet site. After extracting underlying HTML code and data stored in a database, the scraper can then make a replica of the entire site content elsewhere. Amazon Web Services Investigates Scraping Practices of Perplexity AI A spokesperson from Amazon Web Services confirmed to WIRED the ongoing investigation into Perplexity AI. Previous reports indicated that the startup, backed by the Jeff Bezos family fund and Nvidia and valued at $3 billion, allegedly relied on data from scraped websites despite restrictions set by the Robots Exclusion Protocol. While the said protocol is not legally binding, the terms of service typically are. The Robots Exclusion Protocol functions by placing a plaintext file on a domain to specify which pages should be off-limits to automated bots and crawlers. Despite being optional, many scrapers have historically respected this protocol. The Amazon spokesperson emphasized that customers of the company's cloud division must comply with the robots.txt guidelines when conducting website crawls. The spokesperson noted that Amazon Web Services' terms of service forbid customers from using their services for unlawful activities, and customers are obligated to adhere to these terms and all relevant laws. Perplexity AI came under scrutiny following a previous report alleging the startup's involvement in the unauthorized use of at least one of its articles. Investigations have corroborated these claims, revealing additional instances of improper scraping and plagiarism linked to Perplexity's AI-driven search chatbot systems. Despite efforts by Conde Nast engineers to block Perplexity's crawler using a robots.txt file across all its websites, WIRED discovered that the company accessed a server via an undisclosed IP address (44.221.181.252). This server was found to be visiting Conde Nast sites hundreds of times over the past three months, suggesting ongoing scraping activities. Read Also : Amazon's Cloud Computing Arm AWS to Establish Infrastructure Region in Taiwan Controversial Practices of Perplexity AI Perplexity AI's machine seems actively involved in extensively scanning news websites that explicitly block bots from accessing their content. Representatives from The Guardian, Forbes, and The New York Times have all reported detecting the IP address linked to Perplexity's servers on multiple occasions. WIRED traced the IP address to an Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instance hosted on Amazon Web Services. After WIRED inquired whether using Amazon Web Services infrastructure to scrape websites that prohibit such activity violated its terms of service, the company launched an investigation. In responding to WIRED's investigation, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas asserted that the questions posed indicated a "fundamental misunderstanding" of how the company and the internet work. He later told Fast Company that the IP address used to scrape Conde Nast websites and a test site was managed by a third-party company providing web crawling and indexing services. He did not disclose the company's name due to a nondisclosure agreement. When asked if he would instruct the third party to cease crawling WIRED, Srinivas noted that it was complicated. Sara Platnick, a spokesperson for Perplexity, said the company had responded to Amazon's inquiries and described the investigation as routine. She clarified that Perplexity has not made any changes to its operations in response to Amazon's concerns. Google Lens could soon let users, even those with older devices, search from any screen, similar to a "Circle to Search" functionality, as a recent APK teardown allowed sources to use the feature before any announcements from the tech giant. In earlier Google app beta versions, the source triggered a popup to appear inside Google Lens. It mentions that users can perform a straight-screen search by simply holding the home button. The Galaxy S24 and Pixel 8 series of smartphones have similar Circle to Search functionality. However, Google is prepared to employ Google Lens to make the Circle to Search feature available to more Android users. Users will also soon be able to more easily translate and search for material in videos by using the Circle to Search function. Moreover, the report appears to limit Lens's Circle to Search function to those who utilize the three-button navigation option. Long pressing the home button to activate Gemini or Google Assistant is superseded by pressing and holding it. It's unknown why Google is limiting the feature's activation to the three-button navigation method. It's important to note that the current app's Circle to Search feature is still under development. Therefore, when Google formally pulls the feature out of beta shortly, there might be additional ways to activate it. Read Also : Google Chrome Mobile Introduces New Quirky Ordering Shortcut for Restaurants, Businesses Circle to Search in iOS The new report shows how Google Lens continues to expand the Circle to Search feature across different mobile devices. Recently, Google reportedly offered iPhone users a way to use Android's Circle to Search function. The tech behemoth has clarified that although Circle to Search and Google Lens use similar OCR and search technologies, Circle to Search offers accessibility features tailored for Android users. According to Google, Circle to Search stands apart on Android because it can be accessed globally with a long-press gesture on the gesture bar or home button. This sets it apart from Google Lens, which is accessible through the Google (Search) app on iOS. Circle to Search and Google Lens both use OCR and search technology; however, Circle to Search has greater functionalities. Because it allows users to lasso or circle objects for selection, it is more intuitive and adaptable than tapping. The company claims the two elements offer different accessibility options and capabilities on different platforms. Circle to Search iOS Shortcut Back Tap-enabled iPhones can utilize this shortcut. Users can double- or triple-tap the back to access system features like iOS shortcuts using the Back Tap feature on iPhones. An iPhone 6S or later and the most recent version of iOS are needed to use the function. Go to Settings and choose Accessibility>Touch to activate Back Tap. Toggle between Double and Triple, based on their choice. With this setup, users may tap the back of their iPhones to take screenshots and open Google Lens while browsing the web. To do this, scroll to Shortcuts and hit "Search your screenshot." Although the workaround is not as precise as Circle to Search on Android, it nevertheless provides iPhone users with comparable features. Microsoft has notified customers that Russian hacking group Midnight Blizzard accessed some of their emails during a data breach on the company's internal systems in late 2023. The hacking incident was first made public in January. Microsoft initially said that only its internal communications were accessed. The company noted that Midnight Blizzard only gained access to a minimal "percentage" of the company's corporate email accounts. But on Thursday, the tech giant announced that hackers stole customer emails as it further disclosed the scope of the breach. Microsoft is currently facing growing regulatory scrutiny over the security of its software and systems against foreign threats. Microsoft noted that the hackers targeted cybersecurity experts investigating the Russian hacking group's activities. However, the Russian government has never replied to the accusations of hacking. Microsoft was sharing the compromised emails with its customers and making them aware of the breach by sending emails this week. However, it did not specify the number of clients affected or the potential number of stolen emails. Other Updates That Microsoft Made Microsoft's update about the January breach follows a string of worrying updates by the company that only seemed to worsen the initially perceived impact. In March, Microsoft noted that it has yet to contain or evict the state-sponsored hackers responsible for the data breach. After learning that the hackers were still attempting to gain access four months after the November breach, many of its customers and colleagues in the security field became worried. They questioned why Microsoft's systems were still susceptible to attack. Read Also : Email Bug in Outlook Uncovered, Enabling Microsoft Employee Impersonation Past Data Breach Affecting Microsoft A group of hackers, purportedly from China, also broke into Microsoft's system last summer and took thousands of emails belonging to the US government. The US Cyber Safety Review Board found that Microsoft's "inadequate" security culture and "cascade of security failures" were to be blamed for the data breach. Given how crucial Microsoft is to the technology ecosystem and how much its customers depend on it to protect their data and business operations, the Board concluded that the company needed to modify its security culture because it was inadequate and did not meet consumer expectations. A Microsoft representative previously said that the firm "fully cooperated with the Board's review" and was grateful for the CSRB's examination on the impact of nation-state threat actors with significant financial resources and functioning continuously without any effective deterrents. A Microsoft spokesperson further noted that recent events have demonstrated the need for their networks to adopt the new engineering culture for security articulated in their Secure Future Initiative. The company said it has already strengthened its systems and added more sensors and logs to detect and repel the cyber intruders. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile subscribers are all experiencing issues with their various cell plans after an international roaming outage has reportedly brought complications for the major telecom providers. Due to the interruption, certain customers who are currently traveling overseas are unlikely to be able to utilize cellular data, send text messages, or make phone calls. According to sources, the outage results from connectivity problems at Syniverse, the third-party company that manages international roaming services for all three carriers. Although the precise explanation is yet unknown, some speculate that it might be related to modifications in the way carriers operate legacy 2G and 3G networks as they finish their transition to 4G and 5G. Customers lament the problem on social media, Reddit, and mobile community forums. Users are also affected by the outage in different ways; some claim to be completely without data, SMS, and cellular service, while others can only occasionally connect. The issue was originally brought to light late on Wednesday. Global Roaming Outage All three major US carriers are experiencing significant international outages, causing connectivity issues for Americans across the globe. Customers of every carrier are experiencing problems. Thus, the blackout isn't specific to any one area or provider. Issues have been reported from Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. AT&T June Outage The international outage also follows just weeks after AT&T reportedly resolved a recent outage in early June that caused users' calls to fail to go through to other networks. This confirmed that the issue was with the network rather than a user issue. According to an AT&T spokesperson, the mobile network collaborated with the other carrier to find a solution. The spokesperson also declared that the interoperability issue between carriers has been resolved. Additionally, the company thanks its clientele for their patience during this period. New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, and Indianapolis are among the cities that have reportedly received the most reports of concerns. Within a few hours, calls made from AT&T to T-Mobile and Verizon were working normally, according to sources who confirmed that calls made from AT&T service in New York were not routed to Verizon during the outage. Conversations with other AT&T users went without a hitch, and conversations made with services or apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp, which work well with cellular data and 5G, also ran smoothly. The data services provided by AT&T weren't having any issues. One of the first AT&T outages occurred in February due to an internal problem. A nationwide outage of the service caused disruptions and prolonged periods when cellular access was unavailable. It offered customers $5 in account credits as an apology and squarely blamed the issue on the software. Related Article: CDK Cyberattack Sees Auto Retailers Suffering From Software Outage Scientists have developed a method to help perovskite solar cells to self-heal. This novel "self-healing" mechanism is a potential step toward increasing the reliability and efficiency of this solar technology. 'Self-Healing' Perovskite Solar Cells Perovskite solar cells are known for their high efficiency, lightweight nature, and cost-effectiveness, making them promising candidates for renewable energy applications. However, their susceptibility to environmental factors such as moisture and heat has posed challenges for widespread adoption and scalability. A recent study by researchers from Monash University, the University of Oxford, and the City University of Hong Kong details an approach that could potentially strengthen perovskite solar cells against these challenges through "self-healing." This strategy involves integrating an agent they developed that repairs the perovskite layer when exposed to environmental stressors like moisture and heat, potentially maintaining the cells' performance over time. It uses a "hindered urea/thiocarbamate bond6-8 Lewis acid-base material (HUBLA)," wherein "dynamic covalent bonds with water and heat-activated characteristics can dynamically heal the perovskite to ensure device performance and stability." Under rigorous testing, including 1,000 hours of accelerated aging at 85C under simulated solar illumination, the self-healing perovskite solar cells demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 25.1%. According to the research team, they retained 94% of their initial efficiency after 1,500 hours of aging in controlled nitrogen environments and 88% after exposure to 1,000 hours of aging at 85C and 30% relative humidity in air. The Pursuit of Robust Solar Technologies Professor Udo Bach, study co-author and Director of the Research Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Monash University, discussed the critical challenges related to defect passivation in perovskites, which have impeded the widespread adoption of this technology. The researcher claims that gradually releasing passivating agents into their perovskite material has produced solar cells with enhanced performance and extended long-term stability under real-world conditions. Bach describes this as a breakthrough that could lead to more reliable and efficient perovskite solar cells, supporting the global transition to sustainable energy solutions. Further research is still needed to optimize manufacturing processes and scale up the production of self-healing perovskite solar cells for commercial applications. The pursuit of robust solar technologies continues, with initiatives like self-healing solar cells showcasing ongoing scientific inquiry. As efforts progress to refine and commercialize these technologies, perovskite solar cells may play a role in the renewable energy landscape. However, challenges remain, including regulatory considerations, material scalability, and cost-effectiveness, which require collaboration across academia, industry, and policymakers to address effectively. The findings of the research team were published in the journal Nature. NASA's Mars Odyssey robotic spacecraft, which has been exploring Mars for over two decades, is set to complete an impressive milestone on June 30: 100,000 orbits around the Red Planet. Since its launch 23 years ago, Odyssey has been pivotal in mapping Martian minerals and ice, determining future landing spots, and transmitting data from various Mars missions. NASA Mars Odyssey Robotic Spacecraft Captures Olympus Mons: The Tallest Volcano in the Solar System The camera of NASA's longest-lived Mars robot recently captured a fascinating new image of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system. This image is part of an ongoing effort by the Odyssey team to provide high-altitude images of Mars' horizon. These images will ultimately help scientists study the planet's clouds and dust. According to NASA, the volcano has a sprawling base of 373 miles (600 kilometers) and a peak of 17 miles (27 kilometers) high. Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, explained that this new perspective offers a comprehensive view of the volcano, highlighting its massive size. This image not only captivates visually but also delivers valuable scientific data. These horizon images allow scientists to observe Martian atmospheric conditions across different seasons. For example, a bluish-white band at the bottom of the atmosphere in the image suggests dust levels during early fall, when dust storms typically start. The purplish layer above is likely a combination of Martian red dust and bluish water-ice clouds. According to NASA, the blue-green layer towards the top indicates water-ice clouds extending up to about 31 miles (50 kilometers) into the sky. The robotic spacecraft recorded this scene with a heat-sensitive camera called Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), which was created and managed by Arizona State University in Tempe. NASA Odyssey's THEMIS Views the Horizon of Mars This horizon imaging experiment was conceived during NASA's Phoenix mission landing in 2008 and the Curiosity rover landing in 2012. According to NASA, Odyssey was essential for relaying data during these events as the spacecraft descended to the Martian surface. The THEMIS camera usually points straight down, so adjusting its angle requires adjusting the position of the whole spacecraft. Thus, Odyssey's antenna had to be directed toward the arriving spacecraft and its landing site to transmit critical engineering data back to Earth. This alignment positioned THEMIS towards Mars' horizon, prompting scientists to activate the camera and capture images of the scene. Steve Sanders, Odyssey's mission operations spacecraft engineer at Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, noted that based on these initial experiments, they designed a sequence that keeps THEMIS' field-of-view centered on the horizon as Odyssey orbits Mars. Lockheed Martin, which built Odyssey, continues to assist with its daily operations alongside the mission leads at JPL. "Normally we see Olympus Mons in narrow strips from above, but by turning the spacecraft toward the horizon we can see in a single image how large it looms over the landscape," Plaut said in a statement. "Not only is the image spectacular, it also provides us with unique science data." Chinese tech giant Baidu has recently unveiled its latest AI model, Ernie 4.0 Turbo, a significant upgrade to its homegrown AI model that has been popular with the Chinese market. The announcement comes as OpenAI plans to block access to its API from China and other countries, effective July 9. This move potentially shuts down Chinese companies relying on its technology. Baidu Upgrades Its Most Popular AI Chatbot On Friday, June 28, Baidu revealed the upgraded Ernie 4.0 Turbo, which follows the October 2023 release of Ernie 4. Baidu claimed that the earlier version rivaled OpenAI's GPT-4 in capabilities. As reported by Reuters, Baidu's Chief Technology Officer, Wang Haifeng announced that Ernie 4.0 Turbo will be accessible to the public through web and mobile app interfaces. Unverified reports indicate that the improved AI chatbot will now support Baidu search plug-ins to make its dataset more grounded on real-world data. Additionally, developers will also be able to integrate this advanced technology via Baidu's Qianfan AI platform. Alongside the new model, Baidu announced an upgrade to its PaddlePaddle AI ecosystem. Baidu's Haifeng has also indicated that Ernie has gained substantial traction since its initial launch, now boasting 300 million users. Moreover, Baidu's AI ecosystem now reportedly supports 14.65 million developers and serves 370,000 businesses and institutions, reflecting Baidu's extensive reach in the AI community. OpenAI's Move to Block Chinese Companies' Access to API Earlier this week, OpenAI notified its users in China of its impending service discontinuation in the region, citing national security concerns as the driving factor behind the decision. This move follows reports indicating that the US is considering restrictions on access to American-based technologies, including AI, in certain countries. Chinese platform customers began receiving emails about the service discontinuation earlier this week. These notifications specified that additional measures would be implemented to prevent API traffic from entering unsupported regions starting July 9. Despite ChatGPT being inaccessible on China's mainland, many Chinese startups have been leveraging OpenAI's API platform to develop their applications. Baidu and Alibaba's Response In response to OpenAI's decision, Baidu, Alibaba, and several Chinese tech firms have swiftly launched initiatives to attract affected users. Baidu announced an "inclusive program" to allow new users to migrate to its Ernie platform for free. According to a statement from Baidu's cloud company, users of OpenAI's services will receive extra tokens for the Ernie 3.5 flagship model, commensurate with their usage of OpenAI's API. Apple Partners with Baidu Earlier this year, Apple chose Baidu to deliver generative AI technology for its iPhone 16 and other devices in mainland China - a collaboration further solidifying Baidu's lead in the Chinese AI market. According to reports, Apple will include Baidu's Ernie Bot in its Chinese iPhone 16, Mac OS, and iOS 18. This decision is driven by the need for compliance with Chinese government regulations, which require local verification of AI models before distribution. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Chinese fast-fashion giants Temu and Shein are in the crosshairs of EU regulators who have demanded detailed explanations on how these companies comply with stringent online content regulations. The European Commission has set a deadline of July 12, 2024, for both companies to provide comprehensive information on their adherence to the Digital Services Act (DSA). In April and May respectively, Shein and Temu, have been designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) as both platforms currently cater to more than 45 million users in the European Union. This classification from the EU subjects the two e-commerce companies to strict requirements aimed at curbing illegal and harmful content on their platforms. EU regulators are particularly focused on how these companies manage user notifications of illegal products, the design of their online interfaces to prevent deceptive practices, and measures to protect minors. What The EU Is Asking from Temu and Shein The European Commission has requested detailed measures from Temu and Shein regarding their compliance with several DSA obligations. These include the 'Notice and Action mechanism,' which allows users to notify illegal products, and ensures that online interfaces do not deceive or manipulate users through so-called 'dark patterns.' The companies must also demonstrate the transparency of their recommendation systems, traceability of traders, and overall compliance by design. These rules also require diligent assessment and mitigation of systemic risks related to illegal content and products, such as counterfeit goods and unsafe items. Additionally, the two companies must enhance their moderation processes, adapt their terms of service, and improve user interface to detect and prevent illegal listings. Non-compliance with the DSA can have severe financial implications. Violations can result in fines amounting to as much as 6% of a company's global turnover. Moreover, if Temu and Shein fail to provide accurate, complete, and non-misleading information, the European Commission can impose periodic penalty payments. Consumer Complaints The enforcement action against Temu and Shein stems from complaints lodged by consumer bodies. The European Consumer Organization has raised significant concerns about Temu, stating, "Temu does not guarantee its users a safe, predictable, and trustworthy online environment as the law requires." The complaint highlights issues such as manipulative techniques, lack of trader traceability, and overall platform opacity. Amazon Looks to Challenge Temu and Shein In related news, Amazon plans to launch a new section dedicated to low-priced fashion and lifestyle items, directly competing with Temu and Shein, CNBC reports. This new storefront will allow Chinese sellers to ship products directly to US consumers, featuring unbranded items, many priced under $20. Amazon aims to deliver these products within 9 to 11 days from China to the US, positioning itself aggressively against the rising influence of Temu and Shein in the American market. Stay posted here at Tech Times. TeamViewer, a leading provider of remote access tools, has confirmed that its corporate network has been hacked by Russian spies. The software firm warned that the culprit behind this breach was APT29, which is popularly known as Midnight Blizzard, a notorious group of state-sponsored cybercriminals. No Evidence of Customer Data Access As posted in TeamViewer IT Security update, the initial intrusion, which occurred on June 26, involved credentials from a standard employee account within TeamViewer's corporate IT environment. TeamViewer assured that the attack was contained to its corporate network, with no evidence suggesting the hackers accessed their product environment or customer data. The company's internal network and customer systems remain separate to guarantee data security. TechCrunch reached out to TeamViewer's spokesperson Martina Dier about the latest cybersecurity incident. However, she declined to respond regarding the technical ability to determine data access or exfiltration. Despite this, the remote access tool maker clarified that there is no indication of customer data compromise. The compromise of an employee's credentials raises concerns about the security measures in place and there's no doubt about that. TeamViewer has not disclosed how these credentials were compromised, which leaves unanswered questions about potential vulnerabilities. Related Article : Blackberry Report Claims 7,500 New Malware Threats are Created Every Day How Impactful is TeamViewer in the Tech Sector TeamViewer is a prominent player in the remote access tools market, serving major clients such as DHL and Coca-Cola. The company supports remote access to over 2.5 billion devices globally and boasts more than 600,000 paying customers. However, its tools have also been exploited by malicious hackers for remote malware installation on victims' devices. It's important to note that it's the latest tech company to fall victim to APT29. Earlier this year, the same group breached Microsoft's corporate network, accessing emails from top executives to gather intelligence on the investigation into their own activities. This espionage campaign affected other tech companies and led to the theft of federal government emails hosted on Microsoft's cloud. The most recent attack was the data breach where customer emails where stolen, Microsoft said. What is APT29 Before TeamViewer Hack? APT29, associated with Russia's foreign intelligence service (SVR), is known for its persistent and resourceful hacking campaigns. Although the group has a predictable method of deploying malicious schemes, its approach is straightforward but effective. As such, the Russian hackers are dept in password-stealing campaigns and other spying-related operations. Historical Context of APT29 Attacks APT29 was also responsible for the 2019-2020 SolarWinds espionage campaign. This attack involved planting a malicious backdoor in SolarWinds' software, which was then distributed to its customers. The breach provided Russian hackers access to numerous U.S. federal agencies, including the Treasury, Justice Department, and Department of State. "As part of our Threat Intelligence service to our clients, we issue alerts on a regular basis based on a variety of sources and intelligence. At this time, we do not have anything further to add to the alert that was sent to our clients," NCC Group told BleepingComputer when asked about the TeamViewer hack. TeamViewer, a prominent remote access software company, confirmed on Thursday that it detected an irregularity in its internal corporate IT environment on Wednesday. On Wednesday, 26 June 2024, our security team detected an irregularity in TeamViewers internal corporate IT environment, TeamViewer said in a statement on its Trust Center page. We immediately activated our response team and procedures, started investigations together with a team of globally renowned cyber security experts and implemented necessary remediation measures. The company added that the attacked internal corporate IT environment is completely separate from the production environment and customer data. As a result, the attack on TeamViewer has not affected the product environment or customers. Security is of utmost importance for us, it is deeply rooted in our DNA. Therefore, we value transparent communication and will continuously update the status of our investigations as new information becomes available, TeamViewer added. TeamViewer has 640,000 customers around the world and is installed on over 2.5 million systems. While the company did not mention who was behind the cyberattack, a Mastodon user named Jeffrey shared a message on Thursday from cybersecurity firm NCC Group to its customers about a significant compromise of the TeamViewer remote access and support platform by an APT group. Additionally, the user even said a post by the American Hospital Association (AHA), said the non-profit U.S. Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC) warned that TeamViewer might have been actively targeted by the Russian hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, NOBELIUM, and Midnight Blizzard. On June 27, 2024, Health-ISAC received information from a trusted intelligence partner that APT29 is actively exploiting TeamViewer. Health-ISAC recommends reviewing logs for any unusual remote desktop traffic, reads the Health-ISAC warning shared by Jeffrey. Threat actors have been observed leveraging remote access tools. TeamViewer has been observed being exploited by threat actors associated with APT29. APT29, a Russian-linked cyberespionage organization led by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), is typically known for conducting sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks against government networks in Europe and NATO member countries, IT service providers, health technology and research institutes, telecommunications providers and other organizations. Recently, it was connected to the breaches of Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). As TeamViewer continues its investigation into the possible internal corporate IT breach, users should stay cautious and watch for company updates regarding potential impacts or required actions. They should also follow any security recommendations provided by TeamViewer in the coming days and weeks. 7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes off Peru, tsunami threat over: USGS Lima, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said, but a tsunami threat from the tremor has passed. The USGS said the tremor hit 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) from Atiquipa district. The quake was felt in Lima and a large part of the southern and central coast of Peru. The mayor of Yauca, Juan Aranguren, told local media that walls came down in his town. A major highway running through the area also suffered cracks, he said. "The children were crying, the earthquake was felt strongly," said a villager from the area. Speaking to RPP radio, Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen: "I want to convey tranquility. The earthquake has passed, we are making the first evaluations, and so far there are no fatalities to lament." The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had earlier said "hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts" but later said the threat had passed. Peru, with some 33 million inhabitants, lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast area of intense seismic activity that runs along the west coast of the Americas. Peru is hit by hundreds of detectable quakes every year. Protestors rally against Serbian lithium mine LOZNICA, Serbia, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 Thousands of demonstrators gathered in western Serbia to protest the opening of a controversial lithium mining project that has been halted for years by protests over environmental fears. The rally comes after President Aleksandar Vucic told The Financial Times this month that Serbia could begin mining lithium as early as 2028 following new guarantees from Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. The future of the vast mineral deposits, to be mined by Rio Tinto near Loznica, remains a perennial political fault line in the Balkan country. It pits festering distrust in the Serbian government against Europe's plans for a greener future. Opposition politicians were among those attending the protest, which was organised by an alliance of environmental groups. "We have come to free ourselves," said one protester, 44-year-old mechanic Petar Cergic. "I believe that the groundwater will be contaminated. I don't need to listen to anyone, no scientist: none of the mining here is ecological, so this cannot be either." Another protester, 70-year-old Ljubinka Spasic denounced the mining project as a "deprivation of the right to life and existence. "This has crossed every boundary of destruction and endangerment of Serbia and the Serbian people." - Public health fears - Billions of euros are at stake, with Rio Tinto saying it would provide thousands of jobs and secure Serbia's position in emerging energy markets. The company said the area holds one of Europe's largest reserves of lithium, a strategically valuable metal crucial for electric vehicle battery production. The deposits were discovered in 2004 but the Serbian government halted the mining project in 2022 after weeks of protests sparked by fears over the environment and public health. "We demand that a final decision be made and that the project be terminated," one activist, Zlatko Kokanovic, told AFP as protestors began massing in the area near Loznica for the evening rally. The project "would leave us literally without quality drinking water, lead to air pollution, and naturally, soil contamination", he added. Vucic said the mine was expected to produce 58,000 tonnes of lithium a year, enough to supply 1.1 million vehicles or 17 percent of Europe's electric vehicle production. Opponents have accused both Vucic and Rio Tinto of not being transparent about the process. The mining giant recently published an environmental impact report aimed at assuaging concerns, saying the venture would rely on "safe, reliable, and proven technology". Among the demonstrators were around thirty activists who had arrived on foot from Belgrade, more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. "We wanted to show them our determination by coming to the protest in Loznica on foot from Belgrade," said Ivan Bjelic, an activist from the Mars sa Drine movement. That he said, both the company and Serbia would "think carefully about what they will do -- and what we will do if they plan to bring machines to Loznica... or any surrounding village", he added. White House moves to protect Alaskan land Washington, June 28 (AFP) Jun 28, 2024 The Biden administration blocked a major roadway project in the northwest state of Alaska and advanced protections for swaths of Alaskan land from being exploited for natural resources, it announced Friday. The decision will conserve 28 million acres (11 million hectares) in western Alaska from oil, gas and mining projects, protections the Trump administration had previously tried to withdraw. It also marks the end of the Ambler Highway project, a 211-mile (339 kilometers) roadway that would have led to mineral-rich mining areas, especially copper. "These natural wonders demand our protection," President Joe Biden said on X. The Bureau of Land Management, which oversees federal land as part of the interior department, issued an analysis Friday which determined that "revoking the protections would likely harm subsistence hunting and fishing in communities that would lose federal subsistence priority over some lands." The move "could have lasting negative impacts on wildlife, vegetation and permafrost," the agency said in a news release. The interior department also determined the Ambler Road project would have required constructing over 3,000 stream crossings, which would have impacted endangered wildlife and caused "irreparable impacts to permafrost," wrecking permanent damage to the ecosystem. The analysis will be used by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, whose stamp of approval is required to finalize protections. The decision "is due in large part to the fearless and outspoken Alaskans who took a stand for their homeland, their food, and their families," said Theresa Pierno, chief executive of the National Parks Conservation Association, an environmental group that worked to oppose the Ambler Road construction project. The protective measures follow a similar ban implemented by the Biden administration in April that blocked new oil and gas projects from developing in another 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of northwest Alaska. However, in 2023 the Biden administration approved a major oil project in Alaska, dubbed the Willow Project by US oil company ConocoPhillips, drawing the ire of environmentalist groups. Next to a tranquil lake and serene greenery, a pair of swans have found a dream home to settle down and start a family. Join them in Xilin Gol League in north China's Inner Mongolia and watch their newborns discover their perfect new habitat. I've been going off a bit as the Louisiana State Police Troop Nola has raced through New Orleans neighborhoods in hot pursuit of people driving suspicious vehicles, only to crash at a rate that shows why the federal consent decree that governs city cops prohibits them from engaging in such reckless, high-speed chases. Politicians banging on about security should always be suspected of having ulterior motives, but when you see the secretary to the Treasury giving a speech on security, thats when you know the world has changed radically. Thats what Treasury secretary Dr Steven Kennedy did last week. It was a sign of how much the distinction between economic issues and defence and foreign affairs has blurred as rivalry between the United States and China has grown. Credit: Dionne Gain We used to think of Australia in the Asian century as one big opportunity for us to make a buck but, Kennedy says, we are facing a more contested, more fragmented and more challenging global environment, where trade is increasingly seen as a vulnerability as much as an opportunity. In light of these challenges, it is incumbent on Australian policymakers to work together to develop sound policy frameworks and institutional arrangements that match the times. That take the long view and protect both economic and strategic interests, he says. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This article is part of the Love for Sale series, which lifts the veil on dating apps and how they operate. See all 4 stories . A dating app touted as one of the worlds biggest used Russian review farms to game rating systems and employed women to have bogus conversations with unsuspecting users, according to a whistleblower. Gabriel Machuret, former marketing manager at hook-up dating app Down, said the company, which says it has 13 million users, hired contractors to write fake positive reviews on the Apple and Google app stores. Gabriel Machuret is the former marketing manager for dating app Down. Machuret says its practices mirror much of what happens in the dating app industry. Credit: Angi High Machuret, who lives in Australia and worked for Down in 2022, said the Taiwan-based companys contractors also wrote fake negative reviews to push competitor dating apps down the app store rankings. We paid a Russian company that was my job to write positive reviews, he said. That was part of the marketing budget per month, to pay for review farms. If you see a new app that youre curious about and it has a review of 2.8 stars, youre not going to download it. Youre trying to hide the bad reviews. We even paid for bad reviews for the other apps. It is that bad. Down is one of scores of dating apps scrutinised as part of an investigation by this masthead that found increasing concerns from consumers and experts about the industrys conduct towards the 3 million Australians who use dating apps, including the dominant Tinder, Hinge and Bumble apps. The investigation comes amid a backdrop of decreased users and climbing subscription costs as companies seek to maintain revenues. Match Groups Tinder and Hinge and the many other dating apps it owns, and Bumble together generated more than $US4 billion ($6 billion) from subscriptions last year. Advertisement Machuret said Downs tactics were not yet typical but were increasingly common across the industry because it was financially squeezed. The dating apps are in crisis, he said. Wall Street-listed Bumbles share price was $US75 three years ago but hit a low of $US10 this week; the company laid off a third of its 950-strong workforce in February. Bumble branded itself a feminist app when it launched because women initiated conversations; it recently attracted controversy when, amid falling user numbers, it allowed men to start making the first move. Tinder and Hinges parent company, Match Group, has seen its share price tumble from $US169 in 2021 to $US30. Match Group, Bumble and other smaller dating app companies this week handed the Albanese government a voluntary industry code they say will make dating safer. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland demanded the code after the Australian Institute of Criminology in 2022 found three in four people using dating apps experienced some form of sexual violence including sexual harassment, threatening language, image-based sexual abuse and stalking. Advertisement On Friday, Rowland said the federal government had worked hard to improve safety on dating apps and would have more to say after reviewing the industrys proposed code. A spokeswoman for Match which along with Tinder and Hinge owns the Plenty of Fish, Match and OK Cupid apps said the company had worked collaboratively with other dating apps, the government and others to create the new Australian code. A Bumble spokeswoman said the entire industry had worked co-operatively over the past seven months to prepare its voluntary code. Any instance of violence, harassment or abuse is unacceptable to us, and we do not hesitate to remove perpetrators from our platform, she said. Machuret said Down had also used dormant female user accounts to send fake messages to men. And while bots are a problem on many apps today, sending messages to users who think theyre interacting with a real person, Machuret said Downs manipulation was done manually. Advertisement We didnt have bots. In fact, we were doing it manually. We had Filipino women messaging guys. A company spokesman denied manipulating reviews or using bogus conversations. We absolutely never employ any fake accounts ourselves. [Some] companies might play that, but we will never do that because we really feel firmly that we want our users to have a real experience. Asked about manipulating the app store rankings, he said: In the app store industry, lets say Apple and Google, we have evidence and suspicion of other negative things that maybe other players are doing. And we dont employ that stuff currently. He also said Machuret was a disgruntled former employee. Machuret also claimed that staff at the app could read all user messages. Advertisement Everything. People think, Oh, no, thats not possible. But it is possible because Ive read every single conversation of people when we have a problem, when someone gets reported, he said. The company spokesman said Down, like all dating apps, needed to be able to read users messages so it could provide a safe environment and keep accounts authentic. You would not able to in some way have that vision into what people are doing on the app, the spokesman said. Apple and Google declined to comment on Downs case specifically. An Apple spokeswoman pointed out that the company removed nearly 152 million fraudulent ratings and reviews from its app store last year. A Google spokeswoman said the company had systems to detect spam and fake reviews. The Down spokesman would not say how many Australian users the company has, although the companys public relations manager said Australia had an over 200 per cent increase in downloads since the start of 2024. Advertisement University of British Columbia law professor Emma Cunliffe has written extensively about the issue, and told the podcast Trial By Water that tunnel vision had been heavily researched in the literature on wrongful convictions in particular. There are many child homicide cases of wrongful conviction in which the question is whether there was a crime at all. And in those cases, expert witnesses, police and prosecutors might fail to notice information that tends to suggest a natural cause of death, for instance, she said. Professor Emma Cunliffe from the University of British Columbia. Credit: Sasha Woolley There is no suggestion that the police in Farquharsons case had developed tunnel vision or were ignoring evidence that might clear him, and it is also not suggested they did anything other than trying to solve what they saw as a crime. In their interactions with Farquharson, police might have been simply testing him, putting him under pressure to see if he would confess. But in the two tapped phone calls played in court, Gambino also revealed she was nervous at the police approach to the case. On October 1, almost a month after the crash, she told her ex-husband the police had still not taken a formal statement from her, and she was sick of being asked about their relationship when shed repeatedly told them that she and her husband remained close. I think theyre just trying to find something, Farquharson told her in the recorded conversation. Yeah. Theyre trying to find circumstance and theres no circumstance to find, Gambino replied. Two days later, police did take Gambinos statement, in which she said: I believe with all my heart that this was just an accident and that he would not have hurt a hair on their heads. After making the statement, Gambino wrote a short, undated, note in which she made her concerns about police explicit: One month after our children died I was making my statement to [the homicide officer in charge of the investigation] Detective Gerard Clanchy and he made a comment that if Rob and I were still together this would have been looked upon as a tragic accident. In the document, which was gathered as part of the legal case but not tendered in court, she added: So what does that tell you? THEORY BEFORE FACT. Gambino went on to complain that police knew nothing about her relationship with Farquharson, then asked: So how can they judge believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see!!!!! Gambino supported her former husband through his first trial and until the end of 2009. After that, she came to believe he was guilty and gave evidence against him. She died in 2022, aged 50. Farquharson also told others he believed police were trying to pin on him a crime he had not committed. A former colleague, Mark Bean, told Trial By Water that Farquharson and Gambino had come to visit his old workplace a few weeks after the crash. It appeared that hed been sedated, Bean said. He sort of pulled me aside and said that one of the coppers just said to [him]: I know youve done it. And Im going to nail you for it. Asked how Farquharson had felt about that, Bean said: Well, hes just lost his three boys. And I think he was terribly disappointed that they actually thought that hed do that. Other evidence also supports the idea that police came very early to the belief that Farquharson might be guilty. Traffic officer Sergeant Jeffery Smith told the TV documentary Crimes that Shook Australia that on the night of the crash he had written two lists under the headings: He did it and He didnt do it. Under the first list was a number of notes that described Farquharsons unsettling behaviour at the scene of the crash. The only entry on the other side, Smith said, was who could be this evil? In the book, On Fathers Day, author Megan Norris quotes the detective, Clanchy, saying he thought Farquharson had been lying through his teeth at his formal, sit-down interview when he said he only had two arms and two legs and could not save all three children. And in a 2017 interview with then journalist Luke McMahon, Clanchy said that: Based on the whole of the circumstances at the scene ... there was no innocent explanation at this stage, or any stage, in relation to why the vehicle went off the road into the dam. The evidence the police gathered to convict Farquharson has since come under serious question from a number of scientists and the Australian Academy of Science. Police have declined to answer any questions from Trial By Water about the Farquharson case, saying in a statement that Victoria Police stands behind the rigorous investigation which led to the 2010 conviction of Robert Farquharson. Farquharsons fear of the lie detector test, captured on the phone tap, was well-founded. Even though they are unscientific and the result could not have been admitted in court, he had volunteered to undergo it to try to prove his innocence. But on the day he took the test, its supposed result was leaked to the Herald Sun newspaper. An article the following morning two weeks after the crash was headlined: Dad fails lie test. Twist in drowning tragedy. Despite that story, no evidence of the tests results exist and theres no indication that Farquharson failed it. Asked in 2017 how the newspaper had got the story, Clanchy told an interviewer that he personally had not leaked it. However: Do I think it came out of Vic pol? Yeah, I think it did, Clanchy said. Cunliffe said the effects of tunnel vision and confirmation bias were so powerful that they could affect experts giving evidence in what seem like objective areas of science. There has been some research that shows that if you give fingerprint examiners contextually biasing information you can actually make them change their conclusions. Experts being commissioned to give evidence in criminal cases should only be shown the narrowest possible information, she said. Loading However, in Farquharsons case, one crucial witness, respiratory expert Professor Matthew Naughton, was given a summary of the entire prosecution case 25 documents as he was preparing his opinion. Naughton disclosed in his expert statement that the Office of Public Prosecutions had provided him statements from a number of witnesses, including Greg King, who claimed Farquharson had outlined in full his plot to kill his children three months before the crash. The opinion Naughton ultimately produced for prosecutors said it was extremely unlikely that Farquharson had coughed and passed out. Donna Nelsons three year old granddaughter has been granted permission to visit the 58 year old inside the Japanese prison she has been held in for 18 months. But the child had to be chaperoned by lawyers after her parents, Nelsons daughter and son in law, were denied visitation rights. Its an example of Japans harsh justice system and comes on the day Nelsons drug smuggling trial was scheduled to begin. WAToday revealed on Tuesday the trial was unexpectedly delayed by up to six months. The girl was the first family member allowed to visit the Indigenous community leader and former Greens candidate since her arrest 18 months ago. Its understood the child remained behind secure glass during the visit which was described by family members as bittersweet. Loading Nelsons daughter Kristal Hilare had already boarded flights to Tokyo via Cairns with her husband and daughter when they were informed of the trial delay. A communication ban remains in place, with Nelson prohibited from speaking with family friends and other prisoners. To date her only visitors have been lawyers, embassy staff and a pastor. Nelsons family has said she was groomed for two years by a Nigerian love scammer, and was either forced or tricked into carrying a bag filled with drugs by the man she had fallen for, known only as Kelly. Nelson first travelled to Japan to meet Kelly after the pair met through an online dating site called AfroIntroductions. Ram Ranks Highest Overall in J D Power 2024 Initial Quality Study Electric Vehicles Short Out In Quality Survey; Ram and Porsche top the rankings> So Much For propaganda promising less maintenance' In its inaugural year incorporating franchise dealership repair visits with the Voice of the Customer (VOC) data to create a more expansive metric for problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study(IQS), released today, the industry average is 195 PP100. Mass market brands, with a combined average of 181 PP100, outperform the industry average. Meanwhile, premium brandsoften including more complicated systems and thus more reliance on connectivityaverage 232 PP100. A lower score reflects higher vehicle quality. It is not surprising that the introduction of new technology has challenged manufacturers to maintain vehicle quality, said Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. However, the industry can take solace in the fact that some problem areas such as voice recognition and parking cameras are seen as less problematic now than they were a year ago. Proponents of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often state these vehicles should be less problematic and require fewer repairs than gas-powered vehicles since they have fewer parts and systems. However, newly incorporated repair data shows BEVs, as well as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), require more repairs than gas-powered vehicles in all repair categories. Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle into the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners, Hanley said. Gas- and diesel-powered vehicles average 180 PP100 this year, while BEVs are 86 points higher at 266 PP100. While there are no notable improvements in BEV quality this year, the gap between Teslas BEV quality and that of traditional OEMs BEV quality has closed, with both at 266 PP100. In the past, Tesla has performed better, but that is not the case this year and the removal of traditional feature controls, such as turn signals and wiper stalks, has not been well received by Tesla customers. Following are key findings of the 2024 study: Frustration rising from false warnings: Often, owners dont understand what warnings mean. For instance, rear seat reminder technology, designed to help vehicle owners avoid inadvertently leaving a child or pet in the rear seat when exiting the vehicle, contributes 1.7 PP100 across the industry. Some mistakenly perceive it signals an unbuckled seat belt or cite the warning goes off when no one is present in the rear seat. Furthermore, advanced driver assistance systems, intended to save lives and reduce injuries, are irritating vehicle owners with inaccurate and annoying alerts from rear cross traffic warning and reverse automatic emergency braking features, a newly added feature to the survey this year. Often, owners dont understand what warnings mean. For instance, rear seat reminder technology, designed to help vehicle owners avoid inadvertently leaving a child or pet in the rear seat when exiting the vehicle, contributes 1.7 PP100 across the industry. Some mistakenly perceive it signals an unbuckled seat belt or cite the warning goes off when no one is present in the rear seat. Furthermore, advanced driver assistance systems, intended to save lives and reduce injuries, are irritating vehicle owners with inaccurate and annoying alerts from rear cross traffic warning and reverse automatic emergency braking features, a newly added feature to the survey this year. Owners want to cut the cord: Problems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay persist as the feature remains one of the top 10 problems. Customers most frequently experience difficulties connecting to their vehicle or losing connection. More than 50% of Apple users and 42% of Samsung users access their respective feature every time they drive, illustrating that customers want their smartphone experience brought into the vehicle and also desire the feature to be integrated wirelessly. Problems with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay persist as the feature remains one of the top 10 problems. Customers most frequently experience difficulties connecting to their vehicle or losing connection. More than 50% of Apple users and 42% of Samsung users access their respective feature every time they drive, illustrating that customers want their smartphone experience brought into the vehicle and also desire the feature to be integrated wirelessly. In-vehicle controls are out of control: Features, controls and displays is the second most problematic category in the study, slightly better than only the notoriously issue-prone infotainment category. From such seemingly simple functions like windshield wipers and rear-view mirror to the more intricate operation of an OEM smartphone application, this category is particularly troublesome in EVs. The PP100 incidence in this category is more than 30% higher in EVs than in gas-powered vehicles. This is exacerbated by Teslas recent switch to steering wheel-mounted buttons for horn and turn signal functions, a change not well received by owners. Features, controls and displays is the second most problematic category in the study, slightly better than only the notoriously issue-prone infotainment category. From such seemingly simple functions like windshield wipers and rear-view mirror to the more intricate operation of an OEM smartphone application, this category is particularly troublesome in EVs. The PP100 incidence in this category is more than 30% higher in EVs than in gas-powered vehicles. This is exacerbated by Teslas recent switch to steering wheel-mounted buttons for horn and turn signal functions, a change not well received by owners. One problem area that stinks: While, figuratively, all vehicle problems stink, there is one problem that is increasingly prevalent: unpleasant interior smell. This issue has worsened the most from 2023, with every brand except Kia and Nissan having an increase in unpleasant interior smell problems. Problem odors are described by owners to be emanating from their vehicles heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. The U.S. Initial Quality Study, now in its 38th year, is based this year on responses from 99,144 purchasers and lessees of new 2024 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. For the first time, the study additionally incorporates repair visit data based on hundreds of thousands of real-world events reported to franchised new-vehicle dealers. The methodology for this years IQS was enhanced to unite newly acquired, state-of-the-art vehicle repair data with traditional J.D. Power VOC data while fielding continuously year-round. This enhanced IQS data allows automakers the ability to quickly identify potential issues before they become bigger problems in the quality landscape. The study is based on a battery of 227 VOC questions plus relevant repair data, all of which is organized into 10 vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; climate; and unspecified (unique to repair). The study is designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and to drive product improvement. The study was fielded from July 2023 through May 2024. Highest-Ranking Brands and Models Ram is the highest-ranking brand overall in initial quality with a score of 149 PP100. Among mass market brands, Chevrolet (160 PP100) ranks second and Hyundai (162 PP100) ranks third. Among premium brands, Porsche ranks highest with a score of 172 PP100. Lexus (174 PP100) ranks second and Genesis (184 PP100) ranks third. The parent corporation receiving the most model-level awards is General Motors Company (six awards), followed by Hyundai Motor Group and Toyota Motor Corporation, each with four awards. Among brands, Chevrolet receives the most segment awards (four), followed by Lexus (three). General Motors Company models that rank highest in their respective segment are Cadillac XT5 , Cadillac XT6 , Chevrolet Equinox , Chevrolet Silverado HD , Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Traverse . , , , , and . Hyundai Motor Group models that rank highest in their respective segment are Genesis G80 , Hyundai Santa Cruz , Kia Carnival and Kia Forte . , , and . Toyota Motor Corporation models that rank highest in their respective segment are Lexus IS , Lexus LC , Lexus UX and Toyota Camry . , , and . Toyota Motor Corporation has the highest-ranking model overall, the Lexus LC, with 106 PP100. Plant Quality Awards Toyota Motor Corporations Takaoka 2, Japan, plant, which manufactures the Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Venza, receives the Platinum Plant Quality Award. Plant quality awards are based solely on defects and malfunctions and exclude design-related problems and repair incidents. Gold Plant Quality Awards for North/South America, in a tie, go to Honda Motor Companys Alliston 2 plant in Ontario, Canada, which produces the Honda CR-V, and Toyota Motor Corporations Cambridge South plant in Ontario, Canada, which produces the Lexus RX. BMW AGs plant in Born, Netherlands, which produces the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for Europe and Africa. For more information about the U.S. Initial Quality Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/us-initial-quality-study-iqs. About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in automotive data and analytics, and provides industry intelligence, consumer insights and advisory solutions to the automotive industry and selected non-automotive industries. J.D. Power leverages its extensive proprietary datasets and software capabilities combined with advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools to help its clients optimize business performance. J.D. Power was founded in 1968 and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. Coal levy Scam: Special Court denies bail to suspended officer Chaurasiya Staff Reporter Raipur, A Special Court in Raipur on Thursday dismissed bail plea of former Deputy Secretary to then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and suspended State Administrative Services officer Saumya Chaurasiya in money laundering case connected to coal levy scam. The prosecution had strongly opposed bail to her citing prima facie evidences against her in the money laundering case. Meanwhile the court ruled that on being released, the suspended officer may influence the investigations and it hence denied bail to her. It is worth mentioning that Saumya has previously been also denied bail by different courts and the Supreme Court had even imposed Rs 1 lakh cost on her for making incorrect submissions in the petition. Notably among all the accused arrested in connection to the coal levy scam, only one i.e coal businessman Sunil Agrawal has managed to secure bail so far from Supreme Court. Reliable sources informed that the hearing in Chaurasiyas bail plea was held in the Special Court in the first half. The defense counsel in his submission had argued that no evidence of Chaurasiya misusing her position was found in the FIRs registered by the Directorate of Enforcement as well as Economic Offences Investigation and Anti Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB). He cited the Kashmir incident where a person claiming to be close to Prime Minister was arrested and argued that in that case the person misusing his position was arrested and not the Prime Minister himself. The defense also presented Supreme Court and High Court citations seeking bail for the suspended officer. Meanwhile Special Public Prosecutor of the ED, Saurabh Kumar Pandey while opposing bail to Chaurasiya submitted that prima facie guilt of the officer is established and it has became clear that without her refuge and active involvement, another accused Suryakant Tiwari could not have alone committed the crime. After hearing both the sides, Special Judge Nidhi Sharma Tiwari reserved the judgment and passed the order in the evening denying the benefit of bail to Chaurasiya. Dumna Airport: Portion of canopy collapses, none hurt Staff Reporter Moderate to heavy showers on Thursday morning led to a mishap at Dumna Airport. A portion of large fabric canopy at the entrance of the new terminal building collapsed due to water accumulation. Fortunately, no one was underneath at the time, otherwise, it could have resulted in casualties. The incident has raised questions about the quality of construction work at the airport. Meanwhile, the Director of Airports Authority of India, Jabalpur has expressed regret for the incident and said investigation has been ordered to determine the technical reasons for the incident. It may be mentioned that the expanded building of Dumna Airport with a cost of Rs 450 crores was inaugurated on March 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 14 airports across the country, including Jabalpur. Several ministers and officials attended the event held at Jabalpur Airport. On Thursday morning, a section of roof of the new terminal building at Dumna Airport collapsed amid rainfall. As the roof section fell with the water, it completely smashed a Honda City car parked below, narrowly missing the driver. It is reported that the car belonged to the Income Tax Department and was there to pick up an officer. Thankfully, the driver had moved away from the car just before the roof section fell. Security officers and police arrived at the scene shortly after learning about the incident. At around 8 am, one of the fabric canopies erected in the parking area of the new terminal building at Dumna Airport fell down with a loud noise. A large amount of accumulated water fell so rapidly that it damaged the roof of a parked car. A senior officer from the Income Tax Department was arriving on a flight from Indore to Jabalpur. The departments car, driven by the driver was at Dumna Airport to receive the officer. As there was time before the flights arrival and it was raining heavily in Jabalpur, the driver parked the vehicle under the designer canopy in the parking area, considering it a safe spot and waited for the flight. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard. The airport staff quickly rushed to the site of the explosion and found a damaged car in the parking lot. Fortunately, being early morning, there were no people in the porch area, otherwise the incident could have been more severe. The Director of Airports Authority of India, Jabalpur has informed that due to rainwater accumulation in one section of the fabric canopy installed for beautification in front of the newly constructed building at Jabalpur Airport, the fabric tore, causing the accumulated water to fall onto the car below. He said investigation has been ordered to determine the technical reasons for the incident so that necessary measures can be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring again. The Airports Authority of India, Jabalpur has expresses regret for the incident and assures comprehensive resolution. Flight operations suspended at Delhi airport T1 after roof collapse New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Flight operations have been suspended at Delhi airport's Terminal 1, which is used for domestic flights, till further notice following a roof collapse on Friday early morning that has left one dead and at least five others injured. The incident happened at around 5 am at the departure area of Terminal 1 (T1) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) amid heavy rains in the national capital. The civil aviation ministry on Friday said heavy rain has resulted in the collapse of the canopy of Delhi airport T1. "As a result of which flights to & from Terminal 1 have been closed till further notice. Alternate arrangements are being made for the smooth operation of the flights," the ministry said in a post on X. Sources in the know said flight departures have been suspended till 2 pm. T1 has only domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet. The airport -- which has three terminals T1, T2 and T3 -- handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. According to the sources, the airport operator -- DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd) -- is looking at temporarily shifting operations from T1 to T2 and T3, they added. The sources also said that soon after the incident at around 5 am, it was decided to suspend the flight departures while passengers who were already inside the terminal took their flights. The departures were completely suspended at around 7:30 am, they added. "Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old departure forecourt of Delhi airport's Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am. There are injuries reported, and emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected," a DIAL spokesperson said in a statement. As a result of this incident, the spokesperson said all departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, and check-in counters are closed as a safety measure. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), a consortium led by GMR Group, is the operator of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital. "We sincerely regret this disruption and apologise for any inconvenience caused." the spokesperson said. In a post on X, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said that he was personally monitoring the situation and the injured people have been shifted to hospital. "Personally monitoring the roof collapse incident at T1 Delhi Airport. First responders are working at the site. Also advised the airlines to assist all affected passengers at T1. "The injured have been evacuated to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing," he said. An IndiGo spokesperson said flight operations are impacted due to structural damage to T 1 due to adverse weather conditions. "This has led to flight cancellations at Delhi as passengers are not able to enter the terminal. Passengers already inside the terminal will be able to board their planned flights, but those with flights later in the day will be offered alternatives," the airline said in a statement. The airline also said the unplanned situation has led to operations across the network being impacted. "Customers are advised to keep track of and confirm their flight status before leaving for the airport," it said. In a post on X, SpiceJet said flights have been cancelled as T1 will remain partially closed for operations until further notice. Govt reviving countrys cultural heritage along with building future, says President NEW DELHI, PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said that the Central Government is reviving the countrys cultural heritage and glory along with making efforts to build the future for the nation, taking pride in both vikas and virasat. Addressing the joint sitting of Parliament, Murmu also hailed the new campus of Nalanda University, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar. This was the first address of the President in Parliament after the 2024 general elections. My Government, along with making efforts to build a future, is also reviving the countrys cultural heritage and glory. Recently, the new grand Nalanda University campus that was inaugurated has added a new chapter to this, she said. Nalanda was not just a university but also a proof of Indias glorious past and I am assured that the new Nalanda University will contribute towards making India a global knowledge hub, Murmu said. In her address, she also underlined that various pilgrimage sites and centres of faith in the country are being rejuvenated so that people can get inspired by their ancient culture. My Government, along with vikas, is also working on virasat, taking the same pride, the president said. She also mentioned that tribal leader Birsa Mundas birth anniversary was celebrated as Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas and his 150th anniversary will be marked next year. In her address, President Murmu highlighted various accomplishments of the country in the past few years. Referring to the landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Moons South Pole, she said, as a country, we should take pride in this and added that India is on its way to becoming the worlds third-largest economy. The President said that in the third decade of the 21st century, global order is assuming a new form and as a Vishwa Bandhu, India is giving new faith to the world. LAUDS AYUSHMAN BHARAT HEALTH SCHEME: All citizens aged above 70 years will be provided free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday. The opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace, she said while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament. Under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), free health services are being provided to 55 crore beneficiaries, Murmu said. Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. In a first, Nagpur GDCH to get simulation lab By Vikas Vaidya Nagpurs Government Dental College and Hospital (GDCH) will soon become countrys first Government-run dental college to house simulation laboratory with Virtual Reality. Maharashtras Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur Devendra Fadnavis, through District Planning Committee, had earmarked the required funds for setting up the laboratory at GDCH. The initial process has already been completed and soon three dental chairs with all accessories will arrive at GDCH. Once simulation laboratory starts functioning, the dental education and training at GDCH will completely change. The arrival of the dental simulator will mark a new era of dental preclinical education. The dental simulator replicates both soft and hard oral tissues as well as providing a clinical diagnosis and treatment environment through Dental Simulator. In Root Canal Treatment while cutting a tooth if a student cuts a larger portion than required then the patient has to carry that fault throughout his or her life. This usually happens not in many cases though. At present in dental colleges, phantom head simulator is used. That includes water spray, dental hand pieces, and other necessary items, providing students with a more realistic environment for diagnosis and treatment. But this method doesnt caution students of their mistakes. During their training students have to take X-ray so they must know where and how to put the film inside the mouth. During treatment they have to give anaesthesia. The anasthesia needs to be given at a proper place else patient can suffer from pain during treatment. In present practice there too are chairs but those dont guide the students about their positioning. Explaining the role of dental simulator, Dr Abhay Datarkar, Dean of GDCH, Nagpur told The Hitavada, The dental simulator, simulating realistic clinical conditions via VR and force feedback, makes training reversible, repeatable, and environmentally friendly. The simulator chair will help students position it as per the treatment. While cutting a tooth, if student cuts more portion, on screen it will show a red line which means further cut should be avoided. When they perform any procedure or any act, the simulator will give students human-like sense. This particular facility will not only guide student to gain accuracy but also do calculation, analysis of their activity. Students can study it on individual basis and correct themselves next time. This will make them habitual of perfection so that whenever they perform any procedure on human being, the action will be flawless. Since Dr Datarkar took over as Dean, the GDCH is constantly bringing one or the other innovative things. The college is heading for starting super specialty hospital too which too is a unique concept. Modi To Visit Russia By K Raveendran The choice of Russia as the destination of the first official visit in his third term heading a coalition government is laden with symbolism and strategic implications, encompassing political messaging to coalition partners and a reinforcement of economic ties between India and Russia. Historically, India and Russia share a robust diplomatic relationship that dates back to the Cold War era. Despite geopolitical shifts and realignments in global politics, the bond between the two countries has endured, rooted in shared strategic interests and longstanding defence cooperation. For Prime Minister Modi, initiating his third term with a visit to Moscow underscores the enduring nature of this partnership and signals continuity and stability in Indias foreign policy approach. The timing of the visit is also important. While the annual India-Russia meeting provides the immediate backdrop, the visit comes amidst heightened global tensions, particularly between Russia and Western powers, over issues ranging from Ukraine to cybersecurity concerns. By choosing Russia for his inaugural foreign visit, Modi is subtly asserting Indias stance on maintaining strategic autonomy and its right to engage with multiple global powers on its own terms. This move is also likely aimed at reassuring coalition partners and the international community of Indias commitment to a balanced foreign policy that prioritizes national interests while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics. Economically, India-Russia relations have traditionally been dominated by defence trade and cooperation. Russia remains one of Indias largest defence suppliers, accounting for a significant portion of its defence equipment imports. However, in recent years, both countries have expressed a desire to diversify their economic engagement beyond defence. Energy, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and technology are emerging as new areas of collaboration, reflective of evolving global economic trends and the strategic interests of both nations. One of the most notable aspects of the India-Russia relationship after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine was Indias unapologetic purchase of discounted Russian crude oil despite the questions it raised for the Indias relationship with the US. The leap in crude oil trade helped the total trade between India and Russia reach nearly $50 billion from 2022-2023, crossing the two countries previous aspiration of reaching $30 billion by 2025. India also exports a growing amount of food and pharmaceutical items to Russia, which are outside the ambit of Western sanctions. India has also shown no shyness in emphasizing that it is Indias refinement of Russian crude oil and the subsequent sale of it to other markets, including Europe, that has created some stability in the global oil market. From a geopolitical perspective, Indias engagement with Russia complements its broader strategy of multi-alignment. While India maintains robust ties with Western powers, including the United States and European Union countries, its relationship with Russia provides a crucial balancing factor in the global arena. Moscows role in regional stability, particularly in Eurasia and Central Asia, aligns with Indias interests in countering terrorism, ensuring energy security, and promoting connectivity through initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Moreover, Russias support for Indias permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and other international fora remains a cornerstone of bilateral diplomatic cooperation. Prime Minister Modis visit is expected to reaffirm Indias commitment to strengthening these aspects of the relationship while exploring new avenues for collaboration in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space technology. Critics of Indias close ties with Russia argue that Moscows strained relations with the West could potentially isolate India diplomatically or limit its strategic options in the long term. However, the resilience and strategic depth of the Indo-Russian partnership overrides these apprehensions, emphasizing its ability to withstand global geopolitical shifts and contribute positively to regional and global stability. The visit carries a certain domestic message, giving comfort to some of the coalition partners, apart from making a statement to the opposition parties, which have been weary of Modis overtures to leaders like Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu. Being pure regional players, coalition partners such as Chandrababu Naidus TDP have very little to worry about alignment with this global power or that, but Bihar strongman Nitish Kumar would be happy to see India-Russia ties flourish, given his socialist protestations. Yet, there is no doubt that Modis Russia visit sends nuanced messages to various domestic constituencies while moving ahead with Indias foreign policy priorities and commitment to expanding economic cooperation beyond traditional defence ties. As both countries navigate a complex global landscape, the visit is poised to set the stage for deeper engagement across multiple sectors, fostering mutual prosperity and advancing shared interests on the international stage. (IPA) ON RESULT THE Bombay High Court has raised absolutely right question: Whether it (measures) has yielded results? Though the High Court asked the question to the Railway authorities in the context of deaths of commuters travelling in Mumbai local trains, it must be considered by all sections of the society in the wider context of issues that have been haunting the public at large across the country. A host of public interest litigations (PILs) and other petitions are filed in various courts in the country, raising a variety of issues. The courts concerned examine the matters, pass orders, and the authorities concerned are asked to initiate corrective measures to provide relief to the aggrieved citizens. However, as has been the societys collective and common experience, on many occasions, PILs continue to be heard for years as newer dimensions come up and the measures initiated by the authorities fail to yield desired results. Sometimes, the measures create new set of problems too. In certain cases, the authorities cite the lack of availability of funds. In some others, the authorities fail to complete the process in time. In still some more cases, compliance to the court orders translates into mere utilisation of funds made available to them. As a result, actual problem does not get solved. This is applicable in the matter of deaths of commuters in case of Mumbai local trains, or menace of stray dogs in all the major cities, or flooding of cities due to faulty urban planning, or structural safety of buildings, or preservation of lakes or rivers... the list is endless. Why does this happen? Why the court directions and official compliance from the authorities concerned does not result into resolution of issues at hand? In an era when performance, outcomes, indicators, key result areas have become the buzzwords, such kind of failure in yielding desired results needs to be examined seriously at all levels. The judiciary needs to introspect whether the orders are practically actionable and have long-term vision. The authorities need to consult experts from respective domains while proposing a plan of action in compliance to the court orders. The citizens also need to increase their level of awareness so that they become inalienable stakeholders in proper execution of measures initiated by the authorities following court intervention. The social and voluntary organisations need to indulge into well-informed activism and collect scientific evidence of localised importance so that corrective measures provide relief to people. For all this to happen, a social and cultural change also must happen in the area of accountability. Ultimately, people in any profession come from the larger society. Hence, the larger society needs to become responsible and be accountable for own actions. Mahatma Gandhi had once said that the court of conscience superseded all other courts. This court of conscience has in its foundation the philosophy of ethics. And, what is ethics? It is the knowledge of the difference between what one has a right to do, and what is right to do. Sadly, this does not happen at multiple levels in contemporary society. For, everyone becomes a good lawyer to justify ones mistakes and an unsparing judge when it comes to pointing out others mistakes. This kind of attitude needs to be shed individually and collectively. Of course, it may be too difficult for most. Still, apart from other measures, this difficult road will have to be tread to yield the results. Because, realisation of sad realities may be the first step towards a change that holds the promise of a bright future for all. On-the-spot registration for Amarnath yatra begins JAMMU, The administration on Thursday began the process for on-the-spot registration of devotees arriving here for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas. Amid tight security arrangements, 1,600 pilgrims have arrived at the Bhagwati-Nagar base camp here for their onward journey to Kashmir, officials said. Rush to throng base camp is going on, they said. Over 800 Sadhus, including women, have arrived at the traditional Ram Mandir and Geeta Bhawan and are upbeat to pay their obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, housing the naturally formed ice-Shivling. The 52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks --the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal -- on June 29. The first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammus Bhagwati Nagar base camp and Ram Mandir for the valley on Friday. While an on-the-spot registration centre has been set up for unregistered pilgrims in the Shalimar area of the city, a special camp for registration of sadhus has been set up at Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex, officials said. On-the-spot registration has been started today for the unregistered pilgrims coming from different parts of the country, Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) and In Charge of Mahajan Hall registration centre, Seema Parihar told PTI. Only five skeletons belonged to cow rest were of other animals Staff Reporter In a surprise revelation made in the administrative investigation conducted in the case of recovery of skeletons of more than 50 cattles at Katangi mountain, investigating team claimed that only 5 of the carcass belonged to cow rest were of other animals. The investigation committee comprising of Veterinarian, SDM, SDOP, CMHO and other officials has revealed that only 5 bodies were of cows and the remaining belonged to other animals. Simultaneously, all the bodies found were dumped there more than one and half months back, few were even years old. Meanwhile, the police have clarified to carry forward the investigation only after receiving autopsy report. It may be mentioned that the carcasses of cows were found in Katangi area of Jabalpur on June 23, 2024. Police had arrested 5 accused in this case. Police were still investigating the matter when once again on Wednesday they came to know that more than 50 severed heads and body parts of cows were found lying at Katangi area. A local shepherd had taken his cattles for grazing in the mountains adjacent to the Katangi area on Wednesday afternoon. There he saw the remains of heads and other body parts of cows dumped in large numbers. Soon after receiving information, workers of Bajrang Dal and Hindu organization reached the mountain and collected the remains. The heads of some cows looked like they were a day or two old. Its postmortem was conducted at the Veterinary College and Hospital. In the investigation report, it was cleared that regarding 57 animal skulls, prima facie it does not appear that they have been killed. No evidence has been found that animals have been slaughtered illegally at the site. No evidence has been found that dead animals have been brought and thrown there. Domesticated and wild animals roam in inaccessible hilly areas. In case of accident or normal death, the dead bodies remain there, which turn into remains over time. Investigation is being done by the police in the matter. Action will be taken as per law based on detailed investigation and evidence. Seasons first downpour exposes JMCs tall claims inundates many areas Staff Reporter heavy showers that lashed the city on Thursday evening inundated many areas of the city. First heavy showers of the monsoon season wreaked havoc in several areas, including Garha, as knee-deep water gushed into main roads and peoples houses. The rainfall has also exposed tall claims of Jabalpur Municipal Corporations of ensuring pre-monsoon cleaning of drains and nullahs. The heavy downpour flooded almost all important roads and residential areas in the city. To see the ground realities, State Public Works Department Minister Rakesh Singh visited waterlogged areas amid rains. He called Jabalpur Municipal Corporations officials to the site and instructed them to provide immediate relief to the denizens and find a permanent solution to the problem. The PWD Minister also discussed the issue with the local residents and assured them of a permanent solution. People informed him that this was a consistent problem. Minister Singh instructed the officials to find a permanent solution to the issue. He stated that although the problem has persisted for many years, efforts will be made to ensure a permanent solution, so that residents do not face such problems in the future. After attending a meeting with citizens and party workers at the community hall in Ramlila Ground in Garha, Singh was to head to another meeting at Pachmatha Temple in Indira Gandhi Ward, but he received information about the waterlogging in many localities of Garha area. He immediately reached the site and walked through the knee-deep water to survey the area. The flood control room of the JMC received plethora of complaints about waterlogging in houses. Spokesman of control room informed that they received complaints from many parts Garha, Gupteshwar, Madan Mahal, Adhartal, Dhanwantari Nagar, Damoh Naka, Medical etc. Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride. In his penetrating analysis, part of a series of editorials on Nigeria's challenges, Olu Fasan exposes the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Ola Olukoyede's leadership. Fasan's critique is a deep dive into the agency, uncovering significant issues of ineptitude and corruption. He depicts Olukoyede as a mere figurehead, susceptible to manipulation by influential figures such as Bola Tinubu, thereby tarnishing the EFCC's reputation for integrity. Despite Olukoyede's promises to tackle corruption head-on, the EFCC has, unfortunately, become a symbol of national disgrace, a farce of its intended purpose, and a distorted image of justice. The EFCC's recent conduct has further tarnished its already sullied reputation. The high-handed raid on Goodwill Private Schools Limited in Ikorodu, Lagos, on June 24, epitomizes this descent. In a display of brute force, EFCC operatives invaded the school premises, taking into custody the principal, Olufemi-King Saidat, and an employee, Collins Success Omodekah, in full view of terrified students. This unwarranted intrusion, executed without a shred of legal justification, not only disrupted the educational process but also inflicted psychological harm on the young learners, betraying a profound disrespect for their welfare and the sanctity of learning environments. Benson Enikuomehin, representing the school, issued a strong rebuke, highlighting the absence of a warrant and the lack of accountability in the EFCC's actions. His words, "The EFCC's conduct was devoid of any legal basis, causing unwarranted distress to our students," encapsulate the arbitrary and damaging nature of the agency's approach. This incident, symptomatic of a larger pattern, raises profound concerns about the EFCC's operational philosophy and its impact on the rule of law. As Nigeria confronts the EFCC's questionable tactics, it becomes imperative to reexamine the agency's role in the fight against corruption. The recurring targeting of entities such as Goodwill Private Schools Limited, without adherence to due process, serves as a poignant reminder of the fine line between enforcing the law and becoming an instrument of injustice. It is a clarion call for a recalibration of the EFCC's strategies and leadership, to prevent the agency from embodying the very corruption it is tasked with combating. Even if the EFCC had a justifiable basis for their actions, their execution was fundamentally flawed. The decision to storm a school without a warrant, to publicly humiliate educators in front of their students, and to offer no explanation is not merely incompetent; it borders on tyranny. This approach corrodes the core principles of justice and law enforcement, casting a long shadow over the agency's credibility. The EFCC's conduct at Goodwill Private Schools Limited illuminates a systemic deficiency within the agency: a glaring lack of professionalism and disregard for due process. As of this writing, the EFCC has remained conspicuously silent, failing to address the mounting controversy. This silence amplifies the agency's apparent inability to uphold the tenets of justice and integrity, sparking grave doubts about its operational ethos and underlying motives. Compounding these concerns, disturbing footage has emerged, revealing EFCC operatives allegedly engaging in violence at the Annex and Regional hotels in Isashi, Lagos. The CCTV footage captures a harrowing scene where operatives forcibly enter a hotel room, physically assaulting a woman clad in a nightgown, subjecting her to repeated slaps. Unbeknownst to them, their actions were being recorded as they proceeded to ransack the room, forcibly evicting the young woman. This incident sheds light on the EFCC's propensity for excessive force. The footage, obtained by SaharaReporters, shows operatives indiscriminately firing their weapons within the hotel premises, instilling fear and causing panic among innocent guests seeking respite. The chaotic scenes captured on camera serve as a stark reminder of the operatives' reckless conduct, prompting urgent questions about the agency's modus operandi. While it is a positive step that the EFCC has initiated action against the operatives involved in this particular incident, it raises a broader question: What about the countless other abuses that go unrecorded? How many instances of power being wielded without accountability slip through the cracks, unchecked and unpunished, simply because there is no visual evidence to hold the perpetrators to account? In the heart of a society deeply compromised, where the path into the force is sometimes paved with connections, payments, and bribes, and where the standards of pre-enlistment screenings are diluted, it is no surprise that we find ourselves inundated with officers lacking in integrity and professionalism, not just within the EFCC, but across various agencies. This systemic failure in recruitment and vetting processes has given rise to a force that is a mirror of the very corruption it is meant to fight. The tragedy deepens when we consider that even if some of these officers were to be dismissed and face legal consequences, the judiciaryas it stands todayhas been described by some honest judges as a marketplace for corrupt judgments. This sobering reality only underscores the depth of our challenges. Integrating the EFCC into the Nigeria Police Force, which is itself riddled with problems, would not offer a viable solution. It would resemble the fusion of two flawed systems, intensifying the issues rather than resolving them. The journey towards reform must initiate with stringent pre-employment background checks, coupled with thorough psychological, financial, drug, and alcohol evaluations. This approach is crucial to transform Nigeria's law enforcement agencies, ensuring they are populated with individuals who possess integrity and professionalism. It is imperative for law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to engage with professional and innovative bodies such as the Nigerian Association of Psychology. The leadership of this association, which can be contacted through the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa, is well-positioned to provide unbiased pre-employment assessments and other forms of assistance, thereby contributing to the much-needed reform in Nigeria's law enforcement sector. In a stark juxtaposition, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) demonstrates a quieter but steadfast approach, focusing on low-profile cases and making meaningful strides without the need for spectacle. The EFCC, once a name that evoked respect and fear, now seems like a child mimicking authority, lost in pretense. In the culmination of our discourse, we find a convergence of voices, from Olu Fasan's piercing critique to the Oba of Benin's somber reflections, and even Ola Olukoyede's contemplative admissions, collectively illustrating an agency enmeshed in a labyrinth of corruption and political chicanery, woefully deficient in its pursuit of its noble objectives. The EFCC, as it currently operates, is not merely a disappointment; it is a blemish upon the nation's honor, a farce that corrodes the very essence of its mandate. It is, in truth, a toothless bulldog, enfeebled in its quest for justice, and in dire need of reform or, if the situation warrants, dismantling. Nigeria, a nation that hungers for justice and equity, deserves an institution that champions these ideals, not one that belittles them. It is our collective duty to lift our voices in harmony, demanding a system that embodies the virtues of justice, integrity, and professionalism that we hold sacred. We must labor tirelessly towards the establishment of a law enforcement agency that radiates hope, rather than despair. In a moment that intertwines irony with solemnity, one might muse about entrusting the EFCC's destiny to the Afrobeat industry, which, for all its artistic flair, stands as a bastion of organizational prowess and global excellence. This industry, with its adept navigation of the global landscape while upholding a bedrock of integrity and success, offers a compelling lesson in leadership and governance. It serves as a reminder that leadership transcends traditional boundaries; in vibrant societies, leadership is synonymous with competence, vision, and the power to ignite change. Let us speak candidly about the leadership quandaries within the EFCC. The agency's tribulations cannot be solely attributed to Chairman Ola Olukoyede or his immediate predecessors, who may have harbored sincere aspirations for improvement. The roots of the problem delve deeper into a society where systemic flaws overshadow individual ambitions, exacerbating issues rather than resolving them. The journey toward meaningful reform must commence with meticulous pre-employment scrutiny, including psychological, financial, and substance abuse assessments. These foundational reforms are essential to transform Nigeria's law enforcement agencies, ensuring they are staffed by individuals of unimpeachable integrity and professionalism. By laying these robust foundations, we can sculpt a more effective and trustworthy EFCC, poised to confront the nation's challenges head-on. Thus, it is incumbent upon Nigeria to explore unorthodox avenues of leadership, shattering the bonds of tradition and embracing a future sculpted by merit and capability, not cronyism or political expediency. On a comically serious note, perhaps we should consider handing over the EFCC to the Afrobeat industry. The Afrobeat industry in Nigeria stands out as a beacon of organizational efficiency and global standards. There is a valuable lesson to be learned from an industry that knows how to run an organization with integrity and success. The mistake Nigeria makes is assuming that only insiders, promoted from within, can head law enforcement agencies. This is not the case in functional societies. Nigeria must break away from the flawed notion that only insiders can lead effectively. The path to reform is fraught with obstacles, but it is a journey we must embark upon to forge a Nigeria that truly embodies the aspirations of its populace. By embracing merit-based leadership and implementing comprehensive pre-employment screenings, we can create a law enforcement system that upholds justice and integrity. Only then can we ensure that the EFCC and other agencies are not merely symbols of authority but actual instruments of positive change and accountability. Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, is an American-based police and prison scientist, forensic psychologist, public policy psychologist, and legal psychologist. Hes a government advisor on forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA and the founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation for Psychological Health. With a significant role in introducing forensic psychology to Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, hes also a former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association. Hes taught at esteemed institutions like Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and more, and is currently an online faculty member at Weldios University, Nexus International University, and Walden University. [email protected] One plant, two names. A leading Aussie researcher discovered the British had made a major error over two centuries ago. Pictured is the "type" Robert Brown described as Leucopogon biflorus. It matched plants found in northwest NSW (pictured) and Queensland, but not in Sydney. Source: Natural History Museum London/Michael Dahlstrom A mistake made by a British botanist who sailed to Australia to collect and name plants has been corrected 200 years after it was made. The discovery has prompted a confession from modern experts that there are likely dozens of similar errors yet to be discovered. It happens quite a lot. Normally, theres not a 200-year lag before someone works it out, plant expert Tony Bean told Yahoo News. Bean noticed the problem while examining a species of a common flowering shrub that flourishes across forests in Queensland and NSW. He found that back in 1810 when the plant was described, samples collected from one species were accidentally given two names. After looking through historical records, he's confident he knows why the error was made. And he's published a long-overdue correction in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy in June, 2024. Related: Tiny new plant species 'miraculously' discovered at edge of sprawling development Why Aussie botanist became 'suspicious' of plant description The mistake occurred in 1810 when Scotsman Robert Brown described seven new species from the Leucopogon family in the Sydney area all of which look extremely similar. But 214 years later, when Bean re-examined Browns records he found something suspicious about one of the seven Leucopogon biflorus. There are no other records of it growing anywhere near Sydney, he said, adding that the the closest occurrence is 400km away near Dubbo. Leucopogon biflorus (left) and Leucopogon setigera (right) are similar in appearance. Source: iNaturalist/Kerry240/sapphfire Concerned by the anomaly, Bean set about looking for an image of Browns specimen, kept in the vaults of the Natural History Museum in London. He was surprised to discover his description of the plant and a high resolution image of the plant Brown studied did not match. "It's been puzzling as to why someone didn't find it out earlier. I guess it's easier to find images online now. Ten or 20 years ago those images weren't available and you'd have to borrow the physical specimen and have it sent over from London or Paris," Bean concluded. Why was the plant given the wrong name? The orginal Leucopogon biflorus samples collected in 1810, known in biology as the holotype or "type" clearly came from the same species of plant Brown named Leucopogon setiger. Bean is pretty sure he knows why Brown's mix-up occurred. In this case, the type of Leucopogon setiger only had immature flowers just the buds. And also, I think it was taken from quite a young plant, maybe having its first flowering, he said. Whereas the type of Leucopogon biflorus was good quality, had full flowers, and mature foliage. That's why I think the mistake was made in the first place. Does Leucopogon biflorus actually exist? In the following decades, other botanists applied the name Leucopogon biflorus and its synonym Styphelia biflorus to plant specimens they came across outside of Sydney, including northwest across the Liverpool Plains. And to botanists the two plants are nothing alike Bean noticed differences in the leaves, stalks, and flowers. "They're like chalk and cheese," he said. This meant Bean couldn't solve Brown's error by simply combining Leucopogon biflorus and Leucopogon setiger into one. "The species that for many years has been recognised under the name Leucopogon biflorus is distinct and warrants recognition," Bean wrote in his paper. And because our understanding of plants has improved over the last 200 years, Bean realised he couldn't keep the name Leucopogon biflorus because it was now understood to belong to a different genus. To clear up the problem, Bean cancelled the name Styphelia biflorus, and its synonym Styphelia biflora, and reverted to a different name for the plant Styphelia sparsa. Bean is a senior Botanist at the Queensland Herbarium in Brisbane, his paper was published under the title The demise of Styphelia biflora. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. The mum was shocked to see the mattresses dumped on the driveway, however the owner believes they were within their rights to take such action. Laura Maultby had 26 mattresses dumped on her Melbourne property by Junk.com.au this week after she didn't pay an invoice. Source: TikTok and Reddit A family can't use their driveway after 26 old mattresses were dumped there by a rubbish removal company following a dispute over an unpaid bill. However, the company claims it has acted within its rights and is continuing to pursue its full fee for removing rubbish from the Melbourne home. Laura Maultby and her partner Jarrod arranged for old rotting wood to be removed from their home in Langwarrin, in southeast Melbourne, by collection company Junk.com.au. After workers cleared it on Tuesday an invoice was sent to the couple, however, Maultby claims it was well overpriced at $514. "When they picked it up and we got the invoice, I went back through all the communications and found the price, like, buried in the documentation... the pricing was ambiguous," she told Yahoo News Australia. The couple claim they only had "just over one cubic metre" of wood, while Junk.com.au owner Richard Furnari told Yahoo News his team collected over two and a half cubic metres of wood. He claims the couple were sent price information before the collection was made. "He [Jarrod] contacted our office and he was sent in writing a quotation of $99 for a collection for two men in a truck, and $190 a cubic metre for waste," Furnari said. "He [Jarrod] said he didn't know exactly how much wood he had before collection." The couple claim they only had "just over one cubic metre" of wood, while Junk.com.au owner Richard Furnari claims they collected over two and a half cubic metres of wood. Mattresses dumped on property to 'mitigate losses' The couple refused to pay the invoice and a dispute between both parties turned sour when Furnari warned the residents that workers would dump 26 mattresses on their property to "mitigate our losses of the job". He claims the couple agreed to this possibility when they engaged Junk.com.au services, as the company's terms and conditions state the following on its website: 'In the event of non-payment, the client expressly provides JUNK Group with the right to... unload either the clients waste collected or the equivalent volume of waste to the property.' Maultby says these are "unreasonable expectations" in a company's terms and conditions and was "shocked" when she saw the mattresses on her property. A fiery text exchange between the parties followed, and Maultby shared her experience on social media. Unpaid invoice lodged in court Furnari advised Yahoo News a collection of the mattresses has since been arranged on Friday to "avoid dispute with the customer" and he has since lodged the unpaid invoice in a claim with the Victoria Civil & Administrative Tribunal. "Rather than have a dispute over the mattresses, the mattresses will be collected, and we'll just pursue them for the money that they owe in the court," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Two women teachers, including the headmistress of Saradamoni Primary School in Liluah, Howrah were admitted to the Medical College Hospital (MCH) with severe burn injuries after a LPG cylinder burst inside the kitchen of the school on Thursday. The condition of the two injured were stated to be critical. According to police, the incident occurred this morning when students were offering prayers inside the school premises. Teachers, students and locals heard the sound of a huge burst inside the premises. Advertisement Some teachers rushed to the kitchen soon after hearing the sound and found a fire breaking out there. They also spotted two of their colleagues Tapasi Goswami (headmistress) and Emily Saha writhing in pain, caused by burn injuries inside the kitchen. The teachers along with some students raised an alarm and locals rushed to the spot. They informed police and fire brigade services. Two firefighting engines were pressed into service to bring the fire under control. The firemen along with police rescued the two teachers and took them to the MCH in a critical condition. Mrs Goswami sustained around 70 per cent burn injuries, police said. Some teachers said that the incident happened when Mrs Goswami and Mrs Saha were making tea there. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee instructed Vivek Kumar, the principal secretary of the land and land reforms department, to review the documents pertaining to government-owned land that has been illegally taken over by a group of land mafia and subsequently sold to third parties. The chief minister held a meeting at Nabanna on Thursday and cautioned Vivek Kumar that the government will not permit the transfer of ownership to third parties who have purchased government land from land mafias in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri regions. According to CM Ms Banerjee, she has received numerous complaints regarding a group of land mafia illegally obtaining government-owned land and selling it to others. She has also requested an investigation into the transfer of land belonging to the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) to determine the extent of illegal transactions. Advertisement Additionally, the CM has asked for a report on all land transactions made by SJDA in the last seven years. The state government has recently dismissed the chairman of SJDA, Sourav Chakraborty, and disbanded the committee. Currently, bureaucrats have been chosen to manage the functions of SJDA. The chief minister made it clear that she directed the police to apprehend the Dabgram Fulbari Block president of her party in Jalpaiguri for illegally selling government-owned land. She emphasized the importance of taking immediate action and ensuring that no one involved is exempt from consequences. Depending on reported complaints, even councillors or party leaders may face arrest. As such, I have instructed the police to arrest the Dabgram Fulbari Block president of our party, she said. Debasish Pramanik, a prominent member of the Trinamul Congress, was apprehended by the Siliguri Metropolitan Police yesterday evening following a complaint from a woman named Julapi Roy. Two other individuals were also arrested in connection with this incident. Today, Mr Pramanik and his accomplices were brought before the court where they were granted a seven-day police custody for additional probing, according to sources. Julapi Roy claims that a group of five individuals, who possess forged documents for a 2.6 decimal parcel of land, coerced her into leaving the property. These five people hold significant political power. Debasish Pramanik and Goutam Goswami, both political leaders, persistently intimidated her to vacate the plot of land. Notably, a few days ago, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed the authorities concerned to take stern action against those land mafia members who were illegally grabbing and selling government land at high prices in Dabgram Fulbari and Kawakhali near Siliguri. Mr Pramanik, who was Trinamul Congresss block president in Dabgram Fulbari and a former member of Jalpaiguri zilla parishad (karmadhakshya), had close ties with Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb, who has been elected as an MLA from Dabgram Fulbari twice. However, Goutam Goswami has served as a member of SJDA. Sources reveal that the chief minister has been made aware of her party leaders involvement in illegally obtaining government land for various projects such as housing projects, industrial growth centres in Dabgram, Teesta Barrage Project at Kawakhali, and even the National Highway project in Jalpaiguri. It has been reported that a number of officials connected to the block land and land reforms offices, especially Rajganj block land and land reforms office in Jalpaiguri, as well as the district land acquisition department, are suspected of being involved in fraudulent land activities. Due to the lack of mutation conducted by the state government on acquired lands, land mafias were able to exploit the situation and claim ownership of the land by altering old records from before the acquisition, sources said. A number of TMC leaders here have allegedly taken possession of a significant amount of land, owned by the government near Uttarkanya, a branch secretariat, and Dabgram Industrial Growth Center within the Siliguri Metropolitan Police Commissionerate. In addition, unscrupulous individuals, belonging to TMC, have also encroached upon land belonging to SJDA and the irrigation and waterways department (especially for Teesta Project) in the Kawakhali region. Following the arrest of Mr Pramanik, other leaders such as the booth president and members of the gram panchayat have fled their residences. Continuing their outstanding performance, 146 Indian students, including 75 women, have been awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarships for the two-year masters programme in Europe under Erasmus+ for the 2024 academic year, making India one of the top recipients of the scholarship. Worldwide, 2,603 students from 137 countries have been awarded scholarships this year for the Erasmus Mundus Joint masters degree, which offers a study programme jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions, a European union press release said. 2024 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters program, a milestone that underscores the programs positive impact on students, higher education institutions, and countries beyond the EU. Advertisement India has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, with over 2000 students receiving the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship since its inception in 2004. Overall, more than 6,000 Erasmus+ short and long-term scholarships have been awarded to Indian students since the program opened to international students in 2004, providing access to state-of-the-art education and research facilities, international exposure, and valuable professional networks and thus opened up wider professional opportunities. To mark both these milestones, the Delegation of the European Union to India hosted an event for the grantees, celebrating the growing people-to-people links and mobility between the EU and India. These scholars are set to embark on their international degree programs in Europe starting this September. The selected students will have the opportunity to study and conduct research at a minimum of two universities in different European countries, earning joint or double degrees in diverse fields such as sustainability, pharmaceuticals, engineering, quantum, data and various STEM and social science disciplines. The fully funded scholarship covers the recipients tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance. Europe today is home to over 4,000 higher education institutions, from top-level research establishments to small, teaching-focused colleges. With more than 5,000 institutions, 17.5 million tertiary education students, 1.35 million educators, and 1.17 million researchers, Europe is a thriving hub for higher education and research. In a step towards helping socio-economic upliftment of marginal and small farmers, the CSIR- CMERI has developed compact, affordable and easily maneuverable tractors. The tractor is developed to cater to small and marginal farmers that could help them increase agricultural productivity while keeping the cost low. Further, an MSME has planned to set up a manufacturing plant for mass production of tractors for supply to farmers. Advertisement Notably, the marginal and small farmers comprise over 80% of cultivators in India. A large population of them still depend on bullock driven farming in which operational costs, maintenance costs and poor returns pose a challenge. Though power tillers are replacing bullock driven plough, they are cumbersome to operate. Tractors, on the other hand, are unsuitable for small farmers and unaffordable for most small farmers. In order to address these challenges, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR- CMERI) has developed a compact, affordable and easily maneuverable tractor of low horsepower range to meet the requirement of the marginal and small farmers, with support from the SEED Division of DST. They have promoted the technology among several existing SHGs, and efforts were made to create new SHGs particularly for this technology. CSIR- CMERI is also discussing licensing it to local companies for large scale manufacturing, so that the benefits can reach the local farmers. The tractor has been developed with a 9 hp diesel engine with 8 forward and 2 reverse speeds, PTO with 6 splines @540 rpm. The total weight of the tractor is around 450kg, having front and rear wheel sizes of 4.5-10 and 6-16 respectively. The wheelbase, ground clearance, and turning radius are 1200 mm, 255mm, and 1.75m, respectively. It can help speed up farming, finishing it in a few hours in comparison to several days that the bullock cart needs and also reduces capital and maintenance cost of farmers. Hence, the affordable compact tractor could replace the bullock driven plough for small and marginal farmers. The technology was demonstrated in nearby villages and to various manufacturers. A Ranchi based MSME has shown interest in manufacturing it by setting up a plant for mass production of the tractor. They plan to supply the developed tractor to farmers through different state government tenders at subsidized rates. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on Thursday that it has, with the concurrence of the government of India, decided to put in place a revised Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC countries for 2024 to 2027. Under this Framework, the Reserve Bank of India would enter bilateral swap agreements with the central banks of SAARC countries, who want to avail of the swap facility. The SAARC Currency Swap Facility came into operation on November 15, 2012 with an intention to provide a backstop line of funding for short term foreign exchange liquidity requirements or balance of payment crises of the SAARC countries till longer term arrangements are made. Advertisement Under the Framework for 2024-27, a separate INR Swap Window has been introduced with various concessions for swap support in Indian Rupee. The total corpus of the rupee support is Rs 250 billion. The RBI will continue to offer the swap arrangement in US dollar and Euro under a separate US Dollar/ Euro Swap Window with an overall corpus of $2 billion. The Currency Swap Facility will be available to all SAARC member countries, subject to their signing the bilateral swap agreements. Apart from India, the other SAARC member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have busted a dating app scam where gullible men are lured to cafes to celebrate the birthday of girls they meet on the app, and end up paying hefty bills under duress. A similar case was busted by a team of Shakarpur police station in east Delhi. According to the complainant, who is preparing for the civil services exam, he had met a girl through a dating app on June 23 and went out to celebrate her birthday in a local cafe at Vikas marg area. Advertisement The two ate cakes, snacks and as they celebrated the girls birthday, who also consumed fruit beer. Suddenly, the boy was surprised when the girl just left the cafe in a hurry citing a family emergency, and as soon as she stepped out from the eatery, the cafe manager presented a bill amounting to approx. one lakh twenty thousand. When the complainant saw the disputed bill, he tried to enquire, but was threatened, confined, and forced to pay, for which he made an online payment. Later, on feeling scammed, he reported the matter to the local police, who accordingly registered a case under relevant sections. Based on the complaint, the police formed a team who first questioned a person named Akshay (32) on whose account the said amount was transferred online. He disclosed that the cafe is owned by four others, further revealing that the real identity and details of the girl who posed as Versha, was actually Afsan Parveen alias Aaysha alias Noor (25), who is a resident of Krishna Nagar. With the help of technical surveillance, the accused Afsan Parveen was apprehended at another cafe where she was with a boy from Mumbai, whom she had met through a matrimonial site. During interrogation, she disclosed that one Aryan communicated with the complainant under the false name Versha, sharing her photo in one-time view mode and inviting him to Laxmi Nagar on June 23 for celebrating her birthday. The bill amount at the cafe was divided in a fixed ratio, 15 per cent to the girl, 45 per cent between the table and cafe managers, and the remaining 40 per cent to the owners. The police is on hunt for the other accused fraudsters. The police said, several such schemes operate in major metro cities like Delhi, NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad to extort money from innocent victims. This scam involves collusion between cafe owners, managers, and individuals who trap victims through dating apps. These individuals, known as table managers, create fake profiles on dating apps and lure victims to the cafe, where they are overcharged for food and drinks. If the victim refuses to pay, they are threatened, beaten, or confined until they comply. Social stigma often prevents victims from reporting such incidents to the police. TfNSW supplied this photo to lawyer Merridy Gordon, claiming she was on her phone. When in actual fact, the item on her lap was a piece of banana bread, seen nestled behind an E-tag. Source: Supplied A lawyer has unleashed on transport authorities after she was fined $387 and lost 10 demerit points for "using a phone" behind the wheel only, the "square object" picked up by cameras was in fact not any kind of device, but rather a fresh piece of banana bread. Sydney woman Merridy Gordon said she was driving home from Canberra along the M5 in January when mobile detection cameras apparently detected her using her phone behind the wheel. Weeks later in February she received a notice in the mail informing her that she'd been slugged with the fine, and due to the public holiday, would attract a loss of a whopping 10 demerit points. Confused, Gordon said she quickly jumped online onto the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) website to check what exactly the cameras had picked up. She said after enlarging the pictures, it was immediately apparent that the item in her lap was a tasty snack, and not her phone. Gordon was ordered to pay $387 and attracted a loss of 10 demerit points before she took the case to court and eventually had the infringement thrown out. Source: Supplied Item in lap clearly a snack not phone, driver says "My phone's got a green case and it was tucked down the side of the seat," Gordon told Yahoo News Australia. "My hand was on a square object, too. So I thought 'what the heck is my hand on? I was thinking about it and then I got the photos enlarged and that's when I realised. I thought 'no, that's banana bread, which I bought in Canberra before I left to come home to Sydney'." Gordon said she wrote to TfNSW and explained the situation, that her phone was clearly down the side of the console and the item in her lap was distinctly square, not rectangular-shaped like almost every smartphone nowadays. "They pretty much said 'too bad, so sad, don't care' and that I'd have to take the matter to court," Gordon recalled. "So I elected to go to court, and I had to go to Campbelltown because it was on the M5." Gordon recalled that immediately after presenting the magistrate with the photos he said "it was clear to me" that "mobile phones were rectangular, and that's clearly not rectangular, what she has a hand on" and "I can see the phone down the side'". According to the magistrate overseeing Gordon's case, TfNSW must 'prove beyond reasonable doubt' the item in her lap was a phone, which she said, he wasn't satisfied they had. Source: Supplied "The guy from TfNSW said 'well we don't accept that, we think it looks a bit thin to be banana bread' which is just a stupid thing to say'," Gordon said, adding that she was told she no longer "had to prove anything" despite offering up further records in her defence. Court orders TfNSW to reimburse lawyer after seeing photo Gordon said the magistrate then told her "the department has to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you were on the phone, and I've got a doubt". Requesting her legal fees be compensated, Gordon explained she at first "wrote TfNSW a letter before coming here, explaining what had happened". "That's when he got really irate and said to TfNSW 'your institution has a responsibility to look at these photographs properly, it's clear from the photographs there's a significant doubt about whether she was holding a phone'. "The magistrate said to TfNSW, 'Ms Gordon clearly wrote you a sensible letter and you just ignored it'." TfNSW was ordered to pay Gordon's legal fees worth $4,000. Her fine was dismissed and demerit points reinstated. "My issue is with institutions, government departments, whether they're banks, whatever, they just run roughshod over people and they don't care," she said. Court documents seen by Yahoo News Australia confirm that TfNSW was ordered to reimburse Gordon to the tune of $4,000 by August 1 of this year. Transport department weighs in Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Sally Webb, Deputy Secretary for Safety, Environment and Regulation, said Transport for NSW would not comment specifically on the case, but she defended the mobile phone detection camera program, saying it is "a key initiative to achieve the governments target of zero road fatalities by 2056." "Automated, camera-based enforcement, coupled with police enforcement, has played a critical role in addressing other high-risk behaviours on our roads such as speeding and red light running. These camera programs are proven to help prevent crashes and reduce road trauma," she told Yahoo. "All suspected mobile phone offences detected by the cameras and software system are checked by trained and authorised personnel before an infringement is issued. It is rare for misidentification to happen. There are a number of checks and balances in place including reviews by both Transport for NSW and Revenue NSW. If it is determined that a fine should stand as an outcome of these review processes, a driver may elect to have the matter dealt with at court." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav on Friday appealed to party workers to strive hard to strengthen the party at the ground level. He appealed while addressing an executive committee meeting of the Rohini District Congress Committee at Mahendra Pradhan Dharmshala, Swaroop Nagar. Speaking on the occasion, the Delhi Congress chief said, People are now looking up to the Congress to save Delhi from its present plight of misgovernance and disturbed state of civic services, as the AAP government had neglected Delhiites for the past 10 years. Advertisement He said the main purpose of organising such a meeting was to strengthen the party at the booth level by activating not only the Congress foot soldiers but also involving local people, and social and charitable organizations in the partys activities. Lauding Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Yadav said, With Jan Nayak Rahul Gandhi taking over as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the voice of the common people will be heard and their prayers answered. Rahul ji has been consistently and fearlessly speaking up for the common people inside and outside the House. He also appealed to the Congress workers to hoist the party flag atop their houses to widen the reach of the party and popularise the programmes and policies of the party. The first convoy of 231 vehicles carrying 4,603 pilgrims heading for the cave shrine of Amarnath in the Kashmir Valley was on Friday flagged off from here by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha. The heavily guarded convoy set off on the journey to its sacred destination amid chants of Vedic Mantras from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here. The 300-kilometre-long Jammu-Srinagar highway was thoroughly sanitised early in the morning by Army and CRPF personnel before the pilgrims embarked on their journey to the holy shrine in the mountains. Advertisement The trek to the 3,880-meter-high shrine will begin from the two base camps, Baltal and Pahalgam, in the Valley. The 52-day-long yatra will culminate on 19 August. While flagging off the yatra, the lieutenant governor extended his best wishes to all the pilgrims and wished them a safe, blessed, and spiritually enriching journey. May the blessings of Baba Amarnath Ji bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to everyones life, he said. Prominent spiritual leaders; heads of religious organisations; public representatives; senior officers of Civil Administration, Police, Security Forces and Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, prominent citizens, and devotees in large number were present on the occasion. Authorities have imposed traffic restrictions on various routes from today to 19 August, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience, the police said. According to reports, more than 3.50 lakh people have registered for this years yatra. As many as 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and are supported by over 6,000 volunteers. Besides, several langars have been established on the highway from Pathankot (Punjab)-Jammu and Srinagar by various social and religious organisations. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the government is ready for discussion on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam issue, but it should happen within tradition and decorum. However, the Opposition is adamant on its demand to enforce a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination in Parliament. No business was conducted in the Lok Sabha with the Opposition holding strong on its demand for a discussion on NEET. Advertisement Talking to reporters outside the Parliament after the Lok Sabha was adjourned till July 1 amidst Opposition members seeking the acceptance of an adjournment motion to suspend all business and discuss matters related to NEET, Pradhan said, The government is ready for every kind of discussion, but everything should happen within tradition and decorum. The minister appealed to the Opposition that they should not confuse the students on the matter. When the President herself spoke about the exam in her speech yesterday, it showed the governments intention that we are ready to face any issue The governments responsibility is towards the youth of the country, towards the students of the country The government is ready to put forth its side, then what is the confusion? We are going to take the strictest action and the CBI is going to catch everyone, we will not spare anyone, he said. He further said a credible high-level committee has also been formed for reform, soon the date of all those exams will also be announced. I also request the opposition to come out of politics and join the discussion, Pradhan said. We are not going to spare anyone. Those who were in charge of NTA have been removed and the responsibility has been given to senior officials. All this is proof of the governments commitment I want to appeal to the opposition that they should not confuse the students he added. Notably, for the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. As per the agencys FIR, certain isolated incidents occurred in a few states during the conduct of the NEET (UG) 2024 examination, which was held on May 5, 2024. The NEET (UG) 2024 Examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 5, 2024, at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 cities abroad, with over 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720, which led to widespread protests in the country. The Ministry of Education said it has constituted a high-level committee of experts to make recommendations on reforms in the mechanism of the examination process, improvements in data security protocols, and the functioning of the NTA External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana (Kazakhstan) to be held on 3-4 July, it was officially announced here on Friday. At a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Moscow for the India-Russia Annual Summit soon. He said preparations for the summit are being made and the dates could be announced soon. The SCO brings together China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, India and Pakistan. It acts as a platform for member states to address regional security concerns, fight terrorism, and promote economic development and also serves as a partner to the United Nations on issues related to peace and security Advertisement Usually, the PM represents India at its summits but Mr Modi has deputed his foreign minister to lead the Indian delegation this time apparently since it coincides with the Parliament session. Last year, Prime Minister Modi virtually hosted the SCO summit and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Russian President Vladimir Putin also participated. At least three persons including a Myanmarese national were killed while one was injured after a mound of sand collapsed while they were digging sand in Mizorams Champhai district, the police said. A police officer said the mishap happened near Melbuk village when a portion of the sand mound collapsed and the labourers were buried beneath the sand. The deceased, including the injured, aged between 16 and 20, were engaged in a digging operation in the Tiau river for commercial purposes. Advertisement While two people, residents of Mizoram, died on the spot, the Myanmar national succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital. The injured person is now under medical treatment in the Champhai district hospital, the police official said. Police said that those who were digging river sand for commercial purposes by using excavators breached safety norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, recognizing his rich contribution to the nation. Modi said in a post on X, I pay homage to former PM Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu on his birth anniversary. He is remembered for his leadership and wisdom. It is our Governments honour that we conferred the Bharat Ratna on him earlier this year, recognising his rich contribution to our nation. Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao was born on June 28, 1921. He was the ninth prime minister of India during the years from 1991 to 1996. His government did major economic reforms that saw the dismantling of what was known as license raj where entrepreneurs faced a lot of restrictions. Advertisement Rao was a veteran Congress leader who became the prime minister in 1991 after the assassination of former prime minister and party leader Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress party also paid its tribute to Rao, calling him a distinguished statesman and crediting him with reinventing India. On his birth anniversary, we remember the former PM of India, P.V. Narasimha Rao, who introduced some noteworthy liberal reforms to the Indian economy. Today, we pay a humble tribute to Mr Rao, a distinguished statesman who reinvented India, both at home & abroad, it said in a social media post. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Raos contribution towards the economic transformation of India will always be cherished. Remembering Former Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary. His tremendous contribution towards the economic transformation of India and nation-building shall always be cherished, he said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav granted citizenship to three youths for the first time in MP under the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The three youths who received the citizenship certificates at Bhopal from the CM are Rakhi Das and siblings Sanjana Melwani and Sameer Melwani. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said: Our family members have come back to their homeland to preserve their religion. We will welcome all those who gain citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act. It is fortunate that the new generation is becoming part of Madhya Pradesh, and they will have the same rights as other citizens. The CM emphasised, They are welcome in Madhya Pradesh, and the state government will provide all possible assistance to them. Advertisement The CM lauded PM Narendra Modi for implementing the CAA. After the implementation of Section 6B under the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, citizenship has been granted to three people for the first time in Madhya Pradesh. Section 6B has been added to the Citizenship Act 1955 to provide citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019. For the grant of citizenship under the CAA, the migrant must belong to one of the communities Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian. The applicant must be a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, and must have entered India on or before 31st December 2014. Applications under CAA are filed online on the website https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ or through the mobile application, CAA-2019. The Lok Sabha on Friday failed to take up the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmus address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, as the Opposition raised noisy slogans in both Houses to demand an immediate discussion on the NEET paper leak scam. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day, shortly before the Motion of Thanks was to be taken up after 12 noon, as members of the Congress and other Opposition parties walked into the well of the House and surrounded the officials table. The members were supporting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhis demand for admission of an adjournment motion to have a dedicated discussion on the paper leak scam. The Opposition insisted on the adjournment despite the Speakers advice that no adjournment motion or zero hour is allowed when the Presidents address is to be discussed. Advertisement The Rajya Sabha took up the discussion on the Motion of Thanks in spite of the Oppositions slogan-shouting. In an unprecedented move, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge walked into the well of the House along with party members demanding the paper leak discussion. Mr Kharge resumed his seat within a couple of minutes, although the Congress members continued in the well, shouting slogans that Mr Kharge be heard. Security guards came close to the officials table. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said never before the Leader of Opposition had walked into the well of the House. A little later, the Chairman again referred to the ignoble conduct of the Opposition members in the House and said it was very painful and unbelievable to see Mr Kharge, a leader with over 50 years parliamentary experience, walking into the well of the House. Just as Mr Gandhi demanded the adjournment motion early in Lok Sabha, Mr Birla said the Opposition can raise all issues at length during a discussion on the Presidential address. The Opposition members immediately left their seats and stood in aisles between the members seats. The Speaker called for papers to be laid to proceed with the work, but Mr Gandhi said the Opposition condemned the paper leaks. The Speaker told him you will get all the time to discuss it. By 11.15, there was a heavy presence of Opposition members all around the officials table, with security guards moving closer. The House was adjourned till 12 noon. The Speaker again asked Mr Gandhi to control the Opposition members and let Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to speak as per the agenda on constitution of the Parliamentary committees. Mr Birla said the whole House had responsibility to ensure its proper functioning. In a planned manner, the House was not being allowed to run. Mr Rijiju said he condemned the Congress members coming into the well of the House, ignoring conventions. The Speaker said methods of opposition in the streets and in Parliament cannot be the same, and adjourned the House for the day. In the Rajya Sabha, Mr Sudhanshu Trivedi (BJP) moved the motion of thanks to the President for her address and referred to various achievements of the government mentioned in her address. Ms Kavita Patidar of the BJP seconded the motion. The two members spoke as the Opposition shouted slogans and stood in the well of the House. Leader of the House and BJP president J P Nadda said the House was being held hostage by the Opposition. He said paper leaks had taken place earlier also. The Business Advisory Committee had allocated a record 21 hours for the Motion of Thanks discussion. It appeared the Congress had not given any names for the discussion. As Ms Patidar was speaking, Ms Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress, standing in the well of the House, fell unconscious. The House was adjourned for some time and she was taken to hospital. Trinamul Congress leader Derek OBrien and DMK leader Tiruchi Siva protested that the House was continuing despite a member falling sick in the House. The whole Opposition then staged a walk-out, while the House continued discussion on Mrs Murmus address. The Congress-led UDF on Friday walked out of the Kerala assembly after the Speaker denied permission for an adjournment motion over the allegations against senior CPI-M leader P Jayarajan. When the opposition moved the motion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M B Rajesh objected to it, saying that the notice was based on rumours and allegations. He requested the Speaker not to grant permission for the adjournment motion notice. Following this, Speaker AN Shamseer denied permission for the adjournment motion. Reacting to the refusal, opposition members walked out of the Assembly. Advertisement Opposition leader VD Satheesan said the assembly was witnessing a trend in which matters against the government and the ruling party were not discussed in the assembly. Former DYFI leader Manu Thomas recently alleged that P Jayarajan and his son Jain Raj were involved in criminal activities. Satheesan said that the revelation against P Jayarajan has proved that the points raised by the opposition against the CPI-M are correct. Now Manu Thomas life is under threat. Akash Tillankeri, who said the CPI-M was involved in youth Congress worker Shuhaibs murder, has now come to protect the party, Satheesan said. Former CPI-M Kannur District Committee member Manu Thomas has levelled serious allegations against senior party leader P Jayarajan. In a Facebook post, Manu stated that its unsurprising that death threats from quotation and gold mafias have emerged after he invited P Jayarajan for a public debate. The CPM leadership must clarify whether they have authorised someone to threaten me. What happened in Onchiyam and Edayannur was not a revolution but a perversion. We all must die someday, and mine will be in a fight, with my spine straight, whether alone or in a group, wrote Manu on Facebook. On Thursday, Manu Thomas intensified his accusations against Jayarajan and his son, Jain Raj, through the media. P Jayarajans Facebook post against me was to appease quotation groups. Jayarajans son, Jain Raj, coordinates gold smuggling gangs via various WhatsApp groups. He is also behind the Red Army Facebook page, alleged Manu. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday held a meeting with all Union Ministers and MPs from his state, underlining the need for everyone to work together unitedly for the development of the southern state. Addressing a meeting of Union Ministers and MPs from Karnataka at a hotel in the national capital, Siddaramaiah stressed the need to raise voice on issues concerning the state inside and outside the Parliament. Mekedatu project requires approval from the Centre. Efforts also need to be continued regarding Upper Bhadra Project. It has been a year since the Union Finance Minister made the announcement in her budget, he said. Advertisement The Karnataka CM also appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the Rajya Sabha MP representing Karnataka who was also present in the meeting, to release the grant. We have submitted a request to give AIIMS to Raichur. It requires to be fulfilled. This would contribute to the improvement in the Human Development Index in the region. We have sought drought relief of Rs 18,172 crore. We have not received the whole amount. There is a need to make efforts to get the remaining relief, Siddaramaiah said. The Karnataka CM also mentioned to the Union Ministers from the state that the state government submitted a proposal to consider Bengaluru International Airport as Air Cargo Complex, which will accelerate exports and in turn boost economic activity. Saying that Karnataka is lagging behind in railway connectivity, Siddaramaiah appealed to the Minister of State for Railways, V. Somanna, to provide more grants to the state on a priority basis to increase railway connectivity, he stated. I appeal for approval of all these demands, plans and proposals. We are holding this friendly meeting to submit requests. Development of the state is our only goal. There is no need for politics, criticism and emotional accusations. My request is lets try amicably for the development of the state, the veteran Congress leader said. Betting markets are swinging wildly as questions swirl around whether Joe Biden could realistically be replaced in the US presidential race. US president Joe Biden says he will not back down as friends and colleagues call for him to step aside. Source: Reuters It's not often you expect a candid and forthright response from a politician, especially when it's dealing with something as ugly as this. US president Joe Biden has vowed to "get back up" and continue to contest the upcoming election despite his disastrous performance in Friday's debate with Donald Trump. But in the hours following the televised event, pundits, allies and Democratic insiders were lining up to call for him to step aside and to float the idea of a replacement candidate. One of those who acknowledged the uncomfortable reality was former Democratic senator, and close friend of Joe Biden, Heidi Heitkamp. So much so, that her assessment of the train-wreck debate left the hosts of ABC's Planet America a little taken aback on Friday night. "Wow..." host Chas Licciardello laughed at the close of the interview. "That was candid." "That was a lot more forthcoming than I expected," co-host John Barron agreed. "And bear in mind Heidi Heitkamp is a personal friend of Joe Biden's ... She would not be saying openly to us, or anybody, that the party will be looking for an alternative if she did not seriously believe that." The Planet America hosts couldn't quite believe the state of things. Source: ABC Speaking to the ABC program, the former North Dakota senator, made the point that Biden's feeble performance allowed Trump to appear in control and presidential quite different from his aggressive and erratic performances in previous debates. "I honestly think the debate performance was that bad that people are really, seriously considering replacing him on the ticket at the convention. Which I honestly think will lead to a lot of enthusiasm. "In some ways we are in unprecedented times," she said. Barron likened the predicament of the Democratic party to trying to get an aging grandparent to finally give up the keys to the car a reality Heitkamp said the whole "Democratic apparatus" was now grappling with. Questions have swirled about if Biden should push ahead. Source: AP "Hopefully, the president, who I love dearly ... will actually have that same moment of clarity, like, 'Am I up to this task?' "And the stakes are just so high, not just for the United states of America but they're high for you guys [Australia], they're high for Europe," she said. Obama weighs in as Biden vows to push on While the political logistics and practicalities may be insurmountable, if Biden was to step aside it would give the party time to pick another nominee at its convention, which starts on August 19. That would mean a potentially messy process that could pit Vice President Kamala Harris against governors and other office-holders whose names have been floated as possible replacements. One of those is Californian Governor Gavin Newsom who surged on some betting and odds platforms in the US to nearly the same odds as Biden to take the nomination. On Australian betting site Sportsbet he was paying $7 to be the next US president to Joe Biden's $4.50 a rather remarkable situation for someone who is not running. Donald Trump, meanwhile, was at short odds of $1.57. Californian Governor Gavin Newsom deflected questions about whether he would make a play for the nomination. Source: SportsBet/AP Three columnists from the New York Times' progressive-leaning opinion section called on Biden to drop out of the race. While one Biden donor, speaking to Reuters under the condition of anonymity, called his performance "disqualifying" and predicted that some Democrats would revisit calls for him to step aside. However the president's campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu said on CNN "it's not likely to happen". The 81-year-old was looking to bounce back today as he attended a rally in North Carolina. "I don't walk as easy as I used to, I don't speak as smoothly as I used to, I don't debate as well as I used to," Biden told the cheering crowd. "I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job. The stakes are too high." In a move that would not have come without serious deliberations inside the party, former US president Barack Obama this morning acknowledged Biden had a "bad" debate performance but maintained his support for him as a candidate. "Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know," Obama said on X. "But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Last night didn't change that." Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024 The next Biden-Trump debate is scheduled to take place on September 10. There are no conversations about Biden stepping aside from his re-election bid and he plans to participate in the September debate, his campaign said this morning. with Reuters Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. As the NEET fiasco continues to rock Parliament, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution, reiterating the demand for exemption for the state from the centralized medical entrance examination. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin, also called for the eventual scrapping of the one-fit-all nationwide entrance test which has usurped state autonomy. Citing the glaring irregularities in the recent NEET UG examination and the rising demand from various other states to do away with NEET, he said, Tamil Nadus voice is the voice of the nation. Grant exemption and then scrap it is the demand of the state. Advertisement While demanding the Union Government to accord immediate sanction to the NEET Exemption Bill, pending with the president for assent, the resolution called for necessary amendments to the National Medical Commission (NMC) in the current session of Parliament to abolish NEET. The NEET examination regime which severely affects the medical education opportunities of poor students from the rural hinterland, which makes school education redundant and which deprives the states of their right to admissions to state-run medical colleges should be done away with. Granting exemption to the state from NEET, the Union Government should immediately accord sanction to the NEET Exemption Bill, passed unanimously by this House providing for medical college admissions based on the marks obtained by candidates in their 12th standard board examination. Since the NEET system, prone to various irregularities, is being opposed by various states, the Union Government should bring in necessary amendments to the National Medical Commission to abolish NEET, the resolution read. The NEET Exemption Bill, passed by the state assembly in early 2022, was held up by Governor RN Ravi, who maintained that the Bill is as good as dead if the Raj Bhavan hasnt given assent. It resulted in a turf war between the elected DMK Government and the Raj Bhavan forcing the former to move the Supreme Court. But, with the governor returning the Bill to the Assembly for its reconsideration after the court coming down hard on the Raj Bhavan, it was passed once again and had been forwarded for presidential assent. Now, the ball is in the Centres court. Eight convicts in T P Chandrasekharan murder case have approached the Supreme Court, seeking remission of the sentence imposed on them. They have also sought a stay on the Kerala High Court order, which ruled that the accused should not be granted any form of relaxation before serving 20 years in prison. The first six convicts MC Anoop, Kirmani Manoj, Kodi Suni, TK Rajeesh, KK Muhammed Shafi, and K Shinoj were sentenced to double life imprisonment by the High Court. In their appeal, they pleaded with the court to reduce their sentences and grant them bail as they have served 12 years in prison. The other two convicts, K K Krishnan and Jyoti Babu, received life sentences from the Kerala High Court after being acquitted by the trial court. They have also approached the top court seeking remission. Advertisement The Kerala High Court in February gave life sentences to all 12 accused in the T P Chandrasekharan murder case. Of these, nine convicts including Rajeesh, Muhammed Shafi and Annan Sijith were awarded life sentences without remission for 20 years. The Kerala governments move to grant special remission to the convicts of T P Chandrasekharan murder case has drawn strong criticism from the opposition. Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan said that the LDF governments move to release the convicts in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case is a challenge to the people of Kerala. T P Chandrasekharan, a former leader of the CPI-M, was brutally murdered by the gang near Onchiyam on the night of May 4, 2012, as he was riding home on his motorcycle. His body bore 51 hack wounds, and his face was entirely disfigured by the attackers. The resolution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assanges long-standing legal battles with the US Justice Department is a significant moment that invites reflection on the delicate balance between national security and freedom of the press. Mr Assanges decision to plead guilty to a felony charge in exchange for his freedom marks the end of a saga that has polarised public opinion and raised critical questions about the boundaries of journalism and the responsibilities of those who uncover and disseminate classified information. For over a decade, Mr Assange has been at the centre of a global controversy. His role as the founder of WikiLeaks, which published a vast trove of classified documents, brought him both acclaim and condemnation. On one hand, many have hailed him as a champion of transparency, revealing truths about government actions and military operations that were hidden from the public. Notably, WikiLeaks publication of the Apache helicopter attack video in Baghdad, which killed several people, including two journalists, shed light on the brutal realities of war and spurred a global conversation on military conduct and accountability. On the other hand, Mr Assanges detractors argue that his actions jeopardised national security and put lives at risk. The US government has long maintained that by encouraging and assisting in the leak of classified documents, Mr Assange crossed the line from journalism into criminal activity. The Espionage Act charge to which he has pleaded guilty underscores the governments stance that his actions were not protected by the principles of free speech and press, but rather constituted a direct threat to the safety and security of the nation.This case has forced the world to confront uncomfortable questions about the limits of press freedom. While the role of the media in holding power to account is undeniable, there is a fine line between responsible journalism and the reckless exposure of sensitive information. Mr Assanges actions have highlighted the need for a nuanced understanding of this distinction. The plea deal, which allows Mr Assange to avoid further imprisonment and return to Australia, reflects a pragmatic resolution to a deeply contentious issue. It acknowledges the gravity of his actions while also recognising the complex motivations behind his pursuit of transparency. Advertisement This outcome can be seen as a compromise that seeks to uphold the rule of law without disregarding the broader context of Mr Assanges work and the impact it has had on public discourse. Moving forward, it is crucial that we learn from this episode. Governments must strive to maintain a balance between safeguarding national security and respecting the fundamental principles of free speech and press freedom. Journalists and whistle-blowers, in turn, must navigate their responsibilities with an acute awareness of the potential consequences of their actions. The Assange saga serves as a potent reminder of the challenges inherent in this dynamic and the importance of on-going dialogue to navigate these complex issues. My good friend, Sharon, who is an amateur artist like me, brought to my attention the recent controversy related to a portrait of King Charles, unveiled a few weeks ago at Buckingham palace. It is a rather large painting, 8.5 ft by 6.5 ft in dimensions and the first portrait of the king since his coronation last year. A photo of the portrait is shown here. It immediately generated a huge backlash because of the overwhelming presence of red colour in the image. The colour of his uniform represents the colour of the Welsh Guards (which included Charles as a member when the painting was first commissioned in 2020), but the red background was a choice of the artist. Viewers started to describe on social media as a devilish image. Here are some typical comments: looks like a poster for a truly nightmarish horror movie; looks like the villain Vigo the Carpathian from Ghostbuster 2; looks like he is going straight to hell, antichrist in blood, satanic. Some even claimed that they can see demonic images by photo-shopping the image in various ways. It drew ridicule from people like Russell Brand and Alex Jones. It seems that even the ones who praised it did so out of respect and courtesy for the king in a typically British polite way. According to reports, Charles was surprised by the bold red colour but smiled approvingly. Queen Camilla was more definitive, telling the painter, Yes, you got him. I wondered why the king liked it. Is it because Charles is colour blind like his son, Prince William, and perhaps the painting looked greenish to him? The Internet offered no such clue. The painter is Jonathan Yeo, who is claimed to be one of the most in-demand portraitists by GQ magazine and has painted images of Tony Blair, Tiger Woods, Sarah Palin, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other famous people in the past. In the painters own words, I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitters face. In this case my aim was also to make references to the traditions of royal portraiture but in a way that reflects the 21st century monarchy and above all enable to communicate the subjects humanity. Advertisement The reference to 21st century monarchy can certainly refer to all the bloodshed going on in the world starting from 9/11 at the beginning of the century and the red colour symbolizes blood. Perhaps it is also a subtle reference to the root cause of all this violence which goes back to the days of colonization by the British and other European countries. The phrase subjects humanity could mean the passion and romance Charles exhibited throughout his life in his relentless pursuit of Camilla even when she was married to another man. What colour is more appropriate than red to indicate love and passion? There is one other interesting aspect of the painting: there is a monarch butterfly pictured on the right shoulder of the king. It is supposedly a symbol of the kings love of nature, freedom and metamorphosis (from prince to king). However, it appears to be small and without its own usual colourfulness. I am baffled by the colour scheme myself. Even if I could justify the overall red tint as a symbol of passion, I felt that the painter could provide a higher level of contrast between Charles outfit and the background. The way it looks gives the appearance of a head floating in a sea of red. It also reminded me of that infamous prom scene from the movie Carrie where Carrie was drenched in pigs blood. Just like many famous artists, Yeo probably wanted to create something very unusual. At the same time, he deliberately wanted to create some controversy which could bring him notoriety and with it, popularity and fame. I was shocked to read the story of one of Yeos techniques of creating uportraits which he used in several of his past works and in a portrait of George W. Bush in particular. From a distance, they look like normal portraits but on closer inspection, one can see that they are made of collages of cut-outs of pornographic images. The Bush painting was supposedly a satirization of the assumed moral superiority of the extreme right in American politics. Although I am a supporter of nudity in painting, pornography has no place in serious art in my view. Yeo seems to be eccentric and/or disturbed. It is surprising that there is apparently no official group assigned with the task of selecting the artists to paint royal portraits. Yeo was chosen by Drapers Company, a philanthropic institution, and originally commissioned in 2020 to celebrate Charles 50 years of membership in the organization. I dont know why they chose Yeo with the full knowledge of his controversial past. The fact that he used pornographic pieces to do paintings of American celebrities suggests that he is perhaps anti-capitalist, if not antiAmerican. Is it possible that he holds communist views and the red colour in Charles portrait reflects the colour of red China? There has also been speculation that perhaps there is a hidden message underneath the dabs of red paint which can be revealed by sophisticated techniques. I asked myself, if I were to change the colour scheme of Yeos painting without starting over what I would do. I must say that I like Charles face in the painting where, as Camilla said, the painter got him. However, I will replace red everywhere with some other colour; but what colour? My first thought was green because King Charles has reportedly been an environmentalist from an early age. My second choice would be blue/navy. Since Charles served in the Royal Navy, I would paint his uniform in navy and blend it with a lighter blue in the background. Sharon generated images in other colours using software in her computer. Any of those versions would have been less controversial and still represent a bold image of Charles. Being a fan of Gustav Klimts paintings, I like the colour gold ala his the lady in gold. Gold, after all, is a symbol of wealth, prosperity and success and would have been perfect for representing a kings image. I was very dismayed by this painting at first because I have seen hundreds of magnificent paintings of royals in various museums and art galleries throughout the world, done in vivid realistic colours. I did not see the point of displaying such a grotesque painting. However, I have since learned that Charles already has 170 of his portraits in different poses at various exhibit halls in London and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II had more than 960 paintings done during her reign. I now believe that one abnormal painting out of hundreds does not have any significant impact on anything and it was all much ado about nothing. A fitting postscript to this strange story is the protest by the animal activist group, Animal Rising. Members of the group pasted cartoon images and messages on the portrait in a London art gallery to protest treatment of animals in the UK under supervision of RSPCA (RSPCA is patronized by King Charles). The portrait was not damaged. Perhaps the best place to store the portrait is a backroom in the palace. (The writer, a physicist who worked in industry and academia, is a Bengali settled in America.) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday expressed his profound sadness at the deaths of two soldiers and injuries to 20 others in Congo. The casualties of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) members were inflicted by a mortar attack on one of their bases in the town of Sake, in eastern Congo, on Tuesday. In a statement issued on Thursday, Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to the families of the fallen troops as well as their commanders and colleagues, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement The Presidents thoughts are also with the SANDF members who are recovering from their injuries, the statement said. Ramaphosa assured the bereaved families and the injured troops that the SANDF would take the utmost care to provide the necessary logistical and psychosocial support to all those affected. As we mourn the deaths and casualties inflicted on our soldiers, we value and are humbled by the sacrifices they have made for the cause of peace and stability in our region, and they shall not be forgotten, he said. According to the statement, the South African soldiers are part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in Congo, which was deployed in December 2023 to support the Congolese governments efforts to restore peace and security in the eastern part of the country. Russia should not make a mistake that could hurt its relations with South Korea in an irreversible way, a Seoul official warned on Thursday, in a tit-for-tat exchange of words after Moscow warned against Seoul hinting at potential arms support to Ukraine. The comment from Seouls Foreign Ministry came a day after Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman at the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned South Korea not to take rash steps that could bring about an irreversible outcome for the bilateral relations, Yonhap news agency reported. Zakharovas comments came in response to the remarks by South Koreas National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin that South Korea could consider supplying weapons to Kiev, depending on Moscows actions in the follow-up to the treaty it signed with North Korea on pledging mutual defence. Advertisement We warn that Russia should not make a mistake that could lead to irreversible consequences in South Korea-Russia relations, Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a regular press briefing. Additionally, we hope that the Russian side will move away from relying on North Korea and act appropriately as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Lim added. Tensions have heightened after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared an upgrade of their countries relationship after talks in Pyongyang last week. The new treaty commits them to providing mutual military assistance in case either of them is put under armed attack. South Korea has expressed grave concerns over the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea in violation of UN resolutions, urging Moscow to act responsibly and cut off such military ties with Pyongyang. Seouls Foreign Ministry said South Korean Ambassador to Russia Lee Do-hoon had a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Moscow on Wednesday (local time) and heard Moscows position on the new partnership treaty with North Korea. In the meeting, Lee stressed that any cooperation that would help North Koreas arms buildup poses serious threats to security in the region, and called for Russias clear explanation of its actions. Russia voiced regrets over South Koreas reaction to Putins visit to Pyongyang, reiterating that its cooperation with North Korea is not directed at Seoul and the treaty is defensive, according to Seouls Foreign Ministry. Turkish Police have detained 10 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) during an operation in Istanbul on Thursday, the media reported. The Istanbul Police Departments Counter-Terrorism Unit initiated the operation after identifying the suspects involved in activities with IS members in Syria and northern Iraq, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the report, the police identified the suspects as terrorist fighters with foreign nationalities, deemed to pose a threat to the country. Advertisement The state-run Anadolu news agency added that simultaneous operations were conducted at 17 different addresses across seven districts, and the detained suspects were then transported to the police station for further legal procedures. The Turkish government designated IS as a terrorist organisation in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015, including a January attack on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul that killed one person. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The mother of Jay Slater, the British teen missing for close to two weeks in Tenerife, says the family plans to use funds from a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $60,000. The funds have been the source of one unfounded conspiracy online which claims Slater has been taken hostage after becoming involved in organised crime on the Spanish island and the money raised would be used as a ransom payment. Police have not put the theory forward and have said such commentary is unhelpful. Slater's mother Debbie Duncan has said some of the money will be used to fly family and "loved ones" to Tenerife as the search goes on, so that "we can support each other during these dark times", Sky News reported. Slater was last seen 40km north of his accomodation after attending an Airbnb with two men following a festival. Popular actor and Bigg Boss Season 11 finalist Hina Khan has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. The 36-year-old actor broke the news with her fans through her Instagram account, expressing her determination to fight the disease. Hina made her acting debut with the television show Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (2008-2016) before becoming the first runner-up in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 and Bigg Boss 11. She is also known for her role in the remake of the Hindi television show Kasautii Zindagii Kay. Hina Khan's social media post: Hello Everyone. To address the recent rumour, I want to share some important news with all the Hinaholics and everyone who loves and cares for me. I have been diagnosed with Stage Three Breast Cancer. Despite this challenging diagnosis. I want to reassure everyone that I am doing well. I am strong. determined. and fully committed to overcoming this disease. My treatment has already begun, and I am ready to do everything necessary to emerge from this even stronger. I kindly ask for your respect and privacy during this time. I deeply appreciate your love, strength, and blessings. Your personal experiences. anecdotes, and supportive suggestions would mean the world to me as I navigate this journey. I. along with my family and loved ones, remain focused, determined, and positive. With the grace of the Almighty, we believe I will overcome this challenge and be completely healthy. Please send your prayers, blessings, and love. Love. Hina After the post surfaced across her social media handles, Hina Khan's several colleagues from the television industry wished her a speedy recovery. Almost 90 residents were fined a whopping $154 for parking perpendicular to the kerb in streets in Graceville in Brisbane earlier this year, instead of parallel as council demands. Residents of Graceville in Brisbane are fighting a council rule which prohibits angled parking, with drivers urged instead to park parallel. Source: 9News A community is urging their local council to use common sense and scrap rules prohibiting drivers from parking on an angle along streets in one suburb, a practice which they say allows more cars into the busy area, but authorities strictly forbid it. Almost 90 motorists were fined a whopping $154 for parking perpendicular to the kerb in streets in Graceville in Brisbane earlier this year, when according to council they should have been parking parallel, despite that meaning fewer cars would be able to get into the area. The state seniors netball carnival saw 2000 players, their families and officials descend on the small club for four days of matches in April when dozens were stung for angled parking. A total of 87 households received infringements in the mail one month later. Fed-up locals Lee Gunn and Caio Fernandes Nicacio say they've been slugged with fines worth over $150, erecting their own signage to warn other drivers. Source: 9News Locals call for 'common sense' approach from council "We get parents parking about six blocks away to be able to get to the netball games," resident Caio Fernandes Nicacio told 9News. "I got fined three times." According to locals, they'd been parking in such a way "for decades" they say there is enough room to do so "safely and practically" but council has stood firm on their stance. According to local Lee Gunn, he alleges council is simply "revenue collecting". "They'd be limiting that to 20 cars by parking parallel," he said. Neighbours of the street have now created their own signage to warn drivers and explain what would happen if they're caught parking in an angular position. "I quite often get people, looking at me like 'who's that idiot? he's taking up three spots'," Gunn said, of the times he had parked parallel. Have your say Brisbane City Council in response told 9News it aims to always strike a balance between the needs of residents and attendees. The spokesperson said council was investigating ways to allow angled parking in the area. Independent councillor for Tennyson Ward Nicole Johnston weighed in on the matter, saying "residents have been practising common sense" for some time, which had been both "safe and practical". "The simple fix for this is to put angled parking signage in and let residents park the way they have parked for decades," she said. Yahoo News has contacted Brisbane City Council for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. In what could be seen as a major political statement by actor-politician Vijay, Thalapathy came out with an acerbic criticism of the major political parties in Tamil Nadu, saying the state needs good leaders. During a function in Chennai to facilitate Class X and XII students who have fared well in the exams, Vijay asked them to work hard to be successful in the areas of their interest. Vijay claimed that what Tamil Nadu needs is not good doctors, engineers or lawyers but good leaders. "People who study well should enter politics, that's what I wish for," Vijay said and asked students not to believe everything they see on social media. He said he is not speaking about political leaders alone, but leaders in every sector. Why shouldn't politics be a career option, Vijay sought to know. Vijay urged them to realize the false propaganda that the political parties are coming out with and differentiate between right and wrong before they choose their leaders. Vijay also came out strongly against the drug mafia in the state and made the students take resolution saying 'Say no to drugs. say no to temporary pleasures'. Vijay observed that the usage of drugs has increased in the state, especially among youngsters, and added that as a parent and political leader, he is sacred. He said he does not want to blame the government for this menace and urged students to be responsible for protecting themselves. India on Friday rejected the US State Department's 2023 report on international religious freedom as "deeply biased" and lacking understanding of India's social dynamics. India trashed the report by saying that it is driven by "vote bank" considerations. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it selectively chose incidents to promote a "preconceived narrative" and seemed to question the integrity of certain legal judgments made by Indian courts. The US report on global religious freedom referred to India's anti-conversion laws, incidents of hate speech, and alleged demolitions of residences and religious sites belonging to minority communities. Violent attacks on minority communities including assaults in Manipur were mentioned. "As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks understanding of India's social fabric and is visibly driven by vote bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We, therefore, reject it," Jaiswal said. "The exercise itself is a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources and a one-sided projection of issues," he said. "This extends even to the depiction of our Constitutional provisions and duly enacted laws of India. It has selectively picked incidents to advance a preconceived narrative as well," Jaiswal added. "In some cases, the very validity of laws and regulations are questioned by the report, as are the right of legislatures to enact them," he said. "The report has also targeted regulations that monitor misuse of financial flows into India. Suggesting that the burden of compliance is unreasonable, it seeks to question the need for such measures," Jaiswal said. He also added that the United States has even more stringent laws and regulations and would surely not prescribe such solutions for itself. India and the US always had legitimate discussions on subjects of human rights and respect for diversity. "In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalization and targeting of places of worship, violence and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities, as well as the according of political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad," he said. "However, such dialogues should not become a licence for foreign interference in other polities," Jaiswal said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said there has been a "concerning increase" in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship of members of minority faith communities in India. (With PTI inputs) In a horrific development in Delhi's Narela area, a 10-year-old girl was gang-raped and bludgeoned to death allegedly by two men. The minor victim's head was smashed using stones and bricks by the accused duo, reports claimed. It was around 12:30 AM on Friday that the Narela Police Station received a call about a child going missing from Sector 6. She had stepped out of her residence around 9:45 PM the previous night and never returned, the family told the cops. After collecting information from the family of the child, the police launched a probe. Later, her lifeless body was retrieved from an isolated plot in the neighborhood, Outer North Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravi Kumar Singh was quoted as saying by Delhi media. The victim's head was mutilated beyond recognition, but the clothes helped to confirm that it was the same girl who was reported missing from Sector 6. In the course of interrogation the father of the child told the police that some residents of the area had seen the girl in the company of a man, The New Indian Express said in a report. The man was identified as Rahul, a 20-year-old factory worker. When questioned, Rahul confessed of having sexually assaulted the girl along with another man called Devdutt, 30, the report said. While Rahul, worked at a rubber cylinder tube-making factory, Devdutt was employed in an umbrella-making factory. Both of them reportedly resided in Narela. The duo were arrested and a case under IPC sections 363 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 376D (gangrape), and section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been booked. After Jharkhand High Court granted bail in a money laundering case linked to a land scam, former Chief Minister Hemant Soren walked out of jail on Friday. A large number of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress supporters gathered outside the Birsa Munda jail and cheered while he was released from jail. After stepping out, Soren said he was falsely implicated and was forced to spend 5 months in jail. "Voice of leaders, social workers, scribes are being silenced," said Soren. I will finish the task I started, the war I waged, he added. Reacting to his release, Sorens mother Rupi Soren said that she was happy. Soren's wife Kalpana Soren thanked the judiciary and people for their support. Jharkhand CM Champai Soren termed the HC's order as a victory of truth. Taking to X, the CM wrote, Satya Satya pareshan ho sakta hain, parajit nahi (Truth can face troubles, cannot be defeated)." The JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand hailed the court's decision. Jharkhand minister Basant Soren, a younger brother of Hemant Soren, said, We had faith in the judiciary. Justice has prevailed. I would like to thank the high court. JMM leader and minister Hafizul Hassan wrote on X, Truth can never be defeated. I heartily welcome the decision of the high court. This decision has also demolished the castle built by dictatorial forces. However, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said that the former CM was not freed from all charges but only granted bail. "The way the JMM-led alliance is celebrating, it seems he was free from all charges," he said. A single bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay granted bail to Hemant Soren earlier in the day. The petitioner is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs 50,000 with two sureties of the like amount each," said the order passed by Justice Mukhopadhyay. Hemant Soren, the executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31. Soren's wife Kalpana Soren, a JMM legislator, thanked the judiciary and people for their support. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after the Opposition raised slogans demanding discussion on alleged irregularities in conducting NEET and NET examinations. Congress MPs Syed Naseer Hussain and Ranjeet Ranjan have given notices under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, while Manickam Tagore, Gaurav Gogoi and K.C. Venugopal have given an adjournment notice on the NEET issue in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition MPs demanded the suspension of business and discussion on alleged irregularities in the functioning of the National Testing Agency. However, the opposition raised slogans and protested within the House after Speaker Om Birla denied permission to discuss the issue. Earlier, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said, Yesterday, all the leaders of the opposition parties had a meeting and it was unanimous that today, we want a discussion on the NEET issue. There should be a discussion on NEET here in the House. I request the Prime Minister that this is an issue of the youth and it should be discussed properly and it should be a respectful discussion. We will do it respectfully. You should also join the discussion, you should also participate because this is a matter of the youth. A message should go from the Parliament that the Indian government and the opposition are talking about the students together." In Rajya Sabha, Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar denied permission for an adjournment motion and said members could discuss the issue in detail during the discussion of the motion of thanks. However, as opposition members continued to protest, the Speaker adjourned the house till 12 noon. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET-UG was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates taking part in it. The results were announced on June 4, but they were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, besides other irregularities. The Education Ministry also cancelled the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and NEET (postgraduate) examinations after receiving inputs that the exams' "integrity may have been compromised. Amid uproar by the Opposition over the discussion on the alleged irregularities in NEET, the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments on Friday. In Lok Sabha too, the issue was brought up by the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The Opposition started sloganeering and staged a walkout a few hours into the session. Expressing anguish over the tensions prevailing in the House, Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said it was unbelievable that the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge entered the Well of the House to protest. It was shocking and hurtful, said Dhankar. "It was very painful and, unbelievable for me...that Kharge, a leader with Parliamentary experience of over five decades, having held the position of Leader of Opposition both in the state and in Parliament walking into the Well of the House," he added. "The deputy leader of the party Pramod Tiwari also walked in, and senior leader Mukul Wasnik also walked in. It was a very painful moment for me. We expect the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House to exemplify their conduct that is worth emulating," Dhankhar said. The Opposition staged a walkout for the second time after the matters raised by them were not addressed. The Rajya Sabha Chairman said, "He (Kharge) came to the Well the entire House saw. But what is more painful, hurtful for me, is that he has outside, misreported, misrepresented and has spoken untruth... He is in denial mode and his statement which has been put on Twitter (now X) ... is self-contradictory." After multiple adjournments, when the House re-assembled at 2 pm, a discussion on the Motions of Thanks on the President's Address took place amid a walkout by the Opposition. Reacting to the mode of protest, Kharge said that he was left with no choice because Dhankar had been ignoring him to "insult him". "This is actually the Chairman's fault. I observed parliamentary rules and raised my hand for 10 minutes, but he did not look at me. That's when I had to go in to attract his attention but he still did not look at me. When all the members came (into the well), I walked out, I did not even stay there. I tried to attract his attention, but he was only looking towards the treasury benches. When I raised my hand, he should have looked at me according to the rules, but he did what he did to ignore and insult me," Kharge was quoted by NDTV. Rahuls assurance to NEET students LoP in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, assured the students on Friday that the INDIA bloc is committed to engaging in debate with the Narendra Modi government over the NEET exam row. While addressing the students through a video message, Gandhi said there has been a "disaster" concerning NEET. "Everyone knows the paper was leaked, resulting in people making thousands of crores of rupees, and causing harm and damage to students," he said. "We are committed to having that discussion peacefully in a very accommodating matter. I tried to raise it in Parliament, but I wasn't allowed to speak. This is an issue that has affected two crore students seventy times in seven years," he added. The Congress has also alleged that Rahuls mic was muted for raising the NEET issue. Not allowed to speak in Parliament on NEET issue over PMs directive, Rahul had said. Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the central government is ready for discussion on the NEET paper leak issue, provided the discussions are done while maintaining the decorum of the Parliament. The government wants to assure the students and people of the country that strict action is being taken. Everyone involved in the scam will be punished. The CBI has taken charge of this," he said. He urged the Opposition not to politicise the matter and to join the discussion impartially. Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri, widely known as 'China expert' is India's next foreign secretary. He will be succeding incumbent Vinay Kwatra. Misris name was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. His new post of foreign secretary will come with effect from July 15. Misri (59) is a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer. His appointment comes at a time when India faces several foreign policy challenges, including its strained relations with China following the border dispute in eastern Ladakh. He had the rare opportunity of serving as private secretary to three prime ministers -- Inder Kumar Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi. Misri served as Indias ambassador to China from 2019-2021. He is believed to have played a pivotal role in India-China talks after tensions intensified following the Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020. Following the Galwan Valley clash, the diplomatic ties between both countries deteriorated suddenly. Earlier, Misri also served as India's ambassador to Spain (2014-2016) and Myanmar (2016-2018) besides having roles in many Indian missions including Pakistan, the US, Germany, Belgium and Sri Lanka. Kwatra is expected to be the next ambassador to the US, while Indias ambassador to France, Jawed Ashraf is expected to be the next deputy NSA. Reportedly, the government has initiated the process of appointing India's envoy to the US and New Delhi's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. Kwatra was given six months' extension in March. After Ruchira Kambojs retirement, the position of India's permanent representative to the UN post is also lying vacant. (With PTI inputs) Kolkata, Jun 28 (PTI) Japanese companies are increasingly turning their focus towards India, with expectations of significant expansion in the eastern and northeastern regions, a top official from the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) said here on Friday. JETRO is a Japanese government-related organisation that promotes mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. The official added that current uncertainties have prompted Japanese firms to seek alternatives to their traditional markets, including a notable interest in India. "Due to the current geopolitical situation, more and more Japanese companies are scouting for alternative markets, including India. I expect the number of Japanese companies in India to increase significantly in the near future," JETRO India chief director general Suzuki Takashi told PTI on the sidelines of the 15th Business IT Conclave organised by The Bengal Chamber. Takashi highlighted the intentions of several major Japanese corporations like Daikin and Suzuki to ramp up their investments in India, particularly in research and development and manufacturing sectors. While China currently hosts around 20,000 Japanese companies, India accommodates only 1,400, with recent Japanese investments averaging USD 2.4 billion annually compared to USD 4 billion in China over the last decade, officials said. Despite a modest presence of 25 Japanese companies in West Bengal and the absence of a JETRO office in Kolkata, Takashi remained optimistic about expanding Japanese business activities in the eastern states. Takashi also chaired a meeting with the Bangladesh JETRO office to promote greater cooperation and help Japanese companies harness increased synergy in both India and Bangladesh. Kolkata, Jun 28 (PTI) The West Bengal government is increasing the daily working hours limit by 30 minutes from July 1, meeting the long-standing demand of the information technology industry, IT Industry Minister Babul Supriyo said on Friday. However, the 48-hour weekly limit remains unchanged, he said. A government order is expected shortly. Suprioyo said in order to keep pace with competition from other states and boost West Bengal's IT sector, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given the green signal to change the daily working hour limit from 8 hours and 30 minutes to 9 hours. "The overall weekly working hour limit of 48 hours remains unchanged. The industry was asking to increase the daily working hour limit as they normally follow a 5-day work week. This means that IT sector companies can bill their clients for 45 hours instead of 42.5 hours now. It will be effective from July," the minister said. With 9 hours a day, the industry will benefit by 2.5 hours per week for billing their clients, helping them financially, and enabling them to compete with other states that offer similar working hour flexibility. Currently, the daily working hours limit of 8 hours and 30 minutes is the same for both IT and non-IT sectors, according to the state labour department. New Delhi (India), June 28: In Delhi NCR, Naresh Dhoundiyal and his team at Amrita Chander Jankalyan Charitable Trust are working hard to help people in need. They focus on supporting children, young people, and older adults who don't have much. The Trust believes in three main ideas: Everyone deserves love and respect Education can change lives for the better Helping others is what life is all about Here's what they do: Help poor children get a good education They provide school supplies, arrange tutoring, and sometimes provide as much help as possible. This gives children from poor families a chance to learn and grow. Provide free health check-ups and medical care They organize health camps where doctors volunteer their time. People can get basic health checks and simple treatments without having to pay. Give out food to those who are hungry The Trust regularly distributes meals or food packages in areas where people struggle to get enough to eat. This helps ensure that fewer people go to bed hungry. Take care of children without parents They support orphanages by providing things like clothes, books, and toys. They also try to create a caring environment for these children and support their families as well. Make life better for older people in care homes The Trust visits old age homes to spend time with the residents. They also help improve living conditions by providing basic necessities and sometimes organizing activities for the elderly. These activities aim to support people of all ages who are in need, from young children to the elderly. Naresh Dhoundiyal and his team say, "We want to bring happiness to people who are often forgotten. We're working hard to make real changes in our community." By helping others, Naresh Dhoundiyal and his team are making Delhi NCR a better place to live. The Trust keeps working to create a better future for everyone in Delhi NCR. If you'd like to know more or help out, feel free to contact the Trust Email - naresh.amritachander@gmail.com Website - https://amritachandercharity.org.in/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Amrita-Chander-Charity/100084226626591/ (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR There are over a hundred photos of Tasmanian tigers which are rarely seen by the public. Some have fuelled unfounded myths about the species' behaviour. Most Aussies are aware of iconic footage showing the worlds last Tasmanian tiger pacing and opening its jaws inside a cage. But rare photographs reveal the long-extinct marsupials in a more delicate light. One image from a private collection, which Yahoo News has published with permission, shows two lounging side-by-side in the sun. The original photograph, which measures just 8.9cm x 8.9cm, was taken at Beaumaris Zoo in 1918. It was quietly published in a journal for the first time just four years ago after it was purchased at auction in 2004, and other than a few tiger enthusiasts, few people have been aware of its existence. When it was shared to an online naturalists forum in June along with several other generally unknown photos taken in overseas zoos, they created a stir. So good to see a photo of two together. I am haunted by those photos of one pacing up and down, one respondent wrote. "This makes me unbearably sad look at the magnificent things snuggled up together," another said. "How wonderful that there are still images that we havent seen, someone else added. Related: Silent extinctions occurring unreported across Australia Discover more of our environment coverage. Key facts about Tasmanian tiger photos Tasmanian tigers are also known as thylacines and Tasmanian wolves. The first thylacine photo was taken in the summer of 1864 by Frank Haes at Regent's Park Zoo in London. It is the only image of a living specimen from the 19th Century. The last was taken in May 1936 at Hobart's Beaumaris Zoo. How many photographs of Tasmanian tigers are there? The image of the reclining tigers was taken by Reverend George Judd. It's one of just 119 images of the species that are known to exist, several of which were recently unearthed by members of a small group called Tasmanian Tiger Archives. And Wales-based researcher Gareth Linnard believes there are likely more unseen stills yet to be discovered. There have been seven found in the last four years, so theyre always being rediscovered. Whats going against us now is that any original photographs are going to be very fragile now, and they will be starting to degrade, he told Yahoo News. Only 13 videos have survived to the present day. Linnard is not hopeful more original films will be found as film degrades faster than photographs. One possibility is that an overlooked digitised archival clip could surface this happened recently when a short video was discovered for sale on the stock video platform Pond5. What photos of captive Tasmanian tigers can tell us Sadly there aren't any known photographs or videos of tigers in the wild, so the existing catalogue provides little information about how they lived. This is because animals behave differently in captivity. For instance, studying Northern Hemisphere wolves in captivity led to the myth that they naturally form packs with a dominant hierarchy of alpha males dominating beta males. It was later discovered that this was a strange behaviour that formed because the animals were caged, and it has never subsequently been observed in the wild. What the tiger images do reveal are insights into human behaviour at the time. Because each tiger's stripes are unique like a human fingerprint, researchers have been able to track the lives of individual animals as they were bought and sold. One sad story they have uncovered is that of a mother who was captured in the 1920s with two pouched young. Due to the trauma she suffered when she was snared, her captor Walter Mullins was forced to amputate her left fore leg at the wrist. She and her babies were subsequently paraded around at fairs in Tasmania and Victoria. Another animal photographed in 1933 shows evidence of snare marks on his leg. The zoo's superintendent can be seen bringing a dog up to the wire that housed him, something that would never be allowed today because it would likely cause stress. The animal on the right was captured by Walter Mullins around June 1923, with three young in her pouch. They were shown at fairs in Tasmania and Victoria before being sold to a zoo in February 1924. Source: Unknown Photographer While there are some useful written historical accounts about tiger behaviour in the wild, researcher Mike Williams concedes little is known about how they interacted with each other in the wild. The only animals we know anything about were in an enclosure. So we don't know what they did, and how they moved with their family. We don't know very much, he told Yahoo. One thing we know is that at the Beaumaris Zoo one was reported making a coughing noise. But no one ever recorded it. So we have stories of tigers making a coughing bark, yip-yip sounds, and howls, but thats all we know. The myth of the Tasmanian tigers wide yawn Tasmanian biologist Nick Mooney explained that although written accounts suggest tigers would sometimes stand on two legs, most images show them on all fours. In those days people waited until animals stopped moving for photos, he told Yahoo. Mooney believes films give a better indication of how the species moved, particularly its gait. But one of the creatures most famous traits is most likely just a reaction to stress caused by confinement. The yawning is a displacement activity - a redirection of nervous energy, often from being stared at. Lots of animals and birds do it. Most Tasmanian devil photos from captivity are exactly that. For some reason thylacines are famous for it, he said. For some reason the tiger has entered mythology as an animal with a super wide gape. People are desperate for the fantastic. A 1933 postcard showing a Tasmania wolf at Hobart Zoo. The snare mark is visible on the animal's right leg. Source: H.J.King Linnard doesnt believe any photographs of tigers in the wild will surface. He dismisses modern accounts of surviving animals roaming the wilds of Tasmania or mainland Australia. I dont think people were walking around the bush [prior to 1936] with cameras. By the time cameras were prominent enough that somebody might do that, thylacines were so rare the chances of capturing one would be astronomical. Linnards hope is that one day someone will uncover a colour photograph of a tiger. While there are plenty of hand and computer colourised images in circulation, no true representations exist. Most of the tiger pelts in museums are decades old and have significantly faded, and its believed their stripes may have been more vivid than most depictions indicate. The last known image of a Tasmanian tiger by Ben Shepherd. Source: Libraries Tasmania They were painted at the time, but like the pelts those artist representations have also faded, Linnard said. It would be fantastic if we found colour footage. But I really dont think it will ever happen." This is the first of a two part series about the known photographs of Tasmanian tigers. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) The civil aviation ministry on Friday ordered a thorough inspection of the structural strength of all airports in the country, following the roof collapse incident at the Delhi airport that left one dead and at least six persons injured. Following the incident that happened at around 5 am on Friday at Terminal 1, the operations at the terminal have been suspended and the flights that are to operate from there have been shifted to T2 and T3. Sources in the know said that more than 100 flights that were to be operated from T1 have been cancelled by IndiGo and SpiceJet. At a review meeting convened by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, it was also decided that a 24x7 war room will be set up for efficient management of passengers at T2 and T3. "The war room will ensure the full refund of cancelled flights or provide alternative travel route tickets," an official statement said. Further, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been directed to issue a circular to all minor and major airports to conduct a thorough inspection of structural strength. These inspections must be completed within the next 2-5 days and the reports are to be submitted to the ministry. "Based on the findings, the need for increased safety measures and the development of long term policies to prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents will be formulated at priority," the statement said. Structural engineers from IIT Delhi have been asked to immediately assess the incident at the Delhi airport. T1 has only domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet. The airport -- which has three terminals T1, T2 and T3 -- handles around 1,400 flight movements daily. Besides, an "advisory has been released to all airlines to ensure that this situation does not lead to a steep increase in airfare. Airlines to maintain fare stability to avoid passenger inconvenience". Naidu held the review meeting with senior officials of the ministry, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Mumbai, Jun 28 (PTI) The Times of India has re-launched TOIFA Awards with its inaugural OTT edition. The announcement was made during a press conference in Mumbai on Friday in the presence of Sivakumar Sundaram, Chief Executive Officer (Publishing) & Executive Director of Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd. (BCCL), along with the advisory council member and a producer Siddharth Roy Kapur (Founder, Roy Kapur Films), and Shibashish Sarkar (President of the Producers Guild of India). "We are delighted to launch the TOIFA Hindi OTT edition. Through a rigorous voting process in partnership with the Producers Guild of India, we will celebrate outstanding talent from across 28 different award categories on OTT," Sundaram said during the conference. "We are confident that TOIFA OTT awards will provide credible and prestigious recognition for outstanding work in the streaming space," Sarkar added. Kapur is part of the advisory committee of the awards with members such as Shoojit Sircar, Rajkumar Hirani, Sameer Nair, Nikhil Advani, Raveena Tandon, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Madhureeta Mukherjee. "I have been most impressed by the commitment of the organizers to create a credible and respected platform that will recognize excellence in streaming," he said. Sarkar said he is confident that the awards will provide "credible and prestigious recognition for outstanding work in the streaming space". The TOIFA OTT Edition 2023 is slated to take place in the last week of July and aims to celebrate and honour exemplary talent in acting, content creation, and technical prowess in Hindi films and series premiering on Indian online video streaming platforms. Islamabad, Jun 28 (PTI) Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan can target sanctuaries of the outlawed terrorist group TTP in Afghanistan under the newly launched military operation, as he ruled out any dialogue with the dreaded outfit as there was no "common ground". The government announced the launch of 'Operation Azm-i-Istehkam' last week to tackle the rising threat of terrorism in the wake of lukewarm support by the Afghan Taliban to stop the use of their soil by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) rebels against Pakistan. In an interview with the Voice of America, Asif said that the decision to launch the counter-terrorism operation was not made in haste, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. The decision about Azm-e-Istehkam was taken because of the economic difficulties, and it may also target TTPs sanctuaries across the border, he told the state-owned American news network and international radio broadcaster. The minister said that it would not be against international law since Afghanistan had been exporting terrorism to Pakistan, and the exporters were being harboured there, the Dawn newspaper reported. Asif said that although the TTP was operating from the neighbouring country, its cadre, about a few thousand in number, are operating from within the country. He also ruled out any chances of dialogue with the banned outfit, saying there was no common ground. Asif blamed jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's government for the resettlement of the Taliban militants in Pakistan, according to the report. Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) "government brought back the 4,000 to 5,000 Taliban after negotiations. If that experiment was successful, let us know we can replicate it, he said. Talking about the Opposition's criticism of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Asif said that the concerns of political parties would be addressed. The government will bring this matter to the National Assembly so that the questions and concerns of the members can be answered and they are taken into confidence, he said. This is also our duty, he was quoted as saying. Major opposition parties, including the PTI of Imran Khan, who was also dubbed as 'Taliban Khan' for his support for the Taliban, right-wing Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and secular Awami National Party (ANP) of the family of Ghaffar Khan opposed any new military offensive. All these parties have their support in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which has been badly hit by the militancy. Parties like ANP paid a heavy price in the war against militancy. These parties have demanded that Parliament be taken into confidence before any offensive against militancy was launched. At an earlier press conference, Asif said, There are no political aims of this operation. We only want to challenge and end the rising wave of terrorism ongoing since the past few months." He urged all government components, the judiciary, security forces, Parliament and the media to support the operation. This is a national crisis, which is not just the Armys responsibility but all institutions, the minister said. The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The group, believed to be close to al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Ankara (Turkiye), Jun 28 (AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that there is no obstacle preventing Turkiye and Syria from restoring diplomatic ties that were cut off at the start of the Syrian civil war more than a decade ago. His comments came just days after Syrian President Bashar Assad made similar remarks, indicating a willingness among the two neighbouring countries to end tensions and normalise relations. There is no reason why (diplomatic ties) should not be established, Erdogan told reporters. In the same way that we kept our relations with Syria alive in the past we had these meetings with Mr Assad that included family meetings we cannot say that it will not happen again, Erdogan said. He was referring to a vacation that the Erdogan and Assad families took in southern Turkiye in 2008, before their relationship soured. During the Syrian conflict, Turkiye supported armed opposition groups in the country's northwest aiming to oust Assad from power. The Syrian government has repeatedly condemned Ankara's control over a territory that it took hold of through several military incursions since 2016 targeting US-backed Kurdish forces that Turkiye regards as terrorists. On Wednesday, Syrian state media reported that in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, Assad affirmed Syria's openness to all initiatives related to the relationship between Syria and Turkiye, based on the sovereignty of the Syrian state over all its territories on the one hand, and combating all forms of terrorism and its organizations on the other hand. The Russian envoy, in turn, said that the current circumstances seem more suitable than ever for the success of mediations, and that Russia is ready to work to push the negotiations forward, and that the goal is to succeed in restoring relations between Syria and Turkiye, Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported. Erdogan told reporters that Turkiye respects Syria's sovereignty. There is no question of us having the aim of interfering in Syria's internal affairs, Erdogan said. The people of Syria are our brothers." Turkiye has been trying to mend fences with Syria as the government faces increased pressure at home to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees amid a steep economic downturn and rising anti-refugee sentiment. Last year, the Turkish and Syrian foreign ministers met in Moscow alongside counterparts from Russia and Iran, marking the highest-level contact between Ankara and Damascus since the start of the Syrian civil war. But those talks and a previous meeting involving the two countries' defence ministers did not bear fruit. On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the opposition-held Syrian city of Idlib and in surrounding areas to protest reports that a key crossing between government-held territory and areas held by Turkish-backed opposition groups in Aleppo province will soon reopen to commercial traffic, for the first time since the beginning of the country's civil war. The protesters carried banners saying: Opening the crossings with the regime is a crime and a betrayal of the blood of the martyrs, and calling for opening battles, not crossings. (AP) PY PY Washington, Jun 28 (AP) The Supreme Court decided on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the US are without a permanent place to live. In a 6-3 decision, the high court reversed a ruling by a San Francisco-based appeals court that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. A bipartisan group of leaders had argued the ruling made it harder for them to manage outdoor encampments encroaching on sidewalks and other public spaces in nine Western states. That includes California, which is home to one-third of the country's homeless population. Homeless advocates, on the other hand, said that allowing cities to punish people who need a place to sleep would criminalise homelessness and ultimately make the crisis worse. Cities had been allowed to regulate encampments but couldn't bar people from sleeping outdoors. The case came from the rural Oregon town of Grants Pass, which appealed a ruling striking down local ordinances that fined people USD 295 for sleeping outside after tents began crowding public parks. The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over the nine Western states, has held since 2018 that such bans violate the Eighth Amendment in areas where there aren't enough shelter beds. The ruling comes after homelessness in the United States grew a dramatic 12 per cent last year to its highest reported level, as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more people. More than 650,000 people are estimated to be homeless, the most since the country began using a yearly point-in-time survey in 2007. Nearly half of them sleep outside. Older adults, LGBTQ+ people and people of colour are disproportionately affected, advocates said. In Oregon, a lack of mental health and addiction resources has also helped fuel the crisis. (AP) PY PY Islamabad, Jun 28 (PTI) Pakistan's Parliament on Friday passed a resolution countering a motion approved by the US House of Representatives that demanded a probe into the February 8 general elections which were marred by allegations of rigging. Shaista Pervez Malik of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party moved the resolution, which was passed with an overwhelming majority by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament. "The House takes notice of the resolution passed by the US House of Representatives concerning Pakistan," said the resolution, arguing that such interference in the country's internal affairs was inappropriate and unbecoming of global powers. "This kind of meddling in our country's internal matters is unacceptable," it read. "It is not appropriate for any global power to interfere in the internal affairs of another country." The resolution said the US resolution reflects an incomplete and wrong understanding of the political and electoral process of Pakistan. It said the US resolution does not acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by millions of Pakistanis in the recently held general election. The National Assembly reiterated Pakistan's efforts to safeguard and uphold the principles of democracy and norms as enshrined in the Constitution in letter and spirit and in line with the aspirations of the people and vision of the founding fathers of Pakistan. The resolution also drew the attention of the US Congress to issues such as the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the situation in Kashmir. It expressed the hope that in the future the US Congress will play a more constructive role in strengthening Pakistan-US bilateral relations by focusing on avenues of collaboration for the mutual benefit of both our people and countries. The resolution called upon the government of Pakistan to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States by enhancing channels of communication to allay such misperceptions and work towards harmonious relationships for the progress and prosperity of the people of both countries. Amidst an uproar by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Malik highlighted the global violations of human rights. "Just as we condemn human rights violations around the world, we should denounce this interference," she asserted. "It is shameful that Pakistan's sovereignty is under attack and some among us are encouraging this assault. It is regrettable that foreign powers are meddling in our internal matters, and we must deter them," she added. The US resolution passed on June 25 with a staggering majority of 98 per cent, called for a full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistans February 2024 election. A total of 368 members voted in favour of the resolution against only seven opposing it. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday announced that the government would introduce a resolution in the National Assembly in response to the one passed by the US Congress. Kathmandu, Jun 28 (PTI) An earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hit Nepal's Bagmati Province on Friday, according to the National Earthquake Measurement Centre. The quake with epicentre at Helambu Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchowk district, 100 km East of Kathmandu, struck around 7.03 am Friday, the agency said. Tremors were also felt in Kathmandu and other neighbouring districts. So far, there is no information about any damage caused by the earthquake. Earthquakes are common in the Himalayan nation as it lies on a major geological faultline where the Indian tectonic plate pushes up into the Eurasian plate, forming the Himalayas, and earthquakes are a regular occurrence. At least 157 people were killed after a strong earthquake hit a remote pocket of Nepal last November. Nearly 9,000 people died in 2015 when a 7.8-magnitude quake struck Nepal, destroying more than half a million homes. Panaji, Jun 28 (PTI) The opposition parties on Friday demanded that Goa's Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh be sacked for his involvement in the unauthorised partial demolition of a house at Assagao in North Goa. Accusing the DGP of misusing his position, the Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter and sought his removal. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also targeted the state police chief as well as the state government over the issue. The resident of a one-storey house in Assagao, Prinsha Agarwadekar, has earlier lodged a complaint with the police alleging that her house was partially demolished last Saturday and her husband Pradeep and son Prince were kidnapped by unidentified individuals. Police later arrested Arshad Khwaja (51) from near Panaji who claims to be the owner of the property and the driver of the bulldozer. The opposition parties on Friday cited a media report which quoted that the inquiry findings had alleged involvement of state DGP Jaspal Singh into the matter. The report claimed that inspector Prashil Desai, attached to Anjuna police station, had informed the state chief secretary that the DGP shouted at him when he stopped the house demolition last week. The demolition of the house created a political controversy with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant instituting a high-level inquiry led by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goyal into the case. Talking to reporters, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said the DGP's involvement is just a "tip of the iceberg". "Linkage from BJP to DGP needs to be probed. It is an open secret that BJP patronises land and real estate mafia," he claimed. He questioned why CM Sawant was avoiding questions from the media on the issue, and demanded a judicial inquiry under a retired high court judge into the matter. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said the revelations by Anjuna police exposes how DGP misused his position to protect an outsider in an illegal act. "I demand Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant to immediately ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah to sack the DGP for his involvement in Assagao house demolition case," he said. "How can we expect the police department to function in a free and fair manner when the super boss himself pressurises his subordinates?" he said. AAP's Goa chief Amit Palekar wrote on his X handle, "Words coming out from the horses mouth is that Assagao incident is directly connected through non uniform wearing Police officer to CM @DrPramodPSawant and that's why he as Home Minister is quite (read quiet) when media questions him." When contacted, DGP Jaspal Singh said that he has asked Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Rahul Gupta to comment on the issue. The case of demolition has been shifted to the Crime Branch (CB) which has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate. Talking to reporters, Gupta said, "The SIT has arrested six persons in connection with the demolition case. Teams are sent to Belgaum (Karnataka) and Mumbai to arrest more accused." When asked about the allegations against the DGP, Gupta said the news report making allegations on a senior police officer is based on an "unsigned and unverified" document. He refused to speak further on the involvement of the DGP. Aizawl, Jun 28 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said that he resigned as an IPS officer to broker peace between the Centre and the then-underground Mizo National Front (MNF). Addressing the celebration of 'Remna Ni', a Mizo parlance for the anniversary of the signing of the historic peace accord, Lalduhoma said he resigned as an IPS officer in 1984 at the behest of former PM Indira Gandhi and ex-MNF president Laldenga. He said he went to London to meet Laldenga after quitting his job and spent five days there to discuss the demands of the MNF. "I resigned from the Indian Police Service at the request of then prime minister Indira Gandhi and Laldenga to bring peace in Mizoram. After I left my job, I also met Laldenga in London and discussed various demands of the MNF from the Indian (central) government," the chief minister said. The 'Remna Ni' celebrations were organised by the state's apex students' body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) on Friday as June 30, when the pact was signed in 1986, is a Sunday this year. Lalduhoma expressed gratitude to the MZP for their contributions to the peace pact. He also thanked all party leaders, churches and then chief secretary Lalkhama, who was the signatory in the peace accord, for their invaluable efforts. He called on all the Zo people living across the world to stay united. He said the crises being faced by the Zo people in Manipur, Myanmar and Bangladesh are a blessing in disguise to unite the community. Since 2018, the MZP has been organising statewide 'Remna Ni' celebrations to honour individuals and organisations that played a crucial role in the signing of the peace accord. This time, it felicitated four former legislators, who resigned in 1981 to advance the peace talks. The Mizoram peace accord was signed between the Centre and the then underground MNF on June 30, 1986, ending two decades of insurgency. The MNF was founded by Laldenga, who later also became the chief minister of Mizoram, to protest against the inaction of the Centre towards the famine in the Mizo areas of Assam state in the late '50s. After a major uprising through peaceful means, the group took up arms and became involved in underground activities between 1966 and 1986. The MNF was outlawed by the government in 1967. In May 1971, a delegation of the Mizo district council met then PM Gandhi and demanded that a state for the Mizo people be carved out of Assam. Responding to the demand, the Centre made the Mizo Hills a Union Territory in January 1972. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on February 20, 1987. After the pact was signed, the MNF became a political party and has ruled the state for several terms. It is now the main opposition party in the state. New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) Welcoming the bail granted to former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that the JMM leader was arrested out of political malice. In a post on X, the Congress leader said he talked to Soren on phone and expressed happiness on his release. "The arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was done out of revenge and political malice," Rahul Gandhi said in the post. "We welcome the High Court's decision to grant him bail - expressed my happiness by speaking to Soren ji over the phone," he said. "Those who move with the spirit of protecting the Constitution, truth itself protects them," he added. The Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader in a money laundering case linked to land scam. The high court had on June 13 reserved its decision on Soren's bail plea. On the morning of June 14, participants were invited to Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva to join those from across the region who care deeply about the health of our lakes and to make connections and learn about proposed New York state legislation aimed at mitigating environmental threats to the Finger Lakes. State Sen. Rachel May and Assemblymember Anna Kelles, two environmental champions in the state Legislature, shared information about proposed bills they are cosponsoring to address harmful algal blooms, the discharge of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances into our waterways, and other conservation efforts. Furthermore, the legislators honored the Lake Friendly Living Coalition through the presentation of a state proclamation commemorating the Finger Lakes community celebration of Lake Friendly Living Awareness Month in May. The proposed bills were summarized as follows: The New York Open Water Data Act (Senate 239E/Assembly 3299A) would enable better water governance statewide by asking water-related agencies to come together to create a common set of water data standards for the state and a public-facing interface where such data can be shared, viewed and used by interested parties. The Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Monitoring and Prevention Act (Senate 8356/Assembly 8867A) would develop and maintain a comprehensive state "clearinghouse" to bring together existing and new available statewide cross-sectional and longitudinal data and information on harmful algal blooms, potential and known causes, best practice interventions, expertise and funding resources. These data and the subsequent report would enable the state to effectively and efficiently administer a grant program supporting data-driven best practices in prevention and mitigation of harmful algal blooms. The PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act (Senate 227B/Assembly 3296) would require those proposing to discharge pollutants into New York's waterways disclose whether their existing or proposed discharges contain PFAS. The Biosolids Spreading Ban (Assembly Bill A8317) would prohibit the sale or land application of biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities unless such biosolids are treated and tested to not exceed the maximum contaminant levels established in the public health law. Although all of these proposed bills have merit, of particular interest for the protection of Owasco Lake in the near term is the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Act. Owasco Lake has been the "canary in the coal mine" with regards to HABs, associated top-down responses, clean water planning and pursuits of regulatory actions to bolster bottom-up controls. As one of the first Finger Lakes to document the HABs phenomenon, Owasco Lake managers responded quickly to associated public health concerns. In 2016, cyanotoxins were observed within the water poised for purveyance to the community, well over half of Cayuga Countys population. The city of Auburn and town of Owasco were forced to expedite the installation of carbon filtration systems for cyanotoxins removal. Concerns remain regarding the efficacy of these systems under varying conditions and toxins concentrations. The Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council uses a data-driven approach toward advancing watershed protection and restoration measures. Mitigating for nonpoint source pollution is not only difficult due to challenges with identifying relevant sources, but also due to challenges with motivating change according to the behaviors of the watershed community. Nearly two years ago, Owasco Lake managers were the first to have completed and approved their nine-element (9E) plan, a NYS clean water plan that represents a pathway to state funding to advance watershed protection measures. Following the completion of the plan, the council resolved to form the 9E Coordination Committee, tasked with implementing the various prioritized projects that represent the recommendations of the plan. Over the course of the last year, the committee has developed a breadth of proposals. One project proposal secured nearly $500,000 of federal funding for stream corridor restoration along the Owasco Inlet, and a second secured NYS funding for further stream corridor assessments in an alternate priority sub-watershed, which should result in subsequent restoration funding for targeted locations. Successes aside, various motivated organizations working on the ground find water quality improvement funding provided through NYS onerous to access and administer. Environmental nonprofits are commonly understaffed and can struggle to meet the administrative demands associated with accessing state resources and funding. Simply providing for more funding within existing NYS programs may not be sufficient to expedite implementation measures according to the NYS-approved clean water plans that exist throughout the Finger Lakes region. It is paramount that NYS grant guidelines and criteria become more streamlined and better cover the indirect costs of organizational operations. NYS funding should become more accessible, especially to support capacity building for the organizations charged with protecting and restoring Finger Lakes watersheds. New Delhi, June 28 (PTI)The Union Health Ministry on Friday launched a dashboard that will aid the national, state and district health facilities in quickly monitoring compliance with respect to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and taking action accordingly. It also rolled out a virtual National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) and a spot food licence and registration initiative for food vendors. Union ministers of state for health and family welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav and Anupriya Singh Patel, unveiled these three initiatives which will play a major role in improving the quality of healthcare services and promoting the ease of doing business in India. The launch of the spot food licence initiative is a ground-breaking new functionality for the instant issuance of licenses and registrations through the Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS). FoSCoS is a state-of-the-art, pan-India IT platform designed to address all food safety regulatory needs. This innovative system simplifies the licensing and registration processes, offering an enhanced user experience. Addressing the session, Jadhav said the launch of these important initiatives is part of a continuation of the government's effort to provide 'Healthcare for All' and promote wellness. He highlighted the Union government's achievements in establishing over 1.73 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, doubling the number of medical colleges since 2014, increasing the number of AIIMS from seven to 23 and more than doubling the number of PG and MBBS seats since 2014. "The government is committed to strengthening the healthcare system with more skilled human resources and quality infrastructure that can tackle both present and future medical challenges", he stated. Patel stated that the launch of the virtual NQAS assessment and dashboard as well as the release of the two documents will lead to improvement in providing quality of healthcare in public health facilities, while the launch of the spot food licence will enhance the ease of doing business in India. The virtual certification of Ayushman Arogya Mandir Sub-centres (AAM-SC) represents a significant innovation in the quality assurance framework for public health facilities, the ministry said in a statement. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAM have been established and operationalised to provide comprehensive and accessible healthcare services for all citizens, it stated. Currently, more than 1,70,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational nationwide. Led by Community Health Officers, the primary healthcare teams at AAM are trained to manage initial care, triage and refer patients to appropriate facilities for further treatment. This approach reduces the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities by providing primary care services closer to the community with adequate referral linkages. The early identification and management of health issues help prevent disease progression, necessitating advanced care, the statement said. To ensure that every citizen receives quality health services, NQAS was developed for district hospitals, community health centres, rural and urban primary healthcare centres and AAM-SC with the goal of full compliance by 2026. Online evaluations have been introduced to streamline the assessment process, involving virtual tours and interactions with patients, staff and community members. Each healthcare facility will undergo a rigorous multi-level assessment process to achieve quality certification, evaluated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare-empanelled National Quality Assurance Standard Assessors. Ensuring access to high-quality diagnostic tests is crucial for delivering life-saving treatments and effective disease prevention. Without robust laboratory services in public health facilities, patients often resort to private facilities, incurring significant out-of-pocket expenses and financial strain. The NQAS for lntegrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) has been developed to ensure consistent, precise and safe laboratory testing processes. These standards aim to provide quality services to patients and healthcare providers, stimulate district and block-level public health laboratories to demonstrate competency, and continually maintain and improve quality standards. Shimla, Jun 28 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday endorsed Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla's statement that the file regarding appoint Palampur Agriculture University of vice chancellor is lying with the state government and there has been a communication gap. Sukhu also noted that the governor has expressed his displeasure over some issues, including the absence of people holding constitutional posts in the official function on International Yoga Day on June 21. "The file regarding the appointment of vice chancellor (VC) of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (Agriculture University Palampur), which was referred back to the state government by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla about three-four months back, is lying with the Secretary Law," the chief minister told media persons here. Sukhu, who met the governor a day after Shukla went public against state Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar for blaming the Raj Bhavan for the delay in the appointment of the VC, said the file is with the government and there has been a communication gap. The governor had on Thursday said "I have referred the bill back to the government with comments and it is still pending with the government and blaming the Raj Bhavan for delay in appointment is not correct". The governor had maintained that the state government wants its say in the appointment of the VC. A bill in this regard was passed in the assembly, seeking say of the government in the appointment of the VC, he said, adding that the government wants that the governor should endorse the name sent by it for appointment of the VC. The file had been returned to the state government with his remarks, he added. Shukla had also expressed his displeasure over the absence of Congress ministers in Shimla at the International Yoga Day function organised by the Ayush Department. The governor further said the law and order situation in the state is not bad but being a small state, even small incidents get attention and as such the government should ensure that there was no breach of law. "It was a courtesy call and the governor has expressed his displeasure over some issues, including the absence of people holding constitutional posts in the official function organised at Shimla on the International Yoga Day on June 21," the chief minister said. "The mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation was also absent from the government function on the International Yoga day and the governor is right that people sitting on constitutional posts should have attended the official function. There was some communication gap which will be bridged," he added. Sukhu said the governor wants that regular VCs should be appointed in all the universities for congenial academic atmosphere. Discussions were also held regarding education and the issues raised by the Governor would be considered by the government, he said. "I have assured the governor that these things would be taken care of in the future," the chief minister said. Referring to the firing incident in Bilaspur involving the son of Congress leader and former Bilaspur MLA Bamber Thakur, Sukhu said they condemn the incident and "wrong is wrong ''. Such incidents will not be tolerated and the law will take its own course irrespective of the fact that the accused belong to which party, he added. New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) A 10-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and killed by her neighbours in north Delhi, and her body was found in an abandoned plot with her head smashed on early Friday, police said. She was allegedly gang-raped and then killed by her neighbours. Two people have been detained in connection with the case, they said. The police received a PCR call around 12.30 am on Friday from the victim's father who reported her missing, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer north) Ravi Kumar Singh said. The victim's father told the police that he noticed that their daughter was missing at around 9.45 pm. When she did not return home, they began searching for her and called the police, Singh said. Shortly after the call, the police found the girl's body in an abandoned plot nearby with her head smashed, Singh said. The DCP said that the locals saw the victim's neighbour Rahul (20) take the girl towards the plot. Based on the father's complaint, Rahul and Devdutt (30) have been apprehended and are being interrogated, DCP said. The two accused allegedly lured the girl on the pretext of taking her to a nearby eatery and committed the offence, police said. A case was registered against the accused under sections 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 302 (murder), and 376D (gangrape) of the Indian Penal Code, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Further investigation is underway, the DCP said. Srinagar, Jun 28 (PTI) The Centre's quest to address security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir should not come at the cost of "trampling constitutional rights and eroding" the very rule of law, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said on Friday. Her remarks came after Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police RR Swain on Sunday said that locals, who are found supporting foreign terrorists will be dealt with under the Enemy Agents Ordinance, which is much harsher than the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. "Jammu Kashmir police's recent decision of invoking the draconian Enemy Ordinance Act from the Maharaja's era against its own citizens on mere suspicion of abetting & aiding militants isnt only deeply concerning but a major breach of justice," the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K, said in a post on X. She said these archaic laws "violate" human rights and the punishments accompanying it are "grossly incompatible with principles and values of justice enshrined in the Constitution". "GOIs (Government of India's) quest to address security concerns shouldn't come at the cost of trampling constitutional rights & eroding the very rule of law," she added. Mehbooba's daughter and her media advisor, Iltija Mufti, said such actions suggest that there will be little change in the BJP's policy regarding Kashmir. "What does J&K admins recent decision of arresting Mian Qayoom, banning JK High Court Bar Association elections & @JmuKmrPolice invoking a draconian law from the erstwhile Maharaja's era tell you? That even after losing its brute majority there will be little change in BJPs policy vis - a -vis Kashmir," Iltija said on X. She was also referring to the arrest of former president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, for his alleged involvement in the murder conspiracy of fellow advocate Babar Qadri in 2020. Qayoom was arrested on Tuesday. On the same day, authorities banned the polls to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association on grounds that it is not registered with the competent authority and on apprehensions of breach of peace. "This sudden slew of repressive actions is also to punish Kashmiris for exercising their right to vote to wholeheartedly reject Delhi's illegal revocation of J&K's special status as well as its deeply disliked proxy parties," she alleged. Kota (Rajasthan) Jun 28 (PTI) A 65-year-old man was found dead in his house on Friday morning in a village in Rajasthan's Bundi district, police said. The police identified the deceased as Girdharilal Saini, a resident of Gotra village and a farmer by profession, they said. According to police, when Saini did not return calls, his son-in-law went to see him but found the house locked from the inside. He then went into the neighbour's house and found Saini lying on the first floor. When the police reached the spot, they found that Saini was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon on his throat. He also suffered injuries on his head, SHO Manoj Singh Sikarwal said. During the initial investigation, the police suspected robbery as the items in his house were scattered. But later, they found Rs 1.33 lakh cash which was kept safely and likely went unnoticed by the accused, the SHO said. Saini lived alone in his house while his son lived separately. The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem, SHO said. Efforts are being made to nab the accused. Further investigation is underway, he added. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would have shielded members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids but also would have provided billions of dollars to combat the opioid epidemic. The decision also could affect other major bankruptcies, including the $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan for the Boy Scouts of America that has been approved by a federal judge, lawyers said. After deliberating more than six months, the justices in a 5-4 vote blocked an agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims. The Sacklers would have contributed up to $6 billion and given up ownership of the company but retained billions more. The agreement provided that the company would emerge from bankruptcy as a different entity, with its profits used for treatment and prevention. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said nothing in present law authorizes the Sackler discharge. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Opioid victims and other future victims of mass torts will suffer greatly in the wake of todays unfortunate and destabilizing decision, Kavanaugh wrote. The high court had put the settlement on hold last summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration. Its unclear what happens next, though people involved in the case said they expect talks to resume. The members of the Sackler family branches who own Purdue suggested theyll return to negotiations. The unfortunate reality is that the alternative is costly and chaotic legal proceedings in courtrooms across the country, they said in a statement. While we are confident that we would prevail in any future litigation given the profound misrepresentations about our families and the opioid crisis, we continue to believe that a swift negotiated agreement to provide billions of dollars for people and communities in need is the best way forward. Edward Neiger, a lawyer representing more than 60,000 overdose victims, called the decision a major setback. The Purdue plan was a victim-centered plan that would provide billions of dollars to the states to be used exclusively to abate the opioid crisis and $750 million for victims of the crisis, so that they could begin to rebuild their lives, Neiger said in a statement. As a result of the senseless three-year crusade by the government against the plan, thousands of people died of overdose, and todays decision will lead to more needless overdose deaths. An opponent of the settlement praised the outcome. Ed Bischs 18-year-old son Eddie, died from an overdose after taking OxyContin in Philadelphia in 2001. The older Bisch, who lives in New Jersey, has been speaking out against Purdue and Sackler family members ever since and is part of a relatively small but vocal group of victims and family members who opposed the settlement. This is a step toward justice. It was outrageous what they were trying to get away with, he said Thursday. They have made a mockery of the justice system and then they tried to make a mockery of the bankruptcy system. He said he would have accepted the deal if he thought it would have made a dent in the opioid crisis. Hes now calling on the Department of Justice to seek criminal charges against Sackler family members Arguments in early December lasted nearly two hours in a packed courtroom as the justices seemed, by turns, unwilling to disrupt a carefully negotiated settlement and reluctant to reward the Sacklers. The issue for the justices was whether the legal shield that bankruptcy provides can be extended to people such as the Sacklers, who have not declared bankruptcy themselves. Lower courts had issued conflicting decisions over that issue, which also has implications for other major product liability lawsuits settled through the bankruptcy system. The U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee, an arm of the Justice Department, argued that the bankruptcy law does not permit protecting the Sackler family from being sued. During the Trump administration, the government supported the settlement. The Biden administration had argued to the court that negotiations could resume, and perhaps lead to a better deal, if the court were to stop the current agreement. Proponents of the plan said third-party releases are sometimes necessary to forge an agreement, and federal law imposes no prohibition against them. But the court majority that also included Justices Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Clarence Thomas disagreed. The Sacklers seek greater relief than a bankruptcy discharge normally affords, for they hope to extinguish even claims for wrongful death and fraud, and they seek to do so without putting anything close to all their assets on the table, Gorsuch wrote. Nor is what the Sacklers seek a traditional release, for they hope to have a court extinguish claims of opioid victims without their consent. Congress could write special rules for opioid-related bankruptcies, he wrote. And Kavanaugh, in dissent, urged lawmakers to do just that. Only Congress can fix the chaos that will now ensue, he wrote. Jason Amala, a lawyer representing more than 1,000 men who allege they were sexually abused as children by Boy Scout leaders and volunteers, said the decision could affect the Boy Scouts plan and others that employ similar releases from liability. The Supreme Courts decision is pretty simple, Amala said in a statement. If you hurt someone, you and your insurance company will have to pay fair value to settle their claim. If you want bankruptcy protection, you will have to file your own bankruptcy, disclose your assets and liabilities, and pay whatever amount a bankruptcy judge decides is appropriate. OxyContin first hit the market in 1996, and Purdue Pharmas aggressive marketing of it is often cited as a catalyst of the nationwide opioid epidemic, with doctors persuaded to prescribe painkillers with less regard for addiction dangers. The drug and the Stamford, Connecticut-based company became synonymous with the crisis, even though the majority of pills being prescribed and used were generic drugs. Opioid-related overdose deaths have continued to climb, hitting 80,000 in recent years. Most of those are from fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. The Purdue Pharma settlement would have ranked among the largest reached by drug companies, wholesalers and pharmacies to resolve epidemic-related lawsuits filed by state, local and Native American tribal governments and others. Those settlements have totaled more than $50 billion. But the Purdue Pharma settlement would have been only the second so far to include direct payments to victims from a $750 million pool. Payouts would have ranged from about $3,500 to $48,000. Sackler family members no longer are on the companys board, and they have not received payouts from it since before Purdue Pharma entered bankruptcy. In the decade before that, though, they were paid more than $10 billion, about half of which family members said went to pay taxes. The case is Harrington v. Purdue Pharma, 22-859. (AP) Parents of children with special needs are often thrust into an unfamiliar world. An avalanche of new financial, medical, educational and emotional concerns must be tended to. Trying to navigate that new world on ones own can be overwhelming. Its a daunting task and lonely journey. Just three years ago, Yahalom opened its doors in New Jersey, to be met with a tremendous amount of success and positive response that spurred six other Agudah offices around the country to open their own branches of Yahalom most recently, Agudath Israel of Ohio. Each branch of Yahalom is here to assist the parents in their community obtain the appropriate resources by guiding, educating, and empowering parents to ensure they have the help and support they need and to reassure them that they are not alone. Under the leadership of Mrs. Chana Barrett, YahalomOH will do the same. Mrs. Barrett has over a decade of experience as an occupational therapist in numerous settings and as the director of Gesher, granting her the unique perspective as a member of the Jewish community with a first-hand knowledge of the resources available for children with special needs, the agencies that provide them, and the laws governing them. When two local parents reached out and asked for a Yahalom office, we realized that Ohio is now ready for such a resource, said Mrs. Barrett. I look forward to being able to serve the community in this new way. Agudath Israel of Ohio is proud to meet the needs of the community in every area, and we anticipate that our Yahalom will better enable us to reach this goal, said Rabbi Yitz Frank, director of Agudath Israel of Ohio. We are here to support the families who reach out to us and lighten their burden in any way we can. To contact Mrs. Barrett at YahalomOH, email [email protected] or call 216.455.1111 ext 1. An increasing number of countries are advising their citizens to leave Lebanon as fear of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah increases. Kuwait and Canada have already advised their citizens to leave and Canada deployed military forces to the area to prepare for the possibility of an emergency evacuation. On Wednesday, Germany instructed its citizens to leave Lebanon on commercial flights while still possible, warning that an escalation in the situation could lead to all flights being grounded at Beirut Airport. The Netherlands, North Macedonia and Russia issued similar instructions to their citizens. A damning report by The Telegraph on Monday said that Hezbollah is storing a massive arsenal of Iranian weapons, missiles and explosives at Beirut Airport. Also, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar media outlet reported on Wednesday that Western embassies in Lebanon are searching for possible sites on the Lebanese coast they could use to potentially evacuate their citizens by sea. Meanwhile, Hebrew media reports say that the IDF has quietly deployed more troops to the northern border, including the transfer of units from Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Auburn Police Department Timothy L. Agee II, 35, of Auburn, was charged June 25 with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Brian D. Jones, 37, of Auburn, was charged June 25 with third-degree menacing and two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief. Cristy A. Crawford, 60, of Auburn, was charged June 26 with fourth-degree criminal mischief. Robert J. Kane, 50, of Auburn, was charged June 27 with second-degree menacing and tampering with physical evidence. Weston R. Rhodes, 29, of Auburn, was charged June 27 with second-degree rape, second-degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child. Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Jacob A. Johnson, 39, of Geneva, was charged June 27 with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, second-degree criminal impersonation and two counts of public lewdness. New York State Police Ryan F. Flaherty, 33, of Auburn, was charged June 25 with driving while intoxicated first offense. John J. Pisano, 37, of Seneca Falls, was charged June 26 with second-degree falsifying business records and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Kevin T. Engel, 37, of Aurora, was charged June 27 with driving while intoxicated first offense and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of at least .08 of 1% first offense. The records page: Blotter, restaurant inspections and more Visit the records page of auburnpub.com to see The Citizen's latest blotter, restaurant inspections and property transfers. The IDF has confirmed carrying out a drone strike in southern Lebanons Sohmor, resulting in the death of a Hezbollah operative. The terrorist, identified by Hezbollah as Ali al-Din, was allegedly behind recent drone attacks on northern Israel. In a statement, the IDF revealed that fighter jets also targeted buildings used by Hezbollah in Houla and Aitaroun, while troops shelled areas in southern Lebanon with artillery. The military also confirmed that two explosive-laden drones launched by Hezbollah at the Western Galilee struck areas near Rosh Hanikra, but reported no injuries. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had targeted a Navy base. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Thursday that federal officials are investigating the appalling antisemitic violence outside the Adas Torah shul in the Pico-Roberston neighborhood of Los Angeles. The rioters tried to block the entrance of the shul and then attacked a crowd of Jews who were standing across the street. Videos of the scene showed pro-Hamas rioters punching and beating up Jews, with one left completely bloodied, and some rioters holding clubs or using sign handles to attack Jews. A Jewish teenagers nose was broken and he was evacuated to the hospital. Many Jews pointed fingers at politicians, especially LA Mayor Karen Bass, for the lack of police action. Political consultant Noah Pollak said: The Los Angeles Police Department let the Hamas supporters take over the sidewalk in front of the shul and block its entrance. In fact, LAPD had formed a cordon around the front of the shul to keep Jews out and Hamas supporters in. Pollak said that the mayor and the LAPD are an absolute disgraceits clear the police have been instructed to help the Democratic Party street animals do their thuggery. They were definitely not there to protect the right of Jews to enter their shul. Jews decried the leniency shown toward the pro-Hamas rioters. The Los Angeles Police Department does not make arrests because District Attorney George Gascon is not interested in prosecuting them, said Natalie Ben-Shimon. Even if an arrest is made, the suspect is released without bail and will not stand trial; at most, they will receive a light reprimand. It feels like Jewish lives dont matter. I realized during the protests at UCLA how lenient they are toward pro-Palestinian protesters, Daniel Samuel said. For months, Jewish students were subjected to verbal and physical harassment, but no one was arrested, and they allowed the protesters to set up tents, vandalize buildings, and abuse Jews. These protesters are a very violent mob with no respect for the police, Liat Meroz told Ynet. They operate under the assumption that nothing will be done to them, and indeed, even if there are arrests, they are released immediately, without any demand for bail. One person just boom, straight to my nose, and I fell to the floor. I got hit many times on my head and my body, Naftoli Sherman said. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The introduction of new speed camera technology is effectively helping to snare more drivers illegally using their mobile phones behind the wheel. The number motorists in England and Wales caught and punished for using a handheld device in 2023 soared by 90 per cent compared to the year previous, according to analysis by the AA. The motoring group believes an increased in use of the latest hi-tech speed cameras has bolstered enforcement of this particular offence. *Read below to find out which three roadside cameras can already catch motorists on the phone We detail below the three types of advanced roadside cameras currently in use that can snare drivers who make calls or text at the wheel... The number of drivers found guilty of using a mobile phone behind the wheel has increased by 90% in a year. The AA says it is partly thanks to the wider use of new speed camera technology that can detect multiple offences, including motorists handling devices Official figures show that the number of convictions for using a phone at the wheel reached a seven year high in 2023. Ministry of Justice stats say 13,332 drivers were found guilty at court for the offence last year, up from 6,990 motorists in 2022 - meaning a year-on-year spike of 90 per cent. Laws around the use of a mobile phone by drivers was tightened in March 2022, essentially banning motorists from touching a device while on the move - as well as increasing penalties. Any motorist caught handling a mobile phone behind the wheel now faces a fine of 200 and six penalty points on their licence. Drivers hit with minimum 200 fine and 6 points for handling a phone for any of the following reasons - illuminating the screen - checking the time - checking notifications - unlocking the device - making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet based call - sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content - sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video - utilising camera, video, or sound recording functionality - drafting any text - accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages - accessing an application - accessing the internet Source: Department for Transport In order to close loopholes in the law, the Government also expanded the definition of using a device while driving to include handling a phone in any way, from touching the screen to scroll a music playlist, browse the internet, take a photograph or play a mobile game - and these rules apply when stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic. The only exceptions are for making calls to emergency services when there is no safe place to pull over and to use contactless payments like Apple Pay at fast-food drive-throughs and to pay tolls, while hands-free calls are also still permitted. Despite the crackdown, many drivers are continuing to break the law. Fortunately, more are being caught doing so. The AA believes convictions have increased in the last year thanks to the inception of new roadside cameras. It also believes fresh tactics deployed by police forces and local authorities across the country - such as covert HGVs prowling motorways for drivers using phones and targeted periods of enforcement - have contributed to the rise. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, told This is Money: 'Despite a high-profile change in the law, it seems many drivers are still falling foul when it comes to using a mobile phone behind the wheel. 'Better cameras that can detect more offences is a good thing as it tightens up the rules of the road. 'However, technology can only do so much and is unable to stop someone in the act. 'As part of The AAs Motoring Manifesto, we have called for more cops in cars to catch people in the act and make our roads safer.' Official figures show that the number of convictions for using a phone at the wheel reached a seven year high in 2023. Ministry of Justice stats say 13,332 drivers were found guilty at court for the offence last year, up from 6,990 motorists in 2022 Speed cameras that can catch drivers on the phone Currently, there are at least 18 different types of speed camera being used across Britain. Three of these are not only capable of catching motorists over the legal limit, they can also detect other offences such as handling a phone, not wearing a seatbelt, running a red light and even tailgating another road user. Here's what each one looks like, how it works and what it can catch drivers doing... 1. Jenoptik VECTOR-SR speed camera The VECTOR-SR has been dubbed an 'ultra' speed camera due to it being the most advanced of its kind yet. Having received approval for use in Britain back in 2019, it looks and works very differently to typical roadside cameras. The cameras are elevated high up on a long pole designed to deter vandals from attacking them - however many have already been cut down by angry motorists. The VECTOR-SR speed camera has been dubbed an 'ultra' speed camera due to it being the most advanced of its kind yet. They are elevated high up on a long pole designed to deter vandals from trying to destroy them - though that hasn't worked It can double as both a speed camera and one that can record motorists committing other offences. It uses a video-based system that works in tandem with an intelligent virtual grid to judge if a driver is speeding. This means there is no need for sensors to be dug into the road, which is costly and requires road closures for their installation. Yet another reason why it is very attractive to cash-strapped police forces and local authorities. Measurements from the radar technology is then validated by secondary independent and image-based evidence. That means there is no need for road markings - which have typically been one of the biggest tell-tale signs to let drivers know the whereabouts of speed cameras - sometimes making them difficult to spot. The system uses infra-red technology which allows images to be captured via still photos and video recordings, which eliminates the need for a camera flash, even at night and in bad weather. Unlike previous cameras which only capture vehicles travelling in left-hand lanes, the new model captures up to three lanes of traffic going in both directions. This means one installation can enforce an entire section of road. It will also be able to identify speeding vehicles and their owners quickly, too, as it has built-in Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) tech. Police and authorities can use this to request information about the registered keeper via the DVLA's database. And because the camera records footage of a driver breaking the limit, any visual evidence showing motorists driving without a seatbelt or using a mobile phone can be used to enforce these offences too. 2. Aecom mobile AI camera The Aecom is a mobile camera that is very different to the conventional police camera van at the side of the road. The 'Big Brother' vehicle is the brainchild of National Highways. It is designed in a way that it can catch a multitude of offences - though not necessarily speeding. It was first trialled by Warwickshire Police in 2022 with great success, and is being put through its paced by a number of different constabularies. Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police and Sussex and all using the Aecom in 2024. The van can travel to offence hotspots and pull up at the roadside. A large metal structure then extends from the roof to create a mobile overhead gantry with cameras and the latest in surveillance tech at an elevated position. It can also be transported on the back of a custom trailer, which is then fixed to the roadside to allow van to drive away to conduct other duties. Humberside Police and forces in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire have deployed this trailered version this year. This next-generation mobile camera has its own overhead gantry structure that can capture photographic evidence of drivers using a phone at the wheel or not using their seatbelt The Aecom camera technology can also be transported to the roadside via a trailer The system uses multiple cameras with high shutter speeds, an infra-red flash and a lensing and filtering system that can record high-definition images of passing vehicles. While the tech could be used to catch speeding motorists, the cameras - using artificial intelligence (AI) - are primarily being used to determine if motorists are using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel or if a driver - or passenger - isn't wearing a seatbelt. The van is also capable of being kitted with additional technology to detect tailgating offences, although this system does not form part of the trials in Warwickshire, the authorities said. The Government's major roads department says the hi-tech van is first being used to 'understand the scale of the problem around these dangerous motoring offences', though suggest similar technology-packed vehicles could be distributed across the country to 'boost road safety'. 3. Long Ranger mobile speed camera Police forces since 2018 have been using a new long-range camera that can catch motorists speed from over half a mile away. It's been dubbed the 'Long Ranger' but some constabularies. It can capture speeding drivers at one kilometre (0.6 miles), making it the longest distance speed enforcer currently in use. The long-ranger camera can snap drivers speeding from a mile away. It can also be used to enforce dangerous driving, seatbelt and mobile phone offences Because of its sniper-like long-distance capabilities, it could be too late for drivers to spot one being used in a roadside camera van further up the road. And it's not just speed that the long ranger can detect. It's also used for catching tailgaters, middle-lane hoggers, drivers not wearing seatbelts and anyone using a phone behind the wheel. Driving without tax also at an all-time high Analysis of the MoJ figures by the AA also identified that driving without vehicle tax rose to an all-time high of 99,694 convictions, a year-on-year increase of 94 per cent. 'It is concerning that driving without tax almost doubled in a year,' Cousens said. 'While too early to tell if this rise is related to the cost of living, the high conviction rates should serve as a deterrent not to dodge paying for a virtual tax disc.' Similarly, drivers failing to comply with red lights and signs were at a 12-year high of 11,940 guilty verdicts. Elsewhere, court cases for speeding offences fell by 8 per cent with more than 203,500 guilty verdicts handed to drivers. When looking at motor insurance cases, driving a vehicle without insurance fell to 71,458 last year (76,390 in 2022), but keeping a vehicle without insurance reaching a four year high (58,690 in 2023 vs 40,392 in 2022). Drink and drug driving related cases, seatbelt offences and driving whilst disqualified also remained at similar levels to 2022. In total, 732,758 drivers were in the dock for motoring related offences with 672,901 being found guilty a conviction rate of 92 per cent, showing that drivers sat in front of a judge or magistrate are unlikely to get away with it. Motoring offences also took up the lion's share of the courts time, with three in every five cases being for driving misdemeanours, the MoJ stats suggest. One of the biggest complaints about electric vehicles is their inflated price tags. But following a raft of recent new reveals of affordable EVs that are set to reposition the market, Hyundai has now thrown its hat into the ring with the new Inster. The compact supermini is set to cost from 22,000, which would put it amongst the least expensive battery models on sale when it arrives early next year. Offering funky looks and a range of over 200 miles, it has a very impressive party trick inside the cabin that could make this the ideal small weekend getaway car for couples and campers who are eco-conscious at heart. Can this affordable EV become Inster famous? Hyundai's Inster is due in UK showrooms early in 2025 - here's what it offers, including a very clever interior option... What's the Hyundai Inster's party piece? At 3.8 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and the same high, the Inster is certainly not the biggest of EVs. In fact, in terms of dimensions, it has positioned itself perfectly between the two cheapest EVs currently on sale in Britain: the 14,995 Dacia Spring and 21,990 Citroen e-C3. And the Inster should be priced competitively with the latter, with an almost identical entry price hinted by the Korean outfit. Despite the car's relatively compact footprint, Hyundai bosses promise it can transport five people in comfort. At just 3.8 metres long, the Inster is the smallest EV Hyundai produces. But bosses promise it will have an exceptionally roomy interior This is thanks to a combination ingeniously practical packaging and a configurable interior - which is the party piece that could make the Inster 'Insta famous' among leisure influencers. The four seats can independently be folded flat, while the two in the rear slide on rails and can recline to provide copious amounts of room for your long-legged friends and family - though that will compromise the boot space. But the best feature of all is the Inster's option to fold all four chairs flat. Bring along a roll-up mattress and you've got yourself the equivalent of a king-size bed (which measure 1.5 metres wide and 2.0 metres long) for you and your other half. Slide me Here's the Inster's party trick: All four seats can be folded flat to provide a completely flat area - ideal for sleeping if you have a roll-out lightweight mattress. It should be around the size of a king-size bed The two rear seats also slide forwards and back independently, meaning those in the back can have extra leg room, granted there isn't too much in the boot... From launch in the first half of next year, the Inster will be available with two drivetrain options powered different nickel-cobalt-manganese battery packs The 22,000 version will get 42.kWh battery linked to a 96bhp front-mounted electric motor that delivers a 0-to-62mph sprint time of 11.7 seconds and top speed of 87mph. Range is said to be up to 186 miles between charges. The pricier Long range has a 49kWh battery, 113bhp, 0-to-62mph sprint time of just 10.6 seconds and a range of 221 miles Both versions come as standard with a heat pump and 85kW (DC) charging capabilities to bolster both efficiency and charge time. For those looking to juice up with electricity en route, a compatible charger can up the battery from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in just half an hour How far can you go in the Hyundai Inster on a full charge? From launch in the first half of next year, the Inster will be available with two drivetrain options powered different nickel-cobalt-manganese battery packs. The 'Standard' 22,000 version will get 42.kWh battery linked to a 96bhp front-mounted electric motor that delivers a 0-to-62mph sprint time of 11.7 seconds and top speed of 87mph. Range is said to be up to 186 miles between charges. Not enough for you? Then you will have to choose the 'Long-Range' variant, which will likely come at a premium closer to 25,000 but up the battery size to 49kWh and power to 113bhp, which should cut the 0-to-62mph sprint time to just 10.6 seconds. Range is longer at 221 miles, though the top speed is limited to 93mph to ensure users don't empty the battery too quickly. The flagship long-range Inster is boosted to 113bhp and 49kWh, taking its range to 217 miles and its top speed to 93mph, while reducing its 0-62mph time to 10.6sec. Both versions come as standard with a heat pump and 85kW (DC) charging capabilities to bolster both efficiency and charge time. For those looking to juice up with electricity en route, a compatible charger can up the battery from 10 to 80 per cent capacity in just half an hour. 2025 Hyundai Inster: Will it fit in my garage? UK deliveries: Spring 2025 Price: from approx 22,000 DIMENSIONS Length: 3,825mm Wheelbase: 2,580mm Width: 1,610mm Height: 1,575mm Front head room: 1,028mm (Sunroof: 987mm) / Rear head room: 982mm Front leg room: 1,050mm / Rear leg room: 885mm Luggage space: 280 litres (up to 351 litres with rear seats slid forwards) PERFORMANCE Battery capacity: Standard: 42kWh / Long-Range: 49kWh Power: Standard: 71.1 kW and 96bhp / Long-Range: 84.5 kW and 113bhp Acceleration 0-62mph: Standard: 11.7 secs / Long-Range: 10.6 secs Top speed: Standard: 87mph / Long-Range: 93mph Range: Standard: over 186 miles / Long-Range: 221 miles AC charging time: Standard: 4 hours / Long-Range: 4 hours 35 mins 10-80% fast charging: 30 mins The Korean car firm believes connectivity is where it will gazump the competition, with a pair of 10.25-inch displays - one being the instrument cluster and the other the touchscreen infotainment screen It will also have the functionality to unlock and start the car using a smartphone 'key' via a dedicated app Inside, the material for the cockpit is recycled polyethylene terephthalate - a mix of repurposed bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane An affordable price means less kit, right? Not at all. In fact, the Inster looks to be on par, if not better equipped than its nearest rivals. The Korean car firm believes connectivity is where it will gazump the competition, with a pair of 10.25-inch displays - one being the instrument cluster and the other the touchscreen infotainment screen. Inside, the material for the cockpit is recycled polyethylene terephthalate - a mix of repurposed bottles and bio-polypropylene material extracted from sugarcane. It will also have the functionality to unlock and start the car using a smartphone 'key' via a dedicated app. The suite of driver assistance tech is equally as impressive. Inster boasts a 360-degree parking camera and adaptive cruise control - features rarely found in vehicles this small, though some would argue the parking support is overkill for such a compact vehicle. There's even the blindspot monitoring system shared with bigger Tucson SUV; this projects the view from camera on the rear quarters of the car onto the instrument cluster so you can avoid cutting up other motorists when switching to flanking lanes on the motorway. Additionally, it receives the brands novel blindspot monitoring system, which projects a camera image of your rear quarter view onto the instrument panel as you indicate. Want a Hyundai Inster: Order books should open later this year, with first deliveries from spring 2025, though there might be one caveat for UK customers... When can I get one? Hyundai boss, Simon Loasby - the senior vice president at design - says Inster will 'take the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience'. He adds: "Inster punches well above its weight with distinctive design and an interior that maximizes its potential in exciting, customer-centric ways. 'With Inster, we're redefining what it means to drive a sub-compact EV.' With prices set to start from 22,000, the Inster won't be redefining the cheaper end of the small EV market, with the Dacia Spring having that well and truly tied up with a starting price point some 7,000 below the Hyundai. And the UK might not even get the option of the cheaper Inster, as reports suggest Britain's drivers might only be offered the longer range variant. Order books should open later this year, with first deliveries from spring 2025. The board of Keywords Studios is set to ask investors to back a new $2.5billion (1.96billion) private equity takeover approach. The video game services company revealed it has received a new 24.50 per share bid from Swedish private equity giant EQT, a 20 pence increase on a previous proposal made on Wednesday. Following consultation with financial advisers, the Dublin-based group said it 'would be minded to recommend' the deal to shareholders if EQT declares an intention to make an official offer. Offer: Video game services company Keywords Studios has received a new 24.50 per share bid from Swedish private equity giant EQT Under City takeover rules, EQT now has until 5pm on 3 July to put forward a concrete proposal or walk away. Keywords first announced it was conducting takeover discussions with EQT in May and had rejected four unsolicited offers from the Dechra Pharmaceuticals owner. The AIM-listed firm provides technical and creative services to many of the world's largest video game manufacturers, such as Microsoft, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard. These include producing trailers, voiceovers, artwork, social media posts, music scoring, and translating in-game text into dozens of languages. It enjoyed a major boost from the Covid-19 pandemic as tough lockdown restrictions across the world led to people spending more time indoors. The group has further expanded through an extensive series of acquisitions, buying the likes of Heavy Iron Studios, Smoking Gun Interactive, and Forgotten Empires. However, Keywords Studios shares have fallen significantly from their peak of over 33 in September 2021 due to concerns that artificial intelligence threatens the video game industry. They were 5.7 per cent, or 124p, higher at 23.02 on Friday morning. Keywords further announced on Friday that its annual results would be weighted to the second half of this year owing to 'slower content creation trends that are currently dampening industry spend'. For the latter six months of 2024, the firm anticipates organic growth of around 10 per cent, supported by strong spending from large clients and content production across Hollywood ramping up. Its potential takeover comes amid a large volume of acquisition activity involving London-listed businesses, which are perceived as undervalued when compared to their global peers. Royal Mail's parent company, International Distributions Services, has agreed to a 3.6billion bid from Daniel Kretinsky, a Czech billionaire with substantial stakes in Sainsbury's, Foot Locker and West Ham United. Packaging business DS Smith, cybersecurity specialist Darktrace, and telecoms testing group Spirent Communications have also accepted takeover offers in recent months. Tata has threatened to shut the Port Talbot steelworks next week because of strikes by Unite. The Indian conglomerate said it will close the final blast furnace at the South Wales site three months earlier than planned as union members prepare to stage a walk out. Tata was expected to close one of the facilities by the end of the month and the second one by September as it presses ahead with net zero plans. It has been given a 500m government bailout to shift to electric arc furnaces to reduce carbon emissions. Nearly 3,000 steelworkers face redundancy due to the proposals but Tata claimed the alternative was the closure of the site with the loss of 8,000 jobs. The plan has faced criticism from politicians, unions and industry experts who said it puts the future of Britain's steel industry at risk. Threat: Tata said it will close the final blast furnace at the South Wales site three months earlier than planned Unite leader Sharon Graham yesterday said Tata's statement is the latest 'in a long line of threats that won't deter us'. And the Labour Party has urged Tata to wait for a possible Keir Starmer-led government after the July 4 election to hold more crisis talks. A Tata spokesman said the company is 'unfortunately forced to commence legal action to challenge the validity of Unite's ballot'. Tata said it will have 'no choice' but to close the furnaces early if strike action means it will be unable to operate them safely. The spokesman added: 'That is not a decision we would take lightly, and we recognise that it would prove extremely costly and disruptive throughout the supply chain, but the safety of people on or around our sites will always take priority over everything else.' Around 1,500 Tata workers are preparing to take all-out indefinite strike action from July 8 over plans to cut 2,800 jobs and close Port Talbot's blast furnaces. It is the first time in more than 40 years that steel workers in the UK have gone on strike. The move comes after Unite members in Port Talbot last week began working to rule and an overtime ban. Unite's Graham said: 'Tata putting out a statement to shut or pause its blast furnaces three months earlier than they intended to is the latest in a long line of threats, that won't deter us. The Unite campaign is not about selling jobs, it's about securing the long-term future of steel making in this country for thousands of workers in Port Talbot and South Wales. 'We call on the real decision makers in Mumbai to take hold of this dispute, sit down, negotiate and realise that the investment secured will be good for the company and workers.' Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the research group Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: 'This news will obviously be hugely concerning to workers at the plant, and it did not have to be this way. A planned transition to future-proof technologies, including hydrogen, could have saved many more jobs.' The bumper pay handed to Royal Mail bosses in the years leading up to its proposed takeover by Daniel Kretinsky is laid bare by the Mail today. Five successive chief executives shared 15.2m between the delivery group's privatisation in 2013 and the end of its latest financial year in March 2024, according to analysis by this newspaper. This number will swell to as much as 22.6m by the time the deal to sell Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS) to the billionaire known as the Czech Sphinx for 3.6billion is completed. Critics said the public would be 'outraged' by the huge sums given the poor level of service they have received. The revelations come after documents this week showed bankers, lawyers and other advisers working on the deal will share a fees of 146m. Bumper pay: Moya Greene and Martin Seidenberg are two of the executives who have profited The IDS board led by chairman Keith Williams stunned the City and Westminster last month when it backed a 3.6billion offer from Kretinsky, which will see Royal Mail fall into foreign hands for the first time since it was set up by Henry VIII in 1516. The proposed takeover which still requires regulatory approval comes just over a decade after Royal Mail was listed on the stock market in a major privatisation deal by the Coalition government. The privatisation soon turned sour, however, as the firm was hammered by a collapse in letter-writing and damaging strikes. Royal Mail has blamed its financial performance on delays to reform of the Universal Service Obligation, which mandates deliveries nationwide six days a week at a fixed price and costs the business up to 675m a year. But unions claim the crisis has been brought on by 'mismanagement' at the top, leaving the firm vulnerable to a foreign takeover. Running Royal Mail has proved lucrative. The Mail can reveal that IDS chief executive Martin Seidenberg was paid 1.5m last year and could land another 7.4m by the time the takeover completes. That includes up to 5.6m in potential share awards and the value of his stake in the firm plus his salary and bonuses for this financial year. His predecessor Simon Thompson, who was boss for just two years, earned a total of 1.9m. He followed in the footsteps of Rico Back, who also quit after a two-year stint that was marred by an ongoing battle with unions. He was paid nearly 1.2m plus 450,000 in lieu of working his notice, but did not receive any bonuses on leaving. Stuart Simpson, who did the job on an interim basis after Back left and before Thompson took over, was paid 462,000. Canadian Moya Greene was appointed in 2010. Her tenure included the privatisation of the postal service in 2013, after which she earned 8.7m plus a near 1m pay-off when she stepped down. Andrew Speke at the High Pay Centre think-tank said: 'Given the service the public have received from Royal Mail, most people would be outraged to hear of these huge sums being paid out to failing bosses.' How top brass scooped 15m in lead-up to Czech Sphinx takeover and there's more in the post! Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker BAIC Group and the Bank of China recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Under which, the Bank of Chinas Beijing branch will provide BAIC Group with a strategic cooperation credit line of 100 billion yuan. Signing ceremony; photo credit: BAIC Group The two parties will strengthen their collaboration in various sectors, including technology finance, equipment renovation loans, green credit, equity investment, capital markets, supply chain finance, and cross-border finance. Additionally, on June 18, BAIC Group and battery giant CATL also signed an agreement to deepen their strategic cooperation. In the field of next-generation intelligent chassis, they will collaborate on the next-generation CIIC skateboard chassis platform. This cooperation will involve comprehensive R&D on chassis architecture, systems, processes, cost, and performance balance, integrating scenario-defined vehicles with intelligent and personalized product development. In the battery swapping sector, BAIC Group has made considerable progress with battery swapping taxis and ride-hailing vehicles. Since CATL launched its Choco-SEB battery swapping service brand, it has promoted standardization in the battery swapping industry through continuous technological and business model innovations. Leveraging their respective strengths, BAIC Group, CATL, and CATL's wholly-owned subsidiary Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology Ltd. will collaborate on the development and circulation of battery swap models and battery blocks, battery-related data management, and regional cooperation on battery swapping stations. The companies will also work together on heavy-duty truck battery swapping business models, including vehicle development, sales, battery sales, leasing, and energy services. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 27, the first batch of BYDs Song PLUS DM-i Champion Edition vehicles rolled off the production line at the Chinese electric vehicle makers Uzbekistan factory. Photo credit: BYD Additionally, BYD signed a green transportation cooperation initiative with the government of Uzbekistan to promote sustainable mobility. The factory, located in Jizzakh, represents a significant milestone following the joint venture announcement between BYD and Uzavtosanoat JSC (UzAuto) in December 2022. The first phase of the factory aims to produce two popular plug-in hybrid electric models, namely, the Song PLUS DM-i Champion Edition and the Destroyer 05 Champion Edition, with an annual production capacity expected to reach 50,000 units to meet the demand in the Central Asian market. Earlier this year, President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan visited BYDs global headquarters in China and attended the production launch ceremony for the Uzbekistan factory. The transition to mass production will not only accelerate the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Uzbekistan but also bolster the country's NEV industry development through the green transportation cooperation initiative. Tashkent, the capital, will serve as a demonstration city for this green transition. Since entering the Uzbek market in March 2023, BYD has quickly become the top-selling NEV brand, winning consumers over with its high-quality products, innovative technology, and professional local services. A woman has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for money laundering charges. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Ivanilce Vailones (47) of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Co. Roscommon, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering between 2018 and 2021, with ten other counts to be taken into consideration. She has a number of previous convictions, including assault and road traffic offences. Passing sentence today, Ms Justice Patricia Ryan said the court has been advised that the maximum sentence available was 14 years on each count. She noted that the co-accused, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and organised prostitution charges, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended. Judge Ryan said the aggravating factors in this case were the serious nature of the offending, the amount of money involved and the period of time that the offending continued for. The judge said the mitigating factors were Vailoness guilty plea, her remorse, her employment, her contribution to society, and that she had not coming to garda attention since she was released from custody. Judge Ryan sentenced Vailones to four years in prison and suspended the final 28 months for two years. She also said credit is to be given for time already served in custody. Vailones has previously gone on trial with a co-accused charged with human trafficking, organised prostitution and money laundering. This trial collapsed, and the jury was discharged. The human trafficking and organised prostitution charges were dropped against Vailones. Detective Garda Peter Breen told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that a gardai investigation was launched after two witnesses came forward and gave an account of their time in Ireland, where they were working in prostitution. These witnesses told gardai about the persons they had dealt with and the money they had paid into certain bank accounts. Based on this information, the gardai arrested Vailones and a co-accused. The court heard that Vailoness premises were searched, and items linking her to certain bank accounts were located. The court heard that a bank account, which was referred to as the Paulina account, had 68,880 in it. This account was owned by a former sex worker who had left the country in 2016. A bank card for this account was found in Vailoness property. Vailones denied knowing anything about this Paulina account but gardai showed her CCTV footage of her using the card to withdraw money from an ATM. Det Gda Breen said a second bank account, which was in Vailoness name, had 57,358, and 50,709 of this money was transferred to an overseas account, which was also traced to Vailones. The State's case is that the money in these accounts came from prostitution. The court heard that while Vailones has been on bail, she has not come to garda attention and has complied with her bail conditions. Mr McCormack told the court that the maximum sentence available was 14 years on each count. Det Gda Breen agreed with Padraig Dwyer, SC, defending, that the guilty plea was of benefit to the gardai and the prosecution. Mr Dwyer handed letters into the court from Vailones, her mother, and her sister. Vailones expressed her remorse for getting involved in this offending. Counsel said while his client was on remand in prison, she engaged in many courses and that the 20 months she has already served on this matter has had an impact on her mental health. He said that his client has now opened an online clothes shop, is raising money for cancer patients, and is giving back to the community. He asked the court to impose a sentence that would not extend the time she had already served in prison. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 28, luxury smart electric vehicle brand BeyonCa announced its entry into the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks' Tseung Kwan O InnoPark. The company will establish its global headquarters, vehicle assembly plant, and four key centers at this location. Signing ceremony; photo credit: BeyonCa The four centers include the Complete Vehicle R&D and AI Center, the Marketing Center, the Customer Experience and Smart Health Services Center, and the Big Data Center. "BeyonCa will leverage the advanced supply chain systems of the Chinese mainland and the international talent pool of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to bring high-value IP R&D, AI development, and assembly operations to Hong Kong. Through an innovative cross-border manufacturing model, BeyonCa aims to become the first international luxury electric vehicle brand 'MADE IN HONG KONG'," said company founder and chairman Weiming Soh. "Our unique '1+3' business model will facilitate cross-border manufacturing: '1' represents the establishment of an intelligent cockpit, AI development, and a top-tier assembly plant for luxury vehicles in Hong Kong; '3' refers to the completion of stamping, welding, and painting processes in component industrial parks in the Chinese mainland." BeyonCa GT Opus 1; photo credit: BeyonCa BeyonCa announced its global debut on October 30, 2022. The company has global offices in five cities across three countries including three R&D offices in China, a design center in Munich and a Singapore office which will become an R&D hub. Strategic shareholders of BeyonCa include Dongfeng Motor Group and Renault Group. The company previously disclosed that it plans to roll out its first mass-produced car model in 2024, just as projected demand for premium smart EVs starts rising rapidly both in Asia and globally. With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Volkswagen's ID. UNYX all-electric coupe SUV to hit Chinese market in July On June 28, Volkswagen (Anhui) opened its first 38 retail outlets, showcasing the new ID. UNYX, Volkswagen's first intelligent all-electric coupe SUV. This new model, featuring a gold Volkswagen logo, will officially hit the Chinese market in mid-July. Photo credit: Volkswagen GAC Toyota, Momenta launch all-scenario end-to-end intelligent driving solution During its first tech open day event, GAC Toyota announced the launch of an end-to-end all-scenario intelligent driving solution developed in collaboration with Momenta. This solution will debut in the new bZ3X electric vehicle model. Xiaomi introduces SU7 smart chassis ambient light accessory On June 28, Xiaomi EV announced the release of the SU7 smart chassis ambient light accessory, available on the Xiaomi EV App for 999 yuan. Geely Automobile achieves record-high revenue in Q1 2024 On June 28, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (Geely Automobile) announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024). The company reported revenue of 52.3 billion yuan, marking a 56% year-on-year spike. Zelos launches new self-driving logistics delivery vehicle with Hesais LiDAR On June 28, autonomous driving tech company Zelos launched its new 2024 Z5 self-driving logistics delivery vehicle model, featuring Hesai Technology's AT128 LiDAR. BeyonCa to establish global headquarters in Hong Kong On June 28, luxury smart electric vehicle brand BeyonCa announced its entry into the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks' Tseung Kwan O InnoPark. The company will establish its global headquarters, vehicle assembly plant, and four key centers at this location. ZF, Farizon Auto partner to develop new energy commercial vehicles On June 27, ZF Group's Commercial Vehicle Solutions division and Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group (Farizon Auto), a subsidiary of Geely, signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Leveraging the partners expertise, they aim to develop globally competitive products focused on pure electric and methanol-hydrogen technologies. BYD's Uzbekistan factory rolls off first batch Song PLUS DM-i Champion Edition vehicles On June 27, the first batch of BYDs Song PLUS DM-i Champion Edition vehicles rolled off the production line at the Chinese electric vehicle makers Uzbekistan factory. Geely launches new-generation Aegis LFP short-blade battery On June 27, Chinese automaker Geely launched its new-generation self-developed blade-style lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, the Aegis short-blade battery. The innovative short-blade design boasts significant advancements in safety, cycle life, fast-charging capabilities, and low-temperature discharge performance. WeRides Robotaxi service allowed to charge fees at Beijing Daxing International Airport On June 27, autonomous driving solution provider WeRide received the official notification to commence a commercialization pilot for expressway mobility services within the Beijing Municipal High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone (BJHAD). BAIC Group receives 100-billion-yuan credit line from Bank of China Chinese automaker BAIC Group and the Bank of China recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Under which, the Bank of Chinas Beijing branch will provide BAIC Group with a strategic cooperation credit line of 100 billion yuan. China opposes U.S., other Western countries shifting blame over Ukraine crisis Xinhua) 08:09, June 28, 2024 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson has voiced strong opposition to the United States and some other Western countries for shifting the blame over the Ukraine crisis. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday when responding to an inquiry concerning the recent G7 Leaders' Communique. Wu pointed out that data shows that over 60 percent of the weapon components and dual-use goods imported by Russia are from the United States and other Western countries. This practice of maintaining trade with Russia while interfering with and undermining normal cooperation between China and Russia is extremely hypocritical, he said. "Instead of reflecting on their own roles in the Ukraine crisis, the United States and other Western countries have repeatedly shifted the blame onto China, which we firmly oppose," the spokesperson said. China has been conducting normal economic and trade exchanges with all countries, including Russia, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, but does not provide lethal weapons to any side in the conflict, while strictly controlling the export of dual-use items, Wu said. China has always stood on the side of peace and the right side of history. It firmly opposes groundless accusations, and will continue to play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Ukraine crisis, he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A driver says Autopilot drove his Tesla into an active train track, according to a police report from a town outside Sacramento. Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty A Tesla driver said Autopilot mistook train tracks for a road outside Sacramento. Local police shared a post on Facebook urging Tesla drivers to stay "vigilant" when using Autopilot. It's the second recent incident where Autopilot steered a Tesla toward train tracks. A Tesla owner says he ended up in the middle of an active train track after Autopilot mistook it for a road, a California police department said in a warning to other drivers. The alleged incident happened outside Sacramento. Police didn't share the driver's name or the condition of the car. Woodland Police Department in California issued the warning on Wednesday in a Facebook post reminding Tesla drivers to stay "vigilant while using Tesla's Autopilot feature." ADVERTISEMENT In the warning, police said the driver had given them a statement that his car had driven onto the tracks when Autopilot was engaged. The police said they hadn't verified what happened and that they were still investigating. The post included a list of reminders for Tesla drivers using Autopilot, including to stay alert and keep their hands on the wheel. The police also said to regularly check surroundings in self-driving mode and noted that Autopilot is "not a replacement for attentive driving." Woodland Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI. The reported California incident is the second in two months with drivers saying a Tesla in Autopilot mistakingly drove onto railway tracks. The last incident occurred on May 8 and almost resulted in a freight train crash, the driver said, according to a report from NBC. A video of the incident showed the vehicle driving down a foggy road toward a moving freight train and swerving right before it collided. The driver told NBC he took responsibility and said he had become complacent with the technology, the report said. Tesla describes Autopilot as a set of advanced driver-assistance features meant "to make driving safer and less stressful," according to its website. It notes that none of the features make the vehicle "fully autonomous or replace" the driver. Story continues For years, Elon Musk has been saying that self-driving cars are imminent and once said Tesla Autopilot is 10 times less likely to crash than the average car. But the transition hasn't been as seamless as Musk has suggested. Tesla recalled over 2 million vehicles in December due to concerns over Autopilot . And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified in an April report more than 200 front-end crashes when Autopilot was engaged, 13 of which it said were fatal. Tesla did not return a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Read the full story on The Auto Wire Grandma Punches Car Thief In The Face Range Rovers are super popular theft targets, thanks in no small part to the high price tag they carry. It seems one pair of thieves thought they were going to get one of the luxury SUVs with ease, only to get the smackdown from a grandma inside. Learn about grannys secret supercar stash. Back on June 21, a mother pulled in front of a post office in Melbourne, Australia to file a passport application. The two thieves saw her run inside and decided they were going to take the Range Rover. What they didnt know was not only was a feisty grandma sitting inside but so was her grandchild. Those maternal instincts kicked in and the 63-year-old grandmother punched the would-be thief in the face. ADVERTISEMENT We really wish surveillance footage captured the punch as well as the look on the guys face afterward. Instead, it merely shows him running away. What seemed like an easy score became a quick ticket to pain. Other grandparents and parents have fought off car thieves, including some who are armed, because a child or multiple children were in the vehicle. That instinct to protect can be fierce and these little criminals dont seem to really understand that. In this case, the would-be Range Rover thief went scampering off to his buddy and getaway driver who was behind the wheel of a stolen Mazda pickup truck. According to 9News, he was listening to gangster rap and dancing to it like he didnt have a care in the world. Police believe these two are part of a gang which has been stealing cars in the Melbourne area as well as performing some armed robberies plus aggravated burglaries. In other words, theyve used violence to take things from victims, so this grandma might have been the only one to return the favor. Image via 9News Follow The Auto Wire on Google News. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Read the full story on The Auto Wire Womans Car Stolen Right After She Buys It A woman in Central Florida was in shock when the 2016 Nissan Altima she had just purchased and just barely made the first payment towards was stolen right out of her driveway. Even worse it was totaled by the thieves, and they were able to take it so easily thanks to a big mistake she made. Albuquerque police officer in uniform, driving patrol car is busted for DUI. Everyone needs to keep in mind, no matter how plain or expensive of a ride they own, that securing their vehicle every time its parked is a must. The Altima owner admitted to WKMG that she got in a bad habit with her previous car and it cost her current one. ADVERTISEMENT The vehicle she owned before would automatically lock once the keys were no longer inside. She hadnt formed the habit of locking her doors, so when thieves checked out her newly-purchased Altima, it was unlocked and ready for them to boost. She reported the Nissan as stolen, which is the right thing to do. When Florida Highway Patrol troopers spotted it, they gave chase. The suspects ended up crashing the Altima into a troopers cruiser and a telephone pole, totaling it. On top of that, all four suspects who were in the stolen car ended up getting away on foot. The trooper who was hit had to be treated for injuries. Whats even worse is the woman was already in a bit of a financial bind. Now that her car has been totaled, she doesnt have the money to buy a new one. As she explained to the reporter, its how she takes her kids to their activities and gets to and from work. We know thieves usually dont care about other people, otherwise they wouldnt steal from them. But to leave a mom high and dry like this for something so senseless is just horrible. Image via WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando/YouTube Follow The Auto Wire on Google News. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. Right now the Baywatch legacy of 50-something hottie Donna inspires our quick peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines that we should've updated earlier in the day. Still there's a few good non-debate items in this collection. Check TKC news gathering . . . Royals Win Close Call Wacha, bullpen stifle Cleveland bats in 2-1 win The offense did just enough late Inferno Hits Nice Side Of Bridge Fire crews battle blaze at Northland apartment complex Thursday night Fire crews battled a blaze at three-story apartment fire on Thursday night. The fire broke out at an apartment complex located in the 4300 block of North Bennington Avenue. Local Leftovers Offered Chiefs to host locker room sale offering fans chance to get team-issued gear Fans hoping to get a hold of team-issued Kansas City Chiefs gear will have an opportunity this weekend at Arrowhead Stadium. Cowtown Wish List Emerges SURVEY | Tell us what changes you want to see on the Country Club Plaza HP Village Associates, a Dallas-based company with a history of owning and operating shopping centers like Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, is expected to finalize its purchase of the Plaza. Hipster Have Regrets Listing the best KC concerts from 2000-onward I am furious to have missed From Radiohead to Big Thief, here is a list of some of the hottest shows we wish we could've attended over the last couple of decades. Old School Overshare?!? Baywatch alum Donna D'Errico, 56, flashes bikini body and mocks trolls The 56-year-old became a nationwide pinup during her run on Baywatch from 1996 to 1998, overlapping with Pamela Anderson's time on the show. In recent years she has flaunted her figure online. Law Man Now In Custody Former Uvalde school police chief Pete Arredondo in custody 2 years after Robb Elementary School shooting It comes more than two years after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. Supreme Rules Keep Changing US Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to permit - for now - abortions to be performed in Idaho when pregnant women are facing medical emergencies, as the justices dispensed with the contentious issue without actually deciding the case on its merits. European Conflict Cont'd "Nuclear disaster" warning issued by analysts over Ukraine war "As a planet, we are on a path to disaster and potential mutual destruction," a longtime nuclear analyst told Newsweek. Holy Land Standoff US moves forces closer to Israel and Lebanon amid concerns of escalating cross-border fire | CNN Politics The US is moving forces closer to Israel and Lebanon amid concerns of escalating cross-border fire, according to two US officials, including forces able to carry out an evacuation of American citizens. South Of Border Waiting Game At the border, migrants 'wait and see' as encounters with Border Patrol dip 40% The Biden administration touts the recent decline in border crossings as a policy win. But one family's story of risking the journey shows why asylum restrictions aren't a long-term solution. American Metaphor Takes Shape Sinkhole appears in soccer field above an Illinois mine: 'out of a movie' No one was present when the sinkhole, 100ft wide and 30ft deep, suddenly collapsed the field Toast To East Side Vine Street Brewing Co. celebrates its first anniversary with "Hoppy Anniversary" festival on June 30 Vine Street Brewing // Courtesy Kansas City Area Development Council Vine Street Brewing Co., Missouri's first Black-owned brewery, will celebrate its first anniversary on Sunday, June 30, with the "Hoppy Anniversary" festival. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Forecast For Now . . . Storm chances, some severe, tonight and tomorrow Another round of storms Friday evening could bring some additional severe weather opportunities Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte by John Secada is the Spanish version of an early 90s hit that doesn't hold up at all but still serves as the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. One of the top conservative blogs in the nation started in Missouri. Currently, they're engaged in a legal battle for survival. Here's a look at the court case and the outlet attempting to put up a better defense than Alex Jones. Check-it . . . "A bankruptcy judge in Florida is set to consider a request from creditors three people suing the outlet for defamation to dismiss the bankruptcy case the company filed on 24 April. Jim Hoft, the founder of the site has implied he filed bankruptcy as a litigation tactic to delay a defamation case against his company by Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman, two Georgia poll workers who the company allegedly spread false information about after the 2020 presidential election. The company denies publishing libelous claims about Moss and Freeman . . . "The company filed for bankruptcy, which immediately paused the defamation cases, the day that Freeman and Mosss lawyers provided notice they intended to take Hofts deposition. But the Gateway Pundit reported nearly $3.1m in gross revenue in 2023. His lawyer has conceded in hearings it is currently able to pay its everyday debts." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Next year, Fiji Airways will become part of the American Airlines AAdvantage travel rewards program. The partnership comes with several advantages for travelers, including the ability to earn miles on flights operated by both airlines and redeeming awards. Fiji Airways Enhances Rewards with American Fiji Airways travel experience will be seamless for America Airlines AAdvantage members early next year. According to the report released by American Airlines, it includes priority check-in, boarding, complimentary baggage allowance, pre-boarding preferred seats on the aircraft, and improved award redemption opportunities. The partners behind this are hoping to make the experience of traveling with both airlines seamless and more profitable. Anmol Bhargava, American Airlines Vice President of Partnerships, said that they are constantly looking at ways to create more choices for their customers, and this agreement with Fiji Airways is just another example of that. He added that he is looking forward to welcoming Fiji Airways customers into the AAdvantage program and what those benefits can bring if you are a member. Hence, with his excitement, American Airlines will also introduce significant changes in travel to being a valuable, loyal customer. Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Andre Viljoen also commented on the partnership. He said the tie-up through which both airlines will be loyal partners was significant for both of them. He continued by saying that output is a privilege. Related Article : American Airlines Revamps Policies, Wins Back Travel Advisor Trust New Benefits for Fiji Airways Travelers As American Airlines' AAdvantage members will enjoy new benefits when traveling with Fiji Airways next year, the new partnership will replace Fiji Airways' existing loyalty program, Tabua Club, to offer travelers more opportunities to earn and redeem points. Simple Flying reported that Fiji Airways serves 26 destinations in 15 countries and territories from its hub at Nadi International Airport. The airline flies directly to major U.S. cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. With the new partnership, travelers can also connect to numerous other destinations across the U.S. through American Airlines' network. This collaboration will enhance travel options for passengers in North America and the South Pacific. It also includes a stopover program that allows travelers to spend several days in Fiji on their way to other destinations. Viljoen noted that the new partnership would provide more travel options for North American travelers, expanding on existing agreements. Fiji Airways, founded by a notable air navigator, inventor, and legislator, has grown into Fiji's national airline. Starting with De Havilland Dragon Rapide planes, it now flies modern Airbus 330-200 jets. The airline holds a strong position in the region and is often ranked among the top airlines there. In May 2012, the airline decided to reintroduce the name Fiji Airways to highlight its status as Fiji's national airline. With new Airbus A330-200 aircraft and warm Fijian hospitality, Fiji Airways connects Fiji to the world and welcomes visitors to its beautiful islands. Returning to the name Fiji Airways marked an exciting new chapter for the airline, emphasizing its proud heritage and commitment to excellent service. Delta Air Lines is set to enhance the travel experience for its premium passengers with new luxury lounges. The airline recently announced plans to open its second Sky Club in Seattle in December 2024 and introduce its first-ever Delta One Lounge there in 2025. Delta Air Lines Opens New Lounges According to a Delta Air Lines spokesperson, the new lounges are part of an effort to provide high-end services to its most valued customers. These lounges will feature exclusive amenities, including a sit-down brasserie and a spa offering facial and massage treatments. As per Travel and Leisure, the development follows the opening of the inaugural Delta One lounge at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. Delta Air Lines is also planning to add similar facilities at Boston-Logan International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport by the end of 2024. These lounges are designed to cater exclusively to long-haul business and first-class customers, select ticket holders on Delta partner flights, and Delta 360 members flying domestic first class. The luxury lounges set Delta Air Lines apart from its Sky Clubs, which are already well-known among travelers. These additions are part of Delta's commitment to serving luxury travelers and come as the airline prepares to restrict Sky Club access starting February 2025. Credit card holders will soon be limited to a capped number of visits yearly. In addition to the lounges at major hubs, Delta Air Lines plans to expand its lounge offerings at non-hub airports. Miami International Airport is scheduled to see an expansion of its Sky Club space soon, and a new 15,000-square-foot lounge at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will open by year's end. As Delta Air Lines continues to invest in premium services, it maintains a competitive edge in the airline industry, promising more comfortable and luxurious travel options for its passengers. Winning Streak with Top Industry Awards Delta Air Lines has secured top honors at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, winning Best Airline in North America and Best Airline Staff for the third and fourth consecutive years. The awards, based on the largest global traveler survey and hosted annually in the U.K., reflect Delta's ongoing commitment to superior service, as mentioned in CEOWorld Magazine. Ralph Albus, Delta's Director of Global Communications for EMEAI, expressed pride in the awards, attributing them to the positive feedback from the airline's 200 million customers annually. He emphasized that such recognition highlights Delta's consistent quality of service. Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted also acknowledged Delta's consistent performance, especially praising the airline's staff for their exceptional service, which continues to set them apart in North America. In addition to the Skytrax accolades, 2024 has been a remarkable year for Delta. The airline has garnered several prestigious awards, including the Air Transport World Best Airline 2024 and The Points Guy's 'Best U.S. Airline.' Delta has also been recognized as the best airline for business travelers by BTN for 13 years running and is celebrated in Fortune's '100 Best Companies to Work For.' Moreover, it led to the J.D. Power 2024 North America Airline Satisfaction Study for upper-class travelers. The visa policy of Switzerland took its turn, but even bigger steps have been made for 2026. Switzerland is preparing to modify the existing regulations concerning people's entry into the country. These updates are in a more extensive plan covering almost all of Europe, often referred to as the Schengen Agreement. Switzerland Visa Changes Enhance Border Safety The Department of Justice and Police of Switzerland added that with these changes, they require support concerning visa policies and the security of the borders. Schengen News reported that they plan to utilize the Central Visa Information System (C-VIS) further, a large database containing every visa's details. This system assists officials in verifying whether whoever is required to have a visa has the appropriate documentation to travel or work in Switzerland. The new rules shall also assist in combating terrorism since they enable Switzerland to exchange crucial visa collections with other countries and global organizations. There are many changes, but one of the most significant and shocking ones will be that children applying for a short-term visa must give fingerprints starting at six. Currently, only kids aged 12 and above have to do this. That is, people over 75 will be relieved of having to provide their fingerprints. The changes outlined also allow public members to give their opinions until Oct. 17. The new system will also be linked to similar systems throughout other European countries to cross-check people's details more effectively before they can access the Schengen area. This update is about ensuring travels to and in Switzerland are safer and more secure and responding to the ever-changing face of technology and regulation in Europe. Tourism Boost from Recovery Funds In March 2020, the tourism sector of Switzerland has been receiving some support to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Switzerland provided 49 million Swiss Francs ($ 53.5 million) over three years for the relief, 9.2 million Swiss Francs provided in the year 2023, and so on. The money has been, therefore, spent wisely. Thus, to mark sustainable tourism, about 42% of the 2023 budget was utilized, beginning with the "Swisstainable" logo launched in 2021, according to swissinfo.ch. The other one-third supported advertisements of Switzerland in close areas. Some funds also went into massive advertising crusades with celebrities such as Roger Federer. As a result, there was an appreciable change in Switzerland's tourism fabric, where 42 million overnight stays were registered in 2023, of which the majority were from foreigners. The income earned by the country's tourism body was recorded to be 102. 82 million Swiss Francs. This includes 66.31 million Swiss Francs from several contributions; the Federal Office of Public Health finances more than two-thirds. While marketing costs were over budget at 68.22 million Swiss Francs, the total expenses for the year included slightly higher staff costs of 30.34 million Swiss Francs and other miscellaneous expenses of 4.07 million Swiss Francs. NEW YORKGay adult star Austin Wolf has been arrested for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, also referred to as child pornography, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York announced Friday. In a press release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams and James Smith, the assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) New York Field Office, reported that Wolf stands accused of sending and receiving hundreds of videos depicting child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) using the Telegram messaging app. Videos he sent and received depicted children as young as infants, including a 10-year-old child being raped and bound. Wolf is also accused of possessing hundreds of videos depicting CSAM in his Manhattan apartment, according to the Department of Justice release. Wolf appeared before a federal magistrate judge today. I want to make it clear: those who distribute child sexual abuse images prey upon the most vulnerable in our society, said Smith. He added that the FBI was the lead law enforcement agency to investigate the allegations against Wolf. According to the complaint outlining the federal felony counts, Wolf was detected exchanging CSAM through Telegram between March 24 and March 28 of this year. He was exchanging the materials with an unnamed individual whose phone the FBI also seized after acquiring a search warrant. In a bid to confirm his identity online, an undercover FBI agent contacted Wolf on his anonymous Telegram account. After a conversation, the FBI agent was able to glean personally identifiable information, confirming that Wolf was the owner of the anonymous account. The FBI executed a search warrant on April 21, 2024, which revealed an SD storage card with hundreds of CSAM videos. A federal judge then issued an arrest warrant. As alleged, [Wolf] received and distributed hundreds of recordings containing child pornography, including a ghastly video showing a young child bound, beaten, and raped, said attorney Williams, adding that the investigation into Wolf is an ongoing matter. Williams encouraged people who knew of Wolf's criminal activity to send in tips to the FBI. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those predators who victimize children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, Williams concluded. Austin Wolf has appeared in over 100 gay porn titles for some of the largest brands in the industry. UPDATE (July 2, 2024): LGBTQ+ news outlet The Advocate reports that Wolf is in custody at a federal prison in New York City. Wolf's attorney, Thomas H. Andrykovitz, said, The governments press release contains nothing but unproven and untested allegations against a man that is presumed innocent. Justin is thankful for the incredible support he is receiving from his friends and supporters." Photo Credit: NBC Sports on YouTube USA Track and Field star Noah Lyles is already qualified to represent Team USA in the Mens 100-meter event for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. And on Thursday, he moved one step closer to representing the country in another event which he celebrated in a unique way in his post-race interview. Lyles, who won bronze in the Mens 200-meter event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is looking to improve on that finish in this years games. But first, he will need to qualify for the event by getting through the U.S. Track and Field Olympic trials, which decides who will represent Team USA in the Paris Summer Games next month. On Thursday, he made his first big step in doing so, finishing in first place of his heat in the opening round of trials to advance to the semifinals of the trials. After the qualifier, Lyles spoke with NBC reporter Lewis Johnson about his performance. But interestingly, the conversation shifted quickly to Lyles other passion, Yu-Gi-Oh cards, which he even had under his uniform during the competition. Speaking of having fun, said Johnson. Where are the cards? What do you have today? I got them tucked away in the uniform, said Lyles before pulling them out for all to see. I was keeping them behind the number, but they kept falling out so I decided not to do that. I pulled out Exodia for the final for the 100 (meter). But now, its time to build the whole thing. I got the left and right arms, and the legs are coming tomorrow. Noah Lyles talks about his overall plan with the Yu-Gi-Oh! cards pic.twitter.com/h03RCz4OlX CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 28, 2024 Lyles, who has made showing his Yu-Gi-Oh cards a trend before and after races as of late due to a bet with world champion shotputter Chase Ealey, certainly seems to be quite involved with the popular trading card game. Lewis Johnson, on the other hand, had no idea what Lyles was talking about when it came to the specifics of the cards meaning. Youre speaking German to me, man. I hope everybody at home understands. Lyles made it clear that those who know about Yu-Gi-Oh will know exactly what the meaning of his cards is. Just know, all the Yu-Gi-Oh fans know. Something big is coming. Its quite fascinating to see Lyles racing with the cards directly attached to his body under his uniform. One would think that this may be a bit uncomfortable when trying to run as fast as possible. But thus far, it doesnt seem like it has bothered him whatsoever. So it should be interesting to see if he continues showing his Yu-Gi-Oh cards throughout his Olympic run. [CJ Fogler on X] In this episode of Morning Edition, we are looking at the political landscape now with Polit Soldiers from the National Guard of Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in the Donetsk region. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Telegram. The National Guard detected an enemy Su-25 conducting a combat mission. The Igla MANPADS combined squad from the 31st National Guard Brigade shot down the Russian attack aircraft with an accurate shot. As reported by Ukrinform, on June 10, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Russian Su-25 aircraft in the Pokrovsk sector. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has briefed President of Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar about the preparations for the second Peace Summit. He said this in a post on the media platform X, Ukrinform reports. Pleased to welcome Slovenias President Natasa Pirc Musar to Ukraine on our Constitution Day. I informed President Pirc Musar about preparations for the second Peace Summit. We are preparing groups of countries on the Peace Formula points. Together with all those who really want peace we must develop action plans to address all the security aspects violated by Russia, the post reads. He also thanked Slovenia for its unwavering support and the recent aid package for Ukraine. As reported, President of Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar has arrived in Ukraine on an official visit. Slovenia is finalizing work on a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, and the document is to be signed before the NATO summit in Washington. Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar said this at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "The security agreement between Slovenia and Ukraine is already at the final stage. I think it will be signed before the NATO summit in Washington," Pirc Musar said. Read also: Zelensky informs Slovenian president about preparations for second Peace Summit She also welcomed the signing of the security agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. On June 27, Ukraine and the EU signed a security agreement on the sidelines of a European Union leaders summit. Security agreements were also signed with Lithuania and Estonia. | By Laura Lee The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) recently announced the creation of the Cannabis Legal Resource Center (CLRC) to help navigate complex public health issues surrounding the states legalization of adult-use cannabis. Mathew Swinburne, JD July 1 marks one year since Maryland became one of two dozen states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21. The law change has highlighted a growing need for legal guidance to develop effective and equitable cannabis policies that will ensure product safety, educate users, and mitigate negative health impacts Housed at Maryland Carey Law and led by cannabis law and policy expert Mathew Swinburne, JD, the resource center will provide legal technical assistance to the Maryland state government as well as local governments, health departments, and community organizations. The work began in early spring when CLRC distributed a needs assessment survey to all 24 Maryland health departments to determine how cannabis is impacting their communities. With legalization, communities will likely face new public health challenges, Swinburne said. Were here to help navigate the complex legal landscape, partner on solutions, and advocate for evidence-based policies that protect Marylanders health. Funded by MDH, the resource center will assist state and local health departments in developing effective public health policies around cannabis as well as educate Maryland policymakers on federal, state, and local laws and effective, science-based policies to address a wide range of public health issues. Funding the Cannabis Legal Resource Center is a significant step forward in our commitment to understand and address the public health implications of adult cannabis use legalization in Maryland, said Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD, deputy secretary for public health services. This historic partnership will inform state and local cannabis policy, education, and public engagement strategies to protect the health and well-being of all Marylanders, especially our youth. In addition to providing legal technical assistance in areas such as health disparities, smoke-free environments, and federal and state regulations, the resource center will: Host webinars and a statewide cannabis law and policy conference Develop a resource toolkit and website Track cannabis- and hemp-related legislation in Maryland CLRC expands the work of Maryland Carey Laws Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy, which has been providing technical assistance to Maryland government agencies on tobacco control policies and laws since 2001. With the 2024 presidential elections getting closer, higher education has come to the forefront of policy discussions, particularly at a time when public confidence in praised college degrees hit. Both K-12 and higher education systems are dealing with big challenges. Candidates must have answers to some critical questions affecting millions of Americans. Here are key questions that voters should consider when evaluating the candidates' plans for the future of education in the United States. Public Confidence and Accessibility in Higher Education Probably the most critical overt issue in higher education today is public confidence in obtaining a college degree. Rising tuition costs, student debt, and skepticism regarding whether an adequate return will be realized on this investment drive such skepticism. As part of their education policies, candidates, therefore, have to explain what they would do to regain the lost public confidence in higher education. Key questions include: What will candidates do to make college affordable and accessible to every student? How will they ensure that a college degree continues to be of real value in a very fast-changing job market? To answer such questions, one needs an all-encompassing approach that ensures an augmentation of Pell Grants to students, tuition-free community colleges, and massive support for historically underserved groups. A few more questions to ask are: Public confidence in the value of a college degree has hit historic lows. What has caused the decline, and what can Washington do to fix it? Some critics have accused President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan of being too broad and too expensive. Why are graduate borrowers included, and is this a better use of funds than expanding Pell Grants for low-income students? What role should the federal government play in making sure qualified students can go to college without overwhelming debt, and what kinds of measures are to be initiated to get spiraling tuition hikes under tight rein? Studies show that, at best, $190 billion in emergency pandemic aid for schools had, at best, a modest positive impact. Is this a sufficient return on investment for taxpayers? If not, what changes must be made? With nearly 40 million Americans having started college but not completed a degree, what will the candidates do to help students graduate from college on time and reduce college dropout rates around the country? The Effects of Technology on Education The digital age has changed everything about our lives, including education. But without the proliferation of smartphones and social media, we just can't imagine checking on youth well-being, mental health, and academic performance today. Candidates must spell out their position on the integration of technology into the learning curriculum while trying to reduce its negative effects. Voters should be asking the candidates' views on banning smartphones from schools to improve the learning environment: How can technology be used to positively affect education and simultaneously protect the mental health of students? Clearly, this also speaks to what the role of the federal government should be in funding digital literacy programs and in terms of truly promoting access to technology for all students. A few more questions to ask are: When it comes to young people, research finds drastic impacts on well-being, mental health, and academic performance through smartphones and social media. What are your positions on banning smartphones in schools, and what kind of response would it call for from the federal government? How can the presidential candidates make American colleges and universities Jennings student-ready with the changes in the job market at the entry level, which is increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence? Racial and Social Inequities Racial and social inequities in education are very critical. Systemic disparities prevail at all levels, from access to higher education to the measures of student success. The next president should address policies that deal directly with inequities. Among the biggest of these questions would be: How do the candidates ensure and monitor the diversity of higher education admissions when there are no race-conscious policies? How will they provide for HBCUs and other minority-serving postsecondary institutions? Another important point is how this batch of candidates would actually close the K-12 achievement gap, which exists largely among students of color and from poor backgrounds. A few more questions to ask are the following: How do bans on DEI initiatives impact the country's social values, commitment to equality, and democracy? What would the candidates do against this backdrop of dramatically rising antisemitic incidents on campuses, and how would they build upon the already set base by the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism? How would the candidates actually feel about LGBTQ+ students who depend on colleges' support centers, particularly in states that have anti-DEI laws? How will the federal government ensure that the U.S. immigration system does not become an impediment to pivotal interactions between American researchers and their international coworkers? What federal tools should be utilized in order to obtain racial diversity in higher education if the admissions policies are not race-conscious? As the 2024 presidential election draws near, higher education in the United States is one of the most critical topics that requires deep thought on the part of candidates and voters alike if this nation is to grow successfully within the very competitive, changing world of today. Restoring public faith in a system of higher education, exploring technology's role in learning, and tackling persistent racial and social inequities are challenges that require inventive solutions from the next administration. It is by asking these very questions that voters can make sure that the candidates maintain education as a top priority for the shaping of a better life for all Americans. Education has been one of the most fundamental issues throughout American politics, and 2020 proved no different as citizens were faced with vast differences in educational priorities from then-candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Both wanted to make changes in education, but the way they proposed to go about it differed since their political ideologies and visions concerning American education in the future showed great differences. In this article, we will run through the top educational priorities of Biden and Trump, assessing their intended plans and probable impacts on students and families of our great nation. The Comprehensive Plan for Education by Joe Biden The three pillars of Joe Biden's education plan had been access, affordability, and equity. Making community colleges, HBCUs, and MSIs free for families below $125,000 will be one of the central planks in his platform. The far-reaching proposal would expand the 2017 College for All Act which was originally introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal to include private HBCUs and MSIs. Biden wants to invest $70 billion in institutions like these to update their facilities and educational infrastructure and make them more affordable. He also wants to ensure that two years in community college and training programs are free of tuition. This would engender workforce development and reduce the financial burden on students who just want vocational training. The plan looks at investing $50 billion in workforce training programs and another $8 billion in phase upgrading community college facilities and technology. Further, he intends to double the maximum value of Pell, Thereby drastically increasing financial aid for low-income students. He spoke directly to the question of student debt: Biden pledged that if COVID-19 were to have a second wave, he would be dedicated to erasing $10,000 of federal student loan debt for every American. He would reform the existing system of loan repayment such that payments and interest would be eliminated for those earning less than $25,000 per year, while for higher earners, payments would not be allowed to consist of more than 5 percent of discretionary income. Under this Biden plan, borrowers with at least two decades of steady payments would have the remaining debt forgiven. Biden's vision extends into K-12, where he hopes to triple Title I funding to underfunded schools to begin alleviating educational inequality between districts and increasing the salaries of teachers in low-income areas. His plan details a surge in mental health workers, repairs to the infrastructure of public schools, and additional career resources via vocational training in middle and high schools. Significantly, one of the parts of Biden's education agenda is his monumental $775 billion caregiving and education plan to set up universal prekindergarten for 3-and 4-year-olds. This would foster much easier access to early childhood education and eliminate hefty costs for families. READ MORE : Trump Proposes Granting Green Cards To Foreign Graduates Of US Colleges, Marking Shift In Immigration Stance Trump on School Choice and Patriotic Education During his presidency, Donald Trump prioritized promoting school choice and expanding charter schools, advocating that it empowers parents to select optimal educational environments irrespective of socioeconomic status. His administration was looking to increase funds and support for charter schools, seeing them as a very important alternative to regular schools. Another staple of Trump's education policy was his touting of what he called "patriotic education." If anything, Trump has pushed for schools to teach something along the lines of "American exceptionalism." He wanted schools to have a curriculum that really brought out how great America has been and its bright spots. In response to systemic racism, Trump dismissed the concept as divisive and wrong-headed, referring to it as "a form of child abuse." He announced financing for a "pro-American curriculum" through the National Endowment for the Humanities to back up this initiative. In contrast to the treatment of Biden's student debt, Trump's proposed 2021 budget was full of cuts and restrictions to federal student loan programs. While this budget made efforts to simplify the loan process, it faced sharp criticism for the probable burden shift onto students' shoulders. What's Next? The educational priorities of Joe Biden and Donald Trump reflect their broader political ideologies and approaches toward governance. Biden focuses on access, affordability, and equity, trying to broaden the opportunities to get an education for all Americans, especially from underprivileged backgrounds. Trump remains fixated on school choice and patriotic education, gesturing toward his belief in parental control of education and a nationalistic approach to the curriculum. This contrast of vision remains at the core of the educational agenda, and debate over the best direction forward continues to define American politics. Under the House Republicans' new spending proposal, the Pell Grant program and the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights would receive unchanged funding, while the Office of Federal Student Aid would undergo significant cuts in fiscal year 2025. The proposal is set within a greater appropriations bill and has generated considerable debate between lawmakers and other stakeholders. Proposal Overview The spending bill, which allocates funds for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, will undergo review by the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee, initiating a contentious negotiation over federal funding. Much of those appropriations came from a spring 2023 deal that had settled the avoidance of federal debt default by setting spending levels for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, which limited nondefense increases to 1 percent. Democrats called this cap a measure that would inflict real pain, but in response, Republicans offered that it was needed to control federal spending. President Biden had requested an additional $3.3 billion for the Education Department's budget, but the House Republican plan would cut funding for the agency by $11 billion below current levels. Some advocates of education are worried that the cut would impact spending for students and schools. Impact on Federal Student Aid One of the most striking elements of the proposal is the deep cut to funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid. It gives about $1.5 billion to the office, which is $529 million less than it currently receives. The Biden administration had requested an additional $625 million for the agency, saying it needs more money to oversee a slew of programs, like the widely used FAFSA, next year. This cut comes to an already financially strapped workload for the Office of Federal Student Aid. It puts the office's effectiveness at risk as it administers student-aid programs for millions of students who rely on federal assistance to get them through school. Reaction and Controversy The proposed budget has become a lightning rod for both ends of the political spectrum. Alabama Representative Robert Aderholt, the Republican chair of the subcommittee, came out in defense of the bill. He explained that it provided the requisite resources to ground what he counted as reckless and very wasteful spending. He added that, very importantly, the proposal laid the groundwork for transparency and fiscal accountability. Democrats have objected loudly. House Democrats on the appropriations committee criticized the plan, stating it would slash funding for federal work-study programs by 50% and eliminate funding for several other programs. Those facing cuts include subsidized childcare for low-income parents in postsecondary education and grants for research and infrastructure at historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, and other minority-serving institutions. Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the committee, says the bill puts important programs and services people count on their whole lives in jeopardy. She called the proposal an extraordinarily harmful effort to dismantle public education and undermine the opportunities that build the American Dream. The House Republican fiscal year 2025 spending plan, released Tuesday, forces a contentious battle over federal funding priorities. There is a growing concern that the Office of Federal Student Aid and some other education programs, with their proposed cuts, will hurt students, educational institutions, and, specifically, those serving low-income and minority communities. As lawmakers of both parties gear up for negotiations, the outcome of this appropriations process will drastically change the face of education funding in the future for the United States. With this legislation before the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee for deliberations, stakeholders watch with keen interest how things go. Balancing fiscal responsibility with the need to undergird important education programs will be near the top of themes in what lies ahead amidst the many forthcoming discussions. The University of Arizona is moving forward with fully integrating its acquired online campus, the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC). This contentious consolidation, proponents argue, could save the university millions of dollars, while critics see it as a potential financial misstep. The integration, deemed a "multi-year transformation," has sparked debates across the academic and financial spheres. The Vision and the Challenge Last week, the University of Arizona revealed its plan to fully integrate UAGC into its operations after a 12-week evaluation by Ernst & Young. However, the integration must first receive approvals from various regulatory bodies, such as the Department of Education and the Arizona Board of Regents. No target completion date has been set, emphasizing the complexity of the process. Gary Packard, UA's senior vice provost of online initiatives, affirmed, "These results confirm our vision. Increasing online education improves access for individuals facing challenges that hinder on-campus degree pursuit." UAGC, formerly Ashford University, joined the University of Arizona in July 2023, three years after its acquisition. Despite the acquisition, both entities have operated independently with separate accreditations, leading to ongoing budget woes and state government concerns. Financial Prospects and Enrollment Challenges The 43-page E&Y assessment highlighted significant enrollment challenges at UAGC. The institution experienced a 9% decline in enrollment before UA's acquisition, followed by a 14% decline subsequently. Despite these figures, the report suggested that if UAGC's enrollment could stabilize at around 33,000 students, the university could save between $12 million and $21 million annually. However, the report did not provide details on how this enrollment stabilization might be achieved. The University of Arizona, however, does not view enrollment as a critical concern. Instead, the focus is on retention over recruitment. A source within the university reported that UA Online attracts about 900 new students each year, and merging with UAGC's approximately 23,000 students will enhance the program's overall strength. Aaron Lacey, chair of the higher education practice at Thompson Coburn, emphasized that integrating the students under the UA umbrella could inherently bolster enrollment, leveraging the market to attract more students. Ethical and Financial Concerns The integration has not been without its controversies. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has expressed concerns regarding the acquisition, citing both financial and ethical issues with Ashford University's previous business model. Hobbs emphasized that ethical issues regarding Ashford's practices appeared to have been ignored during the acquisition. Over two dozen former UAGC students allege they were misled about degree costs and value, resulting in substantial debt and limited job opportunities. Furthermore, UAGC's history includes substantial financial liabilities. The Department of Education warned the University of Arizona that it would be responsible for the debt incurred by Ashford University students through discharged student loans dating back to before the acquisition. The E&Y assessment acknowledged these liabilities, noting that the university acquired UAGC's operations and assets for $1, along with the assumption of nearly all its liabilities. Experts remain divided on the potential gains and risks associated with UAGC. Phil Hill, a market analyst and ed-tech consultant, pointed out that while UAGC is currently breaking even financially, its rapidly declining enrollment poses a significant risk. He emphasized the liabilities stemming from ongoing legal issues and borrower-defense claims. Conversely, Mark DeFusco, a senior researcher at Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions, criticized the acquisition as one of the worst case studies in higher education history. He argued that the transaction was flawed from the beginning, and the university has struggled to manage the integration effectively. The University of Arizona's decision to fully integrate UAGC represents a significant gamble in the evolving landscape of higher education. Although there is potential for improved accessibility and cost savings, the university must confront declining enrollment, ethical issues, and financial obligations as integration progresses. Addressing these challenges is essential for a successful and enduring consolidation. June 28 2024 The Scottish Design Awards 2024 have reached their climax with the cream of Scotland's creative talent heading home nursing sore heads but laden with gold and silver and the ringing endorsement of their peers. A dramatic evening in Glasgow saw 380 creatives gather to see who is the best in the country, culminating a year-long process to unearth those practices, people and projects which made the greatest splash. Big winners, Threesixty Architecture were recognised for the quality of submitted work at different scales with the title of architectural practice of the year. They were joined on stage by the people, practices and projects which have made the past year their own with designs as varied as the retrofit of a Victorian farm as a private artist/architects retreat and a multi-layered reimagining of a public park in Aberdeen that has been more than worth the wait. Acknowledging the need to lay the groundwork for future success one of the most important winners of the night was young architect of the year Eilidh Izat, who won over the judges with her inspirational work and dedication to craftsmanship. Architecture chair and PADstudio founder Wendy Perring commented: Eilidh Izat has consistently produced high-quality architecture deeply rooted in its context. Eilidh's passion for narrative and craftsmanship shines through her collaborative work, where she meticulously attends to every detail. Not only are they creating remarkable buildings that we believe will withstand the test of time, but they have also fearlessly founded and run their own business. They are an inspiring role model, and we eagerly anticipate their future contributions. Familiarise yourself with all our gold and silver winners and see what makes a great project sing by heading to The Scottish Design Awards. A high level meeting regarding better management, conservation and efficient use of water resources in the province, was held here at Chief Minister's House Peshawar on Friday with the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2024) A high level meeting regarding better management, conservation and efficient use of water resources in the province, was held here at Chief Minister's House Peshawar on Friday with the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur in the chair. Provincial Minister for Agriculture Major (R) Muhammad Sajjad Barkwal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Irrigation Muhammad Tahir Orakzai, higher authorities of Agriculture and Public Health Engineering and International Water Management Institute attended the meeting. It was decided in the meeting to launch the UK government funded Water Resource Accountability Program (WRAP) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is aimed at to providing technical assistance to the provincial government in managing, preserving and utilizing the available water resources in a more efficient and judicious manner. Under the program, International Water Management Institute will extend technical assistance to the provincial government in six different interventions including; Water Accounting and Productivity Assessment Tools, Early Drought Warning System, Water Resource Management Information System, Irrigation Demand Management, Water Allocation System and Capacity Building and Analytical Support. Initially, this program would be launched as pilot project in two districts i.e Charsadda and Mansehra, and later on, would be replicated to the other districts across the province. It was decided that proper MoUs would be signed between the lined provincial departments and International Water Management Institute for implementation of this program. Addressing the participants, the chief minister said that the water conservation and its judicious use is the need of hour, as it has become more relevant in line with the climate change impacts. That's why the provincial government is working under a comprehensive strategy not only to preserve the available water resources but to use them in an efficient and beneficent manner. He said that the provincial government will welcome the technical support of International Water Management Institute in this regard. He maintained that Water Resource Accountability Program will be helpful to improve water use efficiency in addition to paving the path of agricultural self-sufficiency of the province. He assured that the government will extend all out support to implement the interventions suggested under this program. Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Karmani Thursday chaired a meeting to review progress on approved initiatives of Chief Ministers Punjab in the Livestock Sector LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2024) Provincial Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Syed Ashiq Hussain Karmani Thursday chaired a meeting to review progress on approved initiatives of Chief Ministers Punjab in the Livestock Sector. Secretary Livestock Punjab, Masood Anwar, DG Livestock (Extension) Asif Salman Sahi, DG (Production) Asif Rafique, representatives of Punjab Bank, Urban Unit, and Punjab IT Board attended the meeting. Secretary Livestock Punjab, Masood Anwar gave a detailed briefing on the current status of initiatives including livestock cards, foot and mouth disease control programme. While addressing the meeting the agriculture minister said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif had allocated Rs 9 billion for the developmental programmes of the Livestock sector in the fiscal year 2024-25. He said that new era of development would be initiated while implementing on this package. Ashiq Hussain Karmani directed to highlight the achievements of the Chief Minister's initiatives on Livestock department's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels. He underscored the importance of conducting an effective media campaign through electronic and print media. The agriculture minister stressed on the verification of all initiatives of the CM through Urban Unit Wing and mandatory third-party monitoring. He stressed on ensuring personal verification of farmers in every village to certify the livestock cards on the basis of first come first serve. The minister directed Punjab IT Board to prepare a dashboard for real-time information on timelines of all programmes and other matters. Dealers and retailers list providing Vanda, Silage, and minerals should be provided to him on district-wise basis, he added and endorsed that active surveillance and random sampling were being conducted under the foot and mouth disease control programme. Secretary Livestock Punjab, Masood Anwar, said that in the next two years, from 40,000 to 80,000 Livestock farmers would be provided Rs2 billion through CM Punjab livestock card, Rs7.5 billion for foot and mouth disease control programme and Rs2 billion for the programme of transferring Livestock assets to rural women in the coming two-year. UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2024) Pakistan hit back after India described occupied Jammu and Kashmir as its "integral and inalienable part" during a UN Security Council debate on children and armed conflict, saying New Delhi was deluding itself by "stubbornly holding on to this legal fiction." "The reality is clear, Jammu and Kashmir remains a disputed territory, as recognized by Security Council resolutions demanding a free and fair plebiscite under UN auspices to determine its future," Pakistani delegate Rabia Ijaz told the 15-member Council. She was responding to an Indian representative who had claimed that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were Union territories while reacting to Pakistan Ambassador Munir Akram's earlier statement in which he exposed India's atrocities against children in the disputed Himalayan State with facts and figures. Detailing the plight of children in the occupied territories, where human rights violations are tragically routine, the Pakistani Ambassador told the Security Council, Generations of Kashmiri children have grown up amidst fear of violence and repression under foreign occupation. The Indian envoy, Ambassador R. Ravindra, called the Pakistani ambassador's remarks "politically motivated and "unfounded", claiming, "As far as the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are concerned they were, are and always will be an integral and inalienable part of India." Exercising her right of reply, Ms. Ijaz, the Pakistani delegate, accused the Indian representative of evading the facts presented by Ambassador Akram, "opting instead to recycle and present worn-out and fabricated assertions before this Council." "Their reluctance to engage with the truth should be a source of embarrassment," she remarked. While accusing others, Ms. Ijaz, a second secretary in the Pakistan Mission to the UN, accused India of neglecting its own abysmal track record of grave violations against children in Kashmir and the crucial recommendations contained in last years report of the UN Secretary-General's report on Children and Armed Conflict for protecting children in Kashmir, including ending the use of force and pellet guns, minimizing detention, and preventing abuse. Referring to the children having been killed and subjected to violence in Pakistan in recent years, she said they were largely due to the terrorist attacks. "While Indian occupying forces have been responsible for grave violations against children in the occupied Kashmir, TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) have been behind the terrorist attacks against children in Pakistan including the cowardly and gut-wrenching terrorist attack against the Army Public school in 2014 claiming the lives of more than 130 innocent children," she added. The Pakistani delegate added, "We have shared concrete evidence that TTP and BLA have been financed and sponsored by Indian agencies. The captured Indian spy, an intelligence officer, Commander Kulbhushan Yadav, has confessed to Indias support to such terrorist and subversive activities." Ms. Ijaz said that Indian occupation forces' measures to suppress protests and demands for fundamental freedoms in Kashmir were well-documented by the UN human rights office and other human rights organizations. But, she added that India continued to deny fundamental rights to the Kashmiris, particularly the right to self-determination in clear violation of Article 25 of the UN Charter and numerous Security Council resolutions. "Indian state terrorism in occupied Jammu and Kashmir will not be able to dampen the spirit of those seeking their legitimate right to self-determination, the Pakistani delegate declared. APP/ift Tehran, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2024) Iranians cast their ballots Friday in a presidential election marked by a lone reformist's bid to break through against a divided conservative field. Around 61 million Iranians are eligible to vote in the election called after the death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month. The snap election comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions over the Gaza war and discontent over the state of Iran's sanctions-hit economy. The leading contenders approved by the Guardian Council, which vets candidates, are conservative parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and the sole reformist, Masoud Pezeshkian. The only other candidate is cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi after two ultraconservatives -- Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani and Raisi's former vice president Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh-Hashemi -- dropped out on the eve of the election. Voting was underway at 58,640 polling stations across the country, mostly in schools and mosques. "Election day is a day of joy and happiness for us Iranians," supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate political power in the Islamic republic, said as he voted shortly after the polls opened. "We encourage our dear people to take the issue of voting seriously and participate." At the last poll in 2021, turnout was just under 49 percent as voters opted to stay away after the Guardian Council disqualified many reformists and moderates. (@FahadShabbir) After months of acute shortages, sources in Ukraine's armed forces on Friday told AFP that supplies of Western ammunition are increasing sharply Kyiv, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jun, 2024) After months of acute shortages, sources in Ukraine's armed forces on Friday told AFP that supplies of Western ammunition are increasing sharply. The general staff of Ukraine's armed forces and members of three brigades serving in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine said they had noticed a recent change compared to the start of the year. "It's become better over the past month and it keeps getting better, at least for 155mm calibre artillery shells," a Ukrainian sergeant using the call sign "Luntik" -- a type of military nickname -- told AFP. He said that in the first quarter of the year, ammunitions in his unit had been strictly rationed to "six shells every 24 hours" while the limit today was "up to 40 per day", the sergeant said. In areas like the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched a land offensive last month, he said that "there is no limit". In Kharkiv "the occupier has failed," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, while admitting the situation remained difficult. "Our Ukrainian forces have stabilised the situation and stopped the offensive," he said. The outnumbered Ukrainian army has been heavily reliant on Western supplies against its better armed enemy. Ukrainian forces have been particularly vulnerable since the end of 2023 because of major delays in European and US arms deliveries. The US Congress in April voted through a $61-billion aid package for Ukraine but deliveries to the frontline can take weeks or even months. New supplies have still not brought levels back to those of 2023 "but it seems we should reach the same level soon", said the sergeant. An artillery serviceman in a different brigade in the same region said: "It has become a lot better." But another soldier in a third brigade said: "Unfortunately the enemy still has an advantage in terms of personnel and artillery systems." "For a war of this intensity, we will need more and more," he said. Luntik said that even when Ukrainian forces destroy Russian artillery systems, "they are replaced the next day". According to a source at the general staff, the ratio between Ukrainian shelling and Russian shelling has moved in Kyiv's favour thanks to the arrival of new Western supplies. "At the moment, the ratio of use of ammunition is one to three" in Russia's favour, compared to "one to seven" before. "Our supplies have gone up and theirs have gone down," he said. The University of Wyoming Department of Psychologys Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) has been awarded a $5 million grant to enhance partnerships to expand and strengthen geriatrics education for the health care workforce and to expand resources for the states older adults and caregivers. The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded funding through the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). The five-year grant is led by WyCOA Director Christine McKibbin and Associate Director Catherine Carrico, both in the Department of Psychology in UWs College of Arts and Sciences. The GWEP educates and trains the health care workforce and family caregivers to care for older adults by collaborating with community partners. We are grateful to have partners dedicated to serving those with the highest needs, including tribal elders and older adults in rural and underserved areas, McKibbin says. This unique partnership will strengthen the geriatrics workforce and address a common goal of maximizing health outcomes of older adults. Ivinson Medical Group, UWs Division of Graduate Medical Education, Wind River Family and Community Health Care, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health, Morning Star Care Center in Fort Washakie, the UW School of Nursing, the Central Wyoming College Nursing Program and the Wyoming Aging and Disability Resource Center are GWEP partners. The Wyoming GWEP will educate and train the primary care and geriatrics workforces and other appropriate specialties to provide age-friendly and dementia-friendly care for older adults. Age-friendly health care is a growing movement that helps to provide the best care possible by focusing on what matters to older adults; reducing potential harms that older adults face more than others; and ensuring that older adults and caregivers are engaged in and satisfied with their care, Carrico says. The Wyoming Department of Health Aging Division predicts that, from 2016 to 2030, the number of Wyoming citizens aged 65 or older is expected to grow from approximately 90,000 to 138,000 -- a 56 percent increase. Wyomings entire population is expected to increase by less than 12 percent during that time, with most of the growth coming from an older adult population. Programs like the GWEP allow Wyoming to use evidence-based and innovative strategies to ready its workforce to meet the needs of our growing aging population, McKibbin says. To learn more about the GWEP partnership and the work of WyCOA, visit www.uwyo.edu/wycoa. About the University of Wyomings Wyoming Center on Aging WyCOA values older adults and works every day to support these neighbors, friends and family. Through a broad range of programs and resources, the team of professionals at WyCOA is working to optimize the health and well-being of Wyomings older residents through innovative collaborations around chronic disease management, dementia support, and family and health care provider education. WyCOA works collaboratively with the aging network across the state to respond to the needs of older Wyoming residents while honoring the legacy of the states elders. About the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program The GWEP improves health outcomes for older adults by developing a health care workforce that maximizes patient and family engagement and by integrating geriatrics with primary care. The goals of this program are to educate and train the primary care and geriatrics workforces to care for older adults in integrated geriatrics and primary care models; and partner with community-based organizations to address gaps in health care for older adults, promote age-friendly health systems and dementia-friendly communities, and address the social determinants of health. GWEP awardees have the flexibility to identify education and training needs unique to their own communities. The GWEP and its partners include schools of medicine, schools of nursing, primary care practices, community-based organizations, clinical settings, academic programs, long-term care centers and emergency departments. 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. Rights activists, academics and authors have condemned the Indian government's decision sanctioning the prosecution of Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy under a controversial and stringent anti-terrorism law. More than 200 people have written a joint letter to the government seeking revocation of the decision to prosecute the author for saying at a conference 14 years ago that Kashmir had never been "an integral part of India." On June 14, Vinai Kumar Saxena, Delhi's senior-most administrative official from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), authorized prosecution of the 62-year-old author, along with Kashmiri academic Sheikh Showkat Hussain. The two are accused under an anti-terrorism law known as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), for remarks they made about Kashmir at a seminar in Delhi in 2010. In their letter to the government, the activists and others said that Roy's remarks at a seminar cannot be considered as an incitement to violence. "We the concerned citizens of India deplore this action and appeal to the government and the democratic forces in the country to ensure that no infringement of the fundamental right to freely and fearlessly express views on any subject takes place in our nation." The office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights added its own concerns on Thursday over the planned prosecution of Roy and Hussain under the anti-terrorism law. "We are concerned by use of #UAPA anti-terror law to silence critics," the office posted on X. "Urge authorities to drop cases against Arundhati Roy & Sheikh Showkat Hussain over comments on India-admin Kashmir." Saxena's office has not responded to email from VOA requesting comment on the issue. Roy is best known for her debut novel, The God of Small Things, which won the Booker prize in 1997. Over the past two decades, she has written many fiction and non-fiction books and essays on topics such as the Indian administration of Kashmir, nuclear weapons, building of big dams, contemporary politics and human rights. Outspoken political, rights activist Roy was named Thursday by English PEN as the winner of the 2024 PEN Pinter prize, awarded annually to a writer who shows a fierce, intellectual determination to define the real truth of our lives and our societies." She has long been known as an outspoken political and rights activist, often criticizing the government on various issues and speaking in support of Dalits and minorities. Since Modi came to office in 2014, she has been a sharp critic of his government, which is accused by rights groups of targeting activists and stifling free speech. To her supporters, Roy is an advocate for the rights of the oppressed and one of the most outspoken public figures on issues concerning the marginalized. But her critics, mostly supporters of BJP and other Hindu nationalist organizations, view her as an anti-national figure, attacking her on social media and burning her effigies. The remark on Kashmir for which Roy is facing prosecution was made at a conference titled "Freedom the Only Way," and organized by the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners, in New Delhi in 2010. At the conference, she said Kashmir had never been "an integral part of India." "It is a historical fact. Even the Indian government has accepted in the U.N. that it's not an integral part of India," Roy said at the conference. The remark sparked protests at the time. Sushil Pandit, a Kashmiri Hindu activist, filed a criminal complaint against Roy, Hussain and two others a Kashmiri separatist leader and a former professor charging that they had "jeopardized public peace and security" with their speeches and had promoted "separation of Kashmir from India." The police are now reviving the case 14 years later, pursuing Pandit's complaint. A witch hunt Last week some lawyers told local media that they were perplexed as to why Roy was being prosecuted so many years after her speech. New Delhi-based human rights lawyer Colin Gonsalves said Roy has been a victim of a "witch hunt" and that the case will most likely collapse in court. "What Ms. Roy said [in the conference] was nothing illegal at all. Her speech, for which she is being prosecuted, comes nowhere near the anti-terrorism statute of the UAPA," Gonsalves, a Supreme Court lawyer, told the VOA. "For that act to apply, a person must engage in warfare against the state, and that extreme kind of violence must be to overawe the state. That certainly is not the case here. I don't think any judge or court will permit such a frivolous prosecution to take place. The case is all likely to collapse as soon as it is instituted." Rebecca John, Roy's lawyer, said that Roy is well known around the world for her "unfailing commitment to human rights" and that the case against her is "politically motivated." "Clearly her words and speeches were not to the liking of the government, and she has therefore been a target of those who called her 'anti national,' a term widely associated with those who oppose the present regime," John told VOA. Above all, Joe Biden 's allies wanted him to demonstrate strength and energy on the debate stage Thursday night to help put to rest questions about the 81-year-old Democrat's physical and mental acuity. But on the biggest stage in U.S. politics, Biden did not meet their modest expectations. And by the end of the 90-minute showdown, the Democratic president's allies party strategists and rank-and-file voters alike descended into panic following a debate performance punctuated by stumbles, uncomfortable pauses, and a quiet speaking style that was often difficult to understand. Publicly and privately, Democrats questioned whether the party could or should replace him as the party's presidential nominee against the 78-year-old former President Donald Trump this fall. "I'm not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. There's a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden," former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC. "I don't know if things can be done to fix this." For now, the biggest question for Biden is whether the damage is permanent. Many voters have not yet tuned into an election that's still more than four months away. The president and his allies are sitting on millions of dollars that have yet to be spent on advertising and swing-state infrastructure. And there's precedent for recovering from rough debate performances, including Barack Obama 's rebound from an uneven encounter with Mitt Romney in 2012. Democrat John Fetterman went on to defeat a Republican rival in 2022 after struggling through a debate several months after experiencing a stroke. Biden's 2024 reelection campaign has been based on a gamble that voters would ultimately support an 81-year-old lifelong politician with weak approval ratings in a rematch that few Americans want. Despite such liabilities, Biden's team insisted that he was uniquely positioned to stop Trump from returning to the White House just as he did four years ago. They have long predicted that Biden's winning political coalition would eventually embrace the Democratic president after being sufficiently reminded of Trump's chaotic leadership. But there were little signs of such confidence in the wake of Biden's underwhelming debate performance. "It was a slow start. That's obvious to everyone. I'm not going to debate that point," Vice President Kamala Harris said on CNN after the debate. "I'm talking about the choice in November. I'm talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime." Biden's surrogates were slow to enter the post-debate spin room in Atlanta. And when they emerged, they largely avoided questions from the press. Instead, they railed against Trump's long list of falsehoods during the debate. Among other things, Trump didn't disavow those who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential future presidential candidate who was Biden's most prominent surrogate in the Atlanta spin room, urged Democrats not to panic. "I think it's unhelpful. And I think it's unnecessary. We've got to go in, we've got to keep our heads high," Newsom said in an interview on MSNBC. "We've got to have the back of this president. You don't turn back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?" Still, signs of anxiety were apparent as Democrats began to openly encourage the party to find an alternative to Biden. Some party officials pointed to a social media post from former Obama campaign aide Ravi Gupta. "Every Democrat I know is texting that this is bad," Gupta wrote on X. "Just say it publicly and begin the hard work of creating space in the convention for a selection process. I'll vote for a corpse over Trump, but this is a suicide mission." Under current Democratic Party rules, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace Biden as the party's nominee without his cooperation or without the party officials being willing to rewrite its rules at the August national convention. The president won the overwhelming majority of Democratic delegates during the state-by-state primary process. And party rules state that, "Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them." Republicans, meanwhile, were giddy about Biden's lackluster performance. But Trump co-campaign chief dismissed chatter about whether Democrats would try to nominate someone other than Biden. "There's so many political experts on X, so we'll hear a lot from them, I'm sure, in the next few days because they've all run so many campaigns," Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita said sarcastically. "But the only way that happens is if Joe Biden voluntarily steps down, and he's not going to do that." Thursday's debate may be imprinted on voters' minds for the foreseeable future with Biden and Trump not scheduled to meet on the debate stage again for another 75 days. U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred Thursday night over immigration at the first of their presidential debates. Trump criticized Biden over the number of migrants who have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, including those who have committed crimes. Biden focused on the 40% drop in illegal migrant crossings since he issued an executive order aimed at reducing such crossings. During the debate, Jake Tapper, one of CNNs moderators, asked the candidates: "Why should voters trust you to solve this crisis?" Biden said his administration has "worked hard" to change the situation at the border. "We worked hard to get a bipartisan agreement that not only [would have] changed all of that. Ive changed it in the way that now youre in a situation where there are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally," he said. Trump answered by faulting Biden for ending Title 42, a public health law that Trump used to quickly expel migrants to their country of origin or Mexican border towns during COVID-19 pandemic. "He decided to open up our border, opening up our country to people who are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions," Trump said without offering evidence. Tapper stayed on immigration, asking Trump if he would carry out his promise of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants if he wins a second term. "Does that mean that you will deport every undocumented immigrant in America, including those who have jobs, including those whose spouses are citizens, and including those who have lived here for decades? And if so, how will you do it?" Tapper asked. Trump did not answer the question; instead, he talked about terrorism and immigrant crime. "And because of [Bidens] ridiculous, insane and very stupid policies, people are coming in, and they're killing our citizens and at a level that we've never seen," Trump said. Biden responded: "Every single thing he said is a lie." Elizabeth Vaquera, an associate professor of sociology and public policy at The George Washington University, whose research focuses on vulnerable and diverse groups, told VOA mass deportation is not realistic. "He talks about focusing on deporting millions and bringing the National Guard to do so using large-scale roundups and creating camps while people wait to be deported. I need to be clear: I don't think the United States has the capacity to do [it]," she said. At the US-Mexico border A day before the debate, Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, visited the Tucson border sector in southern Arizona for an update on border enforcement. Republicans have often criticized Biden for being too lenient on border control, and the number of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border increased since he took office. In June, after a bipartisan border bill failed in Congress, the president issued a long-awaited executive order aimed at reducing illegal border crossings. Earlier this year, Trump urged congressional Republicans to reject the bipartisan border deal that would have imposed strict border controls, denying Democrats a significant legislative victory before the election. After Bidens executive order on asylum, unauthorized migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border have dropped more than 40%. U.S. border agents said on Wednesday theyve encountered fewer than 2,400 migrants daily, down from 3,800 at the beginning of June. "We are imposing stricter consequences for those who cross the border without authorization. These actions are changing the calculus for those considering crossing our border. Still, as I will continue to make clear they are no substitute for congressional action," Mayorkas told reporters Wednesday. This decrease marks the lowest level of illegal crossings since Biden took office. The Biden administration attributes the decline to a combination of tougher enforcement and expanded legal pathways for migrants. Decrease in asylum claims Additionally, the number of migrants allowed into the country with a notice to appear at an immigration court has dropped by 80%, according to immigration officials. Although access to asylum has been restricted, the possibility of applying for it remains available, the administration says, but only by using the CBP One application to schedule an appointment at a port of entry. A group of migrant advocates has sued the Biden administration to reverse the asylum restrictions. Executive orders Biden's asylum executive order uses the same section of federal law that Trump used during his presidency for measures like the so-called Muslim ban and efforts to ban asylum-seekers. "These actions alone aren't going to fix our immigration system, but they can help us a good deal in better managing what is a difficult challenge," Biden said in his remarks at the White House on June 4. After temporarily restricting asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden announced protections for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. At the debate, Trump reiterated his claims about immigrants, labeling them criminals. According to a Cato Institute study published June 26, undocumented immigrants were "26% less likely than nativeborn Americans to be convicted of homicide, and legal immigrants were 61% less likely." Biden responded during the debate by calling Trump's statements lies and "malarkey." Trump portrayed the border as chaotic and uncontrolled, while Biden countered by pointing out that under Trump's administration, children were being separated from their families after crossing the border. In recent years, attempts to modernize U.S. immigration law have been tried through a series of legislative efforts, but none has been successful. The most recent reform of U.S. immigration law took place almost 40 years ago. U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clashed right from the start of their debate Thursday night, arguing pointedly about the U.S. economy, foreign affairs and migration across the Mexican border into the United States. "Were like a Third World nation and its a shame," Trump told a nationwide television audience from a debate stage at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. "Were no longer respected," Trump said, blaming Biden. "They think were stupid." Biden retorted at one point, looking at Trump. "This is the worst president in American history," citing a group of historians who earlier this year rated Trump last among the countrys 46 presidents. "This guy has no sense of American democracy." Trump, often the aggressor in the debate against a halting and raspy-voiced Biden, returned the taunt, saying Biden was the worst. They frequently accused each other of lying. A snap post-debate CNN survey said Trump convincingly won the debate by a 67-33% margin and some Democrats expressed alarm at Bidens performance. Michael Kimmage, professor of history at The Catholic University of America in Washington, told VOAs Ukrainian service that overall there were few sharply explained policy positions from either candidate, but that was overshadowed by Biden's communication struggles. The most salient detail of the evening was Biden's tone of voice, which was faltering and not strong. It was his inability to come up with easy to follow coherent answers to questions, and he did that half the time, but half the time he didn't, and in a number of cases he lost his train of thought. Trump repeatedly linked the countrys problems to the influx of migrants crossing the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico, saying they were hurting the U.S. economy, the worlds biggest, and taking the jobs of Americans. "We had the safest border in the world," Trump contended about his 2017-2021 term in office. Now, he said, "Its the most dangerous place in the world." "We are now living in a rats nest," Trump claimed. "Theyre killing our citizens at a level weve never seen before." While there have been a handful of high-profile cases in which migrants have been accused of murder, there is no evidence that migrants are committing more crimes than native-born Americans. Biden said, "He is exaggerating, hes lying," noting that 40% fewer migrants are now crossing the border since he recently imposed tighter entry restrictions. Trump claimed that if he wins the November 5 election, he would see that Russias war with Ukraine is ended before he takes office next January but gave no indication of how he would accomplish that. He said he would get Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison in the same time frame. Biden responded that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "a war criminal," and rhetorically asked Trump, "You think hell stop with Ukraine?" if Putin takes over Ukraine. He described Trump as "a guy who wants to get us out of NATO," adding, "He has no idea what hes talking about." Biden accused Trump of fomenting the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as Trump supporters tried to block Congress from certifying Bidens 2020 victory over Trump. The former president blamed then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not calling in enough security in advance to control the rioters. Biden contended Trump had "the morals of an alley cat" as he assailed him for his conviction last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to a porn star just ahead of his successful 2016 election to silence her claim -- denied by Trump -- that he had a one-night tryst with her in 2006. "That case is going to be appealed and won," Trump responded. He is set to be sentenced July 11 and could be placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years. The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit a convicted felon from serving as president. The Biden-Trump confrontation, four-plus months ahead of the election, was the earliest debate ever in the quadrennial cycle of U.S. presidential elections. It was also a replay of their two 2020 debates, which occurred in the two months just ahead of Biden defeating Trumps reelection bid for a second term in the White House. Thursdays face-off was the first time two U.S. presidents have ever debated each other, and it was the first time, such is their animus toward each other, that Biden and Trump have appeared in the same room since they last debated in October 2020. Trump skipped Bidens January 2021 inauguration, and they have been sniping at each other ever since, including on the debate stage Thursday night. There was no studio audience for the debate, and the two candidates were mostly accompanied only by a handful of aides. First lady Jill Biden was in the studio. Trumps wife, Melania, was not there, but several Republicans who want to be Trumps vice-presidential running mate showed up. The two 2024 candidates are the oldest presidents in U.S. history, with the Democrat Biden now 81 and the Republican Trump 78. National polls show Biden and Trump in a virtual dead heat. Numerous U.S. political analysts say that millions of Americans have already locked in their choice in the contest. But many voters dislike them both, "double haters," in the current U.S. political parlance, and may only reluctantly choose one of the two, vote for a third party or independent candidate or not vote at all. For political independents who have yet to decide, or maybe for those who have not closely followed the contest, the debate could help them decide or at least point them in the direction of Biden or Trump. A second debate is set for September 10. Kenya is not IMFs lab rat, was just one of many slogans condemning the International Monetary Fund that was seen this week on demonstrators placards at protests in Kenya against proposed tax hikes. The protests, fueled by tech-savvy youth on social media, were sparked by the Kenyan governments plans to significantly raise taxes to pay off its enormous debt. The government did a U-turn after things turned deadly Tuesday when protesters broke into parliament in Nairobi and police opened fire, killing over 20 people, according to rights groups. Embattled President William Ruto announced he was listening to the protesters concerns and was scrapping his controversial finance bill. He said he would instead introduce budget cuts and austerity measures to try to shore up the countrys finances. But the chaotic events in one of Africas major economies, also a key U.S. ally, have led to questions about the debt choking many developing countries, and who is to blame. International financial institutions Kenya owes $80 billion in domestic and foreign debt. Its debt stands at 68 percent of GDP, well above the World Bank and IMFs recommended maximum of 55 percent. The tax hikes in Rutos unpopular bill were aimed at avoiding default and came after an agreement earlier this month between Kenya and the IMF on a comprehensive reform package. Most of Kenya's debt is owed to international bondholders, while its biggest bilateral creditor is China, to which it owes $5.7 billion. Washington frequently accuses Beijing of debt trap diplomacy unscrupulous lending that leaves developing countries overly burdened. China, which has undertaken large infrastructure projects across Africa under President Xi Jinpings global Belt and Road Initiative, vehemently rejects the allegations. Experts have different takes on whether China or Western monetary institutions are to blame for Kenyas current woes. Kenya owes billions of dollars to Western countries and the IMF as well as China. The key culprit is the lack of a well-functioning global financial safety net, said Kevin P. Gallagher, director of Boston Universitys Global Development Policy Center. Programs from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank made the situation worse, rather than better, and the flaws in the G20 Common Framework to work out debt problems were seen as too risky for Kenya to enter into, he said, referring to the debt restructuring mechanism that other indebted African countries like Zambia and Ghana have been using. Chinas role Gallagher said Chinas loans to Kenya have decreased in recent years, according to his universitys data, and it has little to do with the East Africa countrys debt woes. Indeed, the Kenyan case disproves accusations of debt-trap diplomacy on the part of China. If China was doing debt trap diplomacy it would be seizing Kenyan assets, instead Chinese capital has been the most patient during these rough times, Gallagher told VOA. David Shinn, a former U.S. diplomat, said the blame couldnt be placed on any one factor. China is the largest bilateral lender, but its loans are quite modest when compared to the international financial institutions and holders of Eurobonds, he told VOA. All of these players share the blame for too much debt. The Kenyan government should not have allowed itself to take on so much debt and those who offered loans should have been more circumspect, he continued. Alex Vines, director of the Africa Program at Chatham House, was also even-handed, saying, China is part of the debt burden, but private equity is also contributing to the overall burden. Aly-Khan Satchu, a Kenya-based economist, said Kenya was in a perfect debt storm. You know youd get whiplash for looking at Kenyas politics. From a period of looking east, were back to looking west again and therefore a big decision has been made to wrestle Kenya away from the Chinese orbit, with the support of the World Bank and the IMF. However, Satchu said, one of the problems is that Kenya has had to reroute some of the IMF and World Banks money in order to pay its debts to China, particularly for a Chinese-built railway. Harry Verhoeven, a senior researcher at Columbia University, told VOA neither China nor the IMF is uniquely responsible for Kenyas problems. I think the IMF is not wrong in its diagnosis that theres not enough revenue being raised, I think thats certainly right, he said. Where you can be more critical of the IMF is, so far at least, that it hasnt spoken up very much about the distributional effects of how that revenue should be raised, or what the government has proposed to raise it. Other factors Analysts note it wasnt just loans that got Kenya into its fiscal predicament. The country was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and has also suffered from the fallout of Russias war on Ukraine which has seen global food and energy prices rise. Climate change-induced floods have also hurt the countrys economy. Samuel Misati Nyandemo, a senior economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said the Kenyan government, having withdrawn the controversial finance bill, now has a tough road ahead. The government should try to balance between raising revenues and address the cost of living and doing business in the midst of entrenched corruption, impunity and wastage of public resources, he said. Kenya, he warned, might not be the last African country where frustrations boil over and citizens take to the streets. In impassioned remarks in April, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, the world cannot afford to continue throwing developing countries plans and futures onto a raging bonfire of debt. He said around 40% of the worlds population now live in countries that spend more on interest payments than health or education. European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. At a summit in Brussels, the bloc's 27 national leaders also picked former Portuguese Premier Antonio Costa as the future chair of their European Council meetings and selected Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the next EU foreign policy chief. The leadership package represents continuity for the 27-member bloc, with centrist pro-EU factions keeping hold of top posts despite a far-right surge in elections to the European Parliament earlier this month. The deal was announced by the current European Council president, Charles Michel, on social media. The trio won broad backing from leaders, but diplomats said right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni abstained from the vote on von der Leyen and voted against Costa and Kallas. Von der Leyen's nomination still needs approval from the European Parliament in a secret ballot widely seen as a trickier proposition than her endorsement by EU leaders. At the summit, the EU also signed a security agreement with Ukraine, debated how to bolster EU defenses against Russia and agreed on the bloc's strategic priorities for the next five years. The security deal underlines EU support for Kyiv fighting off Moscow's invasion for a third year, despite gains by the far-right in European elections, uncertainty created by French snap elections and the U.S. presidential vote in November. The agreement lays out the EU's commitments to help Ukraine in nine areas of security policy, including arms deliveries, military training, defense industry cooperation and demining. "These commitments will help Ukraine defend itself, resist destabilization and deter future acts of aggression more concrete proof of the EU's unshakable resolve to support Ukraine for the long haul," Michel said. The leaders will reiterate their pledge to support Ukraine as long as it takes, saying that "Russia must not prevail" and that Ukraine must get back the land annexed by Moscow. Defense debate The war in Ukraine laid bare the EU's lack of preparedness for a conflict as the bloc struggles to supply Kyiv with enough weapons against Russia, prompting calls for more EU coordination of defense systems and investment in defense industries. Diplomats said von der Leyen told the summit that between 1999 and 2021, the EU increased military spending by 20%, China by 600% and Russia by 300%, even before Moscow's massive rise in military spending after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to diplomats, von der Leyen told leaders the EU needed to invest 500 billion euros ($535.30 billion) in defense over the next 10 years. Financing options included national contributions, dedicated revenue streams called the EU's own resources and joint borrowing, von der Leyen said. Investment in defense is part of the EU's "strategic agenda" that the leaders aimed to agree on before dinner on Thursday a document that tells EU institutions what European governments want them to focus on during their 2024-29 term. Apart from defense, the agenda calls for a more competitive EU to withstand economic pressure from China and the United States and for preparing the bloc for enlargement that would include Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. U.S. President Joe Bidens performance at Thursdays debate described as uneven, halting and disjointed has left even his most ardent supporters concerned and raised the question of replacing him as the Democratic partys candidate for president. While many Democratic lawmakers have rallied behind the president, saying one poor performance does not mean the end of a candidacy, it is still technically possible to replace the president as the Democratic nominee. But several things would have to happen to make it a smooth transition. Even then, for the party, finding a new candidate would be an awkward process at best. First, Biden would need to willingly step aside. He has not shown immediate signs of doing that, telling supporters in Atlanta shortly after the debate he thought he did well and explained his performance by saying, Its hard to debate a liar. Earlier this year, each U.S. state held its presidential primary. Under Democratic Party rules, in the modern primary system, the delegates won by Biden are obligated to support him. If Biden were to choose to step aside, however, those delegates would be free to vote for whomever they like at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19 in Chicago, making it an open convention. Here is where the process could become awkward. Before the state primary system was adopted, conventions were open, with delegates arriving at conventions largely uncommitted. They would meet with delegations representing various candidates and negotiate and make deals. This is the convention the Democrats would face in August, with multiple candidates vying for those delegates and multiple ballots to choose a candidate. This would likely lead to an extended convention, going on for additional days. That would create a time crunch for Democrats to get their new candidate the ballot in all 50 states. The Democratic National Committee this year agreed to hold a virtual roll call to nominate Biden ahead of the convention because of an Ohio law that requires a nominee to be selected by August 7 two weeks before this years Democratic convention to qualify to appear on the ballot in that state. A proposal to relax the Ohio deadline to accommodate the Democrats was rejected by the legislatures Republican majority. Scores of sick and injured Gazans were allowed into Egypt on Thursday, marking the first medical evacuations since the travel crossing into Egypt was shut down in May. Sixty-eight people 19 sick and injured children and their companions crossed into Egypt in an evacuation coordinated with officials from the United States, Egypt and the international community, according to the Israeli military. Twenty-one cancer patients from Gaza were being transported to the United Arab Emirates for treatment, according to Agence France-Presse. It was unclear if the 21 cancer patients were part of the 68 people evacuated. Mohammed Zaqout, who heads Gazas hospitals, said more than 25,000 patients in Gaza required treatment abroad and that the route from the Kerem Shalom crossing into Egypt was no substitute for the Rafah crossing, which directly connects Gaza to Egypt. Israeli operations Israeli forces moved into a Gaza City neighborhood Thursday and ordered Palestinians to move south in an operation described as the final stages of fighting against Hamas militants. At least seven people were killed in Shijaiyah, according to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service. Shijaiyah residents told Reuters they were surprised when they heard tanks and drones firing in their neighborhood. More casualties were expected because some civilians were trapped under rubble and rescue teams couldn't immediately reach them. Israels military said Thursday that one of its soldiers was killed and another seriously wounded during an operation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The operation took place in Jenin where witnesses reported an improvised explosive device detonated. Israeli forces have carried out regular raids in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank as part of an effort the military says is aimed at disrupting terrorist activity. The raids have continued throughout Israels offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, with Israel reporting it arrested more than 1,700 Hamas members in the West Bank. The Israeli military also said Thursday that it conducted airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Water supply agreement UNICEF said Thursday that Israel agreed to boost the water supply in Gaza by restoring power to a desalination plant in southern Gaza. UNICEF confirms an agreement was reached to re-establish the medium-voltage power line for the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant, a UNICEF spokesperson told AFP. Water scarcity has become an issue in Gaza, with more than two-thirds of Gazas sanitation and water facilities damaged or destroyed since the war broke out in October. When the plant resumes operations, it will produce enough water to meet humanitarian standards of a minimum of 15 liters of drinking water a day per person for almost a million displaced people in southern Gaza, according to AFP. US aid Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant on Wednesday said significant progress had been made in allaying Israels concerns about the flow of U.S. weapons to the Jewish state. Obstacles were removed, and bottlenecks were addressed, in order to advance a variety of issues, and more specifically the topic of force buildup and munition supply, Gallant said after meeting at the White House with Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser. Earlier in the week, Gallant had met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The U.S. is Israels chief arms supplier, but in recent weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had complained about what he said was the slowed pace of deliveries over several months. White House officials said they were baffled by Netanyahus remarks. A White House statement said Sullivan reaffirmed President Bidens commitment to ensure that Israel has all it needs to defend itself militarily and confront its Iranian-backed adversaries, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The war in Gaza was triggered by last Octobers Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 37,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians but including thousands of combatants, according to the territory's health ministry. Red Sea attacks Maritime security firm Ambrey said Thursday that a merchant ship reported being struck by a projectile in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. Ambrey said there were no reports of damage or casualties from the attack. The Yemen-based Houthi militant group later claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has been conducting similar attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Iran-backed Houthis say their campaign is being conducted in solidarity with the Palestinians. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Iranians started voting on Friday for a new president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, choosing from a tightly controlled group of four candidates loyal to the supreme leader, at a time of growing public frustration. Polls opened at 8 a.m. (0430 GMT) and close at 6 p.m. (1430 GMT) but are usually extended as late as midnight. The election coincides with escalating regional tension due to war between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure on Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear program. While the election is unlikely to bring a major shift in the Islamic Republic's policies, its outcome could influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's 85-year-old supreme leader, in power since 1989. Khamenei called for a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fueled by public discontent over economic hardship and curbs on political and social freedom. "The durability, strength, dignity and reputation of the Islamic Republic depend on the presence of people," Khamenei told state television after casting his vote. "High turnout is a definite necessity." Voter turnout has plunged over the past four years, as a mostly youthful population chafes at political and social curbs. Manual counting of ballots means the final result is expected to be announced only in two days, though initial figures may come out sooner. If no candidate wins at least 50% plus one vote from all ballots cast, including blank votes, a run-off round between the top two candidates is held on the first Friday after the election result is declared. Three candidates are hardliners and one is a low-profile comparative moderate, backed by the reformist faction that has largely been sidelined in Iran in recent years. Critics of Iran's clerical rule say the low and declining turnout of recent elections shows the system's legitimacy has eroded. Just 48% of voters participated in the 2021 election that brought Raisi to power, and turnout hit a record low of 41% in a parliamentary election three months ago. The next president is not expected to usher in any major policy shift on Iran's nuclear program or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters. However, the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran's foreign and domestic policy. A hardline watchdog body made up of six clerics and six jurists aligned with Khamenei vets candidates. It approved just six from an initial pool of 80. Two hardline candidates subsequently dropped out. Prominent among the remaining hardliners are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, parliament speaker and former commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator who served for four years in Khamenei's office. The sole comparative moderate, Massoud Pezeshkian, is faithful to Iran's theocratic rule, but advocates detente with the West, economic reform, social liberalization and political pluralism. His chances hinge on reviving the enthusiasm of reform-minded voters who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years after previous pragmatist presidents brought little change. He could also benefit from his rivals' failure to consolidate the hardline vote. All four candidates have vowed to revive the flagging economy, beset by mismanagement, state corruption and sanctions reimposed since 2018, after the United States ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers. In the past few weeks, Iranians have made wide use of the hashtag #ElectionCircus on X, with some activists at home and abroad calling for an election boycott, saying a high turnout would legitimize the Islamic Republic. Malawis Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed the case of two applicants who wanted it to legalize same-sex relationships. State lawyers welcomed the ruling while lawyers for the applicants expressed disappointment. The applicants, Jan Willem Akster from the Netherlands and a Malawian transgender man, Jana Gonani, brought their case to the Constitutional Court for interpretation of Malawi's anti-homosexuality laws following their arrest in 2021. Akster is currently facing nine charges of sexual abuse and sodomy, while Gonani is charged with unnatural offenses. They said Malawis laws violate their fundamental rights, including a right to privacy and dignity. However, Judges Joseph Chigona, Vikochi Chima and Chimbizgani Kacheche rejected their arguments. Chigona said the applicants failed to bring evidence of how the provisions in the country's laws discriminated against homosexuals. Chigona also said Akster failed to prove that Malawis laws violated his right to health. The first applicant was asked in a cross examination if he had ever accessed a public hospital and replied that he had gone to Zomba Central Hospital after he had been involved in a car accident," Chigona said. "When he was asked about his experience there, especially if he was asked about his sexual orientation before he was assisted, he said he was not. He actually said that he was medically assisted so well. The only complaint he had about the facility were spiders in the ward. Chigona said the court also dismissed claims that Malawi police violated Gonanis right to privacy when they ordered him to undress, to confirm his claims that he was transgender. We know that by Section 24 of Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code that police are empowered to search a suspect who is reasonably suspected of having committed a particular offense and who has been arrested," the judge said. "The caveat is that the search only extends as it is reasonably required for discovering a thing upon this person in connection to the offenses he was suspected of. Minority rights activists and religious leaders attended the delivery of the judgment, which took over six hours. Rights activist Michael Kaiyatsa of the Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation said he was not happy with the ruling but would comment more after going through the written judgment. Defense attorney Bob Chimkango said, To be honest, we are satisfied with the process, but the only thing that we may not be agreeing with is the judgment itself. But its too early to comment as you will notice its a 135-page document. We were just listening we were not working on it. So we will be waiting for it to be given to us, analyze it and then advise the client accordingly. A spokesperson for Ministry of Justice, Frank Namangale told reporters outside the court that the government was happy with the ruling. Same-sex marriages have been a controversial issue in Malawi. In July 2023, religious leaders led street protests across the country against the potential legalization of same-sex marriage. Fridays judgment means homosexuality remains an offense in Malawi, punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. The Constitutional Court said Friday that the applicants were free to ask parliament to amend the countrys homosexuality laws if they were not satisfied with its judgment. Mongolians voted in parliamentary elections on Friday, with the ruling party widely expected to win despite deepening public anger over corruption and the state of the economy. People across the vast, sparsely populated nation of 3.4 million, sandwiched between China and Russia, are voting to elect 126 members of the State Great Khural. Polls opened at 7 am local time (2300 GMT Thursday) and will close at 10 pm, with preliminary results expected later in the night. Tsagaantsooj Dulamsuren, a 36-year-old cashier pregnant with her fourth child, told AFP that Friday's poll offered her a chance to "give power to the candidates you really want to support". "I want lawmakers to provide more infrastructure development... and more jobs in the manufacturing industry for young people," she said outside a polling station at a hospital near the capital Ulaanbaatar. Analysts expect the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP), led by Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, to retain the majority it has enjoyed since 2016 and govern the country for another four years. They say the party can credit much of its success to a bonanza over the past decade in coal mining that fuelled double-digit growth and dramatically improved standards of living, as well as a formidable party machine and a weak, fractured opposition. Yet there is deep public frustration over endemic corruption, as well as the high cost of living and lack of opportunities for young people who make up almost two-thirds of the population. There is also a widespread belief that the proceeds of the coal-mining boom are being hoarded by a wealthy elite -- a view that has sparked frequent protests. Broad spectrum Preliminary results are expected to come within a few hours of polls closing despite Mongolia's vast size, thanks to assistance from automated vote counting. The streets of Ulaanbaatar, home to almost half the population, have been decked out with colourful campaign posters touting candidates from across the political spectrum, from populist businessmen to nationalists, environmentalists and socialists. Parties are required by law to ensure that 30 percent of their candidates are women in a country where politics is dominated by men. Long lines snaked around corridors at a polling station in a school in downtown Ulaanbaatar, with many voters wearing traditional clothing. Oyun-Erdene also voted in a kindergarten in Ulaanbaatar, an AFP reporter saw. The prime minister told local TV after casting his ballot that he hoped Friday's vote would "open a new page of trust and cooperation between the state and citizens". However, many younger, urban voters are not convinced by the MPP's pitch, while the failure of the established opposition Democratic Party to provide a credible alternative has helped fuel the rise of minor parties. Batsaikan Battseren, a 45-year-old community leader dressed in traditional Mongolian deel clothing, said he was urging people to vote. "Our area's average participation is 60 percent," the former herder said at a polling station in rural Sergelen, an administrative division more than an hour's drive from the capital. However, "young people from 18 to 30 years old don't go to vote", he said. 'Social contract' Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index under Oyun-Erdene's premiership. It has also fallen in press freedom rankings and campaigners say there has been a notable decline in the rule of law. Some fear that, should it win a new mandate, the ruling party will tighten Oyun-Erdene's grip on power and erode the democratic freedoms of ordinary Mongolians. "I'll describe this election as a referendum on... Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene and whether he will manage to get a mandate to rewrite Mongolia's social contract," Bayarlkhagva Munkhnaran, political analyst and former adviser on the National Security Council of Mongolia, told AFP. The MPP is the successor to the communist party that ruled Mongolia with an iron grip for almost 70 years. It remains popular, particularly among rural, older voters, and commands a sprawling, nationwide campaign apparatus. "Their appeal is 'look, we've done well, we've managed well'," Julian Dierkes, a professor at the University of British Columbia and an expert on Mongolian politics, told AFP. He said concern about corruption was widespread, even though "there's no real distinction" among the opposition parties. "The extent to which that'll resonate with voters, we'll know tonight sometime. It's really hard to guess," Dierkes said. The U.S. Justice Department has charged nearly 200 health care professionals in connection with a variety of schemes and scams that defrauded the government of $2.75 billion, the agency announced Thursday. The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. The accused were rounded up in a two-week, nationwide health care fraud sweep that ensnared 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals. The cross-country sweep also resulted in the seizure of more than $231 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold and other expensive assets. One of the suspects was a Florida nurse practitioner who prescribed more than 1.5 million pills to people across the country, the Justice Department said, through her companys auto-refill policy. This allegedly resulted in the nurse practitioner prescribing Adderall and other stimulants to individuals suffering from drug addiction and continuing to issue Adderall prescriptions for months after the overdose deaths of patients, the Justice Department said in a statement. Adderall is often used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. In another case, three owners and executives of a wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical drugs were charged in connection with a purported $90 million wire fraud conspiracy that allegedly introduced adulterated and misbranded HIV drugs into the market, according to the Justice Department. Pharmacies around the country unknowingly dispensed these medications to unsuspecting HIV patients. One patient, the Justice Department reported, took what he thought was HIV medication and was rendered unconscious for 24 hours because he had instead taken an anti-psychotic drug. Meanwhile, 14 defendants in another case were charged with crimes related to the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids that resulted in millions of dollars in false billings. In one case, 126 defendants allegedly defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies of more than $450 million in bogus claims, and 10 other defendants were charged in connection with a $65 million COVID-19 testing scam in southern Florida, according to a Justice Department statement. The Justice Departments criminal fraud unit was the lead investigator of the medical schemes. Other agencies involved in the probe included the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. Pakistans ruling coalition passed a resolution in the lower house of parliament Friday denouncing a U.S. congressional call for a probe into allegations that the countrys February election was rigged. The legislative National Assembly stated that Pakistan will not accept any interference in its internal affairs, and the subject resolution is an attempt to undermine the state. The resolution comes two days after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 368-7 on Tuesday urging the full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistans election. It also condemned what it described as attempts to suppress Pakistanis participation in their democracy through harassment, violence, intimidation, arbitrary detention and restrictions on access to the internet and telecommunications. The house deeply regrets that the subject resolution clearly reflects an incomplete and wrong understanding of the political and electoral process of Pakistan, the Pakistani lawmakers responded Friday in their counter-resolution. The resolution passed on a voice vote in which no individual votes were tallied. Lawmakers loyal to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan opposed the resolution. They instead welcomed the U.S. demand for an investigation into what they claimed was massive rigging on a scale never witnessed before in national elections. Pakistans Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected the U.S. resolution in a formal response. Its spokesperson renewed the rebuke at her weekly news conference Thursday, calling the U.S. congressmens decision unfortunate. This resolution is not constructive; it is not objective; it is divorced from the realities in Pakistan, and it is an interference in Pakistans internal affairs, Mumtaz Baloch said. When asked for comments on the congressional resolution on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department avoided discussing it but said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Washingtons ambassador in Islamabad have consistently urged Pakistan to respect the rights of its people and live with its constitutional and international obligations. The February 8 vote, in which no single party won a simple majority, was marred by deadly violence, allegations of military-orchestrated rigging, nationwide mobile phone and internet shutdowns on election day and delayed results. PTI leaders, candidates and supporters were subjected to a nationwide state crackdown in the run-up to the election, forcing many to contest the polls from hiding. PTI and independent observers have maintained the vote manipulation was solely meant to keep Khan-backed candidates from sweeping the election, allegations the countrys election commission denies. Khan, 71, has been jailed since August on disputed charges of corruption, a fraudulent marriage and leaking state secrets. Many central members of his party, including women, also remain in jail on disputed charges. Despite the crackdown, legal setbacks and alleged vote rigging by election authorities, candidates backed by Khans PTI won the most seats in the 342-seat National Assembly but were short of a simple majority. That enabled PTI rivals the Pakistan Muslim League-N, or PML-N, and the Pakistan Peoples Party, or PPP, to form a coalition government, allegedly with the military's backing. The PML-N leader, Shehbaz Sharif, became the prime minister. The election process and its outcome, however, remain contentious. They face multiple legal challenges, some of which also are being heard by Pakistans Supreme Court. Analysts have downplayed the U.S. resolution, saying it will not affect Washingtons policy toward Islamabad. Just hours before the Pakistani parliament passed Fridays resolution, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome. A post-meeting Foreign Ministry statement said, The two sides reviewed the latest developments in bilateral relations and discussed ways to move the relationship forward. Cash-strapped Pakistan is engaged in talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a new multibillion-dollar loan to stave off an economic crisis. Economic experts believe Washingtons support will be crucial for Islamabad to negotiate the much-needed bailout package successfully. Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off in their first debate of the 2024 election season: Donald Trump was aggressive, confident and often, untruthful. Joe Biden was soft-spoken and seemed tired. How do the two candidates view the war in Ukraine? North Korea launches another missile, women are excluded from a UN conference on Afghanistans future and Iranians go to the polls. The United States and its allies warned Friday that expanding military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is dangerous, illegal and a growing threat to the wider international community. "Last week, Russian and DPRK leaders signed a 'Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' paving the way for further deepening their military cooperation," Robert Wood, U.S. deputy U.N. ambassador, told reporters, surrounded by representatives of nearly 50 like-minded countries. "We are deeply concerned about the security implications of the advancement of this cooperation for Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region and around the world." DPRK is the abbreviation for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Wood spoke ahead of a meeting of the U.N. Security Council requested by the United States, Britain, France, Japan and South Korea to discuss North Korea's transfer of arms and munitions to Russia, which are helping drive the Kremlin's war machine in Ukraine. Such transfers would violate a U.N. arms embargo on North Korea. "Before February 2022, it was hard to imagine that the war in Ukraine would pose such a direct threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula," South Korean Ambassador Joonkook Hwang told council members. "But now we are facing a new reality." He said South Korea's national defense ministry has assessed that since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Russia in September, Pyongyang has shipped at least 10,000 containers to Russia that can hold a total of as many as 5 million artillery shells. His government has also determined that 122-millimeter artillery shells made in North Korea were included in the weapons Russia has used against Ukraine. In return for the weapons, North Korea is seeking trade and military assistance from Russia, which would violate U.N. sanctions. It is also benefiting from Russias political protection in the Security Council. "All these developments can bring about a shift in the global security landscape, and the potential long-term effects are dangerously uncertain," Hwang said, adding that Seoul would "resolutely respond" to any threats to its security in a "prudent and measured" way. U.N. sanctions experts detailed prohibited transfers of military equipment and munitions from North Korea to Russia in a report in February which Moscow denied. Russia then used its Security Council veto to shut down the 14-year-old monitoring panel in April. Russia's envoy again dismissed accusations it is getting weapons from North Korea at Friday's meeting. "This is completely false," Vassily Nebenzia told the council, adding that the two countries' cooperation "is exclusively constructive and legitimate in nature." Nebenzia dismissed the panel of experts' findings as controlled and directed by the West. "The panel of experts have been following those orders given them and turning in the direction they were told to turn," he said. North Korea's envoy defended Pyongyang and Moscow's treaty, saying relations between the two countries "are completely peace-loving and defensive in nature." "Therefore, there is no reason whatsoever to be concerned about development of their bilateral relations, unless they have intention to undertake a military invasion of the DPRK and Russian Federation," Ambassador Song Kim said. China, which has traditionally been North Korea's closest ally, expressed concern about heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "China calls on parties concerned to be rational and pragmatic and to find joint efforts to find a solution," Deputy Ambassador Geng Shuang said. Washington's envoy urged Beijing to use its influence with both Pyongyang and Moscow to persuade them to cease their "increasingly dangerous cooperation." "So I appeal to my Chinese colleague to understand that if indeed the situation on the Korean Peninsula continues on the trajectory it's going, the United States and its allies will have to take steps to defend their security," Wood said. The temporary, floating pier built by the U.S. military to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza has been disconnected and officials say there is a chance it will not be reattached. Pentagon officials Friday announced the pier, also known as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) capability, was detached from its connection on the Gaza shoreline and was being moved to the Israeli port of Ashdod because of high seas. It is not the first time the temporary pier has been taken offline because of rough weather off the coast of Gaza. And officials said, as with previous disruptions, they intend to monitor sea conditions before deciding what happens next. "I don't have a date," said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, briefing reporters Friday. "The commander will continue to assess the sea states over the weekend, she said. We're going to continue to monitor the environmental and weather factors." But even if the waters calm, there is a chance the temporary pier will not go back into service. The U.S. credits the pier with helping to bring more than 8,800 metric tons of aid into Gaza since operations began. However, because of ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group, much of the aid has not left the Gaza beach. "We are pretty close to full on the marshaling yard in terms of how much aid is there," Singh said. "If there's not enough room on the marshaling yard, then it doesn't make sense to put our men and women out there when there's nothing to move, she said. We do need to see that marshaling yard open up to allow for aid groups to continue that distribution so that we can get more aid in as we get it from Cyprus." The U.N. World Food Program suspended distribution of aid coming in via the U.S. military pier on June 9, saying it was not confident its staff or the staff of partner agencies could move safely. U.S. officials envisioned the temporary pier to Gaza, which has cost at least $230 million, as a supplemental route to deliver aid to civilians impacted by the fighting. In recent weeks, however, it has become one of the main routes to get aid shipments into Gaza. The pier provided the second-highest volume of aid from any entry point into Gaza this past week, Singh said, adding that more than 4,500 metric tons of aid had transited the pier over the past seven days. But she said the U.S. remained engaged with Israel to try to make sure other avenues for delivering aid expand. "We continue to urge for those land routes to be opened. That is the most effective way to get aid in," she said. "We continue to urge the Israelis to open up those crossings." U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood tells VOA that the international community should be concerned by growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia, especially on the military front. Wood spoke with U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer at the United Nations, following a presentation by Jonah Leff of Conflict Armament Research, a U.K.-based group that tracks the supply of conventional weapons, ammunition and materiel into conflict-affected areas. VOA: Ambassador Robert Wood, thanks for talking to us today. I just wanted to get your reaction to Mr. Leffs remarks to the Security Council today on North Korea. Robert Wood, U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations: I think what we heard from Mr. Leff today was an unfortunate reality, that DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] and Russia are engaged in military cooperation that should be of major concern to the broader international community. The transfer of technology from Russia to the DPRK, as we expect we are going to see through this new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty, we think that this potential transfer of military technology is something that the United States, its partners, other countries around the world are going to be extremely concerned and are going to be watching this very closely. And I suspect China will be doing so as well. So, I think this level of cooperation should be, as I said, of great concern to the international community. And then you have the issue of DPRK transferring missiles and other technology to Russia that it is using in its savage war against Ukraine. So, Mr. Leffs examples that he used in the briefing, I think, were quite telling, quite concerning, and I think will motivate countries that are not looking at this issue as closely as they should. I think they will now look at what DPRK and Russia are doing with greater concern. And that, I think, is the result of this briefing. The international community should, frankly, be alarmed at what DPRK and Russia are doing together militarily. And it will be interesting to see how our Chinese friends react, because they also have a partnership of "no limits" with the Russian Federation. And this, of course, is raising tension levels in the Indo-Pacific. And countries are undoubtedly going to look for ways to improve their security, given this new threat that we are seeing from DPRK and Russia. VOA: And so, what types of deterrents are available to the United States and your allies in the region? Wood: Well, look, we have for years been looking to do what we could to increase our deterrence and we will continue to do that. And we will continue to conduct exercises with our allies, we will be sharing information and cooperation, we will be looking at new ways to defend against these new threats. But the core issue here is we have a permanent member of the Security Council in clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions with regard to the DPRK resolutions, by the way, that this permanent member, Russia, voted in favor of. This is a unique situation we have here. And we are very concerned that this comprehensive partnership between Russia and DPRK grows. And I think frankly, China has got to be gravely concerned about this issue. And so, we will obviously be consulting closely with our partners to look for ways to enhance our deterrence. But we are not going to allow the DPRK and Russia to continue with this type of cooperation without there being the necessary deterrence steps taken to improve our security. VOA: And we know Russia shut down the panel of experts in the Security Council. Has there been any progress toward some sort of new mechanism or monitoring system to replace it? Wood: We are looking at various options to do that, because we think the reporting aspect of that the panel of experts provided, its now gone away, but we need to continue to provide the committee with the necessary reporting. I think the reports, such as the one we heard from [Leff], this is important information. The international community needs to hear about what DPRK is doing with regard to technology, what it is doing with regard to arms transfers. It clearly focuses his reporting, other reports that we have focus on this clear-cut violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, frankly. We are very concerned, obviously, about the level of cooperation, and that level increasing. This is new territory, when you have this permanent member engaging with a rogue state to undermine international peace and security. To answer your question, yes, we are looking at a number of options. And we will work on some things to enable, to provide the committee with objective information it needs to be able to do its work. VOA: So, we are seeing resolutions of the council flouted; this week North Korea fired off some new missile with multiple warheads or the intention of multiple warheads. Are sanctions failing? Wood: Well, if sanctions are failing, it is because they are not being enforced and basically, certain countries are abetting sanctions evasion. You have a situation where we have seen the reports about DPRK testing MIRV [multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle] systems. They dont have the capability at this point to deploy multiple warheads on a missile. But again, we have to look at this carefully. And it is concerning that they are in some way looking into MIRV technology. And they are looking into the use of hypersonics. This is of great concern to us, to our friends and allies, and it should be to the rest of the global community. And again, all of this activity between DPRK and Russia and just DPRK alone, its activities in the nuclear and ballistic missile field are clear violations of Security Council resolutions. An important point here to reiterate, because again, what we are seeing now is one permanent member clearly, openly violating these council resolutions they voted to support. Its really problematic. VOA: Ambassador Robert Wood, thank you for your time. Wood: Thank you, Margaret. The low-key moderate candidate is leading the vote count in Iran's snap presidential election among a tightly controlled group of four candidates loyal to the supreme leader at a time of growing public frustration and Western pressure. With more than 3.8 million ballots from Friday's election counted so far, Massoud Pezeshkian won over 1,595,000 votes, while his hardline challenger former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili gained about 1,594,000, Interior ministry official Mohsen Eslami told state TV early Saturday. While some insiders said the turnout was around 40%, lower than expected by Iran's clerical rulers, witnesses told Reuters that polling stations in Tehran and some other cities were not crowded. Iran's Tasnim news agency said a run-off election was "very likely" to pick the next president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Vote unlikely to shift policies The election coincides with escalating regional tension due to the war between Israel and Iranian allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as increased Western pressure on Iran over its fast-advancing nuclear program. While the election is unlikely to bring a major shift in the Islamic Republic's policies, its outcome could influence the succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's 85-year-old supreme leader, in power since 1989. The clerical establishment sought a high turnout to offset a legitimacy crisis fueled by public discontent over economic hardship and curbs on political and social freedom. The next president is not expected to usher in any major policy shift on Iran's nuclear program or support for militia groups across the Middle East, since Khamenei calls all the shots on top state matters. However, the president runs the government day-to-day and can influence the tone of Iran's foreign and domestic policy. A hardline watchdog body, made up of six clerics and six jurists aligned with Khamenei, approved only six presidential candidates from an initial pool of 80. Two hardline candidates subsequently dropped out. Limited choices Three candidates are hardliners and one is a low-profile comparative moderate, backed by the reformist faction that has largely been sidelined in Iran in recent years. A source close to Pezeshkian had earlier told Reuters that "so far, from the votes counted in small towns and villages, Pezeshkian is ahead of his rivals." Prominent among the remaining hardliners are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, parliament speaker and former commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and Jalili, who served for four years in Khamenei's office. Critics of Iran's clerical rule say that low turnouts in recent years show the system's legitimacy has eroded. Turnout was 48% in the 2021 presidential election and a record low of 41% in a parliamentary election in March. "Based on unconfirmed reports, the election is very likely heading to a second round. Based on the votes counted so far, Jalili and Pezeshkian will compete in a run-off election," Tasnim reported. If no candidate wins at least 50% plus one vote from all ballots cast, including blank votes, a run-off between the top two candidates is held on the first Friday after the result is declared. All four candidates have vowed to revive the flagging economy, beset by mismanagement, state corruption and sanctions re-imposed since 2018, after the United States ditched Tehran's 2015 nuclear pact with six world powers. "I think Jalili is the only candidate who raised the issue of justice, fighting corruption and giving value to the poor. ... Most importantly, he does not link Iran's foreign policy to the nuclear deal," said Farzan, a 45-year-old artist in the city of Karaj. Divided voters Pezeshkian is faithful to Iran's theocratic rule, but advocates detente with the West, economic reform, social liberalization and political pluralism. "We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behavior toward women," Pezeshkian said after casting his vote. He was referring to the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, in 2022 while in morality police custody for allegedly violating the mandatory Islamic dress code. The unrest sparked by Amini's death spiraled into the biggest show of opposition to Iran's clerical rulers in years. Pezeshkian's chances hinge on reviving the enthusiasm of reform-minded voters who have largely stayed away from the polls for the last four years as a mostly youthful population chafes at political and social curbs. He could also benefit from his rivals' failure to consolidate the hardline vote. "I feel Pezeshkian represents both traditional and liberal thoughts," said architect Pirouz, 45, who said he had planned to boycott the vote until he learned more about Pezeshkian's plans. In the past few weeks, Iranians have made wide use of the hashtag #ElectionCircus on X, with some activists at home and abroad calling for a boycott, saying a high turnout would only serve to legitimize the Islamic Republic. "The youth were punished ... young girls were killed on the streets. ... We can't easily move on from that. ... After all that happened, it's unconscionable to vote," said 55-year-old writer Shahrzad Afrasheh. In the 2022-2023 protests, more than 500 people including 71 minors were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands arrested, rights groups said. The United States and 28 partner nations have begun the world's largest naval war exercise off the shores of Hawaii, known as the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC. This year's exercise brings international cooperation on a scale like no other: 40 surface ships, more than 150 aircraft, three submarines and 25,000 people. Nations from around the globe are practicing a wide range of missions, from natural disaster response to attack skills needed for war. While most participants are nations with Pacific coastlines, this year's RIMPAC also includes non-Pacific nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Brazil and Israel. "Every nation in the world that has interests in the Pacific and will adhere to the same values is more than welcome to participate," said Chilean Navy Commodore Alberto Guerrero, RIMPAC deputy commander. One country not invited? China. Why? Because the warm welcome RIMPAC gave to China in 2014 and 2016 backfired, according to Markus Garlauskas, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council. "There was this outreach to China, and definitely the U.S. and its allies and partners were essentially burned by the Chinese taking advantage of it as an opportunity to essentially collect intelligence and to try and get more acceptance of what should be considered unacceptable behavior," Garlauskas told VOA. Since China's last RIMPAC in 2016, he said, Beijing ramped up its aggressive behavior, building and militarizing more artificial islands in international waters, conducting aggressive maneuvers around Taiwan in recent months and pummeling Philippine ships with water cannons in recent days. But the biennial exercise, officials say, can send a strong message to China to stop bullying its neighbors. RIMPAC nations this year will practice targeting the decommissioned assault ship USS Tarawa, in a rare chance to learn how effective their weapons are at sinking a large and protected adversary in open waters. "They're not just going to be facing the United States in the country they're targeting, but they're potentially going to have to deal with a response from a wide range of countries that have common interests in deterring and confronting Chinese aggression as threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Garlauskas said. Israel's inclusion this year sparked calls from pro-Palestinian activists wanting countries to skip the exercise in protest. Malaysia's prime minister addressed the protesters ahead of the exercises, saying that while his country would continue to speak out in support of the Palestinian people, Malaysia needed to act in a way that was "not driven by anger," while also considering the practical implications of missing the major military exercise. RIMPAC is set to end in early August. This week the United States and 28 partner nations began the worlds largest naval war exercise off the shores of Hawaii. Known as Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, analysts say this years exercise gives partners a chance to work together while sending a strong deterrence message to China. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb has details. After what many deemed a disappointing performance by U.S. President Joe Biden in Thursday night's debate against Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump, Democrats are discussing whether their 81-year-old incumbent should be replaced at the top of the presidential ticket by someone younger. Biden needed to reassure loyalists, as well as try to convince the small but critical number of independent voters in swing states that he is still mentally and physically fit to lead the nation. Initially speaking in a soft, hoarse voice, Biden came off as incoherent at times, appeared confused, lost his train of thought and verbally stumbled during his 90 minutes at the lectern opposite Trump, who was more articulate and less combative than usual, although the former president uttered many more untruthful declarations than Biden. "The most salient detail of the evening was Biden's tone of voice, which was faltering and not strong. It was his inability to come up with easy-to-follow coherent answers to questions, and he did that half the time, but half the time he didn't, and in a number of cases he lost his train of thought," Michael Kimmage, professor of history at The Catholic University of America in Washington, told VOA's Ukrainian Service. Biden had a cold and a sore throat but tested negative for COVID-19 before the debate, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. Friday headlines in major U.S. newspapers described panic and alarm among Democrats. Notable officials in the party and at the White House, along with top donors, began pondering whether Biden could continue to lead the ticket, news sites said. On Thursday evening, The New York Times Editorial Board urged President Biden to leave the race. The influential newspaper described Biden as an admirable president but "the shadow of a great public servant." "Voters cannot be expected to ignore what was instead plain to see: Mr. Biden is not the man he was four years ago," the editorial said. And this election, it added, is about "nothing less than the future of American democracy." There are "no conversations" about Biden stepping aside, the reelection campaign's communications director, Michael Tyler, told reporters on the president's plane during Friday's flight from North Carolina to New York. The president is also committed to a rematch with Trump on the debate stage, Tyler added. "Joe Biden will be there on September 10. We'll see what Donald Trump does," he said. Few pundits believe the president will be swayed to leave the race. "I cannot imagine Biden will drop out, NYT commentary or not, unless there is some major health matter that is not public knowledge. Or if one develops between now and Election Day," Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Mary Washington, told VOA. "If nothing else, the Democrats have no plan to implement if they turn away from Biden. A huge divisive convention fight would put the party in an even worse position for November, particularly given all the people who would want to be the candidate and all those who would be angry that their own favorite was passed over," he added. Yet, half of those surveyed (49%) in a YouGov poll about Thursday's debate said the Democratic Party should nominate someone besides Biden, while nearly a third (30%) responded that the incumbent should remain as the party's nominee. Biden, until Thursday night, had been on course to accept, without any remaining challengers, his party's nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. That was cast in doubt after his poor performance in Atlanta on Thursday night during the debate hosted by CNN and carried live by some 20 other television networks in the United States. Unless Biden voluntarily steps aside soon and surrenders the delegates pledged to him, there is virtually no chance of anyone successfully challenging him for the nomination at this stage. The party faces a critical deadline on August 7, about two weeks before the traditional convention roll call vote. That is when the traditional bellwether Midwestern state of Ohio requires party candidates to be determined. It had been assumed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris would again be at the top of the Democrat's ticket. Ohio has long favored incumbent presidents seeking another term, but Trump was victorious there in the last two elections. It has been exactly a century since the Democrats held a convention that was truly an open contest, nominating James W. Davis as their presidential candidate after more than 100 ballots. Davis, a rather obscure former congressman, lost the general election to Republican incumbent Calvin Coolidge in a landslide. The last time there was significant drama at a Democratic Party convention was in 1968 in Chicago, months after President Lyndon Johnson dropped his re-election bid. Division in the party grew after one of the leading contenders, Robert Kennedy, was assassinated. Vice President Hubert Humphrey was nominated amid pandemonium inside and outside of the convention hall. Humphrey was defeated by Republican Richard Nixon in the general election. Looking ahead to another possibly disruptive convention in Chicago, Democrats on Friday began speculating about who might step forward to try to replace Biden, if the president were to bow out. Besides Harris, among those on the short list are four state governors: California's Gavin Newsom, Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky's Andy Beshear and North Carolina's Roy Cooper. All have been viewed as likely presidential primary contenders for the party in 2028. Some Democrats are having none of it at least not yet. "Democrats are historically prone to panic, even though their presidential candidates normally fumble the first debate Barack Obama in 2012 is a great example. The answer isn't to replace Biden, but to take a very critical eye to what didn't work about his debate prep," veteran party strategist Max Burns told VOA. Obama on Friday agreed, saying in a social media post "bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit." "Biden is still the best messenger Democrats have for the message they are campaigning on, but there's clearly work to be done," added Burns, who runs Third Degrees Strategies, a strategic communications and consulting firm. "Their success in November will depend on their ability to honestly assess their weak spots and quickly course correct." "I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden's shoulder after the debate," Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, posted on social media on Friday morning. "No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record." Fetterman, a survivor of a stroke that compromised his speech processing capabilities, struggled on the debate stage two years ago before defeating his Republican opponent in the general election. Biden's physician in February declared him fit for duty, despite being treated for multiple medical conditions: nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies and sensory peripheral neuropathy of both feet. Dr. Kevin O'Connor also wrote that the president's stiff gait and obstructive sleep apnea remained stable. As a senator in the late 1980s, Biden was treated for two brain aneurysms. The president, during a midnight visit to a Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta following his face-off with the 78-year-old Trump, was asked by a reporter how he thought he performed during the debate in which each candidate peppered the other with caustic remarks. "I think we did well," Biden responded. He appears to be a lone voice making that assessment. "I know I'm not a young man," said a somewhat rejuvenated Biden at a Friday afternoon rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. "I don't debate as well as I used to" but "I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done." Biden coughed occasionally, still showing the effects of what campaign officials said was a cold that affected his debate performance the previous evening. His remarks were interrupted several times by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Trump "is literally a threat for everything America stands for" and "is motivated by revenge and retribution," said Biden. "Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it." Trump, at his first post-debate rally midafternoon Friday at a farm in Chesapeake, Virginia, reveled in his opponent's lackluster performance the previous evening. But Trump said he doubts Biden will step aside because the incumbent "does better in the polls than some of the people they're talking about" possibly replacing the president as the Democratic Party nominee. Governor Newsom was singled out for mention by Trump, saying the 56-year-old "can't run California he's doing a terrible job." Newsom, immediately after the Biden-Trump debate, quashed any speculation he would be on the presidential ballot in November. "We've got to have the back of this president," the governor said on MSNBC. "You don't turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that?" The International Monetary Fund said Friday it approved a disbursement of $2.2 billion for Ukraine, bringing total IMF disbursements to Ukraine to about $7.6 billion. The allotment was approved after the IMF completed a fourth review of Ukraine's extended arrangement with the international financial institution. In a statement, the IMF said "Ukraine's performance remains strong" despite challenging conditions. "All quantitative performance criteria for end-March were met, and all structural benchmarks through end-June were implemented on time or with a short delay." Ukraine's economy "continues to be resilient although the outlook remains subject to exceptionally high uncertainty," the IMF statement said. Prisoners released Ten Ukrainians including a politician and two priests who had been imprisoned in Russia and Belarus, Russia's ally, have been released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday on Telegram. It was not immediately clear whether Russian prisoners in Ukraine were exchanged in the deal. Some of the newly released prisoners had been detained since 2017. Zelenskyy thanked the Vatican for its efforts in bringing the prisoners home but did not provide any details about the Vatican's role in the release of the prisoners. European security Zelenskyy hosted Slovenian president Natasa Pirc Musar in Kyiv to discuss plans for a second peace summit and a bilateral security agreement. The Slovenian leader's visit Friday came a day after Zelenskyy attended the European Union Summit, where he signed three security agreements, including a long-term agreement with the EU as a whole. In a statement posted on his X social media account Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is seeking to "establish a comprehensive framework for such agreements with all European countries. This will not only strengthen Ukraine but also enhance security across the entire continent." At a joint news conference, Zelenskyy said he and the Slovenian president also discussed plans for a second peace summit like the one held June 15 and 16 at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, which drew leaders from 101 countries and organizations. Zelenskyy said they were preparing groups of countries to work on "peace formula points" discussed at that meeting. Most of the participants at the summit agreed that territorial integrity, the principles of international law, and the U.N. Charter should be the basis for any peace talks to end the Russian war in Ukraine. Pirc Musar said she supports that formula. She also announced the Slovenian government had approved an additional package of roughly $5 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement Friday that it had ordered officials to prepare a "prompt response" to U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea in an apparent warning that Moscow may take forceful action to ward off the American reconnaissance aircraft. In the statement, the Defense Ministry said the United States was increasing strategic drone operations over the Black Sea to conduct reconnaissance and targeting of precision weapons supplied to Ukraine by Western nations. "This indicates the growing involvement of the U.S. and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime. Such flights multiply the probability of incidents in the airspace with the Russian Aerospace Forces' aircraft, which increases the risk of direct confrontation between the alliance and Russia. NATO countries will bear responsibility for this," the statement said. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court decided on Friday that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the U.S. are without a permanent place to live. In a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, the high court reversed a ruling by a San Francisco-based appeals court that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. The majority found that the Eighth Amendment prohibition does not extend to bans on outdoor sleeping bans. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority. A handful of federal judges cannot begin to match the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding how best to handle a pressing social question like homelessness. He suggested that people who have no choice but to sleep outdoors could raise that as a necessity defense, if they are ticketed or otherwise punished for violating a camping ban. A bipartisan group of leaders had argued the ruling against the bans made it harder to manage outdoor encampments encroaching on sidewalks and other public spaces in nine Western states. That includes California, which is home to one-third of the countrys homeless population. Cities across the West report that the 9th Circuits involuntary test has crated intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Homeless advocates, on the other hand, said that allowing cities to punish people who need a place to sleep would criminalize homelessness and ultimately make the crisis worse. Cities had been allowed to regulate encampments but couldnt bar people from sleeping outdoors. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, reading from the bench a dissent joined by her liberal colleagues. Punishing people for their status is cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment, she wrote in the dissent. It is quite possible, indeed likely, that these and similar ordinances will face more days in court." The case came from the rural Oregon town of Grants Pass, which appealed a ruling striking down local ordinances that fined people $295 for sleeping outside after tents began crowding public parks. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over the nine Western states, has held since 2018 that such bans violate the Eighth Amendment in areas where there arent enough shelter beds. Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol told The Associated Press that the city will not immediately start enforcing those local ordinances fining people for sleeping outside and that the city council will need to review the decision and determine the next steps. This lawsuit was about whether cities have a right to enforce camping restrictions in public spaces, and Im relieved that Grants Pass will be able to reclaim our city parks for recreation, Bristol said. Homelessness is a complex issue, and our community has been trying to find solutions. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented Grants Pass before the high court, applauded the ruling, saying the 9th Circuit decision had tied the hands of local governments. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis, she said. An attorney for homeless people who live in the town bemoaned the decision. We are disappointed that a majority of the Court has decided that our Constitution allows a city to punish its homeless residents simply for sleeping outside with a blanket to survive the cold when there is nowhere else for them to go, said Ed Johnson, director of litigation at the Oregon Law Center. Friday's ruling comes after homelessness in the United States grew a dramatic 12% last year to its highest reported level, as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more people. Policymakers must focus on real solutions like rental assistance, cash supports, and strong, flexible community services that are proven to end homelessness and stabilize people with low incomes in housing," said Peggy Bailey, executive vice president for policy and program development at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than 650,000 people are estimated to be homeless, the most since the country began using a yearly point-in-time survey in 2007. Nearly half of them sleep outside. Older adults, LGBTQ+ people and people of color are disproportionately affected, advocates said. In Oregon, a lack of mental health and addiction resources has also helped fuel the crisis. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this story. Notable Supreme Court cases of 2024 The Supreme Court rejects a nationwide opioid settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma The high court had put the settlement on hold last summer, in response to objections from the Biden administration. The Supreme Court allows emergency abortions in Idaho for now in a limited ruling The ruling came after a day an opinion was briefly posted on the court's website accidently and quickly taken down, but not before it was obtained by Bloomberg News. The Supreme Court strips the SEC of a critical enforcement tool in fraud cases The justices ruled that people accused of fraud by the SEC, which regulates securities markets, have the right to a jury trial in federal court. The Supreme Court halts enforcement of the EPA's plan to limit downwind pollution from power plants The Supreme Court is putting the Environmental Protection Agencys air pollution-fighting good neighbor plan on hold while legal challenges continue, the conservative-led courts latest blow to federal regulations. Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims The justices ruled in favor of a 1994 ban on firearms for people under restraining orders to stay away from their spouses or partners. Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks, gun accessories used in 2017 massacre The high court found 6-3 that the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks. Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication The Supreme Court has preserved access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year. Supreme Court clears the way for the NRAs free speech lawsuit against an ex-New York official The unanimous opinion reverses a lower court decision tossing out the gun rights groups lawsuit against ex-New York State Department of Financial Services Ssuperintendent Maria Vullo. Supreme Court finds no bias against Black voters in a South Carolina congressional district The Supreme Court has preserved a Republican-held South Carolina congressional district, rejecting a lower-court ruling the district discriminated against Black voters. U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump clashed right from the start of their debate Thursday night, arguing pointedly about the U.S. economy, foreign affairs and migration across the Mexican border into the United States. "Were like a Third World nation and its a shame," Trump told a nationwide television audience from a debate stage at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. "Were no longer respected," Trump said, blaming Biden. "They think were stupid." Biden retorted at one point, looking at Trump. "This is the worst president in American history," citing a group of historians who earlier this year rated Trump last among the countrys 46 presidents. "This guy has no sense of American democracy." Trump, often the aggressor in the debate against a halting and raspy-voiced Biden, returned the taunt, saying Biden was the worst. They frequently accused each other of lying. A snap post-debate CNN survey said Trump convincingly won the debate by a 67-33% margin and some Democrats expressed alarm at Bidens performance. Trump repeatedly linked the countrys problems to the influx of migrants crossing the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico, saying they were hurting the U.S. economy, the worlds biggest, and taking the jobs of Americans. "We had the safest border in the world," Trump contended about his 2017-2021 term in office. Now, he said, "Its the most dangerous place in the world." "We are now living in a rats nest," Trump claimed. "Theyre killing our citizens at a level weve never seen before." While there have been a handful of high-profile cases in which migrants have been accused of murder, there is no evidence that migrants are committing more crimes than native-born Americans. SEE ALSO: Biden said, "He is exaggerating, hes lying," noting that 40% fewer migrants are now crossing the border since he recently imposed tighter entry restrictions. Trump claimed that if he wins the November 5 election, he would see that Russias war with Ukraine is ended before he takes office next January but gave no indication of how he would accomplish that. He said he would get Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from a Russian prison in the same time frame. Biden responded that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "a war criminal," and rhetorically asked Trump, "You think hell stop with Ukraine?" if Putin takes over Ukraine. He described Trump as "a guy who wants to get us out of NATO," adding, "He has no idea what hes talking about." Biden accused Trump of fomenting the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as Trump supporters tried to block Congress from certifying Bidens 2020 victory over Trump. The former president blamed then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not calling in enough security in advance to control the rioters. Biden contended Trump had "the morals of an alley cat" as he assailed him for his conviction last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to a porn star just ahead of his successful 2016 election to silence her claim -- denied by Trump -- that he had a one-night tryst with her in 2006. "That case is going to be appealed and won," Trump responded. He is set to be sentenced July 11 and could be placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years. The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit a convicted felon from serving as president. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S. presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in their first debate of this election cycle Thursday. From Atlanta, VOAs Calla Yu tells us what to expect. Contributor: Scott Stearns; Videographer: Yiyi Yang Columbus Mavhunga HARARE, ZIMBABWE The head of U.S. Africa Command denied Thursday claims by Zimbabwean government officials that Washington is setting up a military base in neighboring Zambia and wants to move AFRICOM operations there from Germany. At an online press briefing, General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, rejected Zimbabwes claims that the United States is establishing a base in neighboring Zambia. That's absolutely false, Langley said from an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana. We have no bases in Zambia. We have no plans to put one there. He said the U.S.s approach on the continent is African-led and U.S.-enabled. We have a deep partnership with Zambia, he said. We have increased security cooperation with them. But there is no footprint. There's no posture. There's no base. Zimbabwean officials declined to comment to VOA about Langleys remarks. But Rutendo Matinyarare, chairperson of the pro-government Zimbabwe Anti-Sanctions Movement, alleged that Langley held a briefing in Lusaka and that the U.S. was setting up the AFRICOM hub in Zambia. Matinyarare claimed that several businesspeople who have flown into the country have seen a substantial amount of American military equipment at Zambias airport. And so, the question is, What are these weapons doing in Zambia? he said. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema denies 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., which should not be mistaken for the U.S. establishing a base. Zambia says it has called on two regional bodies the African Union and the Southern African Development Community to mediate talks with Zambian officials have also said the fallout stems from comments that Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa made during a recent trip to Russia namely, the accusation that the U.S. has been militarizing Zambia to consolidate power in the region and isolate Zimbabwe. Western countries imposed travel and financial sanctions on Zimbabwes leadership and affiliated companies in the early 2000s for alleged election rigging and human rights abuses. The U.S. recently removed sanctions on most Zimbabweans, but a few prominent figures including Mnangagwa remain on the list. Meanwhile, Langley told reporters that top regional security challenges throughout Africa were discussed at the just-ended defense conference. Our African partners want this conference here because they want to own it. But we are AFRICOM, and the U.S. government is here because we have common values, common objectives, that will affect stability, security and prosperity on the continent, he said. This years conference provided a valuable wealth of information and lessons ahead of talks next year, Langley said. Events follow on from one another, but we dont really understand them. The United States has nothing against Lebanon, even if it does not like Hezbollah. However, they will support Israel if Tel Aviv engages in a war. They then risk putting their finger in a fateful gear. Hezbollah being militarily superior to Israel, they will be forced to come and crush it. Iran will defend Lebanon; and the United States, which is currently negotiating with Tehran in secret, will find itself at war with it. Benjamin Netanyahu will claim, as he has done for fourteen years, that Tehran is on the verge of producing nuclear bombs in order to finish off the Jews. Washington would then be invited to nuke Iran. This scenario clashes with the views of Russia and China, two superpowers that participated in the Vienna negotiations on the JCPOA, and both of whom are convinced that there has been no Iranian military nuclear program since 1988. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown warned that an Israeli offensive on Lebanon "may increase the risk of a broader conflict." "Hezbollah is more capable than Hamas in terms of overall capacity, number of rockets, etc. And I would just say that I would see Iran being more inclined to provide greater support to Hezbollah," he told reporters during a trip to Cape Verde. He noted that the United States supported Israel against Iran last April, but would probably not be able to do so this time. However, in a video posted on X, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu revealed what he had told Secretary of State Antony Blinken: "It is inconceivable that in recent months, the [Biden] administration has denied Israel weapons and ammunition. Americas closest ally, fighting for its life, fighting against Iran and our other common enemies (...) During World War II, Churchill told the United States, Give us the tools, well get the job done. And I say, give us the tools, and well finish the job much faster." Amos Hochstein warned Benjamin Netanyahu that he had "exaggerated" by publishing this video. The White House cancelled a strategic meeting with the Jewish state, intended to study the progress of Irans nuclear program, under the chairmanship of National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and in the presence of Israels Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. In the end, only director of the Israeli Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi will be received. In a new video, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We started to see a few months ago that important issues were starting to emerge. And in fact, we tried... to smooth out this decrease in supply. And we have not been able to solve it. This is crucial in our common war to defeat Hamas, and to prevent an escalation in Lebanon from turning it into a full-blown war." Spokesman for the U.S. Security Council Admiral John Kirby called the remarks "deeply disappointing and certainly embarrassing for us given the amount of support we are giving and will continue to provide." He commented on them by saying that "even though there had been a pause, about those 2,000-pound bombs... the idea that we had somehow stopped helping the Jewish state with their self-defense needs is simply not accurate." The United States commented on the decrease in ammunition exports to the Jewish state: "We have made our position clear on this issue many times, and we will not continue to respond to the prime ministers political statements. We look forward to constructive consultations with Defense Minister Gallant in Washington this week." Israeli officials, including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, White House Middle East Affairs Coordinator Brett McGurk, and other Biden administration officials. According to CNN, the United States is ready to support the Jewish state and offer security assistance in the event of an all-out war with Hezbollah. U.S. ambassador to Jerusalem Jacob Lew said at a conference at Reichman University in Herzliya: "There is no change in U.S. support for Israel. This means that, even though it was very difficult, Washington has provided and continues to provide a huge amount of humanitarian aid, and we have been helpful and that makes a strategic difference to Israels ability to continue and win." Secretary of Defense General Lloyd Austin received his Israeli counterpart, General Yoav Gallant. He said that "Hezbollahs provocations threaten to drag the Israelis and Lebanese into a war that neither of them wants." He warned of a war that "would be catastrophic for Lebanon, and that would be devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians." But Yoav Gallant said: "The biggest threat to the future of the world and the future of our region is Iran and time is running out. The time has come to fulfill the commitment of the U.S. administrations over the years, promising to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon." General Yoav Gallant also met with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The latter "briefed him on ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance security, governance and reconstruction in Gaza in a post-conflict period and stressed the importance of this work for Israels security." According to spokesman for the State Department Matthew Miller, General Yoav Gallant assured Antony Blinken that he wanted a diplomatic settlement with Iran. "The eyes of our enemies and friends are looking at the relationship between the Israelis and the United States we must resolve our problems quickly, this is how we will achieve our goals and weaken our enemies," he said. The United States has rescheduled the strategic dialogue meeting with Israel. It was supposed to take place last week, but was cancelled in response to a video in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized Washington for slowing down its ammunition deliveries. The meeting is expected to focus on Irans nuclear program. According to Politico, U.S. officials have warned Hezbollah that they may not be able to prevent the Jewish state from attacking Lebanon. Two U.S. officials also said Washington would help the Jewish state defend itself if Hezbollah retaliated against an Israeli attack. They stressed that Lebanon should not rely on the United States to hinder Israels decision-making. Photo: Gareth Gatrell/Paramount Pictures/Everett Collection Silence is not just golden but rather rare at the multiplex. It can get noisy there, onscreen and off: If its possible to tune out an increasingly chatty moviegoing public, thats only because the movies themselves are often downright deafening in their Dolby cacophony. All of which makes the Quiet Place series a welcome outlier. Following a rural family forced to perpetually hold its tongue lest it be ripped out by some very good listeners, John Krasinskis 2018 sci-fi suspense contraption brought a refreshing hush to the big screen. Make no mistake, there were piercingly loud moments in the film, as Krasinski rattled nerves with the sudden shrieks and skitters of his extraterrestrial attractions. But these stings of jarring audio followed long stretches of pin-drop quiet a unique sensory experience that encouraged a different kind of engagement from the audience. With less to hear, we could better sink into the visual storytelling and wordless performances. A Quiet Place Part II, released into a muted mid-pandemic world three years ago, similarly turned up the thrills by turning down the volume. And thats more or less the approach of the latest installment in the franchise, A Quiet Place: Day One. This feature-length prologue rewinds to the beginning of the alien invasion that forced a monklike vow of silence upon what remains of humanity. It also shifts the action from a pastoral American heartland to the hustle and bustle of New York City. Nonetheless, the general Quiet Place formula remains intact, for better or worse: Characters tiptoe around, exchanging tense glances while trying to avoid making a peep, lest they summon the spindly predators with the powerful lugholes. This time around, those characters do not include the Abbotts, the bereaved, vaguely tradcath family we followed in the other movies. (Though he helped come up with the story, Krasinski didnt write or direct Day One, nor did he add his Office-honed reaction shots to its gallery of terrified faces.) Our new unlucky heroine is terminally ill writer Sam (Lupita Nyongo), out of the hospital on a day trip to the city when sightless monsters begin falling from the sky. Sam seems awfully spry for someone reaching the end of her hospice care, but no matter: We connect quickly to her emotional journey, because its Nyongo doing the emoting. As in Jordan Peeles Us, the Oscar winners face becomes a grand canvas scrawled with multiple shades of fear. These movies must be appealing to actors, who can get in touch with their inner Garbo or Falconetti. And so few lines to learn! Around Nyongo, Day One builds a small ensemble of scared-shitless survivors, whispering and staring between each shrieking attack: a nurse and friend (Alex Wolff) from the hospital; a quick-thinking stranger (Djimon Hounsou, briefly reprising his role from Part II); and most substantially, a British business student (Joseph Quinn) who latches onto Sam, like a baby bird imprinting on his mother. No offense to the humans, but none of these supporting characters are quite as engaging as Sams house cat, maybe the most hilariously chill feline in movie history. Never so much as hissing at the beasts snarling and leaping around her, she makes the tabby from Alien look like a total diva. Specific toothy threat aside, the Quiet Places are basically zombie films, and something about seeing Sam creep through a graveyard New York only underscores that genre lineage. The change in scenery from country to big city allows for some visual variety, a chance to play with the claustrophobia of subway tunnels and crowded boulevards and office buildings whose fragile glass surfaces offer no cover. It also allows Day Ones writer-director, Michael Sarnoski, to indulge in some blatant 9/11 imagery: After the initial attack, Sam stumbles through clouds of smoke and ash, screams ringing out from all directions. Not since another alien-invasion movie, Steven Spielbergs elemental War of the Worlds, has a blockbuster so deliberately evoked the panic and horror of that day in the Financial District. Still, the film doesnt fully exploit its fresh angle, the hook that weve been deposited at ground zero of the apocalypse. After the initial asteroid storm, Day One settles too quickly into the same pattern as its predecessors; offering more pantomime than pandemonium, it never quite delivers the fall of civilization promised by its premise. Honestly, Krasinski tackled that concept better in miniature with Part II, which opened with a much more visceral snapshot of the same catastrophic event in the timeline. On a whole, this prequel/spinoff wants for the tighter suspense of those earlier films. Sarnoski, new to blockbuster duty, adjusts quickly enough to the demands of a thriller heavy on digitally conjured creatures. But his set pieces arent all that memorable. Perhaps the monsters themselves have lost their novelty. How many times can we watch them tear ferociously into frame? Its not so surprising that this filmmaker would be drawn to the moodiness of A Quiet Place more than the action. His Pig confounded expectations; those who went in expecting John Wick with Nicolas Cage and a hog were instead confronted with a melancholy drama about clinging to your values in a world where everything pure can be taken away from you. Here, Sarnoskis interest seems to lie with the therapeutic arc of the material, built on Sams crusade to make it across a ravaged New York to one particular Harlem pizza parlor. In A Quiet Place, Krasinski treated the familys forced silence as a metaphor for their inability to connect in the wake of tragedy. Day One, by contrast, could be called the story of a poet struggling to articulate her feelings about dying. Thats a potentially poignant idea, but Sarnoski flirts with cliche in exploring it, as when Sam and her new companion use the sonic cover of thunder to indulge in some cathartic, soul-cleansing screaming. Though Day One is being sold as an expansion of the Quiet Place universe, it is in many ways merely a reiteration. The location swap and shift to a new character doesnt materially transform what you could now call the formula of the franchise: a mix of silent brooding and special-effects-heavy chase sequences, like a Jurassic Park movie populated by sad mimes. The dont-speak values of the series, faithfully preserved by Sarnoski and beautifully expressed by Nyongo, are still welcome in a Hollywood landscape that would prefer to drown audiences in sound. But if you repeat it enough, a bold new approach to multiplex thrills becomes just more noise. The transgressive French filmmaker is in fine, fucked-up form with Last Summer, about a middle-age lawyer who starts sleeping with her stepson. Photo: Janus Films When Anne (Lea Drucker) has sex with her 17-year-old stepson, she closes and sometimes covers her eyes. Its a pose that brings to mind what people say about the tradition of draping a napkin over your head before eating ortolan, that the idea is to prevent God from witnessing what youre about to do. Theo (Samuel Kircher) is as fine-boned as any songbird Youre so slim! Anne gasps in what sounds almost like pain during one of their encounters, as she runs her hands up his rangy torso and just as forbidden. And despite the fact that what shes doing could blow up her life, she cant stay away. It wouldnt be fair to say that desire is a form of madness in Last Summer, a family drama as masterfully propulsive as a horror movie. Anne remains upsettingly clear-eyed about whats happening, as though to suggest otherwise would be a cop-out. But desire is powerful, enough to compel this bourgeois middle-age professional into betraying everything she stands for in a few breathtaking turns. Last Summer is the first film in a decade from director Catherine Breillat, the taboo-loving legend behind the likes of Fat Girl and Romance. Last Summer, which Breillat and co-writer Pascal Bonitzer adapted from the 2019 Danish film Queen of Hearts, could be described as tame only in comparison to Rocco Siffredi drinking a teacup full of tampon water in Anatomy of Hell, but there is a lulling sleekness to the way it lays out its setting that turns out to be deceptive. Anne and her husband Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) live with their two adopted daughters in a handsome house surrounded by sun-dappled countryside, a lifestyle sustained by the business dealings that frequently require Pierre to travel. Annes sister and closest friend Mina (Clotilde Courau) works as a manicurist in town, and conversations between the two make it clear that they didnt grow up in the kind of ease Anne currently enjoys. Its a luxury that allows her to pursue a career that seems more driven by idealism than by financial concerns. Anne is a lawyer who represents survivors of sexual assault, a detail that isnt ironic, exactly, so much as it represents just how much individual actions can be divorced from broader beliefs. In the opening scene, Anne dispassionately questions an underage client about her sexual history. She informs the girl that she should expect the defense to paint her as promiscuous before reassuring her that judges are accustomed to this tactic. The sequence outlines how familiar Anne is with the narratives used to discredit accusers, but also highlights a certain flintiness to her character. Druckers performance is impressively hard-edged even before Anne ends up in bed with her stepson. Theres a restlessness to the character behind the sleek blonde hair and businesswoman shifts, a desire to think of herself as unlike other women and as more interesting than the buttoned-up normies her husband brings by for dinner. Anne enjoys her well-coiffed life, but she also feels impatient with it, and when Theo gets dropped into her lap after being expelled from school in Geneva for punching his teacher, he triggers something in her thats not just about lust. Theo is still very much a kid, something Breillat emphasizes by showcasing the messes he leaves around the house as much as on his sulky, half-formed beauty. But that rebelliousness speaks to Anne, who finds something invigorating in aligning herself with callow passion and impulsiveness instead of stultifying adulthood however temporarily. This being a Breillat film, the sex is Last Summers proving ground, the place where all those tensions about gender and class and age meet up with the inexorability of the flesh. The first time Anne sleeps with Theo, its shot from below, as though the cameras lying in bed beside the woman as she looks up at the boy on top of her. Its a point of view that makes the audience complicit in the scene, but that also dares you not to find its spectacle hot. Breillat is an avid button-pusher responsible for some of the more disturbing depictions of sexuality to have ever been committed to screen, but Last Summer refuses to defang its main character by portraying her simply as a predatory molester. Instead, shes something more complicated a woman trying to have things both ways, to dabble in the transgressive without risking her advantageous perch in the mainstream, and to wield the weapons of the victim-blaming society she otherwise battles when they are to her advantage. Its not the sex that harms Theo; its the mindfuck of what hes subjected to. After dreamily playing tourist in Theos youthful existence, Anne drags him into the brutal realities of the grown-up world. The results are unflinching and breathtakingly ugly. You couldnt be blamed for wanting to look away. Illustration: Sara Singh This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. In Outline, the first book in Rachel Cusks astonishing trilogy of novels, the narrator, Faye, has dinner in Athens with a celebrated feminist author. Angeliki apologizes for arriving late: She has only just escaped from a reception plus a quick detour to put her son to bed. She has been away from him, she says, as a consequence of her international book tour. Her novel, which concerns a painter who feels torn between her children and her desire to be free, is very popular in Poland, where she met a journalist whose lifeless egalitarian marriage had left her so ugly and serious that she was barely recognizable as a woman at all. Angeliki has discovered that her own husband and son do not need her the way she once thought they did, and this distance from their need has made her reconsider her own freedom. She does not want childbirth to be her greatest act of creation, but neither does she wish to become a desexed professional who loses touch with her female essence. The painter in her novel fails to resolve this dilemma, ultimately diverting all her artistic energy to her children. The scene unfolds like nearly every other scene in Outline: Someone talks, Faye listens. The latter, a divorced novelist of few biographical details, serves as a kind of Grecian urn into which her conversation partners eagerly pour the metaphors that rule their lives, delivering reflections on art, marriage, and family in the same tone of Spartan clarity. Critics hailed the Outline trilogy as a reinvention of the novel, though Cusk saw it as the natural evolution of her long-standing preoccupations. For the first 20 years of her prolific career, Cusk largely wrote domestic novels about young women who long to shelter in, and escape from, the trappings of bourgeois family life. Saving Agnes, Cusks debut from 1993, opens with the image of a house sinking into the earth. The same themes animate Cusks nonfiction from this period. Her 2001 memoir, A Lifes Work, was savaged by the British press for its frank portrayal of the desolation of early motherhood. Then, in 2009, Cusk divorced the father of her two daughters an experience she later described as a devastating expulsion from the possibility of narrative. Were not part of that story any more, my children and I, she writes in her 2012 memoir, Aftermath, peering with envy and disgust into the lives of her suburban neighbors. We belong more to the world, in all its risky disorder, its fragmentation, its freedom. Out of this dispossession emerged Faye, a recessed female presence whose exile from domesticity allows her supposedly to view life with greater objectivity. The results are extraordinary. Faye is not absent, like Godot; she is withheld, like a judgment, and through Cusks ingenious structure of reported monologues, Faye becomes the most substantial of all the characters in the trilogy. But the claim to objectivity bears the bruise of exaggeration. Divorce or no, Faye is still a bourgeois British woman who quietly goes from having a loan on her countryside home to being an honored guest at literary festivals across Europe. The parallels with the authors own life were both intentional and carefully repressed. In effect, Cusk wished to have it both ways. She wanted Fayes emotional distance and biographical vagueness to place her in a more authentic relationship to truth. Yet she wrote Faye as specifically female voice, one which spoke through the narrative vacuum that Cusk had come, through divorce, to associate with all women. Now Cusks gender politics have taken center stage. Her new novel, Parade, is a small clear prism of a book that refracts the lives of half a dozen artists all named G, most of whom are fictionalized versions of real artists like Louise Bourgeois and Norman Lewis. There is an abiding interest in formal experiment: Cusk flings abstract nouns onto the page with little mediation by plot or character, much as the action painters once did with their paints. The risk in this approach is producing what the art critic Harold Rosenberg once called apocalyptic wallpaper, on account of its cheap facsimile of depth. In formlessness she discovered power, and also a freedom from limitation, a narrator says about their mother in Parade a beautiful sentence until one realizes that any of the nouns could be rearranged without injuring the impression that one is reading an awful truth. As in Cusks previous novel, the feverish melodrama Second Place, the old themes of domesticity and maternal guilt have returned in full force but now their delivery is cold and explanatory, to the extent that much of Parade reads like catalogue copy for an unseen art exhibit. In a telling echo of Angelikis novel in Outline, the only G without a clear historical counterpart is a talented female painter whose professional success separates her from her young daughter. With this G, Cusk poses a question that has obsessed her for years: Can women make art? It is a false question. Yet Cusk treats it with fatal solemnity. The artist Georg Baselitz, whose upside-down paintings appear in Parade, told an interviewer in 2013, Women dont paint very well. Its a fact. One should call this what it is crude misogyny and crush it underfoot. Instead, Cusk obscures it under thick layers of weak mysticism, much as Baselitz once painted over his pictures with a deadening black paint. That, on balance, female artists face more institutional obstacles than male ones, that they are more likely to be unjustly reduced to their particularity by critics, that the gender division of labor continues to take an enervating toll even on many affluent white women none of this can be denied. Nor is any of it the subject of Parade, which is given over to cryptic pronouncements about the violence underlying female identity. For years, Cusk has warned ominously of the confusion of male and female values that has accompanied womens gains in political equality with men a typical example of the inscrutable private language that has allowed her flatly essentialist views about gender to pass for the feminist avant-garde. We learn in Parade that the female condition is unlasting yet eternal, that behind its volcanic cycles of change there lies something darkly continuous yet unknown. The female artist, we are told, must reckon with the mystery and tragedy of her own sex. What Cusk really means is that women must make art about being mothers. If they refuse to do this, they are effectively neutering themselves, disavowing their female biological destiny in the doomed pursuit of male freedom. The latter appears to be identical with regular freedom in every way except that, when exposed in a woman, it is proof of a grotesque and self-defeating identification with men. One cannot, I think, have a high opinion of women if one is to believe this. It is like defining the air as male and bravely refusing to breathe. The wild young painter G marries a lawyer she meets at a gallery opening. He disapproves of her: In this, she recognizes a form of heterosexual authority that she craves. G adapts to his life, lets him rule over her, and becomes pregnant with his daughter. A dreadful truth, the truth of her female caste, came slowly and inexorably into view, with its smouldering fires of injustice and servitude, writes Cusk. Gs husband, taking off work, claims their daughter for his own, while G is marched back into the studio to pay the bills. She feels inferior to her male colleagues; she makes one female friend, another painter, noting with discomfort that this friend lacks any desire for male freedom and prestige. Then Gs husband goes away to care for his dying father, and for the first time G feels free of his influence. She becomes warmer, more maternal, making pancakes for her daughter and allowing her into her studio; she imagines what it would be like not to work. One day, Gs daughter looks up and casually asks why men need to exist at all. The question horrifies G, who realizes that a world without men would be a world without the freedom she desires. Men are great, she answers, though she cannot say why. The story of G has the quality of a parable or a fairy tale. It contains the broad strokes of Cusks theory of the woman artist. It seems that, in claiming her freedom from the sphere of need, the woman artist must learn to pass as an honorary man. Yet she remains attached, as if by umbilical cord, to the home life she tries to leave behind; ultimately, she is consumed with rage at her emasculated husband and guilt over her abandoned children. Cusk regards this as a dead end for the female artist. A book is not an example of womens writing simply because it is written by a woman, she claims in a 2009 essay on Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf. Writing may become womens writing when it could not have been written by a man. But what such a female sentence would look like is deeply unclear. Genuine womens writing, Cusk argues, would abandon any claim to equivalence in the male world and concern itself with what is eternal and unvarying, with domesticity and motherhood and family life. Evidently, to paint a female painting, the woman artist must integrate her need to express herself artistically with the very roots of female identity: continuity, stability, the capacity to nurture. In short, she must let her child into the studio. That the female artist has a child is treated as an established fact in Parade. Of feminism, Cusk knows very little, and she is eager to prove it. In the essay on Woolf we encounter the preposterous claim that there is no public unity among women; more recently, Cusk has said that she is too old to think of gender as open to examination. (She is 57.) In a baffling profile of the painters Celia Paul and Cecily Brown from 2019, Cusk is so convinced in advance that her subjects must be professionally crippled by their own biology that she takes it upon herself to break their legs. Motherhood is an inextricable aspect of female being, she declares after Brown quite sanely suggests that parenting and painting might make irreconcilable demands on ones time. It is one thing, Cusk writes, to choose not to have a child at all, but if you can do both, be both, then surely the possibility of formulating a grander female vision and voice becomes graspable. The assertion is brittle and accusatory. How can one avoid concluding that any female artist who refuses motherhood as her subject, much less her life, is essentially betraying herself? (In general, Cusk is clueless on politics: An essay on Brexit ends with the idea that everyone should be more polite, like Jesus Christ.) One senses that Cusk is berating herself. In one essay in Aftermath, she recounts how her ex-husband like Gs husband, a lawyer turned photographer performed the bulk of the domestic responsibilities while she, like G, wrote novels to pay the bills. In that arrangement she discovered a false equality: She gave up her primitive maternal right over the children, while her husband saw his contribution merely as helping. In her own assessment, the marriage was doomed because its egalitarian structure forced her to deny the long pilgrimage of pregnancy with its wonders and abasements, the apotheosis of childbirth, the sacking and slow rebuilding of every last corner of my private world that motherhood has entailed. Instead, Cusk reverted to the adulterated male values she had learned from both her father and mother professional ambition chief among them while forcing her husband into the role of housewife. My notion was that we would live together as two hybrids, each of us half male and half female, she writes. But Cusk grew to hate her husbands dependence on her and influence over the children, and she began to feel like neither an honorary man nor an authentic woman. I am not a feminist, she concludes. I am a self-hating transvestite. A startling metaphor! The essay in question was first published in 2011 one of the last years before the idea of transvestism would be drained of any remaining metaphorical potential in English letters and reduced to a sheer monstrosity. Cusk has never told us what she thinks of her fellow transgender people, though one is free to guess. What we do know is that her fiction is chock-full of female characters who harbor, or are accused of harboring, a secret desire to be men. The desperate writer in Second Place admits to disguising herself in the borrowed finery of masculinity, to the extent that some aspects of me do seem in fact to be male. An overqualified teacher in Arlington Park had forgotten she was a woman until she met her husband, while the breadwinning wife of The Bradshaw Variations craved it, her opposite, masculinity. In The Lucky Ones, a feminist columnist tells a housewife that she wants to be the same as men; the housewife is disturbed. The erstwhile crush of In the Fold now has a coarse shadow of black hair on her upper lip; her sister-in-law speculates that she doesnt actually want to be a woman. One night, the eponymous heroine of Saving Agnes has a dream: She had found herself in possession of a giant penis like an elephants trunk and was forced to bundle it up beneath her skirt like a dark and terrible secret and walk around in mortal fear of its discovery. What to do with all these troubled hermaphrodites? I always thought it was better to be a man, and I wanted to be a man my entire life, Cusk told her fellow novelist Sheila Heti in 2020. There is nothing immoral, irrational, or even unusual about penis envy it is generally better to be a man, as far as history is concerned but Cusk has taken this desire and pathologized it so intensely that it has turned her into the paranoid custodian of an idiosyncratic gender fundamentalism. Men must be men; women must be women. A character in Parade remarks of the sculptor G that she treats both sexes as doomed by gender, as almost interchangeable in that sense, so that a third sex emerges in which the man and woman have merged into each other and become neutral. This G is clearly based on Bourgeois, who late in life created a series of sculptures of two nude human figures intimately embracing. In one such piece, made of polished aluminum, the two figures are almost entirely mummified in the tentaclelike coils of hair coming from one of their heads. This hermaphroditic mass with its suggestion of the simultaneous presence of male and female parts this is the horrific fate that we are to believe awaits every female artist who tries to claim male freedom for herself. There are so many poor assumptions here that the simplest may be the least obvious: It is not clear that Bourgeoiss couples always consist of a man and a woman. But Cusk can scarcely imagine a world beyond the heterosexual family. Divorce did not cure her of that weakness. The dissolution of a marriage is simply the closest that most middle-class women ever come to experiencing the social death of queerness. In Cusks case, it seems to have fed her belief that outside heterosexuality there lies only an unfathomable void. She regards her few gay characters with slow bewilderment. It took Julian a long time to piece together the nature of their relationship, two grown men living in luxury together without a woman in sight, she writes in Transit. This is the narrow sense in which Cusk can conceive of gay male life: as the absence of female dependency. Lesbians, meanwhile, are nearly unthinkable. In Outline, a famous lesbian poet reports an outlandish dream about a group of women who are too drenched in menstrual blood to go to the opera. Cusk has the poet conclude that the dream expresses the disgust that exists indelibly between men and women and not, as one might also conclude, the cost of failing to imagine what women might have in common outside their biological destiny. The irony is that the poet, being a lesbian, should know perfectly well what else women might share. Few readers will notice, I expect, that the titular parade of Parade is intended to be the Parisian equivalent of the Pride March. I myself would not know this had Cusk not volunteered it at a launch event recently. Yet now it is hard to miss the patronizing shift from march, with its residual connotations of political struggle and moral authority, to parade, which suggests frivolity and heavy traffic. As the sun sets on gay Paree, a groaning fleet of garbage trucks is dispatched to clean up the mess; behold, we are meant to think, the cost of freedom! Meanwhile, several heterosexual characters navigate their way through the chaos to a brasserie nearby, where they discuss whether the late artist G missed the opportunity to love women. What they mean by this, Cusk does not say. What is clear is that the queers, in their fantastical costumes, are now crowding up the restaurant. Its the parade, says one woman apologetically, that has confused everything. It is interesting to note that Cusk has looked to Beauvoir and Woolf for inspiration. Neither was heterosexual, and neither gave birth. Both pursued at certain points in their lives a kind of thwarted, ecstatic, sometimes tragic lesbianism that strongly informed their theories about female art. But there was an important difference between the two. When Beauvoir claimed that van Gogh could never have been born a woman, she meant that such a woman, having scarcely begun to posit herself as a free and authentic being, could never have taken the human condition onto her tender shoulders. When Woolf wrote that no woman in Shakespeares time could have possessed Shakespeares genius, she meant that a woman of the same raw talent and background would have lacked the money, education, and legal right to stride onto the stage of the Globe. Between these two arguments there lies an almost infinite gulf. The female van Gogh is the victim of an existential foreclosure, one that can be overcome only by a transcendent act of will that Beauvoir left perilously nebulous. By contrast, Shakespeares sister, as Woolf called her, is simply the victim of a shut door. It is no great mystery what keeps her on this side of it: Someone has gone and locked it. Anyone genuinely invested in the fate of women artists must learn to separate, whenever possible, the material questions from the existential ones. To confuse them is disastrous. From the standpoint of history, there are many real reasons a woman might fail to be an artist the unpaid reproductive labor she is often expected to perform within the home, for instance. From the standpoint of existence, however, there can be no barrier whatsoever: She is a human being. Early on in A Room of Ones Own, Woolf recounts a fictionalized encounter with the guardian of a university library who informs her that women are not permitted entry unchaperoned. That a famous library has been cursed by a woman is a matter of complete indifference to a famous library, Woolf tartly remarks. In this one sentence you will find more truth about the woman artist than in all of Parade. Cusk has surveyed those privileges historically appropriated from women by certain men wealth, institutional power, freedoms of movement and expression and mistaken them for the ontological enfeeblement of the female sex. Women have, I think, enough problems already; there is no reason to invent more. The really challenging idea is not that female artists, when finally given all the advantages of male ones, will make art equal to that of any man but that women, when they are finally given all the advantages of men, may cease to be women altogether. One cannot say for sure: It has never been tried. But the metaphysics of sex will remain the pastime of fools and bigots until the full redistribution of wealth has taken place. I sympathize with Cusks fear: that material equality will result, even if only by accident, in the abolition of women. (I am surely fonder of them than she.) Wouldnt it be a bit boring if everyone was the same? asks the skeptical housewife of The Lucky Ones. Even Woolf did not want to see the two sexes reduced to one but this was because she longed for more sexual difference than the duality of male and female could provide. If an explorer should come back and bring word of other sexes looking through the branches of other trees at other skies, she wrote, nothing would be of greater service to humanity. One remembers that Woolf wrote A Room of Ones Own shortly after her novel Orlando, whose eponymous hero changes sex with a kind of blithe serenity that could not be more foreign to Cusks self-hating androgynes. Now it is true that Woolf called for women to write as women write, not as men write. By this, she meant that the classical literary forms epic poetry, for instance had been so clearly shaped by male experience as to be more difficult for a woman to bend to her will. Hence the cleverness of a writer like Austen, who found the novel young enough to be soft in her hands. This is perfectly sound: To the extent that the lives of men and women still contain many generalizable differences, one may justly speak of male and female sentences. But to ask the female artist to make art that only a woman could make is to ask her to make no art at all. As Cusk herself has suggested, the novel is a kind of objet trouve, mute as a slab of marble; it takes a witness to make its cold neutrality catch fire. In itself, the sentence has neither sex nor gender nor, for that matter, sexuality, race, class, religion, or nationality. Not a single blot of paint in the Tate Modern repels the female soul, though the 84 annual membership fee may dissuade some female wallets. Literature is open to everybody, Woolf writes. Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind. I know Cusk knows this. She has made no secret of her admiration of art by men; half the Gs in Parade are male artists in whose work she has discovered something real or true. When the first Gs wife sees his upside-down paintings, she instantly feels that they elucidate the tragedy of female being. The paintings crush her; they are acts of unbearable authenticity and theft. A female novelist who visits Gs studio feels the same, exclaiming with remorse that she wishes she could write novels upside-down. G was not the first man, Cusk observes, to have described women better than women seemed able to describe themselves. But why should the theft go only one way? Cusk characterizes Gs breakthrough as casual and inadvertent, the product of a vague desire to make sense of his time and place in history. Gs wife consoles herself with the knowledge that the paintings would not exist if not for her own creation of a nourishing domestic environment. Yet it is Gs wife who, just by looking at them, impregnates the paintings with her own ideas about freedom and need. Even their annihilating force reflects the power of her mind. She steals the paintings every time she looks at them: They are hers. To question the possibility of female art is, ultimately, to question the possibility of female thought. In both cases, one wonders how hard Cusk is really looking. She ends Parade by considering several oil paintings by the 17th-century Dutch painter Jacobus Vrel. In one, a black-clad woman sits in an otherwise empty room, hunched over a large tome in her lap, while through the dark window behind her one can just barely discern the beseeching face of a small child. For Cusk, it is a stunning portrait of female immanence, female withdrawal, female nonbeing and painted by a man! This woman was alone in a way that was nearly impossible to represent, observe the narrators, who are mourning their late mother. But the womans chosen solitude, her indifference to the demands of domestic labor, has been represented quite clearly: She is reading a book. That we do not know what she thinks of it does not mean that female being is tragically excluded from the realm of freedom or narrative or identity. It just means she hasnt told us. Cusk, Im afraid, is one of those rare writers whose genius exceeds the depth of her own experience. She has taken some fine observations about bourgeois motherhood under late capitalism and annealed them, through sheer intensity of talent, into empty aphorisms about the second sex. In so doing, she has wasted an enormous amount of energy on making the idea of female freedom unthinkable an ironic choice for a writer who has achieved something like canonicity within her own lifetime. If Parade is womens writing, let us hope it is the last of it. Another kind of novel is possible. When Angeliki tells Faye that she regrets not putting more about her characters material circumstances in her novel, I think we are meant to find this vaguely funny. But its a good idea! At least it would be better than banging on about female destiny while ignoring the lives of actual women. One must never mistake a defect of the imagination for a hole in reality. One Great Story: A Nightly Newsletter for the Best of New York The one story you shouldnt miss today, selected by New Yorks editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. RIP Syd-Carmy. We never knew you. Photo: FX Some fans of the FX on Hulu show The Bear have a sickness that no kind of medicine can cure. Symptoms include editing fan-cams of characters Sydney and Carmy to desperate Taylor Swift love songs, writing romantic fanfic about the pair, and making enough noise about the ship online that the cast and the crew have no choice but to acknowledge the delusion. Though the characters played by Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White, respectively, have an intense working relationship built on mutual understanding and respect, much like Mad Mens Peggy and Don, thirsty people keep wishing on a star that Syd-Carmy would kiss. While The Bears main leads do share a deep intimacy, its clear that the show isnt a romantic love story based on what it presents to the audience. Showrunners Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo and cast members Edebiri, White, and Molly Gordon agree: Syd-Carmy is not a thing. Heres all the times theyve made it clear. July 22, 2022: Just a month after The Bear premieres, creator and writer Christopher Storer friendzones Syd-Carmy. Talking to Esquire about the real-life Copenhagen restaurant Nomas role in the show, he says the characters fixation on the restaurant brought them together. Its a big part of the reason why Sydney and Carmy develop this friendship, Storer says. Carmy is someone whos terrible at communicating on some things, and Sydney communicates too much, but their middle ground is this creative thing and between the two of them, Noma would be the North Star. Something like Noma, for these characters, as a young cook starting off, thats where youd want to be. Friendship. Creative partners. These are the operative words. July 26, 2022: White makes it clear that he is firmly against a Syd-Carmy tryst for narrative reasons and because he thinks a trauma-bonded romance would not be enjoyable. The actor does an interview with W making plain his feelings about the ship that launched a thousand Archive of Our Own fanfics. I hope for Sydneys sake thats not going to be explored in later seasons, he says. I just love their relationship: the amount of respect they have for one another, and that they have a shared history, even if its not together. Theyve been through similar traumas and they really see one another. To add romance or sexuality would monkey up what I enjoy about their relationship. August 16, 2022: Weeks later, Edebiri echoes Whites sentiments regarding the Syd-Carmy thirst. I dont want to rain on anybodys parade, but I dont think so, she tells TV Line. I dont think so. And Jeremy has said this, too. She instead offers this to fans: a hot and heavy partnership between a man and his fried dough. The sexiest relationship on the show is between Marcus (played by Lionel Boyce) and the doughnuts. So Im rooting for that, Im rooting for Lionel and the doughnuts. January 4, 2023: Edebiri and White acknowledge that fans are horny for Syd-Carmy, but that doesnt stop them for shooting down their hopes and dreams. I know there are people who are very invested in that, and I understand and I appreciate it, but it was not that for me, Edebiri tells Variety with a laugh. White dittos her feelings: No! It was never discussed by anybody. In that same interview, co-showrunner Joanna Calo corroborates that the idea of a Syd-Carmy thing simply never came up. Chris Storer is just as emphatic as the others. We wanted to make something that was about friendship and a partnership, he says. It really is so funny that that is one of the things that people took away of all the heavy shit thats going on in the show! It was interesting because Ayo and Jeremy, since they are our friends and are such wonderful people, I think there is this charisma that comes off both of them. Here are the showrunners intentions: From the beginning, it was like, we should just show people being really good at their jobs and pushing each other, Storer reveals. June 30, 2023: In an interview with Variety, White says there can be love and respect in the characters beautiful platonic relationship, despite the desires of rabid shippers. Discussing the viral moment where Sydney was frustrated with Carmy because his romantic relationship with Claire distracted him from the restaurant, White explains why Syds reaction wasnt jealousy. Theyre doing this thing together and she does not have Carms full attention and focus while they have a partnership, he spells out. Theyre trying to create this thing thats very difficult to create. Of course there is love and and respect in this relationship. Theres admiration, and I hope that even in platonic relationships, you are able to say things like, I need you. When they speak to each other under the table in episode nine, its such a beautiful scene. It is a scene about partnership, but not a romantic partner. June 30, 2023: Molly Gordon, who plays Carmys girlfriend Claire, is asked about Syd-Carmy in a sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter. Sometimes theyre just people with whom you have everything but the romantic element, she believes. Im interested, though. Im on the journey with the fans. But I think its incredibly cool to have this dynamic onscreen that isnt romantic but that feels charged and sexy. August 10, 2023: Calo likens Sydney to Carmys work wife in a Hollywood Reporter interview, but nothing more (even if she was tempted to make them kiss in the writers room). I will say, at one point, very early on, I was like, Maybe they do hook up. And Chris was like, No! [Laughs], she remembers. And he was totally right, but I think what I was getting at was that these relationships are complicated. Ive heard people use the term work wife there are relationships in our lives that have all different meanings, and we sometimes really rush to characterize everything very cleanly and theres something beautiful about acknowledging how messy our lives really are and just how enmeshed so many of our relationships are. June 24, 2024: White and Edebiri give reporters a flat out no when asked if Syd-Carmy is ever going to happen at a season-three press conference. There was no talk in the rooms about any romantic implications between Carmy and Sydney, White says, per Vanity Fair. Yet another nail in the Syd-Carmy coffin. It only took eight episodes, but Natalies baby is finally here. In Ice Chips, faced with a Bear staff cell phone service lockdown, Natalie dials her mom, Donna, in a panic. Shes there waiting when Natalie rolls up at whatever suburban hospital she and Pete have chosen, all keyed up and wanting to help is it really help if its only on the helpers terms? Thats what Natalie is faced with for the first few hours of labor, with her mom regaling hospital staff with stories about how it was done back then, saying, We didnt know our doctors. They were just men who said things. As Donna, Jamie Lee Curtis drops a few choice cusses and slams on snide neighbors before telling Natalie and the nurse that she wanted a baby so bad because she wanted someone to love [her] the way [she] had seen all those smug mothers down at the Jewel blocking the aisle with their strollers. (And yes, she would say at the Jewel, and Im so pleased she did.) Its a concerning story because babies arent meant to fix whatever youre lacking or wanting, but thats Donna Berzatto for you. Throwing a lot of pressure on her kids the second theyre out of the womb and then expecting them to know why theyre failing her. Its not that she doesnt love them. She does. She tells Natalie all three of her birthing stories, in part as a response to Natalies desires for no epidural, no enema, and no excessive shaving of public hair. She doesnt want to be numb when she gives birth, even though her mom assures her that the actual birth process is going to hurt like a motherfucker. The episode does a great job getting that across, timing out Natalies contractions in what feels like real-time. Were not there for the whole birth that would be an hours-long episode but the direction and cinematography of the run-up feel real. Jamie Lee Curtis and Abby Elliott look how they look, crying and mussed hair, and theres no over-the-top comedic screaming or wacko water breaking. Natalies OB, Dr. Kevin, is played by Chicago legend Keith Kupferer, whos also in Ghostlight, an excellent new movie that absolutely everyone should see. He tells her that things are going to progress how they should. She could opt for Oxytocin or Pitocin, but thats really up to her. And then, of course, a patient down the hall starts screaming, Dr. Kevin calls for a crash cart and an OR, and Natalie freaks the fuck out. She wants the Pitocin, she wants the epidural, and she wants that baby out now. Natalie and Donna connect here, and in the moments after, Natalie finally tells her mom why she didnt call her during the pregnancy. She doesnt want her new baby girl to be scared like she was. Her mom seems surprised that Natalie is scared, and when Natalie says that she is, Donna says, Thats terrible. Donna fucked Natalie up quite a bit. Nat seems like the chillest person in The Bear, but shes always worried people are mad at her. She thinks Petes going to leave her, and she always puts Donna first always. Natalie also tells her mom, I made myself sick to make you feel better, which could relate to anxiety and stress, but I wonder if theres also something else there, like an eating disorder. Its a lot to process, but Donna takes it all in and tells Natalie that she knows the baby will be okay because she just will be. She also tells Natalie that shes working on improving herself and trying to put that stuff away. Thats when Jamie Lee Curtis kicks into For Your Consideration: Outstanding Guest Star in a Comedic Series mode, telling Natalie about the day she was born. Its a story that involves an amazingly vivid but boring dream about an 8 p.m. bedtime, a fish tank, and a mysterious city, and it ends with a mention of Ciceros first wife, whos long since been jettisoned for something younger. Natalie was born to the most beautiful song, The Ronettes Baby, I Love You, and youve got to think that track will hold a pretty special spot in Natalie and her daughters lives as well. Thats when Pete arrives, fresh off some trial he won and eternally grateful to Donna. He and Natalie fall into each others arms as Donna slinks out, but to her credit, she doesnt just take her leave and jet off. She sticks around to talk to Pete and sit in the waiting room until her granddaughter (and the Faks) arrive. Shes a grandma now, and, hopefully, shes got a fresh start. Small Bites Natalie drives a Porsche? Damn. Also, she could have called Cicero or used her hands to call Claire once she got to the side of the road. Im just saying. Natalie has her dads ass. Want more TV and movie picks? Subscribe to our weekly Streamliner newsletter here. Clockwise from top: The Bear, I Am: Celine Dion, Janet Planet, and A Quiet Place: Day One. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: FX, Paramount, A24, Amazon MGM Studios Well, now were talking! Were so used to the ever-shifting calendar and slow release weeks that the deluge of movies and television this weekend almost feels weird welcome, to be sure! but weird and overwhelming. Theres a big movie spin-off, some quieter indies, the return of the most chaotic restaurant on television, and Kevin Costner back on the big screen. Giddy up, we guess. Savannah Salazar Sign up for Streamliner A weekly newsletter with the latest TV and movie recommendations, curated by Vulture writers. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Featured Presentations . Now that Carmy and Sydney have opened their sophisticated restaurant, surely things in season three will be totally calm and devoid of conflict. Like, theres no way that two or more characters will get into a shouting match in the middle of the kitchen during an incredibly busy dinner service; stuff like that never happens on this show. Jen Chaney And what a season it is! (To the shippers: its not happening.) Streaming on Hulu . The first spinoff in John Krasinskis Quiet Place franchise comes from Pig writer-director Michael Sarnoski. That pedigree has us hopeful for Day One, which takes us back to the start of the invasion of alien monsters sensitive to sound. Of course, the new characters we meet (Lupita Nyongo and Joseph Quinn) dont know that yet. Good luck, babes! S.S. In theaters now . Awarded playwright Annie Bakers taken her talent to the silver screen with her debut feature, Janet Planet. It centers on a mother and young daughter (played by Julianne Nicholson and Zoe Ziegler, respectively) who struggle to find the similarities between each other. S.S. In theaters now . From an Academy Award nomination to co-leading Under the Bridge and starring in Fancy Dance, Lily Gladstone has been having quite the year. In her latest film, she stars as an aunt who teams up with her niece to search for the young girls mother, whos gone missing from the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. S.S. Streaming on Apple TV+ . Big year for moms in love. After Anne Hathaway in The Idea of You, Netflix has Nicole Kidman as a woman who gets in a relationship with the celebrity (Zac Efron) her daughter (Joey King) is personal assisting for. Get it, girlie. S.S. Streaming on Netflix . Netflixs spinoff of That 70s Show continues with Leia Forman, the daughter of Eric and Donna, as she stays with her grandparents Kitty and Red (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp) and gets into more sitcom shenanigans. S.S. Streaming on Netflix The One-Sentence Review Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 This is Dune: Part One for dads (and, hi, Im dads), and that film also seemed to stop just as it got going. (Now in theaters, read more here.) . The streamers dramedy series starring women tend to follow a certain crappy husband, money problems, need to start again formula, and this adaptation of Sandra Barnedas novel joins the category. Eva Longoria stars as a New Yorker who travels to Spain with her mother and teenage daughter to the village their family once fled from and where they rediscover themselves. Roxana Hadadi Streaming on Apple TV+ . Would you believe Sean Penn is actually good in a movie again? I know, we couldnt either! Somehow thats not the most surprising thing about Daddio, in which he plays a motormouth New York cabbie who ferries Dakota Johnsons character (credited only as Girlie). Eric Vilas-Boas In theaters now Not Dion Yet I Am: Celine Dion Photo: Vulture In a new documentary, Celine Dion is still aiming for perfection, writes Madeline Leung Coleman. Streaming on Prime Video Finally Streaming Problemista Hopefully, youve had the chance to check out Julio Torress HBO series Fantasmas; well, now you can pair it with Problemista, another surrealist comedy from Torres. His directorial debut, Problemista, follows Alejandro (Torres) as he juggles aspirations of being a toy designer with the fact that hes running out of time to have his work visa renewed after being fired from his previous gig. He tries to land a job as an assistant to a temperamental art critic Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), but thatll prove to be more difficult than he imagined. Its endearing and utterly entertaining. S.S. Streaming on Max Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga revved up and raced onto digital. So has Hayao Miyazakis latest film, The Boy and the Heron. Grand Finale Interview With the Vampire season 2 June proved a crowded month for TV (Bridgerton, The Bear, House of the Dragon). Amid that excitement, AMCs Interview With the Vampire stunned every week. The final episode airs Sunday, meaning nows the perfect time catch up on the whole season, baby! Prepare for season three because everyone needs to tune in to Rockstar Lestat. S.S. Streaming on AMC+ Animation Station Suicide Squad Isekai Thats right, DCs favorite supervillain team is back in an anime. As the title suggests, Isekai plays with the trope of catapulting characters into otherworldly adventures as Harley Quinn and the gang embark on a trans-dimensional mission for Amanda Waller. The first three episodes are out now. E.V.B. Streaming on Max Want more? Read our recommendations from the weekend of June 21. Fratelli d'Italia rattled by bombshell Fanpage report. Italy's premier Giorgia Meloni has finally addressed the scandal involving her party's youth wing after some of its members were secretly filmed making racist and anti-Semitic remarks. Meloni broke her silence over the probe by Italian media website Fanpage into the youth group of her right-wing Fratelli d'Italia party, in response to questions from reporters in Brussels in the early hours of Friday. The first part of the bombshell report into Gioventu Nazionale (GN) was released two weeks ago, as Meloni hosted the G7 summit in Puglia, with the second equally explosive segment airing this week. Undercover reporters from Fanpage's investigative unit Backstair infiltrated GN groups and chat forums, capturing hidden footage of members engaging in fascist chants, Nazi salutes and anti-Semitic rants as well as making boastful references to neofascist terrorism. The second part of the investigation by #Backstair, the investigative unit of #Fanpage, reveals new disturbing details about the Meloni Youth. Despite the silence from the #Meloni government, testimonies of anti-Semitism, racial hatred, and homophobia among the young militants pic.twitter.com/WITxM5Xoq8 Fanpage.it (@fanpage) June 28, 2024 The report led to the resignations on Thursday of two leading GN members, one of whom made alleged anti-Semitic remarks about Ester Mieli, an FdI senator and former spokesperson for Rome's Jewish community. The other was recorded saying that she had "never stopped being racist and Fascist" as well as making derogatory remarks about the Italian anti-fascist activist and newly-elected MEP Ilaria Salis. Senior FdI officials were also filmed attending rallies organised by the GN group which Meloni has repeatedly praised in the past. Opposition parties have been calling on Meloni to condemn the behaviour by the GN members in the report, with outrage mounting after the second part of the investigation was published on Wednesday. Bruxelles, le mie dichiarazioni di poco fa alla stampa. pic.twitter.com/BzaEBXMcMA Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) June 28, 2024 After two weeks of silence, Meloni told journalists in Brussels that she once again condemned "those who have racist, anti-Semitic or nostalgic feelings", saying they are"incompatible" with Fratelli d'Italia, and stressing that she had "already asked the party to take action". However she quickly went on the counterattack, stating that the manner in which the undercover footage was obtained was "not journalistic" but rather it smacked of "methods used by regimes" to infiltrate political parties. Meloni also claimed that during the last 75 years in Italy "no one has thought of infiltrating a political party and secretly filming its meetings, before calling on Italy's president to ask: "Is this allowed from today?" Photo credit: Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com. Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done? Today, Friday, June 28, is the deadline day for entries to be submitted for this year's Local Ireland Media Awards. Entries are being sought across 17 categories in the competition with an additional category for Lifetime Achievement being nominated by the Local Ireland executive. This will be the ninth edition of the awards and the seventh to be sponsored by the National Lottery, which has its own special category for 'Best Community Story'. National Lottery Head of Corporate Affairs Jennifer Lowe said: We are incredibly proud of our continued association with the Local Ireland Media Awards that recognise the top-class journalists and media professionals who tirelessly serve our local communities." The power of local media and local storytelling cannot be taken for granted as it plays such a pivotal role in inspiring, informing and transforming communities, values which we at the National Lottery recognise and champion through the funding raised for thousands of Good Causes across Ireland," said Jennifer. "Local media outlets champion the stories that would otherwise remain untold, shedding light on the extraordinary individuals, events, and initiatives that shape the fabric of our society," she added. Meanwhile, President of Local Ireland and Head of Irish Times Regionals, Dan Linehan said: Local Ireland is delighted to have the National Lottery onboard for the awards. The awards are a chance to recognise and highlight the role of local publishers in their communities and showcase the best of local journalism." "The National Lottery are ideal partners for the awards as a national brand and one that supports almost every community in Ireland," he said. The Chairperson of the judges panel, author and broadcaster Alison OConnor, also commented on the initiative and said: It is an honour to chair the judging panel for the Local Ireland Media Awards. The awards are all about recognising the very best of the work done in the newsrooms of regional newspapers across the country. The quality shines though in the many entries submitted. This years awards include three new categories: Best Headline, Best Diversity Journalism and Best Sustainability Journalism. Executive Director of Local Ireland, Bob Hughes said: I am delighted that we have added three new categories to our awards and would like to welcome to the judging panel, novelist and newspaper columnist, Dr Martina Devlin, award-winning journalist and Policy Editor of the Business Post, Daniel Murray and Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun, Gerry McCarthy." "I also want to thank our returning judges for offering their expertise once again," said Mr Hughes. The judging panel also includes broadcaster and journalist, Dearbhail McDonald, Emeritus Professor at TUD, Michael Foley, Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications, Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland, Andrew Sinclair, photographer and former Irish Times Picture Editor, Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, and journalist and author, PJ Cunningham. The winning nominations will be announced in August while the winners will be declared at a gala event at Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday, September 19. The event will be hosted by Lyric FM presenter and Eurovision guru, Marty Whelan. London: Former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard are among a list of prominent Australians to be formally sanctioned by the Kremlin, following their efforts to lobby the federal government to divert frozen Russian assets to the rebuilding of Ukraine. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Russian foreign minister named 27 Australians to whom the country was closed. These included former NSW premier Barry OFarrell and two senior figures within Australias military ranks: Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Chappell and Vice Chief of the Defence Force Robert Chipman. Former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard have been banned indefinitely from entering Russia. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The statement accused the banned individuals of playing a role in steering Canberras Russophobic policies and being directly involved in anti-Russia agenda. Russias relations with Australia have deteriorated to unprecedented lows since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. Figures from across a broad spectrum of Australian society were also targeted, including Federal Court judges Michael OBryan and Geoffrey Kennett and three former Australian ambassadors to Kyiv: Robert Tyson, Doug Trappett and Bruce Edwards. Bnei Brak, Israel: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men blocked a major highway in central Israel for two hours to protest against a recent Supreme Court decision ordering young religious men to enlist for military service. Military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women in Israel. But politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties have won draft exemptions for their followers that allow them instead to study in religious seminaries. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men block a highway during a protest against army recruitment in Bnei Brak, Israel. Credit: AP This long-standing arrangement has bred widespread resentment among the broader public a sentiment that has grown stronger during the eight-month war against Hamas in Gaza. More than 600 soldiers have been killed, and tens of thousands of reservists have been activated, straining careers, businesses and family lives. Protesters who sat on the highway and lay on the ground were lifted and dragged away by police. Officers mounted on horseback charged into the crowd. Many demonstrators held signs and chanted: To prison! Not to the army! The state of Montana is set to receive $43.3 million in federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding. Ravalli County will receive the highest amount of any county in Montana with $3,315,024. Lewis and Clark County will see the second highest payment with $3,236,068, and Missoula County will receive $2,790,387 in funding. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) are payments that help local governments offset losses in property taxes due to the existence of nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services such as law enforcement, firefighting, roads and infrastructure. PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission. The formula used to calculate payments is based on the amount of federal land within an affected county, population and revenue-sharing payments, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The U.S. Department of the Interior collects more than $22.2 billion in revenue annually from commercial activities on public lands. A portion of those revenues is shared with states and counties. The balance is deposited into the U.S. Treasury, which in turn pays for a broad array of federal activities, including PILT funding. The $43.3 million in PILT funding headed to Montana will help counties provide critical services, according to a statement released by Montana Senator Jon Tester on Wednesday. Montanas rural counties rely on PILT funding to provide essential services they otherwise would not be able to afford, said Tester. Im proud to have secured this funding to help Montana counties rebuild schools, plow roads, and keep law enforcement officers on the beat, and I will keep fighting to ensure these resources will be there for the folks that count on them. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured these funds through the passage of the 2024 government funding bill. PILT payments are made in addition to other federal payments to states, such as those for oil and gas leasing, livestock grazing and timber harvesting. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to boosting local communities, said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget Joan Mooney. PILT payments help local governments carry out vital services, such as firefighting and police protection, construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations. We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships with local jurisdictions across the country who help the Interior Department fulfill our mission on behalf of the American public. Since PILT payments began in 1977, nearly $12 billion in PILT funding has been distributed to states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the DOI. A full list of funding by state and county is available on the DOI Payments in Lieu of Taxes webpage. Under the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Regional Training Center (RTC) Kenya and the Angola Revenue Administration (AGT), held a national training workshop on rules of origin for Angola Customs. The workshop was held in Luanda, Angola, from 24 to 28 June 2024 with the objective to assist Angola in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin. The training is part of a workplan established with the RTC for competency development for several countries in the ESA region. During the workshop, participants worked on key concepts for proper origin determination, related operational and procedural issues, including origin certification and origin irregularities, as well as the establishment of efficient origin management. In addition, participants discussed specific areas of concern, including the low level of knowledge and use of the FTAs and challenges linked to verification of origin including trough administrative cooperation. They also discussed recommendations for better management and implementation of rules of origin on a national and regional level. Participants engaged actively and greatly appreciated the opportunity given by the workshop to exchange knowledge and experiences and stressed that this training would contribute to trade facilitation as well as fair and efficient revenue collection. In the margins of the workshop, the experts visited the newly established Customs Museum and Library which displays the history of Angola Customs and comprises a modern digital library used for research both by Customs staff and the public. The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme will continue its work with the RTC and Angola Customs to equip Customs officials and relevant stakeholders with extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of rules or origin. For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org Bismarck Art & Galleries Association is featuring "Curiouser and Curiouser" by Doug Boyd starting Tuesday through July 26. The member artist is Estella Boger. Nebraska-based artist Boyd grew up in Bismarck, studied art at the University of North Dakota and went to graduate school at the University of Nebraska Omaha and Creighton University. His works often feature stylized and vibrant depictions of animals. Boger is a Jamestown artist who mostly works in photography. An opening reception that's free and open to the public will be held Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. with a gallery chat at 5:30 p.m. Bismarck Art & Galleries Association is at 422 E. Front Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The gallery is closed Saturdays during the summer. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit High Court reporters Updated: 3.55pm The High Court has released teacher Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey ordered the teacher's release, where he has been incarcerated since September over his refusal to stay away from Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath. The judge said that following a review of the situation, and the fact State examinations are now completed and the school is on holidays, he was directing the teacher's release. The court did not require Mr Burke to purge his contempt and agree to comply with the terms of an order made against him last year, the judge said. In that decision, Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted Wilson's Hospital School a permanent injunction restraining Mr Burke from attending the school's grounds. Mr Burke was jailed for contempt, for a second time, in September due to his refusal to comply with that order. Overall, the teacher has spent over 400 days in prison. Reflection Mr Justice Sanfey expressed his hope that the teacher would use the time to reflect on the situation and warned the teacher that the injunction remains in place. If there was any further breach of the order, the judge said he would have no hesitation in entertaining a fresh application by the school to have Mr Burke committed back to prison. After the court made its order, Mr Burke left the Four Courts with members of his family. Mr Burke had appeared before the High Court on Friday as part of his bid to set aside what he claims is the "gravely flawed" and "unconstitutional" order made by Mr Justice Owens, which was underpinning his incarceration. The judge heard submissions from both the teacher and the school over whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain an application by the teacher to have the judgement by Mr Justice Owens aside. Mr Burke has denies that he is in contempt of court, and says he has wrongfully been imprisoned because of his objections to "Transgenderism" following a direction by the school to call a then student by a different pronoun. Jurisdiction Earlier, in his submissions to the court, Mr Burke argued that the High Court does have the jurisdiction to consider his application to set aside Mr Justice Owen's injunction. Mr Burke argued that in his judgement Mr Justice Owens completely disregarded the teacher's constitutional rights of freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion when he refused to comply with the school's direction to call a then student by a different name and use the pronoun "they". This resulted in the proceedings against him, which Mr Burke said had resulted in him losing two years of his life. Having to call somebody "they", the teacher said, has no basis in Irish law. Nowhere could it be found in Mr Justice Owens' judgement that Mr Burke's constitutional rights had been taken into consideration, which they ought to have been, the teacher added. This was a serious matter, Mr Burke said, who accepted that he did not appeal Mr Justice Owen's decision to the Court of Appeal. In reply, Alex White SC, for the school, said Mr Burke's application amounted to a "gross abuse of the court," was "unsustainable", and is "bound to fail". As a general rule, judges cannot set aside orders made by judges of the same divisions of the courts. What the teacher was trying to do in this application, counsel added, was to appeal a decision Mr Burke does not like "by the back door". Mr Burke had not raised any exception point which would allow the court to set aside the decision, counsel said, adding that Mr Burke had the option to, but had declined to appeal Mr Justice Owen's decision. Counsel also said the school also "fully rejects" Mr Burke's claims that his constitutional rights were breached. Counsel said when Mr Justice Owens was hearing the school's case against Mr Burke, the teacher had raised issues about his constitutional rights. Counsel also argued that the school, its teachers, and students also have constitutional rights, and the school was entitled to have some finality brought to the proceedings. Following the conclusion of submissions, Mr Justice Sanfey reserved his decision and said he hoped to give his decision on this preliminary issue in the coming weeks. Councillors in Ballina have extended their sympathies to the family of a US city official who had close ties with Ballina. Jimmy Connors served as the mayor of Scranton City in Pennsylvania from 1990 to 2002 and remained involved as a community and political leader right up until his passing, playing a role in the Presidential campaign of Joe Biden, who is a native of Scranton. He was still referred to affectionately as Mayor Connors beyond his term in office and travelled frequently to Mayo over the years to commemorate the strong links and relations between the twinned towns of Scranton and Ballina. During a visit in 2010, he planted a tree to commemorate these links and also dedicated a park bench to the late Ballina councillor PJ Downey, who played a key role in the twinning. At last Fridays annual general meeting of the Ballina Municipal District, Independent Cllr Mark Duffy offered a vote of sympathy to the late Mayor Connors. He said he was fortunate to meet him during a visit to Scranton in 2023 along with Cllr Annie May Reape and Head of the Municipal District Declan Turnbull. Cllr Reape paid tribute to Mayor Connors and said it was admirable how he continued to be so active in his local community. Ballina Municipal District will send a letter of condolence to Mr Connors' family. Isobel Hayes Updated: 4pm A woman who was repeatedly sexually abused by her uncle when she was a child has called for more protection for child abuse victims after he was jailed for two years. Ronan O'Grady (33), of Hosack Road, London, England pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to eight counts of sexually assaulting his niece, Keely O'Grady, at various locations in Offaly on dates between June 18th, 2004, and June 17th, 2008. The abuse occurred primarily at Ms O'Grady's grandparents' home in Mucklagh when she was being minded and where O'Grady was living with his parents at the time. It also occurred in her own home in Tullamore when he was babysitting her. His parents her grandparents continue to support him, the court heard. Ms O'Grady waived her right to anonymity in order for her uncle to be named. In a statement issued to the media after the sentence was handed down, she said there is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland, adding the country needs to do more to protect its victims. Sentencing O'Grady on Friday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that people who might have offered support to the young woman when she came forward about the abuse had instead been dismissive of the deep trauma caused by (the abuse). The entire family relationship has been disrupted as often happens in such situations where the abused child is blamed by some for speaking up on the terrible crimes committed upon her, the judge said. The judge noted a Probation Services report found O'Grady had demonstrated little insight or remorse. The judge noted that while O'Grady was 13 when the abuse started, it continued for a prolonged period of time, ending when he was 17. He noted O'Grady is talented and well-educated, adding: I have no doubt he knew what he was doing was seriously wrong. The judge said O'Grady had pleaded guilty to eight separate and serious offences of sexual assault of the child. He said these were clear and unambiguous acceptance of his guilt and the truth of the matter. The court heard the abuse involved the teenager repeatedly touching his niece inappropriately, penetrating her digitally, making her perform oral sex on him, humping her and showing her pornography. On one occasion, his friend hid in the wardrobe and recorded some of the abuse on a phone, the court heard. In her victim impact statement, which she read out in court earlier this week, Ms O'Grady (26) said it has been 20 years since her uncle first started abusing her. Flashbacks She showed a framed photo of herself aged six to the court, saying: I was a cheery, happy, friendly child, which makes it harder for me to accept that that little six-year-old was hiding everything that happened to her. The court heard Ms O'Grady started suffering from flashbacks when she was 18 and got in touch with her uncle on social media to tell him she remembered what he had done. He wrote back: I remember too. I hope you're OK. He added that he was young and stupid at the time. But despite these admissions, O'Grady maintained his innocence to family members and fought the charges until his Central Criminal Court trial was about to start, when he entered guilty pleas. Ms O'Grady said she has suffered with depression, severe anxiety, stress, paranoia and self-harm as a result of the abuse she suffered at his hands. In her victim impact statement, she said he was a manipulator who manipulated everyone around him and continued to lie about the abuse, even after he confirmed the abuse in his social media messages to her. I have lost family because of you, she said. She said it was particularly hurtful having to tell her grandfather about the abuse and then be left wondering why he was protecting his son and not her. She added she was asked by family members if she was sure she wanted to pursue the case and was told to move on with her life. Manipulation Being told to move on is the highest insult, she said. Because that is what I am doing, and I'm doing it as I process the abuse. She said she had been abused in her grandparents' home where she should have been safe, and by someone she should have been safe with. He manipulated everyone around me, she said, adding she was the one made to feel like she was on trial. But (he) is the criminal here, not me. Ms O'Grady's grandparents have stood by their son and were in court to support him, along with his partner. The court heard the accused worked in finance, most recently in London. He took the stand and told the court he was very sorry for what he had done. He has no previous convictions. His partner also took the stand and outlined the difficulties they will have in the future as a result of his convictions and his being on the sex offenders register. She said they have had to put their lives on hold, including marriage and children, as a result. Defence counsel Colm Smyth SC urged the judge to be as lenient as possible. Mr Justice McDermott said that had he been sentencing O'Grady as an adult, he would have set a headline sentence of eight years. He reduced it to a headline of three years and six months, given he was underage at the time of the offending. He further reduced this to two years, taking a number of mitigating factors into account, including his lack of previous convictions, his guilty pleas and the fact he has been assessed as being at low risk of re-offending. The judge declined to suspend any part of the sentence, noting the man's stated intention to return to the UK once he had served his sentence. He backdated it to Monday, when he went into custody. In a statement issued to media after the sentence, Ms O'Grady said: I want survivors to know that I see you and I see the daily battle you have every day to fight for yourself. Whatever is holding you back, whether thats fear or family influence, I want you to know you can get through this. Every child deserves a safe place free from abuse. I want change. I want change not only for myself but for every survivor. There is an epidemic of child abuse in Ireland and no one is talking about it. Ireland needs to do better to protect our children, she added. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. The start of the Leaving Certificate always brings a flurry of comment. On the day it all begins, with English Paper I, the Leaving is the talk of the place. The media is full of it. People everywhere give a shudder at the memory of it. There is a level of obsession about the whole thing. In so many minds, it remains the passport to the future, no matter how much the opposite view is offered. For all sorts of historical and cultural reasons, we feel that most acutely in the West. Where privilege isnt common, people hang on to ladders by their fingernails. So the talk drags out for days. It extends onto radio talk shows; social media lights up with it; wherever coffee is sold it comes up. The minutiae of exam scripts are discussed more than the weather; studied more than Holy Writ; examined more closely than the curriculum. The questions about them become an Oral Exam all of their own. Was that a fair question? Did such and such come up? Was it a balanced paper? The students have hopefully had their headphones on during these adult interrogations. In fairness they have prepared well for that during the teenage years. But this is one occasion where you could not criticise them for keeping those giant headphones firmly glued to their heads. They have spent the last few weeks slogging through the tunnel. One exam after the other, on a wide range of very different subjects, stretching every mental sinew. Its a graft, even in the subjects you actually like. All that would have been bad enough without everyone wanting to discuss the papers, wanting to know how they went. When it is from a family member, your support crew, it is very understandable. But when it comes from elsewhere, students are quick to learn that all these enquiries are more often than not only a prelude to hearing a story about how awful it was for that person. And when these stories end with the clincher that the Leaving isnt the be all and end all, the student learns the valuable lesson that the art of self-congratulation can come in many forms. But they havent had time for such stories and such lessons: theyve had Maths Paper II. Everywhere for the last few weeks it has been Leaving, Leaving, Leaving, and now it is Ending, Ending, Ending. The last exams of Leaving Certificate 2024 take place this week. On the last day, which gets a lot less attention than Day 1, you could have sat Japanese, Politics and Society, or Arabic in the morning. Notwithstanding the fear that I would be one of those characters telling stories about my Leaving, none of those options alas in at least one case was available to me in 1994. Later on, on the afternoon of the Last Day, you could sit (appropriately enough) Religious Education or Applied Maths. Which of those two you picked to study would be a matter of choice between faith or reason I suppose. Roman Catholics would tell you that there is no reason you cannot combine the two. But such abstract reasoning aside, now the students are out the gate. Anyone who went through the experience can remember vividly the moment they handed the last script up and walked out the door of the exam centre. Actually, you didnt walk out: you strode out, and you didnt think too much about how that stride was only the start of a much longer journey. We all know well the West of Ireland story. Brought up at home, and then you move away, with only a chance you will come back. It is a tale as old as time in our part of the world. It can be told in an inspiring or baleful way. We have heard both, in story, song, or verse. But in late June, with high summer ahead, we can leave off that talk for a while. The young people who walk out of the gates of their schools for the last time in these days have one glorious summer ahead before that tale starts its first chapter the last summer before a great change. There will be a temporary job of some kind for those who are planning to start college. They will be helping on a building site, or working in the kitchen, or waiting tables, or sitting awkwardly in an office not knowing exactly what to do. There will be a farmer who needs a hand, or there will be that most wonderful of jobs, delivering goods to the businesses all around the region. A great friend of mine had that job in his summer before college. He was out on the truck, delivering drinks to the pubs of the region. The mention of it now still makes him smile. For others the world of adult work is on the horizon. Apprenticeships soon beginning; a start with a company or business growing up will come quicker for some. But whether the work is temporary or more permanent, lets hope the money earned will allow for a season of enjoyment. With the exams finished its so important they have a good time after all their efforts. Its equally important that everyone who cares for them enjoys those young people enjoying what might be the last summer in the West. They will live in bright colours, relishing the long summer evenings, those days when the brain and body are churning like never before, and trust me never after. With a bit of luck, the summer will be full of the best kind of adventure, playing sport, having fun, and learning some of lifes nicest lessons. There may be for the fortunate a trip abroad to a sun destination. Let us not dwell too much on the details of what happens on such trips except to say two things: in a positive way to remark that we were all young once; and secondly, to ruefully remark that it was not Costa del whatever for us. That isnt to say that there werent high jinks back in the days of the Island of Saints and Scholars; they just didnt require as much sunscreen. It will also be a time for high emotion. There will be relationships and first love and all the drama and excitement that goes with that, not least the anguished concern about what will happen when one party goes to one place in September, and the other to another. That is all part of experience too, as the former school students stand on the threshold of their potential. The world will grow big and open up in front of them and for all our sakes let us hope that they will pepper it with idealism. As they move onto that next stage, the emotions will extend to those who know their chicks are going away into the big world, and feel very bittersweet about it. But that is a few months off yet. For now there is a summer for swimming, and parties, and planning, and thinking and all the things that are in truth never lost on the young. Whatever their Leaving Cert results may look like, we all hope that the young people get full marks in living their best life in the summer of 2024. Thomson Reuters The opening salvos have been fired in a 2.5 billion Irish court battle between some of the world's largest aircraft lessors and their insurers over around 80 jets stranded in Russia. Dublin's High Court earlier this month began to hear the case that lawyers involved expect to take many months. Here are the main arguments laid out by the two sides: Are the planes lost? Lessors wrote off billions of euros from their balance sheets after Russian airlines failed to return their aircraft, and they say there is no real prospect of recovery. But some insurers argue the jets might be returned in the future and that lessors have suffered a "paper loss" rather than a "physical loss". Insurers argue the lawsuits are premature and have pointed to lessors settlements with Russia over some of the trapped jets, which have totalled more than 2.5 billion to date. What caused the loss? A central point in the case is whether the actions of the Russian government were the principal cause of the failure by airlines to return the planes or whether the desire of the airlines to retain possession played a part. That could determine whether claims should be made under the narrower "war risk" or broader "all risks" policies and whether a valid claim can be made under either policy at all, lawyers said. When did the losses begin? Insurers' notices withdrawing war-risk cover for Russia began to take effect from March 8th. But a lawyer representing lessors said clients were already in the "grip of the peril" before this date, arguing that the loss had already effectively occurred. Lessors point to their mostly fruitless attempts to repossess the planes, that began as soon as EU sanctions were adopted on February 25th, 2022. Lawyers for some of the insurers have accused the plaintiffs of failing to specify a date when the loss occurred. What are the relevant insurance policies? Lawyers for insurers argued that if a loss occurred, the primary relevant insurance policy is that held by the airline leasing the aircraft and that any claim should be made with those, mainly Russian, insurers. Lessors argue that their efforts to secure claims under those policies have failed, but insurers in the case counter that this route is far from exhausted. Lessors say their claims should be paid under "contingent cover" that they say should step in if policies held by the Russian airlines fail to pay out. They have also suggested claims could come under "possessed cover", which covers risks during repossession of an aircraft. 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. Reading, PA (19601) 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. Longtime North Dakota Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Brandon Solberg will retire from law enforcement later this year and shift into a new role with the state as director of the Facility Management Division. Solberg will leave the Highway Patrol on Nov. 30 and transition into the Facility Management role, which is part of the Office of Management and Budget, on Dec. 1. He first took the top post at the Patrol in July 2018. He will succeed Facility Management Director John Boyle, who is retiring after 22 years in the role. The Facility Management Division maintains the Capitol complex and grounds and provides administration services for state agencies. Solberg first joined the state Patrol in 1999, working his way up and serving in Grafton, Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck. He became the Patrol's chief of staff in 2014. Since ascending to the Cabinet-level post, Solberg has overseen the implementation of Vision Zero, a traffic safety initiative that hopes to eliminate traffic crash fatalities across the state. The state saw 98 traffic crash fatalities in 2022, marking the lowest figure in 20 years. He's also facilitated and signed intergovernmental agreements with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and the Spirit Lake Nation to reduce emergency response time and address jurisdictional conflict. Gov. Doug Burgum praised Solberg's "unwavering commitment to public safety" in a statement Friday and thanked him for his more than two decades in law enforcement. Solberg said in the statement that his time leading the Highway Patrol and serving on Burgum's Cabinet has been an "incredible honor" and praised the work of his Patrol colleagues. Their commitment to public safety and providing the best law enforcement services possible is a benefit to North Dakota residents and visitors alike, and Im grateful for the opportunity to have served with them," Solberg said. "I look forward to joining Facility Management and continuing my service to the citizens of our great state. The job posting for Solberg's replacement is planned to go live in early fall. Anglo Americans iconic building to become Wits Business Schools Centre for Entrepreneurship WBS will use the City Centre building to provide crucial business education, business incubation, and business acceleration services for entrepreneurs. Anglo American today celebrates the official handover of one of the iconic buildings at its former campus in the Johannesburg central business district (CBD) to Wits Business School (WBS), demonstrating the companys broad commitment to education, entrepreneurship, and leaving a positive legacy in the CBD. The impressive eight-floor,15 000 square metre building, will allow WBS to launch the Wits Crucible a state-of-the-art Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) and New Venture Creation, providing crucial business education, business incubation, and business acceleration services for youth and entrepreneurs in the Johannesburg inner-city. Bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world entrepreneurial experience, the Wits Crucible will provide four key units of entrepreneurship development support for youth, student entrepreneurs and Wits graduates. These will include a Development Unit to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills to ideate, launch and grow a successful business. The Crucible will also include a Venture Screening and Selection Unit which will focus on the feasibility of business ideas to drive innovation and digital technology integration. It will also boast an Incubation Unit for selected business ventures and an Acceleration Unit to offer intensive growth support to top performing ventures. Professor Maurice Radebe, Head and Director of WBS said: As a leading African business school, we are honoured to collaborate with stakeholders like Anglo American to fuel Johannesburgs renewal. The CfE embodies the power of partnerships to enable young entrepreneurs to turn their innovative ideas into thriving businesses and to unleash the potential of small businesses to drive economic growth not only in Johannesburg but in other inner cities and townships throughout South Africa. In 2022, Wits University and Anglo American also partnered to upgrade the Johannesburg Planetarium, situated on the universitys city campus, into a world-class digital hub. The new Wits Anglo American Digital Dome will be state of-the-art science centre that will inspire all generations to take an active interest in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and the digital arts. As part of our broader commitment to supporting access to tertiary education, last year, Anglo American handed over the 45 Main Street building to the Maharishi Invincibility Institute (MII), supporting education outcomes for underprivileged youth in the CBD, while De Beers transferred ownership of the historic Harry Oppenheimer House building in Kimberley to the Sol Plaatje University, allowing it to expand the development of its Centre for Continuous Professional Development. Nolitha Fakude, chairperson of the Anglo American management board in South Africa, said: Weve always been dedicated towards contributing a positive legacy wherever we are, and so making sure that our much-loved historic campus in the CBD is repurposed to provide long-lasting contribution to the vibrancy and sustainability of the city was always part of our vision. Through our close collaboration with several passionate public and private sector partners, we are contributing toward the rejuvenation of the city. Seeing our buildings find new purpose in the hands of exemplary partners like Wits not only proves the power of partnerships, but also supports South Africas national imperatives education and job creation through entrepreneurship and will set up a whole new generation of young people for success. Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, said: "We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. We look forward to working with Anglo American and other partners on this project that will help to rejuvenate the City and advance society for good. With the intensified focus on the East Side in the wake of the Tops Markets mass shooting, the local chapter of the NAACP thought it would be a good idea to bring in a group of experts to discuss strategies to spur development along a key portion of the often-neglected area of the city. Organizations to receive $5.4 million in ARP funding from Buffalo Some of the allocations the Council approved Tuesday will go to organizations across the city to address public health initiatives and improvements to cultural institutions. The nonprofit wants to convene a national advisory panel to examine what has been holding back development and economic growth, and to come up with a series of action steps to spur revitalization in the neighborhood. And it wants government support to help pay for it. But Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown views the proposed request as a slight and this week he succeeded in blocking, at least temporarily, a key part of the funding that would be used for the initiative by the Urban Land Institute. An angry Brown told the Erie County Industrial Development Agency that the expert panel is unnecessary and that there is a cohesive plan in place for the Jefferson Avenue corridor. He said there are more than $150 million in public and private investments either planned or underway in the corridor. And he described the language of a letter from NAACP Buffalo Branch President Rev. Mark Blue as insulting for implying that nothing was being done. There is a level of investment going into Jefferson Avenue that is significant, said Brown, an ECIDA board member. The city has offered to work with NAACP on that planning process to include them. But to read a document that says there is no cohesive planning for Jefferson Avenue is, quite frankly, insulting. Browns surprise tirade, delivered calmly but with strong opposition, was followed by silence from the rest of the ECIDA board and staff. But it was enough. A request for $25,000 in Urban Development Action Grant funds from the ECIDA to help sponsor the panel was quickly tabled for further discussion behind the scenes over the next month to avoid a vote. The mayor expressed some concerns at the meeting, so well have to see what happens, said ECIDA CEO John Cappellino, admitting it was unexpected. Hopefully the parties can have a conversation and see if they want it to come back to the board. Well see how those conversations go. Blue, who acknowledged that he was caught off-guard, as well, said Thursday that no offense was intended by the letter or proposal. I believe it was taken out of context, said Blue, himself an ECIDA board member, who recused himself from the vote. It was not meant to be derogatory at all. He said the NAACPs proposal was not in opposition to what the mayor is doing, and he planned to reach out to Brown to arrange another conversation just to clear the air. Brown spokesman Mike DeGeorge said Thursday the mayor plans to meet with Blue. East Side food desert worsens as Save-A-Lot store leaving the Broadway Market The East Side of Buffalo is losing something it desperately needs a grocery store. Save-A-Lot will close its Broadway Market location next week, leaving Tops Markets and Aldi as the only traditional supermarkets to serve the area. Hes very passionate. Thats just to show his fortitude and all-in attitude toward the city, Blue said of Brown. But its not to be taken as hes not doing a good job, because hes doing an outstanding job. The NAACP wants to focus community attention on how to revive the historic street business district and its surrounding neighborhood, which have suffered from economic decline and other challenges for years. The May 2022 mass shooting that killed 10 people only enhanced that effort by throwing a spotlight on the degree of decline, the inequities that people face and the urgent need for changes. Blue formed an NAACP Economic Development Committee to explore ways the community could encourage economic growth for the businesses and legacy African American families who have lived in the area for generations, according to a memo from the ECIDA to its board members. That committee, in turn, suggested turning to the Urban Land Institute. The institute is the worlds oldest and biggest network of real estate and land-use professionals, with more than 45,000 members, who routinely volunteer to participate in advisory panels to help communities. Prior local panels have examined the Central Terminal, the Richardson Complex, Gates Circle and Seneca One tower in Buffalo, along with the Rainbow Centre in Niagara Falls, providing recommendations for redeveloping the properties. Before the IDA met, the institute had agreed to help, and planned to select eight to 10 national experts to spend five days in the Jefferson community in September. They would tour the neighborhood, talk with hundreds of business owners, community members and district stakeholders, hold informational meetings and review prior studies and development plans. A public presentation and final report of about 50 pages would follow, with a series of recommended actions. The resulting analysis and recommendations will be community-driven, but with objective, independent action-based solutions, the ECIDA memo said. But while the panelists are volunteers, the work isnt entirely free either. The total cost is $135,000, covering the expense of conducting the weeklong panel before, during and after the visit, as well as the design and production of the public presentation and the final report. The NAACP has already secured $30,000 in donations from ULI, $20,000 from People Inc., CB Emmanuel and Uniland Development Co., $15,000 from M&T Bank Corp. and $10,000 in other gifts. Another $25,000 is being sought from National Grid, and additional funds came in more recently, leaving just $25,000 that the nonprofit hoped to secure from ECIDA through urban development action grant dollars. Jefferson Avenue was once a thriving Black business corridor, and I believe it can be so again, Blue wrote in a May 17 letter to the ECIDA Board. However, to move forward with the long-overdue rebuilding of this community, we need a cohesive vision and an executable plan. New Julia Bottoms' inspirational mural brightens Masten Park community Portrait and mural artist Julia Bottoms has created a new mural being unveiled Friday in Masten Park. And he noted a common issue cited by the NAACP economic development committee was the lack of a unified and comprehensive vision for the future of Jefferson Avenue. Improving Jefferson Avenue businesses and neighborhoods will require effort from all, including the City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York State, public and private community advocacy organizations, and the community itself, Blue wrote. But clearly defining the path forward is a critical first step. That is what ticked Brown off. Theres already great momentum on Jefferson Avenue. Weve discussed this with NAACP before, he said. Among existing investments, he cited: $23 million in American Rescue Plan funds from the city to renovate Johnnie B. Wiley Stadium and Masten Park. A $50 million investment by the state for home renovations and repairs on and around Jefferson Avenue. A city housing project in the Masten Park and Hamlin Park neighborhoods. A new health and wellness center that Dr. Greg Daniel proposed, dubbed Nyameke Health. The Buffalo Urban Leagues new headquarters building, funded in part with $1 million in ARP funds from the city. Debt forgiveness for homeowners off Jefferson, for water bills and city taxes. I totally appreciate all that he is doing, all the progress that he has made, Blue said Thursday. The mayor is doing an outstanding job in what he is doing, but the economic development committee wants to see what other avenues are out there. Its not to cast any blight or indecision on the mayor or his team, Blue said. We just want to see what other perspectives are out there that would not cost the city anything to explore. Its to walk alongside. Facial reconstruction expert Yuan Zhongbiao (front) instructs a colleague working on the digital versions of Xin Zhui, wife of the Marquis of Dai, whose remains were unearthed from a tomb at the Mawangdui site in Changsha, Hunan Province. [Xinhua] What did a noblewoman dating back more than 2,100 years look like? This enigmatic question was answered in dramatic fashion when Hunan Museum in Changsha, Hunan Province, unveiled a 3D digital image of the human woman remains recently, the longest-preserved "wet "human body ever found in China. Xin Zhui, also called Lady Dai, was unearthed from a tomb at the Mawangdui site in 1972 in Changsha. The other two tombs discovered next to hers belonged to her husband Li Cang, the Marquis of Dai, and their son. More than 3,000 artifacts were also uncovered, making it one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century in China. A 3D image of Xin Zhui at the age of 35 [Xinhua] After the release of Xin Zhui's digital image, some netizens raised doubts about the depiction, suggesting that the facial features of the marquise, particularly the nose, bear a striking resemblance to Yuan. They suspect that Yuan may have used his own face as a reference in the reconstruction of Xin Zhui's appearance. In early June, Hunan Museum stated that the digital representation of Xin Zhui has no connection to the face of Yuan, the reconstruction expert. It was not the first time the museum has attempted to restore Xin Zhui's appearance. In 2002, it invited a professor of forensic medicine to reconstruct the facial images at four different ages 7, 18, 30 and 50 years old. The next year, it unveiled a statue of Xin Zhui based on the painted images. Explaining why the museum tried repeatedly to reconstruct the noblewoman's appearance, Zhang Xingguo, an assistant researcher at the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, says that chasing the truth about history is a key part of how humans move forward. "To get closer to what really happened, we need to use scientific methods," Zhang says. In June, the digital rendition of Xin Zhui was showcased on large screens at a metro station in Changsha. Plans are underway for an interactive artificial intelligence-driven version of the marquise. Xin Zhui is anticipated to serve as a cultural relics interpreter and engage in real-time conversations with visitors. When the noblewoman was discovered, her body was found to be intact and in a remarkable state of preservation. Her skin remained moist, her subcutaneous soft tissue had retained its elasticity and some joints were still movable. Even her eyelashes were in place and the lines on her fingers and toes were discernible, leading to the estimation that she was about 50 years old when she died, says Duan Xiaoming, director of Hunan Museum. Xin Zhui's face was swollen, deformed and decayed at the time of excavation, making it impossible to know her appearance when she was alive. The 3D digital version of Xin Zhui was based primarily on X-ray scans of her skull. The museum released a full-body version of Xin Zhui in a seated position at 35 years old and a head image of her at 50 years old. The digital project started last October. To protect Xin Zhui's body, experts did not directly handle it. Instead, they relied on close, multi-angled observations and measurements of the cadaver, practical experience, database sample comparisons, pathological examinations at the time of excavation and research on early Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) makeup to infer her appearance, demeanor and other physical characteristics. Additionally, they paid special attention to the image of the hunched Xin Zhui depicted in a T-shaped silk painting, which corresponded with lumbar disease symptoms found during the pathological examination of the body. The expert team completed the preliminary facial reconstruction in January of this year. Details of her hairstyle, headwear and clothing are yet to be refined. Yuan Zhongbiao, a facial reconstruction expert involved in the digital version of Xin Zhui, says in terms of facial appearance, Xin Zhui was relatively ordinary and not the "noble beauty" expected by the public. "Due to the diversity of facial features, there are similar types but no exact matches. We restored her appearance as accurately as possible," Yuan says. (Source: China Daily) Editor: Wang Shasha Zhan Chunpei (center) is captain of the Haixun 01, a 5,000-ton patrol vessel belonging to the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration. [China Daily] At just 33, Zhan Chunpei has already achieved several significant milestones in her maritime career. She is the captain of the Haixun 01, a 5,000-ton patrol vessel belonging to the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, and manages a 35-person crew, making her the first woman captain of a public oceangoing ship in China, and she has participated in 20 major search and rescue missions, including the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. "I call myself a real 'sister who makes waves'," she tells China Daily in an exclusive interview, referring to the popular reality show Sisters Who Make Waves, in which women celebrities, mostly over the age of 30, are challenged to stage performances that defy Chinese showbiz stereotypes about age. Zhan began her maritime career at the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration after graduating from the Shanghai Maritime University in 2013. Despite having a variety of opportunities open to her, she chose to dedicate herself to life at sea. When she heard that the Haixun 01, one of the country's largest and most advanced maritime patrol and rescue vessels at the time, was being commissioned, Zhan set her sights on it. "I requested a shipboard position several times until a chance finally opened up," she says. Her opportunity came in 2014 when the Haixun 01 was dispatched as command ship for the Chinese fleet taking part in the search for Flight MH370 in the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean. The ship was in urgent need of rescue personnel and Zhan volunteered, becoming a trainee third officer. The experience gave her a passion for maritime rescue operations. "I would say the starting point of my maritime rescue career was quite high," she says. "As the on-site command ship for the Chinese fleet, we demonstrated China's technical prowess, and our commitment to international search and rescue efforts." Zhan in a work meeting. [China Daily] Zhan's involvement in multiple search and rescue missions changed her perception of maritime rescue operations. Before they can enjoy the knowledge that they have helped save people, often at the very last moment, rescuers have to deal with the pressure of searching the vast, featureless ocean for signs of life. "Still, every additional effort we make gives those in distress another chance of survival," she says. This belief was borne in late 2015 when a fishing vessel capsized in the Yangtze River's estuary area, leading to nine people going missing. As third officer, Zhan assisted the captain with on-site coordination. "Our first scan of the vessel detected no signs of life. As we were about to depart, our boatswain took the risk of jumping onto the overturned hull for a final check, and he was able to hear a survivor," Zhan says. "The captain immediately requested assistance from the maritime rescue center, and after efforts by all parties involved, we successfully rescued a fisherman, who had been trapped for 36 hours." In January 2018, she faced one of her most challenging missions when the Sanchi, a tanker carrying 110,000 metric tons of highly flammable condensate oil, collided with another vessel in the East China Sea and caught fire. By then a second officer, Zhan was urgently recalled from leave. "As the on-site command vessel, we had to get close to the stricken ship for an inspection," Zhan says. "We had multiple tasks rescuing people in distress, controlling the fire, and monitoring oil spills. It was a significant challenge and required us to balance our own safety with coordinating 32 surface and air rescue units, both domestic and international." A clear mind was needed. "Emotions can cloud your judgment, so I've learned to remain dispassionate when lives are at stake," she explains. "You can reflect on the tragedy later; but in that moment, it's essential to be calm and collected." The operation took 117 days to complete. Such intense situations have honed Zhan's ability to analyze calmly, respond coolly, and develop rapidly as a maritime professional. In 2020, she was promoted to chief officer, and given command of the deck department and crew. Three months ago, she reached her biggest career milestone yet, not only becoming captain, but also the first woman captain of a public oceangoing ship in China. "That first time I took the Haixun 01 into port as captain, I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment," she says. "Precisely maneuvering a vessel this size between other ships, while factoring in the wind, currents, and everything, is an immense challenge, but one I relish." According to a 2023 report on the development of seafarers, there were nearly 2 million registered seafarers under the age of 65 in China at the end of last year, with women accounting for approximately 15 percent. While acknowledging the unique challenges women face as a minority in the maritime sector, Zhan says that gender is not a factor in her work. She notes that the greatest pressure probably comes from the attention she receives as one of the few women in the field. "When I first started, I had to find a way to integrate with the team. My first step was to be accepted, then to achieve results, and gain recognition," she says, recalling her early days onboard. She argues that the job itself is gender-neutral. "Being male or women isn't the determining factor. We should respect individual differences. Not all men are suited for work onboard, nor are all women unsuited. What matters is their passion for the work and how well it aligns with their abilities." She is the first woman captain of a public oceangoing ship in China and has taken part in around 20 major search and rescue missions. [China Daily] Zhan also believes that increased women participation has demystified a role once seen as purely male, and that diversity of perspective is a strength. "Having both genders creates different perspectives and voices when it comes to approaching issues. It fosters a more diverse environment conducive to overall development," she says. Zhan adds that technological advancements and automation have reduced the physical demands of many maritime jobs, making them more accessible to women. "Today, it's more about endurance and mental acuity. With a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, most tasks are manageable for women." She also advocates for measures to attract more women to the maritime sector, suggesting more tailored career plans and support systems. "For instance, we could ensure that the necessary feminine hygiene products are available onboard, especially on long-distance voyages." Beyond her maritime duties, Zhan has been involved in academic research to improve psychological support for survivors of maritime accidents. Having witnessed the mental harm resulting from such terrifying experiences, she is determined to complement rescues with mental health assistance. Through partnerships with major hospitals, Zhan and her colleagues are seeking to develop comprehensive emergency plans that improve efficiency while addressing the psychological needs of survivors. "Rescuing a person is only half the battle," she says. "Neglecting their psychological wounds does them a disservice. My dream is for this human element to become an integral part of our rescue protocol." Looking ahead, Zhan is aiming higher. "I hope to contribute more to the maritime sector and be a voice for women in different roles within the field," she says. For those considering a maritime career, Zhan has a piece of advice. "If you have a passion for this kind of work or a dream to enter the field, take the plunge. The difficulties you imagine are often far greater than those you encounter in reality." (Source: China Daily) Editor: Wang Shasha Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The mystery of who stole President Theodore Roosevelts pocket watch from a Buffalo museum 37 years ago remains unsolved, but the timepiece is now back at its rightful home. A 126-year-old watch that Roosevelt carried with him all over the world was stolen in July 1987 from a display at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site on Delaware Avenue. The watch is believed to have gone through several owners since the theft, but it was recovered in Florida last year. It was returned Thursday to the Roosevelt family home at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Long Island, the National Park Service told The Buffalo News. Did police ever find out who stole Roosevelts beloved timepiece? No criminal charges were filed and no arrests were made during the investigation, Cynthia Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the Park Service, told The News on Friday. The investigation is continuing, Hernandez said, adding that Park Service Police are being assisted by the FBIs Art Crimes Team. Park Service officials declined to comment Friday when asked if they know who stole the watch or who knowingly possessed it as stolen property. The FBIs Art Crimes Team did not respond to a message seeking comment. The unsolved mystery involves one of Americas most colorful and beloved presidents, who had a special connection to Buffalo. Roosevelt, who served from 1901 until 1909, was sworn in at the Wilcox Mansion in Buffalo. Roosevelt was vice president when President William McKinley was assassinated here in 1901. Roosevelt mentioned the watch several times in his letters and books. He wore it during his famous charge up San Juan Hill in 1898, and during travels through Africa and the Amazon River region. The finely crafted silver watch was on loan from Sagamore Hill when somebody stole it from the Wilcox Mansion the historical site owned by the federal government in 1987. Buffalo police said the thief took the watch from an unlocked glass display case. The thief also took a card with information on the history of the watch. Fast-forward to early last year, when the watch ended up in the possession of an auction house in Clearwater, Fla. Edwin Bailey, owner of Blackwell Auctions, told The News last year that he was asked to sell the watch. He told reporter Lou Michel that he became skeptical of the watchs history and began doing some research. Bailey said he and the man who asked him to sell the watch had no idea it had been stolen. Bailey said he reached out to experts at the Smithsonian Institute, Sagamore Hill and various museums, trying to verify that it was Roosevelts watch. Somebody must have reached out to law enforcement about his inquiries, he told The News on Friday. Bailey said he vividly recalls the day in March 2023 when five FBI agents came into his place of business. They were very kind and polite, but they told me, We have a warrant and were taking this watch, Bailey said. He said hes cooperated with the investigation and has been assured by authorities that they do not suspect him of any wrongdoing. Bailey said the watch and jewelry collector who brought him the watch a former Buffalo-area man whom he would not identify by name said he received it from another Buffalo man, now deceased, a picker who used to look for valuables at garage sales and antique shops. How much of this law enforcement knows about, or what they are doing with the information, I have no idea, Bailey said. I would have loved to sell Roosevelts watch, but Im glad I had a small part in getting it returned to where it belongs. Bailey said hes never seen any publicity about the theft of the watch except for a small item published by The News in 1987. The National Park Service asks that anyone with information about the crime contact its Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009. Bailey calls the watch a national treasure and estimates it would be worth at least $500,000 if legitimately sold. Buffalo official thrilled One person who hopes someone will be held responsible for the theft is Spencer D. Morgan, executive director of the Roosevelt Inaugural Site in Buffalo. Morgan was at Sagamore Hill on Thursday, at a ceremony where the long-missing watch was officially returned and put on a new display at the Roosevelt family home. He said he was honored to attend the event, where he met two of Teddy Roosevelts great-grandchildren, Tweed and Elizabeth. It made me very happy to see this important historical artifact back where he belongs, Morgan said. Who stole it? We might know someday, we might not. This is a mystery, an unsolved mystery and an emotional mystery that has plagued our community for decades, Morgan said. Each year, about 30,000 people come through our museum. This was the only theft weve ever had here. Obviously, security has been tightened significantly since 1987. In Morgans view, stealing a historical artifact is a worse crime that stealing money from a bank. He said money can be replaced, while a historical piece like a legendary presidents watch cannot. Morgan said there were many joyful moments at Thursdays ceremony on Long Island, including some enthusiastic remarks from Teddy Roosevelts great-grandson, Tweed. Tweed said that if Teddy was still around and heard that his watch was back, he wouldve said one word, Morgan recalled. Bully! Yesterday thousands of soldiers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were deployed to patrol major cities and towns across Kenya, particularly the capital, Nairobi, to suppress mass opposition after President William Rutos massacre of anti-austerity protesters Tuesday. From early morning Thursday, the military deployed around parliament and on roads leading to State House. Troops also patrolled the Central Business District. The Supreme Court, City Hall, and Nyayo Stadium were all heavily fortified by anti-riot police. Kenya anti riot police arrest a man during a protest in Nairobi, Kenya, June 27, 2024 [AP Photo/Brian Inganga] Ruto is keenly aware that many Kenyans have been discussing on social media the experiences and similarities of the 2022 upheaval in Sri Lanka, when workers and the rural masses opposing International Monetary Fund austerity and soaring cost of living stormed the presidential palace and forced the hated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country. On social media, some sarcastically asked whether Rutos State House also has a private swimming pool that the masses could bathe in. Outside the capital, small protests were organised across the country. In Migori town, Western Kenya, police dispersed youth using teargas canisters in running battles. In the coastal town of Kilifi, protesters barricaded the Kilifi-Malindi highway, the main highway running the coast of Kenya. Protests were organised in Kakamega and Kisumu, where demonstrators marched towards Kisumu State Lodge using Jomo Kenyatta Highway. Police used tear gas to disperse protests in Homa Bay Town. In Wote Town, police attacked youth with truncheons. Ruto beefed up security in Eldoret, his hometown, to crush protests that have become a personal embarrassment given it was once his political stronghold. The troop deployment can only have been done with the seal of approval of the US and the European Union (EU). On Wednesday, Ruto withdrew the Finance Bill, in an attempt to stem social explosion. Soon after, he held a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken welcomed his refusal to sign the Bill into law. Washington is terrified that the brutal tax hikes threatened the stability of its Kenyan stooge. Just weeks ago US President Biden rolled out the red carpet for Ruto and nominated Kenya a non-NATO ally, sealed with a dinner attended by Barack Obama, Bill and Hilary Clinton and the great and the good of the Democratic Party. Auma Obama, half-sister of the former president, was among protesters tear-gassed in Nairobi Tuesday. A statement from the US State Department hailed President Rutos commitment to Kenyans constitutionally-endowed rights, including peaceful assembly and due process for those detained. European Union Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell posted a statement, The recent decision of President Ruto to withdraw the Finance Bill contributes to the reduction of the tensions and should help create an environment that is conducive to dialogue. This is Washington and Brussels seal of approval for the massacre Ruto committed the day before. Dozens have died and thousands were injured, in one of the worst single-day massacres since Kenya obtained independence over six decades ago. In Githurai, on the outskirts of Nairobi, police forces committed a bloodbath against around 6,000 protesters. For six hours, police went on a rampage, admitting that they fired 758 bullets. Over the past weeks, the Ruto regime has carried out abductions of social media activists, Internet slowdowns and the temporary shutdown of X/Twitter. Reports of events Thursday are sketchy, but film has emerged of the aftermath of a child being shot in Rongai. It was the same day that he withdrew the Bill that Ruto announced the official deployment of the army to crush protests. The operation was begun earlier in parliament, without the media present and without most MPs in their seat, with no public debate and in a record 30 minutes. Ruto has transformed Kenya into a military state overnight. It is the first time in history of Kenya that troops are being deployed against unarmed civilian protests. Previously, deployments of the KDF personnel have been taken against armed militias with the period and specific areas of operations spelt out. The scenes of the army deployed across Kenya are reminiscent of the dictatorship of Western-backed Daniel Arap Moi (1978 to 2002), when thousands of KDF forces patrolled the streets of Nairobi in the aftermath of the failed coup of August 1982 led by junior officers in the Kenya Air Force. Moi mobilised thousands of troops to restore order in Nairobi and the country was effectively under military rule for weeks. Nairobi was under curfew until September. Nairobi University and Kenyatta College were closed for a year and soon after, hundreds of left-wing students, intellectuals, lecturers and workers were arrested. It was only on June 24 that the EU announced it would send military support worth about 20 million ($21.4 million) to the KDF, to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country and its civilian population against internal and external threats. By external sovereignty the EU means the use of KDF as mercenary troops to further its imperialist ambitions in East Africa and beyond, including the despatch of troops to Haiti. By internal threats, it means the working class and youth whose protests have morphed into an insurgency, targeting not only Rutos blood-soaked regime but the entire 60-year-old post-independence edifice backed by the US and NATO imperialist powers. As Washington and Brussels are fully aware, these class tensions are rooted not in exclusively Kenyan but global conditions. Billions of people worldwide are confronted with soaring prices provoked by NATOs wars in Ukraine against Russia, the support to Israels genocide in Palestinein itself, part of a broader war to control the resource-rich Middle Eastand economic trade wars against China, which threaten to erupt into a full blown war. This criminal policy follows three decades of intensifying austerity after the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, which has produced levels of social inequality incompatible with democratic rule. Ruto is offering a tutorial on how to run a fascistic authoritarian regime that both US and EU powers are hoping to export globally and import back home, amid mounting social anger against social inequality, the relentless escalation of war and attacks on democratic rights. The deployment of troops is a devastating exposure of the Azimio la Umoja coalition and the trade union bureaucracy led by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU). Having implored Ruto to withdraw the bill, Ruto is now offering them to be part of a national dialogue on how best to impose austerity through cuts in education, healthcare, and other social expenses, while ramming through privatisations. According to reports, the Wednesday discussion on KDF deployment degenerated into a brawl after MPs of the opposition and those loyal to Ruto exchanged blows. Azimio has refused to mobilise the working class against Ruto. In fact, many of its leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka were part of the Moi regimes police state. COTU has said nothing against the deployment of the army. After Rutos bloodbath, Secretary General Francis Atwoli indicated that he is perfectly happy to work with the president. In Atwolis words, Kenya is a hub of economic activities in this region, and we must protect it at all costs. We must support the President and the government to ensure that this country remains peaceful. The troop deployment is a devastating exposure of pseudo-left tendencies, which hailed Rutos tactical maneuver of withdrawing the Finance Bill. The Morenoite Revolutionary Socialist League stated: The RSL deems it indispensable to recognize this victory, in order to acknowledge and not forget that mass struggle works, that when the people mobilize, we are an unstoppable force. Opposing the turn to dictatorship means building an international movement in the working class fighting against capitalism and for socialism. There is nothing for workers to negotiate with Ruto. The critical task is organising workers independently of the unions and the bourgeois opposition parties, and building a political movement fighting for socialism and for the transfer of power to the working class. Two men were put to death in the US this weekone each in Texas and Oklahoma. Both executions expose the brutal and arbitrary character of this punishment across the states that still practice the death penalty, as well as the abusive childhoods and horrific life experiences of many of those who find themselves on death row. Meanwhile in Missouri, authorities plan an execution in a case where DNA and lack of other evidence proves the condemned man is innocent of the murder for which he was convicted. Law on future dangerousness condemns Texas death row prisoner Ramiro Gonzales was executed Wednesday in Texas. He was sentenced to death in 2006 for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 18-year-old Bridget Townsend in 2001. Gonzales, now 41, was also 18 at the time of the crime. The murder went unsolved for more than a year, until Gonzalez confessed to the killing after he was sentenced to life in prison for the abduction and rape of another woman. This image provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Texas death row inmate Ramiro Gonzales. [AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice] The Texas Board of Parole and Pardons voted 7-0 on June 24 to deny Gonzales clemency petition and Governor Greg Abbott allowed the execution to proceed. The Republican governor has overseen the execution of 73 people since he took office in 2015 and granted clemency only once. The US Supreme did not take up Gonzales final appeal for clemency or a stay until after his execution, allowing it to proceed. Later Wednesday they declined to take up the case. Gonzales was put to death at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. In his final statement, reported by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the condemned man repeatedly apologized to Townsends family. I cant put into words the pain I have caused yall, the hurt, what I took away that I cannot give back. I hope this apology is enough. I lived the rest of this life for you guys to the best of my ability for restitution, restoration taking responsibility. He was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. following the injection of a single lethal dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital. Gonzales was sentenced to death according to a contentious aspect of the Texas capital punishment system, which requires capital juries to consider a defendants future dangerousness to society. The jury must determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a defendant is likely to be violent in the future and presents a continuing threat to society. Texas is the only state with this statute. Attorneys for Gonzales argued before the Board of Parole and Pardons that their client not only did not pose a danger, but in fact actively contributes to prison society in exceptional ways. At trial, the jury agreed with expert witness Dr. Edward Gripon, a psychiatrist, who testified that Gonzales could likely commit a similar crime in the future if he remained alive because he suffered from an incurable and violence-inducing mental disorder. Two decades later, Gripon wrote in a report that there was no solid research to back up the theory that there is a high likelihood that those who commit sexual assaults will violently reoffend. Gripon said he no longer stood by this theory, which has been proven unfounded, and that after meeting with Gonzales in 2021 he no longer believed he posed a threat of violently offending again. He said he found Gonzales to be a significantly different person both mentally and emotionally, which he said represented a very positive change. While on death row, Gonzales acted as a peer mentor and coordinator in the Texas Department of Criminal Justices Faith Based Program, where participants live in special housing and take religion classes. He earned the equivalent of a bachelors degree from a theological seminary. Gonzales clemency petition to the Texas board highlighted his religious involvement in prison as well as information about his childhood abuse and mental health problems. The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) writes that he was given up for adoption, sexually abused as a child, and began using drugs at age 15 to cope with the death of his aunt. By the time Mr. Gonzales dropped out of school at age 16, he was still in eighth grade. Ramiro knew he took something from this world he could never give back, his attorneys wrote in a statement shortly after the execution. He lived with that shame every day, and it shaped the person he worked so hard to become. If this countrys legal system was intended to encourage rehabilitation, he would be an exemplar. But the criminal justice system in America, especially in relation to the death penalty, does not encourage rehabilitation. Nor does it consider the backgrounds of poverty and abuse of individuals who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Rather, as shown in Gonzales case, authorities promote the anti-scientific view that some members of society are born evil, must face retribution, and in some cases receive the ultimate penalty. Texas has executed 588 of the 1,575 prisoners put to death since the US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, far more than in any other state. Oklahoma: Disregard for a death row inmates abusive childhood Richard Rojem was executed by the state of Oklahoma on Thursday. Rojem, 66, had been in prison since 1985, making him the longest serving inmate on Oklahomas death row. He was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing his seven-year-old former stepdaughter, Layla Cummings. The young girls mutilated body was found in a field in rural Washita County. This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Richard Rojem, a death row inmate housed at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Okla., Feb. 11, 2023. [AP Photo/Oklahoma Department of Corrections] Rojem was injected with a three-drug lethal cocktail at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. When asked for his last words, he said only, I dont. Ive said my goodbyes. According to Associated Press, he was declared unconscious about 5 minutes after the first drug, the sedative midazolam, began flowing. He stopped breathing at about 10:10 a.m. Rojem was convicted previously of raping two teenage girls in Michigan. Prosecutors said he was angry at his young victim because she told her mother that he had sexually abused her, leading to his divorce and return to prison for violating his parole. At Rojems clemency hearing, his attorneys argued that DNA evidence taken from the girls fingernails did not link him to the crime. But prosecutors said a fingerprint on a cup outside the girls home and a condom wrapper found at the crime scene linked Rojem to the murder. Testifying via video from prison, Rojem said he wasnt responsible for the victims death. I wasnt a good human being for the rst part of my life, and I dont deny that, Rojem said. But I went to prison. I learned my lesson and I left all that behind. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 5-0 not to recommend to Governor John Stitt that his life be spared. A Washita County jury convicted Rojem in 1985 after only 45 minutes of deliberations, but his death sentence was twice overturned on appeal due to trial errors. A jury in Custer County handed him his third and final death sentence in 2007. He ran out of appeals in 2017. Court records on Rojems personal history state that he was from a family with generational dysfunction, with alcoholic parents and caretakers. He was born prematurely with an orthopedic deformity and spent the first three years of his life in a full body cast. His biological father was killed in a bar fight when Rojem was three years old. USA Today reports that, according to the court filings, he was then raised by his 17-year-old mother, living in a chaotic and overcrowded household of 13 people in a 1,500-square-foot house. The documents say he witnessed domestic abuse between his mother and stepfather and was sexually abused by an older stepbrother. The records show he was genetically predisposed to developing psychological disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Oklahoma has executed 125 people since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, second only to Texas. According to DPIC, the state has executed more inmates per capita than any other state during this time. It has carried out 13 executions since October 2021, following a nearly six-year hiatus after a series of ghastly executions in 2014 and 2015. Missouri sets execution date for an innocent man Missouri has executed 99 people since 1976, third behind Texas and Oklahoma. One of the 13 people on the states death row is Marcellus Williams. This month, the Missouri Supreme Court set a September 24, 2024 execution date for Williams, despite a motion filed by the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney to vacate his conviction because newly presented DNA evidence proved he did not commit the murder. Marcellus Williams [Photo: Missouri Department of Corrections] Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell stated that the DNA evidence, when paired with the relative paucity of other, credible evidence supporting guilt, as well as additional considerations of ineffective assistance of counsel and racial discrimination in jury selection, casts inexorable doubt on Mr. Williams conviction and sentence. Williams received a last-minute reprieve just hours before his scheduled execution on August 22, 2017. Then-Governor Eric Greitens stayed the execution and convened a board of inquiry to investigate his case. But on June 29, 2023, current governor Mike Parson dissolved this board and the attorney general sought a new execution date. Williams sued the governor, but the Missouri Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit and scheduled a new date to put him to death. On Tuesday, Will Lehman, a rank-and-file autoworker from Macungie, Pennsylvania and socialist candidate for president of the United Auto Workers, won his lawsuit against the US Department of Labor and the Biden administrations Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su over their refusal to act on his complaints of systematic voter suppression in the 2022 UAW national leadership elections. Will Lehman at the UAW bargaining convention, March 27, 2023 David Lawson, a federal district court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, addressed himself directly to President Joe Bidens secretary of labor in his decision, ruling that her refusal to act on Lehmans complaint was arbitrary and capricious. Lawson remanded the case back to the Labor Department for reconsideration of Lehmans complaint, which is the maximum remedy that could have been imposed under US labor law. In what Bloomberg Law called a rare rebuke of Labor Departments role in policing unions, Lawson forcefully rejected the Labor Departments determination that Lehmans complaints were supposedly untimely. Lawson described the Labor Departments reasoning as pedantry, irrational, and grounded in an arbitrary and capricious construction of the Election Rules that is not supported by their plain text or the prevailing case law. Taking up the Labor Departments claim that Lehmans protests were invalid because the Monitor did not adjudicate any of the issues raised in [Lehmans] email communications as would be required if such communications were formal pre-election protests, Lawson called this circular reasoning that was nothing more than an apparent attempt to impute the Monitors failures to Lehman. With respect to the Labor Departments claim that Lehman did not include the word protest in the subject line or text of some of his emails, Lawson called this another example of post-hoc reasoning through which the Secretary merely attempts to engraft into the rules formal requirements that appear nowhere in their text. The ruling vindicates the protracted and principled struggle waged by Lehman and thousands of his supporters to uphold the democratic rights of more than 1 million rank-and-file autoworkers, academic workers and retirees. The ruling also thoroughly exposes the role of the Biden administration, which resorted to these crude methods in an effort to defend current UAW President Shawn Fain, a key figure in Bidens election campaign as well as in the overall national strategy of the Democratic Party. While the ruling is against the secretary of labor, Lawson includes a reference to the monitor's failures, referring to the law firms appointed by the court to oversee the elections. Even more importantly, it is a reflection of the real crisis of the entire pro-corporate apparatus of the UAW, including all its factions, in the face of a growing rank-and-file insurgency, reflected in Lehmans campaign. The 2022 national leadership elections, the first direct elections in the history of the UAW, were held following a government-imposed referendum in the wake of a corruption scandal implicating the entire union bureaucracy. The referendum passed in 2021 over opposition from the entrenched leadership, and Lehman was nominated as a presidential candidate at the July 2022 convention, again in the face of opposition from the bureaucracy. Lehman, a Trotskyist and leading advocate of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), campaigned in the UAW elections for returning power to the rank and file and for a fight to reverse decades of concessions. The campaign attracted and mobilized volunteers and supporters at UAW workplaces around the country, whose slogans included abolish the bureaucracy and demand what we need, not what the corporations and the UAW bureaucrats say is possible. The response of the UAW bureaucracy to Lehmans campaign was to do its utmost to prevent rank-and-file members and retirees from learning that the election was taking place at all. At the same time, as Lehman subsequently demonstrated, the bureaucracy worked to get word of the election to its allies and accomplices through internal channels, to ensure the bureaucracy was disproportionately represented in the voting results. To this day, many UAW members are unaware that there was an election in which they had the right to vote. Out of 1.1 million eligible voters, only 104,776 cast ballots in the first round of voting. This turnoutnine percentis the lowest of any national union election in US history. However, despite massive voter suppression, Lehman secured 4,777 votes, or nearly 5 percent of ballots cast. It is a matter of factual record that nobody more persistently asserted the democratic rights of the rank and file throughout the election than Lehman and his supporters. As Lawson recounts in his decision, Lehman contacted the Monitor by email at least 18 times between July 12 and November 12, 2022 to complain about election irregularities. After these complaints were largely ignored or dismissed by the court-appointed monitor, Lehman filed a lawsuit. Lehman contended, in Lawsons own words, that the union had failed to provide effective notice of the election to its members, that the membership lists and outreach to members were seriously flawed, that as a result the unions members largely were unaware of the election or their right to vote and had no ballot access, and that the turnout was woefully low. Lawson denied Lehmans first lawsuit, ruling that he must first present his grievances to the monitor and the secretary of labor. But when Lehman attempted to do this, as Lawsons decision Tuesday recognizes, Lehman was met with slow-walking and procedural gamesmanship on the part of the institutions that were ostensibly functioning as neutral arbiters. If Lehman had been a lone worker presenting an isolated grievance, there is little doubt that stonewalling of the kind employed by the Labor Department against Lehman would have been successful, as happens on a daily basis to individual workers claims based on workplace injuries, wage theft and other abuses. The decision in favor of Lehman doubtless reflects a concern that the use of such methods against him will only inflame the real insurgency for which he speaks, which one freight industry publication called the Lehman factor. In this context, the decision by Lawson, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton in 1999, does not reflect sympathy for Lehmans politics, but profound concerns about the long-term viability and legitimacy of the UAW. The cases on point teach that such pedantry, Lawson wrote, is particularly inappropriate where it concerns election grievances, and that procedural requirements must reflect the needs of rank and file union membersthose people the requirement is designed ultimately to serve. The UAW is in severe crisis. Since being elected by scarcely six percent of eligible voters, Fain championed the now infamous stand-up strike policy, which involves keeping workers on the job and protecting company profits. At the Big Three auto companies, Fains administration rammed through concessions contracts that have paved the way for mass layoffs. There have been 21,000 job cuts in the automotive sector in the US since the beginning of 2024, as employers seize on the transition to electric vehicles to restructure class relations in their favor. Fain also presided over the isolation of the political strike movement among the 48,000 University of California academic workers in UAW Local 4811, who sought to bring the power of the working class to bear in opposition to the police-state crackdown on campus protests against the Gaza genocide. Fain, a close ally of Genocide Joe Biden, kept the broader UAW membership in the dark about the strike before immediately shutting it down after the Democratic Party authorities in California successfully obtained a court injunction. Compounding the crisis of the UAW is the intransigent corruption of the bureaucrats themselves, notwithstanding the election and three-and-a-half years under a government-imposed consent decree. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Fain himself is being investigated for the misuse of union resources and for obstructing the disclosure of documents. Fain is a tried-and-true representative of the bureaucracy and shameless promoter of Biden and the Democratic Party. Thanks to Lehmans victory in court, there is an asterisk next to Fains title as UAW president, since the results of the election remain legally in dispute. The outcome of Lehmans lawsuit is a confirmation of objective developments in the class struggle, of the authentic significance of Lehmans campaign and of the real crisis of the UAW. It signals that now is the time for workers to take the initiative to advance their independent class interests. The network of rank-and-file committees independent of the bureaucracy must be expanded. Politically, as Lehman has insisted throughout his campaign, the rank-and-file must assert its rights and interests as a class against the bureaucracy, management and the state. This means challenging the dictatorship of the capitalist owners over the economy, rejecting the framework of nationalism and orienting to socialism. Lackawanna City Council chambers were packed to capacity Thursday, and an estimated 100 residents waited outside City Hall watching on the internet as Council members decreased the tax levy increase to 5.5%. That was still over the tax levy limit, but far below the proposed 23.6% levy increase that Mayor Annette Iafallo proposed in her budget. Hopefully that if it passes, it will assuage some of your concerns, your fears, and of course, your concern here and your anger, quite frankly, Council President Frederic J. Marrano told residents before he convened the brief meeting. Given the level of emotion, the level of concern, Id like you all to know that your voices obviously were heard loud and clear. The vote was 4-1 in favor of overriding the tax levy limit and the amendments that reduced taxes. First Ward Council Member Amira H. Muflahi said she voted against the measures because she was given the proposals at the meeting late Thursday afternoon, and did not have time to review them. She said she talked to several Council members before the meeting but they did not have solid figures, and she saw nothing in writing until the meeting. I gave my constituents my word that I would be voting no based on the increase that the mayor proposed, Muflahi told The Buffalo News. Honestly, at this time, any increase is hurtful to a family thats already struggling. The dramatic change in the tax levy was achieved by removing $1.16 million in debt service for the new City Hall from the budget. Council members also moved $1.15 million from the capital fund to the general fund to reduce the tax levy. The changes reduced the tax rate from the proposed $20.53 per $1,000 of assessed value to $17.52 per $1,000. That changed the proposed increase from 22.5% to 4.61%. The owner of a house assessed at $100,000 would pay an additional $77 a year in taxes next year. Marrano praised Second Ward Council Member Karl L. Anderson and various city officials in working to reduce the budget and taxes. Residents started gathering at City Hall more than a half hour before the 5:30 p.m. meeting. By 5:05 p.m., the capacity of the room had been reached, and police locked the front door. Anwar Al-Kalai said about 100 or more remained outside the building, watching the meeting on cellphones. Unfortunately, it seemed like the voice of the people, thats not really resonating with the city or the elected officials, community members are struggling. Increasing the taxes at this time is really not the right decision from the residents perspective, he said. Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz attended the meeting. The county identified $800,000 in urban initiative grants that can be used for capital spending, although not in the general fund. He said he worked with the mayor and city officials this week to reduce the budget. In the end, Im glad that they were able to reduce that proposed tax rate increase substantially, Poloncarz said. Residents were somewhat relieved that the huge tax increase was avoided, and annoyed that the process took this route. We got help from the county, which also is promising, said Peggy Clifford, adding, but it makes you crazy. Also included in the proposed budget are negotiated pay increases for union workers of 3.5%. The mayors salary would increase by 3.5% to $88,053. Council President Marranos salary would increase $5,000, or 30%, to $21,500. The pay for the police and fire chiefs would go up 9% to $123,500 and the city attorney would make $150,000, a 34.6% increase. The budget now goes to the mayor, and if she does not veto the changes, it will go into effect Aug. 1. Iafallo did not attend the meeting because of a death in the family, city spokesman Charles D. Clark said. Follow the SEPs campaign at socialism2024.org.uk Attend our London election rally on June 30. Socialist Equality Party general election candidate Darren Paxton spoke at a hustings Thursday evening for the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency, organised by Radio Skye. Radio Skye broadcasts across Skye and Lochalsh and to an online audience nationally and internationally via a web stream through all the major radio apps. The hustings were held in the Skye Gathering Hall in Portree on the Isle of Skye, with candidates invited to answer previously submitted questions and questions from the floor. The event, chaired by cultural journalist Adam Gordon, was broadcast live Thursday evening from 7p.m. Radio Skye website advert of the event with Darren Paxton bottom row second left [Photo: radioskye.com] Paxton sent in two recorded messages, which can be viewed on the Socialist Equality Partys X account and on the Radio Skye web stream of the event. Paxtons opening contribution to the hustings can be heard at 00:32:27 and his concluding remarks at 00:03:04. An opening statement by Paxton explained: We oppose the genocide in Gaza and the support given to it by our [Conservative] government, which would continue under a Labour government. Neither can workers rely on Labour to defend living conditions. Keir Starmer is committed to corporate enrichment at the expense of the working class. Workers must build an alternative, a mass and genuinely socialist anti-war movement. We also warn that the war in Ukraine is threatening to develop into open war between NATO and Russia. NATO is using the Ukrainian people as cannon fodder in a fratricidal conflict to cripple Russia, force regime change in Moscow and use Russia as a platform for war with China. NATO is planning to send troops to Ukraine, and is discussing the use of nuclear weapons. This does not lessen our opposition to the Putin regime. Workers should oppose the invasion. We advocate the socialist unity of the Russian and Ukrainian working classes in a struggle against both the Putin and Zelensky regimes. Workers and young people will be made to pay for war with conscription and brutal austerity. Attacks on democratic rights are summed up in Britains unlawful imprisonment of WikiLeaks journalist Julian Assange for exposing war crimes. Assange has finally been freed after over a decade of incarceration. Gaza protestors are slandered as antisemitic, whilst the far-right and war criminals are welcomed into government. And all the while, the climate crisis burns up the conditions of life. We say all of these crises are rooted in the capitalist system. We reject Scottish nationalism. The nation state, in the epoch of imperialism, and the global integration of the production across the entire planet, is outmoded and irrational. A real fight against Westminster and British imperialism requires, not new capitalist states but the unity of the working class across Britain in the struggle for socialism in Britain, Europe and across the world. Society cannot afford the super-rich. The wealth of the financial oligarchy must be expropriated by the working class and production rationally and democratically controlled by the working class. That is the perspective of the Socialist Equality Party. Paxton received applause from the audience for his comments. His closing statement, below, also received applause and cheers. We are here to raise the alarm of the danger of war and capitalist barbarism. Death has become an acceptable policy of the capitalist ruling class. Millions the world over died in the preventable Coronavirus outbreak which was shrugged off with the terms herd immunity, learn to live with it and the cure cannot be worse than the disease. Tens of thousands die in Palestine, hundreds of thousands in Ukraine, all on our governments money. My comrade and 25 year old leader of the Young-Guard of Bolshevik Leninists, Bogdan Syrotiuk, has been arrested by Zelensky for calling an end to the war on a socialist basis, in opposition to both Russian nationalism and NATO imperialism. We immediately opposed the arrest, with SEP members and supporters in Inverness creating a video on TikTok calling for his freedom which only lasted for only 20 minutes before being removed. This war time censorship and the arrest of figures like Bogdan and Julian Assange should stand as a warning to the working class and anyone who opposes the war. The struggle between imperialist powers for control of the world and its markets and resources is producing a worldwide catastrophe of inequality and war. But as the SEP election manifesto explains: The same capitalist crisis that produces war also produces the basis for ending war, in the form of growing struggles against inequality, poverty and the attack on wages, jobs, healthcare, education and all the social rights of the working class. Such a movement must be: international, uniting workers in every country and on every continent on the basis of their common class interests [and] must be anti-capitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of war. If you agree with this analysis and perspective then join me in building the SEP and taking up the fight against genocide and war and for socialism. Follow the SEPs campaign at socialism2024.org.uk Attend our London election rally on June 30. More than 1,000 people marched in Wellington on Thursday to protest the escalating genocide in the Gaza Strip and the New Zealand governments continued support for Israel and US imperialism. The rally, like many others held across the country since the genocide began last October, was almost completely blacked out by the corporate media. A section of the protest march in Wellington, New Zealand, June 27, 2024 Well over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and tens of thousands more are missing. Entire cities have been bombed into rubble, along with refugee camps, schools and almost all hospitals. Israeli forces have killed hundreds of healthcare and aid workers, and a blockade is leading to mass starvation. Despite more than eight months of global protests, involving millions of people in every part of the world, Washington and its allies continue to arm Israel and defend its mass slaughter of Palestinians. Now, the Netanyahu regime is preparing to expand the war into Lebanon, with the Biden administrations backing. New Zealands National Party-led government has issued hypocritical calls for a ceasefire, while sending troops to the Middle East to assist in the US-led bombing of Yemen to protect supply lines for the Israeli military. At the same time, the government is strengthening NZs alliance with the US in what is developing as a global war. New Zealand troops are being stationed in Japan and South Korea, as part of preparations for war with China, while in Britain NZ forces continue to train Ukrainian conscripts for the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. The June 27 All Out for Gaza rally, organised by several Palestinian solidarity groups, demanded that the government condemn Israel and call for an end to the genocide; impose sanctions on Israel; recognise Palestinian statehood; increase funding for UNRWA, and grant visas to people in Gaza with family members in New Zealand. These demands were presented outside parliament to MPs from the opposition Labour Party and its ally the Green Party, which used the opportunity to posture as opponents of genocide and war. Labour MP Phil Twyford denounced Netanyahu as a war criminal and stated that Labour had been calling for a ceasefire for the last eight months. This is a lie. For more than a month, while Labour was still leading the government, it supported the genocide as an act of self-defence. During a November 4 protest in Auckland, Twyford himself was booed off the platform amid shouts of Shame on Labour! Twyford also vaguely stated that the international community must hold the United States accountable for funding Israels genocidal war. This is entirely cynical. The Labour-led government, which included the Greens, strengthened the alliance with US imperialism against China, and sent troops to Britain in support of the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. The Socialist Equality Group spoke with several people attending the Wellington march, some of whom noted Twyfords attempt to rewrite history. Theresa, who had travelled from Whangarei, north of Auckland, said she was incensed by the way the western world has been complicit in this barbaric atrocity that Israel is conducting on the Palestinian people. The more I learn, the more incensed I become. We are allowing Israel and the United States, the UK, Germany, Australia, to be complicit in this genocide, to fund weapons to pulverise people who are imprisoned. Theresa She said the Labour Partys statements were just talk, adding: The Labour Party were actually in power at the time when the Al-Aqsa Flood [the Hamas operation on October 7] happened, but theyve also been in power watching for [much of] the last 75 years as the settler movement occupied Palestinian land. So its very clear that its very weak verbal rhetoric. Theresa explained that Israel had objectives, including the gasfield off the coast of Gaza and the planned Ben Gurion Canal as an alternative to the Suez Canal, so that Israel could profit from shipping. Gaza is in the way of that, according to them. She said, the media is complicit by maintaining the narrative that Israel is the victim. Its just insane. She pointed out that New Zealanders had made clear their opposition to the genocide and only a small minority support the Zionist cause. The fact that governments around the world were ignoring popular sentiments tells you that democracy is no longer in existence, she added. Julie (left) in Wellington Julie, from Masterton, said the governments response to the genocide and the expanding war in the Middle East was really scary. I have four sons that are old enough to go to war, and I think that our government is not doing enough to prevent us going into World War III. If Palestinians arent free, none of us are free. She agreed with the banners demanding that New Zealand pull out of the US-led RIMPAC military exercise, which began this week. The biennial exercise in Hawaii includes tens of thousands of military personnel from 29 countries, including Israel. Leanne (right) at Wellington protest, June 27, 2024 Leanne, from Carterton, said she had been following the coverage of the genocide through Al Jazeera, adding that the Western media was biased and very right-wing. She decided to protest after I just got sick to my stomach of seeing broken bodies and innocents killed, and the viciousness that was put upon them by the IDF. She said the government had tried to ignore the genocide from the beginning, adding, I dont think they realised that there was such a groundswell of support for Palestine. In addition to funding UNRWA and recognising the state of Palestine, Leanne said the government should take New Zealand soldiers out of the Middle East and not serve as pawns in Americas game. Jess Jess, from Whanganui, said she was in contact with somebody in Khan Younis, and Im helping to fundraise money for his family to evacuate. Hes got his wife and three children, and his parents as well. Hes just moved his tent last week for the eighth time because their safe zones are just getting bombed every day. It can cost $US5,000 to arrange for just one person to cross the border. The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) recently held its founding meeting. Organized independently of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) bureaucracy, the PWRFC aims to mobilize postal workers in a political struggle against the corporatist alliance between management, the union apparatus and the government. The committee is fighting for Canada Post to be run as a fully funded public utility under workers control, not a profit-making concern, and calls for postal workers struggles to be unified internationally in opposition to capitalist austerity and for workers power. We encourage all postal workers and workers throughout the logistics sector to contact the PWRFC by filling out the form below this article. The meeting discussed and adopted a founding statement for the committee, which the World Socialist Web Site has published here. In a key passage, the document declared: In opposition to the conspirators in Canada Post management, the federal government and the CUPW bureaucracy, we reject the claim that Canada Post must be run as a profit-making corporate enterprise. We oppose the use of new technologies to step up exploitation. We demand that workers on the shop floor make decisions about the operation of the postal service, the implementation of new technologies, and our wages and benefits. The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee will fight for these objectives in a political struggle against the corporatist partnership between CUPW, corporate management and the Liberal government. We will do so in alliance with workers throughout the logistics sector, workers across Canadapublic and privatewho all have a stake in our struggle to defend public services and worker rights, and postal workers throughout the world. Following the adoption of the statement, the meeting heard a report on the arrest of 25-year-old Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk by the far-right Zelensky regime. Syrotiuk was detained in April and accused of treason due to his implacable opposition to the imperialist-instigated war on Russia in Ukraine. The International Committee of the Fourth International, which publishes the WSWS, is conducting a global campaign for his release, which recently saw pickets outside Ukrainian embassies and consulates, and statements from workers, artists and intellectuals. Bogdan Syrotiuk After discussing the report, participants adopted the following resolution: This meeting of postal workers declares its solidarity with the global day of action organized by the International Committee of the Fourth International June 13 to demand the Ukrainian government immediately release Comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk. A Ukrainian socialist, Syrotiuk has conducted a courageous struggle against the reactionary war the United States, Canada and the other NATO powers have instigated, and to unite Ukrainian and Russian workers against all the belligerent governments and states. We pledge to do everything in our power to make Bogdans case known to all postal workers and fight for his freedom as part of the struggle to build an international anti-war movement. A postal worker from Quebec who voted in favour of the resolution described during the meeting how the subordination of Canada Post to the profit motive has produced poor working conditions at his plant in Montreal: Air quality is a huge concern. Conveyor belts raining garbage on us and into the air. There is no interest in true improvements because that affects the profits that seem to drive our national postal system. AI will be used to make routes more efficient, but it doesnt take into account the overburdened letter carriers. Dan, a postal worker from Ontario, commented after the meeting, Canada Post managementbacked up by the CUPW and the Liberal governmentare currently conducting contract negotiations. The crumbs of information were fed from union updates include savage attacks on our working conditions. These attacks include, but are not limited to: an AI and automation rollout that threatens overburdening postal workers who are already at their breaking point, Amazon style surveillance currently rolling out across the corporate fleet, and intensified exploitation of workers with a new job categoryPermanent Flexible Employees. The Postal Workers RFC (Canada) represents the only progressive solution to deepening attacks on postal workers. By providing a democratic forum for workers to exchange ideas and experiences, the RFC is able to critically analyze impending concessions, put them in the correct context, and mount a counteroffensive to demand improvements to working conditions and pay. The World Socialist Web Site, which publishes RFC updates, is the only media outlet whose coverage of workers struggles politically arms and encourages workers to embrace their class role. The working class is the only social force capable of ending capitalist exploitation, austerity and war. Linked up with the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, the Postal Workers RFC (Canada) is able to match the international nature of the crown corporation with the strength of the international working class. In this context, a significant demand must be made for the release of Bogdan Syrotiuk. He is a principled antiwar socialist who was rounded up by the Ukrainian SBU on trumped up charges of high treason. His only crimewriting articles for the WSWS encouraging workers on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian war to show class solidarity and demand the end to NATOs criminal imperialist war. We strongly encourage all postal and logistics workers to support the building of the PWRFC by filling out the form below. Share your workplace experiences, views on the CUPW bureaucracy, and statements in support of Bogdan Syrotiuks freedom. Workers and young people in Australia and New Zealand continue to register their support for the struggle to free imprisoned Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk. He is the victim of a grotesque political frame-up. Syrotiuk was arrested in late April by the far-right Zelensky regime, charged with high treason and slandered as aiding the Russian government. Syrotiuk is the leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist organisation that operates throughout the former Soviet Union. The true reason for his arrest is that Bogdan and the YGBL are fighting to end the war led by the US and NATO by uniting workers in Russia, Ukraine and internationally against all of the capitalist governments, including the Putin regime. Since the campaign for his freedom has been launched, the WSWS has been banned from Ukraine, further demonstrating that Syrotiuks imprisonment is the sharpest expression of an assault on all left-wing anti-war movements. As part of the global campaign for his freedom, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) held global pickets and lobbies on June 13 outside Ukrainian embassies. The ICFI issued an open letter, which detailed the circumstances around his persecution. The WSWS calls on you to support the campaign for Bogdans freedom. **** Crystal, an executive member of the IYSSE at Victorian University Donna, a health worker from Victoria Free Bogdan Syrotiuk! I write from Australia in support of this young man in Ukraine whos clearly done nothing wrong. Bogdan has only ever spoken for the everyday people, the workers of world, reaching out to those in both Ukraine and Russia who are victims and unwilling participants suffering because of this war. Bogdan dared to publicly declare his anti-war stance. For that, the SBU (Ukrainian state security service) has shoved him in a jail and accused him of treason. He is facing the possibility of 15 years imprisonment, with reports that a number of legal representatives were too intimidated to defend him. Anyone with a general understanding of the distinctions between Stalinism and Trotskyism would clearly see that Bogdan and Trotskyist organisations, such as the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), have zero in common with the current Putin regime. Furthermore, it is undemocratic that the WSWS has been banned in Ukraine, and various political groups have been outlawed. Its a blatant disregard for the rule of law. People have the right to express their opinions, including the freedom to criticise the government in healthy democracies. The WSWS does not support Putin at all! They denounce the 2022 Russian invasion of the Ukraine. They dont support NATO or Zelensky either. Shame on the Ukrainian government for censoring the WSWS! Theyre treating Bogdan like Julian Assange. These governments are so arrogant, treating the working class like theyre stupid. It is their warmongering actions, invading countries, dealing weapons, censoring news websites, and imprisoning whistleblowers, anti-war activists and socialists, thats the real criminal activity. Bogdan Syrotiuk should be released! Albert from Victoria My solidarity is with Comrade Bogdan Syrotiuk, who has been arrested by Ukraines fascist authorities on fraudulent charges. Bogdan is a socialist and was calling for the unity of workers in Russia and Ukraine to fight against the NATO-led war against Russia. Albert Bogdan is a victim of Zelenskys brutal regime, which is acting on behalf of its paymasters in US, Europe and other Western allies. The Zelensky regime is a puppet of Western governments and is being used to instigate a major war in the world. The only force that can stop this coming war, prepared by the ruling class of the capitalist world, is the working class of the world. The working class and our children will be the ones to be sent to the frontline. They will be slaughtered in the name of nationalism and other propaganda for the benefit of the capitalists and the imperialists. Bogdan could see right through the propaganda and the brutality that is played out in Gaza and Ukraine and took a stand from a working-class perspective. This clarity of analysis from Bogdan is a direct threat to fascistic regimes and hence he has been fraudulently charged and put in prison. His health is not well, and he is only 25 years old. We demand his release immediately and support the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals call for the freedom of our comrade David, an artist in New Zealand My heart goes out to Bogdan Syrotiuk, the 25-year-old leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (the YGBL). Such a brave person to speak out for peace in his own country when it was obvious that such a message would not be welcomed by the authorities. His incarceration was all but certain. Anyone who stands up for peace in a country at war is inevitably labelled a coward at best and a traitor at worst, by those who want to prosecute an unjust and unnecessary war. Far from being a coward and traitor, Bogdan has been courageous and is putting the well-being of Ukrainians and Russians ahead of his own safety. Two and a half years after the conflict started, Bogdans worst fears have been fulfilled with over a million dead and wounded soldiers, millions of displaced citizens and a continuing march towards the use of nuclear weapons. I can but salute Bogdan for his bravery, wish for his freedom, and hope the Ukrainian people stand up together and say no more! Bolivian President Luis Arce named a new military high command on Wednesday in the wake of an abortive military coup launched by the former commander of the Army, Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga. Bolivia's President Luis Arce with Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga on the Day of the Army in December 2022. [Photo: Min. Defensa Bolivia] In one of the most short-lived attempts in Bolivias long history of coups, just over four hours passed between Zunigas declaration of his bid to overthrow the government and his arrest at 7 p.m. (local time). On Tuesday, Arce deposed General Zuniga from his post for threatening to detain former President Evo Morales if the latter seeks another term in the August 2025 elections. A day later, Zuniga led hundreds of heavily armed soldiers with faces covered to surround the former government palace, Palacio Quemado, which is adjacent to the new building in the capital, La Paz. At the Plaza Murillo in front of the palace, Zuniga declared, There will be a new cabinet of ministers, surely there will be changes, but our State cannot continue like this. We want to recover our homeland. An armored vehicle was then slammed into the gates of the Palacio Quemado, and the soldiers invaded it with rifles and shields. Inside the building, Arce unsuccessfully ordered Zuniga to remove the troops. Protests and a general strike had been called by Arce, his ministers, Evo Morales and the main union body, the Bolivian Workers Central (COB). Hundreds of demonstrators began gathering around the Plaza Murillo to tell the heavily armed soldiers to Get out! Morales cited reports that snipers had been placed around Plaza Murillo as proof that the coup had been prepared beforehand. While the character of the agreementand concessionswill become clear in the following days and weeks, a dominant faction of the military reached a deal to keep the elected President Arce in power, for now. Arce was allowed to return to the government headquarters, the Great House of the People, and name a new military high command in a televised ceremony. The new top commander, Gen. Jose Wilson Sanchez, then took the podium and ordered all mobilized troops to return to their barracks. Zuniga drove back to the military headquarters in one of the eight armored vehicles that participated in the mutiny, and the troops cleared the plaza, dropping tear gas canisters behind them. An arrest warrant was issued against Zuniga, who was then detained while claiming on live television that it had all been a self-coup planned by Arce himself to improve his popularity. On Thursday morning, Zuniga and his alleged co-conspirator Vice Adm. Juan Arnez Salvador, the former head of the Navy, were formally charged with the charges of terrorism and armed uprising. Zuniga was appointed by Arce, who described him recently as the peoples general, an echo of similar declarations by Salvador Allende in the run-up to his own overthrow in 1973. It remains to be seen whether Bolivia follows the Chilean pattern, in which an abortive coup served as a dry run for the real thing, which imposed a blood-soaked military dictatorship. The explosive context leading up to the coup attempt The failure of the coup attempt marks a new stage in the economic and political crisis gripping Bolivia ahead of the 2025 elections, where the major drivers are the escalating third world war led by US imperialism against Russia and China and the deepening crisis of global capitalism. Morales and the MAS were first elected in 2005and again in 2009, 2014 and 2019following a series of popular protests against inequality, including the 2000 Cochabamba water war and the 2003 natural gas war that had toppled five presidents. With the aid of pseudo-left organizations, Morales channeled the upsurge behind his election. Taking advantage of a boom in oil and other commodity prices, the Morales-MAS administration carried out partial nationalizations of oil and minerals and limited increases in social spending which resulted in a lowering of the poverty rate from 61 percent in 2005 to 36 percent in 2023, while increasing profits for global corporations and making timely payments to global finance capital. The countrys GDP tripled. But, as early as 2014, the Morales administration responded to the end of the commodity boom, which had been caused mainly by Chinese growth, by adopting austerity measures to pay back the rapidly growing government debt. This brought to a halt the social improvements and was accompanied by police repression against working class protests. Having lost confidence in his ability to suppress popular opposition, sections of the Bolivian oligarchy and US imperialism backed a military coup that overthrew Morales, only two weeks after the October 2019 elections, on the basis of fabricated claims of vote fraud. A massive uprising against the coup, centered in the urban centers of El Alto, around La Paz, was brutally crushed by the military and police with numerous massacres. Unable to quell the opposition and facing a worsening global economic situation, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the coup regime led by Jeanine Anez decided to call elections in October 2020 and allow the MAS to return to power under Luis Arce, a former minister of Morales. In the last two years, however, amid the ongoing pandemic, the eruption of the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, and the escalating US-led economic war and preparation for military conflict against China, Bolivias crisis of bourgeois rule only deepened. In this context, the countrys key minerals, especially the worlds largest lithium reserves, have become a key target in the emerging redivision of the planet between major powers. At the same time, the countrys gas and oil reserves have begun running low and increased exploration is not yielding significant results. In the months immediately before the latest coup attempt, the country had been mired in shortages of fuel and dollars. A 75 percent drop in the price of lithium in the past year, mainly due to lower-than-expected electric vehicle demand and the economic war tariffs against China, explosively worsened Bolivias economic outlook. Reflecting a conflict between factions of the ruling class in response to this crisis, the MAS was riven by a rivalry between Arce and Morales over control over the party and the 2025 presidential candidacy. Both factions have spent months launching allegations of unconstitutionality, corruption, alignment with the far-right and US imperialism and soft-coup preparations. Morales convoked major roadblocks greatly worsening the supply of fuel and other goods. Last December, the Constitutional Court ruled that Morales was not allowed to run for reelection in 2025, although a Congress with tens of thousands of supporters in Villa Tunari on June 10 ratified his candidacy. A major factor in these conflicts within the ruling class has been getting a share of the proceeds from future lithium projects. In April, Alberto Echazu, an ally of Morales and his key official in charge of launching the lithium industry, was arrested on charges of approving contracts detrimental to state finances, while Morales has denounced Arces son for making corrupt deals with Elon Musk. All these claims are murky and not backed by strong evidence. Wednesdays events, however, were preceded most immediately by discussions of a MAS Unity Congress and a suspension of demonstrations backed by Morales. Moraless ally and former interior minister Carlos Romero said earlier this month: The former president Morales is doing everything possible to contain a social mobilization, there are social mobilizations of all kinds, for dollars, for fuel, for the increase in prices of the family basket; for the economic crisis to increase once more is what we do not want. A meeting on June 11 between Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow led to the announcement of a partnership to industrialize Bolivian lithium production starting in 2025 by the state-owned companies Yacimientos de Litio Bolivia (YLB) and the Russian Uranium One Group. At the same time, Chinese companies have played the main role in developing lithium projects within Bolivia, while the Chancay port that is set to open in November in Peru is expected to greatly facilitate the transportation of Bolivian minerals to China. There was also an agreement to import Russian oil, in the context of unrest among consumers and transportation employer groups over shortages. On June 14, Arce deployed the military to gas stations across the country to oversee purchases, ostensibly to prevent hoarding and contraband. Bolivia spends over $1 billion yearly to subsidize fuel imports. Hours before the coup, however, transportation employers reached an agreement with the government which canceled planned roadblocks along major highways and border crossings to protest taxes and shortages in fuel and dollars in the economy. Even though the US corporate media, the Bolivian far right and allies of Morales have given credence to the claim of a self-coup, and this possibility cannot be immediately discounted, the context and events leading up to the coup attempt points to US imperialism as the main force interested in overthrowing Arce. Unable to secure a US puppet regime in the 2019 coup, Washington is eager to try to elevate the role of the military, push politics to the right and secure control over Bolivias natural resources against its rivals, above all China. In the week before the coup attempt, the Arce administration focused its allegations of coup plotting against the US Embassy, which Washington denied. The Bolivian Economy Minister declared last week that the shortages and recent protests were part of a soft coup against the economy being hatched at the US Embassy. On Tuesday, in an interview with El Deber after his firing, the coup leader Zuniga declared: Our homeland is once again under attack by internal and external enemies that seek division, destabilization and hatred among Bolivians in order to take control of natural resources for the benefit of petty interests and power groups that respond to the caudillismo. This is a thinly veiled reference to the competition between factions of the ruling class over lithium. During the coup itself, General Zuniga demanded the liberation from jail of the leaders of the fascistic 2019 coup, including Jeanine Anez, the fascist Luis Fernando Camacho and military officialsall closely associated with Washington. Suspiciously, the US Embassy in Bolivia did not publish a statement until after the arrest of Zuniga, and more than five hours after the coup was launched, writing on X: We reject any attempt to overthrow the elected government and demand respect for the constitutional order. The South American country with 12 million people has seen 36 completed military coups in its two centuries since breaking from Spain. It has also been involved in 12 wars against neighbors and other conflicts that left it landlocked and made it lose more than half of its original territory. Bolivia is a case study in the failure of the capitalist ruling class in backward economic countries to secure its independence from imperialism or secure democratic forms of rule, no matter how radical the pretensions of the ruling bourgeois parties. As democratic forms of rule break down in the advanced capitalist countries, as well as the hurtle toward fascism and world war, Latin America is being transformed into a field of battle for control of vital resources and markets. The United States is responding ever more openly in a military manner to deflect the growing economic weight of its rivals. Thursday nights debate between Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican ex-President Donald Trump was a totally degraded spectacle. One candidate could barely finish a sentence, while reiterating his commitment to US military supremacy and war against Russia. The other openly defended the attempted fascist coup of January 6, 2021 in which he attempted to establish a presidential dictatorship. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. [AP Photo/Gerald Herbert] Bidens disastrous performance has already touched off a full-blown crisis in the Democratic Party. Even before the 90-minute session ended, there were panicked phone calls among party leaders and their media apologists declaring that Biden must withdraw from the race and allow the Democratic National Convention in August to nominate a more credible candidate. The process for carrying out such a shift is highly contentious and problematic, however, with no obvious replacement at hand. The primary concern of dominant sections of the US political establishment is that Bidens catastrophic debate performance, which has solidified Trump as the frontrunner in the election, has put in jeopardy far-reaching plans to massively escalate the war in Ukraine, to which Trump has expressed reservations. All of their efforts to orchestrate a replacement for Biden are aimed at putting in place a president capable of overseeing the massive escalation of US imperalist violence on a global scale. If Biden had not so visibly disintegrated on stage, Trumps own performance would have been widely viewed as deeply damaging, even disqualifying. The 78-year-old fascistic ex-president frequently refused to respond to questions, seemed fixated on migrants as the cause of every social evil in American life, and was unable to acknowledge elementary facts or discuss political issues without brazen and obvious lies. That said, the political crisis goes far beyond the debilitation and disorientation of the two candidates. The CNN moderators are not senile or delusional, but their questions and follow-ups were no better, from an intellectual standpoint, than the meandering answers and non sequiturs of the Democratic and Republican candidates. The entire event was a manifestation of the thorough, deep-going rot that characterizes official politics in the wealthiest and most powerful capitalist nation. Even if the two candidates had been lucid and coherent, the system which they represent is increasingly irrational, wracked by social contradictions and conflicts within and among nation-states that are exploding into war. If one abstracts from the question of the two decrepit and loathsome personalities on the stage, what is the choice which the capitalist ruling elite is offering to the American people? One candidate represents the substantial fascist and Christian-supremacist constituency in the Republican Party, which seeks to establish a religion-based state that would roll back a century of social gains for working people, women and racial minorities. If Trump were not the candidate, his replacement would inevitably be a younger and perhaps less notorious advocate of militarism, dictatorship and social reaction. The other candidate represents the military-intelligence apparatus which controls the Democratic Party and is primarily interested in pursuing the foreign policy and national security policies required to maintain the global dominance of American imperialism. Any replacement for Biden would continue the war in Ukraine, support Israeli genocide in Gaza and escalate the US military and economic confrontation with China. Both parties are fundamentally opposed to the social and democratic interests of the American people. Both are unalterably committed to the defense of Wall Street and the worldwide hegemony of the United States, against both Russia and China, and rival imperialist powers like Japan, Germany and France. The consternation in the Democratic and media establishment arises from these considerations. Bidens performance has put in jeopardy the war policies to which they are fully committed. And it comes on the eve of other major political shifts in global politics: French and British elections over the next two weeks, followed by the NATO summit in Washington, at which Biden is supposed to preside. At the same time, events like the mass uprising in Kenya, the failed military coup in Bolivia, a resurgence of COVID-19 and the outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, and fires, floods and hurricanes exacerbated by climate change testify to the mounting instability of capitalism as a global system. Joseph Kishore, the presidential candidate of the Socialist Equality Party, offered this assessment of the debate: The explosive political crisis in the United States, the center of world imperialism, is the most concentrated expression of the world capitalist crisis. While the exact course of events cannot be predicted, one thing is absolutely certain. There will be no progressive resolution to this crisis until the working class, on a world scale, comes together as an international force on the basis of a socialist program. The problem is not Biden or Trumpor Putin, Xi Jinping, Macron, Scholz or any other individual capitalist politician. The problem is the capitalist mode of production and the nation-state system with which it is indissolubly bound up. The resources exist to abolish poverty and provide a decent and fulfilling life to every human being. But these resources, produced by the labor of the worlds population, have been appropriated by a relative handful of corporate exploiters and billionaires, who subordinate all of society to their increasingly deranged pursuit of expanded wealth. There will, in the face of Bidens debacle and the threat of Trumps return to the White House, be a growing interest in third parties. Both the Democrat and the Republican are regarded with hostility by a majority of the American public. Polls already show that the number of people indicating a desire to vote for a third-party candidate has doubled since the 2020 election. Reports of the elimination of a shift at the Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit as soon as July 1 have angered autoworkers already staggered by massive job cuts in the wake of the 2023 United Auto Workers national contract. Stellantis workers at Warren Truck arrive for second shift on June 27, 2024 On Thursday, UAW Local 140 at Warren Truck posted the following notice on its Facebook page. The local leadership has just been informed there will be one shift of production, starting July 1st. More information will be provided as it is received. The elimination of the second shift could affect the jobs of half of the 3,700 hourly workers at the plant. The cuts follow the remarks of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares at an investors conference in Italy last month that the EV race has become a cost-cutting race, and that the sourcing of parts would move from the Western world to the best-cost countries. Automotive News reported Tavares saying that at least two US plants need a significant turnaround, which could mean more job cuts. The layoffs at Warren Truck follow the firing of at least 2,300 supplemental employees by Stellantis, mass layoffs at the Toledo Jeep and Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack plants, the cutting of hundreds of engineering staff and cuts at the MOPAR parts distribution centers. Ford has slashed jobs at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. GM has also cut thousands of white collar and production jobs. These layoffs are like a bomb going off in peoples lives, a veteran Warren Truck worker told World Socialist Web Site reporters Friday outside the factory. A worker who was transferred to Warren Truck after being laid off from the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, Illinois, said, I uprooted my family from Belvidere and now I could lose my job again. Another former Belvidere worker said, Its like a flashback. Its 3, 2,1 and you are out of a job. A young worker said, I just got rolled over from a temporary part-time position, and now they are laying me off. Another worker, who is from a Middle Eastern background, said, In a few months this whole factory might be nothing but a warehouse. The prices of these cars are unaffordable. You cant get a used car for less than $30,000; and a new one costs $50,000. These companies are worried that the Chinese are making more affordable EVs and at better quality. Thats one of the reasons the US wants war. The US has sent Israel 70,000 tons of military equipment, and the cost of these wars comes out of our pockets. The new round of job cuts are a further confirmation of the warnings by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. The IWA-RFC said the 2023 contract sellout, hailed as an historic victory by the Biden administration and the corporate media, would open the door to a jobs bloodbath as the auto companies shift the cost of the transition to electric vehicles onto the backs of workers. This is part of a global attack on workers by the auto companies. Ford has announced that it plans to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe this year and recently announced it would cut another 1,600 jobs at its plant in Valencia, Spain. Meanwhile, Stellantis has cut thousands of jobs in Italy, including 1,560 at Turins historic Mirafiori plant. According to a source, Stellantis has a large stockpile of vehicles from Warren Truck that are missing various parts due to shortages and cannot be sold until the proper parts arrive. These parts shortages are not due to an act of God but are the result of Stellantis squeezing its suppliers for lower costs, with workers caught in the middle. Earlier press reports stated that companies have refused to deliver parts due to rising prices, asking that Stellantis compensate for their increased costs. This is bull, another Warren Truck worker told the WSWS. The UAW knew this was going to happen when they signed that contract. Fain lied to us. First, they fired the supplementals and now they are laying off more senior workers. Im tired of these people, a worker with 12 years said. Its horrible the way they do us. They are laying people off while they are hiring new people. Im going back to school because they already fired me, hired me back, fired me again, and Im tired of playing. She agreed there should be a fight against the layoffs and said a job should be secured but didnt know how to win that. As for the UAW, she said, I dont pay attention to the UAW anymore. They are all scratching each others backs and whatever else they do. These are troubling times and they dont care about us, another worker said. The UAW had us on 10 hours, seven days. They havent been fighting for us. We cant even take time off. The people with the money, they dont care. Us, the little ants, we get stepped on. Referring to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who got a 56 percent pay bump to $39.5 million in 2023, he said, He got a huge raise and theyre cutting jobs, wheres that money going, straight to him. Me and my wife work here. We cant even take days off for our family. He agreed with the call to unite workers to defend jobs and said it was divide and conquer to pit workers against each other in a race to the bottom to keep their jobs. Another veteran worker said, Its just like the TPTs who lost their jobs. Her co-worker added, I wish this would stop. She said it was awesome that rank and file autoworker and socialist Will Lehman won a court victory against the Biden administrations effort to sanction the bogus UAW election that installed Fain as president with less than 10 percent of the vote. There has to be a fight, otherwise nothing is going to change, the worker said, agreeing that this had to be a worldwide fight. The layoffs at Warren Truck come in the midst of a mounting crisis in the UAW leadership. In late May, UAW President Shawn Fain removed Vice President Rich Boyer as head of the unions Stellantis department. Boyer was originally a committeeman at Warren Truck before being elected as part of Fains slate in the first-ever UAW direct election. In removing Boyer, Fain claimed he had failed to push back against Stellantis attacks, including the mass firing of supplementals. In an attempt to answer Fains accusations Boyer revealed that Fain and the rest of top UAW leadership were well aware that the contract would lead to the firing of thousands of temp workers. Meanwhile, the monitor overseeing the UAW said earlier this month that he is investigating new allegations of corruption in the UAW leadership involving Fain, UAW Secretary Treasurer Margaret Mock and an unnamed regional director. The monitor claimed that Fain was obstructing the investigation by slow walking the release of thousands of documents that the UAW monitor had requested. Socialist Equality Party vice presidential candidate Jerry White, in a statement posted on X/Twitter, wrote: Rank-and-file workers must mobilize to oppose elimination of the second shift at Warren Truck. If these cuts are allowed to take place it will impose further hardship on workers, missed mortgage payments, shattered families and suicides. The cuts confirm the correctness of the warning made by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees that the outcome of the phony standup strike and the 2023 sellout contract negotiated by Shawn Fain would be a jobs massacre. To fight back, workers must build rank-and-file committees to coordinate their struggles globally to defend jobs. This struggle must be organized independently of the UAW apparatus which is allied with the Biden administration and its program of war overseas and war against the working class at home. The Warren Truck layoffs underscore the importance of the call by rank-and-file Mack Trucks worker and socialist Will Lehman for the abolition of the corrupt UAW apparatus and the transfer of power to workers on the shop floor through the building of rank-and-file committees. To join the fight for rank-and-file committees, fill out the form below. Campaigners for the Socialist Equality Party in Londons Holborn and St Pancras constituency have been accused by supporters of Independent candidate Andrew Feinstein of splitting the anti-Gaza genocide or anti-Keir Starmer vote. The SEP rejects such narrow electoral considerations. We are standing against Starmer and Labour on a diametrically opposed political perspective to that advanced by Feinstein. His is a standpoint shared by numerous candidates protesting party leader Starmers support for genocide while either continuing to support a Labour vote elsewhere or holding out the prospect of forming a political party separate from Labour at some unspecified future date. Andrew Feinstein speaking at a hustings during the campaign in Holborn and St Pancras Most often, as with Feinstein, this is associated with calls for former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to head such a party of the future, based on the programme of minimal reforms he advocated in the general elections of 2017 and 2019. We address these issues directly in our election manifesto, which anticipated the criticisms we now face. The manifesto declares as its perspective: No to Gaza genocide and NATO war against Russia! Fight for a socialist alternative to Starmers Labour Party! Build a socialist anti-war movement! It explains: The SEP rejects calls to sink political differences to bring about one big Gaza protest vote. The promise by the Stop the War Coalition and various pseudo-left groups of No Ceasefire, No Vote means supporting some protest candidates while calling for a vote for Labour everywhere else. It ends with the formation of a government that will continue backing Israel and waging NATOs wars The only reason Starmer is poised to enter 10 Downing Street is that Corbyn and his backers, elected by a landslide to lead the Labour Party in 2015, faced down demands from workers and youth to drive out the Blairites. Corbyn capitulated on all fundamental issues, including NATO membership and nuclear weapons, and then politely handed the party over to Starmer. The refusal to fight the lie of left antisemitism laid the basis for mass expulsions and now the grotesque depiction of Gaza protests, also attended by hundreds of Jews, as hate marches. Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party thanks to a mass influx of workers and young people who supported his pledge to fight for an alternative to the Blairites, defend the working class and, above all, take a stand against British imperialism and its wars. But once Labour leader, he sat on all opposition to the Blairites and handed them victory after victory. While Feinstein and his co-thinkers were holding up Corbyn as someone whose leadership would transform the Labour Party into a vehicle for realising socialism, the SEP was subjecting his political retreats to sustained criticism. This included standing Tom Scripps against Starmer in the 2019 general election when he was Corbyns Shadow Brexit Secretary. Jeremy Corbyn (left) and Sir Keir Starmer at an event during the 2019 General Election when Corbyn was party leader and Starmer his Shadow Brexit Secretary [AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File] We were told then that we should stand aside for Corbyns Labour Party. Fundamentally the same argument is now being made to insist that we bow out to allow Corbyn and followers such as Feinstein a monopoly of opposition to Starmers Labour Party. The working class, in Britain and internationally, confronts enormous dangers. Labour is committed to war with Russia, the Gaza genocide and to being the most pro-business government in British history. It has joined forces with the Tory government in criminalising anti-war, anti-genocide protesters with hate speech laws. Starmer is in a position to do this thanks to Corbyn, who, even while Starmer was preparing the party of NATO for government, was trying desperately to stay in its ranks until he was finally booted out. Even now his closest allies on the Labour left such as Diane Abbott and John McDonnell are campaigning for a Starmer government, with McDonnell an enthusiastic advocate for NATOs war in Ukraine. It is noteworthy that those most incensed by the SEPs standing in Holborn and St Pancras are far more forgiving of these so-called lefts. Feinstein, still a Labour member until this year, is a founder of the new Collective organisation backing a number of independent candidates, which states explicitly that most Labour candidates in the Socialist Campaign Group will also continue to be supported by the organisation. Collective was only founded in May, after Corbyn declared he would be standing against Labour in Islington North. It calls for Corbyn to come to the head of a new party. But for now this is left at the level of a fond wish for the future, because even after being expelled Corbyn refuses to mount a national challenge to the Labour Partyadvancing himself as the historic candidate for Islington North while still supporting the election of a Starmer government. Feinstein and others within Collective dutifully tailor their demands to Corbyns still pro-Labour agenda. Like his mentor, he too combines criticisms of Labours support for the Gaza genocide and other right-wing policies with political formulations that reject any struggle for the political independence of the working class. His is a Peoples Manifesto for Camden, advocating the locally determined politics of a community MP as the basis for a new system of representative democracy that should serve local people, not party machines or corporate interests. This is the tired rhetoric of so many populist and pro-capitalist tendencies that rely on broad hostility to the parties of big business in order to oppose the fight for socialist political representation for workers. What does such an invocation of the unity of all classes mean, for example, under conditions where the ruling class in every country, backed by every one of their major parties, has either explicitly backed and armed Israel, or made only token calls for a ceasefire? Feinstein tries to bypass this reality by insisting that Starmer is out of step with Many Camden residents, with Camden crying out for better on Palestine and Gaza. What then if, as is expected, Starmer is elected in Camden? Accept this as the express wish of its people? Feinstein is advocating a return to a type of municipal socialism that was already rendered historically obsolete by the formation of the Labour Party, which, though not socialist, advocated a nationally based programme of reforms. He argues that he is pioneering a system locally that will eventually inform a national People power strategy. But this too is a well-worn path to betrayal and defeat. The African National Congress (ANC), for which Feinstein was an MP, had its own Freedom Charter. Under the ideological guidance of the South African Communist Party, the ANC demobilised the revolutionary mass movement of the black working class and, from 1990-1994, negotiated a deal with the old apartheid parties to rescue capitalism based on insisting that establishing majority rule was a necessary stage before socialism could be contemplated. South Africa President F.W. de Klerk (left) and ANC leader Nelson Mandela shake hands at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, 1992. [Photo by World Economic Forum / CC BY-SA 4.0 This perspective subsequently allowed for the cultivation of a layer of black capitalists, whose regime Feinstein now proclaims to be corrupt without offering any explanation of how this is rooted in its bourgeois class character. He now wants workers in Britain to repeat, under a rerun of Corbyns disastrous leadership of the Labour Party, the bitter experience of creating broad left formations such as Syriza in Greece that sabotaged the struggle against International Monetary Fund and European Union dictated austerity. The failure of Corbynism to provide a viable opposition to the rightward evolution of the Labour Party is not the result merely of poor leadership. The development of transnational production and the global integration of finance and manufacturing has dramatically undermined the viability of the old trade unions and Stalinist and social democratic parties that were embedded in the nation state system, to which they all responded by junking their former reformist programmes. The Labour left shares the right-wings nationalist and pro-capitalist programme, differing only in their advocacy of a few of the reforms the Blairites have abandoned. Today, only a socialist and internationalist programme offers a way forward for the working class. Every fundamental problem confronting workers is rooted in the deepening crisis of world capitalism. Above all, the danger of a new world war arises out of capitalisms fundamental contradictionsbetween the development of an interconnected global system of production and the division of the world into antagonistic nation states based on upholding private ownership of the means of production. Our manifesto explains that the international working class is the only social force that can stop the global eruption of war. The same contradictions driving imperialism to wars of global conquest provide the objective basis for social revolution by unifying the workers who produce all of societys wealth in a global system of production. This pits them against the common enemy of giant transnational corporations and banks that dictate the policy of every national government. The SEP is fighting in these elections for the formation of a mass movement against genocide and war based in the working class, one that is international, anti-capitalist and socialist. Our aim is to link this fight to the growing struggles against inequality, poverty and the attacks on wages, jobs, healthcare, education and all the social rights of the working class. We intend to build a new socialist leadership, completely independent of and hostile to all political parties and organisations of the capitalist class, the Labour Party above all. That is what distinguishes us from Feinstein and his political co-thinkers. Attend our election rally in London on June 30th. Follow our campaign and lend your support. Donate to our campaign crowdfunder. Promoted by Stuart Nolan, Box 338, 254 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JY, on behalf of Tom Scripps, Box 338, 254 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JY The New Popular Front (NFP) formed by Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party for the July 7 French snap elections is a political trap for the working class. The key issues in the snap election are the risk of a victory of the neo-fascist National Rally (RN) and NATOs plans for a massive escalation of the war with Russia in Ukraine. By forming the NFP, LFI is trapping working class opposition to neo-fascism and world war behind a perspective of support for imperialism, police-state rule and war. The NFPs program calls to send troops to Ukraine and build up Frances military police and intelligence agencies. It brings together LFI with the big-business Socialist Party (PS) and the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), two longstanding parties of capitalist government, war and austerity. The NFP relies on the services of various middle class, pseudo-left tendencies to block opposition on its left among left-wing workers and youth, who are aware of the reactionary record of the PS and that it plays a key role in pushing embittered voters to back the RN. Such tendencies downplay the imperialist war with Russia or support it outright, excuse the labor bureaucracies complicit inaction amid the genocide in Gaza, and ignore LFIs counterrevolutionary ties to Stalinism. At a recent rally in Paris, WSWS reporters interviewed Max, a youth leader of one such tendency: Revolution, the French section of the petty-bourgeois International Marxist Tendency (IMT). Together with other sections of the IMT, Revolution plans to rename itself the Revolutionary Communist Party (PCR). We reproduce the full interview below, followed by comments by the WSWS. *** *** French workers and youth rally on Republic Square in Paris to protest the rise of the far right vote, 15 June 2024. WSWS: Why are you participating in the rally today? A: We are here to bring several points. First of all, obviously, our support for the strategy of the Popular Front for June 30 and July 7, but also to bring a more ambitious perspective. If we want to defeat the far right, of course we do it with the Popular Front in these elections. But to defeat it after July 7, in 2027 [French presidential elections] and, ultimately, once and for all, we need a broader perspective, a very clear and very radical program for a break with capitalism. For that, we must pressure the Popular Front on its left and ultimately break with capitalism. WSWS: So you see yourselves as supporting the New Popular Front from the outside? A: Indeed, we support the Popular Front. Obviously it is the only left-wing alternative to Macron and to the RN in the coming elections. So indeed, we back it to the hilt. But necessarily it is critical support, we point out its limitations. We saw for instance with the New Popular Union alliance [the previous name of the NFP alliance] a few months ago that LFI was betrayed by the PS and the Greens on the issue of Palestine. They were attacked [by the PS] as anti-Semites. The New Popular Union totally blew apart on this question, so we point to these limitations. Above all, we point to the responsibility of certain left-wing parties, like the PS that was in power, like the Greens, that also betrayed the working class. So they also have some responsibility in the fact that the RN has such a large vote. So we point to the limitations of an alliance with those people. If we ever want the program of the Popular Front to be applied after it is elected, we will have to mobilize in the streets, really unify with the trade unions, the youth and the labor movement. WSWS: These elections are taking place in an explosive, extremely dangerous international context. What is the position of your organization on the war in Ukraine? A: On the war in Ukraine, we are very clear. We say it is a war between two imperialisms. It is a proxy war of Russian and US imperialism, with NATO that did enormous provocations in Ukraine for years. And evidently there was imperialist aggression by Russia that invaded Ukraine. It is absolutely disastrous for the Ukrainian people, but neither Russian nor US imperialism can resolve this situation. It is an imperialist war, so we must absolutely stress the responsibility of Putin and the Russian aggressors. And there are also NATO and the United States who carry out the war to the detriment of the Ukrainian people, which is a victim of this entire imperialist attack and confrontation between two imperialist powers. WSWS: What is the position of your organization on the genocide in Gaza? A: We really call upon the leadership of the workers movement around the world to live up to their responsibilities. We must absolutely mobilize against this genocide, it is the best-documented genocide in history. There is no excuse for not struggling against it, so we must struggle against the enemy in our own country which is the enemy of the Palestinians, so usually in France it is the French bourgeoisie, the Macron government that refuses to recognize Palestine. And Airbus, Dassault, Thales keep selling weapons to the Israeli army. The unions and the major left parties must mobilize against those corporations, against genocide. To solve this question definitively, we must have an overthrow of capitalism in Israel, so an uprising of the Israeli and Palestinian masses for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East. So that is our long term perspective, in the short term it is the struggle against French imperialism. WSWS: But there have been calls to mobilize workers internationally to stop the sending of weapons to Israel and thus stop the genocide. Why do you think there was no support for such calls in the trade union bureaucracies of France and the other major NATO imperialist powers? A: We saw Barcelona dockers blocking the sending of weapons for a pretty long time, I think it also happened in India. So there were times these calls were made and reported. But the trade union bureaucracies are bureaucracies, as you say, that is to say that they are more and more detached from the rank and file, which are more radical than they are. They are ever more reformist and less revolutionary, and closer to the state power, too. It becomes very reformist and very bureaucratic, which moves them away from workers interests, so ultimately it will produce absolutely monstrous strategic errors like this, and also mistakes in domestic policy. WSWS: You say you are launching a revolutionary communist party. This raises very serious issues. What is your position on the history of the communist movement in the 20th century, and here I have in mind the Trotskyist movements struggle against Stalinism? A: Yes of course, for us we really stress our loyalty to the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky, that is, the true, authentic communist revolutionaries. We are enemies of Stalinism in the 20th century. We are still enemies of what is left of it, which is to say not very much. There were Trotskyists who were killed or deported by Stalinism. So we are really among the enemies of Stalinism. We explain why Stalinism happened. It is the result of very specific historical circumstances in Russia of the 20th century, which was very backward and very isolated in a single country, which is totally impossible for us because we are an international, the Revolutionary Communist International. So for us Stalinism is a bloody betrayal of the ideas of communism, so we obviously struggle against it and that is obviously what we defend. WSWS: You mentioned the criminal role of Stalinism. Stalin ordered the assassination of Trotsky and carried out a political genocide of Marxists in the Soviet Union. But why then do you call to support a New Popular Front that includes the PCF, the main Stalinist party in France? A: Well, clearly we are not supporting the PCF as such, though of course the PCF today has nothing to do with what it was. We support the New Popular Front in the current context, that is, during snap parliamentary elections where the New Popular Front is the only left force that can defeat Macron. We already said that about France Unbowed in 2017 and 2022, and we say it today about the New Popular Front. But we want the New Popular Front to be much more radical, and we stress evidently the betrayals committed by the PS, the PCF and the Greens. *** *** Petty-bourgeois parties like the Revolution play a central role in blocking a struggle against the enormous dangers posed by the NATO-Russia war and, more generally, blocking revolutionary opposition to capitalism. These parties are aware that the PS speaks for a ruling class that supports the genocide in Gaza and massive attacks on the working class at home. However, in the name of a supposed, supra-class unity against fascism, they push workers and youth behind the NFPs pro-war program. The danger of NATO-Russia war in Ukraine erupting across Europe and the rise of neo-fascist parties across Europe expose the bankruptcy of such arguments. To the extent that Revolution and similar organizations block revolutionary opposition to the NFP on its left, this only gives imperialism more time to escalate the war and drives more voters, angry at the reactionary record of the PS and its allies, into the arms of the RN. Nonetheless, Revolutions response is to double down in support of the PS, the PCF and Melenchon. Its arguments are shot through with massive, untenable contradictions. While falsely proclaiming itself to be revolutionary and even sympathetic to Trotskyist opposition to Stalinism, it supports Stalinist parties. It insists that workers should wait on the union bureaucracies to mobilize against the Gaza genocide, but then admits that these bureaucracies are divorced from the workers and are committing monstrous errors by their complicit inaction on Gaza. It never answers the question: Why does Revolution demand that workers be subordinated to Stalinist counterrevolution or to monstrous bureaucracies indifferent to genocide? Indeed, it is impossible for new generations of youth and workers to orient themselves amid a mortal crisis of capitalism, which poses revolutionary tasks to the working class internationally, without understanding the history of the Trotskyist movement. The IMT has its roots in forces led in Britain by Ted Grant, that broke with Trotskyism after World War II. Adapting to the Stalinist bureaucracies dismantling of the mass movement of armed resistance to fascism in the European working class, they rejected a Trotskyist program for socialist revolution and promoted the post-war capitalist order in Western Europe as democratic. The electoral rise of neo-fascists across Europe in the post-Soviet era is only the latest and most devastating revelation that this conception is utterly false. Grant later sought an alliance with forces led by Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel who split in 1953 with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), the leadership of the world Trotskyist movement. The Pabloites advanced the false argument that Stalinist and bourgeois nationalist parties could play a revolutionary role. On this basis, they insisted that the Trotskyist movement should be politically liquidated and destroyed via deep entry into these parties. From this anti-Trotskyist record, Revolution draws both an orientation to Stalinism, which ultimately dissolved the Soviet Union in 1991, and an orientation to imperialism, particularly in Western Europe. It covers up its support for the war aims of the imperialist powers with denunciations of Russian imperialism. This aligns Revolution with the war policy of NATO which, despite the Kremlins reactionary invasion of Ukraine in 2022, plays the decisive and most aggressive role in the war. It launched a putsch in Ukraine in 2014 to topple an elected pro-Russian government and then furiously armed the far-right Ukrainian regime against Russia. Having thus hijacked Ukraine, it then goaded Russian President Vladimir Putins capitalist regime into invading Ukraine, placing Europe and the world on the brink of World War III. Today, NATO officials openly denounce Russia as imperialist and colonialist, adopting arguments championed by forces like the IMT, to advocate conquering it and dividing it up along ethnic lines. At a recent summit in Switzerland, Polish President Andrzej Duda called to carve up Russia into 200 small statelets that could be dominated by the NATO imperialist powers: Russia is often called the prison of nations, and for a good reason. It is home to over 200 ethnic groups, most of whom became residents of Russia as a result of the methods used in Ukraine today. Russia remains the largest colonial empire in the world today, which unlike the European powers has never undergone the process of decolonization, and has never been able to deal with the demons of its past. There is no more space for colonialism in the modern world. The IMTs pro-imperialist orientation exposes the utter fraudulence of its claims to be building a revolutionary communist international. It is building a motley collection of middle class parties that, as the example of its French section makes very clear, provide political cover for imperialist parties of war and police-state rule. With its checkered, anti-Trotskyist past, it is neither capable of nor interested in formulating a coherent policy for the international working class to oppose war and capitalist reaction. For all its denunciations of Russia and Putin, it is oriented to alliances with Stalinist forces that, inside Russia, restored capitalism and built the Putin regime. Mobilizing the working class against imperialist war, genocide and the rise of neo-fascism requires building an international, socialist anti-war movement in the working class. This, in turn, requires breaking the influence of middle class tendencies like Revolution and the IMT over workers and youth. The political basis for doing this is the unbroken international continuity of the ICFIs defense of Trotskyism against pseudo-left forces like Revolution. A section of the teachers' protest outside Fort Railway Station on Colombo on June 26, 2024 On Wednesday, Sri Lankan police viciously attacked a protest involving around 10,000 teachers outside the Fort Railway Station and adjacent roads in Colombo. Three teachers were hospitalised and others were injured in an assault involving water cannon and tear gas. The police action, undoubtedly orchestrated at the highest levels of the state, is a sharp warning to workers and young people. The government is responding to massive social opposition with increasing repression. The Colombo demonstration, demanding payment of a long outstanding salary increase, was part of a national sick leave action that day by about 250,000 educators, including teachers, principals and instructors. The government mobilised hundreds of police officers, riot police personnel and military forces, some armed with rifles, others with batons and tear gas, and stationed water-cannon vehicles nearby. Wednesdays action was called by the Teachers and Principals Trade Union Alliance (TPTUA)a collective of more than 20 teacher unions, including the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Ceylon Teachers Services Union (CTSU)controlled by the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)and the United Teacher Services Union, which is affiliated to the fake-left Frontline Socialist Party. Thousands of educators, including from the North and East of the country, started gathering outside Fort Railway Station at 9 a.m., with their number growing for several hours. The police then arrived with an order from the Colombo Fort Magistrates Court prohibiting the demonstration from moving along certain roads. Wickremesinghe government mobilises police and military against protesting teachers in Colombo, Sri Lanka on June 26, 2024 Demonstrators, however, defied the court directive and marched towards a nearby junction road which led to the finance ministrys head office. They chanted slogans such as, Provide promotions in teacher and principal services, Provide children school supplies at low prices, Stop the privatisation of education and Solve the teacher-principal salary anomaly! Teachers also called for the defeat of the governments International Monetary Fund austerity measures. Without warning, police started firing teargas and using water cannon. One teacher told the media that some 50 people were injured in the attack. The eye of one teacher and both eyes of another were wounded by high-pressure water cannon and they had to undergo surgery. Faced with the rising anger of teachers and workers over the brutal assault, the trade unions called another day of national industrial action yesterday which saw total participation by education trade union members. During Tuesdays demonstration, CTU and CTSU leaders, Joseph Stalin and Mahinda Jayasinghe respectively, and a few other union officials, met with finance ministry officials. They came away empty handed. Stalin told the demonstrators that the discussions had achieved nothing. He then demagogically declared, This struggle will end with the ouster of current President Ranil Wickremesinghes government How did Gotabhaya Rajapakse go home? It happened in a struggle that began with the teachers struggle. Stalins comments were a reference to the AprilJuly 2022 mass uprising that brought down former President Rajapakse and his government and the 100-day teachers strikefrom July to September 2021to demand higher wages and the rectification of salary anomalies. CTSU leader Jayasinghe told the demonstrators, These problems will be solved by building a popular government. Both leaders were citing the upcoming presidential election scheduled for the end of September or early October. To claim that teachers demands will be resolved through the electoral defeat of Wickremesinghe is a treacherous attempt to politically derail rising working-class opposition to the governments IMF austerity attacks. The JVP and its affiliated trade unions are desperately promoting this propaganda. CSTU leader Jayasinghe is a JVP central committee member. But all the opposition parliamentary parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the JVP and its Jathika Jana Balawegaya electoral front, are fully committed to the IMFs program. The line that all will be solved by the election also gives the government and the state the breathing space they require to intensify their repressive measures. The scale of the austerity measures demanded by the IMF are incompatible with democracy. While brazen police attacks are perpetrated against educators in public, there can be no doubt that discussions are underway behind closed doors for even more serious authoritarian measures. Stalins account was based on a complete falsification of recent history. In fact the teachers national strike in 2021 was betrayed by the unions following meetings with Mahinda Rajapakse, then prime minister. Union officials endorsed the governments claim that teachers salaries could not be increased because of Sri Lankas deepening economic crisis. They then accepted a deal for just one-third of the teachers salary demand and false promises that the remainder would be paid in two instalments, the first in January 2022 and the rest in 2023. Teachers union officials attempted to justify their sellout, claiming that they had achieved some kind of a victory. Payment of the outstanding two-thirds of the salary increase, of course, was denied by the government as the economic crisis deepened, following the eruption of the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Teachers and all sections of the Sri Lankan working class and poor have been hit by skyrocketing increases in the cost of food, power and other essentials, as well as vicious government attacks on their social conditions. The brutal imposition of IMF dictates by the Wickremesinghe government has devastated the lives of millions of Sri Lankans. Like their counterparts in other sectors, since 2022 the teacher union leadership has responded to these social assaults with intermittent, limited and isolated protests, all designed to dissipate their members rising anger. Since January, trade union officials have called strikes and protests in the electricity, health, university, port, postal and education sectors demanding higher pay and opposing privatisation. The union bureaucracies, however, are vehemently opposed to unified national action. Yesterday, President Wickremesinghe, in a clear reference to the teachers protests and the ongoing non-academic university workers strike, repeated that his government would not grant any wage increase for public sector employees. It may be considered next year, he said, but this depended on whether the government could manage expenditurei.e., through even bigger tax increases and social spending cuts. The government is already squeezing workers and the poor through increases in the value added tax on all essentials, higher prices for goods and services, and the restructuring of state-owned enterprises for privatisation and commercialisation. The harsh attacks are principally designed to repay foreign debt. The governments vicious police attack on protesting teachers and its repeated declarations that there will be no pay rises this year for public sector workers, make clear that the entire working class is in a political struggle against the Wickremesinghe administration and the profit system itself. World Socialist Web Site supporters intervened in the teachers protest on Wednesday, and in school districts outside Colombo, distributing copies in Sinhala and Tamil of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) statement, Oppose Sri Lankan trade unions attempt to subordinate class struggles to upcoming elections! Prepare a general strike against government austerity! Fight for socialist policies! The statement called for workers to form democratically elected action committees in workplaces, factories and plantations, independent of the trade union bureaucracies and the capitalist political parties to which they are aligned, to prepare a political general strike. That is the only way to defeat the austerity offensive, secure the social needs of the masses and prevent the imposition of openly authoritarian forms of rule. The statement explained: For the success of a political general strike, it is essential to go forward and build a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses (DSC) comprised of democratically elected delegates from action committees throughout the island. The SEP initiated this program in mid-July 2022, during the mass uprising, to counter the capitalist onslaught. Workers do not need a capitalist government of the ruling parties or the opposition SJB, JVP, or any other political combination, that will continue to implement IMF austerity. They need a workers and peasants government that will implement a socialist program. The DSC would prepare and mobilise the revolutionary power of the working class to overthrow the capitalist state and pave the way for a workers and peasants government. Mamie Laverocks family has offered another update on the actress condition following her near-fatal fall from a five-story hospital balcony late last month. Nicole Rockmann shared the update on her 19-year-old daughter, who was placed on life support after the accident, in a post to Laverocks official Facebook page earlier this week. Thank you for your healing messages for Mamie, the post began. Mamie survived her injuries, however her road to recovery will be long. I will be setting up a mailbox for all of your cards and well wishes shortly. Laverock, known for her role in Hallmark series When Calls the Heart, was initially taken to a Winnipeg hospital on May 11 due to an undisclosed medical emergency, according to a GoFundMe campaign created by the family. She was then transferred to St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, where on May 26 she was escorted out of a secure unit and taken up to a balcony walkway from which she fell five stories. In the wake of speculation that Laverocks fall was a suicide attempt, Rockmann told the L.A. Times it was not intentional and blamed staffers at the health care facility. There will be accountability, Rockmann said, saying the family plans to take legal action against St. Pauls. Though the extent of Laverocks injuries are unclear, the family said she shattered her body and has been in tremendous pain. She has since undergone multiple extensive surgeries. With a boistrous new singe under her belt, LISA of BLACKPINK is proudly stepping out on her own and shes bringing a few Thai influencers with her. Eagle-eyed fans noticed three transgender influencers Chinnawat Promsri, Bruze Kachi-sarah and Aeffy featured throughout the clip. Alongside shots of LISA dancing her way through Bangkok, the three influencers appear throughout the video to pose for the camera dressed in their best evening wear. More from Billboard Chinnawat Promsri known to her fans as Chinni is best known for sharing viral videos of herself speaking about her experience as a trans woman living in Thailand. Bruze Kachi-sarah, meanwhile, recently earned the title of first runner-up in Miss Tiffany 2024, a long-running beauty pageant in Thailand for trans women. Finally, Aeffy works with Thai media organization GMMTV, and regularly posts photos from the GMMTV set on her Instagram. All three posted clips of the Rockstar video to Instagram Stories after the videos release. Fans were quick to point out the excellent timing of LISAs new music video earlier this month, Thailands senate passed a landmark piece of legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, making it the first Southeast Asian country to do so. Lisa putting the spotlight on the LGBTQ community & her home is so so special to me, one fan wrote on X. Another added: THE LGBTQIA+ REPRESENTATION????????? SHE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SUCH ST IN THE KPOP WORLD. LISA THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE. The new video and song arrives after LISA signed a blockbuster solo deal with RCA Records back in April. Im super excited to be joining the RCA family, and I am confident they are the best team to create a bigger movement in my solo career, she said in a statement at the time. Looking forward to showing the world everything we have been preparing. Check out LISAs new music video for Rockstar, as well as fans reactions to her LGBTQ+ inclusion, below. Bruce Kachi-Sarah, Thai beauty queen who ranked no.2 in Miss Tiffany 2024, a beauty pageant for Thai transgender women in Pattaya, Thailand, was featured in LISA's ROCKSTAR M/V. Lisa putting the spotlight on the LGBTQ community & her home is so so special to me. Happy Pride! pic.twitter.com/g76A56fPY6 (@lisamygem) June 28, 2024 IS THIS CHINNI IN LISAS MV?!?!?!? THE LGBTQIA+ REPRESENTATION????????? SHE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO SUCH SHIT IN THE KPOP WORLD. LISA THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE. #LISA_ROCKSTAR pic.twitter.com/1QS8DwWsk0 radical optimism (@gjkhouri) June 28, 2024 Lisa's LGBT+ inclusion in her mv, released in the same month that approves of gay marriage, will always be so memorable. also, the day of its release. International LGBT Pride Day June 28th ROCKSTAR OUT NOW#MusicianLISAisBACK#LISAxROCKSTAR pic.twitter.com/uAL1ivznY7 kenji (@yk2aii) June 28, 2024 mad respect for LISA for proudly including these lovely transgenders in support to the LGBTQ community this pride month. SHE SURELY GOT OUT & FREE FROM KPOP world! SHES NOW LIVING AS THE GLOBAL SUPERSTAR. ROCKSTAR OUT NOW#MusicianLISAisBACK#LISAxROCKSTAR https://t.co/ARMXt1ONL7 pic.twitter.com/u89HArHssf hj (@jnkimsgirl) June 28, 2024 Best of Billboard Maude Latour considers herself a Wisconsinite by heritage. With two grandparents hailing from Oshkosh and a mother who grew up in the state, the rising pop singer said she spent many summers cherishing Wisconsin culture before her 2024 Summerfest debut. "I remember being a little kid coming here in the summer and seeing Summerfest on TV, Miranda Cosgrove was playing. So, it's a very full circle moment," the 24-year-old said in an interview with the Journal Sentinel. Four years ago, Latour was wrapping up a virtual semester of college at Columbia University when she posted a video on TikTok of her singing her song "One More Weekend." It amassed over 500,000 views and thousands of likes. Though she got her start writing music as a teenager, penning love songs between choir practice and homework, her rise to fame came during the pandemic when Latour regularly hopped online to share her daily antics with fans. She filmed music videos to songs like "Superfruit" in dorm rooms. Employing her roommate and friend Fergus Campbell as a director, Latour gallivanted across Columbia's campus with roommates and friends as background actors. On some late nights and early mornings, Latour posted videos in front of the piano where she wrote and produced some of her most popular songs. More: A conversation with Chappell Roan, the 'Midwest Princess' of pop opening for Olivia Rodrigo "I just usually sit here at night and I play piano and do a stream of consciousness every day, just like, get it out," she said in a May 2020 video. "It's just sitting here, existing through this," she said gesturing toward her piano. Latour's diaristic ballads and openness about her evolving identity and sexuality brought devoted masses of fans and followers her way. She wrote songs about sexual assault survivors, navigating queerness and finding community. At the same time, she juggled a full course load with local performances and fielded inquiries from record labels. She signed a record deal with Warner Records in 2021 and played her first music festival at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August 2022. Now she's preparing to release her debut album, "Sugar Water." With new singles like "Cursed Romantics," "Too Slow" and "Comedown," Latour's music graduates from early songs laced with the naivety and confusion of first love to the bittersweet nostalgia of her mid-20s. "I've been talking about it for so long before it even existed, and finally it's real," Latour said of the soon-to-be-released album. "I can't wait. I feel like it's the beginning of a new chapter." Dressed in her usual array of sparkly clothing and eccentric, colorful makeup, Latour ushered in the new era June 27 with her Summerfest debut. Maude Latour poses for a portrait as she prepares to open for MUNA at Summerfest's BMO Pavilion on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Latour performed her new single "Comedown" for the first time, with the song landing on streaming platforms just hours after her performance in front of the Milwaukee crowd. Before performing, Latour gave the Journal Sentinel a sneak peek of the song's lyrics and meaning by singing a line from the chorus: "We were 16, we would never get carded. Uh-oh, wasn't it fun?" In the song, Latour recounts teenage memories that shaped her coming of age, details the moment that led to writing her first song, and mourns the lost connections that came in the following years. "When you're in your 20s, suddenly all the teenage memories come back to you like, what?" she said. "It's secretly a grief song but still holding all the memories," she added. In addition to opening for pop band MUNA at Summerfest, Latour will serve as an opening act for another festival headliner, Fletcher, this fall on the "In Search of The Antidote" tour. Latour will perform at 14 venues across the country, including Radio City Music Hall in her hometown of New York City. She detailed her hopes to return to Milwaukee as a headliner after her album's debut on August 16. "I think I've been nervous about this album. It's made me feel every feeling under the sun, but finally I think I'm in a place of just trusting the process, and whatever happens, I'm just so lucky and honored to share stuff with people." Fans share their appreciation for Maude Latour ahead of Summerfest set Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at tfowlkes@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Maude Latour talks new album "Sugar Water" and her love for Wisconsin New Superman movie may be set in 'Delaware.' Here's why Superman fans are leaping buildings in a single bound over seemingly leaked photos from the upcoming movie, with a few images suggesting Metropolis is officially set in Delaware. While James Gunn's "Superman" has been filming in Ohio this week, alleged set photos featuring the Delaware flag have surfaced on multiple social platforms. On June 26, the Delaware Reddit page featured a post by redditor vtrip22, showing a picture of what appears to be a camera operator filming next to the colonial-blue Delaware flag. The redditor's caption read: "Set photos reveal that Metropolis will be set in Delaware, in the comics Metropolis was set in Delaware." He also claimed the pictures were shot in Ohio. "These photos are from sets in Cleveland. I dont think they are filming in Delaware but well see." On June 20, the Instagram superhero page DCU Updates posted what appears to be an alternate image of the same camera operator, this time zoomed in to show more detail of what clearly looks like the Delaware seal on the flag. The DCU Updates' post was captioned: "DCU Metropolis is in Delaware!" The post warmed the heart of one IG user who declared, "I'm so happy. I miss Delaware all of a sudden." Wait, how is Superman from Delaware? Steve Givens of Rehoboth Beach is a Superman fan who showed off his collection of books, comics and photos in 2022. The Man of Steel has technically been from the Small Wonder for at least 30-plus years. This piece of trivia is based on a map published by Mayfair Games in 1990 thats part of The Atlas of the DC Universe, a supplemental piece for a DC role playing game (RPG). The map located Batmans home of Gotham City in South Jersey, while placing Supermans home of Metropolis in an unspecified area of Kent County, Delaware. In 2022, Joe Murray, owner of Captain Blue Hen Comics in Newark, told Delaware Online/The News Journal that many people arent aware of Supermans ties to Delaware. I don't think that it's public knowledge. That is a very deep dive, nerd thing to know, Murray said in the 2022 interview, adding he didn't think Metropolis being set in the Small Wonder was canon in DC books at the time of his interview. Ohio, Illinois and Kansas where is Superman from? The character is celebrated as the worlds first superhero and is claimed by multiple states outside of Delaware. For years, Illinois has claimed the Man of Steel because they have a real city named Metropolis, which was founded in 1839, nearly 100 years before Superman was created, per Illinois Public Media. The city also is home to the famous 15-foot-tall Superman statue and the Super Museum, which hosts Superman-themed memorabilia. The reason the new "Superman" movie is probably being shot in the Ohio area, including Cleveland, is because the Man of Steel's creators, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, are from Cleveland. Supermans origin story is hes an alien from planet Krypton. His birth name is Kal-El. Once his parents learn their planet will be destroyed, hes sent to live on planet earth, where he arrives in the fictional Smallville, Kansas, before he grows up and moves off to the big city in the fictional Metropolis. What's the new 'Superman' movie about? David Corenswet stars as Superman in the upcoming 'Superman' film, set for release on July 11, 2025. Gunn's new "Superman," which was previously titled "Superman: Legacy," will be the first big project in he and Peter Safran's new DC Universe. The cast includes Philly native David Corenswet as the Superman. While many details haven't been announced about the film, we do know it includes Superman's crime-fighting cousin Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock), plus fellow superheroes like Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion). Other notable cast members include Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), Perry White (Wendell Pierce) and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). IMDB's description of the film says the project "Follows the titular superhero as he reconciles his heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American Way in a world that views this as old-fashioned." Delaware's free summer movies 2024: Get your popcorn ready! Flavors of Delaware summer festivals: From Phish fest to Burger Battle When is the new 'Superman' in theaters? The film is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025. Meanwhile, time will tell if Delaware is officially part of the Superman canon in the movie. If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: New Superman movie may be set in 'Delaware,' explained Viggo Mortenson, as well as jury members Geoffrey Rush and independent film veteran Christine Vachon were among the big names strutting down the red carpet on Friday evening for the gala opening ceremony of the 58th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic. The black-tie opening event saw Mortensen collect the KVIFF Presidents Award in the Czech spa town that will for the next week present what has come to be considered Central Europes biggest cinema celebration of the summer. More from The Hollywood Reporter Mortensen, whose feminist western The Dead Dont Hurt opened the fest later that night, charmed the fest audience with some prepared Czech remarks that drew much applause and appreciation. He then switched to English, calling KVIFF a very important celebration of cinema that you have every year, making him feel honored that the fest was recognizing my work as a storyteller. Mortenson shared that The Dead Dont Hurt was a difficult movie to make, adding that, all movies are difficult to make. But I was lucky to count on an amazing group of actors. He particularly lauded stars Vicky Krieps and Solly McLeod. He even brought the latter to the stage after quipping that he was at first wondering if the actor may be too young and have too strong a British accent. When I saw him on Zoom, I was like, Oh my God, he looks like hes 16 years old. Hows this going to work?' Because of the accent, Mortensen offered another chat a few weeks later, and by then McLeods accent was almost perfect, he shared. By the time the film was made, it was perfect, Mortensen concluded. McLeod got a warm welcome from the crowd and made people laugh by explaining: Im a very, very bad person in this movie, but I promise Im nice in real life. Of note, KVIFFs popular Crystal Globe award statuette has a new size and weight this year. After 24 years, the festival award from the Moser glassworks is changing in size, organizers said just before the start of the fest. The Globes have shed 1.8 kilograms in weight, are 7.5 centimeters shorter and the crystal ball is 2.4 centimeters smaller in diameter. The new statuette is 34.5 centimeters tall and weighs 2.6 kilograms. The opening ceremony, as is tradition, included a much-applauded stage show, once again choreographed by Michal and Simon Cabani, that kicked off the proceedings with the duos trademark mix of action and fun. Its theme was this years 30th anniversary edition under the leadership of KVIFF president Jiri Bartoska and his team who reinvigorated the fest amid talk about its potential cancellation. Czech words scrolling upwards on a screen in the style of Star Wars openings along with a voiceover described the dark clouds that had gathered over KVIFF after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The first edition of KVIFF under the new team was held in 1994, which the opening comments noted, was the same year Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, Friends premiered and Pulp Fiction won the Palme dOr in Cannes. A montage of 30 years of festival and Bartoska pictures with the likes of Michael Douglas, Jack Valenti, Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, Jude Law, Judi Dench, Oliver Stone, Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Jeremy Renner, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush and more followed to much applause. At the end, a group of dancers and performers took over the stage to cheers, including a man chasing a woman with a chainsaw, a guy jumping on a trampoline, a roller-skater, a woman dressed as a show dancer, and two people dressed up as either aliens or fantasy creatures (with what one audience member described as either alien bishop hats or squids on their head). These were callbacks to some of the past opening shows over the last 30 years. Bartoska expressed a love for black-and-white films and thanked his team and sponsors for their hard work and support. When brands that are KVIFF sponsors were called out a bit later, a message likely meant with a wink showed up on a screen: Thanks for your money. Then, the audience was in for another treat. After all, the ceremony also featured the unveiling of the annual irreverent KVIFF trailer, which always stars a famous past KVIFF honoree. This year, Benicio del Toro is the leading man featured in the trailer. The trailer earned rabid applause, as did Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov who is in town to world premiere his documentary Real from the trenches of the Ukraine War. Ceremony host Marek Eben referenced Sentsovs time in a Russian prison, saying, according to a translator, he survived Putins gulag. Sentsov then stood up in the audience to a huge ovation. After the celebration of Mortensen, the elegantly dressed audience got to enjoy Mortensens The Dead Dont Hurt, which he wrote and directed,. A free open-air performance by British electronic music band Kosheen just outside the main fest venue, the Hotel Thermal, kicked off at around 10:45 p.m. local time to get the many enthusiastic film and music fans in attendance into the groove until late with an energetic life show and such hits as Catch and Hide U. Singer Sian Evans earned cheers when she mentioned that Kosheen is celebrating its 25th year in 2024. Every time we come to the Czech Republic, you people embrace us and lift us up, she said. Its a love affair. After the musical performances onstage, the official part of the night ended with fireworks over Karlovy Vary at midnight. The Czech festival will also honor Daniel Bruhl and Clive Owen with Presidents Awards, host Steven Soderbergh, pay tribute to screenwriter and director Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said, You Hurt My Feelings) and present a Franz Kafka retrospective. Last year, Russell Crowe, Alicia Vikander and ice skaters helped kick off the film fest in style. The 2024 Karlovy Vary festival runs through July 6. Best of The Hollywood Reporter These women are about to play Glastonbury. That should be no surprise given their nation is mad about metal Thrash metal trio Voice of Baceprot have come a long way since their teen years attending an Islamic school in Indonesia, where they first discovered System of a Down on a teachers computer and fell in love with heavy metal music. Earlier this week the band touched down in Britain ahead of their highest profile gig to date, joining the likes of Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Sza to play at the 2024 Glastonbury festival. They will be the first Indonesian band ever to play at the iconic event. Guitarist and vocalist Firda Marsya Kurnia said the band was super nervous and excited to bring their brand of Sundanese metal music to a global stage on Friday and told CNN that they were also planning on camping to get into the spirit of the world-renowned event. We are here and ready to rock out at Glastonbury, she said. Our set is going to be something different and show (the world) Indonesia and Indonesian culture. Dressed in skinny jeans and headscarves, Marsya and her bandmates drummer Euis Siti Aisyah and bassist Widi Rahmawati are a far cry from the average heavy metal band. But in many ways their embrace of thrash metal Baceprot means loud in Sundanese shouldnt be surprising. In Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation, metal has long been tremendously popular. Heavy metal is a way of life in Indonesia and Voice of Baceprot (VOB) has proven against all odds that women too can play and rock out just as hard, Pri Ario Damar, dean of the performing arts faculty at the Jakarta Institute of Arts and a self-professed metalhead told CNN. They are young, exciting and represent a new brand of Indonesian metal. The band on stage at The New Parish venue on August 18, 2023 in Oakland, California. - Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images Fans go wild as VOB vocalist and guitarist Firda Kurnia performs on stage during a concert in Jakarta. - Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images While all female fronted acts are a rarity even in the wider, male-dominated world of metal and hardcore, in Indonesia, its even rarer to see devout women in hijab moshing out. But VOB do just that. In recent years, the band have morphed from something of a YouTube oddity to a legit act, winning fans like former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello who recalled replaying a clip of them ten times in a row when he first encountered them online. Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai has also praised their bravery for enduring death threats and attacks by religious conservatives. The members of VOB believe that music is the best way to address the issues they witness in their country and around the world, her non-profit organization the Malala Fund wrote. We dont want generations after us to remain in the wrong system or way of thinking. It might sound counterintuitive that a form of music once decried by more fringe Christian conservatives as somehow Satanic might be popular in a huge Muslim-majority nation. But in many ways, metal is woven into both the cultural and political fabric of modern Indonesia. We are a moderate Muslim country and are open to (new) arts and culture, Pri said. Indonesians love music all kinds of genres and sub genres. Heavy metal music in particular, he added, has always been popular, even among new generations of Indonesians today. Pri recalls the rise of thrash metal while growing up in Jakarta during the 1980s. It was all about the Big Four, Pri said, referring to now legendary bands Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, who he also credits with transforming the citys local music scene. Jakarta had thriving underground metal and punk scenes. Back then, you would go to pubs and small venues around the city on Saturday nights and hear bands playing Metallica covers, he recalled. You could find bootleg CDs and cassette tapes sold on the streets and radio stations would play heavy metal music all the time. In this photograph taken on August 25, 2013, then-Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, watches a Metallica concert at the Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta. - Olivia Rondonuwu/AFP/Getty Images Globalization and the proliferation of Western acts came at a complicated political time for Indonesia. Indonesias first president Sukarno, a brutal US-backed dictator who served from 1945 to 1967, famously forbade Western music and bands like the Beatles from being played in the country on the grounds they were products of Western imperialism. Sukarno hated Western influences like rock music, believing it was bad for the country, according to music and cultural anthropologist Jeremy Wallach, the author of several books about heavy metal in Indonesia. He outlawed all kinds of music that did not suit his taste. His successor Suharto, also a military dictator, began to ease restrictions over his own decades-long rule. Unbeknownst to him, (it) gave rise to underground music scenes which I believe helped to foster resistance and was partly responsible for toppling his autocratic regime in 1998, Wallach says. Metalheads rock out in the mosh pit at this year's Jogjarockarta festival. - Rajawali Indonesia The night Metallica came to town Perhaps the most vivid illustration of how committed Indonesians were to metal took place in April 1993 when Metallica played a set in Jakarta that ended in a historic riot. Pri Ario Damar, the arts dean, was 18 at the time. Metallica is massive in Indonesia so when they came, it was like a dream, he recalled. Fans were all super excited and tickets were hard to get. Pri said minutes into the bands opening song Creeping Death, anger began to spread through crowds of fans locked outside. Frustrated at not being able to afford tickets, they rioted smashing stadium gates and torching vehicles and shops. (So much) violence and noise was happening, Pri said. It was my first encounter with heavy metal. Metallica were effectively banned from Indonesia for the next 20 years, but they were famously invited back in 2013 by then Jakarta governor and self-declared metalhead Joko Widodo, who was gifted a bass guitar by Metallicas Robert Trujillo. This time there was no riot, said Pri, who also attended that second gig. The excitement from the fans was just as raw, he recalled, and this time big screens were set up outside the stadium to accommodate those without tickets. A year later Jokowi, as he is known in Indonesia, was elected president, the countrys first leader not to emerge from its political or military elite. This picture taken in 2013 shows then-Jakarta governor Jokowi holding an autographed maroon bass guitar gifted to him by Metallica's Robert Trujillo. - AFP/Getty Images A new era of Muslim rock chicks Indonesias love for metal music has given rise to several local festivals that rival popular ones in the West and the country remains a regular stop off point for global touring metal acts. Hammersonic, the largest metal festival in Southeast Asia, has hosted numerous metal and hard rock heavyweights over the years including Megadeth, Slipknot and the Dead Kennedys. This year was headlined by US heavy metal band Lamb of God, and included other well-known international acts such Atreyu, Cradle of Filth, As I Lay Dying and deathcore veterans Suicide Silence, playing to over 30,000 fans, according to organizers. Indonesia is home to the most metal fans in Asia so heavy metal bands love coming to play here, said Hammersonic CEO Ravel Junardy. Lamb Of God vocalist Randy Blythe performs during Hammersonic in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 9, 2015. - Eddy Purwanto/NurPhoto/Getty Images Dave Mustaine on stage at the JogjaROCKarta festival with his thrash metal band Megadeth in 2018. - Corna Irawan/Courtesy Rajawali Indonesia What weve built with Hammersonic is a community. We wanted to unite metalheads and rock music fans from all around the world like the festivals in places like Sweden and Finland, we thought, why cant we have metal fests in Indonesia? Anas Syahrul Alimi, founder of the annual Jogjarockarta music festival held on the island of Java, praised the metal community in Indonesia, saying they were one of the most diehard heavy metal fanbases in the world and also loud as hell. This year, the festival will be held twice, Anas said, to cater to metalheads from across Indonesia and around the world. Every year Jograrockarta is packed with thousands of metalheads and the atmosphere is fantastic, he told CNN. Dave Mustaine was very excited when he visited our city Yogyakarta for the very first time in 2017, Anas said of the Megadeth founder, describing him as a unique and charming rock star. German thrash metal band Kreator performed at the festival earlier in January under pouring rain. Their fans did not budge, Anas said, adding that they shouted along and moshed all the way until the end of their set. Indonesian heavy metal band Death Vomit from Yogjakarta are known for their ferocious and brutal sound. They performed at the Jogjarockarta festival on January 27, 2024. - Rajawali Indonesia German metal band Kreator holds up a banner during their performance at the Jogjarockarta festival on January 27, 2024. - Rajawali Indonesia For many metalheads like Dougie, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, metal provides what he says is an outlet for the stresses of everyday life. We relate to lyrics that are angry and raw, like songs from bands like Rage Against the Machine, Prong and Soulfly that incorporate social and political messages, said the aspiring progressive metal guitarist from Surabaya. Mark LeVine, an author of several books about heavy metal communities in the Middle East and Asia, says Indonesias metal scene has thrived freely for more than 30 years because the country which has long prided itself on being comparatively secular and democratic is so culturally diverse. Indonesia has hundreds and hundreds of very different languages and cultures. It is far more tolerantly multicultural than many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, LeVine told CNN. He also highlighted the persecution of musicians and artists in the Arab world. LeVine says authoritarian governments in places like Egypt might crackdown on metal because they deem it anti-establishment or anti-religious. It can score points because people dont like metalheads like in Egypt. (But) I dont think that plays the same way in Indonesia. Meanwhile as VOB get ready to play Glastonbury, they will not just be playing to foreign fans. Faezah Eli and her friends from Singapore and Malaysia, have bought flights to the United Kingdom and will be in the crowd. She first saw them live at a music festival in Singapore back in 2021 and says she is looking forward to their Glastonbury debut. We cant wait to see them on stage, she told CNN. It will be a new era of Muslim rock chicks. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump met for a showdown over policy and their records, but not everything claimed by the candidates onstage was factual. Inflation rates, border crossings, Jan. 6, abortion, the stock market and the cost to America of the Paris Climate Accord were among the issues the two sparred over that need a closer look. ABC News politics team analyzed their comments to break down fact from fiction. Did Biden inherit 9% inflation? TRUMP CLAIM: "He also said he inherited 9% inflation no. He inherited almost no inflation, and it stayed ... stayed that way for 14 months, and it blew up under his leadership " FACT CHECK: This is mostly true. In January 2021, when Biden was inaugurated, year-over-year inflation was about 1.4%. Under Biden, year-over-year inflation peaked at 9.1 % in June 2022. But it is now down to 3.3 %. Under Trump, inflation rose 7.76 % from January 2017 to January 2021, and year-over-year inflation peaked at 2.9 % in July 2018. Zunaira Zaki PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate with Democrat candidate, President Joe Biden, in Atlanta, June 27, 2024. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) MORE: 5 takeaways from striking Biden-Trump presidential debate Were there any military conflicts during Trump's term in office? TRUMP CLAIM: "We gota lot of credit for the military, and no wars and so many other things. Everything was rocking good." FACT CHECK: Needs context. While it's true that Trump did not formally declare war against a foreign power while in the White House, he significantly scaled up military action in Syria and Iraq in the fight against ISIS and also authorized the air strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, putting the country on the brink of a direct conflict with Iran. Pentagon records also show that at least 65 American troops were killed in action during Trump's term. Shannon Kingston Crime and the Border TRUMP CLAIM: "We have a border that's the most dangerous place anywhere in the world, considered the most dangerous place anywhere in the world, and he opened it up, and these killers are coming into our country, and they are raping and killing women." FACT-CHECK: False. The reality is that no evidence points to a significant surge in crime caused by recent arrivals. The former president's claims ignore the fact that, overall, crime is down across the country. According to the latest FBI statistics released quarterly, violent crimes were down 6% in quarter 4 of 2023 (through Dec 2023) compared to the same time frame in 2022. There was a 13% decline in murders and a 4% drop in property crimes across the country. That declining trend followed unprecedented spikes in 2019 and 2020, Trump's last two years in office. Armando Tonatiuh Torres-Garcia Hunter Biden's laptop TRUMP CLAIM: "It's the same thing 51 intelligence agents said that the laptop was Russian disinformation. It wasn't that it came from his son, Hunter. It wasn't Russia." FACT CHECK: True, but needs unpacking At the final presidential debate of the 2020 cycle, Joe Biden suggested the contents of his son's laptop's hard drive which by then had been dubbed the "laptop from hell" in the New York Post and other conservative outlets were "garbage" and a "Russian plant." Biden's claim that the laptop hard drive was a "Russian plant" was an apparent reference to a letter signed by 51 retired intelligence officials who wrote that the timing of its emergence "has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation." Several of those signees have since said that Biden mischaracterized the language in their letter. Furthermore, earlier this month, prosecutors at Hunter Biden's criminal trial in Delaware introduced the laptop into evidence and, in one of the more theatrical moments of the trial, showed jurors the physical MacBook Pro 13 that Hunter Biden purportedly abandoned at a Wilmington computer repair shop in April 2019. "Ultimately, in examining that laptop, were investigators able to confirm that it was Hunter Biden's laptop?" prosecutor Derek Hines asked an FBI agent who testified as an expert witness in Hunter Biden's recent gun case. "Yes," the FBI agent said. Lucien Bruggeman PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Gerald Herbert/AP) MORE: Biden falters in high-stakes debate, Trump spews falsehoods Late-term abortions TRUMP'S CLAIM: "The problem they have is they are radical because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month and even after birth." FACT CHECK: This is not true. Abortions that occur later in pregnancy are around 1% of abortions, according to KFF. Democrats do not call for abortions late into pregnancies, and infanticide is illegal in the U.S. Democrats often respond that abortions that do happen in the third trimester are the result of tragic circumstances in a pregnancy. Cheyenne Haslett Who had a better stock market? TRUMP CLAIM: "[Biden] created mandates. That was a disaster for our country but other than that we had, we had given back a country where the stock market actually was higher than pre-COVID, and nobody thought that was even possible. FACT CHECK: Unclear. The Dow hit 30,000 for the first time on November 24, 2020. But that was after the last presidential election, so it's hard to say whether it was because of Trump's presidency or because of Biden's win. Zunaira Zaki Are more terrorists now crossing the border into America? TRUMP CLAIM: "We have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now." FACT CHECK: Largely exaggerated. Trump appears to be referring to the increasing number of migrants on the federal terror "watchlist" who are encountered at the border. The number of people encountered by border authorities on the watchlist jumped from three in Trump's last full year to nearly 100 in the first full fiscal year under Biden. However, the Terrorist Screening Dataset, maintained by the FBI, includes names of people who have suspected ties to individuals who may be affiliated with a foreign terror organization. It is not a comprehensive list of actual terrorists. Quinn Owen Paris Climate Accord TRUMP CLAIM: "The Paris Accord was going to cost us a trillion dollars and China nothing and Russia nothing, and India nothing. It was a rip-off of the United States, and I ended it because I didn't want to waste that money because they treated us horribly." FACT CHECK: Not entirely true. Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accord on his first day in office, according to a State Department memo. One-hundred and ninety-six countries signed on to the Paris Accord, agreeing to work together to limit the impacts of climate change and global warming. As part of that, the more developed, wealthier nations committed to contributing $100 billion to support developing countries more vulnerable to climate change's impacts. Biden pledged to work with Congress to authorize $11 billion to contribute to the Paris Agreement's $100 billion in funds to support developing countries who need help adapting to climate change's impacts. As of 2023, the U.S. was on track to meet that goal with $9.5 billion committed to financing global climate initiatives, according to the State Department. Stephanie Ebbs PHOTO: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greet CNN event moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper following a presidential debate with former President Donald Trump, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Gerald Herbert/AP) MORE: Biden's biggest weakness -- his age -- on full display at debate: ANALYSIS National Guardsmen on Jan. 6 TRUMP CLAIM: "I offered her [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] 10,000 soldiers who are National Guard. And she turned them down, and the mayor of - in writing, by the way, the mayor, in writing, turned it down. The mayor of D.C. They turned it down. I offered 10,000 because I could see I had virtually nothing to do. They asked me to go make a speech." FACT-CHECK: False. The final report by the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol determined there was "no evidence" to support the claim that Trump gave an order "to have 10,000 troops ready for January 6th." The report quoted President Trump's Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, who directly refuted this claim under oath, saying, "There was no direct order from the President" to put 10,000 troops to be on the ready for January 6th. Instead, the report noted that when Trump referenced that number of troops, it was not to protect the Capitol but that he had "floated the idea of having 10,000 National Guardsmen deployed to protect him and his supporters from any supposed threats by left-wing counter-protesters." Luis Martinez Iran, Israel, and Oct. 7 TRUMP CLAIM: "He [Putin] never would have invaded Ukraine, never, just like Israel would have never been invaded in a million years by Hamas. You know why? Because Iran was broke with me. I wouldn't let anybody do business with them. They ran out of money. They were broke. They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for anything, no money for terror. That's why you had no terror at all during my administration. FACT CHECK: Not true. Iran has been Hamas' principal backer for decades, including through the Trump presidency. Although Trump did withdraw from an Obama-era nuclear deal and levy sanctions against Tehran that dealt a sharp blow to its economy, records retrieved from inside Gaza by the Israeli Defense Forces and verified by independent news outlets indicate Iran still funneled tens of millions of dollars to Hamas during his administration. Two of Trump's top advisers for Middle Eastern affairs also claimed that Iran was supplying Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups with $100 million each year in an op-ed published in 2019.Shannon Kingston Trump's Manhattan hush-money case TRUMP CLAIM: "That was a case that was started, and they moved a high-ranking official, a DOJ, into the Manhattan DA's office to start that case. [Biden] basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me." FACT CHECK: There are a few things to unpack here but there is no evidence to support either statement. First, there is no evidence that Joe Biden, as president of the United States, directed or choreographed a state prosecution which was brought by the Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg. Biden has no authority to do so, and there is no evidence to support Trump's assertion. Second, with regard to the "high-ranking" DOJ official who Trump claims was moved into the District Attorney's office to "start the case," Trump appears to be referring to Matthew Colangelo, who left the Justice Department in December of 2022, years after the investigation began. There is no evidence that Biden or the Justice Department coordinated Colangelo's move. The case was brought by Bragg, an elected Democrat in New York. Trump was found guilty by a jury of his peers. Lucien Bruggeman PHOTO: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump leave the stage at the end of the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections in Atlanta, June 27, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Did CNN's Biden-Trump presidential debate format work? Were tax cuts under Trump the largest in history? TRUMP CLAIM: "I gave you the largest tax cut in history. I also gave you the largest regulation cut in history, that's why we had all the jobs." FACT-CHECK: False. According to Erica York at the Tax Foundation, the Trump-era tax cut (TCJA) was a large tax cut but not the largest in history. If you look at percent of revenue as share of GDP in the first two years, several tax cuts going back to 1940 were larger. The most recent that was larger was the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.Separately, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the tax cuts under President Ronald Reagan were the largest tax cuts in recent history as a percent of GDP. At the time the law went into effect, the Tax Foundation estimated that it would boost long-term employment by more than 300,000 jobs. But Moodys Chief Economist Mark Zandi says, "the tax cuts did support job growth, but at the cost of adding approximately $2 trillion to the nations debt." He added, The regulatory changes had no measurable impact on job growth. Zunaira Zaki Fact checking the Biden-Trump presidential debate originally appeared on abcnews.go.com As new executive director of Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury, Traci Parath is hands on. She has a positive, energetic outlook and truly embraces her new role. The decision to leave a life-long career in the food industry wasnt an easy one, but as she settles into her new position she knows it was the right one. Parath took over as executive director in March 2024 and admits to fast becoming a history buff. She refers to Asa Waters Mansion as a vital, living part of the community. Its history and significance go far beyond our immediate surroundings, said Parath. The mansions walls hold many stories of the past that are so rich in our countrys heritage. Born in Chicago, Parath lived for more than 20 years in California, where her parents owned and operated a restaurant. In the family business, she started as a dishwasher and worked her way up. She was educated on the West Coast, where she met her husband, Brian Parath. Brian is originally from Millbury, so we eventually moved to his hometown, and I am so happy we did, said Parath. Married 23 years, the couple has three children, Taylor Audet of Pomfret, Connecticut; Hannah Parath, a junior (nursing student) at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.; Daniel Parath, a junior at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton. They are proud grandparents of three children. Parath previously worked for Peppers Artful Events in Northborough under the ownership of John and Susan Lawrence and remained on staff when the business was sold to Gourmet Caterers in Boston in 2022. She has worked in all aspects of the food and restaurant industry, from A to Z, and has been event manager at Worcesters Best Chef competitions held at Worcesters Mechanics Hall. FYI: The pandemic forced the cancellation of the competition and it has not been held since 2021. WBC creator Domenic Mercurio plans its return in 2025. Passionate about food, Paraths source of inspiration for cooking was her maternal grandmother. She is an enthusiastic cook who loves entertaining friends and family. Parath jokes about teaching her husband to expand his palate and eat different foods. Shes gluten-free and embraces fresh foods and flavors, strongly supports sustainable agriculture and keeps up with global cuisine trends. A tasty twist ... In Dining In, Parath shares easy summer recipes for home cooks. Fresh cucumber juice gives summertime lemonade a tasty twist in a Cucumber Lemonade/Mocktail. Simply add vodka or tequila to turn it into a cocktail. A colorful Panzanella Salad features crisp, chewy bread cubes, cherry tomatoes, a variety of colorful bell peppers, red onion, capers, Kalamata olives and fresh basil tossed in a tangy dressing. Paraths Grilled Eggplant Rollatini is a classic. We suggest you double the recipe, its so delicious! A simple homemade Frozen Blueberry Sorbet is made with just three ingredients. A resident of Millbury for more than 20 years, Parath has volunteered in many community programs and events. During the one-year celebration of Millburys 200th anniversary, which began in June 2012 and ended July 4, 2013, Parath as an employee of Peppers in Northborough consulted with committee members about a catered food event at the mansion. Twelve years later, the town reached out to Parath about applying for the executive directors position. I wasnt looking for a new job, but the more I learned about the mansion and its significance, I decided to apply. I believe things happen for a reason, said Parath. I love it here. As executive director, Parath is a key player in helping to shape the mansions long-term strategic direction. Shes responsible for sales management and day-to-day events, both private and civic and oversees restoration projects, historical research and writing and soliciting grants. Asa Waters Mansion is registered on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. It is noted as the finest example of Georgian Colonial style in the country. The mansion relies on a dedicated group of volunteers that include Friends of Asa Waters and members of the Millbury Historical Society, said Parath. The groups work tirelessly, helping with special programs, she said. Theres a lot going on here and its a very busy place. So many people in the community have shed blood, sweat and tears to preserve our mission. Community support is amazing, said Parath. Built by Asa Waters II in 1829, the house was home for almost 100 years to three generations of the Waters family. Mansion steeped in history Built by Asa Waters II in 1829, the house was home for almost 100 years to three generations of the Waters family. A family of influence, the Waters welcomed as their guests not only local residents, but also persons of state and national importance, such as statesmen Daniel Webster and Daniel Clay and abolitionist Abby Kelley Foster. Alexander Graham Bell and President William Howard Taft also were guests in the home. Parath said Asa Waters 2nd was a gun manufacturer, a representative in the Massachusetts legislature in 1823 and the founder and first president of the Millbury Bank. In 1929, the house sold out of the Waters family to the Roman Catholic Diocese for use as the rectory of St. Brigids Church and later transferred to Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy for use as novitiate house. In 1977, the Town of Millbury took over. The building has been used as a senior center and home to the Millbury Historical Museum. A group of concerned citizens and a crucial Task Force was established in 1994 to save the house from being destroyed, said Parath. Interior restoration, with the support from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, local businesses and Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion, began in 1995, she said. In 1999, the exterior of the mansion was painted white after 17 layers of old paint was removed. Every day, I learn more about the mansions history, said Parath. In April, Parath received a note from Siegel Auctions in New York City, an auction house that specializes in the sale of rare postage stamps and postal artifacts about the sale of The William H. Gross Collection of United States Postage Stamps that included a stamp from Millbury, designed by Postmaster Asa H. Water III when he lived at the mansion. It was one of Americas first postage stamps ever created and is also one of the most valuable collectable postage stamps in existence, according to Siegel Auctions. Parath said the auction house requested to bring the stamp to the mansion and film a short video honoring Waters and his contributions to American history. We were so happy to have the stamp return home for the first time in 175 years, said Parath, who explained the auction house event included filming, a presentation, Q&A and light bites and refreshments. Summer and fall are expected to bring more visitors to Asa Waters Mansion. A large white tent is set up at the side of the building through October. Its ideal for various outdoor gatherings, including parties and business events, accommodating up to 200 people. Its picture-perfect for an outdoor wedding, said Parath. Struck Catering in Worcester, Simply Delicious Catering in Auburn, Peppers Artful Events and Comeketo Catering in Leominster are on the current preferred vendor list. Parath looks to add more community events and explore new opportunities and diverse food options. The April wine tasting, A Guided Tour of Wine, sold out. The summer concert series, free to the public, is scheduled in June, July and August. Theres also a summer movie series, with dates to be announced. Owner/executive chef Mike Winslett of The Purple Pig in Marlborough is expected to bring BBQ to the mansion grounds this summer. Parath said she also would like have food trucks at some of the events. Asa Waters is a beautiful venue, inside and out, said Parath. Asa Waters Mansion is located at 123 Elm St., Millbury. Connect on Facebook, or visit https://www.asawaters.org; Telephone: (508) 865-0855 for information about reserving the mansion, or a private tour. A visit to this historic mansion is a special experience. Cucumber lemonade mocktail at the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury. Recipes CUCUMER LEMONADE MOCKTAIL 2 large English cucumbers cup fresh lemon juice 2 cups water 2/3 cup simple syrup, see note Ice Note: Simple syrup: In small saucepan, bring 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Slice of one cucumber into thin slices. Set aside. Peel and chop remaining cucumber. Place in food processor or blender until cucumber puree has few chunks. This will yield 2 cups. Combine cucumber puree, lemon juice, water and cup simple syrup. Refrigerate and serve over ice. Makes 1 drink. Optional for rim of glass: Dip rim in a plate of honey and then in a mixture of lime zest, sugar and salt. You also can rim glass with Tajin seasoning and add tequila to turn into a cocktail. Panzanella at the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury. PANZANELLA SALAD French bread/baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half 2 cups sliced mini cucumbers Bell peppers, 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 orange, cubed red onion, cubed 2 tablespoons capers Handful of Kalamata olives, cut in half Basil to taste Dressing: 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste For bread: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in large saute pan. Add bread cubes and salt and pepper to taste, tossing until bread cubes are nicely browned. For salad: Whisk dressing ingredients with toasted bread and salad ingredients. Makes 4 side servings or more. Grilled eggplant rollatini at the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury. GRILLED EGGPLANT ROLLATINI 3 eggplants, sliced lengthwise to yield 12 slices Olive oil Salt Ground black pepper 1 cups ricotta or cottage cheese, see note 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping 1 teaspoon lemon zest teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg teaspoon salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Marinara sauce, store bought or house made Gluten-free bread crumbs Note: Traci Parath likes to use half ricotta and half cottage cheese in the recipe. Lay the eggplant slices onto a towel. Sprinkle evenly with salt and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Preheat indoor grill pan, or outdoor barbecue. Dry the eggplant slices and brush with olive oil, salt and pepper on both. Sides. Grill eggplant slices for about 5 minutes on each side until cooked with grill marks. Set aside and allow to cool. In a mixing bowl, add the ricotta or cottage cheese, basil, Parmesan, lemon zest and nutmeg. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a casserole dish, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce. Lay the eggplant slices on a work surface and add six tablespoons of ricotta or cottage cheese mixture to the end closes to you. Roll the ricotta into the eggplant and set in casserole dish, seam-side down. Repeat with all the slices, lining them up in a single layer. Top with additional marinara and grated Parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Frozen blueberry sorbet at the Asa Waters Mansion in Millbury. FROZEN BLUEBERRY SORBET 2 cups frozen blueberries Juice of 2 lemons A dash of stevia (calorie-free sugar substitute) Blend ingredients. You also can add a little coconut milk to add a rich, creamy texture. Makes 4 small servings. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Dining In: Asa Waters executive director shares easy summer recipes This Philadelphia, PA, native is transforming her e-commerce startup into a new luxury experience. Kadidja Dosso founded the e-commerce shop Dosso Beauty, a clinically tested, hypoallergenic braiding hair company. In an interview with FOX29 Philadelphia, Dosso shared that the company has been a game changer for more than 50,000 women who suffer from allergic reactions from braiding hair due to toxic chemicals. Dosso launched Dosso Beauty in 2018 after experiencing a horrible allergic reaction to braiding hair, along with a history of scalp and skin sensitivity. While Dosso has had six years of success selling Dosso Beauty products on its e-commerce site, Amazon, GoPuff, DoorDash, independent retail stores, and hair salons, she is ready for the next step. In Dossos interview with FOX29, she shared her plans to open the companys first-ever brick-and-mortar store in July 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. She also plans to open a luxury braid salon within the store called The Dosso Beauty Experience, per information provided to AFROTECH. We did it yall, Dosso wrote in an Instagram post. The secret is out and were officially opening our FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR STORE and LUXURY BRAID SALON! Beyond providing products and solutions to for sensitive scalp and skin, weve been keen on building a community and space where everyone can experience beauty that is intentionally good for us and by us. Youll now be able to experience it all within our one-stop and Dosso Beauty Experience. We cant thank you all enough for being a part of the journey with us, and were so excited about the opportunity to continue to build with you. According to information shared with AFROTECH, Dosso Beautys upcoming luxury braid salon intends to provide jobs for more than 10 people in Philadelphia in 2024. Additionally, the salons stylists and associates are set to receive additional education on financial literacy, business management, customer relationship management, and professionalism through its Dosso Beauty Academy. These are the cities where you can fly for $150 or less round trip from Memphis in July With the upcoming holiday, July Fourth is projected to be a jam-packed weekend for air travel. However, several round-trip flights cost $150 or less for some itineraries out of Memphis International Airport in late July. According to a report released by Hopper, a travel website that tracks airfares, 24 million seats are expected to depart from airports nationwide over the Fourth of July weekend. This is a 7% increase from 2023. The cost of flying is down 18% from last year, as tickets are averaging $263 per ticket during the holiday weekend. There are 3.5 million seats scheduled to depart from airports on July 3, while July 7 and 8 are projected to have 3.7 million seats scheduled with people returning home from the holiday weekend. A Northwest airlines jet lands at Memphis International Airport on March 30, 2008. According to an economist at Hopper, Haley Berg, "to get the best deal on airfare over the long weekend, book a trip starting on Thursday, July 4th, and returning Tuesday of the following week. This will save travelers an average of 32% or about $121 per ticket compared to the more popular Wednesday to Sunday trip." Best weeks for a beach vacation Memphians who are looking to take a trip to the beach in July are in luck. Despite the increased travel around the Fourth of July weekend, Allegiant Airlines is offering round-trip flights to four cities in Florida for under $100, according to Google Flights. A roundtrip fare to Destin is $78 from July 29 through Aug. 5. Flights to Orlando are as low as $81 from July 29 to Aug. 5. Allegiant Airlines is offering a flight to Miami for $86 from July 20-26. Allegiant is also offering a flight to Fort Lauderdale that same weekend for $86. Flights for $150 or less As of June 25, there were several domestic round-trip flights from Memphis for under $150 during July. Denver: $58 July 4 11 on Frontier Dallas: $97 July 18 25 on Spirit Las Vegas: $105 July 13 19 on Spirit Los Angeles: $106 July 28 - Aug. 6 on Allegiant Houston: $127 July 29 Aug. 7 on Southwest Pheonix: $143 July 18 24 on Frontier Salt Lake City: $143 July 18 24 on Frontier New Orleans: $146 July 22 31 on Spirit Be aware that budget airlines such as Spirit or Allegiant charge low base fares but include additional fees for carry-on, check bags, seat assignments, and other amenities. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cheap flights from Memphis in July After moving to Georgias Lake Country 11 years ago, I read reports about a new safari park coming soon to Madison. Target opening seasons were announced but kept getting pushed back. Originally called the Georgia Zoo and Safari Park, the name was changed in 2016 to better align with a mission-based programming to save wildlife and their natural habitats through conservation, education, connection and inspiration, according to local press reports at the time. Now, after a decade of red tape, construction delays, a pandemic that caused a pause and a shift in plans with even more red tape and construction delays, the Georgia Safari Conservation Park is finally open. The 530-acre property 60 miles east of Atlanta sits among gentle rolling hills in the woods and pastureland just south of I-20, its main entrance only a quarter-mile from exit 113. Currently, 286 acres are in use, 230 of them as pasture habitat where grassland animals reside behind a dual fence line inside a perimeter fence encircling the property. The park had a soft opening June 1 and is permitted a limited number of visitors this month to ensure the animals have time to acclimate to their new surroundings before a wider opening later in July. Finishing touches were still being applied, mostly landscaping and road work around the parking areas and on a trail leading to the safari-style tents where overnight guests stay. The Georgia Safari Conservation Park has the distinction of being the first overnight safari park in the state and the only one in the Southeast. One and two-bedroom tents represent glamping at its finest with air-conditioning, luxurious furnishings and linens, walk-in tiled showers, stand-alone soaker tubs, kitchenettes, dens, floor-to-ceiling windows and wraparound decks overlooking a private savanna not included on the daily safari tours. A one-bedroom suite inside the giraffe barn has large picture-frame windows with views of the giraffe habitat and a balcony overlooking the outside enclosures. Standing on the deck of the safari tent after checking in, I was greeted by three curious ostriches who wandered up to the fence line. With the provided binoculars I spotted water bucks and watusis nearby, and two Southern white rhinoceros in the distance. The rhinos were in their own enclosed field relaxing under a sailcloth shade next to a giant mud hole they seemed to relish rolling around in. It was hard to tell their actual color since both were fully caked in Georgia red clay mud. The rhinos were also visible from a closer standpoint on the daily guided safari tour, which is included with all overnight stays. This is the main wildlife experience offered by the park where guests are led through the grassland habitat in a covered open-air vehicle by an expert guide on a 90-minute tour. During my tour I saw two newborns a 2-day-old impala, and a 1-day-old American bison. Both babies were up and walking around, sticking close to their mothers. Other species seen on the tour were groupings of Asian water buffalo, common eland, roan, Grants zebra, bongo (a threatened species) and a single desert addax (a critically endangered species). The tour group was led by animal care specialist and pasture lead Tiffany Portillo. She called every animal we saw by name and referred to them collectively as her kiddos. Two Grants zebra seen on the guided safari tour at the recently opened Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison, Georgia. (Courtesy of Georgia Safari Conservation Park) The animals come from similar facilities around the U.S. Rhinos Mo-Joe and Akagera came from a park in Ohio and the 1.5-year-old reticulated giraffe named Phoenix arrived from a safari park in Texas. Portillo stressed that soil and water testing is done before any animal comes into their new home to make sure its a suitable habitat for them. There are no big cats yet, but theyre part of a longer-range plan requiring a new habitat with specialized high fencing. Along with the guided safari tour, the park offers a private VIP tour for up to eight people that includes a hands-on encounter with exotic small creatures such as a fennec fox and a bearded dragon. A giraffe and rhino encounter providing an up-close experience with these large land mammals is also available. No dining inside the park yet No dining options currently exist inside the Georgia Safari Conservation Park thats coming later in a future phase along with the big cats. The closest place to eat that isnt interstate exit chain fare is at the Farmview Market Cafe three miles away, south of exit 114. Farmview Market sells food sourced from local farms at a specialty grocery store and at its farmers market every Saturday between May and September. The cafe serves breakfast and lunch every day except Sunday. For other non-chain dining options head 3.5 miles in the other direction to the historic district of downtown Madison. Madison has come a long way on the dining front in the last few years. A lot of that progress can be attributed to one man, Preston Snyder, and the company he founded, MAD Hospitality, which operates five food and beverage establishments within a block of each other around the town square. Snyder relocated to Madison from Atlanta in 2018 to be closer to aging parents on Lake Oconee. A former managing partner at Braden Fellman, an Atlanta real estate development company, he fell in love with Madisons historic vibe and started acquiring vacant properties. Sensing a need, he turned the properties into a French bakery (Patisserie on Main), an English-style pub (Hart & Crown Tavern), a coffeeshop/cocktail bar (The Sinclair), a diner (Betty Genes) and a chef-driven fine-dining restaurant (The Dining Room). I went back into the restaurant business, said Snyder, whose first job as a young man was working as a server at the Dining Room in the old Ritz-Carlton Buckhead location during its Gunter Seeger glory days. Atlanta patrons of a certain age may feel like theyve walked through a time portal upon entering the Dining Room in Madison, its interior design an homage to the former Ritz-Carlton Dining Room of the late 1980s. Across the square, Betty Genes, named after Snyders mother, is an affordable breakfast and lunch spot that serves the best biscuit this side of Athens. The latest of Snyders Madison ventures isnt a restaurant but the 15-room New South Motor Inn, formerly called the Old South Motor Inn. Snyder purchased the dilapidated property and was amazed to find that the old sign out front still had its original neon from the mid-20th century. The restored neon now lights up the main highway between the interstate exit and the downtown historic district, serving as the gateway to Madison. If you go Georgia Safari Conservation Park. $39 and up for guided safari tours; $2,500 for private VIP tours. $590 and up for overnight accommodations, tour included. 1761 Monticello Hwy. 706-342-4296, georgiasafari.com. Where to stay New South Motor Inn. $115 and up. 1240 Eatonton Hwy. 770-728-1655, www.newsouthmotorinn.com. Where to eat The Dining Room. $85 and up for prix-fixe dinners, $21 and up a la carte menu. Reservations recommended. 146 E. Washington St. 706-478-7893, mad-hospitality.com/the-dining-room. Farmview Market Cafe. $8 and up. 2610 Eatonton Road. 844-210-7030, www.farmviewmarket.com. Visitor info Madison Welcome Center. 115 E. Jefferson St. 706-342-4454, visitmadisonga.com. This story is made possible through a partnership with The Atlanta Journal Constitution Flight attendant reveals bizarre way you can urinate less on a plane Urine luckor are you? Tired of having to use the bathroom every five seconds while on an airplane? Flight experts say people can curb natures call by wait for it drinking alkaline water, per a TikTok video with over 6.7 million views. A flight attendant told me to always buy Fiji or some sort of alkaline water at the airport for your flight, beauty influencer Lauren Erro captioned a clip of her purchasing the aforementioned brand. It prevents you from having to pee as much during flights because gal your body absorbs it better. For the uninitiated, alkaline water is a version of H2O with a pH level higher than 7 unlike acidic, where the PH is lower than 7. TikTok/@lauren.erro Since many experts believe that keeping ones pH above 7 is the key to optimal health, alkaline water has been touted as a fountain of youth by water companies and celebrities alike. Many claim that this low-acid lelixir can keep one uber-hydrated, disease-free and, now, less likely to need to take a leak. Apparently, this anti-diuretic method did the trick. In a followup video, the TikTokker claimed that after drinking a large bottle of Fiji, she didnt have to pee once on her four-hour flight. One self-proclaimed flight attendant in the comment section even suggested that the content creator cut their water with an electrolyte tablet or Celtic salt to help absorption. But does this paradoxical pee prevention technique hold water? Experts dont think so. Using the bathroom on a plane is one of the most irritating parts of the flight. Getty Images Theres absolutely no scientific evidence to support the claim that drinking alkaline water prevents you from urinating as much during plane flights, Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, a palliative care physician in Ottowa, Canada, told Newsweek. The body has a complex system for regulating pH, and the impacts of alkaline water on this process would likely be insignificant. Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, hydration expert and professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, seconded that sentiment. If you drink a lot of alkaline water, all youre going to do is pee out a huge amount of alkaline material, he told Yahoo News. There really is no rationale for this. In fact, alkaline water only has the pee-regulation effect on people with preexisting conditions related to urination. Urogynecologist Dr. Betsy Greenleaf said these benefits are restricted to people who already have leaky gut, overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis and other diagnosed and undiagnosed bladder symptoms. In the general population, it doesnt really matter if you drink regular or alkaline water for bladder health, she said. As for the other alleged health perks, there is little evidence to support alkaline waters status as a panacea. Frozen lemonade is a Rhode Island staple. Where do you get it, and how did it get here? Hot, humid, sweltering. It's so hot, you think you're going to melt, or maybe you already melted. But then you hear the jingle, you spot the stand, you see the green umbrella, and Rhode Island's favorite tart treat is in sight: frozen lemonade. Rhode Island's love affair with frozen lemonade is old older than anyone alive in the state with Del's Lemonade dating back to the winter of 1840 in Naples, Italy, and the Palagis tracing its roots back to horse-drawn carriages selling sweet frozen treats. One former rival to Del's, Mr. Nick's in North Providence, which has since closed, came directly from Italy, as owner Nick Africo emigrated to the United States from Sicily when he was 16, telling The Providence Journal-Bulletin that he "grew up on the stuff." In Italy, it is known as "granita di limone," or, literally, "crushed ice of lemon." Del's Lemonade, which dates back to 1840 in Naples, Italy, is the oldest but not the only purveyor of frozen lemonade in Rhode Island. It's not the state drink, but in summer it may as well be Frozen lemonade is not the state drink, losing out to coffee milk in what was dubbed the Great State House Drink Battle of 1993, a fight that made its way to the front page of The Wall Street Journal, but in summer, it may as well be. In 1982,The Providence Journal-Bulletin estimated an average of six cups of frozen lemonade were consumed per Rhode Islander per year. And how do you consume frozen lemonade? With Del's, using a straw is pure sacrilege. Del's research and development head, Demetri Kazantzis, puts it this way: grasp the paper cup with the palm of your hand, which will warm the drink slightly, making it easier to drink. Part of it is the frozen feeling, lips hitting ice crystals, especially on a hot summer day. Del's Lemonade The story of Del's Lemonade starts in 1840 in Naples, Italy, where lemons overwintered in a cave and were then mixed with sugar and snow to be sold at the local market. While the Del's recipe dates back to the 19th century, it was brought over the Atlantic at the turn of the 20th century, where Angelo DeLucia worked to build a machine that would produce consistent frozen lemonade. By 1948, Del's Frozen Lemonade had its name and was the only thing being sold at its Cranston stand. DeLucia also designed the first mobile units that extended the company's reach. Since then, the company has grown, expanding its reach across the country with franchise locations in five states, creating a powdered drink mix and lots of collaborations, like Narragansett Beer's shandy, Warwick Ice Cream's lemon ice cream and Li'l Dinghy Drinks' canned cocktail, the Lemon Drop. Where: Del's has 23 permanent locations in Rhode Island, with more carts and stands across the state, including at the state-run Scarborough Beach in Narragansett. Palagi Brothers Ice Cream and Palagis Ice Cream The story of the Palagis and their ice cream trucks started, like Del's Lemonade, in Italy. Two brothers, Antonio and Pietro, emigrated to Pawtucket. Each started his own ice cream businesses, using horse and wagon to cart their wares, before upgrading to a Model A Ford, then a Ford Woody Wagon, and a fleet of modern ice cream trucks in the 1980s. Frozen lemonade entered the picture when machines came on the market to keep everything frozen and mixed. The parallel but family-owned businesses continued until 1998, when one of the two, Palagis Ice Cream, was sold to Alejandro Arteaga, while the other Palagi ice cream company, Palagi Brothers Ice Cream, is operated by Adam and Robert Palagi. Palagis Ice Cream has a physical shack at 55 Bacon St. in Pawtucket and runs ice cream trucks, which also sell frozen lemonade. Palagi Brothers Ice Cream just runs trucks. Much of the business has transitioned from designated routes to serving events. Where: Palagis Ice Cream has a stand at 55 Bacon St. in Pawtucket. Both companies run trucks throughout the state. Trucks can be requested to serve events and gatherings. Jacob Sousa serves Palagis frozen lemonade to customers after the East Providence Memorial Day parade. Mr. Lemon In 1974, Eileen Rao and her husband, Joseph Rao Sr., founded Mr. Lemon in a small storefront on Hawkins Street in Providence. She died in December 2023, at age 94; her husband had died in 1986. When the business opened, she and her husband had no experience with making frozen lemonade and "toiled endlessly perfecting their product by trial and error," her obituary stated. Rao's three children Janice, Colleen and Joseph Jr. have handled the day-to-day work of running the store in recent years; their mother remained closely involved until her death. The Mr. Lemon stand, on Hawkins Street in Providence, open weekends from noon to 7 p.m. The cash-only stand is known for offering a rotating variety of unique flavors such as tutti frutti, lemon meringue, vanilla, root beer and Creamsicle, alongside the classic lemon. The family-owned frozen lemonade shack cut down its hours to weekends only, noon to 7 p.m., in 2023. Where: 32 Hawkins St., Providence New England Frozen Lemonade New England Frozen Lemonade was started by Tony Lombardi, one of Del's Lemonade's first drivers, before he bought a slush maker and truck, rented a storefront and went out on his own in the 1960s. Lombardi was so successful he bought the storefront on Douglas Avenue. A New England Frozen Lemonade stand sells its wares at Brown Stadium in June. Now, New England Frozen Lemonade runs a fleet of ice cream vans and sells out of his main location in Providence. It is run by the third generation of Lombardis. Where: 280 Douglas Ave., Providence Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Providence Journal subscription. Here's our latest offer. Past Providence Journal reports were used in this story. Reach reporter Wheeler Cowperthwaite at wcowperthwaite@providencejournal.com or follow him on Twitter @WheelerReporter. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Frozen lemonade is a Rhode Island specialty: Del's, Palagis, Mr. Lemon Mission: Impossible... to devour all in one sitting, the Gold's Deli "Original" sandwich with Boylan Sparking Lemonade offers a mighty hefty lunchtime option for Columbia Arts District's own New England-style deli. A new big sandwich is in town. Meat piled high like delis in New England is drawing sandwich lovers from all around to at Gold's Delicatessen in the Columbia Arts District. Co-owner George Kougias has hopes of serving up the meanest deli-style sandwich in the city, he says. The fierce fare reaching inches high is flying off the New England-style lunch counter and can keep feeding customers through dinner depending on appetites come time for lunch. No matter what sandwich one might fancy, the tiny location on Depot Street in the Columbia Arts District packs a sizeable punch that will certainly thwack that midday hangry feeling. So what makes it a New England style deli? The bread is sourced from a place that started in New England, we use pepper relish, oil and vinegar dressings, Kougias, a native Bostonian said. All our sauces are from a company called Kens out of Massachusetts. Our glass soda bottles are from New York and our chips are popular in the North. Its a mix of things. Kougias grew up working in delis of the same style, so the transition to Columbia is an extension of home for him, complete with side items and drinks from nearer his native Boston. With a brief four-year stint in Nashville, running the comedy club, Zanies, Kougias appreciates the transition to small-town life. It went from more chaos, to chaos, to no chaos, Kougias said of his transition from Boston to Nashville to Columbia. He has a few employees helping to garner small-town appeal with a big-town sandwich, but also, his business partner and fiance helps him run the business. The overhead cost of a bigger location would be too much to guarantee he can pay workers when business is slow so the smaller spot is ideal for keeping business successful, the Kougias says. The cover of Gold's menu. The most popular sandwich and a favorite of Kougias is the classic Italian. Its the Italian Hero by a long shot, Kougias said. That and our Reuben are the two best sellers. If the restaurant doesnt sell out early, Kougias said that they will stay open through posted hours but they do often run out of popular items like hot pastrami and corned beef, simply because he limits his daily prep to prevent food waste. The Golds Deli Original also aims to topple over even the heartiest lunch-lover with piles of pastrami and Swiss on rye. Mission: Impossible... to devour all in one sitting, the Gold's Deli "Original" sandwich with Boylan Sparking Lemonade offers a mighty hefty lunchtime option for Columbia Arts District's own New England-style deli. Sandwich can be paired with a choice of chips and a refreshing line of cane sugar sodas, like blackberry soda. Lemonade fans will be spoiled on the crisp Sparkling Lemonade, which seems to match up with honey sriracha kettle chips. Be prepared to drop a bit more change than normal for the high caliber chow, upwards of $14, though Kougias stands behind his sandwich, saying that he makes sure customers get their moneys worth. A lot of people have sticker shock when they see the price, Kougias said. But when they get their food, they say, Oh, that makes sense. And that was our goal, Kougias said. I dont want people to come here because its cheap or not to come here because its expensive. We want people to say its worth it. Food sourcing was a carefully selective process for the shop and came from sampling a variety of meats from his distributor. We had a taste test with five or six people, Kougias said. And we all picked out what we felt would be the best traditional style deli options. Gluten-free bread is offered when good gluten-free bread is available, he added, though there is always a risk of cross-contamination from working with traditional breads, he cautions. Ultimately, he keeps his operation simple, aiming to excel at great lunch sandwiches in-house and carryout. Catering is an option In lieu of DoorDash, Kougias said catering is another way that he can make many customers happy by bringing the food to them. We can cater for up to 25 people with 24 hours prior notice, he said. But we can cater for up to 100 depending on the situation and advance notice. For local businesses, large group orders do come with a bit of a discount and the response and community welcome has been very favorable so far. Golds Delicatessen offers a variety of sammiches for nearly every taste. Weve done no advertising but Ive seen our food in pictures everywhere [on social media], Kougias said. During the Cars and Coffee event it was a little rough. We had a line out the door for about an hour. Even with a busy lunch rush, it might only be a 15-minute wait for your food, Kougias said. The restaurant plans ahead and will take call-in orders for days in advance and hopes to be able to handle capacity for even larger orders in the future. The shop is closed on Tuesdays but is open on Sundays. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 the other days of the week, except Tuesday. To find your sandwich of choice, check out their lineup on social media, and Golds Deli can be reached at 931-922-9923. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Columbia deli provides big lunch chomps with New England style sandwich NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Check out community events around New Mexico from June 28-July 4. Albuquerque New Mexico Albuquerque Notices Los Padillas Pool opening paused indefinitely after delay The pool was originally slated to open for summer, but in late May, county officials said contractors had to work on pipes before the pool could open. That delayed the opening date to June 15. Now, the county says that while fixing those pipes, they discovered additional mechanical issues. Job Training Albuquerque offering hospitality courses Job Training Albuquerque is partnering with the New Mexico Restaurant Association to provide a range of restaurant and hospitality courses like food safety and food handling. JTA said the hospitality industry has suffered across the state since COVID-19. The courses are available for free for local businesses with 500 or fewer employees. City adds plant wall to downtown Albuquerque parking garage The city installed an estimated 400 plants at the Very Special Arts Garage located at 5th and Copper. The plant wall will cover the interior of a courtyard space that has been underused for several years on the southeast side of the VSA Garage Downtown. Museum of Nuclear Science and History opening new exhibit The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History is unveiling a new exhibit: Mission Aerospace. The new exhibit is a multi-layered, interactive exploration of aviation history and aerospace milestones. The new exhibit opens June 22 and runs through October 6. Free microchipping from Animal Welfare Department Free microchipping and pet tags will be available for Albuquerque residents from June 1 through July 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Westside and Eastside shelters. No appointment is needed. City adding new bike lanes, more safety features to Louisiana Boulevard The city of Albuquerque said Louisiana will be restriped to create new bike lanes, and Intelligent Transportation Systems will be added to improve communication between traffic signals. The changes are part of the Citys Vision Zero program, aimed at reducing pedestrian deaths and creating safer streets. Bernalillo County offering free movie nights at local community centers The free movie nights will include family-friendly films like 101 Dalmatians and Wonka. The movies will be shown on weekends starting at sundown. Gates open at 7:00 p.m., and moviegoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks. Free summer lunch program returns in Bernalillo County Beginning June 3, free lunch will be served daily to children at different locations around Bernalillo County. Children must be between the ages of 1 to 18 years old to receive a meal. Meals must be consumed at the meal site (except for non-congregate sites), all meals are first come, first served, and participants must receive the entire meal. Explora hosting Mosaic of Marks, Words, and Material exhibition The exhibition runs from May 15 August 16. The exhibit will include an art studio where young visitors, their families, and educators can explore hands-on mark-making materials. New Mexico State Fair holding auditions to sing the National Anthem The live auditions will be at the Boxcar Stage from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the EXPO New Mexico on August 6. To audition live, you must sign up by August 5. New Mexico Notices Free summer food service program for children resumes in New Mexico The Early Childhood Education and Care Department in New Mexico has begun its free food service for children ages 1-18. The service aims to provide free meals to children during summer break. The department said more than 600 locations in the state are providing free meals through August. Animal Humane New Mexico rescues cats from Las Vegas The shelter on Friday rescued 27 cats and kittens from Las Vegas after flooding caused a water crisis in the city. To help conserve water for the pets and people of Las Vegas, the shelter transferred all cats and kittens at the Las Vegas Animal Care Center to Animal Humanes Main Campus shelter in Albuquerque. Freedom Health Bash benefiting Make-A-Wish New Mexico From 4 6 p.m. on July 6, people can head to TBE Crossfit and enjoy music, food, a silent auction, cornhole tournament, giveaways, and more. El Pasoan goes viral for his efforts to help move horses out of Ruidoso, is now transporting donations up north William Molinar said there were approximately 7,500 horses when they began moving them out. There are currently only about 1,500 left who have to stay behind with their trainers as the horses owners do not want them moved out. City of Alamogordo cancels July 4 fireworks display The City of Alamogordos annual fireworks extravaganza is canceled this year. The city said that many local agencies are working to battle the Salt and South Fork fires and the city does not want to divert resources from the relief effort or cause additional strain on the first responders. Heres how to donate to victims of fires in Ruidoso area If you are looking for ways to help donate to evacuees and the firefighters still battling the fires, KRQE News 13 has compiled the following list of official groups collecting monetary donations, food, clothes, and other supplies. Officials ban some fireworks in unincorporated portions of Santa Fe County The Board of County Commissioners has banned the sale and use of certain types of fireworks within unincorporated portions of Santa Fe County for at least the next 30 days. The resolution does not ban all types of fireworks. Rail Runner offering free rides for students Students ages 17 and under will be able to ride the Rail Runner Express for free starting June 1. The promotion will run through July 31. Santa Fe hosts Summer Fire Truck Spray Down events for kids The City of Santa Fe Community Engagement Department and Santa Fe Fire Department are providing a free way for kids to cool down this summer. The departments are hosting Summer Fire Truck Spray Down events at Swan Park. Summer events in Cloudcroft, New Mexico From art festivals to local beer, Cloudcroft is inviting visitors all summer. The 51st Annual May Fair Juried Art Fair will be May 25 26 at Zenith Park. The Cloudcroft BeerFest will be June 22 23. July 13 14 at Zenith Park is the Christmas in July Jamboree. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HURLEY, Miss. (WKRG) A Mississippi church is preparing to host their annual camp meeting, and officials say it is a historic milestone. Nearly 200-year-old downtown Mobile home undergoing emergency restoration The 125th year of the Magnolia Springs Assembly of God in Hurley camp meeting which dates back to the fall of 1899 when a speaker from a revival service was invited to preach in Hurley is scheduled for July 14 to 18 at 7300 Campground Road in Moss Point. The camp will feature morning (10 a.m.) and night services (7 p.m.) each day of the camp, a traveling ministry to teach kids about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and a pizza party celebration, the release said. Below is a schedule for the speakers at the camp. Sunday, July 14: 10 a.m.: Rev. Bob Wilburn, the Superintendent of the Mississippi District of the Assemblies of God 6 p.m.: Larry Willoughby, the Associate Pastor at Magnolia Springs Assembly of God Monday, July 15: Morning: Associate Pastor at Magnolia Springs Assembly of God Featured speaker: Rev. Tommy Bates, the Senior Pastor of one of Americas fastest-growing independent Pentecostal churches Community Family Church in Independence, Kentucky Tuesday, July 16: Morning: Pastor Jamie Cochran, pastor of Mercy Ministries, Lucedale Featured speaker: Rev. John Kilpatrick, the founder and Executive Pastor of Church of His Presence in Daphne, Alabama Wednesday, July 17: Morning: Pastor Heath Havard, pastor of New Antioch Full Gospel Church, Lucedale Featured speaker: Bishop Tim Hill of Cleveland, Tennessee Thursday, July 18: Morning: Pastor Mike McLeod, host pastor Featured speaker: Rev. Loren Larson, Associate Pastor of Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Hurlburt Field Airman accused of choking woman, child in Santa Rosa County: Report We are excited about this historic milestone year for our Camp Meeting, Magnolia Springs Lead Pastor Mike McLeod said. Throughout our history, these services have touched countless lives, and we know they will continue to touch the lives of everyone who attends this year as well. Pastor McLeod continued, It is an honor and a privilege to carry the legacy that was started in 1899 and continues to impact the hearts and lives of our community and surrounding areas to this day. For more information on the 125th Magnolia Springs Camp Meeting, call 228-588-6454, visit the churchs website, or follow Magnolia Springs Assembly of God on Facebook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. News / Local by Staff reporter Since their deployment in February this year, six SANDF soldiers have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The most recent tragedy occurred on Tuesday when two soldiers were killed in a mortar attack on South Africa's base in Sake, located in the Eastern DRC. The SANDF confirmed the incident on Wednesday."The SANDF confirms the mortar attack on one of our bases in Sake, Eastern DRC, on 25 June 2024, resulting in two fatalities and 20 injuries. Four members who were critically injured have been hospitalized, while those with minor injuries are expected to be discharged soon," said SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini.Dlamini added that the families of the deceased have been informed, and arrangements to bring their remains back home are underway. "The names of the deceased will be communicated in due course," he said.Last month, Sergeant Mbulelo David Ngubane, 39, was killed in a confrontation between M23 and SADC forces. Ngubane, an Operational Medical Practitioner in the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS), was shot and killed while tending to injured members in an ambulance.Ex-shadow Minister of Defence and independent defence analyst Kobus Marais commented on the latest fatalities, saying they were expected given the inadequate support and resources for the deployed soldiers in the SADC's SAMIDRC mission."This was anticipated due to the poor support and resources provided to our deployed soldiers. It's becoming routine for our soldiers to return in body bags. We need to question why our defence force is still deployed in the DRC, especially as the UN and MONUSCO are withdrawing after 20 years," said Marais.Marais further criticized the unfunded and unbudgeted involvement in the SADC SAMIDRC mission, noting the financial strain on South Africa's defence capabilities. He questioned the strategic national interest and the real threat to national security that justifies the deployment in the eastern DRC.To save soldiers' lives, Marais suggested two options: increasing funding, resources, and logistical support for the troops, which he acknowledged as unsustainable given South Africa's weak GDP and lower defence budget, or initiating AU and EAC peace talks for a permanent solution to the eastern DRC conflicts and withdrawing all soldiers and equipment from the DRC."This conflict is not a South African responsibility. The AU and EAC must work with the DRC and its neighbours to find a lasting solution. The primary task of the SANDF should be to protect South African land and maritime borders. If the president and the government don't prioritize South Africa's interests, more unnecessary deaths will occur, for which they must be held fully responsible," Marais said.President Ramaphosa deployed at least 2,900 SANDF members to assist in the fight against illegal armed groups in the eastern DRC, a move criticized by some political parties like the DA. Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, was contacted for a comment but had not responded by the time of publication.South African National Defence Union (Sandu) spokesperson Pikkie Greeff expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He emphasized the dangerous nature of soldiering and called for full air support for the deployed forces in the DRC to defend against and deter rebel groups. Massive 14ft python pulled out of car engine by police Massive 14ft python pulled out of car engine by police Watch the dramatic moment police pulled a massive python out of an impounded truck in Thailand. Officers were called when the vehicles owner, who arrived to check on it, informed them that a snake had slithered into the engine compartment. Video shows several officers lifting and pulling at the 14ft reptile that had wound itself tightly around the machinery. It took the police 30 minutes to extract the python and heave it into a sack. The snake weighed more than 10kg and was later released into the forest, close to where it was found in Phang Nga province on 27 June. From cookies modeled after Bucks and Brewers jerseys to "vaccine donuts" in 2021, Milwaukee-based National Bakery & Deli strives to stay on-trend and have fun with holidays and current events. So, for the nearly 100-year-old bakery with locations on 16th Street, in Brookfield and in Greendale, the fast-approaching Republican National Convention is no exception. Bakers have created a limited-edition lineup of intricately frosted RNC-themed cookies, including American flags, the Republican Party logo, neckties and a 3D "character cookie" of Donald Trump. National Bakery decided to create the cookies after attending a convention for local businesses put on by the RNC's nonpartisan Milwaukee Host Committee late last year, said bakery co-owner Bryant Krauss. He said the cookies are similar to ones the bakery has made to commemorate events like Election Day. The cookies drew reaction on social media. National Bakery & Deli is selling these RNC-themed cookies. The nearly 100-year-old bakery is selling DNC-themed cookies as well. Some Facebook commenters were unhappy to see the political-themed treats. "What a sad world we live in," one commented on a post about the RNC cookies. "Ewwww," another commented on a post about separate DNC sweets. Others were excited about the cookies or criticized fellow commenters for their strong reactions. The bakery said it was surprised by the passionate feedback from social media users. Krauss said the business sees creating the cookies as doing something "on the lighter side," and he hopes people can recognize that mission. "Our team is just trying to be creative and push out different and fun products for people to see," Krauss said. "And, of course, we want Milwaukee to have a great face on when we're having people from any convention or any visitors." The bakery is also offering DNC-themed cookies, including neckties and a Joe Biden character cookie, to mark the Democratic National Convention, which will take place in Chicago from Aug. 19 to 22, about a month after the RNC in downtown Milwaukee. Both RNC and DNC cookies are available now through the end of the DNC. "We're very non-political and try to offer up something for everybody; that's the way we've always been," Krauss said. "We're definitely not leaning to one side or another," he said. "We just want to make this a fun thing ... We try to remind people that this is just a cookie, and they certainly don't need to buy a cookie if it's something that they're not happy with." How do I purchase RNC or DNC cookies from National Bakery? Krauss said the bakery is trying to display a small selection of RNC and DNC cookies in its stores right now, but the cookies are largely just available by special order. You can place an order by stopping by one of National Bakery's locations or calling your preferred location: Milwaukee (414) 672-1620, Brookfield (262) 827-4097, Greendale (414) 423-4620. More: The Republican National Convention is coming to Milwaukee. Here's when it is, where it is and what it's all about. More: MobCraft to release (not so) Horrible City IPA in time for the RNC This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee bakery draws reaction online with RNC, DNC cookies Queer and religious: How LGBTQ+ youths are embracing their faith in 2024 Sabrina Hodak recalls the pangs of isolation when she tried to reconnect with her Jewish roots. Islam filled an empty space in Mia Millers heart, but the joy was tempered by nerves over a second coming out. When Sid High came to grips with who he was, his mind wandered to dark corners: Is God going to be OK with this? The three, who navigated tough teenage paths but never faltered in their faiths, say they are spreading a powerful message to young people in 2024: You can embrace religion and your queer identity. Hodak, Miller and High are ambassadors for Beloved Arise, a group dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ youths from multiple faiths, which will celebrate Queer Youth of Faith Day on Sunday, the last day of Pride Month. Beloved Arise aims to open spiritual doors and offer support for LGBTQ+ young people, flipping a narrative that being queer and religious are incompatible, says Jun Love Young, the groups founder. The message is "not just important but essential for LGBTQIA+ young people in 2024," Young told USA TODAY. "For too long, the narrative has been dominated by the false dichotomy that one must choose between their faith and their identity. This has led to deep-seated feelings of shame, rejection and alienation among queer youth who find solace and strength in their spiritual beliefs." 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ youths say spiritual ties are important One in 5 LGBTQ+ youths said their religion or spirituality is important or very important to them, according to a 2022 survey by the Trevor Project, which provides crisis and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ people under 25. The youths who said their religion or spirituality was important also reported significantly lower rates (55%) of depression, the survey showed. "In today's world, where mental health challenges are rampant among young people, affirming that one can be both queer and deeply spiritual is a powerful message of hope and inclusion," Young said. But the dynamic between religion and queerness can be complicated, even as more LGBTQ+ groups partner with faith leaders and spiritual institutions move toward acceptance. LGBTQ+ Catholics, for example, saw rays of hope when Pope Francis said at the start of his papacy in 2013: If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge? In 2023, the pope allowed priests to bless members of same-sex couples. Yet the Vatican reaffirmed its opposition to gender-affirming surgeries in April. And even Francis has stumbled, using a derogatory term for gay men twice in recent weeks, according to Italian media. Young sees a "mixed landscape" in spiritual spaces in 2024. There are an increasing number of churches, synagogues, mosques and beyond that have embraced LGBTQ+ people, but "there are still many places where traditional, exclusionary views persist." Beloved Arise believes that by sharing the stories and experiences of young people, inclusion will come, Young says. "We can create a world where every young person feels valued and cherished, both in their faith and their identity." Sid High 'Am I going to hell for this?' High, 20, grew up in a devoted Methodist household in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He volunteered at vacation Bible school; he even did sign language for worship songs during a virtual service. The youth had come out as queer in his early teens and transgender at 17 and helped organize his citys first Pride event. One day at the familys Methodist church, a member pulled him aside and handed him a list of Bible verses on why being queer was wrong. High knew he felt nothing but love from God but was shaken to the core. Anyone who is in the queer community has those thoughts of oh my gosh, what is going to happen. When his mother picked him up, he climbed into the car sobbing and asked: Am I going to hell for this? From his mother, who always stood by him, came three reassuring words that wrapped around him like a blanket: God loves everyone. The family left the church, but the moment propelled High to not only reconcile his spirituality with his gender identity but helped his faith deepen through the years. And he has found comfort and inspiration in the Bible, once wielded like a weapon at the youth. He now offers advice to other young, queer Christians, often giving them one of his favorite Bible verses, 1 John 4:7. I want them to know they are loved by God. They are not broken; they are not a mistake. When churches are hating on queer people, it only pushes them away from God, he said. 'This is a life that can exist' Hodak, 21, of Hollywood, Florida, is a bisexual Modern Orthodox Jew. She grew up in a religious household, observing holidays and going to synagogue on Saturdays. But Hodak started feeling her ties to Judaism slip away when she started attending a public school. She vowed to reconnect as a young teen and joined a local Jewish youth group. I had Jewish mentors that were very helpful in my spiritual growth in Judaism, she said. But at the same time, she was realizing her sexual identity and felt very isolated when she found that she knew no other people who were queer and religious. I had one very difficult conversation with a close mentor of mine a few years ago that made me very upset, she said. What he was trying to say was being in the LGBTQ community and being religious are mutually exclusive. You cant be both. Sabrina Hodak Hodak began delving into the Jewish queer community online and embraced the chance to be an ambassador for Beloved Arise. I really became impassioned to be that representation for others that I didnt get to see in my life, she said. I didnt grow up with any queer, Jewish, religious people. I wanted to do that for other people to bring awareness that this is a life that can exist. 'Their identity is valid all of them' Miller, 18, of New Braunfels, Texas, is a Black queer Muslim who grew up as a Christian. I always learned from Christianity and my parents that you can be yourself and God will still really love you, they said. But Miller, who had come out as queer earlier in high school, began to feel less sure of their spiritual identity. There was a lot of this narrative that you cant be queer and religious, and for a while, I believed that, Miller said. As Miller began exploring other religions, they became drawn to Islam and tiptoed toward another pivotal moment. There was something pulling me toward this way of life, Miller said. The teen soon made their shahada, a declaration of faith in becoming a Muslim, a connection that filled a hole inside of me. Mia Miller Miller learned as a child of microaggressions targeting Blacks, once having a mother of a schoolmate repeatedly touch Millers hair, a glorious Afro I was so proud of. Barbs of bias took a new turn with Islamaphobia. A teacher told Miller they shouldnt be a Muslim because they go around beheading babies and are terrorists and abuse women. Said Miller: That was shocking for me She didnt even recognize that what she was saying is so ludicrous. These experiences have helped fuel Millers drive as a passionate advocate for equality and a role model for young queer people struggling to find their spiritual footing. Its so important to be that voice, that person to tell people they are loved and they are important and their identity is valid all of them. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pride 2024: LGBTQ youths are proving you can be queer and religious Starbucks has dropped a new line of summery drinks that contain about the same amount of caffeine as a typical cold brew. The sugar-free beverages, which became available at locations nationwide on Tuesday, are made with sparkling fruit flavors and iced tea," according to a news release. Starbucks Iced Energy drinks can be ordered in three flavors: Melon Burst, Tropical Citrus and Frozen Tropical Citrus made with Strawberry Puree. Melon Burst and Tropical Citrus Iced Energy drinks will be available year-round while the third flavor will only be available for a limited time this summer and can only be ordered through the Starbucks app. Heres what we know about the new energy drinks and the other goodies set to be offered through the summer. Starbucks rolls out Iced Energy, energy drink-like beverages infused with sparkling fruit flavors and iced tea" and are served over ice. Caffeine content of Melon Burst, Tropical Citrus and Frozen Tropical Citrus drinks The caffeine content per Iced Energy drink, which only come in 24-ounce sizes, is detailed below. Additional nutritional information, including calories per serving, can be found online or on the app or in-store. Melon Burst: Melon and cucumber flavoring mixed with bright Passion Tango tea. Caffeine content: 180 milligrams Tropical Citrus: Passionfruit and citrus flavoring mixed with green tea. Caffeine content: 205 milligrams Frozen Tropical Citrus: Passionfruit and citrus flavoring combined with swirls of strawberry puree. Caffeine content: 140 milligrams Customers also have the ability to customize their Starbucks Iced Energy drink with any tea, lemonade, or juice but will not be able to make modifications that contain caffeine. Brewed coffee, espresso, and refreshers cannot be added to any Starbucks Iced Energy, a Starbucks spokesperson told USA TODAY. Starbucks "Iced Energy" beverages are now available at retail locations nationwide. How Starbucks Iced Energy differs from Panera Charged Lemonade The release of Starbucks Iced Energy comes nearly two months after Panera Bread pulled its line of Charged Lemonade drinks off its menu amid controversy surrounding the caffeine contents in those drinks, USA TODAY reported. Drinks, that according customer allegations, resulted in permanent health issues or death. The caffeine content of the new Starbucks drinks varies but the range is between 140 and 205 milligrams, depending on the size, according to Starbucks. A 24-ounce Iced Energy drink has a similar caffeine content as a 16-ounce cold brew beverage, Starbucks says. The drinks have between 120 and 185 fewer milligrams of caffeine than the discontinued Charged Lemonade from Panera. While the highest caffeine content in the new Starbucks drinks is 205 milligrams, the highest in the Panera Charged Lemonade was almost double at 390 milligrams. The recommended daily amount of caffeine for adults is between 300 and 400 milligrams, which is equal to about four to five cups of coffee, USA TODAY reported. Starbucks drinks, other menu items also make summer debut Iced Energy drinks aren't the only new Starbucks drink or menu item to make their summer. The coffeehouse chain also announced the arrival of a nondairy vanilla sweet cream and a nondairy vanilla sweet cream cold foam that will be available at stores nationwide year-round. Iced Energy drinks arent the only menu items making their summer debut. Starbucks has also announced the arrival of a couple other new beverages and treats, including a nondairy vanilla sweet cream, a nondairy vanilla sweet cream cold foam and a Caramel Vanilla Swirl Iced Coffee. All of these new drinks and treats, including the Egg, Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich and the Blueberry Streusel Muffin, will be available year-round. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Starbucks introduces new caffeinated iced drinks in 3 fruity flavors Three stores opening at the Grove in Shrewsbury, and more are on the way Ann Taylor will open at Grove West on Route 35 in Shrewsbury on June 29, 2024. SHREWSBURY - A slate of stores, including a revamped Banana Republic, are opening at the Grove at Shrewsbury, the lifestyle retail center on Route 35. Banana Republic opened on Wednesday after moving to its new and smaller store at the Grove. The 5,000-square-foot space showcases its new store format, which now includes home decor and accessories. Free People, which has moved to a larger store formerly occupied by a Peleton showroom, opens on Friday, June 28, according to Metrovation, the Grove's landlord. Ann Taylor, which closed its store at the Grove in January, reopens on Saturday, June 29, in a store at Grove West, which is located across Route 35, Metrovation told What's Going There. Ann Taylor and apparel retailer J. Jill are now in what was formerly Harmon Face Value. Boho Beach builds a Jersey Shore empire: 'I'd stare at the waves dreaming of fashion' Free People opens its new store at the Grove at Shrewsbury on June 28, 2024. Meanwhile, other stores are on the way. FP Movement, a sister store to Free People, is expected to open in the former Free People store in September. FP Movement offers activewear, accessories and wellness products. Construction is underway at Bloomies, Bloomingdale's small-format store, which is expected to open this fall. This will be Boomie's first location in New Jersey. Bloomingdale's has opened three Bloomie's stores in the U.S., with locations in Seattle, Washington; Fairfax, Virginia; and Skokie, Illinois. Bloomie's, the new small format store from Bloomingdale's, is under construction at the Grove at Shrewsbury on June 27, 2024. A small store concept, Bloomie's "provides a casual, contemporary and highly curated experience for shoppers," Bloomingdale's said. Bloomie's will take up the storefronts of three former stores: Brooks Brothers and South Moon Under, which both closed in January; and J. Jill, which has moved to Grove West. Fashion choices: She thought she'd be a lawyer, but Endless Waves Asbury Park boutique owner found new path Lululemon is moving and leasing about 5,100 square feet of the former Banana Republic's 8,000-square-foot store. Its new larger store, which will help showcase Lululemon's footwear, is expected to open this fall. South Moon Under will reopen and take the remainder of the Banana Republic space. David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his free weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: The Grove in Shrewsbury: Banana Republic, Free People, Ann Taylor open "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Where to turn if you or a loved one are being victimized: Call 911 if physical abuse is happening or imminent. Otherwise, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or log on to thehotline.org. The hotline is open 24/7, 365 days a year and all calls are anonymous and confidential. If you need more info about the warning signs of domestic or financial abuse, or the best way to reach out to someone, log on to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) website at womenslaw.org. Lets be honest: No one likes talking about money and they definitely dont enjoy talking about abuse. Unfortunately, that means many people dont even realize financial abuse is an issue we need to discuss. It also leaves victims feeling too ashamed to speak up about it. In a situation of financial abuse, theres a power imbalance in the relationship and somebody is leveraging money and resources to control the other person, explains Brad Klontz, Psy.D., C.F.P., financial psychologist and associate professor at Creighton University. While one study found that 99% of domestic violence (DV) survivors had experienced some form of economic abuse in their relationships, other research shows that violence doesnt need to be present for a situation to be abusive. Whereas some abusers might use violence to control another person, financial abusers disempower their victims by cutting off their financial freedom. Even when a victim leaves the relationship, Klontz says they often return because they lack money and the financial literacy to support themselves. If your partner seems controlling about money, but youre not sure if youre a victim of abuse, look for any of the warning signs below. Keep in mind, all of these red flags dont have to be present for you to be in an abusive situation it only takes one. 1. Your partner withholds financial information. Its okay to set up a system where each person has their own accounts and maybe have a joint account, but you want to listen to the underlying tones of why and how they dont want to share their finances with you or information about that, says Alex Melkumian, Psy.D., LMFT, founder of the Financial Psychology Center in Los Angeles. Your partner could want to keep you in the dark because they feel ashamed of the financial choices theyve made, he says, or they could be trying to maintain control of your financial resources and destroy your ability to escape the relationship. There are different profiles for abusers, according to Klontz, but they often have very fragile egos and they feel terrible about themselves. We think of them typically as really strong, but its actually the opposite, he says. "Theyre so incredibly emotionally weak that they have to try to bring the other persons self-esteem down so low because they are so afraid the other person is going to leave. They may even belittle you and insist you dont know as much as them about money so you dont need this info, says Blair Dorosh-Walther, program manager of economic empowerment at Safe Horizon, a nonprofit that assists victims of violence in New York City. 2. Your partner discourages you from having a job. Its one thing to have an open and honest discussion with your partner and express your desire not to work or, after reviewing your finances together, conclude that it makes the most sense if you dont work. Its an entirely different story if your partner wont allow you to earn income or tries to sabotage your career. Money is a resource that avails us so much opportunity, right? So when that is cut out of our lives or somebody is controlling it and not giving us access to our finances or limiting it in some way, it becomes very detrimental and then, of course, abusive, says Melkumian. In the beginning, an abuser can make the idea of not working seem enticing and they may act as if they are strong and capable and really want to take care of you. Everyone wants to be taken care of if were real honest in some way, says Klontz. So that could be attractive. However, he adds, it can become pathological and as they cut off your sources of income, they may try to cut off your contact with family and friends. Theres a desire to cut away your sources of support so that you become dependent, explains Klontz. In some instances, financial abuse can also affect your sexual life, according to Melkumian. For instance, he says, an abuser may expect you to perform specific sexual acts as if they are owed to them as the breadwinner. 3. Your partner limits your spending. Is it good for a couple to sit down and look at their finances and come up with an agreed-upon allowance that they both have? asks Klontz. Yes, thats probably a great idea. But its not okay if your partner decides on their own how much money youre allowed to spend. That shows that I have power and you have none and Im being the authority figure here around money, says Klontz, and thats a huge red flag. In some cases, if a survivor has public benefits, the abuser will take their benefits card and ensure the survivor has no access to the food stamps, says Dorosh-Walther, and they'll go out and spend that money so the survivor is left with nothing for basic needs. 4. Your partner gets very heated about money. If you splurge on expensive home furnishings without talking to your partner first, you can probably expect some annoyance on their part, but if they have an explosive or violent reaction to the purchase or an outsized response to something smaller like spending extra money on organic carrots, those are signs of abuse. Theyll get really upset, theyll blow up, and maybe even become violent or verbally abusive and then they sort of melt down and cry, saying, Im so sorry. I promise Ill never do it again, says Klontz. The problem is that in time, the cycle will repeat itself. If the abuser is more of a narcissist, they might even blame their victim and say things like, Look at what you made me do. I blew up because you made me blow up and if you were different, I wouldnt have done that. 5. Your partner forces you to bail them out. This practice is usually called financial enabling, meaning one person enables another person to make poor financial decisions. It can happen outside abusive relationships (say, a young adult convinces their parents to pay off a credit card they ran up) or within abusive ones, according to Melkumian. In abusive situations, theres often an aspect of coercion or threats if you dont follow through with financial support. For instance, your partner may come to you saying, I really messed up and made poor choices, but you still have good credit and could fix everything. I promise I will change my behavior, but I need you to pay this bill and get me out of this bind. In another situation, a partner might refuse to work or help support your family in some way (say, by watching the kids while you work), but expect you to cover all household expenses and threaten you with violence if you protest this arrangement. 6. You see charges you didnt authorize. Carefully review all bank statements every month and note any charges that you werent responsible for. Yes, they could have been made by an unknown fraudster, but sometimes theyre made by a financially abusive partner or someone else youre close to. Financial abuse rarely happens just with the direct abuser, says Dorosh-Walther. It tends to happen with more people involved. Maybe theyre living with the abusers family and the family is also taking money or forcing the survivor to pay for everybodys cell phones or utility bills. Dorosh-Walther requests a credit report for every domestic violence survivor they work with and says, I dont think Ive pulled a credit report without fraud appearing on it yet. What you can do: If someone is using money as a means to control you, theyre putting you in a really difficult position. The longer youre in it, the harder it is to get out of it, says Klontz. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to move forward: Prepare to let go of everything. Depending on the specifics of your situation, you may be walking away with less than nothing as in no cash, destroyed credit and nowhere to live. Your attempts to become more financially empowered will be met by very strong and fierce resistance from your partner, says Klontz. To be quite honest, sometimes it requires you going to a domestic violence shelter to have a shot at getting out of it. When that happens, survivors often have to give up even more like childcare if your parent watched your kids during the day and they dont live near your new housing, Dorosh-Walther points out. Pull your credit report. If you dont pull your credit report (and your childrens credit reports if you have kids), its impossible to know how much financial damage has been done and then how to fix it. When Dorosh-Walther pulls a survivors credit report, they review it line by line together to identify which debts might be fraudulent and potentially removed. You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three credit reporting companies, so if you space them out, you could pull one free report every four months. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to learn more. Put security measures in place. When you think fraud has happened, there are ways to prevent it from continuing. You can put temporary or permanent freezes on your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus, says Dorosh-Walther. You can also put alerts on them. The Social Security Administration also has a DV-specific program, although its quite a lengthy process. Dorosh-Walther notes taxes are another common place for financial abuse and fraud, so you can file identity theft affidavits with the Internal Revenue Service and with the Federal Trade Commission. All of these protections to me seem really important, says Dorosh-Walther. See a therapist. If your partner will talk to a therapist, too, thats great. Ultimately, though, youre going to have to make some big decisions and a mental health professional can provide guidance. It depends on the level of severity of whats happening and how much the other person is willing to acknowledge the problem, says Melkumian. Maybe its giving this a chance and seeing if your partner is willing to work on it, but if you're not seeing results, then you need to also be willing to end such a toxic relationship as well and that could be extremely difficult. No matter what you decide, a therapist can also support you in the aftermath of that choice. Not sure how to find a therapist? Check out this Good Housekeeping tip sheet. Repair your support system. If you decide to leave an abusive relationship, youre likely going to have to start from scratch both financially and emotionally. You have to start to rebuild back what was taken away from you or what you gave up in the relationship, says Klontz. You have to start telling people whats happening in your relationship because theres usually a lot of shame for the victim. They dont want to talk about it because theyve had a lot of family and friends telling them they need to leave that person. Theres not one single way to rebuild your community because everyones scenario is different, but you can search online for local support groups or, if your situation involves violence, you can call, text or chat with someone on the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Strengthen your financial literacy. Nearly everyone could use a refresher on how to manage their finances, but if you havent had control of your money for a while, this is crucial. See if your local library or other organizations host free or low-cost courses you can take. Some colleges (including Duke, Brigham Young, Purdue, Illinois, and Missouri State) also offer free online classes about everything from budgeting to building credit to saving for retirement. As you learn more, youll be able to get back on your feet. While the emotional aspect of things may take a long time to heal, sometimes you can get fraudulent things taken off your credit report in a month or so. When we get things removed, it feels really good, says Dorosh-Walther. Your financial situation may not be perfect, but youll be making progressand that, in itself, is empowering. Hearst Owned You Might Also Like BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Have you been keeping up with your kids well-child checkups? Coalfields Community Health Fair Well-child checkups may seem like a big time commitment. A childs first checkup normally takes place just days after birth with monthly and bimonthly appointments taking place throughout out the first year of their life. Dr. Neil Copeland, a pediatrician with Charleston Area Medical Center, said that despite the time commitment, keeping up with these appointments is vital. Children are undergoing a tremendous amount of growth in their early ages between not only physical growth but also their mental skills, said Copeland. We really want to have close observation to make sure that growth is appropriate and if it starts to deviate and then we develop concerns, we can intervene as early as possible. One mother, Adrianna Kidd, said it is also important to recognize that, during these appointments, doctors can sometimes notice more than what is readily evident to the average person. They can catch things that sometimes you cant. They can outsource more resources for you and get your child back on the right track. It is important to keep tabs on well-child checkups on the front end rather than to wait and get behind on your childs health. National Senior Health and Fitness Day! While many loath going to the doctor, Dr. Copeland reassured that these checkups are not always gloom and doom. It gives the pediatrician and the family the opportunity to really have great knowledge and understanding about the holistic framework, said Copeland. We see kids when theyre well. We cannot only celebrate when theyre growing well and meeting their milestones and doing everything theyre supposed to be doing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ten new city positions are back in Lexingtons $539.2 million budget. On Thursday, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted 11-2 to override Mayor Linda Gortons veto of 10 positions the council added to the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The council added approximately $3.2 million in additional spending to Gortons original budget proposal, which was unveiled in April. The second-term mayor announced June 19 she would veto the 10 positions due to concerns about ongoing costs for those new employees in future budgets. I do not want to make choices today that could potentially force us to increase taxes in future years, Gorton said at the time. The council estimated those 10 positions would cost $750,000 in the first year. Some of those salary estimates were for only part of the year. It can sometimes take several months to hire people, depending on the position. In previous discussions, many city council members said the city has underestimated its tax revenues over the past several years. That revenue growth has been as much as 10% compared to the previous year. It has ended several fiscal years with surpluses topping $20 million. Some council members said it had increased the revenue projection to pay salaries for those position by less than .12% The city can afford the additional staff, council members have argued. Some of those staffers include two new civilian positions for the Lexington Police Department, staff in paving and neighborhood traffic management. Vetoes in Lexington are rare. Gortons was only the third since the merged government was created in 1974. The last veto was former Mayor Jim Gray in 2011. Grays budget veto was not overturned by the council. Foster Pettit was the other mayor who vetoed part of the council budget. The $539.2 million budget includes no tax increases, doubles the funding for affordable housing and homeless prevention efforts, includes a 3% raise for most employees and $24 million for a second senior citizens center. Council members who voted to override the veto: Vice Mayor Dan Wu, James Brown, Preston Worley, David Sevigny, Brenda Monarrez, Shayla Lynch, Hannah LeGris, Liz Sheehan, Kathy Plomin, Tayna Fogle, Jennifer Reynolds. Those who voted against: Fred Brown, Chuck Ellinger III. The presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on screens in the media center in Atlanta on 27 June 2024. The presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden on screens in the media center in Atlanta on 27 June 2024. Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/UPI/REX/Shutterstock US voters woke up to post-debate reviews of the first Biden-Trump debate with headlines that echoed Democrats anxiety that the incumbent president is too cognitively weak and physically frail to sustain another five months of political campaigning or another term in office. Those anxieties, multiple outlets reported, were being reflected in pressure from Democratic donors and former Democratic officials who are now openly talking about replacing Biden with an alternative presidential candidate at the partys convention in Chicago in August. A Fumbling Performance, and a Panicking Party, said the New York Times on its front page. Columnist Nicholas Kristof, a centrist Democrat, said that Biden is a good man who had capped his political career with a successful presidential term, before adding but I hope he reviews his debate performance Thursday evening and withdraws from the race. Kristof floated Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Gina Raimondo, the US secretary of commerce, as potential candidates in a good position to defeat Trump in November. The NYT sounds the alarm. pic.twitter.com/Z6HOxovI9A Mike (@Doranimated) June 28, 2024 The Washington Post headlined: Biden stumbles as Trump spreads falsehoods , noting that Biden had struggled through a raspy voice and uneven delivery while former president Trump had responded to Bidens charged and deeply personal attacks with a blizzard of personal gibes and falsehoods. The Wall Street Journal said: Democrats Privately Discuss Replacing Biden on Presidential Ticket, and noted that Bidens halting performance left the Democratic Party in turmoil, with officials trying to sort through the presidents prospects after an appearance in which he stumbled over words, stammered through many answers and elevated widespread voter concerns that he is too old to serve. Here is an early look at the front page of today's Wall Street Journal https://t.co/KDAhZx2jyB pic.twitter.com/sALeA6qsAR The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 28, 2024 The Los Angeles Times was kinder. Under the headline Bidens verbal stumbles, Trumps morals of an alley cat, the west coast newspaper said Novembers candidates called each other criminals and liars and looked at each other with open disdain. But, the paper said: Bidens early struggles with his words and the lack of timbre in his voice have instead created panic among Democrats. The Guardian reported: Defcon 1 moment: Bidens debate performance sends Democrats into panic, while internationally the headlines were scarcely different. Left-leaning Israeli paper Haaretz said: Meandering Biden, Pathological Trump: The Worst Possible Presidential Debate Was a Sad Night for America. Last night, Biden lost. Trump lost. American democracy lost. And although televised presidential debates rarely change the trajectory of an election, for Democrats, the spectacle on CNN was the sum of all their fears, Haaretz said. The South China Morning Post led on what the candidates positions meant for China, noting that Biden took aim at Trumps proposed tariff hikes while Trump accused his rival of being afraid to deal with China and raising the risk of global conflict. The Australian said that Democrats are in a tailspin and furious at Bidens poor performance as attention quickly turned to whether there needed to be a new candidate selected for the party at its August convention. El Pais said: Bidens misfortune brought CNN and Fox News together, adding that the presidents poor performance gives way to Democratic voices calling for an urgent replacement before the elections. In France, Le Monde described the sinking of Joe Biden during the televised debate against Donald Trump a debate that had turned into a disaster for the Democratic president, who appeared on several occasions overwhelmed, stumbling over words, unable to follow his train of thought. The BBC headlined: Bidens incoherent debate performance heightens fears over his age. Correspondent Anthony Zurcher wrote that US voter concerns about Bidens age and fitness for office heading into the debate had been exacerbated. To say that this debate did not put those concerns to rest may be one of the greatest understatements of the year, Zurcher wrote. But CNN, which hosted the debate and had come under intense political pressure over fears that the moderators would slip into political bias over its handling of the candidates, was perhaps clearest of all. Bidens disastrous debate pitches his reelection bid into crisis, it said, noting that if Biden loses his bid for re-election in November, history will record that it took just 10 minutes to destroy a presidency. It was clear a political disaster was about to unfold as soon as the 81-year-old commander in chief stiffly shuffled on stage in Atlanta to stand eight feet from ex-president Donald Trump at what may turn into the most fateful presidential debate in history, the cable news outlet said. In a snap poll of viewers, 67% said the former president was the winner. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Even in a state with such abundant water resources, challenges in water infrastructure are plenty. To that end, the state has announced $12.6 million in Michigan Clean Water grants. The money will go toward a new water well in the Upper Peninsula and grants to help 28 communities with water system upgrades, including the replacement of lead service lines. The more than 1,000 community water systems that serve Michigan often lack resources to address legacy issues, such as aging drinking water and storm water facilities, said officials with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. FILE In this Wednesday, April 18, 2018 file photo, Flint resident Jabaree Broach, 24, works as part of a crew digging out and replacing lead service lines on Flint, Mich.s east side. Tens of billions of dollars for U.S. environmental justice initiatives originally proposed in a $3.5 trillion domestic spending package now hang in the balance as Democrats decide how to trim the bill down to $2 trillion in October 2021. (Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP, File) And then there are other issues, like meeting new standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals. Surrounded by 20 percent of the planets fresh surface water, Michigan is blessed to have quality streams, lakes, and groundwater providing drinking water for 10 million residents, said Phil Roos, EGLE director. Maintaining modern, efficient treatment systems is vital to ensuring that Michiganders health is protected. These grants help communities meet that challenge. The money for the projects is coming by way of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Intended projects are as follows: Negaunee/Ishpeming Water Authority , $930,000, involving the construction of a new drinking water well. City of Saline, $81,000, affordability and planning. City of Muskegon, $122,500, affordability and planning. City of Detroit, $500,000. Village of Hillman, $90,000. City of Ecorse, $500,000. For work in identifying or verifying lead service lines in preparation for replacement: City of Munising, $319,830. City of Eaton Rapids, $564,000. Village of Romeo, $334,100. Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, $342, 700. City of Galesburg, $600,000. Village of Beverly Hills, $350,900. City of East Jordan, $537,189 City of Marysville, $589,900 City of Gaylord, $252,163 Village of Kalkaska, $372,049 City of North Muskegon, $599,680 City of Southfield, $555,700 Clair Township, $366,764 City of South Lyon, $384,530 City of Northville, $600,000 Village of Augusta, $404,600 Village of Blissfield: $483,000 City of Clawson: $600,000 City of Sylvan Lake: $264,900 City of Manistique: $423,617 Village of Waldron: $292,550 City of Berkley: $570,900 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. News / Local by Staff reporter Law and Order pic.twitter.com/6ENgBPzHvu Jenfan Muswere (@HonJMuswereJnr) June 28, 2024 Zimbabwe's Information Minister Jenfan Muswere claims that there are attempts by the opposition to "instigate anarchy and despondency" and warns those involved in "subversive activities" that "their days are numbered."Muswere's threat comes just after President Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed to suppress dissent and opposition activities ahead of the upcoming Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit in August.This crackdown follows the detention of former opposition minister Jameson Timba and 78 others for holding a private meeting on June 16 to discuss youth issues.Mnangagwa's actions have drawn criticism for violating constitutional rights, including freedom of assembly and expression, amidst longstanding accusations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.The Sadc election observer mission has rejected the legitimacy of Zimbabwe's elections, citing failure to meet constitutional and Sadc standards for democratic elections.This has exacerbated diplomatic tensions, particularly with Zambia, where Mnangagwa has accused the country of hosting Africom to destabilize the region, a claim denied by US officials.As preparations for the Sadc summit in Harare continue, Mnangagwa seeks to present a facade of progress while warning against any challenges to his authority.His government is refurbishing infrastructure and tightening security measures to ensure a smooth summit, underscoring his determination to maintain control amidst internal and international scrutiny.The threat appears aimed at growing demands for the release of 79 CCC activists held since June 16. The U.S. Armys elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers, has been experimenting with Arctic and desert camouflage wraps for its helicopters in addition to a maritime-focused multi-tone blue scheme. Using wraps made from plastic films, typically vinyl, first popularized in the automotive sector, offers a lower cost and less time-consuming way to apply these schemes as required than traditional paint processes. In terms of the specific schemes the 160th has been testing, the Arctic region is of steadily growing strategic significance. Despite a shift in focus toward preparing for a high-end conflict with China in the Pacific, American forces remain heavily committed in the Middle East, as well. Additional details about the 160ths exploration of new camouflage schemes and processes for applying them came to our attention after U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) released pictures of MH-6 Little Birds wearing the blue maritime scheme last week. Army Col. Roger Waleski, commander of the 160th, made brief comments about this work during a presentation at the Army Aviation Association of Americas Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in April 2023. A Night Stalker MH-6M wearing the multi-tone blue scheme the 160th has been experimenting with. US Army Within the past couple years, the 160th SOAR has also been experimenting with various types of camo wrapping for our airframes, Waleski said. We developed airworthiness releases for our aircraft to be camo-wrapped for both Arctic and desert environments. Wraps have been in use in the aviation sector for years now after first gaining traction in the automotive world. They are often promoted commercially as an alternative to the traditional respray of larger aircraft for rebranding and livery change purposes, according to aviation safety firm Litson and Associates (L&A). There are many claimed benefits which include speed of application, versatility of design, durability, cost, protection from the elements and weight-saving, L&As website adds. However, there are also safety concerns, which include extreme temperature variations, peeling, bubbling, and aircraft corrosion. Within the commercial and individual private aviation sectors, there is also debate about the application, as well. When it comes to military aircraft, there are a host of additional considerations that could easily change the calculus. The highly advanced helicopters the 160th flies are absolutely festooned with antennas and other external bits and bobs, many of which cannot be painted at all due to how they function, which can only add to the complexity of applying new schemes of any kind. Helicopters, in general, fly slower than commercial jets, which could reduce the wear and tear a wrap might experience. This all, in turn, could make wraps a very attractive alternative, especially for the application of camouflage on a more temporary basis. In his presentation last year, Waleski included a picture of an Arctic camouflaged wrapped Night Stalker MH-60 Black Hawk, seen at the top of this story. From what can be seen in that image, the scheme looks to be predominantly white with what appear to be gray patches. It may also be digitized with gray markings. Certain areas and external features are left entirely uncovered. Where and when the picture of the Black Hawk, which also has snow shoes fitted to its landing gear, was taken is unknown. A close-up of the nose-end of the Arctic-camouflaged Night Stalker MH-60 showing what look to be gray patches on top of the base white and some areas without any camouflage treatment at all. US Army via AAAA Waleskis briefing did not include a picture of any Night Stalker helicopters wearing the desert camouflage scheme and no mention was made about the multi-tone blue pattern that first emerged publicly just five months later. The War Zone has reached out to the Army for more information. A Night Stalker MH-60M in the multi-tone blue scheme. Pryor Field Airport Authority The full slide from Waleskis briefing, seen below, does make clear that the 160ths recent camouflage work is an outgrowth of Project Genesis, an internal innovation challenge within the Army special operations aviation community that kicked off in 2022. The same slide also highlights the Degraded Visual Environment Pilotage System (DVEPS), which helps pilots navigate safely through dust and other obscurants, and shows a Night Stalker Black Hawk launching an ALTIUS 600 drone in mid-air. These are capabilities the Army has been working to field in conventional units, as well. US Army via AAAA You can watch Col. Roger Waleskis full presentation at the AAAA summit in 2023 below. His remarks about camouflage begin at around the 18:05 mark. These camouflage applications are intended to test various thresholds in visual acquisition of the aircraft, a spokesperson for US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) told The War Zone last week in response to earlier questions about the blue camouflage scheme seen on Night Stalker helicopters. There are currently no plans for a mass application of any particular camouflage scheme to 160th SOAR aircraft, and these current applications were not spurred by any recent events. USASOAC constantly seeks out ways to improve survivability for our pilots, crews, and support personnel. That being said, an Arctic camouflage option for 160ths helicopters makes good sense in the context of current affairs. Four months after the AAAA summit where Col. Waleski spoke, overall black Night Stalker MH-60s took part in a special operations capabilities demonstration nicknamed Polar Dagger in and around Alaska, which included a mock defense of Shemya Island. This is a highly strategic location that hosts the huge AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane early warning and missile tracking radar and an airfield with a 10,000-foot-long runway. Part of the Aleutian Islands chain, Shemya is actually closer to Russian soil (the Kamchatka Peninsula, which is around 500 miles to the west) than mainland Alaska (1,000 miles to the east). A Night Stalker MH-60M on Shemya Island in 2023. The AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane radar is seen in the background. US Army The Arctic has growing potential to be a major flashpoint, especially between the United States and Russia. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army, which the U.S. military identifies as its pacing challenge, is a growing player in the region, too, including in direct cooperation with its Russian partners. New access to resources, from oil and natural gas to fish, and trade routes as polar ice continues to recede as a byproduct of global climate change has been a major factor in this growing competition. Last years Polar Dagger demonstration also included off-shore training involving Night Stalker Black Hawks and the U.S. Navys San Antonio class amphibious warship USS John P. Murtha, underscoring the 160ths maritime capabilities. As The War Zone has pointed out before, long-duration over-water missions are exactly the kinds of complex and challenging missions, often conducted across great distances and at night, that the 160th has become world-renowned for. Night Stalkers also often have to contend with threats on the ground and in the air on missions that can taken them deep into hostile territory. A pair of MH-60Ms from the 160th SOAR come in to land on the deck of the USS John P. Murtha off the coast of Alaska in September 2023. USN A pair of MH-60Ms from the 160th SOAR come in to land on the deck of the USS John P. Murtha. USN The 160ths maritime capabilities are getting renewed attention as part larger U.S. military pivot to the Pacific, with its particular eye on a potential future major fight with China. This also represents a major soul-searching moment for the U.S. special operations community after more than two decades spent conducting counter-terrorism and other lower-intensity missions, especially in the Middle East and Afghanistan. That being said, Col. Waleskis mention last year of new desert camouflage options for Night Stalker helicopters point to ongoing and potential future operations in the Middle East, as well as other desert environments, still being high on the list of planning considerations. We are not simply wrapping our aircraft because Americans want to look cool, but because were attempting to leverage techniques to hide in plain sight, the 160ths commander also noted last year. Combined with international messaging, even relatively small changes create dilemmas for our adversaries and contribute to competition and deterrence. Different camouflage wraps might help Night Stalker helicopters blend in with their regular Army counterparts or with similar types operated by foreign allies and partners at forward locations to a limited degree. At the same time, as already noted the types that the 160th flies are covered in distinctive features that would likely make it hard for them to truly go unnoticed even without their default overall black paint jobs. A Royal Jordanian Armed Forces Black Hawk wearing a desert camouflage scheme seen during an exercise in that country that also involved US special operations forces in 2022. DOD Sgt. 1st Class Lisa Rodriguez-Presley This idea does reflect something of a trend being seen elsewhere in the U.S. military, especially within the U.S Air Forces Air Mobility Command, to remove uniquely identifying markings from aircraft. The underlying idea is to make it more difficult for opponents to monitor their movements and, by extension, glean details about their activities. In 2006, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) also notably green-washed one of its VH-60N helicopters, which typically wear a high-visibility white-and-green scheme, to support President George W. Bushs historic visit to Afghanistan. That was almost certainly done to try to make it look more like a regular Army UH-60 to help conceal its true role acting as Marine One. The green-washed VH-60N in Afghanistan in 2006. Stephan de Bruijn via AirHistory.net Its also worth noting that, in addition to flying some of the most advanced and capable helicopters in the world today, the Night Stalkers routinely experiment with and adopt new and novel technologies, as well as tactics, techniques, and procedures to go with them. Camouflage is no exception. In the 1980s, some early Night Stalker MH-60As flew with overall gray paint jobs, similar to those found on U.S. Navy Seahawks, while operating in the Persian Gulf during the so-called Tanker War. A gray-painted 160th SOAR Black Hawk in use during the Tanker War. DOD Various camouflage color, texture, and pattern schemes have been used to conceal military equipment and personnel for most of recorded military history. The US Army Special Operations Aviation Command is tasked with providing every advantage possible to our aviators and crews to maintain an operational edge in todays global operating environment, the USASOC spokesperson added in their recent statement to The War Zone. Given the nationally-significant mission sets often handed to the 160th SOAR, the advantage gained from offering the smallest visual signature in the most environments is our goal. Altogether, there are clear signs Night Stalker helicopters will be increasingly appearing in paint schemes other than their trademark black amid new focus on the Pacific and the Arctic, ongoing operations in the Middle East, and just to make it that much more complicated to spot them whenever they might go. Special thanks to user @airsuperiorx on X for bringing Col. Roger Waleskis presentation at the AAAA summit last year to our attention. Contact the author: joe@twz.com View comments PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) 180 animals are receiving care and treatment following their rescue in Portage County this week. According to the Portage Animal Protective League, the animals were living in unsanitary conditions without appropriate food. 5 people drown in 4 days at popular Florida beach town In all, four horses, one donkey, five mini horses, two sheep, two cows, four goats, nine turtles, five parakeets, two cockatiels, 12 finches, five parrots, one iguana, one Tegu, two pigeons, 16 rabbits, one duck, two guinea pigs, two geese, 16 chickens, 55 baby chickens, two tortoises, three turkeys, 16 cats, five dogs, 11 pigs were rescued. Portage APL says many animals were visibly underweight. One baby cow was unable to stand from being so malnourished, Portage APL said. Some animals resembled skeletons. (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) (Portage Animal Protective League) The rescue took place on Wednesday. This was a tough case for many reasons. The conditions these poor animals were living in were unacceptable and cruel, Chalan Lowry, Portage APL Executive Director said in a press release. A network of organizations stepped up to help Portage APL get all 180 animals into a rescue facility. Every animal is now receiving the care it needs and will have medical evaluations to put them on the path to recovery from serious neglect, Portage APL said. K-9 officer fired: Canton deserves better Portage APL is asking for donations. The costs to care for these animals will likely be extraordinary. You can donate online here. Portage APL says the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. An Israeli-led international operation saw 68 critically ill and injured Gaza children and their family members evacuated from Gaza on Thursday for medical treatment in Egypt and other countries. Photo courtesy Israel Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories/X June 28 (UPI) -- Israel evacuated 68 critically ill and injured Gaza children and their family members for medical treatment in Egypt and other countries, said the Defense Ministry unit that coordinates humanitarian efforts for the war-torn enclave. The joint operation through the Kerem Shalom Crossing with U.S and Egyptian and international authorities was aimed at reducing pressure on medical facilities in Gaza and in line with Security Cabinet policy to work with U.N. agencies, foreign partners and international organizations to "enable and alleviate" at scale the operation of Gaza's medical facilities, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said on X. The 19 children, including five with cancer, were transferred Thursday from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the south, their passage taking them into Israeli territory from the southeast corner of the strip before crossing over into Egypt. The evacuation came amid Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis and fighting and airstrikes in neighboring Rafah. Israel Defense Forces said it had "attacked terrorists who were in a school complex in Khan Younis." The World Health Organization welcomed what it said was the first medical evacuations of critically ill children from Gaza in more than seven weeks, but warned that more than 10,000 patients were left behind. "Of the 13,872 people who have applied for medical evacuation since Oct. 7, only 35% have been evacuated, with support from the WHO and partners. We thank Egypt for their generosity in hosting more than half of all evacuated patients and providing them with free medical care," Hanan Balkhy, director of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, wrote on X. She called for the urgent setting up of evacuation corridors to allow "sustained, organized, safe, and timely passage of critically ill patients" from Gaza via multiple routes into Egypt, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and onward to other countries as required. "WHO stands ready to continue supporting these life-saving medical evacuations." The war, triggered by the Oct. 7 attacks into southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups, has brought Gaza's health system to its knees amid the near-total destruction of medical infrastructure and chronic shortages of medicines, equipment and power. Cairo, which shuttered the key Rafah Crossing through which most food, medicine and other aid is trucked in after Israeli forces launched a ground offensive on Rafah in May, has pledged to keep it closed until it is back under the control of Palestinian authorities. The evacuations came as the U.N. published findings that more than 450,000 Gazans are at heightened risk of famine. 195 years later, the witnesses of the Book of Mormon are receiving more attention than ever Scene from "Witnesses" (2001) where Joseph Smith shows the plates from which the Book of Mormon came to eight witnesses. It was 195 years ago Friday, on June 28, 1829, in Fayette, New York, that three individuals testified to have seen the plates which contain the Book of Mormon record and the engravings which are upon the plates by assistance of a heavenly messenger and confirmed by the voice of God. Four days later, July 2, 1829, another eight witnesses were shown the plates by Joseph Smith the future leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Palmyra, New York, witness(ing) unto to the world that they hefted them, did handle with their hands the pages, and saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. This was front page news not only in their lives, but also in the lives of more than 20 million other men and women who came into the faith since Joseph Smith first baptized Oliver Cowdery in the late spring waters of the Susquehanna River on May 15, 1829. Another estimated 200 million people have been given the chance to read these same words in the preface to the Book of Mormon in the nearly two centuries since it was published. Scene illustrating the Eight Witnesses to the plates from "The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon," Episode 5, in "A Marvelous Work" - a 2024 docuseries created by Scripture Central. Yet as celebrated as these events are by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they have been remarkably easy for some to overlook or minimize. In the absence of hundreds of data points across repeated studies, modern minds sometimes assume little can be known from a small sample of observations, which are much more likely to be written off as merely subjective or anecdotal. All of this makes a resurgence in attention to the historical details of what took place especially impactful starting with the new 2018 history of the Church, Saints, (drawing upon extensive scholarship in the two-decades long Joseph Smith Papers project). More recently, a well-received 2021 film Witnesses was directed by Mark Goodman and produced by Russell Richins, in partnership with The Interpreter Foundation. And two weeks ago, a new documentary focused on these same events, produced by James Dalrymple and Jonathan Farrell, and released by Scripture Central, a non-profit organization dedicated to making the Book of Mormon and other Restoration scripture accessible, defensible, and comprehensible to people everywhere. Farrell, who enjoyed working in Hollywood feature animation for many years at Dreamworks and Pixar, said that earlier experience pales in comparison to this documentary work focused on a book that has literally changed my life. In sharing his approach, Darymple said, I wanted to ask what would it have been like to be there, to see the plates, to hear the voice of God or see Moroni? The witnesses, all of them, were real people. Too often, I think, we gloss over their humanity. They had families to feed and friends who questioned their actions and their beliefs. How would I have dealt with that? How do I deal with it today? Scene illustrating the Eight Witnesses to the plates from "The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon," Episode 5, in "A Marvelous Work" - a 2024 docuseries created by Scripture Central. Reliable processes for verifying truth The desire for a reliable confirmation of truth has understandably grown in a world saturated with distortion and deceit. And through recent human history, scientific processes that attempt to control and simplify conditions in order to identify clear patterns have been invaluable in learning more about the world. Surrounded by seemingly endless data points, however, it can be easy to shrug off the report of one or a group of eye-witness(es) even if thats been the long-standing basis for verifying facts across many centuries of human jurisprudence. Historian William Blackstone dated the earliest incarnation of the modern jury system back to 829 A.D in England, with trial by a jury of peers becoming the English norm by the late 800s. Ever since, when serious allegations arise, determining what truly happened (and what should be done in response), requires 12 independent jurors to unanimously agree on the evidence placed before them. Evidence laid before them These Book of Mormon witnesses testified to evidence that was likewise laid before them. After kneeling in prayer near the woods close to the Whitmer farm, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer recounted seeing an angel appear above them with brilliant light. As summarized in Saints, the angel turned the plates over one by one, showing the men the engraved symbols on every page. On a table beside him, were also laid out artifacts mentioned in the Book of Mormon, including the interpreters, the breastplate, a sword and the Liahona compass. Courtesy of Bryce M. Haymond, who with the help of Ken Corbett, retouched and colorized the original daguerreotype of Oliver Cowdery held by the Library of Congress - estimated to be taken in 1846, when he would have been 40. Notice the slight coloration in his cheeks, which are more conspicuous in the colorized version - and which are consistent with the tuberculosis Cowdery suffered the last few years of his life (he would die approximately four years after this image was taken, at David Whitmers home, while on a visit to persuade him to come to Utah). Even before these men had witnessed the evidence, Mary Whitmer was approached by another angel after exhausting herself providing meals for her family and their many visitors. You have become pretty tired with all the extra work you have to do, she recounted being told, before the messenger likewise held the plates in front of her, turning their pages so she could examine the engravings. You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors. It is proper, therefore, that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened. Sharing the responsibility to witness Having had the evidence laid before them, these individuals took away a great sense of responsibility. These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God, Whitmer and Cowdery recounted hearing. The translation of them, which you have seen, is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear. Courtesy of Bryce M. Haymond, retouched and colorized version of Jacob T. Hicks original photo of David Whitmer held at the Clay County Museum, Liberty, Missouri. That photo was estimated to be taken in 1870, when David would have been 65 (five years before his death in Richmond, Missouri). The young prophet returned home to the Whitmer home later that afternoon to find his parents there visiting. Father! Mother! You do not know how happy I am! he said, kneeling beside his mother. The Lord has caused the plates to be shown to three more besides me. They know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people. A tangible burden seemed to have been lifted. They will now have to bear a part. I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world. That felt a joyful responsibility to these other witnesses too. When Martin Harris finally had his own chance to see the plates, he exclaimed. Tis enough! Tis enough! Mine eyes have beheld! Mine eyes have beheld! He was overjoyed, expressing to others afterward, I have now seen an angel from heaven! I bless God in the sincerity of my soul that he has condescended to make me even me a witness of the greatness of His work! Witnessing despite s and suffering Cowdery said of his first time witnessing angelic instruction.s Twas the voice of an angel from glory ... earth, nor men, with the eloquence of time, cannot begin to clothe language in as interesting and sublime a manner as this holy personage. Courtesy of Bryce M. Haymond who retouched and colorized for the Interpreter Foundation the original photograph by Charles R. Savage, with a copy at the Church History Library, and the original in private possession. The image is from 1870, when Martin would have been 87 - 5 years before he passed away. Witnessing despite separation and suffering Severe testing would come to them all, as the early Church faced significant trials as a community, including strain from the financial crisis of 1837. Within eight years after publishing their testimony to the world, each of these men had become embittered and estranged from fellowship with the Saints. This would have been an ideal time to recant their witness had it been fabricated. Each of the three had ample reason and opportunity to renounce his testimony if it had been false, or to equivocate on details if any had been inaccurate, taught President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet to the end of their lives, he continued, not one of these witnesses deviated from his published testimony or said anything that cast any shadow on its truthfulness. Each of these witnesses bore repeated testimony throughout their lives of what they had experienced in interviews, published statements, and private conversations. As sure as you are standing there and see me, Martin Harris said on one occasion, just as sure did I see the angel with the golden plates in his hand. It wasnt just estrangement that tested these and the other witnesses, however. William McLellin writes about an 1833 mob attack on Hiram Page, one of the eight witnesses, when some young men ran down the 33-year old man in the woods, and commenced beating and pounding him with whips and clubs. Page, who had been a member of the church for only three years, begged for mercy but found none with the gang insisting they meant to beat him to death because of his faith. But finally, McLellin writes, one of them said to him, If you will deny that damned book, we will let you go. How can I deny what I know to be true? Page responded, which led them to pound him again. When the mob thought he was almost dead, they mocked him, Now what do you think of your God, and when he dont save you? Well, I believe in God, said the severely wounded man. The fool will stick to it though we kill him, said one of the mobsters. Let him go. Page was confined to his bed for a length of time, but to the end of his life, never denied his witness of what he had seen. What does it mean when eye witnesses continue to attest to something, despite personal strong incentives to do otherwise? And what does it mean when their willingness to testify outlasts even serious agony or in the case of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, death itself? A cloud of witnesses Along with these 12 main witnesses (three men and Mary Whitmer shown the plates by an angel, and eight others shown them directly by Joseph Smith), there were many more informal witnesses of the plates who hefted the box and felt the leaves incidentally. Scene illustrating Sophronia Smith's inadvertent witness of the plates from "The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon," Episode 5, in "A Marvelous Work" - a 2024 docuseries created by Scripture Central. About these family members and friends, Daniel C. Peterson, an Emeritus Professor of Islamic Studies at BYU, says in the documentary, it would have been easy for one of them to look and say, Hey, wait a minute. I looked at the so-called plates and they were a brick, or it was a rock in there, or something like that. Even though the young prophet took very seriously the overall safety of the plates, hes struck at how unconcerned Smith was about others he knows, he says which impresses him. If I were faking it, had a con going and had some mystical object, Id make sure people never saw it when I wasnt around. I would want to control the circumstances all the time. He doesnt. These words of these early witnesses converge in a unity that constitutes another well-known sign of validity both in modern scholarship and throughout sacred history. Rather than single individuals bearing witness on their own, prophets point to the words of other prophets throughout scripture. New Testament apostles frequently cite the words of Isaiah and Moses. And Alma calls upon the words of Zenos, Zenock and Moses to back up his own witness of the Savior. If anyone could have seemingly borne an independent, authoritative witness, it would have been Christ himself. But in ministries in both the Old and New Worlds, Jesus likewise points to the words of prophets consistently to bolster and corroborate his own witness. And, of course, many others point to him from John the Baptist and early apostles, to the 500 witnesses of his resurrection in Palestine and 2500 more in ancient America. Witnesses remain a constant part of modern Latter-day Saint life today, from witnesses to every baptism and sealing ordinance that takes place, to pairs of missionaries bearing testimony throughout the world, to modern apostles who lead the faith as special witnesses of Christ. The faith also declares the Book of Mormon as a second witness to the truths in the Bible. Enough physical evidence, but not too much Wouldnt all of this be easier if the angel had allowed the plates to remain and they were on display to the world in a special exhibit at the Church History Museum? Documentary host Scott Christopher highlights this very question suggesting that if the Lord wanted to, he could have said, Joseph, here are the plates. Go show them to anyone who wants to see them. People assume that there would be more believers if he did, remarks BYU professor of Church History and Doctrine, Steven Harper. Thats not true. According to scripture, its not perfect knowledge that grows Christ-followers, but faith a faith that could be undermined if too much evidence was initially provided. Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen, writes Moroni in ancient America. Wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. As believers attest today, what exists is enough. As Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would testify to those who are unsure just over 1500 years after Moroni sealed the book and almost 180 years after Joseph Smith translated the same record: You dont know everything, but you know enough! Scene illustrating Martin Harris's final testimony from "The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon," Episode 5, in "A Marvelous Work" - a 2024 docuseries created by Scripture Central. In a court of law, for example, Martin and others testimonies of what they saw and heard and touched, what they hefted, the plates, the angels, the voice of God, would be entered as evidence concludes the host, Scott Christopher. Their testimonies under sacred, solemn oath, corroborate Josephs claims with these united testimonies published all around the world attesting to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. They knew it, they knew that God knew it, and they would not deny it. An urn containing the oldest liquid wine on record that was found in a mausoleum in Spain. . | Credit: Juan Manuel Roman/University of Cordoba Archaeologists in Spain have discovered the world's oldest known liquid wine in an unexpected place: mixed with ashes inside a Roman-era funerary urn, a new study finds. The wine, which the scientists described as "reddish liquid" in appearance, was found in a roughly 2,000-year-old tomb during a house construction project in Carmona, a town in Seville, in 2019. The use of wine in Roman-era burial rituals is well documented, but discovering a wine sample this old, in its liquid state, was "rather exceptional and unexpected," the scientists wrote in their paper, published June 16 in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports . "It's a sunken tomb that was excavated from the rock, which allowed it to remain standing for 2,000 years," Jose Rafael Ruiz Arrebola , an organic chemist at the University of Cordoba and a senior author of the study, told The Guardian . Wine contains distinct chemical compounds that reflect not only its flavor and appearance but also its origins. But after many years, these chemicals often undergo substantial decay that makes them difficult to characterize, the scientists wrote in the paper. During the funerary ritual, cremated ashes were mixed with the liquid, making it murky, the scientists told The Guardian. Using analytical techniques including high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, the scientists sifted through element-by-element to find components that belonged to the liquid. Wine grapes contain distinct plant compounds known as polyphenols that serve as a "barcode," marking their varietal and the conditions in which they were grown and harvested. However, "few studies have been conducted on polyphenols in archaeological wine remains," the scientists wrote in the study. RELATED STORIES Finally, scientists explain the dreaded 'red wine headache' 'Archaeological sensation': Winemaker discovers hundreds of mammoth bones while renovating his cellar 10 extraordinary treasures that archaeologists unearthed this year When the scientists found polyphenols in the liquid sample, their suspicions were confirmed the ancient liquid was indeed wine. From looking at historical texts, they suspected that the wine would have been similar to modern fino wines produced from regions in southern Spain. The scientists compared the polyphenol content of the ancient wine to today's wines to determine that the wine was likely from Dona Mencia, a city in southern Cordoba. While the liquid is reddish, it lacked syringic acid, a compound that is produced by red wine when it decomposes, which confirmed that the original wine was actually white. Despite having mostly decayed, the ancient wine isn't, "the least bit toxic," according to microbiological analyses, Arrebola told The Guardian. Nevertheless, the scientists did not taste it. Other ancient wine analyses have focused on dried remnants, such as the 8,000-year-old fingerprints of tartaric acid , a compound of grapes and wine, found on a clay jug in the Republic of Georgia. Because the new study analyzed liquid wine, this discovery is one of a kind. "We have been lucky to find it and analyze it it's something you only see once in your life," Arrebola told CNN . MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway after a deadly shooting incident in Murfreesboro Thursday night. Officers were called to a townhome on Nightshade Drive just after 8 p.m. Murfreesboro police reported one person was shot and killed and the alleged gunman is also dead. Stabbing suspect shot, killed by Metro officer in Bellevue (Courtesy: Murfreesboro Police Department) There is no ongoing threat to the community following the shootings, according to Murfreesboro police. Authorities said the preliminary investigation indicated the shooting was a domestic violence incident. James Shannon, 29, is believed to have shot his girlfriend, Margarette Barksdale, 37, and then himself after an altercation. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee Personnel from the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department and Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services found them in an upstairs bedroom of the townhome and tried to perform CPR. However, Barksdale and Shannon were both pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbor Shae Potts said that she had frequently seen the couple at a nearby dog park. I did see CSI pull up lots of undercover cars, Potts said. We kept seeing two ambulances. Its just so tragic because whatever happened wasnt worth anyone losing their life. Its going to be some hard days ahead for that family. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details were immediately provided. If you are in a domestic violence relationship or know someone who is, help is available. You can contact the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center in Murfreesboro at 615-896-2012 or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 at any time. 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. Two people are dead after a plane crash in McKinney Thursday morning, Star-Telegram news partner WFAA reported. The crash happened around County Road 317, south of McKinney National Airport, at about 10:30 a.m. Three people were aboard the plane. The third person, who did not die, was taken to Parkland Hospital, WFAA reported. McKinney police told WFAA that the Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash. The plane appeared to crash into a mound of dirt and gravel at a facility south of the airport. Multiple fire crews responded to the scene. Authorities have not yet released the names of the people killed in the crash. As we anticipate an active 2024 hurricane season, it's also a time to look back at previous stormy summers. Such as the one 20 years ago when Florida was pounded with four powerful, punishing hurricanes one right after the other. The storms were directly or partly blamed for 145 deaths in the United States and responsible for more than $50 billion in damages (approximately $83.3 billion today) in just over six weeks of widespread destruction and misery. The hurricane season of 2004 saw four hurricanes make landfall in Florida, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Heres a look at Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Hurricane Charley The first was Hurricane Charley, smacking into the southern peninsula near Port Charlotte on Aug. 13, as a Category 4 hurricane. At its peak intensity, Charley achieved wind speeds up to 150 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States. Charley moved slowly across the Caribbean but quickly across Cuba and Florida, which mitigated some of the potential damage. But Floridians were caught off-guard by its path, which jogged south at the last minute. Charley came ashore near Punta Gorda, rather than the expected Tampa area, and tore across the state to exit near Ormond Beach. Damage: $16.9 billion Deaths: 35. Directly, 1 in Jamaica, 1 in Cuba, 9 in Florida and 1 in Rhode Island. Indirectly, 20 more in Florida. Hurricane Frances Just over three weeks from Charley's landfall, Frances hit. The Category 4 hurricane weakened as it trashed the Bahamas and struck Florida on Sept 5 near Jensen's Beach as a Category 2. It traveled up and across the state, wreaking havoc as it went, and exited into the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm before gaining strength again, curving around and hitting Florida again in the eastern Panhandle. Inland structure damage included 15,000 houses and 2,400 businesses in Palm Beach County, according to the National Weather Service, and millions of dollars of crop damage. The storm indirectly contributed to at least nine deaths in Florida. The slow-moving storm brought heavy rains through the eastern U.S. and into Canada and flooding to Florida and North Carolina. Damage: $10.1 billion Deaths: 50 Hurricane Ivan Hurricane Ivan became a Category 5 hurricane three times as it moved from the Windward Islands through the Caribbean, bringing massive damage and loss of life to the region. Ivan didn't make its initial U.S. landfall in Florida but when it crashed into Alabama on September 16 as a Category 3 hurricane the long-lived storm tore up the western Peninsula on its way to rampaging across the eastern United States. Then it circled back around to hit us again as a tropical storm and cross South Florida back to the Gulf of Mexico. Ivan caused an outbreak of 117 tornadoes over three days, including 18 in Florida. One tornado near Panama City Beach resulted in one death and seven injuries, another near Blountstown resulted in four deaths and one injury, and a third killed two people in Panama City, according to the National Hurricane Center. Ivan left a path of destruction in its wake, causing parts of the Interstate 10 bridge to collapse into Pensacola Bay and essentially leveling Perdido Key. Thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. Damage: $26.1 billion Deaths: 124 Hurricane Jeanne But the deadliest hurricane in 2004 was Jeanne. Even as "just" a tropical storm, Jeanne destroyed large parts of Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico (where eight people were killed) with wind, rainfall and flooding while Ivan was still terrorizing the Gulf Coast. Heavy rains in the mountains of Haiti caused extreme flooding and mudslides that nearly wiped out the coastal city of Gonaives. The official report on Oct. 6 listed counted 3,006 people dead, with 2,826 of those in Gonaives alone. Thousands more were injured. More than two dozen people were killed in the Dominican Republic. Jeanne strengthened into a hurricane and meandered around in a loop passing over the Bahamas and smacking into Florida on Sept. 26 at roughly the same place that Frances had hit just three weeks before. It followed Frances' path almost exactly until it swung north into Georgia, leaving millions without power (again), destroying homes and spawning tornadoes. Three people died in Florida due to Jeanne. Damage: $7.94 billion Deaths: 3,037 This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida hurricanes: Looking back at 2004's deadly summer of storms 2024 Voter Guide: Alachua County Commission. See how the candidates stack up Election days are drawing near, and there are five candidates currently in the running for a seat on the Alachua County Commission. The District 1 Democratic candidate will be decided during the primary election, while the District 1 Republican candidate and both District 3 candidates will be put straight on the November election ballot. This year will be the first in which voters are restricted to voting only for the commissioner that represents their district after single member districts were passed last election. This year, the county is giving voters the opportunity to reverse the decision made in the last election and move back to an at-large system for future elections. Read a breakdown of all Alachua County Commission candidates with The Gainesville Suns 2024 voter guide. More: 2024 Voter Guide: Gainesville City Commission. See how the candidates stack up More: County commissioners move forward on effort to get at-large districts on ballot Alachua County Commission District 1 Incumbent Mary Alford will face Dejeon Cain for the Democratic nomination in the August primary election. Alford is a sixth generation Floridian and grew up in Florida, according to the countys website. She served on the Alachua County Environmental Protection Advisory Board, the City of Gainesville Utility Advisory Board and the Alachua County Code Enforcement Board, the website says of Alfords time before she was elected to the commission in 2022. She has served on the board of several local non-profit organizations, including Florida Defenders of the Environment, the Cultural Arts Coalition, and the United Way of North Central Florida. The former environmental engineer resigned from the commission in May 2022 after the Sun reported she lived outside her district due to personal reasons. Afterward, she managed to find a new home and qualified for her former seat in time for the election. She won reelection by 16,000 votes over incumbent Raemi Eagle-Glenn, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the vacated seat. Alford has raised $16,645 for her race, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions to Alfords campaign include $25 from Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, $75 from Gainesville City Commission Candidate James Ingle, $20 from Florida House District 22 Candidate Amy Trask, $100 from Alachua County School Board member Sarah Rockwell and $25 from Gainesville City Commissioner Casey Willits. Cain, a lifelong resident of Alachua County and the proprietor of Fortitude Security, a private security and patrol firm, according to his campaign website. Cain ran to join the Gainesville City Commission last year and lost to Casey Willits. His priorities include progressive energy policies, reducing violent crime and increasing affordable housing, his website says. Cain has raised $7,150 for his run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $50 from Alachua County Commissioner Ken Cornell and $100 from Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler. The Democratic candidate will go on to compete with sole Republican candidate Lizabeth Ann Doebler for the District 1 seat in November. Doebler does not have a campaign website and has not reported any contributions to her campaign. Alachua County Commission District 3 Incumbent Democrat Anna Prizzia will face Republican candidate Jenn Garrett in November for the District 3 race. Five candidates are currently in the running for seats on the Alachua County Commission as election days near in Alachua County. Prizzia worked for the St. Johns Water Management District and Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and served as the Director for the UF Office of Sustainability before being elected to the commission. She also helped found Working Food, a nonprofit that aims to create a strong local food community, according to her website. Prizzias priorities include environmental protection, social justice and equity and supporting the local economy, her website says. Prizzia has raised $37,533 for her run so far, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions to her campaign include $110 from Ingle, $25 from Ward, $500 from Rockwell and $100 from Gainesville City Commissioner Bryan Eastman. Garrett has a background as an architectural historian working with the Florida Department of Transportation, according to her campaign website. Garrett is focused on improving roads and traffic as well as encouraging development while protecting environmental resources. Garrett has raised $81,794 for her run, according to campaign finance data. Notable contributions include $250 from State Attorney candidate Brian Kramer, $1,000 from local attorney Jeff Childers, $500 from the recently-arrested Newberry education activist Joel Searby, $350 from Alachua County School Board member Kay Abbitt and $150 from Florida House District 22 Candidate Raemi Eagle-Glenn. Alachua County Commission District 5 Charles Chuck Chestnut IV is running for reelection in District 5 and remains unopposed in the election. Chestnut has raised $6,600 for his run, according to campaign finance data. Voters can find their precinct ahead of the August election by visiting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: The Gainesville Sun's 2024 Voter Guide: Alachua County Commission Dozens of U.S. Representatives have introduced a resolution condemning Uganda's "draconian" anti-LGBTQ+ law. Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 (AHA23) punishes individuals who engage in consensual same-sex sexual relations with life in prison, making certain instances punishable by death. The law also levies 20 years in prison for the promotion of homosexuality against any organization that promotes or encourages homosexuality or the observance and normalization of [homosexual] conduct. After Uganda's highest court upheld the law in April, 21 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Reps. Mark Takano and Joyce Beatty, are now introducing a resolution condemning the legislation, calling for the continuation of sanctions against the country's officials and for the law to be repealed. It is difficult to overstate the gross inhumanity of Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act, Takano said. Instead of focusing on rooting out corruption or ending extrajudicial killings, the Ugandan Parliament, President, and Constitutional Court have chosen to mark LGBTQ+ Ugandans as less than human. Congress must not be silent in the face of such systematic, state-sponsored discrimination." Beatty called the legislation "one of the harshest anti-LGBTQI+ laws the world has seen," which has created deadly consequences for queer people in the country. There have already been cases of men being arrested for aggravated homosexuality, with some facing decades in prison or even the death penalty. When Ugandan President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law one of the harshest anti-LGBTQI+ laws the world has seen he, alongside the Parliament, signaled to members of the LGBTQI+ community that there is no place in the country that they will be safe from persecution," Beatty said. This draconian law stands in clear violation of universal human rights and has already resulted in catastrophic personal outcomes for LGBTQI+ Ugandans, further discouraging them from seeking vital health services and facilitating a culture that supports state-sponsored violence," she continued. "This resolution shows that members of the United States Congress stand with LGBTQI+ Ugandans and demands immediate repeal of this unjust law so that all Ugandans can lead safe, healthy lives free from fear. News / National by Staff reporter Chaotic scenes outside the Harare Magistrates Court pic.twitter.com/RsDR59TfBb Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) June 27, 2024 Chaotic scenes outside the Harare Magistrates Court pic.twitter.com/LXerksafc6 Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) June 27, 2024 Chaotic scenes outside the Harare Magistrates Court after the state decided to keep ex-senator Jameson Timba and 78 other CCC activists in jail "for security reasons."A magistrate then dismissed their bail applications during a virtual hearing.Security was tight at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court in Harare ahead of the bail application ruling for former opposition minister Jameson Timba and 78 activists.This came as the court was worried about the situation if the suspects were brought physically to Rotten Row amid solidarity mobilisation by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leaders sympathetic to former leader Nelson Chamisa.Opposition veteran Amos Chibaya two days ago urged their supporters to come in large numbers to back Timba and other detainees.Timba and colleagues were arrested on 16 June for convening a private meeting to discuss youth issues over a braai at his Avondale home.Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) says police have arrested the wife of its Harare province secretary-general Ronald Hondongwa who is detained together with former opposition minister Jameson Timba and 77 other activists.Hondongwa's wife is accused of holding a placard demanding the release of her husband. Hondongwa is a teacher with a disability and he is enduring a torrid time in prison."He can't eat or bath without assistance from his wife," Artuz says. A 24-year-old woman with a special soul was tubing on an Oregon river when she collided with another boat and died, deputies and loved ones said. Kaileigh Seidels sudden death has left a hole in all of our hearts, her sister, Aliyah Seidel, told KPTV. Rescuers responded at 7:53 p.m. June 22 at the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland, the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office said in a June 27 news release. Kaileigh Seidel was on an inflatable tube being pulled by a boat when she collided with another boat, deputies said. However, her family says the boat driver was speeding and driving recklessly, Aliyah Seidel told KGW. He just drove her into another boat. She hit the boat, and she died immediately, to my knowledge, the sister told the news outlet. After the collision, Kaileigh Seidel was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, deputies said. Millie Lovea was with Kaileigh Seidel on the river, according to a Facebook post. My beautiful best friend and I had just gotten out on the water, having what seemed like a fun time, when everything changed in an instant, Lovea wrote on Facebook. Now, deputies are investigating her friends death. The case will be sent to the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, where a deputy district attorney will decide whether to file criminal charges, deputies said. This tragedy has left so many of us heartbroken and confused as to why such a young, beautiful life can be cut so short. Kaileigh was a light for so many, her boss, Terra Yoder, wrote in a GoFundMe created to raise money for her funeral expenses. Over the weekend we lost a very special soul! You have so many people who love you, Lindsay Bassett Roach wrote on Facebook. Rafter dies after shes thrown into river rapids during group outing, Oregon cops say Surfers rush to Hawaii shores, but rip currents were too much. Lifeguards rescue 100 Man thrown into river from canoe dies after woman rushes to help him, Oregon cops say 28-year-old wanted for engaging in organized crime in East Texas HARRISON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Officials in Harrison County said they are looking for a wanted fugitive. Powell Street in Lufkin closed forever According to the sheriffs office, Kyler McBride, 28, is wanted for the following charges: Engaging in organized criminal activity Burglary of a building, two charges Criminal mischief Theft of material alum./copper/brass, less than $20,000 Theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000 Criminal Trespass Courtesy of the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. McBride is described by authorities as a white male, 57, about 190 pounds with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on McBrides whereabouts is asked to contact the Harrison County Criminal Investigation Division at 903-923-4000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Three men were arrested Thursday in connection with the March disappearance of an engineer and his assistant, whom prosecutors say were killed. Alonso Guerrero Chavez and Ruben Rojas were surveying a plot of land for a city project when they vanished. Right now, we have three people in custody, Baja California Attorney General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez said. The engineer and his assistant were doing work in a high-crime area using a drone and other equipment, the people in custody were using drugs nearby. Andrade Ramirez said the suspects thought the engineer and his assistant were spying on them. 2 Tijuana city engineers missing, foul play suspected Since they were only two, they were overwhelmed by the suspects and held against their will, then they were killed with the assailants taking their cellphones and equipment. Andrade Ramirez said her officer is still trying to get the suspects to provide them with more details including the location of the bodies, which have not been found. We are finalizing the investigation, she said. The suspects have given us different accounts as to what happened as we continue the search for the missing men. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Guerrero Chavez and his assistant were working for the city of Tijuana. Their families have been actively searching for them since they disappeared and have lobbied the police and the city to do more to find them. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A police chase Friday morning ended with a collision in Upland that left four people dead and two vehicles demolished. (KTLA-TV ) Four people were killed Friday morning when a DUI suspect fled police and collided with another car in Upland, authorities said. About 2 a.m., a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy in Rancho Cucamonga tried to pull over a DUI suspect who refused to stop, starting a car chase that led into Upland and ended with the suspect's vehicle colliding with another car at North Mountain Avenue and West 16th Street, KTLA-TV reported. Four people inside the vehicle the deputy was chasing were killed and two others involved in the crash were hospitalized, authorities said. The identities of the four deceased were not immediately available. Upland police and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials did not immediately respond to a request from The Times for comment. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. City leaders are offering a $25,000 reward for the capture and prosecution of a suspect prying copper metal plaques honoring teachers on Woodland Hills Walk of Hearts out of the sidewalk and stealing them, likely to sell as scrap, officials said. Grainy surveillance footage captured the thief chiseling out the plaques in the cover of night and leaving 11 holes in the sidewalk along Sherman Way and Victory Boulevard. In total, the stolen plaques amount to approximately $44,000, according to Joe Andrews, whose nonprofit organization funds the valued community effort. When a person rips these out of the sidewalk, what theyre doing is violating a teachers legacy, Andrews said. These crimes are a part of a trend in the Southern California region of thieves stealing things like copper wire, light poles, fire hydrants and other infrastructure that costs way more to fix than it yields for criminals. A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) A $25,000 reward is being offered for the capture and conviction of a thief stealing copper metal plaques honoring teachers in Woodland Hills. (KTLA) We ask that if you guys are aware of the suspect whos walking off with these plaques or where hes unloading these items, that you make the effort to contact us, Los Angeles Police Department Cpt. Rudy Lopez said at a press conference Thursday. L.A. City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who represents the Woodland Hills area encouraged residents to report the crime and collect the $25,000 reward. Our public infrastructure is being attacked, he said. Were here to push back. Were here to say enough. Were here to say were going to catch this person or persons because its not tolerable. Detectives told KTLAs Rachel Menitoff that they are looking at local scrap yards, which are required to keep records of all metals sold to them, and asking those businesses to be on the lookout. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Biden and former President Trump took jabs at each other Thursday night in a debate that raised fresh fears for Democrats over the Bidens mental fitness. The two men tried to make their appeals to voters as concerns swirled over both of them. But it was Bidens faltering answers in the first 30 minutes of the debate that largely overshadowed everything else. The debate came as Trump narrowly leads in most, but not all, national polls. The Hill/Decision Desk HQs national polling average shows Trump with nearly 45 percent of support while Biden has nearly 44 percent. Here are five memorable moments from the debate. Biden stumbles with his answers early on In a moment that arguably did more than any other to define the narrative of the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while mixing up the terms Medicare and COVID. Later, Trump took aim at the presidents slurred comments. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump said, while the two men were discussing the topic of immigration. I dont think he knows what he said either. CNNs Jake Tapper had pressed Biden on why voters should trust him to secure the border, pointing to the record number of migrants crossing into the U.S. While Biden touted his support of a bipartisan border security deal and his recent crackdown on the border, he appeared to trip over his words before concluding his answer. Im going to continue to move until we get to total ban on the total initiative relative to what were going to do with more border patrol and more asylum officers, Biden said before Trump shot back. A source familiar with Bidens campaign told The Hill that the president had a cold during the debate, explaining away his slow start and raspy voice. Biden snaps at Trump over veterans: My son was not a loser Biden got heated with Trump after the former president attacked his record on veterans issues, lashing out at Trump about 30 minutes into the debate. My son served in Iraq, Biden said, referring to his oldest son Beau. He lived next to burn pits. He came back with glioblastoma. He [Trump] called veterans suckers and losers. My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. Youre the loser. Youre the sucker. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, believed to be from his exposure to burn pits from his Army National Guard service in Iraq. Trump denied ever calling fallen veterans suckers and losers, saying the quote was made up. That was a made-up quote. Suckers and losers. They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine thats failing like many of these magazines. He [Biden] made that up. He put it in commercials. We had 19 people who said I didnt say it. Despite his claims to the contrary, however, Trumps own former chief of staff John Kelly previously confirmed Trump called dead veterans suckers in 2018. Trump reportedly made the comment after saying he did not want to visit a cemetery for fallen American World War I soldiers in France. Biden, Trump call each other criminals Trump quickly hit back at Biden after the president called him a convicted felon. The only person on this stage [who] is a convicted felon is the man Im looking at right now, Biden had said, before Trump responded. Trump then called out Hunter Biden, the presidents son, after he was found guilty of federal gun charges earlier this month. When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon, at a very high level, he responded, adding that he believes Hunter will be convicted more times. Hunter faces a felony trial on tax charges in September. Trump then labeled Biden a criminal. Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that hes done, hes done horrible things, Trump said. This man is a criminal. This man, youre lucky, youre lucky, I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting. Biden: Trump has morals of an alley cat The president hit Trump over his legal trouble and alleged past affairs in a moment of the debate that got personal, as Trump claimed his numerous legal cases were politically motivated. The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties or for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things. For having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant? he continued. What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. Trump hit back, denying the affair that was at the center of his New York criminal trial. The former president was found guilty of illegally covering up payments made to hide the affair with adult film actor Stormy Daniels. We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, Democrat, Trump said. The prosecutor were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people. Both the civil and the criminal. He [Biden] basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me. Trump faces three remaining criminal trials over claims related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and to hide classified documents, though none are expected to be decided before the election. Civil cases earlier this year found the former president liable for sexual assault, business fraud and defamation. Trump tangles with Biden over abortion The two candidates traded arguments over their stances on abortion, one of the most highly debated issues ahead of the election. Trump touted his role in overturning Roe v. Wade the landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected the national right to an abortion. He emphasized his belief that the issue should be left up to the states, while maintaining that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. He also said that he supported the Supreme Courts decision to uphold the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, the drug that is used in most abortions across the country. I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it, Trump said. Meanwhile, Biden repeatedly reiterated his support for Roe. He said overturning the landmark ruling was a terrible thing. The idea that states are able to [ban abortion] is a little like saying were going to turn civil rights back to the states, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) President Biden and former President Trump took jabs at each other Thursday night in a debate that raised fresh fears for Democrats over the formers mental fitness. The two men tried to make their appeals to voters as concerns swirled over both of them. But it was Bidens faltering answers in the first 30 minutes of the debate that largely overshadowed everything else. Did Trump actually call veterans who died in wars suckers? The debate came as Trump narrowly leads in most, but not all, national polls. The Hill/Decision Desk HQs national polling average shows Trump with nearly 45 percent of support while Biden has nearly 44 percent. Here are five memorable moments from the debate. Biden stumbles with his answers early on In a moment that arguably did more than any other to define the narrative of the debate, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while mixing up the terms Medicare and COVID. Later, Trump took aim at the presidents slurred comments. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump said, while the two men were discussing the topic of immigration. I dont think he knows what he said either. CNNs Jake Tapper had pressed Biden on why voters should trust him to secure the border, pointing to the record number of migrants crossing into the U.S. While Biden touted his support of a bipartisan border security deal and his recent crackdown on the border, he appeared to trip over his words before concluding his answer. Im going to continue to move until we get to total ban on the total initiative relative to what were going to do with more border patrol and more asylum officers, Biden said before Trump shot back. A source familiar with Bidens campaign told The Hill that the president had a cold during the debate, explaining away his slow start and raspy voice. Biden snaps at Trump over veterans: My son was not a loser Biden got heated with Trump after the former president attacked his record on veterans issues, lashing out at Trump about 30 minutes into the debate. My son served in Iraq, Biden said, referring to his oldest son Beau. He lived next to burn pits. He came back with glioblastoma. He [Trump] called veterans suckers and losers. My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. Youre the loser. Youre the sucker. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, believed to be from his exposure to burn pits from his Army National Guard service in Iraq. Trump denied ever calling fallen veterans suckers and losers, saying the quote was made up. That was a made-up quote. Suckers and losers. They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine thats failing like many of these magazines. He [Biden] made that up. He put it in commercials. We had 19 people who said I didnt say it. Despite his claims to the contrary, however, Trumps own former chief of staff John Kelly previously confirmed Trump called dead veterans suckers in 2018. Trump reportedly made the comment after saying he did not want to visit a cemetery for fallen American World War I soldiers in France. Biden, Trump call each other criminals Trump quickly hit back at Biden after the president called him a convicted felon. The only person on this stage is a convicted felon is the man Im looking at right now, Biden had said, before Trump responded. Trump then called out Hunter Biden, the presidents son, after he was found guilty of federal gun charges earlier this month. When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon, at a very high level, he responded, adding that he believes Hunter will be convicted more times. Hunter faces a felony trail on tax charges in September. Trump then labeled Biden a criminal. Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that hes done, hes done horrible things, Trump said. This man is a criminal. This man, youre lucky, youre lucky, I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting. Biden: Trump has morals of an alley cat The president hit Trump over his legal trouble and alleged past affairs in a moment of the debate that got personal, as Trump claimed numerous his legal cases were politically motivated. The crimes you are still charged with and think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties or for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things. For having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant? he continued. What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. Trump hit back, denying the affair which was at the center of his New York criminal trial. The former president was found guilty of illegally covering up payments made to hide the affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. We had a very terrible judge, a horrible judge, Democrat, Trump said. The prosecutor were all high-ranking Democrats, appointed people. Both the civil and the criminal. He [Biden] basically went after his political opponent because he thought it was going to damage me. Trump faces three remaining criminal trials over claims related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election and to hide classified documents, though none are expected to be decided before the election. Civil cases earlier this year found the former president liable for sexual assault, business fraud and defamation. Trump tangles with Biden over abortion The two candidates traded arguments over their stances on abortion, one of the most highly debated issues ahead of the election. Trump touted his role in overturning Roe v. Wadethe landmark Supreme Court ruling that protected the national right to an abortion. He emphasized his belief that the issue should be left up to the states, while maintaining that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. He also said that he supported the Supreme Courts decision to hold up the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, the drug that is used in most abortions across the country. I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it, Trump said. Meanwhile, Biden repeatedly reiterated his support for Roe. He said overturning the landmark ruling was a terrible thing. The idea that states are able to [ban abortion] is a little like saying were going to turn civil rights back to the states, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. 5 missiles land near ship in the Red Sea in the latest attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A ship traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated missile fire Friday in an attack launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, authorities said, the latest targeting the crucial maritime route. Five missiles landed near the vessel as it traveled off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The missiles landed near the vessel, but caused no damage, the UKTMO added. Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed late Friday the group made two attacks on ships in the Red Sea, but it wasn't immediately clear which ship was the one reported targeted by authorities. He also made other claims as well on attacks otherwise unreported on vessels. The Houthis have exaggerated their claims in the past. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels by firing missiles and drones in their campaign that has killed a total of four sailors. They seized one vessel and sank two since November. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say. The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war including some bound for Iran. Late on Tuesday, Saree said the group was responsible for an attack Monday on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-managed container ship MSC Sarah V. On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile in the assault, which targeted a ship farther away than nearly all of the previous assaults theyve launched in the Gulf of Aden. Another attack Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden was suspected to have been carried out by the Houthis, though they have yet to claim it. A Houthi attack also happened Thursday in the Red Sea. A U.S.-led coalition has been battling the Houthis. Early Saturday, the U.S. military's Central Command said it destroyed seven Houthi drones and a "ground control station vehicle" in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The Houthis on Friday had reported airstrikes around Hodeida's airport, which long has been suspected of being used as a rebel launch site. 5-year-old boy dies after being found in backyard pool in South Miami-Dade A 5-year-old boy died Thursday night at the hospital, where Miami-Dade rushed him after responding to a call of a drowning in a backyard pool, police said. Police and firefighters arrived at the home, located in the 14800 block of SW 168th Terrace around 7:40 p.m. and rushed the boy by helicopter ambulance to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in critical condition, said Detective Angel Rodriguez, a Miami-Dade police spokesman. Once at the hospital, doctors pronounced the child dead, Rodriguez said. The incident is under investigation by Miami-Dade Homicide detectives, according to Rodriguez. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. What to know about Mongolia as it holds a democratic election in the shadow of authoritarian giants Residents look at election posters of candidates, two days before polls open in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 26, 2024. As a democracy of just 3.4 million people in the shadow of two much larger authoritarian states, China and Russia, it has taken on symbolic importance in an era when democracy is under pressure or in crisis in many countries, including the United States. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) Mongolia, where parliamentary elections were being held Friday, is a sparsely populated and landlocked Asian nation known for its bitter winter cold and independent spirit. As a democracy of just 3.4 million people in the shadow of two much larger authoritarian states, China and Russia, it has taken on symbolic importance in an era when democracy is under pressure or in crisis in many countries, including the United States. In an earlier era, the fierce nomadic tribes of the Mongolian steppe were widely feared, at one point conquering China and expanding west across Asia to the edges of Europe. Today, it is a country punctuated by extremes. Its vast mineral resources are sought by China and the West but generate wealth mainly for the elite: nearly a third of Mongolians lived below the poverty line in 2022 according to the Asian Development Bank. The mineral wealth is helping power global decarbonization, yet it remains hooked to dirty coal that causes some of the worst air pollution in the world. Nomadic herding is integral to the country but millions of animals are lost to extreme weather worsened by climate change. The dzud The word dzud literally means disaster in Mongolian. It's an extreme weather phenomenon that used to occur once a decade, but is becoming harsher and more frequent as the world warms. The deadly combination of perennial droughts and severe, snowy winters cause cataclysmic losses of livestock. Herding is central to Mongolias economy and culture contributing 80% of its agricultural production and 11% of its GDP and the impacts of dzuds are profound. This years dzud, the sixth in the past decade and the worst yet, killed more than 7.1 million animals. Thousands of families have lost over 70% of their entire herds. The minerals Mongolia gets nearly a quarter of its GDP and around 90% of its exports from mining. The Oyu Tolgoi mine in the Gobi Desert in the country's south is one of the world's largest known copper and gold deposits. Some in Mongolia hope increased demand for so-called critical minerals for countries seeking to decarbonize will give it leverage against its larger neighbors. But Mongolia has struggled to share the benefits and costs of its mineral wealth. Herders, who make up a third of the population, decry the loss of pasture land and alleged land grabs. In 2022, massive protests broke out in Mongolia over alleged corruption in the mining sector. The election After six decades of communist rule, protests sparked a transition to democracy in 1990. Overblown hopes that democracy would bring prosperity and solve all the country's ills yielded to reality. As voters elect a new parliament this week, many are increasingly disappointed in a system that they see as riven with corruption and skewed toward serving mining and other business interests rather than ordinary citizens. Voters will be choosing a larger parliament in this election. It has been expanded to 126 seats, up 50 from before. The ruling Mongolian People's Party is favored to win but may see its now dominant majority reduced. The People's Party ran the country during the communist era and now is a left-leaning centrist one. The pollution The Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, has some of the worst air in the world. Annual levels of fine, inhalable particles known as PM2.5 surpass levels considered safe by the World Health Organization by nearly 9-times. Children are particularly at risk. Climate shocks like the dzud are forcing more and more people to move to the city. They live in traditional tents known as gers and burn coal or wood for heat during the country's brutal winters. That adds to smog from Mongolian coal-fired power plants and diesel-fueled vehicles. The history Genghis Khan, a national hero, amassed power to become the leader of the Mongols in the early 13th century and then set out to conquer lands to the south and west. Known as Chinggis Khan in Mongolian, his descendants subdued China, ruling it for nearly a century as the Yuan Dynasty. In the 20th century, Mongolia got help from the Soviet Union in a bid for independence from China, which it won. The Soviet Union helped improve public health and education, but also turned the country into a virtual satellite state, its traditional culture subsumed by Russian communist influence. Since Mongolia gained full autonomy and transitioned to democracy, Genghis Khan has served as a cornerstone of the country's efforts to reclaim its national heritage. His likeness is everywhere, from bottles of vodka to a 40-meter- (130-foot-) tall stainless steel statue of him astride a horse outside Ulaanbaatar. ___ Ghosal reported from Hanoi, Vietnam. News / National by Staff reporter OPPOSITION CCC official Jameson Timba and 77 fellow party activists, arrested nearly two weeks ago in Harare for allegedly gathering "with intent to promote violence," have been remanded in custody until July 10. Magistrate Ruth Moyo denied their bail application, citing that they were a public security threat and not suitable candidates for bail.Timba and the other activists have been in remand prison since their arrest on June 16 while commemorating the Day of the African Child, according to CCC officials. The group is represented by lawyers Agency Gumbo, Lazarus Mbereko, Jeremiah Bamu, and Webster Jiti.Prosecutor Thomas Chanakira alleged that on June 16, police received a tip-off that the accused were holding an unsanctioned gathering with the intent of engaging in an unlawful demonstration in Harare. The court was informed that there were skirmishes during the arrest as the accused resisted and fought back, resulting in injuries to two individuals.However, the accused claimed that the police used excessive force, including tear gas, to arrest them. A 6-year-old Black Boy Drowned During First Day of Summer Camp, And His Mother Wants Answers Photo: GoFundMe Six-year-old Michael Stewart was excited for his first day at summer camp. According to his mother, Enjoli Stewart, Michael even fell asleep with his swimming goggles on the night before. Enjoli was at work on Monday, June 24, when she got a devastating call from a South New Jersey hospital. According to a press release by the Office of the Burlington County Prosecutor, Michael was found unresponsive in a pool at Liberty Lake Day Camp shortly after 2 p.m. He was pulled out by a lifeguard and transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. All of us at Liberty Lake Day Camp are devastated and grieving over the tragic passing of our young camper, a Liberty Lake Day Camp spokesperson told NBC10. This senseless tragedy took a life that was far too young. There are no words that feel appropriate enough to capture our heartache and mourning. During the afternoon, the camp has free swim, where campers can swim in at least one of the pools with supervision. The normal breakdowns in the afternoon during free swim are that theres three lifeguards in chairs at the little pool, with a fourth roving lifeguard, which far exceeds the ratios, the camps director, Andy Pritikin said. Additionally, the camp has three registered nurses, several lifeguards, and the Mansfield First Aid Squad located nearby, according to Pritikin. Enjoli said her son was a fighter. Michael was born at 23 weeks and doctors told his mother he would not have a normal life, but Michael did not let that stop him. Michael taught me how to fight, and he taught me to fight without using my hands, she said. He taught me how to fight in a different manner. Michael was a rising first grader. The superintendent for Michaels school district, Dr. Colleen Murray, sent a message to families about the loss. We extend our deepest condolences to the family as well as our education professionals who knew and worked with Michael, Murray wrote. The school district will host a lemonade stand fundraiser in honor of Michael. The Lumberton Police Fraternal Order has also posted a GoFundMe for the family. Law enforcement is handling the investigation to hopefully get answers into what led up to Michaels drowning. The camp staff say they are cooperating fully with the investigation. Liberty Lake Day Camp remained open during the week. A social worker was on site to counsel children who witnessed the incident. An official autopsy was conducted, but the results have not been released for public record. Michaels family has also retained a lawyer. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in the first presidential debate of 2024, we revisit several memorable, cringe-worthy and viral moments from past political showdowns. From Richard Nixon not being ready for primetime TV to Biden losing his temper in 2020, weve rounded up some of the most viral things that went down at debates. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon during their first debate in 1960 (CREDIT: Getty Images) Nixon sweated in 1960 In the first-ever televised presidential debate, Richard Nixon unwisely refused makeup and, even worse, had to stop to wipe the sweat off his face. John F. Kennedy, who was far more camera-friendly, would go on to win the election. The on-air gaffe has been parodied several times, including on The Simpsons. Presidential candidates Gary Hart and Walter Mondale debate in 1984 (CREDIT: Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) Mondale asked Wheres the beef? in 1984 Walter Mondale who was Jimmy Carters vice president was up against Gary Hart in an early debate for the Democratic candidates. Mondale savvily quoted the current Burger King commercial, Wheres the beef? to tell Hart his plans had no substance. Mondale won the nomination that year and named Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate (the first-ever woman on a major party ticket), but lost to Republican Ronald Reagan. VP candidate Lloyd Bentsen zinged rival Dan Quayle in 1988 (CREDIT: Steve Liss/ Getty Images) Lloyd Bentsen tells Dan Quayle hes no Jack Kennedy History might entirely forget about Democratic VP candidate Lloyd Bentsen, who was running with Michael Dukakis, except for his brilliant putdown of , Dan Quayle during a 1988 debate. Quayle, George H. Bushs pick for VP, had often compared himself to John F. Kennedy during the campaign. Bentsen, who actually knew JFK, famously told Quayle, Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine, the implication clearly being, Dont even mention yourself in the same breath as Jack Kennedy. His quote is misremembered as, Youre no Jack Kennedy, which has become an oft-used political insult. Al Gore and George W. Bush debate in 2000 (CREDIT: YouTube) Gore cant stop sighing Al Gore heaved a series of deep sighs whenever George W. Bush had the mike in this 2000 debate. As you know. Bush was eventually named the winner of the heavily contested election that year. The exchange was, of course, spoofed by SNL, with Will Ferrell as Bush and Darrell Hammond as Gore. Rick Perry drew a blank during a 2011 presidential debate (CREDIT: CNBC/ABC) Rick Perry draws a blank Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry forgot the third point he was making during a 2021 presidential debate. He had two fingers out already for his first two points, but the third gesture was to tap his own forgetful forehead. Donald Trump lurked behind Hillary Clinton during their October 9, 2016 debate (CREDIT: Timothy A. Clary/ AFP) The night he came on stage In this podium-free 2016 debate, both candidates were free to roam around. Viewers couldnt help but notice how often Donald Trump stood behind Hillary Clinton, a scenario that was often compared to Halloween killer Michael Myers looming behind a terrified Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). Biden tells Trump, Shut up, man. Heres why the mikes be muted in the rematch: In 2020, Trump kept interrupting Biden when he was answering the moderators question, repeating, Are you gonna pack the court? A frustrated Biden finally snapped, Will you shut up, man? Watch the moment in the video above. The post 7 Unforgettable Presidential Debate Moments From Years Past: Sweating, Lurking and Will You Shut Up, Man? appeared first on TheWrap. (WJW) About 70,000 lawn chairs are being recalled after two people suffered partial finger amputations while using them, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced. The recall is for Cinmar Frontgate Resort Collection Newport Aluminum Chaises and Teak Chaises, which have backrests that can unexpectedly descend with force, according to CPSC. Coffee recall due to potentially fatal food poisoning: FDA Cinmar has received three reports of incidents where peoples fingers were entrapped between the adjustable backrest and the chair frame. One person needed surgery after their finger was crushed, while two other people had partial finger amputation injuries, CPSC noted. Courtesy: CPSC Courtesy: CPSC The SKU number for the affected Aluminum Chaises is 67333, while the SKU number for the Teak Chaises is 166218. The recalled lawn chairs were sold at Frontgate stores in Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Texas from February 2014 to December 2023. They were also available on the companys website and in its catalogs during that time. Ice cream brands sold at Walmart, Giant Eagle recalled The chairs, which came in sets of two, have a silver badge on the back with FRONTGATE printed in black lettering. They were priced between $600 and $1,400. Consumers should immediately stop using the chairs, CPSC warned. Cinmar will distribute free repair kits for people who submit a photo to the company. For more information about the recall, you can call Cinmar toll-free at 888-298-4651. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nine months after cash bail ended in Illinois, the state is taking its first steps in publishing the data that crafters of the bail reform law saw as essential to judging its effectiveness. The data shows that judges in the 75 counties served by the Illinois Supreme Courts Office of Statewide Pretrial Services had collectively issued failure-to-appear warrants in just 5% of more than 28,000 court dates as of Friday. Judges had approved about 63% of petitions to detain a defendant pretrial that were sent to them by prosecutors. The OSPS, launched in 2021 to provide things like pretrial safety assessments and electronic monitoring for 75 of Illinois 102 counties, published the data in a new dashboard this week. It represents a key but still early and incomplete step in tracking Illinois progress as the first state to fully end cash bail through a wide-ranging criminal justice reform known as the SAFE-T Act. View the data dashboard here. Some states attorneys, sheriffs and other law enforcement organizations were staunchly and publicly opposed to the law when it passed launching several lawsuits that ultimately delayed cash bails elimination by nine months. But retired Cook County Judge Cara Smith, who now leads the OSPS, said she believes the data shows everyone is taking their responsibilities under the SAFE-T Act very seriously. I think judges and the other stakeholders everyone, regardless of what their position might have been on the policy behind the SAFE-T Act that everyones doing their job, she said. For David Olson, co-director of the Loyola University of Chicagos Center for Criminal Justice, or CCJ, the data demonstrates the complexities of tracking a reform as large as the SAFE-T Act in a state as geographically diverse as Illinois. Everyone wants to know: Hows it going in Illinois? Olson said in an interview. Well, which of the 102 Illinois(es) do you want to hear about? Theres 102 counties, and every ones a little bit different. New pretrial detention system The SAFE-T Act included a provision known as the Pretrial Fairness Act that ended the use of cash bail in Illinois, meaning a person cannot be jailed while awaiting trial simply because they cant afford a dollar amount assigned by a judge. After litigation forced a delay in implementing the PFA, cash bail was officially eliminated on Sept. 18, 2023. It created a replacement system in which prosecutors can petition judges to detain an individual based on the seriousness of the alleged crime and the defendants dangerousness or risk of fleeing prosecution. Before a judge can order detention, the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant committed the crime, poses a specific threat to a person or the community and that no other pretrial conditions can mitigate the defendants risk. The law also gives defendants a right to legal representation at their first court hearing, with the intention of making hearings more deliberative when an individuals freedom is at stake as they await a full trial. OSPS had completed more than 16,600 pretrial investigations since cash bail ended as of Friday, with just over 10,200 of them for defendants accused of a felony. As part of those investigations, the OSPS provides individual reports about a defendant to judges, public defenders and prosecutors prior to a first appearance in court. The investigations usually include an interview with the defendant, a detailed criminal history, employment information and more. The data showed that about 52 percent of cases that were subject to an OSPS pretrial investigation contained at least one offense considered detainable under the SAFE-T Act. As of Friday, prosecutors had petitioned the court to detain the defendant in 62 percent of those cases. The fact that judges approved 63 percent of those petitions, Smith said, was evidence the system was working. If we would have seen 99 percent of detention petitions are granted, that would have been a red flag, Smith said. Smith also stressed that the statewide data only tells part of the story county- and circuit-level data is just as important. The various circuit courts within OSPS jurisdiction had detention petition approval rates ranging from 48 percent to 84 percent as of Friday, though Smith pointed out percentages can be misleading, especially in smaller counties with low case volumes. Four large counties that are not part of the OSPS Cook, DuPage, Kane and McHenry report some level of pretrial detention data individually. Detention petitions as of Friday were granted at a 38 percent rate in Kane County, 41 percent in DuPage and 40 percent in McHenry. Cook County, which has the highest volume of cases of any jurisdiction by far, broke down its data further, reporting that detention was granted for 61 percent of 93 petitions filed for misdemeanor cases as of June 8, 41 percent of 1,485 domestic violence cases, and 70 percent of 2,641 felony cases. We didnt see any sort of knee jerk Judges as of Friday had issued failure-to-appear warrants in only 5% of 28,416 court dates in the 75 OSPS counties since cash bail was eliminated. But Olson whose CCJ has been studying pretrial detention since before the SAFE-T Acts passage cautioned that those numbers could increase, as failure-to-appear warrants are most accurately accounted for once a case has concluded. The (failure to appear) rates will likely increase as more of these cases have more time to have hearings missed, Olson said. However, both Smith and Olson also noted the number is likely driven downward by the SAFE-T Acts instruction to judges not to rely on such warrants as a first remedy for a non-appearance. And really, the reason for that is a lot of defendants previously who had warrants issued just, basically, they forgot about court, Olson said. Other means of assuring a defendants appearance in court, Smith said, include simply sending text message reminders. We send about 200 court date text message reminders a day, she said. So that has been shown just like it is when we get a haircut or have a doctors appointment to be an effective way of keeping important appointments at the forefront of peoples minds. Another major function of the OSPS is to oversee electronic monitoring of individuals subject to home confinement in its 75 counties from a centralized location in Springfield. The OSPS now absorbs the cost of electronic monitoring which, in many counties, was previously passed on to defendants. Smith said OSPS has plans to add electronic monitoring data to a future version of its dashboard, and she added the agency has enrolled about 1,100 people in electronic monitoring. I was very afraid of an explosion in the use of electronic monitoring after Sept. 18, Smith said. We have not seen that. The program has steadily grown, but its grown sort of organically we didnt see any sort of knee jerk. Olson echoed that point, noting that the OSPS made electronic monitoring and pretrial services in general available in counties where it was never previously an option. But some counties may be reluctant to order electronic monitoring even though it is free to them, he said, because theyd have to expend potentially sparse personnel resources to enforce it. A lot of variation While the OSPS data is useful in understanding how certain counties are handling pretrial detention in addition to examining broader trends, Olson said, it further demonstrates the disparities across jurisdictions. The detainability data specifically applies to individuals who have been subject to an OSPS investigation and not those whom an officer has simply cited and released. Olson pointed to one example of how the numbers can be skewed in any individual county based on its practices. He said Loyola CCJ researchers were told by officials in southern Illinois Williamson County that all arrestees are held in jail at least overnight prior to appearing before a judge. As a result, the OSPS conducted investigations on all of those individuals, even if their offense was low-level. Thus, only 36 percent of individuals subject to an investigation in that county were detainable, per the dashboard. In neighboring Franklin County, meanwhile, Olson said officials reported they jail only those individuals they believe are detainable, resulting in 59 percent of investigated cases containing a detainable offense. Theres also a lot of county-to-county variance on the percentage of detention petitions granted, Olson added. And it really illustrates what we suspect is going to happen, and thats theres going to be a lot of variation from circuit to circuit and county to county, just based on local practices, priorities, discretion thats given to prosecutors and who they seek to detain, he said. So has it increased crime? While both Smith and Olson said the dashboard is just an early step in the data-gathering process, Olson added theres a lot more information to be gathered in the coming years before the end of cash bail can be fully evaluated. I think that the biggest question people are going to want to know is, So has this increased crime? he said. Thats still too early to know. Olson added that its important to differentiate between longstanding cyclical crime increases such as more crime occurring in warmer weather and actual effects of the policy. He also advised against extrapolating judgments about the system from any single instance of an individual being released from custody and going on to reoffend because that also happened under cash bail. Its still too early to say empirically, but there will likely be plenty of folks that talk about it anecdotally, he said of cash bails effectiveness. Olsons CCJ also noted the law has had its intended effect of adding scrutiny to decisions affecting an individuals liberty. Bail hearings generally lasted about 4-6 minutes in four counties observed by the CCJ prior to Pretrial Fairness Act, according to a March CCJ report. After it passed, observed pretrial hearings averaged about 4-7 minutes except in cases when detention was requested. Those hearings had median lengths of 10-30 minutes, with some lasting nearly an hour. Thats actually one of the positive things that weve we found is everybody in the courtroom, including the defendant, knows exactly why the judge is reaching the decision, he said. Hannah Meisel of Capitol News Illinois contributed. Abilene man sentenced to 35 years in prison for child sex crime ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man accused of a child sex crime has been sentenced to 35 years in prison. Tony Patterson received his 35 year prison sentence for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Thursday after trial in Taylor County. Court documents state a child came forward to police and claimed Patterson had touched her inappropriately multiple times once when she was 9 and once when she was 11. No further information on this case 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now thats in doubt. A blanket given to Anne Angus at the Boulder Abortion Clinic in Colorado, one of the only clinics in the country that offers termination after the second trimester. Angus said a former patient makes the blankets, called Bananas for Annie, for others who had to terminate for medical reasons. (Courtesy of Anne Angus) Editors note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is here. Anne Angus has been ready to start growing her family for years now. She got pregnant on her first try and felt lucky to escape the morning sickness and extreme fatigue that often comes with the first trimester of pregnancy. She quit her job in anticipation of being a full-time mom. It was so exciting, I was so ready, said Angus, who lives in Montana. Shed bought a few items off Facebook Marketplace by the time she was close to the halfway point, including a bassinet, some toys, a bouncer and the teddy bear onesie that she holds onto when she tells the story of her doomed pregnancy. At her routine 19-week anatomy scan, Angus doctor said something didnt look right with the abdomen. But that could mean any number of things with varying degrees of severity, according to her doctor, and they wouldnt know more until further tests could be completed. And those tests would need to be done by a team of specialists almost 700 miles away, at a childrens hospital in Denver, Colorado. Her appointment was four weeks out from the anatomy scan. At the end of a series of tests, she met with a team of doctors at the childrens hospital to discuss the diagnosis and next steps. It was called Eagle-Barrett Syndrome, a rare genetic defect that can cause the partial or complete absence of stomach muscles, urinary tract malformations and abnormalities of the testes. The little glands running from the kidney to the bladder his were three times the size of an adults, Angus said. Youre not even supposed to be able to see them at an ultrasound, let alone have them be very obvious. Theres a 50-50 chance her future pregnancies would have the same mutation, which led her to decide in vitro fertilization was the safer way to get pregnant and be able to test embryos prior to implantation in the uterus. But like abortion, access to IVF treatments is becoming another political argument at the state and federal level, leaving Angus to worry that her remaining option for having a child is also at risk. Following Dobbs decision, clinic was overrun with patients Before arriving in Denver, Angus had told her husband that even if the diagnosis was severe, she didnt want to terminate. He understood and supported whatever decision she wanted to make, she said. But after determining the status of the fetus condition, the Denver doctors started to discuss dialysis, kidney transplants, and a variety of other courses of treatment that would be needed after birth. All of which sounded to me like they would just be experimenting on my baby, with the experiment being, How long can we keep him alive? Angus said. That did not feel loving and compassionate to me. While talking it over with her husband, Angus said, they discussed a family member who had a terminal illness. It has been devastating to the family to watch this persons pain increase as they slowly fall apart over the years, she said. We didnt want that for our son. It was at that time that they made the decision to let him go without the medical interventions and the idea that he might just slowly slip away in a neonatal intensive care unit, she said. By that time, it was mid-October 2022, four months after the Dobbs decision that allowed states to once again regulate access to abortion and the ensuing legal and legislative chaos. One of the only places in the country where Angus could terminate at her stage of pregnancy was a clinic in Boulder, Colorado. Montana has a gestational age limit of 21 weeks for termination, so she knew she couldnt go back home. That clinic [in Boulder] was overrun because all of the states that used to have access now didnt have it, or they were being pushed until much later, Angus said. We had a two-week wait from when we made the decision. By the time she got to the intake appointment, she was at 26 weeks. There were protesters outside of the clinic, so an escort with an umbrella covered Angus and her husband as they walked inside. I remember feeling so much anger and rage at them. You have no idea whats going on, she said. You dont care at all about my babys suffering if hes born. The termination came a few days later. Angus said it was difficult to face the reality of letting go of any shred of hope she had left. That was probably the most scared Ive ever been. Nobody talks about what its like to get an abortion at the end of your second trimester. What am I supposed to feel? Whats going to happen? Who do I talk to about this? she said. After the procedure, the doctor told her it was a difficult process because of the amount of water retention in the fetus body. Angus said she could tell just by looking at him. I didnt see his whole body just because of how medically fragile he was, but you could just tell that it wouldve been a really ugly death for him earthside, she said. Insurance didnt cover the costs. With the travel, lodging, and the price of the procedure, Angus and her husband spent $10,000 of their savings. Frustration continues for Angus as IVF becomes new political target Throughout 2023, Angus had many appointments for egg retrievals, but she said the process has been emotionally and financially draining. We are extremely lucky that my husband has benefits through his work, but were also at the end of [those benefits], which is why this is our last IVF retrieval cycle, she said. She has a planned embryo transfer in September, but if its not successful, she worries about future political decisions around IVF limiting her options. There is only one clinic that offers IVF treatment in Montana. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that embryos are children and several IVF clinics in the state closed their doors over liability concerns. In the months since, some states have taken steps to ensure access to the treatment, but congressional bills to protect IVF federally have failed to advance and a politically influential Southern Baptist Convention came out against it for ethical reasons, potentially igniting more ideological battles. The new political fight over IVF on top of her experience getting an abortion has made Angus fearful about not having explicit protection for the treatment in her state. It has also made her passionate about telling her story, including before the Montana Legislature in early 2023, when legislators did not advance a bill that would have eased some of the remaining restrictions to abortion access in the state. Although access is still broadly available in Montana, Republicans have tried to change that since the Dobbs decision. Gov. Greg Gianforte signed several anti-abortion bills in 2023, including a 20-week ban, but theyve so far been blocked in the courts. Gianforte continues to use executive authority to try to limit Medicaid funding and who can perform abortions. Republicans in the legislature have also made it clear they dont support a November ballot initiative to amend the state constitution with a right to abortion access, and at least one candidate endorsed by a national anti-abortion group is running for a congressional seat. Im so angry that politicians are inserting themselves into an extremely intimate part of my life. I am trying to grow my family in a way that I can and in a way that is loving and sustainable, and they think they know better than me, and I am so insulted by that, she said. The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now thats in doubt. appeared first on Florida Phoenix. A suspect in three bank robberies in Ardsley and Pennsylvania this month has now been linked to a home invasion in Hastings-on-Hudson. Brandon Scerri, 29, was arrested with his girlfriend on June 20 shortly after the Chase Bank on Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley was robbed of $16,000 by a gunman who handed the teller a note demanding $100 and $50 bills and threatening "don't make me come over the counter," according to a criminal complaint filed the next day in U.S. District Court in White Plains. This week, Scerri was also arrested in the May 11 home invasion at a Hastings Landing home in Hastings-on-Hudson. According to the criminal complaint, he entered at about 4:30 am armed with a stolen Smith & Wesson, tied up the owners and stole a Cartier bracelet and a gold necklace valued at a total of more than $3,000 from the woman who lived there. Police said he also took about $850. He got away before police arrived after receiving a 911 call from the home reporting the crime in progress. Scerri was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree grand larceny. Brandon Scerri allegedly handing note to teller during a robbery at Chase Bank on Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley June 20, 2024. At the time of the Ardsley heist, arrest warrants had been issued charging Scerri in a pair of bank robberies in Pennsylvania in Washington City and North Strabane, on June 3 and 5, respectively. Scerri's girlfriend, Kayla Pruett, was also charged in the second robbery. North Strabane, Pa., police Lt. Mike Miller said Thursday that police identified the couple based on their connection to a vehicle believed to have been used in the two heists. Scerri allegedly threatened that he had a gun and made off with nearly $7,500 in that robbery. The Herald Star newspaper reported that the couple used the stolen money shortly after the robbery at a Walgreens and a KFC and that police learned from Scerri's landlord in Wellsburg, West Virginia, that he had a blue car similar to the one seen near the banks at the time of the robberies. In the earlier robbery, Scerri allegedly left the bank with only $155, demanding that the teller show him that her drawer had no additional cash, according to the newspaper. According to the federal compaint in the Ardsley case by FBI Special Agent Michael Vere, after handing a teller his note Scerri told her he was serious, that he had robbed banks before. He demanded money from a second teller as well and when she gave him $20 bills he cursed at her and demanded larger bills, which she then collected from the bank's cash drawers. A note allegedly passed by Brandon Scerri to a teller at the Chase Bank on Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley during a robbery June 20, 2024. The note reads "I have a gun 100s and 50s only Don't make me come over the counter., Scerri soon brandished a silver revolver, the complaint stated, and demanded that the bank employees get into a back room and give him their cellphones. Once they did, according to the complaint, he herded them into the men's bathroom. He then tried to steal additional money but could not because the drawers and vault were locked, and he left the bank. He was identified by the FBI almost immediately with the help of New York City police who had been alerted to Scerri's alleged involvement in the Pennsylvania robberies and were trying to track him in the city, according to the complaint. Surveillance video showed Scerri leaving a hotel near the bank shortly before the robbery and later going into a wooded area with a backpack and emerging without the backpack and no longer wearing the same shirt and hooded jacket he wore during the robbery. He and Pruett then took a rideshare from the hotel. Using license plate readers and surveillance video, FBI task force members tracked the car to Irvington, where the driver reported he had just dropped off his passengers at the Ardsley-on-Hudson Metro North train station. Irvington police then found Scerri and Pruett at the train station and Scerri was taken into custody. Back in the woods afterward, the FBI found the backpack that contained Scerri's identification as well as the red shirt he wore during the robbery. They also found the hooded jacket, which had a .38 caliber silver revolver wrapped inside it and $16,000 in a pocket, according to the complaint. Scerri is facing federal charges of bank robbery and brandishing a firearm and was order held without bond. While Pennsylvania authorities said his last known address was the one in West Virginia, Hastings police said they had a previous address on Mohican Park Avenue in Dobbs Ferry. Pruett, 27, has not been charged federally and is being held at the Westchester County jail as a fugitive from justice awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Accused Ardsley bank robber charged in Hastings home invasion Orange signs for I-95 hang over the closed westbound side of the Washington Bridge in March 2024. By March 21, 2025, the bridge should be demolished, according to the tentative contract awarded to a Warwick firm Friday, June 28, 2024. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The Warwick-based company that previously worked on the westbound Washington Bridge before its sudden closure last December is the states choice to tear it down. The Rhode Island Department of Transportations (RIDOT) public bid portal Friday afternoon revealed Aetna Bridge Co. was awarded a tentative contract to demolish the bridge by March 2025. Aetna was one of two vendors that responded to RIDOTs request for proposals. The other bidder was Manafort Brothers Inc., headquartered in Plainville, Connecticut, but has an office in Cumberland. Manafort will receive $100,000 as part of the states incentive to attract bidders. Aetna estimated the cost to demolish the bridge was $45.8 million over $5 million more than the states price tag. Manaforts bid was for $43.8 million. The overall cost to demolish and rebuild the westbound highway over the Seekonk River is tagged at over $400 million. A technical review group found that Aetnas plan was overall a better value and at they indicated they could do the work in 50 days fewer than the bid request asked for, said RIDOT Communications Director Liz Pettengill. Secondly, they are assuming all the risk, she said. The demolition process is divided into four parts: the Gano Street ramp, west end of the bridge, east cantilever spans, and east end of the structure. The initial RFP noted that the existing substructure shall remain in place for the potential repair and reuse in the reconstruction of the bridge. RIDOT plans to impose a $30,000 daily disincentive if Aetna misses the March 20, 2025 completion date. Meanwhile, the department is still soliciting bids for the roughly $368 million contract to rebuild a new bridge by August 2026. Final bids are due July 3. Aetna had previously worked on the now-canceled $78 million rehabilitation of the Washington Bridge as part of a design-build team led by Barletta Heavy Division. The project came to a stop after engineers last December discovered broken anchor rods that put the westbound lanes of I-195 at risk of collapse. The company was also one of 12 contractors that received a letter from lawyers for Gov. Dan McKees administration notifying them that they may be sued over Washington Bridge work. Aetna Bridge Company is proud to be identified as the apparent best value respondent by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Aetna spokesperson Frank McMahon said in an emailed statement. With over 79 years of experience in bridge construction, repair, and demolition, our team is ready to get to work on this critical transportation infrastructure project for the State of Rhode Island, he continued Aetna is also working on the ongoing rehabilitation of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge linking New London and Groton, Connecticut, via I-95. That project is expected to be completed June 25, 2025, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The post Aetna Bridge Co. awarded state contract to demolish westbound Washington Bridge appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Donald Trumps historic status as the first former president and presumptive major party presidential candidate to be convicted of a felony was a gift to President Biden in the first presidential debate. Did Biden show the courage to use it to his advantage Thursday night? The early consensus appears to be no. President Biden and his campaign advisors convinced themselves that using Trumps felony conviction as a weapon against him would somehow discredit the jurys guilty verdict and perhaps backfire on Biden. His campaign was also of the mind that Trumps felony conviction is so historic that it would be a type of earthquake that would shift the fundamentals of the 2024 election against Trump. They were wrong. In essence, President Biden and his spokespeople and advocates really did not need to do anything because Trumps criminality and the threat he represents to the nation is so obvious. They also reached a preliminary conclusion that the electorate is so polarized that Trumps status as a felon may not peel away any of his voters, and that undecided and independent voters in the battleground states would not necessarily be moved by a more aggressive posture that emphasized the corrupt ex-presidents wanton criminality. Writing at Politico, Lauren Egan, Eli Stokols and Ben Johansen summarized this several weeks ago as: Its a political gamble to leave such fodder on the floor. And not every Democrat is thrilled by it. But Biden aides are betting that they dont actually need to talk about, let alone remind, the electorate about Trumps personal drama and legal problems. If they do, the thinking is it just bogs Biden down with an issue that they fundamentally do not think moves voters. Everything about Bidens past 24 hours was choreographed to project that line of thinking. He did not reshape his Thursday afternoon as the verdict came down. When he did speak about Trump at the White House on Friday afternoon, he did so only briefly. To the dismay of some, he actively chose to give comments on the situation in Gaza the very topic that is ripping apart the Democratic coalition rather than address the substance of Trumps guilt (he did accuse Trump of recklessly attacking the justice system). Biden aides say that the presidents approach today is the one they will adopt going forward. Theyre not foreclosing the possibility that they incorporate the verdict into some of their political pitch. But no one in Wilmington is currently reshaping their 2024 playbook around this. They have a preternatural belief that a steady, sober approach while maybe not satisfying for the more blood-thirsty partisans can and will work. They point to 2020. One Biden campaign official raised recent polling that found a majority of Americans believe Trump committed a crime. Labeling him a convicted felon again and again doesnt advance the ball, the official said. Instead, you use it as another piece of evidence in a larger pattern of behavior, so the guilty verdict is the proof point, not the message. The 2024 election is not normal. The United States and its people face an existential threat from Donald Trump and his neofascist MAGA movement and a Republican Party that is in thrall to it a political crime boss and aspiring dictator. For the Democrats and President Biden to not use Trumps status as an unrepentant felon (one who is bragging about his conviction and using it as a badge of honor and to rally his followers) and enemy of democracy and human society is an act of extreme incompetence. After a near-universally panned opening first quarter of the debate, Biden finally decided to go on the offense against Trump, convicted felon and Public Enemy Number One. In an essay at Politico, Elena Schneider, Lauren Egan and Lisa Kashinsky report details from the Biden campaign that may explain the hesitation: President Joe Bidens campaign had been restrained in its attacks on Donald Trumps New York criminal conviction for weeks until the campaign said internal polling and focus groups showed the verdict turned off voters. The result, hitting TV sets across the country on Monday, was the campaigns unleashing of its sharpest attack ad yet, depicting Trump as a convicted criminal whos only out for himself. And the campaign says its just the start. Biden advisers say they plan to hammer Trump over the coming weeks aiming to both set up a favorable narrative ahead of next weeks debate and keep Trumps felony conviction top-of-mind for voters who havent yet fully tuned into the election. Weve seen in polling since the conviction that the more the conviction is front and center in voters attention, the worse it is for Trump, said a Biden campaign pollster granted anonymity to describe internal polling because they were not authorized to do so publicly. The pollster said their research concluded that Trumps conviction could effectively be used in a broader depiction of Trump as being self-centered and unwilling to take responsibility for his actions. The first real barrage against convicted felon Donald Trump and the Republican political crime family and MAGA movement was a new pre-debate ad Time Magazine describes as: "In the courtroom we see Donald Trump for who he is, the ads narrator states as black-and-white photos of Trump in court appear on screen. Hes been convicted of 34 felonies, found liable for sexual assault, and committed financial fraud. The ad concludes by casting the election as a stark choice between a convicted criminal whos only out for himself and a president whos fighting for your family. Its a theme the Biden campaign is hoping to sear into the minds of voters ahead of the June 27 presidential debate, particularly as Bidens approval ratings last week reached the lowest point in his presidency. The ad marks a strategic shift for Biden, who had so far largely avoided direct attacks on Trumps legal troubles. Bidens campaign began engaging on the topic by holding a press conference outside Trumps courtroom in the final days of the trial. Michael Tyler, communications director for the Biden campaign, described Trump in a statement on Monday as someone who will do anything and harm anyone if it means more power and vengeance for Donald Trump. This new campaign ad is part of a new 50-million-dollar ad blitz in the battleground states. The Biden campaign and its allies also held 1,600 events in the days before the first presidential debate. After Thursday's performance, it is clear the 2024 election will be a very close one. Trump leads President Biden in the key battleground states where a small number of voters will decide the election and the future of the countrys democracy. In all, the public opinion polls show that Trumps felony conviction has marginally hurt him among traditional Republican voters as well as independents. However, it has little to no effect on his base voters and may have actually made him more popular among the MAGA political cultists. If fundraising is a measure of enthusiasm, then Trumps MAGA people and other followers are energized by his felony conviction. Last month, Donald Trump outraised President Biden, 141 million to 85 million dollars. In what is unbelievable and stunning for members of the news media and political class, a large percentage of the American public are still not paying close attention to the 2024 election and are willfully ignorant about Trumps criminal cases and felony convictions. Via email, I asked political scientist M. Steven Fish, who is the author of the new book Comeback: Routing Trumpism, Reclaiming the Nation, and Restoring Democracy's Edge, for his assessment of the new Donald Trump the Convicted Felon campaign ad: The fact that Biden even did an ad on Trumps felonies may be remarkable, since the pathologically risk-averse, poll-driven White House messaging team hesitated to even highlight Trumps convictions. As Reuters reported: They wanted to see polls and voter feedback before reacting strongly. Apparently, their polls counseled reacting, but not strongly. The White House calls the ad Character Matters, but it punts on contrasting the mens prodigious differences in character. It does strongly characterize Trump as a criminal, but rather than really lean into casting Biden as the law-abiding, Constitution-protecting model of personal rectitude that he is, it follows the description of Trumps feloniousness with a characterization of a president whos been working, lowering healthcare costs and making big corporations pay their fair sharea president whos fighting for your family. A spot that should be strictly about personal integrity, values, and devotion to law and order treats Biden as little more than an advocate for lower prescription drug prices and fairer tax policies. Democratic Party operatives apparently dont know another way. Day after day, they recite the same bromides about the same handful of policies in exactly the same way. Theres no evidence that this approach is moving the needle for Biden, but if the only thing you know how to do is prattle about policies, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result the definition of insanity is all thats left as a course of action. Republicans have very high message discipline where they echo and amplify their talking points and narrative in unison. By comparison, the Democrats and liberals and progressives are scattershot and very uncoordinated. Going forward, President Biden and the Democrats and their supporters in the news media and across the political space must use a consistent set of labels and themes when talking about President Trump and the Republicans and the 2024 Election. Trump is a convicted felon. Trump is a coup plotter who hates democracy and is an enemy of freedom. Trump is a sexual assaulter as confirmed by a court of law. Donald Trump is channeling Hitler and hates Americas freedoms. Donald Trump supports Americas enemies such as Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump wants to take away a womans right to control her own body. Donald Trump is an aspiring dictator and a fascist. Whenever Donald Trump and the Republicans are mentioned, this is the language that should be used. President Biden and his campaign are wise to frame the 2024 election as a battle over character and values and the future of the nation. But will Biden's campaign and their spokespeople and other messengers have the courage to follow through 100 percent all the time against Donald Trump and his movement or will they instead grow weak and defer to the silliness of when they go low, we go high that helped Trump take power in 2016? We will soon find out. News / National by Staff reporter SONETTE Ehlers, a blood technician from South Africa envisioned a world free from rape and invented the rape axe in 2005, which has received mixed reactions from the public.Ehlers invented the rapex popularly known as the rape axe after she met several rape victims at her workplace. The rapex is a latex condom that is inserted like a tampon with jagged rows of teeth-like hooks inside and they attach to a man's penis during penetration.This female condom was created to decrease incidences of rape and the idea is for women to wear one when they are going to unfamiliar areas or situations. In 2023, Zimbabwe recorded a total of 8 550 sexual abuse offences and several efforts by different organisations have been put in place to deal with this challenge.According to social media reports, the product is available in pharmacies in South Africa. However, the use of rapex is a bone of contention as some people believe that it is a positive move while others believe that it is a trap for unsuspecting men. A gender activist, Nothabo Nyathi said she believes that the product must freely be available to the public."I believe that this product is a good initiative in dealing with incidences of rape and this is because of its prevalence in the country. It is like an assurance of safety as we know that we will be protected from being drugged and raped when we go to parties. The product must be available in most of the public institutions like schools and clinics freely as it will go a long way in reducing rape cases," she said.Senior Registrar and Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Richard Mupombwa said the use of rapex will go a long way in helping the police track down perpetrators."The advantages of rapex are that it helps in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, prevents pregnancy, scares the perpetrators and reduces the costs of pre-exposure prophylaxis pills, contraceptives, rape kits and antibiotics. Rapex gives the victims assurance and safety and it helps the police track down the perpetrators since it needs removal from experts," he said.Dr Mupombwa highlighted that although the rapex has a number of positive attributes it is likely to punish unsuspecting men."The use of rapex might have significant challenges and these entail reuse, which might cause infections and some women might use the product to punish unsuspecting men," he said.A lawyer, Nkosiyenzile Mpofu said the use of rapex is likely to bring several challenges for men."Although the product is likely to reduce the number of rape cases in the country, it is given or used by a person who is anticipating rape meaning that they are somehow laying a trap. The essential element in dealing with rape is lack of consent and this female condom may be misused. The other key element in rape is proving that the victim tried to resist, which is why there are medical affidavits that show bruises and blood, which proves that the act was not consented to," he said.He said that this product might be misused to trap men."I believe that the fact that it only sticks after penetration pauses as a challenge as some women might misuse it to trap unsuspecting men. Rapex is a trap that might cage both culprits and innocent men," he said"The rapex is a latex condom that is inserted like a tampon with jagged rows of teeth-like hooks inside and they attach to a man's penis during penetration." With aid on the line, Kyiv pays close attention to US presidential debate U.S. President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, faced off on June 27 in the first presidential debate in the lead-up to the country's presidential election. The debate marked a shaky start for Biden, whose administration proved to be a pivotal ally for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. The debate was a key event across the world, with foreign governments and powerbrokers preparing for what awaits them next year. According to a CNN flash poll, 67% of U.S. debate watchers said that Trump outperformed Biden a result not received well in Ukraine. Although there was little focus on foreign policy, Kyiv eyed the two presumptive nominees' takes on Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. While the remarks on Ukraine and its war effort were "more or less adequate," the overall debate was "very depressing," said Oleksandr Kraiev, an expert on North American policy at the foreign policy think tank Ukrainian Prism. "In terms of information and narrative saturation, none of them showed any real class one because of fatigue, the other because of lies," he added. Trump said during the debate that Ukraine has taken too much military aid from the U.S. and referred to President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "salesman." Trump claimed that had he been the U.S. president in 2022, Russia would not have launched the full-scale invasion. Read also: Trump rejects Putins peace terms while Biden unnerves Democrats at historic debate Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a Ukrainian lawmaker, said that the statements of both Biden and Trump were not unexpected, and the debate was aimed solely at domestic voters. "I would definitely not pay attention to some of the statements now, but the results of the debates do not look like they helped Biden. It seems to me that they have made it much worse even within the Democratic Party," Zhelezniak told the Kyiv Independent. "This means that the probability of Trump's election is increasing," he added. Trump was more cautious in his remarks about Ukraine than at the beginning of his campaign, the lawmaker said. Yet, the Republican presumptive nominee reiterated claims against Biden, accusing him of being soft and giving too much aid to Ukraine. He also once again claimed that he could "settle" the war by January if he wins a second term. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly said he could end Russia's war within 24 hours if elected president, without specifying the steps for reaching a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. "It is not good that he repeats this 'if he is elected president, he will resolve this issue.' To put it mildly, it probably won't be on Ukraine's terms," Zhelezhiak added. U.S. President Joe Biden participates in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign policy committee, said he did not hear any specific threats in Trump's rhetoric. "I heard a very important thing for Ukraine from Trump that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's plan is not acceptable to him. That is, he does not accept Russia's occupation of parts of the territory. I think it is a very important and positive signal," Merezhko told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Ahead of Ukraine's peace summit in Switzerland, Putin claimed that, as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which now are partially controlled by Russian troops. Putin added that Ukraine must recognize Russia's illegal annexation of the regions, including Crimea, and abandon any ambition to join NATO. "He wants all of Ukraine. That's what he wants," Biden said at the debate, calling Putin a "war criminal." "And then you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll stop if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland, Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries?" Yet, neither Biden nor Trump voiced a clear strategy on how to end Russia's war against Ukraine, said Hanna Hopko, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory and head of the Ants think tank. "The absence of a strategy for Ukraine's victory also affects (U.S.) domestic policy. Imagine if, in 2022, Ukraine had received everything to liberate Crimea, when the chances of this were very high," Hopko told the Kyiv Independent. "If there had been no delays on F-16s, no delays on ATACMS in the amount that was needed. It is obvious that now we could have heard about Ukraine as a success story." Trump attacked Biden on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, claiming that Putin was allegedly "encouraged" to invade Ukraine by the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul. Hopko believes that although it is too early to talk about the results of the U.S. presidential election, Ukraine should work with Americans across the aisle to ensure that the level of support does not decrease. "The U.S. must now realize that its competitors are global adversaries, they have very quickly mechanized the weakness of democracies and are preparing to form a new agenda." "Therefore, the Ukraine question how to end the war, not to force Ukraine to make concessions will show whether the U.S. is a leader who is able to restore the world order that has been destroyed, or not." Read also: Political divide over Ukraine manifests in Pennsylvania, crucial US swing state Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An Air Force veteran released classified national defense information about aircraft and weapons to unauthorized individuals, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a Thursday announcement. Paul Freeman, 68, of Niceville, Fla., was indicted by a federal grand jury and the charges unsealed after he appeared before a court Thursday in Pensacola. The DOJ accused Freeman of transmitting the classified information about Air Force assets between November 2020 and March 2021. Freeman faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the nine charges he was indicted on. The Air Force said Freeman retired from active duty service at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2003. He first enlisted in active duty in 1984. He served last at Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida and was an operations officer. Although Freemans alleged behavior occurred a few years ago, the U.S. has been trying to crack down on classified leakers. Former President Trump faces federal charges for refusing to turn over classified documents when he left office, and the DOJ investigated both President Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence over their handling of classified documents but ultimately did not pursue charges. Last year, the U.S. arrested Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira, a former Massachusetts airman who pleaded guilty over the spring and also appeared for a military justice proceeding in May. Teixeira, an information technology specialist with the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, was accused of leaking highly classified documents about Russias war in Ukraine and other sensitive secrets about U.S. allies. Updated at 4:57 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) An Air Force veteran released classified national defense information about aircraft and weapons to unauthorized individuals, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a Thursday announcement. Paul Freeman, 68, of Niceville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury and the charges unsealed after he appeared before a court Thursday in Pensacola. The DOJ accused Freeman of transmitting the classified information about Air Force assets between November 2020 and March 2021. Freeman faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the nine charges he was indicted on. The Hill has reached out to the Pentagon for more information about the case. Although Freemans alleged behavior occurred a few years ago, the U.S. has been trying to crack down on classified leakers. Two US serviced members charged with sexual assault in Japan Former President Donald Trump faces federal charges for refusing to turn over classified documents when he left office, and the DOJ investigated both President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence over their handling of classified documents but ultimately did not pursue charges. Last year, the U.S. arrested Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira, a former Massachusetts airman who pleaded guilty over the spring and also appeared for a military justice proceeding in May. Teixeira, an information technology specialist with the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, was accused of leaking highly classified documents about Russias war in Ukraine and other sensitive secrets about U.S. allies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tony Troppe stands outside of the Evans Building on the corner of Main and East Exchange streets in Akron. Troppe is turning the historic structure into a mixed-use building. Akron developer Tony Troppe is creating a mixed-use concept at the historical Evans Building at 333-335 S. Main St. in Akron that will include about 35 loft apartments, a chicken-and-waffle restaurant and a conference room. Features such as terrazzo and marble floors and a bank vault in the basement will remain. Evelyn's Coffee & Banh Mi is in a three-story annex with the address 11 E. Exchange St. that is included in the project and will stay in operation, Troppe said, adding that he plans to work with Evelyn's to expand its menu and kitchen. Troppe said he and his team helping relocate the Evans Building's upstairs tenants, which include law, engineering and wellness businesses. He said his plan to make the downtown building "relevant for a whole new generation of knowledge workers." "It's a unique opportunity to invigorate an already successful crossroads at Main and Exchange and High," Troppe said. Troppe is receiving a $1.5 million tax credit from the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program for his nearly $6.2 million project. Another downtown project redevelopment of the CitiCenter Building at 146 S. High St., owned by the city of Akron also is getting tax credit financing through the program. That credit is to the tune of more than $3.1 million and will help fund the developer's nearly $31.8 million conversion of the building into a 114-unit apartment complex. Sean Vollman, Akron's deputy director of economic development, said via email that Welty Building Co. is the developer of the CitiCenter project. Welty management was not immediately available for comment on Thursday. Inside the Evans Building A hallway on the Evans Building's fourth floor leads to the three-story annex addition on Main and E. Exchange streets in Akron. The Evans Building has seven stories on the corner of Main and Exchange streets, the three-story annex on Exchange and another two-story annex on Main, Troppe said. He said he estimates the project to begin in September and to take about 10 to 12 months. The Evans Building was constructed in 1916, according to a list of projects being funded through the tax credit program from Gov. Mike DeWine's office and the Ohio Department of Development. However, a University of Akron blog provides a 1915 construction date for the building, which throughout its history was owned and operated by the Evans Building and Loan Association and the Peoples Savings Bank. An original marble staircase inside the Evans Building, which was originally People's Savings Bank after Henry Clark's Tavern was razed at the corner of Main and East Exchange streets in Akron. Troppe said the building is has "a beautiful, neoclassic revival" look with a steel frame encased with concrete. "So, it makes for open floor plans, it makes for the possibility to go higher, and it's a smart building to be adaptively reused as loft, mixed-use apartments," Troppe said. Prior to that, the land housed Henry Clark's Tavern, which according to a placard outside the Evans Building was "the first hotel in Akron on the stage route near the Ohio Canal." Akron's first mayor, Seth Iredell, was elected there in 1836, according to the UA blog. Tony Troppe is redeveloping the Evans Building in downtown Akron. At the street level, Troppe said Rascal Blues Chicken and Waffles, a New Orleans restaurant, will open a location on the street level of the Evans Building. Troppe said he and the restaurant's owner, Daniel Morgan, also have plans to build a venue for live music. Morgan has previously hosted music acts with a New Orleans "flair," Troppe said. The lofts will be mostly one-bedroom units and some studios with new mechanical systems and windows, including egress windows that open up for natural ventilation, Troppe said. The apartments will range from 600 to 900 square feet with the smallest units renting for about $1,200 per month, he said. The roof of the annex will be an outdoor space for residents, he said. View of Main Street and Canal Park from the Evans Building annex's fourth-floor rooftop in Akron. CitiCenter project receiving $3.1 million state tax credit Vollman told the Beacon on Thursday that the city of Akron has been working with Welty on the CitiCenter project at 146 S. High St. Welty was selected in a competitive process in 2023," Vollman said. "They had previously developed the Bowery project on South Main Street. The city is excited to be working with them again for this transformational project and is in the process of negotiating a development agreement to bring it to fruition. Welty owner Don Taylor told the Beacon last year that the firm planned to construct at least 117 apartments, which is a few more than the 114 listed in the tax credit project description recently provided by the governor's office and Ohio Department of Development. The description states: "The rehabilitation plans to repair all masonry work-ins, tall new historically compatible windows, and retain all historic decorative plaster ceilings where they remain." Construction on the building started in 1930, and it first opened for a Young Women's Christian Association branch the following year, according to the National Register of Historic Places, on which it was listed in 1982. The state is providing millions in historic tax credits to redevelop the CitiCenter Building at 146 S. High St. in Akron. Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Evans Building, CitiCenter in Akron undergoing transformation The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Woodbury, which abruptly closed earlier this month, will reopen sometime later this summer. The cinema, known for its arthouse films, expansive dinner menu and craft beer, will be opening back up as soon as possible, officials with the company posted on the Alamo Drafthouse Twin Cities (Woodbury, MN) Facebook page. After the sudden closure of our Twin Cities location by their former franchise owner, we are thrilled to announce that we have officially purchased and plan to reopen our Twin Cities theater, officials wrote in the post. The cinema closed June 6 after a Texas-based franchise operator filed for federal Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, according to news reports. Employees of franchise operator Two is One and One is None said they were taken aback as they shared news of the closings on social media. Five of the six shuttered locations were in North Texas. The Woodbury location will reopen as soon as the theater is ready, officials wrote in the Facebook post, adding that Alamo will be making up for all the lost film, food and fun that was missed during the closure. Related Articles Alaska Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Henderson, left, asks a question during oral arguments in a case concerning correspondence education allotments, on June 27, 2024, in the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage. (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon) (Photo by Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon) Alaska Supreme Court justices on Thursday weighed whether a lawsuit seeking to have the large portions of the states correspondence school program found unconstitutional wrongly focused on the state government. The justices heard arguments in the appeal of a Superior Court ruling that found a correspondence school program law to be unconstitutional. A central question from the justices during oral arguments was whether plaintiffs should be suing the states education department or individual districts. The case whose decision is under appeal is State of Alaska, Department of Education and Early Development v. Alexander, in which plaintiffs argued that it is unconstitutional for public education money to be spent on private school tuition. Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman found the spending unconstitutional and struck down the parts of statute that allow homeschool allotment money; he suggested lawmakers could rewrite the law to make it constitutional. The state constitution does not allow the use of public funds for the benefit of private or religious schools. Attorneys for the state of Alaska, a group of parents whose children attend private school using allotment money and another set of parents who argue that spending is unconstitutional all made oral arguments. Justices interrupted all three of the attorneys arguments with pointed questions about how the case should be decided. Attorneys for the state appealed Zemans ruling and said the case should not hold the states education department to account because individual school districts are the only oversight body for homeschool spending. In May, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills argued the lower courts ruling should be thrown out because it is too broad, but Elbert Lin, a Virginia lawyer hired by the state, argued that since the Alaska statute that governs homeschool allotment spending has many constitutional applications, such as spending for school supplies as retailers like Target, it should not be thrown out even if there is also the opportunity for the statute to be applied unconstitutionally. It is irrelevant whether the provision might be applied unconstitutionally in the view of the plaintiffs or even this court, he said. Lin argued that if there is an unconstitutional use of the funds, the plaintiffs should sue individual districts, not the state. That way the courts can enforce any unconstitutional spending with a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer. The states education department was once responsible for monitoring homeschool allotment spending, but a 2014 law proposed by Dunleavy, then a state senator, put that responsibility on districts instead. Justice Dario Borghesan probed Lins argument and asked if state law allows allotments to be spent on full-time private school tuition. He said both text and legislative history suggest that full-time enrollment in private school is not correspondence study, which requires a certified teacher to come up with a learning plan for the student. That seems somewhat nullified, or maybe a rubber stamp, if the child is just attending private school full time, he said. Anchorage parents who use homeschool allotments to pay for private school educations joined the case as intervenors, as people who could be affected by its outcome. Their attorney, Kirby Thomas West, took a different tack than the attorney for the state, and argued that the court should make a decision to reverse the lower courts ruling. She argued that it would violate the United States Constitution to tell parents how they can spend their money. Borghesan pushed back on that assessment because allotments are public school money. He cited previous case law: While parents may have a fundamental right to decide whether to send their child to public school, they do not have a fundamental right, generally, to direct how a public school teaches their child, he read. Essentially, he said, states have authority over how public education money is spent, so the state can stipulate that it may not be spent on a private education. West sought to make her point through a different comparison: It would be absurd and patently unconstitutional to suggest that the state must police the use of Permanent Fund dividends to ensure that no Alaskan ever uses that money to defray the cost of their childs tuition at a private school, she said. Its just as unconstitutional to do so here. She asked the justices to place a stay, which is a pause on the implementation of a ruling, on the lower courts decision if they sent the case back to the lower court for reconsideration. The stay would mean her clients could continue to spend public education money on private school tuition. After the arguments, Chief Assistant Attorney General Margaret Paton-Walsh said she thought the case went well for the defense. Its always hard to read the tea leaves, but I think some of the justices certainly seem to be pretty skeptical of that Superior Court decision, she said. She pointed out that it is not typical for the intervenors to make a distinct argument from the defense: So I think that creates an extra wrinkle for the justices to try to noodle through as they think about the case, she said. The plaintiffs attorney, Scott Kendall, asked the court to uphold Zemans ruling. He argued that the judge was right to strike down homeschool allotments because the intent of the statute is to allow unconstitutional spending. He pointed to legislative history in his appeal: when Dunleavy proposed the allotment law, he also sought a change to the state constitution to allow public funds to be spent at private schools. Dunleavy also proposed enacting school vouchers, which like the amendment, did not pass. Kendall said that for that reason the plaintiffs should not have to sue individual school districts, because the statute is meant to allow unconstitutional spending: When a statute grants a plainly unconstitutional power, as it does in this case and in fact, the legislative history meticulously explains that that was the very sole reason why this legislation was passed then its clearly unconstitutional on its face, he said. Borghesan pushed back on this argument. He repeatedly asked Kendall why the whole statute should be thrown out, rather than targeting unconstitutional uses by suing districts. Why does that bad purpose, you know, defeat the whole rest of the statute? I mean, we have separation of powers. Were respectful of the Legislatures actions, he said. We kind of have a duty to uphold constitutional applications of statutes. Kendall conceded there may be a way to keep the statute without allowing public education dollars to pay for private school tuition: There is a possibility this court, with ingenuity, could do a limiting construction could sever parts of this and that would be an outcome we would support, he said. He then referred to an early court case, in which the Supreme Court invalidated state scholarships for Sheldon Jackson College, a Sitka institution that later closed. Because the real core concern here, again, is the core concern when you go back to the Sheldon Jackson case, which is, are we using public funds to subsidize a private educational purpose? Kendall said. Here it is clear. Its clear from the purpose of the statute, its clear from the interveners very presence here, its clear this is happening, and its clear this was the purpose of the statute. Deena Bishop, the commissioner of Alaskas Department of Education and Early Development, was in the courtroom. She said after the hearing that, in her view, districts are doing a good job of ensuring state money is spent constitutionally. She did not directly say whether the state education department is in a position to regulate spending. Foremost, she said, her interest is correspondence students: My purpose and goals are to have a great education every day for young people, and there are nearly 23,000 its 22,900 students that we want to ensure that their education continues without disruption. Chief Justice Peter Maassen said the court would consider the appeal and issue something but did not give a time frame for a decision: No timelines are guaranteed, but we understand the urgency of the matter, he said. Without a new court ruling, Zemans ruling would go into effect on Monday. Editor-in-Chief Andrew Kitchenman contributed reporting to this story. Correction: Margaret Paton-Walshs title has been corrected. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Alec Baldwin on 30, 2023 in New York City. - Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage Alec Baldwin lost his bid to dismiss his involuntary manslaughter indictment Friday when a New Mexico judge ruled he still must face trial even though the FBI damaged the gun involved in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. In an 18-page ruling issued Friday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer wrote that a significant amount of evidence indicates that the unaltered firearm did not possess apparent exculpatory value before it was damaged in forensic testing months after the fatal shooting. She specifically pointed to statements Baldwin made to a New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau Officer in which he stated, The problem didnt have to do with the gun. It had to do with the bullet. More from Rolling Stone Importantly, Judge Marlowe Sommer ruled that they saw no evidence that investigators or prosecutors knew the gun possessed possible exculpatory value before an FBI technician started whacking it with a rawhide mallet. The court concludes that defendant fails to establish that the state acted in bad faith when destroying certain internal components of the firearm in the course of accidental discharge testing, the judge wrote. She ruled that once Baldwins trial begins next month in Santa Fe, prosecutors will be required to disclose the destructive nature of the testing, the resulting loss and its relevance. Baldwin then will be able to cross-examine the state witnesses to set forth his theory that the gun may have been modified before the shooting and may have been defective. Baldwin and his lawyers argued in their underlying dismissal motion that the extremely aggressive tests performed on the gun in an FBI lab irreversibly damaged the single-action revolver and thereby deprived the actor of any chance to test a core component of his defense. They claim the firearm already was defective when the deadly accident occurred on Oct. 21, 2021. The controversial FBI tests involved a rawhide mallet striking the gun repeatedly from different directions to see if it would fire without someone pulling the trigger. The testing was meant to evaluate Baldwins claim the gun simply went off and fired the fatal shot on the set of the western movie Rust without a trigger pull. The FBI tests ultimately fractured the trigger sear. Prosecutors say the tests also shaved off the full-cock notch of the guns hammer. Baldwins lawyers argued during a recent two-day hearing that its impossible to determine how defective the gun may have been before the destructive testing because it wasnt disassembled to document the internal components ahead of time. They argued the mallet testing made no sense because no witness ever claimed the gun was dropped or hit with blunt force before it fired. Prosecutors countered that they only authorized the mallet testing after the FBI completed its core battery of tests and reported that the gun functioned normally upon arrival, meaning it wouldnt fire from a cocked position absent a trigger pull. According to Baldwin and his lawyers, the mallet testing so thoroughly demolished the gun that prosecutors had to hire experts to replace several internal components for follow-up analysis. They said New Mexico investigators were warned the mallet testing would most likely damage the gun, but they failed to ask the FBI to document the original condition of the internal components and failed to alert Baldwin that a key item of evidence was about to be destroyed. This is some of the most egregious conduct with respect to the destruction of evidence you will find, defense lawyer John Bash argued to the court Monday. They got to do all their own analysis of the gun, and we never got to do it and will never get to do it, Bash said. No one cared about the rights of the defendant. While prosecutors have alleged the gun was in perfect working order before the mallet testing because it test-fired 12 times without incident and because Baldwin told investigators it showed no mechanical defects leading up to the deadly shooting, Bash argued that the testing was inadequate. We all know that when machines dont work correctly, theyre not not working correctly every single time. I had a key that one out of every 10 times, it wouldnt turn my lock. The other nine times, it worked fine. Sometimes these things happen randomly, if its hit at a certain angle. He said the defense was denied access to potentially exculpatory evidence in an outrageous violation of due process. Theres clear bad faith, he said. In testimony last Friday, FBI forensic examiner Bryce Ziegler told the court that he conducted the 12 test firings and found that the prop gun a real revolver made to look like a 19th-century Colt revolver by Pietta Firearms in Italy functioned normally upon arrival at his FBI lab. He described specifically testing to make sure the gun wouldnt simply fire if his thumb slipped off the hammer. He said the notches that catch the hammer in the half-cock and quarter-cock positions properly engaged, meaning they stopped the hammer from hitting the firing pin, absent a trigger pull. There were no issues with the hammer falling just on its own, he told the court. I wasnt noticing any of those types of failures in the condition it was received, Ziegler testified under oath. There was nothing odd or abnormal about this during the initial test firing. Ziegler said that even if the gun had been modified before it ended up on the set of the movie, the modifications had no impact on the guns performance. Even If the (defense) hypothesis is true lets say hypothetically this gun was modified in some fashion it had no effect on its function in the condition that I received it, Ziegler testified. The court also heard testimony from Lucien Haag, the private forensics expert hired by New Mexico prosecutors to test the gun after it left the FBI lab. Baldwins defense has argued that the replica revolver showed telltale signs of post-production modifications. Critically, the full-cock notch of the hammer is almost completely gone, and the trigger sear appears to have been filed. Those two parts are primarily what prevents a gun from firing when the hammer is released after cocking. The surviving evidence shows that those parts were smoothed and rounded and show file marks none of which is consistent with damage caused by a mallet, the lawyers wrote in a May 6 court filing. In his testimony last Friday and Monday, Haag said that while he once believed it was unlikely that the mallet impact testing caused the diagonal markings on the broken trigger sear, he later learned more about the FBIs testing methodology and changed his opinion. He told the court he now believes the freehand blows, which were not necessarily perfect back to front, caused the markings. Its really the only choice, just by simple logic and the history of the gun, Haag said. Furthermore, he testified under oath that even if the strange markings werent caused by the FBI and existed during filming of the movie, they would not have affected the functionality of the gun. Haag added that his analysis of the spent casing for the bullet that killed Hutchins led him to conclude that the cartridge fired based on a normal hammer fall from a full cocked position, as opposed to a slip off. Baldwin, 66, is scheduled to begin trial in Santa Fe on July 9. Hes accused of negligently pointing the replica revolver at Hutchins and pulling the trigger, striking her in the chest during a rehearsal inside a wooden church at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, a popular western set in the foothills of northern New Mexico. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty, claiming hes not responsible for the deadly shooting because he wasnt in charge of safety for the movie, had no reason to suspect live rounds were on its set, and didnt pull the trigger on his .45 caliber single action army revolver. In a prior failed dismissal motion, Baldwin and his lawyers argued that the person who handed him the Colt revolver before the fatal shooting shouted cold gun to signify it was loaded with inert dummy rounds and therefore safe to handle. He has claimed it was Hutchins herself who directed him to draw the gun from its holster and aim it toward the camera. Hutchins, like Baldwin, clearly believed that the gun was cold. Had there been any doubts between them, she would not have instructed him to point the gun in her direction, and he would not have done so, his lawyers wrote in a filing. Last Friday, Judge Marlowe Sommer denied yet another attempt by Baldwin to sink his manslaughter indictment based on his argument that theres no way to show the level of negligence needed to support an involuntary manslaughter charge. Judge Marlowe Sommer said the question of whether Baldwin should have known his actions might be dangerous was the critical question that jurors will be asked to decide. In court filings, prosecutors have argued that Baldwin was the most experienced person on the Rust set and was presiding over a production with a string of safety lapses. Mr. Baldwins relentless rushing of the crew on the movie set routinely compromised safety because Rust is not a romantic comedy, it is an action-filled western with dangerous stunts and real guns being used as props, they wrote. In addition to rushing the cast and crew, Mr. Baldwin was frequently screaming and cursing at himself, at crew members or at no one and not for any particular reason. To watch Mr. Baldwins conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct effects those around him. Beyond Baldwin, the western films rookie armorer also faced criminal prosecution for Hutchins death. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter at a 10-day trial that ended in March. In their closing arguments, prosecutors told jurors that Gutierrez-Reed negligently brought live ammunition onto the set and failed to identify that it was mixed in with the inert, dummy rounds that she was loading into prop weapons. Six live bullets were eventually found on the production, including the live round that killed Hutchins. Two others were found loose on top of a prop cart while one was found in Baldwins holster belt and another was found in actor Jensen Ackles gun belt. Best of Rolling Stone Ali: Racism and bigotry get a pass in 2024 as Trump talk that once shocked is normalized Nuns comfort a Palestinian woman in Gaza City as she mourns a relative who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in October. Former President Trump criticized President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war during Thursday's debate. (Abed Khaled / Associated Press) President Biden has become like a Palestinian. The comment from former President Trump at Thursday's debate in Atlanta was meant to be an insult aimed at his opponent's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Despite the implicit bigotry of the barb, Trumps vilification of an entire people in the form of a crude jab barely made the news. There is plenty of analysis coming out of the 90-minute live debate Biden's terrible performance, Trump's fountain of lies but what I find most heartbreaking is the quiet acceptance of casual racism as part of our political discourse. The former president's bigoted rhetoric onstage last night doesn't even qualify as a minor talking point in today's discussions about the CNN telecast. When Trump descended from the escalator and into the campaign scene in 2015, numerous headlines and stories were generated in response to his race-baiting comments about Mexican "rapists" and a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." Now, during one of the most-watched television events of the year, such ugliness has barely caused a ripple. Read more: Biden resists allies calls to exit race after debate performance: I know Im not a young man The stakes are much higher now than nine years ago, therefore we're directing our energies elsewhere. This election is about upholding democracy and defeating fascism. But if we're willing to accept derogatory remarks about race, faith or people as part of a campaign to win votes, we've given up. During the debate, Trump claimed that Biden's failed immigration policy resulted in millions of dangerous immigrants taking Black jobs. And if that weren't xenophobic enough, Trump broadened his scare speak to include the loss of Hispanic jobs as well. What exactly is a Black or Hispanic job? It's hard to say because no one on the debate stage or behind the moderator desk bothered to ask. Co-anchors Dana Bash and Jake Tapper instead let the stunningly racist remarks glide through unchallenged, as if racial stereotyping were protected under CNNs debate rules of no real-time fact-checking. Read more: Biden resists allies calls to exit race after debate performance: I know Im not a young man To be fair, the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign was anything but business as usual. Biden looked frail and bewildered. Trump was uncharacteristically controlled. And CNN served as a staging company rather than a news outlet. Post-debate discussions across multiple platforms have been dedicated to deconstructing the scene the incumbent's poor performance, his opponent's avalanche of lies yet they've largely overlooked the ugly leveraging of race and bigotry in their wider analysis of the event. In short, theres been little soul-searching about how such blatantly discriminatory statements were able to sail through undisputed. The CNN broadcast revealed a sad truth about American politics in 2024: Xenophobic fear-mongering once relegated to the far-right fringe is now an acceptable starting point for mainstream dialogue about American politics and presidencies. The conflation of Palestinians with the villainous dark side of a good vs. evil conflict is nothing new, especially from the MAGA-verse. Sadly, its not surprising that Trumps Palestinian comment is being viewed as a bizarre and somewhat funny moment rather than a gross disparagement of an entire people. Loaded slurs and statements about Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims are still an acceptable form of bigotry and hatred, even in these supposed woke times. I had hoped that dynamic might shift in my lifetime, but the medias continued implied connections between Palestinians and Hamas, Muslims and terror, Arabs and spooky otherness, tells me not to keep my hopes up. Read more: Column: Biden's debate gamble went spectacularly wrong. Now Democrats are in panic mode As for Black and Hispanic jobs, Thursdays debate was more proof that were becoming inured to the racism of the right. The mainstream media even left-leaning outlets are so desensitized by MAGAs repurposing of archaic stereotypes that they barely reacted to the association of Black and brown communities with crime, low-paying jobs, poverty, etc. Hateful rhetoric has to be particularly egregious to trigger an outcry, and that's a sign that intolerance is winning. Pushing back against Trumps demeaning commentary should have been Bidens job on that debate stage, and he failed. CNN and the rest of the media also failed to highlight the danger of normalizing racism for votes. If this approach wins the White House, we all lose. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. In the Spotlight is a Fresno Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@fresnobee.com. Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama resigned on Tuesday, following a months-long investigation into an alleged affair hed been having with the wife of a subordinate officer. The scandal, which broke only after the city issued a news release earlier this month, marred what had been to-that-point a successful tenure for the chief one that saw reductions in violent crime and an increase in the number of sworn officers serving the city. Balderrama is by no means the first Fresno police chief to become embroiled in controversy. There are stories of scandal within the department all the way back to William T. Shaw in 1906, and at least seven decades worth of documented reports on Fresno police chiefs who were investigated, fired or even jailed for perceived misconduct. Here are five, in chronological order. Arrested for tax evasion Ray T. Wallace served as Fresno Police Chief for a decade starting in 1939. Following his retirement, Wallace was investigated for tax evasion (and how he was able to amass nearly 2,000 acres of land while chief, according to the Los Angeles Times). He was convicted and sentenced to federal prison in 1952. Questions about pension payouts for a convicted felon (in Wallaces case, $150 per month for life and paid to his wife upon death) were litigated and made it all the way to Californias Supreme Court. The infamous Hank Morton Henry (Hank) Morton had the distinction of being Fresnos longest running police chief, serving more than two decades (1950-1972). The man was notorious. Or, thats how the Rock Island Auction Company portrayed him, when it was selling off some of his personal effects in 2022. Included in the auction lot was his Smith & Wesson Model 36. According to the listing, Morton was, by all accounts ... the antithesis of what a good police chief should be, having control over gambling, prostitution and drug operations in the city. He was even married to the madam of the largest brothel in Fresno. Its a story that has been repeated by multiple sources, including KQED and Fresno author Mark Arax, who painted Mortons police department as utterly corrupt in his 1996 memoir In My Fathers Name. Morton was actually fired by then-City Manager H. K. Hunter in 1965, only to be reinstated. Officers getting double-pay working security Harold Britton oversaw Fresno police through the bulk of the 1970s, a time when federal investigations led to a reorganization of the department. This put him at odds with the city manager at the time, who ordered the shake-up after federal agents complained that they suspected police of leaking information to suspects involved in organized crime, according Brittons obituary in The Fresno Bee in 2013. Britton was also criticized for allowing officers to get double-pay working as security guards for Gottchalks department store while they were waiting to testify in court. One, the other, or both, led to Brittons firing in 1977. He knew nothing about a bunker full of explosives? Ed Winchester retired from the Fresno police department in 2001 with a commendation from the City Council and a doughnut from a just-opened Krispy Kreme. Laughter ensued. There was just one applicant to be his successor: Jerry Dyer. The year before, Winchester was called before a Fresno County grand jury to answer questions about a break-in at a police bunker in which five teenagers stole blasting caps, military explosives, hand grenades and booby traps. It was enough to fill a pickup truck, well over 200 pounds of explosives, according to The Fresno Bee. In his testimony, Winchester told the grand jury he hadnt been aware that the bunker even existed. According to reports at the time, Winchester admitted he wasnt sure if the department had an inventory process at the bunker, which made it difficult to determine all of the explosives that had been stolen. His deputy chief was arrested on drug charges Jerry Dyer had been on the job just days when he was struck by scandal after it was discovered he had twice been accused of having had sex with an underage girl in the mid-1980s. According to a Fresno Bee story in 2001, the girl was 16 in 1985. Dyer was 26, married and working as a Fresno police officer. Sex between an adult and a person younger than 18 is against the law in California and the incident was investigated by the Fresno Police Departments Internal Affairs unit twice. Dyer was not charged with any criminal acts and the statute of limitations had expired by the early 2000s when he was hired as chief. Im not going to sit here before you and confirm those things or deny those things, Dyer told The Bee in 2001. All I can tell you is that the relationships that I have had outside of my marriage, when I was a young man, have been dealt with.... Gods forgiven me. My wifes forgiven me. This departments forgiven me and looked into a lot of things in my past. He again refused to comment on the matter when it resurfaced during his mayoral run in 2020. In his role as police chief, Dyer found himself again under scrutiny in 2015 following the arrest of Keith Foster. Foster was working under Dyer as a deputy chief when he was arrested (along with five co-conspirators) on federal drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, heroin and marijuana. Foster and Dyer had been friends for decades, the chief said at the time. In 2020, Dyer told The Bee he didnt see any signs of Fosters activities. I have spent a lot of time going back and looking and thinking about, was there a sign? Was there anything? he said. And honest to God, I never saw anything that would cause me to believe that he was involved in criminal behavior. News / National by Staff reporter A man from Kensington plots on the outskirts of Bulawayo narrowly escaped death after being severely assaulted with stones, allegedly for having a relationship with a married woman.Bongani Bandla (32) appeared in court before Bulawayo regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga, facing charges of attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody until 1 July for the trial to begin.According to Owen Mugari, representing the state, the incident occurred last Saturday at a mine in Kensington, where Bandla and Bernard Moyo (31), along with other miners, got into a heated argument. Bandla accused Moyo of having an affair with his wife, leading to a furious exchange of insults. In a fit of anger, Bandla grabbed stones and assaulted Moyo, causing severe head injuries that left him bleeding and unconscious.A fellow miner rushed Moyo to the hospital, where he received urgent medical treatment. Police were alerted, leading to Bandla's subsequent arrest. Almost 2,000 without power in Seattles Capitol Hill neighborhood due to Bird/Animal Contact The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) notified community members of a power outage on Thursday afternoon, with 1,817 customers reportedly without power. SDOT warned drivers to use caution while driving and treat all dark signals as all ways stop. According to Seattle City Light, the cause of the outage is Bird/Animal Contact, and the estimated restoration time is currently 8:43 p.m. For an up-to-date map of the outage and an estimated restoration time, visit the Seattle City Light webpage. Per Seattle City light reports of power outage in the capitol neighborhood. Use caution and treat all dark signals as all ways stop. More Info: https://t.co/FkyTe8oOTm pic.twitter.com/aUvQfSw659 SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 27, 2024 The View host Alyssa Farah Griffin says after watching President Bidens shaky debate against former President Trump, she feels deceived by the White House about his fitness for office. I feel duped, she said Friday on the ABC daytime talk show during a discussion about the CNN debate the night before in Atlanta. I feel like Ive been told this guys doing gymnastics, Farah Griffin, a former Trump administration official-turned-fierce critic of the 45th president, said of Biden. White House officials and the presidents allies had pushed back on a Wall Street Journal report published earlier this month headlined Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping, which raised questions about his fitness for office. Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in response to the reporting at the time, As someone who has spent and continues to spend a lot of time with the president and continues to, I think ensure that I am living up to sort of his strategic approach at every turn, I will say that he is, you know, just one of the strongest leaders that Ive been able to engage and to be able to work with and to advise. This is historically bad, and I think we need to be awake to the stakes of it, because the time is really critical, Farah Griffin said as she reacted to Thursdays debate. I was genuinely in shock last night watching this, Farah Griffin told her fellow The View co-hosts. Even though I had concerns for a couple of years about Bidens age, it was stunningly worse than I expected, she said. Donald Trump was a mess, he lied his way through, but Joe Bidens performance was so bad that it eclipsed everything that Donald Trump said because the distraction was on Joe Bidens performance, Farah Griffin said. Biden has been running on Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. Hes a threat to our values. I agree with him on that. Donald Trump is a threat to American democracy, she said, before joining other prominent voices who have questioned whether Biden should seek a second term following his debate performance. We need someone who can beat [Trump]. Ive been told for a long time, put country before party and support Joe Bidens run, said Farah Griffin, who is also a CNN commentator. She continued that Biden needs to put country before his own ambition, and he needs to step aside and pass the baton, because Im telling you right now, Trump World is scared when theyre hearing rumblings that theyre putting someone else on the ticket. They know that any other Democrat, theyll wipe the floor with Donald Trump. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Amazon river dolphins ( Inia geoffrensis ), or botos , acquire their pink hue from repeated abrasion of the skin surface. Males are typically pinker than females because of more frequent trauma due to aggression. SYLVAIN CORDIER/GETTY IMAGES Imagine boating down one of the longest rivers in the world, the Amazon River, minding your own business calmly keeping an eye out for alarmingly large anacondas when a curious, flamingo-pink dolphin appears. While they may seem like mythical creatures, pink Amazon river dolphins really do exist. All About the Largest River Dolphin Species The Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also known as a boto, is the largest species among river dolphins. It can measure up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and weigh around 450 pounds (204 kilograms) as much as three full kegs of beer! Size isn't the only thing that sets the Amazon river dolphin apart: This freshwater dolphin, which thrives in the Amazon and Orinoco river, is sometimes shockingly pink. Although born grey, adult males of the species are easily identified by a distinctly pink hue. Their unusual coloring, which is sometimes wholly pink and sometimes mottled with gray undertones, is believed to be the result of pink scar tissue from dolphin rumbles. The richer the rose, the more attractive the males are believed to be and the older the male, the more the pink coloring he will have. There's also a theory that salmon-colored dolphins more readily blend in with their surroundings. During heavy rains, rivers along the Amazon basin turn a murky red/pink hue, and with their pink coloring, male dolphins are more easily camouflaged to catch fish and river turtles. Since 2018, the Amazon river dolphin has been granted internationally protected status. Increasing pollution and gradual destruction of the Amazon rainforest has increased its vulnerability. Sylvain CORDIER/Getty Images The Amazon's pink river dolphins are one of handful of freshwater dolphin species on Earth; they are aquatic mammals distantly related to saltwater-adapted marine dolphins and toothed whales. In addition to their distinctive pink color, the Amazon's pink river dolphins have another feature that sets them apart from their saltwater cousins. Unlike marine dolphins, which have a dorsal fin that protrudes from their backs, pink river dolphins have a hump instead. They are carnivorous and dine on any fish, crabs or turtles that hang out in the murky waters of the Peruvian Amazon and flooded forest. Natural Habitat of the Amazon River Dolphin Although named after the Amazon River, dolphin populations stretch northwest into the Orinoco River Basins of Venezuela, as well as freshwater sources in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Guyana. The Amazon river dolphins patrol the murky waters along the regions rivers and lakes the dolphins grow, catch fish, and mate. Despite populating such a large region of the continent, the Amazon pink river dolphin is endangered by dam construction and water pollution throughout these countries. River dolphin conservation efforts in South America are crucial to ensure that the pink river dolphin and other dolphin species can thrive for generations to come. Saving the Pink River Dolphin The Amazonian wetland system, fed by the Amazon River, is a crucial place for pink dolphins to breed, and since 2018 has been granted internationally protected status. The area is home to an astounding variety of rare species. It includes hundreds of plant, bird, reptile, mammal, amphibian and fish species that have thus far been cataloged. When it comes to protecting Amazon river dolphins, as well as the diverse and irreplaceable wildlife species and indigenous tribes that occupy their habitat, preservation of the Amazon rainforest is paramount. After his election in 2022, Brazilian president Luiz da Silva pledged a fund of $50 million towards Amazon conservation efforts over the next four years. Numerous other public and private entities have also sprung up within South America and abroad in order to combat the loss of river dolphin habitats and the restoration of the larger Amazon region. 3 Other South American River Dolphins Although freshwater dolphins are known to exist in India (and formerly in China), the largest and most diverse variety of river dolphin species is localized to South America. Other river dolphins include the Bolivian river dolphin, the Araguaia river dolphin and the La Plata river dolphin. 1. Bolivian River Dolphin The Bolivian river dolphin occupies a small area of the Bolivian Amazon. This river dolphin species does not to interact or compete often with the Amazon pink river dolphin because rapid river waters separate the two species. Having very little competition for food or shelter within its region, there are believed to up 25,000 Bolivian river dolphins in the wild. 2. Araguaia River Dolphin This smaller river dolphin variety can be found in the Araguaia river system in Brazil. Also known as the Araguaian boto, this river dolphin bears a lot of familial resemblance to Inia geoffrensis, but the Amazon river dolphin is typically larger and more pink while this species is smaller and greyish-pink. These two were thought to be one species until recent DNA testing classified them separately. 3. La Plata River Dolphin The La Plata river dolphin is the smallest of all known river dolphin species, only growing about four to five feet long in adulthood. Their territory is also relatively far from the Amazon river dolphin, occupying smaller rivers along the east coast of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. These dolphins also have entirely gray skin, with none of the pinkish highlights found on Amazon river dolphins. Now That's Cool The Ticuna people, Indigenous to the Brazilian Amazon region, tell of a river dolphin that attended their festivities guised as a human man. The shape-shifting dolphin enchanted a woman and took her to the Amazon River, where she was transformed into a dolphin. Original article: Amazon River Dolphins Are Born Grey and Turn Pink Copyright 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company Insights from Politico, The Atlantic, and The New York Times The News Policy points were perhaps not the top issue at hand for many voters watching the first presidential debate on CNN on Thursday night: Instead, it was the candidates age and, in particular, President Joe Bidens. Biden, 81, sounded hoarse speaking at the debate, immediately raising flags for voters already concerned about his health. (A person familiar with the Biden campaign told the Wall Street Journal he has a cold.) Former President Trump, 78, appeared hearty by comparison. When asked by the moderators about his age, Biden pointed out that Trump was just three years younger than him. But voters concerns about Bidens age are not new. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Key Obama operative revealed tension in party over age in 2023 Source: Politico In 2023, key Obama operative and Democratic strategist David Axelrod posted on social media that Biden should reconsider staying in the 2024 presidential race. He walked the comments back, but his comments hit on a key question at the forefront of voters minds: Is running again in Bidens interest, or the countrys best interest? Biden allies dismissed the comments to Politico as punditry, but the comments have stuck. Axelrod said the stakes are really high. [Biden] said so himself. At the time, he recommended Biden compare himself to the alternative to win over voters, but so-called double haters who dont like either candidate may look elsewhere. Biden promised to be a bridge to a new political era. Voters believed him Source: The Atlantic Biden had promised voters in 2020 that he was a bridge, and nothing more: As a vehicle to end Trumps time in the White House, Biden presented a stability candidate who could ease the transition to a new political era without the aging Trump and without the also aging Biden, Mark Leibovich wrote in The Atlantic. But he stuck around, perhaps to his detriment. Democratic voters viewed their past support for Biden as an emergency propositionand that his ongoing presence violates an implied bargain, Leibovich wrote. Biden could be engaging in one of the most selfish, hubristic, and potentially destructive acts ever undertaken by an American president. If he winds up losing, thats all anyone will remember him for, he concluded. Age didnt affect Bidens presidency, but its affecting his campaign Source: The New York Times I cannot point you to a moment where Biden faltered in his presidency because his age had slowed him, the New York Timess Ezra Klein wrote. But heres the thing. I can now point you to moments when he is faltering in his campaign for the presidency because his age is slowing him. Those are two vastly different jobs, Klein pointed out, and its possible to be a good president while not being capable of successfully running for the same office. But Klein, like many others, came to the conclusion that Democrats denying decline are only fooling themselves. Ultimately, the proof is in the polling: 77 percent of the public, including 69 percent of Democrats, think Biden is just too old to be effective for four more years. How American Airlines plans to handle record crowds at CLT airport over July 4th holiday Even as people are already ticked off about long check-in lines at Charlottes airport and anxious about missing flights, the busiest time of the summer is finally here. American Airlines confirmed Thursday that it is expecting to break records at Charlotte Douglas International Airport for passengers catching flights over the Fourth of July travel period. The holiday travel period for American Airlines began Thursday and will continue through July 7, according to spokeswoman Bri Harper. American is expecting to handle 775,800 CLT customers on 7,000 flights more than 570 flights than last year. Or look at it this way.American is going to see more travelers during this stretch than the combined population of Union, Cabarrus and Gaston counties. Irate CLT passengers keep griping about TSA lines. Whats behind all the delays? Many customers will be departing at the end of this week or next Wednesday and returning Sunday, July 7. American Airlines is expecting nearly 700 departures on July 7, making it the busiest travel day of the summer at Charlotte Douglas. Airport officials said longer than usual lines is something passengers should expect for a busy summer. Last Sunday, the Transportation Security Administration broke a single-day record with about 3 million passengers screened at checkpoints. In recent weeks, passengers took to social media to express their concerns. Those comments havent stopped coming. One user on X said Thursday: Note to self. Dont check a bag at the (Charlotte Airport).The lines I saw walking in were something. #Carryononly. Jerry Jordan, founder of racing media outlet Kickin The Tires, posted pictures of lines and traffic on X. Hey NASCAR peeps, if youre going to (Charlotte Douglas) the line to get in parking is long and the (TSA PreCheck) line is ridiculous, Jordan wrote on Thursday. Leave early! Passengers walk through Charlotte Douglas International Airport. American Airlines and CLT officials are expecting to break records this summer. Amercan preps for CLT rush of travelers To prepare for the holiday, American Airlines spent several months hiring and training team workers, ensuring its vendors were ready and preparing aircraft, equipment and facilities, the company said in a news release. The airline added new kiosks at CLT to speed up the ticketing process. A second bag drop to help with foot traffic during peak periods was also added. American Airlines accounts for about 90% of all flights at the airport. CLT is the second-largest hub for the Fort Worth, Texas-based company. A busy summer for American Airlines This summer travel season, American Airlines is expecting to serve more than 8 million passengers in Charlotte between May 17 and Sept. 3 with 75,000 flights. Compared with last summer, this is a 12% increase and will surpass pre-pandemic levels of flying, according to American. Company-wide, American Airlines is expecting to have more than 7.2 million customers on nearly 70,000 flights for the July Fourth travel period. This is an 8% increase compared to last year. Along with CLT, July 7 will be the biggest travel day of the summer for American Airlines hubs with 6,500 flights. More than four American flights will be taking off every minute of the day, according to Harper. The second and third largest days for American Airlines are Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28, with more than 6,300 flights on both days, systemwide. CLT preps for holiday travel Along with American Airlines, Charlotte Douglas is expected to break records from Tuesday through Monday, July 8 with 191,000 passengers on departing flights, the airport said in a news release. The total is a 15.6% increase from the same period last year. Total passenger traffic is estimated to be 1.2 million a 12% increase from 2023. The increase mirrors trends as nationwide airports with terminals and aircraft operating at full capacity this summer, airport officials said. CLT is ranked as the seventh-busiest airport worldwide for arrivals and departures, according to the Airport Council Internationals preliminary rankings for 2022. Ways for passengers to stay prepared As always, American Airlines and CLT officials said passengers should arrive at the terminal at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. They should also check traffic conditions or find alternate routes before going to the airport. CLT customers can book parking in advance online at parkCLT.com. Estimated wait times for security checkpoints are available on the airports website cltairport.com and through the app. TSA urges passengers to sign up for PreCheck, a program that allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to have an expedited screening. JOPLIN, Mo. Dozens of motorcyclists kick off a fundraising campaign aimed at helping the families of veterans. About 80 riders took off from the old terminal at the Joplin Regional Airport Friday morning. The riders come from American Legion chapters across southwest Missouri, and are using a three-day trip on Route 66 to raise funds for the Legacy Foundation. The legacy foundation provides college scholarships for the children of post-September 11 veterans who have died on active duty, or have a VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher. On their ride, members of the group will be stopping at American Legion posts along the way to collect funds. We wanted to ride the mother road, the old route 66 so we can get all the way up here, I mean travel the mother road, said Bob Norris, Director, American Legion Riders of Missouri. Its kind of neat to see that many bikers all together making this ride as a way of raising funds for the Legacy Foundation, said Bob Harrington, Commander, American Legion Post 13. The group is riding to Springfield, and plan to wrap up their trip by arriving in St. Louis on Sunday. They were escorted on their journey by highway patrol troopers who were also on motorcycles. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Apartments on 228 and 232 Welch Avenue in Campustown in Ames, Iowa. Pictures taken on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Sarah Harper credits her declining health to a series of concerning issues at her Welch Avenue apartment. She is one of roughly 35 Ames residents who were forced to move on Saturday because their landlord didn't keep his properties up to code. The Ames Inspection Division notified tenants at 228 and 232 Welch Avenue on May 31 that they must vacate the structure within 30 days unless the rental property meets code. Nineteen units owned by Greg Wilson weren't up to code, Ames Building Inspector Sara Van Meeteren said. The city discovered several broken windows, leaks, electrical and plumbing issues and missing smoke detectors. The City of Ames delivered a reminder to vacate notice to tenants, stating that it would be "a violation of the municipal code to continue to rent the property, and all occupants will need to vacate the structures. The notice also said that it is very unlikely that the owner will have addressed the code violations by June 30, and that the current tenants should begin seeking alternative housing arrangements immediately. Van Meeteren said residents were instructed to vacate the buildings by Saturday. "Tenants were made aware at the beginning of June that the property would likely need to be vacated at the end of June," Van Meeteren said. "With each notice, the tenants received a list of local resources including local funding agencies that assist with housing concerns." This is the first time Van Meeteren has seen this many Ames residents displaced at one time since she joined the City of Ames in 2011. The Ames City Council dedicated $25,000 to Analysis of Social Services Evaluation Team (ASSET) funds during its meeting Tuesday to assist displaced residents at the properties. The monies will be used for their next apartment's deposit and rent, while some of the money will be used for hotel rooms. More: Old Burger King restaurant on Lincoln Way may become Dunkin' coffee shop Broken windows, leaks and electrical issues plague apartments The city identified a bevy of concerning issues at each apartment building. The inspectors reported broken windows, fuel-burning appliances without proper certification, missing smoke detectors, plumbing leaks, improper fusing, unsafe electrical cords, missing and broken outlets. The roof also needs to be repaired. Van Meeteren said the city is working with its legal department to determine whether action will be taken against the buildings' landlord. Since the property's Letter of Compliance (LOC) will be revoked on June 29, it cannot be rented until all issues are resolved and a new LOC is issued. Property owner Greg Wilson did not respond to the Tribune's request for comment. Residents face dire living conditions Harper has lived in her Welch Avenue apartment for six years and cooks with bottled water, refusing to drink the contaminated tap water. "I have to let the water in the bathtub run for five minutes because it comes out brown," Harper said. "I cant cook with the regular water; I have to buy bottled water in order to cook." Harper's air conditioning also has issues and must be left running continuously for three to four days to work, which she said drives her bills up. The windows in her apartment don't open and leaks in her closet have allowed mold to grow, ruining a few of her shoes and clothes. Harper said she has no longterm plan when she moves out, planning to temporarily bunk with a friend. "I have a friend to stay with for a couple of days, and the only thing shes willing to help with is to let my furniture stay at her apartment," Harper said. "But I still need help to get that stuff moved over to her place." Charlie and Linda have had similar problems in their units since moving in four years ago. They switched apartments after a window to the fire escape wouldn't open. Their current bathroom sink has been clogged for three months, while their toilet "can't be cleaned." The tenants also say their apartment parking lot isn't regulated and is often filled on the weekends by non-tenants. The issues have not yet been resolved despite repeated calls to the manager. Charlie and Linda have struggled to find a new home because they have two cats and most hotel rooms don't allow pets. Charlie doesn't want to move without his rescue cat, who he said would suffer without her owners. "She hates everybody except for me and Linda, because she was abused before we got her," Charlie said. "She will freak out without us." Apartments on 232 Welch Avenue in Campustown in Ames, Iowa. Pictures taken on Thursday, June 27, 2024. What will city funds cover? The $25,000 from the city will be split two ways: $18,500 will cover the displaced residents' next deposit and first month's rent assistance, while $6,500 will be used for a temporary emergency shelter, which typically is used for hotel rooms. The money was pulled from unspent ASSET funds. ASSET is a partnership between the City of Ames, United Way of Story County, Story County, Iowa State University Student Government, and Central Iowa Community Services. The ASSET team helps coordinate human services planning and provides assistance in funding recommendations or allocations in Story County. Salvation Army of Ames' service center coordinator, Kathy Pinkerton, met with many of the Welch Avenue residents and noted that there is "definitely a need" for relocation services. "The majority of them, if they do have income it's social security; usually that's Supplemental Security Income (SSI), so it's a $900 range," Pinkerton said. "They don't have a way to get their belongings out, they don't have any place to put their belongings." The council was adamant that the funds were for ASSET to decide how to use them, though the team requested the money on behalf of the displaced tenants. More: Ames council approves residential housing at Research Park, paves way for Dunkin' drive-thru Salvation Army receives additional funding The Salvation Army has already received $5,000 for 2024-25 to purchase emergency shelter services. To address the growing need, the organization requested an additional $100,000 for the next fiscal year. The Salvation Army first noticed a significant need for emergency shelter services this spring. Leadership discovered it was time to increase the hotel voucher program and add a full-time resource coordinator. "We're providing a service, and providing it at an exponentially increasing rate over the last several years," Pinkerton said. "What we've been about all along is to try and provide resources to folks and connect them with other social services agencies prior to them becoming homeless." Additional funding was requested in April to assist with the Salvation Army's push for additional services. The Ames City Council dedicated $40,000 to the Salvation Army for additional emergency services in May. Pinkerton said the Salvation Army is not necessarily asking for the money, but rather that they have access to money that is already available. Ward 2 City Councilman Tim Gartin said the Salvation Army's request was a "good opportunity" for the council to acknowledge the increase in homelessness in Ames, which becomes even more of a concern during the summer. "We have a community that's very compassionate, trying to do the best it can to help provide services," Gartin said. "This seems like a very reasonable thing." Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Why are dozens of Welch Ave. residents being forced to move? Johnsonville, Wisconsin Jamie Schmelzer is not a mental health professional he's a marketing executive for meat processing giant Johnsonville. But the inflamed and antagonistic state of U.S. politics has led his company to shift gears somewhat in its message. "We do not pretend that we have what it takes to save America," Schmelzer told CBS News. "We know the world is full of serious problems that sausage can't solve." The company's new national ad campaign begs Americans to "turn down the temperature" to find common ground. "We believe that most people are mostly good, and they should be treated that way," the narrator says in the new ad campaign. "And that means less trolling and more tailgating, less doomscrolling and more dinner parties." Schmelzer said the company's view is that "this campaign is cultural more than political, but we also fully recognize that those two things have become kind of inseparable." Johnsonville had a hunch the country was on edge, so it took a stab at something politicians do: polling. It found that eight out of 10 Americans are exhausted by the anger and negativity in the U.S. It also found that many Americans are attending fewer gatherings than they used to. Isolation is not good for Johnsonville's products, Schmelzer said. "Johnsonville makes hangout food," Schmelzer explains. "We like to say that sausage for one almost doesn't exist." It's not just Johnsonville preaching calm and togetherness. You can find similar echoes in ad campaigns from Miller Lite and La-Z-Boy attempting to sell less fighting and more relaxation. "They're paying attention to our own thoughts as a society," said Dr. Andrew Cohen, a cultural sociologist who specializes in advertising. "It's a great place for these brands to play in. Saying, you know, we can't deny the reality that people are heated, that it's really hard to go to your family's cookout and get in a fight with your uncle over some political views that you don't agree about." CBS News traveled to the battleground states of Georgia and Wisconsin to show voters the ads and ask how they view the country. "Everyone in this country feels a little bit on edge," said Kris Stubbs of Georgia. Shermaine Williams of Cobb County, Georgia, told CBS News, "Everybody's anxiety and emotions are high, and we just need to chill," Those feelings match Johnsonville's research, as well as recent warnings from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about the "epidemic of loneliness" and the toxicity of social media. "People seem to isolate themselves too much," said Debbie Reagles of Kenosha, Wisconsin. "Isolation, it's a bad thing, you know? Advertisers hope that bridge building and slowing down is a message that sells to an anxious nation in short supply of unity. "It's kind of a pep talk for America to remember to make time, take a break and have some fun with some people that you like," Schmelzer said. Undecided voters in North Carolina frustrated by first 2024 presidential debate Republican, Democratic strategists on Trump-Biden debate Assessing Trump and Biden's debate claims (Photo by Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images) COVID-19 infections, emergency department visits and hospitalizations are rising in Washington this summer but most of the states residents have yet to get the most updated vaccine booster for the disease. While the current uptick in infections isnt anywhere near as bad as past years, it represents a clear and consistent increase since May and people should be taking precautions to protect themselves from the disease, said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease epidemiology and immunizations for Seattle & King Countys public health department. Even at this point in the pandemic, COVID carries a higher risk of mortality than influenza, Chow said. Before the pandemic, we were already concerned about the risk of death for influenza, but now we have COVID circulating along with it. According to the state Department of Health, only 19% of Washingtonians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with the most updated dose from 2023. In King County, 28% of its residents have received the updated vaccine. I worry people think COVID is behind us, Chow said. According to Chow, getting the most up-to-date vaccine is especially important for those at high-risk, including people over 65 and those with various health conditions, who may need additional doses to protect themselves, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Still, even young and healthy people are at risk of severe complications from COVID-19, such as long COVID, which can be detrimental to a persons overall health and functioning. A persons risk of getting long COVID increases with multiple infections, and an estimated 17 million Americans roughly one in 10 who have been infected currently have long COVID. Getting vaccinated and staying up-to-date on boosters can reduce your risk of getting long COVID, Chow said. The state Department of Healths dashboard says that from June 16 to June 22, there were 855 emergency visits a 15% increase compared to the previous week and 232 hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in the past week, about a 6% increase from the previous week. Washingtons uptick is reflected nationwide, with cases growing or expected to grow in at least 39 states. Other respiratory infections, like influenza, usually show up each year in the fall and winter. With the extreme heat that were experiencing, people are going indoors into smaller spaces, and all that is a recipe for transmission, said Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist who leads the de Beaumont Foundation, a public health think tank. The state Department of Health is continuing to recommend Washington residents receive the most recent COVID-19 vaccine, test after feeling symptoms or experiencing a COVID-19 exposure, wear a well-fitting face mask in crowded situations and open windows whenever possible. Chow also recommends people meet outdoors when possible. Chow said hes currently wearing an N95 respirator or KN95 mask in indoor spaces, crowded areas and while traveling by airplane, and he recommends the public do the same. He expects an updated COVID booster to be available in September, but said getting the most updated version now wont preclude people from getting one in the future. In the absence of mandates, state leaders should focus on educating the public, Castrucci said. He praised the state Department of Healths efforts but said lawmakers and community leaders need to do more to increase availability of the vaccine. Is your local physician asking you, Did you get your COVID-19 vaccine? Castrucci said. Are employers setting up local vaccine booster clinics? I think the rate at which people are getting the vaccine booster is probably equivalent to the energies we are putting into providing it. King County is focusing a lot of its efforts in areas with the largest health disparities, Chow said, but that the kind of widespread effort that went on during the height of the pandemic cant be replicated due to reduced federal funding. The federal governments program to bring free COVID vaccines to uninsured people ends in August, and Chow said hes worried fewer people will have access to the September booster as a result. Castrucci said he hopes states like Washington will consider putting more state dollars into public health, rather than relying on federal funding to keep their public health departments going. Unfortunately, Americans have learned to live with COVID, and because mortality rates arent ticking up, I dont think weve been paying attention, Castrucci said. We are a nation that ignores things that arent in our face. The post Amid Washington COVID summer surge, booster rates are low appeared first on Washington State Standard. News / Religion by Gideon Madzikatidze in Rutenga The Kuera Apostolic Church under Arch-Bishop Honest Mupepe has this Wednesday embarked on an anti-accidents intercessory spiritual prayer crusade against road carnage along major roads, with the inaugural event launched along Harare-Beitbridge major highway.Speaking during the course of their spiritual journey at Rutenga Business Centre, Arch-Bishop Honest Mupepe described their crusades as critical in cleansing major highways against spiking road traffic accidents."We have noted that the Second Republic has made great strides in improving our major roads, but however, regardless of its tireless efforts, accidents have continuously claimed several lives," Mupepe said."It is therefore the duty of churches to pray for our roads to be accident-free zones through spiritual prayers which will help in cleansing the roads against bad spirits," Mupepe added."Authorities may try everything to curb road carnages including educational awareness campaigns, license withdrawals (revoke), fitness tests, routine inspections; among others, but the solution to road carnage is through these prayers," Mupepe said.Kuera Apostolic Church's Pastor General, Tauya Mandava concurred that it is high time that indigenous church should join forces with government in arresting road carnages."The government has played its part in rehabilitating our major roads, but it is the duty of churches to complement these efforts to pray, fast and spiritually educate motorists and travellers to adhere to all prescribed traffic rules and regulations," Mandava said."We have organised this inaugural intercessory prayer crusade to show that enough is enough in connection to road accidents," Mandava added.Meanwhile, the church's head of Women's Assembly, Mrs Sandra Mupepe has justified their forty-kilometer sectional prayer breaks as symbolising the journey that Israelites embarked on from Egyptian bandage into promised Canaan."These respective forty-kilometer sectional prayer break is spiritual in that, we are now passing a phase of high accident concentration into lower or zero concentration. We are moving away from spiking accidents and dedicate ourselves as road users that spiritual submission is the main solution against this scourge," Mupepe said."This exercise has been also crucial in showing the world that, women also play critical role in arresting road carnage. It is also important to note that, road accidents need a multi-stakeholders approach to resolve it," Mupepe remarks.According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, an average of five people die on Zimbabwean roads everyday through road traffic accidents which occur every 15 minutes.While appearing before parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, Munesu Munodawafa confirmed that on average, 38 people are injured in accidents daily.Statistics has it showing that, the highest number of casualties are aged between 25 and 45 years.The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said that, most of the accidents occurred on the country's major highways are as a result of speeding, inattention, overtaking errors, overloading, misjudgment, following too closely and recklessness on the part of drivers.Before their Wednesday intercessory prayer crusades and journey to Beitbridge, the Kuera Apostolic Church issued a notice to relevant authorities including the Home Affairs Ministry and Zimbabwe Republic Police's Commissioner General, Godwin Matanga. VERO BEACH A pool company owner who operated a multimillion-dollar pool contracting scheme that sucked in victims from Palm Beach County and other areas was ordered to prison for 30 years this week. Amid a courtroom packed with former clients who lost tens of thousands of dollars after hiring Amore Pools, Chrystal Washburn, 42, showed no reaction as she was fingerprinted in court and led away by bailiffs after a nearly two-hour hearing on Tuesday, June 25. A jury seated for a five-week trial concluded that Washburn concocted a scheme to defraud homeowners on the Treasure Coast, Palm Beach, Brevard and Okeechobee counties by taking large deposits to build in-ground residential swimming pools, but never completed the projects, court records show. Her trial lasted 22 days as jurors heard from 51 state witnesses and 24 defense witnesses, including Washburn, according to trial records. Washburn, who lives in Indian River County, was convicted of seven counts of identity fraud, two counts of money laundering, insurance fraud, contracting without a license, false statement of compliance and organized scheme to defraud, records show. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Jonathan Bridges on Tuesday urged Senior Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn to impose a maximum sentence of 30 years for the hurt and the pain that she and her husband caused people across this community and across the Treasure Coast. Bridges rejected any notion that Chrystal Washburns husband Brian Washburn had somehow coerced her or forced her into stealing money from customers. She certainly did not testify to Mr. Washburn abusing her or dominating her in any way, Bridges said. She was the owner of this business This was a series of offenses that were committed in a sophisticated manner. And Ms. Washburn knew full well what she did. Brian Washburn Bryan Washburn, 37, who identified himself to clients as a company employee, was convicted by a jury in 2022, and is serving 30 years in prison. He was found guilty of nine felony counts, including organized scheme to defraud, identity theft and money laundering of more than $100,000. He also was ordered to pay $3.2 million in restitution to 121 customer victims. He is appealing his conviction and sentence. Sentencing hearing In court Tuesday, some homeowners who testified at both Washburn trials provided powerful descriptions of their money losses, ongoing frustration and anger, and feelings of betrayal. Diana Fell, of Port St. Lucie, who lost $20,000, told Vaughn for five months she and her husband endured repeated lies, failed inspections and poorly done work that left a hole in their backyard. The backyard was destroyed, she said, as she described to a crowded courtroom how the couple refinanced their home to cover their losses. My family, as well as the other families were consciously deceived. This was deliberate, calculated, precise, Fell said in urging Washburn receive the maximum punishment. This was pure greed, and it was criminal. When Washburn addressed Vaugh, she apologized for her actions and asked for lenience. Amore Pools owner Chrystal Washburn is sentenced, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, before Senior Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn at the Indian River County Courthouse. Washburn was convicted in a May trial of numerous felony charges related to operating a multimillion-dollar pool contracting scheme across six counties. I will not stand here before you to try and victimize myself in any way. I just am asking for fairness, Washburn said in imploring for a punishment that did not include prison time. I know my ignorance of the law does not justify my actions and Im truly sorry, she said. Please know my intentions and goal for my actions were to be a part in building swimming pools and to deliver exactly what was contracted. She apologized for contracts and obligations left unfilled. Im especially sorry to all of those who have lost money, she said. And to those whose pools I was unable to finish and to those whose pools I was unable to start due to my arrest. Her words rang hollow for Lucia Damante, 59, of Port St. Lucie, who broke down on the stand describing her traumatizing ordeal with the Washburns. Damante said she and her husband are struggling to secure $80,000 needed to repair the damage to her property. Today I see the tears. I have a lot of tears, she said, her voice breaking. I am not the same person that I was when I moved here in January 2020. She has traumatized my life. I cant even get out of bed. Her retirement dream of relocating to Port St. Lucie from New York to have a good life hasnt happened, she said. If you ask me your honor, the intent was there from the day she walked through my door and I signed that contract, Damante said. The intent was there to scam and not give us a quality pool. After hearing sentencing recommendations from both sides, Vaughn said Washburns case did not warrant using his discretion to sentence her below the minimum guidelines of 12 years in prison. Amore Pools owner Chrystal Washburn is sentenced, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, before Senior Circuit Judge Dan Vaughn at the Indian River County Courthouse. Washburn was convicted in a May trial of numerous felony charges related to operating a multimillion-dollar pool contracting scheme across six counties. I recognize a court certainly has the authority to depart from the minimum guidelines sentence if the court considers it appropriate, Vaughn said. However, I'd like not to do so in this particular case, due to the unique facts of this case and given this aggregate amounts of financial losses. Specifically, Washburn was ordered to serve 12 years for convictions of false information on an application for a contractors license, being an unlicensed contractor during a state of emergency and seven counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. She was ordered to serve 30-year prison terms for her convictions of organized scheme to defraud, two counts of money laundering, one count of concealing information to avoid workers compensation premium and insurance application fraud. Vaughn also ordered all her prison terms be served at the same time. After court, her attorney Roger Azcona confirmed she will appeal her convictions and sentence. It's a very tough day for my client and her family, he said. Both Washburns were prosecuted by the Florida Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida pool company owner who scammed victims gets 30 years in prison CNNs Anderson Cooper sparred with Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday evening, amid reports of growing panic in Democratic circles following President Joe Bidens performance at the debate on Thursday night. Biden faced off against his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, in Atlanta, but stumbled over some of his answers and failed to chasten the presumptive Republican nominee. Trump, for his part, spewed a near-constant stream of lies and falsehoods on Thursday but largely refrained from the freewheeling style that harmed his campaign in 2020. Listen, first of all, what we saw tonight is the president make a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people, Harris said. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish. What came very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people. On substance, on policy, on performance Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong. Kamala Harris acknowledges to CNN that "it was a slow start" to the debate but adds that "there was a strong finish" by Biden. pic.twitter.com/BsIAJgiirk Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 28, 2024 Cooper pushed back on that assessment, repeatedly questioning the presidents performance while noting some Democrats were already calling Bidens performance a disaster. Im sorry, on substance and policy and performance tonight, the presidents performance tonight clearly was disappointing for his supporters, the host said. Cooper later added that Biden was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him. Thats certainly true, is it not? VP: Im not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when Ive been watching the last three and half years of performance pic.twitter.com/ptvxo3Kq7w Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024 Im not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when Ive been watching the last three and a half years of performance, Harris replied. It was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point. Im talking about the choice in November, about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime, she concluded. Related... President Joe Biden seemingly got under Donald Trumps skin at their presidential debate on Thursday night by calling him a sucker and a loser, words the former president is purported to have used behind closed doors about dead U.S. soldiers. The Atlantic reported in 2020 that Trump had repeatedly expressed open disgust for Americas fallen service members, reportedly canceling a 2018 trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery because it was raining and filled with losers, and referring to Marines killed in World War I as suckers. Trump denied the reports at the time, but they were confirmed last year to CNN by his own former White House chief of staff, John Kelly. The magazines reporting has resurfaced in recent weeks as Trumps behavior has been compared by political commentators and media outlets to a recent trip by Biden to Normandy, France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. President Biden: My son was not a sucker or a loser. Youre the sucker. Youre the loser pic.twitter.com/pzpJim6yku Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) June 28, 2024 A furious Trump has repeatedly insisted to his followers at campaign trail stops this month that those horrible stories about him were made up by The Atlantics writer. In a beautiful example of the Streisand effect, however, his protests have only served to propel the alleged incidents further out into the open. On Thursday, Biden joined the dog pile while answering a question about veterans and their benefits. Veterans are better off since the PACT Actwhatever happened to you, whether Agent Orange or burn pits, its covered. And he opposed that, Biden said, before switching to a more personal tack. My son spent years in Iraq [and] came back with stage IV glioblastoma, he continued, referring to the late Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer at the age of 46 in 2015. I was in France for D-Day and spoke about heroes who have died. I went to the World War II and World War I cemetery with a four-star generalmeaning Kellywho said hemeaning Trumpdidnt want to go in there because they were losers and suckers. My son was not a sucker or a loser, Biden spat. Youre the loser, youre the sucker. Trump hit back immediately, calling The Atlantic a third-rate magazine and saying that he had 19 people backing him up on his claim that the quotes had been fabricated. Nobody has taken care of veterans better than me, he insisted. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. An Ankeny private school is remodeling the auditorium where students' parents may have seen "Forrest Gump" back in the 1990s when the space was a movie theater. Ankeny Christian Academy, 1604 W. First St., is working on a major renovation project that includes an overhaul of the school's auditorium and main entrance. The school's auditorium which now hosts a chapel, stage productions and other events was once a screen at Fridley's Paramount movie theater, before the growing school took over the building in 2000. Until now, the auditorium included the movie theater's original red folding seats, complete with cupholders, from when Ankeny Christian moved in. Construction continues in the auditorium at Ankeny Christian Academy on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Ankeny. "When we posted the seats on Facebook, people were like, 'Oh my gosh, I remember watching 'Titanic' in those seats!'" Abby Bogaards, communications director for Ankeny Christian Academy, said during a tour with the Des Moines Register. But it was time for an update as the chairs were starting to show their age ripped fabric, broken mechanisms or general squeakiness. Meanwhile, the school's use of the auditorium has grown: last school year, students put on a production of "Little Women," the first full-length Broadway musical in its history, complete with a live pit orchestra. Community members snagged some of the old chairs for themselves, while others were thrown away. Some were not in a condition to be saved. After a $300,000 fundraising campaign, Ankeny Christian is now refreshing the auditorium to be more attractive to visitors and accessible to people with disabilities. The remodel will increase the number of seats, add new paint and update the technical equipment. The stage also will double as a music classroom. "It was time for our space to reflect the excellence that happens here," Bogaards said. More: Ankeny Christian Academy hires new secondary principal Joe Venema Other construction includes opening up office space for the school's growing administrative team and updating the entrance area, including new flooring to replace the original tile and adding a special design on the wall for photo opportunities. Work is expected to be complete by the time school starts again in August. "We are excellent at sports. We are excellent at academics. We are excellent in the fine arts," Bogaards said. "When you invite people to a space, it needs to feel excellent." Ankeny Christian Academy grows in old movie theater and strip mall Local families who sought a different option to educate their children formed Ankeny Christian Academy in 1992. Operating out of rented space at a local church, the school opened in 1993 with seven students and two teachers and celebrated its first graduating class in 2000. The school soon outgrew its rented rooms and moved into a renovated warehouse office space off Oralabor Road. In need of a new space once again, Ankeny Christian took over what was a movie theater off First Street in 2000. Fridley Theaters an Iowa-based company that owns and operates several cinemas across the state opened the Paramount in 1990 with four screens and a video store. Ankeny Christian Academy bought what was once a Fridley Paramount movie theater in 2000 and converted the movie theater into a school. Ankeny Christian is renovating the school auditorium, which had the old movie theater seats, into a more attractive, accessible space. According to Register archives, the theater complex opened in what was previously the Frontier Shopping Center, which had stores in the 1980s such as The Clothes Closet and Sitzmann's Men's Store. The Paramount later expanded to five screens and became a discount theater for second-run films in 1999 after Fridley's Springwood 9 opened across town. The Paramount closed after 10 years in early 2000. Fridley determined it was no longer profitable after the Springwood opened and announced plans to sell to Ankeny Christian, which had a lease due to expire at the end of the year. "We literally put our mortgages on the line to fund that, so we're all on the hook if things go south," Les Leonard, an Ankeny Christian founder, said this week of the school board at the time. Volunteers worked "feverishly" over the summer, the Register reported, to renovate a cinema into classrooms as families offered financial and labor support. Some volunteers worked five days a week into the night and children helped scrape gum off the auditorium seats, put up drywall and mud the floors. Ankeny Christian Academy bought what was once a Fridley Paramount movie theater in 2000 and converted the movie theater into a school. Ankeny Christian is renovating the school auditorium, which had the old movie theater seats, into a more attractive, accessible space. One volunteer, Doug Reed, even left his full-time nursing job to serve 15-hour days as a full-time contractor to make the school a reality. "All summer long," Leonard said. "It was quite an ordeal." Their work paid off, and Ankeny Christian opened for 140 students in a permanent space for the first time. Ankeny Christian enrollment maxed out due to high demand By the 2010s, Ankeny Christian's population was continuing to grow, and the school grew with it into the attached strip mall. The school now occupies the entire building as students attend class in what was once a donut shop, a dry cleaner or a movie theater that showed "Titanic." Seeing how much Ankeny Christian has grown and changed since the idea first percolated in 1992, followed by years of sacrifice by family and staff to keep the doors open, is "immensely rewarding," Leonard said. "I mean, I get goosebumps," he said. The school now has about 525 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Including an off-site preschool, there are about 580 students. Ankeny Christian's growth started to ramp up during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bogaards said, attracting families when the school fully re-opened in August 2020. Construction continues in the auditorium at Ankeny Christian Academy on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Ankeny. Enrollment is now maxed out with more than 40 students per grade. The school had to stop taking entries for a waitlist, which has hit 1,000 names. The demand has grown even higher with the state's Education Savings Account program, which offers up to $7,600 in public funds per student to cover families' private school expenses. Families with babies have called the school and asked to be put on the list years in advance. "It's really hard to be a community member and not be able to serve all of the community that we want," Bogaards said. "We're not alone." Officials, of course, would love to expand the school's physical space to serve more students, but such a project could cost tens of millions of dollars. In the meantime, the school is investing to improve the current space while building out programming, activities and staffing. "We have to try and find a way to make that happen," Bogaards said. "But in the meantime, we can't forget about the kids who are here." Chris Higgins covers the northern and eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny Christian remodels former movie auditorium after massive growth Ann Summers boss Maria Hollins says more needs to be done to protect retail staff from rising levels of crime and abuse - Jeff Gilbert Ann Summers has hidden the phone numbers for its stores after its staff faced a bombardment of pervy calls. Maria Hollins, the chief executive of the adult retailer, said the company had taken the decision to remove contact details for its stores online in an attempt to protect staff amid a rising tide of crime and abuse faced by retail workers. Ms Hollins said: Shoplifting has gone up significantly through the cost of living crisis, but its not just shoplifting, its actually abuse of our store colleagues. One of the things that really shocked me was, once you started logging these incidents, is how many pervy phone calls we get to our stores. Weve been getting our colleagues to log every instance so when something happens, we get a log of it so we can truly measure how its increasing. It comes as retailers battle soaring crime rates and call on politicians to clamp down on criminals who attack or abuse shop staff. Both Labour and the Tories have promised to take action as part of their pitch to retail ahead of the general election. Ms Hollins said: Because of the nature of what we sell, some people see us as fair game, so we have to be really vigilant. One of the challenges is to report stuff that we dont always get a response from the police. So we need the police to take these instances more seriously. The retail veteran joined Ann Summers in 2019, becoming chief executive in 2022 following the death of longstanding boss Jaqueline Gold. Over 30 years in the industry, Ms Hollins has also held senior roles at companies such as Asos and House of Fraser. Her comments come as Ann Summers prepares to launch Knickerbox.com, a new standalone online retailer that will sell third-party brands such as Calvin Klein and Lemonade Dolls as well as the retailers own products. It will not sell sex toys. The company has spent about 1.2m and two years on the project, claiming it will be Britains first lingerie-specific retailer that appeals to a broader range of women, adding maternity and menstrual care products to its roster as well as underwear in the hopes of reaching a broader audience. Ms Hollins said stringent new rules on advertising adult products enacted by social media and search companies had stymied Ann Summers existing online business, making it necessary to find new ways to reach customers. She also called on ministers to close a tax loophole used by the Chinese fast-fashion brand Shein and other low-cost retailers, which sidestep hefty customs bills by shipping individual parcels directly to customers from overseas. Politicians of many stripes have been wooing Shein to list in London ahead of the election, as they seek to restore excitement to public markets which are suffering from an exodus of companies and worries over poor liquidity and low valuations. That loophole in duty needs to be cut, said Ms Hollins. The ironic thing is that the Government is losing revenue, because theyre not picking up the duty that those retailers would have to pay. Its not really a fair and competitive landscape. Founded in the early 1970s, Ann Summers began as a single adult shop but has grown over its 50-year history into a nationwide chain with 86 stores and around 1,200 employees across the UK. While present on many high streets across the country, it also became famous for its Ann Summers parties, in which members of the public were enlisted as party planners to host gatherings for friends similar to the tupperware parties of days gone by. Party hosts show off products and take a commission from sales. The brand is widely credited with challenging taboos around sex in mainstream culture as a result. Its success propelled the late Ms Gold into the ranks of Britains most-admired business people. Jacqueline Gold's became one of the richest women in Britain following the success of Ann Summers - PA Images / Alamy Back in the day, it was seen as very taboo, said Ms Hollins. Now people can buy sex toys in supermarkets, and Gen Z are far more open about this than my generation. Ms Hollins comments come after a period spent revamping the retailer and its products. In 2019, sales fell by 16m and the company racked up losses of 14m. There were things that we needed to change. I think the product slightly lost its way and had become a bit too everyday, she said. Being brutally honest, you go [to Ann Summers] because you want something sexy. The everyday product wasnt really selling. It has also focused recent efforts on appealing to shoppers seeking out sexual wellness, stocking products that are much softer and less intimidating alongside more traditional erotic garments and toys. Its parties, too, have been re-christened to meet changing attitudes: that wing of its business is now called Connect, while party planners have been renamed as consultants. The company posted a 4.5pc rise in turnover to 105m in 2023, while pre-tax losses came in at just under 4m, narrowing significantly from the prior year. Ms Hollins admitted it had been a tough few years for retail, but said those retailers that have avoided collapse were now poised to benefit from shoppers returning to bricks-and-mortar retail. I think it has sorted the wheat from the chaff, she said, adding that, while economic conditions in the wake of the pandemic had been challenging, lockdowns had provided a surprise boost for the company when selling its products online. I think people were experimenting more, given the fact that toy sales were very, very strong. People were at home more and had to find alternative ways to entertain themselves. Despite the personal nature of the goods sold by Ann Summers, she said shoppers were still keen to visit the stores in person despite being able to order online and that the company is committed to its bricks-and-mortar presence. It was quite a surprise to me, because my view is if you want to buy a sex toy, you probably want to do it in the privacy of your own home, says Ms Hollins. But actually, our stores are really, really important. And if youre new to that kind of purchase, you dont really know what youre doing. 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. Video above from April 2, 2024: Migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can sue charter flight company TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Another former Florida Department of Law Enforcement employee has sued the department and Gov. Ron DeSantis after she claims she was fired for protected whistleblower activities. The lawsuit claims Patricia Carpenter was fired in retaliation for reporting unlawful, improper and illegal practices by DeSantis and the FDLE. Carpenter began working with the FDLE in June 2023 and was a Deputy Chief of Staff when she was fired on Dec. 1, 2023, according to the lawsuit. Carpenter was treated differently after reporting the alleged misconduct. Carpenter filed a written whistleblower complaint on Nov. 28, 2023 after a meeting regarding DeSantiss travel records with several other people, including FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass and former FDLE Chief of Staff Shane Desguin. In that meeting, Janie Robinson pushed for the records to be released. DeSantis staff blocked records, retaliated against those who wanted to release them, ex-FDLE officers say Robinson, who participated in drafting the statute along with Desguin, opposed this, stating that [DeSantiss] interpretation was not the laws intent and was not legally permissible, according to the lawsuit. Desguin has also filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation, claiming that he was told to either retire or be fired after he refused to comply with unlawful orders from DeSantis to arrest demonstrators without probable cause and illegally obtain photographs of migrants. Robinson informed DeSantiss team that media outlets were already told which records would be released, to which his team responded, let them sue, according to the lawsuit. About 24 hours after the meeting, DeSantis Chief of Staff Anastasios Kamoutsas told Desguin that Robinsons promotion request was denied. Kamoutsas reportedly said it was denied because Robinson was not on our team, the lawsuit states. Desguin asked about giving Robinson another position. No, she is lucky she even has a f-ing job, Kamoutsas said, according to the lawsuit. The FDLE on Nov. 30, 2023, forwarded a fraudulent complaint against Desguin and Carpenter by another FDLE employee. The employee, who was denied whistleblower status, said the two reported false information to the FDLE, according to the lawsuit. One day later, Carpenter was fired. Carpenter and Desguin immediately filed whistleblower complaints with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. That same day, another FDLE employee suspiciously submitted a complaint about a hostile work environment created by Carpenter and Desguin. In retaliation for her participation in whistleblowing activities, [DeSantis and the FDLE] have specifically but not limited to fabricated and issued a 129-page investigative report that is filled with lies, inconsistencies, and untruths, the lawsuit reads. After more allegations against Carpenter and Desguin, the matter was referred to the State Attorney for potential criminal prosecution, which was declined, according to the suit. Carpenter is accusing both the FDLE and DeSantis of public whistleblower retaliation. 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 after Desguins lawsuit was filed last week, declining to comment on pending litigation. This included sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, and brandishing a firearm inside an 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 WFLA. NEW YORK Even after 18 years in the Senate and an ethics investigation into his finances, Bob Menendez couldn't seem to figure out his chamber's disclosure forms, defense attorneys in his bribery trial suggested Thursday. They also suggested his age played a role in how he filled out forms where he didnt initially disclose what prosecutors say were bribes. While the senator did eventually disclose gold bars, prosecutors used testimony Thursday from the Senate Ethics Committees general counsel and staff director to show that he did not disclose other money and the car they say he or his wife received as bribes before FBI agents searched his house in summer 2022. Federal prosecutors allege several New Jersey businesspeople bribed Menendez and his wife with cash, gold bars and a luxury car. Menendez has tried to separate himself from the bribery allegations throughout the trial, claiming his wife, who is standing trial separately, made deals without his knowledge. Elements of this strategy came in response to Thursday testimony from Shannon Kopplin, the ethics committees lawyer, about her interactions with Menendez in February 2022 as he sought to amend his 2020 financial disclosures to include gold bars he said were his wife Nadines. The FBI searched the Menendez home in 2022, finding gold bars and nearly a half million dollars in cash, some of it stuffed in jackets and boots. Menendez has said hes taken out cash from banks for years because of his family ties to communist Cuba and that the gold bars were Nadines. On Thursday, Menendez defense attorney Avi Weitzman suggested the senator may not have known about the gold bars. But Weitzman also asked questions that suggested Menendez may not have read the Senates ethics manual or the instructions about how to file financial disclosures. Weitzman also suggested a staffer filed the disclosures, not the senator a way to distance Menendez from the forms filed in his name. The public, including the media, count on senators to disclose their financial interests on the annual forms, which the Senate Ethics Committee accepts based largely on the honor system. While the suggestions were aimed at sowing doubt about what prosecutors can prove to jurors beyond a reasonable doubt, they could backfire outside the courtroom: Claiming ignorance of his ethical obligations and throwing a staffer under the bus is another example of how what Menendez may want the jury to think can clash with his larger political interests and reputation. Menendez, a Democrat, is in a long-shot bid for a fourth term as an independent. For example, earlier this month, when prosecutors showed photos and video of Menendez at a table with an Egyptian official during a stake out of a steakhouse, the senators attorneys portrayed the meeting as an innocent one at Menendezs regular spot not a shady meeting of criminal co-conspirators. Adam Fee, another of Menendezs attorneys, told the judge overseeing the case that when the senator is in D.C., he probably eats at that same restaurant at that same table 250 nights a year. On Thursday, Weitzman suggested the ethics manual was voluminous and the financial disclosure instructions too complicated to understand. This isnt simple stuff, right? he asked Kopplin. Koppin said the disclosure forms were easier to fill out than taxes. Weitzman also suggested some senators were old. Menendez is 70. Do you know how old Chuck Grassley is? Weitzman asked, referring to the 90-year-old senator. If anything, though, Menendez should be more familiar with the rules than most senators. In 2018, the ethics committee formally admonished Menendez over his relationship with a close friend and donor, Dr. Salomon Melgen. They were prosecuted together in a 2017 corruption trial that ended in a mistrial and prosecutors later dropped the charges. But after it was over, the ethics committee declared Menendez knowingly and repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value from Dr. Melgen without obtaining required Committee approval, and that you failed to publicly disclose certain gifts as required by Senate Rule and federal law. Additionally, while accepting these gifts, you used your position as a Member of the Senate to advance Dr. Melgens personal and business interests. As the prosecutors prepare to rest their case and Menendez and two co-defendants start their defense, the two sides are in heated arguments over what defense witnesses can be called and what defense evidence can be shown to jurors. Menendezs legal team wants to call Nadines sister to testify about Nadines abusive ex-boyfriend, including fights they got into, and alleged stalking and vandalism, according to a filing by prosecutors trying to bar some of the testimony. Menendezs attorneys want to argue that Menendez broke up with Nadine during part of the time prosecutors allege they conspired to sell his office. They also want to explain why Menendez appeared to be keeping close tabs on Nadines location using iPhones location tracking features, something prosecutors have used to suggest he was aware of what she was up to, which would refute part of the defenses claim that they lived separate lives. As part of that defense, Menendezs attorneys want to show that she was badly assaulted by the ex-boyfriend and wanted the senator to know where she was as a safety measure. U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Stein seems prepared to allow jurors to hear some versions of those events, but does not want the trial to become a soap opera. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the former deputy head of the President's Office, was searched on 27 June in connection with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau's leak. In late May, a high-profile corruption investigation revealed that top employees of the agency were leaking information to suspects and warning them about upcoming searches. The alleged leaks were uncovered when investigators seized a phone belonging to businessman Yury Holyk, who was under investigation at the time. The phone contained copies of messages Holyk had obtained from an intermediary who purportedly communicated with NABU employees from 2021 through 2023. The leaked correspondence, published by high-profile investigative journalists, involves several individuals connected to the Presidents Office. Gizo Uglava, NABU's first deputy head, is at the heart of the high-profile accusations is Gizo Uglava. He has served as the agencys second-in-command for over nine years. Uglava is currently under investigation in the leak case and has been suspended at his own request. The investigation of the leak is ongoing, and the bureau hasnt given any public explanation, or fired anyone. Tymoshenko later said via his Telegram channel that he had been searched and noted that law enforcement authorities had no complaints against him. "I confirm that I was searched in connection with a matter in which I had no involvement. I have fulfilled all the requirements of law enforcement, and there are no claims against me personally." President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Kyrylo Tymoshenko in early 2023. Tymoshenko was among the most influential officials in the country and the unofficial head of regional policy in Zelensky's office. Read also: Ukraines anti-corruption bureau under fire over its handling of leak scandal Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Broward NAACP and Public Defenders Office strongly urged Friday that a Fort Lauderdale police officer be fired after a police investigation determined he spewed racial slurs and instigated a fight with group of Black men outside a club following a night of drinking. Last month, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief William Schultz and a civilian review board recommended Officer John Giga be fired after a months-long Internal Affairs investigation. The decision is before acting City Manager Susan Grant, who is reviewing the findings and following the disciplinary appeal process for Giga, her office said. Giga has been a Fort Lauderdale police officer since 2008. The NAACP is not anti-police, said Broward NAACP President Marsha Ellison at a press conference in the Public Defenders Office at the Broward County Courthouse. We are anti-racist police. We are anti-police that do anything other than treating people rightly and justly. We dont understand, quite frankly, how this man is still in uniformClearly, he doesnt deserve it. He should not be an officer in this community, added Broward Public Defender Gordon Weekes. There are a number of really talented, dedicated officers that are doing good work in this community, and they are tarnished by...the racial and aggressive nature in which [Giga] is policing our community. In a 385-page case file, Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigation Division detectives uncovered Giga violated several department policies, including unbecoming conduct and neglect of duty. Gigas attorney, Eugene Gibbons, did not respond Friday to a call from the Miami Herald. Fort Lauderdale police union representatives also did not respond to the Heralds query. READ MORE: Ft. Lauderdale brass recommends firing of an officer who spewed racist slurs: sources According to the Internal Affairs investigative report, which the Herald has reviewed, the saga began in the early morning hours of Nov. 24, the Friday after Thanksgiving. Giga, who was off duty, was seen on video drinking at least five alcoholic beverages and then driving around Fort Lauderdale in his police car. At the same time, he was barraging a friend with text messages. He later showed up at her job, Capones Nightclub, 310 SW Second St. in Fort Lauderdale, forcing her to hide from him as he searched for her, the documents revealed. Unable to find her, he walked into the clubs parking lot and almost immediately started an argument with a nearby group of Black men, witnesses told detectives. He was overheard using the N-word at least three times before the group got in their cars and drove away, documents read. Giga followed one car, punching its driver-side window, although he didnt break the glass. The driver got out, prompting Giga to approach him and take a fighting stance, documents read. The driver punched him in the face. A passenger in that car and a driver in another car trailing them joined in and pummeled Giga for about 20 seconds. The racist part of it is extremely troubling, said Ellison, who called for his immediate dismissal. They have some very good officers in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, Officer Giga is not one of those people. Inconsistent stories and improper investigating? Throughout the investigation, Giga contended he was breaking up a fight outside the club and was attacked by an unknown person. Detectives said witnesses statements and surveillance video did not corroborate that version of events. He also made several inconsistent statements regarding what he was doing while on-duty that day, the condition of his patrol car and that he did not drink any alcohol when he got off work, documents read. Other Fort Lauderdale police officers potentially broke department policies, the report said. Two police officers turned off their body-worn cameras when they should have been capturing the investigation; a sergeant attempted to order an officer to turn off her body-worn camera, even though she was told to keep it on; and a major directed a lieutenant to officially report that Giga was breaking up a fight and on duty, although neither spoke to witnesses nor Giga. Weekes, who reviewed the report, said it seemed police were giving Giga leeway that others would not receive if they were accused of assault. When you have a law enforcement officer that is being looked at for possible wrongdoing...they give great deference, great patience and make sure that they protect that officer with every opportunity they can, he said. Dozens of cases could be reopened Since joining the force in 2008, Giga has been involved in possibly hundreds of cases as a witness or arresting officer. Former Circuit Court Judge Ilona Holmes, now the Broward NAACPs general counsel, said his alleged actions will call into question every case he was involved in. A prosecutor and judge for more than 40 years, she said there is enough justification to review any case Giga has touched. Every defense attorney in Broward County is going to ask for information...in any case that he is a witness, said Holmes at the news conference. Bad policing can be one bad apple, and it can spoil the whole bunch. Weekes said the Public Defenders Office has six open cases involving Giga and has several more that were closed that will be reviewed. Were going to do an in-depth, comprehensive review of his conduct in those cases and how this newly discovered information and newly discovered evidence will impact how those cases were resolved, he said. History of disciplinary action Since his hiring, Giga has received five letters of reprimand and four suspensions for policy violations of various degrees. Here are a few: In June 2022, Fort Lauderdale polices Instagram account was flooded with complaints. Users sent a video of a uniformed officer touching the butt of a woman outside of SWAY Nightclub that officer was Giga. He received a letter of reprimand and had his patrol car privileges revoked. In December 2019, he was suspended for three days after he overslept and missed required police training. In 2019, he was given a letter of reprimand for using law enforcement databases to search for his ex-girlfriends personal information twice. Giga was suspended twice for speeding in his patrol car in June 2019 and February 2018. In March 2012, Giga was given a letter of reprimand for not properly investigating a claim of marijuana inside an apartment where children were present. On the same day, he allegedly used excessive force on a city garbage disposal worker, which led to a lawsuit that was settled. A performer spits fire during the Mermaid Parade in the Coney Island section of the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) June 21-27, 2024 Police fired shots at demonstrators protesting over proposed tax hikes in Kenya. Lithuanians and Ukrainians wearing traditional and local styles celebrated the summer solstice. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his homeland in Australia after pleading guilty to obtaining classified U.S. documents, and the haute couture fall-winter collection was presented in Paris. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images published in the past week by The Associated Press. The selection was curated by AP photo editor Eloy Martin in Madrid. ____ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Appleton man in critical condition after crashing into stopped semi in western Wisconsin RICE LAKE, Wis. (WFRV) A man from Appleton was flown to a hospital and is in critical condition after crashing into the back of a stopped semi on the side of HWY 53 in western Wisconsin. Just after 8 p.m. on June 27, deputies with the Barron County Sheriffs Department responded to a crash on HWY 53 just north of Rice Lake, according to a release. One dead, two hospitalized after two-vehicle Brown County crash on STH 57 An initial investigation showed that a car, driven by a 37-year-old man from Appleton, was heading south when he reportedly crossed the white fog line and rumble strips, hitting the back of a semi. Deputies say the semi was stopped on the side of HWY 53 at the time of the crash. The driver of the car was flown to an area hospital and is reported to be in critical condition. The driver of the semi, a 23-year-old Georgia man, was not injured. Fire causes $50,000 in damages to Appleton apartment, cause undetermined The crash remains under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Barron County Sheriffs Department. 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. Arizona man caught in Stanislaus trying to traffic minor pleads guilty in federal court An Arizona man that was arrested in Turlock as part of a human trafficking sting pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday, the U.S. Justice Department announced. Robert Frenchie McGriff, 44, communicated with who he thought was an underage girl on Instagram to lure her into a life of prostitution. The account was set up to appear to be owned by a 17-year-old named Trish, but it was actually an undercover detective with the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office. The fake account purported to show prostitution-related activity, according to an affidavit. Starting in March 2019, detectives spent months communicating with McGriff, who told the supposed girl he was a pimp and wanted to recruit her, the Modesto Bee previously reported. Ill be the only daddy youll ever need, McGriff says at one point, according to investigators. The case was eventually handed over to the Department of Homeland Securitys office in Stockton. Federal agents tracked McGriffs phone as he traveled by bus from Phoenix, Arizona, to Turlock in order to meet the supposed girl. He was arrested in June 2019 shortly after arriving at a Turlock Greyhound station, as he walked towards a nearby motel to meet the supposed girl. McGriff faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in federal prison plus a $250,000 fine. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, created in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Resolution Copper East Plant. Photo via Facebook The Arizona Supreme Court sided with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Resolution Copper to allow the discharge of treated wastewater from potential future mining operations into Queen Creek. The June 27 ruling removes another roadblock to a controversial mining project that would leave a massive crater at the site of Oak Flat, an area east of the town of Superior near iconic Arizona natural features Apache Leap and Picketpost Mountain. The decision represents another small victory for the international mining conglomeration behind Resolution, but the San Carlos Apache Tribe and a number of environmental groups still have challenges pending in the courts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The wastewater permit has been in place for decades and was renewed by the ADEQ in 2017, but the San Carlos Apache Tribe sought to have it revisited, citing section 303 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) intended to restore and protect our Nations waters. The initial permit was issued by the Environment Protection Agency in 1975 and renewed every five to eight years through 2002, when the EPA delegated permitting authority to ADEQ. The tribe challenged 2017 the renewal through the Arizona Water Quality Appeals Board, claiming that construction since 2008 created a new source of wastewater that required additional analysis to satisfy the CWA. After the appeals board sided with Resolution and ADEQ, the tribe requested a hearing from an administrative law judge. After a weeklong hearing, the administrative judge found that ADEQ did not act arbitrarily and capriciously, but should have done additional analysis as to whether recent construction constituted a new source of wastewater or an existing source. The issue was remanded to ADEQ in order for the regulator to analyze whether Shaft 10 completed in 2014 and the ADEQ confirmed its earlier findings that the shaft and other recent construction was an existing source. The tribe appealed the decision to the superior court, which found in favor of ADEQ. But after the appellate court ruled in favor of the tribe, ADEQ and Resolution appealed to the Supreme Court. Thursdays decision from the high court ends the discussion over the permit. Historical context Mining has been taking place on the site since 1912, when the Magma Copper Company began operations around Superior. Magma built eight mining shafts at the original site and, in the 1970s, built Shaft 9 to ease access to the Magma ore body that lay beneath the region. Shaft 9 was also intended to facilitate further exploratory work on the East Plant Site, and a tunnel dubbed the Never Sweat Tunnel was built to connect the east plant to the West Plant Site and transport ore to the processing facilities there. Throughout the history of the mine, owners extracted from the Magma ore body, but there were also periods of neglect for the facilities until the mid-1990s. It was then that previous owner Broken Hill Proprietary Company, Ltd. (BHP) discovered the Resolution ore body, one of the largest remaining copper reserves on the planet. BHP, however, ceased mining at the site in 1996 after depleting mineable material out of the Magma ore body, citing the cost of maintaining the site and falling copper prices. Additionally, there was insufficient infrastructure to determine the size of the ore body or extract the copper that lay below. The mine eventually filled with water In 2004, Resolution Copper took over operations. Resolution Copper is a partnership between Rio Tinto, a multi-national mining corporation headquartered in London it is the third largest mining company in the world and BHP Billiton, a successor to BHP. Resolution began construction of additional facilities in 2008, including a cooling tower, rock stockpiles, wash bays, a mine water treatment plant and Shaft 10. The 30-foot diameter shaft, which extends 6,943 feet below ground surface, is about 300 feet from Shaft 9, which plunges to a depth of 4,882 feet. The company estimates the cost of construction to be about $500 million. Resolution intends to build new facilities and utilize Shaft 10 to access the Resolution ore body with a technique known as panel caving, which would eventually collapse Oak Flat and leave a crater more than one mile wide and 1,100 feet deep. The crater would come within 1,000 feet of Apache Leap in an area famous for its rock climbing and natural beauty. The site is also considered sacred by the San Carlos Apache and other Indigenous people. Resolution claims the project would ultimately employ somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,400 people, inject $20 billion into Arizonas economy and supply the United States with one-quarter of its copper for the next 40-60 years. Water Should mining get underway, Resolution Copper is expected to use 16,000 to 20,000 acre-feet of water per year. As a comparison, the City of Mesa, with a population of about 500,000, uses approximately 91,536 acre-feet per year. One acre-foot of water equals 325,851 gallons, or the amount of water needed to cover an acre of land a foot deep. On average in Arizona, one acre-foot of water is enough for 3.5 homes for a full year. The Arizona Court of Appeals reversed the trial courts decision, arguing that Shaft 10 is a new source and Resolutions mining site is subject to [new source performance standards] under 40 C.F.R. 440.104(a). But the Supreme Court decided the additional construction was not a new source of wastewater and thus did not require additional regulation or planning. According to Resolutions General Plan of Operations, after water is treated on site it will likely be used for mining operations such as ore processing, dust suppression, equipment washing, drinking water, cooling or fire protection. Any excess water would be used for irrigation through a contract with the New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District, located 30 miles southwest of the mine. If the irrigation district does not have capacity, Resolution is authorized to pipe the treated water into a tributary that flows into Queen Creek. At this point, Resolution has not utilized Queen Creek for excess treated water and intends to continue giving it to the irrigation district. ***CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that Resolution Copper would sell treated water to Queen Creek; however, Resolution will instead be giving it to Queen Creek. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Searcy County Election Commission Chairwoman Laura Gross (left) and County Clerk Jeff Cotton hear questions about the county's ballot-counting process from the Legislature's Joint Performance Review Committee on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Screenshot/Arkansas Legislature) Arkansas state and county officials disagreed Thursday on the integrity and security of using voting machines or hand-counted paper ballots in elections. The State Board of Election Commissioners found several discrepancies that could not be reconciled in the vote tallies from Searcy County, a rural North Central Arkansas county that hand-counts ballots. The discrepancies were found during an audit after the March primary elections, board director Chris Madison wrote in a memo to state lawmakers. The Legislatures Joint Performance Review Committee met Thursday to discuss SBECs audits of elections in Searcy and Saline counties. Searcy County officials told the committee they had learned from the issues with counting votes in March. By contrast, Saline County officials said hand-counting ballots during elections is both more expensive and less accurate than using machines to count votes. The Searcy County Quorum Court voted in late 2023 to hand-count ballots, though voting machines are still available for voters with certain disabilities or for anyone who wants to use them, said county election commission Chairwoman Laura Gross and County Clerk Jeff Cotton. Gross said fewer than 10 Searcy County voters chose to use voting machines in November when presented with the option of using paper ballots instead. jpr 6.27.24 Thirty people counted roughly 1,700 ballots the day after the March 5 primary, and counting took up the entire day, Madison wrote in the SBEC memo. The ballot-counting team scanned each ballot through voting machines but sent the hand-counted data, not the data tallied by the machines, to the Secretary of States office to certify the election results. Auditors found discrepancies between the numbers of ballots counted by hand and those tabulated by the voting machines, Madison wrote. Gross admitted that the hand-counting process was imperfect. It was a learning curve because we had never done it before, and we didnt have any direction about how to do it. But our goal was to have a transparent, secure, quality election to the best of our ability under the circumstances, she said. The process included marking votes on tally sheets and adding them up, but the state audit found that some votes werent carried over in the hand count, Gross said. We were very disturbed by that because we want every vote to count, she said. Gross said the Searcy County Election Commission will improve its procedures in order to avoid future discrepancies, and she repeatedly advocated for the continued use of hand counts rather than voting machines, which she called a $4,000 electronic pen. If I take my pen, which costs 99 cents, and put my votes on the piece of paper, two things have happened: Ive saved a whole lot of money and Ive also made sure I dont have a machine, some of which have computers in them, between my choices and whats written on the paper, she said. Gross said she believed theres a very small percentage of people who will cheat if they can, whatever theyre using and said computers in voting machines could be hacked and manipulated. This is not true, said Jon Davidson, SBECs educational services manager, who was on the committee that chose the type of voting machines Arkansas counties use. I have 100% faith that these machines cannot be hacked, Davidson said. Theres no way to hack them, there are no modems connected to them, theres no way you can get into the software to hack them. Saline County Judge Matt Brumley and County Clerk Doug Curtis both said they have not seen evidence of fraud or misconduct in machine-counted elections. If I knew anything that someone was cheating, I would go to the prosecuting attorneys office so fast it would make your head spin, said Curtis, a former Saline County Quorum Court member. Ive heard so much about people cheating in elections, and I havent seen it. The system that weve got in place, electronic voting, thats where its at. The Donald Trump-connected Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative has been engaged in ongoing efforts to convince counties statewide to trade voting machines for paper ballots. Cleburne County agreed to do so in January 2023 but later reversed the decision. In April, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a lower courts dismissal of a lawsuit filed by AVII and its CEO, Conrad Reynolds, that argued voting machines do not comply with state law. Logistically impossible Searcy County was one of 15 counties SBEC randomly selected to audit from three pools of counties based on population. Madison wrote in his memo to lawmakers that Searcy County officials and ballot counters were dedicated and demonstrated a high degree of effort, and it was clear that they took the responsibility seriously to perform their hand count. However, even though county procedures were methodical and consistent, the counting teams drew conclusions about ballots with unclear voter intent when they should have left that to the election commission, Madison wrote. Ballots with unclear voter intent are marked in a way that makes it difficult to tell for whom votes are being cast. These voter intent ballots were not kept separately but were included in the precinct batches and totals, Madison wrote. Additionally, some ballots from one precinct were included in a pile with ballots from another precinct, and other ballots were printed on the incorrect type of paper and would not scan through the voting machine, he wrote. Gross said using paper ballots will save Searcy County thousands of dollars in the long term since it would not have to replace its voting machines when they no longer work. L.C. Ratchford, a member of the county election commission, said the voting machines already dont always work well and are expensive to transport throughout the county. The Secretary of States office maintains a contract to fix election equipment so counties do not have to foot the bill, said Leslie Bellamy, the offices director of elections. She estimated that the current voting machines will not need updates for at least 10 years. I have 100% faith that these machines cannot be hacked. Theres no way to hack them, there are no modems connected to them, theres no way you can get into the software to hack them. Jon Davidson, State Board of Election Commissioners educational services manager Act 350 of 2023 requires counties that switch to paper ballots to pay the associated costs themselves. Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, who sponsored Act 350, represents part of Saline County and is co-chair of the Joint Performance Review Committee. Trading voting machines for hand-counted ballots in Saline County would be the epitome of disenfranchising voters, Curtis said, because it would be too time-consuming, too costly and logistically impossible. The population of Searcy County is roughly 7,800, according to the U.S. Census, while Saline County has more than 123,000 people. Saline County would have to stop allowing voters to vote early if all the ballots had to be counted by hand, Curtis said. In response to a question from Hammer, Brumley said the necessary budget for hand-counting ballots would vary depending on the election but could exceed $750 million more than what elections currently cost the county. Hammer said after the committee meeting that theres a portion of people on either side [of the debate] that have their minds 100% made up. Personally, I have no concerns about the current election process and the use of the equipment that we have, he said. Ive been in politics since 2010 and Ive never felt like Ive been cheated out of anything. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Members of a clean-up crew remove belongings that have been left behind by occupants as the National Park Service clears the homeless encampment at McPherson Square on Feb. 15, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said that when cities force unhoused people to move out of encampments, theyre putting their health at risk. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Arkansas advocates for the homeless reacted with alarm Friday to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling empowering local governments to stop the homeless from sleeping outdoors. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) A Friday decision from the U.S. Supreme Court allowing local governments to prohibit people experiencing homelessness from sleeping outside sparked fear in one homelessness-assistance leader in Central Arkansas. I feel a lot of things: Fear, outrage, shame, anger, said Aaron Reddin, founder of The Van. Mostly fear. I dont trust our governments locally, and Im just afraid of them having more sway in what they can and cant go out and do to these folks. The Supreme Courts 6-3 decision split on ideological lines with conservative members arguing that homelessness is a complex issue that should be left up to local authority. Liberal members opposed the Oregon citys ordinance, and said it criminalized being homeless by including fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. People debate it, but I am 100% a housing first guy, Reddin said. I cannot help people when I cant find them. Its hard to serve those folks because you spend tremendous amounts of time looking for folks. It takes a huge commitment and it takes a political will, the likes of which we have not ever seen from neither city, nor our state government. The Van offers several services to people experiencing homelessness in Central Arkansas, including regular supply drops and meal distribution. Reddin also employs one person full time at a farm in North Little Rock where crops are grown for sale to local restaurants and small groups. The latest Point-in-Time Count, a nationwide tally that counts people experiencing homelessness on a single night, reported Arkansas had 2,609 people experiencing homelessness of some form in 2023. About 30% of those, 773 people, were reported in Central Arkansas. More than half of those counted in Central Arkansas were reported unsheltered. When I sit here and think through people, Im trying to think of one single person I know of that wouldnt take an opportunity to get rehoused, if there was a realistic option, opportunity, in front of them, Reddin said. I cant think of anyone that wouldnt take it. Little Rock currently prohibits camping on public property, though unsheltered residents are not arrested if they violate the ordinance, city spokesperson Aaron Sadler said. In fact, when we respond to complaints about encampments, our homelessness engagement specialists spend a substantial amount of time ensuring unsheltered residents have access to the resources they need in the days and even weeks leading up to removal of an encampment, Sadler said. These specialists work closely with [the police departments] crisis response teams to make sure all residents are treated fairly and offered assistance. Reddin disagrees with the citys policy to remove encampments, he said. Theres a lot to [a housing solution], Reddin said. Every case is just so different, and I just dont see any super programmatic or formula-based idea thats going to take it on. We just have to build the political will and communal desire to care for one another until no one else has to sleep outside around here. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The tiny home concept Like many municipalities across the country, the city of Little Rock and the Pulaski County government are both planning compounds of tiny homes to house the unsheltered. The projects are independent from one another, and they have different housing goals. While the one slated for Roosevelt Road in Little Rock is expected to house people for a relatively short period of time, the village planned near the border of Pulaski and Saline counties would make for a more permanent house solution, with a rent attached. Little Rocks $3 million Micro Home Village marks a step toward Mayor Frank Scott Jr.s goal of a functional zero, which means being unsheltered would be rare and brief, according to the city. Officials broke ground for the citys project last summer. Once completed, the compound will be large enough to house 206 people through 50 single units, 22 units for families of four and eight units for families of six. An additional 20 emergency shelter beds will also be available. Communal areas will include a commercial kitchen, dining hall, classrooms, offices, a health clinic and a laundry room. The Pulaski County project is similar, though on a larger scale and with a focus to house the chronically homeless, or people who have been unsheltered for at least 12 months. Officials broke ground on the Providence Park project in May, and the first of 400 tenants are expected to move in next year. The countys 50-acre project will include the same communal areas as those in the Little Rock project, along with a bus stop and market. People interested in living at the village will be required to apply and interview with management staff. Referrals from existing homelessness organizations are also welcome but not required. Potential applicants would need to fit within the housing qualifications, mainly that theyve been homeless for at least one year. Providence Park will be a game changer for those who will be able to obtain it, Reddin said. Getting folks to that point is the hardest part. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Existing shelters The Compassion Center, a faith-based organization founded more than two decades ago, is one of a few options available for people who need a place to sleep in Little Rock. Co-founder Rev. William Holloway said he was unsure of the impact the Supreme Court ruling would have on the Compassion Center, as hes seen bans in other states that didnt have much of an effect. Ive been in other places [in the U.S.] where they pass laws and say people cant do this, or they cant do that, but it really doesnt stop them from doing that, Holloway said. I dont think its going to stop them here, either. People are people, and some people are just shelter resistant no matter how much you try to work with them. The Compassion Center, which operates on Roosevelt Road near where the city is planning its Micro Home Village, has about 300 beds. Nearly 100 of those are available most of the time, Holloway said. The beds are first come, first served. Anyone can request a bed and a meal, Holloway said. Showers and clothing are also available. Stays are typically capped at 30 days, though people can work on a program to stay up to four months. When asked, Holloway said he wasnt sure what kind of message the Supreme Court decision could send to local governments. He said he sees both sides of the issue at hand. In Fayetteville, the nonprofit New Beginnings Northwest Arkansas helps provide resources to the homeless population through temporary housing, securing identification documents and finding employment. This ruling empowers those who prefer the pointless and expensive strategy to criminalize homelessness instead of working toward humane housing and service solutions, the organization posted on social media Friday. We will continue to serve and support people who need housing while advocating for humane, permanent solutions to end homelessness in our society. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX What new Arkansas laws go into effect on July 1? LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) When the clock strikes midnight on July 1, a handful of new laws will take effect in Arkansas. The laws below range from cyber response, body art and the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act. The Arkansas Department of Finance and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State are set to receive a billing certification from the Arkansas Cyber Response Board on or after July 1. This will begin the process of the insurance program and funds will be deposited into the Arkansas Self-Funded Cyber Response Program Trust Fund. Act 846 said the states government agencies are being increasingly attacked from malicious actors resulting in substantial risks, damages, and losses and an overwhelming cost of cybersecurity insurance comes with those threats. The best places to buy a home in Arkansas, study finds The law said any city, county, or school district can opt-in and add money to a trust fund, where the funds will be used to form the Arkansas Self-Funded Cyber Response Program. The program is in lieu of, or in addition to, various cybersecurity insurance policies and to thereby effectuate substantial savings in the cost of a response to a cyberattack for those participating governmental entities, the law said. The law said all municipalities, school districts and counties in the state can participate in the program. The program will cover losses including repairing software and hardware damage done by the cyberattack. Click here to read the bill in full. Act 688 says any body art instructors who are training student artists now have to complete a course in sanitation guidelines and safety, be 21 years of age and complete 250 instructional hours from a state-approved instructor program if the artist instructor is a permanent cosmetics artist instructor. Permanent cosmetics is defined in the law as the application of pigment placed in the skin by a needle and includes examples such as permanent makeup, pigment lightening, scar camouflaging and scalp micropigmentation. Four Arkansas-based companies ranked in new Fortune 500 The law differentiates a permanent cosmetic artist from a tattoo artist. Act 688 also raises the limit of getting permanent cosmetic procedures from 13 to 18. It says anyone under 18 can get a procedure if it is a medical necessity and medical and parental consent are given. This law says it will amend the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act. The law says the 15 levels are General Salaries, all of which have minimum, medium and maximum amounts. The previous version set the minimum salary of GS1 (General Salary Level 1) as being paid no less than $22,880. Medium-range salary for GS1 was $27,390 and the maximum salary was $31,900. Under the new law, the salaries for GS1 employees are $32,405, $42,406 and $51,686. Arkansas sues Chinese online retailer Temu, claims site illegally accessing user information The law says all salaries in information technology, medical professional and senior executive roles receive raises. The states entry-level IT job maximum jumps from $48,434 to $53,278 and the entry-level medical professional salary maximum will go up from $43,340 to $53,278. Under the new law, employees wont receive a market adjustment to their salaries by more than 3%. However, the law introduced special compensation awards where agencies can award their employees bonuses based on outstanding performance or completing a major project milestone. The special compensation awards can either be a lump sum of up to $5,000 or up to 40 hours of paid leave. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FORT SMITH, Ark. A Barling man is liable for up to 20 or more years in prison after pleading guilty in Fort Smith on Thursday. Rodney Dewayne Sheffield pleaded guilty in the Western District of Arkansas Court to threatening a federal judge and being a recipient of child pornography. Records show the 44-year-old Sheffield came to the attention of Fort Smith police on April 26 after a 911 caller said Sheffield was on his way to Central Mall in the city to shoot people. North Little Rock felon gets 15-plus years for firearm possession in Little Rock federal court Investigators said Sheffield was stopped shortly after the 911 call by a Fort Smith officer for reckless driving. During the stop, the officer said he saw a rifle on the passenger side floorboard of Sheffields vehicle. Officials said officers separated Sheffield from the weapon and found he was carrying ammunition magazines for the gun. Investigators said they determined Sheffield has a Social Security disability claim and was upset that it had been denied. They said a witness told them Sheffield was on his way to the Social Security office located in the Central Mall to shoot the administrative law judge and an employee of his attorney who was in a nearby office. Kansas man arrested, accused of producing porn using an Arkansas child A witness reportedly told investigators Sheffield said, Ive had enough, I cant take it anymore, as he left for the mall. In the course of the investigation, officers got a search warrant for Sheffields phone and found child pornography images and videos. Investigators said some images had children as young as 5 years old. In the plea agreement, Sheffield acknowledged that the possible sentence for threatening a judge is 10 years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine, and the child pornography charge has a 5-year minimum, 20-year maximum imprisonment with a fine up to $250,000. Jacksonville man sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography Sentencing will be set later, court officials said. Sheffield is currently free on a $150,000 bond with stipulations preventing him from accessing the internet or speaking with anyone under 18 years old. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Forensic evidence led Placer County investigators to identify a man living in Southern California who is accused of killing a 69-year-old woman 40 years ago in Roseville. Richard Raymond Moore, 59, was arrested early Thursday in Los Angeles on suspicion of homicide in the 1984 death of Madeline Garcia, the Placer County District Attorneys Office announced in a news release. Evidence collected at the crime scene suggested Garcia was attacked and dragged into an alley behind the 300 Block of Atlantic Street in Roseville, where she was murdered, according to the District Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said Roseville Police Department detectives pursued all known leads, but the murder investigation turned into a cold case and went without an arrest for four decades. Many of the officers and detectives who initially investigated the murder case have since retired. The District Attorneys Offices Investigations Unit worked on the case, along with the Police Department, for several years to identify a suspect. They combed through available evidence and submitted samples to forensic laboratories for evidentiary testing. The prosecutors said the investigators, using advancements in forensic techniques, identified Moore as the suspect in Garcias death. The District Attorneys Office did not indicate what type of evidence was analyzed and tested that led to them linking the suspect to the crime nor the manner of Garcias death. Placer Superior Court records show prosecutors on Tuesday filed a criminal complaint against Moore with a charge of murder for the Sept. 26, 1984, death. The murder charge has an enhancement that alleges Moore committed the crime during a kidnapping. Also on Tuesday, the court issued a no-bail arrest warrant for Moore. With help from the Los Angeles Police Department, authorities took Moore into custody in Los Angeles where he lives, according to the District Attorneys Office. Authorities will transfer Moore to Placer County, where he will face a homicide charge in Garcias death. On Thursday afternoon, Moore remained in custody at the Los Angeles County Jail. Moore was arrested about 5:30 a.m. Thursday and booked several hours later, jail records show. The Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the coming fiscal year budget at $534 million. Officials said this will allow them to invest nearly $160 million in housing construction projects for new affordable units. The budget, as described as balanced by Atlanta Housing, will support the organizations 2023 to 2027 strategic plan while providing funding for housing support to help an estimated 21,855 households. Atlanta Housings budget will fund the construction of 1,350 affordable housing units, the greatest in any given year in the history of the agency. The budget will also invest in the preservation of 1,114 affordable units, the organization said in an announcement about the budget. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] AH said the new budget will speed up their plans for developing affordable housing in Atlanta, with close to two dozen scheduled closings coming in the budgeted year. The FY 2025 Budget demonstrates Atlanta Housings focus on using housing as a platform to uplift families on their journey to achieving economic and lifestyle independence and helping our seniors age gracefully in place, Terri M. Lee, Atlanta Housing President and Chief Executive Officer said. Our strategies will enable our families to thrive in amenity-rich, vibrant, and inclusive communities in Atlanta. Coupled with the demonstrable real estate closing activities, the FY 2025 budget will position our agency to provide vital services to our residents and program participants and will drive catalytic investments into communities, profoundly enhancing the lives of Atlantas citizens and the vibrancy of its neighborhoods. TRENDING STORIES: The organization also said they were making significant progress on transformational projects including the Civic Center, Englewood and Bowen redevelopments. AH will invest $158.7 million (an increase of more than $46 million from the FY 2024 budget) to advance the construction of 1,350 projected new affordable units, pursue development on former public housing sites and vacant land owned by AH, and preserve up to 1,114 existing affordable units in support of the agencys strategic goal of 10,000 affordable units created and preserved over five years, according to officials. In addition to the investment in construction, AHs new budget will give $284.1 million for housing assistance and public subsidy payments, a $30.9 million increase from the previous years budget. Theyll also be investigating $4.9 million to help 224 Atlantas make down payments to purchase their first homes and overcome barriers and build inter-generational wealth through homeownership. Atlanta Housing has evolved into a more than half a billion dollar organization with the capacity for driving innovation and development that will reshape the city and revitalize our historic legacy communities, Atlanta Housing Board Chair Larry Stewart said. The passing of this budget is a culmination of a strategic and rigorous collaboration between the AH Board of Commissioners, executive leadership, and staff. The invaluable input of the Audit and Finance Committee Chair Duriya Farooqui was particularly pivotal in getting us over the finish line. A full budget breakdown is available online. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The clash over millions of dollars in inheritance between the heirs of a North Carolina textile fortune and a major hospital system has neared an end and awaits court approval of a settlement. Cannon Mills Co. descendants and Atrium Health signed a settlement agreement resolving all claims and counterclaims in the battle over the family trust, an N.C. Business Court joint motion filed Friday shows. The dispute is over who is the rightful heir to the Cannon trust that was left to a county-owned hospital, which through mergers is now Atrium Health. The agreement is subject to Attorney General Josh Steins review and court approval. If Stein has not advised the parties of a position on or before July 8, the parties will file a motion for approval of the settlement, the court filing states. Terms and conditions of the settlement agreement, and the value of the trust, are not specified in court documents. The Observer previously reported about the case that the trust is worth millions of dollars. NCs Cannon textile family, Atrium Health feud over who gets millions in inheritance Atrium Health officials and trustee attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. The prominent Cannon family filed the lawsuit in February, claiming Atrium is not the intended recipient of the trust and does not meet its charitable purposes. Atrium overseen by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority argues its entitled to trust distributions. In April, retired N.C. Business Court Chief Judge Jim Gale was assigned to oversee mediation in the case. Cannon Mills Co. descendants and Atrium Health signed a settlement agreement resolving all claims and counterclaims in the battle over the family trust, an N.C. Business Court joint motion filed Friday shows. Stacks from Fieldcrest Cannon mills rise above Cannon Village in Kannapolis in this 1999 file photo. The Cannon Trust background and fight The defunct Cannon Mills company, based in Kannapolis, was once the worlds largest producer of towels and sheets. The yarn-spinning company was started in 1887 by James Cannon in Concord. When he died in 1921, his son Charles Albert Cannon took over. By then, the company had relocated to what would become Kannapolis and in a few years, was known as Cannon Mills. After several owners and name changes, the company went bankrupt as Pillowtex in 2003 with 7,650 layoffs. That was the largest one-day job loss in the history of North Carolina at the time. In 1965, Charles Cannons wife, Ruth Coltrane Cannon, created a trust for grandson, Charles Albert Cannon III. After his death, she said in her will, the trust would go to county-owned Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. He died in October. Cabarrus Memorial, through a series of mergers over the past decades, became part of Atrium. The hospital is now part of Advocate Health with revenue of more than $27 billion. Story continues In February, Cannon textile mill descendants filed a lawsuit to stop Atrium from receiving trust distributions. Trustees claimed because Cabarrus Memorial doesnt exist, Atrium is not the beneficiary. If the trust could not be paid expressly to the county-owned Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, it was to be distributed to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, the trustees argued in court documents. Atrium, however, objected to the trusts interpretation of the will and threatened legal action if distributions did not begin Feb. 15. In April, Atrium filed a counterclaim to remove the trustees. DENVER (KDVR) A man from Aurora was arrested and accused of stealing money from Marshall Fire victims. The Boulder County Sheriffs Office said a contractor, identified as Leona Scott, 63, is accused of stealing from four property owners who were rebuilding after the Marshall Fire, which destroyed over a thousand homes and killed two people. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather Scott is accused of stealing over $1.3 million from the property owners for unfinished work, according to a release from the sheriffs office. He entered into a separate contract with each of the four families, took their money, but did not use their money as intended. In addition, he was not properly licensed to build homes in Boulder County, the release from BCSO said. Scott is charged with theft, a class 2 felony because the value exceeded $1 million. He was arrested on Thursday and was booked into the Boulder County Jail. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Anyone who has more information or believes they may be a victim of Scott is asked to contact Detective Arehart at 303-441-1416 or karehart-rose@bouldercounty.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 FOX31 Denver. Autism Care Plus, a new pediatric clinic serving Pueblo area children who are on the autism spectrum or experiencing developmental disabilities, is set to open in Pueblo Tuesday. Autism Care Plus staff are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 2 at the clinic, 924 Indiana Ave. The clinic has a team that offers early and intensive intervention to improve outcomes for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. "Our evidence-based, personalized programs focus on enhancing adaptive and social-emotional behaviors, promoting independence, and improving the overall quality of life. Our centers are dedicated to fostering a progressive and nurturing atmosphere, designed to cater to the individual needs of each child for their holistic growth and success," according to the business website. Autism Care Plus is located at 924 Indiana Avenue. The clinic will serve families from the greater Pueblo area by providing comprehensive Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, family support, plus community integration services. The Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy uses positive reinforcement to help children build language and communication skills, improve social interactions and gain important daily living skills. The method is recognized as, "the most effective treatment for children with autism by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," according to a press release. Owner Suddha Mukhopadhyay, a board-certified behavior analyst, said she is excited to have the clinic open in Pueblo. Mukhopadhyay said the therapy helps children "meet their needs related to sensory input through customized and individualized treatment programs. We want to ensure that all children have access to treatment that allows them to strive for their desired quality of life." Autism Care Plus also operates a clinic in Katy, Texas. To find out more, go to autismcareplus.com or call 833-666-2919, extension 2. 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: Autism Care Plus opening children's clinic in Pueblo Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called early parliamentary elections in the South Caucasus republic for September 1, according to a decree published in Baku on Friday. Aliyev was himself re-elected in early presidential elections in February with 92% of the vote. The parliamentary elections, for 125 seats, were due to take place in November, but the country will be holding the UN World Climate Summit (COP29) at that time. The oil and gas-rich country of around 10 million inhabitants is regularly criticized for its human rights record. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has repeatedly criticized the way previous elections have been conducted as neither free nor fair. Azerbaijan is a significant supplier of fossil fuels to the European Union. Rick Becker, right, chair of the assessed-value property tax elimination ballot initiative sponsoring committee, smiles for a group photo with other committee members while unloading boxes of petition signatures to the secretary of state's office at the Capitol in Bismarck on June 28, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota voters are one step closer to deciding a constitutional ballot measure this November that would eliminate assessed-value property taxes. The ballot initiatives sponsoring committee turned in nearly 41,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of States Office for verification on Friday afternoon, more than the 31,164 needed to appear on the general election ballot. The initiatives sponsoring committee chair, Rick Becker, who lost a June Republican primary bid for the states at-large U.S. House seat, said gathering enough signatures was more work than he imagined at the start of the process last June. We anticipate that it would be extraordinarily unlikely for the secretary of state to throw out more signatures than what we have extra, Becker said after turning in seven boxes of petition signatures. Rick Becker, right, chair of the assessed-value property tax elimination ballot initiative sponsoring committee, unloads boxes of petition signatures to the secretary of states office at the Capitol in Bismarck on June 28, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) One petitioner, Steve Moen of Minot, said he thinks many signatories of the petition were excited about the possible changes. Ive collected over 3,000 myself, Moen said. We kept a pretty good eye on who was signing, what was signed and what kind of addresses they had, so I dont think very many of these will get kicked out. The property tax measure prohibits the Legislature and local subdivisions from the levying of any tax on the assessed value of real or personal property, according to the ballot measure petition. Supporters have previously said the measure would not prohibit local subdivisions from levying taxes or fees to homeowners based on parcel square footage, road frontage or building size, among other possible criteria. Last week, a coalition of more than 60 groups called Keep It Local announced the organization will oppose the ballot measure because it would force undue hardships on local governments and threaten funding for emergency services, schools and local senior programs. Keep It Local has a lot of claims and basically its a campaign of fear, Becker said. Its unfounded. Becker said emergency services are not at risk and local budgets would be funded at 2024 levels if the measure passes in November. I think we know as every year goes by stuff costs more money, said Chad Oban, chair of the Keep It Local coalition. I know he says, dont worry, everything will be fine, but we have to base these decisions on reality and what our communities are facing in terms of making sure our schools are strong and our streets are safe. Becker said the measures sponsoring committee plans to transform into an advocacy group to tell voters what the reforms would do and why they are necessary to address what they say has been a lingering issue for property owners for more than a decade. Adam Mathiak, senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Council, said the measure would cost the state about $1.3 billion every fiscal year in lost revenue. Becker said the real dollar amount is likely less than that since the state is already allocating millions to programs that subsidize property taxes, if the resident meets the program criteria. This year, about 138,000 North Dakota households signed up to receive up to $500 off their property tax bill through a new program administered by the Office of the State Tax Commissioner. The Secretary of States Office has 35 days to verify the submitted signatures for the ballot initiative and is expected to announce the results no later than Aug. 2. If the office verifies the necessary signatures, it would join three legislative ballot measures already slated for November. One measure would remove some outdated language about state institutions; another would make some changes to how citizen-initiated measures get on the ballot; and a third would make changes to how Legacy Fund money can be spent. Ballot measure petitions are also being circulated involving recreational marijuana and changing how North Dakota elections are conducted. The signatures for those petitions must be submitted to the Secretary of States Office by midnight July 8 to be considered for the November general election. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Backers of property tax ballot measure submit signatures for verification appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. MELBOURNE, Australia BAE Systems Australia ceremonially cut steel on the first batch of Hunter-class Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia on June 21. The company also signed a production contract with the Commonwealth of Australia on the same day, for the first batch of three vessels. The cutting of the steel, which is to be part of the understructure support for the port propeller shaft brake system, was initiated by South Australian Premier Peter Maklinauskas following the contract signature. The first ship, HMAS Hunter, is due to be completed in 2032 and is expected to be fully operational by 2034. This is a proud moment for us all at BAE Systems Australia, and it comes at a time where the capability of the Hunter has never been so important, commented the companys chief executive officer, Ben Hudson. Hunter will be one of the most technologically-advanced, stealth-capable anti-submarine warfare vessels in the world and its modular mission bay allows it to undertake a wide range of missions. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) had initially planned to buy nine Hunter-class ships, based on the United Kingdoms Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) design, but an Australian government review into the navys surface combat fleet, announced in February, reduced this to just six. Prior to the release of the review, undertaken by former U.S. Navy Vice Adm. William Hilarides, the Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP) had become the subject of criticism from analysts, who pointed out that the 32 Vertical Launch System (VLS) incorporated into the design was an inadequate number in modern naval warfare. In response to these claims, BAE Systems Australia unveiled a Guided Missile Frigate (GMF) variant of the baseline design in September 2023, which would have increased the number of VLS cells from 32 to 96 at the expense of the high-end anti-submarine equipment, including the towed-array sonar, and the ships mission bay. The governments surface combatant review made no mention of the GMF type and instead recommended that the number of Hunter vessels should be reduced from nine to six, augmented by 11 new general-purpose frigates to be bought urgently to replace the Navys eight Anzac-class vessels. Testifying before the Defence Senate Estimates Committee in Canberra on June 5, Chief of Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond said the decision to acquire the 11 smaller ships, cancel an extensive upgrade for the Anzac-class vessels, and reduce the number of Hunter-class ships is at least in part due to the reduced strategic warning time Australia faces. A recognition that flows from that is a requirement to prioritize speed to capability; extending the life of the Anzac -class frigates would just extend the duration of what we have (and that is) the oldest frigate force that weve operated, Hammond said. Replacing the eight Anzac-class ships with 11 general-purpose frigates which will have a small crewing liability, means I dont necessarily need a bigger frigate workforce until the 2040s, when the Hunters are starting to come online in numbers. In terms of prioritizing speed to capability, additional lethality at sea, additional capability to maintain our economic connectivity with the world through sea lane communications, seabed cablets et cetera its all related. Hammond added: With respect to the future fleet, well go from eight general-purpose (Anzac-class) frigates (which), prior to these decisions had very little offensive strike capability beyond the Harpoon missile, to a fleet of 11 general purpose frigates and nine tier-one warships. The latter category is planned to consist of six Hunter-class ASW frigates and three Hobart-class air-warfare Destroyers. Commenting on the reduction in the number of Hunter-class frigates being cut, BAE Systems Australias managing director of its Maritime division, Craig Lockhart, said that the company now has clarity around its future. Six ships is a lot of work and well be building ships at Osborne for decades to come, he said. We are building up the workforce, establishing a skills and knowledge base and uplifting the local supply chain to enable Australia to build and sustain its own complex warships for generations to come. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The entire Bakersfield chapter of the Hells Angels biker gang appeared in court Thursday to face charges including robbery, false imprisonment and assault with a gun in a hearing with about a dozen deputies stationed throughout the room. Hells Angels member Armando Villasenor. Not guilty pleas were entered by attorney Elliott Magnus who appeared for the Indigent Defense Program on behalf of Ricardo Alvarez, 42, Armando Villasenor, 55, Joseph Soto Sr., 57, Joseph Soto Jr., 33, Joshua Zavala, 31, John Seeger, 57, and Joshua Vaughn, 37. Hells Angels member Ricardo Alvarez. All but Vaughn who was already in custody were arrested Tuesday, according to sheriffs officials. Hells Angels member Joshua Zavala. Theyre each being held on $800,000 bail, with a stipulation that any money put up for them must be proven to have been legally obtained. A criminal protective order was issued barring them from harassing or otherwise having any contact with a person named in the document. Victory Mutual Water Company customers advised to boil their water A preliminary hearing is currently set for July 11. Joshua Vaughn looks toward the audience. He belongs to the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club which takes orders from the Hells Angels. Alvarez, Villasenor, the Sotos and Zavala are patched members of the gang, officials say, while Vaughn and Seeger belong to the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Cub which takes orders from the Hells Angels. John Seeger, another member of the Sons of Hell. More than 150 law enforcement officers from the Kern County Sheriffs Office, California Highway Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were involved in their arrests. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A Texas bakery that recently went viral for its controversial MAGA cookies is now offering a creation catered to the other side of the political spectrum. Margies Bakery & Deli made national headlines in recent weeks for selling cookies frosted with the word MAGA, an acronym for the phrase Make America Great Again that was adopted by supporters of Former President Donald J. Trump. PREVIOUS STORY: MAGA cookie from Wichita Falls bakery goes viral The bakery has received a local outpouring of support. Since first making the MAGA cookie available on June 19, Margies has sold over 13,000 of the cookies, according to general manager Andrew Morrow. However, Margies has also received significant backlash for marketing the controversial cookie, with many community members sounding off in the comments section on social media for mixing politics with business. Biden cookies made by Margies Bakery & Deli in Wichita Falls (Photo courtesy Andrew Morrow, Margies Bakery & Deli) We were getting harassed through phone calls and online a little bit on how if we made Biden cookies and put them up front, then all of our supporters would stop supporting us, Morrow said. Morrow said they decided to test that thought, creating a cookie with blue frosting and the letters BBB, the acronym for Build Back Better, the slogan adopted by President Joe Biden during his 2020 campaign. The idea came after several community members called Margies and placed special orders for cookies frosted with Biden. Morrow thought it was an opportunity to offer a sweet selection for both sides of the political aisle. Political intent was never in our minds from the get-go, Morrow said. But somehow, we got bullied and pushed into a political category. And we have noticed by simply embracing it rather than fighting it, it has helped us thrive. So, Morrow said they made about five dozen BBB cookies, set them up front in Margies main display case alongside the MAGA cookies, and offered them for sale. BBB and MAGA cookies made by Margies Bakery & Deli in Wichita Falls (Photo courtesy Andrew Morrow, Margies Bakery & Deli) Like with the MAGA cookie, Morrow said they made BBB a play-on-words. For Margies, MAGA was an abbreviation for Make mArgies Great Again, and BBB was an acronym for Build Bakeries Better. Morrow said not only have they still received backlash from the same people who opposed the initial MAGA cookies, but theyve gained even more support from community members, and the sales numbers speak for themselves. In the day we released the Build Back Better cookies, we only sold one BBB cookie, and we sold 3,000 MAGA cookies, Morrow said. PREVIOUS STORY: Local bakery continues booming while struggling to fulfill demand Morrow said Michael Gerstner, the owner of Margies, has worked at the store since he was 16 and has owned it for four decades, and whats happening now is completely unique. He said that he has never ever experienced anything like this before, Morrow said. We have never seen so much support and love and overall business. BBB cookies made by Margies Bakery & Deli in Wichita Falls (Photo courtesy Andrew Morrow, Margies Bakery & Deli) Morrow continued to emphasize that the motivation behind the cookies wasnt originally to take a political stance, but now, its taking a different kind of stance altogether. We have always been a neutral ground for everybody, Morrow said. At the end of the day, maybe it is now political. Maybe its unavoidable. But everyone needs to know we are not the ones who pushed it there. The extreme hate and threats and attacks have only made us want to stand up for ourselves. Morrow said Margies Bakery & Deli is still having trouble making enough cookies to meet the communitys demand. He said Margies has been closing early every day of the week, having to turn people away because they run out of MAGA cookies. If everyone in this town is rooting for a red cookie with MAGA on it, and thats the cookie were selling thousands of, then Im sure you might see that and think thats a political stance that were choosing when simply, its fulfilling demand, Morrow 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. MAGA loyalist Steve Bannon is dreading his soon-to-be-reality of being housed alongside sex offenders and violent criminals when he reports to prison in Connecticut on Monday, a source close to him told The Daily Beast on Friday. Bannon, 70, was told to face the music on Friday when the nations highest court declined to indulge his pleas for a last-minute reprieve. With a one-sentence ruling, the Supreme Court ordered that he could no longer delay his sentence while he appeals the conviction. Bannon is set to spend four months at FCI Danburya low-level prison in Connecticut where hell be housed alongside people convicted of sexual and violent crimes. The source said thats something Bannon is quite concerned with. His charges stem from him blowing off a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Capitol riot. He has spent two years since then trying every avenue of appeal, arguing that he was only following the advice of his lawyer, who told him then-President Donald Trump had evoked executive privilege. (Multiple courts ruled that there was no executive privilege since Trump had already left office.) Bannon, however, insists publicly that he has no regrets and will only benefit from a prison sentence, according to ABC. Im a political prisoner It wont change me. It will not suppress my voice. My voice will not be suppressed when Im there, he told This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl. If it took me going to prison to finally get the House to start to move, to start to delegitimize the illegitimate J6 committee, then, hey, guess what, my going to prison is worth it, he said. Similarly, Bannons frequent War Room podcast guest Mike Davis assured fans on X, Promise you this: Steve Bannon is unfazed and determined. On the podcast, Bannon told fans not to write letters to him while in prison, because he would be busy working outside of my job in prison, working the rest of the hours on what? Total and complete victory. Prison Expert Warns: Trump Behind Bars Would Be Nightmare for Him and Country Hes expected to surrender to prison on Monday with the help of his prison consultant, Sam Mangel, who also counts Trumps locked-up pal Peter Navarro as a client. NBC News reported that Bannon has already been assigned an inmate number by the federal Bureau of Prisons: 05635-509. His sentence will overlap with that of Navarro, who started his four-month jail stint in March after being convicted on the same charges. Unlike Navarro, however, Bannon has a separate criminal detainer placed on him related to his pending trial in Manhattan for defrauding supporters of the We Build the Wall movement. That means he must report to a low-level federal facility instead of a camp, which is must less strict on inmates and is where Navarro has been since the spring. While Navarros biggest pain behind bars is likely sheer boredom and slow communications, a source said Bannon will be on a more rigid day-to-day schedule that has less freedom of movement, stricter check-ins, and will be surrounded by more dangerous criminals. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Florida Supreme Court recently disciplined 10 attorneys revoking the license of two, suspending five, admonishing one and reprimanding two. Court orders are not final until time expires for the disciplined attorney to file a rehearing motion. The attorneys represent law practices from across the state. Disbarred lawyers may not reapply for admission for five years and are required to undergo a rigorous background check, as well as retake the Bar exam. Attorneys suspended for 91 days and longer must demonstrate that they have been rehabilitated in order to regain their law licenses. Disciplinary revocation is tantamount to disbarment. Ten attorneys across the state were disciplined by the Florida Sumpreme Court. Two are from Boca Raton and Lake Worth. Boca Raton Alexander Iglesias Brutvan, admonishment and referral to Florida Lawyers Assistance Inc. Admitted to practice in 2015, Brutvan was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance. Brutvans case followed the successful completion of a pretrial intervention agreement with the state of Florida. Lake Worth Laitil Ovincy, public reprimand by publication and completion of both The Florida Bars Ethics School and Professionalism Workshop. Admitted to practice in 2014, Ovincy neglected cases and failed to properly communicate with his clients in two separate immigration proceedings. Miami Emelike Nwosuocha, suspended for one year effective immediately, as Nwosuocha is currently suspended. Admitted to practice in 2008, Nwosuocha was held in contempt for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of his suspension. St. Augustine Joseph Lester Boles Jr., disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years. Admitted to practice in 1984, Boles would provide a free will to people over 65 and draft the documents, naming himself as the personal representative or successor trustee to potentially receive fees as part of the estate or trust. Boles also failed to follow the instructions of several testamentary documents while serving as the trustee and is accused of selling a decedents home to his daughter for lower than fair market value. Aventura Lisa Jacobs, suspended for one year, effective immediately as Jacobs was already suspended. Admitted to practice in 1999, Jacobs was held in contempt for failing to notify clients, opposing counsel and tribunals of her suspension, as well as falling to eliminate all indicia of the appearance of being a lawyer in good standing. Tallahassee Erik Russel Fenniman, suspended for 90 days and ordered to attend ethics school and professionalism workshop. Admitted to practice in 2003, Fenniman signed the names of two of his subordinate employees to official agency letters without their knowledge or consent during his tenure as general counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation. One of the employees had already terminated her employment with FDOT several weeks prior to this occurrence. Jaquetta Johnson, public reprimand and trust account workshop. Admitted to practice in 2014, Johnson provided legal services to a complainant who hired Florida Community Law Center (FCLC) to collect debts owed by debtors. Complainant forwarded several debt collection files between January and November 2020 for a flat fee of $1,650.00 for each debt collection matter that was resolved prior to litigation and costs. When Johnson received funds on behalf of complainant from debtors, per the retainer agreement, FCLCs fees were taken out and any remaining balance was sent to complainant. During the representation, complainant and respondent were in dispute about what fees and costs were due and owing. On Oct. 27, 2020, Johnson sent complainant a check in the amount of $2,681.00, for funds obtained on his behalf. The check bounced due to insufficient funds. FCLC was dissolved in April 2022. FCLC did not have an IOTA trust account registered with the Florida Bar Foundation. As a result, attorneys fees and client funds were commingled. Belleair Bluffs Theophilos John Karaphillis, suspended. Admitted to practice in 1988, and following an order to show cause, Karaphillis was held in contempt and suspended until he fully responds in writing to an official Bar inquiry and until further order of the Court. Karaphillis also failed to file a response to the Court's Order to Show Cause. Ft. Myers Guichard St. Surin, disciplinary revocation with leave to apply for readmission in five years. Admitted to practice in 2011, St. Surin is the subject of three pending cases: St. Surin is alleged to have engaged in inappropriate, unwanted sexual behavior and harassment with four employees and a client; he failed to diligently and competently pursue a family law matter; and he self-reported that he had been charged with felony battery which remained pending. St. Surin pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge regarding contact with the client. The pending felony charge concerned allegations St. Surin engaged in inappropriate, unwanted sexual behavior with a prospective client. Maitland David W. Veliz, Maitland, suspended for 10 days. Admitted to practice in 1990, Veliz prepared a will and other estate planning documents for a longtime family friend. The will impermissibly named Velizs mother and sister as beneficiaries and named his mother as the personal representative for the estate. Veliz failed to recognize that he was prohibited from creating a will for a non-related client naming his relatives as beneficiaries. After the death of the family friend, Velizs law partner was hired by Velizs mother to represent her in probating the estate. Velizs mother received her personal representative fee even though Veliz failed to comply with a statute regarding the disclosure of compensation for the personal representative. Ultimately, Velizs mother and sister were removed as beneficiaries and his mother refunded her personal representative fee to the estate. Founded in 1949, The Florida Bar serves the legal profession for the protection and benefit of both the public and all Florida lawyers. As one of the nations largest mandatory bars, The Florida Bar fosters and upholds a high standard of integrity and competence within Floridas legal profession as an official arm of the Florida Supreme Court. To learn more, visit FloridaBar.org. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Supreme Court disciplines lawyers from Lake Worth, Boca Raton Barack Obama is sticking by his former vice president. After President Joe Bidens floundering debate performance Thursday night threw the Democratic Party into a state of panic, Obama, who was president from 2009 to 2017, chimed in with a message of support. Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know, he wrote on social media. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself, Obama went on. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November, he concluded, dropping a link to Bidens campaign website. Obama has already helped Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, raise millions of dollars for reelection, most recently with a glitzy, celebrity-packed Los Angeles fundraiser. Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 28, 2024 Obama himself suffered a memorable defeat in his first debate of the 2012 presidential cycle with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. On stage in Denver, Obama appeared tired, sluggish and even irritable, leading The Washington Post to wonder: Why was President Obama so bad? The then-incumbent Obama was able to find his footing in subsequent debates and won a second term that year with Biden as vice president. But the concerns surrounding Bidens present candidacy have to do with the immutable fact of his age. Former President Donald Trump lied and evaded his way through the debate, but still managed to sound crisp and concise in comparison to Biden, whom Trump is only three years younger than. The debate has some Democratic strategists asking whether Biden should be replaced as the partys nominee during the convention in late August. Biden himself acknowledged the criticisms on stage at an event Friday afternoon where he sounded markedly more energetic. I know Im not a young man, Biden told a spirited crowd. I dont walk as easy as I used to, I dont speak as smoothly as I used to, I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know, like many of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up. Related... In a pointed dissent, Justice Amy Coney Barrett skewered her fellow justices over their decision to narrow an obstruction charge used to prosecute scores of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Supreme Court voted 6-3 on Friday to side with Joseph Fischer, a former police officer accused of partaking in the Capitol attack who challenged the provision as being improperly applied to rioters. Barrett, an appointee of former President Trump who himself faces a criminal charge that could be impacted by the courts opinion noted the high court does not dispute that the certification of the 2020 presidential election results that day qualifies as an official proceeding. Nor does it dispute that rioters including Fischer himself, allegedly delayed the proceeding. Given these premises, the case that Fischer can be tried for obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding seems open and shut. So why does the Court hold otherwise? the conservative justice wrote in a dissent joined by liberals Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Because it simply cannot believe that Congress meant what it said. The law, Section 1512(c)(2), makes it a crime to corruptly obstruct, impede or interfere with official inquiries and investigations by Congress. It carries a maximum 20 years in prison and has been used to prosecute more than 350 rioters accused of interrupting Congresss 2020 certification of the vote. But Fischer claimed the Justice Department retooled the charge to sweepingly prosecute those who participated in the riot, when the law established in the wake of the Enron accounting scandal actually intended to narrowly criminalize document shredding. Barrett acknowledged that the Congress that enacted the law likely did not have the riot in mind when creating it. She quipped, Who could blame Congress for that failure of imagination? However, she contended that statutes often go further than the problem that inspired them, accusing the majority of abandoning the rules of statutory interpretation and completing textual backflips to find some way any way to narrow the provisions reach. Joseph Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that forced the delay of Congresss joint session on January 6, Barrett wrote. Blocking an official proceeding from moving forward surely qualifies as obstructing or impeding the proceeding by means other than document destruction. Fischers alleged conduct thus falls within (c)(2)s scope. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority that it would be peculiar to find that, in Congresss efforts to close Enron gap, it hid away a catchall provision reaching past the document shredding that prompted the legislation. The better conclusion is that subsection (c)(2) was designed by Congress to capture other forms of evidence and other means of impairing its integrity or availability beyond those Congress specified in (c)(1), Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a liberal, joined the conservative majority. In a separate opinion, she signaled her belief it is possible for Fischer and other defendants to still be prosecuted under the charge. That issue remains available for the lower courts to determine on remand, Jackson wrote. The Supreme Courts decision could have profound implications on the Justice Departments years-long prosecution of the Capitol attack. Among those charged under the provision were several members of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups, including leaders Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes. Two of Trumps charges in his federal election subversion case which has been on an indefinite pause as the Supreme Court weighs his presidential immunity challenge also stem from the provision. He has pleaded not guilty. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bastrop Police Chief Vicky Steffanic said a new ordinance is the citys first to establish a policy on registered sex offenders within the city limits. The Bastrop City Council last week unanimously approved an ordinance that restricts where registered sex offenders may live and how they may participate in community events. Police Chief Vicky Steffanic said the ordinance is the citys first to establish a policy on registered sex offenders within the city limits. The Texas Legislature in 2017 passed House Bill 1111, which granted general-law cities the right to prohibit how close registered sex offenders may go near places where children commonly gather or child safety zones. Though Bastrop is a home-rule city, Steffanic said the ordinance approved Tuesday closely mirrors the language in HB 1111. Registered sex offenders must register with the Bastrop Police Department when establishing a permanent or temporary residence within the city limits. Those residences must be 1,000 feet away from child safety zones, including city parks, schools, day cares and recreation centers. The ordinance also bans property owners from renting to registered sex offenders if their property is within the 1,000-foot limit. They can go to restaurants (within the 1,000-foot limit), Steffanic said. They just cant participate in events. They can go to churches. Churches would not be considered a place where children commonly gather. The ordinance prohibits registered sex offenders from attending community events, such as cultural festivals or sporting events. Registered sex offenders also may not leave their porch lights on for Halloween night. Steffanic laid out the numerous exemptions the ordinance provides, which include a grandfather clause for registered sex offenders who already reside within 1,000 feet of a child safety zone. Steffanic said the Police Department has 18 registered sex offenders on its roster, of which 16 are child sex offenders. She said Bastrop County reports 303 sex offenders who live within the county lines, but that number often fluctuates. As far as the restrictions go, this is probably the least restrictive way to go about implementing an ordinance like this, said Rezzin Pullum, filling in for City Attorney Alan Bojorquez. There are cities out there who have applied broader restrictions. Steffanic said cities with broader restrictions prohibited registered sex offenders within 2,000 feet of child safety zones, effectively banning them from the city altogether. Petition for marijuana decriminalization? Desiree Venable, a resident and a candidate running for state House District 17, announced her plan to petition the city to decriminalize marijuana within the city limits by ballot referendum. By decriminalizing marijuana, we can foster a more just and efficient society here, Venable said. This approach will prioritize public health, respect individual autonomy and ensure that public resources are used to the best and most beneficial way possible here in the city. Venable said the Police Department could reallocate its resources to bigger issues if the city passes a charter amendment decriminalizing marijuana. She said shes canvassed throughout the city and met many law enforcement officers. She said all of the officers to whom shes spoken have been in favor of the decriminalization petition. These amendments enhance individual contributions to the community, Venable said. For example, when we criminalize people for possession, it does often make it harder for them to eventually join the workforce or obtain higher education, leading to unnecessary social and economic consequences that affect the broader community. Veneable said a referendum of this sort could increase voter turnout, as people often dont see direct democracy on the ballot. Venable said she needs 5% of Bastrops registered voters, or approximately 400 voters, to sign the petition before getting the referendum on the ballot. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bastrop City Council approves sex offender restrictions (KRON) A Bay Area city councilmember who abruptly resigned Wednesday has blamed the regions high cost of living. Mike Bucci, who has served on the Newark City Council for nearly 10 years, submitted a letter of resignation on Wednesday, to take effect at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Bucci was first elected to city council in 2014, appointed to another four-year term in 2018, and re-elected by voters for a third term in November 2022. During his decade or so of service, Bucci helped create a masterplan for the citys parks, a new skate park, and Newarks first dog park. A long time Newark resident, Mr. Bucci was a champion of affordable housing and supported many affordable housing projects, said Newark City Council in a statement. Golden Gate Bridge tolls, ferry and bus fares to increase July 1 The city council gave no explanation for the councilmembers abrupt resignation. However, in a social post of his own on Thursday, Bucci explained that the decision was based on being priced out of buying a home in the community he served. Unfortunately, were just the next people in a long line of folks who have been priced out of town, Bucci said. We tried to buy a home a number of times over the years but it never happened for us. Now the window has closed and any chance we had to stay in Newark is long past. Bucci went on to say hed worked a union job in the trades for 20 years, but even with that and his city council salary and his wifes job in the Dublin San Ramon Services District, his family was unable to afford a home. The most insane part is that even with 60k down and a 785 credit score we cant get into the cheapest house in Newark for less than $7,500 a month, Bucci said. If I put my entire Millwright and council salary towards it every month, its still not enough. The brutal truth, Bucci went on to say, is that we would probably have been better off if we moved years ago but I was woefully optimistic our opportunity would come. I mean it had to right? The fact that there is no future for us in the city I love is soul crushing. Newark Mayor Mike Hannon said he was shocked about Bucci resigning, but the circumstances highlighted an overall housing crisis. You see the high cost of housing, the high interest rates. Mike has tried on a number of occasions to buy a home and has been unsuccessful, so I think he is recognizing a little bit of frustration. You know I do all this community service I do for my community but I cant live in my community, he said. Bucci called the decision very difficult but insisted it was the best decision for his family, even though he lamented it. I never imagined what a life somewhere else would be like because I never wanted to be anywhere else, he said. Im not going to sugar coat it, being pushed out because of the cost of living is just devastating. Bucci gave no indication as to where his family would relocate to in his social post. KRON4.com reached out to Bucci who declined to provide further comment at this time. According to Indeed, the average salary for a Millwright is around $32.00 an hour. The city council voted to fill Buccis seat as soon as possible. They will start taking applications on Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. (KRON) Bay Area rap star E-40 will be helping President Joe Biden in his attempt to win re-election, according to a report from Axios. E-40 and fellow rapper Fat Joe will reportedly be joining Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a post-debate rally in Raleigh, NC on Friday. A Biden campaign official said to Axios that the rappers are legends of the music industry, who understand the importance of utilizing their platforms to ensure their fan base understands the stakes of this election. Sen. Wiener criticizes company for dropping Pride celebrations, carbon emission goals Biden went head to head with Donald Trump in Atlanta Thursday night for the first presidential debate. He will be headed to North Carolina afterward. The move is a counter to Trump, who has also brought up rappers at his rallies. When Trump rallied in the Bronx in May, local rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow got on stage to voice their support. Before leaving office in 2021, Trump pardoned rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. E-40 attended a holiday party hosted at the White House last holiday season, along with other Hip-Hop figures. In 1998, he made a song called Trump Change, long before Trump went into politics. E-40 is one of the most respected and successful rappers to come out of the Bay Area. He hails from Vallejo, and the city named a street after him last year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. (WGNO) A Bayou Blue man could face a life sentence after he was found guilty of murdering a man following an altercation between the two at a bar. The Lafourche Parish District Attorneys Office reported that after a four-day trial, Earl Verdin has been found guilty of the second-degree murder of Chad Daigle. FBI New Orleans Operation Clean House results in 155 arrests The crime began at a nearby bar, where the two had gotten into an altercation. Daigle left, and Verdin armed himself before going to Daigles property. Daigle fired a warning shot at Verdin, who then shot back multiple times, including once in his back. According to the district attorneys office, Verdin testified that he could have left the property without killing Daigle. This was never about determining who did it, as the evidence clearly identified Earl Verdin as the perpetrator of Chad Daigles murder. We believed going into the trial that the evidence would thwart any self-defense claim, and the jury agreed, Chief of Violent Crimes Shaun George, who prosecuted the case. Discovery of missing WWII plane brings closure to Napoleonville family The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Verdin faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. The defendant had many opportunities to make better decisions that night, instead he chose to arm himself and trespass on another mans property while armed. This was a very just verdict, George said. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. A beaver takes stock of his new habitat after being released at the Tule River Reservation in Tulare County. (Krysten Kellum) Beavers are precious to the Tule River Indian Tribe. They are woven into the California tribe's stories and appear in ancient pictographs painted by ancestors on the walls of a rock shelter in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But when nine of the furry rodents recently slid out of crates and slipped into waterways on the Tule River Reservation, they returned to a habitat where they hadn't been seen in nearly a century. A family of beavers three adults, one subadult and three babies, known as "kits" were released into the South Fork Tule River watershed on June 12, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. Two other beavers were released into Miner Creek on June 17. As part of CDFWs Beaver Restoration Program, beavers are back at work on the Tule River Indian Reservation. The beavers released on the Tule River watershed are expected to build dams that slow the flow of water and in turn create drought and wildfire resilience. pic.twitter.com/zcBbfzbeUc California Department of Fish and Wildlife (@CaliforniaDFW) June 25, 2024 The department conducted the releases in the foothills of the southern Sierra in partnership with the tribe, whose 55,356-acre reservation is based in Porterville, Calif., in Tulare County. Beavers were a common sight in parts of the Sierra before the arrival of Europeans, but by the 20th century, their numbers had been decimated by fur trappers and eradication efforts. A decade ago, tribal leaders called for the animals to be returned, driven by traditional Indigenous knowledge about beavers' importance to the ecosystem and inspired by the 500-to-1,000-year-old beaver images left at the Yokuts village site known as Painted Rock. In 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Department received state funding to start a restoration program to prepare sites in California for the semiaquatic animals. Beavers aid the environment by building dams that help to keep landscapes well-hydrated and more resilient in droughts and wildfires. That enhanced water retention could also protect the Tule River Indian Tribe's drinking water supply 80% of which comes from the river's watershed, Fish and Wildlife said. Read more: Yes, beavers can help stop wildfires. And more places in California are embracing them Weve been through numerous droughts over the years we were wondering how we can conserve, save water, get water here on our lands, said Kenneth McDarment, a Tule River Tribe member and former tribal councilman, in a Fish and Wildlife statement. The answer was in our pictographs. California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said the beaver program was the result of an unprecedented effort by the state to not only steward the environment but also support tribal sovereignty. Elders from the Tachi Yokut and Tubatulabal tribes joined an elder from the Tule River Indian Tribe in a blessing ceremony to ready the habitat for the beavers' arrival in June. In video captured by the Fish and Wildlife Department, some of the beavers, which were brought in from state-owned land in Merced County, can be seen checking out their new digs in the 6,000-foot-elevation Sierra meadowland. The slicked-back fur on the beavers' heads and backs glistens in the sun as the agile swimmers slice the murky waters past submerged evergreen leaves, drifting twigs and shrubs. Possible construction materials? Beavers released last fall by Fish and Wildlife in partnership with the Indigenous-led Maidu Summit Consortium in Plumas County wasted no time building lodges to live in and dams to protect themselves from predators and to store food, a department spokeswoman said. Today those structures, in the tribal community known as Tasmam Koyom, are large and well-developed. Fish and Wildlife officials intend to release more beavers into the Tule River watershed in the coming months and years. Our past is one where we treated these animals and others as varmints, and our culture over time ran them off the landscape," said Charlton H. Bonham, department director. "That cant be our future. Read more: California will help return tribal lands as part of the historic Klamath River restoration This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell gets special delivery at City Hall in support of housing NEW BEDFORD There was a special delivery to Mayor Jon Mitchell Thursday. It was delivered by about a dozen supporters of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts. Their message boiled down to this: More needs to be done to address the housing crisis in New Bedford. The group hosted a meeting last Monday to discuss their concerns at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church Hall. Tiffany Ellis, who has been homeless and sleeping on the streets since 2021, sets up a bed in front of the Mayors office in New Bedford City Hall after members of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts delivered a series of letters to Mayor Jon Mitchell adressing the housing crisis of high rents, rising home prices, and increasing homelessness. Supporters decided to hand-deliver message Mitchell was invited but had replied six to eight weeks ago that he probably wouldn't be attending, said Andrea Sheppard Lomba, UIA executive director. In the interim, they tried to change his mind or persuade him to send a representative. When that didn't materialize Monday, they decided to hand deliver some letters to his City Hall office outlining their concerns and what they would like to see done. Members of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts enter New Bedford City Hall to deliver a series of letters to Mayor Jon Mitchell adressing the housing crisis. Sheppard Lomba said they had about 70 letters to deliver Thursday. The letters were received in his office. He was not at City Hall at the time. Mitchell is responding but more needs to be done She said Mitchell is working to address the crisis, persuaded in part by UIA lobbying two years ago to spend more ARPA, CPA and CDBG money for housing. The city had been doing the minimum until then, she said. Sheppard Lomba added there has also been some affordable housing development that's emerged in the last two years. The group also supports Mitchell's hiring of Josh Amaral as the city's new director of housing and community development. "So it's not like he isn't doing anything, but given the level of the crisis, there's a lot more that should and could be done," Sheppard Lomba said. Members of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts deliver a series of letters to Mayor Jon Mitchell adressing the housing crisis of high rents, rising home prices, and increasing homelessness. The statistics cited are alarming The alarming statistics cited by the UIA, compiled from research, a non-profit MassINC report, the point-in-time homeless count, the city school dept., and housing authority, include: 23% of households are severely cost burdened because they're spending more than 50% of their income on housing vs. the statewide average of 14%. Rents rose 27% in New Bedford between 2022 and 2023. 86% of New Bedford residents can't afford to buy a home. There are 6,888 people on New Bedford's Section 8 wait list (federal subsidy). There are 2,534 people on the city's wait list for public housing. There are 346 individuals in shelters, transitional housing or on the streets. 1,100 New Bedford Public School students have experienced homelessness during this school year. New Bedford has the fourth highest eviction rate in Massachusetts, 879 since October 2020. New Bedford is 40% owner-occupied and 60% renters. Current development and rental costs are trending toward market rates, pricing long-time residents out of their homes. New Bedford needs at least 5,000-6,000 new housing units to stabilize the housing market, so that the supply will meet the demand for housing in the city. Roselia Gomez of United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts hands a set of letters to Silvia DaSilva, Director of Constituent Services, to be given to Mayor Jon Mitchell adressing the housing crisis. UIA wants to set up a meeting with Mitchell within the next 30 days to discuss support of inclusionary zoning (10% or more of all future development as affordable), committing to at least 10% affordability of all housing development around the MBTA stations in the city, and committing to spend 30% of remaining ARPA money (American Rescue Plan Act), CPA (Community Preservation Act) and CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) money on affordable housing and homelessness. City spokesperson Jonathan Darling said Mayor Mitchell was attending previously scheduled city business the night of the UIA housing meeting. He was chairing a meeting of the Academic Achievement Subcommittee at Keith Middle School. The Administration welcomes UIAs letters and ideas on the regional housing issue. Office of Housing and Community Development Director Joshua Amaral and Director of City Planning Jennifer Carloni met with UIA the month before the demonstration to answer questions and provide information on the progress of the citys 'Building New Bedford' housing plan, and Amaral had previously met with UIA earlier this year to discuss the issue, Darling said. The Administration remains focused on achieving the goals outlined in the plan, including stimulating new housing development, reactivating underutilized properties, and relieving housing instability and affordability concerns. (The original story was updated to include city spokesperson's comment.) This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Letters in support of housing given to New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell Belarus says it is reinforcing security at Ukrainian border after claims of 'security incidents' The Belarusian Defense Ministry said on June 28 that it was beefing up security at the border with Ukraine after a series of alleged incidents. The Belarusian border service claimed earlier in the day that border police had intercepted a drone that had crossed into the country from Ukraine in order to obtain information about Belarusian border infrastructure. The claim followed allegations made earlier in the week that Belarusian border guards had found explosive components by the border and had received information about pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters in a nearby area. The allegations could not be independently verified. In response, the defense ministry said that it deployed troops and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to the border. The Ukrainian Security and Defense Council's Center for Countering Disinformation said in May that it predicted the launch of a new Russian psychological operation about the opening of a new front in the north of Ukraine by the Belarusian border, aimed at "stir(ring) up mass panic" in Ukrainian society. "We expect a series of provocative statements by the top leadership of Russia and Belarus threatening Ukraine soon," the statement said. Belarus has been a key ally to Moscow and supported Russian aggression against Ukraine but has not committed its own troops to fight directly in Russia's war. Russian forces launched an attempted invasion of Kyiv from Belarus in early 2022 but suffered a defeat and were forced to pull back. Read also: Poland, Baltic states call on EU to build defense line along border with Russia, Belarus Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A press conference is organized to announce the closure of the judicial investigation into the Brabant killers (Tueurs du Brabant / Bende van Nijvel) case. Juan Godbille/Belga/dpa Belgian prosecutors on Friday announced they were ending a 40-year investigation into an armed gang that terrorized the country in the 1980s and killed 28 people, including children, in a series of robberies and shooting sprees. The decision was announced at a press conference in Brussels, Belga news agency reports. Several of the attacks targeted supermarkets, but while the gunmen used extreme violence against bystanders, the goods they stole were often trivial by comparison, such as coffee and wine. They also attacked gun shops and higher-value targets. None of the attackers - known to the Belgian public as the Brabant Killers or the Nivelles Gang - were ever caught, and their motives remain the subject of speculation. There are suspicions they were linked to the far-right and the country's now-abolished gendarmerie. On New Year's Eve 1981, automatic weapons were stolen in a burglary of a gendarmerie compound in Brussels. A string of increasingly violent armed robberies at grocery stores and gun shops followed in 1982. Then in 1983 and 1985, there were waves of attacks on supermarkets, in which the gang opened fire on customers. Belga reports that lawyer Jean-Paul Macau, who was injured in one of the supermarket attacks, said on Friday: "It's very disappointing to have waited so long to hear this, when the case is still unsolved. It's unique in the annals of Belgian justice that we haven't been able to find out the truth!" Macau said he hopes the case might one day be reopened, but admitted that he's pessimistic: "There wasn't enough diligence at the beginning. We didn't use all the resources we could have." A press conference is organized to announce the closure of the judicial investigation into the Brabant killers (Tueurs du Brabant / Bende van Nijvel) case. Juan Godbille/Belga/dpa A press conference is organized to announce the closure of the judicial investigation into the Brabant killers (Tueurs du Brabant / Bende van Nijvel) case. Juan Godbille/Belga/dpa Belgian prosecutors on Friday announced they were ending a 40-year investigation into an armed gang that terrorized the country in the 1980s and killed 28 people, including children, in a series of robberies and shooting sprees. "Unfortunately we were unable to bring the truth to the surface," Federal Prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference on Friday. Several of the attacks targeted supermarkets, but while the gunmen used extreme violence against bystanders, the goods they stole were often trivial by comparison, such as coffee and wine. They also attacked gun shops and higher-value targets. None of the attackers - known to the Belgian public as the Brabant Killers or the Nivelles Gang - were ever caught, and their motives remain the subject of speculation. There are suspicions they were linked to the far-right and the country's now-abolished gendarmerie. Lawyer Jean-Paul Macau, who was injured in one of the supermarket attacks, was cited by Belga news agency as saying: "It's very disappointing to have waited so long to hear this, when the case is still unsolved. It's unique in the annals of Belgian justice that we haven't been able to find out the truth!" Macau said he hopes the case might one day be reopened, but admitted that he's pessimistic: "There wasn't enough diligence at the beginning. We didn't use all the resources we could have." On New Year's Eve 1981, automatic weapons were stolen in a burglary of a gendarmerie compound in Etterbeek, Brussels. A string of increasingly violent armed robberies at grocery stores and gun shops followed in 1982. Then in 1983 and 1985, there were waves of attacks on supermarkets, in which the gang opened fire on customers. A cache of weapons weapons was later found in the possession of Madani Bouhouche, a serving gendarme at the time of the burglary at the Etterbeek compound. Bouhouche was never proven to have been a member of the gang and denied any involvement. He was convicted of two other murders in 1995. Bouhouche was released from prison on parole in 2000. He moved to the French Pyrenees, where he died in a bizarre tree-felling accident in 2005. He was cremated before Belgian authorities were able to examine him. Another gendarme, Robert Beijer, who was also convicted separately of murder, was interviewed as part of the investigation into the Brabant Killers. But he too was never proven to have been involved with the gang and he has always denied any involvement. A press conference is organized to announce the closure of the judicial investigation into the Brabant killers (Tueurs du Brabant / Bende van Nijvel) case. Juan Godbille/Belga/dpa Bellingham Police have released the likeness of the man suspected in a brazen attack on a jogger at Lake Padden last weekend. Police spokeswoman Megan Peters said the woman, who was not named, was knocked to the ground and punched several times in the face. She was sent her to the hospital with unspecified injuries. Investigators had a sketch artist work with a witness in the Lake Padden assault case to generate a sketch of the assailant, the Police Department said in a social media post Thursday afternoon. A witnesses came to her aid while another witness watched where the attacker fled, police said. Police said the assailant was described as a white man in his 30s, with an average to physically fit build. He is about 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 with a distinct receding hairline. He was wearing blue jeans and possibly a gray shirt. Bellingham Police released this sketch of the suspect in an attack on a woman who was jogging at Lake Padden Park on June 22, 2024, in Bellingham, Wash. The attack happened about 10:30 a.m. Saturday as the woman jogged past a man on on the horse trails on the southeast side of Lake Padden, police said in a separate social media post. Her attacker was last seen running down a hill near milepost 1 of the trail toward Interstate 5, police said. Police waited two days to publicized the incident, and later apologized for the delay on social media. If you were in the area of Lake Padden or driving past the area on I-5, you may have seen something that is connected to the incident. Or, did you witness any odd occurrence in the days before or after the incident on the trail system? police said online. Anyone who recognizes the person in the sketch is asked to contact Bellingham Police at 360-778-8611 or online at www.cob.org/tips. Reference case number 24B35293. A project began in earnest Monday to repair the now mostly unsupported final bent or seaward end of the Cayucos Pier, which has been closed since it was damaged in late February storms. Engineers and divers from Richard Brady & Associates of San Diego have spent days doing tests and checking conditions on the piers deck, in the ocean waters and at the sea floor. Those $71,085 scientific studies are the first of many steps ahead toward ultimately fixing and reopening the full length of the iconic, nearly 1,000-foot structure, according to Shaun Cooper, assistant director of the countys parks department. We only know what we can see above the water, Cooper said. Basically for the width of the pier, the deck is suspended in mid-air, because support of the end of the pier is gone. He estimated it would take a week to get a draft report, with the final due by mid-August. Money for the recent inspections came from funds raised earlier by the community, he said, adding that the county and pier enthusiasts will have to find money to pay for the rest of the work, which includes designing the repair project, doing environmental studies and getting approvals on various permits. That money could be in the form of grants, donations and other funds. Winter storms undermined about 60 feet of the seaward end of the 20-foot-wide pier when wave-carried heavy debris battered into the pilings supporting the deck. Most of those pilings washed ashore. A portion of the deck also broke away. The damage left the pier drooping and wobbly, minus quite a few support pilings, a batter piling and part of the upper railing. The entire pier was fenced off for a time, until engineers determined that the majority of the structure was safe. The pier had already been completely renovated and rebuilt from 2013 to 2015, with the community chipping in to help pay for that $3.5 million project, too. Meanwhile, a massive project next door is rebuilding a redesigned Cayucos Vets Hall thats been called the heart of Cayucos. The end of Cayucos Pier was damaged in a Feb. 20, 2024, storm when pilings were washed away. Richard Brady and Associates were conducting a visual inspection in June 2024 for San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation Department. This view is from June 25, 2024. How is pier closure impacting visitors, businesses? The repairs are important for many reasons, Cooper said. Its a community landmark, a great recreational and tourism facility for looking out over the ocean, watching sea life, fishing, walking, he said. Its an icon for the character of Cayucos and a great recreational and tourism facility. About lunchtime Wednesday, most visitors strolling along the piers open stretch the majority of the structure said when asked that it didnt matter to them that the ocean end of the pier was blocked off. You can still walk out and see the vistas, so its still pleasurable, Kim Judge, of Valencia, said. She said she loves the pier and Cayucos, and she and her family have visited both regularly for many decades. The end of Cayucos Pier was damaged in a Feb. 20, 2024, storm when pilings were washed away. Richard Brady and Associates were conducting a visual inspection in June 2024 for San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation Department. This view is from June 25, 2024. Judge said with a chuckle that the closure probably matters most to the kids who want to jump off the end when theyre not supposed to do that. Businesses, too, appear to have weathered the closure well. Weve had no effect from it, Duckies Chowder House owner Chris Dorn said. People are already here or coming here. You can still fish. You can still use nearly all of the pier. He added the pier was closed completely before, which was much worse for business. A few tourists said, theyd obviously prefer that the pier be open all the way, but, like Don Patzkowski of Fresno, they were glad to learn that repairs are ahead for the iconic structure in a beach community recently lauded by AAA as Californias coolest beach town. Its all about safety, Patzkowski said of the closure. The end of Cayucos Pier was damaged in a Feb. 20, 2024 storm when pilings were washed away. Beach goers enjoy the sun as the damage is being inspected. This view is from June 25, 2024. Son Grayson Patzkowski said hell be glad when it reopens because he likes to spend 10 or 15 minutes at the end, just looking at the scenery. The closure didnt diminish their love for Cayucos, according to mom Barbara Patzkowski. Its so casual and relaxing here, she said. Members of the Agekian family of Los Angeles were a bit wistful about the closure. I would love to go to the end, young Nareh Agekian said, while her mom Susan said, Ill be glad when the end of the pier opens up again. I like it when you can stand there, she said. You feel like youre flying over the ocean. The end of Cayucos Pier was damaged in a Feb. 20, 2024, storm when pilings were washed away. The pier has been partially closed since then. Richard Brady and Associates were conducting a visual inspection in June 2024 for San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation Department. This view is from June 25, 2024. In his first public comments since President Biden took to the debate stage last night, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the president failed to clearly articulate his achievements or vision for the future. I have to also be very honest with you and tell you that I think the president was not terribly articulate to say the least, and he was not focused, Sanders said of Thursdays debate, at a rally in Stevens Point, Wis. He did not defend a very strong record. Sanderss rally is part of a weeklong campaign swing in the Badger State. The Daily Cardinal, the University of Wisconsins student paper, provided audio of the Stevens Point event. Bidens stumbling debate performance Thursday had spurred panic within the Democratic Party, along with discussion of whether Biden should step down and for an open Democratic convention in August. The Biden campaign has said he will not step down, and at a rally in North Carolina on Friday, the president addressed the concerns. I dont debate as well as I used to, he said. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up. Sanders on Friday criticized the president for not being loud and clear about being the first American president to walk a picket line and his record on job creation and infrastructure spending. I thought he was lacking in not doing what we all have to do, telling the American people what the agenda is for the next four year, he added. So, why dont I do that? Sanders quipped before launching into a stump speech in support of Biden and the Democratic agenda. Sanders promised that a second Biden term would see an increase in infrastructure investment in Wisconsin and a lowering of prescription drug prices and health care costs. During the rally, Sanders also slammed former President Trump, calling him a pathological liar. The vast majority of the American people distressed by what they saw in Donald Trump, Sanders said. They saw a pathological liar who lied and lied and lied. Sanders is barnstorming across the state that he once beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) in during the 2016 presidential primaries, shocking many at the time. Clinton went on to lose the state to Trump and was criticized for not spending any time campaigning in the state. Biden won Wisconsin by a 21,000 vote margin in 2020. The Republicans will be hosting their convention in Milwaukee in a little less than a month. Earlier this month, Democrats in the state and across the country attacked Trump for reportedly calling Milwaukee a horrible city during a meeting with House Republicans. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. There is a better way to address the issues that divide us so bitterly | Opinion No matter what happens this November, Americas deep social and political divides will remain with us. This problem arises from multiple, complex causes and will not yield to easy solutions. One significant source of division lies in the heavily siloed lives many of us lead. We tend to dwell near, socialize with, and listen to people we align with politically. And lets admit it: it feels good when other smart folks see things our way and affirm our good sense. Unless we work at it, we often have little inclination or opportunity to work with information we dont already prioritize, to encounter folks who see the world differently, or to have meaningful discussions with people on the opposite side of important issues. Consequently, we often think about matters in ways that are inadequately informed, falsely framed, and artificially binary. Braver Angels is a national, grassroots organization dedicated to confronting the problem of political polarization. The idea is simple: get people from all points on the political spectrum together for conversation. These interactions are carefully structured, they prioritize respect, and they aim at understanding, not argument or persuasion. When all goes well, these conversations create connection and community that transcend our voting habits. They lift us over the false superiority of othering, the inadequate labels of Red and Blue, and the artificial belief that disagreement must equal enmity. And, since there is zero chance that one side is 100% right and the other completely wrong, such conversations can help each of us think more deeply, broadly, and creatively about the complex concerns that drive our politics. Thoughtful interactions can expand our understanding so dramatically that, in some cases, the usual framing nodes no longer seem important or relevant. A group of Central Kentuckians did exactly this over three Saturdays this past spring. In the last session on June 1st, we dug into the issue of abortion to see if we could find agreement and common ground. That meeting produced the statement you will read below. In todays political climate, both the meetings and the statement seem miraculous. And still, they yielded something even more: a hope-inducing connection with fellow community members whom we are often encouraged to see as enemies. The next several yearsmaybe even decadeswill be rough sailing in America. But we can each take steps to protect ourselves from the acid political rain that currently corrodes our humanity and our politics. Central Kentucky Braver Angels Statement on Abortion We, a group of Central Kentucky citizens who come from a diverse range of political opinions, have met and discussed the issue of abortion at length. Although we do not agree on many political and moral issues, all of us have gained a broader perspective than we had before this conversation. We offer the following points of agreement: Human life is a gift. We would all like a world where no person feels an abortion is their best choice. We agree with Frederica Matthews-Green: No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg. We seek to restore a compassionate view toward women making this choice. We seek to restore compassion to all perspectives in this conversation around abortion. We reject simplistic, rigid, and caricatured uses of the terms pro-life and pro-choice. Poverty and other weighty economic matters are major factors for women seeking abortions. Unintended pregnancy presents these women with special dilemmas and problems. Other reasons include familial situations, including incest, unreliable partners, lack of extended family support, lack of social support, and other complicating life circumstances. The responsibility of parenthood requires supporting the child from before birth until adulthood, and parenting requires access to a wide variety of supporting resources. Neither Roe nor Dobbs is perfect; each had unintended consequences and created new and difficult dilemmas. Both decisions have created groups of discontented Americans. This discontent has been exploited by political parties and has contributed to polarization. On matters of policy, we hope for public policy that will reduce abortions. To that end, we support the following: Equal access to birth control as a fundamental and necessary means of limiting abortions, supported by public funding when birth control is not otherwise available. We specifically support a publicly funded LARC (Long-acting reversible contraception) program because such programs have demonstrated success in dramatically reducing both unintended pregnancy and abortion. Policies to support working families and to encourage the involvement of fathers. Policies that support women by providing childcare, educational opportunities, healthcare, nutrition, and jobs. Policies that make adoption more financially and legally feasible and provide necessary support services for the birth mother. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, we ask that influencers and our elected officials cease dividing us on this issue, but instead work to propose practical solutions to reduce abortions. This statement was also signed by the following members of Braver Angels: Carolyn Dupont, Ken Slepyan, Karen Petrone, Addison Hosea, Kim Turkington, Paul Winther, Adrienne Millett, Karen Miller, Turner Lyman, Harley Cannon, Cathy Taylor, Ryan Stanford, Helen Von Koevering, Judith Burris, Cindy Greenwood. The Biden administration is blocking a controversial proposed road that would have enabled mining in Alaska, the administration announced Friday. In addition, it is separately indicating it will decline to open up 28 million acres of currently protected lands to oil and gas development as well as mining. The decision to protect the lands from mining is not official, still requiring final approval, but the decision to block the road is final. Today, my Administration is stopping a 211-mile road from carving up a pristine area that Alaska Native communities rely on, in addition to steps we are taking to maintain protections on 28 million acres in Alaska from mining and drilling. These natural wonders demand our protection, President Biden said in a written statement. The decision to block the road is a reversal of the Trump administrations approval of the project. In 2020, the Trump administration said that approving the road, a project of Ambler Metals, would provide mining access to an area with significant copper and cobalt deposits. The Biden administration is arguing, however, that blocking it would protect at-risk wildlife including the Western Arctic caribou herd, which it described as a critical food source for Native communities. The move is not a surprise because the administration indicated it planned to block the road. The decision not to open up the additional 28 million acres is also a reversal of a Trump-era effort. The Biden administration said that its move would protect tribal hunting and fishing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Kigluaik Mountains on the Seward Peninsula are seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Laurie Cadzow/Bureau of Land Management) The Kigluaik Mountains on the Seward Peninsula are seen in an undated photo. The mountains are in the D-1 lands that remain set aside under a record of decision released Friday. (Photo by Laurie Cadzow/Bureau of Land Management) The Biden administration on Friday took the final step needed to reject a proposed and controversial 211-mile industrial road through the Brooks Range foothills that would enable commercial mining in a remote Arctic area in Northwest Alaska. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a document that formalized its decision, announced in April, to deny a right-of-way permit needed to build the Ambler Access Project. The proposed road would run from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler mining district. The road is considered necessary to make commercial mining in the metals-rich but isolated region economically feasible. The project sponsor is the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state-owned economic development entity; the mining companies that would be the main beneficiaries are Vancouver-based Trilogy Metals Inc. and Australia-based South32, which have formed a partnership called Ambler Metals. In the document, known as a record of decision, the BLM cited a litany of negative impacts from the road. They include fragmentation of habitat used by the Western Arctic Caribou Herd and other wildlife, degradation of fish habitat, air and water pollution, accelerated permafrost thaw and cultural disruptions. The combined impacts would harm Indigenous communities in the road area, the record of decision said. Impacts to subsistence and public health, including stress, subsistence-food insecurity, and potential exposure to toxins from the road, would disproportionately negatively affect low-income and minority populations, specifically Alaska Native villages in and near the project area that depend on the surrounding area for their subsistence lifestyle, it said. Supporters of the decision hailed the step. The Biden Administrations decision today is an important step toward a future full of wild salmon, healthy people, and healthy lands and waters, Anaanarar Sophie Swope, executive director of Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition, said in a news release. Environmental groups also oppose the road. Todays announcement demonstrates the Biden administrations embrace of Alaska-sized opportunities for land protection and conservation, said Kristen Miller, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League, in a news release. Advocates for developing the mine expressed disappointment in the administration action. Deantha Skibinski, executive director of the Alaska Miners Association, said the organization is gravely disappointed, adding that the Alaska National Interest Lands Claims Act explicitly says agencies shall grant access to the Ambler district. Clearly the Administration and its agencies feel they are above the law, Skibinski said in a text statement. On the other hand, theyre not above hypocrisy; touting goals for domestic mineral production yet rejecting multiple proposals to develop minerals in the United States. Skibinski did not say whether the association would legally appeal the decision, but said be assured that we will not stand for this illegal and unethical action. Alaskas congressional delegation also condemned the decision. Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola all support building the road. Murkowski emphasized that nine years of permitting work have gone into the project, which she said would provide access to critical minerals, development to a rural region and strategic benefits under stronger environmental and safety standards than other countries. Somehow, none of that mattered to the Biden administration on the Ambler project, she said in a joint statement with Sullivan and Peltola. They have ignored federal law, our national vulnerabilities, and Alaskas strong record of responsible development, all in the name of election year politics. The Biden administration decision reverses an approval granted by the Trump administration in 2020. After two lawsuits were filed that sought to overturn the Trump administration approval, the Biden administrations BLM launched a new study of environmental effects, with a focus on subsistence and Indigenous cultural values. The new study concluded that the Trump administrations analysis understated the negative impacts of the road. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, in a statement, said the Ambler decision was part of a broader Biden administration policy on environmental protection. The Department of the Interior takes seriously our obligations to manage Americas public lands for the benefit of all people. In Alaska, that includes ensuring that we consider the impacts of proposed actions on Alaska Native and rural subsistence users, Haaland said in the statement. Guided by feedback from Tribal Nations, Native Corporations and the best-available science, the steps we are taking today ensure these important areas remain intact for generations to come. The road project has been highly contentious in Alaska. Supporters, including Alaska political leaders, say the project is needed for economic development and to supply copper and other minerals needed for a transition away from fossil fuels. Opponents cite the roads threats to environmental resources, including the Western Arctic Caribou Herd, which uses the territory. Opponents include many tribal governments and tribal organizations, environmentalists and some hunting organizations. Two Native corporations that previously were participants in the project have also withdrawn their support. Doyon Ltd., the regional Native corporation owned by Indigenous people from Interior Alaska, last year canceled a land-access agreement with AIDEA. And NANA Corp., the regional Native corporation based in Northwest Alaska, pulled its involvement in May, announcing it also will not renew its land-access agreement with AIDEA. Though NANA has mineral prospects that might benefit from an industrial access road, the corporation concluded that it could not support the project as planned and proposed by AIDEA. However, some Native organizations support the project. Among them are the tribal governments in the villages of Allakaket and Huslia, which previously opposed the project but changed their position and in 2022 dropped out of a lawsuit challenging it. Separately, the BLM announced its plan to continue existing protections on 28 million acres of land in Western Alaska. The BLM decision was detailed in a final environmental impact statement released on Friday concerning 28 million acres spread across numerous parcels referred to as D-1 lands. The name comes from a provision in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 that set aside those lands, in a process known as withdrawal, to protect the public interest. The Trump administration had proposed lifting those withdrawals, starting the formal process that would allow mining there. The Biden administration completed the review process. In its final environmental impact statement, a document prepared in accordance with national environmental law, the BLM identified a no action alternative as its preferred policy choice for the D-1 lands, effectively retaining the status quo there. Tribal governments opposed the lifting of withdrawals, citing their desire to protect cultural-use areas, fish and wildlife habitat, subsistence resources and food security. However, the state of Alaska, Alaskas two U.S. senators and the Alaska Miners Association, among other organizations, have supported the proposal to open those lands to development. Editor-in-Chief Andrew Kitchenman contributed to this article. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gene Sperling, President Joe Bidens ARPA senior advisor and coordinator, along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. | Ken Coleman With tears of joy, 32-year-old Satin Adams of Detroit shared that she is the first person in her immediate family to be a homeowner. More information is available online on the Detroit Down Payment Assistance Program. I was ready to buy a home, the mother of six said about living in the federally subsidized Martin Luther King Jr. apartments in Detroit until December. I wanted a backyard. Today, Adams lives in a home that she is buying in the citys Morningside community because of a local government program that has been so successful that another round has been announced. She joined Detroit and Wayne County government leaders, including Mayor Mike Duggan and Biden administration official Gene Sperling, for an event on Thursday announcing funding to help up to 300 Motor City residents secure as much as $25,000 in down payment assistance for a home mortgage. The news conference was held in the Morningside community, which is located on Detroits lower east side. The $5 million in federal government funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $2 million in commercial funds from Huntington Bank, Flagstar Bank, Comerica Bank, and Rocket Mortgage. Gene Sperling, Bidens ARPA senior advisor and coordinator, noted that the funding was created during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application period for the funding opened on Thursday is designed for first-time home buyers who are low-to-moderate income residents. Sperling, an Ann Arbor native, told the Advance in a Wednesday interview that for many Detroit residents, especially African Americans, home ownership helps to build generational wealth. For most families, their equity and savings is not about the stock market, its about their home, Sperling said. Sperling was director of the National Economic Council during the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administrations. Sperling added that home ownership is multi-generational and helps people to survive the ups and downs of the economy. Duggan said on Thursday that 434 Detroiters, including Adams, realized the American Dream of homeownership in the earlier first round thanks to $12 million in ARPA funds that were disbursed in 2023. I dont want to say that renters arent welcomed, Duggan said. But we all know that the long-term stability of neighborhoods is much better, the higher percentage of homeownership. Duggan was joined by Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield as well as Council Members Mary Waters, Coleman A. Young Jr., Fred Durhal and Latisha Johnson. Hassan Sheikh, Wayne Countys economic development director, also attended. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Biden administration official announces funding for housing assistance program in Detroit appeared first on Michigan Advance. Biden campaign allies slammed former President Trump ahead of a rally in Virginia on Friday, hitting him over the lapse of a veterans outreach center in the state and dismissing talk that the GOP nominee will flip the commonwealth in November. Trump is slated to rally alongside Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in Chesapeake, Va., where there is a high concentration of veterans. The rally location is not far from where the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2022 opened a first-of-its-kind veterans community center in Virginia Beach, Va. At the time, the organization hailed the center as a place to help veterans and military families get involved with Republican campaigns. The location was chosen specifically because of the high concentration of veterans in the area. But the veterans center is no longer operating. Federal Election Commission filings show the party last paid rent on the property in January of 2023, well before the GOP primary got underway. It has since been replaced by a pet spa. No one is surprised that Donald Trump closed the RNCs veterans outreach center after his long history of disrespecting our troops from slashing veterans benefits, to calling veterans suckers and losers, Terron Simms, an Iraq war veteran from Virginia and Chair of the DNCs Veterans and Military Families Council, said in a statement. With his words and with his actions, Trump has made it clear to veterans and service members that he simply does not care about us, our families, or our votes, Simms added. Virginia Democrats held a press conference on Friday morning hitting Trump as bad for veterans ahead of his rally. The Virginia Mercury reported Missy Cotter Smasal, the Democratic nominee in Virginias 2nd Congressional District, pulled out of the event at the last minute. The RNCs budget only lasts through a chairs term, meaning all leases ended at the end of then-Chairwoman Ronna McDaniels term at the end of 2022. The RNC has in recent months closed various outreach centers across the country as it changed over its leadership. Michael Whatley, the new GOP chairman, has said the organization was evaluating its community engagement efforts to align those efforts with Trumps campaign. The RNC believes that the best way to take care of our veterans is by working with the veteran community to elect President Trump, RNC spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement, citing Trumps efforts to secure a pay raise for troops and his administrations investments in the military. Under President Trumps leadership, veteran unemployment hit a record low, and he signed several historic pieces of legislation into law that reformed the VA, decreased veteran homelessness, and improved veteran education benefits, Kelly said. There has been no greater advocate for our military men and women than President Trump, and we look forward to sending a true veterans advocate back to the White House this fall. Trump and President Biden sparred over their record on veterans during Thursday nights debate, with Trump pushing back on claims from his former chief of staff that he called service members suckers and losers and Biden touting his efforts to expand health care benefits veterans. Trump planned rally with supporters alongside Youngkin on Friday afternoon marks the first time the two will campaign together publicly during the 2024 cycle. Polling has shown Virginia could be a much closer race than it was in 2020, when Biden carried the state by 10 percentage points over Trump. A Fox News poll of Virginia registered voters conducted June 1-4 showed Biden and Trump tied with 48 percent each. A Roanoke College poll conducted in mid-May showed the two candidates tied in a head-to-head match-up, and it found Biden leading Trump by 2 percentage points when third-party candidates were added. The rally comes on the heels of Thursday nights presidential debate, where Bidens disastrous performance has sparked concerns among some Democrats about their prospects in November. But Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), who is running for Virginia governor in 2025, has shrugged off the prospect of her home state flipping for Trump in November and argued the contrast between the two candidates records is clear. I certainly welcome President Biden to come to Virginia, but Virginia is not going to go for former President Trump in this election, Spanberger told Bloomberg Television on Thursday. I feel quite certain saying that. Updated at 12:44 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. Biden blunders in face-off with lively Trump: 3 takeaways from the Atlanta debate Donald Trump needed to show sobriety and curb his instinct for chaos. Joe Biden had to display vigor and reassure the country about the visible infirmities that accompany his age. In the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle and the earliest in modern history, the former president largely accomplished his goal while the current occupant of the Oval Office often struggled to stitch together cohesive answers and took longer to accumulate the blows he needed to stem Trumps march to a second, non-consecutive term. Many Democrats saw it as missed opportunity for the incumbent, who is already an underdog against the first former president convicted of a felony. Biden and Trumps 90-minute debate in Atlanta was thoroughly substantive. They sparred over abortion law, the crisis at the southern border, a complicated and puzzling economy and how to make peace in a world with multiple hot wars. In most instances, Trump curbed his worst impulses and avoided the type of over-the-top attacks that have defined his persona. In fact, it was Biden who arguably launched the most brutal barb of the night when he assailed Trumps character with personal and visceral language. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties, for molesting a woman in public, for having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant with your son?, Biden said of Trumps legal travails, including being held liable for sexual assault and convicted of 34 felonies in for falsifying business records. You have the morals of an alley cat. But while Trump continued to make a litany of false claims, he exhibited energy and spark that Biden lacked throughout. Here are 4 takeaways from the first Biden-Trump debate: BIDEN STUMBLED OUT OF THE GATE The 81-year-old Biden started slowly, discharging a voice that sounded hoarse and dispensing answers that meandered without the vitality necessary to assuage voters concerns about his age. He mistakenly referenced the creation of 15,000 jobs when he meant 15 million. And when he was challenged by Trump on the economy, Biden appeared to lose his train of thought, inexplicably settling on, We finally beat Medicare. It was a gift to Trump. He did beat Medicare and he beat it to death, the former president clapped back. During an exchange on immigration, Trump went back to the well one more time: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, I dont think he knows what he said either. Biden began to recover in the second half hour, but Trump was strongest in the initial 20 minutes, when most eyeballs are paying attention. TRUMPS WEAKEST ISSUE IS STILL JAN. 6 When the question arrived, Trump at first unfurled the answer that must have made campaign aides Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles smile. Asked by CNNs Jake Tapper whether he violated his oath to protect and defend the Constitution as rioters ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump nimbly pivoted to his record on taxes and immigration and blamed former Speaker Nancy Pelosi for turning down 10,000 soldiers. For a moment, it looked like he would refuse to take the bait of defending the actions on that day. But that dam wouldnt hold after Biden cited Trumps own words calling the Jan. 6 rioters patriots and saying he would be ready with pardons in hand if he wins back the White House. He didnt do a damn thing and these people should be in jail, Biden said of those who breached the U.S. Capitol. And he wants to let them all out. Trump then called some of the people convicted so innocent, attempting to minimize his own conduct on that day. And when Biden asked Trump directly to denounce those involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Trump looked straight into the camera and refused. More than 1,400 people have been charged with federal offenses, more than 850 have pleaded guilty to crimes, including assaulting police officers, and about 200 have been convicted through trials, according to an Associated Press tally. Biden also used the exchange to label Trump a convicted felon. It amounted to Bidens strongest moment and exposed one of Trumps most enduring weaknesses. DEMOCRATS WILL RUN AWAY FROM THIS DEBATE Flash polls and focus-group snap reactions help shape the post-debate narrative, but it will take at least a week for more precise polling to truly measure the impact of the clash. Democrats will attempt to turn the page from it as quickly as possible. But some are already panicking out loud. I wish Biden would reflect on this debate performance and then announce his decision to withdraw from the race, wrote Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times columnist on social media, calling for a fresh nominee at an open Democratic National Convention in August. Symone Sanders Townsend, a former Biden aide who is now a host on MSNBC, acknowledged that Bidens start was bad. He improved throughout the debate, but this wasnt the Biden allies hoped to see tonight, Sanders Townsend wrote. On CNN, Kate Bedingfield, another former Biden aide, concurred with the assessment. No two ways about it, this was not a good debate for Joe Biden, she said. One of the reasons the Biden campaign agreed to the historically early debate was to give the president enough time to recover in case of a poor performance. Many Democrats were already expressing an urgent need for a reboot as the debate came to a close. They can only hope that fewer people consumed the debate, or will remember it by time voting begins. Whereas 84 million watched Trumps first debate with Hillary Clinton in 2016, viewership slid to 73 million in Trumps first debate against Biden in 2020. Given the early summer date in the midst of vacation season, its unlikely Thursday nights ratings will top either. The next debate is more than two months away, scheduled for Sept. 10, if both campaigns agree to honor it. Fewer fireworks, more substance: 5 takeaways from the final Biden-Trump debate President Joe Biden called his election rival Donald Trump a lying, dog-faced pony solider after the debate concluded, resurrecting an insult he used against a student during his campaign trail in 2020. After Biden appeared to struggle throughout the first presidential debate of 2024, held in Atlanta, Georgia, with rambling answers and apparent low energy, the Democratic president and the First Lady, Jill Biden, went to attend a debate watch party after the event. Biden and his wife made their way to a ballroom at a Hyatt Regency, where his campaign hosted a debate watch party for his supporters and despite a performance that had many of his own supporters suggesting he be replaced as a candidate were greeted with chants of four more years! I cant thank you all enough, Jill Biden said. Joe did such a great job. As for her remarks on her husbands Republican challenger, she asked: What did Trump do? Lied! The president then spoke for a few minutes and thanked his supporters before calling Trump a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. Theyre going to be out there fact-checking, he added. I cant think of one thing that he said was true. Look, were going to beat this guy, and I need you in order to beat him. You are the reason why America is as good as we are. Biden has previously made the remark lying, dog-faced pony soldier, including in February 2020 when he used it to 21-year-old student Madison Moore at a town hall after she asked Biden whether voters should believe he could win the general election that year after his poor performance in the Iowa caucus. "It was a Democratic caucus. Ever been to a caucus? Biden asked, to which the student nodded yes. He replied: "Sure you havent. Youre a lying, dog-faced pony soldier ... It was a little bit confusing in Iowa, number one." Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate of 2024. Bidens performance was defined by his weak appearance and rambling thoughts, while Trump dodged questions and spread misinformation (AP) The jab was met with a mix of laughter and confusion, and the student later said it was kind of humiliating to be called a liar on national TV by the former vice president. "Instead of answering that question straight-forward, his immediate response was to attempt to invalidate me by exposing my inexperience, she told Georgias The Telegraph in 2020. His campaign at the time said the line was from a western starring John Wayne in which a Native American chief supposedly calls him a "lying, dog-faced pony soldier. However, the phrase appears to have muddled several John Wayne film references together. The now-president had used the confusing line before that incident, in 2018 at an event supporting then-North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp, using it to describe her opponent, Kevin Cramer. Biden told the crowd: "As my brother, who loves to use lines from movies, from John Wayne movies, theres a line in a movie, a John Wayne movie where an Indian chief turns to John Wayne and says, This is a lying, dog-faced pony soldier." However, the phrase actually appears to mash together lines from 1949s She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and 1953s Hondo, as well as Pony Soldier, starring Tyrone Power. The line as spoken by Biden doesnt seem to be in any of Waynes movies. Biden also reportedly used the term last year while visiting Vietnam after attending the G20 summit in India, stating onstage that theres a lot of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers out there about global warming. Calls for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race are as loud as theyve ever been, with some of the presidents most sympathetic voices in media musing that, after a disaster of a debate, its time the 81-year-old politician called it quits. Bidens campaign came out firing against those calls by Friday, however, emphatically stating the president would absolutely not be dropping out of the race and that he still plans to debate Donald Trump a second time. Seth Schuster, a campaign spokesperson, texted multiple media outlets, Of course hes not dropping out. Lauren Hitt, another campaign spokesperson, texted other reporters the same message. Mitch Landrieu, the co-chair of Bidens campaign, said its the presidents decision if he wants to seek another four years in office or not. He said Biden had already made that decision by the end of Thursday night. He has to make the decision about whether hes gonna be a candidate or not, Landrieu said Friday morning on CNN. He has done that and hes gonna be the nominee. Morning Joe in Full Meltdown: Biden Cannot Beat Trump Other top Democrats have indicated theyre still confident in Biden as a candidate and president. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she wouldnt push Biden to drop out of the presidential race and added that she didnt know of any influential people who planned to, The New York Times reported. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) told the Times his message to Biden would be to stay the course. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), an official Biden surrogate for young voters, told the paper that a vote for Biden remains a vote for a cohort of people who hold Democratic values. We have a great team of people that will help govern, Khanna said. That is what Im going to continue to make the case for. Speaking at a campaign event in North Carolina on Friday, Biden insisted he wouldnt be seeking another four years in the White House if he didnt believe he was up for the task. Folks, I give you my word as a Biden, I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job, because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high, he said. After the debate, Biden chalked up his poor performance to it being hard to debate someone who repeatedly lies. Regardless of how Biden and his camp try to spin the debacle, however, millions of Americans saw Bidens struggles live, in primetime, with their own eyes. His age was showing in the worst way, with his raspy voice and struggles to make a coherent point on key issues calling his mental fitness into question. Within minutes of the debate closing, cable news airways were filled with hot takes that Biden needed to bow out of the race if Democrats wanted to have any chance of defeating Trump a second time. Ex-Obama Adviser Van Jones Voice Cracks for Biden on CNN After Debate Were still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward, said Van Jones, an ex-Barack Obama adviser, on CNN. But that was not what we needed from Joe Biden and, personally, it was painful for a lot of people. Its not just panic, its the pain of what we saw tonight. Jen Psaki, Bidens former press secretary, said on MSNBC that questions about Bidens mental acuity would make it impossible for Democrats to focus on Trumps own laundry list of issues. The chatter is very distracting, and its going to be very consuming for the campaign, she said. Should he be replaced? Theyre going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump. Its much easier to speculate about replacing Biden on the presidential ticket than it is for Democrats to realistically run someone new, however. Thats because party rules make it nearly impossible to replace de facto nomineeslike a sitting presidentwithout their consent, meaning its up to Biden himself whether he decides to step down or not. Also, with just 130 days until Election Day, a change at the top of the ticket would require party insiders to overturn all of its primaries, in which voters overwhelmingly voted to nominate Biden. The New York Times Columnists Biden Cares About Tell Him to Go Some have speculated the only way to get Biden off ticket is to have Pelosi or Barack Obama pressure him into it, but neither politician has showed any indication they plan to do that. They are, arguably, the two most influential Democrats not named Joe Biden right now, NBC News Chuck Todd said Thursday. And if they went public saying, Thank you for your service but its time for new blood, Im not sure Biden could survive as the nominee. As it stands, Biden slated to be announced as the Democrats presidential nominee during its convention in Chicago from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22. Just weeks later, hes scheduled to face Trump a second time in a debate moderated by ABC on Sept. 10a spectacle thats sure to be must-watch TV. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. President Joe Biden attempted to mop up on Friday after his disastrous debate performance, assuring a crowd of supporters that fears about his age and mental acuity were unfounded. I know Im not a young man, Biden said at a rally on Friday. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont walk as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do knowI know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong, and I know how to do this job. I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up, he added. Biden supporters, aides, legacy liberal pundits and lawmakers in his own party expressed everything from disappointment to downright panic following the debate performance. Some even went as far as to suggest the president should step aside. "I don't debate as well as I used to. But, I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth." President Biden addresses his debate performance in battleground North Carolina rally. pic.twitter.com/xUVOdpP64E MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 28, 2024 Longtime Biden supporter and liberal pundit Thomas Friedman called for Biden to bow out of the race, in an opinion piece released Friday. Biden quashed any indication he would follow their advice, telling the crowd, Im here in North Carolina for one reason because I intend to win this state in November. We win here, we win the election. 'I'm here in North Carolina for one reason because I intend to win this state in November. We win here, we win the election' US President Joe Biden holds his first campaign rally after last night's presidential debate Watch live: https://t.co/EK9F4N20ac Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/dnlhBpKsFc Sky News (@SkyNews) June 28, 2024 Many commenters noted that Bidens was markedly more energetic than at his debate performance. Problem is, he needed to do this when everyone was watching. Hope it isnt too late, one wrote. He seems much better here, another wrote. According to an internal CNN poll, 67 percent of respondents found that former President Donald Trump won the debate. Fourteen percent of respondents said they were confident that Biden could lead the country, as opposed to 36 percent who said they were confident in former Trumps ability to lead the country. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Biden claims Border Patrol endorsed him: Is that true? Biden claims Border Patrol endorsed him: Is that true? (NEXSTAR) During the first presidential debate of 2024, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump sparred over their immigration and border security policies. Biden called out Trump for separating migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, while Trump argued that we had the safest border in history under his presidency. The Biden administration had reversed some of Trumps measures that were intended to prevent migrants from arriving at the border, including legally. Still, only 3 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Bidens approach to immigration, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Did Trump actually call veterans who died in wars suckers? Trying to gain more ground on the issue, Biden claimed Thursday night that Border Patrol endorsed him and his position on immigration. The Border Patrol did not endorse Biden, though a union for its agents endorsed a bipartisan Senate proposal that the White House negotiated with Republicans. The National Border Patrol Union reiterated their stance in a short statement posted to X, formerly Twitter: To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden. Biden snaps at Trump over immigration lies During Thursday nights debate, Trump also leaned into making a link between crime and immigration a key claim for Republicans ahead of Novembers election. There have been recent high-profile and heinous crimes allegedly committed by people in the country illegally. But FBI statistics do not separate out crimes by the immigration status of the assailant, nor is there any evidence of a spike in crime perpetrated by migrants, either along the U.S.-Mexico border or in cities seeing the greatest influx of migrants, like New York. Studies have found that people living in the country illegally are less likely than native-born Americans to have been arrested for violent, drug and property crimes. Immigration has risen as a national priority, not just among Republicans. In a Nexstar survey conducted this week, 24% of 1,109 respondents who self-identified as undecided voters viewed immigration and border security as the second-most important issue ahead of election day. The Nexstar survey was distributed to users of Nexstar Media Group websites across the country. It is not scientific in nature and instead showcases a gauge of our viewers sentiments. More than 9,000 people participated in the survey from June 24 to June 25. The Associated Press and The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Biden comes to Raleigh, and so do protesters angry over his response to war in Gaza Opponents to President Joe Bidens response to Israels war in Gaza showed up in Raleigh on Friday to voice their anger as they have in the Triangle and around the country for months. The protesters represented various groups opposing Israels actions in the Palestinian territory but they were unified in their call for Biden to push for a ceasefire and pull the United States aid to Israel. From Raleigh to Palestine, we are the red line, the protesters chanted. Biden, Biden, you cant hide, Gaza is our red line. Nearly 75 protesters with Palestinian flags and banners calling for Biden to stop arming Israel gathered outside the North Carolina State Fairgrounds by 12:45 pm, before Bidens campaign rally. Security escort out a pro-Palestine protester who was shouting while Joe Biden spoke at a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Some demonstrators stood outside Gate 9, where registered rally attenders were entering the fairgrounds. Others stood on Trinity Road with flags and signs and chanted Free, free Palestine! Several cars honked in support as they waited in line to get to the Biden rally. Farrah Khan was the first protester to arrive on the scene, holding a sign calling for a ceasefire now. A Raleigh resident, Khan said she voted for Biden in 2020, but she wont in 2024. While she will still vote for the next president, she is still deciding who she will cast a ballot for. He has lost my vote and he will lose millions of other votes in an election that is so contested right now, Khan said. This is not a good strategy for him because this is not what the people want. Ruby Sinreich, a Jewish Durham resident and a member of Mothers for Ceasefire present at the protest, said she is concerned by Bidens support for Israel. Sinreich wants Biden to be the visionary leader that ends the United States unconditional support of Israel. No matter what he says, you can see through his actions, she said. Hes doing everything possible to go around Congress to fund Israel and I think hes risking losing the election by supporting Israel so strongly. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest outside of the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh before President Joe Bidens campaign rally. Noor Abualhawa, a Palestinian-American native to Raleigh, called on Biden to invest American tax dollars back into the United States rather than providing aid to Israel. First, we need an immediate ceasefire. Biden is basically pretending like he doesnt have that power, but we know that if Biden picked up the phone in a minute, he could end this war, she said. Protesters opposing President Joe Bidens military support for Israels war against Hamas in Gaza chant at city police officers in front of a state fairgrounds gate in Raleigh. We are the red line, Gazas the red line, they repeated. The protest was organized by Triangle Jewish Voice for Peace, Mothers for Ceasefire, UNC Students for Justice in Palestine, Demilitarize! Raleigh to Palestine Coalition, Raleigh Party for Socialism and Liberation and Raleigh Palestine Car Convoy. The organizations planned the protest to demand that Biden stop arming Israel when it commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, according to a press release. Despite widespread condemnation from the international community for Israels war crimes in Gaza, in April, the Biden administration approved over $14 billion in military funding and weapons to the Israeli government, giving Netanyahu the greenlight to continue their indiscriminate attacks, the press release states. Penny Laprebendere, another protester outside the fairgrounds, was there because she saw a social media post from Triangle Jewish Voice for Peace about the organized pro-Palestinian protest outside the Biden rally, she said. Laprebendere also voted for Biden in 2020, but is unsure who she will vote for in 2024 because she is unhappy that Biden has not called for a ceasefire in Gaza or paused funds provided to Israel. Im really disappointed with both parties right now and most of my disappointment with the Democratic Party is the way theyre carrying out this war in Gaza, she said. People opposing President Bidens policies related to the Israel-Hamas war gathered outside his rally at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Protester Victor Urquiza, with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, said he hopes the protest discourages people from voting for either Biden or Trump. Both options that the ruling class gives us is not an option, he said. I think more and more people are waking up to the fact that the system is rigged. Both candidates didnt really answer questions about the Israel-Hamas war during Thursday nights presidential debate, he said. The three-stage ceasefire plan Biden mentioned was a bare minimum, Urquiza said. A few hundred feet away from the protesters calling on Biden to take action in Gaza, a small number of supporters of former President Donald Trump also gathered outside the Biden rally at the fairgrounds. A few residents in apartments across Trinity Road flew Trump 2024 flags. Matthew Morey, a 44-year-old Appomattox resident, was pulled over for speeding earlier this month in Orange County, but speeding is the very least of the charges he now faces. On June 20, two Orange County deputies say they were patrolling Constitution Highway, in the area of Village Road between the communities of Nasons and Rhoadesville, when they observed a vehicle traveling 76 mph. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Matthew Morey, the sheriffs office said in a statement. While investigating the vehicle, the deputies said they discovered suspected narcotics as well as a loaded firearm. The firearm would further complicate his issues as he is a convicted felon, the sheriffs office said. Morey was taken into custody and charged with: Possession of a Schedule I or II narcotic. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Possession of a firearm while in possession of a Schedule I or II narcotic. Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon. Driving with a suspended license. Carrying a counterfeit state inspection. And speeding. Morey was transported to Central Virginia Regional Jail in the town of Orange, where he is being held without bond. President Biden on Friday condemned the decision by Iowas Supreme Court to uphold the states six-week abortion ban, saying it puts womens health in jeopardy. The court, in a 4-3 ruling, overturned a lower courts temporary block on the states six-week ban on abortion, saying the ban is legal. The move on Friday allows the law, which bans abortions once fetal cardiac activity can be detected, to take effect in Iowa. The law includes some exceptions for rape and incest if reported to the police or health provider within a specific period. Biden, in a statement, noted that Iowa is the 22nd state to have an abortion ban go into effect since the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, saying the bans are imposed by Republican elected officials. This should never happen in America, Biden said. Yet, this is exactly what is happening in states across the country since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. And its not stopping at the state level Republican elected officials in Congress have proposed four national abortion bans while refusing to protect nationwide access to IVF and contraception. The president also reupped calls for Congress to codify Roe into federal law, legislation that would be dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled House and face a narrow margin in the Senate. He also called on Democrats to stand firm against efforts made by Republican elected officials to undermine Americans fundamental freedoms. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Biden condemns Trump after he refuses to say hell accept 2024 results: Something snapped in you In his first debate with Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump refused to explicitly say he would accept the results this November if he lost. The debate in Atlanta was widely seen as a debacle with the president stumbling over answers and rambling. Trump meanwhile spouted lies and falsehoods throughout, mostly failing to answer questions and had to be pressed three times on whether he would accept the 2024 election results. Asked the first time about accepting the election results, Trump said if its fair, free, and I want that more than anybody. Asked another time, he ranted against Bidens insane military policies and said the Biden administration will drive us into World War 3. And asked a third time - to give only a yes or no answer - Trump instead said if its a fair, legal and good election, absolutely, before repeating his baseless claims that fraud derailed his election chances in 2020. Lets see what your numbers are when this election is over, Biden replied. Youre a whiner. When you lost the first time, you continued to appeal and appeal to courts all across the country, the president said. Donald Trump refused to explicitly say that he would accept 2024 election results during the first presidential debate on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images) The president noted that none of Trumps spurious legal challenges to the 2020 election results in states he lost had any merit, and none produced any evidence of fraud. You continue to promote this lie about somehow there was all this misrepresentation, all this stealing. There is no evidence at all, Biden said. I doubt whether youll accept it because youre such a whiner. You cant stand the loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time. Since they last met in October 2020, Trump unsuccessfully tried to overturn the results of the election he lost; failed to stop a mob from storming the Capitol on Jan 6; got indicted in four separate cases encompassing 88 criminal charge; and became the first-ever American president to be criminally convicted. Trumps on-stage reunion with Biden in Georgia, is also where he is criminally accused of waging a conspiracy to overturn his rivals victory in the state. Two weeks from today, Trump will be sentenced in New York after a jury found him guilty of falsifying business records as part of a scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election. The former president is also facing criminal charges in Washington DC. Trumps bogus election claims span more than a decade, and have sowed doubt among his supporters to construct the lie of stolen and rigged elections, and fueled the attack at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The former president also ignored qustions from debate moderators on whether he would condemn the Jan 6, 2021 attack. Let me tell you about January 6, said Trump, rattling off claims that we had a great border and we were respected all over the world on that day. And then he comes in and were not laughed at like a bunch of stupid people, he said, referring to Biden. Who could replace Joe Biden? Pressure mounts for president to drop campaign Who could replace Joe Biden? Pressure mounts for president to drop campaign Sleepy Joe Biden gave the Democratic Party a wake-up call on June 27. And concerns about the incumbent presidents age and mental fitness have not gone away. Last months first presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, was the presidents shot to bat away questions about whether he can effectively serve a second term, one that would end with him leaving the Oval Office for the final time aged 86. Instead, apparently battling a cold, Biden appeared frail, raspy and hoarse onstage, forgetting his words at times and at other points seemingly losing track of his point altogether. Democratic sources who spoke to The Independent and a wide range of other media outlets immediately after the debate were in panic mode, with some openly fretting about whether it was possible for their party to do the unthinkable: replace a sitting, incumbent president on the ticket after he breezed through primary season virtually uncontested. Five days later, the first sitting Democratic lawmaker came out with a public call for Biden to drop out fo the race. Many more have since followed, with influential California Congressman Adam Schiff the most prominent to do so publicly, although former House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have reportedly told the president in private that they believe it is time to go. Biden has insisted in post-debate interviews that only the Lord Almighty could persuade him to step away, his obstinate stance tempered only slightly by subsequent suggestions that convincing polling or a doctor diagnosing him with a medical condition could change his mind. On July 18, reports emerged that Biden recently diagnosed with Covid had privately become more receptive to talk of another Democrat at the top of the ticket, and could reach that conclusion as soon as this weekend. So is it even possible for Biden to drop out of the running and make way for a younger success to take on Donald Trump? The short answer is yes, it is possible. But it would be messy. Thats because Biden is not technically the Democratic Partys nominee for president. Not yet. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to hold its nominating convention from August 19 to 22, when thousands of delegates, elected officials, union leaders, activists, party bigwigs, lobbyists and others will descend on Chicago for a four-day summit at which Biden (or somebody else) will officially be nominated. The president (or his replacement) will then accept the nomination and deliver a keynote speech on the final night of the convention. The first 2024 presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump (Getty) Heres the catch: the outcome of that nominating process is already Bidens unless he refuses it. The president won all 50 states and all US territories in the Democratic Party primaries this spring, netting him all but a few of the delegates whose votes are needed to secure the nomination. Theyre bound to vote for him on the first ballot in the nominating process the same round in which unbound superdelegates, who can cast their votes as they please, are prohibited from participating. So, unless Biden himself drops out, the incumbent president will very much be his partys nominee come August. If he does exit the race, however, that would lead to the prospect of an open convention all those delegates bound to vote for Biden would spend the weeks leading up to the convention being courted by whichever Democrats jumped into the race to replace the president on the party ticket. Voters, who actually participated in the primary process this year, would have no say at all the outcome would be decided in a series of ballots at the August convention, with each candidate working to consolidate the required total. If that happens, there are a few prominent members of the presidents party who could throw their hats in the ring: Kamala Harris The most likely replacement for Biden is his deputy, Vice-President Kamala Harris, whose constitutional duties include stepping in if the president is unable to continue serving in office. Vice-President Kamala Harris would be the obvious person to step in to fill Bidens shoes given her constitutional duties but her run for the nomination in 2020 was notably unsuccessful (AP) Shes only one out of two of the likely suspects who has actually run a presidential campaign (albeit an unsuccessful one) and has the most national name recognition of any Democrat who could convincingly join the presidential race. However, the former California attorney general and US senator does not enjoy widespread public support and is something of a hate figure for the right, who have long alleged that Biden is only a Trojan horse candidate being used to win back the White House before stepping down to allow her to take over. That conspiracy theory was directly referred to in one of Trumps most recent attack videos, in which she was referred to as Cackling Kamala. Pete Buttigieg Bidens transport secretary, Buttigieg is another former 2020 contender (along with Harris) who could make a bid for the White House if Biden were to bow out. Pete Buttigieg ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 and has served as transportation secretary since Biden took office (AP) The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is naturally charismatic and has military service on his resume, which would put him apart from his fellows, not least Trump, recipient of no fewer than five draft deferrals to excuse him from participating in the Vietnam War during his youth. However, as transport secretary, Buttigieg has often been the administrations fall guy, left holding the bag when air-traffic control disasters, major train derailments or bridge collapses take place, undoing a lot of the good work he does in taking the fight to conservative media, appearing semi-regularly on Fox News to offer vigorous counter-arguments. Gretchen Whitmer The Michigan governor is widely popular in her state and is seen as one of the leaders of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party in the post-Biden era. Gretchen Whitmer is seen as one of the leaders of the moderate wing of the Democratic Party (AP) She won re-election in 2022 by a wide margin buoyed by support for reproductive rights and her management of the Covid pandemic, turning a purple state blue with relative ease. Not everyone relished her tough leadership in lockdown, though, and she remains best known nationally for a Michigan militia groups plot to kidnap her, which was fortunately foiled by undercover FBI agents. Whitmer has come out as a strong Biden supporter since the debate and has rejected any suggestion she might be interested in challenging Trump in his stead. Gavin Newsom One of the most obvious choices to succeed Biden as a nominee is the California governor, whose personal wealth and prolific fundraising abilities would make him a fearsome adversary on the money front. Gavin Newsom has pledged to finish his second term as governor of California (AP) Newsom is in the middle of a second term as governor of his state therein lies a problem, however, as he pledged during his 2022 re-election campaign that he would serve a full four years in office if sent back to the office. Like Buttigieg, he has won plaudits for arguing the Democratic point-of-view on Fox and memorably went head-to-head with his Florida counterpart Ron DeSantis who he has trolled with a series of adverts in a televised debate last year. Newsom has been an enthusiastic cheerleader for Biden, including in the immediate aftermath of the Atlanta debacle. Wes Moore The first-term Maryland governor would be a long shot for the nomination against others with more national recognition but he makes up for his relative political obscurity with an unmistakable talent for being in front of the cameras and a positive track record in his short time in office. Wes Moore gained some national profile during his response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in his home state of Maryland (AP) He has secured the future of the Baltimore Orioles in the state and has also been the public face of Marylands rebuilding efforts following a disaster that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, an iconic Baltimore landmark and essential part of the citys port infrastructure. Moore graduated from Johns Hopkins University, and, like Buttigieg, is both a former Rhodes Scholar at Oxford and a military veteran. He is also the author of five books, one of which is a young adult novel. JB Pritzker The Illinois governor has been in office since 2019. A member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owns the hotel chain Hyatt, the attorney and businessman has long been a financial benefactor of the Democrats. He won a packed primary in 2018 to become the Democratic nominee and he was re-elected in 2022. JB Pritzker won a crowded 2018 primary to become the Democratic nominee for Illinois governor (Getty) His early political career included stints on congressional legislative staffs in the 1980s and founding an organization focused on attracting younger voters to the party. Chairing the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2006, he went on to serve as a national co-chairman of Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential campaign and was a delegate to the 2008 and 2016 Democratic conventions. In a 1998 Democratic primary for the 9th congressional district in Illinois, he finished third in a field of five candidates. If there was one thing Democrats wanted to see on display from President Biden at Thursday nights debate, it was strength. They wanted to see Biden pummel former President Trump on the Jan. 6 insurrection, on overturning Roe v. Wade. They wanted him to knock Trump down with the convicted felon moniker. Instead, most Democrats acknowledged Thursday, it was Biden who was knocked down. Hard. His voice was hoarse. His lips quivered. After the debate began, the White House said he had a cold. He tripped over his words. At times, he veered off topic and in the wrong direction. During one moment, Biden declared, We finally beat Medicare, and went off-course about earned benefits. This is an honest-to-God nightmare, one Biden ally said. I cant believe what Im watching. I am watching us lose this election in slow motion. Another Democratic strategist put it this way: Political suicide. One Democrat resorted to gallows humor in a dark moment: I wish Jamaal Bowman was around to pull the fire alarm, this source said about the congressman from New York. Not only did Biden not hold Trump accountable, Democrats acknowledged, but Biden stood by and watched as Trump spouted untruths on abortion and the COVID-19 pandemic. And when Trump continued to slam Biden as the worst president in the history of our country, Biden looked back almost bewildered, as one Democrat put it. There are no two ways about it: That was not a good debate for Joe Biden, Kate Bedingfield, who served as Bidens longtime communications aide, said on CNN following the debate. Its the one night that confirmed peoples fears, David Axelrod, who served as a senior adviser to former President Obama, said on the same CNN panel. As the debate wore on, Democrats grew increasingly anxious some wondering if it was too late for Biden to drop out. They had thoughts about other candidates, too. Theres been a lot of chatter in our circles about Newsom, one Democratic strategist said, referring to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). One House Democratic member from a swing state put it this way: This was a disaster. Bidens team needs to convince him to withdraw and have an open convention. One Democratic donor was also incensed after watching the debate. We need to have a real discussion about how this is going, one Democratic donor said. We cant pussyfoot around this discussion of age anymore. We have to get serious. There is so much on the line here and what the f are we doing? Biden campaign spokesman Seth Schuster said of the president, of course hes not dropping out. During the debate, Biden did try to hit back at Trump at times. You are a child, he said at one point. And during another moment, he called Trump out on his weight. He also called him a sore loser, pointing to the former presidents loss in 2020. You cant stand loss, Biden said. Something snapped in you when you lost last time. One longtime Biden ally said the president had gotten a little better as the night went on. Trumps relationship with the truth is really something. There was also plenty of frustration with CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who did little to fact-check Trump in real time. But mostly, Democrats were incensed and worried about the coming weeks. After the debate, Biden appeared at a watch party alongside first lady Jill Biden. And some Democrats were anxious for Biden to move forward. On Friday afternoon, the president will hold a campaign event in North Carolina before heading to three separate fundraisers this weekend in New York and New Jersey. For now, his supporters desperately want to forget this night happened. We lost tonight, one Democrat said, referring to the race, not the debate. Updated June 28 at 5:56 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 The Hill. President Joe Bidens debate performance has set off alarm bells among top Democrats, leaving some to openly question whether Biden can stay atop of the Democratic ticket. He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on. But by that time, I think the panic had set in, longtime Democratic operative and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod said. Axelrod also gave voice to a conversation happening among many Democrats on Thursday night: There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. After a rocky start to the night, campaign and party officials pointed to Bidens rebuke to former President Donald Trump on the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol as a moment where the president hit his stride. They also noted Bidens climate change comments and the exchange over Trumps reported derogatory terms for veterans as high points and argued the president improved as the night went on. Vice President Kamala Harris conceded that the president got off to a slow start. What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish. And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people on substance, on policy, on performance, Harris said in an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper. Pressed by Cooper on Bidens performance, Harris offered a defense of her boss. People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear, she said, pointing to his broader record in office. Vice President Kamala Harris appears on CNN on Thursday, June 27. - CNN It was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, Harris said. Biden has fielded persistent questions about his age since he decided to make a third run at the White House in 2019. At 81, he is the oldest president in history, and would be 86 at the end of a potential second term. Thursdays presidential debate on CNN offered a key test for the president to exhibit vigor and energy and Democratic sources reacting to the debate described emotions ranging from concern to straight-up panic about Bidens biggest vulnerability. From the start of the debate, the president appeared to struggle with his voice. Biden cleared his throat or coughed multiple times, a condition that his doctor has previously stated is caused by acid reflux. He has also been battling a cold in recent days, multiple sources told CNN. Biden often defaulted to an open-mouthed, staring look while Trump was speaking. He occasionally struggled to finish his thoughts or land punches at points, ceding ground on issues like abortion where Democrats have an edge. Biden brushed off concerns about his debate performance, telling reporters that he thought he performed well while visiting patrons at a Waffle House after the debate. I think we did well, Biden said. When asked about calls for him to drop out and if he had any concerns about his debate performance, Biden attacked former president Donald Trump. No, its hard to debate a liar, Biden said, adding that he has a sore throat. Thursdays debate took place before both Biden and Trump are formally nominated at their respective party conventions. The Democratic National Convention convenes August 19 in Chicago. No serious Democratic challengers have stepped up to run against Biden, and at this point in the campaign, Biden would have to decide to step aside if Democrats were to pick another nominee. If Biden did withdraw, the Democratic nomination would be decided on the floor. Its hard to argue that Biden should be our nominee, said an operative whos worked on campaigns at all levels for over a decade. Democrats were even opining on who it might be instead: If I was Gavin (Newsom) or Gretchen (Whitmer), Id be making calls tonight, one said. After the debate, Newsom dismissed calls for Biden to be removed from the Democratic ticket. I will never turn my back on President Biden. Never turn my back on President Biden, I dont know a Democrat in my party that would do so, he said when asked about a rumbling of Democrats possibly open to replacing Biden as the partys nominee. Disaster, one lawmaker told CNN. Trump is coming off as reasonable even if hes lying 60 miles per hour. Biden is unintelligible. And one Democrat whos worked on campaigns up and down the ballot said simply: We are f**ked. Former Biden White House communications director and 2020 deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, also a CNN political commentator, described Thursdays showdown as an atypically bad performance for Biden. His biggest issue that he had to prove to the American people was that he had the energy and the stamina. And he didnt do that, Bedingfield said, though she described the performance as one bad night with a lot of campaigning left to go. Other Democrats offered reaction on the style of Bidens delivery. Biden looks and sounds terrible. Hes incoherent, said one Democrat who spent time working in the Biden administration. Horrific, said another Democratic operative. Democratic lawmakers watching the debate expressed alarm that the president was not more forceful against Trumps mistruths, nor clear enough about his own vision and what hes done for the country. First lady Jill Biden, right, joins her husband as he talks with moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash after the debate. - Will Lanzoni/CNN One Democratic congressman in attendance at a watch party on Capitol Hill with other members told CNN that the moment near the beginning of the debate when Biden was talking about the national debt and appeared to lose his train of thought and pause for several seconds before offering a confusing answer was incredibly tough. The room, the member said, went silent in shock and the lawmakers own initial reaction was that he wanted to jump off a bridge. Asked to characterize the watch partys reviews, the member said he and his colleagues have generally felt like Trump appeared young and Biden old; and that Trump was playing mostly offense, while Biden was playing mostly defense. He and Jill need to hear what folks are saying after the debate, rather than deny them, one senior Democrat said. Democrats are especially worried that Trump came across as more measured than usual while Biden was not punching back on Trumps lies. I think Joe is doing better than he did in the first 15 minutes, and Trump is just lying his way through the debate. But I wish Joe was a lot stronger punching back, one lawmaker said midway through the debate. It wasnt great. But thats why you do this in June. One thousand things will happen between now and Election Day, another senior Democrat said. Democratic Party officials questioned why Biden missed other opportunities to slam Trumps comments, particularly on the issue of abortion. Another Democratic lawmaker summed up the evening in a text: Strong on substance, but agonizing presentation. Biden advisers were hopeful ahead of the debate that many Americans would watch and see much more than the short clips of Biden on social media that paint him as feeble and weak. There is now a serious concern that that moment where he appeared to lose his train of thought will now be precisely one of those clips that goes viral. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com If Joe Biden loses Novembers election, history will record that it took just 10 minutes to destroy a presidency. It was clear a political disaster was about to unfold as soon as the 81-year-old commander in chief stiffly shuffled on stage in Atlanta to stand eight feet from ex-President Donald Trump at what may turn into the most fateful presidential debate in history. Objectively, Biden produced the weakest performance since John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon started the tradition of televised debates in 1960 then, as on Thursday, in a television studio with no audience. Minutes into the showdown, hosted by CNN, a full-blown Democratic panic was underway at the idea of heading into the election with such a diminished figure at the top of the ticket. Bidens chief debate coach, Ron Klain, famously argues that while you can lose a debate at any time, you can only win it in the first 30 minutes. By that standard, the presidents showing was devastating. The tone of the evening was set well before the half hour. It is too early to say how voters will respond and whether the president can rescue himself. But Biden barely beat Trump in key battleground states in the middle of a pandemic in 2020. His approval rating was below 40% before the debate, when he was at best neck-and-neck with his rival in the polls. It would only take a few thousand voters to desert him to put Trump back in the White House. There has been no public sign that Biden is unable to fulfill the duties of the presidency, which include tough decisions on national security. He has just returned from two grueling foreign trips, for instance. But on Thursdays evidence, his ability to communicate with the country and even to sell his own vision for a second term is severely compromised. If the debate was the presidents best chance to turn around a tight race with Trump, which has him in deep peril of losing reelection, it was a failure. Biden ended the night with the Democratic Party in crisis with serious conversations taking place behind the scenes among senior figures over whether his candidacy is now sustainable, two months before the Democratic National Convention. The president aimed for an immediate rebound at a post-debate rally in North Carolina Friday, appearing rested, defiant and animated in what was a clear attempt to a quiet a storm of questions about whether he should shelve his reelection race. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, Biden told a crowd that chanted four more years, four more years. The president added, I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. Biden went on, raising his voice,But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up. Bidens much improved performance in a scripted stump speech before a friendly audience however only further exposed his failures on Thursday night when he had his best chance to counter Trump before tens of millions of television viewers. Trumps task on Thursday was to avoid playing into Bidens claims that hes unhinged and is therefore unfit to return to the Oval Office. He largely did so as he got out of the way while the president was damaging his own campaign. The presumptive Republican nominees unaccustomed restraint, however, did wear thin later in the debate. But in one devastating moment, after yet another Biden waffle, he said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said, either. The ex-president didnt avoid his own disqualifying issues. He was uncouth and divisive. He spouted outrageous falsehoods about his own presidency, his attempt to steal the last election, and sometimes lapsed into gibberish himself, especially when asked about climate change. He blatantly lied about his role in the mob attack by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The twice-impeached convicted felon repeatedly declined to say that he would accept the result of the 2024 election if he lost and made sweeping, vague and often illogical claims that US enemies overseas would bend to his will just because of his personality. The former president also struggled to parry Bidens arguments that hed slash taxes for rich Americans and leave workers struggling, and he was wobbly on policy, just as he was in the White House. By the time the aged rivals slipped into a bitter debate about who was the best golfer, it was not hard to understand why voters have long told pollsters that they want no part of the choice they have been offered this year. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. - Austin Steele/CNN Why Bidens showing could be so consequential But Biden has rooted his reelection in the idea that he is the last thing standing between America and a second Trump presidency that would destroy democracy and usher in an unprecedented era of American autocracy. Voters who take him at his word could not help but be alarmed at his abject debate showing. Bidens voice was weak, at times reduced to a whisper. Early on, the presidents answers drifted into incoherence. He missed openings to jab Trump on abortion the top Democratic talking point and meandered into highlighting his own biggest political liability, immigration. We finally beat Medicare, Biden said at one point, lapsing into confused silence. It was the kind of debate gaffe that Democrats had hoped to avoid. Worse, while Trump spoke, Biden often watched, his mouth gaping open, exacerbating an impression of a president cruelly diminished. His bravura battering of Trump in a debate four years ago was a distant memory. To see a president struggle before millions of people watching on television all around the world was tough to see. As a matter of humanity, the personification of the ravages of age that await everyone was painful. Bidens campaign revealed during the debate that he had been suffering from a cold. But by that time, the damage had already been done. Biden had entered the debate facing a somber test to prove to the majority of Americans who believe he is too old to serve that he is vital, energetic and up to fulfilling his duties in a second term that would end when he is 86. Instead, the president ended up validating those fears and potentially convincing many more voters that his faculties have decayed. The stumbling performance raised questions about the strategic choice Bidens campaign made in pushing for a debate with Trump. It also completely undercut attempts by the White House and the campaign to talk up Bidens heartiness behind the scenes. Memories of the presidents barnstorming State of the Union address in March, when he put many fears about his age to rest, have now been obliterated. unknown content item - Painful Often, presidential debates are remembered for visual moments that become embedded in the collective public consciousness in subsequent days. Troublingly for Biden, a viewer only paying attention to visual clues would surely have formed the impression that Trump was the more robust personality. And the history of presidential elections suggests that the candidate who seems strong often beats the one who is weak. Its painful. I love Joe Biden, said Van Jones, a CNN political commentator. Hes a good man, he loves his country, hes doing the best that he can. But he had a chance tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base and he failed to do that. And I think there are a lot of people who are going to want to see him take a different course now. Vice President Kamala Harris led attempts to turn the focus away from the optics of Bidens performance to the threat posed by his Republican opponent. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, Harris told CNNs Anderson Cooper following the debate. And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people. On substance, on policy, on performance, Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong. People can debate on style points. But ultimately, this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear. Look at what happened during the course of the debate. Donald Trump lied over and over and over again as he is wont to do, she said. Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. - Will Lanzoni/CNN Bidens best moments came too late Harris is correct in her assessment of Trumps cascade of untruths. And as the debate wore on, the president did seem to get a little stronger. He was especially animated when he spoke about Trumps threat to democracy. He was scathing about the ex-presidents failure to admit defeat four years ago. You cant stand the loss, Biden said. Something snapped in you when you lost the last time. And in an extraordinary moment in a debate before millions of television viewers, Biden highlighted Trumps conviction in his hush money trial in New York. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star on the night while your wife was pregnant? Biden asked Trump. You have the morals of an alley cat. The former president was found guilty last month of 34 counts of falsifying business records in his criminal hush money trial. Last year, a jury found him liable for sexual abuse in a civil defamation suit. And Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization lost a huge civil fraud trial, also in New York. But the problem for Biden was that his best moments of the night came deep into the 90-minute showdown, by which time most viewers would have formed strong impressions. And at times, he appeared unable to defend his record or effectively expose Trumps torrent of falsehoods and distortions of his own first-term legacy. The president only briefly flashed his beaming smile, which he had effectively used to debunk Trumps absurd arguments in their debate four years ago and when he rhetorically dismembered Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan during the 2012 vice presidential debate. If the cacophony of behind-the-scenes venting by Democrats coalesces into more serious questions about Bidens capacity, the crisis around him will deepen. But it is hard to see any easy way apart from a decision by the president not to accept the party nomination that there could be any change to the Democratic ticket. And any decision to try and replace a president who has successfully run the table in Democratic nominating contests would be unprecedented in the modern age and might end up dividing the party a step that in itself could help Trump become only the second president to win a non-consecutive second term. There has been little effort by the Biden White House to promote Harris as the presidents heir and she has significant political problems of her own. And no Democrat with future presidential possibilities for instance, California Gov. Gavin Newsom or Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took the risk of challenging an incumbent who once presented himself as a bridge to the future of the party. Biden is not the first president to have a bad debate although his ordeal on Thursday far surpasses the misfires by Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan. Both those presidents bounced back the next time they got the chance on the debate stage and went on to win a second term. But while a second debate with Trump is scheduled for September, it is hard to find a tactical rationale for the ex-president to offer his rival a do-over. One Democratic operative summed up the presidents debate for CNNs Kasie Hunt with a word that now threatens to encapsulate his entire reelection bid unless Biden can turn the story around. Horrific, the person said. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Biden administration is expanding a humanitarian program to allow an estimated 309,000 Haitians in the United States to stay and legally work. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Friday he is renewing and redesignating Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS). Under TPS, foreign nationals from a designated country are protected from deportation and allowed to work in the U.S. while the designation remains in place. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Mayorkas designated Haiti on June 3, extending the nations TPS for the maximum 18-month period. The TPS renewal covers the nearly 165,000 Haitians covered by the previous renewal and redesignation in December of 2022, plus an estimated 309,000 Haitians who had set up residence in the U.S. by June 3 of this year. We are providing this humanitarian relief to Haitians already present in the United States given the conditions that existed in their home country as of June 3, 2024, Mayorkas said in a statement. In doing so, we are realizing the core objective of the TPS law and our obligation to fulfill it. Immigration advocates have been sharply critical of the Biden administration for repatriation flights to Haiti, a country thats been spiraling since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021. In May, nine Democratic lawmakers led by Sen. Ed Markey (Mass.) and Reps. Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Fla.) called on Mayorkas to stop repatriation flights to Haiti. But Fridays announcement, like the 2022 one, yielded praise from advocates. President Bidens redesignation of TPS for Haiti is very welcome news for so many families unable to return to their home country as a result of violence and instability. As thousands of Haitians are displaced and half of them children, we thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to keeping families together, Immigration Hub Executive Director Kerri Talbot said. Following the recent executive action providing similar relief to Dreamers and undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens, it is clear that this administration is committed to building a safer and more humane system for all of us. But some advocates said it took substantial effort to get the Biden administration to come around on expanding TPS for Haiti. It is very unfortunate although we welcome the announcement but the fact that we have to continue to prove the humanity and that the people deserve protection we do hope that that this changes in the future and that it doesnt have to be a battle to make this happen, said Guerline Jozef, executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. Fridays announcement will cover Haitians who arrived in the country after Nov. 6, 2022, and up to the new June 3 cutoff date. Those estimated 309,000 people will be eligible to apply for work permits, potentially easing economic strain on them and their communities. Extending and redesignating TPS is the right course of action considering that TPS-eligible individuals contribute nearly $31 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Haitian TPS recipients contribute $4.4 billion to the American economy in 2022, Jozef said in a statement. Haitian communities in the United States celebrated the move, which came days after a Kenyan police force deployed to Haiti as part of an international plan to restabilize it. Shortly after the resignation of former acting President and Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Haiti has been ruled by a Transitional Presidential Council that includes members of different political groups, including the January 30 group, which includes the PHTK party. Haitis current political situation began under PHTK leadership Moise was a member and many other groups blame the party for the state of the country. This action on TPS is an important step in responding to the horrific conditions in Haiti in a humane and legal manner, said Brian Concannon, executive director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. But long-term management of immigration pressures from Haiti requires the United States to cease supporting the repressive and corrupt Haitian leaders especially those connected to the PHTK party who generated the brutality and desperation that Haitians are fleeing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Where were President Bidens debate-enhancing drugs Thursday night, and more importantly, can his supporters access them now to dull memories of his weak performance during the 90-minute live telecast? The most-watched television event behind the Super Bowl was bad for Biden, but more than that, it triggered a seismic wave of concern among Democrats about where to go next. Biden missed chance after chance to push back against former President Trumps distortions on immigration, the economy, the opioid crisis and even his own health. The 81-year-old candidate appeared subdued and wooden during the event, often standing with his mouth agape (he reportedly had a cold). He spent a great deal of his allotted talking time in the weeds trying unsuccessfully to spin impenetrable policy specifics into wider talking points. He meandered in his answers, his voice barely audible at points. It was an underwhelming performance that did nothing to dispel attacks from the right and concerns on the left that hes too old for the job. Read more: Biden stumbles amid fierce attacks from Trump More than that, his anemic showing caused many supporters to ask if it was time to replace Biden with a candidate able to stand up to the deception and bullying of Trump and his minions. Collective anxiety across social media and among pundits reflected the real issue at the heart of the Atlanta debate. Biden had a bad night, but America had a much worse one because it did not have a strong voice to push back against the danger Trump poses to democracy. Trump dominated the debate with confidence and showmanship, speaking in generalities that circumvented real policy talk, ringing the MAGA Pavlovian bell about murderous immigrants, taking credit in response to questions about the economy, abortion and war. With little pushback from his opponent, and none from CNN moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, Trumps lies won the night. CNNs rules going into the live broadcast stated that their anchors would not fact check candidates' answers during the debate, and each contestants mic would be muted when it was the other man's turn to speak. The rules worked in Trumps favor. Read more: Column: Biden bumbles, Trump lies and we all lose The former president appeared far more civil and controlled than usual because viewers couldnt hear him interrupt or talk over Biden. He was also allowed to lie unhampered. He claimed that as president he had the best environmental numbers and "the greatest economy in the history of the country!" He said that Democrats want abortions up until and after birth. And he suggested that Nancy Pelosi refused his offer to send National Guard troops to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to quell an insurrection he helped foster. Bidens ineffectual or totally absent responses also allowed racist remarks from his opponent to go unchallenged. Trump attempted to insult Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war by saying of the incumbent: Hes become a Palestinian. As if that were a great insult. The casual racism against Arabs and more specifically, Palestinians, was one of many moments that went unchallenged in a poorly designed debate that allowed for misdirection to stand as truth. Trump also said illegal immigrants were taking Black jobs. What exactly is a Black job? No one bothered to ask. Contrast that to a 2008 town hall when GOP presidential nominee John McCain took the microphone from a women who said she couldnt trust his opponent, Barack Obama, because he was an Arab. No, maam, he said. Hes a decent family man. A citizen that [I just] happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and thats what the campaigns all about. Not a great answer, but enlightened in comparison to todays GOP. Colin Powell later said of the rights attacks that Obama was Muslim: The correct answer is, he is not a Muslim; he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, 'What if he is?' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. There was no chance during Thursdays debate that Trump was going to talk policy because he doesnt have one, or even two. Hes running on grievances and payback, and he proceeded on that track Thursday because there was no one there to call him out. CNNs stewardship of the debate broke from decades of tradition that saw the nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates facilitate and manage the debate process. The debate broadcast from an audience-free CNN studio in Atlanta is likely to deliver the cable news networks largest audience in its four-decade history. That is a scary prospect. Thursday's debate is going to require some tough decisions by the Democrats. Does the party stick with Biden and risk losing the country, or run someone who has the energy and voice to put up a fight against the bulldozer that is Trump and MAGA? If Thursday's debate is any indication, the stakes are too high to leave things as they are. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Just sad: How the worlds media covered the US presidential debate Joe Biden concerned all with a mumbled performance while Donald Trump's claims went unchallenged - JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off in their first debate of the presidential race on Wednesday night. The aftermath has dominated international headlines, with news outlets worldwide devoting swathes of coverage to the broadcast. The Wall Street Journal: debate clash Fridays print edition of the Wall Street Journal, led with the headline: Biden, Trump clash in debate on economy, border, and abortion. In a comment piece, Molly Ball, the WSJ senior political correspondent, asserted that Mr Biden failed utterly. The Wall Street Journal focuses on Joe Biden's performance and what steps Demoncrats may be forced to take next Bidens inability to articulate the case for his candidacy rambling, losing his train of thought, and often appearing confused left Democrats stunned and shell-shocked, she wrote as the Democrats scrambled to find a way forward. New York Post: Biden performance just sad The New York Posts print front page captured the essence of the evening with the stark headline just sad. The accompanying article described the president as having mumbled, stumbled, and froze. New York Post sums up Joe Biden's performance in just two words In a scathing opinion piece, the newspapers Michael Goodwin declared that Mr Biden was a complete basket case. He vehemently criticised Mr Bidens ability to lead, stating that our president is not fit to serve, dismissing any hopes of his potential for a second term. Our president is not fit to serve. Forget concerns about how old and infirm he would be after a second term. Hes a basket case now, he wrote. The Washington Post: Biden struggles The Washington Posts print splash succinctly captured the debates impact: Biden struggles in testy debate. The Post reported that Mr Bidens performance has stirred worry within the Democratic Party. The Washington Post notes Donald Trump's attacks and retorts It noted that amidst the heated exchanges, Mr Trumps assertions went unchallenged while barbs flew between the two candidates. Online, the Post said that Mr Bidens performance was halting, meandering and unnerving for Democrats. Matt Viser and Marianne LeVine, its political reporters, wrote: Neither were entirely successful during the course of 90 minutes, and both seemed to play into the stereotypes that existed before the debate. The New York Times: Biden struggles as Trump blusters The New York Times painted a picture of Mr Bidens performance as a struggle to ignite fresh momentum in his election bid, characterising it as causing a wave of panic among the Democrats. The Times said that Donald Trump verbally pummelled Mr Biden, painting his political opponent as an ineffective leader with a torrent of attacks. The New York Times echos many of the front pages unpicking Joe Biden's worrying performance But The Times Michael Gold added that Trumps barbs were frequently false, lacked context or were vague enough to be misleading. He noted a wild misinterpretation of facts, including his comments on immigration, international relations and the war in Ukraine. Los Angeles Times: Biden flops, Trump lies Similar to The New York Times, the LA Times highlighted Trumps penchant for distorting facts about Mr Bidens presidency. It noted that Mr Biden failed to push back against Trumps outlandish comments. LA Times compares both presidents as one stumbles and one makes unsubstantiated claims Lorraine Ali wrote: Biden missed chance after chance to push back against former president Trumps distortions on immigration, the economy, the opioid crisis and even his own health. She added that Mr Bidens performance did nothing to dispel attacks from the Right and concerns on the Left that hes too old for the job. The Nightly: TV disaster The Nightly, Australias daily digital newspaper, blacked out its splash, with only white text reading excruciating in capitals. America lost and in shock at Joe Biden live TV disaster, it added. The Nightly goes into mourning after Joe Biden's performance A photograph at the bottom of the page showed Mr Biden rubbing his face in apparent frustration. O Gobo: Democrats worried Brazilian newspaper O Gobos headline read: Bad performance from Biden worries Democrats. O Gobo focuses on what Joe Biden's performance means for the Democrats It led with a photograph of Mr Biden and Trump squaring off on the stage of the debate. 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. President Biden will hold a rally Friday in Raleigh, N.C., alongside celebrities Fat Joe and E-40 for his first campaign stop after the presidential debate. The president left the CNN debate in Atlanta to head to North Carolina and a campaign official described the rally as Biden riding the momentum of [his] decisive win against Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. He will hold his campaign rally alongside artist Fat Joe and musician E-40, who will each perform for the crowd. He will also be joined by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and Attorney General Josh Stein (D). The president has visited North Carolina, which former President Trump won in 2020, three times already this cycle. The Biden campaign is eying the state as a flip from red to blue this cycle. Also on Friday, Vice President Harris will campaign in Las Vegas. Nevada, which Biden won in 2020, is a critical swing state for him to win again this cycle. Biden and Harris are focusing on essential voting blocs, Black voters and Latino voters, with their Friday campaign stops. The debate Thursday night left some Biden allies describing it as a nightmare for Democrats and Bidens performance as political suicide. Some Democratic operatives and political pundits also suggested there are conversations happening about Biden stepping aside before Novembers election. The presidents voice sounded hoarse, and got off to a slow start, which included moments of tripping up his sentences and garbling answers. The White House attributed the performance to a cold. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Thursday nights debate was, and I dont say this lightly, a disaster without any conceivable parallel in modern American political history for President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party, and anyone who cares about the future of our flawed but vital democracy. The presidents performance on CNN was nightmarishly confused and worrisome. And unless he wants to be buried right next to Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a tiny cemetery full of people who invited widespread calamity because they did not know when to quit, he needs to drop out of this race immediately. Despite the fact that we are less than two months away from the start of the Democratic National Convention, there is still plenty of time for Biden to withdraw from the race and make way for someone, anyone, to take his place. Dont listen to those who say theres no timethe only thing that cant happen is for Biden to go back in time and not run in the first place. Every other option is, and now should be, very much on the table. There is no denying that we are in uncharted territory, and that a change at the top of the ticket 67 days from the Democratic National Convention would be logistically challenging and potentially divisive, to put it lightly. This isnt anyones dream scenarionot Bidens, not whoever would replace him, and certainly not ours. No one would intentionally put Democrats in a situation where their nominee would be someone who got zero votes and zero delegates in a race they skipped, and the analysts who have been warning about what a mess it would be arent entirely wrong. But the fact that the path to a new nominee who can campaign vigorously against the menace of Donald Trump is difficult is no longer enough reason not to take it. The cold reality of the matter is that many people would be tempted to call 911 if their parents or grandparents showed up to dinner sounding like Biden did Thursday night. Thats no way to head into the most consequential election of our lifetimes unless Democrats are just resigned to losing. And I, for one, am not. There are essentially three paths to a new Democratic nominee, and all are completely unprecedented. For all of American history, even when modern medicine was still a twinkle in everyones eye, neither party has had to replace a presumptive nominee this close to the election. It might seem crazy, but one path is: Biden could simply resign. And in many ways, this is the easiest and simplest route to a new nominee. When he got back to the White House after the debate, he must have seen or been briefed on the cable news roundtables, the Twitter chatter, and the general atmosphere of total panic that his cataclysmic performance caused in Democratic circles all over the country. Even if, up to that very moment, he truly believed that he was the only person in the country who could beat Donald Trump, he surely cannot believe it any longer unless he has descended into a state of unreachable delusion. If Biden were to resign, making Vice President Kamala Harris the president, it would instantly resolve any looming debate about what would happen at the Chicago convention in August. A President Harris would have six weeks to build momentum, shore up the partys coalition, and lean into the inherent gravitas of the presidency. Freed from the constraints of the vice presidency, she might just prove a lot of doubters wrong about her political skills. If Harris were even a teeny-tiny bit more popular, there wouldnt be any question about anointing her whatsoever, and it is worth noting that her net disapproval is now lower than either Trumps or Bidens, according to FiveThirtyEight. Making Harris the president wouldnt turn her into the nominee by acclamation, but it would be very hard for anyone else to compete with her. Bidens delegates would be released, and given that they are loyalists, most of them would likely do whatever he says. If he said, Kamala Harris is now the president and the presumptive nominee; lets unite around her, thats what would happen, without question. It is truly difficult to see how she could do any worse than Biden at this point. The second path is more complicated. Biden could, instead of resigning, take the LBJ path and say that he has decided not to run for a second term. He could cite health reasons, or family reasonshis only surviving son, after all, was just convicted of three felony countsor say that he has had some kind of epiphany about the need to pass the baton to a younger generation of Americans. And if Kamala Harris isnt the president by the middle of July, she would have no actual claim on the nomination, nor should she. She didnt run, no one voted for her, and if Biden doesnt endorse her, she would just be one contender among many. The crucial detail is that if and when Biden drops out, his delegates are free to do as they please. And given the looming ballot deadlines in many states, Democrats would probably not have the luxury of waiting until the convention to figure this out. A furious competition would erupt, immediately, between nominees-in-waiting like Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The target audience wouldnt be ordinary primary voters like you and me, since the primary contests are now 100 percent over, but rather the pledged delegates, as well as the so-called superdelegates to the Democratic National Convention. Thanks to reforms instituted in the wake of the bitter 2016 primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, the latter group is prohibited from weighing in on the first ballot at the convention but would definitely come into play in any scenario in which Biden drops out and Harris isnt the president. The Democratic National Committee would need to devise, in very short order, some kind of process by which the conventions delegates could vote well in advance of the actual convention that begins on Aug. 19, to avoid kneecapping that nominee. The good thing is that theres no law, internal rule, or other obstacle to stop this from happening. In fact, the DNC had already been planning to officially nominate Biden and Harris as the ticket well in advance of the actual convention anyway, to get around an Ohio problem that no longer exists. Democrats were in a panic about the states Aug. 7 filing deadline for candidatesbefore the convention. The deadline meant that if Democrats didnt move up their official nomination from Aug. 19 to before Aug. 7, Biden would not appear on the Ohio ballot in November. So they moved the official nomination up in the calendar accordingly. But Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill in May ensuring that Biden would appear on the ballot anyway. If they can move up the nomination process that easily, they can also move whatever mountains need to be moved here. They could make the convention virtual and move it up in the calendar. They could hold a series of snap debates between the leading contenders and have the delegates vote in late July or early August. Folks, the DNC is not in the U.S. Constitution, and it can do pretty much whatever it wants. But it is also possible that Biden cant or wont read the writing on the wall and refuses to bail. In that case, it is up to his own delegates to do the right thing. The DNCs Rule 13, Section J says, Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in good conscience reflect the sentiment of those who elected them. That is a loophole big enough to drive the worlds ugliest Cybertruck through, because Bidens delegates watched the same debate that the rest of us did and must surely be feeling the same sense of dread and helplessness. And there is nothing in the DNCs rules that would stop them from voting for someone else at the convention, or at some kind of accelerated gathering next month. Thats what good conscience means, and the architects of these rules must have had, at least dimly, some kind of scenario like this in mind: a doddering nominee, in failing health or deteriorating mental condition, who refuses to accept the reality of the situation. Thats where we are. And while it still seems unlikely that Bidens delegates would do this, even after Thursday nights horror show, it doesnt make it impossible. Even Wednesday, it would have been hard to imagine writing this article, given the closeness of the race. But the bottom line is that the stakes of this election are too high to hope that Biden can recover from his debate fiasco. He cant, and he wont. And because there is no guarantee that the United States will recover from a Trump restoration, the time to act is now, and every Democrat in the country needs to work together, starting Friday morning, to push Biden aside. Anything else is pure, self-destructive madness. Slate wants to help. Submit your questions here. Its anonymous! No question is too dumbor too existential. Should things go the way they seem to be going, the events of Thursday night may go down as the greatest unforced error in presidential electoral politics since Richard Nixon, fatigued and unshaven, went on-camera against John F. Kennedy in 1960. Joe Biden ran up against two sets of limitations in the June 27 CNN-hosted debate. One was that of the format one to which his campaign, like Trumps, had agreed: The commitment by CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash to simply pose questions and to allow the candidates, rather than the moderators themselves, to do the fact-checking, put him on his back foot before the event began. It takes a great debater to push back against Trumps particular say-anything shamelessness. And this brings us to the second set of limitations: If Biden was ever a great debater, he is not in 2024. More from Variety The questions Tapper and Bash posed were rudimentary, thought-starters about various issues in the news. (Were the stakes not so high, Id say that they recalled the Mike Myers Saturday Night Live character Linda Richman tossing out a notion and then saying Talk amongst yourselves.) Tapper and Bashs questions were unshapely, inelegant, not intended to draw out anything more than conflict. But then, mere conflict was the point. Were not in the era where the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates organized events that were, while broadcast on television, structured without any one networks interests in mind, built toward revelations but not fireworks. This was a debate on and of CNN the network that, in recent years, has distinguished itself with endless panel conversations in which talking heads talk past one another, ungoverned by any guiding insight beyond keeping a spirited, structureless conversation going. Toward the end of the debate, Bash held Trump to answer the question of whether hed accept the results of the 2024 election even as he dodged it. But, though she posed it as a yes-or-no question, she accepted his answer that hed accept it if it were, by his standards, fair which could mean anything. But, by the late moment in this debate this question was posed, it seemed as though Trumps answer hardly mattered: On the basis of this debate, Trump would, of course, accept the results of the election, because he is winning, and will win. Its worth reiterating: Bashs and Tappers moderation presented Biden a challenge: Debating Trump, a slippery proposition in the best of times, came this time with the obligation to check his misstatements in real time, which Tapper and Bash werent going to do. But a President faces challenges including having to do the job of addressing untruths without journalists help and Biden did not rise to this one. Some of it was bad luck, or poorly structured preparation and poorly structured rest: Bidens image as having aged out of the job was not aided by his painfully hoarse voice (a temporary condition, it seems) and his odd, gaping expression in split-screen as Trump spoke (one to which the viewing public had not been consistently exposed). Biden seemed not merely weary but unpracticed: He chose to bring up his decision to rapidly withdraw military forces from Afghanistan, one of his administrations most notably unpopular decisions, and strangely bobbled a description of what he views as the three trimesters underpinning Roe v. Wade botching an opportunity to elucidate what is currently one of the Democratic Partys strongest issues. This represents, or ought to represent, a sobering moment for the Democrats the incumbent President who refused to step aside is plainly botching a winnable election. His mistakes are his fumbling misstatements and his inability to control his gape on-camera and his willingness to stoop to Trumps level (late in the debate mocking Trumps weight), a strategy that has not once worked. His campaigns mistakes include signing on to this debate. Both sides seemed to have learned a lesson after the catastrophic first 2020 debate, in which Trump shouted Biden down at every turn and Biden was unable to control his train of thought or his temper; both sides seemed uninterested in restaging such a scene, until, suddenly, they were. And Trump has learned from his previous mistakes: While always, irreducibly, himself, he adhered pretty strictly to the time limits (with a TV junkies understanding, perhaps, that with his mic cut when his time was up, hed look like a fool shouting into silence) and kept his tenor something less than strident. Whatever lessons Biden has learned since 2020 have been outrun by the passage of time. And inasmuch as CNNs debate was a spectacle, it was a King Lear-like tragedy: The story of a man unable to accept that his moment has passed. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Two years ago, President Joe Biden hosted leaders from across our hemisphere in Los Angeles for the Ninth Summit of the Americas. It was a successful gathering that galvanized ambitious new regional partnerships on economic integration, migration, and climate change. When the presidentmy longtime Senate colleagueasked me to help organize the Los Angeles summit, I did not fully appreciate the work ahead. The prior administrations neglect and, at times, outright hostility toward our neighbors had left many countries skeptical of the United States commitment to the region. It took intense shuttle diplomacy and extensive discussions with regional leaders about President Bidens forward-looking vision for a more prosperous, democratic, inclusive, and secure hemisphere to overcome this skepticism. Success was achieved because President Biden put forward concrete commitments to work hand-in-hand with our partners to advance shared goalsdeepening economic cooperation, implementing more effective policies for managing migration, and preparing for the climate crisis. Vice President Kamala Harris leadership through the comprehensive Root Causes Strategy has created opportunities for the people of Central America in their home countries, including by mobilizing over $5.2 billion in private sector investment. Of the many important initiatives President Biden announced at the Los Angeles summit, I am particularly optimistic about the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. During my conversations with nearly every head of state in the Americas, their top request was almost always related to deepening economic ties with the U.S. through U.S. investment, trade, and more integrated supply chains. If we want to offer a compelling alternative to strategic competitors like China, we need to provide a clear onramp to the U.S. economy. Allow me to share what we have accomplished with the Americas Partnership. In November 2023, President Biden invited his 11 counterparts to the White House for the inaugural Americas Partnership Leaders Summit, where they released the East Room Declaration. This declaration kicked off a series of high-level meetings, working groups and initiatives aimed at making the Americas the worlds most economically competitive and integrated region. We are already seeing results. The Americas Partnership Platforman innovative investment framework between IDB Invest and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporationhas identified $3 billion in potential high-standard infrastructure projects and will grow that number. The Americas Partnership Acceleratorwhich President Biden and his Canadian and Uruguayan counterparts announced last yearis recruiting the first cohorts of innovative entrepreneurs who will soon start a robust training program. And, venture capitalists across the Americas have expressed enthusiasm for this initiative. We have also made progress in supporting the booming U.S. semiconductor industry by upskilling a complementary regional workforce. In January, the State Department convened nearly 200 industry, government and academic experts to develop training programs for the Americas Partnership Digital Center of Excellence in Costa Rica. In short, we are investing in infrastructure, innovation, and workers to build a more competitive and connected regional economy. Through the Americas Partnership, we are showing up for our partners in a way that matters most to them and the United States. But its not just us. Our partners in the Americas have also demonstrated their leadership and ownership of the Americas Partnership. Uruguay is pulling together a network of angel investors to finance entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, whose ideas will drive innovation in our hemisphere. Chile has initiated workshops on leveraging space technology to address regional challenges like forest fires and water scarcity. Other countries across the region have also taken notice. Eight additional countries have expressed interest in joining the Americas Partnership because they recognize the value of being part of a U.S.-led regional economic framework. I have also been heartened to see that even in todays polarized political environment, both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and House support this affirmative U.S. economic strategy for the Americas. As we look forward to the 2025 Americas Partnership Leaders Summit in Costa Rica, where we will see even more progress, I am optimistic about what President Biden initiated in Los Angeles two years ago. To my friends in Latin America and the Caribbean, I am proud to say the U. S. is committed to building a more prosperous future together. Former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd is the U.S. Department of State Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas. Joe Bidens odds of remaining the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee have fallen just hours after his debate with Donald Trump, according to one sports-betting website. While Biden is still the favored candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris remains far behind, her odds jumped after the debate, according to Oddschecker, a site that provides odds and analysis by aggregating information from sportsbooks. Bidens odds dropped by roughly 40 percent between last week and Friday morning. Meanwhile, Harris saw her odds nearly double over the same period, according to Oddschecker. Other notable Democrats also saw their odds of becoming the nominee jump after the debate. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer saw her odds triple between last week and Friday. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who spoke in the post-debate spin room in support of Biden, saw his odds double. Hoarse and raspy, Biden appeared frail during the CNN showdown in Atlanta, with the White House later saying he had a cold. Amid gaffes and misstatements, the president later rallied to rebuke rival Donald Trump over his sordid personal history and record in office. Trump repeated lies and falsehoods throughout, often failing to answer questions. He was pressed three times on whether he would accept Novembers results, and refused to say he would. President Joe Biden, walks off stage after the first 2024 presidential debate. Biden could still be replaced as the Democratic nominee, but some experts say that is so far unlikely (Getty) After the debate, two-thirds of viewers declared Trump the winner, in a CNN snap poll. Even Harris admitted that Biden had struggled. Yes, it was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone, she in an interview after the debate on Thursday. The presidents poor performance has sent many Democrats into panic mode. The expectations for Joe Biden were low, but he didnt come close to meeting them, one Democratic strategist told The Independent. Another Democratic strategist told The Independent the debate was horrible. Need to have Harris take over, the person said. Cleanest option. Harris name has been floated as a potential replacement but some experts toldThe Washington Post that it was unlikely. Biden represents a compromise holding together the broad and potentially fractured coalition of the Democratic Party, Hans Noel, a political science professor at Georgetown University, said. Any attempt to find a replacement will bring those fractures to the fore. Finding another candidate that everyone is comfortable with might be difficult. It is still possible for Biden to be replaced as the candidate but he is unlikely to step down. Of course hes not dropping out, Seth Schuster, a Biden campaign spokesperson, told The Hill. While Bidens performance was widely considered disappointing, he did have strong moments. Biden laid into Trump over his alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels and the recent civil ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carrol. The crimes that you are still charged with think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many millions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star...while wife was pregnant? Biden went on to say Trump has the morals of an alley cat. His attacks came after Trump brought up his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges. Some remained hopeful that Biden could recover from his widely panned showing against Trump on the debate stage in Atlanta. Some remained hopeful that Biden could recover from his widely panned showing against Trump on the debate stage in Atlanta. Photograph: Will Lanzoni/CNN photos/EPA Panicking Democrats were speculating about whether Joe Biden should be replaced as their partys nominee for US president following a disastrous debate performance that turned whispers about his age and fitness into a roar. Bidens shaky, raspy-voiced showing against Donald Trump at the first presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday was widely panned as a disaster that, instead of assuaging fears about his mental acuity, amplified them on the biggest political stage. Even before the torturous 90 minutes were over, senior Democratic figures and donors were calling or texting in despair and exploring the potential to draft a late alternative to Biden at Augusts Democratic national convention, although elected officials remained publicly loyal to the president. Every Democrat I know is texting that this is bad, Ravi Gupta, a former Barack Obama campaign aide, wrote on X. Just say it publicly and begin the hard work of creating space in the convention for a selection process. Ill vote for a corpse over Trump, but this is a suicide mission. Related: Defiant Biden resists call to drop out as campaign surrogates maintain support On Friday, Biden appeared at a campaign rally in North Carolina, where he gave an entirely more spirited performance, landing his lines with much greater force than the previous night and attacking his opponent with vigour. Did you see Trump last night? Its sincerely a new record for the most lies told in a single debate, Biden told an enthusiastic crowd that spontaneously broke into chants of Four more years. He challenged Trump on his lies about the economy, the pandemic, and the January 6 insurrection, called Trump a one-man crime wave and added: The thing that bothers me most about him is that he has no respect for women or the law. Biden also reiterated his standard campaign promises to restore the right to abortion and to defend Medicare and social security, and added, in a pointed nod to his debate showing that had the crowd roaring its appreciation: When you get knocked down you get back up. But observers were left wondering where Fridays energetic Biden was the night before, after the president had spent nearly a week at the Camp David presidential retreat preparing for the debate. He even sold cans of water labeled Dark Brandons Secret Sauce on his campaign website, mocking suggestions from Trump and his advisers that he would use drugs to enhance his performance. The debates early date and rules no studio audience and muted microphones to prevent interruptions had been requested by the Biden campaign, eager to bring voters attention to the discussion and the threat posed by Trump. They wanted the president to demonstrate strength and energy. But the plan backfired spectacularly in Bidens performance, which was punctuated by repeated stumbles over words, uncomfortable pauses and a quiet speaking style that was often difficult to understand. The president lost his train of thought at times, especially early on, and Trump was quick to capitalise: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either. The former president projected confidence, even when he was blatantly wrong on the facts, and seemed younger and sharper than Biden. David Plouffe, a former campaign manager for Obama, told MSNBC: Theyre three years apart. They seemed about 30 years apart tonight. He described Bidens performance as a Defcon 1 moment. Biden rallied somewhat later in the debate, launching some deeply personal attacks on his opponent, but it was too late to change his first impression. His campaign aides blamed his hoarse voice on a cold, but his split screen reactions to Trump open mouth, eyes cast down underlined his status as the oldest president in history. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate Bidens surrogates were slow to enter the post-debate spin room in Atlanta and, when they finally emerged, they largely avoided questions from the press. Instead they railed against Trumps long list of falsehoods during the debate, which were not flagged by CNNs fact checkers. At a Waffle House restaurant in Atlanta, Biden was asked whether he had any concerns about his performance. He replied: No. Its hard to debate a liar. But Democratic strategists and rank-and-file voters alike were publicly and privately questioning whether the party might yet swap him out for a younger standard bearer against Trump in Novembers election. Claire McCaskill, a former Democratic senator, told MSNBC that her phone was blowing up with senators, operatives and donors in deep alarm. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didnt do it, she said. He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age, and he failed at that tonight. McCaskill added: Im not the only one whose heart is breaking right now. Theres a lot of people who watched this tonight and felt terribly for Joe Biden. I dont know if things can be done to fix this. Two influential New York Times columnists, Tom Friedman and Nick Kristof, expressed dismay at the showing and called on the president to bow out of the race. Under current Democratic party rules it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace Biden as the partys nominee without his cooperation or without party officials being willing to rewrite its rules at the convention in Chicago. The president won the overwhelming majority of Democratic delegates during the state-by-state primary process. Party rules state: Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. However, if polling suggests that Biden might hurt congressional candidates in down ballot races, donor money could dry up and pressure could mount on him to gracefully step aside. That might involve a delegation of party elders convening a meeting with the president and pleading with him to pass the torch. Such a move would trigger a frenzied, potentially divisive contest for the nomination with possible contenders including vice-president Kamala Harris, California governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, Maryland governor Wes Moore, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and even former first lady Michelle Obama. Steve Schmidt, a political strategist who worked on the election campaigns of Republicans George W Bush and John McCain, wrote on his Substack: Joe Biden lost his presidency last night, but because it happened in June, it does not mean that Trump will win It is time for Joe Biden to begin the preparations necessary to put the country first. They will require him to say the following: I will not accept my partys nomination for a second term. Others, however, took the view that there is still time to recover after what was the earliest-ever presidential debate. Many voters have not yet tuned into an election that is still more than four months away. The Biden campaign announced that it has raised $14m on Thursday night and Friday morning money that can be spent on advertising and swing state infrastructure. Trump remains a hugely polarising figure with historic vulnerabilities, including his conviction last month in New York in a case involving hush money payments to the adult film performer Stormy Daniels, his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his chaotic term in office. Biden described him as a whiner and child who cheated on his wife with a porn star and had the morals of an alley cat. There is precedent for recovering from rough debate performances, including Obamas rebound from a poor showing against Mitt Romney in 2012. John Fetterman, Democratic senator of Pennsylvania, went on to defeat a Republican rival in 2022 after struggling through a debate several months after experiencing a stroke. Fetterman tweeted on Friday: I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. Newsom, who was Bidens most prominent surrogate in the Atlanta spin room, urged Democrats not to melt down. He said: I think its unhelpful. And I think its unnecessary. Weve got to go in, weve got to keep our heads high. Weve got to have the back of this president. You dont turn back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? President Biden lost his patience with former President Trumps falsehoods on immigration in Thursdays debate, after trying to direct the topic toward the failed bipartisan Senate border deal. Everything he says is a lie, Biden said during the event held by CNN in Atlanta. Every single one. Bidens pivot came as Trump repeated a litany of falsehoods on immigration, based on the idea that the Biden administration purposefully opened the border. He decided to open up our border, open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylum, terrorists, Trump said. Trump also leaned into making a link between crime and immigration a key claim for Republicans ahead of Novembers election making a generalized assessment of immigration based on isolated crimes. Most research has shown the presence of immigrants tends to lower crime rates because immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than native-born citizens. A Cato Institute paper published Wednesday confirmed prior research that immigrants on average commit fewer murders than natural-born citizens. The paper analyzed Texas Department of Public Safety data and found the conviction rate for immigrants lacking documentation in the state was lower than the rate for natural-born citizens every year from 2013 to 2022. Trump said the United States had become a rats nest and added that we have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now, all terrorists, all over the world, not just in South America, all over the world, Trump said. He disparaged Bidens claim that Congress should act to give the executive greater powers and resources to control the border, arguing that he didnt need legislation, because I didnt have legislation, I said close the border. Trump also compared migrant living conditions which he falsely labeled as luxury hotels to conditions for unhoused veterans. He has killed so many people at our border by allowing all of these people to come in, and its a very sad day in America, Trump said. Thats when Biden lost his patience, delivering one of his strongest lines in a debate that started shaky for the president. Everything he says is a lie. Every single one, Biden said. But Biden segued to respond to Trumps quip about veterans, dropping the immigration topic. Trump, however, did not let the topic go. He raised immigration or the border in response to most other questions. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump stood on stage in Atlanta on Thursday night and told an insane lie: Democrats, he said, want to kill the baby. They will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth after birth if you look at the former governor of Virginia, he was willing to do this. He said, Well put the baby aside, and will determine what we do with the baby, meaning: Well kill the baby. This was an easy one, practically teed-up for President Joe Biden: Late-term abortions are extremely rare only 1 percent of abortions in the United States take place any later than 21 weeks, or half-way through the fifth month of pregnancy and when they do, it is almost always because some unthinkable tragedy has occurred: a fatal fetal abnormality, or a life-threatening pregnancy complication. (These were the types of circumstances that Ralph Northam, the former governor of Virginia, was referring to in an old interview that Trump mischaracterized on Thursday night.) But Biden couldnt have fumbled the exchange more spectacularly, beginning by quibbling over whether or not constitutional scholars agreed that Roe was wrongly decided (honestly, at this point, who cares?), then referencing Georgias 6-week abortion ban, before veering inexplicably into a story about Laken Riley, the nursing student allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant. Look, there are so many young women who have been, including a young woman who just was murdered, and he went to the funeral. The idea that she was murdered by an immigrant coming in they talk about that. But heres the deal. Theres a lot of young women to be raped by their, by their in-laws, by their, by their spouses, brothers and sisters, Biden said. Its just ridiculous. Im sorry, what? What a disaster. Unfortunately, if you care about access to abortion, birth control, and IVF, there has always been a clear choice between the two ancient men running for president this year even if its not a choice that the supporters of reproductive rights can be enthusiastic about. On the one hand you have Joe Biden, a lifelong Catholic who repeatedly demonstrated over the course of his political career that he was no friend or champion of reproductive rights. This is the man who told a reporter in 1974, I dont think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body, and who reiterated that position for decades, all the way through the mid-aughts. (I do not view abortion as a choice and a right, Biden said in 2006.) Biden experienced a late-in-life conversion to the cause, abandoning his decades-long support to the Hyde Amendment and expressing his support for constitutional protections for a womans right to choose when he ran for president in 2019. To his credit, as president, Biden has expanded access to the abortion pill and issued guidance that EMTALA includes emergency abortions, even as he has remained visibly uncomfortable with the idea of abortion. (According to one tally, Biden had been in office for 224 days before his office used the word abortion itself in a press statement, and it was 468 days before he uttered it aloud.) But Biden looks like the radical feminist reincarnation of Margaret Sanger compared to his rival. The once very pro-choice Trump became the architect of American womens misfortune by installing half of the Supreme Court majority that struck down Roe v. Wade. Because of that decision, one in five American women of reproductive age live in states where abortion is banned. And, unfortunately, it could get much, much worse for anyone who can get pregnant in America, if Trump is reelected. Not only will there continue to be questions about a federal abortion ban, former Trump administration officials have begun laying the groundwork for plans to revoke FDA approval of mifepristone, implement an abortion surveillance program that would track who obtained abortions and where, revive the Comstock Act, an 18th century vice law that prohibited the mailing of any implements involved in abortion. The presidential debate on Thursday night was an opportunity for Biden to draw a clear contrast between his record, as president, on reproductive rights, and the potential disaster looming if Trump is elected again. Instead this critical moment devolved into a barely coherent back-and-forth about what constitutional scholars thought about Roe v. Wade in a broader exchange filled with missed opportunities, distortions, and outright lies. Americans deserve so much better. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Joe Biden recently went head-to-head with Donald Trump in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections - ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP Joe Bidens favourite columnists and media outlets turned on him on Friday morning as private concerns about his age among Democrats broke out into the open. Some of the US presidents most strident defenders in the American media were forced to admit his performance at Thursdays debate raised serious questions about his status as the Democratic nominee for Novembers election. Thomas Friedman, a close confidante of the administration and personal friend of Mr Biden, wrote for the New York Times: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election. Headlines after the first debate in the presidential election were not in Mr Biden's favour Mr Friedman has been a consistent supporter of Mr Bidens policy platform, especially in the area of foreign affairs. He is often briefed alone by the White House and sometimes by the president himself. The Biden family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve, he said. To give America the greatest shot possible of deterring the Trump threat in November, the president has to come forward and declare that he will not be running for re-election and is releasing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention. Mr Friedman said watching the debate made me weep. He continued: The headline of the piece initially made reference to the fact that the two men were friends but was later changed. The New York Times, which Mr Biden takes each day in print and reads on an app on his phone, ran several columns on Friday morning, with other journalists making the same point. Biden cannot go on like this, reads the headline of one. I dont think Biden should be running, says another. President Biden, its time to drop out, said a third. The main news headline of the website read: Bidens struggles in debate alarm Democrats. Mr Biden also received a pasting from Joe Scarborough, his favourite TV news anchor. The host of Morning Joe on MSNBC delivered a long monologue to viewers on Friday morning, in which he praised Mr Bidens record but questioned his future in the White House. There were similar questions in headlines of other newspapers Mr Biden is known to read daily. The liberal Washington Posts main opinion column on the debate was by a conservative, Ramesh Ponnuru, who claimed Trump is dangerous for the Democrats. The Atlantic, a liberal magazine, ran the top headline: A Disaster for Joe Biden. The pieces subdeck twisted the knife, telling readers: Watching the president at the first debate was at times almost physically uncomfortable. Even the Delaware News-Journal in Wilmington, Mr Bidens local paper, ran exclusively negative coverage. Debate reinforces concerns about the presidents age, was its headline. The American media has largely ignored questions about whether Mr Biden could be forced to give up the nomination even as concerns about his age mounted last year. The White House has pushed back on previous reports about his age, criticising the New York Times for reporting on the issue and freezing out its correspondents. Biden administration aides have described selectively edited footage of Mr Bidens gaffes as Right-wing conspiracy videos and denied that he has any issues in private. A flurry of speculation prompted by the February publication of special prosecutor Robert Hurs report, which said Mr Biden forgot when he served as vice president, was quelled by his strong performance at the State of the Union address in March. Although Mr Bidens age has waned and waxed as a topic in the US media, discussion of him being replaced remained taboo in the liberal press until Friday. Ezra Klein, a New York Times opinion columnist, was vilified in February for writing that there may be a contested convention where Mr Biden is challenged to step aside. The White House has taken to attacking media outlets that report on Mr Bidens age, including in a Wall Street Journal story that included quotes from officials worried he was slipping. Emma Tucker, the newspapers editor, said she felt vindicated about the story after Fridays debate. The reporters took a lot of grief for covering a story that needed to be covered and that no other mainstream publishers were willing to touch, she said. 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. Joe Bidens supporters rattled after the presidents dismal debate performance, conceded it was a setback and on Friday morning suggested there would be a truth-telling session about it. I don't think that you can call the debate a great time for President Biden, said Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, Bidens past infrastructure czar and a campaign surrogate, on CNN This Morning. I think he had a rough time there's no question about it. Landrieus messaging represented an increasingly frank narrative about Bidens showing from his allies on Friday morning including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who admitted he had a bad debate night, and the co-hosts of Morning Joe, Bidens favorite show. Morning shows often favorable to Biden still addressed the elephant in the newsroom Friday morning, pressing guests on a question raised by a growing chorus of panicked Democrats: whether Biden was fit to seek reelection. Biden himself could address his rocky debate performance during a rally in battleground North Carolina later Friday. When asked if Democrats should consider replacing Biden, Landrieu called it not likely to happen. As the dust clears on this thing, this campaign has still got four months to go, and I think that Joe Biden is going to be the nominee, he added. I can tell you that Joe Biden is up to the job, Shapiro said, pledging his support but acknowledging the presidents burden to show he can continue to make the case against Trump. Landrieu, who is a co-chair of Bidens reelection effort, was pressed to explain why he could effectively prosecute Trump but Biden couldnt, with the president instead delivering stumbling answers some incomplete in a raspy, hoarse voice for most of the 90-minute debate. The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But the campaign Thursday night said the president was suffering from a cold. What may be even more personal to Biden was a sharply critical review of the debate by Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough, who said now was a good time for Democrats to decide whether this man we've known and loved for a very long time is up to the task of running for president of the United States. Biden, who regularly watches Morning Joe, did not rise to the occasion during the debate, Scarborough said. Voters, he added, needed to ask the same questions of the president that they have of Trump since 2016: If he were CEO, and he turned in a performance like that, would any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him on as CEO? Scarborough stressed that he views Biden as fit to lead America, but was not keen to call him fit to beat Trump in 2024. What made the host most frustrated, he said, was Bidens inability to respond to Trumps barrage of lies and missing one layup after another after another after another during the debate. Other anchors on the show tentatively floated the idea of Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer taking soundings on what to do, given their ability to reach Biden. You wont see us spinning, co-host Mika Brzezinski added. He could not land a thought. All Joe Biden needed to do was deliver a repeat performance of his State of the Union address. Instead, he stammered. He stumbled. And, with fewer than five months to November, he played straight into Democrats worst fears that hes fumbling away this election to Donald Trump. The alarm bells for Democrats started ringing the second Biden started speaking in a haltingly hoarse voice. Minutes into the debate, he struggled to mount an effective defense of the economy on his watch and flubbed the description of key health initiatives he's made central to his reelection bid, saying we finally beat Medicare and incorrectly stating how much his administration lowered the price of insulin. He talked himself into a corner on Afghanistan, bringing up his administrations botched withdrawal unprompted. He repeatedly mixed up billion and million, and found himself stuck for long stretches of the 90-minute debate playing defense. And when he wasnt speaking, he stood frozen behind his podium, mouth agape, his eyes wide and unblinking for long stretches of time. "Biden is toast calling it now," said Jay Surdukowski, an attorney and Democratic activist from New Hampshire who co-chaired former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalleys 2016 presidential campaign in the state. In text messages with POLITICO, Democrats expressed confusion and concern as they watched the first minutes of the event. One former Biden White House and campaign aide called it terrible, adding that they have had to ask themselves over and over: What did he just say? This is crazy. Not good, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) wrote. POLITICO spoke to about a dozen Democrats, some of whom were granted anonymity to discuss Biden's performance. Bidens team was quick to defend the presidents performance. First they said he had a cold (and that he was negative for Covid-19). Then they insisted Trump was hurting himself by insulting Biden's presidential record. Biden did grow stronger throughout the night, at one point seizing on Trump's reported dismissal of fallen soldiers as "suckers and losers" to skewer the former president as the real "sucker" and "loser." At others, he hammered Trumps criminal conviction in New York. "The only person on this stage who's a convicted felon is the man I'm looking at right now," Biden said. But first impressions matter particularly to voters just tuning into the election and who were more likely to watch the first debate than the second thats scheduled for September. And instead of setting the tone of the next phase of the presidential campaign, Bidens shaky performance reignited fears among Democrats that the octogenarian whose mental acuity and physical fitness have stood as voters chief concerns about returning him to the White House might not even be able to carry the party through to November. "Time for an open convention, one prominent operative texted. Bidens team had tried to engineer the debate in his favor pushing for it to be early and without an audience. And the president agreed to hold the event in part to calm Democratic nerves over whether he could win in November. Afterward they didnt try to cover up his poor performance, but instead tried to emphasize that Trump remained a threat to American interests at home and abroad. It was a slow start, thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, Vice President Kamala Harris told CNNs Anderson Cooper an hour after the debate wrapped. Im talking about the choice in November. Im talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. And do we want to look at what November will bring and go on a course for America that is about a destruction of democracy? While some Democrats were quick to brush aside Bidens blunders Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) said Biden isnt a TV showman, hes a workhorse the trajectory of the race appears dramatically changed. My job right now is to be really honest. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight. And he didnt do it, former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told MSNBC. He had one thing he had to accomplish. And that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight. Already, some Democrats were openly saying that Biden should end his campaign. One major Democratic donor and Biden supporter said simply: Biden needs to drop out. No question about it. Biden struggled at times to articulate strong arguments on some of his campaigns biggest selling points, bungling his health care record and stumbling through a response on his support for abortion rights. I support Roe v. Wade. You have three trimesters. First time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between a doctor and an extreme situation. Third time is between the doctor I mean, between the woman and the state, he said. Trump tripped, too. He called former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis daughter, a documentary filmmaker, a fil-i-maker. He accused Democrats of wanting to take the life of a child after birth. He inflated the countrys economic strength under his presidency. He reiterated his defense of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, launching into a lengthy diatribe against the convictions of hundreds of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the 2020 election. And asked repeatedly if he would accept the results of the election no matter the winner, Trump refused to give a straight answer eventually specifying that he'd only do so "if the election is fair and free." But Trump largely did what Republicans had begged him to do: show a modicum of restraint while also laying bare Bidens weaknesses. The former president, who delights in calling Biden sleepy and crooked at every turn, waited a full 20 minutes to draw attention to the Democrats initially shaky performance. I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump said, after Biden stuttered through an answer to a question about immigration. I dont think he knows what he said, either. And in a relatively staid debate, it was Biden who fell short of even the lowest of expectations. Biden seems to have needed a few minutes to warm up," said one veteran Democratic operative. "Poor guy needs a tea. Maybe a whiskey. Another suggested that Biden get a throat lozenge. Both Biden and Trump, who is just three years younger than the incumbent, faced questions toward the end of the debate about their fitness for another four years of the presidency. Biden, with a cough, urged voters to judge his competence based on his record, attacking Trump as "three years younger and a lot less competent." "Look at the record. Look at what I've done," he said, reprising a line he's often deployed on the campaign trail. Trump then offered his own meandering case for his aptitude, claiming to have "aced" a pair of cognitive tests and pointing to golf tournament championships he's won at his own golf course as evidence of his physical stamina. The exchange quickly devolved into a game of one-upmanship Im happy to play golf if you carry your own bag, Biden shot back at one point. But by that point, many viewers opinions were likely long cemented. Fergus Cullen, a former New Hampshire GOP chair and Never Trumper who is considering voting for Biden, had warned that Democrats would need to reconsider their ticket if the president delivered a poor performance on Thursday. After the debate, Cullen said: Anyone who has watched a parent grow old, frail, and foggy recognizes what they are seeing and knows it only gets worse, at an accelerating rate, from here. Nicholas Wu and Josh Siegel contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Ga., on June 27, 2024. Credit - Justin SullivanGetty Images President Joe Biden cheekily addressed theories purported by Trump and his allies that the Democratic nominee would be taking performance-enhancing drugs before the debate in a new social media post of him with his secret sauce. I don't know what they've got in these performance enhancers, but I'm feeling pretty jacked up, Biden tweeted on X, nearly 30 minutes before the debate. The sauce in question: a can of water that Biden supporters can purchase for $4.60. The "additional facts" on the back of the can includes lines about the 34 felony counts against Trump, two impeachments, and 6 bankruptcies. Among the ingredients: MAGA tears, mysterious Orange Liquid, and melted chocolate chip ice creamthe latter of which is the President's favorite flavor. Purchases will be a direct donation to the Biden campaign fund. I don't know what they've got in these performance enhancers, but I'm feeling pretty jacked up. Try it yourselves, folks. See you in a bit: https://t.co/vD3mL9slj1 pic.twitter.com/Li4EM9mzve Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 28, 2024 The can of water also included a picture of Bidens alter ego Dark Brandon. The viral meme, which is symbolized by a laser-eyed Biden, has been repeatedly referenced by the incumbent candidate as a means to poke fun at conspiracies pushed by Trump and his allies. Read More: What RFK, Jill Stein and Other Third-Party Candidates Are Doing During CNNs Presidential Debate Earlier this week, former President Trump asked for Biden to take a drug test. DRUG TEST FOR CROOKED JOE BIDEN??? I WOULD, ALSO, IMMEDIATELY AGREE TO ONE!!!, Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. Since this spring, however, Trump has been calling for Biden to take a drug test before any debate took place. The Republican nominee also called for Biden to undergo drug testing prior to the 2020 debates, according to ABC News. Many Republicans have been talking about President Bidens potential debate performance for days. On Monday, Sean Hannity postulated about Biden on Fox News. The Joe Biden that were talking about tonight; I dont think will be the Joe Biden were gonna see on debate night, he said, claiming that Biden would be all hyped up, hyper-caffeinated, whatever it is. Rep. Ronny Jackson also contributed to these theories on Donald Trump Jr.s podcast, Triggered with Don Jr., according to The New Republic, speaking about drugs like Adderall and Provigil, that he says Biden might be taking to increase alertness. Get alerts on the biggest breaking news stories here Contact us at letters@time.com. TechCrunch Palantir now owns 8.7% of struggling electric vehicle startup Faraday Future, according to a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The data-mining company was granted more than 800,000 shares in the EV startup on October 2 "as payment for certain outstanding receivables" the equivalent of roughly $2.4 million judging by Faraday Future's stock price on that day. Palantir doesn't explicitly say what receivables were outstanding. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump came face to face in Atlanta for what was a testy debate that saw the sitting president fumble at the outset as the former president shouted out insults at his opponent over dozens of topics, only for the president to lob insults right back at him, bringing up the numerous scandals and lawsuits that plague the former real estate mogul. The 81-year-old Bidens multiple gaffes and stumbles in the first moments of the debate were surprising, given the fact that his advanced age and potentially declining cognitive ability have become the main argument for him not having a second term. At times, the presidents answers seemed to jump around in topics, miss words in his sentences and even fade out while completing an answer. More from The Hollywood Reporter While the 78-year-old Trump pounced on Biden again and again, about half an hour into the debate, the sitting president took the gloves off. Biden laid into Trump for being a convicted felon a new distinction, after his hush money trial ended in a guilty verdict and then laid into him for his many other legal issues. It escalated with Trumps reply, which was about Hunter Biden, who he called him a criminal after Bidens son was convicted of three felonies in a federal gun trial. Biden went for the jugular at that point for his alleged tryst with porn performer Stormy Daniels, mentioning Trump had the supposed affair while his wife was pregnant. Trump then did what he spent plenty of Thursday night doing: denying the accusations against him and calling Biden the worst president in the history of our country. The denials came with many replies to Bidens statements about his actions while president. One of the more egregious denials of the truth from Trump came when he said he never claimed there were very fine people on both sides of the deadly Charlottesville Protests in 2020. He made up the Charlottesville story, Trump says. That is just not true. (Trump did indeed say there were very fine people on both sides of the protests in Charlottesville.) As the insults flew back and forth, Biden seemed to gain his footing, arguing with facts and explaining his administrations achievements. Trump responded at times with sound facts and reasonable albeit, usually shouted arguments. Yet, the two got nasty with each other throughout the night. Here are some of the nastier moments: Trump called Americas exit from Afghanistan during the first year of Bidens presidency, the most embarrassing day in the history of our countrys life. Biden: He didnt deserve to be president at all theres a reason why 40 of his 40 top cabinet officers refused to endorse him. His own Vice President didnt endorse him this time. Trump: I dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, and I dont think he knows what he said either. Biden: He could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office. This man is a criminal. In a next-day column for THR, senior political strategist Eric Schultz, who served as deputy press secretary to President Obama, told Americans not to panic. Very few voters will have this June debate front of mind when casting their ballot, he wrote. When briefly speaking to reporters on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Biden said I think we did well when asked about his performance, but said he has a sore throat. When pressed about Democratic concerns about if he should consider stepping aside, Biden said, No, its hard to debate a liar. He later added to supporters at a watch party near the debate venue, Lets keep going. See you at the next one. Later Friday, at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden said, I dont debate as well as I used to. But, he added, I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Also offering his take on the debate was former President Barack Obama who wrote on social media, Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November. June 28, 7:30 a.m. This story has been updated to include Bidens Friday comments to reporters, as well as Eric Schultzs THR column. June 28, 11:22 a.m. This story has been updated to include Bidens Raleigh rally comment. June 28, 11:54 a.m. This story has been updated to include Obamas social media post. Best of The Hollywood Reporter U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump exchanged foreign policy views on Russia's war against Ukraine during the first presidential debate of the 2024 U.S. election in Atlanta, Georgia on June 27. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, boasted that he could easily bring about a settlement between Kyiv and Moscow and criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky, while Biden maintained support for ongoing military aid to Ukraine and a strong NATO. "I will have that war settled between (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin and Zelensky as president-elect. Before I take office on Jan. 20, I'll have that war settled," Trump claimed during the debate, which aired on CNN. Biden responded by calling Putin "a war criminal." "He wants all of Ukraine. That's what he wants," Biden said. "And then you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll stop when the, if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland, Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries?" Biden also pointed out that NATO allies have provided as much funding for Ukraine as the U.S. has. Trump said that Putin's stated terms for a ceasefire, which involve Ukraine's surrender of Russian-occupied regions and abandonment of its NATO bid, were "not acceptable." He did not provide any details on his proposed peace settlement. Trump also said during the debate that Ukraine has taken too much military aid from the U.S. and referred to Zelensky as a "salesman." He claimed that had he been U.S. president in 2022, Russia would not have launched the full-scale invasion in the first place. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly suggested that he would end the war within 24 hours if elected, while refraining from sharing the specifics of his plan. His advisors have proposed withholding U.S. military aid to Ukraine unless Kyiv agrees to negotiate with Russia. Read also: Political divide over Ukraine manifests in Pennsylvania, crucial US swing state Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Biden and former President Trump sparred over abortion and the role of Roe v. Wade, one of the main political topics of the past couple years, early on in their first debate of the 2024 election. Trump sought to emphasize his role in the overturning of Roe, which protected a federal right to abortion, in 2022 and argue that the issue should be left to the states to decide, while Biden slammed him and accused him of threatening womens reproductive rights. Trump said he agreed with the Supreme Courts decision upholding the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, which is used in a majority of abortions nationally. I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it, he said. He repeated his past claims that everybody from both parties wanted the issue of abortion returned to the states. Now the states are working it out, he continued, adding that the country is coming together on this issue. Biden responded that the courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe, was a terrible thing and argued that Trumps claim that everyone was opposed to Roe is ridiculous. The idea that states are able to [ban abortion] is a little like saying were going to turn civil rights back to the states, he said. Trump said some states are taking more liberal policies or more conservative policies but are voting on the issue. Biden emphasized his support for Roe, which ensured a right to abortion for a certain stages of pregnancy with states permitted to enact restrictions for late-term abortions, to a question from moderator Dana Bash about restrictions he supports. Biden has previously said hes not big on abortion as a practicing Catholic but thinks Roe got it right. The discussion came on the same day that the Supreme Court released its ruling requiring federally funded hospitals in Idaho to allow abortions in cases of medical emergencies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden speaks at a campaign rally Friday in Raleigh, N.C., one day after his poor debate performance against Donald Trump. (Matt Kelley / Associated Press) President Biden beat back calls Friday from allies that he consider bowing out of his reelection bid, following up Thursday's weak debate performance with a firmly voiced promise to defeat former President Trump. "I give you my word as a Biden: I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job," he said at a boisterous rally in North Carolina with his wife, Jill Biden, as Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" played behind him. The show of determination including his ability to project his voice and crack jokes while reading from a teleprompter presented a starkly different image of the president than at Thursday night's debate, where he hoarsely fumbled his words, often lost his train of thought and failed to rebut many of Trump's talking points and false claims. "I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," the 81-year-old Biden said Friday. "I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job." "I know like millions of Americans know," he continued. "When you get knocked down you get back up." The speech is unlikely to quell the concern among independent voters and many of Biden's allies that he blew the debate, by far his biggest opportunity to dispel doubts about his age and acuity. He awoke Friday to a torrent of liberal columnists, Democratic operatives and his favorite television host questioning whether he should drop out of the presidential race following a debate performance that focused attention on his advanced age. If he were CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him on as CEO? asked Joe Scarborough during a tough opening monologue of his MSNBC show "Morning Joe." Read more: Column: Biden's debate gamble went spectacularly wrong. Now Democrats are in panic mode The question before Biden is momentous. He and other Democrats have called Trump an existential threat to democracy and many of those calling for Biden to step aside cited the importance of keeping Trump out of the White House as their overriding concern, even as many defended Biden's job performance beyond the debate. Party rules make it virtually impossible to replace Biden without his consent, and he showed little indication Friday that he would bow out. Even if Biden has a change of heart, it presents a raft of risks and obstacles, including settling on a replacement at a brokered convention and selling a new candidate to the American public in a 2-month sprint. Vice President Kamala Harris, the most obvious heir apparent, has struggled in polls along with Biden. Other potential replacements include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who have not been tested on the national stage. Its not clear by panicking and pushing out Biden that [Democrats] will be in a better position," said Gil Duran, a former aide to Harris and other Democrats. "Then the narrative becomes, Oh, my God, this has never been done before, the Democrats are creating a historic mistake, no one changes course midstream. Theres really no way to win. The question Friday was whether people close to Biden would urge him to make that decision and whether he would listen if they did. In the immediate aftermath, even his closest allies conceded that he struggled. "Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know," former President Obama wrote on the social media platform X. "But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself." Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) said he didn't know whether the party should urge Biden to withdraw but did not close the door either urging a thoughtful discussion while conceding there is not much time. "There's nothing about this that's simple," he said in an interview. "Everybody's got to sort this out the best way they can. And I do think that some time to gather perspective is really important." He regretted that Biden failed to refute Trump's "fire hose of lies and wildly extreme statements." "I hope he's out there mustering as much energy and good messaging as he can," Huffman added about Biden. "We just had a rough night last night, and it was one of the messiest, ugliest presidential debates I've ever seen, probably the worst." Biden was hoping to erase the bad reviews with the campaign rally in North Carolina, projecting an optimistic signal that his campaign was trying to expand the electoral map. The last time the reliably red state voted for a Democrat was when Obama ran in 2008. But recent elections have been tight Trump beat Biden there by 1.3 percentage points in 2020. But even before the debate, the Biden and Trump campaigns' travel schedules indicated vulnerability for the incumbent. Harris was scheduled to address Latino voters in Nevada on Friday, while Trump was headed to Virginia. Both states last voted for a Republican to win the White House in 2004, indicating that Trump's campaign is trying to grow his electoral map while Harris is trying to shore up a Democratic state where the presumptive GOP nominee has been leading in the polls for months. In the aftermath of the face-off, the Biden campaign appeared to be putting out a concerted message acknowledging that the president's performance was subpar, while also pointing to the many falsehoods Trump uttered during the debate. "Look, he had a bad night," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat and Biden campaign surrogate, said on Fox News. "It's incumbent upon us to go out and make the case about how the country is moving in the right direction versus what you saw from the former president, which is a list of grievances." Trump told Fox News Digital he did not expect Biden to withdraw either. "No, I dont think so," he said. "No one else would have been better." Read more: Newsom praises Biden, shoots down post-debate questions about replacing him Advisors who spoke anonymously tried to downplay the importance of the face-off with Trump, which they said he won on substance, by noting that debates seldom move polls. And some Democrats were publicly urging their fellow party members to stay the course. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York offered a terse "no" when asked by reporters whether Biden should drop out. "Republicans are like Tammy Wynette, they stand by their man," said Elizabeth Ashford, a longtime California political consultant who has advised Harris and others. "And if Dems want to win in November, we must do the same." Christine Pelosi, a longtime delegate to the Democratic National Convention and daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), the former House speaker, doubted Biden would withdraw but said he must act quickly to change the perception he created in the debate. "Needs a course correct and a timely long unscripted interview to show that this was a terrible debate as Obama and Reagan both had with their first re-elect debates and not an ongoing condition," she said in a text message. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. With the Bidens in Raleigh, expect traffic jams between the airport and fairgrounds President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be in Raleigh on Friday to host a post-debate campaign rally at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. And with their arrival, traffic jams are likely to follow. The Bidens are expected to arrive about 12:30 at the Jim Graham Building, the largest of the fairgrounds buildings. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will join them. Protests may also crop up in the area with various social media accounts calling on people to assemble near the fairgrounds against what they see as Bidens mishandling of the Israel-Hamas war. Between the rally and potential protests, traffic congestion will likely begin early in the day. The local police typically close off the roads for visiting presidents and their entourage. But its unclear which areas beyond the ones surrounding the fairgrounds could see the most traffic. Should Biden be staying at a hotel near RDU, the fastest route from the airport to the fairgrounds, according to Google Maps, is via Interstate 40 East, to Wade Avenue, then to Blue Ridge Road. Raleigh Police Lt. Jason Borneo told The N&O Thursday that like past visits, the agency will collaborate with the United States Secret Service to assist with road closures, traffic detours, and site security. Borneo said the specific strategies related to the President and First Ladys safety and security will not be disclosed. Extensive planning and resource allocation have gone into the visit. He said the community should expect extended road closures along the motorcade route and at the event site. State Highway Patrol spokesperson Christopher Knox told the N&O the agency would not be handling traffic control or security. Biden and Trump visits Biden and former President Donald Trump have both made multiple visits to North Carolina this year. Most recently, Biden visited North Carolina in late April in a stop to Charlotte to honor law enforcement officers killed in a mass shooting. Biden was also in Raleigh in late March alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at the John Chavis Memorial Park to speak on affordable health care. Trump was most recently in the state attending NASCARs Coca-Cola 600 in Concord. He also was set to hold a rally in Wilmington in late April but this was canceled due to severe weather. By David Dolan and Heekyong Yang TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Joe Biden's shaky performance in the U.S. presidential debate drew stunned global reactions on Friday, prompting public calls for him to step aside and likely leaving some of America's closest allies steeling for Donald Trump's return. Biden's supporters had hoped Thursday's debate would erase worries that he was too old to serve but footage of the president sounding hoarse and stumbling over his words boosted Trump, said politicians, analysts and investors. Global newspapers were also damning. France's Le Monde compared Biden to a shipwreck. Britain's left-leaning Daily Mirror called his performance a "gaffe-strewn nightmare". Germany's Bild newspaper ran with "Good night, Joe!" and the Sydney Morning Herald said "Trump monstered Biden. The Democrats can't win with Joe." "Joe Biden can't do it," said Matteo Renzi, a centrist who was close to the Democrats while serving as Italy's prime minister. Renzi said on X that Biden had served the United States with honour, adding: "He doesn't deserve an inglorious ending, he doesn't deserve one. Changing horses is a duty for everyone." For Japan and South Korea, among the closest U.S. allies in Asia, relations with Trump's administration were at times strained by his demands for more payments towards military assistance and by trade tensions. Countries including Japan and Germany have started laying the groundwork for a possible Trump return as his campaign gathered steam. "Mr Trump didn't win but Mr Biden might have imploded," said Kunihiko Miyake, a Japanese former diplomat and now research director at the Canon Institute for Global Studies, a think tank. "Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies. Still, Mr Trump is unpredictable." Peter Lee, research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said he expected Trump to be "very tough" second time around in pressuring allies to increase defence spending. As president, Trump started a tariff war with China, and has floated tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods if he wins the Nov. 5 election. Overseas firms dependent on U.S. markets, such as automakers, would be wary of the heightened possibility of Trump's return given the "myriad" of tariff-related policies he imposed during his previous term, said Lee Jae-il, analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. Stephen Lee, chief economist at Meritz Securities in Seoul, said Trump "might not just target China but impose tariffs against other countries as well under the concept of American exceptionalism." WAR IN UKRAINE In Europe, Trump's criticisms of NATO and demands that other members pay more dominated his previous administration. His scepticism towards NATO is causing further anxiety as Russia's war in Ukraine continues. "American democracy killed before our eyes by gerontocracy!" said Guy Verhofstadt, a member of the European parliament and a former prime minister of Belgium who posted pictures of Biden and Trump on X. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously cheered on Biden's prospects for re-election, but a senior defence figure in the ruling coalition lamented Biden's performance and urged Democrats to find another candidate. "The fact that a man like Trump could become president again because the Democrats are unable to put up a strong candidate against him would be a historic tragedy that the whole world would feel," Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, of the liberal FDP party, told the Rheinische Post paper. A spokesperson for Scholz did not comment on the specifics of the debate, but said the chancellor valued Biden highly and had never spoken to Trump as their terms did not overlap. During the debate, Trump accused Biden of not standing up to China on trade. He also said China's Xi Jinping, North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin "don't respect" Biden and that he was driving the country "into World War Three". Biden retorted by saying Trump's tariff proposals would result in higher costs for American consumers, and that he "cuddles up" to the likes of Kim and Putin. Putin has said it made little difference to Russia who was in the White House. On Friday, the Kremlin declined comment on what it said was an internal U.S. matter. Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labour party that leads polls before a July 4 election, said Britain's relationship with the U.S. was strong and "above the individuals." In Sydney, several Australian officials and experts had attended a workshop titled "Trump 2.0" as the debate was aired. "The overwhelming feeling from today is that it was a disaster for Biden," said Peter Dean, a professor at the United States Studies Centre in Sydney who was at the workshop. "The mood has changed considerably after the debate and the general view is that if you weren't preparing for a Trump 2.0 then that is the smart play and the smart move now." (Reporting by David Dolan and Tim Kelly in Tokyo, Heekyong Yang, Hyunsu Yim and Jihoon Lee in Seoul and Lewis Jackson in Sydney, Friederike Heine in Berlin, Crispian Balmer in Rome, Sarah Young in London; Writing by John Geddie and Matthias Williams; Editing by Miral Fahmy, Alex Richardson and Timothy Heritage) WASHINGTON After months of watching their Republican colleagues answer for the chaos in their party, it was Congress Democratic lawmakers who had to respond to the tough questions on Friday. The morning after President Joe Bidens shocking first debate of the 2024 White House campaign against presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump marked by stumbles, freezes and an unforgettable gaffe that the Democratic incumbent finally beat Medicare his party's elected officials were swarmed by reporters asking whether it was time to abandon Biden as their nominee. Those lawmakers who may stand a chance of convincing Biden to drop out of the race, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., ignored shouted questions as they entered the historic chamber. They kept their heads down, though they answered questions after they later emerged. A number of Democratic staffers trailed their bosses to ensure they wouldnt veer off message. Other Democrats quickly left the Capitol and ducked any questions about Bidens debate performance, flying out of Washington for a week-long Fourth of July recess. Lawmakers who did speak with reporters acknowledged Bidens performance was not his best, but brushed off inquiries about whether he is the best choice to represent Democrats as they face off against Trump the former president who many in the Democratic Party see as an existential threat to U.S. democracy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. It was not his best time, but it was one event, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the former chairman of the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. His policies make sense for the country and a lot of us are sticking with him. The president got off to a bad start, said Pelosi, who added that she thought Biden later came through okay on the issues. Biden performed horribly last night, Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., said. I think a lot of my friends are not at the logical point right now. I think people are panic stricken, Cleaver said of his fellow Democrats calls to switch out Biden for a different nominee. Democratic pundits and strategists have raised the prospect of holding an open contest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August in an attempt to replace Biden with another nominee on the November ticket. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said it was not my position to say whether Biden should drop out of the race: I stand behind the ticket. Stay the course. Chill out, said Clyburn to those in his party pushing for a replacement. He said it was a poor performance, but who classifies the end result by one segment, one performance? That was strike one, he later added. If this were a ball game, hes got two more swings. Joe Biden is going to be our nominee. End of story, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who was at at the debate as a surrogate on behalf of the Biden campaign, told reporters Friday. Were gonna unite behind Joe Biden. One of Biden's top campaign surrogates, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told reporters: "We have a great team of people that will help govern and that is what I'm going to continue to make the case for," in what appeared to be a tacit admission Biden needs others' help to lead. Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democrat presidential candidate, U.S. President Joe Biden are seen on television as people attend a watch party for the first U.S. presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, at Union Pub on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 27, 2024. There was little attempt from Democrats to spin the narrative given Bidens shaky performance. Those that did tried to focus on Trumps myriad false claims on the debate stage, including that he offered National Guard troops to protect the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Thompson blamed the debate moderators for not fact-checking Trumps claims, despite the Biden campaign proposing the debates and agreeing to the parameters. It was Bidens staffers, Thompson said, who erred. His advisors and others should have helped him come up with the ground rules for the debate and obviously most people would have chosen ground rules (so) at least people couldnt get up and say something that factually wasnt true, Thompson said. Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., acknowledged Biden had the opportunity to discredit Trump and rebuke his false claims, but it didnt happen. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., went further and said Biden should not proceed with a second debate against Trump, which is currently scheduled for September. A Biden campaign adviser told USA TODAY the president does not plan to drop out of the race and is committed to taking part in a second debate against Trump. Democrats in competitive races rebuffed the electoral risks of having Biden at the top of the ticket. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, said he doesn't think the debate performance will have "any impact" on the Senate race his colleague Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, is running against Sen. Ted Cruz in the Lone Star state. "I think the American public wants a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate," Veasey said. The performance that I have between now and November and the record that I have voting in Congress thats whats going to give people the confidence to reelect me in my district, Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., one of the most vulnerable House Democrats said, declining to say whether he has concerns about Bidens presence on the ticket. Were a purple state. Were always worried about Michigan, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who is close to the states Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, an oft-mentioned contender for the Democratic nomination if Biden were not running. Im not part of the drama of this town that demands because somebody had a bad night were in a crisis. Lets see what happens. Meanwhile, Republicans were gloating about Trumps performance. Thursday nights debate offered a massive sense of vindication for GOP lawmakers who have relentlessly attacked Biden over his age and mental fitness to serve. There was only one man on that stage who is capable and qualified of being elected president in the next term, and his name is Donald J. Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters. President Biden showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble and he said a number of things that are just demonstrably untrue. Trump demonstrated command talking about issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Joe Biden? said Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., one of the nearly 20 Republicans seen as an option for Trump's vice-presidential running mate. Shrugging and cracking a smile, Donalds added: My Democrat colleagues Ill let them talk about that. Contributing: Joey Garrison Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified one of the lawmakers who commented on President Biden's debate performance. The quote came from Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Biden's debate performance, Dems shift tone on president Billionaire-led corporations launch campaign to sway US Supreme Court in future-altering lawsuit: 'I have never, ever seen this kind of overt political campaign' Dirty energy allies are rallying to shield companies such as Chevron from lawsuits that would force them to pay for climate damages, the Guardian reported. What's happening? A number of states and cities are suing Big Oil for an alleged decadeslong misinformation campaign about the dangers of burning fossil fuels. Honolulu is at the center of this battle with a lawsuit that could force big players in the industry to pay for climate damages. Though Hawaii's supreme court said the city's suit can go to trial, oil companies petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in February to review the state court's decision. The request argues that the case should be thrown out because pollution is a federal issue, not a state one, per the Guardian. Meanwhile, industry allies backed by billionaire-led corporations have launched an organized campaign to sway the court, publishing opinion pieces in several national outlets such as Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal and leading a social media campaign. "I have never, ever seen this kind of overt political campaign to influence the court like this," Patrick Parenteau, senior fellow for climate policy and a professor at Vermont Law School, told the Guardian. Why is this campaign concerning? According to the Guardian, if the court grants the oil industry's request, it could spark the dismissal of other similar climate lawsuits. This is concerning for human health, as dirty fuels such as oil, gas, and coal release nitrogen oxides into the air when burned, leading to smog and acid rain, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Breathing in the pollutants in smog can contribute to respiratory disorders, cardiovascular dysfunction, neurological disorders, and cancer. Excess nitrogen in the air can also pollute water bodies, leading to harmful algal blooms and oxygen-deprived aquatic zones, the EPA states. Dirty energy also accounts for more than 75% of all planet-warming pollution, per the United Nations. As global temperatures continue to rise, we can expect to see more severe weather that threatens communities and food security. What's being done about dirty energy? Aside from the pending lawsuits against the industry, several cities and countries are taking a proactive approach to wean themselves off planet-warming fuel sources. For instance, Wales is banning most new roadway projects to reduce carbon pollution, and Los Angeles outlawed gas power in all newly constructed buildings. Many major corporations are changing their approach as well. For one, HSBC, one of the world's biggest banks, will no longer finance oil and gas fields. Plus, companies including Microsoft, Walmart, Apple, and Meta are now America's biggest corporate solar energy users. You can make a difference by changing the way you get around try riding your bike more or taking public transit. You can also make your next car an electric vehicle. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. The vast majority of Americans 82%, according to a recent Marist poll support allowing abortions at any stage of pregnancy to protect the life or health of the pregnant person. But five of the 14 states with bans Idaho, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi have an exception only to prevent death. (Getty Images) Michigan House members passed a legislation package Wednesday aimed at giving pregnant people increased access to health care services. The package focuses on preventative care for pregnant people and their infants to reduce the chances of complications before, during and after the birth. You see in Michigan, our states of maternal morbidity are still abysmal in 2024, and the rates for people of color are even worse, state Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) said. My mother, an OB-GYN nursing instructor, talks to me often about some of the saddest cases of pregnancy complications she witnessed that most of the time could have been prevented. About 80 to 90 people die every year in the state from a maternal death, and 64% of those deaths are preventable, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Additionally, 6.2 out of 1,000 infants die every year in Michigan, with variations depending on race. Infants with a Black mother are more likely to die than infants with a white mother in their first year, according to a KFF study. The maternal health care package generally passed with bipartisan support, with the number of GOP votes varying between bills. All 10 bills will now head over to the Senate. For far too long, birthing mothers in this country and in this state, frankly, have been being ignored, Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown Twp.) said. We have not been listening to our moms telling us what we need. A woman knows what to do when she gives birth, and we need to listen to the power of that woman. HB 4728 loosens requirements for regular breast milk donors by not requiring them to test every three months. HB 5027 requires the Michigan DHHS to establish screening availability requirements for people on Medicaid. HB 5166 established a state-managed perinatal quality collaborative (PQCs) which would have offices in all ten of Michigans prosperity regions. The collaborative is typically aimed at finding interdisciplinary solutions to maternal and infant mortality, and it would collect data to learn more about health in different regions of the state. They (PQCs) are well-established, evidence-based networks that have been working tirelessly to address and improve perinatal care across the nation and right here in the great state of Michigan, said Rep. Stephanie Young (D-Detroit), who sponsored HB 5166. HB 5167 and HB 5168 allows people on Medicaid to access blood pressure monitors while they are pregnant or postpartum. Health problems related to blood pressure are among the main causes of maternal mortality. Another cause of death for new parents is mental health concerns, including depression and drug use. HB 5169, HB 5170 and HB 5171 requires health professionals to offer someone who has given birth a mental health screening for up to 18 months after the birth. If needed, the health professional would also be required to direct the person towards resources, including treatment or referrals. Medicaid would have to cover these screenings, in addition to other health insurers in Michigan. HB 5172 creates a designation system for health care organizations that provide maternal care. The Michigan DHHS would give the organization a designation between I and IV, with I providing the most basic care and IV providing the most advanced. Finally, HB 5173 makes information available to parents about enrolling their newborn in an insurance plan. The information would be developed by the DHHS and the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS). The post Bills aimed at preventing maternal and infant deaths clear Michigan House appeared first on Michigan Advance. Bills on housing, hemp and shrimp among new Georgia state laws taking effect July 1 With housing particularly affordable housing in short supply across Georgia, two new state laws about to take effect are aimed at an especially challenging group affected by the shortage: the homeless. The two bills, which the General Assembly passed overwhelmingly this year, are among a host of new laws covering a wide range of policy areas that take effect July 1. On the housing front, lawmakers passed the Safe at Home Act offering new rights to tenants of rental properties designed to curb a high eviction rate in Georgia that drives up homelessness. The second housing bill brings an accountability component to the State Housing Trust Fund intended to help Georgians overcome the root causes that lead to homelessness. House Bill 404, the Safe at Home Act, provides renters in Georgia new rights by requiring rental properties to be fit for human habitation upon signing a lease. Landlords also will be required to maintain their properties throughout the lease. Its pretty common-sense stuff, said state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, the bills chief sponsor. We shouldnt have people living in third-world conditions in a first-world country. Elizabeth Appley, a lawyer and public policy advocate in Georgia, said the bill is long overdue. Weve been working on it for a number of years, she said. Georgia is an outlier in providing even basic protections (for tenants). House Bill 1410 amends the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless by requiring program participants for the first time to meet certain accountability requirements to qualify. Those eligible to enroll in the new program can receive funding for transitional housing for up to 18 months. This is really the Georgia way to address homelessness, said House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Dacula, the bills chief sponsor. Right now, federal funds prohibit testing participants for sobriety. By prohibiting testing for sobriety, participants face the same challenges they did while homeless. This is to put them on the path to sobriety. Unlike the federal program, Georgias approach will require participants to maintain sobriety from drug or alcohol use, participate in job training while pursuing an active search for employment, take part in mental health-care and substance-abuse counseling if necessary, and submit to drug and alcohol testing. Efstration said House Bill 1410 moves Georgia away from the Housing First approach, which asserts that anyone experiencing homelessness should be connected to a permanent home as quickly as possible, and programs should remove requirements for sobriety or absence of a criminal record. The federal restrictions, I believe, are a barrier to fixing the problem, he said. This comes from my experience as an accountability court prosecutor. But Appley said forcing homeless applicants to comply with a series of requirements before they can qualify for housing and get a roof over their heads is the wrong approach. Housing First is a model that works to help homeless people leave homelessness, she said. Without that, its hard if not impossible to meet these requirements. Whatever qualms some lawmakers might have had about imposing accountability requirements on the homeless evidently were overcome by a dire need for housing in Georgia. House Bill 1410 cleared the General Assembly with only one no vote in the House and one in the Senate. What we need is more funding for housing in Georgia, Appley said. Its desperately underfunded. Other bills that will take effect on Monday include: House Bill 1010 doubles paid parental leave for state workers following the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child in their home, providing a total leave of up to 240 hours. The General Assembly passed legislation three years ago authorizing 120 hours of paid parental leave for state employees. House Bill 1332 The No Patient Left Alone Act ensures visitation rights for patients in hospitals or nursing homes. The bill was championed by Rep. Matt Hatchett, R-Dublin, whose mother died alone of COVID in a hospital. Senate Bill 420 prohibits foreign nationals or agents of foreign nationals from countries designated as adversaries by the U.S. Commerce Department from buying agricultural land in Georgia. Senate Bill 494 establishes regulations for the licensing and production of hemp products and prohibits their sale to anyone under age 21. House Bill 1341 declares the white shrimp Georgias official crustacean, a move designed to promote the product in restaurants and grocery stores. What Are Black Jobs? Trumps Presidential Debate Comments On Black Americans, Immigration And More Draw Criticism What Are Black Jobs? Trumps Presidential Debate Comments On Black Americans, Immigration And More Draw Criticism | Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images The first presidential debate of 2024 in Atlanta saw heated discussions on the economy, unemployment and immigration. Former President Donald Trump made controversial remarks on immigration and Black Americans, prompting both lawmakers and social media to question the validity and implications of those statements. As Novembers presidential election approaches, the debate provided an opportunity to address critical issues influencing voters. However, when the topic turned to Black voters, President Joe Biden discussed his achievements since taking office in 2020, highlighting advancements in resources for Black maternal health, the growth of new Black-owned businesses, and reductions in the Black unemployment rate, News One reported. Trump countered these achievements by arguing that Biden had tarnished the strong economic record he claimed to have left behind from his term. He asserted that Bidens policies had allowed millions of immigrants into the country and alleged that Hispanics were displacing Black Americans in what he called Black jobs. Trump: "His big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking Black jobs now." pic.twitter.com/JmZSy2LDxC Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2024 Theyre taking Black jobs now, and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people, Trump said, according to HuffPost. Theyre taking Black jobs, and theyre taking Hispanic jobs, and you havent seen it yet, but youre gonna see something thats going to be the worst in our history, he added. His claims led Black lawmakers, journalists and social media users to inquire about his characterization and classification of those positions. As one of less than 60 black women to swear into Congress, Im assuming Trump doesnt think my job is a black job, but MY BLACK TAIL will be up early to do the work of my amazing & beautiful coalition of people that make up TX-30! Ill show up & fight MAGAs BS on their behalf EVERY damn day that they allow me to! The seat will always belong to the people & Im humbled & honored to serve them! Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett wrote regarding her Texas district on X, formerly Twitter. As one of less than 60 black women to swear into Congress, Im assuming Trump doesnt think my job is a black job, but MY BLACK TAIL will be up early to do the work of my amazing & beautiful coalition of people that make up TX-30! Ill show up & fight MAGAs BS on their behalf Jasmine Crockett (@JasmineForUS) June 28, 2024 Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was also confused by Trumps controversial remarks: I still dont understand the black job comment, it would have been nice if there was a follow up to understand what he was trying to say, she tweeted. I still dont understand the black job comment, it would have been nice if there was a follow up to understand what he was trying to say. Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 28, 2024 Journalist Marc Lamont Hill had a few choice words for the former president about his racially targeted comment: I hate that no one has challenged this notion about Black jobs,' he shared on his X account. The NAACP also weighed in on the matter: What exactly are Black and Hispanic Jobs!?! #CNNDebate Here are a few social media user reactions: Trump : the blacks .black jobs Me: pic.twitter.com/xnswh0r7QN Big Celleo From the Kokomo (@Cellustharula90) June 28, 2024 WTF is Black jobs? Answer quickly pic.twitter.com/7GCzLKffuc chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 28, 2024 Black jobs is one of the craziest things Ive heard. Which came right after hes being like a Palestinian, but a bad one. Holy shit. brandon / jinx / big jinx (@brandonjinx) June 28, 2024 Me searching for the black jobs on LinkedIn tomorrow pic.twitter.com/hZiUGHF5df BeMy. (@BeMyFiasco) June 28, 2024 Me showing up to orientation at my new Black Job pic.twitter.com/jRbEK3eMMy Hacksaw Him Duggan (@Deascent) June 28, 2024 Then I asked myself, did I get the job because I was Black, or was it a Black Job? pic.twitter.com/KdD5bqv8tF Dom N' The City | NYC Food & Lifestyle (@DomNTheCity) June 28, 2024 Black Trump Allies are Using Cognac and Cigars to Sway Black Voters, But Atlanta Wasn't Having It U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla, right, responds to a question during Congress, Cognac, and Cigars event in Ga. aimed at swaying Black voters toward Donald Trump. - Photo: Elijah Nouvelage for The Post (Getty Images) Two Black Republicans are doing their damnedest to persuade Black men to vote for Donald Trump in November. U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt of Texas and Byron Donalds of Florida held their latest Congress, Cognac and Cigars event on Wednesday night in suburban Atlanta to explain why President Biden is a wrong choice for Black folks. Unsurprisingly, the mostly Democratic crowd of about 100 attendees at the cigar lounge pushed back. Many of them are indeed frustrated with Biden and the Democrats, but they recognize that Trump is dangerous for the Black community. NBC News reports that several attendees repeatedly challenged Trumps two Black allies on their congressional voting record and positions on issues like immigration and reparations. The second half of the two-hour event, moderated by ESPNs former ESPN host Sage Steele, grew especially contentious when the floor was opened for questions. Former President Trumps Black allies face challenges in trying win over independent or traditionally Democratic voters in cities like Atlanta. https://t.co/WQCxTBUoFE NBC News (@NBCNews) June 28, 2024 When Hunt and Donalds blasted the Biden administrations failure to control illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, audience member Alan Hill yelled, Wheres the Republican bill to fix it? according to The Washington Post. Folks in the room repeatedly interrupted Donalds response. But a small group of Trump supporters in the audience defended the GOPs hardline immigration policies. Why are you so concerned about people that came here illegally getting amnesty? And when a Black man [goes] on the run for 20 years, when they find him, he dont get no amnesty, audience member Horace Holden Jr. fired back at Hill. Toward the end, audience members dogged Donalds for his controversial comments earlier this month suggesting that fewer Black families were fractured during the racist Jim Crow era than typically assumed. Donalds denied praising Jim Crow, saying that his words were misconstrued. Was the night a failure for the GOP duo? Thats not so clear. It might have been mission accomplished. Hunt and Donalds have said they do not expect to sway a large portion of Black Democrats but believe they could help Trump swing about 25 percent to his side. All we want is for you to hear us out, Hunt told the audience, many of whom told reporters at the event that they were undecided. Voter surveys indicate that Biden is vulnerable. Nationally, Biden and Trump are tied at 49 percent among registered voters, according to a recently released NPR/PBS Marist National Poll. In our politically divided nation, a few swing states, which can go either way, will likely determine the winner. At the same time, signs indicate that many Black voters, arguably the Democrats most loyal bloc, might not turn out for Biden on Election Day. Alarm bells went off last November when a New York Times/Sienna College poll found that 22 percent of Black voters in six battleground states said they would support Trump. That represents a massive swing toward the MAGA nations leader, who received just 8 percent of Black voters nationally in 2020 and s6 percent in 2016. The Georgia gathering was the second in a series of planned Congress, Cognac and Cigars events. Their first one took place in Philadelphia. Hunt said the next event would be in Milwaukee, the site of next months Republican National Convention. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Will boats be allowed on the Milwaukee River during the RNC? What about Edelweiss boat tours? The boundaries of the restricted security perimeter for the July 15-18 Republican National Convention in downtown Milwaukee were announced Friday and include a portion of the Milwaukee River. Here's what to know. Will boats be allowed on the Milwaukee River during the RNC? 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. 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. Boat owners don't have to go through pedestrian screening to access private vessels docked on the river. Private 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 on VHF-FM Channel 16 to request an escort. Vessels returning to the maritime security zone to be docked will be subject to screening. The Edelweiss makes its way on a dinner cruise on the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee. Will Edelweiss and other tour boats be running during the RNC? Edelweiss Cruises, which operates a variety of public and private boat tours on the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan, will be moving its largest vessel, the Harbor Lady, to Port Washington during the RNC. According to Edelweiss' website, the cruise company is offering a Port Washington Sightseeing Cruise twice daily July 13 through 18. The cruise, a partnership with Visit Port Washington, departs from the Port Washington Harbor and is narrated by an onboard representative from the Port Washington Historical Society. Cruises depart at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Edelweiss will offer no Milwaukee cruises from July 14 to 18; normal operations will resume on July 19. Edelweiss is, however, offering dockside rentals of its two other vessels, the Miss Wisconsin and Edelweiss II, to RNC groups in Milwaukee, said Lindsay Paar Schwegler, director of operations and special events coordinator at Edelweiss Cruises. "This would mean that the boat would not be able to move, but groups could stay dockside and enjoy a venue in extreme close proximity to the Fiserv Forum," Schwegler said. "We have yet to garner any interest in this option." Milwaukee Paddle Tavern, which offers 14-person pedal boat tours and duffy boat rentals, will not operate out of its docks behind the Harp Irish Pub on Juneau Avenue between July 13 and 19. The company said it plans to operate tours and rentals from its docks at Boone & Crockett on the Kinnickinnic River during these dates. Other boat tour companies, including Milwaukee Boat Line and Riverwalk Boat Tours, do not have tours available during the RNC. According to their websites, Milwaukee Boat Line is not operating tours from July 15 through 18, and Riverwalk will not offer tours or rentals from July 14 through 19. Will kayak and paddleboard rentals be available during the RNC? Small watercraft rental companies, including Cream City Boats and Milwaukee Kayak Company, will not be able to launch boats on the Milwaukee River during the RNC. Milwaukee Kayak Company told the Journal Sentinel that boaters will be able to launch from locations on the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers. More: Boat companies say Milwaukee River through downtown to be shut down during RNC More: Here's which streets will be closed during the Republican National Convention and when This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Will boats be allowed on the Milwaukee River during the RNC? Four days after a Davis man drowned after being thrown from a jet ski on a Northern California reservoir, authorities have recovered his body, the Nevada County Sheriffs Office said. The body of Hashim Raza Rizvi, 49, was recovered from a depth of approximately 170 feet in Rollins Lake on Thursday night after search crews used remote-operated symbiotic robots, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. The depth at which he was located was far too dangerous for any of our respective dive teams to safely retrieve him, said sheriffs Lt. Russell Greene, the incident commander. We and our partners are fortunate to have access to a variety of advanced technology, such as remote-operated symbiotic robots, that made the recovery possible in a safe and efficient manner. Deputies said other technology had been used in the search, including sonar and lidar. The search for Rizvi began on the 66,000 acre-foot reservoir, operated by the Nevada Irrigation District, Monday after Nevada and Placer deputies received 911 calls for three people thrown from the jet ski around 11:30 a.m. Rizvi had been piloting the watercraft with two female riders who didnt know how to swim, deputies said at the time. No one on the jet ski was wearing a life jacket, the Sheriffs Office said, though the family said Rizvi knew how to swim. Deputies from Nevada and Placer counties said that the women were able to resurface on the lake and were rescued by a paddle-boarder but Rizvi did not reappear. We are saddened by this loss of life but are grateful our teams were able to recover him and bring closure to his family, Greene said of the multijurisdictional effort. Body of missing Idaho woman found in her vehicle in Salmon River after U.S. 95 crash The body of a 72-year old Idaho woman who went missing last month was recovered from the Salmon River near Riggins on Thursday night by the Idaho County Sheriffs Office and United Search Corp, according to a news release. Marsha Hayes was last seen on May 22, driving south on U.S. Highway 95 from Riggins with her service dog in a gray 2006 Acura. Vehicle parts and a license plate were found along the river two days later, and Hayes was found in her vehicle in the water, the release said. We are truly sorry for the Hayes familys loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Marshas family and friends as they navigate this difficult time, the Sheriffs Office wrote in its release. Doug Bishop of United Search Corp, a nonprofit search organization based in Oregon, used a side scan sonar being towed by a jet boat to locate the vehicle nearly a fourth of a mile downstream from the apparent crash site, according to the release. With the use of underwater cameras, Bishop confirmed that Hayes body was still in the vehicle. Hayes family and friends also assisted Bishop, as did the Riggins Fire Department, the Idaho Transportation Department, the Idaho State Police and the Idaho County Coroners Office, the release said. Idaho County Sheriff Doug Ulmer wishes to thank Mr. Bishop and his organization ... for their exceptional assistance in providing closure for the Hayes family, the Sheriffs Office wrote. NASA Says That the Boeing "Astronauts Are Not Stranded" While the Astronauts Remain Stranded Space Boondoggle Two astronauts who traveled on Boeing's Starliner are still stuck at the International Space Station due to issues with the reusable capsule. But NASA insists that "the astronauts are not stranded," the Associated Press reports. That's an amusing statement because it flies against the straight facts of the matter: astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were supposed to go home on the Boeing Starliner on June 14, but their return trip has been pushed back repeatedly due to technical issues that have popped up with the troubled craft. These problems include issues docking with the station and the vessel experiencing numerous helium leaks. NASA spokespeople said during a press conference last week that personnel are busy analyzing the issues. Once that's finished, NASA and Boeing will decide on a departure date for the two astronauts but when that might happen is still anyone's guess. "So far, we dont see any scenario where Starliner is not going to be able to bring Butch and Suni home," NASA commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said at a press conference last week. Happy Landing The Starliner is meant to augment the capabilities of Elon Musk's SpaceX in bringing astronauts back and forth from the space station. NASA awarded $4.2 billion to Boeing to develop Starliner. This voyage to the space station was the Starliner's first trip to space with a crew. During the years leading up to the maiden voyage, the Starliner was beset with delays due to a host of technical issues. The Starliner imbroglio comes amid Boeing's recent struggles with its airplanes, which have had doors blown out during flights and even a whistleblower found dead. Critics say there is an overall quality control problem within the company. While the airplane issues aren't directly related to the Starliner problems, it's hard to shake the feeling that Boeing is in the grips of a deep crisis. Updated to properly attribute the intro quote. More on Boeing's Starliner: Boeing's Cursed Starliner Seems to Be Stuck on the Space Station Indefinitely NASA officials gave an update Friday on the status of Boeings Starliner docked at the International Space Station, and when its two astronauts would get the OK to come home. I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space, said NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich on a media call. I want to make it real clear that were not in a rush to come home. Barry Butch Wilmore and Sunita Suni Williams arrived to the space station back on June 6 a day after launching atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for what was supposed to be about a week on board the International Space Station on the Crew Flight Test mission for the spacecraft as it makes its first ever human spaceflight. Issues with both helium leaks and thrusters on the spacecrafts attached propulsion module, though, showed up on the trip up to the ISS, and has continued to push any planned target return date as NASA and Boeing pore over data and potential dangers before the flight home. Stich reiterated, though, that the spacecraft is considered safe, and even OK for its two astronauts to ride home in in case of an emergency. In fact, a Russian-operated satellite breakup at a lower altitude than the ISS on Wednesday forced all nine of the crew on board to temporarily go into their respective spacecraft acting as lifeboats as a precaution, climbing into the Soyuz, SpaceX Crew Dragon and Starliner in case the debris field from the satellite became a threat. Theres no new issues to report today. We dont have any new problems, Stich said. The vehicle at station is in good shape. That said, since the propulsion module will separate from the spacecraft and burn up on reentry, teams want to work through the issues as much as possible before they lose the hardware on the trip home. In tandem, teams at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico will go through a rigorous test regimen of a test thruster to replicate the flight up and test whats expected on the flight back. Well recreate that profile, then well put a pretty aggressive profile in the thruster for the downhill phase, Stich said. Then well give engineers a chance to go look at that thruster and take a look at it and make sure that theres nothing thats unusual about the thruster. That means no return date is in target yet, but Stich noted that before launch the spacecraft had a 45-day upper limit planned because of crew module battery life. Teams, though, are working to get that limit expanded up to 90 days, and that Starliner is designed to be docked to the ISS for half a year if and when it gets approved for regular missions. Were not going to target a specific date until we get that testing completed, we look at the fault tree and then we understand the path for it, Stich said. Then (we will) have an agency-level review and then well lay out the rest of the plan from undock to landing. I think were on a good path. Stich said that while NASA is comfortable with the safety of Starliner, its two crew could always fly home on another spacecraft in the event further testing reveals something more negative. Boeings vice president Mark Nappi bemoaned some of the media coverage of the test mission. Every morning I sit and I read them and Ill tell you from being a representative Boeing and a representative of the Starliner program is pretty painful to read, he said. The things that are out there weve gotten a really good test flight thats been accomplished so far, and its been viewed rather negatively. He explained that the situation allowing for more time on the station from his perspective is a win-win, and he has no regrets flying the mission. We dont understand these issues well enough to fix them permanently, Nappi said. The only way that we can do that is take the time in this unique environment and go and get more data, run more tests. Plans to certify Starliner will take longer than expected, so Starliner-1, the first operational flight, will have to possibly slip past the early plans as soon as February 2025, Stich said. That means SpaceX would have to move forward with a Crew-10 mission instead for early 2025, but that NASA had been preparing both crews already. Boeing has six operational missions contracted as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program before the ISS is decommissioned after 2030, and Nappi said that despite the delays, Boeing is not changing its stance on the program. Were not going to back out, he said. This is our job and this is what were going to continue to do to meet our commitments. ______ LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivian President Luis Arce on Thursday denied any involvement or knowledge of a failed coup attempt led by General Juan Jose Zuniga a day earlier, after Zuniga told reporters that Arce had asked him to in order to boost his popularity. Zuniga, now detained, "acted on his own accord," Arce told a press conference. The president also maintained that everything "had returned to normal" in an attempt to reassure the public. (Reporting by Lucinda Elliot; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle, Editing by Sarah Morland) We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article. Twenty years after the invasion of Iraq, former CBS and NBC journalist Chip Reid, who was embedded with U.S. forces when the Iraq War broke out, talks to combat veterans of the 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and their families about how the war changed their lives in his new book, "Battle Scars" (Casemate), Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Chip Reid discuss the post-war experiences of veterans on "CBS Sunday Morning" July 7! "Battle Scars" by Chip Reid Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now. On Thanksgiving Day 2021, while driving from my home in Washington, D.C. to the Philadelphia suburbs for a family dinner, a souped-up pickup truck roared past me on I-95. It had temporary plates and two Marine Corps stickers, one on the rear window and one on the bumper. I thought: "Isn't that just like a Marine. He just bought the damn thing and it's already plastered with Marine Corps stickers." That got me thinking about the most challenging, gratifying, jaw-dropping, and frightening story I covered in my 33 years as a journalistthe slightly less than six weeks I spent embedded with 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (3/5 for short), during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. For years I had thought that one day I would escape the journalism rat-race and write a book, but I hadn't settled on a topic. "That's it!" I thought as the pickup disappeared out of sight. For the 20th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2023, I would write a book about the Marines of 3/5. As I drove, I thought of questions I wanted to ask them. Where are they today and what are they doing? Do they have families? How did their lives change due to their first combat experience? (It was the first combat for almost all of them.) What did they learn as Marines that helped them prosper in civilian life? Did they struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? What do they think about the war today? When I returned home, I reached out to some of the Marines I had occasionally stayed in touch with and started asking questions. I found their stories fascinating and powerfuland they were eager to tell them. They clearly did not want their service and their sacrifice to be forgotten. At first, I thought I could get a good cross-section with about a dozen Marines, but word spread about my project and requests to be included started pouring in. Eventually I interviewed more than forty Marines, plus several wives and grown children, whose experiences and insights were often as engrossing as those of the Marines. I was often surprised, sometimes stunned, by their honesty, how deep they reached to tell me their stories. On several occasions I heard the words "I've never told this to anybody who's not a Marine, but ..." I was deeply gratified that they still trusted me after all those years. In writing a tribute to the Marines of 3/5, I believe it's important to honor not only their service, but also their sacrificein battle and in the two decades since. Indeed, there is quite a bit of sacrifice in the pages that follow, including death in battle; death by tragic accident; life-changing injuries; and the whole panoply of nightmarish symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Also, of course, addiction, divorce, and suicide, which tend to plague the armed forces to a greater degree than the non-military public. But there is also much that's positive and life-affirming in this book: heroism in battle; the intense, life-long camaraderie among Marines; patriotism and belief in one's mission; life-changing traits learned as Marines; and the Post-Traumatic Growth that often follows PTSD. Excerpt from "Battle Scars," copyright 2023 by Chip Reid. Reprinted with permission. Get the book here: "Battle Scars" by Chip Reid Buy locally from Bookshop.org For more info: "Battle Scars: Twenty Years Later: 3d Battalion 5th Marines Looks Back at the Iraq War and How it Changed Their Lives" by Chip Reid (Casemate), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats Biden campaign enters critical phase as Capitol Hill returns: "Fear is contagious" Democratic strategist says party needs to "take a deep breath" after Biden debate debacle Sen. Lindsey Graham says if Biden steps aside, it's "a dramatically different race" for Trump Dominique Boutonnat, the president of the National Film Board, Frances most powerful film institution, has received a three-year prison sentence, including two suspended, over sexual assault charges. Boutonnat has stepped down from the CNC in the wake of the verdict on June 28 and is being replaced by Olivier Henrard, Variety has confirmed. More from Variety The judges ruling appears stronger than the initial recommandation of the Paris prosecutor who had requested a three-year suspended prison sentence on June 14. Boutonnat was indicted in February 2021 for the alleged sexual assault of his then 19-year-old godson in August 2020, during a vacation in Greece. But in spite of the indictment, Boutonnat was re-upped by the French government in 2022 and served a second mandate which was meant to end next year. He has denied all accusations and is expected to appeal the ruling. Variety has contacted Boutonnats lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny, for comment. The CNC reacted to the ruling in statement sent to Variety which said the allegations concern the private sphere and have nothing to do with the CNCs activities whose functioning were not affected by the undertaking of the judicial procedure. The film executive, who has close ties with France President Emmanuel Macron, was slammed by an investigative story that ran in Liberation and a petition to remove him from office on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival. The petition has collected more 4,551 anonymous signatures and is being endorsed by various orgs, including the Collectif 50/50, MeTooMedia and the labor union CGT Spectacle, as well as actor-director Judith Godreche. The latter has catalyzed a #MeToo reckoning in France after accusing filmmakers Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. While Boutonnat was allowed remained at the helm of the National Film Board, the film body set up several policies, including workshops for film professionals, aimed at fighting sexual violence. During an audition at the Senate earlier this week, Godreche said the situation at the CNC symbolized the countrys reluctance to embrace the #MeToo movement. But Frances culture minister Rachida Dati had argued Boutonnat should stay in post because he benefits from the presumption of innocence. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Illinois local congressional delegation asked the U.S. Treasury Secretary on Thursday to examine the recent sale of a stake in a grain terminal on the Mississippi River to a company affiliated with the Chinese government. U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, and Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, expressed concern for national security over the sale of Growmark Inc.s location in Cahokia Heights to COFCO International, which closed last week. China is attempting to buy up Americas commercial infrastructure and farmland at a breakneck pace, Bost said. The economic and national security implications are far too great to allow that to happen. The federal lawmakers move reflects a growing trend. In recent years, U.S. officials in both major political parties have grown skeptical of foreign ownership of farmland or agricultural properties. The COFCO Corporation the China Oil and FoodStuffs Corp. is the leader of the Chinese agricultural industry, according to the companys website. At the end of 2023, the Beijing-based firms assets totaled more than $100.5 billion. Bost and Budzinski said COFCO is Chinas largest state-run food and agriculture company in their letter. The deal for the Mississippi River terminal came as part of a trade between the two companies. COFCO purchased Growmarks minority stake in the Cahokia Heights loading facility, according to a statement from COFCO posted last week. Growmark received ownership of a grain warehouse on the Calumet River near downtown Chicago. We plan to continue investing in our U.S. business, and we intend to pursue additional opportunities focused on supporting our U.S. Gulf and Pacific Northwest export strategy, said Zhijun Shi, chief operating officer for COFCO International in North America, in a statement last week. COFCO originally built the Cahokia Heights terminal in 2017. Growmark, a farmer-owned cooperative based in Bloomington, Illinois, purchased a small interest in the terminal, according to a statement at the time of sale. Since, the two companies jointly operated the facility. By attempting to convert ownership solely to the Chinese-owned COFCO and eliminating this partnership, we are concerned that this transaction will pose a threat to U.S. national security on Americas largest inland waterway, Bost and Budzinski wrote. The Metro East grain terminal has access to high-speed rail and truck-to-barge loading facilities. It also has access to all seven of North Americas biggest railroads. COFCO could not immediately be reached, and Growmark declined to comment. Bost and Budzinski in their letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who is also the chair of the Treasury Departments Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, said she should look further into this acquisition to fully understand the scope and implications of this transaction on our national security. In all, the company now owns more than six locations in the U.S. While we support expanding access to foreign markets, it is alarming that a majority of U.S. ports and terminals are owned and operated by foreign entities, especially China, Bost and Budzinski wrote. Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants recommendations on ways to end disparities in maternal health and to improve maternal health care by the start of December, when work on his proposals for the budget are about to come due. In a new executive order, Youngkin is calling for a task force of maternal health experts, including physicians, midwives and providers who serve minority communities to look at health care data, including how mothers and babies do one year after birth, as well as prenatal, postpartum and postpartum depression care. The task force also will examine data on insurance claims and benefits as well as how mothers, mothers-to-be and newborns are screened to see what kind of care they need. In addition to analyzing the data to determine the need for additional benefits to protect womens health, the task force will examine quality of care and the barriers that prevent the collection and reporting of timely maternal health data, especially in underserved communities The task force is to pass on its findings so that the secretary of health and human resources can come up with specific recommendations to improve maternal health outcomes and care of pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women. Youngkin also wants to see recommendations on resources to help women with postpartum depression as well as for mental health and substance abuse treatment for women about to give birth and immediately afterward Improving health outcomes for mothers and infants is foundational to making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family, Youngkin said. Mothers play an incomparable role in the lives of their children and families, and it is imperative that we do the necessary, collective work to ensure they are receiving the care they deserve. This begins with knowing where we need to improve, so that we can better maternal health policies throughout the Commonwealth and promote the well-being of women, children and families. The General Assembly this year passed and Youngkin signed into law a bill directing the state health commissioner to reestablish the states Task Force on Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures for the purpose of evaluating maternal health data collection processes. This is meant to guide policies to improve maternal care, quality and outcomes, for people giving birth in Virginia. The administration previously came under fire over Dr. Colin Greene, Youngkins pick to lead the Department of Health. State Senate Democrats rejected Greenes appointment after remarks he had made that he did not believe there was evidence that racism plays a role in maternal and infant mortality rates. This year, Youngkin vetoed Senate Bill 35, which would have directed the Board of Medicine to require training on unconscious bias and cultural competency as part of the continuing education requirements for renewal of licensure The General Assembly postponed until next year another maternal health measure, which would have established a Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Team to develop and launch procedures to analyze fetal and infant deaths. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) A controversial plan to bring a new gas station and convenience store to the Four Corners area of Lafayette has hit yet another roadblock. Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet has vetoed City Ordinance CO-066-2024, adopted by the Lafayette City Council on June 18. The ordinance granted a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), with conditions, to authorize a convenience store with gasoline sales on the property located at 1803 W. University Avenue. Blanco said the City Councils approval of this ordinance came despite the recommendations to deny this CUP by both the Lafayette Zoning Commission and the professional recommendations of the Community Development and Planning Department. The proposed store also drew opposition from residents of the neighborhood, who feared increased traffic at the location, in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. In the announcement of her veto, Blanco said she heard those concerns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest I was in attendance of the Lafayette City Council meeting at which this CUP was considered, listened to the Councils discussions, the concerns of the neighboring property owners and other concerned citizens, and have thoroughly reviewed the documents and information presented to the Lafayette City Council, Boulet said. In addition, since the council decision, I have visited with both the property owner and a representative of the neighborhood. Boulet said the property is not suited to house a gas station. Lafayette City Council court ordered to make decision on proposed convenience store The proposed development with gasoline sales is not compatible with the established character of the surrounding neighborhood, she said. Otherwise, I do want to encourage and support the development of this proposed business less the option to sell fuel. The ordinance passed the city council on a 3-2 vote, with Elroy Broussard, Andy Naquin and Kenneth Boudreaux voting yes, and Liz Hebert and Thomas Hooks voting no. Latest news Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Boy, 14, was held down and hacked to death at Wyoming mall while he tried to protect his girlfriend Bobby Maher, 14, was held down and stabbed to death at a mall in Casper, Wyoming, by ski-mask clad attackers while he was trying to protect his girlfriend (Robert Maher/Facebook) A teenager was held down and stabbed to death by a pair of ski-mask-wearing attackers as he tried to protect his girlfriend at a Wyoming mall, a court was told. Dominique Antonio Richard Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, both 15, are accused of murdering 14-year-old Bobby Maher during the fatal attack at Eastridge Mall in Casper in April, according to the Cowboy State Daily. Harris has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection to the attack. He is being tried as an adult and allegedly admitted to police that he held Maher down to assist Plunkett in the alleged attack. The teen told investigators he did not know Plunkett was going to kill Maher, and claimed he was only holding the teen down to "make sure the fight was over." However, surveillance footage from the April 7 attack shows him allegedly slamming Maher onto the ground and then holding him down while Plunkett plunged a knife into the teen twice. Bobby Maher, 14, was held down and stabbed to death at a mall in Casper, Wyoming, by ski-mask clad attackers while he was trying to protect his girlfriend (Robert Maher/Facebook) According to police, Maher went to the mall to assist his girlfriend, Haley Bressler, after she called him and told him Plunkett and Harris were stalking her and a friend. Surveillance footage taken from the mall shows Maher trying to escort his girlfriend and her friend out of the mall, but Plunkett and Harris stop them before they can exit. Plunkett and Harris then confronted Maher because they were reportedly angry at the victim over an incident earlier this year at an Evansville park. Harris told police that Maher asked the two 15-year-olds if they were "freaks" because he saw them leave a portable bathroom at the park together. First responders were called to the scene of the stabbing and Maher was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed that he suffered two knife wounds, including one that pierced his heart, according to the Oil City News. A witness told police they saw the two defendants pointing and laughing at the wounded and dying Maher before they fled to the mall's parking lot. They were detained minutes later by a Natrona County Sheriff's deputy. Bressler recorded the attack on her phone. The footage was shown during the preliminary hearing for the defendants on Thursday. Harris has also been charged with aggravated battery, and assault, as well as misdemeanor theft for allegedly stealing a pair of knives including the one used in the murder from a Target. Brandon Booth, Harris' defense attorney, said his client reserved the right to change his pleas to mental illness or mental deficiency, even though he already pleaded not guilty. Harris told District Judge Kerri Johnson that he had never been diagnosed with any kind of learning disability. Plunkett has also pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency. A judge has ordered him to undergo a medical examination to determine his ability to stand trial. The Fuller and Semerad Law Firm, which is representing Maher's family, issued a statement on Thursday following the defendants' preliminary hearing. The Maher family will fight to get justice for Bobby from every party responsible for his killing, Attorney Ryan Semerad said in the statement. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's PM, and Yoav Gallant, its defence minster, are both in the ICC's sights - Abir Sultan/Reuters Britain has challenged the right of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, and Yoav Gallant, its defence minister. The UK claims the ICC does not have jurisdiction over the Israeli nationals, whom its chief prosecutor Karim Khan KC has accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The ICC will now consider the British challenge and that will delay the decisions on whether to issue the warrants until at least the end of next month. Britains request to lodge the challenge was made on June 10 in secret but has now been unsealed ahead of the UKs general election on July 4. The courts pre-trial chamber has given the UK until July 12 to submit its full claim Karim Khan KC is a British lawyer who is the ICC's chief prosecutor - Luis Acosta/AFP In May, Rishi Sunak criticised the ICC for seeking arrest warrants against both Mr Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, arguing there was no moral equivalence between the two sides after the Oct 7 terror attack. He said it would make absolutely no difference to wider peace in the Middle East. However, David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, has said that Labour would seek to implement an arrest warrant against Mr Netanyahu if one were issued by the ICC. Oslo accords In its legal challenge, the UK questions whether the ICC can order the arrest of Israeli citizens. The Foreign Office says the Palestinian authorities have no jurisdiction over Israeli nationals under the Oslo accords. This means, says the UK, that they cannot transfer jurisdiction to the ICC. The Oslo accords, signed in 1993 and 1995, were part of an intended peace process that led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. They allow for a measure of autonomy in security matters. Mr Khan, the ICC prosecutor, has argued that he has jurisdiction over crimes committed by nationals of non-state parties in the territory of a party. Israel has not signed the courts founding statute. His decision that the ICC has jurisdiction over Israeli, Palestinian or other nationals who committed crimes in Gaza or the West Bank was supported by a panel of international legal experts, including several from the UK. In 2021, a deeply divided pre-trial chamber concluded that the courts jurisdiction extended to Gaza. But the UK says the ruling did not decide jurisdictional issues relating to the Oslo accords. The UK argues that the chamber must now make an initial decision on jurisdiction to issue arrest warrants of which the Oslo accords issue necessarily forms part. Other states will also be allowed to submit observations by July 12. Mr Khan, the prosecutor, is then expected to respond. Denial of humanitarian aid Mr Khan announced in May that he was seeking arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant due to suspected crimes of causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies [and] deliberately targeting civilians in conflict. His decision was fiercely criticised by Israel, the US and others. They argued that Israels independent judiciary and legal system was capable of investigating any criminal wrongdoing during the ongoing Gaza war, and that the prosecutor had not allowed enough time to Israel to do so. Critics also argued that Mr Khan had not engaged with Israel to understand what steps it might have taken, or was currently taking, to investigate possible criminal actions during the war. They said this contrasted with his attitude in other investigations such as against Caracas where he has engaged with the dictatorial regime of Nicolas Maduro. 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. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) Longtime Brooklyn residents said they are fed up with illegal street vending on several stretches of busy roads in Borough Park and Bensonhurst. Complaints range from unlicensed vendors using open flames to cook meat and fish on the Street to people selling trinkets, fruits, and vegetables left outside in the heat. More Local News City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang held a town hall meeting Thursday afternoon so concerned residents could hear what the NYPD and the City Department of Sanitation are doing. Zhuangs office said the areas with the most complaints in her district are Eighth Avenue between 61st and 48th Streets and 86th Street from 20th Avenue to 23rd Avenue. There is also a long stretch of dumped garbage and household items on 61st Street from 10th Avenue to Eighth Avenue. Its just horrible. No one wants to live like this. Ive seen shopkeepers selling fruit from their trucks because theyre too lazy to take it out, selling stuff from the Street, Concetta Bologna, who attended the meeting, told PIX11 News. Its disgusting, Im embarrassed, and thats sad when youre embarrassed with where you live, Charleen Grassi, who also came out to the Town Hall, said. NYPD Deputy Inspector Eddie Lau told PIX11 News that the Department of Sanitation handles illegal street vending issues. Unless theres another illegal activity, such as selling marijuana or illegal weapons or anything of that sort, we will be there to enforce it and make arrests, he said. Councilwoman Zhuang said she is working to create one area for all vendors to go. Kind of create an open street, people can go there safely, dont disrupt from business, dont make streets dirty, she said. When asked if the City Council would make these busy avenues no vending zones like was done on the citys bridges, Zhuang said its hard. For this area, its very hard. Ill be honest with you because we have a lot of people pro-vendor. Im trying, Zhuang said. More Brooklyn News For the illegal dumping, PIX11s Eileen Lehpamer took a video of the garbage dumped on 61st Street and sent it to the city Department of Sanitation. A spokesman wrote back, saying in part, We will investigate this stretch and have it cleaned. We would remind all New Yorkers that they have a legal and moral responsibility to put trash in its proper place. All New Yorkers deserve clean neighborhoods, and this is an area where we have significantly stepped up enforcement: In 2023, DSNY enforcement of core cleanliness rules was up 60% compared to 2022. We take this very seriously. The Department of Sanitation said any New Yorker who sees excessive litter or illegal dumping should call 311 so that we can respond and have the area cleaned. They also noted that the area is a chronic dump-out location, and the Department of Sanitation monitors it and cleans it regularly. Its been cleaned 22 times this calendar year alone and was cleaned after our PIX11 News story aired. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Lavorgia Warren, of Brunswick, has been found guilty by a Glynn County jury of one count of child molestation and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree, District Attorney Keith Higgins announced in a news release. Between April and September of 2020, Warren would often stay at the home of two male victims, according to evidence presented at trial. The two victims were 11 and 6 at the time. At night, Warren would inappropriately touch the elder boy, according to the news release. He would also maliciously beat both boys with a 5-foot-long bamboo stick when their mother wasnt home. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Police were made aware of the abuse when the boys started to have nightmares at their grandmothers house, and she saw their injuries. Evidence presented at trial includes the bamboo stick, photos and diagrams of the boys injuries, forensic interviews, nightmare videos, and testimony. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] These two boys suffered at the hands of a man their mother trusted. If not for their grandmother, who supported her grandsons in their trauma, who knows how long they may have been made to suffer, Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Whitney Gregory said in the news release. Warren was sentenced to 20 years on each count on Friday. His will serve his time concurrently. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man pleaded guilty Friday to an assault charge for punching and injuring his defense attorney in 2022, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced. Londarr S. Ward, 40, assaulted his defense attorney during a meeting inside the Erie County Correctional Facility on Sept. 27, 2022, officials said. Ward punched the victim with a closed fist, causing facial, shoulder and chest injuries. Ward, who was charged with second-degree assault, faces a maximum of seven years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 23. Ward committed the assault while in pre-trial custody after he was arrested in connection with a series of convenience store robberies, according to officials. He was sentenced to 46 years in prison as a second violent felony offender in April on charges of four counts of first-degree robbery and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. 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. Bumble, Bluster & Questions Over Whether Biden Should Step Down: World Media Reacts To First Presidential Debate The Biden vs Trump debate took place in the small hours of the morning in many parts of the world but one only needed to watch a few clips and glance at headlines within minutes of waking up to get a feel for what had happened. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the global press focused on a very tough night for the Democratic candidate, who failed to land meaty blows and at times rambled to the point of being incomprehensible, once again raising concerns about his age. Perhaps more surprisingly, some of the press coverage that Deadline has analyzed was positive about Trumps performance, although there was a laser focus on his falsehoods and CNNs failure to correct them a key tenet of Deadlines review, which said Trump tossed out one whopper after another with no fact-checking from CNN moderators. More from Deadline In France, where the country is currently focused on the first round of parliamentary elections this Sunday, in which far right party Rassemblement National is expected to come out on top, the consensus, whatever the political persuasion, was that the debate had been a disaster for the Biden and Democratic camp. The focus was on his frail demeanor and questions over whether the 81-year-old president was still physically and mentally capable of running the U.S. for another four years. Biden appeared diminished by age, facing an adversary in full possession of his means, who asserted truth and lies with equal aplomb, commented centre-right newspaper Le Figaro correspondent Adrien Jaulmes. Instead of convincing an electorate already skeptical about his physical fitness and mental acuity, the Democratic presidents performance instead confirmed the general impression: that he no longer has the capacity to hold the presidential office for four more years, it continued. These sentiments were echoed throughout. Crossing swords on live TV again for the first time in four years, the current and former president offered the painful spectacle of an extremely diminished Democratic incumbent in the face of the lies spouted by his Republican rival on the network, wrote left-wing newspaper Liberations New York-based correspondent Julien Gester. It was not a night to have a cold. Almost 82 years old, with more than half a century in politics, Joe Biden has his good days and his less good days, he continued. There was focus on how Trump lied throughout the debate coupled with the sense that he would probably get away with it. It doesnt matter that he is making up at full speed, martyring the facts, refusing to unconditionally recognize the results of the next election (after having denied his 2020 defeat until today), or that he brushes aside his recent criminal conviction, unprecedented in American presidential history (I did nothing wrong, its the system that is corrupt), to place the label of criminal on his opponent. His ease is his trump card, wrote Liberation. Some publications went surprisingly easy on Trump. In the UK, which heads to the polls in less than a week, the BBC described his performance as disciplined and nimble, in stark contrast with the interruptions and belligerence that undermined his first debate showing in 2020. The item is currently leading the website above an article about campaigners for Trumps pal Nigel Farages new party being caught making racist slurs. The BBC went hard on Biden, opting for: Stumbling debate performance worsens age fears, while reporting that Democrats have been backed into a corner. Before Thursday evening, many Americans had expressed concerns about Joe Bidens age and fitness for office. To say that this debate did not put those concerns to rest may be one of the greatest understatements of the year, wrote the British pubcaster, pulling no punches. Canadas CBC was similar to the BBC in its praise of Trump. While it went with the majoritys line by concentrating on his falsehoods, it reported that Trump had seemed confident and focused compared with Bidens seeming to ramble and lose his train of thought in a shaky performance that has reinforced concerns about his age. The Guardian said Democrats are in panic but reserved ire for CNN, whose moderators failed to fact check, wrote U.S. reporter George Chidi. Trump regularly answered straightforward questions about the economy, or abortion, or the opioid crisis with non sequiturs about immigration or China. He also repeatedly spewed false claims about abortion, the environment, and the border. Some press toed a more balanced line. The South China Morning Post was even handed. The paper noted that the pair had sparred over areas such as, unsurprisingly, China, economy and security. The two presented starkly different visions for Americas place in the world in a high-stakes debate, it added. ABC in Australia was impressed by neither in equal measure. The Aussie national broadcaster described Biden as bumble but Trump as bluster, with neither man exactly living up to those expectations. While Biden had a brain fade, the paper wrote, his opponent blustered and deflected. The story is now about whether Biden can be persuaded to step down Paul Morigi/Getty Images Of even more concern for Biden, much of the worlds media went big on calls for him to step down with months to go until the general election. Germanys Die Welt said the Democrats are considering replacing Biden after all, leading its website with Trumps putdown: I dont know what he said, I dont think he knows either. Elsewhere in continental Europe, Italys centre-left newspaper La Repubblica suggested that wife Jill Biden should step in and help him make his mind up. With a hoarse voice and the gaffes: in the TV dual Biden has paved the way for Trumps triumph. Now its up to Jill to convince her husband to leave, it wrote. Back to Germany, Der Spiegel was even harsher, writing: Biden should do the world a favor and renounce. The UKs Daily Telegraph focused on Biden facing calls to quit. This wasnt a debate, it was a medical emergency, wrote columnists Tim Stanley and Tony Diver. Rupert Murdochs The Times said Bidens campaign had been plunged into crisis causing panic among Democrats about his chances of winning back the White House. And writing in The Financial Times, columnist Edward Luce wrote witheringly: The best that can be said of Joe Bidens stumbling debate performance was that it took place in June. For more than a year, private conversations in Washington have been dominated by the presidents ageing, he added. But the public omerta on that topic broadly held up. That cognitive dissonance has now collapsed. The story is now about whether Biden can be persuaded to step down. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A Burlington man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for unlawful possession of firearms, a news release says. (Getty Images) According to public court documents, Jimmie Willis, 44, and others, conspired to bring over 400 pounds of ice meth to Burlington. Willis also unlawfully possessed numerous firearms related to his drug trafficking activities. After completing his term of imprisonment, Willis will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U. S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce, Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriffs Office, Henry County Sheriffs Office, Iowa Department of Transportation, Muscatine County Sheriffs Office, and Iowa State Patrol. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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 the 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. The House of Delegates took just minutes on Friday to unanimously back repeal of state budget provisions that would limit eligibility to an increasingly costly program that waives college and university tuition for the survivors and dependents of military veterans killed or almost entirely disabled on active duty. The bill now goes to the Senate, which will meet Monday to consider a different approach. The 92-0 House vote came just over six weeks after the General Assembly adopted the two-year budget with near unanimity and Gov. Glenn Youngkin immediately signed it into law. That touched off a furious response from military families who denounced both the legislature and the governor for making sweeping changes to the program through a secretive budget process instead of open public debate. Both the House, which had voted 94-6 for the budget, and Youngkin quickly retreated on the provisions, which attempt to limit eligibility and benefits for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program. Virginia colleges and universities say the program, initially established in 1930 for the families of soldiers killed in World War I, has expanded far beyond its initial purpose at the expense of students and families who pay tuition for higher education. "It is often said that when you find yourself in a hole where you don't want to be, stop digging," said Del. Mike Cherry, a Colonial Heights Republican who spoke on behalf of House Bill 6003, introduced by House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian, a Prince William Democrat, to repeal the budget language. "I'm glad we've stopped digging." Youngkin applauded the House vote on Friday. Our veterans, first responders, and their families have spoken, and we have heard them," he said in a statement. "Now it is time for the Senate to pass the bill on Monday, so I can sign it immediately. We must ensure that any potential changes to the program occur transparently in a regular legislative session with input from our valued veterans and their families." The Senate's approach would delay enactment of the program eligibility changes for a year, while using surplus state revenues to help colleges and universities cover their costs for students whose tuition is waived. The Senate voted 39-1 to adopt the budget on May 13, although senators formally objected to the provisions related to program eligibility. Both the House and Senate bills would exempt families receiving education benefits from other state tuition waiver programs such as those benefiting dependents of emergency first responders killed in the line of duty that were also covered by eligibility changes aimed at the program for military survivors and dependents. The budget already includes $20 million for each of two years to partly compensate public colleges and universities for the program's cost for the first time in its history. Senate Bill 6009, introduced by Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas, a Portsmouth Democrat, would also use an additional $45 million from an expected revenue surplus, to fully cover the program's cost in the first year. Youngkin and the Friends of VMSDEP, representing military families who strongly oppose the pending changes, dismissed the new Senate proposal and demanded full repeal of the budget provisions while waiting for recommendations from up to three ongoing or pending studies of the program. "If the Senate Democrat Leadership does not support a repeal of the language, they are holding our veterans, first responders, and their families, hostage," Youngkin said Friday. "It is time to do the right thing. A task force, which Youngkin quickly created in response to criticism by military families and veterans groups, has met once. A new work group that Lucas created on June 18 met for the first time on Friday in Richmond. The Senate proposal would also direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the program and issue recommendations by Sept. 1 for the assembly to consider during the 45-day legislative session that will begin in January. Senate work group meets Dozens of veterans and their families showed up Friday morning for the first meeting of the Senate work group. They wore shirts that said Save VMSDEP, reverse and repeal, spoke of their injuries and trauma and chastised lawmakers angrily at times for proposing cuts to the program. Betty Walkers husband, Junius Walker, a Virginia State Police trooper, was shot to death in 2013 on the shoulder of Interstate 85 in Dinwiddie County while checking to see if a driver needed help. To suggest VMSDEP should be cut because the cost is too high is an insufficient excuse, Walker said. The price my husband paid was too high. (The program also benefits the families of first responders who are disabled or killed.) Ella Hester, 20, is the daughter of two disabled Navy veterans. She moved often as a kid, but her family decided to settle in Virginia in part because of the education benefits provided by the state. Hester uses VMSDEP benefits to attend Tidewater Community College and intends to transfer to Old Dominion University next spring. The changes to the program left me blindsided about my future, she said. You are playing games with the future of Virginia. Since the General Assembly adopted legislation in 2019 to expand eligibility to family members of veterans who are deemed 90% disabled during active military duty but not necessarily in combat the number of students taking advantage of the benefit has risen from 1,387 to 6,125 last year. The estimated cost to colleges and universities has increased from $12 million in 2019 to $65 million this year. The changes included in the budget would narrow eligibility to people who live in Virginia, require them to seek federal financial aid to offset some of the cost, and limit the waiver benefit to associate and undergraduate degree programs, excluding costly graduate degree programs, such as law and medical schools. Opponents say the changes would wrongly convert the program to one based on financial need rather than death or disability from military service. The outcome of the House vote was never in doubt. All but two delegates co-sponsored the bill introduced by Torian, who had also sponsored the 2019 legislation that expanded the program benefits. The House Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill, which then went to the House floor. The House voted 92-0 to pass the legislation. The House then went into indefinite recess, which allows the chamber to reconvene during a special session that began on May 13 in order to act on a budget agreement reached by the Republican governor and Democratic budget leaders. Torian, in an interview, said House Speaker Don Scott Jr., a Portsmouth Democrat, had asked him to propose a resolution to address the issue. "We said our intent was to repeal the language and work with the governor's task force, and that's what we're sticking to," he said. The Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant (TPP) in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, which was heavily damaged during Russian attacks, cannot be rebuilt. Source: Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration Details: Onyshchuk reported that the Russians have attacked the plant more than 12 times. "For some time now, we have been aware that the Burshtyn TPP cannot be rebuilt; it is extremely damaged," Onyshchuk said. The official added that due to the destruction of the power plant, the city of Burshtyn may be left without heat and hot water in the winter. The city has already agreed to allocate six boiler houses for social facilities and the population. Background: In October 2022, two DTEK energy facilities came under Russian attack. Svitlana Onyshchuk, Head of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration, said that one of the affected DTEK facilities was the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant. Earlier that month, during a massive Russian attack on Ukraine, four missiles hit an open switchgear at the Burshtyn TPP. Support UP or become our patron! BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A man charged with murder in a shooting at the McDonalds in California City has been booked into jail and is expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon, according to Kerns sheriffs office and court websites. Cameron Rashad Hill, 26, is charged with first-degree murder and gun possession by a felon in the shooting death of Maurice Bailey, 48. Authorities arrested Hill earlier this month in Arizona. Law limiting new oil wells in California set to take effect after industry withdraws referendum The shooting happened May 29, at the McDonalds on California City Boulevard. Hill and Bailey arrived together and had a physical confrontation, police said in a warrant. When Bailey tried to leave, Hill followed and shot him in the head, according to the warrant. Surveillance video captured the incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. A final state budget agreement, which includes $103 million in one-time funding for crime victim services, should keep a precarious safety net in place temporarily for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes in Stanislaus County. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature approved the $103 million to backfill a sharp decline in federal Victims of Crime Act funding. About 816,000 victims of sexual and domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other crimes received vital services in California in the 2021-22 fiscal year, thanks to agencies such as HAVEN in Modesto, Family Justice Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates and the District Attorneys office. About 400 agencies across the state, including county programs, receive allocations and grants through the federal Victims of Crime Act. May Rico, executive director of HAVEN, or Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments, said Thursday that she assumes an anticipated $314,500 cut will be restored. She wont know for certain until the California Office of Emergency Services releases a new chart of funding allocations. Rico said about $235,500 of the $314,000 reduction would have impacted the nonprofit organization in the 2024-25 budget year. If the cuts are restored, our staffing is expected to remain the same as it is now without further program reductions, Rico said via email. However, we still cant add back any of the program offerings weve lost over the last two years. Previous allocations of VOCA funds accounted for 87% of funding for victim services in the District Attorneys Office. The programs VOCA funding amounted to $1.55 million in 2023, but the DAs Office was anticipating a 45% cut, or a $690,000 reduction, starting in October. The county program with 17 staff positions helps crime victims with crisis intervention, grief counseling and support during court proceedings. Some victims need help with funeral expenses, medical bills, lost wages and damage to vehicles and homes. The program assisted 14,031 crime victims in 2023. Cheryl Grogan, victim services program manager, said she hopes the county program can use a small portion of the $103 million to avoid cuts and assist crime victims. While we are grateful for the much-needed funding, we also recognize that this is one-time funding for the year and additional intervention is needed to secure long-term funding for those of us assisting, serving and supporting victims of crime, Grogan said by email. HAVEN for years has operated an emergency shelter for people escaping violence from a spouse or partner at home. As the federal VOCA funding has declined, the nonprofit agency has struggled to keep a legal team intact to help clients obtain domestic violence restraining orders in court. Even if the cuts are restored, HAVENs board passed a budget anticipating a deficit of more than $200,000 for the coming year, Rico said. A coalition of organizations will resume lobbying in Sacramento next year to make sure crime victim services are a priority. While the VOCA cliff was the big problem, its not the only one, Rico wrote. Government support of safety net and victim services does not increase at the same rate as cost-of-living and cost of doing business in California. An activist fills a cup with spring water in the San Bernardino National Forest. The company BlueTriton Brands collects the water and sells it as Arrowhead bottled water. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) A Southern California environmental group is suing the U.S. Forest Service for allowing bottled water company BlueTriton Brands to pipe water out of the San Bernardino National Forest. The nonprofit group Save Our Forest Assn. filed the lawsuit in federal court, arguing the Forest Service violated federal laws by allowing the company to continue piping water from boreholes and water tunnels in the San Bernardino Mountains. The environmental group said the extraction of water, which is bottled and sold as Arrowhead 100% Mountain Spring Water, has dramatically reduced the flow of Strawberry Creek and is causing significant environmental harm. The group said the Forest Service has granted the company illegal occupancy of public lands, and urged the U.S. District Court to order the agency to shut down the network of pipelines and remove the water-diverting infrastructure from the national forest. The U.S. Forest Service must be accountable for protecting our natural resources, said Hugh Bialecki, president of Save Our Forest Assn. The lawsuit is the latest of several attempts by activists to stop the use of spring water from the mountains north of San Bernardino. After a lengthy investigation , state water regulators determined last year that the company has been unlawfully diverting much of the water without valid water rights. The State Water Resources Control Board voted to order the company to halt its unauthorized diversions of water from springs in the national forest. But BlueTriton Brands sued to challenge that decision, arguing the process was rife with problems and that the company is entitled to the water. With the states order delayed by that lawsuit, Bialecki and other activists decided to challenge the Forest Service decision to allow the company to continue operating on national forest land over the last five years. The agency said it does not comment on pending litigation, and that officials are currently reviewing the company's most recent permit application. BlueTriton Brands is not named as a defendant in the case. The company said in an email that the lawsuit does not have merit, and merely repackages arguments that advocacy groups have unsuccessfully argued in prior legal proceedings. BlueTriton will continue to operate in compliance with all state and federal laws, the company said. Read more: California orders bottled water company to stop 'unauthorized' piping from springs Environmental activists have campaigned for years for state and federal authorities to shut down the pipeline after a 2015 investigation by the Desert Sun revealed the Forest Service was allowing Nestle to continue siphoning water using a permit that listed 1988 as the expiration date. The Forest Service subsequently began a review of Nestles permit, and in 2018 granted a new permit . The revelations about Nestle piping water out of the national forest sparked an outpouring of opposition and prompted several complaints to California regulators questioning the companys water rights claims, which led to the states investigation . BlueTriton Brands took over the bottled water business in 2021 when Nestles North American bottled water division was purchased by the private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners and the investment firm Metropoulos & Co. (This month, BlueTriton and Primo Water Corp. announced plans to merge and form a new company.) BlueTriton and prior owners of the business have for years had a federal special use permit allowing them to use the pipeline and other water infrastructure in the San Bernardino National Forest. The Forest Service has been charging an annual land use fee, currently $2,500 per year. There has been no fee for the water. When the agency issued the permit in 2018, it was for a three-year term with two optional years. The permit expired in August 2023, said Gustavo Bahena, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino National Forest. The forest staff "is in the review process for their most recent application," Bahena said in an email. "Because BlueTriton had a timely request for renewal of the permit, the current permit remains in effect by operation of law under the Administrative Procedures Act until the forest renders a decision on their new request," Bahena said. "BlueTritons operations in the forest are governed by its permit, and all terms and conditions of the permit remain in full force and effect." Read more: A bitter feud centers on source of Arrowhead bottled water In the lawsuit , Save Our Forest Assn. argues that when the Forest Service granted the 2018 permit, it violated several laws including the Federal Lands Policy Management Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The group asked the court to nullify the agencys most recent permit decision, and to bar officials from allowing water diversions until they carry out a new environmental review. They urged the court to order the Forest Service to remove, or require the company to remove, the water diversion structures and pipes, and restore the area in Strawberry Canyon to its natural state. Steve Loe, a retired biologist who previously worked for the San Bernardino National Forest, said officials have known for decades that the taking of water has harmed the ecosystem. This is the publics land and water, not a corporations that is using it for their profit at the publics expense, Loe said. The lawsuit says the Forest Service has been illegally allowing BlueTriton to continue operating without a valid permit. The company disagreed, saying BlueTritons current special use permit authorizing its operations in Strawberry Canyon remains in full force and effect. Read more: Arrowhead bottled water company sues to continue piping from California forest A court previously considered a dispute over Nestles permit when other environmental groups sued in 2015, accusing the Forest Service of violating the law. A federal judge sided with the Forest Service in 2016, ruling that the existing permit which listed an expiration date in 1988 was still valid because in 1987 the company's predecessor requested a permit renewal and didnt receive a response. Environmental groups later reached a settlement with the government in that legal fight. In the new lawsuit, environmentalists cite historical records describing the springs and the creek nearly a century ago. The records include field notes and reports from W.P. Rowe, a civil engineer who surveyed the watershed starting in 1929. Rowe wrote that Strawberry Creek flowed on the south slope of the San Bernardino Mountains from a source at a group of springs and coursed through a canyon filled with alder, sycamore, dogwood and cedar trees together with ferns and thimble berry bushes. State water officials said in a report on their investigation findings that the first facilities to divert water in the Strawberry Creek watershed were built in 1929, and the system expanded over the years as additional boreholes were drilled into the mountainside. The system of 4-inch steel pipes collects water that flows from various sites on the rugged slopes above the creek. Records show about 319 acre-feet, or 104 million gallons, flowed through the companys network of pipes in 2023. The pipeline runs to a roadside tank, and some of the water is trucked to a bottling plant. Bialecki and other members of the environmental group said historical records show that before the water was tapped for bottling, the stream supported a thriving riparian habitat. They said stopping the diversions would help endangered bird species such as the southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bells vireo, as well as other species including the mountain yellow-legged frog and southern rubber boa. The extraction of water has also reduced flows into the groundwater basin at the foot of the mountains, contributing to a local water deficit, the group said. Read more: Environmentalists urge California wildlife officials to investigate bottled water operation BlueTriton has said it's focused on responsible and proactive water stewardship. For nearly a decade, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, we have engaged expert scientific consultants who have studied the Strawberry Canyon area in an unprecedented level of detail, the company said, adding that the findings have shown no material difference between environmental and habitat conditions in the Strawberry Canyon watershed where we operate and the adjacent canyons where we do not operate. Opponents of the company disagree, saying in the lawsuit that the pipelines cause the removal of substantially all of the water from springs and dry up the creeks west fork in the summer and fall, causing significant environmental harm. Amanda Frye, an activist who has campaigned for years against the taking of water from the national forest, said she hopes that the lawsuit brings change. Weve tried everything, she said. Its ridiculous because it keeps going on. The forest was founded to protect the watershed, she said, and here they're just allowing it to be destroyed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Trade groups and some political pundits have consistently blasted Californias new $20 minimum wage law for fast food workers as a job killer. Now, California Governor Gavin Newsoms office is touting numbers indicating the opposite may be true. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Californias fast-food industry has added 10,600 new jobs since Assembly Bill 1228 took effect on April 1 and roughly 20,700 jobs since the start of the year. For comparison, the industry employs around 745,000 people in the Golden State. Newsom briefly addressed the topic during Tuesdays State of the State Address. All our progress on higher wages and better benefits for working people its not just about the hourly pay rate. Its about building a dignified and respectful future where everyone is included in our growth, Newsom said. We are a state that gives a damn about fast food workers who are predominantly women working two and a half jobs to get by. California Fast Food Employment Fast Food Jobs California In early June, the California Business and Industrial Alliance placed a full-page ad in USA Today claiming the states fast food industry had shed nearly 10,000 jobs since Newsom signed the law in September 2023, before the wage increase was enacted. The ad featured mock obituaries for chains including Rubios, Pizza Hut, and Fosters Freeze, which have either cut jobs or signaled other financial issues in recent months. The rapid job cuts, rising prices, and business closures are a direct result of Governor Newsom and this short-sighted legislation, CABIA said in a news release at the time. Iconic Hollywood fast food restaurant closes for good Based on BLS data, Californias fast food industry did, in fact, lose around 9,500 jobs from September through the end of the year -again, before AB 1228 took effect- but that trend has since reversed since January. Or has it? KTLA contacted CABIA to get a response to Newsoms statement. It provided yet another data source, this one from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, showing that California has shed 2,500 fast-food jobs since January on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, total employment was generally flat in April and May. Newsom has no shame, a Business Alliance spokesperson insisted. [His] bad policy remains indefensible, and workers and businesses are suffering for it. Newsons office says CABIA is reaching and the numbers simply dont back up their narrative. More tangible to customers than labor statistics is the actual cost of fast food, which has generally risen since the minimum wage law took effect. According to a report from market research firm Datassential, fast food chains have raised menu prices by roughly 10% since April 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 KTLA. The start of July will be scorching hot in parts of California as a long-duration heat wave unfolds, sending temperatures past 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the hottest cities. A heat dome will bring record-challenging heat to many areas of the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley, starting over the weekend and gradually intensifying throughout the first week of July. An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley, and points just away from the coast from the San Francisco Bay Area through portions of Central California, for Tuesday, July 2, through Saturday, July 6, due to "dangerously hot conditions." This includes Independence Day, a time when many people head outside for holiday festivities. Additional Excessive Heat Warnings have been issued for interior sections of Southern California, much of southern Nevada and far northwestern Arizona. Many of these warnings begin Wednesday or Thursday and last through late Monday. Poor air quality is also a concern, as pollutants such as ozone can build up in the stagnant air. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Not all of California will be affected by the upcoming heat wave, as some of the most densely populated areas will avoid the triple-digit temperatures. "As you get closer to the coast in cities such as Oakland and San Francisco, the cooling influence from the Pacific waters will remain in place, keeping afternoon temperatures in the much more reasonable 80s," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. One of the hottest cities will be Fresno, California, where the mercury could top out at or above the 110-degree mark for several days in a row. "The forecast high of 115 in Fresno [on] Saturday would tie the all-time record high from July 8, 1905," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Scott Homan said. An "extreme" heat wave is predicted to unfold in Fresno, according to the AccuWeather HeatWave Counter and Severity Index, which factors in the length and intensity of heat waves and puts them in historical context. The impending heat wave will be significantly worse than the two heat waves in Fresno in 2023, as well as the heat wave in Sept. 2022, when the temperature climbed above 105 degrees for nine consecutive days. Death Valley is notorious for its extreme heat, holding the world record for the highest temperature ever recorded at 134 degrees, set on July 10, 1913. Temperatures could approach 130 degrees near the end of the week, a benchmark seldom reached in the hottest place on Earth. Since record-keeping began in the early 1900s, the only times when the mercury climbed to 130 were in 1913, 2020 and 2021. In this Aug. 17, 2020, file photo, Steve Krofchik cools off with a bottle of ice water on his head in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) Heat is responsible for more fatalities than any other type of weather across the United States, according to NOAA, and experts urge people in California to take the proper precautions to stay safe. "Extreme caution should be taken to protect yourself from the heat and blazing sun if you have to be outside for an extended period of time, especially during the afternoon and early-evening hours," Anderson said. Californias largest landfill is about to become a massive park Californias Wildlife Conservation Board recently awarded a $12.5 million grant to help convert a massive landfill into Los Angeles Countys first new regional park in three decades. The Puente Hills Landfill, located near the 605 Freeway and Highway 60 interchange, operated for nearly 60 years and was the largest landfill in California and the second-largest in the nation. It contained 150 million tons of trash when it was decommissioned in 2013. Before the area was a landfill, it supported a thriving ecosystem that officials now hope can be restored. The WCB grant, along with other regional funding, will help convert a 142-acre section of the property into Puente Hills Regional Park. Restoration of the site will include the establishment of native plant communities which will address the critical issues of habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, disrupted habitat connectivity, and the unmet needs for accessible open space, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. Puente Hills park project Local officials had previously secured more than $100 million in funding. The project is expected to cost $200 million. Norma E. Garcia-Gonzalez, the director of L.A. Countys Department of Parks and Recreation, says the park will become a place for healing, restoration, and regeneration. The park will be the outcome of the most robust community engagement process weve ever done. The resulting native landscapes and spectacular views will serve millions in the greater Los Angeles region for generations to come, Garcia-Gonzalez said. The county hopes the parks first phase will be completed by the fall of 2026. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Legislation by California state Sen. Steve Glazer would tax large tech platforms and provide tax credits to news outlets. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California state Senate on Thursday passed legislation aimed at helping the news industry by imposing a new tax on some of the biggest tech companies in the world. Senate Bill 1327 would tax Amazon, Meta and Google for the data they collect from users and pump the money from this data extraction mitigation fee into news organizations by giving them a tax credit for employing full-time journalists. "Just as we have funded a movie industry tax credit, with no state involvement in content, the same goes for this journalism tax credit," Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) said as he presented the bill on the Senate floor, casting it as a measure to protect democracy and a free press. Its passage comes the same week lawmakers advanced another bill that seeks to resuscitate the local news business, which has suffered from declining revenue as technology changes the way people consume news. Assembly Bill 886 would require digital platforms to pay news outlets a fee when they sell advertising alongside news content. Read more: Will Google strike a deal with California news outlets to fund journalism? Glazer said his bill is meant as a complement to the other measure, adding that he and its author, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), plan to work with the companies that could be affected by both bills "in balancing everyone's interest." The legislation passed 27 to 7, with one Republican Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) joining Democrats in support. As a tax increase, it required support from two-thirds of the Senate and now advances to the Assembly. A Republican who opposed the bill said technology is changing many industries, not just journalism, and that some of the innovations have led to inspiring new ways to consume news, such as through podcasts or nonprofit news outlets. "These are all new models, and very few people under the age of 50 ... even pick up a paper newspaper," said Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks.) "So this is an evolution of the marketplace." Opponents of the bill include tech company trade associations TechNet, Internet Coalition and Chamber of Progress; the California Chamber of Commerce; and numerous local chambers of commerce. Supporters include unions representing journalists, a coalition of online and nonprofit news outlets, and the publishers of several small newspapers. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Assembly Bill 1955 would shield teachers from retaliation for supporting transgender student rights and prohibit school policies that require "forced disclosure" of youth gender decisions to their families. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) After a chaotic debate on the Assembly floor filled with shouting and tears, California lawmakers on Thursday sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill that would ban schools from requiring teachers to notify parents about changes to a student's gender identity. The 61-16 vote came after a lengthy and emotional back-and-forth between Democrats, who said the bill is necessary to protect LGBTQ+ youth, and Republicans, who said it would infringe on the student-parent relationship. Assembly Bill 1955 by Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego) would shield teachers from retaliation for supporting transgender student rights and prohibit school policies that require forced disclosure of youth gender decisions to their families. The legislation is in response to a wave of conservative-backed school board policies that have sought to notify parents if their child changes their name or pronouns, or if students request to use facilities or participate in programs that dont match their gender on official records. Implementation of those policies is held up in court. However, Democrats said Thursday that legislation is necessary to safeguard transgender K-12 students who may not feel safe at home to come out to their parents. They cited high bullying and suicide rates of transgender youth. "It's not the job of teachers to be the gender police. They want to teach, and they want to be able to provide a safe and supportive environment. And when they do, students will thrive," a tearful Ward said on the Assembly floor, surrounded by his Democratic colleagues who stood in support of the bill. "Nothing in this bill gets involved in the parent-child relationship." Thursday's vote came after combative opposition from Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona), who opposed the measure over concerns about "parental rights" and accused Democrats of fear mongering. Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) repeatedly cut Essayli's microphone during the debate and ruled that he was "out of order" for speaking about other legislation during his testimony against AB 1955, as well as for "disparaging the house." "I am tired of being interrupted by you," Essayli told Wood. Essayli, who compared state Democrats to the "Chinese Communist Party," responded by attempting to block the testimony of his Democratic colleagues. The floor debate was disrupted by several procedural votes required in order to cut Essayli's time. The Democratic caucus ultimately paused the vote to take a recess after Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Perris) was physically restrained by his colleagues to stop him from confronting Essayli on the Assembly floor. "I went blank. I lost it," Jackson told The Times. "I don't think sometimes that my Republican colleagues understand that for some bills, this is not about policy. This is about acknowledging people's humanity. So of course it's personal." Jackson said that he apologized to his fellow lawmakers for the distraction and that he did not speak to Essayli about the matter. "We stand with you. We do not want anyone to be bullied or hurt or erased or any of this stuff," Essayli said after ultimately being allowed to speak on the floor about the bill. "When a child is going through this, it's a very difficult and emotional time. ... We do not believe that the government the schools have any authority to withhold information from parents at all, period." Several members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus shared their own coming out stories in support of the bill and their experiences with unsupportive families. Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) said a teacher was the one to tell her that her child is transgender. She was "disappointed" by that teacher's judgment. "If my teacher had told my parents ... I don't know if I would've survived that day, because that was the level of abuse that was happening in my home," Wilson said. "I don't care how old you are. That is a personal decision." Newsom will have 12 days to sign or veto the bill, which cleared the Senate 29-8, once it officially hits his desk. The Democratic governor is a staunch LGBTQ+ advocate. He signed a bill in 2022 that named California a sanctuary for transgender children and their families seeking healthcare and support they can't get in red states. But Newsom shocked LGBTQ+ advocates when he vetoed a bill last year that would have required judges in custody battles to consider a parents support for their childs gender identity. In a veto message, he said, "I urge caution when the executive and legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate in prescriptive terms that single out one characteristic legal standards for the judicial branch to apply." Newsom does not typically comment on pending legislation. When asked about the issue last year, he told The Times that he understands parents' concerns but said that the school board policies are being used as a guise by Republicans to "bully" the LGBTQ+ community. The governor, a father of four, said he "draws the line" at requiring teachers to "out" students. "I take very seriously the work I do as a parent at home to meet their needs, and I don't honestly expect teachers to sub my role as a parent," Newsom said in November. "I want them to teach my kids, and I want them to keep them safe and make them feel included and not outed." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Calls for Biden to Step Aside Are About to Get Deafening This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. For Democrats who tuned into Thursday nights debate looking to calm their worries about President Joe Bidens age and acuity, they came away with zero remedy. Within 10 minutes of the CNN-hosted events start, some of even Bidens most loyal supporters found themselves asking if the nomination was, in fact, settled. How bad was it? Vice President Kamala Harris rushed to join the clean-up, booking late-night cable appearances. Yes, there was a slow start but a strong finish, said Harris, whose prospects for replacing her boss on the top of the ticket were getting hard scrutiny in real time as the debate unfolded. Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately, this election and who is the President of the United States has to be about substance, and the contrast is clear, she said on CNN in a show of unity with her boss. At times jarring and deserving of double-takes, the evening left Democratic insiders gobsmacked. His campaign team tried to mask the disaster but there was no denying things did not go as planned. And with a painful 53 days until Democrats have their next big night in front of a national audience with the opening of their nominating convention in Chicago, the fumbling impression left Thursday evening is going to be the image that endures for a stretch. Biden has faced pivotal nights like this before, the most analogous being his March State of the Union. Then, as now, voters were looking more at Bidens performance than substance. The fears about the Presidents capabilities faded somewhat when Biden nailed that performance. No one would say anything close to that on Thursday. At times seeming to seize up and at others appearing confused, Biden rambled his way through a 90-minute session against former President Donald Trump. While it evened-out as the night progressed and Biden loosened up, the initial burst of anxiety among Democrats was not the prototypical bed-wetting that the Presidents inner circle has proven adept at brushing off. The split-screen was impossible to ignore: Trump was not only more restrained than is typical for him, but he looked steadier even as he dodged specific questions in favor of populist platitudes. Read more: Trumps Debate Strategy Was to Let Biden Bury Himself Biden took the stage with small, slow steps. He often steadied himself with both hands on his lectern. He looked down during some uncomfortable moments, appearing to zone out. And some of his answers veered wildly away from their intended marks, such as his invocation of Americans murdered by those in the country illegally. The question in play? About abortion rights. "I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest, Biden said when asked directly about his age. Then, unprompted, he started talking about computer chips. This guy is three years younger and a lot less competent, he said of Trump. There are some facts that no performanceeven a flawless onecan erase or reverse. These are the two oldest presumptive nominees in history. The presidency takes a toll on everyone, and both men moved into the Oval Office as not-young men. At the time of their first head-to-head debate in 2020, they seemed like patrician party elders trying to steady a nation wrecked by a pandemic. Four years have not helped either look younger, and there is no denying that Biden, in particular, looks a little less steady, his voice a bit thinner, his jabs a little duller. Certainly, this Biden is not the man who stopped the panic inside Democratic circles in 2012 after Barack Obamas objectively terrible first debate against Mitt Romney. The stakes for such an evening are always high. Americans are facing a choice between an 81-year-old sage with a literal senatorial vein and forgetful streak or a 78-year-old blowhard dragging behind him felony convictions and looming indictments. At the core of the decision is one posed by Ronald Reagan in the lone debate of the 1980 presidential race: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Read More: Our Exclusive Interview with President Joe Biden The debate comes at a moment of a tight campaign, with Trump narrowly leading in most national polls and sitting stronger in the handful of states that will ultimately decide the race. Trump has narrowed Bidens fundraising advantage and seems to have paid no real price for his 34 felony convictions in New York. And, its not exactly a secret even among Bidens biggest defenders that the incumbent needed to knock it out of the park on Thursday. "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either, Trump said in an early moment that thwacked hard. Were trying to justify his presidency, he said later. Bidens showing did little to remedy that reality. Message chains among Washington Democrats devolved as the night unfolded into crippling anxiety. Unintelligible must have been the [closed captioning], one senior Democrat strategist mused. It would have been the most honest. Panic is not too strong of a word to describe some of those conversations. More than a few text chains were asking who knew the Democratic National Committee rules about how a nominee is locked in. Every elder strategist who still hopes to be part of the Biden orbit seemed to have found themselves on flights Thursday evening, unable to comment because they claimed they werent even watching. Trump is, at his core, a showman with few beliefs of his own. Biden, who has a half-century of debating under his belt and spent a week secluded at Camp David practicing for the debate, did not put on a matching spectacle. Instead, Biden tried to prosecute the fact-based case against Trump while his predecessor danced around the specifics and hurled invective back across the eight-foot gap between the men. He gets paid by China. Hes a Manchurian candidate, Trump said. A cheap shot, sure. But its one that rings much louder than almost anything Biden had at the ready. If he wins this election, our country doesnt stand a chance, Trump said, reverting to vague warnings. A disturbing echo of that sentiment kept coming through: if Biden remains the nominee, Democrats might not, either. There were still small reasons for Democrats to hold out hope, however faint. Trump remains a petty figure who continues to insist the 2020 election was rigged and thus illegitimate. He continues to vow retribution against those who he thinks wronged him. Joe could be a convicted felon, Trump said. This man is a criminal. And Trumpwho is a convicted feloncontinued to hurl inaccurate statements and fling innuendo all while flagrantly misrepresenting his own histories. "The only person on this stage that is a convicted felon is the man I am looking at right now, Biden said. Biden also tried to fact-check Trump and landed some rehearsed barbs. You have the morals of an alley cat, Biden said in one honed line, ticking through a litany of Trumps history. But Bidens rejoinders were no match for Trumps antagonism. It was clear Biden had prepared, but he suffered from the curse of someone who memorizes a script without understanding any of its subtext. To summon the words he hammered home, he often appeared to be staring off into space. Trump, meanwhile, just showed up and was himself with a coded appeal to his base supporters. Youve destroyed the lives of so many people, Trump said, accusing Biden of ruining the lives of innocent individuals connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He continued to insist that the protestors who sacked Capitol Hill were escorted in by police. And, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump continued to indulge in the Big Lie that he had actually won but the results were rigged. Theres no evidence at all, Biden said. He was right. But thats the norm when it comes to Trump. What isnt the normat least not to most Americansis seeing a President seeming to sleepwalk through 90 minutes of live television. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. One of last-remaining independent worker rights organizations active in Cambodia has found itself in the crosshairs of the countrys government due to its reporting on freedom of association in the garment industry. The Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), which on June 4 published a white paper pinpointing the barriers to representation impacting workers in the sector, is under threat of investigation by the Cambodian Ministry of the Interior (MoI). More from Sourcing Journal CENTRALs report analyzed and critiqued processes employed by the International Labor Organizations (ILO) Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) program, which monitors apparel factories compliance with international labor standards and serves as a resource for brands across the globe, from H&M to Inditex, C&A and Nike. According to CENTRAL, BFCs recent assessment of Cambodias garment factories falls short of addressing the true nature of employer-imposed barriers to freedom of association, in that it paints a rosier picture of the employer-union relationship than the reality organized workers are experiencing on the ground. Over the course of a year, CENTRAL followed up with union leaders and representatives from 14 of the 703 BFC-assessed factories to assess their members ability to access and understand BFCs public data. It also attempted to verify BFCs public compliance reports for the Cambodian factories against interviews with the union stakeholders. Our interviews with factory unions and workers revealed multiple challenges for workers in both accessing and utilizing this data. Workers also identified considerable inconsistencies between the data and their lived experiences, CENTRAL wrote. Despite perfect BFC scores on [freedom of association] criteria at all the 14 factories included in this study, union representatives at 10 of the 14 workplaces reportedly faced obstructions to [freedom of association] including verbal intimidation, threats, harassment, and blacklisting, severely affecting their ability to function. In its report, CENTRAL made suggestions to BFC on how to improve its assessment process and gather more accurate data from workers and unionsproposals that were provided to the organization before publication. Still, the report garnered considerable backlashnot from BFC or its parent ILO, but from pro-government yellow unions concerned that CENTRALs reporting could harm the Cambodian garment sector and spook foreign investors. These groups quickly engaged the Cambodian MoI, pushing it to launch an investigation into CENTRALs operations and finances. According to Clean Clothes Campaign living wage coordinator Anne Bienias, the accusations could imperil CENTRALs work in Cambodia, as past investigations into NGOs serving other sectors have resulted in both temporary and permanent suspensions of operations. Bienias said she believes the Cambodian government has been waiting for an opportunity to shut down CENTRAL. Following elections in 2016 and 2017, the country become much less hospitable to critical voices, with organizations like Human Rights Watch shuttering its office in Cambodia over safety concerns, she said by way of example. Its clear that the report itself is absolutely not the problemthey just using it as a hook to create all this buzz, she explained. According to Bienias, the government-affiliated unions pushing for an investigation into CENTRAL are filing new requests daily, accusing the NGO of unspecified illegal activities funded by foreign money. The yellow union coalition also claims that freedom of association and freedom of speech are protected effectively in the Cambodian garment sector, and that CENTRALs overblown reporting has damaged the countrys economy and endangered workers livelihoods. This is language that were typically getting from employers rights [groups]as soon as you say something critical about the industry, [they believe] investors or brands will run away and choose to invest somewhere else, Bienias explained. Tharo Khun, CENTRALs program manager, told Sourcing Journal that the situation remains very uncertain and unpredictable due to the ongoing smear campaign against the organization. Khun, who has been personally targeted by pro-government unions and may be facing a lawsuit due to his work in Cambodia, said the attack on the group has been multi-faceted and strategic, employing pro-government media to amplify messaging against CENTRAL. The worst case scenario risk facing CENTRAL would be a suspension or shutdown by the Ministry of Interior. As CENTRAL is registered under the MoI, they could use a variety of tactics to open a formal investigation of CENTRAL to summon our leadership for questioning, officially suspend us (for a matter of weeks or months) or withdraw our registration, he explained. In 2017, the MoI suspended another Cambodian NGO, Equitable Cambodia, for six months under similar circumstances. Under Cambodias Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organizations (LANGO), the MoI has the power to investigate CENTRAL and deliver a recommendation for its closure. The program manager said the governments actions aim to protect the Cambodian garment industry from scrutiny and safeguard the burgeoning sectors economic viability. We believe that the overwhelmingly positive statements made by Cambodian stakeholders at this months [International Labor Conference] in Geneva, of which the Minister of Labor and several non-independent unions attended, are strong indications of the RGCs intentions to portray Cambodia in a positive light on Freedom of Association (FoA), he added. Now, Khun said he and his colleagues are on very high alert and are worried that the spotlight on the conflict has increased the visibility and vulnerability of our leadership. We have to recognize that individuals could submit complaints to the courts, which could obstruct our leadership and engagement with the union movement, as well putting us at personal risk of legal action like any others prominent human rights and labor rights advocates, he said. As of Thursday, the MoI has not confirmed its intention to formally launch an investigation into CENTRAL. Sources say attempts at de-escalation are being made. How camping bans like the one the Supreme Court just upheld can fit into hostile design: Strategies to push out homeless people If you have no shelter and are arrested for sleeping outside, are you being punished for something you did or for being homeless? On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 6-3 that the Oregon city of Grants Pass may prohibit camping, even if there are no free shelter beds in the area. Critics have argued that this policy was a form of cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A lower court agreed, saying it is unconstitutional to arrest people for a normal and necessary human behavior sleeping if there is nowhere else to go. But Fridays decision reversed that ruling. Such laws do not qualify as cruel, the court found, because they are not designed to inflict terror, pain, or disgrace. Nor are they uncommon. And they criminalize an action, the majority note, not the status of experiencing homelessness. Advocates for unhoused people, however, argue these kinds of anti-camping laws effectively make homelessness a crime and feared that a Supreme Court decision to overturn the ruling could intensify cities efforts to treat the unhoused as criminals. As a professor of philosophy who studies homelessness, I believe it is important to understand camping bans as part of wider efforts to displace unhoused people. Cities do many things to assist people experiencing homelessness, providing everything from shelters to food pantries. Yet cities also use a variety of tactics to push unhoused people out of public view. Perhaps the most revealing is hostile architecture, a focus of my research. This term is often used for public spaces designed in ways that discriminate against specific vulnerable populations. The most common examples are objects that present a physical barrier to everyday activities for people without housing. Hostile design One common example are spikes added to ledges to deter people from leaning or sitting. Since spikes are often quite noticeable, however, and their purpose is obvious, they occasionally elicit controversy. Spikes on a ledge in San Francisco. Robert Rosenberger Another pervasive but less attention-grabbing form of hostile architecture are benches that have been redesigned to make them difficult or impossible to use as sleeping spaces. This is accomplished through a variety of design schemes that prevent people from lying down, from bucket seating or seat dividers to armrests. Any number of other hostile physical obstructions can be found. Garbage cans are often fitted with hood designs, as well as external cases with built-in locks, to deter trash-picking. Other designs alter the landscape itself. Bollards or boulders can be brought in to break up potential camping spaces. Fencing can be used to block off sheltered areas such as highway underpasses. A fenced-off underpass in Charlotte, S.C. Robert Rosenberger Hostile design isnt always about objects; sometimes it involves actions, too. Businesses and churches have been accused of regularly spraying water on potential sleeping spaces, sometimes via automatic sprinkler systems. Noise pollution can be another strategy, blasting loud music or annoying sounds to clear potential loitering places. Such was the case of a park in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the cloying childrens song Baby Shark was played along with other kids tunes each night. Legal scholar Sarah Schindler argues that these kinds of hostile designs should be recognized as a form of regulation. As she puts it, Regulation through architecture is just as powerful as law, but it is less explicit, less identifiable, and less familiar to courts, legislators, and the general public. Like the law, hostile architecture can have the effect of regulating peoples behaviors. But unlike the law, instances of hostile architecture are not subject to any kind of official oversight and often go unnoticed. Whats there and whats not Once you learn about hostile architecture, you start to see examples everywhere. But perhaps even more importantly, you also begin to notice the absence of certain items and services in public spaces. A sidewalk bench with armrests in New York City. Robert Rosenberger Rather than add armrests to a bench, the bench can be simply taken away. Trees can be removed to prevent loitering in the shade. Whole regions of cities are devoid of public restrooms, with options in private establishments available to paying customers only. Public space researcher Cara Chellew has come to refer to these conspicuously absent expected things as ghost amenities. Hostile architecture, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. Just below the surface are the variety of laws that target particular behaviors: storing personal items in public space, loitering, panhandling and vagrancy. There are laws against sitting or lying down in public so-called sit/lie laws. Anti-camping laws often apply not just to tents but to using any kind of covering at all, such as a blanket. Even giving food to unhoused people is outlawed in some cities, if the individual or organization does not have a permit. Trash and recycle cans with rain hoods and padlocked casings in Philadelphia. Robert Rosenberger The National Homelessness Law Center has been charting the increase in these kinds of laws across the United States. In a review of 187 cities from 2006-2019, the center found a 78% increase in sit/lie laws and a 103% increase in laws against vagrancy, loafing and loitering. There was also a 92% increase in camping bans. Informal policies can also serve as de facto bans on homelessness, such as when police pressure unhoused people to move along. Many shelters, where they exist, are not open during daytime hours, leaving people without housing no choice but to loiter or continue moving throughout the day. At times, shelters themselves present roadblocks that discourage people from using their services, such as patterns of discrimination against LGBTQ+ patrons or policies that ban pets. Stakes at SCOTUS On their own, many of these laws or objects may seem unobjectionable, or at least not a big deal. How much should we care about a bench with armrests, or a park with rules prohibiting sleeping? When taken in the aggregate, however, these things can function together to exclude the unhoused from public space entirely. None of them literally make homelessness a crime but in critics eyes, these laws and patterns of design have the same effect. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of three to dissent from the majoritys decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, raised a similar idea. The citys camping ban punishes people for experiencing homelessness, she argued, leaving the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. This is an updated version of an article originally published on June 13, 2024. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Robert Rosenberger, Georgia Institute of Technology Read more: Robert Rosenberger is currently serving as President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology. A group of local drag queens and a bar owner in Perry received gun threats, but their show will still go on somewhere else, they said. After Main St. Bar announced on Facebook Thursday morning they canceled the show because of threats and safety concerns, two other bars Friends on the Hill in Warner Robins and Pub 96 in Bonaire stepped up to offer their venues. Pynk Univers, a performer who organized the event and grew up in Warner Robins, said she trusts the new venue at Friends on the Hill will do whatever to get the show going. The show will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday. Since the bar hosts LGBTQ+ events regularly and is queer friendly, she said it will be safe to hold it there. However, the verbal threats left her feeling very overwhelmed and very overstimulated. While getting ready, while being there, all we would think about is, Is somebody going to come in here and shoot us down, Univers said. The Perry resident recalled when a shooter killed 49 people and injured 53 others in 2016 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Its a scary thought but at the same time that also shows how dedicated we are to it, Univers said. Whenever I heard what was going on with (the owner), I was like I understand your decision, but as soon as people were reaching out, I literally messaged girls and I was like, Were still doing it. She said the backlash was typical for a small town like Perry. Its such an almost Bible Belt type of town, because its big on religion. Since they can have it, why cant we have something? Univers said. Police presence after threats A few days after Main St. Bar posted event fliers on social media, users from a Facebook group called Perry Free Speech posted homophobic comments and questions about the identities of the bar owner, landlord and its location. The bar owner reported comments made by their neighbor to police, and told the Perry Police Department that her neighbor said he wouldnt be surprised if someone didnt show up with a 45 and shoot some of these people, that he may even be one of them, according to a police report obtained by The Telegraph. She also told police that the man said to her, maybe she should contact (the building owner), he could surely help her get out of the contract with the event promoter, the report said. A threat of this nature could be classified as a terroristic threat, but under Georgia law, the owner would likely need a third party to witness the verbal exchange between the owner and her neighbor, Perry Police Chief Alan Everidge said. The owner did not have a witness to the conversation, and she did not provide police with evidence such as an audio or video recording, which could have been used in court to pursue terroristic threat charges. Police units will check up on Main St. Bar and the owners house throughout the weekend, but officers will not remain on scene 24/7, Everidge told The Telegraph. We just kind of keep an eye out to see if theres anything that raises suspicion that somethings going on that shouldnt be going on, Everidge said. While the neighbor posed a significant threat to show up with guns, officers would only be present 24/7 if the owner had requested to investigate further, or if a protest permit was filed. Repeatedly she said no. I dont have to make the decision for them and I cant tell them what they have to do, because if theyre not willing to testify, you cant prosecute a case, Everidge said. Especially these kind of cases, you got a lot of physical evidence to do. There were no protest permits filed, and the owner told officers she did not want to press charges nor did she want anyone to go to jail for this, and that she mainly wanted to be notated in case something did happen. The updated event venue at Friends on the Hill will have its regular armed security, but no police presence, Univers said. But she was shocked to learn the gun threat in itself was not enough to prompt 24/7 police presence if Main St. Bar would have held the event. They were just like, Well since we dont have any permits for people saying theyre going to protest, were just going to patrol as usual, the performer said. So that doesnt give anyone any security because if no one is patrolling you and something does happen, what can happen? We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness: Advocates denounce Supreme Court ruling criminalizing public sleeping We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness: Advocates denounce Supreme Court ruling criminalizing public sleeping Human rights groups have condemned the Supreme Court decision to side with an Oregon citys ban on homelessness, allowing law enforcement to penalize those sleeping in public areas. The courts conservative majority ruled that the small city of Grants Passs law ticketing, fining, and jailing unhoused people did not violate the Eighth Amendments cruel and unusual punishment clause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that the courts conservatives ignored the humanity and dignity of people experiencing homelessness, adding that their decision leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. Civil rights groups and homeless rights activists condemned the 6-3 ruling, underscoring the effects the decision will have on vulnerable populations. We cannot arrest our way out of homelessness, Scout Katovich, an ACLU attorney in the Trone Center for Justice and Equality, said in a statement. It is hard to imagine a starker example of excessive punishment than fining and jailing a person for the basic human act of sleeping. The National Homelessness Law Center in a statement called the criminalization of homelessness expensive, counterproductive, and cruel. The statement continued: While we are disappointed, we are not surprised that this Supreme Court ruled against the interests of our poorest neighbors. Tents used by the homeless sit along a subterranean sidewalk in downtown on April 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois (Getty Images) The group also called on the Biden administration and Congress to invest funding into universal rental assistance for lowest-income households, eviction and homelessness prevention, public housing repair and preservation, and other support services. The decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free rein to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, Ann Oliva, the CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said in a statement. She added that the ruling allows elected officials to shift the burden to law enforcement rather than focusing on long-term, sustainable solutions, like funding affordable housing and supportive services. Kirsten Anderson, the deputy legal director for economic justice at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said the country should address the issues that are causing housing to be unaffordable, rather than punishing those without a home: Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis, not a moral failing. Although the courts ruling concerned Grants Pass where as many as 600 people in the 39,000-person city experience homelessness per day, the small citys laws penalizing homelessness are part of a larger trend across the country. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law in March prohibiting public camping or sleeping, including the presence of bedding or pillows on any public property in the state. DeSantis has yet to comment on Fridays ruling. The Independent has emailed his office for comment. Republican 2024 hopeful Donald Trump unveiled a campaign policy in April 2023: banning urban camping wherever possible. He said in a video at the time: Violators of these bans will be arrested, but they will be given the option to accept treatment and services if theyre willing to be rehabilitated. The Canutillo Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a $67.9 million budget with a $2.75 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year, with no pay raises for most of its employees. The previous school year, the district adopted a $67.2 million budget. The district initially projected a $4.4 million budget shortfall for the coming school year after making several budget cuts, on top of a $6.6 million deficit for the current one. Now Canutillo ISD is expecting to end the 2023-24 school year with a roughly $535,000 surplus. Canutillo ISD communications director Gustavo Reveles said the majority of these funds came from selling the districts central office building to the Texas Department of Transportation. Reveles said the department made an offer of $6.8 million, but could not yet disclose the final sale amount as it hasnt been approved. The district is looking into different options to relocate its central office. The district also improved attendance rates, giving the district an additional $360,000 in revenue. This comes after the district made a series of budget cuts, including layoffs, to address the deficit. Now Canutillo ISD will likely need to tap into its reserves to cover the upcoming school years deficit. The district expects to end the current school year with about $13.8 million in its reserves, or enough to keep the district running for 70 days. More: EPISD approves $18.5 million budget deficit, no employee pay raises If the deficit for the upcoming school year remains the same, that would reduce the districts reserves to $10.3 million, or enough to keep it running for 55 days. This will still bring us below our minimum fund balance, but we are still a work in progress, Executive Director of Financial Services Cristina Pulley said during Tuesdays meeting. We are still working to bring down that deficit. Texas school districts need to have enough reserves to run for at least 75 days to get an A in the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. Canutillo ISD looks into starting public facility corporation Trustees also discussed the possibility of starting a nonprofit, known as a public facility corporation, or PFC, that can issue bonds for construction projects without voter approval. Voters in May narrowly approved a $387 million bond measure for new schools and districtwide improvements to reverse declining enrollment. The bond did not include funds for a new district headquarters, but the PFC could be used to issue bonds for new offices. A sign at Canutillo Middle School urges voters to support the proposed bond. We dont have a definite plan yet. We just wanted to put it out there thats one of the options the district has, especially as we move forward with finalizing funding for a new central office, Reveles told El Paso Matters. The board heard a presentation from the districts attorney, Arnold Cantu, that mentioned using a PFC to fund a workforce housing development, but Reveles said these are preliminary conversations. These types of corporations are most often used by public housing authorities but could be created by municipalities and school districts, among other government entities, according to Texas local government code. Bonds approved by a PFC would not affect a districts tax rate, Cantu said. Any bond issued by the PFC would have to be paid from revenues either coming from the developer in some instances, or from the district, he said. While the PFC could not raise the tax rate, the board of trustees could raise taxes to pay the bonds issued by the corporation. The PFC would have to give public notice and residents could petition that the bonds be put on a ballot. The PFC would also allow the district to get a tax exemption on these projects and shield it from legal liability, Cantu said. The El Paso Independent School District started a PFC in 2015 to pay for the construction of a new administrative building in Northeast El Paso after years of leasing a building near the airport from the city, the El Paso Times reported. EPISD built its new administrative office in Downtown El Paso using bonds issued by the PFC. The offices were completed and opened in 2021. Canutillo ISD raises Montessori teacher pay Canutillo ISD Trustees also voted unanimously to raise the starting pay for Montessori teachers from about $46,000 to $60,000 a year, the same as traditional teachers. This comes after two of the districts three Montessori teachers left to work somewhere else, Chief Human Resources Officer Martha Carrasco said during the meeting. If the district is unable to recruit new Montessori teachers, it may not be able to continue the program during the 2024-25 school year. If were not going to be able to carry it on moving forward or if you want to you can convert it to a prek-K to 3 (program), Carrasco said. Trustees also discussed the possibility of offering a stipend to teachers who have both a Montessori and Texas teaching certification. Carrasco said the district currently doesnt have any teachers who would qualify for it. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Canutillo ISD approves budget deficit, no pay raises House Democrats spent their Friday morning huddling on the floor in hushed, anguished conversations about President Joe Biden's debate performance. "It was a f------ disaster," one member said, adding that a lot of members believe Biden should suspend his campaign. "If something happens it has to happen in the next couple of days," another House Democrat told ABC News, adding that the only House lawmaker who may be capable of getting through to Biden is Nancy Pelosi, "Catholic to Catholic." For her part, Pelosi told reporters that Biden "got off to a bad start but he came through okay on the issues later." PHOTO: Rep. Nancy Pelosi talks with reporters at the Capitol about the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, June 28, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) "Compared to a person who was lying the whole time, we saw integrity on one side and dishonesty on the other," she said. When later asked if Biden is the best messenger for the party, Pelosi responded: "I'm a very big supporter of President Biden's. He's been a great president and done great things for the country." MORE: Fact checking the Biden-Trump presidential debate Even Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., one of Biden's biggest boosters and often credited for saving Biden's 2020 primary campaign, said his performance was "strike one." But he added that Democrats should "stay the course," and that there is "no better Democrat" to lead the ticket than Biden. PHOTO: House Votes June 28 (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images) Former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., acknowledged Biden had a "bad night." "He is a good man. He's got a great record. All the things he said about the economy are actually true -- he had a bad night. Some of us have bad nights sometimes," Hoyer said. MORE: Biden addresses poor debate performance, attacks Trump at Raleigh rally Moderate Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., said they "all would've liked a better performance by the president." "Regardless of what happens, I have got to fight for my district -- whoever becomes the president -- whether it's President Biden, former president Trump or some other Democrat or Republican I am going to fight for my district," Suozzi said. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota said, "Joe Biden didn't communicate, and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth." However, multiple House lawmakers purposely ignored reporters' questions about Biden's performance at the debate. Rep. Jamie Raskin, another Maryland Democrat, appeared to have faked a phone call. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., said "you guys are crazy" and Rep. Susan Wild, who represents a competitive Pennsylvania district, talked about the weather when pressed on the topic. PHOTO: President Joe Biden walks off stage during a break in a presidential debate with former President Donald Trump hosted by CNN, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Gerald Herbert/AP) One Democratic source acknowledged that only Biden's tight-knit circle of family and aides could convince the president to change course. Even former President Barack Obama, the source speculated, would face resistance to any effort to encourage Biden to step aside. "Obama should tell him he saved the country once from Trump, and he can do so again" by suspending his bid, the source said. But hours later, Obama appeared to dash hopes he would intervene, posting on X that "bad debate nights happen" but that he still supported Biden's bid. "This election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight -- and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit," he wrote. "Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November." MORE: Who won the first Biden-Trump presidential debate? President Biden addressed the performance himself during a rally on Friday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Folks, I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to, but ... I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong, and I know how to do this job," he told a roaring crowd. The Biden campaign, which is now openly acknowledging the president had a bad night, was also asked Friday about calls for Biden to step down or drop out. Biden Campaign communication director Michael Tyler said there are "no conversations about that whatsoever." Tyler was also emphatic that Biden will take part in the ABC News debate scheduled for Sept. 10. ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report. At the Capitol, Democrats anguish over Biden's debate performance on full display originally appeared on abcnews.go.com After the U.S. Supreme Court threw out an obstruction charge against a former police officer for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, directly across the street from the court, on Friday morning, other alleged insurrectionists celebrated. I should have never been charged with felony Obstruction, and neither should hundreds of other January 6th defendants, wrote one of the convicted rioters, Alexander Sheppard, in a post Friday on X (formerly Twitter). The Ohio man, who was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison for storming past police lines into the Capitol, was released from prison in May pending the Supreme Courts decision in Fischer v. United States. For nearly 4 years, the Department of Justice put us through hell for supporting President Trump and taking a stand for Election Integrity, he wrote. As one of the 52 defendants where Obstruction was my ONLY felony charge, I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I will soon be going to resentencing, and I pray that my judge now sees this whole case for what it always has been: a complete and total sham. The high court, in a 6-3 vote, ruled that Joseph Fischer, a former police officer who stormed the Capitol, should not have been charged with obstructing an official proceeding over the attempt to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 election by counting states electoral votes. The majority decision said that the obstruction statute federal prosecutors used to charged Fischer, Section 1512 of U.S. Code Title 18, was intended only for cases involving tampering with physical evidence. January 6 was an unprecedented attack on the cornerstone of our system of government the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday, responding to the Supreme Courts decision. I am disappointed by todays decision, which limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences. Fischer, the petitioner in the Supreme Court case, was in a brighter mood. He and his family were ecstatic, Fischers attorney, Jeff Green, told HuffPost on Friday. This has been a long road for him, but theres more of that road ahead. This is but one of seven charges, six more pending, and well have to see to that. Among the other charges Fischer faces is one of assaulting a police officer. The Supreme Court decision could have ramifications for more than 200 defendants in cases related to the Capitol riot and will likely reify right-wing and MAGA narratives about the alleged insurrectionists being political prisoners. According to an NBC tally, out of 1,400 Capitol riot defendants, the obstruction statute at the center of the Supreme Court case was used against 247 people. It is the lone felony charge against only 52 of those defendants. Of those, 27 are currently serving sentences. Other Capitol rioters were nevertheless ebullient. We won! said a post on an X account associated with Richard Barnett, a self-described white nationalist who was photographed putting his feet on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis desk during the riot. #SCOTUS in a 6-3 decision overturned the 1512 charge. The first light of justice is finally breaking through the bonds of darkness and evil in D.C. Barnett is serving a 54-month prison sentence for his role in the Capitol riot. Of the eight counts in his conviction, one was the obstruction charge shot down by the Supreme Court. (Its unclear if Barnett tweeted himself Friday, or if someone outside of prison tweeted it for him.) William Pope, a Kansas doctoral student and former city council candidate who also faces eight charges related to the riot, including one of obstruction, tweeted Friday that for almost four years, Bidens extreme DOJ has falsely accused me of a 20-year felony based on their egregious, unbounded reading of the law. Many defendants have served time in prison for this charge, he added. Today the Supreme Court rightly reprimanded the government for their tyranny. Its official, Tim Hale, another Jan. 6 rioter convicted on the obstruction charge, tweeted. I just spent 3 years in prison for something that isnt a crime. #J6 #Fedsurrection. Micki Witthoeft (right), the mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was killed by Capitol Police on Jan. 6, 2021, and Nicole Reffitt, the wife of convicted rioter Guy Reffitt, attend a Sept. 12, 2023, news conference at the U.S. Capitol with members of the House Freedom. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Micki Witthoeft, whose daughter Ashli Babbitt was killed by U.S. Capitol Police as she tried to crawl through a shattered window into the Speakers Lobby near the House chamber, was thrilled by the Supreme Court decision. Im amazed, absolutely amazed, Witthoeft, who has held regular vigils outside a Washington prison holding multiple Jan. 6 defendants, told HuffPost. Im very happy about it. I just hope that this will affect a lot of them, she added. I look forward to seeing a lot of these men out of jail. At the debate Thursday night, former President Donald Trump voiced his support for those arrested after Jan. 6. What theyve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, Trump said to Biden. What you have done, how youve destroyed the lives of so many people. Trump has repeatedly said he may pardon those convicted in Jan. 6 riot cases if he becomes president. That may yet come to pass, but until then, the Supreme Court has offered them some modest relief. Related... SEMINOLE COUNTY, GA (WDHN) One person was life-flighted with unknown injuries after a train and car crash in Seminole County Thursday night. The Seminole County Volunteer Fire and Rescue says first responders rushed to Dunham Street near Iron City, Georgia, after receiving a report that a CSX train had hit a passenger vehicle. According to the Fire Department, the person injured was conscious before being life-flighted to a hospital. The victims condition is currently unknown. The train crossing was shut down while crews worked the scene. The crash is under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. 'I even let him win sometimes,' Willa McKee, then 94, says of her son and card partner, Rhode Island. Gov. Dan McKee in a 2022 McKee campaign ad. The memorable spot helped make McKee relatable to voters. (Screenshot/Friends of Dan McKee) After she moved back in with her son in his Cumberland home, Willa McKee played cards. I even let him win sometimes, the then 94-year-old mother of Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said in his 2022 video campaign ad. The video of the two at a table with their cards helped make the governor relatable to voters, evidenced by McKees victory in the September primary and November general election. The governors office announced the passing of Willa McKee Friday morning. Our mom and grandmother was an extraordinary source of love, joy, kindness, and support to her husband, children, grandchildren and many friends, the governors office said in a statement. Her home will forever be known as a fun, safe, and welcoming place to be. Willa McKees masterpiece of a life is now complete. We are blessed to have her love us all in a very special way. She will be missed and forever loved. Our family thanks everyone for their prayers and asks to respect our privacy during this difficult time. Funeral services will be private. State and national officials offered condolences to the family in the wake of the news Friday. Willa McKee leaves an incredible legacy that will be forever felt by her family, friends, and community, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said in a statement. In recent years, she shared the gift of her amazing personality with all Rhode Islanders through her memorable appearances in the Governors TV ads. We are all better for having known her, whether personally or from afar. On behalf of all my colleagues in the Rhode Island Senate, I want to express my deepest condolences to Governor McKee and his family. Thank you for sharing Willas joy and bright light with us. Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson, a Cumberland Democrat, also highlighted Willa McKees importance in the Cumberland community. Willa McKees wit, charm, and unwavering support were not only instrumental in Governor McKees successful campaign but also endeared her to the people of Rhode Island, Pearson said. Her memorable appearances in Governor McKees TV ads brought smiles and warmth to many, showcasing her unique sense of humor and vibrant personality. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed praised her as wonderful person and great role model. Many lives were bettered by her countless contributions to her family and community, Reed said in a statement. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo offered sympathy messages via posts on X. Nancy Lavin contributed to this story. The post Card-playing campaign ad star and mother of Gov. Dan McKee passes away appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Career criminal sentenced in NN after using girlfriend to illegally purchase guns NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) A career criminal from Portsmouth was sentenced on Friday to 17 years in prison for making false statements to illegally straw-purchase firearms, according to court documents. According to court documents, 42-year-old Dartanguia Antonious Lee has other aliases such as Donte, Dante, Dionte, Snoop, Snookie and Bully. Lee is an armed career criminal with several previous felony convictions, including serious drug crimes and five convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon. From December 2019 to March 2020, Lee used his girlfriend as a straw-purchaser to obtain at least 19 firearms from four federally licensed firearms dealers. As a felon, Lee cannot purchase or possess firearms or ammunition. Lee often transferred the firearms to other felons who could not purchase their own, some of which have already been recovered by law enforcement. Lee was arrested in Greensboro, North Carolina, in September 2022, months after his federal indictment in Virginia. He was apprehended as part of a drug trafficking investigation that involved multiple firearms. Lee has pending charges in North Carolina. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Here are the cases left to be decided by the Supreme Court The Supreme Court has roughly a handful of opinions left to be handed down before the end of its term, which will now stretch into July. They include history-making decisions such as former President Trumps criminal immunity defense claims, the validity of a charge levied against more than 300 Jan. 6 defendants and the potential demise of a major administrative law known as the Chevron deference. Technically, the court has eight argued cases remaining. But a few of those cases may be merged into a singular opinion, such as the case involving Chevron and a set of challenges to social media moderation in Florida and Texas, so the expectation is that six total decisions remain. The court will release opinions Friday morning and now Monday morning, failing to meet its traditional end-of-June deadline. The last day of the term has yet to be officially announced. Here is the full list of cases still before the high court. Trump immunity (Trump v. United States) The justices let the first presidential debate pass by Thursday before handing down their highly anticipated decision on whether Trump has criminal immunity for official acts while in office. Trump contends his defense would require the dismissal of charges in his three criminal cases that have yet to go to trial, and Trumps Supreme Court appeal has tied up his federal Jan. 6 case for months. Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it, D. John Sauer, Trumps lead attorney in the case, told the Supreme Court at oral arguments. Michael Dreeben, who argued the case on behalf of special counsel Jack Smith, was spotted in the courtroom Wednesday when the justices handed down opinions, but immunity has yet to be among those made public so far. Jan. 6 obstruction charge (Fischer v. United States) The Justice Departments sweeping prosecution of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack is further under the microscope with rioter Joseph Fischers challenge to an obstruction law that criminalizes corruptly obstructing, impeding or interfering with an official government proceeding. Prosecutors pointed to Congresss certification of the 2020 presidential election results that day, which formalized President Bidens win over Trump, as reason to use the charge against Fischer and more than 350 other rioters. But Fischer contends that the Justice Department overreached and improperly applied the law to rioters, pointing to its origin with the Enron accounting scandal, passed to deal with the destruction of documents. The justices seemed wary of the laws application during arguments in April, which could spell trouble for the governments efforts to hold rioters to account and Trumps federal election subversion case. Chevron (Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce) Chevron deference may be on its deathbed. The justices are weighing whether to overrule the precedent, a bedrock of administrative law that has given federal agencies across the government wide authority to enact regulations. At oral arguments, the conservative majority appeared poised to either limit Chevrons reach or overrule it entirely, which would dramatically claw back the executive branchs powers when Congress hasnt spoken clearly about an issue. You say dont overrule Chevron because it would be a shock to the system, but the reality of how this works is Chevron itself ushers in shocks to the system every four or eight years when a new administration comes in, Justice Brett Kavanaugh told the Biden administrations lawyer at oral arguments. Florida, Texas social media cases (NetChoice v. Paxton and Moody v. NetChoice) Two cases involving the rights of social media companies remain in a Supreme Court term riddled with big questions involving online speech. Tech industry groups challenged laws in Florida and Texas that seek to bar social media platforms from banning users for their political views, even if platform policies were violated. They say the laws passed in the wake of the 2020 election, when conservatives feared their views were being unfairly censored by major platforms trample over private companies First Amendment right to decide which content to host. Several justices expressed concern about the apparent overreach of the laws, pointing to nontraditional platforms such as Gmail and the online marketplace Etsy that could face unintended consequences should the justices rule in favor of the states. Kavanaugh specifically raised that the First Amendment was designed to protect companies from government overreach not the other way around. Ticketing the homeless (City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson) Americans without housing could face new restrictions if the Supreme Court rules in favor of an Oregon city cracking down on public sleeping. The justices are weighing whether cities can ticket homeless people for camping in public if no alternative shelter is available to them after the city of Grants Pass, Ore., sought to implement a law that would fine campers $295 per night for sleeping in public parks. A lower court ruled that the law amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, which the city claims prevents it from implementing common sense laws to combat public camping. With rates of homelessness at record levels across the country, the justices ruling stands to dramatically alter the lives of Americans without a permanent place to live. During arguments, several justices acknowledged the complicated nature of the issue. Statute of limitations (Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) Among the Supreme Courts final remaining cases will resolve a split among the nations federal appeals courts as to when plaintiffs can challenge government regulations in court. Some lower courts and the Biden administration believe the six-year statute of limitations clock begins ticking when a federal agency issues its regulation. But Corner Post, a North Dakota truck stop, believes the timer doesnt start until it is first adversely affected by the regulation, a theory that would open up regulations to additional lawsuits. Corner Post opened its doors in 2018 and is attempting to challenge Federal Reserves regulations of maximum debit card swipe fees, which were issued seven years earlier. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Central Florida deputies arrest 24-year-old man for sexual assault of girl under 12 After a nearly month-long investigation, the Osceola County Sheriffs Office arrested a man accused of sexually abusing a young girl. On June 4, the victim reported that the suspect, Giancarlo Gonzalez-Nieves, had been sexually assaulting her for nearly four years. The victim told investigators that the abuse started when she was roughly 8 years old and continued until she was roughly 12 years old. Read: Wouldnt be enough: Leesburg murder victims wife opposes death penalty Investigators from the OCSO Special Victims Unit obtained multiple admissions from the 24-year-old Gonzalez-Nieves that confirmed the allegations of abuse from the victim. A warrant for Gonzalez-Nieves was obtained and on June 27, he was arrested and charged with Sexual Battery (suspect over 18 and a victim under 12). This charge is a capital offense in the State of Florida. Osceola County deputies arrest 24-year-old man for sexual assault of girl under 12 Read: It could have been so much more: Pulse Survivor Walk will not happen During a press conference, Sheriff Marcos Lopez said the suspect was a family friend of the victim and asked the public if there are any other victims or witnesses with information on Gonzalez-Nieves, call the Osceola County Sheriffs Office at (407) 348-2222. Read: Orlando tech firm one of several raided by military investigators Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. GHENT, WV (WVNS) The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) recently released the hunting rules and regulations for the 2024-25 hunting seasons, and there are some changes that hunters should be aware of. A major change, that was first announced in 2023, is the difference in the bag limit for for antlered deer. The bag limit for bucks has dropped from three deer to now two, with the exception being for bucks taken in a CWD Containment Area by hunters with a Class XS hunting license. What is the deepest river in West Virginia? Another major change is the dates of certain seasons. Fall 2024 antlerless deer season dates: October 24th to 27th November 25th to December 8th December 12th to 15th December 28th to 31st Fall 2024 turkey season dates: October 12th to 20th (most counties) October 28th to November 3rd (fewer counties) November 3rd to 17th (14 counties) For the 2024-25 hunting seasons, black bear season was also extended by an extra week. In certain counties, bear season will start on September 21st. West Virginia hiking trails that are bearable when its really hot To read more on specific seasons or species, you can find the complete 2024-25 WVDNR Hunting Regulations Summary on the WVDNR 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 WVNS. Eight months after the Washington Department of Health pulled funding from the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, the nonprofit has been dissolved and a new provider will be offering a variety of supportive services to residents living with HIV/AIDS in the South Sound. Global nonprofit AIDS Healthcare Foundation was chosen by the DOH to provide case management and other prevention-focused services in Pierce County starting July 1. AHF currently operates in more than 46 countries and has a healthcare center in King County. Representatives with AHF did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The News Tribune. According to a letter sent to PCAF clients obtained by The News Tribune, AHF will provide case-management services in addition to other services provided by PCAF or the DOH in the past, including medical case management, peer navigation, food vouchers, medical transportation, psycho-social support, housing, emergency financial assistance and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS. In-person case management meetings can be scheduled beginning July 15, the letter said. PCAF will work with the Tacoma Public Library and the Tacoma Historical Society to preserve artifacts, photos, community art and objects from its 37-year history. The News Tribune previously reported on a flurry of scandals and controversies in 2023 that plagued PCAF, which had offices in Tacoma and Olympia and served over 3,000 clients. In August some ex-PCAF employees said they believed they were fired for speaking out about a toxic workplace environment less than a week after PCAF reported issues receiving funding from DOH. DOH later terminated contracts with PCAF amid allegations of financial mismanagement and PCAF laid off its CEO and most of its staff after the Oasis Youth Center filed a lawsuit alleging PCAF misappropriated more than $200,000 in a breach of contract. PCAFs CEO alleged anti-Black racism played a role in his termination. PCAF Mission and Arts supervisor jill frey, who prefers her name in lowercase, confirmed June 27 that in early June the PCAF Board of Directors voted to dissolve the nonprofit. PCAF also sold its building at 3009 S. 40th St. to AHF, so clients will not have to change buildings, frey said. frey said it will take time for AHF to gain trust in the community, but she remains hopeful that will happen. They, as any organization coming into Tacoma, coming into Pierce County, deserve an opportunity, deserve some room and some space to offer and deliver to the best of their abilities what theyre here for, frey said. My understanding is that theyre here for the clients, so Id like to see them be successful. The PCAF Board will be dissolved at an undisclosed date, and any funds left over after vendors have been paid will be donated to community organizations, frey said. Remaining staff are working to transfer PCAFs records and historical items and documents to the Northwest Collections Room at Tacoma Public Library and the Tacoma Historical Society. Curator Elizabeth Korsmo with the Tacoma Historical Society laid out some of those objects on a table June 27, which included flags, buttons, T-shirts, business cards, stickers, zines and other memorabilia PCAF created over the years related to AIDS walks and other topics and events. Photographs of clients and staff at parades and parties, in offices, at funerals and other events will be preserved and cataloged in the Northwest Collections Room, frey said. Those interested in researching LGBTQ+ history, the AIDS epidemic, PCAF and community organizing and fundraising will be able to look at these collections to do so, Korsmo said. This collection is an incredibly important primary source for tracking and understanding, Korsmo said, who mentioned it was very difficult to research information about LGBTQ+ history in Tacoma for a 2022 exhibit Finding Home because many sources havent been preserved. Tacomas history isnt only the wealthy bankers in the North End. Its everyone. And so we want to make sure that we have a space to tell all the different stories that make up Tacoma, not just the ones that are easy, not just the ones that are recorded everywhere. FILE - Austro-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach of his party Team Stronach arrives at the parliament for a TV discussion during national elections in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013. Canadian police have charged Stronach with sexual assault dating back to the 1980s. Peel Regional police said in a statement that Stronach, 91, was arrested Friday, June 8, 2024, and charged with five crimes including, rape, indecent assault on a female, sexual assault and forcible confinement. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File) TORONTO (AP) Austrian-Canadian auto parts billionaire Frank Stronach who was arrested again this week is accused of sexually assaulting seven new complainants in alleged incidents from 1977 to as recently as February, court documents on Friday showed. The documents provide additional information about eight new charges that police recently brought against 91-year-old Stronach, after he was initially arrested in early June on five charges involving three different complainants. The documents say Stronach is accused of attempting to have sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent and indecently assaulting her between June 1977 and January 1978. The founder of auto parts giant Magna is also charged with sexually assaulting six other complainants in incidents that allegedly occurred in the 1980s, 1990s, early 2000s and this year. The previously filed charges against Stronach involve allegations dating from the 1980s to 2023. We are appealing for any victims or persons with information to come forward, Peel Regional Police Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said in a email. Police released few details on the additional charges. Mr. Stronach denies and will vigorously defend these further untested allegations dating back to 1977, Brian Greenspan, Stronachs lawyer, said in a emailed statement this week. Stronach, born in Austria, became one of Canadas wealthiest people by creating Magna in his garage in 1957 and building it into one of the worlds largest suppliers of auto parts. He also founded The Stronach Group, a company specializing in horse racing. He made a brief foray into Austrian politics more than a decade ago and has been named to the Order of Canada, one of the countrys highest honors. Bolivian President Luis Arce greets his supporters on a balcony of the government palace. Soldiers took over the square in front of the Bolivian government palace on Wednesday during an attempted coup. Radoslaw Czajkowski/dpa Bolivia's attorney general has filed charges against the entire leadership of the armed forces after a failed coup earlier this week, according to media reports. The former commanders of the army, navy and air force are accused of terrorism and armed rebellion against the security and sovereignty of the state, the newspaper El Deber reported on Friday. If convicted, they face prison sentences of 20 years. Prosecutors have also requested that the defendants be remanded in custody for six months, assessing that they are a flight risk. The three defendants - Juan Jose Zuniga Macias from the army, Juan Arnez Salvador from the navy and Marcelo Javier Zegarra from the air force - could destroy, alter, suppress, conceal or falsify evidence, the prosecutors were cited as saying. Renegade military officers occupied the central square of La Paz with armoured vehicles on Wednesday and forced their way into the government palace. President Luis Arce replaced the entire leadership of the armed forces, and the new chiefs ordered the troops to withdraw. A total of 21 military personnel were detained following the attempted coup, Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo said at a press conference on Friday. Among the "key people" detained was the driver of the armoured vehicle used to destroy the door of the government palace, del Castillo said. Abel Anibal Aguilar (C) is presented in handcuffs with other detainees following the attempted coup against President Arce's government. Aguilar assured that he would go on a hunger strike. Radoslaw Czajkowski/dpa Charlotte police, ATF tracing guns used in mass shooting. In 2024, thats not so easy. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police havent commented recently about how close investigators are to finding out how a man who shot eight officers in April acquired two guns. Theres one place law enforcement goes to find those answers a small city about 80 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Terry Clark Hughes Jr. used an AR-15 rifle in the shootout, and also had a handgun, police have said. Because he was convicted of a felony in 2010, he could not legally own a gun, and police have said they want to find out where the guns came from. The National Tracing Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is the countrys only firearms training facility, ATF spokesperson Corey Ray said in an email. How gun tracing works Firearms recovered at crime scenes are traced through the NTC and the information from the trace is provided to investigators to help connect a firearm to the purchaser, he said. That trace gives the guns history: where it was manufactured or imported, where it was originally sold, when someone bought it and who that buyer might have been, Ray said. It can help determine if the firearm was stolen or if the gun was purchased legally or illegally, he added. Over 623,000 traces were submitted there in just one year, 2022, he said. And 25,000 of those requests came from North Carolina. Some statistics from that year give ideas of where Hughes guns might have come from. Ray said that of those traces: 15,638 guns were traced back to North Carolina. Over 2,000 traced back to nearby states like South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. When the guns were traced to North Carolina, they most often came from Charlotte. Expert: Illegal market has made tracing harder There are some new difficulties in tracing guns, though. The job is becoming more and more difficult, said Felipe Rodriguez, an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Before that job, he did some gun tracing of his own as a detective in New York City. Ghost guns guns that have no serial number and the illegal gun market in general make the tracing process more difficult, he said. And then theres guns that get stolen and pass through new hands. Finding out where a gun came from is like moving backwards one link at a time. And when one of those links is lost, key information is lost, too. Then-Detective Felipe Rodriguez and his old team at the New York Police Department pose with seized guns in 2001. Today, Rodriguez is a professor, and he says the illegal gun market has made it much harder to trace where weapons came from. Theres no simple solution, he said, but stricter rules and enforcement for gun purchases, like a mandatory federal background check and fingerprinting, would be helpful. Federal law says that background checks have to be performed on anyone buying a gun from a federally licensed gun dealer. But only 40% of the guns sold in the country are sold through a dealer with a federal license, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. We just need, on the federal level, to come out with a common sense approach, Rodriguez said. Several agencies involved Ronald Davis, the U.S. Marshals Service director, on the day after the April 29 shooting said his agency would work closely with the ATF to find where the weapons came from. We are looking at how he acquired all of the guns, CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings said at a press conference the day after the shooting. We are making progress on that, and well be able to determine that based on the purchase of the firearms, who purchased them and how he acquired them from that individual. Recently, the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced several people being prosecuted for work in the illegal gun business. Jadarius Connell Potts of Charlotte, for example, was indicted June 18 on four federal charges alleging he sold guns without a license in Mecklenburg County and was illegally in possession of an AM-15 rifle and two pistols. Lia Bantavani, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Dena King, said the office had no comment on the April 29 shooting case because it remained an ongoing investigation. School board members at Greater Albany Public Schools held their final June meeting earlier this week, voting to officially adopt next year's budget. But beyond reviewing the districts financial outlook, board members and district officials spent most of the meeting reviewing and teeing up new policy changes. Those changes, ranging from how middle school assignments are graded to how teachers notify parents about "controversial" lessons, could be ready for implementation this September, following more fine-tuning by workgroups, additional community feedback, and ultimately board approval. Heres whats in store for GAPS next fall: Smartphone restrictions? Board Chair Brad Wilson initiated a discussion about changing the school districts policy on smartphones in classrooms. That was prompted, he said, by a tour he and fellow board member Pete Morse made through Calapooia Middle School, where a sign reading no cellphones immediately caught his eye. I literally stopped dead in my tracks, when I saw that sign, Wilson said. He was informed by administrators that the "no-cellphone" rules had been going strong for two years. Administrators at North Albany told him the same, he said, with principals asking board members to explore making those rules districtwide. Three of the four GAPS middle schools Calapooia, North Albany and Memorial indeed instituted stricter rules on phone use beginning in the 2022-23 school year. Students can use phones during their breakfast period, but once classes start, the devices cant be out, lest they face a warning with repeated offenses resulting in a confiscated phone. It's a rule middle school principals have said reduces distractions in the classroom. Calapooia physical education teacher Jenn Stadstad told Mid-Valley Media earlier this spring the new rules have encouraged more social interaction between students too, and by having a schoolwide policy as opposed to a classroom-specific one, there's less fighting with students over their devices. Theyre no longer pushing against a teachers rules. Theyre pushing against the schools, she said. At their Monday, June 24, meeting, school board members discussed whether to make students push against a new districtwide rule limiting smartphone use in schools. All appeared largely behind revisiting current policy, which, for context, permits phones on district property if they dont disrupt learning or school activities. However, there were no proposed revisions or specifics ready to approve at the meeting, and there were some questions. School board member Roger Nyquist notably expressed concern about interrupting communications between parents and students, and Wilson said whatever changes the board ultimately approves should reflect students' changing maturity levels as they move through elementary, middle and high schools. School board member Ryan Mattingly also talked about the need for community buy-in, not just from teachers and administrators, but parents, hoping to get public feedback about any potential policy changes. According to Superintendent Andy Gardner, that might be tricky over the summer months, but he said the district could put out online surveys to gauge parental thoughts. He also said the district would reach out to its administrators. They may not be answering their own phone or email as often, he said, but we will work to broaden input on that. GAPS is far from alone in moving to restrict smartphone use at schools. Corvallis middle schools recently wrapped their first year with new restrictions, with some parents now petitioning the Corvallis school board to expand those restrictions to high school students. Nationwide, state legislatures have been making similar pushes, most recently in California. Middle school grading After months of meetings, a GAPS workgroup consisting of middle and high school teachers along with administrators, presented to the school board on Monday night their recommendations for changes to the district's current middle school grading system. In a nutshell: no more 50% marks for missing assignments. Currently, the lowest grade a sixth, seventh, and eighth grader can earn for a failing or missing assignment is 50%, not a zero. It's a policy intended to lessen the impact of failing scores on a students overall grade, and more accurately reflect their ability. Its also a policy that reflects more equitable grading practices, according to the Oregon Department of Education's research office. Other districts have made similar moves, like Corvallis, which during the pandemic replaced no pass or falling grades with an incomplete if a student earns less than 60%. But according to Katy Kelly, an eighth-grade science teacher at North Albany Middle School and a member of the middle school grading workgroup, the 50% rule actually has been detrimental, failing to prepare students for the jump to high school, where grading gets stricter, and there's no such 50% cushion. Eliminating that base score, she said, would also be a plus for parents, who may be confused by the meaning of a 50% grade, unsure if it means a student is struggling with an assignment or simply hasn't turned it in. The group also recommended hard late work deadlines at nine weeks for at the middle school level, and at the end of semester for high schools. For Morse, the group's recommendations included in updated administrative rules caps years of advocacy, on and off the school board, for nixing the 50% base score. I think the most important thing is that this is good for our students, and this is good for our staff, so its a win-win, he said. Gardner, however, cautioned improving grades would take time, with more work needed to support students who struggle to turn in assignments. Because theres going to be a bunch of people who come back and say, We have a bunch of kids with 'F's,' we need to hold them back, he said. Controversial issues Finally, Gardner presented recommendations from another workgroup, this one tasked with determining how and when the district notifies parents about controversial issues in the classroom. The recommendations for the board? Essentially, pass tweaked versions of current policies already on the books addressing the instruction of hot-button topics and how parents can request students be exempted for certain lessons, that ultimately direct the superintendent to draw up specifics for how and when parents are notified. The question of when and how has been an ongoing one for nearly a year, prompted by parental complaints made during the 2022-23 school year, Gardner previously told Mid-Valley Media. Those complaints largely centered on lessons around gender identity, according to school board member Sean Taylor, although, according to Gardner, this school year had seen fewer parents "utterly surprised" by certain lessons. The district originally released a draft of an updated controversial policy last September. It called for teachers to discuss the appropriateness of any controversial topic defined as any topic or problem "society is in the process of debating on which there 'honest disagreement'" they plan to teach in class with their principal. That language mirrors policies in neighboring school districts, but the draft also specified that teachers would have to notify parents a week in advance before such planned lessons. As if to follow the spirit of the proposal, the district hosted work session for public input on the proposed policy a week later. Most of the input from parents, teachers, and even students consisted of complaints around the potential for the policy to have a chilling effect, be "weaponized" against marginalized students, and add to already heavy teacher workloads. In the end, instead of finalizing a policy by October last year, the district formed a workgroup to continue deliberating. At Mondays meeting, the board approved the policy changes recommended by the workgroup on a 3-2 vote, with Nyquist and Taylor voting against it. For Taylor, not having the ability to shape the specifics of the notification rules was a sticking point, though Gardner said he'd commit to providing sufficient notice for parents and opportunities for alternative assignments. Taylor has previously stated he believes parents should have the final say on school curricula. The board's approval paves the way for Gardner and the workgroup to finalize notification timeframes later this summer, and, according to the districts proposed timeline, train staff on the new policy by the fall. Related stories: MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis man who went viral a few years back for a good deed when he was a teenager was arrested for what police say was a misdeed. Chauncy Black was taken into custody and charged with domestic assault after allegedly going on the attack, targeting a family member. Black, 23, is charged with domestic assault after a verbal argument reportedly turned physical. According to a police affidavit, Black left the victim bloodied. If Chauncy Black looks familiar, you may recall that in 2016, he had a story that went viral. It all started when he asked a stranger at an East Memphis Kroger to allow him to carry the customers groceries to the car for a box of donuts because he was hungry. Fundraiser for teens family now tops $300,000 and keeps family on the move The customer started a crowd-funding campaign that raised $342,000 from people who were inspired by his story. They donated to help the then-15-year-old afford the basics, like a bed, because he was sleeping on the floor. His story since then has been heartbreaking. Black has been arrested several times, with many of his cases either dismissed or probation given. In 2020 he and his brother were charged in a deadly shooting. The next year, the Cordova house that was owned by a trust set up in his name was closed as a public nuisance after police responded there 265 times in two years. Chauncy Blacks attorney says family regretful about person who was shot But when it comes to this latest allegation, Judge Karen Massey spelled it out for Black: If he is able to pay his bond, he must stay out of trouble. If not, there may be more charges and possibly more time in lockup. Bail conditions include not contacting the alleged victim. Black said very little, except to tell the judge he could afford his $500 bail. He has been ordered back to court at the end of July. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TIOGA COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM) A Chemung County man pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges yesterday in federal court. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Charles Kennedy, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in connection to an incident that occurred in Tioga and Broome counties. Penn Yan man pleads guilty to drug sale in Schuyler County Kennedy was arrested on the charges after a high-speed chase on Sept. 5, 2021, where he fled from New York State Police in Tioga County during a DWI investigation. The chase continued into Broome County, where deputies from the Broome County Sheriffs Office joined to catch him. Kennedys car then crashed on Route 17 when he attempted to jump out of the moving vehicle after police used tire deflation devices to stop him. As a result, he was pinned between the passenger side door and a concrete abutment and faced minor injuries. Elmira man pleads guilty to using counterfeit money The vehicle was then searched, and police located a loaded M and P 9mm semiautomatic pistol, meth, cocaine base, cocaine powder, fentanyl, marijuana and a money counting machine. The incident went under further investigation and Kennedy admitted during his guilty plea that he had conspired with others to distribute more than 50 grams of meth, cocaine base, cocaine powder, heroin and fentanyl. Kennedy is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 13, 2024, where he faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum term of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $10,000,000, for the offenses of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. He also faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000, for the offense of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These sentences will run consecutively to one another. Man sentenced for impersonation during traffic stop Kennedy will also face a term of at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. His sentence will be established by a judge based on the particular statute he is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York State Police and the Broome County Sheriffs Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Grabowski, Richard Southwick and Geoffrey Brown are prosecuting the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Less than a week after the filing period ended for Chicagos first school board election, the Chicago Teachers Union announced its endorsement of a citywide slate of candidates in an email Friday. The CTU endorsed 11 candidates for 10 seats a mix of educators, parents, community organizers and a pastor. Forty-seven people are running for 10 seats on the new 21-member board. Earlier this year, state legislators settled on the formal transition from the current seven-member board appointed by the mayor to the new, hybrid elected model comprised of 10 elected seats and 11 appointed seats including the board president. Chicago residents, divided into 10 districts, will vote in the Nov. 5 general election for board members to take office next year. After the election, Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint a board president and 10 additional board members from smaller subdistricts. In 2026, the entire 21-member board will be elected. In District 6, the CTU endorsed two candidates: Anusha Thotakura, deputy director at Citizen Action/Illinois, and Brenda Delgado, vice president of the board of the parent advocacy group Raise Your Hand. In the rest of the districts, they endorsed one candidate each. District 1: Jennifer Custer District 2: Ebony DeBerry District 3: Jason Dones District 4: Karen Zaccor District 5: Aaron Jitu Brown District 6: Anusha Thotakura and Brenda Delgado District 7: Yesenia Lopez District 8: Felix Ponce District 9: Lanetta Thomas District 10: Robert Jones In an email, the CTU said the slate of candidates represents a transformative group of Chicago residents that the unions members believe usher in an era for the district that will ensure that every student has access to safe and thriving high-quality neighborhood public schools. In a statement, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said the union is excited about the future of working with a school board that is democratically elected. For decades, educators watched as Chicagos schools suffered when the Board of Education put the voices of billionaires and bankers over the voices of students, parents and educators. In November, that changes, Davis Gates said. Working collectively with community members, parents and students, we worked to change that. And now the city of Chicago will finally have a chance to democratically elect fellow residents to oversee our public schools. At last check, none of the endorsed candidates had reported contributions from CTU to the Illinois State Board of Elections. Candidates have until July 15 to disclose their campaign contributions, which, among other factors, could indicate the races competitiveness along with the number of candidates on each districts ballot. Challenges to petitions must be filed by July 1. Election day is November 5, with voters casting ballots in their designated districts. To search for your Chicago Elected School Board District: 1) type in an address; 2) look up a specific place name; 3) drop a marker anywhere on the map. To try a different address or clear your results select Clear search location at the top of the map. Trouble viewing on web or mobile? Click here. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) urged Democrats panicking about President Joe Bidens rough debate performance against Donald Trump to chill out. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record, Fetterman said Friday on X, formerly Twitter. Fetterman, who is 54, suffered a stroke while running for Senate in 2022 but later went on to debate his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz. It didnt go well. He struggled to complete sentences, stumbling over words and pausing altogether as a result of the auditory processing disorder he suffered from the stroke. Some Democrats expressed similar alarm at the time and wondered whether deciding to the debate had tanked Fettermans odds of winning the seat. Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted ld lose by 2. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5), Fetterman added. Chill the fuck out. Biden, 81, delivered a tired and fumbling performance against Trump, 78, on Thursday night in Atlanta at the first and what might be the only 2024 presidential debate. He looked old and frail and sounded raspy. His campaign later said he had a cold. More importantly, Biden failed to land big hits against Trump even when they were served up to him on a silver platter, such as on the topic of abortion. Biden did better as the debate dragged on, but the reviews afterward were brutal, including from fellow Democrats and even former Biden White House aides. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, CNN analyst and former White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said. I dont think theres any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didnt do that. Some pundits and prominent New York Times columnists even called on Biden to step aside and allow his party to choose another presidential nominee ahead of the Democratic convention in August, a scenario that could be just as risky for the party as sticking with Biden. Fettermans defense of Biden is notable for a few reasons other than also having a bad debate. He is the only Senate Democrat who has called for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign after being charged with bribery. Hes also been one of the Biden administrations biggest Democratic thorns on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Still, voters might hold the office of the president to a higher standard than the office of one senator, and the questions about Bidens age and capability to do the job will only intensify after this weeks debate. A Chinese state-owned power company is splashing out 80 billion yuan ($11 billion) on an energy base that will generate electricity from solar , wind and coal sources. China Three Gorges Renewables Group, a subsidiary of the countrys largest hydropower company, plans to build a plant with a 16-gigawatt capacity and a five-gigawatt storage facility, Bloomberg reports. This is part of Chinas aim to build 455 gigawatts worth of renewable energy projects in the desert by 2030. This plant is being constructed in Inner Mongolia, which will get 135 gigawatts of the total planned output. The China Three Gorges Corporation is looking to diversify its energy sources as building large hydro dams is becoming less feasible. According to Three Gorges, wind and solar generation from the plant will depend on grid accessibility. The coal plant is set to start operations in three years. TechCrunch Three Amazon executives in charge of developing new technologies for checking out of physical stores including Just Walk Out, Dash Carts, and Amazon One are leaving or have left the division, TechCrunch has learned. In addition, a former high-ranking advertising executive at Amazon, Colleen Aubrey, was recently put in charge of Just Walk Out, one many responsibilities in her newly assigned role as senior VP of AWS solutions. Dilip Kumar, the co-creator of Amazon's cashier-free Just Walk Out technology, who previously led the division, left the Just Walk Out team in the spring. By Joe Cash BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Friday for the building of "bridges" in the global economy, as Beijing grapples with economic, trade and territorial disputes with neighbours and trading partners. The world's second-largest economy will never leave the road of peaceful development, Xi told a conference to commemorate China's guiding principles for foreign affairs, first formulated 70 years ago. It will also not become a "strong" state seeking to dominate others, Xi told an audience that included Myanmar's former president, Thein Sein, and Nong Duc Manh, the former general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party. "Facing the history of peace or war, prosperity or unity or confrontation, more than ever before, we need to carry forward the spirit and connotation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," Xi said. These first figured in a 1954 pact struck with regional rival India over their Himalayan border. Even so, Indian officials were absent from the front row of the audience reserved for guests of honour. Since the 1950s, China's ruling Communist Party has gone from not being recognised by the United Nations to boasting the biggest diplomatic footprint in the world and presiding over an $18.6-trillion economy. Beijing now signals a desire for other countries to see it as a diplomatic heavyweight, even as other nations accuse it of economic coercion and unfair competition. After China brokered an unexpected detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi said the country would continue to play a constructive role in handling global hotspot issues. But Beijing's unwillingness to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its pursuit of a "no-limits partnership" with Moscow present hurdles to that ambition. They saw China skip a summit on a peace conference in Switzerland this month. China's trade ties with the European Union have also come under strain as the bloc of 27 nations plans to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, potentially opening up a new front in the West's tariff war with Beijing begun with Washington's initial import duties in 2018. The EU accuses China of flooding its market with cheap EVs produced by Chinese automakers that have benefited from heavy state subsidies. "In the era of economic globalisation, what we need is not to create chasms of division, but to build bridges of communication, and not raise the iron curtain of confrontation but to pave the way of cooperation," Xi said. 'DANGEROUS PERIOD' China has struck a softer tone in some recent dealings with the world, freeing an Australian journalist from prison and steadying ties with Canberra, resuming informal nuclear talks with the U.S., and agreeing to debt restructuring deals with debtors. Yet tension runs high with countries nearer home. Ties with India have been tense since the biggest military confrontation in decades on their disputed Himalayan border in June 2020, which killed 20 Indian and at least four Chinese soldiers. India has since made it tough for Chinese companies to invest, banned hundreds of popular apps and cut passenger routes, though direct cargo flights still operate between the Asian giants. Tension with the Philippines has also risen in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have competing claims, leading U.S. officials to remind Beijing their mutual defence treaty obligations with the Philippines are ironclad. "The best case illustrating the success of the Five Principles is China's relations with the Association for South East Asian Nations, Zhang Weiwei, professor of international relations at Fudan University, said on the summit's sidelines. The Philippines is a member of the ASEAN bloc. "Europe has deviated from those principles, (and) as a result, there are conflicts there," he added. "Even in the case of China and the Philippines... China has only resorted to water cannon - not a single gunshot." But delegates worried over how easily similar further conflicts could take hold across the world. "At the end of the day, we need a forum where people can talk, regardless of your size, your strength, your economic might, your military might," Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN's resident co-ordinator for China, told Reuters. "It is about making sure that we have dialogue, be engaged, because right now ... it is a dangerous period that we've entered," he said, speaking just before Xi's speech. (Reporting by Joe Cash; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Stephen Coates and Clarence Fernandez) Just over seven months after the mysterious, sudden disappearance of Barry Schmalbach, 56, authorities have announced his boyfriend, Christopher Davis, 35, will face an array of charges, including second-degree murder. The sister of a Cape Coral man presumed dead remains relieved, with mixed emotions, as his accused killer returns to Lee County to face the charges. "It's mixed emotions because everything hits you at once," said Emily Scaletta, Barry Schmalbach's sister. "You feel sorrow, anger and all the emotions." Months after the mysterious, sudden disappearance of Schmalbach, 56, authorities announced his boyfriend, Christopher Davis, 36, faces an array of charges, including second-degree murder. On Friday, a judge ordered him jailed without bond. His arraignment is Monday. "We will be down there when we have more information on when the trial happens," Scaletta said. Schmalbach's family and friends had not heard from nor seen him since the evening of July 19. He lived in the 1800 block of Beach Parkway. During a January news conference, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said Davis called police July 22 to report the disappearance. He also said the call prompted police suspicion and launched an investigation that concluded Jan. 25. Capital murder indictments: Fort Myers men indicted for capital murder in separated drug sale, armed robbery deaths Investigators collected a "massive" amount of physical evidence, obtained witness statements, and collected and examined digital forensic evidence. Police have issued a warrant for Davis' arrest on one count of second-degree murder, one count of tampering with evidence and nine counts of fraudulent use of personal identification of a deceased individual. Sizemore said technological advances in forensics were pivotal in charging Davis. Sizemore previously said that, given the "deceptive nature" of the call in question, authorities suspected foul play. While they investigated Schmalbach's disappearance, Sizemore said they discovered a warrant for Davis' arrest. Cape Coral Police arrested him in front of Esporta Gym, 2301 Del Prado Blvd. S., on the active warrant out of Columbia, South Carolina, for a probation violation dated July 11, 2018. As the two-week mark approaches in the search for a missing Cape Coral man approaches, authorities announced Tuesday the reward has more than doubled in as many days. Cape Coral Police Department is asking for help in locating resident Barry Schmalbach, 56, after a friend reported him missing when he tried to kick out a roommate. The violation is related to a 2013 conviction on one count of grand larceny and two counts of credit card fraud, said Anita Dantzler, spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services. He was taken into custody Aug. 1. Lee County Jail records indicate Davis was extradited to South Carolina on Aug. 10. He was remanded to Lee County on Thursday. Davis' arraignment is set for Monday. Scaletta, who lives in Chicago, told The News-Press that Schmalbach had lived in Naples before he moved to Cape Coral. Schmalbach has been described as a 6'3" white male who weighs 200 pounds and has balding blonde hair and blue eyes. His remains have not been found. Scaletta said they learned of Davis' extradition Thursday. Scaletta said she feels appreciative of everything authorities and the community have done to bring justice to their family. She added that Schamlbach's missing posters and flyers remain around the community. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Missing Cape Coral man case: Christopher Davis in Lee County custody Cincinnati police shoot, kill man near Music Hall suspected in stabbing, chief says Police on Thursday night shot to death a man suspected in a stabbing, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said. >> Man who shot at police in Springfield is found guilty The shooting occurred near Music Hall in the Over-the-Rhine section just north of the citys downtown, the chief told our news partner WCPO.com. Police initially were dispatched to a residence in the citys Westwood neighborhood on a report of stabbing. A neighbor gave police a description of the suspects vehicle. A pursuit followed and ended with the suspect crashing near 12th and Elm, also north of downtown. The suspect, toting a gun, ran to an area near Music Hall. There, officers ordered the man to drop his firearm, the chief said. They fired, striking the man who died at the scene. Theetge said the woman who was stabbed was in critical condition at a hospital. Cities can now enforce bans on people sleeping outside. What will that mean for Boise? Tents are set up along Cooper Court, an alley frequented by people without homes. A June 2024 Supreme Court ruling allowed cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside, but Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said she would instead focus on providing supportive housing. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that cities can enforce bans on camping in public in practice, allowing police to issue tickets or fines to people experiencing homelessness. The ruling overturned lower court rulings that viewed these punishments as cruel and unusual for people who had nowhere else to go. Leaders of several Western cities had pushed for this outcome, seeking greater latitude to locally manage rising homelessness rates. California Gov. Gavin Newsom told The Washington Post that the decision removed legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years. The majority opinion in the case repeatedly cited an amicus brief led by Idaho, which sought to preserve safety and livability in cities, according to a news release from Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador. But shortly after the ruling was announced, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said her citys approach to homelessness and affordable housing would not change. Criminalizing homelessness has never, and will never, solve the problems associated with homelessness, McLean said in a statement. We must address the root causes with proven strategies, like permanent supportive housing, that empower our residents to stay housed and thrive in their community. Its not yet clear whether the Supreme Court ruling in this case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, will overturn the outcome of a 2018 lawsuit against Boise, said Jodi Peterson-Stigers, the executive director of Boises Interfaith Sanctuary. In that case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that cities could not enforce camping bans if they lacked sufficient homeless shelter beds. For now, I think the most important thing is that our mayor is standing in alignment with those who serve the homeless and saying, Were going to carry on and keep trying to do this better, Peterson-Stigers said. Boise does have ordinances against camping on the books, but the Boise Police Departments policy manual gives officers discretion to enforce those rules. No law enforcement action shall be taken when the person is on public property and there is no available overnight shelter, the manual says. To determine whether shelter is available, according to the manual, the department assesses whether shelters can accommodate an individuals mental or physical health needs and whether shelters would require individuals to participate in religious programming as a condition of staying in the space, among other considerations. In practice, officers do sometimes find workarounds to ticket people who are sleeping outside, even when shelter space is unavailable, Peterson-Stigers said. When our shelter is full, if they find someone sleeping outside, they get a ticket for something else like disorderly conduct, trespassing, things like that, she previously told the Idaho Statesman. Haley Williams, a spokesperson for the department, told the Statesman the day before the ruling that the department did not anticipate any policy changes as a result of the case. As of January 2023, there were 687 people experiencing homelessness in Ada County, according to data from Our Path Home, a public-private partnership that aims to end homelessness in Ada County. This point-in-time data, based on a one-night count, reflected about a 10% increase in overall homelessness since 2022, and is likely an undercount, according to the organization. The area has seen a 12% decrease in overall homelessness since 2012, according to the organization. Peterson-Stigers said the Supreme Courts ruling represents an expensive solution, and in some ways is not a solution at all. It creates a deeper homelessness for people, because criminalization means its harder to get housed, harder to get employed, because youre getting these tickets racked up, because you may not be able to seek safe shelter, she said. You go to get a job to try and get out of your homelessness, and they do a background check, and theres a warrant because you havent paid five tickets from being outside, because you dont have the funding or the transportation to get to court. For those who wind up in jail, she added, taxpayers will foot the bill. In 2021, as the Grants Pass case moved through the courts, the Oregon Legislature passed a law to create a reasonable standard for local ordinances about sleeping outside. (What is objectively reasonable may look different in different communities, according to the League of Oregon Cities.) In an email, Maria Weeg, a spokesperson for the mayors office, declined to speculate on what, if any, action the Idaho Legislature would take in response to this ruling. To Peterson-Stigers, the ruling amounts to a broader statement. Youre basically saying its illegal to be homeless, she said. Whether we have put the infrastructure in to ensure that people have safe shelter and housing, its on you. Youre the one whos breaking the law. The Supreme Court decided to follow up Boises homeless-camping case. What to know U.S. Supreme Court will not take up Boises controversial homeless camping case During the June 2024 presidential debate, U.S. President Joe Biden repeated an old claim that former President Donald Trump once called fallen soldiers "suckers" and "losers." Trump, in turn, denied saying it, accused Biden of making up the quote, and demanded an apology. It wasn't the first time Biden had made this claim. This was tweeted from his X account in October 2023: The former president referred to American service members as "suckers" and "losers." MAGA extremists have made it clear where they stand. pic.twitter.com/2Kj5jr4N7Z Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 2, 2023 Trump and his allies have denied the accusation since it first emerged in 2020, shortly before the election between Trump and Biden. Whether performative or authentic, Trump's apparent support for soldiers in the U.S. military, both active and veteran members, has been part of his presidential campaigns. Following a story by The Atlantic, a number of reputable news outlets reported on the alleged comments in 2020, relying entirely on anonymous sources from his administration. However, there appeared to be no evidence of an audio or video recording of the remarks in question, nor was there any documentation, such as transcripts or presidential notes, to independently confirm or deny the alleged quotes' authenticity. Moreover, since Snopes did not witness the in-question comments firsthand, we can't say for certain whether Trump called fallen soldiers "suckers" and "losers." We reached out to Trump's representatives to see if they had any supplemental evidence to help substantiate their denial, as well as for a response to renewed attention on the comments in 2023. We will update this story when, or if, we receive a response. How the Accusations Emerged Citing anonymous officials from the administration, the 2020 article by The Atlantic, titled, "Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are 'Losers' and 'Suckers'," unpacked Trump's trip to Paris in 2018 when he allegedly did not want to visit a cemetery of American war dead. The visit was cancelled. Trump did not want to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery which is home to the graves of Americans who fought and died in World War I for two reasons, according to The Atlantic: He feared the rain would dishevel his hair, and "because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day." The Atlantic continued (emphasis ours): Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers." In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as "suckers" for getting killed. Shortly after the publication of The Atlantic report, one unnamed senior official with the U.S. Department of Defense and one senior U.S. Marine Corps officer confirmed the 2018 cemetery remarks from the above report in interviews with The Associated Press (AP). According to the AP, the official had firsthand knowledge of Trump's remarks, and the officer had been told about them. Trump Allies Deny the Claims The White House blamed the canceled cemetery visit on poor weather. Responding to The Atlantic's reporting, Trump said the accusation was "a disgraceful situation" by a "terrible magazine." Trump strongly denied calling fallen soldiers "losers" and "suckers." Speaking to reporters on Sept. 3, 2020, upon returning from a campaign rally to Washington, D.C., just after the report came out, Trump said: "I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes. There is nobody that respects them more. No animal nobody what animal would say such a thing?" Just days later, Zach Fuentes, a former White House aide who left the administration in early 2019 and was with the president on the Paris trip and presumably near him during the in-question conversations about the cemetery visit, stood up for Trump in an interview with Breitbart. Referring to Gen. John Kelly, who was with Trump during the trip as his chief of staff, he said, "I did not hear POTUS call anyone losers when I told him about the weather. Honestly, do you think General Kelly would have stood by and let ANYONE call fallen Marines losers?" Reporting on Fuentes' interview with Breitbart, The Washington Post noted that the phrase "I did not hear..." is not the same as "it didn't happen." Furthermore, there was no evidence of Kelly being around Trump to hear the alleged comments. Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton, who said he was on the trip, also issued a denial to Fox News, days after the article came out, saying it was "simply false." Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also denied the claims in an interview with Fox News in September 2020. He said, "I was with him for a good part of that trip, if I'm thinking about this visit and the timing right, and I never heard him use the words that are described in that article. Just, I never saw it." How the Claims Resurfaced in 2023 On Oct. 2, 2023, Biden's official account on X resurfaced the accusation, saying Trump once allegedly "referred to American service members as 'suckers' and 'losers.'" The post (displayed above) included video footage of Biden speaking at a September 2023 event to honor the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, who was a military veteran and prisoner of war. (In that speech, Biden referenced the 2020 story by The Atlantic.) The day after Biden's post on X, Kelly repeated the claim, as well. Speaking to CNN story, he said (emphasis, ours): What can I add that has not already been said? A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all 'suckers' because 'there is nothing in it for them.' A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because 'it doesn't look good for me.' A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family for all Gold Star families on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America's defense are 'losers' and wouldn't visit their graves in France. In other words, Kelly, who was with Trump in Paris, confirmed that Trump did call American troops "losers" and "suckers," though it was unclear whether he witnessed the comments firsthand or heard about them from someone else, or from news reports. (The 2020 Atlantic story detailed a separate incident of Trump visiting the grave of Kelly's son who was killed in action in Afghanistan, for which Kelly was supposedly present. In that case, Trump allegedly asked of military personnel who volunteered to join the service, "What was in it for them?") Responding to the CNN interview, a Trump official issued a statement to CNN, saying, "John Kelly has totally clowned himself with these debunked stories he's made up because he didn't serve his president well while working as chief of staff." In addition to the alleged statements about service members generally, Trump has publicly insulted McCain, in particular, by calling him "not a war hero," and "I like people who weren't captured," according to footage on C-SPAN. Also, for The Atlantic story, anonymous sources said he called former President George H.W. Bush a "loser" for getting shot down by the Japanese while a Navy pilot during World War II. In sum, the claim stemmed from a story by The Atlantic, which relied on anonymous, second-hand reports of Trump's alleged words; there was no independent footage or documented proof to substantiate the in-question comments; and Trump vehemently denies that he once called service members "losers" and "suckers." While it was certainly possible that he said those things, Snopes was unable to independently verify the claim. Sources: Baker, Peter, and Maggie Haberman. "Trump Faces Uproar Over Reported Remarks Disparaging Fallen Soldiers." The New York Times, 4 Sept. 2020. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/04/us/politics/trump-veterans-losers.html. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. Blake, Aaron. "Analysis | What Trump Officials Really Say and Don't Say in Denying That He Disparaged Fallen Troops." Washington Post, 8 Sept. 2020. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/09/08/trump-officials-military-disparagement-denials/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. Goldberg, Jeffrey. "Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are 'Losers' and 'Suckers.'" The Atlantic, 3 Sept. 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. Mason, Jeff, et al. "Biden Warns Trump, 'MAGA' Movement Threaten American Democracy." Reuters, 29 Sept. 2023. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-warn-threat-democracy-trump-honor-mccain-2023-09-28/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. "Report: Trump Disparaged US War Dead as 'Losers,' 'Suckers.'" AP News, 4 Sept. 2020, https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-top-news-politics-b823f2c285641a4a09a96a0b195636ed. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Steve Doocy, Jedediah Bila, and Pete Hegseth of Fox & Friends." United States Department of State, https://2017-2021.state.gov/secretary-michael-r-pompeo-with-steve-doocy-jedediah-bila-and-pete-hegseth-of-fox-friends/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. Tapper, Jake. "Exclusive: John Kelly Goes on the Record to Confirm Several Disturbing Stories about Trump | CNN Politics." CNN, 2 Oct. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/02/politics/john-kelly-donald-trump-us-service-members-veterans/index.html. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. "Trump: "He's a War Hero Because He Was Captured. I like People That Weren't Captured."" C-SPAN. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=541Cg2Jnb8s. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023. After jurors in the Karen Read murder trial informed the court that they hadnt been unable to reach a unanimous verdict, Judge Beverly Cannone ordered them back to the jury room, saying they hadnt been deliberating for a sufficient amount of time. Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach a unanimous verdict After about three hours of deliberations on Friday, a note penned by the jury foreperson and read aloud in court by Cannone stated, I am writing to inform you on behalf of the jury that despite our exhaustive review of the evidence and our diligent consideration of all disputed evidence, we have been unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally, who delivered closing arguments on behalf of the prosecution earlier this week, responded to the letter by saying, There simply hasnt been sufficient time yet. Defense attorney David Yannetti responded, We believe that there has been sufficient time. Watch: Full closing arguments from defense, prosecution in Karen Read murder trial Your honor, the jury received this case earlier this week. Theyve had slightly shortened days. Im not in any way shape or form suggesting that they havent conducted their due diligence in regard to their deliberative process, but I will submit that it is far, far, far too early in their deliberative process, Lally told Cannone. Furthermore, the note doesnt really indicate affirmatively that they cant come to a conclusion. Yannetti said, The word exhaustive is the word thats operative here. Theyre communicating to the court that theyve exhausted all manner of compromise, all manner of persuasion and that theyre at an impasse. This is a case where the jury has the legal instructions. Theyve only really asked one question which was to try to get a report that they were not allowed to get. I think the message has been received that evidence is cold and they wont get anything more. Theyve been working essentially non-stop over the last three, four days. Cannone said she wasnt prepared to end deliberations in the trial at this point. This note arrived with less than three hours of deliberations today. The length of the trial, the length of the deliberations...We heard from 74 witnesses. There were 677 exhibits. There were complex issues in this case, Cannone said. Im not prepared to find that there have been due and thorough deliberations at this point. So, Im going to send them back out. Cannone then told the jurors, Clear your heads, have lunch, and continue your deliberations. Judge Beverly Cannone addresses the jury before deliberations continue in the trial of Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 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/Charles Krupa, Pool) Deliberations started Tuesday afternoon after the defense and prosecution delivered closing arguments. On Wednesday, jurors asked Judge Beverly Cannone to see a Massachusetts State Police SERT team report on the search of 34 Fairview Road in Canton, where OKeefes body was found. Defense attorney Alan Jackson also feuded with Cannone over the verdict slip that was given to the jurors. The jury deliberated through the day Thursday without any interruption, but they ultimately left for the day without reaching a verdict. As of Friday afternoon, jurors had deliberated for an estimated total of less than 20 hours. Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her car and leaving him for dead in the snow in Canton in January 2022, but the defense has made a case that she is being framed. The jury is made up of six women and six men. They are deciding whether Read is guilty or not guilty of second-degree murder, which in Massachusetts is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole. Read also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years. 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 mountain climber escaped a harrowing torrential muddy waterfall by cooly rappelling down the cliffside mere feet from the raging waterfall of detritus, video shared with Storyful (via The New York Post) shows. The footage was captured last Friday by a 16-year-old onlooker at Utahs Morning Glory Arch within Grandstaff Canyon, outside Moab. Adventurer Tyler Erickson was rappelling down a sandstone cliff face adjacent to a torrential waterfall of mud which spontaneously developed following a once-in-150-years storm which brought four inches of rain in just 20 minutes. Erickson is a skilled and experienced outdoorsman, but nothing prepared him for last weeks white-knuckle episode, which he called an unexpected and humbling adventure. We were well prepared, equipped with headlamps, sufficient food and water, Erickson explained. The storm was described by search and rescue as a once-in-150-years event, catching even experienced guides off guard. Erickson continued: "It was a testament to the resilience and teamwork of our group, and a reminder that nature can be unpredictable." The young adventurers display of heroism sent many knees buckling. Oh wow, is he single? one woman queried in the comments. Erickson fared better than most. While he was calmly traversing the mountainside, the Grandstaff Canyon rescue response crew were rescuing 20 hikers who had become stranded in flood waters, KUTV reported. Though harrowing for all involved, no injuries were reported from last Fridays flash storm. The Grand County Search and Rescue recommends that all visitors check the weather forecast before your adventure. If there is rain, especially thunderstorms, in the forecast, do not enter canyons, washes or stream beds. Flash floods frequently occur during thunderstorms in our area. They can originate many miles away. Water levels rise extremely fast. Clinton College, a historically black institution in Rock Hill, will host a Welcome Fest Saturday to grow student enrollment for the upcoming fall semester. The event will feature food, games, and on-the-spot scholarships for prospective students, particularly those interested in cybersecurity, who may qualify for free tuition. We have a strong partnership with the Department of Energy, Lester McCorn, 13th president of Clinton College said. We are fortunate to secure funding not only for staff but also for approximately 20 full scholarships for students. Founded in 1894, the small AME Zion-affiliated college is home to about 151 students located on the citys south side. It is among the smaller HBCUs in the Carolinas. The average tuition for South Carolina residents is about $11,000 per semester, including room and board. For out-of-state students, the price is nearly doubled at $22,000. Last spring, the college awarded an honorary doctorate degree to music icon George Clinton, The Herald previously reported. The HBCU is named for his great-great-grandfather, Bishop Isom Caleb Clinton. Clinton College president Lester McCorn with funk music legend George Clinton, who received an honorary degree from the Rock Hill school on Friday. The college is hoping for a record-breaking fall semester following a significant turnout for their B.E.A.R., or Beloved Community Excellence, Achievement and Resilience program, which begin in 2021 as a summer bridge program. Its goal is to aid high school students with transitioning to college. Despite a 45-student increase in summer enrollment compared to the initial eight who enrolled in the B.E.A.R. in 2021, this year also has presented challenges. A tropical storm in April caused approximately $1 million in damage to the campus, according to McCorn. It tested the campus mentality; it showed our resilience. Theres no better way to demonstrate what youre made of than through a crisis, McCorn said. Our size is our strength, added Herbert Crump, VP of institutional advancement. During the disaster, staff went above and beyond, driving students home and stepping up whenever needed. Its not just a job; its a mission with these students. The pandemic experience taught staff about the importance of planning for the unexpected, said Archinya Ingram, senior vice president for business services. Implementing new safety procedures and devising action plans for such situations enabled the school to have an appropriate response to extreme emergencies, she said, adding, Even good came out of that situation. McCorn cited addressing cultural issues and building on their HBCU heritage as the colleges biggest challenge, emphasizing the advantages of being a smaller institution. Setting themselves apart from larger schools in the area, the college focuses on becoming a work college, facilitating immediate student internships on and off campus to help cover tuition costs. South Carolina is investing in this program to achieve federal recognition as a work college, McCorn told the Herald. We would be one of the few HBCUs in the nation offering this. The schools welcome fest on Saturday will introduce, bridge students and engage the community, said Clifford Smith, Director of Admissions. Anyone interested in attending can discuss the application process at the welcome fest, Smith said. Want to go What: The Welcome Fest When: Sat., June 29 Time: begins at noon Where: Clinton College, 1029 Crawford Rd., Rock Hill KANSAS CITY, Mo. Derek Brett Roberts, 44, of Clinton, Missouri, has been found guilty by a Henry County jury. The jury found Roberts guilty of all 23 counts he faced, including eight counts of sexual trafficking of a child in the first-degree, four counts of rape in the first degree and eleven counts of sodomy in the first degree. Court documents say the charges stem from an online investigation conducted by the Division of Drug and Crime Control of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The investigation led MSHP to execute multiple search warrants for the home and devices of Roberts. Through analysis of Robertss phone, MSHP found multiple files containing what appeared to be photographs and videos of child pornography. One dead, multiple hurt after shooting in Kansas City, Kansas The trial began on Monday, June 24. Evidence was presented over the course of several days, including footage from Roberts phone. The jury returned a verdict on the afternoon of Thursday, June 27. Roberts will be sentenced at a later date by Circuit Judge M. Brandon Baker, which will be set on August 8. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Henry County jury found a Clinton man guilty on 23 counts of sex crimes Thursday, including eight counts of sex trafficking, according to prosecutor LaChrisha Gray. Charges against Derek Brett Roberts, 44, were first filed in June 2022. Among other things, prosecutors alleged that Roberts filmed himself performing graphic sex acts on children in his home. Charges also include two counts of promoting child pornography, and 13 counts related to sexual assault of a minor. The assaults included rape, sodomy and forcible oral sex, filmed and stored on Roberts cellphone, according to court documents. Some of the videos were shown in court. Court documents show that the majority of Roberts victims were under 12 years old. Some were younger than 9. Roberts could face 23 life sentences, served back-to-back, according to court records. He would not be eligible for parole on any individual sentence for at least 25 years. Roberts attended Samford University in Alabama and was licensed as a pharmacy technician in Missouri, according to court records. He was also previously a licensed pharmacy technician in California. Roberts was charged after an investigation led by the Drug and Crime Control division Missouri State Highway Patrol, according to a news release from Grays office. Investigators searched Roberts home and devices, finding the majority of the child pornography on his phone. Three children, who were not named in court documents due to their age, provided statements to the court about being sexually assaulted by Roberts, according to court records. All three have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, court documents show. This isnt Roberts first time being convicted of crimes related to child pornography. Roberts pleaded guilty to possessing more than 20 pieces of child pornography in 2021, a case also prosecuted by Gray. He was sentenced to three concurrent sentences of 10 years, to be served in the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri. Roberts is currently incarcerated in the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, according to court records. His sentencing date will be set on Aug. 8 by a Henry County circuit judge. Kenneth DeAngeles has every right to run for the District 1 seat on the Martin County Commission. What he doesn't have a right to do or at least, shouldn't have a right to do is block more than 50,000 registered voters from participating in the electoral process in a meaningful way. DeAngeles has filled out paperwork to run for the seat as a write-in candidate, which means he won't appear on ballots in either the August or November elections. He didn't pay a fee or collect signatures to qualify, as the candidates whose names will appear on ballots did. In November, there will be space provided to write in his name, although history suggests he has little chance of winning the seat. However, thanks to a quirk in Florida's election laws, he's effectively blocking more than 47% of the county's registered voters from participating in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, when the race will more or less be decided. Write-in provision is an illogical legal loophole Martin County commissioner Doug Smith speaks before voting on a land conservation sales tax referendum during a meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. If voters agree, the tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever. In the primary for District 1, longtime Commissioner Doug Smith will face Eileen Vargas, a financial planner and educator. On the same day, all of the county's registered voters may select commissioners for District 3 and District 5. Each of those races features only Republican candidates. Under most circumstances, Florida law allows people of all parties to vote in elections if all the candidates belong to the same party. In 1998, the state's voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that allows so-called "open primaries" under those circumstances. Except there's a loophole, based on an interpretation of the law made by former Secretary of State Katherine Harris (remember her from the George Bush-Al Gore presidential election?) and later upheld by at least one state Supreme Court decision. Having even a single write-in candidate in the race in this case, DeAngeles closes a primary. So only registered Republicans can choose between Smith and Vargas. It doesn't matter that DeAngeles identifies as a Republican, too. Why do write-ins like running against Doug Smith so much? Martin County commissioner Doug Smith, left, and Martin County Sheriff Bob Crowder ,right, listen to state Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, talk about some of the property tax reform proposals that are being debated by the state House and Senate. Also there were other Martin County officials who told Haridopolos that local governments all along the Treasure Coast would be devastated by the loss of state revenue that would result from property tax rollbacks. About two hours after the meeting both chambers agreed to call a special session June 5-15, 2007, to deal with the property tax issue. PHOTO TAKEN: WEDNESDAY 5/2/2007 As of Monday afternoon, Martin County had 113,089 registered voters. (The numbers are likely to fluctuate somewhat between now and Election Day.) More than half of them 59,895 are registered as Republicans. The rest are people who have registered as Democrats or have no party affiliation. Those 53,194 people won't be able to vote in the Smith-Vargas race. They will have to wait until Nov. 5, when they can cast their votes for whichever candidate wins the Republican primary, or else write in the name of DeAngeles or someone else. If DeAngeles were a serious candidate, why wouldn't he pay the fee or collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot? I wanted to ask him, but he didn't respond to my phone calls. Again, all voters, regardless of party affiliation, can participate in the District 3 race, featuring Republicans Blake Capps, Frank D'Ambra and Susan Gibbs Thomas, and the District 5 race, featuring Republicans Edward Campi, Bruce Nathan and Michael Syrkus. But because of one man, DeAngeles, there will be a different set of rules in District 1. That doesn't seem fair, but it's not the first time it's happened in District 1. Smith, who's served on the commission since 2000, has also been involved in closed primaries the past three election cycles in 2020, 2016 and 2012. Smith hasn't returned repeated messages, so I couldn't ask him whether he's had a hand in recruiting the write-ins to run against him, effectively preventing registered Democrats or independents from voting against him the past 16 years. Vargas sees the repeated entry of write-in candidates into Smith's races as more than coincidental. "This is something Doug has done repeatedly," Vargas said. "It would be absurd to think otherwise. People are not fooled." Aren't elected officials supposed to represent us all? Eileen Vargas If Smith has been recruiting write-in candidates, as many in the community suspect, it might not be illegal, but is certainly seems unethical. In St. Lucie County, former Sheriff Ken Mascara is facing potential discipline from the Florida Commission on Ethics for for violating Sec. 112.313(6) of Florida Statutes, by "using his position and/or public resources to secure a special privilege, benefit and/or exemption for himself." Mascara is in trouble for his role in recruiting a candidate to run against a Republican opponent who Mascara, a Democrat, apparently didn't want to face in the 2020 general election. If Smith has been recruiting write-in candidates, directly or through intermediaries, is that a misuse of his public position as well? Here's the worst part of this: Our democracy is built around the principle that once elections are over, the winning candidates try to represent the interests of all their constituents, not only the ones who voted for them. If Smith has spent the past 16 years trying to avoid being held accountable by nearly half of the county's residents, what message does that send about the way he chooses to govern? For her part, Vargas is trying to get the message out about what's happening. She challenged Smith to condemn the "legal but manipulative tactic." And she called on all Republican candidates in the August primaries to denounce what's happening as an "attack on election integrity." She may not have much luck there. Democrats and Republicans alike seem to prefer "pure" primaries, where only their members can participate. Is that good for government, though? Few enough people participate in elections as it is. Further reducing the number of eligible voters weakens the democratic process. It's also fair to question why county commission elections are partisan in the first place. As it's often been said, there's no Republican or Democratic way to pave a pothole. Local issues demand local solutions that often transcend traditional party ideology. Unfortunately, the political tide seems to be moving in the wrong direction. Some state legislators are interested in making school board races partisan, too, which could only exacerbate the trend of putting culture war issues ahead of focus on student learning. There is a workaround to the workaround BLAKE FONTENAY Even with the District 1 primary closed, Smith may run into trouble with Republican voters this year. Some are unhappy with his performance in office, particularly his support of a property tax increase last year. There is a way people registered as Democrats or those without party affiliations can vote in the Smith-Vargas primary. All they have to do is switch their party affiliations to Republican, a fairly simple process that can be done online, before the July 22 deadline. After the election is over, they can switch their registrations back to what they were before. The trade-off is they would miss the opportunity to vote in any Democratic primaries, including one for U.S. Senate. Among the contenders for the Democratic nomination for that seat is Palm City resident Stanley Campbell. If shuffling registration status seems like gaming the system, maybe it is. However, if legislators aren't willing to change the law to protect the rights of nearly half the county's voters, then desperate times call for desperate measures. This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at bfontenay@gannett.com or at 772-232-5424. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: There's a way all Martin voters can participate in closed primaries Take a closer look at the charges Karen Read jurors are weighing, late changes to the verdict slip Jurors in the Karen Read murder trial are weighing three criminal charges as they continue to deliberate her fate. A look back at how we got here as Karen Read murder trial nears final stage Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her car and leaving him for dead in the snow in Canton in January 2022. The defense has made a case that OKeefe was beaten up in a fight only to have his body dumped outside in a panic before other officers framed Read for his murder. The three criminal charges Read is facing calls for differing prison sentences. The jury will ultimately decide whether shes guilty or not guilty. Take a closer look at what jurors are considering: Offense 1: Second-degree murder (Read intended to kill OKeefe, or knew she could kill him) No lesser included Maximum penalty of life in prison with opportunity for parole Offense 2: Manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence (Recklessly knowing something like this could result in death) Check one or both: manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence (same) manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle with a BAL of .08 or greater Minimum penalty of 5 years in prison, but punishable by up to 20 years in state prison Lesser included 1: Involuntary manslaughter (Acted recklessly and showed indifference and disregard, regardless of, if she knew it or not) Maximum of 20 years in prison or a minimum of 2.5 years in jail or house of corrections Lesser included 2: Negligent motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence (Read acted negligent and knew she might have endangered OKeefe) Check one or both: Motor Vehicle Homicide by OUI (no negligence) And/Or: Motor Vehicle Homicide over the legal limit of .08 A minimum penalty of 30 days and up to 2 years Offense 3: Leaving the scene of a fatal crash The only options are guilty and not guilty A minimum penalty of 6 months and a max of 2 years Its important to note that a lesser included charge is a less serious crime committed during the commission of a greater crime. The lesser crime contains some of the same elements as the greater crime, and the greater crime cannot be proven unless. The trial began on April 16 with jury selection. Opening statements were delivered on April 29, followed by 29 days of testimony in front of the jury. Closing arguments came Tuesday after the Commonwealth called 68 witnesses, while the defense called six. When jurors returned to court Wednesday for Day 2 of deliberations, defense attorney Alan Jackson went back and forth with Judge Beverly Cannone over one of the three verdict slips provided to the jury. He argued the slip should have a not guilty line to check for the lesser charges Read could face under the offense of manslaughter. About two hours later there was a change made to the verdict slip. See the amended slip below: Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW KANSAS CITY, Mo. There will be extended ramp closures once again for the new Buck ONeil Bridge construction. The ramp from eastbound I-70 to southbound I-35 will be closed for repair and rehabilitation as part of the Buck ONeil Bridge project. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri According to Missouri Department of Transportation, that closure will now go through August of 2024. It was initially expected to go through July of 2024. The bridges anticipated completion date is December 2024. Construction began on the bridge in July 2021. For more information, you can 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) is swatting away arguments that President Biden should step down from the Democratic ticket after his subpar debate performance Thursday evening, contending that the incumbent should stay the course. Clyburn who is widely considered responsible for Bidens crucial primary victory in South Carolina that propelled him to the nomination in 2020 said he thought Biden had a poor performance at the debate, calling it strike one. If this were a ball game hes got two more swings, he added. But when asked about remarks from Democrats that the incumbent should step aside, the longtime House member urged the president to plow ahead. Stay the course, Clyburn said when asked to respond to calls for Biden to leave the top of the ticket. Chill out. Clyburn said he would probably speak with Biden later on Friday and would deliver the stay the course message. The show of support from Clyburn came less than 24 hours after Thursday nights presidential debate, where Biden while up against former President Trump at times tripped over his words and appeared to lose his train of thought. The performance has fueled commentary among pundits and lawmakers that Biden who is 81 should step aside and let another Democrat assume the spot at the top of the presidential ticket. Asked Friday if he thinks theres a better Democrat to communicate the partys platform, Clyburn, who served in House Democratic leadership for more than two decades before stepping down earlier this year, responded: No. Theres no better Democrat, he added. Clyburns message jives with that of other top Democrats, who backed up Biden following the debate. Harris defends Biden debate performance in testy interview with Anderson Cooper House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters no when asked if Biden should step aside, though he later said Im gonna reserve comment about anything relative to where we are at this moment other than to say I stand behind the ticket when asked if Biden is the most effective person to relay Democrats message. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Biden got off to a bad start; I thought he came through OK on the issues later, adding I think that on his worst night, his presentation of integrity was far better than the other guys dishonesty. Clyburn has been a close ally of Biden for years, especially during the 2020 presidential campaign, when he threw his support behind the then Democratic presidential candidate ahead of the South Carolina primary, turbocharging his struggling campaign. Bidens victory in the Palmetto States primary served as a turning point for his campaign, putting him on the path to the Democratic nomination and, eventually, the White House. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CMPD chief disappointed with low bond, release of man charged with rape and murder After a 22-year-old man charged in a June rape and murder walked free Friday on $50,000 bail, Charlotte Police Chief Johnny Jennings said the bond was too low for the charge. Disappointed doesnt begin to describe how I feel in the decision to set a bond that low for a suspect charged with such serious violent felonies, Jennings said in a statement Friday. I have always maintained that there is no bond amount that is sufficient for a communitys peace of mind regarding their safety. Raphael Omar Wright was charged with raping and shooting Michelle Lynn Schechter, 27, on June 16. His bond amount was set by Mecklenburg County Judge Jennifer Fleet, court documents show. The incident took place at an Econo Lodge in west Charlotte. Schechter later died from her injuries after being transported to a hospital, CMPD said. According to a CMPD arrest affidavit, officers responded to a call at the Econo Lodge on Glenwood Drive about an assault with a deadly weapon around 10:21 p.m. Officers found Schechter with a gunshot wound. The Charlotte Fire Department already was there treating her. Schechter told police shed been raped before being taken to the hospital, the affidavit said. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and saw Wright park a black Ford Fusion at the hotel. He was seen using his phone, the affidavit said, before going into Schechters room. About 10 minutes later, Schechter ran out of her room while holding her back. Not long after that, Wright exited the room, returned to his vehicle and sped away. The affidavit said no one else left Schechters room between the time Wright arrived and left. The Ford Fusion was registered to Wright, who also matched the description on the surveillance footage. Data from Schechters phone, which police found in her room, showed a text message from Wright saying Im parking, sent at the same time he parked, the affidavit said. Wright was arrested last week in Rock Hill, S.C., and charged with first-degree murder and first-degree forcible rape. Court documents show Wright posted bail using Chad Lewis Bonding, a bond insurance company with a location in Monroe. This type of bond amount for murder is exactly what I worked to eliminate when I advocated for the Pre-Trial Integrity Act that was signed into law in 2023, Jennings said. The act allows elected judges, rather than appointed magistrates, to set the bond for some defendants facing more serious charges. The CMPD takes violent offenses against our community members seriously and we utilize all available resources to hold those offenders accountable, Jennings statement said. We continue to ask our judicial partners to do the same. CNN, the host of Thursdays debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, has faced criticism for the absence of real-time fact-checking of the two candidates. Trump spread several falsehoods during his time onstage on issues ranging from the economy and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot to veterans care. While Biden struggled to counter Trumps false claims, many wondered why the two moderators, CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, failed to interject. Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah called the lack of fact checks disturbing. This is how democracy and norms get eroded, Attiah wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Fact-checking and preparedness are part of the safeguards to keep people in power accountable. David Chalian, CNNs political director, explained the thinking behind the call to avoid interrupting the candidates earlier this week. Obviously, if there is some egregious fact that needs to be checked or the record needs to be made clear, Jake and Dana can do that, Chalian told The Associated Press. But thats not their role. They are not here to participate in this debate. They are here to facilitate a debate between Trump and Biden. Chalian also told The New York Times a live debate is not the ideal arena for live fact-checking. The network instead provided live fact-checking on its website and featured an on-air segment with Daniel Dale following the conclusion of the Biden-Trump debate. Overall, CNN said Trump made over 30 false statements during the course of the event, while Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims. While the debate laid bare Trumps propensity for lying, it also failed to quell concerns about Bidens age and fitness to serve given the president didnt address Trumps falsehoods, prompting many Democrats to wonder both privately and publicly whether he should drop out and allow a younger candidate to take over. Yet, Biden appears to be brushing off the criticism, at least for now. I think we did well, he told reporters during a post-debate stop at a Waffle House in the Atlanta area. The debate was also seen as a make-or-break moment for the network, which has seen its ratings continue to slip away even after the departure of Chris Licht, whose time at the helm of the network was marred by controversy, including over the decision to host a town hall with Trump. CNN has continued to struggle under the leadership of current CEO Mark Thompson, who has yet to lay out a clear vision for the future of CNN, even though the debate was expected to bring in record-breaking viewing figures for the network and offered hope it could position CNN as a leading destination for breaking news once again. Still, challenges remain for the business as Pucks Dylan Byers reported Thompson will be announcing layoffs next month. CNN Defends Decision to Not Fact-Check Debate Live: It Is Up to the Candidates to Challenge One Another CNN, facing an avalanche of criticism for letting false claims by Donald Trump go unchecked during Thursday nights debate with President Biden, defended its decision to not intervene to correct misstatements live on-air. In a statement to Variety, a CNN spokesperson said, The role of the moderators is to present the candidates with questions that are important to American voters and to facilitate a debate, enabling candidates to make their case and challenge their opponent. It is up to the candidates to challenge one another in a debate. More from Variety The statement continued, CNN offered robust fact-checking coverage in post-debate analysis on TV and across our digital platforms during and following the debates conclusion. According to CNNs own analysis of the debate, Trump made more than 30 false claims during the debate, while Biden made at least nine false or misleading statements. The format for the debate, in which CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash would act as facilitators and not step in as fact-checkers, was agreed to by both Trump and Biden camps. But the litany of falsehoods, particularly from Trump, that were aired without pushback on CNN yielded a strong backlash from media critics and others. CNNs moderating decisions damage the credibility of our profession, Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah wrote on X. CNNs format of no fact checking, no pushback, no follow-ups was a mistake. The Biden campaign agreeing to this was a mistake. It demonstrates Trumps strength and power. He can bend the media and Biden to play by his rules. More to come. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CNN Doubles Down on Decision to Not Fact-Check Debate, Very Proud of Jake Tapper and Dana Bash CNN defended its presidential debate moderators for not fact-checking Donald Trumps firehose of lies in real time, reminding critics that the duos job was facilitating not participating and saying the network is very proud of Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. The two top anchors were roasted on social media on Thursday night and Friday morning as debate-watchers suggested that their failure to fact-check the former president marked the collapse of American media. But spokesperson for the network said, We are very proud of Jake and Dana. Our job was to make sure candidates were heard so voters can make informed decisions and we are pleased we were able to do that. CNN had made it clear ahead of the debate that Tapper and Bash would focus on facilitating the conversation between the two candidates and not participating. The networks political director David Chalian told The New York Times that the debate was not the ideal arena for live fact-checking. They instead fact-checked in real time on CNNs digital properties, and on air following the debate. The candidates had also agreed to the format. CNNs chairman, Mark Thompson, called Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump the stars of the show. It was Joe Bidens job to fact-check Trump, the network has insisted. But Biden instead gave a dismal performanc But the muted moderators and the decision to not fact-check live on air was not welcomed by some viewers and experts. CNNs performance was dreadful. It did nothing journalistic. They might as well have had Vanna White pointing to the next question and the next, Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor at CUNY told TheWrap, They opened the door for Donald Trump to lie again and again, as we knew he would, and then did nothing. They questioned Joe Bidens record but didnt question Trumps. Journalists love to talk about who wins and loses debates. CNN lost, profoundly. This leaves me terribly disturbed for the state of American journalism, Jarvis added. I wonder if Jake Tapper and Dana Bash realize how much through their silence and unwillingness to correct lie after lie spewed by a narcissistic felon on stage they have just become the faces of the collapse of American media, musician and writer Mikel Jollett wrote on X. Not fact checking Trumps firehose of lies was unforgivable, added political commentator Keith Olbermann, who said that the broadcast reflected CNNs utter failure as a news organization. But other media-watchers praised Tapper and Bash for their poise during the heated debate. Vanity Fair special correspondent and former host of CNNs Reliable Sources Brian Stelter wrote on X that Tapper and Bash were the most impressive people at this debate so far. Most impressive people at this debate so far: @JakeTapper and @DanaBashCNN Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 28, 2024 Senior CNN correspondent and public relations expert Scott Jennings also wrote on social media that Tapper and Bash gave this country what it needed out of this historic event. Here's an appreciation tweet for my friends @jaketapper and @DanaBashCNN history making performance. They gave this country what it needed out of this historic event. Great job to them and everyone at @cnn. This network rose to the occasion and delivered in a huge way tonight. Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) June 28, 2024 CNN didnt immediately respond for further comment on Friday morning. The post CNN Doubles Down on Decision to Not Fact-Check Debate, Very Proud of Jake Tapper and Dana Bash appeared first on TheWrap. CNN Had To Ask Trump 3 Times If Hed Accept The Results Of The Election Near the end of Thursday evenings presidential debate, CNN moderator Dana Bash asked Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP candidate for president, one of the more pressing questions facing American democracy. Will you pledge tonight that, once all legal challenges have been exhausted, that you will accept the results of this election regardless of who wins, and that you will say right now that political violence in any form is unacceptable? Bash said. Well, I shouldnt have to say that, but of course I believe that, Trump said, referring to the question about political violence. But from there the former presidents answer veered into rambling jabs at President Joe Biden, including about Bidens foreign policy. He avoided the question of whether hed accept the results of this Novembers election. So Bash asked Trump again. The question was: Will you accept the results of the question regardless of who wins? Again, Trump opted to talk about Bidens policy regarding the war in Ukraine. Eventually, after being asked a third time, Trump responded to Bashs question. If its a fair and legal and good election, absolutely, Trump said. I would have much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous. Trump whose lies about the 2020 election helped foment the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol is currently facing state and federal indictments over his alleged interference in the last presidential contest with Biden. I doubt youll accept it because youre a whiner, Biden told Trump on the debate stage. Something snapped in you when you lost last time. Earlier in the night, Trump stood up for Jan. 6 rioters and told Biden he ought to be ashamed about how the Department of Justice had gone about prosecuting people who stormed the Capitol that day. Related... ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 27: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Well, that was awful. I think I speak for millions of citizens who would rather not live under a deranged dictator when I say that watching the first presidential debate was an agonizing experience. Biden fulfilled the caricature of a dodderer who lacks vigor and mental acuity, speaking in a weak voice, coughing, mixing up names and giving answers that devolved into jumbled word salad. At one point he inexplicably abandoned what should be his strongest subject (the rollback of abortion rights) to dwell on crimes committed by immigrants serving up red meat for Trump, who was delighted to pounce on his favorite false narrative that Biden has facilitated a massive influx of violent criminals pouring across the southern border. Los Angeles humor writer Drew Janda summed it up well on X: Biden: look, the fact is, we cant we dont look. Heres the deal. And this is no foolin. Trump: there are ten billion Guatemalans attacking the Lincoln Memorial right now. Trump lied fluidly. Politifacts live fact-checkers went into overdrive trying to keep up with all the falsehoods he spewed. But the absolute worst performance of the night came from CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who gave Trump a complete pass on all those whoppers. When Trump claimed that every reasonable anchor has debunked the story that there was a riot by violent white supremacists in Charlottesville, anchor Jake Tapper said only, Thank you, President Trump and moved on. The moderators gave the same response when Trump said that the federal government was behind his felony convictions in the New York hush money trial a state-level prosecution in state court that had no connection to the Biden administration or federal prosecutors. They gave the same response to Trumps preposterous claim that everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned and that before it was overturned, Democrats were allowing after-birth abortions. Trump also lied repeatedly about sanctioning the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, saying that he had nothing to do with it and that he tried to send in 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol. The violence committed by his supporters was all Nancy Pelosis fault, he said, because she didnt accept his offer of help, and, he added, she has admitted as much in a documentary film. As Politifacts fact-checkers explained, its a lie Trump has rehearsed many times: This remains False. In a brief video, Pelosi said, I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more, referring to U.S. Capitol security, not the National Guard. No member of Congress has the authority to activate the District of Columbia National Guard. Only the president, defense secretary and U.S. Army secretary do. Records show that Pelosi approved a Jan. 6, 2021, request to seek support from the National Guard and pushed to get National Guard troops to the U.S. Capitol when their deployment was delayed by hours that day. Those examples barely scratch the surface of the nonstop 90 minutes of lies spewed by Trump about the economy (which was far from the greatest in history in the Trump administration wages and GDP went down), jobs numbers (which have improved dramatically under Biden), the spike in border crossings (which started on Trumps watch, not Bidens), crime (which has gone down, not up, under Biden) and the pants on fire claim that millions of immigrants have come to the U.S. illegally from jails, from prisons, from insane asylums, from mental institutions. Giving Trump a platform to spread hate and lies and providing no check whatsoever was a gross dereliction of journalistic duty by CNN. As much as the debate worried Democrats and progressives, who watched a glib, invigorated Trump appear to chew up a wan-looking Biden, that impression was made much, much worse by a journalistic outlet that let Trump lie and get away with it. Biden got in a few good jabs. Ive never heard a president talk like this before, he said, pointing out how Trump has disparaged U.S. veterans, called the U.S. a country in decline and pledged to use the power of the federal government to go after his political enemies. Biden spoke honestly, if softly. But it should have fallen to the moderators to hold the candidates accountable. If the press cant do that now, as a convicted felon runs for the presidency, soon it will be too late. The post CNN hosted a fact-free debate. The losers are U.S. voters appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Well, that was awful. I think I speak for millions of citizens who would rather not live under a deranged dictator when I say that watching the first presidential debate was an agonizing experience. Biden fulfilled the caricature of a dodderer who lacks vigor and mental acuity, speaking in a weak voice, coughing, mixing up names and giving answers that devolved into jumbled word salad. At one point he inexplicably abandoned what should be his strongest subject (the rollback of abortion rights) to dwell on crimes committed by immigrants serving up red meat for Trump, who was delighted to pounce on his favorite false narrative that Biden has facilitated a massive influx of violent criminals pouring across the southern border. Los Angeles humor writer Drew Janda summed it up well on X: Biden: look, the fact is, we cant we dont look. Heres the deal. And this is no foolin. Trump: there are ten billion Guatemalans attacking the Lincoln Memorial right now. Trump lied fluidly. Politifacts live fact-checkers went into overdrive trying to keep up with all the falsehoods he spewed. But the absolute worst performance of the night came from CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who gave Trump a complete pass on all those whoppers. When Trump claimed that every reasonable anchor has debunked the story that there was a riot by violent white supremacists in Charlottesville, anchor Jake Tapper said only, Thank you, President Trump and moved on. The moderators gave the same response when Trump said that the federal government was behind his felony convictions in the New York hush money trial a state-level prosecution in state court that had no connection to the Biden administration or federal prosecutors. They gave the same response to Trumps preposterous claim that everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned and that before it was overturned, Democrats were allowing after-birth abortions. Trump also lied repeatedly about sanctioning the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, saying that he had nothing to do with it and that he tried to send in 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol. The violence committed by his supporters was all Nancy Pelosis fault, he said, because she didnt accept his offer of help, and, he added, she has admitted as much in a documentary film. As Politifacts fact-checkers explained, its a lie Trump has rehearsed many times: This remains False. In a brief video, Pelosi said, I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more, referring to U.S. Capitol security, not the National Guard. No member of Congress has the authority to activate the District of Columbia National Guard. Only the president, defense secretary and U.S. Army secretary do. Records show that Pelosi approved a Jan. 6, 2021, request to seek support from the National Guard and pushed to get National Guard troops to the U.S. Capitol when their deployment was delayed by hours that day. Those examples barely scratch the surface of the nonstop 90 minutes of lies spewed by Trump about the economy (which was far from the greatest in history in the Trump administration wages and GDP went down), jobs numbers (which have improved dramatically under Biden), the spike in border crossings (which started on Trumps watch, not Bidens), crime (which has gone down, not up, under Biden) and the pants on fire claim that millions of immigrants have come to the U.S. illegally from jails, from prisons, from insane asylums, from mental institutions. Giving Trump a platform to spread hate and lies and providing no check whatsoever was a gross dereliction of journalistic duty by CNN. As much as the debate worried Democrats and progressives, who watched a glib, invigorated Trump appear to chew up a wan-looking Biden, that impression was made much, much worse by a journalistic outlet that let Trump lie and get away with it. Biden got in a few good jabs. Ive never heard a president talk like this before, he said, pointing out how Trump has disparaged U.S. veterans, called the U.S. a country in decline and pledged to use the power of the federal government to go after his political enemies. Biden spoke honestly, if softly. But it should have fallen to the moderators to hold the candidates accountable. If the press cant do that now, as a convicted felon runs for the presidency, soon it will be too late. Wisconsin Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Wisconsin Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Ruth Conniff for questions: info@wisconsinexaminer.com. Follow Wisconsin Examiner on Facebook and X. The post CNN hosted a fact-free debate. The losers are U.S. voters appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, reacts during the CNN presidential debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, reacts during the CNN presidential debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Well, that was awful. I think I speak for millions of citizens who would rather not live under a deranged dictator when I say that watching the first presidential debate was an agonizing experience. Biden fulfilled the caricature of a dodderer who lacks vigor and mental acuity, speaking in a weak voice, coughing, mixing up names and giving answers that devolved into a jumbled word salad. At one point he inexplicably abandoned what should be his strongest subject (the rollback of abortion rights) to dwell on crimes committed by immigrants serving up red meat for Trump, who was delighted to pounce on his favorite false narrative that Biden has facilitated a massive influx of violent criminals pouring across the southern border. Los Angeles humor writer Drew Janda summed it up well on X: Biden: look, the fact is, we cant we dont look. Heres the deal. And this is no foolin. Trump: there are ten billion Guatemalans attacking the Lincoln Memorial right now. Trump lied fluidly. Politifacts live fact-checkers went into overdrive trying to keep up with all the falsehoods he spewed. But the absolute worst performance of the night came from CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, who gave Trump a complete pass on all those whoppers. When Trump claimed that every reasonable anchor has debunked the story that there was a riot by violent white supremacists in Charlottesville, anchor Jake Tapper said only, Thank you, President Trump and moved on. The moderators gave the same response when Trump said that the federal government was behind his felony convictions in the New York hush money trial a state-level prosecution in state court that had no connection to the Biden administration or federal prosecutors. They gave the same response to Trumps preposterous claim that everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned and that before it was overturned, Democrats were allowing after-birth abortions. Trump also lied repeatedly about sanctioning the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, saying that he had nothing to do with it and that he tried to send in 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol. The violence committed by his supporters was all Nancy Pelosis fault, he said, because she didnt accept his offer of help, and, he added, she has admitted as much in a documentary film. As Politifacts fact-checkers explained, its a lie Trump has rehearsed many times: This remains False. In a brief video, Pelosi said, I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more, referring to U.S. Capitol security, not the National Guard. No member of Congress has the authority to activate the District of Columbia National Guard. Only the president, defense secretary and U.S. Army secretary do. Records show that Pelosi approved a Jan. 6, 2021, request to seek support from the National Guard and pushed to get National Guard troops to the U.S. Capitol when their deployment was delayed by hours that day. Those examples barely scratch the surface of the nonstop 90 minutes of lies spewed by Trump about the economy (which was far from the greatest in history in the Trump administration wages and GDP went down), jobs numbers (which have improved dramatically under Biden), the spike in border crossings (which started on Trumps watch, not Bidens), crime (which has gone down, not up, under Biden) and the pants on fire claim that millions of immigrants have come to the U.S. illegally from jails, from prisons, from insane asylums, from mental institutions. Giving Trump a platform to spread hate and lies and providing no check whatsoever was a gross dereliction of journalistic duty by CNN. As much as the debate worried Democrats and progressives, who watched a glib, invigorated Trump appear to chew up a wan-looking Biden, that impression was made much, much worse by a journalistic outlet that let Trump lie and get away with it. Biden got in a few good jabs. Ive never heard a president talk like this before, he said, pointing out how Trump has disparaged U.S. veterans, called the U.S. a country in decline and pledged to use the power of the federal government to go after his political enemies. Biden spoke honestly, if softly. But it should have fallen to the moderators to hold the candidates accountable. If the press cant do that now, as a convicted felon runs for the presidency, soon it will be too late. The post CNN hosted a fact-free debate. The losers are U.S. voters appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. this was a game-changing debate in the sense that right now as we speak there is a deep a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party it started minutes into the debate and it continues right now it involves party strategists it involves elected officials it involves fundraisers and they're having conversations about the president's performance which they think was dismal which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket and they're having conversations about what they should do about it some of those conversations include should we go to the White House and ask the president step aside others are other the conversations are about should prominent Democrats go public with that call because they feel this debate was so terrible they do say in moments in the debate later the president got better and got his footing but then at the end even his closing statement was a little halting the contrast between the two candidates let me be clear none of them and a lot of Republicans don't think Donald Trump had a great night Donald Trump broke the fact-check machine more than I can count tonight that will be on the record as we go forward he refused to answer some very specific and direct questions about his conduct about January 6th and what all so that will be dealt with out there and sometimes there's a parallel universe between the political elites and the American people be nice to see what the voters say but I can tell you it started minutes in it started with the first couple of answers and it has continued throughout the night from oh my god oh my god oh my god to what do we do about this and it involves very senior people in the Democratic Party including elected officials saying we have a problem View comments How did CNN's moderators do in the Biden-Trump debate? It almost didn't matter that they were there NEW YORK (AP) To a large extent, it almost didn't matter that Dana Bash and Jake Tapper were on stage. The two CNN journalists prepared meticulously to moderate Thursday's presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the first ever between a sitting president and his predecessor, and asked several sharp questions. Not only were many of them ignored, but the impression that some Americans were left with about President Biden's fitness for the job essentially had nothing to do with Bash and Tapper or their involvement in the program. There's no question this was not what the Biden campaign wanted or needed, said ABC's Mary Bruce. After the debate, CNN's John King pointed to his cell phone, saying he hadn't seen anything like the concern expressed to him in text messages as the debate went on. There's a full-on panic about this performance, said NBC's Chuck Todd. The event, organized by CNN and broadcast over most of the country's main news and broadcast networks, was the earliest general election debate ever, before the two candidates had been formally nominated by their parties. Did the moderators play a role? Tapper and Bash asked about the economy, immigration, abortion, threats to democracy a litany of issues that ranked among the most important problems facing the country in a recent Gallup poll of U.S. adults. Their problem was that, more times than not, the questions were ignored as the two candidates continued to squabble at their own pace. You have 67 seconds left, Tapper said to Trump when he didn't address one. The question was, what are you going to do to help Americans in the throes of (opioid) addiction right now to get the treatment that they need? This does pertain to it, Trump said, moving on to talk about open borders and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. At another point, when Bash asked Trump whether he would support the institution of a Palestinian state, Trump said, I'd have to think a bit before we do that, and went on to talk about NATO. Bash also had to go back to Biden to ask a second time what he would say to Black voters who believed they hadn't made enough progress under his administration, after he recited a handful of programmatic changes. She asked Trump three times about whether he'd accept election results if he lost. They weren't designed to be referees CNN determined ahead of time that Tapper and Bash would be questioners, not umpires. They didn't follow up questions except to repeat those that weren't answered and left it to the politicians to try and fact-check. Each called the other a liar. CBS' Gayle King said later that the lack of fact-checking benefited Trump because he was able to seem more in control with his answers. If you don't know the facts, you'd think he was making a lot of sense, she said. CNN's Daniel Dale sent out several fact-checks on social media during the debate, but television viewers would not be aware of them unless they happened to look for them. Per CNN rules, other networks carrying the debate were not allowed to break in with any commentary of their own until the debate was finished. Heading in to the debate, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow said that she did not envy the position in which Tapper and Bash were placed. The moderators at CNN have an impossible job, she said, and they are under nuclear hot scrutiny. CNN came under criticism before the debate by the White House Correspondents' Association, which protested the network's decision not to allow a pool text reporter into their studio to observe Biden and Trump off-camera. CNN said there was no room, although it promised to usher a reporter in briefly during one of the two commercial breaks. The first debate between Trump and Biden in 2020 was seen by 73 million viewers, while the second had 63 million. Those were in the fall, when television viewership was generally up. Following the debate, The Washington Post and The New York Times had nearly identical lead headlines. The Post: Biden Struggles, Trump Deflects Questions. The Times: Biden Struggles as Trump Deflects Questions During Contentious Debate. ___ David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder. CNN is pushing back after critics blamed the channel for its handling of last nights debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The critics, most of them Democrats, took aim at CNN and moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, with the absence of real-time fact checking one of the major issues. More from The Hollywood Reporter A spokesperson for CNN responded to the criticism: The role of the moderators is to present the candidates with questions that are important to American voters and to facilitate a debate, enabling candidates to make their case and challenge their opponent, the spokesperson said. It is up to the candidates to challenge one another in a debate. CNN offered robust fact checking coverage in post-debate analysis on TV and across our digital platforms during and following the debates conclusion. CNN, it should be noted, did do quite a bit of fact checking in its post-debate coverage, with Trump being called out substantially more than Biden. The angst from critics is almost certainly connected to the perceived performance of Biden. And despite the criticism from some political circles, Tapper and Bash received substantial praise in the immediate aftermath of the debate from both sides of the political spectrum. In fairness to fake news CNN, Fake Jake and Fake Dana, they put aside their prejudice and their hatred towards Donald Trump for the night and they actually asked questions and waited for answers, and I thought they managed the debate fairly well, something I didnt expect, Fox News host Sean Hannity said after the debate. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are both excellent and unflappable journalists and good people, MSNBCs Rachel Maddow said. They will, of course, be under nuclear hot scrutiny tonight, as any moderator is in a high-stakes debate like this. Pollster Frank Luntz, who runs a focus group of undecided voters during debates, said that the voters heaped praise on Tapper and Bash, appreciating the questions, and adding that there were no accusations of bias. To be sure, moderating a presidential debate has become something of a thankless job, particularly in the Trump political era (this is now the third presidential cycle in which he was one of the candidates). But the unusual format, with no live audience and the cut off mics, made for a debate unlike anything viewers have seen for decades. For better, or for worse. Best of The Hollywood Reporter CNN is under fire for shutting out Black-owned media outlets from its June 27 presidential debate in Atlanta. Political organizations and journalists have been heavily criticizing the network for its snub and expressing skepticism at its excuses that try to shift blame to the Black outlets themselves. 1. An egregious oversight In May, Biden and Trump came to an agreement to participate in two presidential debates, with CNN hosting the first on June 27 and a Sept. 10 debate hosted by ABC. The debates are the first in decades to not be organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. One day before the debate, The Atlanta Voice reported that Black media organizations own and operate none of the nearly 600 national and international media outlets granted credentials for the debate. The Congressional Black Caucus PAC released a statement via New York Rep. Gregory Meeks saying that CNNs exclusion of Black-owned media represents an egregious oversight and is totally unacceptable and calling on the network to immediately credential Black-owned media outlets prior to the debate. The @CBCPAC has now weighed in on this with a statement from @RepGregoryMeeks: This afternoon we learned that CNN has credentialed 800 members of the media for the first presidential debate of the election cycle. Not one represents a Black-owned media outlet. CNNs exclusion of https://t.co/Vq1zIjknOM Symone D. Sanders Townsend (@SymoneDSanders) June 26, 2024 Keith Boykin pointed out that the exclusion of Black media was particularly egregious for a debate being held in Atlanta, a city with a large Black population, a Black mayor, and several Black media outlets. The absence of Black press at tonights CNN debate is a big mistake. Atlanta is a city with a large Black population, a Black mayor, and several Black media outlets. Someone at CNN should have reached out to Black press before the credentials deadline.https://t.co/ZcY6Pmaa5J Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 27, 2024 2. Black journalists push back against CNN excuse on deadline Roland Martin, linking to a report by the Atlanta Black Star, tweeted that it was disrespectful that CNN did not grant credentials to any Black American media outlets even as it Approved Credentials for Reporters from Other Countries. Disrespectful: CNN Excludes Black American Media from 2024 President Debate In Atlanta But Approved Credentials for Reporters from Other Countries https://t.co/oXjORtR0e6 rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) June 26, 2024 The Atlanta Black Star, one of the local outlets that did not receive credentials to cover the debate, reports that CNN claims in an email that the Black outlets missed a June 7 deadline for applying to cover the event. However, the Atlanta Black Star reports that Atlanta Voice and Atlanta Black Star were unaware of the deadline until editors from both publications individually reached out to a CNN representative in the past week, who stated that the mainstream media outlet is unable to accommodate any additional credential requests past the deadline. Journalist Monique Pressley called on CNN to prove Black media was included in your direct outreach re debate credentials and failed to timely respond. Dear @CNN : You say no Black owned media was credentialed because none met deadline. All you need to do now is prove Black media was included in your direct outreach re debate credentials and failed to timely respond. Ready, set, go https://t.co/VNpdfhVnLS Monique Pressley (@MoniquePressley) June 27, 2024 The exclusion of Black news sources comes at a time when both the Biden-Harris and Trump presidential campaigns have stepped up their efforts to reach out to Black voters, whose support is seen as key to winning the 2024 election. Despite the rhetoric that Black voters are important, the debate exclusion calls into question the extent to which the institutional news media will actually represent Black voices and interests. AUSTIN (KXAN) A coalition of native tribes, community groups and educational advocates, held a press conference Friday, where they discussed their desire for the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) to consider adoption of an American Indian/Native Studies (AINS) course for use in Texas schools. Were here to stand up for this course, said Orlando Lara, with the Ethnic Studies Network of Texas. The course has a lot of support. Numerically, compared to Mexican Americans and African Americans, this isnt a huge community; but its being asked to do so much more to prove its worth. Orlando Lara, with the Ethnic Studies Network of Texas, speaks at a June 28, 2024 press conference. (Cora Neas/KXAN Photos) The course was developed in 2019, after the SBOE called for the creation of four ethnic studies courses, according to a petition from the Ethnic Studies Network of Texas. It was placed on the SBOEs agenda for January 2024, but had been repeatedly moved ahead without action from the board. It was radio silence from the SBOE. We know that the Democrats on the board are supportive of the course, and in the past few weeks weve started to hear from the Conservative members. We believe we can start a conversation with them. Lara said. We have good reason to believe that theres bipartisan support for the course, but that this information may be new to many people. The Texas Education Agency said it would provide a statement about the petition next week. Previously, the SBOE adopted a Mexican American Studies course and an African-American Studies course. An Asian American/Pacific Islander Studies course is also pending approval from the agency. 2020: Proposed African American Studies course gets final approval from state board of education Indigenous people have a human right to have access to their history, said Lara, citing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Native and non-native students have a civil right to information that could help them succeed academically. The SBOE has approved use of the AINS curriculum until 2025 as part of its innovative courses program. That curriculum can be read below: ethnicstudiesamericanindiannativestudiesDownload However, the network wants a more permanent status for the course. Ramon Vasquez, member of the Auteca Paguame Tribe of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, said that the course would greatly benefit the states Native students. Ramon Vasquez, member of the Auteca Paguame Tribe, speaks at a June 28, 2024 press conference. (Cora Neas/KXAN Photos) In a lot of states, there are Indigenous education support departments, he said. Thats what this is about, is how do we give kids access to education about whats significant to Native people? The coalitions petition currently has 1,652 signatures, as well as endorsements from tribal councils, elected officials and non-partner organizations. It has been a tremendous effort across the state, relatives have been zooming in over the years to get this done, even through the pandemic, Vasquez said. I come from a community that is fighting to revitalize itself. Vasquez said that hes concerned SBOE members are delaying action on the course due to upcoming elections. Pushing it off makes sense as a political move if its off their shoulders, off their plate, then they dont have to worry about it anymore, Vasquez said. As for next steps, Lara said the network plans to continue advocating for the courses adoption. Weve asked them what they want us to do. Were going to renew our submitted proposal, he said. At the same time, the board is still able to act on the course. It shouldnt be a highly contentious 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 KXAN Austin. MIAMI (WFLA) The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for a paddleboarder who went missing off the coast of Florida. According to the Coast Guard, Luciano Mercenari, 29, was reported missing at about 9:30 p.m. Monday after he went paddleboarding in Biscayne Bay. Tropical depression or storm likely to form soon, National Hurricane Center says In response, the USCG sent out both surface and water crews to look for Mercenari, along with partnering with local first responders in the search. A civilian eventually found Mercenaris paddleboard and waterproof gear bag four miles off the Haulover Inlet Tuesday morning. The civilian later reported the paddleboard to the Coast Guard after recognizing it from a photo that the Coast Guard released. Crews searched about 2,219 square, the size of Delaware, for 67 hours, but they did not find Mercenari. Thus, Coast Guard decided to suspend the search Thursday. Suspending an active search and rescue case is never an easy decision, and so it is with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenaris family and friends, said Capt. Chris Cederholm, commanding officer, Coast Guard Sector Miami. We are grateful to our local and state partners for their assistance in this united effort. If you have any information related to the search, the Coast Guard is still asking people to call them at 305-535-4300. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Luciano Mercenari, 29, went paddleboarding and has been reported missing since June 24 Luciano Mercenari/Facebook Luciano Mercenari The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that the search for a man who went missing near the Miami area earlier this week has now been suspended. On Thursday, June 27, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that it had suspended the search for 29-year-old Luciano Mercenari, a paddleboarder reported missing since June 24 via a press release. "Suspending an active search and rescue case is never an easy decision, and so it is with heavy hearts that we offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Mercenaris family and friends, Capt. Chris Cederholm, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector Miami said in the release. We are grateful to our local and state partners for their assistance in this united effort. Related: Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Crew Members of Capsized Ship Off Louisiana Coast Rescue crews searched approximately 2,219 square miles, an area about the size of the state of Delaware, and approximately 67 asset hours, the release said. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. U.S. Coast Guard Southeast/Facebook U.S. Coast Guard vessel Around 5:15 p.m. local time on June 24, Mercenari left his familys home in Key Biscayne to go paddleboarding and never returned, according to local outlet WSVN. Related: Coast Guard Suspends Search for 34 Missing People Who Vanished off Fla. Coast, Fears No More Survivors Mercenaris cousin, Allegra Jacchia previously took to social media to plead for help with his return. We really need help with drones and planes from Orlando to Palm Beach. We need all the help we can get. Today, its going to be almost 72 hours since we lost him and, you know, every minute is critical, Jacchia said, per WSVN. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed it utilized multiple search efforts in their attempt to locate Mercenari. Sector Miami watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched surface and air crews to conduct searches alongside state and local partner agencies, the Coast Guard said in the release. Related: Search for 4 Fishermen Suspended After Boat Vanishes Off Florida Gulf Coast A paddleboard and waterproof gear bag were both found by a good Samaritan approximately 4 miles off Haulover Inlet on Tuesday morning, according to the release. That person then reported what they found and the Coast Guard later determined that the discovered items were related to this case. The Coast Guard is asking anyone with new information regarding Mercenaris disappearance to contact the Coast Guard Sector Miami at 305-535-4300. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, second from left, appears on a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival on June 28, 2024. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis did not answer directly when asked Friday whether he agreed with a growing chorus of voices in the Democratic Party that say President Joe Biden should withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Bidens demeanor in Thursdays first presidential debate, during which the presidents answers were raspy and at times confused, reignited widespread concerns among Democrats about his age and his fitness for a bruising reelection battle against former President Donald Trump, who turned in a combative debate performance that relied on repeated falsehoods and conspiracy theories. In a brief interview following his appearance on a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival early Friday, Polis was noncommittal when asked about the calls for Biden to step aside, saying that he had been very critical of Donald Trumps agenda for the country. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I focus on the issues, and I think (Trumps) tariff plan would be devastating, Polis, a Democrat, said. The fact that he still openly talks about retribution is scary and un-American. So I think that thats an important contrast that we need to drive home to the people of our country. Polis was asked by a Newsline reporter whether, given what he and many others view as the high stakes of the 2024 election, Biden was the best messenger for the Democratic Partys agenda. I think it takes all of us as messengers, to really highlight the dangers of a second Trump presidency, he said before ending the interview. Later Friday, Polis sent Newsline a written statement. The statement referred to the risks that would come from another disastrous Trump Presidency, and said, President Biden has been a successful President leading with honesty and integrity, and looking out for the whole country during an exceedingly difficult time. Last night was not a good night, and I hope that President Biden delivers his optimistic message about his vision for our future better throughout the campaign. To beat back Trump we need a clear message and fortitude. Donald Trump spewed wild conspiracy theories from the debate stage. President Biden has a vision for America where women have the right to choose what they do with their own bodies, where we tackle high housing costs, where every family can afford childcare, and where we show compassion and love for one another rather than hate. At least two Colorado Democratic elected officials joined those calling for Biden to step aside in the aftermath of Thursdays debate. In a social media post, state Rep. David Ortiz of Littleton wrote that Bidens performance was really really really bad. We say its the most important election of our lifetimes, but if we dont at least consider another candidate, then do we even mean it? Ortiz asked. We need a new nominee, wrote state Rep. Javier Mabrey of Denver in another post. There is far too much on the line in this election. We cant convincingly make the case to voters that Trump winning is an existential threat to our democracy if we stay on this path. Editors note: This story was updated at at 2:37 p.m., June 28, 2024, to include written remarks from Gov. Jared Polis. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST This story is co-published with DeSmog Thousands of oil and gas wells across Colorado cannot generate enough revenue to cover their own cleanup costs, according to a new report. Unless state officials act simply and quickly, it says, Coloradans can expect to be on the hook for a $3bn shortfall. In its report, the thinktank Carbon Tracker found that 27,000 low-producing oil and gas wells in Colorado more than half the states total will generate, at most, $1bn in revenue. The states oil and gas reserves peaked five years ago, with production volumes declining dramatically in all but one region. It will cost $4bn to $5bn to decommission those sites responsibly, the analysts found meaning the state can expect a cash crunch of at least $3bn. Unless properly decommissioned, unplugged wells can leak carcinogens and methane, a potent greenhouse gas. But according to Colorados energy and carbon management commission (ECMC), the states energy regulator, it can cost $110,000 or more to close a single site. Many companies have avoided paying those costs, either by delaying cleanup indefinitely, selling off ageing wells to smaller competitors or simply going out of business. Today, there are at least 120,000 orphan wells across the US that lack financially solvent operators, making them instead a problem for government entities to solve. The way you cover a cost like that is you make people save along the way, and this is not done now Rob Schuwerk, Carbon Tracker The biggest problem here is just the nature of this activity: You make a lot of cash at the beginning, and then you have a big cost at the end, said Rob Schuwerk, executive director of Carbon Tracker and a co-author of the report. The way you cover a cost like that is you make people save along the way, and this is not done now. In 2022, Colorado rolled out a much-lauded approach to ensuring fossil fuel companies foot the cleanup bill. The regulations, which Colorado governor, Jared Polis, last year called an example the nation can follow, included major changes to the states bonding requirements the system of financial assurance it uses to make it harder for operators to walk away from polluting wells. Yet a review of public financial documents by DeSmog and the Guardian showed that Colorados modest reforms failed to keep pace with the fossil fuel industrys ballooning liabilities. Even under the new rules, the gap between projected cleanup costs and secured bonding is measured in the billions of dollars, said Margaret Kran-Annexstein, director of the Sierra Clubs Colorado chapter. Its frankly dangerous for Colorado to imply this is the best we can do. This dynamic is widespread across the US. In the 15 biggest oil- and gas-producing states, funds on hand for cleanup amount to less than 2% of estimated costs, a recent analysis by ProPublica and Capital & Main found. That Colorado, a state thats been celebrated for an unusually proactive approach to bonding, still faces such a dramatic shortfall suggests that other state governments have much more to do before the trend can be reversed. Its frankly dangerous for Colorado to imply this is the best we can do Margaret Kran-Annexstein, Sierra Club The bonding isnt enough. Its never been enough, said Kelly Mitchell, a senior analyst at Documented, a watchdog group. And I think the states typically arent being very sober in considering the scale of the problem theyre facing. In emailed comments, Megan Castle, ECMCs community relations supervisor, noted that plugged wells outnumber unplugged wells in Colorado. Colorados financial assurance structure is designed to ensure operators not the State remain responsible for the entire lifecycle of the well and site, she wrote, adding that Colorados bonding programs are meant to act as a backstop only when companies cannot fulfill that obligation themselves. But the rules, by law, were designed to ensure that all operators have the ability to meet their plugging obligation fully and that outcome is still very far away. More loopholes than net In 2019, Colorado became one of the first states to try to take comprehensive action on the soaring costs of oil and gas cleanup. That year, lawmakers passed sweeping legislation that set the stage for a broad regulatory overhaul, while also giving ECMC a mandate to protect human health and the environment over industry profits. The commission imposed a fee on producers and set restrictions around transferring wells, an effort to stop bigger companies from selling off low-producing assets to smaller, poorer companies without adequate plugging resources. But the centerpiece was the revised financial assurance requirements, which ECMC officials called by far the highest in the nation and truly a paradigm shift. ECMC required every operator to develop a unique, company-specific bonding plan based on well count, production levels and other factors. But the rules high degree of flexibility and customization allowed some companies to exclude certain poorly performing wells from their totals or to propose their own bespoke plans. The result, said Dwayne Purvis, a petroleum engineer and consultant who co-authored the Carbon Tracker report, is that companies generally arent bonding enough. The rules are so flexible they end up being more loopholes than net, he said. Rich reserves in a single region the Denver-Julesburg basin could generate more than enough to one day close down all of the states wells, something that will cost between $6.8bn and $8.5bn, according to Carbon Tracker. But most of those longer-term future profits will be concentrated in the hands of just three publicly traded companies: Chevron, Occidental and Civitas. The states typically arent being very sober in considering the scale of the problem theyre facing Kelly Mitchell, Documented Schuwerk called it a case of haves and have-nots and said existing ECMC policy doesnt do much to correct that fundamental imbalance: one group is sitting on billions in profits while the other cant afford to resolve its billions in liabilities. At least one operator, KP Kauffman, has already said it cant pay. Reportedly Colorados largest owner of low-producing, so-called marginal oil wells, the company in 2021 said it could not afford to pay a $2m fine ECMC levied for environmental violations, and in January it sued regulators in protest of the amount ECMC had ordered it to bond. The commission has struggled to enforce other bonds, according to an analysis of an ECMC database that tracks daily activity. As of 25 June, 66 companies representing 1,075 wells hadnt even filed initial paperwork to develop bonding plans. And at least two dozen operators have still not filed financial assurance after their bonding plans were approved. Two of those companies are more than a year late, according to a review of public documents. The non-compliant companies have been sent some enforcement letters, then-ECMC commissioner Karin McGowan said in a public webinar on 22 May. We are trying to close that out and find out whats going on with those operators. She added that this group represented a small overall proportion of the total number of unplugged wells in the state, about 2%. After initially telling the Colorado Sun it planned to have $820m in bonding in hand by 2044, ECMC now plans to have just $613m in financial assurance on hand in 20 years. Even if every dollar of that amount materializes, its still $2.4bn less than the state will need to safely shutter its lowest-producing wells. A separate analysis by Carbon Tracker, shared exclusively with DeSmog and the Guardian, showed that the states wells that face near-term risk of being orphaned represent at least $520m in liabilities. In other words, the amount of assurance ECMC plans on for 20 years from now may barely cover whats already needed today. Negotiation and compromise cost six years of delay with no tangible improvement in covering budget shortfalls, the Carbon Tracker analysts conclude. Socialize the cost of plugging these wells among operators Adam Peltz, a lawyer for the Environmental Defense Fund who praised the ECMCs rules in 2022, said Colorado is still better off than other states like Pennsylvania and New Mexico, which both have more unplugged wells than Colorado and have struggled to pass more rigorous rules. He said Colorado will need to look outside the bonding system to solve its massive shortfall. You cant solve this problem with bonds alone, because for so many companies its too late, he said. Theyll never generate enough money to pay to close their own wells. You cant solve this problem with bonds alone, because for so many companies its too late Adam Peltz, Environmental Defense Fund He pointed to another aspect of the rules developed in 2022 as a potential revenue source: the fee on producers. Currently, that program only generates $10m a year, which Peltz conceded is not enough to overcome the billions Colorado faces in oil and gas liabilities, even factoring in the availability of matching federal funds. But, he said, raising that fee significantly could help to redistribute funds from resource-rich Denver-Julesburg to depleted areas in the state. Colorados innovation was saying, heres this additional fee, you need to pay to socialize the cost of plugging these wells among all operators, he said. I wish every state would do that. Ultimately, the Carbon Tracker analysts conclude, policymakers must decide between developing new, rigorous alternatives, or sending the bill to taxpayers by default. That will likely involve compelling resource-rich firms to start setting aside savings from their profits now. Mitchell, the Documented analyst, recalled advice she first heard from a former colleague at the Department of the Interior: The best time to collect is on payday. In this period of record profits for the oil and gas industry, she said, this is kind of it. A longer version of this story appears on DeSmog Every year, residents living in the city of Columbia pay millions of dollars in property and other taxes to fund both county and city services. But they pay twice for one service the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Columbia doesnt have its own jail. So nearly every time a Columbia police officer arrests a suspect, he or she is taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, which is Richland Countys jail. One way Columbia residents pay for the jail is on their Richland County property tax bill. On the most recent bill, a Columbia resident living in their own $200,000 home paid $479 for all county operations. Those operations include $30.7 million for the jail. All county residents pay that property tax whether they live in a city or not. But unlike residents in unincorporated areas of Richland County, Columbians pay a second time whenever city police arrest a suspect. The city police department pays Richland County $75 per night for every suspect arrested by city police and housed at the jail. During the current fiscal year, thats expected to cost the city and its taxpayers a total of $716,344. On the surface it may seem like city of Columbia residents are just paying more, but ... any other municipality within Richland County, has a similar situation, said Columbia City Councilman Tyler Bailey. An alternative would be that municipalities have their own jails. Indeed, Forest Acres at $75 and Irmo at $71 pay a daily fee to house inmates, according to spokespeople for the municipalities. The fees are paid from a variety of taxes paid by city or town residents. In fiscal year 2024, Forest Acres residents paid $18,000 to the county for the jail. In Irmo, residents paid $14,200. There once was a Columbia city jail, where suspects arrested within the city limits were housed. But city officials turned the jail over to the county in 1988, according to a historical timeline on the Columbia Police Departments website. The transfer of Columbias jail to the county created an overlap of city and county services, resulting in what may seem like double taxation for things like the jail, Bailey said. But Columbia residents would likely be paying even more than they do now if the city had its own jail, he added. We have to pay for it somehow, Bailey said. If someone says they dont want to be double taxed for the (county) jail, then we would have to have a city jail, where, in a large city, we would have to pay for separate correctional officers, separate jail related services, separate food costs for inmates and more. While not justifying the double tax, Bailey says it creates a benefit in that the city doesnt have to share in liability costs associated with the jail. In recent years, the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center has been plagued with an array of challenges, including inmate deaths, stabbings, escapes, allegations of official misconduct by jail employees and poor housing conditions. As a result, the facility faces a slew of lawsuits, with the most recent, in March, coming from Ralph Gunter, a former inmate at the jail who claims he suffered from assault and neglect while incarcerated. In addition, the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center has come under a federal civil rights investigation, following claims that the jail failed to protect incarcerated people from violence and subjected them to dangerous living conditions. In 2022, for example, an inmate died of dehydration, which was ultimately ruled a homicide. Although the city contributes to the jails inmate population, it doesnt share liability with the county. So, if somebody files a (wrongful) death case against Alvin S. Glenn, Richland County is the named party, Bailey said. Self-insured city of Columbia is not having to pay out of our general fund for these claims. In addition, Bailey pointed to crime trends, which have prompted some to rally against inmates making bond. There are some members of the public who want bond denied, they want more people to stay in jail until their case goes to trial, and, you know, that requires significant overhead costs. I want as much money in the pockets of residents of the city of Columbia as possible, Bailey said. But if we did not have a county jail, we would have to manage one ourselves, and the liability risks associated with that would be shared with our constituents. So, we benefit by, sort of, contracting our jail services to the county. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office is mourning the loss of one of their own this evening, shot and killed during a traffic stop Thursday afternoon in rural Hillsdale County. We know Hillsdale County Sheriffs Department is hurting tonight because they lost a brother, said Lt. Rene Gonzalez of the Michigan State Police. UPDATE: Accused Hillsdale shooter had larceny, drug, gun charges Shortly after 2 p.m., the suspect of the shooting, Eric Michael Fiddler, opened fire on the deputy with a handgun and ran away during a traffic stop between Beecher Rd and Lamb Rd. Then the suspect fled on foot. There was another deputy on scene and they had taken the deputy and threw him in the car and took him to the hospital, said Gonzalez. Unfortunately, the deputy did not survive. This embedded content is not available in your region. The incident led law enforcement on an hours-long search through rural woods and farmland. Eric Michael Fiddler (MSP) Law enforcement employed multiple units including a search helicopter and K9 units in the following search, and found Fiddler walking near a field at around 6:15 p.m. MSP says their attempts to arrest Fiddler escalated. An MSP helicopter flies over the scene (WLNS) They attempt to take him into custody, said Gonzalez. He decided to exchange gunfire with our emergency services team, and was killed. Chante Foster lives near the scene and she says she was outside when law enforcement found Fiddler. I will probably never forget hearing those gunshots and what they were for. I have never heard anything like that and I dont think I ever want to hear it again, said Foster. It was absolutely terrifying, but there was some relief knowing that after the gunshots were over. She says the local communitytightknitis hurting from these events. Were such a small town, like, it just doesnt happen here, says Foster. We dont have this, this crime here, and to see that its getting closer and closer to home is scary. Law enforcement has yet to release the deputys name to the public, as they need to notify his family. They say they will release his name Friday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. President Biden and former President Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Justin Sullivan \Getty Images) Theres nothing quite like watching your democracy fail in real-time, with chyrons and everything. Ive had some long moments in my life, but few seemed more elongated than the 90-minute debate between your great-grandpa and an aspiring authoritarian. As much as I was watching the debate, I was watching social media and came to realize that there was nothing good about Thursdays CNN Presidential Debate. I mean nothing. In live-TV reality, unscripted, unrehearsed, and completely unhinged, it was like an MRI machine peering slice-by-slice into the rot that has gripped us, and if you havent been scared before the debate about the fate of this country, its time to start fretting. The thing that has most made America seem like the worlds spontaneous and thrill-seeking cousin is what proved to be our most ugly reality: We value style over substance. Former President Donald J. Trump was poised and gave a flawless factless performance that left the anchors dumbfounded or at least thats what I have to assume was the stunned feeling that should have washed over them as Dana Bash and Jake Tapper left absolutely no lie checked. And thats the problem: If this were an acting audition, Trump completely steamrolled President Joe Biden. But only one of the debate participants was acting. Unfortunately, Biden used much of his time being speechless. And sadly, it showed. Trumps sheer blitzkrieg of bullsht completely overwhelmed Biden, leaving him not knowing where to start, or how to make sense of the nonsense and lies. If were scoring the debate on factual accuracy, there is no question who won. And thats exactly the problem: No one was watching this debate, looking to be swayed or hoping to be inspired. Indeed, no one was scoring the debate. We werent carefully considering the policy points, discussing them because we wanted information. Instead, the headlines declared that Trump won the debate based on public perception. The buzzkill fact-checkers among us, though, would tell a different story. But seriously, how many voters went watching the debate searching for facts? Lets face it, many went there to rubber-neck this 90-minute train wreck. Few probably expected to have it validate so many bad things so quickly. Thats the worst part of it. Weve had almost 249 years of history, and these two are the best we can do? I dont know if I am mad, or scared or resigned. Trumps performance was smooth in the way the devil bribed Robert Johnson a deal done, but at a helluva price. Just like that deal, the devil promised glory, but didnt say for how long. How many times can we trick ourselves into believing we can get the better end of the deal from a man who has made his career going bankrupt and stiffing average workers? Trumps popularity concerns me because if Trumps first term was an exercise in allowing us to be our worst selves, the second term may be mandate for something even worse. But the Republicans can be credited for giving their base what it would seem to want, which is the opposite way Dems have treated their voters. The vanity of the Democrats to believe that their cause is so righteous, and the voters so desperate for an alternative, that they would blindly accept a knowledgeable, but ancient, octogenarian makes them every bit as guilty as anyone for not seeking out a candidate who could blow us away or at least blow out his own birthday candles. Finally, the most heartbreaking moment of last nights debate was the failure of journalism. Often, journalists are called on to be moderators well researched so they could keep factual sideboards on the often wily debates. Bash and Tapper werent unprofessional in the way they treated the candidates, but they completely failed journalism. Trump spewed a torrent of lies and both moderators seemed fearful or unwilling to call out even the most outrageous falsity. Moderating is holding a candidate to account, pressing them for answers. Without that, the debate became less than neutral, it had a corrosive effect on our democracy by allowing lies to perpetuate unchecked. Because of the role both of those journalists play, especially on their own cable television shows, when they do not let politicians squirm away from difficult questions, the lay audience on Thursday was left to think that silence might have equaled approval. It wasnt so much a debate as a platform. At other times during the debate, it was something more sinister but not unlike watching a couple of grumpy old men argue over the TV remote in the nursing homes communal lounge. At a time when journalism has a chance to shine a bright light, helping to re-assert the inextricable role a free press plays in free society, it, like everyone else involved in the debate, failed. The post The complete failure of Thursday night appeared first on Daily Montanan. President Joe Biden (R) and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Theres nothing quite like watching your democracy fail in real-time, with chyrons and everything. Ive had some long moments in my life, but few seemed more elongated than the 90-minute debate between your great-grandpa and an aspiring authoritarian. As much as I was watching the debate, I was watching social media and came to realize that there was nothing good about Thursdays CNN Presidential Debate. I mean nothing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In live-TV reality, unscripted, unrehearsed, and completely unhinged, it was like an MRI machine peering slice-by-slice into the rot that has gripped us, and if you havent been scared before the debate about the fate of this country, its time to start fretting. The thing that has most made America seem like the worlds spontaneous and thrill-seeking cousin is what proved to be our most ugly reality: We value style over substance. Former President Donald J. Trump was poised and gave a flawless factless performance that left the anchors dumbfounded or at least thats what I have to assume was the stunned feeling that should have washed over them as Dana Bash and Jake Tapper left absolutely no lie checked. And thats the problem: If this were an acting audition, Trump completely steamrolled President Joe Biden. But only one of the debate participants was acting. Unfortunately, Biden used much of his time being speechless. And sadly, it showed. Trumps sheer blitzkrieg of bullsht completely overwhelmed Biden, leaving him not knowing where to start, or how to make sense of the nonsense and lies. If were scoring the debate on factual accuracy, there is no question who won. And thats exactly the problem: No one was watching this debate, looking to be swayed or hoping to be inspired. Indeed, no one was scoring the debate. We werent carefully considering the policy points, discussing them because we wanted information. Instead, the headlines declared that Trump won the debate based on public perception. The buzzkill fact-checkers among us, though, would tell a different story. But seriously, how many voters went watching the debate searching for facts? Lets face it, many went there to rubber-neck this 90-minute train wreck. Few probably expected to have it validate so many bad things so quickly. Thats the worst part of it. Weve had almost 249 years of history, and these two are the best we can do? I dont know if I am mad, or scared or resigned. Trumps sheer blitzkrieg of bullsht completely overwhelmed Biden, leaving him not knowing where to start, or how to make sense of the nonsense and lies. Trumps performance was smooth in the way the devil bribed Robert Johnson a deal done, but at a helluva price. Just like that deal, the devil promised glory, but didnt say for how long. How many times can we trick ourselves into believing we can get the better end of the deal from a man who has made his career going bankrupt and stiffing average workers? Trumps popularity concerns me because if Trumps first term was an exercise in allowing us to be our worst selves, the second term may be mandate for something even worse. But the Republicans can be credited for giving their base what it would seem to want, which is the opposite way Dems have treated their voters. The vanity of the Democrats to believe that their cause is so righteous, and the voters so desperate for an alternative, that they would blindly accept a knowledgeable, but ancient, octogenarian makes them every bit as guilty as anyone for not seeking out a candidate who could blow us away or at least blow out his own birthday candles. Finally, the most heartbreaking moment of last nights debate was the failure of journalism. Often, journalists are called on to be moderators well researched so they could keep factual sideboards on the often wily debates. Bash and Tapper werent unprofessional in the way they treated the candidates, but they completely failed journalism. Trump spewed a torrent of lies and both moderators seemed fearful or unwilling to call out even the most outrageous falsity. Moderating is holding a candidate to account, pressing them for answers. Without that, the debate became less than neutral, it had a corrosive effect on our democracy by allowing lies to perpetuate unchecked. Because of the role both of those journalists play, especially on their own cable television shows, when they do not let politicians squirm away from difficult questions, the lay audience on Thursday was left to think that silence might have equaled approval. It wasnt so much a debate as a platform. At other times during the debate, it was something more sinister but not unlike watching a couple of grumpy old men argue over the TV remote in the nursing homes communal lounge. At a time when journalism has a chance to shine a bright light, helping to re-assert the inextricable role a free press plays in free society, it, like everyone else involved in the debate, failed. This article was first published by the Daily Montanan, a sister publication of the Arizona Mirror and a member of the States Newsroom network of local news sites. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Chevron deference, a 40-year precedent under which federal agencies were given leeway in regulating industry and business, a leading climate activist lamented yet another decision that puts polluters and their profits ahead of our health and safety. On the other side of the political divide, conservatives were quick to celebrate. Reading on Friday from his opinion in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, Chief Justice John Roberts said the conservative justices who control the court 6-3 were finally end[ing] our 40-year misadventure with Chevron deference. Established in 1984, the Chevron deference allowed federal agencies considerable leeway in implementing legislation passed by Congress. The original case, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, concerned the application of the Clean Air Act of 1963. The two cases decided by the court on Friday Loper Bright and Relentless Inc v. Department of Commerceconcerned the regulation of herring fishermen in Rhode Island and New Jersey. The fall of the Chevron deference has implications for all corners of U.S. life. Nonetheless, it is particularly concerning for advocates of environmental regulation. In a statement, Lori Lodes, executive director of the advocacy group Climate Power, said: The Supreme Court has issued yet another decision that puts polluters and their profits ahead of our health and safety. This deeply misguided ruling gives corporations more control over our lives while making it harder to protect our air and water, fight climate change, and protect workers. Unsurprisingly, Big Oil has spent decades and millions of dollars to achieve this exact result and pad its profits at our expense. This, like so many other recent Supreme Court decisions threatening our rights and freedoms, is because of MAGA extremists and Donald Trump. The future of the Supreme Court and the decisions they deliver that impact our health, economy, and democracy are all on the ballot in November. In contrast, Joe Lonsdale, a co-founder of Palantir Technologies with the right-wing mega-donor Peter Thiel, said the Chevron deference had allowed unaccountable bureaucrats to determine what the law means for their agencies. The new ruling, Lonsdale said, was a huge victory to check the administrative state, and restore the balance of power USA founders intended. There was caution on the right, however. Heath Mayo, a never-Trump conservative, noted a likely side effect of the end of the Chevron deference. While the end of Chevron deference is a good thing for the rule of law and constitutional government, Mayo said, its a wake-up call to Congress. Citing powerful pro-Trump extremists from Georgia and Arizona, Mayo said Republicans would have to get their act together quickly on government regulation and how to legislate for it. Even more reason to elect competent people instead of nut jobs like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. VICTORIA, British Columbia Initial construction is beginning on a new fleet of warships for the Royal Canadian Navy, with the vessels expected to be operational by 2035, service and government officials said. Royal Canadian Navy commander Vice Admiral Angus Topshee and Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Friday that construction work on the Canadian Surface Combatant Project will begin at Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company will build the warships and act as prime contractor while Lockheed Martin Canada is providing the design based on the BAE Type 26. The project will see the construction of 15 warships to replace the current fleet of Halifax-class frigates. Topshee said the navy is classifying the new ships as destroyers. Today, we launch construction on the largest Canadian shipbuilding project since the Second World War, marking an historic milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy, Blair said at the news conference in Halifax. The construction schedule for Canadian Surface Combatant is lengthy. The first ship will not be delivered until the early 2030s and will then have to undergo testing, senior Canadian government officials said at a June 27 technical briefing. That means it will not be in service with the Royal Canadian Navy until 2035. The schedule will see nine CSC ships delivered by 2040 with the last vessel set to arrive in 2050. A senior government official said getting the new ships as soon as possible is imperative because of ongoing maintenance concerns for the aging Halifax-class frigates. The official also downplayed concerns about the schedule by pointing out that technology improvements will be added along the way, improving the ship capabilities over time. Additional upgrades are also expected for the Halifax-class frigates, the official added. No cost figures or specific details on that work were provided. Recipe for disaster Alan Williams, the former assistant deputy minister for materiel at National Defence, noted that the CSC design has still not been completed and the final budget has yet to be determined. Combine that with a delivery schedule stretching over decades and you have a recipe for disaster, he said. Williams has warned that the cost of the CSC, combined with the cost of Canadas F-35 procurement as well as modernization of radars and other systems used by North American Aerospace Defense Command, will leave little funds left for other major procurements. The CSC project is budgeted at between CAD $56-60 billion, according to the Department of National Defence. But a separate examination of the project conducted in 2022 by Yves Giroux, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, put the cost figure at CAD $84 billion. The Department of National Defence expects to have a final cost figure for the ships by the end of this year or in early 2025. The initial construction on the CSC will allow Irving worker to develop and test building techniques for the ships. An implementation contract for the project is expected to be signed by the end of this year, which will allow for full-rate production of the ships. That full-rate production is expected to start in 2025. Topshee said the announcement of the initial work on CSC is a clear sign of tangible progress towards our future fleet. Elianne Alvarado, 44, fans herself at the Astoria Boulevard subway station stop in Astoria, New York, last week. Climate change is forcing New York and other Northeastern states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey to take extreme heat more seriously. (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline) NEW YORK As temperatures soared into the 90s, the heat and humidity hit the concrete in Astoria, Queens, and bounced into the air. People moved along the scorched sidewalk slowly, their clothes drenched with sweat. Elianne Alvarado, 44, who was raised in New York City and has lived here for most of her life, ascended the steps to the elevated Astoria Boulevard subway station, fanning herself with a sheet of paper. She was looking forward to escaping the heat in an air-conditioned train. I dont ever remember it being this hot, Alvarado told Stateline. I remember other summers being nice, not that hot. But this week has been crazy. The heat wave that pummeled New York state and much of the East Coast and Midwest last week and into the weekend broke daily records in several cities. On June 19, Boston (98 degrees); Hartford, Connecticut (97); and Millinocket, Maine (97), all set new highs for that date. In New York City, temperatures reached the low 90s not a record, but plenty hot enough to cause misery, especially with humidity and the radiant heat from concrete and asphalt. The Northeast is not the hottest part of the country, but several states in the region are among those where average temperatures have increased the most over the past two decades. In recent years, climate change has forced states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York to take extreme heat more seriously. In preparing for a hotter future, some of them are copying the policies of states that are used to sizzling temperatures, such as Arizona, Florida and Louisiana. Public health officials in Connecticut and New York, for example, are partnering with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that their most vulnerable residents older and lower-income people are better prepared for extreme heat and other aspects of climate change. And in April, New Jersey published a draft Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, recognizing that, while the state remains committed to reducing emissions, New Jersey is past the point of avoiding all climate change impacts and needs to enact measures to adapt. New Jersey is a northern state, and it is not necessarily the folks that are hardest hit by this phenomenon of extreme heat compared to, for example, the desert Southwest, said Nathaly Agosto Filion, deputy chief climate resilience officer for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. But for that reason, much of our built environment is maybe not as well designed to withstand the impacts, and much of our population sort of undervalues the extent to which it is a problem for our communities. New Jerseys draft plan includes 133 action items, but the first priority is helping New Jerseyans cope with the heat. The state aims to do that by beefing up emergency preparedness and response; providing public cooling centers; planting more trees; and adopting workplace safety rules, among many other steps. It also plans a public information campaign to make people especially vulnerable populations such as older and homeless people aware of the risks of extreme heat. Were also talking about outdoor workers, were also talking about athletes, were also talking about folks that are pregnant or breastfeeding these are all subpopulations that are really important to engage, Agosto Filion said. Hot box apartments Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States and those deaths are increasing as average temperatures rise, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 2,302 people died from heat-related causes last year, up from 1,722 in 2022 and 1,602 in 2021. Those totals are likely an underestimate, because heat waves make death more likely from other causes as well. A New York City analysis in 2022, for example, found an annual average of 360 heat-exacerbated deaths in the city compared with 10 caused directly by heat. Last week on 31st Street in Astoria, Hassan Johnson was standing outside a bank with a water bottle and a towel, which he used to wipe the multiplying beads of sweat on his forehead. The 48-year-old truck driver blasts his three air conditioners when hes at home, but the one in his truck is broken and its hot as hell as he makes deliveries. Driving in such conditions can be dangerous: In July 2022, paramedics had to cover a New York UPS driver in ice packs and take him to the hospital after he nearly collapsed at the end of his Long Island route. Hassan Johnson, 48, stands outside a bank in Queens with a water bottle and a towel. Johnson said his truck is hot as hell since the air conditioner stopped working. (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline) Not far away, Meg Johansson was braving treeless Broadway to get an iced coffee. Its a bad one, said Johansson, 38, who has lived in the city for 15 years. There have been a few summers where I remember really hot days, but I dont remember one this early that was so prolonged. So its just been like torture trying to leave the house. Back at the Astoria Boulevard subway station, Alvarado said she was coping by staying hydrated, walking in the shade and taking cold showers. Shes fortunate to have air conditioning in her home, but she said shes nervous about what the future will bring. You feel like youre burning, she said. Its like we are in a walking sauna. Ladd Keith, an associate professor of planning at the University of Arizona who focuses on climate change, said cities and states should have different plans to cope with extreme heat, because housing and development differ so dramatically among communities. You feel like youre burning. Its like we are in a walking sauna. Elianne Alvarado, New York City resident One challenge, Keith explained, is that many homes were designed for climates that have changed dramatically. Many hot box apartments in New York dont have air conditioning because decades ago it was rarely needed. In the Pacific Northwest, many homes have large windows to let in light, but they let in too much heat during the now-warmer summers. Homes designed to rely on air conditioning, like those in Arizona, quickly become miserable if the power goes out. Keith said that for the most part, the rising temperatures havent been enough to convince most Americans that heat is a serious threat yet. Even though the awareness is growing, we really havent had this watershed moment, or what I call a heatshed moment, where weve said, We really need to take this seriously as a climate risk, Keith told Stateline. Southern experience But public officials in some states are focused on the threat. The New York State Department of Health is one of 13 recipients, mostly state and local agencies across the country, of a CDC climate resilience grant. Neil Muscatiello, who heads the departments bureau of environmental health, said the goal is to identify how we think climate change is going to be impacting New Yorkers, particularly vulnerable populations, and then work on adaptations or interventions to help reduce those risks. The agency, noting that people can fall ill at lower temperatures, recently changed New Yorks heat alert threshold from 100 degrees to 95 degrees. Last week, it was tracking emergency room visits and coordinating with other state and local agencies on getting vulnerable people to cooling centers. Muscatiello said the department is also learning from other jurisdictions that have dealt with heat for years. It is a really collaborative process, not only with CDC, but also with other state partners. Were always interested to hear what theyre doing. Meg Johansson, 38, has lived in New York for 15 years and cant remember it being so hot so early in the summer. (Shalina Chatlani/Stateline) Southern cities and states have long integrated heat resilience into their public health programs and have lessons to share. In 2021, Miami-Dade County, Florida, became the first jurisdiction in the world with a chief heat officer. Since then, Phoenix and other cities have followed suit. One policy change Jane Gilbert, Miami-Dades heat officer, made was to lower the thresholds for heat advisories and warnings. The county now issues advisories when the heat index what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature reaches 105 degrees, down from the previous 108 degrees. The new standard for a heat warning is a heat index of 110 degrees, down from 113 degrees. She made the changes because heat-related illness can happen at the lower temperatures. Gilbert also created an outreach strategy to help homeless people cope with extreme heat, including placing cooling centers in areas where there are many people living on the streets. We are doing a lot of great services to people who are unsheltered. That doesnt mean we dont miss people. We are doing a lot of messaging to employers with employees doing work, but that doesnt mean we wont miss people, Gilbert said. We know there are gaps. There is definitely more work to be done. Thats what we are focused on. Like Florida, Louisiana has long experience with extreme heat. But the states public health response still has to evolve with the warming planet, said Michelle Lackovic, who is the project lead for Louisianas Occupational Heat-Related Illness Prevention Program at the Louisiana Department of Health. Last year, she said, the state had more heat-related emergency department visits and fatalities than ever before. Last summer the Louisiana Department of Health created a public, online dashboard for heat-related illness and daily counts of emergency room visits that it updates weekly during the hot months. The data is also broken down by sex, age, race and geography, so that the public can be aware of who may be most susceptible to the rising temperatures. The state experienced over three weeks of temperatures above 95 degrees last year, Sundee Winder, an executive director at the health department, told Stateline. Drought, wildfires, saltwater intrusion, all of those things were a result of that extensive heat last year that was unprecedented for our state, Winder told Stateline. So, we continue to improve our dashboard, make it more user-friendly, and share the times of day that we see [people should] avoid. This story was originally published by Stateline. Like Maine Morning Star, 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. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST The second named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season formed Friday night, less than a week before the Fourth of July holiday. Less than 24 hours after developing as a tropical storm, Beryl became the first hurricane of the season as it moves into the Caribbean, and it's now forecast to be a major hurricane. Hurricane Beryl is currently moving very fast across the Atlantic. Spaghetti models for Hurricane Beryl Track all active storms While Beryl is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles by the end of the weekend, predictions on where it will go after that depend on a variety of factors. Could Florida feel an impact from Beryl, and could any impacts affect your Fourth of July plans? Here's what you should know. Current forecast for Hurricane Beryl As of the 5 p.m. National Hurricane Center forecast, the center of Beryl is about 720 miles east-southeast of Barbados. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 mph, and the storm is moving west at 22 mph. A relatively quick west to west-northwest motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday. Tropics watch June 29: Tropical Storm Beryl projected to become a hurricane Continued steady to rapid strengthening is forecast, and Beryl is expected to become a dangerous major hurricane before it reaches the Windward Islands. Spaghetti models for Hurricane Beryl. Will it approach Florida? Can't see the map? Open in a new browser. Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricane Beryl: Will it become a major hurricane? "As we speak, the storm is betting a lot better organized and may form later today or by tomorrow morning" into Tropical Storm Beryl, said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane forecaster. "The official forecast is for a strong tropical storm to approach the Less Antilles Monday. It may become a hurricane by then, and we're getting a little more concerned about that possibility" DaSilva said. "There's plenty of warm water. Wind shear is decreasing as the storm moves west. It's dealing with some dry air and wind shear right now but (conditions) are turning more favorable for development over the weekend." Timeline: Where could Hurricane Beryl go? When will it strengthen? Projected path of Tropical Storm Beryl as of Saturday morning, June 29, 2024. Beryl is on a blistering pace. Expect it to enter the Lesser Antilles Sunday and move into the Central Caribbean early next week. Where it goes after that, along with development, depend on a couple of factors: land interaction and a system of high pressure over the southeastern United States, DaSilva said. If it moves over Hispaniola or eastern Cuba, the land and mountains could disrupt its circulation, leading to less organization and weakening from a wind speed perspective. That doesn't mean those areas wouldn't feel an impact from the storm, which could dump a huge amount of rain on the islands, DaSilva said. By the Fourth of July, the storm will likely be a hurricane in the western Caribbean, south of Cuba. "From that point, we're going to have to watch an area of high pressure across the southeastern U.S. If there is weakness in that high-pressure system, (Beryl) could be drawn up north into either the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Peninsula," DaSilva said. Timing would be next weekend if it does get drawn north, so really watch this thing July 5-7, DaSilva said. If the system of high pressure stays strong, the storm will be forced west and go into Yucatan and Mexico. with no real impacts to the U.S. Will Florida feel any impact from Beryl on Fourth of July? Beryl is compact so nothing should be felt across Florida on the Fourth of July that's associated with the storm. "You may get just the normal run-of-the-mill summer thunderstorms, but nothing associated with Beryl," DaSilva said. July 4th Florida forecast: Scorching heat and severe storms ahead. Where to watch in Florida. See radar Worst-case scenario: Florida could feel impact from Beryl by next weekend Satellite image of Tropical Storm Beryl on Saturday morning, June 29, 2024. Long-range forecasts can change a lot and depend on several evolving factors, but the worst-case scenario could see some impact from Beryl across Florida next weekend. How much or even if anything is felt depend on the state of the storm later next week and interaction with the islands, which could pull it apart. But if there's less interaction with land, the system could become more organized, DaSilva said. A worst case scenario all depend on the state of the storm next week and that interaction with Cuba and Hispaniola. One possibility is rain associated with Beryl affecting Florida next weekend. The most likely scenario is that Beryl will head west into Mexico and miss Florida entirely, DaSilva said. "We want people to be alert and aware. We don't want people to be caught off guard. We're not sounding alarm bells, and the holiday looks OK. Beyond that, just watch and see," DaSilva said. Hurricane Beryl likely to 'plow' through Windward Islands next week Its becoming likely that we will have a Hurricane named #Beryl plowing through the Windward Islands Mon am through Tues am. Data shows it reaching Cat 1 status with winds 74-95 mph. All interests in the Windward Islands should be preparing for a hurricane. Upgrade likely today pic.twitter.com/JxbkhDK9Hi Hurricane Tracker App (@hurrtrackerapp) June 28, 2024 Hurricane Tracker App tweeted Friday morning: "Its becoming likely that we will have a Hurricane named #Beryl plowing through the Windward Islands Mon am through Tues am. "Data shows it reaching Cat 1 status with winds 74-95 mph. All interests in the Windward Islands should be preparing for a hurricane. Upgrade likely today (Friday, June 28)." This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Beryl: July 4th Florida impact Editors Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak on June 27, 2024, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to "The Counteroffensive," click here. When the explosions hit the thermal power plant, senior machinist Ihor* was at home, preparing for his shift. Living close to the plant, he heard the explosions clearly. Unlike most, Ihor moved toward the explosions. "One day you come in and see everything destroyed, and realize that all your work is gone, said Ihor, who has worked at the plant for 24 years. It's Armageddon here. It shouldn't be like this. At that moment, all you feel is anger at the enemy," he said. Russia began heavily bombarding Ukraine's energy infrastructure in fall 2022, seeking to disrupt morale a potential war crime against civilians under international law. The situation has worsened since then, with nationwide energy shortages and rolling blackouts following further attacks. Over 80% of Ukraine's energy sector is now damaged. Workers like Ihor are the ones standing between Ukrainians and darkness. Ihor said that while employees are regularly trained for emergencies, the scale of the Russian attacks made it impossible to follow standard procedures. Read also: Opinion: The EU needs to shift focus as war returns to Europe "The situation was so unusual that it was impossible to follow the usual algorithm of actions. You had to use your own logic, where you had to involve other employees from other departments and do a common job together," Ihor said. Despite the chaos, the plant workers couldnt run away. "You have to go to the epicenter of the event. You have to fix it," Ihor added. DTEK is one of Ukraine's largest private energy investors. The Counteroffensive visited one of its bombed-out thermal power plants (TPP), whose location remains undisclosed for security reasons. Despite being in a small town, the plants scale is impressive visible from far away due to its towering pipes. A TPP generates electricity by burning fuel. They also circulate water through pipes to produce steam that turns turbines and generates electricity. While the TPP appears intact from the outside, the situation is radically different on the inside. The smell of long-burning fires permeates the air, making it hard to breathe. To the naked eye, around half of the plant has been destroyed by several Russian strikes, leaving everything blackened by fire and littered with ash and missile wreckage. The first attack on the TPP occurred in late 2022, and while some equipment was restored with Western aid, another attack in May 2024 caused severe damage. Russia has carried out over 180 attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since the full-scale invasion started, targeting DTEK sites at least seven times. Andrii, a senior specialist in the boiler and turbine department, arrived at the plant five to 10 minutes after a strike last month. Driven by adrenaline and fear, he rushed to help his colleagues. "There was so much adrenaline, and fear, and my heart was pounding. I realized that it was still early and I had to go and save (his colleagues)," Andrii said, noting that there around a dozen people on shift at the time. "But literally immediately, the second alarm sounded and we were informed that Kinzhal missiles were flying. We all had to hide in the bomb shelter. As soon as we got an indication that the danger had passed, that the missiles were not flying towards us, we quickly returned here and continued to extinguish the fire," Andrii said. After controlling the flames, the extent of the destruction became clear. The site remains littered with equipment fragments and missile debris. Despite the devastation, the work never stops, with teams working day and night. The latest attack left the town without hot water for months. "People often stop me on the street and ask me how long will it take. Well, to be honest, it's hard to say when we'll be able to do it after something like this. We are working on it," Andrii said. The attack affected not only the TPP and town residents but also animals on the plants property. Some were rescued from the rubble, treated, and brought back to the plant. Across Ukraine, energy workers are fighting to keep the lights on. Andrii Medyna from Kyiv considers his role crucial. On May 31, missile debris destroyed a transformer substation in Kyiv. While the substation looks small around 2.5 by 2.5 meters the attack cut power to over 600 homes and businesses. The substation is located near residential buildings it's a matter of luck that the debris didn't hit them. After the attack, Andrii and his team immediately headed to the site. However, getting there was challenging. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine first had to clear the debris and ensure the area was safe. Andrii and the other energy engineers had to wait several hours before they were allowed to proceed to the site. To resolve the issue, they replaced the entire structure, and within an hour, electricity was restored to the homes. The DTEK team took 12 hours to fully restore power. While this may seem quick, its important to remember that this was just a small substation. Restoring the full operation of the TPPs will take significantly longer. Read also: Opinion: The Putin-Kim pact is an opportunity for the West Western partners are aiding in restoring Ukraine's power system via the Ukrainian government. It will take at least a year to partially restore the energy system, assuming no new attacks occur. As the war continues, so will the attacks. The power engineers we spoke to predict that this coming winter will be the hardest since Ukraine's independence. Andrii advises Ukrainians to prepare by buying batteries or moving to detached homes, as generators arent feasible for multi-story buildings. "My family bought warm clothes, bedding, and gas cylinders so that we could quickly heat water and fast food. My family will survive for a week or two," Andrii said hopefully. Back at the TPP, Ihor is determined to keep working, too: "I realize that my work is not just the work of a senior driver. I see myself as something more in this country because I provide welfare for people," he said. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SIDNEY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) The family of Jessie and Virginia Seward, the elderly couple found dead in their home near Sheridan on Wednesday, said they wonder if they were targeted because of their kindness. Because Dad and Ginny had such a good heart, they would let anybody who was down on their luck for a day, two months, two weeks, come and stay with them. And, honest to God, I feel in my heart that was their undoing, was their kindness, Jessie Sewards stepdaughter, Deborah Soule, said. State police are saying little about the deaths, though theyre calling it a double homicide. They are not telling us anything, and Im glad theyre not because I dont want anybodys hand to be tipped so that they could get away with it, Soule said. MSP: Deaths near Sheridan were double homicide Soule said a great-granddaughter discovered the Sewards bodies Wednesday morning after the couple didnt show up for a 4-H horse show on Tuesday. Police wont say if there was evidence of a break-in at the ranch-style home on Beaver Drive near W. County Farm Road, though they have said theres no ongoing threat. That didnt make any sense to me, Soule said. As long as whoever did that is out there, theres a threat to all of us. Were not special. It could happen to us. Soule, who lives across the street from the couple, said Virginia Seward, known to those who loved her as Ginny, had only recently quit her job at a market and that Jessie Seward still worked at a hardware store. Jessie and Virginia Seward. (June 28, 2024) They were not rich people. Their wealth, if you look at their walls, its like this only 10 times more so, she said, pointing to the photographs of grandchildren on her own walls. Their wealth was their family. They werent rich people. Just rich in love. Jessie Seward was 81 and his wife 80. They had so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that Soule couldnt keep track. Soule said she grew up in the home where the killings happened and that her stepfather helped raise her. She says that after her mother died, he married Ginny in the late 1990s. For 59 years, hes been the only dad I knew, she said. Since the deaths, she said she cant sleep and that her husband has armed himself: Hes loading a gun at night. It scares me but he says, Im going to tell you what, Debbie, if somebody comes through that door, Ive got a bullet with their name on it.' Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Court documents: Florence man got into elderly womans house by asking for water before assaulting her Editors note: Some of the details in this article regarding the assault may be graphic to some. FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) A Florence man accused of sodomizing and assaulting two elderly women during a robbery Saturday was able to get into the womans house by asking for water, according to court records. Michael Kirkland Jr., 34 of Florence, is charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree sodomy, first-degree robbery and first-degree assault after police responded to a burglary on Howell Street around 5:30 p.m. North Courtland police officer arrested for domestic violence A complaint filed this week outlines more details surrounding what led to the two women being taken to the hospital. According to those filings, Kirkland entered the home after asking for water before pushing the 79-year-old woman to the ground. He then forced the woman into a bedroom, throwing her on the bed, causing her to hit her head. Court records state that the woman suffered a fractured spine during the assault. At this time, court records show Kirkland used a cloth belt from a bathrobe and tied the womans hands and feet up. Authorities believe he then sexually assaulted her and stomped on her face as well, worsening her injuries. The second woman who was assaulted, the 79-year-olds caregiver, entered the house using a hidden key and found the woman in a closet. According to court records, Kirkland then began assaulting her. Leighton man dead after being hit by vehicle Court documents say he punched her in the face, used a lamp and other glass objects to hit her over the head and told her he would have to kill her because she had seen his face. Kirkland began looking for a knife before dumping out the womans purse and taking her car keys. The woman told Kirkland where her vehicle was parked and he then began hitting her until she purposefully laid still. The 79-year-old woman was flown to UAB to be treated for multiple cuts and fractures to her face and a fractured spine. The other woman was taken to the North Alabama Medical Center to be treated for her injuries. Florence Police were able to identify Kirkland through doorbell video and said they recovered evidence that connected him to the crime. He is being held at the Lauderdale County Jail without bond pending an Aniahs Law hearing. Kirklands hearing date has not been set 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 WHNT.com. COVID-19 is resurging as many people are taking their summer vacations but Washington State Department of Health (DOH) data shows booster rates are low. Only 19.2% of Washingtonians are up to date on their vaccines. While DOH data shows COVID-19 hospitalizations are significantly less than in previous years, cases have steadily increased since May. According to The Associated Press (AP), health officials have reported an uptick in cases this month but arent sure if its a sign of a coming summer wave, which has happened previously, or just a blip. Well have to see what happens in the coming weeks, Lauren Ancel Meyers of the University of Texas, who leads a research team that tracks COVID-19, told The AP on Thursday. The AP added that many people have some degree of immunity but there are still new variants emerging and hundreds of COVID-19-associated deaths and thousands of hospitalizations are reported each week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends those 12 years and older who received a vaccine before September 12, 2023, should get one updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC said people should get a yearly booster shot, like the flu vaccine, but many Americans arent doing that. Surveys show shrinking percentages of Americans think COVID-19 is a major health threat to the U.S. population, and indicate that fewer doctors are urging patients to get updated vaccines. I worry people think COVID is behind us, Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease epidemiology and immunizations for Seattle and King County Public Health, told the Washington State Standard on Thursday. Chow noted the vaccine is most important for people over 65 and those with previous health conditions. However, he said young people are still at risk of long COVID. According to the DOH, long COVID can last a few weeks, months or years after getting infected. Common symptoms are feeling tired, fever, difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, difficulty focusing, headache, stomach pain, change in smell or taste and changes in menstrual cycles. The DOH stated the best way to prevent COVID is by washing hands, wearing masks in crowds, staying home when sick and getting vaccinated. According to The AP, health officials are preparing a fall vaccine campaign. With a month remaining before Chicago Public Schools finalizes its budget for the next school year, Chicago Teachers Union members gathered ahead of a Board of Education meeting Thursday to decry end-of-school-year layoffs among approximately 300 CPS staffers in teaching assistant and restorative justice coordinator roles. CPS and the union have presented a united front in recent months, joining together to lobby for state funds and to make their collective bargaining negotiations accessible to the public. But as resources have become more scarce with the district facing an approximately $400 million deficit when pandemic-era federal relief funds expire in the fall different priorities emerged at Thursdays more than six-hour meeting. Education support staff, known as paraprofessionals, help manage classrooms and materials and provide tailored support to students. CTU members said that by cutting the number of staff members who often support homeless, bilingual and special education students, CPS will destabilize not only staffers families but also their students. CPS said in an emailed statement that it will increase certain paraprofessional positions by hundreds next school year and, in the meantime, made staffing adjustments to reflect changes in the student population. However, by establishing layoff prevention pools, CPS said impacted employees will be assigned to vacant positions and guaranteed pay throughout the next school year. Instructional assistant Sandra Lockhart said she worked at LaSalle Language Academy in Old Town for 20 years before receiving an email that she would be laid off next school year. I do not understand how those cuts were made, she said. How are you going to make sure that these students can feel comfortable in their buildings without these veterans in our schools? In an emailed statement, CPS spokesperson Sylvia Barragan said that compared to staffing levels last fall, the district will be adding 600 special education paraprofessionals, 30 restorative justice coordinators and 500 teachers next year, to prioritiz(e) reduced class sizes to enhance teaching and learning at each school. She added that teaching assistants comprise about half of the 600 paraprofessionals impacted by the adjustments overall, representing a half-percent reduction in total staff. Laid off from his position as a restorative justice coordinator at Sherman Elementary School in New City, Edward Ward said of CPS, They look at the people who are doing the work, on the ground, in the streets and they say, Youre disposable, because we lack the fiscal dexterity to balance a simple budget. Barragan said CPS is committed to guaranteeing a job for any of the impacted teaching assistants and that historical data confirms laid-off staff members who remain in the district will regain their employment in CPS. Despite a challenging financial outlook, CEO Pedro Martinez said at the board meeting that he remained confident either the same level of funding, or a slight increase, would be allocated to schools overall in the 2024-25 budget, which will be considered for approval next month. CPS officials also upheld investments in curriculum, behavioral support, extended learning time, and teacher professional development, which the district credits with spurring academic gains that outpaced other large districts, according to research by Harvard and Stanford universities. Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said a range of measures from the 2022-23 to 2023-24 school years demonstrated overall improvement, including the number of students who took Advanced Placement tests, a higher number of academic intervention plans created to provide targeted support to struggling students, more schools which implemented a behavioral health team and a greater number of students who participated in enrichment programs outside the regular school day. However, disparities among student groups persist. Chkoumbova noted that achievement levels among Black students, English learners and students with disabilities are not where they need to be. Meanwhile, she added that the needs of vulnerable students in the district are increasing. In the past school year, CPS has gained an additional 10,000 English learners, 12,000 students in temporary living situations, and 4,000 students with disabilities. CPS parent Grisel Sanchez was recently laid off from her job as a bilingual teacher assistant at Mark Twain Elementary School in Garfield Ridge. She was told she could reapply for her job, but she wasnt guaranteed to be rehired at the same school. This has put me in a hard position, stressing me over finances for the summer, as I am a one-income household, she said. Why am I being taken away from my school? OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) A Crestview man has been convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, according to reports. UPDATE: Mobile Police identify body found on I-65 A jury found Craig Dale Golden guilty on Monday, June 24, according to a press release from the Office of the State Attorney First Judicial Circuit of Florida. According to previous reporting, Golden was pulled over in January 2022, and a probable cause search of his vehicle found the following: homemade shotgun lockbox with approximately 15 grams of methamphetamine jewelers bags shopping bag with suspected spice digital scale in a candy bag a gram bag of marijuana 22 people arrested in Mobile Polices Operation Cleaning the Corridor Honorable Circuit Judge Terrance Ketchel oversaw the court proceeding. The release said Goldens sentencing will be later, but he faces a minimum mandatory sentence of three years and a maximum sentence of 30 years. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Dozens of activists representing organizations from across the state met on Tuesday at the Michigan House of Representatives Office Building. They gathered to call for reforms in the ways the state incarcerates its citizens and to bring attention to problems that affect nearly 33,000 citizens. Here is a sample of some of the issues that were talked about. A Ban on Life Without Parole for Minors: These include changes to the way the state sentences its youngest offenders. One bill would ban sentencing minors to life without the possibility of parole. It would do this by requiring a hearing after 10 years served that would take things into account like the maturity of the offender, and their family life at the time of the crime. People who entered the prison system as teenagers say reforms like this would have saved them years of their lives and saved taxpayers the $2.5 million that it takes to house an inmate for that long. I have a friend of mine sentenced to 40 years at a minimum sentence for armed robbery, said Gregory Wines, who was incarcerated at 17. 40 years, that man is going to be at least 63 before he gets out of prison He is going to dip off into your Social Security. Hes going to dip off of everything you work on, and the legislators pocket. Wines went on to say that he changed during his time in prison, and after 10 years, he had changed for the better. Its a very harsh and violent world in there. I spent eight and a half years in a level four facility and once I went down to level threes and twos, I was able to begin to take advantage of programing. That programming began to change my life. Wines now works with the State Appellate Defender Office as a paralegal and says he knows others who are waiting for their chance to contribute as well. Im not the only one., Wines said. There are many, many men and women in the prison system who go through the exact same phase that I went through. They mature, they grow up, they change. We got this thing called aging out of crime, Its real. Its not made up. People do age out of crime. Currently, Michigan sentences more juveniles to life without parole than any other state in the country. A Ban on Solitary Confinement: Another legislative goal targeted by activists is a bill that would lead to a complete ban on the use of solitary confinement in Michigan prison systems. Which activists say is a form of torture, where people are forced to live in a space the size of a parking space for 22 hours a day with little outside contact. Solitary causes severe physical and psychological harm, such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis to the thousands, said Charmie Gholson, speaking on behalf of citizens for prison reform. Did you know that solitary confinement has been defined as torture in the U.S.? Gholson went on to say that the Michigan Department of Corrections has become good at changing the name to get around this. Michigans very good at it, Ive got a spreadsheet full of people who died in solitary confinement from dehydration and from weight loss, Gholson said. They starve, and cut off water to folks, and torture them on the regular. Further legislation sponsored by the same group would give people in prison a guaranteed right to family visits, calling it a human right that cant be taken away by prison guards. Support for Post Traumatic Prison Disorder: Activists also called for more support for people dealing with the long-term trauma of being in the prison system. This is demanding that we come home better than we left, said Shawanna Vaughn, an organizer for Silent Cry. Vaughn included a list of demands that make up a current bill in moving through Washington that shes had a hand in writing. It would address a wide list of mental health needs for everyone currently living or working in prison communities. Im asking for trauma-informed biopic therapist, Im asking for alternatives to medication, Im asking that guards be mandated to therapy, Vaughn said. Actions like this are critical to the wider community as well, thats because most of the people who are in prison now will have to return to their communities one day, Vaughn said. How do we want our neighbors to live? Vaughn said. Nobody comes out of prison with a P tattooed on their forehead, and after COVID, this is affecting everybody so imagine the people who are incarcerated. Political frustrations, and election-year politics: Even though close to a dozen lawmakers were invited to the event, none showed up. Some activists blamed this on Congress being in session for the early part of the rally. But others said that no one showing up from Capitol Hill up represents a lack of attention on this issue. Frustrations boiled over in the Mackinaw room, as multiple speakers took the time to call for more action on the issue, especially among democrats who have making empty promises for years, according to activists. At some point, we have to fall out of love with the democratic party, said James Thomas, speaking on behalf of Nation Outside. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but the Democratic Party has not been a friend Democrats won from the House, the Senate, the governor, the attorney general, and the state police, they run everything in our state. But they have not cashed one check for criminal justice reform, not one thing. Others echoed those frustrations, saying that in an election year like this, choosing between Republicans or Democrats feels like a vote for keeping the status quo alive. They tricked us into believing we are free by allowing us to choose our own master, said Marcus Kelly, who spent nine years behind bars on a wrongful conviction. So, they took the chains off your ankles and legs and put it on your brains I didnt ask for that system, it was forced on us. But now, we must use that system to get free. The rally concluded with a tour of the capitol building, and visits to lawmakers offices, to try and bring the conversation directly to the people who will be voting on these issues. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Covington Police and the King County Sheriffs Office seek the publics help in solving a theft case involving critical emergency tools. On June 14, around 2:30 p.m., tools were stolen from a Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority fire truck parked in the Safeway parking lot. The thief approached the fire truck and stole essential tools, including a chainsaw, circular saw, and Jaws of Life. These tools are vital for emergency services to assist the public. The stolen Jaws of Life tool was later used to commit additional crimes. The suspect was seen near the fire truck driving a silver Audi, as shown in the photos. Authorities are asking anyone in the area at the time and may have dash cam or other footage (such as from a Tesla camera) or any information about the tools or the suspect to come forward. If you have any information, please email Detective Ramirez at michael.ramirez@kingcounty.gov. Critics Baffled By Trump's 'Black Jobs' Remarks At Debate: 'What The F**k Is' That? Former President Donald Trump sparked confusion and shock among debate viewers on Thursday when he referred to Black jobs while he criticized President Joe Bidens immigration policies. The presumptive GOP presidential nominee claimed that his opponents big kill on the Black people was allowing millions of people to enter America via the border. Theyre taking Black jobs now and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people, Trump said. Theyre taking Black jobs and theyre taking Hispanic jobs and you havent seen it yet but youre gonna see something thats going to be the worst in our history, he added. Trump: "His big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking Black jobs now." pic.twitter.com/JmZSy2LDxC Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2024 Trumps evidence-free, false claim didnt sit well with Black lawmakers such as Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who noted that shes one of less than 60 Black women who have been sworn in to Congress. Im assuming Trump doesnt think my job is a black job, but MY BLACK TAIL will be up early to do the work of my amazing & beautiful coalition of people that make up TX-30! Crockett wrote of her district on X, formerly Twitter. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) also posted on X to question Trump, writing, I still dont understand the black job comment, it would have been nice if there was a follow up to understand what he was trying to say. Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC, told Reuters that Trumps comment sparked a hilarious meme all across Black Twitter and it showed him failing to connect with Black voters. That there are specific Black jobs for Black people that immigrants are coming to take. Utter nonsense, she said. You can check out more reactions to Trumps comment below. Trump : the blacks .black jobs Me: pic.twitter.com/xnswh0r7QN Big Celleo From the Kokomo (@Cellustharula90) June 28, 2024 I hate that no one has challenged this notion of "Black jobs." Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 28, 2024 WTF is Black jobs? Answer quickly pic.twitter.com/7GCzLKffuc chris evans (@notcapnamerica) June 28, 2024 Black jobs is one of the craziest things Ive heard. Which came right after hes being like a Palestinian, but a bad one. Holy shit. brandon / jinx / big jinx (@brandonjinx) June 28, 2024 Me searching for the black jobs on LinkedIn tomorrow pic.twitter.com/hZiUGHF5df BeMy. (@BeMyFiasco) June 28, 2024 Then I asked myself, did I get the job because I was Black, or was it a Black Job? pic.twitter.com/KdD5bqv8tF Dom N' The City | NYC Food & Lifestyle (@DomNTheCity) June 28, 2024 trump what did you mean by theyre taking black jobs??? what am i supposed to be doing exactly? #TheRealDebatepic.twitter.com/MP3Fuz2sdp somebodys keys (@tinytreestumps) June 28, 2024 Related... Czechia and Ukraine to sign security agreement on 18 July Czechia's PM Czechias Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said that the signing of a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine will take place on 18 July at the European Political Community summit in London. Source: European Pravda with reference to Czechias Prime Minister on Twitter (X) Details: He spoke about the agreement with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to finalise the agreement's text before the NATO summit in Washington. Quote: "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and I agreed yesterday that we will conclude negotiations on the text of the Czech-Ukrainian security agreement before the NATO summit in Washington. We will then sign it at the European Political Community summit in London on July 18." On Friday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the security agreement with Ukraine is practically complete and will be signed with a "99%" probability before the NATO summit in Washington in July. Background: On 27 June, Ukraine signed three new security agreements with the EU, Estonia and Lithuania in Brussels. Support UP or become our patron! FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man from Oakhurst has been sentenced to three consecutive life without the possibility of parole after killing three men in 2020 and 2022, the Fresno County District Attorney said on Thursday. The DA says on Sept. 28, 2020, Andrew Levi Hammond, 29, shot and killed Fernando Gonzales at a Rosary ceremony in the City of Fresno. DA: Coarsegold man facing charges for 2 Fresno deaths Later, on Oct. 21, 2022, the DA says Hammond shot and killed Steven Rice at a home in Fresno after a previous physical altercation between acquaintances of Hammond. On Nov. 2, 2022, officials say Hammond shot and killed Brandon Munoz at an abandoned house in Fresno during a verbal interaction over a small unpaid debt. The DAs office says Hammond had a lengthy criminal history which included felony auto theft, felony evading, and three felony counts of assault by means likely to cause great bodily injury. Additionally, the DAs office says Hammond was also sentenced to an indeterminate term of 75 years to life in state prison for three personal use of firearm enhancements along with the three counts of first-degree murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Daniel Callihan, the man accused in the Brunett murder and abduction case, was federally charged in court in New Orleans on Friday, June 28. The penalties there are more severe than the penalties associated with the federal charges. The federal prosecutors and the state prosecutors are going to sit down and determine which case has the most likelihood of success and thats the one they will probably prosecute, said WGNO Analyst Cliff Cardone. Tip line created for information on Brunett case Background On Thursday, June 13, Callie Brunett, 35, was found dead by her father on the floor of her bedroom in Loranger. She was reported missing by her parents 24 hours earlier. They had last spoken to her the previous Tuesday morning. Tangipahoa Parish Coroner Rick Foster said she died of multiple sharp force injuries. He said there were stab wounds to her head, neck, chest, abdomen and back. Her two daughters, 6-year-old Jalie and 3-year-old Erin, were also missing from the home. The Louisiana State Police issued an Amber Alert for the sisters. 6-year-old Jalie and 3-year-old Erin Brunett (Courtesy: Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office) 6-year-old Jalie and 3-year-old Erin Brunett (Courtesy: Louisiana State Police) Daniel Wayne Callihan (Courtesy: Rankin County Sheriffs Office) Daniel Callihans camper (WGNO/Ashley Hamilton) 32-year-old Victoria Cox (WJTV) 32-year-old Victoria Cox (WJTV) 32-year-old Victoria Cox (WJTV) 32-year-old Victoria Cox (WJTV) Later the same day, officers in Jackson, Mississippi, announced that they had arrested 36-year-old Daniel Callihan in connection with the crime. Police found Jalie alive, but Erin was found dead in a wooded area. Jalie was taken to a Jackson hospital. The Hinds County coroner said Erin died from asphyxiation due to suffocation. State representative wants Louisiana to change how Amber Alerts go out after Loranger girls kidnapping Nexstar Medias WJTV News reported that Jackson Police Department Chief Joseph Wade said possible evidence of human trafficking, including small animal cages, was discovered at the scene. In a video from Jackson police, Callihan can be heard admitting to the crime, saying he deserves the death penalty. Victoria Cox, 32, an acquaintance of Callihan, was also arrested that day in Jackson as an alleged accomplice. Charges In Mississippi, Callihan and Cox were charged with capital murder and sexual battery. A capital murder conviction could mean the death penalty, something the Tangipahoa District Attorneys Office is also considering. They were both also indicted by a Tangipahoa Parish Grand Jury. Callihan has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping of a child and second-degree kidnapping. Cox has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping of a child, second-degree kidnapping and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Prosecutors despise child killers. So, I would be surprised if the prosecutor in Tangipahoa will give up his opportunity to try this individual in state court, said Cardone. Cardone says the seriousness of those charges means the district attorney there may wind up getting the first crack at convicting Callihan. How long did it take for the Amber Alert to be sent out for abducted Loranger sisters? On Wednesday, June 26, Callihan was extradited to a detention center in Plaquemines Parish. In Fridays hearing, he was charged with the federal crimes of kidnapping and transporting of a minor for the purpose of criminal sexual activity. Kerry Cuccia, who is representing Callihan on the federal and state charges, tells WGNO its still too early to comment on the case. It doesnt surprise me that it is the same attorney. Many attorneys have experience both in civil cases, as well as criminal cases. State criminal as well as federal criminal prosecutions, said Cardone. A preliminary hearing date was set for Friday, July 12. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison President Director and CEO Vikram Sinha opened up on his strategy to transition the operator into a native AI technology company for lofty growth targets, and contribute to Indonesias ambition to become a developed nation over the next two decades. The executive was speaking in a media briefing during TM Forums Digital Transformation World in Copenhagen, which took place earlier this month. Sinha first broke down how Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has progressed since completing its merger in January 2022. This merger has benefited rural customers. In 2023 coverage expanded to 10 million more people which is significant, said Sinha. Government policy makers understand the role which the telco sector plays, and they all understand how important it is for the larger purpose of the digital economys impact on GDP growth. The Indonesian telecommunications market grew by 5% in the last two years, noted Sinha, but he believed there is potential to grow closer to 8-10% while adding to Indonesias GDP due to the Indonesian landscape and the potential of AI. We very strongly believe that AI has a potential to help Indonesia grow faster in GDP, it will help Indonesia reach the golden vision of being a developed nation much sooner, if we get this piece right, said Sinha. Indonesia laid announced its Golden Vision 2045 plan five years ago. The plan is to transition from a developing agriculture and commodity based economy, to a technologically advanced developed nation in the next 21 years. Sinha believed IOH, one of Indonesias oldest and largest enterprises, will have a key role in this development. He laid out three key pillars for IOHs growth to aid in this wider strategy. Three pillars Firstly, the company wants to develop into a true so-called AI Native Telco, Sinha defines this as an operator that embeds AI into its core business. Starting with personalisation of customer and managing capex productivity. AI will then be embedded into other organisational functions such as procurement, human resources, sales and marketing, essentially every function. The technology will also save the company on millions of dollars through capex efficiency, claimed Sinha. He detailed that IOH spends around US$700 million a year on capex equating to almost a quarter (24%) of revenue, the aims to cut this down to 20% in 2024 by using AI for network capacity management. When we used to do it (network management) manually, capacity planning accuracy used to be anywhere between 75% to 80%, but when we started using AI, not even Gen AI, just AI machine learning - accuracy had increased to almost 98%. In Q1 this year, I was able to save close to US$10 million. On capacity itself, I spend anywhere between US$300 to US$400 million so this equated to 15% improved productivity, said Sinha. Sinha stressed that this is not about saving money as IOH has a growth mindset. Rather its about using AI to invest smarter. The second pillar is becoming an AI Native TechCo, this pillar he explained is to explore new businesses and focus on providing technologies to financial institutions and energy providers. Embarking on this TechCo transformation, IOH built a unified data platform with Google Cloud which took the operator almost a year to do. This is part of getting basic steps right or success in AI will be hard to gain. Thirdly, IOH will invest into its people, an example of this is the operator opening its AI Centre of Excellence. We very strongly believe that AI has a potential to help Indonesia grow faster on a GDP, it will help Indonesia reach the golden vision of being a developed nation much sooner, if we get this piece right. We are putting a disproportionate focus on human capital development. But we will not be successful in using technologies such as AI as enablers of growth, if we dont invest in our people, said Sinha. IOH growth targets These are the pillars IOH will work towards for growth, Sinha said, to empower Indonesia we need to have strong balance sheet and P&L. The chief executive laid out an ambitious target of doubling EBITDA from US$1.45 billion (IDR23.9 trillion) to US$3 billion by 2028. Sinha said this large target is achievable due to multiple avenues of growth available Indonesia. First, there are 21 million new connections to be made from people who live in rural areas. Sinha noted there are very few countries in the world with this kind of opportunity. He also believed ARPU in Indonesia is under-indexed with users on average consuming 12-13GB of data, when in the region it operates, the average is 20-24GB. It's a clear opportunity that we can grow from our current ARPU level of US$2.8 to US$4 or US$5 dollar over the next two to three years, said Sinha. Another growth engine will be fibre-to-the-home (FTTH). Sinha noted there are around 80 million homes in Indonesia and this figure will rise up to 35% in the next four years. IOH set out a target of connecting up to 10% of Indonesian homes with a mix of FTTH and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband. Our targets are ambitious and bold, but we believe what we have demonstrated since the merger in the last 26 months the ability to execute this plan, said Sinha. From the very start, President Joe Bidens debate performance was not good. He was stuttering, speaking quietly, meandering in his train of thought, and, supposedly, under the weather. Bidenworld had hoped the president would use the debate to resoundingly dispel lingering concerns voters have about his age, but the performance turned those concerns up to a crisis level instead. In fact, it was so not good that nearly every postgame panel on every major network blasted some version of the chryon: Democrats in crisis no longer believe Biden should be nominee. It was so not good that CNNs Van Jones was tearing up just talking about it. Bidens debate face-plant immediately cleaved the Democratic Party into two camps: unnamed Democrats who seem to suddenly believe that Biden will cost them the presidency and cannot continue in his campaign, and named Democrats who are either saying nothing or putting on a brave face trying to spin what happened on Thursday night as passable. (Said CNNs John King after the debates conclusion: Democrats are wondering should we go to the White House and ask the president to step aside? The other conversations are: Should prominent Democrats go public with that call because they feel that debate was so terrible?) Among that second camp of Democratsthe ones putting on a brave faceare Bidens surrogates, those who were tasked with the unenviable burden of trying to say something good about his performance and slow the fast-rising panic about the presidents chances in November. It was no easy work. No one had it tougher than California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has made himself Bidens most regular and willing spin doctor (and sometimes translator) in recent months. While unnamed Democrats were jumping ship (according to the many journalists getting frantic texts from them), Newsom spent the final minutes of the debate posting some half-hearted fact-checking on X: TRUMP LIES: On overturning Roe v. Wade: This is something that everybody wanted. FACT CHECK: The overwhelming majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 TRUMP LIES: Trump said the southern border is the "most dangerous place in the world." FACT CHECK: It's not. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 And the most uniquely uninspired rendition: TRUMP LIES: I have the biggest heart on this stage. FACT CHECK: He does not. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 Then Newsom took his case to television. Even on MSNBC, the panel there asked Newsom for any positive takeaways whatsoever. Worry less and do more, Newsom said, trying to encourage Rachel Maddow, while, beneath him, the stations chyron told a much more dire story: Biden aide on debate: not an ideal start. The sanguine Newsom kept at it: We need to buck up and focus on whats at stake. Everythings about tomorrow, he insisted. But even Maddow wasnt entirely swayed. Theyre going to have to make up ground they didnt have to make because of that performance, she said, about the Biden campaign. To this, Newsom couldnt help but shrug. Weve all had those nights, was how he left it. Meanwhile, Bidens vice president, Kamala Harris, took on a slightly more challenging rebuttal on CNN, with an even less resounding case. Speaking with Anderson Cooper, she was pressed on Bidens performance and responded: People can debate on style points but ultimately this election has to be about substance. (Substance was a theme that Biden proxies began to coalesce around a lot more as the night got later.) But it wasnt enough to entirely satisfy Cooper. Can you say that you are not concerned [about the president]? he pressed Harris. It was a slow start, she conceded. Im not going to debate that. That itself was a remarkable concession, and a sign of just how bleak things were. Evan Osnos, Bidens biographer and a New Yorker writer, was much more pointed on CNN. Biden was diminished from where he was four years ago, Osnos said bluntly. There has to be some very hard conversations. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkernot a first-team Biden proxyput out a statement praising the president. Tonight, voters were presented with a clear choicea president working hard every day to improve the lives of all Americans or a convicted felon, a selfish blowhard looking out only for himself. Critically, Pritzker was not on hand with the campaign in Georgia and did not make himself available to be pressed on the issue by the network teams. So for at least another night, the younger, abler DemocratsHarris, Newsom, and Pritzker would be at the top of any list to succeed Bidenshowed no outward signs of wavering in their support of the presidents candidacy. But that united front might only prove more painful for Democratic voters, donors, and volunteers, who are desperately concerned about what they saw. Among that group, now, are Democrats who were Biden diehards up until Thursday night. (Already at least one New York Times columnist has called publicly for Biden to drop out.) There is plenty of political talent in the Democratic Partythe proverbial bench is plenty deep. But if Democratic politicians remain unwilling to put their own names to their discontent, none of that will matter for 2024, or the convention, which is just weeks away. Slate wants to help. Submit your questions here. Its anonymous! No question is too dumbor too existential. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a 3rd District Democrat, hailed actions 70 years ago to create the U.S. Small Business Administration. She said the federal government needs to further expand broadband access to help companies grow and prosper. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a 3rd District Democrat, hailed actions 70 years ago to create the U.S. Small Business Administration. She said the federal government needs to further expand broadband access to help companies grow and prosper. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA The lone Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation expressed dismay Friday the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision establishing that federal prosecutors improperly sought charges of obstructing an official proceeding against rioters who breached the Capitol in January 2021. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the 3rd District representative seeking reelection in 2024, was in the Capitol complex Jan. 6 when a crowd of people overwhelmed security forces and entered the Capitol. The U.S. House and U.S. Senate were engaged in considering measures that affirmed President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in the November 2020 national election. Todays Supreme Court decision is deeply concerning and undermines the sacrifices made by Capitol Police and the trauma experienced by millions of Americans, Davids said. We must keep working toward full accountability to ensure nothing like January 6th ever happens again. We cannot let extremism win. Davids said the melee was one of the darkest days in our nations history with lives lost, hundreds injured and millions impacted as extreme actors violently attacked the U.S. Capitol and our democracy. The Supreme Courts opinion said a federal charge of obstruction of an official proceeding most commonly linked to financial crimes such as evidence tampering should have been applied narrowly in terms of the Jan. 6 attackers. The court said the charge should have been limited to instances in which a defendant allegedly damaged physical evidence. To prove a case of obstruction, the Supreme Court said prosecutors must demonstrate a defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects in the proceeding. More than 300 individuals have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating the obstruction law, and approximately half have been convicted. The case leading to the Supreme Court opinion was brought by Joseph Fischer, who was among those charged with obstruction. Former President Donald Trump also was charged with the offense for trying to block certification of Bidens election triumph. In aftermath of the insurrection, all six members of the Kansas congressional delegation were critical of the mob that forced its way into the Capitol. One person was shot to death by a Capitol Police officer during the riot. Many others were injured, including about 175 law enforcement officers. The attack caused at least $2.7 million in damage to the Capitol, but didnt prevent Congress from voting to affirm Bidens victory. The post Davids characterizes U.S. Supreme Court decision on Jan. 6 rioters as deeply concerning appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Gov. Tina Kotek speaking at the 2023 Oregon Leadership Summit in Portland on Dec. 11, 2023. (Michael Romanos/Oregon Capital Chronicle) A deadlocked Oregon Government Ethics Commission wont pursue an investigation into Gov. Tina Koteks since-abandoned plans to give her wife an expanded policy role in her administration. Over the past few months, commission staff have investigated complaints alleging that Kotek broke state ethics laws by providing first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson with space in her office and assigning state police officers and other staff to assist Kotek Wilson. Kotek acknowledged in March, amid media scrutiny of several high-profile staff departures, that she was considering creating an Office of the First Spouse, though she nixed those plans in early May after nearly a month of pushback. After a 60-day preliminary review, ethics commission executive director Susan Myers recommended dismissing the complaints against Kotek, saying there was no evidence that Kotek or her wife would financially benefit from Kotek Wilson working as an unpaid volunteer in the governors office. This embedded content is not available in your region. After nearly an hour of debate, commissioners deadlocked in a 4-4 tie on whether to proceed with a more thorough investigation into Kotek. Commissioners who voted to investigate, including Commission Chair Shawn Lindsay, said they owed it to the people of Oregon to determine whether the governor did anything wrong. Moving to dismiss this would be premature and would be treating Governor Kotek differently than we have treated other respondents in very similar circumstances, Lindsay said. All nine commissioners are appointed by the governor one selected directly by the governor and the eight others recommended by House and Senate party caucuses. The four commissioners recommended by legislative Republicans voted to further investigate Kotek, while three commissioners chosen by Democratic caucuses and the member appointed by former Democratic Gov. Kate Brown declined. One member was absent, leading to the 4-4 tie and an administrative dismissal. A lot of smoke Commissioners who voted against investigating Kotek, including Multnomah County prosecutor Channa Newell, said they didnt see evidence suggesting Kotek erred. It feels punitive if we continue, because there is no substantial objective basis at this point, Newell said. None of the commissioners said they saw proof that Kotek did anything wrong, but those who voted to investigate Kotek further said they wanted to provide Oregonians with more certainty. What I see is a lot of smoke, said Commissioner Richard Burke. I dont see a fire, I dont see a smoking gun, but I see some smoke here. Commissioner Jonathan Thompson agreed, saying Koteks status as governor meant she needed more scrutiny. We cant get around the fact that were talking about the governor, Thompson said. It just is what it is. Were not talking about the chair of the soil and water conservation district in Morrow County. Were talking about the governor, and I do think we owe it to the citizens of Oregon to absolutely look at everything and make sure that were as thorough as possible. Top of mind of some commissioners and for many Oregonians were comparisons to former Gov. John Kitzhaber and his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes. Kitzhaber resigned shortly into his fourth term because of an influence-peddling scandal involving Hayes, and Hayes agreed to pay the ethics commission $44,000 in 2019 to settle charges that she violated state ethics laws by serving as an unpaid adviser to Kitzhaber on environmental issues while simultaneously seeking lucrative private consulting contracts with companies that wanted to influence state environmental policy. The state is watching us, Burke said. Everybody is watching us very carefully. And after the John Kitzhaber- Cylvia Hayes situation, I think it is very important that we be diligent in making sure that what is asserted in your report is actually correct. Review of news reports, emails Derek Johnson, an attorney representing Kotek, said he appreciated concerns about what is appropriate for the governors office to do but that those concerns arent in the commissions purview. However, what is appropriate is different than what is legal or allowed under the ethics statutes, he said. Appropriateness falls under what we would consider a political concern, and political concerns are not the purview of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. In crafting her report, Myers said she reviewed news reports and emails the governors office released in response to public records requests from media outlets including the Capital Chronicle. But she did not interview the three top staffers who left the office: special adviser Abby Tibbs, Chief of Staff Andrea Cooper and deputy chief of staff Lindsey OBrien. That decision surprised several commissioners, including Commissioner Richard Burke. From those emails, it is clear that some of these staff members may have had concerns about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Kotek Wilsons position, Myers said. These concerns, however, appear to be based more on political perceptions and staff members misunderstanding of the Oregon government ethics laws. Shenoa Payne, an attorney appointed to the commission by the House Democratic Caucus, said she disagreed that interviewing former Kotek staff would help. The allegations raised in their emails and in complaints filed by Oregonians based on news reports wouldnt violate state ethics law, said Payne, who voted against investigating Kotek further. To me, interviewing those witnesses is not going to substantiate some sort of allegation that is going to change this landscape, she said. To me, the allegations are not such that it would change anything in the report we have before us. Kotek spokeswoman Elisabeth Shepard said Kotek was grateful for the commissions deliberations and that Kotek now looks forward to receiving answers from the ethics commission to questions her office posed earlier this spring. The governor is grateful for the commissions thorough deliberations on this matter, Shepard said. The first lady is a volunteer and public official with relevant professional experience that can provide tremendous value in furthering the Governors priorities. Kotek in May promised that she would not move forward with creating an Office of the First Spouse, regardless of the advice she receives from the ethics commission. As long as I am governor, there will not be an Office of the First Spouse, Kotek said during a May 1 press conference. The post Deadlocked Oregon ethics commission wont investigate complaints against Gov. Kotek appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. After a deadly battery factory fire, attention turns to the safety of migrant workers Members of the National Forensic Service Investigate the site of a burned battery factory in Hwaseong, South Korea, on Tuesday. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) The workers never stood a chance. Security video from a lithium battery factory south of Seoul in the city of Hwaseong on Monday morning shows a puff of smoke as one worker scrambles to move battery cases and another sprays a fire extinguisher in vain. The cases begin to explode in a flash of yellow before the camera goes dark. As explosions shook the street, firefighters on the scene could only watch what became the deadliest chemical factory fire in South Korean history, with 23 people killed. That toll was also notable because 18 of the victims were foreigners 17 from China and one from Laos casting a spotlight on the country's increasing reliance on migrant workers and the harsh workplace conditions they sometimes face. Firefighters work at the site of the burned factory. (Hong Ki-won / Associated Press) It has exposed bare the realities of South Koreas pursuit of cheap labor, said Choi Jung-kyu, a labor activist and attorney who is assisting the families of the dead. Years of low birthrates have caused severe labor shortages in manufacturing, increasingly eschewed by South Koreans for its low pay and harsh working conditions. Workers from China and Southeast Asia are filling their place. Read more: Facing a labor crisis, South Korea turns to migrants. Why are they more likely to die on the job? There are currently about 426,000 temporary migrant workers in South Korea, with around 165,000 of them ethnic Koreans from China or Central Asia, who are eligible for special visas to live and work in the country. The country is on track to add at least 165,000 more this year. Migrants usually find work in small to medium manufacturing companies, where labor advocates say occupational safety standards are lax compared with larger workplaces, making accidents common. In South Korea, foreigners made up roughly 9% of the manufacturing workforce in 2021 but accounted for 18% of its 184 accidental deaths, The Times reported last year. The workers who died this week had been sent to Aricell, a supplier of lithium batteries for the South Korea military, by a temp agency. The company has run afoul of safety regulations before, regional fire chief Jo Seon-ho said at a news conference Tuesday. In 2019, it was fined for storing 23 times the amount of lithium permitted. A year later, it was ordered to fix dysfunctional fire safety systems. In a routine safety inspection last March, the local fire department singled out the building that burned this week as a potential fire hazard. And despite a faulty battery having caught fire just two days before the inferno, the company had neglected to alert the fire department. Firefighters arrive at the factory site on Tuesday. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) By the time firefighters could enter the building, five hours after the fire began, the bodies of the victims were so badly burned that it has taken four days to identify them with DNA testing. They were discovered on the second floor near a wall far from the exit. Authorities believe that, in the chaos of the fire, they accidentally trapped themselves inside. It appears that the workers fell victim to the toxic fumes that spread in a very short time, Jo said. Most of them were day laborers, so we believe that the fact that they were unfamiliar with the layout of the building played a part as well." Read more: Panama's next president says he'll try to shut down one of the world's busiest migration routes On Thursday, police raided the offices of Aricell and the temp agency that provided the workers, arresting five people in an investigation centered on whether the company violated industrial safety laws. Park Soon-kwan, the companys chief executive, has apologized for the incident but denied allegations that the company neglected worker safety. We routinely conducted safety training and received regular safety inspections, Park said at a news conference at the factory Tuesday. We have fire warning systems, fire extinguishers and evacuation manuals to help people easily find exits. A vehicle of the South Korea Crime Scene Investigation team arrives on Tuesday. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) Choi, the labor attorney, questioned how airtight the companys safety training could have been. Would what they call routine safety training have been of any use for day laborers? he said. Its a system that is fundamentally flawed because its not like they can redo all the safety training every time someone new comes in. Lithium batteries can combust from moisture, external impact or faulty manufacturing, making fires an ever-present threat for which manufacturers should be prepared, experts say. Read more: English Channel deaths underscore risks for migrants despite U.K. efforts Aricells product a military-grade, nonrechargeable battery was especially dangerous, according to Park Chul-wan, a battery expert at Seojeong University. Used for portable military devices like walkie-talkies, the batteries contain a chemical called thionyl chloride, which is preferred for its high energy density. But if vaporized in a fire, the chemical is highly corrosive to the eyes, skin and throat. A police officer stands outside the plant Tuesday. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) It makes the window to get to safety incredibly short, Park said. The moment the room fills with this vapor, anyone would instantly panic and fall to the ground. Lithium battery fires are exceptionally difficult to put out. Because temperatures can quickly reach more than 2,000 degrees, standard extinguishers or even water from sprinklers wont work. The best hope, according to Park, is an overwhelmingly large volume of water, or a specialized fire extinguisher graded for metal fires. A man wearing a bandage on his right hand and a cast on left leg looks at burned building Tuesday. (Lee Jin-man / Associated Press) But in South Korea, the provision of these special fire extinguishers isnt mandated by law. And although the company has said that it had several of these extinguishers on the premises, they were not the ones the workers had at hand. Outside the smoldering factory, a family member of one of the migrants who died threaded his way through the fire trucks until he was stopped by a group of reporters. What is this? he said. Safety should have been observed. We foreigners are made to do the lowest form of labor. How can this stand? Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rep. Dean Phillips, who launched a long-shot presidential primary challenge against President Joe Biden, is keeping quiet for now. The Minnesota Democrat was silent amid the Democratic freak-out over the presidents debate performance Thursday night. But Friday morning, he released a cryptic post on X: Speak only if it improves upon the silence. -Gandhi, Phillips wrote. Phillips launched his quixotic White House bid last fall with a singular message: that Biden was a good man, but he would not be able to defeat former President Donald Trump in a general election matchup. Fellow Democrats and Democratic primary voters wrote him off, chafing at the moderate member of Congress attacks on Bidens age. Before getting into the race himself, Phillips publicly urged for other Democrats to join the fray instead. In August, he called for a moderate governor to step up. But on the trail, Phillips failed to gain momentum. He lost to a write-in campaign on behalf of Biden in New Hampshire. And in South Carolina, Biden won 96 percent of the vote, while Phillips failed to clear 2 percent. He dropped out of the race in early March, throwing his support behind Biden. Americans were demanding an alternative, and democracy demands options, Phillips wrote at the time. But it is clear that alternative is not me. And it is clear that Joe Biden is OUR candidate and OUR opportunity to demonstrate what type of country America is and intends to be. Donald Trump lied about the economy on his watch, about veterans care, about crime and even about the violent participants in his Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt and was able to go largely unchallenged by President Joe Biden, who managed a weak and unfocused performance from the start. As he did during his four years in office, Trump claimed that he created the best economy in history. In fact, the economy during his administration was essentially the same as that of his predecessor, Barack Obama, and actually created fewer new jobs in his first three years than Obamas did in his final three years. Trump claimed he had passed the Veterans Choice Act, allowing veterans to go to private doctors if wait times got too long. In reality, that measure also passed under Obama. Trump claimed crime was skyrocketing. In fact, crime peaked in Trumps final year in the White House and has been falling every year under Biden. Trump then claimed he had done nothing wrong in his handling of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and blamed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not stopping the violence. He further claimed he had nothing to do with the planning for the pre-insurrection rally near the White House that morning They asked me to go make a speech when, in fact, it was Trump himself who called on his supporters to converge on Washington that day and that it would be wild. He then claimed prosecutions against him were brought not because of his actions but because he was running for president. I did nothing wrong. Wed have a system that was rigged and disgusting, he said. He indicted me because I was his political opponent. Trump even claimed that Biden was taking money from China. In reality, Trump received more than $5 million from China during his presidency just through his hotel five blocks from the White House. Through it all, the CNN moderators, Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, did not fact-check Trump, and Biden appeared unable to counter him frequently mangling the syntax in his responses and trailing off. How many billions of dollars in fines for molesting a woman in public? Of having sex with a porn star? While your wife was pregnant? Biden said to Trump at one point about his various court cases. And after Trump defended the Jan. 6 mob, which beat and pepper-sprayed police officers, injuring 140 of them, with one dying hours later, Bidens response never mentioned the police assaults, making it seem as if Trumps followers had merely engaged in vandalism. The idea that they didnt kill somebody, just broke down doors, broke the windows, occupied offices, turned over desks, turned over statues. The idea that those people are patriots? Biden said. Thursday nights encounter is almost certain to reignite many Democrats fears that Biden, at 81, is simply unable to defeat a man whom they see as a genuine threat to American democracy. The performance will also add to speculation that party leaders may try to persuade Biden to step aside and let a different candidate emerge at the party convention in August. Bidens staff reported that the president was suffering from a cold, but that explanation is unlikely to quell worries that he lacks the stamina to beat Trump, let alone complete a second four-year term. Biden and Trump debated twice during the 2020 campaign, when Trump was president and Biden was the Democratic nominee challenging his reelection. Heading into their first encounter on Sept. 29, Trump had days earlier tested positive for COVID but did not reveal this. Instead, he continued with his public schedule, including a White House ceremony for newly nominated Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. He then came to the debate venue but failed to take a COVID test, as he had agreed to. Three days later, he announced he had contracted COVID and was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center the following afternoon. People mingle in the CNN Spin Room ahead of the presidential debate Thursday in Atlanta between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Biden and Trump met again in Nashville for a more subdued debate on Oct. 22, 2020, when many voters had already cast mail-in ballots. In this campaign, Biden and Trump are scheduled to have a second debate on Sept. 10, sponsored by ABC News. Between now and then, both candidates are expected to be formally nominated by their parties at their party conventions. Trump also faces sentencing on July 11 for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to prevent a porn actors story about an affair from coming out ahead of the 2016 election. In addition, Trump this summer may have to undergo a court hearing in his Jan. 6, 2021, election interference case, depending on the nature of the decision expected from the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming days on his claim that he is immune from prosecution for his coup attempt because he was president at the time. Trump also has outstanding indictments in federal court in South Florida for his refusal to turn over secret documents and in Georgia for his attempt to overturn his election loss in that state, but neither of those cases is expected to move forward this year. Related... FILE - Iraqi Army soldiers celebrate as they hold a flag of the Islamic State group they captured during a military operation to regain control of a village outside Mosul, Iraq, Nov. 29, 2016. Ten years after the Islamic State group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria, the extremists now control no land, have lost many prominent founding leaders and are mostly away from the world news headlines. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File) BAGHDAD (AP) A decade after the Islamic State militant group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria, the extremists no longer control any land, have lost many prominent leaders and are mostly out of the world news headlines. Still, the group continues to recruit members and claim responsibility for deadly attacks around the world, including lethal operations in Iran and Russia earlier this year that left scores dead. Its sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq still carry out attacks against government forces in both countries as well as U.S.-backed Syrian fighters, at a time when Iraqs government is negotiating with Washington over a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops. The group that once attracted tens of thousands of fighters and supporters from around the world to come to Syria and Iraq, and at its peak ruled an area half the size of the United Kingdom was notorious for its brutality. It beheaded civilians, slaughtered 1,700 captured Iraqi soldiers in a short period, and enslaved and raped thousands of women from the Yazidi community, one of Iraqs oldest religious minorities. Daesh remains a threat to international security, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.B. Vowell, the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said in comments sent to The Associated Press. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. We maintain our intensity and resolve to combat and destroy any remnants of groups that share Daesh ideology, Vowell said. In recent years, the groups branches have gained strength around the world, mainly in Africa and Afghanistan, but its leadership is believed to be in Syria. The four leaders of the group who have been killed since 2019 were all hunted down in Syria. In 2013, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, then the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq group, which was formed as an offshoot of al-Qaida, distanced himself from the al-Qaida global network and clashed with its branch in Syria, then known as the Nusra Front. The group renamed itself the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and launched a military campaign during which it captured large parts of Syria and Iraq. In early June 2014, the group captured the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Iraqs second largest, as the Iraqi army collapsed. Later that month, it opened the border between areas it controlled in Syria and Iraq. On June 29, 2014, al-Baghdadi appeared as a black-robed figure to deliver a sermon from the pulpit of Mosuls Great Mosque of al-Nuri in which he declared a caliphate and urged Muslims around the world to swear allegiance to it and obey him as its leader. Since then, the group has identified itself as the Islamic State. Al-Baghdadis sermon an extension of the extremist ideology of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi continue to inspire ISIS members globally, said retired U.S. Army officer Myles B. Caggins III, senior nonresident fellow at the New Lines Institute and former spokesman for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. He was referring to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaidas leader in Iraq who was killed in a U.S. strike in 2006. From the self-declared caliphate, the group planned deadly attacks around the world and carried out brutal killings, including the beheading of Western journalists, setting a Jordanian pilot on fire while locked inside a cage days after his fighter jet was shot down, and drowning opponents in pools after locking them in giant metal cages. A coalition of more than 80 countries, led by the United States, was formed to fight IS and a decade , the alliance continues to carry out raids against the militants hideouts in Syria and Iraq. The war against IS officially ended in March 2019, when U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces captured the eastern Syrian town of Baghouz, which was the last sliver of land the extremists controlled. Before the loss of Baghouz, IS was defeated in Iraq in July 2017, when Iraqi forces captured the northern city of Mosul. Three months later, IS suffered a major blow when SDF captured the Syrian northern city of Raqqa, which was the groups de-facto capital. The United Nations says the group still has between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq. Still, at least in Iraq, government and military officials have asserted that the group is too weak to stage a comeback. It is not possible for (IS) to claim a caliphate once again. They dont have the command or control capabilities to do so, Iraqi army Maj. Gen. Tahseen al-Khafaji told the AP at the headquarters of the Joint Special Operations Command in Baghdad, where Iraqi officers and officials from the U.S.-led coalition supervise operations against the extremists. The command, which was formed to lead operations against the group starting weeks after the caliphate was declared, remains active. Al-Khafaji said that IS is now made up of sleeper cells in caves and the desert in remote areas, as Iraqi security forces keep them on the run. During the first five months of the year, he said, Iraqi forces conducted 35 airstrikes against IS and killed 51 of its members. Also at the headquarters, Sabah al-Noman of the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service said that having lost its hold on Iraq, the militant group is focused mostly on Africa, especially the Sahel region, to try to get a foothold there. It is not possible for them to take control of a village, let alone an Iraqi city, he said. He added that the U.S.-led coalition continues to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance in order to provide Iraqi forces with intelligence, and the security forces deal with this information directly. Although IS appears to be under control in Iraq, it has killed dozens of government forces and SDF fighters over the past several months in Syria. Daesh terrorist cells continue in their terrorist operations, SDF spokesman Siamand Ali said. They are present on the ground and are working at levels higher than those of previous years. In northeast Syria, SDF fighters guard around 10,000 captured IS fighters in around two dozen detention facilities including 2,000 foreigners whose home countries have refused to repatriate them. The SDF also oversees about 33,000 family members of suspected IS fighters, mostly women and children in the heavily-guarded al-Hol camp, which is seen as a breeding center for future extremists. Their worst attack since the group's defeat occurred in January 2022, when the extremists attacked the Gweiran Prison, or al-Sinaa a Kurdish-run facility in Syrias northeast holding thousands of IS militants. The attack led to 10 days of fighting between SDF fighters and IS militants that left nearly 500 dead on both sides, before the SDF brought the situation under control. Caggins said that the U.S.-led coalitions military advice and assistance to Iraq Security Forces, Kurdish Iraqi fighters and the SDF is essential to maintain dominance against ISIS remnants as well as securing more than 10,000 ISIS detainees at makeshift jails and camps in Syria. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Deeply disturbing: What Texas media had to say about the Biden-Trump debate | Opinion Texas political observers echoed what the nation saw in Thursdays presidential debate: alarm about President Joe Bidens halting performance and questions about what happens going forward. But there was also room for focus on issues where the Lone Star State is prominent, including immigration and abortion. At the Houston Chronicle, the Editorial Board minced no words, framing Bidens performance around two questions famously asked by James Stockdale, Ross Perots running mate in 1992: Who am I? Why am I here? We saw little evidence of the capable president we believe Biden has been. Doddering onto the stage, his voice wispy and hard to understand, his responses halting and incoherent, the answer Americans got to that existential question Who am I? was deeply disturbing. Is he a president still capable of doing the job? Is he irrevocably diminished? Who is he? The second question, the board said, disheartened Democrats are hoping their standard-bearer is asking post-debate. Theyre hoping his advisers and his family are asking him to consider the question of stepping aside. They saw, certainly, that the Biden we have known from the presidential debates four years ago or even as recently as his State of the Union speech in March wasnt onstage last night. He even looked different older, befuddled, given to blank stares, his mouth hanging open. But the Chronicle minced no words on Trump, either: Although better prepared and more disciplined than usual, he was the usual bombastic, self-aggrandizing bully the nation has come to know (and, the polls say, dislike). Almost every Trump response was larded with lies, untruths, evasions and broad, outrageous pronouncements. Bidens performance led to immediate speculation that he would withdraw or somehow be replaced as the Democratic nominee. West Texas conservative talk radio host Chad Hasty wondered if that might have been the whole point. After last nights debate I think its fair to bring this up again. Its entirely possible that the people handling Biden wanted this early debate so they could use it to get rid of him. Biden has plenty of time to step aside, then have a DNC floor fight for the nominee. Chad Hasty (@ChadHastyRadio) June 28, 2024 Politics reporter Jeremy Wallace, who writes for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, found several Texas takeaways from the debate and not just on immigration. Trump specifically cited Texas getting to impose its own restrictions on the procedure, while others states like Ohio and Kansas have less restrictive laws in place, Wallace wrote, adding: Trump also separated himself from the Texas law, which bans abortion even in cases of rape and incest. The Houston Chronicle noted that a major part of the immigration conversation revolved around the recent rape and murder of a 12-year-old in Houston last week, a crime with which two Venezuelan men are charged. Trump, the Chronicle said, recently spoke to Jocelyn Nungarays mother. They just had the funeral for this girl, 12 years old, he said. This is horrible whats taking place in our country. Were literally an uncivilized country now. Cary Clack, a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, framed the particular dilemma for Democrats in taking on Trump. This is where we're at. Any number of younger Democrats would have won tonight's debate on style as well as substance. But I'm still not certain any of them can beat Trump. That says more about this country and the people who would vote for Trump but it's where we're at. cary clack (@caryclack) June 28, 2024 Not lost on Adam Loewy, an Austin lawyer, was that while Biden was down, Trump was up way up, in his view. This is Donald Trumps best debate performance since those 2015 GOP debates. If he debated like this in 2020, he probably would have won. Team Biden has some real problems going forward. Adam Loewy (@LoewyLawFirm) June 28, 2024 Here at the Star-Telegram, columnist Bud Kennedy figures that if, as the Biden team said, the president has a cold, its the rest of us who are feeling sick. America woke up Friday with many more questions, mainly whether one of two men born during or right after World War II should be in office until 2029, Kennedy wrote. Trump reverted to his old rambling mess in the last half-hour of a rare midsummer presidential debate. But by then, most of America had looked away from Biden, either out of pity or in utter terror for the nation. I picked out some winners and losers as well, going beyond the obvious. For instance, the much-scrutinized rules and format worked better than expected: Debates in recent years, especially those involving Trump, were trending closer to Jerry Springer than Abraham Lincoln. By cutting mics, focusing questions with follow-ups and going without a live audience, CNNs moderators charted a path to a real exchange between the candidates. The editorial board at the Dallas Express, a conservative-leaning online publication, also declared winners and losers and hope youre sitting down found the debate doubly bad for Biden. The current president stumbled through several embarrassing moments of mumbled words and lost trains of thought, making him appear unfit to be elected a second time around, board members wrote. But they added in Trump, too. The sad truth? Both spouted false claims. Past incumbents have had terrible first debates and bounced back. Clack argued that for Biden, that might not be possible. Democrats freaked out after Obama's bad performance in his first debate with Romney but knew he had it in him to bounce back in the second one and he did and was on his game. Can't have that same feeling about Biden with four months left in the campaign. cary clack (@caryclack) June 28, 2024 Theres also the impact on Texas elections to be considered. With four months to go to Election Day, a lot will change. But Quorum Reports Scott Braddock, a veteran of Capitol politics, noted a trend. Nearly complete silence, and it is deafening, from elected Texas Democrats following the presidential debate. Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) June 28, 2024 Loewy found a big silver lining for one Texan, though. The happiest man in Texas politics this morning. Allred might as well start interviewing with whatever BigLaw firm hes going to join in January. #txlege pic.twitter.com/u3CmADzNwh Adam Loewy (@LoewyLawFirm) June 28, 2024 Democratic operatives and officials have reacted with panic and dismay after Joe Bidens stumbling performance in the presidential debate refocused attention on his age and sharpness. David Plouffe, a Democratic strategist and former Obama campaign official, called the debate kind of a Defcon 1 moment. The biggest thing in this election is voters concerns and its both swing voters and base voters with his age, and those were compounded tonight, Plouffe said. The vice-president, Kamala Harris, appeared on CNN and MSNBC after the debate to reiterate the reasons voters should side with Biden, but even she acknowledged his poor performance. It was a slow start, theres no question about that, but I thought it was a strong finish, the she said. Related: Who could replace Joe Biden? Here are six possibilities Maria Shriver, the former first lady of California, said she loves Biden and knows hes a good man, but the evening was heartbreaking in many ways. This is a big political moment. Theres panic in the Democratic party. Its going to be a long night. Nicholas Kristof, the leftwing political columnist, said on social media that he hopes Biden reflects on the debate and decides to withdraw from the race, letting the convention decide who should be the nominee. He suggested someone like Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, Ohio senator Sherrod Brown or commerce secretary Gina Raimondo. Former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill said on MSNBC that Biden had one job, and he didnt do it: He needed to reassure America that he was up to the job at his age, and he failed. Democrats are doing more than hand-wringing in private and wondering why the Biden surrogates, who were performing well to counter the Biden debate performance, arent the ones at the top of the ticket, she said. I know how this felt tonight: it felt like a gut punch, McCaskill said. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate Cable commentators were left wondering whether there could be a contested Democratic convention and, if so, how Biden might be replaced an option some say is not possible even while others were talking about little else. On the liberal network MSNBC, anchor Nicole Wallace laid out how a candidate could release their delegates, while fellow journalist Joy Reid said someone sent her the rules for doing so. No one is saying its going to happen, its very unlikely, Reid said, but added that the atmosphere among Democrats was approaching panic . From the start, Biden faltered in the debate, the first of the 2024 presidential election. He was hard to hear, mumbling and muffling his lines, some of which were they delivered with the intended force could have landed successfully. He said Donald Trump has the morals of an alley cat, but even that one-liner was difficult to discern. Biden had challenged the former president to a debate, set earlier in the election cycle than normal, to shift the momentum of the race. He had delivered a strong State of the Union address in which he appeared sharp and energetic, and his campaign appeared to calculate that a debate could give his approval ratings some lift at a time when he is polling behind Trump. Instead of a victory march, or even the more common volleying over who won the debate, it was clear that Democrats saw Bidens performance as a liability. Related: Bidens poor performance and Trumps lies: four key takeaways from the debate Both Harris and Gavin Newsom, the California governor and Biden surrogate, appeared on various TV networks later in the evening to talk about how Trump lied and deflected throughout the debate and sought to remind voters what a Trump presidency was like and could be again. Newsom, on MSNBC, called the questions unhelpful and unnecessary. The conversations are rabbit holes that detract from Bidens record and hinder democracy and the countrys fate. Weve got to have the back of this president, Newsom said. You dont turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? Some Democrats laid out ways the Biden camp could turn the moment back toward him and get his performance out of voters minds: send out his surrogates to support him, put strong speakers like Harris or Newsom on the morning shows, or announce an initiative or endorsement or big idea in order to change the narrative. At Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2024, James Chen, President, Carrier Business at Huawei, gave a keynote speech entitled "Secondary 5G Innovation: Charting a New Course for Business Success". While primary innovation unleashes tech dividends, secondary innovation accelerates business success and there are numerous examples of this from throughout history. The compass was invented in China, making it possible for humankind to travel the sea. In the 16th century, Magellan completed his first round-the-world voyage. Later, with the help of high-speed gyroscopes, navigation developed rapidly, achieving the current annual global maritime trade of US$500 billion. As early as the days of ancient Greece, the prototype steam engine was invented, and in the 18th century Britains James Watt successfully improved the concept, leading to the first industrial revolution. With the invention of internal combustion engine and motor, the automobile industry achieved prosperity. If we look at mobile communications, after the Italian scientist Marconi completed transoceanic wireless communications, with the invention of mobile phones, mobile communications completely opened up the development of mobile communications. By the end of 2023, the number of global mobile users reached 8.6 billion. This shows that primary innovation releases technological dividends, and secondary innovation accelerates business prosperity. At present, 5G is at a historic moment of secondary innovation. Secondary 5G innovation will supercharge experience, business, and monetization ICT technology, represented by 5G, is accelerating its integration into all fields and links of China's economy and society. China has built the world's largest and most advanced 5G network. As of April, the number of 5G users in China had exceeded 880 million, accounting for 52% of the world's total. China's 5G base stations account for two-thirds of the world's global base stations, and the number of 5G IoT connections exceeded 30 million. China is leading the world in terms of 5G development scale and quality. Just as Watt's improved steam engine opened the industrial revolution, China's secondary 5G innovation accelerates business monetization and opens a new stage of business success from three aspects: user scenarios, network-cloud-intelligence synergy, and ecosystem collaboration. Example: Translating inspiration into opportunity In Kaifeng, Henan Province, there is a famous blind date show. Many young people come to sign up to find a partner, speaking up bravely to show their affections. When the show begins, the walls, the hills, and the opposite teahouse are all crowded with enthusiastic tourists, and the front row is crowded with live streamers. Many live streamers will use multiple mobile phones, at the same time connected to multiple livestreaming platforms. If network stuttering occurs, they may lose followers. The streamers' top concern is ensuring that they can live stream among thousands of mobile phones onsite, with high-definition, non-stuttering images. Chinese operators have found the answer to this scenario. Scenario innovation: Reinventing the value of user groups and scenarios to accelerate multi-metric network monetization To meet the differentiated requirements of live broadcast for network experience, 15 carriers in China have subscribed to live broadcast packages that provide heavy traffic and guarantee live video upload experience, greatly increasing their ARPU. There are four considerations for developing live broadcast packages: first, the potential customers must be found quickly; second, the package is accurate; third, the experience is stable; fourth, the user can stay. With the large uplink and preferential network access capabilities of 5G, operators meet the specific requirements of live broadcasters in an end-to-end manner. Live broadcast scenarios open the door to upstream network monetization. With new capabilities such as service-level acceleration, and deterministic experience, we can gradually extend to more scenarios, more people, and more applications, reconstruct the spatial and temporal value of people in scenarios, and accelerate multi-dimensional network monetization. Integrated innovation: New Calling as a new entry to information services with network-cloud-intelligence synergy The new call is one of the hot spots for the second innovation of 5G services: 5G + cloud + AI. Through the collaboration of network, cloud, and intelligence, converge and innovate to build a new entry point for digital services. Its original innovation intention, based on AIGC, focuses on fun for young people, big subtitles for the elderly, real-time translation for overseas business travelers, and ultimately on ensuring a good product experience. Of course, business success requires continuous incubation of high-value scenarios and high-quality applications, refined operation assurance, and continuous innovation of Internet marketing. The new call service uses the dialup disk of a mobile phone as the entry, providing a HD interactive call experience, and continuously evolving to providing all-scenario information services. The development of new calls goes through two phases. In the first phase, AIGC is used to build products based on HD call experience and expand the number of subscribers. In the second phase, high-quality applications are built quickly by incubating high-value 2C and 2B scenarios. In the future, multiple call products will be integrated to build a full-scenario information service portal through network, cloud, and intelligent collaboration. Cloud mobile phones have achieved a "real-like" experience. The next steps are for image resolution to be upgraded to 2K, and latency gradually reduced to 100 ms in effect achieving the real experience. In terms of operation, Zhejiang Cloud T Card launched one SIM card = cloud mobile phone + sponsored traffic + cloud disk + rights, and the cloud mobile phone business developed rapidly. In the next phase, Huawei will work with carriers to continuously develop ecosystem and product evolution, incubate new AI applications. Integrated innovation: IoV with network-cloud-intelligence synergy Unmanned delivery vehicles can flexibly avoid vehicles and pedestrians and actively identify traffic signals. More than 1000 such delivery vehicles will soon be deployed in Shenzhen. Unmanned delivery vehicles perform video backhaul and remote control through 5G networks, which will bring new opportunities for operators. In the next five years, 100 million new online vehicles will be added worldwide every year. In the passenger car market, 4G connectivity remains the mainstream. As cars become more and more intelligent, 5G is overwhelming, and mobile phones, homes, and cars will be deeply integrated. The high-performance eMBB module and the RedCap cost-effective module can meet the high-end and low-end connection requirements of automobile enterprises respectively. In the commercial unmanned vehicle market, 5G large uplink has met the requirements for 1080p HD video backhaul. QoS and slicing will further ensure video backhaul and remote control. Integrated innovation: IoVT with network-cloud-intelligence synergy RedCap can provide the connection capability with optimal performance and cost. Currently, the core, module, and device ecosystem of RedCap is mature, and the industry traffic package has been successfully implemented. In terms of industry, the RedCap Industry Summit was recently held in Suzhou to discuss the expansion of 5G IoT and build billion-level connections. In terms of the market, Huawei will continue to build standard products that can be quickly replicated and provide continuous coverage of 5G networks. Collaborative innovation: E2E industry collaboration boosts video service traffic Currently, whether consumers watch short videos, long videos, or video calls, the resolution is 540p or 720p. At a recent forum in Shanghai entitled Enjoy HD China: AI era mobile video high-quality development forum, Huawei proposed the "1080P silent opening" initiative to improve consumer experience, enhance VIP user stickiness, and make full use of China's leading network capabilities. The number of naked-eye 3D terminals is also growing rapidly, and the 3D content ecosystem is becoming mature. We hope to promote further breakthroughs in 3D content, technologies, and experiences through multi-industry alliances to achieve win-win results. Advancing from 5G to 5.5G to unlock more business opportunities Leading operators are moving from 5G to 5G-A. Over 30 operators have completed 5G-A technical verification and 15 operators have started commercial deployment. 5G-A enables smart bicycles to move towards vehicle-road collaboration and expands the business space from connectivity to cloud. 5G-A supports passive IoT and opens up 100 billion new IoT spaces. 5G business success is not achieved overnight. Instead, it involves exploration, practice, and innovation. Huawei is willing to work with operators and ecosystem partners to promote secondary 5G innovation and jointly usher in a new stage of 5G business success through scenario innovation, convergence innovation, and cooperative innovation. Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Hillary Clinton are among the Democrats who made statements of support for Biden after Thursdays debate. Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Hillary Clinton are among the Democrats who made statements of support for Biden after Thursdays debate. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP A defiant Joe Biden resisted calls to abandon his re-election effort and step aside for a younger candidate after his calamitous showing in Thursdays presidential debate with Donald Trump. As Democrats panicked and openly talked about replacing the president with another nominee, the Biden campaign unequivocally ruled out that possibility. Of course hes not dropping out, Lauren Hitt, a campaign spokesperson, said on Friday. Her statement followed Bidens own resolute comments to downcast supporters shortly after leaving the debate stage in Atlanta. Lets keep going, he told them. Biden was also said to be planning to return to the debate stage as planned in September, CNN reported Friday morning, citing an adviser. US elections 2024: a guide to the first presidential debate That stubbornly upbeat posture is expected to be maintained today as the president journeys to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a post-debate election rally in one of the key battleground states seen as vital to Novembers election. The positive facade, however, may be hard to maintain amid a public cacophony of breast-beating about a debate performance that appeared to reinforce widespread voter anxiety about the presidents advanced age and his physical and mental fitness to serve another four years in the White House. Speaking in a raspy voice, Biden repeatedly mangled his policy statements as he became bogged down in detail and failed to score forcefully against Trump in areas where the Republican presumptive nominee is vulnerable: abortion, his criminal status as a convicted felon, and his role in the January 6 insurrection. With Democrats close to open mutiny and rumbling about discontent among fundraisers, sections of the media normally sympathetic to Biden also turned on him. In the New York Times, Thomas Friedman said to be one of the presidents favourite columnists penned a piece with the headline: Joe Biden is a good man and a good president. He must bow out of the race. Related: Defcon 1 moment: Bidens debate performance sends Democrats into panic In similar vein, a story in the Atlantic, which skews liberal, argued that Biden should step aside for the same reason that he gave for running against Trump in 2020: saving democracy. He says he ran because he saw the threat Donald Trump posed to the country and the threat he posed to democracy, the article argued. If Biden truly believes that, he needs to end his reelection campaign. Indeed, dropping out could be the most patriotic gesture of his long career in public service. Bidens resistance to such entreaties may be bolstered by the public support he received from chief surrogates Kamala Harris, the vice-president, and Gavin Newsom, the governor of California two figures who would be in the frontline of potential replacement candidates in the immediate aftermath. Acknowledging the obvious, Harris conceded that Biden had a slow start but insisted his finishing performance was strong. It was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, Harris told CNN. Im talking about the choice for November. Im talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. Newsom, seen in some quarters as a future candidate, was even more unequivocal, telling CBS: I will never turn my back on President Biden. I dont know a Democrat in my party that would do so. Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, said on MSNBC on Friday: Democrats, stop worrying and start working. We all have the responsibility here to do our part. Sitting here and hand-wringing sitting here and fretting is not the answer. Hillary Clinton also weighed in, insisting her support for Biden was strong. The choice in this election remains very simple, she wrote. Its a choice between someone who cares about you your rights, your prospects, your future versus someone whos only in it for himself. Ill be voting Biden. The choice in this election remains very simple. It's a choice between someone who cares about youyour rights, your prospects, your futureversus someone who's only in it for himself. I'll be voting Biden. https://t.co/mxkpLIOEux Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 28, 2024 But such defiance may be undermined by a revolt among fundraisers. One Democratic fundraiser who planned to attend a debate performance in the Hamptons on Saturday evening called Bidens performance a disaster, CNBC reported. This is terrible. Worse than I thought was possible. Everyone Im speaking with thinks Biden should drop out, the network quoted the person as saying. Game over, said a long-time Democratic adviser who worked with fundraisers to finance the partys congressional campaigns and helped fundraise for Bidens 2020 White House bid. Bidens got to leave. Hes got to get out now and if he doesnt get out were going to get crushed. Delaware's General Assembly has shown its support for the removal of Christina School District from Wilmington. Nodding to the Redding Consortium's work earlier this spring, the state's Senate and House of Representatives passed a resolution formally supporting its recommendation to the same end. That's underscoring a call to "begin purposeful steps" to plan for the withdrawal of Christina, while immediately granting greater support to its current students. Thursday afternoon saw the measure pass unanimously in the Senate. And it all connects to broader goals for redistricting the schools across Delaware's largest city. Wilmington with two school districts? Delawares latest redistricting vision to take shape Wait, what's happening in Wilmington? The Redding Consortium for Educational Equity has a redistricting strategy in the works. It isn't new, per se. The consortium, created in 2019, comes in the shadow of several similar task forces, committees and studies tracing similar lines since the turn of the century. As recently as 2015, a "Wilmington Education Improvement Commission" recommended that Red Clay Consolidated School District absorb Christina. That led another comprehensive redistricting plan to make it all the way to the Legislature in 2016 to lapse. Such recommendations for Wilmington have historically stalled. This General Assembly may have signaled some initial support in passing this resolution, but the path ahead remains unclear. Consortium membership had been working on a modified River Plan proposal recommending all Wilmington students be served by Brandywine and Red Clay, while seeing Christina and Colonial removed entirely. But earlier in May, they pulled back to allow "more space and time" for a final strategy recommendation, as previously reported, while sharing an interim framework. Any formal recommendation remains to be finalized, but Redding Consortium membership has been considering a modified River Plan proposal for redistricting Wilmington schools seen here on an early map recommending all city students be served by Brandywine (green) and Red Clay (pink), while seeing Christina and Colonial removed from city limits. In initial drafts, Red Clay would keep Warner Elementary and Shortlidge Academy, while it and Brandywine would expand current boundaries to absorb portions of other districts. Starting this summer, according to the draft framework, one subcommittee will focus on determining the exact redistricting approach. Recommendations will show Christina removed from the city, though many other details remain unsolidified. The consortium will publicly deliberate proposals to come and vote, while other subgroups dig into operational planning, fiscal impacts both state and local, as well as community engagement events to come. Such planning is now expected to last until fall 2025, at the latest." October 2025 is earmarked for submitting a final plan to the State Board of Education; January 2026, a fiscal note; and spring 2026, submission of a final plan to the General Assembly. It stands to be a long, complex process. How did we get here? Sen. Tizzy Lockman, D-Wilmington West, left, and Sen. Darius Brown sit on the Delaware Senate on Jan. 15, 2020. On the heels of desegregation, a 1971 lawsuit ended with a court order that required a new busing plan to send suburban students into Wilmington, and city students out, until the mid-1990s. Since the lifting of that order, and the Neighborhood Schools Act of 2000, experts say changes unfurled in state law have largely amounted to the resegregation of schools in Wilmington and its suburbs. Charter, magnet, School Choice Act of 1996: trickling decisions over decades further fueled this reality for public schools. It has left Wilmington with several racially identifiable, high-poverty schools, per the consortium. For the quarter of a century since, these negative dynamics have continued, the consortium's drafted plan reads, harming "multiple generations" of Wilmington students and communities. Today, city students are 69% Black, 54% from lower-income backgrounds and 23% living with a disability, according to consortium statistics. Those figures are higher than that of each Delaware county. They also experience higher rates of crime, housing instability and poverty alongside educator turnover and persistent underachievement. Penned in interim plans, theres hope the Wilmington Learning Collaborative will also help supply immediate help and assistance to its Christina schools. That could range from educator support, reducing class sizes, boosting mental health intervention, math and reading specialists and more before redistricting takes shape. There are so many intersecting histories that are challenging here, said Sen. Elizabeth Tizzy Lockman, consortium co-chair, back in April. This is about: How do we create a context for transformative change that's going to benefit students across these school districts? More from Dover: Why a $1M pension error won't be addressed by legislators this year Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Removing Christina schools from Wilmington gets lawmaker support Delaware will see the return of in-person early voting and permanent absentee voter registration in time for the 2024 election cycle after the Delaware Supreme Court invalidated a lower court ruling from earlier this year that struck down these systems. The Friday ruling opens the door for Delaware to resume in this fall's elections a relatively new practice of allowing individuals to visit a polling place and cast ballots days ahead of Election Day, as well as a longstanding system that allowed state residents who are disabled, who may be on military duty or have some other reason to be outside of Delaware to register as a permanent absentee voter. In a press release after the ruling, officials for the Department of Elections confirmed that early, in-person voting as well as absentee voting, including permanent absentee registration, will be available for the September state primary and November general election. Prompted by a lawsuit from conservative interests, a Superior Court judge ruled in February that the state laws enabling those practices conflicted with the state's constitution, which includes specific language for how elections are to be held. Attorneys led by Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings appealed the ruling, which led to Friday's Supreme Court action overturning the February ruling. In a written statement, Jennings called the challenges to the state's voting laws, "thinly-veiled partisan attempts to suppress votes." Previous reporting: Delaware attorney general to appeal recent ruling striking down early voting "Im grateful to the Court for its ruling and for agreeing to hear this case on an expedited basis so that Delawareans know their rights going into the September and November elections," Jennings said through a spokesperson. In the last election, 56,000 Delawareans used early voting, according to Department of Elections data. Roughly 21,000 voters used permanent absentee ballots. Those people include veterans, the disabled and caregivers, Jennings has said. And she's noted that 46 other states allow early voting and 25 others have "stronger permanent absentee protections than we do." What does the ruling say? The Supreme Court's ruling, litigated in an expedited fashion during this election year, ruled that the plaintiffs that had successfully petitioned the lower court to invalidate the state's voting laws based on the constitutional claim did not have proper standing to bring that challenge. Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings The ruling does not address the constitutional issues cited by the lower court, opening up the potential for further litigation by different plaintiffs. The decision centers on the justices finding that the plaintiffs failed to show an "imminent or particularized harm" and thus did not have standing to challenge the state's voting statutes. The plaintiffs were a person who hoped to serve as an election inspector during this year's elections, as well as former Republican State Senator Gerald Hocker, the Senate's minority-party leader who also voted in favor of the state's permanent absentee voter law when it passed the General Assembly more than a decade ago. Why is this being challenged? The fight over these two aspects of Delaware's voting laws comes as state Democrats have sought to pass laws to make voting easier. The state has historically had relatively restrictive voting laws compared to others with strong Democrat majorities. And this isn't the only court fight that has seen some of those changes invalidated. A 2022 decision by the state's Supreme Court struck down lawmakers' recent efforts to allow anyone registered to vote to cast a ballot by mail and to allow people to register to vote up until Election Day. Recent: Lawmakers repeal death penalty, while fate of constitutional amendment unclear Earlier this year, Democrats in the Delaware General Assembly ran legislation that sought to amend the state's constitution to cure the legal defects that saw the courts strike down rules that allowed anyone registered to vote to cast a ballot by mail. Absent that law, only those with an excuse deemed valid may vote by mail. The legislation passed the state Senate in May, but failed to pass the House earlier this month. Constitutional amendments require a higher bar to pass, and the bill failed to get adequate backing from Republicans. One Democrat, Rep. Melissa Minor Brown, voted against it. In a statement after this story published, a spokesperson for Minor Brown explained that her vote was changed to "no" due to a technical aspect of the legislature's rules so the bill could be raised again after it failed - and not because she did not support the measure. Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. Voting Ruling | Download Free PDF | Standing (Law) | Absentee Ballot This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware early voting, mail-in ballot rules restored by Supreme Court Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether presidents enjoy total criminal immunity, delaying one of the most consequential legal decisions in U.S. history and likely closing the door on former President Donald Trump facing his federal election interference trial before November. Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee who is entangled in several criminal cases, already faces a July sentencing for a New York state conviction on 34 felonies for falsifying business records ahead of the 2016 election. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments in the immunity case on the last day of their term, April 25, and have held the case in their hands since late February. Opinions are scheduled to be released on Thursday and Friday, but the court does not disclose which ones in advance. Trump is set to debate President Joe Biden on Thursday night at CNN studios in Atlanta, with the campaign for the presidency in full swing. The question before the court is whether U.S. presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for any official acts taken while in the Oval Office. Trump pressed the matter to the Supreme Court after a lower court in January denied his claim that he should not face federal charges that allege he schemed to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss by knowingly spreading falsehoods, conspiring to create false slates of electors in several states and egging on supporters who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. 2021. U.S. Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith urged the Supreme Court in December to leapfrog the appellate court level and expedite a ruling on presidential immunity. At the time, Trumps trial for the election subversion charges had still been set for March 4. The justices declined Smiths request. De facto immunity Critics of the Supreme Court accuse the benchs conservative justices, including three Trump appointees, of purposely delaying the ruling to keep Trump out of the courtroom before Novembers election. By preventing (a) trial before the election, they have de facto provided him with immunity, regardless of what the substance of the decision may eventually hand down, Michael Podhorzer, president of the Defending Democracy Project, told States Newsroom Wednesday. The anti-Trump advocacy organization has been closely monitoring the former presidents legal cases. Podhorzer blamed the justices for not taking up the case in December. Then they waited as long as they possibly could to now rule on it, and they created this crisis. They are basically putting their thumb on the scale in this election, he said. Defining official acts The justices appeared skeptical in April as Trump attorney D. John Sauer argued a broad definition for what constitutes a presidents official acts. Under his view nearly everything done during a presidential term would count as an official act, including Trumps efforts to interfere with Congress certification of the 2020 presidential election results. In jaw-dropping moments throughout Trumps appeal, Sauer argued before Supreme Court justices and a lower appellate panel that presidents could order the assassination of a political rival without facing legal accountability that is, if he or she is not first impeached by the U.S. House and convicted by the Senate. Trump and supporters of the presidential immunity argument contend that allowing criminal prosecution of former presidents will open a Pandoras box of political targeting by opponents. They also accuse Smith of political interference for bringing charges against Trump as he eyed a second term. Smith announced the four-count indictment in early August 2023. Meanwhile opponents of such immunity, including several who served in previous Republican administrations, warn of terrifying possibilities should a president be free from the threat of criminal liability. Several conservative justices hinted that the case should be returned to the lower courts, where a clear line between official acts and private conduct can be drawn. That could eat up additional weeks or months, further diminishing any slight possibility that Trumps election interference trial would happen prior to the November election. Podhorzer said a further delay sets up a showdown between the ordinary function of the criminal justice system, which would have Trump go on trial, (and) the normal operation of our presidential elections in which there would be no encumbrance on Trumps ability to campaign. All proceedings at the lower court level have been put on hold until the Supreme Court issues its decision. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Delayed Supreme Court ruling makes Trump trial on 2020 charges unlikely before election appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. Democrats are now openly urging President Joe Biden to skip the next debate set to take place in September. Bidens performance on Thursday night was quickly slammed as disastrous as he appeared frail, at times losing his train of thought and making several gaffes. Democrats began to share their concerns while the debate was still live and questioned whether Biden should remain on the ballot. Several said anonymously that he should step aside. Some lawmakers insisted the president was simply overprepared after spending a week at Camp David in rural Maryland taking part in several 90-minute mock debates. Democratic elected officials urged Biden to skip the next debate, at least if the format remains the same. Ohio Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty told Politico, If its the same debate questions, and its the same process, I probably wouldnt do it. Im not his advisor, but I probably wouldnt advise him to do it. We didnt even need this debate, California Democrat Sydney Kamlager-Dove said. Quite frankly, we know exactly who Trump is. And we know exactly who Joe Biden is. You have a debate so that you can learn about a candidate. Theres nothing else to know. Biden came out swinging on Friday after a bad debate performance the night before (AP) Louisiana Representative Troy Carter told the outlet that if theres going to be a second debate, the terms and the rules of engagement have to be changed. Biden officials have said the president has no plans to drop out and that he plans on taking part in the debate set to be hosted by ABC News in the fall. The president came out swinging on Friday even as he acknowledged his poor debate performance. A newly energized Biden took to the stage in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, saying, Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as well as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to to this job. He added: I know what millions of Americans do When you get knocked down you get back up. While Democrats have privately discussed replacing Biden on the top of the ticket and having an open convention, no one has gone so far as to say so publically. One anonymous Democrat told Politico that Biden should leave the race now to allow someone else to win the nomination at the convention. It has to be Biden deciding to step down. But this is the time. He saved our country once. He has to save our country again, they said. Biden tried to change the narrative surrounding the debate on Friday, shifting the focus to Trump and his many falsehoods. Repeating one of his lines from Thursday night, Biden said he spent 90 minutes on stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat. He added: Did you see Trump last night? The most lies told in a single debate. Former President Barack Obama also weighed in, writing on X: Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. Obamas first debate against Mitt Romney in 2012 was previously considered to be one of the worst debates for an incumbent. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself, Obama added on Friday. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November. One House Democrat said he spoke for others in the wake of the presidents stunningly feeble debate performance on Thursday: The movement to convince Biden to not run is real. The House member, an outspoken defender of the president, said that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer should consider a combined effort to nudge President Joe Biden out of the race. Crestfallen by the presidents weak voice, pallid appearance and meandering answers, numerous Democratic officials said Bidens bet on an early debate to rebut unceasing questions about his age had not only backfired but done damage that may prove irreversible. The president had, in the first 30 minutes of the debate, fully affirmed doubts about his fitness. A second House Democrat said reflection is needed from Biden about the way ahead and indicated the private text threads among lawmakers were even more dire, with some saying outright that the president needed to drop out of the race. A Democratic lobbyist close to many party leaders also invoked Jeffries and Schumer Will they do something? before noting, hopefully, that Jeffries and former President Barack Obama are holding a fundraiser for House Democrats in New York on Friday. Many top party officials, however, believe Biden cant be persuaded let alone pressured. One Democratic governor called the debate beyond bad, but said it was too late to nominate a new standard bearer. For those close to Biden, his appearance was the realization of their worst fears. His top strategists sought to make the best of it citing focus groups and snap polls that showed voters also detested former President Donald Trump but made no attempt to hide their disappointment. Nobody in Bidens orbit wants to be the one to approach him about whether to stay in the race, but as one adviser told me: Its got to be a conversation, and he will hate it. A consistent theme from Democrats who know Biden: First lady Jill Biden would have to be a party to any intervention with the president. With less than two months until the Democratic convention, Biden would have to agree to withdraw in order for the party to throw open the race to the delegates in Chicago. And theres no sign, even after former Biden aides went on television to pan his performance Thursday, that hed consider ending his half-century career in politics with a humiliating, mid-campaign exit. There was also no indication, at least as of early Friday morning, that elected Democrats would approach Biden or even go on the record with their desire for him to quit. Which has been the recurring story now since Bidens first year in office. Out of fear of abetting Trump, loyalty to their incumbent or just lack of any obvious alternative, Democratic leaders have grumbled about the presidents performance and capacity to run for a second term but swallowed their fears. A few prominent figures in the party have spoken out, perhaps none more forcefully than longtime strategist James Carville, who on Thursday simply said, I tried. However, most influential Democrats, particularly in Congress, stayed quiet. Few wanted to grapple with the next question theyd invariably get well if not Biden, are you for the vice president? And after the partys better-than-expected 2022 midterm success, well, any movement toward trying to usher Biden to retirement dissipated. Now it may, indeed, be too late. But there will at least be a conversation, this one in public. Bidens lackluster showing ensured it. There are going to be discussions about if he should continue, David Axelrod, Obamas former chief strategist, said on CNN immediately following the debate. Biden has finally pushed into the public sphere the backroom chatter I wrote about in February of 2023 when one of the few Democrats to speak openly was the congressman, Dean Phillips, who wound up waging a quixotic primary challenge. The Please-Joe-Go push may have as much a chance for success as Phillipss candidacy. Yet Biden will have to quickly dispel it and theres no obvious, high-profile forum for him to quiet the chatter before the Democratic convention begins on August 19. The president is in for a difficult summer with his own party. Democrats have nobody to blame but themselves. They stayed mum for three and half years and now theyre reaping the whirlwind. As many politicians and pundits who watched Thursdays presidential debate descended into a nervous frenzy over President Joe Bidens supremely underwhelming performance, several Democratic lawmakers and media figures are choosing to stand by their maneven as that feels increasingly untenable. In the spin room immediately after the debate, California Governor Gavin Newsom was already hard at work backing Biden, and wouldnt entertain the topic on nearly everyone elses mindnamely that it may be time to seriously consider switching candidates. I would never turn my back on President Bidens record, he said, according to The New York Times. I would never turn my back on President Biden, and I dont know a Democrat in my party who would do so, especially after tonight. Ever the Democratic Partys contrarian, Senator John Fetterman likewise leaped to set himself apart from the scores of Democrats criticizing Bidens debate performance. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate, wrote the Pennsylvania Democrat on X. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record. Fetterman himself struggled to communicate clearly during a key televised debate against his opponent Mehmet Oz in 2022. Both Biden and Fetterman attempted to articulate their strong support for Roe v. Wade but were caught up in their own halting, awkward performances. Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted ld lose by 2. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5), Fetterman wrote Thursday night. Chill the fuck out, he advised. Although some lawmakers and lobbyists have suggested that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries should, with other party leaders, attempt to reason with Biden to abandon the race, he responded succinctly when asked whether the president should drop out: No. These Democrats werent the only ones to defend Biden; several journalists and campaign members voiced their support for the president, in sharp contrast to the wave of panic that overtook on-screen personalities on CNN. Rachel Maddow noted that the Biden who appeared at a watch party minutes after the debate ended was clearer and more energizeda world away from what we just heard on the debate stage. That Joe Biden wouldve killed in the debate, but the Joe Biden that we saw on the debate stage was about 90 percent more soft spoken than that. And in a monotone when you could discern him, she said, adding that he seemed to warm up over the course of the debate. Across the board, nobody could say anything positive about Bidens debate chops, instead drawing on other examples to argue that the president could still be a contender. In the early hours of the morning, Harry J. Sisson, one of several social media content creators who have been courted by the Biden campaign, tried to compliment the president for still being awake. Look at this. At 2 am in the morning, President Biden was greeting his supporters at RDU airport in North Carolina. This is just hours after debating Trump. This man does not stop working & moving. Hes fit to lead and I cant wait to vote for him, wrote Sisson in a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a picture of Biden on the tarmac. While influencers social media posts are meant to come off more organically, its hard to forget that Sisson has been posting unpaid pro-Biden content since the 2020 election. In another post, Sisson lauded Biden for slamming Trump during a speech to his campaigns watch party after the debate had endedalthough the president conspicuously failed to effectively attack his opponent at any point during the 90-minute run time. Biden has a cold, Sisson wrote. Trump has 34 felony convictions. This is the easiest choice well ever have to make as a country. Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of history at Boston College and an expert on American political and economic history, wrote in the Friday morning edition of her newsletter that Bidens bad performance could be explained by Trumps Gish gallop, which she said was a rhetorical technique in which someone throws out a fast string of lies, non-sequiturs, and specious arguments, so many that it is impossible to fact-check or rebut them in the amount of time it took to say them. Richardson argued that Trump had been gaslighting Biden, and took aim at media pundits who fell for the former presidents chicanery. Of far more lasting importance than this one night is the clear evidence that stage performance has trumped substance in political coverage in our era. Nine years after Trump launched his first campaign, the media continues to let him call the shots, she wrote, urging readers to take a longer view. As of yet, its unclear which is the more shortsighted: backing a candidate whose chance of winning is slipping away before the worlds eyes, or rushing to replace him and sending the American politician landscape into chaos. I couldnt hardly sleep: Democrats in Congress have no idea what comes next for Biden The News Democrats arrived in Congress dazed and confused on Friday, still picking over President Bidens debate disaster and unsure how they and him should move forward. I couldnt hardly sleep, Missouri Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver said. People were concerned. As Ive told everybody, being concerned is healthy. Overreacting is dangerous. And I think I wouldnt advise anybody to make rash decisions right now. I dont think thats healthy for the party and its not healthy for the political process. Between conversations with panic-stricken Democrats, Cleaver tried to look on the bright side. The president did horribly last night, he said no spin, there but so did his beloved Kansas City Chiefs in their first game this season before going on to win the Super Bowl. But the public conversation was no longer just about turning around a campaign strategy. Democrats needed guidance on whether the campaign was still happening at all. When asked if the party might plausibly nominate someone else, Cleaver shockingly described it as a big guess. Ultimately whatever decision on next steps would be up to the family. I dont think anybodys going to go there and try to convince him not to run, he said. The only people who should have any legitimate opportunity to say something to him either way, is his family and I dont think, at this point, we need to get involved. Know More Among members and senators, some tried to put on a brave face. Vice President Kamala Harris early take on CNN last night that the president started slow but finished strong, and that Donald Trump would be judged for his lies, had filtered down to the rank-and-file. I think that on his worst night, his presentation of integrity was far better than the other guys dishonesty, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. Many suggested voters compare their records, rather than go off of one bad night. Substance, not style, as Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut put it in a video he posted to X. Joe Biden is our president, hes the president and that parts over, Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat who also serves as a Biden campaign surrogate, told Semafor. He had a raspy voice, were moving forward, and were going to get behind the one person that already beat Donald Trump. For Democrats in competitive races, the results presented immediate questions about how and whether to distance themselves from Biden ahead of an expected deluge of attacks tying them to his performance. It was a terrible debate we have to acknowledge that, Rep. Angie Craig, who represents a battleground seat in Minnesota, said. And Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, both up for re-election this year in states that voted for Trump at least once, emphasized their independence in statements to the press. They were focused on their own race, not the presidents. In an interview with local outlet WBUR, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen who was a critical negotiator on Bidens signature infrastructure deal noted that polls showed voters were dissatisfied with both their choices this election. Asked about Bidens future as the nominee, she said that there would be assessments going forward about what happens next. I think, you know, if you and I were going to decide who got to be nominated maybe we would come up with some different answer, but we dont get that choice, she said. Thats the voters who have decided, and what theyve decided so far is that its going to be Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Notable In his Americana newsletter, David Weigel reports from the scene in Atlanta on the debate that redefined the presidential race. Democrats are so panicked over President Joe Bidens faltering debate performance some are actively discussing what was once unspeakable: replacing him on the ticket. Three strategists close to three potential Democratic presidential candidates said they had been bombarded with text messages throughout the debate. One adviser said they received pleas for their candidate to step forward as an alternative to Biden. Another adviser said they had taken no less than half a dozen key donors texting disaster and [the] party needs to do something, but acknowledged that not much is possible unless Biden steps aside. They were among more than a dozen Democrats who spoke with POLITICO, most of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely. One major Democratic donor and Biden supporter said it was time for the president to end his campaign. This person described Bidens night as the worst performance in history and said Biden was so bad that no one will pay attention to Trumps lies. Biden needs to drop out. No question about it, the donor said in a text message, proposing an alternate ticket led by the governors of Maryland and Michigan. At least two prominent potential 2028 contenders Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom said they stood by Biden even after his performance. Newsom, when pressed on MSNBC if Biden should step down, said that talk is unhelpful and unnecessary. You dont turn your back because of one performance, Newsom said. What kind of party does that? Biden struggled throughout much of the debate, the first 2024 general election matchup between the president and former President Donald Trump. The 81-year-old president has long faced questions about his fitness for office, and the debate the earliest general election matchup of its kind in modern political history had been a gambit by the Biden campaign to reset the narrative around the race. For weeks, Democrats had hoped a strong performance by Biden in the debate could ease concerns about his age. Instead, it did the opposite. No Labels and Dean Phillips won this debate, said a former senior Biden White House official, referring to the outsider efforts to push a different candidate, not named Trump or Biden, into the race. The pleas from within the party, while unlikely to actually result in a change atop the ticket, reflect a major turn in the campaign. Incumbent presidents have traditionally underperformed during their first debates inundated by the demands of the job and often unable to dedicate serious time to preparation. But Thursdays debate was unique in that it affirmed an existing preconception of Biden among many voters as a candidate past his sell-by date. One adviser to major Democratic Party donors said they were texting from a meeting of donors in Atlanta on Thursday night, some writing wtf. Our only hope is that he bows out, we have a brokered convention, or dies, the donor adviser said. Otherwise we are fucking dead. Nonetheless, the likelihood of a brokered convention or Biden stepping aside are unlikely, a reality that even those who privately complained about Bidens performance acknowledged. Only one guy can decide, and its him, said one Democratic strategist. The Biden campaign pushed back on the critique of the president, with an adviser calling him "the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump." "He will do it again," the adviser said. "Donald Trump did not give voters any reason to vote for him tonight. On the issues, the American people are with Joe Biden. Asked if Biden would be dropping out, one campaign aide said "of course not." The aide said the hour just after the debate from 11 p.m. to midnight was the campaign's strongest hour of grassroots fundraising since it launched. In a statement, Bidens campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said Biden presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America, while Trump offered a dark and backwards window into what America will look like if he steps foot back in the White House. Stephanie Cutter, a Democratic consultant, said, "President Biden is the Democratic nominee and thats not changing because of one debate performance." She said, "We need to calm down and stay focused because Donald Trump certainly didnt gain any voters tonight." But for many Democrats on Thursday night, the view was far dimmer. One down-ballot statewide Democrat running for election said: I mean, its not great all around. Our president has a speech impediment, a cold, and is 81. No one expected a master class in debating from Joe Biden, but no one expected this nose dive, said a senior adviser to top Democratic officials. He was bad on message, bad on substance, bad on counter punching, bad on presentation, bad on non-verbals. There was no bright spot in this debate for him. The only bright spot is that this happened in June and not October. Congolese Fiber Optic Company (SOCOF SA) has reportedly signed a partnership with the Agency for the Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APCSC) to deploy optical fibre networks along new roads to be built in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to the Ecofin Agency, SOCOF and APCSC signed an agreement on Wednesday committing to the project. SOCOF is a government-owned entity tasked with managing fibre-optic deployments in the DRC. APCSC is a government agency formed in 2022 to oversee implementation of cooperation agreements between the DRC and private companies, particularly those related to basic infrastructure and natural resources. In a post on social media site X (formerly Twitter), Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Augustin Kibassa Maliba said the project aims to install conduits and optical fibre on road routes being built under a recent mining infrastructure contract between the DRC and GEC, a consortium of Chinese companies. Under that contract which was signed at the end of January 2024 to update an existing deal signed in 2008 GEC will provide US$7 billion in funding to build around 7,000 km of roads across the country in exchange for continued access to state-owned cobalt and copper mines. According to Radio France Internationale, the DRC has the worlds largest reserves of cobalt, which is an essential component used for electric vehicles. The responsibility has been given to SOCOF to be the project management unit in the data infrastructures that will be deployed by the APCSC. And therefore, all the infrastructures that will be deployed in the country will be equipped with fibre at the same time, " Freddy-David Lukaso, special advisor to the Head of State for Post, Telecommunications and NTIC, told Ecofin. This agreement marks an important step in the development of digital infrastructure in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the improvement of connectivity and economic growth across the country, Maliba said on X.. The SOCOF/APCSC deal is the latest move by the DRC government to build up the countrys digital infrastructure. In 2022, Paratus Groups DRC subsidiary Fast Congo was awarded a tender by SOCOF to deploy, operate and maintain a 620-km fibre optic link between Muanda on the west coast and the capital of Kinshasa under an exclusive 15-year licence. Fast Congo lit up the new fibre link in March 2023. Earlier this week, the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC) said that mobile internet usage has grown 40% over a three year period, from 20.7 million users in Q3 2020 to 28.9 million in Q3 2023. However, that works out to around 27.8% user penetration, meaning the vast majority of people in the DRC remain offline. For the same period, according to ARPTC, the overall mobile subscriber base grew from 39.9 million to 56.1 million for close to 54% market penetration. Following an abysmal debate performance against Donald Trump, Democrats are scrambling to replace President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race. Theres just one hiccup: Biden himself doesnt intend to step aside. So what are the options? Per the Democratic National Committees rules, Biden cannot be stripped from the ticket by party leaders. But the convention can throw an open nominating process on the convention floor, opening the door for other candidates to take the front seat, reported Politico. That would necessitate a complicated gambit for power among the partys 4,000 delegates, many of whom hold loyalties to the Biden administration for helping them get the position in the first place. Voting against him would effectively destroy that relationship. Superdelegates, who previously held the power to vote for whomever they wanted within the partys nominating process regardless of the desires of their localities, have also had a significant portion of that power stripped from them since the 2016 presidential election. But, if Biden did agree to relinquish his run, Democratic strategists have already advanced a flurry of possible contenders to take his place. They include Vice President Kamala Harris, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Governor Andy Besehar, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, among others. Harris, who is already on the ballot, may be one of the most seamless options available, but her poll numbers have been anything but inspiring. A May Morning Consult poll found that, while Harris had higher favorability among African Americans, overall just one-third of voters thought she had the gumption to win in November. On top of that, the vice president has faced rounds of criticism for holding a relatively inactive profile since she took office in 2021. But if she did take control of the reins, her own choice for vice president would set off a mad dash among the rising stars in her party. At the top of the possibilities would also be Newsom, though hes not a beloved politician in Californiasomething that could risk votes even inside a historically blue state. And, technically, unless either Harris or Newsom changed their place of residence, they wouldnt be eligible for the states 54 electoral votes, according to Politico. Makeshift shelters line a block in downtown Salem on May 31, 2023. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Democratic lawmakers, homeless advocates and legal experts in Oregon expressed disappointment Friday with the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in the Grants Pass homeless case, while conservatives welcomed the decision. In a 6-3 decision split along partisan lines, the court sided with the southern Oregon city in its prohibitions against homeless people using blankets, pillows or cardboard to protect themselves in severe weather while sleeping in public places. The court said that the citys ordinances against homeless camping did not violate the Constitutions Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this nations homelessness policy, the decision states. Sybil Hebb, a homeless expert with the Oregon Law Center, which provides free legal advice and filed the case against Grants Pass, told the Capital Chronicle the centers staff was disappointed with the ruling. The decision is certainly not what we had hoped for, Hebb said in an email. We wholeheartedly disagree with the decision and find it morally wrong as well as counter-productive. The courts ruling marks a reversal of a 2022 decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case, Gloria Johnson, et. al. v. Grants Pass. Three homeless people filed the suit in 2018, accusing the city of violating the Eighth Amendment for arresting and ticketing people for sleeping outside. The Ninth Circuit blocked the law, saying it criminalized the status of homelessness and therefore violated the Eighth Amendment. Among the 38,000 people in Grants Pass, about 600 are homeless. Theyre among the more than 20,000 homeless in Oregon, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Oregon House Republican leader, Rep. Jeff Helfrich of Hood River, welcomed the Supreme Courts reversal of the Ninth Circuit. Our parks were never meant to be campgrounds, and now our cities can finally begin restoring our communities public spaces, Helfrich said in a statement. The Supreme Courts ruling is a victory for common sense and highlights what conservative leadership looks like. But according to Hebb, the Supreme Court ruling does not give cities an unlimited right to enact homeless camping bans or rule out any further legal recourse homeless advocates might have against restrictions. Its important to note that the court left several specific legal avenues open they specifically reference the availability of a necessity defense for people who do not have access to shelter or public places to live, Hebb said. Nothing in the courts ruling prohibits state or local governments from enacting laws that address this issue, or provide protections for people experiencing homelessness. In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3115 against unreasonable restrictions against homeless camping. The bill, which took effect in July 2023, states: Any city or county law that regulates the acts of sitting, lying, sleeping or keeping warm and dry outdoors on public property that is open to the public must be objectively reasonable as to time, place and manner with regards to persons experiencing homelessness. Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles said that law hampers the ability of local community to address homelessness. The Legislature should immediately provide clarity to our local governments as they work to reduce homelessness in their communities by taking action on HB 3115. This time, cities and counties that are most affected should be at the table, leading the discussions on what is best for their local jurisdictions. We stand ready to pass legislation that balances the interests of all residents whether they are in a home or seeking shelter, utilizing both compassion and pragmatism to ensure our public spaces are safe, clean, and accessible for everyone, Bonham said in a statement. Gov. Tina Kotek has made fighting homelessness a top priority, and in this years legislative session, lawmakers approved $376 million to build more housing, help people with rent and get them in shelters and temporary housing. The Democratic chairs of the Legislatures housing committees, Sen. Kayse Jama of Portland and Rep. Pam Marsh of Ashland, said the Supreme Court ruling will not affect their goal of ending homelessness. Our goal remains making sure every Oregonian has access to safe, affordable housing so no one has to resort to sleeping on the streets. Homelessness will be solved by building more housing, supporting shelters and programs to get people on the path out of homelessness, they said in a statement. They said cities and other jurisdictions also are responsible for ensuring the livability of their communities and that there needs to be a balance between those concerns and the plight faced by the thousands in the state without stable housing. The Legislature remains focused on addressing the root causes of homelessness, increasing the housing supply, and funding programs that help get people on a path out of houselessness, they said. UPDATED at 3:52 p.m., Friday June 28, 2024, with a statement from the state Senate Republican leader, Daniel Bonham of The Dalles. The post Democrats, homeless advocates disappointed in U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homelessness appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Insights from Semafor, NBC News, MSNBC, and The Washington Post The News After US Presidents Joe Bidens underwhelming performance in the campaigns first televised debate against Donald Trump, the conversation has shifted to whether hes fit to stand in the election, with names of potential replacements already circulating in media and Democratic circles. But the issue also raises questions around the practicalities of replacing a candidate so late in the race and the legality of doing so. A key moment could come at the Democratic National Convention in August. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Replacement almost impossible, unless Biden decides to step aside Sources: Semafor, NBC NEWS, CBC Talk of swapping Biden out at the August convention have been swirling for years among those who worried about his advancing age. But in the immediate aftermath of the debate, many top Democrats cautioned that this couldnt happen, and couldnt be allowed to, wrote Semafors David Weigel. Party rules make it almost impossible to replace nominees without their consent, NBC News noted, and it would mean throwing out primary results, where Biden won 99% of the partys delegates. The Republican Party could also sue to stop the replacement, Canadas CBC reported. The only viable way to initiate a replacement would be if Biden voluntarily stepped aside before the convention. Ultimately, an anti-Biden coup is possible, if highly unlikely, NBC News added. and Biden is very unlikely to do so Sources: MSNBC, The Washington Post While replacing Biden is not illegal and is technically possible, commentator Nicolle Wallace said on MSNBC, most people believe it wont happen because Joe Biden would never do it Hes the only person who beat Trump... and he has some reason to believe this, that hes the only one who can. Biden didnt seem to show any intention of stepping aside on Friday, The Washington Post noted, but strategists and officeholders quietly said its a conversation the party will have to have. Finding a new candidate could take Democrats down a messy road Sources: The Washington Post, The Economist, Politico Bidens withdrawal would likely set off a scramble, The Washington Post noted, sending the party down a messy and uncharted road. Biden represents a compromise holding together the broad and potentially fractured coalition of the Democratic Party, a political science professor told the outlet. Finding another candidate that everyone is comfortable with might be difficult. Bidens automatic replacement in case he stepped aside, Vice President Kamala Harris, is not a natural choice for most voters. She has a history of shakiness as a candidate, The Economist wrote, and Januarys Politico/Morning Consult poll showed many had serious doubts about her ability to win the presidency, or to live up to the role if she got the job. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. President Joe Biden, right, and Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin / Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Source New Mexico. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Michigan Advance. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin | Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on West Virginia Watch. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder). WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Missouri Independent. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his CNN debate performance on June 27, 2024. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Photo by Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that, and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida who ran against Trump for the 2016 nomination. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies, he continued. Graham, whose 2016 campaign actually ended in December 2015 (ahead of South Carolinas primary), has had a rocky relationship with Trump. But South Carolinas senior senator backs the former president and had a totally different take on the debate, saying it put Bidens weakness on display to Americas enemies. Its not about contrasting anymore. Theres no way that Joe Biden is capable of being president. President Trump is ready to go, Graham said. I worry that were in a dangerous spot in the world after this debate. Another debate would only exacerbate that, he said: We dont need any more debates. No, this should be it. It! House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy. He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Maine Morning Star. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin | Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be president of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina, and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate, and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune, and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Kansas Reflector. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight following his debate with Donald Trump on Thursday, June 27, 2024. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) WASHINGTON President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a terrible showing and a bad night. Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, acknowledged some of the blunders that plagued him during the Thursday night debate on CNN, which included a raspy, low voice and answers that often began one way before veering into a completely separate topic. I know Im not a young man, lets state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. Biden, 81, told the crowd that despite the mishaps, hes still up for four more years on the job and said that his rival, the 78-year-old presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald J. Trump, is a genuine threat to this nation. When you get knocked down, you get back up, Biden said. I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high. Outside the Beltway, Democrats continued to try to absorb what they saw on Thursday night. In Colorado, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis would not answer directly when asked about calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside, though in a statement issued later in the day he said, Last night was not a good night, and I hope that President Biden delivers his optimistic message about his vision for our future better throughout the campaign. In the swing state of Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as well as other Democrats came to Bidens defense on social media and on the airwaves. Hoyer rejects idea of Biden quitting Back in Washington, D.C., lawmakers had mixed reviews for how Biden performed during the debate, with some saying one bad night shouldnt lead the party to change its nominee in the weeks ahead, while others said Biden should reassess his decision to run for reelection. Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer said Biden had a bad night, but said the president still showed respect for people, the truth and the Constitution. The other candidate, who respects none of those, showed that last night, he said of Trump. Hoyer rejected a question about whether Democrats need a new presidential candidate, saying they already had one and it is Joe Biden. Hes got an extraordinary record of accomplishments, Hoyer said. Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig said it was a terrible debate. We all have to acknowledge that and Donald Trump lied every time he opened his mouth, Craig said, adding that she wasnt worried about November, but focused on flooding in her home state. Mood on House floor New York Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks said he didnt expect that all of a sudden members of the party would jump ship from the Biden-Harris ticket, but said Biden has a lot of work to do before Election Day. I know Joe Biden. Ive sat across the room from Joe Biden in some very important meetings, Meeks said. And I know that hes all there and he has the ability to do that. He did not do that last night. But I do know that he has that ability. The mood on the House floor Friday morning, however, was less than ideal, he said. You cant hide that, people are not pleased. Nobodys in there jumping for joy, saying that, you know, That was a great night last night, Meeks said. Is there concern? Yeah, because we know how important it is to make sure that we win this election. Meeks declined to speculate about whether Biden will back out of the second debate in September, but said it might be difficult, maybe, to get out of it. Biden, he said, needs to get in front of voters much more before the election through town halls and interviews to provide reassurance. Meeks also sought to draw a difference between Biden and Trump, saying that the lies Trump told during the debate signal he hasnt evolved. Nothing has changed with reference to Trump. He is still that pathological liar that Lindsey Graham called him. Hes still the con man that Marco Rubio called him, Meeks said, referring to Republican senators from South Carolina and Florida. And I definitely dont want a pathological liar and a con man to be President of the United States of America. It would be bad for us and will be bad for our allies. House speaker sees serious problem House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Cabinet members should search their hearts on what represented the best path forward for the country, about this alarming situation. I think they know they have a serious problem but its not just political, its not just the Democratic Party, its the entire country, Johnson said. We have a serious problem here because we have a president, who, by all appearances, is not up to the task. This is a very serious moment in American history and it needs to be regarded and handled as such, Johnson added. The Louisiana Republican didnt rule out that the 25th Amendment, which deals with presidential disability and succession, might be appropriate. But he noted thats up to the Cabinet, not the House. Trump, during the debate, showed the temperament, the stamina and the mental acuity that is necessary to do this really important job at this really important time, Johnson said. Biden, on the other hand, showed last night that he was weak, sadly, that he is feeble, Johnson added. Democrats are moving forward with plans to nominate Biden as their official presidential candidate before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in late August. The all-virtual roll call vote is supposed to take place before Aug. 7, the final date for candidates to get on Ohios ballot. The state requires candidates to be officially nominated at least 90 days before the November election. That means any final decisions about Bidens candidacy likely need to take place during the month of July. No need to replace Biden Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Richard Neal said he was taking the long view of the campaign and didnt believe Democrats needed to replace Biden at the top of the ticket. I think that we are kind of caught up in a moment where personalities are a big deal in politics, Neal said. At the same time, I think that Joe Bidens got a really good track record to run on And I think we want to make sure that people see it in the fullness of his presidency. Neal said that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, won her first debate against Trump, even though Trump went on to win the election. He also noted that Walter Mondale, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984, was widely considered to have won his first debate against Republican Ronald Reagan, though Reagan went on to sweep him during the election. Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel said that there was only one decent, honest man who reflected my values, and that was Joe Biden. Frankel said she wasnt too concerned about calls for Biden to step down from the top of the ticket, though she said she hasnt been involved in those talks. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Matt Cartwright said Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Republicans react Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack said Bidens performance validated a lot of the concerns that lawmakers and others had about his cognitive abilities heading into the debate. But at the end of the day, you have to assume that theyre both still going to be head-to-head in November, Womack said. Republicans, he said, need to move full steam ahead to hold the House, flip the Senate and win back the White House in November, but thats only the beginning of the hard work. If that happens, weve got a couple of years and we need to be able to demonstrate that were serious about leading America, Womack said. Iowa Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said its up to Democrats to determine whether or not they feel that their candidate is up to the task of running the country for the next four years. From my perspective, what I saw last night emphasizes to me that hes not and that I will be voting for President Trump, Miller-Meeks said. I thought President Trumps answers and policies were well reasoned, show that he was very sharp, very in tune and very well-informed. Miller-Meeks said it will be challenging for the Biden campaign and Democrats to brush aside concerns about Bidens mental functioning following the debate. I think what has been appearing to a lot of people is now very apparent and difficult to hide, given the performance that everyone saw last night, Miller-Meeks said. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, one of the lawmakers on Trumps short list for vice president, said that Trump did what he was supposed to do demonstrated leadership, demonstrated command talking about the issues that are plaguing this country. As far as Im concerned, whether its Joe Biden, Kamala Harris or anybody else, the Democrat agenda has been a failure. Period. The post Democrats reel from terrible Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Panicked Democrats might be ready to shove President Joe Biden to the side. But they need him to take the first step. Within minutes of Bidens poor debate performance concluding on CNN, the networks commentators were openly discussing the possibility of replacing Biden on the ticket. For apoplectic Democrats, the good news is that there is a way to do it before November. While the party technically does have a system for nominating a fresh candidate at the convention in the event of a candidate declining a nomination, the entire process is a creaky one that hasnt been considered in decades. Theres no mechanism by which other party leaders can throw Biden off the ticket, according to the Democratic National Committees rules. Instead, if anyone in the party wants to replace him, it is through throwing it to an open nominating process on the convention floor. Biden won around 95 percent of the nearly 4,000 delegates in this years primaries who are pledged, but not committed, to backing Biden. That means theres no legal requirement that they vote for Biden in the roll call. But Bidens campaign has had a role in choosing these delegates at state conventions across the country and at least half of them would have to spurn him in order to deny him the nomination. But if Biden agreed to decline his partys nomination, it would kick off an open and unpredictable process of picking his replacement. Other names from Vice President Kamala Harris, to Govs. Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer and JB Pritzker, to numerous others could be placed in nomination. The candidates, who could span the Democratic Partys geographic, ideological and generational wings, would be working to sway the thousands of Democratic delegates to support them on the first ballot. The pledged delegates arent the only ones who have a say. The Democratic Party has stripped superdelegates elected officials and party leaders who can vote for anyone they please of most of their power since the contentious 2016 primary. These superdelegates would be free to vote if no candidate won a majority of delegates on the first ballot. An open, contested convention would give more than 700 party insiders a major role in picking the new nominee. Bidens wishes could also become hugely important. He could try to influence the process by endorsing Harris, his vice president. And she would have an argument in her favor since she is already on the ticket. But if such a scenario occurred, Biden and Harris would have to persuade them. Bidens delegates dont automatically go to her but a Biden endorsement could be enough. But theres no guarantee, and Harris poor poll numbers might give some Democrats pause. Even if Harris coasted to the nomination, she would need a vice presidential candidate of her own, and there would still be a fight among the partys future stars to be her running mate. Any of Democrats rising stars would be a possibility, though Newsom would be particularly unlikely. Unless either changed their residency, a Harris-Newsom ticket would be ineligible for Californias 54 electoral votes and theres no realistic path to a Democratic victory without them. From the moment he declared he would seek a second term, Biden and his team have insisted he is running for reelection. And Biden won every primary and caucus capturing more than 85 percent of the aggregate vote with the exception of far-flung American Samoa. But the immense pressure of a poor debate performance and further sags in polling numbers could change all that. If Biden is going to drop out, the clock is ticking. Even though the Democratic convention isnt until mid-August, the DNC is moving up its nomination process. Ohio law requires the partys candidates to be determined by Aug. 7, and the DNC has decided to upend the traditional convention roll call to ensure their candidate is on the ballot there. That deadline is only 40 days away. Idaho doctors say theyre relieved to have some legal protections after a U.S. Supreme Court opinion was leaked Wednesday, indicating doctors in the state will, at least temporarily, be able to provide abortions as stabilizing care in emergency rooms. This decision to put the case back down to the lower courts does provide some welcome immediate relief for women and their doctors in Idaho, said Susie Pouliot Keller, chief executive officer of the Idaho Medical Association, But, given how much uncertainty there still is in Idaho law, theres still much more work to do. Idahos abortion law only makes exception to save the life of the mother, or in the case of rape or incest. Idaho Attorney General Raul R. Labrador has maintained there is no conflict between Idahos law and the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, which sits at the center of the case. However, since the state implemented its abortion ban, doctors have consistently said the law is unclear and leaves them fearful theyll face criminal charges if they perform an abortion before a pregnant person is already on deaths door. Dr. Duncan Harmon, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at St. Lukes Medical Center, Boise, said he has had several colleagues leave because of the ban. Im not a legal scholar, Im a clinician, Harmon said. Those who did take the law school training route, they also have argued that that law is not clear. In fact, many of the justices thought that that was unclear. Harmon said hes glad there will be protections for stabilizing care. But the EMTALA protections alone still leave his hands tied in scenarios where pregnancy threatens the health of the mother. One of those situations might include the case of a premature rupture of membranes, he said, or a case when the mother learns she has a heart condition in which pregnancy significantly increases the risk of heart failure. That doesnt mean that they will die, but they will experience significant health complications, he said. And maybe they didnt know those things before they became pregnant. Pouliot Keller said a maternal health exception in Idahos law is necessary to provide clarity and stability to Idaho doctors and improve the hospitals ability to recruit physicians, particularly OB-GYNs and maternal fetal health specialists. We dont have time to wait for the court process to grind through the months and years to come, she said. Idaho is in a situation where we need relief now. (Bloomberg) -- The firestorm in the Democratic Party over whether President Joe Biden should remain the partys candidate in the November presidential election continued into a third week following his poor debate performance June 27. Biden has said he will remain in his rematch against the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, 78. But Biden is under pressure to step off the Democratic ticket to make way for a more vigorous contender. Most Read from Bloomberg Whos pushing for Biden to step aside? The roster of Democrats calling on Biden to quit the race is growing by the day, with big names such as actor (and party fundraiser) George Clooney and Vermont Senator Peter Welch adding their names recently. Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first Democrat in the House of Representatives to publicly call on Biden to withdraw from the race, prompting others to follow: Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Mike Quigley of Illinois, Angie Craig of Minnesota, Adam Smith of Washington, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Pat Ryan of New York, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Hillary Scholten of Michigan. Others have distanced themselves from the president. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi not-so-subtly suggested that Biden should reconsider his decision to stay in the race. Some Democratic lawmakers are discussing whether to band together to call for a change atop the ticket. And top Democratic donors have said they would withhold or redirect their money unless Biden stepped aside. What do the polls show? Nearly three in 10 Democrats in swing states said Biden should drop out of the race far more than the 9% of Republicans who said Trump should do the same, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult tracking poll of battleground states conducted in early July. Still, the survey registered Bidens best showing trailing Trump by only two percentage points since the poll began tracking the race in October. Those findings run counter to two recent national polls, from the New York Times/Siena College and the Wall Street Journal, which showed a worsening picture for Biden. Trump notched his largest lead of the race in both polls. What happens if Biden withdraws before hes officially nominated? Its complicated by the fact that Biden is already his partys presumptive nominee for the presidency. When candidates compete in Democratic primaries, they are allocated shares of delegates to the partys national convention that reflect the primary votes they received. Those delegates are pledged to support the candidate whose votes they represent. In his partys primaries, Biden faced minimal opposition and secured 99% of the roughly 3,900 pledged delegates. If Biden were to step aside, he could request that his delegates switch their support to a replacement he favors, with the most likely heir being his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Or he could release them from their pledges, in which case they could choose among competing candidates. Has anything like this happened before? Yes. President Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat, decided not to seek his partys nomination for a second full term in 1968, as protests against the Vietnam War mounted. In an Oval Office speech, Johnson made the surprise announcement that I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president. Instead, the Democrats nominated Hubert Humphrey, who was defeated by Richard Nixon. Johnsons decision came at the end of March at a time when the process for determining the major parties presidential nominees wasnt nearly as front-loaded as it is today. Unlike Biden, Johnson hadnt yet secured enough delegates in party primaries to nail down the nomination. If Biden doesnt withdraw, could he be removed from the ticket? It would be difficult. The delegates pledges arent binding. But absent extraordinary circumstances and a backup plan its unlikely they would remove him from the ticket. There are more than 700 other delegates called super delegates that are not required to commit to any candidate and are able to vote if the convention is contested and goes to a second or additional ballot. Any challenger to Biden would have to announce his or her candidacy before a formal nominating vote, meaning they would have to publicly challenge the incumbent in a high-stakes attempted intraparty coup. Why is Harris the most likely replacement? Shes on the ticket already. The money thats been raised for the Biden-Harris campaign would already be available to her and a new vice presidential candidate. Modern presidential campaigns are hugely expensive undertakings, and financial considerations would play no small role. Bidens campaign and party had $240 million cash on hand at the end of June. Bidens campaign and the Democratic Party have already spent about $346 million trying to reelect Biden. Picking a different nominee could require spending even more money to introduce a new candidate to voters. In addition, for Democrats to pass over a woman of color would risk alienating two of the partys important voting blocs. Who are other possible replacements? They include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. All of them have publicly supported the president. None of them have as much national name recognition as Harris. Whats the timeline? Typically the Democratic Party selects its nominee for the presidency at its national convention, scheduled to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago. This year, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) had already planned to move up Bidens nomination via a phoned-in roll call to satisfy an Aug. 7 ballot deadline in Ohio. Although the Republican-led Ohio legislature has extended that deadline, Democratic Chairman Jaime Harrison said before Bidens faltering debate performance that the party would go forward with the early roll call. That process cannot begin until the partys credentials committee meets to certify delegates on July 21. What if Biden withdraws from the race after the nomination? The decision to replace him would be made by the DNC, which is made up of more than 400 party leaders from all the US states and territories. The party would then face another challenge in the Nov. 5 presidential election: printed ballots with Bidens name already on them. Laws vary by state about how that situation would be handled, but regardless any votes for Biden would almost certainly go to his replacement when the Electoral College meets in December. --With assistance from Bill Allison. (Updates with additional Democrats calling on Biden to step aside or reconsider his candidacy) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Democratic operatives and political pundits suggested on Thursday that there are conversations happening about President Biden stepping aside before Novembers election after a debate performance some called dismal, panicking some of his closest allies. That revelation came in the moments after Biden wrapped up a CNN debate with former President Trump, a performance that was panned for his voice appearing hoarse, which the White House attributed to a cold, and garbling answers on questions relating to key issues for Democrats. CNNs John King kicked off the networks political analysis of the event with this stark assessment: This was a game changing debate in the sense that right now as we speak, there is a deep, a wide and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party. David Axelrod, a senior adviser to former President Obama who joined King on a roundtable, said the party was experiencing shock. I think there was a sense of shock, actually, at how he came out at the beginning of this debate. How his voice sounded. He seemed a bit disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on, Axelrod said. I think youre going to hear discussions that I dont know will lead to anything but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged later in a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper than Biden was off to a slow start but fought through a testy exchange to defend Biden on substance and policy. A Biden adviser defended the president when asked about conversations about him stepping aside. President Biden is the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump. He will do it again. Donald Trump did not give voters any reason to vote for him tonight. On the issues, the American people are with Joe Biden, the adviser said. But the debate left the political world shook, with some pundits on left-leaning MSNBC taking the time to describe what procedures would be required to replace Biden at the Democratic National Convention. Back on CNN, Van Jones, who worked as a special adviser for Obama, gave a haunting assessment in which he lauded Biden but acknowledged the personal pain some might feel about the notion of asking the president to step aside. I think theres a lot of people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now. Were still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward, if he will allow us to do that. But that was not what we needed from Joe Biden and its personally painful for a lot of people, its not just panic, its pain of what we saw tonight. King, meanwhile, said some conversations hed heard about involved going to the White House. Theyre having conversations about the presidents performance, which they think was dismal, which they think will hurt other people down the party in the ticket, and theyre having conversations about what they should do about it, King said. Some of those conversations include should we go to the White House and ask the president to step aside? Other conversations are about should prominent Democrats go public with that call because they feel this debate was so terrible. He added that elected officials are among some of the Democrats who are asking what do we do about this after Bidens performance, calling it a problem for the party. Jen Psaki, who served as Bidens first White House press secretary, said on MSNBC that chatter is happening not from campaign operatives but from Democratic lawmakers and outside operatives. The chatter is very distracting and its going to be very consuming for the campaign. Should he be replaced? Theyre going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump, she said. Is that chatter the same chatter in two weeks when Trump is sentenced and Joe Biden goes out and has a strong couple of weeks? It may not be. But it is incumbent upon the campaign to now dig out of this hole, she added. Former Biden White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said on CNN that Biden failed to assuage concerns voters have had for months when it comes to Bidens age and whether he could win reelection and be up for the job of president for another four years. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, she said. His biggest issue that he had to prove to the American people was that he has the energy and the stamina, and he didnt do that. And so, I think that is a concern. Following the debate, Biden spoke to a room of supporters at a watch party in Atlanta alongside first lady Jill Biden, where he gave a much more energetic performance in brief remarks to a crowd. That prompted MSNBC Rachel Maddow, who also assessed Bidens performance poorly, to declare: That Joe Biden wouldve killed in that debate. Brett Samuels contributed. This story was updated at 12:41 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden went into the first presidential debate Thursday night with one main task: to prove to America that, at 81 years old, hes still up to the job. According to many members of his party, he failed spectacularly. The president, who rarely takes questions from the media or speaks off the cuff, sounded hoarse from the start. His campaign blamed a cold, but other stumbles were harder to write off. At one point, Biden bragged we finally beat Medicare, a flub which Trump immediately hit him on. He struggled to finish some sentences coherently. Democrats were alarmed. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, said Kate Bedingfield, Bidens former White House communications director, on CNN. I dont think theres any other way to slice it. His biggest issue that he had to prove to the American people was that he had the energy, had the stamina. And he didnt do that. On the same panel, former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod went even further. I think the panic had set in, Axelrod said. There are gonna be discussions about whether he should continue. A CNN flash poll found that 67 percent of debate watchers said Trump won the debate, while 33 percent thought Biden performed better. The poll also found only 14 percent had a lot of confidence in Bidens ability to lead the county compared to 36 percent in Trumps. Biden, however, did not appear convinced of his poor performance. At a brief stop at a Waffle House in Atlanta, he said, I thought we did well. Ex-Obama Adviser Van Jones Voice Cracks for Biden on CNN After Debate According to NBC News, a Biden aide said the presidents initial performance was not an ideal start, but that there was no mass panic. But behind a cloak of anonymity, some powerful Democrats were sounding the alarm. In an Axios report, several House Democrats also expressed disbelief about the presidents performance. We're going to lose 20 seats in the House if this is what goes on," one said. Democratic operatives were horrified, too. Poor guy needs a tea, said one anonymous strategist in a text to Politico. Maybe a whiskey. In polls before debate night, voters had expressed serious concerns about the Presidents age. A Wall Street Journal report previously suggested that, behind closed doors, he seems to be slipping. Until this point, the White House has pushed back aggressively on that narrative and few prominent Democrats have gone on record with their concerns. Thursday night may have changed that. Even Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged that Bidens performance could have been better. There was a slow start, she said, before spinning the night in his favor: But it was a strong finish. The mood among Democrats online wasnt any rosier. Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, who invoked concerns about Bidens age when the two faced off during the 2020 primary debates, didnt hold back on Thursday night, either. Biden had a very low bar going into the debate and failed to clear even that bar, Castro posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. He seemed unprepared, lost, and not strong enough to parry effectively with Trump, who lies constantly. Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes lamented the debate on X as well, posting, Just think about what that debate looked like to people and leaders around the world. Telling people they didnt see what they saw is not the way to respond to this, he added. Bidens Re-Election Is Doomed by Disastrous Debate Republican flacks slammed other down-ballot Democrats, like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, for their silence on the platform during the debate. For many, the presidents shaky appearance overshadowed a torrent of lies from former President Donald Trump, the main point of attack for Democrats who tried to maintain a sunny disposition Thursday night. Others, like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was swarmed by reporters after the debate, reframed Bidens stumbles as less important than his record. We got to have the back of this president, Newsom said on MSNBC. You dont turn your back cause of one performance. What kind of party does that? Its been a masterclass15.6 million jobs? This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment. Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet for a second debate on Sept. 10. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Major General Jan Dam, Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force, has said that he expects the schedule for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to be met. Source: TV2, as reported by European Pravda Details: It was officially reported that the first of 19 F-16 aircraft would be delivered from Denmark to Ukraine in the summer. Dam did not name the exact dates. "For reasons of operational security, I cannot say anything more precise. But I expect the schedule to be met. And you will be informed when the jets are ready in Ukraine," he said. Dam said that the jets would operate from bases in Ukraine that were close to being ready for use. But even if the F-16s are also delivered from the Netherlands and other countries, the Ukrainians will still be far from having full control over their airspace. "Much more needs to be done to gain air supremacy over Ukraine. This requires a more effective air force and ground-based air defence," says Dam. Russia has already announced that shooting down F-16s will be a top priority for its troops. Therefore, where and how the Ukrainians will deploy the new fighters is still shrouded in mystery. "To shoot them down would be a huge strategic victory for the Russians, and we are doing our best to minimise the risk by making the Ukrainians as skilled as possible. But I can't promise anything. And, of course, I will be very sorry if one of them is shot down," Dam said. Background: He also called on all parties not to set expectations too high regarding the expected arrival of F-16s in Ukraine. Denmark and the Netherlands led an international fighter jet coalition, within which Ukrainian experts are learning the F-16. Denmark also pledged to provide 19 F-16s for Ukraine's fight against Russia. The first four jets are due to arrive in Ukraine this summer. Support UP or become our patron! BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Kern County Sheriffs Office has released an update on the officer involved shooting on May 14 in northwest Bakersfield. On June 20, a Critical Incident Review Board examined the officer involved shooting that occurred May 14 on Shellabarger Road and deemed the use of force within department policy, officials said. During the incident, deputies said Robert Robinson fired at deputies prompting deputies to fire back, ultimately killing Robinson. 231 pounds of meth seized in Bakersfield traffic stop: KCSO On Thursday, the sheriffs office released an edited video of the May 14 incident. The video included maps, photos of evidence, body-worn cameras and night vision video from a KCSO helicopter. A portion of the video showed Robinson appearing to step out of his home with a rifle-style ghost gun. Video released shows deputies and an air support unit attempting to contact Robinson through speakers and calls to offer help. KCSO said deputies evacuated nearby residents out of a concern of safety. After multiple calls out to Robinson, a KCSO air unit spotted Robinson stepping out of the home with a suspected firearm before shooting at sheriffs deputies. Robinson was taken to a hospital for treatment and was pronounced dead three days after the incident. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriffs Office at 661-861-3110 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Deputies searching for 14-year-old GA girl who ran away with man in his 20s The Habersham County Sheriffs Office is looking for a runaway teen who is believed to be traveling with a man in his twenties. Natalie Michelle True, 14, was last seen at her home outside Mt. Airy at about 2 a.m. on Thursday. She is five foot, four inches tall, weighs approximately 110 lbs., and has brown eyes and really curly brown hair. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] She was wearing pink sweatpants and a white T-shirt. She wears black, thick-framed glasses, has a nose ring on one nostril, and a lip piercing just below the middle of her bottom lip. She is possibly with a man driving a dark green 1998 Ford Ranger pickup truck with Georgia tag PRD6555. The truck is believed to be driven by a tall, skinny, white man with light brown or red hair, in his early to mid-twenties. Anyone who sees her or the truck is asked to call 911. If you have information about her whereabouts, please call Habersham Dispatch at 706-778-3911. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed three criminal justice reform bills this week that passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support and were aimed at helping convicted felons ease back into society after serving their time. The bills also had support from organizations as disparate as the NAACP, the Chamber of Commerce and the conservative Institute for Justice. Vetoing these bills wont make anyone safer, State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said. And it will make it harder for people who serve their time to search for employment and further feeds into the systemic racism that is clearly evident in our criminal justice system. DeSantis said he felt the bills either rewarded criminals or made communities less safe. Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, said the governors veto messages on the bills didnt have a lot of substance. All I saw was political rhetoric, Meade said. The fact the bills got to the governors desk at all was nothing short of a miracle, he said. When I see something like this arrive on the governors desk that both sides support, it deserves a closer look. One bill, SB 62, would have ensured that Florida inmates could still qualify for in-state tuition upon release. That would save them $490 per credit hour compared to out-of-state tuition or close to $15,000 a year for a full-time course load. The bill passed the House 109-5 and the Senate unanimously. We should not reward criminal activity by providing inmates with the same benefits as law-abiding citizens, DeSantis said in his veto message issued Tuesday. Sponsored by two Republicans, House Bill 1241 would have ensured that parolees arent automatically sent back to prison for non-violent parole violations, such as being late for a meeting with a probation officer, Eskamani said. The bill also would have required courts to modify, rather than revoke, probation if a person meets specific criteria and has fewer than two previous violations of probation resolved by the court. It also limited the jail sentence a court may impose to 90 days for a first low-risk violation and 120 days for a second low-risk violation. It passed both chambers unanimously and had support of conservative groups, including the Christian Coalition. In his veto message issued Tuesday, DeSantis said the bill would have given felons an extra and undue chance to stay on probation. Finally, HB 133 which passed unanimously and was sponsored by a Republican in the House would have reduced from five to three the number of years that must elapse before a criminal conviction could be used to deny someone a barber or cosmetology license. It also would have required the licensing boards to recognize education credits earned for barbering and cosmetology classes taken in prison. The Institute for Justice and the Florida Justice Rights Restoration Coalition supported the legislation. The bill categorically prohibits the board from considering an applicants criminal history within three years of the application for a license, DeSantis said in his veto message Wednesday. Boards may have good reason to check those earlier records, he said. An analysis by House committee staff, however, said the bill would have allowed a board to consider an applicants criminal history within that three-year period. The bill also would continue letting boards consider forcible felonies and crimes that require a person to register as a sexual predator within three years of applying for a license. It is unjust to continue to punish people for the mistakes made in their past and prevent them from earning a living in the future, Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, said. This bill could have been vital to someones future livelihood and helped to reduce recidivism. _____ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in typical fashion, revealed during a news conference Thursday he vetoed all of Floridas public art grants last week because of a pair of events he deemed were sexual festivals. DeSantis, 45, has governed over Florida with a heavy hand since he took office in 2018, directing and diverting state funds in bizarre wayslike spending more than a million in taxpayer dollars to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard for a political stunt in 2022. Now, two events DeSantis claims were sexual have been blamed as the reason he vetoed $32 million in art grants statewidefunds the state legislature had already approve in Floridas budget. The latest stunt has sent art organizations across the state scrambling, like the Tampa Museum of Art and Sarasota Opera, but DeSantis appeared to be unbothered by the headache on Thursday. Instead, he focused on scoring some political points with his base. You have your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where theyre doing all this stuff, DeSantis said Thursday, without specifying what stuff he objected to. Its like, how many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that? Not very many people would do that. The festival being referenced by DeSantis, the International Fringe Theater Festival, has been held annually for more than three decades in Orlando. It advertises itself as having live theater, concerts, and kid friendly shows and activities. The Orlando Sentinel reported in May that the festivals performances can get sexualbut always for a good reason and maximum comic effect. Iconic Florida Bridge Wont Light Up in Pride Colors This June After Complaint A similar festival is held annually in Tampa, the Tampa Bay Times reported, featuring comedians, puppeteers, and other artists. DeSantis did not elaborate on why his dislike for the fringe festival should take funds away from attractions like Tampas zoo and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, both of which rely in part on state funding. Previous budgets showed that the fringe festivals in Tampa and Orlando were among the organizations to receive the least funding from the state, the Times reported. And one of the festivals organizers insisted Thursday that describing the events as sexual was a bunch of bull. In referring to the fringe as a sexual festival, he incorrectly characterized our festival and misrepresented our contributions to the arts community, locally, nationally and internationally, Tempestt Halstead, the Orlando festivals producer, said in a statement to the Times. DeSantis has cracked down hard on drag shows in Florida and LGBTQ content in its schools. Along the way, hes picked a fight with anyone in Florida whos questioned his actions or tacticsinfamously going to war against Disney for opposing him on the Dont Say Gay bill. In schools, he has also led a charge to ban hundreds of books, including some about LGBTQ people and Jackie Robinson, and initiated a public battle with the College Board over the contents of its AP African American History class. Hes also welcomed PragerU content into classrooms and given the OK on U.S. history curriculum that has taught Florida children that slavery brought personal benefit to Black people in the South. Now, it appears, Floridas arts scene may be next on the chopping block. When I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one to stand up for taxpayers and say, you know what, that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, DeSantis said Thursday. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. After an alliance of strange bedfellows urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto a bill preempting local governments from regulating Airbnbs and other vacation rentals, he quietly did just that on Thursday evening. But the fight is far from over. Cities and counties campaigned against the bill. So did vacation-rental companies like Airbnb and management companies like Vtrips, but for opposite reasons. Municipalities opposed the legislation because they were losing control. The companies opposed it because they didnt get enough control, said Jack Cory, a lobbyist for the City of Jacksonville Beach. Thats why its a strange coalition. The enemy of my enemy is my friend right now, said Cory. But that doesnt mean that were all going to be singing kumbaya next year. Tiffany Edwards, executive director for the Florida Professional Vacation Rental Coalition, said in a statement to the Herald/Times that there was a better solution for local communities and vacation rentals than the one outlined in the bill, SB 280, but all stakeholders need to work together to achieve it. The CEO of Vtrips is chair of the coalition. Airbnb declined to comment and the Florida Alliance for Vacation Rentals could not be reached in time for publication. The bill had been several years in the making. In outlining how local governments can regulate vacation rentals, it overrode detailed policies that cities and county governments throughout Florida have put into place since 2014. Many of those policies relate to how local governments deal with violations like having too many people at a party or noise complaints, which can often be tallied up on the same night, resulting in the suspension of a vacation rental in some places for months. But in the bill, a single month suspension would require violations on five separate days during a two-month period. In a letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, DeSantis said the bill would have prevented virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across the various regions of the state. The bill had plenty of critics. State Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Republican from Miami, said the bill would have forced Miami-Dade to start from scratch regarding the regulation of vacation rentals. Wed finally come to a good landing spot, said Garcia, among the 16 senators who voted against the legislation. State Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat based in Hollywood, said the bill simply didnt do enough to enforce violations by vacation-rental companies. When you parse out how many violations need to occur its tantamount to really being no control at all, said Pizzo. Steve Milo, the CEO and founder of VTrips, listed in a LinkedIn post on March 5 several reasons why Florida property managers and owners should immediately call or email [their] House representatives and tell them to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 280. Those reasons included the fact that the bill allowed local governments to regulate rental licenses, which was currently done at the state level, and charge for them for it. They also included that the bill created strict occupancy limits while failing to provide consumer protection. Airbnb also opposed the bill. A letter forwarded to the Herald/Times urged hosts on March 27 to email DeSantis asking him to veto the legislation, arguing that the measure would increase the regulatory burden on Hosts at the local and state level, undermine private property rights, and empower local governments to add inspection requirements and revoke [their] state license. On their website, the Florida Alliance for Vacation Rentals posted a pre-written letter that anyone could sign onto asking DeSantis to veto the bill. The letter stated the legislation places more daily operational burdens on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, an already understaffed state agency. Despite funding this new statute with over $3.8 million taxpayer dollars each year, it is highly unlikely that DBPR will be able to fill dozens of currently open inspector positions, let alone 9 more full-time state employees specific to vacation rentals, the letter stated. One group that wanted the legislation to go into effect was the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. In a statement released Thursday evening, the association said the measure was a solid framework and first step for regulatory reform in the sector. We are disappointed with Governor DeSantis veto but will continue with our efforts to work toward a resolution and ensure equity across Floridas lodging industry from vacation rentals to hotels to best serve our guests and promote their safety, the association said. Vacation rentals. Credit: Julie Hauserman Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a contentious proposal (SB 280) that would have given the state more control over regulation of short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. In his veto message, the governor noted some of the objections raised by the many critics who called on him to reject the measure since the Legislature passed it in early March. Beyond creating new bureaucratic red tape that locals must comply with, CS/SB 280 prevents local governments from enforcing existing ordinances or passing any new local measure which would exclusively apply to vacation rentals, DeSantis wrote. Under this bill, any such measure would apply to all residential properties. The effect of this provision will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across all the various regions of the state. Florida lawmakers passed legislation in 2011 prohibiting local governments from enacting any restrictions on vacation rentals but, after severe pushback, they amended the law in 2014 to allow cities and counties to regulate problems like noise, trash, and parking, but continued to prevent them from regulating the duration or frequency of short-term rentals. This years bill, sponsored by Pinellas County Republican Nick DiCeglie, passed 23-16 in the Senate but only narrowly in the House, 60-51, one of the closest margins of any measure introduced in that chamber this legislative session. It would have established statewide maximum overnight occupancy limits, limited the number of inspections at each property, and allowed local governments to charge a reasonable fee from a vacation-rental owner to register the property. Violations could bring fines up to $500. Curiously, the House added a floor amendment that said counties could keep their own local rental ordinances if introduced before 2016 which was believed to be a carve-out only for Flagler County. Local government officials throughout the state had been lobbying the governor to veto the measure. Anna Maria Island Mayor Dan Murphy told the Anna Maria Islander last week that hed heard from the governors staff that DeSantis was leaning towards vetoing the bill. The governors staff, first of all, feels that it is bad policy. In particular, the raw nerve and primary objection seems to be the carve out for Flagler County, he said. The post DeSantis vetoes short-term vacation rental bill appeared first on Florida Phoenix. The amendment, proposed by UI President C. Scott Green, extends the closing date to June 10, 2025, while allowing Phoenixs owners to seek other buyers, according to the news release. It includes an immediate $5 million payment to the University of Idaho as an extension fee. If the sale isn't finalized by the new date, an additional $5 million will be paid to the University of Idaho, according to the news release. Should the University of Phoenix be sold to another buyer, the University of Idaho will receive $20 million in total from the University of Phoenix, according to the news release. The amendment also ensures the University of Phoenix will operate in accordance with HB 708, effective July 1, which establishes certain sideboards for state agencies to adhere to when forming not-for-profit corporations, according to the news release. With this decision, we now have more options, Idaho State Board of Education member Kurt Liebich said in a news release. Will a deal happen? That will be up to the legislature at the end of the day. This gives us time to work with legislators and try to come up with a potential solution. I think this optionality has a lot of value for the State of Idaho and our citizens. As President Joe Biden arrived in North Carolina to rally supporters Friday, North Carolina Democrats said theyre standing by their candidate as he fends off criticism over a poor debate performance against Republican former President Donald Trump. Several calls and emails to more than a dozen local and state Democratic leaders, donors and strategists by reporters at The News & Observer went unanswered Friday as Biden prepared to take the stage in Raleigh. U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, for example, who is running for North Carolina attorney general, had no comment when his campaign was reached by a reporter Friday. But many who did speak with The N&O throughout the day said the presidents performance did not shake their faith in his ability to lead. And a mix of Democratic leaders on the state and local level appeared alongside the president as he arrived in North Carolina and like Attorney General Josh Stein and Gov. Roy Cooper were in the crowd or rallied the audience in advance of the speech. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue and a gaggle of mayors, city council members and county commissioners were among the supporters when the Bidens arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport just before 2 a.m. Friday. Several drew a sharp contrast between his appearance in the pre-dawn hours with that of his debate performance just hours before. It was like night and day, Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams told The N&O in a phone interview Friday. The energy he had on the Tarmac, the energy he had at the watch parties is the energy I wish he had on stage. Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton was among the first to greet the president at the airport. He said Biden was energetic and engaged and spent around 30 minutes talking with supporters. He did not look like someone who was tired, Melton said. I felt and probably looked more tired than he did. Attorney General Josh Stein takes the stage during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Debate left supporters wanting Melton acknowledged that the debate was not Bidens best performance and that he got off to a particularly slow start. But I think the content of his answers was good, Melton said. You can tell he cares about the American people, he cares about his job and he has a clear vision for what the next four years will look like. He contrasted the presidents performance with Trumps, which he characterized as mostly lies and gaslighting. Democratic Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham offered a blunt assessment of Bidens debate performance, saying the president did not perform very well. Our candidate picked the wrong day to have a bad day, said Graham, who has campaigned for Biden this election cycle. Melton, citing post-debate comments from Vice President Kamala Harris, said he agreed with her that its important to look outside the 90-minute debate to what Biden has accomplished in his three and a half years in office. I would hope that any undecided voters would be taking into account the entire term of his presidency, which has been really very effective particularly considering the mess he was handed when he started, Melton said. Adrian Maldonado, the first vice chair of the state Democratic Party Hispanic American Caucus, said hes been a big supporter of Biden throughout his entire campaign, especially because of Bidens outreach to the Latino community. Maldonado, who attended Fridays rally, said Biden has expanded the Affordable Care Act to include DACA recipients, ensuring they have access to affordable and quality health care. He said the administrations focus on the economy is something the Latino community is very proud of and has benefited greatly from. The Biden-Harris administration has also increased our support for small businesses, while also lowering health care costs, Maldonado said. [Hes brought] more funding for students and efforts to address gun violence, which disproportionately affects the Hispanic communities. Replace Biden? Supporters say no Melton dismissed criticisms of the presidents age. Given that his opponent is just three years younger, the age difference is splitting hairs. Whats more important, he said, is the candidates character and where they stand on the issues. The fact that Donald Trump would not disavow Jan. 6, the fact that he would not give a clear answer on womens rights to health care, he wouldnt give a clear answer on child care these are really important issues to voters, Melton said. Donald Trump has shown us where he stands, and its not with the American people. Maldonado said the Latino community was among the most directly threatened by government policies during Trumps term. [Trumps] administration was marked by vicious anti-worker, anti-Latino rhetoric that undermined our dignity, Maldonado said, noting that Hispanic voters are key to any path to the White House. The stakes are much higher now, more than ever. Biden drew a sharp contrast between his record and Trumps, said Rep. Allen Buansi, a Chapel Hill Democrat. Biden defended his support for abortion access and working families, Buansi said, while Trump failed to clearly state that he would accept the results of Novembers election. Still, much of the focus last night and into today has been on Bidens appearance and patterns of speech, rather than substance, he said. Buansi said he wants to see what polling will say about how that impacted voters perception of Biden. I want to just wait to see what folks think, Buansi said. We do have another five months before the election, which is a long time. Durham Mayor Williams told The N&O he remains committed to Bidens campaign, despite calls for him to step aside. And he summed up the debate as a binary of fact versus foolery. Theres been a lot of noise and chatter about Bidens fitness for office. I dont think thats helpful, Williams said. The real story is what is good and not good for the American people. Referencing Trumps recent trial in New York over hush money payments to an adult film star, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin told The N&O by phone from the rally that voters face a critical decision in November. We have a convicted felon running for president. He opposes womens reproductive rights. And he lies about everything, Baldwin said. We have one clear choice: Joe Biden. Graham, too, said hes still firmly behind Biden after seeing Trumps performance in the debate. The stakes havent changed, the former state senator said, and democracy is definitely on the ballot. Melton said he does believe the Democratic Party needs to cultivate new leadership and that people his age should step forward. One of those young candidates former Charlotte mayor pro tem and current Democratic nominee for labor commissioner Braxton Winston took to social media Friday to seemingly address reports of Democrats considering replacing Biden on the ticket. If anyone should drop out its the guy who fomented an insurrection against the US Congress, Winston wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. As for the need for Democrats to build a deeper bench, Melton said, thats not the issue for today. I think the most important aspect of this election is ensuring that Donald Trump does not return to the White House, Melton said. President Biden has beaten him once. I believe he can beat him again. A break in the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. As voters weigh choices, Republicans react How Biden will fare in North Carolina, though, remains to be seen. North Carolinas voters have shown a willingness to split their tickets down ballot, Buansi noted. In both 2016 and 2020, for example, Donald Trump won the presidential race in the state while Roy Cooper, a Democrat, won the gubernatorial race. North Carolina voters have a record of distinguishing between whats going on nationally and whats going on in the state, Buansi said. Dan McCorkle, a longtime Democratic strategist in the Charlotte area, said Biden could benefit from Thursdays debate falling in June, relatively early in the election cycle. Its vacation time, its reset time for most people, he said, noting past winning candidates such as Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama overcame losing debates closer to Election Day. McCorkle said the Biden campaigns investments in organizing and advertising in North Carolina could outweigh the impacts of the presidents debate performance. Campaigns win elections, not individual events, he said. Biden could also benefit from reverse coattails from a strong slate of Democratic statewide candidates in North Carolina, according to McCorkle. The veteran campaign manager said his advice would be for candidates to stick to talking about issues, including access to reproductive health care and voting rights. I always tell local candidates, we cant control what happens federally or in Idaho, so focus on winning Mecklenburg County, which is a vast Democratic area and will continue to be, he said. North Carolina Republicans, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to intensify criticism of the president. In a post on X, GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson bashed his gubernatorial opponents backing of Biden. After last nights debate, how can he still support a man who is so clearly unfit to be commander-in-chief? Robinson posted, accompanied by an image of Stein at the podium. Fellow Republicans echoed that message throughout the day. America saw the real Joe Biden last night: a weak, failed, dishonest man who has no business leading our country for the next four months, let alone the next four years, NC GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer said in a statement. Today in Raleigh, Democrats must confront the fact their nominee for president is wrong on policy, wrong on facts, and simply the wrong choice for a strong America. Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who formerly chaired the state party, said in a statement that Bidens weak performance at the debate means he has no chance of winning the Tar Heel State. And a rally wont repair the damage done to his flailing campaign on the world stage, Whatley said in a statement. The entire country, including my home state, knows that President Trump is the best candidate whose America First policies will make us great again. The N&Os Danielle Battaglia and Avi Bajpai contributed reporting. Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing An FBI Evidence Response Team investigator walks behind a crime scene. The FBIs Quarterly Uniform Crime Report, which was released in early June, suggests that violent crime dropped by 15% compared with the first quarter of 2023. Ann Arbor Miller/The Associated Press Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBIs Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month. The FBIs data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the countrys population, suggests violent crime dropped by 15% compared with the first quarter of 2023. The data, which covers reported crimes from January to March, shows a 26.4% decrease in murders, a 25.7% decrease in rapes, a 17.8% decrease in robberies, and a 12.5% decrease in aggravated assaults. Reported property crime also fell by 15.1%. Nevertheless, the widespread public perception that crime is rising a perception reinforced by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many other GOP candidates could figure prominently in Novembers election. And state legislative and gubernatorial candidates from both parties likely also will cite crime statistics on the stump. In a Gallup poll conducted late last year, 63% of respondents described the crime problem in the U.S. as either extremely or very serious. This is the highest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 2000. If you are a political operative, capitalizing on fear of crime is incredibly easy to do. Dan Gardner, author of Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear In May, Trump wrongly called FBI data showing a decline in crime fake numbers. This month, he erroneously claimed that the FBIs crime statistics exclude 30% of cities, including the biggest and most violent. He could have been referring to the fact some departments couldnt report data in 2021 because the FBI switched data reporting systems, but experts say the overall numbers remain valid. President Joe Biden has also used crime statistics for political gain. In a May campaign email, Biden said that Trump oversaw the largest increase in murder in U.S. history. While this is not entirely inaccurate the country did see the largest one-year increase in murders in 2020 it omits context regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the social upheaval following George Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer. The latest FBI crime statistics align with other early data from 2024. In May, the Major Cities Chiefs Association released first-quarter data from a survey of 68 major metropolitan police departments showing a 17% drop in murders compared with the same period last year. The FBIs latest data is preliminary and unaudited, which means it will change as more law enforcement agencies refine their numbers throughout the year. National crime data is incomplete, as it only includes crimes reported to police, and not every law enforcement agency participates in the FBIs crime reporting program. Despite the datas limitations, some criminologists and crime data experts say the data is reliable. Some say the FBIs data likely overstates the decreases, suggesting the drop in violent crime is likely less dramatic but still trending downward. Theres a lot of uncertainty as to the accuracy of the data, so it matches but probably overstates what the trends are, Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, a data consulting firm that specializes in crime data, told Stateline in an interview. In theory, everything will get more accurate as the year goes on. Although national data suggests an overall major decrease in crime across the country, some criminologists caution that that isnt necessarily the case in individual cities and neighborhoods. It looks good for the nation as a whole, but even with these great reductions, there are cities in the United States that have likely experienced increases that bucked the trend, Charis Kubrin, a criminology, law and society professor at the University of California, Irvine, told Stateline. The average Americans understanding of crime and crime statistics is heavily skewed by media coverage that focuses largely on when crimes are committed and by misleading political rhetoric, according to criminologists and crime data experts. Instead of relying on statistics, which can feel impersonal, people tend to cling to anecdotes that resonate more emotionally. Politicians take advantage of this, Dan Gardner, author of the book Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, told Stateline. If you are a political operative, capitalizing on fear of crime is incredibly easy to do, Gardner said. Telling a tragic story and framing it in a way so that voters feel they or their families could become victims of similar crimes unless they vote for a specific politician is a common, highly effective tactic, he added. This use of fear as a motivator can drive people to the polls, Gardner said, but it also distorts public perception of crime. Its a lousy way to understand the reality of personal safety and society, but its a very compelling form of marketing, Gardner said. The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, released a report this month urging police and the federal government to provide more timely crime data. The report emphasizes that crime data, especially national data, often lags up to a year, which hampers public understanding of crime trends and limits officials ability to make informed policy decisions to proactively address public safety issues. We need to accelerate improvements in our [crime] data, John Roman, a senior fellow and the director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at NORC at the University of Chicago, told Stateline. Roman also is the chair of the Council on Criminal Justices Crime Trends Working Group. The democratization of this data is really critical to more effective policy and programming. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing FILE - An FBI Evidence Response Team investigator walks behind crime scene, July 15, 2023, in Fargo, N.D. Data in the FBI's annual crime report released Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 shows that violent crime across the U.S. decreased last year, dropping to about the same level as before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Ann Arbor Miller, file) Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBIs Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month. The FBIs data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the countrys population, suggests violent crime dropped by 15% compared with the first quarter of 2023. The data, which covers reported crimes from January to March, shows a 26.4% decrease in murders, a 25.7% decrease in rapes, a 17.8% decrease in robberies, and a 12.5% decrease in aggravated assaults. Reported property crime also fell by 15.1%. Nevertheless, the widespread public perception that crime is rising a perception reinforced by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and many other GOP candidates could figure prominently in Novembers election. And state legislative and gubernatorial candidates from both parties likely also will cite crime statistics on the stump. In a Gallup poll conducted late last year, 63% of respondents described the crime problem in the U.S. as either extremely or very serious. This is the highest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 2000. In May, Trump wrongly called FBI data showing a decline in crime fake numbers. This month, he erroneously claimed that the FBIs crime statistics exclude 30% of cities, including the biggest and most violent. He could have been referring to the fact some departments couldnt report data in 2021 because the FBI switched data reporting systems, but experts say the overall numbers remain valid. President Joe Biden has also used crime statistics for political gain. In a May campaign email, Biden said that Trump oversaw the largest increase in murder in U.S. history. While this is not entirely inaccurate the country did see the largest one-year increase in murders in 2020 it omits context regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the social upheaval following George Floyds murder by a Minneapolis police officer. The latest FBI crime statistics align with other early data from 2024. In May, the Major Cities Chiefs Association released first-quarter data from a survey of 68 major metropolitan police departments showing a 17% drop in murders compared with the same period last year. The FBIs latest data is preliminary and unaudited, which means it will change as more law enforcement agencies refine their numbers throughout the year. National crime data is incomplete, as it only includes crimes reported to police, and not every law enforcement agency participates in the FBIs crime reporting program. Despite the datas limitations, some criminologists and crime data experts say the data is reliable. Some say the FBIs data likely overstates the decreases, suggesting the drop in violent crime is likely less dramatic but still trending downward. Theres a lot of uncertainty as to the accuracy of the data, so it matches but probably overstates what the trends are, Jeff Asher, co-founder of AH Datalytics, a data consulting firm that specializes in crime data, told Stateline in an interview. In theory, everything will get more accurate as the year goes on. Although national data suggests an overall major decrease in crime across the country, some criminologists caution that that isnt necessarily the case in individual cities and neighborhoods. It looks good for the nation as a whole, but even with these great reductions, there are cities in the United States that have likely experienced increases that bucked the trend, Charis Kubrin, a criminology, law and society professor at the University of California, Irvine, told Stateline. The average Americans understanding of crime and crime statistics is heavily skewed by media coverage that focuses largely on when crimes are committed and by misleading political rhetoric, according to criminologists and crime data experts. Instead of relying on statistics, which can feel impersonal, people tend to cling to anecdotes that resonate more emotionally. Politicians take advantage of this, Dan Gardner, author of the book Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear, told Stateline. If you are a political operative, capitalizing on fear of crime is incredibly easy to do, Gardner said. Telling a tragic story and framing it in a way so that voters feel they or their families could become victims of similar crimes unless they vote for a specific politician is a common, highly effective tactic, he added. This use of fear as a motivator can drive people to the polls, Gardner said, but it also distorts public perception of crime. Its a lousy way to understand the reality of personal safety and society, but its a very compelling form of marketing, Gardner said. The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank, released a report this month urging police and the federal government to provide more timely crime data. The report emphasizes that crime data, especially national data, often lags up to a year, which hampers public understanding of crime trends and limits officials ability to make informed policy decisions to proactively address public safety issues. We need to accelerate improvements in our [crime] data, John Roman, a senior fellow and the director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at NORC at the University of Chicago, told Stateline. The democratization of this data is really critical to more effective policy and programming. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing appeared first on Oklahoma Voice. President Joe Biden, right, and the Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The day after President Joe Bidens debate debacle in Atlanta, Florida Democrats willing to go on the record insisted he remains their only choice to defeat Donald Trump in November. I think yesterday was a loss all around, said Jayden DOnofrio, chairman of the Florida Future Leaders PAC, which represents Florida high school and college Democrats. Theres no sugar coating it. I didnt like what I saw. A number of people who I work with didnt like what they saw and the general public didnt like what they saw. But DOnofrio emphasized that he wasnt just speaking about Bidens performance. Its also about President Trump, he said. lts like every single word that comes out of his mouth is to contribute to a lie in a larger sentence. Which is actually amazing. Ive never seen somebody so constantly lie. I also recognized that President Biden was not as coherent as we would have liked. And I dont think the debate really showed well to the American people. Former Congressman Alan Grayson, now running for the Florida Senate District 25 seat, which encompasses Osceola and a part of Orange County, said that having had a lot of personal contact with Joe Biden over the years he does have concerns about the presidents health after watching the debate. But he underscored that its less important what you say in 90 minutes on a stage than what you do in four years in office, Grayson said. People sometimes think politics is a show, he said in a phone conversation. Its not. Its the rules which we live by. Grayson added that his daughter watched the Rolling Stones perform last night, noting that Mick Jagger will be 81 years old next month, the same age as the president. Mick Jagger doesnt look like hes 80, and doesnt perform like it, but those two events were not the same thing, Grayson said of comparing a rock concert to a presidential debate. One of those events was meant to entertain people, and the other event was to inform them about who will lead the country better and make their own personal lives better in the next four years. Okay? And that hasnt changed at all. Theres no question, it was not a good night for Joe Biden, said former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. I think that theres a lot of folks who are going to be watching this next week or two to see how he is. Was it really a bad night, or was it something more than that? Over-prepared Kriseman is one Democrat pointing the finger at the presidents advisers, who spent a week with him at Camp David preparing for the debate. If I was advising him, I wouldnt have filled him up with as many details and facts as I think they tried to do. I almost think that was over-prepared, and that was part of the problem. Speaking during a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday afternoon, Biden acknowleged that his debate performance was not up to par. Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong, and I know how to do this job, he said to a cheering crowd. I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up. The Phoenix reached out to several local party chairs and other prominent Democrats, several of whom said they did not feel comfortable going on the record. One chair said the feedback he had received in the past 24 hours was not good. However, Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Ione Townsend said she spent nearly an hour with the president when he spoke in Tampa in late April (and gave a 13-minute speech), and said she retained absolute confidence in Joe Biden. Its one night, she said of Bidens performance against Donald Trump. You cant judge him on one night. What we need to judge him on is what hes done for the American people, and all of his policies. Townsend referred to the fact that incumbent presidents from both political parties over the years have had rocky first debates, specifically referring to Barack Obama in 2012 and Ronald Reagan in 1984 a line echoed by Leon County Democratic Chair Ryan Ray. I think we have a really, really terrifying nominee in Donald Trump, and everybody is all-hands-on deck to make sure that he isnt able to inflict his dangerous, fascist vision on our great country, Ray said. However, he also said he understood the buzz amongst Democrats overnight that the party should consider having Biden voluntarily step down for a younger candidate. I definitely can understand that conversation, Ray acknowledged. I think that traditionally incumbent presidents tend to not do as well as the challenger, but I believe that the ticket will correct course and I think that the stakes are too high. Down-ballot drag Democrats also shied away from acknowledging any concerns that Bidens performance could reduce enthusiasm among Democrats voting in November, but one analyst said that has to be something they are contemplating. If Biden is perceived as being less able to motivate voters to turn out, it could hurt Democrats down ballot who are counting on a surge in turnout from the Democratic base for their own elections. A strong top-of-the-ballot campaign is very important to down-ballot races, said Florida Atlantic University political science professor Kevin Wagner. One of those down-ballot candidates who could be affected by Bidens standing is Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the leading candidate to become the Democratic Partys U.S. Senate candidate against Rick Scott. As he said, it was a tough night for the President, and over the course of the race and his campaign will need to continue to make the case for his reelection, she said, adding that she will continue to focus on the same issues she has in her campaign, lowering insurance rates and making sure Rick Scott can no longer threaten our Social Security and Medicare and reproductive rights. Kriseman figures it wont be difficult for most Democrats to stand by Biden. If it ends up being Biden vs. Trump, we cannot have Donald Trump for another four years, he said. I dont think that our country can sustain that. There remain more than four months before the general election, but Trump is maintaining small but sustaining leads in many if not most of the battleground states and holds a slight lead nationally, according to the RealClearPolitics average. Trump rarely led in any national polls in his races for president in 2016 and 2020, and failed to win the popular vote in both campaigns. From former President Barack Obama to Harrisburg Democrat Diamond Staton-Williams, Democrats are backing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for President, despite a rocky debate performance. Biden held a rally in Raleigh Friday afternoon. Attorney General Josh Stein and Gov. Roy Cooper also spoke in favor of Biden. Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side Four years ago, we told Donald Trump, Youre fired, Cooper said to chants of Lock him up. Now he wants his job back. We are not going to let him because the position is already filled. During his address to supporters in Raleigh, Biden said hes not young but can do the job. I know Im not a young man. I dont walk as easily as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, he said. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. Despite calls from some in the media, pundits, and anonymous Democrats, Biden and his campaign have indicated they are in it for the long haul. Professor Eric Heberlig of UNC Charlotte, an expert on conventions, said the only way Biden isnt on the ticket this November is if he drops out before the Democratic National Convention. That would trigger an open convention where delegates on the floor can nominate someone else. If Biden stays in the race, that wont happen. I think the likelihood of an open convention is very low. Its higher today, however, it was yesterday, he said. By party rules, theyre bound to vote for the candidates that voters back home told them to vote for, unless the candidate releases them. State House Rep. Diamond Staton-Williams, of Harrisburg, said Biden may have struggled at times but did better on substance than former President Donald Trump. She said Biden is the best person for the job I believe the president did a great job. I mean, who among us hasnt had fumbled moments, she said. Thats my man, and Im going to stick beside him. I believe all of Americas should as well. Dick Van Dyke shrugs off Joe Biden age concerns: Im 98, and Ive got all my marbles Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke defended US President Joe Biden against attacks on his age. During the first presidential debate of the 2024 election on Thursday, June 27, 81-year-old Biden was once again asked to address voter concerns about how old he is. First of all, I spent half my career being criticized for being the youngest person in politics, Biden said. I was the second youngest person ever elected to the United States Senate. And now Im the oldest. This guys three years younger and a lot less competent. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporters Awards Chatter podcast, before Thursday nights debate, 98-year-old Van Dyke argued that the criticism of Biden was ageist. Im old enough to be his father, the Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins star said. Ive got all my marbles. So Im not worried about it. Van Dyke, who supported Senator Bernie Sanderss 2016 and 2020 White House bids, confirmed hes backing Biden in the November election. Dick Van Dyke (left) has announced his support for President Joe Biden (Getty Images) I met Joe Biden. And I said, You know, I used to be as tall as you are. And he said, I used to have hair like you. I liked him right away, Van Dyke said with a laugh. The actor also recalled meeting Trump at a party in Malibu, California, before the real estate mogul began his career in politics. He was in a Hawaiian shirt, open, big belly all nice and tan, a couple of gold chains hanging around his neck and a blonde on his arm Ill be charitable and say she was 20. And he looked down at me like, Who are you? Van Dyke told podcast host Scott Feinberg. Hes just disturbed, Van Dyke said of Trump. Asked about the state of world affairs in general, Van Dyke added: Im very, very worried. No kidding, in every respect. Whats happening with our weather? No one knows one hurricane, tornado after another. There seems to be something wrong with people. People, instead of going to the ballot box, are rioting for no reason, and it doesnt make any difference. Russia is poised along the Ukraine border with nuclear weapons. China has already announced its going to take Taiwan back, he continued. I think we are on the verge of maybe the end, Van Dyke said. Im that worried about it. Donald Trump and Joe Biden at the first presidential debate (Getty) Democrats appeared in deep panic from early on in the debate as Biden appeared frail and quiet. In post-debate analysis, CNN pundits even spoke of the possibility that he should step down as the partys candidate. Vice President Kamala Harris told the network: It was a slow start, thats obvious to everyone. Im talking about the choice in November. She said the choice is between the destruction of democracy or to continue on a course thats about strengthening Americas economy. Occasionally, Biden was able to make a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeatedly lied. At one point, Biden attacked Trump for reportedly calling veterans losers and suckers. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker, he said in reference to his son Beau Biden, who served in the US military and who died of glioblastoma. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Follow live updates and analysis from the presidential debate here The women usually found themselves together on the South Carolina Senate floor, sometimes disagreeing. After all, three are Republicans, two Democrats. Tuesday night, in a dimly lit bar in rural Lexington County, they found each another in an embrace. They all got one green tea shot, as state Sen. Katrina Shealy gave a speech to her fellow female senators, who she considers sisters. It had been a long, nearly 102 degree, heat-filled day of campaigning for Shealy, who had just conceded to her opponent Carlisle Kennedy. The five clinked their paper cups, tears in eyes, but smiles on faces. Their words were muffled by the live music at Bubbas Pub and Grub, but some words from them and supporters could be overheard: painful, fierce, bittersweet, powerful. They were the only five women incumbents running for the South Carolina Senate after Mia McLeod, I-Richland, decided not to run. Now, the three GOP women are gone. The end came slowly, as Sens. Penry Gustafson and Sandy Senn lost their June 11 primaries. Shealy lost two weeks later in the runoffs. The races were different in geography, turnout and opponents. But one identical thing ultimately ousted them: abortion. Wednesday, the three Republican woman huddled for a final time on the Senate floor. They held up the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award they received a little over a year ago because the trio broke party ranks to block a near total abortion ban with limited exceptions. They hadnt been allowed to present the award in the statehouse before, because it was too controversial, Shealy said. Its beautiful, and I am proud of it, and Im proud of losing this Senate race just to get this because I stood up for the right thing, Shealy said in a speech to the Senate on Wednesday. I stood up for women. I stood up for children. I stood up for South Carolina. All of these sister senators here with me, were not ashamed to be called sister senators, were not ashamed of anything we did. Since April 2023, Sister Senators attacked on abortion It was no surprise when Shealy, Senn and Gustafson saw their faces plastered across mailers, billboards, Facebook messages and more in April 2023. The trio had just blocked the abortion bill with limited exceptions. They are no doubt pro-life, they say. But the messaging against them said otherwise. Threats against their re-elections were prominent. Groups went after Shealy at her church following that vote. A man with signs that said Katrina Shealy is not pro-life, would sit outside her church, along with photos of babies cut up. The pastor told him to go away. A month later, before the three Republican women held model spines sent by groups wanting nearly all abortions outlawed, Students for Life put fliers on windshields in Shealys church parking lot. The fliers said Shealy Senn, Gustafson and others were not pro-life and were baby killers. A letter sent to Students for Life from the church and others asked the the Va.-based organization to not do it again. Shealy said the head of the organization wrote back and all but called my pastor a heathen. Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media & policy, Students for Life Action and America, wrote in an email Beginning a year ago, we were informing voters about the senators actions in support of abortion and to block vital legislation. It seems like she is desperate to talk about anything other than her record of joining with pro-abortion Democrats to block a Republican pro-life bill. The first I have heard of any alleged incidents was from your email. A year later, similar messaging amped up against the women before the June 11 primary. But not in the way expected, not nearly with as much force as some feared. Gustafson said she definitely noticed an increase in mailers after her vote; and described a similar level before primary. But Shealy said she hadnt noticed as much of an increase leading up to June. Multiple lawmakers across the aisle, Lexington county political figures and activists were aware of the intensity that was brought onto the Sister Senators last year. Leading into June, some wondered where it went at first. For Shealy, a lot of the attacks leading up to the primary referenced abortion without outright saying it. Both Kennedy and Zoe Warren, Shealys primary challengers, often refered to themselves as having more conservative values, and being a true conservative. Warren ran his campaign asserting he was for person hood. Gustafsons opponent, Allen Blackmon, campaigned at large churches where he talked about his pro-life values. Senns opponent, state Rep. Matt Leber, went after her in their heated race, and abortion was a central theme. Before the primaries, multiple South Carolina political watchers and politicians said for a majority of people, abortion was not going to drive people to vote. A Winthrop University poll released in early June indicated only 37% of South Carolinians support a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy while 43% are in opposition. The survey also included that a majority of South Carolinians were in favor of exceptions. Even if abortion didnt drive voters to the polls, the trios vote made them a target for opponents to marshal a select group of motivated voters. Abortion used across the aisle, but didnt affect all candidates For many candidates this election, abortion was a main attack issue. Although it usually divides party lines, it was used heavily in both partys internal campaign efforts. In the contentious District 26 race to succeed state Sen. Nikki Setzler, state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Richland, attacked the abortion record of state Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun. The way hes voted indicates a total lack of respect for women and their ability to make their own healthcare decisions, Harpootlian said about what he called Otts extreme position on abortion. Harpootlian also took to social media to voice his concerns over the issue. BREAKING: In a radio interview this morning, @reprussellott revealed his support for a 12-15 week abortion ban, Harpootlian wrote via Twitter on May 20. Even Trump doesnt support that! Disappointed but not surprised-this is a dangerous position for anyone in 2024 post-Roe, but especially a Democrat. Hear it yourself. Attached was a video of Ott who said six weeks was not adequate, but starting at 12-15 weeks is a place that he would like to start. He has certainly tries to distort the truth on that issue and several other issues to try to scare voters and win the race off of negativity, Ott said. Its one of the issues that matters to a lot of voters, and I think it should. The issue did not seem to drive voter turnout. Ott won the primary. In the Upstate state House District 6 race, Freedom Caucus member state Rep. April Cromer was scrutinized by her opponent Kyle White, who came after her for her support on the South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023. The bill sparked outrage from both Democrats and Republicans, which defined an unborn child as a person at any stage of development. It said an unborn child who is a victim of homicide is afforded equal protection under the homicide laws of the state. Cromer requested she be added as a sponsor of the bill March 2, 2023, according to state house records, even though on social media, she said she would never and would never advocate for punishing women. Thats not who we are as a community. The same bill was used to attack Lexington County state Rep. RJ May and vice chair of the Freedom Caucus, but in a misleading manner, May said. Instead of protecting life, radical RJ MAY proposed a bill to sentence women our daughters and granddaughters to death who have abortions. RJ MAY is too extreme! a flier from the Palmetto Truth Project that circulated in Mays district read. A note at the bottom of the mailer read *Yes, even victims of rape and incest! Fortunately common sense Republicans said no to RJ May. May didnt propose the bill. According to state house records, Mays name was never on the bill. Multiple members of the Freedom Caucus, however, did sign onto the bill. While candidates on both sides of the aisle were attacked on abortion, it ultimately didnt influence voters in the way it did with other races. Abortion is not the only issue. But for passionate voters, it drives them to polls Shealy and her supporters asserted that abortion was not the only issue before the primary, citing the economy and immigration as important to voters. Ott agreed. Not everyone is a single issue voter, Ott said before the election. Ive heard a lot about job creation, business, keeping the community safe. I dont know that I would rank it at the very top but its certainly a very important issue to people. After the election, state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, asserted that the three woman were not voted out on a single issue. Republican voters dont like gender wars, he said, and the campaigns against the women did a good job at painting them as squishy and out of touch. When youre on CNN, and youre on MSNBC, when youre on the front page of The New York Times and the front page of the Washington Post, and youre repeatedly sticking your finger in the eye of a lot of conservative folks ... its not about one issue, Massey said. But many Lexington County community members, politicians and leaders said before Tuesday that Shealys position as a senator was secure. Katrina Shealy is the real deal, Lexington Town Council Member Gavin Smith said. Shes not a politician who makes false promises, shes a leader who delivers real results. In the June 11 primaries, Shealy beat Kennedy by 4 percentage points. In the runoff, she lost by 25 percentage points. Too few people know who their local legislator is, Vicki Ringer, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood South Carolina. Even for a senator like Shealy, who had been in office for 12 years and had a number of people describe her widespread influence, she herself admitted she never assumes people know who she is when she walks into a room. People should know that Senn, Shealy and Gustafson know their districts, know their constituents and know how they feel about abortion and contraceptives and IVF and other reproductive health issues that are under attack, Ringer said before the elections. They know where their voters are, and polling in their districts says that their constituents support what they did in the Senate last year. The issue has become an extremely divisive argument that didnt exist before, Ringer said. In her goodbye speech on the Senate floor, Senn asked the body of legislators to consider allowing the JFK Courage award to have a place in the Senate. The Sister Senators had been told it was too controversial to be in the body. She said she hoped they would consider allowing the award to be there as a symbol of their work and legacy. By god Im proud of it, Shealy said, talking about the award. Theres nothing anybody can do to hurt me now. So, take a look. This is what the Senate seat cost. Somebody better do the job, Im leaving. Im going to be out there saving children and families some other way. On Thursday afternoon, while you were fretting about how well President Joe Biden might perform in his debate with Donald Trump, a planet-killer asteroid roughly the size of Mount Everest passed within five million miles of Planet Earth. In cosmic terms, thats really closeabout 17 times the distance to the moon. Two days later, on June 29, a city-killer asteroid roughly the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza will pass within 180,000 miles of our planet. Thats actually closer than the moon. I dont mean to downgrade other threats to the planet, such as climate change, nuclear annihilation, overpopulation, and environmental degradation. We should do everything in our power to address these ills. But it never fails to amaze me how little the government does to address this pesky asteroid problem. NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office, the lead agency for tracking asteroids and comets, wasnt even created until 2016. Its budgeted at a paltry $138 million, even less than we spend on the (underfunded) National Endowment for the Arts. I can only repeat what I wrote 18 years ago in Slate: However many guys we have working on this problem, it cant possibly be enough. (I meant women too.) This solar system of ours is a dangerous place! You want to know how dangerous, look at the moon. Kinda pocky, no? The moon has more than 100,000 craters, all of them created when some asteroid or comet smashed into it. The moon has no atmospheretherefore no weatherand no large bodies of water. Also, it registers virtually no geologic activity. Its terrain is therefore unchanging (excepting 500,000 pounds of human trash left there since 1969). To look at the moon is to look at its entire history, and that history consists entirely of stuff slamming into it. A mere 239,000 miles away, Planet Earth too dwells inside an interstellar shooting gallery. Granted, our planet has some advantages the moon does not. Tiny objects that bombard us daily burn up in the atmosphere. Smallish asteroids three feet across strike the earth several times a year; these get burned up too. For this, lets be thankful. But how often does bigger stuff penetrate the atmosphere and cause trouble? Frequently enough that most of us remember the asteroid the size of a sperm whale that exploded 19 miles over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013. Nobody saw it coming. The resulting shock wave smashed windows all over Chelyabinsk and five neighboring cities and injured about 1,500 people. Episodes like this are said to happen every 60 years or so. If you want to calculate the likely impact of an asteroid hitting the Earth, based on its size, density, and speed, click here. Planet killers are the biggest worry, obviously, followed by city killers. One way you can tell the science of asteroid risk is young is that it has not yet developed bureaucratic-sounding euphemisms. Planet killers are exactly what they sound like. Sixty-five million years ago, a planet-killer asteroid a little bigger than Mount Everest crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Mexicos Yucatan peninsula, creating the Chicxulub crater. Seventy percent of all living species (plants and animals) were wiped out, including the dinosaurs. The impact on human beings was zero because we had the good sense not to exist (and would not until 300,000 years ago). Within the past million years, according to James Garvin, chief scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, four half-mile objects slammed into Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ghana, and Kazakhstan. We dont know the consequences, exactly, but Garvin said, It would be in the range of serious crap happening. Oscar Fuentes-Munoz from the University of Colorado, Boulder, says were probably good for 1,000 years, based on NASAs cataloging of the 1,000 planet killers that we know are out there. Scientists believe these represent 95 percent of all the planet killers in the general vicinity. Thursdays planet-killer near-miss, for instance, has been anticipated since 2011. City killers are more of a problem. There are people still living (not a lot) who were alive at the time of the last one on June 30, 1908, when an asteroid the size of a 13-story building exploded six miles above the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in a remote corner of Siberia. The force of the explosion knocked over or set fire to trees for miles around and killed scores of reindeer. Fortunately, only about 30 people (mostly reindeer-herders) lived near the blast, of whom a reported three were killed. Word of the collision traveled slowly; our information about the event is sketchy because two decades passed before scientists appeared on the scene. Whats certain is that, had this been a populated areaas many more places on earth are, 116 years laterthe death toll would have been catastrophic. Scientists have been able to locate only about 40 percent of the 30,000 or so city-killer asteroids they believe to reside in earths vicinity. The European Space Agency keeps a list of 1,624 city killers that pose a non-zero risk of colliding with the Earth over the next century. But keep in mind that city killers often take astrophysicists by surprise; the one passing near Earth June 29 was first spotted only last year. The good news is that, in 2022, NASA slammed a spacecraft into a 581-foot asteroid called Dimorphos and managed to change its orbital pattern. Dimorphos was big enough to be a city killer, but it wasnt on a trajectory to collide with Earth. The mission was a test to see whether NASA could alter a more dangerous asteroids trajectory. It turns out that it can. But again, NASA can do this only if it knows theres a city killer out there, and 60 percent of the time it doesnt. To spread global awareness of the asteroid threat, the United Nations has declared June 30 to be International Asteroid Day, in memory of the Tunguska incident. Please take a moment on Sunday to reflect that it is not crazy to urge the U.S. government, and other governments around the world, to give asteroids more attentionbefore they give us more attention. Unless the case settles in the next few weeks, a jury will decide whether Beau Rivage Casino & Resort security officers used unreasonable force on a VIP guest who appeared drunk and didnt leave when security asked him to. Florida resident Brent Nettles, who was visiting the Biloxi resort with family, filed a federal lawsuit in March 2023 against the Beau Rivage. He accused the casino of numerous wrongs, including false arrest, malicious prosecution, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. U.S. District Judge Taylor McNeel has already agreed with the casinos contention that most of Nettles claims should be dismissed. A jury trial in the civil case is scheduled July 16 at the federal courthouse in Gulfport on two remaining claims: intentional battery and false imprisonment. McNeel is set to rule before trial on how much testimony the jury can hear about Nettles injuries and whether a former Coast FBI agent can testify as an expert witness that casino security officers used unreasonable force, which is his contention. Attorneys for both sides presented their positions to McNeel at a hearing Thursday. Nettles will be asking the jury to award him around $16,000 for medical bills and an unspecified amount for pain, suffering and emotional distress. Biloxi casino arrest Nettles arrived at the Beau in March 2022, having visited the casino about twice a year since it opened 25 years earlier, he said in pretrial testimony. He left in handcuffs after being removed from a casino bar because, the Beau Rivage contends, he was staggering drunk. McNeel agreed with the casinos position that security officers had the right to ask Nettles to leave and to arrest him for trespassing when he failed to do so. A jury will need to decide if security officers took the arrest too far by wrestling Nettles to the casino floor, cuffing him and detaining him, the judge said. Nettles admittedly got tipsy after his arrival at the Beau, having lost $5,000 while gambling. He resisted when Beau Rivage security told him to leave but finally decided to comply, his pretrial testimony indicates. Nettles said he then remembered that he had forgotten to pay the tab and was returning to do so when security officers descended on him. Casino video shows Beau Rivage security escorting Nettles, in handcuffs, from the bar and across the casino floor to an office area, where he was belted to a bench. His father sat with him to wait for Biloxi police after what amounted to a citizens arrest by the Beau. Injuries claimed in lawsuit Nettles claims his left hand was injured when he was handcuffed, leaving him with nerve pain, a tremor and numbness. His regular physician, whose testimony Nettles plans to use, attributed the problem to the handcuffs and sent him to a neurologist. The neurologists diagnosis was inconclusive. Nettles attorney David Harris said the neurologist did not respond when contacted about the case and will not be called as a witness. Beau Rivage attorney Michael Kelly is skeptical about the cause of Nettles symptoms. Beau attorneys have an expert lined up to testify that any effects from mechanical compression of the wrist should go away in a short time. Kelly also said during the hearing that excessive drinking could cause the tremors. But Harris argued that the symptoms started after Nettles was handcuffed, He continues to have tremors, Harris said. He continues to have pain. He has numbness and tingling. It was finally Nigel Farages time to appear before a BBC Question Time audience this evening, more than a week after Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer had theirs. The Reform UK leader took the podium in the same hour as a Green Party representative, Adrian Ramsay. Yet only one of these men has excited reaction from our writers. Here, Sam Ashworth-Hayes and Tom Harris give their verdicts: both believe Mr Farage faced a tough fight, and could have done better. After a bruising week in the press, this was always going to be a challenging evening for Farage. There was an early hint of the trouble in store during the questions for Adrian Ramsey, co-leader of the Greens, who gleefully took the opportunity to reference Channel 4s undercover filming in Clacton, before promptly failing to answer a question about the views of candidates in his own party, and sinking gently without a trace. Up stepped Nigel. Question one: What is it about you and your party that attracts racists and extremists? So, a friendly audience then. Farage started off ok, pointing out that he does not in fact want racists or extremists, and condemned the comments made over the weekend, before veering off-piste into allegations of an establishment stitch-up. Channel 4, of course, denies any such thing. There were ways of handling it yes, we condemn it, there are bad people in every party, well get better at weeding them out that might have moved the matter on. Instead, we got a lengthy discussion of whether it was or was not a political setup of astonishing proportions that set the tone for the rest of the evening. A series of questions focused on immigration, without which this country would be nothing, according to one audience member. Farage handled that one well saying it worked well when it was low and managed and was generally polished in his performance. But it was hard to shake the feeling that the audience was enjoying putting the boot in, and he appeared discomforted. For a politician who thrives on sentiment and rhetoric, this appearance was a problem. The audience was not one his particular mix of policies and personality chimed with. His strength as a disruptor is when hes allowed to do the heckling, standing opposite a politician from a larger party and needling them on their own record. This evening was an illustration that he is not entirely immune to those tactics himself. Presumably Nigel Farage is reconsidering his demand that he and his party deserve more TV coverage. To give him his due, he didnt wilt under the pressure from the BBC Question Time audience, quite a few of whom seemed rigidly opposed to everything the Reform UK leader stood for. It felt like some sort of cathartic experience for ordinary Britons who felt free at last to be as rude or at least as forthright as they liked. Question after question sought, and succeeded in, skewering Farage, mainly over immigration, but also the foul language of some of his candidates and volunteers. Fiona Bruce, who was in charge, almost gagged as she read out one appallingly offensive quote, offering Farage the opportunity to clarify that the party had distanced himself from him. Which it had. We think. Its all the fault of someone else, said Farage, in this case the private company who was paid to vet candidates on his behalf. The sure-footedness of the man who triggered the Brexit debate was put under pressure as never before, and given he has had plenty of time to prepare for this grilling, given he has publicly demanded such an opportunity, he was rather short on answers. It would be natural, for instance, to assume that he would be able to capitalise on the Governments inaction in the face of the arrival of small boats on the south coast, or from Labours determination not to come up with an alternative to the Rwanda scheme. Instead Farage fumbled what should have been a gift of a question from an audience member who was somewhat sceptical about how asylum seekers can be returned to France. Leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights was about the extent of the solution, and its fair to say that he sounded unconvinced about his own response. Towards the end it was another question from the audience that left Farage flummoxed: why was his party advocating fear, in contrast to the Green Party co-leader who had appeared earlier in the programme advocating hope? Again, Farage was out of answers, and sought instead to deliver the same old bloke in a pub schtick that has worked so often in the past but which now looks tired and just a bit embarrassing. 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. (NEXSTAR) During Thursday nights first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, several accusations came to the fore. But one exchange between the president and the former president caused one of the nights most tense moments. Near the end of the first 30 minutes, Biden claimed Trump previously verbally attacked and disrespected American veterans, particularly ones who were injured or died during combat. Trump rages against Biden, Fox News ahead of CNN debate My son served in Iraq, said Biden. He lived next to burn pits. He came back with glioblastoma. He [Trump] called veterans suckers and losers. My son was not a loser. He was not a sucker. YOURE the loser. YOURE the sucker. Trump immediately denied the comments, saying in part: That was a made-up quote. Suckers and losers. They made it up. It was in a third-rate magazine thats failing like many of these magazines. He [Biden] made that up. He put it in commercials. We had 19 people who said I didnt say it. Despite his claims to the contrary, however, Trumps own former chief of staff John Kelly previously confirmed Trump called dead veterans suckers back in 2018. Discussion of Trumps comments also did feature in a Biden campaign video earlier this month, which Trump later said should be removed (though no action was ever taken). In reference to the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, the Biden campaign released a one-minute video titled, What Trump Thinks, which also noted Trumps previous mocking of late Sen. John McCain, who had been captured during the Vietnam War. Trump says he will not block access to mifepristone The losers and suckers comments were first revealed in a multi-source article from The Atlantic on Sept. 3, 2020. The article, Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are Losers and Suckers,' laid out Trumps 2018 canceled visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France. According to the Atlantics close sources, Trump canceled the visit claiming that the helicopter couldnt fly and that the Secret Service would be unable to drive him there the Atlantic reports neither statement were true. The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg instead reports that sources close to Trump said that the real reason for the trips cancellation was that Trump worried his hair would look bad in the rain and photos would be taken. Trump reportedly said, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. The Atlantic also reported that during a different exchange on the France trip, Trump called the Marines who died in the Battle of Belleau Wood suckers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. How dignitaries and community members came together to thank Salina Airport's Tim Rogers Something big brought two U.S. senators to Salina on Thursday the celebration of nearly 40 years of service from Salina Airport Authority's executive director Tim Rogers. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, both R-Kansas, were among the speakers during the ceremony, all of whom spoke about the impact that Rogers has had on Salina, Kansas and the aviation industry as a whole. Included in the accolades for Rogers was the acknowledgement of the progress the Salina Regional Airport made after its transition from Schilling Air Force to a general aviation facility and industrial center. "We are here to honor Tim for (your) commitment, but we are also here to celebrate your time and the successes of everything you've done," said Michelle Swanson, director of administration and finance for the Airport Authority. U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran present a copy of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to Tim Rogers during his retirement celebration. Rogers served as the executive director of the Salina Airport Authority for 39 years. Roger Marshall speaks of successes before and during ceremony Before the retirement celebration Thursday, Marshall spent time touring some of the facilities at the airport, including new technologies being used in such places as Hangar 626, the campus of Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus and businesses in the airport industrial center. He said the progress and success at the airport was "almost overwhelming." "Think about this, 8,000 jobs out here, there's $1 billion worth of construction that is going to break ground here in the next two years," Marshall said. "It's really hard to put all the pieces together (and) some incredible synergy behind all of this is Tim Rogers." Marshall said he has gotten to know Rogers in the past nine years or so, but all of the interactions have been beneficial. "He's been a great teacher and mentor to me," Marshall said. Marshall pointed to the airport's industrial center and its benefit to Kansas. "I can't think of an industrial park that is more successful than this one across the entire state," Marshall said. Marshall also noted the expanding and emerging technologies that the airport is already offering space and facilities to work toward. "I think Salina is the perfect place to see the future of drones," he said. Marshall said he didn't know what this place would look like without Tim Rogers. "I don't think anyone has done more with less as far as developing a rural airport," he said. "It's more than just flights coming in and out of here. It's all the support services ... all the maintenance that's going on." Jerry Moran recalls his long history working with Tim Rogers In his comments during the ceremony, Moran spoke about being introduced to Rogers by Ben Vidricksen in 1989 after taking office in the Kansas State Senate. "(Vidricksen) said, 'Do whatever he says,'" Moran said. "Ben was somebody who rolled up his sleeves all the time to make Salina a great community, and he had the best ally he could ever have in Tim Rogers." Moran cited Rogers' influence on projects. "He always provided the best leadership in pulling people together and getting things done," Moran said. Early projects included K-State Salina and the Smoky Hill Bombing Range, Moran said, while more recent projects have been bringing new and expanding businesses to the airport, such as 1 Vision Aviation, Schwan's pizza plant expansion and expanding technologies at K-State Salina. "If you think about ... the positive developments in your city, so many of them, almost without exception, involve Tim Rogers and his care and passion for people in this community," Moran said. A final surprise for Rogers from the Kansas Aviation Museum Before Rogers gave words of thanks to those who spoke, the people he has worked with and the family that has supported him, there was one final surprise. Kansas Aviation Museum president and CEO Ben Sauceda took the microphone and spoke about the accolades, awards and honors Rogers has received over the years. Now, one more honor will be bestowed on him. "It's my privilege and my honor to let you that are a 2024 Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame inductee," Sauceda said. Rogers was taken aback by the announcement while those in attendance gave him a standing ovation. Sauceda said Rogers will join other 2024 inductees at the museum this fall. This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Airport's Tim Rogers celebrated at retirement ceremony The Milwaukee County Courthouse. (Photo | Isiah Holmes) Kristina Jackson, a survivor of domestic violence who has struggled with depression, said Disability Rights Wisconsin held her hand through her court process and for some of the time after it was finished. The support, which came through DRWs Victim Advocacy Program, came in the form of Pam Malin, her advocate, and a DRW attorney who attended court hearings with her, helped her get connected with community resources and helped her move after her son started reexperiencing trauma in their home. Jackson, who is a social worker, said she had never been in a situation to this extreme and had never been the person in need of help. When I ended up being the person that needed the help, I realized I didnt really know where to go, and at that time, DRW really helped me to feel comfortable with accepting the help. In part because of the help the organization provided, Jackson and her son have gotten to a place she describes as really good. Theyre in a new home and Jackson works with a nonprofit program in Milwaukee where she helps mentor youth. Im grateful. Im blessed to be alive and [Im] able to pour back into the community, Jackson said. The same DRW program that helped Jackson and many other victims over the years is now facing funding cuts. Nadya Rosen, the managing attorney for the Victim Advocacy Program at DRW, told the Examiner that through the program people with disabilities who are victims of crimes can come to us when they need assistance understanding more about the legal process, reporting the crime, getting representation in a family law case that in part stems from the crime or the crime is relevant to that. This has included victims of all crime types, including including domestic violence, sexual assault and robbery and since 2019, DRW has received received $872,000 to do this work from the state of Wisconsin. The money, which makes up the bulk of the funding for DRWs victim advocacy program, comes through the Wisconsin Department of Justices Office of Crime Victim Services, which has been receiving about $44.5 million per year from the federal Department of Justice to administer Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants. This year, however, the Wisconsin crime victims office will only receive $13 million, due to federal funding shortfalls. The federal funding that has been distributed to states including Wisconsin was collected from fines and penalties from people and corporations convicted of federal crimes. That pot of money has shrunk from more than $4 billion to $1.5 billion as of May. As a result of the cuts, Wisconsin organizations that applied for VOCA grants for the 2024-25 cycle were only allowed to request up to $250,000 (and potentially may not receive the full amount). DRW is now looking at filling a $620,000 per year gap. Theres not one grant that I can get that will fill that hole, Rosen said. Federal and state governments and advocacy organizations knew the shortfall was coming. But funding from the state of Wisconsin is limited and Congress has failed to act, which has left Rosen trying to piece together funding so that DRW can continue to do the full scope of its work. This year the Wisconsin Legislature passed and Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill that sought to fill some of those gaps by allocating $6.4 million for sexual assault victim services grants, $2.4 million for domestic abuse grants and $1.2 million for child advocacy grants a total of $10 million. Rosen noted that while the funding is helpful, its also temporary, with a sunset date in June 2025. In addition, Disability Rights Wisconsin is not eligible for some of the funding and the funding doesnt encompass the full scope of victim advocacy work DRW does. Thats really where the crisis comes from, Rosen said. While the organization is not eligible for funds meant to help victims of sexual assault due to the way its program is structured, she said DRW is eligible for the set of funds meant to help with victims of domestic violence and is working on submitting an application. Rosen said DRW has applied for a number of federal grants as well through the Office on Violence Against Women, including legal assistance for victims grants, outreach and services to underserved populations grants and rural grants. She said this will tide us over to some degree. However, Rosen noted those grants are also limited to working with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking leaving a big gap for other survivors DRW has been working with over the last several years. People with disabilities are disproportionately targeted and therefore victimized by crime, and the crimes that they experience are not just domestic violence and sexual assault. In fact, they are significantly impacted by identity theft, theft in general, by harassment, by stalking. Theres also assault, neglect all of those things that are associated sometimes with having to have care providers in their homes. I cant work with people who have been victimized in those ways using those other grants, Rosen said. It means that the full complement of folks that we used to work with under the VOCA grants are just not going to get served, and theyre not being served by anyone else either. Rosen said regular, predictable funding in Wisconsin whether that comes through Congress or state funding would be a sustaining force for victim services. A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general, including Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul, called for Congress to stabilize the VOCA funding in February. However, until then, Rosen said that many organizations including DRW will continue to deal with the reality of cuts and figuring out how to continue providing services. All of us who provide victim services are really constantly hoping that the fund level wont drop too much and that well consistently get the money, Rosen said. Its very difficult, then, to plan ahead or to not be concerned about the life of your program when you know that there are these sort of ebbs and flows that come from whether a fund is full or not, or whether Congress is going to agree this year or not that year. The post Disability Rights Wisconsin faces cuts to victim rights advocacy grants appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. You Wont Believe What Solved This 30-Year-Old Murder of Two Siblings Nearly 35 years after the death of a Georgia woman and her brother, DNA evidence helped authorities move closer to closing a decades-old cold case and charge a suspect with their murder. A June 26 press release from the DeKalb County District Attorneys Office announced the indictment of 55-year-old Kenneth Perry on two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, rape, four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, and theft by taking connected to the 1990 rape and murder of 43-year-old Pamela Sumpter, and the murder of her brother, 46-year-old John Sumpter. Police found John stabbed to death inside of the apartment on July 15, 1990. Pamela, who was able to describe the attacker, but told police she knew very little him, died from her injuries nearly a month after the incident. The District Attorneys office was able to identify Perry as a suspect with the help of a Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA grant they obtained in October 2023. In February 2024, Pamelas rape kit was uploaded to a national database, which allowed authorities to match the DNA profile to that from an unprosecuted sexual assault case from Detroit in 1992. According to the Dekalb County DAs office, the Detroit victim positively identified the suspect as Kenneth Perry and he was arrested by the Sheriffs Office Fugitive Unit on June 6. Decades after the tragic loss of their family members, the Sumpter family is relieved to have some sense of closure. Its been over 30 years since this terrible, evil tragedy happened to my brother and sister. We now have closure, Pamela and Johns sibling, James Sumpter told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. What does length of jury deliberations mean for verdict in Karen Read murder trial? All eyes continue to be on Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court on Friday as a jury of six women and six men resume deliberations in the murder trial of Karen Read. Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her car and leaving him for dead in the snow in Canton in January 2022, but the defense has made a case that she is being framed. Deliberations started Tuesday afternoon after the defense and prosecution delivered closing arguments. On Wednesday, jurors asked Judge Beverly Cannone to see a Massachusetts State Police SERT team report on the search of 34 Fairview Road in Canton, where OKeefes body was found. Defense attorney Alan Jackson also feuded with Cannone over the verdict slip that was given to the jurors. The jury deliberated through the day Thursday without any interruption, but they ultimately left for the day without reaching a verdict. Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) Alan Jackson, From left, Liza Little, defendant Karen Read and David Yanetti wait for a question from the jury as the jury deliberates in Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Judge Beverly Cannone looks over the verdict slip the jurors have to fill out when they reach a verdict in Karen Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. The defense has asked for some modifications. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. Jury deliberations began in the trial Tuesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Carol Kelly, of Canton, Mass., below right, waves a pink and white American flag in support of Karen Read while Gail White, of Canton, left, holds a sign, a block from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Lisa Hoffman, of Mansfield, Mass., right, displays a sign in support of Karen Read that features a likeness of a Massachusetts license plate, while seated a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Supporters of Karen Read display signs and a banner a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Supporters of Karen Read listen to proceedings from Read's trial from a laptop computer while gathered a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Laura McGillis, of Attleboro, Mass., a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Eva Jenkins, of Bourne, Mass., left, a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars as other supporters place a banner, right, a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center right, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. Karen Read listens to family members, after the jury is dismissed at the end of the evidence phase of her murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) After the defense's last witness, Judge Beverly J. Cannone speaks to the jury during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read Retired forensic pathologist Dr. Frank Sheridan (not shown) is questioned by defense attorney Elizabeth Little during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center, stands amid her lawyers during a break in proceedings during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, and her defense lawyers Alan Jackson, left, and David Yannetti, right, listen as the prosecution questions their witness Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, listens as the prosecutor questions Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, listens to testimony during her murder 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) Karen Read, center, sits in court with her legal team during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (David McGlynn/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read listens to her lawyer Alan Jackson question witness Massachusetts State trooper Michael Proctor during her, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read reacts to he attorney Alan Jackson as he cross examines state trooper Michael Proctor during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read and attorney David Yannetti listen during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court 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. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court 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. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) As deliberations enter a fourth day, the questions now are: Has it been too long and how long will it take the jury to find a verdict? Its not really this long. I think some people dont understand how the system works, criminal defense attorney Peter Elikann told Boston 25 News. There were 70-something witnesses and hundreds and hundreds of exhibits. I think that theyre doing a diligent job here and really hasnt been like three days. The first day was like two-and-a-half hours and the next two days werent full days either. Elikann added, Actually, this is kind of standard. Jurors have had few questions for the judge after a deluge of evidence was presented during the trial. Is this unusual? Kind of...Sometimes theyre back all the time, sometimes they ask nothing. Theres really no rule of thumb. Its kind of a wild card what goes on in jury deliberations, Elikann said. Right now, I dont if everybodys just in lockstep and theyre all in agreement or if theres some big battle going on. Elikann added, As outsiders looking in, we can only just speculate. Were clueless as to whats going on in there. As is in every jury deliberation. Earlier this week, the defense asked for an amendment to the jurys verdict slip. How unusual is something like that? I think it was a really good request. It also protects, if she is found guilty of anything, it protects them from an appeal, Elikann said. It just made things clearer. A jury shouldnt be confused by anything. At what point should there be concern for the possibility of a hung jury? It could be a week-and-a-half or two weeks or something if they come to the judge and say, Were just deadlocked and we cant seem to make any progress, Elikann explained. She will then send them back once or twice and just say, Please go back and try again, try harder. Elikann added, I think everybodys in the same mindset here after these nine weeks. If we had to start all over again from scratch, everybodys going to be throwing their hands up and asking, We have to do this again? RELATED: John OKeefe, the victim in the Karen Read trial, was a veteran officer and devoted father figure Karen Read once admired her Boston police boyfriend shes accused of killing Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A dog bit a couple of D.C. police officers who responded to a shooting in Northeast Thursday night. WATCH: Fireworks go off moments before Southeast DC apartment fire breaks out The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said officers were investigating a shooting that happened in the 4000 block of Minnesota Ave. (Mariel Carbone/DC News Now) (Mariel Carbone/DC News Now) (Mariel Carbone/DC News Now) There, a dog bit two officers. They had minor injuries, an MPD spokesperson told DC News Now. Anyone with information was asked to call 911 with the event number: I20240323918 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFRV) A Colorado man, and former youth pastor in central Wisconsin, has been charged after allegedly assaulting a victim in his vehicle sometime between September 2002 and December 2003. According to a release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), 52-year-old James Lane was charged with one count of Repeated Sexual Assault of a Child, stemming from a report made to the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative. Sheriff: Estranged husband of missing Wisconsin woman arrested, search ongoing Authorities say the charge relates to reported incidents that allegedly happened between September 1, 2002, and December 31, 2003. It was noted in the DOJs release that at the time of the incidents, Lane was a youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church located in Wisconsin Rapids. Lane is alleged to have assaulted the victim in his vehicle when he was reportedly driving the victim home. When interviewed by Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation special agents, Lane allegedly stated that he had a relationship with a girl in the youth group that got inappropriate. Before reporting the alleged assault through the Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative, authorities say that the victim had not reported any incidents to either the church or law enforcement. Man convicted in Wisconsin for impersonating federal officer, wire fraud The Clergy and Faith Leader Abuse Initiative is providing a safe and trusted place for survivors to make reports about sexual abuse, said Attorney General Josh Kaul. Thank you to those whose investigation of the information reported in this case has led to this criminal charge. Survivors of clergy or faith leader abuse, their friends and family, or anyone who has information about how a religious organization has responded to reported abuse are encouraged to report that information to Wisconsin DOJ either online at SupportSurvivors.widoj.gov or by calling 1-877-222-2620. Wisconsin Department of Justice This charge is the result of an investigation by Wisconsin DOJs Division of Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. 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. Donald Trumps statements during Thursday nights debate including that he did nothing wrong during Jan. 6 and also never slept with a porn star were not fact checked by host station CNN, but viewers on social media did not hold back when the former president mentioned afterbirth abortion. NO ONE ABORTS A BABY AFTER BIRTH! Whether you are pro-choice or anti-abortion that is a FULL LIE, Julee Jonez wrote on X. Trump, who energetically tore into a somewhat meek Biden all night, floated the patently false idea that some states are engaging in abortion after birth, or, as he more colorfully phrased it, rip[ping] the baby out of the womb. Yes, [doctors] can take the life of the baby in the ninth month, and even after birth. Because some states Democrats run take it after birth again, the governor, former governor of Virginia, So hes, hes willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb, Trump said. Moderator Jack Tapper was also blasted online for refusing to challenge Trumps many off-base assertions. Im sorry, but Trump just claimed that Democrats allow after birth abortion and the moderators only response was thank you??? tweeted Jessica Valenti. She added, FACT CHECK THAT ST LIVE. Keith Olbermann also laid into CNN for letting Trumps lies stand and blasted the networks utter failure as a news organization. A retired teacher in Kansas City also railed against Trump and CNN: One more time for the people in the back, there is no such thing as an afterbirth abortion. Just because the people moderating this sorry excuse for a debate capable of fact, checking even the most basic things doesnt mean the rest of us cant recognize when we hear it! Read more social media reactions on Trumps abortion lie in the roundup below. CNN's decision to abrogate its journalistic responsibilities by not fact checking Trump's firehose of lies is unforgivable. This debate is Biden vs the tag team of Trump and CNN's utter failure as a news organization Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) June 28, 2024 I'm sorry, but Trump just claimed that Democrats allow "after birth" abortion and the moderators' only response was "thank you"??? Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) June 28, 2024 NO ONE ABORTS A BABY AFTER BIRTH! Whether you are pro-choice or anti-abortion that is a FULL LIE. #Debates2024 pic.twitter.com/nlM7i5nUKx Julee Jonez (@iamjuleejonez) June 28, 2024 This isn't a debate. It's a firehose of lies from DJT, with the moderators saying nothing about any of them. The American public deserves better. Dr. Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755 on lots o platforms) (@jbf1755) June 28, 2024 One more time for the people in the back, there is no such thing as an afterbirth abortion. Just because the people moderating this sorry excuse for a debate capable of fact, checking even the most basic things doesnt mean the rest of us cant recognize when we hear it! https://t.co/d8grSavS91 DTwyman (@dtwyman) June 28, 2024 The post Donald Trumps Afterbirth Abortion Debate Lie Ignites Fury: There Is No Such Fking Thing appeared first on TheWrap. Mary Trump, Donald Trumps niece and an outspoken opponent of the former president, is in Atlanta as a surrogate for President Joe Bidens campaign ahead of his debate against his predecessor Thursday night, she revealed on CNN. Surprise, Donald! Trump posted on X alongside a video of her CNN announcement. The agreed-upon conditions of the debate prohibit audience members, meaning Trump will not be visible to her uncle during the debate. But she will join five other representatives of the Biden campaign in nearby green rooms, among them California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). I have always been a huge supporter of President Biden, and Ive been saying for a long time, I believe that this is the most important electioncertainly of my lifetime, Trump told CNNs Wolf Blitzer a few hours before the debate. And I think this is a perfect moment for me to come out publicly not just with my support for President Biden, but to send a very clear message to the American people that we could not make a more egregious mistake than letting Donald Trumpagainanywhere near the levers of power. Trump was skeptical about the ability of her unclewho spent most of the first presidential debate back in 2020 interrupting both Biden and moderator Chris Wallaceto remain subdued throughout the debate. Absolutely not, Trump said, arguing that some of the debate rules will work against him in that regard. Having his mic muted, not having an audienceall of those play to his weaknesses. And I think as the debate continues, especially as President Biden shows up completely prepared to run circles around a much inferior candidate, Donald will not be able to contain himself for that long. As for whether any of Trumps family members will be at the venue to actually support him, it was unclear as of publication, though CNNs Kaitlan Collins posted on X that Trump arrived in Atlanta without Melania Trump by his side. Donald Trump Jr. had a prior commitment with his oldest daughter, according to The New York Times. First Lady Jill Biden, meanwhile, is expected to be the presidents sole family member in the building. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Now that the first debate is over, the Donald Trump running mate race heads into overdrive. A bevy of potential Republican vice presidential candidates flocked to the Atlanta debate to carry the flag for Trump and to denounce President Joe Biden - all amid news reports that the presumptive GOP 2024 nominee could announce his decision any day now. "He's told some people, yeah," Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law and a co-chair of the Republican National Committee, told Tom Llamas of NBC News. The Trump debate surrogate list included the most often mentioned possibilities: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Marco Rubio of Florida. "We'll know who it is at some point in the next two weeks," Rubio said in a post-debate interview on CNN. Burgum, like the others, buttered up Trump and bashed Biden. The North Dakotan said in an NBC interview that Trump had a "very strong performance," while Biden had "challenges ... just delivering a message." On the social media platform X, Vance said "Trump has so much more energy and clarity than Biden, its just an insane contrast" Trump, who holds a day-after-the-debate rally on Friday in southeastern Virginia, has said he wanted to unveil his running mate just before or during the Republican convention in Milwaukee on July 15-18. In recent days, Trump and his aides have been more equivocal about the timing. "We'll make a decision fairly soon and I think people will be very happy with this decision," Trump told Newsmax in an interview broadcast Tuesday. Trump and his aides have also pointed out that there is always the possibility of a surprise. At the Atlanta debate, the campaign's debate surrogate list included several longshot GOP candidates, including businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former housing secretary Ben Carson, and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York. Im honored to have my name in the mix, Stefanik told reporters after the Trump-Biden debate. Im proud to be a good friend of President Trump." Ramaswamy told reporters he isn't sure he will be Trump's guy. "He has not asked me to be his vice president," he told reporters. "Whoever he asks is going to have, I think, a remarkable ability to serve this country in taking that America First agenda even further." Another possible VP aspirant, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, is scheduled to appear with Trump at his rally Friday in Chesapeake, Va. Youngkin was not spotted in Atlanta, nor were other longshots. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., told USA TODAY that she was staying in Alabama: "I'm looking forward to watching President Trump win tonight's debate as he outlines his vision to restore secure borders, safe streets, stable prices, and strong families." Another vice presidential tryout All the vice presidential contenders who trekked to Atlanta gave television interviews and appeared in the media "spin room" to praise Trump's performance and denigrate Biden - the latest episode in the "Apprentice"-style contest supervised by Trump. Throughout the campaign year, aspiring vice presidents have gone on television, used social media, attended fundraisers, and spoken at campaign events to tout Trump. The auditions have yielded news leaks and reams of stories about who is up and who is down. Trump and his people are all too happy to build the suspense. On Tuesday, two days before the debate, senior adviser Chris LaCivita mocked a news report that the vice presidential announcement "could come as early as this week." "Someone remind me to tweet this story on Friday," LaCivita said on the social platform next week. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum listens as Vivek Ramaswamy, right, speaks while making media rounds in the Spin Room at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion after the CNN Presidential Debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump held at CNN's studios in Atlanta. CNN Anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are moderators of the debate. The social media campaign In the run-up to the Atlanta debate, social media users pushed their own favorite vice presidential candidates. Ramaswamy received much online support. In some cases, Trump allies used social media to shoot down possible contenders. Former presidential son Donald Trump, Jr. hit reports that some Republican donors are still pushing for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who mixed it up with Trump quite frequently during the Republican primaries. On X, the younger Trump said: "Nikki Haley, who served as the puppet of Democrat billionaires and warmongerers, would be a wonderful choice (if) my dad wants to get impeached within about 7 seconds of being sworn in. She's they're last hope!" The campaign's official on-the-record statement remains: "Anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump." The statement also underscores the importance of the pick: That Trump is looking for "a strong leader who will make a great President for eight years after his next four-year term concludes." Trump went down this road this road during his first presidential campaign in 2016. Back then, after a string of news leaks and speculation, Trump selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. Trump finally announced his selection - by tweet - on July 15, the Friday before the Monday opening of the convention. The two had a formal announcement that Saturday. In his Newsmax appearance this week, the interviewer - former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski - cited specific names like Vance and Burgum. "I could take any one of these people," Trump said. "They're great. We have a great bench." Contributing: Maya Homan in Atlanta. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's vice presidential contenders flock to Atlanta debate Don't be fooled. The only sabotage is the rights-stealing plot up Republicans' sleeves. The Ohio Statehouse west portico. Lee Martin is an architect with considerable public sector experience. He was formally a candidate for the Ohio General Assembly, a building code official and the State Architect of Ohio. Republican state leaders were not content enough with gerrymandering the state, holding illegal special elections or refusing to implement the recreational marijuana and reproductive rights initiatives passed overwhelmingly by Ohio voters last November. They now have another right-stealing proposal up their sleeves: closed primary elections. As described by former Ohio Congressman Jim Renacci in a recent Dispatch guest column, the Republican plan would curtail the age-old practice of giving voters primary election ballots based on what party they declare when showing up to vote on primary election day. A word with former Congressman Renacci: Party switchers should not be allowed to sabotage primaries. Interference must stop. Instead, voters would have to declare a party weeks or months earlier. If a candidate was to say something you disagreed with, and you wanted to vote for the opponent, you can freely register and do so currently. Under the Republican plan advocated by Renacci, you may or may not have that option in the future. Crossover is a natural reaction to messy Ohio politics Republicans are upset that many Democrats reportedly crossed over in this years primary election, requesting a Republican ballot to vote for Bernie Moreno to run against Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, thinking Moreno was the weakest of the three Republican candidates. More on the primary race for Senate: How Bernie Moreno won Ohio GOP Senate primary: 4 takeaways from his win Unaware that Republicans could do the same thing, Renacci has argued that these so-called party switchers are engaging in political sabotage and partisan warfare, which Republicans excel at and apparently now feel threatened by. Renacci maintained that party membership is a right protected by the First Amendment. The irony in his statement is that the derogatory effects of factions (political parties) on a democratic republic are discussed in the Federalist Papers, primarily the 10 and 51. Both were written by James Madison, who spoke at length almost 250 years ago about the tyranny of the majority, something Ohioans are now experiencing firsthand under the gerrymandered Republican supermajority. Renacci did make one very good suggestion that Ohioans should seriously consider: his suggestion to start another party. Aug 2, 2022; Columbus, Ohio,USA; The Ohio Voted stickers sit in a basket during the Primary elections at United Methodist Church in Hilliard on August 2, 2022. There should be more parties to represent our ideals The reasonable, moderate members of both the Republican and Democratic Parties constitute the overwhelming majority of voters in the state of Ohio. Additionally, a significant part of the Republican Party has been silenced by the extremist MAGA supporters of Donald Trump. It is quite possible that Renaccis suggestion is precisely what is needed in Ohio to break out of the time-worn Republican domination of all three branches of state government that has caused continuing social and economic decline for decades in Ohio, as measured by numerous statistical indicators, as well as recent scandals such as Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow and House Bill 6. Lee Martin is an architect with considerable public sector experience. He was formally a candidate for the Ohio General Assembly, a building code official and the State Architect of Ohio. The new blended party could unite and energize the populus, implement imaginative new programs and help retain young people currently fleeing to other states upon graduation. It would give hope to those who look ahead and only see further usurpation of citizen rights by a gerrymandered Republican supermajority out of touch with most (especially young) Ohio citizens. The party would be comprised of reasonable, well-intentioned people who agree that the future is more important than the past would be unstoppable, able to defeat candidates like Frank Larose, funded by out of state billionaires. It's worth consideration by those who love our state and wish to preserve its good qualities and our rights for future generations. Im suddenly excited about the future. Thanks, Jim. Lee Martin is an architect with considerable public sector experience. He was formally a candidate for the Ohio General Assembly, a building code official and the State Architect of Ohio. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Party switchers not a problem. Ohio Republicans out to steal rights. A headframe near the Speculator-Granite Disaster area, the scene of the worst hardrock mining disaster on June 8, 1917 in Butte, Montana. The city is in the background (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan). Time to tip one to a rare victory in the never-ending battle to achieve an actual clean up, not a cover up, of Buttes toxic mining wastes since it was listed as a Superfund site more than 40 years ago. Thanks to the ferocious efforts of a very determined band of citizens who want their inalienable right to a clean and healthy environment guaranteed by the Montana Constitution, the good guys defeated a waste in place plan to use soil contaminated with toxics as infill. For far too long its been the citizens versus ARCO-BP, one of the wealthiest corporations on the planet, and the Environmental Protection Agency, which has all too often has sided with the polluter, not the people. To make matters worse, the citizens have had to fight closed meetings where backroom deals were signed between the EPA and ARCO-BP, the state, and local government officials who willingly ignored Montanas constitutional mandate that citizens have access to all public meetings unless individual privacy takes precedent over the publics right to know. And rest assured, when it comes to toxic wastes, there are very few instances concerning individual privacy on Superfund sites. In this particular case, ARCO-BP, with the EPAs blessing, had determined it could use soil contaminated with cadmium, lead and arsenic as infill material along the Silver Bow Creek corridor. The Butte watchdogs, led by Evan Barrett, former legislator Fritz Daily, and many others, said no way to using what they called dirty dirt and fought to remove the toxics from the creek corridor and backfill it with clean material. As Barrett put it, It looks like the dirty dirt train has been derailed, adding: Its a validation for public involvement. But its been a real battle. They were playing hardball. Indeed, the EPA and ARCO-BP have been playing hardball for the same reason industry polluters always do it costs less to leave the waste in place rather than moving it to a repository actually designed to hold such toxics and monitored to ensure they dont leak. In this case, ARCO-BP tried to justify their plan by claiming leaving the contaminated materials in place would produce less truck traffic from both hauling the waste away and bringing in clean soil for infill. Given Butte has been stuck with Superfund remediation impacts for more than four decades, the concern about the number of trucks was a laughable excuse, at best. While this is one small victory for the people of Butte, it gives hope to other Montana communities now facing similar Superfund issues of waste in place instead of an actual clean up. Most prominent is the EPAs proposal to leave highly toxic wastes from the defunct Columbia Falls aluminum smelter in place rather than excavating and removing them to a facility permitted to receive such high-level toxics. Mind you, there are a couple hundred acres of buried wastes at the Columbia Falls site and, wouldnt you just know it, sitting in the flood plain of the Flathead River. Considering the 1.2 million cubic yards of those wastes contain fluoride, cyanide and toxic metals, theres every reason the citizens and local government officials of Columbia Falls arent going for it. Peter Metcalf, a Columbia Falls resident and board member of the Coalition for a Clean CFAC echoed the battle cry of Buttes citizens, accurately noting: We have one chance to get this right for the community. And when it comes to Superfund sites, whatever they get right or wrong the first time around is what the populace gets to live with far into the future. So heres to Buttes citizens for fighting and winning and blazing a trail for Columbia Falls citizens in their battle for a clean up, not a cover up. As Barrett put it: We want it all clean. You need to do the right thing and we are not going to give up until its done. Thats exactly what our constitution guarantees and Montanans have no reason to settle for anything less. The post Down with dirty dirt and waste in place in Butte appeared first on Daily Montanan. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) The Roanoke County Police Department says a section of Florist Road is closed due to a utility pole blocking the roadway. According to the police department, officers responded to the intersection of Florist Road and Williamson Road on a report of a downed pole blocking the roadway. Police say it appears that an unknown vehicle struck the utility pole and allegedly fled the scene. Florist Road is currently road is currently closed from Williamson to Verndale Drive. Lynchburg Fire Marshal urging fire precautions with current dry conditions VDOT is on the scene and police say the roadway will be blocked for an unknown extended amount of time. If needing to travel through the area, please use alternative routes. WFXR News will update this story as further information is 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 WFXRtv. Dozens of sick and injured children have been evacuated from Gaza to seek medical treatment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). COGAT said in a post on the social platform X that 68 pediatric patients were able to cross with their companions via the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Egypt and other countries, in coordination with the U.S. government, Egyptian officials and the international community. The WHO said it was the first time medical evacuations had been allowed since the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt was closed on May 7 amid an Israeli military incursion then. MORE: Number of children missing, separated from families in Gaza may be as high as 21,000: Report At a press conference Thursday at Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, general director of hospitals in Gaza, said the evacuations were conducted in a joint effort by the WHO and American charitable organizations. Zaqout said there are still more than 25,000 patients who require treatment abroad, including 10,200 cases of cancer, of which 980 are among children. PHOTO: Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza Strip June 28, 2024. (Doaa Rouqa/Reuters) WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared a video Friday on X of children and their parents, guardians or companions boarding a bus at Nasser Medical Complex to leave Gaza. "We appeal for facilitated medical evacuation via all possible routes, including Rafah and [Kerem] Shalom, to Egypt, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and from there to other countries when needed," Tedros wrote in the post. "We appeal for sustained medical evacuations and a safe, timely, transparent and organized process. These patients urgently need specialized lifesaving care which they cannot get in Gaza." Also in a post on X, Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, celebrated the news of the medical evacuations but noted the thousands of patients still waiting to receive care. "Of the 13,872 people who have applied for medical evacuation since 7 October, only 35% have been evacuated, with support from WHO and partners," she wrote. "Safe medical evacuation corridors must be established urgently, in order to ensure the sustainable, orderly, safe and timely passage of critically ill patients from Gaza, via all possible routes." MORE: Destruction in Gaza: Side-by-side aerial look at the Israel-Hamas war's devastating damage Meanwhile, aid workers are still making trips into Gaza, but have been reporting scenes of "destruction" and "displacement." Louise Wateridge, senior communications manager for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), entered through the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern Gaza on Thursday and described nearby Rafah as "destroyed." "Now, there are many, many families living inside these destroyed skeleton buildings," she said Friday. "Blankets or plastic sheeting has been put up where walls have been blown out. So, it's very visible to see the difference that the Rafah invasion and ongoing military action has had." PHOTO: A girl walks with a woman carrying an infant child outside Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, June 18, 2024. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images) Wateridge described "shocking" scenes she witnessed as she made her way from southern Gaza to central Gaza, where she is currently based. "You can hear bombardments from the north, the middle and the south. ... Gaza now really is hell on earth. It's very hot. ... Trash is piling up everywhere, people living under plastic sheeting where temperatures soar," Wateridge said. Since Hamas launched a surprise terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel responded by declaring war, more than 37,765 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 86,429 have been injured, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. More than 1,700 Israelis have been killed and more than 8,700 have been injured, according to Israeli officials. Dozens of sick, injured children medically evacuated from Gaza originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Drag Queen and L.A. Public Officials Help Take Down Signs That Were Relics of Citys Anti-LGBTQ+ History It's just showing the queer community here in Silver Lake, and more broadly in Los Angeles, that we have your back, Maebe A. Girl tells PEOPLE Maebe A. Girl Drag queen and Silver Lake Neighborhood Councilwoman Maebe A. Girl (L), who was involved in the campaign to remove the remaining signs that were reminders of her neighborhood's anti-LGBTQ+ past The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council implemented "No cruising" and "No U-Turn" signs in 1997 to clamp down on gay men searching for sex. Removal of the "No cruising" signs was approved in 2011 but the other associated signs remained A ceremony was held in Silver Lake on June 10 that finally tore down the "No U-Turn" and "Midnight to 6 a.m." signs In the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake, road signs that were originally implemented more than 25 years ago to target members of the LGBTQ+ community have finally been removed. On June 10, the signs featuring No U-Turn symbols along with placards stating "Midnight to 6 a.m." were taken down in a removal ceremony on Griffith Park Boulevard and Fernwood Avenue. Among the public officials at the event were Los Angeles City Council members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Nithya Raman. This type of homophobia persisted in Silver Lake 30 years after the Black Cat protests, and the physical remnants of that bigotry remained on our streets until yesterday, when we joined @nithyavraman to finally take the signs down! Soto-Martinez wrote in a June 11 post on X. At first glance, the signs seem to advise motorists to follow normal traffic rules. But to Maebe A. Girl, a drag queen and a member of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council who also participated in the ceremony, the signs represented the neighborhoods attempt in 1997 to stop gay men cruising for sex. As a result, no cruising signs were put into place along with the signs prohibiting U-turns during early morning hours. Related: I Survived the Pulse Nightclub Shooting. How I'm Honoring My Late Friend's Memory 8 Years Later (Exclusive) But amid changing times and attitudes, the council in 2011 voted unanimously to have the No cruising' signs removed, Maebe, who has served on the neighborhood council since 2019, tells PEOPLE. However, the "No U-Turn" signs remained. They were connected with this No cruising ordinance, Maebe says of the remaining signs. Our committee took up crafting a letter in support of having the remaining No cruising or the remaining signs affiliated with the No cruising ordinance removed. 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. They were relics of the past that symbolized this era of where no cruising ordinances were used here in Silver Lake to specifically target gay people ... . So I think that's part of why I think this [issue] sort of blew up, is that a lot of people didn't quite understand how no U-turn signs could be homophobic," Maebe adds. Another indication that the signs were targeting gay people, Maebe explains, is the midnight to 6 a.m. timeframe. That's arguably the least busy time for traffic on that street, she says. It does get busy during rush hour when people are going [to] and from work. So if it [were] truly for traffic safety, the signs would just be in effect at all hours." Maebe isnt definitively sure why the other signs werent removed simultaneously with the "No cruising" signs following the neighborhood council vote in 2011. My guess is the neighborhood council at the time was voting specifically on having the 'No cruising' signs removed, she says. Related: Trans Artist Jamie Diaz Spent Nearly 30 Years Incarcerated in Mens Prison. How Her Story Inspired New Doc The call for removing the remaining road signs gained further traction when Donovan Daughtry, a neighborhood resident, got involved after hearing a podcast that mentioned the signs, says Maebe. Daughtry then contacted City Council members Soto-Martinez and Raman, whose respective districts fall within Silver Lake. We had also been working on this letter of support to have the remaining signs removed, Maebe adds. So it sort of was serendipitous that it all came together, particularly in Pride month, to actually have the signs removed. Maebe posted a video clip of the June 10 sign removal event on her TikTok, which has since generated 10 million views. To her, the gesture of having the signs taken down is a recognition of Silver Lakes rich queer history. Related: Everything You Need to Know About Pride Month There's always been a number of queer bars in the area, she says. The area where these signs are located is just down the street from where historically there were a number of queer bars. And so queer people at the time probably felt more uncomfortable and less safe actually going to queer bars for fear of being outed, for fear of tarnishing their personal and professional reputations." Maebe says that Silver Lake has been and will continue to be a safe haven for queer people. It's just showing the queer community here in Silver Lake, and more broadly in Los Angeles, that we have your back, she adds. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Dramatic arrest in Brooklyn murder of innocent teen whose funeral saw mayor, NYPD commish attend A teen murderer wanted for slaying 15-year-old Faridun Mavlonov in Brooklyn last year is now in police custody following an international manhunt that led to his capture in Panama, police said Friday. Leopoldo Nash Montoya, 18, was extradited to the city on Thursday and charged with murder, attempted murder, gun possession and gang assault for gunning down Faridun on July 17, 2023, in Bensonhurst, according to police and prosecutors with the Brooklyn DAs office. Faridun and Nash Montoya were among rival crews that met for a pre-arranged brawl on 20th Ave. near 62nd St. to settle a beef from the week prior, then-Chief of Detectives James Essig told the Daily News after the killing. Nash Montoya and his friends were beating a 16-year-old boy when the defendant drew his pistol around 1 p.m., according to prosecutors. Surveillance video viewed by the Daily News captured the killer in a black surgical mask and dark hoodie assuming a shooters stance, gripping the pistol with both hands before firing seven shots at Faridun and his friends, striking the teen victim once in the back. The shooter was aiming for the 16-year-old hed been thrashing moments before when he struck Faridun, prosecutors said. A teenage survivor said that he saw his friend stumble and then fall as the chaos unfolded. I was right next to him when he got shot, recalled the schoolmate. Fariduns friend said that the teen, despite training to become a martial artist, had second thoughts about joining in on the fight. At first, he said he just wanted to look at the fight and then he said I may fight and then all this happened, he said. U.S. authorities worked with Panamanian officials to track down Nash Montoya and the suspected killer was arrested on June 5, police said. A relative of Faridun said the family was eager for justice in the wake of the teens tragic death. The culprit must pay, said Ayat Jorayer, 39, in the days following the killing. This is an irreplaceable loss. This is why he must, he absolutely must, be brought to justice. But the victims father said his family is still grieving the loss of Fordiun nearly a year after he was killed, adding that the capture of his alleged killer cant bring him back. A funeral for Faridun saw Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban join friends and family in mourning the slain teenager. Fariduns grandmother, Umaro Kamalov, fainted in the summer heat as she wept for her murdered grandson. Why did God take him so soon? the mourning relative said through a translator. He wanted to become champion of America My grandson should be the last person to die by a bullet in New York City. Fariduns family emigrated from Samarkand, Uzbekistan. A martial arts enthusiast, the teen aspired to become a champion fighter. He wanted to become champion of America, said Umaro Kamalov. God took his life very very early. She added, I will always be proud of him. Mayor Adams seized on the teens murder as a call to action, saying communities should combat gun violence with religion. Now its time to turn that pain into purpose, its time for us to say we cannot continue to allow the guns to be in on our streets We need to replace it with the worshippers. We must be present in the communities of our children, Adams said. By Aaron Ross, Giulia Paravicini NAIROBI (Reuters) -After their stunning success in forcing the government to shelve $2.7 billion in tax hikes, young Kenyan activists are setting their sights higher, taking aim at ingrained corruption and misgovernance. Protesters say the finance bill that President William Ruto abandoned on Wednesday was only a symptom of the problems plaguing a country where many young people have few job prospects despite strong economic growth. The movement has little precedent in its mass mobilisation of Kenyans across ethnic and regional divisions while rejecting any kind of political leadership. Protests in Kenya have historically been led by elites, often ending in power-sharing deals that yielded few tangible benefits for demonstrators. Protesters now face the challenge of maintaining unity and momentum while pursuing broader, less immediate goals. They will also have to decide how to respond to Ruto's offer of dialogue, made on Wednesday but without specifics. Writer and activist Nanjala Nyabola said most of those involved in the recent protests were motivated by legitimate, strong grievances against the government. "Until those grievances are addressed, it's unlikely that they're going to be willing to make concessions." How the diffuse and leaderless movement, which largely organised via social media, pursues its objectives remains an open question - and a source of internal debate. Christine Odera, co-chair of the Kenya Coalition on Youth, Peace and Security, a civil society organisation, said it needed to formalise its structures to advance young people's interests and speak to the government. "If we go organically, then we might lose the whole conversation," said Odera, who participated in the protests. "The president has said we need to have conversations. All of us cannot sit in a stadium and have a conversation." Others disagree. Ojango Omondi of the Social Justice Centres Working Group, a community activist group in a poor district of Nairobi, said establishing structures and national representatives could allow the movement to be corrupted by politicians. "We don't need to negotiate anything," he said. "All we want is better living conditions. All we want is the leaders to stop using our resources ... to sponsor their lavish lifestyle." CAN PROTEST MOVEMENT TRANSCEND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES? Omondi said there was plenty to keep the past week's protesters engaged - from organising funerals for the nearly two dozen people killed in clashes with police on Tuesday to forcing recall elections against members of parliament. Another key moment could be the government's next proposal to raise revenues. Some protesters suspect it will still try to ram tax rises through. In a country where protest has traditionally been driven by ethnic affinities, the current youth-driven demonstrations have stood out for building unity around common grievances. But cracks are already emerging. Despite Ruto's U-turn on the tax hikes, some protesters called for a planned march on his residence to go ahead on Thursday in an attempt to oust him. Others rejected the idea as a dangerous gambit. In the end, there were protests in several cities, smaller than on Tuesday. In Ruto's hometown and political stronghold of Eldoret, where thousands from different ethnic groups took to the streets on Tuesday, a human rights activist said some tensions had resurfaced since the president withdrew the bill. Nicholas Omito, CEO of the Centre for Human Rights and Mediation, said demonstrators from Ruto's Kalenjin ethnic group were arguing that protests should end now, while ethnic Kikuyus were insisting they should continue until Ruto resigned. Protesters posting on social media accused local politicians of trying to incite trouble to undermine the movement. "Do not let these greedy politicIans masquerading as leaders pull the tribal card that once led our country into chaos," one said on X. Nyabola, the writer, said she did not think that ethnic divisions posed a risk to a movement that had distinguished itself with its sense of national purpose. "You're never going to get rid of it completely," she said. "But for now, the class and wealth disparity between politicians and ordinary people has been the focus." (Reporting by Aaron Ross and Giulia ParaviciniAdditional reporting by Edwin OkothEditing by Joe Bavier and Kevin Liffey) A Hawaii-based aviation unit recently conducted the first all-Marine satellite communications launch and recovery as the force aims to grow its drone force and capabilities for future operations. The Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 3 Phantoms, hit the operational milestone June 20 out of Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, according to a press release. The event is significant because typically when units do launch and recovery missions, they must run command and control through line-of-sight communications, which severely restricts distances and requires specialized aviators and large transport aircraft. By using the satellite infrastructure, units can streamline and lengthen operational reach for drones and other assets. But historically the Marine Corps, one of the smaller military branches, has had to rely on the Air Force or Army for such expertise and equipment. As demand rises Marines need their own school for MQ-9 drone crews As the Corps pushes to operate more distributed and in smaller teams, especially across the vast Pacific region, it has also sought to expand its drone fleet, drone operator force and the capabilities of those drones. In 2022 the Marines requested $63 million for rapid prototyping, more than six times what it had requested the previous year. And $20 million of that money was tied to developing payloads for its newly acquired MQ-9 Reaper drone fleet. The service had leased the drones and used contracted operators since at least 2018, prior to acquiring the first two MQ-9s in 2021. As of earlier in 2024, the Corps had 10 in its fleet with another 10 scheduled for delivery by fiscal year 2025. By mid-2023 the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 had reached operational status. The MQ-9A Reaper primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance can fly 20 hours or more and reach an altitude of up to 25,000 feet, according to the Corps 2022 aviation plan. As the number of drones in the Corps inventory increases, so too does the demand for drone pilots and crews. Commandant Gen. Eric Smith told Congress during budget testimony in April that the service needs to establish its own MQ-9 school to train crews rather than relying on the Air Force. As of December 2023, the Corps had 100 MQ-9A drone pilots, Marine Corps Times previously reported. The MQ-9A focus came after Congress eliminated funding for a future-leaning program dubbed the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary, Medium-Altitude, High-Endurance, or MUX, aircraft. The MUX program had sought to rely on a single drone to conduct, coordinate and relay reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance, communications, electromagnetic attack and conventional strike missions. The platform would have served as a central node, connecting the entire battlefield. Though the platform lost funding, the Corps has continued working the MUX concept with its existing MQ-9A Reapers through what officials have called a family of systems approach that will lean on capabilities within the drone, amphibious ships and ground-based assets. Shortening vast distances hasnt been limited to platforms either. The Marine Corps recently announced that it had landed the first fixed wing aircraft, a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker, on a refurbished airfield on the Pacific island of Peleliu, the site of a historic Marine battle in 1944. Such bases close distance for aerial assets to key locations such as mainland Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines. Charges dropped against Eastland ISD teacher accused of Improper Relationship between Educator/Student EASTLAND, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Eastland ISD teacher is no longer facing charges for Improper Relationship between Educator and Student. Eastland ISD confirmed this teacher, who was initially charged with Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student in February, is no longer facing criminal charges. The Texas Rangers were leading the investigation. The teacher submitted his resignation to EISD in writing, stating he plans to retire from public education, a press release from Eastland ISD explains. KTAB and KRBC are choosing to redact the name of this teacher because he is no longer facing criminal charges. No further information is available 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Supporters of Eatonvilles bid to be home to the first Florida Museum of Black History were unbowed Friday by a task forces vote narrowly favoring St. Augustine over the Central Florida town as the preferred site. State Rep. Bruce Antone, sponsor of the bill that created the museum and the task force charged with planning it, was sharply critical of its 460-page final report recommending St. Augustine for the 100,000-square-foot museum intended to spotlight achievements and struggles of Black Floridians. But the panels final report contained one recommendation suggesting the issue remains unsettled: It asked the Legislature to pay for feasibility studies of the task forces top three sites: St. Johns County/St. Augustine; Eatonville/Orange County; and Opa-locka in South Florida. That issue keeps Eatonvilles foot in the door, other advocates said. A feasibility study should, I think hands down, improve our position, Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner said after the panels tenth and final meeting. With our historical foundation, our location is key easy access and market-wise the best, the land of Mickey and Minnie. Incorporated in 1887, the town is the oldest self-governing all-black municipality in the United States. Task force chair Geraldine Thompson, whose state Senate district includes west Orange County, failed to persuade fellow panelists, many with ties to St. Augustine or neighboring Jacksonville, to lay the report on the table for legislators to review without adopting the final recommendation. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, who addressed the task force before its final vote advocating for Eatonville, said afterwards that she believes 100% Eatonville still has a chance, despite the panels lean for St. Augustine. This is a recommendation to the Legislature not a contractual agreement, she said. The next steps will involve budgetary decisions. There could be an ask for more researchso Eatonville is absolutely still a top contender for this. By no means is anything final yet. The panels report is due Sunday to Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislatures majority and minority leaders. Antone thanked the panel for its work in a letter, which he provided to the Orlando Sentinel, but he criticized it for failing to complete tasks required by the legislation. He said he provided the task force with documents that could have served as a template for a conceptual design and sustainability plan, which would have made Eatonville the better choice for a world-class museum. Antone argued the museum would benefit from a location in Central Florida, which 74 million tourists visited last year. About 17% of the regions annual visitors are cultural tourists who will visit a museum or attend a cultural arts festival, studies say. He also alleged four of the nine panelists seemed predisposed to St. Augustine regardless of the quality of other bids. Antones letter additionally argued the proposed site in St. Johns County is not as accessible as Eatonvilles location near Interstate 4. St. Augustine is an hour from Jacksonville, an hour from Gainesville, an hour from Daytona, two hours from Orlando, he said. But the task force did not include Antones letter in its report. shudak@orlandosentinel.com Editorial: For the sake of the nation, Biden must reassure Americans he is up to a second term There is no sugarcoating the fact that President Biden seemed tired, listless and occasionally confused in his televised debate with former President Trump on Thursday. In other words, he showed his age. Trump, who at 78 is only a few years younger than the 81-year-old Biden, was initially more restrained and focused than usual. He tried to disarm criticism with clever if unconvincing arguments such as the claim that my retribution is going to be success. Read more: Granderson: Debate showed Biden and Trump are terrible, but not equally so Yet Trump soon reverted to form, engaging in unfair attacks and spewing falsehoods and wild theories including the idea that the Biden administration instigated his prosecution in a New York court. Even a heartier Biden would have had to contend with Trumps nonstop lies, which the moderators of the debate declined to fact-check in real time. On issues from the war in Ukraine to the climate crisis, Trump offered characteristically vague answers. Particularly absurd were his claims that, if he won the election, he would have that war settled and secure the release from Russia of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich even before he was sworn in! Read more: Editorial: Trump should never return to the White House If all one was confronted with was a transcript of the debate, Bidens performance would look better. He effectively confronted Trump on the former presidents complicity in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and scored several policy points. Alas, for many viewers, especially those who dont follow politics carefully, that mattered less than the fact that Biden confirmed Trumps caricature of Sleepy Joe. That doesnt mean that Biden is senile. He is still vastly preferable to Trump. Nor, despite the visible jitters of many Democrats, does the disappointing debate performance mean that Biden should step aside from running for reelection a scenario fraught with its own problems for the Democratic Party. However, it does mean that the president has to reassure Americans who might now have doubts about his fitness for another term. And of course there is the fact that even an on-point Trump is unfit to hold office. Trumps attempts to overturn the results of an election he lost culminated on Jan. 6 in the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his crazed supporters. Asked about his actions and inaction on Jan. 6, Trump bizarrely turned the topic to his claims that conditions in the U.S. on that date were positive, including the irrelevant assertion that we had a great border, nobody coming through, very few. Read more: Column: A tongue-tied octogenarian debates a pathological liar. Nobody won, but Biden clearly lost Such an attempted deflection of responsibility is outrageous. Trumps undeniable role in the Jan. 6 catastrophe resulted in his second impeachment by the House. If the Senate had convicted him, Americans might have been spared a possible comeback. But now the decision about Trumps future rests with the voters, who must be convinced by Biden that he is up for another term. Asked about his age, Biden countered by citing his administrations accomplishments. It was a variation of Watch what we do, not what we say and it was well-founded. But its understandable that voters who saw the debate as a test of vigor might not be satisfied with that response. For the rest of the campaign, Biden needs to do more and not just on the debate stage to defend his record in the authoritative way he did at this years State of the Union address. The stakes for the nation are too high. 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. The Education Department will suspend monthly student loan payments and interest for some 3 million borrowers in response to court rulings blocking parts of President Joe Bidens new loan-repayment program. Department officials said Friday they would freeze the student loans of borrowers who are enrolled in the program known as the SAVE plan and required to make payments in July. Many of those borrowers were set to enjoy lower monthly payments under the SAVE plan. But a federal judge in Kansas, siding with Republican attorneys general, earlier this week prohibited the Education Department from implementing the payment reductions, which were set to take effect July 1. A separate federal judge in Missouri halted other provisions of the program that allow borrowers to more easily obtain loan forgiveness. The rulings, both from Obama-appointed judges, have caused an election-year headache for the White House. The administration had been relying on the SAVE plan as a centerpiece of its efforts to create a safety net for Americans resuming their student loan payments after a 3-year Covid-related pause. The new, narrower payment pause comes after progressive groups pressed the Biden administration to take action to soften the blow of the court rulings for millions of borrowers. Republican elected officials continue to fight to block their own constituents from saving money, having their monthly payments cut in half, and receiving relief, an Education Department spokesperson said in a statement Friday. The spokesperson vowed that the administration would continue to fight for this long-overdue relief for borrowers. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the top Republican on the Senate education committee, blasted the administration's latest move as irresponsible and desperate. President Biden had a horrendous debate performance and is down in the polls, so now he is attempting to use tax dollars to buy votes, Cassidy said in a statement. The Education Department also said it would have to take down its online application form for new borrowers who want to enroll in the SAVE program or other repayment programs. It said it needed four to six weeks to update its systems to comply with the court orders. In the meantime, the department said it would continue to accept paper applications for the SAVE program. Borrowers who enroll in the plan will immediately have their monthly payments and interest suspended, it said. The Biden administration has asked the federal judge in Kansas to issue an emergency stay of the decision. Department officials said in court filings that the agency was unable to recalculate the payments for millions of borrowers in a matter of days and warned of major operational disruption to the student loan system. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which regulates student loan servicers, echoed those concerns, saying in a filing that the sudden changes could unleash major servicing breakdowns. The injunction, the CFPB said, significantly raises the risk that monthly payments are not accurately calculated, payment systems are not operated in compliance with federal consumer financial law, and that servicers might fail to provide accurate and actionable information to consumers about the status of their loans and their other payment options. Campbell's Nutrition, Center, which has a store in Des Moines, is one of several companies suing the State of Iowa over its new hemp law. (Photo via Google Earth) A second group of companies is suing the State of Iowa over its implementation of a new hemp law that restricts the levels of THC in consumables. The eight companies allege the regulations they must adhere to if theyre to be in compliance with a new state law restricting hemp-related consumables are not expected to be finalized July 17 at the soonest more than two weeks after the law itself takes effect. The result, they say, is the criminalization of their products and the state leaving them in a state of regulatory limbo. The lawsuit is the second of its kind to be filed against the state. Last week, Climbing Kites, a Polk County beverage manufacturer, and Field Day Brewing Co., the Johnson County producer of the Day Dreamer line of cannabis sparkling water, sued the state over the same law and asked for an injunction blocking its enforcement. In that case, the state has resisted the issuance of an injunction, arguing it would be premature given the lack of any finalized regulations. In response, Climbing Kites and Field Day said this week that even if the state opts to forgo enforcement on July 1, the companies will still be irreparably harmed because none of their business partners will purchase their product given the current risk of imprisonment. On Friday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Stephanie M. Rose denied the motion by Climbing Kites and Field Day for a preliminary injunction. In doing so, Rose noted she has serious concerns the law is so vague as to be unconstitutional since it limits the amount of THC in a single serving without defining a serving. It is unclear how this provision would be enforced, Rose stated. However, she added, the plaintiffs primary challenge to the law is that its preempted by federal law a position, she said, thats not supported by the evidence. The eight other companies that are now suing the state are also Iowa-based businesses, and they include HW Premium CBD of Urbandale; American Shaman, which has retail locations in Altoona, West Des Moines and Indianola; Greene Goods Market and Greenhouses of Jefferson; Your CBD Store, which is a national franchise with a West Des Moines store; Beyond CBD of Des Moines; Campbells Nutrition Centers of Des Moines; Sky High of Cedar Falls; and Icanna of Iowa. Their lawsuit, filed this week in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, challenges the constitutionality of House File 2605 and House File 2641, both of which were passed this year by state lawmakers seeking to increase Iowas regulation of hemp and hemp products. Companies: Well lose hundreds of thousands of dollars When Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the legislation into law on May 17, she said she had unspecified concerns with the measure but ultimately chose to protect minors from dangerous and intoxicating products. The legislation limits the THC concentration within a container, and within one serving, of hemp-related consumables. The companies argue the legislation amounts to a de facto shutdown of the Iowa cannabinoid business (by prohibiting) the use of synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol in any consumable hemp product. The new law, they say, provides no allowance for existing hemp-derived products that have been legal to sell in Iowa since 2020. On July 1, they say, the products will be immediately deemed controlled substances and any individuals or businesses in possession of them will be at immediate risk of criminal and civil enforcement. The two bills passed this year require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to promulgate regulations for implementation and enforcement. DHHS has stated that the proposed regulations it has devised are still in draft form and are not expected to be finalized before July 17. IDALS, the plaintiffs claim, has yet to propose any regulations. The plaintiffs will be stuck in a regulatory limbo as of July 1, 2024, the lawsuit argues. Critical phrases are not defined, specifications for how to comply with provisions are not provided, and the regulations intended to provide such definitions or instructions will not be promulgated until at least two weeks after the law goes into effect. Among the specific issues left undecided by the absence of finalized regulations is the new laws requirement that each container of consumable hemp product include a warning notice advising consumers of the risks associated with the products use. The law doesnt include the language of the warning, and DHHS has yet to specify the legally mandated wording. The dispute has its origin in Congress passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and hemp-derived products. In the wake of the Farm Bills approval, the State of Iowa removed hemp and hemp products from its list of controlled substances and legalized the production and sale of hemp products in Iowa. In 2020, additional state legislation was approved providing for the regulation of consumable hemp products, clearing the way for the launch of a new industry in Iowa. However, House File 2605 narrows the definition of a legal, consumable hemp product by specifying that the maximum THC concentration be less than, or equal to, three-tenths of 1 percent on a dry weight basis, or 4 milligrams per serving, or 10 milligrams per container whichever is less. The plaintiffs argue the stated intent of the new law protecting young people from accessing the products can be easily defeated. They note that while the new law renders many of their products illegal, the same products could be legally sold by merely repackaging them into smaller-sized servings, thereby decreasing the total milligrams of THC per container. In addition, the lawsuit claims, the new law has no limits on purchasing, which means consumers can purchase eight smaller bottles of product rather than one larger-sized bottle. HW Premium CBD estimates it will lose $171,000 as a result of the new law, while American Shaman, also known as A.J.s Health and Wellness, says it has already had to close one store and may soon be forced to close its remaining locations. Beyond CBD is projecting a loss of close to $200,000 in revenue, while Campbell estimates its lost revenue will total $50,000 per month. The businesses argue the new state law is preempted by the federal Farm Bill, and that the state is violating their due process rights. They are asking the court to issue an immediate stay of enforcement of the new law, and to issue a restraining order and injunction barring enforcement. The state has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The post Eight more Iowa companies sue the state over rollout of new hemp law appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. El Paso Fire: Using fireworks in city limits is illegal El Paso Fire: Using fireworks in city limits is illegal EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) City of El Paso Fire Department is reminding residents the use of fireworks within the city limits is prohibited when celebrating Independence Day. The City says the use of fireworks inside city limits is a Class C misdemeanor with fines of up to $500. Firework injuries are one of the leading causes of medical emergencies during Independence Day celebrations, with children being most often injured, the City said in its news release. Common injuries and accidents using any pyrotechnic materials include severe skin burns, eye injuries, hearing loss and fires. The City said even seemingly harmless pyrotechnic materials, such as sparklers, can also cause severe injuries or accidents. Sparklers can reach temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep yourself and others safe, the El Paso Fire Department is asking residents to follow these safety tips: Dial 9-1-1 if you need emergency assistance. Consider attending an authorized public firework display. If attending public display, children must be supervised at all times. Do not pick up any firework debris as it could still be hot enough to cause burn injuries. Keep grills and other fire sources at least 7 feet away from your home, roofs, trees and others. Establish a pet-free and child-free safe zone at least 3 feet from any stoves, ovens or grills. Completely extinguish any items used for cooking, charcoal, wood or pellets. Residents who live outside city limits need to check any applicable bans before using fireworks. During the Fourth of July celebrations, many pets get frightened and escape their homes. Its crucial to bring pets indoors during firework displays and reinforce yard fencing and gates, the City said in its news release. Ensure pets have a collar with ID tags, are microchipped and that the information is up to date. If a pet is not microchipped, visit ElPasoAnimalServices.org to find microchipping event dates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Justice Elena Kagan torched a Supreme Court ruling that single-handedly eliminated a legal precedent that courts defer to the expert opinions of federal agencies. The court ruled 63 in Loper Bright v. Raimondo on Friday, overruling a landmark 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council and shifting the balance of power toward courts rather than the executive branch when it comes to the interpretation of ambiguous rules. That would effectively give any court and any judge veto power over all the decisions that any executive agency makes, from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Food and Drug Administration to the Education Department and beyond. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law, Kagan wrote. The majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar. Kagan continued that the ruling would produce large-scale disruption, made a laughing stock of stare decisis (a legal principle necessitating the court rely on precedent), and made evident that the courts supermajority disdains restraint and grasps for power. What actions can be taken to address climate change or other environmental challenges? What will the Nations health-care system look like in the coming decades? Or the financial or transportation systems? What rules are going to constrain the development of A.I.? Kagan wrote. In every sphere of current or future federal regulation, expect courts from now on to play a commanding role. It is not a role Congress has given to them, in the APA or any other statute. It is a role this Court has now claimed for itself, as well as for other judges. All that backs todays decision is the majoritys belief that Chevron was wrongthat it gave agencies too much power and courts not enough, she added. But shifting views about the worth of regulatory actors and their work do not justify overhauling a cornerstone of administrative law. In that sense too, todays majority has lost sight of its proper role. Mr Macron has already reached for the nuclear card by warning of 'civil war' in France - REUTERS/Stephane Mahe It is becoming impossible for markets to price the political risk of Emmanuel Macrons capricious character. If we have learned anything from a decade of galactic grand-standing, it is that he will not accept defeat lightly. He must always be the master of events. Mr Macron will not settle down to a workable cohabitation with a government of his enemies. He refused to share power after losing his parliamentary majority in 2022, instead abusing a loophole in the French constitution (Article 49.3) to ram through his agenda by decree, at the limits of authentic democracy. He has used 49.3 to govern like the Americans used the B52 bomber in Vietnam, said French novelist Marc Dugain. There must be a high risk that he will refuse to share power again in the grimmer circumstances that await after his snap election: either by resigning out of pique and bringing down the temple upon a French nation that has proved itself unworthy of him, or by escalating with yet another wild demarche. Mr Macron has already reached for the nuclear card, warning of civil war if France falls either to the Trotskyist Left or to the neo-fascist Right that he himself did so much to strengthen. Is this project fear pushed to parody, or the softening-up rhetoric for use of Article 16 of the French constitution, which accords him the powers of a Roman dictator on his own say-so? The Elysee denies any such plan but the story swirls in the Paris media. Marine Le Pens National Rally is undoubtedly jejune, full of cranks, unfit for government and at times unhinged. One of its policies until days ago was to rip up every wind turbine on the soil of France. But I do not think that it poses a danger to the rule of law or to the integrity of the National Assembly. Marine Le Pen's National Rally is at times unhinged - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images The greater danger comes from the opaque manoeuvres of the president himself. Mr Macron did, after all, write his dissertation on Niccolo Machiavelli, the theorist of deception and the dark arts. Eugenie Merieau, a professor of public law at Pantheon Sorbonne, says the constitution of the Fifth Republic is a carbon copy of Germanys Weimar constitution. This is a rare distinction shared with Russia, though the Russian variant at least makes it harder to mistreat parliament. Vladimir Putin has never gone so far as to dissolve the Duma for his own political convenience. France has a long history of dissolutions that went wrong. The petulant double dissolution of Charles X in 1830 set off street revolution and swept away the Bourbon Restoration. I would rather chop wood than be a king under the conditions of the King of England, he said. Chop wood he did. Prof Merieau said Frances hybrid, semi-presidential system is inherently unstable and eats away at the power of parliament. The president can dissolve the legislature, unlike his US counterpart. It inclines to authoritarianism. The guardrails are quite weak, she told Le Media. The chief restraint is the temperament of the president. Are you dealing with a George Washington, able to resist monarchical temptations, or a Bonaparte? Charles de Gaullle used his state of emergency to ram through a host of measures - AP Article 16 lets the president invoke emergency powers on his own authority, and exercise those powers at his own discretion, a combination that distinguishes France from every major country in the democratic world. Prof Merieau said it is more or less identical to Article 48 of the Weimar constitution, used repeatedly to circumvent a fractured Reichstag, ending in the infamous turn of events in 1932 and 1933. Charles de Gaullle invoked Article 16 in 1961 following the Algiers putsch by retired army officers. The crafty general used his state of emergency to ram through a host of unrelated measures, and he kept it going for almost six months with added warnings of communist revolution from the inside, a usefully vague and elastic notion. In theory, Article 16 requires a dual trigger. There must be both a grave and immediate threat and a breakdown in the regular functioning of the state. Calling a snap election out of wounded pride and then making matters worse, hardly meets the threshold. If invoked, judicial reviews kick in after 30 and 60 days. In reality, Prof Merieau said the courts have repeatedly been accessories to abuse, actively facilitating the persecution of Jews under the Vichy regime. The French constitutional council is full of political appointees from the old establishment parties. They almost define the French deep state. Mr Macron is an enarque product of their milieu. The pitchfork insurgents on Left and Right are not. It has become fashionable in the French and British press to compare Mr Macrons gamble with David Camerons Brexit referendum in 2016, as if they were remotely comparable. Macron's gamble is of a different character to David Cameron's decision to call a Brexit referendum in 2016 - Paul Grover for The Telegraph Brexit was to decide whether Britains should be a self-governing nation state under its own law-making parliament and courts; or whether it should be a subordinate state, under an upper level of government in Brussels that cannot be removed even when it persists in error, with laws made in Strasbourg that are enforced by a supreme court in Luxembourg beyond appeal. There are compelling arguments for and against Brexit. But it is clear that once Britain opted out of the euro, it embarked on a course that was bound to lead to an in-out referendum at some point. Monetary union requires an apparatus of budgetary surveillance, financial controls, bail-out funds and reams of legal acquis. It changes the EU completely. There is no future in this structure for a country that is not part of the euro. Only a fool thinks that the UK could have clung on to the cosy pre-2016 arrangement indefinitely, or that London could have continued to be the financial capital of somebody elses currency. Mr Macrons snap election is of a different character. He is acting only in his own imagined self-interest, in a chaos of his own making. At every stage over the last seven years, he has promoted the far-Right as his preferred foil, cynically smashing the moderate parties on both sides to get his way. He thought he could play this trick one more time. It has finally caught up with him. Perhaps it is churlish to mention Le traitre et le neant (The Traitor and Abyss), a book by two Le Monde journalists that draws on a hundred sources to portray him as a manipulator, willing to betray mentor, party and convictions, for no other purpose beyond power. His fans refused to believe it. They believe it now. 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. Workers at a restaurant run by a James Beard Award winner have officially voted to unionize. The staff at the Korean American spot Kims in Minneapolis on Thursday voted 65 percent in favor of forming a union. The vote took place after the restaurants owner, Ann Kim, and her group, Vestalia Hospitality, failed to voluntarily recognize the union last month. Since then, management has been working to drum up anti-union sentiment among Kims workers, as displayed in internal messages leaked to the self-described food antagonist Joe Rosenthal, which he shared on Instagram. More from Robb Report Kims being a union restaurant is such a benefit to Uptown, because I know improving our jobs will also improve the restaurant for everyone, Kaylee Murphy, a bartender and server at Kims, said in a statement. Im excited for the future and look forward to bargaining a contract. The chef and restaurateur rose to national acclaim in 2019 when Kim won the Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest and made an impassioned speech to the crowd to chase your dreams and fuck feara phrase that has become her rallying cry. What followed were glowing profiles in national media, appearances on David Changs influential podcast, and a starring role in an episode of Netflixs Chefs Table Pizza. Her pizza-driven places like Young Joni and Pizzeria Lola became legit dining destinations when visiting Minneapolis. And just this week, The New York Times wrote about how Kim was a key person in making pizza across America as great as it is now. Kims is the latest restaurant in her growing hospitality group. She originally had Sooki and Mimi in the same space, but closed that restaurant last fall to reopen as Kims and lean into her Korean American heritage more. Back on May 28, employees at Kims told restaurant management that they planned to form a union, according to the Star Tribune. Since the restaurant didnt recognize the group, staffers held an election. (Some 60 people work at Kims.) Theyre being represented by Unite Here Local 17, a hospitality and craft beverages workers union in Minnesota. One of the workerss biggest contentions was that their schedules varied so widely they couldnt predict their pay. You cant rely on your paycheck being the same every week or every two weeks, Murphy told Eater Twin Cities last month. Im not really sure if I have a part-time job or a full-time job; if Im going to have 10 hours, 25 hours, or 35 hours. It makes life a little hard to plan for. In the month prior to the vote, Kim posted on her personal Instagram account that she believed the restaurant did not need a union. And leaked internal messages showed that management was dissuading staff from voting in favor of forming one. According to the posts shared with Rosenthal, the team sent several messages via the restaurants scheduling app from June 10 through June 24, including one with the title Top 7 Reasons to Say NO to the Union, signed by Kim herself. A lot of the themes are familiar, John Logan, the chair of the labor and employment studies department at San Francisco State University, told Robb Report about the anti-union campaign. The purpose of anti-union campaigns, typically, is to create an incredibly stressful dynamic in the workplace Its not the fact that they want a union thats stressful; its the fight. Youve got this intense vote no campaign and anti-union campaign thats sort of causing the stress. One of those leaked internal communications also acknowledged the bind the restaurantlike so many other restaurantswas in when it comes to scheduling. We hear you. Some of these things we can control, like our culture and our desire to work as a team where your individual voices matter, one message read. Some things we cant control, like how many guests we have and how many people we need on a particular shift. Ann Kim, the owner of Kims and a James Beard Award winner Following the vote, Kim said in a statement shared with Robb Report, From the beginning, our goal has always been to give our team members the opportunity to participate in a fair election and cast their own vote. It was important to me that everyones voice was heard. I respect the election results and look forward to working with the team as we move into the future. Now the employees of Kims will work to negotiate a union contract with the restaurant, a process that could take months, if not years. Theyre aiming for wins like better pay and benefits, stability, and respect in the workplace. While Kim and her team tried to say that these issues could be worked through without a union, the majority of Kims employees have decided that the way forward is through organized labor. Logan said that these sorts of workplaces have been historically difficult to unionize, and that the efforts can be contentious at such small establishments. The owner, he explained, may feel a sense of disloyalty or a loss of control. Restaurants, in particular, can often feel like a family environmenthence the family meal employees eat before service beginsand very few people enjoy being part of family drama. It takes a lot, in a sector like retail or food services, to withstand that, Logan said. And then still to say, No, this is not about disloyalty. This is not about hating the place we work. We love the place we work. We want it to be better. We want to improve it. We think that us having an independent voice will make a better place to work. Thats how the pro-union Kims employees see it too. Every step of the way my coworkers and the community have given me the courage to continue, we have true solidarity, Aaron Rose, another bartender at the restaurant, said in a statement. I look forward to bargaining in good faith and making Kims the best restaurant in the Twin Cities. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. 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Advanced plan: $2,400/month billed annually, includes everything in Standard, plus additional features like API Access, Single Sign-On, Unlimited workshops & training, Large Company Lists, up to 25 seats. Visit feedly.com for more. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter , Facebook and Instagram. Election administrators from states with more contested elections said threats have increased in recent years. Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images. If a jury is trusted to render a verdict on complex legal cases, shouldnt Americans be able to make recommendations on public policy, including on thorny issues like the Ukraine War? Earlier this month, citizens at their local library proved the people can. In Silver Spring, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) met with constituents for a public consultation to discuss whether the U.S. should continue to provide military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and if it should encourage Ukraine to enter peace negotiations with Russia. This is the third public consultation with Congressman Raskins participation, hosted by Voice of the People, a nonpartisan nonprofit. The consultation process, developed by the University of Marylands Program for Public Consultation, provides an alternative to hostile town halls, improving representation and trust, promoting civil dialogue and identifying common ground. It includes a survey of a representative sample of 604 residents in Marylands 8th District. The survey takes citizens through a policymaking simulation that puts them in the shoes of policymakers. Respondents are briefed, presented policy proposals, and then evaluate pro and con arguments, before registering their views. The material is reviewed by experts on each side of the debate to ensure accuracy and balance. The survey found bipartisan agreement on providing military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and encouraging peace negotiations. Continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, including equipment, training and intelligence, was favored by a bipartisan majority of 64%. A majority of Republicans were in favor (58%), as were Democrats (68%). Continued U.S. humanitarian aid to Ukraine for food, shelter, health care and infrastructure, was even more popular with 77% in favor. Seven in 10 Republicans (69%) and eight in 10 Democrats (81%) were in favor. Respondents were also asked whether, the U.S. should or should not encourage Ukraine to enter into negotiations with Russia, whether or not Russia first commits to withdraw from all of Ukraine. A majority of 60% said the U.S. should encourage negotiations, including 55% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans. One survey-taker said: I like that this survey is about something that will definitely impact the world, and that I may in some small way help. Anyone can take this policymaking simulation and send their opinions to their representatives. Those present at the forum were part of the surveys representative sample. Congressman Raskin and his constituents discussed their beliefs on the issue. They were surprised at the degree of bipartisan common ground among their community. I was impressed by how commanding the majorities were for both military and humanitarian assistance to people in Ukraine, Raskin said. It seemed like when people had all the facts and thought it through, they were strongly supportive. I had been operating on that assumption, but I wasnt really sure. And now I really feel like I am where the bulk of my constituents are. At the forum, constituent Mona Galpin explained: For the most part we are sending old planes, old tanks, old ammunition. Things that are out of date anyway. If Ukraine can have it and use it before it expires, it gives us manufacturing jobs here to build new planes and technology. I also think that humanitarian aid is very important. These Ukrainians didnt ask for this. Russia just came in shooting. I try to visualize if it were happening here. What if Mexico decided to take Texas? But in the lively back-and-forth, local resident April Stafford couldnt shake her concern about the fiscal implications for American families: Were seeing we have lost revenue at home, and we are throwing it to other countries. People think of their families first. Congressman Raskin explained that when you are a member of Congress, you hear from a lot of people on a whole range of issues. So you are hearing from the most galvanized, mobilized, activated constituencies, but you dont really have a clear sense of whether that is a representative cross-section of where people are when they think it through. I believe in the wisdom of big crowds of people. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle are increasingly engaging in innovative ways to listen to constituents. When they do, there is remarkable agreement. Large majorities of Americans agree on more than 200 policy positions on many meaningful issues. The rancor of the 2024 election exacerbates our current crisis of democracy, but there remain reasons for hope. Public consultations are an alternative to the political posturing that descends into shouting matches, rather than problem-solving. Like in juries, citizens are able to consider the common good and competing values. Instead of slogans and sound bites, public consultations help our leaders focus on what policies citizens actually want and promote a necessary discussion between the people and their government. The post Empowering citizens to tackle policy, like aid to Ukraine, strengthens democracy appeared first on Maryland Matters. EPA announces major success as 'essential' species returns to Chesapeake Bay here's why it matters Oysters are crucial to a bay ecosystem because they filter and clean the water while providing habitats, food, and barrier protection from tides and erosion. An EPA program has been working to restore oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay and is making incredible progress ahead of its 2025 goal. The EPA established a Chesapeake Bay Program through a unique regional partnership involving six states and Washington, D.C. The program supports habitat and climate resilience efforts in the bay to address changing conditions, such as fluctuating sea levels. As CoastTV reported, eight of 10 tributaries needing restoration have completed large-scale oyster reef improvements. "Oysters, often hailed as essential to the Bay's ecosystem, are once again flourishing, thanks to these efforts," wrote Alyssa Baker in the CoastTV article. This is just one of several recent wins for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The program restored a 200-acre oyster reef in the York River of Virginia, a significant milestone in the world's largest oyster restoration project. Program leaders also reported that community-wide restoration work resulted in 2 miles of Turtle Creek in Pennsylvania being taken off the impaired streams list. This vital work comes amid the destruction of oyster farms due to extreme weather events like Hurricane Irene. However, there is hope that oyster shells can help rebuild destroyed reefs to help oysters come back and restore biodiversity. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a nonprofit committed to restoring and protecting the bay, is a key partner in these efforts and a driving force in the 2025 deadline to restore oyster reefs in 10 local tributaries. "Oysters are the bedrock of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, long recognized for their ability to provide habitat and improve water quality. But their benefits to communities and the ecosystem extend far beyond that," said the foundation's Maryland executive director, Allison Colden. "Oysters are key to adapting to climate change, supporting local economies, and cleaning up waterways. You can't overstate their importance to the bay." Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) On Thursday, June 27, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO) was awarded the Community Champion JUICE award during an annual breakfast hosted by Special Olympics of Colorado. The JUICE award stands for Joy, Unity, Inclusion, Community, and Excellence. According to a press release from EPSO, its agency has raised $150,000 for Special Olympics of Colorado since 2017, enabling hundreds of athletes to participate in 22 sports. Partnering with the Special Olympics of Colorado has given my office a deeper understanding and closer connection to the community we serve, said Sheriff Joseph Roybal. Events such as the Polar Plunge, Tip-A-Cop, and the Torch Run are fun ways to come together and do something meaningful for others. Our deputies and professional staff share a special connection with the athletes we sponsor, and we are honored to partner with this fantastic organization! Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office The JUICE Award was presented to EPSO at the annual Champion Breakfast on Thursday morning, an event that was emceed by FOX21 News Evening Anchor Taylor Bishop. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. To say Erica Bryant is beloved in the Charlotte community would be an understatement. People dont just watch, they trust Erica. On Friday, shes celebrating the 20-year mark at Channel 9. Shes been a strong advocate for others, and shes seen you through so many of Charlottes toughest times, always looking to make things better. And did you know that she does that in two languages? Erica has delivered the news to our Spanish-speaking community members throughout the years. Some of Ericas favorite stories include: She also loves the stories with Saundra and Chancellor Adams. We always tell you that WSOC stands for We Serve Our Community, and no one lives that out more than Erica. (And if youre feeling inspired to help, Erica is asking viewers to donate to Dress for Success Charlotte, which provides professional attire to empower women in the community.) Thank you to Erica for 20 years with Channel 9, and cheers to many more! >>Watch Channel 9 at 6 p.m. for a special tribute looking back on Ericas time with Channel 9 so far. (VIDEO: Anchor Erica Bryant sits down with ABC Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee on her childrens book series) Erie school taxes to increase, but offset for many by homestead exemption Hopeful of receiving an increased state subsidy, the Erie School Board waited until it couldn't wait any longer. The school board, which was faced with a June 30 deadline to finalize its 2024-2025 spending plan, voted at a noon meeting on Friday to approve a $272 million budget that will raise taxes by $85 a year for a homeowner with a house valued at $100,000. For many taxpayers, that 4.46% increase will be largely offset by a $79 increase in the homestead exemption. Erie schools Superintendent Brian Polito said the school board had earlier discussed a 2.46% increase that would not have included funding for after-school programs that have been paid for since 2022 with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief or ESSER funds. That funding ends on Sept. 30, leaving school districts, including Erie, to decide if they want to continue funding these pandemic-era programs. Erie School District Superintendent Brian Polito. The budget adopted Friday, however, will continue programs offered at the Urban Erie Community Development Corp., Booker T. Washington Center, Martin Luther King Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Erie. Is more money coming? The Erie School District, along with others across the state, has been anticipating an increase in education funding as part of the upcoming state budget. But the governor's budget still awaits approval. The state Senate recessed Thursday with plans to take up budget deliberations again on Monday. Polito said that left the school district to calculate its budget based on a typical 2.5% increase in its state educational subsidy. The budget cannot be updated if additional funding is approved, Polito said. "We would take that into consideration next year and it would likely result in a tax reduction then," Polito said. But in light of the extra $18 million subsidy that has been proposed for Erie, some school directors were hesitant Friday to approve a tax increase that might not ultimately be needed. Several proposed smaller rate hikes or looked to a list of proposed cuts that could be made to offset the proposed tax increase. Exploring other options School Board Vice President John C. Harkins said he was hopeful that the district could count on increased funding and that a 2.46% increase would be adequate. More: Erie School District seeks buyer for administration building while its new home awaits Director Daria Devlin proposed at one point during the meeting that the district's budgetary reserve be reduced to allow for a lower tax increase. More than anything else, though, Devlin said repeatedly that if the district does receive more than from the state that adjustments have to made in the next year's budget to benefit taxpayers. "I don't want to have to do this again," she said. More: Erie's after-school programs at risk as COVID aid expires. What will it cost to keep them? School Director Gwendolyn Cooley offered a director perspective, however, arguing that it was less expensive to pay for education now than to pay for prison one day. "We are in the business of educating out students," she said. "This is where our focus should be." School Director Sumner Nichols said he didn't completely accept the notion that a larger homestead exemption would fully mitigate the tax increase. Residents who don't own homes and don't receive the exemption could find themselves paying higher rent, he said. Ultimately, only Harkins voted against the budget in a 7-1 vote. Director Lauren Gillespie was not at Friday's meeting. Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie PA school taxes to increase as state budget awaits approval Tina Kotek is sworn in as Oregon governor in January 2023, with her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson, by her side. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission is not launching a full ethics investigation into Gov. Tina Kotek and complaints related to First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson's role in her administration. A vote to move forward with an investigation failed Friday during an executive session of the ethics commission, a nine-member citizen commission that enforces the state's government ethics laws. One member of the commission was absent during the meeting. "The information in this case does not appear to establish a substantial objective basis to believe that Governor Kotek violated the conflict of interest prohibited use of office or nepotism statutes," Susan Myers, director of the commission, said. The decision comes three months after it was revealed that top staff in the governor's office had raised concerns about Kotek Wilson's involvement, and then Kotek sought guidance from the ethics commission to define her wife's role and eventually apologized amid the resulting backlash. Myers confirmed on April 2 that the agency had received complaints against Kotek, shortly after OPB and Willamette Week reports tied the departure of three of Koteks top aides to friction over Kotek Wilson's involvement in the governor's office. The commission's preliminary report released Friday reveals it received two complaints on March 25 and multiple additional complaints in the following weeks. The ethics commission had 60 days to complete a preliminary review of the complaints received related to the First Lady's role. Emails released by Gov. Tina Kotek's office detail concerns with First Lady's role The governor's office on April 26 released more than 6,000 pages of records detailing questions and concerns from some of her former staff members about Kotek Wilson's expanding role. Records included an email from former special adviser Abby Tibbs referencing several months of requests from former Deputy Chief of Staff Lindsey OBrien, former chief of Staff Andrea Cooper and herself for clarity about the role of the first spouse. I continue to believe that the office has an obligation to not only meet the letter of the law/ethics rules but exceed them and center the spirit of the laws/ethics rules because there are significant issues of public trust and the obligation to the people of Oregon, Tibbs wrote on March 15. I know theres a shared commitment to ensuring that a first spouse has an opportunity to do meaningful work for an administration and for that work to be supportive of the success of the entire administration and center the highest degree of accountability and public trust, there are many considerations and issues that need to be addressed." The emails released also detail concerns with increased staffing and security for the first lady. Another email from Tibbs was sent in February to a member of the office's behavioral health team saying she was committing to writing a prior discussion the two had about a request the governor made which she called "highly inappropriate." The governor asked the team member to call Cascadia Behavioral Health, where Kotek Wilson once worked, to discuss a friend of Kotek Wilson who was upset with her supervisor, according to Tibbs' email. I also want to just recognize again that requests, and actions by the FL and/or Governor like the ones above are indeed highly inappropriate at best, and you flagging this and anything else that doesnt feel right for me and Coop [Andrea Cooper] is totally the right thing to do," Tibbs wrote. "The Governor has been reminded several times now of the power she and the FL hold in this office and externally and the appropriate use of their power." The emails also discuss the hiring of a new aide who joined the governor's office on March 25 as a temporary six-month advisor charged solely with exploring "the establishment of the office of the First Spouse." Gov. Tina Kotek listens to questions during a May 1 press conference where she announced she would not pursue establishing an office of the first spouse. Governor calls off efforts to establish Office of the First Spouse After the emails were released, Kotek announced on May 1 that she was stopping her efforts to expand the role of the first lady and apologized for her "approach." "After listening to and reflecting on the concerns of Oregonians who have contacted my office, as well as the advice of staff, I want to be clear about next steps: There will not be an Office of the First Spouse. There will not be a position of Chief of Staff to the First Spouse," Kotek said during a news conference. "I am sorry for the way this conversation between my office and you has started," Kotek said. The preliminary review of complaints against the governor prevented the commission from responding to questions Kotek sent seeking official guidance, opinions and advice around the role of the first spouse. Chris Warner, Kotek's new chief of staff, sent three "preliminary questions" to the commission on April 5 specifically asking if the first partner can participate and advise on the governor's priorities, and be supported by staff and office resources. Kotek has repeatedly said that there is no "road map" in Oregon for defining the role of a first spouse. "I make all policy and personnel decisions for my office. I have sought guidance from the National Governors Association and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC). I am committed to defining the role of the First Spouse with respect to what we learn from OGEC, not only on behalf of this administration but future administrations as well," Kotek said. Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson speaks at an unveiling ceremony in 2023 for a women's suffrage rights marker at Oregon State Capitol State Park. Preliminary report finds no 'substantial' evidence of ethics violations In her report to the commission, Myers said there was no substantial evidence that Kotek had violated any ethical laws. There was no indication Kotek Wilson, as an unpaid volunteer, used her position for private financial gain, and nepotism laws in Oregon do allow public officials to appoint or employ relatives or members of their household as unpaid volunteers, Myers explained. The full report released by the commission found that, based on the available information, the government resources provided for Kotek Wilson were not for her private use but to perform official duties and thus did not meet the definitions of conflict of interest or prohibited use of office. Myers also addressed the concerns raised by staff members, which she said appeared to be based more on political perception and staff members' misunderstanding of Oregon government ethics laws. Kotek's request for an advisor to contact Cascadia could be perceived as inappropriate but not a violation of law, Myers added. In the report, Myers wrote that Kotek Wilson confirmed the Cascadia employee involved was a former colleague and not a relative or household member. "That distinction is key, as the Government Ethics Laws apply to taking actions or making decisions that could have financial impacts on the public officials, their relatives or household members, or their associated businesses," the report said. "Decisions or actions that might have financial impacts on friends and former colleagues are not included in the prohibitions set forth in ORS Chapter 244." Four members of the commission made comments against dismissing the case. Among them was the chair of the commission, Shawn Lindsay, who said he believed dismissing the case would be "premature." Lindsay said he agreed with Kotek's attorney that the commission should not be used as a political tool. He also said he did not believe the agency should "go on unfounded fishing expeditions" but that a full investigation would be the "thorough" approach. For example, Lindsay said, a full investigation would allow an investigator to interview Tibbs and other staffers who resigned. None of the three were interviewed for the preliminary report. "We can't get this wrong," added Commissioner Richard Burke. We owe it to the citizens of Oregon to look at everything." Commissioner Shenoa Payne, however, said she saw no evidence a full investigation would change the preliminary report. Commissioner Channa Newell added that she believed moving forward would feel "punitive" and asked if it would be an efficient use of the commission's time. The vote to move forward failed in a 4-4 vote. "The Governor is grateful for the commissions thorough deliberations on this matter," a statement from the governor's office said. "The First Lady is a volunteer and public official with relevant professional experience that can provide tremendous value in furthering the Governors priorities. The Governor now looks forward to receiving formal guidance from the commission on the questions her office submitted regarding the role of a First Spouse." Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on X @DianneLu This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Gov. Tina Kotek, first lady won't face ethics investigation The European Union hit two extremist Palestinian Islamist groups, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), with new sanctions on Friday. Three companies and six people have been targeted with punitive measures for financing the two groups and "enabling their violent actions." New sanctions apply to Zuheir Shamlakh, who according to the EU, is a money launderer "who enables financial transfers" to Hamas from Iran. Also targeted is Maher Rebhi Obeid, a high-level political operative for Hamas "responsible for directing Hamas terrorist operatives in the West Bank," said the Council of the EU, the body representing the bloc's 27 member states. Jamil Yusuf Ahmad Aliyan, a PIJ official and leader of the Muhjat AlQuds Foundation that provides financial support to the families of PIJ fighters and prisoners, has also been sanctioned. The three companies, Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Co Ltd, Larrycom for Investment Ltd, and Al Zawaya Group for Development and Investment Sociedad limitada were linked to Hamas' investment portfolio and placed on the EU's sanctions list. Persons and organizations targeted by EU sanctions are subject to an asset freeze in the bloc, and a ban from travelling to the EU. In addition, it is prohibited for third parties to provide economic resources, directly or indirectly, to the companies and persons listed. In total, 12 people and three organizations are listed under EU sanctions set up in January 2024 to punish any individual who supports Hamas or PIJ after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7. The Gaza war was triggered by the massacre of more than 1,200 people by Hamas and allied groups in Israel on October 7 last year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) and President of the European Council Charles Michel speak during a press conference after the EU summit in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa EU leaders have formally nominated Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as president of the European Commission, European Council President Charles Michel confirmed on Thursday. Von der Leyen's nomination was informally agreed on Tuesday, but the formal decision was taken at Thursday's EU summit in Brussels. Under the deal, former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa will be the next president of the European Council - the assembly of national leaders - and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is the leaders' pick to be the European Union's next foreign policy chief. "Kaja, Ursula and Antonio accepted," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. Outgoing European Council President Michel also took to X to confirm the nominations of von der Leyen and Kallas, and the election of Costa. The EU leaders' endorsement does not mean von der Leyen's second term is confirmed just yet. She still needs to win the support of a majority in the freshly-elected European Parliament. EU leaders are hoping a coalition of three political groups will secure her confirmation, reflecting the group affiliations of the prime ministers and presidents who backed her in the European Council. The three groups are von der Leyen's own centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the liberal Renew Europe group. However, the parliament's political groups are broad affiliations of different national political parties and often prove fractious. "I'm really honoured," Kallas said. "This is enormous responsibility in this time of geopolitical tensions. There's war in Europe, but there's also growing instability globally that also are the main challenges for the European foreign policy." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pushed hard, but unsuccessfully, for one of the top jobs to be given to a member of the soft-eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, which includes her far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) party and came third in the European Parliament elections. Meloni said the exclusion of the ECR from the top jobs' allocation was "above all a lack of respect towards the citizens of Europe" as the nominations did not account for the increase in support for the right in the elections. The EPP and the S&D respectively came first and second in the elections, but Renew came fourth, behind the ECR. After the summit, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo told dpa: "Politics thrives on people who put their hands together and work together, not on people who say, 'I'm going to block.'" "I think if some parties do not want to work with them [the ECR], it's an issue for them. It's not an issue for the other parties," he said. "Democracy is not only about the power of the majority. What democracy really is, is also the respect of the minorities." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed optimism that the European Parliament will back von der Leyen's nomination for a second term at the helm of the EU's executive. "The president has a very good reputation in parliament after all," he said following the meeting in Brussels. Scholz also defended the three major EU political groups over their picks for the EU top jobs, saying they had had to agree on candidates that would achieve a backing in parliament. "That's what we achieved today. We hope," he said. Von der Leyen is a member of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is affiliated to the EPP and is the principal domestic opponent of Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), a member of the S&D group. EU leaders also debated the Ukraine war after an in-person briefing from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a visit to Brussels to sign a security pact with the EU. EU leaders also agreed on a broad plan for EU policymaking over the next five years. They also discussed the situation in the Middle East, as well as a plan to strengthen Europe's defence industry. Finally, they decided to freeze EU membership talks with Georgia due to fears the country is moving in an authoritarian direction. Ursula von der Leyen has secured the nomination for a second term as President of the European Commission following an agreement between EU leaders at a Brussels summit on June 27. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is poised to become the EU's top diplomat, representing the bloc on the global stage for the next five years. Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has been chosen to serve as President of the European Council, tasked with brokering compromises among the 27 heads of state and government. At the conclusion of the EU summit, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk tweeted: "Kaja, Ursula, and Antonio accepted. Defence plans accepted. Satisfaction for Poland and for Europe." Von der Leyen's nomination still requires approval from the European Parliament in a secret ballot, which is widely regarded as a more challenging hurdle than her endorsement by EU leaders. The European parliament must also approve the entire commission which includes Kallas at a later vote in the fall. At the summit, the EU also signed a security agreement with Ukraine, discussed ways to strengthen EU defenses against Russia, and established the bloc's strategic priorities for the next five years. The war in Ukraine has highlighted the EU's lack of preparedness for conflict, as the bloc struggles to supply Kyiv with sufficient weapons against Russia. This has prompted calls for greater EU coordination of defense systems and increased investment in defense industries. Reuters reported citing diplomats that von der Leyen informed the summit that from 1999 to 2021, the EU's defense spending rose by 20%, compared to China's 600% increase and Russia's 300% increase, even before Moscow's substantial rise in military expenditure following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Von der Leyen indicated to leaders that the EU needs to invest 500 billion euros ($535.30 billion) in defense over the next decade. Financing options include national contributions, dedicated revenue streams known as the EU's own resources, and joint borrowing, according to von der Leyen. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine signs security agreements with EU, 2 Baltic states Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Australian businesses are exploring new working practices, expanding globally and leveraging technology to drive productivity and stay competitive, according to new research from workforce management platform, Rippling. The report, based on a Censuswide survey of 500 Australian business leaders, looks into how companies are planning to address workplace productivity challenges in FY25. As we enter the new financial year Australian businesses are prioritising revenue growth (38%), increased productivity (36%) and employee satisfaction (34%). For finance leaders, who play a key role in company direction and value creation, increasing productivity (46%) proved to be their top priority. The 2023-2024 financial year presented numerous challenges for Australian businesses, ranging from funding freezes and talent shortages to layoffs. Moving into FY25, high operational costs (40%), intense market competition (36%), and ongoing regulatory changes (33%) will be the primary hurdles businesses expect to face. The spectre of stagnant business productivity continues to cast a long shadow over the Australian economy, but improving efficiency and output will be key to overcoming businesses economic and market pressures in FY25, said Matt Loop, VP and Head of Asia, Rippling. Technology will play a key role in facilitating this change, whether that be making it easier for companies to consider global expansion or improving efficiency and eliminating the time burden of administrative tasks. But were now seeing working practices become central to the conversation. Companies are beginning to understand that greater flexibility in work is not about employees wanting to work less its about them wanting to work differently. Leaders that remain open to the options and adopt a learning mindset will be better positioned to navigate these changes effectively, ensuring both productivity and employee satisfaction while fostering a culture of trust and respect. New workforce practices offer hope The past few years have seen a huge evolution in how we work, with remote and hybrid models commonplace. Now, as pressure builds for businesses to push workplace flexibility even further, embracing new working practices may actually be a solution to Australian businesses productivity woes. A significant majority of respondents believe that innovative work practices can improve business productivity, agreeing that a four day working week (66%), right to disconnect (65%) and work anywhere (67%) would have a beneficial impact. Interestingly, HR leaders show the lowest advocacy for the four day working week, with only 44% agreeing it can boost productivity, suggesting concerns about the practicalities of its implementation. However, while theres optimism about new practices ability to drive productivity, adoption is slow and an implementation gap is emerging. Only 25% of companies are considering or already implementing the four day working week in the next financial year, and more worryingly, only 20% are introducing the right to disconnect, despite it becoming law on 26th August. Equally, the tried and tested methods are still preferred by most businesses, with most agreeing that training / upskilling (76%), employee reward schemes (75%) and overtime pay (74%) will unlock greater productivity. Workers shouldnt expect any of these policies to become commonplace anytime soon, but support for more flexible and employee-friendly work environments suggests increased exploration and experimentation in the future. Australian companies looking to compete on global stage In an increasingly interconnected world, Australian businesses are setting their sights on international expansion to drive growth and enhance their competitive edge with almost two-thirds 65% looking to expand to global markets in the next financial year. The US and UK have emerged as the top destinations for expansion, surpassing neighbouring countries such as New Zealand and Asia. Of companies looking at establishing a presence in international markets: In the US, a quarter (26%) are in exploratory stages and 19% are activating their landing team. In the UK, 21% are in exploratory stages and 22% are activating their landing team. In New Zealand, 17% are in exploratory stages and 15% are activating their landing team. These findings also reveal the strategic foresight required to overcome the inherent complexities and challenges of international expansion. Australian companies listed cost of expansion (35%), managing teams across different time zones (32%), ability to hire the right talent (29%) and learning the complexities of local laws and regulations (29%) as their top concerns. Additionally, one-in-five (19%) would be worried about the negative perceptions on Australian business productivity. Tapping into a global talent pool As Australian companies look to expand into global markets, they are also realising the benefits of a global workforce to bring specific market expertise and knowledge. Over two-thirds (69%) of Australian businesses are looking to hire globally in the next 12 months. Contrary to popular belief, accessing lower labour costs (36%) was not the primary driver for this wave of global hiring. Instead, Australian businesses are predominantly hiring internationally to support their presence or expansion in global markets (44%) and increase productivity (43%). The growing complexity and demands of recent industrial relations reforms, such as the Right to Disconnect, are also beginning to take their toll on Australian businesses and influence local hiring decisions, with 37% citing them as a key driver behind their decision to hire globally. This was of particular concern to finance leaders, with almost half (49%) identifying it as a motivator to their choice to pursue global hiring. Tech to drive productivity The findings show that as AI and automation continue to dominate mainstream discourse, Australian businesses are increasingly turning to technology as a critical enabler in the quest to increase business productivity. Three-quarters (74%) of respondents agree that investing in technology improves a businesss productivity and 36% consider it to be the top business objective of their technological investments, followed closely by improving security (35%), increasing operational efficiency (34%) and reducing costs (34%). This permeates further than just supplementing technical roles. Technology will be used to unlock greater efficiencies in all job functions, empowering data-led decision making and liberating employees from spending excessive time on mundane administrative tasks. IT (41%) will be the highest priority for technology investments in FY24-25, with HR (28%), Finance (27%) and Marketing (26%) also receiving considerable focus. This indicates a growing recognition of the value of digital transformation in workforce management and enabling people to dedicate more hours to more strategic work. Ripplings comprehensive platform is uniquely positioned to meet these business priorities. By streamlining HR, IT, and Finance operations, Rippling empowers companies to manage their workforce efficiently, ensuring compliance and enhancing productivity across the board. The platform supports global hiring and management, taking the heavy lifting out of onboarding, paying, and managing employees worldwide, which is essential for Australian companies looking to tap into the global talent pool and maintain compliance with international regulations. To read the full report visit here. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The European Union member states leaders have called for the intensification of military aid deliveries to Ukraine in the EU summit conclusions. Source: European Pravda Details: The conclusions state that the EU reaffirms its commitment to providing continuous political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as it takes and as intensively as it takes. EU leaders condemned the recent escalation of hostilities by Russia, particularly the increased attacks on citizens and civilian and critical infrastructure, especially in the energy sector. Quote: "As Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence, the European Council calls for the delivery of military support to Ukraine to be stepped up. In particular, air defence systems, ammunition and missiles are urgently needed to protect Ukraines population and critical energy infrastructure." The European Council also urged the completion of work on assistance measures under the European Peace Facility, which further stimulates the provision of military support to Ukraine. Background: During the summit, the heads of EU states and governments agreed on the distribution of roles in the bloc for the next political term. Support UP or become our patron! Eugene makes cuts to library services, other programs in new budget Ward 4 City Council member Jennifer Yeh, left, Ward 2 City Council member Matt Keating and Ward 8 City Council member Randy Groves vote in favor of the 2024-25 budget in the new Riverfront City Hall. The Eugene City Council unanimously approved its new budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year Monday, with cuts to positions in police, library and custodial service in the first regular session in Eugene's new City Hall. City Manager Sarah Medary and officials with other Oregon local governments have largely attributed this to Measure 50, a 1997 ballot initiative that placed limits on Oregon property taxes, chief among them the limit that without voters raising taxes through a bond or levy, property tax could grow a maximum of 3% per year regardless of property value increase. Without changes, the city budget office projected an $8.3 million General Fund gap for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year. The budget councilors approved Monday closed $6.7 million of that gap, which includes position cuts to the library, police (mostly in training positions) and custodial service. Unlike Lane County, which adopts a new budget every year, Eugene has a two-year budget cycle, which the city is currently in the middle of. Also unlike the county, the city already removed American Rescue Plan money from its budget, and total general fund revenue grew from the last supplemental budget. Despite this, expenses grew faster. "The General Fund has an ongoing structural gap where expenditures are growing at a faster pace than revenues," the budget said. The Eugene city manager and revenue committee have recommended closing Eugene's projected budget shortfalls in the next two years with a combination of a new fire service fee and service reductions. Reductions and an increased fee Of the cuts, $1.3 million are paid for by reducing the workforce by nine "full-time equivalent" positions, including: Six-and-a-half FTE from the Police Department. Four of these positions come from the police training team, which the city is switching to an ad hoc model. One and a half come from reducing positions specific to managing police records. The city is shifting the responsibilities of the records manager (a currently vacant position) to the operations support lieutenant. The last FTE is cut from 911 communications training. One-and-a-half FTE from the Library. This includes removing two part-time positions that are currently vacant and reducing the library's Sunday hours. The city is also cutting library costs by holding other vacant positions open. One FTE from Custodial Service. The fire department faces a $780,000 cut, including reductions in vacancy savings, materials and supplies, even though the number of FTE remains the same. The city is also raising the adult recreation fees effective Sept. 30, and projects $200,000 in the new fiscal year from this source. Other general fund changes include money the city of Eugene got from the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (which is run by the same elected officials) in exchange for the Butterfly Lot and former City Hall parking lot, lower-than-projected health claims from city employees, general fund programs that were moved to other funds and money from the city's rideshare fee. This leaves a $1.5 million gap, which "will be included on a future supplemental budget" the city wrote. Medary has proposed loosening the definition of stormwater so stormwater fees could be used for parks maintenance as a solution. Councilors approved this change Monday in a 5-2 vote but have not incorporated it into the budget. Speakers at the public hearing and following public comment criticized the council for cutting library funding, with members of the Eugene Public Library Foundation Board requesting councilors prioritize the library when the budget improves, especially given the cuts it faced last year. "Twelve positions last year another one-and-a-half positions and reduced hours on Sundays on the way," board member Sylvia Barry told councilors. "The general budget no longer supports programming or the acquisition of any new materials: that is 100% covered by the levy, the friends and the Library Foundation Board. As the city budget stabilizes, please prioritize restoring the library budget as quickly as possible." Other funds While the city is cutting services paid for by its flexible general fund, several of the other city funds are expanding. The largest changes include: $24.6 million to Capital Projects. The larger projects include: $10.1 million toward the Eugene Airport expansion, paid with a combination of grants and airport user fees. $6 million toward "wastewater, water and stormwater service along W. 11th Avenue and Crow Road between Green Hill Road and Terry Street and adjacent areas," paid for with a state grant. $2.9 million from a grant "to remove a section of concrete channel, re-slope the bank, and add a footbridge to cross Amazon Creek." $1.5 million from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to clean dioxin from Trainsong Park. $1.2 million for Arlie Park which "was inadvertently omitted on the 2023-2025 Biennium December Supplemental Budget." $4.4 million to City Hall, $2.4 million for remodeling costs and $2 million to pay back part of the Eugene Water & Electric Board loan for their former building. $3.5 million to wastewater management "to align" the city's budget with the Metropolitan Wastewater Commission budget. $3.3 million to cultural services because of higher-than-expected Hult Center revenue. $1.3 million for the additional ambulance crew the state awarded Eugene to cope with the University District hospital closure. $1.7 million from the Community Safety Payroll Tax. The largest piece ($930,000) will go toward "police vehicles and equipment" including "Police and Community Service Officer vehicles and drone hardware and software systems for the new Drone First Responder program." This was the other part of the budget that drew public comment, with speakers criticizing the city for in their view overprioritizing policing. "This payroll tax, sold as a way to get more funding to CAHOOTS several years ago, is once again just being spent on police," local activist Jacob Trewe told councilors. Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene city budget to include cuts to library, police, more Make Europe Great Again: far right Hungary takes over presidency of the Council of the European Union Janos Boka, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, and Zoltan Kovacs, Spokesman of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, present the programme of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Hungarian Presidency On 1 July, Hungary will take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the term lasting until 31 December 2024. This has provoked unease in the European Parliament due to infringements by Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbans government against the rule of law and the EUs strategic interests. Though the far right surge in recent EU elections has given Orban a boost, the EUs political agenda in the coming months may limit Hungarys influence on the Council. The Hungarian presidency has already courted controversy with its unoriginal Trump-imitating slogan Make Europe Great Again (MEGA). While Hungarian diplomats deny that is has been copied, Orbans admiration for the US tycoon is no secret he has even remarked that the Council presidency will coincide with the upcoming US elections. Orban also does little to hide his affinity with Putin who he congratulated on his recent re-election or with Xi Jinping, despite the Hungarian governments strong anti-communist stance. Additionally, Orban has consistently criticised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, blaming him for the outbreak of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Hungarys allegiances are viewed with suspicion across the continent, even by conservative right wing politicians like Giorgia Meloni, as well as Swedish and Czech nationalists. Leer mas: I watched Hungary's democracy dissolve into authoritarianism as a member of parliament and I see troubling parallels in Trumpism and its appeal to workers Why the Council presidency matters The Council of the EU (not to be confused with the European Council or the Council of Europe) is one of the two EU institutions that holds legislative power, the other being the European Parliament. It is made up of ministers from the 27 member states grouped by portfolio, and is chaired by a six-month rotating presidency. Despite having legislative power, the 2007 Treaty of Lisbon reduced the Councils powers to favour the European Parliament, especially on matters of foreign policy. Moreover, the Council lacks the power to propose new EU laws this is the responsibility of the European Commission. Hungarys presidency comes immediately after the recent European Parliament elections. EU institutions will therefore be concerned with allocating political positions and shaping the new Commission, and the Council will not be able to carry out as much legislative activity as it would under other circumstances. The 2019 Finnish presidency also coincided with the election aftermath, and it achieved much less than the Austrian and French presidencies that came before and after it. In addition, the Belgian presidency in the first half of 2024 fast-tracked negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the latest package of sanctions against Russia, so that they could get underway before Hungary takes over. With the victory of the centrist, pro-EU politician Donald Tusk in Poland last year, Orban lost a strong ally in the Council, but he can still count on the support of Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico, a left-populist politician who is also an ally of Putin. Leer mas: Who is Robert Fico? Slovakia's controversial prime minister in stable but serious condition after assassination attempt Orbans ultra-conservative government will prioritise issues such as illegal immigration a favourite of every right wing populist party and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans rather than Ukraine. He will also actively avoid certain issues, such as climate change policies or the rule of law. His opposition to LGBTQ+ propaganda, feminism and green ideology will further influence the course of Hungarys six month term at the head of the Council. The EUs most corrupt country takes the helm Over the last three years, the EU has frozen around 30 billion of funds due to the Hungarian governments attacks on judicial and press independence, homophobic and racist policies, and rampant corruption among members of its executive. In fact, Hungary is considered the most corrupt of the EUs 27 member states according to Transparency International. Orbans family and friends have become disproportionately rich from European funds and Russian oligarchy-esque corporate takeovers. Orban has struck back against EU sanctions by vetoing important decisions and processes, including the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova, the 50 billion euro aid package to Ukraine, and sanctions against Russia. The strategy is tantamount to blackmail, with the aim of paralysing the EU in order to get it to release the withheld funds. No withdrawal from EU Despite its hostile relationship to the bloc, Hungarys exit from the EU is not on the table because its fragile economy depends heavily on European funds. This is refelcted in public opinion 73% of the countrys citizens are in favour of EU membership according to Eurobarometer data. Rather than leaving the EU, Orbans government therefore seeks to strengthen the sovereignty of national governments to the detriment of EU bureaucracy and federal superstructure, similar to what French far right leader Marine Le Pen advocates. In any event, Orbans domestic power is now being challenged by a rival from within his own party Peter Magyar, a former prominent member of Orbans Fidesz party and the ex-husband of Orbans former justice minister Judit Varga. By airing the ruling partys dirty laundry in public, Magyar has won the votes of those disenchanted with Orban in the European elections, and has vowed to put an end to the corruption that appears to be endemic in Hungarys ruling party. Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos. Lee mas: Eszter Wirth no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoria, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiacion de ninguna compania u organizacion que pueda obtener beneficio de este articulo, y ha declarado carecer de vinculos relevantes mas alla del cargo academico citado. Metas AI assistant will not be available in the European Unionat least for now. After clashing with Irelands data regulators over privacy concerns, Meta announced earlier this month it will delay releasing its AI assistant in the EU. Meta had been collecting publicly shared content from Facebook and Instagram users across the world to train its large language model (LLM), Meta Llama 3. Such LLMs are trained on large datasets to generate, summarize, translate, and predict digital content. Metas new AI assistant, powered by Llama 3, integrates these features into Metas social platforms. Metas AI Assistant first launched in the United States in September 2023, and has since expanded to Australia, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Europe was on the horizonuntil Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) requested (with the implicit threat of fines and further legal action) that Meta stop using social media posts from Europeans to train Llama 3, stymying Metas plans to launch its AI assistant in Europe. While AI regulation is still a largely theoretical concept in the United States, the European Union has taken a much more aggressive stance in recent years with two main schemes: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented in 2018, and the EU AI Act, which went into effect in March. Both regulations apply to all EU member countries, and the GDPR also covers Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are part of the European Economic Area but not the EU. What does the GDPR do? The GDPR, which the EU itself describes as the toughest privacy and security law in the world, sets standards for the protection of personal data and imposes strict financial penalties on violators, which can reach into the tens of millions of euros. The GDPR applies to any organization that processes the personal data of European citizens or residents, including outside the region like Meta. Each of the 30 nations bound by the GDPR operates its own data protection authority responsible for monitoring compliance with the law. These bodies are subordinate to the European Data Protection Board, which ensures uniform application of the GDPR across the region and reviews appeals from those subjected to penalties. The GDPR also establishes a host of individual rights related to accessing, restricting, and erasing personal data, and gives internet users a private right of action to sue for damages in civil court. The GDPR limits data processing, defined broadly as any action performed on data, whether automated or manual. This encompasses the recording, organizing, storing, using, or erasing of personal information. According to the law, personal data can only be processed if: an individual clearly consents to the processing of their data, for example, subscribing to an email list; the data processing is necessary for a contract, a personal legal obligation, or saving someones life; the data processing serves the public interest or some official function; there is some other legitimate interest, unless it conflicts with the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject, especially in the case of a child. The GDPR outlines seven principles for data protection and accountability: data processing must be lawful, fair, and transparent to the individual; any processing of personal data must be related to the specific, legitimate purposes for which the data was originally collected; data collection must be limited to what is necessary for a specific purpose; processors must keep users personal data up to date and correct any inaccuracies without delay; processors may not store personally identifying data longer than necessary for the originally stated purpose; processors must ensure appropriate security and confidentiality; at any given time, data processors must be able to prove compliance with all GDPR requirements. The GDPRs terminology is somewhat nebulous by design. The EU itself describes the regulation as fairly light on specifics and justifies this ambiguity as a hedge against obsolescence. With technology evolving so quickly, some generality is needed in order for the law to remain applicable, according to the EU. The laws vagueness also grants broad discretion to regulators. The Irish DPC, for example, has stood out as particularly zealous in its enforcement of the GDPR. With Metas European headquarters located in Dublin, Irish regulators have led the charge against the tech giant as evidenced by this months move. According to its 2023 annual report, the Irish DPC was responsible for 87 percent of all GDPR fines across the EU, most of which were aimed at Meta for privacy infractions. This contentious dynamic is likely to endure. In a June 14 statement, the DPC declared that it will continue to engage with Meta on this issue to enforce the GDPR alongside its fellow EU data protection authorities. Meta, meanwhile, expressed disappointment with the DPCs request, claiming its LLMs need to access the public content shared on its social media platforms in order to accurately understand important regional languages, cultures or trending topics on social media. Meta noted that several competitorsincluding Google and OpenAIstill train their LLMs on data from users in the EU and stressed that it does not use private posts or messages to train its software. Though the DPCs move has paused development of Metas AI Assistant in Europe, negotiations between the company and regulators are still underway. We remain highly confident that our approach complies with European laws and regulations, Meta said in a statement. What does the EU AI Act do? The EU AI Act, passed in March 2024, is considered the worlds first comprehensive AI regulation. It restricts certain forms of AI with the aim of ensuring that AI systems respect fundamental rights, safety, and ethical principles, according to the European Commission. The act primarily targets AI developers but also covers individuals and organizations using AI systems in a professional capacityfor example, websites with customer service chatbots or personalized shopping recommendations. Like the GDPR, the AI Act applies to entities operating in the EU, regardless of location. The AI Act, in contrast to the GDPRs scattered regulatory framework, is enforced centrally by the European AI Office. The EU AI Act classifies AI into four categories of risk. Unacceptable risk: banned. This refers to AI used for manipulation, biometric categorization, creation of facial recognition databases, or social scoring by public authorities to assess a persons trustworthiness, as implemented by the CCP. High risk: tightly regulated. This applies to AI that profiles individualsfor example, a resume scanner for job applicantsand AI used in critical areas, such as infrastructure, education, employment, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Limited risk: minimal transparency requirements. This covers general purpose AI systems (GPAI), such as chatbots and deepfakes. Providers of such systems must make people aware they are interacting with AI-generated content. Minimal risk: largely unregulated. This includes spam filters and AI-enhanced video games. Most of the EU AI Act addresses high risk AI systems, requiring providers to develop guardrails to monitor risk, ensure accuracy, enable human oversight, and help downstream providers who integrate the GPAI into other platforms to comply with the AI Acts requirements. They must also keep detailed records to document compliance with the AI Act to enforcement authorities at the European AI Office. For GPAI systems designated as limited risk, the regulatory burden is significantly lighter. Still, providers must document the training processes for their GPAI systems, abide by the EUs Copyright Directive, and inform downstream providers about the systems capabilities and limitations so they may comply with the AI Act. The EU AI Act is scheduled to take effect in stages based on each level of risk. Unacceptable risk AI systems will be prohibited by September, six months after the acts passage. High risk AI systems, depending on their type, will have between 24 and 36 months to comply with the regulatory requirements, while limited risk GPAI systems, like Metas Llama 3, will have just 12 months. Though the law has yet to be enforced, tension between the nascent European AI Office and the tech giants is already brewing. Executives at Amazon and Meta warned regulation could cripple AI research and development in the EU. We need to make sure that innovation continues to happen and that the innovation doesnt just come outside Europe, Werner Vogels, Amazons chief technology officer, told CNN. We already have a very long history in Europe of underinvesting in R&D. What does this mean for AI regulation going forward? The standoff between Meta and Irelands DPC illustrates the ongoing struggle to balance innovation and ethics in the EUs complex regulatory landscape. The need for massive amounts of data to train AI systems runs headlong into the EUs privacy restrictions, leading to a zero-sum battle between regulators and developers. With the GDPR in full force and the AI Act looming on the horizon, more clashes are likely to come. Meta isnt the only tech company sparring with regulators over development of AI features. Apple recently announced it will withhold Apple Intelligence from the EU, citing concerns about the Digital Markets Act. Michael Frank, founder and CEO of the AI consulting company Seldon Strategies, doubts the new AI Act will truly establish the new global standard EU regulators have proclaimed. I dont think it will be extraterritorial, Frank said. Either the EU waters down the regulation in the implementation phase, or AI providers will exit the market. 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. FILE- The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone with an image on a computer monitor generated by ChatGPT's Dall-E text-to-image model, Dec. 8, 2023, in Boston. The European Union is escalating its scrutiny of the artificial intelligence industry, including taking a fresh look into Microsofts multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI. The bloc started reviewing the multibillion-dollar deal last year to see whether it broke EU merger rules but dropped it after concluding Microsoft hadnt gained control of OpenAI. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File) LONDON (AP) The European Union is escalating its scrutiny of the artificial intelligence industry, including taking a fresh look into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar partnership with OpenAI, a top EU official said Friday. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, started reviewing the deal last year to see whether it broke EU merger rules but dropped it after concluding Microsoft hadn't gained control of OpenAI, Margrethe Vestager, the commissions executive vice-president for competition policy, said in a speech. Microsoft has invested $13 billion in OpenAI over the years, she said But we have to make sure that partnerships like this do not become a disguise for one partner getting a controlling influence over the other. She signalled that the commission would take another tack to examine the deal, and the industry more broadly. It's using the bloc's antitrust rules, which target abusive behavior by companies that have a dominant market position. The commission sent information requests in March to big AI players including Microsoft, Google, Facebook and TikTok, reviewed those replies and is now sending a follow-up request for information on the agreement between Microsoft and OpenAI, Vestager said. The EU wants to understand whether certain exclusivity clauses could have a negative effect on competitors, she said. A Microsoft spokesman said, We appreciate the European Commissions thorough review and its conclusion that Microsofts investment and partnership with OpenAI does not give Microsoft control over the company. We stand ready to respond to any additional questions the European Commission may have. We support the Commissions goal of keeping the AI industry competitive and innovative, and look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue, an OpenAI said in a statement, adding that the company welcomes the conclusions of the investigation. The stepped-up scrutiny highlights how European Union regulators have been pacesetters for the global push to rein in big tech companies, including the major AI players. The EU's led the field with its AI Act, which is set to take effect soon and is the worlds first comprehensive set of regulations for AI. Vestager said the bloc was also concerned about consumer choices for foundation models, which is the technology that underpins generative AI systems like chatbots. She said EU regulators have sent information requests to better understand the effects of Googles arrangement with Samsung" to pre-install Gemini Nano on some devices from the South Korean tech company. Gemini Nano is the smallest version of Google's Gemini AI foundation model. "And we have a number of other preliminary antitrust investigations ongoing into various practices in AI-related markets," she added. The commission is also examining so-called acqui-hires, where a company buys another one mainly for its talent, such as Microsoft's hiring of Inflection AI's founder Mustafa Suleyman, and other top staff. We will make sure these practices dont slip through our merger control rules if they basically lead to a concentration, she said. Even after the debate fiasco, Biden is still the best the Democrats have got Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance will make little difference to how Americans see him. Even before his prime-time unravelling in Atlanta, more than 70 per cent of Americans had seen enough and didnt want Biden to run again. His manifest unfitness for office does, however, allow the Democrats, their funders and their media chorus to discuss publicly what theyve long known privately. Say it isnt Joe, then who will be the nominee in November? The Democratic National Committee has no good choices. Their names are Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom. Both of them smirked and praised Biden in the customary late-Roman style on Thursday night. Meanwhile, channels like CNN and MSNBC sharpened the daggers, explained why Biden should hang up his toga and fitted Newsom, the governor of California, for his coronation at the Democratic convention in Chicago in August. Dont believe it. If America were a monarchy, the White House would have announced a regency on Friday morning. But a President is harder to displace, even when hes blatantly incapable like Joe Biden. There are three paths to sending Biden into the retirement he should have taken in 2016. None of them is straight. Each is blocked. And Kamala Harris awaits at the end of all three. Option One is for the Congress to impeach Biden. This is not going to happen. The Republican-controlled House might prefer to leave Biden dangling than to let the Democrats off the hook. The Democratic-controlled Senate is hardly likely to admit its role as an accessory in misleading the American public about Bidens fitness for office. Option Two is for Congress to invoke the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. Unfortunately, the Twenty-Fifth, which was added after the assassination of President Kennedy, specifies that in case of presidential death, removal, resignation or incapacity, the Vice President takes over. Republicans will relish a Trump vs. Harris race. For similar reasons, the party managers in the Democratic National Committee and major Democratic donors will dread it. That leaves Option Three: begging the President to resign, then pushing through a new nominee in Chicago in August. Nothing suggests that Biden will consent to being fired. He says he did well on Thursday night, and Jill Biden reckons he did such a great job. And the First Lady isnt gaga to think Joe can still win. He won in 2020 without campaigning. Donald Trump is now a convicted felon, and his lead in the swing states often polls within the margin of error. The media will fall in line. If Biden resigns, Harris goes to Chicago as the first female and woman of colour President. Would the Democrats risk their first contested Convention as incumbents since Ted Kennedys run against Jimmy Carter in 1980? It would be a circus of racial resentment and class war. How would already wavering African American voters respond to a palace coup that installs a white male like Newsom? Another alternative, Michigans governor Gretchen Whitmer, might swing her state back into the Democratic column, but again, the racial optics would be terrible. The Democratic coalition runs on the combustible fuel of identity politics. The DNC and the donors might prefer four years out of office to blowing up the party. A President Harris would have the Democratic machine, the Justice Department and a begrudging media on her side. She would be the only obstacle to a second Trump term in an election that the Democrats frame as democracy versus autocracy. Dire as her poll numbers now are, Harris might also appeal to a demographic that helped to assure Trumps defeat in 2020, suburban white women. If the girl boss slays the handsy white ogre, Americans can escape the Grumpy Old Men reboot theyre currently trapped in. It sounds like a fairy tale, but its really a nightmare. Kamala Harris is not a natural politician. Worse, she fails to play the part of one. Like Trump and Biden, her eminence is a symptom and a cause of Americas crisis of legitimacy. Unlike them, she has no record of achievement. The Harris presidency would be short, but it would still be catastrophic, and in unpredictable ways. The Democrats may prefer to stick with the slow-motion disaster of the Biden presidency. 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. The New York Times Columnists Biden Cares About Tell Him to Go President Joe Bidens supporters might have hoped that his performance in Thursday nights debate against Donald Trump would stamp out burning questions about his age and his ability to secure another term in office. Instead, his stumbling, error-prone display poured gasoline on the flames. The conflagration reached all the way to the opinion pages of The New York Times, where not a single one of a panel of 12 writers concluded Biden had won the head-to-head with his opponent, a recently convicted felon. Worse still, a host of columnists at the newspaper called outright for Biden to abandon his re-election bid altogether. Morning Joe in Full Meltdown: Biden Cannot Beat Trump I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and it made me weep, wrote Thomas Friedman, a political commentator and friend of Biden. I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetimeprecisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election. He went on to call Trump a fire hose of lies who is himself nowhere close to what it will take for America to lead in the 21st century. To give America the greatest shot possible of deterring the Trump threat in November, the president has to come forward and declare that he will not be running for re-election and is releasing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention, Friedman wrote. He later expressed concern about Bidens performance in light of his prep. If that is the best performance they could summon from him, its time for Joe to keep the dignity he deserves and leave the stage at the end of this term, he wrote. Nicholas Kristof reached a similar conclusion. In a piece under the headline President Biden, Ive Seen Enough, Kristof also described Biden as a good man who capped a long career in public service with a successful presidential term. But I hope he reviews his debate performance Thursday evening and withdraws from the race, throwing the choice of a Democratic nominee to the convention in August. Kristof explained that its now hard to avoid the feeling that Biden remaining in the race will boost Trumps chances of winning a new presidential term. We see the world through narratives, and one of the narratives about Biden is that he is too old, he wrote. His performance reinforced that narrative when he needed to shatter it. Biden, unable to puncture Trumps repeated falsehoods, allowed a convicted felon to win the debate. He wrote that Biden could resolve the issue by withdrawing from the race and allowing replacement candidate to be chosen. Kristof acknowledged that the decision to withdraw would be a wrenching choice for Biden. But, Mr. President, he added, [O]ne way you can serve your country in 2024 is by announcing your retirement and calling on delegates to replace you, for that is the safest course for our nation. If he was looking for solace, Biden wouldnt find much from Frank Bruni either. But can Biden beat Trump? he asked. That question predated the debate and will be asked with even more urgency and panic in its aftermath. As will this one: Is it really too late for another Democrat to take Bidens place? With stakes this high, mustnt that be discussed one more time before the convention? Paul Krugman joined the pile-on in a piece entitled The Best President of My Adult Life Needs to Withdraw. He wrote: I must very reluctantly join the chorus asking Biden to voluntarily step aside, with emphasis on the voluntary aspect. Maybe some Biden loyalists will consider this a betrayal, given how much I have supported his policies, but I fear that we need to recognize reality. Three more of the NYTs op-ed writersEzra Klein, Michelle Cottle, and Ross Douthatweighed in on the Matter of Opinion podcast which was given the ominous title: Is Biden Too Old? America Got Its Answer. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Should President Biden drop out of the race? That question was considered a fringe conspiracy theory only 24 hours ago, but its the question Democrats are wrestling with after Bidens disastrous debate performance reinforced fears hes too old to serve a second term. The White House and the Biden campaign are trying to shut it down, saying Bidens all in and that Democratic talk of replacing him will only help elect former President Trump. At a campaign rally in Raleigh, N.C., Friday afternoon, a more-spirited Biden struck a self-deprecating tone about his performance in front of a revved-up crowd: I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, Biden said. I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smooth as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Democrats went into full-on meltdown mode Thursday night after the debate exposed a potentially cataclysmic weakness for Biden that had previously only been whispered about by the news media and Washington insiders. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didnt do that, Bidens former communications director Kate Bedingfield said on CNN. Now, some of Bidens friends and allies are discussing alternatives. Several of former President Obamas top lieutenants in his administration said the party must face the hard facts and consider potential replacements. We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do that, former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau said on X. And since we havent had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didnt at least have a serious discussion about whether Joe Biden whos a wonderful human being and has been a great president is up for the job. The analysis from cable news anchors and pundits, many of whom call themselves close friends with Biden, was somber but authoritative. They expressed sadness for the state of politics and admiration for the president, before acknowledging that Democrats must consider whether hes their best option to go up against Trump. Biden is a big fan of MSNBCs Morning Joe. If he tuned in Friday morning, hed have heard anchor Joe Scarborough say Trump will win unless theres a change on the Democratic ticket. Top print outlets, from The Atlantic to The New York Times, were flooded with op-eds from columnists calling on Biden to walk away. While many Democrats on Capitol Hill have privately voiced exasperation to reporters about the debate, Bidens allies are striving to stay level-headed on his place atop the ticket, at least in public. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) responded to calls for Biden to leave the ticket by saying: Stay the course, chill out. The real test is whether vulnerable Democrats running for reelection will seek distance from Biden on the campaign trail, with both the House and Senate up for grabs in November. There are only 52 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which was already primed to be a headache for Biden, who has faced fierce protests from his left flank over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Biden has shown no willingness to consider stepping down, and his allies are calling for calm and perspective. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called the chatter unhelpful and unnecessary. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who suffered a stroke during his campaign for Senate in 2022 but still pulled out a victory, had choice words for panicked Democrats: I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record, Fetterman posted on the social platform X. Chill the f out. A bright spot for Democrats: Fewer than 50 million watched the debate, about 20 million fewer than watched the first debate between Biden and Trump in 2020. Well have more on this below Everything you need to know to cast your ballot in Minnesota's August primary election Voting is now open for Minnesota's Aug. 13 primary election. Early voting begins Friday, 46 days before the election as required by state law. Any eligible Minnesotan can vote by mail or in person in the primary, which will determine which candidates land on the state's general election ballot in November. "This is the opportunity for every voter in Minnesota to help determine who or what is on the menu," Secretary of State Steve Simon said Thursday, encouraging eligible voters to cast a ballot. Recent law changes allow Minnesotans with felony convictions who are no longer incarcerated to vote in the primary, and voters can now opt to be placed on a permanent absentee voting list. Here's what you need to know about the primary and how to cast your ballot early or on Election Day. What is the primary election? Primary elections determine which candidates from each party will appear on the Nov. 5 general election ballot for federal, state and local offices. The presidential primary in Minnesota was held in March, but there might be more than one Republican running for Congress in your area, or several DFL candidates running for the state House. Only one from each party can be on your ballot in November. For voters in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District, there will be a DFL primary race that includes U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. In the Second District, attorney Tayler Rahm and former federal prosecutor Joe Teirab are among the Republican candidates running for the seat. In nonpartisan races, the top two vote-getters advance to November's election. Can I vote in primary races for both major parties? No. Once you get your ballot, you can only vote for candidates from one political party. If you vote for candidates from more than one political party, your votes will not count. Each party has a separate column on the ballot. What about party registration and privacy? Minnesota does not have political party registration, and your party preference in the August primary is not made public. I want to vote early by mail. How do I request a mail-in ballot? You can apply for an absentee ballot on the Secretary of State's website if you're eligible to register and vote in Minnesota. To apply online, you must provide a valid email address and either your Minnesota-issued driver's license number, a state ID card or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can also print out a paper application and mail it to your local election office. I received my ballot in the mail. Now what? You can vote now, but a few extra steps are required when voting by mail. You'll need a registered Minnesota voter or a notary to act as a witness as you complete your ballot and vote. That witness must then sign a signature envelope included with your absentee ballot and list that person's address. Notaries need to write down their name and title and sign the signature envelope. How much time do I have to mail in my absentee ballot? You can mail in your ballot any time during the 46-day window before the election, as long as your ballot is received by 8 p.m. on Election Day, when polls close. Otherwise, it won't be counted. Give your mail carrier a few days to get your ballot to your local election office. Can I drop off my mail-in ballot in person? You have up until 8 p.m. on Election Day to return your ballot to the office that sent it to you. Remember: do not go to your polling place to drop off your ballot it must be returned to your local election office. What if I make a mistake on my ballot? If time allows, contact your local election office to ask for a new ballot. If there's not enough time, the Secretary of State's office recommends completely crossing out the name of the candidate you accidentally marked and then marking your ballot for the candidate you prefer. What if I voted early but want to change my vote? You can spoil your ballot and submit a new one through July 25. Each mail-in ballot has its own ID number that will be invalidated if you submit a new ballot, so you won't be voting twice. Can I check to make sure my ballot made it to my local election office? The status of mail-in ballots can be tracked on the Secretary of State's website. Can I vote early in person? Yes. You can cast an absentee ballot at your county elections office through Aug. 12. You can do this during the office's normal business hours, and some might offer extended hours or additional locations for early voting. Offices will be open for extra hours closer to Election Day. You can find where you can cast your ballot early on the Secretary of State's website. What if I'm not registered? You have until July 23 to register to vote ahead of the primary, but if you miss that deadline, you can provide proof of residence at an in-person voting location on Election Day. What about voting on Election Day? Polls are open on Aug. 13 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line before polls close you are still allowed to cast a ballot. You can use the Secretary of State's poll finder to figure out your Election Day voting location. How can I get added to the automatic absentee ballot list? Starting June 1, Minnesota voters can sign up to be automatically sent an absentee ballot before every election. Eligible voters can choose to join the permanent absentee voter list by checking a box when registering to vote or updating their registration application online at the Secretary of State's website. What questions do you have? Australian data appears to be the favoured target for cyber attackers, with organisations reporting the highest rate of data breaches across the globe in 2023. This is one of the key Australian findings from the latest research by Rubrik Zero Labs. The report found data breaches were almost 50 percent more common in Australia than the global average. Rubrik Zero Labs new The State of Data Security: Measuring Your Datas Risk report offers insights on real-world risks against data as the pace and volume of cyber events continues to increase globally, aided by the explosion of data in the cloud and the realities of modern computing environments. Rubrik Zero Labs studies the challenges organisations face to protect their crown jewels their data as well as how to reduce data risk and prepare for the evolving risk cycle before, during, and after a cyberattack. After surveying IT security decision makers at companies with 500 or more employees, the research found 82 percent of local organisations experienced a cyberattack in 2023. Of these, data breaches were the most prevalent style of attack comprising 54 percent of incidents, compared to the global average of 38 per cent. Business Email Compromise attacks were the second most common attack method, witnessed in 45 percent of incidents. Antoine Le Tard, Vice President, APJ at Rubrik, said the findings showed cyber resilience rather than merely cyber prevention was more important than ever. Australia is a mature market and early adopter of cloud and many enterprise security technologies. As such, local organisations have been investing heavily in perimeter security for the past decade, yet Australia holds the unenviable title of leading the world in data breaches, Le Tard said. This shows its time to think beyond the perimeter and shift towards cyber resilience strategies. With many local organisations adopting hybrid environments to modernise their businesses, attacks were witnessed across all aspects of their infrastructure. Cloud environments were the most targeted in Australia, with 75 percent of local respondents reporting malicious activity. SaaS recorded the second most malicious activity, reported by 60 percent of respondents, followed by on-premise infrastructure with 46 percent. The cloud is a powerful business enabler but it comes with inherent risk particularly with vulnerable sensitive data, Le Tard said. According to Rubrik telemetry, there are a number of security blind spots when it comes to the cloud. Most data we see in a standard cloud instance is object storage so it has far lower security coverage than other areas yet more than a quarter of object storage data is sensitive data, such as protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information (PII). While data breaches were the most common attack type experienced in Australia, ransomware accounted for more than a third (36 percent) of local cyber incidents. In these cases, 97 percent of enterprises reported paying a ransom to recover data or stop an attack. In 70 percent of cases, a ransom was paid following an encryption event and in 54 percent it was paid due to extortion threats. The high percentage of businesses paying a ransom following an encryption event suggests many Australian organisations are placing too much faith in perimeter defences. They simply arent prepared to recover their own data following a successful attack, Le Tard said. A comprehensive backup strategy is the best defence in these cases. It allows the victim to rapidly recover their own data without having to pay the attackers but investing here often requires an organisation to accept breaches are inevitable. The Rubrik Zero Labs research unit pairs Rubrik telemetry across its customer base of more than 6,100 organisations with findings from a survey conducted by Wakefield Research of more than 1,600 IT and security leaders half of which are CIOs and CISOs. Additionally, this study incorporated data from two Rubrik partner organisations and five other research organisations in an effort to provide the most objective findings. Additional key findings from the Australian data include: Throughout 2023, Australian organisations experienced an average of 28.17 attacks on par with the global average of 28.12. This figure encompasses all attack types including business email compromise, data breach, ransomware, insider event, and inadvertent data exposure. In Australia, ineffective back-up and recovery solutions were the second most common limiting factor noted in the wake of a cyberattack (21 percent), second to only a lack of leadership involvement (22 percent). A lack of security expertise within the organisation was noted by 17 percent of Australian organisations. In the wake of an attack, the most common action Australian organisations took was to increase spending on new technologies or services (77 percent). This was notably higher than the global average of 55 percent. To read the full report, visit https://rubrik.com/zero-labs. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. New evidence sheds light on health emergency as virus rapidly spreads and evolves here's what you need to know A new report is drawing attention to an evolving virus that surprised scientists after being detected in dairy cows in the United States. What's happening? In June, The Conversation highlighted how the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has spread rapidly around the globe after first being found in China in 1997. Rising global temperatures appear to be playing a significant role in the prevalence of the virus as well as the emergence of new variants, according to multiple studies. In part, birds' migratory patterns are changing, and new species are interacting. Meanwhile, warmer winters may be aiding the survival of certain pathogens, while wetter weather can help keep the virus alive in bird droppings and water sources. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that other animals impacted by the virus include swans, foxes, bears, alpacas, and sea lions. In March, farms in Kansas and Texas reported the first cases of H5N1 in dairy cows. The following month, a person was infected with the virus after direct contact with a cow. It was the second human case in the U.S. and first connected to cattle. Three infections have now been linked to U.S. dairy farms. Why is this important? The spread of the virus in the animal world has raised fears about biodiversity loss. For example, the seals on the United Kingdom's South Georgia Island experienced a mass mortality event. H5N1 has also devastated poultry farms, with millions of birds needing to be culled. This has led to rising costs for nutritious staples such as eggs. An agricultural economist told the Associated Press that estimated losses exceed $1 billion in the U.S. alone. An update by the CDC on June 24 stated that the public health risk is low but that it is tracking the development of the virus. According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, H5N1 has a high mortality rate in humans, killing more than 50% of people infected. H5N1 isn't the only disease that has raised alarm bells in 2024. Soaring rates of mosquito-borne infections, including dengue and malaria, have caused health emergencies in multiple countries, including Brazil and India. Scientists believe warmer global temperatures are also facilitating this trend, as mosquitoes can reproduce more easily in these conditions. What's being done about H5N1? While H5N1 is undoubtedly an area of concern, the World Health Organization notes that most of the cases in humans have occurred after direct contact with live or dead birds. At this time, there aren't known cases of human-to-human transmission. The three infections linked to U.S. dairy farms were the result of direct contact with cows, and workers weren't wearing protective equipment as recommended. If you encounter a sick or dead animal, the best thing to do is reach out to the nearest state or federal wildlife agency, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The CDC also notes that it is monitoring infections so that it can develop an action plan if needed. Other developments include a breakthrough with gene-edited chickens that appear to be resistant to H5N1. Additionally, the adoption and development of cleaner technologies worldwide provide hope for a healthier, cooler tomorrow. For example, the Solar for All program in the U.S. has allocated billions of dollars to improve access to non-polluting solar power for low-income households, helping these homeowners save money on their utility bills. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. The former CEO of the Barnes & Noble bookstore chain has listed his Palm Beach oceanfront estate for $96 million. Leonard Riggios contemporary-style house is among the most expensive single-family homes ever marketed for sale in the "multiple listing service," records show. The Riggios have longtime ties to New York. Leonard Riggios career as a bookseller began in 1965, according to an online biographical sketch. In 1971, he acquired the Barnes & Noble trade name and flagship bookstore in Manhattan, merging it with his own bookselling business, the companys website says. He grew Barnes & Noble exponentially until it was billed as the worlds largest bookselling company. Leonard Riggio is no longer with the company, according to a Barnes & Noble spokesperson told the Palm Beach Daily News in an email. Barnes & Noble today is owned by Elliott Advisors (UK) Ltd. Riggio and his wife, Louise, bought the house on 1.68 acres in 2003 for $14 million and in 2009 expanded the property with the purchase of an adjacent parcel for $1.45 million, courthouse records show. Viewed from above the dune, a contemporary-style estate on 1.68 acres at 1446 N. Ocean Blvd. in Palm Beach has been listed at $96 million. The house is owned by former Barnes & Noble chief Leonard Riggio and his wife, Louise. In May, Louise Riggio paid $8.1 million for a house in Wellington, the equestrian community in western Palm Beach County where the Riggios already had property, courthouse records show. The deed for that sale lists Louise Riggios mailing address as the couples Park Avenue co-op apartment in New York City. Built in 1979, the house in Palm Beach has seven bedrooms and 11,042 square feet of living space, inside and out. The guest area spans two floors on the opposite side of the house. The Riggios house has modular-style architecture. A one-story atrium at the front door connects the largest part of the residence with the public rooms and a second-floor primary bedroom suite on the south to the guest area on the north. That bedroom has an oceanfront balcony and adjoining sitting room. The second level also has a sun terrace overlooking the pool area. Just listed for $96 million, the Palm Beach house at 1446 N. Ocean Blvd. has a swimming pool facing the dune and seashore on the far North End of Palm Beach. The house is being sold by former Barnes & Noble Chairman Leonard Riggio and his wife, Louise. The house stands three lots south of land once home to the estate of the late conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. That 2.65-acre estate sold privately for a recorded $155 million in March 2023 and was then razed by the buyer, a company controlled by Estee Lauder billionaire William Lauder. Former Barnes & Noble Chairman Leonard Riggio and his wife, Louise, have listed their contemporary-style house at 1446 N. Ocean Blvd. in Palm Beach for $96 million. The front door faces an expansive motor court. The first floor of the main wing at the Riggio house has a living room, sunroom, dining room, a covered outdoor loggia, an outside dining courtyard and kitchen. Riggio and his wife bought the house from retired automotive executive Stanley N. Gaines and his Republican Party activist wife, Gay Hart Gaines, who owned a house next door they sold for a recorded $41.5 million in 2012. The Gaineses had nicknamed the estate they sold to the Riggios Turtle Beach. The family room has glass doors that frame views of the Atlantic Ocean at 1446 N. Ocean Blvd., a Palm Beach house that just entered the market at $96 million. Riggio's Wellington purchase is a four-bedroom house built in 2003 on a half-acre lot, according to property records. The Riggio family has had a long interest in equestrian sports, thoroughbred racing and related charities, according to published reports. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Former Barnes & Noble CEO lists Palm Beach oceanfront home at $96M Ex-Barack Obama adviser Van Jones voice cracked as he searched for the words to describe Joe Bidens disaster of a debate on Thursday, musing that Democrats may need a new candidate to oppose Donald Trump. Jones, now a CNN political analyst, was among the first on the network to break down Bidens performance, in which he sounded hoarse, gave incoherent answers, and looked lost for large swaths of the night. I love that guy. Hes a good man. He loves his country. Hes doing the best that he can, Jones said of Biden. But he had a test to meet tonight to restore the confidence of the country and of the base. And he failed to do that. The comments from Jones, whos never shied away from showing his admiration for Biden over the years, was an indictment on just how poorly the president performed. Jones, like others on CNNs post-debate panel, suggested its time for the DNC to seriously consider nominating someone new at the Democratic convention in Augustthough he stopped short at suggesting who that someone should be. Were still far from our convention and there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward, he said. But that was not what we needed from Joe Biden and, personally, it was painful for a lot of people. Its not just panic, its the pain of what we saw tonight. Jones added that Biden lost it in the first three minutes. Countless other analysts have noted the samethat Biden, who could barely be understood, struggled to speak clearly when given the first question of the night. He appeared frail and unfocussed, which, at 81, is the exact opposite of what his camp were hoping hed portray. CNN's John King says Democrats started freaking out about Biden's performance right away and are already talking about what they need to do going forward. Says they kept saying "Oh my God" throughout the entire event. pic.twitter.com/H4q9xFdLBs Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 28, 2024 John King, CNNs chief national correspondent, was the first analyst to break down Bidens dismal performance post-debate, likely with many eyes from the spectacle still glued to the network in shock. He spoke pointedly about Bidens failures to fact check Trump and claimed that Democrats across the country were blowing up his phone, worried that a ticket with Biden at the top would hurt every Democrat below him. The panic that I am hearing from Democrats is not like anything that I have heard, he said. King noted that Biden even struggled to make any sense even when talking about his own policy beliefsparticularly on abortion, a hugely important issue for Democrats this cycle. Bidens answers were, in a lot of cases, not coherent, he said. Deeply problematic that he was not able to take pretty straightforward answers and answer them to the American public. Jones and King were joined by a chorus of other voiceswho are typically sympathetic to Bidenwho felt similarly. CNN commentator Abby Phillip said theres been some real damage done that cannot be undone, and a Democratic strategist told NBC News the party had committed collective suicide. Bidens Re-Election Is Doomed by Disastrous Debate David Axelrod, a CNN star and chief architect of former President Barack Obamas electoral victories, got straight to the point on Thursday night: Democrats need to have serious discussions about replacing Biden if they want to have any shot in November in any competitive race. There was a sense of shock. There will be a discussion about whether he should continue, Axelrod said, referencing Biden. Its one night that helped confirm peoples fears. Its the one-night event everybody was watching. Meanwhile, Chris Wallace said on CNN that the debate has been, quite frankly, a car accident in slow motion. Biden, he added, sunk his campaign. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during signing ceremony for the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement at White House in Washington FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during signing ceremony for the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement at White House in Washington (Repeats to additional customers) By Trevor Hunnicutt, John Geddie, Hyonhee Shin and Michael Martina WASHINGTON/TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) -Donald Trump's allies are assuring officials in Japan and South Korea that the Republican presidential candidate will support a Biden-era effort to deepen three-way ties aimed at countering China and North Korea, five people familiar with the conversations said. In conversations over the past weeks, policy advisers with Trump's ear have delivered this message to officials in Seoul and Tokyo: if Trump takes office again, the ex-U.S. president will support the two capitals' work to warm once-frigid ties and advance military, economic and diplomatic cooperation to ease global tensions, the people said. The conversations were described to Reuters by Republicans and officials from each of the Asian countries, several of whom were directly involved. The previously unreported push is part of an effort by Trump's allies to convince Washington's closest friends in Asia that his smash-mouth approach to traditional alliances ends at the shores of the Indo-Pacific. There, the U.S. faces ramped-up tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea, a new Chinese partnership with Russia, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's courtship of North Korea. "I reassured them that the alliance will be strong, that Trump recognizes we have to work closely with our allies to defend their interests," said Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff in Trump's National Security Council, who traveled to Japan and met officials there including national security adviser Takeo Akiba this month. These conversations carry extra weight after Bidens disastrous debate performance on Thursday, which may push undecided voters toward Trump and has spurred calls for him to step aside in the 2024 race. Trump allies have floated other foreign policy plans if he wins in November, including a Ukraine peace plan and one to restructure NATO funding. The reassurances to Japan and South Korea go further because they include direct talks with foreign officials. In May, former Trump foreign policy officials met Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Trump campaign has not confirmed whether he would accept these proposals. "No one has the authority to speak to a foreign government and make promises on behalf of President Donald Trump," said Chris LaCivita, senior adviser to the Trump campaign, when asked about the assurances. The policy section of the Trump campaign's website does not address the topic. Fleitz said he was not speaking for Trump and instead offering an assessment based on his experience with the candidate. He said the U.S., Japan and South Korea would likely work together to counter China and North Korea under another Trump term. Dozens of meetings have been taken or scheduled at the highest levels of the Japanese and South Korean governments with right-wing think tanks, such as America First Policy Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Hudson Institute, known to be planning policy Trump could deploy in 2025, sources said. One Asian official briefed on the recent regional meetings with Trump allies said their government was taking the meetings seriously and considered them a plausible representation of where Trump may stand. TRUMP SECOND TERM PLANS The conversations show the serious, early effort by Trump allies to sketch policy priorities for a second Trump presidency months before the 2024 U.S. election, in which Trump is leading in battleground states that could decide the race. Trump's 2016 election win took countries by surprise and left them scrambling to understand the new president's views as he hastily assembled White House advisers. The consortium of conservative think tanks known as "Project 2025" making detailed plans for a second Trump presidency describe South Korea and Japan in their playbook as "critical allies" in the military, economy, diplomacy and technology. But the playbook also calls for pushing South Korea "to take the lead in its conventional defense against North Korea," reflecting Trump's concern about taking on too much financial responsibility for other countries' security. Project 2025 has said it does not speak for the Trump campaign. BACKING BIDEN PLAN Still, the outreach by Republicans to Asia represents one narrow area of potential continuity between Trump and Biden. The Democratic U.S. president took over from Trump in 2021 after a bitter election campaign and has prioritized elevating traditional alliances like those Trump sometimes disparaged. Biden encouraged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to work together and overcome decades of mutual suspicion and enmity. The effort culminated in a Camp David summit between the leaders last summer that pledged new defense cooperation amid North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's nuclear threats and Chinese President Xi Jinping's sovereignty claims over democratically governed Taiwan. "My view, and President Trump shares this, is the deeper we can make the economic ties between the three countries, the stronger the bonds will be," said Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, who served as ambassador to Japan in the Trump administration, remains in touch with Asian governments and is seen by some in those circles as a likely Trump second-term appointee. Another former Trump official described the conversations as partly campaign tactics, adding that, "the main charge of the Democrats is that he abandoned friends and allies and acted alone. He's now more careful not to give Democrats any new room for attack." WELCOME SIGNAL In Seoul and Tokyo, where officials are weighing a possible Trump return to office, Republican messages of solidarity have been received as a welcome signal that Trump's Asia policy may vary from the hard-nosed approach that rankled allies from Ottawa to Brussels. While polls show Biden and Trump in a close race, Yoon and Kishida face withering public opinion polls at home, raising the question of whether the spirit of Camp David will endure a change of leadership in any of the three countries. South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement that it "is not only necessary but also natural" for the three countries to work together, and that the effort had won bipartisan support in the United States, including during the prior administration. "Japan is following the U.S. presidential election with interest, but is not in a position to comment on elections in third countries individually," the country's foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the alliance enjoys bipartisan support. Spokespeople for the Biden campaign and the White House did not respond to a request for comment. "I don't see any reason why trilateral cooperation would languish at all," said Alexander Gray, a former chief of staff of the White House National Security Council under Trump and now CEO of American Global Strategies, a Washington based think tank. "There's a general concern, that I think is unfounded, that President Trump would abandon things that Joe Biden started and, you know, just abandon them because Joe Biden was involved in them." (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Michael Martina in Washington, John Geddie in Tokyo and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul; Additional reporting by Tim Kelly, Gram Slattery, and David Brunnstrom; Writing by Trevor Hunnicutt. Editing by Heather Timmons and Josie Kao) FILE PHOTO: An Israeli soldier walks near military vehicles, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel FILE PHOTO: An Israeli soldier walks near military vehicles, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel By Humeyra Pamuk and Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has sent to Israel large numbers of munitions, including more than 10,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs and thousands of Hellfire missiles, since the start of the war in Gaza, said two U.S. officials briefed on an updated list of weapons shipments. Between the war's start last October and recent days, the United States has transferred at least 14,000 of the MK-84 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 500-pound bombs, 3,000 Hellfire precision-guided air-to-ground missiles, 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, and other munitions, according to the officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly. While the officials didn't give a timeline for the shipments, the totals suggest there has been no significant drop-off in U.S. military support for its ally, despite international calls to limit weapons supplies and a recent administration decision to pause a shipment of powerful bombs. Experts said the contents of the shipments appear consistent with what Israel would need to replenish supplies used in this eight-month intense military campaign in Gaza, which it launched after the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian Hamas militants who killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage, according to Israeli tallies. "While these numbers could be expended relatively quickly in a major conflict, this list clearly reflects a substantial level of support from the United States for our Israeli allies," said Tom Karako, a weapons expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, adding that the listed munitions were the type Israel would use in its fight against Hamas or in a potential conflict with Hezbollah. The delivery numbers, which have not been previously reported, provide the most up-to-date and extensive tally of munitions shipped to Israel since the Gaza war began. Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since the start of the Gaza war, and concern is rising that an all-out war could break out between the two sides. The White House declined to comment. Israel's Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The shipments are part of a bigger list of weapons sent to Israel since the Gaza conflict began, one of the U.S. officials said. A senior Biden administration official on Wednesday told reporters that Washington has since Oct. 7 sent $6.5 billion worth of security assistance to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent weeks claimed that Washington was withholding weapons, a suggestion U.S. officials have repeatedly denied even though they acknowledged some "bottlenecks". The Biden administration has paused one shipment of the 2,000-pound bomb, citing concern over the impact it could have in densely populated areas in Gaza, but U.S. officials insist that all other arms deliveries continue as normal. One 2,000-pound bomb can rip through thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius. Reuters reported on Thursday that the United States is discussing with Israel the release of a shipment of large bombs that was suspended in May over worries about the military operation in Rafah. International scrutiny of Israel's military operation in Gaza has intensified as the Palestinian death toll from the war has exceeded 37,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the coastal enclave in ruins. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to its longtime ally. While Biden has warned that he would place conditions on military aid if Israel fails to protect civilians and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, he has not done so beyond delaying the May shipment. Biden's support for Israel in its war against Hamas has emerged as a political liability, particularly among young Democrats, as he runs for re-election this year. It fueled a wave of "uncommitted" protest votes in primaries and has driven pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities. While the United States provides detailed descriptions and quantities of military aid sent to Ukraine as it fights a full-scale invasion of Russia, the administration has revealed few details about the full extent of U.S. weapons and munitions sent to Israel. The shipments are also hard to track because some of the weapons are shipped as part of arms sales approved by Congress years ago but only now being fulfilled. One of the U.S. officials said the Pentagon has sufficient quantities of weapons in its own stocks and had been liaising with U.S. industry partners who make the weapons, such as Boeing Co and General Dynamics, as the companies work to manufacture more. (This story has been corrected to fix the reference to $6.5 billion worth of US 'security assistance' to Israel instead of 'weapons' in paragraph 9) (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Mike Stone. Editing by Don Durfee and Rod Nickel) By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After President Joe Biden's shaky performance at the debate with former President Donald Trump on Thursday night, some Democrats openly questioned whether he should be replaced as their candidate for the 2024 election. There is a process for doing so, but it would be messy. For answers on how that would work, Reuters spoke to Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank, a Democratic National Committee (DNC) member, and author of the book "Primary Politics" about the presidential nominating process. This explainer is based largely on interviews with her. Q: WHAT OPTIONS DO DEMOCRATS HAVE? A: The Democratic Party has had no real Plan B for Biden as its presidential candidate. He ran virtually unopposed for the party's presidential nomination this year. He will not be nominated officially until later this summer, so there is still time to make a change and a handful of scenarios to enact one: Biden could decide himself to step aside before he is nominated; he could be challenged by others who try to win over the delegates he has accrued; or he could withdraw after the Democratic convention in Chicago in August, leaving the Democratic National Committee to elect someone to run against Trump in his place. Q: SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A: Right now, the process largely depends on Biden. He would have to agree to step down or face a challenger this late in the process who would try to force him to do so. So far Biden has shown no indications of wanting to step aside and no opponents have challenged him directly. In fact some of his top potential replacements - Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom - spoke passionately in his defense after the debate, serving in a surrogate role that showcased their support but also contrasted their smooth delivery with his faltering one on the Atlanta debate stage. Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF BIDEN STEPS DOWN? A: Biden has spent the last several months accruing nearly 4,000 Democratic delegates by winning primary elections in U.S. states and territories. Those delegates would normally vote for him, but the rules do not bind or force them to do so; delegates can vote with their conscience, which means they could throw their vote to someone else. If Biden "releases" his delegates by stepping aside, there could be a competition among other Democratic candidates to become the nominee. Q: WHO WOULD REPLACE BIDEN? A: Several candidates could step into the fray, but there is no obvious number one. Vice President Harris would almost certainly be at the top of the list, but she has had her own problems after a rocky start in the job and poor polling numbers. The U.S. Constitution dictates that the vice president becomes president if the president dies or becomes incapacitated, but it does not weigh in on an inter-party process for choosing a nominee. California Governor Newsom, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have all been floated as possible replacements, but they are Biden supporters and campaign surrogates who are working to help get him elected now. Q: HOW WOULD A NOMINEE BE CHOSEN? A: There would likely be a free-for-all of sorts between the Democratic heavyweights vying for the job. Candidates would have to get signatures from 600 convention delegates to be nominated. There are expected to be some 4,672 delegates in 2024, including 3,933 pledged delegates and 739 automatic or superdelegates, according to Ballotpedia. If no one gets a majority of the delegates, then there would be a "brokered convention" in which the delegates act as free agents and negotiate with the party leadership to come up with a nominee. Rules would be established and there would be roll call votes for the names placed into nomination. It could take several rounds of voting for someone to get a majority and become the nominee. The last brokered convention when Democrats failed to nominate a candidate on the first ballot was in 1952. Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF BIDEN STEPS DOWN AFTER THE CONVENTION? A: If Biden steps down after the August convention, the 435 members of the Democratic National Committee would choose a new candidate. The members would meet in a special session to select a nominee. Q: WHO ARE THESE 435 DNC MEMBERS? A: They are divided equally between men and women as well as various constituency groups including labor leaders, LGBTQ representatives, and racial minorities. Of the total, 75 are appointed at-large by the chair, while the rest are elected in their respective states. Q: WHO COULD NOMINATE AN ALTERNATIVE IN THAT CASE? A: To nominate a candidate to replace Biden on the ballot, that person would have to have the support of a minimum number of DNC members -- perhaps around 60, though the exact number would be determined by the DNC's rules committee, which would lay out the rules for the proceedings before they started. There would likely be nominating speeches and seconding speeches. Multiple candidates could be nominated before the list is whittled down. Q: HOW WOULD THOSE VOTES BE COUNTED? The DNC would likely hold its meeting in Washington and the votes would be counted there. Ballots would be coded, signed and collected by hand. If a vote were to happen very close to Election Day on Nov. 5, when it was not possible to meet in person, then it would likely be virtual. (This story has been refiled to say 'faltering,' not 'haltering,' in paragraph 10) (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Heather Timmons and Sandra Maler) NTSB, FAA to investigate Southwest flight that departed from closed runway in Maine By David Shepardson (Reuters) -The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it will investigate a Southwest Airlines flight that departed from a temporarily closed runway in Maine earlier this week. The FAA said on Tuesday an airport vehicle exited the runway before Southwest Flight 4805, a Boeing 737, began its takeoff roll and departed around 5:45 a.m. local time (0945 GMT). Southwest said it is engaged with the NTSB and FAA to understand the circumstances of the departure. After the incident the plane continued safely to Baltimore, Southwest said. Several other incidents involving Southwest flights in recent months have raised concerns. Last week, the FAA said it was investigating a Southwest flight that descended to a low altitude of around 500 feet (152.4 m) about 9 miles (14.5 km) from the Oklahoma City airport. After the automated Minimum Safe Altitude Warning sounded, an air traffic controller alerted the flight crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 4069, which had departed from Las Vegas. Earlier this month, the FAA and NTSB 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 this month 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. 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," Southwest said, adding the incident prompted the airline to review data and trends related to its procedures, training, standards, and performance. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Tomasz Janowski and Nick Zieminski) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden had plenty of opportunity during the presidential debate to lay out a clear vision regarding abortion rights in the face of growing restrictions and worsening medical care for women since the fall of Roe v. Wade, something his campaign sees as a major motivator for voters. That's not what happened. Biden's jumbled and even nonsensical responses Thursday night to questions about abortion rights coupled with Trump's outlandish but unchecked claims about Democrats' views were panned by some abortion rights advocates who suggested the performance was a failure. Look, no one who cares about abortion access felt good about Bidens comments or his performance last night, said Kellie Copeland, the director of Abortion Forward, an advocacy group in Ohio. We need better we need a lot better. Put more bluntly: He failed us last night, said Sarah Garza Resnick of Personal PAC, an Illinois group that supports candidates who back abortion rights. Reproductive rights have already proven to be a winning issue for Democrats. On ballot initiatives, voters consistently choose to safeguard abortion rights. About two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly 9 in 10 Democrats say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to AP-NORC data from last June. It's a topic that should be an easy win for Biden. The president recovered a bit on Friday, telling supporters at a North Carolina rally: "Folks, for all his lies, we learned some important truths about Donald Trump last night. We learned hes still proud to be the person that killed Roe v. Wade. But the night before, Biden seemed unable to explain the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. When asked by the moderators if he supports some restrictions on abortion, Biden said he supports Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters. The first time is between a woman and a doctor. Second time is between a doctor and an extreme situation. A third time is between the doctor, I mean, between the women and the state. Abortion rights advocates lamented a missed chance to clearly lay out the stakes. Biden had a wonderful opportunity to really show the difference between him and Trump in who stands for abortion access and who doesnt, said Nourbese Flint, president of the national abortion justice group All Above All Action Fund. And I think he really missed the mark. The overturning of federal protections has meant the issue is now mostly in the hands of state legislatures, where the laws vary wildly. At least 25 million women now live in states with abortion restrictions. And since Roe's demise, reproductive health in the U.S. has become increasingly more fraught. Women who never intended to end their pregnancies have nearly died because they could not get emergency treatment. Miscarriage care has been delayed. Routine reproductive medical care is drying up in states with strict bans. Fertility treatments were temporarily paused in Alabama. The Supreme Court weighed in on the issue again Thursday, ruling for now that women in Idaho should be able to get abortions in medical emergencies; the state's strict abortion ban does not generally allow for it, and the Biden administration sued. Trump even said he was for exceptions to bans but Biden failed to seize on it. Trump again bragged about how he appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe with their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. And he made false claims that Democratic-led states were passing legislation where you can execute that baby after birth. Infanticide is criminalized in every state, and no state has passed a law that allows killing a baby after birth. Abortion rights advocates say language like this and late-term abortions are a not-so-subtle attempt to stigmatize abortions later in pregnancy. But even those are exceedingly rare. In 2020, less than 1% of abortions in the United States were performed at or after 21 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those types of abortions are usually the result of serious complications. Donald Trump has shown us exactly who he is and what he is capable of. There should be no doubt in anyones mind that, if given the chance, he will sign a national abortion ban into law," said Mini Timmaraju, head of Reproductive Freedom for All. But even as abortion rights groups criticized Bidens performance, they closed ranks around the president, praising his record on abortion rights and highlighting concerns over what Trump might do if he won the election. The choice between the two presidential tickets is crystal clear: Donald Trump represents an existential threat to women in America, according to a joint statement Friday from multiple groups. Biden is hardly a shout your abortion type and has long been seen as an imperfect messenger: He's an 81-year-old Catholic man who still avoids using the word. But his evolution over the years mirrors that of the Democratic Party at large. And the way he talks about it as a matter of health care and personal freedom is something that resonates with voters. Vice President Kamala Harris has been the chief administration spokesperson for the issue. But Biden's campaign has also deployed a growing group of women who speak to voters about how a lack of abortion access has affected them. These are women who never intended to end their pregnancies but who have been swept up in the medical confusion brought on by the fall of Roe. Biden's campaign released an ad featuring one of them on Thursday. Still, during the debate, Biden missed key chances to fact-check Trump and clear up falsehoods. It was incumbent on him to call out the lies, said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights at the nonprofit State Innovation Exchange. He just could not accurately and effectively push back on the lies that were being presented. And when he doesnt do it in real-time, people watching dont know whats incorrect. About 4 in 10 approve of how Biden handles abortion policy making it one of his better issues even as many disagree with his approach, according to a new AP-NORC poll. Seven in 10 Democrats say they approve, compared to about 3 in 10 Independents and roughly 2 in 10 Republicans. ___ Christine Fernando reported from Chicago. Associated Press Writer Linley Sanders contributed to this report. Fact check: Sea levels are already rising faster per year than Trump claims they might rise over next 497 years The day after their CNN presidential debate, former President Donald Trump cited a wildly inaccurate figure about sea levels to mock President Joe Bidens debate claim that the only existential threat to humanity is climate change. Trump said at a Friday rally in Virginia that global warming is fine, rejecting the view of the overwhelming majority of scientists. And he said of Biden: He said it again last night, that global warming is an existential threat. And I say that the thing thats an existential threat is not global warming, where the ocean will rise maybe, it may go down, also but it may rise one eighth of an inch in the next 497 years, they say. One eighth. He added what appeared to be a joke: Which gives you a little bit more waterfront property if youre lucky enough though. Facts First: Trumps claim about the expected pace of sea level rise is not even close to correct. The global average sea level is currently risi ng more per year than Trump claimed that people say it will rise in the next 497 years. NASA reported in March that the current global average sea level rise in 2023 was 0.17 inches per year, more than double the rate in 1993. And a World Meteorological Organization report this year said the rate of sea level rise between 2014 and 2023 was about 0.19 inches per year. In other words, sea level rise is already more than an eighth of an inch annually and it is accelerating. NASA found a jump of 0.3 inches between 2022 and 2023. Gary Griggs, a University of California, Santa Cruz professor of earth and planetary sciences who studies sea level rise, said last year that Trumps similar claims can only be described as totally out of touch with reality and that Trump has no idea what he is talking about. Sea levels rise by different amounts in different locations. For the US, sea levels are expected to rise particularly fast for the east coast and Gulf of Mexico coast and Trumps state of Florida, which is bordered by both of those coasts, is expected to be affected more severely than many other coastal states. In fact, Trumps claims about sea levels are highly inaccurate for the area near Mar-a-Lago, which is on the Atlantic. Griggs noted in a June email that data from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tide gauge to Mar-a-Lago shows an increase of an eighth of an inch roughly every nine months. Trump has made similar claims since his last presidential campaign - sometimes saying the estimate is an eighth of an inch increase over 200, 250, 300 or 400 years. Trump has also previously made the joke about rising seas creating more waterfront property. In reality, rising sea levels are expected to have devastating consequences not only for many seafront properties but for areas further inland rendering some communities uninhabitable and others more dangerous, increasing the frequency and reach of flooding, making hurricanes more destructive, and damaging infrastructure and ecosystems. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A worker looks at durians for sale at a shop in Kuala Lumpur on July 8, 2020. Photo by AFP Malaysia has received approval to export fresh durians to China, but industry experts worry that the trade may face logistical challenges. The approval for importing the fruit follows Chinese Premier Li Qiangs visit to Malaysia from June 18-20. China's demand for durian has significantly increased in recent years, with consumers willing to pay premium prices for Malaysias renowned Musang King variety and showing a growing preference for durian-flavored confectionery. A durian exporter in Kuala Lumpur stated that preparations are underway to ship fresh durians, but logistical challenges remain a significant concern. According to The Straits Times, local farmers typically wait for durians to fully ripen before harvesting, which leaves the fruit with only a three-day shelf life. Yet transporting the fruit by air will take at least 36 hours, according to Anna Teo, director of exporter Hernan Corp. Concurring with this, Sam Tan, executive director of durian supplier MAPC and president of the Malaysia Durian Exporters Association, added that due to its pungent smell, the spiky fruit can only be transported via cargo flights, which are not available daily. "This limitation requires significant coordination with the transport, Customs and agriculture departments to prevent delays that could spoil the durians," he told Malaysian newspaper The Star. "We need a multi-ministry task force to address any possible teething issues and ad-hoc problems related to transport and Customs clearance." Fierce price competition from Thailand and Vietnam, Chinas two largest suppliers of fresh durians, can also pose huge challenges, a Kuala Lumpur-based durian exporter said. Before Malaysia was allowed to ship the pungent fruit fresh to China under a phytosanitary protocol signed last week, it could only export durians as pulp, paste, and frozen whole fruit. So far, over 30 small and medium durian farmers and exporters in the country have signed up with the Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to export fresh durians, with more expected to register, according to Tan. The ministry has issued updated procedures on durian quality control for businesses and is expected to soon submit the list of exporters to Chinas Customs Administration, he noted. "Primary beneficiaries of these fresh durians will be first-tier cities in China Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen," he said, explaining that these places have better logistic connectivity to receive fresh durians. Consumers there also have more spending power for the premium fruit, he added. Malaysia began selling durian pulp and paste to China in 2011 and frozen durian whole fruits in 2018. Last year, Malaysia exported RM1.19 billion (US$252.2 million) worth of durian to China, making the country its key market. However, it only accounted for less than 2% of that markets total durian imports, according to Eric Chan, president of the Durian Manufacturer Association. "Allowing fresh durian exports could potentially double or triple Malaysias export volume, offering a significant opportunity in Chinas niche market," he said. Meanwhile, Malaysian Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu expected durian exports to China to surge to RM1.8 billion in value by 2030. "This protocol will boost the local durian industry and increase agro-food export value," he said in a statement quoted by the Malay Mail. Trump made more than 30 false claims during CNNs presidential debate far more than Biden Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made false and misleading claims during CNNs presidential debate on Thursday but Trump did so far more than Biden, just like in their debates in 2020. Trump made more than 30 false claims at the Thursday debate. They included numerous claims that CNN and others have already debunked during the current presidential campaign or prior. Trumps repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth, that every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, that there were no terror attacks during his presidency, that Iran didnt fund terror groups during his presidency, that the US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as super predators, that Biden is planning to quadruple peoples taxes, that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Americans dont pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries, that Europe accepts no American cars, that he is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and that fraud marred the results of the 2020 election. Trump also added some new false claims, such as his assertions that the US currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both records actually occurred under Trump. Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims in the debate. He used false numbers while describing two of his key Medicare policies, falsely claimed that no US troops had been killed on his watch, repeated his usual misleading figure about billionaires tax rates, baselessly claimed that Trump wants to eliminate Social Security, falsely said that the unemployment rate was 15% when he took office, inaccurately said that the Border Patrol union had endorsed him before clarifying that he was talking about agents support for the border bill he had backed, and exaggerated Trumps 2020 comments about the possibility of treating Covid-19 by injecting disinfectant. Here is a detailed fact check from CNNs reporting team of some of those claims. Trump on abortion policy after Roe v. Wade Trump repeated his frequent claim that everybody wanted Roe v. Wade overturned and the power to set abortion policy returned to individual states. He said: Everybody wanted to get it back to the states, everybody, without exception: Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives. Everybody wanted it back. Religious leaders. He also added: Every legal scholar wanted it that way. Facts First: Trumps claims arefalse. Poll after poll has shown that most Americans two-thirds or nearly two-thirds of respondents in multiple polls wish Roe would have been preserved. And multiple legal scholars have told CNN that they had wanted Roe preserved. A CNN poll conducted by SSRS in April 2024 found 65% of adults opposed the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe. Thats nearly identical to the result of a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in July 2022, the month after the decision. Similarly, a Marquette Law School poll in February 2024 found 67% of adults opposed the decision that overturned Roe. A NBC News poll in June 2023 found 61% opposition among registered voters to the decision that overturned Roe. A Gallup poll in May 2023 found 61% of adults called the decision a bad thing. And any claim that all legal scholars wanted Roe overturned is mind-numbingly false, Rutgers Law School professor Kimberly Mutcherson, a legal scholar who supported the preservation of Roe, said in April. Donald Trumps claim is flatly incorrect, another legal scholar who did not want Roe overturned, Maya Manian, an American University law professor and faculty director of the universitys Health Law and Policy Program, said in April. Trumps claim is obviously not true, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, who is an expert on the history of the US abortion debate. Ziegler, who also did not want Roe overturned, said in an April interview: Most legal scholars probably track most Americans, who didnt want to overturn Roe. It wasnt as if legal scholars were somehow outliers. It is true that some legal scholars who support abortion rights wished that Roe had been written differently; the late liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of them. But Ziegler noted that although there was a cottage industry of legal scholars kind of rewriting Roe what Roe shouldve said that isnt saying Roe shouldve been overturned. Those are very different things. You can read more here. From CNNs Daniel Dale Trump on Democrats and abortion Trump repeated his frequent claim that Democrats will kill babies in the eighth month, the ninth month of pregnancy, or even after birth. After Biden said that he would restore Roe v. Wade if reelected, Trump said, So that means he can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth, because some states Democrat-run take it after birth.Trump pointed to the former Virginia governors support of a bill that would loosen restrictions on late-term abortions as an example. Trump also said later in the debate that some Democrat-run states allow babies to be killed after birth. Facts First: Trumps claim about Democrats killing babies after birth is nonsense; that is infanticide and illegal in all 50 states. A very small percentage of abortions happen at or after 21 weeks of pregnancy. According to data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 0.9% of reported abortions in 2020 occurred at 21 weeks or later. (Many of these abortions occur because of serious health risks or lethal fetal anomalies.) By contrast, 80.9% of reported abortions in 2020 were conducted before 10 weeks, 93.1% before 14 weeks and 95.8% before 16 weeks. Trump invoked controversial comments made in 2019 by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, as he voiced support for a state measure that would significantly loosen restrictions on late-term abortions when the fetus was not viable. Northam was not talking about infanticide, which Virginia continues to prohibit. There are some cases in which parents decide to choose palliative care for babies who are born with deadly conditions that give them just minutes, hours or days to live. That is simply not the same as killing a baby. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Jen Christensen Trump on the suckers and losers controversy Trump denied that he had used the words suckers or losers to describe members of the US military who had been killed in action, after Biden pointed to the remarks to criticize his predecessors record on supporting veterans. And he claimed that the idea he had made these remarks was made up by him, Biden. Facts First: Trumps claim that Biden made up this story is false. The story was initially reported by The Atlantic. The magazine, citing four unnamed sources with firsthand knowledge, reported in 2020 that on the day Trump canceled a visit to a military cemetery in France where US troops who were killed in World War I are buried, he had told members of his senior staff, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. The magazine also reported that in another conversation on the same trip, Trump had referred to marines who had been killed in the region as suckers. John Kelly, who served as Trumps White House chief of staff and secretary of Homeland Security, has said on the record that in 2018 Trump did use the words suckers and losers to refer to servicemembers who were killed in action. Kelly told CNN anchor Jim Sciutto for Sciuttos 2024 book that Trump would say: Why do you people all say that these guys who get wounded or killed are heroes? Theyre suckers for going in the first place, and theyre losers. There is no public recording of Trump making such remarks, so we cant definitively call Trumps denial false. But it wasnt Bidens invention. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Kaanita Iyer Biden on his record as commander-in-chief Biden claimed that he is the only president this decade that doesnt have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did, referring to Trump. Truth is, Im the only president this century, that doesnt have any, this decade, that doesnt have any troops dying anywhere in the world, like he did, Biden said. Facts First: Biden is wrong. US service members have died abroad during his presidency, including 13 troops killed in a suicide bombing during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Thirteen US service members including 11 Marines, one Army special operations soldier, and one Navy corpsman were killed in the suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. Three US soldiers were also killed this year at a small US outpost in Jordan in a one-way drone attack launched by Iran-backed militants. And two US Navy SEALs died in January off the coast of Somalia while conducting a night-time seizure of lethal aid being transported from Iran to Yemen. Other US service members have also died abroad in training incidents, including five US soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in November 2023 during a routine refueling mission, and eight US airmen who died in a CV-22 Osprey crash in November 2023 off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan. From CNNs Haley Britzky Trump on Biden and the term super predators Trump claimed that Biden called Black people super predators for a decade in the 1990s. What hes done to the Black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years he called them super predators in the 1990s we cant forget that, Trump said. Facts First: Trumps claim is false. Biden never publicly deployed the phrase super predators or endorsed the criminological theory behind it (which held that there was a new breed of highly and remorselessly violent young offenders), let alone do so for 10 years. Biden did refer to predators on our streets who were beyond the pale while promoting the 1994 crime bill, but he did not specify that he was talking about people of any particular race. As reported by CNNs KFILE in 2019, Biden said in a 1993 Senate floor speech in support of the crime bill that we have predators on our streets that society has in fact, in part because of its neglect, created. And he urged the government to focus on the people he said were in danger of becoming the predators 15 years from now if their lives werent changed the cadre of young people, tens of thousands of them, born out of wedlock, without parents, without supervision, without any structure, without any conscience developing because they literally have not been socialized, they literally have not had an opportunity. But Biden did not speak of super predators. Four years later, in a 1997 hearing, he noted that the vast majority of youth criminal cases involved nonviolent offenses and said, When we talk about the juvenile justice system, we have to remember that most of the youth involved in the system are not the so-called super predators. It was Trumps opponent in the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton, who affirmatively used the phrase super predators as she argued in support of the 1994 crime bill (in 1996). She said in 2016 that she shouldnt have used that language. Trump wrote in a 2000 book that he supported tougher sentencing and street policing and warned of wolf packs of young criminals roaming the streets and he cited a since-discredited statistical analysis that was linked to the super predator theory. From CNNs Holmes Lybrand and Daniel Dale Trump on Irans funding for Hamas and Hezbollah Trump claimed that when he was president, Iran had no money for Hamas and no money for terror. Do you wanna know why? Because Iran was broke with me. I wouldnt let anybody do business with them. They ran out of money. They were broke, he said. They had no money for Hamas, they had no money for anything. No money for terror. Thats why you had no terror, at all, during my administration. This place, the whole world is blowing up under him. He added later that Iran also had no money for Hezbollah. Facts First: Trumps claims that Iran had no money for Hamas, no money for terror and no money for Hezbollah during his presidency is false. Irans funding for such groups did decline in the second half of his presidency, in large part because his sanctions on the country had a major negative impact on the Iranian economy, but the funding never stopped entirely, as four experts told CNN earlier this month. Trumps own administration said in 2020 that Iran was continuing to fund terror groups including Hezbollah. The Trump administration began imposing sanctions on Iran in late 2018, pursuing a campaign known as maximum pressure. But Trump-appointed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said himself in 2020 that Iran was continuing to fund terror groups. So you continue to have, in spite of the Iranian leadership demanding that more money be given to them, they are using the resources that they have to continue funding Hezbollah in Lebanon and threatening the state of Israel, funding Iraqi terrorist Shia groups, all the things that they have done historically continuing to build out their capabilities even while the people inside of their own country are suffering, Pompeo said in a May 2020 interview, according to a transcript posted on the State Departments website. Trump could have fairly said that his sanctions on Iran had made life more difficult for terror groups (though its unclear how much their operations were affected). Instead, he continued his years-old practice of exaggerating even legitimate achievements. You can read a more detailed fact check from earlier in June here. From CNNs Daniel Dale Biden on drug prices Biden touted two measures that his administration and congressional Democrats have enacted to reduce drug prices. We brought down the price of prescription drugs, which is a major issue for many people, to $15 for a insulin shot as opposed to $400. No senior has to pay more than $200 for any drug beginning next year, Biden said. Facts First: Biden is wrong. He incorrectly described two key provisions of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that aim to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Under the law, Medicare enrollees dont pay more than $35 a month for each insulin prescription. The law also placed a cap on Medicares Part D drug plans so that seniors and people with disabilities wont pay more than $2,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs for medications bought at the pharmacy, starting in 2025. Biden corrected himself later in the debate to use the $2,000 figure when talking about the cap on those out-of-pocket costs. From CNNs Tami Luhby unknown content item - Biden on border crossings dropping during his administration Biden said border crossings had dropped 40% since he took executive action to tighten the border in early June, arguing that the numbers are better than when Trump left office. What Ive done since I changed the law, whats happened? Ive changed it in a way that now youre in situation where there are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally, Biden said. Facts First: This is misleading. The number of daily encounters at the US southern border dropped 40% following Bidens executive action restricting asylum access earlier this month. While theres been a recent drop in border crossings, the number of people crossing the US-Mexico border was generally lower during the Trump administration. From CNNs Priscilla Alvarez Biden on support from the Border Patrol union Biden said the Border Patrol union endorsed him, and then appeared to clarify and said the group endorsed (his) position. Facts First: This is misleading. The National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents Border Patrol agents, backed a bipartisan border deal reached by senators that included some of the toughest security measures in recent memory, but didnt endorse Biden. The deal failed in the Senate. In a post on X, the union swiftly responded to the president Thursday: To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden. From CNNs Priscilla Alvarez Trump on the National Guard in Minneapolis Trump said that he deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis in 2020 during the unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. When they ripped down Portland, when they ripped down many other cities. You go to Minnesota, Minneapolis, what theyve done there with the fires all over the city if I didnt bring in the National Guard, that city would have been destroyed. Facts First: This is false. Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, not Trump, deployed the Minnesota National Guard during the 2020 unrest; Walz first activated the Guard more than seven hours before Trump publicly threatened to deploy the Guard himself. Walzs office told CNN in 2020 that the governor activated the Guard in response to requests from officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul cities also run by Democrats. You can read more here. From CNNs Holmes Lybrand and Daniel Dale Trump on the European Unions trade practices Trump, complaining about the European Unions trade practices, claimed that the EU doesnt accept US products, including American cars. They dont want anything that we have, Trump said Thursday. But were supposed to take their cars, their food, their everything, their agriculture. Facts First: Its not true that the European Union wont take American products, including American cars, though some US exports do face EU trade barriers and though US automakers have often had a hard time gaining popularity with European consumers. The US exported about $368 billion in goods to the European Union in 2023 (while importing about $576 billion from the EU that year), federal figures show. According to a December 2023 report from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, the EU is the second-largest market for US vehicle exports importing 271,476 US vehicles in 2022, valued at nearly 9 billion euro. (Some of these are vehicles made by European automakers at plants in the US.) The EUs Eurostat statistical office says that car imports from the US hit a new peak in 2020, Trumps last full year in office, at a value of about 11 billion euro. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Ella Nilsen Biden on Black unemployment Biden attempted to contrast himself with Trump on the economy. He said, Black unemployment is the lowest level its been in a long, long time. Facts First: This is false. While the Black or African American unemployment rate hit a record low under Biden in April 2023, 4.8%, the rate was up to 6.1% in May 2024 higher than in eight months of the Trump presidency. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Kaanita Iyer Trump on job growth during Bidens presidency Trump said of President Biden, The only jobs he created were for illegal immigrants and bounce-back jobs, a bounce-back from the Covid. Facts First: Trumps claims that the job growth during Bidens presidency has been all bounce-back gains where people went back to their old jobs is not fully correct. Nearly 22 million jobs were lost under Trump in March and April 2020 when the global economy cratered on account of the pandemic. Following substantial relief and recovery measures, the US started regaining jobs immediately, adding more than 12 million jobs from May 2020 through December 2020, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The recovery continued after Biden took office, with the US reaching and surpassing its pre-pandemic (February 2020) employment totals in June 2022. The job gains didnt stop there. Since June 2022, the US has added nearly 6.2 million more jobs in whats become the fifth-longest period of employment expansion on record. In total under Biden, 15.6 million jobs have been added. But its not entirely fair nor accurate to say the jobs gained were all bounce-back or were people simply returning to their former positions. The pandemic drastically reshaped the employment landscape. For one, a significant portion of the labor force did not return due to early retirements, deaths, long Covid or caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, because of shifts in consumer spending patterns as well as health-and-safety implications, public-facing industries could not fully reopen or restaff immediately. Some of those workers found jobs in other industries or used the opportunity to start their own businesses. When the pandemic was more under control and in-person activities could fully resume, those industries faced worker shortages. The pandemic recovery included whats been called the Great Resignation or the Great Reshuffling, where people for a variety of reasons switched jobs or careers. From CNNs Alicia Wallace Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate at CNN's Atlanta studios on June 27, 2024. - Will Lanzoni/CNN Trump on the Paris climate accord Trump claimed that the Paris climate accord would have cost the US $1 trillion, that it was the only country that had to pay, and that China, India and Russia werent paying. Trump called the accord a rip-off of the United States. Facts First: Trumps claim that the US would alone have had to pay $1 trillion as part of the Paris climate accord is wildly inflated. As part of the Paris agreement, in 2009, the US and other developed nations, including Western European countries, committed to collectively contribute $100 billion per year by 2020 to help poorer, developing countries, predominantly in the Global South, adapt to the impacts of climate change like sea level rise and worsening heat. Developed nations met their collective goal two years late in 2022, but the figure has never been as high as Trump was suggesting and the US has certainly never paid $1 trillion in international climate finance. Under the Obama administration, the US paid $1 billion of a $3 billion commitment it originally made in 2014. After Trump pulled the country out of the Paris accord, the US paid nothing to the global finance goal. And while Biden pledged $11.4 billion annually from the US, this level of funding hasnt materialized. Thats because Congress, responsible for appropriating the nations budget, has allocated only a fraction of that roughly $1 billion in 2022. Trump is correct that countries including China, India and Russia have thus far not contributed to international climate finance. However, Chinas position as the largest global emitter means many countries are pressuring it to contribute to international climate finance through a formal process. From CNNs Ella Nilsen Trump on Biden and a Ukrainian prosecutor Trump brought up an anti-Biden lie about Ukraine that has been a mainstay of both the 2020 and 2024 presidential cycles, plus Trumps 2019 impeachment. Trump slammed Biden for supposedly telling the Ukrainian people to change the prosecutor, otherwise, youre not getting $1 billion, referring to Bidens efforts to remove Ukraines top prosecutor in 2016. Trump also claimed the Ukrainian prosecutors ouster was related to Bidens son, referencing Hunter Biden, who at the time was on the board for a prominent Ukrainian energy company. If I ever said that, thats quid pro quo, Trump quipped. Facts First: Trumps claims are false. Since 2019, Trump and his Republican allies have falsely accused Biden of abusing his powers while serving as vice president to get a top Ukrainian prosecutor fired, supposedly because the prosecutors probe into the Ukrainian energy giant Burisma Holdings threatened his son, Hunter Biden. This claim was never true and has been repeatedly debunked. Nonetheless, it is one of the most-cited talking points used by Republicans against Biden during any discussion about his ties to Ukraine. In reality, Bidens actions toward the prosecutor were consistent with bipartisan US policy, and was in lockstep with what Americas European allies were pushing for at the time. They sought to remove the prosecutor because he wasnt doing enough to crack down on corruption in Ukraine including at Burisma. The Obama administration, career US diplomats, US allies, the International Monetary Fund and Ukrainian anti-corruption activists, and even Senate Republicans, among others, all made clear that they were displeased with the performance of Viktor Shokin, who became Ukraines prosecutor general in 2015. It is not clear how aggressively Shokin was investigating Burisma or its oligarch owner or if there was even an active investigation at the time that Joe Biden successfully pushed for Shokins firing in 2016. During the 2020 presidential campaign, Senate Republicans led a probe to find evidence on whether Biden abused his position to help his family financially, but came up empty. As the 2024 campaign approached, House Republicans put these false claims at the center of their now-flatlined impeachment inquiry into Biden. From CNNs Marshall Cohen Trump on tariffs Trump claimed that his proposal to impose a 10% tariff on all goods coming into the US would not raise prices on Americans and instead cost other countries. Its just going to cost countries that have been ripping us off for years, like China, and many others, Trump said. Facts First: This is false. Study after study including one from the federal governments bipartisan US International Trade Commission(USITC), have shown that American consumers and industries bear almost the entire cost of US tariffs, including those duties previously imposed by Trump. When the US puts a tariff on an imported good, the cost of the tariff comes directly out of the bank account of an American importer when the foreign-made product arrives at a US port. Its possible that some foreign manufacturers lowered their prices to stay competitive in the US market after Trump raised tariffs but not enough to keep the cost paid by American importers the same as before. As of June 12, American importers have paid more than $240 billion for tariffs that Trump imposed and Biden mostly left in place on imported solar panels, steel, aluminum, and Chinese-made goods, according to US Customs and Border Protection. The USITC found that US importers, on average between 2018 and 2021, ended up paying nearly the full cost of the tariffs because import prices increased at the same rate as the tariffs. For each 1% increase in the tariff rate, the price paid by the American importer also went up 1%. Once an importing company pays the tariff, it can decide to eat the cost or pass all or some of it to the buyer of its goods whether thats a retailer or a consumer. For example, American shoe seller Deer Stags, which imports most of its product line from China, decided to do a little bit of both. It was harder to get customers to pay more for existing styles that Deer Stags had carried for a long time, company president Rick Muskat told CNN.So the company ended up eating the cost of the tariffs placed on some older styles and charging more for some new items. Economists generally agree that tariffs drive up prices . The Peterson Institute for International Economics recently estimated that Trumps proposed 10% across-the-board tariff, together with his proposal to impose a 60% tariff on all imports from China, would cost the typical middle-income household at least $1,700 a year. And JP Morgan economists estimated in 2019 that the tariffs Trump imposed on about $300 billion of Chinese-made goods would cost the average American household $1,000 a year. From CNNs Katie Lobosco Trump on his criminal cases Trump repeated his frequent claims that Biden and his Justice Department were behind Trumps four indictments, including the Manhattan hush money case in which Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He indicted me because I was his opponent, Trump said of Biden. Of the Manhattan conviction, Trump said: That was a case that was started and moved. They moved a high-ranking official at DOJ into the Manhattan DAs office to start that case. Facts First: There is no evidence supporting either of Trumps claims. Grand juries made up of ordinary citizens in New York, Georgia, Florida and Washington, DC approved the indictments in each of Trumps criminal cases. There is no basis for the claim that Biden ordered Trump to be criminally charged or face civil trials. There is also no evidence that Biden or the federal Justice Department had any role in launching or running Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution and Bragg, a Democrat, is a locally elected official who does not report to the federal government. The indictment in the case was approved by a grand jury of ordinary citizens. Trumps two federal indictments were brought by a special counsel, Jack Smith. Smith was appointed in November 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, but that is not proof that Biden was involved in the prosecution effort, much less that Biden personally ordered the indictments. Garland has said that he would resign if Biden ever asked him to act against Trump but that he was sure that would never happen. As he did during the debate, Trump has repeatedly invoked a lawyer on Braggs team, Matthew Colangelo, while making claims about the Justice Departments involvement in the New York case. Colangelo left the Justice Department in 2022 to join the district attorneys office as senior counsel to Bragg. But there is no evidence that Biden had anything to do with Colangelos employment decision. Colangelo and Bragg had been colleagues before Bragg was elected Manhattan district attorney in 2021. Before Colangelo worked at the Justice Department, he and Bragg worked at the same time in the office of New Yorks state attorney general, where Colangelo investigated Trumps charity and financial practices and was involved in bringing various lawsuits against the Trump administration. Trump on other countries doing business with Iran during his presidency Trump claimed that China, among other countries, passed on doing business with Iran during his presidency after he vowed that the US would not do business with any country that does so. Iran was broke. Anybody that did business with Iran, including China, they couldnt do business with the United States. They all passed, Trump said. Facts First: This is false. Chinas oil imports from Iran did briefly plummet under Trump in 2019, the year his administration made a concerted effort to deter such purchases, but they never stopped and then they rose sharply again while Trump was still president. The claim is untrue because Chinese crude imports from Iran havent stopped at all, Matt Smith, lead oil analyst for the Americas at Kpler, a market intelligence firm, told CNN in November. Chinas official statistics recorded no purchases of Iranian crude in Trumps last partial month in office, January 2021, and none in most of Bidens first year in office. But that doesnt mean Chinas imports ceased; industry experts say it is widely known that China has used a variety of tactics to mask its continued imports from Iran. Smith said Iranian crude is often listed in Chinese data as being from Malaysia; ships may travel from Iran with their transponders switched off and then turn them on when they are near Malaysia, Smith said, or they may transfer the Iranian oil to other ships. Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said in a November email: China significantly reduced its imports from Iran from around 800,000 barrels per day in 2018 to 100,000 in late 2019. But by the time Trump left office, they were back to upwards to 600(000)-700,000 barrels. Vaezs comments were corroborated by Kpler data Smith provided to CNN. Kpler found that China imported about 511,000 barrels per day of Iranian crude in December 2020, Trumps last full month in office. The low point under Trump was March 2020, when global oil demand crashed because of Covid-19. Even then, China imported about 87,000 barrels per day, Kpler found. (Since data on Iranian oil exports is based on cargo tracking by various companies and groups, other entities may have different data.) From CNNs Daniel Dale and Kaanita Iyer Trump on the impact of immigration on Medicare and Social Security Trump said at least twice during the debate that Biden will destroy Social Security and Medicare by putting migrants entering the US on the benefits. These millions and millions of people coming in, theyre trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security. He will wipe out Medicare, Trump said. Facts First: Trump is wrong. In fact, the opposite is true, particularly in the near term, multiple experts say. Many undocumented immigrants work, which means they pay much-needed payroll taxes, and this bolsters the Social Security and Medicare trust funds and extends their solvency. Immigrantswho are working legally typically wont collect benefits for many years. As for those who are undocumented, some are working under fake Social Security numbers, so they are paying payroll taxes but dont qualify to collect benefits. The Social Security Administration looked at the effects of unauthorized immigration on the Social Security trust funds. It found that in 2010, earnings by unauthorized workers contributed roughly $12 billion on net to the entitlement programs cash flow. The agency has not updated the analysis since, but this years Social Security trustees report noted that increasing average annual total net immigration by 100,000 persons improves the entitlement programs solvency. We estimate that future years will experience a continuation of this positive impact on the trust funds, said the report on unauthorized immigration. Meanwhile, unauthorized immigrants contributed more than $35 billion on net to Medicares trust fund between 2000 and 2011, extending the life of the trust fund by a year, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Immigrants tend to be younger and employed, which increases the number of workers paying into the system, said Gary Engelhardt, a Syracuse University economics professor. Also, they have more children, which helps boost the future workforce that will pay payroll taxes. Immigrants are good for Social Security, he said. However, undocumented immigrants who gain legal status that includes eligibility for future Social Security and Medicare benefits could ultimately be a drain to the system, according to Jason Richwine, a resident scholar at the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for lower immigration. Illegal immigration unambiguously benefits the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, but amnesty (legalization) would reverse those gains and add extra costs, Richwine wrote in a report last year. From CNNs Tami Luhby Trump on the 2020 election Trump reiterated election lies, claiming that he didnt accept the results of the 2020 election because of voter fraud. I wouldve much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous, Trump said. Facts First: Trumps election claims remain false. The 2020 election was not rigged or stolen, Trump lost fair and square to Biden by an Electoral College margin of 306 to 232, his opponents did not cheat, and there is no evidence of any fraud even close to widespread enough to have changed the outcome in any state. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Kaanita Iyer Trump on his own comments after 2017 Charlottesville march Biden denounced Trump for saying in August 2017 that very fine people were among the participants in a hateful Unite the Right event days prior in Charlottesville, Virginia. The event was organized by White nationalists after the city decided to remove a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee from a park. The participants included neo-Nazis, one of whom murdered a counter-protester, and prominent public racists. But Trump claimed that Bidens recall of his remark was made up and a nonsense story. Facts First: Trumps claim that Bidens description of his comments is a nonsense story is itself false. Biden fairly characterized Trumps comments about the events in Charlottesville. The claim that Trumps fine people comment is a hoax and nonsense story is based on the inaccurate premise that there were peaceful non-racists attending an aggressively hateful marchthat was held in Charlottesville the night before the main daytime protest that featured prominent White nationalists as advertised speakers. And supporters of the hoax claim have noted that, when Trump told reporters days later that you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides, he had also said Im not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally and had specified that he was talking about other unnamed people he claimed had been at the nighttime march protesting very quietly the taking down of the statue of Robert E. Lee. But there has never been evidence that such a benign group was present at the march. The march which testimony in a 2021 civil trial showed was organized by White nationalists was a bigoted gathering at which participants chanted Nazi and White nationalist slogans targeting Jews and others, and displayed Nazi symbols, while carrying Tiki torches. CNN correspondent Elle Reeve, who has extensively reported on the Charlottesville gathering, noted that the torch march was organized quietly in White nationalist alt-right online spaces and intended to be a surprise event that was known in advance only to a select group of like-minded people. So, its not clear how people who were not supportive of White nationalism might have come to be part of the crowd or why such people would have remained there if they had somehow stumbled in. And Trump has never identified any non-racists who participated. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Chandelis Duster Trump on the United States trade deficit with China Trump claimed that under Biden, We have the largest deficit with China. Facts First: This is false. Even if you only count trade in goods and ignore the services trade in which the US traditionally runs a surplus with China the deficit with China fell to about $279 billion in 2023, the lowest since 2010. In 2018, under Trump, the goods deficit with China hit a new record of about $418 billion before falling back under $400 billion in subsequent years. From CNNs Katie Lobosco Trump on terror attacks during his administration In discussing the Middle East and Hamas October 7 attack on Israel, Trump claimed that there was no terror at all during my administration. Facts First: Trumps claim is false, and it remains false even if he was referring specifically to attacks by Islamic extremists. There were various terrorist attacks during the Trump presidency. In fact, in his State of the Union address in 2018, Trump blamed immigration policies for two terrorist attacks in New York in recent weeks. Trumps own Justice Department alleged that a mass murder in New York City in 2017, which killed eight people and injured others, was a terrorist attack carried out in support of ISIS; Trump repeatedly lamented this attack during his presidency. Trumps Justice Department also alleged that a 2019 attack by an extremist member of Saudi Arabias military, which killed three US servicemembers and injured others at a military base in Florida, was motivated by jihadist ideology and was carried out by a longtime associate of al Qaeda. In addition, there were a variety of other terrorist attacks during Trumps presidency. Notably, Trumps Justice Department said it was a domestic terrorist attack when one of Trumps supporters mailed improvised explosive devices to CNN, prominent Democratic officials and other people in 2018. In 2019, a White supremacist pleaded guilty to multiple charges in New York, including first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism, for killing a Black man in March 2017 to try to start a race war. And Trumps Justice Department described a 2019 shooting massacre at a Walmart in Texas as an act of domestic terrorism; the gunman who killed 23 people was targeting Latinos. From CNNs Holmes Lybrand and Daniel Dale Trump on his tax cuts Trump once again claimed that the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the biggest tax cut ever. I gave you the largest tax cut in history, Trump said. Facts First: Trump is wrong. Analyses have found that the act was not the largest in history either in percentage of gross domestic product or inflation-adjusted dollars. The act made numerous permanent and temporary changes to the tax code, including reducing both corporate and individual income tax rates. In a report released earlier this month, the Congressional Budget Office looked at the size of past tax cuts enacted between 1981 and 2023. It found that two other tax cut bills have been bigger former President Ronald Reagans 1981 package and legislation signed by former President Barack Obama that extended earlier tax cuts enacted during former President George W. Bushs administration. The CBO measured the sizes of tax cuts by looking at the revenue effects of the bills as a percentage of gross domestic product in other words, how much federal revenue the bill cuts as a portion of the economy over five years. Reagans 1981 tax cut and Obamas 2012 tax cut extension were 3.5% and 1.7% of GDP, respectively. Trumps 2017 tax cut, by contrast, was estimated to be about 1% of GDP. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found in 2017 that the framework for the tax cuts would be the fourth largest since 1940 in inflation-adjusted dollars and the eighth largest since 1918 as a percentage of gross domestic product. From CNNs Tami Luhby Trump on his own comments on January 6 In response to a question about his actions and inaction on January 6, 2021, while his supporters stormed the US Capitol, Trump defended the incendiary speech he delivered before the attack. I said, Peacefully and patriotically, Trump said. Facts First: This is highly misleading. He did say those words during his speech on the Ellipse on January 6, but he also told his supporters that they wouldnt have a country anymore if they didnt march to the US Capitol and fight like hell against a rigged election. CNN has previously fact-checked this self-serving quotation from Trump about his January 6 speech. During his speech, Trump said, I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. But on the debate stage Thursday night, Trump omitted the fact that later in his January 6 speech, he told his supporters to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to give GOP lawmakers the boldness that they need to take back our country. He also told the crowd at the Ellipse, If you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore and encouraged Republican lawmakers to stop fighting like a boxer with his hands tied behind his back. Last year, a civil court in Colorado, and the Colorado Supreme Court, closely examined Trumps speech as part of a lawsuit that tried to disqualify him from office under the 14th Amendments insurrectionist ban. The Colorado trial judge concluded that while Trumps Ellipse speech did mention peaceful conduct in his command to march to the Capitol, the overall tenor was that to save the democracy and the country the attendees needed to fight. From CNNs Marshall Cohen Trump on abortion medication Trump claimed, The Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill. Facts First: Trumps claim about the abortion drug is false. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the case and approve mifepristone, one of the pills used in a medication abortion. It sent the case back to the lower courts for additional proceedings. The court earlier this month rejected a lawsuit that challenged the US Food and Drug Administrations approach to regulating mifepristone. The court did not approve the drug, as Trump claimed; instead it ruled that the doctors and the anti-abortion groups that had challenged access to the drug did not have the standing to sue. The reasoning of the court in this decision, scholars say, could encourage other mifepristone challenges in the future. Medication abortion is now the most common method of abortion in the United States, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the formal US health care system about 63% were medication abortions in 2023. From CNNs Jen Christensen Trump on Pelosi and January 6 Trump once again tried to blame former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, saying that the California Democrat had turned down his offer of 10,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol that day and had admitted this in video taken by her own daughter. Nancy Pelosi, if you just watched the news from two days ago, on tape to her daughter, who is a documentary filmmaker but shes saying, Oh, no, its my responsibility, I was responsible for this, because I offered her 10,000 soldiers, or National Guard, and she turned them down, Trump said. He added, And I offered it to her. And she now admits that she turned it down. Facts First: Trumps claims about Pelosis role in Capitol security and in the deployment of the National Guard are false. The speaker of the House is not in charge of Capitol security; that is overseen by the Capitol Police Board, a body that includes the sergeants at arms of the House and the Senate. And the House speaker does not have power over the District of Columbia National Guard, which is under the command of the president. While there is no evidence Pelosi ever received a Trump offer of 10,000 soldiers on January 6, she would not even have had the power to turn down such an offer even if she had received one. Trump also overstated what Pelosi said in a video recorded by her filmmaker daughter Alexandra Pelosi on January 6 and later obtained by House Republicans, who posted a 42-second snippet on social media earlier this month. Pelosi was shown expressing frustration at the inadequate security at the Capitol, and she said at one point, I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more. But the short video doesnt show her absolving Trump of responsibility or admitting she was the person in charge of Capitol security and Pelosi continues to say its not true she turned down an offer of National Guard troops.. After Trump began referring to this clip earlier in June, Pelosi spokesperson Aaron Bennett said in an email to CNN: Numerous independent fact-checkers have confirmed again and again that Speaker Pelosi did not plan her own assassination on January 6th. Cherry-picked, out-of-context clips do not change the fact that the Speaker of the House is not in charge of the security of the Capitol Complex on January 6th or any other day of the week. In fact, another part of the video appears to undermine Trumps frequent claims that Pelosi was the person who turned down a National Guard presence in advance of January 6. She said, Why werent the National Guard there to begin with? The House select committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol found no evidence Trump gave any actual order for 10,000 Guard troops to anyone. Christopher Miller, Trumps acting defense secretary at the time of the attack on the Capitol, testified to the committee that Trump had, in a phone call on January 5, 2021, briefly and informally floated the idea of having 10,000 troops present on January 6 but did not issue any directive to that effect. Miller said, I interpreted it as a bit of presidential banter or President Trump banter that you all are familiar with, and in no way, shape, or form did I interpret that as an order or direction. From CNNs Daniel Dale Trump on migrants and crime Trump claimed that migrants were entering the United States and killing women, saying that these killers are coming into our country, and they are raping and killing women. Facts First: This needs context. Preliminary statistics show that crime in the US dropped significantly in 2023 and in the first quarter of 2024, with a steep drop in murders and other violent offenses, even as the number of people crossing the southern border spiked. While some undocumented immigrants have been charged with high-profile crimes during the Biden presidency, some undocumented immigrants committed serious crimes under Trump and previous presidents as well. And research has generally found no connection between immigration levels and crime and has sometimes found that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than people born in the US. Charis Kubrin, co-author of the 2023 book Immigration and Crime: Taking Stock and professor of criminology, law and society at the University of California, Irvine, told CNNs Catherine Shoichet early this year: Across a variety of studies that use different years of data that focus on different areas of the United States with some exceptions, theres some nuance there. I dont want to deny the nuance in general, on average, we do not find a connection between immigration and crime, as is so often claimed. The most common finding across all these different kinds of studies is that immigration to an area is either not associated with crime in that area or is negatively associated with crime in that area. Meaning more immigration equals less crime. Its rare to find studies that show crime following increases in immigration or with larger percentage of the population that are immigrants. Kubrins co-author, Graham Ousey, professor of sociology and criminology at the College of William & Mary, added: A lot of people when you say that will then say, Oh, well, but what about undocumented immigration? And theres less research on that topic. But that body of research is growing, and it pretty much reaches the same conclusion. From CNNs Priscilla Alvarez and Daniel Dale Trump on the US share of NATO funding During a dispute over who would do a better job countering Russias war in Ukraine, Trump criticized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and how it is funded by its members, claiming he had learned after taking office that almost 100% of the money was paid by us. Facts First: Trumps claim is false. Official NATO figures show that in 2016, the last year before Trump took office, US defense spending made up about 71% of total defense spending by NATO members a large majority but not almost 100%. And Trumps claim is even more inaccurate if he was talking about the direct contributions to NATO that cover the alliances organizational expenses and are set based on each countrys national income; the US was responsible for about 22% of those contributions in 2016. The US share of total NATO military spending fell to about 65% in 2023. And the US is now responsible for about 16% of direct contributions to NATO, the same as Germany. Erwan Lagadec, an expert on NATO as a research professor at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs and director of its Transatlantic Program, said the US share was reduced from 22% to placate Trump and is a sweetheart deal given that the US makes up more than half of the alliances total GDP. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Marshall Cohen Trump on the cost of food Trump claimed that Biden caused inflation and that its killing Americans, who cant buy groceries anymore because the cost of food has doubled and tripled and quadrupled. Facts First: Trumps claims of food prices doubling, tripling and quadrupling are not entirely factual and could use some context. Inflations rapid ascent, which began in early 2021, was the result of a confluence of factors, including effects from the Covid-19 pandemic such as snarled supply chains and geopolitical fallout (specifically Russias invasion of Ukraine) that triggered food and energy price shocks. Heightened consumer demand boosted in part by fiscal stimulus from both the Trump and Biden administrations also led to higher prices, as did the post-pandemic imbalance in the labor market. Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022, hitting a 41-year high, and has slowed since (the Consumer Price Index was at 3.3% as of May 2024). However, it remains elevated from historical levels. Three-plus years of pervasive and prolonged inflation has weighed considerably on Americans, especially lower-income households trying to afford the necessities (food, shelter and transportation). Food prices, specifically grocery prices, did outpace overall inflation. However, they didnt rise to the extent that Trump claims. Annual food and grocery inflation peaked at 11.4% and 13.5% in August 2022, respectively. Through the 12 months ending in May, overall food and grocery prices were up just 2.1% and 1%, respectively. Certain food categories saw much greater inflation: Notably, egg prices were up 70% annually in January 2023. However, the underlying cause of that sharp increase was a highly contagious, deadly avian flu. Food prices are highly volatile and can be influenced by a variety of factors, including disease, extreme weather events, global supply and demand, geopolitical events, and once-in-a-lifetime pandemics. From CNNs Alicia Wallace Biden on taxing billionaires Biden claimed that there are a thousand billionaires in the country who are in a situation where they, in fact, pay 8.2% in taxes. Facts First: Biden used this figure in a way that was misleading. As in previous speeches, including the State of the Union address in March, Biden didnt explain that the figure is the product of an alternative calculation, from economists in his own administration, that factors in unrealized capital gains that are not treated as taxable income under federal law. Theres nothing inherently wrong with the alternative calculation itself; the administration economists who came up with it explained it in detail on the White House website in 2021. Biden, however, has tended to cite the figure without any context about what it is and isnt, leaving open the impression that he was talking about what these billionaires pay under current law. So, what do billionaires actually pay under current law? The answer is not publicly known, but experts say its clearly more than 8%. Bidens numbers are way too low, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute think tank, told CNN in 2023. Gleckman said that in 2019, University of California, Berkeley, economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman estimated the top 400 households paid an average effective tax rate of about 23% in 2018. They got a lot of attention at the time because that rate was lower than the average rate of 24% for the bottom half of the income distribution. But it still was way more than 2 or 3, numbers Biden has used in some previous speeches, or even 8%. In February 2024, Gleckman provided additional calculations from the Tax Policy Center. The center found that the top 0.1% of households paid an average effective federal tax rate of about 30.3% in 2020, including an average income tax rate of 24.3%. From CNNs Daniel Dale Trump speaks during the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta on Thursday. - Will Lanzoni/CNN Biden on unemployment when he took office In defending his record on the economy, Biden said that when he took office, the economy was flat on its back. Fifteen percent unemployment. (Trump) decimated the economy. Thats why there was not inflation at the time. There were no jobs. Facts First: Bidens claim that the US unemployment rate was 15% when he took office is incorrect. In January 2021, the unemployment rate was 6.4%, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The unemployment rate did near 15% during Trumps presidency, but that occurred during April 2020, when the global and national economy were crushed by the emerging Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2020, the US lost more than 20 million jobs, resulting in unemployment skyrocketing from 4.4% in March 2020 to 14.8% in April 2020. After peaking in April 2020, the unemployment rate declined substantially as the nation recovered those lost jobs (reaching pre-pandemic levels in June 2022) and gained millions more. The nations jobless rate is in the midst of a 30-month streak of being at or below 4%. From CNNs Alicia Wallace Trump on Bidens tax plans Trump claimed that Biden is proposing to multiply Americans taxes by four times. He wants to raise everybodys taxes by four times, Trump said. Facts First: This is false, just as it was when Trump made the same claim during the 2020 election campaign and in early 2024. Biden has not proposed to quadruple Americans taxes, and there has never been any indication that he is seeking to do so. The nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center think tank, which analyzed Bidens never-implemented budget proposals for fiscal 2024, found this: His plan would raise average after-tax incomes for low-income households in 2024, leave them effectively unchanged for middle-income households, and lower after-tax incomes significantly for the highest-income taxpayers. The Tax Policy Center found that Bidens proposal would, on average, have raised taxes by about $2,300 but thats about a 2.3% decline in after-tax income, not the massive reduction Trump is suggesting Biden wants. And critically, Tax Policy Center senior fellow Howard Gleckman noted to CNN in May that 95% of the tax hike would have been covered by the highest-income 5% of households. The very biggest burden under the Biden plan would have been carried by the very richest households; the Tax Policy Center found that households in the top 0.1% would have seen their after-tax incomes decline by more than 20%. Thats a lot, Gleckman noted, but its still nowhere near the quadrupling Trump claims Biden is looking for. And again, even this increase would have been only for a tiny subset of the population. Biden has promised not to raise taxes by even a cent for anyone making under $400,000 per year. From CNNs Daniel Dale Trump on funding for Ukraine Trump claimed that the US has given more in aid to Ukraine than European countries put together. The European nations together have spent $100 billion, or maybe more than that, less than us, Trump said. Facts First: Trumps claim is false. From just before Russias invasion in early 2022 through April 2024, European countries contributed more aid to Ukraine than the US, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany. The Kiel Institute, which closely tracks aid to Ukraine, found that from late January 2022 (the month prior to Russias invasion) through April 2024, the European Union and individual European countries had committed a total of about $190 billion to Ukraine in military, financial and humanitarian assistance, compared with about $106 billion committed by the US. Europe also exceeded the US in aid that had been allocated to Ukraine defined by the institute as aid either delivered or specified for delivery at about $109 billion for Europe compared with about $79 billion for the US. Additionally, Europe had committed more total military aid to Ukraine, at about $76 billion to about $69 billion for the US. The US narrowly led on military aid that had been allocated, at more than $50 billion for the US to less than $48 billion for Europe, but even that was nowhere near the lopsided margin Trump suggested. Its important to note that its possible to come up with different totals using different methodology. And the Kiel Institute found that Ukraine itself was getting only about half of the money in a 2024 US bill that had widely been described as a $61 billion aid bill for Ukraine; the institute said the rest of the funds were mostly going to the Defense Department. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Kaanita Iyer Trump on the Veterans Choice program Trump took credit for the passage of the Veterans Choice health care law, referring to Choice, that I got through Congress. Facts First: Trumps claim is false. The Veterans Choice program was actually signed into law in 2014 by his predecessor, President Barack Obama. Trump signed a law in 2018, the VA MISSION Act, that expanded and modified the program established under Obama, and, as Trump has said, made the initiative permanent. During Trumps presidency, he falsely took credit for the Choice law more than 150 times. From CNNs Daniel Dale Trump on lowering the cost of insulin Trump again tried to take full credit for lowering the cost of insulin for older Americans. Im the one that got the insulin down for the seniors, Trump said. Facts First: Trumps claim that he was the one who reduced the cost of insulin for seniors is exaggerated. The former president did get a $35-per-month out-of-pocket cap on insulin for some seniors through a voluntary program that Medicare prescription drug plans could choose to participate in. But Biden ensured that all 3.4 million-plus insulin users on Medicare got $35-per-month insulin through a mandatory cap that not only covers more people than Trumps voluntary cap, but also applies to a greater number of insulin products and stays in effect at a level of individual drug spending at which Trumps cap disappeared. Trump could fairly say he played a role in lowering insulin costs and that Biden does not deserve sole credit. The Biden-era federal government has acknowledged that his mandatory $35 monthly cap, signed into law in his Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, closely aligns with the voluntary $35 monthly cap in the Trump-created model that was announced in 2020 and launched in the final month of the Trump presidency in 2021. But Bidens policy does more than Trumps did in several substantive ways. The Inflation Reduction Act measure applies the $35-per-month cap to every insulin user in Medicare Part D. Trumps policy didnt. Bidens policy imposes the mandatory $35 monthly cap on insulin taken via a pump, which is obtained through Medicare Part B. Under Trumps program, the voluntary $35 monthly cap only applied to insulin obtained via Medicare Part D drug plans, such as insulin that is injected or inhaled. The Inflation Reduction Act measure requires a $35 cap on all covered insulin products. Trumps policy only required it on some. Under Bidens policy, people in Medicare Part D no longer have to make any payments for covered prescription drugs, including insulin, once they reach a very high level of annual drug spending known as the catastrophic level. Under Trumps voluntary insulin program, the $35 monthly cap didnt apply to those whose spending reached the catastrophic threshold, though many people likely paid less than $35 per month for insulin at that point regardless. From CNNs Daniel Dale and Tami Luhby Trump on funding HBCUs Trump made a claim during the debate that he funded historically Black colleges and universities. When they see what I did for criminal justice reform and for the historically Black colleges and universities where I funded them and got them all funded, Trump said. Facts First: Trump is exaggerating here and his claims need context. In 2019, Trump signed the FUTURE Act (Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education), a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening HBCUs as well as other minority-serving institutions by providing $255 million annually. HBCUs have been underfunded for over 150 years, since inception. President Trump did sign measures into law that helped HBCUs tremendously (FUTURE Act and the first two COVID 19 packages). However, he never set out to do it, Monique LeNoir, vice president of branding, marketing and communications for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), told CNN. Congress took the lead on putting the HBCU funding in those bills and passing them. The third COVID-19 bill, passed under President Biden, included as much funding for HBCUs as both of the first two COVID-19 bills under President Trump. Marybeth Gasman, executive director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, echoed LeNoir, adding that Congress, during former President Barack Obamas administration, also allocated funding to HBCUs. HBCUs are strong and resilient institutions, and they are that way because of Black people, Black leaders, Black alumni, Black students. They face obstacles but continue to persevere. They were not at risk of being out of operation thats a big overstatement, Gasman told CNN. The Trump administration also had a frayed relationship with HBCUs, and Trumps views on funding for HBCUs have also not been consistent. In 2017, Trump questioned the constitutional basis for federal funding for HBCUs, saying, according to NPR, that it benefits schools on the basis of race. CNNs Chandelis Duster and Owen Dahlkamp This article has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Friday that federal prosecutors erred in how they charged a man for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol began to take effect on some of the 249 people convicted of obstructing an official proceeding. A federal judge shortly after the ruling ordered the re-sentencing of one man found guilty of that offense, which Donald Trump also faces. The court found that the Justice Department improperly used a law passed in the wake of energy firm Enron Corp's collapse when it charged defendant Joseph Fischer with corruptly obstructing an official proceeding - the congressional certification of President Joe Biden's victory over Trump. Here's a look at other Capitol riot cases that could be revisited following the court's ruling: THREE PERCENTERS ASSOCIATE GUY REFFITT U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ordered the Justice Department and defense lawyers for Jan. 6 rioter Guy Reffitt on Friday to prepare for a re-sentencing. Reffitt, an associate of the far-right Three Percenters, was the first Jan. 6 defendant to go to trial. He was convicted by a jury of five felonies including the obstruction of an official proceeding, and sentenced to seven years and three months. He never entered the Capitol during the riot, but video evidence showed him egging on the crowd and leading other rioters up a set of stairs outside the building. OATH KEEPERS AND PROUD BOYS LEADERS Two of the Justice Department's most prominent Jan. 6 cases took aim at leaders from the far-right Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. In separate trials, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and Proud Boys former chairman Enrique Tarrio, along with their co-conspirators, were convicted of obstructing an official proceeding. Rhodes and Tarrio, as well as some of their co-defendants, were also convicted on other serious felonies such as seditious conspiracy, a Civil War-era law. In cases like this involving multiple felony convictions, legal experts said they do not believe the ruling will lead to drastic changes. Although the defendants could ask the judges to vacate the obstruction charge and re-sentence them, having convictions on other felonies might not materially change their prison terms. "I think the U.S. Attorney's office has done a good job of not putting all their eggs in one basket," said Nick Smith, a defense attorney for Proud Boys leader Ethan Nordean. One of the first tests of how the ruling could affect defendants in the Oath Keepers case could come as soon as July 26, when Thomas Caldwell will be sentenced. Caldwell, who was tried alongside Rhodes and several other Oath Keeper defendants, was acquitted on all but two felonies -obstructing the congressional certification and tampering with evidence, after he deleted 11 photographs later recovered by the FBI. If one of his two convictions is vacated, it could have a substantial impact on sentencing, his lawyer said. THE 'Q-ANON SHAMAN' Jacob Chansley, also known as the QAnon Shaman, became known as the face of the Jan. 6 attack after he entered the Capitol wearing face paint and a furry horned hat. He is among a group of defendants who pleaded guilty to just one count of obstructing an official proceeding. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the remaining charges, including a felony count of civil disorder and other misdemeanors. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison but was released early. Defendants including Chansley who pleaded guilty solely to obstructing an official proceeding could seek to vacate their sentences, though the Justice Department could then seek to reinstate the other charges that were dropped as part of the plea agreement. "It's not necessarily a get-out-of-jail free card," said defense attorney Richard Willstatter. DONALD TRUMP The most high-profile defendant facing charges of obstructing an official proceeding is former President Trump. Special Counsel Jack Smith is prosecuting Trump in Washington for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In that case, Trump faces four felony counts, two of which involve the obstruction of an official proceeding. But some legal experts say that regardless of the court's ruling, prosecutors still have strong arguments they can use to keep the obstruction charges against Trump alive - namely, that Trump was involved in a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of votes by getting phony ballots introduced from slates of "fake" electors. "In Trump's case that will be a real option," said Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker and Rod Nickel) The family of a man whose death has been linked to unlicensed group homes in Arlington and Mansfield is suing the owner and her company for gross negligence, according to court records. Christopher Devendorf, the brother of Steven Kelly Pankratz, filed the civil suit Thursday in Tarrant County. Pankratzs death on Jan. 12 from mixed drug toxicity in a boarding home operated by Regla Becquer was recently ruled a homicide by the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office. Becquer has been in custody since March 11 when she was charged with endangering another resident of the homes. On June 20 she was charged with Pankratzs murder. According to her arrest warrant affidavit, she is accused of giving handfuls of unprescribed pills to the victim. In all, a total of 20 deaths have been linked to Becquers homes and are being investigated by Arlington police. Devendorfs attorney, Dan Moore, told the Star-Telegram that preventing future victims was a major reason they decided to move ahead with the lawsuit. We dont know if there will be any compensation for the families or not, Moore said. We dont know if theres anything available. But ultimately, if we can stop this from happening to somebody else, thats more important. Devendorf is suing Becquer and her company Love and Caring for People LLC for Pankratzs untimely death, according to the lawsuit. The placing agency who told Pankratz about the homes is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, as is the Indiana-based company who owns the property of Becquers Mansfield group home, where Pankratz was taken in October 2022 after a lengthy stay in the hospital. According to Moore, all the defendants are tied together to the same extent in the lawsuit at this time, but that could change as more details are uncovered. Additional defendants may be added and some current defendants may be dropped. In Texas, when we file suits, we oftentimes include anybody who was related to the incident, so that we can do discovery and find out exactly how all the parties are interrelated, Moore said. Those were the parties that we found that were, you know, close. The lawsuit lists 16 separate claims against Becquer and the other defendants, including assault and battery, premises liability for an untreated injury Pankratz sustained when he arrived at the Mansfield home, corporate negligence/civil conspiracy for failing to register the homes with the proper state federal authorities and unjust enrichment. Mr. Pankratzs condition gradually declined, physically and financially, the lawsuit states. Upon information and belief, Defendants utilized Decedents credit, financial accounts, documents governing estates and medical disorientation to profit financially in a variety of manners. Moore said they are investigating the alleged financial crimes. Devendorf sent Pankratz money at one point after learning his money had run out, but the money he sent also disappeared, he said. Its difficult to go back and try to piece together his bank accounts and credit card statements and so forth, to try to figure out, you know, where the money went, Moore said. The fact that Love and Caring for People failed to register with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission constitutes negligence and a violation of the Texas Health and Safety Code, according to the lawsuit. Steven Kelly Pankratz was one of the class of persons the statute was intended to protect, the lawsuit states. Plaintiff suffered the same harm the statute was intending to prevent. Devendorf is requesting a jury trial, over $1 million in damages and a demand for judgment for all the other relief to which Plaintiff may be entitled. The criminal investigation into Becquer and her company is ongoing, according to police. The work is slow going because many of the 20 individuals who died under or shortly after leaving Becquers care were cremated or buried without autopsies or their bodies were donated to science before the investigation started. The results of one autopsy are still pending. More top stories from our newsroom: Video shows Fort Worth cop throw woman to ground in arrest When will Reata reopen? And more Fort Worth restaurant changes Chick-fil-A shooting suspect's wife works at restaurant [Get our breaking news alerts.] CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) Tiffany Cole, the daughter of missing man Victor Birchfield, has spent her thirty-fourth birthday searching the places investigators say her fathers cars location pinged. I would rather nothing in the world than to know where my dad is, Cole told News Channel 11, seven days after her father went missing. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert on behalf of the Carter County Sheriffs Office, reporting that Birchfield was last seen June 19. He is believed to be traveling in a Silver Toyota 4Runner with damage to the rear. Cole said she last saw Birchfield Wednesday evening at her home before he headed to the Elizabethton Airport, where he worked as a mechanic. Cole said Birchfield often worked through the night, so she wasnt concerned when he didnt answer her call the next day, around three in the afternoon. But about 1 a.m., when we started settling down and I still hadnt heard from him, I sent him a text that was like, Hey, Daddy, Im really worried.' Cole said. When she woke to no response the following day, June 21, she reported him missing to the police. Since then, Cole has been piecing together a timeline of Birchfields last known locations, starting with his departure from the Elizabethton Airport hangar, where he worked until around 6:50 a.m. Security cameras at the airport picked up Birchfield leaving in his car. However, after this point, the driver is unrecognizable in the footage. Cole said that around forty minutes later, his silver 4Runner was spotted on SR-321 in Hampton, headed towards Lake Watauga and then in Boone, North Carolina. Then the car traveled from Asheville to Clemson, South Carolina, where the last tag hit was at 2:13 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, Cole said. Victor Birchfield, left, with his grandson and daughter, Tiffany Cole (Photo: Tiffany Cole). Cole and Birchfields friends are especially curious about any sightings between the airport and SR-321. Dean Davison has been a client and friend of Birchfields for several years. Like Cole, hes traced Birchfields route, replicating his path from work this morning. Theres tons of traffic along that route at that time of day, Davison told News Channel 11. We feel like somebody saw something that could definitely help. The Carter County Sheriffs Office confirmed today that they are continuing to investigate any leads. In the meantime, Cole misses the man she described as her best friend. We talked about everything, Cole said. While the police search for answers, Cole asks the community for help. My hope is that someone in the community either here in Elizabethton up towards Hampton through the Poga-Butler area into South Carolina, someone saw something that rings a bell and that someone is compelled to reach out, Cole said. We want to know any information. I would be thankful for something thats nothing. Anyone with information on Victor Birchfields possible whereabouts is asked to call the CCSO at 423-542-1845 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. He fatally shot plumber hed called to his home. Pierce County man now guilty of murder Jacques Dothard pleads guilty to second-degree murder and other charges related to the May 23, 2022 killing of a Beacon Plumbing plumber, Thomas Lorezca, in Pierce County Superior Court, on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Tacoma, Wash. A 57-year-old Pierce County man pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a plumber hed called to his home for a repair job, shooting him through his work truck seven times after the victim hit a gate on the property. Jacques Noel Dothard pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm in the May 23, 2022 shooting. Thomas Lorezca, 40, an employee of Beacon Plumbing, was found dead at Dothards Spanaway home after Sheriffs Department deputies responded there for a report of a shooting. Deputies searched Dothards home and a neighbors residence, according to court records, and they found a cache of weapons and ammunition. Records also show that about two months before the shooting, the defendant called a veterans crisis line after he allegedly threatened to kill his son. Prosecutors originally charged Dothard with first-degree murder and four additional counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, but the charges were amended as part of a plea agreement. Dothard, who has remained in custody on $1.5 million bail for the duration of the case, entered the courtroom with the help of a walker. He said little during the hearing except to answer questions from Judge Pro Tempore Brian Tollefson. After the hearing, Dothards defense lawyer, James Curtis, told The News Tribune that his client was glad the case had concluded and that he could bring some closure to the community and the victims family. According to Curtis, he and prosecutors agreed to recommend that Dothard be sentenced to 21 years, six months in prison. A sentencing hearing was set for Aug. 9. Prosecutors declined to make any statement after the hearing. Surveillance video provided by a neighbor showed Dothard and the victim standing outside the truck at 7:55 p.m., according to charging documents, a little more than an hour after prosecutors say the plumber was called to Dothards residence. When the victim returned to his truck, Dothard allegedly walked to the drivers side door and fired into the vehicle. Dothard was taken into custody without incident outside his home in the 1000 block of Military Road. Deputies obtained search warrants for Dothards home and a neighbors, where he reportedly left weapons after the shooting and confessed to shooting someone. In Dothards bedroom, deputies found gun cases for rifles and pistols, three .40-caliber magazines and several empty 30-round magazines. They also discovered a 9 mm handgun on the neighbors front porch. In the neighbors detached shop, authorities said they found ammunition and a ballistic vest with Dothards name on it, as well as four loaded weapons: a Ruger Mini 14 rifle, an AR-15 pistol, a Sig Sauer .40-caliber handgun and a Glock handgun. Lorezca, who lived in Kent, was a devoted son and a car enthusiast, according to his obituary. The obit noted that he loved his miniature husky dog, Alpine. Lorezca was honored by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries in April last year, according to the Kent Reporter. The ceremony honored workers who died on the job. Fatburger and Buffalos Express fast food restaurant in Elk Grove has officially reopened under new management, after closing last year amid negative feedback from customers. The long-running Los Angeles-based burger chain opened an Elk Grove location at 4720 Elk Grove Blvd. in December 2021. It temporarily closed in 2023. It previously received negative reviews online from customers who were disgruntled with wait times, incorrect orders and subpar taste. Yelp showed the Elk Grove location with a 2.5-star rating out of 5, based on 130 reviews. I went about a month after they opened. They were extremely slow and the food was mediocre. Never went back, one Reddit user wrote in a thread. The Fatburger in Elk Grove, in a shopping center at Elk Grove and Franklin boulevards, held a soft opening under new management June 14 and all throughout last week. Now, the location is getting prepared for a wave of hungry patrons. Since new management took over, store manager AJ Pooni said he checked the Yelp reviews of the Fatburger from when it was under the previous management and wants to assure people that they will enjoy their experience under new ownership. If you try to check the old reviews now, I dont think you can find them, but they were terrible, Pooni said. (The reviews, many of them unflattering, were still visible on Yelp as of Friday morning.) Everyone was complaining about wait times, just nasty food and its all just due to people not caring about the store, and thats changing now. Were here. Its a lot different. Customers seem to be singing a different tune and enjoying their meals. Robert Kiehne, a retired firefighter who worked for the city of Sacramento for 25 years, has been an Elk Grove resident since 2002. Kiehne, known in his community as Uncle Bob, visited Fatburger last week during their soft opening. It was his first ever experience at a Fatburger. He said hes been there seven times in the restaurants first 12 days since reopening. The first time Id ever had Fatburger and I was just blown away, Kiehne said. The burger was cooked to perfection. It wasnt too overcooked, it wasnt undercooked. It was perfect. Kiehne also tended to his sweet tooth, ordering a chocolate chip cookie to dip into his vanilla milkshake. Pooni said their aim is to ensure that people know the issues of the past will remain in the past. Youre not going to wait 40 minutes for a milkshake. We have everything on the spot, Pooni said. We make sure we have all our products in stock. Youre not going to come in and order a burger and then get told 10 minutes later that we dont have the buns, youre going to know on the spot if we dont have something. Our employees are very well-knowledgeable. They know what we have and they know what goes into our products. Shift leader Donald Bowman-Banks knows the store had a bad reputation and understands what it will take to change that perception. We are expecting to serve our food to high-quality expectations, unlike how it was before to say, No, were doing things a lot different now, Bowman-Banks said. We know this store has a pretty bad reputation. Were doing our best to change peoples minds and look the other way and come back in and give us another try. Kiehne gave them another try and said its his new favorite place to come. I was sold my very first experience, Kiehne said. Its just the real deal. FBI agents raided the waterfront home of major Miami-Dade builder Sergio Pino and his companys office in Coral Gables this week, according to the bureaus field office in South Florida. I can confirm that the FBI conducted court ordered law enforcement activity at both of those locations, FBI spokesman James Marshall said Friday, declining further comment. The search of Pinos Cocoplum home, which he bought for $4.2 million a decade ago, was carried out by an FBI squad on Monday night. The FBI conducted its search of the home builders business at the same time. The Miami Herald has learned that both searches are linked to an FBI investigation into Pinos possible link to threats made against his wife Tatianas life. Over the past two years, Pino and his wife have been battling each other in a divorce case that is headed for trial in July, according to Miami-Dade Circuit Court records. FBI agents are investigating whether Sergio Pino recruited a part-time worker at his home to hire three men to threaten his wifes life in the wake of her filing for divorce from him in April 2022, people familiar with the FBI probe told the Miami Herald. The part-time employee and the three men have been charged in Miami federal court with targeting Tatiana Pino in a hit-and-run at her Pinecrest home and her sister in arson attacks on three of her vehicles. Read more: Arson, hit-and-run at center of probe into Sergio Pinos alleged threats against wife In the divorce case, Tatiana Pino has also accused her estranged husband of poisoning her, according to the wifes deposition. Sergio Pino has not been charged. His defense attorney, Sam Rabin, said Friday theyre aware of the investigation, have been cooperating and will continue to do so, declining further comment. The wifes attorney, Raymond Rafool, said they fully support what the FBI and U.S. Attorneys Office is doing. Sergio and Tatiana Pino. A person in the neighborhood who witnessed the raid at Pinos home told the Herald they first heard a loud noise similar to a flash bang, followed by the same noise about 10 to 15 seconds later. After that, an agent announced through a megaphone that the FBI was carrying out a search and had a warrant. The person, who did not want to be identified, said the agents were wearing tactical gear and carrying rifles and that the street was lined with law enforcement vehicles. The person also said there was a drone hovering over the back side of Pinos home, which faces a canal. The FBI was at the home for at least three hours, the person said. It was very well-coordinated, the person told the Herald. It was a big raid. While the FBI confirmed the searches of Pinos home at 142 Isla Dorada Blvd. and his business at 1805 Ponce de Leon Blvd., both in Coral Gables, the agency spokesman said he could not provide further information. It is unclear what specifically the FBI was searching for at Pinos properties search warrants are not public records. Sergio Pinos house located on 142 Isla Dorada, Coral Gables on Friday June 28th, 2024. FBI agents also arrived at Tatiana Pinos residence in Pinecrest on Sunday, closing off a part of Southwest 96th Street to set up what looked like a crime lab outside her home, according to neighbors accounts. Police also asked neighbors for access to home surveillance footage, such as video from Ring doorbell devices and exterior cameras, neighbors said. A neighborhood Facebook account described FBI agents at a home that another neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said was Tatiano Pinos residence. Jason Cohen, chief of the Pinecrest Police Department, said he could not comment given there was an active investigation underway and referred inquiries to the FBI. I can confirm we were there assisting, he said. There was a Pinecrest police car parked in Tatiana Pinos home on Friday afternoon. A man who appeared to be in security gear answered the door but declined to speak to a reporter. Read more: Developer Sergio Pinos wife accused him of poisoning her, divorce records show Sergio Pino, the son of Cuban immigrants who started his home-building empire after he and his father bought a plumbing supply business in the 1970s, did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment. Pino, 67, president of Century Homebuilders Group, has for decades been known as a high-profile businessman with influential connections who has made large campaign donations to an array of local, state and federal politicians, dating back to the sprawling suburban explosion of Miami-Dade, the era of former County Mayor Alex Penelas, and the heyday of the powerful construction group, the Latin Builders Association. Centurys website boasts that it has built more than 16,000 single-family homes from Tamiami to Florida City, making it the largest Hispanic-owned home builder in the nation. The developer has been a force in Republican politics as a fundraiser, particularly in support of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Pino has come under the scrutiny of local, state and federal law enforcement in the past, but hes never been charged with a crime in connection with his home-building business and other investments or his prodigious political fund-raising activities. In 2006, the Herald reported that a federal grand jury was investigating allegations that Pino played host to then-Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose Pepe Diaz on a weekend jaunt to Cancun in exchange for his support of a large-scale project in Doral. Part of the investigation focused on a May 2004 fishing trip to Cancun aboard Pinos private jet. On the trip were Pino, Diaz and Carlos de Cespedes, co-founder of the Doral-based Pharmed, a medical supply giant. Charges were never brought against anyone in the probe. In 2005, the Herald reported on Pinos decision to pull out of the duty-free concessions business at Miami International Airport, which had operated for a decade and drawn the attention of investigators and prosecutors. Three years earlier, he and his minority partners in the duty-free joint venture at the airport came under fire in a report by the Miami-Dade County inspector general for earning more than $14.6 million for their cut of a hefty airport contract despite having performed no actual work. The airport was guilt by association, Pino told the Herald before his Century Duty Frees contract expired at the county-owned MIA. I never did anything wrong. Pinos profits at the airport on sales of about half a billion dollars over a decade were small compared to his home building business, he said. Theres nothing wrong with making money, Pino said. If I had made $40 million [at MIA], Id be very proud of it . . . but [the airport] is too bureaucratic. Every time you want to do something, you have to hire lobbyists. Its a complicated business. Its not what I do best. Nevertheless, the specter of controversy has hovered over Pino for years as he accrued clout by becoming one of South Floridas most influential political fundraisers. He has spent tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for local, state and federal candidates. Sergio Pino, the president, CEO and founder of Century Homebuilders Group, at the companys Midtown Doral residential complex sales center on Aug. 8, 2016. Pino deftly mixes money, politics and philanthropy. Pino was asked to join FIUs board of directors in 2003, and later announced a $2 million endowment for the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center in honor of his father, a bodega owner in Cuba who turned to odd jobs when he first arrived in Miami to support his family. He also spearheaded the political campaign to torpedo slot machines in Miami-Dade County, and he donated his Le Jeune building in 2004 to headquarter President George W. Bushs re-election campaign in Miami. Pino has also been a player in Coral Gables City Hall politics as a donor to Mayor Vince Lago. In 2019, businesses tied to Pino gave $2,500 to Lagos political committee, Coral Gables First. Then in 2023, when Lago was running for reelection, Pinos Century Asset Management gave him $1,000, according to campaign finance records. The developer has also supported Lago-backed commission candidates. In March, two businesses tied to Pino gave a combined $10,000 to a political committee seeking to get three referendums on the ballot this year, including a charter amendment to require voter approval for elected officials to raise their salaries. Pino, twice married and the father of four, has cultivated his political and business savvy since his days as president of Latin Builders in 1990. He started in construction after he and his father bought a plumbing supply business in the late 1970s. Sergio Pinos business located on 1805 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables on Friday June 28th, 2024. FBI El Paso urges victims of Ruidoso fires to be cautious of scams FBI El Paso urges victims of Ruidoso fires to be cautious of scams EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) FBI El Paso is urging victims and the public to research charities before donating to the recent wildfires in Ruidoso. FBI El Paso Special Agent Assistant Public Affairs Officer Dereck Hackert says that once disasters start happening, there are people who want to donate. Still, there are also criminal actors who see this as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and make money. Hackert says people can protect themselves by identifying some of the red flags. Those red flags are listed below. Only donate to charities or groups who you know or trust Do your research first before making a donation by going to the Federal Trade Commissions website and looking up the organizations name Verify the organizations name and make sure that its not a copycat name that could be posing as a legitimate company or charity organization Avoid charities that ask to pay with suspicious payment methods such as cash, a gift card, virtual currency, or wire transfer. Its safer to donate with a credit card or check that way it can be tracked and potentially recovered if its a scam. If you receive links from an unsuspected number, do not open the message, and very if the organization or person is who they say they are. Most charities wont reach out to you and ask for your personal information. For those who lost homes or structures, its important to verify contractors Hackert says those who are victims of these types of scams can report it to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center or call the El Paso Field Office at 915 832-5000. You can also go to the El Paso Field Office and report the incident in person. Hackert says they have not yet received any complaints of people being victims of scams regarding the Ruidoso wildfires. We wanted to put this message out as a proactive attempt to the community to make them aware that this is something that we have seen in past tragedies, Hackert said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The Peoples Republic of China remains a country of great concern to the United States, said Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Cindy Dyer. In the State Departments recently released Trafficking in Persons Report, China has again been placed on Tier 3, the most egregious category, for its policy or pattern of government-sponsored trafficking. North Koreans, among others, remain vulnerable to trafficking by the PRC, said Ambassador Dyer: We are also very concerned about forced labor among Uighurs, Tibetans, and other ethnic minorities. Specifically, we are tracking, as noted in the report, an increased number of labor transfers in the Xinjiang region, where between January of 23 to September of 23, more than three million transfers occurred. Ambassador Dyer also expressed concern about the treatment of PRC nationals in Belt and Road initiative countries. That specific program has been you will see that its brought up in 16 of our country narratives. We are suggesting that any countries participating in the [Belt and Road] initiatives really engage in increased oversight and screening, she said. One of the things that were doing about it is releasing this report with as much information as we can possibly gather. ... The other thing that were doing, which I think is equally or even more important: The State Department participates in the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force is implementing the Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which is aimed at keeping out of the U.S. goods made with slave labor. The State Department recently added a Chinese seafood manufacturer to the list of banned companies. The U.S. government is also working with industry partners to monitor their own supply chains. Human trafficking is a stain on the conscience of our society, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. It fuels crime, corruption, and violence. It distorts our economies and harms our workers. And it violates the fundamental right of all people to be free. Thats why the U.S. will not rest until this scourge is irradicated, not only in China, but around the globe. FBIs NC agents warn of new, more sophisticated jury scam. Heres what to know RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Theres a new jury scam people need to look out for, the FBI Charlotte Field Office and the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina said Friday. Experts warn that this scam is more sophisticated, and involves fake federal arrest warrants. According to the FBI, scammers in this scheme call victims or send emails claiming the victims failed to report for jury duty and that there is a federal warrant for their arrest. Agents said scammers will either text or email victims a fake arrest warrant with the names of actual North Carolina federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors, in an attempt to add credibility to their claims. The victims are told they can avoid jail time by paying a fine via a virtual currency machine or kiosk, the FBI said in a news release. According to FBI agents, scammers may also manipulate caller ID information to make it seem like the call is originating from a legitimate source, like a courthouse or a government agency. They said scammers might try to discourage victims from paying the fine in person by claiming the office is closed because of COVID. Legitimate arrest warrants are not emailed or texted, they are served in person by a law enforcement officer or court official and never include a demand for payment, the FBI said. If you receive an unsolicited phone call, investigators ask that you be cautious and skeptical, especially when the person asks for personal information or payment. The FBI recommends to never provide personal or financial information to unknown callers. The FBI shared the following tips to avoid falling victim to common scams: Be wary of unsolicited phone calls, emails, or texts. Do not give money or personal information to anyone you dont know. Trust your instincts and hang up on any caller who makes you feel pressured or uncomfortable. Verify the authenticity of legal claims against you with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court officials. If you believe you have been a victim of a jury duty scam or other fraudulent scheme, youre asked to file a report with the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center 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 CBS17.com. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) FBI New Orleans officials are announcing the results of their latest collaborative effort to fight violent crime in the metropolitan area. Nearly 20 law enforcement agencies from St. Bernard Parish to St. John the Baptist Parish participated in Operation Clean House. The 16-day operation ended with 155 arrests and the confiscation of 54 firearms, 10 firearm switches and various narcotics. Phase one, which took place from June 3 to June 14, resulted in 74 gun and drug-related arrests. Local law enforcement officers also seized 46 firearms. New Orleans Police Department prepares for Louisiana concealed carry law to go in effect Some of the firearms taken during phase one included AK-47s, AR-15s, Dracos and multiple types of handguns, all used to terrorize our communities, said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil. During Phase Two, which ended on June 26, nearly 80 warrants were cleared, resulting in the arrests of violent crime offenders and recovered firearms. Officials say special agents staked out high-crime neighborhoods while working on matching their intelligence with witness reports. Some of the feedback that we got is we want to take our children out to be able to enjoy this beautiful city, said Myrthil. We want to feel safe. We want to enjoy all the festivities and everything that the city has to offer without having to look over our shoulders. Authorities also confirmed some of the arrests made by Troop NOLA over the past few weeks were part of Operation Clean House. Man accused of triple Canal Street shooting arrested in Georgia The next step is prosecution. According to Duane Evans, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, not all the cases will be pursued federally. Most of the generated cases will be handled by local district attorneys offices, explained Evans. It is just this type of engagement between our respective offices in which differences are discussed and resolved that ensures the efficient processing of these important cases. Operation Clean House may be complete, but FBI New Orleans is already planning its next move. To those who choose violence over contributing to our society, our message is firm, said Myrthil. We arent going away. We know what youre doing. We know where you are, and you will not see us coming. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. (Bloomberg) -- An FBI accountant who detailed the cash and gold bars seized at Senator Bob Menendezs house was the final prosecution witness at the corruption trial of the New Jersey Democrat. Most Read from Bloomberg The accountant, Megan Rafferty, on Friday summarized evidence about the cash and gold bars seized in a June 2022 raid on the Menendez home in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, as well as a safe deposit box opened by his wife, Nadine. Menendez, a three-term senator, is expected to begin his defense on July 1 at a New York trial where hes accused of several bribery plots and acting as an agent of Egypt. Jurors heard more than two dozen witnesses over the past six weeks. Menendez, 70, is on trial with businessmen Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, while his wife, Nadine, faces a separate trial because she has cancer. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty and testified as a prosecution witness. In her testimony, Rafferty brought together several elements of the prosecution case. She said she reviewed records on $552,190 seized by agents, including $117,220 in cash printed after 2018. Prosecutors are trying to blunt defense arguments that the cash came from regular withdrawals that Menendez made over decades, not from bribes. Some envelopes with the cash bore the fingerprints of Daibes, a developer who sought the senators help in raising Qatari money for a high-rise project in Edgewater, New Jersey, prosecutors charge. Menendez, she said, also withdrew $86,948 from his Senate federal credit union account between 2016 and June 2022. Rafferty testified about 13 gold bars that were valued at $266,066 when agents seized them. Prosecutors say the bars, weighing either one kilogram or one ounce, were funneled as bribes by Daibes and Hana. Menendezs lawyers have argued that Nadine Menendez failed to tell the senator about receiving the gold bars as gifts, and when he learned about them, he disclosed them on a Senate ethics form. On cross-examination Menendez attorney Adam Fee asked Rafferty about financial records showing that since at least 2008, Menendez made regular $400 withdrawals from a Congressional credit union account. If you saw withdrawals of roughly $400 every two weeks for 14 years, would you consider that to be a pattern?, Fee asked before the judge sustained an objection from prosecutors. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. As a foreigner, navigating health insurance systems can often be difficult. German startup Feather thinks it has a solution and raised 6 million to help some of the 40-plus million expats working and living in Europe. It is not that there are no options for foreign nationals to get insurance; there are plenty. But it is precisely because the offer is fragmented and hard to match with individual needs that Feather thinks it can carve a space for itself despite heavy competition from incumbents. With expats often having access to the public health system of their host country, a big part of the question is where they fall into, especially during the transition periods that are increasingly common with the rise of remote work. It is this level of detail that the startup wants to get right, Feather CEO Rob Schumacher told TechCrunch. For instance, it provides a recommendation tool to help individuals understand what kind of coverage they might need, starting with health insurance, but also including additional options such as life, pet, automotive and personal liability insurance. Feather's quick assessment tool. "The funny thing is, everyone who's an expat immediately gets it," Schumacher said. That helped Feather get angel checks from former founders who gained knowledge of the issue through their startups, such as GoCardless, Monzo and N26, where Feather CTO Vincent Audoire was an early employee. Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus also invested in Feather through the VC fund he co-founded, called Plural. Feather's lead investor, Keen Venture Partners, even came inbound: It was associate Abdul Afridi, an expat himself, who approached the startup, and not the other way around, Schumacher said. However, fundraising has been anything but painless for insurtech startups in the post-2021 hype, and Schumacher is wary of making the process sound easier than it was. With French neoinsurer Luko coming undone in the background, and other very public insurtech woes, getting past due diligence was no easy feat. With conversations dragging on, Feather's founders considered simply going back to pursuing profitability. "And I think that was the key thing that made us really interesting again," Schumacher said. International expansion Feather went along because its new backers brought expertise on a wide range of topics, including branding, but mostly because the capital will help boost its internal expansion. The startup currently serves expats in Germany, France and Spain, with three more countries set to launch by the end of 2024. It wouldn't have done this without additional funding, Schumacher said. "We would have just done more incremental stuff." That would probably have been a wasted opportunity: The startup says it achieved more in its six months post-launch in Spain than in its first 18 months in Germany. Despite the international audience it serves, an expansion roadmap wasn't obvious for Feather, whose founders thought they might go for a broader audience in Germany first. However, they soon realized that the expat niche was particularly interesting for a digital-first offering like theirs. Compared to the same age cohort of locals, expats are much more likely to prefer not dealing with a broker. But they do still need help; as a French national, Audoire knows this firsthand, and so does Schumacher, who relocated to Germany after spending most of his life abroad. While they are scratching their own itch, the duo is aware that the market they are going after is very large, and growing. Whether you call them expats or immigrants, the fact is that Europe's economies seem set on hiring more foreign workers to compensate for their aging population. Finding balance To its end users, Feather promises a better experience consisting of transparent policies, unbiased recommendations, and simple digital claims processes, all in English. With its new funding, it is also taking a "big bet" on employee benefit insurance that companies hiring lots of expats may want to provide. While it is as bullish on tech as any insurtech player, Feather is also keen not to badmouth legacy players, which it partners with, and has a couple senior insurance executives on its cap table. This, and its measured approach to fundraising and spending, could pay off, or at least help the companies avoid the scrutiny new insurtech partnerships are facing. "For the last six years we've been doing healthy, sustainable business, and this allows you to unlock new things, even with incumbents," Schumacher said. KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The fastest-growing area of Kannapolis is about to get some much-needed help for first responders to talk during an emergency through the construction of a new emergency communications tower. The project will also help the Cabarrus County Sheriffs Office and Cabarrus County EMS when theyre trying to talk to one another and 911 operators in the middle of an emergency in that area of the county. The Kannapolis 911 center is the heartbeat to get police and fire functioning in an emergency, but what happens when police radios drop out and arent able to talk to dispatchers? Mother charged after 8-year-old child dies inside hot car at workplace in west Charlotte: CMPD You talk on the telephone driving down the road and all of a sudden, you lose your signal, explained Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry. Same thing happens with our radios. You get into certain service areas, and you just run into an area, what they call a dead-spaced area. They havent had any issues yet during an emergency, but theyve identified some dead spaces. The northwest corner of Cabarrus County could use a boost. The City of Kannapolis is getting just under $1 million in federal funds to build a $2.1 million emergency communications tower. It will stand next to the current water tower on Highway 3 near Odell School Road and can be helpful in all emergencies, especially when police and fire are on scene for a while, like a search for a missing child. Weve found this person, weve searched this area, and we dont run into any delays, said Spry. Kannapolis has one tower near downtown. The second one will help in the fastest-growing area on the west side of town. Multi-county chase involved stolen Amazon delivery truck, 2 arrested: CMPD Officials say the pocket that the new tower will cover is projected to grow to 25% of the city. Thats the last thing that we want to happen is a citizen needs our help and we cant get the resources out that we need to be able to handle the call, said Spry. The police chief says the federal funding secured by Congresswoman Alma Adams was critical in getting them to the finish line for funding. The city will cover the rest of the cost at just over $1 million. Its going to take a while to finish the tower, even after construction starts. The chief says it will probably be 2.5 years before the tower is up and running. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Federal investigators slammed Boeing for 'blatantly violating' the rules by sharing unproven speculation about the 737 Max blowout Federal investigators slammed Boeing for 'blatantly violating' the rules by sharing unproven speculation about the 737 Max blowout The NTSB said Boeing "blatantly violated" rules about investigations. It said a Boeing exec made "unsubstantiated speculations" about the Alaska Airlines blowout . It will coordinate with the DoJ, which is considering criminal charges over the blowout. Boeing has apologized after the National Transportation Safety Board said it "blatantly violated" rules about investigations. On Tuesday, a Boeing executive held a media briefing about January's Alaska Airlines blowout. Sharing non-public information about investigations without the NTSB's consent is against the agency's rules. The director of the NTSB's office of aviation safety sent a scathing letter to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on Thursday. Timothy LeBaron said that since Boeing has been party to "several other investigations over the years," it is familiar with the investigative processes, "perhaps more so than most other entities." In the letter, LeBaron said that Boeing Commercial Airplanes' senior vice president for quality, Elizabeth Lund, "made unsubstantiated speculations about possible causes" of the Alaska Airlines blowout. "This disregard of federal regulations and rules governing NTSB investigations cannot be tolerated," he added. The blowout sparked a crisis at Boeing, after a door plug came off a 737 Max in midair. Four bolts designed to hold it in place were never installed, the NTSB said in a preliminary report. CNN reported that in the media briefing, Boeing blamed missing paperwork for the lapse in quality control. LeBaron said that Lund shared "unsubstantiated speculations" and that "part of the released information was either inaccurate or unknown to the NTSB." He also criticized Boeing for speaking about the investigation into a Southwest Airlines incident that occurred in May. The 737 Max experienced a Dutch roll, a rare but serious stability problem. Boeing's chief engineer, Howard McKenzie, said the event had "nothing to do with design or manufacturing," according to LeBaron. However, LeBaron said that the NTSB hasn't ruled this out as contributing to the Dutch roll. As a result of these statements, the NTSB said Boeing will no longer have access to its investigative information as it develops factual records. The agency said it "will be coordinating with the DOJ Fraud Division to provide details about Boeing's recent unauthorized investigative information releases in the 737 Max 9 door plug investigation." The Justice Department is considering whether to prosecute Boeing over the blowout. In a statement shared with Business Insider, Boeing said: "As we continue to take responsibility and work transparently, we conducted an in-depth briefing on our Safety & Quality Plan and shared context on the lessons we have learned from the January 5 accident." "We deeply regret that some of our comments, intended to make clear our responsibility in the accident and explain the actions we are taking, overstepped the NTSB's role as the source of investigative information," it added. "We apologize to the NTSB and stand ready to answer any questions as the agency continues its investigation." Read the original article on Business Insider Goshwak in flight (Photo by Getty Images). A federal court judge in Montana has halted a logging project near White Sulphur Springs in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest after he said the U.S. Forest Service failed to take into account a decline in nesting goshawks, which violated federal law. The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council successfully argued before federal magistrate Kathleen L. DeSoto that both the U.S. Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service hadnt properly considered the species, which are considered an essential indicator of old-growth forests. The defendants in the case, the federal agencies as well as the American Forest Research Council, a group aligned with the logging industry, had objected to DeSotos findings, which were later affirmed by Judge Dana L. Christensen, who issued the final order. The Horsefly Project, as its called, consists of 20,600 acres located in the Little Belt Mountains, 12 miles north of White Sulphur Springs. The project was scheduled to take just a little more than 20 years, and includes harvesting, thinning, prescribed burning as well as aspen and meadow restoration. DeSoto found that the Forest Services lack of monitoring the goshawk population violated the National Forest Management Act as well as the National Environmental Protection Act. The Forest Service said that the Horsefly Project would not affect the goshawk nesting territories, but DeSoto found officials had data showing the population was declining and that the project would likely harm the species. It had failed to include that information in its assessment. Federal law requires the Forest Service to monitor nesting territories for the goshawk on an annual basis because they are a management indicator species for old-growth forests. Furthermore, if the goshawk population falls by more than 10%, it would indicate more research and study is needed. The Horsefly project called for logging more than 5,000 acres of goshawk nesting habitat and burning 2,300 acres of goshawk habitat. However, records obtained by the environmental groups show that active goshawk nests in the area dropped from 38 in 2016 to eight in 2019, but that was not disclosed to the public, the court found. Both DeSoto and Christensen found that the Forest Service not only failed to disclose the fact to the public, but then did not consider it in the project analysis, which violated federal laws. Christensen affirmed DeSotos decision to enjoin, or stop, the project and send it back to the Forest Service with the instructions to evaluate the project with goshawk data included, which could limit the scope of the logging project or stop it altogether. The project must be remanded so that the Forest Service can cure the NEPA violation through a supplemental environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement, Christensen said in his order released on Thursday. The coalition of groups raising the issues with the court also had other concerns, including questioning whether the logging project interfered with endangered grizzly bears or created too many roads, which would disturb the elk population. However, the court dismissed those parts of the case, ruling that the Forest Service had properly considered road closures, road building and road obliteration after the project. The court also found that the Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that it is extremely unlikely that a grizzly bear would be in the action area, and even less likely to be in the smaller project implementation area. We follow the law every day, and the Forest Service must also follow the law. When a government agency violates the law, it must be held accountable in court. Its not easy to fight the federal government, which has far more resources than we do, but nonetheless we are committed to making the government follow its own laws to protect our native wildlife and public land ecosystems, said Michael Garrity of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, which was one of two groups challenging the federal government. Despite attacks by politicians, intimidation tactics, and misinformation campaigns, we will continue with this critical work. Horsefly sj order filed 6.27.24 The post Federal judge halts logging project near White Sulphur Springs appeared first on Daily Montanan. ST. LOUIS A man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to stealing mail in Chesterfield was sentenced Thursday to 19 months in federal prison. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Christopher Ali Pate, 32, pleaded guilty in March to one count of mail theft. A co-defendant, Eryk Campbell, 28, pleaded guilty to the same charge in February. Both men admitted to stealing from multiple mailboxes in Chesterfield on Aug. 28, 2023. Pate and Campbell then drove to a gas station in St. Louis, where a police vehicle also entered the parking lot of the gas station. The vehicle refused to stop for police and the pair tossed the stolen mail out of the car. Campbell was previously sentenced to six months in federal prison and 16 months of supervised 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 FOX 2. VERMILION PARISH, La. (KLFY) A woman is reeling after finding out her husband of 12 years is trying to get away with a fraudulent divorce. Teqela Mouton is going through a mix of emotions after learning her husband, Kendrick Paul Francis, was allegedly part of a scheme to get a fraudulent divorce. Another surprise is Mouton claims her husbands friend, LaShonda Pope, allegedly impersonated Mouton to to get the divorce granted. The way Im feeling right now is insane. I really dont know how to feel that a person could actually steal your identity and get away with it, said Mouton describing a feeling of torture. Mouton now lives in Texas where she and her husband have been married for 12 years in November. They have two children together, ages 9 and 14. Mouton said for the past two years, she has been traveling back and forth to the Acadiana region to gather information on how she got divorced. My husband did not contact me, told me anything about he wanted to divorce me, she said. He didnt tell me that he filed for a divorce. If he wanted a divorce, I would have given it to him. Melville Town Council question Mayors salary increase Mouton said she never received a subpoena or was present in any court proceedings for the alleged divorce. Upon the paperwork, I couldnt get actual copies of the paperwork due to the fact I had to pay court fees and the only thing they let me do was to look at the paperwork, and when I saw where it was subpoenaed to: LaShonda Popes address in Abbeville, Louisiana, which I was in the state of Texas since 2022 and I gathered this information and got an attorney and the attorney looked at all the information and proceed with the matter, said Mouton. In a voice recording shared with News 10, Mouton said Pope tells her, You have been divorced, its public record. It continues as she curses Mouton out and adds, Guess what you see that ring, guess what Im about to be married to him next. So you can get ready. Ill get you an invitation. According to the state and Moutons attorney she and Francis are still married. However, according to St. Martin Parish, the divorce was considered fraudulent. The court granted the divorce but was not finalized. Pope had an arraignment at the Vermilion Parish courthouse Thursday morning in front of Commissioner Andre Doguet for first-degree injuring public records. She pled not guilty. Mouton says that the paperwork she gathered had a lot of incorrect information from spelling of names, childrens birthdays and wrong addresses. My husbands name is Kendrick Paul Francis, and it stated Kendrick Paul Sr., she said. My name is Teqela. On the paperwork, its spelled Tequila. My kids birthdays were incorrect and he had four other kids that were there and their ages were also incorrect. My address was incorrect. When asked if she discussed the fraudulent divorce with her husband since the discovery, Mouton said they talked about it over the phone, but claimed Francis was aggressive and never completed the conversation without hanging up the phone on her. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest I feel like Im on a Lifetime movie trying to put this puzzle together to see how did it even took place, Mouton said. How did the attorney provide the information without my identification? I know my rights and according to anything that you signed that is legal, it has to be an identification, has to be present and I was not present. I just want peace and I want justice to be served because anybody that knows the law knows how long it takes for a divorce to take place, especially with kids. According to my attorney, we were supposed to file for separation for a year legally. With kids involved, it would have taken another six months for a commercial property and spousal support. It would take us exactly like a year and a half to two years. News 10 reached out to Pope and Moutons husband who declined to comment. We also reached out to Franciss attorney on the divorce, Robert R. Starnes Jr. who declined to comment. Popes next court appearance is Sept. 19 at 9 a.m. in front of Judge Thomas Frederick. Latest Stories Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Felony charges filed against Park Forest man accused of robbing 2 people only 10 minutes apart Felony charges filed against Park Forest man accused of robbing 2 people only 10 minutes apart CHICAGO A Park Forest man accused of robbing two people at gunpoint only 10 minutes apart on the South and Southwest sides is now facing felony charges. According to Chicago police, 27-year-old Joseph Wilson has been charged with two felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Officers say the alleged robberies unfolded less than two miles apart on Thursday, April 25, in Bridgeport and Mckinley Park. Joseph Wilson, 27, has been charged with two felony counts of armed robbery with a firearm in connection with two armed robberies that police say unfolded only 10 minutes apart on the South and Southwest sides. Police say it started when Wilson allegedly held a 30-year-old woman at gunpoint in the 1900 block of West 38th Street and stole her belongings before traveling to the 3700 block of South Sangamon Street, where he then allegedly held a 59-year-old man at gunpoint and robbed him. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities eventually caught up with Wilson in Garfield Park on Wednesday, where he was taken into custody in the 3100 block of West Flournoy Street. Wilson appeared in court on Thursday for a detention hearing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. FEMA teams to assess damage across Minnesota as major rivers expected to crest over weekend ST. PAUL, Minn. A state of emergency is in effect for a part of St. Paul, where the Mississippi River could rise another foot before cresting Saturday. A number of trails and parks have had to be closed. A fast-rising and fast-moving Mississippi River has taken over the area around Harriet Island, where nearly a dozen summertime events have been canceled. "It's just crazy to see how much water affects people, and it affects people and things," said Autumn Parent. The floodwaters brought out onlookers from across the Twin Cities. "It's just mind-boggling to see the water so high and to see it overtaking these different areas of the park," said Rachel Valenziano. Valenziano and Erica Christenson, landscape architects working on a project across the street from Harriet Island, said a berm will likely keep their worksite safe, but they know the flooding is far from over. "It's sort of exciting, sort of sad. It feels like they planned this park well. That's how they designed it but even so, it's still something to see. You don't expect to see this," said Christenson. The Harriet Island playground is underwater, and the pavilion is also filled with water, forcing organizers to sideline 11 events at the shelter, through July 7. The National Weather Service predicts the river will reach nearly 21 feet before water levels drop. But that's caused some Harriet Island visitors to praise the city for turning the area around the pavilion into greenspace. "Putting in things like the wall over here and the levee behind that's kind of built into the landscape, just shows what a city can do in terms of preventing of planning for flooding," said Paula Swingley. It also gives people a chance to see just how powerful a flood can be. "Every once in a while you can see stuff floating in there," said Lucas Swingley. "It's really cool to see how fast the water is moving." Undecided voters in North Carolina frustrated by first 2024 presidential debate NASA insists Boeing Starliner crew not "stranded" in space Longtime CBS News national security reporter David Martin honored at Pentagon The last man in a neo-Nazi group dominated by veterans has pleaded guilty to charges related to their plot to target energy facilities in the northwest U.S., federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. Jordan Duncan, 29, a former Marine assigned previously to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the manufacturing of a firearm, the U.S. attorney's office in Idaho, Duncan's home state, announced in a statement. Duncan's co-conspirators discussed recruiting veterans into "a modern-day SS" on a now-defunct neo-Nazi message board called Iron March; stole military equipment; discussed plans to manufacture firearms; and "gathered a library of information, some military-owned, regarding firearms, explosives, and nerve toxins," according to Tuesday's statement. Read Next: Army Makes It Harder for Commanders to Deny Soldiers Leave for Abortions The group of extremists that Duncan belonged to was allegedly active between 2017 and 2020, according to federal indictments. Aside from him, the group was made up of another pair of 25-year-old Marine veterans -- Liam Collins, a former lance corporal stationed at Camp Lejeune, and Justin Hermanson, who was in the same Marine unit as Collins. Army National Guardsman Joseph Maurino, 25, was also part of the group. The last member of the group was 38-year-old Paul Kryscuk, who appears not to have a military background. The indictment described the group as starting to come together in 2016 when Collins, then still on active duty with the Marine Corps, began using the Iron March message boards to recruit members. "Everyone [in the group] is going to be required to have served in a nation's military, whether US, UK, or Poland," Collins wrote in 2016, according to the indictment. "I'll be in the USMC for 4 years while my comrades work on the groups [sic] physical formation. ... It will take years to gather all the experience and intelligence that we need to utilize -- but that's what makes it fun," the Marine veteran wrote. The group of five proceeded to spend the next four years training and plotting. During this time, Kryscuk was manufacturing guns while Collins stole military gear, including magazines for assault-style rifles, and delivered them to the group. The men also recorded a propaganda video around this time in which they fired various assault-type rifles and made the "Heil Hitler" sign beneath the image of a black sun Neo-Nazi symbol. According to the attorney's office statement, in 2020, investigators discovered "a handwritten list of approximately one dozen intersections and places in Idaho and surrounding states ... including intersections and/or places containing a transformer, substation, or other component of the power grid for the northwest United States" in Kryscuk's possession. Since the group's arrest, the five men all have pleaded guilty to various crimes. Kryscuk entered a plea of guilty to conspiracy to destroy an energy facility, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, in February 2022. Hermanson and Maurino pleaded guilty in the spring of 2023 to conspiring to manufacture firearms and ship them across state lines, while Collins pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of unregistered firearms in October. With Duncan's guilty plea, the five are now all set to be sentenced by a federal judge in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the statement said. The group is far from the only military members or veterans who have been arrested for being part of extremist groups and plotting violence. Military.com has reported extensively on how extremist groups not only target veterans for recruitment but also how, once radicalized, they pose a far greater threat than other extremists. In February 2023, Brandon Russell, a former Army National Guardsman and self-described Nazi, was arrested on allegations of also plotting to destroy parts of the electrical grid in Maryland. That case is still ongoing. Russell was a top leader of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division and was previously sentenced to five years in prison in 2018 on charges relating to possessing explosives. In 2022, another Marine veteran, Matthew Belanger, was arrested on several gun charges. Court documents said that Belanger was a leading member of a neo-Nazi group known as Rapekrieg. Those documents also alleged that "Rapekrieg members have purchased uniforms, including black body armor with level-3 plates, military helmets, green utility uniforms, and a skull facemask," and that the group, including Belanger, discussed "shooting up" a synagogue in the Long Island area of New York. They even went as far as to surveil the building "but eventually decided that burning it down at night using Molotov cocktails was a better plan," the witness told investigators. Belanger pleaded guilty to two gun charges in 2023 and has since been released on supervised release, court records show. Related: Marine Kicked Out of Corps and Indicted in Alleged Neo-Nazi Infrastructure Attack Plot Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charge Finland announced its 24th package of military assistance to Ukraine on June 28, consisting of defense material valued at around 159 million euros ($170 million). The total amount of military assistance Finland has provided Ukraine now stands at 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), the Finnish Defense Ministry said. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Finland has also provided 239 million euros ($255 million) in humanitarian and financial support as of the end of April 2024. "Finland is committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's unjustified attack. This is not only about Ukraine, but ultimately about the right of all free peoples to exist," said Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. "We Finns have learned from our own history how important this issue is." The ministry said that for security reasons, the specific contents of the aid package and the time of its delivery could not be specified. Finland and Ukraine signed a 10-year security agreement in April, which President Volodymyr Zelensky called a "strong document that proves Finland's readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression." Read also: Ukraine, Finland sign long-term security agreement Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Finland has announced its 24th military aid package for Ukraine, a decision approved by President Alexander Stubb following a government proposal. Source: European Pravda, citing the press service of Finlands Defence Ministry Details: The replacement of the equipment included in this batch is estimated to cost Finland approximately 159 million. The total value of defence equipment supplied by Finland to Ukraine is currently 2.2 billion. "Finland is committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's unjustified aggression. It is not only about Ukraine but also about the right of all free peoples to a decent existence. We, the Finns, know from our own history how important this issue is," said Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen. For operational reasons and to ensure the safe delivery of assistance, the exact content, delivery channels, and timing of the package will not be disclosed. Background: Earlier, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said that some Ukrainian troops had been trained on Finnish territory, which was the first official confirmation of this fact. Finland is known to have allowed Ukraine to use Finnish-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia without restrictions. Support UP or become our patron! (Photo by Getty Images) A clinic nurse who claims she was marginalized and then fired by MercyOne Health Services after fielding employees complaints about a physician is now suing the company. In lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Kristin Flatness alleges that while she worked for MercyOne as a clinic manager, she was the victim of gender discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation. She also claims her dismissal while on medical leave for a serious illness was in violation of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Flatness, who currently lives in Minnesota, alleges that she was hired by MercyOne in early 2020, to oversee a new clinic in Albert Lea, Minnesota. In March 2022, she allegedly began fielding complaints from female staff members who claimed a physician in the clinic, Dr. David Heine, treated them poorly. Heines behavior was so bad, the lawsuit alleges, that some of the female employees threatened to quit if Flatness did not address their concerns. Her director allegedly advised her to meet with the complainants and suggested a one-on-one meeting with Heine may not go well due to the doctors alleged history of throwing temper tantrums, the lawsuit states. Flatness allegedly met with the workers, but the situation did not improve and near the end of March 2022, some of the workers indicated they unwilling to continue working at the clinic unless Heine changed his behavior. Flatness then held an all-staff meeting to address any workplace issues, with the understanding that no names would be used and the focus would be on solutions and positive outcomes. Afterward, Heine allegedly approached Flatness, pointed his finger in her face and shouted at her while positioned so Flatness was pinned between her desk and the wall. The lawsuit claims Heine yelled at Flatness that she needed to be punished for holding a staff meeting and that she was the problem at the clinic, not him. The next day, Flatness reported the incident to MercyOnes human resources department, saying she felt threatened and would like a safety plan put in place. Shortly thereafter, Brittany Erickson, a MercyOne vice president, allegedly visited the clinic and chastised Flatness for holding the staff meeting while making it clear MercyOne was going to side with the doctor over her. A week later, MercyOne allegedly informed Flatness that her position was being eliminated and gave her the option of either leaving with a 30-day severance package or transferring, on two days notice, to Clear Lake, Iowa, 40 miles south of Albert Lea. Two months later, the lawsuit alleges, MercyOne posted a job opening for a clinic coordinator in Albert Lea, with a job description that was almost identical to that of Flatness old job. After taking time off to deal with surgery and the flare up of a longstanding, serious medical condition, Flatness alleges, she was fired while on medical leave. Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act; gender discrimination and disability discrimination in violation of the Iowa Civil Rights Act; and retaliation related to her handling of complaints about Dr. Heine. MercyOne has not yet filed a response to the federal lawsuit or to the state lawsuit that preceded it in April. Company officials declined to comment on the case. The post Fired MercyOne nurse who clashed with physician claims retaliation appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Firefighters were forced to burn down a suburban Connecticut home after they found it was filled with illegal, high-powered fireworks, The Shelton Herald reported. Due to the nature of the explosives, it was decided that destroying the home in a controlled burn was the most effective way to dispose of them. Authorities in Shelton were first alerted to the incident last Saturday when they responded to the home for an unrelated blaze. As they worked to extinguish the first fire, it triggered some of the fireworks held in the garage to begin exploding. When officers got the situation contained and investigated the garage further, they found a large number of powerful illegal fireworks wired to one control panel. No one was injured in Saturdays incident, though the family of three living in the home were forced to vacate. Unbelievable footage shows the commercial-grade fireworks exploding from the garage door as firefighters combat the blaze. Fire officials subsequently deemed the home uninhabitable and on Thursday burnt it to the ground in an eight-hour controlled burn. Residents near the home were evacuated from the neighborhood out of an abundance of caution before the home was torched. CT STATE BOMB SQUAD CONTROLLED BURN IN SHELTON: CFPA Connecticut member Keith Muratori @FIREGROUNDIMAGE took in a controlled burn conducted by the CT State bomb squad. The burn was in response to several loads of fireworks found after a house fire this past weekend. #shelton pic.twitter.com/dNdmUQRmcf CT Fire Photo (@ctfirephoto) June 28, 2024 Officials would not disclose the number of fireworks they found within the home, only that the number was significant. No cause has been identified for the initial blaze, but Shelton police say they do plan to press charges in the matter. Its unclear if the fireworks belonged to the family occupying the home. The Shelton Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment from Mens Journal. PITTSBURG, Kan. As many people prepare for Independence Day by lighting fireworks officials say its important to be safe and obey the laws. Pittsburg Fire Chief, Taylor Cerne suggest individuals check with their local jurisdictions on the laws that regulate when and where it is okay to light fireworks. He also suggests that safety remain a top priority for those who plan to shoot fireworks. And if you do plan to shoot fireworks, Jakes Fireworks Manager, Joey Cronister advises adult supervision, and to make sure the area youre lighting them in is clear of trees and power lines. Bottle rockets and skyrockets they are not allowed. Just for the fact that they fly a long distance, and they have the pop which can cause a fire, whether its in a field or on a house, someplace like that so no bottle rockets in Kansas, said Chief Cerne. If youre shooting in like a grassy area, I always put like a piece of plywood down or something down to set like some of the bigger fireworks on, and Ill always block them with cinder blocks, or bricks, or something to keep them from tipping over, said Jakes Fireworks Manager, Joey Cronister. Its suggested you soak used fireworks in water overnight, and place them in a metal trash can. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. How the first Biden-Trump presidential debate tied to Michigan and how it didn't President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in the first debate of the 2024 election cycle Thursday, as the nation barrels toward another contest between the two. Biden and Trump both attempted to go on the offensive about the others record as president, although the night was short on policy specifics. Trump repeatedly hammered Bidens handling of the U.S. southern border as well as his foreign policy stance. Biden went after Trumps record on abortion access and tried to paint the former president as a threat to democracy. Both candidates said the other would be bad for the American economy. At several points, CNN moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper had to reiterate what their initial question was focused on because each candidate would dwell on a previous statement the other made. Biden also struggled, particularly in the early stages of the debate, with verbal stumbles. Trump seized on one such moment, saying, I dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows either. Toward the end of the debate, Biden and Trump began arguing about golf. It was 90 minutes short on mentions of Michigan, but issues that have played out in the state did come up Thursday. US President Joe Biden and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participate in the first presidential debate of the 2024 elections at CNN's studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) Trump references journalist jailed in Russia, doesn't bring up Michigander Paul Whelan In his criticism of Biden's foreign policy, Trump brought up Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist reporting for the Wall Street Journal who was arrested in Russia in March 2023 and has been detained ever since. Trump said he would have Gershkovich freed "very quickly." He didn't bring up or reference Paul Whelan, a security executive who was arrested in Russia in Dec. 2018 and has been detained since. Whelan, a former Marine who lived in Novi, was accused of espionage and convicted in June 2020 during a closed-door trial and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor in a work camp. EVs absent from climate debate Biden's administration has embraced a transition to electrifying the automotive industry, setting goals for electric vehicle sales and the installation of charging stations used to power EVs. Trump has been a frequent critic of Biden's EV stance saying the cars are unpopular compared to their gasoline counterparts and that pushing EV sales will be bad for the automotive industry, despite major automakers all making plans of their own to expand EV sales within their fleets. But they weren't mentioned Thursday night. One of the reasons Biden's administration has laid out goals for EV sales has to do with them producing fewer carbon emissions than gas-powered cars. When moderators asked about plans for the climate, Trump said his environmental advisors told him before the debate "I had the best environmental numbers ever." Biden blasted the statement and touted climate legislation he signed into law. Trump says abortion should be decided in the states, Biden warns of national ban under Trump Trump took credit for appointing three of the U.S. Supreme Court justices who ruled in July 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion access at the federal level for nearly 50 years. The ruling returned the issue of abortion access to the states in Michigan, voters later that year approved a ballot measure enshrining reproductive freedom in the states constitution. But in other states, abortion access is more restricted. Biden said if re-elected, he would restore Roe v. Wade, and said congressional Republicans would pass a "very conservative" national abortion ban if Trump were elected. "I'll veto it, he'll sign it," Biden said. Like he did in Grand Rapids, Trump continues to go after Biden's border policy Trump repeated a line he used in an April appearance in Grand Rapids, when he said that Biden's immigration policies have allowed "every state" to become a border state. While U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported fewer enforcement encounters at the Southern border in recent months compared with a spike late last year, Trump lambasted the situation at the border throughout the debate, bringing immigration policies up in unrelated questions. Biden noted that Republicans in Congress blocked a bipartisan border bill earlier this year, and said that Trump's opposition to the bill pressured conservatives in Congress to reject it. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Looking for more on Michigans elections this year? Subscribe to our elections newsletter and always feel free to share your thoughts in a letter to the editor. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Presidential debate: How Biden-Trump tied to Michigan VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Hours before the two presumptive nominees were slated to hit the debate stage for the first time in the 2024 presidential race, First Lady Jill Biden stopped in Virginia Beach on her way to Atlanta to support her husband, President Joe Biden. You all know that theres two visions for America and youll see them tonight when you watch the debate, she told the crowd that had gathered inside of the Biden-Harris campaign office in Virginia Beach for a sign-making event. Youve already chosen your vision, or you wouldnt be here, she said to the crowd of Biden supporters. The vision youve chosen is for strong, steady leadership versus the other vision, which is chaos and corruption. First Lady Jill Biden speaks to a crowd gathered for a sign making party at a Biden-Harris campaign office in Virginia Beach. She stopped at the office on her way to Atlanta for the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle to support her husband, President Joe Biden. Earlier, another crowd had gathered near the entrance to parking lot of the strip mall where the campaign office was held. They wore red hats with make America great again embroidered on them, held signs in support of former President Donald Trump, the GOP presumptive nominee, and wore shirts with slogans on them like Joe and the hoe got to go. The First Ladys visit, announced Tuesday, underscores Virginias standing as a battleground state during the 2024 presidential election. Her visit came after Trump had announced his plan on Saturday to visit Chesapeake for a campaign rally on the day after the first presidential debate. I want you, tonight when you see them debating, I want you to hear Joes words but most of all, I want you to listen to his heart, the First Lady said, as she rallied the group to help get out the vote efforts in the largely active and retired military community. The pro-Trump demonstration had cleared out of the area by the time the First Lady left in her motorcade. Democratic voters on the pending debate Barbara Nesbitt, a retired teacher, said she is happy there wont be an audience at tonights debate. It wont be such a clown show, she said. Shes a little nervous, ahead of the 2024 rematch in November, but she said she hopes Biden wins overwhelmingly. To let them know were not stupid in America, she said. Maurice Hawkins, a Democratic voter in Virginia Beach, noted that the commonwealth has voted for a Democratic president since 2008, when former President Barack Obama won his first term in office. The last Democratic presidential nominee to win in Virginia before Obama was former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Biden won Virginia by 10 points over Trump in 2020. In Virginia, we know that were a battle ground state, year-in, year-out. All our races are tight. This area is going to be a strategic region in regards to voter turnout, to determine how Virginia will go out, he said, referring to the Hampton Roads region which includes both Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Sandra Brandt, chair of the Second Congressional District Democratic Party, said she feels confident Biden will perform well in the debate. I feel good, I think the president has been looking at all of the issues, she said. I think hell do an excellent job. She noted that the Democratic Party has a lot of work ahead, between June and November, but she feels confident in Bidens chances of winning the election. Tonight will be historic, Charles Stanton, 69, chair of the Norfolk City Democratic Party said, in the parking lot of the strip mall after the event had wrapped. He called himself an optimist on America and said he hoped the 10% or 15% of undecided voters will shift to the Democratic camp after the debate. We are going to have one candidate on the stage with a historic record of accomplishment and another candidate on the stage with a historic record of being indicted 88 times, convicted 34 times, he said. Its just not a choice, I mean it truly is decency versus debauchery. This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia gets First Lady visit before debate and Trump rally on Friday Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai (R) shakes hands with Chairman of the UK-based Standard Chartered PLC Jose Vinals at the Government Office in Ha Noi, June 27, 2024. Photo: VGP Deputy Prime Minister Le affirmed Viet Nam attaches importance to and expects to cement and deepen ties with the UK. Viet Nam will continue to support and create favorable conditions for the bank to operate effectively, implement cooperative projects successfully, and accompany Viet Nam in its development process, said Le. He called on global groups, including Standard Chartered, to share experience and assist Viet Nam in developing a financial center. Le took the occasion to call on Standard Chartered to continue assistance to Viet Nam in implementing its action plans and projects on green growth and sustainable development. In reply, Chairman Jose Vinals confirmed that his bank will continue expanding investment in Viet Nam to contribute to the countrys growth and prosperity. He noted that Viet Nam has had an excellent management method in macro-economy and finance to overcome difficulties and challenges and gain an impressive growth. Since 2012, Standard Chartered has proactively played its role as the sole advisor to the Vietnamese Government on national credit rating upgrades./. First Presidential Debate Shows Weaknesses of Both Candidates, Leaves Much Desired by Indian Country Moderated by CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the 90-minute debate did not touch on any specific Native American issues. (photo/screenshot) Sensitive Content Warning, mention of S.A. and violence against women Native Vote 2024. The first presidential debate between the presumptive nominees of both major political parties, President Joe Biden (Democrat) and former President Donald Trump (Republican), debated on Thursday night in Atlanta. Moderated by CNNs Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, the 90-minute debate touched on several topics, such as the economy, immigration, abortion, and democracy. Specific Native American issues were never discussed during the debate. For some viewers, Thursdays debate was an off-night for the 81-year-old Biden. At the beginning, the presidents voice was noticeably raspy as he gave rambling answers. It was later disclosed that he had a sore throat. Soon after the debate, political pundits discussed the possible need for Biden to pull out of the presidential race. Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe called Bidens performance a Defcon 1 moment during an appearance on MSNBC Thursday night. And I think thats a tragedy because I think Trump had so many openings that you could have just scissored him up on tonight, Plouffe said. On Friday, the White House reported that Biden had a cold during the debate. His campaign stated that the president would remain in the race. While Bidens debate delivery was not the performance his campaign officials hoped for, Trump, 78, on the other hand, was the vintage Trump, who did not answer the questions asked by the moderators. His answers were filled with misinformation and falsehoods. The New York Times fact-checkers cited the former president made falsehoods 26 times, while CNN reported that Trump made 30 false claims. Throughout the debate, Trump repeatedly mentioned the safety of women in the United States. He claimed that immigrants are coming into the U.S. in mass waves, threatening the safety of women. These killers are coming into our country and they are raping and killing women, he said. CNN fact-checked this claim, citing statistics that show crime in the US dropped significantly in 2023 and in the first quarter of 2024. Murders and other violent offenses dropped significantly during that period, even though the number of people crossing the southern border spiked. However, in Indian Country, the issue of violence against women and girls is all too real. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) females experienced the second highest rate of homicide in 2020. Additionally, in 2020 homicide was in the top 10 leading causes of death for AI/AN females aged 1-45. More than 2 in 5 AI/AN women were assaulted in their lifetime. Not only did Trump falsify information about violence against women instead of referencing the very real issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), but he also made false claims about the state of our environment. In response to Bash's question about whether the candidates would do anything to address climate change, Trump responded, I want absolutely immaculate clean water and absolutely clean air, and we had it. We had H2O, we had the best numbers ever, and we were using all forms of energy, everything. He said his presidency saw the best environmental numbers ever. Indian Country knows this, too, is false. While in office, Trump rolled back more than 200 environmental policies. The next presidential debate between Biden and Trump will be hosted by ABC News and is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 9 p.m. EDT. By then, both Biden and Trump are expected to become the official nominees of their respective political party conventions. The Republican National Convention will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 15-18 and the Democrats will hold their convention in Chicago on August 19 - 22. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024, for his conviction of 34 criminal counts in New York. About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. " Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers. Credit: FGCU website. Florida International University ranked highest among the 12 Florida public universities in qualifying for performance-based funding awards. Criteria to determine the awards include graduate employment or further education, median wage of graduates, tuition and fees, graduates with degrees in areas of strategic emphasis, and other indicia of academic progress. Eleven of the states 12 public universities scored above 70 out of 100, the threshold to receive all of their share of state-allocated funding. The pot contains more than $300 million, with shares ranging from $71 million for the University of Florida to $5.1 million at New College of Florida. One university will miss out on at least half of its performance-based funding. Florida Gulf Coast University would have been entitled to $15.3 million but posted the lowest score at 63. Because thats under a 70 score, that entitles it to at least $3.8 million since it met the first requirement of submitting a student success plan and, if the plan is implemented plan by March, it would qualify to double that amount to $7.6 million. Overall rankings: Florida International University: 96 University of Florida: 92 Florida State University: 89 University of South Florida: 89 University of Central Florida: 85 Florida Atlantic University: 84 University of West Florida: 84 University of North Florida: 76 Florida Polytechnic University: 74 Florida A&M University: 72 New College of Florida: 71 Florida Gulf Coast University: 63 However, the balance of the original entitlement will be shared among FIU, the University of Florida, Florida State University, and University of South Florida, which scored the highest (FSU and USF tied for third place). Im very proud to say weve already implemented the student success improvement plan and I assure you that we are not going to have the same conversation next year, so we are already seeing the improvements in many of our metrics, FGCU President Aysegul Timur said during the Thursday meeting of the State University System Board of Governors in Orlando. FIU has scored the highest in three of the past four years, notching a 96 this year. State government instituted the performance-based funding program in 2014. Board members are talking about fiddling with the formula, partly because high-scoring universities can get penalized if their scores decline even modestly. For example, The University of Central Florida scored 85 points this year, two points less than last year; if it drops by even one point next year, it would be required to submit a student success plan, but still be eligible for 100% of funding as long its score remains above 70. Other schools that scored lower than the year before are Florida A&M University, Florida Polytechnic University, the University of North Florida, and USF. Additionally, FSU Board of Trustees chair Peter Collins said that increased investments to attract students who receive Pell grants a factor in the scoring could prove a poor use of money, because it could spark in-state competition for that pool of students. Alan Levine, vice chair of the Board of Governors, acknowledged Collinss point, adding that, given Florida universities national rankings, it makes sense for the board to start measuring Florida universities against their peers in other states, such as the University of Michigan and Duke. Evolving these metrics to be more specific to the institution and that institutions goals makes a whole lot of sense, given where we are, Levine said. Overall, Levine praised the performance-based funding program, saying it produced improvements at FAMU. FAMU ranking up for discussion During the boards Friday meeting, a representative of the FAMU Alumni Association, William Youmans, said the universitys score of 72 is respectable but argued the university deserves credit in context of the challenges that our students overcome and the universitys accomplishments. FAMU is persevering through it all, Youmans said, given that many of its incoming students arent as prepared for college because of social and other barriers that the university needs to help them overcome. FAMU is the only historically Black university in the State University System. More than 80% of its students are Black and more than 90% are students of color. Some metrics are interdependent and should be calculated in context to each other, such as graduation rate and university-access rate to the actual outcomes, to include the social mobility index, Youmans said. The social-mobility index calculates a schools role in improving the economic mobility of its students. Despite historical factors affecting the communities broadly served by FAMU, its students must compete with the other 11 universities in categories such as starting salary of graduates, graduation rate, and incoming high school GPA, or else the university risks forfeiting performance funds to the other universities. In the first year of performance-based funding, 2012-13, FAMU tied for seventh out of the 11 universities. This year, it ranked tenth of 12. FAMU was ranked the 2024 best among Historically Black Colleges and Universities by Niche and the 91st best public school in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. Five charged in death of prisoner who was placed in restraint system in Missouri Five Missouri Department of Corrections officers were indicted in the December death of Othel Moore, a 38-year-old prisoner in Jefferson City. The charges in Cole County were announced Friday by Andrew Stroth, an attorney representing Moores family. Four officers were charged with felony murder. The fifth was charged with involuntary manslaughter. A federal lawsuit was also filed Friday in Moores Dec. 8, 2023, death. The reason its so important is its a watershed moment in America because theres been five criminal indictments who killed Othel Moore, Stroth said at a news conference. Beyond that, we know theres a system, pattern or practice of racist and unconstitutional abuse in the Missouri Department of Corrections. These charges are historic, Stroth continued. These charges are unprecedented. When you hear about what happened, witnesses saw what happened, video evidence shows what happened. Its George Floyd 3.0 in a prison. Stroth said Moore was beaten, pepper sprayed and shocked. The entire time before his death, Othel was screaming I cant breathe, Stroth said. Ten employees involved in the incident are no longer working for the department, according to Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the department. That includes Warden Doris Falkenrath, who was replaced earlier this month as well as people who left before the conclusion of the internal investigation, and corrections and contracted staff who were terminated. According to a department statement, Moore died while in a restraint system designed to prevent injury to himself and others. The department has discontinued its use. We take seriously our responsibility for creating the safest environment possible and will not tolerate behaviors or conditions that endanger the wellbeing of Missourians working or living in our facilities, the agency said. Moore had been incarcerated for more than 18 years and was serving a 30-year sentence for second-degree domestic assault, first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and possession of a controlled substance. Moore grew up in St. Louis and had a daughter, his family said. President Biden and former President Trump met for the first time in four years on a debate stage in Atlanta on Thursday in what was cast as a pivotal moment in the presidential race. By the end of their 90-minute encounter, observers on the left and the right seemed to agree the night had been a game-changer and not one that was helpful for Biden. The two candidates tangled over the economy, abortion, immigration and foreign policy, but the night is likely to be best remembered for Bidens stumbling start which the White House blamed in part on a cold. Here are five takeaways. Biden fails to dispel worries about his age Biden, who is 81 and would be 86 at the end of his second term, did little to help assuage concerns among voters that he is not ready for another four years in the Oval Office. One of the main concerns that Biden has continued to face throughout the 2024 campaign has been his age, and his slow start in a debate his campaign had asked for called into question his decision to move forward with the June debate. Theres no way Id send my boss out on national TV in that condition, Michael Hardaway, a former spokesperson for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), wrote on the social platform X. Biden suffered from several missteps in which he stumbled over his words and at times was unclear in his statements. His voice was also hoarse throughout the night, and he started out the debate speaking especially quietly. One of the most notable instances where Biden stumbled came early in the debate during a discussion on Medicare. Making sure that were able to make every single solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with, the eh, COVID. Excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, he said, freezing up. Look we finally beat Medicare. Trump, whose campaign has sought to make the case that Biden isnt ready for four more years in the White House, paused before taking the opportunity to respond that Biden beat Medicare to death. Multiple sources told The Hill and other outlets that Biden has a cold, which is to explain for the slow start, but it surely was not what Biden needed to help dispel questions about his abilities. Trump is no spring chicken. He just turned 78 and would be the oldest president in history if he served a full term. But questions about his age have not stuck to Trump they way they have to Biden, and the Republicans performance Thursday night was unlikely to change this dynamic. Biden did pick up as the debate went on, confronting Trump more often on various statements he made. One notable instance came when he slammed Trump for comments he reportedly made as president in 2018 calling veterans suckers and losers, which Trump has denied. Democratic strategist Jon Reinish argued that Biden improved with time. The president started slow but picked up steam. His team should look up two homespun remedies for the throat: honey and lemon, he said. Trump is relatively disciplined Former President Trumps performance in the first debate of the 2020 campaign was panned for his constant interruptions and aggressive tone with Biden. On Thursday, he had no such issue. Trumps answers were routinely filled with misleading statements or falsehoods, such as when he claimed Biden planned to quadruple every Americans taxes. He minimized the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and he equivocated over whether he would accept the 2024 election results. But he avoided the kind of blowups that have plagued him in the past, allowing him to pass the optics test as Biden meandered through certain topics and lost his train of thought at times. The former presidents aides and Republican strategists argued going into Thursdays showdown that it was incumbent on Trump not to have any self-inflicted wounds and to make Biden the focus of the evening. While he may have been aided in part by microphone muting that prevented the candidates from being heard when it was not their turn to speak, Republicans felt it was mission accomplished for Trump by the end of the night. The MVP of this debate for Trump is the split screen visual contrast of Trump and Biden, Republican strategist Ford OConnell told The Hill. Trump looks 20 years younger and sharp, while Biden looks dazed and incapable of serving another four years. After tonight, the chance of another debate between Trump and Biden is less than zero. Moderators fail to fact-check Moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper worked to keep the candidates to their time limits but opted against any real-time fact-checking during the debate, despite some experts urging ahead of time that Trump and Biden should be held to account. The decision not to challenge debate claims left room for the candidates to stretch the truth and trade accusations. This may also have benefited Trump. After the debate was over, CNNs own fact-checker Daniel Dale counted at least 30 false claims from Trump and at least nine from Biden. But Dales efforts were shown after plenty of viewers were done watching the debate. At one point, Trump appeared to suggest that Biden basically went after his political opponent, referring to himself, through the Manhattan hush money case in which Trump was found guilty last month. Four years ago, Trumps outlandish claims during the 2020 debates prompted heavy fact checks after curtains closed. Bidens campaign and his allies shared checks on Trumps statements in social media posts throughout the night and trackers from various news outlets worked to keep pace with both candidates. The contentious debate was controlled in part by a mute button that cut off both candidates and the lack of a live studio audience efforts by the network to avoid a repeat of the pairs rowdy 2020 showdowns. But the moderators struggled to keep candidates to task, opening the door for both falsehoods and tangents. At one point, Trump ignored a question about child care affordability and instead used his time to knock Biden as the worst president ever. I wish the CNN moderators did more fact-checking, letting the audience know when things are said that are flatly false. Not sure how it helps for a platform to transmit falsehoods disguised as facts, said longtime New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof in a post on X as observers piled on critiques. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, on the other hand, called the moderators surprisingly great and not wildly unfair. Republican strategist Brian Seitchik said the moderators successfully kept themselves out of the spotlight through their restrained approach. Reinish, the Democratic strategist, said the moderators ought to have stepped in more. It wasnt 2020, but it got personal The first debate between Trump and Biden was infamous for the chaos that dominated the event and intense arguments that both candidates got into. The debate Thursday did not reach that level of tension but still became personal at times. As Biden picked up a bit later in the debate, he called Trump a sucker and a loser in reference to the comments about deceased veterans that Trump reportedly made. He was standing with his four-star general, and he told me, he said, I dont want to go in there, because theyre bunch of losers and suckers, Biden said. My son was not a loser. Hes not a sucker. Youre the sucker. Youre the loser. Trump at one point called Biden a Manchurian candidate in accusing him of not standing up to China. Both candidates accused the other of lying or being untruthful during the debate about various policy issues. Notably, the candidates did not shake hands before or after the debate. At the end, Biden was greeted by his wife, first lady Jill Biden, while Trump walked off. Democrats left the night worried and frustrated Bidens performance, which showed him losing concentration and fumbling over his words, left Democrats in panic mode even before the debate had wrapped up. I am not a Biden campaign staffer, nor am I a Bidenworld confidante. I dont know if high-level conversations are happening right now about Bidens concerning performance, but it would be political malpractice to pretend tonight advanced the Biden campaign, explained Max Burns, a Democratic strategist and opinion writer for The Hill, in a post on X. When Barack Obama badly fumbled his first debate against Mitt Romney in 2012, that led to serious talks about what went wrong and what needed to be done to fix it. Obama righted his ship, he added in a separate post. Those same conversations need to happen with Biden right now. For Democrats, the CNN debate was supposed to be the partys first opportunity to show voters what a contrast between Trump and Biden looked like. Democrats hoped Biden would have the kind of vigor he showcased during his State of the Union address this year. Instead, it showcased an initially slow-moving Biden whose debate performance underscored voters concerns over his age. Bidens start was bad (no other way to say it folks), Symone Sanders Townsend, a former senior adviser to Vice President Harris, wrote on X. He improved throughout the debate, but this wasnt the Biden allies hoped to see tonight. I think its fair to note the President apparently has a cold, but when it comes to debates the performance matters just as much as the content. Arizona-based Republican strategist Barrett Marson mused on X about how likely the hashtag #ReplaceBiden would start making the rounds online. The word dementia was also trending on X. Biden will have one more opportunity to face off against Trump and significantly improve his performance when they take the stage for another debate hosted by ABC News in September, though the president may have a lot of ground to make up before then. Julia Manchester contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Fla. Woman Who Sexually Abused Her 2 Young Sons, Family Dog Learns Fate: 'It Doesnt Get More Evil' Natalie Jesslynn Wagner, 28, of Port St. Lucie, made and sold videos of herself committing sex crimes against her children, 1 and 3, authorities said 19th Judicial Circuit Court Of Florida Natalie Jesslynn Wagner Content warning: The following article contains disturbing descriptions of sex crimes against children. A Florida woman was sentenced to 21 life terms in prison for committing sex crimes against her two young sons and the family dog and creating and selling videos of them on Snapchat, court records show. On June 19, a jury found Natalie Jesslynn Wagner, 28, of Port St. Lucie, guilty of 84 counts of sexual abuse, including incest and transmitting child pornography, NBC 6 reports. "A mother doing this to her infant 1-year-old son and her toddler 3-year-old son. It doesn't get more egregious or evil," Assistant State Attorney Katy Reid said, WSOC-TV reports. Wagner was sentenced on June 25, Treasure Coast Newspapers reports. Wagner was arrested in August 2022 and charged with capital sexual battery on a child, lewd and lascivious molestation, possession and promotion of child pornography, incest and sexual activity with an animal, online court records show. She recorded videos showing herself committing sex acts on her 1-year-old and 3-year-old children, Reid said in 2022, WPTV reports. She sold the videos on Snapchat for $5 to $50, WPTV reports. Users told her what content they wanted to see, Reid said, WPTV reports. 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. The crimes came to light when people told Snapchat about a parent who was "advertising" videos of the parent having sex with their own children, Reid said, WPTV reports. The parent was Wagner, Reid said, WPTV reports. Snapchat sent the information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which tracked an IP address to Port St. Lucie and Wagner. WPTV reports. "She was their mother. I mean, she was the one person who should have made sure this never happened to them," Reid said, WPTV reports. The children are being cared for by family members and the 3-year-old is undergoing counseling, Reid said. Wagner's public defender did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during a bill-signing ceremony March 6, 2024, at the Capitol in Pierre. (David Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association) Severe weather brought a deluge to southeast South Dakota recently and exposed Gov. Kristi Noems faults. While the rain fell, she abandoned the state for a political conference and television interview. When catastrophic floodwaters surged toward McCook Lake, her cursory appearance there along with her lackluster crisis communications and departure for an out-of-state political fundraiser left people without adequate warning about the danger they faced. And after declining to use the National Guard for the flood preparations or response, Noem said activating the Guard would be extremely expensive and asserted troops should only be used in a very crisis situation. This from a governor who has ordered troops to the Texas-Mexico border three times, and paid for it with money from the states Emergency and Disaster Fund. According to Noem, none of that was a mistake, and she led a solid flood mitigation and response effort informed by her experience. We learn with every flood that happens, she said during a Tuesday press conference. Thats true. And theres a lot to learn about her from this one. If we dont, then thats wonderful The flooding began with three days of rain June 20-22 in southeast South Dakota, surpassing 17 inches in some locations. The Big Sioux River swelled to a historic level and swamped several towns while flowing toward the Missouri. Thats where McCook Lake and 230 homes around it stood in the bullseye. A June 24, 2024, view of a home destroyed by flooding the previous night at McCook Lake in southeast South Dakota. (Courtesy of Dirk Lohry) Meanwhile, where was Noem? Her official calendar is protected by an egregious exemption in South Dakotas open-records laws. But some details of her travels are known, thanks to journalists such as the Argus Leaders Dominik Dausch, who reviewed social media posts from around the country to fill in the gaps of her whereabouts. On Saturday, June 22, Noem delivered a speech at a Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C. On Sunday morning, June 23, she was on NBCs Meet the Press, where she jousted with the host about politics and whether shes being vetted as a running mate for Donald Trump. By that afternoon, Noem was back in South Dakota. She led a press conference with federal, state and local officials in North Sioux City, where she talked about a voluntary evacuation order in Dakota Dunes, the construction of a temporary levee, a closure on Interstate 29, and the status of Missouri River dams. Nobody at the press conference expressed an urgent safety concern about McCook Lake. When somebody asked what lake residents should do, Noem said they should protect their personal property, because we do anticipate that they will take in water. Thats what were preparing for, she said. If we dont, then thats wonderful that they dont have an impact, but they could see water flowing into McCook Lake. Nobody at the press conference clearly explained that the levee under construction was intended to direct floodwaters away from North Sioux City through a slough toward McCook Lake, where the overflow would hopefully drain toward the Missouri River while causing minimal damage. From McCook Lake to Memphis Granted, it was tough to imagine how thoroughly the lake would be overwhelmed, because nobodys ever seen so much water in the Big Sioux. But thats precisely why Noem and her advisers should have sounded alarms. She said during the Sunday press conference that the river would reach a record level the following afternoon. She knew an unprecedented situation was unfolding. Shortly after she finished speaking, forecasters were already predicting an earlier and higher river crest. The water was rising so fast, it went up more than a foot during the press conference. But Noem wasnt watching the river. She slipped away Sunday evening to Tennessee, where she headlined the Shelby County Republican Partys Lincoln Day Gala in a Hilton billed as the tallest hotel in Memphis. Tickets ranged from $200 to $2,750 for the legacy circle table. U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, talks with South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem on the evening of June 23, 2024, at the Shelby County Republican Party Lincoln Day Gala in Memphis, the same night that catastrophic flooding overwhelmed the McCook Lake community in South Dakota. (Photo by Jackson Baker/Memphis Flyer) Back at McCook Lake that night, all hell broke loose. The Big Sioux surged over Interstate 29 and slammed into houses on the lakes north shore. Local authorities scrambled to alert residents, and rescue teams spent the night and the next morning hauling stunned people to safety. Noem returned to South Dakota for press conferences Monday and Tuesday, where she described the carnage: We have whole homes that have fallen into the lake. Weve got hundred-foot drop-offs from washouts, weve got live power lines laying across the roads, weve got boats stuck in trees, weve got trees that are half-falling over. According to her, it was unavoidable. That mitigation plan wouldve worked in a lesser event, she said, but there was so much water that flowed through there. Well, yes, just like she knew it would. She said Sunday afternoon that the Big Sioux would crest at an all-time high, and she knew the excess water would be diverted to McCook Lake. Thats why people living around the lake needed the clear and loud warning they didnt receive until it was too late the kind of warning Noems predecessor, Gov. Dennis Daugaard, provided before a 2014 flood in the same area when he said, I am very concerned for residents near McCook Lake. As Noem said, theres something to learn from every flood, and the people of McCook Lake learned a painful lesson: Neither hell nor high water will stop Kristi Noem from pursuing her own ambition at the expense of the people she serves. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Flood washes away Noems false veneer of leadership appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. A state of emergency is in effect in St. Paul where the river is expected to rise another foot before cresting on Saturday, prompting the closure of several roads, trails and parks, including most of Harriet Island. With water filling the Wigington Pavilion at the popular downtown park, the city has canceled 11 events at the shelter, including graduation parties, family picnics and one company picnic through July 7, said spokeswoman Clare Cloyd. Surprisingly, no weddings were scheduled this weekend or next, she said. Picnic permits for the Crosby Farm Regional Park picnic shelter have also been canceled, Cloyd said. Meanwhile, high water on the Minnesota River has forced Valleyfair to shut down three rides, shorten park hours and cancel July 4 fireworks. The amusement park will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily until water recedes and its waterpark, Soak City, will be open only 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Valleyfair said Friday in an email. The Mississippi River was expected to reach 20.8 feet in the downtown St. Paul area before water levels drop, the National Weather Service said. If that mark is reached, it would be the seventh-highest crest ever. Flooding begins when the river reaches 14 feet. With damage expected, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring the emergency, allowing the city to seek county, state and federal resources. At a news conference Friday, Gov. Tim Walz, Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director Tom Sivak repeatedly warned residents to remain cautious while driving and while out on lakes and rivers over the holiday weekend. "We're still in a dangerous situation," the governor said. "It's still very unpredictable." The three also urged those whose property has been damaged to take time-stamped photographs of the debris in their yards and basements. "Pictures are worth a thousand words to us," Sivak said. Document the cleanup as well, he said. "We know that recovery is a long road and we recognize that there will be challenges ahead, especially on the mental health side," Sivak said. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation on Friday urged President Biden to a disaster declaration Walz submitted a day earlier. In coming weeks as the water recedes, FEMA and Department of Homeland Security employees will visit affected communities to talk to residents, alerting them in advance through county officials of their presence. Sivak said the employees will be dressed in FEMA gear, have federal identification badges and won't ask for personal information. But Sivak also said residents should not wait to reach out to their insurance companies to report damage. Dan Hawblitzel, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service, said Friday's overnight rain wasn't enough to add to the flooding. "The rivers can take quite a bit more water than what fell last night," he said at a news conference with Walz. "The good news is we are now going into another stretch of a drier weekend, fortunately, which will allow a lot of these floodwaters to continue to recede, and that has been the case across much of the state so far." Hawblitzel said the Cannon and Des Moines rivers will continue to go down, with the Minnesota River still cresting at points. It hit record stage in Jordan on Friday morning and is expected to crest in Savage on Sunday, but not at a record. The Minnesota River also will cause major flooding in St. Paul as it empties into the Mississippi River, Hawblitzel said. A crest in St. Paul is expected Saturday night just above what it reached in 2019 and its highest since 2001. The crest will then cause major flooding toward Hastings until it hits the St. Croix River, moderating the flood levels from Winona on down, he said. After a dry weekend, Hawblitzel warned they're watching another wet system approaching that could bring up to 2 inches of rain. That rain won't exacerbate the floods, but it will extend the drying process. Earlier this week, Stillwater said it was scrubbing July 4th fireworks due to high water on the St. Croix River but would try to reschedule them later in the summer. Though floodwater is beginning to drop slightly in some parts of the state, flood warnings remain in effect along several rivers, including the Crow River in Wright County, the Minnesota River from New Ulm through Mankato and to Savage in the south metro, the Mississippi River from St. Paul to Hastings to Red Wing, and the St. Croix River near Stillwater. The Cannon River in the Northfield area also remained above flood stage, the National Weather Service said. In a piece of good news, the Minnesota Department of Transportation was able to reopen Hwy. 169 north of Le Sueur on Thursday after crews pumped water from the highway and installed a "worm dike" to keep the water back. But the highway remained closed Friday morning south of Le Sueur to St. Peter, the agency said. Other routes, including Hwy. 99 east of St. Peter and Hwy. 22 from Kasota to Mankato, remained closed. Florida American Ninja Warrior sentenced to 10 years in prison on child porn charges Florida American Ninja Warrior sentenced to 10 years in prison on child porn charges TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man was sentenced to 121 months (just over 10 years) in prison on charges related to child porn, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday. Andrew Drechsel, 35, of Saint Cloud, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, to one count of receiving child pornography and one count of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a minor to travel interstate to engage in sexual activity. Drechsel is a former winner of the reality show American Ninja Warrior, which sees contestants compete for the best time in a series of obstacle courses. Court documents show from 2014 to Nov. 8, 2019, Dreschsel lived in Hamden, Connecticut. On Nov. 8, 2019, law enforcement found images of child sex abuse, including photos and videos of a victim from New Jersey who was 14 and 15 at the time. Drechsel admitted to meeting the victim in 2014 through the parkour community. Drechsel admitted to texting the victim and urging the victim to travel across state lines in July 2015 for sexual activity with Drechsel. In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Drechsel to 15 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Florida Fourth of July forecast calls for sizzling heat, some storms but what about tropics? Check the grill. Double check the ice cream isn't some of that recalled for listeria. Plan the menu, and don't forget to hit the store for some hot dogs or hamburgers or both! The Fourth of July holiday is right around the corner and there's nothing better than heading outside and enjoying the day, and possibly a four-day July 4th weekend, with family and friends. Interactive map: Check water quality What are we forgetting? Oh yeah, the weather. Hot is probably a given in Florida for the middle of summer, but how hot? And what about stormy weather? Should you make backup plans for indoor activities? And what about the tropics? Is there a risk for a tropical storm or hurricane? Here's the current long-range forecast for the holiday. When is the Fourth of July holiday? The Fourth of July is one of those federal holidays that always falls on July 4, no matter what the day of the week it is. In 2024, July 4 will be celebrated on a Thursday. Florida state employees to have four-day Independence Day weekend On Monday, June 24, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis created a four-day Fourth of July holiday weekend this year for state employees. DeSantis announced state offices will closed Friday, July 5, in addition to the scheduled closure on July 4 for Independence Day. Could tropical storm or hurricane affect your July 4 plans? Projected path and strength of Invest 95L as of June 27, 2024. While a tropical depression or tropical storm is expected to form any moment now in the Atlantic, it's expected to approach the Lesser Antilles by the end of the weekend. Storm conditions are possible there beginning Sunday afternoon. What could become Tropical Storm Beryl later today or Saturday, could strengthen into a hurricane by the time it reaches the Windward Islands, according to AccuWeather. Most models currently show the system moving into the Caribbean south of Cuba. NOAA Florida forecast for July 4, 2024. Temps will start nice, but quickly rise into low to high 90s Slide left for forecast lows and slide right for highs: NOAA rain forecast for Florida July 2-4 Rain forecast for July 2-4, 2024. Florida temperatures expected for July 4th: Hot and heat index even hotter Expected conditions across the U.S. during the Fourth of July 2024. Here's what the National Weather Service is predicting for the Fourth of July: Pensacola: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90. Tallahassee: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Jacksonville: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Daytona Beach: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Port St. Lucie: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. West Palm Beach: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 86. Naples: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Fort Myers: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Sarasota: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 92. Chance of precipitation is 50%. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: July 4th Florida weather forecast: High temps, storms. See radar Gov. Ron DeSantis sided with scores of Florida city and county governments and vetoed a measure that would have erased local regulation of vacation rental properties and turned power over to the state. It was a rare move for a Republican governor who usually embraces top-down management, having enacted a host of measures stripping regulatory authority from local governments while enhancing state authority. In his veto letter, DeSantis said he rejected the bill's approach because vacation rental markets "are far from uniform across the various regions of the state." "Going forward, I encourage the Florida Legislature and all key stakeholders to work together, with the understanding that vacation rentals should not be approached as a one-size-fits-all issue," DeSantis wrote. The vacation rental measure proved one of the most controversial bill's of the 2024 session, drawing opposition from some key conservative members, although it had been a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. President of the Senate Kathleen Passidomo presents her opening remarks during the Senate Session on opening day of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. The legislation (SB 280) would have wiped out city and county regulations approved since 2016 over vacation rentals. Local governments, though, could still respond to noise and safety concerns involving vacation properties under the legislation. But in allowing ordinances enacted before 2016 to stand, only one county was to be shielded Flagler, home to House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast. The exception raised questions about whether the House leader was looking to dodge controversy expected to be spawned by a state takeover of most regulations. Across Florida, many local government officials joined with vacation rental management companies and the Florida Realtors in blasting the legislation. They decried the idea of losing authority to the state over vacation rentals, which are prolific in most coastal communities. Vacation rentals are often blamed for disrupting neighborhoods and reducing affordable housing in many areas. But plenty of Floridians in beach and college towns see renting out their places as a ready source of income. The Senate sponsor of the legislation Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach argued that his bill struck a correct balance. He also ridiculed local governments for being heavy-handed currently with their regulation of vacation rentals. City officials in DiCeglies hometown were among those urging a DeSantis veto. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the state agency the legislation made responsible for overseeing vacation rentals, was to be given nine additional agents. Still, critics mocked that increase in staff as woefully short of whats needed. There were just over 45,000 vacation rental condos and dwellings licensed with the state last year a number seen as capturing only a small share of the rentals likely operating. New statewide requirements that would have been created by the measure included overnight occupancy limits on vacation rentals, with a maximum two people per bedroom, plus an additional two in a common area. The experience of Bonnie Sullivan, an Indian Rocks Beach resident is displayed during a news conference held to express opposition to Senate Bill 824 and House Bill 987 which would put regulation of vacation rentals in the hands of the state instead of local governments at the Capitol Wednesday, April 10, 2019. Fines for rental violations were capped at $500 and DBPR would be charged with setting up a database for vacation rentals. The bill also required rentals to have a person ready to respond to complaints or emergencies and available by phone, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Advertising platforms, like Airbnb and Vrbo, would be doing the tax collecting for the counties, something theyre already doing in many locations But the Florida Realtors Association urged its more than 238,000 members to lobby DeSantis to kill the bill. Cities and counties around the state also clamored for a DeSantis veto. Still, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association President and CEO Carol Dover came out in support of the measure, saying, while the bill is not perfect, it is a strong start. Lawmakers have been scrapping over vacation rentals for more than a decade, advancing policies that toggle between more state control and more hands-off. This year, it was the states turn to come out on top in the Legislature, although it proved divisive. The legislation cleared the Senate 23-16 after getting through the House 60-51. In a Florida Legislature where Republican supermajorities call the shots, the narrow divide made the vacation rentals bill one of the more bitterly fought measures of the session, which ended March 8. Republican leaders pushed many bills this session that preempted local government authority, a move some cast as conservative lawmakers out to limit decision-making by more liberal-leaning cities and counties. But the vacation rental preemption on cities and counties caused a rift among Republican lawmakers. Rep. Randy Fine listens to a speaker during a House Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee meeting Tuesday morning, Feb. 15, 2022. We cant screw this up, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, told the House in debate on the measure. He was among several Republicans who joined a majority of Democrats voting against the measure. Fine said the states takeover undermines regulatory decisions that should be made locally. More: After DeSantis veto of Florida vacation rentals measure, handful of bills still remain When you have bought a home, you have a right to live in a residential neighborhood, he said, warning that the legislation opened neighborhoods to threats stemming from newcomers living in short-term rentals, including sex offenders. DeSantis kept quiet about the vacation rental proposal since lawmakers adjourned. But the long, three-month delay in legislative leaders sending the governor the bill was a clear sign that it was controversial and that DeSantis was likely needing extra time to decide its fate. Four years ago, when lawmakers were advancing an earlier version of vacation rental legislation, DeSantis scoffed at the idea of the state assuming a lead regulatory role over cities and counties. Were going to be in charge of this as a state? DeSantis asked, during an exchange with reporters. For us to be micromanaging vacation rentals, Im not sure thats the right thing to do." John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis vetoes vacation rental bill that erased local regulations LA PAZ, June 26 (Xinhua) -- General Juan Jose Zuniga was arrested on Wednesday, just hours after his failed coup against President Luis Arce, according to local authorities. The arrest was made in the city of La Paz in an operation coordinated and presided over by Deputy Interior Minister Jhonny Aguilera. At a press conference, Jose Luis Tarquino, the head of communication of the Attorney General's Office (FGE), announced the beginning of a criminal investigation of Zuniga and others involved in the attempted coup. "Given the latest events that occurred in the city of La Paz, the Attorney General ordered the initiation of all legal actions that correspond to the criminal investigation against Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga and all other participants in the events," Tarquino said. In addition, an immigration alert was issued against Zuniga to prevent his possible escape from the country, he said. The Prosecutor's Office for the Department of La Paz immediately formed a commission of prosecutors to thoroughly investigate the attempted coup. Amid the tension and uncertainty, Arce and his cabinet reaffirmed their firm stance against any attempts at destabilization, and pledged to maintain peace and order in the country. Editor: ZAD MIAMI For a state no longer considered a battleground, Thursday night's presidential debate drew spirited crowds to watch parties where partisans snickered at one candidate's stumbles and chafed at another's "lies." In western Miami-Dade, more than 100 volunteers supporting Donald Trump's campaign met at a restaurant to cheer their candidate while a couple dozen Democrats gathered at a drive-in movie theater near the city's downtown to back incumbent President Joe Biden. "They come because they want to show their support for Trump," said Juan Fiol, who has been an organizer of Miami-Dade County Trump supporters since 2015, of the crowd that buzzed with anticipation as the debate start time approached. "Let's see what happens. Trump doesn't need any adrenaline. He's naturally energetic. He is going to mop up the floor with robot Biden." Debate watch party host Juan Fiol hands out Trump campaign yard signs at Mojitos Cuban restaurant in Miami-Dade County. At the Nite Owl Drive-In, Democrats gathered in cars and on lawn chairs to watch. State Sen. Shevrin Jones said "we're not going to allow the Republicans to run with this narrative" that Florida is not competitive for Biden. Jones pointed to recent elections as proof that Florida Democrats have momentum despite Sunshine State Republicans enjoying a nearly 1 million registered voter advantage. Polls show Trump widening lead among Hispanics, and in Florida The events in Miami-Dade took place as polls show Trump topping Biden in Florida by leads outside the margin of error, and driven by the Republican's mounting gains among Hispanics and younger voters. Trump beat Biden 51.2% to 47.9% four years in Florida. In 2016, he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 49% to 47.8% in the state. Biden carried Miami-Dade County overall in 2020, but by fewer than 10 percentage points as Trump piled up 200,000 more votes in the South Florida county than he had four years earlier. In 2016, Clinton carried the county by 29 points. Four years ago, Biden won the state's Latino vote by just five points, 52% to 47%, where as Clinton carried that pivotal demographic group in a rout, 62% to 37%, when she ran against Trump. A Florida Atlantic University-Mainstreet Research poll released this month had Trump over Biden among likely Hispanic voters by a gaping 51.2% to 35.1% margin as Trump led overall by six points, 49% to 43%. Trump campaign volunteers and supporters chatted in anticipation ahead of Thursday night's debate. At restaurant, Trump supporters cheer often and ebulliently At Mojito's Cuban restaurant, Trump supporters sporting bright red Make America Great Again caps and holding midnight blue campaign signs emblazoned with "Trump" chanted "USA!" as the former president took the stage. They clapped loudly when the presumptive GOP candidate touted his 2017 tax cut and jumped to their feet in cheers when he retorted that the only people Biden's policies have created jobs for are "illegal immigrants." At one point, when Biden struggled with an answer, Trump chimed in with "I really don't know what he's saying" and the crowd erupted in chortles and laughs. When Biden checked off what he said were his administration's economic achievements, one attendee shouted in Spanish "Esta leyendo!" "He's reading!" Ralph Nerette, a retiree who served in the U.S. Marines, praised Trump's performance saying the former president's explanation of "the weaponizing" of the judicial system was particularly effective. Same, he said, about his describing why border security is critical, which Nerette said "matters to me because it's the safety of the nation" that's at stake. "He was on point as expected," Nerette said of Trump. "He was on message." Fiol said the crowd at the watch party was a diverse group, but there is a common denominator. "In Miami, it's always been, and will always be, until there is freedom in Cuba, against socialism," he said. "That's our number one reason, and it's always been our reason and it's always going to be our reason until there is freedom in Cuba and there is no socialism here or anywhere in the world. We stand for individual human rights, which is what socialism is against. They are for the rights of the collective. We are for individual rights. Big difference." That resonated with one attendee, a woman from Venezuela who asked that her name not be published because she fears her family back in the South American country will face reprisals from the regime led by Nicolas Maduro. "I loved it," she said of Trump's debate performance. "I am for Trump because he is against Maduro." Florida Democrats held their own watch party at a drive-in theater near downtown Miami. Democrats at drive-in chafe at Trump's 'lies,' Biden's 'raspy' voice The former president's performance was panned at the drive-in theater, however. Its just amazing the lies that are coming out of of Trumps mouth, said Kat Duesterhaus, 38, founder of Bans off Miami, a reproductive rights group, and legislative director of the Florida chapter of the National Organization of Women. She brought a sign that said, Keep Abortion Safe and Legal. One attendee was a former Republican who served in the Florida Legislature. J.C. Planas, who represented a Miami-area state House DIstrict, switched parties four years ago and now he's campaigning for the Democratic nomination to become Miami's first elected county supervisor of elections. "I am here to cheer on the president because he is the best candidate to save and protect democracy," said Planas, a professor of law at St. Thomas University who specializes in election law. Tony Tovar, 40, echoed a similar message as he waited for the debate to start at the drive-in within sight of his high-rise apartment. Im not happy with Joe Biden but Im pro-democracy, said the health care consultant who moved to Florida from Texas two years ago. Im not voting for a dictator. Florida Democrats held their own watch party at a drive-in theater near downtown Miami. But Biden underwhelmed some at the drive-in, too. Tovar said he wished the president's "voice sounded more clear than raspy. And another Democrat said Biden simply looked aged. His energy is awful, said Arnie Weiss, 55, a Miami digital entrepreneur whos running in the Democratic primary for Miami-Dade County Supervisor of Elections. He looks old. When the line about sex with a porn star came up, Weiss said, Finally. Punch. Palm Beach Post reporter Anne Geggis contributed to this story. Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Biden-Trump debate draws partisans to watch parties in key Florida county COVID-19 is on the rebound in Florida as new variants spread across the country. Federal health authorities have scaled back what data is available to track the virus, with no more total case counts and as hospitals are no longer are required to report COVID-19 admissions. But Florida has seen a surge in virus levels in sewage since early May, according to data from WastewaterSCAN, a project from Emory and Stanford universities that analyzes samples from 13 sites in the state, including three St. Petersburg locations. All three local facilities have seen upticks of the virus in wastewater. Many people use at-home tests these days and dont report their results to health officials, so sewage monitoring is one of the few ways experts can gain insight into COVID-19s continued spread. Its starting to come back, Michael Teng, a University of South Florida virologist, said of the pathogen. A swarm of new versions of the virus, nicknamed FliRT variants, are circulating in the United States. One called KP.3, which is part of the omicron family, is outpacing the others and is highly contagious. Its a descendant of JN.1, the variant that dominated last winter. The 16-hospital BayCare Health System as of Wednesday morning was treating 86 inpatients with COVID-19, the majority of whom were ages 65 or older, according to Chief Quality Officer Laura Arline. By contrast, the health care systems COVID-19 inpatient count was in the 20s in early May. The positivity rate for BayCare patients jumped from 2% early last month to roughly 13% as of Monday, according to results from polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests. Years of infections and vaccinations have blunted COVID-19s worst impacts, reducing the number of severe cases, Teng said. Florida in recent weeks has logged its lowest COVID-19 death counts since March 2020, with weekly fatalities hovering below 30, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As virus levels spike in wastewater, there are simple ways to stay safe and protect others. Teng urged people who are sick to remain home and get a test. When at work, dont spend too much time in poorly ventilated areas, he said. He also wears a mask while on airplanes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March eliminated its recommended five-day isolation period for those who test positive. Now, it says people should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours have passed since their symptoms improved and they didnt have a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication). Once resuming normal activities, individuals should take extra precautions for five days such as wearing a mask. Floridas low uptake of newly formulated vaccines, which were rolled out last fall, is concerning, Teng added. Only 9% of Florida adults got at least one 2023-24 COVID-19 shot, according to March estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And roughly a fifth of those 65 and up got the latest jab. The federal agency cautioned that these numbers may be underestimates. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month urged COVID-19 vaccine makers to design this winters shots to target one of the FLiRT variants. FLiRT is a term used by scientists based on the technical names for different mutations. KP.3 accounts for a third of recent infections nationally, according to federal estimates, but another FLiRT variant, LB.1, is catching up. The variants spread quickly but dont appear to cause more severe illness compared to other forms of the virus, Arline, of BayCare, said in an email. COVID-19 symptoms remain fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle aches, a loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. At-home tests detect the FLiRT variants, Teng said, and the drug Paxlovid should still be effective. A prior infection with the older JN.1 variant should provide some level of protection, and the same goes for a vaccination using last winters formula. Six restaurants in Wichita were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week. They were cited for a number of violations including not sanitizing dishes, not having any running or hot water, old foods, a spray bottle of mystery dark red liquid, chemicals stored by food containers, leaks, a dirty meat slicer, a fly trapped in a pan of chicken, employees who didnt wash their hands and more, according to inspection reports. Information about the food establishments, as well as a summary of their violations, appears below. The list includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from June 16-22. It was compiled on June 26. At least 40 establishments passed inspections during that same time. A list of those also appears below. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks. Business owners or managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com to comment on inspection results that appear in this story. Comments will be added to the online version of this article. More details about inspections are in The Eagles searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases. Out of compliance inspections El 300 Discoteck Bar, 1621 S. Woodlawn in Wichita Two violations on June 20 during a follow-up inspection. The bar didnt have test strips to measure the strength of chlorine sanitizer, no sanitizer available for cleaning dishes. The next inspection date wasnt listed. El Gusto (mobile vendor/food truck), 1601 N. Meridian in Wichita Five violations on June 22 during a routine inspection. No paper towels at a hand-washing sink, the business had no running water so no one was washing their hands, no soap at the hand-washing sink, raw pork was sitting on top of a bag of cheese, the business had no running water and didnt fill up their tanks before going out to an event where they were inspected. Next inspection: July 2. Georgios BBQ, 2251 E. 21st St. in Wichita Two violations on June 20 during a routine inspection. No hot water at the hand-washing sink in the bathroom, the bathroom sink had minimal pressure and was not adequate for proper hand-washing. Next inspection: June 30. Hangar One Steak House, 5925 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita Six violations on June 17 during an inspection that was a follow up to an administrative order. Containers of cooked pasta and potatoes and gravy were not labeled with their preparation dates, a spray bottle of dark red liquid wasnt labeled with its contents and nobody knew what it was, mint aioli and rice pudding werent labeled with preparation or package opening dates, cooked peppers and ham werent labeled with preparation or package opening dates, containers of tres leches werent labeled with package opening dates or had the wrong dates on them, old rice and noodles, old eggplant and buckwheat and tomatoes, old hummus and pasta salad, old chicken, most containers in clean storage had sticker residue on them, chemicals including bleach and sanitizer were stored above clean squeeze bottles and plastic containers. Next inspection: Aug. 17. NiceBites Vegan Sweets & Treats/Poppies Cafe ICT at the Ruffin Building, 9111 E. Douglas in Wichita Five violations on June 21 during a routine inspection. The back flow prevention device on the water supply system was leaking, a meat slicer had dried food debris on it because it hadnt been cleaned in at least a day, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, bottles of chemicals were hanging with their nozzles pointed at dry goods foods, no sanitizer in the dishwasher because the sanitizer line wasnt connected. Next inspection: July 1. Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews, 2424 N. Maize Road in Wichita Five violations on June 21 during its first operational inspection after licensing. There were flies in the kitchen and food preparation area, employees touched raw meat and raw eggs but didnt change their gloves or wash their hands before handling customer plates and ready-to-eat foods, raw beef burger patties and raw chicken werent cold enough in refrigeration, a fly was trapped in a pan of chicken, cheese sauce and pork werent kept hot enough in hot holding, no test strips to measure the concentration of sanitizer used in sinks and on surfaces. Next inspection: July 1. Dead bugs in liquor. Old meat. Rotten food. Wichita KS restaurant & hotel inspections Bed bugs. Roaches. Blood stains. Old food. Wichita KS restaurant & hotel inspections How do businesses fail inspections? Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause a foodborne illness, when a problem cant be fixed right away, such as bug and rodent infestations, and more. But most violations are minor and are corrected while an inspection is taking place. Typically, establishments are reinspected within 10 days to ensure they are following the rules. Its rare for a business to shut down over a failed inspection. But it can happen. Usually, closures are voluntary and due to major things like sewage backups, pest problems, and water or power outages. Typically, they are temporary. The lists in this story only include businesses from Sedgwick County. But you can search food and lodging inspection results anywhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx. Complaint? Heres where to submit it If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint. To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org. To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org. Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint. For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov. These businesses passed inspections last week All American Daves at Genesis Health Clubs, 1551 N. Rock Road in Wichita Blue Line Brews , 505 W. Maple in Wichita Bomgaars Supply , 20200 W. Kellogg Drive in Goddard Bricktown Brewery , 2035 N. Rock Road in Wichita Carrabbas Italian Grill , 3409 N. Rock Road in Wichita Cheney Recreation Commission , 308 S. Main in Cheney Cholitas Mexican Restaurant , 8987 W. Central in Wichita Chucherias Y Mas (mobile vendor/food truck), 118 N. Mount Carmel in Wichita Cracker Barrel Old Country Store , 619 S. Ridge Road in Wichita Davids Express , 2110 N. Maize Road in Wichita Delta Smoke Shop & Vapor , 1034 E. Harry in Wichita DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wichita Airport , 2098 S. Airport Road in Wichita E&Js Eatery , 200 W. Main in Valley Center El Rancho Mexican Restaurant #2 , 1601 E. Pawnee in Wichita Extended Stay America Select Suites Wichita North , 3401 N. Great Plains Drive in Wichita Jimmys Egg , 550 N. Webb, Suite C in Wichita Kansas Department of Education Summer Nutrition Program at Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St. in Wichita Kikka Sushi at Whole Foods Market, 1423 N. Webb in Wichita La Campesina Mexican Food (mobile vendor/food truck), 2209 W. Rita in Wichita La Chonchis (mobile vendor/food truck), 1105 N. Gretchen in Wichita La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant , 1138 N. Nelson Drive in Derby La Michoacana Ice Cream (mobile vendor/food truck), 829 W. Maple in Wichita Lalos Express , 2051 S. Seneca in Wichita Margaritas Cantina , 3109 E. Douglas in Wichita Mars Mart 3 , 4540 E. 13th St. in Wichita Papa Cs Backyard BBQ (mobile vendor/food truck), 115 N. Charles in Wichita Premier Food Service at Boot Barn, 6501 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita Premier Food Service at Midwest Single Source, 1501 E. First St. in Wichita Pizza Ranch , 2121 N. Tyler Road in Wichita QuikTrip , 3520 N. Oliver in Wichita QuikTrip , 11223 E. Central in Wichita Rodeway Inn , 19941 W. Kellogg Drive in Goddard Roxys Downtown , 412 1/2 E. Douglas in Wichita Southeast Carryout (mobile vendor/food truck), 1520 S. Oliver in Wichita Sonic Drive-In , 5429 E. Central in Wichita Subway , 3301 E. Harry in Wichita Tacos Chaparro (mobile vendor/food truck), 660 W. North Court in Wichita Tacos Perez , 2347 N. Arkansas in Wichita Tacos Pina (mobile vendor/food truck), 1207 S. Fern in Wichita Wichita Brewing Company & Pizzeria, 8815 W. 13th St., Suite 100 in Wichita Note: Sometimes addresses listed especially for mobile vendors and food trucks are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations. Founder of longtime Wichita restaurant has died, leaving his family and customers in mourning Kirbys Beer Store is getting new owners. And they want to move forward from controversy Flashback Friday: Wichita Chinese restaurant that opened in 1990 was the last of its kind File cabinets. (Getty) One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise. In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating. Albemarle commonwealths attorney tries to block UVA shooting reports release In an ongoing legal dispute between a Charlottesville newspaper and the University of Virginia over the schools refusal to release an investigative report about a 2022 shooting that left three student athletes dead and two others wounded, a judge this week granted a 10-day delay to consider Albemarle County Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeleys motion to block the document from being shared with the paper, victims families and public. The Daily Progress sued UVA in February, after the university reversed its earlier promise to release the report, which the newspaper said cost the public $1.5 million to produce. Hingeleys motion insists that the pending criminal proceedings against accused murderer Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., would be jeopardized by releasing the report, the Daily Progress reported. University president Jim Ryan testified in court that the school didnt want to release the report out of concern for how it would impact the loved ones of the deceased students. On June 25, Judge Melvin Hughes opted to recess the trial for 10 days to give him time to mull over Hingeleys request. The matter will continue in court next month. The Mercurys efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings. Portsmouths frequent severance payments Amid a spate of top employee departures, documents gathered through an open records request show the city of Portsmouth has shelled out nearly $900,000 in severance payments to officials and leaders who left their roles with the city. The Virginian-Pilot reported June 21 that Portsmouth authorized $896,318 in severance payouts to 11 top city employees who have left employment with the city since 2019. In two instances, officials received severance twice after leaving city government, then returning. The localitys policy allows the city manager to offer severance payouts to department heads and deputy city managers at their discretion, the paper said. The city manager, among other official roles, is appointed by the city council. Its a political arena, former City Manager Mimi Terry told the paper. Terry was replaced by Steven Carter, whom the council appointed as city manager in March, the fourth person to inhabit the role in four years. 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, Terry said. Video shows Chesterfield man in mental health crisis shot, killed by police A video of a mentally ill Chesterfield mans fatal encounter with police in July 2023, wherein he held a hatchet near his knees and did not comply with officers commands before being shot multiple times, shows him backing away from officers, appearing to contradict officers accounts that said he was advancing on them. Chesterfield Police had repeatedly declined requests from Richmond TV news station WTVR and the family of the deceased man, Charles Byers, to release the video. For months, Byers parents have pushed for transparency surrounding the events leading up to their sons death and were critical of the police departments resistance to releasing the video, WTVR reporter Tyler Layne wrote. The station reported on June 25 that it had obtained the video when it was posted online Monday in the federal court documents. The 45-second clip shows what happened when officers who were responding to 911 calls from residents in the area who reported Byers had been trying to enter neighborhood homes confronted the man, who was under a 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold court order at the time of the encounter. First one and then a second officer arrived, drew their weapons, and ordered Byers to drop the hatchet. Byers then walked into the street from a yard where hed been standing, passing an officer in doing so, Layne wrote, who added that Byers then backed away from the officers throughout the rest of the exchange, including when one of the officers tased him, to no effect. One of the officers then shot him five times, as he backed away. Byers then started running away, still holding the weapon, and an officer shot him twice more, in the back. Byers can be seen falling to the ground; he was later pronounced dead at the scene. Chesterfield Police had said in a statement on the day of the shooting that Byers continued to advance on the officers, leaving them no choice but to shoot him. Spokeswoman Liz Caroon this week maintained that Byers did in fact advance on officers just not at the time of the shooting, Layne reported. Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: info@virginiamercury.com The post FOIA Friday: New effort to shield UVA shooting report, Portsmouths severance payouts appeared first on Virginia Mercury. Ultra-low-cost e-commerce giants Shein and Temu have only recently been confirmed as subject to centralized enforcement of the strictest layer of the European Union's digital services regulation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), but on Friday the Commission announced it's sent a bunch of requests for information (RFI) to both platforms vis-a-vis to their compliance with various requirements of the law. The DSA is the bloc's recently rebooted online rulebook which aims to raise standards on digital services including marketplaces -- with lawmakers touting the regime as their tool of choice to shrink consumer risks in areas like the sale of illegal or dangerous goods. The two marketplaces have been subject to the regime's general rules since mid February but were recently designated as so-called very large online platforms (VLOPs) under the DSA, back in April and May respectively, further amping up their regulatory risk as Commission enforcers joined in the oversight. Just ahead of its designation as a VLOP Temu had also been targeted in a series of complaints filed by consumer protection groups from around the bloc -- alleging the platform is rife with manipulative design tricks which they suggested could pose a range of risks to kids. The complaints also accused Temu of operating "opaque recommender systems" and failing to ensure the traceability of traders, arguing there's no way for consumers to know if the products it sells meet EU safety standards. The Commission said today's enforcement action draws on concerns set out in the complaints. The EU's RFIs highlights areas where the two marketplaces are facing early DSA scrutiny -- and could prefigure the opening of formal investigations if the bloc's enforcers deem they're falling below the legal standard for consumer protection. The regime allows for penalties of up to 6% of global annual turnover for confirmed breaches so any compliance failures could end up being costly for the pile-it-high-flog-it-cheap e-tailers. Strict enforcement of higher standards on the marketplaces could even -- potentially -- force changes to business models that clearly hinge on driving high volumes of sales. At the very least the pair's ultra-low-cost, high-volume approach raises question-marks about product quality/safety -- so EU enforcement in this area looks like an interesting test case for the DSA. The Commission appears to have several early concerns about the two marketplaces. In a press release, the EU said it's asking Shein and Temu for more information about measures they've taken to meet DSA obligations related to what's known as "Notice and Action" mechanisms, which should allow users to notify the marketplaces of illegal products. It has also requested info related to the design of their online interfaces, which the pan-EU law mandates must not deceive or manipulate users, such as via so-called "dark patterns". Other areas the Commission said it's seeking more information from both businesses relate to the protection of minors; the transparency of recommender systems (aka the algorithms used to surface things like related products); the traceability of traders; and "compliance by design". While Shein and Temu have only been designated as VLOPs for a matter of months, as noted above the bulk of DSA requirements have applied to both since mid February. And while enforcement of the general rules is typically decentralized to a network of Digital Services Coordinators (DSC) located at EU Member State level, as designated VLOPs Shein and Temu can also face Commission enforcement of the general rules -- i.e. in addition to oversight by the Irish DSC since their regional HQs are located in Dublin. EU lawmakers designed this two-tier enforcement structure to avoid the risks of forum shopping being used to undermine enforcement of the DSA on larger platforms, as has happened in the case of decentralized enforcement of the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation. When it comes to the extra set of DSA requirements for VLOPs -- which covers issues like algorithmic transparency and mitigation of systemic risk in areas like minors' mental health -- the Commission is the sole enforcer. Both marketplaces do still have a few months' grace before compliance with these additional obligations is expected, though: Shein is due to submit its first risk assessment report to the Commission in August, while Temu has until the end of September to file its first risk report. Still, with these early RFIs the Commission looks keen to be on the front foot when it comes to assessing those future reports -- and also keen to be seen responding swiftly to what are already widely raised consumer protection concerns. Shein and Temu have been given until July 12 to provide the requested information. The EU said it will then "assess next steps", noting this "could entail" the formal opening of proceedings, i.e. if it suspects any infringements of the rules. Shein and Temu were contacted for comment on the Commission's RFIs. A Shein spokesperson confirmed it has received the request for information from the Commission, telling us the company is "working to promptly address it". "We share the Commissions goal of ensuring that consumers in the EU can shop online with peace of mind, and we will continue working closely with the Commission to ensure our compliance with the Digital Services Act, they added. A Temu spokesperson also told us: "We are cooperating fully with the EU. Wed also like to reiterate that we are fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations in the markets where we operate." https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/26/shein-dsa-vlop https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/31/chinese-marketplace-temu-faces-eu-rules-very-large-online-platform On 28 June, the Kharkiv Oblast Defence Council decided to forcibly evacuate families with children from the dangerous settlements of Izium, Bohodukhiv, Kupiansk and Chuhuiv districts of the oblast. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Details: The list of people who are subject to a forced evacuation is the following: 12 children from seven families in the villages of Zahryzove, Maliivka, Shyikivka, Bohuslavka and Nova Kruhliakivka in Izium district; 13 children and their families from the villages of Oleksandrivka and Skoryky in Bohodukhiv district; 20 children and their families from the villages of Monachynivka and Doroshivka in the Kindrashivka hromada, Kupiansk district; [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] 112 children and their parents from five starosta okruhs [an administrative unit of hromada in Ukraine]: Bilyi Kolodiaz, Yurchenkove, Novooleksandrivka, Ivanivske, and Buhaivka of the Vovchansk hromdada in Chuhuiv district. A total of 24 settlements. Quote: "Evacuation routes have already been determined, and places of temporary residence have been booked. The decision was made due to the intensified hostile attacks." Background: On 5 June, Viktor Kovalenko, Head of Zolochiv Village Military Administration, said that all children were being mandatory evacuated from his hromada in case of a Russian army offensive. On 24 May, Ukraine's Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories announced an agreed-upon decision to forcibly evacuate 123 children from certain settlements in Kharkiv Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! President Joe Bidens dismal showing at the CNN presidential debate against former President Donald Trump resonated around the world, with foreign diplomats expressing shock and concern while raising questions about the implications for a consequential US election that could upend the foreign policy status-quo should Trump be elected again. Hard to watch is how multiple foreign diplomats described Thursday nights debate between Biden and Trump to CNN. The overwhelming sentiment among more than half a dozen diplomats from Europe, the Middle East and Asia whom CNN spoke to was that it was a bad night for Biden, as one European diplomat put it. It is a sad reality that Biden is old, and he is getting older. We saw it. I had difficulties understanding what he was saying, and I understand English pretty well, said a second European diplomat. Trump ate him alive, said an Arab diplomat. I was shell-shocked. I could not believe my eyes, an Asian diplomat said of Bidens performance. Bidens debate flop was front-page news across Europe, with left- and right-leaning newspapers excoriating the president even in France, where the country has its own elections coming up this weekend. The presidents debate performance also compounded already pronounced concerns about the policies Trump would likely enact if he wins in November. Trump on Thursday once again displayed his isolationist tendencies and his NATO-skeptic worldview that often alarmed US allies during his first presidential term. At the debate, Trump questioned continuing to fund Ukraines war against Russia and falsely claimed that the US had given more in aid to Ukraine than all other European countries put together. Trump even suggested that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his dream of invading Ukraine. He also attacked Biden over the Afghanistan withdrawal and argued it was the reason Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. When Putin saw that, he said, you know what, I think were going to go in and maybe take my this was his dream. I talked to him about it, his dream. The difference is he never would have invaded Ukraine. Never, Trump said. A Ukrainian politician told CNN he found Trumps statements on the war in Ukraine worrying. Were very concerned because we, more or less, understand what it means for Ukraine, (a) Biden presidency, and we really dont know what it means for Ukraine, a Trump presidency, Oleksiy Goncharenko told CNN. It can be very good, it can be very bad. We just dont know. And thats definitely concerning. If they can change the horse Bidens showing Thursday did not make the diplomats CNN spoke to question his ability to serve as commander in chief at this moment, with many noting that he has a good team working with him. But some diplomats raised questions about how the Democratic Party will handle the issue. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski wrote on social media that Biden should now responsibly manage a succession plan. Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor but he screwed up his succession by passing the baton to his feckless son Commudos (He, from the Gladiator). Whose disastrous role started Romes decline. Its important to manage ones ride into the sunset, he wrote. Another Polish diplomat didnt mince their words, calling Bidens performance a horror, what a car crash. Post-debate, it wasnt just Democrats raising the prospect of replacing Biden on the ticket for November foreign diplomats were also wondering whether Democrats could turn to a plan B. If they can change the horse, they should, said the second European diplomat. If it was possible to call the governor of California and have Biden say, You go and Ill step out, that would be the right thing to do. But like many Americans, the diplomats woke up Friday unsure of what could be done. There are many options that are discussed, but we dont see, any that are self-evident, the first European diplomat said. Some of them are reaching out to US contacts to get a sense of the likelihood of Democrats moving on from Biden. Some US contacts say there was always simmering debate about replacing Biden, but they say that now the doubts are in the open. There is fire on the roof, said a third European diplomat. I am told that if the Democrats do this, they have to go with Kamala (Harris), because they cannot skip over a Black woman vice president, but they wonder what that will do to their base. They think they could still lose. The problem is there is no strategy The diplomats were not surprised by Trumps comments on foreign policy during the debate with one calling it the same recipe as usual but they added that they felt even more concerned about his lack of commitment to Ukraine and what that might mean for European security. Trump certainly won this. His worldview is problematic. So for those who believe in a rules-based order, Trump isnt good, said a NATO official. Rules mean predictability, so Trump means unpredictability. He could go soft on Russia - he has a penchant for getting on with strongmen. He could also double down in supporting (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky. The problem is there is no strategy, it all feels like its done on impulse. Other diplomats also observed that Trumps comments on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war would likely hurt him among Arab American voters. When he called Biden a Palestinian, that was bad. It was an insult to the Palestinians he lost Arab voters, the Arab diplomat said. He could have said that he is the bigger Israel supporter in multiple other ways. Still, despite Trumps reinforcing of longstanding issues, there was a real sense of shock and concern about Bidens performance and what it might mean for his chances in November. Biden pilloried in European media The diplomatic reaction was echoed by the British media. In unusual unanimity, the usually staid Financial Times declared, Democrats panic, with the irrepressible tabloids, famous for their stinging critiques, joining the chorus JoeMatosed declared The Sun, Britains most popular tabloid. Another outlet, the left-wing Guardian, piled on, stating, Biden Bombed. Bidens stumbles on the Atlanta debate stage touched a nerve across the continent. Europe woke up to radio stations playing his at times halting, seemingly confused, comments. No nation was immune to concerns about Bidens performance. Even in France, which is facing its own surprise elections this weekend where President Emmanuel Macrons alliance confronts a far-right challenge, newspapers took time out to lament the frailties of the man who visited the country only a few weeks ago. The ubiquitous left-leaning Le Monde declared: An old, worn-out, absent Biden: How the debate against Trump turned in to a disaster. Indeed, waves of worry seemed to ripple around the Mediterranean. Questions were raised about Biden stepping aside, from Greeces To Vima headline, Bidens time to exit the race, to Italys Ansa and La Repubblica suggesting that Democrats are looking for an alternative. But where much of Europes media seemed shocked, Russias was positively gleeful. Moscows state TV station, Russia 1, lampooned Bidens debate performance. Show host Olga Skabeeva laughingly congratulated him for not falling over, then criticized him for what she called a 20-second freeze, saying he had trouble remembering who and where he was. Putins spokesman said the Russian leader didnt stay up late to watch the debate and it is not on the list of the main issues on the agenda (of Putin). However, it seems reasonable to surmise he will be up to speed with it now, if only through the unfriendly filter of his own media. That Russian TV parodied Biden so soon after the debate likely reflects the Russian presidents mood, probably buoyed that Trump, who criticized NATO, hinted at cutting funding for Ukraine and said there would be peace in Ukraine before the end of the year. Behind closed doors, no doubt, Europes leaders will be reflecting less on the froth and flailing of Bidens performance and more on the substance of what they heard. After all, many of them met Biden at the G7 summit in Italy a fortnight ago, so his frailty was likely not a surprise. Both days at the luxurious resort hotel in southern Italys spectacular Puglia region, Biden kept them waiting for half an hour, showing up late for no apparent reason, and even then, at times seemed slightly out of sorts. It was obvious that he was old, one diplomat told CNN. At one point he wanted to sit and there was no chair he was moving slowly. Stupid things, but they showed that hes an old person who needs assistance. We all noticed it, the diplomat said. Asked if their observations gave them concerns about Bidens decision- and policy-making, the diplomat said no. We arent worried about his policies, they said. If you have a president who works three hours a day, with a good team, and makes good decisions, thats OK. And a Trump redux is the last thing most European leaders want, with the world far more dangerous now than when he left office. This story has been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The TV competitor was arrested in August 2020 after having a sexual relationship with a teenage victim he met in 2014 Seminole County Sherff's Office Andrew Drechsel. Former American Ninja Warrior winner Andrew 'Drew' Drechsel has been sentenced to just over 10 years in prison after being charged with multiple child sex crimes. As previously reported by PEOPLE, Drechsel, 35, was arrested at his home in Florida in August 2020, after beginning a sexual relationship with a teenage girl in 2014 after they met at an event. Seminole County Sherff's Office Andrew Drechsel On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, the United States Attorney's Office District of New Jersey confirmed in a press release that Drechsel who won season 11 of the NBC competition show in 2019 had been sentenced to 121 months in jail for receiving child pornography and enticement to travel for illicit sexual conduct. The disgraced TV star, of Saint Cloud, Florida, "pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, before Chief U.S. District Judge Renee M. Bumb to an information charging him with one count of receiving child pornography and one count of knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing and coercing a minor to travel interstate to engage in sexual activity for which the defendant can be charged with a crime," the Attorney's Office said in the release. David Becker/NBC Drew Drechsel competing on 'American Ninja Warrior' in 2019. Related: American Ninja Warrior Winner Drew Drechsel Charged with Child Sex Crimes Chief U.S. District Judge Renee M. Bumb then imposed the sentence in Camden federal court on June 26. "In addition to the prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Drechsel to 15 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $100,000 in restitution to the victim," the release added. The Attorney's Office said that the former TV personality lived in Hamden, Connecticut from 2014 until Nov. 8, 2019, while his victim who was "14 and 15 years old" when they had the sexual relationship lived in New Jersey. After law enforcement agents searched one of Drechsel's phones on Nov. 8, 2019, they found images of child sexual abuse and photos and videos of the victim. Seminole County Sherff's Office Andrew Drechsel's police mugshot. Related: 'American Ninja Warrior' Names Second-Ever Million-Dollar Winner in Season Finale Watch "Drechsel admitted that he originally met the victim in 2014 through his activities in the parkour community as an American Ninja Warrior," the release stated. "Drechsel admitted texting the victim and discussing his plans to engage in sexual activity with the victim. At Drechsel's urging, the victim traveled across state lines in July 2015 so that Drechsel could have sexual relations with the victim," the Attorney's Office added. 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. NBC didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for comment. When the charges were filed in 2020, NBC said they were "shocked and disturbed" in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people, and we will not let the actions of one contestant tarnish the hard work and amazing stories of so many," the statement at the time read. "Moving forward, the American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Drechsel, including his appearance on future seasons of the show, NBC added in their statement. 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. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A former Gucci store employee in Chicago has filed a civil class action amended lawsuit alleging consumer fraud and false business practice. Tracy Cohen, who worked in the Chicago store for 18 years, took legal action Wednesday against Kering Americas and Gucci America in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. She is demanding a jury trial. Cohen joined the company in August 2006 and exited in October 2023. During her tenure, she claimed to have generated more than $50 million in sales and was the top-performing Chicago store employee for six consecutive years from 2017-2023. More from WWD This is the second time this year that Cohen has taken legal action against both parties. In a complaint filed in the Northern District of Illinois in late January, she alleged that she was subject to discriminatory comments about her age and mental health, while employed by Gucci. A Gucci spokesperson said Friday, We are aware of the recent lawsuit that has been filed by Ms. Cohen. As company policy, we do not comment on pending litigation or publicly disclose information about former or current employees. We plan to vigorously defend this action in court. Cohen claimed that she was trained to perform a selling ceremony when presenting exotic skinned bags. That allegedly involved putting on black gloves and then telling the customer that the skins were sourced ethically; the snakes and crocodiles were not tortured; the snake skins were obtained through a natural shedding process; and the hides are a byproduct of the meat industry; and, we only work with suppliers that have certified humane treatment of animals. Her trusting customers then relied on her representations, and as a result, she sold countless Gucci products, crafted from exotic crocodile/alligator and python skins, including but not limited to mens loafers, womens sandals, wallets, luggage, and handbags, according to the complaint. Cohens filing also cited that Kering Americas and Gucci America publicly posted their Code of Ethics, claiming ethics is at the heart of their business conduct and that they have a powerful moral commitment, as well as a culture of integrity. In this weeks filing, Cohen claimed that she never would have deceived her customers or personally purchased python-skin bags and shoes over several years had she known of alleged practices of violently killing the pythons. Story continues Her more recent filing was prompted by news coverage of an investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia division into two python farms in Thailand that allegedly provided exotic skins to the Kering-owned Caravel and had uncovered abusive python killing practices. Those two farms were said to be Sisatchanalai Python Farm and Closed-Cycle Breeding International. Cohen is seeking emotional distress damages, which would only be awarded by a jury, and compensation for the exotic skin Gucci products that she purchased, as well as potentially those that were sold to her customers, according to one of her attorneys, Tamara Holder-DeMaio. Cohens four python purchases two pairs of shoes and two bags were estimated to be worth less than $10,000, said Holder-DeMaio. As for Cohens earlier complaint, which includes claims of trafficking as well as discrimination, due to off-hours work, she is seeking the maximum amount of damages for the numerous counts, her lawyer said. Cohens monthly sales goal of $300,000 was humanly impossible to achieve while working in the store, she added. A status report is due July 1 for that case, and the first court date for the class action filing is scheduled for October, Holder-DeMaio said. This weeks filing said that Cohen truly loved selling Guccis products and her dream was to one day earn a promotion that placed her in Italy, working for Gucci. Best of WWD Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher is facing a lawsuit for not putting a school board seat on the November ballot, court records show. In a recent court filing, former School Board member Rev. James Golden said Satcher did not accept his qualifying paperwork for the District 5 School Board seat. Golden argued that his name should be on the ballot because School Board Member Richard Tatem submitted his resignation in May to run for the District 72 Florida House seat. Rev. Golden has qualified for the 2024 election for District 5 within the time prescribed by law, or otherwise has done everything he could do to attempt to qualify, the lawsuit said. Only the supervisors unconstitutional and illegal refusal to accept his qualifying paperwork has prevented Rev. Golden from qualifying for that office. When Tatem steps down in November, there will be less than 28 months left in his term. The Florida Constitution requires counties to hold an election if there are more than 28 months left in an officeholders term. It also requires the governor to appoint their replacement if there are less than 28 months left in their term. Satcher said Gov. Ron DeSantis will decide who will fill the vacant seat after asking outside counsel for an interpretation of the law. Hes referring back to outdated law, Satcher told the Bradenton Herald. The Right-to-Run law has been voted on by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. DeSantis and it clarifies what was previously a murky issue. Theres no question about it. The law as it stands today is our calculations should count the effective date of the resignation as to whether or not it goes onto the ballot. Im duty bound to uphold that law. Lawsuit filed over Manatee School Board seat Golden, who previously served on the School Board from 2018 to 2022, argued that it should be up to the voters to decide who represents them. What I hope to come out of this is that the people will have an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to elect the representative to succeed the incumbent who has decided to file for another office, Golden told the Bradenton Herald. Nancy Sanders, another candidate who attempted to run for the District 5 seat on the School Board, also supports Goldens lawsuit. In a sworn statement, she said Satchers office would not allow her to submit paperwork to run for the seat because the office was waiting for an attorneys opinion. Manatee County Supervisor of Elections James Satcher is facing a lawsuit for not putting a school board seat on the November ballot, court records show. Satcher, who previously served on the Manatee County Commission, is pictured in this September 2023 Bradenton Herald file photo. The lawsuit comes after local political groups criticized Satcher for not holding an election to fill the seat that will become vacant in November. The League of Women Voters envisions a democracy where citizens have the right and ability to determine who represents them on governing bodies, the organization said in a statement. Critics said his decision disenfranchised voters. The decision of the SOE demonstrates a complete lack of competence, the Manatee County Democratic Party said in a statement. There are serious concerns that the SOE is acting unethically, and potentially unlawfully, by not allowing the required special election. Goldens lawsuit asks a Manatee County judge to rule on the issue. It is unclear whether that will happen before the general election in November. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Steven Brooks, a former Nevada lawmaker with a troubling history of arrests who also faces new felony charges, was ordered Friday to go to competency court for a mental evaluation per his attorneys request. Brooks, 52, was taken into police custody Thursday morning after a car chase involving Las Vegas Metropolitan police. He made an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court Friday morning, where he is facing DUI, assault, and resisting arrest charges. According to police, Brooks vehicle was parked partially on a median near Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Louis Avenue late Wednesday night, which led police on a pursuit to Las Vegas Boulevard and Bonanza Road. The incident ended when police used a low-lethal shotgun and K9 officer to take him into custody. Former Nevada lawmaker arrested on suspicion of DUI after Las Vegas police car chase Brooks was expelled from the Nevada Legislature in 2013 for threatening to kill another lawmaker. Following that, he has had seven arrests for various crimes and served time in prison. The judge ordered Brooks to remain in custody at the Clark County Detention Center until his appearance in competency court, where he will likely be ordered to undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent for the case to proceed. The hearing is scheduled for July 2. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 former Northeastern University technology manager has been convicted by a federal jury of staging a hoax explosion in 2022 and making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent. Jason Duhaime, 46, formerly of San Antonio, was convicted Friday of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive device and two counts of making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent, Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said in a statement. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 2. Duhaime was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 2, 2022, and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 27, 2022. Bomb hoaxes like the one the defendant fabricated here have real life consequences. Communities are put in fear, law enforcement personnel are diverted from other important duties and there are significant financial repercussions, Levy said. As we experience a wave of bomb hoaxes in schools, houses of worship and other gathering places, we will work closely with our local, state and federal partners to hold accountable anyone who tries to inject fear and distress into our community. Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston, echoed Levys words, saying that, Staging a hoax explosion and lying to the FBI about it isnt a harmless act. Its a crime. The FBI and our partners take all threats to life seriously because protecting human life is our absolute priority. Anyone who pulls a stunt like this should expect the FBI to investigate and you should consider whether you really want to end up where Jason Duhaime is now awaiting sentencing for three federal felonies, Cohen said. As of September 2022, Duhaime worked as the new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab at Northeastern University. At approximately 7 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022, Duhaime called Northeastern Police and reported that he was injured by sharp objects expelled from a plastic case he opened inside the lab that evening, Levy said. Specifically, Duhaime told an emergency police dispatcher that he and a Northeastern student who was working in the Lab that evening had collected several packagesincluding two plastic Pelican casesfrom a mail area and brought them into the Lab, prosecutors said. Duhaime said that when he opened one of the cases inside a storage closet, very sharp objects flew out of the case and under his shirt sleeves, causing injuries to his arms. Prosecutors said Duhaime also reported that the case contained an anonymous violent note threatening to destroy the lab and stating: In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! Take notice!!! You have two months to take operations down or else!!!!! WE ARE WATCHING YOU. Duhaimes report and concern about a second, unopened Pelican case triggered a significant law enforcement response that included the Boston Police Departments bomb squad, multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies, and the evacuation of a portion of Northeasterns campus, prosecutors said. Also, on both Sept. 13 and 14, 2022, Duhaime gave statements to investigators and first responders that were consistent with what he told the emergency police dispatcher. He denied fabricating his story about the Pelican case, the anonymous threat letter, and the injuries to his arms, prosecutors said. On Sept. 14, 2022, during a search of Duhaimes office at Northeastern, several laptop computers were found. Prosecutors said a subsequent forensic examination of one of the computers showed a word-for-word electronic copy of the anonymous threat letter that Duhaime claimed was inside the Pelican case. According to evidence presented during the trial, this electronic copy of the threat letter was created and printed between approximately 2:50 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022 just hours before he reported the incident to Northeastern Police. The charges of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive device and making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 Former Ohio social worker sentenced to prison for having sex with 13-year-old client A former social worker who had sex with her 13-year-old client was sentenced to prison on Thursday. Payton Shires pleaded guilty last month to four counts of unlawful sexual misconduct with a minor, one count of inducing panic with a firearm specification, and one count of intimidation to a victim or witness. On Thursday, she was sentenced to nearly five years behind bars, our news partners at WBNS reported. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ohio social worker accused of having sex with 13-year-old client As News Center 7 previously reported back in October, Shires was arrested and accused of having sex multiple times with the teen, who was a client assigned to her for counseling. The teens mother called police in late September after finding text messages between her son and Shires, according to court records obtained by WBNS. In the messages, she reportedly asked the teen if he had deleted the videos, and if his mom had seen them or the messages. Detectives found a video on the teens phone that showed him and Shires having sex and engaging in other sexual acts around the city of Columbus. Shires allegedly admitted to having sex with the teen while on a call with the teens mother and detectives. >> RELATED: Social worker pleads guilty to having sex with 13-year-old client in Ohio Weeks after her arrest, while out on bond, Shires was arrested after showing up at the victims home with a gun. During her sentencing on Thursday, Shires apologized for what happened. I just hope [the family] can find peace from this, that they can find peace and trust with their social workers in the future, she said. UVALDE, Texas (Nexstar) Two former Uvalde school district police officers, including the former chief, have been indicted on felony charges of child endangerment and abandonment for their roles in response to the second-worst mass shooting in American history. It marks the first criminal charges in the highly-scrutinized police response to the May 2022 shooting, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children and two teachers. Former Uvalde CISD police officer Adrian Gonzales was booked and released on 29 counts abandoning and endangering a child on Friday. Former Uvalde CISD police chief Pete Arredondo was been booked and released on 10 counts of child endangerment on Thursday. Both men turned themselves in to the Uvalde County jail and were released on $10,000 surety bonds, according to county records. Nearly 376 law enforcement officers responded from a slew of local, state and federal agencies during and in the aftermath of the May 2022 shooting. It took officers approximately 77 minutes to breach the classroom and take down the gunman. The gunman was ultimately shot and killed by Border Patrol officers. Pedro Pete Arredondo Mugshot: Uvalde County Sheriffs Office Adrian Gonzales, 51 Mugshot: Uvalde County Sheriffs Office In January, Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell Busbee convened a grand jury to investigate why it took law enforcement more than an hour to respond to the active shooter, and whether subsequent criminal charges could be filed. The grand jury suggested that Gonzales had an opportunity and the time to stop the shooter before he entered Robb Elementary. The allegations against Arredondo are focused on his response to the shooting. After hearing gunshots and after being advised of the general location of the shooter and having time to respond to the shooter, they said Adrian Gonzales failed to engage. distract or delay the shooter and failed to attempt to engage, distract, and delay the shooter and failed to otherwise act in a way to impede the shooter until after the shooter entered rooms 111 and 112 of Robb Elementary School and shot at a child or children in Rooms 111 and 112, Gonzales indictment reads. The highly scrutinized police response prompted a scathing review from the Department of Justice earlier this year, in which the nations highest law enforcement agency found there were cascading failures in officers response to the massacre. BACKGROUND: DOJ report finds cascading failures in law enforcement response to Uvalde school massacre Initially after the massacre, a special Texas House investigative committee also reviewed the shooting, the schools safety and security protocols and police response. The three-member panel concluded there were multiple systemic failures, ranging from a culture of noncompliance in regards to school security, as well as warning signs online from the shooter. Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, was vice-chair of the committee. In a statement to Nexstar, Moody said accountability is important. I think anyone who read our report on the shooting knows that I believe Arredondo failed the families of Uvalde, he said. But those same families are always my number one priority, so I hope the way this is handled provides them with justice and closure, not prolonged suffering. Other responding officers who faced disciplinary action Arredondo was the first law enforcement official to be fired over the chaotic and uncoordinated police response that day. Through his attorney, Arredondo has said he did not know he was the designated incident commander for the response, despite the UCISD active shooter policy directing its police chief to assume command. Uvalde Police Department acting chief of police Lt. Mariano Pargas resigned from his position in November, days before the city was set to take a vote on his employment. Of the 91 Texas Department of Public Safety officers who responded to Robb Elementary on May 24, seven were put under investigation for their response to the shooting. Actions were taken against two officers, Ranger Ryan Kindell and Sgt. Juan Maldonado. Maldonado was terminated. I was never given a specific role: Former DPS Sgt. Juan Maldonado recounts Uvalde massacre A third DPS employee, Trooper Crimson Elizondo, retired and then went to work as a police officer with Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. Elizondo was fired from the district in October, after media reports revealed her new employment with UCISD, despite the fact that she had been under investigation by DPS for her response to the shooting. After terminating Elizondo, UCISD suspended its entire police department and placed two top officials, Lt. Miguel Hernandez and Student Services Director Ken Mueller, on administrative leave. Mueller has since retired. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pete Arredondo, the former police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, was indicted this week over his response to the 2022 mass shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead. The indictment argues Arredondo failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training, and made decisions that slowed law enforcements response to stop the gunman at Robb Elementary School, The Associated Press reported. Arredondo was arrested and booked in the Uvalde County Jail Thursday on 10 state jail felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child. He was released Thursday evening. Adrian Gonzales, a former school officer, was also indicted on similar charges, according to a sealed indictment reported by the Uvalde Leader-News. Arredondo and Gonzales are the first officers to be criminally charged for one of the countrys deadliest school shootings. Arredondos indictment accuses him of delaying police response to the shooting despite hearing shots being fired inside the school and being notified that students and a teacher were injured. He called for the SWAT team to arrive and ordered the initial responding officers to leave the building. Arredondo attempted to negotiate with the shooter, the AP reported. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice released a scathing report that found there was a lack of preparation, communication and urgency, resulting in almost 400 members of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies standing outside the school for 77 minutes while the gunman was inside. Students inside the classroom called 911, and parents begged officers to go in. A team of officers eventually went in and killed the 18-year-old shooter. In Arredondos indictment, he is charged with failing to protect survivors of the attack, including one girl who called police and told them, Please hurry, the AP reported. If he is convicted, the charges carry up to two years in jail. Three months after the shooting, Arredondo lost his job. At least four other members of law enforcement have lost their jobs as well. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. UVALDE, Texas Pete Arredondo, the former police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, was arrested Thursday, more than two years after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Arredondo was booked into the Uvalde County Jail on 10 counts of child endangerment, Uvalde County Sheriff Ruben Nolasco told CBS News. He was released from custody after posting ten $10,000 bonds, one for each of the counts, Nolasco said. Pete Arredondo, the former police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, following his arrest on June 27, 2024, on child endangerment charges for his response to the May 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. / Credit: Uvalde County Jail A grand jury indicted both Arredondo and Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde school police officer, according to court documents obtained by CBS News. Gonzales was indicted on 29 counts of child endangerment. The indictment alleges that "after hearing gunshots" and "being advised of the general location of the shooter and having time to respond," Gonzales "failed to engage, delay or distract the shooter" and also "failed...to follow his active shooter training." Gonzales was booked into the Uvalde County Jail Friday and released from custody after posting twenty-nine $10,000 bonds, Nolasco said in a statement. "[It's] very emotional," said Jesse Rizo, the uncle of Jackie Cazares, one of the victims. "I knew the day was going to come. I wasn't sure how long it would take." Adrian Gonzales, a former police officer for the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, following his arrest on June 28, 2024, on child endangerment charges for his response to the May 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. / Credit: Uvalde County Jail In a statement to CBS News Thursday evening, the school district said it "only just learned about the grand jury decision regarding two indictments being issued," and had "no information separate from what is being reported by the media." "As we have done and continue to do, we extend our sincerest sympathies to all who lost loved ones," Uvalde CISD said. "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this challenging situation." The indictments come more than two years after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary. Law enforcement officers killed the gunman in a classroom after waiting more than an hour to confront him, which was heavily criticized in the wake of the shooting. Arredondo was fired in 2022, three months to the day of the shooting. The indictment alleges that Arredondo failed to respond to the shooting appropriately, including ordering officers to evacuate the wing of the school where the massacre took place and failing to determine if a classroom door was locked. The indictment also alleges that Arredondo did not deliver children to a designated emergency care provider. Rizo called Arredondo's arrest a step in the right direction, and hoped more indictments will follow. "It's obvious what he did was wrong. It's obvious that he could've saved a lot of lives, but sitting there and looking for keys on a keychain for a long time. It's just unacceptable," said Rizo. "I'm surprised that a lot of other officers weren't charged. I'm disappointed in that but I am happy to see that there is finally judgment coming." The Justice Department released a hard-hitting report in January on the response by law enforcement to the mass shooting, pointing to a series of "cascading failures" by the police chief and others. In May, family members of Uvalde school shooting victims reached a $2 million settlement with Uvalde. The city of Uvalde will pay a total of $2 million to the families of the children killed in the shooting and two children who survived, according to a statement from the families' attorneys. Pride month line dancing a lesson in inclusivity in Georgia Eye Opener: Biden attempts to rally supporters after debate Saturday Sessions: Lake Street Dive performs "Help Is On The Way" When will the new Fort Fisher Historic Site visitor center open? Here's the latest. Residents and travelers could soon be able to experience the Fort Fisher Historic Site's new visitor center after over a year and a half of construction. Fort Fisher, which kept the Port of Wilmington open to blockade-runners bringing in necessary goods up until the the last few months of the Civil War, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. In recent years, the historic site has drawn in around a million visitors annually, which was an indicator that the site needed a new visitor center. The current visitor center, located at 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd., was built to accommodate 25,000 people a year, according to a Nov. 7, 2022, StarNews article. The new visitor center will accommodate a million annually and triple in size, according to Chad Jefferds, the assistant site manager. The current visitor center and all site facilities are closed to the public while work is ongoing and work is beginning on the earthworks to restore the fort wall. The current visitor will be demolished and the area will become green space for programming and will allow for unobstructed views of the fort, Jefferds said. With the removal, the fort will be visible from the main parking lot. More: Here are the Wilmington-area sites on the National Register of Historic Places Fort Fisher Historic Site's new visitor center will be triple the size of the current visitor center located on Fort Fisher Boulevard in Kure Beach. What will the new visitor center include? Aside from its increase in size and accommodations, the new visitor center will offer an array of new and improved elements, Jefferds said. Here's what to expect. There will be planned exhibits that tell more of the story of Fort Fisher through the eyes of those who were there. The center will include a large multipurpose room, which can be divided into two separate classrooms/meeting spaces or left undivided for events with larger groups. The rooms will have views of the fort, the river and the ocean and will also be available for rent for events such as weddings, corporate gatherings, seminars, etc. There will be a bigger audiovisual room, allowing more people to see the orientation film, which is also proposed for an update. The increase in space will also provide for more room for staff. According to Jefferds, staff were crammed two and three to an office previously, but now volunteers and interns will also have workspace. There will also be adequate storage area for artifacts when they are not on display. The Friends of Fort Fisher, the site's nonprofit organization, will also have a more spacious gift shop. The restoration of the earthworks on the fort wall will feature a replica bombproof, along with a tunnel like what would have been there in the Civil War. Jefferds said this allows visitors to literally walk through history. People fish and enjoy the sun at Fort Fisher Sunday morning. The historic site's new visitor center has an estimated Labor Day opening date. More: As the Wilmington area continues to grow, is the Fort Fisher-Southport ferry ready? When is the opening? Planning is still underway for the new visitor center's grand opening due to uncertainties in the construction schedule, and although there is not a specific date for it yet, Labor Day is the current estimate, according to Jefferds. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Fort Fisher Historic Site visitor center opening later this year FORT LIBERTY Fort Liberty soldiers and community members welcomed a new commander Thursday who will help oversee the day-to-day operations of the most populated U.S. military installation in the world. Col. John Wilcox, the installation's first garrison commander under its new name of Fort Liberty, handed the garrisons colors to incoming commander Col. K. Chad Mixon at a command change ceremony on the posts main parade field. Wilcox is headed to Florida to join the U.S. Special Operations Command staff, while Mixon returns to Fort Liberty after attending the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Col. John Wilcox, far right, outgoing garrison commander for Fort Liberty, passes the colors to Patrick Appleman, director of U.S. Amy Installation Management Command-Readiness, during a command change ceremony Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Fort Liberty. Outgoing commander Patrick Appleman, director of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Readiness, hosted Thursdays ceremony. Appleman said that during the past two years that Wilcox has led the installation, he was involved in the post being renamed from Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty, and managed an Army-level crisis of failures of the ventilation system in the Smoke Bomb Hill barracks shortly after taking command. Wilcox helped relocate 1,200 soldiers from the barracks and coordinated the renovation of five of the buildings, demolition of the remaining 12 buildings and moving soldiers back in within 18 months, Appleman said. He credited Wilcox for also overseeing infrastructure projects that included modernizing heating and ventilation systems in soldier quarters across the garrison, repairing 100 miles of roads and leading Fort Liberty out of the adversity impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fort Libertys population makes it the sixth largest city in North Carolina with nine schools, 12 child development centers, 14 fitness facilities, 14,600 acres of training land and more than 280,000 people who visit the post daily, said Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, senior commander for Fort Liberty and the 18th Airborne Corps. Donahue said Wilcox and the garrison team responded to any type of crisis, that came up, including trash piling up on post after a contactor had equipment issues. He credited Wilcox for ensuring the Sunset Liberty March a tradition that started last year on the eve of Fort Liberty's renaming is held daily. Col. John Wilcox, outgoing garrison commander for Fort Liberty, makes remarks during a command change ceremony Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Fort Liberty. Wilcox thanked his family, the garrisons program directors, firefighters, the range team, volunteers, deputy garrison commander Kevin Griess, garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Seymour and the 2,300 soldiers and civilians who are part of the garrison team. While our warfighters are preparing for the needs of the nation, you show up every single day to make certain that, amongst other things, the power turns on, the water runs, our children are enriched and protected, our roads function, our houses are livable and bearable and our communities are safe, he said. He said some of the highlights during his time as commander included emerging from the pandemic to reconnect with the community; seeing ranges modernize for unmanned aerial vehicle and data technology use; and the community coming together to rename the installation. Regardless of your feelings of the directive, every single person here, every member of this installation, can rest assured this new name is one befitting of history and culture the great men and women who served here every single day serve for the cause of liberty, Wilcox said. To solidify this change, we put in place the Sunset Liberty March, which simultaneously ensures that we honor that history and the culture of the units here. We also at the same time commit ourselves every night to never forget the sacrifices that were made for our great nation. New commander Wilcox told Nixon to invest in the team and trust in them. Donahue said Mixon is an action taker, who is ready to take over the challenges, at Fort Liberty and lead it into the future. Mixon is no stranger to the installation, starting his Army career in 1993 as an enlisted infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, according to his biography. In 2000, he commissioned as an officer through Campbell University, has held several spots under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and was deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Army Forces Command. He was also battalion commander for the 307th Brigade Support Battalion under the 82nd Airborne Division and chief of operations for the Joint Special Operations Commands logistics division. Col. K. Chad Mixon, incoming garrison commander for Fort Liberty, makes remarks during a command change ceremony Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Fort Liberty. "Our garrison mission remains clear to provide unwavering support to the warfighters to ensure their readiness to deploy, fight and win , Mixon said at Thursdays ceremony. To the soldiers, you are the heart and soul of Fort Liberty. Your professionalism, courage, dedication inspire me every day, and my pledge to you is to ensure that this installation has resources and support that you need to carry out your mission. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Col. Mixon assumes command of Fort Liberty garrison Four dead and nine hospitalized after vehicle smashes into Long Island nail salon Four dead and nine hospitalized after vehicle smashes into Long Island nail salon Four people were killed and nine were hospitalized on Friday when a car drove through the wall of a nail salon in Long Island, New York. Officials said the crash took place at around 4.42pm at the Hawaii Nail & Spa in the town of Deer Park, Suffolk County. The driver, as well as multiple people trapped inside the nail salon, survived and were taken to a nearby hospital, ABC 7 New York reports. Police and EMS personnel gather outside of a nail salon in Deer Park, New York, on Friday, June 28, 2024, where a minivan crash through a wall and killed four people. (FOX5) A motorist drove through the building, all the way through the building, Deer Park assistant fire chief Dominic Albanese told reporters. We dont know the cause at this time. The fire official added that authorities are trying to determine whether the van veered out of the roadway into the salon or was in a nearby parking lot when the crash began. Theyre also working to identify those killed and injured in the incident. All of the victims of the crash were inside the salon. Im not sure if it was customers or employees, but there were four dead on arrival, Albanese added. As of Friday evening, the minivan remained inside the nail salon and is expected to be removed later this evening. Four dead and 9 injured when a minivan crashes into the front of a Hawaii Nail Salon in Deer Park, a few witnesses say the van was trying to pass another car when it went directly into the business. #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/bQwpWUO6Wt Pei-Sze Cheng (@PeiSzeCheng4NY) June 28, 2024 Bystanders told WNBC the van was trying to pass another car when the crash occurred. Three patients were sent to South Shore University Hospital, New 12 Long Island reports. France is facing an election like no other. Here's how it works and what comes next Followers of the leftist coalition Nouveau Front Populaire (New Popular Front) glue campaign posters for the upcoming legislative election, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in Strasbourg, eastern France. French President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections following the defeat of his centrist alliance at European Union elections earlier this month. Voters will choose lawmakers for the National Assembly in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias) PARIS (AP) French voters are being called to the polls on Sunday for an exceptional moment in their political history: the first round of snap parliamentary elections that could see the countrys first far-right government since the World War II Nazi occupation or no majority emerging at all. The outcome of the vote, following the second round on July 7 and a hasty campaign, remains highly uncertain as three major political blocs are competing: the far-right National Rally, President Emmanuel Macrons centrist alliance, and the New Popular Front coalition that includes center-left, greens and hard-left forces. Heres a closer look: How does it work? The French system is complex and not proportionate to nationwide support for a party. Legislators are elected by district. A parliamentary candidate requires over 50% of the days vote to be elected outright Sunday. Failing that, the top two contenders, alongside anyone else who won support from more than 12.5% of registered voters, go forward to a second round. In some cases, three or four people make it to the second round, though some may step aside to improve the chances of another contender a tactic often used in the past to block far-right candidates. Key party leaders are expected to unveil their strategy in between the two rounds. This makes the result of the second round highly uncertain, and dependent on political maneuvering and how voters react. The far-right National Rally, ahead in all preelection opinion polls, hopes to win an absolute majority, or at least 289 out of the 577 seats. The National Assembly, the lower house, is the more powerful of Frances two houses of parliament. It has the final say in the law-making process over the Senate, dominated by conservatives. Macron has a presidential mandate until 2027, and said he would not step down before the end of his term. What's cohabitation? If another political force than his centrist alliance gets a majority, Macron will be forced to appoint a prime minister belonging to that new majority. In such a situation called cohabitation in France the government would implement policies that diverge from the presidents plan. Frances modern Republic has experienced three cohabitations, the last one under conservative President Jacques Chirac, with Socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, from 1997 to 2002. The prime minister is accountable to the parliament, leads the government and introduces bills. In case of cohabitation, policies implemented are essentially those of the prime minister, political historian Jean Garrigues said. The president is weakened at home during cohabitation, but still holds some powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense because he is in charge of negotiating and ratifying international treaties. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the countrys armed forces, and is the one holding the nuclear codes. Its possible for the president to prevent or temporarily suspend the implementation of a certain number of the prime ministers projects, since he has the power to sign or not sign the governments ordinances or decrees," Garrigues added. "Yet the prime minister has the power to submit these ordinances and decrees to a vote of the National Assembly, thus overriding the presidents reluctance, he noted. Who leads defense and foreign policies? During previous cohabitations, defense and foreign policies were considered the informal reserved field of the president, who was usually able to find compromises with the prime minister to allow France to speak with one voice abroad. Yet today, both the far-right and the leftist coalition's views in these areas differ radically from Macrons approach and would likely be a subject of tension during a potential cohabitation. According to the Constitution, while "the president is the head of the military, it's the prime minister who has the armed forces at his disposal, Garrigues said. In the diplomatic field also, the presidents perimeter is considerably restricted, Garrigues added. The National Rallys president, Jordan Bardella, said that if he were to become prime minister, he would oppose sending French troops to Ukraine a possibility Macron has not ruled out. Bardella also said he would refuse French deliveries of long-range missiles and other weaponry capable of striking targets within Russia itself. If the leftist coalition was to win the elections, it could disrupt France's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The New Popular Front's platform plans to immediately recognize the Palestinian state and break with the French governments guilty support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Macron previously argued the recognition of the Palestinian state should take place at a useful moment," suggesting the Israel-Hamas war doesn't not allow such a move at the moment. What happens if there's no majority? The president can name a prime minister from the parliamentary group with the most seats at the National Assembly this was the case of Macrons own centrist alliance since 2022. Yet the National Rally already said it would reject such an option, because it would mean a far-right government could soon be overthrown through a no-confidence vote if other political parties join together. The president could try to build a broad coalition from the left to the right, an option that sounds unlikely, given the political divergences. Experts say another complex option would be to appoint a government of experts unaffiliated with political parties but which would still need to be accepted by a majority at the National Assembly. Such a government would likely deal mostly with day-to-day affairs rather than implementing major reforms. If political talks take too long amid summer holidays and the July 26-Aug. 11 Olympics in Paris, Garrigues said a transition period is not ruled out, during which Macron's centrist government would still be in charge of current affairs, pending further decisions. Whatever the National Assembly looks like, it seems that the Constitution of the 5th Republic is flexible enough to survive these complex circumstances, Melody Mock-Gruet, a public law expert teaching at Sciences Po Paris, said in a written note. Institutions are more solid than they appear, even when faced with this experimental exercise. Yet there remains another unknown in the equation: the populations ability to accept the situation, Mock-Gruet wrote. By Juliette Jabkhiro and Layli Foroudi PARIS (Reuters) - When a Green party activist was headbutted in the street, his attackers told him there was more to come when the far right's Jordan Bardella wins France's parliamentary election. A Muslim family received a note with similar threats. Hours after Bardella's National Rally (RN) party scored big in the European election this month, four men in Paris assaulted a teenager at whom they hurled homophobic and transphobic slurs. The four, who were found guilty and sentenced after the attack, told police they were RN party members and members of the violent far-right GUD group, the Paris prosecutor's office said. While the interior ministry says it does not have consolidated numbers on such incidents, they offer a snapshot of what rights groups say are a rising number of assaults motivated by race, religion, homophobia, transphobia and political allegiance during campaigning for France's snap election. The RN says it has no links to violent far-right and neo-Nazi groups. It did not reply to a request for comment about the spate of incidents since the European election. Opinion polls project the RN will emerge as the dominant political power after the two rounds on Sunday and July 7, winning support from French people who say President Emmanuel Macron's centre-right party has ignored their concerns about the rising cost of living and weaker public services. "We'll smash you, Bardella will win, and it starts now," Green party activist Olivier Richard recounted the two young attackers as saying. They headbutted him in the face in Bordeaux as he carried pamphlets for the left-wing New Popular Front, which is expected to come second in the vote. "They were sure they were going to win and could do what they wanted. This situation is terrifying," Richard said. 'RED LINE' Political tensions have long intensified ahead of votes in France. But rights groups and activists say something has shifted this time, with violent individuals holding far-right sympathies seemingly feeling emboldened to physically and verbally assault others. Michael Colborne, researcher for Bellingcat on transnational far-right networks, said that if the RN was to take power, young men could feel empowered to 'take matters into their own hands'." "These violent far-right extremist groups are slowly growing, consolidating, and preparing to use violence," he said. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has warned of the potential for "extremely strong tensions". He announced this week he had shut a number of far-right groups, including the GUD. Before Darmanin took action against the GUD, Bardella, who would most likely become prime minister if the RN wins a majority, said he would close down violent groups from the ultra right and ultra left. "I would protect individual freedoms, the freedom to protest ... My red line is violence," he said. Rights groups report a rise in racist, homophobic and transphobic attacks since the June 9 European election, which saw Marine Le Pen's RN trounce Macron's ruling party, prompting Macron to call the shock election. Anti-racism campaigner Saphia Ait Ouarabi said she had in the past weeks been on the receiving end of racial abuse online. "Far-right ideas radicalise people on the ground and it spurs them to commit violent acts," she said. HATE SPEECH The Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) said it received a record number of reports of Islamophobic acts during June 2024 - 145 to June 25, up from a monthly average of 85 - with a sharp rise of verbal aggressions targeting veiled women on the street. A Muslim man in the region of Haute-Savoie contacted the CCIE and filed a complaint to the police after he received a note about his family, seen by Reuters, saying: "You are going to get fucked by Bardella soon! Get out of this residence before we make you get out!" The rights group Inter-LGBT also said it had observed a spike in reports of hate speech and violence. France's human rights commission, the CNCDH, in an annual report published on Thursday, said that 2023 saw a rise in racism and xenophobia, amplified by the war in Gaza and by debates echoing the RN's idea of "preference" for French nationals. It said that last year reports of antisemitic and anti-Muslim acts increased by 284% and 29% respectively, while other types of racist acts increased by 21%. Reuters spoke with four activists and politicians with the NFP left-wing alliance who have been physically or verbally assaulted by RN supporters while campaigning ahead of the vote on Sunday. Attacks on politicians in France had already been rising in recent years, as in some other countries including Germany. There were 2,387 incidents in the first three quarters of 2023, compared with 2,265 for 2022, when incidents rose by 32% compared with 2021, according to the French Interior Ministry. The majority of victims are local politicians. "We've been in a very tense situation since the dissolution of parliament," said Murielle Fabre, president of the Mayors of France association, however she added that she did not have enough evidence to suggest political motivations. Anne Bachman, a municipal councillor with the Communist Party in Fos-sur-Mer, said she had filed a complaint to the police after she was threatened by a woman who had previously told her she was a far-right voter. "The climate has changed, people are out in the open, they don't hide that they are far right, they feel strong," she said. (Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro and Layli Foroudi; Editing by Alison Williams) By Tassilo Hummel PARIS (Reuters) - France's far-right National Rally (RN) extended its lead in a poll published on the last day of campaigning before Sunday's first round of parliamentary elections, with another survey showing it in sight of a slim majority. Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant, eurosceptic party has led polling since President Emmanuel Macron called a surprise snap election this month that has plunged France into uncertainty and unnerved European neighbours and financial markets. A new OpinionWay poll published by Les Echos newspaper on Friday showed the RN could reach as much as 37% of the popular vote, up two percentage points on its score a week ago. Macron's centrist bloc Together party was seen reaching 20%, down by two points from the last publication. The New Popular Front leftwing alliance stood at an unchanged 28% of the vote. BFM TV, in a different poll compiled by Elabe, calculated that the RN and allies could end up with 260-295 seats in the new parliament - potentially crossing the 289-seat bar for an absolute majority giving them a clear mandate to govern. Accurate seat projections are tricky because the outcome depends on results in 577 constituencies across France. Moreover, after Sunday's first round, rivals to the RN may team up and withdraw candidates in tactical moves to defeat far-right candidates in the July 7 second round. The prospect either of an RN-led government or the political paralysis of a hung parliament has unnerved financial markets, with the risk premium on French government bonds rising on Friday to its widest since the 2012 euro zone crisis. An outright RN victory would position the party for an awkward "cohabitation" with Macron for the remainder of his term through to 2027, the first time a French president would have to share power with a party outside the political mainstream. WHOSE PREROGATIVE? While the RN has toned down some of its anti-European Union positions and has vowed fiscal responsibility, questions remain over how it will fund its election promises and what its deep euroscepticism will mean for the future of EU integration. Critics say racism underlies its "French first" policies despite Le Pen's efforts to detoxify a party inherited from her father Jean-Marie, who was convicted of inciting racial hatred. In a final TV debate on Thursday, Macron's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal accused his RN challenger Jordan Bardella of continuing to tolerate racist speech in the ranks of his far-right camp - an accusation Bardella rejected. The party has benefited from anger at Macron, whose decision to run as president back in 2017 at the head of a newly formed, broad-based centrist movement has reshaped French politics and was intended to counter the rise of extremist parties. His rule has been credited with pro-business reforms but is perceived by many French voters to have ignored their concerns about the rising cost of living and weaker public services. Le Pen gave a foretaste of the type of clashes that a cohabitation could trigger on Friday when she said an RN prime minister would veto Macron's preferred choice to serve as the French official in the European Commission in Brussels. "It's the prerogative of the prime minister, not the president, to name the French commissioner," she told Europe 1 radio. A diplomatic source said on Thursday Macron backed Thierry Breton, the former businessman who currently holds the Commission's internal markets portfolio, for a new term. (Writing by Mark John; Editing by Peter Graff) A Fort Lauderdale officer may face termination after he allegedly yelled racial slurs and tried to fight a group of Black men outside a club while off-duty the morning after Thanksgiving, sources say. A department investigation revealed the racist tirade began with a night of drinking. On May 9, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief William Schultz recommended firing Officer John Giga for violating several department policies, according to internal police documents obtained by the Miami Herald. Giga, hired as an officer in 2008, has had past allegations of violent misconduct. The recommendation comes after a months-long internal affairs probe, beginning in December, into an aggravated assault involving Giga in the early morning hours of Nov. 24. When the investigation started, Giga was placed on administrative leave with pay and will remain on it until officials make a decision on his firing. Evidence found that Giga violated four department policies: unbecoming conduct, neglect of duty and two guidelines regarding authorized use of a patrol car. Fort Lauderdale Police Department referred a request for comment to the City Managers Office. Acting City Manager Susan Grant said in a statement Thursday night, The Chief of Police issued a recommendation of termination for Officer John Giga following an Internal Affairs investigation. The City Manager is reviewing the findings and the Chiefs recommendation and will continue to follow the established disciplinary appeal process. The police union that represents Giga did not immediately respond for comment. The Broward NAACP and Public Defender Gordon Weekes will hold a press conference on Friday morning to demand the immediate termination of a racist City of Fort Lauderdale police officer, a release read. Badly injured after 20-second beating After working an afternoon shift on Thanksgiving, documents show Giga drove his patrol car to Hunters Beach Bar in Fort Lauderdale. Surveillance video showed him spending four hours inside and nearby. He took five shots of alcohol toasting with other patrons. Around 2:40 a.m., he drove home before leaving again an hour later. He drove his patrol car around Fort Lauderdale before heading to Capones Nightclub. Later in the investigation, detectives discovered he was sending dozens of texts that night to a friend who works at the club. Her phone was dead then, but when she finally saw the messages, she described his tone as upset. Bout to show up and f*** everyone up, Giga texted before he arrived at Capones. Giga walked into the club for less than five minutes, documents read. The woman said she saw him, was surprised and hid in an ice room. She overheard him and described him sounding angry. A surveillance video showed him exiting the clubs parking lot and getting into a verbal fight with a group of Black men. Witnesses and the group told investigators Giga shouted the N-word toward them, documents read. One witness said Giga repeated the N-word three to four times. He went on to say he thought Giga escalated the situation. He goes into the club...comes out... a little bit like he on something, because a lot of people dont go around [punching] parked car windows... or calling somebody a [N-word] to their face, the witness told investigators. Theres plenty of Blacks out there, but he went out for one person. After, the men got into their cars and drove off. Giga punched one of their windows and walked alongside it. One driver got out, prompting Giga to approach him and take a fighting stance, documents read. The driver punched him in the face. A passenger in that car and a driver in another vehicle trailing them subsequently joined in and pummeled Giga for about 20 seconds. Im trying to tell you...there wasnt a fight, the witness said. It was literally a beating. A passerby found Giga unresponsive and badly injured after the fight. After answering questions at the scene, he was taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Conflicting narratives In the months following the incident, Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigation Division detectives interviewed several witnesses and officers, including Giga, to piece together what transpired. They uncovered inconsistencies and possible breaches of policy. Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Jeremy Oberstein was the first cop to arrive and received the emergency call as an aggravated battery in which Giga was the victim, according to documents. Giga told Oberstein that he was trying to break up a fight in the parking lot when he was hit by an unknown person with an unknown object. He told another arriving officer, Jose Dejo, that he was attacked by a man possibly armed with a bottle. Witnesses and the men involved in the alleged assault later detailed to investigators that Giga was not breaking up a fight nor was he randomly attacked with an object, documents read. Surveillance video corroborated their statements. Video obtained by the Herald shows Giga seemingly knocked unconscious in the first punch, and then after he falls, the three men punch, kick and stomp on his head and upper body. Oberstein said Giga never identified himself as a policeman. But Dejo discovered he was an officer after asking for Gigas wallet for ID and learning it was inside his patrol car. While discussing the case, Oberstein and Dejo turned off their body cameras and kept them off once they realized Giga was a cop. Detectives questioned this possible breach of policy, to which Oberstein replied he forgot to turn it back on. As police continued investigating on the day of the fight, detectives were told there was continual discussion about whether Giga was on duty or off duty and whether his account of breaking up a fight was true. Major Steven Scelfo ultimately decided that Giga was the victim of an aggravated battery while on-duty until further information was found, documents read. He directed another officer to submit a report with that narrative. Scelfo told detectives he didnt talk to Giga, or the others involved in the fight, before making the decision. He was only informed by the details given to him by other officers. On March 8, Giga was interviewed by Internal Affairs investigators, who said his statement had several inconsistencies. He prefaced the talk by advising he suffered severe head injuries and did not have 100% recollection of what transpired that night. Detectives said he gave inconsistent statements on what he was doing while on-duty that day, the condition of his patrol car and that he did not drink any alcohol when he got off work, documents read. When shown videos of a bartender serving him drinks, Giga questioned whether detectives knew if it was alcohol and continued to state he didnt remember. He alluded he may have been drinking Red Bulls, but detectives did not see signs of that in the surveillance video. Moving on to the fight, detectives showed him surveillance footage of what occurred to jog his memory. Giga contended that he could not remember what happened that night. However, he said it seems from the video that he talked to people, whom he noted as very nice, and had a non-antagonizing conversation over moving a car. He continued to say it looked like somebody else had a problem with him talking with the group of very nice people. Detectives noted that was inconsistent with statements made by several witnesses. When asked if he recalled calling a group of Black men the N-word, Giga replied, Thats not even in my vocabulary. I dont use that. My girlfriends Black...My nephew are Black. My brothers all Black. Thats not a part of who I am. History of misconduct? The fight is not the only instance in which Giga has been accused of violent behavior. In 2013, Fort Lauderdale city worker Henry Lambert sued him for using excessive force and violating his rights the year before, court records show. Lambert and Joe Shanks were doing bulk trash pickup for the city when they encountered Giga and Officer Joseph Curtis. The pair noticed two unoccupied Fort Lauderdale police cars when they parked their work truck nearby to finish loading trash. While outside their truck, Giga and Curtis were making their way toward them from an apartment building, the lawsuit read. Giga allegedly began yelling at Lambert in a hostile and aggressive manner to move their work truck so Curtis could move his patrol car. ...Gigas tone was extremely loud and threatening, the lawsuit read. As he continued to yell, Lambert said he would be reporting his behavior to Gigas supervisor. Lambert and Shanks moved their truck a bit further up the street, where Lambert got out to write down Giga and Curtis patrol car numbers. Soon after, Giga and Curtis aggressively approached Lambert, the lawsuit read. Giga yelled, Are you going to call my supervisor? Curtis added, I will call him for you, now! As Lambert backed away toward the work truck, Giga yelled, No youre not! Youre not going anywhere. He grabbed Lamberts right arm; Curtis snatched his left and the back of his neck. The two officers slammed him onto the hood of Gigas car. After being put in the rear of a patrol car, a Fort Lauderdale police sergeant arrived. According to the lawsuit, while Giga and Curtis explained what happened, the sergeant seemed frustrated and shook his head. Lambert was eventually let go, and the sergeant told him he was not surprised by Gigas actions. He went on to say he was insubordinate to higher-ranking officers. The case was settled. A grieving Mamaroneck community came out Friday morning to remember and mourn the mother and son struck and killed by a school mini-bus last Thursday as they crossed a busy Mamaroneck Avenue intersection on their way to Mamaroneck Avenue School. A funeral Mass concluded shortly before 12:30 p.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Larchmont for Molly Murphey Donovan, 43, and her son, Michael Donovan Volpe, 6, who was fondly referred to as Mikey. Police motorcycles from several communities accompanied two hearses to the church just before the 11 a.m. funeral Mass. Pallbearers then carried two caskets inside. The Mass began with organ and strings. As the two caskets were wheeled into the church, some dabbed tears with tissues. Others wiped them away with their hands. Family sat in the first two pews. Between prayers, hymns and readings, Bishop John Bonnici, pastor of the church, spoke fondly of Donovan and Mikey. "Words seem horribly insufficient," he said. "Human words have a great difficulty meeting the mark." Flowers at the front of the church were arranged in two interlocking hearts one with white roses and one with red. Bonnici suggested that the congregation remember the love between a mother and child. "A child's love and a mother's both offer an ideal, an example that can help us live our lives in a bountiful way," he said. Donovan and her son were walking to school around 8:30 a.m. June 20 when they were struck by a mini-bus while crossing Mamaroneck Avenue in front of a busy shopping center. Police later said the bus was making a left turn onto Mamaroneck Avenue with a green light. As the bus turned, though, several parents and children were crossing within a crosswalk and with a walk sign. Police called the incident "a tragic accident." The exterior of St. Augustine's Church on Larchmont Avenue in Parchment, June 28, 2024. The funeral for Molly Murphey Donovan and her six year-old son Michael Donovan Volpe, will be held at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont, June 28, 2024. The mother and son were struck and hit by school bus in Mamaroneck. The mother and son were residents of Mamaroneck. The pews of St. Augustine's were nearly filled, showing the community's love for a mother and son. Bonnici spoke of Mikey's optimism and his mom's caring nature, saying 'It's that attitude that Jesus wants us all to embrace." After the Mass concluded, several priests blessed the caskets in front of the church. Donovan was a lawyer and interior designer. Friends and loved ones who attended a vigil Sunday night knew her as smart, strong, creative, thoughtful and a loving mom to Mikey. She attended Rye High School and went on to graduate from Michigan State University and Duke University School of Law. "We were always in awe of her creativity," Caitlin Browne, a friend, said at the vigil. "She made everything around her beautiful and extra special, and she gave Mikey the fullest life imaginable. She was just really smart, funny and fun to be with." Molly Murphey Donovan, 43, and her son Michael Volpe, 6, were struck and killed by a school mini-bus on Mamaroneck Avenue on Thursday, June 20 while on their way to Mamaroneck Avenue School. It was just a few days short of Murphey's 44th birthday. Mikey was finishing kindergarten at Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School. Friends said he was best known for his love of trains, Legos and knock-knock jokes. He also had a fondness for the New York City subway system and skyscrapers. In lieu of flowers, the Donovan and Volpe families are requesting donations to Advocates for Children of New York. Vigil for Mamaroneck mom, son killed: Mamaroneck remembers mother, son struck and killed by mini-bus "Michael was an angel," Mikey's grandfather, Tom Volpe Sr., said the day after the tragedy. Tom Volpe Sr.'s son, Tom Volpe Jr., is Mikey's father and Donovan's ex-husband. "He was very loved and he knew it," Volpe Sr. said of his grandson. "He had a good six years on this planet." This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Mamaroneck NY mother, son hit by school bus honored at Friday funeral Gallant: Israel not in favour of war with Hezbollah but ready for one Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant addresses the annual Conference of Presidents at the MoD Headquarters in Tel Aviv. Shachar Yurman/GPO/dpa Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant does not consider a war against the Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon to be desirable, but he believes his army is prepared for one. "We are working on a political solution. That is always the better option," the minister said on Friday during a visit to troops near Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Israeli media reported. "We are not looking for war but we are prepared for one." "[If Hezbollah chooses war], we know what we are doing," he added. "If they choose peace, we will respond accordingly." Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been daily exchanges of fire between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border area between Israel and Lebanon. On Friday, the pro-Iranian militia fired 25 shells and three drones at Israel, according to the Israeli military. No people were injured. However, some of the rockets caused forest fires. The Israel's army said it fired on several Hezbollah launch positions. The fighting has recently intensified considerably. Several countries, including Germany, once again called on their citizens to leave Lebanon. There are fears that a possible open war between Israel and Lebanon could escalate into a regional conflict that would also involve Iran and the United States. In a post on X on Saturday morning, Iran's mission to the UN warned that should Israel "embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue." A man from New Jersey was charged with attempted second-degree murder over the weekend after he flew to Florida and attacked another gamer with a hammer allegedly over a dispute in an MMORPG, according to police. On the morning of June 23, Edward Kang, a 20-year-old man, was arrested by Nassau County Florida police after arriving at the house of Zachary Dinh and allegedly assaulting him with a hammer he bought at a store just before the attack. According to police, as reported by The New York Times, Kang had never met Dinh in person, but the two allegedly interacted in the MMORPG ArcheAge. At this time its unknown exactly what happened between the two men online in the MMORPG, but police said the hammer attack was caused by an online altercation within ArcheAge. I dont know what transpired between the victim and the suspect, but something made the suspect want to come down to Florida and injure the other individual, explained Sherif Bill Leeper. According to police, Kang flew from Newark to Jacksonville and then checked into a Florida hotel on June 21. Allegedly, Kang told his family that he was traveling to Florida to visit a friend. After arriving in Florida, Kang visited a local hardware store and bought a hammer and a flashlight. Then early on Sunday morning, while dressed in all black clothes and wearing a mask, Kang arrived at Dinhs house and entered via an unlocked door. Once he got in, Kang reportedly began attacking the victim with a hammer. Dinhs stepfather heard the commotion and intervened. The two then worked together to subdue the attacker and called the police. The New York Times reports Dinh was treated at a hospital for server head wounds and was later released. Kang has been charged with attempted murder as well as armed burglary. Hes currently being held in a Nassau County jail without bond. Kang reportedly called his mother and admitted to attacking someone, but said he had no plans to kill Dinh. This is a weird one, said Sheriff Leeper during a news conference. Some things make you say, Hmm. Some things, you just cant make up. There are some things that make you say, What in the world was he thinking? And there are some things that make you say, Youre not going to believe this. This case makes you say all four of those. Police questioned Kang about why he attacked Dinh with a hammer and he simply said: He is a bad person online. Ironically, ArcheAgethe MMORPG in which Kang and Dinh interacted and which led to this whole attackshut down due to a lack of users on June 27. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. PHOENIX, Ariz. Garrett Popcorn, a beloved Chicago brand, has lost a bid to open its first standalone location in Arizona. The Phoenix City Council earlier this week denied a proposal from the company to open a retail location inside Terminal 4 in the citys Sky Harbor International Airport, choosing instead to proceed with a competing bid. According to city documents, airport staff reviewed plans for a popcorn shop and a Travel Treat & Coca-Cola Lounge and evaluated them on several criteria, including the proposed concept, proposed merchandise plan, design and quality of tenant improvements and operations and technology plans. The bid from CASA Unlimited Enterprises won out and will fill the pre-security concession space with a 24-hour lounge setting, pre-packed meals and CocaCola & Go coolers with more than 30 varieties of beverages. Garrett Popcorn currently operates locations in Chicagos OHare and Midway international airports and Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport. An email to a Garrett Popcorn spokesperson requesting comment about the proposal and possible future plans was not returned. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Gov. Gavin Newsom defended president Joe Biden as a confident, energetic and competent leader as a contrast to former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate of the 2024 general election. Newsom, a possible contender for president in 2028, has been tapped as a Biden surrogate leading up to the November presidential election, when Biden will face off for a second time against Trump. The Biden campaign was aiming to dispel concerns about the 81-year-old incumbents age and competency during the event. But after the president repeatedly stammered and trailed off during debate responses, television networks reported Democratic operatives were worried about Bidens ability to successfully campaign. Post-debate, Newsom brushed off concerns about Bidens performance, saying weve all had those nights and that the president has repeatedly pushed through concerns about his age. He never gives up. Hes never giving up, fighting for us, fighting for democracy, our future kids, our grandkids. So weve got to have his back in this respect. And yeah, I hope he does come back, and I hope he is back on the stage in another debate, he told MSNBCs Alex Wagner in a post-debate interview. Newsom was already considered a potential candidate in 2028 but after Bidens poor debate performance, the 56-year-old governor was mentioned on multiple networks as a possible replacement on the Democratic ticket. Reince Priebus, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, told ABCs David Muir Democratic figures including Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are probably waiting by the phone after Bidens performance. Still, Newsom remained a staunch defender of Biden. We must have the back of the President of the United States, Joe Biden, at this critical moment, he said. And focus on tomorrow, focus on the future, focus on the vision that will ignite this country moving forward. (Trump) wants to bring us back to a pre-1960s world (regarding) voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, womens rights, access to contraception, he said. Thats what we need to talk about. Thats whats on the ballot: democracy, the fate and future of this country. Before the debate, Newsom said President Biden is confident. Hes got a record and hes got a vision for the future. At the same time he criticized Trumps name calling as the elevation of the maturity of Donald Trump as hes gotten older. Newsom also denounced the weaponization of clips of the President stumbling through words or tripping at public events. In a recent example, CNN anchor Erin Burnett asked Newsom about a video from a Hollywood fundraiser which shows former President Barack Obama grabbing Bidens hand to lead him offstage. Newsom, who said he was four feet away from the stage, defended the president and said Biden had been on his feet for many hours that day and had just returned from the G7 summit in Italy. When asked about his praise for and cooperation with Trump on emergencies like COVID-19 and wildfires, Newsom said hell work with anyone who wants to advance the cause of this country, my state and the world were trying to build, but also said Trump delivered because we had to go a long way to kiss the proverbial ring. But that relationship has deteriorated since Trump left office, he said. Hes calling me Newscum, the governor said of Trump. I think my 7th grade friend called me Newscum. Thats the elevation of the maturity of Donald Trump as hes gotten older. The governor was also asked about Bidens record on immigration and the crush of unauthorized crossings at the border in recent months. He accused congressional Republicans of torpedoing a bipartisan immigration deal after Trump called for its failure. Its a failure of Congress to work with the President of the United States, he said, specifically calling out Republican Speaker Mike Johnson. (Biden) put out a plan and they refused to negotiate. Newsom, a self-described border governor, also said border crossings are down since Biden signed an executive order that restricts immigration. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia of Long Beach was also on hand as a Biden surrogate during the debate. U.S. aid intended to help desperate Gaza residents has been sitting untouched on a beach in the war-torn strip because of a long-running dispute between the U.N. and Israel over whether the aid workers in charge of distributing the supplies can carry protective gear, radios and other sensitive equipment, according to several officials familiar with the situation and documentation obtained by ABC News. Israel, which closely screens any goods coming into Gaza, has blocked the aid workers from bringing in sophisticated protective equipment in large part because of concerns that the gear could wind up with Hamas. The dispute reached a fever pitch this week after U.N. officials threatened to suspend humanitarian aid operations across Gaza unless their demands for security equipment was met, prompting high-level private meetings in Washington this week between the U.N. and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who had traveled to the U.S. for face-to-face meetings at the Pentagon and White House. PHOTO: Humanitarian aid waits for distribution at the offloading area of the JLOTS pier in Gaza. (COGAT/X) MORE: US military delivers supplies to Gaza via pier, but there's no one to distribute them The U.N. needs "an effective and reliable set up of security protocols and equipment, to help manage this risk across the [Gaza] Strip," wrote Muhannad Hadi, a top official at the U.N., told the Israel Defense Forces in a June 17 letter. An Israeli defense official said Gallant is personally pushing to resolve the issue and get humanitarian aid moving again. In a statement, Gallant said the dialogue is ongoing "to further address the needs on the ground, and see what can be improved." "As I have emphasized since the beginning of the war -- our war is with Hamas, not the civilian population of Gaza," Gallant said in a statement. "My policy, as Minister of Defense, is that of full commitment to the humanitarian efforts, and of full cooperation with the international community to improve the situation in the Gaza strip and specifically the Mawasi [a town on the southern coast of Gaza] and the rest of the humanitarian zone." The disagreement between the U.N. and Israel has deeply complicated extensive efforts by the U.S. to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza -- a priority for President Joe Biden as he faces sharp criticism from his party for giving broad support to Israel's military operations in Gaza since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. Biden ordered the U.S. military to build a pier this spring in the hopes that an established maritime corridor could help rush in humanitarian goods and supplement aid entering through ground crossings. The pier, though, has struggled to make a substantive impact on the worsening hunger crisis, as high seas have forced it to shut down several times in the six weeks it's been operational. PHOTO: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian met with UN officials in Washington this week to discuss security guarantees for aid workers in Gaza. (Israel MOD) The Pentagon announced Friday the pier was being taken offline again Friday, as discussions were underway on whether to reinstall it at all. A more pressing issue though than the pier's operational capacity so far has been distribution. Much of the 19 million pounds of aid already delivered via the pier has been piling up after the U.N.'s World Food Programme -- the sole organization tapped to distribute the aid -- temporarily halted distribution after a June 8 hostage rescue operation by Israeli troops that came dangerously close to the pier. One official said theres a deal on the table for the WFP to clear the aid piling up at the beach as a one-time measure. Still, broader distribution of humanitarian aid across Gaza otherwise remains at a standstill until the two sides reach consensus. PHOTO: A satellite image shows U.S. military-run humanitarian aid pier in Gaza, June 12, 2024. (Maxar Technologies via Reuters) MORE: Pentagon and USAID watchdogs launch reviews of US pier and humanitarian aid flow into Gaza In the June 17 letter obtained by ABC News, the U.N.'s Hadi said the aid organization needed specific items before it would feel comfortable resuming aid, including a "functioning mechanism for operational coordination with the IDF" that would enable "direct contact" between aid workers and IDF brigades. The letter also called for aid workers to be allowed to bring in armored vehicles, spare parts, 100 sets of personal protective equipment and sophisticated communications equipment including satellite internet terminals and electronic SIM cards so workers could connect to a private 4G mobile network. "Access to this equipment will be strictly limited to individuals who are actively employed by United National/International Organizations operating in Gaza. Stringent security measures will be put in place to protect the system from any potential inappropriate use and to ensure compliance with the approving authorities," Hadi wrote to Israel's Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, who attended the meetings in Washington this week with U.N officials to discuss the matter. Several U.S. officials said they view the requests as reasonable and support Israel allowing those items inside Gaza. The U.N. declined to comment on the specifics in the letter, which had not been publicly released. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, said security conditions in Gaza is part of an "ongoing discussion" with Israel. "We're just trying to have the basic tools to allow us to run an operation in a war zone," he told ABC News. ABC News' Luis Martinez, Jordana Miller and Dana Savir contributed to this report. Gaza aid piles up amid dispute over whether aid workers can carry radios, security gear originally appeared on abcnews.go.com From left, Georgia Sen. Josh McLaurin, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and Stacey Abrams praise President Joe Biden the day after his debate against former president Donald Trump. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Most of the reaction to Thursdays presidential debate has focused on President Joe Bidens at times incoherent statements. Democratic leaders gathered in Atlanta Friday morning in an attempt to shift the focus onto former President Donald Trumps coherent lies. Stacey Abrams, Georgias former state House minority leader and gubernatorial candidate, blasted Trump for untruths uttered on the debate stage. What we know now is that the state of Georgia is in play, that the people of Georgia want to see a leader who sees that. Donald Trump only sees himself, Abrams said at an Atlanta campaign office. We have a convicted liar who stood on stage and promised to raise taxes on the working class. We have a convicted liar who stood on stage and bragged about stripping women of their bodily autonomy. Abrams statement on taxes was a reference to Trumps proposal of a 10% tariff on imported goods, which many economists say would drive up prices for American consumers. Fact checkers have said Trumps remarks contained numerous blatant falsehoods, including that Democrats hope to legalize the execution of newborns, that Biden plans to quadruple everybodys taxes and that Biden was responsible for Trumps numerous criminal indictments and convictions. The reason that we keep referring to the fact that he is a convicted felon is because if he is willing to cook the books for his own accounting personally, then what is stopping him from cooking the books and doing fraudulent accounting for the American people and for his record on the economy? said state Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat. Party vibes Bidens performance was widely panned as a disaster for Democrats across Georgia and in media outlets across the ideological spectrum. In one viral moment, Biden inexplicably ended a long and winding statement about the national debt with the phrase we finally beat Medicare. I did not expect the wheels to totally come off the Joe Biden campaign tonight, but thats really my read of it, said Georgia GOP Chairman Josh McKoon at a Republican debate party in a Cobb County shooting range. I mean, you couldnt understand him for the first ten minutes just lots of really significant problems that make you concerned about his ability to lead the country for another four years. Then, by contrast, President Trump was strong, he was clearly on message, reminding people of the successes of his administration. At a GOP event Thursday night at a Cobb County shooting range, an increasingly giddy throng of Trump supporters cheered, clapped and whistled in earnest at Trumps statements. But with every stutter or deemed slip up from Biden, laughter or booing would erupt. Boos were brought on by a range of topics, from the mentioning of Trumps felony charges to the discussion of the Jan. 6th insurrection. You suck, Lies! and Are we on the same planet? are just some barbs that rose above the crowd commotion as Biden spoke. Meanwhile, at the state Democrats watch party at the downtown Atlanta Hyatt Regency ballroom packed with several hundred supporters of President Joe Biden, party goers had little appetite to watch CNN analysis after the debate. A slight hush briefly filled the room, amplifying the CNN analysts sharp criticisms of Bidens performance before the quietness prompted a watch party guest to call for the stream to be turned off in favor of music. The mood would become more festive as the DJ started a series of songs with DJ Khaleds popular rap anthem All I Do is Win. A little slow Taking questions from reporters at Friday mornings event, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said Bidens debate performance was not that bad. I think the debate started off a little slow for the president, but it ended strong, he said. The thing Ive always learned growing up, my grandfather used to say, its not how you start a race, its how you end it. And Joe Biden has demonstrated time and time again that the reason why he is in this race is for the American people. Its not about I. Very rarely said I in that debate. Donald Trump said it constantly, and he constantly lied throughout the debate. One of the things that notoriously Democrats are known for, some of us like to wring our hands, he added. Its not time to wring hands. Its about rolling up your sleeves to do the work. It is time to do this work. At a separate Atlanta event, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock also accused his fellow Democrats of unnecessarily contorting their metacarpals. If they werent hand-wringing, they wouldnt be Democrats, Warnock quipped Friday morning during a visit to Atlantas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Look, theres a lot at stake, and people are rightly engaged. And I think when the people are engaged, we have a path to get to the right answer. Im concerned when people are disengaged, and so if people are paying a little bit more attention, I think thats a good thing. Because if they take a closer look, theyll see whos fighting for them and whos not. Warnock said he last engaged with Biden during a recent visit to Georgia, and he described him as clear and vigilant and engaged and very focused on the American people. He beat him before But for years, majorities of Democratic voters have told pollsters they would prefer a different candidate at the top of the ticket. Biden himself reportedly indicated in 2019 that he would likely not seek re-election after a single term. Democrats with concerns over Bidens age and low favorability ratings were assuaged by the partys strong performance in the 2022 midterms. Alternate Democratic presidential candidates complained about what they said was a primary process designed to favor Biden, but the president won nearly all of the partys delegates and is set to become the official nominee this August at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Backed by signs reading protect democracy, Abrams told reporters the nominating process was absolutely democratic. Joe Biden has been to the state of Georgia again and again and again. And yesterday, when the debate ended, he didnt pop on a plane and leave. He stayed here to talk to people in the state of Georgia. He is going to do what he has been doing, which is invest in Georgia. Abrams concluded the press conference by pointing to some of Bidens victories, including limited student debt relief, price caps for insulin and efforts to protect abortion rights and protect in-vitro fertilization. You have to plant seeds, but youve got to tend them and watch them grow, she said. And in the next four years, we will grow more jobs. We will grow more opportunities. We will grow a better economy. We will grow a better climate because Joe Biden has put in the work. Hes planted the seeds. And now its time to till the field this election season and make certain that in January, we can grow four more years. As the Democratic leaders left, reporters shouted out questions, including whether Biden is the candidate Democrats want and whether he is the best person to beat Trump. He beat him before, Harrison said as he walked out the door. Georgia Recorder Deputy Editor Jill Nolin, Senior Reporter Stanley Dunlap and intern Kate Verity contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp paid a visit and spoke with reporters on the red carpet at the CNN media center Thursday afternoon. He said he didnt vote for former President Donald Trump in the Georgia primary earlier this year. (Photo by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder) President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both arrived in Atlanta for the highly anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 election. Biden was greeted by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Stacey Abrams, Jason Carter and other prominent Georgia Democrats who stood on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta. He shook hands and briefly chatted with each person but did not respond to questions shouted at him by the press pool about how he was feeling ahead of the debate. The president stopped to chat with dozens of supporters who gathered outside of Truist Plaza in downtown Atlanta and chanted four more years and lets go, Joe. Trump landed a couple hours later at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, where he was welcomed by supporters on the tarmac. Over at Georgia Techs McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, where hundreds of reporters are gathered for the debate and aftermath, surrogates and notable figures have started showing up to have their say about the state of the presidential race and tonights debate. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp paid a visit and spoke with reporters on the red carpet. Kemp, a Republican, said hes rooting for Trump in tonights big event, but he also revealed he did not vote for him in the primary. I didnt vote against him, either. I just didnt vote for anybody, he said. But the primary was over when it got here. But you know, at this point, Im not looking in the rearview mirror. Thats what Ive been urging the former president to not do is to look in the rearview mirror and focus on the past. Kemp and Trump have been on-again-off-again allies, which has been mostly off since Kemp refused to go along with the Trump campaigns push to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Ive said all along, I was going to support our nominee. I am doing that. We had a lot of great candidates that ran, but hes at the top of our ticket and he wants to win Georgia, and I want to win Georgia too. Kemp demurred when asked whether his support might include appearing at a rally alongside Trump. Well, Im hoping that Trump does so good tonight that hes not even going to have to come to Georgia, were doing so good here, he said with a laugh. So, well see. I wouldnt be able to speak to that until we know what their plans are. This story was originally published by Georgia Recorder, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com. Follow Georgia Recorder on Facebook and X. The post Georgia elected officials on hand for preliminary events ahead of Biden-Trump debate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Sen. Raphael Warnock praises President Joe Biden's debate performance in the spin room at the McCamish Pavilion. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder. Democrats at Georgia Techs McCamish Pavilion faced a crowd of dozens of reporters from around the world shouting questions about President Joe Bidens debate performance and whether he should remain the partys candidate. Speaking to reporters in the spin room, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said former President Donald Trumps performance was full of lies and demonstrated that he does not care about average Americans. A lot of people cant get work if they dont have childcare. He didnt have an answer for that. He tried to take credit for capping the cost of insulin and prescription drugs. Well, I know thats a lie because thats my bill, Warnock said. I passed it. And Joe Biden signed it into law. When it came to anything happening to ordinary people, he reminded us that this man wants to do the only thing that hes ever done, and thats focus on people like himself. Warnock and the other Biden campaign surrogates, including Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left the spin room after being pressed on Bidens performance, leaving mostly Trump supporters to speak to the press. They did so gleefully. People who have not made up their mind, if you were watching this debate, youre voting for Donald Trump, said U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina and a rumored prospective vice president for Trump. It was one of the greatest contrasts between two politicians Ive ever seen in my life. The dominance of Donald Trump is undeniable. I think at the end of this, were going to have to identify Joe Biden by his dental records, said Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. State Rep. David Wilkerson, a Powder Springs Democrat, told reporters traveling with Biden Thursday that Trump uttered falsehoods and dodged questions through the debate. I think its all going to come down to do people prefer policies over personalities. If people want policies, theyre going to vote for Biden. Wilkerson said he is not worried by Bidens performance. I think what this does is it lets people know that if they like the policies that Biden has, they need to step up their game, he said. So if anything, I think people are going to leave this room and then realize if we dont do something, that we could potentially have the same guy we had four years ago that put us back in the same place were at. So Im the reverse, he added. I have been doing this a long time. I think this might energize us. While the elected Democrats sounded an optimistic tone, Christopher Bruce, a political strategist and policy director for the ACLU of Georgia, said the party should consider another candidate to lead the ticket. America has a quandary, I want to be perfectly clear about that. America does not feel comfortable with either candidate. Where does the Democratic Party go from here? Well see in Chicago, he said, referencing the Democratic National Convention scheduled for August, in which members of the party are set to pick their nominee. Newsom, sometimes listed as a top contender for the job if Biden were to not run, said he is not considering it, I would never turn my back on President Biden. Never turn my back on President Biden, he said. I dont know a Democrat in my party that would do so. And especially after tonight, we have his back. We run not the 90-yard dash. Were all in. Were going to double down in the next few months. At the Democratic watch party at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta, where Biden went immediately after the debate, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens attempted to downplay calls for a replacement on the ballot. Democrats have to ride with who were with right now because Joe Biden has earned the respect of the American public and has earned the respect of Democrats. We dont shift the horse mid-race. So I think there may be a small few who are talking about changing but we stick with where we are right now. Candidates met by protests, supporters Biden was greeted earlier in the day by Dickens, Stacey Abrams, Jason Carter and other prominent Georgia Democrats who stood on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta. He shook hands and briefly chatted with each person but did not respond to questions shouted at him by the press pool about how he was feeling ahead of the debate. Biden was immediately met with a small gathering of Trump supporters as his motorcade left Dobbins. He then briefly stopped to chat with dozens of supporters who gathered outside of Truist Plaza in downtown Atlanta and chanted four more years and lets go, Joe. Trump was welcomed by supporters on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Supporters of both candidates could be seen along the motorcade route, with gatherings of both swelling downtown as the debate kick-off neared. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also gathered in midtown, with organizers saying they are protesting both candidates. After the debate, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden dropped by a Waffle House in Atlanta to pick up food shortly after midnight. He told reporters I think we did well when asked about his debate performance. Its hard to debate a liar, he told reporters. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Deputy Leader of the Alternative for Germany Beatrix von Storch (L) arrives at the train station in Essen. One day before the start of the AfD national party conference, the counter-demonstrators take up position in Essen and the police gather strong forces. dpa Authorities and businesses in Essen were preparing on Friday ahead of anticipated demonstrations against a weekend party congress of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) being held in the western German city. Businesses around the congress venue in the Ruttenscheid area to the south of the city centre, boarded up their windows as a police helicopter circled overhead. Cars were being diverted away from the area, and the popular Grugapark with its open-air swimming pool was closed to visitors. Residents were asked to identify themselves before entering the area on foot only. Police are anticipating up to 100,000 people to demonstrate against the party during the weekend, with particular concern over an estimated 1,000 left-wing extremists expected to descend on the area. One gift shop on a popular shopping street put up a sign reading "Forced Closure." An irritated owner said: "If the customers can't get here in any case, I might as well close up shop." Some business boarded up their windows for fear of riots. A tented encampment for up to 4,000 activists on the banks of the Ruhr River a couple of kilometres outside the city was filling up on Friday. The "Camp against Racism" had originally been planned for a more central location but was prohibited by police order on security grounds and shifted to the outskirts of the neighbouring city of Bochum. The AfD is to elect a new executive at the congress being held on Saturday and Sunday. Efforts by the city authorities to prevent the party congress were rejected by the courts. Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss (L), the defendant, is brought into the court building for the continuation of the trial against the alleged Reichsburgerbewegung (Reich Citizens' Movement). Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss, the central figure in a mammoth series of trials of extremists who allegedly plotted to topple the German state, testified in court in Frankfurt for the first time on 28 June. Andreas Arnold/dpa Prince Heinrich XIII of Reuss, the central figure in a mammoth series of trials of extremists who allegedly plotted to topple the German state, testified in court in Frankfurt for the first time on Friday. "Naturally, I reject violence, but the charge is attempting to accuse me of the opposite," the 72-year-old told the court, showing signs of emotional distress and wiping away tears during his two-hour testimony. Prince Reuss, a descendent of a noble family whose princely title carries no formal weight, told of the "rape of his psyche and soul" by teachers during his time at school, with one teacher telling him: "All of you should be dispossessed." He told of how his family had fled Thuringia, a German state occupied at the end of World War II by the Soviet Red Army, for the Frankfurt region in the US zone, where he was born in 1951. As a boy he had worked with horses in his father's business and later designed and made furniture. He had been exempted from national service on health grounds resulting from a fall from a horse as a child, he said. The nine on trial in Frankfurt are charged with membership of a terrorist organization that planned to topple the government, while accepting the possibility that people would be killed. The "Reichsburger" or Reich Citizens group headed by Prince Reuss, believes that the modern German republic illegitimately replaced the German Reich that was founded in 1871 and continued under the Nazi regime until 1945. They reject the legitimacy of Germany's modern federal state and its laws. The plan, prosecutors allege, was for members of the group's paramilitary wing to raid parliament, arrest politicians and ultimately install Prince Reuss as Germany's new leader. The group was exposed following multiple raids in several German states and abroad in 2022. The trial is to continue on Tuesday with questioning of two other accused. It is one of three large trials of members of the group. Five judges and two supplementary judges will hear evidence from around 260 witnesses. If found guilty, the accused could face years in prison. German woman given harsher sentence than rapist for calling him pig Nine attackers aged 16 to 20 were found guilty of gang-raping a 15-year-old girl in Hamburg in 2020 - Newsflash A woman in Germany has been given a harsher sentence than a convicted rapist after she was found guilty of defaming him. Maja R, a 20-year-old from Hamburg, called him a disgraceful rapist pig and a disgusting freak, defamatory under German law. He was one of nine attackers who gang-raped a 15-year-old girl in a Hamburg park in 2020, in a case that shocked the city. Maja R was sentenced to a weekend in jail for her verbal attacks. The rapist was given a suspended sentence and served no prison time due to his age. The sentence has sparked anger over what critics see as the flaws in Germanys judicial system, with disproportionate punishment for defamation. A 15-year-old girl was repeated raped in this Hamburg park - Newsflash Maja R expressed her disgust in a direct message to one of the gang-rapists via WhatsApp, after his name and number were leaked on Snapchat. She told the court she sent her message to him without thinking twice. Arent you ashamed when you look in the mirror? she asked, calling him a disgraceful rapist pig and a disgusting freak. She also told the criminal that he couldnt go anywhere without getting kicked in the face and said, lets hope you are just locked away. Nine men and boys The man was one of nine men and boys convicted of raping a 15-year-old in the bushes of a Hamburg park over a number of hours in Sept 2020. All were under 20 at the time, allowing them to be subject to juvenile law. Only one of them spent any time in jail, an Iranian national, who was 19 years old at the time, though its not clear why. Speaking about the rape in court, he asked: What man doesnt want that? The rest of the attackers, including the one defamed by Maja R, were given suspended sentences. Anne Meier-Goering, the presiding judge, lamented during the trial that none of the defendants said a word of regret. Maja R was sentenced to a weekend in jail after her comments because she had a previous conviction for theft and had not attending the court hearing for the case. She apologised to the young man she had contacted, telling the court it didnt help anyone. She added that she wanted to go back to school and study to become a paediatric nurse. Mild slurs The case has laid bare Germanys harsh defamation laws, which criminalise causing offence with even mild slurs like idiot. Breaking the law can lead to punishment of up to two years in prison. The district court said it had received strong reactions over the rulings in both the defamation case and the rape trial which prompted it. Hamburg authorities are now investigating around 140 more suspects for insulting or threatening the gang rapists, with 100 of the suspects based outside Hamburg. A court spokesman told the Hamburger Abendblatt local newspaper last week: We are observing the hostility in connection with the proceedings and the verdict with great concern. He said the anger over the case had reached a new, worrying level of intensity and described the criticism as a targeted attack on the rule of law. 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. Germany and Morocco have warned of an escalation in the fighting between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, calling for the adoption of US President Joe Biden's plan for a ceasefire in Gaza to ease tensions. "It is the only realistic way out of the war impasse," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday after a meeting with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Berlin. According to an official translation, Bourita demanded: "A ceasefire must be reached. And the region must be rebuilt on the basis of this." The basis for a lasting peace must be a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, he stressed. Biden presented a three-stage plan for a ceasefire in Gaza at the end of May, which envisages a temporary ceasefire during which some of the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip would be released. In a second phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be freed. In a final phase, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would begin, according to the draft. According to the United States, only the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement has not yet agreed to the plan. The two-state solution envisages an independent Palestinian state that exists peacefully side by side with Israel. Both Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian extremist group Hamas reject the idea. With regard to a long-term perspective for Gaza, Baerbock said: "Long-term security can only be achieved with partners. Isolation is the enemy of security." German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attend a joint press conference at the German Foreign Office. Annette Riedl/dpa German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is concerned about the predictability of US policy in view of a possible second Donald Trump presidency. "Trust and reliability and also trans-Atlantic friendship are, I believe, more important than ever in these times," Baerbock said on Friday evening at a political event organized by German media group Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), public broadcaster NDR and the newspaper Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung. While the German government is working closely with the current US administration led by President Joe Biden, it is "completely unclear" what a second Trump term would mean for trans-Atlantic relations and aid to Ukraine, the minister said. Baerbock emphasized that she had "always sought contacts" in both political camps in the United States. Biden's weak performance in the first TV debate against his challenger Trump has fuelled panic in the Democratic Party and prompted calls for him to withdraw from the race for the White House. The televised debate was seen as a test for the 81-year-old Democrat. The 78-year-old Trump was narrowly ahead in most polls before the debate. In the betting shops, his lead in the question of who would win the election in early November was significantly greater. Biden slipped dramatically in the betting odds after the debate. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock speaks at the talk format "RND vor Ort" by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Michael Matthey/dpa Would Getting Rid Of Joe Biden Be Worth The Chaos For Democrats? President Joe Biden sounded more lively at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday. But skeptics remain concerned about his lackluster debate performance. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Images Following President Joe Bidens poor debate performance on Thursday night, a number of prominent Democrats are privately hoping he withdraws from the presidential race and gives the party a chance to nominate someone younger who may have a better chance of beating Donald Trump. But the logistics of any hypothetical attempt to replace Biden are complicated. Things are different now. At this stage, Biden has locked up enough convention delegates to clinch the nomination, and party elders have no mechanism for forcing him out. He would have to voluntarily withdraw from the presidential race. Neither Biden nor his campaign has shown any sign of openness to stepping aside. He spoke with defiant exuberance at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday. I might not debate as well as I used to, he said. But what I do know is how to tell the truth. Former President Barack Obama offered words of support in a social media post linking to Bidens campaign website. But if Biden were to change his mind in the coming weeks, it would be simpler if it happened before the Democratic National Convention in August, when his status as the presidential nominee will be official. If the Aug. 19 convention convenes in Chicago without a presumptive Democratic nominee, the nearly 4,000 pledged delegates would be free to pick a different candidate on the first ballot. And, thanks to reforms passed in 2018, if no candidate achieved a majority on the first ballot, the group of 749 unpledged delegates known as superdelegates, which includes all Democrats in Congress and other party dignitaries, would only be able to cast votes on the second ballot. In the scenario of such a contested or brokered convention, rival candidates for the Democratic nomination would duke it out for the loyalties of state party officers, precinct captains, union leaders, nonprofit officials and Democratic activists. It would be very chaotic like the Wild West out there, said Casey Burgat, a specialist in political conventions at George Washington University. We have a strong party system playing out in a weak party era.Casey Burgat, George Washington University Party leaders could seek to steer the process to make it more orderly. Biden himself would likely have the biggest influence, since he could appeal to delegates on the basis that they were previously dedicated to him. Former President Barack Obama has also played a role in corralling disparate party factions in the past. On the one hand, Obama, Biden and other party leaders lack some of the tools top Democrats wielded before reforms passed after the 1968 election democratized the nominating process. Party elders in the pre-reform era were able to tap vast state and local-level political machines to overcome ideological and regional differences with promises of patronage jobs and other political perks. We have a strong party system playing out in a weak party era, Burgat said. There isnt a strong party cabal or leader or group of leaders who can basically point to a candidate and say, Everyone fall in line. At the same time, the Democratic Party is, relatively speaking, less ideologically divided than it was in the era when segregationist Southern conservatives made up a major party faction. The policy differences that exist among Democrats today, while they seem big, are trivial compared to what they had in the past, said Hans Noel, a presidential nomination process expert at Georgetown University. And they all agree that they dont want Donald Trump. It would ultimately be up to the individual delegates themselves, however. And in a contest where perceived electability is likely to take precedence, the choices before them would be politically thorny. Vice President Kamala Harris, an increasingly prominent surrogate for Biden, has a dedicated constituency within the Democratic Party, but also detractors who worry about her electability. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Getty Images Bidens logical successor is Vice President Kamala Harris, who did a capable job spinning Bidens performance in a CNN interview last night. As the nations first Black, first Asian, and first female vice president, she has made history. But many Democrats lack confidence in Harris ability to win a general presidential election. In 2019, when she ran her own presidential campaign before joining the Biden ticket, her candidacy failed to take off and she ultimately dropped out before any votes were cast. Harris now rates as only nominally more popular than Biden. The number of voters who disapprove of her job performance exceeds the number of voters who approve of her job performance by 10 percentage points, according to an average of available polls. Meanwhile, there is a bench of prospective alternatives to Harris California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro who each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Rejecting Harris, though, would likely alienate Black officials and voters, who are the backbone of the Democratic base. And with the possible exception of Newsom, the other potential contenders would be new to the national stage. Youre jumping over someone who would not only be presumptively in that place, youre jumping over a Black woman, and so thats going to have all kinds of frustration and spawn a lot of anger among Democrats, Noel predicted. There are practical advantages to a Harris nomination as well. Biden would be able to transfer his campaign war chest since she is already part of his presidential ticket. If it were another candidate, Biden would be able to transfer funds earmarked for the primary, which has concluded, but would have to offer refunds on donations earmarked for the general election. The Democratic National Committee, the joint victory fund and pro-Biden super PACs, by contrast, would not be constrained by those limitations. Youre jumping over someone who would not only be presumptively in that place, you're jumping over a Black woman, and so that's going to have all kinds of frustration and spawn a lot of anger among Democrats.Hans Noel, Georgetown University Biden withdrawing from the race after already accepting the nomination at the Democratic National Convention would be even trickier. It would be up to the Democratic National Committee to name a replacement, and its not clear if that responsibility would fall solely on Chair Jaime Harrison; a powerful panel within the DNC, such as the Rules and Bylaws Committee; or all 448 voting members of the party body. Withdrawing at that late date would also make ballot access considerably harder since many states restrict presidential candidates from withdrawing after accepting the nomination. In Wisconsin, for example, a presidential nominee can only withdraw from the ballot in case of death. The conservative Heritage Foundations Oversight Project issued a memorandum in April outlining the potential legal hurdles to ballot access that would face a Democratic nominee in the event of Bidens withdrawal. This isnt as easy as abracadabra, Mike Howell, executive director of Heritages Oversight Project, said in a Friday call with reporters.There is going to be a lot of litigation. Howell and other Heritage attorneys maintain that there could be legal challenges to a new candidate even if they are nominated in lieu of Biden at the convention. But a Democratic elections attorney told HuffPost that ballot access is mainly only an issue after the formal acceptance of the party nomination. Party officials are unlikely to allow Biden to be nominated at the convention only to have him withdraw later on, save for a reason related to his health, according to Noel. Then again, in the absence of a consensus choice to replace Biden, Noel also suspects party elders will decide against pressuring Biden to withdraw altogether. There are so many people who not just want the job, but to whom Democrats want to give it, that its really messy, he said. The party is risk-averse, and I think thats how theyre going to behave. Giant Pandas Arrive Safely at San Diego Zoo Following Agreement with China: 'Acclimating to Their New Home' The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) signed a 'cooperative agreement' with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to send new pandas to San Diego in February Y Galindo/Zooilogical Society of San Diego via Getty A giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo Two new pandas have arrived in San Diego! The San Diego Zoo announced in a press release on Friday, June 28, that giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao had arrived safely and were acclimating to their new home. Yun Chuan and Xin Bao "will spend the next several weeks acclimating to their new home in a private habitat at the San Diego Zoo and wont be viewable to the public during this time, the statement read. They are being monitored closely by expert wildlife health and care teams who will determine when the pair are ready to meet the public. The zoo added, We look forward to sharing more information including a date and how to see the beloved pandas as soon as it becomes available. According to the release, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are the first pandas to enter the U.S. in 21 years. Y Galindo/Zooilogical Society of San Diego via Getty A giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images Two giant pandas playing at Chongqing Zoo in Chongqing, China, on June 22, 2024 Related: We're on Baby Panda Watch! Zoo Atlanta Cub Could Arrive Any Moment Now In a press release released on Wednesday, June 26, the zoo shared that China had said farewell to the animals during a ceremony with "a delegation of representatives from the United States, including leaders of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance" and conservation leaders. The news comes after the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) the nonprofit that operates the San Diego Zoo announced in February that they had signed a "cooperative agreement" with the China Wildlife Conservation Association to send new pandas to San Diego. Described as an "important step forward in having giant pandas return to the San Diego Zoo, the move came after the SDZWA sent the last of its giant pandas, Bai Yun and Xiao Liw, to China in 2019. 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. Related: National Zoo Pandas Officially Depart for China, Leaving D.C. Zoo With No Pandas for First Time Since 2000 The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Officials from the zoo told the Associated Press at the time that a male and female bear could arrive as early as before the end of the summer. According to the San Diego Zoo Yun Chuan is an almost five-year-old male whose mother Zhen Zhen was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. She was the fourth panda to be born at the zoo. Meanwhile, Xin Bao is a nearly four-year-old female whose name means precious treasure of prosperity and abundance. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. June 28 (UPI) -- The San Diego Zoo announced the safe arrival of Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, the first giant pandas to enter the country in 21 years. The zoo said the pandas arrived safe and sound Friday after taking a long flight from China. "They will spend the next several weeks acclimating to their new home in a private habitat at the San Diego Zoo and will not be viewable to the public during this time," the zoo said in a statement provided to UPI. The pandas will make their public debut once they have been cleared to do so by the zoo's wildlife health and care teams, the statement said. The pandas are the first to enter the United States in 21 years. They departed China after being honored at a ceremony at the China Conservation & Research Center for Giant Pandas in Sichuan province. The farewell ceremony was attended by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance President and CEO Paul Baribault, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and various dignitaries from the United States and China. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo," Baribault said in a news release. "This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts. Our long-standing partnership with China Wildlife Conservation Association has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species." Insights from The Kyiv Independent, Dnevnik, Corriere della Sera, The Rest is Politics The News US President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger Donald Trump faced off in the first televised presidential campaign debate on Thursday, grabbing the attention of international media. Headlines focused on Bidens lapses as some international commentators joined growing calls for him to step down as the Democratic candidate. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Bidens comments on Ukraine wont inspire Source: The Kyiv Independent Foreign policy came up little during the debate, The Kyiv Independent noted. The Ukraine-based newspaper wrote that Russias ongoing war in the country garnered scant attention from the candidates on stage and what was said offered little to people hoping to understand Washingtons policies regarding the conflict. Biden seems a little confused and lost and [voters] look at that and say were going to have four more years of that being the basis of support for Ukraine? Kurt Volker, former US Ambassador to NATO, told the outlet. I think Ukrainians are going to feel very concerned. Can Biden be replaced? Source: Dnevnik In its coverage of the debate, Bulgarian outlet Dnevnik questioned whether Biden who often stumbled over his words and seemed confused on stage, sparking new fears about his advanced age could be replaced in the lead up to the election. Ultimately, Dnevnik noted, it is unlikely that a new candidate would be able to step in ahead of November, and opting to replace Biden could be disastrous for the Democrats. In reality, the party has no alternative candidate and only Biden has the machine to raise funds and money for campaigning, advertising, events, recruiting, wrote Dnevniks co-founder and international correspondent Petar Karaboev. Debate shattered every illusion about Bidens abilities Source: Corriere della Sera Bidens campaign has argued repeatedly that the Democrats age wont affect his ability to run in the election. But Thursdays debate shattered every illusion: Biden was unable to be convincing even on abortion, the key issue of the Democratic election campaign, Italian outlet Corriere della Sera noted. Bidens determination to move forward remains: a proud obstinacy that risks pushing the US into a dead end, the paper added. Biden must step down Source: The Rest is Politics The debate was a game changer for the Democrats that showed Biden must step down, argued the co-hosts of Britains leading political podcast . The change that then has to come, said presenter Alastair Campbell, former press secretary to ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is to produce a new Democratic candidate as soon as possible. They have no choice, agreed co-host Rory Stewart, a former Conservative Party cabinet member. NEW YORK (PIX11) The family of a teenager who tragically lost her life in a crash on the last day of school in Queens Wednesday has set up a GoFundMe to help with the immediate expenses. The teen, identified as 16-year-old Jael Zhinin, was walking with her 8-year-old sister when a truck driver traveling on 47th Avenue had a green light to make a left on 46th Street and then hit siblings who were crossing the street, police said. More Local News The oldest sister, Jael, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her younger sister, Leslie, was rushed to a local hospital, where she remains in critical condition, authorities said. Your contribution will directly support Jaels family with funeral expenses and assist in Leslies ongoing medical care and recovery, the GoFundMe page said. Together, we can provide crucial support and comfort to Jaels family as they navigate this heartbreaking loss and aid Leslie in her journey towards healing. Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and solidarity during this challenging time. Police said the driver, a man who has not been identified, was taken into custody on Wednesday and released on Thursday. So far, more than 200 people have donated to the GoFundMe campaign. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Joe Biden had barely opened his mouth last night when I gasped and said to myself, Oh God, this might be really bad. His voice was thin and raspy and weak. His words, ostensibly about how badly Donald Trump botched the pandemic, were unfocused and constituted a huge missed opportunity. And that kept happening over and over and over again. Trump lied like crazy, sure. Nobodys aborting a fetus after its born. Everyone did not want Roe overturned. Millions of people from prisons or mental institutions have not crossed the border. Food prices havent quadrupled. It went on and onCNNs fact-checker said he counted at least 30 outright lies. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash never stepped in to fact-check Trump. All that is true. But none of that changes the overwhelming fact. Biden confirmed Democrats worst nightmares. We finally beat Medicare? Dear God. CNNs flash poll had respondents saying Trump won by 67 to 33 percent. Frankly, Im not sure who those 33 were. The die-hardest of die-hard Democrats, I guess, or maybe single-issue voters who heard Biden say one thing they liked. But 33 percent means a ton of Democrats admitted that their guy lost, and the guy they really hate and rightly consider a direct threat to the country won. And probably half of that 33 were voting with their heart. What happens now? Lets talk about the people who have the power to go to Biden and tell him to step aside. What kinds of conversations is Barack Obama having today? Whos Chuck Schumer talking to? Hakeem Jeffries? Nancy Pelosi? How about Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Al Gore? The big donors and bundlers? And perhaps most of all, theres Jill and his family. All these people have known for a long time that the Democrats had three options. The first has been sticking with Biden. People knew he was a risky proposition. But until this debate, Biden was, plausibly, the least bad option. Because the other two options are these. Option two is that Biden steps down and hands it to Kamala Harris. Shes his vice president, and how in the world do you sidestep a sitting vice president? Thats the most likely non-Biden option, but I know no one whos excited about it. Shes just not a good politician. Whats the scenario where she beats Trump? Maybe she generates some higher enthusiasm among Black women, and theoretically among younger voters to some extent. Maybe shed have more success making the race a referendum on abortion. Harris, though, has a huge weakness. She has never really been able to make a strong economic argument. Even back when people were gushing about her in early 2019, when she announced her presidential candidacy, I noticed she had nothing to say about economic issues. And theyre kind of important in a presidential election. And then, of course, there are the racism and sexism you have to factor in here that would hurt her unfairly. My guess is that she runs three to five points worse than Biden against Trump, and that turns a margin-of-error race into a decisive lossand one that probably affects control of the House and/or Senate. The final option, therefore, is to throw the thing open and try to get the nomination to one of the governors, or someone else. This has always had a lot of theoretical appeal, because several of these people look like theyd be good candidates. But the two perceived problems with this scenario are these. First, how much bad blood would start boiling within the party if Harris were pushed aside? The assumed answer has always been: a lot. If Biden were to step aside, pollsters would start asking questions about Harris, and if those polls showed that Black women will basically bolt, going around Harris could be a nonstarter. And second, is there really any proof that Gretchen Whitmer or Gavin Newsom or Josh Shapiro or Jay Pritzker or anyone else would be a better candidate? Governors sometimes just dont have it when it comes to running for president. Look at Ron DeSantis. Those are real problems. But in this break-glass moment, they start to look like smaller problems than staying with Biden or just handing it to Harris. Well see what the post-debate polls say. Theyll start coming out early to mid-next week. My guess is that Biden will lose four points on average, maybe five. It might be a little less. But the coverage of this fiasco over the next two days will only amplify how bad it was. Politicians fear the unknown. They dont want to cast votes whose political fallouts they cant predict. They dont want their districts redrawn. And they sure dont want to change a presidential candidate in July. But this is an undeniable crisis. I dont know the convention rules. And rememberthis is made even more complicated by the fact that Democrats have decided to nominate Biden via Zoom (or whatever) two weeks before the mid-August convention, because they need to have a nominee by early August for the nominee to appear on the ballot in Ohio. So: Is an abbreviated, multicandidate campaign even possible? Heres a scenario. Biden drops out next week, releasing the delegates hes amassed during the primaries to do whatever. Candidates announceHarris, the governors I named above (along with a few others, like Kentuckys Andy Beshear), Pete Buttigieg, Cory Booker, maybe another senator or two. Throughout July, they have an intensive schedule of debates. Six or seven. Over the course of those debates, some will rise, some will fade. In early August, in time for Ohio, let the rank-and-file decide via electronic vote. Make all the contenders commit to supporting the process and standing 100 percent behind the winner. Weirdly enough, that could actually end up working out pretty well. A new nominee would be fresh, providing a new story and a new start. He or she would trip up Trump. This nominee could arguably then roll into the Chicago convention generating a lot more enthusiasm than Biden will. (Thats another thingthink about the anxiety that will precede his convention speech!) Then the nominee leaves Chicago with his or her well-chosen running mate, and they spend 10 days barnstorming the swing states so that by the end of the summer, the nominee will have galvanized the party. Then that nominee would have the fall to persuade swing voters, who dont pay attention until October anyway. Such a process might reinvigorate a party base that today is feeling pretty dispirited and disgusted and terrified. The conversations that happen this weekend in the high precincts of the Democratic Party will help determine the partysand the countrysfate. Its risky. Lots of unknown unknowns. But its worth remembering that with risk comes reward. Almost two-thirds of voters say theyre hearing more from Republicans on immigration, while only 16 percent say theyve heard more from Democrats, according to a new poll by Vera Action and The Immigration Hub. The poll, conducted by PerryUndem, echoed other polling in which more voters said they believe Republicans would do a better job on immigration. Of the polls respondents, 44 percent said Republicans were better on the issue, 36 percent said Democrats were better, and 20 percent said neither party would do a better job, or both would handle the issue similarly. According to a polling memo reviewed by The Hill, those both or neither voters were more likely to align with Democratic messaging than with Republican messaging on the issue. But few voters are hearing Democratic messaging. Case in point is the 73 percent of respondents who have heard a link between new migrants and crime, 54 percent of whom said theyve heard of the link from Republicans and 11 percent from Democrats. A new analysis of the Texas Department of Public Safety published Wednesday by the Cato Institute found that immigrants lacking certain documentation were less likely than natural-born citizens to be arrested and convicted of homicide between 2013 and 2022. Its the latest study suggesting that immigrants documented and undocumented are less likely to commit crimes, and therefore their presence has a downward effect on overall crime rates in the communities where they live. Yet Republicans have successfully highlighted individual instances of crimes committed by immigrants to frame the general issue of immigration. Immigrant advocates say thats a sign that Democrats are either not saying enough about immigration or not countering the GOP narrative effectively. The polling memo found that voters were responsive to a hypothetical Democratic message criticizing scare tactics in Republican messaging. According to the memo, messages humanizing migrants Like most of us, the vast majority of migrant families are responsible people. They are mothers, fathers, children, grandparents fleeing danger. Like us, they want safety, stability, and an opportunity for a better life made both conservative and older voters more liable to agree that migrants are fleeing danger, not causing it. The polling memo covered the results of two surveys, both conducted May 10-22 using YouGov. One survey polled 1,000 registered voters nationwide, and the other 1,904 voters with oversampling for Black, Hispanic and Asian American and Pacific Islander voters. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TOPEKA (KSNT) State officials have awarded almost $9 million to 14 transportation projects across the Sunflower State. Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Secretary Calvin Reed announced Thursday, June 27 that 14 transportation projects statewide are going to split $8.6 million through the departments Cost Share Program. Through this program, local entities are given financial assistance from the state to work on transportation projects that improve safety, support job growth and retention, improve access, relieve congestion on roadways and help improve the states transportation system. Topeka St. Jude Dream Home helps kids, families These new Cost Share projects will repair and modernize transportation infrastructure in communities across Kansas, Kelly said. Collaboration on these selected projects address short-term challenges to bring long-term solutions to the places Kansans call home. Since the Cost Share Project started in the fall of 2019, more than $260 million has been invested into 179 projects across the state. Kansans understand the value of partnerships, Reed said. The Cost Share Program provides the opportunity for partnership between KDOT and communities to solve local transportation issues through shared investment. Addressing these infrastructure projects enables solutions that will help these communities and residents keep moving forward for generations. Below is a list of 14 projects that were announced Thursday: City of Baxter Springs Bagcraft Boulevard improvements City of Edwardsville 104 th Street sidewalk expansion City of Fort Scott East National Avenue project City of Hesston East-west community connection City of Hoisington Green and Vine Street resurfacing and pedestrian improvements City of Inman Street improvements for Nikkel Addition City of Norton Oliver Lane and Franklin Avenue paving project City of Sabetha Kansas Road and 14th Street surfacing City of St. John St. John Street improvements City of Wamego Kaw Valley Road improvements Cloud County Noble Road pavement preservation project Lane County Airport runway and county road improvements Seward County Meade Lake Road HMA overlay Wallace County Smoky Hill River low water crossings project 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. Gov. Mike DeWine on bill to restrict transgender bathroom use: 'I would sign the bill' Protesters gather at the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 24 ahead of the Ohio Senate's vote to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of House Bill 68. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expressed support for legislation to ban transgender students from using the restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. "As it stands now, I would sign the bill," DeWine told reporters Friday following a news conference about the state's $4.2 billion capital budget. The bill, which the Ohio House passed late Wednesday, would require K-12 and college students at public and charter schools in Ohio to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth. The Ohio Senate must review the proposed legislation before it would hit DeWine's desk. Senators are not scheduled to meet until after the November election. Equality Ohio, which advocates for LGBTQ residents, was "appalled" by DeWine's willingness to sign the bill. "Ohio is home to gender diverse community members and this targeted legislation only serves to force more Ohioans to leave the state," Equality Ohio said in a statement. "If this bill comes across the governors desk, we urge him to once again acknowledge the danger that any anti-LGBTQ+ legislation poses to Ohioans and reconsider this position." More: What to know about Ohio transgender bathroom bill that passed House this week DeWine's comments come after he vetoed legislation to ban medical care for transgender minors and prohibit transgender girls from playing female sports. Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature voted to override DeWine's veto. An Ohio judge has temporarily blocked that law from taking effect. Reporter Haley BeMiller contributed to this article. Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine shows support for transgender bathroom ban bill A retired pediatrician from Norwell has been indicted on charges that he sexually assaulted 15 children who were his patients at South Shore Medical Center over a span of more than two decades. Richard A. Kauff, 68, faces nine counts of rape of a child with force and eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement. A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Kauff on the charges on Friday. Cruz said the grand jury returned 17 indictments for 15 different victims spanning 23 years, after several months of investigation. Former Norwell pediatrician accused of sexually assaulting young girls during annual checkups Kauff is out on $50,000 cash bail out of Hingham District Court, on conditions that he stay away and have no contact with the victims or South Shore Medical Center facilities in Norwell and Kingston, Cruz said. Prosecutors have also asked that Kauff have no unsupervised contact with children under 16, surrender his passport, remain in Massachusetts, and relinquish his medical license. Kauff voluntarily agreed in November to turn in his medical license and not practice medicine. Kauff worked as a pediatrician since 1983, and most recently with South Shore Medical Center in Norwell, Cruz said. He saw patients in South Shore Medical offices in both Kingston and Norwell until retiring in 2022. On Oct. 4, 2023, an anonymous person posted to local Facebook group that they believed they were sexually assaulted during an annual checkup. Others replied to the Facebook post and urged the victim to report the incident to Norwell Police. The next day, another victim reported to Norwell Police a similar incident. Both victims alleged the perpetrator was Kauff, Cruz said. After Norwell Police sought charges against Kauff in Hingham District Court, more than three dozen people came forward to report similar experiences with Kauff, Cruz said. An extensive grand jury investigation followed to identify additional alleged victims and the viability of prosecution on charges based on the analysis of statute of limitations and other legal issues. Kauff will be arraigned on the charges in Superior Court at a later date. 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 Reality Check is a Bee series holding officials and organizations accountable and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email realitycheck@sacbee.com. A Sacramento County grand jury report found that the Board of Supervisors process to grant themselves a pay hike in 2023 included a major math mistake and an astonishing lack of transparency. Last year, the board passed a proposal that granted all five supervisors a 36% pay increase. But due to a math miscalculation caused by sloppy work, the grand jury found, some supervisors and members of the public thought it was a 20% raise. In reality, it was nearly double that, according to the report released Friday. In the May 23, 2023, meeting with the reading waived, the raise and vehicle allowance increases were approved 4-1 as part of the boards consent agenda. Sue Frost, whose term will end in December, was the lone dissenting vote. Discussion on Item 14 during that meeting lasted a total of 20 seconds, according to The Sacramento Bees review of the meeting video, typical of most consent items. The grand jurys investigation also discovered that Sacramento County violated a state law that requires a 60-day waiting period before such an ordinance starts. Instead, the county prompted the pay raise to begin 30 days after the vote was taken, giving voters much less time to try and organize and reverse the decision. The grand jury announced their findings Friday after completing interviews with 16 people, including county elected officials, executives, department leaders and staff. The 19-person watchdog panel also looked at regulations, ordinances and agenda packets from board meetings. They found the vote for a salary increase came about after a county executive team and a third-party consultant recommended a 20% salary increase for supervisors. But, because of the bad math, the raise was actually 36%. The public was informed the cost to bump up five supervisors salaries would be $173,296 for the 2023-24 fiscal year, but the grand jury discovered the pay increases cost taxpayers a total of $333,069 a nearly $160,000 blunder. Supervisors only discovered the math mistake after the raise had been approved, the grand jury report said. Even more concerning than the math miscalculation, is the choice by county staff not to update the board with the correct information after the fact, said Steve Caruso, the grand jurys foreperson. Among other things, it raises the question of how many other times mistakes in facts presented at board meetings are never publicly corrected. The supervisors initially put the pay hike vote on the consent calendar for April 18 and May 23 board meetings in 2023. This kind of calendar is usually for noncontroversial issues that dont tend to draw public comment. The grand jury found that any supervisor at either of the two meetings could have moved the proposal to the more open timed matters agenda where the public is encouraged to give comments. However, no supervisor moved to do so. While the use of the consent calendar was not against the law, the process lacked transparency to maintain the publics trust when voting on matters of significant public interest, the grand jury report said. County staff acknowledged that it was a mistake to tuck the salary increase proposal in the middle of the consent calendar, Caruso said. But we also hold the supervisors accountable because they had the authority to take the proposal off the consent calendar to encourage more public discussion, but they made a conscious decision not to. In their final recommendations, the grand jury listed seven actions the county should take, starting with an open board meeting where the public is informed how the financial errors happened and whether any money should be returned. The report also advised the county to create a citizen-based compensation commission. In a statement sent to The Sacramento Bee, county officials said they were reviewing the report and recommendations, adding that they take this matter seriously and are committed to a thorough examination of the issues raised. Sacramento County plans to issue a formal response to the grand jury reports concerns within 90 days. Grandparents in Cascais are also entitled to a small reduction in their municipal taxes - GABRIEL MELLO/MOMENT RF Grandparents in a Portuguese town will be entitled to paid leave in an effort to boost the countrys low birth rates. The local council of the seaside town of Cascais, outside Lisbon, said it would grant a month of paid leave for all its employees on the birth of their first grandchild and just over two weeks leave on the birth of subsequent grandchildren. The thinking is that it will give older people a better quality of life as the population ages and encourage parents to have more children, knowing they have support at hand. By valuing grandfathers and grandmothers we are seeking to preserve and promote family cohesion and solidarity, Carlos Carreiras, the mayor of Cascais, told the Portuguese newspaper Expresso. Portugal shares the problem of other developed countries of a low birth rate and aging population. In 2022, there were 89,764 births compared with 117,809 deaths. According to projections, half of Portugals population will be aged 50 and over by 2040, and almost one in three will be 65 and over. Under the councils scheme, grandparents will also get a small reduction in their municipal taxes. They can divide their leave into individual weeks rather than take it as a block up until the child is three years old. Grandternity Mr Carreiras said he is convinced that similar schemes to help grandparents perform family support roles will become widespread across the country. He is already hoping it will be taken up by private companies by offering them a 25 per cent discount on council services if they sign up. If that happens, those companies would be following in the footsteps of major companies in Britain and the US who are doing something similar. In recent years, companies including Booking.com, Fannie Mae and SentinelOne have introduced grandternity leave for their employees. In Britain last year, Tesco granted workers who have been given a special guardianship order by a court the same childcare rights as adoptive parents, amounting to 26 weeks leave on full pay. The kinship leave, as Tesco calls it, will apply to grandparents or other relatives looking after the child of a family member, and is intended to help carers stay in the workforce while managing their extra responsibilities. In Cascais, 23 per cent of the towns total population are over 65. And out of 2,369 council workers, 42 per cent are aged 55 or over. Intergenerational relationships The mayor said the initiative aims to recognise the important role grandparents play in the family while strengthening ties between generations. This intergenerational relationship is absolutely fundamental in terms of exchanging knowledge and learning, he said. The scheme is being overseen by a new department which also plans to introduce dozens of measures to protect the most vulnerable in society, including children, the elderly and the poor. More than 400,000 elderly people in the country are considered to be at risk from poverty, living on no more than 551 per month, according to the think-tanks Pordata database. Mr Carreiras said that the pandemic showed the importance of protecting the rights and dignity of the elderly who were among the most vulnerable to the disease. It also highlighted that many are suffering from loneliness, particularly in villages where people have left for bigger towns and cities. Of the countrys 10.4 million inhabitants, about a million are elderly living alone, according to figures from Fundacao Francisco Manuel dos Santos, a sociological think-tank. 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. The grumpy old men presidential debate between the felon from Florida and the Democrat from Delaware was a dreadful and disturbing performance that may have lasting consequences. Donald Trump was a spectacular liar who did not belong on this or any political stage. But Joe Biden, his decline on full display, seems no match for him in the modern, spontaneous political world when facts dont necessarily matter. Listening to Joe Biden is now reminding me of listening to my late grandmother. She would mistake facts and then correct them. First Id be cousin Marc, then shed remember later I was Tom. She would run words together. But in the end, her words and wisdom rang true, and I savored every one of them. I dont want to navigate my inherent respect for the elderly when I listen to my president, but this seems to be our reality. American voters are simply going to have to forgive Joe Bidens human limitations in order really listen to what he is saying and to reelect him. Opinion There is every reason in the world why Donald Trump should not be president. He lied about abortion and how everybody wanted a womans right to choose to be settled by each and every state. He lied about his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. He lied about immigration. He wont accept the results of the election. He probably lied about his relationship with a porn star, but I was not there. He does have a probation officer as a result, though. Going up against a bully requires the strength of a bully and an even faster mind. Trump tried to make Biden the liar, the disgrace. Yet watching Joe Bidens performance Thursday night made me wonder whether his mannerisms, his sporadic empty looks, some painfully incomplete sentences when he forgot what he was going to say, are what Americans will remember and not Trumps horrific misrepresentation of reality. This debate from a personal optics perspective may go down as being as bad as Richard Nixon in 1960 against John F. Kennedy, when a wooden Nixon proved no match for his more charismatic, compelling opponent, who then pulled away in the race. The debate format, with both speakers subject to microphone muting, helped maintain a back and forth and not a sea of interruptions. We got to hear, loud and clear, the worst choices for president in modern times. The massive chattering class in American politics is about to have a field day. Everyday citizens are in for the most hideous electoral process imaginable. Walter Mathau and Jack Lemon, the grumpy actors in the 1993 comedy, were both far too young to qualify for Thursday nights presidential debate stage. They were funny at least. What took place Thursday night in Georgia was nothing short of terrifying. Guatemala asks LGBT pride marchers to have 'good manners' after bid to ban event GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -Guatemala's top court on Friday issued a resolution that called for "good manners" and authorities to protect moral values at this year's annual LGBT pride parade, after a lawyer sought to ban the march and prevent children from attending. Guatemala, a largely Catholic country of some 17 million people, is one of a handful of countries in Latin America that does not legally recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions. While resolving that the march could take place, Guatemala's constitutional court issued an order urging parade participants to protest peacefully and calling for the "protection of spiritual and moral social values, especially in the case of children and teenagers." Roberto Antonio Cano, the lawyer who sought to ban the march, argued that the parade "contains immoral, sexual, depraved scenes, contrary to the moral and integral development of children." March organizers said the court resolution stigmatizes and discriminates against sexual diversity. "The parade is ready to go and we will not give in to intimidation attempts," the organizers' committee said on X. "This is a peaceful, civic and communal demonstration where diverse people are united by the celebration of who we are." Guatemala's Congress in 2022 attempted to pass a law that would have criminalized same-sex unions and raised prison sentences for women seeking abortions, but it was shelved when conservative former President Alejandro Giammattei threatened to veto it, saying it would violate the constitution as well as international agreements. Current President Bernardo Arevalo said during his election campaign last year that while he did not plan to promote same-sex marriage, he would work to prevent discrimination against people for their sexual orientation. Later on Friday, the government issued a statement saying it would safeguard international and constitutional rights, including the right to peaceful demonstration. "We invite all public institutions not to restrict, limit or diminish them," it said. Gay pride parades are set to take place in major cities across the world this weekend. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Brendan O'Boyle and Leslie Adler) ST. LOUIS An OFallon, Missouri, man was convicted Thursday for stealing an ambulance in October 2022 and leading police on a chase into St. Louis City. According to prosecutors with the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office, Dwane Vardiman, 49, spent the night of October 2 at Mercy Hospital in Festus after overdosing on fentanyl. Around 8:30 a.m. the following day, Vardiman stole a Valle Ambulance District vehicle that was parked outside the hospital. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said multiple agencies followed the ambulance along northbound Interstate 55. Once the vehicle traveled into St. Louis County, Jefferson County deputies terminated their pursuit. The ambulance continued onward into St. Louis City, swerving in and out of traffic and through construction zones. Vardiman got on and off the interstate multiple times. St. Louis depicted as Gotham City in new Batman series Vardiman struck two SLMPD vehicles and a car driven by a bystander. He eventually stopped just after 10 a.m. in the 7600 block of Broadway after police deployed spike strips and deflated the tires on the ambulance. No one was injured during the pursuit. Vardiman was found guilty of resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle. Despite the conviction, Vardiman remains free on bond. City prosecutors requested his bond be revoked, citing prior convictions in St. Charles County for stealing, sexual misconduct, forgery, and identity theft. Varidman will be sentenced in September. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HANFORD, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A business in Hanford was accused of selling alcohol to a minor during a decoy operation earlier this year, the Kings County Sheriffs Office said. On Thursday, deputies say they assisted an Agent with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control with posting an ABC license suspension at Tacos el Grullo, located at 314 W. Lacey Blvd. in Hanford. According to sheriffs officials, in January of this year, deputies and agents sent a minor decoy into the restaurant to attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage. A violation was obtained and the employee was issued a citation for selling alcohol to a minor. The sheriffs office says the 10-day license suspension is part of the administrative sanctions served against the ABC license holder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Vice President Harris defended President Bidens debate performance during an occasionally tense CNN interview Thursday, when even Bidens running mate had to concede he had a slow start during his showdown with former President Trump. What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people, Harris said in an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish. And what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people. On substance on policy on performance, Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong. Cooper balked at Harriss last line in the wake of Bidens debate performance. The presidents voice was often raspy, which the White House later attributed to a cold, and he at times lost his train of thought or struggled to make his point clearly. Cooper noted members of Congress said following the debate they were worried about Bidens performance. People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance. And the contrast is clear, Harris said. She cited Trump equivocating over whether he would accept the 2024 election results and his flip-flopping on abortion in the wake of the end of Roe v. Wade. But again, Cooper pushed back, asking Harris if Biden appeared to be the same candidate on Thursdays stage that he was during their 2020 Democratic primary debates, or the same person she sees in meetings each day. Can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the presidents performance tonight? Cooper asked. It was a slow start; thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, Harris responded. Im talking about the choice in November. Im talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. She argued Biden has been a successful president, able to broker bipartisan deals with lawmakers on infrastructure and other areas and has a track record of more than three years to point to rather than a 90-minute debate. Bidens performance has largely been panned by Democrats, some of whom have acknowledged it will stoke conversations about whether he should be replaced atop the Democratic ticket before Augusts convention. The chatter is very distracting, and its going to be very consuming for the campaign, former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC. Should he be replaced? Theyre going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Harris defends Biden after debate: This race will not be decided by one night in June At a brief campaign stop in Las Vegas on Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged concerns about her runningmates weak debate performance the night prior and defended the president. Last night, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump had their first debate, and earlier today the president said himself it was not his best performance, she told a crowd of supporters at the East Las Vegas Community Center. But there are three things that were true yesterday before the debate that are still true today. Lets level set on this. First, the stakes of this race could not be higher. Second, the contrast in this election could not be more stark. And third we believe in our President Joe Biden, and we believe in what he stands for. Biden and Trump participated in a 90-minute debate Thursday at CNNs headquarters in Atlanta. Bidens performance has been widely panned as weak, overshadowing numerous unchecked lies made by Trump about abortion, immigration and other key issues. Harris spoke for roughly 10 minutes at the East Las Vegas Community Center, located in a predominantly Hispanic part of the Las Vegas metro area. The event was billed as a post-debate campaign event focused on Latino voters, though most of her comments were about Trump. Donald Trump is unburdened by the truth, she said. Its not a burden he carries. Case in point, last night was a nonstop stream of lies. When it comes to a real leader, she said, character matters more than style. Donald Trump does not have the character to be president of the United States. Election Day is 130 days from Friday, Harris said, adding, This race will not be decided by one night in June. Fridays stop marked the vice presidents fifth visit to Nevada this year and her 13th since taking office. Vice President Kamala Harris knew she had to go to bat for President Joe Biden as devastating reviews of the presidents debate performance rolled in late Thursday night, aiming to strike a balance between sounding reasonable about the presidents performance while also hammering home the contrast between the two candidates, two sources told CNN. Moments after the debate, Harris joined an organizing call, checked in with campaign officials on a brief call and then participated in previously scheduled interviews. And on Friday, Harris staff made phone calls to check in with Democratic officials, trying to reassure them, reminding them of Bidens record and agenda, and calling on them to remain united, according to another source. Harris took that argument to Las Vegas on Friday marking her fifth visit to the state this year during a campaign event focused on Latino voters. There are three things that were true yesterday before the debate that are still true today. Lets level set on this. First, the stakes of this race could not be higher. Second, the contrast in this election could not be more stark. And third, we believe in our President Joe Biden, and we believe in what he stands for, she said. This race will not be decided by one night in June, she added. Bidens lackluster debate performance carries real consequences for Harris both as someone riding on his ticket and as someone who hasnt generally been floated as the heir apparent amid panic among Democrats. Heading into her Thursday night interviews, one of those sources said, Harris was focused on pointing out falsehoods spewed by Trump, while also nodding to the debate getting off to a slow start. But one line stood out to allies and sources close to the vice president: Im not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when Ive been watching the last three-and-a-half years of performance, she told CNNs Anderson Cooper. The two sources told CNN that the vice president came up with the line spontaneously over the course of the interview and one cited it as an example of why people close to her have repeatedly said shes best skilled to prosecute the case in this election cycle. Her mood going in was clear-eyed about her job last night, one of those sources said, pointing to her statement that Biden shouldnt be judged by one debate performance. When shes prosecuting a case, there are fewer tougher and (more) clear-eyed about what shes got to do, the source added. Biden aides were pleased by Harris performance in a round robin of television interviews Thursday night after the debate. Staff watching from the campaigns Wilmington headquarters audibly cheered Harris on. The first years of her tenure as vice president were marked by tough assignments that proved thankless taking the lead in diplomacy with Central American nations to try to stem migration to the southern border and taking the lead on voting rights legislation that was dead on arrival on Capitol Hill along with some high-profile stumbles. CNN has previously reported that Harris had made her unhappiness with some of her assignments known within the White House. But now Harris is embracing her role as a key voice on the campaign trail, especially on issues like reproductive rights, a major theme for the Biden campaign as it hones its message ahead of November, among other defining issues. Shes also bringing the message to the campaign trail with a revamped energy that has been on full display in recent speeches. Harris will continue her campaign travel blitz Friday, participating in a fundraising event in Park City, Utah, and a political outreach meeting with Black supporters in Los Angeles. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Hawaii judge ordered the demolition of a house after a California woman bought a vacant plot, only to discover the building on her land A Hawaii judge ordered the demolition of a house after a California woman bought a vacant plot, only to discover the building on her land A construction company in Hawaii must pay to demolish a house it built on the wrong lot, a judge ruled. A woman who lives in California bought the plot for $22,500 and planned to build a retreat. The company built the house on the wrong plot after incorrectly identifying it using telephone poles. A house mistakenly built on the wrong plot of land in Hawaii is set to be knocked down after a developer got it confused with the neighboring lot. A judge ordered the construction company that made the mistake to foot the bill for the demolition. Annaleine "Anne" Reynolds bought the one-acre plot of land in Hawaiian Paradise Park on Hawaii's Big Island for $22,500 at a tax auction in 2018. Reynolds, who lives in California, previously told Business Insider she'd planned to use the land for a home for her children and to host women's retreats. She said in legal filings that she discovered in June last year that a house worth roughly $500,000 had been built on the plot. PJ's Construction, which was contracted by Keaau Development to build twelve properties in Hawaiian Paradise Park, mistakenly built the property on the wrong plot after using telephone poles to try to identify Lot 115 it built the house on Lot 114, on the other side of the telephone pole, according to legal filings. Patrick John Lawrence, Jr., the owner of PJ's Construction, said he was first made aware that the property had been built on the wrong lot when he was informed by the real-estate agent after the house was sold. Keaau Development then sued Reynolds, claiming she was "unjustly enriched" by the property. Judge Robert D. S. Kim wrote in an order on Monday, viewed by BI, that PJ's Construction had to pay for the demolition of the house on Reynolds's property. The company may seek contribution or indemnity from Keaau Development at a subsequent trial or hearing, Kim wrote. Reynolds had also asked for the court to order Keaau Development and PJ's Construction to restore the plot of land to its original state. To build the house, PJ's Construction had bulldozed the lot, which "removed all of the previously standing native vegetation," Kim wrote. After this, there was a "long period of neglect," during which invasive Albizia trees were able to "infest" the lot, he wrote. As well as building the house, PJ's Construction also installed a septic tank and a catchment water system. But Kim wrote that it was '"impossible" to return the property to its original state. The companies had "seriously disturbed the peaceable use, enjoyment, and possession of real property," Kim wrote. Reynolds had testified that her property taxes for the plot shot up after the house was constructed and that she found signs of squatting, such as empty drink containers and human waste in the toilet and on the floor. Keaau Development and PJ's Construction excavated the lot and built the house without a survey as part of a plan to "cut corners to reduce construction costs," Kim wrote in Monday's filing. He added that because the construction permits were approved for Lot 115, not Lot 114, the house was illegal. The case is still ongoing, with a trial scheduling conference set for the end of July. "We are thrilled with the court's decision that PJ's Construction must bear the costs of demolishing the unauthorized structure on Anne Reynolds' property," Reynolds' lawyer, James D. DiPasquale, told BI. "This ruling not only preserves Anne's property rights but also sets a precedent for accountability in the construction industry. While it's regrettable that the land cannot be restored to its original state, the judgment underscores the importance of meticulous adherence to property and zoning laws." BI wasn't immediately able to contact lawyers for PJ's Construction and didn't immediately receive a response from Keaau Development's attorney. Read the original article on Business Insider South Florida weather will sizzle this weekend with above normal heat and an eye on the tropics where the National Hurricane Center is watching three disturbances with one forecast to become Hurricane Beryl. As of Friday afternoon, the center said Invest 95L had become Tropical Depression Two and was expected to reach tropical storm status over the weekend in the central Atlantic east of the Windward Islands. By Monday, the would-be Beryl could reach hurricane strength ahead of the islands of Barbados, Saint George's and Kingstown. The official NHC forecast has it growing to a Category 2 hurricane by Tuesday with 105 mph winds. "Development this far east in June is unusual, in fact, there have only been a few storms in history that have formed over the central or eastern tropical Atlantic this early in the year," wrote NHC senior hurricane specialist John Cangialosi in the 5 p.m. Friday forecast. The National Hurricane Center has designated Tropical Depression Two, which it expects to reach hurricane strength by Monday, July 1, 2024. There is no immediate threat to the United States or Florida from the tropical disturbances, but Palm Beach County may find itself under another heat advisory after suffering heat index or "feels like" temperatures that were forecast to reach as high as 110 on Friday. "There is a good chance we will issue another heat advisory Saturday as temperatures are similar and and heat index values seem to be similar or slightly higher than today (Friday)," said Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist in the Miami office of the National Weather Service. "For Sunday, we still have time to check on upcoming guidance and decide depending on how the forecast evolves." Heat advisory issued for Palm Beach County until 5 p.m. Friday June 28, 2024. Saturday's high temperatures are forecast to be in the lower 90s for most of southeast Florida. That is expected to repeat on Sunday, which could make it a sweaty afternoon for the parade in Fort Lauderdale celebrating the Florida Panthers winning the Stanley Cup. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at Riomar Street near the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach. It will end about a mile south at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. Sunday's forecast also calls for a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms with some beginning before 2 p.m. While several tropical forecasters were calling for this week to be quiet, Mother Nature had other plans. "The tropics are looking more like August than June," said FOX Weather hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross in his Hurricane Intel blog. Following in Tropical Depression Two's footsteps is a tropical wave that the NHC said has a 20% chance of development over seven days. The other disturbance is the lingering Invest 94L over the western Caribbean Sea, which has a 30% chance of formation over the next two days. On average, the second named storm of a season doesn't typically form until July 17, with the third trailing on Aug. 3. Normally, Saharan dust is too thick this time of year for much to get going in the tropical Atlantic between the Caribbean and Africa, but Tropical Depression Two and its companion are at such low latitudes they are avoiding the bulk of the dust. The National Hurricane Center is watching three disturbances for tropical development on June 28, 2024. Storm experts are debating the potential strength of the depression as it moves closer to the eastern Caribbean islands. The majority of intensity models have it becoming at least a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane, but it is difficult to gauge strength or track before a system develops. "It's not out of the question that the system could become a hurricane by the time it gets to the islands," Norcross said. "For now, high pressure over the southeastern U.S. appears most likely to hold the likely-Beryl well to the south, at least well into the Caribbean. But it's too early to be sure of the long term." In the short term, if a heat advisory is issued for Palm Beach County it means the NWS expects the heat index temperatures to reach 108 or higher for at least two hours. An excessive heat warning is issued when the heat index is forecast to reach 113 or higher for at least two hours. More: Man's death in South Florida heat prompts federal investigation into company that employed him Why is it so hot? The normal high temperature for West Palm Beach in late June is 89 degrees with an overnight low of 76 degrees. An area of high pressure is parked near Florida, which generally means clear skies and fewer clouds. Light afternoon sea breezes will help build showers and thunderstorms through the weekend to help cool temperatures but they may be moving slowly. That could lead to localized flooding, NWS meteorologists said. The heat advisory thresholds have changed The NWS announced last week that Broward County would join Miami-Dade County in an experimental program that starts advisories at a lower threshold level. In those two counties, an advisor is issued if heat index temperatures of 195 or higher are expected for at least two hours. An excessive heat warning is issued if the heat index is expected to reach 110 or higher for at least two hours. More: Climate change triggers new Florida heat warning chart that alerts when it could be deadly outside Robert Molleda, meteorologist in charge at the NWS Miami office, said the changes were made at the request of the counties and align better with "local climatology" as well as recent health data that shows people get sick from temperatures lower than the current thresholds. He said Palm Beach County may be included in the lower thresholds if it requests it and after an assessment this summer of how the alerts are issued in Broward and Miami-Dade. "The bottom line in all of this is every part of our forecast area will still get alerted at the appropriate times," Molleda said last week. "The changes aren't permanent yet. We want to see how it's applied, and last year was a good start to evaluate it." What is the heat index? The heat index temperature is calculated through an equation that considers ambient temperature and the amount of moisture in the air, using the dew point or relative humidity. Dew point is the amount of water vapor in the air. Relative humidity is a percentage describing the amount of saturation of air. A higher dew point makes the body's natural cooling mechanism sweat less efficient. What is a heat advisory? A heat advisory means people sensitive to warm temperatures should take precautions to avoid heat illness, including staying hydrated and seeking breaks if working or playing outside. Signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke include symptoms such as muscle cramps, excessive sweating, throbbing headache, passing out, confusion and seizures. An excessive heat warning, the highest alert level on a four-tier scale, means everyone needs to take precautions to stay safe in the heat because "you may become seriously ill or even die," the NWS says. Tips to beat the heat Tips for keeping safe during excessively hot weather from the American Red Cross: If you suspect heat injury, call for help. Children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable. Try not to work outside in the hottest part of the day; if you must work in the heat, slow down. When outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade. Drink plenty of water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, you're already getting dehydrated. Don't drink beverages containing caffeine or alcohol (sodas or beer). They interfere with the bodys temperature-regulating mechanisms. Sweating is the bodys mechanism for cooling. If you stop sweating, call for help. Sunscreen advice Wear sunscreen every day, even if you're only going from house to car and car to office. Look for broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. The key ingredients? Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or Parsol 1789. And never dip below SPF 15. Protect the oft-neglected eyelids, earlobes and lips. Women develop fewer skin cancers on their lips than men do because they enjoy the physical protection of lipstick. Cover up your kids. Children especially need sunblock two-thirds of sun damage happens before the age of 15. But don't put sunscreen on babies under 6 months of age; keep them out of direct sunlight. Replace your sunscreen annually. Unopened, sunscreen has a shelf life of up to three years. Once opened, the SPF starts breaking down. It's a good idea to buy new products at the beginning of each summer. Complete all outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or start them after 4 p.m. to avoid the sun at its strongest. Get to know your skin. Practice self-exams to familiarize yourself with your own landscape. That way, you can more easily notice mole changes such as growing, bleeding or crusting. Have a skin cancer-related checkup, including a complete skin examination as recommended by the American Cancer Society every three years for people between 20 and 40 years of age, and every year for anyone 40 and older. Kimberly Miller is a journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network of Florida. She covers real estate and how growth affects South Florida's environment. Subscribe to The Dirt for a weekly real estate roundup. If you have news tips, please send them to kmiller@pbpost.com. Help support our local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Heat advisory South Florida with heat index temperatures soaring Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are shortening the traditional Friday prayers due to intense heat, until the end of the summer. In many countries, Muslims perform the Friday noon prayers, which include a religious sermon, in open-air arenas inside and outside the mosques. The UAE directed all the preachers across the country to limit the Friday prayers to 10 minutes until early October "to ensure the safety of worshippers." In Saudi Arabia, Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina are being limited to 15 minutes, to take into account worshippers praying in outer, unshaded areas, the Presidency of Religious Affairs said. Meanwhile in Iraq, influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged preachers to "adhere to simple prayers" in order to keep the Friday sermon short, so that worshippers avoid intense heat. Intense heatwaves have affected people across the Middle East in recent weeks. More than 1,300 Muslim pilgrims died in the annual Hajj pilgrimage that ended earlier in June amid the extreme heat. KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Crews are responding to a house fire in Kingston as heavy smoke fills the area. On Friday, Kingston Fire Department was called for a house fire around 12:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Rutter Avenue. PPL will pay for ice, water to residents without power Heavy smoke can be seen coming from the top floor of the home as multiple firefighters work to put out the fire. Information is limited at this time. 28/22 News is on the scene and we will update you with the latest as it is 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 PAhomepage.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Henderson man was arraigned on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and three others with allegedly using Instagram to sell more than 60 firearms including guns lacking serial numbers, known as ghost guns, as well as machine gun conversion devices, known as Glock switches that had been stolen, according to U.S. Attorneys Office. Mark Perez, 22, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Los Angeles, California. He is also charged with four counts of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition, one count of possessing a firearm with a removed or altered serial number, and one count of possession of a machine gun. Perez is charged along with Ivan Quintos, 27, of Azusa, and Salvador Lopez, 24 of Whittier along with Zachary Dry, 23, of Henderson. All three were charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. The illegal firearm sales occurred in North Hollywood, Las Vegas, and elsewhere, the indictment alleges. If convicted, Perez faces a maximum sentence of 100 years in federal prison. A trial date was set for August 6. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Here's what Kansas politicians are saying about the Biden vs. Trump debate President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated on Thursday night in the first of two scheduled debates. Trump is heavily favored to win in Kansas, where in 2020 he won 56% of Kansas voters to Biden's 41%. Polling of Kansas is sparse, but in head-to-head matchups Trump continues to lead Biden by double-digits. U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in their first 2020 presidential campaign debate held on the campus of the Cleveland Clinic at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., September 29, 2020. Morry Gash/Pool via REUTERS Here's what Kansas politicians said about the Thursday's debate. Senator Roger Marshall Sen. Roger Marshall, US-Kansas, is the most active poster during the debate, making more than 10 posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, during the debate. Nothing Joe Biden says tonight will reverse the damage he's done to our country. Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 28, 2024 Imagine having every single condition met, preparing for SIX days straight, having the media in your our pocket, and THIS is your best performance? WOW. #PresidentialDebate2024 Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 28, 2024 You know what will send Iran a message of deterrence? Firing Joe Biden. Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 28, 2024 President Biden has not secured a single trade deal. Not one. #PresidentialDebate2024 Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) June 28, 2024 Republican contenders The candidates vying to replace Rep. Jake LaTurner of Kansas's 2nd District chimed in after the end of the debate. Debate recap: Trump presidential, Biden...just sad. All of America just witnessed what we have known since this election season began more than a year ago: America NEEDS Donald Trump back in the White House. #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/XxuZ6goV6b Derek Schmidt (@DerekSchmidtKS) June 28, 2024 Tonight showed what Americans have felt for the last three years: our nation is better off under President Trump. Joe Biden couldnt string a coherent sentence together. He is unfit for office. The choice is clear: lets send President Trump back to the White House! Shawn Tiffany (@shawn_tiffany) June 28, 2024 Its clear Donald Trump must be our next president. In Congress, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump to clean up Bidens mess. #DebateNight #Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/qGYt41AVOi Jeff Kahrs (@Kahrs4Congress) June 28, 2024 Kansas GOP The Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Brown celebrated Trump's performance and said it revealed Biden to be unfit for office. "Republicans, led by Donald Trump, have been calling attention to Biden's clear cognitive decline while Democrats have lied, denying Bidens condition. And of course those lies were dutifully parrotted (sic) and echoed by the legacy and mainstream media," Brown said. "Now the whole world has seen the truth and it is an ugly sight." Kansas Democrats Few Kansas Democrats posted their live reaction to the debate, except Stephanie Clayton, D-Overland Park, who encouraged her followers to vote. Regardless of how one feels about the politics theater of a debate, the most important message from the #PresidentialDebate2024 tonight is this: Democracy (currently) is in your hands. Vote. Stephanie Clayton (@SSCJoCoKs) June 28, 2024 Democratic candidate for Kansas's second district Nancy Boyda called on Biden to suspend his campaign the day after the debate. She praised Biden for his time in office, but doubted that he could defeat Trump. "One of the greatest measures of a leader is knowing when it is time to pass the torch and step back to allow a new generation a path forward. I call on President Biden to gracefully enter that phase of his political career because these stakes are simply too high, and our country, and especially the most vulnerable members of it, depend on it," Boyda said. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly took the opposite approach, vowing to stick with Biden come November. While I have never been shy about standing up to Washington when its wrong for Kansas, the Presidents record of delivering bipartisan results speaks for itself. His efforts will continue to allow Kansas to recruit new manufacturing businesses, rebuild our infrastructure, and stand up for our fundamental freedoms. He is a decent man of strong character. I will support him in November, Kelly said. Kansas 'more liberal than you would've thought' When asked if he would ban abortifacient drugs after the Supreme Court struck down a challenge that would've restricted access to medicated abortion, Trump said he wouldn't ban it and would leave it to the states. He did say that the votes in Kansas and Ohio, where ballot measures that would've ended abortion protections failed at the ballot box. "Now the states are working it out. If you look at Ohio it was a decision that was a an end result that was a little more liberal than you would've thought. Kansas I would say the same thing. Texas is different, Florida is different," Trump said. Neither of the votes were particularly close, with with voters favoring abortion access by more than 18 points in Kansas and 13 points in Ohio. In Florida, abortion is banned after six weeks and in Texas nearly all abortions aren't allowed. Both laws were passed by the legislature rather than via ballot measure like the process in Kansas or Ohio, but abortion is on the ballot in Florida this November. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas politicians in House, Senate and more react to debate Hezbollah has the weapons to carry out its threat against Cyprus The leader of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon threatened the Republic of Cyprus. Hezbollah has a vast arsenal of missiles and drones to carry through on its threat. Hezbollah may be using Cyprus as a "stand in" to threaten Greece, a regional expert said. The leader of the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon threatened the Republic of Cyprus for the first time this month, underscoring the risks of the Middle East crisis spreading beyond the region. The threat against Cyprus is also an indirect threat against NATO member Greece, which has close ties with Israel. "The Cypriot government must be warned that opening Cypriot airports and bases for the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon means that the Cypriot government has become part of the war and the resistance (Hezbollah) will deal with it as part of the war," Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's secretary-general, declared in a June 19 speech. Hezbollah has a vast arsenal of drones, anti-ship, ballistic, and cruise missiles that makes it capable of following through on Nasrallah's threat against the Eastern Mediterranean island. "Hezbollah is attempting to use all possible means to cause fear in Israel and its partners, in this case, the Republic of Cyprus," George Tzogopoulos, a senior fellow at the Centre International de Formation Europeenne, a French policy research institute, told Business Insider. "I would consider Hezbollah's tactics as psychological warfare," Tzogopoulos said. "Although the Republic of Cyprus and Israel have enjoyed strategic cooperation for years, the current timing is crucial. That is perhaps why threats were made public a few days ago." Cyprus is a divided island. The republic, which Nasrallah threatened, in the south is a member of the European Union. Aside from Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north is internationally unrecognized. These sides are split by a UN-patrolled buffer zone. The United Kingdom also has exclusive control over two military bases on the island's south, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which are officially known as Sovereign Base Areas. The EU predictably denounced Nasrallah's threats, as did the republic's main ally, Greece. Turkey, conversely, warned Cyprus "to stay away from the conflict" in the region. The armed forces of Cyprus have hosted training exercises with their Israeli counterparts on the island. Cyprus has maintained an official policy of neutrality in Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza, which it has reiterated since Nasrallah's threat. The island serves as a hub for the maritime humanitarian corridor the US and the EU have tried to establish for shipping aid to Gaza. According to officials, relations between the US and Cyprus recently "reached their highest level yet," raising hopes that the US will fully lift its arms embargo on the island. Warming ties will undoubtedly help Cyprus weather Hezbollah's threat. "Public threats are taken seriously, and they can generate a political response," Tzogopoulos said. "The Republic of Cyprus is able to expose the tactics of Hezbollah at the EU level and simultaneously seek support by the US." "Hezbollah's public threats could turn out to be a double-edged sword for it," Tzogopoulos added. "In terms of security, I would not expect a country like the Republic of Cyprus, which is so close to the US and Israel, to start preparations against a possible attack as a result of public threats." The cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have forced tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes. Here, an Israeli firefighter douses a blaze started by a downed drone launched from southern Lebanon. Jack Guez/Getty Images Nevertheless, Hezbollah could harm Cyprus if it carries out its threat. The group flew three unarmed drones over Israel's Karish gas-drilling platform in 2022, demonstrating its capability to threaten targets within Israel's maritime zone. Tzogopoulos suspects that Hezbollah could "perhaps employ similar tactics" inside Cyprus's economic exclusive zone, which is also well within the range of the group's drones and missiles. "The Israeli capacity to shoot down Hezbollah's drones in 2022 could be a model for the Republic of Cyprus," Tzogopoulos said. "In fact, this is the substance of the strategic cooperation between Israel and the Republic of Cyprus." Israel, the analyst noted, is also "prepared to share part of its technological and military know-how" with the island republic. Before the Gaza war that began in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks, reports emerged that Cyprus was negotiating the acquisition of Israeli Merkava Mark III main battle tanks and even Israel's well-known Iron Dome air defense system. Existing air defenses in the Cypriot National Guard are limited to short- to medium-range systems like the Russian Tor and Buk. These systems are no match for the powerful surface-to-surface missiles in Hezbollah's arsenal, which include the Iranian-designed Fateh series of short-range ballistic missiles, many of which have the range to reach the Cypriot capital Nicosia roughly 180 miles away. Hezbollah's expansive arsenal includes up to 150,000 rockets and missiles and approximately 2,000 drones of various types, many of them based on Iranian designs. These include a Syrian variant of the Iranian Fateh-110 missile, the M-600. That GPS-guided missile is almost 9 meters long. Hezbollah's drones have recently posed significant challenges to Israel's sophisticated, multi-layered air defenses, including the Iron Dome. While many of these drones are relatively low-tech, such as the cheap and locally assembled Mersad and Ayoub models, others are more advanced models based on Iranian designs like the Ababil, Mohajer, and Shahed series. In addition to launching barrages of one-way explosive drones, Hezbollah attacked a military post in northern Israel in May using a drone that fired two missiles inside Israeli airspace. Hezbollah has also amassed an arsenal of increasingly sophisticated anti-ship missiles in recent years, most notably the Russian-made Yakhont, which boasts a range of 186 miles. Such capabilities would undoubtedly pose a significant threat to Cyprus in the event of war. Experts have already noted that such missiles also enable Hezbollah to target Britain's Akrotiri air base on the island, which supported US-led airstrikes against Hezbollah's ally, the Houthis in Yemen. "For Hezbollah to target British bases in Cyprus would be a high risk," Tzogopoulos said. "The British-American response to such a scenario would be strong. Nothing is to be excluded in times of general instability, but Hezbollah will pay a heavy price if it targets British bases in Cyprus." Nicholas Heras, senior director of strategy and innovation at the New Lines Institute, believes that Nasrallah's threat is also directed at other countries, specifically Greece. Hezbollah seeks to send the message "that all of the Eastern Mediterranean is within range of its attacks" if the group "feels existentially threatened" by a full-scale war with Israel, he said. "Cyprus, although it could serve as a route for the Israeli Air Force to target Hezbollah in Lebanon, or Hezbollah assets in Syria, is nowhere near as important a security partner to Israel as Greece has become over the past several years," Heras told BI. The New Lines analyst noted the Israeli Defense Forces has used Greece as a "key site" for training for another potential war in Lebanon. Greece allows the Israeli Air Force to train over parts of the country with "topographical similarities" to Lebanon. "Greece, a NATO country, is not a likely target for Hezbollah, but Cyprus, a country with close cultural and other ties to Greece, serves as a stand-in for Greece for potential intimidation purposes," Heras said. "Hezbollah's longer-range, Iranian-supplied missiles could strike Greece." Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk off the stage Friday after a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Just hours after a disastrous debate performance that led to immediate calls to abandon his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden on Friday made clear that he had no intention of dropping out. Biden held to a schedule that had been planned ahead of time, delivering a high-energy speech at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, before continuing on to New York City for a Friday night fundraiser, with three other fundraisers planned for Long Island and New Jersey on Saturday. One Biden campaign official, speaking on condition of anonymity, had a two-word answer to the calls that he step aside: Absolutely not. Biden did not address the issue directly at his rally, but referenced it after conceding that Thursday nights CNN debate with former President Donald Trump had not gone well. I know, like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down, you get back up, he said to raucous cheers. Indeed, Bidens frequent stumbles in the 90-minute televised encounter also stood in sharp contrast to far more energetic remarks delivered at a campaign watch party barely an hour later in Atlanta. Before heading to the airport for the short flight to North Carolina, Biden made a midnight visit to an area Waffle House, where he told reporters, Its hard to debate a liar. But that rationale did not explain how, when confronted with the same wall of lies from Trump at their first debate in 2020, Biden had managed to counter them with relative ease. Observers generally saw him as the hands-down winner of that event. It also didnt explain why Biden fumbled when asked about the Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt at the debate Thursday night, when he failed to point out that the U.S. Capitol attack, instigated by Trump, included violent assaults on 140 police officers, with one dying hours later. Instead, Biden only mentioned the breaking of windows and overturning of desks in the building, as if the vandalism had been the worst of it. Biden did reference the attacks on the Capitol and Washington, D.C., police officers during his speech in Raleigh, as he has many dozens of times before. We saw thousands at his direction attack the Capitol. We saw police being attacked. The Capitol being ransacked. The mob hunting for Speaker Pelosi. Gallows literally set up for Mike Pence, Biden said, describing Trump followers hunt for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence. Toward the end of his 20-minute speech, Biden acknowledged that this weeks debate performance wasnt his best. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, he said. I dont walk as easily as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know, I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama, for whom Biden served as vice president for two terms, shared a social media post that tacitly confirmed Biden would be staying in the race. Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know, Obama wrote, referring to his own poor performance at his first reelection debate in 2012 against GOP nominee Mitt Romney. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself, Obama wrote. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November. The Highlights And Lowlights (Only Lowlights, Really) Of That First Debate There are just over four months to Election Day and, as the expectation-setters did not tire of telling us, this was our first time seeing Donald Trump and Joe Biden side by side since 2020. And hoo boy. If you did not watch it yourself, congratulations. Here are some elements that stood out to us. It was a complete disaster This was far and away the primary thing that stood out. The debate format let Trump flood the stage with nonsense and lies. Biden and the moderators did little to respond. Throughout most of the first half of the night, Biden sounded old and hoarse. His voice was faint and his sentences were often muddled, disrupted by him struggling to find the right words on several occasions. It was difficult to watch Trump sound so much more energetic and what many will likely describe as competent when every other answer he gave to CNNs questions was a lie. As Trump spoke, the cameras captured Biden with a flat expression, seemingly staring into the distance. His campaign hurried to tell reporters the President had a cold. The second half was a somewhat different story. Biden at times picked up the pace and was much more forceful with his answers. That brings us back to the format. Having Trump on air and in a presidential debate at that without actively fact checking him was far from ideal. It ended up feeling like an opportunity for the moderators to simply indulge Trumps well-known penchant for advancing a delusional view of reality. Abortion During a back and forth between the two candidates, Trump repeatedly claimed that under Roe v. Wade, women could and were having abortions at nine months, and even after. Now, after listening to Trumps many ridiculous claims, its hard to resist the urge to emphasize what is hopefully already well known: no one has late-term abortions sans a serious medical emergency. Babies are not being killed after being born. The questions didnt help. As TPMs Kate Riga wrote, CNN asking Biden if he supports late-term abortions is playing directly into the anti-abortion movements hands. It might as well be a question about The Loch Ness Monster Trump pretends he's always supported "exceptions" to abortion bans, arguing that the Dobbs ruling has been unifying for the country. pic.twitter.com/Gq2j3zhQwQ Talking Points Memo (@TPM) June 28, 2024 Retribution Halfway through the debate, Trump was asked what he meant when he said he has every right to go after his political opponents after he was convicted of 34 felonies in the New York hush money trial. At first, he avoided the question, saying, Well, I said my retribution is going to be success. Were going to make this country successful again because right now its a failing nation. But as he kept rambling on, things took a menacing turn. He sure did sound like he was threatening Biden and his son Hunter. He could be a convicted felon as soon as he gets out of office, Trump said of the president. Joe could be a convicted felon with all of the things that hes done. Hes done horrible things. The moment when Trump ominously threatens Biden with retribution: pic.twitter.com/vQLnhgKfew Talking Points Memo (@TPM) June 28, 2024 Trump also made his standard claim that Biden went after his political opponent, Trump, because he wanted to hurt Trumps chances of getting re-elected a bout of projection for those who remember back to Trumps first impeachment in 2019. Its a guy thats after his political opponent because he cant win fair and square, Trump said. He also did his usual round of attacks on the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan M. Merchan, calling the latter a terrible and horrible judge. I did nothing wrong, he added. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting. Biden Is The First One To Mention Trumps Convicted Felon Status45 Minutes In pic.twitter.com/T7pmffBL4Q Talking Points Memo (@TPM) June 28, 2024 Trumps dodge on accepting the election results Trump, unsurprisingly but ominously, avoided answering the very simple question of whether or not he would accept the results of the election. In fact, moderator Dana Bash had to ask him the very same question three separate times to finally get a vague answer. It was darkly evasive. If its a fair and legal and good election, absolutely, Trump finally told Bash. He added, referencing the non-existent voter fraud of 2020, that he would have much rather accepted that election, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous. But Trump has been consistent about his unwillingness to unequivocally say that he will accept the results of the election. Just last month, for example, he similarly told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he would accept the 2024 results if everything is honest and that if not you have to fight for the right of the country. Trump repeatedly dodges when asked if he will accept the results of the election, even if he doesn't win. pic.twitter.com/dTeW3ZUC2q Talking Points Memo (@TPM) June 28, 2024 As the Democratic Party scrambles following a nightmare showing from President Biden at Thursdays presidential debate, former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has thrown her support behind his candidacy. Ill be voting Biden, she wrote in a post Friday morning on social platform X. The post, which linked back to the Biden-Harris campaign website, took a stab at former President Trump to elevate the current presidents candidacy. Its a choice between someone who cares about youyour rights, your prospects, your futureversus someone whos only in it for himself, she argued. Clinton published an op-ed in The New York Times ahead of the debate advising Biden that refuting Trumps arguments would be a waste of time. In the piece, published Tuesday, she similarly attacked the former presidents record to make the case for a Biden second term. This election is between a convicted criminal out for revenge and a president who delivers results for the American people, she added. No matter what happens in the debate, thats an easy choice. Vice President Harris, who served as a surrogate for Biden on CNN following the debate, argued with a similar tack, pleading with Americans to avoid defining Bidens presidency by his 90-minute debate. It was a slow start; thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point. Im talking about the choice in November, she told CNNs Anderson Cooper. Do we want to look at what November will bring and go on a course for America that is about a destruction of democracy, electing a man who has said hell be a dictator on day one? she added. While Clinton and Harris have stood behind the president as the presumptive Democratic nominee, some Democratic operatives have begun to look toward replacements for Biden. Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) pointed to Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who both made media appearances following the debate, as two potential candidates to ride the top of the ticket. Those two people are signaling to a whole lot of Americans who are paying attention, How come they are not at the top of the ticket? she told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow in an interview following the debate. The Democratic National Convention is set to convene in late August, where the party will officially choose its nominee for the presidential election. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Video above: Saharan dust heading for Florida Heres what to know. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Hillsborough County environmental officials issued a precautionary statement Friday, warning that air quality may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups due to incoming Saharan dust. Although the Saharan dust plume can bring us gorgeous sunsets, some people may want to limit their time outside. Saharan dust heading for Florida: Heres what to know Saharan dust also helps tamp down hurricane formation with its dry air and ability to keep ocean waters cool. However, it can lead to hazy skies and poor air quality if it reaches land. Since we may experience high moderate levels with Air Quality Index values from 51 100, unusually sensitive individuals, such as the elderly, children, and individuals with respiratory ailments may consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, the statement said. The precautionary alert will remain in effect through the weekend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) After more than a month of negotiations, the Hillsborough County teachers union and the school district have come to a tentative agreement on teacher pay ahead of schedule, the district announced Wednesday. The School Board, my team, and I have prioritized reaching an agreement with our employee groups well in advance of the school year. This underscores our commitment to investing in our employees and enabling them to concentrate on student success when the academic year commences, Superintendent Van Ayres said in a statement. While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed in the announcement, if its ratified, the district said it will give all eligible employees a pay boost by crediting them with another year of experience on their salary schedule. So, how much more will employees be making? The announcement didnt say, but it mentioned that raises will vary depending on the salary step levels of each employee. WFLA reached out to the district for more information. This is a significant day for employees in the HCTA bargaining unit. These pay increases are so deserved and I want to make sure our employees recognize how much we care for them and are excited to welcome them back for the 2024-2025 school year, Ayres continued. Its now up to employees and the school board to decide whether or not to ratify the contract. In a statement, HCTA President Rob Kriete thanked Ayres, the school board and district staff, but said there was still work to be done. We are encouraged; however, this does not bring us in line with surrounding school districts. Our children deserve a world-class education, and we must now all work together to ensure we can continue to have the best teachers and support staff for our students, Kriete said. Although the district lauded the agreement as a substantial step forward, it acknowledged that Florida lags behind most states when it comes to teacher pay, and that its salaries have struggled to be competitive with those of nearby school districts. According to a report by the National Education Association, Florida was ranked 50th in average teacher pay across the country with the average teacher making slightly over $53,000 during the 2022-2023 school year. In November, voters will decide on a referendum that would increase local property taxes by one millage to give school employees more pay. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Council unanimously approved the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement yesterday. This landmark agreement, negotiated over decades with Verde Valley communities and various stakeholders, promises to introduce new water supplies to the Verde Valley and resolve the Nation's longstanding water rights claims. Chairwoman Tanya Lewis expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, "This is a critical milestone in ensuring the Yavapai-Apache Nations water future and protecting the Verde River. To settle, the Nation worked with our neighboring communities, the State of Arizona, the Salt River Project, and other stakeholders to attain agreement on a settlement that not only protects the Nations water future but also ensures the benefits of the settlement will help support a sustainable water future for the entire Verde Valley." She added, "These negotiations were difficult and required compromise on all sides, but we are so glad to have achieved this long-overdue strategic goal of the Nation. At this moment in our history, we remember and honor the former Chairmen, Chairwomen, and Tribal Council Members who tirelessly advocated and worked for this day to come, and, for that, we are extremely grateful." The settlement's approval is a significant step toward enabling Congress to introduce and enact legislation that will permanently resolve the Nations water rights claims in the Verde River Watershed. This legislation will also facilitate the development of critical infrastructure, bringing a renewable water resource to the Verde Valley. A key component of the settlement involves constructing a pipeline over existing Forest Service roads from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir on the Mogollon Rim to the Verde Valley. This pipeline will transport water to the Nation for treatment in a state-of-the-art surface water drinking plant, subsequently distributing it to the Nations reservation communities. This new water source will allow the Nation to reduce future groundwater pumping, which is essential for preserving the Verde River's flow. The agreement not only secures water for the Yavapai-Apache Nation but also ensures the continuation of significant cultural resources for the Nation's people, maintains the essential character of the Verde Valley as defined by the river, and promotes tourism and economic development throughout the region. With this historic settlement, the Yavapai-Apache Nation has set a precedent for collaborative water resource management, demonstrating the power of negotiation and compromise in achieving sustainable solutions for future generations. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb discusses the state's move to seek an execution date for convicted Fort Wayne murdererJoseph Corcoran on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Gov. Eric Holcomb doubled down Thursday on the states move to seek an execution date for Fort Waynes Joseph Corcoran, who was convicted of murdering four people in 1997. Holcombs comments came one day after he and Attorney General Todd Rokita announced that the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) has obtained the drug necessary to carry out the death penalty. Weve tried to acquire the means to carry out our duty, and to follow along, and carry out the law, Holcomb said. And were in a position to do that. So we are. Indianas top elected officials filed the execution request with the Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday. Holcomb and Rokita signaled, jointly, that more executions could be imminent, depending on the availability of lethal injection drugs. When asked where DOC acquired the drug pentobarbital, which can be used to carry out executions and how much the state paid, the governor said he cant go into those details, by law. When such evil is on display, I personally believe in this. Gov. Eric Holcomb Lawmakers made information about the source of the drugs confidential on the last day of the 2017 legislative session. Indiana Capital Chronicle is still seeking the cost of the drugs. Its been 15 years since Indianas last execution, in 2009. There are currently eight men on Indianas death row, including Corcoran. No one has been added to the states death row since 2014. It appears the state will follow in the steps of Texas, which uses a single-drug protocol of Pentobarbital for an execution. Holcomb said that although the method has never been used before in Indiana, hes comfortable with the option. Weve done our due diligence, and weve tracked this particular drug, and feel comfortable that not only its the right drug, but also that the protocol is in place, and were prepared to carry out our duties, Holcomb said. Weve been working on this for seven years, and I would say through no fault of anyone its been harder to get for various reasons. But recently, we were able to do so, so that compels us to do our jobs. And well do just that and nothing more, he continued. And well carry on with the rest of our duties, as well. I wouldnt run for the job if I wasnt prepared to do it. And its not a day that you look forward to, but justice will be served. Corcoran, who killed his brother and three other people, asserted an insanity defense based upon his diagnosis as having either a paranoid or schizotypal personality disorder, according to the Clark County Prosecutors Death Row website. Corcorans mental health has been an issue over the life of the case. His conviction was overturned at least once but was later reinstated. Corcoran can still seek clemency or a pardon in his case. At least three death sentences have been commuted by governors two by Democrat Gov. Joe Kernan and one by Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2005. Holcomb said those legal processes will play out, but for now, hes awaiting an execution date. Well respect each step along the way, and well take it one day at a time, and when it gets to, ultimately, my desk, well take it from there, Holcomb said. I personally and professionally subscribe to this means and think its appropriate in these rare cases of heinous crimes, he added. When such evil is on display, I personally believe in this. I respect others that dont. The will of the people will be carried out, and its the law of our land. And so, set aside my personal convictions, its incumbent upon me to do my job and all the others along the process. And so, yes, it is important if you have laws on the books, and sentences have been handed down, that itd be completed. And it will. The post Holcomb defends Indianas move to carry out execution, saying justice will be served appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. The Washington Department of Ecology (WDE) has fined Home Depot $1.6 million for selling banned hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) products. WDE said that despite nearly two years of attempts to bring the company into compliance, the retailer continued to sell these restricted items. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases mainly used in refrigeration and air conditioning. When these gases leak, they can harm the environment more than carbon dioxide. In 2019 and 2021, the Washington Legislature passed laws to gradually phase out the use of HFCs. One of these laws, effective July 2021, banned the sale of R-134a canisters at retail stores. R-134a is a type of HFC refrigerant commonly used in car air conditioning systems. Most vehicle manufacturers have switched to more environmentally friendly refrigerants, so the use of R-134a is already decreasing. The law does not require drivers to change the refrigerant in their vehicles. Still, it restricts retail sales to ensure repairs are done in professional shops that can safely recycle the old refrigerant. Restricting HFC products is crucial to meeting the states goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving net zero by 2050, said Joel Creswell, who manages Ecologys Climate Pollution Reduction Program. When HFCs leak, they significantly contribute to climate change. Since November 2021, the WDE has been informing businesses about how to comply with these regulations. While most businesses updated their practices, Home Depot continued to sell R-134a canisters on its website. Between 2021 and 2023, the WDE repeatedly tried to help Home Depot comply with the law. In 2022, they held meetings with the companys website and compliance teams, and Home Depot assured them that the products would be removed. However, during a routine check-in in July 2023, the WDE found that R-134a canisters were still available on Home Depots website. The company later revealed that it had sold 1,058 units of the banned product in Washington between April 2022 and September 2023. Washington law allows for penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. However, because Home Depot promptly disclosed the sales, the fine was reduced to $1,500 per violation, totaling $1.6 million. The company has 30 days to appeal the penalty to Washingtons Pollution Control Hearings Board. (BCN) The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled 6-3 on the contentious Grants Pass case that placing restrictions on unhoused people and where they can sleep is not cruel and unusual criminalization of homelessness. The decision is being supported by city leaders in San Francisco that have decried the restrictions placed on them regarding encampments, but is being excoriated by the American Civil Liberties Union and advocates for the unhoused. The court determined that it was constitutional to criminalize sleeping on city streets, even if there was no alternative place offered by the city for the person to go to sleep. The case has been closely watched in San Francisco because of the citys highly visible homeless population as well as the injunction preventing the city from clearing encampments unless it has first made a genuine offer of shelter that is declined by the people being displaced. San Francisco grocery store temporarily closed due to rodent infestation The San Francisco City Attorneys Office on Friday agreed that the decision has significant implications for the city. San Francisco will continue to take a compassionate, services-first approach to addressing our homelessness crisis, said the City Attorneys Office. It will take time to analyze this decision and chart a path forward to change policies on the ground and ensure our litigation catches up with the Supreme Courts decision today. Litigants on both sides of the case the advocacy group Coalition on Homelessness and the city of San Francisco filed amicus or friend of the court briefs in the high court advocating their respective positions. The solution is, and has always been, safe and affordable housing. But instead of tackling root causes, elected leaders have chosen to penalize residents who have nowhere else to go, said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness. Other groups like the ACLU of Northern California decried the ruling and cited San Franciscos ordinance that requires the city to offer shelter before clearing an encampment. Todays shameful decision guts a key civil rights protection for unhoused people, but it will not derail our lawsuit against San Francisco, which has policies and an ordinance requiring the city to offer shelter before clearing encampments, said John Do, senior attorney at the ACLU of Northern California. Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed praised the courts decision. This decision by the Supreme Court will help cities like San Francisco manage our public spaces more effectively and efficiently, she said in a statement released by her office Friday, adding that her administration has made significant investments in shelter and housing. But too often these offers are rejected, and we need to be able to enforce our laws, especially to prevent long-term encampments, she said. Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in on the decision on Friday. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and wellbeing of our communities, he said in a statement. 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. A "Welcome to Boston" sign hangs on the facade of a structure as two workers assemble a portion of a roof at Terminal E, where most international flights arrive and depart, at Logan Airport in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Homeless families and individuals will be barred from sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport, beginning July 9, state officials said Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) BOSTON (AP) Homeless families and individuals will be barred from sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport in Boston beginning July 9, state officials said Friday. The state has made efforts to open more overflow shelter beds for homeless families, including many newly-arrived migrants who have used the airport as a last resort, said Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. Shelter stays have been capped, and with more families finding stable housing, the state is now in a position to end the practice of people staying overnight at the airport, said Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice. This is in the best interest of families and travelers and staff at Logan, as the airport is not an appropriate place for people to seek shelter, Rice said in a statement. Families sleeping overnight at Logan who are on the state's emergency assistance shelter waitlist will be offered transfers to the states safety-net system, including a Norfolk site that opened this week to accommodate up to 140 families at full capacity. The number of families leaving shelter has steadily increased over the past few months, with more than 300 families leaving in May the highest number in years, Rice said. But Massachusetts is still out of shelter space, he said. If families are travelling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or our emergency assistance shelters," he said. Advocates for the homeless raised concerns about the airport ban. Given the caps on how many families can access emergency assistance shelter, Logan Airport has been an inadequate yet crucial lifeline this year for hundreds of children and parents waiting for long-term housing, said Kelly Turley, associate director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. Advocates called on the state to better address the root causes of the states broader housing affordability and homelessness crises. Earlier this week, Healey sent a team of officials, led by Rice, to the southern border. They met with organizations that assist families at the border, including Catholic Charities and the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, to make sure they had what the administration described as accurate, updated information to share about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts. The administration will continue to get the word out through flyers in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole. The flyers not only say that the state's shelters are full, but also include some basic sobering facts about the state, including that the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is between $2,800 and $3,500 and that Massachusetts is very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer. Also Friday, the Supreme Court allowed cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places, ruling along ideological lines that such laws dont amount to cruel and unusual punishment, even in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. My house is just a wreck: Army veteran details how Las Vegas contractor stole $65,000 LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Las Vegas contractor now facing five felony charges for scamming homeowners mostly seniors out of over a quarter-million dollars ruined the home of a U.S. Army veteran who lost $65,000 to the man, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Adrian Pitts, the veteran, said he gave Gabriel Adame, the contractor, the entire amount as an upfront deposit and Adame left his house in shambles. I have no more money to do the repairs in my house, Pitts said, saying he gave Adame most of his savings. Ive been living with no kitchen stove because I have no gas line. I have to wash my dishes in the sink in my bathroom sink because my kitchen sink doesnt work because of him. My house is just a wreck. Ive been living like this for three years. Pitts was at a news conference Thursday announcing Adames arrest, which the 8 News Now Investigators were first to report on Wednesday. The state contractors board spokesman said Adame, 50, would take large deposits as much as $90,000 in at least one case as down payments and never begin work. The board revoked Adames contractors license in January after finding him guilty of multiple violations related to 21 consumer complaints, the spokesman said. Nevada law now only allows a 10% or $1,000 down payment for contractors, the spokesman, Randy Escamilla told the 8 News Now Investigators. Escamilla said the board encourages homeowners to solicit at least three bids on any work they plan to perform at their home. Any licensed contractor will be listed, with a record of any disciplinary history, by clicking here. Public record shows the theft charges were initially filed in Las Vegas Justice Court on June 7 and that the court found probable cause to proceed with the case on June 13. If convicted of all counts, Adame could face up to 85 years in prison, according to a press release from the contractors board. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The House on Friday passed 217-198 its annual defense spending bill for fiscal 2025, with appropriators rebuffing intense bipartisan pressure from their colleagues over attack submarine and F-35 fighter jet purchases. The $833 billion legislation would buy additional F-35s beyond the Pentagons budget request while only procuring one Virginia-class attack submarine for FY25 instead of the usual two vessels the bill usually provides. The procurement plans put the bill at odds with large swaths of lawmakers on the Armed Services Committee who drafted the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, which would reduce F-35 purchases below the Pentagons requested levels and partially fund a second Virginia-class submarine. The only way to prevent Chinese aggression is by fielding and operating capability that demonstrate Americas military advantage, defense appropriations Chairman Ken Calvert, R-Calif., said on the House floor on Thursday. To this end, the bill increases investments in fifth and sixth generation aircraft, procures deliverable capability, including several [Indo-Pacific Command] unfunded priorities. This bill procures where we can, trains where we must and invest in capabilities that will make our adversaries wake up every day and say today is not the day to provoke the United States of America. The spending bill would procure 76 new F-35s, eight more than the 68 requested by the Defense Department. Conversely, the National Defense Authorization Act which the House passed 217-199 earlier this month would cut F-35 procurement down to 58 aircraft. The House Rules Committee, which oversees amendment votes, opted not to hold a vote on a proposed bipartisan amendment that would have reduced F-35 purchases in the spending bill. This prompted a sharp rebuke from Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, amid mounting frustration on Capitol Hill with manufacturer Lockheed Martin. At a projected total lifecycle cost of over $2 trillion dollars, the F-35 is the largest program in DoD history despite routinely not meeting cost, schedule, and performance metrics, Smith said in a Wednesday statement with Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the tactical air and land forces panel. This is unacceptable program execution and Congress should not reward this behavior by buying additional aircraft above the Presidents budget request. The spending bill also overrides the Armed Services Committee on Virginia-class submarine procurement for FY25, in addition to the F-35 purchases. Appropriators have sided with the Navy, which requested just one attack submarine purchase for FY25, due to production delays amid industrial base constraints. In contrast, the National Defense Authorization Act sought incremental funding for a second Virginia-class vessel. We have to rebuild the industrial base in order for us to build submarines, Calvert told Defense News earlier this month. I want more submarines. But in order for us to get there, we have to rebuild the industrial base to get the necessary workforce to build the submarines. So were focusing on fixing the problem in order for us to build more submarines. The decision comes despite intense pressure from a large, bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the Houses seapower panel. His Connecticut district includes General Dynamics Electric Boat, which makes the Virginia-class submarines. Courtney and Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., recently led 131 other House lawmakers in a letter to defense appropriators beseeching them to fund two Virginia-class submarines against the Pentagons wishes. Preserving a consistent production schedule is essential for shipyard and industrial base stability, and to meet the Navys operational requirements, the lawmakers wrote in a May letter to Calvert and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., the panels top Democrat. Policy riders: Ukraine and Israel The spending bill also includes several socially conservative policy riders, such as limits on abortion access for troops and military diversity initiatives, which prompted most Democrats to vote against the bill. We need to foster a climate in our military that honors and appreciates all Americans who choose to take the oath to serve, McCollum said on Thursday. Unfortunately, at this time, this bill does not reflect that sentiment. McCollum also criticized the legislation for omitting $300 million in annual Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding that the defense spending bill has provided annually since FY16. Failure to continue funding that has long been standing bipartisan support for Ukraine, it sends a terrible signal, and it will only embolden [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, said McCollum. Still, $300 million is a small trickle compared to the $13.7 billion in the initiatives funding Congress passed in April as part of a massive foreign aid bill, which included a total $60 billion in economic and security assistance for Ukraine. The House voted down 308-103 an amendment from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., to cut off all aid to Ukraine. It also struck down 335-76 another Greene amendment to reduce Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins salary to $1 a provision Republicans adapted last year before stripping it from the final spending bill after negotiations with the Senate. The House adopted numerous other amendments that would invest more money in various research and development accounts by taking money away from a variety of operations and maintenance programs. Lastly, the bill bars the Pentagon from using funds to withhold, halt, reverse or cancel the delivery of defense articles or defense services for Israel, and forces the president to transfer withheld weapons to the Israeli military within 15 days. Both the Defense and State department spending bills would ban funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which delivers humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip. The defense spending bill also includes a provision that would eliminate the militarys makeshift pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip, which has struggled to deliver an adequate level of humanitarian aid to Palestinians facing famine-like conditions. The House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs held a hearing yesterday on two bills that would expand tribal authority to acquire land, potentially reversing a 2009 Supreme Court ruling that restricts the designation of trust lands. One of the bills discussed at the hearing was HR 1208, a bi-partisan bill introduced by Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.) that would amend the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) of 1934 by authorizing the Department of the Interior to take land into trust for all 574 federally recognized Indian tribes. As it stands, a 2009 Supreme Court decision (Carcieri v. Salazar) ruled that the Secretary of the Interior is only authorized to place land into trust for federally recognized tribes that can demonstrate that they were under federal jurisdiction when the IRA became law in 1934. During the hearing, Cole, who is not a member of the committee, was recognized by Chairperson Harriet Hegeman (R-Wyo.) to speak on his legislation. He used some of the time to address opponents of the legislation who claim the proposed bill is all about gaming. He noted that 26 of the 961 pending fee-to-trust applications currently under review are gaming applications. Of the 4,349 applications submitted from 2009 to 2023, 48 were for gaming purposes. Let me be clear, this is false, Cole said. Also on the issue was the bipartisan HR 6180, introduced by Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) with support from both sides of the aisle. The proposed Poarch Band of Creek Indians Land Act would treat the Poarch Band of Creek Indians as covered by the IRA and reaffirm any lands previously taken into trust for their benefit by the Secretary. The Tribe gained federal recognition in 1984 and is the only Tribe in the state of Alabama with recognized status. Many of the Poarch Bands 230 acres were placed in trust before the 2009 ruling. The land holds much of the Tribes infrastructure, including buildings, businesses, and three casinos. Due to the Poarch Band being recognized after 1934, a court could determine the lands were not lawfully held in trust, effectively exposing the Tribe to state taxation and civil regulation and the potential dissolution of its infrastructure. As well, the Tribes casinos would become subject to Alabama law, leaving one of the Tribes largest employers and revenue generators vulnerable to modification or closure. A court affirmed the Poarch Bands trust status in 2011, but the ruling doesnt protect it from future litigation. Stephanie Bryan, the chair and CEO of the Poarch Band, testified that the subsequent legal battles have cost the tribe nearly $10 million over the years. "These lawsuits have a real toll, Bryan told the subcommittee. Please pass this bill this year. Bryan also testified to the difficulties of providing essential resources and infrastructure to tribal members without acquiring additional trust land. She pointed to 2018, when the Tribe needed to expand its Boys and Girls Club. There was no more buildable trust land, Bryan said. We were forced to fill ponds around the community center on existing trust lands, which added $1 million to our construction cost. Carcieri effects discussed Yesterdays hearing, led by subcommittee chair Hageman, was standing room only due to the observing crowd. Following Hagemans opening remarks briefing the two bills, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), a co-sponsor of HR 6180, spoke about the implications of the Carcieri v. Salazar decision. That decision was harmful, Fernandez said. It was disrespectful to tribes that essentially said that if you were not recognized federally, it didnt matter how long you existed, but if we hadnt done our homework, then you dont get to reestablish your homelands. Fernandez said the ability to take land into trust is essential for Tribes to provide housing, economic development opportunities, governmental services, and to protect cultural resources. The Carcieri decision up-ended 75 years of federal Indian policy and administrative practices, Fernandez said. It created uncertainty. Because of Carcieri, tribes have had to defend themselves in court. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) addressed the varied outcomes between tribes taking land into trust and the surrounding non-tribal communities. "Weve seen many examples of local communities benefiting from tribal development of trust lands, diversifying economies, and often providing jobs. Weve also seen instances where tribes and local stakeholders are not on the same page, resulting in costly and lengthy litigation, Westerman said. Consensus cannot always be reached; its vitally important that we attempt to find the best way forward for everyone. Testimony from Kathryn Isom-Clause (Taos Pueblo), deputy assistant secretary for policy and economic development at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, noted that the department must conduct an analysis for each Tribe applying to acquire land through trust, even if the Tribe's status is uncontested. Isom-Clause called the consequent analyses time consuming and costly, resulting in near-constant litigation around what should otherwise be simple land-into-trust acquisitions. The Carcieri decision makes it likely that the department will face costly and complex litigation over whether applicant tribes were under federal jurisdiction in 1934, Isom-Clause said. Overall, it made the departments consideration of fee-to-trust applications more complex and created additional burdens. Marshall Pierite, chairman and CEO of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, testified that the 2009 decision had put tribes in the position of having to utilize their own resources to purchase back land stolen from them. Limiting the ability to acquire trust land, he said, diminishes the significant benefits brought by strong tribal governments to Native communities and surrounding non-Native communities. The Supreme Court decision in Carcieri was a major step backward in the walk towards justice as well as healing, Pierite testified. The ruling confused both tribal governments and non-Indians, slowed economic growth and job creation, and continued to spawn legal challenges to the recovery of our ancestral homelands. He described how the Tunica-Biloxi tribal enterprises purchase more than $10 million annually from non-tribal vendors and supply more than $26 million in wages annually to mostly non-tribal employees. Marshall noted that this payroll generates state and federal employment taxes. The Tribe also donated $7 million to local charities. It contributed more than $30 million to help the local parish government cover the costs associated with the additional demands placed on the community from the increased economic activity spurred by the Tribes casino. Tribal Business News staff reporter Chez Oxendine contributed reporting on this story. About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. " Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com The House passed an amendment Thursday barring the State Department from citing the Gaza Health Ministrys death toll statistics for the Israel-Hamas war, effectively halting discussion of the wars deaths if it is signed into law. A bipartisan group of lawmakers voted 269-144 to pass the amendment to the State Departments annual appropriations bill. A group of 62 Democrats joined all but two Republicans in voting for the measure. The amendment was led by Reps. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Carol Miller (R-W.Va.). The Gaza Health Ministry has been cited by the State Department and news agencies for decades amid conflict in Gaza. Its daily death toll during the current conflict that began in October has served as a primary source for understanding the wars impact on Palestinians in the territory. It is the only official entity tracking death data in Gaza, with its figures regularly being cited by both U.S. and Israeli officials. Just under 38,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict since Oct. 7, according to its most recent release. The agency also noted that the figure is likely an undercount, due to Gazas lack of medical infrastructure and those missing and trapped under rubble. The ministrys daily death toll does not include underlying data, and does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. It does periodically release underlying data for its death toll figure. The most recent release in late April confirmed nearly 23,000 deaths with full names and identifying information. An analysis from The Associated Press earlier this month found that the proportion of women and children who have died in the conflict has decreased as the war has gone on, from nearly two-thirds in October to about half in April. The Israeli government has repeatedly criticized the ministrys death toll, claiming the agency is inflating the figure for political reasons. Last month, the World Health Organization affirmed that it has full confidence in the agencys figures. Nothing wrong with the data, the overall data (more than 35,000) are still the same, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said last month. The fact we now have 25,000 identified people is a step forward. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), herself a Palestinian American, denounced the amendment in a statement from the floor Wednesday, calling the move genocide denial. Tlaib read the death toll and other information about the conflict into the congressional record, noting that she intended to include a list of the names of those killed in the conflict. It is important to note this to everyone here: The list is too long that I cant even submit it because of the text limit, she said. Thats how many have been killed. The amendment will now be considered by the Senate as part of the larger State Department funding package. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. How did Trump and Biden do in the presidential debate? 3 takeaways from 2024's 1st big clash. A lot has changed in the 1,344 days since President Biden and former President Donald Trump last debated. Biden won the White House. Trump refused to accept his loss. Trumps supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. The COVID-19 pandemic came and went. Inflation climbed to 9.1%, then fell to just over 3%. Russia invaded Ukraine. Hamas invaded Israel. Israel invaded Gaza. Biden turned 81. Trump turned 78. Trump was criminally indicted four times, and convicted once. Yet somehow, the campaign seems to have picked up right where it left off. Biden is the Democratic nominee, Trump is the Republican nominee and despite everything thats happened, theyre still deadlocked in the polls. Which is why Thursday nights rematch at the CNN studios in Atlanta was such a big deal. In a world of partisan echo chambers and social media silos a world where most Americans have dismissed the 2024 race as a tired rerun and tuned out its overfamiliar protagonists a live, televised debate is one of the last moments with the power to actually change anyones vote. So how did Trump and Biden do? Here are three takeaways from this years first presidential face-off. Biden struggled to show his age doesnt matter Biden speaks during the debate. (Gerald Herbert/AP) In truth, presidential debates arent really debates at all. Theyre more like media manipulation moments: high-profile opportunities for the candidates to seize the national spotlight, however briefly, and use it for their own purposes. Bidens mission Thursday night was high-risk, high-reward: to appear under the hot TV lights for 90 unscripted minutes and show concerned Americans many of whom have seen little of him recently, except in selectively edited online videos that hes not too old to serve another term. Because Biden isnt just the oldest president in U.S. history; hes asking the country to keep him in the White House until the age of 86 about eight years longer than Ronald Reagan, who left office just before his 78th birthday. Even Bidens supporters are admitting that he struggled Thursday night. Reportedly fighting a cold, the president looked uneasy and sounded hoarse. Right from the start, he was tripping over words and trying to cover his verbal missteps; at one point, he lost his train of thought entirely. Weve been able to make sure, Biden said, all those things we need to do child care, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our health care system, making sure that were able to make every single solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with the COVID ... excuse me, dealing with everything we have to do with Biden looked down. If, he continued, pausing a few more seconds, we finally beat Medicare. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump snapped a few minutes later. I dont think he knows either. Biden sharpened his focus as the debate wore on. Youre the sucker and youre the loser, he told Trump at one point, turning his opponents alleged words about fallen U.S. soldiers against him. You have the morals of an alley cat, he said later. But these debates have long been decided not by who scores the most points but by who creates the most memorable moments for better or for worse. Think of Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 (Senator, youre no Jack Kennedy) or Rick Perry in 2012 (Oops). Fair? Not really. But thats how U.S. politics works. And its not hard to imagine a new round of unflattering Biden clips circulating soon along with a new round of Democratic anxiety about his prospects in November. The new format made it hard to keep up with Trumps false claims Trump on the debate stage on Thursday. (Gerald Herbert/AP) This guy is three years younger, and I think a lot less competent, Biden said when the CNN moderators asked how he might reassure voters about his age. If the debate were being judged solely on the basis of who seemed younger more with it it would be no contest. Trump was his usual bombastic self. But Biden was right: There are other measures of a president. On the merits, Trump didnt have a great debate Thursday night either. About halfway through, he actually said the words, I didnt have sex with a porn star a first for a presidential candidate. Overall, Trumps strategy was simply to spew more shallow superlatives than anyone could keep up with. His economy was the greatest economy in the history of our country. His environmental numbers were the best environmental numbers ever. His tax cut was "the largest tax cut in history. Overturning Roe v. Wade was something that everybody wanted. And so on. The problem is that much of what Trump said was untrue. Biden tried to fact-check his opponent in real time. Ive never heard so much malarkey in my life, Biden said after Trump accused him of enabling Russias invasion of Ukraine. Every single thing he said is a lie, Biden said after Trump attacked his position on veterans benefits. It isnt debunked, Biden said when Trump tried to deny that Biden's 2020 run was inspired by the deadly white supremacist riots in Charlottesville, Va. three years earlier. I ran because I was worried a guy like this could be president. But Biden wasnt deft enough to pivot from correcting falsehoods to making a clear, proactive case for his own campaign. And the debates polite new format with each candidates microphone muted when it was the others turn to speak didnt do him any favors. Meanwhile, the moderators floated above the fray, declining to speak up and set the record straight unlike in earlier, more fluid debates. As a result, Trump largely skated by on style, making little effort to appeal to swing voters who couldnt care less about, say, Hunter Bidens laptop. A revealing exchange on abortion Trump speaks during the presidential debate on Thursday. (Gerald Herbert/AP) Which isnt to say Thursdays debate was completely devoid of substance. One particular exchange on abortion stood out. Clearly rattled by a string of Republican losses in states with hard-line abortion bans on the ballot, Trump made a point of saying he wouldnt block the abortion pill mifepristone if reelected; noted that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother because you gotta get elected; and tried to frame his role in overturning Roe v. Wade and sending the issue back to the states as a win-win for everybody. The country is coming together, Trump claimed. But Biden who is hoping that opposition to the end of Roe motivates otherwise unenthusiastic Democrats to turn out in November wasnt having it. Thats like sending civil rights back to the states, the president said. If Im elected, Im gonna restore Roe v. Wade. Whats he going to do if MAGA Republicans [in Congress] pass a six-week, seven-week ban? Biden continued. Hell sign it. Ill veto it. It was a reminder during a difficult night that Biden still has the upper hand on some issues. The question now is whether his push to debate earlier than ever before will pay off both by giving voters more time to remember things like that, and to forget the rest of his performance. Read more CNN moderators in Biden-Trump debate: It almost didn't matter that they were on stage. "Did the moderators play a role? ... Their problem was that, more times than not, the questions were ignored as the two candidates continued to squabble at their own pace." [Associated Press] Swing state voters react to presidential debate, Biden's weak performance. "At a watch party organized by the Biden campaign, some voters were adamant that Biden had a strong debate performance, while others expressed reservations." [ABC News] Who won the Biden-Trump debate? Biden's freeze draws age concerns. "The biggest moment of the night came early, when Biden froze for several seconds while answering a question about the economy." [USA Today] Fact Focus: Here's a look at some of the false claims made during Biden and Trump's first debate. "President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump traded barbs and a variety of false and misleading information." [Associated Press] After a devastating debate performance, Biden aides try to reassure panicky Democrats. "Biden aides stressed that whatever happened on the debate stage, the fundamentals of the race are unchanged." [NBC News] Here's why it would be tough for Democrats to replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket. "Every state has already held its presidential primary. Democratic rules mandate that the delegates Biden won remain bound to support him at the party's upcoming national convention unless he tells them hes leaving the race." [Associated Press] Cover thumbnail photo illustration: Yahoo Yews; photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Despite a much publicized pause on the approval of liquefied natural gas terminals in the United States, a federal regulatory agency Thursday approved the construction of the nations largest LNG terminal, months before that pause is set to end. The 21 vote of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approving the $10 billion Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, doesnt mean developer Venture Global will begin construction on the facility to export condensed and super-cooled methane. But it is a big step forward for the company, which has been asking FERC to approve its two-and-a-half-year-old application since February. In a statement after the decision, the company indicated it was waiting for approval from the U.S. Department of Energy to export the fuel to some countries the approvals that were paused by the Biden administration in January. Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said the project will be critical to global energy security and supporting the energy transition, as well as provide jobs and economic growth across Louisiana and the United States. Climate and community advocates are expected to sue. We are ready and willing to take it to court, said Roishetta Ozane, leader of the Vessel Project of Louisiana, a mutual-aid, disaster-relief, and environmental-justice nonprofit. Ozane brought dozens of community members and opponents to the FERC meeting. We arent going to sit down and let this come into our community, she said. Outgoing FERC Commissioner Allison Clements was the only dissenter on the vote, saying the commission had failed to adequately assess the impact of the facility on nearby communities and the climate. Approving the terminal, she said, would result in as much climate pollution as adding 1.8 million gasoline-powered cars to the roads each year. For environmentalists and fishers along the Gulf Coast, the vote is a big step backward because of CP2's expected impacts on the community and climate change. CP2 has been labeled a carbon mega bomb by some climate activists and is expected to single-handedly increase LNG exports by about 20%. The terminal would be located in a 60-mile stretch with nine other such facilities in various stages of planning or operation. In all, there are 17 LNG export terminals along the Gulf Coast that are operating, under construction, or approved. Approving CP2 blatantly ignores the Biden administration's LNG approval pause, which is critical to assessing the severe economic, health, and climate risks of the massive expansion of methane export facilities in the U.S., said Breon Robinson, a community organizer in southwest Texas for the nonprofit Healthy Gulf who lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, north of the string of LNG plants. In January, the Biden administration ordered the Department of Energy to pause approvals for new LNG export terminals in order to further study the impacts of exporting methane. The move halted the DOE's approval of CP2 and 16 other proposed terminals. But FERC is an independent body of regulators appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, so the pause did not affect FERC's activities. The moratorium is to give DOE time to review whether exports to countries that dont have a free-trade agreement with the United States are in the public interest. The last DOE study looking at this question was finished in 2018, before production of the fuel skyrocketed making the United States the world's largest LNG exporter in 2023. The biggest buyers of LNG for the proposed terminal are in non-free-trade countries, including Germany and Japan, which have contracted for about half of CP2s output. Since the pause was enacted, the Biden administration has faced mounting pressure to end it from the industry and leading Republicans, who have called it a political tactic. Former President Donald Trump has said if he is reelected he would immediately allow more exports to move forward. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has said the DOE's new study is not expected to be completed until the first quarter of 2025. Data, including from the governments own Energy Information Administration, has shown that export of LNG has increased the domestic prices of natural gas for consumers and industry. But FERC does not consider such impacts, and the body has repeatedly rejected requests to consider the impacts of climate change in its decisions. It has yet to reject an LNG terminal. Thursdays decision was based on an environmental impact statement (EIS) completed last year that found that while the facility and its 85-mile-long pipeline would have some adverse effects, most would be less than significant and could be mitigated. Climate change impacts, according to a FERC summary, are not characterized in the EIS as significant or insignificant. Clements said that new information, including about CP2s emissions, should have been addressed in a supplemental EIS. Supporters of the LNG buildout say the exported gas can offset carbon emissions from coal plants in other countries. However, on Tuesday, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis released a report that found renewables in China are doing more to displace coal than LNG. An earlier study by Cornell University Professor Robert Howarth found greenhouse gas emissions from LNG are equivalent to or as much as 274% greater than emissions from burning coal. In Cameron Parish, which has lost half of its population since Hurricane Rita in 2005, some residents say methane export facilities including CP2 are necessary for the survival of the parish. If we didnt have these LNGs that to come into Cameron Parish to help us with infrastructure, with tax-base money, with jobs see what Cameron Parish would look like, Howard Romero, president of the Cameron Parish Port, Harbor and Terminal District, said in a video posted by the parishs governing body. While Romero claims those opposing the terminal are not from Cameron Parish, a group of fishers and opponents of CP2 say the opposite is true. In a filing to FERC this month, the group said an analysis of form letters to FERC in support of CP2 found that none were from Cameron Parish, 75% were from outside Louisiana, and 60% had ties to the fossil fuel industry. They note that more than 15,000 people and organizations wrote comments and letters in opposition to the project. With FERCs approval, Venture Global could technically begin building the facility if it secures a final air permit from Louisiana and successfully challenges a complaint filed over its coastal use permit. With such high dollar amounts involved, however, the projects financiers would likely balk without a guarantee that it can send the fuel to CP2s largest customers, said Gillian Giannetti of the Natural Resources Defense Council. It is not pragmatic or practical, she said, and would be exceptionally bad business. This story was produced by Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - Mounds of trash rotting in the heat are piling up close to where displaced people are sheltering in Gaza, a U.N. official said on Friday, raising fears about the further spread of disease. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans who had fled to southern Gaza earlier in the more than 8-month conflict have been uprooted again since Israel expanded its military operations against Hamas to the southern city of Rafah in early May. Louise Wateridge, an aid worker with United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), said that a pile of waste weighing an estimated 100,000 tonnes was building up near people's tents in central Gaza. "It's among the population and it's building up without anywhere to go. It just keeps getting worse. And with the temperatures rising, it's really adding misery to the living conditions here," she told journalists via video link from Gaza. Israel has refused repeated requests to allow UNRWA to empty the main landfill sites, she said, meaning temporary ones are emerging, she added. Even if permission is granted, Wateridge said UNRWA's humanitarian missions such as trash collection have all but halted due to Israeli refusals to allow fuel imports. Israel's COGAT, a branch of the military tasked with coordinating aid deliveries into Palestinian territories, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel, which launched its Gaza military operation after deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, says it has expanded efforts to facilitate aid flows into Gaza and blames aid agencies for distribution problems inside the enclave. It controls fuel shipments into Gaza and has long maintained that there is a risk they are diverted to Hamas. The World Health Organization's Tarik Jasarevic said the trash, along with the rising heat, a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation services, was adding to disease risks. "It can lead to a number of communicable diseases appearing," he said, mentioning that around 470,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported since the start of the war. Wateridge, who arrived back in Gaza on Thursday after a four-week absence, said the situation had deteriorated significantly. She described the living conditions as "unbearable" with people sweltering under plastic sheets and cowering in bombed out buildings. (Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Philippa Fletcher) The "Rainbow Gathering" in 2004. The U.S. Forest Service has ordered this year's event to leave Plumas National Forest. (Tristan Savatier / Getty Images) The U.S. Forest Service ordered hundreds of people gathered for a Rainbow Family celebration at an unsanctioned camp to vacate Plumas National Forest within 48 hours or face fines or jail time. The agency issued the order Wednesday to the more than 500 members of the Rainbow Family , known as the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. The group doesnt have and hasnt applied for a special-use permit required for any event with 75 or more people, the agency said. If they refuse to leave their camp, about 5 miles north of Antelope Lake Recreation Area, within 48 hours of the order, they could face up to $5,000 in fines or up to six months in jail. The group holds a gathering every year during the first week of July at national forests. The first gathering took place in 1972 at the Arapaho National Forest in Denver, according to the Forest Service . The group describes itself as having no organization and no leaders. The gatherings, which are free and open to the public, entail meditation, praying and observing in silence. Read more: Rainbow Family Gathering, 'legacy of the original hippies,' is returning to California. Not everyone is feeling the love Based on previous events, called Rainbow Gatherings, the group tends to set up camps and kitchens, with working ovens, along with medical stations and a Main Meadow to congregate for meals, Hilary Markin, a spokesperson for the Forest Service incident management team, said at a Tuesday online meeting. The kitchens and ovens are a violation of fire restrictions, Markin said. The group also tends to dig latrine sites and holes for compost pits and gray water. During last years event, which took place in the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, the gathering spanned 300 acres and included 23 camps, Markin said. Nearly 2,200 people attended during the peak of the event. Rainbow Family members arrive in Routt National Forest north of Steamboat Springs, Colo., for the 2006 event. (Ed Andrieski / Associated Press) This years gathering in Plumas National Forest is expected to attract around 10,000 people and had already reached 900 acres as of Tuesday, officials said. During the Tuesday meeting, Coda Whitt, commander of the incident management team, said that there was zero tolerance for polluting, littering and dumping into the waterway and that immediate action would be taken if those actions are discovered. Were always behind the curve in trying to get ahead of where theyre gonna go next so that we can try and get stuff in place on the ground to try and stop it before it gets too big, Whitt said. Read more: Construction of wildlife crossing in Agoura Hills to partially close 101 Freeway Law enforcement officers did a walk-through of the gathering site and are looking out for any public safety concerns, Markin said. Immediately after the event, group members usually take down the infrastructure for the camps, de-compact the soil and try to restore the forest the best that they can, Markin said. Some members stay behind after the gathering to continue to rehabilitate the land. The Plumas County Sheriffs Office has warned 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. Residents of Plumas, with a population of about 19,000, have been told to expect delays and traffic as people converge on the area for the gathering. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. More than 350 people who were convicted following the Capitol riot on Jan 6 2021 could be freed following a Supreme Court ruling - JULIO CORTEZ/AP Hundreds of rioters convicted for their part in the Jan 6 insurrection could be freed after a Supreme Court ruling on Thursday. In a decision that could have implications for Donald Trump, the court held that prosecutors had gone too far in charging more than 350 people with trying to obstruct Congress when they tried to prevent the certification of Joe Bidens victory. The case was brought by Joseph Fischer, a former police officer, who was part of the mob which stormed the Capitol in Washington DC. Along with hundreds of other rioters he had been prosecuted by the Department of Justice, which argued that the rioters who forced their way into the Capitol had been guilty of obstructing an official procedure. In a majority ruling, the judges said the charge obstructing an official proceeding in this case, the ratification of the election result could only apply to people who had tampered or destroyed documents. The cases will be referred back to lower courts, which will rule on whether the defendants charged under the legislation should be freed. However many have also been convicted of other offences as well. Obstruction charges Mr Trumps lawyers are expected to file papers seeking to strike out the obstruction charges faced by the former president. Although legal experts suggested he would be unlikely to benefit from the ruling. The charges against him involve falsifying or altering records, documents, or objects. So I think it likely doesnt undermine those charges, one expert told the BBC. Mr Trump will learn next week whether the Supreme Court has accepted his argument that he enjoys presidential immunity, which bars him from being prosecuted for any crimes while he was in the White House. More than 1,500 people were charged with an array of offences for their part in the riot, including using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer. Mr Trump has repeatedly said he is ready to pardon the rioters if he wins the election. On Friday the former president told a rally that the rioters should be immediately released. Bidens Department of Justice has wrongly prosecuted hundreds of Americans for peacefully protesting on Jan 6, the Mr Trump said. Those people have been treated so badly especially when you compare them with people that ripped apart and killed people [in the 2020 protests] in Portland and Seattle. They have been treated so badly. So were asking, based on the decision, they should immediately be released. No accountability Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who was one of the officers who tried to resist the rioters, condemned Fridays ruling. It is very disappointing that the Supreme Court ruled there should be almost no accountability for those people who assaulted many police officers as they tried to overturn the transfer of power, he told CNN. Harry Dunn, another police officer, said the refusal to accept the results of the election laid the groundwork of what happened on Jan 6 and accused the former president of sowing the seeds of another Jan 6. 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. Hunter Biden trial could be talking point in presidential debate: What to know about case President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to meet face to face in Atlanta at the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle. Both candidates walk into the debate having recently dealt with the judicial system, though Trump's experience was much more intimate. The presumptive Republican nominee was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May, making Trump the first former President to be convicted of a felony. The President's son Hunter who is not seeking office was convicted of three federal gun charges in June, making him the first family member of a sitting President to be convicted of a felony Here's what to know about the Hunter Biden trial. Presidential debate live updates: How to watch Donald Trump, Joe Biden debate tonight What was Hunter Biden convicted of? Biden was convicted on three charges relating to the purchase of a gun in 2018. The jury voted unanimously to convict Biden on two charges of making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and one charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. Biden faces up to 25 years in prison for the charges. The conviction comes after a plea deal for the gun charges and separate tax charges fell apart in July of 2023, which critics called too lenient. Biden is scheduled to stand trial on the tax charges in California in September. Hunter Biden leaves the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building after jury selection in his federal gun trial in Wilmington, Delaware on June 3, 2024. Hunter Biden trial: The gun case was spurred by an ATF form. The shop violated federal law. What has President Biden said about the trial Joe Biden said he would not pardon Hunter Biden while the trial was taking place, according to a wide-ranging exclusive interview with ABC News. ABC anchor David Muir, interviewing Biden in France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, asked whether he would accept the outcome of his sons trial. Yes, the president said. Muir also asked if he would rule out a pardon for his son. Yes, the president said. After the verdict the President released a statement respecting the verdict and reiterating his love for his son. "I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal," the President said. "Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that." When is the first Presidential debate? The "CNN Presidential Debate" is scheduled for Thursday at 9 p.m ET/6 p.m. PT. It will air on CNN and be hosted by network personalities Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. You can also watch the "CNN Presidential Debate" via simulcast on USA TODAY's YouTube channel. Watch the first Presidential debate Contributing: Bart Jansen This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Hunter Biden trial factor in first presidential debate? IATSE and the AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement on all issues for the Area Standards agreement, the two announced in a joint statement on Thursday night. The deal comes on the heels of IATSE and AMPTP reaching a deal on the Hollywood Basic agreement earlier this week. The tentative agreement is now pending ratification by the unions membership. Members and signatories will have the opportunity to review the agreement in the form of a detailed summary in the days to come, followed by a Memorandum of Agreement at a later date. IAs Area Standards Agreement locals issued a memo to members on Thursday night immediately following news of the tentative agreement outlining more context and details on what has been agreed upon. Most of the gains outlined were also included in the tentative Hollywood Basic Agreement reached on Tuesday. Some of the improvements gained in the ASA tentative agreement include: Scale wage rate increases of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% over the three-year term. Additional regional wage adjustments A uniform benefit contribution rate for all jurisdictions with significant increases in both health and retirement representing as much as a $63 increase per employee, per day in some areas. Triple time paid after 15 elapsed hours 33% increase in the Nearby Hire living allowance Comprehensive Artificial Intelligence provisions that defines our covered work and protects against prompts used to displace a covered employee. Juneteenth added as a holiday New Media Sideletter moved into the body of the agreement with the elimination of delayed 2nd season rates for all high-budget streaming series. Bereavement Leave In addition to local town hall meetings, a multi-local webinar will take place on Sunday, July 14th at 4 PM EST to review the proposed language in the MOA. The question now is whether these contracts will be approved by a heavily engaged IATSE membership. In the last ratification vote in 2021, the IATSE contract was only approved via the unions delegate voting system, which gives more weight to locals with higher membership. In the overall vote, 50.4% of members voted to reject the proposed Hollywood Basic Agreement, but eight of the 13 locals voted in favor of ratification. The AMPTP will now pivot to negotiations with Teamsters Local 399, which represents drivers, animal trainers, casting directors, and wranglers, among other positions. Talks between the AMPTP and Teamsters began earlier this month, and the union has informed the studios that it will not agree to any extensions to its contract deadline, which expires on July 31. The post IATSE and Studios Reach Tentative Area Standards Agreement appeared first on TheWrap. Identity of man killed after chase with Granite City police is released A high-speed chase from Granite City Police ended with a fatal crash Thursday night. The Madison County Coroners office identified the man as Gerald D. Lewallen III, 22, of Pontoon Beach. Police say officers saw Lewallen driving a purple Dodge Ram pickup truck southbound on Illinois 3 at a high-rate of speed at about 8:05 p.m. then refused to pull over. The officers gave up on the chase, due to the speed and reckless way Lewallen was operating the vehicle, police said. A short time later, Lewallen was involved in a single-vehicle crash at Niedringhaus Road, near 16th Street. The Madison County Coroners office pronounced Lewallen dead at the scene. According to Illinois State Police, Lewallens truck was traveling east on Niedringhaus Road just east of Walnut Street at the time of the crash. He crossed into the westbound lane and over corrected to the right. The pickup truck subsequently struck a metal and brick support fence surrounding a rail yard. The crash is being investigated by Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit. Coroner Steve Nonn said an autopsy is scheduled to help determine the cause of death. Routine toxicological testing will be performed for the presence of drugs and alcohol, he said. It was a sisterhood built around service: there were birthdays away from home, costume parties, TikTok dance videos and lots of laughter. Some of the young soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces Unit 414 were there by choice, others completing their mandatory military service after high school. Stationed at the Nahal Oz IDF base, less than half a mile from Gaza, they were known as "the eyes of the military"-- monitoring hundreds of surveillance cameras overlooking the border, 24/7. They were always watching and always on high alert. "It felt like something out of the ordinary was about to happen," said Roni Lifshitz, an observation soldier who was part of Unit 414 but happened to be away at a training on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise terrorist attack on Israel. PHOTO: Roni Lifshitz recounts life on Nahal Oz base before the Oct. 7 attack. (ABC News) Lifshitz said she risks serious consequences in speaking to a news organization. "The IDF may react. To tell you the truth, I dont care. They abandoned my friends, I have no reason to listen to them," she said. "If [my friends] were here, they would be talking for sure." According to Lifshitz, in the days leading up to Oct. 7, her unit was reporting unusual activity in Gaza on a daily basis -- so much so that she says there was apparently a running joke on base: Who would be on duty the day Hamas attacked? PHOTO: Major General (Ret.) Noam Tibon criticizes leadership and intelligence failures he says contributed to the Oct. 7th attack. (ABC News) Just days before Oct. 7, she said she saw 10 pickup trucks, 300 meters away. It was unusual to see those. They stopped at every Hamas post, looking at our cameras, at the fence, at the gates, pointing," she said. "The other thing was the training that we saw deeper inside Gaza, very much like a military routine, rolling over, shooting." Her account lines up with what Ori Asaf said he heard from his girlfriend, Sgt. Osher Barzilay, a communications officer who was killed inside the Nahal Oz command center. Asaf showed ABC News text messages Barzilay sent him just two weeks before Oct 7. All the violent disturbances and incendiary balloons are in our sector, Barzilay wrote. "3 violent disturbances, people armed with weapons and explosives. The fence is destroyed. Asaf said Barzilay couldn't tell him everything, since much of the information was classified. But he said she repeatedly told him she saw Hamas burying explosives near the border. PHOTO: Eyal Eshel, father of Roni Eshel, pays tribute to his daughter at a military base where she was killed. (ABC News) Lifshitz said the warning signs were there, but those at the top didn't take them seriously. "We were completely ignored, they belittled us," she said. "No one really listened to us, mainly because I am not an officer. Because I am just a simple 20-year-old who knows nothing." Last November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News: The responsibility of a government is to protect the people. Clearly, that responsibility wasnt met. And well have a lot of questions, a lot of investigations. But I have now one responsibility. The responsibility is to defeat Hamas." Eyal Eshel heard similar stories from his daughter Roni Eshel, who was also part of Unit 414, and Roni Lifshitz's best friend. She was just 19. "'Dad, the cameras on the fence, in this point, are not working. Dad, there is a problem in the fence here.' Nobody came to fix it," he said. In a chilling phone conversation obtained exclusively by ABC News, Roni Eshel can be heard telling her mother Sharon on Sept. 27 that she's overwhelmed by what she's seeing. "Listen, three days in a row, attempted infiltrations, today there was an attack at Karni, explosive devices," she said. Eyal Eshel took ABC News inside what's left of the Nahal Oz base, and into the command center where his daughter would have watched Hamas' incursion, reporting it in real time until their cameras were neutralized. When over a hundred Hamas fighters eventually reached the base, they set the command center on fire. Many of the young observation soldiers were trapped inside and burned alive. "They didnt find dog tags, they didnt find bodies," said Eshel. "[They found] pieces. You can understand what Im saying. Pieces." PHOTO: Inside the destroyed observation center at Nahal Oz, where Roni Lifshitz and other members of Unit 414. (ABC News) There were only a few combat soldiers stationed at the base that day who tried to fend off the attackers. Lifshitz said observation soldiers are told their cameras are their weapons, so they are always unarmed, even when stationed so close to Gaza. Lifshitz told us she never had a gun at the base, and that she did feel unsafe. "They didnt prepare us much," she said. "I was never told where to go if terrorists infiltrated the base." Eyal Eshel said it's not just that the girls' warnings were ignored -- they were also abandoned, left to fend for themselves on Oct. 7 for six hours. When they called for help, Eshel and Lifshitz said this was the answer: "Good luck Nahal Oz, take care, we don't have enough soldiers to come here and rescue you." Fifteen of the observation soldiers were killed, according to Israeli officials. Seven were taken hostage, as seen in footage released by the hostages' families, handcuffed and bloodied. Five remain in Gaza to this day, according to Israeli officials. PHOTO: Ruins of Nahal Oz Military base after Oct. 7 attack. (ABC News) They are the ones who know whats going on along the border. They are serving all the time, said IDF Major General (Res.) Noam Tibon, who had to rescue his own family from a kibbutz on Oct. 7. The commanders ignored what they told them. And this is a terrible mistake, because if they would listen to them, maybe the whole Oct. 7 would look totally different. This is why Nahal Oz is a symbol of the failure, he added. Everybody that is in charge of this failure needs to go away. In response to a detailed list of questions about Nahal Oz, the IDF told ABC News in a statement, "the IDF is currently focused on eliminating the threat from the terrorist organization Hamas. Questions of this kind will be looked into at a later stage." In March, the IDF announced it was launching an internal probe into its missteps. Results are expected to be released by the end of August. Eight months after his daughter's death, Eyal Eshel is still waiting for answers. PHOTO: IDF Observation unit soldiers monitor the Israel- Gaza border. (IDF/ABC News) "No explanation. Were still waiting. Nobody from the army made the explanation," he said. With no end in sight to the war, Lifshitz can't help but reflect on all the lives she believes could have been saved -- if only someone had listened to her unit. "If someone had given the command to bring more troops, station the troops on the border, prepare all the forces with fire power, more tanks -- really, to bring the additional force to defend the kibbutzim, which is exactly what was supposed to happen, maybe then there would not have been as many people killed, not the damage that was done," she said. IDF soldiers say repeated warnings of Hamas activity prior to Oct. 7 attacks were ignored originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Illegal migrant suffocated Syracuse woman, 21, hed known since childhood on her birthday, buried her body in park: cops A migrant from Ecuador who entered the US illegally is accused of suffocating a 21-year-old Syracuse woman on her birthday and then burying her body in a shallow grave in an upstate New York park, authorities said. Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, is charged with killing Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, a fellow Ecuadorian, after arranging to meet the victim for her birthday at his Airbnb in Syracuse on June 18, the Post-Standard reported. The pair, who are believed to have attended elementary school together in Ecuador, were captured on surveillance cameras entering the rental property just before 4:30 pm., cops said. Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, is accused of suffocating Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, a fellow Ecuadorian, on June 18 after arranging to meet the victim for her birthday at his Airbnb in Syracuse. GoFundMe Just hours later, Chacaguasay-Ilbis allegedly re-emerged with a limp Toaquiza draped across his back with her arms and legs wrapped around him before carrying her body to a park opposite the Airbnb. He allegedly buried her in the shallow grave and then hightailed it on a Greyhound bus back to his residence in Rockland Countys Spring Valley, according to cops. Toaquizas remains werent discovered until Saturday after her family reported her missing. The accused killer was slapped with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse charges after eventually turning himself in to cops late Tuesday. Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, 21, is charged with killing Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, a fellow Ecuadorian, after arranging to meet the victim for her birthday at his Airbnb in Syracuse. Metro Ecuador He was arraigned Thursday in Syracuse City Court, where he claimed, via a Spanish interpreter, that he had zero recollection of the alleged slaying because he was too drunk. Chacaguasay-Ilbis was picked up by US Border Patrol agents in January 2023 after illegally crossing the border in El Paso, Texas, a Homeland Security source told The Post. Because there wasnt enough space to hold him, he was released into the US without a tracking device. The victims relatives said she had immigrated to the US last year. It wasnt immediately clear, though, what the young womans immigration status was. The pair, who are believed to have attended elementary school together in Ecuador, were captured on surveillance cameras entering the rental property just before 4:30 pm., cops said. WSYR-TV Chacaguasay-Ilbis is being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail. He is scheduled to face court again on July 2. The Post reached out to the Onondaga County District Attorneys Office but didnt hear back Thursday. News of Chacaguasay-Ilbis arrest comes after a Turkish migrant, Sakir Akkan, also 21, was nabbed in Albany last week for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl whom he forced into his car after threatening to beat her with a metal pole. The suspect was hit with a first-degree rape charge over the May 15 attack. Akkan had been stopped by US Border Patrol agents on Nov. 5 last year after crossing illegally into San Diego, California, sources confirmed. He too was released due to a lack of bed space and ordered to appear in court next February. WASHINGTON An Illinois man who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers during a January 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol will spend time behind bars. Quinn Keen, 36, of Manteno, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and 24 months of supervised release on Thursday after pleading guilty in February to a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. Keen must also pay $2,000 in restution. According to U.S. Attorneys Office prosecutors, Keen traveled from Illinois to Washington, D.C., to protest the 2020 presidential election results. HAPPENING TODAY: Trump and Biden to face off in presidential debate rematch Court documents alleged that Keen broke through the restricted perimeter of the U.S. Capitol just before 1:15 p.m. on Jan. 6, 2021. A confrontation ensued after U.S. Capitol and Metropolitan police officers met him and others as they formed a line behind bike rack barricades to limit the crowd from further assessing a restricted area. Prosecutors alleged that amid the confrontation, Keen threw a water bottle at officers and later threw a metal travel mug at police. After breaching the police line, Keen was seen entering the Capitol building. He traveled with other rioters up a staircase and into the Capitol Rotunda. Prosecutors said Keen smoked a marijuana joint in celebration of the illegal act. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Officers arrested Keen on April 5, 2023, more than two years after the initial insurrection. The U.S. Attorneys Office has charged more than 1,450 people in connection with the Capitol breach. An investigation remains active. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.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 WGN-TV. ILLINOIS (WCIA) After a week of rain, officials are warning of potential flooding in western Illinois. The St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they are watching extra closely for flooding next week in both the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers after heavy rainfall from storms earlier this week. Currently, floodwaters entering the Mississippi watershed are forecasted to increase water levels in the St. Louis District next week, but we do not expect any significant impacts, Joan Stemler, the chief of the St. Louis Districts water control operations said in a release. We will continue to monitor water levels closely and stand by to mitigate conditions. Richland Community College hosting planned emergency drill Friday Increased flows in rivers can increase currents and add debris in the water, therefore make boating dangerous. Officials ask boaters to wear life jackets, be vigilant of rising water levels, and exercise caution while on the water. The Army Corps of Engineers also advises against driving through flooded areas, as floodwaters can carry vehicles away. Officials ask for people to remember the phrase turn around, dont drown when they see flooded roads while driving. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers monitors and updates river and lake water level forecasts daily. The group also recommends following the National Weather Service for flood warnings and watches. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of $2.2 billion in funding through the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to assist Ukraine with budgetary support, the IMF announced on June 28. The funding comes as the IMF's Executive Board completed the fourth review of the EFF Arrangement. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that the IMF began review of the agreement on May 31. "Ukraines performance remains strong under the EFF despite challenging conditions," a news release from the IMF read. "All quantitative performance criteria for end-March were met, and all structural benchmarks through end-June were implemented on time or with a short delay." The EFF funds are meant to lend Ukraine stability amid the disruptions of war, support the country's postwar recovery, and promote economic growth as Ukraine moves forward on the path to EU membership. In a statement, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, said that "Ukraines performance and commitment under the program continues to be strong," adding that the country's "economy remains resilient, reflecting the continued adaptability of households and firms." Despite the progress with Ukraine's commitments under the EFF, the country's prospects for economic recovery will likely continue to slump into 2025. "Looking ahead, the recovery is expected to slow particularly given the attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure, and the outlook is subject to high risks from the exceptionally high war-related uncertainty," Georgieva said. "Vigilance against these risks is necessary to enable timely responses if shocks materialize." The EFF has thus far provided Ukraine with $7.6 billion in budgetary assistance since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The total EFF amount for 2023-2027 is $15.6 billion, part of a larger international support package for Ukraine. Foreign aid is crucial for Ukraine as the economic pressure caused by the full-scale Russian invasion mounts. The besieged country received $42.5 billion in external financing last year, allowing it to function amid the ongoing war. Read also: Finland announces $170 million in new military aid for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate People watch the CNN presidential debate between President Joe Biden and the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, at a debate watch party at Shaws Tavern on June 27, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden and Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential cycle. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald J. Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest number of migrant encounters at the southern border in 20 years. Biden during the 90-minute debate at CNN in Atlanta defended his administrations handling of immigration and blamed Trump for tanking a bipartisan U.S. Senate border security deal. Biden also pointed to that deal as a reason he should be reelected, because the White House was able to forge the agreement in the first place. We worked very hard to get a bipartisan agreement, Biden said. Senate Republicans rejected the bipartisan border security deal earlier this year, siding with their House colleagues and Trump. The agreement would have significantly overhauled U.S. immigration law by creating a temporary procedure to shut down the border during active times and raising the bar for asylum claims. Trump in the debate argued that Biden did not need legislation to enact policy changes at the southern border because I didnt have legislation, I said close the border. In early June, Biden made the most drastic crackdown on immigration of his administration, issuing an executive order that instituted a partial ban on asylum proceedings at the southern border. Trump called that action insignificant. The debate came the day after U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas gave a briefing from Tucson, Arizona, about a decline in migrant encounters following Bidens executive order. He said the Tucson sector has seen a more than 45 percent drop in U.S. Border Patrol encounters since the president took action, and repatriations of encountered individuals in Tucson have increased by nearly 150 percent. Across the entire southern border, Border Patrol encounters have dropped by over 40 percent, Mayorkas said. Remain in Mexico policy Trump cited his prior policies that he felt were successful and criticized Biden for rolling them back, such as one that required migrants to remain in Mexico while they awaited their asylum cases. Biden slammed Trumps zero-tolerance policy that separated parents from their children in efforts to deter unauthorized immigrants at the border. When he was president he was separating babies from their mothers and putting them in cages, Biden said. And, without citing evidence, Trump blamed immigrants for crime, calling it migrant crime. Overall violent crime in the country is down by 15%, according to recent FBI statistics, and researchers have found that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. Trump brought up the death of a Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, and blamed Bidens immigration policies. All he does is make our country unsafe, Trump said. In late February, Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was reported missing by her roommate when she did not return home after a run on the campus of the University of Georgia at Athens. Local police found her body and shortly afterward arrested a 26-year-old man from Venezuela for her murder an immigrant previously arrested in Georgia on a shoplifting charge who entered the country without authorization in 2022, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. U.S. House Republicans in reaction passed the Laken Riley Act. Trump was asked by debate moderators how he would carry out mass deportations, but he did not go into detail. He has repeatedly claimed he would carry out a mass deportation campaign of undocumented immigrants by utilizing local law enforcement, the National Guard and potentially the U.S. military. Hes done so on the campaign trail and during a lengthy interview with Time Magazine. We have to get a lot of these people out and we got to get them out fast because theyre destroying our country, Trump said during the debate. The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: People watch the CNN presidential debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a debate watch party at Shaws Tavern on June 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden and Trump are facing off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential cycle. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald J. Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest number of migrant encounters at the southern border in 20 years. Biden during the 90-minute debate at CNN in Atlanta defended his administrations handling of immigration and blamed Trump for tanking a bipartisan U.S. Senate border security deal. Biden also pointed to that deal as a reason he should be reelected, because the White House was able to forge the agreement in the first place. We worked very hard to get a bipartisan agreement, Biden said. Senate Republicans rejected the bipartisan border security deal earlier this year, siding with their House colleagues and Trump. The agreement would have significantly overhauled U.S. immigration law by creating a temporary procedure to shut down the border during active times and raising the bar for asylum claims. Trump in the debate argued that Biden did not need legislation to enact policy changes at the southern border because I didnt have legislation, I said close the border. In early June, Biden made the most drastic crackdown on immigration of his administration, issuing an executive order that instituted a partial ban on asylum proceedings at the southern border. Trump called that action insignificant. The debate came the day after U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas gave a briefing from Tucson, Arizona, about a decline in migrant encounters following Bidens executive order. He said the Tucson sector has seen a more than 45 percent drop in U.S. Border Patrol encounters since the president took action, and repatriations of encountered individuals in Tucson have increased by nearly 150 percent. Across the entire southern border, Border Patrol encounters have dropped by over 40 percent, Mayorkas said. Remain in Mexico policy Trump cited his prior policies that he felt were successful and criticized Biden for rolling them back, such as one that required migrants to remain in Mexico while they awaited their asylum cases. Biden slammed Trumps zero-tolerance policy that separated parents from their children in efforts to deter unauthorized immigrants at the border. When he was president he was separating babies from their mothers and putting them in cages, Biden said. And, without citing evidence, Trump blamed immigrants for crime, calling it migrant crime. Overall violent crime in the country is down by 15%, according to recent FBI statistics, and researchers have found that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. Trump brought up the death of a Georgia nursing student, Laken Riley, and blamed Bidens immigration policies. All he does is make our country unsafe, Trump said. In late February, Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was reported missing by her roommate when she did not return home after a run on the campus of the University of Georgia at Athens. Local police found her body and shortly afterward arrested a 26-year-old man from Venezuela for her murder an immigrant previously arrested in Georgia on a shoplifting charge who entered the country without authorization in 2022, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. U.S. House Republicans in reaction passed the Laken Riley Act. Trump was asked by debate moderators how he would carry out mass deportations, but he did not go into detail. He has repeatedly claimed he would carry out a mass deportation campaign of undocumented immigrants by utilizing local law enforcement, the National Guard and potentially the U.S. military. Hes done so on the campaign trail and during a lengthy interview with Time Magazine. We have to get a lot of these people out and we got to get them out fast because theyre destroying our country, Trump said during the debate. The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Indiana University alumni selected Jill Maurer Burnett of Carmel to serve on the Board of Trustees, ousting current trustee Jeremy Morris. She received 3,830 votes, 19% of the total vote count in a crowded field of 12 candidates. I extend my warmest congratulations to Jill Maurer Burnett on her election to the Board of Trustees, IU President Pamela Whitten said in a press release Friday. Jill will play a pivotal role in propelling Indiana University forward by fortifying our commitment to student success, fostering groundbreaking innovation and discovery, and enhancing IUs contribution to the vitality of our state and the global community. IU alumni trustee candidate Jill Maurer Burnett Burnett graduated from IU in 1997 with a degree in business. She is the daughter of Michael Maurer, the namesake of the Maurer School of Law, and most recently served as president of the Maurer Family Foundation and Women for Riley. Shes run Mickeys Camp, a nonprofit organization that hosts a camp for adults, for the past 20 years and is a board member for the Indiana-based group Discovering Broadway, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Hooverwood Living nursing home. "Im thrilled to be elected as a trustee for my beloved alma mater, which has played a pivotal role not just in my life but much of my familys, Burnett said in the press release. Im looking forward to working with fellow trustees to ensure Indiana University continues to help students grow, learn and better our world. During her campaign, Burnett did not respond to questions from the Indiana Daily Student about controversies on IUs campus, including the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition strike, the Dunn Meadow encampment and calls for Whitten and Provost Rahul Shrivastav to resign. The IGWC unanimously endorsed another candidate, John McGlothlin III, earlier this month, according to the IDS. In a statement to The Herald-Times in May, Maurer Burnett said students should be heard by the IU administration but must also follow the rules. Student and faculty protestors must follow the rules and regulations of IU in addition to the laws of our city and state and if they fail to do so, they should expect the prescribed adverse consequences and ramifications, she wrote. With a total of 20,098 votes, this trustee election had relatively high turnout compared to previous years. In 2018, Trustee Donna Spears was elected after receiving 4,151 of 13,710 votes. Trustee Vivian Winston received 8,196 out of 16,302 votes when she was elected in 2022. A little over 20,000 voters weighed in during Morris election in 2021, where he received 7,460 votes. In a statement, Board of Trustees president Quinn Buckner thanked outgoing trustee Morris. I want to thank Trustee Morris, whose experience and commitment to service have made him an incredible asset to the Board of Trustees and Indiana University, Buckner said in the press release. I extend my congratulations to Jill Maurer Burnett and look forward to working together to advance the mission of our extraordinary university. Burnetts term begins July 1. Reach Marissa Meador at mmeador@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: IU alumni elect Jill Maurer Burnett to Board of Trustees FILE - Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, third from left, stands during a news conference outside of the Robb Elementary school on May 26, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. Arredondo was arrested and briefly booked into the Uvalde County jail before he was released Thursday, June 27, 2024, on 10 state jail felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child in the May 24, 2022, attack that killed 19 children and two teachers. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The police chief for schools in Uvalde, Texas, failed to identify an active shooting, did not follow his training and made critical decisions that slowed the law enforcement response to stop a gunman who was hunting victims and ultimately killed 21 people at Robb Elementary, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. Pete Arredondo was arrested and briefly booked into the Uvalde County jail before being released Thursday night on 10 state jail felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child in the May 24, 2022, attack that killed 19 children and two teachers. Former school officer Adrian Gonzales, one of the first officers to enter the building after the shooting began, was indicted on 29 similar charges that accuse him of abandoning his training and not confronting the shooter, even after hearing gunshots as he stood in a hallway. Gonzales was booked into jail briefly Friday and released on bond. Arredondo, 52, and Gonzales, 51, are the first officers to be criminally charged for the police response to one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, and the indictments from a Uvalde County grand jury follow two years of calls from some families for such action. Some victims' relatives said Friday that while they are happy Arredondo and Gonzales were indicted, they want more officers to be charged. They decided to indict only two. Thats hard for me to accept, said Jesse Rizo, whose niece Jacklyn Cazares was among the students killed. In a statement, an attorney for Gonzales called the charges against law enforcement unprecedented in the state of Texas. Mr. Gonzales position is he did not violate school district policy or state law, said Nico LaHood, the former district attorney for Bexar County, which includes San Antonio. Arredondo does not have a listed phone number and the court clerk had no record of an attorney for him. The first U.S. law enforcement officer ever tried for allegedly failing to act during an on-campus shooting was a sheriffs deputy in Florida who didnt go into the classroom building and confront the perpetrator of the 2018 Parkland massacre. The deputy was acquitted of felony neglect last year. A lawsuit by the victims families and survivors is pending. The indictment against Arredondo, who was the on-site commander at the Uvalde shooting, accused the chief of delaying the police response despite hearing gunshots and being notified that injured children were in the classrooms and that a teacher had been shot. Arredondo called for a SWAT team, ordered the initial responding officers to leave the building, and attempted to negotiate with the 18-year-old gunman, the indictment said. After being advised that a child or children were injured in a class at Robb Elementary School (Arredondo) failed to identify the incident as an active shooter incident and failed to respond as trained to an active shooter incident and instead directed law enforcement officers to evacuate the wing before confronting the shooter thereby delaying the response by law enforcement officers to an active shooter who was hunting and shooting a child or children, the indictment said. The actions and inactions by both Arredondo and Gonzales amounted to criminal negligence, the indictments said. More than 370 federal, state and local officers converged on Robb Elementary, but they waited more than 70 minutes before confronting the shooter, even as the gunman could be heard firing an AR-15-style rifle. Terrified students inside the classroom called 911 as parents begged officers some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway to go in. A tactical team of officers eventually went into the classroom and killed the shooter. I want every single person who was in the hallway charged for failure to protect the most innocent," Velma Duran, whose sister Irma Garcia was one of the teachers killed, said Friday. "My sister put her body in front of those children to protect them, something they could have done. They had the means and the tools to do it. It was unclear whether the grand jury considered indictments against any others. Arredondo is accused of failing to protect survivors of the attack, including Khloie Torres, who called 911 and begged for help, telling a dispatcher, Please hurry. Theres a lot of dead bodies. Some of my teachers are still alive but theyre shot. Gonzales' indictment charges him with failing to protect children who were killed as well as survivors. Although the investigative report by Texas lawmakers identified Gonzales as one the first officers to go in the the building, it also identified two other officers who allegedly heard gunfire. It is unclear whether those officers were part of the grand jurys investigation. After hearing gun shots and being advised of the general location of the shooter and having time to respond to the shooter, (Gonzeles) failed to follow, engage, distract or delay the shooter and failed to respond to respond to gun fire," the indictment said. The charges carry up to two years in jail if convicted. In an interview with the Texas Tribune two weeks after the shooting, Arredondo insisted he took the steps he believed would best protect the lives of students and teachers. My mind was to get there as fast as possible, eliminate any threats, and protect the students and staff," he told the newspaper. Since then, scathing state and federal investigative reports on the police response have catalogued cascading failures in training, communication, leadership and technology problems. Arredondo lost his job and several other officers were eventually fired. Separate investigations by the Department of Justice and state lawmakers alleged law enforcement botched the response. Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, said the investigation should not stop with the indictments against Arredondo and Gonzales. Gutierrez has been critical of the Texas Department of Public Safety and its head, Steve McCraw. That department had more than 90 officers at the school more than any other agency and McCraw testified before the grand jury in February. Every single officer that stood down that day must be held accountable," Gutierrez said. "We cant rest until we have justice. ___ Associated Press journalist Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., contributed to this report Homelessness advocates are condemning the Supreme Court's ruling that an Oregon city's ordinance to bar anyone without a permanent residency from sleeping outside does not amount to "cruel and unusual" punishment under the Eighth Amendment. In 2013, the Grants Pass city council attempted to ban anyone "from using a blanket, pillow or cardboard box for protection from the elements" while sleeping outside, threatening violators with citations and tickets. Lower courts initially found that this was "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment. The case, City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, has major implications for the rising population of unhoused Americans and the disciplinary actions they face in public spaces, advocates say. Across the country, homelessness has been on the rise since 2016. PHOTO: With Fruitdale Elementary School in the background, a homeless person walks near a tent in Fruitdale Park, March 23, 2024, in Grants Pass, Ore. (Jenny Kane/AP, FILE) MORE: How one state is tackling homelessness by turning abandoned buildings into shelters The most recent report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in December found that more than 650,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2023 across the country, a 12% increase from 2022. As this number rises, local legislators continue to implement bans on homeless encampments or sleeping outside. Advocates say these policies don't address the lack of affordable housing for the homeless and instead they criminalize people "for trying to survive" with nowhere to go, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director at the National Homelessness Law Center in a statement to ABC News. He called the ruling "inhumane." Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, told ABC News that unhoused people are often forced to face the elements in winter and summer, which may cause further physical and emotional trauma. Oliva argues that taking away their possessions or adding further financial burden to the homeless only worsens the harm. "It makes it harder for them to get jobs. It makes it harder for them to get it into apartment, because fines rack up, sometimes they turn into criminal charges and bench warrants," said Oliva. "So it not only doesn't end homelessness for anybody, it actually makes it worse for the people who are subject to these kinds of ordinances." The decision is a win for lawmakers across the country who have recently implemented similar bans on the homeless and restrictions on encampments or possessions in public spaces, but who have been faced with legal challenges. When SCOTUS first agreed to hear the case in January, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the Supreme Court to "correct course and end the costly delays from lawsuits that have plagued our efforts to clear encampments and deliver services to those in need." MORE: This major US county is on the way to ending chronic homelessness PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington, May 20, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters, FILE) The 6-3 SCOTUS opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch. "Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it," Gorsuch wrote. "At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not." Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, argued the ordinance punishes homeless people with nowhere else to go based on status. "It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles," Sotomayor wrote. "Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested." ABC News' Devin Dwyer contributed to this report. 'Inhumane': Homelessness advocates slam Supreme Court decision upholding ban on sleeping outside originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Authorities said the death of an inmate Thursday at a state prison in Lassen County is being investigated as a homicide after he was found unresponsive in his cell, corrections officials said. Guards found Hector Hernandez unconscious at 12:34 a.m. as they were completing rounds at High Desert State Prison in Susanville. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in a news release did not say how Hernandez died and a coroners report on his death was pending. State prison staff administered aid to Hernandez before he was sent to the prisons triage area. At 1:02 a.m., Hernandez was pronounced dead by medical staff separate from the prison, CDCR said. Hernandez, 33, was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for two counts of first-degree murder and the use of a firearm after a recent conviction in Los Angeles County. He had been in the Northern California facility since April 19, CDCR said. He shared a cell with Jonathan Gonzalez, also received by CDCR from Los Angeles County. Gonzalez did not appear on CDCRs inmate locator as of Friday, but officials said he was transferred to restricted housing while the investigation took place. Gonzalez, 36, is serving a 28-year sentence that began in 2016 for attempted robbery, extortion by means of force, intimidation of witnesses and other felonies. While incarcerated, according to CDCR officials, Gonzalez was found with a deadly weapon and convicted of a second strike. The cell the men shared will remain locked and unused by other inmates while the Lassen County District Attorneys Office investigates the death. The water tower in Sanborn, Iowa, is now the focus of a lawsuit alleging $4 million in damages caused by contaminated water. (Photo courtesy of the City of Sanborn) The water tower in Sanborn, Iowa, is now the focus of a lawsuit alleging $4 million in damages caused by contaminated water. (Photo courtesy of the City of Sanborn) A cheese manufacturer is suing the Iowa city of Sanborn for water contamination that allegedly infiltrated the plant and caused $4 million in damages. The Minnesota dairy cooperative Associated Milk Producers Inc., or AMPI, is suing not only the City of Sanborn in federal court, but also the company hired by the city to clean the municipal water tower, Maguire Iron of South Dakota. AMPI operates an 80-year-old plant in Sanborn where each day, it produces 280,000 pounds of cheese. As part of the production process, the plant consumes 300,000 gallons of water each day. In late 2021, the city hired Maguire Iron to clean, maintain and sandblast the municipal water tower. In the summer of 2022, the lawsuit claims, the city drained the water tower, allowing Maguire to begin its work inside and around the structure. AMPI alleges Maguire negligently performed its sandblasting of the towers interior by using jagged shards of a toxic black sandblasting aggregate commonly called black magic. Maguire allegedly used the aggregate to clean the towers interior surfaces without first sealing the intake and outflow pipes that route water in and out of the tower. That alleged failure to seal the pipes resulted in sandblasting aggregate and other spent cleaning debris entering the citys water system and subsequently infiltrating the Sanborn plant, the lawsuit claims. When Maguire finished its work, city officials attempted to refill the tower and noticed sandblasting aggregate flowing out of a standpipe valve connected to the tower. City workers then spent several hours attempting to flush the aggregate out of the pipes and then resumed their efforts to refill the tower, the lawsuit alleges. When that work was completed, the city had the water tested for bacteria. When the test indicated there was no bacteria present, the city allegedly opened the valves from the tower and restored the flow of water to not just the AMPI plant but to other businesses and homes that rely on the tower. Within days, officials at the plant allegedly discovered large amounts of sandblasting aggregate in its water, its equipment and in the cheese that had recently been processed. The lawsuit claims the amount of contamination was so significant that the aggregate from within the tower had blasted AMPIs filters off, leaving piles of black aggregate forming on the plants floor. As a result of the incident, AMPI alleges, it had to discard cheese worth nearly $4 million that had been contaminated and was unsafe for consumption. Mayor: Residents didnt complain of contamination In its lawsuit, AMPI argues the city negligently performed its role in the maintenance and repair services on the water tower, alleging it failed to hire a third-party inspector to monitor Maguires work on the water tower. The city should have notified Maguire, or hired a third-party, to ensure the citys water supply was free of dangerous sandblasting aggregate and spent cleaning debris before providing such contaminated water to the citys water users, AMPI alleges. The city has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. A claim of $4 million in damages equates to $2,803 for each of Sanborns 1,427 residents. With regard to contaminated water that may have flowed to other city businesses and to residents homes, the citys attorney, Daniel DeKoter, said he has heard of no such concerns. Thats not something I have ever been told, he said Thursday. And I think something like that would have been brought to my attention as the citys attorney. Mayor Randy Lyman said Thursday that while the city didnt test residents water for the presence of black aggregate, it did perform other types of testing that indicated the water was safe. Asked why the supply wasnt tested for the presence of the sandblasting aggregate, Lyman said, We had no complaints from residents about any aggregate in the water. Lyman added that because the cheese plant is first in line to collect water from the tower, and because it is such a heavy user, the plant sucks so hard in drawing water from the tower that any contaminants would have gone directly to the plant rather than to other users. City Administrator Jim Zeutenhorst did not respond Thursday to a request for comment. 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. The post Iowa city, SD company face suit alleging contaminated water, $4 million in tainted cheese appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. DES MOINES - About 15 minutes into Thursday night's presidential debate, John Norris looked over at his wife, Jackie, and saw tears streaming down her face. "It was painful for me, too," said Norris, half of the longtime Iowa Democratic Party power couple who have both worked on presidential and congressional campaigns. "My first question was, 'How do we do this?' There's so much to lose and the stakes are so incredibly high." While many anxious Democrats expressed deep concern for President Joe Biden's candidacy after his first debate on CNN against former President Donald Trump, Iowa party leaders staunchly defended their candidate and attacked Trump on what another term would mean for the country. Others said they hoped tough conversations were taking place about Biden stepping down as a candidate. "I do believe Joe Biden puts the country first, but it's hard to walk away from the presidency," said Norris, Polk County's administrator who led Iowa presidential campaigns for Jesse Jackson and John Kerry while his wife was an Iowa political director for Al Gore, a campaign manager for Barack Obama and chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. "I just hope that's the discussion in the White House today, not how do we spin this?" Tom Harkin calls debate 'a disaster from which Biden cannot recover' Former Iowa U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, himself a former presidential candidate, had some of the harshest criticism Friday of the president, saying the debate was a disaster from which Biden cannot recover." He said Bidens sentences were mainly incoherent and meandering. Whoever prompted him for this debate tried to fill his head with facts and figures Biden couldnt remember, so he stumbled on these, Harkin, 84, said in a note to family and friend that was later publicly released. Of course, Trumps answers were meandering, gobbledygook and full of lies, BUT they were said with force and directness, Harkin said. Harkin said all incumbent Democratic senators should write to Biden asking him to release his delegates and step aside so the national convention can choose a new candidate. A couple of governors may need to do the same, he wrote. He said a new course would energize the party and capture voters' attention, many of whom would like an alternative to Trump." Iowa Democratic Party attacks Trump, ignores Biden performance Biden received a clean bill of health in his last publicly released physical in February, with his doctor calling him "healthy and robust." But the 81-year-old president appeared frail and lost at times during Thursday night's debate in Atlanta, critics said. His voice was soft and raspy, he stumbled and appeared to lose his train of thought when responding to questions, and he stared blankly at times into the camera while failing to challenge Trump in key moments of the debate. In a statement released after the debate, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart mentioned nothing of Bidens performance, underscoring only that the president stood in sharp contrast to Trump, 78, who only cares about himself. Trump continues to pose a serious threat to families in Iowa and across the nation, as he puts himself above American voters and our democracy, wants to ban abortion nationwide, and threatens access to affordable health care and to gut Social Security and Medicare," the statement read. "Tonight, Iowans saw the stark contrast between President Bidens vision for the future building on his agenda of lowering prices, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting our fundamental freedoms and convicted felon Donald Trumps plan to give more tax breaks to his billionaire donors at working families expense. Bill Brauch, Polk Countys Democratic Party chair, said he stood by Harts statement. Iowa Republican spokesman Luke Wolff said in a statement Friday the Democratic leaders' response to Biden's performance was deafening. "What we saw from Biden last night on the debate stage was embarrassing for our country, and, frankly, sad to see," the statement said. "The monsoon of headlines from national media about Biden's clear decline confirms what Republicans have been saying for years now: Biden is unfit for office and cannot lead this country."Biden already trailed Trump in key battleground states as he headed into the early showdown after more than a weeks preparation. His failure to reassure voters nine weeks before the national convention has set off panic, disappointment and frustration in some quarters of the Democratic Party. I dont think it was his best performance, but I still prefer him over the alternative without a doubt, said state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad of Des Moines, a Democratic Party delegate headed to the Aug. 19-22 convention in Chicago. "This is where were at, and right now, were in a crisis." Iowa Democratic Party delegate Ako Abdul-Samad said despite Biden's debate performance, he remains a better alternative than Donald Trump. Samad said leaders in both parties have put politics over people for a long time, leaving voters suffering and without solutions to important problems. But he said he didn't think Biden should withdraw his candidacy and allow another candidate to accept the party's formal nomination. As much as I follow politics, I dont know who has the proven record to do that," he said. "You have to have somebody who shines and who wants the job. I havent seen anybody who wants the job. I couldnt even give you a top three right now. Bidens supporters have repeatedly defended his mental fitness to challenge Trump and lead the country over the next four years, challenging polls that suggest a Democratic defeat is likely. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll published June 17 showed Trump leading Biden in the state 50% to 32% among likely voters. The poll results came two weeks after Trump was convicted in a New York courtroom of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a payoff to a porn star. Biden performance may not change many voters' minds It showed little change from an Iowa Poll in February in which Trump led Biden 48% to 33% among likely voters. A CNN flash poll of debate watchers and registered voters found a strong majority thought Trump outperformed Biden, with 67% saying Trump turned in a better performance. Most respondents said they had no real confidence in Bidens ability to lead the country. But a majority who tuned also said it had little or no effect on their choice for president. Earl Agan, president of the Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council, said he has met Biden several times and "he certainly didn't do well" during the debate. But he downplayed its import with union voters in Iowa, saying they tend to vote on issues, rather than the candidate, who is more of a figurehead. The Des Moines 66-year-old also expressed concern for how CNN conducted the debate. Some chastised the news network for excluding other White House journalists and CNN moderators Jake Turner and Dana Bash for failing to do more fact-checking of the candidates in real-time. CNN said Trump made more than 30 false statements during the debate, while Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims. "To tell you the truth, if you watched the whole thing, it looked like a big setup by CNN to get rid of Joe," Agan said. "They had (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom on there before the debate and it was almost an hour after before they let (Vice President) Kamala Harris talk. Sure looked suspicious to me." Jerry Crawford, a Democratic operative who worked on numerous presidential campaigns in Iowa, said he was a surprised Friday how many top Democrats were openly talking about the need for a change in a Democratic candidate. That decision, he said, "all starts and ends with the president. It's his decision to make. It would be a surprise if he steps aside. But I also think he is a profoundly decent human being who would put country before self every time." Crawford said he thought the debate quickly devolved into a contest between "one person who told serial falsehoods fluently and another who told the truth very awkwardly." But he said it would be a mistake to assume the debate marked an end to the contest. "Remeber, in the (Hillary) Clinton-Trump debate, the Access Hollywood tape came out and everybody said it's over." The tape, published by The Washington Post in October 2016, one month before the election, showed then-presidential candidate Trump and television host Billy Bush having a lewd conversation about women in September 2005. Still, Crawford, who worked on campaigns for Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, said he does think it's appropriate for party leaders to take a hard look at Biden and his chances now. Crawford said he didn't think there was one Democrat right now who would be a strong contender as the party's nominee, other than Biden. "But I think there are people who could be." 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: Iowa Democrats debate ditching President Biden after 'painful' debate Iowans who support abortion restrictions rally July 11, 2023 in the Iowa Capitol rotunda alongside supporters of abortion rights. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Most abortions will soon be illegal in Iowa after six weeks of pregnancy following the Iowa Supreme Courts decision Friday to overturn a lower courts block on the 2023 abortion law. The 4-3 decision allows enforcement of the law that was previously blocked by a temporary injunction in a case challenging Iowas law restricting most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion remains legal in Iowa for now, until the case returns to the district court for further proceedings, according to American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa. That will take at least 21 days under Iowa court rules, according to ACLU of Iowa, and abortion will remain legal during that time. The law bans abortions after cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the medical procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. To qualify for an exception to the law, people must report the rape resulting in pregnancy within 45 days to law enforcement or a public health agency or doctor, and within 140 for cases of incest. Embryonic cardiac activity can typically be detected as early as six weeks of gestation. Reproductive health care advocates have argued that many women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, and that the law would effectively make most abortions illegal in Iowa. Abortions were previously legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. The lawsuit was brought forward by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic both health care providers that perform abortions as well as Dr. Sarah Traxler and ACLU of Iowa. The ruling states that the Iowa law is serving a legitimate state interest, and thus can be upheld legally. Every ground the State identifies is a legitimate interest for the legislature to pursue, and the restrictions on abortion in the fetal heartbeat statute are rationally related to advancing them, Justice Matthew McDermott wrote in the majority opinion. As a result, Planned Parenthoods substantive due process challenge fails. The district court thus erred in granting the temporary injunction. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a supporter of the measure, alongside Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley, praised the court decision in a news release Friday. There is no right more sacred than life, and nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn, Reynolds said in a statement. Iowa voters have spoken clearly through their elected representatives, both in 2018 when the original heartbeat bill was passed and signed into law, and again in 2023 when it passed by an even larger margin. Im glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart wrote in a statement that the decision strips Iowa women of reproductive rights that they have maintained for more than 50 years. Its obvious Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans do not trust women to make their own decisions regarding their own medical care or for doctors to use their best judgment while treating their patients, Hart said in a statement. Republicans went too far with this abortion ban, and Iowa voters will hold them accountable this November. Reynolds signed the six-week abortion ban into law after convening the Legislature for a special session in July 2023. That session followed a state Supreme Court decision in June of the same year to uphold the injunction on the 2018 so-called fetal heartbeat law, a similar measure. Justices were split in a 3-3 decision on the case, upholding a lower courts decision to enjoin the law. The 2018 abortion law was previously ruled unconstitutional, but Reynolds challenged the decision following major changes to abortion law at both the state and federal levels. In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that there was no constitutional right to an abortion, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade precedent and allowing states to enact abortion restrictions. Since the U.S. constitutional protections for abortion lifted, multiple states have enacted restrictions or total bans on abortion. Most states surrounding Iowa have enacted laws limiting the procedure since 2022, according to information compiled by the Guttmacher Institute. South Dakota and Missouri have near total abortion bans with limited exceptions. Nebraska has restricted abortion at 12 weeks of gestation, and in Kansas and Wisconsin, abortions are currently legal up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Minnesota and Illinois have the fewest restrictions, allowing abortions to be performed until fetal viability when a fetus is able to survive outside the uterus, typically around 25 weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions are granted for this limit in cases where the procedure is necessary to save the life of the woman, or if their health is at risk. Made with Flourish Days prior to the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, the Iowa Supreme Court found there is no state constitutional right to an abortion. That decision came in a case on the state law requiring a 24-hour waiting period and ultrasound for patients seeking an abortion. While the state Supreme Court overturned the strict scrutiny legal standard for abortion laws a test requiring a law serves a compelling state interest and uses the least restrictive means possible Iowa Supreme Court Justice Edward Mansfield wrote that we do not at this time decide what constitutional standard should replace it. The arguments made in court about the 2018 abortion ban largely centered around what legal standard should replace strict scrutiny for Iowa abortion laws. But in the decision upholding the injunction, the Iowa Supreme Court did not put forward a new standard. During oral arguments in April, attorneys representing Iowa and reproductive health care providers and advocates argued for what legal standard should replace strict scrutiny for Iowa abortion laws. Eric Wessen, representing the state, called for the rational basis test to be used a lower standard that means a law is constitutional if the state has a legitimate reason to enact it. Attorney Peter Im, representing Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa, argued for the undue burden test, a standard higher than rational basis that requires laws not be too burdensome or restrictive of an individuals fundamental rights. The court sided with the state in the case, with McDermott writing that the Supreme Court holds that abortion restrictions alleged to violate the due process clause are subject to the rational basis test. Employing that test here, we conclude that the fetal heartbeat statute is rationally related to the states legitimate interest in protecting unborn life, McDermott wrote. The case was returned to the district court to dissolve the temporary injunction and continue with further proceedings, he wrote. Chief justice dissents In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote that she cannot stand by this decision, holding there is no fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy under the state constitution. The majoritys rigid approach relies heavily on the male-dominated history and traditions of the 1800s, all the while ignoring how far womens rights have come since the Civil War era, Christensen wrote. It is a bold assumption to think that the drafters of our state constitution intended for their interpretation to stand still while we move forward as a society. Instead, we should interpret our constitution through a modern lens that recognizes how our lives have changed with the passage of time. Christiansen wrote in the opinion that the majority opinion was too reliant on the state constitutional text adopted in 1857, during a time when women were not granted the same rights as men in the state. In the decision concluding abortion is not a fundamental right under the state constitution, Christiansen wrote the majority perpetuates the gendered hierarchies of old when women were second-class citizens. Mansfield: Rule gives no weight to a womans autonomy over her body Justice Edward Mansfield also wrote a dissenting opinion, reflecting on his dissent in 2018 to a ruling on the states 72-hour abortion waiting period that found abortion was protected by the state constitution and subject regulations to strict scrutiny review. In that decision, Mansfield wrote that both sides are seeking to address important issues a womans autonomy over her body as well as preserving human life. I remain of that view, Mansfield wrote in the dissent published Friday. But the court around me has shifted. So, instead of a constitutional rule that gives no weight to the States interest in human life, we now have in Iowa a constitutional rule that gives no weight to a womans autonomy over her body. He wrote that the rational basis test is not an appropriate measure for determining the constitutionality of abortion laws. I believe that subjecting a near-total ban on abortion to a rational basis test the same test we apply to traffic cameras, and a more forgiving test than the one we apply to a law not allowing county auditors to correct defective absentee ballot applications disserves the people of Iowa and their constitution, Mansfield wrote. Potential effects beyond abortion State regulations on abortion following the 2022 Dobbs decision have caused challenges for people seeking to access other reproductive health care, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), in some states. The Alabama Supreme Courts February ruling that found frozen embryos outside the womb are children caused multiple providers to cease IVF services until the governor signed a law providing certain protections to clinics and manufacturers of products used in IVF treatments. The Alabama decision cited a 2018 state constitutional amendment stating it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life. Reproductive health care advocates rallied against states enacting so-called unborn personhood language, often supported by anti-abortion proponents, in the wake of the decision because of concerns over the languages impact on IVF access. In March, Iowa House lawmakers passed a bill to raise penalties for the nonconsensual ending of a pregnancy that would have changed the language on these crimes from referring to the termination of a human pregnancy to the death of an unborn person. The legislation was tabled by Senate Republicans over concerns about the bills unintended consequences related to IVF access, Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale told reporters. Reynolds said in a Friday statement that as the six week abortion law takes effect, she and GOP leaders will continue to develop policies that encourage strong families, which includes promoting adoption and protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the heartbeat bill finally becomes law, we are deeply committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, and promoting fatherhood and its importance in parenting, Reynolds said in a statement Friday. Families are the cornerstone of society, and its what will keep the foundation of our state and country strong for generations to come. Access to abortion medication has also been questioned following the 2022 Dobbs ruling. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier in June that mifepristone, a pharmaceutical that can be used to terminate pregnancies, can remain available under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations prescribing guidelines. This story is developing and will update. Reactions to Fridays abortion ruling Gov. Kim Reynolds: There is no right more sacred than life, and nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn. Iowa voters have spoken clearly through their elected representatives, both in 2018 when the original heartbeat bill was passed and signed into law, and again in 2023 when it passed by an even larger margin. Im glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa. As the heartbeat bill finally becomes law, we are deeply committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, and promoting fatherhood and its importance in parenting. We will continue to develop policies that encourage strong families, which includes promoting adoption and protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF). Families are the cornerstone of society, and its what will keep the foundation of our state and country strong for generations to come. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver: Todays decision marks a step in the right direction for the protection of life. While litigation continues, I appreciate the clarity the Supreme Court has provided on this issue. I am optimistic the common-sense law passed again last year to protect life at the sound of a heartbeat with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother will be found constitutional. House Speaker Pat Grassley: This ruling is a victory in the fight to protect unborn children in Iowa. The Legislature is elected by the people, and for too long, the courts have stood in the way of Iowans having their voices heard on this matter. We are a pro-life and pro-family state. In Iowa, we respect both the life of the unborn child and the life of the mother. While out-of-touch, far-left political groups fight for abortion up until the day of birth, we will continue to fight for common sense policies that promote and protect life. We will continue to promote strong families in all that we do in the Iowa House. We must build on the work weve already done to expand access to affordable child care, extend postpartum coverage on Medicaid, and improve our foster care and adoption systems. Iowas Catholic bishops: We celebrate that the Iowa Supreme Court has recognized there is no right to an abortion to be found in the Iowa Constitution and, in so doing, has lifted an injunction against the law that would prohibit abortions after a heartbeat can be detected. As Pope Francis has said, Let us respect and love human life, especially vulnerable life in a mothers womb. For us, this is a question of the common good and human dignity. Human life is precious and should be protected in our laws to the greatest extent possible. As a state and as a society, we should commit ourselves to working for the protection of all vulnerable populations from violence wherever individuals and groups are at risk. We urge people of good will in Iowa both to work for an end to the practice of abortion and to join us in tireless, unremitting and compassionate solidarity with pregnant women in distress, with the men who fathered these children, and with families in need. (Statement signed by the Most Rev. Thomas Zinkula, archbishop of Dubuque; the Very Rev. Kenneth Kuntz, diocesan administrator, Diocese of Davenport; the Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, bishop of Sioux City, and the Most Rev. William Joensen, bishop of Des Moines) Iowa Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque: June 28 will be remembered as a tragic day in Iowa history. With todays Supreme Court ruling, a small group of extreme Republican politicians and activist judges have violated nearly two centuries of tradition in Iowa eliminating fundamental rights rather than expanding them and attacking personal freedom rather than defending it. Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights: Todays ruling is devastating for so many Iowans. Iowa Republicans have just gone too far. They are out of touch with the majority of Iowans who want reproductive freedom. Sarah Corkery, Democrat running in Iowas 2nd Congressional District: It breaks my heart and fills me with rage to read the Iowa Supreme Court made up of mostly men opinion that essentially says Iowa is not a place for women to make decisions about their own health or family. Make no mistake: bans like this one put womens lives in danger and put medical decisions about when a woman is close enough to death to receive care in the hands of politicians rather than doctors. State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-West Des Moines: This abortion ban will put lives at risk, devastate reproductive health care in our state, and take away the right to bodily autonomy for everyone with a uterus. This is horrific. https://t.co/Do4WJIBJQa Sarah Trone Garriott (@SarahforIowa) June 28, 2024 Lanon Baccam, Democrat running in Iowas 3rd Congressional District: This ruling is absolutely devastating for women across our state. Abortion is now banned in Iowa before most women even know theyre pregnant, making this one of the most restrictive and dangerous abortion bans in the entire country. Lanon Baccam (@lanon_baccam) June 28, 2024 State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville: Todays decision by the Iowa Supreme Court to strip away the fundamental right to abortion is not only deeply distressing but also a clear indication of the extent to which extremist MAGA Republicans are willing to go to control womens lives and bodies. This ruling ignores the voices of the vast majority of Iowans who believe in the fundamental rights of individuals to make their own medical decisions. Iowa Supreme Court abortion ruling The post Iowa Supreme Court lifts injunction on abortion law, allowing enforcement of six week ban appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Iowans who support abortion restrictions rally July 11, 2023, in the Iowa Capitol rotunda alongside supporters of abortion rights. (Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Most abortions will soon be illegal in Iowa after six weeks of pregnancy following the Iowa Supreme Courts decision Friday to overturn a lower courts block on the 2023 abortion law. The 4-3 decision allows enforcement of the law that was previously blocked by a temporary injunction in a case challenging Iowas law restricting most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Abortion remains legal in Iowa for now, until the case returns to the district court for further proceedings, according to American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa. That will take at least 21 days under Iowa court rules, according to ACLU of Iowa, and abortion will remain legal during that time. The law bans abortions after cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the medical procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. To qualify for an exception to the law, people must report the rape resulting in pregnancy within 45 days to law enforcement or a public health agency or doctor, and within 140 for cases of incest. Embryonic cardiac activity can typically be detected as early as six weeks of gestation. Reproductive health care advocates have argued that many women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, and that the law would effectively make most abortions illegal in Iowa. Abortions were previously legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. The lawsuit was brought forward by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic both health care providers that perform abortions as well as Dr. Sarah Traxler and ACLU of Iowa. The ruling states that the Iowa law is serving a legitimate state interest, and thus can be upheld legally. Every ground the State identifies is a legitimate interest for the legislature to pursue, and the restrictions on abortion in the fetal heartbeat statute are rationally related to advancing them, Justice Matthew McDermott wrote in the majority opinion. As a result, Planned Parenthoods substantive due process challenge fails. The district court thus erred in granting the temporary injunction. Governor praises decision Gov. Kim Reynolds, a supporter of the measure, alongside Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver and House Speaker Pat Grassley, praised the court decision in a news release Friday. There is no right more sacred than life, and nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn, Reynolds said in a statement. Iowa voters have spoken clearly through their elected representatives, both in 2018 when the original heartbeat bill was passed and signed into law, and again in 2023 when it passed by an even larger margin. Im glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart wrote in a statement that the decision strips Iowa women of reproductive rights that they have maintained for more than 50 years. Its obvious Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans do not trust women to make their own decisions regarding their own medical care or for doctors to use their best judgment while treating their patients, Hart said in a statement. Republicans went too far with this abortion ban, and Iowa voters will hold them accountable this November. Reynolds signed the six-week abortion ban into law after convening the Legislature for a special session in July 2023. That session followed a state Supreme Court decision in June of the same year to uphold the injunction on the 2018 so-called fetal heartbeat law, a similar measure. Justices were split in a 3-3 decision on the case, upholding a lower courts decision to enjoin the law. The 2018 abortion law was previously ruled unconstitutional, but Reynolds challenged the decision following major changes to abortion law at both the state and federal levels. In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that there was no constitutional right to an abortion, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade precedent and allowing states to enact abortion restrictions. Since the U.S. constitutional protections for abortion lifted, multiple states have enacted restrictions or total bans on abortion. Most states surrounding Iowa have enacted laws limiting the procedure since 2022, according to information compiled by the Guttmacher Institute. South Dakota and Missouri have near total abortion bans with limited exceptions. Nebraska has restricted abortion at 12 weeks of gestation, and in Kansas and Wisconsin, abortions are currently legal up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Minnesota and Illinois have the fewest restrictions, allowing abortions to be performed until fetal viability when a fetus is able to survive outside the uterus, typically around 25 weeks of pregnancy. Exceptions are granted for this limit in cases where the procedure is necessary to save the life of the woman, or if their health is at risk. Days prior to the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, the Iowa Supreme Court found there is no state constitutional right to an abortion. That decision came in a case on the state law requiring a 24-hour waiting period and ultrasound for patients seeking an abortion. While the state Supreme Court overturned the strict scrutiny legal standard for abortion laws a test requiring a law serves a compelling state interest and uses the least restrictive means possible Iowa Supreme Court Justice Edward Mansfield wrote that we do not at this time decide what constitutional standard should replace it. Strict scrutiny legal standards The arguments made in court about the 2018 abortion ban largely centered around what legal standard should replace strict scrutiny for Iowa abortion laws. But in the decision upholding the injunction, the Iowa Supreme Court did not put forward a new standard. During oral arguments in April, attorneys representing Iowa and reproductive health care providers and advocates argued for what legal standard should replace strict scrutiny for Iowa abortion laws. Eric Wessen, representing the state, called for the rational basis test to be used a lower standard that means a law is constitutional if the state has a legitimate reason to enact it. Attorney Peter Im, representing Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa, argued for the undue burden test, a standard higher than rational basis that requires laws not be too burdensome or restrictive of an individuals fundamental rights. The court sided with the state in the case, with McDermott writing that the Supreme Court holds that abortion restrictions alleged to violate the due process clause are subject to the rational basis test. Employing that test here, we conclude that the fetal heartbeat statute is rationally related to the states legitimate interest in protecting unborn life, McDermott wrote. The case was returned to the district court to dissolve the temporary injunction and continue with further proceedings, he wrote. Chief justice dissents In a dissenting opinion, Chief Justice Susan Christensen wrote that she cannot stand by this decision, holding there is no fundamental right to terminate a pregnancy under the state constitution. The majoritys rigid approach relies heavily on the male-dominated history and traditions of the 1800s, all the while ignoring how far womens rights have come since the Civil War era, Christensen wrote. It is a bold assumption to think that the drafters of our state constitution intended for their interpretation to stand still while we move forward as a society. Instead, we should interpret our constitution through a modern lens that recognizes how our lives have changed with the passage of time. Christiansen wrote in the opinion that the majority opinion was too reliant on the state constitutional text adopted in 1857, during a time when women were not granted the same rights as men in the state. In the decision concluding abortion is not a fundamental right under the state constitution, Christiansen wrote the majority perpetuates the gendered hierarchies of old when women were second-class citizens. Mansfield: Rule gives no weight to a womans autonomy over her body Justice Edward Mansfield also wrote a dissenting opinion, reflecting on his dissent in 2018 to a ruling on the states 72-hour abortion waiting period that found abortion was protected by the state constitution and subject regulations to strict scrutiny review. In that decision, Mansfield wrote that both sides are seeking to address important issues a womans autonomy over her body as well as preserving human life. I remain of that view, Mansfield wrote in the dissent published Friday. But the court around me has shifted. So, instead of a constitutional rule that gives no weight to the States interest in human life, we now have in Iowa a constitutional rule that gives no weight to a womans autonomy over her body. He wrote that the rational basis test is not an appropriate measure for determining the constitutionality of abortion laws. I believe that subjecting a near-total ban on abortion to a rational basis test the same test we apply to traffic cameras, and a more forgiving test than the one we apply to a law not allowing county auditors to correct defective absentee ballot applications disserves the people of Iowa and their constitution, Mansfield wrote. Potential effects beyond abortion State regulations on abortion following the 2022 Dobbs decision have caused challenges for people seeking to access other reproductive health care, like in vitro fertilization (IVF), in some states. The Alabama Supreme Courts February ruling that found frozen embryos outside the womb are children caused multiple providers to cease IVF services until the governor signed a law providing certain protections to clinics and manufacturers of products used in IVF treatments. The Alabama decision cited a 2018 state constitutional amendment stating it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life. Reproductive health care advocates rallied against states enacting so-called unborn personhood language, often supported by anti-abortion proponents, in the wake of the decision because of concerns over the languages impact on IVF access. In March, Iowa House lawmakers passed a bill to raise penalties for the nonconsensual ending of a pregnancy that would have changed the language on these crimes from referring to the termination of a human pregnancy to the death of an unborn person. The legislation was tabled by Senate Republicans over concerns about the bills unintended consequences related to IVF access, Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale told reporters. Reynolds said in a Friday statement that as the six week abortion law takes effect, she and GOP leaders will continue to develop policies that encourage strong families, which includes promoting adoption and protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the heartbeat bill finally becomes law, we are deeply committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, and promoting fatherhood and its importance in parenting, Reynolds said in a statement Friday. Families are the cornerstone of society, and its what will keep the foundation of our state and country strong for generations to come. Access to abortion medication has also been questioned following the 2022 Dobbs ruling. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled earlier in June that mifepristone, a pharmaceutical that can be used to terminate pregnancies, can remain available under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations prescribing guidelines. This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network. The post Iowa Supreme Court lifts injunction on abortion law, allowing enforcement of six week ban appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Iowas Supreme Court on Friday said the states six-week ban on abortion is legal, the latest example of a state imposing severe restrictions since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. The 4-3 ruling overturned a lower courts temporary block on the law and sent the case back to continue, allowing the ban to take effect. Iowas law is an example of a heartbeat statute, which bans abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected usually around six weeks, which is before many women know they are pregnant. There are some exceptions for rape and incest if reported to the police or health provider within a specific time period. Medical exceptions include a fetal abnormality thats incompatible with life or if the pregnancy endangers the womans life. Abortion access stands to be a major issue in the 2024 election across the country, especially as Republican candidates have settled on a position that its a state issue. The lawsuit was filed by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the ACLU of Iowa. They argued that the abortion ban was not constitutional under Iowa law. The lower courts injunction kept abortion legal up to 22 weeks of pregnancy. We conclude that the fetal heartbeat statute is rationally related to the states legitimate interest in protecting unborn life, the majority wrote. The ruling stated that neither text nor history establishes abortion as a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution. The state passed a nearly identical version of the law in 2018, but it was halted by a court because Roe v. Wade was still in effect. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) asked a district court to allow that law to take effect. When the court declined, she appealed to the state Supreme Court, which deadlocked 3-3, leaving the 22-week limit in place. Reynolds then called the GOP-led state legislature into a special session last summer for the sole purpose of passing the ban. That law was passed on party lines, but temporarily blocked days later. There is no right more sacred than life, and nothing more worthy of our strongest defense than the innocent unborn, Reynolds said in a statement Friday. Im glad that the Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the will of the people of Iowa. She added that her administration will continue to develop policies that encourage strong families, which includes promoting adoption and protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF). In a strong dissent, Chief Justice Susan Christensen said the majoritys ruling strips Iowa women of their bodily autonomy and relies heavily on the male-dominated history and traditions of the 1800s, all the while ignoring how far womens rights have come since the Civil War era. She added that the majority misunderstood the issue at the center of the case. It is not whether abortion, with the polarizing reactions it evokes, is a fundamental right but rather whether individuals have the fundamental right to make medical decisions affecting their health and bodily integrity in partnership with their healthcare provider free from government interference, Christensen wrote. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Iran votes for new president. Who are the four candidates? Iranians went to the polls Friday to elect a new president, just over two months after President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. Four candidates remained serious contenders heading into election day: Irans Parliament Speaker and former military commander Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Former top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, former justice minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi and Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon who previously served as vice president of parliament. There is a consensus that the three serious candidates are the conservatives Ghalibaf and Jalili and so-called reformer Pezeshkian, said Foundation for Defending Democracy Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Talebu. Two other conservatives dropped out on Thursday, but neither of them were serious presidential candidates, with polls showing they got 2 percent of the vote. Candidates dropping out to rally support behind one pick is not uncommon, according to Treta Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute. To win the presidency, a candidate must win a majority of votes, not a plurality. If no candidate tops 50 percent, the top two candidates will move to a run-off election in July. While the election brings a veneer of democracy to Iran, Irans president does not have the final say on any major decision in the country. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is 89 and has ruled since 1989, still has the final authority over the countrys fate. The snap election comes amid a slump in voter participation in Iran. In 2021, when Raisi was elected, only 47 percent of the nation voted, the lowest turnout in the nations history. Ben Talebu said he did not expect a significantly higher turnout this time around. The establishment in Iran tries to make a big show of elections as a weighted corner of legitimacy, to put lipstick on a pig, and to signal to the international community that they are legitimate at home, Ben Talebu said. But increasingly, people are writing in blank ballots or not voting because they have given up on the ballot box and moved to street action. Ben Talebu added that whoever wins, Iran is unlikely to try to improve relations with the West, unlike when former President Hassan Rouhani took power in 2013, since there is little appetite by Khammeni for a geopolitical reset. Here are the four candidates who remain: Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Ghalibaf, 62, is a hardline conservative who served as a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He is known for his role in the crackdowns on student protestors while serving as a general in the IRGC. He is currently sanctioned by Canada. He has served as the speaker of Irans parliament since 2020. He also served as mayor of Tehran from 2005 to 2017, where he faced several corruption scandals, leading many Iranians to still view him as corrupt, according to Parsi and Ben Talebu. According to Parsi, Ghalibaf has signaled while campaigning that he is a more pragmatic conservative who is not entirely opposed to stronger relations with the West. Former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili Jalili was the countrys nuclear negotiator but was also a hardliner who says that he opposes stronger relations with the West. If elected, Jalili is expected to continue crackdowns on protests and further restrict the rights of Iranian women. According to Parsi, Jalili did not participate in the secret negotiations that led to the Iran deal under the Obama administration and constantly worked to frustrate progress with the U.S. The west has a horrible experience working with Jalili, Parsi added. Cleric and former justice minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi He is the only cleric in the race, and has previously served as Rouhanis justice minister and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads interior minister. Pourmohammadi played a leading role in the 1988 executions of political prisoners held in jails. Raisi was also involved in those executions. The cleric shocked many when he announced during a debate that he would loosen the requirements around women wearing Hijabs in the country. Iran and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world that require head covering for women. In 2018, Saudi Arabia removed the requirement. The reformer: Masoud Pezeshkian A heart surgeon who served as vice president of Irans parliament from 2016 to 2020, he supported the Iran nuclear deal and questioned the government over its narrative about the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in police custody. She had been detained for not complying with the nations hijab laws, and her death set off large anti-government demonstrations. His closest advisors are members of Rouhanis team, according to Parsi. He favors better relations with the West. He has also based his campaign around supporting Iranian women, the youth and ethnic minorities. Ben Talebu called Pezeshkian a so-called reformer and said he would not meaningfully challenge the status quo. He added that he believes that Iran included him on the ballot in an effort to drive up voter turnout in the country by offering a relatively anti-establishment option. Who dropped out? Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and one of Raisis vice presidents, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi. Both of them are conservatives. While dropping out, they both called on the conservatives in the race and in the country to unite around one candidate to prevent Pezeshkian from gaining power, though they didnt back a specific candidate. Khamenei has also made comments in recent days signaling that he does not want Pezeshkian to win. Some politicians in our country believe they must kowtow to this power or that power, Khamenei said in a speech last week. Some think like that. Or they think that all ways to progress pass through America. No, such people cant run the country well, he said. What do polls show? The Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran, which is based in the Netherlands, released June 22 polls showing that Pezeshkian has 37.7% of the vote, Jalili 29.4%, and Ghalibaf 8.3%, with another 18.4% undecided among those who plan to vote. A June 20 poll from an Iranian-affiliated group showed Jalili polling at 26.2%, Pezeshkian at 19.8% and Ghalibaf at 19%. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leaves after casting his vote at Imam Khomeini Hosseinieh polling station during the 2024 Iranian presidential election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei kicked off the country's presidential election on Friday, as Iranians decide whether they want to continue the country's hardline conservative course or take a more moderate stance. Casting his vote in the capital Tehran, Khamenei urged the nation to participate in the vote to "prove the correctness and honesty of the system of the Islamic Republic." Some 61 million voters in Iran are eligible to elect a successor to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May. The election comes amid a severe economic crisis, tensions with the West and frustrations among the public with the enforcement of state power and the government, especially among the younger population. The candidates seen as having the best chances to win the election are the hardliner Saeed Jalili, a former negotiator in nuclear talks with Western powers; parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; and former health minister and reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian. During the campaign, Pezeshkian criticized the government's strict policy on women wearing headscarves, but also expressed his loyalty to Khamenei and praised the attack launched on Israel with drones and missiles in April. Leading voices from the reformist camp have pledged their support for him, and he may stand a good chance of winning if he reaches a second round. After casting his vote on Friday, Pezeshkian said: "We will endeavour to maintain friendly relations with all countries - except Israel." The cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi is also still in the running. Despite the title of president, Raisi was only number two in Iran's power structure as Khamenei functions as the head of state and has the final say in all strategic matters. He is also commander-in-chief of Iran's armed forces. The Guardian Council, an extremely conservative supervisory body, had only authorized six candidates for the election. Earlier in the week, two conservative hardliner candidates withdrew their nominations in an effort to unite support among hardline voters heading to the polls. Many Iranians, especially young people, have however lost faith in major political change at home. The death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in autumn 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic system of rule, but the protests were quashed long ago with harsh punishments for demonstrators. If none of the candidates secures an absolute majority, a runoff vote will take place on July 5. The first results from the first round are expected on Saturday. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks to the media after casting his vote at Imam Khomeini Hosseinieh polling station during the 2024 Iranian presidential election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A woman fills out her ballot during the Iranian presidential election in a polling station at the shrine of Saint Saleh in northern Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 28, 2024. Iranians were voting Friday in a snap election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash last month, as public apathy has become pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes, mass protests and tensions in the Middle East. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Iranians voted on Friday in a snap election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, with the race's sole reformist candidate vowing to seek friendly relations with the West in an effort to energize supporters in a vote beset by apathy. Voters faced a choice between hard-line candidates and the little-known reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon. As has been the case since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and those calling for radical change have been barred from running, while the vote itself will have no oversight from internationally recognized monitors. The voting came as wider tensions have gripped the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups that Tehran arms in the region such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels are engaged in the fighting and have escalated their attacks. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium at near weapons-grade levels and maintains a stockpile large enough to build should it choose to do so several nuclear weapons. Pezeshkian's remarks followed a veiled warning directed at him and his allies from the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over their outreach to the United States. The comments, made after Pezeshkian cast his ballot, appeared to be aimed at boosting turnout as public apathy has grown pervasive in the Islamic Republic after years of economic woes and mass protests. He seemed to hope that invoking the possibility of Iran emerging from its isolation would motivate people otherwise disillusioned with Iranian politics. A higher turnout typically aids those like Pezeshkian in the reformist movement that seeks to change the country's Shiite theocracy from within. While Iran's 85-year-old Khamenei has the final say on all matters of state, presidents can bend the country's policies toward confrontation or negotiation with the West. However, given the record-low turnout in recent elections, it remains unclear just how many Iranians will take part in Friday's poll. Pezeshkian, who voted at a hospital near the capital, Tehran, appeared to have that in mind as he responded to a journalist's question about how Iran would interact with the West if he was president. God willing, we will try to have friendly relations with all countries except Israel," the 69-year-old candidate said. Israel, long Iran's regional archenemy, faces intense criticism across the Mideast over its grinding war in the Gaza Strip. He also responded to a question about a renewed crackdown on women over the mandatory headscarf, or hijab, less than two years after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide demonstrations and violent security force response. No inhuman or invasive behavior should be made against our girls, daughters and mothers, he said. A higher turnout could boost Pezeshkians chances, and the candidate may have been counting on social media to spread his remarks, as all television broadcasters in the country are state-controlled and run by hard-liners. But it remains unclear if he can gain the momentum needed to draw voters to the ballot. There have been calls for a boycott, including from imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Mir Hossein Mousavi, one of the leaders of the 2009 Green Movement protests who remains in house arrest, also has refused to vote with his wife, his daughter said. There's also been criticism that Pezeshkian represents just another government-approved candidate. One woman in a documentary on Pezeshkian aired by state TV said her generation was moving toward the same level" of animosity with the government that Pezeshkian's generation had in the 1979 revolution. Analysts broadly describe the race as a three-way contest. There are two hard-liners, former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. A Shiite cleric, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, also has remained in the race despite polling poorly. Pezeshkian has aligned himself with figures such as former President Hassan Rouhani, under whose administration Tehran struck the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The voting began just after President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump concluded their first televised debate for the U.S. presidential election, during which Iran came up. Trump described Iran as broke under his administration and highlighted his decision to launch a 2020 drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani. That attack was part of a spiral of escalating tensions between America and Iran since Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. in 2018 from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers. Iranian state media made a point to publish images of voters lined up in the city of Kerman near Soleimani's grave. State television later broadcast images of polling places across the country with modest lines. Onlookers did not see significant lines at many polling centers in Tehran, reminiscent of the low turnout seen in Irans recent parliamentary election in March. Khamenei cast one of the election's first votes. Peoples turnout with enthusiasm, and higher number of voters this is a definite need for the Islamic Republic, Khamenei said. More than 61 million Iranians over the age of 18 are eligible to vote, with about 18 million of them between 18 to 30. Polls closed shortly after midnight, following three extensions of voting hours. Iranian state media said those who were still waiting at the polling stations would be allowed to cast their ballots but no one else. Counting was to begin immediately, with initial results expected Saturday. As the weather cooled off a little in the evening hours, more people headed to vote and long lines formed outside polling stations in downtown Tehran and in the southern parts of the city. Iranian law requires that a winner gets more than 50% of all votes cast. If that doesn't happen, the race's top two candidates will advance to a runoff a week later. There's been only one runoff presidential election in Iran's history, in 2005, when hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad bested former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The 63-year-old Raisi died in the May 19 helicopter crash that also killed the country's foreign minister and others. He was seen as a protege of Khamenei and a potential successor as supreme leader. Still, many knew him for his involvement in the mass executions that Iran conducted in 1988, and for his role in the bloody crackdowns on dissent that followed protests over the death of Amini, a young woman detained by police over allegedly improperly wearing the mandatory headscarf, or hijab. ___ Karimi reported from Tehran, Iran. Associated Press journalists Amir Vahdat and Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. The sun sets over Gaza, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen from Israel The sun sets over Gaza, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen from Israel By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Doaa Rouqa CAIRO7/GAZA (Reuters) -Israeli forces pressed their incursion deeper into two northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip on Friday, and Palestinian health officials said tank shelling in Rafah killed at least 11 people. Residents and Hamas media said tanks advanced further west into the Shakoush neighbourhood of Rafah, forcing thousands of displaced people there to leave their tent camps and head northward to the nearby Khan Younis. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. Since May 7, tanks have advanced in several districts of Rafah, and forces remained in control of the entire border line with Egypt and the Rafah crossing, the only gateway for most of Gaza's 2.3 million people with the outside world. One resident, who spoke to Reuters via a chat app, said some bulldozers in the Shakoush area were piling up sand for Israeli tanks to station behind. "Some families live in the area of the raid and are now besieged by the occupation forces," he told Reuters. "The situation there is very dangerous and many families are leaving towards Khan Younis, even from the Mawasi area as things became unsafe for them," said the man, who moved northward overnight. More than eight months into Israel's air and ground war in Gaza triggered by the Hamas-led cross-border attack on Oct. 7, the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to stage attacks on Israeli forces operating in areas over which the army said it had gained control months ago. The Palestinian groups sometimes still fire rockets into Israeli territory. In a yard at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, mourners gathered with 10-year-old Belal Abu Hassanein, whose mother and brother were killed in an air strike that hit their house. "I went to check out our rooftop, they struck us, I was bombed - I flew off the rooftop and fell," said Belal, who was laid on a hospital stretcher after being wounded in the attack. "My grandfather started screaming ... He was telling us that there was a hit at our place. When I heard the word hit, I went to check the room in which I was sleeping," he said. "I found that my mother and brother had been martyred." CEASEFIRE EFFORTS STALLED Arab mediators' efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire. Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, is eradicated. When Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel last October they killed around 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The Israeli offensive in retaliation has so far killed more than 37,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the tiny, heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins. In parallel, Israeli forces continued their new raid into the Shejaia neighbourhood in the northern Gaza Strip, into which tanks advanced on Thursday prompting heavy fighting with Hamas-led militants. Medics said earlier that several Palestinians have been killed and wounded in Israeli bombardment and that medical teams have been unable to reach all casualties because of the military offensive. The Israeli military said forces were conducting "targeted" raids in Shejaia, adding that the air force struck dozens of Hamas military targets in the area. It said that one Hamas militant, who was operating from a humanitarian-designated area, was killed in a strike it launched in the Deir Al-Balah area in central Gaza. It said measures were taken to ensure no harm to civilians, accusing Hamas of systematically using Palestinian civilians as shields. Hamas denies that. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, with additional reporting by Doaa Rouqa in Gaza Strip and Emily Rose in Jerusalem; editing by Alex Richardson) Nine astronauts on the space station briefly moved to their docked return spacecraft late Wednesday (June 26) as a satellite broke up in low Earth orbit. The Expedition 71 crew on the International Space Station (ISS) went to their three spacecraft, including Boeing Starliner, shortly after 9 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT), according to a brief NASA update on X, formerly known as Twitter. As the ISS follows a time zone identical to GMT, according to the European Space Agency, the astronauts were likely in their sleep period when the incident occurred. The procedure was a "precautionary measure", NASA officials added, stating that the crew only stayed in their spacecraft for about an hour before they were "cleared to exit their spacecraft, and the station resumed normal operations." NASA did not specify which satellite was associated with the incident, but satellite monitoring and collision detection firm LeoLabs identified a "debris-generating event" that same evening. "Early indications are that a non-operational Russian spacecraft, Resurs-P1 [or] SATNO 39186, released a number of fragments," the company wrote on X. Related: How often does the International Space Station have to dodge space debris? U.S. Space Command also reported the Resurs-P1 event, saying on X that over 100 pieces of trackable debris were generated. The military said it "observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments." (A conjunction refers to a close approach of two objects in orbit to one another.) Resurs-P1 launched on June 25, 2013 and operated until December 2021 beyond its expected lifespan, according to RussianSpaceWeb. The Earth observation satellite was used for applications ranging from defense to emergency monitoring to agriculture, NASA says. The amount of space debris in orbit generally is a growing concern. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is tracking more than 45,300 space objects overall as of today, according to SpaceTrack.org. This does not include non-trackable pieces, however. The Union of Concerned Scientists also lists 7,560 operational satellites orbiting Earth, a figure that belies the number of non-operational satellites that cannot be controlled. an illustration of earth surrounded by debris NASA works with the U.S. military to monitor the area around the ISS. The space station is typically tasked to move (if there is time) if any trackable pieces roughly 2 inches (5 centimeters) in size come within a "pizza box"-shaped area of space surrounding the ISS orbit. That box is roughly 2.5 by 30 by 30 miles (4 by 50 by 50 kilometers) with the ISS at the center, according to agency officials. NASA procedures also dictate that astronauts may shelter in their return spacecraft if the hazard, typically a very tiny one in statistical terms, brings a chance of needing to evacuate the ISS. This happened, for example, after Russia deliberately destroyed a satellite in November 2021 as part of a surprise anti-satellite test that other countries (including the United States) condemned. The new NASA update did not specify how close the satellite pieces came to the ISS. LeoLabs stated the debris event it was monitoring released fragments between 9:05 a.m. EDT (1305 GMT) and 8:51 p.m. EDT Wednesday (0051 GMT Thursday, June 27). Related: NASA confirms space debris in North Carolina was from SpaceX Crew Dragon reentry a black and white image of the international space station showing solar panels and trusses. to either side of the image are blurry copies The incident illustrates what NASA officials have been emphasizing about the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which is more than three weeks into what was expected to be a 10-day Crew Flight Test mission. Starliner is on a test mission with two astronauts and is authorized to leave the ISS in case of emergency. (The other two crewed spacecraft docked to the ISS are a SpaceX Dragon carrying four astronauts, and a Russian Soyuz with three people on board.) Starliner's nominal departure date, however, has not yet been released pending the review and testing of its thruster systems and helium supply because problems with these two aspects of the spacecraft were discovered on June 6. NASA Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are now on ISS maintenance duties after performing that testing, according to several NASA updates on the space station blog. NASA officials did not respond to a Space.com request for a Starliner update sent in the early afternoon EDT on Wednesday. Boeing's white and blue Starliner spacecraft docked at the International Space Station in June 2024. On Friday (June 21), NASA said the departure of Starliner will be sometime after July 2, following an expected spacewalk on that day. But it is also unclear if that spacewalk will proceed as a coolant leak halted extravehicular activity on Monday (June 24). ISS astronauts subsequently performed a "spacewalk review", NASA officials have said, and have been reviewing procedures and examining the affected spacesuit in the days since. Boeing and NASA officials have said that developmental missions such as Starliner often fall outside planned schedules due to the unexpected. And Starliner's Atlas V rocket provider United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing, provided a positive update to reporters yesterday (June 26) during an unrelated teleconference about future launches for ULA's new Vulcan Centaur rocket. RELATED STORIES: International Space Station fires thrusters to dodge space junk NASA satellite's 'shocking' space junk near-miss was even closer than thought Will Boeing Starliner issues delay its 1st long-duration astronaut flight? Its too soon to tell. "They're all safe and sound," ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters during the teleconference. He was speaking about the Starliner crew, who are both former U.S. Navy test pilots used to developmental programs. "I understand that the helium leaks that have been in the news are stable, and that there is a very, very large reserve of helium on board the vehicle, so there's no urgency to their return," Bruno added. "There's lots and lots of supplies on the space station. So again, no urgency there." As NASA officials have said, Bruno noted that, aside from one thruster that will be shut off during undocking, the other 27 in the reaction control system are still operational. Five thrusters exhibited anomalies during docking; while one is offline, the issues on the other four thrusters "have largely cleared up," he said. Bruno added that reviews of what to do next are still ongoing. "NASA and Boeing will bring them [the astronauts] home when they're done working and when they're ready and everything is safe." ROME Italy has signed a 500 million ($535 million) deal to buy its fourth and final U-212 NFS submarine to be built by state-controlled Italian shipyard Fincantieri. Standing for Near Future Submarine, the new NFS vessels are destined to serve alongside Italys four U-212 submarines, and replace its four Sauro-class subs which are due to be retired. The new purchases will therefore maintain Italys submarine fleet total at eight the number navy planners believe are needed to patrol the increasingly congested Mediterranean. Managed by European-based contracting agency OCCAR, the new deal covers logistic support for the new sub, Fincantieri said. Fincantieri is due to launch the first and second NFS subs in 2027 and 2028 and started work on the third this week at its Muggiano yard in Italy, the firm said. While the first four U-212 subs were built using German technology thanks to a partnership with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, the new platforms are a mix of German and Italian know-how with Fincantieri holding the design authority role. The Italian firm said it was now installing lithium batteries to replace traditional lead-acid batteries on the new submarines, increasing range. Italian planners have also introduced a Fluoropolymer coating for the hulls of the new subs, which reduces encrustation to cut down on drag, while the hydrodynamics of the vessels were upgraded from the U-212 model by changing the bow design. Editors note: This story was corrected on June 29 to reflect that Fincantieri is due to launch -- versus deliver -- the first and second NFS subs in 2027 and 2028. Baker all but guaranteed no charges for abortion. Would next prosecutor do the same? Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. One of the three Democrat candidates running to be the next Jackson County prosecutor would handle abortion cases differently than his two opponents. During a recent forum hosted by South Kansas City Democrats, John Gromowsky said he would consider charging medical providers who perform abortions. If that case comes in, you have to look at it, he said. You cant just wholesale say Im not going to prosecute the law. When you knowingly and willfully refuse to prosecute and enforce the laws of the state, you have forfeited the office. Once a case is presented, prosecutors can decide how to handle it, Gromowsky added. After he finished his remarks, an audience member loudly called him a pro-life Republican. Gromowsky, Stephanie Burton and Melesa Johnson are vying for the Democratic nomination. Tracey Chappell is the lone Republican. One of them will replace Jean Peters Baker, who was elected in 2012 and is not seeking reelection this year. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Missouri enacted a near-total ban on abortions. The state also made performing or inducing an illegal abortion a class B felony. Doctors can lose their professional licenses. Baker all but guaranteed her office would not bring abortion-related charges, saying she would use prosecutorial discretion to limit the erosion of reproductive rights. Prosecutors wield broad power in deciding what cases and charges to pursue. Burton and Johnson said they would not file cases against abortion providers. In my opinion, theres nothing complex about a womans autonomy over her body and her right to choose what to do with that autonomy, and a medical providers ability to provide a woman with the tools to exert her autonomy over her body, Johnson told The Star. Burton said having her four children was her choice. It shouldnt be a matter of someone dictating whats right for our bodies, she said. Its also important for the next prosecutor to be clear about where they stand and not hem and haw on the issue, Burton said. Chappell told The Star that if a provider was performing a non-emergent abortion, she would proceed with filing a case. If theres something on the books, then its a crime, she said. When a prosecutor picks and chooses the cases they want to pursue, Chappell added, they leave themselves open to being influenced by outside groups and lobbyists. The primary will be held Aug. 6. During the general election in November, Missourians will likely vote on a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion access in the state constitution. What a difference four years makes. Around this time in 2020, the activist left was riding high. Joe Biden had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, but he incorporated left-wing demands into his policy platform. Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) the group of left-wing insurgents that became known as the Squad were shaking up Congress, and Justice Democrats, the upstart progressive outfit that recruited Ocasio-Cortez, was spoiling for more moderate Democrats to take down. Jamaal Bowman, a Black middle school principal from a humble background with an authentic love for the Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, seemed like a good fit to oust Rep. Eliot Engel, an aging white man with staunch pro-Israel views who represented New Yorks 16th Congressional District, a majority-minority district straddling the New York City border. A progressive ecosystem was already mature enough to provide Bowman with professional fundraising, polling and even a super PAC, pushing him to a groundbreaking victory that year. But just as Bowmans victory in 2020 was a sign of rising progressive fortunes, so too does his defeat reflect a receding of the progressive wave. With Donald Trump out of office, grassroots energy and fundraising have grown scarcer. A backlash to the Black Lives Matter movement and other left-wing cultural forces is still a major factor in Democratic primaries. And the ideological terrain on which the left is now fighting has attracted the ire of the well-financed pro-Israel lobby. Put together, it paints a picture of a progressive movement past its prime, with Bowmans loss on Tuesday potentially just the latest sign of how much more hostile the environment has become for aspiring left-wing candidates. Indeed, a number of key factors working in Bowmans favor in 2020 were largely matters of, well, timing. For one thing, the big donor response to the activist left was only in its infancy. The main pro-Bowman super PAC beat the Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group, to the TV airwaves and was not heavily outspent. But DMFI, a pioneer in the fight against the contemporary left, was largely on its own in 2020. The following year, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee would erect its own super PAC, which proved capable of raising and spending tens of millions of dollars rather than just millions. In 2024, AIPAC, which endorsed Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Bowmans challenger, would spend nearly $15 million trying to bury Bowman. While Bowmans candidacy was weighed down by his own baggage, there is no question that AIPACs largesse is shaping which candidates run and how they formulate their positions. Here are four more takeaways: When then-Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) lost to Bowman in June 2020, his ally, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had not yet erected a super PAC. Samuel Corum/Getty Images Changing Priorities Bowman won his first race less than a month after the police murder of George Floyd, a moment when support for the Black Lives Matter movement was historically high among white liberals. The climate likely helped Bowman, who ran on combating systemic racism and police misconduct. You know what Donald Trump is more afraid of than anything else? A Black man with power, Bowman declared in his victory speech. Now, amid Israels ferocious war in Gaza, the American left has made championingPalestinian rights and a cease-fire the central focus of its movement. The emphasis on Palestine, which is sometimes louder than messaging about climate action, anti-racism and economic equality, is a justifiable response to an Israeli military offensive with massive civilian casualties that many human rights groups and experts believe has violated the laws of war, or worse. Politically, the shift in focus has elicited appreciation from Arab Americans and Muslim Americans who feel shut out of the political process. But it has also attracted additional anger from wealthy pro-Israel donors and alienated some otherwise progressive Jewish voters. I believe in the need for protection of and representation of minorities in all areas.Diana Lovett, Bowman supporter-turned-Latimer voter Diana Lovett, a former Bowman supporter and donor who backed Latimer, recalled how the moment and Bowmans message about racial justice drew her to him in 2020. I do think that representation matters, said Lovett, an affordable housing and refugee resettlement advocate who supported Sen. Elizabeth Warrens (D-Mass.) presidential bid in 2020. But Lovett, who is Jewish, faulted Bowman for not honoring Jewish Americans sense of vulnerability after Hamas terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7. She took issue with his votes against a nonbinding resolution condemning Hamas and a resolution condemning support for Hamas and other designated terrorist groups on college campuses. I believe in the need for protection of and representation of minorities in all areas, she said. Bowman Was Unprepared A critical part of Bowmans success in 2020 was out-campaigning Engel and, in the process, catching him off guard. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowman was hard at work, knocking on doors in his Wu-Tang mask and helping distribute food and other relief supplies. Engel, by contrast, was trying to ride out the pandemic in his home in Potomac, Maryland. To the outside eye, the events that followed look like a stroke of luck, but they were the result of well-executed campaign staffing and consulting. Bowmans campaign exposed Engels absence by tipping off a prominent mainstream reporter based in Washington, who drove to Engels Maryland home and knocked on the door. That revelation prompted him to return to the district, where he was so eager to remind his constituents he was home that he was caught on a hot mic demanding airtime at a press conference with the now infamous line, If I didnt have a primary, I wouldnt care. The nonpartisan, court-ordered redistricting ahead of the 2022 cycle may have also hurt Bowman by swapping out chunks of the Bronx in favor of more affluent and less diverse towns in Westchester. (Bowman did pick up some liberal river towns but lost Riverdale, a northwestern Bronx neighborhood with a large Jewish community that likely would have mobilized heavily against him this year.) I dont think it resonated with him in 2022 that 40-plus percent of the district voted against him, and thats not great.Former Bowman aide Bowman would end up winning just 54% of the vote in the August 2022 primary, demonstrating the tenuousness of his standing in the district. But perhaps lulled into complacency, he did not gear up for a bruising primary fight in 2024. He had just over $180,000 in cash on hand going into the final quarter of 2023, suggesting a lack of urgency in his fundraising efforts at exactly the moment when his enemies were assessing his strength and laying the groundwork for Latimers candidacy. Thanks to AIPAC and his local network of donors, Latimer raised $1.4 million within a month of announcing his bid in December. If you have a million in the bank, thats not nothing for when theyre trying to recruit a challenger, said a former Bowman campaign aide who requested anonymity to speak freely. I dont think it resonated with him in 2022 that 40-plus percent of the district voted against him, and thats not great. Bowman meets with voters at a school in Mount Vernon, New York, on June 23, 2020. His presence in the district was key to his win over then-Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.). Spencer Platt/Getty Images All Politics Is Local In the 2020 election cycle, Bowman notably blasted Engel, who was then chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for focusing unduly on foreign policy. It came, Bowman argued, at the expense of paying attention to his actual constituents. I think our district deserves leadership that truly understands the needs of our communities rather than someone who is taking corporate money and seems so focused on foreign affairs, Bowman said in a 2019 interview with Jacobin. Once in office, Bowman had become a star on social media for his confrontations with Republican members of Congress. Back home, though, Bowman had to contend with a local Democratic establishment that still viewed him as an unwanted interloper. Amid last-minute redistricting chaos in 2022, a number of prominent Democrats privately encouraged then-Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), a less radical Black progressive from a neighboring seat, to challenge Bowman in the primary. Neither the Westchester County Democratic Committee nor the Bronx Democratic County Committee endorsed Bowmans reelection that year. And Jay Jacobs, chair of the New York State Democratic Party, maxed out to one of Bowmans primary challengers. Notwithstanding that level of official resistance, even some of his allies think he has not always dedicated enough time to building local relationships. Partly as a result, a precious few local elected officials stood up for him when he pulled the fire alarm as he was rushing to exit a House office building in late September. He never built up enough relationships with some groups to get the benefit of the doubt, said the former Bowman aide. Kasheem Maclin, a city marshal in Mount Vernon, New York, felt Bowman was not a regular presence in the city. Before this election, Ive never seen Bowman, Maclin told HuffPost on Tuesday. Ive seen Latimer, I dont know how many times. In 2020, Bowman beat a 30-year incumbent by setting up a clear contrast between an incumbent who was too focused on foreign policy and himself, a challenger focused on the needs of the district. In 2024, Latimer was able to litigate a very similar case.Alyssa Cass, former Bowman consultant Then, in the fight for his political life, Bowman made AIPAC and the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which he calls a genocide, a central theme of his stump speeches. He went so far as to visit the pro-Palestine protest encampment at Columbia University in Manhattan, far outside his congressional district. And Justice Democrats super PAC chose to feature the topic in a pro-Bowman television advertisement. In 2020, Bowman beat a 30-year incumbent by setting up a clear contrast between an incumbent who was too focused on foreign policy and himself, a challenger focused on the needs of the district, said Alyssa Cass, one of Bowmans press and communications consultants in 2020. In 2024, Latimer was able to litigate a very similar case. Bowman let himself get defined by an issue that wasnt top of mind for his voters, only critics who were never going to vote for him, Cass added. Bowmans campaign was also slow to define Latimer with strategically placed opposition research. A story about Latimers slow-walking of a federal housing desegregation decree went to print weeks before Election Day. And another item about his vehicle registration being revoked due to unpaid parking tickets never made it out of the niche local press. All of those factors gave Latimer by Bowmans own admission, the consummate retail politician an opening to use a similar line of attack on Bowman as he, four years ago, had used on Engel. Jamaal Bowman got out of step with the district. He stopped working the needs of the district, Latimer said on CNN on Monday. He stopped caring about every one of the municipalities and the residents there, because theres a certain amount of national image that he seems to care more about. Latimer celebrates with supporters after winning on Tuesday. Spencer Platt.Getty Images George Latimer Risks Alienating Some Constituents Too By the time Election Day rolled around, Latimer was the strong favorite to win the race. A public poll in mid-June had him ahead by 17 percentage points exactly the margin by which he ended up winning. But in appearance after appearance, Latimer sounded bitter, as if he felt victimized by Bowmans identity and ability to appeal to Black and Muslim voters. In a June 10 debate with Bowman, Latimer tied him to donors in the Muslim community and left-wing circles in the San Francisco Bay Area. Your constituency is Dearborn, Michigan. Your constituency is San Francisco, California, he said. They shouldnt be offended by the Dearborn comment. Ive explained it three or four times.George Latimer, Westchester County executive And days before the election, Latimer claimed Bowman had an ethnic benefit that would net him Black votes. Those comments hurt Donny Khan, a Muslim resident of Irvington, New York, who helped Latimer campaign in the Muslim community during his 2017 run for county executive. George Latimer came to the Muslim community center, took pictures with women in hijabs, took their votes when he needed them, said Khan, a co-founder of Westchester Progressives and American Muslims Indivisible. And then ever since he started running [for Congress], because he knows whos giving him the money, hes made the Dearborn comment. Hes made the San Francisco comment. Hes talked about the ethnic advantage. Anybody who watches Fox News knows exactly what all of those things mean. But Latimer was defensive on Tuesday night when he was asked whether he would reach out to constituents offended by his comments. He emphasized that he meant to refer to Bowmans alliance with Tlaib, Congress sole Palestinian American member whose district includes Dearborn and who contributed $500,000 to a pro-Bowman super PAC. They shouldnt be offended by the Dearborn comment, Latimer said to reporters. Ive explained it three or four times. Pressed on whether he might still need to do outreach to groups irked by some of his language, Latimer blamed the media for misinforming people about his comments. There are bridges to be built, and those bridges to be built come from mutual respect and dont come from attack ads, he said. They dont come from misrepresenting someone elses position. I had a number of positions that I had misrepresented in this campaign. Im not beyond defending I have thick skin, he continued. But lets understand that some people drew judgments about me negatively because of the misrepresentation that was made in some cases Im not accusing anybody here repeated by members of the press as fact. Related... Just hours after the Supreme Court narrowed an obstruction charge used to prosecute scores of Jan. 6 rioters, trial-level judges have started to reopen some cases tied to the 2021 Capitol attack. The federal judge who oversaw the case against Guy Reffitt the first rioter convicted by a jury ordered Reffitts attorneys and the Justice Department (DOJ) to propose a schedule for further proceedings in light of the justices decision by July 5, signaling a resentencing is imminent. Reffitt was convicted on five counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding. The charge, stemming from Section 1512(c)(2), makes it a crime to corruptly obstruct, impede or interfere with official inquiries and investigations by Congress. It carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and has been used to prosecute more than 350 rioters accused of interrupting Congresss certification of the 2020 electoral vote. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Friday to rein in the obstruction charge after a different rioter, Joseph Fischer, challenged that provision as being improperly applied to those who participated in the Capitol attack. The judge who handled Reffitts case U.S. District Judge Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, a Trump appointee reopened several other rioters cases Friday afternoon, directing them to adhere to similar instructions as Reffitt. Among the hundreds of defendants convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding are several members of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups including the leaders of each group, Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes, respectively, though they were each convicted of the more serious charge of seditious conspiracy. Their cases remain dormant for now, though an attorney for Tarrio told The Hill earlier Friday that the ex-Proud Boys national chairs lawyers plan to thoroughly review Tarrios sentence and any collateral consequences of the high courts decision. Though most rioters charged with the obstruction count also faced other felony counts, 50 rioters were sentenced with the obstruction law as their only felony, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said during arguments before the Supreme Court in April. Other rioters took plea deals involving the charge, like Tennessee native Ronald Sandlin, whom prosecutors said traveled to Washington in a rental car packed with two pistols, two magazines of ammunition, cans of bear mace and other gear. His case was reopened Friday. The Supreme Courts decision could also cause one of the most notorious rioters from the Capitol attack to face prosecution again, the DOJ signaled in recent court filings: Jacob Chansley, dubbed the QAnon Shaman. Chansley pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and was sentenced to 41 months in prison without a trial. He was released early last year, but in recent court filings, prosecutors said the Supreme Courts decision may create a situation where evidence must be preserved and Defendant tried, not expanding further on the matter. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement following the verdict Friday that he is disappointed by the decision, but the vast majority of rioters charged for their role in the attack will not be affected by this decision. The DOJ will take appropriate steps to comply with the high courts ruling, he said. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy, Garland said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Supreme Court sided with a January 6th rioter Friday. The courts ruling reins in the Justice Departments ability to charge individuals who stormed the Capitol with obstruction. The ruling now forces the DOJ to re-evaluate pending charges. Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who calls January 6th rioters patriots, is applauding the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court got this right, Greene said. The justices ruled the Department of Justice went too far when it charged rioters with trying to obstruct an official proceeding. They will have something on their side finally in their defense against this Justice Department thats persecuting its political enemies, said Greene. In a 6-3 decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the DOJ must prove January 6th defendants charged with obstruction tried to tamper with or destroy documents. The decision, brought forward by a former police officer who stormed the Capitol, was not split down ideological lines. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sided with the majority while Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in the minority, defended the obstruction charge writing The riot forced Congress to suspend the proceeding, delaying it for several hours. Attorney General Merrick Garland calls the ruling disappointing but is promising to comply. In a statement, he says the decision will not impact the vast majority of the more than 1400 January 6th defendants. George Washington law professor Paul Schiff Berman says that includes former president Donald Trump. The prosecution that Jack Smith is pursuing against him in Washington D.C. alleges a bunch of other criminal charges which would not be effected by the decision today, said Schiff Berman. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Japan and Philippines trying to finish defense pact for signing in Manila as alarm grows over China FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, greets Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., prior to their bilateral meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila July 2024, to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday June 28, 2024 at a time of escalating alarm over China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP, File) MANILA, Philippines (AP) Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over Chinas actions in the disputed South China Sea. Details of the agenda of the July 8 meetings of Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru with their Philippine counterparts were not immediately made public, but two officials of both countries told The Associated Press that efforts were underway to finalize a key defense pact which they hope could be signed during the meetings. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issue publicly. During a visit to Manila last year, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to start negotiations on a reciprocal access agreement which would allow troops to enter each others territory for joint military exercises and strengthened defense cooperation. The move is part of efforts to strengthen their alliance in the face of what they regard as Chinas growing assertiveness in the region. Marcos said last year that the proposed defense pact would be beneficial both to our defense and military personnel and to maintaining peace and stability in our region. Kishida announced during the Manila visit that a coastal surveillance radar would be given to the Philippines through a grant, making it the first Southeast Asian nation to become a beneficiary of a newly launched Japanese security assistance program for allied militaries in the region. Additional Japanese patrol vessels, defense equipment and radars will be provided to strengthen the Philippines law enforcement capability at sea, Kishida said last year. Japan has supplied a dozen patrol ships in recent years to the Philippines, which is now largely using them to defend its territorial interests in the contested waters. Japan has had a longstanding territorial dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Meanwhile, Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy ships have been involved in a series of tense confrontations in the South China Sea, a key global trade route. In the worst confrontation so far, Chinese coast guard personnel armed with knives, spears and an axe aboard motorboats repeatedly rammed and destroyed two Philippine navy supply vessels at disputed Second Thomas Shoal last week, injuring several Filipino sailors. Chinese sailors seized at least seven Philippine navy rifles. The Philippines strongly protested the Chinese coast guards actions and demanded payment for the damage and the return of the rifles. China accused the Philippines of instigating the violence, saying the Filipino sailors strayed into what it called Chinese territorial waters despite warnings, prompting its coast guard to take action. Japan, along with the United States and its Asian and Western allied countries and security partners, expressed concern over the Chinese actions. "Japan reiterates serious concern over repeated actions which obstruct freedom of navigation and increase regional tensions, including recent dangerous actions that resulted in damage to the Filipino vessel and injuries to Filipinos onboard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo said after the confrontation. Washington renewed its warning that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea. Marcos and other Philippine officials said the Chinese assault on the Filipino navy personnel last week, which was caught on video and photographs that were made public by the Manila government, was illegal and deliberate, but did not amount to an armed assault that would activate the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. TOKYO Japans government protested Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa which were only recently made public. In one case, an Air Force member is accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in December, while the other, which dates from May, involves a Marine who is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman. The case involving the assault of the teenager is a reminder to many Okinawans of the high-profile 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemembers, which sparked massive protests against the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa. It led to a 1996 agreement between Tokyo and Washington on a closure of a key U.S. air station, though the plan has been delayed due to protests at the site designated for its relocation on another part of the island. Some 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, about half of them on Okinawa, whose strategic role is seen increasingly important for the Japan-U.S. military alliance in the face of growing tensions with China. Japan's southwestern shift of its own military also focuses heavily on Okinawa and its nearby islands. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Friday it was extremely regrettable the two alleged sexual assaults occurred within months. Japan takes it seriously and Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed regrets to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, requesting disciplinary and preventive measures, Hayashi said. I believe that the U.S. side also takes this matter seriously, Hayashi said. Criminal cases and accidents by U.S. military personnel cause great anxiety to local residents, and they should never occur in the first place. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo declined to confirm details of the meeting between Emanuel and Okano and how the ambassador responded, citing diplomatic rules. Hayashi said Japanese prosecutors in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, had pressed charges of nonconsensual sex and assault charges against the Marine on June 17, which were only announced on Friday. Both suspects were handled by the Japanese authorities. The Naha District Prosecutors' Office refused to confirm indictments in the two cases over the phone with anyone who is not a local press club member. Okinawa prefectural police said the two cases were never made public out of consideration for the privacy of the victims. Okinawa residents and the island's governor, Denny Tamaki, have long complained about accidents and crime related to U.S military bases, expressed anger over the alleged crime and lack of disclosure. Tamaki, who opposes the heavy U.S. troop presence on Okinawa, said he was speechless and outraged." He stressed the need to reconstruct the communication system in case of crime and accidents involving American service members. I'm deeply concerned about the severity of this allegation and I regret the anxiety this has caused," Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, Commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, who visited the Okinawa prefectural government with several U.S. officials, said on Thursday, though he did not apologize. He promised the US military will fully cooperate with the investigation by the local authorities and the courts. Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda told Evans and other officials that the alleged assaults were serious human rights violations against women. We find them absolutely unforgivable, and we are outraged," he said. Ikeda also protested the delayed notification of the criminal cases, saying they caused anxiety for residents near the U.S. bases. He said the prefecture was only notified this week about the December case, when the suspect was indicted in March, and only after inquiries by the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Jen Psaki weighed in ahead of Thursdays first debate between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and the MSNBC host and former White House press secretary warned of the current presidents one weakness that could lose the audience mid-session. The political pro said that while Biden cant control how Trump is going to behave during CNNs live debate, he can prepare to react to it. Additionally, what he can control is how he approaches the debate questions at hand. Psaki expressed concern that if he doesnt go the Scranton Joe route, the president could get the better of himself by trying to prove himself. If you are them, you are thinking about what is the best version of Joe Biden? The best version of Joe Biden is empathic, Scranton Joe, speaking in English, right? And very accessible language. He does have a gut instinct about that, Psaki said. Every time I used an acronym, he would chide me for that. That was what he would get upset about. The worst version or the vulnerability that I dont know if it keeps me up at night in the same way as the future of our democracy is him trying to prove himself, she continued. He has a tendency to do this. And I know this from working for him for a year and a half. Meaning his vulnerability is when he is like, I need more data points. I need lists of data points.' Psaki painted a picture of Biden that could see the president wanting to list off his accomplishments rather than be personable Scranton Joe that connects with voters. Youve seen him with note cards, note cards that have data A long list of numbers, a long list of numbers. GDP, job creation, the infrastructure bill and how many jobs have been created in Pennsylvania, Psaki said. If he starts giving those statistics and data, you start to lose the audience. And I think that is a thing if you are on the Biden campaign, you are hoping he doesnt go to prove myself, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder, Im very smart and I have done a lot for this country mode. He goes to empathic Scranton Joe mode. And that is something he can control. He cant control how Donald Trump behaves. Watch the full segment with Psaki in the video above. The post Jen Psaki Warns of a Biden Weakness That Could Lose the Audience Mid-Debate | Video appeared first on TheWrap. New Jersey Dad Dead After Tree Falls on Him amid Thunderstorm: 'You Can't Expect That' Local officials identified the victim as Juan Jose Angeles Lopez, 30 Juan Jose Angeles Lopez/Facebook Juan Jose Angeles Lopez Authorities said that a 30-year-old East Orange, New Jersey, father-to-be was killed when a neighboring tree fell on him during a thunderstorm on June 26. East Orange Mayor Ted Green and the Department of Public Safety confirmed the fatality as Juan Jose Angeles Lopez, per a June 27 news release from East Orange City Hall shared on Facebook. According to a relative of Lopez, the victim was having a barbecue in his backyard around 8 p.m. local time when the storm rolled around. Related: 7 Youth Group Hikers Hospitalized After Lightning Strike in Utah Mountains: 50 Youth Felt the Shock As the winds intensified, Lopez was attempting to secure an outdoor umbrella when a tree on the property of 307 William Street collapsed on him, read the news release. Despite efforts to assist him, Lopez was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m. at CareWell Health Medical Center in East Orange, East Orange City Halls statement continued. GoFundMe A tree that fell as a result of a storm in East Orange, N.J., on June 26, 2024 The victims brother-in-law, Carlos, described the incident as unbelievable and unexpected, CBS affiliate WCBS reported. 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. One minute, we're out there barbecuing, having some drinks, recalled Carlos. The next minute, a big old tree just fell down and toppled. You can't expect that." Related: 1 Dead in South Dakota amid 'Catastrophic' Midwest Flooding "I went inside for 10 minutes. All I heard was a thump. When I came back outside, it was a mess," Carlos added. At a June 27 press conference, Mayor Green expressed his condolences to the family of Lopez, whose wife is seven months pregnant. Lopez is also the father of a 2-year-old daughter. This is heart-wrenching, and as a community, we are going to do whatever we can to help Mr. Lopezs wife and family during this difficult time, Green said in his remarks. The City of East Orange is now accepting clothing and baby item donations for Lopezs family, which can be made at any East Orange firehouse or the Department of Health and Human Services. Related: At Least 2 Dead as Heavy Rain and Significant Flooding Continues in South Florida: See the Photos A GoFundMe was also created to provide financial support for the victims family. As of the morning of Friday, June 28, the fundraiser has raised over $14,000. PEOPLE reached out to the GoFundMe organizer for additional comment., but they did not immediately respond. Thunderstorms in the area on June 26 resulted in severe storm warnings to be issued for parts of New Jersey, including Fort Dix, Toms River and Lakewood, NJ.com reported. In addition to the incident in East Orange, there were reports of fallen trees in New Jersey counties such as Essex and Passaic, per NJ.com. Among those who experienced injuries during the storms in the Tri-State area was a Park Ridge, N.J., woman after a tree fell through her upstairs and first-floor ceiling at her home, per ABC affiliate WABC. She was taken to a hospital and later released. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (Getty Images) A group of Jewish and Muslim activists protested outside the Governors Mansion Thursday evening against a bill that would codify a controversial definition of antisemitism into state law. Protesters called on Gov. Roy Cooper to veto the bill (labeled by its sponsors as The Shalom Act) which critics including the demonstrators argue is intended to stifle criticism of Israel. HB 942 is a dangerous bill that will deeply undermine democracy and free speech in North Carolina under the guise of Jewish safety, said Noor Abualhawa, one of the speakers at the rally. The North Carolina Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill yesterday by a vote of 47-2. Soon after the Senate vote, the House approved the Senate committee substitute (105-3), thereby sending the bill to the governors desk. If the bill becomes law, North Carolina would, by reference, make the Working Definition of Antisemitism Adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016 the states official definition of antisemitism. Under the definition, several types of criticism directed against Israel, such as claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor, would meet the definition. House Speaker Tim Moore, one of the bills chief sponsors, said yesterday at a committee meeting that the measure is a response to a rise in hate speech and attacks on Jewish people. We have seen firsthand the violence, the intimidation, the threats that are happening against the Jewish individuals in this state and this country. Some of those have become very violent. Some of those have been more not physical violence but more of an intimidation. Sandra Korn of Jewish Voice for Peace Triangle NC said the bill is intended to divert attention from what she described as antisemitism in the Republican party. Its designed to confuse and distract from real antisemitism, and particularly the Holocaust denial of our Republican gubernatorial candidate, said Korn. Its part of a classic right-wing playbook to suppress dissent and criminalize protests. Moore said last month the bill does not create any new criminal penalties related to antisemitism, as state laws against ethnic intimidation already exist. But it provides a clear definition of antisemitism for prosecutors and law enforcement. A prosecutor would look at that and look at the statutes that are already in place and make a determination if that conduct rose to that level. Hadeel Hamoud of Muslim Women For, an advocacy organization based in North Carolina, said criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. Criticism of a foreign government like you said should never be construed as hatred for an ethnic religious group, said Hamoud. If our government truly cared about combating hatred, they would invest in meaningful and community-based ways to combat hatred of all faith groups. Yesterday, Sen. Mujtaba Mohammed of Mecklenburg County proposed an amendment to the bill that would have expanded the scope and severity of penalties for hate crimes, created a hate crime database, and required training for law enforcement and prosecutors on identifying and prosecuting hate crimes. Republican members, however, moved successfully to table the proposal so that, technically, no vote was taken on the amendment itself. Mohammed expressed support for the bill but said it doesnt go far enough to protect other minority groups. My concern is this bill offers only lip service and fails to provide real protections for our Jewish brothers and sisters, as well as others group other groups subjected to hate crimes and bigotry, said Mohammed. We would be remiss to not acknowledge the truly rising rates of antisemitism in our in our country, which is why we cannot allow this real and serious issue to be coopted only for the purpose of not protecting Jews, but censoring criticism of the State of Israel and suppressing the Palestinian liberation movement, said Abualhawa. The post Jewish and Muslim demonstrators call for veto of bill defining antisemitism appeared first on NC Newsline. Jill Biden did not mince words during an appearance at Virginia Beach Thursday before her husband, President Joe Biden, took to the stage in the first presidential debate of 2024 against rival Donald Trump in Atlanta. Noting Trump would be a dictator on day one and take away a lot of the freedoms that we already have, the first lady was greeted by a chorus of Biden supporters, though a few Trump fans were spotted outside the citys Democratic Coordinated Campaign Office with signs surrounding Hunter Biden and his infamous laptop, according to the New York Post. You all know that theres two visions for America, and youll see them tonight when you watch the debate. And youve already chosen your vision, Biden told the crowd of about 75 supporters. Youve chosen strong, steady leadership versus that other vision, which is chaos and corruption. Noting the Biden clan is a military family, Jill exclaimed, When I hear Trump call members of our military losers and suckers... how dare he. How dare he. "The Bidens are a military family" - First lady Jill Biden in Virginia Beach "When I hear Trump call members of our military losers and suckers ... how dare he." Read more: https://t.co/ik7pnwIGoP pic.twitter.com/5oshcKBxkc WAVY TV 10 (@WAVY_News) June 27, 2024 She flew to Atlanta to meet her husband for the debate after her Virginia Beach appearance. In Atlanta, at a fundraising retreat at the Ritz-Carlton, she told reporters that Joes ready to go. Hes prepared. Hes confident. You know what a great debater he is. We cant stop now. We cant get complacent. Weve got to keep working together, working harder than weve ever worked before. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. First Lady Jill Biden tries to rally supporters in Atlanta, Georgia, after her husband's bruising encounter with Trump at a CNN debate - EDWARD M PIO RODA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Now might be a good time for Dr Jill Biden, the First Lady, to have a rummage around in the back of the wardrobe for one particular item of clothing. When Joe Biden opted against running for president in 2004, his decision was underlined by his wifes decision to wear a halter top with the word NO scrawled on her stomach. Following her husbands geriatric performance against Donald Trump in Thursday nights debate, many Democrats are hoping she will now take the same line on her husbands decision to run for a second term. It may well be that she is the only person who can now prevent Trump romping to victory in November. In the modern era, neither the Republicans nor the Democrats have tried to force an election candidate to step down. Their rules make it almost impossible to do so. The only person that can take Mr Bidens name off the ticket is the president himself. The US president has already secured the presumptive Democratic nomination and is understood to be a stubborn man. According to those who know the president best, the voice Mr Biden is most likely to heed on this matter is that of his wife. Dr Biden has been described as her husbands greatest political asset. Theres a credible argument that, for the next few days at least, she is the most powerful person in the free world. Can she persuade her husband that, after 52 years as a politician, he should perform one last act of sacrifice for the republic and that this might be the surest way of securing his legacy? Those who know the couple say their marriage is built on mutual respect and admiration. Both are believed to take each others counsel seriously. According to those who know the president best, the voice Mr Biden is most likely to listen to is his wife's - Getty The couple got married in 1977, but only after Joe had popped the question five times. Bidens first wife, Neilia, died in a 1972 car crash along with their daughter Naomi. I saw in him then the same character that I see in him today and even though he has faced unimaginable tragedies, his optimism is undaunted, Dr Biden told at a campaign rally on Friday. His strength is unshakeable, his hope is undeterred. In her book Where the Light Enters, Dr Biden writes about standing by her husband in a similar situation to that which he now faces: As a political spouse, Ive found that my stoicism often serves me well. In 1988, when Joes first presidential campaign started to look bleak, people were constantly looking for cracks in our team. We all felt scrutinised, but I refused to show weakness. She also revealed how Joe liked to drive his boys to school, the three of them singing along to the radio, including one of their favourites: the Helen Reddy hit You and Me Against the World. Beau, the elder son and former attorney general of Delaware, died from brain cancer in 2015 when Mr Biden was vice-president to Barack Obama. The First Lady is fiercely protective of a family that has weathered so much tragedy. She must now decide whether the best way to protect her husband is by backing him to the hilt or urging him not to make a mistake. Jill Jacobs was still a college student when she met Joe and liked living under the radar. One of the reasons she turned down Joes initial proposals was because it would mean a life in the spotlight that I had never wanted. She has since become an accomplished public performer. But her prior inclinations may mean she is more likely than those political spouses who are attracted to the trappings of power to bring down the curtain on her husbands career. Down-to-earth and with a penchant for practical jokes, Dr Biden is a professor with a doctorate in educational leadership and taught at Northern Virginia Community College. She became the first First Lady to hold a paying job during her husbands time in office, demonstrating there was a life beyond the White House security fence. The First Lady is known for her down-to-earth approach and is fiercely protective of her family - MANDEL NGAN/AFP According to her biographer Darlene Superville, Dr Biden sees herself as a teacher more perhaps than she sees herself as a First Lady. Anita McBride, a former chief-of-staff to First Lady Laura Bush, adds: She has combined what has been seen as a traditional role while serving as a model of being an independent person with her own agenda and own career. For the time being, Dr Biden, who is nine years younger than her husband, is sticking to the script. At the end of the debate on Thursday night, she took to the stage to rev up the audience: Joe, you did such a good job, she said. You answered every question, you knew all the facts. Speaking at a rally in North Carolina the morning after, Dr Biden was still in full-bore campaigning mode: There is no one that I would rather have sitting in the Oval Office right now than my husband, she said. What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden, a president with integrity and character, who told the truth. And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie. Her speech was persuasive. Jill Biden knows [Thursday] night was bad per [people] familiar and is also nowhere near the conclusion some Dem[ocrat]s have suggested she should reach, tweeted Katie Rogers, the White House correspondent for the New York Times. Todays appearance makes that very obvious. But the First Ladys loyalty puts her in a shrinking minority. At the start of the debate, PredictIt, an online betting market, gave Trump a 53 per cent chance of winning the election in November. By the end, his chances had shot up to 61 per cent. Biden is, at 81, just three years older than Trump. But, following the debate, one political commentator suggested it looked more like 30 years. Polls already showed voters were worried Biden was too old for four more years in the White House. Now questions are being asked about the next four months. There are certainly precedents for an incumbent to step aside. As Vietnam War protests mounted in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson decided not to seek re-nomination for a second full term. But, crucially, the call was the presidents. That remains the case with Biden. Only one guy can decide, and its him, says one Democratic strategist. The US President's debate performance on Thursday heightened fears over his age - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Biden would have to go voluntarily and then urge the party to seek a sensible replacement that was not his current vice-president, says Frank Luntz, the political consultant and pollster. Both scenarios dont look likely at this point. It would require his most senior staff to tell him and many of them dont have the guts to do so. Who would be able to screw their courage to the sticking place? The Democrats dont have any equivalent of the men in grey suits the delegation of senior Tory MPs who told Margaret Thatcher that her time was up. Many are openly calling for Bidens Democratic predecessors Obama and Bill Clinton to have a word. Potential replacements for Biden including Gavin Newsom and Gretchen Whitmer, the governors of California and Michigan respectively will not want to appear disloyal. The Democratic National Convention, where the party selects its nominees for president and vice-president, is due to be held in Chicago in mid-August. There is now a tiny window of opportunity of up to three weeks maximum before the momentum starts to build towards that event, according to political experts. So, now the Democrats, the US and the rest of the world must wait to see whether Jill Biden believes, or can be persuaded, the time has come to once again say: NO. 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. Jim Clyburn made Joe Biden president once. Can he save him a second time? The News In the story of Joe Bidens rise to the presidency in 2020, nobodys been mythologized quite like 83-year-old South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. With a late endorsement, the longtime House leadership fixture helped deliver his states delegates to Biden and revive his flagging campaign after rough showings in Iowa and New Hampshire. Now Biden is facing the biggest crisis of his political career, with his party openly questioning his viability as a candidate. Clyburn is set to talk to the president tonight. When I met the Congressman at a building near the Capitol for an interview on Friday, he had just told a group of reporters that the debate was only strike one for Biden. I asked if the president really had two more to spare. Who knows, he can hit foul balls, he said. Everybody remembers Babe Ruth being the home run king. Few people remember how many times he struck out. Who knows? On strike two he may knock it out of the park. He offered a now-familiar take on Bidens showing, asking to focus on the differences between the candidates on their records and platforms. I think all of us saw what was not a good performance, but the presidency is a very substantive entity, and President Biden has never been a show horse hes always been a workhorse, Clyburn said. When it comes to questions about Bidens hold on the nomination, Clyburns response is simple: Lets just stay the course. He added that hes been texting the same phrase to nervous members. We got two months before we go to the convention and then three months after that to go to the election, he said. So theres no reason to have their hair on fire. In the meantime, the Congressional Black Caucus whose districts form the core of Bidens base, and which Clyburn helped deliver in the 2020 primaries was still solidly behind Biden, he said. I havent talked to a CBC member yet who says he ought to get out, he told Semafor. The CBC has proven a critical ally in the past to embattled presidents, notably sticking by President Clinton when the Monica Lewinsky scandal initially threatened to cause a party-wide break. That experience was, Clyburn said when asked about it, not the same thing, but similar. Know More Many of the Democrats watching Bidens debate woke up on Friday with existential questions about their partys immediate future that they were desperately looking to party elders Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, certainly Clyburn to help answer. Clyburns concerns were more technical. For one, a debate was the wrong format for Biden. Instead he recommended a series of 60-90 minute town halls to really do what I know he does well and connect with voters on a human level. He should make sure to get out of the major metro areas in Georgia and Pennsylvania, too, and explore smaller towns and rural areas. I hope they dont have a second debate, he said. I really think he just ought to go out and do town halls and talk to people. As for Thursdays debate, he thinks Biden should have organized his answers by giving a holistic breakdown of how his administration has impacted the individual, the family, and the community, a public speaking trick his father, a preacher, had taught him decades ago. We do it for the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, he said. He also thought Bidens team had thrown him off his game by over-briefing him with factoids and data, a critique some other Democrats had raised. I just dont think you prepare people by loading them up with figures, Clyburn said. Biden, he thought, needed to be less reactive to Trump, who seemed to bait him into chasing rabbits with his attacks. No matter what your question is, Im not talking to this guy over here: Ignore him, and look into that camera and embrace it, Clyburn said. Clyburn, who is stepping down from House leadership this year but seeking re-election, knows what its like to have questions raised about his age. I asked whether he worried back in 2020 when he endorsed Biden that he might someday decline in office. He didnt directly answer, but suggested the biggest change wasnt in Bidens health, it was his switch to a job that required constant attention and offered less time for political performance. He had less on his shoulders because he wasnt responsible for protecting the country from Russian invasion, he said. With Biden still in the race, theres nothing to do for now but work. Hell be stumping for the president in Florida and Wisconsin. Notable A snap 538/Ipsos poll found debate watchers overwhelmingly thought Trump won but barely switched votes. Biden lost 1.5 points of support, while Trump 0.4 points. Clyburns fellow House Democrats werent quite as calm as he was on Friday. I couldnt hardly sleep, Missouri Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver told Semafor. Semafors Ben Smith names the seven people who could plausibly convince Biden to drop out. Clyburn is on the list. David Tennant said during his acceptance speech at the British LGBT Awards that he wished Kemi Badenoch would 'shut up' - BOB GREY/BACK GRID/HARV JK Rowling has criticised David Tennant for allegedly calling womens rights activists little whinging f------ during a row over the trans debate. The former Doctor Who star previously said he wished Kemi Badenoch would shut up for her stance on the matter. Mrs Badenoch has called to ban trans women from female lavatories and defend single-sex spaces. He said he wished that the Business Secretary, who is considered a front-runner in a future Tory leadership contest, did not exist any more while collecting an accolade for being a celebrity ally at the British LGBT Awards honouring his support for the trans community. It subsequently emerged that Tennant continued his criticism of womens rights activists backstage and he is understood to have called them a tiny bunch of little whinging f------ whore on the wrong side of history and theyll all go away soon. Responding to the actors comments, JK Rowling wrote on X, formerly Twitter: This man is talking about rape survivors who want female-only care, the nurses currently suing their health trust for making them change in front of a man, girls and women losing sporting opportunities to males and female prisoners incarcerated with convicted sex offenders. Mrs Badenoch had accused Tennant of being a rich, lefty, white male celebrity after he attacked her even though she was the only black woman in the Government. Writing on X, she said: I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls. A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he cant see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end. Tennant is one of Labours celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win. Mrs Badenoch also criticised Dawn Butler, the Labour candidate for Brent East, who said she agreed with Tennant. This is the true face of the Labour Party. Keir Starmer says he doesn't want a 'toxic debate' but he is very happy to have Labour MPs do his dirty work for him -and let people know they wish I didn't exist. These are the types of people who will form a government if Labour wins. https://t.co/OFLHl9glw7 Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 26, 2024 Her thread continued: Labour and their celebrity allies have no interest in stopping the conversion therapy of gay children who are told, Youre not really gay, youre just a different sex. Kids are medicalised and sterilised as foolish celebrities and stupid Labour MPs cheer this on in their desperation to look cool. In the speech that ignited the row, Tennant said: If Im honest, Im a little depressed by the fact that acknowledging that everyone has the right to be who they want to be and live their life how they want to live it as long as theyre not hurting anyone else should merit any kind of special award or special mention, because its common sense, isnt it? It is human decency. We shouldnt live in a world where that is worth remarking on. However, until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesnt exist anymore I dont wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up whilst we do live in this world, I am honoured to receive this. The announcement of the winners on the British LGBT Awards website described Tennant as one of the LGBTQ+ communitys most fierce allies and supporters. 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. Joe Biden Had A Very Rough Night, And 4 Other Takeaways From The 2024 Presidential Debate President Joe Biden walked onto the debate stage the earliest general-election showdown in presidential debate history with a mission to reassure the public of his physical and mental fitness for office, and to close some of the polling gap with former President Donald Trump. The debate was also an opportunity for Biden to put Trump on the defensive over his felony conviction on May 30 in Manhattan. Though we do not yet have hard survey data, it is hard to imagine Biden, 81, winning over any swing voters who may have tuned into CNN on Thursday night. Biden looked and sounded like an old man. Especially in the first 20 minutes, Bidens voice was so hoarse and raspy that his words were often hard to make out. He lacked energy, and he repeatedly trailed off and lost his train of thought. Trump, 78, came off much sharper, more coherent and more lively. He capitalized on Bidens worst moments. In one particularly cringe-inducing exchange, Biden tried to tout his work to empower Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, but he trailed off incoherently. We finally beat Medicare, he eventually concluded. Trump responded with a lie, claiming Biden was bankrupting Medicare by allowing illegal border crossings to rise. But he got the last word in and sounded crisper. Well, hes right, Trump responded. He did beat Medicare he beat it to death, he destroyed it. Something similar happened when Biden interrupted himself mid-sentence while defending his record on immigration. Im going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the total initiative relative to what we can do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers, Biden said. It was unclear what ban he was referring to. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, Trump said. I dont think he knows what he said either. Here are four more takeaways: Biden has strong moments on Jan. 6, Trumps conviction. One of Bidens strongest moments in the debate came after a question to Trump about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and whether he had a response for those who say he violated his oath of office by failing to aid Congress during the attack and who worry he will do something similar again. Trump said he didnt agree with the premise and instead blamed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser for the U.S. Capitol riot, which resulted in five deaths and left more than 100 police officers injured when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the building to try to prevent certification of the electoral votes for Biden. Biden, meanwhile, hammered Trump for sitting idly at the White House while the attack was underway and not telling his supporters to stand down for hours. He didnt do a damn thing, Biden said. And these people should be in jail, and they should be the ones who are being held accountable. And he wants to let them all out. After defending people convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection, Trump then said that former Republican Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, who investigated the Capitol riot, should be in jail. Biden responded by saying that the only person who is a convicted felon is the man Im looking at right now. In another exchange shortly after, Biden again attacked Trump over his felony conviction in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide an October 2016 nondisclosure payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump has denied the allegation of an extramarital encounter. Think of all the civil penalties you have. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties? Biden asked Trump. Or for molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star on the night while your wife was pregnant. I mean, what are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. Trump responded: I didnt have sex with a porn star. Trump was evasive and lied a lot. Trump may have looked better on the debate stage than Biden on Thursday, but he was untethered from the truth. Over and over, on issues including the economy, health care and foreign policy, Trump spun lies about Bidens policies and his administrations record. He claimed Biden is going to destroy Social Security by allowing undocumented immigrants into the program, that Biden would raise taxes on Americans fivefold, that everyone wanted to repeal Roe v. Wade, that Biden made up the Charlottesville story about inspiring his run for president after Trump defended far-right extemists who rioted in Virginia, and that police officers allowed violent attackers into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to name just a few examples. At one point, when Trump claimed there were no terrorist attacks around the world during his administration, Biden retorted, Ive never heard so much malarkey in my whole life. The CNN moderators didnt interject at any point in the debate and the show quickly moved along. The former president also dodged substantive questions on climate change, child care and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by offering nonsense responses instead. When asked what actions he would take to combat the harmful effects of global warming, for example, Trump said he wanted clean water. I want absolutely immaculate clean water, Trump said. And I want absolutely clean air. And we had it! We had H2O. We had the best numbers ever! Biden whiffed on what might have been his biggest advantage. Abortion access is one of the biggest if not the biggest vulnerabilities for Trump and Republicans in the November election. The GOP has been twisting itself into knots to make themselves appear moderate on the issue despite the fact that they are responsible for repealing federal abortion rights, which has allowed Republican-led states to enact all sorts of draconian bans on the procedure. So when an abortion question finally came up about halfway through Thursdays debate, Biden had a golden opportunity to put Trump on the defensive and pull himself out of a ditch. He started off well enough, noting that many states are putting six-week bans on abortion into place, but then quickly went off the rails by bringing up murders committed by undocumented immigrants more favorable ground to Trump that the former president quickly capitalized on. Theres so many young women who have been, including the young woman who just was murdered, and [Trump] went to the funeral, and the idea that she was murdered by an immigrant, they talk about that, but heres the deal, theres a lot of young women who are being raped by their in-laws, by their spouses, brothers and sisters, its just ridiculous and they try to arrest them when they cross state lines, Biden said during the exchange. He allowed them to come across the border, Trump retorted. Biden eventually recovered somewhat, noting how Trump has danced around the question of whether he would sign a federal abortion ban into law if he becomes president again. He takes credit for taking it away. Whats he going to do? Is he going to sign that bill? Ill veto it. Hell sign it, Biden said. Democrats admit Biden had a bad night. The reviews from Democrats and left-leaning commentators on television after Bidens debate performance were brutal. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, said CNN panelist Kate Bedingfield, who had served as a Biden political adviser and White House communications director. I dont think theres any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didnt do that. David Plouffe, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, echoed the concerns about Bidens age and stamina after the debate. Theyre three years apart. They seemed 30 years apart, Plouffe said during an interview on MSNBC, referring to the age difference between 81-year-old Biden and 78-year-old Trump. Even liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow seemed to fault Bidens showing in his face-off against Trump. After Biden delivered short but more energetic remarks to supporters in Atlanta after the debate, Maddow remarked, That Joe Biden would have killed in the debate. But California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has been mentioned as a possible future Democratic presidential contender, defended Biden and urged him not to give up on the debates entirely after Thursdays debacle. Weve all had those nights, Newsom said on MSNBC. Not one person watching hasnt had those nights. You have good moments, you have bad moments. You wake up the next day, you dust it off and you move forward. Its all about resilience. He never gives up. Hes never given up, he added of Biden. Related... The first step is admitting you have a problem: Viewed as one big, televised retirement party for a sharply declining President Joe Biden, last night's debate was a success. Viewed as a showdown between two contenders jockeying for nuclear codes, last night's debate was a shitshow. Even Democrats who had up until this point been propping up Biden are finally admitting that they have a massive problem. At first, they went with "he has a cold" as the excuse for a stunningly poor performance. (Also: "He overprepared!") Then, as the night wore on, they began to concede deeper problems. "Right now, there is a deep, a wide, and a very aggressive panic in the Democratic Party," said CNN's John King immediately after the debate wrapped. "It started minutes into the debate, and it continues right now," added King. "It involves party strategists and involves elected officials. It involves fundraisers, and they're having conversations about the president's performance.Some of those conversations include: Should we go to the White House and ask the president to step aside? Should prominent Democrats go public with that call?" King's assessment is not unique. It was shared by strategists and normal people alike, all of whom seemingly want Democrats to win but increasingly doubt Biden's efficacy. Beltway panic: "It was a slow start, that's obvious to everyone," Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, admitted in a televised postgame. The New York Times described it as "a fumbling performance, and a panicking party." The Washington Post practically stole that same headline. The Atlantic's riff was a little more novel: "Dropping out is Biden's most patriotic option." It felt like the omerta was finally broken. Back in March, talking heads would claim that Biden is the sharpest he's ever been, and that his mental acuity is a selling point; after last night's performance, nobody can delude themselves (or their viewers) anymore. But if democracy is on the ballotthe frequent refrain of much of the establishment media, particularly from CNN and MSNBCwhy not be more choosy with your candidates? Though members of the media, glancing at the headlines offered by other publications, may finally be free to admit what a problem Biden is, Democrats within the party have backed themselves into a corner. They have not fielded another clear alternative to Biden, and as the incumbent who would be unable to save face if he stepped aside, there's really no hope of letting the president down easy and replacing him with someone who has better odds of beating Donald Trump. On the issues, neither candidate revealed anything new or proposed any policies that would be welcomed by libertarians. Biden's incoherence on entitlements, debt, and deficits should leave us all worried. It felt like a showdown between two immigration hawks, neither of whom articulated a clear solution for immigration reform or demonstrated any depth on the issue, being wholly derailed by the issue of border crossings. And Biden's answer on the overturning of Roe v. Wade and abortion being returned to the states was a shockingly jumbled mess. Judge for yourself: "The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we're going to turn civil rights back to the states. Let each state have a different rule. Look, there's so many young women who have been, including a young woman who just murdered and he went to the funeral. And the idea that she was murdered by a by by an immigrant coming in to. They talk about that. But here's the deal. There's a lot of young women being raped by their by their in-laws, by their by by their spouses, brothers and sisters, by just it's just ridiculous. And they can do nothing about it. And they try to arrest them when they cross state lines." Nothing explains why, when handed a perfect abortion question on a silk pillow, Biden started talking about a woman raped and killed by an illegal immigrant. That's not overpreparing. That's something else https://t.co/PvkVMAwTNs David Weigel (@daveweigel) June 28, 2024 I personally think the odds of Democrats bringing someone in to replace Biden are extraordinarily low. But that doesn't mean California's Gavin Newsom isn't getting his hopes (among other things) up. Scenes from New York: A wonderful debate watch party in Soho (candid moment captured of two of my dear buds, Nancy Rommelmann and Matt Welch). (Liz Wolfe) Also enjoyed seeing Christina Fishman, Michael Moynihan, River Page, Suzy Weiss, Rob Henderson, and many others. Thank you to our gracious host, Jonathan Farber! (Liz Wolfe) QUICK HITS "The court's 5-4 decision to scuttle Purdue Pharma LP's $6 billion opioid settlement, ruling that it improperly protected the OxyContin maker's billionaire owners, is set to have ripple effects that stretch far beyond the company and the victims of the drug crisis. It stands to change the way troubled organizations have used Chapter 11 for decades to survive onslaughts of lawsuits," reports Bloomberg. "When I am in a foreign city and in search of interesting food, I have a trick: In which neighborhood, I ask the locals, am I most likely to get murdered? In Stockholm, Rinkeby was the answer, even though many of the people I asked had never been," writes Tyler Cowen. "So I went to Rinkeby, which is mostly non-White and most notably Somalian." In defense of late bloomers. One interesting artifact of the current moment: Online betting markets show Biden's odds of being his party's nominee absolutely tanking. The post Joe Biden, Hot Mess appeared first on Reason.com. By now, any interested person with an internet connection has seen President Joe Biden's uncomfortably poor showing in his first debate against former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential campaign season. Contrary to assurances that, behind closed doors, Biden is as sharp and lucid as ever, the president appeared frail and struggled to even make his most basic points for most of the 90-minute debate, renewing concerns about his age and mental fitness. Much of the ensuing news coverage involves the possibility of Democrats replacing Biden on the ticket in November. But whatever ultimately happens between now and the electionor even between now and the Democratic National Convention in AugustBiden had every opportunity to avoid this outcome and declined to do so. It's indicative of a trend among lawmakers that he instead opted to cling to power for a little longer. In March 2020, as he sought the Democratic Party's nomination, Biden campaigned in Michigan with Sens. Kamala Harris (DCalif.) and Cory Booker (DN.J.). Each had recently exited the primary and endorsed Biden, and at a Detroit campaign rally, he delivered a message both to them and to voters. "Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else," he said. "There's an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country." Weeks later, he said, "I view myself as a transition candidate" for other "people on the bench that are ready to go in." In each case, Biden seemed to indicate that he only intended to serve one term. There had been murmurs for some time that this was his plan: Politico reported in December 2019 that privately, Biden was "indicating that he will almost certainly not run for a second term while declining to make a promise that he and his advisers fear could turn him into a lame duck and sap him of his political capital." (Later the same day, Biden denied making any such determination.) Carl Bernstein even said in 2015 that Biden was considering a one-term run in 2016, due to concerns about his age. But if it were ever Biden's intention to win in 2020, evict Trump from the White House, and step aside to make way for the next generation of leaders, that's not what happened. Biden announced his bid for reelection on April 25, 2023; the same day, FiveThirtyEight had Biden's approval numbers nearly 11 points underwater, and he has not been net positive since August 2021. Why not step aside and make way for Biden's vaunted bench, whom he called "the future of this country?" Democrats have seemingly spent no time even considering other candidates. The most obvious contender, literally waiting in the wings, would be Vice President Kamala Harriswho, as Reason's Elizabeth Nolan Brown has detailed, would be a different sort of disaster, both as a candidate and as a potential president. Before he announced his bid for reelection, Semafor's David Weigel wrote of "the great paradox of 2024: Most Democrats say they want an alternative to Biden, but no alternative they're happy with wants to run." Ultimately, the president's insistence on running for reelection, even as the available evidence indicates his unsuitability, feels more like a naked grasp for power than a good-faith assessment of one's own capability. And on that metric, Biden is not alone. When Sen. Dianne Feinstein (DCalif.) died in 2023 at age 90, she was the oldest sitting U.S. senator. She had also been dogged for years by allegations that she was experiencing cognitive decline and should step down, even while she served as the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2022, Sen. Chuck Grassley (RIowa) was reelected to his eighth term in the Senate, at the end of which he would be 95 years old. He has also since filed paperwork to run again when that term ends. (This does not necessarily mean that Grassley actually intends to serve past his centenary: Federal election rules require registering as a candidate in order to do certain things like raise money.) The nonagenarian Grassley himself sits on five committees, including the Senate Budget Committee, on which he is the ranking member. Is it plausible that Chuck Grassley is the only Republican candidate who could serve as Iowa's U.S. senator? The Cook Political Report ranked the state six points more Republican than the nation as a whole in 2022; Grassley defeated his Democratic opponent by twice that margin. Certainly Republicans weren't starved for candidates who could win that race. Similarly, when Democrats retook the House of Representatives in 2018, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) jockeyed to retake the House speakership, after serving in that role in 20072011. Pelosi managed to defeat a rebellion within the Democratic ranks in part by pledging to serve no more than two more terms in the role. She even seemed to echo Biden, saying, "I see myself as a bridge to the next generation of leaders." Pelosi ultimately relinquished the gavel four years later, at age 82, when Republicans won back the chamber. This is not to say that either Grassley or Pelosi is mentally unfit to serve. But most people don't stay in a job that long: Retirees are eligible to start drawing Social Security benefits as early as age 62 or as late as 70. By sticking around long past the average person's sell-by date, these 80- and 90-something lawmakers give the impression that they care more about clinging to power than about effectively governing. In the coming years, Congress will consider whether to draft regulations concerning social media, trillion-dollar tech companies, and artificial intelligence, plus any number of other developments that aren't even on the radar. Like Biden, these literal elder statesmen should have considered whether people who were born before the invention of Kitty Litter are truly qualified to draft rules for an increasingly digital world. The post Joe Biden: The Latest Elderly Politician Who Refuses To Retire appeared first on Reason.com. Joe Biden Plans to Stay in the Race and Remains Committed to Second Presidential Debate in September: Report President Biden and former President Donald Trump had their first presidential debate on June 27, which aired on CNN Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Joe Biden in 2024 President Joe Biden does not plan to step aside in the 2024 presidential race. According to reports, Biden, 81, plans to continue his bid for reelection and is also committed to debating with presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump again in September. "NEW, as just reported on @CNN: Not only does @POTUS not plan to drop out, Biden remains committed to a second debate in September, an adviser tells me," CNN's Senior White House correspondent Kayle Tausche posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, June 28. The update comes one morning after the first presidential debate for the 2024 election, where Biden had a muffled voice and struggled to keep up with his competitor's fast-talking. PEOPLE has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment about speculation that he could drop out. Related: Joe Biden Sees Strongest Grassroots Fundraising Hour Since Campaign Launched After Muffled Debate Performance Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Donald Trump and Joe Biden in 2024 Biden's debate with Trump, 78, on Thursday, June 27, sparked concerns in the Democratic Party, with some political pundits and strategists quickly questioning whether a last-minute change of their nominee is possible before the Democratic National Convention in August. The president appeared out of sorts at times, and a source familiar told PEOPLE that Biden had a cold, offering an explanation for why his voice sounded hoarse. There were also moments where he was hard to understand, and his sentences seemed to run on without him fully hitting home the points he wanted to make. When he had the chance to confront Trump, he often failed to do so with clarity, reinforcing fears about his age. Related: Donald Trump's Niece, Mary Trump, Is Revealed as Joe Biden's Debate Guest: 'The Stakes Are Far Too High' Trump, meanwhile, spouted many debunked lies about the hot-button issues raised, and deflected responsibility for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, prior to which he told his supporters to "fight like hell" to take the country back. On Jan. 6, we were respected all over the world. All over the world we were respected. And then [Biden] comes in, and we got laughed at," Trump claimed. Biden responded that Trump encouraged those folks to go to Capitol Hill and had sat there for three hours watching while he was asked to intervene and stop the attacks. Related: Supreme Court Narrows Charge Used to Prosecute Donald Trump and Hundreds of Jan. 6 Rioters DANIEL COLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Joe Biden in 2024 Trump also insinuated he wouldn't accept the outcome of the 2024 election unless it is fair and legal by his standards. He then claimed without evidence that the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden, wasn't fair. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The second presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 10, airing on ABC with David Muir and Linsey Davis moderating. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Concerns about President Joe Bidens age and ability to win a second term have churned within the Democratic Party party for more than a year. Those fears became much harder to ignore after Thursday night, when he struggled through a presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. The 81-year-old Biden fumbled his words, trailed off at points, and repeatedly lost his trains of thought. Republicans mercilessly mocked the showing and Democrats spiraled into open panic. At present, there is no clear-cut mechanism to replace Biden as the party's nomineehe already won more than enough delegates during the primaries to secure his nomination ahead of the Democrats national convention in August. Still, there are ways for Democrats to end up with someone other than Biden at the top of the ticket, especially if Biden willingly steps asidebut the timing, and the Democratic National Committees own regulations, has a lot to do with whats possible, let alone plausible. (Not to mention the challenge of settling on a replacement.) Here are some of the scenarios for how a Democrat other than Biden could become the party's presidential nominee. Biden withdraws from the race before hes formally nominated In 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson, then-President and the frontrunner for the Democratic Partys nomination, shocked the country by announcing that he would neither seek nor accept his partys nomination. The announcement came after he almost lost in the New Hampshire primary to Eugene McCarthy. Then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who was nominated for President at the convention later that year, eventually lost to Republican nominee Richard Nixon after a campaign season that saw Robert F. Kennedy gunned down in Los Angeles and George McGovern briefly joining as a stand-in for that vein of liberalism. Biden has made no such announcement. But if he does decide to withdraw from the race in the coming weeks, delegates will be able to nominate a new candidate, though rules that vary by state will govern who they can back instead. According to Rule 13, Section J, of the DNCs delegate selection rules, delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in good conscience reflect the sentiment of those who elected them. This scenario would formally set off an intense fight for the party nomination among those with the name recognition and reputation to sway enough delegates in a very short period. Along with Vice President Kamala Harris, people who may actively vie for the nomination could include Governors Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Gavin Newsom of California, and J.B. Pritzker of Illinois Biden rejects the virtual nomination Because of a quirk in Ohio law which had required all candidates to be legally certified by Aug. 7more than a week ahead of Bidens scheduled nomination at the convention that opens in Chicago on Aug. 19Democrats are set to formally nominate Biden in a virtual roll call weeks before the convention. (Ohio lawmakers recently passed a law to iron out that quirk, but the DNC has said that the virtual roll call will continue just to be safe.) Biden may choose to reject the virtual nomination, which was meant to be a formality, setting up delegates to select a new nominee at the Democratic Partys in-person convention, where delegates will still participate in a traditional roll call. Delegates have second thoughts about Biden before nomination Despite some loud protest votes in primaries, Biden has won a strong majority of the delegates: of an estimated 3,937 pledged delegates assigned in the primaries held so far, Biden is slated to arrive at the DNC confab in Chicago in August with 3,894 promised to be with him on the first vote. The extent to which those delegates are obligated to stick with Biden varies, based on state-by-state rules. Also in play are 739 automatic delegatesor so-called superdelegates. Those are the party insiders like ex-Presidents, union chiefs, and mega-donors who can vote for anyone they want. In 2018, the party chose to reduce the influence of superdelegates on the nomination process, agreeing that superdelegates would not automatically get to vote on the first ballot. On paper, the math remains in Bidens favor if he continues to want the nomination. Absent Biden releasing the pledged delegates and state rules allowing such flexibility, theyre with Biden through at least the first round of balloting. But there are still ways for delegates to, essentially, stage a revolt. This is where Convention Chair Minyon Moore comes in. Under DNC rules, a ruling from the chair can shut down almost anything. Bypassing the ruling of the convention chair would require 25% of the delegates demanding a roll call vote. Confused yet? Its about to get worse: every DNC jurisdictionthats each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., American territories, and a jurisdiction representing Democrats who live abroadhas slightly different rules for how to handle thorny convention issues like bypassing a rule of the chair or making changes to their delegation. So how a brokered convention plays out could get incredibly complicated with the worlds eyes trying to make sense of arcane rules being adjudicated in real time on live TV. Biden decides after the convention that he has second thoughts This would actually be the cleanest scenario in terms of process and most opaque in terms oflower-case Ddemocratic values. Under Rule 8, Section G, of the Call for the Democratic National Convention, if the presidential and/or vice presidential nominee dies, resigns, or becomes disabled after the convention, the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee shall confer with the Democratic leadership of the United States Congress and the Democratic Governors Association and shall report to the Democratic National Committee, which is authorized to fill the vacancy or vacancies. Once the nomination is decided at the convention, though, only the nominee can choose to bail. The party cant do it. The party may have second thoughts about their nominee, but if Biden refuses to drop out, theres little to be done other than perhaps applying extraordinary pressures like cutting off the DNCs bankroll and other resources to urge him to change his mind. Once the gavel falls, Democrats are stuck with Biden if he still has a pulse. Biden wins a second termbut decides to step down or becomes otherwise incapacitated before Inauguration Day If such a scenario unfolds before the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, the Vice President-elect would become President, according to the 20th Amendment. (This assumes those in the electoral college acted faithfullythat is, the electors voted for the winner of the election in their states, which have varying levels of stringency in enforcing this behavior.) If that happens after Biden is inaugurated for a second term on Jan. 20, Kamala Harris would become President, and would be eligible to run for the top job in 2028 for a full four-year term. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. Joe Biden Tells Rally I Dont Debate As Well As I Used To But I Know How To Tell The Truth; Elton John Joins POTUS At Stonewall Event UPDATE: Elton John joined President Joe Biden in New York later today at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. The Pride month celebration was part of a series of post-debate stops Biden has planned today and over the weekend. More from Deadline John decried the misinformation and senseless scapegoating that threatens to turn back the clock on LGBTQ+ rights. No fing way, John said. In this moment too we must take pride and fight on. Joe Biden and Elton John PREVIOUSLY: President Joe Biden was more energetic and forceful at a rally Friday afternoon following his dismal performance at Thursday nights debate with Donald Trump. Biden acknowledged as much, as he told the crowd today, I dont walk as easily as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. That was a reference to the many false statements Trump made during the debate, many of which went unchecked by CNNs moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, and by Biden. With a weakened voice and verbal stumbles, Bidens Thursday performance shocked many supporters and unleashed a wave of new calls for him to drop out, including from New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Morning Joes Joe Scarborough, who has been a defender of the presidents, raised doubts. While Scarborough said that he is certain Biden can govern, he asked, Can he run for president in 2024? Donald Trump lied over and over and over again, and Joe Biden couldnt respond to any of those lies, Scarborough said. RELATED: Hollywood Appears Nervous About Joe Bidens Chances In Debates Aftermath As of now, though, there is little indication Biden is thinking his decision to run for reelection, nor are his closest allies trying to convince him to drop out. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) told reporters earlier in the day that he planned to tell Biden to stay the course. At todays rally, held in the swing state of North Carolina, Biden told the crowd that I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. I know what many Americans know: When you get knocked down you get back up. RELATED: Kamala Harris Says Joe Biden Had A Slow Start But A Strong Finish In Debate, VP Tells Anderson Cooper Race Cant Be Judged On Style Points Biden also referred to what may have been one of his stronger moments of the evening, when he went through the litany of Trumps legal troubles. At the rally, he called Trump a one-man crime wave. There is a difference between giving a scripted speech to a rally and participating in an in-studio debate where any question may be asked. But the difference in demeanor last night vs. today was still striking. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Boston officer John OKeefe was called a patron saint by the girlfriend accused of killing him John OKeefe s title was Boston police officer, but to those who loved him, he was Johnny, J-J or affectionately, the Godfather. His girlfriend once called him the patron saint of Canton. That girlfriend, Karen Read, is now on trial, accused of killing OKeefe in a case that has attracted national attention and called into question the integrity of a wide swath of Massachusetts law enforcement community and even some of OKeefes friends. Born and raised in suburban Braintree, OKeefe graduated from Northeastern University and earned a masters in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts. He was 46 at the time of his death, and had been a Boston police officer for 16 years. For much of that time, OKeefe also had been raising his niece and nephew in Canton after his sister and her husband died just months apart. He also lost his best friend, fellow Boston Officer Pat Rogers, to suicide. Rogers girlfriend was pregnant at the time, and OKeefe quickly stepped up to support her as well, acting as godfather to her son. He was the first person in my delivery room after I gave birth, Laura Sullivan testified during the trial, describing OKeefe as a constant presence in her sons life. Other witnesses described OKeefes devotion to his niece and nephew, who called him J-J and were just 6 and 3 when he became their guardian. OKeefes younger brother, Paul, was the first witness called by the prosecution. Asked to name his siblings, he struggled to stay composed when naming his late sister and my brother John. Everyone called him Johnny, he said, especially if you were family. Paul OKeefe said he had planned to see his brother the day before he died, but they canceled because of a coming snowstorm. Their last communication was in a group text with family members. John OKeefe was excited, he said, because their niece had been accepted to a private high school. OKeefes sister-in-law, Erin, testified that she and her husband had been prepared to take in the children as well, but OKeefe stepped up. We had kind of assumed because Johnny was out, you know, on the streets doing his job, that Paul and I would take the kids, she said. Johnny said he was going to do it. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CANTON, Mass. (AP) John OKeefe s title was Boston police officer, but to those who loved him, he was Johnny, J-J or affectionately, the Godfather. His girlfriend once called him the patron saint of Canton. That girlfriend, Karen Read, is now on trial, accused of killing OKeefe in a case that has attracted national attention and called into question the integrity of a wide swath of Massachusetts' law enforcement community and even some of O'Keefe's friends. Born and raised in suburban Braintree, OKeefe graduated from Northeastern University and earned a masters in criminal justice from the University of Massachusetts. He was 46 at the time of his death, and had been a Boston police officer for 16 years. For much of that time, OKeefe also had been raising his niece and nephew in Canton after his sister and her husband died just months apart. He also lost his best friend, fellow Boston Officer Pat Rogers, to suicide. Rogers girlfriend was pregnant at the time, and OKeefe quickly stepped up to support her as well, acting as godfather to her son. He was the first person in my delivery room after I gave birth, Laura Sullivan testified during the trial, describing OKeefe as a constant presence in her sons life. Other witnesses described OKeefes devotion to his niece and nephew, who called him J-J and were just 6 and 3 when he became their guardian. OKeefes younger brother, Paul, was the first witness called by the prosecution. Asked to name his siblings, he struggled to stay composed when naming his late sister and my brother John. Everyone called him Johnny, he said, especially if you were family. Paul O'Keefe said he had planned to see his brother the day before he died, but they canceled because of a coming snowstorm. Their last communication was in a group text with family members. John OKeefe was excited, he said, because their niece had been accepted to a private high school. O'Keefe's sister-in-law, Erin, testified that she and her husband had been prepared to take in the children as well, but O'Keefe stepped up. We had kind of assumed because Johnny was out, you know, on the streets doing his job, that Paul and I would take the kids," she said. Johnny said he was going to do it. Josh Shapiro comes to Bidens defense after debate despite calls to join race Josh Shapiro comes to Bidens defense after debate despite calls to join race (WHTM) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro came to the defense of President Joe Biden on Thursday after some called for Shapiro to replace Biden on the Democratic Party ticket following Bidens debate performance. I think Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but it doesnt change the fact that Donald Trump was a bad president, said Shapiro during a Friday morning appearance on Morning Joe. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Morning Weather Shapiro later added that during the debate Trump not only lied about his past, but lied about the kinds of things hes proposing for the future. Biden appeared to brush off concerns over his debate performance where he stumbled multiple times and had a hoarse voice, to which he pointed to having a sore throat. The chatter is very distracting, and its going to be very consuming for the campaign, former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said on MSNBC. Should he be replaced? Theyre going to be answering that question instead of breaking through on attacking Trump. On Friday the Associated Press named Shapiro as a Democrat who has endorsed Biden but may have their own presidential aspirations. Others in that conversation included California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and California Rep. Ro Khanna. Colin Dunlap of KDKA Pittsburgh radio posted to X Josh Shapiro is absolutely the strongest Democrat in this country. There is no question. He should be the guy. Another account on X said If the Dems were to replace Biden, I think the politician the GOP should fear the most would be PA governor Josh Shapiro. He is young (for a politician), articulate, highly intelligent and very personable. Google Trends data shows following the debate, national searches for him spiked. A 2023 Muhlenberg Colleges Institute of Public Opinion poll found Shapiro beating Trump 48% to 37% with 11% leaning toward another candidate and 4% unsure. In addition, an Engagious/Sago focus group study released by Axios last year found Pennsylvania swing voters wanted to see Shapiro run for president over Biden. Shapiro was asked shortly after winning the governors race in November whether he had any ambition to be the nations first Jewish president, to which he had ambition to get a little bit of sleep and to serve the people of Pennsylvania. Shapiro also appeared irked at a question while appearing with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Dauphin County over their political futures, shaking his head when the question was asked to Buttigieg. Fetterman to Democrats after Biden debate performance: Chill the f out But that still hasnt silenced the calls for Shapiro to make a run for the White House, whether it be this year or in 2028. Former Pennsylvania Lieutenant and Acting Governor Mark Singel called Shapiro the real deal and someone whos going to be a star. He was a member of the (State) House of Representatives, hes been running for President since he was 12 years old, and hes good at it, right? He doesnt really miss a trick, and he presents himself well and he handles the press so beautifully. Muhlenbergs Spring 2024 survey found Shapiro with a 64% approval rating in his first term as Governor. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Did you know that in the City of Milwaukee, fewer people are getting married or having children, and theyre living in much smaller households? I didnt. Those shifts have all been happening, largely in the background, for decades. Think about those changes and what they mean for our citys future from how many housing units are built to the size and shape of schools to how services are delivered. Mike Gousha, left, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, and John D. Johnson, research fellow at the Marquette Law School. That information, part of a special report, is the product of something else that has changed over time: Our approach at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to partnerships and collaboration. Take a close look at that story, and youll see two bylines that should now be familiar to our readers: Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson. Both work at the Marquette Law School, which has long partnered with us to help foster insight into key issues facing our community. The story is drawn from the deepest of dives into data around changes to the family. It is paired with a story by our higher education reporter, Kelly Meyerhofer, who explores how a plummeting number of students is driving a period of massive change at colleges and universities. Kelly Meyerhofer, higher education reporter At the Journal Sentinel, as weve adapted to changes in the news business, we have increasingly used partnerships to expand what we do and to be sure we have the capacity to keep bringing you journalism that matters and has impact. No one else does as much of this type of journalism as we do, or can deliver it as widely or effectively as we can. For instance, we worked with the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette to pilot and sustain the OBrien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism. Each academic year, one of our reporters joins other top journalists from across the country on campus to complete a public service project. Through OBrien, we have explored breakdowns in Milwaukees mental health system, ways to repair the damaged Great Lakes, diseases that jump from animals to humans, chemicals that harm the lungs of coffee workers and those who vape, solutions for problems facing Milwaukee, and most recently a powerful look at the true nature of gun deaths in Wisconsin. Likewise, grants from the Pulitzer Center have supported travel that has taken our reporters to China to examine how the country is a new competitor to our homegrown paper industry, Vietnam to explain its ascension in the global dairy industry and, in an ongoing series, Mexico and Honduras to explore how manufacturers are moving jobs back to our corner of the world and whether Wisconsin is poised to capitalize on it. We have had partnerships around health reporting, youth issues and environmental reporting. Weve done projects with other news organizations. Weve raised money from readers to help us launch key beats in areas we have neglected or ignored. Our view: If theres an important story, we will find a way to tell it. Well be creative. Well be smart. Well be relentless. And we will tell it. If anything, we are aiming to build deeper and stronger partnerships ones that will allow us to strengthen our reporting across the board, including in our neighborhoods. The partnership with the Marquette Law School, and its Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education, began more than a decade ago. Its part of Dean Joseph Kearneys vision for making the law school a public square, where ideas are exchanged and debated, and solutions emerge. The first effort was by longtime business reporter Rick Romell, who produced a series of reports on the regions entrepreneurial history and its prospects for future growth. The next was by political reporter Craig Gilbert, examining the states stark political polarization. (Craig has retired from the Journal Sentinel, but his occasional reports backed by the Law School remain a fixture on our pages in print and online). Many of these projects have won awards and acclaim. Thats great. But more importantly, the projects have each driven important understanding about issues, fueled seminars and discussions, and led to policy changes that aim to push us all forward. In 2017, thanks to generosity from local investor and philanthropist Sheldon Lubar and his wife, Marianne, the Law School opened the Lubar Center. With Gousha, a longtime Milwaukee journalist, at the helm, the center became the home for the Journal Sentinel collaboration. These days, rather than one Journal Sentinel reporter working for an extended period on a single project, the idea is to bring more timeliness to the work. Three or four times a year, Gousha and Johnson share research on economic, population, housing and other trends in the Milwaukee area. Once a specific topic is agreed on, Gousha and Johnson produce an essay based on their research. In turn, the Journal Sentinel identifies a reporter to concurrently produce a separate story that will complement and build off that work. Thats what were highlighting today. Give both pieces a read. Youll surely learn something, just as I did. Greg Borowski is executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @GregJBorowski and reach him via greg.borowski@jrn.com. Connect with the Journal Sentinel Support our reporting on the environment and underserved communities: jsonline.com/RFA Send a news tip: projects.jsonline.com/tips Reach the newsroom: jsmetro@journalsentinel.com or 414-224-2318 Subscribe and support independent journalism: jsonline.com/deal This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Journal Sentinel aims to build partnerships to grow, tell stories Alec Baldwin, hours after the fatal "Rust" shooting in New Mexico that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. (Jim Weber / Associated Press) A New Mexico judge cleared the way Friday for a criminal trial to proceed against actor Alex Baldwin for his role in the fatal accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the "Rust" movie set. The ruling by New Mexico First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer allows the trial to go forward as planned. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the felony count of involuntary manslaughter, and his trial is expected to begin in a Santa Fe courtroom with jury selection on July 9. Read more: Full coverage: The fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set The Times has reached out to Baldwin's camp for comment. The decision comes after months of legal wrangling between Baldwin's high-powered legal team and special prosecutors over whether the actor-producer's prop gun was faulty. Prosecutors have tried to prove that Baldwin pulled the trigger in the 2021 tragedy, killing Halyna Hutchins, who was standing less than four feet away. Baldwin told investigators the gun just "went off." His attorneys have asked that Baldwin's indictment be dismissed, citing mistakes by investigators. Prosecutors revealed that a "Rust" crew member would testify that he saw Baldwin pull the trigger that day. And they have offered other evidence they allege shows that Baldwin acted recklessly throughout filming of the low-budget western movie near Santa Fe and that he had a duty, as a producer, to make sure the film set was safe. During filming of the low-budget western, Baldwin, Hutchins and the film's director, Joel Souza, and about a dozen other crew members were preparing for a scene in which Baldwin's character would pull his pistol from his shoulder holster, followed by a shoot-out with law enforcement officers. Read more: Prosecutors allege Alec Baldwin engaged in 'horseplay' and acted recklessly on 'Rust' set At issue is the condition of the Italian-made Pietta Colt .45 a recently manufactured and fully functional replica of an 1880s pistol before and after testing by an FBI analyst. Baldwins attorneys have argued that fractures to the guns hammer and sear during the FBI's testing of the weapon were evidence that the gun was prone to accidentally discharging and that Baldwin was denied the opportunity to prove that the weapon was faulty. Baldwin also maintained the gun was modified before its use on "Rust," and that may have contributed to the tragic accident, which prosecutors deny. There is no dispute that the state knowingly destroyed the most important piece of evidence in the case without taking even the most basic steps to document its original condition, Baldwins attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro wrote earlier this month in a court filing. Prosecutors had long argued that the gun would not have just gone off. Prosecutors last year hired a respected gun expert from Arizona who inspected the weapon and rebuilt the damaged section. The expert had planned to testify at the trial that the revolver was in good condition and that, in order for the gun to go off, Baldwin would have had to pull the trigger. Read more: 'Rust' shooting: Hannah Gutierrez found guilty of involuntary manslaughter During a two-day hearing that concluded on Monday, Baldwins attorneys and the two special prosecutors spent hours quizzing the firearms experts, forensic analysts and the Santa Fe County Sheriffs deputy who investigated the shooting. Baldwin was unaware a live bullet was loaded in the chamber. He had been told the gun was cold, meaning it contained no ammunition. His legal team, with support from performers union SAG-AFTRA, has said that Baldwin wasn't responsible for gun safety and was not required to inspect the weapon himself. That role belonged to armorer Hannah Gutierrez, who was convicted in March on an involuntary manslaughter charge for her actions that led to Hutchins death. Gutierrez was ordered to serve an 18-month sentence. Gutierrez is on the state's witness list to testify against Baldwin, but she has been uncooperative with prosecutors, according to court testimony. The investigation into the "Rust" shooting has faced multiple setbacks. Read more: Rust tragedy shines harsh light on economics of low-budget movies: We cant keep grinding people down Blunders were made by law enforcement officers and the original team of prosecutors, who ultimately stepped aside from the case. The detective in charge of the investigation ordered the destructive tests in 2022, despite warnings from the FBI analyst that striking the guns hammer with a mallet could damage the weapon. Baldwins attorneys also have accused the special prosecutors of concealing evidence, which they have denied. Earlier this month, lawyers Nikas and Spiro filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Baldwin because of the destruction to the gun. Nikas and Spiro wrote that the gun pieces showed irregularities, including shavings and unidentified tool marks on the hammer, and that it was impossible to know whether the marks were present during filming of "Rust." A year ago, special prosecuctor Kari Morrissey and her law partner agreed to drop the charges against Baldwin so they could investigate the allegations made by Nikas that the gun had been modified. Read more: The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza After the charge was dropped in April 2023, Baldwin traveled to Montana to complete the filming of "Rust." Last October, Morrissey offered Baldwin a "very favorable plea agreement" to plead no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor. However, Morrissey withdrew the deal weeks later. Morrissey said she learned that Nikas had shared details of it with NBC News despite the information being confidential. Then Morrissey said she learned that Baldwin "had commissioned his own documentary about the death of the woman he killed and was actively pressuring material witnesses in the case to submit to interviews for his documentary." Last year, "Rust" assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor, and received a suspended six-month sentence. The assistant director agreed to pay a $500 fine, participate in a firearms safety class, refrain from taking drugs or alcohol and complete 24 hours of community service. He also agreed to testify in court about the accident, and shared his recollections during Gutierrez's trial in late February. Halls is also on the witness list for Baldwin's defense team. Read more: Alec Baldwin has long lived at the center of a storm. Now comes a hurricane Times Staff Writer Christi Carras contributed to this report. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Judge orders jury to keep deliberating after it fails to reach unanimous verdict in murder trial of Karen Read The Massachusetts judge presiding over the Karen Read murder trial ordered the jury to continue deliberations after the jurors sent a note Friday saying they could not reach a unanimous verdict. The six-man and six-woman jury in the trial of Read, who is accused of drunkenly driving into her police officer boyfriend and leaving him to die in January 2022, informed the court shortly after midday, saying, Despite our exhaustive review of the evidence and our diligent consideration of all disputed evidence, we have been unable to reach unanimous verdict. After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defense, Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone asked the jury to continue to deliberate. Lunch will be arriving shortly; when it comes, Id ask you to clear your heads, have lunch and begin your deliberations again, Cannone told the jurors. After the judges order, the jury continued deliberating until shortly after 4 p.m. local time. Deliberations will resume Monday morning at 9 a.m., the judge announced. The jury has been deliberating Reads fate since midday Tuesday. The case has featured accusations of a vast police cover-up as well as allegations of improper conduct and sexist text messages from a lead investigator. The prosecution and defense both weighed in on the jurys note, asking the judge to consider different outcomes in her decision on what to tell the jury. It is far, far, far too early in their deliberative process to even consider giving them any kind of Tuey-Rodriguez instruction or anything close to that, Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally said, referring to a special set of Massachusetts instructions that are read to a jury when jurors are unable to agree on a verdict. The note doesnt really indicate affirmatively that they cant come to a conclusion, it just says they havent come to a conclusion through their deliberative process at this time. Alternately, defense attorney David Yannetti argued the jury should be read the Tuey-Rodriguez criminal model instructions, indicating that they would like the court to proceed toward having a hung jury. The word exhaustive is the word I think thats operative here, he told the judge. They are communicating to the court that theyve exhausted all manner of compromise, all manner of persuasion, and theyre at an impasse. The judge said she weighed both counsels views in deciding to send the jury back to deliberate a verdict in the controversial case. The Tuey-Rodriguez instructions were not read to the jury. Case law cautions against reading the instruction prematurely. Read, 45, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. If found guilty of second-degree murder, Read faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to Massachusetts law. The body of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, was found bruised and battered in the snow on January 29, 2022, outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer in Canton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors have alleged Read and OKeefe, who had an at-times tumultuous relationship, got into an argument that night, and that she drunkenly backed into him and fled the scene, leaving him to die in the cold. What the constellation of the facts and the evidence ineluctably demonstrate here is that the defendant drove her vehicle in reverse at 24.2 miles per hour for 62.5 feet, struck Mr. OKeefe, causing those catastrophic head injuries, leaving him incapacitated and freezing him to death, prosecutor Adam Lally said in closing arguments Tuesday. In contrast, Reads defense has accused off-duty police inside that Canton home of fatally beating OKeefe, dumping his body on the lawn and then conspiring through fabricated evidence and false testimony to frame Read. Ladies and gentlemen, there was a cover-up in this case, plain and simple, defense attorney Alan Jackson said. Youll surely say to yourself, I dont want to believe it, I dont want to believe that could happen in our community, but sadly over these past eight weeks youve seen it right before your eyes. The closing arguments represented the end of a murder trial that has garnered interest both local and widespread, including accusations of witness tampering, a federal probe into the investigation, and groups of pink-wearing supporters chanting to Free Karen Read. The prosecutions case also has been hampered by a series of missteps and unusual investigative practices. Most notably, a lead investigator in the case, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, admitted that he sent a series of sexist and offensive texts about Read in a private group chat, calling her a whack job, mocking her medical issues and commenting to coworkers that he had found no nudes while searching her phone for evidence, CNN affiliate WCVB reported. Proctor apologized for the unprofessional comments on the stand, but the vulgar texts have been sharply criticized in and out of court, including from the governor. Its completely unprofessional, Gov. Maura Healey told WCVB of the texts. It does harm, frankly, to the dignity and the integrity of the work of men and women across the state police and law enforcement. So as a former attorney general and as governor, I am disgusted by that. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Judge ruling keeps Kentucky gray machines ban in place for now The odds of slot-like gray machines returning to gas stations, bars and convenience stores across Kentucky just got longer. Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled to keep a ban on the machines, also known as skill games, in place in a Friday opinion. Shepherd granted Attorney General Russell Coleman summary judgment, meaning he decided in favor of the ban without a full trial. Coleman was the primary litigant defending the 2023 bill banning the machines from the state, though he was joined by legal counsel for various horse racing tracks in the state. Horse tracks currently have their own slot-like games called historical horse racing machines. Counsel for the plaintiffs, Frankfort attorney J. Guthrie True, told the Herald-Leader he wouldnt be surprised if they appeal Shepherds ruling to the states Court of Appeals. The primary named plaintiff was ARKK Properties, which True said operates a store where the machines were present before they were banned. Joining ARKK Properties were several other stakeholders, most notably POM of Kentucky, LLC, the Kentucky subsidiary of Pace-O-Matic. Pace-O-Matic made Burning Barrel, the most popular version of the machine. The plaintiffs made arguments on seven different legal grounds, including free speech, arbitrariness, impairment of contracts and separation of powers, among others. Shepherd granted summary judgment on all of them. The ban was first put in place in 2023 with the passage of House Bill 594. Gray machines like Burning Barrel appear designed to fit into a gray area of the law that always made the legal status of these games somewhat murky, Shepherd wrote. It was entirely unreasonable, based on Kentuckys long history of regulating gambling for an investor to expect that any machine operating on the fringe zones of legality as a gambling device would be exempt from subsequent regulation or prohibition by the Legislature. HB 594 was a lawful exercise of the Legislatures police power to regulate gambling for the legitimate governmental interest in addressing the social harms of unregulated forms of gambling. House Bill 594 took a rocky path, being abruptly tabled on the House floor, but eventually passed with approval from both legislative chambers and Gov. Andy Beshear. The fight over these machines, and who gets to control the market on slot-like machines in Kentucky, has been an expensive one. Its played out in the courtroom, on the political battlefields and in Frankfort. In 2023, when House Bill 594 was passed, spending from both the gray machines and horse racing industries powered the most expensive year of Frankfort lobbying on record. House Bill 594 sponsor Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville, drew intense fire from a mysterious advocacy group over his stance on transgender issues just as he was moving the bill through to final passage in Frankfort. In May, Timoney was defeated handily by a fellow Republican in the primary who lambasted Timoney on the same score. The gray machines case also took on a few different lives of its own. It spurred a challenge to Senate Bill 126, a change of venue bill that was recently struck down by the Kentucky Supreme Court. The case also indirectly led to the recusal of former attorney general Daniel Cameron over political contributions tied to the plaintiff. Pace-O-Matic executives gave $100,000 in donations to a political action committee supporting Camerons campaign for governor last year, a campaign that Cameron lost to Beshear. A similar case filed in Jefferson Circuit Court by skill games company Prominent Technologies was dismissed on Wednesday. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After being found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 death of an off-duty Vancouver police officer, Julio Segura was sentenced to 29 years in prison. He was also found guilty of second-degree murder, robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding police. The original incident occurred the night of January 29, 2022, when off-duty Vancouver Police Officer Donald Sahota, 53, was at his home near Battle Ground. A man then entered his home and attacked him. Sahota fought with the intruder, later identified as Julio Segura, while Sahotas wife called 911. Donald Sahota, a Vancouver police officer, was killed while off duty and at his home, January 29, 2022, police said. (Courtesy/Vancouver PD) The altercation moved to the front porch, leading to Segura stabbing Sahota, puncturing his lung. Then, minutes later, Sahota was shot to death by Clark County Deputy Jonathan Feller, who claimed he mistook Sahota for the suspect. Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team investigators said the stabbing would have been life-threatening without immediate medical intervention. However, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy said the gunshot wounds to Sahotas chest were so traumatic that those were the injuries that took his life. After a lengthy investigation, the Clark County Sheriffs Office announced Deputy Feller would not be charged in Sahotas death. Prior to the shooting, investigators said Julio Segura was armed with a gun when he robbed a Chevron convenience store in the Orchards area that night. He then allegedly took off in a stolen vehicle and drove randomly to Sahotas home, where the fight with Sahota occurred. On May 6, Segura went on trial in Clark County Superior Court for Sahotas death, originally facing three counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, attempted first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and attempt to elude a pursuing police vehicle. The prosecution asserted Segura caused Sahotas death by committing a crime and fleeing from police. However, the judge in the case dismissed two of the three murder charges on May 23, saying the deputy didnt know the defendant had stabbed the officer and couldnt have known enough at the moment to support the felony murder charge. I believe all of us have been analyzing this under foreseeability and actual causation and not legal causation, said Judge Nancy N. Retsinas. And its appropriate given the legal magnitude of Mr. Seguras rights for the court to consider this, even at this very late hour. Todays sentencing of 29 years in prison for the defendant in the murder of Officer Donald Sahota provides the family and friends Don left behind the opportunity to start healing from what has been an excruciatingly painful 2 years, said Vancouver Police Chief Jeff Mori after the sentencing. The Sahota family will remain in our prayers and the memory of Don Sahota and his contributions to the law enforcement profession, his community and the Vancouver Police Department will continue to live on. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis jury convicted a man Thursday for a double murder in the citys Walnut Park West neighborhood in 2022. According to a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman, the murders happened on Feb. 28, 2022. Police found Thomas Anderson III on the front lawn of a residence in the 4800 block of Norwich Place around 8:05 p.m. Anderson had been shot in the head and was brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 44. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Around 9:30 a.m. the following morning, police found Tyler Vaughn approximately 100 feet away in the 4900 block of Goodfellow Avenue. Vaughn was declared dead at the scene. He was 32. Homicide detectives later arrested Deandre Walton for the murders. Walton was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action. Walton will be sentenced on August 1. He faces life imprisonment on each murder count and three to 15 years in prison for each count of armed criminal action. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Karen Read is on trial in connection with the January 2022 death of her boyfriend John OKeefe John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Karen Read The jury in the high-profile murder trial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend in 2022, told the judge on Friday, June 28, that they are deadlocked despite a rigorous, four-day review of the evidence. Read, a former Massachusetts college professor, is accused of murdering John OKeefe, 46, who was found dead in the snow outside a friends house the morning after he was allegedly struck by Read, who prosecutors say was intoxicated, as she backed out of a driveway in Canton, Mass.. Her attorneys have maintained she was framed, and that she's a victim of a cover-up by police. In a note to Judge Beverly Cannone on Friday, the jury foreperson said, in part, I am writing to inform you on behalf of the jury that despite our exhaustive review of the evidence and our diligent consideration of all disputed evidence, we have been unable to reach a unanimous verdict," according to trial proceedings broadcast by CourtTV and viewed by PEOPLE. David Yannetti John O'Keefe, left, and Karen Read. Related: Inside the Trial of Karen Read, Mass. Woman Accused of Fatally Running Over Police Officer Boyfriend Despite the jurys note, the judge sent them back to keep deliberating after lunch. She said for a case that included 657 exhibits and 74 witness testimonies, the jury ought to deliberate further. "This note arrived with less three hours of deliberations today," Cannone said. "Very complex issues in this case," she said, "I am not prepared to find that there have been due and thorough deliberations at this point." Related: A Mass. Woman Is Accused of Fatally Running Over Cop Boyfriend Her Lawyers Say She Was Framed in a Cover-Up In response to the jury's note on Friday, prosecutor Adam Lally argued for more deliberations, saying, This simply hasnt been sufficient time yet, Boston.com reports. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty A Karen Read supporter mugs for the camera before Read appeared in Norfolk Superior Court for a motions hearing. Related: Professor Was Accused of Hitting Cop Boyfriend with Car, Leaving Him to Die. Does New Evidence Exonerate Her? 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. But defense attorney David Yannetti believes otherwise, saying, "We believe that there has been sufficient time." During the trial, supporters on both sides have gathered outside the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham to express their support and hold signs. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. Amy Word, an Evansville school board member and former owner of Lamasco Bar and Grill, was found guilty Friday of maintaining a common nuisance after a three-day trial in Sullivan, Indiana. Word, 48, took a gamble taking her case to trial because according to her attorney, prosecutors had offered to place Word in a pretrial diversion program that could have seen the case against her dismissed. Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Ellora Daily confirmed the verdict to the Courier & Press just before 12:30 p.m. A reporter was also on scene at the Sullivan County courthouse, where Words trial was held due to extensive media coverage of her case in Evansville. More: Accused dealer said he sold cocaine at Lamasco with Word's knowledge Word was charged with the Level 6 felony in July 2022 after detectives claimed she knew about drug use and dealing at Lamasco Bar & Grill, one of several popular bars along Franklin Street in Evansville. Word's arrest came after a sweeping investigation into alleged drug dealing and use along Franklin Street's nightlife district and at Lamasco Bar & Grill. Investigators claimed that Word knew several men sold cocaine to her bar's patrons and employees on a near-daily basis, effectively turning the bar into a public nuisance and a hub for criminal activity. Earlier this year, Word sold Lamasco Bar & Grill, and the upscale restaurant she owned, Amy's on Franklin, to new owners. "Amy Word, who is still an inactive member of our school board, allowed drug dealers and users alike to proliferate cocaine into the community of Evansville through her bar," Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers wrote in a statement. "But no more. The defendant's businesses are no longer in operation and she will no longer be eligible to serve on the school board as a convicted felon." The Sullivan County jury returned with its verdict, guilty as charged, just after 12:15 p.m. Evansville time on Friday. "We disagree with the jury's verdict, but we accept it, "Canada said. "We had a fair trial. She (Word) feels like it's time to move on with her life." Canada said Word had not decided if she would appeal her conviction. Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. attorney Pat Shoulders confirmed that Word could no longer serve as a school board member, leaving her District 3 seat vacant. Word took a leave of absence from the elected position shortly after her arrest on July 30, 2022, and maintained her innocence during a two-year slog through the courts. In repeated public comments, Word claimed the case against her was unfounded. A day in the life of Amy Word, owner of Lamasco Bar and Grill and Amys on Franklin, as she adapts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. State witnesses tied Word to drug scene at Lamasco Last week, Canada told the newspaper that Word hoped to "clear her name" at trial. In a statement on Friday, Moers said Word had attempted to "try her case in the media." The two sides painted diverging portraits of Word's time running Lamasco Bar & Grill for jurors in a case that predominantly featured witness testimony. Prosecutors said those witnesses, including accused and convicted drug dealers, were credible and had intimate knowledge of Word's involvement in a drug scene at her bar. Word's lawyer, during interviews and in the courtroom, implied that the state's key witnesses had a litany of credibility issues and motives to lie about his client. "The prosecution hinges on a drug dealer who's facing 30 years in prison and is testifying to get lenience," Canada told the Courier & Press, referring to a key state key witness, Demario Montez Holman, who testified on Wednesday that he personally sold cocaine to Word and distributed the drug at Lamasco Bar & Grill. More: What to know about Amy Word's pending criminal trial Canada said that Word was confident enough in her prospects that she turned down the pretrial diversion offer early on in the legal process. After her conviction, Canada said that Word had "no regrets" about turning down the deal. According to court records, prosecutors extended "use immunity" to Holman in order to secure his testimony. Barry Blackard, an Evansville-based criminal defense attorney who is not affiliated with the case, said use immunity is a legal protection for witnesses whose testimony could expose them to criminal legal liabilities. "It means that information or testimony provided by the individual cannot be used against them in any subsequent criminal prosecution," Blackard said. "The protection encourages individuals to come forward with information and cooperate with law enforcement without fear of incriminating themselves. Canada told jurors that Holman was nonetheless an unreliable narrator who had a motive to lie about Word in the hopes that prosecutors offered him leniency in his ongoing Level 2 felony drug case. Do you feel that you are being compelled to testify? Canada asked Holman during a lengthy cross-examination. No," Holman replied. But during your deposition, you said, 'I mean s--t, I dont have a choice man, Canada retorted. Holman was steadfast in his claim that he and others sold cocaine at Lamasco Bar & Grill and that Word knew about it: I saw it with my own eyes, Holman told Vanderburgh County Deputy Prosecutor, James Doyle, referring to Word's involvement with a drug scene at her bar. Did you ever sell to her directly? Doyle asked Holman on Wednesday. Ive given her stuff directly, Holman replied. During the two-day evidentiary portion of the trial, jurors also heard testimony from law enforcement officers and others who claimed to have witnessed drug sales on Lamasco property, including 25-year-old Dylan Wallace, who was also granted use immunity to testify against Word. Mr. Wallace, as you sit here today, you pled guilty to [a Level 2 felony] narcotics dealing charge, is that correct? Doyle asked Wallace on Wednesday. "Yes, Wallace replied, later telling jurors that in March 2022, he began to purchase ounces of cocaine from Holman that he sold at Lamasco Bar & Grill and another nearby establishment, Sportsman's Grille & Billiards. Did you ever have any occasion to sell cocaine to employees inside Lamasco? Doyle asked Wallace.Yes, Wallace said, claiming that he sold cocaine to Lamasco's former head bartender almost every time he saw the employee working. Evansville school board member and businesswoman Amy Word is scheduled to stand trial this week in Sullivan County, Indiana. Word to be sentenced in August Vanderburgh County Judge David Kiely presided over the trial from Sullivan County, which is about a 90-minute drive from Evansville. According to public court records, Kiely will sentence Word during an afternoon hearing on Aug. 5. Word was not remanded into custody upon her conviction, according to Canada. Under Indiana's sentencing guidelines, defendants convicted of Level 6 felonies can face between six months and two-and-a-half years in a state prison. But first-time offenders, such as Word, are often sentenced to probation for low-level felony offenses. "We'll have to wait and see what the judge says," Canada said about Word's sentencing. Moers, who is Vanderburgh County's elected prosecutor, said the investigators and attorneys who led the state's efforts had extensive experience trying narcotics cases, writing that Doyle was a "go-to prosecutor" for drug-related trials. In her statement after the trial's conclusion, Moers claimed the evidence against Word was "overwhelming." "(Word) had the potential to make a positive contribution to our community but instead chose drugs and all of the crime, violence and destruction they bring to our community, families, and the very children she was charged with helping while sitting on the school board," Moers wrote. Courier & Press reporter Tom Langhorne contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Amy Word, Evansville school board member, found guilty of felony KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) The city of Kalamazoo has received a $25 million grant as it works to redo some of its roads. The city is converting some one-way roads to allow two-way traffic. Its also updating some underground utilities and making street infrastructure safer and more people-focused, it said in a Thursday release. The projects are part of its Streets For All initiative. Construction projects scramble traffic in Kalamazoo As the city works to restructure some of its roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Kalamazoo a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant. Its the largest of three RAISE grants going to Michigan, the city said. The grant will fund five construction projects in the city: West Main Street from Douglas Avenue to Michigan Avenue: West Main Street will become a two-way street with two lanes in both directions, and left turn lanes will be added, among other updates. South Street from Stadium Drive to South Pitcher Street: South Street will have one lane in each direction, with on-street parking options. Other updates include upgrades to the Metro bus stops. Lovell Street from Stadium Drive to Portage Street: Lovell Street will also become a two-way street. A portion will have a dedicated bike lane, and another portion will have on-street parking. Other changes include adding left turn lanes and relocating signals. Stadium Drive from Division Street to Lovell Street to Michigan Avenue: A modified roundabout will have a metering light for traffic flow. Two lanes will exist to the north of the roundabout, with a grassy center median. Academy Street will be a right-in, right out intersection. A pedestrian crossing will be installed mid-block with a HAWK (high-intensity activated crosswalk beacon) signal, the release says. A bike and pedestrian facility is set to be installed, among other upgrades. Douglas Avenue from Kalamazoo Avenue to West Main Street: Douglas Avenue will have one lane in both directions and a left turn lane in the center. Other updates include a new sidewalk and Metro bus line upgrades. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Look, nobody wants to see Vice President Kamala Harris as president. She's a cop in a past life, a flop as vice president, and as phony as they come, with enough political baggage to fill a few Acela trains. Her presidential campaign four years ago was an unmitigated dud, parlayed into the vice presidency only by the unique demands of 2020. But after last night's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Harris' chances of soon holding top officeor at least getting the opportunity to battle Trump for itskyrocketed. To say that the debate was disastrous for Biden is accurate, but somehow too weak. It's hard to describe, for those who weren't watching, just how bad Biden looked, sounded, and came across, or just how resoundingly Trump won the night. During the 2020 presidential debates, Biden's strength was conveying compassion to Trump's callousness, and being the adult in the room to Trump's chaos agent. Last night, we saw none of that. Trump showed an uncharacteristic amount of message discipline, sticking to less radical (for him, at least) positions and largely avoiding the kind of off-the-cuff bravado, extremism, or crudeness that can turn ordinary voters off. Oh, sure, just about every other sentence out of Trump's mouth was misinformation at best. But he said it with gusto and a convincing show of truthinessa performance that conveyed knowledge mixed with empathy and outrage on behalf of the people, so long as you don't follow politics or policy closely (which most Americans don't). Biden, in comparison, appeared dazed and frequently incoherent, mixed with episodes where he came off peevish like someone's grandpa when they see kids wearing baggy pants. Even when Biden knew what he was talking about, he came across weirdly halting, an unconvincing portrayal of accuracy or honesty. Some Democratic pundits (and Harris) will tell you that doesn't matterthat we should pay attention to the content of the two candidates' messages, not the way in which they were delivered. I don't think that's quite right (there is substance in style) but it would be nice if substance carried more weight. Humans thrive on vibes, though, and all the shoulds in the world can't change that, nor will scolding people about what they should pay attention to win them over. Besides, the substance of Biden's message was often inscrutable (and on issues like immigration and tariffs, he failed to offer a position radically different than that taken by Trump). Do the American people want a confident liar or an earnest inchoate? Those were the choices on display. The irony here is that Democrats and Biden folks wanted this early debate. The idea was that it would both boost Biden's poll numbers when swing voters once again saw him face-to-face with Trump and further cement the idea of Biden as the party's no-backing-out choice. Now the former appears a fever dream, and even the latter is not so sure. Before last night, the idea that Biden would back down seemed nonexistent. Now, it seems like the only chance they have (even if still rather unlikely). The Biden we saw last night isn't going to win over anyone for whom there's any sort of decision to be made. Post-debate, in public and in private, even many Democrats couldn't deny how poorly it had gone for Biden, and how absolutely screwed the party is if he's their 2024 presidential candidate. ("If it gets Biden not to run, then it was very good," a former Obama campaign aide reportedly told Semafor.) But if not Biden, who? Some people have fantasies about running California Gov. Gavin Newsom, but the logical and likely baton-passing would be to the woman currently serving as vice president. Harris has name recognition and all the surface-level attributes Democrats want. And her slippery-but-vibrant style might actually hold up well against Trump in debates. It's hard to pin down what Harris believes beyond what will be politically advantageous in the moment. But at least Harris can deliver the politically advantageous lines with a modicum of confidence, some coherence, and believability. She has her own style problemsword salads, inappropriately timed laughter, a certain cringe factor when she tries to appear relatablebut they pale in comparison to the style apocalypse we saw from Biden last night. On substance, it's hard to know what we would get from a Harris campaign or presidency. Again and again, she's proven herself willing to blow with the political winds. "Harris has no political core, having swung without rhyme or reason between the persona of a tough centrist prosecutor and that of a leftist agitator raring to take on the white supremacist power structure," as Yascha Mounk at Persuasion writes. As San Francisco district attorney, she campaigned on criminal justice reform promises that were often walked back once she was in office, where she weakened the city's diversion program for drug offenders, amped up enforcement of laws against things like prostitution, panhandling, and misdemeanor gun offenses, and famously cracked down on the parents of kids who were absent from school. Back in 2017, she co-sponsored a Medicare for All plan and endorsed Medicare for All at the start of her 2020 presidential campaign, only to backtrack on this support later in her campaign. One thing she has proved consistent on is panic about sex work. In San Francisco, she opposed decriminalization efforts, cracked down on prostitution at massage businesses, and endorsed tougher penalties for people convicted of soliciting prostitution. As California Attorney General, she twice went after Backpage, the classified ad site popular with sex workers. In more recent years, she's nominally come out for prostitution decriminalization but clarified that she actually supports the Nordic model, which wants tougher penalties for paying for sex. With a Harris presidency, we could be looking at a full extension of Biden administration policies. I don't think we could hope for anything better, but there are a few ways in which it could get worse. For starters, Harris is somewhat more likely than Biden to embrace the party's less moderate factions, whether that's the extremely online and identity-politics-obsessed wing or the we-should-do-light-socialism side. Both Biden and Harris have tough-on-crime pasts that can crop up again when popular sentiment calls for it. But Harris' prosecutor past is less past, and closer to the current surface. And she might feel compelled to embrace it more in an attempt to counter stereotypes about women and/or Californians. Biden, for all his flaws, doesn't seem to have a lot left to prove. He has, on occasion, been willing to do things that are right but politically unpopular, such as withdrawing from Afghanistan. We don't know much about Harris' foreign policy inclinations, but we do know how she changes stances to fit whatever mood is prevailing. So, I find it hard to believe she would take a similarly unpopular stance even if she felt in her heart it was the right thing to do. Whether Harris could beat Trump is also rather iffy. She's proven pretty unpopular among independents and moderates, and Republicans seem to have had some success portraying her as more radical than she actually is. Plus, she's a woman of color, when both parts of that equation can, alas, still alienate some sectors of the electorate or set up different standards of judgment. So Harris' appeal among swing voters may be limited by factors both within and beyond her control. It may not come to that. Biden has 99 percent Democratic delegate votes in the bag. Basically, the only chance the party has of running Harris or anyone else is if Biden voluntarily steps down, and Biden seems, for whatever reason, determined to see this through. The next presidential debate happens in September, after both parties will have formally named their candidates. If Biden bombs again then, it's too late for Democrats to change course. It probably is already too late. But for this brief sliver of time, all eyes are on Harris, for better or for worse. The post Kamala Harris Was the Real Winner of Last Night's Debate appeared first on Reason.com. Kamala Harris Says Joe Biden Had A Slow Start But A Strong Finish In Debate, VP Tells Anderson Cooper Race Cant Be Judged On Style Points During an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper, Vice President Kamala Harris ackowledged that President Joe Biden had a slow start during Thursday nights debate but insisted that it was a strong finish. Cooper repeatedly pressed Harris on Democratic concerns over Bidens performance, in which his raspy voice and halting delivery contrasted to the robust-if-factually dubious style of his rival, Donald Trump. More from Deadline Yes, it was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, Harris said, adding that what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people on substance, on policy, on performance. Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong. But Cooper noted that it is Democrats who have called Bidens performance a disaster and a train wreck. RELATED: Hollywood Appears Nervous About Joe Bidens Chances In Debates Aftermath Listen, people can debate on style points, Harris said. But ultimately, this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance, and the contrast is clear. Cooper, though, returned to the question of Bidens debate performance, noting that when Harris debated Biden during the Democratic primaries in 2019, he was a very different person on the stage. Harris said, I got the point that you are making about a one and a half hour debate tonight. I am talking about three and a half years of performance in work that has been historic. RELATED: Jon Stewart Jokes Biden & Trump Should Take Performance-Enhancing Drugs To Improve Their Lucidity & Malignant Narcissism After Debate Cooper then pointed out that it was the Biden campaign that called for the debate. Can you say that you are not concerned at all having watched the presidents performance tonight? Harris responded, It was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point. Im talking about the choice in November. Im talking about one of the most important elections in our lifetime. On MSNBC, network analyst Claire McCaskill told Rachel Maddow, Nobody is a bigger fan of Kamala Harris than I am. And Gavin Newsom did a remarkable job as a surrogate. But those two people are signaling to a whole lot of Americans that are paying attention, How come they are not running? How come the Democratic Party doesnt have them at the top of the ticket instead of using them to shore up what have become after tonight some pretty glaring weaknesses in our president. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden's stumbling debate performance on Thursday night has led to some calls from his party to step aside, leaving his campaign in peril just weeks before he accepts the Democratic nomination. It's also got party wags wondering how Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, would do if she were handed the torch and faced-off with Donald Trump, the first former president ever to be both charged and then convicted of a crime. If the 81-year-old Biden were to heed those calls, it would set the stage for his 59-year-old running mate to potentially become the first woman and woman of color to lead the nation. Although questions of age and impairment have hounded Biden throughout the campaign, he has faced no real competition for the nomination. In Thursday's debate, Democrats wanted Biden to demonstrate that he had the vigor to serve a second term. Instead, they got rambling answers in a raspy voice, sentences that trailed off as if he lost his train of thought and repeated verbal flubs that Trump was able to capitalize on. Prominent Democrats quickly closed ranks around Biden, while the pundit and commentary world melted down demanding he step aside to make way for another candidate. Michael Tyler, the president's campaign communications director, told reporters Friday that there is no talk happening inside the campaign about the calls for Biden to stand aside. "There are no conversations about that whatsoever. The Democratic voters elected, nominated Joe Biden. Joe Biden is the Democratic nominee," Tyler said. But Congressional lawmakers, and even Biden's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, showed lukewarm support Friday, raising questions about who would be able to step in so late in the election process. Former Iowa U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, himself a former presidential candidate, had some of the harshest criticism Friday of the president, saying the debate was a disaster from which Biden cannot recover" and that Biden should release his delegates to support another candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Stay the course. Chill out, said Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., whose support was pivotal to Biden securing the nomination in 2020. Im a Biden-Harris person, so Im not getting away from that. Im for Biden-Harris. Im going to be for Biden if Harris aint there and Im going to be for Harris if Biden aint there," he said. COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JUNE 24: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks on reproductive rights at Ritchie Coliseum on the campus of the University of Maryland on June 24, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. Harris is speaking on the two year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and struck down federal abortion protections. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Harris as Biden's chief surrogate Harris was the most vocal surrogate supporting Biden on Thursday night, appearing on multiple cable news shows to push back on the panic over his performance, repeatedly calling it a "slow start." "I'm not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when I've been watching the last three and a half years of performance," she told CNN's Anderson Cooper when he asked if she had concerns after watching Biden. After pivoting from MSNBC's Rachel Maddow's questions about Biden's performance to talk about women's reproductive rights, a topic Democrats want at the forefront of the campaign, Harris noted that Biden was the only candidate on the stage who is endorsed by their vice president. That was a jab at the split between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence after Pence refused Trump's request to halt Congress' certification of Biden's 2020 win. Afterward Maddow said, "They need to start trusting Vice President Harris to cut her own path, because she does very, very well and the more you get of her the better it is." During the first half of the administration, which began during the pandemic, Harris, like Biden, was largely out of public view, leaving Americans to form opinions of the vice president based on scripted virtual events. Voters questioned where the Harris they knew during her 2020 presidential campaign had gone or the one they knew as a senator, when she made her mark as a forceful and even combative progressive Democrat who asked tough questions and held people to account for their policies and positions even when they tried to dodge them. VP visits in LA, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Harris has been intensely campaigning for months, making many of the expected retail politicking type stops, especially in swing states like Georgia and Nevada, that get less national media attention. On Friday she did campaign events in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City and spoke at an event aimed at Latino voters in Las Vegas. At the Nevada event, a Biden campaign aide tried to end interviews when attendees began criticizing Biden and his debate performance, according to a White House pool report. Democratic voter Amy Nelson said the debate was terrible," the report said.You cant tell me that theres not anyone better Nelson said of a candidate who could take Biden's place.Stephen Stubbs, an undecided voter at the event, criticized Bidens mental acuity.Whos running the country? Stubbs said of the presidential debate. Let Kamala in! he said of the possibility that Biden could step down and nominate Harris. House Republicans, who have attempted for months to make Biden's age central to the campaign, on Friday floated calling on Biden's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare the Democratic incumbent unable to serve after his shaky debate performance, allowing Harris to assume the presidency. The 25th Amendment has never been invoked. Newsom, Whitmer in spotlight as potential Biden backups Of course, if Biden were to abandon plans for a second term Harris isnt guaranteed the nomination because she is vice president. She's also hardly the only name people float as viable backup options, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Johanna Maska, a senior Democratic operative who was very loyal to Obama and Biden said Friday it was time for Biden to step aside. But she noticeably didn't include Harris in her list of potential alternatives. RealClearPolling averages show that limited surveys suggest that Harris has an even bigger disadvantage than Biden if she were to run against Trump. The former president leads Harris by 6.6 percentage points, with 49.3 percent support to the Democrat's 42.7 percent. RealClearPolling's averages show Trump ahead of Biden by just 1.5 points, with 46.6 percent to the president's 45.1 percent. Those polls were on Trump's mind Friday during the presumptive GOP nominee's first post-debate rally in Chesapeake, Va. There, he lumped Harris and former First Lady Michelle Obama into a group of possible replacements before noting, "It's hard to believe, but 'Crooked Joe Biden' polls better than those people." TOPSHOT - US Democratic vice presidential nominee and Senator from California, Kamala Harris (L) gestures toward US Vice President Mike Pence Mike Pence as she speaks during the vice presidential debate in Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah on October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) Harris would have 'Trump for lunch' Regardless of the names pundits speculate or lawmakers whisper about, the party could find it difficult to bypass the sitting vice president in favor of an untested candidate, said Bowdoin College government professor Andrew Rudalevige. "It's kind of weird to jump over her for a bunch of people who have not been vetted on a national ticket. You know also, not for nothing, obviously, she's a woman of color, and women of color are the most energetic and loyal part of the Democratic Party base, and to skip over her for a Gavin Newsom or a white male I think would be pretty off putting to the parts of the base that the ticket would need most to energize," he said. Still, Harris would need to quickly find a message that could resonate with voters. In the 2020 election cycle, Harris' presidential campaign flamed out before even getting through with 2019. "That's the tough part, right?" Rudalevige said. "It can't simply be that you are more coherent." Just over two weeks after the Democratic National Convention in late August, the two major party nominees are scheduled to meet again for the second, and last, presidential debate. And in that moment, the difference between Biden and Harris would be particularly clear. Boston University Communications Professor Tammy Vigil, an expert on political rhetoric, said Harris' experience as a former prosecutor and San Francisco district attorney would be invaluable should she end up being the nominee who is debating a rival who has been impeached twice, indicted four times and convicted once. "She would probably have Trump for lunch. She would definitely be able to hold him to account a lot more effectively then I think Biden was able to last night," Vigil said. "I think she has the skill sets and the experience to be able to be more effective at calling out Donald Trump's false statements and also then pivoting into the information that she wants to give." Reporter Riley Beggin and Kenneth Tran in Washington contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Biden debate debacle, Kamala Harris on standby CNN Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to pour cold water on the panicked reaction to Joe Bidens disastrous debate against Donald Trump on Thursday night, instead deflecting to focus on the falsehoods spilled by the former president. Pressed about the presidents performance on CNN, Harris argued that while Biden had a slow start, he had a strong finish. She then opted to stress the policy differences between him and Trump. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper began by telling Harris how some in Democratic circles have expressed concern over how Biden came off, to the point of asking whether its worth it for him to even continue his re-election campaign. CNNs John King has described panic inside the Democratic Party right now because of President Bidens performance in tonights debate. He has been hearing from Democratic lawmakers and others around the country. Some within your own party are wondering if President Biden should even step aside, Cooper said. What do you say to that? Harris downplayed Bidens demeanor. First of all, what we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all of the issues that matter to the American people, Harris replied. Yes, it was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, and what became very clear through the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people. On substance, on policy, on performance, Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong, she continued, before Cooper interjected. The presidents performance tonight was clearly disappointing for his supporters, Cooper said, citing how his network has reported that one Democratic lawmaker said it was a disaster and another called it a train wreck. Those are Democrats especially worried that Biden did not punch back on Trumps lies. Harris shot back: People can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance, and the contrast is clear. Look at what happened during the course of the debate. Donald Trump lied over and over and over again, as he is wont to do, she said. He would not disavow what happened on January 6. He would not give a clear answer on whether he would stand by the election results this November. He went back and forth about where he stands on one of the most critical issues of freedom in America, which is the right of women to make decisions about their own body, Harris went on. He has been completely ambiguous and all over the place about where he stands on that issue, despite the fact that he had selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade. And thats exactly what they did. Dems Panic About Bidens Debate Disaster Against Donald Trump Moments later, Cooper contended that while all that may be true, Biden was not able to make case to Donald Trump on the stage tonight. Cooper then brought up the 2020 primary debates between Harris and Biden, asking, [Biden] was a very different person on the stage four years ago when you debated him. Thats certainly true, is it not? Harris, appearing to grow a bit frustrated, continued to emphasize the presidents track record. I get the point youre trying to make about a one-and-a-half hour debate tonight. Im talking about three and a half years of work that has been historic, she said, as Cooper interjected again. After giving a lengthy description of Bidens role on the world stage, Harris was adamant: Im not going to spend all night with you talking about the last 90 minutes when Ive been watching the last three and a half years of performance. When Cooper asked if she was concerned by the debate, Harris again acknowledged a slow start. That was obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, she insisted. Im talking about the choice in November. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Kamala Harris in Utah for fundraiser, after she defends Biden over debate performance A motorcade escorts Vice President Kamala Harris through Salt Lake City on North Temple on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris is on her way to Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Vice President Kamala Harris stopped in Utah Friday as part of a quick swing through Western states, the day after President Joe Biden gave a widely panned debate performance. Earlier in the day, Harris defended Biden against calls for him to step aside to allow another Democrat to run for president after he gave a halting, confused performance in Thursdays presidential debate against Donald Trump. In Las Vegas, speaking to a friendly audience, Harris started out by saying it was not Bidens best performance, before launching into a attack of former President Trump. Harris visits Utah to raise money Harris was reportedly accompanied on her visit to Utah by her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff. She arrived on Air Force Two, landing at approximately 3 p.m., and was expected to depart a few hours later. During this window, Harris plans to travel to a Park City home for a fundraiser. Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News We are happy to host Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in our state, and we hope that theyll appreciate the beauty, which I know they do already, Scott Howell, the former Utah State Senate minority leader and the Biden-Harris surrogate in Utah, told the Deseret News on Thursday. Howell said he expected prominent Democrats and a few Republicans to attend the fundraiser, which did not have any media access. Additional details werent released for security reasons. The former state senator warned Parleys Canyon might be blocked off to drivers during some times Friday afternoon. The Deseret News reported two weeks ago of the possibility of Harris coming to Utah. Harris defends Biden in Las Vegas At the rally in Vegas, Harris showed how the administration will continue to respond to Bidens poor debate performance. Last night, President Joe Biden and Donald Trump had their first debate, and earlier today the president said himself it was not his best performance, Harris said. Besides saying it was a bad night for Biden, Harris said the stakes of the race couldnt be higher in the 2024 election, while going on the attack against Trump. She accused Trump of lying at the debate about the Jan. 6 riots and about his support for the military, before doubling down on her defense of Biden. As vice president, I see Joe Biden when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off in the Oval Office, negotiating bipartisan deals. I see him in the situation room, keeping our country safe, she said. The motorcade escorting Vice President Kamala Harris drives down I-80 East in Park City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News The motorcade escorting Vice President Kamala Harris drives down I-80 East in Park City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Megan Nielsen, Deseret News A motorcade carrying Vice President Kamala Harris drives up 2200 West in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News A motorcade escorts Vice President Kamala Harris through Salt Lake City on North Temple on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris is on her way to Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News A motorcade escorts Vice President Kamala Harris through Salt Lake City on North Temple on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris is on her way to Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris leaves in a motorcade in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News Air Force Two carrying Vice President Kamala Harris lands in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. Harris will be in Park City for a fundraising event and is scheduled to leave Utah this evening with no public events scheduled. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News A motorcade transporting Vice President Kamala Harris makes its way along 2200 West after departing Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News A motorcade transporting Vice President Kamala Harris makes its way along 2200 West after departing Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 28, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News KANSAS CITY, Mo. Q39 has officially announced plans to open its fourth location in Lees Summit. Plans are for a freestanding location which will be part of the 50-acre Oldham Village development, off Oldham Parkway, southwest of Missouri Route 291 and U.S Highway 50. Iconic 4th of July treat got its start in KC, inspired by Cold War The new location is set to open in the later months of 2025. The new location will join the two existing Q39 locations in Kansas City and Overland Park, as well as a third location opening later this year in Lawrence, which will be in the former Lawrence Journal-World building. Q39 is excited to bring its competition-style BBQ to Lees Summit. The restaurant will have a full-size kitchen designed to accommodate dine-in, a robust carry-out business and catering. There are also plans for a large outdoor seating area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. EDWARDSVILLE, Kan. Kansas Democratic Governor Laura Kelly was in Edwardsville Thursday celebrating a sidewalk expansion project by the elementary school. The states contributing $125,000 to the project, and the city of Edwardsvilles matching that to make it easier for students to get to school. The project should be complete in time for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 Thursday was also Kellys first on camera remarks on the Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond legislation she signed Friday, June 21. The legislations designed to try and attract the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to move across the state line from Missouri to Kansas. I did not make any overture to the Kansas City Chiefs. I actually had very little to do with pushing the STAR Bonds changes through. That really came from outside groups, Kelly said when asked what shed say to people who think shes trying to steal the Chiefs from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas. Kelly followed that up by saying she really had nothing to do with the legislation. Well, I dont really have any more steps, Kelly said when asked what the next steps are in this process. Im not negotiating with the Chiefs to bring them over here, so for me nothing. Kelly did say however she spoke to Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and President Mark Donovan when the three of them were in Washington, D.C. Friday, May 31. Yes. I exchanged words with both Mark and Clark, and it was all in good fun, she added. You know, there was no negotiating. There was no you know, trying to lure them, none of that. It was just good fun. In Jefferson City Thursday, Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson talked to FOX4 Capitol Bureau Reporter Emily Manley. Parson told her hell be having conversations with a lot of different people in the Kansas City region soon. Perkins Restaurant and Bakery is rebranding, changing its name Well be talking about what we think maybe the future and how we may put something together both for the Royals and for the Chiefs, and lets see who else is involved in it, Parson said to Manley. Parson said he does not know what amount of money it will take to keep both teams. But what I will tell you this much without a doubt, Missouri is in a much better financial shape than what the state of Kansas is. I mean theres no question of that, he continued. But it depends how much do you want to tie up for a 25-to-40-year lease that youre going to have with the teams? So youre going to take all those things in play, so for me again, I want to stress to you, this has to be a business deal, it has to work out on paper where its going to be beneficial to the taxpayers of Missouri. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Kelly added Thursday she does not believe shes restarted the Border War with Parson that the two of them signed in 2019. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA The Medicaid program in Kansas will be amended July 1 to enable coverage of doula services useful in guiding and supporting women before giving birth and during postpartum months. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Medicaid beneficiaries would have access to these non-physician providers within the KanCare program. Doulas would offer physical, emotional and informational support to women and newborns. Doulas play a vital role in the health and well-being of mothers and their babies, and this coverage will ensure more families in Kansas can benefit from their services, said Janet Stanek, the KDHE secretary. KDHE said Medicaid beneficiaries in Kansas would be in line to receive personalized care from doulas specializing in prenatal, labor, delivery and postpartum issues. This initiative was part of a broader effort in Kansas that previously led to expansion of access to Medicaid for up to 12 months after a pregnancy. Oklahoma and nearly a dozen other states previously tapped into Medicaid for doula care. The State Academy of Public Health Policy reported doulas could partially address maternal mortality rates in the United States and the racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities associated with birth outcomes. Current evidence suggests that pregnant people who receive doula care are more likely to have a healthy birth outcome and a positive birth experience, the Academy of Public Health Policy says. States are increasingly seeking federal authorization to provide doula services as an optional benefit under their state Medicaid programs. In Kansas, 5.2% of every 1,000 children born died before their first birthday in 2021. In 2017, the states infant mortality rate was 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births. One in 13, or 7.8%, of babies born in Kansas during 2022 had low birthweights and one in 10 babies, or 10.5%, were born before reaching full term. Christine Osterlund, KDHE deputy secretary for Medicaid, told state legislators the agency was striving to improve statistics relative to at-risk mothers by pivoting to doulas. She said the agency would seek other avenues for improving maternal health through collaborations with managed-care companies coordinating Medicaid. Were asking our MCO partnerrs to look more (at) value-added benefits for our maternal moms and babies, Osterlund said. We know we have a deficit around postpartum screenings. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Kansas Medicaid program adding coverage of doula services for women, newborns appeared first on Oklahoma Voice. Gov. Laura Kelly participates in a ceremonial signing of a workers compensation reform law on May 29, 2024. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Kansans will awake to a new statutory landscape Monday after contents of 101 bills approved by the Legislature and, mostly, signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly officially take effect. With turning of the calendar at 12:01 a.m. July 1, incarcerated juveniles in Kansas could be granted work release. Microbreweries would be able to self-distribute beer and hard cider. Public universities must adhere to restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion policy. Coercing a female to get an abortion could be a crime. Companies delivering pornography online must confirm customers are of legal age. Motorists could choose from a half-dozen new options for distinctive license plates. Public utilities would be forbidden from relying on eminent domain to locate solar farms. Leaving the scene of an accident would become a more serious offense. The state unemployment insurance and worker compensation programs would change. The law authorizing issuance of bonds to lure the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to Kansas would be in play. Overhaul of the states civil asset forfeiture law also would be final. Even cosmetic changes occur, including renaming the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office to the Kansas Office of Veterans Services. Adoption of House Bill 2760 by the Kansas Legislature and signing of the bill by Kelly wont alter the agencys office locations or contact numbers. While the agencys name is changing, its mission and core functions remain steadfast, Kelly said. The name change removes confusion with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and better aligns with the agencys purpose. Kelly vetoed a long list of bills and provisions in budget bills, but the Legislature imposed its will at times with veto overrides. Education front The Republican-led Legislature and the Democratic governor agreed to adoption of House Bill 2105 banning public universities from requiring students, faculty or other employees to disclose views on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. GOP legislators complained DEI policies were interferring with university admissions and hiring decisions, so they delivered a law forbidding pledges of allegiance to DEI. In K-12 public schools, Kansas statute was altered to allow districts to maintain emergency medication kits that included epinephrine for allergic reactions and albuterol for breathing problems. The bill amended liability protections for any person who rendered emergency care at a school-sponsored event or on school property. It provide a level of immunity from liability for a pharmacist, physician or a mid-level practitioner who distributed or prescribed emergency medications to a school. Senate Bill 195, approved unanimously by the House and Senate, authorized the Kansas Childrens Cabinet and Trust Fund to establish a nonprofit organization to raise money for Dolly Partons Imagination Library Book gifting program. The program mails free, age-appropriate books each month to the home of Kansas children until their fifth birthday. Under House Bill 2703, all children in foster care custody of the Kansas Department for Children and Families would be added to the list of students eligible to receive at-risk programs and services in the public school system. Another new law mandated DCF release certain information related to a child fatality when criminal charges were filed alleging a person caused the death. The crime log The enactment of House Bill 2144 created the new Kansas crime of encouraging a person to attempt suicide or kill themselves. A person charged with the felony would have to know the person was suicidal and the oral, written or visual communication must be shown to have substantially influenced the individual. Legislators were advised during the session the state law could invite challenges on First Amendment grounds because the statute could be viewed as criminalizing speech. The suicide statute was developed at behest of Jennifer Dennis, who discovered too late her son logged onto an internet chat site to obtain instructions on how to die by suicide. Her son, William, obtained sodium nitrite, drove to a Lenexa model, consumed the substance with water and died. William had an undiagnosed mental illness, Dennis said. Instead of coming to his parents for help, he went to (the internet chat site) where he was brainwashed by sociopaths. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for anyone in crisis or people looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 988. In addition, the bill established penalties for people convicted of taking part in organized retail crimes. It would permit the attorney general to prosecute cases in which alleged criminal activity occurred in two or more counties. Attorney General Kris Kobach advocated for the reform to thwart gangs organized to move from city to city to rob stores. The law would apply to theft of goods with a retail market value of $5,000 or more within a one-year period. Other new state laws raised from $4,000 to $10,000 the treshhold for cases to be considered in small claims court. Compensation for attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants was raised from $80 to $120 per hour. A separate law provided immunity from prosecution for certain drug crimes when an individual sought or provided medical assistance to a person who consumed a controlled substance. Business law As of July 1, the maximum civil penalty that could be imposed by the Kansas Corporation Commission for pipeline safety violations was changed. The new law complied with requirements of the Federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The alignment with federal maximum penalty amounts is required if Kansas wishes to maintain enforcement authority over intrastate natural gas pipeline safety, said Paul Owings, deputy chief engineer in the utilities division at the KCC. Another state law would require the states budget director to independently determine the cost of compliance and implementation for all proposed state rules and regulations. In general, rules and regulations that cost businesses, local governments or individuals $1 million or more during the initial five-year period after adoption would have to be ratified by the Legislature. As of Monday, railroads operating in Kansas must keep stored rolling cars on sidings a minimum distance from unlit traffic crossings. House Bill 2501 set the safe-zone distance at 250 feet, if that crossing didnt have electronic warning signals. Exceptions to the law would address railcars awaiting loading or unloading. Implementation of House Bill 2588 meant telecommunications, broadband and video service providers wouldnt be blocked from using county right-of-way to construct, maintain and operate poles, cable, switches and related equipment for delivery of services. Their gear couldnt obstruct or hinder public safety nor interfere with legal use of that ground by utilities or providers, the law said. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 455 declared a public utility would be prohibited from exercising eminent domain to secure property to build a solar-powered electric generation station. The post Kansas set to implement head-spinning collection of new laws packed into 101 bills appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Karen Read listens as judge Beverly Cannone reads a note from jurors, which stated they could not reach a unanimous verdict, during Read's trial at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after being 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/Charles Krupa, Pool) CANTON, Mass. (AP) The woman accused of ramming her luxury SUV into her boyfriend and callously leaving him on the ground before a snowstorm had dated the future Boston police officer briefly in her 20s. They reconnected during the pandemic. Her father described her as a resilient woman who battled through health problems and has her family's support. Long before she was charged with murder in the death of John OKeefe, Karen Read had a successful career as a financial analyst and adjunct professor at Bentley College. Now 44, she grew up in Blacksburg, Virginia, and in Taunton, Massachusetts. She attended Coyle & Cassidy, a now-closed private Roman Catholic school, and earned undergraduate and masters degrees in finance at Bentley, a private university in Waltham. When she reconnected with O'Keefe, he had moved to suburban Canton to take care of his niece and nephew after their parents died. She told ABC News before the trial that she admired him for stepping up for his family, and she helped with the kids, staying over frequently. But their relationship soured. The niece and nephew testified about their verbal fights. And what should have been a fun-filled trip to Aruba in December 2021 was marred by animosity with angry words and an accusation of cheating. Prosecutors suggested O'Keefe was looking for a way out before their last night bar-hopping together. And moments after she allegedly reversed her SUV into him on the front lawn of another officer's house on Jan. 29, 2022, she left him a voicemail that was replayed for the jurors, saying, John, I (expletive) hate you. Read, whose defense said she was framed as a convenient outsider to protect a circle of law enforcers, has been supported by friends and family including William Read, a former dean at Bentley who put up $50,000 bail for his daughter. He sits behind her each day in the courtroom, and said they have faith in her innocence. She has battled adversity before, undergoing multiple surgeries for Crohns disease before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and her father told the Boston Globe, Karen will never break down and she will never lose her resolve. Kazakhstan is not to extradite suspect in assassination attempt on opposition journalist in Ukraine Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, has said that the country will not extradite to Ukraine the suspect in the attempted assassination of Aidos Sadykov, an opposition activist and the head of the BASE news channel. Source: Kazakh service of Radio Liberty citing the chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashymbayev Quote: "This is not about this situation in particular, but about the principle: Kazakhstan does not extradite its citizens to other states." Details: Ashimbayev also added that "any statements that Kazakhstan was interested, that some of our state bodies were interested (in the death of Sadykov ed.) these are all provocations and insinuations that are not true". Earlier, Ukraine put two Kazakh citizens suspected of the assassination attempt on Aidos Sadykov on the wanted list. Background: On 18 June, Kazakh opposition journalist Aidos Sadykov was shot by an unknown individual as he was sitting in a parked car in Kyiv. Police are now looking for the attacker. Sadykov's wife reported that her husband is in intensive care in a serious condition. She is also convinced that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, was involved in the assassination attempt. Later, two citizens of Kazakhstan suspected of the attempted murder of Kazakh journalist Aidos Sadykov crossed the border with Moldova on the day of the crime and have been put on the international wanted list. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, commenting on the attack on Kazakh opposition journalist Aidos Sadykov in Kyiv on 18 June, said that if necessary, the official authorities of Kazakhstan are ready to join the investigation. On 22 June, Altai Zhakanbayev, one of the suspects in the attempted murder of journalist Aidos Sadykov, was detained in Kazakhstan after he himself appealed to the police. Support UP or become our patron! KANSAS CITY, Mo. KC Strong donations were released on Thursday, June 27 while one of the receiving organizations hosted a wiffle ball fundraiser. The Battle Within is designed to help first responders and veterans improve their mental health. It is a program to really help people come together and understand the trauma theyve endured in service to us all, said executive director Justin Hoover. Hoover told Fox4 that in the aftermath of the Chiefs rally shooting, theyve seen an uptick in our first responders coming to us for help. More than 800 uniformed officers were on hand at the rally, and Hoover said that it was just one example of what they deal with daily. The funding from KC Strong will help the foundation answer the call when any of those 800 people call. Having that funding to scale with the need we know is coming, said Hoover. Its crucial and were thankful for the Kansas City community for making that happen. The Battle Within has helped more than 400 veterans and first responders since 2018. One of them is Cameron Fast. I was very angry upset had seen a lot of things that really have an effect on your mental health, said Fast. Fast has been a correctional officer for 23 years and started by doing their 5-day program called The Revenant Journey. He said it took him 20 years to reach out for help. I dont want to be that guy; I need to make some changes and the battle within helped me make them, he said. Fast said that he got his smile back after the program. He learned how to work around coworkers and be that positive influence that you wanted to be in your career. More than anything, he learned that its okay to ask for help. Its okay to not be okay and you dont have to be the iron man 24/7 and learning the skills to go home and have an amazing home life is such an amazing change for me, said Fast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sir Keir Starmer has said he is "very concerned" about the upset he caused with comments about Bangladeshi migrants during a general election event. In an interview with a British Bangladeshi TV station, the Labour leader sought to defuse rising anger over the remarks. "I'm very concerned about any upset I may have caused, he told ATN Bangla UK. "That certainly wasn't my intention. I didn't mean to offend anyone or upset anyone and I am genuinely concerned that I have done so. "The relationship between Labour and the Bangladeshi community is very, very strong." During an election event held by The Sun newspaper on Monday, Sir Keir said: "At the moment people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed because theyre not being processed." The comment was in response to his criticism of the Conservatives Rwanda migrant deportation scheme for people who arrive in Britain on small boats. "The number of people being returned to where they came from has dropped off by 44 per cent under this government, Sir Keir said. "On the first few days of government, Ill tell you what Ill do, Ill put the staff back in the returns unit, Ill make sure Ive got planes going off, not to Rwanda because thats an expensive gimmick." Sir Keir did not suggest that his government would deport those settled in Britain or with permission to stay in the UK. But edited video clips have circulated on messaging apps and the remarks have been seized upon by independent candidates standing against Labour on July 4. Leaflets that falsely suggest Labour plans to fast track the deportation of Bangladeshis began dropping on doorsteps in the East End on Thursday. (Sophia Sleigh) Asked why he singled out Bangladesh in the debate, Sir Keir said: "I wasn't intending to single out Bangladesh. I was just thinking about the sorts of countries that we were working with in relation to asylum claims and therefore it was sort of front of mind. But I wasn't meaning to single out or say it's a particular issue with Bangladesh. He added: "I value hugely the contribution that the Bangladeshi community makes to our economy, to our culture, to our country." Asked whether the comments had been clumsy, Sir Keir BBC Radio 5 Live: "Clumsy would be a good word, and I didn't mean to offend anyone, I was simply answering the question." MP candidates standing in the three constituencies in Tower Hamlets, where nearly 35 per cent of residents are British Bangladeshis, distanced themselves from the remarks. Tower Hamlets councillor Sabina Akhtar, the deputy leader of the local Labour group, resigned over the comments. Apsana Begum, standing in Poplar and Limehouse, said she did not want to see "migrant communities being scapegoated". Bethnal Green and Stepney candidate Rushanara Ali, who was first British Bangladeshi MP after her election in 2010, said: "There has been considerable concern and upset following the release of a clip of the Labour Party leader. "I have been in close contact with his team to relay the concerns in our community. The relationship between the Labour Party, the British Bangladeshi community and Bangladesh is deeply rooted." Councillor Sirajul Islam, leader of Tower Hamlets Labour group, said: "Like many in the Bangladeshi community I was disappointed with the comments made by Keir Starmer. British Bangladeshis make an invaluable contribution to our country and our party there is no better example of that than here in Tower Hamlets. The comments Keir made were quickly chopped up and heavily edited by those who seek to sow division and discord in our community. It should be acknowledged that Keir was referring to an existing returns agreement and not proposing what was in the viral clip. However, I do not think it was necessary in the first place to single out any community, let alone the Bangladeshi one, to score political points on asylum and migration. I came to this country as a baby when my family fled conflict during the independence war, which is why this feels so personal. Unfortunately, some of my councillors are already being attacked online by the far right in response to these comments. There is currently an increasing sense of alienation and fear in our community, local Labour councillors and activists are seeing this on the doorstep as we campaign for a Labour government. A Friday morning fire destroyed a Kennewick 4-plex and left multiple people without a home. People living in two of the Sunrise Villas Apartment building units at 200 S. Union smelled smoke about 5:45 a.m. Friday. When they opened their doors they found heavy smoke outside, Kennewick Fire Chief Chad Michael said. They were able to escape and call 911. Once firefighters arrived about five minutes later, they found flames had engulfed the car port and the rest of the building was burning. The fire was threatening to spread to neighboring buildings. After stopping the fire from spreading, firefighters got it under control within 20 minutes, Michael said. The blaze destroyed the building, but not one was hurt, Michael said. A fire investigator was on the scene Friday morning to determine what started the blaze. Information was not immediately available about how many people were forced out of their homes. Michael said three of the four apartments had renters and two were occupied when the fire started. The American Red Cross was contacted to help the people living there with temporary housing. Kentucky man charged with attempted murder of deputy U.S. Marshal, task-force officer A fugitive who fired shots at officers after a chase in Southern Kentucky has been indicted in federal court on two counts of attempted murder of a federal law-enforcement officer. Byron Kemp Howard, 70, also faces a charge of illegal possession of a .38 caliber pistol he wasnt supposed to have because he is a convicted felon. The incident happened May 20 in Laurel County. Howard was staying in a shed in a rural area when officers from the U.S. Marshals Service, Kentucky State Police and the Laurel County Sheriffs Office tried to arrest him, according to records in state court. Howard jumped into a Lexus and rammed into a wooden building, then got on the highway and fled at speeds topping 100 mile per hour, according to a citation in state court. Howard ultimately ran off the road and hit a tree. Howard then reportedly tried to shoot and kill a deputy U.S. Marshal and a task-force officer. The shots did not hit the officers, said Jeremy Honaker, acting U.S. Marshal for the federal Eastern District of Kentucky. The attempted murder charge in federal court is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Howard was charged earlier in state court with five counts of attempted murder of a police officer and three counts of wanton endangerment. Howard has a lengthy criminal record in Kentucky that includes charges of burglary and manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine. Two Kentucky pharmacists who allegedly fraudulently billed insurance programs more than $1 million have been charged in an investigation of health care fraud. Providers charged in separate cases included the owner of medical supply business who allegedly billed Medicare for equipment such as braces that people didnt need, and the manager of a doctors office who sent fake bills to health plans to cover her thefts from the practice. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges Thursday. The cases were part of a nationwide enforcement action in which federal authorities charged 193 people and seized cash, vehicles, gold and other items worth more than $231 million, according to a news release. Those charged in Kentucky were: Michael Boaz, 45, and Christopher Augustus, of Clinton. Boaz, a pharmacist, owned the Clinton Pharmacy in Hickman County, and he and Augustus, also a pharmacist, owned Bardwell Pharmacy in Carlisle County, according to the indictment. The indictment charges that between June 2017 and September 2021, the two conspired to commit health care fraud. They allegedly submitted bills to health care programs for medication that providers had not ordered for patients and used misrepresentations, material omissions and deception to get authorization for the medication from doctors and nurse practitioners, the indictment charges. They allegedly billed benefit programs more than $1 million as part of the fraud. The two also are charged with multiple counts of issuing fraudulent prescriptions, and each faces a charge of aggravated identity theft for allegedly misusing the identification of a health care provider. Lawrence Peters, 62, a Louisville physician, is charged with conspiracy. Peters allegedly took part in a scheme to use someone elses registration to issue prescriptions and told employees to fill the prescriptions at a pharmacy he owned. Shafi Abbas, 57, of Pendleton, was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of money laundering. Between November 2019 and late last year, Abbas allegedly billed Medicare for medical equipment for patients that either wasnt medically necessary, that they didnt want or that doctors hadnt ordered. The companies he used were Aidmen Medical Equipment and Justright Medical Equipment. He allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare for $2.6 million and the program paid $1.3 million of that, according to the indictment. Carissa Uptegraff, 44, of Glasgow, was indicted on two charges of theft of medical products. She allegedly stole pain medication from two pharmacies where she worked. Tammy Daniels, who also is known as Tammy Richardson. Daniels, 55, of Louisville was indicted on charges of health care fraud and wire fraud. The indictment says Daniels was the accounts manager for a medical practice in Louisville. Between March 2016 and March 2022, she allegedly used her employers credit cards and bank account to make personal purchases, then submitted fraudulent bills to Medicare and other programs to get money to cover the credit cards bills. Daniels obtained more than $750,000 from the business illegally, according to the indictment. The Supreme Court on Friday narrowed the interpretation of a federal criminal law under which many January 6 rioters have been charged, throwing hundreds of such cases into at least partial uncertainty. It was yet another 63 decision. But despite the immensely politically-charged nature of the case, it was also yet another time that the votes did not come down along exclusively ideological lines. The majority opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the latter of whom wrote a concurring opinion urging the government to keep criminal laws constrained to their actual text. (Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the dissent, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.) As Reason's Jacob Sullum outlines, the Supreme Court's decision centered around Joseph Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer who was charged with several offenses related to his conduct at the Capitol riot. According to the government, that lawlessness included, among other things, that he "forcibly assaulted a federal officer, entered and remained in a restricted building, and engaged in disorderly and disruptive conduct in the Capitol." But prosecutors tacked on another charge using the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which criminalizes "alter[ing], destroy[ing], mutilat[ing], or conceal[ing] a record, document, or other object, or attempt[ing] to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding," or, per the following provision, "otherwise obstruct[ing], influenc[ing], or imped[ing] any official proceeding." Those convicted face up to 20 years in prison. Fischer challenged that charge, arguing that the statute as written requires the alleged obstruction in question be tied to the impairment of records, documents, or objects, which would not apply to him. The federal judge who initially evaluated Fischer's petition sided with him; a divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed that; and the Supreme Court reversed the reversal. That Justice Jackson sided with Fischer shouldn't, in theory, come as a surprise. She is the only former public defender on the current Court; in the judiciary broadly, you are far more likely to find former prosecutors on the bench. So it stands to reason that she understands first-hand the downsides of government getting creative with criminal statutes, as prosecutors sometimes do. Nevertheless, it probably is surprising to many onlookers, for at least a couple of reasons. First, the common narrative, it seems, is that this Supreme Court is more radical, extreme, and polarized than ever before. As I wrote earlier this week, that's not at all reflected in the data: The early part of this term was defined by a historic number of unanimous decisions, and today's 63 decision being composed of a heterogeneous group is actually quite common. It just rarely drives the news. And then, on top of that, of course, there's the fact that Joseph Fischer is a criminal defendant in one of the most politically-loaded cases of this century. But Jackson's concurrence is a reminder that the application of criminal law should not be infected by personal animus toward any given defendant. "Our commitment to equal justice and the rule of law requires the courts to faithfully apply criminal laws as written, even in periods of national crisis," she writes. "We recognize this intuitive factthat there is a certain category of conduct the rule is designed to prohibitbecause we recognize, albeit implicitly, that the drafters of this rule have included these particular examples for a reason. We understand that, given the preceding list of examples, this rule was adopted with a clear intent concerning its scope." To buttress her case, Jackson looks to the history of the statute, which was enacted in response to the revelation that Arthur Andersen LLP, auditor for the disgraced energy corporation Enron, had torched potentially incriminating documents. "There is no indication whatsoever that Congress intended to create a sweeping, all-purpose obstruction statute," Jackson concludes. In response, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that he is "disappointed by today's decision, which limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences." Fortunately for him, he is still free to prosecute people for violating the laws that Congress enacted, which isn't an unfair limitation. The post Ketanji Brown Jackson Joins Conservative Justices in Upending Hundreds of January 6 Cases appeared first on Reason.com. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) pressed the co-author of the Project 2025 handbook over former President Trumps potential plans to reinstate an executive order that would allow him to easily fire thousands of civil servants. Khanna questioned Jonathan Berry, a co-author of the handbook, during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing Thursday titled, Ending Illegal Racial Discrimination and Protecting Men and Women in U.S. Employment Practices. The Heritage Foundations Project 2025 outlines a series of policies and initiatives conservatives hope to put forward in a new administration. Specifically, Khanna asked Berry whether he supports the Schedule F policy, which would reclassify thousands of workers so that they could be subject to swifter firing. Berry noted that while he was not responsible for writing the section that discussed that policy, he does support the initiative. Under this scenario, if for example President Trump returns to office, he would be able to fire about 50,000 people who are currently civil servants and bring in people who are more consistent with his ideology, and youre recommending this as a policy, correct? Khanna asked. Yes. Having more political accountability is a very good thing, Berry replied. Trump rolled out this executive order regarding Schedule F in 2020, but President Biden revoked that order after he took office. The Biden administration unveiled a new rule earlier this year that would make it more difficult for Trump to fire federal workers if reelected. Khanna continued to press Berry about his support of the Trump-era policy, even though it could result in thousands of civil servants losing their jobs. Berry said at one point that political policy responsiveness is appropriate when it comes to any employee who touches on public policy when asked if he supported it. Youre basically saying he should have the ability to fire up to 50,000 people if theyre not doing what his ideology is and replace that with people more consistent with his ideology and classify these folks as Schedule F, correct? Khanna asked again. 100 percent, Berry responded. Trump has signaled that he would try and bring back this policy if he returns to the Oval Office. Heres my plan to dismantle the deep state and reclaim our democracy from Washington corruption once and for all, and corruption it is, he said in a campaign video last year. First, I will immediately reissue my 2020 executive order restoring the presidents authority to remove rogue bureaucrats. And I will wield that power very aggressively. The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Clive Alderton, King Charless private secretary who was memorably nicknamed the wasp in Prince Harrys memoir, has been in Australia in recent days, preparing the ground for his masters forthcoming visit to that country, expected to take place in mid-October this year. The absence of an Alderton sighting in New Zealand, however, has served as yet more evidence that Charles has now all but cancelled his tour of that country, which was to be bolted on to the Australia trip. A proposed trip to Fiji has also, reportedly, been shelved. Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed the cancellation, although even the prime minister of New Zealand came close to conceding the truth of the worst kept secret in diplomacy when he said this weekend that Charles had an open invitation to visit the country. Another lawmaker said, If the royal visit is cancelled, New Zealanders will be typically reasonable about it. The New Royal Power List: Why Prince William Beats King Charles U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror broke the news of the cancellation last week, saying it would be a bitter disappointment on both sides, but for now the Palace is sticking to the line that planning for the trip continues. The Palaces unwillingness to rush out an announcement is entirely understandable, given that they still hope Charles will be able to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) conference in Samoa despite his ongoing cancer fight. Courtiers will want to have a definitive schedule approved and signed off by the king and his doctors before they start rocking the boat. As to why his office has appeared so intent on maintaining what many now believe is the fiction that he is still going to New Zealand and Fiji, another royal source told The Daily Beast: They are in denial by continuing to say that planning for the overseas trip is full steam ahead, but the orders come from the top. Charles is optimistic and desperately wants to keep going with everything. Missing New Zealand is a great loss, and it will be a source of great regret for him, because to be honest he probably wont be doing it again. But its frankly incredible that he is still doing Australia and that should be celebrated. Australia is such an important part of the Commonwealth that Charles feels it is absolutely non-negotiable. There is considerable popular antipathy to the entire concept of the British monarch being head of state there, and of course he doesnt want to go down as the man who lost Australia. To go there when he is being treated for cancer wasnt what he plannedbut you could hardly think of a better way of letting Australians know how important they are to the crown. The Mirror also reported that the Australian tour is being reduced to six daysincluding a two-day break. But Charles entirely unsurprising decision to cancel the New Zealand leg of the tour has raised questions about running a packed schedule while being treated for cancer. A friend of the king told The Daily Beast: Charles is keenly aware of the importance of a visit by the monarch, not just to a foreign country but to domestic charities and organizations. That is why he has been determined to do as much as he can, meet as many people as he can and support as many causes as he can. Sitting in splendid isolation in Balmoral with his feet up would not be good for his morale. But at the same time, if the doctorsand his wifesay no to something, he has to listen to them. I think that is what we are seeing now. The Daily Beast has previously reported that Queen Camilla is among those urging Charles to slow down, concerned he might exhaust himself and risk his recovery by taking on too many public engagements. She has been trying to encourage him to slow down, one friend of the queen previously told The Daily Beast. Of course, he wants to keep cracking on, but she is afraid that doing too much could set him back. Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February after a routine prostate procedure. He took several weeks off public-facing work but returned to public duties in April with the Palace saying his medical team had been sufficiently encouraged by his progress to allow it. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. I know Im not a young man, Biden says after shaky debate WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump hit the campaign trail Friday, the day after their historic 90-minute matchup. President Biden addressed his performance head on, stressing he wouldnt continue to run for re-election if hes not up to the job. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, said Biden. President Biden himself seemed unhappy with his performance. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth! he said. Some of the presidents biggest supporters in Congress, like South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, are standing by him. Stay the course. Chill out, said Clyburn. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson says one debate should not upend President Bidens entire campaign. President Biden will make his case to the American people, and hell be re-elected, Thompson said. Some of former president Donald Trumps biggest supporters in Congress, like Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, say President Bidens performance all but guarantees another Trump White House. Congratulations to President Trump. Job well done. It was absolutely what we wanted to see, said Greene. House Speaker Mike Johnson took it a step further saying Democrats should seriously consider invoking the 25th Amendment. It would remove President Biden from office and give Vice President Kamala Harris the duties of acting president. We have a serious problem here because we have a president who by all appearances is not up to the task. And these are very dangerous times, said Johnson. The vice president and a majority of the presidents cabinet would have to vote to invoke the 25th Amendment, which has never happened. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. What to know about Oklahoma's top education official ordering Bible instruction in schools FILE - Ryan Walters, Republican candidate for Oklahoma State Superintendent, speaks at a rally, Nov. 1, 2022, in Oklahoma City. Republican State Superintendent Walters ordered public schools Thursday, June 27, 2024, to incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades 5 through 12, the latest effort by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma's top education official outraged civil rights groups and others when he ordered public schools to immediately begin incorporating the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12. Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters said in a memo Thursday to school leaders across the state that the Bible is a cornerstone of Western civilization and that its use in classrooms is mandatory. It is essential that our kids have an understanding of the Bible and its historical context, Walters said. Here are some things to know about Walters' order, which requires schools to incorporate the Bible as an instructional support into the curriculum. Can the superintendent require biblical instruction? Walters said Thursday Oklahoma state law and academic standards are crystal clear that the Bible can be used to instruct students in public schools. Indeed, Oklahoma social studies standards list various biblical stories, as well as other religious scriptures from Buddhism and Hinduism, as primary instructional resources for students. What's not clear is whether Walters can mandate the Bible's use in classrooms. Oklahoma state law says that individual school districts have the exclusive authority to determine curriculum, reading lists, instructional materials and textbooks. Andy Fugitt, an attorney for the Oklahoma Center for Educational Law, said his organization has fielded numerous calls from districts seeking guidance on Walters' order. Fugitt says the order is likely to be challenged in court by First Amendment groups who believe the order may violate the Establishment Clause that prohibits government from establishing a religion. A school district could also sue over the order if they were threatened with punishment for noncompliance, Fugitt said, but Walters' order didn't suggest any kind of repercussions for noncompliance. Is Oklahoma's Bible order part of a national trend? Oklahoma's directive is the latest salvo in an effort by conservative-led states to target public schools: Louisiana has required them to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while others are under pressure to teach the Bible and ban books and lessons about race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Earlier this week the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked an attempt by the state to have the first publicly funded religious charter school in the country. It could well be that some of these developments are appropriate and some of them go too far, said Richard Garnett, a law professor and director of the Notre Dame Program on Church, State & Society. There have been times in the last decades where people went too far in kicking religion out of the public square. The Supreme Court has told people that's not what the First Amendment requires. Now you're seeing adjustments. How are people reacting to the order? Walters' order sparked immediate outrage from civil rights groups and those dedicated to the separation of church and state. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which recently joined a coalition of groups suing Louisiana over its new Ten Commandments law, vowed to take action to block Walters from forcing the Bible into Oklahoma public schools. Walters concern should be the fact that Oklahoma ranks 45th in education, the foundation's co-president Dan Barker said in a statement. Maybe education would improve if Oklahomas superintendent of education spent his time promoting education, instead of religion. Bob Gragg is superintendent of Seminole Public Schools, a central Oklahoma district with about 1,400 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Gragg said he reads the Bible every morning at his kitchen table, but also is a firm believer in the separation of church and state. With the separation I believe church and state are made stronger, Gragg said. (Walters) is treading a slippery slope that even if he is successful in the least bit, has grave consequences for our schools, churches, families, state and nation. ___ Follow Sean Murphy at www.x.com/apseanmurphy What to know as voters cast ballots in French snap election Paris Voters in France are at the polls Sunday for the first of two rounds of an election to select 577 members of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. The snap elections were called by President Emmanuel Macron on June 9 after his ruling Renaissance party performed poorly in elections for the European Parliament, which governs the 27-nation European Union. The hastily called vote left France's political parties with just 20 days to form alliances, scramble for support and convince people to vote for their candidates. Why are there 2 rounds in the French election? France's two-round majority system was adopted in a 1962 referendum and introduced for the first time for presidential elections in 1965. The highest-scoring candidates in the first round go forward to the second round. Voters can choose only one candidate. The argument was that the second round gives voters another chance to vote for their preferred party, even if their preferred candidate is eliminated in the first round. It was considered a fairer system, and proponents claimed the two-round voting would bring more political stability, but recent years have suggested otherwise and there have been calls to scrap the system and replace it with a single-round vote, in line with most of Europe. Observers frequently suggest that the French vote in the first round with their heart and in the second with their head. That trend was evident in recent presidential runoffs that included far-right candidates. For example, left-leaning voters widely gritted their teeth and voted for conservative Jacques Chirac over then-far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in the 2002 presidential runoff. Only a handful of countries use a two-round system many of them former French colonies that inherited it from France. When will the election results be announced? Full results will likely be available on July 8, the day after the second round. The first exit poll results, however, are expected to be available as soon as voting closes on July 7, by around 2 p.m. Eastern. These results are usually very accurate in France, but the fractured nature of the political landscape this time around may make it hard to make an accurate prediction quickly based on the first-round results. It's reasonable to expect at least an indication of the major trends on the night of July 7. Who is predicted to win in France's parliamentary elections? Opinion polls ahead of the first round showed the far-right grouping of parties led by Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) firmly in the lead, predicted to win 36% of the vote. Polls indicate the far-right group has a good chance of taking the second, decisive round of the voting on July 7, too. French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party leader Marine Le Pen addresses supporters as party president Jordan Bardella listens during a gathering on the final day of the European Parliament election, in Paris, June 9, 2024. / Credit: JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP/Getty The polls show a grouping of left, far-left and various green parties is likely to come in second in Sunday's first election round, capturing around 29% of the vote. Trailing behind is the centrist group led by Macron's Renaissance party, which polls suggest will garner only about 19.5% of the vote. France has been gradually moving to the right in recent years, but this is the first time the far-right parties have a real shot at leading a new government. The traditional, more centrist parties that have led France for decades have been losing ground over the last 20 years as voters move to the extremes. People applaud during a protest against the National Rally (Rassemblement National, RN) party at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, June 27, 2024. / Credit: Pierre Crom/Getty The Socialist Party more center-left than socialist these days performed well in the European elections, however, and is determined to have a say in how the combined left group progresses to the second round. Whether they can capture enough of the vote to mitigate the rise of the far-right remains a big question. What are the possible consequences for President Macron? However it goes down on July 7, it seems likely that France is heading into a period of "cohabitation" when a president from one party or side of the political aisle must rule alongside a government from another party or political persuasion. This can lead to difficulties in getting laws passed and budgets agreed. There have been a few cohabitations in contemporary France, most notably the first one from 1986 to 1988, when Chirac was prime minister under Socialist president Francois Mitterrand. Personal relations play a strong part in making a cohabitation work. Mitterrand despised Chirac and rarely missed an opportunity to speak down to or about his prime minister. Relations were much easier later on when Chirac, as president, found himself in a cohabitation with socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, whom he knew well. Macron and RN frontrunner Jordan Bardella have no such relationship to build on, and if the far-right parties win enough seats to demand the premiership in a new coalition government, it will likely be a bumpy ride. Speaking after his surprise announcement that he was dissolving the National Assembly and calling snap elections, Macron reassured the French people that he was going nowhere before the end of his mandate: "You can trust in me to act as your president until May 2027, to be the protector of our republic, our values, at every second, respectful of the pluralism of your choices, at your service and that of the nation." Why is France's election so important for Europe, and beyond? As a leading player in the EU, all eyes are on France as its neighbors worry about what the election results will mean for the bloc, which shifted right overall in the recent EU-wide elections. For the past few decades, France and Germany have led European policymaking in an effective partnership. As Germany has been more embroiled in domestic matters in recent years, France has taken on more of those international affairs functions alone. Macron sees his country's role in international politics as fundamental, and he's been keen to speak as the leading EU voice on Ukraine, for instance. Douglas Webber, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the INSEAD business school in Paris, believes Europe has cause for concern over the French election, saying a cohabitation would mean "uncertain prospects or probably very negative consequences for France's role and for its engagement in the EU." Speaking to journalists from the Anglo-American Press Association in Paris, Webber said that uncertainty could linger until the next presidential elections in 2027, when far-right leader Le Pen has set her sights firmly on winning the presidency. Webber noted that Le Pen had already indicated her "aim to transform the EU and, in effect, to roll back its powers, as well as, amongst other things, to withdraw France from NATO." That, he warned, would be "a fairly good outcome for Vladimir Putin, and not a very encouraging one for the future and fate of Ukraine." California announces largest land return in state's history Beryl strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic USS Carney returns from Red Sea engagement Kremlin labels new EU chief diplomat "rabidly Russophobic" and expects nothing good from new EU leadership Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has stated that the prospects for relations between Moscow and Brussels are poor following the approval of Kaja Kallas as the head of European diplomacy at the EU summit. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax, as reported by European Pravda Details: "Ms Kallas (...) has not demonstrated any diplomatic inclinations so far and is well known in our country for her absolutely intransigent and sometimes even rabidly Russophobic remarks. Therefore, we do not think that European diplomacy will act in any way to normalise relations [with Russia]. The prospects for relations between Moscow and Brussels are poor," Peskov told reporters on Friday, commenting on Kallas' appointment. Peskov also commented on Ursula von der Leyen's reappointment to the post of European Commission President at the same summit. "As for Ms von der Leyen, she is already well-known. In this case, we are only talking about the topic of relations with Russia. Ms von der Leyen is not in favour of normalising relations between the EU and Russia; that's how we know and remember her. Nothing has changed in this regard," Peskov said. Background: Late on 27 June, EU leaders approved a new EU leadership for the next five years. Kaja Kallas was elected as the EU's chief diplomat, automatically becoming the vice president of the European Commission. Support UP or become our patron! U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy speaks during a hearing with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 08, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee held the hearing to discuss the mental health crisis for youth in the United States. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) When my kids were younger, they called it Dad Camp, the summer weeks when I am home full-time. It used to be a time filled with summer reading, pool days and gasp! math workbooks. Now that I have two teens, my job is mostly driving my youngest around and ensuring that our new puppy, Junebug, doesnt poop on the new carpet. However, this week, the hovering hand of Dad Camp returned. I had noticed my son had been retreating to his room on his phone more often than before. How much more often? It was hard to tell exactly until I checked the screen time on his phone. I was shocked. His use of one social media app stretched hours each day. It was quite literally three times as much as I assumed. His overall cell phone use? Twice what I expected. Staring at the graphs, I knew I needed to do something. But I will admit this. Even as an instructor who teaches about social media, even as a columnist who has criticized social media, even as a parent who insisted that both kiddos sign a phone contract, the act of putting a limit on my son felt disproportionately difficult. I stood there in the kitchen, my thumb hovering over the App Limit menu. Should I click this or not? Was I being reactionary and cruel about something I dont understand? Or was I shielding my son from the most likely harm to his lifetime mental health? Just clicking the button seemed outsized and significant. In that moment, I paused. Earlier this month, when Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning on social media noting its harms to young people, the public backlash revealed so much about our American mindset not just about cellphones and technology but about any kind of regulation. It also revealed how that American mindset likely will slow our vital response to the crisis. In a series of interviews, guest essays and appearances, Murthy presented his case for a collaboration with Congress. The result would be a warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. In his opinion piece in the New York Times, Murthy is honest, writing that the research is not perfect information because research is still ongoing. Critics of the proposed warning label seized on this point. They ask, Where is the series of definitive scientific studies to prove that social media and phone use destroy teens and adolescents? They want the same kind of proof that eventually jolted our public health response to tobacco: blackened lungs, cancer research and thousands dead. I am here to defend Murthys approach, not because I have a binder stuffed with public health data and experimentation about young people and social media. I am here to defend Murthy because I worry that tidy proof may never come but that the crisis will persist. My window into this crisis has been constant during the past 22 years. As a high school teacher for 12 years, I watched cellphones and social media transform students. At first, students slipped simple phones into their pockets. It seems quaint now to remember how they bragged about being able to text boyfriends during school from inside their pockets using the now-ancient alpha-numeric keys. And I remember the first school year when students could sign up for Facebook accounts: how giddy they were to join college kids on social media. More recently, I see students on campus at the university where I teach. I dont need to describe in detail what we all see each day: people young and old gazing into their smartphones loaded with TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YikYak and more. Perhaps my college students have Facebook just to see what their grandma is posting. Through these years and more than 4,000 students, the changes have been alarming, while the evidence might not be as directly persuasive as the data confirming tobaccos harms. Expecting that social media will create effects as stark and deadly as tobacco seems naive. In this way, I wish that Murthy and others would avoid suggesting that regulating social media and tobacco are parallel. Smoking and using tobacco is a physical and chemical process that produces medical effects that can be easily studied and replicated, from one experiment to the next. Social media creates psychological and emotional effects. These harms appear not only more difficult to survey, but also more difficult to prove as linked by causation. I also suspect that some people are less likely to be adversely affected by social media because of their particular emotional mindset. These conditions likely cloud the results of studies that otherwise show social media and phone use as damaging to young people. The use of cellphones is different from other previous moral panics. When adults interrogated comic books in the 1950s, heavy metal in the 1980s or rap music in the 1990s, they saw danger in something mysterious. It was easy to demonize Iron Maiden if you didnt listen to it. With smartphone use, adults are complicit because they use them as much, if not more, than the teens they are trying to manage. And cellphones are also different from previous public health campaigns like reducing teen drunk driving or creating a habit of using seat belts. Those behaviors took such a small part of our day. How much did your Thursday change by needing to click a seatbelt? Very little. On the other hand, asking teens to abandon five hours of daily cell phone use will require much more persuasion. Opponents to Murthys proposed label have legitimate concerns about the vital support that young people find online. Many of us clutch the internet so emotionally close because it provides refuge and community. We want to protect that access for others, especially vulnerable young people. Some fear that labeling social media will make it completely forbidden, that parents will have new leverage to ban their child from finding support online. I disagree. A label, which after all is relatively small when compared with the behavioral engineering of dozens of multibillion dollar corporations, would not sever young people from their access. It would apply one toe to the brakes of a car that is racing down a curvy freeway. In fact, changing teens and parents mindsets about cellphones and social media will demand more than a label. Seemingly small proposals wont change teen phone culture on their own. But they might nudge parents like me to do little things. Little things such as pressing that App Limits button, because thats what I did. Standing in the kitchen, I dialed back my sons use of the app to one hour each day. Because hes a great kid, my new Dad Camp regulation on social media went over well. He understood, and we have talked about it each day. Yesterday, as we sat in the car, I asked what he thought. He looked straight ahead and said, The first day went OK, but it felt like a bit much. I think I could have used 20 or 30 more minutes. Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. The post Labeling social media as harmful would provide a vital, helpful nudge appeared first on Kansas Reflector. Keir Starmer has not provided enough detail on how housebuilding targets will be achieved - Leon Neal/Getty Images There are nearly 30m homes in Britain thats around 4m short of how many we need. And around 1.3m people are on the waiting list for social housing. That means more homelessness and more people in expensive, temporary accommodation today we spend more than 2bn on temporary accommodation in England alone. People who are provided with social housing are more likely to work, generate more money for our economy and they save the NHS money, as they tend to be healthier and make fewer visits to their GP or A&E. All the major parties have clear targets regarding the housing crisis and they have all promised to build more homes. Labour set a target of building 1.5m new homes over the next parliament. Thats around 300,000 each year. The Conservatives set a target of 1.6m; the Lib Dems 1.9m. But the next government, likely to be led by Sir Keir Starmer, needs to take an approach to housebuilding that not only involves clear national and regional targets, but also guarantees long-term funding and more senior, consistent leadership. The Labour manifesto does not provide enough detail on how housebuilding targets will be achieved or paid for. To encourage and enable the level of building that is required, their policies need funding that is locked in for the next 10 years. That financial clarity will encourage private sector investment the more clarity we have on the future, the more homes we will build. National targets then need to be broken down and set at a regional level, with local authorities and registered providers given the appropriate level of resources and financial support to achieve those targets. Today they are understaffed and underfunded. Theres no point setting targets if theres no one there to achieve them. We also desperately need consistent leadership at a more senior level. The Conservatives came into power in 2010 and since then there have been 16 different housing ministers. No one person can be held accountable for the current mess. Without accountability and senior level oversight, nothing will change. The housing crisis is one of the biggest issues faced by the UK it warrants Cabinet-level seniority and the introduction of a discrete Secretary of State for Housing. And of course fixing the planning process is critical. Today it is a gauntlet for housebuilders, with very few applicants surviving to the end. Unexpected, impassable nightmares pop up at every stage. If the planning process isnt fixed, targets wont be hit and the problem will keep getting worse. To resolve this we should roll back the changes made to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December, as that would ease the approval process for new housing developments. We also need a national approach to planning policies and procedures, such as national Development Management Policies, national validation checklists, a national scheme of delegation for planning committees and standard condition wording. We should look at this challenge as a long-term opportunity. Housebuilding benefits all of us. It reduces homelessness. It enables young people to see a future in which they have a safe and secure home. It saves local authority spending on temporary accommodation, improves health, education and social inclusion. Fundamentally, it provides people with the opportunity to improve their quality of life, creates jobs and drives economic growth. And hitting targets would deliver massive returns. Research by Shelter and the National Housing Federation shows that every 1 of taxpayers money used to fund new affordable homes results in a payback period to the Treasury of just over four years. Labour has promised to deliver the biggest boost to affordable housing for a generation. If they make these changes, we can and will help them deliver it. Greg Fitzgerald is the chief executive of FTSE 100 housebuilder Vistry Group 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. Lord Pannick (left) and the late Lord Lester (right) are known for being leading human rights lawyers Sir Keir Starmers planned VAT raid on private schools is likely to breach human rights law, The Telegraph can reveal. The Labour leader risks falling foul of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) law over his partys flagship policy, one of Britains top constitutional and human rights lawyers has warned. Lord Pannick, who has taken on some of the UKs most high-profile court cases, backed legal advice warning that making private schools subject to VAT was likely to breach ECHR law. He told The Telegraph: It would be strongly arguable that for a new government to impose VAT on independent schools would breach the right to education. That is because all other educational services will remain exempt from VAT and the charging of VAT on independent schools alone is designed to impede private education, and will have that effect. The KC and crossbench peer said that the Labour policy risked breaching two articles in the ECHR which protect the right to education. He referred to legal advice written in response to Labour policies as far back as the early 1980s, when the countrys most senior lawyers warned that plans to end tax exemptions for private schools or abolish the institutions altogether would likely breach international human rights law to which Britain is signed up. Previous leaders of the party have floated the idea of taxing private schools as part of plans to integrate them into the state sector. Under former party leader Michael Foot, the Labour manifesto of 1983 pledged to charge VAT on the fees paid to [private] schools. The policy to abolish the schools was eventually shot down by senior lawyers, who argued it could be at odds with the ECHR and spoke specifically about the risk of imposing VAT. While Sir Keir has ruled out abolishing private schools, he plans to force the institutions to pay business rates and 20pc VAT on tuition fees. In an unearthed legal opinion from 1987, seen by The Telegraph, the late Lord Lester and Lord Pannick, prominent human rights lawyers, concluded a government could not lawfully prohibit fee-paying, independent education or remove the benefits of charitable status or impose VAT in respect of such education while a member of the court. A foreword to the opinion written in 1991 by Lord Scarman, who served as a Law Lord in the precursor to the Supreme Court, said it would encourage a challenge which could be mounted by taking the argument to the [ECHR] if ever a government should seek to abolish or discriminate against [private schools]. The opinion was jointly written by Lord Lester and Lord Pannick as advice for the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and later published in its journal. Lord Pannick confirmed his belief that the argument still stands today. It has been suggested previous Labour proposals to impose VAT on private schools under Neil Kinnock and Michael Foots leadership of the party were dropped following an earlier legal warning in 1982. Writing in The Times in 2019, Lord Lester said: In 1982 [Lord] David Pannick and I advised the school governing bodies that Labours plan would violate the European Convention on Human Rights and its first protocol. Our opinion was published. No one disputed our advice and the policy was dropped. The policy failed to appear in Labours next manifesto at the June 1987 election under Neil Kinnocks leadership. The legal opinion was given in April of that year. Lord Kinnock, however, told The Telegraph he did not recall any such proposals and that he was unaware of the legal opinion. The legal advice was issued before a New Labour government passed the Human Rights Act 1998 which enshrined into UK law the rights contained in the ECHR. The revelations call into question whether Sir Keir is prepared to battle the courts over the controversial policy. Labour had previously said it would look into abolishing private schools under Jeremy Corbyns leadership. Sir Keir, who opinion polls say is poised to enter Downing Street next week with a large majority, has long been an ardent supporter of ECHR and criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for suggesting he would quit the court were it to rule against the Rwanda plan. In a speech in December, Sir Keir said the ECHR was an achievement, not just of this nation, but of Winston Churchill and the Conservative Party that brought peace and protection to the world. But it is believed Sir Keirs headline education policy is likely to contravene two key articles in the ECHR. These are Article 2 of the First Protocol to the convention and Article 14, which protect the right to education and against attempts to remove or impede the right to access a broad range of schools. Jeremy Hyam KC, a human rights lawyer, said: It is clearly arguable that if the state imposes VAT and removes [the] charitable status of private schools without proper analysis of the likely effects on the sustainability and economic viability of such schools, the effects may be so destructive of the ability of such schools to continue to exist that it is a disproportionate and unlawful interference with the right of plurality of educational choice protected under the ECHR. Lord Pannick was asked by the Government to help draft the bill to support its plan to deport channel migrants to Rwanda last year, but reportedly warned its chances of securing the flights would be severely limited. In 2020, Lord Pannick appeared on behalf of Shamima Begum in the Supreme Courts judicial review brought against then home secretary Sajid Javid, who banned her from returning to the UK for legal proceedings regarding the removal of her British citizenship. The KC also successfully represented Gina Miller in her case against the Government over whether the prime minister first needed approval from Parliament before triggering the UKs exit from the European Union. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, called in Lord Pannick at the height of the Partygate scandal in March 2023 to advise on his assessment by the House of Commons Privileges Committee of whether he knowingly misled MPs. Gillian Keegan, the secretary of state for education, said: Labour have already admitted their ideologically motivated tax on education will arbitrarily lead to larger class sizes and now it has emerged they have been warned their policy is discriminatory and breaches human rights law. Make no mistake, taxing education is unprecedented in this country. No one who cares about our childrens education would ever put politics before pupils, but it is clear that for Labour no price is too high in their pursuit of the pernicious politics of envy. A Labour Party spokesman said: We do not agree with this assessment, and we are confident that our plans are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Labour will invest in delivering a brilliant state education for children in every state school by recruiting over 6,500 new teachers, funded by ending tax breaks for private schools. Independent schools have raised fees above inflation for well over a decade and do not have to pass Labours proposed change on to parents. 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. The Lake Lanier Association provided updates on the invasion of mystery snails to the Lake Lanier area after meeting with Georgia wildlife officials. The update comes a little more than a week after Channel 2 Action News went to Lake Lanier for a closer look at the invasive critters. According to LLA, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said they got new information from the DNRs malacologist, who is an expert on mussels, snails and clams, about the mystery species. Mystery snails are fairly easy to distinguish from most of our native snails, LLA said in a statement. Adults [mystery snails] are typically two to three inches long and none of our native species are much larger than one inch. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] LLA said some of the native snails at the lake do look similar to the non-native mystery snails, so they are urging visitors to be careful. As adults, the mystery snails are described as an olive green color and, like other members of the snail family, have whats called an operculum, or trap door that they can close up when they pull in their foot, or when the fleshy part of the snail hides in the shell. While the adults are olive green, the young mystery snails look quite different in that their spire is much lower and they appear clear or light green, sometimes with a dark band. At that stage they are very fragile and can appear transparent. They grow quickly and usually occur in large numbers where found, according to LLA. TRENDING STORIES: The organization said these mystery snails are great invaders due to their not needing a specific type of habitat and being able live and thrive in mud and sand as well as on hard surfaces like rip rap and bedrock. The association said these snails seem to prefer silty sand with cobble or boulder areas, all of which are easily found at Lake Lanier. In regards to removal, there is unfortunately very little that can be done once they are established. Methods that would eliminate them would also eliminate native mollusks and other native aquatic invertebrates, LLA said. Adults and juveniles are capable of burrowing and are very effective at hiding in hard to reach places. They are also capable of surviving out of water for up to two weeks in a cool humid environment and clamming up and waiting out unfavorable conditions or chemical treatments so they are quite resilient. Officials said they are concerned the species may carry parasites that could hurt other wildlife and people in the area. The DNR is working with Dr. Tyler Achatz at Middle Georgia State College to assess the parasites found on the new populations of the invasive mystery snails in Georgia, and LLA said the effort is ongoing. For now, landowners and Lake Lanier visitors are encouraged to report sightings of the snails to DNR so they can monitor the impact of the invasive species as it continues. People who see the snails are urged not to collect, transport or eat the snails due to the risk of transporting parasites to other areas, and to humans. The snails are also on Georgias prohibited species list as of last year, so it is illegal to have them. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton, after seeking other jobs, says he plans to stay Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton, during a sometimes emotional meeting recently, said he intends to stay with the city. He had been a finalist for the same position in at least three other cities. It appears that Lake Wales is not in danger of losing its city manager after all. James Slaton, the city manager since 2020, has applied for the same position with at least three other cities in recent months. At a City Commission workshop on Wednesday, he said that he has instead decided to remain with Lake Wales. Slaton, 47, was a finalist for positions in New Smyrna Beach and Treasure Island. Both cities eventually offered the jobs to other candidates. At Wednesdays meeting, Slaton disclosed that he was also a finalist for a position with another city on the West Coast. He said he planned to withdraw from consideration. The meeting began with a celebratory discussion of a $23 million grant Lake Wales had just received from the federal Department of Transportation for the redesigns of four streetscapes. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson then praised Slaton for his performance and asked what it would take to keep him in Lake Wales. Slaton struggled to control his emotions during a long pause before he responded. This has been tough, Slaton said. Walking away from Lake Wales, Ive got to tell you, it's been it's been difficult. Slaton mentioned a recent editorial published by the Lake Wales News that lauded his work and suggested that his departure would be a loss for the city. That got my attention, Slaton said of the editorial. I feel pretty comfortable that we can work something out where I stay right here at home, where I belong. He added: I've been contacted by two other cities performing searches. It's been crazy. And I think a lot of that has to do with our success here in Lake Wales. 'There was no guide': Randy Avent reflects on 10 years of leading Florida Poly in Lakeland Slaton receives a salary of $172,678. He said he would not seek a pay increase, but he requested being paid for a large bank of unused sick hours. He said that would help with a personal situation. Gibson encouraged Slaton to discuss the matter with Mayor Jack Hilligoss, who was absent. Gibson, Lake Wales longest-serving commissioner, also suggested that Slatons job could be restructured to reduce the tasks he found more vexing and free him to get stuff done. Slaton joined Lake Wales in 2005 as an informational technologist and network administrator. He progressed to become support services director in 2013 and was appointed as an assistant city manager and support services director in 2017. He was promoted to deputy city manager in 2019 and became interim city manager in 2020 after the resignation of Kenneth Fields. The City Commission voted four months later to install Slaton as city manager. While Lake Wales has made progress in many areas during Slatons tenure, tensions have also arisen over the fast-growing citys approval of new developments, a contract with a company managing a city-funded business incubator and other issues. Public comments at commission meetings have sometimes grown contentious, prompting harsh responses at a recent meeting from Hilligoss and Commissioner Daniel Williams. Slaton also endured controversy over his stated plan in March to fire Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez, a decision he rescinded a week later. In a phone interview, Slaton addressed the tumult that has sometimes engulfed Lake Wales. I believe our City Commission and our citizens all want what's best for Lake Wales, Slaton said, and my hope is people can set aside their personal differences and come together for the betterment of our community. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton says he plans to remain with city WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled Friday that people without homes can be arrested and fined for sleeping in public spaces, overturning a lower courts ruling that enforcing camping bans when shelter is lacking is cruel and unusual punishment. The 6-3 decision was the most significant ruling on the issue from the high court in decades. It comes as record numbers of Americans lack permanent housing and as both Democratic and Republican leaders have complained a 2018 decision by a lower court has hamstrung their ability to address homeless encampments that threaten health and public safety. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, referring to the small Oregon municipality at the center of the case. The city imposes only limited fines for first-time offenders, an order temporarily barring an individual from camping in a public park for repeat offenders, and a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail for those who later violate an order. Cruel and unusual punishment? But Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the court's liberal minority, said the laws essentially criminalized the act of sleeping. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, Sotomayor wrote in dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. Sotomayor noted that Grants Pass jails and fines people who sleep in public, such as in a car, or for using as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless, she wrote. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said the decision gives free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, Oliva said, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future. `Urgent relief' to communities Theane Evangelis, who represented Grants Pass, said the decision brought urgent relief to the many communities that have struggled to address the growing problem of dangerous encampments. For the past six years, the Ninth Circuits decisions have tied the hands of local governments, Evangelis said. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees nine Western states, ruled in 2018 that banning camping in areas lacking sufficient shelter beds amounts to cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th Amendment. The Supreme Court declined to weigh in at the time on that case from Boise, Idaho, but took up the issue this term after that precedent was used to challenge anti-camping rules in Grants Pass. Homeless residents of the southern Oregon city of 38,000 had faced fines starting at $250 and leading to jail time for repeat offenses. An unhoused woman named Kimberly Morris holds up a notice a police officer gave her giving her 72 hours to move her tent from the park, in Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S, April 18, 2024. REUTERS/Deborah Bloom Criminalizing homelessness in a city without a homeless shelter Advocates for homeless people said the rules amounted to criminalizing someone for having nowhere to live . The city lacks sufficient affordable housing. The one shelter for adults requires attending daily Christian services and other rules. Hundreds of residents are unhoused. "We don't want to be in the parks," said Helen Cruz, a Grants Pass resident who lacks permanent shelter. "We want a place to live." City officials said without the Supreme Courts intervention, they would be forced to surrender their public spaces. The Department of Justice had mostly backed the challengers while also arguing that the appeals court ruling was too broad and didnt take into account individual circumstances such as whether someone had access to a shelter and refused it. On any given night in the United States, more than 600,000 people are likely to be homeless, according to the federal government. Last year, 40% of homeless individuals slept under bridges, on sidewalks, in parks, cars, abandoned buildings and other public locations. The case, which is the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, attracted an unusually large number of briefs filed by outside interests. Advocates for the homeless hoped that even if the decision didn't go their way, the case would spur elected officials at all levels of government to do more to address homelessness. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court decision allows cities to ban homeless camps LAS VEGAS (KLAS) With only a week to go before the Independence Day celebrations begin, law enforcement across the Las Vegas valley have their hands full. On Thursday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said that they had already surpassed the number of illegal firework citations and confiscations handed out in 2023. Police posted photos of the number of items already located since their fireworks enforcement began last weekend. On Thursday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said that they had already surpassed the number of illegal firework citations and confiscations handed out in 2023. (LVMPD/X) Two 30-foot containers had already been filled on Thursday. Photos posted on the departments X account showed numerous illegal fireworks. Police also noted that the most common excuse they have been hearing from individuals caught with illegal fireworks is that they did not know the fireworks were illegal. On Thursday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said that they had already surpassed the number of illegal firework citations and confiscations handed out in 2023. (LVMPD/X) LVMPD noted that the best advice is to purchase only safe and sane fireworks throughout Clark County. Safe and sane fireworks are only allowed in Clark County from June 28 through July 4. Those who spot illegal fireworks are advised not to call 911 but instead to call 311, which is the non-emergency number, or to report it online. The information is then used to collect data and plan future law enforcement actions. More information can also be found HERE. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. State Sen. Geraldine Thompson, Democrat from Orlando. (Photo by Colin Hackley) Until the very end, Democratic Sen. Geraldine Thompson of Orange County tried to stop a panel she chairs from recommending St. Johns County as the site for Floridas Black history museum. The Florida Museum of Black History Task Force had 10 months to come up with a plan for the construction, operation, and administration of the proposed museum but a conflict about its potential location took center stage. That contention still played out during the groups final meeting Friday morning, during which the group had to put the final details on a report that it must send to Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders by Monday. Ultimately, six votes outweighed Thompsons sole vote against submitting the report officially stating that the task force recommends the state build the museum a few miles outside of downtown St. Augustine in St. Johns County. The county was the site of Floridas first Black settlement (Fort Mose) in 1738 when the Spanish still colonized the region. The report is not yet available to the public. Conflict over site rankings There was plenty of drama nearly an hour after the meeting was supposed to end, the group hadnt approved the report. That is because Thompson wanted to put any recommendations for the Legislature on hold until the Department of State could hire a firm to conduct a feasibility study of the task forces top three locations: St. Johns, Eatonville in Orange County, and Opa-Locka in Miami-Dade County. Without a feasibility study, were really operating in the dark. Were just kind of proposing and hoping that this is going to be successful without any concrete data, Thompson said. The final report will include a recommendation for the Legislature to fund the study for the top three locations, but Gayle Phillips, a task force member who is the executive director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in St. Augustine, opposed Thompsons suggestion to hold the rest of the recommendations. This technically is saying were not submitting anything, which goes back to a lot of what has been happening here in terms of trying to really negate the vote of the task force, Phillips said, referencing a 5-4 vote to recommend St. Johns that took place on May 21. Phillips had previously expressed her preference for St. Johns, and its no secret that Thompson wants the museum to be in Eatonville, one of the first self-governing, all-Black municipalities in the country. But that earlier vote also created tensions among the task force members, who accused each other of not being objective in their rankings. Task force member Tony Lee, who works with the State University System of Florida, insisted that he took all the information provided to the group into account. I would also clarify, theres been some misnomers that outside influences beyond this task force had any role in my decision on how I voted and thats untrue, Lee said. Undeveloped site Community members and other Central Florida lawmakers among them Democratic Rep. Bruce Antone of Orange County, who sponsored the legislation to make the task force happen but didnt sit on it criticized the site that Florida Memorial University would lease to the state for the project because it is undeveloped, lacking transportation access or even sidewalks. There were environmental issues with the St. Augustine site, which may require some rezoning, and I feel that the lack of the task force due diligence to consider these factors for the possible future development or lack of the future development for that particular site may need to be stated in the report, Angela Johnson, a resident of Eatonville, told the panel. The 11th hour Johnson criticized that the final meeting didnt happen until a few days before the deadline to send the report to the governor, state House speaker, and Senate president. The Florida Division of Historical Resources moved the final meeting one week back, from last Friday, with little notice to the public and the task force members. Youre at the 11th hour of something that needs to be approved and presented on Monday and youre wading into a weekend, so I really struggled with the 11th hour, which doesnt really allow you, in my opinion, sufficient time to review this report, to vet it properly, and to possibly have a little bit more time with making sure that everything is captured properly, she said. Representatives from St. Johns insisted that there wouldnt be any environmental obstacles to building the museum and that the Florida Memorial University presidents recent resignation wouldnt alter the agreement to lease the land. In response to comments about environment, the county, in accordance with public-entity purchasing procedures, did secure a firm to do an environmental analysis of the site. It did come back that there were no contamination findings and no zoning changes are required, said a representative with the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs of St. Johns County. Ultimately, the Legislature doesnt have to listen to the groups suggestions. The task force work is ending with the submission of the report youre finalizing today, but the work of making the Florida Black history museum a reality is only just beginning, St. Augustine resident Vicki Pepper said during public comments. In order to create and sustain a world-class museum that will be a beacon not only for all Floridians but for the entire nation and even the world, its going to take a collaborative effort of all of us across the state working together. Palestinians arrive in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis after fleeing an Israeli ground and air offensive in the nearby city of Rafah on Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza's south have fled what they said was intensifying Israeli fire in northern areas of Rafah to seek shelter elsewhere, describing a chaotic night as the sounds of fighting drew closer and prompted the difficult decision to evacuate. Just carry your son and run, we dont have anything with us, said one man, Mohammad al-Hadad. Some who fled overnight were able to return Friday, throwing their belongings atop vehicles or wagons pulled by donkeys and setting off. We do not know where we can go, said a woman, Ghada Qudeh. Since yesterday, we have not found food or drink." She said her family fled after Israeli forces fired missiles at a house where they were sheltering Thursday. The Israeli military said its forces were continuing to operate in Rafah but did not immediately comment on specific strikes. The military said one soldier had been killed during combat overnight in Rafah. The people fleeing Rafah are some of the last holdouts in a city that was once filled with displaced Palestinians. However, Israel's ground invasion since early May has driven nearly everyone who sought shelter there to leave. The United Nations estimates 1.3 million people have been displaced out of Rafah more than half of Gazas entire population and only 65,000 remain. International criticism is growing over the nearly nine-month Israel-Hamas war as Palestinians face severe and widespread hunger. The war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza a charge Israel strongly denies. 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. Since then, Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,700 people in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. Currently: US shifts an assault ship to the Mediterranean to deter an escalation of the Israel-Lebanon conflict Iran votes in a snap poll for a new president. Heres whats at stake As LGBTQ+ Prides crescendo approaches, tensions over war in Gaza expose rifts Dutch rights groups go back to court seeking to limit export of fighter jet parts to Israel Israel lets 19 kids who are sick or wounded leave Gaza. It's the first medical evacuation in nearly 2 months Survivors of Israel music festival massacre unite to build a healing community Ultra-Orthodox Jews block highway to protest Israels new mandatory military service ruling Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Heres the latest: A new Israeli offensive in Gaza City intensifies, forcing Palestinians to flee GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Palestinians in northern Gaza said intense bombardments have forced many people to flee the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday, as the Israeli military confirmed it had launched a new offensive into areas that were heavily bombed and largely emptied early in the war. Residents described fierce battles in Shijaiyah for a second day in row, driving people to seek safety in western parts of Gaza City. Its like the first weeks of the invasion, said one man, Mahmoud al-Masry, who left his home Thursday with his parents and four siblings. Israel's military said Friday troops had been active in the Shijaiyah area, both above and below ground, and warplanes bombed dozens of locations that it said were being used by militants, including United Nations-run schools and facilities. A Hamas statement Friday reported intense close-quarters combat in Shijaiyah. There was no immediate word from Gazas Health Ministry, which tracks casualties from the conflict. The fighting comes after Israel issued new evacuation orders Thursday for Shijaiyah and other neighborhoods. In October, Israel had instructed residents to evacuate all of northern Gaza, including the territorys largest city. Hundreds of thousands of people have remained in the north, even as Israeli troops have surrounded and largely isolated it. Israel says rockets and drones launched from Lebanon, and military strikes Hezbollah targets in response JERUSALEM Israels military said Friday that about 25 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel, damaging a building and setting fires as tensions between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah threaten to spiral into a full-blown war. Israeli artillery bombarded the sources of the rocket fire, and the military said Israeli warplanes also struck what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure in the area of Jabal Safi, north of the city of Nabatieh. Israels air defense system also failed to intercept three drones from Lebanon that flew into Israeli airspace, the military said. Firefighters were dispatched in the north to try to extinguish the blazes. The cross-border fire came as Israels defense minister told troops on the northern border that he still sought a diplomatic agreement to calm tensions along the border but that the military was prepared to fight. We are not looking for war but we are ready for it, Yoav Gallant said. He said that if Hezbollah chooses to go to war, we will know what to do. Also Friday, Jordans foreign ministry told its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon. The U.S. has brought an assault ship, the USS Wasp, into the eastern Mediterranean Sea this week to try to keep fighting between Israel and Hezbollah from escalating. Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border fire since the war against Hamas in Gaza began in early October. The fighting has been gradually intensifying in recent weeks. Hezbollah says its attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt the war in Gaza. Hezbollah says it wont agree to a cease-fire on the Israel-Lebanon border before theres one in Gaza. The Israeli army said last week that it has approved and validated plans for an offensive in Lebanon, although any decision would come from the countrys political leaders. New sanctions by the European Union target people and companies over alleged help to Palestinian militant groups BRUSSELS The Council of the European Union on Friday announced new war-related sanctions against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, targeting three companies and six people who allegedly help finance or enable the militant groups. The penalties are the Council's latest response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas against Israel. The sanctions would freeze the targets' assets and prohibit giving them funds or economic resources, either directly or indirectly. It also bans them from traveling to the EU. The sanctions targeted three firms who the Council said are owned and controlled by a Sudan-based businessman, Abdelbasit Hamza Elhassan Mohamed Khair, and which are used to facilitate Hamas financial streams. The Council said he has been subject to EU restrictive measures since January. The Council said the individual people listed for sanctions include four men involved with providing financial support or facilitating the transfer of funds for either Hamas or PIJ, as well as a senior official in Lebanon for Irans Revolutionary Guard, and a member of Hamas' political wing who helps with attacks in the West Bank. The Council of the European Union, formed of ministers from all 27 member countries, said that it has so far sanctioned 12 people and three entities under a framework of restrictive measures it adopted in January to go after Hamas and PIJ. US will remove Gaza aid pier due to weather and may not put it back, officials say WASHINGTON The pier built by the U.S. military to bring aid to Gaza is being removed due to weather to protect it, and the U.S. is considering not re-installing it unless aid begins flowing out into the population again, several U.S. officials said Friday. While the military has helped deliver desperately needed food through the pier, the vast majority of it is still sitting in the adjacent storage yard because of the difficulty that agencies have had moving it to areas in Gaza where it is most needed, and that storage area is almost full. The pier has brought in more than 19 million pounds of food to Gaza but has faced multiple setbacks. Rough seas damaged the pier just days into its initial operations, but the bigger challenge has been that humanitarian convoys have stopped carrying the aid from the piers storage area further into Gaza, to get it into civilians hands, because they have come under attack. The U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military movements. The U.N., which has the widest reach in delivering aid to starving Palestinians, on June 9 paused distributing food and other emergency supplies in Gaza that arrived through the pier. It came after the Israeli military used an area near the pier to fly out hostages after a rescue that killed more than 270 Palestinians, prompting a U.N. security review over concerns that aid workers safety and neutrality may have compromised. ___ Associated Press writers Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor contributed. Israel approves five new West Bank settlements in response to several European nations recognizing a Palestinian state JERUSALEM Israel granted legal approval to five settlements in the occupied West Bank overnight in what the countrys firebrand finance minister described as a response to the recognition of Palestinian statehood by several European nations. We announced a month ago that for any country that unilaterally recognizes a Palestinian state, we will establish a settlement in Judea and Samaria in its name. Five countries made this mistake, we have now established five settlements, said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, using the biblical name for the West Bank. The statement from Smotrichs office said that Israels security cabinet made the decision to legalize the settlements of Evyatar, Sde Ephraim, Givat Assaf, Chaletz and Adorim. All began as outposts, small farms built illegally by ultranationalist Jewish settlers some on private Palestinian land. Outposts have proliferated under Israels current far-right government. Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group, said the newly approved settlements are inhabited by one to a few dozen families each. Norway, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Armenia all recognized a Palestinian state during the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli media reported that the security cabinet also approved a number of measures sanctioning the Palestinian Authority, which governs semi-autonomous zones in the West Bank. Hamas denounced the move as the realization of extremist plans by Smotrich to dominate the West Bank. Jordans foreign ministry said the cabinets decision flagrantly violates international law. Settlement critics describe a wink-and-nod policy toward outposts traced back to efforts by successive governments to deflect international pressure. At least one that was legalized overnight Eviatar was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2021 but reinhabited by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers last year. Most of the international community considers all Israeli settlements home to some 700,000 people in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem as a violation of international law. Sweden to pay millions of dollars to support UN agency for Palestinian refugees COPENHAGEN, Denmark Sweden on Friday said it was paying 100 million kronor ($9.4 million) in core support to the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees, saying it was made in response to the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and in light of the new measures UNWRA has taken to strengthen internal supervision and control. Israeli had alleged that 12 of the agencys 13,000 workers in Gaza participated in the surprise Oct. 7 Hamas attack into southern Israel. The allegations led to the suspension of contributions to UNRWA by dozen countries, including the United States. In April, an independent review of UNWRAs neutrality found that Israeli authorities never expressed concern about anyone on the staff lists Israel has received annually since 2011. The Swedish government has allocated a total of 400 million kronor ($38 million) to UNRWA for 2024. On March 9, Stockholm decided to make a first disbursement of 200 million kronor ($19 million) following UNRWAs written assurances to Sweden regarding increased transparency and stricter procedures. Fridays decision by Sweden was the second disbursement, the government said in a statement. More Palestinians evacuate Rafah under Israeli fire as troops advance, residents say RAFAH, Gaza Strip More displaced Palestinians have fled parts of Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday after intensifying Israeli military operations came close to where they were sheltering. It was the latest evacuation in an area that has weathered an Israeli invasion since early May, forcing nearly all Palestinians there to leave. On Friday, Palestinians who had tried to remain in the city's north packed their belongings into vehicles or wagons pulled by donkeys and set off in the direction of Khan Younis. They said that they evacuated overnight under Israeli gunfire, and were returning to grab their belongings before fleeing the city for good. We went out under bullets and gunfire at night. Our children were dispersed. We do not know where they are. Where should we go? asked Imad Asfour, a displaced Palestinian from east of Khan Younis. Ghada Qudeh, a Palestinian who took shelter in Rafah after fleeing the southern city of Khan Younis, said Israeli forces had fired missiles at a house where she and her family were sheltering Thursday. We do not know where we can go, she said Since yesterday, we have not found food or drink. We only want a solution. Mohammad al-Hadad, another displaced Palestinian, wondered where to go. Palestinians say Israels declared safe zone, Muwasi, is a crowded tent camp with very limited access to bathrooms and hospitals. Just carry your son and run, we dont have anything with us, he said. From al-Muwasi to Khan Younis to Rafah, where do we go? The initial Israeli operation into Rafah sent 1.3 million Palestinians fleeing, according to United Nations estimates. Israel says it needs to operate there to defeat Hamass remaining fighters in the area. Funeral held for 7 people killed by Israeli airstrikes overnight in southern Gaza, as families describe fleeing over the bodies of dead and wounded KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip Hospital officials in Gaza said Friday they received the bodies of seven people a day earlier, who their relatives said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. A funeral was held Friday after the bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis overnight, officials from the hospital said. Family members at the funeral said Israeli strikes the seven people in an area between the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. Witnesses to the strikes, also at the funeral, said they were in such a rush to flee that they had to walk over the bodies of dead and wounded. The Israeli military said that forces operated in the Rafah area overnight, leading to the death of one soldier, but did not specify what the military activity entailed or confirm striking the area. Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,700 people in Gaza, according to the territorys Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people mostly civilians and abducted about 250. 5 missiles land near ship in the Red Sea in likely the latest attack by Yemens Houthi rebels WASHINGTON A ship traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated missile fire Friday in a likely attack launched by Yemens Houthi rebels, authorities said, the latest targeting the crucial maritime route. Five missiles landed near the vessel as it traveled off the coast of the rebel-held port city of Hodeida in Yemen, the British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The missiles landed near the vessel, but caused no damage, the UKTMO added. The Houthis did not immediately claim the attack. However, it can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. The rebels have targeted more than 60 vessels by firing missiles and drones in their campaign that has killed a total of four sailors. They seized one vessel and sank two since November. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with a series of strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say. The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war including some bound for Iran. US shifts assault ship to the Mediterranean to deter risk of Israel-Lebanon conflict escalating WASHINGTON The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea this week as the U.S. positions warships to try to keep fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon from escalating into a wider war in the Middle East. While the Wasp has the capability to assist in the evacuation of civilians if full-scale war breaks out between Israel and Hezbollah along the Lebanon border, thats not the primary reason it was rotated in, a U.S. official said. Its about deterrence, the official said. A second U.S. official said the rotation is similar to how the U.S. sent the USS Bataan assault ship into the waters around Israel shortly after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on the country, with the vessel remaining for months in the eastern Mediterranean to help provide options and try to contain the conflict. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operational details. It comes as the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border strikes since the Oct. 7 attacks that launched the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which have been escalating gradually. The Israeli army said last week that it has approved and validated plans for an offensive in Lebanon, although any decision would come from the countrys political leaders. Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday that any Israeli military offensive into Lebanon would risk an Iranian response in defense of Hezbollah, triggering a broader war that could put American forces in the region in danger. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed. Dutch rights groups go back to court seeking to limit export of fighter jet parts to Israel THE HAGUE, Netherlands Human rights groups returned to a Dutch court Friday seeking stricter enforcement of a court order to halt Dutch exports to Israel of parts for F-35 fighter jets used in the Gaza war, saying that the parts likely still wind up in Israel via the United States. An appeals court ordered the Dutch government in February to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, citing a clear risk of violations of international law if they are used in strikes on Gaza. The government has appealed that ruling, but says it is abiding by the order pending the outcome by halting direct exports to Israel. However, lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told a judge at a summary hearing at The Hague District Court that Dutch F-35 parts are still being delivered to other countries, notably staunch Israeli ally the United States and urged the judge to ensure those deliveries also do not wind up in Israel. She added that if the court decides the government is not abiding by the earlier ban it should be ordered to pay a penalty of 50,000 euros ($53,500) each day until it complies. Reimer Veldhuis, a lawyer representing the Dutch state, told the court the Netherlands is abiding by the earlier order and cautioned that seeking to prevent more exports of F-35 parts to nations other than Israel could put at risk supplies to militaries around the world who operate the advanced fighter jets at a time of soaring international tensions. Rolien Sasse, of the Dutch rights group PAX, told the court it should order the Netherlands to take proactive measures to prevent parts made in the Netherlands being installed in Israeli fighter jets. PAX launched the summary proceedings along with Oxfam Novib and The Rights Forum. Election is underway in Iran to replace president killed in a helicopter crash DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Iranians voted Friday in a snap election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, with the races sole reformist candidate vowing to seek friendly relations with the West in an effort to energize supporters in a vote beset by apathy. Voters face a choice between hard-line candidates and the little-known reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon. As has been the case since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and those calling for radical change have been barred from running, while the vote itself will have no oversight from internationally recognized monitors. The voting comes as wider tensions have gripped the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. In April, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel over the war in Gaza, while militia groups that Tehran arms in the region such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels are engaged in the fighting and have escalated their attacks. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium at near weapons-grade levels and maintains a stockpile large enough to build should it choose to do so several nuclear weapons. Survivors of Israel music festival massacre unite to build a healing community TEL AVIV, Israel In the months since Hamas surprise attack sent them scattering across fields or hiding in desert brush, survivors of a massacre at a trance festival in Israel have come together as a community to heal. On Thursday, some 30,000 people attended the Tribe of Novas first mass gathering since the Oct. 7 attack. The Nova Healing Concert is just one part of a robust network of therapy and support that the survivors have built for themselves in the chaotic months since the attack, as Israeli authorities struggle to provide services to devastated communities. We understood that people needed to be together, and were a community that takes care of itself, said Omri Sasa, one of the founders of the Tribe of Nova, which organized the festival last October. Im in trauma, and I wanted to be with people who also went through this. The gathering Thursday was to raise money to support the volunteer network and to call for the release of the remaining hostages. To appeal to a broader audience, it featured electronic music and mainstream artists as well as the Nova mainstay, trance. We need a lot of money, and the only way we know how to raise money is through events, Sasa said. Nova provided a separate area at the Nova Healing Concert for survivors and family members of victims, and two hostages who were released during a ceasefire in November addressed the crowd. A chorus of mothers who lost their children performed. US-built pier in Gaza will be removed again due to weather, US officials say WASHINGTON The U.S.-built military pier off the coast of the Gaza Strip could be pulled up again as soon as Friday due to expected rough sea conditions, two U.S. officials said. The pier will be pulled as the U.S. is looking at alternative ways to get aid into Gaza, including potentially using an existing Israeli pier in nearby Ashdod as an alternative route, one of the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military planning. This would be the third time weather has disrupted pier operations. The floating pier was anchored back on Gazas shoreline on June 19 after heavy seas and high winds led the military to disconnect it from the beach. In May, similar conditions forced a two-week pause in operations after the pier broke apart and four U.S. Army vessels ran aground, injuring three service members, one critically. The Pentagon has said previously it was likely going to have to be shut down the pier by the end of the summer due to weather conditions. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed. Canada sanctions four Israelis accused of extremist settler violence in West Bank OTTAWA, Ontario Canadas foreign minister is imposing sanctions on four Israelis she accuses of extremist settler violence in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says she was in the region recently and heard from Palestinian families who have been forced to leave their homes and farming lands as a direct result of violence and threats by extremist settlers. The sanctions announced Thursday apply to four men who Canadas government accuses of violent and destabilizing actions against Palestinian civilians and their property in the West Bank. All four were listed by the U.S. and U.K. earlier this year. They include David Chai Chasdai, whom the U.S. State Department has accused of leading a rampage in which multiple vehicles and buildings were set on fire and one civilian was killed. Yinon Levi has regularly led settlers to assault Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, Washington says, setting their fields on fire and threatening more violence if they dont leave. Moshe Sharvit repeatedly harassed, threatened, and attacked Palestinian civilians and Israeli human rights defenders, according to the State Department, including making 100 Palestinians flee after ordering them to leave. Zvi Bar Yosef was accused by Washington of repeated violence against Palestinians and blocking access to their lands. Joly says Canada is sending a clear message that acts of extremist settler violence are unacceptable and that perpetrators of such violence will face consequences. Some 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli military rule for over a half-century. Around 500,000 Israelis reside in hundreds of settlements and outposts, which are segregated and tightly guarded communities. The army says it tries to protect all residents, but critics say that soldiers often turn a blind eye to settler violence. An individual with no place else to sleep rests on the steps of Saint Joseph's Catholic Church on Broadway in Newport after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) The number of unhoused Rhode Islanders has risen 35%, according to the states latest Point in Time census released Thursday. At least 2,442 individuals across the state were counted when volunteers from the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted the annual survey on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, as part of an annual snapshot it conducts for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The coalition submits data to the federal government to inform decisions on federal/state funding, advocacy and resource management. There were 1,810 unhoused people reported in Rhode Island last year. The coalitions chief strategy officer, Jennifer Barrerra, said surveys are conducted every January because its when unhoused people are most likely to use shelters, making it easier for volunteers to get a count done. Theres fewer people, in theory, outside on a night in January than maybe a night in June, she said. The release of the annual report came just hours before Rhode Island Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor announced plans to leave his post in two weeks for an unspecified private-sector job. A Department of Housing spokesperson acknowledged a request for comment on the latest Point in Time count, but did not immediately send a response. Warwick-based community development corporation House of Hope Executive Director Laura Jaworski expressed concern over the increase in the states unhoused population, but she was not shocked. In some ways, its validating because this affirms what my team is seeing on the frontlines, Jaworski said in an interview. This is an important snapshot. We know with confidence these numbers are accurate and we know with confidence this is an undercount. That is especially true when trying to count the number of young adults those ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness, Barrerra said. There were 142 young adults recorded in the coations survey. The January 2024 Point in Time Count shows the continued upward trend in chronically homeless individuals in Rhode Island. (Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness) Theyre sometimes hanging out with friends or finding other circumstances they dont always present sort of outside in a camping or unsheltered location, she told reporters after presenting the report at the coalitions Dyer Street office in Providence. A total of 936 Rhode Islanders were reported as chronically homeless, or those who were unhoused for more than a year and have a substance or mental health disorder. That figure represents a 48.8% increase from the 629 reported last year. The 2024 survey found 534 people were living unsheltered a designation that means someone whose primary residence is a car, tent, abandoned building, or other outdoor space. Last year, that number was 334. A total of 130 homeless veterans were counted this year, up from 100 in 2023. The increase in homelessness came at a time when the state opened an additional 600 shelter beds compared to what was available in January 2023, Barrera noted. If those beds werent in place, the number of people outside would have increased to 850, she said. The state sought to open 45 one-room cabins within the on-ramp to Route 146 South this spring, but plans have since been pushed to the fall due to what officials are calling supply chain issues. The highest rates of unsheltered people are concentrated in the urban centers of Providence, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket, with the heat map which denotes large clusters in red and small in green noting 50 or more. Barrerra said the coalition intends to publish a regional breakdown of Rhode Islands homeless population by the end of July. Homelessness advocates pointed to a variety of factors for Rhode Islands 35% increase namely a lack of affordable housing and the skyrocketing cost of living. Insurance, health, property its everywhere, Jaworski said Indeed, a report published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition Thursday found that full-time workers need to earn a wage of $33.20 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in Rhode Island. But whats most needed to reduce the states ballooning homeless population, Barrera said, is for state, local, and federal entities to provide those most at-risk with the means to either stay in their current home or have a pathway to something permanent. If we can get people housed mainstream and not through the homeless response system, that would be helpful, she said. The post Latest census reveals 35% increase in unhoused people in Rhode Island appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Latinos drive U.S. population growth, but Biden and Trump ignore this critical voting bloc Joe Biden, Donald Trump and CNN missed an opportunity during the first presidential debate Thursday night to address some big news from the morning that will make an impact on the 2024 presidential election. The U.S. Census reported that Latinos drove nearly 71% yes, more than two-thirds of the United States' population growth from 2022 to 2023. Yet Latinos were absent from the exchange of insults, falsehoods and ramblings that characterized the debate between the U.S. president and his predecessor. There were discussions of issues that rank at the top of Latinos' priorities, including pocketbook issues and immigration, but the candidates failed to go beneath the surface. More important, while Latinos are not a monolith, they are an important voting bloc united by cultural and linguistic ties, and their votes are up for grabs in 2024. A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll released in May shows Americans are split 37%-37% over Biden and Trump. That same poll showed that Hispanic voters prefer Biden, but only by 34% to 28%. In 2020, the president's share of Latino votes was 2-to-1 over Trump. In short, Biden is in trouble. Stop the fearmongering rhetoric and act on important issues Consider the Census data from Thursday: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell holds a press conference with Mexican Consul General Javier Diaz de Leon at Public Square on June 18, 2024. Latinos now make up 65 million residents, or 19.5% of the nation -- growing by 4.8% since 2020. The growth has been primary due to natural births. That's compared to a 1% increase since then for the overall U.S. population, which now totals 334.9 million.. Meanwhile, in Tennessee the Latino population grew by 7.7% over those three years to 535,000 of 7.1 million residents. In 2010, the Latino population made up 4.6% of the state's population; in 2020, it was 7%; and now, it's 7.5% and growing. The growth is especially noticeable with workers on constructions sites, agricultural fields and the increase in Latino-owned small businesses across Middle Tennessee. That growth means that no politician should take Latino voters for granted, and the Census numbers show that it's time for politicians to stop divisive rhetoric that makes even one part of the population feel unwelcome in the country. Stop the fearmongering rhetoric on mass deportations. Start doing something for the Dreamers who were children when their parents brought them into U.S. unlawfully and are in a limbo immigration status thanks to actions and inaction from both presidents. Mayor, Consul General reassure immigrants about new state law regarding law enforcement Do not just talk about macroeconomic gains, such as the record-high stock market, but also about the every-day person's anxiety over the costs of goods, living wages, and rising housing prices. Broken promises and failed policies have eroded trust Immigration is consistently the No. 1 or No. 2 most important issue Americans say concern them in poll after poll be it through Gallup or the GOP Nashville Summer Picnic straw poll on June 22. Both political parties have failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform and border security laws as recently as this year because of political pettiness. Politicians including Republican Tennessee U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty have visited the U.S.-Mexico border and have warned that every city is a border city even though Tennessee is 1,000 miles away from the Rio Grande. Save the Date, damas y caballeros: Storytellers Live is back for Hispanic Heritage Month Rhetoric from former President Donald Trump on mass deportations, building a wall and asylees stoke fear among residents who are either directly affected or may know someone in their family or circle of friends who are. On the other hand, Biden has been inconsistent on border policy and while he promised to undo Trump era policies, he has effectively reversed course. The current influx of migrants from the U.S-Mexico line both in border states, but also in big northern cities such as Chicago and New York, have created animus and tension across different demographics. While not all Latinos are immigrants, their cultural and familial ties link them to communities south of the border, and while politicians may be intending their rhetoric for just undocumented immigrants, there's a reason even U.S.-born Latinos take it personally. We must remember U.S. history is full of examples of broken promises and exclusion of Black and brown residents. Casa de la Cultura Latino Americana commemorated Mexican Independence Day at a celebration at the Nashville Symphony, Sept. 12, 2023. Left to right, Letty Alvarez, Enrico Lopez-Yanez, Mexican Consul General Javier Diaz de Leon, and Mayra Yu. Here are just a few: The broken promises of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo stemming from the U.S.-Mexican War under U.S. President James K. Polk of Tennessee's administration led to seized property and deportations of former Mexican subjects who were considered inferior to white, or Anglo, citizens. In the 1930s, the United States unjustly deported up to 1.8 million U.S. citizens of Mexican descent mainly from California and Texas, but also in other states, to Mexico just because government officials did not care to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens. Immigration law in the 1960s undid exclusionary policies of the 1920s that kept many people of Latin American descent from coming to the U.S. Even those whose families have lived in the country for hundreds of years have been treated like second-class citizens because of Jim Crow segregation laws and cultural norms disfavoring people of color. Laws such as Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 were meant to target illegal immigration but led to racial profiling of American cities who happened to be Latino. Neither presidential candidate is doing a particularly good job of inspiring voters, but deep, sincere and effective investment in Latino voters both in English and Spanish will be the key to victory for either Trump or Biden. David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee, US grow thanks to Latinos, but Trump, Biden ignored them Delaware lawmakers had a busy legislative session Thursday, with the General Assembly approving a $1.1 billion capital budget, the Senate overriding Gov. John Carneys recent veto and legislators passing a slew of bills ahead of the last day of session Sunday. House Bill 475, the 2025 bond bill, was unanimously approved in both chambers Thursday afternoon, ensuring funds for roadway improvements, school construction, state building renovations and various other projects across the First State. The capital budget touches every corner of our state, and these investments have a real, tangible impact on peoples lives, whether its students attending new and upgraded schools, roads that are easier to travel, or clean water projects moving forward, said Rep. Debra Heffernan, chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, in a news release Thursday. An exterior view of the Delaware Legislative Hall, the state capitol building, on March, 4 2024, in Dover. The bond bill passed Thursday includes: $352.7 million to complete road projects statewide, including funds to address the roads in the poorest conditions. $160 million for school construction projects in Smyrna, Red Clay, Colonial, New Castle County Vo-Tech, Polytech and Christina school districts. $247 million for capital improvements at higher education institutions and various state facilities, including correctional facilities and courthouses. $40 million for the Community Reinvestment Fund, which will provide money for capital projects to community nonprofit and municipal organizations throughout Delaware. Sen. Jack Walsh, co-chair of the Joint Capital Improvement Committee, said the bill makes critical investments across the state. Every single project funded through the Capital Budget will help to put Delawareans to work building new schools, new libraries and upgrading our world-class parks, while also providing clean drinking water, preserving farmland and open space, and supporting the towns and nonprofits who provide the critical services that some of our most vulnerable neighbors depend on, he said. Legislators will return to Dover at 2 p.m. Sunday for the final day of session. Lawmakers have yet to unveil what will be included in the grants-in-aid bill, the final outstanding spending bill the General Assembly must pass. CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS: Lawmakers repeal death penalty, while fate of constitutional amendment unclear The legislative bodies also acted on several other noteworthy bills Thursday: Senate overrides Gov. Carney's veto Delaware senators unanimously approved overriding the governors veto of a bill that makes changes to a public body managing state employee and retiree benefit coverage, with the aim of making the State Employee Benefits Committee more transparent and accountable. The Senates action on House Bill 282 on Thursday is the first successful override in the chamber in 50 years. But that wasnt what the vote was about, nor was it about the governor, said Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend and Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth Tizzy Lockman in a joint statement. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS REFORM: Delaware House overrides Gov. Carney's veto in historic vote to support retirees' concerns This was a vote of confidence in our state workers and the labor unions who fight for their interests each and every day, the statement reads. We believe state workers and retirees deserve a seat at the table when decisions are being made that will impact the health and welfare of their families for years to come. They added that any steps taken to control health care costs should be done in the open with seats at the table for the people most impacted by our decisions. In Carneys veto letter to lawmakers, he took issue with revisions outlined for the State Employee Benefits Committees makeup that he wrote would remove two members with relevant expertise and a mandate to control costs and replace them with individuals lacking such expertise and having an acknowledged conflict of interest. Gov. John Carney delivers the State of the State address in the Senate Chamber of Legislative Hall in Dover, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Much of the governor's speech focused on education, including pay increases for teachers. The bill revises committee membership by removing the state retiree appointed by the governor and adding two members who are state residents eligible to receive health care insurance under a pension or retirement plan, among other changes. Lawmakers in the joint statement Thursday said they trust state workers to fairly balance their personal interests with the interests of their communities, just as they trust us to protect the benefits promised to them during their dedicated careers in public service. The House overrode Carneys veto during session Wednesday, the first successful override in 47 years for that chamber. Carney issued a statement following the override, saying House Bill 282 will make it harder for the state to manage "over $1 billion in health care expenses" and "runs counter" to efforts he's made to get Delaware's finances in order. READ DELAWARE GOVERNOR'S VETO FOR STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS COMMITTEE REFORM BILL "Im proud that well leave our budget in strong shape for the next administration. In fact, we were able to turn a $400 million deficit when I took office into $400 million in additional reserves above the required Rainy Day Fund," he said. Carney said the bill undermines those efforts, and "puts the interests of Delaware taxpayers at risk. It could lead to higher taxes and limit our ability to give pay raises to teachers, active state employees and pensioners, as weve done the last several years." With that said, sometimes we have disagreements with members of the General Assembly. This is one of those times. I look forward to finishing this session by working together with legislators and doing as much good as we can for the people were fortunate enough to serve. Financial assistance for EV charging The Senate on Thursday passed House Bill 13, which was approved by the House in April, allowing the director of Sustainable Energy Utility to create a financial assistance program to help cover the costs of purchasing and installing electric vehicle supply equipment. For a low-income applicant (meaning up to 300% of the federal poverty level for household income), financial assistance could cover up to 90% of the costs of purchase and installation. For all other applicants, the program may offer up to 50% assistance to cover those costs, according to the bill. The legislation now goes to Carney for his signature. Deepfakes, artificial intelligence The Senate approved two bills targeting deepfakes video, images, audio and other forms of media that are digitally manipulated to protect peoples right to privacy and consent. House Bill 353 creates civil and criminal remedies for people whose likeness has been used in deepfakes that depict nudity, sexual conduct or other intimate images without their consent. The legislation makes the intentional creation and distribution of deepfake pornography subject to the same criminal remedies under the Delaware Uniform Civil Remedies for Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act, as well as a Class A misdemeanor violation of privacy offense. An adult who creates a deepfake depiction of a minor also would be subject to a felony under the bill. Approved by the House in May, the bill now goes to Carney for his signature. House Bill 316 was also passed by senators, which makes distributing election-related deepfakes within 90 days of an election a Class B misdemeanor. Because of changes made within the Senate, the bill goes back to the House for final reconsideration. The latest bills passage comes days after both chambers unanimously approved House Bill 333, creating the Delaware Artificial Intelligence Commission, a body of experts and legislators who will be tasked with analyzing how AI may impact employment, transportation, education and other facets of our lives in the years to come. The bill now heads to Carneys desk. Highlights from the bond bill Significant investments are coming for schools to make improvements and build new facilities. Some of those projects included in the bond bill are: $33.6 million to replace the Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School in Glasgow $34.2 million for a new Sussex Tech High School in Georgetown $37.45 million for the New Leach School in the Colonial School District A combined $34.9 million for the Smyrna School District to renovate and add to existing facilities and build a new elementary school 600 N. King St., or Courthouse Square, stands 10 floors overlooking the New Castle County Court House - now named the Leonard L. Williams William Justice Center. Both buildings enjoy setbacks from King Street. State facilities will also see significant upgrades and improvements, including: $26 million for a new Troop 4 in Georgetown $25 million to continue work on the new Kent and Sussex Family Courthouses $20 million to make improvements to the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington Other notable items for the capital budget include: $37 million for economic development projects through various funds and programs $27.7 million in Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds $15.6 million for statewide park improvements at Bellevue State Park, White Clay Creek Nature Center, Killens Pond Water Park, Lums Pond, Fenwick Island State Park, and a feasibility study for Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware lawmakers pass $1.1B bond bill; Senate overrides Carney veto New laws going into effect on July 1 that Californians should know Above: A Nexstar video on how a bill becomes a law. SAN DIEGO (KUSI) July is inching closer and with it comes the implementation of a slew of new laws that will bring big changes for Californians. The laws, which were signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom during last years legislative session and go into effect on July 1, span an array of topics from hidden fees and housing to education. Here are new laws set to go into effect at the beginning of next month that Californians should know about: Two bills passed last year, Senate Bill 478 and Assembly Bill 537, take aim at hidden fees. Under both, businesses would be require the advertised prices for goods and services to include all other mandatory charges, aside from government-imposed taxes or fees. The new laws cover a wide range of goods and services, including concert tickets and short-term lodging such as hotels or AirBnB. Starting on July 1, all firearms and munition will be subject to an 11% state tax. The new charge was implemented through Assembly Bill 28, which is intended to help fund school safety and violence prevention programs administered by the state. According to an analysis for the bill, the tax is expected to generate upwards of $160 million annually. When it goes into effect, the tax will become the first-ever state tax on gun-related sales in the U.S. Landlords will no longer be able to ask renters for a security deposit equal to as much as three months rent under another new law set to go into effect on July 1, Assembly Bill 12. Most security deposit requirements would be capped at the equivalent of one months rent. The new law will apply to the majority of landlords properties, regardless of its status as furnished or unfurnished. However, there is an exception for landlords with small rental portfolios that allows for them to accept the equivalent of two months in rent for a deposit. Bars, nightclubs and other establishments that serve alcoholic beverages under a on-sale general public premises license will be required to have drug-testing kits available for sale beginning on July 1, when Assembly Bill 1013 goes into effect. The measure, which is aimed at preventing spiking incidents, also stipulates that these businesses must post a notice that reads, Dont get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details. Assembly Bill 230 expands an existing law that requires public schools with sixth grade to twelfth grade students to provide free menstrual products in bathrooms. Under the change, schools that instruct third grade to fifth grade will also be required to provide these hygienic products. The bills author said the measure was important to extend these free menstrual products to additional grades, pointing to research that indicates 10% of children who experience a period do so for the first time by the age of 10. Senate Bill 684 is another new law going into effect on July 1 tied to housing, but this measure specifically aims to speed up the process to build new units by making one aspect of it more efficient: the approval of subdivision maps. Under the law, local agencies would be required to approve maps for projects in urban areas so long as they meet certain requirements, like the project not exceeding more than 10 housing units. Proponents say the law will facilitate more medium-density housing in small lot divisions. Assembly Bill 897, which was signed into law last year, would extend the two-year probationary period for educators in California to those who teach adults. Typically, general education teachers must undergo this period before gaining permanent status. The bills author said this will help improve the quality of education for adults, as well as give these educators a pathway towards greater job security and ensure that experienced educators are not dismissed unfairly. Employers will soon be required to develop and implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, as soon as Senate Bill 553 goes into effect on July 1. The bill, which was spurred by a 2021 mass shooting at a rail yard in San Jose carried out by one of its workers, would specifically require workplaces to log any incidents and to have mandatory training for its employees on how to respond to violence. The Keep Kids in School bill would expand a provision in the states education code to completely ban student suspensions for willful defiance. A previous version of the law only barred the rationale for disciplining students between kindergarten and eighth grade According to the bills author, willful defiance has historically been used against students who are already more likely to see lower academic outcomes compared to their peers. This includes students of color, those experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and LGBTQ+ students. Senate Bill 244 would require manufacturers of electronics with wholesale prices of $50 or more to make documentation and spare parts or tools available to repair or maintain that product. Manufacturers of products with wholesale prices of $100 or more must also provide parts and documentation, although it is expected to be available for at least seven years after the product was last manufactured. KTXLs Jacque Porter contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Lawyer accused of masterminding TV hosts assassination plot to be extradited to Mexico SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Ciro Gomez Leyva was driving home from work when two people pulled up alongside on a motorcycle firing an automatic weapon at his car in December 2022. The controversial television host from Mexico City survived the attempt on his life because his Jeep was retrofitted with bullet-proof windows and doors. Surveillance video from the scene of the shooting led investigators to one of the suspects who reportedly implicated a man simply known as El Patron or The Boss as the mastermind of the assassination plot. The U.S. Attorney in San Diego says The Boss is an attorney named Armando Escarcega Valdez from Mexico City who allegedly had fled to Southern California after the attempt on Gomezs life. El Escorpion extradited to face drug charges in US On Thursday, Escarcega appeared in a federal courtroom in San Diego and agreed to extradition to Mexico to face charges. His attorney told Judge Daniel Butcher that his client was not admitting guilt. In January of last year, a court in Mexico ordered Escarcegas arrest after investigators found evidence at his home and law office allegedly linking him to the murder plot. Ex-Fort Bliss soldier to face trial for aggravated femicide According to the U.S. Attorney, wiretaps also provided evidence implicating Escarcega, who had avoided arrest until last October when he was detained in Bakersfield, California. It was not revealed how soon he will be sent back to Mexico, where he will face several conspiracy charges, as well as counts of extortion and attempted murder. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Initially, 11 people were detained for their role in the assassination attempt on Gomez. One woman, identified as Yunuen N, was sentenced this week to three years and six months in prison for her role. Gomez continues to work for Imagen Noticias. In a posting on his X account, he acknowledged Escarcega Valdez pending extradition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Lawyers for Brian Keely, the former Michigan State Police detective sergeant charged with the murder of Samuel Sterling, have requested that the case be moved to federal court. On April 17, Sterling, a 25-year-old from Grand Rapids who was a probation absconder and wanted on felony warrants, took off from authorities when they tracked him down in Kentwood. Several officers chased him on foot into the parking lot of a Burger King, as did Keely in an unmarked vehicle. Video previously released by MSP shows Sterling running away and then being hit by the unmarked cruiser on the sidewalk leading into the restaurant. Sterling was hospitalized and died hours later. His death certificate shows he sustained multiple blunt force injuries. Video shows man hit by unmarked MSP cruiser Murder charges were filed against Keely in May and he retired from MSP shortly thereafter. Family shows News 8 a photo of Samuel Sterling. The motion filed on Friday says that though Keely worked for MSP, he was assigned to a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force when the crash happened. It argues that puts the case in federal jurisdiction. The documents go on to say that Keely believed his action was justified and objectively reasonable. It says Keely believed that Sterling posed a danger to the customers and employees in the Burger King, so he followed his training and tried to block him with the vehicle. (Keelys) vehicle began to skid, and he lost all braking and steering power due to standing puddles of water caused by hard rain in the area earlier that day, the court document said. The document says that Keely did not intentionally hurt Sterling. The request argues Keely had reason to believe Sterling was armed, though in the video previously released by MSP, Sterling can be heard telling officers he did not have a gun and the video does not appear to show officers finding one. The Michigan Attorney Generals Office has 21 days to respond to the request. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Legal recreational pot in Florida will hurt our environment. Say no to Amendment 3 | Opinion Legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida will be an ecological disaster in ways voters may not fully comprehend. Growing marijuana has a carbon footprint that easily exceeds most polluting industries. Colorado State University researchers write that the greenhouse gas emissions of Colorados marijuana industry (2.6 megatons of carbon dioxide) exceed those of the states coal mining industry (1.8 megatons of carbon dioxide). Several studies estimate indoor cannabis cultivation in the United States alone consumes more electricity than 19 entire states. Growing marijuana requires 40 times the power required to grow lettuce indoors. Even in the Sunshine State, marijuana has to be grown indoors to be commercially viable. Growing marijuana is very energy intensive because it requires at least 18 hours per day of high-intensity lighting such as high-pressure sodium lamps, which are up to 500 times more powerful than normal reading lights, plus tons and tons of air conditioning to optimize growing conditions. In November, Floridians will be asked to vote on Amendment 3, known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. A yes vote supports legalizing marijuana for adults 21 years old and older and allowing individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana. A no vote opposes legalizing marijuana for adult use in Florida. Legalizing recreational marijuana will strain local energy resources, leading to much higher electricity costs for consumers and significantly higher carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change. Growing marijuana requires twice the water needed to grow grapes. Marijuana is also a nutrient-intensive crop. Wildlife and domestic animals are poisoned by THC-contaminated agricultural waste. Trespass growers, who are much more prevalent in states that have legalized recreational marijuana, grow marijuana on public lands and on abandoned private lands. They have no regard for the environment, polluting water supplies, damaging fragile ecosystems and depleting resources with no accountability. A study funded by The Nature Conservancy confirms this. It found that in California, trespass growing took place largely in areas of environmental sensitivity and posed a threat to water quality and habitat in nearby water bodies; near streams and rivers harboring endangered species where diversion of surface or groundwater, or pollution from agricultural chemicals negatively impacted the environment. Marijuana plants emit lots of terpene, which is a highly reactive, volatile organic compound and an active ingredient of pesticides. A study published in the scientific journal Atmospheric Environment concluded the magnitude of these emissions impacts local and regional air quality. In California and New York, people smoke marijuana out in the open, polluting the lungs of innocent bystanders. Secondhand cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke, with some in higher amounts. Another scientific study discovered levels of ammonia were 20 times higher in secondhand marijuana smoke than in secondhand tobacco smoke, and levels of hydrogen cyanide and aromatic amines were three to five times higher in secondhand marijuana smoke than secondhand tobacco smoke. Between October 2018, when Canada legalized recreational marijuana, and August 2019, an estimated 5.8 to 6.4 million kilograms of plastic cannabis packaging from dried cannabis flower containers alone ended up in Canadian landfills. This figure excludes spent cannabis oil vape cartridges made of plastic and other novel cannabis industry offerings using plastic packaging. The cannabis industry knows it has a plastic waste problem. It does not want to address it because it would cost them money. Legalizing recreational marijuana poses a serious environmental threat. The enormous energy and water requirements of cannabis cultivation strain local resources; pollute the air, water and soil; contribute significantly to carbon emissions; and exacerbate climate change. The proliferation of non-biodegradable plastic waste from cannabis packaging further compounds these environmental concerns. Consider the broader ecological impact and vote no on Amendment 3. John Michael Pierobon is the vice chair of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Broward County, and the chair of the Tobacco Free Environments subcommittee of the Tobacco Free Workgroup of the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade. This opinion piece was published by The Invading Sea website (www.theinvadingsea.com). The site posts news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida. Thursday was the first time the full Legislature has met since the summer. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Legislators in both chambers will weigh whether to approve a new tax incentive program that would set aside $500 million to draw artificial intelligence development to New Jersey. Under the bill, businesses that collect more than half their revenue from AI development or devote more than half of their staff to that purpose would be eligible for tax incentives worth up to $250 million. Theres tremendous potential in AI for our state to tap into for job creation, for catalyzing innovation, and drawing upon the institutions of higher education in our state I think were going to see strong return on investment, said bill sponsor Sen. Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson). Mukherji called AI a transformative technology that could create massive shifts in society, like computers and cars. Eligible projects must include at least $100 million of capital investment and must create at least 100 new jobs to be eligible. The state Economic Development Authority would administer the new program, called Next New Jersey. Awards under the program would equal 0.1% of the businesss total capital investment in the project for each new job that investment creates, to a cap of 25% or $250 million, whichever is lower. Use of AI tools for regular businesses operations does not contribute to a firms eligibility for tax credits under the program. The program could pay up to $500 million in tax credits in its first year, and it would draw that money from the already approved $11.5 billion Aspire program, a separate tax incentive program meant to provide gap financing to certain projects. The moneys source is causing concern among some, who worried the new program would draw money away from tax incentives meant to spur development in underserved communities. Im a little bit concerned about some of the distributional outcomes of allowing these credits to go to potentially some of the worlds biggest companies for products that are already heavily invested, said Peter Chen, a senior policy analyst at progressive think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective. Businesses cannot simultaneously receive awards under the new program and the Emerge Program, a separate tax incentive program meant to draw businesses and development to disadvantaged areas of the state. Mukherji said the amount set aside for AI firms is a placeholder, with final terms to be set by the Economic Development Authority. I think that Aspire and Emerge will stand on their own in achieving the aims of those credits, but theres a lot allocated there that I dont think was going to be used, but if we need to go back and adjust Aspire and Emerge, we can always do that, he said. Chen questioned whether the legislation, which received little attention amid a flurry of legislative activity Wednesday, includes oversight sufficient to ensure the state sees benefits from AI firms that exceed its investment. This is a $500 million tax credit program for a relatively untested technology. I think we should be pretty concerned that there arent enough guardrails in this legislation to allow the state to be assured that were going to get the economic benefits that these should produce, he said. The bill would require businesses that receive tax incentives under Next New Jersey to meet job creation and salary benchmarks negotiated with the Economic Development Authority. Businesses that fail to meet those obligations would see their tax credits reduced for that year or, if their number of new employees is less than 80% of the agreed-upon level, lose them entirely until they can hold up their end of the bargain. Tax incentive recipients who fail to timely submit certain documents to the EDA would also lose their tax incentives, though in both cases, businesses can regain benefits for following years by coming into compliance with the employment and paperwork requirements. The post Legislators to weigh tax incentives for AI appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. Two Chinese giant pandas arrive in U.S., first time in two decades 08:12, June 28, 2024 By Gao Shan, Li Chenxi, Yu li ( Xinhua This photo taken on April 18, 2024, shows giant panda Xin Bao at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Xue Chen) "We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo family," said Paul Baribault, the president and chief executive officer for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, noting that the nonprofit conservation organization's long-standing partnership with its Chinese partners "has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species." LOS ANGELES/Chengdu, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, arrived in California, the United States, Thursday morning on a chartered flight from China, for a 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation with San Diego Zoo, marking a new round of giant panda protection cooperation between China and the United States. Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 4-year-old female, were selected from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). The black-and-white bears departed from the Bifengxia Panda Center at Ya'an City in southwest China's Sichuan Province Wednesday evening. The duo, which transited through Hong Kong and arrived in Los Angeles International Airport, were accompanied by five experienced breeders and veterinarians during the journey. The panda pair, the first to enter the United States in over two decades, will travel to San Diego Zoo soon after their arrival in Los Angeles. They will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, per standard procedure, and the public debut date will be announced after the animal care team feels the bears are ready to meet visitors. The CCRCGP has conducted scientific research cooperation with San Diego Zoo for over 25 years, with fruitful results in the protection, breeding, and disease control of giant pandas, and related public education. Giant pandas are one of the world's most endangered species. Nearly 1,900 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi in China, rising from 1,100 in the 1980s. This photo taken on April 18, 2024, shows giant panda Yun Chuan at the Bifengxia Panda Base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Xue Chen) As one symbol of the cooperation, Yun Chuan is the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007, and the grandson of Bai Yun, who lived at the zoo for more than 20 years. Then-27-year-old Bai Yun and her son, Xiao Liwu, San Diego Zoo's last two giant pandas, were sent back to China in 2019 as the zoo's last conservation agreement with China ended. Many San Diego residents, tourists, as well as park officials were reluctant to say goodbye to those giant pandas, which have long been envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. They have been looking forward to welcoming the beloved zoo icon back. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo family," said Paul Baribault, the president and chief executive officer for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, in a press release, noting that the nonprofit conservation organization's long-standing partnership with its Chinese partners "has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species." Baribault told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Sichuan earlier this week that the whole organization is excited to welcome the pandas and has "been doing quite a bit to get ready" for their arrival. "We are getting their spaces all set and expanded the space for them, making it even better than it ever was before," he said, adding, "We've also been preparing all their food. Our scientists have been getting ready. Our teams have been coming over here to get to know the pandas. So that transition is smooth and easy for them." A girl visits a gift shop with giant panda-themed plushies at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2024. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) San Diego Zoo, one of the most visited zoo in the country, is the first U.S. zoo to have a cooperative conservation program with Chinese partners. Located north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, it is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals representing over 680 species and subspecies. "San Diegans can't wait to see these amazing animals!" wrote Todd Gloria, mayor of San Diego, on social media platform X, who attended a farewell ceremony in Ya'an, where the pandas had been residing. In an interview with Xinhua, the mayor described the panda pair as "wonderful ambassadors from China," noting their arrival is "the opportunity to have not only the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, but to really showcase Chinese culture, Chinese people, Chinese traditions, and symbols and icons." "One thing I know about Chinese and Americans is our shared love of the beautiful creatures. This exchange is a wonderful way to tie our two communities closer together and that kind of tying together is a way to promote understanding and mutual respect," he added. According to Gloria, the pair could attract more visitors to San Diego Zoo. "We anticipate a 20 to 40 percent boost in attendance ... because we know people love these creatures," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Leighton man dead after being hit by vehicle COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) Officials have confirmed a Leighton man died after he was hit by a vehicle in Colbert County on Thursday. Colbert County Coroner Justin Gasque said 34-year-old Timothy Wood Jr. of Leighton was killed when a vehicle hit him. The incident occurred on 2nd Street, which is off River Road south of the Tennessee River near Highway 157. News 19 has reached out to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency 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 WHNT.com. Making music is strictly a human trait, at least with the complexity of jazz musicians and classical pianists. But of course some animals make their own songs, including frogs, birds and cicadas. Some primates also make a sort of musical calls and studying this can teach us a lot about why humans evolved singing and music-making capabilities in the first place. Take the indri or babakoto. It's a white and black primate with green eyes, better known as the Madagascar lemur, which communicates with its peers with distinct sounds like singing and rhythmic vocalizations. A new study in the journal Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences reveals there is more to indris' calls than pretty sounds; the intelligent primates actually possess "isochrony" in their communication, meaning there is an equal amount of time between their sounds and notes thereby creating a consistent beat. This revelation sheds light into the origins of humans' own communication skills. Because humans share the ability to communicate with isochrony, the results indicate that at least aspects of humanity's musical capacity existed early in our primate history. Alarm calls, which animals use to warn their peers of predators, predated songs and therefore isochrony may have developed from alarm calls before other rhythmic patterns emerged. "The findings highlight the evolutionary roots of musical rhythm, demonstrating that the foundational elements of human music can be traced back to early primate communication systems," study co-author Dr. Daria Valente, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, said in a statement. At the same time, indris are distinct in certain ways they use isochrony. "Isochrony is the backbone of most indri vocalizations, unlike human speech, where it is rare," the authors write. "In indri, isochrony underlies both songs and hierarchy-less call sequences and might be ancestral to both." Letters to the Editor: Biden failed at the debate. This is going to be a terrible election President Biden speaks at his debate with former President Trump on June 27. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) To the editor: After watching the debate between President Biden and former President Trump, all I can say is this: There is no form of damage control that can save Biden. I was actually starting to feel pity for Biden as he feebly fumbled his way from one question to the next, often staring off into oblivion with his mouth open, but my sympathies evaporated when he started telling outright lies. My son-in-law is a war veteran with two tours of duty in Afghanistan and now works for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was watching the debate with us. As soon as Biden started talking about veterans and the VA, he stood up, pointed at the screen and said, "That's a lie ... he can't say that ... he's lying!" At one point I burst out laughing when Trump was asked to reply to something Biden had mumbled, and in response Trump said, "I don't know what he just said at the end of that sentence, and I don't think he knows either." And so went the evening. I'm just waiting to see what kind of lies and excuses are cooked up to defend Biden. The first one I'm seeing is that Biden has a cold. Good Lord, this is pathetic. Time to change out the batter. Just do it. Arthur Saginian, Santa Clarita .. To the editor: During the debate, the sitting president was a mumbling, fumbling, unfocused individual, the agony of his physical and mental frailty on display. The lopsided verbal encounter between these two grumpy old men exposed Americas utter helplessness, hopelessness and misery. It also normalized blatant lies and unfounded conspiracies articulated by a convicted felon with confidence and great ease. Between now and Nov. 5, the number of undecided voters who care about this country beyond party and personality will definitely swell. Most of them will let their conscience sway them to stay home and not give a mandate to either of the two evils. I'll be one of them. Abdul-Majeed Azad, Columbus, Ohio .. To the editor: The debate made it crystal clear that it's now this runaway political system against the American voter. There is no Democrat or Republican anymore. Never have the American people been presented with such a shameful choice, and that's the point: If nothing is offered, our vote is worthless. Jim Kalin, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Letters to the Editor: Biden stumbled. He's still a good president and a better choice than Trump Former President Trump speaks as President Biden listens during their debate on June 27. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) To the editor: I, like millions of Americans, watched the debate between President Biden and former President Trump, after which a cavalcade of surrogates and spinners told us what they want us to believe we had just witnessed. What I saw, and I hope most other thoughtful voters saw, was a very polished and experienced con man repeat his many lies, exaggerations and distortions of the truth on national television. His opponent, a reformed stutterer and lifelong public servant who has devoted his career to improving the lives of every American, may have seemed at a loss for words at times. But he is clearly the better person to lead our country for the next four years. Do not let yourself be fooled by a 90-minute, lie-filled infomercial by a former reality show huckster who will say anything to make you believe he is the answer to your problems. We are better than that. Donnie Moore, Redondo Beach .. To the editor: It deeply shocked me that the CNN moderators did not right away correct or stop Trump's lies, including his statement that nobody respects Biden, including the leaders of European countries. To the contrary, Europeans have known and liked the highly experienced and decent Biden for a long time. They are horrified that someone like Trump could win back the presidency. Liselotte Millauer, Hollywood .. To the editor: The coming election is no longer just about Biden versus Trump. This decision is about the kind of country we want to live in. Biden's age and faltering speech are not what we need to be discussing. Trump's altered view of reality, constant lying and refusal to answer questions are of greater concern. He fully intends to be a dictator and all that implies. I hope this spurs every eligible voter to go to the polls. This is the wrong time to sit out. Cathy Dekastrozza, Mesa, Ariz. .. To the editor: As expected, the debate was a farce. Nothing new was learned. The politicians restated their positions. They answered the questions they wanted to and not those that were asked. A debate has no relationship with one's ability to govern, let alone with their underlying principles and beliefs. The lack of meaningful follow-up questions was a fatal flaw. Nevertheless, in a perverse sort of way, the debate was revealing. There was a clear winner, and it was not Trump. Even if you treat his showing as a case of performance art, elevating form way over substance, it was still telling. Trump was bombast, chaos, retribution and lies. Biden was boring, detailed and substantive. These descriptions are consistent with their reputations. So, the question becomes, which is a better way to govern, form or substance? Someone once said that the people get the government they deserve. If you want governing, there is one choice. If you want sound and fury, woe to us. Steven L. Rice, Thousand Oaks This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Lexington bans sales of puppies and kittens from pet stores. Here are the new rules Starting Nov. 1, pet stores will no longer be able to sell cats and dogs in Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted 12-1 Thursday to approve a ban on the sale of kittens and puppies at pet stores despite push back from two Lexington pet stores that sell pets. Lexington is the fourth city in Kentucky to enact a ban. Other cities with similar bans include Louisville, Elizabethtown and Radcliff. Those Kentucky cities are among 492 cities nationwide that have ordinances halting the retail sale of cats and dogs. The Humane Society of the United States has pushed the commercial sales ban, saying it will stop puppy and cat mills who often sell directly to pet stores. The Lexington ordinance would not affect the sale of other types of pets including reptiles, fish and birds, according to the ordinance. It also would not prohibit dog and cat breeders from selling directly to customers. People would still be able to adopt from rescue organizations such as the Lexington Humane Society. If passed, stores in violation of the ordinance would face a $500 fine. Lexington Animal Control would enforce the ordinance. Animal Control already inspects pet stores if there is a complaint. The ban also prohibits the sales of cats and dogs in public spaces. That provision is to stop people from selling pets at flea markets. Petland, Most Valuable Pets say they will have to close Officials and lawyers with Petland, a national chain, have repeatedly urged the council to back off the ordinance. Petland has claimed the bulk of its business is selling cats and dogs. It cant compete with other big-box retailers who also sell pet supplies, they have previously argued. Most Valuable Pets, or MVP Pets, is locally owned and in Beaumont Centre. Officials with MVP have also previously said they may have to close if they are not allowed to sell cats and dogs. Petland responded to the ban July 1, saying it is exploring all legal remedies to challenge this ordinance and is working for a fair and reasonable solution for our business and consumers. A ban should never be the first option, Elizabeth Kunzelman, vice president of legislative and public affairs for Petland, said in a statement. There are a multitude of solutions available that discourage puppy mills without shutting down legal businesses. Other Lexington pet stores have adoption options with local rescue organizations. Both pet stores argued they only work with reputable breeders and screen to ensure the pets they buy are not harmed or raised in deplorable conditions. Officials with the Humane Society of the United States said pet stores that sell cats and dogs dont have to close. They can adopt a new business models. Pure-bred dogs and cats can be very pricey, running sometimes in the thousands of dollars. Councilman Fred Brown was the only member of council to vote against the ban. Councilman Preston Worley abstained citing a conflict with his law firm, FILE Protesters shout slogans against Israel's military operation in Gaza Strip during the annual Pride parade, in Athens, Greece, June 15, 2024. At Pride events across the U.S, internal tensions over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have seeped into the festivities, spurring boycotts and demonstrations at marches and exposing divisions within a movement firmly rooted in protest. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas, File) NEW YORK (AP) Ahead of New York Citys annual LGBTQ+ Pride march, organizers typically spend weeks mapping out the order of the floats, assigning placements based on factors like seniority and music volume. This year, theyre wrestling with a question more fraught: how to plan a parade whose own participants have accused one another of war crimes and support for terrorism. At Pride events across the U.S, internal tensions over the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have seeped into the festivities, spurring boycotts and demonstrations at marches and exposing divisions within a movement firmly rooted in protest. In New York, members of the Israeli consulate say they will march this year despite several other participating groups, and at least two of the parades four grand marshals, accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians. Their usual float, festooned in rainbow-colored flowers and a Star of David, will be flanked by an added layer of private security when the march begins this Sunday. Unfortunately theres a lot of people in the LGBT community that would rather stand with the enemies, with the side that is homophobic, and not with Israel, said Itay Milner, a spokesperson for the consulate. Were aware of that sentiment but we will not be scared away. Elsewhere in the line of hundreds of parading groups, members of Tarab NYC, an advocacy group representing queer Middle Easterners and North Africans, say they will seek to center Palestine during the march, hoisting Palestinian flags as they chant, No pride in genocide. Those marching with the group recently attended a de-escalation training after they were heckled and chased by counterprotesters at a Pride event in Brooklyn this month, according to the groups founder, Bashar Makhay. Similar confrontations have erupted in many arenas of public life as the war in Gaza has dragged on, prompting demonstrations and clashes on college campuses and more typically neutral settings, including some recent Memorial Day parades. But the conflict has led to an unusual dynamic for some Pride participants, who now find themselves bracing for protests not only from far-right agitators and other outside groups, but also from activists within their own community. In recent weeks, pro-Palestinian LGBTQ+ groups have disrupted marches in Boston, Denver, Philadelphia and elsewhere to protest sponsors connections to Israel. Several groups boycotted the Queens Pride Parade this month after the president of the LGBT Network, which organizes the event, expressed strong support for Israel and chided Palestinian activists in an online piece. In San Francisco, Jewish groups expressed outrage after Pride organizers announced that there would be no Israeli float at this Sundays parade, one of the world's largest. The organizers released a follow-up statement clarifying that no one who registered for the event had been denied. The large annual Pride parade in Tel Aviv, Israel, was canceled last month out of respect for the hostages taken by Hamas that remain in Gaza. Sandra Perez, the executive director of NYC Pride, says the organization approaches its march with a free speech mindset and does not restrict the messaging of registered participants (though police officers are barred from marching in uniform). But, she said, she hoped the issue of the war would not silence other members of the community. Our concern with people choosing to express themselves or protest the issues they want to protest is that it doesnt overshadow the issues facing the LGBTQ community, Perez said. Supporters of the Palestinian cause see Pride events as a natural venue to showcase solidarity with those facing oppression, noting the first march was held to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a riot that began with a police raid on a Manhattan gay bar. In years past, Black Lives Matter activists briefly disrupted Pride events to call attention to promote more inclusion of people of color. The recent war protests, some say, have further exposed a widening rift between legacy queer institutions, including those running the parades, and the younger and more diverse segments of the community that have become increasingly vocal about the plight of Palestinians. It is safe to say that everyone is thinking about the genocide that is happening in Gaza and Palestine across the board, said Raquel Willis, a transgender writer who will serve as one of the grand marshals of the NYC Pride Parade. The difference is whether people are being outspoken about it or not. As the responses to the war in Gaza have inflamed existing tensions within the community, they have also opened new fissures among once-aligned allies. Since 2019, left-leaning activists fed up with the growing corporate presence at NYC Pride have hosted their own event, known as the Queer Liberation March. Long skeptical of outside funders, the group previously counted Housing Works, a nonprofit focused on fighting AIDS and homelessness, as its sole fiscal sponsor. But this year, after organizers announced the marchs theme would include those facing war and genocide, as well as youths of color, Housing Works declined to get on board. In an email to employees, the Housing Works CEO, Charles King, said the organization has not taken a position on the war in Gaza and would not do so at the march on Sunday. After much deliberation, we have decided that Housing Works should join the march under the banner of only the first theme, fighting for our Black and Brown youth, he wrote. In response, the organizers of the Queer Liberation March took to Instagram with a defiant message: Those that remain silent in the face of wars and genocides, they wrote, arent representing the values of the Queer Liberation March. It's been a tough couple of days for America's liberals. On Thursday, they had to watch President Joe Biden give a historically bad debate performance that confirmed for most people watching that he lacks the stamina to be president for another four years. The liberal commentariat is now officially in panic mode, with effectively no one defending the president's performance, and many former stalwart Biden supporters explicitly urging him to drop out of the race so that someone, anyone, capable of defeating former President Donald Trump can take the helm. Then today, the U.S. Supreme Court jointly decided two cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce, that ended the long-standing doctrine of Chevron deferencethe judicial rule that required courts to largely defer to executive agencies' own judgment on the legality of their regulations. The always hysterical Mark Joseph Stern, Slate's legal writer, declared the decision a "major blow to the 'administrative state'" and one that "constitutes a major transfer of power from the executive branch to the judiciary." Stern leveled a similar assessment of the Supreme Court's decision in SEC v. Jarkesy, in which the court ruled that people being prosecuted by administrative agencies for civil violations were entitled to a jury trial. He's hardly alone in despairing. The liberal legal commentariat is positively apoplectic at the new limits that the federal bureaucracy will now have to put up with. Individually, these separate freakouts might make sense; Democrats don't want a Democrat to lose a presidential election. Liberal big-government supporters don't want additional restrictions on the power of federal regulators to set sweeping national policy. Taken together, there's a frustrating incoherence to these twin panics. Liberals are incensed that an executive branch soon to be controlled by Donald Trump will have less ability to unilaterally set policy. Given the fears of what a second Donald Trump administration will mean for liberal political priorities, one would think that the Supreme Court's rulings limiting executive power should be viewed as a good thing amongst America's liberals. Surely, they should think it a good thing that Trump's executive agencies will face more scrutiny from the courts when enacting regulations not obviously authorized in statutes passed by Congress. Likewise, Trump haters should seemingly think it a good thing that people charged by independent agencies whose personnel Trump will appoint get the benefit of jury trials. This should have been the liberal takeaway from the first Trump administration, but it largely wasn't. Instead, Democrats went all in on the idea that Trump was an illegitimate president. All they needed to do was organize harder, vote harder, and be more radical until they finally again controlled the White House. In office, Biden has been willing to stretch his executive power even further by forgiving student loans, prolonging eviction moratoriums, and mandating vaccines for private-sector workers, all without so much as a vote in Congress. With the reality sinking in that Biden might not be president for much longer, this is looking like a bad strategy. Libertarians have an easy time accepting limits on executive power. We're never in charge of the federal government, and we don't want it to do much anyway. The rest of the ideological spectrum should embrace the wisdom of this attitude as well, even if they desire a much more active federal government. Policy wins resulting from unilateral executive action can be just as easily undone by executive action. The more power the president has, the more concerning it becomes when the president is someone you consider to be dangerous, or even unhinged. All the more reason to limit the powers of the president, even if that means working through Congress and the states to get one's favored policies enacted. The cases coming out of the Supreme Court will put hard limits on liberals' ability to implement their policy vision through executive agencies. They will also put hard limits on Donald Trump doing the same. Anyone who wants Biden to win, and watched last night's debate, should see the silver lining there. The post Liberals in Biden Panic Mode Should Learn To Love Limits on Executive Power appeared first on Reason.com. The librarian who spoke out: Irene Padilla steps down after 22 years as state librarian Irene Padilla saw a lot of change in her 22 years as the Maryland State Librarian. She is retiring after June 30. Photo by Elijah Pittman. Librarians are supposed to keep quiet. Irene Padilla made her career as a librarian by speaking out. Padilla is retiring Sunday, ending a 22-year run as head of the Maryland State Library Agency, where colleagues say she has been a voice against book banning, created a fund that has revitalized or renewed dozens of aging libraries around the state, advocated for readers with disabilities and fought for the creation of the agency itself. The biggest achievement really was transitioning our library services for the state out of the Department of Education and establishing and having the Maryland State Library Agency established as an independent unit of state government, Padilla said in a recent interview. When she first started as Maryland state librarian, the agency was a division of the Maryland State Department of Education, which librarians said did not give it the attention or the funding it deserved. Because libraries were not identified as being curriculum-driven, or whatever, the Department of Education just either completely ignored libraries, or worse, used the resources coming in to MSDE that were earmarked for libraries for their own other purposes, said Lynn Wheeler, the Carroll County Public Library director emerita. Wheeler said the agency was not always getting the funding that was earmarked for it, which pushed Padilla to advocate for making the agency independent of the department. Irene got very very upset about this. Watching resources, being told no all the time, not given any leeway to help libraries, Wheeler said. Posters from the National Book Festival decorate the walls of the Maryland State Library Agency, Photo by Elijah Pitman. So she really, with great guts, came to the directors and said, Look, as long as we are tied to, and really under the foot of the Maryland State Department of Education, libraries can never realize what they could realize if they could be an independent department, Wheeler said. The agency won its independence in 2017, when a law created it. Padilla deflected credit, as she did repeatedly during an interview, checking off a list of other state agencies the comptroller, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Legislative Services that she said helped the agency get on its feet. Even before the agency was on its own, however, Padilla was able to secure more consistent funding for the states libraries, pushing for what would become the State Capital Grant program, which now brings $7.5 million annually to renovate, build, and expand public libraries. The grant started in 2008 with a $5 million appropriation that grew to $7.5 million, which is allocated to counties on a sliding scale based on what each county can afford. So, wealthier counties have a 50% match, but some of the poorer counties have almost up to a 90% match, said Al Martin a former library agency board member. Which is really quite extraordinary and has certainly helped all of our various local area jurisdictions. The fund has allowed for renovation of libraries across the state as well as the construction of 21 new libraries, according to the grants site. Three have opened in the past year: Twin Beaches in Calvert County, Riviera Beach in Anne Arundel County and Middletown in Frederick County. The progressive funding model ensured that low-income communities were not harmed, a value that Martin said is important to Padilla. She also just has been a wonderful person on bringing people together, he said. Like any family, not everyone agrees with each other all the time, but its in everyones best interest to be there for each other and to support each other. Shes done an excellent job of coordinating and bringing consensus building, to create a shared common voice for libraries in Maryland, Martin added. Padilla also worked to protect the blind and print-disabled community. The Library for the Blind and Print Disabled employs assistive technology, provides resources for students, operates an accessible textbook program and more. One of the programs we started under my tenure was a program whereby we translate textbooks for college and university libraries for students with print disabilities, into either braille or digital material, Padilla said. Her latest fight was to protect Maryland libraries and librarians from the threat of book bans. We are so thrilled that the Freedom to Read Act passed in the General Assembly this last session, Padilla said of the law that prohibits the removal of library materials for partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval and bans retaliation against librarians who defend materials against being removed. As the Maryland State Library Agency, we have been charged with making sure that the regulation that would go hand in hand with that (law) is put together, she said. After working with stakeholders around the state, the agency proposed regulations to enforce the Freedom to Read Act. The regulations were approved June 12 by the State Library Board, she said. We want to make sure that our librarians have at their fingertips the resources they need to defend their collections and protect their materials, their books, reading materials and all kinds of resources from dissenters, Padilla said. Cecil County Library Executive Director Morgan Lehr Miller will take over for as the new state librarian, according to a statement from the agency. Miller has been with Cecil County libraries since 2005. Im extremely honored and inspired by this opportunity to lead the State Library Agency into the future, and to build on our shared commitment to uplift the lives of all Marylanders through transformative library services, Miller said in the statement. Padilla, who has worked as a librarian for 35 years, may be retiring but shes not giving up on libraries. I hope that they know that libraries are open to everyone and that we are here for them, and we want to help them, she said when asked what message she had for Marylanders. So, if theres any hesitancy, please dont hesitate to come to the library because we can make a lot of things happen between the two of us. The post The librarian who spoke out: Irene Padilla steps down after 22 years as state librarian appeared first on Maryland Matters. SEVIER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Seven minors hiking in Sevier County were hospitalized Thursday after lightning struck the ground next to their youth group, according to the Sevier County Sheriffs Office. At around 1:45 p.m., a youth group from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was hiking near Fremont Junction when a light storm rolled in. Officials say lightning struck the ground which was covered in puddles from the rain and was felt by 50 of the juveniles. Seven minors were transported to local hospitals via ambulance to be treated for electrocution. Two of the juveniles were then transported by a medical helicopter to the Primary Childrens Hospital in Lehi due to severe symptoms. Sevier County officials say the injuries are not considered life-threatening at this time. Officials say the rest of the youth were uninjured and brought back to their homes safely. We appreciate all of our first responders who helped respond during this incident: Sevier County Sheriffs Office, Sevier County EMS, Salina Police, Sevier County SAR, Emery County Sheriffs Office, Emery County EMS, Utah Highway Patrol, [and] Richfield DPS Communications Center, the SCSO said. There is no additional information available 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 ABC4 Utah. (Bloomberg) -- Theres a growing list of institutional investors in Europe who are stripping oil and gas stocks out of their portfolios, in a move they say reduces the risk of ending up with stranded assets and financial losses. Most Read from Bloomberg The latest to do so is PFA, Denmarks largest commercial pension fund with roughly $110 billion of assets under management. The investor has just offloaded its $170 million stake in Shell Plc based on an assessment that the companys capital expenditure on renewables is worryingly low. There was a cry to them to engage more in the transition, says Rasmus Bessing, head of ESG investing and co-chief investment officer at PFA. But especially over the last year or so, a bit more perhaps, Shell has been signaling it wants to go in a different direction, he said. A spokesperson for Shell referred to a comment made by Chief Executive Officer Wael Sawan at the companys annual general meeting on May 21, when he said shareholders have strongly backed its strategy. Our focus on performance, discipline and simplification enables us to invest in providing the energy the world needs today, and in helping to build the low-carbon energy system of the future. Click here to see Bloomberg data on Shells net-zero trajectory. Other institutional investors also are losing patience with oil and gas holdings. Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, Europes biggest pension fund with about $550 billion of assets under management, said in May that it exited all its liquid assets in oil, gas and coal a portfolio that was worth about $11 billion. It has said it plans to divest a further $5 billion of less liquid fossil-fuel assets. In France, new sustainable investing requirements mean asset managers using the label will need to purge their portfolios of an estimated $7.5 billion in combined fossil-fuel assets, a development that will hit companies including TotalEnergies SE and Shell. In the UK, both the Church of England Pensions Board and the Church Commissioners for England, which together oversee about $17 billion in assets, said last year that theyll start blacklisting oil and gas majors. Swedens AP7 fund, which manages more than $100 billion, has exclusion policies targeting a range of oil producers, including Saudi Aramco and Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corp. It blacklisted Exxon Mobil Corp.. AkademikerPension, a Danish pensions investor, axed the last remaining oil and gas holdings in its $20 billion portfolio at the end of 2023 and is now in the process of offloading companies that provide equipment and services to fossil-fuel producers. For now, the impact on returns of such divestments has been neutral to slightly positive, says Troels Brrild, head of responsible investments at AkademikerPension. But looking down the road, theres a transition risk and that will materialize for a number of companies, Brrild said. Its not priced in at the moment, but as regulations take their toll, low-carbon portfolios are poised for even more positive risk-adjusted returns, he said. According to a March study by the Transition Pathway Initiative Centre, a think tank, Shell lags behind other European oil majors in its clean-energy transition. Whats more, oil investors are unlikely to have a clear idea of the risks they face because the industry isnt generally providing them with the information they need, according to the studys authors. Shells goal is to invest around $10 billion to $15 billion between 2023 and 2025 to support the development of low-carbon energy solutions, a spokesperson for the company said. That includes e-mobility, low-carbon fuels, renewable power generation, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage. Shell says it invested a total of $5.6 billion in low-carbon solutions in 2023, which was 23% of its capital spending. Read the Latest About OPEC: A US Senate committee is investigating whether oil producers are illegally coordinating with OPEC to raise prices, following allegations that the former head of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. colluded with the cartel. A number of big banks are also cutting their exposure to oil and gas. The European Unions largest lender, BNP Paribas SA, has stopped underwriting conventional bonds for the fossil-fuel industry as part of a broader crackdown across the group on financing oil and gas. Credit Agricole SA, another major French bank, said in early June that its taking similar steps. The development coincides with a particularly tense moment in the finance industrys relationship with fossil fuels. On Wall Street, banks are increasingly being targeted by angry protesters demanding an immediate retreat from oil, gas and coal financing. Wall Street has responded by warning such a move would be economically irresponsible. CEOs including Barclays Plcs CS Venkatakrishnan, Citigroup Inc.s Jane Fraser, JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s David Solomon have insisted that the finance industry cant turn its back on oil and gas clients. Just this week, Venkatakrishnan characterized as unrealistic any calls to go cold turkey on fossil fuels. KKR & Co. founder Henry Kravis recently accused climate protesters of not understanding the economics of the energy transition. Even within the realm of climate nonprofits, there are now notable proponents of embracing some of the highest-polluting assets. These include Climate Arc, which is backed by hedge fund billionaire Chris Hohn. Other backers include Nicolai Tangen, a former hedge fund manager who now runs Norways $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, as well as Generation Foundation, which was set up alongside Al Gores Generation Investment Management. Critics of exclusion policies argue that fossil-fuel companies can just turn to less scrupulous financiers, with less likelihood of any green engagement. They also note its important to distinguish between gas which even made its way into the EUs green taxonomy and coal and oil, which have much higher CO2 emissions. Meryam Omi, Climate Arcs CEO, says too many investors are shying away from the murky part of climate finance. In other words, the finance industry needs to move into the highest-emitting sectors to effectively bring about a low-carbon energy transition, she says. Bessing notes that PFA still holds oil companies whose transition plans it views as credible. That includes TotalEnergies. Not everything that TotalEnergies does is perfect, but unlike Shell, the company has set a 2030 target of raising their capex in clean energy to 33%, which is something that we have requested, he said. If I had the resources, I would engage with more oil and gas companies in order to push them further into green transition, Bessing said. As things stand, though, its clear that even if PFA exited all its fossil-fuel exposures, the world will not become any greener, he said. --With assistance from Alastair Marsh. (Adds data in 12th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Lithuanian customs authorities discovered a scheme to violate sanctions by exporting cars to Russia and Belarus, the LRT media outlet reported on June 28, citing the customs service. The EU instituted a ban on the export of all new and used cars above a certain engine size (greater than 1.900 cm) to Russia in the immediate aftermath of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Cars from Europe have nonetheless continued to enter Russia through a variety of schemes to circumvent the ban. "Trucks with semi-trailers, owned by business entities registered in Lithuania, leave for (Russia or Belarus), ostensibly to transport goods or to pick them up, but never return, and their registration is simply changed abroad," the Lithuanian customs service said. To transport luxury vehicles, people register them in their own names, drive them to Russia, and then keep them there. "This is an attempt to evade the stricter controls by the Lithuanian customs authorities regarding the possible entry of cars into Russia," the customs service said. Authorities will strengthen the monitoring of companies that transport vehicles in response. Violators could face fines "between 50 and 100% of the value of the goods," according to the customs service. Read also: Lithuania to allocate at least 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraines security, defense Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks on the last day of the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. Tobias Hase/dpa Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Friday welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the European Union's new foreign policy head. The appointment meant recognition of the views of the Baltic republics and other countries on NATO's eastern flank, which were taking an uncompromising attitude to Russia, Landsbergis said. "She has never made a secret of her position. She has expressed herself clearly on values that are very important to us," Landsbergis said in Vilnius, according to the BNS news agency. EU leaders chose Kallas as the new foreign policy head on Thursday following elections to the European Parliament earlier this month. The three Baltic republics are among the staunchest backers of Ukraine in fighting off the Russian invasion. Many in the region believe that Russian success in Ukraine could lead to a similar attack on their independence. The Kremlin responded negatively to the appointment, saying it would exacerbate the already poor relations with the EU. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Kallas as "well known to [Russia] for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes extremely Russophobic remarks." Kallas had also not to date stood out through her diplomatic skills, Peskov said, according to reports by Russian news agencies. After deliberating for a 4th day and hours after telling the judge they were unable to reach a verdict, Judge Beverly Cannone told court that the jurors in the Karen Read murder trial will return to deliberate on Monday. Earlier Friday, the jurors in the high-profile Karen Read murder trial told Judge Beverly Cannone that theyve been unable to reach a unanimous verdict after less than four full days of deliberations. Clear your heads: Judge sends Karen Read jurors back to try to reach verdict in murder trial After considering opinions on the matter from the prosecution and defense, Cannone ordered the jurors back to work to try to reach a verdict, saying they hadnt been deliberating for a sufficient amount of time. Around 3:45 p.m., the judge told the courtroom that the Jurors would like to continue deliberating until 4:15 p.m. Around 4:20, the courtroom briefly refilled before Cannone said jurors will continue to deliberate next week. We came in briefly to the courtroom and Judge in the Karen Read trial said the jury has asked to continue deliberating until 4:15pm Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 28, 2024 Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her Boston police officer boyfriend John OKeefe with her car and leaving him for dead in the snow in Canton in January 2022, but the defense has made a case that she is being framed. Jurors are deciding whether Read is guilty or not guilty of second-degree murder, which in Massachusetts is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole. Read also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years. LIVE COURT UPDATES: 4:18 p.m. Cannone sends the jury in the Karen Read murder trial home for the weekend. They will return Monday to continue deliberations. 3:40 p.m. The courtroom briefly refills as the judge said the jury has asked to continue deliberating until 4:15 pm 12:20 p.m. Judge Cannone says she is not prepared to end deliberations due to the amount of witnesses, evidence, and complexity of this case. The judge is now telling them to continue to try to reach a verdict. Sending them back to deliberate. Video of the discussion over the deadlock is below. Judge Cannone says she not prepared to end deliberations due to the amount of witnesses, evidence and complexity of this case. Judge is now telling them to continue to try to reach a verdict. Sending them back at that. Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 28, 2024 12:10 p.m. In a note, the jury says they have conducted an exhaustive review of the evidence. Breaking: Judge in Karen Read trial says the jury has sent a note saying they have been unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Breaking: Judge in Karen Read trial says jury has sent a note saying they have been unable to reach a unanimous verdict Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 28, 2024 11:55 a.m. The jury has another question for the court. Court clerk tells us there is another jury question in the Karen Read trial. Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 28, 2024 9 a.m. The judge said the jury could set their own timetable for leaving early and staying late. The defense team is getting dropped off on the left side of the courthouse and going straight in with a police escort. Good morning from inside the courtroom in the Commonwealth vs. Karen Read. #Boston25 -Today is the 4th day of jury deliberations on the Friday before the 4th of July week. -Judge said jury can set their own timetable for leaving early, staying late. -Defense team is getting pic.twitter.com/FO6vM8gm3u Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) June 28, 2024 PREVIOUS STORY: Jurors were handed the case on Tuesday after closing statements were delivered and have been deliberating for about 16 hours at this point. Read is accused of dropping OKeefe off at another officers house party after a night of drinking, and then ramming him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm. But her defense team argues she was framed, and that the evidence shows OKeefe was beaten up by someone else inside the house, bitten by a dog, and left outside. Karen Reads jurors weigh evidence in a murder trial that challenged police integrity On Thursday, both sides including Read and her team only entered the courtroom twice, once in the morning when the jury arrived and again at the end of the day when they were sent home. Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) Alan Jackson, From left, Liza Little, defendant Karen Read and David Yanetti wait for a question from the jury as the jury deliberates in Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Judge Beverly Cannone looks over the verdict slip the jurors have to fill out when they reach a verdict in Karen Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. The defense has asked for some modifications. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. Jury deliberations began in the trial Tuesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Carol Kelly, of Canton, Mass., below right, waves a pink and white American flag in support of Karen Read while Gail White, of Canton, left, holds a sign, a block from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Lisa Hoffman, of Mansfield, Mass., right, displays a sign in support of Karen Read that features a likeness of a Massachusetts license plate, while seated a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Supporters of Karen Read display signs and a banner a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Supporters of Karen Read listen to proceedings from Read's trial from a laptop computer while gathered a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Laura McGillis, of Attleboro, Mass., a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Eva Jenkins, of Bourne, Mass., left, a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars as other supporters place a banner, right, a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Karen Read, center right, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. Karen Read listens to family members, after the jury is dismissed at the end of the evidence phase of her murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) After the defense's last witness, Judge Beverly J. Cannone speaks to the jury during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read Retired forensic pathologist Dr. Frank Sheridan (not shown) is questioned by defense attorney Elizabeth Little during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center, stands amid her lawyers during a break in proceedings during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, and her defense lawyers Alan Jackson, left, and David Yannetti, right, listen as the prosecution questions their witness Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, listens as the prosecutor questions Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's 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) Karen Read, center, listens to testimony during her murder 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) Karen Read, center, sits in court with her legal team during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (David McGlynn/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read listens to her lawyer Alan Jackson question witness Massachusetts State trooper Michael Proctor during her, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read reacts to he attorney Alan Jackson as he cross examines state trooper Michael Proctor during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read and attorney David Yannetti listen during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John OKeefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court 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. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court 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. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Former state prosecutor and defense attorney Marty Kane said youre generally looking for a quick verdict as a defense attorney and said he would have expected it sooner. They have heard six weeks, seven weeks of trial, 60, 70 witnesses. They respect their obligation as jurors, and they are going to be diligent, go through all that evidence, marshal the evidence, and come back with a unanimous verdict, Kane told Boston 25. Kane also reminds its the job of the foreperson to make sure the group of jurors comes to a consensus. The jury of 12 comprises six men and six women, plus two alternates. One juror was dismissed before closing arguments on Tuesday morning. The trial began on April 16 with jury selection. Opening statements were delivered on April 29, followed by 29 days of testimony in front of the jury. Closing arguments came Tuesday after the Commonwealth called 68 witnesses, while the defense called six. RELATED: Karen Reads jurors weigh evidence in a murder trial that challenged police integrity Is she a murderer or was she framed? Everything to know right now about the Karen Read trial Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) Several local churches attended a training meeting that focused on active shooter defense on Thursday at the Fellowship Bible Church. East Texas schools are urgently hiring ahead of August The Longview Area Safety Teams, that focuses on one area of training every quarter, and the Texas Church Coalition hosted the meeting. We want to be a welcoming church but not a vulnerable church, James Kelt, with the Longview Area Safety Teams, said. Members of the team meet to discuss and train on how to properly protect their fellow worshippers. We want to be a space where anyone can come and worship and do it safely and have confidence that them and their children are in a safe place during that time, Kelt said. The training is called PRESS, which stands for prepare, respond, engage, save and survive. Kelt said its critical for churches to acknowledge their weaknesses. East Texas farmers report unusually big cucumbers, squash Being aware of your surroundings, knowing your church campus, knowing where certain access points are, where your vulnerabilities are and then training to that point and educate, Kelt said. The seminar also discussed the immediate response if an incident does occur to keep congregates 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 KETK.com | FOX51.com. NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) Exciting news for the local high school band playing in Rome for New Years 2025. Heritage High Schools marching band received a large donation from the Coalition of Concerned Clergy. Photo courtesy of Newport News Public Schools. The organization donated $50,000 towards the bands upcoming trip to Romes New Years Day Parade and Festival. President Rev. Dr. Tremayne Johnson and other members of the Coalition presented the ceremonial check to Band Director Jemere Brown at the Newport News School Board meeting on June 18, 2024. The Coalition of Concerned Clergy heard about the students excitement about the trip but was made aware that funds were short and time was of the essence, Johnson said in a statement. Together with partnering Churches, Pastors, and organizations, the COCC raised $50,000 to help send these well-deserving students on the trip of a lifetime. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dignitarys plane depressurizes on way to surprise local high school marching band According to a press release from Newport News Public Schools in Nov. 2023, Brown said the band is preparing for the performance by practicing music and marching five days a week. The band will perform during the parade on Jan. 1, 2025. Thousands of performers will come together from across the world to perform to about 250,000 people in-person. The event will also be live-streamed worldwide. Click here to watch the full school board meeting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOWANDA, Pa. (WETM) A Lockwood man police say is responsible for causing a disturbance inside the Robert Packer Hospital on Tuesday is now on the run after failing to post bail and escaping from a hospital in Towanda after a medical check. According to information released by the Bradford County District Attorneys Office, 30-year-old Ryan C. Kithcart is on the run as of Friday after escaping from a Towanda hospital around 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 25. Information found in an affidavit of probable cause states that Kithcart was seen before a judge in the early morning hours on Tuesday after his arrest shortly past midnight. Kithcart was arraigned in court after a disturbance inside the Robert Packer Hospital Emergency Room in Sayre where police said he was threatening to shoot people with a gun. Kithcart was arraigned on several misdemeanor charges and was scheduled to be taken to the Bradford County Correctional Facility after failing to post $75,000 bail. Previous Post: Lockwood man arrested after disturbance in Robert Packer Hospital emergency room After arriving at the correctional facility, the documents state that Kithcart had to have a whole-body scan as part of the intake process. During that process, the report states that an unknown anomaly was found in Kithcarts abdomen. The affidavit states that Kithcart was taken to Towanda Memorial Hospital by ambulance for evaluation and possible treatment, without an escort by police or correctional facility personnel. The report says that Kithcart was released from the hospital around 6 a.m. on Tuesday with police still unable to locate him after he failed to return to the Bradford County Correctional Facility. An arrest warrant was issued for Kithcart as of Friday, June 28, and additional charges of escape, a grade two misdemeanor, and flight to avoid apprehension, also a grade two misdemeanor were raised against him. The Bradford County District Attorneys Office is still investigating the circumstances around the release of Kithcart from custody. The DAs Office asks anyone with information on Kithcarts whereabouts to contact Sayre Borough Police Department at 570-888-2233 or call 911 immediately. The release asks people not to make contact with Kithcart because he may be a danger to himself or others. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Look at these adorable pandas arrive to the US from China A pair of pandas from China have arrived and will settle into their new home in America's finest city -- San Diego, California. The panda diplomacy ambassadors, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are the first new set of pandas to make their way to the U.S. in 21 years. PHOTO: Two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are relocating from China to the United States and will be welcomed to the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Caretaker Huang Shan, who prepared the animals for the journey by teaching them commands in English, traveled with the 3-year-old and 4-year-old bears to assist with the transition to their new home. The pandas arrived to Los Angeles International Airport on Friday morning and head to the San Diego Zoo where they will begin a one-month quarantine period as they acclimate to their new environment. PHOTO: Two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are relocating from China to the United States and will be welcomed to the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) He said that Yun Chuan is active, outgoing and comes over when he hears caretakers footsteps, while Xin Bao is more sensitive, but smart and interested in the sounds of animals and birds. PHOTO: Two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are relocating from China to the United States and will be welcomed to the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) A private farewell ceremony for the bears was held in Ya'an, where the pandas departed from on Thursday, with both Chinese dignitaries and representatives from the San Diego Zoo in attendance. After the pandas arrive in San Diego, they will not be viewable to the public while they acclimate for several weeks to their new home. When wildlife health and care teams confirm the pair are ready to meet the public, we will share a debut date and how to see the beloved pandas. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (@sandiegozoo) June 26, 2024 San Diego Zoo President and CEO Paul Baribault told "Good Morning America" this marks a poignant moment for the team. "It is truly a moment where I get to pinch myself and think that I get to be a part of an organization that gets to do this," he said. PHOTO: In this June 11, 2020 file photo, a sign is displayed near the entrance to the San Diego Zoo in San Diego. (Gregory Bull/AP) Baribault explained that the conservation team members "have to do a lot of preparation to make sure that [the pandas] are well taken care of through the whole journey" and said that the San Diego-based team, plus their China conservation partners, "will be on the travel with them -- it'll be a great trip." PHOTO: Two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are relocating from China to the United States and will be welcomed to the San Diego Zoo. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) As pandemonium builds stateside, visitors will have to wait a bit longer to catch a glimpse of the gentle giants while they get acclimated to their new home. PHOTO: Two pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are relocating from China to the United States and will be welcomed to the San Diego Zoo. (ABC News) An earlier version of this story was first published on June 27, 2024. Look at these adorable pandas arrive to the US from China originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Look: Pennsylvania firefighters rescue four ducklings from storm drain June 28 (UPI) -- A team of Pennsylvania firefighters climbed into a storm drain to rescue a family of four trapped ducklings. The Quarryville Fire Company said on social media that a crew responded to West 4th Street following a report of ducklings that fell into a storm drain. "The volunteers were able to access the storm drains and remove four small ducklings," fire officials wrote on social media. Firefighters were unable to locate the ducklings' mother, so they were taken by a resident to a local animal rehab center. "Just another thing your local volunteers are tasked with and ready for," the post said. Looking for the best Fourth of July fireworks? Heres what wowed The Bees summer interns The Bees annual intern firework review is back! After a brief hiatus, this years cohort of summer reporting interns revamped the series, bonding over the sights and sounds of a collection of Safe and Sane pyrotechnics during a visit to the Sacramento Fire Departments Station 4. Using highly scientific ranking methods, interns reviewed 26 fireworks, ranging from silent showers of glittery sparks to flashy and loud finale sequences. The fireworks came from distributors Phantom Fireworks, Discount Fireworks Superstore and TNT Fireworks, the three national firms permitted to sell fireworks in Sacramento County. The fireworks we tested went on sale Friday morning. Under the supervision of firefighters and the companys local experts, we sat in awe 25 feet from the pops, crackles and booms. The college graduates and journalism majors were dazzled for two hours by the colorful sparkles, sharing our thoughts over notebooks, cameras and a few boxes of pizza and cheesy bread. We would be remiss if we did not emphasize the importance of these Safe and Sane firework and their appropriate usage in Sacramento County, especially during a challenging early wildfire season. Rafael Cortez with TNT Fireworks extinguishes lingering flames from the Phantom Fireworks Radioactive Spark fountain on Monday. Cortez assisted the Sacramento Bees interns in their process of reviewing 26 different fireworks. How to have a safe Fourth of July All fireworks sold in California are required to have a Safe and Sane seal from the state fire marshal, indicating they were determined to be safe for use by the general public. Fireworks that dont have this seal are considered dangerous those include Roman candles, bottle rockets and firecrackers not sold at display stands around town. Capt. Justin Sylvia, a spokesman for the citys Fire Department, emphasized the importance of using fireworks on a flat, paved surface, clear of grass, with at least 25 feet of clearance. Make sure youre dumping them in water, and its a good idea to even let them sit overnight in that water, Sylvia said. We do have situations where people toss the fireworks in their garbage can and, an hour or two later, that garbage can catches on fire. He also advised against letting young children light the fireworks the pyrotechnics are still dangerous and should only be handled by an adult. According to Aaron Crawford, the area manager for TNT Fireworks, educational material is handed out with every fireworks sale. This year, theres a card with a QR code that links to TNTs websites and provides customers with different ways to celebrate safely. Crawford emphasized that spectators should be at least 25 feet from the fireworks once they are lighted and to only light one at a time. Another tip that TNT emphasizing this year due to the abundant amounts of dry grass across the capital region is to have a bucket where you can douse your fireworks after its done to make sure its out cold, and then also have a hose ready with a nozzle on it, Crawford said. Where can you get legal fireworks in Sacramento? Firework sales are legal in Sacramento County for the six days leading up to Independence Day. Sales begin at noon Friday and will end at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. During this time, TNT and Phantom will have fireworks stands open across the region in cities and counties that allow sales. This embedded content is not available in your region. You can find a full list of Phantom locations at fireworks.com, and TNTs location listings are at tntfireworks.com. County regulations mandate that fireworks may only be set off from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through the holiday. Now lets get on to the reviews. The best fireworks in Sacramento We compiled a list of our 10 favorite fireworks, as well as three honorable mentions, each with their own distinctive style. Each firework is ranked from 1 to 5 on the Ooh and Boom scales how pretty they are and how enjoyable their sound is. We also include the prices, a description of each firework and any deals the manufacturers have on the fireworks. The reporters and visual journalists on hand had a diverse set of opinions on the fireworks they enjoyed most; some preferred quieter and simpler fountains while others loved the high-flying, booming fireworks. There was no runaway favorite this year for the record, we were unable to try the former intern firework champion, Opening Show but for the first time, there was a four-way tie for second place! With so many fireworks to rate, there were plenty of others we enjoyed, even if they didnt dazzle us as much, so the following honorable mentions feature other fireworks recommendations outside of the Ooh and Boom scales. Honorable mentions Silent Insanity sits on the ground before testing on Monday. This TNT Fireworks fountain had five different colors and put on a low noise show. Silent Insanity *NEW for 2024* Manufacturer: TNT Price: $49.99 Length of show: 1 minute, 14 seconds Ooh rating: 3.47 Boom rating: 2.13 TNT Fireworks Silent Insanity spews flaming colors into the air. What TNT said: Blue and white multi stage effect, cascades and willow effect, and fluttering quiet finish. What we said: More new effects like little stars and sparklers, best for how quiet it is if you want a quiet one, pretty gold coloring, little jumping sparkles. Fiery Frogs sits on the ground before testing on Monday. This Phantom Fireworks fountain had crackle, glitter, spray, star and strobe effects. Fiery Frogs Manufacturer: Phantom Price: $29.99 Length of show: 0:33 Ooh rating: 3.94 Boom rating: 3.70 Phantom Fireworks Fiery Frogs fountain glows from the inside out during a sparkling display. What Phantom said: Multi-effect novelty with crackling bright eyes, glowing mouth. Gold/silver showers with crackle and red and blue stars. What we said: If I could give the packaging a rating, it would be a 6/5 was a contender before it was even lit off. Taco Tuesday sits on the ground before testing on Monday. This Freedom Fireworks fountain had colored flames and colored sparks. Taco Tuesday Manufacturer: Discount Fireworks Superstore Price: $32.68 Length of show: 0:58 Ooh rating: 3.44 Boom rating: 3.06 What they said: Time to go loco!! Its taco time with colored flames, colored sparks and crackles. What we said: Multi Colored flames. Sparks flew far and fast. Taco Tuesday for a fireworks Monday. Freedom Fireworks Taco Tuesday releases a flurry of explosions on Monday. Seventh place Brain Buster sits on the ground before testing on Monday at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4. This TNT Fireworks fountain had nine shots and four different colors. Brain Buster Manufacturer: TNT Price: $79.99 Length of show: 1:34 Ooh rating: 3.88 Boom rating: 3.84 What TNT said: Dancing fish, silvery crackles, silvery shower, titanium flowers, shoots from all four side panels. What we said: Very bright, different colors, long but constantly engaging, surprises at the end again. An array of explosions burst from TNT Fireworks Brain Buster on Monday. Sixth place Martian Man sits on the ground before testing on Monday. The TNT Fireworks fountains eyes glowed during parts of the pyrotechnic performance. Martian Man *NEW for 2024* Manufacturer: TNT Price: $39.99 Length of show: 1:14 Ooh rating: 4.13 Boom rating: 3.67 TNT Fireworks Martian Man shoots a series of explosions into the air on Monday. What TNT said: Mind blowing, multi color, multi shower effect, with titanium crackles. Multi directional shower finish. What we said: The ending was out of the world in my opinion. Fifth place Bomb Pop sits on the ground before testing on Monday. Freedom Fireworks describes Bomb Pop as having vibrant colors and crazy effects. Bomb Pop Manufacturer: Freedom Fireworks Price: $20.13 Length of show: 1:40 Ooh rating: 3.94 Boom rating: 3.88 Bomb Pop sparks in the sky and against the ground on Monday. What Freedom said: Vibrant colors and crazy effects. What we said: Has a little bit of everything, the charcuterie board of fireworks. Fourth place Wild Side sits on the ground before testing on Monday at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4. This TNT Fireworks fountain had four shots in six different colors. Wild Side Manufacturer: TNT Price: $29.99 Length of show: 0:58 Ooh rating: 4.13 Boom rating: 4.5 TNT Fireworks Wild Side puts on a show of sound and light on Monday. What TNT said: Red, green, yellow, blue & purple sparks with silvery crackling chrysanthemum bursts. What we said: Widespread sparks, sounded like really heavy hail. Third place World Champ fountain by TNT Fireworks had red, white and blue effect colors. World Champ *NEW for 2024* Manufacturer: TNT Price: $59.99 Length of show: 1:41 Ooh rating: 4.88 Boom rating: 4.13 TNT Fireworks World Champ releases a flurry of explosions on Monday. What TNT said: Power packed, multi tubed, multi colored, with loud crackles and multi shower and rain finale. What we said: Love the start, great streams of white sparkles. Lots happening and lasts a long time. Good value. Perfect finale firework. Second place (all four of them) La Calaca sits on the ground before testing on Monday. This TNT Fireworks fountain had five shots and seven different colors. La Calaca Manufacturer: TNT Price: $44.99 Length of show: 1:17 Ooh rating: 4.44 Boom rating: 4.48 TNT Fireworks La Calaca streams sparks Monday as the Sacramento Bees interns rate it. What TNT said: Celebrate those who have gone before us with this multi-color, sparkling fountain. Beautiful array of colors. What we said: Had a light, which was a sick feature, and you watch the light until it goes out so you dont burn yourself (safety matters!) The Peacock Tail Fan fountain sits on the ground before testing on Monday. This Phantom Firework fountain released stars in four different colors. Peacock Tail Fan Manufacturer: Phantom Price: $54.99 Length of show: 0:57 Ooh rating: 4.81 Boom rating: 4.5 Phantom Fireworks Peacock Tail Fan fountain spews red light on Monday at the Sacramento Fire Department Station 4. What Phantom said: This fun fountain lights up with silver flowers, red, green and blue stars, finishing with a titanium crackle. What we said: Cool shape and colors, nice tempo switch. Kept you in the edge of your toes. Very aggressive finale. The Radioactive Spark fountain sits on the ground before testing on Monday at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4. Radioactive Spark Manufacturer: Phantom Price: $89.99 Length of show: 0:44 Ooh rating: 5.19 (some interns rated fireworks a six out of five...) Boom rating: 4.13 Phantom Fireworks Radioactive Spark fountain released spinners, stars and a chrysanthemum. What Phantom said: Large display fountain with green stars, yellow flowers, gold showers, red and green chrysanthemums, red stars, and a spinning finale. What we said: It spins!!!!! The Retro firework sits on the ground before testing at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4. Freedom Fireworks describes Retro as a finale from beginning to end. Retro Manufacturer: Discount Fireworks Superstore Price: $32.84 Length of show: 1:07 Ooh rating: 4.69 Boom rating: 4.63 Retro explodes in a spattering of light and color on Monday. What they said: Stare in amazement as red, green, yellow, blue, purple and silver effects are emitted by this fountain. The sound, color and size of the effects create a truly enjoyable experience for ones senses. What we said: I had to scoot back a bit too a little nervy the sparks were going to reach me! First place Living the Dream sits on the ground before testing on Monday at Sacramento Fire Department Station 4 in Sacramento. Living the Dream Manufacturer: TNT Price: $49.99 Length of show: 2:03 Ooh rating: 4.5 Boom rating: 5 TNT Fireworks Living the Dream fountain showers out fiery bands of color and light. What TNT said: 500 GRAM FINALE! Awesome a multitude of colorful sparks with silver crackling will leave you ... living the dream! What we said: Extremely loud and big the whole time. If boom is your thing, this ones it. Long too. Probably lost some hearing with how loud this one was. Special thanks to Sacramento Fire Departments Capt. Justin Sylvia and the crew of Station 4, as well as Nina Gunter from Phantom Fireworks, and Dennis Revell, John Castilone and Aaron Crawford from TNT Fireworks. The Bees Elise Fisher, Jessica Ma, Irene Milanez, Hannah Poukish, Bailey Stover, Esther Sun and Megan Vaz contributed to this story. (FOX40.COM) After 40 years, the suspected murderer in a Roseville alleyway killing was arrested in Southern California, according to the Roseville Police Department. In 1984, Medline Garcia, 69, was on the 300 block of Atlantic Street in downtown Roseville when she was attacked, dragged into an alley and killed. After exhausting all leads and with the retirement of all investigating officers and detectives, the investigation into Garcias death went cold. Investigators with the Placer County District Attorneys joined in on the case with the advancements in forensic techniques were able to promising results on evidence that is now decades old. Third person arrested in connection to Stockton homicide Results from forensic lab testing of the evidence revealed that the suspect in Garcias murder was Richard Moore of Los Angeles. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department assisted in arresting Moore and booked him into custody where he is facing homicide-related charges. Moore will be transported to Placer County for further arraignment at a later date, according to the Roseville Police Department. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass began the week by suggesting that her city consider a new mask ban for protesters, and ended it by testing positive for Covid-19. After protesters clashed outside a synagogue in Pico-Robertson, which held an event for a company selling high-end properties in Israels illegal settlements in the West Bank, Democratic leaders quickly denounced the chaos and began working on ways to make everything a lot less safe for protesters. President Joe Biden called it dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American, but said nothing about the auctioning of stolen Palestinian land in Israeli settlements, which the international community has widely agreed is illegal. Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worshipand engaging in violenceis never acceptable, he wrote. The incident came on the heels of other large protests across the country, which had left Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams eyeing the reinstatement of a mask ban for protesters, both saying they felt the anonymity masking provides had emboldened protesters to commit violence. Meanwhile, the city is undergoing a renewed wave of Covid-19, which neither politician deigned to consider. Bass appeared to have taken her lead from those two: At a press conference with local Jewish leaders Monday, the mayor said she would seek several points of clarity from the citys attorney around what are the parameters with protests: when permits are needed, whether or not people should be masked, and establishing clear lines of demarcation between what is legal and what is not. Although she did not offer a specific proposal, she pushed that the city ought to review the idea of people wearing masks at protests. California has also seen a recent surge of Covid-19 cases, and a study in June found that viral levels of Covid-19 in the states wastewater had crossed a point of high activity. Only a few days later, her office announced that she tested positive for Covid-19 and will be attending her meetings remotely, a luxury that many workers in this country are no longer afforded. Basss ironic diagnosis is undercut by the fact that for many, especially immunocompromised people, Covid-19 still presents real dangers and carries long-lasting health risks. As the federal government has neglected to keep restrictions for the benefit of the worst-off, states and local governments have been granted the power to keep their citizens safe, and are across the board dropping the ball. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority announced the results of its 2024 Homeless Point-In-Time Count on Friday, and the numbers pointed in a positive direction for the city and county that is desperate to fix its homelessness issue. According to the count, there are 75,312 unhoused people in L.A. County and 45,252 in the city. Those figures are down 0.3% and 2.2% from last year, respectively. The numbers in this years homeless count give us cause to feel optimistic about the direction of our homeless work across L.A. County, said Va Lecia Adams Kellum, the CEO of LAHSA. Planters used to deter homeless encampments in Hollywood ordered to be removed While the decrease in the total homeless population may not sound significant, L.A. saw strides made when it came to the sheltered population. The city of L.A. saw a 10% decrease in the street homeless population, the largest such decrease in nine years. A large homeless encampment taking over sidewalks in Hollywood. (KTLA) The city also had a 38% decrease in makeshift shelters. For so many years, the count has shown increases in homelessness, and we have all felt that in our neighborhoods. But we leaned into change. And we have changed the trajectory of this crisis and have moved L.A. in a new direction, said Mayor Karen Bass. There is nothing we cannot do by taking on the status quo, putting politics aside, and rolling up our sleeves to work together. The count comes from a three-day period in January in which people living on the streets, in vehicles, tents and makeshift shelters were counted. For the first time in years, the number of people sleeping on our streets is down and the number of people in our shelters is up, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents District 4. We have focused on shelters and we are doing a better job convincing people to come inside. The next step is building more permanent supportive housing and investing in long-term solutions to this crisis. A large homeless encampment taking over sidewalks in Hollywood. (KTLA) The news of the homelessness decrease coincidentally comes on a day in which the rights of homeless people were clamped down on by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court ruled Friday that local governments can enforce bans on unhoused people sleeping in outdoor spaces. Responses to that ruling has been mixed. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the ruling removes the legal ambiguities that tied the hands of lawmakers from clearing unsafe encampments. Bass, however, said the ruling neither will work or save lives, and it must not be used as an excuse to arrest their way out of this problem. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. In a debate where President Joe Biden struggled to maintain a coherent presence, there was at least one exchange where the president managed to land a rhetorical punch against the ramblings of former President Donald Trump. In response to a question on immigration, Trump claimed that Biden doesnt care about our veterans. He doesnt like the military at all, and he doesnt care about our veterans, Trump added. Nobody has been worse. I had the highest approval rating for veterans. The former president accused Biden of overturning popular policies supporting the VA and veterans simply because he had been the one to enact them into law. Every single thing he just said is a lie, Biden responded, pointing to his expansion of health care benefits under the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, and his administrations work eliminating toxic burn bits. Biden raised the story of his son Beau Biden death from brain cancer in 2015 after being exposed to toxic chemicals while serving in Iraq, and noted that Trump had called deceased service members sucker and losers during a 2018 visit to France. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. Youre the sucker, youre the loser, Biden told Trump. Biden forcefully rebuked Trump for him reportedly calling military veterans suckers. "My son was not a sucker or a loser. You're the sucker. You're the loser," Biden told Trump, evoking his late son Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer. https://t.co/CaVe1npQeN pic.twitter.com/DUVBv3NXvY Axios (@axios) June 28, 2024 Trump countered that that was a made-up quote. Im so glad this came up and he brought it up, the former president continued. Theres nobody thats taken better care of our soldiers than I have. To think that I would in front of generals and others say suckers and losers. We have 19 people that said it was never said by me, it was made up by him just like Russia, Russia, Russia was made up. He made up the suckers and losers, so he should apologize to me right now, Trump demanded. Biden countered that the story had been confirmed by John Kelly, a retired four-star general who had accompanied Trump on the trip where he allegedly made the comments. Trump is a person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all suckers because there is nothing in it for them,' Kelly told CNN last year. A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family for all Gold Star families on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in Americas defense are losers and wouldnt visit their graves in France. Biden refused to back down onstage, rejecting the idea that I have to apologize to you for anything along the line. Weve done more for veterans than any president has in American history. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Archaeologists discovered an additional 30-plus ancient Egyptian tombs carved into a hillside overlooking the Nile. The mummies inside reveal families buried together, with many having died young. The tombs were created using multiple levels, and experts expect to find more graves. There are a few questions coming from an archaeological dig on a hillside along the Nile River near the ancient Egyptian city of Aswan. The biggest, though, is exactly why two mummies were glued together inside the same stone coffin. During a joint Italian and Egyptian archaeological mission working in the vicinity of the Aghakhan Shrine west of Aswan, the team explored the multi-level structure crafted into the hillside. Originally discovered outside of official channelsread: during illegal excavationsthe government stepped in and took control. The joint group dated the site to from 332 B.C. to 395 A.D., somewhere in the late Greek and Roman periods. Ayman Ashmawihead of the Egyptian archaeological sector of the Supreme Councilsaid in a news release that the group found what equates to 33 graves, and as many as 40 percent of the remains were from those who died either as newborns or within their first couple of years. They also started discovering some more incredible things, such as the 10-level tomb still containing oil lamps that were potentially left behind by mourners. We can imagine how spectacular it was when, for example, during the [mourners] feast, all these tombs were illuminated, Patrizia PiacentiniEgyptologist and archaeologist at the University of Milan who led the effort at the sitetold Live Science. Believed to be family graves based on the range of ages of the deceased, the site was likely in use for around 900 years, Piacentini said. The team discovered several mummies, including two bodies glued to each other inside a stone coffin. The team plans to study the pair to find out their relationship, said Abdul Moneim Saeed, the director of the archaeological mission for the Egyptians. The team was also puzzled by the presence of colored cardboard and certain forms of burnt clay, stones, wooden coffins, and sacrificial tables. They plan to continue analyzing the finds, but according to Saeed, the artifacts already show that the middle class of Aswan islanders were probably buried in the lower section of the tomb, while the upper portion of the multi-level structure was reserved for the well-off classes. Some tombs were near an open courtyard surrounded by walls of milk brick, and others were carved directly into mountain rock. Early analyses have revealed that some of those buried in these tombs died from infectious diseases, while others suffered from osteoarthritis disorders or malnutrition. One entire family was potentially killed by a bout of tuberculosis. Further investigation into the remains may reveal additional details about the types of diseases presentand how infectious they werein the region at that time. It was a rich place, an important place, Piacentini said. All the people who intended to make trade between Northern Africa and subtropical Africa, this was the place [for them] and it was a place for all the history of ancient Egypt. She added in a statement that work will continue at the location, as experts believe theres plenty more to find. Plus, they still have the question of the gluing. You Might Also Like Louisianas broadband office is ranked best in the nation alongside Idaho for its handling of federal broadband subsidies, according to the right-leaning think tank American Enterprise Institute. (Canva image) Louisianas broadband office is ranked best in the nation alongside Idaho for its handling of federal broadband subsidies, according to the right-leaning think tank American Enterprise Institute. The state Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, which Gov. John Bel Edwards created in 2020, received top rankings for its management of federal grant programs, tying Idaho for the first place spot with perfect scores in areas such as transparency, efficiency and accountability. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) released its annual Broadband Barometer Project report cards to document each states handling of federal broadband subsidies. The organization praised the state broadband office for having an easily accessible and informative website, connect.la.gov, and for developing an efficient and well-monitored funding process. Overall, transparency and efficiency measures reflect a competitive environment, the AEI report card noted. Louisiana is a top-performing state at this time. The states top ranking comes as it prepares to distribute more than $1.3 billion in federal infrastructure dollars through its second iteration of the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO 2.0) grant program, which builds on the GUMBO 1.0 program that awarded more than $170 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to more than 65,000 locations throughout 48 parishes. The funding for both programs came from President Joe Bidens legislative agenda. They are designed to bring high-speed internet access to rural and low-income areas that many legacy internet service providers refused to invest in without government subsidies. Approximately 79% of the ARPA-funded projects in Louisiana are either actively under construction or have been completed, and the remaining ones should be completed within the next 12 months, according to data from the broadband office. Gov. Jeff Landry welcomed news of the accolade. We are focused on moving as quickly and efficiently as possible to help all Louisianans obtain access to reliable, high-speed internet, Landry said in a news release. As our state continues to grow and innovate across the board from industry to education it is more important than ever that we remain connected to one other. This ranking shows the incredible progress we are already making when it comes to not only broadband access and connectivity, but the economic and community growth that it helps to support. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Louisiana broadband office earns top ranking for managing Biden infrastructure money appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator) The Louisiana Supreme Court will review whether granting automatic delays in court proceedings to attorneys who are also state lawmakers is fair. The justices decision to do so comes just days after Gov. Jeff Landry vetoed a bill that would have changed the practice. The court agreed Tuesday to hear arguments over whether Sen. Alan Seabaugh and Rep. Michael Melerine, Republicans who are partners in a Shreveport law firm, have been unreasonably delaying court proceedings related to a car accident because of their legislative responsibilities. Caddo Parish resident Theresa Fisher initially sued the driver who hit her car and his insurance company, Hanover Insurance Group, which Seabaugh and Melerine represent, in April 2019. Shes seeking financial compensation for medical problems the accident caused, according to her attorneys. The case, pending in the First Judicial District in Caddo, has been delayed more than once, sometimes because it conflicted with Seabaughs legislative schedule. He has been a lawmaker since 2010. Melerine joined the Legislature earlier this year. The date of the trial was first scheduled in March 2021 and has been moved four times since then. Its now on the calendar for this coming October. Fishers attorneys, J. Cole Sartin and Joseph Gregorio, have asked the justices to weigh in on whether the legislative continuances, which were responsible for one of the trial date delays as well as other extensions, are interfering with their clients right to have her day in court. Louisiana gives attorneys who are lawmakers leeway to ask for delays in court proceedings. They can seek a continuance for any time 30 days before until 30 days after a legislative session, as well as for travel and other meetings their elected role requires. After Sartin and Gregorio first raised concerns over legislative delays with the court this spring, Seabaugh introduced legislation that would have given him leverage over the opposing attorneys. Lawmakers, several of whom are also lawyers, went along with Seabaugh and voted unanimously for his proposal, but the governor vetoed the measure. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE Senate Bill 185 would have required attorneys who challenged legislative extensions to pay the court costs and legal expenses for opposing state lawmakers. In other words, it would have likely forced Fisher, through Gregorio and Sartine, to pay Seabaugh because her attorneys raised the legal challenge to his legislative extensions, Gregorio said. Seabaugh and Sartin declined to comment for this article. Gregorio said it was a welcomed relief to see Landry veto the bill that would have saddled his client with extra expenses. Not everyone was happy to see the legislation trashed, however. The bill also placed new restrictions on legislative continuances that advocates for domestic violence victims have sought for years. Had it become law, Seabaughs legislation would have prohibited lawmakers from using legislative extensions in cases involving protective orders, stalking, domestic violence and sexual assault. Child custody cases would also have been off limits for automatic continuances for lawmakers. Kim Sport, an attorney and advocate for domestic violence survivors, said she was disappointed the bill didnt become law. In cases involving intimate partner abuse, it can be dangerous for proceedings to be on pause for months because one of the attorneys is also in the Legislature, Sport said. Years ago, she had a client whose child custody dispute with an abusive ex-husband was dragged out because the husbands attorney was a lawmaker, she said. This year, the legislature met for three legislative sessions spanning from January until early June. The schedule entitled any attorney serving as a lawmaker to push his or her court proceedings from the second week of January until early July. The Louisiana Supreme Court wont be dealing with the issue of whether legislative extensions are appropriate in cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse or child custody because the complaint about Seabaughs delays isnt related to those problems. Seabaugh and Melerine also arent the only lawmakers who have drawn ire for using their jobs in the legislature to delay court cases. Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Port Allen, angered a state judge in Baton Rouge last year and lost a case when he failed to appear in court, The Advocate reported. Jordan had filed three legislative continuances, which were all denied. Like Seabaugh, he drafted legislation in 2023 to try to expand lawmakers power to seek court extensions when their work as lawmakers interferes with their legal practices. The Louisiana Senate shot down the proposal. For his court case, Seabaugh has argued legislative extensions werent the only reason Fishers trial has been delayed and shouldnt become a scapegoat. Automatic continuances were also necessary to make sure attorneys who are lawmakers can adequately represent their clients, he wrote in a brief earlier this year. It ensures the attorneys who are also members of the legislature can be fully prepared and not distracted by their legislative duties, he said. Attorney General Liz Murrill, who is a political ally of Seabaughs, filed an amicus brief supporting him, but in Landrys veto message, the governor indicated more scrutiny of legislative legal extensions might be warranted. [A]n attorney-legislator can simply enroll as counsel of record or place his or her name on a pleading to qualify for a continuance or extension in any case, Landry wrote of the current law. By way of comparison, Texas allows legislative continuances, and the attorney seeking the continuance must file a copy of the continuance with the Texas Ethics Commission. Unless or until Louisiana provides similar oversight, the courts provide a check in the event a legislative continuance is simply not possible, Landry said. The governor might have also had less principled reasons for rejecting Seabaughs legislation. Landry and Seabaugh are friends and typically politically aligned, but the two men have been sparring publicly in conservative talk radio appearances over the past two weeks. Seabaugh is upset that Landry vetoed another bill, sponsored by Melerine, that would have lowered the cap for financial damages that can be extracted during lawsuits over automobile accidents. In response, Landry has publicly said Seabaugh cannot be trusted on the topic of lawsuit damages because he works as an attorney for insurance companies who often get sued. Landrys office declined to comment on whether his fight with Seabaugh contributed to the veto. A date for the Louisiana Supreme Court to hear arguments over lawmakers legal extensions hasnt been set yet but will likely take place in the fall, Gregorio said. The post Louisiana lawsuit could limit advantage for attorneys who are state legislators appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie posted photos of himself and his wife, Rhonda, as he announced her death. (Posted on X) U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky announced his wife, Rhonda, has died. In a Friday morning social media post on X, the congressman expressed thanks for prayers for our family in this difficult time. Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven, Massie wrote. The congressman, a Republican who represents Kentuckys 4th Congressional District, met his wife at Lewis County High School in Northeastern Kentucky in the 1980s. They both went on to earn degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and launched a business, SensAble Technologies. They later sold the business and moved back to Lewis County. The Massies have four children. No information about the cause of death has been released. Several Kentucky Republicans offered their condolences Friday morning. Fellow Congressman Andy Barr said on X that he was deeply saddened to hear of Rhonda Massies death. Rhondas warmth, kindness, and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, Barr said. During this heartbreaking time, my thoughts and prayers are with Thomas, their four children, and the entire Massie family. State Auditor Allison Ball, who became the first statewide officer in Kentucky to give birth while in office as treasurer, shared on X that she sought parenting advice from Rhonda Massie on several occasions. I am saddened to hear of the passing of Rhonda Massie, Ball said. Rhonda was always so wonderful to me. She encouraged me through my first pregnancy and made the best homemade pies. Asa and I are praying for Congressman Massie and the Massie family. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said on X he and First Lady Britainy Beshear were deeply saddened for U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie and his family at the tragic news of the passing of his wife, Rhonda. Please join us in sending prayers of peace and comfort, the governor said. The post The love of my life: Congressman Thomas Massie announces wifes death appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Love of my life: U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie announces death of wife Rhonda Massie Rhonda Massie, the wife of U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, has died, the congressman announced Friday morning. Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven, Massie wrote on social media. Thank you for your prayers for our family in this difficult time. No information regarding the nature of her passing was shared by Massie or his staff in the immediate aftermath. Thomas Massie, a maverick known for his contrarian brand of Republicanism, has served as congressman to Kentuckys 4th Congressional District since 2012. The district is largely comprised of the states Northern Kentucky region. A Vanceburg native, the congressman met Rhonda Massie when they both attended Lewis County High School. She was valedictorian at our high school where we went to the Prom together, accepted at MIT and Harvard, earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT, and devoted her life to our family, Massie wrote. The congressman said he and Rhonda visited their grandson just last week, touring Mt. Rainier in Washington. He called his late wife the best mammaw ever. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-KY, and family, pictured near Mt. Rainier in a post Massie made Friday memorializing Rhonda, center right. Chris Wiest, a Northern Kentucky attorney who is one of Massies closest political allies, told the Herald-Leader that Rhonda Massie was extraordinarily kind. Those of us that knew Rhonda knew that she was one of the kindest, warmest folks you could ever meet, Wiest said via text message. My heart breaks for Thomas and his children and grandchildren. Fellow politicians sent their condolences after Massie shared the news. Rhonda Massie was a delightful person. Please join me in praying for Congressman Massie and his family, Secretary of State Michael Adams said in a post in response to the news Massie shared. Four years ago this month, the wife of Rep. Andy Barr passed away from a rare heart condition called mitral valve prolapse. Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr was 39 years old. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rhonda Massie, the beloved wife of my friend and colleague, Thomas Massie. Rhonda's warmth, kindness, and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. During this heartbreaking time, my Rep. Andy Barr (@RepAndyBarr) June 28, 2024 Barr expressed his condolences to Massie in a social media post. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rhonda Massie, the beloved wife of my friend and colleague, Thomas Massie. Rhondas warmth, kindness and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, Barr wrote. Another member of the Kentucky federal delegation, James Comer, sent well wishes to the Massie family shortly after news broke. TJ and I are deeply saddened by the news of Rhonda Massies passing. Rhonda was a beautiful person both inside and out, Comer wrote. Our hearts go out to my colleague and dear friend Thomas Massie and his entire family. Former Congressman Ron Paul, the father of Rand Paul, also sent prayers. Its so hard to process this tragedy, wrote Jim Pfaff, the president of The Conservative Caucus in Washington. She was Thomass heart. They were best friends, fellow engineers and most of all loving spouses. My heart breaks for Thomas. The response was heartfelt in Frankfort, too. Gov. Andy Beshear asked Kentuckians to join he and First Lady Britainy Beshear in sending prayers of peace and comfort, in a social media post. Britainy and I are deeply saddened for U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie and his family at the tragic news of the passing of his wife, Rhonda. Please join us in sending prayers of peace and comfort. ^AB Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 28, 2024 The state GOP sent out a release calling Rhonda Massie an amazing mother, wife, and Kentuckian. She touched all who knew her and will be deeply missed. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, whose House District covers the far Western edge of Massies 4th Congressional District, said he was deeply saddened. Rhonda was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as a successful businesswoman and proud Kentuckian. In this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with her family. May they find comfort in cherished memories and the prayers that surround them, Osborne wrote in a statement. One of Frankforts top lobbyists, Bob Babbage, also shared his condolences. Babbage, a former Democratic state auditor and secretary of state, said he was there when the Massies came to Frankfort to file for Congress 12 years ago. Then and all along, they have been such a close, optimistic, energetic leadership couple. Im deeply saddened by her passing for their family and our state, Babbage told the Herald-Leader. This story will be updated. A Lufthansa aircraft is towed to its parking position by a special vehicle at Frankfurt am Main Airport. Fredrik Von Erichsen/dpa Lufthansa budget travel subsidiary Eurowings announced on Friday that it had averted a strike by ground staff at Palma airport on Mallorca, a destination highly popular with German holidaymakers. An agreement had been struck with subsidiary Wings Handling, the company said from its Cologne headquarters. Under the deal, which is set to run for two years, conditions for workers and the competitiveness of the company had been taken into account, Eurowings said. The GVA union had called for strike action from Monday that would have impacted hundreds of flights between Germany and Mallorca. Eurowings agreed to convert part-time contracts and additional holiday in the summer. Eurowings operates by far the most connections between Germany and Mallorca. Im really scared now, woman told police before stalker fatally stabbed her Naomi Hunte was found stabbed to death on her sofa after complaining about the man who would be her killer - Central News A woman murdered by a handyman had repeatedly complained to police about his disturbing behaviour before her death, a court has heard. Naomi Hunte, 41, was found stabbed to death on a sofa by her neighbour on Valentines Day in 2022. Carl Cooper, 66, was found guilty of her murder at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday after three days of deliberation from jurors. Cooper was also found guilty of murdering Fiona Holm, 48, whose body has never been found, in June 2023. The families of the two victims who were watching in court were visibly emotional as the verdict was given. Hunte had made a number of domestic call-outs to police to her home in 2020 and 2021 and told them that Cooper was obsessed with her, the court heard at an earlier hearing. In a police call-out to her home on June 29 2021, she told officers that Cooper stalks me and Im really scared now. Hunte told two attending officers the handyman had turned up at her home uninvited and shouted abuse through the front door. Fiona Holm was murdered by Carl Cooper, although her body was never found - Central News She said it was the third time she had contacted them about Cooper, adding that although she had slept with him, they were not in a relationship. The prosecution believe that Hunte was killed overnight on Feb 10. A post-mortem examination found she had died from a stab wound to the chest. Alcohol, cocaine and cannabis were also found in her system. Her blood was later found on three different areas of Coopers jacket, and on a knife with a serrated knife. Holm, of Catford, south-east London, had also made complaints about Cooper to the police. Cooper lit fires in the immediate days after Holm went missing and also carried out a wholesale redecoration of his living room, which included stripping off wallpaper, cutting out net curtains and removing a rug, prosecutor Joel Smith KC previously told the jury. Cooper, of Hither Green, south-east London, will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday. 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. Im still processing what happened: Democrats were still reeling from Bidens debate performance on Friday Im still processing what happened: Democrats were still reeling from Bidens debate performance on Friday The shockwaves from President Joe Bidens palid, painful and piecemeal debate performance in Atlanta on Thursday could still be felt on Capitol Hill on Friday morning. While members of Congress are usually anxious to dart out the door on a Friday to make their flights home, Democrats seemed especially unwilling to speak about Bidens stumbles in the face of former president Donald Trumps repeated lies. A snap poll showed that voters overwhelmingly thought Trump won the debate despite his rambling, spewing anti-immigrant vitriol and refusal to answer questions modeators asked. Bidens performance was so weak that Democratic strategists began floating the idea of replacing him almost immediately afterwards. It was a sharp contrast from the Thursday before the debate, when everyone in the Democratic Party, including Bidens sharpest critics on policy, got behind him. Come Friday morning, the atmosphere was markedly different. Having time to sleep on the debate even if nobody could actually rest afterward did not lead to Democrats calming down. If anything, it made them nervy. Some normally chatty Democrats like the progressive Maxwell Frost of Florida rushed onto the floor for votes rather than answer questions; likewise, the moderate Josh Gottheimer seemed willing to chat about the economy for a few seconds but then darted to the floor to vote once asked about Biden. Biden spoke in Raleigh on Friday after the debate and tellingly, some of the endangered House Democrats from the Tar Heel state stayed in Washington rather than turn up to support him. When The Independent asked Representative Jeff Jackson, who is running for attorney general, what he would say to voters worried about Biden, he said, I hope they get a chance to meet him. Even Bidens defenders admitted he had had a bad night. Representative Jasmine Crockett, the outspoken freshman Democrat from Texas, offered the most clear-cut defense of her boss. I think that the president was honest, like he always is, and I wish the press would freaking report on how senile Donald Trump is, she told The Independent. Specifically, she cited Trumps lie that he helped lower the cost of insulin when in fact it was legislation Biden signed championed by Senator Raphael Warnock, a surrogate of Bidens last night that capped the price of insulin at $35. To stand up there and say that he had s*** to do with insulin and no one checked him for that is wild as hell to me, Crockett, who went to Atlanta for the Debate and has also become a surrogate for Biden, told The Independent. But for the most part, Democrats knew they had experienced a loss. For months, they had hoped that Bidens poor poll numbers would turn around once voters got to see a contrast between him and Trump; that the age factor would go away once people saw just how unhinged Trump was onstage. But instead, they were left having to accept Biden flopped and say that Trumps incoherent rambling and blatant lies were worse. Although the president was coherent, self-effacing and comparatively eloquent during his Friday afternoon Raleigh appearance, it wasnt enough to claw things back especially as Republicans started talking about invoking the 25th Amendment, which can be used to remove presidents considered unfit for the job. Representative Robert Garcia of California admitted Biden had a bad day but said focus groups showed he still did better with swing voters. Overall, voters are not going to judge and make a decision on the president based off of one debate or because a candidate had a sore throat, he said. Representative James Clyburn told The Independent that people needed to relax at the moment. The former House Majority whip is perhaps more responsible than anyone for Biden becoming president; he endorsed Biden ahead of the 2020 South Carolina primary and that contest largely propelled him in the contest, which led to him winning the nomination and then the presidency. I differentiate between worry and concern, Clyburn said. Am I concerned? Yes. But Im not worried. When asked why he was not worried, he said there was no reason to be. I mean, who classifies the end result by one segment, one performance? he said. Who does that? But more endangered Democrats in swing districts did not mince words. I'll take the honest old guy over the dishonest old guy any day of the week, Seth Magaziner, a freshman from Rhode Island, told The Independent. Representative Angie Craig, who represents a swing district in Minnesota, put it straight in a different way. I'm still processing what happened last night, and, you know, again, it was a terrible debate, she told The Independent. So far, no Democratic elected officials have openly said Biden must step aside. But now they know they cannot obfuscate. Bidens age and his performance will be on display over the next six months and they will have to answer for it. If Im threatened at work, can I legally record the bully? What a Fort Worth lawyer says Recording a conversation at work can seem pretty shady. But to some, its the best way to prove a truth. Texas is a one-party consent state, which means you can record a conversation without telling the other person as long as youre present during the conversation. But will the recording actually help in court? Thats the question many may ask before taking such a risk. This was the recent dilemma of a Reddit user who asked on behalf of a friend: [My friend] lives in Texas and her manager has been making inappropriate advances that make her uncomfortable. She and him are the only ones in office and theres no one that can be a witness, the poster wrote. He calls her after hours too. I know Texas is a one party consent state so she can record, but is that good evidence to bring to HR or the EEO courts? Not necessarily, said employee rights attorney Drew Herrmann of Herrmann Law in Fort Worth. Sometimes juries view employees recording as a bad thing, Herrmann said. It can be twisted against the employee even if they have no ill intentions and theyre truly just trying to protect themselves. The jury could view it as you were provoking the situation, and thats when you started recording. Herrmann cited the Depp v. Heard defamation trial of 2022 as an example. Amber Heard was recording Johnny Depp and a lot of people on social media were saying She was only recording when she was trying to provoke him. Whether thats true or not, we dont know, but its the same thing. So when employees are recording, I just caution them that, even putting the phone in your pocket and recording, juries tend to look down on that. More trending stories from our newsroom: This tiny Texas town lands No. 2 spot on list of best places to RV camp in the country Michelle Obama for president? Ted Cruz thinks she could be the Democratic nominee Riders jump off Roaring Rapids at Six Flags to escape stuck raft: video Workplace harassment Harassment is a form of workplace discrimination that violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A recent analysis of EEOC records by a law firm found that Texas had the 12th-highest rate of workplace discrimination in the United States. The best way to prove workplace harassment or bullying is with written documentation, Herrmann said. Do it in writing and do it via email. Keeping a list of things that have happened along with the dates that it occurred can be very helpful. Human resources should be the first point of contact when dealing with workplace harassment. Employees are encouraged to file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission if the problem persists. Texas employees have 300 days from the date of the incident to report sexual harassment to the TWC. Herrmann also recommends seeking legal advice and avoiding the urge to post about the situation on social media. Putting the employer on blast before you talk to a lawyer could do some damage to the case. Jocelyn Benson | Ken Coleman Macomb Circuit Court Judge Edward A. Servitto has dismissed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) claims brought against 16 Michigan cities and townships, according to a Thursday announcement from the Department of Attorney General. According to the Attorney Generals Office, the plaintiff, Michael Lewis Butz, sued the municipalities and their clerks after they denied FOIA requests for voter history files from electronic pollbooks, following advice from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The requested records included public information alongside sensitive voter data and proprietary information that local officials cannot readily remove or redact. The clerks were instructed to deny the requests in order to protect this information and the security of Michigans electronic voter list and told to redirect the requests to the Michigan Department of State, which could readily provide the requested information without the protected data. Butz argued Benson did not have the authority to provide guidance to the cities and townships in the case, and that the production of records from the Bureau of Elections was insufficient, because each township and city must respond to his requests and produce the publicly disclosable information, asserting each of the cities and townships had the ability to provide properly redacted documents. He also argued the records exemptions did not apply. The Department of Attorney General intervened in the case on Bensons behalf to assist the local clerks and defend the Secretarys authority in managing state election data. While Butz and his attorney Stefanie Lambert Junttila attempted to disqualify the attorney general from participating in the case due to charges filed against Lambert Junttila by the Department of Attorney General, Servitto rejected the motion. The department announced charges against Lambert Junttila in May contending she illicitly transmitted data concerning the 2020 general election from the Adams Township electronic poll book under Adams Township Clerk Stephanie Scotts direction. Lambert Juntilla is also facing charges as part of an investigation into alleged tampering with voting machines and is slated for trial on Oct. 21. Servitto ultimately rejected Butzs arguments, finding the requests were properly denied. Because the Secretary had already provided Butz with the requested data, the court dismissed the FOIA claims as moot. The post Macomb County court affirms decisions rejecting requests for sensitive election information appeared first on Michigan Advance. (Bloomberg) -- President Emmanuel Macrons approval rating fell to the lowest level in three months, delivering a boost to Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party just two days before voting starts in Frances legislative election. Most Read from Bloomberg Support for Macron dropped six points to 36%, the worst showing since March, according to a Toluna-Harris Interactive poll for LCI TV published on Friday. Separate polls are putting National Rally on course to be the biggest group in the lower house of parliament, with Bloombergs poll of polls projecting it will get 36.2% support in Sundays vote. A left-wing alliance called the New Popular Front would get 28.3% while Macrons centrist group would get 20.4%. Sign up for the Paris Edition newsletter for special coverage throughout the French election. Macron dissolved the National Assembly earlier this month and called a snap vote after his group was trounced in European Parliament elections, a decision that initially led to the worst bond rout since the sovereign debt crisis and wiped almost $200 billion off the value of stocks. On Friday, Frances 10-year bond yield rose as much as six basis points to 3.33%, its highest level since November. Frances two-round election makes seat predictions tricky. While polls have mostly indicated Le Pens group would fall short of the 289 seats lawmakers needed to form an absolute majority, a survey of 2,004 adults by Elabe published Friday estimated it would get 260-295. Tensions are already emerging over who controls certain areas of policy after the election in the event National Rally finishes first, ushering in a power-sharing arrangement in government between two opposition parties. Macron and Le Pen have started exchanging barbs over who has the right to nominate officials to institutional positions in Brussels and who calls the shots on defense policy. The challenges of this arrangement called cohabitation in France were put in the spotlight on Friday. After French officials said Macron was pushing to obtain another mandate in the European Commission for Thierry Breton, Le Pen told Europe 1 radio that was wishful thinking. Emmanuel Macron is projecting a victory he cant achieve, she said. So there will be another government than the one we know, and it is the prime ministers prerogative to appoint the European commissioner. Its not the prerogative of the president. Another area where the constitution isnt entirely clear is who handles defense. While the text says the president heads the army, and Le Pen has backed Macrons military funding law for 2024-2030, a National Rally majority could weigh on more recent decisions to help Ukraine, including through budget negotiations. Le Pen and party chief Jordan Bardella, who has said he would agree to be prime minister only after getting an absolute majority, have both said they support Ukraine in its fight against Russia. But contrary to Macron, they also said they would oppose sending troops and long-range weapons able to target deep strikes inside Russia. After Le Pen said the title of army chief conferred to the president by the constitution was merely honorific, Macrons prime minister, Gabriel Attal, insisted the president is responsible for defense and warned of the fallout from confusion over national security. Foreign powers are rubbing their hands, saying to themselves: look, theres going to be chaos at the top of the state and they wont agree with each other, he told BFM TV on Friday. (Updates with seat projections in the sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Southern Oregon has long been Republican but shifts are taking place. (Getty Images) Conservative southern Oregon, often an afterthought for many other Oregonians, may be the most politically dynamic large area in Oregon. Few other areas show as much potential for political change. Consider a couple of large Medford-area events just a few miles apart and on the same day, June 22. The Jackson County Fairgrounds was dominated by the Republican political rally called MOGA 2024, the acronym standing for Make Oregon Great Again. Its headliners included national figures, including Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder and advocate for Donald Trump. This may be the only really large-scale Oregon event on this years Republican calendar, presented as Come help us take back southern Oregon. It was heavily promoted by the local Republican organization, by other groups around the region, and around the dial on area radio stations. From a pro-Trump perspective, you might wonder if theres much to take back in the southern Oregon area. Most of this large sector of the state already votes Republican. But it may not be as locked-down some may think. The Jackson-Josephine counties seem to be on the cusp of something subtle that events like MOGA could be critical in influencing: Deciding if the area becomes MAGA-dominated enough that other points of view are swamped, which hasnt happened yet. One piece of evidence in that argument is the second event held only a few miles from the MOGA event, over in Pear Blossom Park in Medford, where organizers were holding the well-attended 3rd annual Medford Pride event. One participant said, It gives a space for young people to be free to express themselves however they want. And an opportunity in an area thats not always the most accepting to really give an opportunity for our community to be queer. These two events may fit into the larger picture of conservative southern Oregon as pieces of a puzzle shifting and developing. The two big counties in the area are Jackson (where Medford is the county seat) and Josephine (Grants Pass). Jackson leans Republican, but not by a great deal. In the last two decades, it has voted Democratic for president just once, in 2008, but no one has won its presidential vote by as much as 51% since 2004. Its legislative delegation has included mostly Republicans, and Republicans hold county government, but Democrats as well, including state Sen.Jeff Golden and state Rep. Pam Marsh, who represent a large share of the countys voters. There are some indicators it has been moving gently away from hard right positions. It is one of 11 counties in Oregon to legalize therapeutic psilocybin. Hard-line positions on property taxes seem to have eased a little in recent years. Jackson shows no signs of becoming a blue county, but its tint seems to be shading gradually purple. Josephine County is more solidly Republican. No Democrat has won its vote for the presidency since 1936, the longest such run of any Oregon county, and Trump just cleared 60% in both of his runs. Its state and local officials are Republicans, and there are no indications that will change in the near future. Still, there are indicators of attitude shifts. Josephine has been one of the most rigorous anti-tax counties in Oregon, along with neighbors such as Curry and Douglas. Having experienced some deep austerity in local services, however, voters seem to have recentered on the subject. Libraries are a good example. All libraries in the county were closed in May 2007 for lack of county funding, but since then libraries have been reopened, and a library funding measure was passed in 2017 with 53% of the vote. Law enforcement is another useful case study. Severely crunched funding during several years for the sheriffs office was addressed in this decade with creation of a law enforcement taxing district, also approved by voters. Both counties seem to have developed stronger tourism, recreation and wine industry sectors, which over time usually lead to a moderation in politics, and some of that seems to be playing out. Thats especially true in the well-known cultural and tourism centers at Ashland and Jacksonville, both growing and prospering, but also to a degree in both Medford and Grants Pass and several smaller communities. Most of the more rural areas remain hard-right conservative, and the traditional Dont Tread on Me and other similar signage is not hard to find outside the cities. These areas are a MAGA redoubt, and few people outside their tribe make themselves visible. That absence of a contrary culture allows for more sweeping adoption of the MAGA message. But increasingly, alternative messages are becoming visible in some of the cities. They are not near changing the partisan lean of the area. But they may be enough to slow an overwhelming adoption in the region of support for Trump and his allies. Much depends on whether people are exposed more to one message or the other. The margins are close. That is why events like the MOGA event and the Medford Pride activity, in their different ways, may have some real rippling effects. The post MAGA tilt in southern Oregon may not be tightly locked down appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Maloy keeps razor-thin lead over Jenkins still out of recount range, but inching closer Congresswoman Celeste Maloy takes her opportunity to talk after Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between and herself and Colby Jenkins at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Pool photo by Scott G Winterton/Deseret News) As the number of yet-to-be counted ballots shrinks, so does Rep. Celeste Maloys slim lead over her Republican challenger Colby Jenkins. Still, Maloy remains ahead (barely) in the battle to keep her seat representing Utahs 2nd Congressional District on the fourth day of ballot counting in a yet-to-be called race. More election results posted Friday after 3:45 p.m. showed Maloy had 50.18% of the vote to Jenkins 49.82%. Thursday evening, only 991 votes separated the two candidates with 103,575 ballots tabulated. Friday after about 2,072 more votes were tallied in the district, bringing the total to 105,647 Maloy continued to narrowly maintain her lead, now only by about 381 votes. We began today down 959 Its now 381. Every vote counts, every vote will matter, Jenkins said on X after Fridays results posted. There are nearly 53,000 members of our A-Team whose voices remain strong and hopeful to see victory still. Southern Utahs Washington County where Jenkins lives in St. George and where he has found a stronghold against Maloy, who has been leading him in most other counties across the state added about 1,823 votes to the tally on Friday, bringing the countys total to 35,612 so far counted. Thats likely the last significant chunk of ballots to be tallied in that county, though the Washington County Clerk/Auditor said there are roughly 700 remaining that poll workers are working to cure by contacting voters to verify signatures, KSL TV reported. In Washington County, Jenkins leads Maloy with about 59% of the vote. Hes trailing, however, in other counties across the state, including along the Wasatch Front. Tooele County was the only other moderately-sized county where Jenkins is ahead of Maloy, leading with just over 52%. Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between Colby Jenkins and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Pool photo by Scott G Winterton/Deseret News) In Salt Lake County, an area where Maloy has led Jenkins, Clerk Lannie Chapman told Utah News Dispatch on Thursday that days batch of results was likely the last major update, though there are still some lingering ballots that need to be cured. Though Jenkins campaign told Deseret News on Friday theyre crossing their fingers for the possibility of a recount, as of Friday afternoon the race was not close enough to cross the required margin threshold. Utah law allows a losing candidate to call for a recount if the margin is equal to or less than 0.25% of the total number of votes cast. As votes stand currently, that would require the margin separating Jenkins and Maloy to be no more than roughly 264 votes. Matthew Burbank, political science professor at the University of Utah, told Utah News Dispatch on Thursday that while Maloys lead could shrink as more ballots are counted, he said its appearing unlikely that the race will flip. I think unless something odd happens here, shes probably going to win, he said. The Maloy-Jenkins Republican matchup has been Utahs closest congressional race this primary an election influenced by complex and competing dynamics that showcased a split in Utahs Republican Party. The race was marked by dueling endorsements Sen. Mike Lee threw his support behind Jenkins days before the Utah GOPs convention in April. Then, with barely a week to go before the states primary election, former President Donald Trump endorsed Maloy. Thats even though Jenkins tried to portray himself as a candidate more modeled after Trump, having criticized Maloy for her vote in support of a bipartisan spending package. Jenkins argued Maloy was surrendering the GOPs slim House majority and as a result was advancing Democratic interests. Maloy, however, defended her vote as the most fiscally responsible option, calling careful compromise a key to maintaining bargaining power in Congress and promising she wont bend on the issues most important to Utah. Election results arent final until after counties canvass deadline on July 9, and the statewide canvass certifies the results on July 22. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Maloy keeps razor-thin lead over Jenkins still out of recount range, but inching closer appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between Colby Jenkins and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. (Pool photo by Scott G Winterton/Deseret News) Rep. Celeste Maloys lead over her challenger Colby Jenkins continued to narrow when updated results were posted Thursday, on the third day of ballot counting in a race thats been too close to call. Another batch of election results posted after 4:45 p.m. Thursday showed Maloy had 50.48% of the vote to Jenkins 49.52%. Wednesday evening, 1,907 votes separated the two candidates with 92,355 ballots tabulated. Thursday after about 11,220 more votes were tallied statewide Maloy continues to narrowly maintain her lead, now only by about 991 votes. Salt Lake County, the most populated portion of Utahs 2nd Congressional District, posted about 2,311 more 2nd Congressional District votes Thursday, in what Salt Lake County Clerk Lannie Chapman told Utah News Dispatch is likely the last major batch of results for this years primary. We should have the majority everything that we can scan and tabulate, scanned and tabulated (posted tonight). The only thing that well have left is those that need to be cured, Chapman said, referring to vote-by-mail ballots poll workers are working to correct. There could be some lingering vote-by-mail ballots still making their way to her office, but she said there likely arent many left. For example, Thursday we received maybe 90 good ballots that were postmarked on time. But again, were talking onesie, twosie, as far as Salt Lake Countys concerned, she said. Jenkins has gained ground on Maloy with significant momentum in southern Utahs Washington County. There, he found a stronghold, not just in percentage but also in terms of the sheer number of votes. Of the 33,780 votes so far tabulated in that race, Jenkins secured 19,871 to Maloys 13,909. The Maloy-Jenkins Republican matchup has been Utahs closest congressional race this primary an election influenced by complex and competing dynamics that showcased a split in Utahs Republican Party. The race was marked by dueling endorsements Sen. Mike Lee threw his support behind Jenkins days before the Utah GOPs convention in April. Then, with barely a week to go before Election Day, former President Donald Trump endorsed Maloy. Thats even though Jenkins tried to portray himself as a candidate more modeled after Trump, having criticized Maloy for her vote in support of a bipartisan spending package. Jenkins argued Maloy was surrendering the GOPs slim House majority and as a result was advancing Democratic interests. Maloy, however, defended her vote as the most fiscally responsible option, calling careful compromise a key to maintaining bargaining power in Congress and promising she wont bend on the issues most important to Utah. The race shaped up to be highly competitive, and its hard to know what to make of it given the competing endorsements, said Chris Karpowitz, a political science professor at Brigham Young University, but bottom line, both candidates are really conservative, and Utahs Republican voters may have had a tough time choosing between them. Maloy has likely benefited from her incumbent status but then again, she wasnt an incumbent for very long, given she only won her seat in a special election in November after former Rep. Chris Stewart stepped down due to his wifes illness. Colby Jenkins takes his opportunity to talk after Utahs 2nd Congressional district debate between Congresswoman Celeste Maloy and himself at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. Jenkins, however, rode a wave of support by styling himself as a warrior, parading his time as a combat veteran and a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. He won the hearts of state delegates at the Utah GOPs nominating convention, but not enough to keep Maloy off the ballot. Colby won 57% at convention 3% shy of clinching the nomination while Maloy got 43%, which she was relying on heavily since she did not collect signatures to qualify under Utahs dual path to the ballot. Its unclear how much of an impact Trumps endorsement of Maloy could have had on the race given it came about a week before Election Day, and because it was at odds with Jenkins endorsement from Lee, who has been a vocal Trump supporter. Things like endorsements matter, and the endorsements here were split in an odd way, Karpowitz said. Matthew Burbank, political science professor at the University of Utah, said the close race between Maloy and Jenkins illustrates the complex nature of the Republican Party at the moment. Primaries always tend to do that to a certain extent, he said. On the one hand, theres something quite predictable here in the sense that if youre going to challenge a sitting member of Congress, you want to do that as soon as you possibly can. But it was a bit of a surprise to me because at least everything that I had been hearing from Republicans about Maloy was they thought she was hitting the ground running, they thought she was being very responsive. However, the strength of Jenkins was a bit of a surprise to me, he said. Results show Maloy took healthy leads over Jenkins in most counties. However, Jenkins led Maloy in other rural areas, including Tooele (52%) and Washington (nearly 59%) counties. While there may still be some lingering ballots, as of Thursday Burbank said it appeared unlikely that Jenkins would be able to flip the race. While close, results havent reached the razor thin margins needed to be within recount range, which would be roughly 260 votes. Based on the pattern we usually see (with results), I wouldnt expect it would change, Burbank said, adding that Maloys lead could grow or shrink as more ballots are tallied, but he predicted shell remain in the lead. I think unless something odd happens here, shes probably going to win. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Maloys lead narrows to less than 1% in nail biter for Utahs 2nd Congressional District appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. Sheriff deputies in Catawba County are investigating a deadly shooting outside a home in the Vale community. Deputies investigating several fires set on purpose at Vale farm Deputies said they got the call around 5 p.m. along Hope Road. When they arrived, the suspect was still on the scene and taken quickly into custody. Neighbors said they heard a single gunshot and when they came outside, someone was dead in the yard. Eyewitnesses said the victim was working on the home, which was being remodeled. Neighbors said the suspect began yelling at people and then called 911 about the deadly shooting. Channel 9s Dave Faherty spoke with a woman, who was outside and heard him shouting at deputies as they arrived on the scene here. He told the police, I killed him. I shot him. I killed him. I shot him, said Jeannie Crossno, a neighbor. And they arrested him immediately. The road was blocked off for nearly four hours during the investigation. Investigators said the suspect was taken to the Catawba County Sheriffs Office. Friday morning, the suspect was identified as Trevor Kiernan OMara. The victim in the shooting was identified as Larry Ray Whisnant, according to the Catawba County Sheriffs Office. The sheriffs office said, An apparent altercation between Whisnant and OMara led to Whisnants death. They said he will appear before a judge Friday after being charged with murder. VIDEO: Deputies investigating several fires set on purpose at Vale farm BEDFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) The Bedford County Sheriffs Office has arrested one man in connection with Tuesdays road rage shooting that left a teenager injured. The incident took place just after 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 in the area of Normandy Road and Highway 41A. Authorities said a driver shot at a vehicle carrying four teens through the back window of his SUV. A bullet reportedly went through the headrest and struck a teen girl in the front passenger seat. She was then flown to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. PREVIOUS: Teen critically injured after road rage shooting in Bedford County According to the sheriffs office, the Criminal Investigations Division arrested 42-year-old William Brown, of Manchester, at roughly 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. He is charged with four counts of aggravated assault and has other charges pending. Brown is currently being held in the Bedford County Jail. Officials added that the girl who was shot is recovering from the incident. A photo of the road rage arrest in Bedford County (Source: Bedford County Sheriffs Office) This arrest is the result of some very long hours and hard work by our Criminal Investigations Division, Patrol Division, and investigators with our Corrections Division, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post. We would like to thank the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, the Manchester Police Department, and the Coffee County Sheriffs Office for their assistance during this investigation. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Authorities also thanked the public for their assistance in helping agencies piece together the chain of events on Tuesday night. Lieutenant John Sweeney with BCSO added that Brown is currently being held on a $250,000 bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. MENOMINEE, Mich. (WJMN) A man was arrested Friday morning for threats made toward employees at the Menominee County Courthouse, according to Sheriff Mike Holmes. A release from the sheriff says deputies were called to action just after 8 a.m. on a report that someone had threatened to shoot courthouse employees. Florida man arrested for threats against MI prosecutor, courthouse staff after good Samaritan steps in Were told the response from law enforcement ended with a 29-year-old man being arrested at his home within the City of Menominee. The suspect was then taken to the jail and charged with Terroristic Threats. U.P. man arrested for threats to Menominee prosecutor, Delta Co. commissioners, others His name has not been revealed pending his arraignment in district court. In the release, Sheriff Holmes noted that community members can always report tips about criminal activity or suspicious behavior to Crime Stoppers of Marinette or the Menominee County Facebook page, as well as through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A San Angelo man has been arrested after allegedly setting fire to his ex-girlfriends home on the east side of San Angelo following an argument between the two. Mugshot: Conrad Delrio 6-27-2024 courtesy Tom Green County Sheriffs Office Conrad Delrio, also known as Spider, has been booked in the Tom Green County Detention Center on June 27 and charged with arson. RELATED: SAPD arrests Spider arson suspect Records filed in Tom Green County report that first responders were dispatched to the 500 Blk of West Ave. V at around 11:30 a.m. on June 25 for a structure fire. Upon investigation, fire marshalls determined that the fire was started intentionally. Video surveillance from neighbors was collected and reviewed by fire marshalls and the San Angelo Police Department. Within this footage, a man identified by a neighbor as Delrio was seen near the home around 20 minutes before the fire had started, arguing with a female. Delrio can be seen walking off the camera towards the residence on W. Avenue V. According to records, Delrio had contacted an individual that he had been in a previous relationship with to bring him a backpack with his items to the residence on W. Avenue V that morning. When the individual was interviewed by law enforcement she stated that Delrio had threatened to harm himself and burn down the residence along with other random peoples homes. San Angelo man sentenced for murder and assault Investigators also spoke with the tenant of the home who shared that she had been in a dating relationship with Delrio over a year ago, however, he comes to her residence from time to time uninvited and has damaged her property in the past. Delrio is currently incarcerated in the Tom Green County Detention Center with no bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A Hagerstown man was charged after he allegedly made several bomb threat calls against a retirement home in Williamsport. Officials said John Calvin Walls, 60, was arrested Wednesday for calling Williamsport Retirement Village Monday, threatening to blow up the tranquil home offering assisted living, rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite care. Washington County car enthusiasts help with disaster relief in wake of Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse An employee discovered the threatening voicemail, prompting investigators to respond to the reported bomb threat. That employee recognized the callers voice. The voicemail also recorded the number that left the message, pointing to Walls. Investigators learned that Walls had left several voicemails claiming that the retirement facility was going to blow up. Out of precaution, the retirement facility was put on a temporary lockdown, and an explosive detection K-9 responded, but did not find any explosive devices on the premises. Deputy State Fire Marshals charged Walls with arson threat and telephone misuse, including repeated calls. 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. Man charged with murder in connection to Statesville homicide: Police Man charged with murder in connection to Statesville homicide: Police STATESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Devin Emanuel Rankin, 30, has been charged after shooting and killing a man back in April, according to the Statesville Police Department. On Thursday, June 27, Rankin was arrested at a residence on N. Lackey Street in Statesville. He was then booked into the Iredell County Jail without bond for the charges of: First-degree murder Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Discharging a firearm within city limits PREVIOUSLY: Homicide investigation underway in Statesville: PD Around 12:25 a.m. on April 21, officers responded to a shooting in the 600 block of Stewart Court. Statesville resident Richard Pledger, 52, was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Statesville Police had the help of the U.S. Marshals CRFTF, the Iredell County Sheriffs Department, North Carolina Probation and Parole and the District Attorneys Office in this case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Police said someone started a fire at his own home in southeast Albuquerque on Thursday. Police were called to an apartment complex on Madeira Dr. near Gibson and San Mateo. They said a tenant, later identified as Calvert Cayatineto, was throwing things off his balcony. Man featured on APDs Top 10 Burglary Offender List arrested Officers said they tried to talk with Cayatineto but he refused to comply with them and then started a fire. Officers cleared the complex and arrested Cayatineto. He is charged with criminal damage to property and arson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WFRV) Gregory J. Haanstad, a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced Tuesday that a Utah man was sentenced to 15 months of federal prison. 38-year-old Juan Carlos Martinez-Napoles was convicted of impersonating a federal officer and wire fraud. The suspects were very organized: Fond du Lac Police searching for suspects accused of stealing over $6k in beauty products from Walgreens According to court documents, between September 2018 and December 2019, Martinez-Napoles reportedly portrayed himself as an immigration agent and reported to victims that he could help them become legal citizens for a fee. He induced three Wisconsin families to pay him roughly $45,000 for his services. He also threatened to deport members of a family if they didnt pay him. Fraudulently posing as a USCIS agent, Mr. Martinez-Napoles took advantage of vulnerable individuals, whom he convinced to pay a total of over $45,000 for his help, said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. In reality, he was simply lying to these individuals to line his own pockets. And when a victim questioned his activities, Mr. Martinez-Napoles even threatened to have the victims family deported. One dead, two hospitalized after two-vehicle Brown County crash on STH 57 The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Milwaukee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Ladwig. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 2:51 P.M. LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) Virginia State Police have identified the man who was shot by officers at the Super 8 Motel on Candlers Mountain Road. State police identify the man as 32-year-old Francisco J. Hernandez, Jr., of Newport News. Early investigation by state police indicates that LPD officers spent three hours attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Hernandez to release the hostage. At approximately 11:00 p.m., Hernadez confronted the officers while allegedly holding the hostage at knifepoint. VSP releases details into fatal police shooting in Carroll County When he allegedly did not comply with officers commands to disarm and release the hostage, an officer fired at Hernandez. VSP says the female hostage was not injured during the shooting. This remains an ongoing investigation. WFXR News will update this story as further information is released. LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) The Lynchburg Police Department reports a man is dead after a police shooting at the Super 8 Motel on Candlers Mountain Road on Thursday, June 27. According to the police department, officers were attempting to arrest a wanted man at the Super 8 located on the 3700 block of Candlers Mountain Road. When officers contacted the man in the hotel room, they found he allegedly barricaded himself with a female hostage and was armed with a weapon. After officers attempted to negotiate with the man, he allegedly confronted them while holding the female hostage. Police say when he refused to follow repeated commands to disarm, an officer discharged their department-issued handgun and struck the man. LPD officers immediately rendered aid to the man but he did not survive. Police say no officers were injured during the incident and the female involved was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for evaluation. As a typical procedure, the officer involved has been placed on non-enforcement, limited duty assignment until an investigation is completed. Both Virginia State Police and the Lynchburg Police Department are investigating this incident. WFXR News will update this story as further information is 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 WFXRtv. A man gunned down Wednesday after an argument broke out at a hotels parking lot in Elk Grove has been identified as a Sacramento resident. Derrick Michael Walker, 35, was identified by the Sacramento County Coroners Office as the man killed in the shooting about 10:15 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express on the 2400 block of Maritime Drive In an update Thursday afternoon, the Elk Grove Police Department said in a news release that officers were dispatched to the scene after a 911 call about the shooting, which they said stemmed from an argument. A 911 caller told police that a vehicle was seen leaving the hotel after gunfire rang out. This is an active and ongoing investigation, with detectives working diligently since the night of, Sgt. Jason Jimenez, a spokesman for the department said. Based on the investigation so far, we can share that this was not a random act and none of the involved parties were staying at the location where the incident occurred. Those with information about the shooting are encouraged to call Elk Grove investigators at 916-478-8060 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 916-443-4357 (HELP). Elk Grove police said tips, which can also be sent via text using the keyword Tip732 and the message to 274637 (CRIMES) may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a stabbing that happened in the early hours of Friday morning in Southeast D.C. Police received a call at 4:40 a.m. about the incident in the 100 block of Malcolm X Avenue SE. There, they found a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. Metro riders have mixed feelings about new fare increases starting Sunday He was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, a spokesperson for MPD said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. An event titled "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Lets Revive Karabakh Together" organized by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, has started in Shusha, Trend reports. The event focuses on providing businesspeople with investment opportunities and commercial prospects in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic zones, as well as a discussion of the public-private partnership model. Addressing the participants, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov noted that the country is implementing various initiatives to create the best conditions for entrepreneurs to do business. " Residents of industrial parks in exempted territories will receive significant tax benefits: for 10 years they are exempted from profit, property, and land tax, starting from the moment of registration. The state will create the necessary infrastructure, including providing electricity, natural gas, potable and technical water, and high-speed Internet". Jabbarov also added that thousands of job places have been already been created in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, most of which belong to the private sector. Then, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand Districts, Emin Huseynov spoke about Azerbaijan's restoration efforts in the liberated territories. "Today we stand on the threshold of great changes and the restoration of our historical lands. Karabakh, after many years of occupation, is once again becoming part of our common home. We see Fuzuli, Aghdam, and many other areas gradually returning to life. People are returning to their homes, and the and the construction of schools and other public facilities begins. For example, more than 3,132 people already live in Fuzuli, and 450 students are studying in the new school endowed to us by Uzbekistan," he said. Huseynov added that the work on restoration of key infrastructure facilities has started in Fuzuli, the second most important district in the country. "Special attention is paid to the use of innovative technologies and environmentally friendly materials. For example, we actively use recycled construction materials, which not only reduces costs but also contributes to environmental protection. We plan to apply this approach in other districts in the future". The event is being attended by the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand Districts Emin Huseynov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan Districts Vahid Hajiyev, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district Aydin Karimov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Lachin District Masim Mammadov, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly Districts Elchin Yusubov, the Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) of Azerbaijan Orkhan Mammadov, the Chairman of the Board of the Entrepreneurship Development Fund under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan Osman Khaliyev, the Chairman of the Board of the Economic Zones Development Agency (EZDA) Seymur Adigozalov, and others. The event is featuring panel discussions on the benefits and preferences applied in the liberated territories, other measures of state support, and the role of entrepreneurs in the restoration and economic reintegration of these territories. Additionally, the entrepreneurs will be presented with investment projects proposed for implementation in these territories, the export potential of products, logistical opportunities, and answers to participants' questions, and G2B (government-to-business) meetings will be held. During their visit to Karabakh, entrepreneurs have already become acquainted with the conditions created in the Aghdam Industrial Park, the resident enterprises, and the progress of reconstruction and infrastructure efforts being carried out in the cities of Shusha and Khankendi for revitalizing economic activity and ensuring sustainable resettlement. Will be updated Man Kills Grandfather Before Sending Disturbing Text to Roommate and Fatally Shooting Himself in State Park Andrew Vahey, 24, and his grandfather, Joseph Deponceau, 80, were arguing over the family house and "parking on the grass" in the weeks before the tragedy, say police Getty Letchworth State Park in Western New York A 24-year-old New York State man fatally shot his 80-year-old grandfather in his home, then turned the gun on himself in a state park during an intense manhunt for him, authorities said. On Thursday, June 27, at 5:38 a.m., officers with the Irondequoit Police Department responded to a call from a home made by someone yelling that there was blood everywhere, Police Chief Scott Peters said in a press conference reviewed by PEOPLE. Officers responding to the call found Joseph Deponceau, 80, dead inside the front door. He was obviously deceased and appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso, Peters said. The woman who called 911 is Deponceaus girflriend, who was unhurt and told police what happened and the name of the suspect: Deponceaus grandson, Andrew Vahey. Officers went to Vaheys nearby home and surrounded it, he said. At 7:20 a.m., they made contact with Vaheys roommate, who was inside the house. He allegedly said Vahey had texted him saying he had just killed his grandfather and now was going to kill himself, Peters said. They soon learned Vahey was in Livingston County and notified other agencies about the kind of car he was driving, he said. New York State Park Police found Vaheys in Letchworth State Park and were joined by other law enforcement agencies in launching a manhunt for him, Peters said. 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. Officials evacuated and shut down the park while they searched for him. Police found Vahey in the park carrying what appeared to be a long gun, said Peters. Authorities tried approaching Vahey, who fatally shot himself and was pronounced dead at the scene, Peters said. People in that family at the same time lost a grandfather and a grandson, he said. Theres a family that is extremely hurting today. Vahey and his grandfather were having just an argument within the last couple weeks over property, over the house, Peters said. What seemed trivial ... we never thought that something like this would escalate to this situation. He said police responded to a call at the house last week because the two were arguing over parking on the grass, but that was it. We never had any issues before. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Man sentenced to 13 years for drug trafficking in Lancaster and Union Counties: DOJ LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man has been sentenced to 13 years for drug trafficking in North and South Carolina, according to the United States Department of Justice. According to court documents, 48-year-old Rico Green sold fentanyl to undercover officers in Lancaster County in January 2022. The undercover operation revealed that Green was trafficking drugs in both Lancaster County, S.C., and Union County, N.C. In March 2022, Green was arrested with a large amount of fentanyl following a chase involving deputies, authorities say. After he bonded out of jail, Green was caught trying to sell a gun to an undercover Waxhaw officer during a drug deal. In March 2024, Green pleaded guilty to drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months, to be followed by 6 years of court-ordered supervision. He has prior convictions for distribution of cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine and trafficking cocaine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, the Lancaster Police Department, and the Union County, N.C. Sheriffs Office all were part of 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 Queen City News. Man sentenced to life without parole in murder of St. Louis officer ST. LOUIS The man convicted in the murder of a St. Louis police officer in 2020 was sentenced Thursday to life behind bars without the possibility of parole. St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Hogan listened to victim impact statements before handing down two life sentences in prison to Thomas Kinworthy Jr., 46, the man who murdered Officer Tamarris Bohannon. His loss is a deep wound that will never be healed, Al Bohannon, Tamarris father, said. I miss my son every day, Elizabeth Bohannon, Tamarris mother, said. A piece of me is gone. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office said Kinworthy was also given the maximum punishment on each of eight additional counts, adding up to 107 years, all of which will run consecutive to his life term. In August 2020, Bohannan and his partner, Arlando Bailey, responded to a call for a shooting in the Tower Grove South neighborhood. St. Louis depicted as Gotham City in new Batman series A couple who called 911 said that while they were on the phone with a dispatcher, Kinworthy entered their home, held them at gunpoint, and told them to hang up. The couple escaped out a back door and talked with Officer Bohannon. Investigators said when Bohannon walked around to the front of the home, Kinworthy shot him in the head with a handgun from a second-story window inside that couples house. Bailey was shot in the leg and survived. Police arrested Kinworthy after a nearly 12-hour standoff. Bohannon died at the hospital the next day. He was 29. Bohannon had been on the force for more than three-and-a-half years. He left behind a wife, Alexis, and three children. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Many of Bohannons family members, including his parents, widow, and children, read impact statements during Thursdays sentencing hearing, expressing grief and anger. I wish my dad could come back again, Alexis said, reading a statement by one of her sons. Im mad and I hope you go to hell. The day officer Bohannon died, his younger sister gave birth to her first child. Hes going to be in prison for the rest of his life and were never going to see my brother again, Tiffany Bautista, Tamarris sister, said. But we know hes here in our hearts. Kinworthy also addressed the court prior to sentencing. He did not accept responsibility for his crimes or offer an apology to the Bohannon family. He also had a few outbursts during sentencing, cursing at the prosecution as prior criminal incidents were read aloud to the judge. Very hard because I would have to stop and gather myself, Elizabeth Bohannon said, talking about her victim impact statement. Probably took like a week to write it and rewrite it. Very difficult to do that. I think it just goes to show that he has no remorse for what he done. His whole defense was a lie and not once did he say, Im sorry. Kinworthy was convicted of Bohannons murder on May 2. He was also found guilty of wounding Bailey and another civilian. Years of meticulous work by our prosecution team achieved long-delayed justice for the families of Officers Bohannon and Bailey, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said. The sentence of life without the possibility of parole and additional maximum sentences on all counts are appropriate punishment for these heinous crimes committed by such a violent, unrepentant individual. Al Bohannon said he wants people to remember his sons bravery, dedication, and honor in choosing to serve the City of St. Louis. To wear that uniform and protect those who are helpless. He wore that uniform proudly, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) Just over two years after being accused of endangering lives and causing significant damage by starting a fire at a Columbia Kroger, a Franklin man pleaded guilty to aggravated arson. Columbia Fire and Rescue said Jeffrey Lee Mealer intentionally set fire to the building and shopping cart storage area outside the Kroger in the 800 block of Nashville Highway on June 5, 2022, while the night stock crew was working inside. In addition, he allegedly stayed at the scene as police and firefighters responded to the incident. ORIGINAL STORY: Columbia Kroger set on fire; alleged arsonist facing multiple charges According to fire officials, after Mealer was identified as a suspect through security camera footage and witness statements, he was arrested and charged with six counts of reckless endangerment, aggravated arson, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell. Arson is a severe crime, especially when it endangers lives through senseless acts, Columbia Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Donnie Knoepfel stated. Columbia Fire and Rescue is committed to working with state and local authorities to ensure these crimes are investigated, prosecuted, and to hold perpetrators responsible for their actions. PREVIOUS: Man charged with Columbia Kroger arson says he didnt do it The department announced on Friday, June 28 that the 55-year-old accepted a plea deal in Maury County Circuit Court last week and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison without parole for aggravated arson. In addition to Columbia Fire and Rescue, the case was reportedly investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com All agencies involved did a phenomenal job working together for a successful outcome in this case, Knoepfel said in response to Mealers conviction. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Man seriously injured after falling off border wall in Sunland Park Man seriously injured after falling off border wall in Sunland Park EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A man suffered serious injuries after falling off the border wall early Friday morning, June 28, in Sunland Park, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department. The Fire Department says they responded just after 4 a.m. to a man who fell off the border wall behind the landfill at 1000 Camino Real Ave. The Fire Department says the man suffered serious back injuries and was transported to a trauma center. The Fire Department says the man is in his 40s. 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. Man took his vehicle into a Fife auto-glass shop. A cache of firearms led him to prison A 40-year-old Pierce County man was sentenced Thursday to four years in prison for illegally possessing a cache of firearms, which were discovered by workers and authorities after he took his vehicle to a Fife auto-glass repair shop. Brady Lee Eltz was arrested Oct. 4 after Fife police were called to the shop where employees reported observing firearms in the trunk of Eltzs vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office and court records. Authorities found three guns in the trunk, including a modified stolen rifle; two improvised explosive devices in a bag; hundreds of ammunition rounds; latex face masks; body armor; gun sights; and other firearm accessories, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Inside the shops bathroom, where Eltz had gone when police arrived, authorities discovered two firearms in a cabinet below the sink. Eltz also was found in possession of GPS trackers, several knives and a voice-changing device. His vehicle, a Mazda 3, had bullet holes, charging papers said. This conduct is not only serious but alarming to read about and see, U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said during Thursdays sentencing, according to the U.S. Attorneys Offices news release announcing the cases resolution. You possessed very dangerous weapons. Its unclear what your motivation was. Federal court records painted a picture of a troubled man who was born in Enumclaw and struggled with an unstable adolescence, methamphetamine addiction and trauma, including the loss of loved ones. Eltz had been stabbed in the back during a 2001 Mardi Gras celebration riot in Seattles Pioneer Square neighborhood, court records show. A sentencing memorandum filed in court by his public defender said Eltz became preoccupied with concerns about World War III and believed his possession of weapons offered protection to his family. It requested that he serve no new jail time and be allowed to undergo supervised substance abuse and mental health treatment. I truly do understand fully the error in my ways, and thinking, Eltz said in a statement included in the memo, adding in a letter that he took full accountability and has since changed. In their own sentencing memo, prosecutors noted that Eltz had a history of collecting weapons, fake credentials and disguises. In 2007 and 2012, he was found with a similar cache of armaments and equipment, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Due to a federal conviction for unlawful possession of firearms in 2013 in which he was sentenced to five years in prison and other criminal convictions, Eltz was barred from possessing any guns, the office said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the most recent case, with assistance from the Fife Police and Pierce County Sheriffs departments. The Detroit Police Department revised its policies on how it uses facial recognition to solve crimes as part of a settlement reached in a federal lawsuit filed by a Farmington Hills man who was wrongfully arrested for theft in 2020 based on the technology. The settlement between Robert Williams and the city of Detroit was filed in federal court on Friday and the case dismissed. In May, Detroit City Council approved paying Williams $300,000 for damages as part of the settlement. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, which sued on behalf of Williams, announced the policy changes Detroit police made during a Friday news conference, which include: Police can't make arrests based on facial recognition results alone, or on the results of photo lineups based on a facial recognition search. Police can't conduct lineups based on facial recognition alone without other independent, reliable evidence linking the suspect to a crime. Police must disclose the flaws of facial recognition technology and must disclose when facial recognition is used when making an arrest. Additionally, police must disclose when facial recognition technology did not come up with a suspect, or when the results showed different suspects. Training on facial recognition that includes risks and dangers of the technology and the disproportionate rate in which people of color are misidentified at higher rates. An audit must be conducted of all cases since 2017 where Detroit police used facial recognition technology to obtain an arrest warrant. The policies will be enforced by federal court for four years, ACLU officials said. Robert Williams was wrongfully arrested and jailed after he was mistakenly identified as a suspect in a theft investigation. Now, he's suing the Detroit Police Department. Williams was falsely identified as the perpetrator of a theft from a Shinola store in October 2018. Williams was arrested in front of his family in January 2020 and held for 30 hours before he was released on a personal bond, according to his lawsuit. A Detroit detective ran a grainy photo made from poorly lit footage through the department's facial recognition technology, Williams' lawsuit states, and still relied on the results to arrest Williams. In the footage, the shoplifter never looks directly into the camera, the lawsuit said. Williams, who was at Friday's news conference, said abuse of facial recognition technology "completely upended my life." "My wife and young daughters had to watch helplessly as I was arrested for a crime I didn't commit and by the time I got home from jail, I had already missed my youngest losing her first tooth and my eldest couldn't even bear to look at my picture. Even now, years later, it still brings them to tears when they think about it," he said in a statement. The scariest part is that what happened to me could have happened to anyone." Following Williams' wrongful arrest, Detroit police created a facial recognition policy that includes three independent sign-offs before the technology can be approved to use in an investigation, the department said in a statement to the Free Press on Friday. The policy also stated the technology could not be used as the basis for identifying a suspect, the department said. Representatives with the ACLU described the controversial facial recognition technology as "dangerous," and described settlement as "groundbreaking." The policies Detroit police made will serve as a model for other police agencies nationally on best practices of facial recognition technology, said Phil Mayor, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Michigan. Detroit police said in its statement that the department is pleased with the policy changes, and that it also "firmly" believes the policy changes will serve as a national example of best facial recognition practices. "While the work DPD and the ACLU do may differ, our goals are similar to ensure policing is done in a fair, equitable, and constitutional manner," the department wrote in its statement. More: Sterling Heights OKs $265K settlement in case that accused cop of teen's wrongful arrest In August 2023, Detroit police strengthened its photo lineup and facial recognition technology policies after "shoddy" police work led to the wrongful arrest of a woman who was eight months pregnant, Police Chief James White previously said. The policy changes were announced after a wrongful arrest and imprisonment lawsuit was filed in federal court by Porcha Woodruff, who was accused in a January 2023 carjacking and robbery she did not commit and arrested the next month. The pending lawsuit filed against the city and the detective who put her behind bars for 11 hours argues that a false facial recognition match wrongfully identified her as the suspect despite the fact that the real suspect was never described as visibly pregnant. The detective on the case used a facial recognition photo in the lineup presented to the carjacking victim, White said, describing the detective's actions as "literally, perhaps one of the most counterintuitive things you could do." "Because it's going to already produce look-a-likes," White had said. "In other words, you're not going to put a suspect's twin in a lineup." More: Lawsuit filed after facial recognition tech causes wrongful arrest of pregnant woman Those policy changes announced by White in August 2023 include: Officers are prohibited from using facial recognition photos in lineups. DPD will use a sequential double-blind photo lineup, meaning each photo will be placed in an envelope and delivered to witnesses individually. Officers involved in an investigation where a photo lineup is used cannot present the photo lineup. Two captains must review warrant requests for arrests when facial technology is used in an investigation. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at asahouri@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Man wrongfully arrested with facial recognition tech settles lawsuit LOS ANGELES (AP) Fans of Marilyn Monroe have won a battle to preserve her mark on Los Angeles and are a step closer to seeing a towering statue of the silver screen icon remain in Palm Springs. The Los Angeles home where Monroe briefly lived and died has been declared a historic cultural monument, while a Palm Springs planning commission decision boosted chances that a 26-foot (8-meter) statue called Forever Marilyn will stay in place. The Los Angeles City Council voted for the historic designation Wednesday after a lengthy battle over whether the home in the tony Brentwood neighborhood would be demolished, the Los Angeles Times reported. $1 movies at Regal this summer: Whats playing The current owners live next door and wanted to raze the house in order to expand their estate. The council, however, was unanimous in moving to save it. Theres no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home, Traci Park, the areas council representative, said before the vote. Monroe bought the house for $75,000 and died there just months later on Aug. 4, 1962, from an apparent overdose. The current owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, bought the house for $8.35 million and obtained a demolition permit but ran into opposition. They contend the house has been changed so much over the years that it no longer is historic, and that it has become a neighborhood nuisance due to tourist traffic. The process that led to the designation was biased, unconstitutional and rigged, Peter C. Sheridan, an attorney for Milstein and Bank, said in a statement to The Associated Press. Sheridan asserted that Park and her staff were not responsive to the owners efforts to find a solution and ignored opposition by civic and homeowners groups. The attorney also said the city had granted dozens of permits to over 14 different prior owners to change the home through numerous remodels, resulting in there being nothing left reflecting Ms. Monroes brief time there 60 years ago. Watch 100-foot sinkhole open in soccer field In Palm Springs, the Forever Marilyn statute depicts Monroe in the famous billowing dress scene from The Seven Year Itch. It has been moved around the U.S. and elsewhere, including a previous stint in Palm Springs, and is now back. A hotel industry group that owns the statue wants it to remain permanently but some residents oppose it. A technical decision about the location by the planning commission on Wednesday marked a step toward keeping the statue, The Desert Sun reported. The matter continues before the Palm Springs City Council in the future. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. English language education is the driving force behind many US projects in Azerbaijan, US Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Hugo Guevara said at the opening of a conference for Azerbaijani English teachers in secondary schools, Trend reports. "With a broad command of English, more students will be able to participate in diversifying the country's economy and interact with other professionals at a higher level. Thus, helping to improve English proficiency is the driving force behind many of our projects here in Azerbaijan," he said. Guevara emphasized that this is the fourth year of the online Master's level English Teaching Certification Program for Azerbaijani teachers, conducted by North Carolina State University and funded by the US Department of State. He mentioned that this year, 92 people have successfully completed the program at the master's level. Altogether, since its launch in 2020, 350 Azerbaijani English teachers have completed this challenging virtual master's-level program. To note, the conference is the culmination of an 18-week online master's-level English teaching certification program for Azerbaijani teachers, administered by North Carolina State University and funded by the US Department of State. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Marilyn Monroe's Los Angeles home has been saved from demolition. Here's what it looks like today. Marilyn Monroe's former home is safe for now. Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images Marilyn Monroe's home in Brentwood, California, was ruled a landmark by the LA City Council. The current owners sued the city for the right to demolish it to expand their home next door. Monroe died inside the home in August 1962. In 1962, Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic figures in American culture, was found dead inside her home in Brentwood, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. She was 36. Sixty-two years later, the Los Angeles City Council ruled that her former home should be declared a historical cultural monument, as Variety reported. The decision came after a May 2024 lawsuit from the current owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, who sued the City of Los Angeles to tear down the home, alleging "illegal and unconstitutional conduct and abuse of power by the city." The Los Angeles Times reported the couple bought the home in July 2023 for $8.35 million. However, after this latest decision, Monroe's home will remain standing. Here's everything you need to know about the home, its past, and what will happen now. Marilyn Monroe purchased the Brentwood hacienda-style house in February 1962. It was the only house she ever owned. The exterior of Monroe's home in 1962. AFP/Getty Images The home, located at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, was built in 1929. According to Architectural Digest, the 2,900-square-foot home had two bedrooms, a small guesthouse, and a pool. Two more bedrooms have since been added. She called it a "cute little Mexican-style house with eight rooms" and a "fortress where I can feel safe from the world," AD reported. In a sad coincidence, the Latin phrase "Cursum Perficio," which means "The journey ends here," was written on the front porch's tiles. Its origins remain unknown. Monroe lived there for just a few months she died of an overdose in the home in August 1962. At the time, she purchased it for $77,500. In 2023, it sold for $8.35 million. An aerial view of the house seen in 2002. Mel Bouzad/Getty Images The most recent sale was in July 2023, according to the Los Angeles Times. The property was purchased by heiress Brinah Milstein her family was worth $3.1 billion in 2015 after making their fortune in real estate, according to Forbes and her husband, Roy Bank, a reality TV producer. Milstein and Bank sued the City of Los Angeles in May 2024 for the right to demolish the home. An aerial view of Marilyn Monroe's final home in Brentwood in 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images The lawsuit came after a temporary halt on demolition that was issued in September 2023. According to Milstein and Bank, the home has changed hands 14 times since Monroe's death and there have been "over a dozen" permits issued in relation to remodeling the home. "There is not a single piece of the house that includes any physical evidence that Ms. Monroe ever spent a day at the house," the lawsuit alleged, The New York Times reported. But the home has been likened to Graceland for fans of Monroe and has become a tourist attraction. A woman jumped for a better view outside the house in 2012. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images Much like Elvis Presley's home Graceland has become a place for fans of the King to come together and celebrate their idol, Monroe's super-fans are connected to this home. That's according to Scott Fortner, a lifelong fan who runs The Marilyn Monroe Collection. He spoke to KCAL News in September 2023, after the demolition had been temporarily halted. "This home is the equivalent of Graceland. It's that place where people go to remember Marilyn and just consider the fact that this was where she was happy and really wanted to start something new a new chapter in her life," he said. Now, the home will remain untouched after the LA City Council ruled it is a landmark. Marilyn Monroe's Spanish Colonial-style former house in Los Angeles. Mike Blake/Reuters According to The New York Times, on June 26, the council voted unanimously 12 to 0 to add the house to the list of local landmarks. "There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home," said a member of the City Council, Traci Park. "To lose this piece of history, the only home that Marilyn Monroe ever owned, would be a devastating blow for historic preservation," she continued. After the decision, an attorney for the homeowners told City News Service, "Traci Park's actions today and throughout the process, disregarding the interests of her constituents and the facts and merits, demonstrate that no one's home or investment is safe." The lawsuit is still pending, and a hearing is set for August 13. Read the original article on Business Insider A 24-year-old Marine recruiter faces a trial on allegations that he broke into a Michigan home, stabbed an 11-year-old girl and said he planned to kill everyone inside. Cpl. Ricardo Perez Castillo waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, which moves his case involving felony charges of assault with intent to murder, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent to the Kent County, Michigan, 17th Circuit Court for a potential trial. Prosecutors allege based on witness testimony and a police investigation that Castillo entered a home in the River Bluffs community of Rockford, Michigan, at around 3 a.m. on June 15, stripped down to his underwear and a shirt, took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed an 11-year-old girl who was a friend of a girl who lived at the residence, FOX 17 West Michigan reported. Castillo stopped stabbing the girl when she and her friend began screaming. He was held at gunpoint by the homeowner until police arrived. She suffered wounds to her left arm and shoulder and was treated at a local hospital. Cpl. Ricardo Perez Castillo, 24, faces four felony charges on allegations he broke into a Michigan home and stabbed an 11-year-old girl. (Kent County Sheriff's Office) Kent County Sheriffs deputies found Castillo in the girls bedroom with a bloody knife next to him, according to court records reported by both ABC local affiliate Channel 13 and local NBC affiliate Channel 8 Wood TV. Video shows Ricardo (Castillo) entering the (River Bluffs) residence and taking his shoes, socks, and pants off, according to the arrest report, local ABC affiliate Channel 13 reported. Ricardo (Castillo), with only his underwear and T-shirt, grabbed a knife from the kitchen drawer and walked upstairs. Castillos intent was to break into the house and kill the entire family, according to the report. Ricardo (Castillo) stated that he tried the first couple bedroom doors, but they were locked, the report stated. Ricardo then opened the master bedroom door and located (the homeowner) and his wife asleep. He decided to look for an easier target, according to the report. Ricardo (Castillo) then went into the room where (the girl) was sleeping, wrote the deputy. Ricardo stated to detectives that he planned to kill (her) and have sex with her body. But that house wasnt his first stop that night. About an hour before Castillo allegedly entered the River Bluffs, Michigan, home, a nearby homeowner was cleaning up his house after a dinner party and went to the rear of the home to bring some items inside from his deck when he saw a stranger by his kitchen sink. He asked the man, who police later identified as Castillo, who he was, why he was in his house and to leave. The man said Castillo walked toward the door but stopped and said, I dont even (expletive) know what the (expletive) is going on, but just in case, just be careful. Make sure youre armed. At that point I slammed the door shut and called police, Channel 8 Wood TV reported. Castillo was arrested on felony charges and is being held in the Kent County, Michigan, jail on a $2 million bond. This case, its as scary as it gets, its as horrific as it gets and it puts all of us in a fear zone like no other, said District Judge Sara J. Smolenski during his hearing. Woman files $5M claim against Corps for sex abuse by Marine recruiter Castillo, a native of Waterford, Michigan, more than two hours away, has served as a canvassing recruiter out of the Marines Lansing recruiting station since October 2023. He holds an infantry primary military occupational specialty and previously served with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bobby Yarbrough, a Marine spokesman, told Marine Corps Times in an email response Thursday. Police told local media that Castillo had been drinking alcohol earlier in the evening and was seen in downtown Rockford, Michigan, more than a mile from the house. Marine officials were not aware of any disciplinary actions against the corporal and Michigan police found no prior criminal convictions against Castillo in the state, according to local media. The Marine Corps deferred comment on the case and offered a statement to media. We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred. The case is currently being adjudicated in the Michigan court system, and it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the case at this time. Our hearts go out to the victims family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Police told local media outlets that currently the act appears totally random,and they have not found any connection between Castillo and individuals at the residence. Mary Trump, the niece of former President Trump, will join President Bidens campaign in the spin room in Atlanta following CNNs presidential debate. A campaign official said that Trumps niece will join the spin room because on the subject of character, few people can speak to Donald Trumps better than his family. Im in Atlanta tonight to remind everyone who Donald is as a person and how he would rule as a president because the stakes are far too high for us to get this wrong: We cannot afford to allow Donald Trump anywhere near the levers of power again, Mary Trump said in a statement. Mary Trump is a longtime, outspoken critic of her uncle and released a book in 2020 entitled, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Worlds Most Dangerous Man. She weighed in after Trump was convicted in his New York hush money case, saying that accountability must have taken the wind out of him. She said in her statement on Thursday that Donald cannot be trusted and we must recognize that his last administration was simply a warm-up for much worse to come, and she called Jan. 6, 2021, a dress rehearsal for a man who will stop at nothing to ascend, once again, to this countrys highest office. He is desperate for power and has shown himself both unworthy of wielding it and obsessed with regaining it purely for his own benefit. He must be stopped, she added. If the worst happens and Donald gets back into the White House, none of us who ever criticized him will be safe because revenge and retribution are what he traffics in. Im here tonight because only President Biden can stop Donald and save our country. Other voices will join the Biden team in the spin room, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has been a staunch defender of Bidens reelection bid, even amid speculation that he might take over the presidents spot were he to drop out of the race. Additionally, the campaign said Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) will be in the spin room, as well as former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D), who was just named a senior adviser for Biden. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), who served in the Biden White House, will also be in the spin room. Donald Trumps spin room will be a little thin tonight given that the people that know him best dont think he is fit to be Commander-in-Chief, Biden communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement. President Bidens team, on the other hand, will be a united show of force. Several Biden campaign officials will be in the spin room, as well as a group of content creators and influencers touting the presidents performance in the first presidential debate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Massachusetts vape shop owner accused of failing to pay more than $467,000 in excise taxes A Massachusetts vape shop owner is accused of failing to pay more than $467,000 in excise taxes. Ashraf Youssef, 61, of Hopkinton was arraigned on June 18 in Middlesex Superior Court on three counts of tax evasion, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement on Thursday. Clerk Magistrate Daniel Flaherty released Youssef on personal recognizance. He is due back in court on July 9. Youssef allegedly failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in excise tax between 2020 and 2022, when he owned three vape shops in Massachusetts, Ryan said. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, Youssef was the owner of AAA Smoke & Vape Shop in Marlborough, along with similar establishments in Sudbury and Whitinsville, Ryan said. During that time, Youssef purchased Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, or vape, products from four different out-of-state distributors, Ryan said. Youssef, who was responsible for paying excise taxes on the purchases, paid no excise tax on the products per the law, Ryan said. Investigators said information compiled from invoices, bank records and delivery records show that Youssef failed to pay $467,828 in electronic nicotine delivery systems excise taxes. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue Criminals Investigations Bureau partnered with Ryans office during the investigation. 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 Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced the death of Rhonda Massie, his wife of more than 35 years, on Friday morning. Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven, he posted on the social platform X, alongside photos of him and his wife. Massie, 53, said the couple went to prom together. They both attended Lewis County High School. They also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology together, where she received a mechanical engineering degree. Massie first won election to the House in 2012, representing Kentuckys 4th Congressional District. He did not release details on his wifes cause of death in the post. In 1993, Thomas and Rhonda Massie co-founded SensAble Devices, which allowed users to feel digital objects that appeared on a screen. They sold the company in 2003. Fellow elected officials also took to X to share their condolences. This is truly heartbreaking, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) replied to Massies post. I didnt know Rhonda well, but I know her husband. And based on that alone, and on what youve told me about her, I know she was an amazing woman. Fellow Kentuckian Kelly Paul, the wife of Sen. Rand Pauls (R-Ky.), posted on X that, Rhonda was a brilliant woman and a beautiful soul. She brought love and joy to all who knew her. Rand and I are praying for you and your family Thomas. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rhonda Massie, the beloved wife of my friend and colleague, Thomas Massie. Rhondas warmth, kindness, and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) also wrote on X. Barrs wife died unexpectedly in 2020. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, speaks to a crowd in Richmond, Virginia on the second anniversary of the overturn of federal abortion protections. Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury Democrats are finally talking about the Comstock Act and they are finally trying to repeal it. The act is a dormant 19th century federal law thats still technically on the books and could be used to implement a national abortion ban. Named for activist Anthony Comstock who pushed for it, the 1873 law prohibits the mailing of every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use. Dubbed the Stop Comstock Act, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., announced legislation last week that would repeal portions of it. A House version of the bill is co-sponsored by Virginia Reps. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond and Abigail Spanberger, D-Henrico. More broadly, the Gilded Age-era law focuses on obscene materials such as pornography, but other provisions of it have included abortifacients and contraception. The contraception components were stripped away over the years. While its abortion components have not been enforced, the law has been used in child pornography prosecutions. Four previous attempts from decades ago to repeal the abortion components of the act have failed and McClellan was candid about how her bill may not see success in the U.S. House right away due to its current GOP control. That doesnt mean we dont start fighting, McClellan said, noting how it took her about a decade to pass legislation to remove abortion barriers when she was a state senator in Virginia. Hopefully it will be the next Congress, under Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, that we pass that bill. Jeffries, the House Minority leader from New York, stands to become the next Speaker of the House if Democrats are able to take control of the chamber in this years elections. Showing their work on Comstock can help Democrats communicate about threats to abortion access amid this years presidential and congressional elections, said Erin Covey, an analyst for the Cook Political Report. I think the reason that this is coming up now is because were getting closer to the presidential election, she said. The potential reality of a second Trump term is something that Democrats in Congress are reckoning with right now. Why does this particular law matter? Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has taken credit for how his Supreme Court picks during his presidency ushered in the fall of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that federally protected abortion for nearly 50 years. With speculation at how far he would seek to regulate abortion, hes said different things in interviews with national press over the past year. While President Joe Biden has made abortion protection a pillar of his re-election campaign, Trump has made various statements ranging from supporting a national 15 or 16 week ban, to leaving regulation to the states, and feeling strongly about Comstock. In an April interview with TIME Magazine, he said hed have a big statement within two weeks, but he never did. He also said earlier this month that he would work side by side with a group that wants to see abortion eradicated. And though Comstocks abortion provisions were not enforced during the nearly 50 years of Roe, it has been a looming specter for the abortion rights movement all along. Activists and legal scholars have cautioned about its potential as it is still technically on the books. It was a Trump-appointed Texas judges interpretation of Comstock that helped propel the Federal Drug Administration v Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine to the U.S. Supreme Court. Though the Supreme Court, which has several Trump appointees, did not rule in the Alliances favor, they kicked the case back down to lower courts where it will continue to be litigated. Most directly, the Comstock Act applies to mailing abortion medication, but some think it can be interpreted further to prohibit transport of supplies to establish abortion clinics. While not literally a ban, legal historian Mary Ziegler explained how abortion opponents can interpret it to be used as one. The question is, if you cant put anything in the mail or through a common carrier or potentially into interstate commerce, then how do you get surgical tools or whatever? How do you get any of the items you would need? she said. Comstocks legal code appears in a conservative manifesto called Project 2025 that Trump could tap into should he win a second term. Chapter 14 of the policy guidebook by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation recommends that promotion and approval of mail-order abortion medications cease and alleges they are in violation of long-standing federal laws that prohibit the mailing and interstate carriage of abortion drugs. Comstocks legal code is then cited in footnote number 16. Local government officials have tried for years to use Comstock to limit abortions in their communities. The law has surfaced in local ordinances around the country, such as in Virginia where it was voted down last year and in New Mexico where legal challenges have ascended to the states supreme court. Assisted by former Texas Solicitor General Jonathan Mitchell, Texas activist Mark Lee Dickson has encouraged localities to pass such ordinances. Dickson also has said that they offer legal representation to localities that goes up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Be it Trump utilizing Comstock if elected, or legal challenges progressing successfully in Dicksons favor through courts, Dicksons confident it can be a path for a national ban. If enforced, it would have the same impact as a national ban on abortion, he said. That is because it is a de-facto national abortion ban. Legal historian Lauren MacIver Thompson, who specializes in Comstock, echoed Zieglers theory of how that could work. If Trump is reelected, (abortion opponents) basically have a clear path to enforce it with a newly re-formed Department of Justice, said legal historian Lauren MacIver Thompson. They can kind of read the act however they want it to be read. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post McClellan, Spanberger work to repeal parts of 19th century law that could ban abortion nationally appeared first on Virginia Mercury. MDOC: Prisoner dead after fight with other inmate at Alger Correctional Facility ALGER COUNTY, Mich. (WJMN) The Michigan Department of Corrections and Michigan State Police are investigating after the death of an inmate at the Alger Correctional Facility. According to a spokesperson for the MDOC, staff at the prison were called for emergency medical care for Drequan Glover on June 18th after a physical altercation with another inmate. Were told despite life-saving efforts, Glover died that same day. The MDOC said through their initial investigation with MSP they found no weapons had been used in the fight with the other inmate, but did not mention anything more toward what the cause of death may have been. It is currently unclear who the other prisoner was, or if they are facing any possible repercussions. Local 3 will update this story 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 WJMN - UPMatters.com. Former First Lady Melania Trump is not attending the presidential debate against President Joe Biden, further signaling the distance between her and her husbands campaign, as she opts to stay out of the public eye. Melania who was absent for the entirety of her husbands criminal trial has made scant public appearances, and even fewer alongside her husband, since he won a primary race to become the Republican nominee for president. In a pattern of keeping answers on his wifes absence short, Donald Trump told Fox and Friends earlier in June that shes fine. I think its very tough on her, but shes fine, he said, referring to his criminal conviction days earlier. Melania was reportedly not very fond of her time as First Lady, during which she half-heartedly promoted anti-bullying initiatives and begrudgingly kept up White House traditions, like putting up its Christmas decorations. Donald Trump, who has apparently lost the public support of his wife and daughter Ivanka since his last term, is struggling to make inroads with women voters, who supported Biden over Trump by more than an 11-point margin in 2020. His appointment of Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and his support of restrictive national and local abortion bans, have been especially salient attack angles from the Biden campaign. First Lady Jill Biden, present in Atlanta, has played a central role in her husband's campaign. I know Joe is ready to go, the First Lady told a group of the presidents supporters in Virginia earlier in the day, starkly contrasting Melanias absence in the Trump campaign. Melania Trump broke a long-standing tradition by not attending the 2024 presidential debate on Thursday evening. The former first lady was nowhere to be seen when Trump deboarded his plane in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the first debate against President Joe Biden since 2020. She was also nowhere to be seen after the debate ended. Trump exited solo but President Bidens wife Dr Jill Biden made her way to the stage to greet her husband and escort him to the moderators table. Melania has been largely absent from his 2024 presidential campaign. She has already missed key events, including the kickoff of the 2024 election in Iowa and her husbands Super Tuesday victory party. She also did not attend a single day of Trumps hush money trial in Manhattan. He is set to be sentenced on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where he will be named the official GOP presidential nominee. Melania was most recently seen at Barron Trumps high school graduation in May. She also attended a campaign event in April with the Log Cabin Republicans, which describes itself as the nations largest Republican organization dedicated to representing LGBT conservatives and allies. Melania Trump, pictured, on March 19, 2024. She will not attend the first presidential debate of 2024 between her husband, Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) When reporters asked her in March if shed be returning to the trail, she told them, stay tuned. Several experts also predict she will not move back into the White House if her husband wins in November. Shes distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social political scene, Kate Andersen Brower, an expert on the White House and first ladies, said. Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University who studies first ladies, told the Associated Press that Melania and her husband have often broken with tradition. Donald Trump (right), Melania Trump (center) and her father Viktor Knavs (left) attend Barron Trumps high school graduation. Experts say Melania is distancing herself from her husband (AFP via Getty Images) But everything the Trumps do seems to be against the standard playbook of how candidates and spouses behave, Jellison said this week. Thursdays debate is also breaking with tradition. The event marks the first televised debate between a former and sitting president. CNN, the network hosting the debate, has also eliminated a live audience and will mute candidates microphones when it is not their turn to spreak. Biden has spent much of the last week at Camp David with his close advisers preparing for the debate. Meanwhile, Trump has prioritized policy discussions with allies over formal debate preparation, The Independent previously reported. The members of Joe Bidens circle who could convince him to stand down Pressure is mounting on president Biden to stand down and not run for a second term - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Pressure on Joe Biden to stand aside to avoid humiliation in Novembers election is mounting. But despite the growing chorus of donors and Democrat strategists calling for his replacement, it is only the US presidents inner circle and wider circles of influence that are capable of getting through to him. From family and friends to Democratic big beasts and newspaper columnists, their influence will be pivotal over the next few months. Circle one: family Jill Biden, the first lady, is arguably the most important of all. Dr Biden, 73, is the presidents second wife - his first having died in a car crash. Perhaps the best indication of her influence was in 2003 when leading Democrats were trying to persuade Mr Biden to run against George W Bush. Dr Biden, who was sunbathing by the swimming pool in a bikini, marched into the kitchen to her husband, grabbed a marker pen and wrote NO on her stomach. Mr Biden and his advisers got the message. Dr Biden is arguably the most important of all in his inner circle - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Mr Bidens 78-year-old sister Valerie Biden Owens is a respected political strategist. Back in 1972, then a high school teacher, she was persuaded by Joe to run his longshot campaign to become one of Delawares senators. She steered him to a shock victory. She has been by his side ever since, running all his senate campaigns and his two unsuccessful bids for the presidency. According to her book, Ms Biden Owens did not want her older brother to run in 2020, fearing the impact the personal attacks would have on him and his family. Circle two: close political advisers Mike Donilon, a 65-year-old political pollster and campaign consultant started working for the then Delaware senator Mr Biden in 1981 and has been one of his most trusted advisers ever since. Described by the Washington Post as Mr Bidens alter ego, Mr Donilon is consulted on every major decision. Having advised Mr Biden to run for a second term, it could fall to him to spell out the consequences of the debate debacle. Ron Klain, a 62-year-old long-standing Democrat strategist, Mr Klain was a key figure in the Biden, Obama and Clinton administrations. He was Mr Bidens chief of staff for the first two years of his administration, having held the same post when he was vice president. Even though he has left the White House, Mr Klain is reportedly in almost daily contact with his former boss. Ted Kaufmans association with Joe Biden dates back to 1972, and he was picked to complete Mr Bidens term as a senator when he became Barack Obamas vice president. Known for his blunt straight-talking approach, 85-year-old Mr Kaufman headed the Biden transition team after he won the 2020. Anita Dunn, 66, is a senior adviser to Mr Biden, returning to the post in May 2022. A veteran Democratic operative, who also was Barack Obamas communications director, she is part of the tight circle of Biden allies in the White House. She has a reputation as a political brawler and one of Mr Bidens fiercest defenders in Washington. Circle three: political allies Relations between the Bill and Hillary Clinton and Mr Biden were not always good. There was reportedly some ill-feeling when Mrs Clinton beat him to the 2016 Democratic nomination. Since then the Clintons have been enthusiastic fundraisers for Mr Biden, who needs all the allies he can find. Bill and Hillary Clinton have been enthusiastic fundraisers for Mr Biden despite some reported ill-feeling in 2016 - Tierney L. Cross / CNP / SplashNews.com Barack Obama has helped raise money for Mr Biden, who was his vice president. Unlike many other administrations, the vice president and president got on well during their tenure. The 62-year-old former president is seen as a sounding board for Mr Biden. According to Washington gossip, Mr Obama has long been worried by the Biden campaigns performance and has urged him to bring in some seasoned experienced advisers to help run the operation. Chris Coons, the 60-year-old senator from Delaware, is arguably Mr Bidens closest ally on Capitol Hill. Mentored by Mr Biden, Mr Coons is the presidents eyes and ears in Congress and probably best placed to voice the anxieties of Democrats who fear they could be casualties of a Republican wave in November. Hakeem Jeffries, the 53, Democratic leader in the House of Representatives may have nurtured hopes of regaining control of the chamber in November. Now he will fear his members being turfed out in downmarket ballots in November. Asked whether Mr Biden should stand down, Mr Jeffries offered a terse no comment. Barack Obama has reportedly long been worried by his former vic president's campaign's performance - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Circle four: columnists Mr Biden is reportedly a voracious reader of newspapers and the work of several major columnists in the US media. Thomas Friedman, 70 has a weekly column in the New York Times, is a friend of Mr Biden and occasionally has personal briefings from the president. A Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr Friedman has a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Oxford. Regularly read by Mr Biden, Mr Friedmans call for him to step aside on Friday will be a bitter blow to the president David Ignatius, 74, is a columnist for the Washington Post. Educated at Harvard and Cambridge University. He has made little secret of his belief that Mr Biden should not run again, having called on the president to stand down last September, warning that an electoral defeat would undo his greatest achievement - beating Donald Trump in 2020. New York Times columnist David Brooks, 62, is a respected right-of-centre columnist. Earlier this month, he attacked the trial of Mr Bidens son, Hunter in a radio interview. I dont think if he had a... didnt have a high-profile father, he would be suffering this increased conviction of a felony. Joe Scarborough, 61, hosts Morning Joe on the left-leaning MSNBC with his third wife Mika Brezinski. Mr Bidens favourite news anchor, Scarborough, questioned his decision to stay in the race after his performance in the debate on Thursday night. Mr Scarborough praised him for his work in office but questioned his status as the nominee. If he was CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any Fortune 500 corporation in America keep him as CEO? he said. These are hard questions, but the fact is, friends, failure is just not an option. We know that Joe Biden can governhe can run the White House. He can run the country. But can he run for president in 2024? A former Republican congressman in Florida, who was one of 228 members of the House of Representatives to vote to impeach Bill Clinton in 1993, he switched his political affiliation to Independent in 2017. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan holds a lot of great opportunities for US training programs, US Charge d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Hugo Guevara told reporters on the sidelines of the opening of a conference for Azerbaijani English teachers in secondary schools, Trend reports. "There are many wonderful opportunities for US training programs in Azerbaijan. We have a wide range of programs represented, including 'EducationUSA', which promotes ties between US universities," he emphasized. The Charge d'Affaires mentioned that the main goal of this program is to improve the quality of training for Azerbaijani English teachers working in the country. "Actually, this program aims to improve the training of Azerbaijani English teachers who stay here and provide them with the necessary set of skills. We have different types of programs. This program is designed for teachers, but over time we can see different types of programs where students will also participate," Guevara explained. He stressed that since the beginning of the year, more than 750 Azerbaijani teachers and students have been trained in English under the US program, which, in his opinion, is a huge achievement. "We are very proud that the work we are doing is helping Azerbaijani students acquire skills they can use to compete in the international market. We are grateful to ADA University as well as the government of Azerbaijan for the support we have received," Guevara added. To note, the conference is the culmination of an 18-week online master's-level English teaching certification program for Azerbaijani teachers conducted by North Carolina State University and funded by the US Department of State. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel CHICAGO Residents of the north and western suburbs have another option for travel to Sundays Pride Parade. Metra announced it will add one inbound and outbound train to its Union Pacific North and Union Pacific West lines. In addition, one scheduled train on each line will run express to the city. On the UP-North Line: The UP North Line will also add one extra inbound and one extra outbound train and will modify the schedule of Train #810, the 8:34 a.m. departure from Kenosha. Instead of being an all-stop train, #810 will run express from Winnetka to Ravenswood and Ravenswood to Ogilvie, skipping Clybourn. The extra train will originate at Winnetka at 9:48 a.m. and serve all stops to Ogilvie, arriving at 10:40 a.m. One extra outbound train will depart Ogilvie at 7:35 p.m., making all stops to Waukegan. On the UP-West Line: The UP West Line will add one extra inbound and one extra outbound train and will modify the schedule of inbound Train #504, the 8:25 a.m. departure from Elburn. Instead of being an all-stop train, #504 will run express from College Avenue to Ogilvie, and the added train will originate at College Avenue at 9:07 a.m. and serve all stops to Ogilvie except Maywood and Kedzie, arriving at Ogilvie at 10:10 a.m. One extra outbound train will depart Ogilvie at 6:30 p.m. Chicagos 53rd annual Pride parade steps off at 11 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of North Broadway Street and West Sheridan Road. In the city, the Chicago Transit Authoritys Pride Train continues to run on the Red Line. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Mexican cartels are diversifying business beyond drugs. Here's where they are profiting MEXICO CITY In a small town in Mexicos western state of Michoacan, members of a criminal group forced residents to pay for high-cost internet service or face death. After these threats, residents made monthly extortion payments while simultaneously reporting the situation to authorities. After months of investigations, officials raided three properties, finding evidence such as antennas, internet repeater equipment and connections, which were handed over to the prosecutor's office. While it may sound surprising for Mexico's drug cartels to be involved in internet service, those who follow the criminal groups' activities aren't at all surprised. "Drug cartels have diversified their operations since their inception," security analyst David Saucedo said. "Many of them started as criminal organizations whose main activity wasnt drug trafficking." Some gangs were involved in, for example, fuel theft, others were involved in vehicle theft and others specialized in robbing public transportation, Saucedo said. Criminal groups that joined drug trafficking already had these other activities beforehand. Besides the billions of dollars cartels make from the drug trafficking industry, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says the most powerful drug cartels, Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), are involved in many illegal ventures that result in profits. The Sinaloa Cartel is most closely identified with drug trafficking but is also engaged in extortion, the theft of petroleum and ores, weapons trafficking, migrant smuggling, and prostitution, the 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment states. CJNG directs the theft of fuel from pipelines, extorts agave and avocado farmers, migrants and prison officials, and taxes migrant smugglers, the report said. "The portfolio is extensive. However, while drug trafficking is the most profitable activity, it has a longer recovery time for the investment compared to other ... criminal activities, which yield almost immediate profit," Saucedo said. Resultado de un operativo coordinado entre la Subsecretaria de Investigacion Especilizada (SIE), la Fiscalia General... Posted by Secretaria de Seguridad Publica de Michoacan on Friday, December 29, 2023 From cartels calling older Americans to offer timeshares in Mexico, leading to the loss of nearly $40 million, to cartel-backed smugglers reaping growing profits in the trafficking of migrants across the U.S-Mexico border, their criminal range is extensive. Here are some ways where the cartels have extended their reach: Fuel theft Fuel theft, known as huachicoleo in Mexico, is a highly profitable activity for organized crime groups. In the first nine months of 2022, Mexico's state-owned oil company, Pemex, lost $730 million from illegal pipeline taps. Cartels in Mexico have developed a sophisticated approach to fuel theft, which involves corruption, precision and violence. This includes tactics such as bribing Pemex employees and local officials for information, drilling precise illegal taps into pipelines, and using modified tanker trucks to transport stolen fuel for distribution in black market networks. Several cartels are involved in this criminal activity. For instance, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, led by Jose Antonio Yepez, also known as El Marro, established its dominance through fuel theft before entering into drug trafficking. Additionally, CJNG and the Gulf Cartel are also linked to fuel theft, which supports their criminal activities. Avocados Mexico's multibillion-dollar avocado industry, which continues to break records for exports every year, has also been one of the main targets for drug cartels. Avocados are known as green gold in Mexico, and the country has become the worlds largest producer of the popular fruit. But as growers fortunes have risen, they have faced increasing threats from drug cartels seeking a share of the profits. Near Uruapan, Michoacan, a worker packs boxes of avocados to be shipped to the United States. Feb. 3, 2023. In Michoacan, the only state authorized to export the fruit to the U.S., CJNG and local gangs demand payments from farmers, often referred to as "protection fees." These fees can range from $135 to $500 per hectare monthly, depending on the size of the farm and the level of perceived threat. The extortion process begins with cartels identifying and targeting profitable farms. Armed cartel members then approach the farmers, issuing threats of violence or property damage if the farmers refuse to comply. In February 2022, the U.S. suspended avocado imports from Mexico after a U.S. official received a death threat while working in Uruapan. The imports resumed a week later following new safety measures applied by Mexicos government in the region. Two years later, locals say the situation hasnt changed much, and avocado growers continue to deal with criminal organizations in the area. Tortillas The average Mexican consumes about 70 kilograms of tortillas annually, according to the Mexican Agriculture Ministry. It is a staple in Mexican cuisine, which is why cartels have decided to profit from it. Extortion from cartels affects nearly 20,000 tortillerias, directly impacting the prices paid by Mexicans. According to the National Tortilla Council, in an interview with the Washington Post, out of more than 130,000 tortillerias in the country, between 14 to 15% percent suffer from extortion. Homero Lopez Garcia, the organization's president, told El Sol de Mexico that establishments must pay between $135 and $190 weekly to multiple criminal groups to continue operating. "Well, look, nothing surprises me anymore," Saucedo, the security analyst, said about cartels extorting tortillerias. "Perhaps it's a somewhat insensitive and cynical posture from me, but the truth is that I remain open to all possibilities in this regard." Chicken In a video posted on social media two days before Christmas 2023, an armed group was seen arriving at a poultry shop in Toluca, Mexico, kidnapping four workers and putting them into a white van. The Mexico state prosecutor's office said the victims were retailers who were forced to buy chicken in some establishments. Likewise, they had to pay a fee of $2.50 per kilo in exchange for not getting killed by the Familia Michoacana cartel. Authorities said as a result of their efforts to combat extortion, the criminal groups La Familia Michoacana and CJNG lost over $43 million from threatening poultry and egg vendors in municipalities of the Toluca Valley and the southern part of the state. The state prosecutor's office said in 2023 alone, they received 4,010 complaints for this crime, of which they determined that only one in four was made in person, with the rest being indirect through phone calls, social media, and emails. Three months later, the four workers kidnapped in December were found alive, and four perpetrators were detained, but those behind the abductions remain on the loose and the extortion of poultry vendors continues, officials said. 'Piso' fee "They were asking me for $600 monthly for cobro de piso; we reported it, and we had to close for a month," Guillermo, a businessman in downtown Mexico City, told local media, recalling the extortion from the cartel. The cobro de piso, which is the fee cartels charge business owners in exchange for "protection," has been the main problem for merchants in Mexico City. "The first group of affected businesses are restaurants, followed by convenience stores in second place, and then jewelry stores in third place," said Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, president of Mexico Citys Chamber of Commerce. In the past few years, extortions have been on the rise. Depending on the areas, some establishments would receive calls, emails, or in-person visits from armed men asking for the cartel's fee. "They have tried several times, it's through calls," restaurant owner Israel Zavala told Mexican media. "The trust in the authorities isn't very high; complaints have been filed, but they don't proceed." Analyst Saucedo said the problem with the metrics is that we have never had access to their accounting books. We will never have the total amount of the taxable fee because many do not report it to the authorities. In Mexico City, there are many criminal organizations involved in activities such as drug dealing, but also charging extortion fees to small business owners like tortilla shops, street vendors, and taxi drivers. "Since Mexico City is a densely populated area, and we have a very large informal economy, many people are unfortunately susceptible to paying protection money. Consequently, it is a profitable activity for the local mafias," Saucedo said. "Besides paying an official tax to come to work, you have to pay another one to them," Angel Campos, a vendor at a street market in Mexico City, said. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mexican cartels diversify business with fuel, tortillas and piso ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A re-branding and reorganization of New Mexicos public assistance programs is officially launching on July 1, 2024. The services will now be under the recently created New Mexico Healthcare Authority (HCA). The launch of the HCA is our promise to creating a healthier New Mexico, Kari Armijo, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority, said in a press release. By integrating health care and safety-net services, we aim to make it easier for New Mexicans to access the services they need when and where they need them. Rio Rancho Public Schools partnering with UFO record collection to promote historical research Many of the services under the new department are those previously administered by the New Mexico Human Services Department. But the new Heath Care Authority also incorporates some services previously administered by the Department of Health. The reorganization and creation of a new department was originally aimed at boosting insurance and social service coverage for New Mexicans. The legislature finalized the idea in early 2024, and the governor signed it into law in March, but the creation of the new department began earlier. In addition to streamlining services, the new department is also aimed at increasing accountability, and it could potentially address problems like the discovery of multiple abuse cases within the states assistance system for developmentally disabled New Mexicans. The administration of various aspects of that program has been handled by both the states Department of Health and the states Human Services Department. Pueblo of Isleta working with Army Corps of Engineers to protect archaeological site While the HCA launches on July 1, building an integrated system that meets the diverse needs of New Mexicans takes time we strive for quality, accountability and transparency as the transformative changes we aspire to achieve take place, Armijo said. During the transition and official launch, existing services, like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) services, will not be interrupted, the department says. More information on the Health Care Authority can be found at this link. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) A New Mexico man is returning home after a serious injury kept him in a hospital in Rome for weeks. Leo Maes, 73, was vacationing in Italy with his family last month when he collapsed while touring the Vatican. New Mexico facing expensive delays rolling out IT upgrades for state agencies The fall caused a neck injury and left Maes paralyzed. After a month in Rome, Maes is expected to be home Friday night. His family said he will need more medical care. There are still some issues that need to be resolved medically. Most of the rehabs wont accept him if hes on a ventilator. So we need to make sure that hes able to breathe on his own, said Alex Maes, Leos daughter. Leo Maes is a musician, and his old band is playing a benefit concert for him on July 19. Proceeds will be used to cover Maes medical costs. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New Mexico natural resources department got record funding this year, so what did it spend it on? SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) The states Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) received record funding in fiscal year 2024, according to a report by the Legislative Finance Committee. And with the funding, the department is able to invest heavily in wildfire prevention and oil and gas cleanup. The department received $5 million for wildfire prevention from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The department also got $6 million to thin tree coverage on private land near the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon burn. Other forest land across the state also received treatment. Rio Rancho Public Schools partnering with UFO record collection to promote historical research Story Continues Below Map from Legislative Finance Committee report shows work EMNRD has done across the state. The department has also worked to boost staffing and visitation rates at state parks. During the first two quarters of 2024, the parks saw more than 2.8 million visits. For the first time in several years, the department also boosted its pace of inspections of oil producers. The department issued 1,531 violation notices in the second quarter of FY2024 and is upgrading its vehicle fleet for inspections, the report notes. Pueblo of Isleta working with Army Corps of Engineers to protect archaeological site Federal funding means the department has the ability to contract for abandoned oil well plugging. And long-term funding means the department can make significant progress in plugging the 2,000-or-so orphaned wells across the state, the report notes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Michelle Obama for president? Ted Cruz thinks she could be the Democratic nominee U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, doubled down on his prediction that Democrats will dump Biden and tap former First Lady Michelle Obama as their partys nominee. Watching Bidens excruciating debate performance tonight, I believe the odds are now greater than 80% that the Dems dump Biden, Cruz said in a post on X, formerly called Twitter, during Thursdays presidential debate. Nine months ago, on Verdict I predicted that the Dems would replace Biden with Michelle Obama. I think thats going to happen. Cruz on his podcast The Verdict in September said: So heres the scenario that I think is perhaps the most likely and most dangerous. In August of 2024, the Democrat kingmakers jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama. I view this as a very serious danger, the Hill reported. Former First Lady Michelle Obama greets the crowd on day one of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Obama has said she will not run for president. If Biden were to drop his presidential bid before Democrats convention in August, the nominee would be picked at the convention, according to The New York Times. Texas Republicans, including officials representing Tarrant County, questioned Bidens fitness for the presidency on social media during the debate. I hope this debate is illuminating to those who believe Joe Biden is actually capable of serving four more years as President, Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez said on X. It should be crystal clear, hes not. Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare said, It is clear after answer #1. Joe Biden doesnt have the mental capacity to serve 4 more days as President, let alone 4 more years. When asked about voter concerns over his age, Biden, 81, said Trump, 78, is a lot less competent, according to CNN, which hosted the debate at its studio in Atlanta. Watching Bidens excruciating debate performance tonight, I believe the odds are now greater than 80% that the Dems dump Biden. Nine months ago, on Verdict I predicted that the Dems would replace Biden with Michelle Obama. I think thats going to happen. https://t.co/CCn1g3YJ68 Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 28, 2024 House Elections Committee Chair Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) testifies on a package of bills aimed at updating and streamlining Michigan's petition process. | Kyle Davidson In the midst of cranking out an $82.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year, Michigan lawmakers approved reforms Wednesday to how the state handles petitions for ballot initiatives. The slate of six bills House Bills 55715576 which passed through the House Elections Committee earlier this month were recommended by the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers after it convened a workgroup of bipartisan election lawyers and experts to examine the current petition process. State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) sponsored one of the bills in the package and said the legislation would secure the petition process in Michigan. Active civic engagement in our elections is a sign of a strong and healthy democracy, she told her House colleagues. All citizens deserve to make their voice heard. The petition process offers an opportunity for voters to organize and get important issues on the ballot. However, there are some bad actors that misuse this process by falsifying signatures. That issue became apparent in the 2022 election when more than 70,000 fraudulent signatures were submitted across 10 campaigns resulting in five Republican candidates for governor being disqualified from the ballot. It was highlighted again this election cycle when former state Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) was disqualified from the August primary ballot for the 13th Congressional District when it was determined he didnt have enough valid signatures after 690 of those in his petitions were deemed to be fraudulent. Hollier blamed his paid circulator, Londell Thomas, for the fake signatures. Tsernoglou said the legislation will help prevent that by allowing the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers to codify the use of statistical random sampling to determine the validity of signatures. She said it would also allow canvassers to disqualify obviously fraudulent signatures and refer them to the attorney general for investigation. Election integrity is not a partisan issue. Our bipartisan Board of State Canvassers brought these issues to our attention and we addressed them with the bills before us today, she said. The Board of State Canvassers is made up of four members appointed by the governor, two Democrats and two Republicans. It oversees canvassing and certification for statewide elections as well as canvassing for candidate nominating petitions filed with the Secretary of State, and state-level ballot proposals. It also assigns ballot designations and adopts language for statewide ballot proposals, among a number of other duties. Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Twp.) spoke out against one bill in the package, House Bill 5571, which changes the Board of State Canvassers current strict compliance standard for petition formatting to a substantial requirement standard in an effort to ensure the will of voters isnt subverted by technicalities. DeBoyer saw it differently, saying the legislation actually weakened election laws, which he believed should be precise and definitive, with no ambiguity. We do have an issue in our country right now with regard to those things, he said. There are a large number of individuals that question validities. They question outcomes. And when we as a legislative body do things like weaken election laws by inserting terms like substantially comply[when] the previous language of this law said strict compliance, we run a tremendous risk. DeBoyer then posed some hypothetical scenarios in which substantial compliance was dramatically different than strict compliance. What if we were okay with substantial compliance with paying our taxes or what if we were okay with substantial compliance with our marriage vows? Would we say that thats a good thing? No. We would say that that is absolutely contrary to what election bills should be written as, he said. Tsernoglou addressed that point, saying that the strict compliance standard has threatened the approval of petitions for non-substantial reasons, such as a missing quotation mark or a font size that is .1 centimeters too large, she said. Instead of creating gotcha moments, it is our duty to honor the will of the people and allow petitions that are otherwise valid to be allowed to move forward in the process and ultimately go on to a vote of the people. Other changes made by the legislation include no longer requiring canvassers to check signatures against the states qualified voter file before disqualifying them nor having to forward a petition to a city township or clerk if it is unable to verify a signature on a petition. However, the board could still require local clerks to help determine the validity of signatures by checking them against registration records including the qualified voter file. Additionally, the timeline for local boards of canvassers to carry out their duties would be lengthened, which Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), a former township clerk, supported. Today, we have an opportunity to begin to restore confidence in our elections, albeit in a small way, she said. By extending these start dates, we are enabling the board of canvassers to conduct a thorough canvas at the county level because they will not be so rushed, providing for checks and balances in our election process. As a former clerk, I understand the importance of checks and balances. It also removes requirements for paid signature gatherers to sign a sworn affidavit, and requires the petitioner to state in writing that they are submitting at least the minimum number of required signatures and have made a good-faith effort to sort the petitions based on the number of signatures on each petition sheet. All six bills moved to the Senate, where they were referred to the Elections and Ethics Committee. The post Michigan House passes ballot petition reforms following scandals appeared first on Michigan Advance. Michigan's top agricultural leader says he is cautiously optimistic about the status of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the state because no new cattle herds have been identified with the virus for two weeks and it has been more than six weeks since the last poultry farm or backyard flock reported sick birds. "We certainly take it as good news that we haven't had any recent detections here in a couple of weeks," Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, told the Free Press on Thursday. "But at the same time, we're going to make sure that we're continuing to really work hard at mitigating the extent of the virus and any threats here to animal and human health. The slowing down of the positive cases here over the last few weeks, I would say, is a result of a lot of heightened awareness and employment of biosecurity practices." Ladon Burley, then 15, and his dad, Donald Burley, with 4-H Calder Barnyard Bandits trim the ears and clip the head of the dairy cow before showing it at a previous Monroe County Fair. The fair is monitoring the avian influenza situation before this year's fair. The H5N1 bird flu virus has been spreading for two years among wild birds and domestic poultry forcing Michigan poultry farmers and egg producers to cull about 6.8 million birds. The virus adapted to infect mammals not just in the U.S., but around the world, killing seals and foxes, raccoons and skunks. It leaped to cows in late 2023, with high levels of viral particles identified in the milk and udders of sick livestock. Three U.S. farmworkers were infected with bird flu this spring after working closely with infected cows. Two of them were in Michigan, where 25 dairy farms in 10 counties have had known H5N1 infections among their herds. As of June 27, dairy farms in 12 states have reported sick cattle. "We've had two individuals who have been impacted by this disease here in Michigan and they are people that work with cattle every day," Boring said. Both Michigan farmworkers and one from Texas had mild illnesses and fully recovered. Though the strain of H5N1 circulating in the U.S. right now has not caused severe disease or death, there is a worry among public health leaders that the more the virus spreads, the more chances it has to mutate into a form that could cause higher rates of severe disease and deaths. The World Health Organization reported that the mortality rate from H5N1 influenza A viruses was about 50% among 889 people in 23 countries who were infected with other subtypes of the virus from 2003 to April 2024. "The concern, though, is the fact that this is a mutated virus that's moved into mammalian species in different ways," Boring said. "I don't think it's fair to say that there's a huge risk to this becoming a greater human health threat, but it's not an insignificant threat, either." To address that concern, Boring announced tighter regulations this week around cattle in Michigan, requiring bird flu testing for animals from dairy farms that are exhibited at fairs and expos with an aim of controlling the spread of the virus. Cows infected with bird flu can be asymptomatic Bird flu testing of cows, poultry and people remains mostly voluntary in the U.S. and many farmers and farmworkers may be unwilling to test or allow government employees onto their farms. "If you spend time with farmers, you know that some of them are very happy to have folks come to their farm and help them learn about biosecurity and some are not," said U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee and whose family owned a beef farm when she was a child. "I think Michigan has been doing better than the average state on this, but that doesn't mean every farmer is interested in having the U.S. government or the Michigan government stop by the farm. So it's a negotiation. It's a conversation." Boring did not answer questions from the Free Press about how many of Michigan's 800-900 licensed dairy cattle farms have tested their animals for H5N1 infections. Rather, he said, Michigan farmers have been very cooperative, and have consented to more testing than most other states in the U.S. "We have more dairy herds known (to have H5N1) here in Michigan than in nearly any other state; Idaho has recently surpassed us," Boring said. "But we have a high number of known dairy operations (with infected cattle) because we're testing for it here. We have two positive farmworkers here in Michigan because we've been testing for it. So it really speaks to the strong coordinated efforts between animal and human health officials. "USDA's body of research (and) understanding of what this virus looks like is almost exclusively from Michigan." Tim Boring, a farmer with 300 acres, poses next to a tractor at his home in Stockbridge on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. The H5N1 virus is what's known as a reportable disease in Michigan, he said, which means that on any farm where a veterinarian identifies bird flu symptoms, lab tests are ordered to check for highly pathogenic avian influenza infections. The catch is that asymptomatic cows also can be infected with the virus. And without symptoms, a veterinarian wouldn't be likely to order an H5N1 test. That's problematic, said Dr. Arnold Monto, emeritus professor of epidemiology and global public health at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Michigan Center for Respiratory Virus Research and Response. Without data on how many farms have tested and how many haven't and without testing of both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals, it's impossible to know just how widespread the disease truly is. "We need a whole lot of increased testing," he said, not just in Michigan, but nationally. Those tests should include both asymptomatic and sick animals as well as people who work with poultry and livestock, he said. Monto noted that wastewater testing from six Michigan sampling sites detected H5 influenza virus in recent weeks, according to WastewaterSCAN, even in places where there are no known infections among dairy herds. "It has to be coming from somewhere," Monto said. "You can hypothesize any number of places it's coming from. ... And if they're only testing symptomatic cows and people, then we don't know. "What is going on in other states is probably even worse because they haven't identified it in dairy cattle and they're seeing positives in the wastewater. ... What we have to do is to figure out how to control spread and how to decide when a farm is clear of infection so that we are able to eliminate the virus from dairy cattle." Poultry judge Bill Karcher reacts to one of the three boiler chickens that Lyndon Delmotte, then 9, of the Dundee 4-H entered at a previous Monroe County Fair. The other judge is Bob Johns. Also shown are Julie Linn and Carol Herkimer with 4-H, who recorded the judges' comments. The fair is monitoring avian influenza before this year's fair. Though there have been instances where dairy cattle have tested positive for the H5N1 virus but haven't appeared to be sick, Boring said it isn't a consistent finding. "We know that a few farms around the country have had situations like that," Boring said. "This continues to be a virus that the main transmission pathway (in cows) appears to be milk. And we know that in sick animals, that virus is really concentrating in the milk. And we understand that nonlactating cows likely aren't going to be carriers for the disease in a really significant way. But there's still a tremendous amount here we don't know. "The virus is behaving slightly differently in different herds. Some herds have noted the virus has swept through and left in a matter of days while some herds have experienced longer infections, including time frames that include approximately a month. The understanding of the virus is evolving and while there arent rigid answers to each of the questions, as more farms participate in research, the more data points are identified and collected." Financial support for farms tied to testing Federal and state agriculture departments are taking a carrot and stick approach to incentivize bird flu testing among dairy farms. For dairy operations that have suffered financial losses because H5N1 infections reduced milk production in their herds, MDARD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offering grants and other monetary support but only if the farms agree to allow testing and research. Farmers, Slotkin said, are "going to be interested in compensation and help and assistance," and that might sway them to consent to testing on their farms. "It's a trade because the government wants to stop the spread," she said. "That's the government's interest. And the farmer wants to be compensated ... for those good practices. That's new to the dairy farmers. They've been doing that on the poultry side for a while. So that trade, that quid pro quo, is understood." More: Protect your pets from bird flu circulating throughout Michigan More: Scientists try to solve bird flu mystery: Why there's so much virus in Michigan wastewater There is no similar carrot and stick approach to encourage people who have been exposed to infected cattle and poultry to be tested. Monto noted that many farmworkers are migrant or undocumented workers who may not be willing to be tested or report symptoms out of fear of being deported or facing financial repercussions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Free Press on Thursday it has tested 51 people nationally for H5N1 infections who have had contact with infected cattle. Additionally, "nearly 700 people are being or have been monitored because of their exposure to infected cows," a CDC spokesperson said. "The global standard for testing is to test people with relevant exposures who are symptomatic or acutely ill. CDC believes that this testing guidance is appropriate for the current situation based on existing information." The bulk of those people, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical officer, are from Michigan. She told the Free Press on Wednesday the state health department has tested 56 people with exposure to both sick cows and poultry for H5N1 infections. The 51 people the CDC tested nationally includes only those with exposure to infected cattle, the agency said. The CDC would not break down the 51 tests by state, but Bagdasarian said: "Michigan has been doing the most testing nationally; we are way ahead of everyone else." Health leader visits Michigan farms Bagdasarian said she has been traveling around Michigan, spending time on farms to get a better understanding of the conditions for workers and to pinpoint infection risks. "I've been going to dairy farms and looking at: What are the processes? How does milking work? What are the high-risk activities?" she said. "Where are people inclined to come into contact with milk? What types of PPE are people wearing now? And if we put out some really simple messaging, what types of PPE (personal protective equipment) would they be interested in wearing in the future? What is safest for them not only for heat, because people naturally have been talking a lot about heat but we've also got to think about peripheral vision. Now that I have gone and milked a cow in one of these dairy facilities, if (the cow's leg) is right there, you don't want to miss any movement in your peripheral vision where you could get a kick to the face. "We're spending time on farms. We're talking to farm owners. We're asking them what kind of PPE is most feasible. We're having these conversations so that they feel comfortable reporting, symptomatic individuals to us." Thousands of Michiganders with exposure to infected animals have been monitored by the state health department for symptoms, she said. Wastewater testing, she said, has been "an incredible tool" during the coronavirus pandemic to help public health leaders understand virus surges. But it's more complex with H5N1 for a few reasons. "It was not designed for the particular situation that we're in right now," Bagdasarian said, "where we have multiple streams of information, multiple streams of this genetic material, and no idea how to differentiate between those sources. ... We have big poultry farms that are impacted and dairy farms that are impacted, but we've got a variety of wild animals that are impacted and we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg. So not only do we have wild birds which are flying overhead and can land anywhere and get into any sort of water system, but we've got small animals like mice that now have shown signs of H5N1 and ... we've also got milk processors that are completely separate from the farms and that are sometimes taking the milk long distances for pasteurization. "We just don't know where that genetic material is coming from." To get a better idea of H5N1 spread in people who have been exposed to sick cows, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has asked licensed health care professionals in the state to watch for people with exposure to dairy cattle and poultry who have symptoms that could be related to H5N1 infection. They also "have clear instructions on how to submit samples to our Bureau of Laboratories," Bagdasarian said. More: How Michigan became ground zero for H5 avian influenza in the US More: 2nd Michigan farmworker has contracted avian influenza from cow, health officials say "The other part of this is there is ongoing influenza research and surveillance that's happening on an ongoing basis," Bagdasarian said, noting that the state health department and CDC are constantly monitoring flu activity. Because the H5N1 virus is a form of influenza A, if there was widespread disease among people, she said we would likely see higher levels of influenza A illness in the community. "We're trying to do this in a way that is as supportive as it can possibly be," she said, "and that means supporting privacy (of farmers and farmworkers), trying to make sure that they are not losing their livelihood, supporting them with PPE, supporting them with information." MDHHS also is working with the CDC to conduct an H5N1 seroprevalence study. That involves blood tests for farmworkers and others with contact with animals to assess how many have antibodies in their blood that show past infection. "The study is completely voluntary for any participants and anonymous," said Chelsea Wuth, a spokesperson for the state health department. "Data collection has been completed for the first phase and we are in laboratory and epidemiology analysis phases. MDHHS looks forward to sharing its findings when those phases are complete. I dont have a timeline of when we will have results." New restrictions on cattle at fairs, expositions To further reduce the risk of spreading the bird flu virus among cattle and people in Michigan, Boring issued an emergency order in May and amended it this month to further tighten the restrictions on the dairy cows and other cattle that can be exhibited at fairs and expositions this summer. Boring initially signed a declaration of "an extraordinary emergency" in May, requiring all dairy farms and commercial poultry operations to implement new biosecurity measures to stop the spread of the virus. Farms are required to create a secure area with limited access points around animals, establishing cleaning and disinfection protocols for vehicles and people, and keeping a record of all the people and vehicles that enter the animal zone. The dairy cattle from farms where H5N1 infections were detected are prohibited from exhibitions, and all lactating cows, along with those in the last two months of pregnancy, also are banned from exhibitions until 60 days have passed with no new H5N1 infections in the state's cattle herds. The emergency order also prohibits poultry exhibitions at fairs and expositions until there were no new infections among flocks in Michigan for 30 days. Boring announced Wednesday an updated order effective July 1 that lifts the restriction on poultry exhibitions at fairs and expositions because there haven't been any newly infected commercial flocks in Michigan since May 2 and no new backyard flocks with bird flu have been detected since May 9. For any cattle coming from any dairy farm in Michigan, even cows that are not lactating from farms without a known bird flu outbreak, Boring said MDARD will require an H5N1 test conducted within the last seven days to be exhibited at fairs, expos or exhibitions. That new rule, he said, is aimed at reducing the risk of asymptomatic animals spreading disease. Organizers of fairs, exhibitions and expositions also must keep a list of the names and contact information for all exhibitors of livestock, including poultry, and post signs alerting the public about biosecurity measures, and encouraging them to wash their hands and stay a safe distance from animals. He said MDARD is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a pilot program to conduct bird flu testing of bulk milk tanks on dairy farms, "which is going to give us an additional window into testing and our understanding of how the virus might be moving around farms of different types and sizes across the state. "We're in the early discussions or the early processes of getting farms enrolled in that USDA testing program, and I know a few other states are in these early steps as well. We've got a number of farms that have expressed interest in this." Bagdasarian said the risk to the general public remains low "because we are not seeing genetic changes that would indicate a public health concern with human-to-human transmission with antiviral resistance." But in public health, she said, it's important not only to consider the current situation, but what the future might bring. "I'm trying to plan and think about what is possible a year from now, five years from now and 10 years from now," she said. "That means I am worried about cross-species transmission because the more cross-species transmission occurs, the greater the chance of mutations and reassortment and then we end up with a problem virus for humans. "So if you are part of the general public, this is not an issue that you have to worry about right now. If you're someone who works on a dairy farm, please take all the precautions. ... If you work in public health, we are the ones who need to think about the longer-term consequences of this. We can avoid some of those really concerning outcomes if we can mitigate cross-species transmission as much as possible." Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bird flu in Michigan: Positive cases in poultry, cattle slow down Migrant detention facilities nearly built in Albania in controversial deal with Italy Migrant detention facilities nearly built in Albania in controversial deal with Italy The construction of two Italian migrant detention centres in Albania is underway with the facilities expected to open at the beginning of August. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama signed a five-year deal in November concerning cooperation between the two countries when it came to asylum seekers in Italy. Albania agreed to detain up to three thousand migrants rescued from international waters each month while Italy processes their asylum claims. Asylum requests are expected to take around a month to process with Albania potentially receiving up to 36,000 asylum seekers each year. One centre will be built in Gjader a former military airport located 80km away from the Albanian capital city of Tirana. A second centre is almost finished in Shengjin, where housing units and offices are set in an area covering 4,000 square metres and surrounded by a 5-metre-high barbed metal fence. Meloni has defended the controversial plan saying it is necessary as part of her policy to crackdown on migration and deter prospective refugees from making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing. Human rights groups and opposition lawmakers have warned that refugee protections could be compromised. Amnesty International described the deal as dangerous and shameful. Meloni said the deal with Albania was extremely innovative," adding that 15 of the 27 EU countries were reportedly interested at the prospect. She said these countries had asked the European Commission if the Union (could) follow the Italian model in the agreement with Albania. Albania is not a European Union member and the idea of sending asylum seekers outside the bloc has been met with controversy. Italy will remain legally responsible for asylum seekers detained at the Albanian centres throughout the process and will organise their deportations from the country if they are refused international protection. The initiative was first announced last July, with Meloni saying that the swift processing of asylum applications could help relieve chronic overcrowding in Italian processing centres. Prior to the deal with Albania, Italy had sought solidarity with other European Union nations to help handle the large number of people arriving to the country. One of Melonis key promises as part of her political programme was curbing illegal migration into Italy though this has proven to be a particularly difficult challenge. Despite Melonis tough stance on immigrants, migrant arrivals in Italy are up from last year. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Friday that migrant families will no longer be permitted to sleep overnight at Bostons Logan International Airport come July. The Healey-Driscoll administration said that the decision comes as a result of recent efforts to open a new safety-net site at the old Norfolk prison, move more families out of shelters, and share a message at the U.S. southern border that Massachusetts is out of shelter space. Families currently sleeping at Logan will be forced to leave the airport as of Tuesday, July 9. Those who are on the Emergency Assistance shelter waitlist will be offered transfers to the states new safety-net system, including in Norfolk, which opened this week and will accommodate up to 140 families at full capacity. The number of migrants sleeping at Terminal E has been an issue for months. The crowding recently led to a physical altercation between two migrant families inside the terminal. Norfolk residents protest hours after first migrant families arrive Staff at Logan will work with families to inform them of this new policy and their options, including helping them secure transportation to another location where they have family or another option for a safe place to stay. The administration has worked diligently in recent months to increase the number of families leaving shelter into more stable housing. With this progress, the recent opening of a new safety-net site in Norfolk, and the new nine-month length of stay policy, we are now in a position to end the practice of families staying overnight in the airport. This is in the best interest of families and travelers and staff at Logan, as the airport is not an appropriate place for people to seek shelter, Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice said in a statement. We are going to continue to spread the word that Massachusetts is out of shelter space and that, if families are traveling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or our Emergency Assistance shelters. Earlier this week, Healey sent a team to the southern border to discuss the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts, as record numbers of migrants continue to arrive in Boston. Our shelters are full: Healey sends Bay State officials to southern border amid migrant crisis Residents in the town of Norfolk held a protest on Wednesday afternoon just hours after the first migrant families arrived at the old Bay State Correctional Center. Neighbors have been questioning how the small town can support the more than 400 migrants expected to be housed at the shelter. Healeys administration noted that it will continue to get the word out through flyers in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole to let families know that if they are traveling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a housing plan that does not include Logan Airport or the states shelter system. Boston 25 News has asked MassPort for a statement on this development but there wasnt one immediately available. 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 SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. A total of 9 projects with a total investment volume of 68 million manat ($39.9 million) in Aghdam Industrial Park and 6 projects with a total investment volume of 42.7 million manat ($25.1 million) in Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park were approved during the first half of 2024, the chairman of the board of the Economic Zones Development Agency (IZIA) of Azerbaijan Seymur Adigozalov said during the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Revive Karabakh Together" in Shusha today, Trend reports. According to him, despite its recent establishment, Aghdam Industrial Park is already the second largest in the country after Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park in terms of the number of residents. More than half of the total area of the park has already been transferred for use by residents. "To date, in Aghdam Industrial Park, 25 business entities with total investments of more than 216 million manat ($126.9 million) have received the status of residents, and 6 entrepreneurs have received the status of non-residents. The residents have invested over 35 million manat ($20.5 million) in the park, creating about 300 permanent jobs. It is planned to create more than 2,000 workplaces in the park in the future. There are now 10 residents and 2 non-residents in the "Araz Valley Economic Zone" industrial park. Investors plan to invest more than 83.4 million manat ($49 million) in the park and create more than 700 jobs. To date, more than 14 million manat ($8.2 million) have been invested in the park, and more than 20 jobs have been created," he said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) A proposal is advancing to build a neighborhood of million-dollar homes on a 14-acre Dublin reserve. Applicant Bill Adams and architecture firm MKSKs proposal calls for 20 single-family homes to be built on the 14-acre property north of Bright Road, near the Grande Cliffs Estates and Hopewell Elementary School. Each home would have a $1.5 million to $2 million price tag, with central Ohio-based Corinthian Fine Homes as the neighborhoods designated builder. Delaware engineering office to be bulldozed for affordable housing We have found this site absolutely tailor made for this proposal, said Brian Kinzelman, co-founder of MKSK, during a June 20 meeting of the Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission. We think this is prime to fit into what is a beautiful neighborhood with some beautiful new residential development. Kinzelman said the proposal aims to conserve 5.6 acres of the reserves greenspace, and discussed building walking paths throughout the wooded areas that would be available for use by the residents and the neighboring properties. He noted the development wouldnt be gated, and said the development looks forward to being part of this neighborhood, not exclusive of it. I think this is a really nice use of the site, I think youve done a really good job, said Commissioner Jamie Chinnock during the June 20 meeting. I think just trying to blend it as much as we can with the surrounding area would be my one comment. Commissioner Gary Alexander echoed Chinnocks praise, but argued against matching the developments aesthetic to the surrounding properties. I think you have the ability to create continuity within your community, which I think is more valuable than making linkages to homes that are significant distances away, he said. See 56 places in Ohio that have banned recreational marijuana businesses Commissioner Rebecca Call, chair of the commission, also spoke in support of the proposal, but asked if the design team could adjust the property lines for the 20 homes. Call noted the economic benefit if fitting 20 homes into the development, but spoke in favor of possibly including less so each property may be bigger. This is not trying to cram everything you possibly could in, but I do think there may be opportunity for some reconfiguration there. said Call. I think its beautiful product, I think this is not what we see every day and, for that, we thank you. Adams and MKSK will return to the commission for further review before granting approval. Dublins city council will also review the proposal before construction can begin. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Following a debate performance by President Joe Biden that left Democrats across the nation unsettled, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson doubled down on his support for Biden's campaign for a second term in the White House and expressed confidence in the president's ability to do the job. "I continue to support President Joe Biden, and I think he laid out a vision for America that is inclusive of all people and not this dark, dystopian future that we saw from Donald Trump," the Democratic mayor said Friday morning. Biden spoke softly and haltingly, at various points seeming to lose his train of thought during the 90-minute CNN debate Thursday night. It had been widely seen as an opportunity for Biden to allay voters' concerns that the 81-year-old was fit for the job, but the debate performance left questions. The debate was the first ever between a sitting president and a former president as the two men look to a November rematch of the 2020 election. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson makes remarks before Vice President Kamala Harris highlights how the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic steps to advance economic opportunity by improving access to housing, creating jobs and investing in small businesses as part of her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour on Thursday May 16, 2024 at Discovery World in Milwaukee, Wis. In Wisconsin, Trump lost to Biden by just 21,000 votes four years ago, and a key poll this week showed the candidates are tied in this critical swing state heading into November. More: 'Good luck America': Biden debate performance leaves voters in liberal Madison lamenting choice Johnson on Friday said he has met Biden on "numerous" occasions and said he was confident in the president's mental acuity. "The man is sharp, he knows his stuff, he knows exactly what's going on," Johnson said. "He is very competent, and he knows how to do the job. ... We are experiencing the successes of the Biden Administration." Biden was "on fire" at a post-debate watch party in Atlanta, said Johnson, who has been a vocal advocate for Biden's re-election. He expected Biden to win over voters by speaking to his record in the coming months. For Ald. Robert Bauman, neither candidate had a good night on the debate stage. "The American people are in a quandary," he said. "You have a 78-year-old and an 81-year-old, and one's a sociopath and one appeared that night to be a little bit on the feeble side. It was a bad night. I don't think that's (Biden's) general condition, but who knows?" Asked whether he thought Biden's performance would create concern among voters, he said, "If last night is the last impression voters have of Joe Biden, that'll be a problem." Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee mayor doubles down on support for Biden after tough debate Milwaukee police say critically missing woman has been found Milwaukee police said a critically missing 36-year-old woman has been found. She was last seen Thursday morning but police sent an update Thursday night that she was located and safe. "Critically missing" is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police say critically missing woman has been found Donald Trump and Joe Biden have concluded their first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle in Atlanta, Georgia. Bidens performance was defined by his rambling answers apparently low energy, while Trump spent the debate spreading misinformation and failing to answer questions. Biden was accompanied by his wife Jill Biden. Trumps wife, Melania, has been noticeably absent from the campaign trail and Thursday nights event was no different. Now, social media is in a frenzy as users digest Thursday nights chaotic spectacle. At the same time, Democratic strategists panicked over Bidens less-than-optimal performance amid growing criticisms about his age. Some two-thirds of viewers agreed that Trump came out of the debate on top following Bidens meandering performance, according to a CNN snap poll taken Thursday night. This marks a shift from their last debate in 2020, when the majority of viewers labeled Biden the winner. Here are our key takeaways from tonights debate: Donald Trump (left) and Joe Biden (right) pictured at the first presidential debate of 2024. Bidens performance was defined by his weak appearance and rambling thoughts, while Trump dodged questions and spread misinformation (AP) Biden has shaky start Bidens performance was defined by his soft, raspy voice and rambling thoughts. The president regularly tripped over his words and lost his train of thought. At one point, after Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. Vice President Kamala Harris even remarked on the presidents performance. Yes there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish, she told CNN. It was later revealed the president has a cold. Leading up to the debate Trump and his cohort spread conspiracies that the president would be using amphetamines, pounding Mountain Dew or wearing an earpiece during the debate. There is no evidence for any of these claims and Thursdays performance seemed to show Biden was not prescribed any stimulants. Trump says US was respected all over the world on Jan 6 Biden confronted Trump in-person for the first time about his role in the January 6 2021 insurrection. The former president did not answer repeated questions from moderator Jake Tapper about voters who are concerned about Trumps role. Instead, Trump claimed the US was respected all over the world that day. He also made several false claims about the insurrection These falsehoods included that it was a relatively small number of people that went to the Capitol during the January 6 2021 insurrection. In truth, thousands of people went to the riots that day. He also claimed that Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the House, turned down his offer to send in troops and the National Guard when rioters broke into the Capitol. Pelosi did not direct the National Guard so she could not have turned down that offer. But Trump wasnt the only one to make an untrue claim. Biden claimed that the US Border Patrol endorsed him which their Union says is false. Clashing on abortion policies Trump praised the Dobbs v Jackson decision, which ended nationwide access to abortion two years ago this week. Biden, meanwhile, promised to restore Roe v Wade the 1973 Supreme Court case overturned by Dobbs if re-elected. The former president also made false claims about abortion in the US, including that Democrats want to legalize abortion after a baby is born. Trump falsely accused former governor of Virginia Ralph Northam of saying he would support such a policy Because [in] some states Democrats run, [they] take it after birth ... the governor, former governor of Virginia, Hes, hes willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb, Trump said. However, Trump did say he supports the Supreme Courts recent decision to keep the abortion medication mifepristone legal despite right-wing efforts to ban it. Biden lashes out at Trump for morals of alley cat over alleged Stormy affair Biden laid into Trump over his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels and the recent civil ruling that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carrol. The crimes that you are still charged with think of all the civil penalties you have, Biden said. How many millions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public? For doing a whole range of things? Of having sex with a porn star...while wife was pregnant? Biden went on to say Trump has the morals of an alley cat. Trump responded by denying the affair with Daniels and claiming his Manhattan hush money trial was rigged. Bidens remarks came after Trump attacked his son, Hunter Biden, who was recently found guilty on federal gun charges. Panic Mode among Democrats Bidens shaky performance tonight coupled with already building concerns about his age has inspired panic among the left. Any Democrat who is not in panic mode is the stupidest person in America right now, Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth Universitys polling, posted on X. Horrible, they told The Independent. Need to have Harris take over. Cleanest option. But Bidens campaign did not seem worried. Afterward, Biden gave an energetic speech to supporters at a debate watch party. When asked later at a Waffle House about whether he was worried, Biden said No. Its hard to debate a liar. An artist's impression of a gravitational lensing event of background LMC stars indicating the presence of a black hole. | Credit: J. Skowron / OGLE. Background image of the Large Magellanic Cloud: generated with bsrender written by Kevin Loch, using the ESA/Gaia database Scientists have found that unusually massive black holes seem to be absent from the diffuse outer halo of the Milky Way. The discovery could spell bad news for theories that suggest the universe's most mysterious form of "stuff," dark matter, is composed of primordial black holes that formed in the first moments after the Big Bang. Dark matter is puzzling because, despite being effectively invisible because it does not interact with light, this substance makes up around 86% of the matter in the known universe. That means, for every 1 gram of "everyday matter" that composes stars, planets, moons and humans, there are over 6 grams of dark matter. Scientists can infer the presence of dark matter by its interactions with gravity and the influence it has on everyday matter and light. Yet, despite this and the ubiquity of dark matter, scientists have no idea what it might be composed of. Related: If the Big Bang created miniature black holes, where are they? The new dark matter results come from a look back through 20 years of observations conducted by a team of scientists from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey at the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw. "The nature of dark matter remains a mystery. Most scientists think it is composed of unknown elementary particles," team leader Przemek Mroz, from the University of Warsaw's Astronomical Observatory, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, despite decades of efforts, no experiment, including experiments carried out with the Large Hadron Collider, has found new particles that could be responsible for dark matter." The new findings don't just cast doubt on black holes as an explanation for dark matter; they also deepen the mystery of why stellar-mass black holes detected beyond the Milky Way seem to be more massive than those within our galaxies' limits. Our primordial black holes are missing! The team's hunt for black holes in the Milky Way's halo owes its origins to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and its sister gravitational wave detector, Virgo, which seem to have uncovered a population of unusually large stellar-mass black holes. Until the first detection of gravitational waves, which was produced by LIGO and Virgo in 2015, scientists had been finding that our galaxy's population of stellar-mass black holes, born from the gravitational collapse of massive stars, tended to have masses between five and 20 times that of the sun. Gravitational wave observations of mergers between stellar-mass black holes indicate a more distant population of black holes with much more mass, equivalent to between 20 and 100 suns. "Explaining why these two populations of black holes are so different is one of the biggest mysteries of modern astronomy," Mroz pointed out. Four circles represent different sizes of black holes. One possible explanation for this larger population of black holes is that they are leftovers from a period just after the Big Bang that formed not from the collapse of massive stars but from overly dense patches of primordial gas and dust. "We know that the early universe was not ideally homogeneous small density fluctuations gave rise to current galaxies and galaxy clusters," Mroz said. "Similar density fluctuations, if they exceed a critical density contrast, may collapse and form black holes." These "primordial black holes" were first postulated by Stephen Hawking over 50 years ago but have remained frustratingly elusive. That could be because smaller examples would rapidly "leak" a form of thermal energy called Hawking radiation and eventually evaporating, meaning they would not exist in the current epoch of the 13.8 billion-year-old cosmos. Yet, this hindrance hasn't stopped some physicists from positing primordial black holes as a possible explanation for dark matter. Dark matter is estimated to comprise 90% to 95% of the Milky Way's mass. That means, if dark matter is made of primordial black holes, our galaxy should contain many of these ancient bodies. Black holes don't emit light because they are bound by a light-trapping surface called an "event horizon." That means we can't "see" black holes unless they feed on matter around them and cast their shadow on it. But, just like dark matter, black holes do interact with gravity. Mroz and colleagues were thus able to turn to Albert Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, general relativity, and a principle it introduced to hunt for primordial black holes in the Milky Way. Einstein lends a hand Einstein's theory of general relativity says objects of mass warp the very fabric of space and time, united as a single entity called "spacetime." Gravity is a result of that curvature, and the more massive an object is, the more extreme the warping of spacetime it causes and, thus, the greater the "gravity" it generates. Not only does this curvature tell planets how to orbit around stars, and tell stars how to race around the centers of their home galaxies, but it also bends the path of light coming from background stars and galaxies. The closer to the object of mass that light travels, the more its path is "bent." Different paths of light from a single background object can thus be bent, shifting the apparent location of the background object. Sometimes, the effect can even cause the background object to appear in multiple places in the same image of the sky. Other times, light from the background object is amplified, and that object is magnified. This phenomenon is known as "gravitational lensing," and the intervening body is called a gravitational lens. Weak examples of this effect are called "microlensing." A bright blue blotch with white curved lines extended from it. At the center of these are two orange lines that curve around bright yellow spheres meeting at a dark blue sphere If a primordial black hole in the Milky Way passes between Earth and a background star, then we should see microlensing effects on that star for a brief period of time. "Microlensing occurs when three objects an observer on Earth, a source of light, and a lens virtually ideally align in space," OGLE survey Principle Investigator Andrzej Udalski, said in the statement. "During a microlensing event, the sources light may be deflected and magnified, and we observe a temporary brightening of the sources light." How long light from the background source is brightened depends on the mass of the lensing body that passes between it and Earth, with objects of greater mass inducing longer microlensing events. An object around the mass of the sun should cause a brightening for around a week; for lensing bodies with masses 100 times that of the sun, however, the brightening should last as long as several years. Previous attempts have been made to use microlensing to detect primordial black holes and study dark matter. Prior experiments seemed to show that black holes less massive than the sun and could comprise under 10% of dark matter. The issue with these experiments, however, was they were not sensitive to extremely long-timescale microlensing events. Thus, because more massive black holes (similar to those recently detected with gravitational-wave detectors) would cause longer events, these experiments weren't sensitive to that population of black holes either. Two diagrams showing the distribution of observed microlensing events. There are way more on the left-hand diagram. This team improved sensitivity to long-lasting microlensing events by turning to 20-year-long monitoring of almost 80 million stars located in a satellite galaxy or the Milky Way called the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The studied data, described as "the longest, largest, and most accurate photometric observations of stars in the LMC in the history of modern astronomy" by Udalski, was collected by the OGLE project from 2001 to 2020 during its third and fourth operating phases. The team compared the microlensing events seen by OGLE to the theoretically predicted amount of such events, assuming that the Milky Way's dark matter is made up of primordial black holes. "If the entire dark matter in the Milky Way was composed of black holes of 10 solar masses, we should have detected 258 microlensing events," Mroz said. "For 100 solar mass black holes, we expected 99 microlensing events. For 1000 solar mass black holes 27 microlensing events." In contrast to these estimated amounts of events, the team only found 12 microlensing events in the OGLE data. Further analysis revealed all of these events could be explained by the known stars in the Milky Way and in the LMC itself. After these calculations, the team found black holes of 10 solar masses could comprise at most 1.2% of dark matter, smaller 100 solar mass black holes could account for no more than 3.0% of dark matter and 1000 solar mass black holes could only comprise 11% of dark matter. "That indicates that massive black holes can compose, at most, a few percent of dark matter," Mroz explained. RELATED STORIES Dark matter detected dangling from the cosmic web for 1st time How the Large Hadron Collider's successor will hunt for the dark universe 'Supercharged rhino' black holes may have formed and died a second after the Big Bang "Our observations indicate that primordial black holes cannot comprise a significant fraction of the dark matter and, simultaneously, explain the observed black hole merger rates measured by LIGO and Virgo," Udalski concluded. "Our results will remain in astronomy textbooks for decades to come." This leaves astronomers to return to the drawing board to explain the observation of overly massive stellar-mass black holes beyond the Milky Way while physicists continue to puzzle over the true nature of dark matter. The team's research is published on June 24 the journals Nature and the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. A Mississippi man is set to plead guilty Friday to a federal charge for threatening a mail carrier with a gun and shooting at the carriers postal vehicle. Rusty S. Holloway pointed a gun at a mail carriers head during an encounter In October 2022 outside a home on Andy Drive in Gulfport, according to an affidavit from postal inspector Doug Wilson. The area is not far from U.S. 49 and Flat Branch Road around the Orange Grove community of Gulfport. Initially arrested on a federal charge for assaulting a federal employee, Holloway is now set to plead guilty in federal court in Gulfport to brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime. The charge carries a sentence of seven years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. In the criminal affidavit, the postal inspector said the carrier was delivering mail when Holloway walked up to the truck and asked that the carrier place any mail in Rich or Richard Holloways name in the mailbox. In response, the affidavit said, the carrier said, Yes sir. No problem. Then, Holloway is accused of pulling out his .40 caliber handgun, placing the gun one inch from the front of the carriers forehead, and saying, I said, did you (expletive) hear me? Holloway lowered the gun, and the carrier drove off, the records say. As the carrier drove away, she said she heard a gunshot, and then a bullet strike the back of her postal vehicle. Had it not been for a wall brace in the back of the truck, the mail carrier said she would have likely been hit. In the aftermath of the incident, Dwayne Martin, public information officer for the areas postal inspectors, said the driver was unharmed. We have two main goals: protect employees and then protect the mail from misuse, he said after the initial arrest. That takes precedence over anything else. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case. Attorney Joseph Hollomon is representing Holloway. Ascension Catholic Church apologized after posting a call for young men to form a militia on its website (Ascension Catholic Church) A Catholic church in Missouri has apologized after issuing a call for young men to form a militia to protect the congregation. The Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri posted a bulletin on its website on June 16. We are calling all young men back to the Church to form a militia dedicated to protecting the Holy Eucharist, our congregation, our clergy, and the church grounds, the message read. The militia would be called The Legion of the Sancta Lana Council and will be composed of young men between the ages of 18-29. Training will include strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations. You might want to check in with the Archdiocese of St. Louis. A pastor is trying to start an armed militia at his parish. Its Ascension Catholic Church. They ran an ad in their bulletin. pic.twitter.com/LFKhiJVXme Camry Diaz (@Dude19672231) June 26, 2024 The ad encouraged people to scan the QR code if they have experience in military, fitness instruction, Latin, business or medicine. The QR code led to an application for membership to the militia tied to Ascension parish. The application says that the church has been chosen as the testing ground for the militia and, if successful, we hope to establish platoons at parishes around the world, according to the St Louis Post-Dispatch. The church has since retracted the announcement and apologized for it, running a banner on its website. We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused, and we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and our community for us to clarify that we do not support this activity, it reads. Ascension Catholic Church issued an apology after posting a bulletin calling for the formation of a militia (Ascension Catholic Church) The church clarified that the militia has no ties to the parish. There is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin, the apology note read. The suggestion that the community needed a militia is inappropriate and unhelpful, adding there have been zero threats made against our community, the church wrote. It sort of was a mistake, an anonymous parishioner told Fox 2. It was an advertisement that was printed without any review by the parish, and I think it slipped through the review process cracks, if you will. FILE - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers the State of the State address on Jan. 18, 2023, in Jefferson, Mo. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson vetoed funding Friday, June 28, 2024 for a school safety initiative that would have used special video surveillance software to detect guns, becoming the second governor in as many months to balk at implementing the technology. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Missouri Gov. Mike Parson vetoed funding Friday for a school safety initiative that would have used video surveillance software to detect guns, becoming the second governor in as many months to balk at implementing the technology. The Republican governor's rejection of the proposed $2.5 million grant program for public schools was one of 173 line-item vetoes he announced while signing a roughly $50 billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts Monday. The veto of the gun-detection grants came after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, struck down a $5 million appropriation for a similar program. The budget bills in both states were supported by ZeroEyes, a technology firm founded by military veterans after the fatal shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. ZeroEyes uses surveillance cameras and artificial intelligence to spot people with guns and alert school administrators and law enforcement officers. Though other companies also offer gun surveillance systems, the Kansas legislation included a lengthy list of specific criteria that ZeroEyes competitors dont currently meet. The Missouri budget bill was less specific but still included several criteria met by ZeroEyes. In a letter to lawmakers explaining his veto, Parson said this appropriation appears to describe a specific vendors platform and noted that the Department of Public Safety must follow state purchasing laws rather than contracting with a particular vendor. Parson also said he was vetoing the measure because of a general need to cut spending, among other things. A spokesperson for ZeroEyes said no one was available for comment Friday. Several other states, including Iowa, Michigan and Utah, already have enacted laws funding firearms detection technology in schools. After numerous high-profile shootings, school security has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Various states also have provided funding to equip staff with mobile panic buttons and to digitally map school buildings to aid quicker responses by police, firefighters and emergency medical crews. All told, Parson said, he made about $1 billion of line-item vetoes to the budget. One veto was for a $497 million transfer for renovations to the Capitol, saying it wasn't needed yet because detailed plans aren't in place. Another rejected $150 million out of a total $727 earmarked for the improvement and expansion of Interstate 44, which runs west from St. Louis to the Oklahoma border. Parson also trimmed back $6 million set aside for future National Guard missions to the southern U.S. border. Missouri troops deployed to the border in Texas have since returned, Parson said. He left $2 million in the budget for potential future missions. Also axed were numerous smaller items that Parson called unnecessary pet projects. John George Todd III of Blue Springs is seen on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. John George Todd III stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A jury of his peers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found the Blue Springs man guilty on six counts, including two felonies, and a judge sentenced him to five years in prison. But the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday threw that jury verdict and sentencing into question, when it decided 5-4 to narrow the scope of a specific felony charge brought against Todd and more than 350 others who entered the Capitol and disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election. The charge obstruction of an official proceeding was crafted by Congress in response to major accounting scandals in the early 2000s. In an opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that the charge can only be brought if the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so. Roberts said the Justice Departments current, broad interpretation of the law could create a precedent for the government to bring serious, felony charges against any activist who tries to protest at the Capitol. That novel interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison, Roberts wrote. As the Solicitor General acknowledged at oral argument, under the Governments interpretation, a peaceful protester could conceivably be charged under 1512(c)(2) and face a 20-year sentence. The courts decision complicates hundreds of cases involving people associated with the Capitol riot, including a federal charge against former President Donald Trump, brought by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. Trump has yet to stand trial on the charges the Supreme Court is currently deciding whether a former president maintains immunity after he leaves office. But most of the nine defendants from Missouri and Kansas charged with obstruction of an official proceeding have either pleaded guilty or stood trial. Four have been found guilty of the charge Todd; Nicholas Kennedy, of Sikeston; Matthew Loganbill, of Versailles; and William Chrestman, of Olathe. Four others pleaded guilty to lower charges. Only one, William Pope, of Topeka, has yet to stand trial. Roger Roots, an attorney representing Todd, said Friday that he would move quickly to try and overturn his clients conviction. The Supreme Court definitely got it right, Roots said. The Department of Justice selected the 1512 statute to use against January 6ers solely for the purposes of obtaining lengthy sentences. The statute had never previously been used against political demonstrators who disrupt government functions. Im glad the Supreme Court recognized that the DOJ was twisting the statute out of context. The ruling is expected to complicate the sentences of both Kennedy and Loganbill. Kennedy is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 28 and Loganbills sentencing was delayed until after the Fischer decision came down. Pope filed a motion to continue his trial from the scheduled July 22 date but the request was denied. Among his arguments for doing so, he said, was that there is a strong possibility that the Supreme Court ruling will alter the outcome of my case. It is unclear what will happen to Chrestman, who was sentenced to 55 months in prison and is set to be released Dec. 18. Hes been in custody since his arrest in February 2021. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH? Where were you when Joe Biden lost the debate to Trump? Max was in the CNN Spin Room, Nayeema watched with a cabal of crypto bros and Ben was at home with his family, scrolling X. They discuss the moment the debate was decided (9:22 or 9:23 EST) and who gets to call it. Then, Ben and Nayeema turn to an interview with political statistician and professional gambler Nate Silver to talk election prediction, Bidens age, and why Nates new Silver Bulletin model gives Trump a 65% chance of winning the election in November. Finally, Nayeema makes us eat our spinach with a quick tour of global elections whose participants cant possibly produce 90 minutes of television as bad as we just watched. Drop us a line if youve got a tip: mixedsignals@semafor.com Find us on X: @semaforben, @nayeema @maxwelltani or on Instagram @nayeemaraza Sign up for Semafor Medias Sunday newsletter: https://www.semafor.com/newsletters/media Sign up for Nate Silvers newsletter, Silver Bulletin: https://www.natesilver.net/subscribe Mixed Signals from Semafor Media is presented by Think with Google Subscribe to Mixed Signals Listen and follow Mixed Signals on your favorite podcast platform: Full Episode Transcript Nayeema Raza: Do you know the thing of a successful podcast, Ben? Ben Smith: Whats that? Nayeema: You have to say something you feel deeply uncomfortable with at the end of it. Ben: Max Linsky told me that. I know. Oof. I feel like Im already on like three and weve barely gotten rolling. Nayeema: Oh, excellent. [MUSIC] Ben: Im Ben Smith. Nayeema: Im Nayeema Raza. Ben: And this is Mixed Signals from Semafor Media. Nayeema: Today were diving headfirst into election season. It is here. How do you feel about it, Ben? Ben: I mean, Ive been covering these for 20 years and I have to admit I kind of love it. Nayeema: Youre like a media monster. Its like, happy when theres a crisis. Oh, more coverage. Ben: Yeah, thats a real occupational hazard. Nayeema: It is. Were going to run down the presidential debate, which is also known as, I guess, a wellness check on the geriatric Trump-Biden rematch. And well focus in on one of the stranger conspiracies of American politics that theres this real feedback loop between political coverage and particular polling, and the actual behavior of campaigns or voters. Theyre not mirrors, theyre drivers of what happens. And as part of this, were going to turn to Nate Silver, whos the founder of FiveThirtyEight and now prints under his substack Silver Bulletin. Nate is seen as the guru of this world that when he put out his new predictive model on Wednesday, it prompted a premature victory lap from one of Nates apparent devotees, Donald Trump. Donald Trump: Were leading every swing state. And one just came out, I guess, Nate Silver of the New York Times, that we have close to a 66% chance of winning, which is a pretty good chance, I guess, when you think about it. Right? Reporter: But Mr. President, you got time for- Nayeema: Thats tape of Donald Trump calling into a Black barbershop in Atlanta where Trump supporters, including some Black members of Congress were gathered. And thanks to Semafor reporter Kadia Goba who was in the room, we actually have that tape. Ben: Classic Trump in many different ways, including saying that Nate Silver worked at the New York Times. Nayeema: Not factual anymore. Ben: No, but obsessed with prestige and the most prestigious media brand he can drag into this thing. Nayeema: Were going to have to ask Nate Silver about that when we talk to him. And then we will take a look at Blind Spots, the stories youre not seeing in your feed of viral debate clips. [MUSIC] Nayeema: All right, here we are. It is 11 PM Eastern Time, almost, and we have just finished watching the debate. Ben, youre here with a new haircut. Did you get a debate haircut? Ben: Got to be ready. Nayeema: Got to be ready. And then Max Tani is here. Hi Max. Max Tani: Bens haircut is the biggest news of the night for sure. Nayeema: It is. Lets set the stage a little bit. Where did we all watch the debates? Maybe Max, you can go first. Max: I watched it here in the basketball stadium at Georgia Tech, which is where the spin room is. Nayeema: Is it the most exciting thing thats ever happened in that basketball court, or by a long mile not? Max: I think theres a pretty good basketball team that plays here occasionally, but actually its pretty exciting. There are a lot of people here. Theres 800 credentialed journalists and theyre all kind of going down onto the floor, so its starting to feel a little hectic and crazy. Nayeema: June madness they call it. And Ben, where did you watch? Ben: I watched at home with Family on my YouTube TV. Nayeema: Oh, Ben. Ben: Thats all I got. Nayeema, where did you watch it? Nayeema: I watched it, probably a strange room. Im in the house of a friend whos a tech founder. I watched it in an election watch party with about 50 people I would say, but its probably about 60:40 Biden Trump in this mix, or maybe its one of the few rooms that I guess has that kind of diversity. There are a lot of tech founders. There are a lot of maybe liberal creatives and executives around in New York, and then theres beautiful women, many of whom happen to be one of the first two categories as well. Ben: This was like Frank Luntz, but only talking to billionaires. I love it. Nayeema: No ones disclosing the incomes of the people in this room, but its fascinating to watch. During the intermission, everybody started speaking about their aging parents or grandparents. So lets figure out, we all watched this debate, played out for 90 minutes. Everybody talked about hate watching it. It was a geriatric wrestling match, whatever they wanted to call it. But theres a tradition where somebody decides who won the debate and they decide it at a certain moment in time. And Ben, I think you have actually done that honor before in 2012. Ben: Yeah, this was back when Twitter was new and the notion that that things were accelerating was still also new. And early in, about 45 minutes into a presidential debate, I published an article on why Romney had beaten Obama in the first debate, which got me widely denounced. But it in a way was my meta commentary on the acceleration of these debates. I mean this one I think was much more accelerated though. Max: This one, you could have published that story within five minutes and I dont think anybody would argue with you. Nayeema: When was the moment you think it was decided? And who decided who won the debate? Max: I think paying attention to the media coverage sitting here in a room full of 800 members of the media, I think it was decided very, very quickly. The moment that got the loudest audible kind of chuckle or reaction in my section of media with several dozen people was when Trump said, I dont know what he said there at the end of one of his answers, and I think that really summed up a lot of people in media feelings about it. Nayeema: Yeah, the moment that were talking about happened around 9:22 PM, where Donald Trump said ... Donald Trump: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either. Look. Ben: I think the thing with this sort of debate is that the journalists watching certainly I think within that first five, 10 minutes, which Trump basically summed up there, but included Biden just kind of glitching for a few seconds and forgetting what he was saying, staring down and broadly just looking as old as Democrats feared he would look, as hesitant after a week of rehearsals as anybody could have feared. And I think the thing is then maybe the debate is still going and these two guys are arguing about their golf games, but what has already happened then is theres headlines in every publication. The stories are being written, the narrative has taken off, and the narrative is that were heading into a huge crisis for the Democratic Party. This is a massive new crisis for them. Nayeema: I have to say the question of who won this debate is almost not a good question. Its like, who lost this debate less? Ben: Yeah, I mean it really pretty remarkable. I watched a lot of debates where it was not this clear and where the narrative did not lock up in the first 10 minutes. And this wasnt just the media watching it, this was anybody who was watching it. And it was in a moment when wed all been, I think spent a lot of time getting scolded by the White House for daring to raise questions about his age. So I think there is, along with just everybody having watched a debate in which an old man struggled to hold his own there, theres also a sort of, were sick of getting yelled at about writing stories about his age and youre seeing some of that too. Nayeema: The idea of where you call it also, I mean Twitter is a place and its certainly a place where the media pays a lot of attention to. I was also following on Instagram, TikTok, and the betting markets, the betting markets of Avada and also Polymarket. You started seeing as early as the first few minutes, as soon as Biden walked in and then Trump walked in, thats when it started dropping. The race started much higher. It was like odds were 225 up for Joe Biden. It ended at 275. Ben: Did you see something different on those places than we were seeing on Twitter? That sounds like kind of a reaction to Twitter. Was any of the social media moving in different directions? Was anybody saying, Wow, Bidens great. Nayeema: I didnt see any of Bidens great, but I did see some kill shots of Trump. The muted mic shot at 9:21 PM which was a minute earlier than Bidens, kind of what some people were turning on social media as freezing, or what Trump called out as unable to finish his sentence. And then I think 10 minutes earlier than that when Biden stumbled over trillionaires instead of billionaires. There were a couple of missteps in the same minute. Thats when I heard the most audible gasp, and thats when I think people kind of made up their minds across the room. Ben: Yeah, it is interesting though. I think that in so many political contexts what people think and the sort of more populous TikTok, Instagram, whats happening out there matters a lot. I think in moments like this, the elite consensus matters a lot, and what you had was a sort of crystallization of that elite consensus tonight. Nayeema: One of the things in the betting markets was the odds on there being another candidate, and that also I think is reflected in the media, but over the course of the hour and a half of debate, it went from about 10% odds of there being another candidate other than Biden to almost 20% odds. So doubling. Max: The reason why the elite consensus matters in this case is because those will be the people who will be able to potentially pressure Biden to get out if thats still an option, if he still believes that thats an option after this debate. And I think that what youre seeing for the first time is rather than it just being a handful of small commentators here and there, people like Ezra Klein or David Axelrod whove taken a lot of flack for calling on Biden to potentially step aside or for the Democrats to consider someone else. I think what youre really seeing is that becoming a more mainstream opinion. Ben: Yeah, the big question is going to be, over the next few days, do former presidents, do members of the US Senate, people like that, come out publicly? And Im not sure they will. I think the train is pretty far out of the station. But actually its kind of interesting, because I think that Ive written Twitters obituary a lot of times, but I do think you see this really, really centralized political conversation that is just propelling a national narrative here. Nayeema: Twitter does matter. In earthquakes and in presidential debates, this is when we pay attention to Twitter. What is actually fucking happening in the country? Now heres a media strategy question. Theres people espousing a version of reality in which Biden is not the candidate come November, but theres also the question of what the media strategy should be. And in my mind, if Bidens going to keep running, isnt there a point of him saying, Look, not him, but the media narrative becoming, Youre not voting on the person, youre voting on this ship. And so do you want to be on board with Jake Sullivan, John Finer, Pete Buttigieg, or do you want to be on a little cruise with Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and MTG [Marjorie Taylor Green]? Max: Its just not how anybody has voted for president in the last several elections. It would defy the way that the polls look right now, and it would defy all recent voting history for presidents. And Americans dont like being told that they actually dont know whos in charge. Bidens team has worked very hard to push back against those of conspiracy theories. Ben: Nayeema, I like the idea in some technocratic future, but the morning the press secretary comes out and says that is the afternoon the president resigns. Nayeema: But I do think that people, they want any reason to vote for Biden, but they do not have one. Many kind of double haters, young people in this country, are looking for that reason. But the debate highlights for me were I didnt have sex with a porn star, Manchurian candidate, and whos going to carry whose bags at the golf course. Ben: Just makes you proud to be American. Nayeema: Its good television, bad presidential debate. All right, so last thing, predictions. Will there be a second matchup between these two men? And who would win the golf game if played? Max, you go first. Max: I think that Trump obviously spends a lot more time playing golf, so I think he would have an easier time in that regard. And I dont think that therell be a second one. I know that many news executives are already, including some of those at ABC, are concerned about this, about the possibility that this debate would go in one certain direction and one of the candidates would want to cancel that. Theres precedent for that, and so thats easy money for me. Ben: I actually think there is going to be another debate because Biden is now trapped in a situation where to withdraw from another debate is to withdraw from the race, and he may just have to be wheeled up to the next one too. Brutal. Nayeema: So it seems like youre not voting for him for the golf game either. Ben: I dont know. Trump notoriously cheats at golf. Who knows? Nayeema: Im going to have to take the craziest bet here. I mean maybe its like I drank the Kool-Aid in the room, which is that there will be a second debate, but it will be between Donald Trump and somebody else. Ben: I love it. I love that kind of New York room, Nayeema. Nayeema: I will take odds on this. Ben: Go breathe some fresh air. Nayeema: Lets take a quick break and when were back we will play a conversation that we had with a gambler, Nate Silver, and a person who had Donald Trump up before this debate. Im sure the model will only have him up even more beyond this debate. [MUSIC] Nayeema: All right, as people are hearing this, the debate is over, but the polls are just kicking off and we will be drowning in them till November, and then well be analyzing them till the end of our lives. A man that we have to blame for that is Nate Silver. He came up as a kind of groundbreaking baseball statistician, a kind of Moneyball character. He also plays a lot of poker. And during the 2008 presidential campaign, he was revealed to have a side hustle in his baseball days. This was as the anonymous blogger Poblano on the progressive site Daily Kos. And Nate then went on to build FiveThirtyEight, which he licensed to the New York Times for a while, and then sold Im sure for a sizable fortune to ESPN/ABC. Ben: When I was at BuzzFeed, we actually talked to him about buying it. Nayeema: What was the price tag? Ben: It never quite got that far, but I think when it became clear to him that it wouldve been BuzzFeed equity, he decided to go in a different direction. Nayeema: Seems like he made a good choice. Ben: Wise man. Nayeema: Nate has since left FiveThirtyEight and started his new substack Silver Bulletin, but hes kind of the king of this world. Ben: Yeah. Nate, I think, kind of invented this modern conversation about polling back, as you said, when he was an anonymous blogger. And the thing that is easy to forget back then is that was a year, 2007-2008, when Obama was really consistently leading in the polls, the national candidate. But there was just Democrats were panicked every day that these polls were concealing an undercurrent of racism in which voters were going to show up and vote against Obama even though they would tell pollsters they were going to vote for him. Something called the Bradley Effect, a urban legend actually called the Bradley Effect. And Nates job that cycle is just every day to say, Dont worry about it, the polls are correct, Obamas going to win. And there was just nothing more addictive to Democrats than that, just waking up in the morning, hitting refresh on whichever of Nates blogs he was on at that moment and being like, Is Obama going to win? Yes. And then Democrats could go about their days. And so that made him this really iconic figure in 2008, and then again in 2012 actually. And then to some degree again in 2016 when he went into the election saying, Hillary Clintons probably going to win. Nayeema: I think in that case it was like 25, 27% that Donald Trump would win the election, and 70+% that it was going to be Hillary Clinton in 2016. He has this probabilistic model rather than the kind of polling itself. Its not a snapshot in time, instead its looking across the aggregates and its giving a percentage chance that this person is going to win the election. Ben: Thing thats always driven me a little crazy about Nate is after that election, not wrongly, Trump won and everybody said, The polls were wrong, you guys were wrong. Youre all idiots. And Nate said, No. Look, I said Trump had a pretty decent chance of winning, and he won. And so, all right, I dont know what youre supposed to do with that. Nayeema: Thats the thing with being a statistician, it has a built-in hedge so you can always be right, but youre like, But I was less right than the other thing I could have said. Ben: Yeah, but he really is, I mean he really is king of this world, and so much that he has a whole legion of imitators and rivals. I think some of them are also named Nate, which is a little confusing. Nayeema: Yes, you have referred to some as Nate One and Nate Two, but were not going to say which ones which. Ben: I mean Nate is. This is Nate One. Nayeema: Nate Silver is definitely. Poor Nate Cohn, great journalist at the New York Times. But these days, Nate Silver is a big deal, and in the mouth of the former president Donald Trump being celebrated by him, because Silver Bulletin, which is Nate Silvers substack has just unveiled this brand spanking new probabilistic model which shows a greater than 60% chance of Donald Trump winning the race. By the time people are listening to this, well have just had this debate. I think that Nate thinks that debates are just like a flash point in time and dont really matter to whats going to happen, and so we really want to spin forward this conversation. Whats the horse race were going to see from now till November? Whats the signal? Whats the noise? What actually matters? And how right or less wrong is he going to be this time around in 2024? Ben: Hi Nate, welcome to Mixed Signals. Nate Silver: Hey Ben, how are you? Nayeema: Im so excited to be here, because Ben tells me you and he have been fighting on Twitter since its advent basically. Nate: I feel like were pretty sympathic. Weve both been through four or five different media hype cycles, I think. Right? Ben: We used to fight more. Nayeema: All right, well, Im happy to be here to moderate. Congratulations on the model by the way. Nate: Thank you. I appreciate it. Nayeema: Has Donald Trump called you yet to sing your praises for showing that he has a slightly better chance of winning this election? Nate: I mean there was a spam call earlier. Right? I mean it had some Kansas City area code. I dont think he has any properties out there. I dont think he has any casinos out there, so I dont think it was him, but Ill have to check my voicemail. Nayeema: Trump Golf Resort, Kansas City is coming. So you just released this model. Theres a big debate that by the time people are hearing this has happened, will the debate matter? Will the debate change your model? Nate: Look, the way I put it is that the debate, one of the two remaining debates, is one of the only two times that there could be something big that happens. I mean, clearly debates dont make that much impact, but if you have a one point race in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, a one point impact is a big deal. I mean, look, it is interesting that if Biden does really badly, having this debate be earlier, which their campaign wanted, it does create this potential bedwetting metacycle. Nayeema: Its a really bad metaphor for this particular debate. Ben: Bedwetting metacycle. That is so gross. Nate: This potential cycle, well just say that, where because the Democratic convention is not until August, Biden could say tomorrow that, I am choosing after all not to run for a second term, and Kamala Harris is my recommendation for the nomination. And the superdelegates in Chicago will determine the different Democratic nominee. He does have that option. Optionality is important in kind of a gambling decision-making context. Any option that you can potentially take, if Biden does really, really badly in the debate, then at that point the right rational play, if Democrats care as much as they claim, this is a conditional, this is not a prediction, Democrats do have the option to try and persuade him that, Joe, its too far gone, its time to step aside. Nayeema: I know that youre embroiled a little bit with the Biden administration, or youre getting heat for putting out your critiques of age and calling attention to this. Have you heard personally from people in the administration? Nate: No, I dont. No. I think, and campaigns have never been very often to talk to me because I just tend to be, it doesnt really affect the model and if you know me, Im like, its 50:50 theyre going to piss me off and- Ben: Does this sound like a man whose opinion is going to be changed by being worked? I think not. Nate: But for the book, I do a lot of reporting in the book. I talk to some of the best VCs in Silicon Valley, and some of the best poker players in the world. Because thats my world. I dont get along with these politics types. And Im leaning into that deliberately in saying this is a perspective thats independent, and not that Im not subject to my own cognitive biases. This year, its a little weird that the candidate I thinks going to win is not the candidate I want to win. But I am looking at this as a way that someone whos making bets for a living is looking at it. Nayeema: Were going to dive into your model in this conversation, but first we really want to address the distrust that surrounds kind of the entire election. And in some cases theres a sense of conspiracy around predictions and polling, the media, election coverage writ large. The most insidious version of this conspiracy is kind of that theres no underlying reality. That rather than being a mirror, and this is not specific to you, but the entire industry. That theres no reality that rather than being a mirror of what voters preferences are, that these models are like an invisible hand whereby media mediates these preferences and democracy overall. They tell people when to freak out, they tell campaigns when to pay attention. They drive peoples expectations of whos a winner and a loser, and they create this kind of pendulum shift where if you think your candidate is losing, youll show up, but if theyre winning by a wide margin, youll calm down. Nate: Yeah. I think thats people who spend way too much time on Twitter. And you see evidence of, I think, and this is now one consequence of Democrats being the party of college-educated elites, maybe not the financial elite most of, is that they are in an echo chamber. Democrats think that the New York Times being mean to Biden is the biggest reason that hes losing. Democrats think that because they hear a lot in their social circles about Israel-Palestine, obviously a tragic situation, but if you poll regular voters and especially swing voters who are disengaged, Israel-Palestine in the Quinnipiac poll this week, its literally the lowest priority on the list, I think except for Trumps criminal convictions maybe. If you kind of look in reality, first of all, its not that surprising that Trump is beating a candidate like Biden, as flawed as Trump is as a candidate himself. But look, Biden is 81 years old, is asking to be president until hes 86. This has been a consistent concern in polls, overwhelming concern even among independents and Democrats for a year or so now. We had very high inflation, which has abated. Thats good for Biden. There are issues like immigration which is higher partly because of pandemic-related fluctuations. By the way, the most important reason is that we know what happened in 2016, which is that Clinton did win the popular vote and lost the Electoral College. Our model actually has Biden as a very slight favorite to win the popular vote again, but almost a 2:1 underdog to win the Electoral College because theres that persistent gap of about three points, and that means that you are kind of fighting very uphill. Its like getting 15 yards for first down instead of 10, if youre the much better offense. Sorry for the sports analogy here. Ben: Before we get back to sports, and sorry, I have to ask you about media. Obviously, really this is about us. And I feel like you sort of skipped over Nayeemas question a little, which is there is obviously a kind of a feedback loop between polling and real politics. The most obvious thing that comes to mind is the way in which the 2019 poll really showing Warren doing terribly against Trump, I think, did help shift votes and push her out of the race. And Im curious how you think about that feedback loop. Nate: I think in multi-candidate primaries, then its more rational for voters to switch horses. If youre indifferent between Bernie and Warren and one of them seems like they can beat Biden and the other cant, then its rational to do that. In a two-way race, Im much less convinced of that. I mean the empirical evidence of ... Because you hear it both ways. Youre like, Oh, its going to suppress Democratic turnout because it makes them depressed. Or you hear, Oh, its going to motivate Democrats because theyre not complacent any longer. Look, coverage of polling is a subspecies of media coverage in general. I think having a model that has set rules that is ... I mean what it needs to be objective is a complicated philosophical question actually, which mirrors ironically, I think, some of the debates and media about media objectivity overall. Ben: For sure. Nayeema: Yes. Nate: But to have a process that you decided on ahead of time, this is 98% the same model that had Democrats winning in 2008, and 12 and 16 and 20. Its been a long time now. You plug in the same data to the same model and Trump has a pretty persistent lead in polls, and the polls have been very steady. And so yeah, I think Democrats in general really over-index on blaming the media for everything now. Nayeema: Why do this? Why put this out into the world and say, This is what Trump ... Whats the impact of it, if not influence? Nate: I dont care. The impact is that you now have more accurate information that you can use to make better decisions in your life. Maybe if you dont like Trump and you want to apply for some foreign visa in Canada or something now, then you know that you probably should take that pretty seriously. Or maybe youre trying to hedge risk in the stock market because you think Trump will cause inflation. Or maybe youre just on an offshore betting site. My audience is not the political audience. This is what Ive realized. Its like I do not like the political class of people. I like poker players. I like Wall Street, and Silicon Valley. Nayeema: These days some of them dont like you either, Nate. Nate: Yeah, and its mutual because Im cut from a different cloth from them. Ben: Though didnt you like them better when they liked you? There was this era when Democrats would wake up every morning and say, Oh my God, is Obama still winning? And they would go to you and you would say, Yes. And they loved you. Nate: Empirically, I never love them back. Nayeema: But back then I remember when you were hired at the Times, there was a bit of kerfuffle. You had said that you voted for Obama, and you showed your card. So at the time you were part of not necessarily the class, but you were in that party for the moment. So how does it feel to go from being a darling to being at odds with? Nate: I think if I do my job well, its inevitable. And journalists sometimes say, Well, if both sides are angry at you, then youre doing your job right. Which is a cliche that I dont entirely or mostly dont agree with. However, if youre in the specific enterprise of making election forecasts, look, I would be a total hack if all of a sudden my model said, Oh yeah, forget the polls, something fundamental has changed. And now ignore the fact that Joe Biden is down six points in this Quinnipiac poll that comes out, or four points in the Georgia poll, or whatever else. Ignore the fact that nothing has moved the numbers. Thats what would terrify me if I were in the White House. Its like hes not that far behind. Its just like nothing has changed the race and voters have dealt with the same candidates now for five years, literally. Trump now three times in a row. So whats going to change this? I mean fortunately for the White House, theyre close enough that if you have another one of these systematic polling errors, they could win. It wouldnt have to be that large an error, but its a narrow path. The election that reminds me of a lot is 2012 where the national polls were tight, as they are this year, but Obama had consistently more robust polling in the swing states. They were very consistent. Ben: The other thing in 2012 was there was a little cottage industry of, as you recall, I think unskewing the polls, right? Nate: Yeah. Ben: There was a set of Republicans who just felt like this cant be true, and were going to kind of go into the math and tweak a little here, tweak a little there, which I think people like you and me mocked. And I believe after the election, some of the big un-skewers sort of apologized maybe to you personally. But how do you see Democrats responding? Is it a mirror image of that? Is it something different? Nate: Yeah, I think that epistemology, to use a fancy term, of Democratic poll watchers is a little bit ... I was one of these people who because of that experience in 2012, I thought naively that Republicans uniquely suffer from epistemic closure, and now its clear that Democrats do just as much. If anything, the unskewing is because their audience is more college-educated, its more elaborate versions of lying to yourself. But the polling overall was very accurate in 2022. So after 2022, its like this is about as well as polls can do. And if people still blame the polls and make up this whole narrative ... Whereas in contrast, in 2016 and 2020, the polls did have a clearer skew, and it was a skew against Trump. 2020 in particular, Biden won. People dont blame the polls as much in 2016. In 2020, Biden was up eight points in some of these states like Wisconsin, ended up winning by a point or so. That was a bad polling area and it didnt favor Democrats. And so its absolutely right that the error distribution on polls is larger than people assume, but you cant predict which direction its going to go. I mean the media was guilty in 2022 of assuming that, oh, were going to have another Democratic skew, and we didnt. Nayeema: Right. I want to make sure that ... By the way, weve gone deep down in this conversation, I just want to pull up for a second, because yes, the polls were wrong in 2016. As you point out, also wrong in 2020 though Democrats dont like to talk about that as much because they were wrong in the quote right way for them, I think as you were saying. But now in 2024, you have just released this new presidential election model which shows Trump with a 66% chance of winning the election, and that made a lot of news, which Im sure pleased you. It surprised a lot of people. Im curious if it surprised you, and Im curious if you say the model is like 98% what you used to have in FiveThirtyEight, which FiveThirtyEight right now, no longer owned by you under ABC. That poll at FiveThirtyEight is showing Biden up and youre saying this is 98% the same model? Nate: No, its not because, yeah, I should just clarify. I owned all the IP for FiveThirtyEight because I had a good lawyer when I signed with Disney. Ben: This is one of the great media coups, isnt it? Nayeema: Yeah. Ben: For real. Nate: So I kept all the IP and they hired a new guy to create a model that has nothing to do with mine. Nayeema: Got it. Okay. Nate: So they own the trade name FiveThirtyEight. They own the Fivey Fox mascot, I think. But this is the same model that has been the most accurate model the way that we judge it, which is whether the probabilities align. That youre supposed to in some cosmic multiverse, Biden is supposed to win this election 35% of the time, despite being an underdog. And 0.001% of the time RFK Jr. sometimes wins, or whoever else, and Trump wins 65%. Nayeema: Right. So if there were a hundred such elections, then Trump would win 66 of them, and Biden would win 34 of them? Nate: Right. Yeah. This is the gamblers mentality. In 2016, our model, or my model I should say, to avoid confusion now, my model had Trump with a 30% chance and that was much higher than the betting market odds. So if you were using our model, you would actually put a pretty large wager on Trump, even though you expect to lose that 70% of the time, the odds youre getting are so good that its what I would call plus EV, or positive expected value. And I know it seems totally foreign to people in the politics world to think this way, but thats some world that I come from. I was a professional poker player before I started covering politics. Im an experienced sports better. I just wrote a whole book about gambling, and its actually a pretty big world of people who think like me and not like the political class. And they subscribe to the newsletter and like the podcast and things like that. And its very freeing not to have to coddle people and say, I mean, look, the fact is that Biden is in a fair amount of trouble. And I think people are being too polite about it. And by the way, this is also a case where the decision to run again was certainly not obvious. I mean, a lot of Democrats in Congress assumed that Biden wouldnt run again. Or he never pledged to be a one-termer, he did not do that, but he kind of said, Im a bridge. And made that implications sometimes. So this is a decision where Democrats wouldve had the option. And now it would be kind of insane to be fair, right? Nayeema: Is it impossible? Is it impossible in your ... Nate: No, its not. Until August, whenever the final date of the convention is. No, its not impossible. And look, to pull the emergency lever is obviously an insane thing to do, but the question is it less insane than walking into an election where youre a 2:1 underdog? And by the way, I want Joe Biden to win. I said that in the article. Im not a Trump guy at all, right? But I have experience. You have to do this in poker. In poker, if you take a bad beat, you cant then mope and lose the next hand and tilt off. You have to actually kind of understand that our emotions, especially for smart people who are very, very good at rationalizing, theyre the worst about it. Nayeema: And now liberated in your new reality, no longer bound by the ethical standards of the New York Times or ABC newsrooms, how much money do you have on the race? Nate: I have none personally. I do a consulting deal with a financial firm, and they may be making bets based on their conversations with me. Ben: Why arent you? Is that a lack of confidence? Nate: Because I dont need the money, and because I would want to hedge my risk if anything. Its better for me. Financially, its better for me if the favorite in the model probably wins. And so Im not looking to pile onto that. I think the financial implications are significant of that. Ben: But maybe you should bet the ... Actually, right, you should bet the opposite. Nate: Yeah. Thats a decent argument. Ben: For sure. Nayeema: You should bet that. You should hedge. Ben: Yeah, its interesting, right? Theres often I feel like there is that funny, the polls were wrong thing, that is, its always sort of over served, isnt it? I wonder why. I actually dont really have a theory on why that is. Im curious if you do the sort of desire to think that the polls were wrong. Nate: I mean, I think its partly because when were confronted with objective facts, and Im aware of an objectivity is a complicated concept, but- Ben: No, but I mean retrospectively theres this sort of myth that the 2016 polling, for instance, was wildly off. Nate: Yeah, 2016 was not great, but not terrible, Nayeema: But its a binary outcome. What does it mean to be not terrible? It means nothing to voters who are voting one way or another to be less than right wrong. Nate: Take this from the opposite point of view. Biden is behind in all the swing states. Hes been behind for months. Its hopeless. No, its not, because the polls can be wrong. He has actually a 35% chance. Not bad at all, right? Thats a pretty good chance. Its an NBA, a three-pointer or something, right? Ben: I like this new sort of liberated version of you whos talking to people who understand statistics, and is tired of people who dont understand statistics. But if I could ask one other sort of possibly annoying question for you. I do think the other thing that, at least what I do when I look at polls, is immediately sort of look into the cross tabs and then often say like, Ah, this doesnt make any sense. Whats your remedy for that? Nate: I think you should look at cross tabs as being about as accurate as astrology, but theres a reason for it. Ben: Are you into astrology, Nayeema? Nayeema: I actually believe the world is divided into people with 12 types based on the month of their birth. But we should also explain for a moment, cross tabs are looking at very specific voter demographics. So Biden down seven points with Gen Z, or Trump getting up with 35% with Black voters, et cetera. Nate: Yeah, so what happens is that you might have a poll that has a thousand respondents, which has a margin of error of three and a half percent, but then you slice and dice it literally into 10 or 12 cross tabs. African-American women might be 50 people in that poll, if theyre representative of the population. And that has a margin of error of 18 points or something like that. Just trying to estimate it offhand. And if you have 20 random sequences anchored around some truth, but if youre basically drawing a bunch of lottery tickets with small sample sizes, youre going to have some that create weird patterns. And so this is for ... You know the term midwit? Now Im really getting a little spicy. Ben: Do it. Do it. Nayeema: We love spice. Ben: I dont even know that term. Nate: Midwit is for people who are educated up to a point, but actually just overcomplicate things. Nayeema: People who think they know more than they know? Nate: Yeah. Like the Dunning-Kreiger or whatever. Am I pronouncing that right? Im probably Dunning-Kreiger myself. But look at the top line of the poll, and look at the quality of the outfit doing the poll, and look at their track record. The New York Times/Siena college polls have been excellent polls. They got a lot of things right in recent midterms, like 2018 and 2022 that a lot of pollsters didnt. The fact that they show Biden losing all these swing states and yet show Democrats doing well among these high turnout voters that vote in congressional elections. I mean, thats a pretty dispositive piece of evidence, I think. Yeah, look, if it were a matter of like, oh, the crappy pollsters show Trump winning and the good pollsters show Biden winning, that would be, I think, a credible kind of unskewing type argument. But thats not what we see. I mean if anything, the better polls show Biden doing worse. Nayeema: I have to ask why do we need all of these polls done at every single minute? I think I read somewhere there were 1500 polls that we will have between now and November. It was a couple months back, so maybe theres 1300, great glory. But is there a time when we actually know the answer? Nate: No, we dont. Okay, so theres one thing. Its not like were in a zoom to ... Trump is 65% now. Lets say nothing more changes and he maintains this two point lead in Pennsylvania, and whatever. Its not going to go to a hundred percent by election day. But no, I agree though. I am sympathetic to the notion that we dont need as many polls as we have. I think its probably right. I mean because if you look at it, the irony is if you look at the more robust averages, I mean the New York Times has one now, or the Washington Post has one. I think ours is pretty good. Theyre actually very steady. So its almost like you dont need all these polls. Now look, when Trump gets convicted on felony charges, or you have a debate, or he picks his VP, or after the conventions. But yeah, I mean if we just had a big set of polls seven times a year, you have a designated polling weekend or something, that would be perfectly fine and would give you most of the information that you need. Nayeema: Or maybe we need to be more French. By that, I dont mean have a snap election that might put Marine Le Pen in power, but to have a bit of a blackout period of campaign advertising coverage the way France does where theres just a weekend right before the election. Ben: Give everybody a second to think. Nate: Yeah, maybe. It wouldnt be the worst thing. And I think it probably would violate the First Amendment here. But the games that pollsters play in that last weekend anyway, I tend to think thats when theres a lot of ass covering, and a lot of what we call purding, where they dont want to be seen as the outlier. Ben: So youre saying these things arent totally objective? Nate: No, I think science is hard. I mean, look at the replication crisis. Look in academia how most scientific studies are bad. I think polling is actually a relatively rigorous technique, but one reason why pollsters did have a good 2022 is that they figured out that the classic technique of just literally manually dialing people on the phone book, and hoping to get a representative sample, doesnt work in a world where 8% of people respond to surveys. So instead, these are basically little mini models, and my model kind of averages these models. And modeling is tricky. Modeling requires domain knowledge, it requires making a lot of subjective choices. And thats why you have The Economist forecast has Trump at 72% or something, and the new FiveThirtyEight has him at 49%, and I have him at 66, or 65, or whatever. These are all reasonable people making these forecasts, and you have dozens of choices to make with the way you build a model. What you dont want to have happen is when a pollster declines to report a result because they self-censor. And thats, I think, been made worse by the mobs on Twitter where a lot of people are like, Oh, this polls terrible. Of course Bidens not losing by 12 points in Wisconsin, or whatever. And so that can create suppression of useful evidence, which has had effect some time. Ben: Yeah. Nayeema: Its like a free speech ... Thats so interesting. Ben: Its interesting. I think we came in asking about the way in which the discourse and the public conversation is driven by polling, but actually in a way its the opposite, right? Pollsters are at risk of being driven by the discourse. Nate: For sure. Yeah, because its a pretty brave thing to do. I mean, look, my former employer, ABC News had a poll in Wisconsin in late October 2020 that had Biden up 17 points in Wisconsin. And they were brave to publish that because they probably knew it was going to be wrong. The average in Wisconsin did overrate Biden, but had him up by six or whatever. 17 is a big outlier. But they believed in the kind of process of polling, and now youre seeing less of that, and that could lead to some big surprises sooner or later. Maybe Trump wins by 10 points though. I mean, thats the thing. The surprises dont always go in the nice way that youre hoping for as a reader. Nayeema: If your model still has Trump with better odds close to election night, and he ends up winning, will you be celebrating being right, or sad that the person you voted for didnt win the election? Nate: In that sense, my risks are well-hedged, right? And if you want a more complicated answer, it might depend on things like which party controls Congress, who Trumps vice president is. Nayeema: I wanted a less complicated answer, Nate. Nate: Ill take the fifth, because I dont know. I dont know how Ill feel. And it depends too, on the narrative of the election. I mean, it could be that by the time we do the election, that Bidens back in front in the model or something, right? Nayeema: Yeah, I gave you a hypothetical. Ben: Right? Theres a real lose-lose for you here. Nayeema: Yeah. Ben: Bidens in front, and Trump wins, and you got to move to Canada. Its just a shame, honestly. Nate: No, Ive already won, I think. Ive already won by building a successful newsletter product, and having an interesting time intellectually, trying to figure out how to forecast this election. Im doing this because of the rewards along the way. If I were just looking forward to election day, most of those outcomes are bad for me. Most of the time people are mad at me either because Trump wins and I said hed win, theyll still be mad at me. Or because Biden wins and I was probabilistically wrong. We can debate what that means. So its going to end in tears no matter what. But along the way, I collect- Nayeema: You collect $200 when you pass Go. Yeah? Nate: I collect a subscriber base who does understand what Im thinking. Seriously, thats why Im doing it. We got offers to go to some network or something and do this. And I am only doing this because I believe in the subscriber newsletter model. Right? Because that is a way to kind of self-identify the people that are going to get you. Ben: Well, youre talking to your people. I mean, I remember when we were talking when I was at BuzzFeed and it was a different moment for you and you were like, Look, I just got to maximize my return in this particular moment of my life. So Im kind of glad that youre maximizing your satisfaction here. However strange that is, Nate, honestly. Nayeema: It really is strange. Nate: In some ways the gamblers are more normal. They kind of have very normie politics a lot of the time, or at least theyre kind of eccentrically normal, or something like that. Vegas, thats a real cross-section of America. Nayeema: For sure it is. Thats true. All right, well thank you so much Nate for being with us. Ben: Really thanks for doing this, Nate. Nate: Thank you. It was really fun guys. [MUSIC] Nayeema: Nate One. What a character. Ben: Yeah, man. Man knows his own mind. Nayeema: He does not seem like he is at all upset about upsetting anyone. Ben: No. I mean hes always sort of loved trolling in a way, but I do think he now, to some degree, thrives on annoying people who he believes dont understand probability. Nayeema: Midwits. Ben: Midwits. Nayeema: Are we midwits? Ben: I believe so. But you can, if you want, just talk to the people you feel really get you/ Thats a viable financial model. In a way he was at the opposite end, which was talking to random viewers of ABC News. And its possible that he did not feel totally understood by those good people. Nayeema: I dont know, it was very interesting to me because when he described his mission, there was this public service to it. It wasnt just, Oh, I want to do the math really well and get the math right. There was part of that, right? Im doing this thing, and this is just what the thing is. You can tell me you dont like it, but Im telling you the sky is blue, right? So theres a bit of that he has, and at the same time its like Im just trying to give people information to make micro decisions in their lives. If you like Trump or not. If youre going to move to Canada or move to the United States. And I thought that was really insightful, actually, this public service mission to the ordinary voter. Ben: He really, I think has been kind of scarred through his career by, and really rejects the premise that the polls are shaping reality. I think he obviously just finds that incredibly irritating. Maybe hell grant that occasionally in primaries. Its true. And in fact, I think the thing that was so interesting to me is that, to him, the risk is that the pollsters are bullied by particularly people on social media getting mad at them and shift their perceptions of reality. I think hes built a real kind of carapace to resist what he sees as pressure on him to tell people what they want to hear. Nayeema: Yeah, but this is part of the broader critique of cancel culture and the concern of free speech. The Elon Musk warriors of the world. This is a Silicon Valley kind of argument you hear. Were not allowed to say the thing anymore. Do you think that theres some truth in that, in polling or political coverage? Ben: Oh yeah. And I think the subtler version of it is just that you want to give the paying customer what they want hear. Not so much that youre going to be canceled, but just that the market incentives are ... Theres got to be somebody out there right now saying, Dont worry Joe Bidens going to win, because theres a market for that. Nayeema: Thats a really challenging perspective in, as commercial as the business of media is, in a business thats oriented towards truth. Ben: Yeah, to a trust. Nayeema: Democracy dies in the darkness, et cetera. The idea of catering to your customer is not the mission of the organization. Ben: Not of ours. I guess our belief is that you are in trust over time and if you say crazy stuff and it proves to be untrue that people will stop believing you. Although it is also just worth noting that in the literature of doomsday cults, they never lose steam after doomsday doesnt happen. People only grow more committed. So I dont know, but he probably sees himself as a realist on this point. I love that he refused to say whether he would be happy if he was right if Donald Trump won. Nayeema: Yeah, I know. It was so interesting. I think he would be happy if he were right. Ben: Depends on some of the down-ballot races. Nayeema: It depends on the day. Ben: Yeah. Nayeema: Yeah, exactly. Its a very complicated answer. Ben: Unique American character. Nayeema: Meanwhile, extremely important. As you know, Allie, our producer was saying she was just imagining Donald Trump refreshing the feed every minute saying, Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Ben: What does Nate Silver think? Nayeema: What does Nate Silver of the New York Times think? Ben: He really has personally reshaped how people think about polling, think about politics in America. Its pretty amazing. Nayeema: But yet he is saying hes not changing the outcomes. Hes just telling you how its going to be. Ben: Yeah. And it is also true that if and when Joe Biden wins, hell say, Well, I told you it was pretty likely. Nayeema: All right, lets take a quick break and well be back for Blind Spots. [MUSIC] Ben: This week on our branded segment from Think With Google, I talked with Josh Spanier about AIs impact on the creative industries, and just how worried ad creatives ought to be about their jobs. And if it sounds like it was recorded on a beach in France, thats because it was during the Cannes Lions Festival last week. Josh, just down the street here, your colleague Vidhya Srinivasan, Googles VP of ads just talked about how this business is entering an AI era. What will the rise of AI mean for people and for businesses? Josh Spanier: So Im thinking about it very specifically for the marketing process. We need insights. We need insights to make our marketing relevant to people like you and to people in the world, so they actually discover and use our products. So I was speaking with McDonalds yesterday and they found these insight in part using AI that kids love going to McDonalds with grandmothers because the grandmothers will treat them to the McFlurry that they always want, where their regular parents may not do so. Ben: I always suspected that. Josh Spanier: So they actually turned that into a whole campaign, really cleverly done, inspired by insights that derived from AI. Were also looking at creativity. So we run many, many campaigns across Google Marketing, and were using generative AI to actually scale that across all these platforms, to actually create hundreds and hundreds of variations of ads, which make them more relevant and more engaging, and actually do so in a way which actually is scalable, but previously we couldnt do. And it leads to better business outcomes. And actually our creative teams really enjoy it, because they can express different ideas in different ways and get to market quicker. And along the way, measurement and accountability. Every CFO, every financial organization wants to know that the dollars youre putting in, youre getting dollars more out. With AI, were actually speeding up the ability to measure our programs, and were using a lot of Google Analytics and Google AI to actually prove that we actually are getting the value from these campaigns along the way. At every stage in the process, AI is actually making us smarter, its making us faster, and its actually making us more creative along the journey. [MUSIC] Nayeema: Today were doing something a little different, a little more global, and unfortunately a little less Max Tani for Blind Spots, hes traveling at the moment. But we have been so consumed with elections in the United States that we think its worth casting a light at the broader, to use cable TV terms, decision 2024 around the world where more than 60 countries that represent almost half of the worlds population have or will head to the polls this year. Ben: Im a little skeptical of this segment, Nayeema. Nayeema: Why Ben? Because youre like an American isolationist, an exceptionalist, and you dont want to know about the rest of the world? Ben: No. Very global. I just dont want this to be a sort of eat your spinach thing. And Ive never bought the idea that the job of media was to lecture people about things that they were supposed to care about. Nayeema: Dont worry, Ben, this is going to be a, dont eat your spinach, but kind of be aware of what might be on your menu in 2024, in November in the United States. Because sometimes outcomes around the world, they give you some indicators of where the mood is, where the vibes are, lets say. And that was the case with Brexit, and Donald Trump in 2016. Ben: Yeah. No, and its really one of the great blind spots of American media actually. This notion that you can try to explain, in this case, the rise of the populist right in an American context, when its such a global story. Nayeema: Exactly. So already this year weve seen major elections in Mexico where theyve elected the countrys first Jewish president, South Africa, where the ANC struggled. Cyril was able to hold onto power, but ANC struggled. India where Modi held onto power, but actually lost seats in the parliamentary elections, although he would not necessarily admit any defeat. Prime Minister Modi. Ben: Yeah. Somewhere the Nate Silver of India is telling people, I told you so, because his model said that there was a 4% chance that Modi would lose this badly. Nayeema: Thats true. And in Indonesia Prabowo Subianto won. Do you know who that is, Ben? Ben: I dont. Nayeema: Prabowo is the son-in-law. Hes a countrys defense minister. And someone I know a little bit, who grew up in Indonesia when his father-in-law. Suharto was ousted from power in the late 90s- Ben: Is this a very elaborate way to get to a name-drop? Nayeema: No, no. Dont worry. If this was a name-drop, my flex would not be Prabowo Subianto. Ben: Kind of impressive. Nayeema: Prabowo Subianto, who was the countrys defense minister, who was for a long time on the human rights persona non grata list for his actions in East Timor, might still be actually, but he was the son-in-law of President Suharto. And its kind of a nostalgia in Indonesia, but also around the world for a dictatorship of the past. These countries have experimented with democracy. It hasnt necessarily proved out that much better for them. And you saw this in places like Libya. Youve seen this in Indonesia, where people want the sons and son-in-laws of dictators back in power. Ben: Marcos is back in the Philippines. Yeah. Nayeema: Yeah. Theres something happening. And then around the world, on the heels of this episode, theres some pretty big elections happening. In France where, after the far right swing in the EU parliamentary elections, Macron has made a very risky bet. Hes called for this polarizing snap election that many think could hand the country to Marine Le Pen and the far right. Ben: Man loves to roll the dice. I mean, incredible story actually. I actually have covered him a little, interviewed him once. And it is every reporters dream to cover somebody who loves to gamble as much as Macron loves to gamble. He loves to gamble more than Nate Silver loves to gamble. Nayeema: We should introduce Nate Silver and Macron. They could go to a little betting table together in Vegas. Ben: I was in Paris last week and visited the office of Reporters Sans Frontieres, which is a great crusading journalism organization, whose executive director Christophe Deloire tragically died recently. And there was a big wreath of flowers from Macron, and from Madame Macron, sitting there in the entryway. And I was with a very prominent French journalist who took a look at that and said, Oh, well, when I die, I hope that the president and Monsieur Le Pen will send flowers. And then everyone was like, Theyre not going to send flowers. Nayeema: Theyre not going to send flowers to journalists. Another place where theyre not probably going to be sending any flowers to journalists is Iran, where presidential elections are going to be held on the day that were releasing this episode, Friday, after the unexpected death of Ebrahim Raisi in the helicopter crash last month. Look, ultimately, regardless of who wins, we know that the real power in that country rests with the supreme leader. It is an important election to see where the country is going. This is a country who is embattled in a lot of proxy wars, including a very important one to the US. And so that will be an important election to pay attention to. And then on July 4th, as the Americans celebrate their independence from the Brits, the UK will be holding a general election and it looks like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Tories are expected to be voted out after so many years, and the Labour Party taking power for the first time since 2010. Ben: And I think when youre looking at sort of storylines and the opportunity to see that, to look to the future in other countries, I mean, I think thats what Macron is looking to, and to some degree what US Democrats are looking to, which is, all right, let the right take over. Let them do something like Brexit. And in Britain really I think, proved that they were unable to govern, or at least most of the populace left thinking, God, these clowns cannot govern, and really get wiped out. And thats what Macrons hoping for in France, I think, is that if the right comes in, they will quickly show themselves unfit. Im not sure thats going to happen. Nayeema: Well, I dont know. Theres a couple ways to look at these elections if we think theres any kind of crystal ball in them, and I dont know that there is. But one is to say, Look, the Brits are ahead of the curve and the pendulum shifted all the way, and now its coming back. And maybe Americans will have that too, right? Pendulum shifted to Trump, and now it has come back and will it stay back? Or will it go the way of what were seeing in so many of these countries where the incumbents, even people as powerful as Modi are losing seats? Theres this anti-incumbent fervor. And people are upset across the globe around many of the same things. They are pissed off about the economy. They dont trust the media or institutions that much. There are real conversations about gender and family that are happening across the world right now, including in the United States, but all over the world. The role of men is a big issue in elections in places like India even. And then the kind of anti-outsider perspective, immigration, ethnicity, et cetera. The real populist dynamics are playing out. So a crazy global election year. Was it too much spinach, Ben? Ben: Probably. But I do think that its a useful ... I dont know, that if youre getting sick of looking at the polls and just staring into the sort of furor of the US election, a good way to understand it is to look and read around the world, listen to podcasts around the world, things like that. Nayeema: And pay attention to what was that thing at Semafor you wanted to plug, Ben? Ben: Oh. And do pay attention to the Semafor Global Election Hub, which basically does this with a good amount of voice and insight. Nayeema: Thats the best way to eat your spinach, Im told. All right. Thank you for listening to Mixed Signals from Semafor Media. Our show is produced by Max Tani, Allison Rogers, Alan Haburchak, Sheena Ozaki, Benjy Sarlin, and Andrea Lopez-Cruzado. With special thanks to Britta Galanis, Chad Lewis, Rachel Oppenheim, Anna Pizzino, Garrett Wiley, and Jules Zirn. Our engineer is Fernando Arruda. Our theme music is by Billy Libby. And our public editor is who? The Spinach Lobby? Ben: Maybe its Alastair Campbell this week. Were looking at Britain. Nayeema: Oh, what? You just have such a crush on Alastair Campbell. You want it to be him. Ben: I suppose I do. The Rest Is Politics. Nayeema: Okay. Stop plugging other podcasts, Ben. Our public editor is the house, and the house always wins, they say. If you like Mixed Signals, please follow us wherever you get your podcasts. And if you really like us, give us a starry review. Ben: And if youre watching on YouTube, give us a like and subscribe to Semafors channel. Nayeema: And if I were, Max Tani, would tell you to tune in for the Semafor Media newsletter. So Ill tell you to tune in to Max Tanis Twitter. Its great. Ben: And hopefully Max Tanis Twitter will tide you over next week because Mixed Signals will be off to celebrate the 4th of July. Or in Nayeemas case, the British elections. Were back after that. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. An investment forum will be held in Baku in April 2025, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev said during the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Revive Karabakh Together" in Shusha today, Trend reports. Representatives of both local and foreign companies will take part in the forum. The event will discuss issues of exporting products made in Azerbaijan, including Karabakh, to Islamic countries, he explained. Meanwhile, the event focuses on providing businesspeople with investment opportunities and commercial prospects in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic zones, as well as a discussion of the public-private partnership model. Additionally, the event is featuring panel discussions on the benefits and preferences applied in the liberated territories, other measures of state support, and the role of entrepreneurs in the restoration and economic reintegration of these territories. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel MOAB, Utah (ABC4) In a major break, detectives with the Moab Police Department have solved the 1973 murder of Ann Woodward. On March 2, 1973, Woodward, 46, was found dead on the floor of her Moab City bar, Woodys. Moab City Police said it appeared she had been strangled by her clothing and possibly sexually assaulted but they had very few leads. Woodwards death remained an unsolved homicide for 51 years but on Friday, June 28, 2024, detectives said they had identified her killer as Douglas K. Chudomelka. Chudomelka passed away, Moab police confirmed, in October 2002 at the age of 65. Douglas K Chudomelka, the man identified as the one who killed Ann Woodward in a Moab bar in 1973. (Courtesy: Moab Police Department) According to Moab Detective Jeremy Drexler, Chudomelka lived a troubled life with crimes in several states including California, Alabama, Utah, and his native Nebraska. In 1972, he moved to Moab where he became a frequent visitor of Woodys Tavern where Ann worked. Drexler said the forward thinking of then-Moab Chief of Police Melvin Dalton helped link Chudomelka to Woodwards death five decades later. During his initial investigation, Dalton collected the DNA samples of over 30 suspects, including the DNA for Chudomelka, who was quickly identified as one of the primary suspects. That DNA, along with evidence such as Woodwards clothes were kept and preserved for nearly half a century and retested using techonology and methods not available to the Federal Burearu of Investigations at the time. The crime labs tests returned a positive match of Chudomelkas DNA on Woodwards clothing. His DNA was also found to be on a glass and seat that was next to where Woodward was said to be sitting moments before she was murdered. Ann Hammer Woodward, 46, was killed in her Moab tavern in 1973. 51 years later, Moab detectives solved the crime. (Courtesy: Utah Department of Public Services) If [Chudomelka] were alive today, I would be asking Grand County Attorney Stephen Stocks for an arrest warrant for Douglas K. Chudomelka for the crime of first-degree murder for his actions on March 2, 1973, said Drexler. Stocks added he believes Drexlers investigation would have provided enough probable cause against Chudomelka to file charges and get a guilty verdict. I hope today brings some closure to the family because I truly believe had this case been presented to a jury, he would have been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt for the murder of Ann Woodward, said Stocks. Chudomelka left Moab about a year and half after Woodwards murder. Drexler said he found more crimes in other states after he left Utah, including a crime against a 10-year-old child in Alabama. In 1978, Chudomelka returned to Nebraska, but lived an apparently quiet life until his death until 2002. Drexler hopes that the new DNA evidence can help bring closure to other crimes Chudomelka may have allegedly committed across the country. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. **UPDATE: MO 291 from Truman Road to U.S. 24 in Independence, MO is set to reopen at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, according to MoDOT. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation have closed 291 Highway in Independence from Truman Road to U.S. 24 Highway. MoDOT said the closure is in place as a precaution as crews evaluate a newly formed crack that has developed in the mine under 291 Highway. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 The highway will remain closed until further notice, according to MoDOT. The City of Independence said MoDOT crews discovered the crack in the roadway while inspecting a recent mine collapse in the area. MoDOT however, wont answer whether the crack and a sinkhole that formed in early May are related. The two incidents seem to be in the same area though. Friday, it was not easy for workers to get into a business on 291 Highway, in-between 24 Highway on the north and Truman Road on the south. Everybody comes in this morning. You know, theyre trying to get in to come to work, and.. its shut down like Fort Knox, Clymore Trucking Safety Director Danny Clymore said in an interview with FOX4 Friday. Clymore also told us that a MoDOT worker came to his familys business Thursday. He told them theyd have access to their stoplight at Independence Avenue and 291 Highway. Friday afternoon though, that wasnt the case. Its become a nightmare, he said. Everybodys calling me wanting to know how to get in here, and I really dont know. Clymores business is just west of 291 Highway about two miles south of 24 Highway. Their issue isnt within that stretch of road. The issue is south of us, and I believe its on the east side of the highway, he said. Not everyones been inconvenienced by the closure though. Right. Right, Independence resident Dale Robinson said Friday when asked if hes doing okay with the closure. I plan on just going back on 24, to Salisbury and across 291 Highway, because its open for local traffic. Clymore wants to know how long 291 Highways going to be closed. The gentleman that came by last night, I called him this morning, and they said hes in a meeting. which I get. Theyre probably in meetings all day, he continued. If theyre in meetings all day, whos in the hole looking at this thing? Motorists traveling on northbound 291 Highway will be able to exit on Truman Road and motorists traveling on southbound 291 Highway will be able to exit on U.S. 24. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Motorists will need to find an alternate route around the closure. There will not be a signed detour, according to MoDOT. The city said it recommends using Lees Summit Road as an alternative route until MoDOT reopens 291 Highway. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Georgia woman and her aunt are facing murder charges after a 13-month-old girl overdosed on fentanyl in February. Columbia County deputies say they were called to a home in Appling to investigate the death of a toddler. When they arrived at the house, they found the childs mom, 31-year-old Mitra Ellzey, holding her daughter Kinsley at the end of the driveway. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Ellzey told investigators that she had been cleaning the house she lived in with her aunt, 37-year-old Deangela Belton. As she cleaned, Kinsley was crawling around on the kitchen floor and got some white powder on her hand that Ellzey told investigators she assumed was dust. After going to bed, she noticed the toddler was lying face down and not breathing. When she couldnt wake Kinsley up, she called 911. The toddler did not survive. Last month, the GBIs toxicology report came back positive for fentanyl and xylazine, a tranquilizer found in many illegal drugs. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators determined that both Ellzey and Belton were responsible for the drugs being in the house. Both women have since been charged with murder. Belton was already in custody on unrelated charges and Ellzey was arrested on this warrant. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Its an election year, and one of the largest hot topic issues for parents is the surging cost of childcare. Nonprofit Moms First, founded by activist Reshma Saujani, vocalized the importance of the childcare crisis to voters by starting a petition urging CNN to address the problem during the first presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, which aired on Thursday, June 27. The extreme cost of child care is crushing moms all over the country, states the petition, which received 15,000 signatures prior to the debate. Child care for two children costs more than rent in every U.S. state. 50% of Americans live in child care deserts. And 59% of parents with young kids have been forced to reduce their work hours or quit their jobs due to the exorbitant expenses of child care. Saujani hand-delivered the petition to CNNs studios, and the network took it to heart. Near the end of the debate, moderator Jake Tapper addressed the fact that many Americans cannot afford childcare and asked Trump what hed do to make it more affordable. Instead of answering the question, the former president took his two minutes of allotted time to trash talk his opponent. When it was Bidens turn to respond, he spent the first half of his time clapping back at Trump before answering the actual question. But he did, at least, address it. We should significantly increase the childcare tax credit; we should significantly increase the availability of [parents] to go back to work; and we should encourage businesses to have childcare facilities, President Biden said before he was cut off due to time. Trump was given another chance to answer the question and again dismissed it entirely. Before the question was asked, Biden brought up childcare costs while discussing the progress hes made for the Black community during his first term as president. The choice that Black families have to make relative to child care is incredibly difficult, he said. When we did the first piece of major legislation that passed, I was able to reduce Black child care costsI cut them in half. We gotta make sure we provide for childcare costs because when you provide enough childcare protections, youre increasing economic growth because more people could be in the job market. The legislation that hes referring to is an Executive Order on Care that strengthens the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, which supports more than a million children and their families with monthly child care assistance. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the landmark legislation in March, stating that it will lower childcare costs for more than 100,000 families. Biden also shared his plans to lower childcare costs on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the debate, which include guaranteeing affordable child care and pre-K from birth until kindergarten, ensuring most families pay less than $10 per day for child care, [and] providing universal free preschool for Americas four-year-olds. Saujani spoke with Motherly about successfully petitioning for child care to be addressed during the debate and how the question was handled. For too long, child care has been seen as a personal issue that moms must solve on their ownnot as an economic issue that is required for women to work. The reality is, the cost of child care the cost of motherhoodhas become untenable. And last night, CNN made it clear that the voices of moms across the country matter by asking the candidates about their plan to address child care costs,she said. Moms First and the 15,000 moms who signed our petition successfully elevated child care to the presidential debate stage. Because no family should be forced into debt to pay for child care. However, when asked directly about their plans to lower child care costs, both candidates spent the majority of the time bickering and only President Biden briefly addressed the questionleaving millions of moms and families out to dry, she added. Moms First is disappointed that our presidential candidates failed to acknowledge the seriousness of our child care crisis and its impact on American mothers. As candidates vie for votes this election season, they should not underestimate the power of moms. We are a powerful constituency that cannot be ignored. And we deserve real, substantive solutions to this crisis. Electricity pylons. Getty Images photo by fhm. As states scramble to find reliable sources of electric power amid ever-growing demand for energy, Gov. Wes Moore and three fellow Democratic governors are seeking more say in the regional electric grid operators future planning. Moore, along with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, have written to PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for 13 states and the District of Columbia, seeking a robust planning process, that includes the states, for using more carbon-free electricity. The governors wrote that close coordination is necessary between PJM and the states to achieve a collective vision. Transmission planning is essential to delivering economic growth, electric grid reliability, and cost savings for consumers, the governors said in their letter earlier this month. Collectively, the undersigned states understand its importance to developing large-scale low-and-zero emission energy resources that will support the increasing demand for electricity as new industries emerge and grow our energy workforce. The letter comes in the wake of two significant recent actions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas and oil. Last month, FERC issued an order that requires states and utilities to plan for grid upgrades and to use more renewable energy and just as important, to figure out who should pay for these changes. Environmental groups and clean energy advocates see the FERC order as a significant development toward making energy supplies more reliable, at a time when the profusion of data centers, electric vehicles and building electrification projects are placing more demands than ever on the grid. Related story But state Republican attorneys general have threatened to sue FERC over the new rule because of its dependence on clean energy sources for electric power. And PJM is among several entities that have asked for a rehearing on the FERC rule. The grid operator has questioned whether the new FERC order could interfere with certain aspects of its planning process, according to RTO Insider, a newsletter covering utility issues. In their letter to PJM, Moore and his fellow governors note that the FERC order envisions a clear collaboration between the grid operator and state policymakers to identify long-range planning scenarios that incorporate state policy priorities. Earlier this week, more than two dozen environmental groups, clean energy advocates and policy experts wrote a separate letter to PJM, expressing disappointment that the grid operator has sought a rehearing on the FERC order. The request, they wrote, could mean PJM is missing a key opportunity to ensure long-term planning in PJM is proactive and comprehensive in a way that benefits ratepayers, businesses, and the broader economy. The signatories to the letter included Adam Dubitsky, state director for the Maryland Land & Liberty Coalition, a conservative group that advocates for renewable energy installations on rural land; Rebecca Rehr, director of climate policy and justice for the Maryland League of Conservation Voters; Laurie McGilvray, co-chair of the Maryland Legislative Coalition Climate Justice Wing; Lee McNair, co-leader of the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry in Bethesda; and Sam Salustro, vice president of strategic communications at the Oceantic Network, a Baltimore-based organization that promotes offshore wind energy. In a related development, FERC last week denied a request by Talen Energy Corp. to increase electricity rates for Maryland consumers in order to keep two coal- and oil-burning power plants in Anne Arundel County open for the next several years. Talen is seeking to shutter the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner plants, arguing that operating them is no longer financially viable. But PJM officials have sought to keep the plants open longer in order to guarantee transmission reliability. The Maryland Office of Peoples Counsel had argued before FERC that the company was looking to pass $774 million in costs on to ratepayers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., Pepco and the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. FERCs decision vindicates our concerns that Talen failed to show that its proposal is fair to customers and that a thorough analysis is needed before imposing these extraordinary costs on customers, said David S. Lapp, who heads the Office of Peoples Counsel, which represents utility customers interests in official proceedings. But the FERC decision served as further proof that the question of who should pay for grid reliability and cleaner, more efficient energy sources remains a vexing issue for policymakers and regulators and will remain so for the foreseeable future. The post Moore, fellow governors seek more say over grid planning process appeared first on Maryland Matters. Los Angeless unhoused population remained steady from 2023 to 2024, marking the first time in years the county did not record an increase in homelessness, officials said. The Los Angeles homeless services authority (Lahsa) announced on Friday that it counted 75,312 unhoused people across the county this year, a 0.27% decrease from the unhoused population recorded in 2023. Officials say the data suggested meaningful progress in local efforts to address the crisis after substantial increases in homelessness each year since 2018. The count includes unhoused people living outside and in shelter programs. The number is a rough estimate from a count conducted over three days in January 2024 and the Lahsa figures have previously been found to be undercounts. Lahsa also reported a 5.1% decrease in people living outside in tents, cars, RVs and makeshift shelters, those considered unsheltered. The county recorded 52,365 unsheltered people, representing 69.5% of the total unhoused population. Lahsa reported a 12.7% increase in sheltered unhoused people, those living in indoor programs, suggesting more people are being moved out of encampments. Los Angeles still has a far higher rate of unsheltered homelessness than other major US cities. New York City, for example, has one of the largest unhoused populations in the nation, but most live indoors in the citys shelter system. LA county is the most populous county in the US, a sprawling jurisdiction that includes dozens of cities. The city of Los Angeles reported a 2.2% decrease in the unhoused population from 46,260 people in 2023 to 45,252 people this year. After years and years of the count going up, finally we see a change, LA city mayor Karen Bass said at a briefing. The trend has reversed. Today we know we can and will bring people inside and move LA in a different direction. Related: Despite Covid surge, Los Angeles mayor considers mask ban at protests Black Angelenos continue to be disproportionately affected by the crisis, making up 31% of the unhoused population compared with 9% of the general LA population. Lahsa also reported nearly 1,300 unhoused youth living on the streets this year. The reasons so many people ended up living on the streets of Los Angeles are multifold: home prices and rents have surged in recent years amid a dire housing shortage; theres been a spike in evictions as pandemic-era protections have ended; and there arent enough shelter beds for the population, so many people wind up back on the streets after stints in temporary shelter programs. Of newly unhoused people living on the streets, the count found that 54% said economic hardship was the cause of their homelessness, 38% cited a weakened social network, 17% cited a disabling health condition and 14% cited system discharge, such as leaving prison. The data release comes after LA county declared homelessness a state of emergency in January 2023, with an order meant to accelerate efforts to get people off the street. The board of supervisors passed a $609.7m budget for its homeless initiative for fiscal year 2023-2024, with funds going to initiatives to reduce encampments, increase shelter and housing placements and ramp up mental health and addiction services. In 2023, more than 27,300 unhoused people got permanent housing, said Dr Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of Lahsa, who said that was a record-high number of placements. At this rate, she said, the county could end homelessness within several years if officials were also able to prevent people from losing housing. But the number of people falling into homelessness has continued to outpace the number of people moving off the streets: in 2023, for every 100 people who exited homelessness, at least 120 newly became unhoused. The Los Angeles region must reverse decades of under-building affordable housing, help more people achieve economic stability and address the shrinking social safety net, Adams Kellum said. The data was released on the same day that the US supreme court ruled that unhoused people sleeping outside can be fined and jailed, a decision LA officials condemned at their briefing. We do not agree with criminalizing homelessness, said Adams Kellum. This years homeless count strongly supports our best practices We believe in housing and services, not arrest. Bass added: This is a rehash of the 1990s when we couldnt figure out how to deal with social problems like addiction and gang violence and we just decided we were going to lock everybody up. The city of LA does have its own anti-camping ordinance, meant to allow sweeps of people sleeping outside in targeted zones, and a recent report found that since its passage in 2021, only two unhoused people engaged under the law received permanent housing. And after sites were cleared under that law, the vast majority were later repopulated with encampments, the report found. City and county officials said the new data indicated an overall decline in encampments across the region, though with more than 50,000 people continuing to live outside, the crisis has remained highly visible throughout the region. Homelessness has continued to be a humanitarian emergency in LA, where now more than six unhoused people are dying every day on the streets and in shelters, an epidemic driven by overdoses, heart disease and traffic deaths. Oregon State Hospital's main campus is in Salem. (Michael Romanos/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Oregon needs to be able to treat many more people for both mental health and addiction issues than previously estimated. The Oregon Health Authority released a final report Thursday on its capacity to treat patients in residential facilities, and it shows the state will need more than 3,700 more beds statewide to treat about 8,100 people at a time by the fall of 2025. A draft report released in February estimated that to meet current and future demand, the state would need to be able to treat less than 3,000 more people in residential facilities. The report said the higher number stems from a refinement in the analysis in collaboration with the health authority. Residential facilities are needed for people with severe mental health or addiction issues. Such facilities include adult foster homes designed to treat a small number of people, as well as larger facilities like the Salem-based Oregon State Hospital and the Portland-based Unity Center for Behavioral Health. The Oregon State Hospital, which can treat about 700 people at a time, primarily treats people facing criminal charges, while the Unity Center is the states only inpatient psychiatric facility. The state is able to treat about 4,000 people in various residential facilities, and its expected to add nearly 400 more beds by the fall of 2025. That means that it will only have about 55% of the beds needed by then, the report says. It was produced by Public Consulting Group, a private company located in Boston that has produced similar studies in Washington and other states. The group said to fill this gap, the state would need to invest as much as $170 million per year over the next five years, creating approximately 650 new beds per year, the report said. But building that capacity is only part of the solution. Creating more residential beds would require hiring more staff in a field that typically pays relatively low wages and where administrators are already struggling to hire and retain employees. The report said the state needs to focus on expanding the workforce when considering any capacity expansion. We dont get to choose between adding beds and adding workforce, Ebony Clarke, the health authoritys behavioral health director, said in a statement. We must do both in order to make real change in our behavioral health system. Besides adding beds and staff, the report says the state needs to improve access to mental health and addiction support services to help people stay within their communities. It calls for expanding supportive and traditional housing, such as recovery housing, which gives people a community of like-minded souls who are trying to stay clean and helps them hone their job skills, prepare resumes and land positions while working on their mental health issues. A health authority release said state officials, Gov. Tina Koteks office and lawmakers will use the findings to guide future decisions on closing the behavioral health gap. This report provides us with critical data to inform how we prioritize the creation of more treatment beds, and it also underscores the broader understanding that we need to continue to invest in solutions that reduce the number of beds needed, Clarke said. Kotek directed the Oregon Health Authority to commission the study last year as part of her focus on behavioral health. State investment in behavioral health has lagged for decades, and its only been relatively recently that the Legislature has increased its investment, approving more than $1.5 billion over the last four years to add more beds and raise reimbursement rates so facilities can add and retain staff. But it takes time for investments to have an impact. In the meantime, the fentanyl crisis has exploded across the state, with fatal overdoses spiking to several hundred per year. The Legislature has dialed back Measure 110, a voter-approved law that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs, and it has directed counties to set up new diversion programs by September when drug possession will become a misdemeanor. Lawmakers hope the new system will do more to shepherd people into treatment. The reviewers considered the expected capacity needed through the fall of 2025 and the cost of adding enough beds across different levels of residential care. The study did not consider the states capacity for treating people on an outpatient basis, and Oregon lacks capacity there, too. One of the biggest gaps is for people who need addiction. The report shows the state needs nearly 3,800 beds to treat people with an alcohol or drug addiction by the third quarter of 2025. But by then, it will only have about 1,400 beds, which means it needs to more than double the capacity to treat Oregonians struggling with addiction. The report shows all regions need more beds, but some more than others. The Portland area and north coast has the biggest gap. It needs about 1,750 beds by the fall of 2025 to meet demand, the report says. The mid-Willamette Valley and north central coast need nearly 700, the south Willamette Valley and south central coast need about 500, while southern Oregon and the south coast need nearly 300 beds. Eastern Oregon needs about 150 beds while the Columbia River Gorge, which currently has no residential facilities offering mental health or addiction treatment, could use 50 beds by 2025 to meet demand, the report says. The post Need for more beds to treat severe mental illness, addiction in Oregon greater than thought appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle. Morning Joe on MSNBC was in meltdown Friday with a host of guests declaring President Joe Biden should step down from the race, and a clearly emotional Mika Brzezinskiwho said she had known the president for 50 yearsstruggling to accept what had transpired on the debate stage Joe Scarborough himself hinted that it might be time for Democrats to tell Biden it was over after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump. Invoking the spirit of Barry Goldwater, the Republican who played a pivotal role in persuading Richard Nixon to resign after Watergate, Scarborough said: Where is the Barry Goldwater? To walk over and tell Richard Nixon it was over now the question is, do Democrats need to do the same thing of Joe Biden? Scarborough said: We have to ask the same questions of (Biden) that we have asked of Donald Trump since 2016 and that is, if he were CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 Corporation in America, keep him on as CEO? He said the question was not one of love and respect for Biden but a question of whether he can win the presidency because failure is not an option. "In 2024, failure is not an option... We know Joe Biden can govern But can he run for president in 2024?" @JoeNBC reacts to Biden's debate performance Thursday night https://t.co/bCcWKISFZy pic.twitter.com/BS27Du1TFp Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 28, 2024 Scarborough continued: Donald Trump lied over and over and over and over again, and Joe Biden couldnt respond to any of those lies. In fact, as the New York Times said, he spent much of the night with his mouth agape he missed one layup after another after another. He couldnt respond effectively to Donald Trump trying to overthrow American democracy on Jan. 6, he couldnt respond effectively to Donald Trumps continued stream of lies about his own record, and he couldnt even respond effectively on the issue of abortion, where, for some reason, he darted wildly to the issue of immigration. Scarborough said of Biden, Tragically he did not rise to the occasion last night. Willie Geist joined the conversation, saying: Regular people, people who dont watch cable news every day, people who are not on Twitter, people who dont absorb politics the way we do, they watched last night and said, My God, I dont think hes up to this. Their worst fears were confirmed. Geist mentioned other potential candidates and said, I heard Kamala Harris name a lot last night. I heard Gavin Newsoms name a lot last night, I heard Governor Josh Shapiros name last night. He said the message from party insiders and regular people alike is that, Joe Biden now cannot beat Donald Trump. Brzezinski looked shell-shocked but she said it was too soon to oust the president. Biden had a terrible night. He could not land a thought, not even in the closing statement, which is something thats the easiest part. Write down a few words. Go through, go through the thoughts (but) Im not ready to give up on Joe Biden, not even close, she said. She did conceded, however: It was terrible. It was terrible. Theres no way to spin it. Scarborough responded: If this debate does not lead to serious discussions between Democrats and the president, then what you end up having is sort of this frozen political situation. He said the situation was not a case of democratic bedwetting but a war a political battle for democracy. He said the debate was akin to losing a major battle and said it was reasonable for people in such circumstances to ask, if this general is up to leading the troops the rest of the way. Scarborough said: This is nothing personal. If we believe in what we believe, I would do this to my mother. I would do this to my mother if I believed she was standing in the way of our goals. He added: Im not saying that everything happens today and maybe we wait a week. Im just saying personal feelingsadmiration, love, respect, honor, all the things I talked about in my feelings about Joe Biden, Jill Biden and their family, that Mika and her family have felt about Joe Biden for 50 yearscannot play a role in any of this. This is a battle for the future of American democracy this is the last chance for Democrats to decide whether this man weve known and loved for a very long time is up to the task of running for president the United States. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Agadir in Morocco was among the best-value places to go on holiday (Getty Images) There are still incredible bargain holiday deals to be found this summer in some of the most popular destinations, according to research from Which?. The consumer group searched through thousands of package holidays more than 3,500 in order to find ways that last-minute bookers could save money, finding deals in the Spanish islands of Ibiza and Tenerife as well as locations along the coast of Morocco. Researchers looked at getaways provided by the UKs largest holiday providers, Jet2 and Tui, finding the cheapest options for a seven-night resort break in the first week of August across all package types. The 10 cheapest all-inclusive holiday destinations included Ibiza and family favourites such as Mallorca and Fuerteventura. Traditionally popular low-cost destinations in Turkey and Bulgaria also featured on the list. Topping the table for cheap all-inclusive breaks were the Moroccan west-coast resorts of Agadir, one of Moroccos most popular beach destinations, and Taghazout, a quiet fishing village that doubles up as a surfers paradise. The analysis shows that at 1,041 per head for a week on average, west coast of Morocco is this summers most wallet-friendly option for all-inclusive sunseekers on a budget plus it offers cooler temperatures due to a refreshing Atlantic breeze. In second place is Ibiza, where visitors can combine sunshine with a party atmosphere thanks to the buzzing nightlife. With an average cost per person of 1,046, the third-largest Balearic Island is currently one of the cheapest all-inclusive destinations partly because of the availability of mid-range properties, with options available from as little as 804 per person. Dalaman in Turkey, and Menorca bagged the third and fourth spots on the list, averaging 1,057 and 1,100 per person respectively. Which? also looked at room only, self-catering, B&B and half-board packages. The Turkish resorts of Dalaman and Bodrum top this table, averaging 781 and 800 per person, respectively. Greek island Kalymnos, previously highlighted by Which? as a great value option for late bookers, continues to offer competitive rates. At an average of 840 per head, this island allows holidaymakers to step into a real-life Mamma Mia without breaking the bank. Greek island Kalymnos, previously highlighted by Which? as a great value option for late bookers, continues to offer competitive rates. At an average of 840 per head, this island allows holidaymakers to step into a real-life Mamma Mia without breaking the bank. Other wallet-friendly Greek destinations included Kefalonia (averaging 911 per person), Lefkas (929) and Thessaloniki (937). Further value options included well-known budget destinations in Antalya, Turkey, and the coast around Bourgas in Bulgaria. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: Our analysis shows you can have your pick of amazing destinations this summer without spending a fortune. There is still plenty of availability at some of the most popular European seaside resorts this summer, but as we get closer to departure dates prices will only increase. Book quickly to get the best price. The consumer group previously warned that holidaymakers hoping to save money by booking all-inclusive trips might find themselves splashing out on unexpected extras, with basic items missing from the deals. The research, based on a survey of nearly 2,000 travellers about their experiences of all-inclusive holidays in the last two years, found that the average additional spend was 258 a week for extras inside and outside of resorts. Around 13 per cent of respondents said that they had to pay for soft drinks, while 18 per cent were forced to cover the cost of snacks. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the dissolution of the Azerbaijani Parliament of the sixth convocation and the appointment of an extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports. According to the decree, the Azerbaijani Parliament of the sixth convocation is dissolved. An extraordinary election is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Meanwhile, on June 21, the Parliament of Azerbaijan appealed to the President with a proposal to call early parliamentary elections. The need to reschedule the elections was justified by the fact that in November, when they were originally scheduled, Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and other major international events. On June 24, the President of Azerbaijan requested the Constitutional Court to review whether the dissolution of the parliament complies with the country's Constitution. On Thursday, the Constitutional Court, in a plenary session, confirmed the legality of the President's decision to dissolve the parliament. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov arrives in front of the guesthouse of the Federal Government. Ralf Hirschberger/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa Moscow is anticipating difficult relations with the European Union given the politicians put forward to lead the bloc over the years ahead, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister pencilled in to head the bloc's foreign policy unit, had not to date stood out through her diplomatic skills, Peskov said, according to reports by Russian news agencies. He described Kallas as "well known to [Russia] for her absolutely unacceptable and sometimes extremely Russophobic remarks." Peskov was similarly critical of Ursula von der Leyen, who has been put forward for a second term as European Commission president. "The prospects for the relationship between Moscow and Brussels are poor," Peskov said, adding that a normalization of relations could not be expected. Relations between the two deteriorated following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The EU recently passed its 14th package of sanctions targeting Russia and its leaders. Motorcyclist seriously hurt after crash in Annandale FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Fairfax County police said a motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash Friday afternoon in Annandale. Shortly after noon, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) responded to Little River Turnpike and John Marr Drive for a report of a crash involving a motorcycle and a vehicle. Motorcyclist killed in crash involving truck in Fairfax County The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to FCPD. Detectives were still investigating what happened. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This is the start of a new weekly series bringing readers public safety information from around the Mid-South including updates on prominent court cases and details from inside law enforcement agencies. This column is being offered free for the first few weeks before it becomes available to subscribers only. If you'd like to subscribe now, you can do so by clicking here. As the City of Memphis worked to pass its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Memphis Police Department interim Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis took about a 12% cut to her salary. As the city passed its budget, including Davis' pay cut, one of Memphis' own lieutenant colonels was on the West Coast to speak with Spokane, Washington residents about becoming their next chief of police. With one police officer possibly moving to lead a department in another state, the Bluff City has also attracted the outgoing police chief from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to lead the Memphis International Airport's police force. And, just south of the Tennessee state line, the man believed to have plotted Young Dolph's killing in 2021 was arrested for what the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said was a "preexisting warrant." Memphis police lieutenant colonel named finalist for chief job in Spokane Memphis Police Department Lt. Col. Kathleen Lanier has been named as one of four finalists to be the next chief of police for the Spokane Police Department, in Washington state, The Spokesman-Review reported June 20 and the City of Spokane later confirmed to The Commercial Appeal. Lanier has been with MPD for nearly 35 years, from patrolwoman to her current rank as Lt. Colonel. In 2020, as former Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings was making his way out of MPD's top position, she put her name into consideration to be the next police chief. Lt. Col Kathleen Lanier poses for a portrait at the Memphis Police Department on Friday, October 9, 2020. A public forum was hosted at one of the Spokane public libraries June 27, with all four candidates taking questions from residents. The other three candidates are Tuscon, Arizona Police Assistant Chief Kevin Hall, Yakima, Washington Police Chief Matthew Murray and Dalles, Oregon Police Chief Tom Worthy, according to The Spokesman-Review. Memphis police chief has salary cut as city passes budget Davis had her salary cut Tuesday night as the city passed its $858 million budget, though she will remain the top-paid city employee, alongside Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat. Last year, according to the Daily Memphian, Davis was given a $50,000 raise when raises were given to officers with the police department. That raise placing her salary at $280,862.14 made her one of the highest-paid police chiefs in the country, exceeding her peers in Nashville and St. Louis. She also made more than the New York City police commissioner and Chicago police superintendent. Davis' new salary will be $246,370.46, marking a 12.3% decrease in her pay. Mayor Paul Young and Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn C.J. Davis speak with each other after speaking to city council during the city council meeting after Young asked the council to table indefinitely the reappointment of Davis at city hall on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. The salary cut came in a resolution that altered a number of city leadership salaries and was introduced by Council Chairman JB Smiley, Jr. and Councilman Ford Canale Tuesday night. The city's chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, chief communications officer, chief of staff, parks director and public works director were a few of the positions that saw salary changes. Under the City of Memphis charter, the city council has the ability to "determine the salaries of charter officers, chiefs and directors during the approval of the budget annually." Man believed to have plotted Young Dolph shooting arrested in DeSoto County Hernandez Govan, the man prosecutors say was responsible for planning Young Dolph's fatal shooting in 2021, was arrested in DeSoto County June 23, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department confirmed to The CA. Govan has been out on bail since May 2023 due to declining health, when a judge allowed his bail to be lowered, and was placed under "alternative restriction and supervision" until his trial. He has been reprimanded for violations of his bail conditions, including traveling from his home to go shopping and missing a court date. The Shelby County District Attorney's office said it was made aware of Govan's arrest Monday night, and that it relates to a preexisting warrant. The DA's office said it is "looking into the circumstances of the arrest" and that it plans to make the court aware of the arrest. Hernandez Govan, the third man accused of murdering Young Dolph, stands next to his lawyer, William Massey at his hearing at Shelby County Criminal Justice Center on Nov. 17, 2022 in Memphis, TN. According to the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department, the warrant for Govan's arrest was issued in 2019. The "media summary report," given to The CA by DCSD, listed the offense as "stalking, repeatedly following, harassing or making threats" to someone in Olive Branch. That warrant was served when Govan was arrested by the Southaven Police Department Sunday, said Tish Clark, a public information officer with the sheriff's department. WREG News Channel 3 reported Monday night that Govan was also charged with driving with a suspended license and having an improperly mounted license tag. He was given a $2,250 bond, which he posted, according to the WREG report. Memphis International Airport hires new chief of police The Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority Tuesday announced it was bringing on James "Wes" Blair to be its next police chief. He will replace Jerry Brandon, who the airport authority said is retiring in the fall. Blair comes to Memphis after a law enforcement career spanning 30 years, and that took him across the country. His career, the airport authority said in a press release, began in California as a U.S. border patrol agent and he spent the last 11 years in Cape Girardeau as chief of police. James "Wes" Blair was named the new police chief for the Memphis International Airport Tuesday. He most recently served as the chief of police for the Cape Girardeau, Missouri Police Department. "Wes Blair comes to Memphis International Airport with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement. His education, tenure of service, and commitment to public safety speaks for itself. I am confident that he will be a great asset to us and serve in a vital role as we continue to prioritize safety," said Terry Blue, Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority president and CEO, in the press release. "We are also very grateful to Chief Jerry Brandon, who has served the Airport Authority, and his country prior to that, with honor and distinction." Blair will begin his new role with the airport Aug. 12, overseeing about 3,900 acres of land that includes not just the airport terminals, but also businesses, roads, runways and other facilities in the area. "As the new police chief at Memphis International Airport, I am excited to join a dynamic team dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of travelers and staff," Blair said in the release. "I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to uphold the highest standard of law enforcement, collaborating with airport stakeholders to implement innovative strategies, and fostering a culture of professionalism within the organization. Together, we will continue to safeguard the airport community and uphold public trust in our services." Top Commercial Appeal courts, public safety stories readers have viewed Memphis Police Department interim Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis announced 12 arrests Tuesday morning inside MPD's downtown headquarters. Multiple firearms and different drugs were also confiscated. The latest in Memphis' biggest cases None of the major cases that have attracted the attention of Memphians were in state court over the last week, though three are making their way toward trial. Eduard Rodriguez Tabora, one of the men accused of killing the Rev. Autura Eason Williams in June 2022, is set to go on trial on Sep. 30. Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith, the two men accused of carrying out Young Dolph's fatal shooting, are set for trial on Sep. 23. Cleotha Abston's murder trial, in which he is accused of abducting and killing Memphis teacher and runner Eliza Fletcher, is set for trial on Feb. 10. A flurry of new filings, containing arguments over the former Memphis police officers' efforts to dismiss the indictment against them, have been filed in the Tyre Nichols federal criminal case. The filings come as the case nears its Aug. 5 pretrial conference, with trial set to begin just over a month later. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant's legal fight with a teenager, who sued him after Morant and his long-time friend Davonte Pack punched the teen, is continuing after a new attorney was retained by the teen. Two dates are currently scheduled in that case. A status conference is set for Aug. 23 and a pretrial conference is set for Oct. 3. A court date to argue whether over 70 Memphis police officers will be allowed to join in a lawsuit between the police union and MPD pushed back. The city, which represents the department in legal proceedings, responded to the officers' motion to join the lawsuit and argued that they should not be allowed to join the lawsuit. Have a question for us? Do you have a burning public safety question you want answered? Send an email to metro@commercialappeal.com, or lucas.finton@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis cop a finalist for Spokane police chief, Hernandez Govan arrested The News MSNBCs Joe Scarborough an ardent supporter of US President Joe Biden questioned whether the Democrat would survive a second showdown against Donald Trump in November, becoming one of the most prominent voices to air concerns about Bidens candidacy. Hes also a commentator that Biden is known to hold in uniquely high regard himself, making him one of the most important bellwethers to watch. Former US President Donald Trump will be the president of the country unless things change, Scarborough said following the televised presidential campaign debate that has plunged Democrats into crisis mode. Know More The host criticized Bidens difficulty staying on track during Thursday nights debate and his inability to effectively counter Trumps remarks. Donald Trump lied over and over and over and over again. And Joe Biden couldnt respond to any of those lies, Scarborough said. He couldnt fact check anything Donald Trump said. Not only that, he missed one lay-up after another after another. Scarborough, who opened his remarks Friday morning by reiterating that he felt Biden was a hugely effective president, added that the Democrats needed to go to war against a second Trump term. Of the debate, he added: This is like losing a major battle. Is it panic after a war where a major battle is lost to say we dont know if this general is up to leading the troops the rest of the way? Scarborough is the latest figure amongst the liberal media to question Bidens ability to steer the Democrats towards a win in November. On Thursday, prominent columnists and pundits said they hoped Biden would step aside and make room for a new nominee to be selected at the August Democratic National Convention. Bidens advanced age and ability to win against Trump has been an oft-discussed issue for months. How much do Modestans spend on monthly bills? New report details costs for city and county Modesto residents can expect to spend up to 10% more than the national average on the 10 most common household bills, including mortgage/rent, auto loans and utilities. A recent report published by online bill payment application Doxo found that Modesto residents spend an average of $2,336 per month compared to the national average of $2,126 per month. Though higher than the national average, Modesto remains more affordable than other cities in California coming in at 381 out of 456 cities. The most expensive city was Porter Ranch located in southern Californias San Fernando Valley with expenses averaging $4,878 per month. The least expensive was the northern California city of Clearlake with monthly expenses costing an average of $1,827. Doxo looked at the 10 most common household bills to make this determination. In Modesto, the average costs are: Mortgage- $1,751 Rent- $1,473 Auto loan- $594 Utilities- $273 Health insurance- $92 Auto insurance- $142 Cable/Internet- $140 Cellular service- $135 Alarm Security- $64 Life insurance- $55 According to this data, Modesto residents spend 39% of their household income on bills, the majority of that being mortgage or rent. A recent Modesto Bee story highlighted the rising cost of rentals in the region. While rental prices may be higher than other cities, the monthly expenses are still 22% lower than the state average of $3,010. When compared to the average across California counties, Stanislaus is the 32nd most expensive county out of 55 analyzed with an average of $2,323 per month. Other cities in the county included monthly expense averages of $2,126 for Ceres, $2,252 for Oakdale, $2,271 for Turlock, $2,530 for Patterson and $2,575 for Riverbank. Murder of pilot who cooperated with Ukraine was financed by Russian civil servants in Vienna WSJ The murder of Russian pilot Maxim Kuzmin, who stole a Mi-8 helicopter for Ukraine, was financed by Russian civil personnel in Vienna, writes The Wall Street Journal citing sources in Western intelligence agencies. Source: The Wall Street Journal, as reported by European Pravda Details: More than 10 officials from Austria, other European nations, and the United States told journalists that Vienna has become a "base" for Russia's financial and logistical support for such clandestine operations as murder, sabotage, and recruitment across Europe. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of Russian diplomats operating in Austria has risen from approximately 400 to more than 500 in the last two years. Approximately half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half serve as de facto spies. Last year, the Russian diplomatic mission in Munich relocated to Austria after the Russian consulate was closed. It is reported that several of the officials were, in fact, spies. Russian diplomatic staff in Vienna operate in approximately 40 properties, with a variety of observation devices installed on their roofs. Intelligence agencies fear that Russian spies in Austria are also monitoring the logistics of Western military support for Ukraine. Moreover, Russian officials in Vienna allegedly paid money to the assassins of a Russian pilot who cooperated with Ukraine and stole a Mi-8 helicopter in exchange for a hefty prize before being discovered dead in Spain. According to Austrian special services, Russia transports enormous sums of cash to Austria via land, and subsequently Russian "diplomats" in Austria deliver this money throughout Europe, often in their personal things, which the police cannot inspect. "We are now becoming a liability for our neighbours because Russia is using us as an operational base," a senior Austrian intelligence official said. Politicians are well aware of the problem. Opposition MP Stephanie Krisper from the relevant committee stated that the Austrian government should halt its "extremely dangerous inaction" concerning the work of Russian spies, as it hinders efforts to reduce Russian influence in Europe. At the same time, the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs states that the country is one of the safest since its security institutions are highly effective. According to a ministry spokeswoman, the intelligence service was aware of the threat posed by Russian agents and influence activities and responded within legal limitations. In truth, espionage in Austria is legal unless it is directed against the country itself. A spokeswoman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry stated that Vienna will back the expulsion of the diplomats who violated the law if there is adequate evidence. Egisto Ott, an Austrian intelligence officer detained in March on accusations of espionage, was released this week after six months in custody. Three Armenian, Ukrainian, and Russian citizens were detained in Germany last week on suspicion of spying for a foreign intelligence service. Support UP or become our patron! For murder of wife in their St. Paul bedroom, as daughter slept down hall, man gets 21-year sentence Caitlin Kelley Aldridge knew the mental turmoil her husband was going through and tried to get him help, while also making plans to keep herself and their 13-year-old daughter safe. But Johnny Ray Aldridge took that from her when he killed her in their St. Paul home as their daughter slept down the hallway, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Nicole Harris said Friday at his sentencing for second-degree intentional murder. Ramsey County Judge Elena Ostby sentenced Aldridge to a term of more than 21 years, over Aldridges attorneys argument that he should receive a lesser sentence because he was mentally ill when he killed his 41-year-old wife. Johnny Aldridge, 49, was a victim of random violence about three months before the homicide, which caused his mental health to devolve into paranoid delusions, said Katie Conners, managing attorney of the Ramsey County public defenders office. There was no history of domestic violence between him and Caitlin, Conners said. The impact of this crime is beyond words and beyond comprehension, said Caitlins mother, Krista Kelley Walsh, in a victim impact statement read in court by Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Ryan Flynn. I will now say loss more times than I can bear, and I will stop well before I have exhausted them, the statement said. The Aldridges daughter has suffered the loss of both her parents; loss of her home; loss of financial support. Then, there are the deep essential losses. Loss of feeling safe; loss of trust in most people; loss of stability; loss of joy. Apology in court Caitlin Aldridges sister, Shaun Walsh, said she was initially sad, but now, to say that Im mad is an understatement, according to a victim impact statement read in court by Harris. She said shes enraged that our mental health system doesnt work, that Johnny Aldridge killed her sister, how long it took to transfer custody of the Aldridges daughter to her, and that the court expectation is that I explain to you who my sister was and why she did not deserve to be murdered in her own bedroom by someone who said they loved her. Caitlin Aldridge, who was known as Casey, was generous to a fault, Shaun Walsh said. She spent endless hours listening to (her daughters) stories, singing and watching her dance. Her daughter deserved to get to grow up with Casey as her mom, Walshs statement said. Speaking before Ostby sentenced him, Johnny Aldridge said he wanted to tell everyone but especially his daughter, and Caitlins mother and sister how sorry I am for the pain that I caused. He said hes learned about his mental illness, but I did not understand at the time how sick I was. I did not understand what was happening to me. Because of my confusion, I have ruined my life, my daughters life, my wifes life. Im sorry that I took my daughters mom away from her. He said he loved his wife and still does. After drive-by shooting, he became delusional What happened before the homicide led Johnny Aldridge to spiral into paranoid delusions that twisted his love for his daughter into an unrecognizable thing and that was directed at his wife, but the effect would not be known until months later, Conners said. In June 2021, Johnny Aldridge and a friend reported they were sitting in Aldridges garage when they saw someone shooting from the window of a passing vehicle, according to a police report. Aldridge was treated for a gunshot wound to his finger. It appeared that a neighbors house was possibly the target, police said in 2021. He was diagnosed with PTSD and began having delusions to the point where he was believing things about his wife that were patently untrue, Conners said after court. He went to the hospital twice in August 2021, but he was discharged, according to Conners. Throughout interviews with police after Johnny Aldridge turned himself in for killing Caitlin Aldridge, he appeared to be obsessed with claims that people were trying to harm their daughter, according to police. He believed his wife was somehow involved. On Sept. 28, 2021, Aldridge went to the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center at about 3 a.m. and called 911, saying that he had killed his wife at their home in the 30 block of Winnipeg Avenue on St. Pauls North End, according to a criminal complaint. Officers took him into custody and found Caitlin, Aldridges wife of 11 years, dead in their home. The homicide wasnt a situation of a man with a history of abuse killing his wife, Conners said. This is a case of a loving husband and father who suffered a psychotic break that had tragic consequences, she said. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his arrest. In a separate court proceeding after he was charged, Aldridge was civilly committed as mentally ill and dangerous. He was found to be competent to stand trial in March 2023. Aldridge has been receiving treatment at Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center, the states largest psychiatric hospital. Conners asked that Ostby send him to the Forensic Mental Health Program, formerly called the Minnesota Security Hospital, to complete his treatment in the secure facility before he serve a prison sentence of 12 years. Aldridge pleaded guilty to murder in April. Judge agrees to longer sentence The prosecution asked for a sentence of 21 years and 9 months, which is what Ostby agreed to. Sadly, the fact that were here is a testament to the deficiencies in our mental health system, and thats not unique to Minnesota, Ostby said. In arguing for a lesser sentence, a defense attorney has to explain why an offense is less serious than a typical offense and Harris said that wasnt the case. Caitlin Aldridge was found face down in a pool of her blood with her cell phone in her hand, Harris said, and the imprint of the guns muzzle could be seen in the back of her head. Her young daughter was asleep down the hall while this all took place and was left there to possibly find her mother before the police responded to the home, Harris added. While two examiners identified Aldridge as having mental illness, one pointed out that he caused his symptoms to be heightened due to his use of alcohol and drugs, Harris said. The morning of the murder, Johnny Aldridge texted Caitlin saying, This isnt love, Harris said. Caitlin Aldridge had plans and notes on her cellphone about how custody, selling the home and dividing their assets might work. In Shaun Walshs statement read Friday, she said shes angry at the implication that a mental health crisis could explain shooting someone you love in the head. There are a million other responses Johnny could have had to the state of delusion he had about Caitlin as it related to their daughter. Caitlin Aldridge spent most of her career as a leader on the youth programs team at the YWCA of Minneapolis. She developed programs focused on leadership, anti-racism and wellness. She worked primarily in programs that supported the empowerment of girls and left lasting impacts in our communities, her sister said. Domestic violence help Help is available 24/7 through the Minnesota Day One crisis hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995. Related Articles MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerces president and CEO, Karen Riordan, is resigning. A news release posted by the Chamber on Friday says Riordan decided to step down to pursue new opportunities and to spend more time with her family. Riordan has been with the Chamber since 2018. The Chamber says shes been instrumental in the local business environment, including economic growth and promoting Myrtle Beach as a premier destination for tourism. In a statement, Riordan wrote, It has been a great honor to serve as President and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber and Convention & Visitor Bureau. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the support of our members, staff, board and community. While I look forward to new challenges ahead, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber and CVB will always hold a special place in my heart. John Rutenberg, the chairman of the Chamber board of directors, wrote, Karens vision for our chamber, CVB and community have been transformative for the Grand Strands business community by continuing to foster the area as a thriving destination. We are thankful for her service, and we wish her the very best in any of her future endeavors. Her resignation takes effect immediately. The Chamber will soon begin its search for a new president and CEO. The Chamber says interim leadership plans will be announced in the coming days. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Update: Myrtle Beach police officer arrested by SC agency, placed on leave. What we know A Myrtle Beach Police officer was placed on leave after being arrested by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Christopher Michael Turner, 32, was charged with second-degree domestic violence and was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Thursday. Myrtle Beach Police posted on its Facebook page Friday morning that the department is aware of the arrest of Turner, who has been an employee with the department since 2014. The post said that Turner is currently on leave without pay pending the outcome of the case. According to a news release, Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock asked SLED to investigate the off-duty domestic violence incident. Turner is accused of causing physical injury to the victim by kicking, striking and pushing the victim to the ground on Aug. 13, 2022, an arrest warrant said. Turner held the victim down on the floor of their residence with his arm and his hand on her neck in a manner that would restrict breathing, the warrant said. The victim had bruising, the warrant said. Turner was promoted to a corporal in 2022. In 2019, Turner was part of the K-9 division, becoming a handler for Bek, according to an article by The Sun News. Myrtle Beach police officer on leave after arrest by SLED for domestic violence MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A Myrtle Beach police officer was arrested Thursday by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for second-degree domestic violence, online booking records show. The Myrtle Beach Police Department said they are aware of Christopher Turners arrest. Turner, 32, was released from the J. Rueben Long Detention Center Friday at 11:29 a.m. under a $10,000 bond, according to online booking records. Myrtle Beach Police Department Chief Amy Prock requested SLED to investigate the domestic violence incident that occurred off-duty. Turner has been with the Myrtle Beach Police Department since 2014 and is currently on leave without pay pending the outcome of the case, the department said in a Facebook post. According to arrest warrants, on August 13, 2022, Turner caused physical harm and injury to a victim. The warrant alleges Turner kicked, struck, and pushed the victim to the ground and held the victim down on the floor in their home with his arm and hands on their neck in a manner which would reasonably restrict the victims breathing and air flow thereby creating a reasonable fear of imminent peril, the warrant states. The victim also sustained bruising as a result of the assault. Turners charges were based upon the victims statements and a home surveillance video recording, the warrant states. According to records with the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, Turner has been with the Myrtle Beach Police Department since March 2014 and has no past issues in his records/ Turner went through criminal domestic violence training in Oct. 2023, Nov. 2022, Nov.-Dec. 2021, Nov. 2020, Sept. 2019, Oct.-Nov. 2018, Aug. 2017, July-Aug. 2016, Nov. 2015 and Jan. 2015. Turners case will be prosecuted by the 15th Circuit Solicitors Office. Count on News13 for updates. * * * Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. Construction of the fourth residential quarter in Fuzuli will start in September this year, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, Emin Huseynov, said during the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Revive Karabakh Together" in Shusha today, Trend reports. "To date, 822 families with a total of 3,132 people have returned to the most populated of the liberated districts of the country, Fuzuli district. Out of them, 450 pupils are already studying at school," he said. He also added that work on the construction of the central park in Fuzuli town is actively underway. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In recent years, people around the world have been shocked to find massive metal monoliths appear in their communities, whether it be in the middle of cities or out in the wilderness. Earlier this month, the latest giant structure was spotted in the desert outside Las Vegas. Now, it's seemingly found a new home just a few states over. A new metal monolith was just spotted in the northern Colorado town of Bellvue on private property belonging to the Howling Cow Cafe and Morning Fresh Dairy Farm. It first started going viral on June 23 when photos began circulating on Reddit, per USA Today. Customers soon started showing up and inquiring about the seemingly extraterrestrial object. "A woman and her husband came in and she was very excited," Howling Cow Cafe manager Brooke Williams told The Coloradoan. "She was like, 'Where is the alien structure?' I looked at her, like, 'What are you talking about?'" Williams then realized she had seen it on her walk earlier that day. "At first, I told her I didnt know where it was, then it clicked in my head thats what I saw that morning," she said. It's unclear just how the monolith got there, similar to its appearance in the Nevada desert as well as dozens of cameos around the world since it first made its debut in Utah in 2020. "Beam me up, Scotty," an Instagram post showing the structure said. "'What might this be?' is the question of the week here at the cafe as many come in to ask about this mysterious structure. A monolith, sculpture, local artist, or aliens We dont know?! Stop by if you dare. There are strange things happening!" NC man who threw object like a spear at police in Jan. 6 riot sentenced to prison A 61-year-old North Carolina man will spend nearly five years in prison for throwing a flagpole-type object as if a javelin or spear at U.S. Capitol Police on Jan. 6 and committing other felonies, U.S. prosecutors said Thursday. .Rutherford County resident Anthony Mastanduno joined other rioters in breaching the Capitol and disrupting a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a news release by the U.S. Department of Justice. Congress convened the session to count electoral votes, certifying Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over Donald Trump. Joined front line of rioters, records show According to court documents, Mastanduno entered the Capitol building minutes after rioters first breached the building that afternoon. He made it to the front of a line of rioters who overwhelmed officers in the Capitol Crypt area, court records show. He left the building and headed to the lower west terrace, where police formed a defensive line at an archway that leads to a Capitol entrance known as the tunnel. Some of the most violent attacks against police occurred at the tunnel, prosecutors said. Rioters at the Tunnel battled police officers for hours as they attempted to storm the Capitol building, according to the District of Columbia U.S. Attorneys Office release.. Pushed at police with stolen shield At 4:30 p.m., Mastanduno joined other rioters in coordinated attacks against police at the tunnel, prosecutors said. He picked up the blue, flagpole-like object and threw it into the mouth of the tunnel at the police line, according to court documents. He used a shield stolen from officers to push against the police line while also deploying a telescoping baton to repeatedly strike at officers hands and arms. He left the tunnel about 4:45 p.m. after he was sprayed with a chemical irritant. Pleads guilty to felonies The FBI arrested Mastanduno in North Carolina on Aug. 23, 2023. In March, he pleaded guilty to a nine-count indictment, including six felony charges, the Observer reported at the time. The felonies were: Civil disorder. Entering and remaining in a restricted area with a deadly and dangerous weapon. Becoming involved in physical violence in a restricted area or groups with a deadly and dangerous weapon. Two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a deadly and dangerous weapon. Mastanduno also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan sentenced Mastanduno to 4 years and nine months in prison, one of the longest sentences given to a North Carolina resident convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 violence. N.J. Daycare Worker Accused of Drowning Her 2 Kids Allegedly Said She Did It for 'Religious Purposes' Naomi Elkins said that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time, per the charging documents Ocean County Corrections Naomi Elkins in June 2024 mugshot. The New Jersey woman allegedly began to have concerning thoughts, after her husband went out of state for a business trip last month, according to charging documents in a newly-filed double homicide case. That Thursday, May 24 day, Naomi Elkins, 27 the mother of two small children returned with her girls from the Lakewood, N.J., daycare where she worked, and, troubled by her thoughts, allegedly spent the night praying, per the charging documents obtained by News 12 and reviewed by PEOPLE. According to prosecutors, those disturbing thoughts returned Tuesday, June 25, when, coming home from Giggle Daycare with her daughters who were 1 and 3 years old and whose names have been redacted from the charging documents Elkins allegedly believed that she needed to kill the children for religious purposes. Related: N.J. Mom Accused of Drowning Her Young Children, 1 and 3, and Stabbing One Victim: Prosecutor Elkins allegedly later told authorities, per the charging documents, that she stabbed one of her daughters, then, placing that girl on the couch, ran a bath and put her in the tub and [held] her underwater for what she estimated to be two to three minutes. Her other daughter ran into another bathroom and was screaming because she was scared, per Elkinss alleged account summarized in the charging documents. Following her daughter into the bathroom, Elkins allegedly ran another bath and then forced her under the water for several minutes. Authorities allege in the charging documents that Elkins told them she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time. 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. Afterward, the New Jersey mother allegedly realized that she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Services first in Brooklyn, N.Y. and then closer by in Lakewood, N.J. Her two daughters were pronounced dead each of a pediatric cardiac arrest within six minutes of each other that June evening. One of the girls had a deep laceration through the center of her stomach, with a superficial stab wound on her back, per the charging documents. While being questioned by investigators, Elkins allegedly said, per the charging documents that what she did was wrong, and at the suggestion of a detective, allegedly wrote a letter to her daughters in which she references killing them. Elkins, who has since been booked into Ocean County Jail, is charged with two counts of murder, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Elkins who has not yet entered a plea in the case is slated for a detention hearing Monday, July 1 at 9 a.m. in Ocean County Superior Court, the clerk's office confirms to PEOPLE. The sad truth is, Naomi Elkins has a well-documented history of severe mental illness which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events, her defense lawyer, Mitchell J. Ansell, said in an emailed statement, adding that the Elkins family was deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred involving Naomi Elkins and her two young children. Noting the "seriousness of the charges," he said we also believe that it's important to recognize the incredible complexities presented by mental health challenges. At this time, we kindly ask for the public's prayers and support for all those that have been affected by this tragedy, he continued. We are committed to pursuing the most just and fair outcome through the legal system taking into account all of the circumstances involved. Neighbors many belonging to New Jerseys Orthodox Jewish community told ABC7 that the couple and their two daughters had moved into the two-family home a few months earlier. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Two NASA aircraft, including the P-3 shown here, will be flying over Baltimore, Philadelphia, Virginia and California between June 17 and July 2, to collect data on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. | Credit: NASA/Zavaleta We've reached a point when scientists can easily gauge levels of greenhouse gases or other air pollutants just by measuring their concentrations in the atmosphere. However, with these measurements alone, it is not necessarily obvious where the pollution actually comes from. How could we tell which specific neighborhoods in a city, for example, spawn the most carbon dioxide? That's important information because only then can scientists start figuring out how to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, especially as Earth continues to warm due to human-driven climate change. This summer, NASA plans to offer a solution: Flying greenhouse-gas-detecting planes. For the past week and a half, NASA researchers and student interns have flown a pair of aircraft across the central-east U.S., guiding them low over airports, industrial sites and city centers to make a detailed air pollution map. By this weekend, the researchers will move the same aircraft to California and start taking the same measurements there. Related: Human-caused global warming at all-time high, new report concludes "The goal is that this data we collect will feed into policy decisions that affect air quality and climate in the region," Glenn Wolfe, a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and principal investigator for the campaign, said in a statement . Wolfe and fellow researchers used a pair of turboprop aircraft, one B200 and one P-3 Orion. On board are instruments that take air samples and measure greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, and other air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and ozone. From June 17 to 26, the two planes' crews took the instruments for spins over Philadelphia, Baltimore and several cities in Virginia. They circled over power plants, landfills and urban areas at altitudes of 1,000 feet to 10,000 feet (305 meters to 3,048 meters), which is lower than the altitude of most commercial flights. They also conducted mock landings at airports, approaching runways, then intentionally missing these targets. Related Stories: Should we seal DNA samples of Earth's endangered species in a moon crater? Beavers are helping fight climate change, satellite data shows Why we're one step closer to understanding how Earth got its oceans (op-ed) NASA aims to corroborate the plane-sourced data with measurements from higher up specifically from TEMPO , an instrument mounted on the Intelsat 40e communications satellite in geostationary orbit, 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above ground. TEMPO conducts hourly measurements of air pollutants across North America. The plane flights can augment TEMPO's readings with additional data about pollutants at different altitudes close to Earth's surface. The East Coast leg of the project is finished, but the planes will soon embark on the second phase of their summer flights. NASA has already begun moving the planes to Southern California, where from June 29 to July 2 teams will measure air pollution over Los Angeles, the Tulare Basin to the north and the Imperial Valley to the southeast. The two NASA astronauts who flew Boeing's Starliner to the International Space Station on its first crewed test flight more than three weeks ago still don't have a return-to-Earth date, but NASA and Boeing officials repeated with some aggravation that the crew is neither stuck in space nor in any danger. The delay in the return of Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, officials said at a Friday news conference, gives NASA and Boeing teams an opportunity to better understand the issues that arose with Starliner, both a helium leak that initially delayed launch and thruster problems on the service module. A thruster test is planned at NASA's White Sands Test Facility that Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate, said could take a couple weeks. The analysis of that data will help officials decide what's next. "Butch and Suni are not stranded in space," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "Our plan is to continue to return them on Starliner and return them home on the right time ... We have a little more work to do to get them there." Next launch Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule in Florida Starliner launched from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket on June 6 and arrived at the space station for what initially was planned as an eight-day flight. Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing's Commercial Crew Program, said it was frustrating to see headlines that talked about the crew being stuck as well as criticism of Starliner's safety. NASA officials noted that on Wednesday, the space station faced an unexpected orbital debris issue from the breakup of a decommissioned satellite. Wilmore and Williams were prepared to use the Starliner as a space "lifeboat" if needed (it was not needed, ultimately) and NASA was comfortable with that. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore speak to NASA officials during a live streamed event on Monday, June 10. "We understand these issues for a safe return," Nappi said. "What we dont understand enough yet is (how) to fix them permanently." "It would be irresponsible for us if we have time and we want to do more, not to do it," Nappi added. NASA's Bowersox was a little more cautious, saying while they'd feel confident returning a crew on Starliner in the case of a space station emergency, for a normal, non-emergency return, they'd like more data first. The helium leak was discovered after the first launch scrub in May, and it expanded after launch. No helium is leaking now while the Starliner is docked to the station, and Stich said they continue to "verify helium margins and double check those." "Nothing has changed with the leak rates, we need about seven hours of helium to undock and get to deorbit burn," he said. "We have 10 times that margin." The problematic thrusters were put through a test on the station and performed well, and now the White Sands test will help gather additional data. Nappi said teams lay out what they call a "fault tree" and it includes dozens of boxes of potential causes that they work to eliminate in the hunt for the root cause. When that's found, they'll attempt to solve it. As the crew's stay on the orbiting outpost lengthens, NASA teams said the astronauts' families were being kept informed, and both astronauts were able to make daily phone calls home. NASA originally awarded Boeing the contract to fly astronauts in 2014, alongside SpaceX. Boeing received $4.8 billion for Starliner while SpaceX received $3.1 billion for Dragon. Both companies were part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which replaced the space shuttle after its retirement in 2011. Both were late to deliver, hoping to launch as soon as 2017 and restore NASA astronauts access to space from American soil (NASA astronauts were hitching rides aboard the Russian Soyuz). Following a successful crewed demo flight in 2020, SpaceX has since flown eight NASA crews and multiple private crews to the ISS. Boeing's Starliner had faced repeated delays even getting to its first crewed flight this month. Asked if there was any chance that Williams and Wilmore would not be able to return on the Starliner, NASA officials said the plan was to return on Starliner but noted that they have the luxury of other spacecraft on the station if needed. Right now, the station has a SpaceX Dragon and a Russian Soyuz docked to it. "Right now, we are focused on returning Butch and Suni on Starliner," Stich said. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Starliner astronauts "not stranded in space," new spacecraft tests planned Mayor Freddie O'Connell and investment partners on Friday launched a $75 million fund combining public and private resources to address the affordable housing crisis in Nashville by offering fast and flexible loans to affordable housing developers. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and First Horizon Bank are the city's primary founding partners in the initiative. Leaders from those organization joined the mayor to officially launch the Nashville Catalyst Fund. "We knew it was very important," O'Connell said Friday. "This was one of the key recommendations from the affordable housing task force report many years ago. ... I expect this year we will see the first project come out of this." Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell joined by representatives of First Horizon Bank and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Friday June 28, 2024 to announce the launch of the Nashville Catalyst Fund aimed at providing flexible loans to affordable housing developers. The fund has already received several inquiries from developers pursuing affordable housing projects, and fund partners said 3,000 units could be created with help from the fund over the next decade. Of the initial $75 million fund, $20 million came from the Metro Nashville government, $50 million came from a credit facility led by First Horizon and $5 million came from Vanderbilt University. The Community Foundation is leading an additional fundraising effort to add $25 million to the program. The city's investment came from American Rescue Plan Act funds. The fund will work by providing flexible loans to developers looking to build or preserve workforce or attainable housing in Nashville. These will include property acquisition loans, pre-development loans and bridge financing. Projects will likely also combine federal tax credits, payment in lieu of taxes or other incentive programs in addition to the loans from the Catalyst Fund. The fund will be managed by Forsyth Street Asset Management in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Pillars Development and Nelson Community Partners. An investment committee, led by former AllianceBernstein executive and mayoral candidate Jim Gingrich, will serve as the governing body for the lending decisions of the fund. "This represents an all-in, all hands on deck moment for these three sectors of our city in a new way that has never happened before," said Hal Cato, CEO of the Community Foundation. "For that reason, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is really proud to take this important step in partnering with Metro Nashville and our friends at First Horizon to create this new resource to help move this community forward in a new way." Learn more about the Catalyst Fund at www.nashvillecatalyst.org. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville affordable housing developers get $75M boost from new fund Just over a year ago, guest columnist, Kathleen Williams, founder of the TennGreen Land Conservancy, challenged our mayoral candidates to champion the environment through the implementation of conservation measures already put forth in several Metro plans. Little did we know that the woodlands draping the hills that embrace much of our city form the largest continuous forest found in any major city of 500,000 on the globe. With most of the forest located on privately owned parcels, it is important to elevate the awareness of the rich biodiversity of wildlife, clean waters, and the air-filtering trees that are entrusted to those of us living here today. Research shows that simply placing a name on such woodlands in cities can help create the stewardship needed to protect them. Awareness itself can help stem the fragmentation and destruction of habitat and corridors, often taken for granted until they become degraded and beyond repair. Nashville has a grand temperate zone rainforest, an increasingly invaluable asset as the city grows. A special new logo has been created by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Logo for Nashville's Highland Rim Forest It's pivotal to integrate woodlands into city and state conservation plans To celebrate Nashvilles Largest Urban Forest status, promotional materials for visitors will feature the public amenities available in several parks that lie within Nashvilles Highland Rim Forest. Showcased under the new logo being introduced here, Metros Beaman, Bells Bend and Warner Parks, as well as Radnor Lake State Park, are all nestled within Nashvilles Highland Rim Forest. Beaman Park snow and ridgeline snow In concert with our wonderful parks and greenways, we hope Nashvilles Highland Rim Forest will evoke the preeminence of Music Citys green setting. Conserving Nashvilles Highland Rim Forest is integral to the citys other sustainability measures. Urban tree replanting and improved transit can both help mitigate the environmental costs of growth. Measures to grow household density in districts designed to meet it allow us to preserve lower density in woodland, farmland, and on steep slopes. We must look at sister cities and neighboring counties for their protections regarding clearcutting and slopes to determine what can be done in Nashville. All sustainability efforts work best in tandem and in concert. A most effective, immediate, and low-cost climate resiliency measure is the simple act of protecting maturing, natural forest ecosystems as the accumulated soils and vegetation mass act as a giant carbon sink. Nashvilles forest connects to the greater western Highland Rim Forest, identified by the state as a Conservation Opportunity Area. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency protects key habitats identified as Conservation Opportunity Areas as part of its State Wildlife Action Plan. The Western Highland Rim Forest is one such priority area. It includes the Davidson County woodlands we speak of today and spans roughly a dozen counties to the west and south of Nashville. Because of development pressures, the Nashville Highland Rim Forest portion of this Conservation Opportunity Area is especially vulnerable. A number of creative alternatives need exploring to keep this exceptional urban habitat intact. Lets keep this going. A small core team collected around Kathleen Williamss ability to see the forest for the trees. We operate under the Alliance to Conserve Nashvilles Highland Rim Forest." As we have learned more about the importance of integrating these woodlands into our city and state conservation plans, more than thirty-five local and international, environmentally focused organizations have signed on as partners. More: How one Middle Tennessee mom, daughter are working to protect family land for generations Explore stewardship opportunities with land owners Preserving intact forests offers one of the planets greatest buffers to climate instability. Beyond this global service, retaining a forest of this scale in the midst of a city buys local Nashvillians future opportunities we cant fully imagine today. Now is the time to explore stewardship options with current landowners in dialogue with conservation groups and visionary planners. A combination of natural characteristics and land use patterns have presented Nashville with a chance to do something special that most any city would envy. Nashvilles latest Urban Tree Canopy assessment indicates a 674-acre decline in Metros tree canopy between 2016 and 2021. We need your help to deter further fragmenting of these woodlands and hillsides. Please visit the Alliances website listed below and add your email to join our growing number of supporters. Nashville is at a pivotal point. We hope you will be a part of our effort to take active steps toward passing along a healthy environment where nature is integrated into equitable, diverse, and biocentric neighborhoods for the generations that follow. The Alliance is organized under the Southern Conservation Partners, a 501c3 that elevates nature through exceptional stewardship across 13 states. Visit nashvillehighlandrimforest.org. Judson Newbern Judson Newbern holds a master degree in landscape architecture from Harvard University and volunteers with nonprofits having served as deputy vice chancellor of Facilities & Environmental Affairs at Vanderbilt University for over 30 years. Email him at judson.newbern@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Highland Rim Forest must be preserved and protected Nashville Superspeedway drew 260K fans in 2023. How the Ally 400, NASCAR impact Wilson Co. The Ally 400 and NASCAR race weekend, now considered a June staple at the revitalized Nashville Superspeedway, is providing two impacts to Wilson County. Race weekend is coming up and the venue is quickly garnering national attention from eager race fans. Here's how the weekend and the rest of the year are shaping up: Ally 400 weekend About 105,000 people were on the Nashville Superspeedway property last year for the Ally 400 weekend, the venue's Director of Communications Alan George said. This years races start with the Rackley Roofing 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at 7 p.m., Friday and go through the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Sunday, June 20, 2021. The Shoneys in Lebanon is a business that experiences a boost with an estimated 500 more customers than a typical weekend, General Manager Patrick Lissner said, noting that it's a roughly 10% increase. Utilizing that track for what its made for is really good for the area, Lissner said. You see (customers) Friday all the way to Monday morning. The Nashville Superspeedway was built 2001 by Dover Motorsports Inc., and held NASCAR and Indy Racing League sanctioned events, but largely closed as a race track in 2011 because it was unable to attract a NASCAR Cup series race. The track, built on about 1,250 acres in Wilson County and about 150 acres in Rutherford County off Interstate 840, reopened as a track with the NASCAR Series Ally 400 in 2021. Additional hotel room supply in the Greater Nashville area and consumers who are increasingly cautious with discretionary income in the present economy have impacted the lodging business overall, said Kris Patel, owner of three hotels in Lebanon. That landscape makes the Ally 400 weekend and several other Nashville Superspeedway events that draw well important. All three of Kris Patels hotels are sold out this weekend at a rate that is $60-$100 higher than normal per room, which makes the race "still a good event to have, he said. Patel owns the LaQuinta Inn, Comfort Suites and Econo Lodge in Lebanon. Sam Patel, owner of the Quality Inn on South Cumberland Street in Lebanon, expects a sellout this weekend from the race, but said it hasnt come back as quick as past years. Year-round Superspeedway impact The Nashville Superspeedway held 74 events over 211 days in 2023, George said. The venue brought in about 260,000 people, including the Ally 400 weekend and other auto race and auto-themed events. The Nashville Superspeedway also will be the venue for the 2024 IndyCar Big Machine Music City Grand Prix that is moving from downtown because of construction issues with the Tennessee Titans future stadium, according to previous reports. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix is scheduled for Sept. 15. Having the speedway back up and going with the (NASCAR) race itself is that it magnifies the other days of the year because its a stadium with more notoriety, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto said. That is a really big impact in my mind outside of the (Ally 400) weekend and one that brings hotel motel tax, sales tax and gasoline tax. Emergency services The Wilson County Emergency Management Agency provides 30 personnel and equipment that includes three ambulances and two fire trucks, Director Joey Cooper said. Last year, WEMA had 39 calls for service with nine hospital transports, the majority related to heat. The Wilson County Sheriff's Office is the lead law enforcement agency with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Lebanon Police Department also participating. Wilson County Sheriff Robert Bryan expects 40-65 officers on the grounds at all hours starting Thursday with higher numbers during race times. Race schedule 7 p.m., Friday, June 28: Rackley Roofing 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. 4 p.m., Saturday, June 29: Tennessee Lottery 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 30: Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. 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: How Nashville Superspeedway, NASCAR impact a Middle Tennessee county How to navigate around one cluster of interstate signs in Downtown St. Louis ST. LOUIS There are many signs around Downtown St. Louis that can help drivers navigate onto highways, though theres at least one cluster of signals that some may find daunting. At one corner of Fourth Street and Walnut Street near the Old Courthouse, there stands an interstate trailblazer that could lead a driver to seven different parts of an interstate or highway that runs through St. Louis. The trailblazer is designed for drivers who are heading northbound on Fourth Street before Walnut Street. It points people in the general direction to find exits for Interstates 44, 55, 64 and 70, in addition to U.S. Route 40, which runs concurrent with I-64. The cluster of signs may come off as intimidating to some. Its been the source of various Reddit conversations throughout the years, once described as a blessing and a curse from an urban planning perspective. The Missouri Department of Transportation tells FOX 2 that City of St. Louis is responsible for installing and maintaining interstate trailblazers within its boundaries. FOX 2s efforts to reach the citys traffic division for comment on this matter were unsuccessful. Still, if you find yourself approaching the sign confused on where to proceed or without a GPS service, heres how the signs should be interpreted to navigate to the highways. I-44 (East) Proceed north onto Fourth for several more blocks until you reach Convention Plaza. From there, make a quick right, then a quick left to catch the eastbound connection of Interstate 44. NOTE: You wont be able to head into the eastbound direction of I-44 for long as the highway subsides into the path of I-70 just north of the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. I-44 (West) Turn right onto Walnut Street, then quickly make another right onto Memorial Drive for a connection that merges into the westbound lanes of Interstate 44. I-55 (North) Turn left onto Walnut Street, then quickly make another left onto South Broadway. From there, continue onto South Broadway past Busch Stadium and make a right onto Gratiot Street. From there, fork right to enter the northbound lanes of Interstate 55. I-55 (South) Turn right onto Walnut Street, then quickly make another right onto Memorial Drive for a connection that merges into the southbound lanes of Interstate 55. NOTE: This briefly shares the same path as I-44 westbound, but youll later see highway signs on where to head as the interstates split course. I-64 (East & West) Turn left onto Walnut Street, then quickly make another left onto South Broadway. From there, continue onto South Broadway, though youll want to pay close attention as you approach the southern end of Busch Stadium. If you plan to head westbound into other parts of Missouri, take a ramp that curves to the right. If you plan to head eastbound into Illinois, drive past Busch Stadium and make a right onto Gratiot Street. From there, fork right to enter the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64. NOTE: If youre heading east, this briefly shares the same path as I-55 northbound, but youll later see highway signs on where to head as the interstates split course. U.S. Route 40 (West) Follow the same directions as you would for heading onto the westbound lanes of Interstate 64. U.S. Route 40 runs concurrent with I-64 through Wentzville, Missouri. For a reminder, turn left onto Walnut Street, then quickly make another left onto South Broadway. From there, continue onto South Broadway until you see a ramp that curves right just past the south end of Busch Stadium. Interstate 70 (East & West) Proceed north onto Fourth for several more blocks until you reach Convention Plaza. From there, make a quick right, then watch for signs to catch either an eastbound or westbound connection to Interstate 70. If you plan to head eastbound into Illinois, make a right onto Convention Plaza and stay on the route as it merges with Martin Luther King Bridge. If you plan to head westbound into other parts of Missouri, make a right onto Convention Plaza, then a quick left to catch the westbound connection to Interstate 70. NOTE: If youre heading west, this briefly shares the same path as I-44 eastbound, though just continue onto the path as I-44 ends whereas I-70 continues to extend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the dissolution of the Azerbaijani Parliament of the sixth convocation and the appointment of an extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports. According to the decree, the Azerbaijani Parliament of the sixth convocation is dissolved. An extraordinary election to the Azerbaijani Parliament is scheduled for September 1, 2024. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The US Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency are failing to properly oversee the removal of radioactive waste from a massive San Francisco shipyard, an environmental group alleged in a federal lawsuit filed on Friday. Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice accuses the service branch and agency of egregious violations of federal laws like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act in their handling of remediation efforts at the San Francisco Shipyard, formerly known as Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. During the 1950s, ships used in atomic weapons testing were decontaminated at the San Francisco docks, contaminating parts of the facility with radioactive waste. Since then, the suit alleges, the Navy has missed deadlines under federal law to review progress on the $1.2bn cleanup effort, and the EPA has failed to enforce an agreement between the state of California and the Navy regarding the remediation effort. In particular, the suit claims that the Navy failed to honor a 2018 agreement to retest previously contaminated areas if further radioactivity issues were discovered in the wake of two supervisors at clean-up contractor Tetra Tech EC pleading guilty that year to falsifying records. Since then, the Navy has admitted that multiple samples have revealed radioactive waste in the form of old deck markers from ships and contaminated glass chips. The EPA and the Navy do not comment on pending litigation. The shipyard sits near a historically Black neighborhood. It is part of the future site of a sprawling 693-acre redevelopment project, among the housing-strapped citys most ambitious in a generation, to turn the area and nearby Candlestick Point into a bustling neighborhood of more than 10,000 housing units, pending the decontamination effort. The Navy should acknowledge that and get on with it, Steve Castleman, of the Environmental Law Clinic at UC Berkeley Law, who is representing the activist group, told KQED. The agencies are in no hurry to move to 100% of the testing, and we dont believe they will ever do 100% testing without a court order. Yolanda Hill Robinson with husband Lt. Governor Mark Robinson celebrating his primary victory on March 2, 2024. (Screengrab from Robinson's campaign YouTube channel) The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to schedule a routine exit conference with Balanced Nutrition Inc., a nonprofit run by Yolanda Hill, wife of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, according to a June 14 letter obtained by NC Newsline. According to the letter, Balanced Nutrition did not respond to several emails and phone calls from DHHS. The letter included the following statement: Within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of this letter, the institution must submit three (3) or more dates and times, before June 30, 2024, that an institution representative could be available to participate in the exit conference. The letter went on to say that failure to respond would result in a Notice of Serious Deficiency. As of June 27, the situation remained unchanged, according to DHHS. DHHS has not yet responded to a Newsline inquiry as to how common such notices are. Hill did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Newsline. Hill, who founded Balanced Nutrition Inc. in 2015, ended her partnership with DHHS in April. The organization helped childcare providers apply for and receive federal funding for kids meals under the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, which is overseen by DHHS. Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor in the upcoming November election, also worked for the business prior to running for lieutenant governor. According to DHHS, sponsoring organizations must participate in an exit conference even after their partnership with DHHS ends. The exit conference focuses on the organizations activities during the previous fiscal year and, in Balanced Nutritions case, would be used to complete the FY24 Compliance Review and verify reimbursement requests. During the conference, DHHS would also discuss preliminary review findings, program strengths, corrective actions that might be required, and recommendations. As reported by Newsline in April, a 2023 DHHS audit of Balanced Nutrition found that the organization failed to properly track the number of subsidized meals provided to its participating childcare centers. The DHHS review also found that some centers working with Balanced Nutrition reported serving more meals than were actually provided to participants. Its unclear how many additional meals the centers claimed. However, DHHS cited Balanced Nutrition for discrepancies in its reported figures. The nonprofit was charged with helping providers meet program requirements for reimbursement, ensuring compliance, and filing monthly claims on their behalf, according to its website. The DHHS review, which examined five randomly selected centers that Balanced Nutrition worked with, found that Hills nonprofit failed to identify violations from some of the childcare centers it was responsible for monitoring, Newsline reported. Earlier this year, Hill informed clients that she was shutting down her nonprofit because of her husbands campaign for governor, as first reported by The Assembly, saying the demands of the campaign made it impossible for her to continue operating the nonprofit. But WUNC and CBS17 later reported that Hill made the abrupt decision as the state was set to conduct a compliance review of her organization. She later claimed to WRAL that the DHHS was targeting Balanced Nutrition because of her husband. Hill told WRAL in an interview earlier this year that her organization has been subjected to unwarranted scrutiny by DHHS due to its connection to her husband. She said that a DHHS employee had circulated Facebook photos of Hill with her husband to other DHHS employees to make them aware of the connection. Hill alleged the employee told colleagues that Hill had misled her about her husbands identity. WRAL reported that a DHHS spokesperson said the employee who purportedly shared the images was at one time in charge of reviewing Balanced Nutrition, but that the case was assigned to a different specialist in March 2023. The post NC DHHS has been unable to arrange required exit conference with Yolanda Hill appeared first on NC Newsline. Three open seats on North Carolinas federal bench have paved the way to diversify the robed group of judges overseeing thousands of cases in U.S. district courts each year. But GOP Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd arent focused on filling the states vacancies, some of which have sat unaddressed for two years. There are two openings for U.S. District Court judgeships in North Carolinas western district. One has been open for two years and the second for one year. Typically, each states two United States senators work with the White House to get nominees confirmed by the Senate. But in North Carolina, things have been at a stalemate. Daniel Keylin, communications director for Tillis, did not answer questions from The Charlotte Observer about why seats for the U.S. District Courts for the Western District and Middle District of North Carolina have remained open. Instead, Tillis and Budd in a joint email statement addressed only a new vacancy on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Tillis, in an interview with Politico last month, said he had no intention of even discussing filling district court vacancies until the Fourth Circuit question was resolved. The advice and consent judicial nominations process was designed by the Founding Fathers and we take the responsibility very seriously, Tillis and Budd wrote in the statement to the Observer. While we have not yet been able to reach a consensus choice with the White House for the Fourth Circuit vacancy, we will continue our discussions in good faith to identify and agree upon a nominee. The chance to diversify Charlottes federal bench has long been bogged down by politics, and in a presidential election year the delays continue. Tillis, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, has made it clear hell work across the aisle to fill these positions, said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias, who has followed judicial processes for 25 years and unofficially consults with the White House. But the judicial candidates and the judges awaiting retirement or the lighter caseload that comes with senior status shouldnt hold their breath, he said. With the clock ticking on this years legislative calendar, its unlikely any position will be filled before 2025. The spotlight shifted to filling the Fourth Circuit vacancy when Judge James Wynn Jr. in January announced plans to step down. In North Carolinas U.S. district courts, several judges had already announced anticipated moves to senior status, which create vacancies and set off the scramble to find a replacement, according to the United States Courts website. U.S. Middle District Judge Catherine C. Eagles, at the beginning of this year, declared she will be on senior status at the end of December. In 2022, U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn, a Western District judge out of Asheville, said he will move to senior status as soon as his replacement is named. Another seat in the Western District of North Carolina has already sat open for a year following Charlotte-based U.S. District Judge Bob Conrads 2023 move to senior status. In the Western District, which includes growing urban areas like Charlotte, Asheville, Gastonia and Statesville, only white men have served as trial judges. Of the countrys 94 federal court districts, only three others share that distinction and none come close to having the population and diversity of North Carolinas Western District. Nationally, 70% of federal judges are white and 60% are men. Former prosecutors outnumber public defenders 4 to 1, according to the National Association for Public Defense. Stalemate on Charlottes federal bench Appointment delays could result in case backlogs, said John Wester, a Charlotte lawyer and former president of the North Carolina Bar Association. While the district court vacancies havent created judicial emergencies and unmanageable caseloads like those in California, Florida and Texas, they have left many wondering why the senators and the White House have been unable to usher in at least one candidate for so long, especially when a man described as one of the most qualified candidates in the pools history is available. U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler, a Charlotte-based Democrat, has long had bipartisan support, the Observer previously reported. The former Morehead scholar at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was a state and federal prosecutor who has served as a federal magistrate for almost 20 years. He reflects the highest standard for judges, Wester said. We need to get someone this good, because they dont come along that often. Dena King, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, was another front-runner in filling the courts open seat, the Observer previously reported. If appointed, King would become the first woman and minority to serve as a trial judge on the 150-year-old court. But that pairing leaves North Carolinas two Republican senators with two Democratic nominees. Federal Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez has been floated as a possible contender. The Republican served as a legal policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security and in 2005 worked in the White House Office of the General Counsel managing judicial nominations and assisting with responses to congressional investigations. Sen. Ted Budd, left, and Sen. Thom Tillis While President Joe Biden must first nominate judicial replacements before senators approve them, congressional recommendations typically roll into the White House. The process is largely veiled. Tillis told Politico the White House tried to jam him on a Fourth Circuit nominee, but Bidens administration maintained it had asked for Tillis input on every vacancy. The Biden administration previously pressed Senate Democrats to exceed the number of judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, and last month, the Senate did by confirming the 200th federal judge since Biden took office. The success Biden has had around the country getting judges nominated and confirmed by the Senate is extraordinary, said Bill Taylor, a D.C. lawyer who follows N.C. politics. But its equally extraordinary that nothings happening in North Carolina. NC Reality Check reflects the Charlotte Observers commitment to holding those in power to account, shining a light on public issues that affect our local readers and illuminating the stories that set the Charlotte area and North Carolina apart. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@charlotteobserver.com These are the new Nevada laws going into effect Monday LAS VEGAS (KLAS) New laws that go into effect Monday range from age requirements for students and concussion policies for student-athletes to expanded Medicaid coverage and requirements for electronic medical records. New age requirements for schoolchildren Assembly Bill 65 Children in Nevada must be enrolled in school by the age of six. This is a change from the previous age of seven. Additionally, the law requires potential kindergarteners to be five years old by Aug. 1 of that year to enroll in those programs. School concussion policies Senate Bill 80 Senate Bill 80 revises policy regarding concussions, or injuries to the head more broadly, in Nevada schools. School districts will be required to adopt head injury policies for sports. Parents must sign and acknowledge the policies before their student-athletes participate in sports. Expanded Medicaid coverage Assembly Bill 138 Medicaid will now include new coverage, including for some mental health treatments like postpartum care, autism, and drug and alcohol treatment. Electronic medical records required Assembly Bill 7 This bill requires certain health information to be held and transmitted electronically by healthcare facilities, providers, insurers, insurance administrators, and government entities. Any of those entities that fail to comply may face disciplinary measures. Thirteen other bills will go into effect on July 1, 17 in total, including Assembly Bills 16, 193, 241, 259, 264, 378, 428, 516, and Senate Bills 82, 92, 118, 282, and 290. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WESTLAKE, Ohio (WJW) A good Samaritan helped save a newborn infant after finding the childs mother unconscious with the baby still attached by the umbilical cord. Police and paramedics were called to the Westspring Inn in Westlake, Ohio, on Tuesday after the witness, who was walking her dogs, spotted a woman passed out in the grass outside the hotel. Initially, she was not sure what she was looking at. On police body camera video, she told officers, So Im like, What is that sticking up in the air? and the babys face was down in the grass and its butt was up like this and the baby was crying, and she was out like a light. The mom was? the officer asked. Yes, I was like, maam, maam, screaming at her and she did not budge, the witness responded. More US and World News Since the mother would not respond, the witness used scissors from her purse to cut the umbilical cord while waiting for help to arrive, according to police. Someone unconscious on the ground is concerning to anybody. When theyre still connected to a baby via an umbilical cord, it adds that much more alarm to it, so she did the right thing. She made sure the baby was OK, Captain Jerry Vogel said. The good Samaritan told a 911 dispatcher that she made sure the baby was breathing OK and wrapped him in towels. Police say the father of the infant, 35-year-old John Bratsch, told them that the mother, 42-year-old Chanel Mueller, gave birth to the baby in their hotel room, and while Bratsch was cleaning up the room, Mueller went outside with the baby still attached and passed out. They do admit to being drug users, dependent drug users, so I dont know what they were thinking, not seeking medical help. They claim the baby came really quick. Maybe that happened, I dont know, but once you have the first inkling that the baby is coming, dial 911, get help there, said Vogel. Mueller and the infant were taken to St. John Westshore Medical Center and investigators say as a result of the alarming conduct by the parents, officers immediately called in investigators with Cuyahoga County Family and Childrens Services. Police are hoping that the child will be placed in a safe home and that the incident will serve as a wake-up call for Bratsch and Mueller and convince them to seek help. They are each facing charges that include child endangering. They put the child in a life-or-death situation by not trying to seek medical attention. Obviously, they werent in any state to take care of this baby at that point because neither one of them did, said Vogel. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, one of President Bidens top Democratic campaign surrogates, has dismissed concerns about Bidens candidacy after his widely panned debate performance Thursday against former President Trump. I am old fashioned, but on the substance Joe Biden won the debate last night. That is what matters to me, Newsom wrote in a Biden campaign fundraising pitch Friday. All this other talk its unhelpful and unnecessary. We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? he added. Bidens Thursday nights debate was largely seen as a loss, even by some members of his own party. Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didnt do it, former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said in an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC after the debate. He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed at that. I think well know a lot more in a few weeks how this plays out, how the polling plays out, but I think a couple of things are going on right now. I think Im not the only one whose heart is breaking right now, she added. A CNN post-debate snap poll found that 67 percent of respondents believed Trump won, while 33 percent saw Biden as the victor. Four years ago, as the two candidates faced off in the 2020 election, 60 percent of voters surveyed in the same poll believed Biden had won the first debate. On Thursday, Bidens voice was raspy, which the White House attributed to a cold, and he appeared to struggle to make clear points on multiple answers. Bidens team has dismissed speculation that he could bow out of the race and be replaced atop the Democratic ticket. Newsom, 56, has been mentioned among potential successors to Biden. Hes been governor since 2019, after previously serving as the states lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco, but he cant seek a third term because of Californias term limits. He has fended off multiple gubernatorial recall attempts and remains politically popular among Democrats and has become a rising star in the national party. Dont look at 30 minutes look at 3 and a half years of Joe Biden as president, Newsom said in the email linking to the Democratic National Committees online donation portal. Thats what I intend to do, and I hope youll join me. Trump said during a Fox News Digital interview Friday that he thinks Biden will be the nominee despite the postdebate backlash. They wouldnt have done any better, Trump said. No one else would have been better. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks before a debate between President Biden and former President Trump on Thursday in Atlanta. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) President Biden's lackluster performance in the first debate of 2024 with former President Trump ended with harsh questions about whether Biden should end his campaign, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom was compelled to answer as a top surrogate for the president in Atlanta. "I think it's unhelpful, and I think it's unnecessary," Newsom told MSNBC on Thursday after the debate. "With all due respect, the more times we start having these conversations, going down these rabbit holes, it's unhelpful to our democracy, the fate and future of this country, the world. They need us right now to step up and that's exactly what I intend to do." Newsom waded into a scrum of news reporters after the debate and shot down buzz about whether he would become the party's nominee after panic set in among some Democrats, who were shook up by the president's performance stumbling over answers to the moderators' questions and occasionally trailing off. "No, our nominee is Joe Biden," a seemingly frustrated Newsom said as he was swarmed by reporters. "I'm looking forward to voting for him in November." Veteran political consultants and party delegates suggested Biden's showing could hurt him in polls but pushed back on assertions that the debate would have a material effect on the campaign. The backing of Newsom and other top Democrats, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, helped to lessen the frenzy. Republican political consultant Mike Madrid chalked up the concern to "a ton of bed-wetting." "This was not a good night for Biden," Madrid said. "There's no question about it. Was it disastrous," and will it drastically change the trajectory of the race? "No." Regardless of how the race affects Biden, there are political upsides for Newsom if his favored candidate wins or loses. Read more: Biden's verbal stumbles, Trump's 'morals of an alley cat': 6 debate takeaways A Biden win would benefit California and the governor's policy agenda, while a loss would make the left coast state and its governor the nation's top Democratic foil to a Trump White House. If Biden loses, Newsom would once again lead the Democratic resistance from the Golden State. The return of the legal battles and social media showdowns over immigration, climate change and healthcare that dominated the first two years of his governorship could elevate his profile and leave him in a prime position to run for president in four years. On the other hand, Biden's reelection would almost assuredly be better for the state and Newsom's ability to make good on his progressive policies. "There are any number of policies that Trump could implement that would not be good for California," said Lori Cox Han, the Doy B. Henley chair of American presidential studies at Chapman University. "But that's also a certain situation that would give Gavin Newsom an opportunity for strong, decisive leadership, if he's up for the task, and that would be a pretty big test." In a recent interview before the debate, Newsom spoke about his concerns for California if Trump wins. He predicted Trump would act immediately to enact his conservative agenda, including mass deportations of immigrants, the dismantling of efforts to combat climate change and restricting abortion. Newsom said he was worried a Trump administration would "come harder," and there would be no transition time. The Trump campaign is "already wound up," he said. "They are ready to go." To prepare, Newsom said he's working to "future-proof" the state. The governor said his administration, in partnership with California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, is reviewing prior lawsuits and new case law to understand where the state could be vulnerable. Newsom's aides are studying the conservative policies laid out in "Project 25," a handbook of sorts for Trump's second term, to better understand "what they're potentially promoting," he said. "We're going through this exact analysis of what protections are in place, what things we can do legislatively, looking at executive actions," Newsom said. Newsom says his staff is talking with the Biden administration about pending actions, requests and waivers that the federal government can enact before the president's first term ends. He's also looking carefully at federal funding that California has not spent to ensure that a Trump administration could not "claw it back." Daniel Zingale, who served as Newsom's top communications strategist when the governor took office, said the people who speculate about the political benefits Newsom might receive if Trump is elected often don't have experience governing. "It is one-dimensional and overly simplistic to say, 'Oh, that's good politically for the governor of California,' because anybody who's had experience governing when Trump was president would tell you that's a challenge," Zingale said. Zingale said the 100 lawsuits the state filed against the Trump administration became a time suck. "Lawsuits follow Trump, like Swifties follow Taylor," Zingale said. "We had more than 100 of them then, and you know you can expect that to happen again, and so that does get in the way of governing." Newsom, from the early days of setting up his administration, focused on things that needed to happen for California, Zingale said, but it was in the context of a president who was "a climate denier, a drought denier" and "seemed to have it in for California." But Newsom also never shied away from opportunities to contrast himself with the former president. "The frame of the Newsom administration of 'California for All' is blatantly and unapologetically opposed to Trump's morally divisive 'them versus us' way of looking at the world," Zingale said. That contrast could prove helpful to Newsom's standing among Democrats if Trump prevails. Read more: Gavin Newsom, during his speech at the Vatican on climate change, accuses Trump of 'open corruption' As California governor, Newsom would be able to gain publicity as Trump's top foe for his final two years in office, which could serve as a launchpad to the 2028 presidential contest. If Trump wins, Newsom said he and California would "have to defend ourselves and our values." "We have a lot to defend that would be tough to lose, a lot to win," Newsom said in an interview with The Times prior to the debate. "But I'm not expecting to have to worry about this or deal with this ... because Biden is going to get reelected." After the debate, Madrid, a Republican political consultant who actively opposes Trump, argued that the dynamics of the race remained unchanged. "You've got an unhinged lunatic and a feeble old man," Madrid said. "That's the choice, America. There you go. But there's nothing new. We saw more of it." R.L. Miller, a Democratic National Party Convention delegate from California and founder of Climate Hawks Vote, said in text chats her friends were questioning who the Democratic National Committee should pick as an alternative. She suggested Democrats should get some rest and calm down. "Realistically, he's not going to walk away from another shot at the presidency over one night," she said of Biden. Newsom held firm in his support for Biden throughout the night. On the social media platform X, he called out Trump's claims that "everybody wanted" to overturn the federal abortion protections under Roe vs. Wade, that the southern border is "the most dangerous place in the world" and that he had the "biggest heart on stage." "I was taking notes about all the lies," Newsom said to MSNBC. "I ran out of paper." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was once the subject of serious chatter regarding a possible but ultimately not pursued primary challenge to President Joe Biden this year, is throwing his full support behind the president and his reelection campaign after he delivered a debate performance this week that was causing a five-alarm freakout among Democrats in its immediate aftermath. After Thursday nights debate between Biden and Donald Trump, where the president had multiple gaffes and stumbles as the debate began, trailed off at points and mixed up and missed words, Newsom appeared during MSNBCs post-debate coverage while online and possibly even behind closed doors with Democrats the chatter about him replacing Biden on the ticket returned with force enough to make the governor a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. Newsom, however, quickly sought to silence talk of this sort of eleventh-hour swap, as the governor, while speaking with Alex Wagner, was unwavering in his support of the president. More from The Hollywood Reporter You dont turn your back because of one performance, Newsom said, seemingly addressing his fellow Democrats. What kind of party does that? This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment. Alex Wagner presses Gov. Gavin Newsom on questions about whether Biden should step down. Newsom: You dont turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? This president has delivered. We need to deliver for him at this moment. pic.twitter.com/J5G9XGNYWn MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 28, 2024 On Friday, Newsoms X feed appeared almost akin to an official attack dog account focused solely on Trump, with numerous clips of the governor slamming Trump in the MSNBC interview and a retweet from the Biden-Harris HQ account that features a spry Biden after the debate slamming the former president for his numerous lies on the stage. The tweet reads, Biden: Trump is a liar. They are going to be out there fact-checking all of the things that he said. I cannot think of one thing he said that was true. Were going to beat this guy. In the clips with MSNBCs Wagner, Newsom goes on to declare that Biden won Thursday nights debate and zeroes in on the lack of truthiness in Trumps many false claims. In one tweet with a video clip from the interview, the governor writes: Donald Trump is a serial liar who is responsible for rape victims being forced to carry their abusers child to term. He won the debate. Im old school, old-fashioned. Thats what matters to me, Newsom told Wagner in the embedded clip, regarding Bidens performance. Meanwhile, Biden himself on Friday seemed to acknowledge his poor debate performance, saying, I dont debate as well as I used to. I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Back on MSNBC, he coupled the praise for Biden with a barrage of shots at Trump. I was taking notes about all the lies. I ran out of paper. Donald Trump has no accountability on those lies, talking down the American economy, talking down our democracy. That was alarming, he told Wagner in a clip embedded into a tweet. This is a world were living in now that Donald Trump created, where 13-year-olds have to deliver the child of the person that impregnated them, he added, referring to the Supreme Court majority, including three Trump-appointed justices, overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. This is a world that Donald Trump has created. And so, for me, it was daylight and darkness, and Im very proud of the presidents record, and Im very proud of his vision of the future. Donald Trump is a serial liar who is responsible for rape victims being forced to carry their abuser's child to term. pic.twitter.com/YKJvQN2kRO Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 28, 2024 Newsoms account also tweeted a clip of the governor throwing a jab at Trump over the catalyst for the hush money trial where he was found guilty last month, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony. Trump was convicted by a New York trial jury of all 34 felony counts with which he was charged by prosecutors. The Hollywood Reporters attempts to contact Newsoms communications team, seeking an update on the governors thoughts on the debate, went unreturned. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Niece: Woman killed in Ohio 16 crash 'always saw the absolute best in people' Meggan Simms says her aunt, Kathy Vickers, 55, of Walhonding, never met a stranger and always saw the absolute best in people. Kathy died June 22 of injuries sustained during a June 21 car crash in which a vehicle went left of center on Ohio 16 in Cass Township and struck the vehicle in which she was a passenger. She had the biggest heart for people as well as animals, said Simms. She had a very contagious smile and laugh and she always had a kind word to say about anyone. Kathy Vickers of Walhonding died June 22 from injuries sustained in a crash. A GoFundMe has been established to help her family with funeral expenses, medical bills and other expenses. The Zanesville post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said Joshua Samson, from Zanesville, was eastbound in a 2007 Ford pickup truck when he went left of center and hit another Ford pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer. It was driven by Trenton Vickers, 23, Kathys son. Samson and Trenton sustained minor injuries. Kathy was transported to Genesis Hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died at the medical facility, authorities stated. The crash remains under investigation by the Zanesville post of the Ohio Highway Patrol. Simms has set up a GoFundMe to assist Kathys family with funeral expenses, medical bills, and lost work wages. As of Friday morning, the campaign had raised $5,535 of its $7,500 goal. Kathy leaves behind her husband, Richard; three sons, Tyler, Trent, and Triton; and a granddaughter, August, daughter of Tyler. August was Kathys little buddy, said Simms, noting that August called Kathy Mimi. Simms said Kathy had worked at Longaberger for 28 years as a weaver. At the time of her death, she worked at AMG and made parts for Ford trucks. She was also the union president. She was generous and kind, and an overall wonderful person to have in your life, said Simms. She was a 4-H adviser in Coshocton County for 35 years. She donated a lot of her time and dedicated her leadership skills to help the kids be the best they could be. Simms said shell miss Black Friday shopping and heading to the Thornville Backwoods Festival with her aunt. The hardest part will be the holidays, said Simms. We always had the best times and laughed so much together. That will be something that we will miss the most. Simms one piece of advice in the GoFundMe is echoed now: Tell the people in your life that you love them. We never know when our time is going to be up and we should always make sure we show our loved ones that, said Simms. With this being such a tragedy, it really made a lot of people think just how quickly things can change. Calling hours for Vickers were June 27 and her funeral is planned June 28, with burial in Bladensburg. This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Niece shares memories of Kathy Vickers, who died after June 21 crash Just a week out from Britains general election, Nigel Farages rightwing Reform U.K. was rocked by an explosive expose showing people associated with the party using racist and homophobic language. The damning undercover report Thursday from Channel 4 News captured the slurs used by a Reform volunteer and a Farage campaign events organizer in Clacton, the district Farage is hoping to represent in Westminster on July 4. But now Donald Trumps most high-profile British ally is claiming the whole thing is a setup. Nigel Farage Gets Milkshaked by OnlyFans Model on First Day of His Campaign A Reform canvasser identified in the report as Andrew Parker was filmed making racist and Islamophobic remarks in front of an undercover journalist, even using an offensive British term to describe British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is of South Asian descent. Parker advised the clandestine reporter to emphasize the word illegal when talking to potential voters on the doorstep, especially if you open the door and theres a bunch of pis. While speaking to a voter himself, Parker also spoke about stopping boats of illegal migrants entering the U.K. by deploying young army recruits with guns on the fucking beach for target practice. Fucking just shoot them, he said. EXCLUSIVE: Weve gone undercover inside Nigel Farages Reform UK campaign in Clacton and found evidence of anti-migrant rhetoric, homophobia and one canvasser making racist and offensive remarks. As @DarshnaSoni reports. pic.twitter.com/VkhVLczjcw Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) June 27, 2024 The report was met with widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Sunak said the language hurts and made him angry, while the opposition Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer said hed been shocked by what hed heard. On Friday, however, Farage insinuated that all is not as it seems. Andrew Parker was the man that made the astonishing racist comments that have given us so much negative coverage, he wrote in an X post. We now learn that he is an actor by profession. His own website says he is well spoken but from the moment he arrived in Clacton he was doing what he calls rough speaking. This whole episode does not add up. His post included a link to a page for an actor named Andrew Parker who resembles the man seen in the undercover report. Farage later retweeted a video purporting to compare the actors natural voice with his rough speaking voice, the latter sounding more like the accent heard in the expose footage. It was an act right from the very start, Farage said during a Friday appearance on the chat show Loose Women, adding: This whole thing is a complete and total setup. When asked who he believed was setting him up, Farage said he didnt know if Parker was being paid or not but added it was possible that Channel 4 News had done so. A BBC reporter separately pointed out that just because Parker is an actor doesnt mean he was acting in the offensive footage. Farage answered that the well-spoken actor had been using his rough speaking voice since appearing in Farages Clacton office on Saturday. He was acting from the moment he came into the office, Farage said. I 100 percent believe this whole thing is a total setup. Speaking to Britains PA news agency, Parker confirmed he worked as an actor but suggested that it was unrelated to his work volunteering for Reform. Of course I regret what I said, Parker added. Im old school. Christ, Im not a racist. Ive had Muslim girlfriends. It was typical chaps-down-the-pub talk. He also claimed hed been goaded into making the remarks and alluded to unpublished jokes and bits and pieces made by the undercover journalist, but did not provide details of what the reporter allegedly said. We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism which speaks for itself, Channel 4 News spokesperson told The Daily Beast in a statement. We met Mr. Parker for the first time at Reform U.K. party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report, the spokesperson added. Mr. Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation. The report had also included comments from George Jones, who was described as running events for Farages campaign. Jones was filmed describing a Pride flag on a police car hood as a fucking degenerate flag which was promoting nonces, a U.K. slang term for pedophiles. The Daily Beast has contacted Reform about what, if any, disciplinary action Jones is facing. Farage told Channel 4 News Thursday he was dismayed by the reported comments of a handful of people associated with my local campaign. The appalling sentiments expressed by some in these exchanges bear no relation to my own views, those of the vast majority of our supporters or Reform U.K. policy, he added, claiming some of the language was reprehensible. Several candidates for Farages party have come under scrutiny since the election was called, with one being dropped altogether Thursday after it emerged hed once been a member of the far-right British National Party. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The US seeks to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan in various spheres, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien said during a briefing in Baku, Trend reports. ''We would like to strengthen and broaden the areas of cooperation. Much of our discussion today focused on the situation in the region and how governments can work together more effectively. I will highlight some of the specific issues that we discussed. We looked at the situation in the region from Central Asia to the Atlantic, north and south, watching how events were unfolding," he said. A New Jersey mother accused of drowning her two young daughters in a bathtub told authorities she carried out the murders for religious purposes, according to court documents. Naomi Elkins, of Lakewood, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts of murder and two counts of weapons offenses after authorities found both of her daughters, ages 1 and 3, dead at her Ocean County home. Investigators later concluded both of the girls were drowned, and that the 1-year-old had also been stabbed, according to a press release from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer. In a subsequent interview with police, 27-year-old Elkins said she started having concerning thoughts about her children last month, shortly after her husband left for a business trip on May 24, according to an affidavit reviewed by the Daily News. She said spent time praying before she stabbed her younger daughter, drew a bath and then held her beneath the water for nearly three minutes. When her older child appeared in the room, screaming, Elkins said she picked her up and put her in another bathtub, where she forced her underwater too. She said she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time, according to the documents. Elkins believed at the time that she needed to kill the children for religious purposes, but in the immediate aftermath of the drownings, she said she realized shed made a mistake. She told authorities she called Hatzolah Medical Services, who were already at the home trying to resuscitate the girls when officers arrived. The youngest child was found with a deep laceration in the middle of her stomach, and a superficial stab wound on the left side of her back, the affidavit said. Officers later found a serrated knife in a hallway bathroom sink. Both children were pronounced dead on the scene, and Elkins was taken into custody without further issue. In a statement to the Asbury Park Press, defense attorney Mitchell Ansell said Elkins has a well-documented history of severe mental illness, which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events. He continued: While we acknowledge the seriousness of the charges that she is facing and respect them, we also believe that its important to recognize the incredible complexities presented by mental health challenges. Elkins, who authorities say worked at Giggles Daycare in Lakewood, is being held without bail at the Ocean County Jail. _______ The Seal of the State of New Mexico inside the Roundhouse on Jan. 10, 2024. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM) While New Mexicos governor has made her forced mental health treatment proposal more palatable for lawmakers, it could still change before the special session in July, and it could come back in its original form next year. The Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee invited Ellen Pinnes, an advocate with The Disability Coalition, and attorney Denali Wilson to talk about potential impacts on New Mexicans civil rights that could result from proposed changes in the law around mental health. Pinnes said parts of her presentation had been made out of date by Wednesday mornings news that the governor was paring down her proposal that originally sought to rewrite a 2016 law governing court-ordered mental health treatment. Some of what is in here is still good information, but some of it is no longer immediately on the table, Pinnes said. They may very well be on the table at a not so far future date. A spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Thursday the governor will continue to have discussions with lawmakers about the assisted outpatient treatment bill between now and the special session. Jodi McGinnis said there could be more changes to the proposal before then, and that the governor is still interested in her full proposal for the regular session in January. The upcoming special session was formed to focus on public safety issues. Pinnes quoted from the governors announcement, which states the goal is to reduce the danger and risk New Mexico communities face every day. And yet, the centerpiece of Lujan Grishams special session agenda was changes to assisted outpatient treatment law, Pinnes said. Although shes narrowed down what she wants to do with the (assisted outpatient treatment) statute, shes still focusing on people with mental illness for a large part of whats going on here, which simply perpetuates the myth that people with mental illness are dangerous and thats who committing crimes, Pinnes said. People with mental illness do commit crime, but they are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of it, she said. New Mexico law already allows judges to exert extensive control over a persons life using an assisted outpatient treatment order, Pinnes said, including supervising someones living arrangements, and ordering them to take medication even if its not right for them, for example. Treatment outcomes are the most effective when engagement is voluntary Denali Wilson, a staff attorney with the Las Cruces office of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, said people will have good health outcomes when they get support in the communities where they live. The most effective interventions are those that return people to the community as early as possible, or prevent their removal at all, Wilson said. It is more difficult for people to engage or experience any positive outcomes if intervention happens later in the criminal process, she said. We know treatment outcomes are the most effective when engagement is voluntary, Wilson said. Involuntary mental health treatment may constitute discrimination under Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Pinnes told lawmakers. Be aware, you have this potential legal threat hanging over (assisted outpatient treatment). Proponents also say assisted outpatient treatment is effective because a court orders it, whats called the black robe effect. But Pinnes said theres no existing research that empirically examines the phenomenon. While a judges order might have some coercive effect, Pinnes said, thats not what makes the difference. Connecting people to services, and making them feel supported and cared for, does make a difference, she said. Proponents of assisted outpatient treatment also say it is needed because people with mental illness dont recognize theyre sick, and must be forced into treatment because they wont do it voluntarily, Pinnes said. That is really fraught, she said. Forced treatment is traumatizing, she said. People should get the services theyre eligible for without a court order. Potential for constitutional challenge Depriving someone of their liberty by confining them or putting them into treatment against their will implicates their constitutional rights, Wilson said. Institutionalization or commitment to a hospital is a pretty significant deprivation of liberty, she said, and the government must justify that with a good reason. Whether its speech or bodily autonomy and the right to refuse treatment, a deprivation of rights by the government has to be justified by a compelling, nondiscriminatory, legitimate government interest, Wilson said. The day before, Lujan Grishams general counsel Holly Agajanian told the committee states and legislators in particular have extreme latitude in determining whether someone is dangerous to themselves or others. On Thursday, Wilson said thats not true. In the area of constitutional law, the question of whether someones dangerous involves possibly taking away their freedom, and therefore must be subject to strict constitutional scrutiny, which is the highest standard of review courts use to evaluate the constitutionality of government discrimination. Strict constitutional scrutiny is the least amount of latitude you can have, Wilson said. And whatever latitude there is in crafting a definition, the constitutional standard is dangerousness. If your definition creeps outside that, and includes things not related to dangerousness, its not one that is going to pass muster. The pared down proposal the governors office released on Wednesday, Wilson said, would still dramatically expand the definition of dangerousness in pretty much every way that you could create a parameter around that definition. This creates the possibility of overbreadth or overreach, which is really where were concerned, and where something like this could invite significant litigation, Wilson said. The post NM governors office continues forced treatment pitch to lawmakers, could return in full in 2025 appeared first on Source New Mexico. HART, Mich. (WOOD) No charges will be filed against the driver of a modified Jeep that hit and killed a spectator at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes last month, with the prosecutor citing the unregulated nature of the area where the crash happened and saying it was accidental. Kadie L. Price, 33, was watching drag races on May 26 at the state park near Mears when the Jeep CJ lost control and veered toward spectators. The Jeep hit the Price familys vehicle, which then hit Price. She was able to push her 2-year-old daughter out of the way before the crash. Woman killed in sand dunes accident was mother of two, deputys wife There is no evidence to support the proposition that this crash was anything other than accidental, Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon wrote in a memo released Friday. He pointed out there was no intent to strike the bystanders, and went on to say there was no evidence the driver was distracted or impaired when the crash happened. This photo from the Oceana County Sheriffs Department shows the scene after a May 26, 2024, crash at Silver Lake Sand Dunes that killed Kadie Price. The crash happened in the Silver Lake Sand Dune ORV area, which by design is largely unregulated and where, by state law, drag racing is allowed. Other than deliberate acts, there are basically no rules in the drag racing area, Bizon wrote, specifically noting there is no speed limit or designated traffic lanes like a regular road. Therefore, there cannot be a moving violation that could be the basis for a criminal charge The modifications made to the Jeep were permitted in the area and, Bizon said, were not the reason for the crash and not identifiable as negligent or reckless. The driver and his passenger blamed the crash on a stuck throttle. Investigators were not able to confirm that was the case. But whether the throttle was stuck, the prosecutor said, is not relevant. A mechanical failure would not constitute a criminal act that would justify charges, Bizon wrote. Report: In fatal crash at Silver Lake Sand Dunes, driver blamed stuck throttle Officials have noted that serious crashes at the ORV area are unusual. The sheriff previously could not recall anyone dying there and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said there had never previously been a case there where an onlooker was hit by a vehicle. All activities come with risks. By participating in or spectating at events, certain risks are assumed, Bizon said. Racing vehicles, and recreational ORV activities, carry (these) risks. The loss of life is always tragic; however, it is not always criminal, he added. The funds from this years John Davis Memorial Police vs. Firefighter Softball Game in Grandville on July 3 will go to the Price family. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. No child in Arizona should be forced to live in a faceless group home Recently, the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) announced that they would not be renewing contracts with 16 group homes across the state that house children in foster care. As a result, 200 children will need to be moved to new places. How amazing would it be if it was with foster families instead of another group-home setting? There's less need for group homes. That's good A 7-year-old boy does homework at Child Crisis Arizona in 2016. For those of us working in the foster care system, the announcement, while seemingly sudden, was not entirely surprising. Overall, group homes typically house about 10%-12% of total children in the foster system in Arizona. We have seen a significant decrease in kids in out-of-home care, down from 13,500 in 2021 to just 8,700 as of May 2024. With changes in how the Department of Child Safety works with birth families and their intervention strategies focused on keeping kids with their families, it means there is less need for group home beds, hence the contract decision. The challenge now is finding foster families willing to step in to help and ensure these kids dont need to be in group homes because there are enough foster families for them all. This all comes at a time when foster parent numbers are also declining. In 2021, Arizona had 4,660 foster parents. As of the May 2024 outcome report, we are down to just 2,595 foster homes. Arizona needs more foster families to step in So, where does this leave us in the foster community and these children who have experienced, at a minimum, the basic trauma of being separated from their birth families? The reality is that each entity, whether DCS, group homes, foster families or organizations like Foster Arizona, fills a specific need to ensure children have the best opportunity to succeed. DCS has made significant progress in identifying kinship connections families and community support systems already connected with a child that could be a good match for placement and adoption. Although group homes are an option when those support systems do not work out, as a foster-to-adopt mom myself and in my work with Foster Arizona, I believe that there is no better placement than within a loving foster family. Research has shown that kids need consistent adults in their lives to create healthy attachments. Group homes relying on revolving staff members can create inconsistency. Kids do best when placed with a loving family Statistics show that 55% of kids are adopted by their foster parents and 34% by relatives, so giving a child that opportunity from the start to be placed within a family vastly increases their chances of adoption. Most importantly, being placed with a family gives them a chance to heal their trauma instead of living with other kids who are trying to do the same thing, which can be difficult. In our six years of operating our youth housing program for children who have aged out of foster care, we have seen significant challenges as it relates to their life skill readiness, services to meet their needs and their general relational connectivity. Arizona has 1 foster care home: For every 4 children in need We know kids do better in family settings, but that means we need families willing to be a safe place for kids to land when they find themselves in the system. Foster Arizona is committed to being a catalyst of this support system. Through our Foster Cooperative platform, our educational initiatives for foster parents, kid initiatives and youth housing program, we look to grow our community of foster families, supporters and advocates to create better outcomes for Arizonas children. You can help. Here's how The foster system is a complex one with a lot on the line. But for those not currently active in the foster community, consider finding your unique way to step into this space of immense need. Youth and families need connection and support. Theres a need for families willing to directly care for kids, especially sibling groups and older youths. We need community members willing to invest their time to volunteer. Were looking for partners to help financially drive the work forward so that needs can be met in grassroots ways not just based on government initiatives. Lastly, if you know a family that is fostering, please support them however you can. They likely need it. Kim Vehon is the CEO of Foster Arizona, a nonprofit that provides resources, training and advocacy for foster families across the state. She is a mother to seven children, four of whom she adopted after fostering. Reach her at kim@fosteraz.org. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona foster care needs families, not more group homes A man who killed a young bear at his Lake Tahoe Basin home in May will not face criminal charges after the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office concluded on Tuesday no laws were broken when the man killed the cub when after it entered his home and attacked his dog. The South Lake Tahoe resident shot the 70- to 85-pound bear with a rifle three times at his home on Player Drive on May 27, causing an uproar from distraught wildlife advocates, who created a Change.org petition and gathered nearly 3,000 signatures for a full, independent investigation of the incident. Game wardens with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife investigated the incident and determined that no wildlife laws had been violated. But on May 31, the District Attorneys Office launched its own investigation. Officials sifted through reports and evidence gathered from Fish and Wildlife officials to independently determine whether there was criminal activity. According to the D.A.s Office, investigators reviewed the suspects 911 call, his interview following the shooting and an interview of a neighbor, as well as the bears bullet wounds and photos from the scene, according to a news release from D.A. Vern Piersons office. The bear cub broke into the home through a back door that had been left ajar and moved to the kitchen where the suspects dog was resting. The bear began aggressively growling at the dog, the man told a game warden. He attempted to scare the bear off by yelling and waving his arms before grabbing his rifle. When he returned to the room, he said the bear was nearly on top of his dog, at which point he shot the bear twice. The bear ran out of the home and up a pine tree in the backyard. It eventually fell to the ground, and the man shot the bear a third time out of concern for its suffering, the report stated. The suspect immediately called 911 to notify authorities about the incident. The District Attorneys Office obtained the recording and described the man as very nervous and out of breath during the call. I didnt want to do it. He was going to eat my dog, the man told the dispatcher. He scared me! The man appeared very distraught and shaken up, but relieved that he and his dog were uninjured, a Fish and Wildlife officer on the scene reported. The officer interviewed a resident in the neighborhood who saw the bear enter the suspects home. The neighbor attempted to bang pots and pans to ward off the cub to no avail. According to state law, a person commits a crime if he or she maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal. But Californians do have the right to defend themselves if the animal presents a threat to life. The District Attorneys Office concluded in its findings that the resident killed the bear out of a concern for the safety of himself and his property, and the rounds fired were unlikely to endanger the rest of the neighborhood, the news release said. The Bear League, the group that advocated for the independent investigation, said they were unhappy with the D.A.s findings, calling it a placation attempt. Were very disappointed but not at all surprised, said Ann Bryant, the executive director of the Homewood-based organization. We were hoping for a legitimate and serious investigation but that didnt happen. The May incident in May was not the first time the resident encountered a bear break-in. In September 2021, the resident reported that a mother bear and three cubs broke into his home three different times. Photos released by the District Attorneys Office show that the bears stole his food and damaged his kitchen and living room. UPDATE: Friday, MAS release the following statement. Since June 1, MAS has used relief vets and organizations to perform spay/neuter surgeries. Pursuant to TN law for spray/neuter practices, for any animal that is unaltered at the time of adoption, pet parents sign a contract requiring them to complete the surgery within 30 days (T.C.A. Sections 44-17-501-504). If they do not comply, they may receive a citation, and a court order may be issued. MAS maintains an active DEA license and premise permit and has been administering pain medication, as needed, to animals in our care. MAS is not required to have a USDA vet on staff. The investigation will include internal and external review and the cause of death determination is being conducted by an external agency. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The chairwoman of a city advisory committee overseeing Memphis Animal Services says the citys animal shelter does not currently have any full-time veterinarians, and is adopting out unaltered animals. Dr. Jennifer Karnes, owner of Central Animal Hospital, said two veterinarians who had worked at Memphis Animal Services for years resigned last month, and MAS has not been able to replace them. She said most of the supervisors at the shelter have also quit over the past few months. MAS brought in Dr. Isis Johnson-Brown as the DVM of record for the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. I am very unclear whether Dr. Johnson is a part-time city employee or a contract per-day worker, said Karnes. They have daily veterinarians that come in some days of the week, somebody whos just doing a shift. Karnes said MAS no longer has a scheduled drug DEA permit that would allow them to administer pain medications to animals or a USDA veterinarian on staff to issue health certificates. The shelter is not supposed to send a shelter dog to a shelter in Minnesota without a USDA health certificate, Karnes said. No narcotic pain management is available to animals unless they are seen by an outside veterinarian who prescribes drugs. Code Red: Animal shelter says its out of space, options Karnes said that because MAS doesnt have full-time vets, they are sending unaltered dogs into the community with only a promise from the adopters that the animals will be spayed or neutered. She said shes afraid pet owners will not be able to afford the surgeries. I know they had a doctor come in two Fridays ago and spayed and neutered 15 or 20 dogs. They try to get as many appointments as possible at Spay Memphis on Summer, but of course, Spay Memphis is doing their own thing, so they dont have a lot of overflow for MAS. MAS Director Ty Coleman, who has been on the job for less than a year, has not responded to questions about the status of staff veterinarians, only saying their current staffing level is appropriate for continuing operations. When asked if some dogs were being released into the community unaltered, Coleman released this statement: We recognize the importance of state laws requiring pets to be spayed or neutered and support our adoptive families in meeting this responsibility. If an animal is adopted before being spayed or neutered, we are able to provide a surgery plan that requires adopters to complete the procedure within 30 days. All 4s Rescue League, a group that works with pet owners to improve the lives of animals in the Memphis area, said they dont think MAS would be able to follow up on adoptions. This is an absolute disaster, said Suzy Hollenbach. We are already gravely out of control with our stray population, and spaying and neutering is not being addressed in the backyard. Handing them out unaltered at the shelter is mismanagement at best. MAS volunteer heartbroken after shelter dog dies in the heat This week, MAS was forced to address the care of their animals after a dog was found dead in a play yard. Karnes said there was no question it was a heat-related death because the dogs body temperature was over 109 degrees. MAS hasnt said how long Lulu was outside or if the dog was being supervised in the play yard, but it said an investigation was ongoing, and they were committed to the safety of all animals in their care. WREG contacted the City of Memphis to find out why the veterinarians at MAS resigned and how many dogs had been released into the community unaltered, and we are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said Thursday that they have reached a tentative agreement on all issues for the Area Standards Agreement, the companion contract to the Basic Agreement that got its own tentative deal Tuesday night. The latest agreement between the union and reps for the studios and streamers means that pending ratification, there will be no IATSE strike coming this summer. More from Deadline Members and signatories will have the opportunity to review the agreement in the form of a detailed summary in the days to come, followed by a Memorandum of Agreement (M.O.A.) at a later date, the two sides said in a joint statement today. The news comes after Tuesday night the two sides reached a deal on the Basic Agreement more than a month ahead of the expiration of that contract, whic covers the around 50,000 members of the mainly Los Angeles-based 13 West Coast Locals. The tentative Area Standards Agreement deal came after two days of talks. The pact reps IATSEs 23 Locals across the nation and their 20,000 members. Remaining for a clean sweep of Hollywood labor deals is the AMPTPs contract talks with the Teamsters. Those negotiations are expected to ramp up again ahead of the current contracts July 31 expiration date. Its unclear how much progress those negotiations have made, but both IATSE and the Teamsters previously signaled they were uninterested in extending their contracts past this date to accommodate further talks. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Immigration is a top issue for American voters and was widely expected to play a major role in tonight's debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. In a section devoted to the issue, neither candidate could muster up a positive vision for the country's immigration system, focusing instead on enforcement-heavy rhetoric and neglecting the benefits of immigrants. Asked about the high number of illegal border crossings under his watch, Biden quickly took a hawkish tone: "By the way, the Border Patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position." He criticized Trump for "separating babies from their mothers" and "putting them in cages" and pointed to efforts to hire more asylum officers. "Now we're in a situation where there's 40 percent fewer people coming across the border illegally," he said, "and I'm going to continue to move until we get tothe total initiative relative to what we're going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers." Trump chided Biden for deciding "to open up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, [and] insane asylums," and claimed that "we have the largest number of terrorists coming into our country right now." "In that final couple months of my presidency, we hadaccording to the Border Patrol, who is greatand by the way, who endorsed me for president," Trump continued, "we had the safest border in history." Trump dodged a question about the specifics of his mass deportation plan while claiming that "people are coming in and they're killing our citizens at a level that we've never seen." Later, he would claim that migrants were taking "black jobs" and "Hispanic jobs." Throughout the debate, immigration as a policy area was reduced largely to border crossing numbers, dubious claims about migrant crime, and enforcement bona fides. Neither candidate was willing to offer a coherent account of the economic and social benefits of immigrants, be they asylum seekers or programmers with graduate degrees. Neither was willing to provide a vision for a more humane, progress-oriented immigration system. Neither offered an alternative to the enforcement-dominated status quo. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly pushed his plans to deport scores of undocumented immigrants, end birthright citizenship, and seal the border. If implemented, these policies would tear apart American families, severely disrupt the country's economy, and dramatically expand the size and scope of the federal government. Biden has spoken about immigrants in kinder ways, and he deserves much credit for his efforts to restore refugee resettlement and increase certain legal pathways at the border, but his stances have hardened in ways that are detrimental to the immigration debate and to immigrants themselves. It should be easy for a presidential candidate to explicitly name at least a few benefits of immigration. But tonight, immigration was discussed practically only as it relates to border disorder, obscuring the real potential of immigrants to enrich American life and society. The post No One Defended Immigration at the First Presidential Debate appeared first on Reason.com. No one pointed weapon at KCPD officer who shot 3 people last year, new lawsuit says Another lawsuit has been filed against a Kansas City police officer who has killed three people and faced several other excessive force allegations. Officer Blayne Newton shot three people in June 2023, killing two of them at the intersection near 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. A teenager who was shot in the head survived. No one pointed a weapon at Newton during the encounter, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in the Circuit Court of Jackson County. The lawsuit includes wrongful death claims as well as a count of battery on behalf of the surviving victim, or in the alternative, a claim of negligence. It says the victims presented no threat to Newton and that the officer used an unreasonable amount of force because using deadly force was not necessary under the circumstances. Newton remains on the force in the patrol bureau, Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the department, said Friday. KCPD generally does not comment on pending litigation, he said. The Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project has supported the family of the victims of the triple shooting. Blayne Newton has been allowed to destroy the lives of many and he hasnt been held accountable, said KC LEAPs co-founder Steve Young. This is totally unacceptable. We are looking forward to the day he will no longer have a badge or gun. Triple shooting On June 9, 2023, Newton was driving when he saw a a disturbance between two vehicles. A person on the drivers side of a truck pointed a firearm out the window toward a white van and then drove off. Dashboard camera footage reviewed by The Star showed Newton, who had been behind the truck, pulled up to the passengers side of the white van and opened fire. The van rolled through the intersection before coming to a stop. The passenger in the front seat, Marcell Nelson, 42, who was armed, died, according to attorney John Picerno, who filed the lawsuit. The driver, Kristen Fairchild, 42, was not armed. She also died. A teenager in the backseat was also struck. Two other juveniles in the backseat were not hit. Recordings from other officers called the scene a shitshow. Another said, You cant make this up. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the shooting. It concluded its case Oct. 2 and sent it to the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, Cpl. Justin Ewing, a spokesman for the patrol said. No action has been taken as of yet, according to Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the prosecutors office. History of use of force Newton, who has been with the department since 2017, has previously been the subject of excessive force allegations. A lawsuit filed earlier this year alleges he assaulted a woman at a Platte County Walmart. Newton was working off-duty, but wearing a Kansas City Police Department uniform and driving a department patrol vehicle. Bermeeka Mitchell began live-streaming an arrest when Newton allegedly grabbed and twisted both her arms in a forceful manner, her lawsuit said, and placed the heel of his boot on her foot and grinded it down. According to court documents, the Kansas City Police Departments Office of Community Complaints sustained Mitchells allegations of excessive force. A May 2023 letter from the OCC said disciplinary action was taken, but it did not provide details. On March 12, 2020, Newton shot and killed a 47-year-old unarmed man, Donnie Sanders, after a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue. A federal lawsuit remains ongoing in Sanders death. Later that year, Newton was accused of placing his knee into the back of a woman who was nine months pregnant during an arrest. He was also one of three officers accused of beating and using a police stun gun on a teenager in 2019. According to a review of records by The Star, the Kansas City Police Department paid out more than $6.8 million in settlements for incidents including a police chase, false imprisonment and excessive force from February 2023 to February 2024. NASA astronauts will stay at the space station longer for more troubleshooting of Boeing capsule In this photo provided by NASA, Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, center, pose with Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Mike Barratt, left, and Tracy Dyson, both NASA astronauts, in their spacesuits aboard the International Space Station's Quest airlock on June 24, 2024. (NASA via AP) Two NASA astronauts will stay longer at the International Space Station as engineers troubleshoot problems on Boeings new space capsule that cropped up on the trip there. NASA on Friday did not set a return date until testing on the ground was complete and said the astronauts were safe. Were not in any rush to come home, said NASAs commercial crew program manager Steve Stich. Veteran NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams blasted off aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule for the orbiting laboratory on June 5. It was the first astronaut launch for Boeing after years of delays and setbacks. The test flight was expected to last a week or so, enough time for Wilmore and Williams to check out the capsule while docked at the station. But problems with the capsule's propulsion system, used to maneuver the spacecraft, prompted NASA and Boeing to delay the flight home several times while they analyzed the trouble. They also wanted to avoid conflicting with spacewalks by station astronauts. But a spacewalk this week was canceled after water leaked from an astronauts spacesuit. The issue hasn't been resolved and the planned spacewalk next week was postponed. As Starliner closed in on the space station a day after launch, last-minute thruster failures almost derailed the docking. Five of the capsules 28 thrusters went down during docking; all but one thruster was restarted. Starliner already had one small helium leak when it rocketed into orbit and several more leaks sprung up during the flight. Helium is used to pressurize fuel for the thrusters. Boeing said this week that the two problems arent a concern for the return trip. In delaying the astronauts' return, NASA and Boeing said they needed more time to collect information about the thruster trouble and leaks while the capsule was docked. Both are in the service module, a unit attached to the capsule that burns up during reentry. NASA initially said the Starliner could stay docked at the space station for up to 45 days due to battery limits. But in-flight tests have shown that limit can be extended, Stich said. Officials said they wont set a return date while they do ground tests of capsule thrusters in the New Mexico desert, which were expected to last a couple of weeks. They want to try to replicate the situation that occurred during docking. I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space," said Stich, adding that Starliner is designed for a mission of up to 210 days. Stich said the astronauts could return to Earth in Starliner in the case of a space station emergency. After the space shuttle fleet retired, NASA turned over astronaut rides to private companies. Elon Musks SpaceX has made nine taxi flights for NASA since 2020. NASA plans to alternate between SpaceX and Boeing in ferrying crews to and from the space station. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan has been invited to NATO meeting, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien said during a briefing in Baku today, Trend reports. "Secretary Blinken is hosting an event for all NATO partners, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. So I expect them both to attend. This will be at the foreign minister level. A total of 30 partners will attend," he explained. Will be updated LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) State regulators ruled in December the best solution to protect the Great Lakes from a disaster is to allow the Canadian oil giant Enbridge to build a $500 million, concrete-lined protective tunnel around its aging, 71-year-old dual pipelines. Two advocacy groups, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Michigan Climate Action Network, have now filed a brief asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to reverse that decision, saying there are safer and less expensive alternatives to the proposed Line 5 tunnel. FILE In this photo provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, footage played on a television screen shows damage to anchor support EP-17-1 on the east leg of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline within the Straits of Mackinac, Mich., in June 2020. A federal review of plans for the Great Lakes oil pipeline tunnel will take more than a year longer than originally planned, officials said Thursday, March 23, 2023, likely delaying completion of the project if approved until 2030 or later. (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy via AP, File) The groups maintain the only safe and effective option is to shut down the aging pipeline. Enbridges Line 5 oil pipeline is too dangerous to run through the Straits of Mackinac where an oil spill would be catastrophic, said Howard Learner, Executive Director and Senior Attorney for the ELPC, in a news release Friday, June 27. The 1953-built dual pipelines carry millions of gallons of oil through the Straits of Mackinac every day, and critics and experts have long raised the alarm that its only a matter of time until it leads to disaster in the Great Lakes. Embridge-Line-5-Mich-Ct-AppealsDownload The [Michigan Public Service] Commission failed to fully and fairly assess feasible alternatives to the Line 5 oil tunnel that would be better to avoid climate and environmental risks, and could be more cost-effective, Learner said. As of now, just one more regulatory approval lies ahead of the Line 5 tunnels construction. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the third and final permitting decision before the Line 5 tunnel project can go forward. The long-held concerns about the integrity of the oil pipeline were exacerbated by Enbridges 843,000-gallon crude oil spill in the Kalamazoo River near Marshall in 2010. It was termed the costliest inland oil spill in United States history. Michigan_Pipeline_06012-159532.jpg42277142 The replacement for the current dual pipelines would include a single, 30-inch-diameter pipe within a concrete-lined tunnel, below the lake bed of the Straits of Mackinac. An appeals court last week redirected Attorney General Dana Nessels case against Enbridge back to the 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, where the AG had originally filed the case. In 2020, Judge James S. Jamo of the 30th Circuit Court required Enbridge to temporarily cease operations in the Straits of Mackinac. After this, Enbridge moved the case to federal court after the deadline to do so had passed. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichinger in November 2020 notified Enbridge that the state was revoking the 1953 easement allowing it to operate the dual pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. Protect the Great Lakes, thats the primary responsibility, said Gov. Whitmer in 2021. To make sure this source of drinking water, agriculture, tourism it defines our borders, defines who we are in Michigan and that we protect it and thats exactly what were going to continue to move forward and do. The 2020 notice ordered Enbridge to stop its operations in Line 5 by May 2021. Enbridge defied that order, backed by several chambers of commerce and Republican legislators in Michigan. On the day of the MPSCs ruling to give Enbridge the siting approval for the Line 5 tunnel, proponents argued that the plan represented the best solution for Michigans energy future. Union laborers are counting on the Great Lakes Tunnel, said Geno Alessandrini, Sr., Business Manager for the Michigan Laborers District Council, in December. This is the kind of infrastructure project that makes our energy more reliable, keeps it affordable, and protects our environment. Now, as they appeal MPSCs recent decision in court, environmentalists say the ruling is out of touch with Michigans needs. FILE In this July 6, 2017, file photo, Lauren Sargent, takes part in a protest before the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline public information session in Holt, Mich. The U.S. and Canada will discuss the future of Enbridge Energys Line 5, a key segment of a pipeline network that crosses part of the Great Lakes and is the subject of rising tension over whether it should be shut down, the White House said Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File) The Michigan Public Service Commission is out of step with the public and other state policymakers who have already determined that the best option is to shut down Line 5, said Dr. Denise Keele, MiCANs Executive Director. Constructing a tunnel to transport Enbridges crude oil is not only dangerous but undermines the State of Michigans goal of 100% clean energy by 2040 by investing in unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure that will continue to contribute to climate change too far into the future. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Former first lady Melania Trump was nowhere to be found at Thursday nights debate between former President Trump and President Biden. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment about its guests at the debate, and the former first ladys office did not respond to a request for comment about whether she would be in attendance. I have no specific names, but you will find out when he lands in Atlanta, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told NBC News in an on-camera interview when asked if Melania Trump would be there. Trump was joined upon landing in Atlanta by a host of aides, including top campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, former Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski, communications aide Margo Martin and body man Walt Nauta. When a CNN reporter noted in a post on social platform X that Melania Trump was not among those who deplaned with the former president, the Trump campaigns rapid response account shot back, CNN reporter arrives in Atlanta for the debate and is not accompanied by a spouse or partner. SAD! The former first lady has mostly been absent from her husbands White House bid. She appeared at Trumps campaign launch in 2022, but she has not joined him at any of his campaign rallies, nor did she appear on stage with him following victories in the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary or Super Tuesday primaries. Melania Trump was also absent throughout the former presidents trial in New York City, where he was eventually found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection to a hush money scheme during the 2016 campaign. The first lady hosted a fundraiser for the LGBTQ group Log Cabin Republicans at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in April, and she appeared alongside Trump in March when the two cast their ballots in the Florida primary. She is set to host another Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser in New York next month. First lady Jill Biden accompanied President Biden to the debate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Hill) Former first lady Melania Trump was nowhere to be found at Thursday nights debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment about its guests at the debate, and the former first ladys office did not respond to a request for comment about whether she would be in attendance. I have no specific names, but you will find out when he lands in Atlanta, Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told NBC News in an on-camera interview when asked if Melania Trump would be there. Trump was joined upon landing in Atlanta by a host of aides, including top campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, former Trump campaign aide Corey Lewandowski, communications aide Margo Martin and body man Walt Nauta. When a CNN reporter noted in a post on social platform X that Melania Trump was not among those who deplaned with the former president, the Trump campaigns rapid response account shot back, CNN reporter arrives in Atlanta for the debate and is not accompanied by a spouse or partner. SAD! The former first lady has mostly been absent from her husbands White House bid. She appeared at Trumps campaign launch in 2022, but she has not joined him at any of his campaign rallies, nor did she appear on stage with him following victories in the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary or Super Tuesday primaries. CNN poll: Most viewers say Trump won debate Melania Trump was also absent throughout the former presidents trial in New York City, where he was eventually found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection to a hush money scheme during the 2016 campaign. The first lady hosted a fundraiser for the LGBTQ group Log Cabin Republicans at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in April, and she appeared alongside Trump in March when the two cast their ballots in the Florida primary. She is set to host another Log Cabin Republicans fundraiser in New York next month. First lady Jill Biden accompanied President Biden to the debate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a key meeting of the country's ruling party on Friday, state media KCNA reported on Saturday, a little over a week after Pyongyang and Moscow struck a military defense pact that raised alarms for the United States. At the 10th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea convened on Friday, five items on the agenda were approved, the KCNA said, without elaborating on the agenda. The meeting was presided over by Kim to "review the work done in the first half of the year and decide a series of important immediate issues arising," the statement said. North Korea and Russia on June 19 revived an agreement made during the Cold War-era when their leaders met in Pyongyang, and agreed to provide military assistance if they are ever attacked. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler) MEMPHIS, Tenn. Summer fun is heating up at the Batesville Civic Center, and the excitement continues to build for a good cause. The North Mississippi State Fair and Panola Countys Sheriffs Rodeo will take place Thursday through Sunday. All proceeds from the North Mississippi State Fair and Panola County Sheriffs Rodeo benefit Grace Place and The Encounter Center JRs House. The fair and the rodeo combined is a tremendous help for us and for JRs house. We cant do what we do without the support of the community, said Chris Pope, Executive Director of Grace Place. The community has been very good to us. Getting this support is going to able us to go deeper with individuals and families to help people through their hardest times. There will be endless activities for those who attend the Summer Celebration kickoff. Kids will be able to enjoy many fun activities like goat roping. Live music is expected Thursday night until 10 p.m., and there will also be delicious fair food, rides, and games. Wristbands for rides are $30, and Kids 55 pounds or less can ride goats or sheep. The Bull riding, which starts at 7 p.m., has been something Rodeo organizer Jeremy Smith has dreamed of doing for the community for years. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Originally, when I first thought about it, the fair they used to have a little north of here, they used to have a big 10 rodeo, and they no longer have that and I was like, you know that was always really good, said Smith. I like to bring it back to North Mississippi. I said you know I would really love to have a big rodeo and a state fair. After the rodeo, you can enjoy the concert by the local group Class Act. With all the fun activities, Sheriff Shane Phelps explains how he plans to keep this event safe. Basically what weve done is we have fenced in the fair side and also were putting panels of gates up so theres one way in and one way out. To check people, we put out on Facebook and social media clear bags only, clear purses, said Shane Phelps, Panola County sheriff. We have my department here, five-star security, and also the Mississippi patrol and Oxford PD patrol, so were doing everything that we can to make sure this has been safe for everyone that comes out. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) The death of an inmate at a Northern California prison has launched a homicide investigation involving the inmates cellmate, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). On Thursday, Hector Hernandez was found unresponsive in his High Desert State Prison in Susanville cell by patrolling security officers. Officers called for medical assistance and had Hernandez transported to the prisons triage center where he was declared dead at 1:02 a.m. by medical personnel. Hernandezs cellmate, Jonathan Gonzales, was placed into restricted housing during the investigation and their cell was locked down. Los Angeles man arrested for 1984 Northern California murder The Lassen County District Attorneys Office and the HDSP Investigative Services Unit is carrying out the investigation. Hernandez was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for two county of first-degree murder and had been moved to High Desert from Los Angeles County on April 19. Gonzalez has been at High Desert since Oct. 27, 2016 after being brought from Los Angeles County where he was sentenced to 28 years for extortion by means of force/threat second striker, street gang act in commission of violent felony, and use of a firearm; possession/manufacture of deadly weapon by prisoner, second striker; vehicle theft, prior felony conviction of serious offense; and attempted second-degree robbery, use of firearm, and prevent/dissuade victim/witness. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Notorious OKC motel Plaza Inn, once considered for veteran housing, now set for demolition The former Plaza Inn in south Oklahoma City, a notorious motel shut down after years of drug crime, assaults and murders, is set to be demolished after it was purchased in April by new owners. Efforts to contact the owners, 29th Street Realty, were unsuccessful on Thursday, but records at Oklahoma Citys permit portal show a demolition permit was filed Wednesday by Midwest Wrecking. The property sold to 29th Street Realty for $2.8 million on April 17. Earlier this year, efforts were made to earmark the site as a potential affordable housing project for homeless veterans, but the effort was unsuccessful. The Plaza Inn, 3200 S Prospect Ave., closed in late October two weeks after its ownership agreed to a consent decree with city officials to increase security measures on the property or face a shutdown. Debris is removed from the Plaza Inn in south Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Midwest Wrecking filed a demolition permit Wednesday for the notorious crime infested motel. A local judge gave the 14-day deadline as an ultimatum to the owners, who then closed the motel to remain compliant with the consent decree, according to the former owners' attorney. Once described by a police officer as "the fentanyl den of Oklahoma City," the Plaza Inn was a hotspot of violent crime for many years, with numerous reports detailing deadly shootings and assaults. A previous investigation by The Oklahoman in 2022 uncovered heavy issues with drug overdoses and homeless people on the property, amid broader issues of criminal activity in the area along Interstate 35 in southeast Oklahoma City. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's Plaza Inn once slated for veteran housing now set for demolition Novant Health to lay off more than 170 employees across NC and SC Novant Health to lay off more than 170 employees across NC and SC LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Layoffs have been announced this week at multiple Novant Health locations across North and South Carolina. On June 25, 2024, it was announced that Novant Health located at 6237 Carolina Commons Drive in Indian Land, SC, would be laying off 90 employees. Layoffs take effect on Aug. 25. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice confirmed that 81 people will be laid off at Novant Healths facility located at 101 North Cherry Street in Winston-Salem. The NC layoffs are also expected to occur on Aug. 25. Various positions will be affected by the layoffs including analytics developers, data engineers, and software developers. According to the NC WARN notice, these employees are not represented by a union. Those impacted received a 60-day notice. Statement below released to Queen City News from Novant Health: In 2023, we announced a new IT model for our Digital Products and Services (DPS) team, transferring some DPS services to an external partner. As a continuation of this work, we are shifting additional DPS functions to Deloitte Digital, which will reduce our use of other external partners by more than 90 percent. These changes allow us to scale our resources so we can continue our investment in creating a healthier future for the people and communities we serve. DPS team members will see adjustments in their roles and responsibilities because of this change, while other roles are being phased out. Fewer than 300 team members, or less than 0.8% of the nearly 40,000 positions across our health system, are impacted by this change. Interested team members may have the opportunity to join our external partners or transition to roles within Novant Health. For other team members, we are extending resources to ease the transition and are grateful for their service to Novant Health and our patients. Novant Health Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Number of combat clashes at front line has increased to 131, battles ongoing around Vovchansk Ukraine's General Staff At the front, the number of combat clashes has increased to 131, with the Pokrovsk front remaining the most intense section throughout the entire front line. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook; information as of 18:15 on 28 June Quote: "Battles have taken place throughout the day in the vicinity of Vovchansk. Our soldiers repelled six enemy attacks, and five more are underway. On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces withstood seven assault attempts in the vicinity of Stepova Novoselivka, Stelmakhivka, Synkivka and Kruhliakivka beginning early in the day. Two combat clashes are still ongoing. Fourteen enemy attempts to push into our territory in the areas of Nevske, Makiivka, Torske, Hrekivka and Serebrianka Forest on the Lyman front, were unsuccessful. Three clashes are still underway. The aggressor's losses on this front since the start of the day have reached 90 personnel killed or injured, 5 dugouts, and one ammunition storage point destroyed. On the Siversk front, the Russians launched 19 attacks on Ukrainian positions near Bilohorivka, Spirne, Verkhnokamianske, Ivano-Darivka, Rozdolivka and Vyimka. Our warriors stood firm on defence, repelling 15 hostile assaults. Four battles have yet to end." Details: Three assaults were repulsed by Ukrainian defences on the Kramatorsk front, and two combat clashes are still ongoing. The Pokrovsk front continues to be the hottest location on the front line. The number of Russian assaults in the past day has risen to 36. Ukrainian defence forces' units repelled 27 attacks, and 9 more still ongoing. Battles continue on the Kurakhove front. From the start of the day, the Russians attacked Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka and Kostiantynivka. The overall number of attacks here has risen to 11, with 9 successfully rebuffed and 2 still ongoing. On the Vremivka front, Russians forces attempted to wedge themselves into Ukrainian defences near Vodiane four times. Two clashes are still underway. On the Prydniprovske front, five Russian attacks in the vicinity of Krynky were unsuccessful. The situation is under control. Support UP or become our patron! BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. Issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda between the two nations, as well as the present situation and future prospects for the process of mending bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, were reviewed at the meeting. "The meeting underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the US, rooted in historical ties and mutual interests across various sectors. Bayramov briefed O'Brien on the post-conflict situation in the region and Azerbaijan's ongoing negotiations for a peace agreement with Armenia. It was highlighted that Azerbaijan, as the initiator of the peace process with Armenia, is deeply committed to achieving regional peace and stability. In addition to acknowledging significant progress, there was a strong emphasis on Armenia amending its constitution and legislative acts to renounce ongoing claims on Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Furthermore, concerns were raised about Armenia's policy of militarization and its adverse impact on regional peace and stability. The sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest," the ministry's statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Number of unemployed in Germany rises slightly in June Andrea Nahles, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the Federal Employment Agency, informs the Federal Press Conference about planned measures for labor market integration. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa The number of unemployed people in Germany rose to 2.727 million in June, an increase of some 4,000 over the previous month, data showed on Friday. The unemployment rate in June remained unchanged from May at 5.8%, the Federal Employment Agency said. Compared to a year ago, there were 172,00 more people unemployed. The number of people out of work normally falls in June thanks to seasonal effects. In recent years, however, that trend has been bucked owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and the admission of Ukrainian war refugees. This year's increase, however, is attributed almost exclusively to economic factors. "The weakness in the labour market continues," said Andrea Nahles, chairwoman of the Federal Employment Agency. "Unemployment and underemployment increased noticeably in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. Companies are still cautious in their search for new staff," Nahles said. As a result, the number of registered job vacancies continues to fall. In June, the agency had logged 701,000 vacancies, some 69,000 fewer than a year earlier. An accused cop shooter who claimed a Venezuelan gang is smuggling guns into migrant facilities stayed at a shelter with a X-ray and magnetometer to scan for weapons, officials said. Security guards at the East Elmhurst shelter have been retrained on the proper use of handheld wands and scanning belongings since former resident Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, 19, allegedly shot two NYPD officers, city officials told The Post. But Matas stunning, but still-unverified claim that the bloodthirsty, Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang is using food delivery bags to sneak guns to members has prompted lawmakers of all stripes to call for heightened security at city-run migrant shelters. Bernardo Raul Castro Mata claimed gangs are smuggling guns into migrant shelters. Gabriella Bass Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) said the powers that be are being duped relying on the honor system. Violent criminals are taking advantage of the overly lenient system, and have absolutely no respect for our police, much less the citizen security guards hired to oversee their facilities, she told The Post. The citys migrant shelters have been plagued with security problems, from vicious stabbings and brawls to attacks on cops to security guards raking in up to $117 an hour. Many locals and pols contend lawlessness is spilling from shelters into local neighborhoods an assertion backed by the NYPDs crackdown on a surge of two-heeled heists by migrant moped gangs. A rash of thefts has been linked to migrant moped gangs. James Messerschmidt Only people who live in an alternate universe cannot see the correlation between mass migrant tent cities and shelters and rising crime in neighborhoods, said Joseph Borelli (R-Staten Island), the councils minority leader. Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) said Mata a self-professed Tren de Aragua member who told cops the gang commonly shoots cops in Venezuela is the poster child against open borders and sanctuary city status. This is why everyone coming into our country should be heavily vetted and should not be in our shelter systems which I believe will now have to start using metal detectors, he said. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Queens) said more security in shelters is a given, but more power to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is imperative. Mayor Eric Adams also backed this idea earlier in the year. The shooting has spurred lawmakers to call for more scrutiny at migrant shelters, like this one in Astoria. James Messerschmidt You have people in the City Council yelling about crime but when we want to give our police force more power they start to scream in the opposite direction, Paladino said. But other more progressive council members argued the problem isnt that far from the Big Apple. Diana Ayala (D-Manhattan/Bronx) told The Post that migrant shelters have low level security which is the problem, rather than border policy. This could easily be happening at a city-run shelter, right, where the New Yorker could be smuggling drugs or a gun in which is why we have certain policies within our shelter structures to prevent things like this from happening, she said. The problem with the migrant facilities is they dont have that. She said lawmakers have been calling for metal detectors in those facilities for some time to no avail noting that some people are climbing into these shelters. Matas gun claims have not been verified, officials said. dcpi Some migrants are jumping the fence and then getting in through the backdoor, she claimed. Chris Banks (D-Brooklyn) said turning our attention to border policy and sanctuary status is distracting us from the actual issue. It seems that there has been a great deal of concern that these things are happening but my question is what is the city putting in place to deal with it? Banks said. Matas claims about guns being smuggled into migrant shelters have not been verified, city officials said. He was kicked out of the former Marriott Courtyard along Ditmars Boulevard near LaGuardia Airport after a domestic incident, not a weapons violation, officials said. Security guards at migrant shelters across the city have been ongoing additional training, according to officials. All of our shelter sites have 24/7 security, and we have been clear that anyone who violates the code of conduct or threatens the safety of other shelter residents and staff will be immediately discharged, a City Hall spokesperson said. "The Oakland Fire Department Mourns the Loss of our brother, 25 year old Firefighter-Paramedic Caeden Laffan, who passed away unexpectedly early this morning in San Diego," the agency posted on the social media site X. (Oakland Fire Department) The Oakland Fire Department is mourning the death of one of its firefighter paramedics, who reportedly drowned Thursday morning at Pacific Beach in San Diego. Just before 2 a.m. Thursday, the San Diego Police Department responded to a call from the mother of a missing swimmer at Pacific Beach near Crystal Pier, city spokesman Jose Ysea told The Times. Lifeguards and law enforcement searched the area for two hours for the missing man, Caeden Laffan, 25. Shortly before 5 .m., Laffan's body was found in the sand just north of the pier, Ysea said. Read more: Three friends drove from California to Mexico for a surfing trip. Then they disappeared According to the city of San Diego, Laffan was on vacation with family i to attend the California Firefighter Summer Games. He had reportedly gone swimming alone. Ysea said Laffan's body was taken to the lifeguard tower and later to the medical examiner's office. Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington was notified of Laffan's death by the chief of the San Diego Fire Department. Details of what led to Laffan's death are "still being pieced together," according to a news release by the Oakland Fire Department. "At this time, and according to authorities and responding medical personnel, drowning appears to be the cause of death," according to the Oakland's statement. Read more: Stranded on a remote California beach, this windsurfer used rocks to spell 'HELP' Covington said Laffan was a young, enthusiastic member of the department, "with a bright future ahead of him." Our hearts go out to the entire Laffan family, and all who know him, worked with him, and loved him," he said. Laffans father, Oakland Fire Department Assistant Chief Sean Laffan, died in the line of duty at the age of 42 in November 2020. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A number of former aides to President Obama were sounding the alarm following President Bidens disappointing debate against former President Trump. Former Obama campaign manager David Plouffe called it a DEFCON 1 moment during an appearance Thursday night on MSNBC. And I think thats a tragedy, because I think Trump had so many openings that you could have just scissored him up on tonight, he said. Thursday nights debate performance by Biden, in which he spoke with a raspy voice and stumbled over his words, sparked widespread fear among Democrats. Obviously that debate was a fing disaster, former Obama administration speechwriter and Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau posted Friday morning on the social platform X. We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do that. Former Obama national security spokesperson Tommy Vietor, another Pod Save America co-host, wrote Friday on X that people cant say that the future of American democracy is at stake and then tell anyone concerned about the debate last night to stop bed wetting or grow a spine. Its fing insulting to people who care deeply about the country and know how much is on the line, Vietor continued. Former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod, now a CNN pundit, said the party was rattled in the wake of the debate, and that it would force a discussion over whether Biden should continue. I think there was a sense of shock, actually, at how he came out at the beginning of this debate. How his voice sounded. He seemed a bit disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on, Axelrod said on CNN. I think youre going to hear discussions that I dont know will lead to anything but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. The White House said Biden had a cold during the debate, and his campaign insisted Friday that hell stay in the race. Of course hes not dropping out, Biden campaign spokesperson Seth Schuster told The Hill in the wake of the debate. Former White House national security adviser Ben Rhodes, in a post on X, said he worries about what the debate looks like to young people in this country, who will be key in November. Telling people they didnt see what they saw is not the way to respond to this, Rhodes said in another post Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Obama urged voters Friday to back President Biden in November despite a poor showing by the president in the previous nights debate. Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know, Obama posted on the social platform X. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November, he added, linking to Bidens campaign website. Obamas backing came as some Democrats panicked over their prospects in November following Bidens disastrous showing at Thursday nights debate, hosted by CNN, against former President Trump. The presidents voice was raspy for much of the 90 minutes, his delivery was frequently halting and at times he lost his train of thought or struggled to make his point clearly. A CNN flash poll found 67 percent of viewers said Trump won the debate. Obama was famously criticized over his performance in his first debate of the 2012 cycle against then-Republican nominee Mitt Romney. The former president then went on to win the election. White House and Biden campaign officials sought Friday to shut down any notion that the president will step aside or drop out of the race. Among the Democrats sounding the alarm about Bidens performance were several former Obama White House aides. Obviously that debate was a fing disaster, former Obama administration speechwriter and Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau posted Friday morning on X. We have to beat Donald Trump. We have to have a nominee who can do 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 The Hill. How often is an immigrant approved for asylum in Minnesota? It depends partly on the judge. An Ecuadorian woman named Fernanda came before Minnesota Immigration Judge Katherine L. Hansen, carrying her American-born baby in a blanket. "I don't know if you can grant me asylum," Fernanda said. Hansen directed her to fill out an asylum application by the next court date in 3 months "so we can talk about it." Down the hall from Hansen's courtroom, a Mexican immigrant sat before Immigration Judge Monte G. Miller. "I would like to apologize for entering your country illegally," the Mexican national said. "We don't feel safe in our country." "Sir, I don't judge anybody who comes in," the judge replied. "I don't think you're a bad person at all." But the two migrants facing deportation had very different odds of winning asylum based on the judge alone. Hansen, a former district judge in Detroit, approved 60% of asylum cases in a five-year span the highest rate by far among the six immigration judges at Fort Snelling for whom statistics are available. Miller, a former Hennepin County prosecutor, approved 11%, the lowest in Minnesota. Such disparities nationwide have created a system that some experts have dubbed "refugee roulette," in which a randomly assigned judge plays a large role in whether an asylum seeker wins their case. Unlike the judiciary that most people are familiar with, most immigration court asylum proceedings and documents are not public, juries are not called and immigrants are not provided an attorney if they cannot afford one. Immigration judges across the country approved 35% of asylum applications between 2018 and 2023, according to summary data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, while judges in Minnesota on average granted 30% during that period. The varying asylum approval rates are "outrageous it's a decades-long problem and nobody cares to solve it," St. Paul immigration attorney Kim Hunter said. Judges at the Fort Snelling court could not be reached for comment. Attorneys told the Star Tribune that if their asylum-seeking clients are assigned a judge such as Miller or Brian Sardelli, who has the second-lowest asylum grant rate, at 18%, they may advise them to try to get the deportation case against them dismissed. That alternative granted to immigrants whom the government deems a low priority to deport doesn't give them a path to citizenship the way winning asylum would, but it allows them to stay in the country and submit a new asylum application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be considered administratively. The variance in approval rates "affects my job strategically any attorney doing a service to their client is going to have to look at the numbers and say, 'If I think I have a good case and it's in front of Judge Hansen, maybe I should oppose dismissal," said St. Paul attorney Evan Brown. "But maybe I should try to get the client's case dismissed if it's in front of Miller or Sardelli even if it's a very good case." He explains to his clients that a big part of whether their case will be approved depends on which judge they have. Brown said that when he represented two relatives from Latin America before two different judges, the client who went before Miller lost his asylum case and the one who went before Judge Joseph Dierkes won even though the cases had very similar facts. Dierkes, who recently retired, had a 30% approval rate compared to Miller's 11%. "The 19-point difference between those judges and the results of those two cases shows how important judicial assignments are," Brown said. People are eligible for asylum if they prove they have suffered or fear persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership of a social group. The winnability of a case can vary widely depending on an immigrant's nationality Salvadorans fleeing gang violence are usually denied, for instance. Immigrants not represented by attorneys also face high denial rates. Why the drastic variation between judges? "That's a really great question and sometimes I wish I knew more about the backgrounds of the particular judge that would help explain why they take the views that they do," Minnetonka immigration attorney Steven Thal said. He noted that sometimes they hear it's the type of cases or nationalities, "but when you're at a quarter of the approval rate of most other judges nationwide, there's got to be something that explains that." He said Sardelli had denied asylum to a client who was a Mexican woman claiming that her husband had abused her and she could not get protection because he was a police officer. Domestic violence falls under gender-based violence, which the asylum law covers, according to Thal, "so we certainly felt we had valid, strong ground to obtain that relief. I think either Judge [Audrey] Carr or Judge Hansen would have granted that case." Carr's asylum approval rate is 43%. But Thal said that Sardelli also granted asylum and two other types of humanitarian relief to a different client who suffered forced abortions under China's one-child policy the only case he could recall of any judge granting all three types of relief. Judge Sarah Mazzie, who grants asylum in 21% of cases, also recently approved asylum for a family Thal represents that fled Ghana because the wife was bisexual, the husband was an LGBT rights activist and their son was killed over a presumption that he was gay. Half of Fort Snelling's eight immigration judges formerly represented U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) in deportation proceedings, though one of them, Mazzie, is also a former immigration attorney. Two mainly worked as state or federal prosecutors and another spent most of her career as a district court judge Just one, Carr, spent her career in immigration legal advocacy. Approval rates also vary widely between jurisdictions a series of judges in Atlanta approves less than 5% of asylum cases, and most judges in Houston approve less than 10%. Meanwhile, Immigration Judge Gina Reynolds in Chicago approves 90%, and most judges in that district grant the majority of claims. Some immigrants move to improve their odds. Hunter said she's seen clients who are increasingly savvy about judges' varying approval rates. People from a particular country learn that approval rates are better in a different jurisdiction, and they start investigating whether they might fare better in a different court. Particularly when clients have family members living in those locations, "it's not my place to discourage them from moving." "When I first started and grant rates were more uniform, who we got as a judge was less of a consideration, but now having that data and often having clients come in knowing that data, I think you would be doing your client a disservice if you didn't acknowledge it," said Hunter, an immigration attorney for 23 years. This month, Hunter was scheduled to appear in front of Hansen on behalf of a Somali woman claiming persecution as a victim of genital mutilation and forced marriage. Hunter advised the client that Hansen had a high approval rate and tends to be patient and welcoming. Hunter believed they had a strong argument: case law is well-established that female genital mutilation qualifies for asylum. But the day before their hearing, Hunter learned they would be reassigned to a different judge: Kalin Ivany, formerly a longtime attorney representing the Department of Homeland Security in immigrant removal proceedings. She was appointed to the bench in November. As they waited outside the immigration court, Hunter told the client that the judge was new and there wasn't much information on her. During the hearing, the opposing government attorney asked the Somali woman detailed questions about her claims: that she was forced to marry a senior citizen at age 17, and when her husband died a few years later, his family began pressuring her to marry his brother. When she refused and her own brother tried to intervene, the family killed him and kidnapped her sister. The Somali woman left her baby with family and fled, crossing the Mexican border into the U.S. The woman later said she had been nervous, but in court she steadily answered each inquiry. After an hour, Ivany granted her asylum. The judge said evidence is clear that the Somali government is not taking meaningful steps to stop female genital mutilation; it is reluctant to investigate forced marriage, and reporting gender-based violence often results in harm to women who complain. Afterward, the woman who won her case told the Star Tribune that she knew about the judges' varying approval rates but "I just wanted to tell my story and was hoping that would be enough." At 9 p.m., Joe Biden and Donald Trump began their first televised debate of the 2024 presidential election. Less than an hour into it, various Democratic members of Congress and their staff were frantically messaging each other, panicking about the very real possibility of a second Trump administration and asking one another if theres any way that Biden can be replaced as the partys nominee by the Chicago convention in August. Nine sources across the Democratic elite lawmakers and aides on Capitol Hill, longtime party operatives, moneymen, and even current Biden officials watched the debate in horror, and relayed their candid assessments and visceral panic to Rolling Stone in real time. All feared Bidens performance at the debate could help hand the federal government back to an increasingly authoritarian and openly corrupt Trump and his MAGA zealots. Each one conceded it might be best if the sitting president were not the 2024 nominee, and wondered if, as one Democratic lawmaker put it, an intervention should be staged as soon as possible to push the White House to get Biden to step aside. According to written communications reviewed by Rolling Stone and two sources familiar with the matter, as the Biden-Trump debate was ongoing, several Democratic lawmakers and numerous staffers on Capitol Hill were feverishly venting to one another that Biden should not be the partys pick to face Trump on Election Day in November, and that intra-party pressure should immediately be applied to determine a successor. OH GOD WHY, messaged a Biden fundraiser mid-debate, describing the presidents performance as potentially justifying every hysterical, innuendo-drenched jab Team Trump had ever made about Bidens age and mental fitness. Who allowed him to go on like this? one Biden administration official asked, rhetorically. To be clear, Trumps debate performance was in no way acceptable he lied, blustered, and bluffed his way through the evening. But he appeared superficially alert in a way that Biden simply did not. Biden frequently failed to counter Trumps lies, and when he attempted to do so, he made inscrutable arguments and occasionally lost his train of thought outright. For all of Republicans talk ahead of the debate about how Biden would surely be hopped up on drugs, vitamins, or Mountain Dew, the president appeared sober and distressingly so. Halfway through the debate, NBC News reported, Two sources familiar with the situation say President Biden has a cold. That report did nothing to quell Democrats panic about Bidens performance. Immediately after the debate ended, CNN and MSNBCs panels were filled with chatter about how Democratic Party bigwigs and operatives are spiraling, and trying to figure out a path forward with or without (emphasis on without) Biden. On the surface, Bidens campaign brass presented a calm, happy face to the public by late Thursday night. Tonight, President Biden presented a positive and winning vision for the future of America one in which every American has a fair shot at the American dream, where every one of our rights are protected, and where our president fights to strengthen our democracy not to tear it down, Bidens campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said in a statement blasted out to the media. A Biden adviser similarly said, President Biden is the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump. He will do it again. Donald Trump did not give voters any reason to vote for him tonight. On the issues, the American people are with Joe Biden. Others in the Democratic Party, including some working in Bidens administration, offered a rather different assessment. Disaster, said the Biden administration official. Ben Rhodes, a former Obama administration national security official, posted on X: Telling people they didnt see what they saw is not the way to respond to this. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Ohio is among the top 10 safest states when it comes to workplace safety, according to a new study. The study done by Bader Scott Injury Lawyers showed that Ohio is the ninth safest state for workplace safety. >> UD student dies unexpectedly while studying abroad News Center 7s Nick Foley spoke with Jeremy Stockwell, the Director of Safety for Shook Construction, about what works for them in terms of keeping workers safe. At any given time, their 400 employees and thousands of sub-contractors are working on dozens of projects, like the construction of the new junior-senior high school in West Carrollton. The companys focus on safety has earned them the Dayton Chamber of Commerces Auman Award for Safety Excellence two years in a row and the Association of General Contractors Construction Safety Excellence Award. I rely on my regional safety managers to be out in the field constantly evaluating the status of all of our projects and where were how were doing, Stockwell said. And all of those projects have great build teams that we collaborate very well with project managers and superintendents who are very open and honest with us about where their needs are. >> 83-year-old Ohio man arrested after riding lawnmower chase Stockwell said workplace safety awards are only as good as the workers who follow company guidelines. As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, while the recognition is nice, it comes down to the men and women on construction sites putting the message into action. The ultimate goal is each one of these men and women out here go home, go home every day as a family. So is we the more people we can get to help us do that, were happy to have that help, he said. In addition to the junior-senior high school, Shook Construction is also currently building the new 95,000-square-foot elementary school in West Carrollton. That project is expected to be completed by the start of the 2025-26 school year. Aerial view of the train derailment wreckage in East Palestine. (Screenshot from NTSB B-roll recorded Feb. 5, 2023) Federal officials tasked with investigating last years East Palestine train derailment painted a damning picture of the company responsible for the crash. During a board meeting in East Palestine on Tuesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy described Norfolk Southerns actions as unconscionable. In March, Homendy told a U.S. Senate committee the vent and burn procedure Norfolk Southern pushed for was unnecessary and the company compromised the decision making process by failing to disclose dissenting opinions. This week she added criticism of the companys conduct in the months following the crash. Numerous times, Norfolk Southern failed to provide investigative information to our team, Homendy said. Twice, at the request of staff, I called Norfolk Southern stating I would issue subpoenas to get the information if it wasnt immediately provided to our team. She described how the company falsely claimed it had no record of train car temperatures. In a later interview an employee acknowledged they had those records. The NTSB also directed the company to preserve all records from the crash only to find all but 20 minutes of the trains image recorders had been erased because the locomotives were put back into service. Four times, Homendy said, Norfolk Southern attempted to submit their own evidence for the record, in violation of NTSB rules. Parties are afforded the privilege, not the right, to develop proposed findings from the evidence of our investigation, Homendy said. Parties are not permitted to manufacture their own evidence and develop their own set of facts outside of the NTSB investigative process, which is exactly what Norfolk Southern did. Other board members seemed dumbfounded at how much power the Association of American Railroads, a trade group, has over the industrys regulation. Those of us who come from the aviation industry I think are really mystified by the approach in in rail, board member Thomas Chapman said, where you do have, essentially the trade association setting the regulatory standards. In a press release, Norfolk Southern insisted it and its contractors only motivation in recommending the vent and burn to the unified command was the health and safety of the community and first responders. The company disputed the NTSBs characterization of it withholding information about the potential danger of an explosion. Instead, Norfolk Southern argued it was receiving conflicting information from contractors monitoring the train cars, and that those workers had every opportunity to participate in the unified command decision making process. State and federal reactions Shortly after the derailment, Ohios bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation proposed rail safety legislation. That bill is still awaiting a vote from the full chamber. In press releases, both U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, and J.D. Vance, R-OH, emphasized the necessity of passing their legislation. The NTSB made crystal clear what we have been saying for over a year stronger rail safety regulations are needed immediately, Brown said. Congress needs to pass the Railway Safety Act to enact stronger safety rules and hold the big railroad companies accountable. Meanwhile Vance said, The findings shared by NTSB Chair Homendy today confirm many of my worst fears. The derailment and subsequent chemical explosion were preventable tragedies resulting from a series of errors made by Norfolk Southern and its contractors. These findings underscore the need for Congress to pass the Railway Safety Act, Vance added, which would go a long way to improve our rail safety standards and prevent future disasters like what happened in East Palestine. Gov. Mike DeWine harped on Homendys point about Norfolk Southerns failure to properly communicate what was happening in those train cars. As someone who was on the scene, and who was there, and who was involved in making that decision, the thing that we wanted most of all was facts and information, DeWine said. He said incident commanders were relying on the information they got from Norfolk Southern and its contractors. We persisted and asked a lot of questions, DeWine added And you know, what the NTSB is saying is that they did not give us the answers. When to settle Vance also questioned the wisdom of the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency inking a $310 million settlement agreement prior to the release of the NTSBs final report. The vast majority of that total goes toward past and future cleanup efforts, but it also includes funding for ongoing water monitoring, a health program and a civil penalty. Separately, residents within 20 miles of the crash site are being asked to file claims as part of a $600 million dollar class action settlement. Under that agreement, households within two miles would receive approximately $70,000. If household members file a separate personal injury claim they could receive roughly $10,000 per person. However, the exact amounts will be determined by a settlement administrator and accepting a personal injury requires people to waive future injury claims. Adam Gomez, a partner with a firm that negotiated the deal called Grant & Eisenhofer, acknowledged the NTSBs final report likely stoked anger and frustration for people in the community. But he argued their settlement wouldnt have benefited from waiting for the hearing to take place. A lot of that information while confirmed as findings of fact by the NTSB yesterday, was discussed at length in the testimony and the presentations going back a year ago, Gomez said. He added that through discovery their negotiators have had access to even more information. Most importantly, Gomez contends, their agreement would avoid a years-long court battle. All of that information, he said, went into the determination of whether, as a legal matter, 600 million now would be in the best interest of the community as opposed to a settlement five, seven, 10-plus years in the future if Norfolk Southern were to exercise all of its appellate rights, like we expected them to. Residents have until July 1 to object to the settlements terms or to opt out. Those who opt out will lose access to settlement payments but retain their individual right to sue. If the settlement goes forward, people who didnt opt out, including those who initially objected, will have until Aug. 22 to file a claim. Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio leaders react to NTSBs criticism of Norfolk Southerns East Palestine response appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. VANDALIA, OHIO -Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ohio Republican U.S. Senator JD Vance. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.) Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance is auditioning to be former President Donald Trumps running mate. And just as Trump has a history of taking positions that align with those of Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin, Vances critics say the Ohio senators words about Ukraine must be music to Putins ears. This year, Vance has taken to the New York Times, the Senate floor and even flown to Munich to blast American policy toward Ukraine. Hes voted against support for the beleaguered country. And hes called for immediate negotiations to end the war. The problem is, some experts say, the manner in which Vance wants to do all this would only embolden Putin to try to expand Russias boundaries and undermine neighboring democracies even further. Past autocrats have been quick to abandon their promises when they decide they want more territory and think they can get away with grabbing it. I dont know whether (Vance is) just naive, or whether he is sinister, but either way, his policies go against the interests of all Americans and all citizens of the free world as it relates to Russia and Ukraine, said Bill Browder, an American-born investor turned human-rights activist. Putin repeatedly tried to imprison Browder after he got the U.S. and other western governments to pass sanctions against Russian human-rights abusers. Hes now known as one of Putins fiercest enemies. Vances office declined to respond on the record to detailed questions for this story. In recent public comments, Ohios junior senator conceded that Putin might not be the nicest guy. But Vance said he has more pressing priorities than opposing the Russian president. There are a lot of bad guys all over the world, and Im much more interested in some of the problems in East Asia right now than I am in Europe, Vance said in February. What Putin wants Not only does that cast aside many of the U.S.s staunchest allies, it completely misunderstands the threat posed by Putin, said Tetiana Hranchak, a Ukrainian researcher who fled Putins invasion and now is a visiting scholar at Syracuse University. She said that to understand Putins goals in Europe, one must understand that he sees himself as a successor to people like Joseph Stalin and Peter the Great. In Putins mind, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union were a great humiliation at the hands of Russias greatest enemy the United States-led West, Hranchak said. Putin is obsessed with three goals: Power. Greatness. Revenge. Hes not interested in democracy. Hes interested in the complete subjugation of other people, she said in an interview earlier this month. He wants to create a new Eurasian empire and get even with the Western world and avenge the defeat in the Cold War. Hes trying to separate Europe from the USA and establish his own control of all European countries and it doesnt matter to him how much it costs. In February, when he went to the international security conference in Munich, Vance condemned Putin over the suspicious death of Alexy Navalny, the leader of Russias political opposition, whom Putin had imprisoned. Ive never once argued that Putin is a kind and friendly person, Vance said. However, Vance has doggedly clung to the policy that Putin probably most wants to hear from a U.S. senator and top candidate for vice president that the United States should stop paying to help Ukraine resist Russias invasion. Vance justifies himself by saying Ukraines resistance is futile. I go back to this question about abandoning Ukraine, Vance said in Munich. If the package thats running through the Congress right now, $61 billion of supplemental aid to Ukraine, goes through, I have to be honest to you, that is not going to fundamentally change the reality on the battlefield. Shared burden The senator has also argued that Germany and other western European countries arent paying their fair share to defend their interests in their corner of the world, thus leaving the United States to shoulder the burden. For three years, the Europeans have told us that Vladimir Putin is an existential threat to Europe, Vance said in April. And for three years, they have failed to respond as if that were actually true. Donald Trump famously told European nations they have to spend more on their own defense. He was chastised by members of this chamber for having the audacity to suggest that Germany should step up and pay for its own defense. Trump has long complained that U.S. allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization arent pulling their weight in the mutual-security alliance. Trump has even threatened to quit NATO altogether. Putin was undoubtedly delighted at the prospect of a U.S. withdrawal. Thats true in part because Russia fears NATO security guarantees that have crept closer to Russias borders, Charles A. Kupchan, a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, wrote in the New York Times in 2022. In addition, Democracy is a requirement to join NATO, and Putin fears that its presence in his neighborhood threatens his own, undemocratic power, Robert Person, associate professor of international relations at the U.S. Military Academy, and Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, wrote in the Journal of Democracy the same year. And the argument that Germany and other NATO allies arent paying their share when it comes to Ukraine is debatable. When support for the beleaguered country is considered on a per-capita basis, the United States is only the 16th most-generous country, according to data compiled by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. In addition, Germany in January said it expected to devote 2% of its GDP to defense this year, the notional target that Trump has complained that NATO members not meeting. Difficult numbers As he works to become Trumps No. 2, Vance has argued that Ukraine simply doesnt have the manpower and the United States doesnt have the weapons-making capacity to throw out the Russians and restore Ukraine to its 1991 boundaries. The math just doesnt add up, he argued in an April column published in the New York Times. Ukraine needs more soldiers than it can field, even with draconian conscription policies, Vance wrote. And it needs more materiel than the United States can provide. Kupchan, an expert on European security, said that Vance is likely correct that Ukraine wont be able ultimately to restore its 1991 boundaries, but that Vance is wrong when he badmouths U.S. support for the country. Putin was emboldened to invade Ukraine in early 2022 after the United States and its NATO allies didnt stand more forcefully against the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, said Charles Kupchan, a professor of international affairs at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. While Ukraine faces daunting numbers, Putin faces bleak math of his own as Russia hemorrhages men and materiel. Calls such as Vances to stop U.S. support and try to force Ukraine to make immediate concessions would only embolden Putin, Kupchan said in an interview last month. I think that the goal is to wait out the Russians, Kupchan said. Now the Russians are waiting us out. Theyre waiting for J.D. Vance and Donald Trump and other opponents of aid to Ukraine to win because then (Putin) can have his way with Ukraine. Kupchan said that Ukraine should shift to a defensive posture and that at some point, it might have to cede territory in Crimea or its far east to Russia. But the way to get Putin to stick to any deal is to show him that Ukraine and its supporters are in it for the long haul, he said. We need to flip the script, Kupchan said. We need to make it clear to the Russian leadership and the Russian people that we have more staying power than they do. Ultimately, the Russians are going to tire of this. Theyve lost somewhere around 350,000 people dead and wounded. This is a war that is imposing very considerable costs on Russia. The key here is to make sure that we convince Putin that were going to stay the course. Its only then that I think youll see him cease and desist. Future battles Putins program is widely seen as an expansionist one, and if the United States doesnt pay to help Ukraine resist him there, it could end up paying much, much more to fight him in a place such as Poland. If we cut off funding for Ukraine, Putin has a much higher chance of winning, said Browder, whose dissident lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was tortured and beaten to death in a Russian prison. And if Putin wins in Ukraine putting aside the unbelievable, catastrophic humanitarian disaster that would happen he would move on to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which are NATO allies (which the U.S. is treaty-bound to defend.) And then I can imagine somebody like J.D. Vance arguing, We shouldnt be members of NATO. Why would we go to war with Russia over little countries that most Americans couldnt find on a map. And if he succeeded in that argument, Putin would take those countries and move on to Poland. Poland is a NATO member as well. At that point more reasonable heads would hopefully prevail and say, Well, we have to protect Germany.' As it is, said Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations, the United States is paying relatively little to support Ukraine. The aid that were providing is virtually a rounding error in the U.S. defense budget, he said. But by providing that aid to Ukraine, we are grinding down the military capability of one of Americas primary adversaries. Questionable arguments In an April speech on the Senate floor, Vance scoffed at fears of an imperial Putin. You hear all the time from folks who support endless funding to Ukraine that unless we send resources to Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will march all the way to Berlin or Paris, Vance said. Well, first of all, this doesnt make any sense. Vladimir Putin cant get to western Ukraine. How is he going to get all the way to Paris? That ignores, of course, that Ukraine has been able to keep Putin out of its western reaches thanks in large part to support from the United States support Vance wants to end. When an additional $61 billion in Ukraine funding came to the Senate floor in April, Vance voted against it. Also in his Senate speech, Vance raised what seemed an odd analogy to U.S. involvement with Ukraine. Now, in 2003, I was a high school senior, and I had a political position back then: I believed the propaganda of the George W. Bush administration that we needed to invade Iraq, that it was a war for freedom and democracy, that those who were appeasing Saddam Hussein were inviting a broader regional conflict, Vance said, explaining that he joined the Marine Corps to serve in the war. Does that sound familiar to anything that were hearing today? Its the same exact talking points 20 years later with different names. Except the facts then and now are vastly different. In Iraq, the Bush administration whipped up fears of non-existent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and undertook an invasion while inspectors were still searching for them. The enterprise foundered because its architects apparently didnt grasp the immense nation-building theyd have to do with a population that wasnt thrilled by U.S. presence. Ukraine, by contrast, has a legitimate government begging for U.S. assistance. Two decades after the U.S. invaded Iraq, President Joe Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to avoid a hot war with nuclear-armed Russia. Said Browder of Vances stance on Ukraine: I dont know why (Vance) is doing it, but its obviously an intentional and pro-Russian position. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio senator J.D. Vance accused of playing Putins game appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The composition of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Council of Ministers of Albania has been approved on the part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to the information, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a relevant decree in this regard. Will be updated The entrance to the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System headquarters in Columbus. Photo by Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal. COLUMBUS, Ohio A member of the chaotic teachers retirement pension fund board in Ohio has resigned amid the ongoing controversy possibly changing power dynamics within the system. Steve Foreman, known as a reformer, stepped down as of last Friday, he told OCJ/WEWS. This tip came as a now-archived video meeting was obtained proving Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts claim that board members were promoting a $65 billion partnership with an investment firm that lacks legitimacy. Recap The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) board is made up of 11 members. There are five elected contributing teachers and two elected retired teachers. The governor gets to appoint one investment expert. The speaker of the House and the Senate president get to jointly appoint an expert. The treasurer and director of the Department of Education and Workforce both get to designate an expert. There is a debate on how STRS should invest money through the current system of actively managed funds versus an index fund. Active funds try to outperform the stock market, have more advisors and typically cost more. Index funds perform with the stock market, are seen as more passive, and typically cost less. In short, reformers want to switch to index funding, while status quo individuals want to keep actively managing the funds. Some retired teachers, called reformers, are trying to take back their money, believing that the STRS board has mismanaged their $94 billion pension fund. STRS lost $5.3 billion in 2022 alone. In 2023, it lost $27 million invested in the failed Silicon Valley Bank. In addition to those, the cost of living adjustments (COLAs), were suspended for more than 150,000 retired Ohio teachers for five years starting in 2017. In 2012, the qualifying retirement number was moved from 30 years to 35 years. Last year, this was changed to 34. Then, the board approved $10 million in bonuses for their staff. The reformers are also pushing for transparency. The Ohio Retirement Study Council posted a report that compared STRS with other statewide public pension systems from 1999-2022. During this time period, the average annual STRS return was 6.85%, while the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS) was 6.14%, the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS) was 6.52%, Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F) was 6.76% and Highway Patrol Retirement Systems (HPRS) was 5.88%. STRS staff members have pointed out this data on numerous occasions when addressing that the fund isnt failing like critics say it is. STRS Ohios investment consultant, Callan, shared that STRS Ohios total fund return outperformed its benchmarks and ranked in the top 10% of public funds tracked by Callan for the three-, five- and 10-year periods ending June 30, 2023, STRS spokesperson Dan Minnich said. In May, Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit to remove two members of STRS, stating they are participating in a contract steering scheme that could directly benefit them. Yost started the investigation after documents prepared by STRS employees alleged that Wade Steen and Chair Rudy Fichtenbaum have been doing the bidding of private investment group QED Systematic Solutions. QED was started by former Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf and Jonathan (JD) Tremmel. Metcalf worked under Josh Mandel in multiple capacities, including as general counsel. In 2020, they set their eyes on STRS, according to the main 14-page memo. The documents claim that they despite having no clients and no track record tried to convince STRS members to partner with them. They couldnt impress the board members, mainly because of their lack of experience and also the fact that QED was not registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser. The men also didnt own the technology to facilitate the strategy, the documents say. Then, an evaluation of QED was done by the boards outside consultant, Cliffwater. The company highly advised not to follow their project or use them. The bidding has been allegedly done by Steen and Fichtenbaum, continuously pitching QEDs direct documents to board members and proclaiming the companys talking points to other staff. The AG states that the pair should be removed because they broke their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and trust when colluding with QED. 2021 meeting Back in November of 2021, board members proposed an unprecedented idea. It entails STRS forming a partnership with QED, said Fichtenbaum. OCJ/WEWS obtained a video recording of a now-archived STRS meeting, one that shows members Fichtenbaum, Steen and former member Bob Stein proposing to change their funding system to work with investment firm QED. The full implementation of this agreement could earn STRS more than $4 billion a year, which is more than the employee and employer contributions combined, Fichtenbaum said. This was shut down by nearly every other person at the meeting. I wouldnt even invest my own money in this, former board member Rita Walters said, adding the concept seemed like a Ponzi scheme. Why would I invest that kind of money from the teachers of the State of Ohio? According to Yosts suit, board members want to give $65 billion to QED so that they could allegedly restore the COLA. The mention of $65 billion is patently false, Steen said at a board meeting in May. That was never proposed by me, never proposed by any other board member. Steen felt so strongly about this that in a June 20 court filing in response to Yost, he denied that he and Fichtenbaum ever proposed that STRS invest $65 billion in QED. But that isnt what the recording from 2021 shows. We would make available $65 billion in our inventory in order to implement this strategy, Fichtenbaum said. This wasnt a one-off either. The reformers were forced to address the $65 billion on numerous occasions because the other members and STRS staff seemed flabbergasted by the proposal. The $65 billion number, if you want to earn $4 billion, is correct, Fichtenbaum said. The reformers repeatedly acknowledged that the $65 billion is what is needed to get the return. We would not invest all $65 billion with one manager, Matt Worley, STRS chief investment officer, laughed. That would be crazy. Fichtenbaum was seemingly not happy with all of the questions and interruptions. I dont feel that I am being fairly treated and being given the opportunity just to make the presentation, he said. If you dont want to make $4 billion, or if you dont think this will work, thats fine. The reformers seemed annoyed that the STRS staff wouldnt stop bringing up QED. Youre picking out one thing here, Stein said. Thats why Im focused on QED. Thats why Im focused on this issue, because Im hearing more discussion about an entity with whom well be involved as opposed to a strategy we would implement, Worley said. That being said, the $65 billion wasnt the only thing the reformers proposed. I think I only said $65 billion for the total implementation, but that it could start with $250 million, Fichtenbaum added. This wasnt presented as an all-or-nothing, he added. What has been presented is that, yes, if you want to make $4 billion a year, then we would need to commit the $65 billion That doesnt mean give them, by the way, $65 billion. It means access to the inventory, he said. Youre not writing somebody a check for $65 billion, which would be insane. Bill Neville, the executive director who is currently on leave, asked Fichtenbaum to clarify that. Do I understand the strategy, though, that we would essentially sell $65 billion of our assets and buy treasuries? Is that the first leg of the strategy? Or do I misunderstand even the initial concept? Neville asked. Yeah, Fichtenbaum said, confirming Neville understood correctly. This is a startup thats looking for funding, board member Claudia Herrington said, simplifying the situation for the status quo members. This whole presentation wasnt fair, reformers argued, because they werent being taken seriously. Reaction Case Western Reserve University business law professor Eric Chaffee says the reformers answers are questionable and understands why the AG is investigating. QED has an unproven track record, Chaffee said. Its unclear as to why exactly these board members are focusing on this particular entity and doing it so strongly. And up until Friday, the board was set to be able to put forward whatever policy they wanted until a sudden resignation changed that dynamic. Reformer Steve Foreman put in his resignation effective after the Friday meeting. He said he wasnt ready to do an interview on why he decided to step down but would do one later this week. His resignation email cited his reasoning as retirement. He added in the note that working alongside and knowing the reformers was an honor. This is the email he provided to Fichtenbaum: It has been my distinct honor to serve Ohios educators. I am humbled by their confidence in electing me. Additionally, working alongside you, Wade, Liz, Pat, and Julie, has been what I will always consider to be the pinnacle of those experiences that encompass my career. I play it close to the vest, my belief that helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for that one person. It drives everything I do. I believe, to my very core, that each of you has proven through your tenacious service and actions that you each emulate this principle. It is it an honor to know you all. Foreman did not respond to questions about whether the resignation had anything to do with the chaos inside the board. With this new imbalance, and just in general, Chaffee thinks anything can happen. It makes you wonder what exactly is going on here, he said. Chaffee added that its possible that both the status quo of the STRS board and QED are bad options all coming at the expense of former educators. Right now, there are two vacancies Foremans seat and former Chair Dale Prices seat. Price resigned following the reformers removing him as chair. Prices term expires this summer, so there was an election to find his successor. Reformer Michelle Flanigan is set to take his place in a few months. Foremans seat wasnt up for reelection until August 2026, so the board will need to start taking applications for his replacement. One of his final acts on the board was voting not to give STRS staff raises, which educators applauded. To ask questions or provide comments about the STRS, please fill out the form below or email Morgan.Trau@wews.com with the subject line STRS COMMENT. 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. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Ohio teachers pension fund board member resigns amid controversy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal. The Okaloosa County School District has announced the return of their 'Stuff the Bus' campaign. NICEVILLE It is never too early to prepare. On June 24, the Okaloosa County School District announced the return of its annual "Stuff the Bus" campaign, which allows the community to donate school supplies for students in need for the 2024-25 school year. Last year, the district collected over $11,000 worth of supplies, helping more than 10,000 students across 53 schools in Okaloosa and Walton counties. "Any help that you can give to allow our students to have their own individual supplies would be greatly appreciated." Superintendent Marcus Chambers said in a news release. "I want to thank United Way and the many community sponsors who make a difference in the lives of our students by giving them the much needed supplies that they need each and everyday." Needed school supplies Crayons Colored Pencils Washable Markers Dry Erase Markers Folders Backpacks #2 Pencils (Dixon/Ticonderoga preferred) Mechanical Pencils Glue Sticks Notebooks Composition Notebooks Loose Leaf Paper Binders (one or one and 1/2 inch) Cap erasers Drop-off locations From now until July 23, residents can drop off much-needed school supplies at Beachside Community Church, 200 Racetrack Road NW, in Fort Walton Beach. The dropoff window is Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location will be closed on July 4. On Aug. 2, school district officials will park a bus in the parking lot of United Fidelity Bank, 135 Perry Ave. SE, in Fort Walton Beach. The bus will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stuff the Bus event On Aug. 3, those who wish to participate in Stuff the Bus can take advantage of Florida's tax-free weekend and donate school supplies or money to local schools. The locations for these events are: Walmart - Crestview (3351 S. Ferdon Blvd.) Walmart - Fort Walton Beach (748 Beal Parkway NW) Walmart - Niceville (1300 E. John Sims Parkway E) This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: School supply drive begins in Okaloosa County The Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City said Friday it plans to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court of the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling this week that said a contract between the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School is illegal. By a 3-2 vote last October, the state board approved the creation of St. Isidore and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond quickly sued, saying such an agreement was unconstitutional. The state court heard oral arguments in the case on April 2 and in its decision this week, it ordered the state board to rescind the contract. St. Isidore, operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, is seeking to become the nations first Catholic virtual charter school. The case is being eyed closely due to its religious overtones and potential for a precedent-setting ruling. Attorneys for the state board and St. Isidore have argued the school would actually be a private entity, and not a public school. They said not allowing St. Isidore to receive public funds like Oklahomas other charter schools would amount to religious discrimination that would violate the U.S. Constitution. We will continue to fight this decision and the unconstitutional discrimination against educators and families, a statement on the St. Isidore website said. We remain steadfast in our belief in the promise of this school and in our constitutional right to help serve Oklahoma families through the charter-school program. More: Board's contract with Oklahoma religious charter school illegal, state Supreme Court rules The statement said because of the time it will take for an appeal to work through the court system, St. Isidore will not open as planned for the 2024-25 school year. The archdiocese has said more than 200 applications for the school have been received. John Helsley, a spokesman for the archdiocese, confirmed to The Oklahoman the school would be seeking review from the U.S. Supreme Court. The St. Isidore board considered a public entity, because a charter school is defined by Oklahoma law as a public school met Friday morning in Broken Arrow and approved the following resolution: Given the Oklahoma Supreme Court's adverse ruling, the Board confirms that the School will delay opening to students at least until the 2025-2026 school year, as it seeks review by the United States Supreme Court. Further, the School will not accept charter-school funding from the State of Oklahoma for the 2024-2025 school year. St. Isidore will not accept such funding until at least July 1, 2025." Statewide Virtual Charter School Board holds its final meeting to consider the St. Isidore issue The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board which will cease to exist after Sunday, as it will be rolled into a separate Statewide Charter School Board that will begin operations on July 1 held a special meeting on Friday morning at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. The only substantive items on the agenda were an executive session to discuss the state Supreme Courts order for the board to rescind its contract with St. Isidore and a potential vote to do that. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board is supposed to have five voting members, but in its final days, its down to only three, meaning they all had to attend the meeting to have a quorum. They did, but needing all three of them to vote the same way on an item for it to pass, they essentially accomplished nothing during the meeting. After the executive session, Board Chair Robert Franklin made a motion to follow the state Supreme Courts directive to rescind the contract with St. Isidore, but was joined in that vote only by William Pearson, with Brian Shellem choosing to abstain. Then came another motion for the board to file a motion with the state Supreme Court to clarify the timing of any action the board needed to take. That also received two votes in favor, with Pearson abstaining. Dr. Robert Franklin was one of three board members to attend the final meeting of the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board on Friday at the Oklahoma History Center. Franklin said he assumes the responsibility of taking action on the state Supreme Courts directive now will fall to the new Statewide Charter School Board. Franklin has not been chosen to serve on the new board, which will hold its first meeting on July 8. That board will include nine people but doesnt yet have a full slate of members, although some including Shellem and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters are publicly known. Walters, though not a party to the case decided Tuesday, has intensely criticized the justices who rendered the decision. Franklin said the Statewide Virtual School Charter Board left its successor board in an awkward position and that he was vexed by the result of Fridays meeting. To me, it felt like it was our obligation as a (current) board to take action on it, said Franklin, who was one of two board members last year who voted against establishing the contract with St. Isidore. We find ourselves in a position where we say, OK, well then I guess the next board will do that work. Once that happens, then I guess well find ourselves into the next place where it lands. There is no doubt in my mind that this will work its way to the highest court in the land. I just find it heavy, heavy, for the state of Oklahoma to be at the point of a spear, because it just doesnt seem necessary." Franklin said he assumes the responsibility of taking action on the state Supreme Courts directive now will fall to the Statewide Charter School Board. I think there will have to be a place where the (new) board, ultimately, has to make that decision, is forced to make that decision," he said. "I guess that board could choose not to follow the (state) Supreme Courts orders. I find that really, really uncomfortable and unconstitutional, but I guess its possible. Board member William Pearson attends the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board meeting Friday at the Oklahoma History Center. Franklin said he didnt think it was any state boards responsibility to file any appeal for a rehearing with the state Supreme Court: Its not our boards place to be an advocate for that. Its not. Thats for other sides counsel to make that process work. Theres also a second lawsuit involving St. Isidore, one filed in Oklahoma County District Court by a group of taxpayers involving similar arguments to the ones made by Drummond in his case. On June 5, District Judge Richard Ogden allowed most of the case to proceed, rejecting a motion for dismissal. Hed scheduled a three-day hearing, to start July 24, on a motion made by the plaintiffs for a restraining order to prevent state money from flowing to St. Isidore. On Thursday, though, Ogden cancelled that hearing. During the June 5 hearing, all sides in the case and Ogden acknowledged in court that any state Supreme Court decision might render that hearing unnecessary. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Archdiocese to appeal Oklahoma religious charter school ruling to SCOTUS The Board of Directors for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, along with Tulsa Bishop David Konderla, second left, and Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, third left, meet June 28, 2024, at the Diocese of Tulsa's Chancery Office. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) BROKEN ARROW Leaders of an Oklahoma Catholic charter school said they will continue to fight to open the school after the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected their attempt to operate as a state-funded entity. Meanwhile, a state board in Oklahoma City failed to comply with the state Supreme Courts order to rescind the founding contract for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. All three sitting members of the five-seat Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board needed to vote in favor of nullifying the contract for it to pass, but only two members did so. Gov. Kevin Stitts appointee to the board, Brian Shellem, abstained rather than taking a vote. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board chairperson Robert Franklin leads a meeting Oct. 9 at the Oklahoma History Center. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Board chairperson Robert Franklin said the result left him with a heavy feeling to not carry out the Courts ruling. That was my hope that we were going to be able to move that forward today didnt happen, Franklin said afterward. And so, the legal machinations that will evolve from here Im not really sure where it lands, to be honest with you. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board is on the cusp of converting next month into the Statewide Charter School Board, which will oversee more types of charter schools, virtual and not. It will have a mostly new set of members appointed by the governor, legislative leaders, and the state auditor and inspector. The matter of the Catholic charter contract will pass over to the new board, Franklin said. I guess the new board will have to pick this up and deal with it as it comes forward, he said. But I tried to do everything I could. St. Isidores Board of Directors met Friday at the Diocese of Tulsas Chancery Office to prepare its next steps. The board said it wont accept any state funds for the school until July 1, 2025, at the earliest. Given the Oklahoma Supreme Courts adverse ruling, the board confirms that the school will delay opening to students at least until the 2025-2026 school year, as it seeks review by the United States Supreme Court, board member Harrison Garlick said while reading the boards resolution aloud. Tulsa Bishop David Konderla and Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley attend a Board of Directors meeting for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School on Friday at the Diocese of Tulsas Chancery Office in Broken Arrow. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) The state Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled it unconstitutional to open a state-funded religious school. St. Isidore students would be taught Catholic doctrine and required to attend mass. None of the board members nor Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley and Tulsa Bishop David Konderla spoke with news media after their meeting Friday. Instead, they referred reporters to a statement posted to the schools website. The statement informs families interested in St. Isidore they will have to enroll elsewhere for the 2024-25 school year. More than 200 students had applied for enrollment, Catholic leaders said. We will continue to fight this decision and the unconstitutional discrimination against educators and families of faith, and we are currently in discussions with the legal team as to our next steps for appealing the decision, the statement reads. Attorneys defending St. Isidore contend charter schools, though they are publicly funded, are privately run and therefore arent subject to the same prohibition as public schools against adopting a religion. Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James R. Winchester attends the governors State of the State Address on Feb. 5 at the state Capitol. Winchester wrote the Courts majority opinion against allowing a publicly funded Catholic school in the state. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) Six of the nine justices disagreed. A majority of the Court found charter schools meet the same legal definitions as public schools, and therefore they are subject to the same statutory and constitutional obligations as public school districts. The Legislature created Oklahoma charter schools, and Oklahoma law treats them as public schools and governmental bodies, Justice James R. Winchester wrote in the majority opinion. They are creatures of state law and may only operate under the authority graduated to them by their charters with the state. St. Isidore will be acting as a surrogate of the state in providing free public education as any other state-sponsored charter school. St. Isidore seeks to be a free, online school open to students statewide. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the schools application to become a publicly funded charter school in a 3-2 vote last year. The small state board, which oversees all virtual charter schools in Oklahoma, then issued St. Isidore a charter contract to formally establish it. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered the state to rescind that contract, effectively blocking the school from opening. We believe this decision stands as an injustice against the many families who only desire a choice to pursue the education that is best for their own children, St. Isidores statement reads. And we will continue to work as faithful Catholic educators to help expand those choices for all Oklahoma families. A separate lawsuit a group of local parents, faith leaders and education advocates filed against St. Isidore and the state will continue in Oklahoma County District Court. But in light of the Supreme Court decision, both sides of the case agreed on Thursday to put that lawsuit on hold until Feb. 1, with St. Isidore promising not to accept any state funds or attempt to open during the 2024-25 academic year, court documents show. The plaintiffs are represented by multiple national legal organizations, including Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Americans United president and CEO, Rachel Laser, said the lawsuit raises issues the state Supreme Courts ruling doesnt address, such as questions of whether the school would discriminate on grounds of religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. We think that it is very unlikely that the U.S. Supreme Court would grant review of the Oklahoma Supreme Courts decision and overturn it, Laser said. But even if it were to do so, we will still be able to prevent St. Isidore from operating and receiving state funding as a public charter school because our case is broader than the case before the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Editors note: This story has been updated to add new developments in the Oklahoma County District Court lawsuit over St. Isidore. Reporter Kennedy Thomason contributed to this report. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Oklahoma Catholic charter school pledges to fight Court ruling. State fails to void its contract. appeared first on Oklahoma Voice. Will Oklahoma finally get a Buc-ee's? Official confirms Sooner State in the running The Amarillo City Council unanimously approved an economic development agreement to bring the Buc-ees Travel Center chain to eastern Amarillo at I-40 and Airport Road. Bucky the Beaver fans, rejoice. Oklahoma may be another step closer to getting that Buc-ee's store after all. Buc-ee's General Counsel Jeff Nadalo confirmed that the chain of Texas-sized country stores has its sights set on Oklahoma for future locations, reports KHOU. Here's what we know. More: Do all roads lead to Buc-ee's? Not yet Oklahoma, but here are possible sites around OKC Will Oklahoma get a Buc-ee's? Bucky the Beaver and a manager from Buc-ee's greet the crowd Thursday at the Buc-ee's groundbreaking in east Amarillo. Maybe! But it will be a while. Buc-ee's regularly announces plans for new locations, many of which are slated for completion in a few years. Some of the newest Buc-ee's locations include Johnstown, Colorado; Hillsboro, Texas; Smiths Grove, Kentucky. The company has listed a few target openings for locations that are on the way: Amarillo, Texas: 2025 Brunswick, Georgia: 2025 Rockingham County, Virginia: 2026 Boerne, Texas: 2026 There have also been announcements for stores in development by local officials. MORE: What's so great about Buc-ee's? Fans love the food, gas pumps, mascot, sparkling bathrooms If Buc-ee's did come to Oklahoma, where would it be? While we dream, The Oklahoman previously asked some experts where a Buc-ee's might eventually land around Oklahoma City. David Hartnack, managing director, owner, and retail property specialist, for OKC's NAI Sullivan Group suggested that the chain would target rural areas between major population centers off the interstate. "This makes me think of areas like Chickasha, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 and Interstate 44," he previously told The Oklahoman. "Buc-ee's has also seemed to open stores on interstates on the outskirts of major metros. I could see a site in Purcell or Newcastle making a lot of sense for them, although personally I'd love to see a Buc-ee's in Stroud, half way between Tulsa and OKC," he said. MORE: USA Today's Best Gas Stations for Food: Buc-ee's is No. 10 This is the massive Buc-ee's store in Daytona Beach on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. A recent study by the City of Daytona Beach found that the super-sized 104-pump gas station and 53,000-square-foot travel convenience center next to the Interstate 95/LPGA Boulevard interchange drew 5.4 million visitors over the past 12 months. Stuart Graham and Mark Inman, senior vice presidents and retail property specialists with CBRE Group said the chain might locate closer to OKC, perhaps off I-40 in Midwest City or Yukon. Due to Buc-ee's large site size requirement, potential sites may be selected at the edges of the market, such as on I-35 south of OKC. "OKC residents, myself included, would like to see them closer into the OKC area for ease of access, but assembling land closer to the city is more difficult. Buc-ee's seems to be a bit of a travel stop, so an ideal location might be on the side of a highway that is inbound travel into a metro area." MORE: USA Today's Best Gas Station Brands: Buc-ee's is No. 10 Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize Charlie Dilbeck of Punkin Center, Texas, poses with a statue of Bucky the Beaver at the Buc-ee's in Fort Worth, Texas. PROVIDED BY SANDRA DILBECK This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Buc-ee's location may be coming, official confirms A judge already accused of drive-by shootings in Texas and Oklahoma now faces a sex scandal that could cost him his job. The Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary was asked Thursday to remove Garfield County Associate District Judge Brian Lovell from office for corruption, oppression, gross neglect of duty and other misconduct. Among the allegations is that the married judge exchanged sexually graphic messages and images with court staff during courthouse hours and that he also engaged in sex with court staff at the courthouse during courthouse hours. Brian Lovell Making the request for discipline is John Kane, the chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Kane wrote in a petition that Lovell's conduct undermines public confidence in the judiciary. Lovell is accused in an indictment in Texas of recklessly shooting at eight parked vehicles from his SUV on Sept. 11 while driving in Austin. He is accused in an indictment in Oklahoma of shooting up his brother-in-law's ranch house near Bison in northern Oklahoma on Feb. 12, 2023. No one was injured in either incident. The chief justice did not ask the Court on the Judiciary to take up the drive-by shooting accusations. He explained he wanted "to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of the criminal proceedings or of this proceeding." Lovell, 59, has declined to talk to the media since September. He is not now presiding over cases. What is the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary? The Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary is a special court that last removed a judge from office in September 2020 after a trial that lasted 13 days. The court was set to hear testimony in February against Lincoln County District Judge Traci Soderstrom but she resigned days before trial. She was facing removal because she repeatedly texted and got on Facebook during a murder trial. Lovell was a special judge in Garfield County from Feb. 1, 2011, to Jan. 9, 2023. He has been an associate district judge since then. He was in a sexual relationship with a female bailiff when he first became a special judge, according to the petition. The sexual relationship continued until October 2011 and included "liaisons at the Garfield County Courthouse during courthouse hours." That bailiff decided to end the relationship, told her judge about it and resigned, according to the petition. Lovell was allowed to keep his job. He took up with another female bailiff in July or August 2023, engaging in a sex act with her in the courthouse during courthouse hours, according to the petition. They exchanged sexually graphic text messages and images on Aug. 15 and inappropriate messages Aug. 30 during courthouse hours, according to the petition. "On Saturday, September 9, 2023, Judge Lovell went to the Garfield County Courthouse and had sex with Bailiff 2 as referenced in their text message exchanges," the petition alleges. Lovell admitted during an investigation by the Council on Judicial Complaints to flirtatious texting with the second bailiff but denied having sex with her. The second bailiff told the council they did have sex. She has resigned. Lovell also is accused of repeatedly showing favoritism toward an attorney in cases and improperly sealing a misdemeanor case from public view. The accusations against the judge in Texas received national attention. Lovell told an Austin police detective he "did not know why he would have shot his gun and he could not recall any part of the shooting incident," according to court affidavits. In a statement to the media, the judge's attorney, Stephen Jones, criticized the investigation done by the Council on Judicial Complaints. He said the judge was ambused. "Judge Lovell is not guilty of gross neglect of duty, corruption in office, commission while in office of any offense involving moral turpitude, gross partiality in office, oppression in office, and any other grounds specified by the Legislature," Jones also said. "He has not been convicted in any court of law. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence. "The actions of the Council on Judicial Complaints should be a warning to every judge in this state that their tenure and professionalism can be attacked by unfair procedures and investigation techniques." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma judge already indicted for drive-bys now faces sex scandal GROVE, Okla. Lawmakers in The Sooner State take time to celebrate successes in this years legislative session while also noting missed opportunities. At an Eggs and Issues event in Grove Friday morning, State Senator Tom Woods and State Representative Steve Bashore told the crowd there were several items they were pleased to see passed this year, like a law enforcement pension increase. However, both men say their fellow lawmakers passed on chances to address certain issues. For example, a bill known as Lauria and Ahleys Law. Bashore says that bill would have added accessory to murder in the first or second degree to a list of crimes requiring a person to serve 85-percent of their prison sentence before being eligible to request parole. The bill was named after Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, who have been missing since 1999. Convicted felon Ronnie Busick pleaded guilty in 2020, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a reduced charge of accessory to felony murder. He was released last year for good behavior. Lauria and Ashleys Law passed out of the state house, but was never taken up for debate in the senate. Lauria and Ashleys law stalls; Bible family outraged I was told it wasnt true criminal justice reform. That I find absolutely asinine, especially when you have this person who did this to these two girls, and still walking around, nothings wrong. Didnt do anything. Just out here walking. Could happen to me, could happen to anyone. And for us just to turn around and turn our backs on this family and say, this isnt true criminal justice reform is just absolutely ludicrous, said St. Rep. Steve Bashore, (R)-7th District. I was not happy to see the $35 million that would have helped the vinita community, I think the investment in northeast oklahoma, the amusement park, I think I was unhappy to not see that get funded. I was happy to see sb 102, the police pension retirement bill, I was happy to see that pass and get signed, said Senator Tom Woods, (R)-4th District. The Oklahoma legislature will convene on January 7 of next year. The legislative session where work will begin on bills submitted to the house and senate starts on February 3. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Oklahoma Schools Are Now Required to Teach the Bible and Ten Commandments "The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone," said Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, adding that he expects schools' "strict" adherence to the mandate Getty The Bible Oklahoma schools are now required to incorporate the Bible into their curriculum due to a new state mandate from the Oklahoma superintendent. Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction, announced the news at the Oklahoma Board of Education meeting on Thursday, June 27, and sent a memo to schools announcing the changes, according to KFOR-TV, Fox 23 News and CNN. Related: New Louisiana Law States The Ten Commandments Must Be Displayed in All Public Classrooms In the memo obtained by KFOR-TV, Walters ordered that the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, be taught in classrooms from grades 5 through 12. He also noted in the memo that the Bible is one of the most historically significant books and has had a substantial influence on our nations founders and the foundational principles of our Constitution. He added that adherence to the new mandate was compulsory and that immediate and strict compliance is expected. Related: Utah School District Bans Bible for Vulgarity and Violence, Which Violates a GOP-Backed State Law The Oklahoma State Superintendents Office and Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office told KFOR-TV in a statement that Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction. Oklahoma state law says that individual school districts have the authority to determine curriculum, books and instructional materials that students would use, according to Associated Press. Related: Okla. Lawmaker Cites the Bible in Defending Use of Corporal Punishment Against Children with Disabilities Michael Smith/Staff/Getty Images The Ten Commandments Several groups have criticized the new mandate, including Interfaith Alliance, a group which protects religious freedoms. They told CNN in a statement that the mandate was blatant religious coercion that should have absolutely no place in public schools in Oklahoma or any other state. True religious freedom means ensuring that no one religious group is allowed to impose their viewpoint on all Americans, they added. The vast majority of people of faith in this country reject these dangerous, intimidating efforts to force a Christian nationalist agenda into our schools, our courts and our government. 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. Public schools are not Sunday schools, Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told AP in a statement. This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone elses children. Not on our watch. Earlier in June, Louisiana similarly passed a law ordering that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom from kindergarten to state-funded universities. The poster-size displays must be in a "large, easily readable font," according to the bill. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on an official visit to Hungary, met with the Minister of Defense of Hungary Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The first place that was visited was Heroes' Square in Budapest, which is the traditional location for the laying of a wreath. At the official welcoming ceremony held in the Hungarian Defense Ministrys building, the Defense Ministers passed along the guard of honor. Following the performance of both countries national anthems, accompanied by a military orchestra, the Distinguished Visitors' Book was signed. The meeting emphasized the successful development of Azerbaijani-Hungarian bilateral relations and the importance of such visits in terms of expanding relations in the military, military-technical, and military-educational spheres. A detailed exchange of views on the prospects for the development of joint military cooperation and a number of issues of mutual interest took place. A press conference was called for members of the media at the conclusion. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Betty McCollum are calling on the White House to create an Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls within the Department of Justice (DOJ). Their call comes as Saturday marks what would have been the birthday of Britanny Clardy, a St. Paul woman who went missing in 2013, and whose disappearance prompted Minnesota lawmakers to look more closely at disparities Black women face. "This complex issue deserves a whole-of-government approach led by your Administration to help all states protect and care for our most vulnerable communities. And there is a strong precedent for similar actions," Omar and McCollum said in a letter to President Joe Biden. Omar previously introduced the Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act in Clardy's memory. It was co-sponsored by all of the Democrats in Minnesota's congressional delegation. However, that bill has remained in the Republican-controlled House since it was introduced in December. Clardy's disappearance led Minnesota lawmakers to create a task force to look into why Black women face higher rates of violence. State legislators later acknowledged these disparities and created one of the nation's first Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls. Former President Donald Trump previously signed an executive order which established the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. On the heels of that initiative, Omar hopes that she and McCollum will be able to have similar success with the Biden administration "Our hope is that it does resonate with them, and that they see the importance and are able to make sure that it's created and that there is implementation and that this work does happen," Omar said in an interview Friday. The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on Omar and McCollum's request Friday. Omar said she hopes Vice President Kamala Harris "will give this a thought," and that the White House will support it. "Establishing a national office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls at the U.S. Department of Justice would follow Minnesota's lead at the state level," McCollum said in a statement. "Every Black woman and girl in Minnesota and across America deserves to be safeand when violence is perpetrated against them, they deserve the dignity of justice." The Duke Energy Convention Center sits along Elm Street in Downtown Cincinnati. Elm Street between Fifth and Sixth streets is closing for a renovation of the convention center, but will remain closed as part of what will be known as the Convention Center District. Elm Street, a main north-south corridor in Downtown Cincinnati, will close between Fifth and Sixth streets in front of the Duke Energy Convention Center starting Monday, when the convention center closes for an 18-month renovation. But, Cincinnati City Council voted earlier this month to close that portion of Elm Street forever as part of what will become the Convention Center District, which includes a grassy plaza space to the east. Elm Street currently runs north between the convention center and the plaza. Drivers on Elm will be redirected north via Vine Street. Pedestrian access will continue to be allowed on Elm via a sidewalk on the east side of the site while construction is underway. "This will connect the convention site, the hotel, the Saks Fifth Avenue building project and the Foundry to be a corridor of activity and vibrancy," Councilman Reggie Harris said. "That is the idea behind closing the street." Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is creating a convention center district that starts with a renovation of the Duke Energy Convention Center, but will include a park plaza across the street where the old Millenium Hotel was located and a convention center hotel, which will be built south of the convention center. To the west of that project, 3CDC is redoing the former Saks Fifth Avenue building which will complement the former Macy's department store building, which is now known as The Foundry. Both are adjacent to Fountain Square. Harris said the renovation will include a way for emergency vehicles to access the site, which means Elm Street if ever needed could be re-opened. For updated closure information follow the Cincinnati Department of Transportation and Engineering on X, formerly Twitter, @WeMoveCincy. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's Elm Street closes forever part of convention center re-do One arrested on murder charge in connection to Grove Street killing in Elmira One arrested on murder charge in connection to Grove Street killing in Elmira ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) An Elmira man is in custody on Friday after police said he is connected to the shooting death of a man on Grove Street last Thursday, June 20. According to the Elmira Police Department, 27-year-old Marcus A. Jones-Snyder was arrested on Thursday, June 27, on the charge of murder in the second degree, a class A-1 felony. The arrest comes one week after the shooting death of 21-year-old Zachary T. Van Horn at a home on Grove Street in Elmira. Original Post: 21-year-old killed Elmira homicide; suspect still on the run The report states that police began developing a suspect after the shooting and found Jones-Snyder as a primary suspect, leading to a week-long manhunt. Elmira Police worked with several different agencies in Steuben County along with New York State Police to locate and arrest Jones-Snyder on Thursday. Jones-Snyders preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 2 at 1 p.m. Police said the investigation is still active, and asked that anyone with any additional information on the incident contact the Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. A section of roof at New Delhis airport collapsed following heavy rain on Friday, crushing one man to death and injuring eight others in the latest high profile infrastructure disaster to dent Indias image. Due to heavy rain since early this morning, a portion of the canopy at the old Departure forecourt of Delhis Terminal 1 collapsed around 5 am, a statement from the Indira Gandhi International Airport said. All departures from Terminal 1 are temporarily suspended, the statement added. Delhi Fire Services assistant divisional officer Ravinder Singh said rescuers got to the scene to find two support pillars had collapsed over a car. There were eight injured and one man died, Singh told CNN, noting that images showed a man died in the car as the pillar fell on it. It took us a little longer to get his body out. Our rescue operations ended in 20 minutes, he said, adding the wounded were taken to hospital. Photos of the scene released by the fire service showed the large white canopy of the roof had plunged to the ground, crushing several cars. One person could be seen slumped under twisted metal in the drivers seat of one of the cars. Indias minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, said he was personally monitoring the collapse in a statement on X. Parts of the capital territory of Delhi experienced heavy rainfall this week, flooding roads and submerging cars. The showers brought some respite from weeks of blistering heat after the city experienced temperatures as high as 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 degrees Fahrenheit) its highest on record straining the countrys electricity grid and power supply. Fridays incident is the latest in a string of collapses and other mishaps in the nation of 1.4 billion, which in recent years, has prioritized spending on grand infrastructure projects and upgrading its aging transport network. Earlier this month, at least nine people were killed and dozens of others injured after a cargo train collided with a passenger train in eastern India. In 2022, some 135 people were killed when a newly renovated suspension bridge collapsed in Morbi, in the western state of Gujarat, in what was described as one of the worst public safety tragedies in recent years. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com How one Raleigh high school student inspired more help for NC kids in foster care Marissa Blount and two of her siblings were put in foster care, after her family moved into her mothers room at a rehabilitation center where she was a patient in 2016. They had nowhere else to go. The trauma of leaving family to live with strangers at age 8 could have set her on a path of violence, substance use and other problems, the rising Broughton High School junior said. But the path she took, with support from others, made her stronger and gave her a desire to help other children, she said. You have to look at my life is getting better because of this, and I need to take such a traumatic experience and something I know will shape me forever, and change it into something so positive, change it into something you can learn from, said Marissa, now 15. Being separated from her family without opportunities for fun and to make friends also inspired her idea to help young kids in foster care facing similar situations, Marissa said. Her persistence and ability to inspire adults led to Wake Countys pre-LINKS program, said Emma James, the countys 4-H youth development coordinator. The program offers activities and skills development for pre-teens in foster care and their siblings. Marissa Blount in the bedroom of her home on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Raleigh, N.C. Blount, a foster child, spend part of her childhood sharing a hotel room with six other family members, before being fostered by Caitlin Meagher and Sarah Roberson. Marissa leaves a lasting impression of authentic kindness and love for others, with a strong sense of justice to advocate for others, James said. I work with a great deal of young people and all have unique and beautiful gifts to be celebrated, and Marissa just shines with her voice for youth. Seeing an unmet need for young children Her parents always made sure their children had food and a roof over their heads, Marissa said, but they struggled to make ends meet and moved around before leaving New Jersey for North Carolina. Wake County child welfare workers met with her family in 2016 after they arrived in Raleigh and an older sister with mental illness became abusive, she said. They were living in a hotel, and her mother, who couldnt afford insulin for diabetes, was soon hospitalized and put into a medicated coma, Marissa said. When her mom was moved to a Raleigh rehabilitation center, Marissa, her dad and two siblings moved with her. The centers staff contacted Child Protective Services, Marissa said. After a short stay with a foster family, she went to live with the Raleigh couple who are now her guardians. As the youngest of four siblings all of them years older than her she learned a lot about life at an early age, Marissa said. Just seeing that way we lived and I know its something that my parents couldnt control and it also can be a generational thing I just knew I didnt want to live in these types of circumstances, Marissa said. She was 9 when she got the idea for pre-LINKS, Marissa said. Her older sister was in the NC LINKS program, which offers fun activities and independent living programs for young people ages 13-21 in foster care. There was nothing for kids her age, Marissa said. Wake County Human Services worked with the nonprofit youth organization 4-H to start the pre-LINKS program in 2019, offering foster children a safe space to talk with friends who understand the experience of changing families or working with caseworkers, James said. At age 11, Marissa helped make a video promoting pre-LINKS as it was being launched. In the video, Marissa sits on a couch as she explains the programs potential I think this will be nice, because other foster children can meet other foster children, and they can share their stories, the younger Marissa says in the video. If you miss your mom or you miss your dad or grandma or grandpa, whoever you lived with before you came in, and then another person has that same connection, yall could be friends for a very, very long time. pre-Links offers fun, support The pre-LINKS group meets twice a month and serves about 20 foster children at any one time. Similar to a traditional 4-H club, it offers STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and agricultural-based programs, service-learning projects, competitions, field trips, and summer camps. The kids take the lead in choosing what they want to talk about and learn, James said. The adult mentors and volunteers who guide them are trained in trauma-informed care, a more empathetic way of recognizing and understanding difficulties that others have experienced. Marissa Blount stirs the pasta as she cooks dinner with her guardians Caitlin Meagher and Sarah Roberson at their home on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Raleigh, N.C. The program had to scale back during the pandemic but is ramping up again, James said. Its just a very unique situation for each child, and if theyre in a comfortable space, they feel safe, they can talk about that, she said. Theres no judgment. While Marissa regularly visits her mother and siblings, her father disappeared from her life in 2022 with no warning, she said. He was a very important part of my life growing up, and she hopes to see him again one day, she said. All of us have been through something that has changed us, Marissa said. It doesnt matter if you come from the highest, most monied family, or you come from the poorest family with no money. Or you have this skin color, or you identify as this gender. Whats important is just the outlook and the mentality that you have and if you choose to pick yourself off the ground every single day, she said. For now, Marissa continues to advocate for the pre-LINKS program, and one day would like to volunteer, she said. She also has her sights set on being a first-grade teacher. More details about NC LINKS and pre-LINKS Pre-LINKS is a Wake County 4-H Club for pre-teens in foster care and offers a safe place to have fun and learn through service projects, programs, field trips and summer camp. NC LINKS offers two statewide programs through local Department of Social Services offices. Teens ages 13-15 explore mental and emotional health, school success, careers, and healthy bodies and relationships. Young adults ages 16-21 learn about transitioning to adulthood, jobs and higher education. Learn more about both programs at tinyurl.com/2pz452h3. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A large barn fire just north of the Salt Lake International Airport has seriously injured one person and shut down a nearby road on Friday, June 28. Captain Brandt Hancuff with the Salt Lake City Fire Department told ABC4.com that a call for the barn fire came in at about 10 a.m. on the west side of the city, just north of the Salt Lake International Airport. First responders reported finding the barn fully engulfed in flames. The barn is reportedly full of large bales of hay, each weighing over 2,000 pounds, as well as large machinery such as tractors. Hancuff said the bales of hay and tractors are a total loss. One person has been seriously injured in the fire and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Hancuff confirmed that the person was a civilian and not a firefighter and said they are expected to be ok. The fire has reportedly been an issue for firefighters, who have been experiencing a water supply issue. Hancuff told ABc4.com the nearest fire hydrant is over two miles away. Usually, its not a concern within Salt Lake City, Hancuff explained. But out here on the west side where we have these century-old farms that have been in operation for so long, these water supplies arent nearby. To make up for the distance, Hancuff said firefighters have established a water shuttle line, ferrying water from the hydrants to the scene of the fire. The Salt Lake City Public Utilities department has also increased flow to the hydrants to assist the firefighters in getting the water they need. Hancuff said haybale fires can last for hours and hours and he expects crews to be working into the night extinguishing the flames. Right now, our plan of action is to pull these hay bales out one at a time and spread them out while we basically soak them with a foam product to fully extinguish the fire, he said. It is currently unclear as to what sparked the fire. While crews continue to fight the flames, the dirt road near 2100 North and 3200 West will be closed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A demonstration against city sweeps of homeless encampments outside Portland City Hall on Sept. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of Samuel Crankshaw/ACLU of Maine) The ACLU of Maine is urging local communities not to punish unhoused people for trying to survive after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld an Oregon citys ordinance that bans sleeping and camping on municipal property. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Courts conservative majority decided that the camping rules put in place by Grants Pass, Oregon, do not violate the Constitution. The decision reverses a 2022 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against the ordinance. The case began in 2018 when three unhoused people sued the city of Grants Pass, arguing that banning sleeping and camping on city property when there isnt adequate access to shelter goes against the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Although the matter pertained to an Oregon citys ordinance, legal and homeless advocates around the country, including in Maine, were closely following the case. And as oral arguments got underway in April, over 70 people rallied in Portlands Monument Square to denounce the criminalization of homelessness. The ACLU of Maine decried the high courts ruling on Friday and warned that municipalities should not use the decision as a rationale to further crack down on unhoused people. Todays ruling opens the door for cities to punish people simply for trying to survive while poor, ACLU of Maine executive director Molly Curren Rowles said. But just because the court says they can does not mean Maine towns and cities should. Our state and local leaders still have a choice, Curren Rowles continued. They can either continue attempting and failing to punish people out of poverty or they can address the root causes of homelessness by increasing access to health care, education, and jobs. The ACLU noted in its news release that some communities in Maine have laws banning people from sleeping outside even when there is not available shelter space. Still, Rowles emphasized that despite this ruling, unhoused people still have rights under state and federal law, including due process, freedom from discrimination, and protection from unreasonable search and seizure. Even with those rights, Brian Arborio, who was homeless for three years before recently getting housing in Portland, said he worries what the Grants Pass ruling will mean for people living outside. What Im really fearful of is that its going to really be open season on anybody with a tent, a sleeping bag, a pillow or a car who is sleeping outdoors because theres no shelter space, theres no affordable housing, theres no landlords who accept the vouchers, said Arborio, a homeless rights advocate. Arborio added that the decision will further marginalize unhoused people. Its really going to do a lot of damage because its going to push people who are already unsheltered further away from any of the access points that they need to get stable housing, he said. George Hill, president and CEO of the reproductive health group Maine Family Planning, also criticized the ruling, calling it inhumane that the Supreme Court saw fit to criminalize survival. Hill noted that when people lack housing stability, they are routinely unable to access basic reproductive care. The majority opinion in the Grants Pass case was written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, who rejected the argument that the citys ordinance violates the Eighth Amendment in a decision joined by the courts conservatives. Homelessness is complex, he wrote. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. Gorsuch continued: The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this nations homelessness policy. The courts liberal bloc dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option, Sotomayor noted. The city of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment. The Supreme Courts decision comes as many Mainers continue to experience homelessness amid rising housing and rental prices. While this years point in time count found there were fewer unhoused people in Maine on January 23, 2024, than in 2023, the reduced count does not necessarily mean that fewer people are actually homeless, according to MaineHousing. Instead, the lower number is the result of decreased counts of unhoused people in emergency motel rooms. The ruling also follows a decision by the Bangor City Council on Monday night to update an ordinance banning people from standing on certain road medians, which the ACLU of Maine argued will disproportionately silence and entangle the citys unhoused residents in the legal system. The ACLU has repeatedly criticized municipal responses to homelessness, including the use of homeless encampment sweeps, calling such tactics ineffective and a violation of multiple constitutional rights. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia will create unprecedented stability and open new opportunities for the expansion of trade in the region, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby said at the event dedicated to the celebration of US Independence Day, Trend reports. "Azerbaijan and Armenia have initiated border delimitation and have indicated their closeness to signing a peace agreement," he said. The ambassador emphasized that these efforts present a historic opportunity in the eyes of the United States. "The US will continue to urge both sides to seize this opportunity, and we will support the process in every way possible," the ambassador added. Mark Libby also pointed out that the bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US holds promising opportunities for further development. "I look back on my first several months in this job, the United States and our Azerbaijani hosts have begun to articulate other, great aspirations for our partnership. Our partnership already has a remarkable history. Since Azerbaijans reemergence as an independent country, the US has provided over $1 billion to foster education and economic development, to support internally displaced victims of conflict, and to rid this country of the deadly landmines. But we also seek a forward-looking partnership. We aspire together for a deeper future partnership that ensures peace, prosperity, and security for Azerbaijan and for the region. And the omens are good," he noted. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Opinion: Geothermal electricity holds great promise, but where should we build? Mapping tools can show us the way Power lines are pictured in Salt Lake City near the International Airport on Monday, March 11, 2024. With help from Google, the developers of GeoMap have combined more than 150 datasets with below-ground and surface-level information that will help siting decisions. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Renewable energy extends far beyond the stereotypical image of wind turbines and solar panels. Notably, the Western United States is witnessing a surge in a powerful and often-overlooked renewable resource that leverages established technologies from the oil and gas industry. This resource is geothermal energy. It capitalizes on the Earths internal heat, employing the same drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques used in conventional fossil fuel extraction. However, instead of targeting oil and gas reserves, geothermal energy taps into a constant subterranean heat source. The core process is ingenious. Cold water is injected down a wellbore, where it absorbs thermal energy before being propelled back to the surface at significantly elevated temperatures. This heated water then drives a turbine, generating electricity with no carbon emissions. Like any energy source, a big question facing the geothermal industry is: Where does it make the most sense to build? The ideal location will have suitable geology, along with infrastructure to connect to the power grid. Or, instead of connecting to the power grid, geothermal can also be co-located with a large energy user, like a military base or a data center, which will use all of the power it produces directly. Finding the perfect combination of geology, infrastructure and energy users is a complicated task. But now, a nonprofit called Project Innerspace has developed a new mapping tool to simplify the process. The tool, called Geothermal Exploration Opportunities Mapping, or GeoMap, offers amazing insight into the untapped U.S. potential for geothermal electricity production. With help from Google, the developers of GeoMap have combined more than 150 datasets with below-ground and surface-level information that will help siting decisions. In addition to the areas with the best geothermal potential, GeoMap has dozens of surface-level layers, including the location of older coal plants that could be re-powered with geothermal after they retire and the location of major energy users. Theres even a layer that includes policy factors, including tax incentives for geothermal electricity production. Unlike wind and solar power, geothermal electricity does not depend on variable weather patterns. If tools like GeoMap can accelerate the process of finding the best locations for geothermal electricity, then it will accelerate the process of making the power grid more decentralized and more stable. To see what this looks like in practice, consider Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho and Joint Base San Antonio in Texas. Last year, the U.S. Air Force announced the two bases would build geothermal electricity plants to produce continuous clean energy for direct consumption at the installations. The Air Force is partnering with Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, a geothermal technology firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Having a direct source of power will help the bases defend against cyberattacks from geopolitical adversaries like China. We need to ruggedize our installations with redundant energy systems and make use of clean energy sources that reduce our fuel demands, said Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment. Geothermal sources strengthen our energy grids and give us the ability to isolate threats before they impact our operations, Chaudhary said. Another example is a recently announced deal between Google and Nevada utility company NV Energy. Under the terms of the deal, NV Energy will dramatically expand its output of geothermal electricity from 3.5 megawatts to 115 megawatts a more than 30-fold increase to power two Google data centers in Nevada. To carry out the expansion, NV Energy has chosen another geothermal tech firm, Fervo Energy, which had already worked on a pilot project with Google in Nevada and the 400-megawatt Cape Station project in Beaver County, Utah. Nationwide, over the next three decades, U.S. officials project that geothermal electric capacity could grow by 60,000 megawatts. For scale, that is the equivalent of building two large-scale nuclear plants per year for 30 years. In addition to supporting our energy needs, just think about the job creation potential, especially for workers in the oil and gas sector, who already know all there is to know about drilling and fracking. Most good ideas make sense for more than one reason. In the case of geothermal energy, it makes sense for reasons of national security, energy independence and job creation, not just environmental stewardship. Geothermal also offers an important lesson about what the nations energy future will look like. It wont involve scrapping all the energy sources we currently have and starting over from scratch, as some would have you believe. Instead, the energy technologies of the future will mostly come from new applications of the technologies we have today. And in the case of geothermal, now we have a map quite literally to show us the way. Steve Handy is a former Utah Legislator and current Utah Director for The Western Way, an organization focused on fiscal, conservative and market-driven solutions to environmental and conservation challenges. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher. President Joe Biden had a rough night Thursday at the debate, but CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash also turned in an abysmal performance of their own, according to The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie. Neither moderator offered much in the way of follow-up questions or any fact checks for either candidatesomething that CNN said in advance they were not going to do. Do you know what they were? They werent moderators. They were fucking mic stands, Moodie said in a special debate-night episode. Like doing nothing, doing nothing, offering nothing. Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast. CNN is one of the reasons mainstream media has never learned, over nine years, how to check Donald Trump, how to challenge Donald Trump in any way, she added. All they needed to do was ask that motherfucker a follow-up question and watch his head explode. Then, Parker Molloy, writer of the Substack The Present Age, joins the program to talk about the fact-checking site Snopes recent determination that Donald Trump actually didnt call the white supremacists and neo-Nazis at the infamous Charlottesville rally very fine peopleand why the site is wrong. MAGA Rapper Sinks to New Low After Ratchet Rant Plus! Katya Schwenk, a reporter at investigative site The Lever, discusses a recent and particularly egregious Supreme Court ruling which allows politicians to accept monetary gifts. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and Stitcher. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The 2024 European Parliament elections nearly slipped off Ukraine's radar. At the time, Ukraine's primary focus was on preparing for the Ukraine Recovery Conference and the peace summit in Switzerland. However, the resultant compositions of the European Parliament and the European Commission will play crucial roles in the organizations big bang enlargement and EU assistance for Ukraine amid Russian aggression. The election results demand close attention from Kyiv. Ukraine has been an important topic in this European election campaign and will continue to be so in the future. So, what do the 2024 European Parliament election results mean for Ukraine, and what should Kyiv focus on? While right-wing forces gained ground and liberals lost significantly, there was no major "right turn" in the EU. The landslide victory of the European People's Party (EPP) suggests a stable centrist political course for Europe. Despite the significant challenges Europe faced since 2019 including Russian aggression, the COVID pandemic, record inflation, supply chain disruptions, and a powerful migration wave from Ukraine the political landscape remained relatively stable. Many in Ukraine, including experts and politicians, view European extreme right-wing parties as solely pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian. This oversimplification is a mistake. The key right-wing group in the European Parliament, the Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), includes parties like Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Poland's Law and Justice (PiS), which are neither pro-Russian nor anti-Ukrainian. However, the inclusion of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), with its revanchist agenda and pro-Russian rhetoric, in the ECR group is concerning. The potential addition of Hungary's Fidesz, with ongoing negotiations between Hungarian and Italian prime ministers, also raises alarms. It's important to note changes in Marine Le Pen's rhetoric on Ukraine and Russia during this campaign and the exclusion of Alternative for Germany (AfD) from the Identity and Democracy group, which were likely motivated by electoral and coalition considerations. Kyiv must understand these trends in the European far-right and seek opportunities to influence their stance on Ukraine and Russia. The Kremlin and actors like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban are continuously trying to shape these agendas. Despite the apparent right-wing surge, it is less noticeable in Central Europe, Ukraine's western neighbors. The strong performance of pro-Western parties like Tusks Civic Coalition in Poland, Progressive Slovakia, and Hungary's TISZA party demonstrates the resilience of pro-Western positions on the EU and NATOs eastern flank, bolstered by Ukraine's steadfastness against Russian aggression. Meanwhile, it would be naive for Kyiv to take these results for granted. Ukraine must prioritize strengthening ties with its western neighbors, as they are crucial for the logistics of all Western aid to Ukraine and beyond. Learning from the recent Polish border blockade is essential to ensure smooth cooperation and support. Read also: The Counteroffensive: Meet the energy workers keeping Kyiv from darkness The strong position of the EPP does not guarantee that Ursula von der Leyen will be re-elected as European Commission President. Although the leaders did not agree on her candidacy during the informal meeting on June 17, the bigger challenge will be securing enough votes in the European Parliament for her confirmation. In 2019, many EPP members did not support von der Leyen, and she had to rely on the votes from Fidesz and the Polish PiS, which she could not count on this time. Her re-election would be ideal for Kyiv, both for continued European assistance and for accession negotiations. Equally important for Ukraine are the appointments to the newly created positions of European Commissioner for Defense and European Commissioner for Agriculture. Additionally, three other European Commissioners will be crucial for Ukraine in the medium term: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: Although foreign policy in the EU largely remains in the hands of member states, this commissioners portfolio includes the Peace Facility, through which Ukraine receives essential military assistance from the EU. The current Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, is frequently mentioned as a candidate for this position and would be an ideal choice for Ukraine. Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement: After five years of Oliver Varhelyi from Hungary holding this office, any change would be beneficial for Kyiv. This role is critical for Ukraine due to the Ukraine Facility, a key instrument for supporting Ukraine's resilience and reconstruction. European Commissioner for Energy: This position is vital for three reasons: the destruction of the Ukrainian energy sector, Central Europe's vulnerability due to dependence on Russian energy and post-Soviet energy infrastructure, and the Kremlins ongoing attempts to regain its energy influence in the EU through hybrid tactics. A recent example is the issue of the transit of Azerbaijani and Central Asian energy resources to the EU through Russia and Ukraine, aimed at reviving Gazprom. The final takeaway for Ukraine from these European Parliament elections is that satisfactory results should not make us complacent regarding Russian interference and influence in European politics. If this is seen as a setback for the Russians, they will not accept it passively but will continue to spread disinformation, conduct hybrid operations, and bribe European politiciansall aimed primarily at undermining Ukraine. Kyiv's task is not only to counter these efforts but to shape European policy to be even more pro-Ukrainian. This means turning the 2030 deadline for a new EU enlargement from a mere political slogan into a concrete reality. Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. This material was prepared within the framework of the Re:Open Ukraine initiative, which aims to explain Ukraine to its Western neighbors, and its Western neighbors to Ukraine for the sake of successful European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Orban may meet with Zelenskyy next week, probably in Ukraine Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week to take a step towards improving relations between Kyiv and Budapest under pressure from the EU. Source: a European Pravda article Details: The Hungarian prime minister decided to send a signal of a change in attitude towards Ukraine at the EU summit held on 27-28 June in Brussels. Among other things, Orban's political director announced a new meeting between the prime minister and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The official reason he gave was the start of Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, which begins on 1 July. But, as European Pravda recalls, Hungarian officials have so far rejected the possibility of such a meeting. "I have personally said several times that Orban should go to Ukraine and finally talk to Zelenskyy. And I hope this will happen," a member of the European Council told European Pravda off the record. The EP reported that Orban was under pressure from his partners, who convinced him that his public conflict with Ukraine had dragged on for too long and that it had to be put to an end. In particular, the Hungarian prime minister was persuaded by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The latter heads the group of European Conservatives and Reformists, which Orban and his Fidesz party want to join in order to have more influence on decision-making in the European Parliament. The Italian prime minister demanded that her Hungarian counterpart demonstrate that his conflict with Kyiv was over. Recently, Viktor Orban approached Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the EU summit. The two leaders shook hands and then had a charged conversation. Support UP or become our patron! PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has decided against launching a full investigation into complaints concerning Gov. Tina Kotek and her wife, Aimee Kotek Wilson. At a meeting on Friday, the agency examined the preliminary report on the case involving a potential Office of the First Spouse before determining that the governor did not violate any ethics laws including those on conflicts of interest or nepotism. Doug Fir Lounges tentative opening slated for 2025 after permitting challenges We note that had the Governor unilaterally decided to provide the First Lady with a salary or other private benefits, the above analysis would be different, the commission wrote in its preliminary review. The analysis would also be different if there was any suggestion that the public duties of the First Lady could financially benefit a private business with which the First Lady was associated. In late March, news broke that Kotek Wilson had an office in the governors base of operations at the state library and an on-loan staffer from the Department of Administration Services. With a masters degree in social work, the First Lady was also known to attend official meetings regarding behavioral health. The following week, the governor clarified that her wife was solely an unpaid volunteer with both lived and professional experience. Kotek also announced she had asked the Ethics Commission for guidance on a potential Office of the First Spouse, but the commission later said it couldnt advise her because of its plans to review complaints on the same matter. Oregon health care workers see rise in abortion 2 years post-Roe Subsequently, the governor abandoned plans to create the First Ladys office. After listening to and reflecting on the concerns of Oregonians who have contacted my office, as well as the advice of staff, I want to be clear about next steps: There will not be an Office of the First Spouse, Kotek said. The announcement came after her office released several emails from senior staff members who abruptly left their positions earlier in the year. In one email, Koteks former Chief of Staff Andrea Cooper said she was asked not to attend a meeting where events were added to Kotek Wilsons calendar. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Local reaction is pouring in after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the city of Grants Pass can enforce a camping ban within city limits, finding the ban did not violate the Constitutions eighth Amendment on cruel and unusual punishment. Ultimately, the Supreme Court sided with the city in the decision, 6-3, with the conservative supermajority splitting the decision along ideological lines. The City of Grants Pass released a statement, emphasizing the ruling paves the way for the next steps: Like many across our country, we are grateful to know the Supreme Courts opinion in our case, and were thankful that the Courts ruling will help guide our next steps regarding unhoused members of our community. Once our legal counsel has thoroughly reviewed the SCOTUS opinion reversing the Ninth Circuits ruling and remanding it for further discussion, the City Council will receive a briefing and discuss our options for moving forward. While it is too soon to know specifically what steps we may take, we are committed to assisting residents struggling to find stable housing, and we will continue working to make Grants Pass a safe and welcoming community for all. Portland City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez also weighed in a post on social media, adding this ruling should spur further action from the state: A dark period in the west, for Oregon, for Portland has ended: the Supreme Court has overruled the 9th Circuit in Grants Pass v. Johnson. It is time for the Governor Kotek and the Oregon State Legislature to correct or repeal HB 3115. In 2021, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 3115, which directs cities to make and enact ordinances based on available local shelter services and public space. Moments after the Supreme Court issued their decision, Jes Larson, assistant director of the Department of Housing Services in Washington County, issued a statement nothing how the countys current approach is more advantageous than criminalization: We appreciate the national attention the Grants Pass Supreme Court case has brought to the critical issue of unsheltered homelessness, a devastating reality for most communities in the United States and a symptom of our national housing crisis. Todays ruling doesnt change what we have seen to be effective in reducing unsheltered homelessness on the ground here in Washington County, Oregon. As this case wound its way through the court system over the past several years, Washington County has effectively eliminated homeless encampments and reduced unsheltered homelessness by over 35% with a solutions-based approach rather than criminalization. We will continue to connect our unsheltered community members with available shelter and housing and work in coordination with our city and law enforcement partners. We will continue to be courageous in pursuing lasting solutions. Meanwhile, Oregon House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich noted he saw this ruling as a win for community restoration: Our parks were never meant to be campgrounds and now our cities can finally begin restoring our communities public spaces. The Supreme Courts ruling is a victory for common sense and highlights what conservative leadership looks like. While Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler acknowledged the ruling laid the federal constitution issue to rest, he claimed this will have little impact to Portland as the city is still required to follow HB 3115. The statement continued, in part, touching on the citys proposed camping ordinance: Enforcement of the Citys camping ordinance will begin on July 1, 2024. We will enforce campsites that pose the largest health and safety risks. We are committed to continuing to expand shelter services to provide a reasonable place for people living on the streets to stabilize and get connected to resources. The city is continuing to move unsheltered Portlanders off the streets, into shelter, and into permanent housing. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said in a social media post that the ruling does not change the urgency in the work ahead: People still need places to stay warm and dry and ultimately leave homelessness. People still need additional services to transition into shelter or housing. And weve worked with the Mayors Office and partners at all levels of government and across the community to build a Homelessness Response System and develop and deliver on a Homelessness Response Action Plan that fundamentally reshapes and refocuses our work, so we can serve thousands more people in need moving forward. Kat Mahoney, executive director of the local social justice organization Sisters of the Road, shared her response to the SCOTUS decision. Lets be clear: Camping bans do not solve houselessness. The heartbreaking reality is that because of todays decision, we can expect to see a rise in armed police arresting and fining unhoused people and more people being traumatized and injured during police interactions. Sisters will remain steadfast in supporting strategies that address the root causes of houselessness and uplifting the experiences and humanity of our unhoused community. In a joint statement from the Oregon House and Senate Housing chairs, Sen. Kayse Jama and Rep. Pam Marsh shared their commitment to ensuring that Oregonians have access to safe and affordable housing. Our goal remains making sure every Oregonian has access to safe, affordable housing so no one has to resort to sleeping on the streets. Homelessness will be solved by building more housing, supporting shelters and programs to get people on the path out of homelessness. Local jurisdictions have a duty to maintain livability for everyone in their communities and, importantly, there needs to be a reasonable balance between those concerns and the reality that too many Oregonians dont have anywhere safe to sleep. Todays Supreme Court ruling does nothing to solve the housing and homelessness crisis in Oregon. The legislature remains focused on addressing the root causes of homelessness, increasing the housing supply, and funding programs that help get people on a path out of houselessness. Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan echoed a similar sentiment to Gonzalez, noting how the state must now follow suit in giving the decision-making process on this subject back to communities. He added, however, there will still be on particular challenge he wants to address: From day one in office, I led the efforts through Safe Rest Villages to provide shelter and services to stabilize those suffering on the streets, with the goal of getting people off the streets and back into the workforce with stable housing. The big challenge we will continue to face is convincing those who refuse services to say yes and stop harming themselves and others in our city. The City of Gresham shared a statement very akin to Washington Countys, in that their current response to homelessness will remain unchanged: Our homeless services program continues to lead with compassion, providing wrap-around services, including housing options, job support and more to those in need. We believe in a balanced approach that also emphasizes accountability, ensuring our codes are complied with to preserve community safety and livability. Gresham remains committed to supporting our most vulnerable residents while maintaining a safe and livable environment for all. Lastly, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement, noting how the Supreme Courts decision to take the case shows homelessness is a national issue. She additionally disclosed the purpose of the state law regarding the topic and emphasized the continued need for affordable housing: The intent behind House Bill 3115 (ORS 195.530) was to affirm that cities choosing to regulate survival activities, like sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm and dry, must develop laws that are reasonable and take into account the resources available to individuals experiencing homelessness. I have supported cities to pass reasonable time, place and manner ordinances, and there are many communities across Oregon that have appropriately responded. Regardless of the Courts decision, we must do all we can to address homelessness. This includes addressing the primary driver of homelessness our lack of affordable housing. My focus will continue to be on supporting Oregonians moving into housing and connecting them with the services they need to prevent homelessness. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States has ensured Europe's energy security, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby said at the event dedicated to the celebration of US Independence Day, Trend reports. "In the beginning of the US-Azerbaijan energy cooperation, the US provided important support to the concept, construction, and implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, as well as the Southern Gas Corridor. These projects are among our exciting, shared achievements. Without our partnership, this energy infrastructure would not exist, and Europe would have less energy security," he said. The diplomat noted that today we are witnessing a strong, strategically important transformation in our energy sector relations between the two countries. "Azerbaijans presidency of COP29 this year is the next chapter in our partnership. We are excited to work with Azerbaijan to support our shared goal of a successful COP one that speeds implementation of commitments already made while raising our future ambitions for financing, emissions reduction, and other steps necessary to protect our planet for future generations and keep the dream of one-point-five alive," Libby added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Oregon healthcare providers say theres been an increase in abortions in the state and they have ramped up support for both patients and out-of-state providers. While most states that have retained access [to abortion] have seen a significant increase in the number of patients that theyre serving, certain states are really absorbing more of those patients because of your capacity; Oregon is one of them, said Dr. Alyssa Colwill, Oregon Health & Science University assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. According to OHSU, Oregon and the rest of the nation have seen an uptick in abortions since the Supreme Courts June 24, 2022, decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. The Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, which provided constitutional protections for abortions for nearly 50 years. Supreme Court sides with Grants Pass, says camping bans can be enforced The university said since the Dobbs decision, several states have passed restrictions on abortion care and 14 states have imposed bans, yet the number of abortions in the United States has risen and remains consistently elevated compared with pre-Dobbs levels. At OHSU, the Dobbs decision meant doubling their clinical services to support that increase with help from their telehealth program. Oregon saw an increase in the volume of abortions from 2022 to 2023, including a nearly 40% increase since 2020, OHSU said, citing the Guttmacher Institute an organization that supports reproductive health care rights. SE Portland neighbors say they werent notified about treatment drop-off center The increase includes a rise in out-of-state patients seeking abortion care at OHSUs Center for Womens Health. What the numbers continue to tell us is that restrictions dont eliminate the need for abortion care, they make care unsafe and inaccessible. This is especially true for people who already face barriers to the health care system, including people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals and LGBTQ+ people, said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, OHSU professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the OHSU Center for Reproductive Health Equity. Its heartbreaking to see the obstacles patients face to receive what should be basic health care. Ahead of the Dobbs decision, OHSU developed a contingency plan to support both patients seeking an abortion and training for hospital residents by launching a family planning elective for out-of-state residents. Exotic mammal native to Central and South America spotted at Yakima rest stop Providers want to learn in an environment where theyre able to offer comprehensive, evidence-based care, but in many places, providers now fear legal retribution for offering basic and essential health care, Colwill said. Without those skills, they wont be able to properly care for patients, which is a threat to womens health care everywhere. The move to support out-of-state residents comes as the Association of American Medical Colleges reports that fewer medical school graduates applied to residency programs in states that restricted or banned abortion compared to states where abortion remained legal. Theres a lot of reasons for this. I think, after medical school, these are pivotal reproductive years not only for residents themselves, but also for potentially their partners or their families, Colwill said. Its people thinking about Where do I want to raise my family? Are we going to be safe in this community that that were working in? And I think these are the workforce issues that the states really have to think about. Streets near Safe Rest Villages still full with tents despite enforcement, neighbors say To bridge gaps in training, OHSU continues to offer abortion training for medical residents who do not have access to clinical experience. OHSUs visiting resident program has trained two fellows and 13 residents since the Dobbs decision and will host another 10 residents in the next academic year. Katie Hansen, a fourth-year OBGYN resident at OHSU, was among medical school graduates who sought residency in a state with abortion protections. I went to medical school in Austin, Texas, and for me, choosing to go to OBGYN residency training in a state that I knew itd be protected from restrictions against abortion felt really important. Abortion is a central part of healthcare and being able to provide abortion services is central to being an OBGYN, Hansen said. PHOTOS: Tufted puffins likely nesting near Yaquina Head for first time in decades I think that the Dobbs decision and all of the bans that were seeing, has not only impacted peoples decision to go into this specialty in general, but people who do choose to pursue OBGYN, I think, are being really thoughtful about where they choose to train. Ive definitely seen and spoken with medical students who have rearranged their residency rank list to reflect that preferentially ranking programs in sanctuary states, she added. The OHSU resident furthered that the skills shes learned during abortion training are essential. Abortion cares really routine health care, and to remove it from our training is incredibly detrimental to our patients, and to us, as providers, Hansen added. Those skills are also really important when we are managing complications related to just normal childbirth or managing complications related to miscarriage. VIDEO: A look inside the Darlene 3 Fire consuming parts of Deschutes County Similar to OHSU, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette has also seen an increase in abortion services since Dobbs, noting a roughly 29% increase. A spokesperson for PPCW told KOIN 6 News that a majority of their patients travel to their clinics from Idaho. Since Dobbs, PPCW has expanded abortion services at their Northeast Portland health center and built a new health center in Ontario, Ore. to serve the surrounding Morrow, Grant, Umatilla, Harney, and Malheur counties and residents from Idaho. At the state level, the Oregon Health Authority said the Dobbs decision is a stark reminder of challenges to protecting reproductive health care, but the agency remains committed to ensuring access across the state. OHA will continue to ensure that people in Oregon have access to safe, effective reproductive care including abortion services when and where they need it, OHA Director Sejal Hathi said. In light of the Supreme Courts recent decision rejecting a challenge to the abortion pill Mifepristone, OHA said the state has a plan in place if future litigation seeks to restrict access to the medication adding the state secured a three-year supply and has a plan to equitably distribute the medication to eligible prescribers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For the first time in over a year, transgender patients in Orlando can reliably get treatment following a federal district court ruling. Judge Robert Hinkles June 11 decision to overturn most of a 2023 Florida law (HB 254) limiting transgender care has allowed Orlando LGBTQ clinics that paused care to prescribe hormones again. I just saw a patient earlier this morning who hadnt been on his testosterone in eight months. Just hearing the intense anxiety and depression that hes been under for eight months, Im so glad that we got this verdict when we did, said Joseph Knoll, CEO of Spektrum Health. Because it sounds like the last year of his life has just been complete misery. The 2023 law deemed unconstitutionally discriminatory prohibited medical professionals from prescribing transgender teens puberty blockers, which temporarily delay puberty, or cross-sex hormone therapy, where people are given estrogen or testosterone in order to develop characteristics of their gender identity. The law threatened parents with a loss of custody if they helped their kids transition and threatened providers with a felony charge. It also imposed restrictions that made it difficult for some adults to get care, including requiring that only physicians but not other health professionals who are legally allowed to write prescriptions, like nurse practitioners prescribe these medications. I honestly thought I was going to have to move. My friends and family are all here, and I hated the thought of leaving them, and my home, just so I could safely get healthcare, said Rex, a 34-year-old transgender man who asked to be identified only by his first name because he has not told coworkers he is transgender. He was able to keep taking testosterone the last few months, he said, but it was hard to get an appointment with one of the few in-state physicians still prescribing it. At one point he had to ration doses by taking smaller amounts than he normally would. Despite the legal victory this month, the future for transgender healthcare is uncertain. In the wake of the judges ruling, clinics are rushing to re-establish care for their patients, who advocates say have suffered both physically and psychologically from treatment interruptions. But the state has filed an appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously upheld an Alabama law that banned medical care for transgender teens. This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up a challenge based on a law in Tennessee one of several Republican-led states with similar restrictions that could impact transgender care in Florida. The ongoing legal battles and the potential for further restrictive legislation have left a lingering sense of anxiety within Floridas transgender community an estimated 94,000 people. While the relief of it being overturned definitely feels nice, I kind of cant help but feel like Im waiting for the other shoe to fall. Yeah, this one got overturned, but when is the next one gonna slip into the cruel vacancy that it left behind? said Rex via text. Impact on clinics The law technically allowed those who started care before the legislation passed to keep receiving it. Some local clinics such as those run by Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida were able to keep offering care for established patients. Harmony Healthcare in downtown Orlando brought in a physician several times a month to serve the community. But many local clinics shut down. They relied on providers such as nurse practitioners amid the states massive physician shortage, and struggled to afford or even find a physician to comply with the new rules. There was no regard to whether people could actually access the care, said Knoll, who is a nurse practitioner. He estimates his clinic treated about 2,700 transgender people primarily Orlando residents before the 2023 law took effect. After the ban, Spektrum Health temporarily paused hormone therapy at its Orlando clinic and permanently closed a second location in Brevard County. The clinic is now rapidly rebuilding its patient base, having seen hundreds since the ban was reversed. Another LGBTQ-focused clinic, Pineapple Healthcare, also halted treatment when the law went into effect because it lacked an in-person physician. CEO Ethan Suarez noted that they treated about 50 transgender patients before the ban and are now treating about 25. 26Health halted treatment for over 120 patients when the ban took effect due to legal concerns. Interim CEO Latrice Stewart confirmed that the clinic would resume services for adults on July 1 but will no longer treat people under 18. Struggles continue As Orlando clinics work to re-establish care for patients, they know the chaos of the last year could start all over again, if the state is successful in appealing Hinkles ruling. In a June 12 Tampa press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed confidence that the state would win its appeal and questioned the necessity of gender-affirming care. Youre not affirming that. Youre trying to change their basic biology, which you cannot do How you are born is what you are, DeSantis said. He also recounted allegations, made by many of the laws supporters, that minors were being mutilated. Its wrong to mutilate minors. It is wrong to perform a sex-change on a 16-year-old. Youre not allowed to get a tattoo, but somehow you can have your privates cut off. Give me a break, DeSantis said. Hinkle did not reverse Floridas ban on gender-affirming surgery for minors because it was not a part of the appeal, but he called out accusations children were being castrated or mutilated in his ruling as far removed from reality and unsupported by evidence. Insofar as has been shown by this record, no transgender minor has ever been castrated or intentionally sterilized in Florida or elsewhere, he wrote. Major U.S. medical organizations endorse the care for teens suffering from gender dysphoria. But debate about treating minors continues, especially after the United Kingdom in May banned puberty blockers for adolescents except in exceptional circumstances, following a review that determined for the majority of young people, a medical pathway may not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress. Uncertain future Floridas appeal is something 26Healths legal team is watching closely, Stewart said. We just want to do our part to make sure that everyone has access to the health care that that they deserve, she added. Suarez said he is optimistic the judges decision will hold, even on appeal. The science shows this is a valid diagnosis. This is a legitimate practice of medicine and this is healthcare, he added. Knoll said he has helped thousands of people transition in his career, including adolescents, and hasnt encountered anyone who regretted it, adding that treatment requires an extensive mental health evaluation. But he worries what the courts will decide. Knoll managed to hire a physician this spring, but his clinic still relies primarily on a team of nurses and nurse practitioners. I want to say Im relieved, but really, what were doing is hustling, because we dont know, he said. There is a fear. Ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma State Department of Education memo, a press release, and an announcement at a meeting reported two different directives Thursday. Both addressed the Bible in Oklahoma Schools. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said during the monthly board meeting that every district and every classroom will have a Bible in the class and they will teach from that Bible. Supt. Walters called it a historical document that needs to be taught. A memorandum he said was sent to all districts said that effective immediately, all Oklahoma schools are required to incorporate the Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments, as an instructional support into the curriculum across specified grade levels, e.g., grades five through 12. Then there was a press release with the headline Walters Requires Bible be Taught in Oklahoma Classrooms. Walters-Requires-Bible-be-Taught-in-Oklahoma-Classrooms20Download So, is the Bible required to be in classrooms and be taught or is it required to be incorporated into instruction? News 4 asked the Oklahoma Attorney General for a statement on Thursday, to which he replied, Oklahoma law already explicitly allows Bibles in the classroom and enables teachers to use them in instruction. A spokesperson for the AG, Phil Bacharach, said that the quote was used about the memorandum sent out to districts that the Bible be incorporated into class instruction, not that it is required to be taught. Essentially since 2019, it has been accepted by law that a Bible could be taught in its historical context. When it comes to requiring schools to do that, it becomes a different situation. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that local school boards have the final say to determine which books and instructional materials are deemed to be appropriate in Oklahoma classrooms. Fact-check: Heres some of the false claims made during Biden and Trumps first debate However, it took thousands of dollars in attorney fees to come to that conclusion. That was an opinion that was given over a year ago by the Oklahoma AG and many lawmakers said that OSDE spending money throughout that case was a waste. If a requirement is made of the Bible, officials said that would be yet another waste of taxpayer dollars. Did you guys even read the Ten Commandments, said Vice Mayor of The Village Sean Cummings during public comment. Do any of you know any of the Ten Commandments at all? I didnt think so. I just wanted to thank you Superintendent Ryan Walters for showing us what true leadership is, said a public commenter who agreed with putting the Bible in classrooms. It is a shame and it is disappointing and its frustrating, said Senator Mary Boren. Senator Boren had attended the meeting because former Norman teacher Summer Boismier was having a vote on whether the board would validate her teaching certificate. The board voted to not do that in the end. Boismier was called too woke by Supt. Walters months ago and she was a teacher located in Senator Borens district. But when I saw what was happening, it shocked me, said Senator Boren. Unfortunately his (Supt. Walters) stubbornness to not follow the constitutional law and the fact that we are spending a lot of valuable time having unnecessary legal battles when we could be serving students, thats what has me worried. Senator Boren said that she was turned away from being a part of the closed Executive Session during Thursdays meetingsomething she said is against Oklahoma law. Given that I sit on the Education Appropriations and Budget Committee that pays for the attorney fees that deal with all of the unsuccessful lawsuits they entangle themselves in, I need to be in there, said Senator Boren. Given the highly authoritarian approach of the State Board of Education to crush the rights of parents, teachers and readers, it is warranted that a state senator should observe executive sessions. Observation is the basic tenant of accountability to ensure state officials uphold both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions in their proceedings. Failing to comply with the Open Meetings Act nullifies the actions of the Oklahoma State Board of Education and invites judicial scrutiny. State Senator Mary Boren Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonprofit civil liberties group, said in a statement that Walters new Bible policy is trampling the religious freedom of public school children and their families. This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone elses children, Rachel Laser, the groups CEO, said in the statement. Her organization is ready to step in, she wrote, though she stopped short of vowing legal action. The group has already sued to block a new Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools. The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) responded by saying, Today condemned as a clear violation of the Constitutions Establishment Clause the new Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) requirement that all Oklahoma schools incorporate the Bible as instructional support into classroom curriculum. Representative Mickey Dollens (Oklahoma City) has spoken out several times when putting up the Ten Commandments has been suggested as a requirement. Thursday, he said, Requiring a Bible in every classroom does not improve Oklahomas ranking of 49th in education. Ryan Walters should focus on educating students, not evangelizing them. KFOR tracked down Dan Isett, the Communications Director for OSDE but was quickly turned away. Isett said he would not communicate with KFOR. Incorporating the Bible and the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms in Oklahoma isnt anything new. If schools are forced to teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments, that would be a different story and it is unclear if that is the route Supt. Walters and OSDE are taking. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ukrainian educational institutions have had over 12,000 power generators available as of today. Approximately 50% of schools could sustain the educational process using alternative power sources by the end of the school year. Source: Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, following a meeting with the oblast military administration heads regarding preparations for the new academic year Details: The Ministry of Education have stated that over 7,300 schools (58%) are conducting in-person classes in 2024, accommodating more than 1.7 million students. Another 2,400 schools (19%) are operating remotely and 2,800 schools (22%) are using a hybrid model. The government has allocated 2.5 billion hryvnias [US$61.7 million] for ensuring safe conditions in schools this year. Funds have been allocated for 50 projects, covering shelters for 10,500 schools, with conditions suitable for organising classes in shelters in over 5,000 of them. In addition, 1 billion UAH (roughly US$24,400) will be spent on purchasing school buses this year. At the meeting, Shmyhal also instructed oblast heads to assess educational institutions for their readiness for the upcoming heating season. Support UP or become our patron! The Supreme Court sided with a January 6 rioter in a case about one of the charges brought against him and 330 others - a decision that could toss their convictions (Getty Images) More than 330 Jan. 6 rioters could have their convictions and sentences tossed thanks to a ruling from the Supreme Court on Friday. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that an obstruction of an official proceeding charge brought against Joseph Fischer, a former police officer and rioter, was too broadly used and the government will need to prove that a defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding, or attempted to do so. Chief Justice John Roberts, who delivered the majority opinion, used the example of eating lunch at the zoo to explain the ruling. To see why, consider a straightforward example. A zoo might post a sign that reads, do not pet, feed, yell or throw objects at the animals, or otherwise disturb them. If a visitor eats lunch in front of a hungry gorilla, or talks to a friend near its enclosure, has he obeyed the regulation? Surely yes. Although the smell of human food or the sound of voices might well disturb gorillas, the specific examples of impermissible conduct all involve direct interaction with and harassment of the zoo animals. Merely eating or talking is so unlike the examples that the zoo provided that it would be implausible to assume those activities were prohibited, even if literally covered by the language, he wrote. The ruling could have massive impacts on Jan. 6 defendants such as Fischer, who were convicted of storming the Capitol and destroying property to try and disrupt the certification of the 2020 election. However, the ruling appears to have little impact on the pending charges against former President Donald Trump, who is also accused of obstruction in some of his cases. Supporters of January 6 defendants including Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, sing God Boss the USA outside of the Supreme Court on April 16. Now, the court has put some of the Jan. 6 riot convictions in question (Getty Images) Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson concurred. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented, believing the courts interpretation was too narrow. The Court does not dispute that Congresss joint session qualifies as an official proceeding; that rioters delayed the proceeding; or even that Fischers alleged conduct (which includes trespassing and a physical confrontation with law enforcement) was part of a successful effort to forcibly halt the certification of the election results, Justice Barrett wrote. She added: Given these premises, the case that Fischer can be tried for obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding seems open and shut. So why does the Court hold otherwise? Because it simply cannot believe that Congress meant what it said. The case stems from Fischer who, like thousands of other rioters that day, attended the Stop the Steal rally in support of Trump. Fischer was arrested and charged with several crimes, including obstruction of an official proceeding. Federal prosecutors invoked a law that is usually reserved in white-collar crimes, as they relate to witness, victim or informant tampering. It is a provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was passed after the 2001 collapse of the Enron corporation, one of the largest financial fraud cases in US history. The law protects investors and holds corporations accountable. The statute in question contains two parts. The first prohibits corruptly tampering with evidence that could be used in an official proceeding. The second prohibits a person from otherwise obstructing, influencing or impeding on an official proceeding. Trump supporters participate in a rally Jan. 6. A recent Supreme Court ruling means those prosecuted and jailed could be freed (AP) Fischer pushed back against the charge, claiming it was unfairly used to prosecute him. His lawyer, Jeffrey Green, argued the obstruction of justice charge hinged on the word otherwise during oral arguments in April. He said his client could not be charged with violating the second part of the statute without violating the first part too. Justices appeared divided over the matter during arguments. Kavanaugh voiced concern that the government used the statute to increase the sentencing of Jan. 6 rioters because the charge carries a maximum sentencing of 20 years. Jackson suggested the court return the decision to a lower court to determine if the statute could be applied to Fischer under a more specific interpretation - something she echoed in her concurring opinion. And it might well be that Fischers conduct, as alleged here, involved the impairment (or the attempted impairment) of the availability or integrity of things used during the January 6 proceeding in ways other than those specified in [the obstruction charge], Jackson wrote. Pro-Trump supporters storm the Capitol on Jan. 6. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that an obstruction of an official proceeding charge brought against Joseph Fischer, a former police officer and January 6 rioter, was too broad (Getty Images) During arguments, the government said Fischer intended to obstruct Congress certification of the election. Prosecutors say in the days leading up to Jan. 6, Fischer texted his boss insinuating that there could be violence on that day, he could be arrested and his chief might need to post his bond. He texted another person: Cant vote if they cant breathe... lol an apparent reference to the lawmakers in the Capitol. On Jan. 6, the government says Fischer took a cell phone video of himself running through the crowd and yelling, Charge! before rushing into the building. Once inside, Fischer allegedly ran toward the police line and knocked over an officer. Fridays decision will likely have some, but small, impact on Trumps federal election interference case since special counsel Jack Smith charged the former president with obstructing an official proceeding. Smith previously said that Trumps alleged attempt to install fake electors still violated the first part of the statute so the courts ruling may not change that charge. Regardless, the government could bring new evidence to satisfy the new standard or drop the charge but it would not absolve him of other charges. Palestinian Lives Were Invisible To Both Donald Trump And Joe Biden In The First Debate Palestinians in Gaza are living through historic suffering. Expertssay they are enduring the most destructive military campaign of the 21st century and one of the most devastating offensives in modern history. The U.S.-backed Israeli operation in their region has killed upwards of 37,000 people, left more than 2 million with desperately low quantities of food, spurred deadly shortages of medical supplies and other essentials like fuel and destroyed more homes than World War II. But at Thursday nights debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, neither offered either sympathy or a path forward for Palestinians, whose cause has animated huge protests domestically and fueled outrage the world over. Instead, the two rivals for the U.S. presidency, which has major influence over Palestinians fate, offered answers casting them as an afterthought at best and villainous at worst. Strikingly, given widespread criticism of U.S. mediacoverage of Palestinians, the clearest concern for Palestinians came from debate moderator and CNN anchor Dana Bash signaling how low the bar was for the night. Bash opened the debate segment on the Gaza war by referencing the attack on Israel by the Palestinian faction Hamas on Oct. 7, which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and initiated the latest round of all-out fighting. She then accurately noted Israeli retaliation has killed thousands of Palestinians and created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Noting that Bidens month-long effort to secure a ceasefire has not borne fruit, she posed her question to the president: What additional leverage will you use to get Hamas and Israel to end the war? The phrasing there mattered. The Biden administration has largely refused to deploy American leverage over Israel by, for instance, threatening to cut off weapons transfers, despite calls to do so from many Democratic lawmakers. Meanwhile, the White House has blamed the continued fighting on stubbornness by Hamas, though the group had agreed to a version of a ceasefire deal in May, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly challenged the proposal Biden has presented. In his answer, Biden focused on Hamas with talking points so clearly designed to avoid the impression of a split with Israel that he almost seemed to be responding to an entirely different question, one in the vein of suggestions from Republicans and foreign policy hawks that Democrats are abandoning the chief U.S. ally in the Middle East. Citing support from the United Nations Security Council and the group of wealthy nations known as the G7 for his ceasefire proposal, Biden asserted Netanyahu has endorsed it a dubious claim, given the Israeli leaders flip-flopping. (The Israeli government currently says he does support it, but Netanyahu as recently as Sunday suggested that is not the case.) The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas. Were still pushing hard to get them to accept, Biden said. Many Democrats, administration officials and national security experts believe prolonging the war is also a goal of Netanyahus, to avoid facing elections in Israel and his legal troubles. Biden emphasized his support for arming Israel despite assessments from his own administration and from human rights groups that the country has likely committed war crimes with American weapons. The only thing Ive denied Israel was 2,000-pound bombs, he said. They dont work very well in populated areas, they kill a lot of innocent people. Were providing Israel with all the weapons they need and when they need them, he continued. Hours earlier, Axios reported Biden has now greenlit part of the arms shipment to Israel he halted that included the 2,000-pound munitions. And the president noted that he rallied other nations to help shield Israel in April when Iran launched a barrage of missiles at it, following an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate. We saved Israel. We are the biggest producer of support for Israel of anyone in the world, Biden concluded. The president made no reference to the humanitarian concerns Bash had mentioned, not even to promote U.S. efforts to bring aid to Gaza. He also did not once use the word Palestinian. Despite Bidens claim to champion diversity and human rights globally, many Palestinians and those sympathetic to them including Muslim American activists and officials within Bidens own administration have argued for months that his rhetoric and overwhelming support for Israels assault shows he has little regard for them. Trump, however, made the term Palestinian central to his answer as a slur. First, he made clear that in keeping with his record of encouraging violence internationally and impunity for breaking the laws of war, he would encourage a continued and perhaps expanded Israeli offensive. Biden said the only one that wants to keep going is Hamas. Actually, Israel is the one, and you should let them go and let them finish the job, Trump said. He doesnt want to do it. Why? Hes become like a Palestinian, Trump claimed. Biden immediately suggested he saw the statement as derogatory, going from watching his opponent to closing his eyes and then dropping and shaking his head. But they dont like him, Trump continued, because hes a very bad Palestinian: Hes a weak one. The candidates then turned to squabbling over their differences on the NATO alliance. When Bash tried to refocus the discussion, asking Trump if he would support the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state to promote regional peace, the near-certain GOP presidential nominee responded: Id have to see then resumed complaining about Americas European allies. Gaza didnt come up again. Caught amid a war of epochal scale that directly implicates U.S. foreign policy, Palestinians got minimal mention or clarity about what the November vote could mean for their future. Still, given what the crumbs on offer suggested, that may have been for the best. Related... By Ali Sawafta JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A senior Palestinian official rejected on Friday a move by Israel's finance minister intended to promote new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying it was aimed at pursuing a "war of genocide" against Palestinians. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday the Israeli government would also take punitive steps against the Palestinian Authority in response to Palestinian moves against Israel internationally. Asked about Smotrich's statement, which was not confirmed by the government, Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said the settlements were "illegal colonies that violate all international resolutions". "The decisions by the occupation government aim to pursue the war of genocide against our Palestinian people," he told Reuters. He said the PLO and the Palestinian Authority would continue to press for Israel to be taken before international courts and punished for "crimes against our people, and in particular in the Gaza Strip." Israel has rejected accusations brought by South Africa at the U.N.'s top court that its military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide campaign against Palestinians. Israel launched its Gaza offensive in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel last Oct. 7 in which about 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The Gaza health ministry says over 37,000 people have been killed in Israel's offensive. Smotrich, who heads a pro-settler party, said the government supported his proposal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which usually announces cabinet-level decisions, issued no statement and could not be reached for immediate comment. Steps which Smotrich said he was advancing included revoking "various approvals and benefits" for senior officials in the Palestinian Authority, approving new settlements and retroactively sanctioning some Jewish settlements. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule under 1990s interim peace deals in the West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians and most of the international community regard Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal. Israel disputes this, citing the Jewish people's historical, biblical and political links to the area as well as security considerations. (Writing by Emily Rose, Editing by Timothy Heritage) Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa At last 11 people have been killed and a further 40 have suffered injuries during an attack on a tented encampment in the south of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported on Friday, citing hospital doctors. According to the report, tents in al-Mawasi, which lies directly on the Mediterranean coast, were hit in the attack. Many Palestinians have taken refuge in the encampment since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began operations in nearby Rafah at the start of May and designated al-Mawasi a safe zone. Asked to comment, the IDF said it had no knowledge of an attack by Israeli forces on al-Mawasi on Friday. Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa The city of Palm Springs said Thursday it has selected a consultant to document the facts surrounding the Section 14 neighborhood, which was demolished in the 1960s to make way for new development. The move comes at a time when the city is negotiating what could be a multi-million-dollar settlement with former residents of Section 14, who claim the evictions caused trauma and a loss of generational wealth. The San Francisco-based firm Architectural Resources Group was selected after the Palm Springs City Council directed city staff to find a qualified consultant during an April 11 meeting. ARG is currently working with the California Office of Historic Preservation to document the history of African Americans in California in an effort to identify properties associated with their heritage. The firm has also conducted research into the historical context of certain parts of cities in southern California. The City Council values an external third party who will analyze historical documents and provide the City and all residents and stakeholders with a comprehensive historical report of Section 14, Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein said in a news release. My Council colleagues and I are united in agreement that we want to work together as a community to address the inequities of the past and this Historical Context Study is the first step in the process. The release states that ARG will be used to conduct a historical context study of the time when Palm Springs was asked to assist in the clearing of property owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The city said in the release ARG was "uniquely qualified to conduct the review" because it had overseen similar studies for Los Angeles, Pasadena, West Hollywood, and Culver City. Work on the study began earlier this month, according to the release. The city expects a draft of the report to be completed in September, with a final presentation to the council in November. Costing $74,900, the report will in part help the city determine its role in in the Section 14 evictions. In April 2023, the city council voted against hiring a consultant to help design a reparations scheme, with a majority of council members saying they wanted to hire someone to provide objective historical context before they made any decisions about such payments. In April of this year, the council agreed to offer $4.3 million in payments and take other actions to settle a claim by the group Section 14 Survivors. The group soon rejected the offer and negotiations continued. The Desert Sun asked Bernstein why the council seemingly reversed course and made the offer without the historical information members had wanted. The mayor replied that the city had tried to find a researcher but had not found anyone interested in doing the work. But he said the city council remained committed to getting historical context. This is a developing story. Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs hires consultant to research Section 14 history BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. On June 28, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Lachin from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports. At this stage, another 21 families (65 people) moved to the city of Lachin. The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Lachin has been provided for 534 families - 1,971 people. The concern over President Joe Bidens advanced age and cognitive abilities crystalized in the front half of the first presidential debate on Thursday, leading to panic among his supporters and several notable individuals to call for him to be replaced on the ticket. Biden had multiple gaffes and stumbles as the debate began, trailing off at points and mixing up and missing words while completing his answers and replies to his opponent. This was sharply contrasted by Trump, who shouted about Bidens perceived failures. While he got it together in the second half hour, the damage to Bidens campaign was apparent. More from The Hollywood Reporter Immediately after the debate, CNN reported that Bidens incoherence was causing alarm bells to go off with top Democratic leaders who are now wondering what to do. The networks chyron in the panelists post-debate analysis read: Sources: Dems saying we have a problem after Bidens performance tonight. The sentiment ripped across X, formerly known as Twitter, with some questioning if he should continue his campaign, as names of top Democrats were floated as a replacement candidate. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is one of those names. Newsom spoke about the debate and the Biden panic in an interview with MSNBC after the debate. I think its unhelpful, and I think its unnecessary, Newsom said of the panic over Bidens performance. Weve got to go all in. Got to keep our heads high. And as I say, weve got to have the back of this president. The governors feeling aside, the Biden panic was strong online. Here are some tweets from Democrats and members of the press that were dumbfounded or shocked by Bidens performance on Thursday. American political and corporate strategist Steve Schmidt wrote, Biden will be a one-term president. He still has the chance to watch a Democrat be inaugurated. There are 68 days until the DNC. Whitmer/Moore beats Trump. Biden will be a one-term president. He still has the chance to watch a Democrat be inaugurated. There are 68 days until the DNC. Whitmer/Moore beats Trump. Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) June 28, 2024 The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats Im talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate, wrote CNN anchor Kasie Hunt. The voice, open-mouthed look, and visual contrast between President Biden and former President Trump all have Democrats I'm talking to nearly beside themselves watching this debate Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 28, 2024 Political commentator and former conservative voice on The View Meghan McCain wrote, This is the most stressful debate Ive ever watched and my parent was a nominee against Obama. #DebateNight. This is the most stressful debate Ive ever watched and my parent was a nominee against Obama. #DebateNight Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 28, 2024 Political journalist Jacob Weisberg stated that Biden is a decent man who is clearly at the end of his career. He must withdraw from the race for the good of the country. Ideally tomorrow. Biden is a decent man who is clearly at the end of his career. He must withdraw from the race for the good of the country. Ideally tomorrow. Jacob Weisberg (@jacobwe) June 28, 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof wrote, I wish Biden would reflect on this debate performance and then announce his decision to withdraw from the race, throwing the choice of Democratic nominee to the convention. Someone like @gretchenwhitmer or @SherrodBrown or @SecRaimondo could still jump in and beat Trump. I wish Biden would reflect on this debate performance and then announce his decision to withdraw from the race, throwing the choice of Democratic nominee to the convention. Someone like @gretchenwhitmer or @SherrodBrown or @SecRaimondo could still jump in and beat Trump. Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) June 28, 2024 The tension around the weak performance was thick in the air at the Aspen Ideas Festival, which gathers the most inspired and provocative minds in one place and was attended by The Hollywood Reporter. Sarah Longwell, the head of Republicans against Trump said at the festival to both cheers and boos: I want Trump to lose more than anything in the world, but this is an unmitigated disaster. This was a crucial night for Biden. He didnt show up. You cant deny what people saw with their eyes a man who is too old to be president. He was up against a lunatic, a liar and a man who is clearly unfit. But Trump is going to win unless we do something drastic. We cant pretend that we didnt see what we just saw. Pundit Eddie Gauge said he was more scared about democracy tonight than hes been in his entire life. But pollster Celinda Lake took the opposite tactic, asking people not to lose faith and take the fight to Trump. This is winnable, she says. The polls are close. Most people dont even watch debates. In a next-day column for THR, senior political strategist Eric Schultz, who served as deputy press secretary to President Obama, echoed Lakes sentiment when he told Americans not to panic. We are all accustomed to debates in September and October. Very few voters will have this June debate front of mind when casting their ballot, he wrote. But make no mistake: This race will be extremely close and will likely come down to the wire. In 2020, Joe Biden won Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin all three states by roughly 40,000 votes. This November will likely be just as close. Thats not good for my blood pressure, but it does mean Democrats can and should find the requisite votes to win. When briefly speaking to reporters on Friday, the Associated Press reported that Biden said I think we did well when asked about his performance, but said he has a sore throat. When pressed about Democratic concerns about if he should consider stepping aside, Biden said, No, its hard to debate a liar. He later added to supporters at a watch party near the debate venue, Lets keep going. See you at the next one. Later Friday, at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Biden said, I dont debate as well as I used to. But, he added, I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Also offering his take on the debate was former President Barack Obama who wrote on social media, Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November. June 28, 7:30 a.m. This story has been updated to include Bidens Friday comments to reporters, as well as Eric Schultzs THR column. June 28, 11:22 a.m. This story has been updated to include Bidens Raleigh rally comment. June 28, 11:55 a.m This story has been updated to include Obamas social media post. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a roughly $50.5 billion budget for the next fiscal year but slashed more than 170 items approved by state lawmakers. The budget Parson signed is about $1 billion less than the $51.7 billion spending plan lawmakers passed last month. Items that Parson vetoed included $5 million for a behavioral health center in North Kansas City and $6 million to keep Missouri National Guard troops at the southern border. Parsons overhaul of the plan, which takes effect on Monday, comes after one of the most chaotic budget processes in recent history as the Senate grappled with infighting among GOP senators. A roughly 41-hour filibuster from a group of hard-right senators delayed lawmakers from taking action on the budget until just before the May deadline. The lengthy hold-up required the budget chairs in the House and Senate to negotiate the plan behind closed doors, a process that faced sharp criticism from lawmakers of both parties. Parson, in a statement on Friday, was critical of some of the items lawmakers had inserted into the budget, saying he vetoed them to avoid future budgetary pains tomorrow. The use of the veto pen is not something I do eagerly, but today these vetoes represent the elimination of unnecessary pet projects and the protection of the taxpayer dime, he said. The Republican governor touted several major infrastructure projects included in the budget, including $1.5 billion to expand broadband in the state and $577.5 million to help expand Interstate-44 from St. Louis to Joplin. However, Parson vetoed an additional $150 million for the I-44 expansion that lawmakers had approved. The Republican governor also reduced, or completely slashed, several items related to the Kansas City area. He cut $5 million from the $15 million that lawmakers had approved to build a behavioral health facility on the campus of North Kansas City Hospital. He also slashed $150,000 intended to repair an educational STEM facility in Kansas City and $15 million of the $30 million lawmakers passed for building a massive park above I-670. However, Parson, in his veto message, said there was still $28.7 million included elsewhere in the budget for the project. The budget signed by Parson also includes divisive amendments to every spending bill requiring cities that welcome undocumented immigrants to pay back all state funds. However, Missouri law already bans cities from welcoming undocumented immigrants. While the proposal is targeted at Kansas City, Mayor Quinton Lucas has said he has no plans to make the city a sanctuary city for illegal immigration. The controversial language comes as Republicans repeatedly distort comments Lucas made welcoming migrant workers. Rep. Deb Lavender, a Manchester Democrat, sharply criticized the budget on Friday, railing against the fact that it leaves roughly $1.9 billion on the bottom line. Lavender specifically criticized Parson for vetoing $2.5 million for people who investigate complaints of abuse and neglect in nursing homes, calling it catastrophic. We have cut funding for mental health care coverage, for centers who serve people living with disabilities, to assure competent care for our seniors, and our social services budgets, she said. Fiscal year 2025s budget is shameful, and the repercussions will be felt by the people of our state for years to come. Patty Loew was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame on June 20, 2024. Patty Loew, 72, recently inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame, has left an indelible mark in the field of journalism. But she had no idea this was her calling until well into her college career. She did, after all, change her major seven times at UW-La Crosse. Then I took a journalism class and I just loved it, Loew said. Her first gig was supposed to be as a general assignment reporter for a small radio station in La Crosse. But the stations premier farm reporter had to leave because of a health issue, and Loew was asked to fill their shoes even though she knew nothing about agriculture. I grew up in a housing project on the north side of Milwaukee, she said. I was so unprepared. Loew learned on the job and soon became fascinated with all things farming. Im still interested in agricultural issues, especially food sovereignty as it relates to Indigenous communities, she said. Loew is a member of the Bad River Ojibwe Nation, located within what is now known as Wisconsin. The Ojibwe bands of northern Wisconsin have been fighting to maintain their treaty rights, especially to hunt and fish in former Ojibwe territory that was taken by the U.S. Not long after her radio station job, Loew moved to Madison for a TV news broadcasting job where she became the first female solo news anchor in the city. A little later, ABC offered to pay for her tuition as she earned her doctorate degree while also doing news broadcasts. Later in her career, she transitioned to PBS, hosting news broadcasts and other programming. Loew also wrote and produced the hour-long documentary Way of the Warrior, which airs nationally on PBS. It is about how Indigenous communities traditionally viewed their warriors and why Indigenous peoples serve in the military at among the highest rates of any groups. 'I'm really bad at retiring' Loew retired from broadcasting in 2016. But it turns out Im really bad at retiring, she said. Loew was then asked to teach journalism as a professor at the prestigious Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She said the university was in serious atonement mode at the time she was hired after it had come to light that its founder, John Evans, was involved in a massacre of about 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho people on Nov. 29, 1864. It became known as the Sand Creek Massacre in the Colorado Territory. But Loew said she loves teaching journalism to the next generation of journalists and stresses that journalism is essential for democracy. She is a professor emeritus now, and still stays busy. Loew just celebrated her 50th year in broadcasting by doing a voice-over for a PBS Wisconsin show a few weeks ago. Shes also has a few writing projects in the works, including the third edition of her book, Indian Nations of Wisconsin. Loew was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame on June 20 this year during a ceremony in Fond du Lac. They treated us like royalty, Loew said of the ceremony and reception. I felt like I shouldve worn a tiara and scepter. She joins about 160 other broadcasters who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was created in 1989. Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Patty Loew inducted into Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame Gov. Josh Shapiro during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at Montgomery County Community College January 5, 2024 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The morning after the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, Gov. Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania Democrats came to Bidens defense, both on the airwaves and on social media. Gov. Josh Shapiro said during separate Friday morning interviews on MSNBC and CNN that Democrats should stop worrying and start working, as headlines trumpeted Democrats in a panic over a lackluster debate performance from Biden that reignited speculation that the presidents age is a major concern in his reelection bid. Heres the bottom line. Joe Biden had a bad debate night, but Donald Trump was a bad president, Shapiro said on CNN. During both interviews, Shapiro was pressed about Bidens performance and admitted on both multiple times that Biden had a bad debate and that it was not a good look, but reemphasized the point that the election is a choice between Biden and Trump. I would just say Democrats stop worrying and start working, Shapiro said on MSNBC. We all have a responsibility here to do our part. Shapiro also said that Biden is up for the job, in response to a question about various Democratic strategists and pundits calling for him not to seek his partys nomination. MSNBCs Mika Brzezinski challenged Shapiro at one point, pushing back on his comments, and asking about the stakes of the debate, saying Biden was terrible in one of the most important nights of the election cycle. Shapiro said that Trump also had a terrible night. Ive acknowledged now multiple times Joe Biden had a bad debate night, and hes got a burden on him to show people that he is still able to move forward in these debates in prosecuting the case against Donald Trump, Shapiro said. I believe he can do that. I also believe that we all have a responsibility to help him do that. During his interview on CNN, Shapiro also blasted Trump, saying it aint easy debating a pathological liar, and called out CNN for its moderation. Frankly, I think CNN could have done a better job of calling those lies out, Shapiro said during the CNN interview. The bottom line here is that there is a clear contrast in this race, and we have a responsibility to prosecute the case against Donald Trump, not get caught up in any hand wringing right now. Stop worrying and start working and help move this country. Democrats cancel Friday Biden campaign event in Harrisburg Also Friday morning, a Biden campaign event in Harrisburg scheduled to feature state Democratic lawmakers never happened. It was billed by a Pennsylvania House Democrat spokesperson earlier in the week as a response to Trumps debate lies. Bring a chair, it will take a while. Jack Doyle, the Biden campaigns Pennsylvania campaign manager, said the event was canceled the day before due to the Senate adjourning for the weekend and a conflicting House floor schedule. Republican House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) has raised concerns about Biden campaign events in Harrisburg, including whether Department of General Services resources were improperly used. On Thursday, Cutler appealed House Speaker Joanna McClintons ruling that an amendment he attempted to add to a Senate bill to prohibit any administrative department from expending funds for the purpose of preparing, planning or holding an event, advocating for or against the election of any candidate or ballot question was irrelevant to the bill in question, which was to reauthorize funding for the states geospatial coordinating board. McClinton called the amendment and Cutlers appeal frivolous and absurd. Reaction to Bidens performance Prior to the debate on Thursday evening, Shapiro addressed a Biden debate watch party in Harrisburg where he shared a similar message of the 2024 race being between two candidates, claiming Biden loves this nation and Trump doesnt love America. The mood in the room changed throughout the evening as Bidens shaky performance unfolded. A CNN flash poll following the debate showed that 67% of those who watched said Trump outperformed Biden last night. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has been another vocal Pennsylvania surrogate for the Biden campaign, weighed in on social media. He shared a screen grab of a Politico headline reading WTF: Panicked Dems start looking for alternatives to Biden and reminded people of his own poor debate performance in 2022s U.S. Senate race. I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Bidens shoulder after the debate. No one knows more than me that a rough debate is not the sum total of the person and their record, Fetterman wrote.. Fetterman struggled during his one and only debate in 2022 against GOP candidate Mehmet Oz. Fetterman was still recovering from a stroke he had suffered a few months earlier. While the performance was widely viewed as a campaign-ender by political pundits, voters generally felt sympathy for Fetterman, and he won the election by 5 points. Morning-after thermonuclear beat downs from my race from the debate and polling geniuses like 538 predicted ld lose by 2. And what happened? The only seat to flip and won by a historic margin (+5). Chill the f out, Fetterman wrote in a follow-up post on X Friday morning. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who is seeking reelection to a fourth term in office, has not commented on Bidens debate performance. His campaign replied to a request for comment on Friday with a statement from the senator that did not address the debate, instead criticizing his GOP opponent David McCormick without naming him. Pennsylvanians deserve someone fighting for working families, not for billionaires, the statement reads. McCormick posted to social media on Thursday night during the debate writing this is just hard to watch as an American. I dont know how anyone can watch this and continue to think Joe Biden is fit for office. During an interview on KDKA-FM in Pittsburgh on Friday morning, McCormick said Bidens performance gave anyone watching a sense of fear and sadness. As an American, put aside politics for a second, you say listen, we should be worried, McCormick said. Our founders, our forefathers had some vision on this, they had something called the 25th Amendment. The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution includes the steps for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation. When pressed if he thought there should be conversation about replacing the president right now via the 25th Amendment, McCormick said If what we saw last night is reflective of what he is like day to day, theyre sitting with him if youre Secretary of Defense, or Attorney General, or a Secretary of State, you have a responsibility to say, hey wait a second, this guy is not up to the job, yes I am saying that thats the thing they should be asking themselves right now. U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-8th District) told States Newsroom that Bidens performance reminded him of a 2022 debate he had where his own performance was lousy, He had a tough night, Cartwright said, adding that he believes Democrats shouldnt overreact. Cartwright said he didnt believe Bidens debate performance would affect how voters in his district, which covers sections of northeastern Pennsylvania, including Bidens boyhood home of Scranton, will vote for down-ballot races later this year. People split their tickets where I live, Cartwright said. They know who I am and they know Im not the same guy as whoevers in the White House. Rob Bresnahan, Cartwrights GOP challenger, responded to the debate saying theres a leadership void in the White House. Joe Biden may be a nice guy, but its time for him to hang them up. Its time for new leadership in Washington, DC, Bresnahan wrote. This article was updated at 1:35 p.m., Friday, June 28, 2024 to include comment from Sen. Bob Casey, and at 3:40 p.m to include comment from Rep. Matt Cartwright. Ian Karbal of the Capital-Star staff contributed. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Pennsylvania reacts: Gov. Shapiro comes to Bidens defense following bad debate appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Pennsylvanias Senate advanced legislation that would block state aid to any university that boycotts or divests from Israel, the Associated Press reports. The bill now goes to the state House. Supporters say the legislation was motivated by a desire to support Israel, to fight a rising tide of antisemitism and to alert universities that they must protect Jewish students, the Associated Press reports. Opponents say it infringes on free speech rights. Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have popped up on campuses this year, including demands for divestment. Police arrested and charged a third protester with rioting and aggravated assault after pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the University of Pittsburghs campus in early June. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 4 confirmed tornadoes touched down in Pittsburgh region, NWS says Developers concerned for future of BNY Mellon Center Driver picking up body from Shadyside nursing home takes patient who was still alive VIDEO: Vendors tell Channel 11 they are owed thousands of dollars by company that manages Homewood House DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The U.S. military is once again removing the Gaza pier due to poor weather, and there is no clear timeline on when it would be reanchored, the Pentagon confirmed Friday. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said heavy seas and high winds forced the military to temporarily dismantle the pier and send it to the Israeli port city Ashdod. She did not say when it would come back online, amid speculation that it may not at all. When the commander decides that its the right time to reinstall that pier, well keep you updated on that, she said. As we always said with the pier, it is meant to be temporary. It is not the long-term solution or solve for land routes; we know thats the most effective way in, Singh added. But thats really a decision the commander will make as we continue to evaluate the high seas states. Since the pier came online May 17, more than 19 million pounds of humanitarian aid has been delivered through the maritime corridor. In the past seven days, the U.S. has delivered around 10 million pounds of humanitarian aid to the marshalling area in Gaza through the pier. The $230 million pier has been removed at least three times since it was first installed. The first time was by accident when poor weather broke apart the causeway and forced the military to conduct a repair. The Pentagons watchdog launched a review of the U.S. militarys efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza through the pier. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to the Pentagon this week expressing his concern about an operation he said was riddled with setbacks, sidelined more often than operational, and can only be classified as a gross waste of taxpayer dollars. I urge the administration to immediately cease this failed operation before further catastrophe occurs and consider alternative means of land and air-based humanitarian aid delivery, Rogers wrote. The Pentagon has argued the pier is a crucial part of the humanitarian aid efforts into Gaza, where Palestinians are struggling to access food and water as Israel fights a major war against Hamas. This pier has provided the second amount most volume of aid over all the other crossings in Gaza, Singh said Friday, noting it has demonstrated its importance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Note: This story has been updated to indicate that Sean Rowe is one of the youngest people elected presiding bishop. At only 49 years old, the Right Rev. Sean Rowe has already spent 17 years as an Episcopal bishop in northwestern Pennsylvania. He believes it's less his still relatively youthful age and more the "experience given to me at a young age to be a bishop of the church" that will help him lead the more than 1.4 million members of the denomination as its next presiding bishop. Rowe, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, was elected Wednesday as the Episcopal Church's 28th presiding bishop and will be one of the youngest people to hold that position so far. He will begin his nine-year term on Nov. 1, replacing Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who is 71. Rowe said the "privilege of being elected (the northwestern Pennsylvania bishop) at age 32" helped him to gain experience he'll need for the top job. So did working in the Erie-based diocese, which covers 13 counties. The Right Rev. Sean Rowe, center, shown presiding at the funeral service for Waldameer Park & Water World owner Paul Nelson, will begin serving as the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop on Nov. 1. Northwestern Pennsylvania's smaller congregations represent the broader base of the Episcopal Church, Rowe told the Erie Times-News in a telephone interview Thursday. He said he's been in a diocese with moderate resources that was still able to experiment. "One thing I've learned in northwestern Pennsylvania is resilience," Rowe said. He also serves as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, based in Tonawanda, as part of a first-of-its-kind experiment in the Episcopal Church to share a bishop and staff. Combined, the two dioceses have nearly 90 congregations. 'Big undertaking' The Rev. Richard Rowe believes Sean Rowe will do a good job leading the Episcopal Church but admits to some bias. Sean Rowe has not only been Richard Rowe's local bishop for 17 years but is also his son. "We're pleased for him," Richard Rowe said, speaking for himself and his wife, Patricia Rowe. They also have a daughter. "It's a big undertaking. It's a huge responsibility." Replacing Michael Curry: Bishop Sean Rowe of Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pa. elected to lead Episcopal Church But the senior Rowe said "complex" and "huge" don't bother his son, who has a broad background. An Eagle Scout, the younger Rowe was elected class president in high school and won a four-year term on the Franklin Area School Board in 2003. He was elected bishop of northwestern Pennsylvania on the first ballot. Three years later, Sean Rowe made public four claims of sexual abuse against a former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, apologized for the abuse and asked other victims to contact him. "We are not going forward with this because we are being threatened with litigation," Sean Rowe told the Erie Times-News in 2010. "We are going forward with this because I believe it's the right thing to do." He also said then that he was demonstrating that such abuse would no longer be covered up here. "In this diocese, there will not be secrets about this kind of activity," he said. In 2012, Sean Rowe announced that he would allow clergy in the northwestern Pennsylvania diocese to bless the unions of same-sex couples. "I support blessing same-sex unions, but some of my faithful fellow Episcopalians do not," Sean Rowe said in a statement at the time. "The Episcopal Church in northwestern Pennsylvania is a place where people of good conscience can disagree charitably about such matters. We respect and love each other, and we are united in the hope and healing of Jesus Christ." Sean Rowe said this month that some of the most practical people he's ever worked with are in northwestern Pennsylvania. He thanked them for their support. 'People person' "I think he's always been a people person," said Richard Rowe, who is retired but still provides pastoral care at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lawrence Park Township. Richard Rowe became an Episcopal priest a couple years after his son. Sean Rowe said he grew up in the Methodist Church and was introduced to the Episcopal Church while at Grove City College, where he was a history major with a religion minor. "The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church are distant cousins," he said, adding that they have a good relationship and both serve the same God. Bishop Sean Rowe of the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, speaks during a 2020 vigil outside the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul in Erie. Clergy members gathered to denounce racism, call for healing and acknowledge their congregations must do more to fight prejudice and inequalities in society. In a 2007 interview with the Erie Times-News, Constance Bailey also said Sean Rowe was a "people person" and said he was "definitely marked by God." Bailey, then 75, was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Franklin, where Rowe has been rector for seven years before becoming a bishop. "He's a cut above most of us," Bailey told the Erie Times-News. In addition to being a member of his church, she had served with Rowe on the Franklin Area School Board for nearly four years. "There's just an insight, an ability to understand people, compassion, the things so many of us struggle with," she said of him. When Bailey died in 2016, it was Sean Rowe and Richard Rowe who officiated at her funeral. Looking ahead Sean Rowe was selected on the first ballot by his fellow bishops and received an overwhelming majority of votes from priests and lay people. He said he did vote for himself because he had discerned about being presiding bishop and was prepared to offer himself and do so fully. Because of that, some planning for his departure has already been done in his Pennsylvania and New York dioceses. He said in a letter to members of the dioceses that their Standing Committees "began developing a draft plan for this transition shortly after I was named to the slate of nominees for presiding bishop and are prepared for the change ahead." From April: Erie Bishop Sean Rowe named 1 of 4 nominees for presiding bishop of Episcopal Church Sean Rowe said there isn't yet a timeline for replacing him when he takes on his new role Nov. 1. "We have some time to work on that," he said. But even though he'll become presiding bishop of the Manhattan-based Episcopal Church, Sean Rowe won't completely leave Erie County for a couple years. He said he'll likely divide his time between here and New York City while his 11-year-old daughter, Lauren Rowe, completes grade school. His wife, Carly Rowe, a Christian educator, will continue to work for the northwestern Pennsylvania diocese. Both were with him in Louisville for the Episcopal Church's General Convention and were excited by his selection as presiding bishop. The family was headed home over the weekend. Sean Rowe said there won't be an immediate celebration of his election but that he expects to begin saying his goodbyes later in the summer. Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: New Episcopal presiding bishop Sean Rowe of Erie PA ready to lead Cornelia Police is asking for your help to find a burglary suspect. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to police, the suspect, Chance Hess, has active warrants for Burglary. Police said he is 60, 25 years old, and has two neck tattoos. TRENDING STORIES: Police said he is known to have acquaintances in Cornelia, Mt. Airy, Toccoa, and Florida. If you have any information on the suspect, reach out to police. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHE NEWS: Doors were locked, gates closed and just like that, meatpacking which has been the cornerstone of Perrys economy ended Friday after more than 60 years. Or maybe only for now. PerryNext, a cadre of economic development, city and business leaders, speaking Friday as Tyson Fresh Meats carried through with a plan to permanently close its Perry pork packing facility, expressed optimism that they eventually will find a new tenant. The Tyson pork packing plant Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Perry, IA. More: Waste no time, say leaders of Iowa city that suffered after previous Tyson plant shutdown They highlighted the citys strengths, including one ingredient many businesses are finding to be in short supply: the available workforce among the plants 1,300 now-displaced employees. They also pointed to recent upgrades to the plant, including updating its wastewater treatment, chiller, cooler and rendering systems as well as installation of a modern stunning line for killing hogs. Im confident they (Tyson executives) are trying to find a buyer for the facility, said Rachel Wacker, executive director of the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance. Tyson has maintained communication with local leaders regarding the plant, Wacker said. In a statement to the Des Moines Register, Tyson said, Our top priority is supporting impacted team members ahead of the closure. However, we are always open to exploring opportunities and are willing to discuss a potential sale with any interested party. Wacker said the Tyson plant, which sits on 11.75 acres with more 380,000 square feet under its roof, is still a very marketable property, and keeping the refrigeration capabilities intact makes it attractive to potential buyers beyond meatpacking. Tom Burkgren, a community consultant for Perry, said that even though the Perry plant can accommodate only a single shift processing 9,000 hogs a day half that of the Tyson plant in Waterloo he believes there is still room for the processing capacity of the plant within the pork industry. More: Closing Tyson plant will pull prices lower for pork producers who are already hurting Burkgren, a retired executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, also believes that Tysons commitment to keeping a small staff employed to maintain the refrigeration systems is a positive sign in terms of being able to sell the property. But even if a buyer is found, Burkgren said it would likely be a year before the plant would be in operation again. Workers finding jobs, Tyson and Iowa Workforce Development say Of the 1,300 workers displaced, 200 already have agreed to take jobs at other Tyson plants, according to Tyson officials, while Iowa Workforce Development said many other workers have found employment elsewhere. A count of how many was not available. Tyson has retained 68 employees to finish up some work still needing to be completed, said Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson. As workforce development has worked with employees since the plant closing announcement was made in March, it has conducted surveys and found that: Nearly four-fifths of employees planned to look for new employment (64.1% same job type, 15.4% new job type, others undecided). 45.2% are willing to relocate within Iowa, while 21.4% are willing to move to elsewhere. More: Tyson gave immigrants, refugees footing in US. Where will they go when Perry plant closes? To date, it said, about 50 workers are in the process of applying to enter training-related opportunities, including for roles as nursing assistants and truckers. The statement said other workers are still exploring their options and intend to make career decisions after their time at Tyson ends. The United Food and Commercial Workers union representing employees had negotiated an agreement with Tyson that pays each employee working up until the closure $1,700, plus for Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Housing vacancies not yet a problem, city says Peterson, the city administrator, said that so far, Perry has not seen a glut of single-family residences going on the market and he doesnt anticipating it happening. But if it does, he said, he thinks houses will sell quickly to people looking for high-quality housing at lower prices than can be found in the Des Moines metro area approximately a half hour away. Older apartments may empty, Peterson said, and the city wants to work with owners to possibly use the vacancies as an opportunity for upgrades. More: Planned Tyson closing in Perry results in additional layoffs at company that cleans plant The city also is continuing talks with Tyson to annex the plant property, which currently sits just outside the city limits. Peterson said such a move would allow the city to work more closely with a potential buyer and to offer incentives. Moving the plant property into the city would cost the owner $130,000 more in property taxes than what is currently being paid while being in the county, Wacker said. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Tyson plant shuts down, but Perry leaders sound optimistic Person dead after stumbling onto tracks, becoming trapped under Orange Line train, police say One person died after they became trapped under an Orange Line train in Boston on Friday afternoon. Officers responding to a report of a person trapped underneath an Orange Line train at the Jackson Square MBTA station found a victim on the tracks, according to the Boston Police Department. Firefighters and EMS crews declared the victim dead at the scene. MBTA Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan told Boston 25 the person apparently stumbled before falling onto the tracks. On behalf of the TPD and the entire MBTA organization we offer our most sincere condolences to the decedents family and loved ones, Sullivan said. The MBTA says shuttle buses are replacing service between the Ruggles and Forest Hills stations. Commuter rail is free to ride between South Station, Back Bay, Ruggles, and Forest Hills. Boston police homicide detectives are assisting Transit police with an investigation. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. On June 28, 2024, representatives of the U.S. Embassy, ADA University, and North Carolina State University will inaugurate a two-day workshop and conference for more than 400 Azerbaijani secondary school English teachers, Trend reports. U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Hugo Guevara and ADA University Vice Rector for Strategy and Advancement Dr. Vafa Kazdal gave opening remarks. The conference is the culmination of an 18-week, online masters-level English Language Teaching Certificate Program for Azerbaijani teachers of English administered by North Carolina State University and funded by the U.S. Department of State. This is the programs fourth year. The event brings together English language teachers from different regions of Azerbaijan, including Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Mingachevir, Yevlakh, Sumgayit, Barda, Gadabay, Shamkir, Sheki, Zagatala, Fuzuli, Lankaran, Astara, Masalli, Beylagan and others. It is an opportunity for participants to learn about pedagogical best practices while fostering techniques to build a professional network of peer educators. Since its inception in 2020, the virtual training program has seen 350 Azerbaijani English language teachers successfully graduate from this rigorous, masters-degree level course. The program continues to grow and evolve each year, enhancing its impact and reach. The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan and North Carolina State University intend to continue this successful project next year in partnership of the Ministry of Science and Education and the Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This partnership has resulted in significant advancements in the teaching of the English language across Azerbaijan and has brought our two countries closer together, strengthening our people-to-people ties and at the same time supporting Azerbaijans goal of increasing English-language fluency throughout the education sector. Several graduates of this and other U.S. Embassy English-language programs have distinguished themselves in international conferences, exchange programs, and other significant ways. Two people were hit and killed by an Amtrak train in separate incidents in North Carolina, authorities confirmed to Channel 9. Amtrak told Channel 9 one person was hit by a train near Charlotte early Friday morning. MEDIC confirmed that a person died at the scene on Old Concord Road near Rocky River Road. The Burlington Police Department told Channel 9 that a person was hit by a train around 8 p.m. Thursday near York Road. Police said the victim, 47-year-old Daniel Cameron Wagoner, was walking east on the tracks when the train approached from the opposite direction. A passenger who was on the Amtrak train coming to Charlotte said the same train was involved in both incidents. Amtraks route for the southbound Carolinian goes through Burlington and Charlotte. ALSO READ: Man steals Amazon delivery truck from Charlotte before crashing in Gaston County, police say Amtrak officials said the train was coming from New York City. According to the Amtrak website, the train stopped in Durham, NC around 7 p.m. Thursday night and did not make it to Charlotte until 4:07 a.m. That was seven hours later than it was supposed to arrive in Charlotte. Amtrak said none of the 106 passengers or crew were hurt and the company is working with local law enforcement to determine what happened. One of those passengers told Channel 9 that the event was traumatizing. I just lost my composure because, I mean, it was enough to hear that one person had been killed. But to hear it a second time, passenger Yolanda Whitted said. A Channel 9 crew observed a CATS bus at the scene and is working to find out why it was there. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH: Man steals Amazon delivery truck from Charlotte before crashing in Gaston County, police say SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A new sheep statue will be joining the flock in San Angelo following a brief conflict between the San Angelo Public Art Commission and PETA. PETAs sheep, namedE(n)d Shearin, will be unveiled to the community at the City Hall Annex at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2. This sheep will depict the sheeps side of the story through images of sheep protesting while holding signs stating things like Where is your empathy? and Im not your socks!. This statue is finally bringing a sheeps perspective to San Angelo, where it will join more than 100 sheep statues and encourage people to have empathy for these gentle, sensitive animals with complex emotional lives, says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. PETA urges everyone to shun wool and opt for vegan clothing that no animals were cut to ribbons for. E(n)d Shearin, a sheep statue set to be debuted as a part of the San Angelo sheep statue flock made by PETA. A press release from PETA shared that New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss designed the artwork displayed. Victory!: PETAs anti-shearing sheep statue approved In December 2023, PETA claimed that members of the Public Art Commission in San Angelo denied PETAs application for the state. They further state in a press release that this violated PETAs First Amendment Rights. However, the City council and City manager approved the sheep statue later in the month after a letter addressed to San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter and San Angelo City Council urged them to reject the commissions denial. PETA reminds people that Every Animal is Someone. For more information on PETA, 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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa speaks after the bilateral meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry in Colombo MANILA (Reuters) -Japan and the Philippines' foreign and defence ministers will meet in Manila next month for talks that could include a breakthrough defence pact that would allow their military forces to visit each other's soil. Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara will meet their Philippine counterparts on July 8 for a 2+2 meeting, Manila's foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. The meeting comes as the Philippines and Japan are negotiating a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that would deepen defence cooperation between two key allies of the United States in Asia. Japanese lawmaker and former defence minister Itsunori Onodera, who visited Manila this week along with two other lawmakers, said he hopes an RAA pact will "make rapid progress" during the high-level talks next month. "I hope the RAA will be ratified," Onodera told a briefing. The Philippines has been ramping up its ties with neighbours and other countries to counter what it describes as China's growing aggression in the South China Sea. Japan and China, on the other hand, have faced off in the East China Sea in tiny, uninhabited islands that Beijing calls the Diaoyu and Tokyo calls the Senkaku. "I believe the Philippines and Japan have something in common," Onodera said, referring to their clashes with China in disputed waters. "We oppose any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo," Onodera said. In February 2023, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed in Tokyo that their militaries would cooperate on disaster relief, a deal that paved the way for RAA negotiations with Japan. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Mikhail Flores; Editing by John Mair) Jacardo Ralston, 47, from Pennsylvania, looks up to a television to watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie's Lounge on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, met for the first general election debate of the 2024 season a chance for the candidates to try to reshape the political narrative and persuade undecided voters. Thursdays 90-minute debate was held in Atlanta and hosted by CNN. Americans with varying opinions on the nation's most pressing issues gathered at venues across the country for watch parties. Elaine Freeman, a Trump supporter from Oxford, Ohio, and employee at the local Veterans Affairs hospital, said the economy is the most important issue in this election. For her family, the cost of living is too high and she has trouble covering the cost of basics like groceries every week. For what I make, 15 years ago I would be considered upper middle class, said Freeman, who watched at an event in Hamilton, Ohio. I should not be living paycheck to paycheck. Adriana Varea, a policy and legislation fellow for the League of United Latin American Citizens, said immigration is a huge issue and that gun control should be addressed. She said she goes to school in Lewiston, Maine, the site of a mass shooting in 2023 in which 18 people were killed. "Gun control is definitely something that Im passionate about, said Varea, who was at a debate watching event in Las Vegas. Reginald Marsh, owner of the M Lounge in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, watched with customers and said there's not one top issue for him. I just believe Trump is dangerous for this country, he said. Londons Bar & Grill in McAllen, Texas, is normally loud on a day close to the weekend, but the owners said they were surprised so many were quiet and engaged with the debate. Hector Mercado, a military veteran donning a beret who lives in Edinburg, Texas, said he liked what Trump said about closing the border. Virginia Lopez was also at the Texas bar and said she's an undecided voter. I really feel that one of them the Republican, Im disappointed with what hes done with his behavior," she said. "And the other one, I just feel like hes too old. President Joe Biden spoke to supporters at a rally in Raleigh, NC Friday following his Thursday night debate against opponent Donald Trump. The rally comes amid concerns about his performance and some calls for him to step down as the Democratic candidate. Protesters were scheduled to demonstrate outside the rally to oppose the Biden administrations aid to Israel in its ongoing war against Hamas. North Carolina is a swing state, with Biden losing to Trump in 2020 by only 1.3%. Now, political observers and voters will be watching his visit in Raleigh at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Gov. Roy Cooper is scheduled to appear with Biden at Fridays event. Musical artists Fat Joe and E-40 are slated to perform. Here are photos from Fridays North Carolina event. Check back as more photos are added during the day. N.C. Attorney General and candidate for Governor Josh Stein fires up the crowd at a rally for President Joe Biden at the Jim Graham Building at the fairgrounds in Raleigh, Friday, June 28, 2024. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event at as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Supporters of President Joe Biden dance to Beyonce at a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Supporters of President Joe Biden hold up signs at a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest outside of an event held by President Joe Biden at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest outside of an event held by President Joe Biden at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer have been touted as replacement candidates Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, is being touted as a leading contender to replace Joe Biden should the 81-year-old stand aside in the US presidential election after his disastrous debate performance. The 56-year-old Left-winger was mobbed by reporters after the debate ended, with many asking if he would step in for the ailing president. Mr Newsom, who has the best odds to win the 2024 election of any alternative candidate, attempted to swat aside the question, saying the rumours were unhelpful and unnecessary. But on Friday, advisers close to three potential replacements for Mr Biden thought to include Mr Newsom said they were bombarded with pleas for their employers to step-up as an alternative, according to Politico. Biden needs to drop out. No question about it, one said. According to the aggregator Oddschecker, Mr Biden has just a 21.2 per cent chance of winning the election as it stands. Mr Newsom is the second-placed candidate on 14 per cent and vice-president Kamala Harris on 5.8 per cent. Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Maryland, was suggested by one donor as the best bet to defeat Mr Trump, although she is currently viewed as having just a 2.7 per cent chance. At 56, Mr Newsom is a quarter of a century younger than Mr Biden and an adept communicator, who runs the worlds fifth-largest economy. He was re-elected to his second and final term as governor of California in a landslide victory in 2022. With no political threats to fend off in the Golden State, he has focused on increasing his national recognition, giving speeches in other states, and running national TV adverts. He has amplified his political profile by wading into this years White House race, casting himself as an attack dog who is prepared to aggressively take on prominent Republicans. His strategy has included challenging Ron DeSantis, Floridas governor and one-time GOP 2024 presidential candidate, to a debate. Governor Newsome arrived at the spin room. Almost all of the journalists are gathering around him pic.twitter.com/D2qHCcZFPC Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) June 28, 2024 The actions caused some unease in the White House, where aides feared he could launch a challenge against Mr Biden, although he publicly and privately assured the president otherwise. Mr Newsom has tacked to the Left of the Democrat party, which may dampen appeal among centrist voters who backed Mr Biden in 2020. He has enacted more than a dozen laws aimed at making California a sanctuary for women seeking abortions in states where the procedure is now banned. Mr Newsom has also championed green policies, ordering a ban on the sale of new fossil-fuel cars by 2035. And he has looked to ease obstacles for illegal immigrants, making California the first state to offer health insurance for all undocumented immigrants. Ms Whitmer, 52, secured a convincing victory in the swing state of Michigan in 2020. Like Mr Newsom, Ms Whitmer a rising star of the Democratic party who tends to be sought out by American news networks sniffing out possible future presidents. Mr Biden considered her as a running mate in 2020 she was reportedly one of four who made the all-female shortlist before Kamala Harris was selected and she has publicly clashed with Donald Trump before. She last year shot down speculation about a presidential bid, saying she wanted to see out her second term as governor and supported Mr Biden. But she has hinted at running at the next election in 2029. She successfully turned an insult from Mr Trump that woman in Michigan into a slogan that raised her national profile. Her personal brand is connected with the abortion debate: she has accused Donald Trump of lying about his stance on reproductive rights (she suspects he would seek a national ban on abortion), and won her won reelection in 2022 against a Trump-endorsed opponent, Tudor Dixon, who was considered to be at the extreme end of the anti-abortion right. That victory she came home by a handy 11 percentage points, a much more than polls predicted will only add to her allure for Democrats looking for a candidate who can take on the right. Another name mentioned is Sherrod Brown, the last Democrat senator in Republican voting state of Ohio. A career politician and at 71, he is one of a small clutch of Red State Democrats who owe their political success to a strong personal brand and local issues. Mr Browns brand is messy hair, a rumpled suit and a working man persona. He is an ally of Bernie Sanders and considered one of the most liberal figures in the Democrat party which is one reason he is sometimes suggested as someone who could unify the partys establishment and progressive wings. He was considered as a running mate for Hillary Clinton in her 2016 presidential run. Mr Beshears potential appeal to the Democrats can be summed up in the headline of a recent Wall Street Journal profile of him: This Democratic Governor Knows How to Win in a Red State. Is His Party Listening? He has twice won the governorship in a determinedly Red State. Hes rated as the most popular Democratic governor in the country, and his name has come up as a potential presidential candidate since he first took office in 2019. Like many of the others mentioned as a possible replacement for Biden, he is thought to be considering a run in 2028. In Americas ultra-polarised political climate, a Democrat who can reach across the political divide to Republican voters would be a massive asset. His political brand - which boils down to a mild mannered demeanor and expressing compassion for all - does well in his home state. But not everyone is convinced his appeal is transferable. At home he has the advantage of a local political dynasty - his father was also Kentucky state governor - and the bond he forged with Kentuckians during Covid and a series of natural disasters in the state may be difficult to replicate nationally. And would a Democrat party dominated by liberal coastal cities be ready to nominate a southern White man? The most obvious option in establishment Democrat circles is of course vice-president Kamala Harris. However, she polls worse than Mr Biden and may be sunk by her close work with the president. Members of Mr Bidens cabinet, including transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, are also considered viable contenders. Nevertheless, Democrats who are intimately acquainted with Mr Biden insist there is little that can be done to dissuade him from seeking a second term. Insiders suggest the two voices the president plays closest attention to his wife Jill and his sister Valerie remain staunchly supportive of his re-election bid. David Axelrod, a former chief strategist for Barack Obama, told CNN: The idea he would walk away from this is pretty remote. But his job got harder tonight. 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. The Foresthill Bridge will undergo ultrasonic testing to ensure its 282 welds are secure, Placer County officials announced this week. Its iconic, said Matt Randall, deputy director of the Placer County Department of Public Works, so we want to make sure we do a good job with this. Randall said its customary for bridges throughout the country to get inspected regularly every year or two, though there was one case nearly 2,500 miles east that brought attention to the Foresthill Bridge. The Jennings Randolph Bridge over the Ohio River, connecting Ohio and West Virginia, closed in December 2023 because it had cracking welds that required repair that took four months to complete. That bridge had similar welds and was built with the same T-1 steel as the Foresthill Bridge, which led to officials decision to test the bridge as preventative maintenance. The Federal Highway Administration issued a letter to Caltrans, Randall said, saying that any bridge that used T-1 steel and butt welds would require ultrasonic testing. The Foresthill Bridge is one of roughly 25 bridges throughout the state that will undergo a similar process. According to the administration, ultrasonic testing is done by certified inspectors who use a single-element probe around welds to detect any flaws that might go unseen by the naked eye. The Foresthill Bridge stands some 730 feet above the North Fork of the American River between Auburn and Foresthill in Placer County. Its the highest bridge in the state and the fourth-highest in the country. The testing will be done by whats called a snooper truck that will drive on the bridge and use a large mechanical arm to allow inspectors to look at the structure underneath. One of the bridges four lanes is expected to be closed during inspections, though its not expected to cause congestion given the lack of traffic in the remote area. It shouldnt be that much of an inconvenience for folks because its not like I-80 where you got tons and tons of traffic, Randall said. The project on the 51-year-old bridge was approved Tuesday and will cost $6.3 million. Eighty percent of its funding will come from the Federal Highway Bridge Program, and the remaining 20% will come from the states SB 1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation funds. Its expected to take roughly a year to complete and will begin this summer. About 25 people will work on the project, Randall said, including employees from the county, private consultants and Caltrans. Each weld will be double checked for quality assurance to make sure they are structurally sound. We have multiple people looking at these to make sure we dont make any mistakes, Randall said. Placer County has no physical LGBTQ center. Its not safe without one, advocates say More than five decades of LGBTQ advocacy in Californias capital region has given George Raya the experience and audience he needs to help a much younger effort, an organization in Placer County that only just gained momentum in the past couple of years. Raya hosted a fundraiser last Sunday at Faces Nightclub for his 75th birthday to contribute to the Placer LGBTQ+ Centers goal of raising $75,000 to be able to have a physical space a need in Placer that the center has long hoped to fill. You would not believe youre in the state of California if you just knew whats happening around you there in Placer County, Raya said. Looking forward to Rayas birthday fundraiser, Placer LGBTQ+ Center Board President and CEO Daniella Zimmerman was unsure if people would be aware of just how different Placers needs and resources are from Sacramentos LGBTQ community. Two locations of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, the Lavender Heights location in midtown and the Marsha P. Johnson Center in south Sacramento, serve the LGBTQ community in the greater Sacramento area, including Placer County. This doesnt lessen the need for a center in Placer, Zimmerman said. Local advocates, such as Kai, a young adult LGBTQ advocate from Placer County, said that this doesnt lessen the need for a center in Placer. Our closest resources, big resources and center, would be in Sacramento, said Kai, who requested their last name not be used out of concern for their safety and to discuss sensitive topics. Thats not too terribly far away but a lot of the kids that need support dont have licenses yet and cant get down to Sacramento, or they cant come out to their families and have their families take them. Having a location thats within walking distance from local high schools, near Sierra College and more accessible to the Placer community is crucial to the Placer LGBTQ+ Centers mission. In numbers alone, the Placer LGBTQ+ Center is much smaller, with no staff and only five board members, compared to the Sacramento LGBT Centers two locations, staff of 32 and 10 board members. Placers history with LGBTQ support In recent years, Placer LGBTQ advocates have faced an increase in opposing forces. In 2023, the Landing Spot, a student support group run by Pastor Casey Tinnin from Basin Congregational United Church of Christ in Loomis, faced backlash surrounding a drag show fundraiser they planned to host at Roseville High School. After Roseville Joint Union High School District officials reported receiving over 2,000 emails of expressed concerns, they canceled the drag show. Roseville Joint Union cut ties with Tinnin after a video went viral showing him speaking about LGBTQ support groups. The video was recorded secretly by conservative group Project Veritas; Tinnin says his words were taken out of context, and that the video led to him receiving death threats. The Sacramento Gay Mens Choir performs at the third annual Placer Pride in May 2024 at Royer Park. The Landing Spot has been a support group for LGBTQ youth since 2016, when Tinnin said he recognized a lack of resources and knowledge within Placer Countys Christian community. Their annual drag show raises money for Camp Fruit Loop, a camp for LGBTQ youth. When Pastor Tinnin and the church received threats, Kai said many were upset and scared to the point that they left the church or stopped sending their children to group meetings. They werent sure, if they send their kids there, if their kid is going to come back unharmed, Kai said. Not because of the people who run the Landing Spot but because of the threats that we were getting. Zimmerman said since then, she has noticed it is more difficult to get resources to students and cultivate safe spaces on campuses. You can feel that everyone has been a little more timid and nervous about it all, Zimmerman said. Going to GSA (gaystraight alliance) meetings, talking about them, even getting into schools to go meet with students and tell them about resources. This past school year, Rocklin Unified School District implemented a controversial parental notification policy that requires all school staff and teachers to tell parents if their child had requested to use a different name, pronouns or restroom than they had previously. Roseville Joint Union passed a similar policy. On Monday, the California Public Employment Relations Board ruled that the Rocklin policy constitutes unfair labor practices. Earlier this year, it was found to have violated the state education code by the California Department of Education, but county and federal judges around the state have sided with the so-called parents rights movement. In Auburn earlier this month, a school board trustee admonished the board for recognizing Pride month. The need for extra support has become much more than what they can currently provide, Kai said. (Students) need that kind of support that the Placer LGBTQ+ Center would love to give to them. Kai added that things have felt more urgent in Placer lately, especially for more vulnerable members of the community, people of color and youth. In working with peers and youth, Kai said they have all come to the conclusion that its not safe. Students can go to counselors with some concerns, Zimmerman said, (though part of the Roseville Joint Union policy included notifying when students go to wellness centers) but sometimes they just need someone who can relate or give advice, something not all counselors can provide. With the resources of the Sacramento LGBT Center, where Raya served on the board for six years, he saw new opportunities arise for the local LGBTQ community. Ive seen what a big center can do, Raya said. Youth wear Pride colors at Placer Pride at Royer Park in Roseville on Saturday, May 21, 2022, Placer Countys first in-person Pride event. Whats next for LGBTQ center? When the Placer LGBTQ+ Centers board was first established in 2014, they set out to build a physical center that would serve both youth and adults. While the center has held up its commitment to being a resource and visible part of the community, through Placer Pride and events like walking in the Roseville Fourth of July parade every year, they have seen setbacks in establishing a physical space, including administrative hurdles and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Zimmerman says, the center is leveling up. Attendance at this years Placer Pride in May, the events third iteration, is a reflection of this. Officials estimated that over 2,000 were in attendance as compared to 1,000 and 500 attendees last year and the year before that, respectively. It was just really nice. I felt like there was hope for Placer County there, Kai said. Placer Pride also featured performances by the Gay Mens choir and local drag artists and was able to host 80 booths this year, up from last years 45 booths, with vendors, resources, networking opportunities and crafts and games for kids. The board of directors for the center hopes to diversify and expand this year, Zimmerman said. The organization gained its 501c(3) status in 2014, under the name PRISM-Q LGBT & Allies Resource Center, but does business as the Placer LGBTQ+ Center, and hopes to change its official nonprofit name later this year. Longterm, we want to get to a point where we dont have to spend all of our time fundraising, Zimmerman said. It doesnt make sense to open a center if then were going to have to spend all our time raising money to keep the center open. Really its providing the resources and support. People who set up monthly donations, Zimmerman said, also help provide security that the center will have funding in the future. While they havent totaled earnings from Rayas fundraiser party yet, the center was recently awarded a $10,000 capacity building grant from the Placer Community Foundation and had success with its Big Day of Giving, during which Placer LGBTQ+ Center raised $9,260, up from $5,348 in 2023. At Placer Pride in May, the Gay Mens choir also made a $1,000 donation to the center. When the center adds these new funds to their total, Zimmerman said, they will reach nearly 40% of their goal of $75,000. Though high temperatures had Raya worried that fewer people would attend his birthday fundraiser for the Placer County center last weekend, he considered the event a success: those who made it to the event heard about the work that the center does, and Raya said many who could not make it reached out to ask about where they could find more information. George Raya is pictured on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Sacramento. The 73-year-old sits at the Old Soul at The Weatherstone cafe and holds a 1977 photo of himself an the other participants in the National Gay Task Force at the White House. At the fundraiser, State Sen. Angelique Ashby presented Raya with a resolution honoring the advocacy work he has done since he was a student at Sacramento State. That advocacy work includes lobbying and representing the West Coast at the first National Gay Task Force in 1977, the resolution said. Raya says he is on a mission to help provide consistent community resources. They need a place, a safe space, Raya said. Theres none. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. Construction of private houses will begin in Dashalti village of the Shusha district soon, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha District Aydin Karimov said during the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Revive Karabakh Together" in Shusha today, Trend reports. The construction of primary tourism infrastructure has started in Dashalti, located near the city of Shusha. It's also planned to allocate a plot of land for entrepreneurs keen to invest. The process of free construction of private houses for citizens will soon begin, he explained. Meanwhile, the event focuses on providing businesspeople with investment opportunities and commercial prospects in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic zones, as well as a discussion of the public-private partnership model. Additionally, the event is featuring panel discussions on the benefits and preferences applied in the liberated territories, other measures of state support, and the role of entrepreneurs in the restoration and economic reintegration of these territories. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Jon Favreau, the Pod Save America host and former speechwriter to President Obama, called Thursday nights presidential debate f awful, saying President Biden failed every single way with his performance. I think it was a fing disaster, he said on his podcast Pod Save America. I think it was the worst debate Ive ever seen in my entire life. Favreau hosts Pod Save America alongside other former Obama aides Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett and Dan Pfeiffer. All four said they thought Biden lost the debate and that unless he is able to improve his performance in the coming months dramatically, he will lose the presidential election to former President Trump. Debates are a performance and what you say and how you say it both matter, Vietor said. So the optics, to start there, were very bad tonight. Biden had to answer concerns about his age. I think he exacerbated them. His voice sounded frail. Pfeiffer said Biden, already trailing Trump in polls, needed to bolster himself in the debate and instead did the opposite. The bigger thing here is that Biden is behind in this race, Pfeiffer said. You either change the dynamic in a race by taking advantage of huge, high leverage moments with lots of eyeballs on you in delivering in a big way. Biden did not do that, and there may not be another moment like that, because a convention speech is not a moment like that, he added. Bidens performance at the debate has led to a panic among Democrats. A snap CNN poll showed that 67 percent of watchers believed Trump had won the debate, while only 33 percent believed Biden had won. Since the debate, surrogates for the Biden campaign and the campaign itself have said that Biden will not step down and that Democrats should stop hand-wringing in public. The Pod Save America hosts also slammed members of the Biden campaign who have called out Democrats discussing an open convention that could lead to a different nominee. It would be silly not to have this conversation, Lovett said. Thats not to say that a contested convention would be easy to necessarily nominate someone who can beat Donald Trump Joe Bidens gonna make the decision. The people around him are going to counsel him on this decision. But, like, I think that everyone else who saw what we all saw last night needs to be honest. I think its totally legitimate for folks to say, you know what, actually I think sticking with Joe Biden is the best chance we have at winning, Vietor said. What is not acceptable is telling people to stop bedwetting, or that they didnt see what they saw. Favreau also said that Bidens performance at the debate was his fault and that his staff was doing everything right. The person who is to blame right now is Joe Biden because he has told all of us I am the guy, Favreau said. And then he did this. During the podcast, Favreau also said that Biden appeared to not be doing well at a Los Angeles fundraiser June 15. Biden appeared sick and tired, having traveled straight from the Group of Seven summit in Italy to the fundraiser in LA. We chalked it up as like, yeah, that was a pretty bad performance. He is pretty tired. They should let the guy sleep. Hopefully theyll have him sleep and, and, and prep for this debate, Favreau said. By the way, everyone else in the crowd saw that too, which is why the whole like, Oh, deceptively edited clip of Biden freezing. He wasnt actually freezing in that moment. But the rest of the thing was bad. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Kan. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has identified the 16-year-old boy killed in a shooting earlier this week. The shooting happened outside a house near S. 48th Street and Steele Road in Kansas City, Kansas. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 When police arrived at the scene, they found a victim outside who had gunshot wounds who died at the scene. KCKPD identified him Friday as 16-year-old Michael Welch, of KCK. Two other adults were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries. The injuries were not caused by gunfire, according to police. Theyre in serious condition and both are expected to recover. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Police have not yet made any arrests in this ongoing investigation. If you know anything about this homicide you can call the Tips Hotline at (816) 474-8477. The Turner School District sent a letter to families and offered counseling Friday at Turner Middle School. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Las Vegas Metropolitan police identified the two police officers who shot at a man armed with knives outside of a business on Wednesday morning. The officers are identified as Ashley Ravelo, 32, who has been employed with Metro since 2014 and Johnny Patino, 32, who has been employed with Metro since 2021. Both are assigned to the Southeast Area Command. According to police, the officers shot at the suspect armed with two knives outside of a business on Boulder Highway near Russell Road. Metro Captain Kurt McKenzie said the shooting occurred when the suspect charged toward officers. Both officers are on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the shooting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Police say theyre searching for more victims of a man who targeted middle school students in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers arrested 25-year-old Kenneth Tellez Ordonez on June 12 on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Investigations revealed that Ordonez was targeting young girls who attended a middle school in Koreatown. Ordonez, a Hispanic man who is 5-foot-3 and about 173 pounds, posed as a teenager when he made attempts to meet up with the girls in person, police said. LAPD says three victims of sexual assault have been identified. Authorities also obtained evidence that Ordonez contacted at least 13 other minors between March and May of this year. The age range of his victims is between 11 and 16, police said. Most of the assaults occurred inside vehicles, including a yellow Scion TC and an older blue Ford Mustang convertible. The earliest assault took place in February 2023, police said, and detectives believe there are more victims. Victims are being asked to contact the LAPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A second suspect is in custody after a fatal shooting at an apartment complex nearly two weeks ago. According to court records, Caleb Elijah Johnson, 26, of Columbus, was charged with one count of aggravated murder and four counts of felonious assault in connection with the June 14 shooting at a complex on the 2700 block of Brandy Drive. Ohio social worker becomes registered sex offender with sentencing in 13-year-old patient case Court records allege that Johnson coordinated with a group to follow five people, including victim Jahaan Harris, as they walked from the 2600 block of Noe-Bixby Road to Refugee Road at approximately 1:40 a.m. Johnson and the other suspects stalked the group into the apartment complex, according to court records, at which point Johnson, armed with a rifle, and the others allegedly began firing at the victims, shooting Harris in the back. Harris was pronounced dead at the hospital at 2:31 a.m. Johnson is the second suspect arrested in the shooting. Danielle Hardy, 35, was arraigned last week on six charges including murder, felonious assault, and a weapons violation in connection with the shooting. Cheetah whose best friend was a dog dies at Columbus zoo Johnson was arrested by Chillicothe Police after a SWAT situation, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. There is currently no court appearance scheduled for Johnson, according to online records. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Armed man who wanted to board plane at Melbourne airport dies after being shot by police Two police officers fatally shot an armed man who wanted to board a plane Friday morning at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, the Melbourne Airport Police Department said. Shortly before 9:15 a.m., John Jay Neibuhr, 40, of Palm Bay, drove up to a security gate at Ed Foster Road and tried to enter airport property at an aircraft maintenance facility, telling workers that he wanted to board a plane, Melbourne Airport police Chief Renee Purden said. She said Neibuhr then left and workers reported the incident to airport police. Read: Several homes damaged after tornado touches down in Melbourne Officers said they found him at Harry Sutton Road, approached his vehicle and found him with a weapon. The officers shot Neibuhr, Purden said. Two police officers shot an armed man who wanted to board a plane Friday morning at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, the Melbourne Airport Police Department said. He was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he died. Read: Orlando tech firm one of several raided by military investigators The shooting happened on the outer perimeter of airport property, so it did not cause any flight delays or affect airport operations. Neibuhr had a small dog in the vehicle with him at the time of the shooting, and that dog is now being cared for by Brevard County Animal Services. Two police officers shot an armed man who wanted to board a plane Friday morning at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, the Melbourne Airport Police Department said. The officers, who were uninjured, were placed on paid administrative leave while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the shooting. The Melbourne Police Department is assisting airport police with its investigation. Read: Bidens debate performance spurs Democratic panic about his ability to lead party against Trump Purden said that the Palm Bay Police Department on June 4 issued a security bulletin about Neibuhr because he claimed to be a sovereign citizen during recent interactions with Palm Bay police officers. Watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. See a map of the scene below: This embedded content is not available in your region. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Police shoot, kill armed man trying to enter Florida airport through secure gate Police shoot, kill armed man trying to enter Florida airport through secure gate TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) An armed man who was shot by Melbourne police after trying to gain access to the citys airport through a secure gate has died, NBC affiliate WESH reports. Around 9 a.m., 40-year-old John Jay Neibuhr tried to enter through a secured gate saying they wanted to board a plane, according to police. No officers were injured and the person was taken to a local hospital, Chief of Police Renee Purden at Orlando Melbourne International Airport said. WESH reported the airport has resumed normal operations. The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, Purden told WESH. 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. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Police still searching for gunman who killed 1, injured another at a Broward business A man shot to death at a Broward County business earlier this week was identified on Thursday. So far, no arrests have been made in connection to the killing. The victim is Devon Blake, a 58-year-old Davie resident, according to police. Blake was killed when he and another person were shot at a warehouse on the 10700 block of Enterprise Way in Miramar. Police say theyre searching for the shooter, whos believed to be 6-feet tall. At the time, he was wearing sunglasses, a dark face mask, an orange shirt, dark pants and sneakers. Both of the victims were transported to nearby hospital on Tuesday morning. Its not yet clear what prompted the shooting. We continue to follow-up on all leads and request anyone with information to please come forward, Miramar police spokesperson Det. Yessenia Diaz said. This is an active ongoing Investigation. Anyone with information about Blakes killing should call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-817-6453. An Irondequoit family lost two members in a murder-suicide that began early Thursday morning at 500 Pinegrove Ave. and ended early Thursday afternoon on a hiking trail in Letchworth State Park 50 miles away. At 5:38 a.m., the Irondequoit Police Department responded to the home for the report of a hysterical person saying, there was blood everywhere, Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters said at a news conference Thursday evening. Once there, officers found Joseph Deponceau, 80, inside the front door. He was obviously deceased and appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso, Peters said. Deponceaus girlfriend is the person who called 911 and was not hurt. Early this evening, Irondequoit Police shared details of a murder-suicide that started in Irondequoit and ended in Letchworth State Park. She told police what happened and identified the suspect as Deponceaus grandson Andrew Vahey, 24, of 522 Pinegrove Ave. Her account was backed up by home security video. Officers surrounded 522 Pinegrove and around 7:20 a.m. were able to contact the only person inside, Vaheys roommate. He told police he had gotten texts from Vahey saying he had just killed his grandfather and was going to kill himself. Having identified Vaheys car, Irondequoit Police issued a be on the lookout alert, and New York State Park Police located the vehicle in Letchworth State Park. A number of other law enforcement agencies then converged on the park, and around 12:30 p.m. spotted Vahey on Trail 18, armed with what appeared to be a long gun, Peters said. Officers tried to contact him, but he immediately used the gun to shoot himself, Peters said. Attempts to save his life were unsuccessful. Peters said that recently Deponceau and Vahey had been arguing over property, and officers responded last week to a family trouble call resulting from an argument about parking on the grass. That was it. We never had any issues before, Peters said. He said police dont know why Vahey went to Letchworth. He has no known connections to the area. In addition to emphasizing what a rare occurrence the incident was for Irondequoit, Peters said: I just want everybody to know that people in that family lost a grandfather and also lost a grandson. To add to the tragedy of what normally doesnt happen in Irondequoit, realize that theres a family thats extremely hurting today. The park, which was closed during the incident, has since reopened. Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Two dead in Irondequoit NY murder-suicide During a podcast appearance last week, former President Donald Trump made an uncharacteristic argument. "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," he said, adding that he would even include graduates of junior colleges. A Trump campaign spokesperson quickly tempered that proposal, promising an "aggressive vetting process" that would "exclude all communists, radical Islamists, Hamas supporters, America haters and public charges." The green card offer would only apply to college graduates "who would never undercut American wages or workers," the spokesperson continued. (It's important to couch Trump's initial statement even further: As The Washington Post's Catherine Rampell has pointed out, the Trump administration "implemented policies that further restricted skilled legal immigration and made the lives of these international workers and students a living hell.") But the back-and-forthand the pushback Trump's remarks receivedshouldn't deter politicians from treating foreign graduate retention as a weakness that the U.S. needs to address. "The U.S. spends resources training hundreds of thousands of international students every year, but only provides opportunities for a fraction of them to stay after graduation," says Connor O'Brien, a research and policy analyst at the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a bipartisan public policy organization. "This is an incredible gift to China and other competitors, who have their best and brightest educated in America and then forced back home by our backward immigration system." An EIG analysis released yesterday found that only four in 10 international graduates of U.S. universities end up staying in the country long-term, according to data from the National Survey of College Graduates. Three-quarters of Ph.D. recipients stay, while half of master's degree recipients and just 17 percent of bachelor's degree recipients do. Some may be leaving simply because their best employment prospects are in their home countries or elsewhere. Still, a key factor is that "a growing population of international students is competing for a fixed number of opportunities to stay," the EIG analysis notes. "Unless we expand skilled visa programs like the H-1B, or add more employment-based green cards, we will continue losing tens of thousands of talented graduates each year," O'Brien argues. "There are some real downsides to guaranteeing green cards for new graduates"it may create bad incentives for universities, for one"but it is clear we need to get better at retention, and that requires more visas." A hostile immigration system means many international students never make it to the U.S. in the first place. An April report from the National Foundation for American Policy, a nonpartisan public policy organization, argued that international students increasingly see Canada as a more favorable destination. Between 2000 and 2021, international student enrollment in Canada increased by 544 percent, compared to a 45 percent increase in the United States. Discussions about high-skilled immigration are often sidetracked in favor of unproductive arguments about the southern borderlook no further than last night's presidential debate for proof. That's a shame. Border policy desperately needs reform and has deep humanitarian and economic implications, but attracting and retaining high-skilled foreign talent are pressing issues too. Just a few presidential elections ago, the two major-party candidates were happy to embrace this vision. "I'd staple a green card to the diploma of someone who gets an advanced degree in America," Sen. Mitt Romney (RUtah) said in 2012. President Barack Obama likewise said he supported "encouraging foreign students to stay in the U.S. and contribute to our economy by stapling a green card to the diplomas" of advanced STEM degree graduates. This policy is no panacea, of course. Other reforms to the high-skilled immigration system remain necessary, such as addressing the massive green card backlogs that force scores of visa holders to wait decades for permanent status. Congressional inaction is a persistent roadblock to pretty much any meaningful immigration reform. The U.S. has the enviable honor of being the top destination for international students. It's time for politicians to get serious about retaining them through smart policy. The post Politicians Need To Get Serious About Retaining Foreign Graduates appeared first on Reason.com. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 28. The second restoration stage of Azerbaijan's Lachin city will start during the next six months of this year, the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Lachin District Masim Mammadov told Trend. "The above period's aims include the completion of Baylik village and the resettlement of 91 households. Also planned is Gulabird village's initial stage of building. This year, the construction of the Zabukhchay reservoir with a capacity of 26 million cubic meters, intended for irrigating 12,000 hectares of agricultural land, will be completed. Furthermore, the planning for the restoration of Minkend village - the largest village in the district - is underway," he said. Besides, Mammadov mentioned that the next step in Lachin city's restoration will involve building a state-of-the-art residential complex that can accommodate 400 families. "We also continue to increase the number of enterprises: this year, a textile factory, a knitwear production enterprise, and an essential oils factory will start operating. Thus, active work awaits us in the next six months on the reconstruction and development of the region," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd appears at a Friday morning news conference with pictures and seized items from an investigation into a large fentanyl ring based in Lakeland. More than 60 people face various charges following a three-year investigation involving multiple agencies into what authorities described as a fentanyl trafficking organization based in Lakeland. Leaders of the operation used a fishing tackle shop and a motorcycle parts store as fronts for laundering cash gained through drug sales, authorities said. The Polk County Sheriffs Office held a news conference Friday morning to announce the results of the operation, which began in January 2021 and involved the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Attorney General's Office. Organized Crime Unit detectives from the PCSO and special agents from FDLE conducted multiple undercover purchases of fentanyl from the suspects at various locations around Lakeland, including parking lots, a PCSO spokesperson said. The ring's leaders used Rooske Bait and Tackle Shop, 6908 U.S. 98 N., and Rooske Motorcycle Parts & Accessories, 6916 U.S. 98 N., to launder the proceeds, according to a news release. Authorities identified the organizations leader as Hector Baez Torres, 43, of Lakeland. PCSO said that his wife, Pilar Rivera, and their daughter, Jeimylee Baez Rivera, were arrested as co-conspirators. Last week, detectives from the PCSO's Bureau of Special Investigations and FDLE Special Agents executed search warrants at the tackle shop and motorcycle shop and the residences of suspects, including those of Baez Torres and Pilar Rivera in Lakeland and Baez Rivera and her boyfriend, Miguel Castro Rivera, 24, in Auburndale. Seeking deterrence: School Board member files defamation suit over 2022 campaign texts Detectives and agents seized 742 grams of fentanyl, 3,585 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of methamphetamine, 57 grams of Oxycodone and 228 grams of marijuana, the release said. Authorities estimated the street value of the seized drugs at $475,349. Operatives also seized $12,270, five vehicles, two personal watercraft, dirt bikes, off-road vehicles, an enclosed trailer, guns and other items, the release said. The total value of the seized assets was estimated at $604,770. Combined with the drugs confiscated, the estimated total value of seized items was nearly $1.1 million, PCSO reported. Agents identified two suppliers of illegal drugs: Wilfredo Feliciano Velez, 26, and Casimiro Bidot Del Valle, 59, both of Kissimmee. PCSO detectives arrested Feliciano Velez as he was delivering three kilograms of cocaine to Hector Baez Torres, the release said. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office arrested Bidot Del Valle at his residence while executing a search warrant. Most of the 64 arrested were drug buyers, but detectives used those arrests to build a case against the organization, the release said. "In essence, this fentanyl trafficking organization was the family business, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news release. The motorcycle shop and the bait shop were corrupt businesses that were used as a means for money laundering. Their customers weren't involved; they had no idea what was going on. In fact, the owners tried to project a wholesome facade while conducting their criminal enterprise behind the scenes until it all came crashing down on them, thanks to the fantastic work by our detectives." The investigations were conducted with the assistance of the State Financial Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication Florida Program, managed by the FDLE, the release said. Alleged leaders of the drug ring face such felony charges as trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine, racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: PCSO: Lakeland drug ring shut down after 3-year investigation TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The first presidential debate of the 2024 general election cycle was set to be a historic moment and we want to know who you think won. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in Thursday nights debate in Atlanta. Who won the first Biden-Trump presidential debate? Who do you think won the debate: President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump? Cast your vote in the poll below: The first debate was also the first between a former and current president. It happened so early in the general election campaign cycle that neither man had even accepted their partys formal nomination. A raspy President Joe Biden repeatedly sought to confront Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Bidens criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The debate came at a pivotal juncture in their unpopular presidential rematch, a critical moment to make their cases before a national television audience. Bidens uneven performance risked crystallizing voter concerns that at age 81 he is too old to serve as president, while Trumps rhetoric offered a perhaps unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office. Biden entered the debate looking to sharpen the choice voters will face in November. Trump, 78, looked for an opening to try to move past his felony conviction in New York and convince an audience of tens of millions that he is temperamentally suited to return to the Oval Office. Whats next for Biden and Trump? ABC will host the second debate on Sept. 10. The network has not offered details on where its event would be held, only that it would be moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. And dont forget about the running mates. Trump hasnt named his yet, but Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CBS News to debate her eventual rival in studio on either July 23 or Aug. 13. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Polly Pockets on display in New York in 2007. Their creator, Chris Wiggs, died last week at 74 (AFP via Getty Images) Polly Pocket inventor Chris Wiggs has died at age 74. Wiggs died at his home in France on June 20, the New York Post reported, after being diagnosed with an unnamed rare brain cancer. Wiggs invented Polly Pocket, the iconic childrens toy packaged in compact cases that unfolded into dollhouses or other playsets. Wiggs made the first Polly Pocket prototype for his daughter, Kate Wiggs, in 1983 using an old makeup compact. Kate told the Post her father was a natural inventor. Im trying to remember the first moment he handed over the compact and I think it would have just been very ordinary. Oh, I made this. Here you go, she told the outlet. Because he was always making stuff, it was the most natural thing in the world. Polly Pockets hit stores in 1989. Mattel, the toy brand that also makes Barbies, began to sell them soon afterwards. The brand redesigned the toys in 1998 to include new clothing and increased their size to 3.5 inches, according to the Post. Polly Pockets on display in New York in 2007. Their creator, Chris Wiggs, died last week at 74 (AFP via Getty Images) Wiggs maintained the rights to Polly Pocket even after Mattel purchased it but finally sold them to the toy giant in 2007 to focus on his passion for music. The toys sold until 2012, when Mattel took them off shelves. Mattel brought them back in 2018, and Mattel launched an animated series for the toys, according to the Post. The compact dolls have become a childhood staple for people around the world. [Polly Pocket] kind of exploded and became this thing that still, however many decades later, people remember so fondly and want to talk about, Kate told the Post. Lynn Rosenblum, former marketing director at Mattel, told the Post everyone knew the brand was small but was very special. Polly Pocket dolls, like those pictured, came in compact plastic cases that unfolded into dollhouses. Mattel announced a Polly Pocket film directed by Lena Dunham in 2021 (Getty Images) Many small dolls came and went, Rosenblum told the outlet. The Polly Pocket toys were easy to package, the commercial was good, the price was right and the character was so darn cute. Given their iconic status, Mattel announced a Polly Pocket film in 2021. The movie, which does not yet have a release date, will be directed by Lena Dunham and feature Lily Collins, the star of Emily in Paris, according to People. Mattels last doll-related film, Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, was the highest-grossing film of 2023 worldwide. The Supreme Court voted along party lines in a historic decision on Friday, ruling against the government in a pair of cases Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce. The conservative judges sided against the liberals, setting a precedent gutting the power of regulatory agencies to protect the environment and consumers. According to one expert, the 6-3 decision proves that something "sinister is afoot." "Something very sinister is afoot here," United for Democracy's senior adviser Meagan Hatcher-Mays said. United for Democracy is an activist organization that specifically focuses on studying Supreme Court cases. "Look, this is a gift to the Koch network. This is a gift to Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo and all of these people who are paying for the justices to go on private jets and to sail on yachts to Bali. These same people who are paying Clarence Thomas's relatives' school tuition, these are the same people who want Chevron deference to be overturned. This decision today is a gift to those benefactors." Hatcher-Mays added that the "open question" is "whether or not the gifts induced the decision." Gautham Rao, a professor of legal history at American University, told Salon that the case has "historic implications" as an attack "on what we call the administrative state." That is, the federal agencies staffed by scientists, lawyers and other trained experts to implement complex national policy. "Things like scientific matters pertaining to clean air and clean water, as one example, or complicated matters pertaining to labor relations between employer and employee," Rao said, adding that in the 20th Century judges have traditionally interpreted the Administrative Procedures Act as granting federal agencies authority here because they are staffed with experts. That interpretation was rendered official in 1984 with the so-called Chevron decision (Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council), in which the Supreme Court decided that lower courts should defer to expert federal agencies on how to interpret the law, provided their reading was reasonable. By establishing so-called "Chevron deference," the court made it possible for Congress to rely on federal expertise when implementing a wide range of policy measures. By overturning Chevron deference, the Supreme Court has therefore made it possible for conservative judges in lower courts to reverse expert policies with which they disagree for ideological reasons. "Let's just say, for example, a court majority doesn't believe in climate change, they can essentially take down all manner of regulation on environmental matters, as an example," Rao said. He also noted that the court, rather than relying on historical precedent to reach its decision in these cases, instead created a false counter-narrative something that he believes is also a troubling precedent. "The Supreme Court's now very specious reliance on its version of history, and rendering the founders of the United States into versions of what they want but in reality not what the founders actually were," Rao said. "This is now a continuation with the Dobbs decision and others, where the court has looked to history and essentially created its own history that it finds very convenient to use as justification for undoing major governmental policies and traditions over the 20th Century." Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. There were experts who disagreed with Rao and Hatcher-Mays. One of them is Charles Schexnaildre, who is of counsel at the law firm Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. "The decision issued by the Court today is a good one," Schexnaildre said. "It properly places statutory interpretive authority back under the judicial branch instead of pushing the courts to yield to the executive branches own interpretation of the law. The [Administrative Procedures Act] is clear that this interpretive authority belongs within the judicial branch of government, and this decision affirms that." Schexnaildre also pointed out that the new decision will not alter existing policies established due to the Chevron deference precedent. "The Supreme Court does make clear in this decision that it will not be applied retroactively, meaning prior judicial decisions which relied upon Chevron deference to find a specific agency action to be lawful shall still be afforded stare decisis by the court," Schexnaildre said. "This of course does not mean that new challenges wont be brought in relation to regulatory issues raised in the past under the APA upon which Courts applied Chevron deference, but it does significantly limit the judicial branches ability to reconsider prior decisions." In contrast to Schexnaildre's comparatively more reassuring interpretation, Rao characterized the new decision as part of a larger "power grab." "We tend to think of government in terms of the high school version of 'separation of powers,'" Rao said. "I think what we are seeing here with this Supreme Court majority in particular is a real power grab to try to reconstitute the order of the three branches of government that are supposed to be co-equal. Now the court is asserting itself as being the paramount power of these three. The court has now a trend of intervening in areas where it just wants to intervene." Devon Ombres, the senior director for Courts and Legal Policy at the Center for American Progress, also described the new decision as a "power grab." "This is a power grab by the court for the rightwing powerbrokers and corporate interests to which they are beholden," Ombres said. "Public agencies are going to be kneecapped in how they act to protect people from abuses imposed by the powerful in every aspect of their lives." When asked if the case sets any new precedents, Ombres said that "the only precedent this case sets is a continuation of the rightwing justices willingness to overturn stare decisis when it fits their agenda. And it makes judges, most likely those in the Northern District of Texas, the chief arbiters of administrative law rather than experts at public agencies that Congress wants making decisions that impact millions of Americans." Ombres is not alone in warning that overturning Chevron deference will have an effect on millions of people. According to Hatcher-Mays, everyone who is concerned about politics will eventually be impacted by the overturning of the Chevron precedent. "This is one of those sneaky Supreme Court cases that a lot of people might not have noticed, but it's going to have a devastating impact on the environment, on workers' rights, you name it," Hatcher-Mays said. "Whatever motivates people to pay attention to politics is under attack because of this ruling." New power outages in four regions of Ukraine due to Russian attacks Power outages have occurred in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv oblasts of Ukraine due to new Russian attacks. However, at the same time, Ukrainian power engineers managed to reconnect 19,500 households, which were powered down due to combat actions and technical failure, to the network. Source: the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine Details: On 27 June, Ukraine additionally applied emergency assistance from the power systems of Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Emergency assistance was also applied today at nighttime. As of today, 28 June, power import is forecasted to be 31 390 MW/h. Export is not provided for. In addition to this, residential buildings and institutions in the central district in the city of Kyiv were powered down due to a technical failure. In the country's southern regions, equipment at a high-voltage substation was turned off. Due to this, households were powered down in Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts. A "green" generation facility also decreased its power output. The reason for it was a technical failure caused by the grass catching fire next to the equipment. All households were supplied with power within an hour. Due to bad weather, 9824 households in 17 settlements were powered down in Zakarpattia Oblast. Background: On 28 June, scheduled power outages will be applied across Ukraine during the whole day, from 00:00 to 24:00. Support UP or become our patron! ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Abilene is a city full of educational opportunities, so much so that some of those opportunities can often go under-recognized. Established in 1999, Abilenes Premier High School has offered alternative routes to success for generations of Key City graduates. Campus Director Meredith Goodner told KTAB/KRBC that recent years and new programs such as their certified medical assistant courses and entrepreneurship career placement are helping to shift public perception away from the negative stigma often attached to charter schools. Premier High School student finds life-saving results during routine test exercise I dont think we are well known, but word of mouth is making that a lot bigger thing than it used to be. I think we maybe started, and they thought it was the place where the bad kids go, but its really the place where people go to get away from it, said Goodner. On Saturday, June 22, Abilene City Council member Shane Price and Texas State District 71 representative Stan Lambert came out to congratulate the school on its 25-year milestone and praise the staff for their proven track record of success. Goodner laid out just a couple of positive statistics that show the schools educational and career viability for local students. You can go to any college out of here. In fact, we have 100% college acceptance at our schoolThis past year, one of our students applied for a job and was hired contingent on passing. So she was hired before she even finished the program, Goodner said. From middle school to medical professional: Abilenes Premier High offers free training for aspiring med students The alternative teaching and learning paths offered allow students who may have struggled in traditional settings to thrive and better navigate their educational courses. Premier also has students who simply want to fast-track graduation without sacrificing educational quality. Premiers courses meet all TEA and state-required standards. Were not trying to compete. Were just trying to be the answer for those who need something different We are not for everybody, and Ill be really honest about that. But there are some people, and we are the perfect place for them. I want them to know that that option is out there, said Goodner. 2024 also marks a year of firsts for the school. Goodner said that while historically, their students may not have had a traditional high school experience, additions such as their first student council and first school prom allow them to make those memories they will carry for the rest of their lives. I am reaping the rewards of the people before me and the staff that work here. I get to lead people that are amazing at what they do, Goodner said. At Saturdays celebration, Lambert gifted the school a flag that has flown over the Texas State House as a token of its dedication to education and record of success. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Biden, First Lady to hold post-debate rally in Raleigh Friday with special guests RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) President and First Lady Jill Biden are in Raleigh on Friday to host a campaign rally. This visit follows the first presidential debate for this election between President Biden and former President Trump in Atlanta on Thursday. The debate was aired on CNN as well as on CBS 17. NC supporters of Trump, Biden react after 90-minute presidential debate The campaign in Raleigh will also feature special guests including Grammy-nominated artist and entrepreneur Fat Joe and multi-platinum artist E-40. The President and First Lady landed at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport early Friday morning. CBS 17 was there to see local leaders greet them as they got off the plane. President and First Lady land in Raleigh early Friday (Ethan Duvall/CBS 17) President and First Lady land in Raleigh early Friday (Ethan Duvall/CBS 17) President and First Lady land in Raleigh early Friday (Ethan Duvall/CBS 17) President and First Lady land in Raleigh early Friday (Ethan Duvall/CBS 17) On Thursday, the Jim Graham Building at the state fairgrounds was already set up for the rally. Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said shell be there. First off, its always an honor when the president says, Im coming to Raleigh, Baldwin said. It puts us on the map, it gives us national attention. Will these visits help Biden with the electoral map? Former President Donald Trump won North Carolina by 1.3% in 2020, a smaller victory than in 2016. Polls show Trump with a bigger lead than that now, something staff at more than a dozen field offices across the state are trying to change. This is the presidents third visit to Raleigh in five months. In March, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris visited Raleigh to campaign a push for more affordable healthcare in the state. PREVIOUS | President Biden, Vice President Harris give remarks in Raleigh about healthcare In January, Biden spoke about investments in internet access. Until the 2024 election results come in, dont expect this to be the presidents last time in our area. As the campaign heats up, Im sure were going to see a lot more, Baldwin said. Heavy traffic and delays are expected Friday afternoon due to the campaign. Raleigh police said that drivers should expect traffic delays around the NC State Fairgrounds. Police also said drivers should seek alternate routes through impacted areas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) As the city gears up to host another monumental Pride March this weekend, community members and politicians took time on Friday to honor the history of the LGBTQ+ movement. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited the Stonewall Inn and were joined by other officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul. More Local News Members of the LGBTQ+ community gathered early to to catch a glimpse. With them opening the center and marking it and showing the history of the struggle of the LBGTQ community- its a fight were still fighting today, said Marquis Elder, a resident of the Bronx. The $3.2 million visitor center is located at the site of the Stonewall Uprising, which celebrated its 55th anniversary Friday. In 1969, protests over police raids at the gay bar spurred the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Ray DeForest, a LGBTQ+ advocate, says, Theres a lot of people who would rather we didnt exist, and this shows we do exist and were here to stay, and this is to honor those before us who fought, lost their lives. Diana Rodriguez is with the nonprofit Pride Live, the group behind the center alongside the National Park Service. Rodriguez says gay rights are still at risk- highlighting the Pulse nightclub shooting. The need for safe spaces, what safe spaces represent, was magnified that day. NYC Pride March to showcase LGBTQ+ diversity and unity Last month, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned of the possibility of foreign terrorist organizations targeting pride events. The NYPD says it is ready for anything this weekend. Were always on watch and ready and were always ready for large events, said Tarik Sheppard as Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Come out and have a good time. Leave the safety and security to NYPD. For many members of the LGBTQ+ community, the center is a huge step forward. Igor Myakotin member of LGBTQ+ community from Brooklyn, said, Pride started as a protest right so its important to keep that in mind. Theres still a lot of fight and work to do especially for trans people and trans people of color. After todays visit at the center, the president will headline a pride month event tonight. Meantime, the New York City Pride March takes place this Sunday. This years theme is Reflect, empower, and unite. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 raspy President Joe Biden repeatedly sought to confront former President Donald Trump in their first debate ahead of the November election, as his Republican rival countered Bidens criticism by leaning into falsehoods about the economy, illegal immigration and his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The debate came at a pivotal juncture in their unpopular presidential rematch, a critical moment to make their cases before a national television audience. Bidens uneven performance risked crystallizing voter concerns that at age 81 he is too old to serve as president, while Trumps rhetoric offered a perhaps unwelcome reminder of the bombast he launched daily during his tumultuous four years in office. Biden entered the debate looking to sharpen the choice voters will face in November. Trump, 78, looked for an opening to try to move past his felony conviction in New York and convince an audience of tens of millions that he is temperamentally suited to return to the Oval Office. Trump was asked about his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to try to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden. On Jan. 6, we were respected all over the world, all over the world we were respected. And then he comes in and were now laughed at, Trump said. After he was prompted by a moderator to answer whether he violated his oath of office that day by rallying his supporters seeking to block the certification of Bidens Electoral College victory and not doing enough to call them off as they stormed the Capitol, Trump sought to blame then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Biden said Trump encouraged the supporters to go to the Capitol and sat in the White House without taking action as they fought with police officers. He didnt do a damn thing and these people should be in jail, Biden said. They should be the ones that are being held accountable. And he wants to let them all out. And now he says that if he loses again, such a whiner that he is, that this could be a bloodbath? Trump then defended the people convicted and imprisoned for their role in the insurrection, saying to Biden, What theyve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Biden began the night with a raspy voice and a halting delivery as he tried to defend his economic record and criticize Trump. Biden appeared to lose his train of thought while giving one answer, drifting from an answer on tax policy to health policy, at one point using the word COVID, and then saying, excuse me, with, dealing with, and he trailed off again. Look, we finally beat Medicare, Biden said, as his time ran out on his answer. Trump picked right up on it, saying, Thats right, he did beat Medicaid, he beat it to death. And hes destroying Medicare. Trump falsely suggested Biden was weakening the social service program because of migrants coming into the country illegally. Trump and Biden entered the night facing stiff headwinds, including a public weary of the tumult of partisan politics and broadly dissatisfied with both, according to polling. But the debate was highlighting how they have sharply different visions on virtually every core issue abortion, the economy and foreign policy and deep hostility toward each other. Their personal animus quickly came to the surface. Biden got personal in evoking his son, Beau, who served in Iraq before dying of brain cancer. The president criticized Trump for reportedly calling Americans killed in battle suckers and losers. Biden told Trump, My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. Youre the sucker. Youre the loser. Trump said he never said that and slammed Biden for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Biden directly mentioned Trumps conviction in the New York hush money trial, saying, You have the morals of an alley cat, and referencing the allegations in the case that Trump had sex with a porn actress. I did not have sex with a porn star, replied Trump, who chose not to testify at his trial. Trump retorted that Biden could face criminal charges when he leaves office. Trump said, though there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, Joe could be a convicted felon with all the things that hes done. He added of the president, this man is a criminal. Biden insisted that Trump was more focused on retribution against his political rivals than leading the nation. Pressed to defend rising inflation since he took office, Biden pinned it on the situation he inherited from Trump amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Biden said that when Trump left office, things were in chaos. Trump disagreed, declaring that during his term in the White House, Everything was rocking good. By the time Trump left office, America was still grappling with the pandemic and during his final hours in office, the death toll eclipsed 400,000. The virus continued to ravage the country and the death toll hit 1 million over a year later. Trump repeatedly insisted that the three conservative justices he appointed to the Supreme Court helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and returned the issue of abortion restrictions to individual states, which is what everybody wanted. Biden countered that abortion access was settled for 50 years and that Trump was making it harder for women in large swaths of the country to get access to basic health care. At one point, Trump defended his record on foreign policy and blamed Biden for the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, suggesting the conflicts broke out when the aggressors felt free to attack because they perceived Biden as weak. This place, the whole world, is blowing up under him, Trump said. I never heard so much malarkey in my whole life, Biden retorted. The current president and his predecessor hadnt spoken since their last debate weeks before the 2020 presidential election. Trump skipped Bidens inauguration after leading an unprecedented and unsuccessful effort to overturn his loss that culminated in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection by his supporters. Trump has promised sweeping plans to remake the U.S. government if he returns to the White House and Biden argues that his opponent would pose an existential threat to the nations democracy. Aiming to avoid a repeat of their chaotic 2020 matchups, Biden insisted and Trump agreed to hold the debate without an audience and to allow the network to mute the candidates microphones when it is not their turn to speak. The debates two commercial breaks offered another departure from modern practice, while the candidates have agreed not to consult staff or others while the cameras are off. Heading out of the debate, both Biden and Trump will travel to states they hope to swing their way this fall. Trump is heading to Virginia, a onetime battleground that has shifted toward Democrats in recent years. Biden is set to jet off to North Carolina, where he is expected to hold the largest-yet rally of his campaign in a state Trump narrowly carried in 2020. ___ Miller, Price and Weissert reported from Washington. 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 Looking to rebound from debate, Biden in Raleigh declares: I know how to do this job This story will be updated throughout the day. Refresh the page for the latest information. 1:50 p.m. update: President Joe Biden took to stage in Raleigh Friday and avowed that he could do the job. I know Im not a young man, Biden said. I dont walk as easily as I use to. I dont speak as smoothly as I use to. I dont debate as well as I use to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up, Biden said. Biden is coming off more than a 12-hour news cycle criticizing his performance on stage Thursday night at a debate, hosted by CNN, with former President Donald Trump. During the debate, Biden looked tired, his voice was weak and his thoughts trailed off at times. Democrats needed the presidents speech in Raleigh, his first public event since leaving Atlanta, to be solid and full of energy. Judging by the reaction from his crowd of supporters, thats what he delivered. I give you my word as a Biden that I would not be running again if I didnt believe will all my heart and soul I could do this job, Biden said. The stakes are too high. He then talked about how dangerous Trump is to the country and to democracy. Bidens speech was met by cheers and chants of four more years from the crowd. I give you my word as a Biden that were still a nation that that believes in honesty and decency and treating people with respect, Biden said. Donald Trump will destroy democracy and I will defend it, Biden said. So folks, are you with me? 1:30 p.m. update: President Joe Biden took to the stage in Raleigh Friday bringing the energy Democrats had hoped to see him display Thursday night in a debate against former President Donald Trump. The high-stakes appearance at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds marks the presidents first appearance since he faltered on the debate stage, leading some political watchers to say he needed to end his campaign. But on Friday afternoon, was alert, spoke loudly and his sentences didnt trail off like the night before. Though with a reported sore throat, he occasionally let out a cough. He articulated why he believes hes a better president than Trump and said Trump lied repeatedly during the debate. Among Bidens complaints against his predecessor was that Trump has no respect for women and the law. He also discussed Trumps role in the Jan. 6 riots. He told the crowd that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has been a great governor and that voters now need to elect Attorney General Josh Stein to succeed him as governor. Both men spoke earlier in the rally. He also said he wouldnt promise not to steal Cooper away from North Carolina when hes reelected. Cooper is only allowed to serve two-consecutive terms as governor, meaning he couldnt run again in 2024. Bidens speech he was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, whom he ignored. One yelled, Youre funding a genocide. Each time, the crowd drowned out the yells by chanting four more years! First lady Jill Biden spoke before her husband, and also was interrupted by a protester, who was escorted out of the building. Jill Biden, unfazed, told the crowd, Joe has helped heal our country, and said he is a president with integrity. She then welcomed to the stage Eric Fitts, a public school educator who was among those whose student loans were forgiven by Biden. Last night I watched with pride as President Biden won the debate and put forward a clear vision for making life better for our families, Fitts said. 1 p.m. update: Gov. Roy Cooper burst on stage in Raleigh at a rally for President Joe Biden, full of the energy Democrats hoped to see from Biden during a debate against former President Donald Trump Thursday night. Now all eyes are on Bidens campaign rally to see if he can redeem himself after a performance that had some people asking whether he should end his campaign. But Cooper was clearly not counting out Biden. This election is not just about what kind of president we want to have, Cooper said. This election is about what kind of country we want to be. He then asked if supporters want to have Trumps America to which the crowd shouted back, No. Can we beat Donald Trump right here and now and deny him the presidency? Of course we can, Cooper said. Cooper added that when the fate of our country was hanging in the balance under Trumps presidency, Biden saved this nation. Moments later, Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined Cooper on stage. 12:30 p.m. update: North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democratic candidate for governor, took the stage in Raleigh to warm up the crowd ahead of President Joe Biden, who is making his first appearance after Thursday nights debate left some political pundits saying Biden needs to end his campaign. This is a rare appearance by Stein at a Biden event this election cycle, an indication of how strongly Democrats are trying to rally around the president Friday. Stein spoke to supporters just before 12:30 p.m. Attorney General Josh Stein takes the stage during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Among other policy areas, Stein said he wants North Carolina to be a place where our teachers are well-paid which garnered cheers and chants of Josh! Josh! Josh! from the crowd. Stein also said, as governor, he would veto any further restrictions on reproductive freedom. These freedoms and so much more is on the line this November, Stein said. And the choice could not be clearer. When Stein mentioned his opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the crowd loudly booed. His vision is one of division and hate, Stein said, referencing Robinsons history of divisive rhetoric against teachers and the LGBTQ+ community, among other groups. Friends, we must deny him the governorship, Stein said. Stein also called on voters to break the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly, gain seats on the Council of State and keep Biden in the White House. Gov. Roy Cooper is also at the rally. 12:15 p.m. update: Elected officials are beginning to gather at President Joe Bidens first public appearance since Thursday nights debate with former President Donald Trump, which left many political pundits asking whether Biden should end his campaign. Among those officials are North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Sens. Mike Woodard and Paul Lowe, Rep. Abe Jones and Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls. They are among hundreds being pumped up ahead of Bidens appearance by both live performers and prerecorded music. The Deep River Singers sang several songs before the rally began and led the crowd in a singalong to the lyrics be the change you want to see in the world. Then the crowd began to dance to Miley Cyrus Party in the USA, and Ya Ya by Beyonce, as it played over the loudspeakers. Later on, rappers Fat Joe and E-40 are expected to perform. 11:30 a.m. update: Biden could pass a small group of his opponents supporters on the way to the North Carolina State Fair Grounds. He could also pass a group of pro-Palestinian protesters on Trinity Road calling for a ceasefire. Its not clear where Biden spent his morning after landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport just after 1:30 a.m. But Biden is scheduled to be at his campaign rally around 12:30 p.m. Around 10 supporters of former President Donald Trump are gathered at the corner of Blue Ridge and Trinity roads holding signs and flags. Around 11:15 a.m. the pro-Palenstinian protesters began marching down Trinity Road toward the fairgrounds chanting End the siege in Gaza now. But the few protesters outside the rally have not deterred Bidens supporters from continuing to come into the fairgrounds to hear Biden speak. Sarah Shah, who lives in Durham, said she is at the rally to support Biden for his many accomplishments. Hes vigorously defended womens rights and reproductive rights, she said. Hes been an advocate for immigrant communities that I come from. She said she believes Biden made a very strong case for whats at stake during Thursdays debate. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event at as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. 11 a.m. update: Biden supporters have made their way to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds to hear from the president directly, following a debate performance Thursday night that left many political commentators wondering if he should continue his campaign. By 10 a.m. at least 75 people were already on risers inside the fairgrounds Jim Graham building, with another 50 in line to join then. Megan Thacker, a public school teacher from Durham, said defending public schools and protecting student rights is important to her and she said shes been scared by whats happening with schools in North Carolina. She said coming to Fridays rally was showing support for her class. There are so many inequities our students and people are seeing today, and so far the Biden-Harris campaign has really reached those. Thacker said she hopes to God Biden can win North Carolina. She said she listened to Thursday nights debate, but couldnt look at her television screen because it just raised her blood pressure. She said she wished that more issues had been discussed, but in the end the debate didnt leave her feeling more strongly about either candidate. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. IMG_0356 22-year-old Tyler Smith said he was running on little sleep after watching the debate Thursday night at Goodwin House, the NC Democratic Party headquarters, and welcoming Air Force One at the airport. He said the mood at the Goodwin House was very energetic. And he was more than energized to be at Fridays rally. Smiths takeaways of the debate was focused on Trump. The entire country was able to see how Trump lied, Smith said. I think the entire nation saw that last night, and Im very excited about this. The contrast couldnt be any clearer. Biden won Smiths approval with his ability to cap insulin prices. Smith is a Type-1 diabetic. But Smith believes theres more work to be done on the issue. He said Biden is pushing harder than any other politician Ive seen in a long time, which is really refreshing. Jacob Fox told reporters he was disappointed by Bidens performance Thursday night. It left me very disillusioned, Fox said. Very sad that two of our front-runners were talking about their handicap in golf when the middle class is struggling to make ends meet. I just didnt think the debate performance from Biden was very good. But Im definitely not going to vote for Trump. As many voters have expressed, 29-year-old Fox wishes for younger candidates. But Fox wont vote for Trump because he attacked democracy. But he said if the Democratic Party were to choose a new presidential candidate, he would totally suport that. Joe Biden has moved us forward in so many ways. However, I feel like last nights debate just disillusioned a lot of the independent voters and I would totally understand that, Fox said. But whoever the Democratic party puts forward, I will support at the end of the day. Previously: High-stakes rally What was supposed to be a victory rally has turned into a high-pressure, can-he-turn-it-around crucible for Biden. Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, called Bidens performance Thursday night on the debate stage against former President Donald Trump poor. As a result, there is an inordinate amount of pressure on todays speech in North Carolina, Cooper said. Biden needs to rescue the narrative immediately, or else he may lose his own party, to say nothing of movable Republicans and the very small number of independent voters who are still deciding. Cooper added that it will also be telling to see not just Bidens reaction, but that of North Carolina Democrats. Are they willing to appear on stage alongside Biden and demonstrate their support for a Biden candidacy? Cooper asked. Biden landed at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 1:40 a.m. He was greeted on the Tarmac by supporters chanting four more years. Gov. Roy Cooper, who often greets Biden as he deplanes, was not present, but plans to be at the rally. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue , Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton and Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Shinica Thomas and Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton were among the supporters when he arrived. Its not clear where Biden is staying until he arrives at the fairgrounds at 12:30 p.m. The rally marks the first time Biden will have an opportunity to speak directly to his supporters after a debate that sparked concerns among Democrats and political observers. During Thursdays debate, hosted by CNN, Biden and Trump sparred on issues that ranged from the economy to Jan. 6, 2021, when insurrectionists raided the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop Bidens election certification. Following the debate, Biden supporters and commentators called the presidents performance disappointing, with concerns raised about his age of 81 years. Others noted that Trump repeated lies about the circumstances of Jan. 6 and when abortions were allowed under Roe v. Wade before it was overturned. The campaign event with Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds with their arrival scheduled around 12:30 p.m. North Carolina is considered a swing state. Even though President Barack Obama is the only Democrat to win North Carolina since 1976, every election since 2008 has been decided by less than 4% of the vote. Biden lost the state in 2020 by only 1.3%. Thats a smaller margin than any other state that year. And Democrats are hungry to flip the North Carolina blue in 2024. Now, political spectators and voters will be closely monitoring Bidens visit to North Carolina Friday. Biden-Trump debate Before the debate took place, it was already one for the history books because it was the first time a sitting president and a former president would face off. It also marked the earliest debate in presidential campaign history. After it ended, people were talking about whether either candidate was able to sway undecided voters. And political observers called out CNN for not fact-checking either candidate in real-time when they said misleading comments or falsehoods. Biden spent the last week at Camp David in Maryland practicing, but political observers and viewers quickly noted his hoarse voice and lack of energy, with some of his answers trailing. At times, the debate got personal, with Trump saying he didnt know what Biden said at the end of his sentence and wasnt sure Biden knew either. At another point, Biden called Trump a sucker and a loser, repeating the words that Trump had allegedly called service members. North Carolinas Republicans took to social media celebrating what they considered a win in Trumps performance. In post-debate analysis, The New York Times quoted Nadia B. Ahmad, a progressive member of the Democratic National Committee: Now would be a good time for Biden to drop out citing health concerns. Biden in North Carolina Bidens plans to visit the state after stepping off CNNs stage was set in motion more than two weeks ago, when the campaign began sending invitations to people to attend Bidens rally. Its rare for a president to stay overnight in North Carolina. It last happened in 2010, when then-President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent a weekend in Asheville. Little is known about where the Bidens were going to stay. Neither the White House nor Bidens campaign team would share details about their location. A White House news release of Bidens daily schedule, published Wednesday, indicated that the Bidens planned to depart Atlanta around 1 a.m. and land about an hour later at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He will be joined at the rally by rappers Fat Joe and E-40, according to the Biden campaign. Meanwhile, Trump planned his first stop, post-debate, across the North Carolina border in Chesapeake, Virginia. Focusing on North Carolina Since the beginning of the presidents reelection campaign, Biden has focused in on North Carolina, launching television ads, regularly sending surrogates into the state and hosting ongoing events. The Bidens, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have all been frequent visitors. The first lady has already traveled to the state once this week. On Tuesday, she spent the afternoon at a private campaign event in Charlotte with 70 people, discussing her husbands strengths and contrasting that against Trump. Holding a rally is not something the Biden campaign does often, and Fridays is not open to the general public. Typically, Biden leaves rallies to Trump, and opts for more intimate gatherings with supporters. Trump, who has been less of a presence in the state this campaign season, scheduled a rally in Wilmington in April, but was forced to cancel due to severe weather. He has not rescheduled. In May, he attended the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. On 20 June 2024, the book "lifba: A Cultural Alphabet" was presented at the Azerbaijan Cultural Centre in Berlin. The event was attended by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany, Nasimi Aghayev, as well as representatives from the fields of culture and fashion, designers, influencers, bookstore owners, representatives from other embassies, and members of the Azerbaijani diaspora. The book "lifba: A Cultural Alphabet" is an Azerbaijani alphabet for adults and children, featuring colourful illustrations. Each letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet is associated with an architectural monument, work of art, historical tradition, or folklore character from our country. Behind each letter lies extensive research. Ulviyya Mahmud, Editor-in-Chief of NARGIS Magazine and author of many unique art projects, is the ideological inspirer and author of the project. Her main goal is to promote Azerbaijani culture worldwide. The book is presented in four languages: German, English, Spanish, and Italian. Its primary aim is to promote the history, cultural heritage, and language of Azerbaijan. Nasimi Aghayev, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Germany, and Ulviyya Mahmud, Editor-in-Chief of NARGIS Magazine, welcomed the guests and invited them to watch the film "History in Letters." This documentary animation drama introduces viewers to Azerbaijani culture and history through the prism of the alphabet. It is not just a documentary animation film but a philosophical quest that immerses the viewer in an exploration of truth and the power of love for art. The film was directed by Meran Ismailsoy, written by Agamehdi Abidov, and animated by Kanan Sheikhzamanly. This animated film was sponsored by BP. The uniqueness of the project lies in the fact that it was entirely created by Azerbaijanis. Guests enjoyed exquisite Azerbaijani cuisine accompanied by a musical programme featuring the People's Artist of Azerbaijan, khanende Alim Qasimov, and Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan, pianist Isfar Sarabski. They presented a unique composition that synthesised mugham and electronic rhythms. Additionally, attendees enjoyed a recording by the young and talented Azerbaijani artist Elrein. Sculptor Teymur Garibov created a special stand for the book in the shape of a crystal, and the illustrations were done by artist Orkhan Huseynov. After the event, each guest received a unique edition of the book as a gift, along with a specially recorded music album featuring a composition by khanende Alim Qasimov and pianist Isfar Sarabski. Additionally, they received the June issue of NARGIS Magazine, a poster, postcards, and a map. The book will soon be available in all bookstores in the city. The project "lifba. A Cultural Alphabet" was launched in 2019, with its first presentation held in Istanbul. The information in the book is available in four languages: Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, and Russian. Looking to rebound from debate, Biden in Raleigh declares: I know how to do this job President Joe Biden delivered the speech, Friday afternoon, in Raleigh, that many political pundits said he needed following Thursday nights debate against former President Donald Trump. At a campaign rally that had become a high-pressure, can-he-do-the-job crucible, Biden needed to reassure his supporters he was up to the challenge. And for Simone Fine, a Democrat from Durham, this speech did just that. I feel like his performance this afternoon was the performance that I wish he had done last night, she said. It was good, it was vital, it was firm. It was in sharp contrast to his Thursday night appearance, where he came across as weak, with his voice hoarse, often hard to hear and his thoughts sometimes meandering and his sentences trailing off. Fine felt better after seeing the energy Biden brought to Fridays rally at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. The campaign said 2,000 people attended the mid-day event. But Fine said she worries the optics of the debate, watched by 48 million people, will dissuade voters from giving him a second term. And to Fine, the office is about more than just the president its also about the people who surround him. On the whole, Joe Biden surrounds himself with people that I think are doing good things for the country, Fine said. I dont agree with everything he does, but I dont think I am going to agree with everything that anyone does. Biden also gave hope to Alex Knott, a Raleigh resident, who said she didnt come into the rally feeling that way. I dont know what happened last night, but he just seemed to be on top of his game (Friday) he was very coherent with everything he said, Knott said. And Chuck Mihaliak, an Apex resident, was willing to look past Bidens age. Obviously hes 81, but I think hes decent, hes smart, he knows what the country needs and I think hell keep us on the right track, Mihaliak said. As for Joselyn Holt McCall, a public school teacher in the Triangle, she was focused on what Biden has done for Americans. Her support comes due to his policies on education and womens reproductive rights. And, she said, she benefited from the presidents public service loan forgiveness plan. I would have been in debt for the rest of my life, she said. One person in the audience was turned off by Bidens campaign team. Roger Ehrlich, the son of a Holocaust survivor, told The News & Observer that event staff removed him from the rally because he wore a shirt that said Jews say ceasefire now. And his removal may have cost Biden a vote. Ehrlich said he was not disruptive and that he was cheering and clapping along with the crowd. By expressing my First Amendment with the words on my T-shirt, there might be more support among Democrats and more pressure on leaders to represent the majority who support a ceasefire, Ehrlich said. He said hes not sure how hell vote in November, but that this experience has made him more upset with the Democrats. And that impacted people around Ehrlich. I told the organizer that hes causing more disruption than (Ehrlich), rally attendee Stuart Ginsberg said. Ginsberg, otherwise, thought Bidens rally performance was noticeably different from Thursdays debate. The president was more enthusiastic, he said. President Joe Biden takes the stage during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Responding to debate performance Biden was coming off more than a 12-hour news cycle criticizing his performance on stage Thursday night at a debate, hosted by CNN. For his part, Biden took to the stage and addressed the debate, avowing that he could still do the job of president. I know Im not a young man, Biden said. I dont walk as easily as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong and I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know like millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up, Biden said. President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Democrats needed the presidents speech in Raleigh, his first public event since leaving Atlanta, to be solid and full of energy. Judging by the reaction from his crowd of supporters, thats what he delivered. President Joe Biden supporters watch as hip hop artist Fat Joe performs during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. I give you my word as a Biden that I would not be running again if I didnt believe with all my heart and soul I could do this job, Biden said. The stakes are too high. He then talked about how dangerous Trump is to the country and to democracy. Bidens speech was met by cheers and chants of four more years from the crowd. I give you my word as a Biden that were still a nation that that believes in honesty and decency and treating people with respect, Biden said. Donald Trump will destroy democracy and I will defend it, Biden said. So folks, are you with me? President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Biden in Raleigh Rally Live Updates Here are earlier updates from Fridays rally: 1:30 p.m.: President Joe Biden took to the stage in Raleigh Friday bringing the energy Democrats had hoped to see him display Thursday night in a debate against former President Donald Trump. The high-stakes appearance at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds marks the presidents first appearance since he faltered on the debate stage, leading some political watchers to say he needed to end his campaign. First Lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden take the stage during a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. But on Friday afternoon, was alert, spoke loudly and his sentences didnt trail off like the night before. Though with a reported sore throat, he occasionally let out a cough. He articulated why he believes hes a better president than Trump and said Trump lied repeatedly during the debate. Among Bidens complaints against his predecessor was that Trump has no respect for women and the law. He also discussed Trumps role in the Jan. 6 riots. He told the crowd that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has been a great governor and that voters now need to elect Attorney General Josh Stein to succeed him as governor. Both men spoke earlier in the rally. He also said he wouldnt promise not to steal Cooper away from North Carolina when hes reelected. Cooper is only allowed to serve two-consecutive terms as governor, meaning he couldnt run again in 2024. Bidens speech he was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, whom he ignored. One yelled, Youre funding a genocide. Each time, the crowd drowned out the yells by chanting four more years! Security escort out a pro-Palestine protester who was shouting while Joe Biden spoke at a campaign event at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. First lady Jill Biden spoke before her husband, and also was interrupted by a protester, who was escorted out of the building. Jill Biden, unfazed, told the crowd, Joe has helped heal our country, and said he is a president with integrity. She then welcomed to the stage Eric Fitts, a public school educator who was among those whose student loans were forgiven by Biden. Last night I watched with pride as President Biden won the debate and put forward a clear vision for making life better for our families, Fitts said. 1 p.m.: Gov. Roy Cooper burst on stage in Raleigh at a rally for President Joe Biden, full of the energy Democrats hoped to see from Biden during a debate against former President Donald Trump Thursday night. Now all eyes are on Bidens campaign rally to see if he can redeem himself after a performance that had some people asking whether he should end his campaign. But Cooper was clearly not counting out Biden. This election is not just about what kind of president we want to have, Cooper said. This election is about what kind of country we want to be. He then asked if supporters want to have Trumps America to which the crowd shouted back, No. Can we beat Donald Trump right here and now and deny him the presidency? Of course we can, Cooper said. Cooper added that when the fate of our country was hanging in the balance under Trumps presidency, Biden saved this nation. Moments later, Biden and first lady Jill Biden joined Cooper on stage. 12:30 p.m.: North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democratic candidate for governor, took the stage in Raleigh to warm up the crowd ahead of President Joe Biden, who is making his first appearance after Thursday nights debate left some political pundits saying Biden needs to end his campaign. This is the second appearance by Stein at a Biden event this election cycle, an indication of how strongly Democrats are trying to rally around the president Friday. Stein spoke to supporters just before 12:30 p.m. Attorney General Josh Stein takes the stage during a campaign event for President Joe Biden at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. Among other policy areas, Stein said he wants North Carolina to be a place where our teachers are well-paid which garnered cheers and chants of Josh! Josh! Josh! from the crowd. Stein also said, as governor, he would veto any further restrictions on reproductive freedom. These freedoms and so much more is on the line this November, Stein said. And the choice could not be clearer. When Stein mentioned his opponent, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the crowd loudly booed. His vision is one of division and hate, Stein said, referencing Robinsons history of divisive rhetoric against teachers and the LGBTQ+ community, among other groups. Friends, we must deny him the governorship, Stein said. Stein also called on voters to break the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly, gain seats on the Council of State and keep Biden in the White House. Gov. Roy Cooper is also at the rally. 12:15 p.m.: Elected officials are beginning to gather at President Joe Bidens first public appearance since Thursday nights debate with former President Donald Trump, which left many political pundits asking whether Biden should end his campaign. Among those officials are North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Sens. Mike Woodard and Paul Lowe, Rep. Abe Jones and Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls. They are among hundreds being pumped up ahead of Bidens appearance by both live performers and prerecorded music. The Deep River Singers sang several songs before the rally began and led the crowd in a singalong to the lyrics be the change you want to see in the world. Then the crowd began to dance to Miley Cyrus Party in the USA, and Ya Ya by Beyonce, as it played over the loudspeakers. Later on, rappers Fat Joe and E-40 are expected to perform. 11:30 a.m.: Biden could pass a small group of his opponents supporters on the way to the North Carolina State Fair Grounds. He could also pass a group of pro-Palestinian protesters on Trinity Road calling for a ceasefire. Its not clear where Biden spent his morning after landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport just after 1:30 a.m. But Biden is scheduled to be at his campaign rally around 12:30 p.m. Around 10 supporters of former President Donald Trump are gathered at the corner of Blue Ridge and Trinity roads holding signs and flags. Around 11:15 a.m. the pro-Palestinian protesters began marching down Trinity Road toward the fairgrounds chanting End the siege in Gaza now. But the few protesters outside the rally have not deterred Bidens supporters from continuing to come into the fairgrounds to hear Biden speak. Sarah Shah, who lives in Durham, said she is at the rally to support Biden for his many accomplishments. Hes vigorously defended womens rights and reproductive rights, she said. Hes been an advocate for immigrant communities that I come from. She said she believes Biden made a very strong case for whats at stake during Thursdays debate. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event at as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. 11 a.m.: Biden supporters have made their way to the North Carolina State Fairgrounds to hear from the president directly, following a debate performance Thursday night that left many political commentators wondering if he should continue his campaign. By 10 a.m. at least 75 people were already on risers inside the fairgrounds Jim Graham building, with another 50 in line to join then. Megan Thacker, a public school teacher from Durham, said defending public schools and protecting student rights is important to her and she said shes been scared by whats happening with schools in North Carolina. She said coming to Fridays rally was showing support for her class. There are so many inequities our students and people are seeing today, and so far the Biden-Harris campaign has really reached those. Thacker said she hopes to God Biden can win North Carolina. She said she listened to Thursday nights debate, but couldnt look at her television screen because it just raised her blood pressure. She said she wished that more issues had been discussed, but in the end the debate didnt leave her feeling more strongly about either candidate. Supporters of President Joe Biden gather for a campaign event as seen from the press riser at the Jim Graham building at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh on Friday June 28, 2024. Biden debated former President Trump in Atlanta Georgia the previous night. IMG_0356 Tyler Smith, 22, said he was running on little sleep after watching the debate Thursday night at Goodwin House, the NC Democratic Party headquarters, and welcoming Air Force One at the airport. He said the mood at the Goodwin House was very energetic. And he was more than energized to be at Fridays rally. Smiths takeaways of the debate was focused on Trump. The entire country was able to see how Trump lied, Smith said. I think the entire nation saw that last night, and Im very excited about this. The contrast couldnt be any clearer. Biden won Smiths approval with his ability to cap insulin prices. Smith is a Type-1 diabetic. But Smith believes theres more work to be done on the issue. He said Biden is pushing harder than any other politician Ive seen in a long time, which is really refreshing. Jacob Fox told reporters he was disappointed by Bidens performance Thursday night. It left me very disillusioned, Fox said. Very sad that two of our front-runners were talking about their handicap in golf when the middle class is struggling to make ends meet. I just didnt think the debate performance from Biden was very good. But Im definitely not going to vote for Trump. As many voters have expressed, 29-year-old Fox wishes for younger candidates. But Fox wont vote for Trump because he attacked democracy. But he said if the Democratic Party were to choose a new presidential candidate, he would totally suport that. Joe Biden has moved us forward in so many ways. However, I feel like last nights debate just disillusioned a lot of the independent voters and I would totally understand that, Fox said. But whoever the Democratic party puts forward, I will support at the end of the day. Previously: High-stakes rally What was supposed to be a victory rally has turned into a high-pressure, can-he-turn-it-around crucible for Biden. Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, called Bidens performance Thursday night on the debate stage against former President Donald Trump poor. As a result, there is an inordinate amount of pressure on todays speech in North Carolina, Cooper said. Biden needs to rescue the narrative immediately, or else he may lose his own party, to say nothing of movable Republicans and the very small number of independent voters who are still deciding. Cooper added that it will also be telling to see not just Bidens reaction, but that of North Carolina Democrats. Are they willing to appear on stage alongside Biden and demonstrate their support for a Biden candidacy? Cooper asked. Biden landed at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 1:40 a.m. He was greeted on the Tarmac by supporters chanting four more years. Gov. Roy Cooper, who often greets Biden as he deplanes, was not present, but plans to be at the rally. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue , Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton and Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Shinica Thomas and Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton were among the supporters when he arrived. Its not clear where Biden is staying until he arrives at the fairgrounds at 12:30 p.m. The rally marks the first time Biden will have an opportunity to speak directly to his supporters after a debate that sparked concerns among Democrats and political observers. During Thursdays debate, hosted by CNN, Biden and Trump sparred on issues that ranged from the economy to Jan. 6, 2021, when insurrectionists raided the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop Bidens election certification. Following the debate, Biden supporters and commentators called the presidents performance disappointing, with concerns raised about his age of 81 years. Others noted that Trump repeated lies about the circumstances of Jan. 6 and when abortions were allowed under Roe v. Wade before it was overturned. The campaign event with Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds with their arrival scheduled around 12:30 p.m. North Carolina is considered a swing state. Even though President Barack Obama is the only Democrat to win North Carolina since 1976, every election since 2008 has been decided by less than 4% of the vote. Biden lost the state in 2020 by only 1.3%. Thats a smaller margin than any other state that year. And Democrats are hungry to flip the North Carolina blue in 2024. Now, political spectators and voters will be closely monitoring Bidens visit to North Carolina Friday. Biden-Trump debate Before the debate took place, it was already one for the history books because it was the first time a sitting president and a former president would face off. It also marked the earliest debate in presidential campaign history. After it ended, people were talking about whether either candidate was able to sway undecided voters. And political observers called out CNN for not fact-checking either candidate in real-time when they said misleading comments or falsehoods. Biden spent the last week at Camp David in Maryland practicing, but political observers and viewers quickly noted his hoarse voice and lack of energy, with some of his answers trailing. At times, the debate got personal, with Trump saying he didnt know what Biden said at the end of his sentence and wasnt sure Biden knew either. At another point, Biden called Trump a sucker and a loser, repeating the words that Trump had allegedly called service members. North Carolinas Republicans took to social media celebrating what they considered a win in Trumps performance. In post-debate analysis, The New York Times quoted Nadia B. Ahmad, a progressive member of the Democratic National Committee: Now would be a good time for Biden to drop out citing health concerns. Biden in North Carolina Bidens plans to visit the state after stepping off CNNs stage was set in motion more than two weeks ago, when the campaign began sending invitations to people to attend Bidens rally. Its rare for a president to stay overnight in North Carolina. It last happened in 2010, when then-President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent a weekend in Asheville. Little is known about where the Bidens were going to stay. Neither the White House nor Bidens campaign team would share details about their location. A White House news release of Bidens daily schedule, published Wednesday, indicated that the Bidens planned to depart Atlanta around 1 a.m. and land about an hour later at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He will be joined at the rally by rappers Fat Joe and E-40, according to the Biden campaign. Meanwhile, Trump planned his first stop, post-debate, across the North Carolina border in Chesapeake, Virginia. Focusing on North Carolina Since the beginning of the presidents reelection campaign, Biden has focused in on North Carolina, launching television ads, regularly sending surrogates into the state and hosting ongoing events. The Bidens, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have all been frequent visitors. The first lady has already traveled to the state once this week. On Tuesday, she spent the afternoon at a private campaign event in Charlotte with 70 people, discussing her husbands strengths and contrasting that against Trump. Holding a rally is not something the Biden campaign does often, and Fridays is not open to the general public. Typically, Biden leaves rallies to Trump, and opts for more intimate gatherings with supporters. Trump, who has been less of a presence in the state this campaign season, scheduled a rally in Wilmington in April, but was forced to cancel due to severe weather. He has not rescheduled. In May, he attended the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Dominique Boutonnat, the president of Frances National Film Board, the CNC, has been found guilty on sexual assault charges and received a three-year sentence, two of which will be suspended. Boutonnat has stepped down from the CNC in the wake of Fridays verdict and will be replaced by Olivier Henrard. Boutonnat is not expected to serve any jail time but will live under house arrest with an electronic bracelet for a year, French media reports. Boutonnat denied the allegations and is appealing the decision. More from The Hollywood Reporter Boutonnat was indicted in 2021, accused of sexually assaulting his then-19-year-old godson in August 2020, during a vacation in Greece. Despite the allegations, Boutonnat, who has close ties with French President Emmanuel Macron, was reappointed as head of the national film board in 2022 and served most of his second term, which was to end next year. Under his guidance, the film board set up several new initiatives to combat sexual harassment and fight sexual violence in the industry. In response to the ruling, the CNC issued a statement, saying that the allegations against Boutonnat concern the private sphere and have nothing to do with the CNCs activities whose functioning were not affected by the undertaking of the judicial procedure. The Boutonnat ruling will be hailed as a #MeToo reckoning by many in the French industry. Ahead of this years Cannes Film Festival, a petition calling for his removal from office was backed by several industry groups, including the labor union CGT Spectacle and activist organizations Collectif 50/50 and MeTooMedia. Another prominent French film figure will soon face his own #MeToo moment. Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac star Gerard Depardieu will stand trial in October on charges of sexual assault brought by two women who accused the actor of assaulting them on the set of the film The Green Shutters, charges Depardieu denies. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Watch the livestream for the CNN Presidential Debate as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump take the stage in Atlanta for the first 2024 presidential debate, and the first in U.S. history between a sitting president and former president. The first debate before the 2024 election has no audience, muted microphones and other new rules. And Trump will get the final word during closing statements, as determined recently by a coin flip. Previous debates have featured some unforgettable quotes, like Ronald Reagan's "There you go again," in response to Jimmy Carters 1980 debate criticisms that the former California governor campaigned against Medicare. Or Barack Obama's 2008 debate quip, "Youre likable enough, Hillary," in response to a question posed to Hillary Clinton about her likability. Share your favorite quotes from Thursday's debate in the comments below. Debate questions Who are Trump's top VP picks? What healthcare issues do health experts hope the debate addresses? What do swing-state voters want to hear? Why do incumbent presidents often struggle in their first re-election debates? What are voters' biggest concerns about the candidates? Where do Trump and Biden stand on Social Security and Medicare? Where do the candidates get their talking points? Who has the most to lose in Thursdays debate? How do the debate mute button rules work? Which Donald Trump will show up at the presidential debate? Why did Biden want to schedule the first debate so early? How many people actually watch presidential debates? Will there be commercials during the Biden-Trump presidential debate? Arizona Native Votes executive director Jaynie Parrish said the group has a message they want voters to remember: Change comes through voting. As the July 30 primary election nears, groups like Arizona Native Vote continue to work toward getting people registered to vote within tribal communities in the state as well as educating Native voters and potential voters through different forms of engagement. Parrish had been doing this type of civic work for years, serving from 2020 to 2023 as the executive director of the Navajo County Democrats and Northeast Arizona Native Democrats. Arizona Native Vote is a newer group, a non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building tribal and rural political power through community engagement to increase voter registration and civic participation. Our experts around organizing are from our people, Parrish said. We are an amazing family of organizers that are wanting so much good for our communities and are trying to do it through civic engagement and voting. With 15 full-time and part-time workers, Arizona Native Vote has established two pivotal programs for ensuring voter registration and education. Six of the 15, known as the Fire Keepers, work specifically within the Hopi, Navajo Nation and White Mountain Apache communities. The other program is for youth, educating middle and high school students with a curriculum centered on voter civic engagement, referred to as the "Indigenous Democracy Class." The goal is to excite students about their roles as voters and community members. It also allows Arizona Native Vote to meet the students' families and ask if they are registered voters. So far, the group has visited three schools on the Navajo Nation and hopes to expand to Hopi soon. We make two to three visits a semester and establish a rapport and relation with the students about what is voting, Parrish said. Sometimes we even get into the issues they care about. It gets real and they get honest, we try to guide that energy. Students have brought up issues such as public safety within Navajo communities and even the fraudulent sober living home scandal, and Parrish said that's when the instructors explain how elected public servants are the individuals who have the capacity to address this and make a change. A lot of them knew about the sober living facility and so we got into that, Parrish said. We worked step-by-step through the process. When did it become a problem? Who noticed it? Just everyday people and they notified an authority and then they notified somebody and then they elected leaders. So now we have Senator (Theresa) Hatathlie working on legislation. So they get to see the full circle, and things are connected to larger policies. The youth organizers within Arizona Native Vote are usually out in the communities, participating in events or holding events themselves. Native Vote fellow Torey Dolan answers a phone call at ASU Indian Legal Clinic Voter Protection Hotline in Phoenix on Nov. 8, 2022. But right now, the big push is reminding people to get their voter status checked and, if not, get them to register or update before the primaries, Parrish said. During the Navajo Voters Coalition Conference held at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort on June 18, the coalition recognized the Navajo Nation Council for passing emergency legislation to sync the dates of the Navajo Nation and Arizona state primary elections. Navajo voters possess so much power that we must ensure our presence is known this election season, said Council Delegate Andy Nez. Its important for our Navajo Nation and our respective states, like Arizona, this primary and general election. Voting rights issues: Native voters still face serious barriers to voting in Arizona, leaders tell lawmaker Registering voters presents challenges Rosetta Walker, a deputy registrar for the Maricopa County Recorders Office, said the Native students at Arizona State University are staunch supporters and voters in their own tribal elections, but they won't vote locally or in federal elections. They travel five hours to the Navajo Nation to vote in their chapter election, Walker said. Thats always a conversation and the charge we take on as deputy registrars in how to disseminate information, how to let the students know how important their vote is in all the elections. The fact that you dont vote is a yes vote for some initiative or referendum or candidate that you may or may not support. Walker presented during Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes Native Voting Hour, a Zoom segment to deliver information and insight to Native voters about elections and voting. Walker said earlier this week that she assisted with training employees at Native Health to register people to vote. Last year, Native Health of Phoenix became the first Indian Health Service facility to secure a site designation under the National Voter Registration Act. A mobile voter outreach van was at the Gila River Indian Community's tribal administration complex in Sacaton to register voters and answer questions on Oct. 10, 2022. Walker, of the Sicangu Lakota Rosebud Sioux Tribe, said she focuses on facilities within Maricopa County that have a Native influence, such as the Phoenix Indian Center and Maricopa Community Colleges. While Walker focuses on registering urban Native voters, Liv Knocki, the executive director for Wingbeat 88, works on getting rural voters registered. Wingbeat 88, with offices in Flagstaff, registers people to vote throughout the Navajo Nation and on the Hopi, Yavapai and Paiute reservations. Registering voters in tribal communities presents definite obstacles, with distance being the foremost challenge. Knocki explained that their canvassers often drive six hours a day in addition to working six-hour shifts. So that in itself is, how do we take care of our team members, how do we continuously motivate them, how do we engage them to acknowledge that the work is extremely important, Knocki said. That is a big part of it. Another obstacle is rural addresses, which have always been a challenge and will continue to be, said Knocki. This issue is compounded by the lack of uniform guidelines among county recorders regarding acceptable addresses for registering rural voters. Some county recorders offices are comfortable with us doing Google plus codes and introducing conversations around that, Knocki said. But others are not, and that is another big part of it. How do we get all county recorder offices to accept the same types of ways in which we should collect information and register voters? Voting rights: Native people won the right to vote in 1948, but the road to the ballot box is still bumpy 'Passing the torch' from long-time leaders Knocki said for someone to get out to register voters in tribal communities is not a simple task. It takes a certain type of personality to engage and converse with strangers. It's also good for those registering voters to know the community and language. I know thats hard to come by because our youth are not as skilled in speaking, I think they are more skilled in understanding, Knocki said. Conversational Navajo can be hard for our youth canvassers, so we do a lot of work to try to educate them on the basics of translations. After losing some pivotal people who had been doing this civic work for years, such as the late former Navajo chairman and president Peterson Zah and Loretta Chino, who was part of the Navajo County Democratic Party's Family Votes Program, Parrish said the Arizona Native Vote wanted to ensure that their work and legacy are carried on. We have to figure out a way to make sure their work continues on inter-generationally, Parrish said. So we knew with the Arizona Native Vote we could focus on younger Native folks to learn from these women and men and hopefully pass on that torch." The Fire Keepers, Parrish said, usually engage in community service in addition to registering people to vote. About 20 percent of a Fire Keeper's work involves checking on community members, family, and elders, conducting home visits, assisting with ceremonies, delivering wood and coal, participating in community cleanups and helping out wherever they see a need. They are like we need to do more than just talk about voting and elections, Parrish said. There is a time and place for that, but one of our elders said we have to be of service. Arlyssa D. Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: As primary nears, Arizona Native Vote takes message to communities SUITLAND, Md. (DC News Now) Police said that the male killed in a Suitland shooting Thursday evening was a minor. The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) released more information Friday about a shooting that left one person dead and another person injured. PGPD officers responded to the 7400 block of Towne Park Rd. which is near Suitland Elementary School around 6:40 p.m. for a shooting. They found two males who had been shot. A minor died there, and a man was taken to the hospital. Police said that the man is expected to survive. Two men arrested for armed carjacking, robbery in Silver Spring Investigators believe that several people were armed in the time leading up to the shooting and that multiple people fired weapons. PGPD said that officers recovered one firearm outside in a courtyard area. As of Friday, PGPD had not charged anyone involved. The investigation was ongoing, and anyone with any information should call (301) 516-2512 or submit a tip online or via the P3 Tips mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Prince Harry in May 2024. - Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry has been ordered to explain himself after the publisher of The Sun said the royal deliberately destroyed potential evidence related to his phone hacking suit against the tabloid, The Telegraph reports. At a hearing yesterday, June 27, a lawyer for News Group Newspapers (which is owned by Rupert Murdoch) accused Harry of deleting drafts of his memoir, Spare, as well as communications with his ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer, that might be relevant to the ongoing lawsuit. NGN was seeking a potential trove of information including emails and texts, plus material on two encrypted hard drives that they said wouldve been generated after the suit against NGN was brought in 2019. (Harry is one of over 40 people involved in the case, which is set to officially begin next January). More from Rolling Stone The judge overseeing the case, Justice Timothy Fancourt, agreed with NGNs lawyer, saying there was troubling evidence that a large number of potentially relevant documents and confidential messages between the Duke and the ghostwriter of Spare were destroyed sometime between 2021 and 2023, well after this claim was underway. Fancourt said the Duke of Sussex and his legal team must try to retrieve the messages between the lawyer and Moehringer. He also said they must get in touch with other royal family officials and ask them to submit any records of communication with Harry. Harrys lawyer, David Sherborne, defended the royals disclosure practices up to this point, filing court papers that accused NGN of a transparent old-fashioned fishing expedition (via People). Sherborne said Harry had conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations, including scouring his home in California and checking with the Royal Household about potentially relevant docs. Sherborne also noted that several old email addresses Harry used (including one called bazasales69@hotmail.com) were no longer accessible. NGNs tactical and sluggish approach to disclosure wholly undermines the deliberately sensational assertion that [the Duke of Sussex] has not properly carried out the disclosure exercise, Sherborne wrote. This is untrue. But Justice Fancourt was not swayed, saying the lack of documentation handed over by Harry so far was rather remarkable and cause for concern. He added: It seems to me inherently likely that matters would have been said which relate to the parts of Spare in which unlawful information gathering is discussed. Best of Rolling Stone "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Prince Harry has faced a new complication in his ongoing tabloid lawsuit. In the latest turn of events, the Duke of Sussex was ordered to explain how potential evidence related to the suit against The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN) has gone missingspecifically drafts of his 2023 memoir, Spare, and messages with the books ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer. Justice Fancourt said hes seen troubling evidence that a large number of potentially relevant documents and confidential messages between the Duke and the ghostwriter of Spare were destroyed sometime between 2021 and 2023, well after this claim was underway, per The Telegraph. Karwai Tang - Getty Images The judge said the lack of documentation was rather remarkable and gave him cause for concern, the outlet reported. The judge has since asked that Harry show a witness statement explaining what happened to the messages between himself and his ghostwriter and whether any attempts were made to retrieve them. Royal Website Deletes Prince Harrys Rare Statement About Duchess Meghan Photo credit: Getty Images Shop Now Prince Harry Reveals His and Meghans Travel Plans After Nigeria Trip Photo credit: Getty Images Shop Now Meghan Wears a Touching Jewelry Tribute to Princess Diana on Nigeria Trip Photo credit: Getty Images Shop Now Harrys attorney David Sherborne accused NGN of a transparent, old-fashioned fishing expedition, and claimed Harry has provided all the evidence hes been asked for, including having his California home physically searched and allowing inquiries to be made to the Royal Household about relevant documents, according to court papers obtained by People. The royal is suing NGN over claims of invasions of privacy by their journalists and investigators between 1994 and 2016. Harry has also been embroiled in some other legal battles as of late. The prince filed four lawsuits against newspaper publishers in the U.K. over allegations of phone hacking and other acts, and he recently lost his legal bid to have his police security in the U.K. covered by the government (after it was reduced following his decision to step down as a senior royal). You Might Also Like BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned to Lachin through the state program "Great Return", Trend reports. According to information, families that left in the morning hours have reached their homeland. Meanwhile, 21 more families65 peoplehave returned to Lachin at this stage. The families who returned to Lachin could not hold back tears of joy. They were welcomed in a solemn atmosphere and admired the beautiful view of Lachin. Once again being in their homeland, the residents of Lachin expressed gratitude to the President, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for all-round state care, as well as to the valiant Azerbaijani army, heroic soldiers and officers who liberated the lands of Azerbaijan from occupation, wished repose to the souls of martyrs who gave their lives for the Motherland, and patience to their families. Thus, 534 families (1,971 people) have been permanently settled in Lachin. To note, the resettled families in the city of Lachin have all the conditions for living in houses that have been restored or rebuilt on the instructions of the Head of State. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The judge said he's seen "troubling evidence" that "potentially relevant" documents and Harry's messages with the ghostwriter of 'Spare' were wiped after the claim was underway Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on March 30, 2023 Prince Harry has been ordered to explain how potential evidence has gone missing in his lawsuit against the publishers of a British tabloid after he was accused of destroying documents and communications. Attorney Anthony Hudson representing the publisher of The Sun, News Group Newspapers (NGN) told the court on June 27 that the Duke of Sussex, 39, deleted drafts of his 2023 memoir, Spare, as well as messages with the book's ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer. Justice Fancourt said he's seen "troubling evidence that a large number of potentially relevant documents and confidential messages between the Duke and the ghostwriter of Spare were destroyed sometime between 2021 and 2023, well after this claim was underway," according to The Telegraph. The judge said the lack of documentation was "rather remarkable" and gave him "cause for concern," the outlet reported. Adding it was "not transparently clear about what happened," the judge asked Prince Harry, who was not present in court, for a witness statement explaining "what happened to the messages between himself and his ghostwriter and whether any attempts were made to retrieve them." Neil Mockford/GC Images Prince Harry arrives to give evidence at the Mirror Group Phone hacking trial at High Court on June 7, 2023 in London Related: Prince Harry Will Be Honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service at 2024 ESPYS Prince Harry's attorney David Sherborne accused NGN of a "transparent, old-fashioned fishing expedition," according to court papers obtained by PEOPLE. "NGN's tactical and sluggish approach to disclosure wholly undermines the deliberately sensational assertion that [the Duke of Sussex] has not properly carried out the disclosure exercise," Sherborne said in court documents. "This is untrue. In fact, the Claimant has already made clear that he has conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations." Sherborne added that these measures have included a physical search of Prince Harry's California home, confirming old email addresses were no longer accessible and making inquiries to the "Royal Household" about relevant documents. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Prince Harry is one of the dozens suing NGN over claims of invasions of privacy by their journalists and investigators between 1994 and 2016. Some of the cases are likely to be heard at a trial in January 2025. Leon Neal/Getty Images David Sherbourne reads a written statement on behalf of client Prince Harry following the ruling in his favour in a lawsuit against the Mirror Group on December 15, 2023 in London Related: Prince Harry Comforts Woman Reliving Moment She Told 5-Year-Old Son of Dad's Death The Duke of Sussex has recently been involved in four lawsuits against newspaper publishers in the U.K. over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful acts. Separately, Prince Harry lost his legal challenge to have police security in the U.K. earlier this year. He previously said he "felt forced" to step back from his royal role and leave the U.K. in 2020, citing security concerns for his family his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3 but High Court judge Peter Lane upheld the decision by the U.K. government not to give them automatic protection in the country and downgrade his security. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles' sister is back home at Gatcombe Park, where she will receive rehabilitation support Rolf Vennenbernd/Picture Alliance via Getty Princess Anne at the CHIO Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, on June 27, 2023. Princess Anne, 73, has been discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol, England, a statement from Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, June 28. The update comes five days after the Princess Royal was hospitalized on June 24 after sustaining "minor injuries and concussion," according to a statement from Buckingham Palace the same day. The royal will continue her recovery at her Gatcombe Park country home in Gloucestershire. Princess Anne has left the hospital after sustaining a concussion and minor injuries on June 23. The Princess Royal, 73, is now receiving rehabilitation support at her Gatcombe Park country home in Gloucestershire after being discharged from Southmead Hospital in Bristol on the morning of Friday, June 28, PEOPLE confirms. No additional details are available regarding the incident, other than it involved a hard impact from a horse. Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, added in a statement, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the team at Southmead Hospital for their care, expertise and kindness during my wifes short stay." The royal will only return to public duties once her medical team says it's safe to do so. At this stage, it's not possible to determine when that will be, PEOPLE understands. Victoria Jones-WPA Pool/Getty Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Princess Anne at the Not Forgotten Association Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 17, 2024. Related: Princess Anne's Hospitalization Is Another Blow for Royal Family as Their 'Hardest Worker' Is Sidelined Buckingham Palace announced on June 24 that King Charles' younger sister was hospitalized following an "incident" at Gatcombe Park on June 23. Her injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs. Due to the concussion, the exact details of the accident were unable to be ascertained. "The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. On June 25, The Telegraph reported that Princess Anne suffered memory loss, thought to be temporary, relating to the incident. The same day, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence briefly spoke about his wife's health as he left the hospital after she spent her second night there. "She is recovering well, thank you. We are both profoundly grateful to the medical team and hospital support staff for their expert care and to the emergency services who were all so wonderful at the scene," Sir Tim told well-wishers. "We are both deeply touched by all the kind messages we have received from so many people near and far. It means a great deal," he added. In a video shared to X by Chris Ship of ITV, Sir Tim told reporters, "She's fine. Slow but sure." Kirsty Wigglesworth - WPA Pool/Getty Priness Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence at the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle on June 17, 2024. Related: King Charles' 3 Siblings: All About Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward The incident meant that Princess Anne was forced to clear her calendar. She missed the June 25 state banquet at Buckingham Palace that capped the first day of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan's state visit and was also due to travel to Canada but was advised not to fly, per medical advice. "On doctors advice, Her Royal Highnesss engagements for the week ahead will be postponed. Her Royal Highness sends her apologies to any who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result," a palace spokesperson said on June 24. The Princess Royal has been considered the "hardest-working" member of the royal family by the count of engagements recorded in the Court Circular for the last three years and reportedly stepped out for 457 duties in 2023. "She just gets on with it, often carrying out multiple engagements in one day," Queen Elizabeth's former press spokesman Dickie Arbiter previously told The Telegraph about Princess Anne's dedication to duty. Mike Marsland/WireImage (From left) Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne ride at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Princess Anne received the Gatcombe Park estate as a wedding present from Queen Elizabeth upon her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1976 and the Festival of British Eventing was held there for 40 years. A passionate horsewoman like her late mother the Queen, the Princess Royal became the first member of the British royal family to compete at the Olympics when she rode for Team Great Britain in 1976. She recently trotted into the spotlight when she rode in the procession at Trooping the Colour in London on June 15, keeping her cool when her horse got spooked. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building is five stories tall with numerous windows. A plaza stretches before it, with concrete columns to prevent cars from driving in. The Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama, seen on January 24, 2023. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A federal judge and an attorney for lawyers accused of judge shopping in a gender-affirming care lawsuit argued at length Thursday over whether the lawyers could withdraw an original filing in the case. The crux of the allegations involve the attorneys moving to dismiss their original suit, which sought to overturn Alabamas ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth under the age of 19. The dismissal came after the case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke, who has suggested the lawyers actions amounted to judge shopping, which he says is improper in the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Speaking to Burke on Thursday, attorney Barry Ragsdale, representing some of the accused attorneys, or respondents, said that they had the absolute, unconditional, unfettered right to dismiss the case under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The rule says that the plaintiff may dismiss an action without a court order by filing: (i) a notice of dismissal before the opposing party serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment; or (ii) a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared, according to the Legal Information Institute. Burke, in a back and forth with Ragsdale, expressed his disagreement and said at one point that the rule applied to plaintiffs, not their attorneys. Is this just a public policy argument? asked Burke. Ragsdale said it wasnt but it might be a judicial policy one. Burke said that the situation is where they are. Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law in 2022 that made it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a physician to prescribe puberty blockers and hormones in gender-affirming care for youth under the age of 19. Shortly after the legislation was signed into law, two lawsuits, known as Walker and Ladinsky, were filed. In the coming days, the cases were linked and assigned to Burke, after a series of reassignments. The plaintiffs eventually dismissed both lawsuits. The Walker attorneys, many of whom are represented by Ragsdale, did not refile. The Ladinsky attorneys refiled a new case titled Eknes-Tucker. That case, which was also assigned to Burke, is listed in court filings as Boe et al. Burke, a Trump appointee, blocked the state ban on puberty blockers and hormones in May 2022, ruling that the law violated parents rights to make decisions for their children and that the state had failed to show the drugs did harm. In 2023, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit overturned Burkes ruling, saying there was no fundamental right to gender-affirming care. The plaintiffs in the case and the U.S. Department of Justice, which intervened on their behalf, are currently seeking a stay in light of the Supreme Court agreeing to take up a case challenging a similar ban in Tennessee. Burke alleges that the first round of cases were dismissed because they were assigned to him. A three-judge panel compiled a report in October that said that testimony and evidence convince the Panel that Walker, Ladinsky, and Eknes-Tucker counsel intentionally attempted to direct their cases to a judge they considered favorable and, in particular, to avoid Judge Burke. In the hearing Thursday, the parties also discussed a 2003 case in the 11th Circuit, U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Case, a three-judge panel denied a writ of mandamus to petitioners after they were ordered to remove an attorney due to his connection to U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon. In these consolidated cases, we are called upon to consider the appropriate course of action where a party is accused of contriving to engineer the recusal of a district judge by hiring a close relative of the judge as counsel, wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Lanier Anderson. In Re BellSouth Corp., petitioners sought a writ of mandamus compelling the district court to remove its order to remove an attorney, a nephew of Clemon, and his law firm from representing a company in a putative class-action race discrimination suit. The three-judge panel did not find they met the burden of writ of mandamus. [United States District Judge C. Lynwood Smith] began by recognizing that, while the Due Process Clause guarantees a defendant in a civil case the right to legal representation, there is no absolute constitutional guarantee of the attorney of ones choice, Anderson wrote. Among the restraints on a partys choice of counsel, he recognized, is that an attorney may not be hired as a device to manipulate the orderly administration of justice. Although a court normally must find compelling reason to override a partys choice of counsel, the court found that a sham hiring for the purpose of forcing the judges recusal is a sufficiently compelling reason. Ragsdale said that the case had three different opinions and was a 2-1 decision but formed the basis for Burkes language. He also said that his clients did not re-file, which Burke acknowledged. Ragsdale said that no one has denied that Burke was a factor of dismissal, but noted that the attorneys have cited other reasons for moving for the dismissal. Earlier in the hearing, attorneys representing some of the respondents submitted the docket carried by U.S. District Judge Annemarie Axon, also a Trump appointee, at the time the lawsuit was filed in April 2022. Axon had been one of the previous assignments of the Ladinsky case. According to the report, Axon transferred the case to Burke because she was four days into a jury trial expected to take longer than two weeks, and the pending transgender cases were time sensitive. Christian King, an attorney for Jeffrey Doss and Melody Eagan, said the reasoning for the transfer was not clear because at the time, the jury looked like it was coming back in a timeframe that would have worked. Burke said he went through the whole filing and found jury instructions, along with other documents, that indicated that Axon could have been out for much longer. Burke said that filing the docket looked like an attempt to smear the court. I have a lot of questions about what the intent of this was, he said. He said that pointing to only some of the parts of the docket that supported their interpretation of the case was misleading. He had to go through the docket to find other relevant pieces of information that he said did not support their narrative. Burke also questioned several more of the respondent attorneys directly, telling two of them that they are unlikely to be sanctioned, as of the start of the questioning on Thursday. Burke acknowledged that some of the attorneys had apologized to him, and he thanked them. Attorney respondent Scott McCoy said that he regretted language implying that Burke reached out for the case, due to his understanding of Burke as conservative. Do you know how much I regret drawing this case? said Burke. The hearing is expected to continue on Friday. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST Prominent Biden loyalists who have suggested he should step down Prominent Biden loyalists who have suggested he should step down After a disastrous debate, many once loyal Democrats are calling on the president to drop out. Former Obama aides and popular commentators fear Biden affirmed fears about his age. The DNC isn't until August, meaning there's time to choose a new nominee. For months, Democrats have rallied behind President Joe Biden, insisting that in private moments he's energetic and up for the job. But after the president's abysmal performance last week, some are changing their tune and the new melody is somber. Here's what some of Biden's once loyal defenders are saying about the president, with some even begging him to end his campaign before the Democratic National Convention in August. David Axelrod David Axelrod, who was a staffer in the Obama administration, said the GOP would be in trouble if another Democrat replaced Biden as the nominee. Joe Raedle, Getty A titan of the Obama administration, David Axelrod sounded the alarm during a panel discussion on CNN directly following the debate. "I think there was a sense of shock, actually, on how he came out at the beginning of this debate," he said. "How his voice sounded he seemed a little disoriented at the beginning of the debate. He did get stronger as the debate went on, but by that time, I think the panic had set in." He confronted the question on nearly every Democrat's mind: whether Biden should drop out of the race. While sparring with Republican strategists on the panel, Axelrod said that the GOP would be in serious "trouble" were the Democratic ticket to change. The 'Pod' guys Though typically loyal to Biden, the hosts of the hugely popular podcast "Pod Save America" are saying that Biden should, at the very least, consider stepping aside. Jason Mendez, Getty While the former Obama aides who host "Pod Save America" typically support the president, they expressed deep concern about his ability to continue campaigning after the debate. "Obviously that debate was a fucking disaster," Jon Favreau posted the following morning on X. "And since we haven't had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didn't at least have a serious discussion about whether Joe Biden who's a wonderful human being and has been a great president is up for the job." In a blog post, Dan Pfeiffer lamented Biden's failure to assuage voters' concerns about his age, saying that he instead "exacerbated them." Another host, Tommy Vietor, did not mince his words, writing on X that telling notoriously panicked Democrats to temper their concerns was "fucking insulting to people who care deeply about the country." Claire McCaskill Claire McCaskill, a former senator and current political commentator, said that her phone exploded during the debate, with elected Democrats expressing grave concerns. NBC Claire McCaskill, a former senator turned political analyst, said on MSNBC that her heart broke while watching the debate. "Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didn't do it," McCaskill said. "He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up for the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight." McCaskill added that elected officials were pinging her phone throughout the debate, throwing around words like "crisis." She also said that Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California projected a vitality and assuredness that may leave some questioning why their names aren't at the top of the ticket. Thomas Friedman Thomas Friedman, a journalist and close friend of Biden, said in an opinion piece that the president should step aside. Michael Cohen, Getty By his own admission, Thomas Friedman, Biden's close friend and a New York Times opinion columnist, wept in his hotel room during the debate. In an article published the following morning, he called on the president to step aside and let someone else run. "Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election," Friedman wrote. Dropping out would, he argued, save Biden's legacy and give Americans the greatest chance of keeping former President Donald Trump out of office come November. He added that while Harris should run if so inclined, voters deserved to choose a nominee from a wide variety of options. "I had been ready to give Biden the benefit of the doubt up to now, because during the times I engaged with him one-on-one, I found him up to the job," Friedman said. "He clearly is not any longer." Van Jones Speaking on CNN after the debate, Van Jones said he felt personal pain while watching Biden's performance. Scott Dudelson Van Jones, a political analyst and former Obama advisor, called Biden's performance "painful" to watch. "I just want to speak from my heart," he said on CNN. "I love that guy. That's a good man he loves his country, he's doing the best that he can, but he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base, and he failed to do that." Many people, Jones added, will want the president to consider stepping aside given that the Democratic National Convention is not until August. The question is whether Biden "will allow us to do that," he said. Joy Reid In her comments on MSNBC, Joy Reid said that Biden failed to tamp down concerns about his age. CBS Photo Archive Joy Reid, a national correspondent on MSNBC, said that she spent the 90-minute debate on the phone with Obama-era aides, Democratic operatives, and campaign officials. Their overall reaction? Panic. Biden's primary job was to settle Democrats and their well-documented tendency to freak out. "He did the opposite of that," she said. Ben Rhodes Ben Rhodes lamented how the debate made Americans look to leaders abroad. NurPhoto, Getty Characteristically geared toward concerns abroad, Ben Rhodes, who was Obama's deputy national security advisor, kept it plain and simple on Twitter: "Just think about what that debate looked like to people and leaders around the world." Nicholas Kristof Nicholas Kristof, a New York Times columnist, addressed Biden directly in an opinion piece, calling on him to step down. Jamie McCarthy, Getty Nicholas Kristof, a columnist and CNN contributor, chimed in with his own two cents in The New York Times, writing that Biden staying in the race would increase the risk that Trump wins back the presidency. Kristof implored the president to drop out and leave his successor in the hands of delegates at the Democratic National Convention. He named Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, as prospective nominees. "This will be a wrenching choice," he wrote. "But, Mr. President, one way you can serve your country in 2024 is by announcing your retirement." Evan Osnos Having written extensively about Biden, Evan Osnos said that the man on the debate stage seemed "diminished." Thos Robinson Earlier this year, Evan Osnos wrote a considerable profile on Biden; in 2020, he published a sympathetic biography about the president, an excerpt of which he retweeted late Thursday night. When writing the book, Osnos asked Biden how he would respond to those who believe is too old to be president. Biden answered simply, saying he would ask people, "Look at me. Decide." Osnos, grappling with that decision himself, said on CNN after the debate that the man Americans saw onstage was a "diminished" version of the man he wrote about four years ago. Joe Scarborough The MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. Noam Galai/Getty Images for Global Citizen Even Joe Scarborough, one of the hosts of MSNBC's hit show "Morning Joe," widely considered Biden's go-to morning talk show, bit into the president. He opened his show by affirming his "love" for Biden but went on to say that the president "missed one layup after another," even on should-be knockout topics, such as abortion. "I fear Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States unless things change," Scarborough said. He joined the scores of Biden's friends candidly questioning whether Democrats should select a different nominee. Paul Krugman Paul Krugman, a New York Times opinion columnist, said he "very reluctantly" joined others in calling on Biden to step aside. STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images Paul Krugman, an economist and opinion columnist for The New York Times, wrote in a column that Biden, based on his policy record, should be an "overwhelming" favorite for reelection, but wasn't. While describing him as the "best" president of his adult life, he said Biden failed to rise to the occasion when it "really" mattered during the presidential debate and said he must "very reluctantly" join those calling on him to step aside. "In any case, although I hate to see Biden in this position, he's a good man, and I hope he'll do the right thing," Krugman wrote. Chandler West Chandler West, former White House deputy director of photography from January 2021 through May 2022, wrote in a now-deleted Instagram story: "It's time for Joe to go," according to screenshots obtained by Axios. He said he knows how the White House operates, and said they will blame a "cold" or a "bad night." But White House operatives have said privately for weeks and months that Biden is "not as strong as he was just a couple of years ago," West wrote. In a text message sent to Axios, West predicted that the debate is "not gonna be the last" bad day for Biden. Correction: June 28, 2024 An earlier version of this story misstated the role of Ben Rhodes in the Obama administration. He was the deputy national security advisor, not the national security advisor. Read the original article on Business Insider Sen. Bob Menendez leaves the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse in Manhattan on Monday, May 20, 2024, where his corruption trial entered its second week. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Federal prosecutors in Manhattan rested their corruption case against Sen. Bob Menendez Friday, capping seven weeks of testimony with a forensic accountant who tied almost $350,000 in cash and gold bars to the senator, his wife, and two co-defendants accused of bribing them. Defense attorneys will begin presenting their case Monday morning, and they have indicated they will argue that New Jerseys senior senator stashed cash at home over decades as a coping mechanism for past trauma, has very generous friends who give very nice gifts, and didnt know that his wife took money from or cut deals with people. They said theyll show more benign explanations for seemingly suspicious things prosecutors have presented in court, like Nadine Menendezs second phone she called her 007 cell number and the senators habit of tracking her every move through a phone app. They aim to call witnesses who are expected to tell jurors the second phone and tracking were protections against an abusive ex-boyfriend she couldnt shake. The government hasnt proven its case, Menendez told reporters outside court after Fridays testimony ended. Friday, prosecutors called their final witness, whose testimony seemed designed to preempt some of those defense arguments. FBI forensic accountant Megan Rafferty led jurors through financial documents that showed about $117,000 of the $552,000 the FBI seized when they searched the couples Englewood Cliffs home and Nadine Menendezs safe deposit box on June 16, 2022, were bills that entered circulation after 2018. That means they were not hoarded decades ago, as the defense contends. Rafferty also testified that investigators linked 10 envelopes packed with $82,500 in cash that investigators found during those searches to co-defendant Fred Daibes, an Edgewater real estate developer and bank founder, through fingerprints and DNA. Investigators also seized about a dozen gold bars, worth $253,165, with serial numbers investigators later traced to Daibes, she told jurors. She also explained a much fuzzier gold-bar link between Nadine Menendez and co-defendant Wael Hana, saying $12,878 in gold bars found in the couples home or in photos on Nadines phone came from the same manufacturer boxes as 22 bars Hana bought in June 2021 from an Edgewater jeweler both used. Nadine Menendez had sold almost $250,000 worth of gold just a few months before the FBI searches to the jeweler who didnt document their serial numbers, making it impossible for prosecutors to prove with certainty where she got them, previous testimony showed. In a ruling outside of jurors earshot, Judge Sidney H. Stein rejected a request by Daibes attorney to call witnesses who would have testified that generosity was a habit and character trait of his. A habit, Stein told defense attorneys, is setting your alarm clock or punching in to work at the same time daily. Generosity is not a habit, he said. Prosecutor Paul Monteleoni also presented for the court record several press releases Menendezs office and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which he chaired until his September indictment, released in 2020 and 2022 that blasted former Rep. David Rivera (R-Florida) for his connections to Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. Menendez called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Rivera for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act by failing to register as a foreign agent for Venezuela. Menendez himself is now charged as acting as a foreign agent, a charge he denies, because of meetings he had and information he shared with Egyptian officials in what prosecutors say was an effort to help his friend Hana secure a monopoly on exporting halal beef there. The courtroom at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan federal courthouse was packed Friday with observers eager to hear the final day of prosecutors case. Among those in attendance were about 15 evangelical Hispanic clergy from New Jersey representing the nonprofit U.S. Federal Chaplains. Menendez greeted them before court and during breaks with hugs and handshakes. We are all here supporting the senator. We believe in his innocence, Bishop Antonio Merino told reporters in Spanish. The post Prosecution rests in federal bribery trial of Sen. Menendez appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. Federal prosecutors rested their case Friday in the corruption trial of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey after seven weeks of testimony from at least 30 witnesses. The prosecutors spent weeks untangling the multiple corruption schemes that they say resulted in the senator and his wife, Nadine Menendez, garnishing gold bars, nearly half a million dollars in cash, a Mercedes-Benz and thousands of dollars in mortgage payments. Bob Menendez faces a collection of bribery-related charges and counts of acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government and acting to benefit the Qatari government. Hes on trial alongside New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes, who are charged for their alleged roles in the purported quid pro quo arrangements with the senator. Nadine Menendez, who was also charged in the indictment, is expected to be tried separately later this summer. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. Bob Menendezs attorneys have consistently suggested in cross-examinations that the senator was not aware of deals his wife struck with their co-defendants, which included offering the senators influence for a price. Prosecutors allege that Nadine Menendez was an intermediary for communications between the co-conspirators and her willing husband. The government structured its case by chapters, calling witnesses to testify about separate schemes allegedly brokered by the senator in tandem with his wife. According to evidence presented by prosecutors in court, the schemes were brokered with Hana, Daibes and another co-conspirator, Jose Uribe, who struck a plea deal ahead of the trial. On his way out of Manhattan federal court Friday, Menendez told reporters that the government hasnt proven its case. His lawyers will begin presenting his case when the trial resumes Monday at 9:30 a.m. ET. The lawyers have indicated that his defense should take no more than two or three days. The senators older sister, Nadine Menendezs sister and a forensic accounting expert are expected to be the first few witnesses in the senators defense. It is unclear if the senator, Daibes or Hana will testify in their own defense. The trial was first estimated to take about six weeks but is now expected to continue through mid-July. Heres a summary of the past seven weeks of testimony in the prosecutions case: A luxury car for prosecution interference Uribe, a co-defendant turned cooperating witness, testified that he bribed Bob Menendez in exchange for his influence to attempt to sway top prosecutors in New Jersey from pursuing criminal cases against his associates. Uribe testified about the conspiracy and how he paid for Nadine Menendezs luxury car. Gurbir Grewal, a former New Jersey attorney general, testified that Bob Menendez called him and then met with him in the senators Newark office in 2019 over concerns Menendez had about a case, though he never mentioned any defendants by name. Grewal testified that the senator never asked him to interfere in any specific case but a colleague of the attorney general who was at the meeting called the interaction gross. Gold, cash and mortgage payments for doing the Egyptian governments bidding Federal prosecutors have alleged that Bob Menendez helped Hana secure a halal certification monopoly with the Egyptian government in exchange for giving Nadine Menendez gold bars, cash and paying her mortgage. Ted McKinney, a former top official at the US Department of Agriculture, testified that the senator told him in a call to stop interfering with his constituents after McKinney flagged concerns over the monopoly. The jury also heard about the close relationship the senator and his wife developed with Egyptian intelligence officials, who were introduced by Hana. Jurors saw text messages between Nadine Menendez and Egyptian officials and surveillance photos and video of the Menendezes at an alleged conspiratorial dinner with Hana and a top Egyptian general at Mortons The Steakhouse in Washington, DC, in May 2019. Prosecutors say Bob Menendez pushed Egypts agenda for years in the Senate where he previously served as the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee and signed off on millions in military funding in exchange for bribes from Hana. Sarah Arkin, a senior Senate Foreign Relations staff member under Menendez, said the senators moves toward Egypt were unusual at times. Arkin testified that while Menendez had historically been publicly critical of the Egyptian governments human rights record, he told her in 2019 that he wanted to ease up on tough public statements, saying it wasnt working. I want to try to engage privately and engage more specifically and do more quiet engagement and criticism on a lot of these, Arkin quoted the senator as saying. Gold and cash for prosecution interference and Qatari government connections Prosecutors allege that Daibes used the senators connections to secure a multimillion-dollar commercial real estate deal with a Qatari investment firm tied to members of the Qatari royal family. The jury saw messages between the senator and Qatari contacts, facilitating an introduction with Daibes. The senator also penned complimentary press releases about the Qatari government, which he instructed Daibes to flag to the Qatari investors to curry favor, records shown at trial revealed. Fingerprints belonging to the senator and Daibes were found on cash-filled envelopes that were among the items seized from Nadine Menendezs home, where the senator also lived, during an FBI raid. Serial numbers on gold bars also seized at the home during that raid revealed that Daibes had once possessed the gold, according to trial evidence. Meanwhile, other text messages shown by prosecutors at the trial illustrated a timeline of how the senator pushed the nomination of Philip Sellinger, the current US attorney for the District of New Jersey. Sellinger testified that Menendez had hoped the US attorney contender would look at a criminal case against Daibes carefully if he secured the position. But Sellinger also said he never felt pressured to tip the scales for Daibes. Prosecutors from Sellingers office ultimately offered Daibes a plea deal in April 2022 and the parties agreed Daibes would plead guilty to one felony charge and serve no jail time for the 2018 multi-count indictment tied to alleged loan fraud. A federal judge eventually rejected the deal last October days after Daibes and Menendez were indicted in the current case. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Clark County District Attorneys office argued for the removal of a judge from criminal cases on Thursday. Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Hamner presented an argument to Chief Judge Jerry Wiese asking for Judge Erika Ballou to be removed from overseeing cases prosecuted by the district attorneys office. We represent hundreds and thousands of victims of crime, and hundreds of victims have their cases appeared before Judge Ballou, and we are the party that represents them and that is why at this point, we needed to do this, especially given the dynamics of whats happening right now, Hamner said in court. The behavior was so egregious. The argument stems from a criminal case first highlighted by the 8 News Now Investigators. A grand jury indicted Mia Christman in 2013 for a violent crime spree. Ballou vacated Christmans conviction and Christman was released from prison. Prosecutors took the case to the Nevada Supreme Court. Ballou ignored two separate orders from Nevadas high court. The Nevada Supreme Court ordered District Court Judge Jerry Wiese to remove Ballou from Christmans case in May. The May 3rd order pointed to the district courts failure to comply. Christman was ordered to return to prison to serve the remainder of her original sentence. District Attorney Steve Wolfson filed an ethics complaint with the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline on April 30 accusing Ballou of five ethics violations. Hamner argued that Ballou should be removed from criminal cases and handle only civil cases while the ethics complaint is pending. Ballou previously faced unrelated ethics charges. Several were related to social media posts, including a photo of Ballou in a hot tub with two public defenders. Ballou admitted she violated several ethics rules in an agreement and order of public censure with the commission filed on June 11. Wiese said he will review courtroom video from the Christman case as he makes his decision. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. This time, the opening of an innovative store in line with the new Bakcell brand took place in Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. Together with the branches in Lachin and Khankendi, the newly opened store in Shusha is the third Bakcell store in the Karabakh region. "Our goal is to stay true to the promises we have made to our customers with the introduction of our new brand. For this reason, we will continue to introduce our innovations and new products in every region of Azerbaijan, especially in Karabakh. For example, we delivered the fastest fixed home internet in the country to our subscribers last month. In the coming days, we plan to offer our subscribers VoWifi, which supports Wi-Fi calling services, as well as several new products," said Bakcell CEO Klaus Mueller at the opening of the store in Shusha. The new Bakcell store, located on Istiglaliyat Street in Shusha, is a place that offers visitors a completely new brand experience. Here, subscribers can get information about Bakcell's new services, high-tech, and AI-enabled products, in addition to the traditional services they need. The store is equipped with a queuing system and an e-corner to ensure quality and fast operations. It is worth mentioning that last year, Bakcell brought the latest VoLTE voice technology, eSIM, and the fastest mobile internet network in the country to its subscribers in the Karabakh region. In addition, the number of base stations in the region has exceeded 120. Provo gynecologist charged with sexual abuse two years after allegations surface in lawsuit PROVO, Utah (ABC4) Provo gynecologist Dr. David Broadbent was charged Thursday, June 27, with forcible sexual abuse more than two years after dozens of women sued him for sexual abuse. David Harris Broadbent, 77, is facing one count of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, for an incident that allegedly took place in 2020. According to the probable cause statement, Broadbent inappropriately grabbed a patient during an examination. The victim claims he moved her clothing and grabbed her in areas that were unrelated to the exam. This is the first felony charge filed against Broadbent after more than 100 women joined a lawsuit against him in 2022 claiming they were sexually abused while receiving medical care. The lawsuit is seeking damages as well as a jury trial. A judge dismissed the lawsuit later that year claiming it should be considered a medical malpractice action instead of a sexual abuse case since the alleged abuse happened in a medical setting. Attorneys for the women have since argued that the judge was wrong to dismiss the case as the women are suing over abuse, not healthcare. In addition, a medical malpractice suit would require the patients to file their complaints within two years and some of the allegations in the lawsuit took place decades ago. More than 90 women appealed to the Utah Supreme Court to reinstate the lawsuit, and the court heard the arguments in October 2023. There are no documents indicating the Utah Supreme Court has made a decision. While Broadbent is only facing one felony charge at this time, the Utah County Sheriffs Office said they will continue to investigate other allegations and will make a determination whether additional charges will be filed against Dr. Broadbent when these investigations are completed. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Office of the Public Defender in the Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton (Photo by New Jersey Monitor) The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender has created a new role intended to improve the quality of the offices investigations and promote policies to address systemic misconduct. Danica Rue, who started her career with the office in Essex County in 2010, will be its first director of investigations and police accountability. Its a position the office says will allow it to help attorneys litigate police-related cases, influence statewide policies around criminal justice issues, and develop ways to track police and prosecutorial misconduct. That last item is one of Rues key aims. She wants to create a database that will allow attorneys to search in one place for examples of police misconduct instead of the piecemeal approach they must now take that often involves public records requests. One of the big goals that I want to see is that we have a system where every attorney can see where police misconduct has been found, and have that knowledge while they go forward with their cases in defending their clients, Rue said in an interview with the New Jersey Monitor. Defense attorneys in criminal cases must investigate whether the officers involved in their cases have previously been found not to be credible. Prosecutors are required to disclose whether they have evidence that could taint the credibility of their witnesses, but defense attorneys have said prosecutors often flout these disclosure requirements, which can lead to wrongful convictions and a lack of due process. We actually have to rely upon the police and the prosecuting agency to give that information to us. This will allow us to make sure that we have that on our own without just relying upon that being reported to us, said Rue. Rues hiring is part of a larger plan state Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti has to bring a holistic approach to her office. Sellitti, who assumed her position in February, said shes thought about creating a database compiling evidence of police misconduct for more than 10 years. It was a little bit frustrating because I had so many thoughts about things we could be doing. We just didnt have the ability to execute that vision the way I wanted to until now, Sellitti said in an interview. Sellitti met Rue when they were interns at the public defenders office, and Rue said it was there she fell in love with criminal defense work and decided to pursue public defense as a career. In 2010, she joined the Essex County office the largest public defender office in the state as an assistant deputy public defender, where she focused on complex forensic cases. In 2022, she was promoted to first assistant and oversaw cases and trials in Essex County. Rue said Sellittis efforts toward a holistic defense system spoke to her, and she wanted to join the leadership team to offer her expertise as an attorney who has worked in trials. Its not just about serving subpoenas and interviewing witnesses, but also finding housing, social services, and mental health treatment for clients, she said. Sellittis push for police accountability was very intriguing, she added, stressing that theres never been a system in place to track police misconduct in New Jersey neither publicly nor within attorney circles. The database shes creating will not be available to the public. Rue noted the information will be beneficial to attorneys during plea negotiations and cross-examination at trial. Its really about the public defenders office taking matters into our own hands and saying, how can we use what we learn to not only fuel the attorneys working on their cases, but to change the conversation and to change the policies statewide about police accountability and police misconduct, Sellitti said. In 2022, the Attorney Generals Office launched a website detailing active and resolved internal affairs investigations, but the data does not reveal any officers identities or specific details. Sellitti noted that New Jersey has some of the tightest restrictions on accessing internal affairs records, and theres no state civilian complaint review board with subpoena power. That puts New Jersey in the back of the pack when it comes to police misconduct legislation, she said. For years, criminal justice advocates have called on the states police departments to be more transparent with investigations and discipline their cops face. Bills that would expand oversight for cops and make police disciplinary records public have been repeatedly introduced, but languish each legislative session without enough support. Now that the public defenders office is concentrating on this effort, theyll be able to identify trends, systemic issues, push for more legislation, and continue exposing police misconduct, they said. Everyone will have access to that so they dont have to reinvent the wheel each time so that we can hold these police officers accountable, said Rue. The post Public defenders office touts new police accountability director appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. The seven seats and court of the Montana Supreme Court (Photo by Eric Seidle/ For the Daily Montanan). The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on a lawsuit over whether Gov. Greg Gianforte can claim executive privilege to withhold from the public internal records his office uses to track legislation. Oral arguments are scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13, in the lawsuit filed in Lewis and Clark County District Court. An introduction to the case will start at 9 a.m. and arguments will begin at 9:30 a.m. All justices will hear the case. ONeill v. Gianforte The Montana Supreme Court will take up the case at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at the Holiday Inn Missoula, located downtown. An introduction to the case will begin at 9 a.m. and arguments at 9:30 a.m. Source: Order from the Montana Supreme Court In 2021, plaintiff Jayson ONeill sued Gianforte, a Republican, after the Governors Office denied ONeills request to see forms it uses to track legislation ONeill requested but did not receive even a blank form. Gianforte said the records should be private to allow frank internal conversations. He argued they fell under attorney-client privilege. In 2022, District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ordered Gianforte to turn over the records to the court for review and possible release. Seeley said the state of Montana doesnt recognize any form of executive privilege. Seeley also said the Montana Constitution protects the publics right to know, and most of the legal authority the governor cited to support executive privilege was from other jurisdictions, including the common law of England. The states briefing to the Supreme Court, however, said the court has recognized exceptions to the right to know, but ONeill applies an absolutist position. The state argued the governor receives candid advice about whether he should sign or veto legislation, those conversations are to the public benefit, and other courts have granted them some confidentiality. The governor also argues that judges deliberate in secret, Montana courts are granted privacy, and the executive branch should be afforded the same protection. ONeill disagreed. His briefing to the Supreme Court said the state has changed its arguments along the way about why its withholding the records. It also described the states claim to executive privilege as both novel and foreign, having never been used to fight the right to know, and contravening the Montana Constitution. Executive and deliberative process privilege presume that powerful officials need to be shielded from public scrutiny to function well, said the court filing. But our Constitution strenuously rejects such presumptions in favor of transparency and public accountability If executive privilege is created now, its abuse is certain. ONeill is represented by the Graybill Law Firm and Upper Seven Law. In the District Court order, the judge rejected the idea that keeping the governors documents a secret serves the public interest. However, the judge ordered the governor to provide the documents to the court so it could review them and determine whether any were covered by attorney-client privilege. Gianforte did not turn them over, and the state appealed to the Supreme Court. The post Public records lawsuit set for oral argument with Montana Supreme Court appeared first on Daily Montanan. A Purdue University flag waves in Monument Circle on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at a Paint the Town Gold event celebrating the school's new stand-alone Indianapolis campus. From atop Monument Circle, U.S. Sen. Todd Young looked out over a sea of black and gold. I think its fair to say that, as of today, this world-class city has at least one world-class university, Young said with a grin. I choose my words carefully. Purdue University in Indianapolis will officially launch Monday, marking the official end of IUPUI. Indiana University Indianapolis also begins operation as a separate school the same day, taking the majority of the partnership's buildings and programs. In a ceremony Thursday, top state and local officials celebrated what many called an Indianapolis expansion of West Lafayettes campus. Purdue President Mung Chiang described shuttles going back and forth between West Lafayette and Indianapolis, creating an integrated, smooth experience. No more IUPUI: Indiana University/Purdue split likely means big changes in downtown. Why some are worried. Most new Purdue construction will be located on 28 acres west of West Street, south of Indiana Avenue and north of Michigan Street, said Dan Hasler, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis campus. Historically, IUPUI had played a part in razing historic Black neighborhoods on Indiana Avenue, but Mitch Daniels, Purdue president emeritus and former governor, said Hasler had met with the neighborhood to try to enhance it. The first new building, a mixed-use academic building, was approved by Purdue trustees June 7; itll be at the intersection of West and Michigan streets and is estimated to cost $187 million. School officials intend to integrate other buildings into the community, Hasler said. For example, Purdues new animal science research facility with Elanco is next to Elanco, and a recent partnership with Dallara is located at Dallaras headquarters. More than 800 students are expected to start their first year at Purdue University in Indianapolis in the fall, Hasler said. Degrees and tuition will mirror those on Purdues flagship campus. Current IUPUI students aiming for a Purdue diploma can continue their current plans of study. The opening of Purdue University Indianapolis is celebrated by elected leaders and school officials Thursday, June 27, 2024, at a Paint the Town Gold event held in Monument Circle. Purdue partnership: School and Elanco to create 3-acre research facility near former GM stamping plant site Currently, Purdue Universitys Indianapolis location only supports a few engineering programs. However, the school expects to add programs such as nursing, business and hospitality before August 2025. These programs will be different enough to IU Indianapolis that there wont be competition, Hasler said. Officials highlighted how the new campus will bring jobs and new innovation to Indiana. Seventy-five years ago, Neil Armstrong was planting the Purdue flag on the moon, Gov. Eric Holcomb said. Think about what will not only be discovered here in Indiana, because of Purdue and the students and faculty, but about how that will then in turn improve our quality of lives and our quality of place. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue University Indianapolis campus celebrates opening Russian President Vladimir Putin didnt set an alarm to wake up in the middle of the night to watch Thursdays debate between President Biden and former President Trump. Well, look, I dont think you expect the president of Russia might set an alarm clock, wake up before morning and watch the debates in the United States of America? Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters. The debate began at 9 p.m. in Atlanta, or around 4 a.m. in Moscow. Peskov maintained that Putin is indifferent about the outcome of the November election, despite his seemingly close ties with the presumptive GOP nominee. We have a lot of issues that are really important for our country, which are relevant for us. These are the issues that our president is dealing with, he said. Debates in the United States are not part of the main issues on the agenda. On the debate stage Thursday, Trump hit Biden on foreign policy, noting Russias war in Ukraine. In the past, the former president has praised Putin, calling him very savvy and smart. Trump has also been criticized for suggesting that Russia could do whatever the hell they wanted if a NATO member country failed to meet its defense spending minimum. During the first presidential debate this cycle, Trump pointed to Putins terms to end fighting in Ukraine, calling them unacceptable. But the former president also avoided providing an explanation about how he would end the war if reelected a pledge he has made on the campaign trail. Early in the debate, the first time the candidates were face-to-face since 2020, Biden stumbled with his answers, which defined the narrative of the event. It also raised alarm bells for many Democrats, who have concerns about his ability to beat Trump in the polls this fall. Putin said earlier this year that he would rather see Biden stay in office than Trump win another term, because the incumbent is more predictable. Biden has spent much of his time in office creating a relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and supporting Ukraines efforts to end the attacks from Moscow. Politico noted that state run news agencies in Russia widely shared the results of a poll that showed Americans believed Trump won the debate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLLEGE PARK, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Health Department is warning community members of a rabid racoon that was found near the College Park Woods area. College Park Animal Control picked up the racoon on June 21 from the 3600 block of De Pauw Place. The racoon had multiple wounds and looked to be sick. 32 animals tested positive for rabies in Frederick County in 2023 The Maryland Department of Health said the racoon tested positive for rabies on June 25. According to health officials, rabies is transmitted through being bitten or scratched by an animal that has it. Once symptoms of rabies start to occur, it is usually always fatal. Any people or pets who have come into contact with the racoon between June 11 through June 21 should call the Health Department immediately at (301) 583-3751. If it is a holiday or on the weekends after 4:30 p.m., then call (240) 508-5774. For more information about the rabid racoon, 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC. Railroad track work that detoured traffic through Belleville is complete. What we know If youve been taking the long detour around downtown Belleville to avoid the road closure on North Illinois Street, the straighter route is now available to you again. Work on the Norfolk and Southern Railroad tracks on the crossing near Douglas Avenue shut down all four lanes, north and south, since Monday morning. The road has been reopened overnight in time to handle Friday morning traffic. The posted detour channeled commuters away from the work site and downtown by directing them east on IL 161 to Green Mount Road then back again on IL 158. Locals knew more direct, back-road routes to get them across the tracks. Attempts to reach Norfolk and Southern Railroad to get details of the work being performed were unsuccessful, but a representative from Warning Lites of Southern Illinois, the company contracted by the railroad to secure the tracks and install warning signs about the road closures, said generally that the crossing was being improved and repaired and that he expected a smoother ride across the tracks. ALMATY, Kazakhstan, June 28. The final day of the Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has wrapped up in Almaty, Trend reports. The event featured three panel sessions: "The EDBs Investment Instruments: Results and Prospects," "Digital Technology and Innovations for Eurasia," and "Eurasian Economic Union: Results and Prospects of Investment Project Implementation". Additionally, the Bank presented a "Water and Sanitation in Central Asia" study. Speaking at the event, EDB Senior Managing Director Denis Ilyin emphasized that the bank has become a leader in lending in national currencies among international development banks. He noted that Kazakhstan's national currency is very active and in high demand. "For us, the national currency is as much a tool for financing our projects as the dollar and the euro, which are familiar currencies for international development banks," he said. Head of the EDB Directorate of Strategic Projects, Victor Lebedev, highlighted that the Central Asian region has an exceptional opportunity to become a crossroads between major markets. "Our countries rank between 79th and 123rd in the world for logistics efficiency. Central Asia has an exceptional chance to become a crossroads between huge markets, but this requires significant investment. According to our estimates, $250 billion needs to be invested to provide unlimited opportunities for transportation and movement of goods within the region and in transit," he said. Meanwhile, EDB Vice Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Economist, Evgeny Vinokurov, emphasized the need for increased investment in water resources management during the presentation of the "Water and Sanitation in Central Asia" study. "Today, the Central Asian region needs $2 billion more investment for water management than is currently being provided," Vinokurov stated. EDB Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research, Arman Ahunbaev, highlighted that water consumption in Central Asia has doubled since the early 1990s. He also pointed out significant water losses amounting to 55 percent. "We are losing almost half of the water in distribution networks due to this deterioration. Another critical statistic is that 10 million people, accounting for 14 percent of the population, currently lack access to safe drinking water. This disproportionately affects rural areas, where about 87 percent lack access, while urban areas fare slightly better. However, mere access does not guarantee safe drinking water, as water quality is crucial. In Kazakhstan, more than 70 percent of wastewater treatment facilities are deteriorated. In Uzbekistan, almost a third of the population consumes water that fails to meet necessary standards," Ahunbaev explained. Finally, on the sidelines of the event, a joint cooperation agreement was signed between the EDB, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). "We have signed a trilateral agreement today to further cooperate in water resources management with elements of digitalization. This agreement is the result of our collaborative efforts over the last six months. I believe that signing this document will provide a significant impetus to issues related to water conservation, rational water use, and the sustainable management of water resources in our republic," commented Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov on the signed document. During the first day of the event, sessions were held on "Islamic Finance in Central Asia," "Water, Energy, and Food in Central Asia: Partnerships and Projects for Sustainable Development," and "The Eurasian Transport Network: Potential, Challenges, and Solutions." Participants engaged in discussions on various topics including the advancement of Islamic finance in Central Asia, global trends in Islamic finance and banking, coordination of the "water, energy, and food" nexus development, collaboration among multilateral development banks and international organizations to advance the water and energy sectors in Central Asia, promising projects in these crucial areas, and priorities for developing freight corridors and other transport-related issues. Also on the first day of the event, several agreements were signed among participants. The EDB and the Islamic Development Bank Institute signed a memorandum of understanding to foster Islamic finance in Central Asia. Additionally, the EDB agreed with the Dar Al Sharia consulting company to collaborate in the field of Islamic finance. Furthermore, the event featured presentations of studies titled "Promoting High Environmental and Social Standards in Central Asia: EDB Experience and Lessons Learned" and "Eurasian Transport Framework". Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Topekan Randy D. Clelland, charged in the accidental 2021 Topeka deaths of two motorcyclists, recently accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to one year on probation, Shawnee County District Court records show. Clelland, 66, pleaded guilty June 12 to six misdemeanors and a traffic infraction as part of an agreement in which two felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment were dismissed. The charges were linked to a March 2021 traffic crash that killed Topekans Anthony Vardys, 46, and his wife, Tamara Vardys, 47. Randy Clelland pleaded guilty June 12 at the Shawnee County Courthouse to crimes linked to the accidental Topeka deaths of two motorcyclists. Why did Clelland end up on probation and his co-defendant in prison? Clelland's co-defendant, Rigo Phinney, 37, has been an inmate since September 2023 at Norton Correctional Facility, where he could be released at the earliest in October 2025, Kansas Department of Corrections records show. A Shawnee County District Court jury in February 2021 found Phinney guilty of 14 crimes, including two felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, linked to the crash. He was acquitted of two other crimes, both misdemeanors. Katie Garceran, spokeswoman for the office of District Attorney Mike Kagay, addressed why the case against Clelland was resolved in a different manner than the case against Phinney. "Rigo Phinney was tried and convicted by our office, and sent to prison," she said. "The specific facts and circumstances of this case were different, and warranted this outcome. Prosecutors have an independent duty to continually evaluate the merits of a case and proceed accordingly." What happened in the crash? The double fatality crash occurred just after 10 p.m. on March 20, 2021, at the intersection of N.E. US-24 highway and Meriden Road, Topeka police said. Clelland and Phinney were using a pickup truck and a chain to tow another pickup, which was disabled, when the chain came loose as the pickup in front tried to turn north from US-24 onto Meriden Road, they said. At the time, a group of motorcycles was westbound on US-24, with Anthony Vardys the driver and Tamara Vardys the passenger on one of them, Kagay said. The motorcyclists took evasive maneuvers to avoid the trucks, but the truck that was being towed struck the motorcycle on which the couple was riding, he said. Clelland pleaded guilty June 12 to two misdemeanors involving the unsafe towing of vehicles and one misdemeanor count each of reckless driving, driving while suspended (first conviction), not carrying liability insurance and operating a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag, court records show. He also pleaded guilty to failure to yield to an approaching vehicle when turning left, which is a traffic infraction, those records say. The sentence of one year on supervised probation that Clelland received June 12 bans him from having contact with criminals or possessing firearms or dangerous weapons, court records say. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Probation imposed regarding Topeka crash that killed motorcyclists President Joe Biden fumbled his way through Thursday nights presidential debate with Donald Trump, an alarming performance for Democrats eager to see him shut down his deeply flawed GOP challenger: a twice-impeached convicted felon known for his lies and ugly attacks. The beginning of the 90-minute debate was particularly brutal for Biden. His voice was scratchy and weak, and sometimes hard to understand. He appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times, including in response to a question from a moderator, CNNs Jake Tapper, about the national debt. He struggled to answer another question about how his administration would strengthen health care, mixing up trillions with billions when talking about dollar amounts. Bidens response became so disjointed that he ultimately pivoted and, just before his mic was cut off, he confusingly declared, We finally beat Medicare. He was presumably referring to his administration lowering the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare, but that victory something he could have touted in that moment was not at all articulated in what he said. Visually, Biden didnt come across as particularly energized, either. The side-by-side images of him and Trump on TV often showed the president looking out with a fixed gaze, his mouth slightly open. Trump, meanwhile, was more animated and spoke forcefully, even as many of the things he was saying were false or wildly distorted. Bidens campaign was clearly scrambling in response to what was happening. Over the course of the debate, the campaign sent out at least 11 emails attacking Trumps lies at the lectern. While it is standard practice for a campaign to send press releases on major talking points during a debate, many of them seemed to clarify Biden stances for issues on which he had stumbled responding to questions, including abortion rights and support for Black communities. About halfway through the debate, the campaign told reporters that the presidents voice was raspy because he has a cold. They could have shared this detail ahead of the debate as a way to lower the bar for the presidents performance, but they did not. Seasoned political observers were struck by Bidens performance. Amy Walter, the editor-in-chief of Cook Political Report, which forecasts election outcomes, speculated that the odds of Biden agreeing to a second debate in September are close to zero about now. MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace reported that conversations were happening within Bidens inner circle during the debate that ranged from whether he should be in this race tomorrow morning to what was wrong with him. Even Kate Bedingfield, who was Bidens White House communications director from 2021 to 2023, said the debate was a disaster. It was a really disappointing debate performance from Joe Biden, Bedingfield said in a statement. I dont think theres any other way to slice it. His biggest issue was to prove to the American people that he had the energy, the stamina and he didnt do that. Democrats were certainly hopeful that Biden would outshine Trump given how strong he was in his State of the Union address in March. But Thursdays debate is going to revive concerns that are already circulating about his age and mental acuity, something hes faced more scrutiny over than Trump even though theyre only a few years apart. Biden is 81, Trump is 78. President Joe Biden walks off stage Thursday at the CNN Presidential Debate in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a rough ride. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images The president did perk up a bit as the debate continued, particularly when Trump seemed to piss him off. When Trump claimed Biden doesnt care about veterans, the president laid into him. Every single thing he said is a lie, Biden fumed, citing a 2022 law he passed that expands health care to veterans. He reminded Trump of that time in 2018 that he refused to visit a World War I cemetery in France because he said it was filled with losers and suckers. My son was not a loser or a sucker, Biden said, turning to Trump. Youre the loser. Youre the sucker. Trump responded by suggesting he never said those things and claimed that theres nobody thats taken better care of our soldiers than I have. Related... In remarks to the roughly 50 attendees of the South Portland presidential debate watch party, Gov. Janet Mills drew a stark contrast between the candidates. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Democracy is at stake in the November presidential election, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Thursday night, as well as common sense and civility in the White House, which she added, were not seeing on the part of Mr. Trump tonight. Mills spoke at a Democratic watch party for the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. In an interview with Maine Morning Star, the governor criticized Trump for deploying what she called mudslinging, name calling and just so many fibs. Explaining her support for the current president, Mills highlighted how the Biden administration assisted Maine on a range of issues, including climate change, health care and education. There are many things we depend on the federal government for, Mills said. We cant depend on Trump. Before Trump and Biden took the stage at CNNs headquarters in Atlanta, Mills drew a stark contrast between them in remarks to the roughly 50 attendees of the South Portland watch party, urging them to listen carefully to the rhetoric and demeanor of each candidate. In her speech, Mills described Biden as a compassionate and civil leader, referring to his visit to Maine last fall in the wake of the mass shooting in Lewiston. I know who it is that has done the most to help the state of Maine that is why Im supporting President Biden, Mills said. I know who came here, who stood with us after Oct. 25th in Lewiston, who spent hours with the victims of that tragedy and the families of the deceased of that tragedy. Aside from the candidates performances, Mills told Maine Morning Star that shed hoped for more during the first debate of the presidential campaign. Its not the level of debate that I was hoping for, Mills said. Its not the level of questioning that I was hoping for. Theres some good questions but theres no follow up. Whats at stake for Mainers When asked about what she believes to be the most pressing issues for Mainers that would see absolute change depending on the next president, Mills provided a litany. The Biden administration is helping us fight PFAS, fight the rising seas and the terrible storms weve encountered, Mills said, referring to the eight disaster declarations shes requested over the past two years. The Biden administration has been a partner with the state of Maine in enhancing our public funding for education programs, healthcare. Trump has often vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which Mills said would be detrimental to the hundreds of thousands of Mainers who rely on it for health insurance. Other Democratic officials Thursday evening shared similar concerns. At the watch party, state Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) told Maine Morning Star that the most pressing issue for Mainers she believes is at stake this upcoming election is healthcare, specifically noting Trumps opposition to ACA. I feel that the Affordable Care Act is really going to be threatened if Trump is elected and I know that President Biden stands really strongly in favor of access to healthcare and preserving the Affordable Care Act, Carney said, also noting the Biden administrations expansion of postpartum and prenatal health care initiatives. The other aspect of healthcare that Carney is concerned about depending on who assumes office is reproductive healthcare, noting that Trump has stacked the U.S. Supreme Court with anti-abortion judges and bragged about getting Roe v. Wade overturned, which had established a federal right to abortion in 1973. Mainers really value access to reproductive healthcare, Carney said, as the state currently has some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country. I am worried on behalf of Mainers that we will lose rights based on federal changes if Trump is elected. Meanwhile, legislative Republicans and congressional hopefuls praised how Trump conducted himself during the debate on Thursday. When asked about the candidates performances, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) called Bidens the worst in American history. I went into the debate hoping President Trump would be reserved and hold back on interrupting President Biden, Faulkingham said. He did just that and the results for Biden were disastrous. Austin Theriault, who earlier this month won the GOP primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden for Maines 2nd District, took to social media to critique Biden and his opponents support of the president. Tonight, we saw Joe Biden double down on his failures while President Donald Trump demonstrated strong leadership and talked about much-needed change, Theriault wrote on X after the debate. Despite the mess Mainers face right now, Jared Golden still supports Biden. Speaking beyond the debate, Mills also emphasized the importance of federal support broadly, recounting calls with the other 49 state governors and Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the 50 governors were on the phone every week with the vice president and president, Mr. Trump said, Youre on your own states, Mills said. Youre on your own when it comes to getting PPE and getting testing equipment. Youre on your own. It was quite a change in tone and change in level of assistance when President Biden came into office. Theres no question about that. DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST I really dont know what he said and I dont think he does either: Trump pulls no punches as Biden struggles in debate Former president Donald Trump pulled no punches in his debate against President Joe Biden during their first debate in Atlanta, attacking him as incoherent as Biden spluttered and stumbled over his words. The president, his voice hoarse, regularly tripped over his own words and interrupted his own sentences. Im going to continue to move until we get the total ban, the total initiative relative to what we can do with more border patrol and more asylum officers, he said. As Biden defended his executive actions to curb immigration, Trump said: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence and I dont think he knows what he said either. The debate is the first showdown between the two presidential candidates since the presidential contest began. Prior to the debate, Trump and his allies floated conspiracy theories that Biden would be using amphetamines, pounding Mountain Dew or wearing an earpiece during the debate. None of these allegations have been substantiated and there is no evidence for them. Conversely, Biden retorted that he would be jacked up on his secret sauce, that had the likeness of Dark Brandon, the internet meme that also had the tagline zero malarkey. But the can is actually water. Occasionally, Biden was able to make a few hits on Trump as the twice-impeached former president repeatedly lied. At one point, Biden attacked Trump for reportedly calling veterans losers and suckers. My son was not a loser, was not a sucker, he said in reference to his son Beau Biden, who served in the US military and who died of glioblastoma. Youre the sucker, youre the loser. Similarly, Biden also hit Trump for multiple lawsuits, including being held liable for sexually assaulting writer E Jean Carroll and being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence 2016 presidential election by to cover having an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. How many billions do you owe for molesting a woman in public, Biden asked Trump. Of having sex with a porn star while your wife was pregnant? What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. But Trump also occasionally stumbled his words, specifically attacking Biden for his policy toward Israels war against Hamas. He's become like a Palestinian, he said. But they don't like him because he's a very bad Palestinian. He's a weak one. Similarly, Trump regularly refused to directly answer questions, instead regularly pivoting to talk about the US-Mexico border and immigration, a topic in which Trump polls stronger than Biden. Later in the debate debate, moderator Dana Bash asked Biden about his capacity to continue to do the job despite his advanced ages. First of all, I spent half my career being criticized being the youngest person in politics, he said. Now Im the oldest. This guy is three years younger an a lot less competent. Look at the record. Media across the nation and globe are reporting on a recent decision by the Shenandoah County Virginia School Board to reinstate the names of Confederate generals to two schools a first of its kind rollback of Black Lives Matter-inspired reforms. Mountain View High School will return to honoring Stonewall Jackson and Honey Run Elementary School will revert to Ashby Lee, commemorating Robert E. Lee and Turner Ashby. The name restoration came after a conservative capture of the local school board and not coincidentally while Americas schools are under intense pressure to downplay if not sanitize discussions of systemic racism. These restrictions have thus far most affected the curriculum, but they now could be easily bleeding into the names of schools. It is important that other communities do not follow Shenandoahs example. Redeeming the Lost Cause in 2024 causes harms to students today School names play an under-appreciated role in education as a form of hidden curriculum. Students learn about the past and which beliefs are acceptable and normal in the present not only from teachers and textbooks but also from school cultural symbols. The name reversal will present challenges to students, teachers and staff struggling to make sense of this hidden curriculum of representing white supremacists as heroes. Virginia residents listen to public comments during a Shenandoah County school board hearing before the board voted to restore previously removed Confederate names to two local schools, at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock, Virginia, U.S., May 9, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Opponents to Confederate reinstatement sense what is at stake. A student from one of the impacted schools stated: I am a Black student, and if the names are restored, I would have to represent a man that fought for my ancestors to be slaves. Those who pushed for restoring Confederate names claimed the original school board decision to drop Jackson, Lee, and Ashby happened without full community input, but public participation is a slippery issue. Achieving procedural justice is not just about hearing from as many groups as possible or imposing the will of the majority. It is about the renaming process being informed by and accountable to the experiences of groups negatively impacted by oppressive names. Confronting Confederate heritage is key to understanding white supremacy | Opinion Decisions to redeem the Lost Cause in Shenandoah County and similar possibilities in other locations must consider the harm inflicted upon those who learn and work at renamed schools. Commemorative naming is not an innocent preservation of history; it valorizes and publicly endorses associations with certain historical figures and social values. According to educational researcher Gregg Suzanne Ferguson, our public schools are a sacred public trust where Americans become socialized and develop their sense of belonging, identity and purpose. More: No more Robert E. Lee Drive? Battle over Confederate street names spills into court Put students and teachers at the center of local school decisions Re-creating an association between public schools and historical defenders of enslavement damages this trust and exposes a central contradiction. Honey Run Elementarys website states, we believe in the power of community and the power of mutual respect. Why do schools that purport to cultivate community and mutual respect prioritize and affix symbols that celebrate the opposite ideal? Derek Alderman When Dr. Ferguson interviewed Black educators at Confederate-named schools, they noted this disconnect and the ethical impossibilities of incorporating the racist principles of namesakes into school-wide programs and celebrations. Ferguson asserts that while Confederate names on schools exact a deep emotional toll on African Americans, they send confusing messages to all students and educators about who is worthy of celebration in our country. Four years after the uprisings in response to George Floyds murder, is the Shenandoah County decision a signal of a wider renaming backlash to come? Do organizations that professed commitments to racial justice from 2020 still hold up today? To avoid a national renaming backlash, we must put student and teacher well-being at the center of local school decisions from what students can check out from the library and what teachers can teach in the classroom to who is worthy of enshrining as the schools namesake. Derek Alderman is a professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, past president of the American Association of Geographers, and a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Place Name Reconciliation. Jordan Brasher Jordan Brasher is a visiting assistant professor in geography at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both Alderman and Brasher publish extensively on public commemoration, place naming and educational institutions as arenas for debates over the past. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bringing back schools' Confederate names creates a harmful environment He was rejected and homeless at 15. Today he leads LGBTQ group that gave him acceptance. Chris Allen vividly recalls the rejection he felt when he came out about his sexual orientation at 15. It's a story he tells two decades later to give today's teens hope. There is love and acceptance, and people who will help. He knows that from experience. He now leads an organization that showed him the way. He came out during a heated argument with his stepfather over his insistence Allen get a girlfriend and prove his manhood by having a sexual relationship with a woman. I just blurted out that I wasnt with a woman because Im gay, Allen recalled. Allen's stepfather immediately became hostile, stating he was not going to raise a gay son and often referring to him in derogatory terms. His mother remained silent, but her silence conveyed a powerful and equally hurtful message. When he told his biological father a week later, his dad took a corporal punishment approach. He forced Allen to attend church and pressured him to repent. There was a lot of resentment at both places. We did not have a good relationship, and I no longer wanted to live there, Allen said. A trans pioneer: Neal the first to legally change name in Wisconsin He ended up homeless, couch surfing with friends and men who would take him in. Allen, now 37, expressed that he felt trapped. He felt nobody understood or cared enough to talk to him about his feelings. He longed for someone to tell him that they loved and accepted him for who he was. Regrettably, Allen's experience remains prevalent today. Among the 1.6 million homeless youth in the United States, approximately 40% identify as LGBTQ. Given that LGBTQ youth constitute only 7% of the total youth population, there exists a notable disproportion in homelessness within these demographic segments. A cousin steered him to a group that gave him love and acceptance Moreover, LGBTQ youth are at a higher risk of homelessness and tend to experience it at younger ages. They also encounter multiple forms of discrimination and stigma, such as racism, sexism, ableism, and classism, in addition to homophobia and transphobia, according to Child Trends, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of children and youth. When Allen decided to leave home, he said he stayed at random places, using instant messenger to find places to go. Sometimes, people would let him crash on their couch. Sometimes, he would find a comfortable bench in the park to sleep. During a period of couch-surfing, he faced instances where people demanded sexual favors from him in exchange for food and shelter. Subsequently, an older man aided, and he initially believed they were in a relationship. However, this individual became physically abusive and inflicted severe harm, resulting in Allen being admitted to the emergency room. At one of the most challenging junctures in his life, Allen tried to take his own life. With nowhere left to go, Allen returned to his father. James Causey and Chris Allen. While at his fathers house, Allen returned to church but still felt out of place. It was a conversation with his cousin, Melanie, where he began to find a way out. He mentioned that a good friend became a youth adviser at a group called Diverse & Resilient. She did some research and discovered the group worked with a lot of young, Black, and Hispanic gay youths. She encouraged him to get involved and even drove him to his first meeting. During one of the meetings, Allen remembered sitting at a table with a group of LGBTQ youths. He realized that everyone's voice was being valued in that space, and people could see him for who he was beyond his sexual orientation. It was eye-opening, and the people were comfortable with who they are, Allen said. He became a youth adviser at Diverse & Resilient in 2002. Last year, he became the organization's president & CEO. Discrimination against LGBTQ remains persistent despite progress During Pride month in June, Allen stressed that it is crucial to acknowledge that although companies, families, and individuals celebrate the LGBTQ community, substantial progress is still required in fostering acceptance and inclusion. While the general public has made progress, we still see a lot of discrimination toward LGBTQI+ people, and this is disproportionately felt within communities of color, said Allen, who is Black. While many people of color support the movement, their ideologies are often challenged when it comes to individuals within their own families. This is especially true when it comes to acceptance of transgender people. James Causey: Ronnie Grace, longtime Milwaukee AIDS/HIV and LGBTQ advocate dies after battle with cancer The social challenges faced by Black LGBTQ individuals are reflected in the attitudes of Black Americans toward gender identity issues, as revealed by a 2022 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults. The survey found that only 13% of non-Hispanic Black adults believe that U.S. society is highly or very accepting of transgender individuals. Furthermore, opinions among Black adults are divided on the extent of societal acceptance. While 36% feel that society has not advanced enough in accepting transgender people, 31% believe that the current level of acceptance is appropriate, and 29% think it has gone too far. Additionally, approximately 41% of Black adults think that opinions regarding transgender individuals and issues are evolving at the right pace, while about 34% feel that they are changing too quickly. Leading Diverse & Resilient a full-circle moment for Allen Allen was working with the Health Department in Texas to evaluate HIV programming to decrease inequities when he received a call about an opening for the CEO of Diverse & Resilient. Allen applied, and during the interview process, he knew it was his dream job. Gary Hollander, who founded Diverse & Resilient, said Allen becoming the CEO is a full-circle movement. He remembered how Allen came to the organization in 2002 as a shy, intelligent youth who found his voice during a summer internship. He is exceptionally intelligent and adept at managing both programs and people, Hollander said. Pride Month profile: Unconditional love helped Janice Toy become legendary performer Hollander, 75, fondly remembered Allen's advice to leaders about effectively communicating with teens regarding health and safety. He also shared how Allen contributed to designing activities that adapted nationally recognized evidence-based prevention efforts to engage local teens in life-saving programs. "We are fortunate to have him back. Im absolutely thrilled. As a Black man, he possesses a deep dedication to social justice, which forms the foundation of the mission of Diverse & Resilient," Hollander said. Allen is married and has two sons, 8 and 13. And despite early silence and rejection, Allen has a good relationship with his mother, though his father is still a work in progress. Since accepting the role, Allen's primary goals have been to find ways to provide resources that fill the many gaps in services for the community. He has also focused his attention on addressing the social determinants of health. Developing and working with allies is the key, along with engaging the community and unlearning racism and sexism that have been a part of our overall society, he said. When Allen was a teen struggling with homelessness, Diverse & Resilient provided him with acceptance and family. Now an adult, Allen is returning what was given to him: the ability to be free and thrive. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X @jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chris Allen overcame obstacles before leading Diverse & Resilient As a senior in high school, Shykemia Lundy didnt know she was pregnant until two months after having unprotected sex, which wouldve left her with no option to have an abortion in Macon. By 17 years old, Lundy had sex without a condom a few times and figured the next wouldnt be any different. Then she noticed symptoms. I feel like it happens with a lot of girls that never really had the freedom to just be a teenager, so when you finally get out there, you just go with whatever, just that first impression of a guy, Lundy said. People need to communicate more about this stuff. Thats how I got here. The now 19-year-old stood on her familys front porch with her 1-year-old son clung in her arm, sharing that she thinks theres a conversation gap on safe sex and abortion for teenagers at home and at school. Lundy grew up in Macon but attended high school in Ohio to live with her father. She got pregnant while in Ohio, then later moved back to Macon. We used to have little consequences like, You better be in the house before the streetlights come on, Lundy said, recalling her parents advice. I didnt really know too much about how my body worked, like how the female body worked. This lack of discourse is one of several factors which contribute to Macon-Bibb Countys decades-long trend of teenage pregnancies. Macons teenage pregnancy rate is significantly higher than the state and national averages, an issue that local residents and activism groups are trying to fight. But abortion often isnt part of the conversation in that fight. Religion and policy are factors for that. The county reported 40.1 pregnancies per 1,000 residents among 15 to 19 year olds in 2022, the most recent data by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The county saw more than double the states average of 16.6 pregnancies per 1,000 in that age range. It also surpassed the U.S. teen pregnancy rate of 13.5 births per 1,000 teens between 15 and 19 years old. There are zero abortion providers in Macon, the fourth-most populated city in Georgia. The nearest abortion clinics are in Atlanta and Columbus, each more than an hour drive away. The Telegraph interviewed local advocacy groups, medical providers, public health officials, church congregants and teen mothers who explained factors that have contributed to the cycle of teen pregnancies. They cited limited local health care, restrictive abortion legislation in Georgia, abstinence-based discourse in Middle Georgias deeply religious Bible Belt and inadequate public school sex education curriculum. Teen abortions nearly impossible under GA law While abortion is legal in Georgia until up to around six weeks of gestation or when a fetal heartbeat is detected, the states legislative restrictions make it nearly impossible for teens to actually undergo an abortion, according to Jaylen Black, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Southeast. Abortion is not the only answer to combating teen births, but Black said it is an essential option when other medical challenges make child birth and child care difficult. You cant have abortion bans and not have paid leave. You cant have abortion bans and have hospitals closing in your state. You cant have abortion bans and be one of the top five states with the worst health care infrastructure, Black said, referring to a Harris Poll survey that ranked Georgia as the worst state for health care in 2023. Since 2013, 12 rural hospitals across the state have shut down, many due to financial trouble. This year, 18 out of 30 rural hospitals in Georgia are at risk of closure, according to a report by Chartis, a health care advisory firm that serves 40% of U.S. hospitals. While Bibb is not classified as a rural county, the majority of its surrounding counties are, according to Georgias state office of Rural Health. Within the six-week timeline for an abortion required by Georgia law, doctors are required to notify a minors parents or guardians before their child has an abortion. There are unusual circumstances that allow a minor to bypass parental involvement, including if the minor is married, or when the minor believes it is not in the best interest to inform them, according to a document by the Georgia Department of Public Health titled Abortion: A womans right to know. But this effort requires a judge to agree. If a minor or doctor opts to not notify parents or guardians, they must file for a judicial bypass in juvenile court. This is approved if the judge deems the minor is mature enough to choose to have the abortion without parental involvement. Georgia law also requires anyone having an abortion to undergo a counseling appointment in person or by phone with their abortion provider, then wait at least 24 hours before having the abortion. Rosalind Simson, philosophy and gender studies professor at Mercer University, has researched moral and legal intersections of abortion. She explained the lengthy process for a teen to access the medical procedure or pill in Georgia. You cant call them up and say, Can I have an abortion today, Simson said. The likelihood that you can get yourself to psychologically make up your mind that youre going to have an abortion, and that youre going to be able to get an appointment for counseling, and then wait 24 hours to have the abortion theres almost no time element there, especially for teenage girls for whom they dont know where to start. Lundy knew something felt different the last time she had sex before she got pregnant, but she didnt take a pregnancy test until about two months afterward. Even then, she waited some time before she told her parents and saw a doctor. I kind of just didnt tell nobody at first, but then after a while, I started looking at how I truly feel, she said. Its kind of hard to accept it. The Georgia Department of Public Healths online abortion handbook, outlined by House Bill 197, includes five pages of abortion risks, but merely one page on risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The site explains medical and long-term risks, emergencies and the emotional side of abortion, but only lists medical risks of pregnancies. The unbalanced ratio of information on the government website makes abortion seem much more dangerous than pregnancy, Simson said. So its not that anything here is inaccurate, as far as I know, its just the emphasis is certainly skewed. Pregnancies and child births are far more dangerous than abortions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from 2013 to 2018 shows the national case-fatality rate was 0.41 abortion-related deaths per 100,000 legal abortions. The rate of maternal deaths was 17.35 per 100,000 live births. Many teens believe that abortion is sinful and even if theyre not that religious, a lot of people feel that abortion is immoral, Simson said. Its certainly the message, especially in Georgia, that the legislature is giving us. How is sex, abortion discussed in GA churches? About 60 years ago, another Macon resident, Lauraetta Jackson, got pregnant at 15 years old. She grew up in a low income, religious Black family, where the conversation of abstinence overshadowed actual steps needed to avoid, or respond, to pregnancy. People just tell you, you better not get no baby and whatever and then children like me say, Well how did I get here? said Jackson, who did give birth as a teen. You hear, you better behave yourself, you better not be out there messing around, but then end up getting a baby. Im sick of talking about abortion. Talk about birth control, Jackson said. You dont have to have an abortion if you go ahead and prepare before you have sex. However, similar setbacks caused another situation to occur a few years ago when a 16-year-old family member was also pregnant and didnt opt for an abortion. Its a sad situation really, Jackson said. (Teen pregnancy) has gotten to be really more of an epidemic from what I can see in the Black lower income communities. Lauraetta Jackson, 74, poses on her porch after taking a break from cleaning her rugs on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Jackson called herself stupid for getting pregnant at 16 years old. Teen pregnancies do predominantly impact low income, Black communities in Macon. In 2022, 86% of the countys 212 births involving mothers between 10 and 19 years old were Black, according to previous reporting by The Telegraph. About a quarter of Macon residents were in poverty, according to the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau. The county exceeded Georgias poverty rate by about 12% that year. Jackson recalled one instance where a woman missionary at her church tried to hold information sessions on safe sex practices. Other than that, she said contraceptives, birth control and abortion are never discussed during church services. I dont think it is (discussed) at all. I know it wasnt where he was, Jackson said, referring to her husbands church. So teen pregnancy was the young ladys (fault), but it dont happen on its own, and seems like society never says that. Some of the Souths most common religions under the United Methodist, Southern Baptist and Catholic churches were split about their stances on abortion in recent years. The United Methodist Church rejected late-term abortions in 2022, but affirmed abortion as a solution when tragic conflicts of life versus life happen during pregnancy, according to a 2022 report by the church, referencing its Book of Discipline. A third of Southern Baptists said abortion should be illegal in all cases, according to a 2021 Gallup report. The Catholic Church itself opposes abortion, and 22% of U.S. adult Catholics said abortion should be legal in all cases, according to the most recent data by Pew Research Center. No abortion clinics in Macon Macon almost had an abortion clinic in 2018, but a Catholic pro-life pregnancy clinic and protesters stopped it from breaking ground. The Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning Commission approved Summit Medical Center, an abortion clinic based in Atlanta and Detroit, to lease a property at 833 Walnut St. in 2018. But after hundreds protested and five local businesses sued the abortion center and Planning and Zoning, The Saint Maximilian Kolbe Center for Life bought the property instead. The nonprofit offers pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, adoption plans, prenatal care referrals and counseling for women who regret having an abortion. It sees about 500 clients per month, the organization reported. Ann Beall, executive director of The Kolbe Center, said the clinic does not assist or refer anyone who seeks an abortion. Kolbe Center executive director Ann Beall stands in the ultrasound room at the Kolbe Center on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. The Kolbe Center is a pregnancy resource center in Macon, but will not perform or consult pregnant women to get abortions. Beall recalled an incident when a 13-year-old girl visited The Kolbe Center initially seeking an abortion, but then decided to go through with the pregnancy. My encouragement is always going to be, even if you dont want to parent adoption is a beautiful thing, Beall said. As a family, you can support her through having killed her child, or you could support her through having made an adoption plan and loving that baby more than she loves herself. Beall recalled when a relative told her she over-exaggerates abortion risks. She said that relative would say, Im sure you make worst case scenario, you make it sound horrible, and Im like I am telling these young women the facts that I know, and the facts that I know are emotionally and physically this is bad for you. Several ultrasound photos sit outside of Kolbe Center executive director Ann Bealls office on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Kolbe Center in Macon, Georgia. The Kolbe Center is a pregnancy resource center in Macon, but will not perform or consult pregnant women to get abortions. This sort of information is a lot of stuff that would certainly scare somebody, Simson said. The World Health Organization has proved abortions are safe as long as they are performed under its standards. That message of no Abstinence-only advice is seen throughout central Georgias public school sex education curriculum. Keri Hill, vice president of programs and training for the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential, leads trainings which Macon public school teachers undergo before they teach sex ed. The first time Macon students receive a sex ed lesson is in ninth-grade health class. However, the organization advocates to start these conversations in kindergarten, far before students reach puberty. While the state guidelines are absolutely designed to be that way, it is not often that way, Hill said. With comprehensive sex ed curriculums, its usually something that should take place throughout K through 12, Hill said. Just starting with the anatomically correct terms, and starting with what does a healthy friendship look like, and the fact that we should celebrate our differences. The Georgia Department of Education requires age appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education in kindergarten through grade nine, according to the states health and physical education program plan. But in 94.3% of Georgia high schools from 2017 to 2018, lessons on pregnancy, HIV and other STIs could start as early as ninth grade through as late as 12th grade, according to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S., a sex ed advocacy nonprofit organization. The data covered the school year prior to the CDCs release of the 2019 School Health Profiles, which measured school health policies and practices nationwide. About a quarter of the states high schools did not teach students about contraceptive methods other than condoms, the Sexuality Information and Education Council reported. While a unique curriculum is laid out for each school district in accordance with Georgia standards, individual schools can select to add or remove certain topics from the curriculum, Hill said. The Bibb County School District told The Telegraph they could not confirm whether their schools use the full Family, Life and Sexual Health curriculum. An aspect of the training for teachers guides them how to remain unbiased, but there is no guarantee the topics taught to students are discussed in the same way GCAPP trains teachers. There are a number of different topics that are always a part of the trainings. We cant guarantee thats always part of the discussion that actually happens in the classroom, Hill said. Overall, she said Macon is on the right track, in comparison to other counties because it uses a research-based approach and discusses contraceptives. The battle against teen pregnancy is a traditional cycle that starts with parents, Hill said. Many of us didnt have the conversations at home ourselves with our parents its just that message of no at home, and it wasnt the ongoing dialogue, Hill said. So its difficult when you become a parent when you didnt have that discussion to reflect on. Jackson agreed. Her teenage relative didnt disclose to her mom that she was pregnant until after the baby was born. I come home, and she was up there in the sun room talking to her father I said, shes pregnant right? and he said, No, she had the baby. A vote for Celeste Maloy in Utahs 2nd Congressional District GOP primary race is pictured in a stack of ballots getting scanned at the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The campaign of congressional candidate Colby Jenkins said it hoped outstanding ballots in Washington County would bring the hotly contested 2nd District race under the threshold for a ballot recount on Friday. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News The campaign of congressional candidate Colby Jenkins on Friday said they hoped outstanding ballots in Washington County, and across the state, would bring the hotly contested 2nd District race under the threshold for a ballot recount as Rep. Celeste Maloy held onto a narrow lead after the third day of counting. Utahs primary season has seen a dramatic and prolonged finale as Maloy fights to hold onto her seat, which she won in Novembers special election after narrowly prevailing in a primary powered by Washington County support. Almost exactly one year later, Maloys second Republican primary nail-biter will likely come down to outstanding votes in her home territory, also home to Jenkins. Maloy, who previously worked as a Washington County deputy attorney, and her challenger, Jenkins, a former Green Beret colonel and St. George resident, were separated by just 383 votes on Friday afternoon, with vote totals coming in at 50.2% for Maloy and 49.8% for Jenkins. The race has been too close to call as county election officials continue to update results each afternoon. I thank the county clerks and their staffs for the work they are doing, Maloy told the Deseret News in a statement. Im focused on doing my job representing the people of the 2nd District as we await updated vote totals later today. Will there be a recount in Utahs 2nd District primary? While Maloy hopes for reelection to a full term, Jenkins is hoping for a replay of the primary election. What we would consider a win today is getting into recount territory with those Washington County ballots, said Greg Powers, the general consultant on Jenkins campaign. The largest share of uncounted ballots in the 2nd District race on Friday morning appear to be in Washington County, which still had to process 1,765 votes and work through the cure list, which entails reaching out to over 700 voters about ballots with signatures that do not match those on record. In state code, a recount may be called by a losing candidate if the margin is equal to or less than .25% of the total votes cast. With at least 106,000 ballots cast in the race, Jenkins would need to narrow the gap between him and Maloy to roughly 260 votes before he could request a recount. Jenkins currently leads in Washington County, the districts largest population center, 59%-41%. His winning ratio has been higher with late breaking ballots in the last two days, Powers said, closer to 62%. But Jenkins needed to win closer to 65% of the countys remaining votes to allow for a recount. At 4 p.m. on Friday, Washington County updated its vote total with more than 1,800 votes, narrowing Maloys lead from around 1,000 to 383 votes. Nearly 66% of the late breaking votes went for Jenkins, according to his campaign. If the countys remaining ballots on the cure list, or Sevier Countys nearly 500 unprocessed votes, fall for Jenkins in a similar ratio, he will be able to request a recount. County vote totals will likely not be updated again until next week. Powers recognizes the remaining ballots are not enough to put us over the top but he says a recount is within reach. A recount could benefit Jenkins by allowing more time for straggling rural ballots to make their way in and for incomplete ballots to be cured, Jenkins said. We actually kind of like our chance in a recount because its going to be more and more of those late ballots trickling in and I think it wouldnt be out of the question to see us slowly just erode her lead, Powers said. Veteran Utah political strategist Spencer Stokes, who is working as a consultant on Maloys campaign, said Jenkins hopes are probably misplaced. Clearly Washington County has a lot of votes and the votes are breaking at a higher percentage for Colby Jenkins. But we are seeing the latter votes are not breaking as much for Colby, Stokes said. Lee and Trump weigh in on CD2 race The 2nd Congressional District primary has become a battleground for Utahs members of Congress and the GOP at large. Sen. Mike Lee endorsed Jenkins shortly before the state convention, contributing to Jenkins victory among party delegates and breaking Lees longstanding policy of staying neutral in Utah congressional primaries. The endorsement, which boosted Jenkins name ID and fundraising numbers, was met by shock in Utah political circles and led to Maloys Utah colleagues in the House endorsing her. Just over a week before the primary election, former President Donald Trump gave Maloy his endorsement, likely at the request of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. At that point, ballots had already been sent out to voters. The results of the 2nd District contest may shed light on the impact and limits of Lees and Trumps endorsements in Utah Republican politics. ALMATY, Kazakhstan, June 28. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have signed a joint cooperation agreement in Almaty, Trend reports. The agreement was signed by EDB Chairman Nikolai Podguzov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in the country Sukhrob Khodjimatov. "Today, we have signed a trilateral agreement on further cooperation in water resources management with elements of digitalization. This is the culmination of our work over the past six months. I believe that signing this document will serve as a good stimulus for water conservation, rational use of water, and saving water resources in our country," said Nurzhigitov, commenting on the signed document. Besides, Khodjimatov noted that today's signing of the agreement is highly symbolic for UNDP in Kazakhstan, as it marks another step towards nationalizing and localizing the goals of sustainable development pursued by all UN member states. "The issues addressed in today's signing are not only of domestic significance for Kazakhstan but will also affect Central Asian countries and countries in the Caspian Basin, given their extensive scope," he emphasized. Additionally, the EDB chairman mentioned that the agreement will be implemented without delay. The final day of the Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has kicked off in Almaty. This day will feature three panel sessions and a presentation of the study Water and Sanitation in Central Asia. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Heres What It Would Take to Replace Biden as Nominee (Bloomberg) -- Democrats have ways to replace Joe Biden at the top of their presidential ticket after a harrowing debate against Republican Donald Trump but doing so without their standard-bearers acquiescence would be a daunting task. Most Read from Bloomberg Party members once united behind Biden are now scouring candidate resumes and researching rules for a contingency plan to present voters with a different nominee after a universally panned performance Thursday night cemented worries about the presidents ability to serve a second term. The easiest one is, Biden takes himself out of the race, said Elaine Kamarck, a Democratic National Committee member and author of a book about the presidential nominating process. Then yes, theres rules and procedures and the party would replace him. While pushing Biden off the ticket is possible, the lack of an obvious candidate to replace him makes such a gambit all the more unlikely, Kamarck said. Earlier: Biden Says Hell Continue 2024 Run, Rebuffing Calls to Quit The debate saw months of Democratic anxiety over Biden, already the oldest US president in history at 81, and his prospects for defeating Trump, boil over. The president Friday acknowledged the limitations of his debate showing but dismissed calls to exit the race. Delegate Revolt If Biden doesnt step aside, forcing him out would be a Herculean undertaking for Democrats. Any rival would first have to collect 600 delegate signatures on a petition to place his or her name in nomination at the Democratic convention with no more than 50 signatures from any one state. Thats about 13% of the delegates. But with Biden controlling 99% of the pledged delegates, that would require challengers convincing Biden loyalists to flip their support. The odds are not insurmountable, but theyre very high for any scenario that involves a delegate revolt, said Josh Putnam of FHQ Strategies, a non-partisan consulting firm specializing in delegate selection rules. More often than not these are pretty fervent Biden supporters, Putnam said of the delegates. The Biden campaign has vetted his convention delegates for their loyalty, but they do have room to change their minds. Unlike Republican delegates, who are often legally bound to cast their vote for a particular candidate, Democratic rules say only that pledged delegates shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them. Still its the kind of move most politicians wouldnt attempt unless success were guaranteed. Challengers who fail to oust an incumbent president from the ticket risk becoming party pariahs. This is not something that a lot of people could pull off, said Kamarck. Open Convention A move to change the ticket whether Biden agrees to go willingly or is pushed out would bring a convention free-for-all not seen for decades. In an open or brokered convention, no candidate comes into the roll-call vote with enough delegates to be guaranteed the nomination. Voting could last any number of rounds until a candidate wins. Such a convention would also put so-called super-delegates in the spotlight. Those delegates leaders and elected officials who get to the convention by virtue of their position have been stripped of some powers in recent years as the party worried their influence in the process was undemocratic. But if a nomination goes into a second ballot, those automatic delegates, who number more than 700, could sway the convention. Another wild card is that the party is free to change its rules at any time before the nomination, potentially lowering or raising the bar for a Biden challenger. The most obvious heir apparent is Vice President Kamala Harris but Democrats dont have to pick Bidens running mate. Some of the most discussed alternatives include Governors Gavin Newsom of California, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, all of whom say they still support Biden. The nomination vote was scheduled for Aug. 21, but the DNC has raised the possibility of a virtual roll call before Aug. 7 to accommodate early ballot deadlines. Eleventh Hour If Biden steps aside after the convention, the decision on how to replace him would be up to a smaller group: The more than 400 members of the DNC. By party rules, the DNC chairman would consult with Democratic congressional leaders and governors and make a recommendation. Democrats last used that process in 1972 to replace Thomas Eagleton, the vice presidential nominee forced off the ballot after acknowledging that he had received electroshock therapy for depression, with Sargent Shriver. But a late switch could present Democrats with another problem: Ballot deadlines. Some states, including battlegrounds Pennsylvania and North Carolina, allow ballots to be mailed out as early as two months before Election Day, meaning Bidens name would continue to appear even if hes not the candidate. One advantage of the Electoral College system is those votes would still count, Kamarck said. We dont really vote for president. We vote for electors to president, she said. Its the same electors no matter whos at the top of the ballot. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A Republican congressman from Texas is proposing legislation that would call on Vice President Kamala Harris to convene President Joe Bidens cabinet and invoke the 25th amendment of the US Constitution. Representative Chip Roy of Texas proposed the legislation after Bidens lackluster debate performance against former president Donald Trump in Atlanta on Thursday. Under the 25th amendment of the US Constitution, the vice president and the majority of cabinet officers can declare that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office and that the vice president may assume the duties of the presidency. The legislation put forward by Roy specifically claims that Biden has repeatedly and publicly demonstrated his inability to discharge the powers and duties of the presidency. We'll be filing it today or early next week, depending on the language being drafted, Roy told The Independent. He said he came up with the idea on Friday morning. It's not a particularly ingenious idea, he added. ...But I think it's incumbent upon members of Congress to at least call what we see, which is that the president of the United States is not able to carry out duties. Roy is a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus. As a former chief of staff to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, he played a role in Cruzs shutting down of the federal government in 2013 in an attempt to defund Obamacare. Last year, he was part of a coterie of right-wing Republicans who blocked Kevin McCarthy from becoming speaker before he ultimately flipped his vote. But Roy also voted to certify the 2020 presidential election and endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, which prompted Trump to call for a primary challenger against him. Other Republicans said that Democrats would need to answer for Bidens poor performance. I've been saying for two years that Joe Biden is a drag on House Democrats, Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told The Independent. Representative Marc Molinaro of New York, who represents a district Biden won in 2020 and Trump won in 2016, told The Independent: I think the American people saw with the presidents performance something they didn't necessarily want want to acknowledge. I think the president put on full display yesterday that he's just not capable enough to serve another four years, but that many Democrats knew this as well. Residents near Lantana Airport who say the relentless overhead din is unbearable are apparently going to have to live with it. A noise study at Lantana Airport concluded that levels at nearby residential areas are within FAA-mandated levels, and that no further studies are needed. But area residents say they have concerns about how the study was done and the placement of noise detectors. The study found that no residential areas registered a decibel count of more than 65 decibels, the figure used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine if there is a noise issue. Also at issue is when the study was done. Planes line up at Lantana Airport on Dec. 13, 2022. A recent noise study concluded that high noise levels are, for the most part, restricted to the airport itself and are not impacting area neighborhoods, a finding that the neighbors disagree with. Data was supposed to have been collected from March 13 to March 23, 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and restriction on travel and activities, the project was suspended on March 17, 2020. Noise levels were then measured again from July 19, 2021, to July 26, 2021, a period when COVID was still affecting operations, critics of the study note. "This was a study that was flawed," said Mary Adam de Villiers, president of the Lake Osborne Estates Civic Association. "The normal activity that they were supposed to measure was never present because of COVID. And I do not know where they placed those noise detectors but they sure did not place them at my home despite my offer that they do so." How was the noise study at Lantana Airport conducted? Based on FAA guidelines, the monitors measured noise for an average day. At specific times of the day, though, the noise levels were much higher than the daily average and often exceeded the 65-decibel level, the report acknowledged. There were more than 20 events when recordings exceeded 65 decibels. One involved a twin-piston plane that generated 99 decibels and a helicopter was recorded at 86. The study also acknowledged that there could be a difference between annual average noise values and those collected over the nine-day period because of variations in fleet mix, operating times and runway use. Map shows where noise monitors were placed to measure aircraft noise in 2020 and 2021. To the right of the airport is Lake Osborne Estates and to the left is the city of Atlantis. About 20 people attended a public workshop on May 29 to review the report prepared for the Palm Beach County Department of Airports. The report's author, HMMH, a Burlington, Massachusetts aviation consulting firm, noted that since the report did not identify any incompatible land uses, FAA will not officially review it. Lantana Airport is sandwiched between Atlantis and Lake Osborne Estates. Area residents have long complained about the noise generated at LNA, which is 6 miles south of Palm Beach International Airport. LNA, serving as a reliever airport for PBI, accommodates business/corporate airplanes, jets and a variety of single-engine and multi-engine aircraft. It also houses helicopter and four fixed-wing flight schools. The report mapped what it called "a 65-decibel contour" to show what areas were under the 65 decibels and which were over. It showed the area over 65 decibels was located almost entirely within the airport boundary with a presence in the campground at John Prince Park. The report expects the contour to become greater by 2028 with increased activity but it still says that no residential areas will be impacted. Is there anything that can be done reduce the noise at the airport? One of the monitors used to measure noise generated by aircraft landing and taking off at Lantana Airport. It was placed on the 6000 block of West Pine Avenue east of the airport. It generated readings of less than 65 decibels, the measure that is of concern to the FAA. The study recommended increasing the length of the noise-abatement runway so that more planes could use it. That runway is located farther away from residential areas. Counts could be lowered by two decibels if more planes used the runway, according to the report that also called for helicopters to fly 1,000 feet above mean sea level and for them to travel above major roads when landing and taking off from LNA. Noise generated by low-flying helicopters has been a major complaint from Lake Osborne residents. The measures are voluntary, and the FAA has no interest in enforcing them, noted de Villiers. She said complaints documenting how planes are not using the "noise abatement runway" and how low-flying aircraft often fly over Lake Osborne have been filed with the FAA, and nothing ever happens. County airport officials note that they are powerless to enforce the voluntary measures. De Villiers complains that the FAA is so pro aviation that it will not allow the voluntary measures to be enforced. Asked to respond that the study was flawed because it was done while COVID restricted activity, a spokeswoman for the Department of Airports emailed the following statement: "The noise study was undertaken in accordance 14 CFR Part 150, which establishes the requirements for noise compatibility planning studies. Noise exposure maps are developed using a FAA-required model, the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). Although monitoring was conducted, the measurements were provided as supplementary information and cannot be used in the development of the noise exposure maps." Lantana Airport, as the graphic shows, has a significant economic impact on the region. (Credit: Florida Department of Transportation) County's fight to give up jet ban has resulted in more noise, residents say In a related issue, the report made reference to the end of Palm Beach County's jet ban at Lantana Airport. In February 2023, after losing a court battle with the FAA, county commissioners adopted a resolution rescinding the ban. Jet activity has significantly increased. In 2023, the report said 70 jets used LNA. The report estimates that nearly 1,500 jets will use LNA in 2028, a 20-fold increase from 2023. AIRPORT NEWS: South Florida air travelers flying Spirit, Frontier can change, cancel flights at no cost "The expected increase in jet traffic is alarming," said de Villiers. "The noise from the jets rises to the level of an episode of M*A*S*H. This affects our health and our sleep. Our overall well-being is impacted. Atlantis Mayor Alan Kaulbach criticized the FAA in a recent letter for allowing jets to return to LNA without first ordering "a safety analysis." At issue are the fast-moving jets landing at an airport with slower-moving piston-driven aircraft and helicopters. Kaulbach blames the FAA for refusing to work with the county to provide oversight at LNA. MORE: Palm Beach County's most crash-prone intersections: Forest Hill, Military led 2023 wrecks The FAA provided The Post with a response to allowing jets to land at LNA. "By law, the FAA cannot prohibit or restrict aeronautical activity unless an airport or aircraft operators are violating Federal Aviation Regulations. Banning jet traffic at LNA would violate federal law and an agreement the airport made to make its facilities available to all types of aeronautical activity on fair and reasonable terms without unjust discrimination." Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAA says Lantana Airport noise is within mandated levels Residents in Maricopa County, Arizona, are able to return home Sunday after evacuation orders in areas impacted by the ongoing Boulder View Fire in the Sonoran Desert were downgraded though some should continue to stay vigilant, according to state fire officials. The Boulder View Fire, which ignited Thursday east of Carefree in Arizonas most populous county has burned through more than 3,700 acres and was 63% contained as of Sunday evening, according to an update on InciWeb on Sunday. Containment increased on the east side of the fire after it reached the Wildcat Fire-burned area and stopped spreading, according to InciWebs Sunday update. The now fully contained Wildcat Fire started in May and scorched more than 14,000 acres. Crews will continue structure protection efforts on Sunday and focus on improving firelines around the Boulder View Fire, the update stated. In the meantime, fire officials announced they had lifted evacuation status in the affected area, though residents need to remain aware of dangerous conditions according to the states Ready, Set, Go! program. Areas in GO evacuate status were downgraded to SET while areas in SET status were returned to READY status on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m., the update Sunday said, referring to the three levels of preparedness used to guide residents ahead of and during evacuations. The Ready status signifies being prepared and aware of hazards, while set encourages residents to be alert about significant danger in their area and to consider voluntarily evacuating. Go urges people to evacuate from imminent and life-threatening danger, according to the Arizona Emergency Information Network. Fire peaks over a hill as smoke emerges from the Boulder View Fire in north Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday. - Patrick Breen/The Arizona Republic/USA Today Network An evacuation order went into effect Thursday night for residents along the southeast side of the fire, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said in a social media post. The department said at least 60 homes were evacuated Thursday. About 4.5 million people live in the county. It definitely puts a little bit of a panic into your mind right away, a Scottsdale woman told CNN affiliate KPNX. We made a plan. We have had a plan. We have lots of friends in the area that have trucks and trailers ready to go when we are. The woman, along with another resident, safely evacuated to another property in north Scottsdale where they have mares, pigs, goats and cats. They said watching the orange flames over the north side of the houses put them on edge as they watched from safety. The fire is burning as the nation grapples with a summer of more extreme heat the deadliest form of weather globally and one making wildfires more likely and destructive. And with the planet warming due to fossil fuel pollution, the heat will only get more frequent and intense. A sign displaying an extreme fire danger sits in front of the Boulder View Fire in north Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday. - Patrick Breen/The Arizona Republic/USA Today Network Weve evacuated our horses, and well get some more. Ill do it all night long if I have to, resident Chris Hull told CNN affiliate KNXV as he was fueling up his truck to haul more livestock. Whatever it takes. Fire activity in Maricopa County picked up late Thursday, forcing officials to shift crews to the southeast side of the fire to protect structures. The wildfire is also threatening high voltage power lines and the Sonoran Desert, authorities said via InciWeb. Its burning through grass and brush and has moved off of private land onto the Tonto National Forest, they said. Nearly 270 personnel have been assigned to the fire, according to Sundays InciWeb update. Crews will especially focus on the southeast part of the fire due to residences at risk and prevailing winds as fire crews on the south and west sides of the fire will improve firelines and begin mop up, the update read. Chances of thunderstorms could make firefighting efforts more complicated due to gusty winds and lightning strikes, according to the update. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Robert F Kennedy, Jr, mounted a passionate defense of his independent campaign in an interview with Dr Phil aired on Thursday, even as he was left off the debate stage. The environmental lawyer, the son of former US Attorney General and presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, said he stood by his many controversial positions, often described as conspiracy theories, and downplayed the strident public disapproval many of his famous family members have for his campaign. Yeah, I have a perception problem, particularly in the mainstream media, Kennedy told Dr Phil, describing some potential voters as viewing him as a lunatic. Ultimately, however, he said still supported claims such as insisting federal health officials had compromised motives for approving the Covid vaccines, and said being described as anti-vax is defamation. He told Dr Phil hes fully vaccinated aside from Covid, and his children are fully vaccinated as well. Dr Phil interviews Robert F Kennedy Jr in a conversation aired ahead of the first presidential debate. (Merit Street Media) Ive always said Im not anti-vaccine, he said, adding, Im never going to take anybodys vaccine. If vaccines are working for you, God bless you. I believe in choice and liberty, that government shouldnt be ordering people to take a product, particularly one that is protected from liability. Despite calling for more civility elsewhere in the conversation, Kennedy also offered a biting assessment of Joe Bidens competence in office so far, calling his performance heartbreaking and comparing it to watching your five-year-old the first time they play on a jungle gym. The conversation with Dr Phil came amid the wider context of Kennedy being left off the presidential debate stage, where Donald Trump and Joe Biden are facing off in Atlanta on Thursday evening. Kennedy also said in the interview he respected the decision of 15 members of the Kennedy family, including his siblings, to support the Biden campaign. I love my family, I feel loved by my family and I feel like I can argue with them in a way that is congenial, Kennedy said. I wish we could have civil debate again without hating each other. Amid the defenses of his campaign, Kennedy outlined a few proactive policy proposals, such as encouraging charter schools, reinstating paper ballots to guard against largely unfounded allegations of election interference, and ending the Ukraine war by negotiating with Vladimir Putin to limit the influence of Nato. Despite starting on the back foot, and missing out on the more high-profile media appearance of the evening, Kennedy insisted he was still in a strong position. He pointed to polls showing both Biden and Trump are the least-liked pair of major party presidential candidates in at least three decades. Im in a position no independent has been in history, Kennedy said, insisting in a head-to-head race hed beat Donald Trump and vanquish Joe Biden by a landslide. Later in the conversation, Kennedy addressed the much-discussed topic of whether his campaign would play spoiler and pull in enough votes to tip one of the major-party candidate over the finish line. Im not a spoiler, he said. A spoiler is somebody who cannot win and stays in, and they stay in and disrupt the expectations of somebody who can. Kennedy reiterated his offer to take a poll before election day, measuring whether voters prefer him or Joe Biden to take on Donald Trump, with the results dictating who should be on the ballot in November. His campaign did have one weakness, however, Kennedy argued, and that was with Baby Boomers. They think Im genuinely a lunatic, he said. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to make the cut for CNNs debate on Thursday nightso he planned to debate himself instead. Libertarian former Fox Business host John Stossel announced Thursday evening that he would be moderating the alternate debate, which would be livestreamed on Elon Musks X platform. A big screen next to Kennedy would air the actual debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and Kennedy would provide his own answers to the questions posed to Biden and Trump, Stossel said. As for the actual debating part of the alternate debate, Stossel didnt say. In a post on X, RFK Jr. said he expected the main event to be nothing more than arguments, name calling, accusations, and culture war issues but no debate on most of the subjects that matter to Americans. Thats because Trump and Biden arent so different when it comes down to it. Both represent corporations, private equity firms, pharma, and the military-industrial complex - the interests of which determine what they can talk about, he wrote. The good news is that you can still see the three-man debate. Getting ready to moderate tonight's ALTERNATE presidential debate with @RobertKennedyJr. Since CNN excluded Kennedy from their stage, you can watch him, (along with Biden and Trump) answer CNNs and my questions tonight at 9pm ET streaming on X. pic.twitter.com/UeiUgJr1nT John Stossel (@JohnStossel) June 27, 2024 RFK Jr.s presidential campaign, a long-shot bid that nonetheless caused the Biden and Trump campaigns to panic about votes being siphoned, all but flamed out last week. He failed to make the CNN debate stage, reported a paltry $2.6 million in donations for May, and spent more than double what he raised. In order to make the cut for CNNs debate, candidates had to reach a threshold of at least 15 percent in four major national polls of registered or likely voters, and be on the ballot in enough states to have a shot at clinching the necessary 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the election in November. RFK Jr. garnered the minimum level of support in three approved pollsCNN, Quinnipiac University, and Marquette Lawand will appear on the ballot in a mere nine states, which account for a total 139 electoral votes. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. North Carolinas election board delayed bids from political groups representing independent presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West from gaining ballot access in a meeting Wednesday. The board, which includes three Democrats and two Republican members, said it needs more time to review ballot applications from the We The People Party and the Justice for All Party of North Carolina. Parties have a lower signature requirement to get on the ballot than individual candidates. The board affirmed that both parties had met the required 13,000 signatures to make the ballot, though Democrats questioned the parties methods for creating the petitions. The three dissenting board members said more examination is needed of how signatures were collected, how party volunteers presented the petitions goals to voters and what information was placed on petition lists. The delay is not intended to deny your status as a party, board Chair Alan Hirsch told We The People leaders participating in the three-and-a-half-hour online meeting, according to The Associated Press. Its just to do our job and to be sure that the people that signed the petition know the purpose and intent of the proposed party, he added. If Kennedy or West were to file for ballot access individually, they would need more than 80,000 signatures. The board will meet again next month, tentatively on July 9, to further consider the parties applications. Republican board members criticized the decisions by the Democratic majority, saying it wasnt the boards place to question the motives of organization officials. I think these people have done everything that they needed to do to comply with the law, board member Kevin Lewis said. Another Republican member, Four Eggers, said the Democrats were yielding to political groups who filed objections to the certification requests. The objections were filed by Democratic political group Clear Choice Action, which claimed that both parties petitions were riddled with false signatures. The state Democratic Party also claimed that the party applications were merely attempts to avoid the higher signature requirements for individual independent candidates. The Kennedy campaign denounced the challenges in a statement Thursday. Our supporters turned in nearly twice as many signatures as we need so the Democratic Partys efforts to disenfranchise North Carolina voters wont succeed, the campaign said. Our party, We The People North Carolina, has broad precedent on its side, will fight this decision, and will win. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (BCN) A church volunteer in Richmond was arrested on suspicion of rape, police said Friday. Miguel Angel Villalobos, 37, has been charged by prosecutors with two counts of rape and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, police said. On March 21, a woman contacted Richmond Police to report that a volunteer staff member serving as music director at Saint Cornelius Catholic Church had sexually assaulted her. An investigation led to the arrest of Villalobos. Santa Cruz couple climbs Hawaii volcano to survive being hunted by carjacker There was no answer at the Saint Cornelius Church phone on Friday. The female said that while attending music lessons at the church, Villalobos allegedly assaulted her. She said that the abuse began when she was a minor and continued for several years until she was an adult. Police in Richmond said that Villalobos has worked at several churches throughout the Bay Area since 2010, including Saint Clement Catholic Church in Hayward and Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Concord. No one could be reached at Queen of All Saints on Friday. Saint Clement was reached but did not immediately comment. Police are concerned that there may be more alleged victims. Anyone who thinks they had any inappropriate contact with Villalobos or who knows of any such alleged crimes should contact Detective Terry Thomas at (510) 621-1746 or email at terry.thomas@richmondpd.net. 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. Ripped from the Headlines, June, 1924. Three "experienced" shoplifters were taken into custody Thursday afternoon by Detective Hylie Hamilton of the city police department after nearly a week of constant watching in several of the leading stores of the city. Everything from a paper of pins to a suit of clothes was found in "shopping bags" of the trio, police said Friday morning. Much of the goods was thought to have been stolen from Arbaugh's, the Popular Store, and Woolworth's 5 & 10 cent store. One of the shoplifters was seven years old, and her two accomplices 10 and 11. The girls wore bloomers, police officers said, and had taken to stuffing stolen articles into their bloomers after their "shopping bags" and pockets had been filled. One of them had taken a pair of pliers and had dropped them into her bloomers but so many other things had been crammed into them that the rubber bands at the knees began to sag under the load and let one handle of the pliers protrude. A young girl carrying pliers in this manner appeared strange to Detective Hamilton so he offered to assist the girls in carrying their parcels, taking them to police headquarters where part of the loot was later identified by merchants. The Woolworth company, alone, identified about $30 worth of small articles which the youngsters had stolen and at least that amount of goods was left in the possession of the police department, waiting for other merchants to make identification Friday. When questioned, the girls claimed they had two more shopping bags of things which they had stolen and had hidden in a little grove near the east side of the city. They said, however, someone else had found and appropriated them. Officers stated there were also many things found in their homes that the girls had stolen at various times. Among the unidentified articles held by the police Friday were four suits knickers, several yards of fine dress materials, a mama doll, powder puffs, bathing slippers. stockings, trinkets. novelties, and about everything to be found in the stock of a general store. Two of the girls are sisters and one of the trio was picked up by police about a year ago for stealing a watch from a local store. Friday, June 6, 1924 Ripped from the Headlines, June, 1924. Sues City After Cops Seize Soup bone MUSKEGON. June 9. (By U.P.) Officers raided Mrs. Mary Kurziel's home, seized a suspicious looking package and arrested her. But they discovered it was a soup bone and freed her. Mrs. Kurziel alleges in a $10,000 damage suit against the city of Muskegon Heights. Monday, June 9, 1924 Ripped from the Headlines, June, 1924. Claim Snowfall Hit Skyscraper, Lansingites in Offices and Weather Man Argue Possibility of Freak Flurries A freak snow flurry was reported to have been witnessed in this city Monday noon but was "enjoyed" by only the occupants of some of the taller buildings of the business district. During a brief shower, occupants of some of the buildings reported real snow flitting lightly down to the roofs, while a chill air was felt. The weather bureau at East Lansing, however, when asked for information concerning the possibility of snow actually falling here, reported that the general drop in temperature had been but nine degrees, from 69 degrees to 60 degrees in a few hours Monday morning. At such a temperature, the weather man said, snow could not actually have fallen but those who saw it are willing to give him an argument. Monday, June 30, 1924 Ripped from the Headlines, June, 1924. Dumping of Man From Car Brings Out Police Police, late Monday night, made a hurried trip west of the city on report of someone having been kicked out of an automobile in a wooded lot along the road. Investigation revealed the fact that a taxi driver had taken Mike Kowask to the home of his brother, Joe Kowask, and had unloaded him without undue ceremony. Neighbors, residing several hundred feet away, noticed the car stop and claimed they saw something that looked like dead man kicked into the dark. They thereupon reported it. When the officers arrived and routed Mike's brother out to question him, he contended that Mike had "just come home and he had helped him into the house because he couldn't walk very well." "Maybe he had a drink. I don't know," was the explanation given the police who could do nothing further. Tuesday, June 17, 1924 Ripped from the Headlines, June, 1924. BEGIN DRIVE TO VACCINATE CITY, To Display 100 Pct. Cards in Local Business Places "Look for the card' will appear in bold type at the bottom of the vaccination cards which at the direction of Dr. R. M. Olin, state health commissioner, will be posted in the windows of all stores, factories, theaters, and other public places by the middle of next week. The card to indicate that such place has all of its officers and employees vaccinated for smallpox 100 per cent. At meetings of the Manufacturers' and Merchants' bureaus of the Chamber of Commerce of Lansing Thursday with Dr. Olin, the business men pledged their cooperation in having every official and employee of their factories, stores or other business places vaccinated at once. This was the beginning of the campaign to have every man, woman and child in the city vaccinated by the first of next week to insure against any possibility of a situation which would necessitate the closing of business places. schools, theaters, and putting a ban on all public gatherings. At a meeting of the Ingham county medical society Thursday night in the offices of the state health department, the cooperation of every local physician was assured in the work of vaccination. In the case of groups, such as factory employees, store clerks and employees, in all other business establishments, the vaccination will be done by the physicians free of charge, the state to furnish the vaccine free. In order to obtain a physician to do this work all that is necessary is to call the city health department and one will be assigned at once. Friday, June 6, 1924 This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Ripped from the Headlines: Bloomers prove to be shoplifting advantage | LSJ 1924 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan will work more closely with businesses to jointly rebuild Karabakh, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X, Trend reports. "The productive encounters, fruitful discussions, and pleasant impressions that our event with businessmen in Shusha left as a lasting memory. Working in conjunction with the business representatives, we determined the necessary actions and deliberated on our shared expectations and potential concerns. Our shared aspiration is to reconstruct Karabakh in unison, and our collaborative endeavors will bring us closer to achieving this goal. I am grateful to all the attendees at the event," the publication reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Interim Rhode Island Public Transit Authority CEO Christopher Durand speaks at the agency's Board of Directors meeting on June 27, 2024. To his right is the board's attorney, Christopher Fragomeni, whose law firm recommended a headhunter to find a permanent CEO for the agency. Durand told reports after the meeting he is interested in the permanent position. (Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) A Florida headhunter has been awarded a $60,000 contract to conduct a national search for a permanent CEO of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) over objections of transit advocates who called the move unnecessary and a waste of money for the cash-strapped agency. RIPTAs Board of Directors on Thursday voted 7-0 to select the Marraine Group headquartered in Port Saint Lucie to lead the search. A copy of the RIPTAs agreement with Marraine was not made available. Board members James Lombardi and Marcy Reyes were absent from Thursdays meeting. Under the agreement, Marraine will find and select a candidate to be hired within four months, the board of directors counsel Christopher Fragomeni said during the meeting. The new hire will fill the job that became vacant after former CEO Scott Avedisian resigned in April after being involved in an alleged hit-and-run at a McDonalds drive-thru in Warwick. Avedisian pleaded no contest to the charge in May. Before he resigned from RIPTA, Avedisians salary was $181,795. At least one applicant for the job is waiting in the wings. Christopher Durand, who previously served as the agencys chief financial officer and was appointed interim executive director in April, said he is interested in the permanent job. Ive been here for nine years I love this place, Durand told reporters after the board meeting. I take it seriously, I appreciate the work. Transit advocates said RIPTA should be able to handle the search on its own. RIPTA is a desirable property, RI Transit Riders Co-Chair Patricia Raub told the board. If RIPTA conducts its own search, it will attract good candidates. Grant Dulagarian said RIPTA should just give Durand the permanent job. He has institutional knowledge, and thats fundamental, Dulagarian told the board. The agreement with Marraine includes two job performance guarantees, Fragomeni said. Should a new CEO quit within a year, Marraine will search for a replacement free of charge. If the CEO leaves within two years of placement, the firm would charge $6,000 for a new search. I believe it makes sense to go outside, Board member Normand Benoit said during the meeting. $60,000, from my experience, is very reasonable. Benoit added that selecting an outside firm would convince Gov. Dan McKees office and General Assembly leadership that RIPTA is serious about finding someone with an extensive background in mass transit. Board member Bob Kells questioned whether Rhode Island-based candidates would be considered by the Florida-based headhunting firm. Its a possibility, Fragomeni responded. Chairman and Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti Jr., assured the board that the final review of this position will be this board. Marraine was one of six firms to respond to a mini-bid the agency issued following the boards May 25 meeting. The names were then vetted by Fragomeni and other partners at his Providence-based law firm, Savage Law Partners, LLC. Fragomeni did not disclose the names of the other five applicants during the meeting. He said Marraine was selected because it was the only vendor that adequately demonstrated experience with a government entity. No one single proposer identified direct experience with placing a CEO of a transit organization, but Marraine did indicate that almost 80% of its clients consist of government entities, nonprofits, and health care systems, he said. Fragomeni told the board Marraine had conducted a previous executive search for the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. But Department of Human Services Spokesperson James Beardsworth did not find any information on the matter Friday morning. I have also reached out to purchasing at DOA though as a next step and they are going to look into this early next week, Beardsworth said. The board must schedule an onboarding meeting with Marraine before the search can officially begin, Fragomeni told Rhode Island Current after the meeting. And from there it gets a little fluid because thats where its back-and-forth between the search committee and the board as to what they want to see like timelines and so forth, he said. Driver recognized after deer collision Also Thursday, the board issued a commendation for RIPTA operator Leocadio Hernandez, who on June 12, 2024, had a deer crash through the front window of his bus while driving his route in Warwick. There were six passengers on the bus at the time and two were injured, WPRI reported. The deer died and was removed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Hernandez still worked his route that day after transferring to a new bus. We just want to thank him for his service and keeping everybody safe, Durand said. Hernandez told the board he was just doing his job. Im glad everything went smooth that day, and Im glad it wasnt on the opposite side of the windshield, he said. The post RIPTA hires Florida executive search firm to find permanent CEO appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Democrats are reeling in the aftermath of President Joe Biden's debate against former President Donald Trump Thursday, igniting panic among his allies and sparking conversations about whether he should ultimately remain in the race. His appearance at the first 2024 presidential debate Thursday night, which was moderated by CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, was billed by his campaign as an opportunity to show American voters that, contrary to concerns about his mental acuity and old age, he's capable of leading the nation in a second term. His performance, however, left viewers and political pundits alike with much to be desired if not an overwhelming sense of dread as he debated the presumptive GOP nominee with a hoarse voice, slow cadence and seeming inability to counter many of his counterpart's misrepresentations. Despite some improvement as the debate dragged on, Biden delivered answers that ran the gamut from over-rehearsed to, at times, unintelligible. "The optics were not good," J. Wesley Leckrone, a professor of political science and department chair at Widener University, told Salon. "Biden has made a career of portraying himself as a fighter. There wasnt much fight last night. "I think even a casual observer could see that his demeanor was substantially different than it was when he debated Trump in 2020," he continued. Over the course of the night, a stand-out line from Trump, whose haphazard answers often dodged the question or included a litany of lies and exaggerations, appeared to become representative of the president's showing among viewers: I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, and I dont think he did, either. Just minutes into Thursday's debate, Democrats vaulted into private discussions about Biden's expected performance and peppered in concerns about whether he could even continue his campaign, Axios reports. White House officials also quickly sought to place blame over how Biden's inner circle had aided the president in his debate prep. "He was over-prepared and relying on minutiae when all that mattered was vigor and energy," one member of Biden's circle told the outlet. "They prepared him for the wrong debate. He was over-prepared when what he needed was rest. It's confounding." Notably, the debate the biggest night to date for Biden's campaign was the president's idea, with his team proposing its timing, handling the logistics and setting the ground rules. For his part, the Biden campaign also said midway through the debate that the president was battling a cold. But even with the disclaimer, the 90-minute event would go on to spotlight the party's greatest fears about the potential for Biden's age to stymie his candidacy. His allies and campaign have since been scrambling to do damage control and restore confidence in the presumptive nominee for their party ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August, but among Democratic consultants another option has entered the fray as a more appealing solution: replacing Biden on the ticket altogether. Michael Thorning, the director of structural democracy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said that while doing so is "possible," it would be "quite unusual for the party to change candidates in the middle of the election season." "Each party has some mechanisms in place for if a candidate cannot get a majority of votes to receive the nomination or if a candidate drops out of the contest for whatever reason," he told Salon. "The mechanisms, of course, exist as contingencies. They're not meant to be availed in most circumstances," Thorning added. "The parties are really in a position now where they do want these primary contest conventions and caucuses as much as possible to reflect the will of the voters when the convention comes." Leckrone said that, should Biden end up out of the running in some form or fashion, the best case scenario would be, instead, for him to withdraw from the race voluntarily, release his pledged delegates and place his support behind another candidate. Calls for Biden to withdraw have already started to roll in, and more Democrats especially elected officials may go public with their concerns in the wake of the debate, Axios noted. Some congressional Democrats expressed concern to the outlet late Thursday that Biden remaining on the ticket could tank their own bids in November. Such an outcome actually taking shape, however, seems about as unlikely as it is recommended, Leckrone said. In order to deny Biden the nomination, "roughly half" of his pledged delegates would have to switch their support to another candidate on the first ballot a move that Leckrone posited is a "real long-shot at this point in time." Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. If Democrats try to push Biden out, they risk creating "at least two major rifts that could prove very difficult to smooth over before the November election," he explained. The first would threaten to further divide the president's supporters from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, who are already less committed to him. A second rift lies in the lack of a clear frontrunner who could take Biden's place, Leckrone said, noting that while the incumbent vice president would be the "natural person" to fill that role, "there is no consensus building around" nominating Vice President Kamala Harris. "This would lead to a free-for-all to get the nomination, most likely creating rifts between the various factions of the party," he said, adding that a Biden ouster would also mean "a new nominee would have to quickly define themselves and their priorities," which would offer the opposition "the ability to define and negatively attack an unvetted candidate." "That is a very risky proposition given the short time between the nomination and the general election," Leckrone said. The Democrats should instead "stick with Biden" unless he chooses to withdraw from the presidential race on his own, getting the president out into the public in an "attempt to show that he has the stamina to remain president," he argued, emphasizing that "giving speeches to supportive crowds is much easier than debating. Damage control seems to be the best option." As of Friday afternoon, that seems to be the option the Biden campaign took. During a rally in North Carolina, Biden appeared to be in better shape and spirits, coughing just a few times as he clarified his second term agenda and defended himself against the criticism that followed the debate. "I know Im not a young man. I dont walk as easy as I used to," he told the crowd, according to NBC News. "I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, but I know what I do know I know how to tell the truth!" Thorning said that, while Biden is receiving "an unusual outpouring of concern," even in the context of all the criticism of other candidates and presidents typically receive for their debate performances, it hardly means he's completely lost the support of his party. "I think for the people who pay such close attention to politics and the kinds of people who are watching debates, there is a tendency to assume that there is a direct connection between what happens in the debate and people's voting decisions and ultimately the outcome in November. I don't think it's that clear that there is that strong connection," he said. "Trump has the momentum right now. However, weve seen the course of campaigns change from the middle of the summer to election day in the past," Leckrone noted, adding: "I think the Democrats need to retrench, show support for Biden as the partys standard bearer, and make the election about Trump." Code enforcement crackdown in River Ranch has hunt camp owners saying, 'Why now?' Hunt camp owners in River Ranch Acres in the far eastern, rural section of Polk County allege that county staff have illegally used the emergency Knox lock on a gate, intended only for emergencies, to access their properties and cite them for code violations. A Polk County code enforcement crackdown four years ago in North River Ranch has vexed hunt camp owners who have sued the county and recently gone public with their frustration over the countys handling of their cases. The property owners attended three consecutive Polk County Commission meetings the two meetings in May and a third on June 4 in Bartow. Their beef with the county started in 2020 with what they say were selective code enforcement cases against them and included trespassing by county staff on their private property along Lightsey Ranch Road in Lake Wales. Further, they are concerned about the mounting legal fees the county has incurred defending a lawsuit filed by 10 of the landowners. In an early-June email, County Attorney Randy Mink said the county has spent $215,000 defending a lawsuit filed by Huckleberry Farms of Polk County LLC, a corporation set up by the River Ranch Acres property owners and the plaintiff. River Ranch Acres was not part of the hundreds of camps destroyed by the 4,600-acre brush fires in early June. In court filings, the lawsuit alleges that code enforcement employees unlawfully entered their properties to take photographs for code violation investigations in March 2020. Among the plaintiffs allegations is a key to the gated easement to their property was used to enter a dirt road leading to their camps. Their properties were enclosed by fences and are marked with no trespassing signs, the lawsuit said. It says the code inspectors who entered the properties violated the owners 4th Amendment rights by not obtaining warrants for the inspections. The lawsuit was filed prior to the county holding code-violation hearings against the property owners. A Ledger public records request for the code violations describes 200 properties with potential violations in the North River Ranch area. Property owners speak publicly During public comments at the May 7 commissioners meeting, Jessica Post, who uses a camp on the weekends, said code enforcement cannot possibly pursue the estimated 42,000 landowners in north and south River Ranch in a fair and equal manner for building code violations. Post told commissioners that for more than 40 years, property owners were told by Polk County that unpermitted structures in River Ranch could be placed there. Go ahead and put it out there, she said the county told the landowners. It's River Ranch, don't worry about it. A letter to the county from the plaintiff's attorney also said the same. And in a deposition for the lawsuit, Commissioner Rick Wilson also said he knew there were unpermitted structures in River Ranch. River Ranch hunt camp owners say in their lawsuit that their properties were enclosed by fences and are marked with no trespassing signs. It says the code inspectors who entered the properties violated the owners 4th Amendment rights by not obtaining warrants. He was then asked if he was going to send county code enforcement out there to look at them," Post said. He said no. While Post spoke at the May 7 commission meeting, others came two weeks later. Im here because many of us are concerned about the ongoing and costly court battle with Polk County, Marlana Green of River Ranch Acres said at the May 21 meeting. Code enforcement unlawfully used the emergency Knox lock to enter our properties to randomly cite hunt camps that have been established since the 1980s, she said. The property owners blame a cattle rancher Camp owners say they have a theory about the county's sudden interest in their properties. Post, during her comments on May 7, said the code enforcement crackdown is all for the benefit of a cattle rancher who operates near River Ranch Acres. Well, now all of a sudden, a cattle baron, Cary Lightsey, has brought code enforcement in to start writing up people because he wants to free graze his cattle on private property, Post said. Lightsey is a political donor, fundraiser and rancher at Lightsey Cattle Company in Lake Wales who frequently hosts parties on Brahma Island. His family and other cattle operations are nearby the camps of River Ranch Acres. Court records show the plaintiffs attorney had requested records pertaining to Wilsons attendance at a meeting with code enforcement employees at Lightsey Ranch on May 6, 2021. The plaintiffs allege that Lightsey gave Wilson and other county officials a tour of River Ranch Acres, showing them potential code violations, and the plaintiffs have filed evidence in court records. When asked by phone if he had brought in code enforcement to cite landowners in River Ranch Acres, Lightsey said, Thats not true. He said he has grazed cattle for about 40 years on approximately 1,500 acres in the Tiger Creek and Lake Kissimmee Shores area. I guess I am the easy one they can blame, he said. He added the reason the plaintiffs are going public is because they are losing in court. He said most of the people in the area have left since they were cited. Regarding a locked gate at Sam Keene and Lightsey Ranch roads, he called it illegal. Its the same gate the plaintiffs allege the county used to access River Ranch Acres. Settlement letter read aloud A letter dated May 22 and sent to Mink from the plaintiffs' attorney, Mattie Hardin Tondreault, was read aloud at the June 4 commission meeting by Calvin Newberry. Tondreault's letter started by repeating the history of lax enforcement for the past 40 years in River Ranch. Environmental lands: Three potential conservation sites draw approval from Polk County committee As you know and as it was acknowledged in the BoCC Meeting, Polk County has been aware of River Ranch Acres for over 40 years, Tondreault wrote. Since the 1980s, with Polk Countys knowledge, property owners within River Ranch Acres placed and/or built what Polk County alleges or calls accessory structures on their respective properties for agricultural, camping, and/or recreational purposes." Polk County took no action against the property owners in River Ranch Acres for alleged unpermitted structures or improvements, she wrote. "In early 2020, Polk Countys code enforcement began selectively enforcing its code against property owners in River Ranch Acres, Tondreault wrote. While Polk County has maintained that it may have some right to use alleged easements in River Ranch Acres, one can easily observe and recognize that many of the properties that Polk County investigated and trespassed onto can be accessed only by using the alleged easements. "What I found interesting about the BoCC Meeting was the lack of our county commissioners knowledge as to this lawsuit and the misinformation that has been given to them, she wrote. Tondreault said her legal office has not received responses to attempts as recently as May 2 to resolve the pending lawsuit. She wanted a resolution without her clients having to remove their structures. She has also asked attorneys for the county to review agricultural uses of the camps as being eligible for exemptions to the building code as part of a proposed resolution. Her clients are willing to dismiss their claims against Polk County in exchange for Polk Countys dismissal of their counterclaims and code enforcement cases. Hunt camp owners in the River Ranch Acres area of eastern Polk County say the county has been selectively enforcing code violations after 40 years of telling them they could put unpermitted structures on their properties. The airing of the letter's contents surprised Mink, as he had not had the chance to tell the commissioners about the letter and he wanted to know where Newberry got a copy. Newberry said he had received the letter following a public information request. Commissioner George Lindsey said Mink might want to consider a bar complaint against the plaintiff's attorney, but Mink said the situation might not rise to that level. River Ranch Ordinance? At the May 31 agenda review, Mink asked the commissioners whether they wanted to create a policy that prohibits code enforcement violations for certain unpermitted structures within unrecorded plats. Would such a policy include all or just certain unrecorded plats? Should the policy include all structures or just certain types? And should grandfathering be based on a certain date or the age of the structure? Commissioner Neil Combee said that he'd had conversations with property appraisers in other counties, and he was told if there is a building on the property, the owner gets a tax bill unless it's exempt for agricultural use. Feel like a hike? Bellini Preserve, 640 acres on shore of Lake Marion, is open to public They dont coordinate with the county, they dont find out if its permitted, they just figure out whats on it and put a value on it and somebody is getting a tax bill, Combee said. "That is what they do in Lake County, but Polk County is not currently doing that." He also said at previous meetings that that a fire service fee should be considered by the board since Polk County Fire Rescue responds to calls in River Ranch. Wilson said the issue must be resolved and he agreed with Mink that any new structures would be subject to code enforcement. Lindsey concurred. Lindsey said he wanted a notice sent to all of River Ranch soon and a notice sent to subsequent River Ranch land owners letting them know that structures on the property have not gone through a permitting process and may not meet applicable federal, state or county codes and regulations. The other thing is how do we stop the proliferation? Lindsey asked. He said he went to River Ranch recently on a tour and found that what often happens is a landowner asks for electric power under the guise that they are operating an agricultural enterprise. Other than raising sand skinks," he said he didn't know what kind of agricultural operations they are running. He wanted River Ranch landowners to prove an agricultural operation before getting electric power to their parcel. Mink said that issue has been resolved. He said the county will not issue a permit, which is requested by the utility (usually the Peace River Cooperative), but the county does not get involved in easements for utilities. John Bohde, Polk County land development director, said the utility will not set an electrical meter unless it gets a permit from the county. The ordinance could come back in one to two months. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday on Polk County's motion for summary judgment on count 1 (declaratory relief) in the lawsuit. A hearing for a motion to dismiss the remaining counts is set for Aug. 26. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County being sued by River Ranch hunt camp owners The Road 160 Sidewalk Improvement Project in Ivanhoe has started. Construction signs went up in late June and demolition, the first step in the construction, will start on July 1. In addition to sidewalks, the project, approved by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors in 2019, includes the installation of 19 ADA-compliant curb ramps, an ADA-compliant Tulare County Regional Transit Agency bus stop, and high visibility crosswalks at the intersections of Road 160 and Heather, and Road 160 and Avenue 332. Improvements will also include curbs, gutters, driveway approaches, asphalt paveouts, and drainage improvements along Road 160, considered to be the main artery into Ivanhoe. Our goal is to have it done by August, said Hernan Beltran, Tulare County Resource Management Agency (RMA) chief engineer. The improvements will start on the east side of Road 160, beginning at State Route 216 and progressing north. Tulare County officials and Ivanhoe community leaders break ground on the Road 160 Project on June 18, 2024. Connecting a community The project was funded by a $1.3 million grant from Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) awarded through the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG), along with another $1.3 million from Tulare County. ATP grants come from state and federal funds by way of the California Transportation Commission. The goal of the ATP program is to encourage more active types of transportation, such as walking and biking, as well as increasing the safety and mobility of non-motorized users. Im excited about this project, said Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero, whose district includes Ivanhoe. It all goes back to community voice, community impact, community collectively coming together to identify and understand the need, he said. There were passionate residents who were committed, connected, and really concerned about their community, and they worked with their leaders to make sure that we keep our community safe. Soon after becoming a supervisor in 2019, Valero held a series of meetings in Ivanhoe to hear the communitys needs and concerns. Several items came to the forefront, i.e. the sidewalk crossing on 328, the turning lanes on the same road because cars fly through there on their way entering Ivanhoe, he said. This is just another example of a project were committed to for that particular community. The countys Road 160 project helped move up the planned Caltrans project for Ivanhoe that was not scheduled to start until 2027, according to Valero. That project, which he said Caltrans officials told him they would now begin in 2025, will include sidewalks in front of Valley Foods Market and the Klink Citrus Association building. When partner agencies see that work is getting done, they want to complement it, as opposed to letting it linger, explained Valero. He added that other agencies often have the attitude that, If theres already great work happening, lets add to the great work by complementing the project and moving it forward to full completion. Safety for young students The project is expected to add a layer of safety for students as they travel to and from school, Ivanhoe Elementary School Principal Sandra Aguilera said. More students will be able to walk to school now," she said. "It will be safer for them as they walk on the sidewalk, and it will be safer for the parents also that walk with their students to and from school. About 300 students walk to school, according to Aguilera. Kids will have the opportunity to walk on the sidewalk as theyre playing, even to ride their bikes, she said. After her first year in Ivanhoe, she described it as a very connected community. The sidewalk will bring the community even closer together because more people are going to hopefully be outside, she said. Theyll be able to walk so its good not only for safety, but its also very positive for the well-being of all of the community of Ivanhoe. Its a quality project that can have a huge impact on the community, agreed Ted Smalley, TCAG executive director. This improvement has a direct benefit to over 50% of the kids. You potentially have a project that can be used by hundreds of kids a day. In itself, thats a great thing. Lets make sure the kids have a safe way to get to school. Certainly the communities came together for many years and this was a critical project to them, Smalley said. It was just a clear, awesome project that our TCAG board was happy to fund. Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero speaks at the Road 160 Project groundbreaking in Ivanhoe on June 18, 2024. A long process is typical It has taken five years from the time the project was approved by supervisors to the start of construction. Those involved in the project explained that this timetable is typical, considering all the steps required, from acquiring funding to negotiating with homeowners and utility companies, to navigating legal issues. When youre applying for a grant, you get authorization from the board to submit the application, RMA Associate Director Michael Washam said. Then its a process. In this case, we applied for ATP funding. We werent awarded at the state level, but then at the local level through TCAG we were. He estimated that the application process alone took close to a year. The other piece to the puzzle is getting right-of-way from property owners. There were 37 property owners that the county had to deal with to get clearance to put the sidewalk through. Negotiating with that many people takes time, Washam said. You have to have all those legal matters in place before you can start tearing up the sidewalks, he said, adding that $620,000 of the total cost of the project was spent dealing with right-of-way issues. That would include paying homeowners for the value of the land, also the time and effort and legal costs associated with processing all of that. When youre dealing with a lot of sidewalk projects where there might not have been sidewalks continuous throughout the whole area, a lot of people will have run their fences right up to the street line, so were having to deal with relocating the fence back a few feet, Washam said. He added that this part of the project often includes dealing with dogs in the yard and occasional cinderblock walls that need to be relocated, which takes additional time. We acquired property from quite a few houses, he said. The biggest impacts were a few driveways were shortened and a few fences were removed and replaced. Theres a lot of factors that play a hand, said Beltran, who mentioned shrubs or trees in the public right-of-way, as well as having to adjust an electric vault. There are utilities that have to be identified and located, and relocated in certain cases, he said. That in itself is a major task. Time was also spent to assess the historical value of one of the properties along Road 160. Initially, there was a possibility that a building in the vicinity might have historical significance, said Beltran. However, after conducting further research and investigation, the Caltrans archaeologist determined that no resources within the project boundaries have potential eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. A new development is much easier to do than what I call retrofitting an older community because of the existing utilities, he said. In a new development, its much easier. Everything is new. You place it where you want to place it, and you can construct much easier than retrofitting things. A concern for years Sidewalks along Road 160 were an issue long before supervisors approved the project. This has been a long time coming because even though the application was authorized by the board in 2019, I remember attending a community meeting in 2016 where the citizens identified this road section as one of their top concerns, said Washam, recalling that the 50 people who had gathered at the Ivanhoe Memorial Building were asked to list their top five priority improvement projects for the roads and sidewalks in the community. This section of road was the top one that was identified, Washam said. Since the 2016 meeting, the county has made other suggested improvements, including a crosswalk, and a flasher at Avenue 328 and Road 159, and other improvements on Road 159. However, the Road 160 Sidewalk Improvement Project required more steps before construction could begin. We work with the community, but sometimes it doesnt come as fast as everybody hopes, just because its a process, Washam said. Community response The comments at the June 18 groundbreaking ceremony were positive, especially those from Ivanhoe community leaders and residents. This project was in my dreams years ago, said Ivanhoe Community Council Member Connie Vela-Solorio at the ceremony. Its coming to life. Now, I have grandchildren that are going to the school that I feel are going to be in a better situation than way back then. However, in an interview after the event, Pedro Hernandez, editor-in-chief of The Ivanhoe Sol, was somewhat critical. Its like a good faith effort to restore trust between the community of Ivanhoe and Tulare County, he said. There are a lot of rural communities that are in need of multiple investments and this is hopefully a down payment toward repairing the relationship between the county and Ivanhoe. Generally, Ivanhoe has many of its problems because of historic under-investments in the long-term sense, he added. There are still a lot of other areas (in Ivanhoe) in need of road repair pothole repair. There is also a need for improved community streetlights, and the community has had a huge interest in the creation of a local park and community center. But Hernandez had kind words for Valero. Hes been really great, he said, acknowledging the supervisors presence in the community and understanding what the issues are. A park for Ivanhoe? While all of the Ivanhoe residents who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony expressed gratitude that the Road 160 project was about to begin, some took the opportunity to mention the need for a park in the community. Currently, the closest park to Ivanhoe is Cutler Park, which is three-and-a-half miles away, a challenge for children in Ivanhoe to walk or bike. Thats another project that Im going to be working on, said Valero, but he said that the county just made huge investments in its 11 parks to repair or replace outdated equipment and make other upgrades. Were just going to have to work a little bit more on that and see how we can work with local landowners or agencies that support parks in unincorporated, underserved communities, he said. This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Five years When Robert Whittakers coach pulled him aside, giving him the news that left an entire sporting community deflated, the Australians next move was clear: I went to breakfast. Within two hours of hearing that Khamzat Chimaev was out of their UFC main event, one of the most-anticipated fights of the year, Whittaker had a new opponent. By lunchtime, his preparation was under way. The former middleweight champion would stand across from Ikram Aliskerov, in a cage in Saudi Arabia, on nine days notice. I was upset, it was stressful, Whittaker tells The Independent over Zoom, but my coaches understand that not fighting is not an option for me. Id put in all this work, flown to Dubai... I was fighting someone! Last Saturday, that someone ended up being Aliskerov, whose sole professional loss had come at the hands of Chimaev no less. Still, the Russian was just 2-0 in the UFC before facing Whittaker, who admitted to not having heard of his new opponent. That admission drew concerns, as if the Reaper was underestimating Aliskerov. I meant no disrespect when I said that, Whittaker clarifies. I feel like a lot of media outlets took my words out of context, but the truth is: I dont watch a lot of UFC, hes only had two UFC fights, and theyve flown under the radar for me. But once the name was dropped to me, I did tons of research and understood how dangerous his skillset was. So, I know I dealt with that appropriately. Had my team heard of him? Probably, because we have a teammate working his way up the ladder, so Im sure theyd come across his name. But mate, it doesnt matter who Im fighting: I trust my skillset, I take my own strengths into a fight. I like to control the space and throw out a fight that my opponent has to worry about. Aliskerov looked worried when his feet began to bend and buckle in all sorts of inconvenient directions, as Whittaker thudded a right hand onto the top of his head. That strike was the beginning of the end, and so close to the beginning itself. Whittaker hunted the wounded Aliskerov with a series of jabs and a head kick, before the perfect uppercut ended the fight all within two minutes. In the aftermath of the UFCs Saudi Arabian debut, a clip circulated on social media. It showed Whittaker using feints in the opening moments of the fight, and rapidly reading Aliskerovs reactions. Whittaker, 33, exploited those reactions clinically a word so often associated with the New Zealand-born fighter. When I was feinting and moving in, I saw him throwing his left hand out a lot, Whittaker explains. Once I had that read, I committed to the one-two. I went over the jab, hurt him, and the rest is kind of history. [That kind of performance] means the world to me, thats the dream for every fighter. The result was Whittakers first stoppage win in seven years, remarkably, heralding a huge release of emotion. The overwhelming feeling is a massive adrenaline rush, but the relief and euphoria from winning and doing so in that fashion... The trip, the months of work, theyre why my celebration was as wild as it was. What ensued was widespread adulation of Whittaker. That has been a trend after his fights, with his eclectic skillset and affable nature proving particularly popular over the last decade. And while the stoppage was his first in some time, the Reaper has nonetheless garnered respect for scything through a murderers row of opponents by any means necessary: Yoel Romero (twice), Jared Cannonier, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Darren Till, Kelvin Gastelum, and now Aliskerov. Whittaker is pursuing the UFC middleweight title, which he held from 2018 until 2019 (Getty Images) Chimaev was either supposed to join that list or a much shorter one, comprising those to have beaten Whittaker in recent years: reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis, and former champion Israel Adesanya (twice). Chimaevs uniquely dominant showings in a young UFC career had some projecting a 50-50 fight against Whittaker. Yet the former champion took no offence. I didnt feel anything about it, because my personal philosophy is: Every fight is a 50/50 fight. You dont know what to expect, except youre gonna stand across from a guy swinging bombs; 50/50, I think, is a pretty good estimate! Chimaev has a very dangerous skillset, hes run through just about everybody hes come across. So, I was taking the fight deadly serious. I trained so hard; I had stacked all the chips in my favour, mate. Chimaev withdrew from the fight due to a severe bout of illness, but the Russian has already called for the contest to be rearranged. Whittaker, though, could yet face the winner of Augusts title fight: Du Plessis vs Adesanya. Either outcome there would allow the Reaper a chance at revenge, yet he is open to any opponent, with Sean Strickland having also been mooted. Whittaker during his second fight with Israel Adesanya, a narrow points loss (Getty Images) Theyll give me a name, Ill say yes, and well fight in October, November or December, he says matter of factly. Who it is, what type of fight, I dont know. But Ive given them my dates, weve been talking. The overwhelming objective is to become the best fighter in the world. I wholeheartedly believe Im the most dangerous and the best middleweight theres ever been. Unfortunately, to get people to back that, I need that gold again! I had it once, and I know I can get it again. Im better than I was then. I believe the best run of my career is just starting. Every loss has made me reflect inside and out and better understand myself. My goal is just to try and live up to my own potential. Thats the juggling act: Getting my headspace on par with how good I am. Im really starting to zero in on that, to get those lines touching. Life is amazing, Im on top of the world with Gods grace. Im happy. Its often said that a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter. Whittaker believes he is the most dangerous there has ever been. Roberta Kaplan, a legendary lawyer in the realm of LGBTQ+ rights and feminism, has resigned from the firm she founded after clashing with her partners over her treatment of colleagues, The New York Times reports. Kaplan, who is lesbian, represented Edie Windsor in the case that brought down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013 and more recently represented E. Jean Carroll in her successful lawsuits against Donald Trump for defamation and sexual abuse. She opened New York-based Kaplan Hecker & Fink in 2017 after 25 years with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a major corporate law firm. She once said Kaplan Hecker & Fink operated on the principle that there always must be someone to stand up to a bully, according to the Times. Kaplan told the Bloomberg news service she was leaving the firm because it grew in size and complexity beyond what I had in mind, and I wanted to get back to something nimbler. She is starting a firm called Kaplan Martin with Tim Martin, a partner in Kaplan Hecker & Fink, and two other friends, Steven M. Cohen and Mitra Hormozi, both former federal prosecutors. But the Times story details tensions at Kaplan Hecker & Fink. Her departure was announced after The Times informed her personal lawyers that it was preparing to publish an article about Ms. Kaplan that would shine a light on complaints about what some employees said was an unprofessional office culture that she presided over, the paper reports. Kaplan had been removed from the firms management committee, according to the Times. Several people whom she worked with told The Times that she had insulted employees, inappropriately commented on their looks and threatened to derail peoples careers, the article continues. Kaplans lawyers said this was not the case. They also told the Times, There is nothing more unremarkable than trial lawyers using colorful language, criticizing their peers and representing diverse clients with no expectation of ideological purity. Kaplan herself gave a statement to the paper, saying, The work I do is high-stakes and challenging, requiring both toughness and precision. Because she had fought some of the worlds biggest bullies, there are people who dont like me, which comes with the territory, particularly when you are a woman, she added. I am proud of my record as a lawyer, colleague and mentor. She has been involved in controversies before. In 2021, she resigned as cochair of the board of Times Up, an organization founded to assist survivors of sexual harassment and assault, after it was revealed that she had advised then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his response to allegations that he had sexually harassed employees. Kaplan helped found Times Up and its legal defense fund in 2017. Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after a report from New York State Attorney General Letitia James found the accusations against Cuomo credible and concluded that he and his associates had committed unlawful retaliation against one of his accusers. Both Cohen and Hormozi have close ties to Cuomo, Bloomberg reports. Kaplan Hecker & Fink will be renamed Hecker Fink as of Monday. It was Robbies decision to leave the firm, partners Julie Fink and Sean Hecker said in a statement to the Times. We wish her the very best and look forward to working with her and her new firm in the future. Russia is sustaining high casualties in attacks in Ukraine, The New York Times reported. Around 1,000 Russian troops a day were killed or wounded, officials told the publication. But Russia is able to recruit new troops to replace the casualties, according to the Times. An average of 1,000 Russian troops a day were killed or wounded in Ukraine in May amid waves of head-on attacks on Ukrainian defenses, US, UK, and other Western intelligence agencies said, according to The New York Times. UK military intelligence has put the casualty rate at 1,200 a day in May, which it said was the highest reported since the start of the war. It said Russia's total number of killed or wounded since it launched the invasion in February 2022 now stood at around 500,000. It's unclear how many of these troops were killed and how many were wounded. Business Insider has contacted The Ministry of Defence for comment. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in June put the figure of the total number killed or wounded at around 350,000. The reported casualty increase in May came as Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Kharkiv region, which borders Russia in northern Ukraine. Russia is sending troops into head-on high-casualty attacks, known as human wave or "meat grinder" attacks. The attacks were used by Russia in brutal battles to seize control of the towns of Avdiikva and Bakhmut last year, but US officials told the Times they are proving less successful now. However, US officials told the Times that Russia has been able to replenish its troop numbers, recruiting around 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers a month, while Ukraine is struggling to find new recruits. Ukraine said in February that it believes 31,000 of its troops have been killed since the start of the war, but Western intelligence officials told The Washington Post the number is likely much higher. Russia has offered relatively lucrative contracts to new recruits, has drafted thousands of prisoners into the military, and has contracted foreign mercenaries to replace its losses. In September 2022, Russia drafted 300,000 civilians into the military, but it's unlikely that the Kremlin will need to launch another draft in the near future, US officials told the Times. Read the original article on Business Insider Insights from The Washington Post and Firstpost The News Russia warned on Friday that an increase in US drones being flown over the Black Sea could prompt it into a direct confrontation with NATO. The Kremlin accuses Washington of conducting reconnaissance on behalf of Ukraine in the waters, while the US has said it is flying the drones in accordance with international law. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Russia is using sabotage missions to hit back at NATO Source: The Washington Post The US has warned its NATO allies that Russia is intensifying a covert campaign of sabotage and hybrid warfare against supporters of Ukraine, The Washington Post reported. Recent fires in storage facilities in the UK and Spain, which were holding supplies destined for Ukraine, are thought to have been arson attacks that are part of a larger Kremlin strategy: Russia has often called for covert attacks that minimize the threat to Moscow while sowing discord elsewhere, the Posts David Ignatius noted. The Ukraine conflict keeps moving inexorably up the escalation ladder: Russia attacks, Ukraine defends; NATO pumps military aid to Ukraine, Russia responds by sabotaging NATO supply lines. Each rung higher, the danger of a misstep gets worse. NATO-Russia tensions may be near flashpoint Source: Firstpost Fears are mounting about the possibility of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. In Indian publication Firstpost, international studies professor Nalin Kumar Mohapatra argued that NATO may need to pull back some of its presence in Ukraine to counter the risk of angering Russia and entering into a wider war. NATOs major aim is to use Ukraine as a base for its further enlargement into the post-Soviet Eurasian space. This is the major flashpoint between NATO and Russia, Mohapatra argued. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. A business forum was held in the city of Podgorica within the framework of the 3rd session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Montenegro, Trend reports via AZPROMO. Addressing the forum, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Azerbaijan (co-chairman of the Commission from Azerbaijan) Sahil Babayev noted that relations between the countries are developing in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. According to him, Azerbaijan is one of the main investors in Montenegro, but there is still untapped potential for cooperation in the energy and transport sectors, as well as in trade. The trade turnover between the two countries increased by 54.32 percent in 2023. During the event, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro for Economic Policy, Minister of Economic Development Nik Gjeloshaj noted that increasing trade turnover between the countries is one of the main objectives of the development of cooperation. Meanwhile, the role of business forums in this process was emphasized. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro highly appreciated the prospects of the implementation of joint projects in tourism, logistics, and agriculture. Furthermore, representatives of AZPROMO, the Economic Chamber, and the Investment Agency of Montenegro made presentations on the investment environment of the countries, including promising projects implemented in the countries. Besides officials from both countries, the event was attended by representatives of companies representing tourism, construction, industry, cosmetics, food, beverages, logistics, and information technology sectors. Babayev and Gjeloshaj signed the Protocol on the Results of the 3rd Meeting of the Joint Commission. The document reflects the future directions of cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Russian Navys first new Project 23550 combat icebreaker has made an important step toward service entry. Unusually for an ice-breaking ship, the Ivan Papanin is armed, with the option to further increase its firepower in the future, including adding cruise missiles, This is a reflection of Russias preparations for potential future confrontations in the increasingly strategic Arctic region. Completed at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, the combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin has now begun factory sea trials, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, as reported today by the state-owned news agency TASS. An accompanying video shows the icebreaker being brought out of the shipyard and into open waters by a pair of tugs. The Project 23550 combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin heads out for sea trials. Russian state media "The Project 23550 Ice-class patrol ship "Ivan Papanin", built for the Russian Navy at "Admiralty Shipyards", went to sea for factory sea trials. https://t.co/qQlQdzH9xX pic.twitter.com/N9D40FHfiZ Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) June 28, 2024 In the course of this stage of tests the functioning of the propulsion system and onboard equipment systems will be checked, a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense read. The commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, received a report on the ships readiness for trials from the heads of the relevant bodies of the military command, the statement continued. TASS also reports that the ships crew have already completed comprehensive training with the Russian Navy. The course is said to have involved special programs for training on the operation of equipment and weapons of ships of this project in Arctic conditions. The crew of the Russian Navy's first ice-class patrol ship "Ivan Papanin" (Project 23550) has completed the process of settling on the ship. In summer the ship will go for factory sea trials. pic.twitter.com/r8swV16M7D Massimo Frantarelli (@MrFrantarelli) April 16, 2024 Ultimately, the Ivan Papanin will join the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, although the latest report doesnt provide an update on when this is due to happen. Formal commissioning had been planned for 2023, but is obviously running late, a situation that will be exacerbated by the demands of the war in Ukraine. Launched in October 2019, the progress of the Ivan Papanin and future prospects for the Project 23350 class are something that TWZ has been monitoring for some time now. What is especially notable about this class of ship is its ability to conduct combat missions, with a range of weapons potentially at its disposal. At the same time, the number of weapons fitted can apparently be scaled according to requirements. A head-on view of the Project 23550 combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin as it leaves the shipyard reinforces its impressive size. Russian state media Around the same time the Ivan Papanin was launched, Valery Polyakov, an adviser to the head of Krylov State Research Center, a state-run shipbuilding research and development group, provided his vision of Russias evolving plans for armed icebreakers. There will be icebreakers and ice-breaking ships, in other words, ships capable of moving at a sufficient speed through ice floes of [a] certain thickness. In fact, they will be armed icebreakers, Polyakov said. Where the ice is thin, there will be more weapons and the other way round. The icebreaker Ivan Papanin takes shape at the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg, in a photo from March 2021. Bestalex/Wikimedia Commons This would seem to have been a reference to the Project 23350 class and its potential to accommodate additional weaponry when the environmental conditions permit. In its initial configuration, Ivan Papanin has an AK-176MA 76mm gun main gun in a turret on the bow. Based on statements from Polyakov, TASS reported in the past that the Ivan Papanin and other ships may eventually receive an AK-190 turret, also known as the A-190, armed with a 100mm gun. An A-190 gun in action on an Indian Navy frigate: There is also the option of fitting containerized launchers for Klub and Kalibr anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles. A space at the rear of the vessel is expressly designed to accommodate these missile launchers, adding a powerful capability against a range of targets over a radius of between 930 and 1,550 miles, in the case of the longer-reaching Kalibr. In its report today, TASS suggests that the vessels can be optionally armed with eight Kalibr cruise missiles and/or Uran anti-ship missiles in two container launchers. The Uran is a smaller, shorter-ranged, subsonic anti-ship missile, closer in concept to the U.S. Harpoon. Interestingly, this last point has parallels with discussions in the past about providing the U.S. Coast Guards future heavy icebreakers with a cruise missile capability, as well. The U.S. Navy now has its own containerized launch system, called the Mk 70 Expeditionary Launcher, which it has tested on crewed and uncrewed ships, as well as in a ground-based configuration. Derived from the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System, the Mk 70 can be used to fire multi-purpose SM-6 missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The U.S. Army is in the process of fielding a closely related trailer-mounted containerized launcher as part of a system called Typhon. The Project 23550s also have a helipad and a hangar at the rear, sufficient to support a Helix series helicopter. At least one artists impression shows a Ka-29 naval assault helicopter onboard, providing another option for engaging hostile threats. A rear view of the Project 23550 combat icebreaker Ivan Papanin shows its helicopter deck and hangar. Russian state media Regardless of if or when the Ivan Papanin or other Project 23550s get additional weapons, the design signifies a major break from traditional icebreakers, which have not been schemed with real combat missions in mind. Clearly, Russia expects these ships to have the capacity to conduct combat missions if required. At the same time, the Project 23550 remains a capable icebreaker too. With a displacement of 9,000 tons, the vessels are expected to smash through ice up to five and a half feet thick. While this is notably less than the 10 feet or so that a heavy icebreaker can deal with, the Project 23550 achieves this on a relatively light hull, and one that can also undertake combat missions. Meanwhile, the Project 23550s at least three more of which are either under construction or planned are just part of a large and growing force of Russian icebreakers and ice-capable ships, which today number around 40 vessels. Of the four planned Project 23550s, two are destined for the Russian Border Troops and may well be differently equipped. Otherwise, Russias ships in this category include the new conventional Project 22600 and the enormous nuclear-powered Project 22220 icebreakers, as well as the ice-capable Project 03182 multi-purpose tankers. There have also been deliveries of other ice-capable support ships, namely the Project 20180 series, in recent years. Russias first nuclear-powered Project 22220 icebreaker, Arktika, currently the largest such ship in the world. Rosatom Potentially, some of these vessels could also be armed in the future, to create a larger combat-capable fleet. All these developments point very clearly to the growing importance of the Arctic region for Russia and the expectation that this could be a future combat theater. Driven by global climate change, the strategic importance of the Arctic region has climbed steadily in recent years. As the polar ice cap retreats, this has increasingly opened up the region to greater activity and geopolitical competition. Not only Russia, but also the United States, Canada, and to a lesser extent China, as well as others, are looking to expand their military presence in the Arctic or at least the ability for their armed forces to operate there effectively. In Russia, there has been intense activity in recent years to develop infrastructure in the Arctic to better support expanding deployments of ships, aircraft, and ground forces. The Project 23550 ships are very much at the vanguard of these efforts, but they also highlight what is a growing gap in capabilities when compared with the United States. Earlier this year, TWZ reported about this gap, after the U.S. Coast Guard said it was planning to buy an existing commercial icebreaker to help support its Arctic operations, a possibility that has been discussed since at least 2015. At the same time, work on a new class of three Polar Security Cutter heavy icebreakers for the Coast Guard has suffered major delays, meaning that the first of these might not now be delivered until 2028 the first had originally been due in service in 2024. A rendering of VT Halters Polar Security Cutter design. Technology Associated, Inc. via VT Halter Marine In the meantime, the service is left with one operational heavy icebreaker the USCGC Polar Star which is becoming increasingly troublesome in terms of operations and maintenance. Otherwise, the Coast Guard has a medium icebreaker, the USCGC Healy, which offers more limited capabilities. The USCGC Polar Star, the Coast Guards only currently operational heavy icebreaker. USCG Plans had been laid out in the past for the Coast Guard to buy three new medium icebreakers, but the timeline remains unclear. The service is meanwhile acutely aware of the issues it faces in the Arctic and has said that it eventually requires a mix of at least eight to nine heavy and medium icebreakers to meet even its basic polar icebreaking mission requirements. While dating from 2017, this graphic showing the major icebreakers in service, under construction, or otherwise in planning around the world remains relevant when it comes to the disproportionate size of Russias icebreaker fleet. USCG Despite the pivot to the Pacific and the renewed emphasis on Russias activities in Europe, in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, theres little doubt that the strategic importance of the Arctic region is only set to grow. This factor is at the heart of the U.S. Coast Guards concerns about the limitations of its current icebreaker fleet. For the time being, Russia possesses a fleet of icebreakers and ice-capable ships that is far larger than any of its rivals. Whats more, that fleet is growing, and while the Ivan Papanin may be delayed, its set to continue that path of growth. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com View comments At a plenary meeting of the International St. Petersburg Legal Forum, Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Russian Federation's Investigative Committee, argued for the possibility of lifting the death penalty moratorium in light of the 22 March terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast. Source: Russian Interfax Quote: "It is vital to consider lifting the moratorium on the death penalty. In some circumstances, the death sentence is necessary, and I support it in these cases." Details: As an example, the head of the Investigative Committee mentioned the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow. "The terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall left 144 people dead. In Soviet times the death penalty could be applied for the murder of two or three individuals, but these criminals will get a maximum of life imprisonment," Bastrykin said. Bastrykin stated that he is a "supporter of the death penalty" and believes that "it would be very humane" if a maniac who killed 70, 80, 100 people was "sentenced to capital punishment, to be shot". Bastrykin also advocated lifting the moratorium by presidential decree, without amending the Constitution. "Some intelligent, skilled lawyers advised me that the Constitution should be altered, a referendum should be held, and I feel that it is simply necessary to lift the moratorium on the death sentence by presidential decree," he added. Background: The shooting incident occurred prior to a concert by the band Piknik at the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast, on the evening of 22 March. Afterwards, a large fire broke out in the auditorium. The latest reports say 137 people have died, including 3 children, and 180 people were injured. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) said the terrorist attack was a deliberate provocation by Putins regime that had been anticipated by the international community. Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, stated that Ukraine had nothing to do with the attack. Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that a "back door" had been prepared for the suspects to cross the border into Ukraine. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence responded by saying that these claims are entirely devoid of truth. The United States says it has no doubt that ISIS was involved in the terrorist attack and had warned Russia in advance of the threat of such an attack. Russian Telegram channels close to Russian special services reported that the persons detained on suspicion of committing the terrorist attack were being tortured. Support UP or become our patron! YAKUTSK, Russia (Reuters) - In Russia's far northeastern Yakutia region, local scientists are performing an autopsy on a wolf frozen in permafrost for around 44,000 years, a find they said was the first of its kind. Found by chance by locals in Yakutia's Abyyskiy district in 2021, the wolf's body is only now being properly examined by scientists. "This is the world's first discovery of a late Pleistocene predator," said Albert Protopopov, head of the department for the study of mammoth fauna at the Yakutia Academy of Sciences. "Its age is about 44,000 years, and there have never been such finds before," he said. Sandwiched between the Arctic Ocean and in Russia's Arctic far east, Yakutia is a vast region of swamps and forests around the size of Texas, around 95% of which is covered in permafrost. Winter temperatures in the region have been known to drop to as low as minus 64 degrees Celsius (-83.2F) "Usually, it's the herbivorous animals that die, get stuck in swamps, freeze and reach us as a whole. This is the first time when a large carnivore has been found," said Protopopov. While it's not unusual to find millenia-old animal carcasses buried deep in permafrost, which is slowly melting due to climate change, the wolf is special, Protopopov said. "It was a very active predator, one of the larger ones. Slightly smaller than cave lions and bears, but a very active, mobile predator, and it was also a scavenger," he added. For Artyom Nedoluzhko, development director of the paleogenetics laboratory at the European University of St Petersburg, the wolf's remains offer a rare insight into the Yakutia of 44,000 years ago. "The main goal is to understand what this wolf fed on, who it was, and how it relates to those ancient wolves that inhabited the northeastern part of Eurasia," he said. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Miral Fahmy) Russians attack Nikopol district with drones in morning, setting house on fire and causing damage Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, has reported that Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district with kamikaze drones on the morning of 28 June. Source: Lysak on Telegram Quote: "The Russian army struck Nikopol district again in the early hours of the morning. They hit the city of Nikopol with kamikaze drones." Details: Lysak said one house caught fire and another one was damaged. An outbuilding was also severely affected. He added that there were no casualties. Support UP or become our patron! A civilian has been killed as a result of a Russian attack on Zolota Balka, Kherson Oblast. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Russian troops have killed a resident of Zolota Balka. Last night, the occupiers attacked the settlement, as a result of which a 67-year-old woman was fatally wounded." Details: Prokudin expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Background: On 27 June, Russians attacked a civilian car with an FPV drone in Novovorontsovka, Kherson Oblast, injuring a 62-year-old man and a woman. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces have dropped aerial bombs on the settlement of New-York in Donetsk Oblast, killing four people and injuring three civilians, including an eight-year-old girl. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Details: On the morning of 28 June, the Russian occupying forces once again launched an attack on Toretsk hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories] with aerial bombs. Early reports say that the Russians dropped the KAB-250 guided aerial bombs on the village of New-York. As a result of the strike on a private housing area, a 45-year-old man has received head injuries. Another projectile struck a residential building, destroying the entrance of a five-storey building and killing four civilians, aged 43 to 76. A 39-year-old woman and her eight-year-old daughter have been injured. They were hospitalised with mine-blast traumas, bruises and contusions. The childs state is assessed as severe. Support UP or become our patron! Russians drop guided aerial bombs on Tsyrkuny in Kharkiv Oblast, number of casualties has risen to 8 photos The Russians attacked the village of Tsyrkuny in Kharkiv Oblast with three guided aerial bombs, injuring eight people. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration; Ukraines Air Force; Prosecutor Generals Office on Telegram Quote from Sinehubov: "The enemy struck with at least three guided aerial bombs. A private house and an outbuilding caught fire. Two more strikes were made on the territory of a civilian company. All specialised services are working on the spot." Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Details: Earlier, the Air Force warned about the launch of guided aerial bombs on Kharkiv Oblast. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Updated: Syniehubov later reported that the number of casualties had increased to eight. Two homes and farm buildings caught fire. Several more residences were damaged. Law enforcement launched a pre-trial investigation into the alleged violations of the laws and customs of law. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian air defence destroyed three Russian drones on 27 June: two Lancet attack drones in Kherson Oblast and a Zala reconnaissance drone in Mykolaiv Oblast. Source: Air Command Pivden (South) Details: It is also reported that the Russian occupation forces attacked Mykolaiv Oblast twice on 27 June with ballistic missiles, presumably Iskander-M, launched from the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. Quote: "The enemy continues to use tactical aircraft quite actively. On the night of 27-28 June 2024, the occupiers again carried out airstrikes in Kherson Oblast, using aerial bombs." Support UP or become our patron! On Friday, 28 June the Russian occupying forces launched an attack on Odesa Oblast using a ballistic missile, setting off a fire in a wheat field. Source: Illia Yevlash, head of the public relations service of the Ukrainian Air Force, on air of the national joint 24/4 newscast; Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Around noon, the enemy used a ballistic missile. Its type is being specified, and the information concerning the aftermath will be revealed later." Details: Yevlash added that it is not the first time that the Russians have launched missiles from the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea. In daytime, Russian forces usually launch attacks with ballistic missiles and Kh-59 guided aerial missiles. Moreover, in frontline territories, they also actively use 250 or 500-kg guided aerial bombs so the threat remains. Yevlash stressed the importance of reacting to air raid warnings that the Air Force operatively informs citizens about on social media. Updated: Oleh Kiper later reported that in the afternoon, Russian forces had targeted Odesa Oblast with an Iskander-M ballistic missile carrying a cluster munition. The hit set a wheat field on fire, which is being put out. No information about damage or casualties has been submitted. The official added that the losses caused by the attack are being assessed. Support UP or become our patron! FILE PHOTO: Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the former armorer at the movie Rust, attends her sentencing hearing at First District Court, in Santa Fe By Brad Brooks (Reuters) - Lawyers for Hannah Gutierrez, the chief weapons handler for the Western movie "Rust," said in a Thursday court filing that prosecutors withheld evidence that would have favored the defendant during her manslaughter trial. The filing comes as a New Mexico judge is expected to rule on Friday on a request from Alec Baldwin's legal team that a manslaughter charge against him for the on-set shooting during the filming of "Rust" be tossed out. During filming in 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by a gun used as a prop that was being handled at the time by Baldwin. According to the filing, state prosecutors possessed a report from their own weapons experts that the gun used on the set of "Rust" had "unexplained toolmarks on critical surfaces of the trigger and sear." That, Gutierrez's attorney Jason Bowles said, is evidence that the gun could have accidentally fired, as both Baldwin and Gutierrez's legal teams have argued, and could have led to her not being found guilty at trial. Bowles requested that Gutierrez be released from prison pending a new trial. Bowles said he learned of the information during evidentiary hearings given in Baldwin's case this week, describing it as "bombshell exculpatory evidence" withheld by prosecutors that "would have resulted in a fundamentally different trial and likely a different outcome" for his client. State prosecutors did not respond to after-hours calls. During the evidentiary hearings in Baldwin's case, one of the state's weapons experts said that while he had at one time said in a report that marks on the gun might not have been caused during testing by the FBI, he later determined they had been. In March, Gutierrez, 27, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for mistakenly loading a live round into a revolver Baldwin was using on a Santa Fe, New Mexico, movie set. She was sentenced in April to 18 months in prison. The shooting, which stunned Hollywood, is believed to be the first time in modern times that a member of a film crew or cast was killed by a live round accidentally loaded into a gun. Baldwin's trial is set for July 10 after a grand jury indicted him on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in January. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The deal for acquisition by Hungarian MVM Group of a stake in Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field will help to secure a stable and reliable source of natural gas, Karoly Matrai, CEO of MVM Group, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. On June 5, 2024, MVM Group entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the Azerbaijani state-owned entity Southern Gas Corridor CJSC for the acquisition of a 5 percent stake in the Production Sharing Agreement for Shah Deniz offshore gas-condensate field in the territory of Azerbaijan and a 4 percent stake in Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company Limited, the exclusive special-purpose vehicle established for the marketing and sale of natural gas produced from Shah Deniz gas-condensate field. "The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024 once all necessary approvals and documentation are completed. This deal has become one of the largest acquisitions in MVMs history and it contributes to make progress in the realization of MVM Group's new strategy where a crucial element is the diversification of gas supplies thus reduction of dependence on a single source," he said. Matrai noted that the Seller and the Buyer have agreed not to publish the transaction price. "Therefore, we cannot disclose a specific amount. However, it is certain that the value of the transaction is not described by only the price agreed by the participating parties. The strategic significance to start a new type of cooperation between the two countries, Azerbaijan and Hungary, via this transaction shall be considered as a meaningful value in our view," he explained. The CEO believes that this acquisition will significantly enhance MVMs overall energy portfolio in several ways. "The first to mention is the fact that Shah Deniz as an exploration asset implements the existing energy transmission and distribution portfolio of MVM, thus the acquisition contributes to a natural hedge in the energy portfolio. On the other hand, the newly announced transaction helps to diversify MVMs energy supply sources. This helps MVM to secure a stable and reliable source of natural gas, which is crucial for energy security," said Matrai. He noted that further expectations are: - Reducing reliance on a single energy supplier by adding a significant international asset to its portfolio; - Strengthening MVMs position in the regional energy market by being involved in one of the largest gas fields in the world; - Gaining long-term benefits from the potential increase in gas production and condensate yields from the Shah Deniz field. "Overall, this acquisition will bolster MVMs energy portfolio, making it more robust, secure, and competitive on the global energy market. However, MVM possess natural gas upstream know-how yet, in case of Shah Deniz MVM acquires a non-operating interest, hence BP is the sole operator of the project. In addition to that MVM Group has significant experience in international natural gas trade and already gained valuable expertise in domestic upstream activities. At this stage we will focus on closing the transaction to become a part of the Shah Deniz gas and condensate field. However, it is important to mention that the Shah Deniz field is planned to be further extended in the coming years. The Shah Deniz Phase 3 is going to request further investments on behalf of the investors participating in the project, thus with this recent acquisition MVM has committed itself to further investments in Azerbaijan," said the CEO. He went on to add that in MVMs new strategy the green transition is one of the four major pillars. "Expanding in renewable energies, growing renewable generation capacities are among the objectives where the company already could make significant progress. At state level, both Azerbaijan and Hungary are part of the cooperation called Green Energy Corridor. This initiative will offer a suitable platform for international cooperation in renewable energies. We are confident that this cooperation will help to achieve further progress in renewable energy strategies, development, and innovation. MVM is optimistic about finding new areas of cooperation. We are just at the beginning of a strategically important investment which we regard as a first step. Our approach is a long-term perspective, and we are confident that with time new opportunities will emerge. Yet at this point our highest priority is the proper completion of the newly announced acquisition," he concluded. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn The buffalo hide with a painting of Wakan Gli that was unveiled on June 26, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The buffalo hide with a painting of Wakan Gli that was unveiled on June 26, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) HEBGEN LAKE, Montana The birth of a sacred white buffalo calf earlier this month in Yellowstone National Parks Lamar Valley fulfills a tribal prophecy, according to Native American spiritual leaders. The prophecy means people need to take better care of Mother Earth and must come together to do so, leaders and elders told a group of about 500 people gathered Wednesday on the north shore of Hebgen Lake. Its up to each and every one of you to make it happen for the future of our children. We must come together and bring that good energy back, said Chief Arvol Looking Horse, the spiritual and ceremonial leader of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people and the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle. Looking Horse presided over the ceremony just west of Yellowstone National Park, which encompasses sacred ancestral lands for many western and northern plains tribes. He unveiled a buffalo hide painted with a portrait of the calf, naming it Wakan Gli, which means Sacred Return, Sacred Comes Home, or Comes Holy, according to tribal leaders who were at the ceremony. A buffalo hide that was painted with a mural of the sacred white buffalo born in Yellowstone National Park, named Wakan Gli or "Sacred Return." (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Representatives from the Shoshone-Bannock, Lakota, Sioux, Northern Arapaho and Colville tribes were among those who told the crowd of tribal members, tourists, and others who had traveled to the ceremony at the Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters that the birth of Wakan Gli was a foreboding message that the world is in a bad place at the moment, but also that it would help bring forth guidance on how to fix things. Understand that our ancestors come here and that when we come here, those spirits of our ancestors wake up and we introduce ourselves to the land, said Darnell Sam, the Wenatchi Salmon Chief and member of the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington. When we sing our songs, those spirits visit one another. They hold each other up. And thats what were here to do today is to support one another for this buffalo spirit. Chief Arvol Looking Horse (center) is the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Bundle and presided over the naming ceremony and celebration on June 26, 2024, of a white buffalo born in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Long ago, Looking Horse said, there was a time when food was disappearing, bison were scarce, and the people were sick and hungry. Tribes were looking for buffalo near what is now known as Devils Tower, when the White Buffalo Calf Woman presented herself to two scouts. The next day, the White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared again, as she had promised, and brought the sacred red-stone pipe and bundle and showed them how to pray to the creator and find food. As she left over the hills, she first took the form of other colors of buffalo, then turned into a white buffalo. She told the people that she would one day return as a white buffalo calf with a black nose, black eyes, and black hooves. Mother Earth is going to be sick and has a fever. And thats happening right now, as we speak. This is a prophecy that has been fulfilled, Looking Horse said. And thats the only way Mother Earth is going to speak through these white animals. Looking Horse called the calfs birth a momentous time in our history. About a dozen tribal members from across the region shared versions of what the white buffalo, and the American bison species in general, mean to the tribes and their heritages, and led the ceremony in prayer and song. The arrival of the calf also offered a chance for deep reflection, the speakers said, on why it appeared now and how people need to recognize that its coming means they will have to change their behaviors with each other and with nature in order to save Mother Earth. A photo of the new white buffalo in Yellowstone National Park taken by photographer Jordan Creech. (Copyright Jordan Creech, provided by the Buffalo Field Campaign) Look at the interactions that we have as human beings, because theres something were missing there, said Devin Old Man of the Northern Arapahoe Tribe on the Wind River reservation in Wyoming. And its just as simple as sitting underneath the tree listening to the birds, watching the bees get the honey. Paying attention to these wild animals because theyre in their natural habitat. The calf has been elusive after it was first photographed in the Lamar Valley by Kalispell photographer Erin Braaten in early June. The Buffalo Field Campaign has provided photos of the calf taken by Jordan Creech. Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in an interview last week the staff at the park had not seen the calf yet but the search was on. He said if the calf survives, he imagines it will become an animal celebrity of sorts, like Grizzly 399, the grizzly bear that lives in Grand Teton National Park and is followed by dozens of photographers. There will probably be a lot of people going to find the white bison. Maybe that bison figured it out and took off into the deep backcountry just to hang out there, Sholly said. But Im sure itll be news if we see it again. According to the National Park Service Biological Resources Division and to Looking Horse, the last white buffalo with black eyes, nose and hooves to survive infancy was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1994. Called Miracle, she was the first white buffalo calf born since 1933; that bison is known as Big Medicine. These types of white buffalo differ from albino buffalo. Another white buffalo calf born in Minnesota in 2012 died two weeks later. People gathered at Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters at Hebgen Lake on June 26, 2024, to celebrate the birth of a sacred white buffalo. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) Mike Mease, the campaign coordinator for the Buffalo Field Campaign, said Wednesday that holding the ceremony for the sacred white buffalo calf was the biggest honor of my life. He helped start the organization nearly three decades ago to help preserve the nations largest wild bison herd, which Indian Country and many who work in the field refer to as buffalo. From that day to this day, Ive had the honor of standing with these buffalo, of learning from these buffalo, understanding them more than I understand most people, to be quite honest, Mease said. And those buffalo teach me about unity and about caring for one another. He explained that buffalo help each other survive the bitterly cold and long winters each year and help other animals in the ecosystem survive as well through months of deep snow. The lead bison cuts through the deepest snow, and the rest of the herd follows behind in a single file, then allows the lead buffalo to move to the back to rest. In that lesson, we learn the buffalo as a family, as a herd, share the burden of survival. They work together to make it all work. And when that trail is built back there in the deep snows, then the deer use it. The elk use it. The wolves use it, he said. Because the buffaloes are the protectors of the land, the people, and all the other animals. Looking Horse said when he was chosen in 1966 at 12 years old to be the sacred pipe and bundle keeper, his grandmother who preceded him in that role had a warning about Mother Earth and the prophecy of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. She also told the people that if people dont straighten up, then I shall be the last sacred bundle keeper, and that is always in my heart. Yellowstone National Park statement about white bison calf Confirmation At this time, Yellowstone National Park can confirm, based on multiple creditable sightings, that a white bison calf was born in Lamar Valley on June 4, 2024. Yellowstones Center for Resources Bison Management Team received numerous reports and photos of the calf taken on June 4 from park visitors, professional wildlife watchers, commercial guides and researchers. To date, park staff have been unable to locate the calf. To our knowledge, there have been no confirmed sightings by park visitors since June 4. Photos provided to park biologists indicate the calf is leucistic (black eyes and hooves with some pigmentation), rather than an albino animal. Significance The birth of a white bison calf was a rare natural phenomenon that once occurred before the near extinction of bison in the late 19th century, when bison numbered in the tens of millions. The birth of a white bison calf may reflect the presence of a natural genetic legacy that was preserved in Yellowstones bison, which has revealed itself because of the successful recovery of a wild bison population of 3,000-6,000 animals. The birth of a white bison calf in the wild is a landmark event in the ecocultural recovery of bison by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS has never reported a white calf being born within Yellowstone National Park. The birth of a white bison calf in the wild is believed to occur in 1 in 1 million births or even less frequently. The NPS acknowledges the cultural significance of a white bison calf for American Indians. Bison Population The bison population fluctuates from 3,000 to 6,000 animals in two subpopulations, defined by where they gather for breeding. The northern herd breeds in the Lamar Valley and on the high plateaus around it. The central herd breeds in Hayden Valley. The NPS estimates the 2024 pre-calving bison population around 4,550. Calving occurs in a single pulse during late spring and early summer. The NPS will complete annual post-calving counts this August. Each spring, about 1 in 5 bison calves die shortly after birth due to natural hazards. Read more about bison ecology and bison management in Yellowstone . The post Sacred Return: Tribal ceremony honors birth of prophesied white buffalo calf appeared first on Daily Montanan. WASHINGTON A voter in Nevada compared President Joe Bidens performance to elder abuse. A voter in Georgia was so disgusted with what he was hearing from the Democratic incumbent and former President Donald Trump that he quit watching, walked to a liquor store and bought a six-pack of beer. Another voter in Wisconsin called it a painful experience. Americans reacted to the first presidential debate of 2024 with a mix of exhaustion, trepidation and disgust. The face-off between the current president and his predecessor was the earliest televised debate in American history, taking place before either man is officially declared their party's candidate at the national party conventions. Biden and Trump spent 90 minutes on stage in Atlanta answering questions posed by moderators from CNN and trading insults, at times in the most personal of terms. You have the morals of an alley cat, Biden told Trump, citing the former presidents sexual escapade with former porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump called Biden the worst president in history and kept referring to his opponent as a liar who is unable to tell the truth. "Youre a whiner, Biden told Trump, referring to his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election. You cant stand loss. Something snapped in you when you lost last time." Trump said the United States has become like a Third World nation under Biden and said what he has done to the country is absolutely criminal. Near the end of the debate, the two candidates even sparred over their golf scores. "Let's not act like children," Trump said. You are a child, Biden shot back. Reporters for USA TODAY's network partners interviewed swing-state residents shortly after the debate ended to see how they thought each candidate fared. Heres what they said: 'Good luck, America': Debate solidifies voter concerns in Wisconsin Voters attending a debate watch party in Wisconsins liberal bastion, the capital city of Madison, lamented the choice in front of them. Noah Anders, 24, grimaced when asked what he thought about the debate. "It was a painful experience to sit through, Anders said. Neither candidate inspires our country. Anders, who will soon start law school at the University of Wisconsin, said the debate left him with concerns about Bidens cognitive abilities but that he also questions Trumps mental acuity. "To be president you deal with a lot of tough issues, and I don't know if they have the ability to navigate the nuance and hardships of the job," he said. "Good luck, America." Timothy Sanders, 48, said despite the presidents shaky performance, he is still optimistic about Biden. But he acknowledged the president didn't sound as crisp at a time that optics could be important to the election. "I'm not concerned at all about his age, he said. If you had a grandpa who took you fishing and had a stutter, you would still trust him. You wouldn't put him in a debate on live television if you could avoid that because that's entertainment. That's not fair." Sanders vowed to campaign for Biden because he doesn't want to see Trump elected again. "I think we're in a very dangerous place," he said. Jesse Clingan, 42, a construction worker from Milwaukee, also wasnt pleased with the Biden-Trump matchup. "It's kind of picking the worst of two evils, Clingan said. I resent having to choose one of them. But at the end of the day, Id rather have (Biden) on his worst day than Trump at all." Arizona voters close ranks around preferred candidate In Arizona, reaction to the debate reflected the wide partisan divide and rancor that has characterized the race so far. At pro-Biden and pro-Trump debate watch parties in the Phoenix metro area, attendees closed ranks around their candidate and criticized the other as a liar or worse. Trump fans ridiculed Biden over his age. During the debate, several watch party attendees yelled Hes going to poop his pants! in reference to Biden's age. At the halftime mark in the debate, Angela DiLiberto, 51, of Phoenix, said Trump was smoking Biden. "I want Trump to say 'Putting him out on a stage like this is cruel,'" she said, commenting on his age. Her friend, Ann Campbell, 69, of Phoenix, said she is concerned about Biden's age. "Its sad to me because I have elderly parents and he needs to be home," she said. Amelia Gallitano, a 58-year-old Phoenix resident, defended Bidens performance at the CNN presidential debate. I appreciate that hes gone on the attack, I appreciate that hes calling out lies, calling Trump a liar and not buckling and only acting on the defensive, Gallitano said at a pro-Biden watch party. When asked about Bidens fitness heading into the election, she deemed it a difficult situation, but also highlighted both candidates' advanced ages. People give Trump a pass for that," Gallitano said. Really what it comes down to is what are the potential consequences of them running the country. Bidens done a great job, and Trump was a disaster. With age and fitness for office being a large issue for many voters heading into November, Harvey Bryan, 75, of Tempe, noted some issue with both candidates. Both are a little older than I am, and I can tell you, theres issues there when you get to my age, Bryan said. 'We want real solutions': Voter in Nevada doubts debate will change minds In Nevada, Reno Republican Nicol Herris said she felt like the country was lost while watching the presidential debate. My dad used to tell me to understand how a company is doing, look at its leadership, she said. And now we have President Biden looking like this? Its elder abuse. Trying to follow his mumblings was hard." Herris said she doesn't think the debate is going to change people's minds. I believe that people are sick and tired of what's happening, and we want real solutions," she said. Reno is in Washoe County, the most swing county in one of the nations most swing states. At a watch party hosted by the Democratic Party, an audience of about 60 booed and often shouted Answer the question whenever Trump spoke.He cant stick to a subject, Allyson Ford said. Hes just rambling, he cant focus, he cant answer a question thats posed to him. Hes just throwing out accusations, many of which have already been disproved many times. Kim Bacchus was pleased that the Trump she wanted to see in the debate was the one who showed up. I thought Trump dominated, the Reno Republican said. He looked physically healthy, and he was very focused, very sharp, very informed, assertive, confident. I thought he was very much in control of the debates. US President Joe Biden takes pictures with supporters as he visits a Biden-Harris campaign debate watch party in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, 2024, after President Biden debated former US President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) 'They weren't trying to inform us': Georgia voters dismayed by both candidates On Georgia Techs campus in Atlanta, where the debate was held, local residents expressed dismay at the performance of both candidates. Nathan Cox, a recent college graduate, said he found the debate upsetting and stopped listening when the candidates began discussing Ukraine and Israel. He instead went to the nearby liquor store to grab a six-pack of beer. It was like a foreign policy mush, and those are issues that really matter to me because Im scared of the implications of them, Cox said. Im scared of escalation with Russia. Im scared of ending support to Ukraine, which Im afraid might happen under a Republican administration. Im scared of whats happening to the Palestinians. I dont think its in any way fair to the civilians who have been killed. While he said he believes another Trump presidency would do more harm than good, Cox said Biden's foreign policy decisions have been disappointing. Im upset because [Biden] is somebody I would have voted for, he said. Georgia Tech student Stephen Viray also stopped watching the debate early, expressing disappointment with the content of the discussion. I feel like they were ignoring so many questions, Viray said. I didnt get the answers I really wanted. Honestly, thats kind of what I expected though. With these candidates, I dont really know if we have a great choice. Like Cox, he expressed a sense of dissatisfaction with the two candidates. It was all just a political play, he said. They werent trying to inform us, to be honest. They were just trying to get us to not vote for the other person. Zachary Elis, another Georgia Tech student, said the debate reinforced his concerns about Bidens competence to hold office for another term. I came into this thing supporting Donald Trump, just based on the fact that Im concerned about Joe Bidens ability to keep leading the county for the next four years, Elis said. I think I left this debate with that worry confirmed. 'Same old schtick': Pennsylvania voters disappointed by debate Philip Seaver-Hall, a 28-year-old attorney and the president of the Erie County Young Democrats, felt exhausted after watching another debate featuring Trump. "I feel fatigued, and I feel distressed that Donald Trump has gotten as far as he has after all that he has done," he said. Biden won on substance, Seaver-Hall said. The president needed to prove he could "drop the gloves and play hardball. And I think he did that." Seaver-Hall said he thought Biden's strongest exchange was when he defended U.S. service members from remarks Trump reportedly made in 2018 during a trip to France, calling American soldiers "suckers" and "losers." "I think he did better than a lot of Americans probably expected he would," he said of Biden. "He was spouting facts left and right. Meanwhile, Trump was spouting lies left and right. Look, we know who Joe Biden is. We know that he's struggled with a stutter for his entire life. We know that he's an octogenarian. Those aren't surprises to anybody." Scott Elper, 30, grew up just outside Harrisburg, the state capital in central Pennsylvania, and previously worked landscaping and other blue-collar jobs before his current position working in a credit union. Elper didnt vote in the 2020 election. But the very progressive Democrat said he was voting for Biden in November and the debate didnt sway him. There is only one candidate I align with, Elper said. While Biden seemed to freeze up at times throughout the debate, Elper said that could have been a coping mechanism for a disability he and Biden share a stutter. Overall, Elper said he wasnt too impressed with the debate and didnt think it would have much of an impact on voters. It was the same old schtick from both sides, honestly, he said. I am kind of disappointed that Biden kept getting swept into (Trumps) madness. In southeastern Pennsylvania, former Warminster Township supervisor and retired drywall installer Mark McKee has thrown his support behind Trump since 2016 and plans to vote for him again in November. McKee, 58, said he believed Trumps performance in the 2020 debate cost him that election. On Thursday night, the Bucks County resident said he saw a more composed candidate. I think that overall Trump won this debate hands down. (Biden) looked frail and confused and that was after five days of debate prep, McKee said. McKee said the debate covered most of the important issues to him, though he would have liked to have heard more on the economy and felt discussion on crime was scant. I was disappointed that the crime issue wasnt addressed. Perhaps in the next debate, McKee said. Biden and Trump are set to square off again September 10. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Swing state voters have intense reaction to first presidential debate San Antonio man sentenced to 11 years in prison for death of El Paso woman San Antonio man sentenced to 11 years in prison for death of El Paso woman EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A San Antonio man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for distributing fentanyl-laced pills that lead to the death of an El Paso woman, according to the United States Attorneys Office of the Western District of Texas. Brennan Dane Short, 49, sold counterfeit M-30 pills through a short mailed package to a purchaser in El Paso on March 21, 2023, according to court documents. On March 27, 2023, the purchaser of the pills was found dead at a hotel, according to court documents. The El Paso County Medical Examiners Office said that the woman had died of acute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl toxicity though she would not have died but for the fentanyl. Short was arrested on Aug. 15, 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 4 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance causing death or serious bodily injury, according to court documents. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The Supreme Court handed down its ruling Friday regarding enforcement on homeless encampments in cities like San Diego. The case is known as City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. It began after the city of Grants Pass, Oregon started issuing tickets to people sleeping in public. In a 6-3 vote, the high court reversed a ruling by a San Francisco-based appeals court that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Clairemont residents concerned over 12-unit bonus ADU project Put simply, the decision allows cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside, something that has been a hot-button topic in the region as communities weigh options in dealing with encampments encroaching on sidewalks and other public spaces such as parks. The Supreme Courts majority found that the 8th Amendment prohibition does not extend to bans on outdoor sleeping. Critics, however, have expressed the notion that ticketing the homeless could make the problem worse. Here at home in San Diego, the courts ruling will impact the legality of the citys sidewalk camping ban, which police started to enforce in July of last year. The ordinance, which was passed by the city council, bars unhoused residents from camping throughout the city if shelter beds are available. The raised issue here is that theres not enough shelter space available, in turn, leaving the homeless to sleep outside. While looking at this issue San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has touted a proposed 1,000-bed mega homeless shelter in Middletown to help, among other solutions. Some local resident have pushed back, however, pointing to the difficulties they face due to unhoused people in the area. The ordinance also prohibits encampments in certain areas at all times, including parks, canyons and the space within two city blocks of schools, transit centers and homeless services centers. Mayor Todd Gloria commented on the Supreme Courts decision regarding this issue shortly after the ruling was announced Friday, stating, This ruling brings much-needed clarity to how the city can enforce our laws against unsafe encampments; however, it will not change our strategy on homelessness. The mayor continued, stating, It is clear that the 1,000 new shelter opportunities weve added in the past three years is working to reduce street homelessness, and we intend to continue to pursue additional beds like those planned for Kettner and Vine to help people off the street and get them connected to care and resources. As for now, the homeless can expect the citys progressive enforcement model to continue, meaning a third encounter with police could result in an arrest. More information on San Diegos Unsafe Camping Ordinance can be found here. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SAN DIEGO (KUSI) Pasatiempo Park, located in San Diegos Del Cerro neighborhood, could soon be subjected to a new curfew. San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo proposed the curfew in a new ordinance, which passed through the councils Community and Neighborhood Services Committee on Thursday. Under the proposed change, the Pasatiempo Neighborhood Park and Pasatiempo Park West Open Space would be closed to the public between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. from April 1 to Oct. 31. Between Nov. 1 and March 31, both spaces would be closed from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. According to Campillo, this curfew would address longstanding issues raised by residents of the area, stemming from young peoples use of the park after hours. Most parks do not have a curfew throughout the city of San Diego. There are certain parks that do, he said. This would be adding it to the list. In the meantime, there is a portable surveillance camera placed in the area of the park. If the curfew passes, uniformed officers would also be posted at the space. Watch Dan Plantes report for KUSI in the player above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. This SC city is among the most mosquito infested in the US for 2024, Orkin says If youve stepped outside in South Carolina this summer, youve likely already encountered a mosquito or two. The dreaded insect is one of the scourges of the South it causes irritating, itchy bites and can carry dangerous diseases. The annoying critters thrive in warm, damp environments, which is why theyre so prevalent across the South each summer. Every year, pest control company Orkin compiles a list of the top 50 most mosquito infested U.S. cities as a way to encourage homeowners to take preventative measures. The data for this years list was collected by tracking new residential mosquito treatments from April 23, 2023 to March 31, 2024. This year, one South Carolina city made the list. Given how mosquitoes love wet and warm environments to reproduce, one might believe that Charleston or Myrtle Beach would make it onto the list. But no. This year, the ignominious honor goes to Greenville. The city, which has made many best of lists in recent years, was ranked 29th most mosquito infested for 2024 by Orkin. Below are the top 10 most mosquito infested cities for 2024. For the complete list, click here. Top 10 mosquito infested U.S. cities Los Angeles New York Chicago Dallas Atlanta Houston Washington, D.C. Philadelphia San Francisco Detroit How to control mosquitoes in your yard Ridding your property of mosquitoes starts with eliminating places where they lay their eggs. Remove any containers or pools of stagnant water from your property, as they are ideal breeding spots for mosquitoes. Tightly cover water storage containers so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. Fill tree holes to prevent them from filling with water. If you have a septic tank, repair any cracks or gaps. You can also use larvicides to treat large bodies of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped. Use outdoor adulticide to kill adult mosquitoes where they rest, which include dark and humid areas like under patio furniture or under the garage. How to control mosquitoes in your home Use an indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes. Only using insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes. Use window and door screens and make sure theyre in good condition. Kill mosquitoes where they rest, which includes dark and humid places like under sinks, in closets, under furniture and laundry rooms. In a joint effort to combat the rising threat of online child sextortion, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is joining with a South Carolina House member who knows firsthand the crimes devastating effects. State Rep. Brandon Guffey, R-York, and Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte have partnered to bring awareness to online child extortion or sextortion, according to a news release. The partnership, which also includes Amanda Whittle, director of the South Carolina Department of Childrens Advocacy, is a part of the Homeland Security Departments Know 2 Protect Campaign, the release said. Education and awareness are 98% of the battle, said Guffey, whose son was a victim of sex extortion. The Know 2 Protect campaign is going to provide consistent updates and resources, including educational materials, to help prevent and fight against child exploitation. Now, were trying to spread the word that these resources are out there. HSI is the main investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The agency is responsible for investigating domestic and international crime and threats to the U.S.. Finding and stopping those who seek to exploit our children online as well as those involved in viewing, creating or distributing these disturbing images of children is one of our highest priorities, said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. I am happy to stand with our partners in this fight to protect our most vulnerable population. More than 3,000 cases of minors victimized by sex extortion were reported in 2022, according to the FBI. The Department of Homeland Securitys national Know 2 Protect Campaign was created to bring to awareness to sextortion, morphed images, child pornography and other obscene material, Guffey said. The campaign works to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse, explain how to report online enticement and victimization and offer resources for victims, survivors and their supporters. Free resources are available at Know2Protect.gov and DHS.gov. Parents can call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC Cyber Tipline. Guffey, who lost his son, Gavin, to sextortion in 2022, has worked in the General Assembly to increase protections for children who may fall victim. In 2023, Guffey introduced Gavins Law, which makes sextortion a felony offense that becomes aggravated if the victim is a minor. Sextortion is the act of blackmailing someone after luring them to send sexually explicit photos of themselves via text or social media. In 2022, someone pretending to be a college-age woman asked Guffeys son to send illicit photos of himself. After the pictures were exchanged, someone tried to extort Gavin and his family for money, which eventually led to his death by suicide, Guffey said. Fighting for exploited children is my lifes mission and Ill do it until the day I die, said Guffey, who was recently hired as a senior executive advisor for Cyber Dive, an Arizona-based tech company that offers products designed to help parents monitor their childs online activity. While the internet can be a great resource for school research or staying in touch with friends and relatives, it is also, unfortunately, a place where bad actors can prey on our children, Whittle said. The dangers of sexual exploitation are not always obvious, and we are grateful for coordinated efforts like Know2Protect to help children and parents guard against the ongoing threat of online predators. Derek Schmidt, a Republican candidate for Congress and a former Kansas attorney general, endorsed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a 1985 precedent of judges deferring to federal government agencies when implementing fague laws passed by Congress. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Derek Schmidt, a Republican candidate for Congress and a former Kansas attorney general, endorsed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a 1985 precedent of judges deferring to federal government agencies when implementing fague laws passed by Congress. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt lauded Friday a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict authority of federal government agencies to assume a prominent role in interpretating ambiguous laws rather than depending on Congress to fill the gaps. Schmidt, a Republican candidate in for the U.S. House in the 2nd District, said overturning a 40-year precedent was a victory for accountability in government and an important restraint on unelected bureaucrats. As attorney general, he signed onto a brief supported by officials in more than a dozen states urging the Supreme Court to upend the Chevron doctrine that directed judges to give deference to reasonable interpretations offered by federal agencies when Congress failed to clearly define how to administer a law. Under the 1984 doctrine, judges were to yield to agency experts when assessing regulations tied to federal statute. When I served as Kansas attorney general, Schmidt said, I asked the Supreme Court to take up the case. He said his campaign to fill the eastern Kansas congressional seat to be vacated by U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kansas, was in part a fight against the intrusion of big government into our lives. The 6-3 decision of the Supreme Court would strengthen the ability of Congress and our independent judiciary to stand up for liberty and government accountability, Schmidt said. Supporters of the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council doctrine argued the decision would undermine federal regulation of consumer products, transportation systems, the environment and an array of other sectors of the federal government. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagans dissent said a longstanding precedent at the crux of administrative governance thus falls victim to a bald assertion of judicial authority. The majority disdains restraint, and grasps for power. The ruling wouldnt automatically nullify court decisions associated with the Chevron doctrine. However, the opinion said, courts in the future wouldnt have to defer to agency interpretations when determining whether policies complied with the federal law. The Supreme Courts action was driven by legal challenges by fishermen who objected to federal policy mandating payment of $700 daily fees to carry federal monitors on their boats. GOP candidates in the 2nd District contest include Schmidt, former Brownback and Trump administration official Jeff Kahrs, Michael Ogle, Shawn Tiffany and Chad Young. Candidates for the Democratic Partys nomination are Matt Kleinmann and former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda. The Libertarian Party nominee is John Hauer. The post Schmidt lauds U.S. Supreme Courts limit on power of federal agencies to interpret vague laws appeared first on Kansas Reflector. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, June 28. Turkmenistan has become a leader in the supply of natural pipeline gas to China from January through May this year, Trend reports. According to official data, Turkmenistan exported about $4 billion worth of natural pipeline gas to China during the specified period. At the same time, Russia is in second place in terms of natural pipeline gas supplies to China in the first five months of this year ($3.2 billion), and Myanmar is in third place ($562 million). Turkmenistan exported $10.25 billion worth of natural gas to China through pipelines in 2022, which is 51 percent more than in 2021. Meanwhile, Turkmenistan supplies its gas to China through three gas pipelines, passing through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before reaching China. The total capacity of these pipelines is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. School vouchers may make it into Pennsylvanias budget. What would they really do? This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. HARRISBURG Few arguments in Harrisburg are as fraught as the one happening now over school choice vouchers, and it features a lot of spin from lawmakers and lobbyists. Still, as budget talks speed toward a resolution that may include them, there is also a substantial body of research from decades of voucher use in multiple states that can offer some clarity. Broadly, voucher programs route public funding into private schools, generally in the form of scholarships, to give students additional options. The first statewide program launched in Florida in 1999, and since then, sixteen states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have created some form of voucher initiative. Heres a rundown of studies of the programs, their results, and lessons Pennsylvania could take from existing research: Program design shapes voucher outcomes Peer-reviewed studies on vouchers effects began in the early 2000s. According to Patrick Wolf, a professor of education policy at the University of Arkansas who has led such studies for years and written extensively about factors that make school choice programs work, those early analyses showed fairly consistent results. What we see in the patterns in the data, first-year effects, often, are somewhat negative. By the second year, students have pretty much squared their performance up with the control group students. And then by the third and fourth year, they show small test score gains, he said. However, those early voucher studies focused mostly on small pilot programs in urban districts, according to Wolf. In those days, programs tended to be narrowly targeted at low-income students or low-performing schools. Thats no longer always the case. Several previously narrow programs are now open to any family who wants to use them, and large, statewide programs are growing in popularity. More recent research has shown much more mixed results on these broader versions of vouchers. Studies on Louisianas program from 2018 and 2019 are among the most frequently cited: They showed a consistent trend of declining test scores among participating students. Michigan State University education policy professor Joshua Cowen, who has written a book on the research case against vouchers, cites those Louisiana studies to argue that the programs are counterproductive. The results highlight a problem he believes is common: The schools students were sent to with vouchers werent very good. Cowen thinks early studies showed promising results because they featured a handful of schools carefully selected by the research team to participate. They have the infrastructure to participate in the scientific studies. They have the capacity to absorb 15 low-income kids and work with them. But things dont work that way at a larger scale, he argued. When were talking about statewide systems on the order of 10,000 kids or 20,000 kids, he said, there arent enough quality private schools to send them to. Were only talking about a handful of private schools that are any good and can actually absorb those kinds of burdens. Wolf agrees that the Louisiana program routed students to subpar schools. But he believes its more due to flaws in the program than a fundamental issue with vouchers. The program offered relatively small scholarships and didnt allow schools to charge more than that, he said, which led to struggling private schools being the only ones that accepted such low tuition. A lot of private schools looked at that deal and said, Were out, were not going to accept these terms. Pennsylvanias program, if passed with the same language that is currently before the state Senate, would avoid some of the pitfalls Wolf and Cowen point to in other states. The same language was also part of budget talks last year, but ultimately did not pass. Like Louisianas voucher law, Pennsylvanias bill language would create a small program $100 million overall. However, it wouldnt include many of the restrictions of Louisianas bill. Parents would be able to supplement tuition with their own money or with other scholarships, for instance. The program also would be available only to students from relatively low-income families those that make less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, or less than $78,000 annually for a family of four. Students would also have to attend low-achieving schools in order to qualify, though The Inquirer recently noted that the current language would also allow some to receive vouchers if they attend the high-achieving Philadelphia schools that accept kids from across the city. Cowen noted, If they do pass a bill in Pennsylvania [with income limits], that would be one of the first in a very long time. Positive culture, or open discrimination? Still, there are other reasons Cowen and other voucher opponents remain staunchly skeptical of the proposal. One is school culture. Many private schools are built around religious doctrine, and critics of those institutions note that this means a student who is openly LGBTQ or becomes pregnant could face discrimination or expulsion. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act bars discrimination based on race, religion, and disability, but explicitly doesnt apply to private schools. Federal law prevents such schools from discriminating based on race, but further protections have been a point of contention for the schools in the past, and have led them to argue such protections infringe on their religious liberty. This issue came up frequently during last years budget-season debates over vouchers. Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, an attorney at the Public Interest Law Center who helped argue the successful lawsuit that ended in Pennsylvanias school funding system being declared inequitable, told Spotlight PA at the time that the law allows religious schools to say, sorry, we dont take gay kids at this school. He added he believes Pennsylvania should in no way use public funds to allow discrimination against children. Wolf acknowledged concerns about school culture in his conversation with Spotlight PA, and noted that each school has different values and still must follow federal civil rights laws during the admission process. However, he argued that state protections against such expulsions would lead to schools not joining the program, further restricting students options. You have to let their culture and their values endure, because otherwise youre asking them to become something different, something that theyre not, Wolf told Spotlight PA. He added that studies have also shown that private schools cultures can have positive effects on students in the form of civic values like political tolerance and participation. These are strong culture communities where theres a shared set of expectations regarding behavior, Wolf said. The pie is only so big The other side of the argument over vouchers has more to do with public schools: namely, whether the programs damage them by routing away money and students. Again, Wolf and Cowens arguments differ. Wolf points to studies that show that in public school districts where voucher programs were introduced, students who stayed in the districts showed neutral to marginally positive changes in achievement. The test score effects are modest in size, he said, but added, it suggests that when faced with competition from choice, public schools are able to improve their performance and their academic offerings. Cowen focuses more on the impacts on state budgets. Voucher programs, he said, tend to grow significantly over time. Florida, Ohio, and Arizona, the biggest universal programs, are well over a billion dollars in spending each year, he said. A billion dollars is hard to find money for in any state budget, even in a state as big as Florida or as big as Arizona. Many voucher advocates have noted that the $100 million for the most recently proposed Pennsylvania program would be a drop in the bucket of the commonwealths more than $45 billion budget, and that it would come from a completely separate line item from public school funding. Cowen doesnt think that matters. Those are new costs to the state, so the state budget has to find ways to absorb them, he said. Where the defunding public schools comes in is, at some point this crowds out real, meaningful increases in public school spending. Ultimately, he said, theres only so much of the pie to go around. Spotlight PAs Stephen Caruso contributed to reporting for this story BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Migrant Darwin Salinas, 24, left, travels with his wife Kimberly Carchipulla, 23, second left, partly seen, and his sons Damien, 6, center, and Derek, 1, Sunday, June 16, 2024, near Newark, N.J. Thousands of migrant families in New York City are facing a summer of uncertainty for their school-aged children with a citywide limit of 60 days in a shelter before needing to reapply or find their own. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) NEW YORK (AP) When Damien Carchipulla started his first school year in New York City in September, the first grader's family was living in a Manhattan hotel for migrant families. In the 10 months since, the family of four from Ecuador has moved shelters three times under a policy Mayor Eric Adams imposed in the fall that limits the number of days migrants can stay in a single place. Every 60 days they must give up their shelter beds and reapply for housing or leave the system. With a fourth move expected in a matter of weeks, Damien's mother Kimberly Carchipulla hopes the family isnt pulled too far from the 6-year-olds school in Harlem this summer. Her son is set to attend a summer program starting in July. A lot has changed because new laws were put in place, Carchipulla said in Spanish while picking up Damien after school one day. They get stressed. They get upset. Every 60 days, its a new home. The New York City school year ended Wednesday, but for thousands of migrant families the shuffle from shelter to shelter continues. With it come the concerns about how theyll navigate their childrens education needs, both this summer and into the next school year. These families were already coming in with a great deal of trauma, which was impacting their childrens attendance at school and their ability to engage once theyre there, said Sarah Jonas, a vice president at Childrens Aid, a nonprofit that provides mentoring, health services and after-school programs at city schools. "With that added burden of the 60-day rule, weve seen even more disruption for our families getting these eviction notices and all of the anxiety that comes with that. Like the Carchipullas, most families chose to stick with the same school through the year, even if they were reassigned to shelters in a different part of the city. The tradeoff for many was longer and more complex commutes, leading to children who were exhausted before the school day even started. Absenteeism spiked too, as parents struggled to get their children to school on time. Carchipulla, who is 23, counts her family among the lucky ones: the three moves they made during the school year were all to other midtown Manhattan hotels, so her sons daily commute remained relatively the same. For the grandchildren of Rosie Arias, the moves were more disruptive. The 55-year-old from Ecuador said her daughter arrived in January with her 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. They were immediately placed in a shelter and enrolled in a local school where Spanish was widely spoken. But when their 60 days ran out, they had to move to another shelter and transfer to another school, Arias said. Then when the family secured their own apartment in Brooklyn, the children had to switch schools again, this time to a smaller one where few people spoke Spanish. As a grandmother, I'm worried. The children dont want to go to school. Theyre not adjusting because of the language and because they dont have friends., Arias said in Spanish. They cry. School officials didnt have a final tally for how many migrant students were affected by the shelter time limits. As of the first week of May, 44% of migrant students had remained in the same shelter and same school since Feb. 14, according to Tamara Mair, a senior director with Project Open Arms, the districts program supporting asylum seekers and other new students in temporary housing. Another 40% of migrant students moved shelters but remained enrolled at the same school, while 4% moved both schools and shelters, she said. Roughly 10% left the school system entirely, with the vast majority of those dropping out because they left the city. District officials will be keeping tabs on migrant families in the shelters through the summer, Mair said. The one thing we want to remain constant for our kids is school, she said. But we also want to support our families with their choices, because the families have the right to remain in their school, or they may choose to go to a new school closer to their new residence. Adams, a Democrat, instituted shelter limits to encourage migrant families to leave the city's emergency shelter system, which includes huge tent shelters and converted hotels that have swollen with thousands of newcomers to the U.S. Over the summer, more needs to be done to prepare newly arriving families for the next school year, immigrant advocates say. That includes better outreach to migrant parents and more investment in translation services, said Liza Schwartzwald, a director at the New York Immigration Coalition. Schools also need more specialists to assess and help get migrant students up to grade level in their studies, said Natasha Quiroga, director of education policy at the New Schools Center for New York City Affairs. Damien Carchipulla's mother remains optimistic about her son's future. Eventually, she said, the family hopes to save up enough money for their own place, perhaps in Queens, where her husband recently found steady work. He is learning more and more every day, Kim Carchipulla said of her son. Even if he misses school, his teacher tells me, he catches up quickly. ___ Associated Press video journalist John Minchillo in New York contributed to this story. Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. Scientists make concerning discovery deep below Antarctic ice shelf the size of France: 'We found that the whole shelf suddenly moves' The biggest ice shelf in Antarctica is slipping a first-of-its-kind discovery related to our warming world. What's happening? A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in March showed that the Ross Ice Shelf slips daily, reported Washington University in St. Louis, in a story posted by SciTechDaily. According to Britannica, the ice shelf is the largest in Antarctica at about 182,000 square miles, which is nearly the size of France (around 212,000 square miles), per the CIA's The World Factbook. These slips can precipitate icequakes, which are similar to earthquakes, and fractures. The shelf can move up to about 16 inches (40 centimeters) in 10 minutes. The paper examined slips caused by the Whillans Ice Stream, one of a handful of ice streams that flow into and through the shelf. Ice streams flow through ice shelves, and ice and sediment is ultimately dumped into the sea, per AntarcticGlaciers.org. However, the shelves hold them and glaciers back, increasing inland ice, preventing it from melting and contributing to sea level rise. "We found that the whole shelf suddenly moves about 6 to 8 centimeters [2.4-3.1 inches] once or twice a day, triggered by a slip on an ice stream that flows into the ice shelf," lead author Doug Wiens of Washington University said. "These sudden movements could potentially play a role in triggering icequakes and fractures in the ice shelf. "... I've published several papers about the Whillans Ice Stream slip events in the past, but had not discovered that the whole Ross Ice Shelf also moves until now." Why is Antarctic ice important? The slips start with a huge portion of the stream over 100 kilometers by 100 kilometers (more than 62 miles by 62 miles) sticking while the rest of it continues to move forward. That large section then "lurches forward against the Ross Ice Shelf," according to the outlet. The SciTechDaily story called the study "significant" because of the Ross Ice Shelf's size. It also noted researchers are concerned about Antarctic ice shelves because of rising global temperatures. Antarctica is being watched closely as an indicator for the rest of the world. If ice is melting there, the coldest place on Earth, sea levels will rise, and other problems could emerge. For example, Antarctic sea ice that melted in the summer of 2023 did not reform in the winter an event scientists expect to happen once every 7.5 million years. As a result of sea ice melting, emperor penguin colonies suffered extreme breeding collapses. The "Doomsday Glacier" is also melting away, potentially threatening island nations and some of the world's greatest cities with sea level rise. What's being done about ice melt? The scientists said the ice slips are not directly caused by rising global temperatures, SciTechDaily reported, but the slips could lead to events that precipitate collapse. "At this point, icequakes and fractures are just part of the normal life of the ice shelf," Wiens said. "There is a worry that the Ross Ice Shelf will someday disintegrate, since other smaller and thinner ice shelves have done so. We also know that the Ross Ice Shelf disintegrated during the last interglacial period about 120,000 years ago and that caused rapid ice loss to the other glaciers and ice streams feeding into it." A Dutch startup is also trialing a technology that would help thicken Arctic sea ice, but the most impactful long-term solution to avoid large-scale melting of ice near the poles is to reduce the Earth's average temperature and phasing out dirty fuel sources is the most direct way to do that. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. The Supreme Court today rejected the statutory interpretation underlying a criminal charge against some of the Donald Trump supporters who participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The same chargeobstructing an official proceedingalso figures in the federal indictment accusing the former president himself of illegally attempting to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors alleged that rioters obstructed an official proceeding by interrupting the congressional ratification of the election results. In Trump's case, they argued that he interfered with that process by promoting the stolen-election fantasy that motivated the rioters, a subset of the protesters who attended the pre-riot rally at which he ginned up his supporter's outrage at President Joe Biden's supposedly illegitimate victory and urged them to march on the Capitol "peacefully and patriotically." But according to the Supreme Court, neither the rioters' actions nor Trump's meet the elements of this offense. The case involves Joseph Fischer, a former police officer who was charged with obstructing an official proceeding under 18 USC 1512(c) after participating in the riot. That provision was created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a 2002 law that Congress approved in response to a financial scandal involving the destruction of potentially incriminating documents by the accounting firm Arthur Andersen. In light of that context and the provision's structure, Fischer argued, his conduct at the Capitol, which allegedly included entering the building and confronting police officers, did not fit the requirements for prosecuting someone under that statute. Six justices agreed. Writing for the majority in Fischer v. United States, Chief Justice John Roberts says proving a violation of Section 1512(c) requires "establish[ing] that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects," or "other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so." Section 1512(c)(1) applies to anyone who "corruptlyalters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding." Section 1512(c)(2), the provision used in the Capitol riot cases, applies to anyone who "otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so." Both are felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The crucial question, Roberts says, is whether "this 'otherwise' clause should be read in light of the limited reach of the specific provision that precedes it," as a federal judge concluded, or as a catchall broad enough to encompass Fischer's behavior, as a divided D.C. Circuit panel held. Roberts concludes that the latter interpretation is implausible. "Subsection (c)(1) describes particular types of criminal conduct in specific terms," Roberts writes. "To ensure the statute would not be read as excluding substantially similar activity not mentioned, (c)(2) says it is also illegal to engage in some broader range of unenumerated conduct." To determine how broad that "range of unenumerated conduct" is, Roberts relies on two interpretive principles. "The canon of noscitur a sociis teaches that a word is 'given more precise content by the neighboring words with which it is associated,'" he notes. That principle "avoid[s] ascribing to one word a meaning so broad that it is inconsistent" with "the company it keeps." And under "the related canon of ejusdem generis," a "general or collective term" at the end of "a list of specific items" is typically "controlled and defined by reference to" the "specific classesthat precede it." Roberts illustrates those principles with the example of a sign at a zoo that says, "Do not pet, feed, yell or throw objects at the animals, or otherwise disturb them." Does that last phrase encompass "a visitor [who] eats lunch in front of a hungry gorilla, or talks to a friend near its enclosure"? Common sense suggests not. "Although the smell of human food or the sound of voices might well disturb gorillas, the specific examples of impermissible conduct all involve direct interaction with and harassment of the zoo animals," Roberts writes. "Merely eating or talking is so unlike the examples that the zoo provided that it would be implausible to assume those activities were prohibited, even if literally covered by the language." So too here, Roberts says: "The 'otherwise' provision of Section 1512(c)(2) is similarly limited by the preceding list of criminal violations. The offenses enumerated in subsection (c)(1) cover someone who 'alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other objectwith the intent to impair the object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding.' Complex as subsection (c)(1) may look, it simply consists of many specific examples of prohibited actions undertaken with the intent to impair an object's integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding: altering a record, altering a document, concealing a record, concealing a document, and so on. That list is followed immediately by a residual clause in (c)(2). Guided by the basic logic that Congress would not go to the trouble of spelling out the list in (c)(1) if a neighboring term swallowed it up, the most sensible inference is that the scope of (c)(2) is defined by reference to (c)(1)." If the government were right that "otherwise" covers any conduct that "obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding," Roberts says, "the sweep of subsection (c)(2) would consume (c)(1), leaving that narrower provision with no work to do." That interpretation poses a "surplusage problem," which contradicts the usual assumption that each part of a statute is designed to accomplish something. According to the government's theory, Roberts writes, "Section 1512(c) consists of a granular subsection (c)(1) focused on obstructive acts that impair evidence and an overarching subsection (c)(2) that reaches all other obstruction." But "that novel interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison." During oral argument in April, Roberts notes, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar conceded that "a peaceful protester could conceivably be charged under 1512(c)(2) and face a 20-year sentence" based on the government's reading of the statute. He adds that the government "would likewise have no apparent obstacle to prosecuting under (c)(2) any lobbying activity that 'influences' an official proceeding and is undertaken 'corruptly.'" Those "peculiar results," Roberts says, underline the implausibility of the government's interpretation. "Rather than transforming this evidence-focused statute into a one-size-fits-all solution to obstruction of justice, we cabin our reading of subsection (c)(2) in light of the context of subsection (c)(1)," he writes. "Doing so affords proper respect to 'the prerogatives of Congress' in carrying out the quintessentially legislative act of defining crimes and setting the penalties for them." The lineup in this case does not break cleanly on ideological lines. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who often joins Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in dissenting from decisions by the Court's conservative majority, joined Roberts' opinion. She also wrote a concurring opinion in which she notes that "today's case is not about the immorality" of the Capitol rioters' behavior. "Our commitment to equal justice and the rule of law requires the courts to faithfully apply criminal laws as written, even in periods of national crisis," she says. "Notwithstanding the shocking circumstances involved in this case or the Government's determination that they warrant prosecution, today, this Court's task is to determine what conduct is proscribed by the criminal statute that has been invoked as the basis for the obstruction charge at issue here." Meanwhile, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who usually aligns with the conservative majority, wrote a dissent, joined by Sotomayor and Kagan, that faults Roberts et al. for discounting the plain meaning of Section 1512(c)(2). "The Court does not dispute that Congress's joint session qualifies as an 'official proceeding'; that rioters delayed the proceeding; or even that Fischer's alleged conduct (which includes trespassing and a physical confrontation with law enforcement) was part of a successful effort to forcibly halt the certification of the election results," she writes. "Given these premises, the case that Fischer can be tried for 'obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding' seems open and shut." The majority concludes otherwise, Barrett suggests, "because it simply cannot believe that Congress meant what it said." Statutes "often go further than the problem that inspired them, and under the rules of statutory interpretation, we stick to the text anyway," she writes. "The Court, abandoning that approach, does textual backflips to find some wayany wayto narrow the reach of subsection (c)(2)." The practical implications of this decision are important for defendants like Fischer, given the stiff punishment authorized by this provision. But there is no shortage of other charges that the Justice Department can file (and has filed) against the Capitol rioters, ranging from misdemeanors such as "entering and remaining in a restricted building" to felonies such as aggravated assault. And while the Court's decision negates two of the charges against Trump, it does not affect the other two counts in the election interference indictment: conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to deprive Americans of their voting rights. The more serious threat to that prosecution is the litigation over whetherand, if so, to what extentTrump is immune from criminal charges based on his "official acts" as president. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on that question this Monday. But with just four months to go before the presidential election, it seems likely that, even if the Court clears the way, any trial would begin after that contest is decided. If Trump wins the election, as he seems poised to do right now, he surely will find a way to make the case disappear. The post SCOTUS Rejects a Legal Interpretation Underlying Capitol Riot Charges appeared first on Reason.com. LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Police say they are searching for a suspect involved in an identity theft investigation. The Wyoming Area Regional Police are searching for information on the person pictured below for fraud and identity theft. Woman charged with pointing gun at daughter Wyoming Area Regional Police Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Bekanich at bekanich@regionalpolice.org or by calling (570) 654-3001 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. Federal prosecutors released this screenshot of a street surveillance video they say shows a juror being followed home from the courthouse. Photo courtesy of U.S. Attorney's Office. The month-long trial of seven people charged with stealing federal money meant to feed hungry children during the pandemic was winding down. Four of the seven defendants attorneys had delivered their closing arguments on Friday, May 31. The last three lawyers would give theirs the following Monday. But three of those defendants had big plans for the weekend, according to a federal indictment. They recruited a 31-year-old woman named Ladan Mohamed Ali of Seattle to fly to Minneapolis and deliver $120,000 to one of the jurors the youngest juror, at age 23, and the only person of color, an Asian-American. Ali was connected to a company called Afro Produce, which prosecutors say received millions of dollars from entities involved in the Feeding Our Future federal case, for which the seven defendants were on trial. During the trial, prosecutors showed what they said were fake invoices created by two defendants purporting to document food purchased from Afro Produce. Prosecutors say Ali received a $20,000 check from Afro Produce in August 2021, a $10,000 check in December 2021 for consulting, and a $10,000 check in January 2022 for salary. In bank records, she listed her employer as GarGaar Family Services, otherwise known as Youth Leadership Academy which the state barred from the food program in December 2021. But Ali like many others connected to the nations largest pandemic relief fraud had not been charged with a crime. Yet. She was living in Seattle during the trial, and booked a round-trip flight to Minneapolis from May 30 to June 5, according to Delta Airlines records obtained by federal investigators. Enterprise Car Rental records indicate Ali rented a Volkswagen Taos with Texas plates. Juror No. 52 lived at the end of a short, dead-end street in Spring Lake Park, a town of about 6,400 on the edge of the suburbs north of Minneapolis. The juror drove about 15 minutes to get to the federal courthouse every day for 24 days of testimony and arguments she was sometimes late and racing to get to court on time. She always parked in the Jerry Haaf Memorial parking ramp one block east of the courthouse. Jurors werent sequestered for the trial, meaning they were free to go home each night. They could take tunnels or skyways to get to their parking spots, but many didnt. When the trial ended each day, the jurors would get on elevators and head to the ground floor, then straight out the front door of the courthouse, into sunny downtown Minneapolis, across the street from City Hall. Some defense attorneys and their clients would avoid getting on the same elevator as the jurors, to avoid any appearance of impropriety. On Friday, May 31, a rented Volkswagen Taos was parked on the street near the Haaf parking garage around 5 p.m., when the trial usually adjourned each day, according to surveillance video from the parking garage obtained by federal investigators. Shortly before 6 p.m., Juror 52 exited the parking garage in her car, and the Volkswagen pulled out, crossed three lanes of traffic and followed the jurors car onto South Fourth Avenue, and then on to Spring Lake Park, according to Enterprise Rental Car GPS data. A license plate reader at the end of Juror 52s block showed the Volkswagen drive past the jurors house repeatedly that night and over the weekend. The same device captured the Volkswagen passing at 6:15 p.m. that Friday, and again about 50 minutes later, then a half hour later. The next day, Saturday, the plate reader recorded the car pass by 14 times, according to a search warrant. Then on June 2 the day before the trial was to resume with closing statements and then jury deliberations the Volkswagen was recorded passing by at 4:47 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. Shortly before 9 p.m. that night, a possibly Somali woman wearing a long black dress went to the jurors house and using the jurors first name left what she called a present with the jurors relative, according to a search warrant. The juror called 911 to report that someone left a Hallmark gift bag containing $120,000 in cash. The person said theyd bring another one if she voted to acquit the seven Feeding Our Future defendants. According to a heavily redacted transcript of the call obtained by the Reformer, she called 911 about 10 minutes before 9 p.m., and told the dispatcher a woman left a bag of money at her house about five minutes prior. This isnt an emergency, but I dont know who to call, she told the 911 dispatcher. She said she didnt see the person, and that they drove off in a car after leaving the bag. Prosecutors have said the vehicle was described as a Mazda, although the caller told the dispatcher it was hard to tell, and prosecutors now say it was the same Volkswagon that repeatedly passed the house. The dispatcher said officers would look around for the vehicle and then come to the jurors house. The next morning, shortly before all the lawyers gathered in the courtroom of the federal courthouse, with the jury still in a back room, federal prosecutors informed defense attorneys of the attempted bribe. When the judge came in the courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson stood up and explained how someone had tried to bribe Juror 52 the night before. As reporters and defendants family members looked on in shock, FBI Special Agent Jared Kary kept a close eye on the defendants. He noticed brothers Abdiaziz Farah and Said Farah seemed nervous, in contrast to their usual laid-back manner during the previous six weeks in court. Said Farah went in and out of the courtroom quickly, cell phone in hand, and appeared to be making phone calls from the courtroom which is frowned upon by judges. Thompson asked the judge to have the defendants turn over their phones and freeze the scene. U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel ordered the defendants to put their phones in airplane mode and surrender them to the FBI agent, Kary. Kary noticed Abdiziz Farah continued to use his phone for what appeared to be longer than necessary to put it in airplane mode. After a search warrant was approved later, agents found the phone had been reset to factory settings, erasing everything on it, according to the indictment. After a search warrant was approved, investigators found defendant Abdimajid Nur had made multiple internet searches for Juror #52; searched for information about trackers and hidden cameras; searched for information about law enforcement agents involved in the case; searched the words jury nullification; and, on April 28 Googled how did oj Simpson juror get paid. On Said Farahs phone, agents found a video recording of Ali delivering the bribe. The video shows a woman walk up to the house carrying the white bag, talk to the jurors relative, hand the bag to him and then run back to the car. Meanwhile, Ali was booking a one-way flight home. Flight records show she flew back to Seattle at 2:30 p.m. She had checked into the Hyatt Regency in Bloomington the Friday prior. The hotel manager told an FBI agent two Amazon packages had been left at the hotel for her; agents found cosmetics in one and a GPS tracking device in the other. A spokesperson for U.S. District Court in Minnesota said the court is considering a range of options to better secure juries, but no decision has yet been made. Second suspect in retired CPD officers killing charged with murder Second suspect in retired CPD officers killing charged with murder CHICAGO The second suspect in the deadly shooting of retired CPD officer Larry Neuman has been arrested and charged. The 17-year-old teen, who has not been identified, was apprehended Thursday, according to Chicago police. He has been charged with first-degree murder, murder and armed robbery. The teen was arrested in the 2400 block of East 75th Street and the armed robbery charge is connected to a November robbery of a 21-year-old last year. The first suspect, Lazarius Watt, 16, was arrested Sunday and was held behind bars Tuesday during a detention hearing. The 16-year-old, who is being charged as an adult, was on home confinement in connection to a previous vehicle theft at the time of Neumans shooting. Sources told WGN News it was Watts mother who recognized her son on TV and arranged for his surrender. The deadly shooting of Neuman, 73, happened on the morning of June 20 in the 4300 block of West Monroe Street. Previous: Teen charged in retired officers death was on home confinement in stolen car case Neuman was outside of his home paying a lawncare worker when he spotted the two with guns drawn, authorities allege. Police said he pushed the lawncare worker to safety and drew his gun from his waistband prior to being shot. He died from his injuries. Neuman was a longtime bomb technician for Chicago police and retired in 2010. He served in the Marines, with CPD for 28 years and then worked for the TSA. Neuman also became a minister in Garfield Park. His wake is scheduled for Friday at St. Michael M.B. Church. Neumans funeral will be Saturday at the same church. The second teens detention hearing is scheduled for Saturday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Within President Joe Bidens first few answers of Thursday nights first 2024 presidential debate, speculation began ramping up among Democrats over the so-called nuclear option. For not just months, but much of the past two years, Democrats have privately discussed the possibility of Biden pulling an LBJ, as some operatives put it. Just as former President Lyndon B. Johnson did in March 1968, Biden could, theoretically, call it quits on his re-election campaign. Yet even if Biden were to somehow make way for the new generation of leadership he once alluded to, theres one big problem with that thought experiment. A brokered conventionsomething the Biden campaign has actively planned to avoid, and a throwback to the smoke-filled-rooms era of U.S. politics predating 1968would be the only way to get rid of Joe. Unfortunately for Democrats entertaining that fantasy, something else would need to happen for the party to somehow hit the reset button on its nominee. Dems Panic About Bidens Debate Disaster Against Donald Trump Vice President Kamala Harris, after everything shes done to become the first woman vice president and the highest ranking Black woman politician in American history, would also have to call it quits. Brokered conventions only exist in the context of people coming into the convention without enough delegates, a senior Democratic strategist explained to The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to discuss the most taboo topic in party circles at the moment. Harris, whose approval ratings have also been historically lowand, somehow, consistently lower than Bidens by a few pointswould need to step aside to open up the floor for a truly brokered convention. Otherwise, she would likely inherit Bidens delegates as his official running mate. Theres no other way to do it, the Democratic strategist said, than by truly opening that can of worms. There is no methodology by which someone who would be the nominee could become not the nominee, because he will win on the first ballot, the strategist said. The Democratic strategist, who has worked on presidential campaigns in past cycles in addition to working on Democratic National Committee bylaws, noted that one of the partys greatest strengths is bedwetting following nights like this. As much as Democrats might wince and want a new choice, the primary already happened. Biden could still voluntarily withdraw, but then you get into this murky system of what happens to his delegates. Coming into the August convention in Chicago, Biden is poised to win the nomination on the first ballot thanks to his 3,894 delegates. A contested convention can only happen if nobody has an outright majority Then, and only then, would most of the delegates on the floor be freed up to vote for someone else. After the first ballot, the strategist said, everybodys cards go into the middle and everyone is reaching into the pile. Chaos in Chicago would ensue. As the pings and dings of worried text messages bounced across Democratic circles following Thursday nights debate, the senior strategist still tried to project calm. Joe Biden Mumbles and Stumbles the Democrats Into Crisis The reality is, the vast majority of gettable voters werent tuning in tonight, they said. Biden looked boring. It just didnt make for great TV. The hope remains that the secondary clips and other pieces of content from the debates wont have much influence, at least by Novembereven though many of the same Democrats were excited by the prospect of the earliest ever general election presidential debate to shake up the race. Again, this is just fantasyland, the strategist said of the notion Biden will fall on his sword. And its just one bad debateone not great debate. Its not the end of the world. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Polk County School Board member Lisa Miller has filed a defamation lawsuit over text messages sent during the 2022 campaign. Lisa Miller, who overcame false claims during the 2022 campaign to earn another term on the Polk County School Board, has filed a defamation lawsuit against two candidates and their political consultant. Miller filed the civil suit June 12, naming as defendants her 2022 opponent, Jill Sessions, a candidate in another district, Terry Clark, and James Earl Dunn Jr., a Texas-based consultant who worked on their campaigns. Miller seeks damages of more than $50,000. The suit centers on anonymous text messages sent in June and July of 2022, falsely claiming that she and her husband, Robert Miller, were under criminal investigation. Lisa Miller is the subject of a criminal investigation relating to awarded Polk School District construction contracts linked to her construction company operator husband, read one of the texts sent to voters in Polk County. In 2022, Miller campaigned for a second term in District 7. She and Sessions emerged in a three-way primary race, and Miller then defeated Sessions by 11.2 percentage points in a runoff election. Both Sessions and Clark, who unsuccessfully challenged Kay Fields in District 5, hired Dunn as a campaign consultant. Dunn had been recommended by leaders of Citizens Defending Freedom, a conservative political group based in Polk County. Dunn pled guilty on seven counts of violating Floridas text message disclosure requirements, a first-degree misdemeanor. He received a sentence in February of 11 months of probation. Both Sessions and Clark reported paying Dunn $7,500 for consulting services during the 2022 campaign. Investigators found that Clark sent an email during the campaign saying that Dunn had directed more 20,000 campaign text messages all over the county. Jill Sessions, who ran for Lisa Miller's seat on the Polk County School Board in 2022, was named as a defendant in Miller's defamation lawsuit. Sessions hired political consultant James Earl Dunn Jr., who later pled guilty on seven counts of violating Floridas text message disclosure requirements for text messages that falsely claimed Miller was under criminal investigation. During the investigation of Dunn, Sessions said she knew that Dunn had sent mass text messages for her campaign but did not know the content of them. Clark told investigators that he did not know who had sent the texts falsely accusing Miller. The suit cites an investigative report from State Attorney Brian Haas saying that when Sessions was presented with a copy of the text messages and asked if Dunn had sent them, she responded, He said he had somebody send it." Miller, a Lakeland resident, said that Sessions amplified the false claims by asking her at public candidate forums if she was under criminal investigation. Dunn, Sessions and Clark did not respond to voicemails left by The Ledger. No receipts needed: Lakeland's Scott Franklin ranks near top in U.S. House for reimbursed expenses in 2023 As a direct result of the text messages, Lisa and Robert Miller have been damaged in the form of evident reputational harm, lost business, actual damages, and mental anguish, the suit states. Miller filed the suit in Circuit Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit. The case has been assigned to Judge Jennifer Swenson. Leaders in this community need to draw moral lines in civic life and politics, Miller said in an emailed statement. This (suit) is my family's way of drawing that line. She added: Political candidates hired a career criminal from Texas to lie about and defame a fellow citizen of Polk County for the sake of their own selfish ambitions. There should be consequences for both the candidates and the criminal who did their dirty work for them and still lost. Dunn pled guilty in 2008 to submitting fraudulent claims against the federal government. As owner and operator of Rehab Specialist Inc., Dunn received contracts from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services to provide vocational rehabilitation training to people with mental and physical disabilities but failed to provide the services, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Clark wrote in an email during the 2022 campaign that Dunn was also working for Rick Nolte, who ousted incumbent Sarah Fortney in the District 3 School Board race. Nolte did not report directing any campaign money to Dunn. Terry Clark, another School Board candidate who unsuccessfully challenged Kay Fields in 2022, also hired James Earl Dunn Jr. as a consultant and is named in Lisa Miller's lawsuit. The Polk County Republican Party endorsed and promoted Sessions, Clark, Nolte and another candidate, Justin Sharpless, in the nonpartisan School Board races. Citizens Defending Freedom hosted Dunn for a podcast interview early in the campaigns, during which he bragged about having a 25-0 record in Texas school board races. After Dunn was charged over the anonymous text messages, CDF founder Steve Maxwell said his organization had nothing to do with the attacks and said he was as upset with (Dunn) as anybody. Sessions and Clark have retained former state legislator Anthony Sabatini to defend them. Sabatini also has ties to CDF. He is leading a lawsuit against the Polk County School Board in which the group claims the school district has violated its own policies and state law on handling challenges to library books. Sabatini said that CDF is not involved with the defense of Sessions and Clark. He said he does not know Dunn and isnt representing him. I think it's a frivolous lawsuit, and obviously the standard for defamation against public officials is exceedingly high, Sabatini said. She (Miller) knows that. Their counsel knows that. And this is just a PR stunt, in my opinion. Miller said her main objective is deterring other candidates from engaging in false and anonymous campaign attacks. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lisa Miller files lawsuit over attack texts during 2022 campaign BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will participate in COP29 in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to the information, he stated this in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman. Guterres expressed his longstanding commitment to attending COP conferences, emphasizing his presence at both the beginning and end of these crucial global gatherings. "I expect it to be the one that will be a moment of change in the sense that there will be a moment of global recognition that we are moving towards the precipice," he added. To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY) United States Senator Tim Kaine released a statement following the Supreme Courts decision in Moyle v. United States, calling for nationwide protections for reproductive health care. The court ruled 6-3 on Thursday to dismiss the case, allowing Idaho doctors to perform emergency abortions despite state-level restrictions. Due to the dismissal, the case is left pending in the lower courts. Supreme Court dismisses Idaho emergency abortion care case Sen. Kaines statement on the ruling can be read in full below: This decision only temporarily protects access to some emergency abortions in Idaho. It doesnt negate the fact that we still need to pass nationwide protections to allow Americans to make their own health care decisions without government interference. There are efforts in states across the country to restrict acess to abortion, contraception, IVF, and other reproductive health care services. I will continue working to pass legislation in Congress like my bipartisan Reproductive Freedom for All Act to protect Americans reproductive health care. Sen. Tim Kaine According to the Pew Research Center, 62% of Americans think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with six-in-ten adults saying they disapprove of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Senator Bob Menendez and his wife Nadine Menendez arrive at a Manhattan court after they were indicted on bribery charges on September 27, 2023 in New York City. The couple are accused of receiving money and other gifts in a corrupt relationship with three New Jersey businessmen. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Attorneys defending Sen. Bob Menendez in his ongoing corruption trial have insisted the valuables that prosecutors call bribes were actually gifts and loans. But under the Senates longstanding ethics rules, New Jerseys senior senator was obligated to report the gold bars, luxury car, mortgage payments, cash, and other items as either income, assets, gifts, or liabilities, the Senates ethics director told jurors Thursday on the 25th day of Menendezs federal bribery trial in Manhattan. Shannon Kopplin is chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. She told jurors Menendez called her in February 2022, at the direction of the committees chairman, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), to ask about reporting gold bars on his annual disclosure forms. He told her the gold belonged to his wife, Nadine, whom hed married in October 2020, and he wondered if he had to amend his 2020 disclosure form to include it, Kopplin said. Hed initially filed the form seven months after his wedding, when it was due in May 2021. My impression was that he had recently learned of it, she said of multiple one-kilogram and one-ounce gold bars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Kopplin said yes and walked him through what he had to do, she testified. In mid-March 2022, he filed the amendment, records show. That was three months before FBI agents in June 2022 searched the couples Englewood Cliffs home and seized 13 gold bars and more than $486,000 in cash. Federal prosecutors last September indicted the senator, his wife, and three North Jersey businessmen, accusing the couples co-defendants halal meat exporter Wael Hana, real estate developer Fred Daibes, and failed insurance broker Jose Uribe of giving them cash and items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as bribes in exchange for the senators influence. Uribe pleaded guilty and testified against the others, who have denied the allegations against them. Under questioning Thursday by prosecutor Daniel Richenthal, Kopplin told jurors her committees rules require senators to annually report income, assets worth more than $1,000, liabilities of more than $10,000, and gifts valued at $415 or more. The rules also apply to senators spouses, although a slightly less detailed level of disclosure is required, she said. Defense attorneys have insisted a $67,000-plus convertible Mercedes-Benz from Uribe and over $20,000 in mortgage payments from Hana were personal loans, showing checks the couple wrote six months after investigators searched and seized evidence from their home to repay the men. The cash and gold Daibes and Hana gave the couple, which prosecutors say totaled tens of thousands of dollars, were gifts from dear friends known for their generosity, the defense team said. But if they were gifts and loans, Menendez was required to report them under the Senates ethics rules and did not, Kopplin said. Menendez did, though, report $13,000 worth of wedding gifts including $1,000 from Philip Sellinger, whom Menendez subsequently recommended to President Biden to nominate as New Jerseys next U.S. attorney, the disclosures show. Under cross-examination by Menendez attorney Avi Weitzman, Kopplin agreed the Senate ethics manual is more than 500 pages and her office fields thousands of calls a year from people seeking clarity about disclosure rules. Fair to say theres some complexity to disclosure? This isnt simple stuff, Weitzman asked. Kopplin agreed it wasnt simple, but added: I dont consider it complex either. Its easier than income taxes. The first reports the hardest. Menendez filed required disclosure reports every year since he joined the Senate in 2006, she added. Earlier Thursday, Richenthal read several stipulated facts into the record of what an unnamed Egyptian official would testify, if called, that showed Egyptian officials were becoming disillusioned by Hana soon after they gave him a monopoly in 2019 on exporting halal beef to Egypt, dropping the four U.S. halal certifiers that had been serving the Arab country. Prosecutors allege Hana bribed Menendez to help him protect the Egyptian deal. Richenthal said Egyptian officials were trying to distance themselves from Hana, had directed at least one Egyptian official in the U.S. to stop interacting with him, and decided Hana wasnt trustworthy or reliable after they learned hed been involved in an insurance scam and had been pocketing money, Richenthal said. Richenthal did not explain why Egyptian officials expressed those thoughts. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case Friday. Defense attorneys for Menendez, Hana, and Daibes have said they could take up to two weeks total to present their cases. The post Sen. Menendez did not disclose riches he calls gifts, Senate ethics counsel testifies appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. (KRON) Tractor Supply Co., one of Americas go-to home-improvement stores, announced changes to its company on Thursday that have sparked nationwide debate. The company said it would stop backing Pride celebrations, drop its carbon emission goals, and focus its resources elsewhere. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them, Tractor Supply said on X, three weeks after they created their account on the social media platform. We have taken this feedback to heart. Two 19-year-olds charged in connection to armed robbery on SF liquor store From now on, the company said their activities will be tied directly to their business. Changes include: No longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign Stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like Pride festivals and voting campaigns Eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) roles and retire current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment Further focus on rural American priorities, including agriculture education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor Withdraw carbon emission goals and focus on our land and water conservation efforts In reply to the company, California Senator and Former Chair to the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Scott Wiener called the announcement an intimidation tactic from the right wing. The mob rule continues, at the expense of anyone who doesnt fit into their 1950 whitewashed version of America, he said on X. Tractor Supply Co. has been in business for over 85 years and employs over 50,000 team members in 2,250 stores nationwide. Rural communities are the backbone of our nation and what makes America great, the company said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock have opened a new inquiry with the U.S. Department of Justice about the number of inmate deaths in prisons in Georgia and across the United States. According to a statement from the senators, Ossoff and Warnock are urging U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to update federal laws for tracking and preventing the deaths of people in federal and local custody. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In their statement, the senators referenced a previous effort to investigate prison deaths in the United States that found nearly 1,000 uncounted deaths of inmates in state and local custody in 2022. The bipartisan probe, which worked on uncovering the information for 10 months, also found that the USDOJ had failed to implement the Death in Custody Reporting Act, which is meant to track data and prevent inmate deaths at prisons nationwide. TRENDING STORIES: Now, Ossoff and Warnock are asking Garland and the Justice Department to strengthen the policies used to track and collect death data at prisons at federal, state and local levels of custody to better understand, and mitigate, the risks inmates face while incarcerated. In their letter to Justice officials, the senators from Georgia cite deaths at two metro Atlanta prisons as part of the need for reforms. In prior outreach, we have urged the Department of Justice to investigate ongoing disturbing reports of deaths in custody in Georgias Clayton County and Fulton County Jails. Tragically, deaths have continuedin just the first six months of 2024, at least six individuals have died in custody in Clayton County Jail. Another three have died in custody in the Fulton County Jail this year, following the death of 10 individuals in custody in Fulton County in 2023, Ossoff and Warnock wrote to Garland. These alarming numbers underscore the necessity of stronger reporting under the Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) to help identify the causes of these deaths and possible interventions to prevent future tragedies. In July 2023, the Justice Department formally opened an investigation into the jail conditions in Fulton County. Since that investigation started, Ossoff has also requested a similar civil rights investigation at the Clayton County Jail, but the USDOJ has not opened one as of yet. The senators also said that while USDOJ has worked to improve compliance with the Death in Custody Reporting Act, there was more that still needed to be done to make sure each death in custody is reported fully and accurately, and that the U.S. government has the information it needs to address possible causes of death within its control. A September 2022 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that 70% of inmate deaths submitted by states in the 2021 fiscal year were missing at least one category required to be collected by the USDOJ, the senators said in a statement. The latest move for stronger policies follows an inquiry Ossoff launched into how USDOJ reports and determines causes of death for those who die in federal custody. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Lets be honest. As a Democrat, last night was not great. There is no sugarcoating it. From the first few minutes into the debate, my incoming texts and social media feeds last night were rough. This mornings are not any better. If there is one thing Democrats are good at, it is panicking. To be fair and I am a Joe Biden supporter with every bone in my body it is hard to argue it was a good night for him. Well before the debate even wrapped, Democrats were handwringing and suggesting possible replacement candidates. The messages are coming in from all over family, friends, top political strategists indicating a five alarm freakout. I could only think of the similar incoming from another night: Oct. 3, 2012. This was the night of President Obamas first debate with his opponent, then-Gov. Mitt Romney. Similar to today, conventional wisdom was that Obama certainly lost the debate, and may have lost the presidency. Things were so bad, Democrats started claiming the altitude in Denver may have affected Obamas performance (not unlike talk of Bidens cold last night). Not great, Bob. More from The Hollywood Reporter In fact, back in 2012, President Obamas reelection was far from certain. I worked in the White House and vividly recall the challenges we faced: The economy was still recovering from the financial crisis, the Affordable Care Act which they pejoratively termed Obamacare had been weaponized by Republicans, and the presidents approval ratings hovered around the low 40s. Head-to-head polling had us trailing Romney. But the picture changed once our opponent was front and center. We aggressively framed him as out-of-touch with regular Americans, running on a platform to help the wealthy. We ultimately prevailed because we made the race a contrast between two very different candidates and two competing visions for the country. As Joe Biden famously says, Dont compare me to the Almighty. Compare me to the alternative. Eric Schultz with President Barack Obama on a visit with wounded military and their families at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Aug. 1, 2019. And by proposing a head-to-head debate earlier in the cycle than ever before, Joe Biden wanted to make sure that happened. While the post-debate spin is not ideal for the president, the bigger picture cant be lost: Donald Trump and all he represents is back on center stage. This is especially important because until quite recently, many voters did not believe Trump would actually be the Republican nominee again. Today, too many voters suffer from Trumpnesia: not remembering how disastrous his first term was. He is the only U.S. president to have lost jobs, appointed the justices who took away Roe v. Wade, and of course instigated the violent insurrection of Jan. 6. Last night, Trump called ending Roe a great thing and defended Jan. 6 rioters. He refused to commit to accepting the election results. Biden may have gotten off to a slow start, but Trumps extremism was on full display as the night went on. We have already seen some initial data that he turned off the independent voters in swing states he will need to win. Now of course 2024 is a very different environment than 2012, with very different candidates who are collectively 43 years older, and I admit I wish last night went better. But in fairness, in 2016, all of us brilliant political experts extolled Secretary Clintons debate performances against Donald Trump. Reaction was near universal inside the beltway: Hillary appeared presidential; Trump unhinged. We all know how that story ends. In fact, Washington has a bad habit of overhyping the here and now. Many thought the sensational tidbits inside the Special Counsel report in February were going to be a game-changer. Same thing with President Bidens State of the Union Address. Same thing with President Trumps 34 felony convictions. All the while, the race has stayed razor-thin. Lastly, we are all accustomed to debates in September and October. Very few voters will have this June debate front of mind when casting their ballot. But make no mistake: This race will be extremely close and will likely come down to the wire. In 2020, Joe Biden won Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin all three states by roughly 40,000 votes. This November will likely be just as close. Thats not good for my blood pressure, but it does mean Democrats can and should find the requisite votes to win. We just have to do a better job of making sure voters know the alternative. Eric Schultz is a political strategist based in Washington who serves as senior advisor to President Barack Obama. He has consulted on numerous television and film projects including HBOs Succession, Netflixs Designated Survivor and most recently A24s Civil War. Best of The Hollywood Reporter WASHINGTON Democrats and other opponents of Donald Trump melted down as President Joe Biden struggled during Thursday's debate, with some suggesting he should bow out to allow another Democrat to run instead. Biden's voice was hoarse and raspy from the start. He stumbled over words and had to correct himself with numbers. He was sometimes hard to follow. On one occasion, the president appeared to lose his train of thought, stopped speaking and concluded confusingly with the line, "we finally beat Medicare." "That's a good man. He loves his country. He's doing the best that he can," said Van Jones, a Democratic political analyst for CNN. "But he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence in the country and of the base, and he failed to do that." President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Jones added: "We're still far from our convention. And there is time for this party to figure out a different way forward if he will allow us to do that." Biden, 81, entered the debate badly needing to energize his campaign, unite his party and answer skepticism about his age and ability to serve another term. Although he improved during the debate after an especially rocky start, Biden did not silence the concerns. One House Democrat, who spoke to USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly, described the debate as a "disaster." "Trump lied and Biden played all defense," the Democrat said. Another former Democratic member of Congress, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a conversation needs to happen privately with Biden about allowing someone else to run as the Democratic nominee. The lawmaker said he turned off the debate after the first hour because he couldn't stand watching Biden not stand up to Trump. It's not enough to be decent and honest and right on the issues," the Democrat said. "You have to be able to persuade, to defend your values forcefully and clearly, to command respect and to be able to take on liars and bullies like Trump to be the leader of this country." Biden's struggles made him lack forceful responses to Trump's repeated attacks and his downplaying of his role surrounding the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. While Trump talked, Biden often looked his way with a blank stare and his mouth open. President Joe Biden during the debate at CNN's studios in Atlanta. David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Barack Obama, said there was a "sense of shock" with how poorly Biden started the debate. "He seemed a little disoriented. He did get stronger as the debate went on," Axelrod said on CNN. "But by that time, I think the panic had set in. And I think you're going to hear discussions that I don't know will lead to anything but there is going to be discussions about whether he should continue." Maria Shriver, former first lady of California, a Biden supporter and member of the famed Democratic Kennedy family, shard her concerns in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "I love Joe Biden. I know hes a good man. I know his heart is good. I know hes dedicated to our country and is surrounded by good people. Tonight was heartbreaking in many ways," Shriver wrote. "This is a big political moment. Theres panic in the Democratic party. Its going to be a long night." Addressing Democratic concerns, a Biden campaign adviser told USA TODAY: "President Biden is the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump. He will do it again. Donald Trump did not give voters any reason to vote for him tonight. On the issues, the American people are with Joe Biden." Vice President Kamala Harris also defended Biden's performance. "What we saw tonight is the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all of the issues that matter to the American people," Harris said. "Yes, there was a slow start but it was a strong finish. "Listen, people can debate on style points, but ultimately this election and who is the president of the United States has to be about substance and the contrast is clear," Harris said. Sen. Rafael Warnock, D-Ga., when asked whether he was concerned about Biden's chances in November, responded: I would be concerned if the president didnt have a record to run on." California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, in an interview on MSNBC, called the Democratic criticism of Biden's performance "unhelpful" and "unnecessary." "We've got to go in and got to keep our head high, and we've got to have the back of this president. You don't turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? He's been a master class." Others disagreed. "Guys, the Dems should nominate someone else - before its too late," businessman Andrew Yang, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 and backed Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., in the Democratic primary this year. He added the hashtag "#swapJoeout." Trump seemed to sense Biden's difficulties. "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence," Trump said during one exchange on immigration during the debate. "And I don't think he knows what he said either." "Sorry, Im voting for President Biden but a disaster so far," Republican strategist Mike Murphy, a Trump critic, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, shortly into the debate. "On a 1 to 10 point scale if this continues the panic explosion inside the Democratic Party will hit 28 tomorrow." Elise Jordan, an MSNBC contributor and an aide in President George W. Bush's administration, said on X, "If President Biden cares about preserving American democracy, he should drop out of the election." Geoff Garin, a Biden pollster, downplayed the Democratic unrest, however. "The freak out over the debate is way overwrought," he said in a post on X. "Biden got off to a slow start but he had a strong finish. Trump was increasing incoherent and deranged as the debate went on, and Trump's extremism was on full display." Garin added: "At the end of the day Joe Biden will win because he builds America up while Donald Trump consistently tears it down." Contributing: Ken Tran. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats melt down over Joe Biden's disastrous presidential debate Serhii Cherednyk, leading engineer of Institute for Nuclear Research of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, killed in action Serhii Cherednyk went to the front as a volunteer and served in the National Guard. Serhii Cherednyk went to the front as a volunteer and served in the National Guard. Photo: DEPOSITPHOTOS Serhii Cherednyk, 59, a leading engineer at the Institute for Nuclear Research, has been killed while performing a combat mission in Donetsk Oblast. Source: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Details: He went to the front as a volunteer and served in the National Guard. Serhii Cherednyk was born on 24 June 1965 in Zhytomyr. He graduated from the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with a degree in optics and optoelectronic instrumentation. He had been working at the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine since October 2013. Serhii Cherednyk was killed in action National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine "The scientific community has lost an excellent specialist in nuclear electronics and charged particle beam physics, a talented engineer who, together with his colleagues, developed, commissioned and maintained the U-240 accelerator ion source for many years, which was necessary for scientific research. Extremely hard-working and always determined in his choice, Serhii Cherednyk was a sensitive and kind person, a true patriot of Ukraine who had a clear life position and a sense of dignity and duty to his homeland," the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine said. Serhii Cherednyk died on 28 May. The hero was buried at the Lisove (Forest) Cemetery in Kyiv on 7 June 2024. Support UP or become our patron! SEVIER COUNTY, Utah (WJW) Seven youth group members were taken to the hospital in Utah after a lightning strike. According to the sheriffs office, a youth group from the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints were hiking Thursday afternoon in Sevier County when it happened. 5 people drown in 4 days at popular Florida beach town A light rainstorm in the area produced water puddling on the ground. While hiking lightning struck the ground next to the youth. Approximately 50 youth felt the shock of the lightning. 7 of the youth had some medical concerns due to the electrocution. Seven of the children were taken to the hospital, with the sheriff describing two of them as having more serious symptoms. None of their injuries are life-threatening, the sheriffs office said. Click here for more on the most common activities for lightning deaths. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Democrats' Problem President Joe Biden faces the most serious crisis of his campaign, as a chorus of allies in the media figures like The New York Timess Thomas Friedman, CNNs Van Jones, and even MSNBCs Joe Scarborough suggest he should relinquish the Democratic nomination. But Biden was never much of a media darling, and aside from Scarborough, barely has any relationships with elite journalists. Nor is he subject to any formal process from whats left of Americas long-established, hollowed-out political parties. Hes already the nominee, and the only path to replacing him would be his own choice to withdraw. The relevant question, then, is what might push him to make that choice. Bens view There are two remaining factors that could force Biden off the ticket, no doubt in conversation with his family notably his wife Jill and sister Valerie. One is public polling. We may see a series of polls that show him losing badly, while other Democrats clearly beat Trump in the same polls. Despite conventional wisdom that a younger Democrat would do better, polling hasnt clearly shown that to date. Californians Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom are the only really plausible candidates at this stage, for a variety of reasons. Biden could find a way to hand off the baton cleanly. The other is a small number of figures whose defection, as a group, would destroy Bidens campaign. The mechanism is familiar: Theyd call Biden, privately, and suggest he withdraw. And there would be an unspoken threat that if he doesnt, they will do so publicly or, almost as bad, leak the fact of the call. The list is short, with just seven key players outside the presidents family: Barack Obama and Bill Clinton probably top it. Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi carry real weight. And the New Yorkers who lead Congress have sway too: Chuck Schumer because he really does channel the sense of his Senate caucus, and wouldnt move without it; House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries perhaps less so because hes so new to leadership, but also because hes a cautious figure who could only move if he reflected a real consensus. The South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, whose support helped turn the 2020 nomination for Biden, rounds out that list. And thats a short list. It reflects a party structure that has been reformed almost out of existence, and a leadership class that has, too, withered almost to nothing. Notable Firefighters work at the site after an accident between a train and a bus. At least five people have died and at least five more were injured when an express train collided with a bus in Slovakia. Kr Pz V Nitre/TASR/dpa The number of people who were killed in a collision between an express train and a bus in Slovakia has reportedly risen to seven. Five others were injured, public television station RTVS reported, citing rescue services. Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said on Friday that the cause of the accident was still being investigated. The news agency TASR reported that there were more than 100 passengers on the EuroCity train travelling from Prague to Budapest when it collided with a bus near the town of Nove Zamky. The bus was literally torn apart in the collision. The locomotive of the train set on fire. The Interior Ministry confirmed that all of the dead were passengers in the bus. Not all of them have been identified. The train driver was among those injured. He and others had to be taken to Bratislava and other hospitals further away because the nearest district hospital, Nove Zamky, was closed due to flooding. Firefighters work at the site after an accident between a train and a bus. At least five people have died and at least five more were injured when an express train collided with a bus in Slovakia. Kr Pz V Nitre/TASR/dpa BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The problems and prospects for implementing the international Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) strategy will be discussed during COP29 in Baku in November, the Director of Public Affairs in the Eurasia region of Coca-Cola Company Elshad Farzaliyev said during the forum "Green World Solidarity: Waste to Value for a Sustainable Future," Trend reports. He mentioned that this strategy refers to adding all environmental costs associated with the production of a product throughout its life cycle to the market price of that product. According to him, the strategy is applied in the field of waste management and leads to the fact that manufacturers take into account high environmental standards already at the stage of product design. "Companies in Azerbaijan attach great importance to the implementation of this strategy. The activity in this regard will increase as Azerbaijan has made and will make new environmental commitments by creating a green economy," Farzaliyev emphasized. To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan this November. 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 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A day after almost 120 people from Haiti arrived in Key West on a migrant sailboat, a small group of Haitians landed on the shores of a gated community about 120 miles away at the opposite end of the Florida Keys, according to local police and federal agents. Thursday night, around 8:15 p.m., the Monroe County Sheriffs Office responded to calls of three men walking within the Ocean Reef Club, an exclusive neighborhood and resort located at the northern portion of Key Largo, the agency confirmed to the Herald. The men told deputies they arrived on a boat from Haiti, said Adam Linhardt, a sheriffs office spokesman. As is policy, once the situation is confirmed to be a migrant landing, the sheriffs office waits for U.S. Border Patrol agents to arrive, then turns the case over to them. Although three men were found, there may have been more people in the group. Nestor Yglesias, spokesman for U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, said agents believe the migrants were smuggled by boat. Agents are studying security camera footage from Ocean Reef to see if they can determine the total number of people who arrived. A sailboat that brought about 120 Haitian migrants to Key West, Fla., on Wednesday morning, June 26, 2024, sits near Higgs Beach. Early morning the day before around 3:40 a.m. an overloaded sailboat with 117 people from Haiti arrived in the shallow waters off Higgs Beach in Key West. The people on board told authorities they left Haiti seven days before arriving in Key West. It was the largest arrival of Haitian migrants to the Keys since February 2023. Haitian migrants prepare to depart the U.S. Customs and Border Protection station in the Middle Florida Keys city of Marathon Wednesday, June 26, 2024. They were among a group of almost 120 people who arrived earlier in the morning on a migrant boat in Key West. Border Patrol agents took the arrivals from the sailboat to a migrant processing station in Dania Beach, said Adam Hoffner, assistant chief patrol agent for the Border Patrols Miami sector. Severe storms with high winds, hail, flooding and even tornadoes possible in Greater Akron The National Weather Service says all of northern Ohio is at risk of severe storms on Saturday. It could be a stormy Saturday across northern Ohio. The National Weather Service says all of northern Ohio is at risk for severe storms tomorrow. "Be sure to have a reliable way to receive watches and warnings," the weather service says. The greatest risk for severe weather is Saturday afternoon and evening. There's a chance for everything from damaging winds, hail and even tornadoes and heavy rain. "Repeated rounds of heavy rainfall are expected with thunderstorms on Saturday and flash flooding is possible," the weather service says. "Urban and poor drainage areas will be most vulnerable to the potential for flash flooding." Things will dry out on Sunday with the risk of showers and storms returning just in time for the Fourth of July. 4th of July: From fireworks to parades, here's how Summit County is celebrating July 4 What's the weather forecast? Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 83. South wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Saturday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 76. Monday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Wednesday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Independence Day: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Check Akron weather hourly Need to know weather conditions by the hour? Make sure to check out our weather page here. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Severe storms expected in Akron on Saturday (FOX40.COM) A shooting in Elk Grove on Tuesday night left a man from Sacramento dead, according to the Elk Grove Police Department. Police said the shooting occurred just after 10 p.m. in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express on Maritime Drive in the Laguna West area east of Interstate 5. Multiple arrests made in Northern California fatal shooting When police officers arrived at the scene, they said they found a man, 35, who was on the ground of the parking lot with gunshot wounds. Emergency staff would declare him dead at the scene, the Elk Grove Police Department said. Police said the incident remains under investigation, but added that their initial findings have led them to believe the shooting was not random nor were any of the people involved in the shooting staying at the hotel where the shooting took place. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. In Russia, the trialtrialof Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is under way. The trial is being held in secret, though Gershkovich was displayedlocked in a glass box with his head shavedfor the benefit of the press and the amusement of the Russian people. U.S. Embassy personnel have been banned from the proceedings, as have Gershkovichs supporters, as have reporters, as have all others who are not carefully pre-screened participants in the show-trial pageant being put on by the state security apparatus. Gershkovich is charged with espionage. There is no evidence that Gershkovich was involved in anything other than journalism, but if you are Vladimir Putin, journalismreal, honest journalismis at least as much of a danger to your regime as is espionage, and probably more of one. Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations offers a useful analogy: In the era of globalization, rival countries end up being something like estranged spouses who use the things that link them togetherthe children, the family homeas weapons against one another. We have seen this with trade, with travel, with participation in multinational institutions, and much else. And we have seen it with journalism. The foreign correspondent is as ancient a figure in international relations as the diplomat, and it is an increasingly dangerous occupation. Authoritarians fear journalists, for obvious reasons. The so-called Peoples Republic of China is a prolific jailer of domestic journalistshalf of them Uyghursand Beijing has made a special example out of Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, who is a British national. Like Gershkovich, Lai is accused of espionage: collusion with foreign forces and illegally supplying state secrets overseas. As George Orwell doesnt seem to have actually said, news is what they dont want you to printthe rest is advertising. And those are good, bold, true words, but a tough credo to live up to when the people who dont want you printing things have a gestapo and a gulag and Polonium-210. The Russian show trial is an established national tradition. It is a feature of whatever we want to call the form of government practiced by Putin. It was a feature of the communist regime that preceded the current era, and it was a feature of the czarist regime that preceded the communists. Russia has had many revolutions of sorts, but wherever it has gone, it has found itself there. As the Economist once put it: Peter the Great, tsar from 1682 to 1725, set out to modernise a medieval theocracy, and produced a militaristic police state based on slave labour. Peter the Great would recognize what is being done to Evan Gershkovich, as he, too, constructed special displays for his political enemies: stone pillars with iron prongs radiating out from them, upon which we hung the heads of those who got on the wrong side of the czar. His former brother-in-law was decapitated and his head displayed on such a structure in St. Petersburg for years; there was still some of it left when the deposed governor of Siberia was pinned up next to it. These Russian spectacles of suffering were not just manifestations of psychotic crueltythey were intentional strategies of statecraft. And so it goes. Russia is not a failed state but a series of failed (and failing) states, with something much more enormously failed behind them. The perversity of the contrast between Russian culture and Russian public life should be held onto as a kind of civilizational memento mori by those of us who have, over the years, made the profound error of investing our hopes in intellect and high culture. Russia has those gifts in excess: in literature, in music, in science, in philosophyin almost everything except creating the conditions under which ordinary life may be lived decently and securely by ordinary people. It is as though Russian public life knows how to create only geniuses and monsters, along with a few men who were both. But Americans can no longer allow ourselves to be shocked by that: If we did not learn the lesson of Germanywhen the most cultured, urban, and educated elements of Europes most intellectually advanced country carried out the Holocaustthen we have our own contemporary example, less monstrous but no less illuminating. Men of culture and intellectual achievement have proven to be easily seduced by the scanty rewardsa little bit of money and some transitory notorietythat go along with being the house philosophers of the Trump movement. If not intellect and culture, then what is reliable proof against illiberalism, tyranny, and monstrosity? Catholics could not be tempted for a second to indulge the notion that our religion nurtures the kind of civilizations that are resistant to that sort of thingcf. Franco, Pinochet, Salazar, Trujillo, Mussolini, etc.but the heirs of the Reformation can hardly have failed to notice that so many neutral Protestant countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) found it relatively easy to establish a modus vivendi with the Third Reich. Danish resistance to the Nazi occupation lasted only two hours, during which time the Danes seem to have inflicted zero casualties, though they did capture two Germans. So: Not intellect, not high culture, not religion. In what should Americans trust? The Constitution? Maybe. But it is worth noting that the same element in American life that cheers on Putins forces in Ukraine is also cheering on the effort to elect as the next president of these United States a man who not long ago insisted that the Constitution must face termination if its rules would keep him out of office. I think our best defense is the people in Evan Gershkovichs businessI mean the actual journalists, not the rodeo clowns who play at journalism. (Putin has suggested he is open to a prisoner swap for Gershkovich; the inconvenient fact is that the best candidate for such a swap, a man who is much more valuable to Putin than he is to usI mean, of course, Tucker Swanson McNear Carlsonis not a prisoner.) Thomas Jefferson thought so: Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter. There is a reason Vladimir Putin cannot abide Evan Gershkovich and those who do that kind of work. God bless and keep them. 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. A shower just for your dog is the new home status symbol A shower just for your dog is the new home status symbol From high-quality food to top-notch healthcare, pet owners want the best for their furry friends. Some homebuilders are adding tubs and showers just for pets and buyers are intrigued. Adding pet amenities helps homebuilders stand out in a sluggish real-estate market. For many people, their four-legged friends aren't just pets they're family. Many pet owners spare no expense for their furry friends, whether investing in high-quality food or custom-built habitats. Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars to ensure their happiness and well-being. While healthcare and food constitute the majority of pet owner expenses, a new trend has emerged: dedicated pet wash stations. These built-in showers, exclusively designed for bathing and showering animals, are becoming a common feature in many newly built homes nationwide. They often look like human showers or tubs but include specialized features. For instance, some have a low-profile entryway that allows dogs to enter and exit easily without requiring owners to lift or bend excessively. Some have shower heads with extended hoses for better reach and flexibility. Depending on the level of luxury, pet wash stations can cost homeowners between $400 and $2,000 to DIY, according to home-maintenance site The Spruce. Recognizing the demand for this amenity, many builders now include them in their newly-built homes. Homebuilders are now catering to dogs and other pets At last week's National Association of Real Estate Editors conference, Sanju Surtani, a vice president of sales at homebuilder Highland Homes, told a crowd of attendees that pet wash stations are becoming more popular as builders design homes to cater to "multi-species living." "One in five households acquired a pet during COVID, so we are creating designated areas for furry family members," Surtani said. "We've got spotlight showers and living spaces for pets. This is something that's now being integrated into utility spaces as well." Feelings of isolation and yearning for companionship arose during the pandemic, prompting millions of Americans to welcome a pet into their homes. This trend has persisted even as the world recovers, with adoption rates remaining high. According to data from the American Pet Products Association, 86.9 million US households are home to at least one pet as of 2024. A contributing factor to the increasing number of Americans pursuing pet ownership may also be the declining birth rate in the US, as more couples choose to postpone starting a family or opt not to have children at all. Actually, there's a specific term for such couples: DINKWAD double income, no kids, with a dog. These households often enjoy higher incomes and have greater financial flexibility. Special features like puppy spas help builders stand out to homebuyers During a period of low buyer demand and fewer home sales, competition among homebuilders has intensified. Therefore, it's not surprising that many are enhancing their appeal by incorporating tailored features like pet wash stations into their builds. A dog spa in a Highland Homes property. Courtesy of Highland Homes. Highland Homes has integrated "puppy spas'' into some builds. These rooms feature built-in kennels, storage for supplies, and animal-wash stations, providing homeowners with a convenient alternative to taking their dogs to the groomers. Surtani told Business Insider that in today's expensive real estate market, those who can still afford to move don't want to compromise on their new home and its amenities. "Now more than ever, if people are going to sacrifice selling their home and move into something else, there has to be a good reason," she said. Read the original article on Business Insider Sleeping couple wakes up to truck attached to their camper being carjacked by thief: Just test driving The couple and their dog we're asleep in the camper when a thief stole the truck carrying it, A bumbling thief in Colorado carjacked a truck that was pulling a camper which was carrying a sleeping couple who awoke during the joyride and called the cops. And when the suspect was pulled over by police following a brief chase in Boulder, he claimed he was just test driving the stolen wheels, authorities said. The wild ordeal unfolded as the couple and their dog were asleep in a friends camper parked outside her apartment when, in the middle of the night, someone broke into the pickup truck attached to the camper and sped off, according to police. The couple and their dog were asleep in the camper when a thief stole the truck carrying it, Boulder Police Department The couple and their dog stayed quiet so the thief wouldnt know they were inside and called for help, Boulder Police said in a statement. Police located the vehicle around 3 a.m. and flashed their lights but the driver refused to pull over. Instead, the truck sped up until it made a turn onto a dead-end street where police finally stopped and arrested the driver. What seems to be the problem officer? Will you please tell me? the suspect, identified as 47-year-old David Bradley Metz, asks as a cop puts him in handcuffs, according to bodycam footage shared by the department. The truck that you just took had the owners in the back, the cop responded. The suspect has several prior arrests for motor vehicle thefts, cops said. Boulder Police Department I didnt take it, sir, the suspect protests. I was just test-driving it, he adds. At 3 in the morning? the cop asks. The clip later shows police opening the back door of the camper. They ask the victims if theyre OK, to which they respond we are although they were shaken up, police said. Fortunately, neither the couple nor their dog were injured. Boulder Police Department There did not appear to be any damage to the truck or the camper, a police spokesperson told The Post. The suspect, whos previously been convicted of motor vehicle theft, was charged with second-degree motor vehicle theft, two counts of reckless endangerment, vehicular eluding, carrying a concealed knife and failure to appear in court for a previous theft case. He has an additional three prior arrests for motor vehicle thefts including one in Boulder in March. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. The Coca-Cola Company is pulling out all the stops with its World Without Waste strategy, setting its sights on having 50 percent of its packaging made from recycled plastic by 2030, Elshad Farzaliyev, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Eurasia and the Middle East at the company, said at the Green World Solidarity: Waste to Value for Sustainable Future International Forum, Trend reports. "Currently, Coca-Cola's packaging is 100 percent recyclable in Azerbaijan, with this process set to be completed in other countries by 2025. In Azerbaijan, we plan to ensure that at least 50 percent of the plastic used in our production is reused by 2030," he said. He noted that, globally, the company developed a prototype bottle made from plant-based paraxylene (bPX) using the Virent process a few years ago. Additionally, Farzaliyev brought up the fact that Coca-Cola, being one of the biggest private taxpayers in Azerbaijan, helps with trash reduction by using a circular economy strategy. According to the official, Azerbaijan does not yet have a system in place specifically for collecting plastic waste and reusing it. Up until now, every company in the plastic industry has been tackling this problem on their own, and Coca-Cola has emerged as a frontrunner in developing technological solutions. The company is actively working on various environmental initiatives, such as aiming to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030 and ultimately achieving zero emissions by 2050. To note, Coca-Cola has been operating in Azerbaijan since 1994. The Green World Solidarity: Waste to Value for a Sustainable Future International Forum forum started its work in Baku on June 27 and will end today. The forum is organized with the support of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Tamiz Shahar OJSC. It is attended by officials from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, UN representatives, and delegates from various international organizations, including several foreign countries. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TYLER, Texas (KETK) After last nights first presidential debate of the 2024 election between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, East Texas party chairs are reacting to what they saw. On FOX51 Good Day, both Smith County Republican Party Chair David Stein and Democratic Party Chair Hector Garza gave us their thoughts on what they saw at last nights debate. Fact-check: Heres some of the false claims made during Biden and Trumps first debate The fireworks werent as explosive as we anticipated them being, said Garza. Throughout the debate hosted by CNN, both Trump and Biden took jabs at each other on numerous topics and were making their case in front of America on why they should get a second term in office. Stein weighed in on how he thought Trump performed against the current president. He was presidential, said Stein. He articulated his points. He talked about his record. He tried to say away from personal. Unfortunately, President Biden went there first and the president was well prepared to respond. How did CNNs moderators do in the Biden-Trump debate? It almost didnt matter that they were there Garza said he wishes Biden could have done better, but he remains confident in his abilities to lead the country. We know that Joe Biden has never been the eloquent speaker, he said. Four years ago, if you look at him, he still the guy that mumbles, hes still the guy thats not as eloquent that gets confused with his words. I think that as long as his policy and his focus remain the way they are today, then this country is going to be okay for the next few years. Despite a few jabs at each other, Garza told KETK he thought for the most part both candidates stayed on track throughout the debate. I think both candidates stuck pretty much stuck to the issues, stuck to the American issues, and spoke out about what we wanted to hear, said Garza. Stein said he thinks Americans trust Trump more to handle the economy. There is no argument as far as what has happened, Stein said. The record couldnt be more clear. We are all paying more at the grocery store for what we are buying. You can watch the full interviews with both Stein and Garza embedded in the story above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) A Southern California man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring with others to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills throughout the United States. After serving his prison term, George Anthony Manzo will have to do five years of supervised release. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Las Vegas, Manzo sold thousands of fentanyl pills to individuals setting up the transactions through Snapchat. Border Patrol trains Juarez officers in drug-overdose response While traveling back to Las Vegas from Phoenix, Manzo was stopped and investigators found approximately 30,000 pills in his car. While the pills were tested, Manzo was freed pending the results. In December 2021, he was taken into custody in Tijuana, Mexico and returned to the United States for prosecution. In Atlanta to promote fentanyl actions, Yellen announces sanctions against Mexican cartel Three years later, he pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Manzo was a resident of Redlands, California. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border The U.S. Attorneys office says fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, killing 38,000 Americans in the first six months of 2023 alone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SoCalGas is temporarily setting up shop across from Hesperia Lake Park as the utility agency prepares to test 6.7 miles of natural gas pipeline. In preparation for the hydro-test, construction began in June 2024 and is expected to be completed in October 2024 barring bad weather or other factors, SoCalGas spokesperson Denise Campos told the Daily Press. SoCalGas is temporarily setting up shop across from Hesperia Lake Park as the utility agency prepares to test 6.7 miles of natural gas pipeline. Several residents contacted the Daily Press after they saw construction fencing and a sign about the project in a vacant field on Arrowhead Lake Road south of Calpella Avenue and across from the park. The posted sign includes L-4000 P2A Fontana to Hesperia Hydro-test project and phone numbers to voice concern should residents see dust coming from this project. All construction activities are temporary and include setting up traffic delineation, excavation of the pipeline, construction of temporary water storage, hydrotesting of the pipeline and restoration of the work areas, Campos said. Company officials stated that one of the common methods of assessing pipeline integrity is the hydrostatic pressure test, a process that uses water to exert pressure on a pipeline at levels much greater than its usual operating pressure. During the testing project, natural gas service should continue without interruption, Campos added. A SoCalGas photo shows a crew testing a natural gas pipeline. SoCalGas is temporarily setting up shop across from Hesperia Lake Park as the utility agency prepares to test 6.7 miles of pipeline. Larger project According to SoCalGas, the overall Line 4000 Phase 2A Hydro-test project will test approximately 45.67 miles of pipe and replace 787 feet of 30-inch station pipe. The project is located in San Bernardino County between Newberry Compressor Station and Fontana Station, with several established stations along the way. The project starts south of Newberry Springs, moves through Lucerne Valley, Hesperia, the Cajon Pass, and follows Interstate 15 ending at Duncan Canyon Road in Fontana. Testing history In 2011, the California Public Utilities Commission ordered all natural gas transmission operators in the state to develop an implementation plan to achieve the goal of orderly and cost-effective testing or replacing natural gas transmission pipelines in their system that have not been pressure-tested. As a result, the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan was established to promote the continued safety and integrity of our natural gas transmission pipelines. We are dedicated to maintaining the safety and integrity of our natural gas pipelines, the agency stated. SoCalGas routinely performs various pipeline maintenance and safety tasks, including patrolling, inspecting, testing, repairing, and replacing pipelines. For more information about the project, call SoCalGas at 800-427-2200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information on the SoCalGas Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan, visit socalgas.com. 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: SoCalGas prepares pipeline testing near Hesperia Lake Park A still from a video released by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Friday appears to show a North Korean missile exploding in mid-flight. Screenshot: Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff video SEOUL, June 28 (UPI) -- South Korea's military dismissed Pyongyang's claim that it successfully launched a multiple-warhead missile, providing video evidence on Friday of a mid-air explosion. Videos taken by frontline surveillance units showed the missile spiraling on an abnormal flight path before disintegrating. "It is believed that this flight instability caused the missile to explode," a South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said in a background briefing with reporters. On Thursday, North Korea claimed that it had successfully conducted its first multiple-warhead missile test a day earlier. The technology, known as multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles -- or MIRV -- is more difficult to defend against than traditional missiles. It was part of a five-year weapons wish list laid out by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a party congress in January 2021. North Korea claimed on Thursday that it had successfully conducted its first multiple-warhead missile test. Photo by Yonhap The test was "carried out by use of the first-stage engine of an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile," state-run Korean Central News Agency claimed. The JCS official said that images released in North Korean state media appeared to instead show an intercontinental ballistic missile similar in shape to the Hwasong-17, which was tested in March 2023. After further analysis, both Seoul and Washington concluded the North's claim of a successful test was "deception and exaggeration to cover up failure," the official said. "In the future, North Korea is expected to attempt to re-launch the missile that failed this time," the official added. "Accordingly, our military is closely monitoring follow-up trends." The missile test came amid mounting international concerns over a mutual defense treaty signed by North Korea and Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang last week. On Thursday, South Korea slapped independent sanctions on four Russian vessels and eight North Korean individuals for engaging in illicit weapons and fuel trade in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Also sanctioned were five entities, including North Korea's Missile Administration, which was responsible for this week's launch, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a press release. South Korea's Trade Ministry, meanwhile, said Friday it would add 243 new items to a list of banned exports to Russia and Belarus. The items added have a "high possibility of military use, such as metal cutting and processing machines, machine tool parts, optical device parts and sensors," the ministry said in a press release. Exporters can apply for approval from the government on a case-by-case basis. South Korea has signaled in recent days that it may also consider sending lethal arms to Ukraine in the wake of the Russia-North Korea defense treaty. Last week, Putin warned that such a move would be a "very big mistake." As South Korea's population shrinks, same-sex couples say they can help South Korea's lesbian couple call for legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing the LGBT community to have babies South Korea's lesbian couple call for legalizing same-sex marriage and allowing the LGBT community to have babies By Minwoo Park SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - South Koreans Kim Eun-ha and Park Cho-hyeon would like to get married and have children, a plan that fits in with government ambitions to boost the world's lowest fertility rate. The catch is that same-sex unions remain illegal in South Korea, and doctors refuse to perform artificial insemination on women without a male partner, citing ethical guidelines. "A lot of single people and lesbian couples around me want to have children. If the various types of families who can have children are accepted first, I think it will contribute a lot to the fertility rate," Kim Eun-ha told Reuters. While campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage have succeeded in Taiwan and Thailand, there is no legal acknowledgement of LGBT partnerships in South Korea and many couples are forced move abroad if they want to get married or have a baby. Every year, the LGBT community faces a lot of opposition to the annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival from conservative religious groups that have mounted fierce resistance to efforts to pass laws against discrimination. Kim Ji-hak, who heads non-profit organization Diversity Korea, said the government should acknowledge diversity if it is serious about increasing the birthrate. South Korea has spent billions of dollars to try to stop its population from shrinking, as concerns about career advancement and the financial cost of raising children drive many South Korean women to delay childbirth or not have children at all. Despite these efforts, the population declined for a fourth straight year in 2023. "If we become a society where people don't have to worry about healthcare, education, labour and ageing, everyone will want to have more children," Kim said. There have been a few steps towards LGBT rights: last year, a court made a landmark ruling on national health coverage for a gay couple. But doctors still refuse to perform artificial insemination for single women and same-sex couples due to guidelines set by the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2022, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended the guidelines to be revised, but nothing has yet changed. For Kim Eun-ha and Park, who live together with their dog Whipping and also run a YouTube channel that aims to raise awareness about LGBT issues, the lack of recognition for LGBT unions is the biggest obstacle to boosting the birth rate. The couple plan to go to Australia to get married - even though the South Korean government will not recognise their union - before thinking about how they can have children. "I think the only way to start solving everything from raising children, healthcare to housing is to recognize marriage for same-sex couples. It's only when this form of love is acknowledged, everything else becomes possible," Kim Eun-ha said. (Reporting by Minwoo Park and Heejung Jung; Additional Reporting by Jihyun Jeon; Writing by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ju-min Park and Miral Fahmy) A Southern California man was sentenced to prison Thursday for rape and sex crimes against his younger sister. Stephen Delacruz, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for crimes that he committed when he was 14 and 15 years old against his sister, who was 8 years old at the time, according to the Ventura County District Attorneys Office. In 2019, the victim, identified as Samantha J., walked into the Oxnard Police Department to report the crimes that took place in 2001 and 2002. During the incidents, Delacruz isolated Samantha in their Oxnard home and threatened to kill her if she ever reported him, court documents said. Delacruz often displayed a knife prior to the sexual assaults, authorities said. Charges were initially filed at the DAs office in juvenile court, alleging Delacruz was a minor when the incidents happened. Stephen Delacruz, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape and sex crimes he committed against his sister on June 27, 2024. (Ventura County District Attorneys Office) Stephen Delacruz, 37, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for rape and sex crimes he committed against his sister on June 27, 2024. (Ventura County District Attorneys Office) However, Senior Deputy DA Erik Nasarenko sought to transfer the case from juvenile court to adult court, arguing the crimes involved significant sophistication and planning and were especially violent and severe. The juvenile court judge agreed and transferred the case. However in 2022, the state legislature amended the criteria that juvenile court judges had to consider when deciding to transfer a case to adult court. The new criteria required courts to determine by clear and convincing evidence that the minor is not amenable to rehabilitation through the juvenile court, officials noted. This prompted a transfer hearing before another Ventura County judge applied the new criteria and deemed the case worthy of transferring to adult court, stating the allegations were horrendous. Before the case went to trial, Delacruz pled guilty to all eight felony charges filed against him including three counts of forcible rape, three counts of forcible oral copulation and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object. He also admitted to special allegations that the victim was under 18 years of age. Samantha demonstrated great resiliency and determination as she fought for justice and accountability in this case, Nasarenko said. Facing her brother during todays sentencing to give her victim impact statement took incredible strength and courage. Delacruz was sentenced to 30 years in state prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Although NASA and other space agencies will keep operating the International Space Station (ISS) until 2030, the space station will eventually need to be retired. Today NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to design a deorbiting vehicle that will deliver the ISS to its fiery demise in the Earths atmosphere. This deorbiting vehicle will also be punching a one-way ticket and will ensure that the 880,000-pound space station has no impact on the world below. All good things eventually come to the end, and even the International Space Stationthe 24-year-long orbital experiment supported by space agencies around the world cant escape this inevitable fate. Of course, retiring an aging space station isnt quite as easy as putting in your two weeks and riding off into the sunset. No, space stations require a bit more preparation. Today NASA announced that SpaceX will be the author of the ISSs demise by awarding the company a $843 million contract to build a deorbiting vehicle that safely guides the ISS to its fiery doom. Although SpaceX will develop the vehicle, which will also be punching a one-way ticket along with the famous space station, NASA will take ownership over the deorbiting platform and operate it throughout the entire mission. With the space station weighing in at around 880,000 pounds, this massive bulk of science will definitely benefit from a guided effort for its disintegration in the Earths atmosphere a process thats far from easy. In March 2021, for example, NASA released a 5,800-pound cargo pallet containing old nickel hydride batteries using the robotic arm aboard the ISS. The idea was for the entire pallet to burn up on reentry three years later. Things did not go according to plan as a small piece survived the fiery descent and impacted a home in Naples, Florida. So, just imagine the damage something 150 times heavier could do. Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. This decision also supports NASAs plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of space near Earth, Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA, said in a press statement . The orbital laboratory remains a blueprint for science, exploration, and partnerships in space for the benefit of all. Five space agencies have guided operations of the ISS since 1988, including NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and Russias State Space Corporation Roscosmos. The first four agencies have committed to ISS operations until 2030 while Roscosmos has only committed to 2028, according to NASA. Although orbiting 254 miles above our heads, the ISS isnt immune from politics on the ground. After Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions levied against the belligerent country, the then-head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin threatened to pull out of the ISS project altogether (Rogozin himself being a target of the sanctions). NASA mostly shrugged off those threats and the collaboration since has been described as stable, if tense, continuation of operation. During its quarter century of operations, the ISS has been the space-based home of some 280 individuals across 23 different countries working on some 3,300 experiments. NASA built the orbital platform during the Space Shuttle era, stood witness to the very last Shuttle flight in 2011, and grew into the go-to destination for the U.S.s burgeoning commercial spaceflight market. The lessons within the walls of its 16 pressurized modules will forever form the DNA of future space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. You Might Also Like Jim Hoft, founder of The Gateway Pundit, talks with Stephen K. Bannon while appearing on an episode of Brietbart News Daily on SiriusXM Patriot at Quicken Loans Arena on July 21, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio (Ben Jackson/Getty Images for SiriusXM). The right-wing conspiracy website Gateway Pundit is accused of abusing the bankruptcy process to escape accountability in defamation lawsuits stemming from its false claims about the 2020 election. Gateway Pundit, founded in St. Louis by brothers Jim and Joe Hoft, filed for bankruptcy in April as it was facing defamation lawsuits in Missouri and Colorado. In 2021, Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss sued Gateway Pundit in St. Louis after the site published debunked stories accusing them of election fraud that resulted in threats of violence, many tinged with racial slurs. Former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer sued the site in Colorado in 2020 after it falsely accused him of being part of an effort to overturn the presidential election. Lawyers for Freeman, Moss and Coomer this week asked a Florida judge to dismiss the bankruptcy filing, calling it a pure litigation tactic designed to derail their lawsuits. Hoft has previously been accused of purposely delaying discovery in the Missouri case to impede a jury trial. That, Freeman and Moss attorney contends, is the true purpose of the bankruptcy. To date, the defendants strategy in the Missouri litigation has had one goal: delay, wrote David Blanksy, Freeman and Moss attorney. This chapter 11 filing is just the newest effort in a long line of failed tactics to prevent (plaintiffs) from proving their claims in a court of law. Vincent Alexander, Coomers attorney, wrote that the bankruptcy filing came just as the Hoft brothers were served with deposition notices in Missouri and soon after their motion to dismiss the Colorado lawsuit was denied. Hoft announced in April that his company was filing for bankruptcy because of the progressive liberal lawfare attacks against our media outlet. His attorney, Bart Houston, argues in court filings that the benefit of bankruptcy is to consolidate disparate claims into a single forum for equality of treatment and distribution. Gateway Pundits insurance policy, Houston wrote, isnt large enough to cover all the expenses needed for two defamation cases. In this case, whichever one of the two pending litigations that reaches trial first will likely have depleted the policy and will get first shot at the remaining assets of the debtor, Houston wrote. The second place litigation will be left with nothing but a pyrrhic victory. If the plaintiffs in the defamation lawsuits are dead set on depletion of the insurance policy, destruction of the debtors business operations and zero payment on account of their claims, then such a result will certainly occur in a dismissal or stay relief, Houston wrote. The legal wrangling over bankruptcy echoes the fight between Infowars host Alex Jones and the families of children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. A Texas judge ruled last year that Jones cant use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying more than $1 billion to families who sued over his repeated lies that the school massacre was a hoax. But the bankruptcy filings continue to forestall efforts to get damages, with one family trying to collect assets from Jones company in a way that other families argue could leave them with next to nothing. Just this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma, the maker of the opioid OxyContin, cannot move forward because it shields members of the Sackler family, which principally owns the company, from liability for opioid-related claims. Patient zero According to Business Insider, Jim Hoft admitted at a June 17 hearing in the bankruptcy case that he used the company to give himself an $800,000 loan to purchase a condo in 2021 in Jensen Beach, Florida. According to court filings, none of that loan has been repaid. Gateway Pundit, doing business as TGP Communications LLC, also owns a 2021 Porsche Cayenne worth about $54,000. Hoft said during the hearing he has used it as a company car. Hoft receives a salary from the company of $17,000 a month. In the nearly two decades since its founding, Gateway Pundit has spread false conspiracies on a wide range of topics, from the 2018 Sandy Hook school shooting to former President Barack Obamas birth certificate. After years of existing largely in the fringes of the right-wing media ecosphere, its profile exploded under Trump, who granted the site White House press credentials. Hoft was allowed in 2022 to join a lawsuit filed by the Missouri attorney generals office that argued the federal government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading and dangerous information online. Then Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who now serves in the U.S. Senate, argued at the time that Hoft was one of the most influential online voices in the country who suffered extensive government-induced censorship over issues like COVID-19 and election security. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the lawsuits claims, concluding that neither Hoft nor any of the other plaintiffs were able to prove that social media platforms acted due to government coercion. They also failed to demonstrate any harm, the court determined, or substantial risk that they will suffer an injury in the future. In addition to their defamation lawsuit against Hoft, Freeman and Moss sued former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over false allegations of fraud tied to the 2020 presidential election. Giulianis attorney tried to distance his client from the violent threats against the Georgia election workers by arguing Gateway Pundit was more responsible, calling the site patient zero in spreading the conspiracy theory. In December, Giuliani was ordered to pay Freeman and Moss more than $148 million in damages. The post St. Louis-based Gateway Pundit accused of using bankruptcy to derail defamation suits appeared first on Missouri Independent. Marcellus Williams, photographed in prison (photo submitted). It is not every day that a prosecutor takes the extraordinary step of asking a court to vacate a criminal conviction, let alone one carrying a death sentence. In the case of Marcellus Williams, St Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell did so after he reviewed the case and found clear and convincing evidence that Williams is innocent. Despite the prosecutors pending motion, the Missouri Supreme Court set an execution date for Williams, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey now seeks to prevent the St. Louis County Circuit Court from assessing the new DNA evidence at all. On July 2, the Circuit Court will decide whether it will hold a hearing on the prosecutors motion. It is hard to imagine justice in a system that would not require it. In 2017, Williams came within hours of being executed. His life was only spared after then-Gov. Eric Greitens stayed the execution and appointed an independent Board of Inquiry to review new evidence of Williamss innocence which included new forensic test results that excluded him as the source of male DNA on the murder weapon a knife left on the victims body. Six years later, Gov. Mike Parson dissolved the Board of Inquiry on the basis that it was time to move forward and allow the process to proceed within the judicial system. That process requires a court to consider the DNA evidence before exacting a punishment from which there is no turning back. To date, no court has reviewed the DNA evidence. Although the Missouri Supreme Court appointed a judge to oversee DNA testing in 2016, the court did not hold a hearing on the results. Now, the very office that secured Williamss guilty verdict and death sentence has reviewed those test results as well as the evidence presented at trial and asked a court to overturn that conviction on the basis that he is innocent. In his motion, the prosecutor notes the paucity of evidence supporting guilt. Although the perpetrator left behind a great deal of forensic evidence, none of it matched Williams. It was not his bloody footprint on the floor, it was not his hair in the victims hand. No one saw him in the vicinity of the victims home. There was no reason for him to have been in the area and no motive for him to have committed the crime. No one and nothing connected Marcellus Williams to this crime until months later, when a jailhouse informant looking to collect reward money and cut a deal on his own pending charges claimed Williams had confessed to him. That informant led police to a second, equally incentivized witness, who only came forward after she was arrested on her own charges and who told police that Williams had sold the victims stolen laptop. What the jury never learned, however, was that the person who purchased the laptop had also told police that Williams got it from that same incentivized witness. In the intervening decades, DNA exonerations have shed light on the problems with such testimonyincentivized informants are a contributing factor in some 15% of wrongful convictions overturned through DNA evidence. As Parson noted when he dissolved the Board of Inquiry, it is only once the due process of law has been exhausted [that] everyone will receive certainty. That process requires a court to hold a hearing and carefully review the never-before-considered DNA evidence in the context of the case as a whole. And it must do so before it is too late. While Williamss Sept. 24 execution is frighteningly imminent, there is still time to ensure Missouri does not execute a man both the prosecution and defense agree is innocent. The bottom line is simple: the circuit court should hold a hearing on the prosecutors motion and consider the DNA evidence that proves Marcellus Williams did not kill Felicia Gayle. It would be unconscionable for Missouri to allow his execution otherwise. The post St. Louis County prosecutor thinks Marcellus Williams is innocent. Hes still set to be executed appeared first on Missouri Independent. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 28. Azerbaijan is at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and the Asian Development Bank supports all its actions at the national level as COP29 chair, ADB's President Masatsugu Asakawa said during a speech at ADA University on June 28, Trend reports. According to him, Azerbaijan is a significant player in discussing environmental and climate issues and making important global decisions. "The young generation can be climate champions in UN climate change conferences, and this is logical as climate change directly affects the future," the ADB's president noted. He noted that the upcoming COP29 in November is a crucial platform to gain and share experiences on how to tackle climate challenges. "Unless urgent action is taken, global temperatures could rise by 1.82.2 degrees Celsius, increasing risks to livelihoods," Asakawa opined. He advocated for more climate finance, which was discussed at COP28 in Dubai and will be the focus of COP29 in Baku and COP30 in Brazil. "ADB pays great attention to lending to projects aimed at protecting the environment," the head of the bank said. To note, ADB's assets amount to about $300 billion. The volume of financing programs implemented within the framework of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) amounted to $4.2 billion as of the first of April this year. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. Authorities are searching for a St. Louis man accused in a toddlers fentanyl-induced death last year. The St. Louis County Police Department reports that Alphonso Huntley, 43, is at large amid the investigation. Police requested a warrant of Huntley on Thursday, more than nine months after the child died. Prosecutors have charged Huntley with one felony count of endangering the welfare of a child (resulting in death) in the case. According to a probable cause statement, Huntley was caring for a two-year-old child in the 4000 block of Jenny Drive in north St. Louis County. While the child was in his care, Huntley allegedly left fentanyl in a spot that was accessible to the child. Police say the child, later identified as Mecca Hardwrict-Aaten, died on or around Sept. 18, 2023. A medical examiner later determined the child died from ingesting fentanyl and other substances. If you have any relevant information on Huntleys whereabouts or the investigation, contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jason Jeffries, team lead of appraisal and data analysis for the Stark County Auditor's Office, takes a photograph of a property in Canton. CANTON Jason Jeffries observes the outside of a home that recently sold. Wearing a yellow vest and holding a tablet, Jeffries is comparing what he sees on the outside of the house in Canton to data previously collected by the Stark County Auditor's Office information used to help determine property values. For homes that recently changed hands, the county tries for an on-site inspection within two weeks. "The most important thing we do is collect accurate data," he said. "The more accurate our data is, the better our outcomes will be." Jeffries is team lead of appraisal and data analysis in the auditor's office. This year, the office has to finish visiting every home across the county, a total of about 137,000, for the state-mandated property reappraisal. Stark County property values were last updated in 2021. At the time, the median assessed value of a home rose by more than 17%. County officials expect another increase this year. 2024 reappraisal: What can Stark County homeowners expect from next year's reappraisal? Stark County property owners to see reappraisal Property values are reassessed every three years by the county auditor's office. Mass reappraisals, where appraisers visit every property to collect data, happen every six years. The triennial update between mass reappraisals reassess values based on data from recent sales. This year is a reappraisal year for Stark. Appraisers have been collecting data for the last few years in anticipation. "We have appraisers out in the field every day," Jeffries said. In a typical month, appraisers complete around 2,000 field inspections. Jeffries said visiting homes is a constant cycle, all to keep accurate data. Jason Jeffries, team lead of appraisal and data analysis for the Stark County Auditor's Office, measures the width of a home during a residential home appraisal in Canton. Why is Stark County expected to see property values rise? Stark County Auditor Alan Harold said an increase is expected because the amount of homes in the county has stayed mostly steady. "Property values continue to go up," he said. "This is just really simple supply and demand. People need to move and need different housing choices." A recent countywide housing study showed there is a shortage of affordable housing in Stark. Countywide housing study: 'We're either growing or we're dying.' Stark County housing study shows there's a shortage Each of Ohio's 88 counties reassess home values every three years. Last year, Summit County home values rose by over 30%. For homeowners, sharp increases can be troublesome, as home value is connected to how much is paid in property taxes. But property taxes will not go up at the same rate as home values. Tax rates are subject to other deductions and are based on what levies have passed in the local area. The auditor expects preliminary information on reassessed property values to be released to the public around the second week of August. Following the release of information, property owners will have the chance to appeal if they believe their property value should be different by submitting evidence or other documentation to the auditor's office. Jason Jeffries, team lead of appraisal and data analysis for the Stark County Auditor's Office, enters data during an appraisal of a property in Canton. A look at the on-site inspection process When appraisers first arrive at a home, they start by double-checking the address and take a look at the photo the county has on file. If there are visible changes to the home, the appraiser will take a new picture. The next step is to knock on the door and have a short conversation with the owner. The appraiser will give a summary of what they are doing and ask some basic questions about the home, such as how many bedrooms and bathrooms there are and if there were any recent changes made. If no one is home, they leave a questionnaire. County appraisers do outside inspections and will rarely go inside a home. The next step is to inspect specific issues, validating data on record. This includes checking measurements and making updates to the data if there have been any changes. At the end of the inspection, the appraiser gives an assessment of the condition of the house from poor to excellent based on the inspection and in relation to other nearby homes. Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16. This article originally appeared on The Repository: The inspection process behind 2024 Stark County reappraisal A few weeks ago, during an urgent government statement in the House of Commons, something caught my eye. A ministry of defence contractor had been hacked, and the defence secretary, Grant Shapps had just delivered his speech summarising the situation. John Healey, Labours shadow defence secretary, was winding up his response. The Defence Secretary knows that we are united in this House, he said. In other hands, this might have been a pro forma statement. But I think it is the key to understand Labours defence policy since Labour elected Sir Keir Starmer as its leader in 2020. And as defence policy and foreign policy are increasingly one and the same, I believe it is how Labour has done business for the past four years. Sir Keir was elected by Labour members on a fairly radical manifesto. He said he would make beginning a military action abroad essentially illegal by passing a restrictive law preventing foreign intervention unless the action met legal tests. He was ambivalent on Britains strongest ally, the United States, if it were run by Donald Trump. His proposed policies on migration looked thirty years out of date, as if Britain were receiving tens of thousands of new entrants per year, rather than the million gross which began to reliably arrive every year in the past five. Slowly, but definitively, all of these inclinations, which Sir Keir shared with the Labour membership, were tested by events. The covid pandemic thrust Labour into demanding a closing of the countrys borders. Russias invasion of Ukraine meant that Labour was led by events into supporting the Conservative policy of weapons deliveries and even urging that they be sped up and intensified, with new systems. Russian and Chinese aggression meant that Labours view, which was normally one of conciliation and a dislike of provoking Britains adversaries, had to change. It has increasingly discussed finding and rooting out Russian dirty money from the city of London alongside opposing the growing strength of Chinese and activities in Britain. Even the war in Gaza, something about which Labours Muslim voter base feels very strongly, has not seen Labour step decisively away from the government policy which is that Israel has the right to defend itself in the face of terror, but that humanitarian pauses and ceasefires are urgently necessary to avert humanitarian catastrophe in the strip. Not once has Sir Keir accused Israel of genocide, despite the pressure from many of his current and former activists. In all this, Labours policy has orbited the governments line. Labour has not urged a rejoining of the European Union. It has not charted a dramatically different course from the government on Ukraine, on the Gaza war, on Britains defence posture in the South China Sea. This is in marked contrast to Sir Keirs predecessor. A Starmer-ish obsession with credibility both in the eyes of voters and in Britains foreign policy in general has meant that rocking the boat appeared too risky. Only on individual policies, like the governments Rwanda resettlement scheme, has Labour attempted to mark itself out as distinct. And all it has said is that the scheme is a boondoggle a waste of money and ought thus not to take place. It has offered no alternatives. Illegal migration is the essential issue of this century. Sir Keir says his government will crush the smuggling gangs which facilitate it. He has offered no plan on how he will accomplish this. This strategy cannot last. In government, Labour would be unable to look to another party to make decisions. Sir Keir would immediately face very strong opposition from both his activists and his backbenches on Gaza, which would demand things like an immediate end to British weapons sales to Israel, recognition of a Palestinian state with Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority as president, a formal recognition by Britain that genocide is at risk of taking place, more aid deliveries to the strip, and likely the pressure for Britain to take large numbers of refugees from Gaza. Sir Keir will probably find himself doing many of these things after a vituperative debate within the new government. It will likely be a bruising internal battle: Labours first major foreign policy u-turn. Similarly, he will face calls to begin renegotiating Britains relationship with the EU the second he takes office. If handled badly, this could consume years of his first term, for very little gain. In opposition, Labours policy has been marked by an aversion to American Republicans. But if Donald Trump wins re-election in November, Sir Keir will face a series of nightmares. His Ukraine policy will buckle if American weapons deliveries immediately stop and Trump tries to strong arm Ukraines leaders into a surrender deal. As in the Afghan withdrawal in 2021, Britain will scramble in the aftermath of a chaotic American decision. And what will happen if Iran murders dissidents in Britain, if Russia begins physical sabotage operations in the UK as it appears to have begun across Europe, if China blockades or invades Taiwan? We can only guess. Sir Keirs principles are clearly expressed: he believes in democracy and opposes autocracy. But he is hemmed in by Britains strategic weaknesses. He will have much to say in those situations, but a restive party and a weakened national position diminishing his options. In government, Sir Keir will have to chart his own policy, navigating Britains limitations and his own radical backbenches. And time is running out. Azeem Ibrahim is the Senior Director of Special Initiatives at the New Lines Institute 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. The stars might be brighter at Cherry Springs State Park due to these upcoming changes COUDERSPORT, Pa. (WETM) A better visiting experience will soon be had for those going to Cherry Springs State Park in the fall after the announcement of a new construction project on Friday. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a new project is underway to reconfigure the entrances at the park in Potter County. The project will create a new entrance to the public programming area and eliminate issues caused by headlights at the current entry that points into the astronomy fields. The 10 best state parks in Pennsylvania, according to TripAdvisor A new information and contact station will be added to go with the new entrance, along with lit visitor walkways, a programming pavilion, an amphitheater, and new parking areas. State Parks Director, John Hallas thanks local astronomers and park visitors in a statement for their help in determining the best spot for the construction. Part of the master plan for Cherry Springs was the relocation of the park entrance, and we are thankful to the local astronomers and park visitors who have helped the Bureau of State Parks determine what is best for all at Cherry Springs, Hallas said, especially when it comes to the dark sky viewing opportunities, he said. No impacts are expected to fall events, though programming modifications may arise. The project is expected to be completed in the fall. According to Cherry Springs webpage, on June 24, the main visitor parking area and Night Sky Public Viewing Area Amphitheater closed for the summer for the construction project. A temporary parking lot and programming area will be available during the construction. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pauses while speaking at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in National Harbor, Md. | Alex Brandon On Wednesday, the United States State Department released its latest report on international religious freedom. The annual report covers events that unfolded throughout 2023. This report advances our vision for a future where everyone is able to choose and practice their beliefs, including the right not to believe or ascribe to a faith, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a press conference about the new report. Respecting religious freedom ... empowers people to express themselves, to live up to their full potential, to contribute fully to their communities. The report is used to update Congress about circumstances affecting people of faith around the world. 2023 State Department report on religious freedom The State Departments report found that religious discrimination remains highly prevalent in many countries and that it often leads to violence. For example, antisemitism and Islamophobia, which were both exacerbated by the Israeli-Hamas conflict, have incited multiple terrorist attacks outside of the Middle East. Governments in some countries still discriminate against people of faith, close churches, mosques and synagogues, and require or outlaw modes of religious dress and behavior, the report said. Though much of the report is depressing, Blinken shared positives, too, during Wednesdays press conference. People around the world are also working hard to protect religious freedom, he said. We see that in the religious leaders advocating across the globe on behalf of the Bahais, who are being suppressed and persecuted in Iran and across the Middle East; in activists like Rushan Abbas, who is raising awareness about the genocide and crimes against humanity that China is committing against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang. He went on to detail the civil protests and legislative efforts underway in multiple countries to ensure freedom of religion. Czechia, or the Czech Republic, met with religious leaders from around the world to gather ideas on ways to preserve religious freedom. Saudi Arabia rewrote its textbooks to remove intolerant language. German officials are building legal cases against ISIS members who had participated in religious genocides in Iraq and Syria. The United States has poured over $100 million into religious freedom initiatives since 2021, Blinken noted. The money has helped fund programs centered on anti-discrimination, human rights legislation, humanitarian aid for refugees and a new project meant to train diplomats and authorities on how they can best protect religious freedom. How to encourage religious freedom from home How can we join the work and protect religious freedom from home? Here are a couple of ideas. Learn about other faiths : Educate yourself on various religions to broaden your perspective and promote a more inclusive environment. Engage civilly and with interest in faith-related conversations on social media. Take a class or read sacred books from other faiths. Learn about people who dont seem to be like you embrace your differences and your commonalities. Join clubs, programs and more : Engage in local community groups. Get involved with your school board. Take part in clubs and political organizations that stand for religious tolerance and understanding. Research who you vote for : Ensure that the candidates you support will put their power behind protecting religious freedom and ending discrimination. Learn about their personal beliefs and the previous actions they have taken to protect others human rights. Donate to and advocate on behalf of candidates who support tolerance and freedom. Volunteer for charities: Support organizations that promote religious freedom and provide aid to persecuted religious communities. Build food boxes or donate your items or your time to help bring relief to vulnerable communities. In this effort to defend, to protect religious freedom, to advance it, were all in this together, Blinken said Wednesday. BUDA, Texas (KXAN) A new state law helped a developer get a project off the ground that has been in limbo for several years. The Buda City Council approved earlier this month the Persimmon Development, which will bring over 2,000 new residential units, shops, a new school and an emergency services department. The development will sit on 775 acres of land, according to city documents. PREVIOUS: Housing developer at a crossroads with City of Buda, planning to remove itself from ETJ This process has been long and its taken many years. We have done, I feel, the best we can to set the groundwork for what is going to happen on this 775 acres [of land], said Lee Urbanovsky, the Buda Mayor, at the council meeting. I believe that we have worked years on this project, working to make it the best we can. The state legislation has made the rules better and friendlier to developers, he continued. SB 2023 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023. The new law gives landowners at the edges of cities, or Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) Zones, an opportunity to petition for annexation from a municipality to more freely execute developments. The Persimmon Development location is in a Buda ETJ. Garrett Martin, Milestones CEO, said had the Buda City Council not approved the development, he would have petitioned to go to Hays County or the City of Austin for annexation. In creating legislation, where the track can be removed from an ETJ of a city, it rebalances the power and draws both parties to the middle to try and get projects approved, Martin said. We believe [this] will result in and improve the affordability of housing across the region. Martin said he thinks the city was slow to approve the project because they wanted to ensure the nature and character of the community was maintained. The challenge that I think exists is there is a tension between the growth needed for the affordability of housing in Austin and the less dense rural environment that I think some people want in Buda, he added. Martin said his team has vowed to preserve more than three-quarters of the heritage trees, build trail systems and create park spaces within the plot. Our goal is to produce a masterplan community that benefits the overall [Buda] community. And we believe weve achieved that with Persimmon, Martin added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. BOSTON A Senate amendment to the Affordable Housing Act passed legislators late Thursday would establish a special fund to help homeowners who find their foundations are crumbling to dust due to a naturally occurring contaminant in the cement used to build their homes. Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, discusses the amendment to the Senate version of the Affordable Housing Act bond bill that will help homeowners mitigate the affects of pyrrhotite in their foundations. The culprit: pyrrhotite, a sulfur compound that degrades over time and exposure to air and water. The mineral is found in veins that run through Connecticut and Central Massachusetts and was used extensively in concrete aggregate poured into countless foundations in homes built more than two decades ago. While the state has already mandated testing quarries for the presence of the mineral, it has yet to address the needs of homeowners who stand to lose their homes. Connecticut has established a special fund that homeowners can tap into. The only solution is to raise the structure, dig out the old foundation and pour fresh concrete to support the home. It can be expensive, costing up to $200,000. The Senate amendment would create a similar fund for Massachusetts residents. "We've been pushing for this for seven years," said Ernie Gagnon, of East Longmeadow. "We just want Massachusetts to follow what Connecticut did, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel." The amendment, sponsored in the Senate by Worcester-area lawmakers Republicans Ryan Fattman of Webster and Peter Durant of Spencer and Democrat Michael Moore of Millbury, was on the agenda for discussion. A contingent of some 50 homeowners, most from Central and Western Massachusetts, attended the formal session to show their support. Durant, who spoke to the group late in the afternoon, said the Senate had received a redraft of the amendment from the Committee on Ways and Means and members could vote on it during Thursday's formal session. The amendment passed when it came up for a vote. "This amendment sets up the fund, the administrative parameters, that will help homeowners," Durant said. While the measure does not identify a source for the money, it will set up specifications for tapping into it, who qualifies for help, and developing an agency to manage the requests. Durant hopes that since the amendment passed, the Senate can determine a funding source by February 2025 and include it in the fiscal 2026 budget. Munson resident Scott Fershleiser shakes hands with Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer. Once the presence of the mineral has been confirmed, the property loses value. Banks will not extend second mortgages to mitigate the issue, and homeowners insurance also fails to cover the costs. "If my house falls down in a storm, if it burns down, insurance will cover it," Gagnon said, questioning why there is a failure to cover costs when the foundation fails. While about a thousand Connecticut homeowners have tapped into that state's special fund, Gagnon believes the problem could be more extensive in Massachusetts. "There's a 250-unit condominium complex in Dracut that was discovered to be contaminated by pyrrhotite." Gagnon built his home in 1992, calling it the family's dream home and his nest egg. Now, after working for more than 40 years, he needs governmental help. Now that he wants to cash in, downsize and retire, he is faced with a foundation that is turning to dust. He called it a kick to the stomach. "Sell it? That would be criminal," Gagnon said, noting that some desperate homeowners take that option, failing to disclose the problem, especially in the climate where desperate buyers engage in bidding wars and agree to purchases without inspections. "I want to sleep at night." The problem affects whole communities, not just the homeowners who discover pyrrhotite in their basements. "Municipalities lose tax revenue. If a house loses almost 100% of its value, a homeowner gets an abatement on their taxes, it can affect the whole municipal budget," Gagnon said. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Homeowners could get financial relief for fixing foundations by 2026 States need to keep PFAS forever chemicals out of the water. It wont be cheap. Jared Strong/States Newsroom In recent years, Michigan has spent tens of millions of dollars to limit residents exposure to the harmful forever chemicals called PFAS. And some cities there have spent millions of their own to filter contaminated drinking water or connect to new, less-polluted sources. Weve made significant investments to get up to speed, said Abigail Hendershott, executive director of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team, which serves as a coordinating group for the states testing, cleanup and public education efforts. Theres still a good chunk of the country that hasnt taken on anything. Thats about to change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new standards in April for PFAS levels in drinking water, giving water systems three years to conduct testing, and another two years to install treatment systems if contaminants are detected. State officials and utilities say its going to be difficult and costly to meet the requirements. This is going to take a lot more investment at the state level, said Alan Roberson, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, a group that convenes leaders in state health and environmental agencies. It creates a big workload for everybody. PFAS chemicals are widespread, found in a host of everyday products and industrial uses, and they dont break down naturally, meaning they stay in human bodies and the environment indefinitely. Exposure has been shown to increase the risk of cancer, decrease fertility, cause metabolic disorders and damage the immune system. To date, 11 states have set limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in drinking water. Several others have pending rules or levels that require public notice. While the federal rule builds on those efforts, it also sets limits that are stricter than the state-issued rules. We really have looked to the states as leaders in setting standards and doing some of the foundational science, said Zach Schafer, director of policy and special projects for the EPAs Office of Water. The state agencies are the ones who will be playing the point role [in implementing the national rule]. Schafer said the agency estimates that 6% to 10% of water systems nationwide will need to take steps to reduce PFAS contamination, at a cost averaging $1.5 billion per year over an 80-year span. Public health advocates say the EPAs rule is an important step to ensure all Americans have access to safe water. They say state actions show that such efforts can work. But some state regulators and water suppliers even in states that already have their own rules say the strict thresholds and timelines imposed by the feds will be difficult for many utilities to achieve. While the Biden administration has dedicated billions in funding to help clean up water supplies, experts say the costs will far exceed the available money. Its going to have a significant impact nationally on water rates and affordability of water, said Chris Moody, regulatory technical manager with the American Water Works Association, a group that includes more than 4,000 utilities. An estimate, conducted on behalf of the association, pegs the national cost of cleaning up contaminated water at nearly $4 billion each year. The report found that some households could face thousands of dollars in increased rates to cover the costs of treatment. Theres a lot of concern New Jersey in 2018 became the first state to issue standards for PFAS in drinking water. While the states regulations given New Jersey a head start, officials say they still have a difficult task ahead to meet the stricter thresholds. When we bring in the EPA number, the number of noncompliant systems goes up dramatically, said Shawn LaTourette, the states commissioner of environmental protection. Theres a lot of concern about cost and implementation. LaTourette said state leaders are working to analyze which water systems may fall out of compliance when the federal thresholds take effect. And hes calling on lawmakers to provide more money to communities that cant afford the upgrades. In Washington state, utilities have begun testing for PFAS under state standards passed by regulators in 2021. Officials say that roughly 2% of the water systems tested so far arent in compliance, but that number would jump to 10% when factoring in the stricter federal limits. State leaders say theyll be able to grandfather in the data theyve been collecting to meet EPAs testing requirements. The agency may ask state lawmakers for a substantial increase in staffing to implement the new rules, said Mike Means, capacity development and policy manager with the Washington State Department of Health. Michigan has had its drinking water standards for PFAS since 2020. Hendershott said state officials are well prepared to incorporate the EPAs thresholds. But the strict new limits could quadruple the number of water systems that fall out of compliance. Sarah Doll, national director of Safer States, an alliance of environmental health groups focused on toxic chemicals, said state efforts were key to bringing about the federal rule. They created the urgency for the feds to bring these standards, she said. States that already have regulatory standards absolutely are in a better position. Its very expensive While many states have not enacted their own standards, some have conducted testing or taken other steps to address residents exposure. Missouri has been testing water systems for PFAS for more than a decade and created maps to notify residents of potential exposure. Of the 400 systems its sampled, 11 may have trouble complying with the EPA rule, said Eric Medlock, an environmental specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources. The agency aims to bring on a chemist and laboratory equipment to conduct more testing in-house. Medlock expressed concern that the federal limits are so strict that theyre near the threshold of what can be detected. When you get down to these really low detection levels that are right at the regulatory limit, that poses a problem, he said. We're going to have to enforce and regulate what EPA proposed. It is going to be an issue. Medlock and others noted that states will face longer-term issues with the storage of the waste products filtered from the water, which carry their own PFAS contamination risk. The infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2021 includes $5 billion over five years to help communities treat PFAS and other emerging contaminants. More funding for cleanup may come from state lawsuits filed against chemical manufacturers. Thirty attorneys general have filed litigation against polluters, and Minnesota settled its case against 3M Company for $850 million. But leaders say such settlements arent a predictable funding source. In addition to the upfront cost of installing treatment systems, utilities face ongoing expenses, such as replacing filters and disposing of waste, that are less likely to benefit from federal grants and loans. Meanwhile, some water system leaders say the federal compliance timelines may not be long enough. It takes time to design and build a major capital project, said Erica Brown, chief policy and strategy officer for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, a policy group that advocates for public water utilities. Its not one of those things that you say, You have to do this, and next year, and you can just turn it on. And some officials fear the drinking water limits could lead to more state regulations on wastewater plants and other entities whose discharges may affect drinking water sources. It seems like it's going to be problematic, because [treatment] is very expensive, said Sharon Green, manager of legislative and regulatory programs with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, an agency whose members operate 11 wastewater treatment plants. Both state regulators and regulated utilities say state leaders need a broader approach to the PFAS problem than just treating the water that comes out of the tap. Officials need to stop pollution at the source, regulate industrial operations and limit products that contain the chemicals. If we keep it out of the river in the first place, [the utility] doesnt have to spend millions of dollars for treatment, said Jean Zhuang, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy group focused on the South. While Southern states have not adopted drinking water standards for PFAS, Zhuang said South Carolinas requirement that polluters disclose their discharges of PFAS is a good model to begin cutting off contamination sources. As states face down the expenses of fixing the PFAS problem, some advocates also want them to remember the public health costs of inaction. People will ultimately be consuming less of these chemicals and getting sick less often, said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group, a public health advocacy nonprofit. 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 States need to keep PFAS forever chemicals out of the water. It wont be cheap. appeared first on Michigan Advance. High-voltage power lines provide electricity to data centers in Loudoun County, Virginia, home to the worlds largest concentration of data centers. As Maryland approved a measure to attract more data centers, lawmakers in Virginia and other states are rethinking how incentive programs for data centers may impact the electric grid, clean energy goals and utility rates for other consumers. Photo by Ted Shaffrey/The Associated Press. Connecticut state Sen. Norm Needleman championed the 2021 legislation designed to lure major data centers to the state. The Democratic lawmaker hoped to better compete with nearby states, bring in a growing industry and provide paychecks for workers tasked with building the sprawling server farms. But now hes wondering if those tax breaks are appropriate for all data centers, especially those with the potential to disrupt the states clean energy supply. Particularly concerning to him are plans for a mega data center on the site of the states only nuclear power plant. The developer is proposing an arrangement that would give it priority access to electricity generated at the plant, which would mean less carbon-free power for other users. That affects our climate goals, Needleman said. Its additional demand of renewable energy that we would have to replace. Needleman, co-chair of the Connecticut Senates Energy and Technology Committee, is now reconsidering details of the state incentive program. His bill to study the impact of data centers on the states electric grid did not get out of the House before the legislature adjourned this year. But he worries that mistakes now could lead to a real crisis. Compared with other employers that states compete for, such as automotive plants, data centers hire relatively few workers. Still, states have offered massive subsidies to lure data centers both for their enormous up-front capital investment and the cachet of bringing in big tech names such as Apple and Facebook. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation last month that will ease regulatory hurdles in order to attract more data centers to the state. But as the cost of these subsidy programs balloons and data centers proliferate coast to coast, lawmakers in several states are rethinking their posture as they consider how to cope with the growing electricity demand. From the outside, data centers can resemble ordinary warehouses. But inside, the windowless structures can house acres of computer servers used to power everything from social media to banking. The centers suck up massive amounts of energy to keep data moving, and water to keep servers from overheating. Related stories Data centers are the backbone of the increasingly digital world, and they consume a growing share of the nations electricity, with no signs of slowing down. The global consultancy McKinsey & Co. predicts these operations will double their U.S. electric demands from 17 gigawatts in 2022 to 35 gigawatts by 2030 enough electricity to power more than 26 million average homes. Some states, including Maryland and Mississippi, continue to pursue incentives to land new data centers. But in other states, the growth of the industry is raising alarms over the reliability and affordability of local electric grids, and fears that utilities will meet the demand by leaning more heavily on fossil fuel generation rather than renewables. The new Maryland law, which takes effect July 1, requires 15% of all tax proceeds from data centers in the state to go to a state-operated clean energy fund. But most environmental groups, which are generally aligned with the governor, opposed the measure anyway. In South Carolina, lawmakers have started to question whether these massive power users should continue to receive tax breaks and preferential electric rates. In Virginia, home to the worlds largest concentration of data centers, a legislative study is underway to learn more about how those operations are affecting electric reliability and affordability. And Georgia lawmakers passed legislation this spring that would have halted the states tax incentives for new data centers for two years. Georgia is home to more than 50 data centers, including those supporting AT&T, Google and UPS, according to the state. That bill was vetoed last month by Gov. Brian Kemp. Georgia Republican state Sen. John Albers, a sponsor of the Senate bill, said the significant growth of data centers in his state has helped communities and schools by boosting property tax revenues. But, considering factors such as water and electric use, he said the return on the states investment is not there and that initial findings do not support credits from the state level. Nationwide, data center subsidies were costing state and local governments about $2 million per job created, according to a 2016 study by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit watchdog group that tracks economic development incentives. That figure has certainly ballooned in recent years, said Kasia Tarczynska, the organizations senior research analyst, who authored the report. Josh Levi is president of the Data Center Coalition, a trade group representing tech giants including Amazon, Google and Meta. He said data center companies are investing billions in new Georgia data centers, making metro Atlanta one of the nations biggest industry hubs. Levi noted that lawmakers in 2022 extended the states tax credit program through 2031. The abrupt suspension of an incentive that not only has been on the books, but that was extended two years ago, I think signals tremendous uncertainty, not just for the data center industry, but more broadly, he said. Levi said the data center industry has been at the forefront of pushing clean energy. As of last year, data center providers and customers accounted for two-thirds of American wind and solar contracts, according to an S&P Global Market Intelligence report. Fundamentally, data is now the lifeblood of our modern economy, Levi said. Everything that we do in our personal and professional lives really points back to data generation, processing and storage. Electricity hogs In fast-growing South Carolina, lawmakers have pointed to data centers as a major factor in rising electricity demand. As part of a broader energy bill, the legislature considered a measure that would have prevented data centers from receiving discounted power rates. Republican state Rep. Jay West said inducements such as reduced power rates are appropriate for major, transformational endeavors. He pointed to the BMW factory in Spartanburg, which employs 11,000 people, draws in major suppliers and pumps millions into the state economy. While data centers boost local property tax receipts, they dont do much for the state, he said, and shouldnt receive preferential rates. And they are being built faster than new energy generation can be added. I do not speak for my caucus or the [legislative] body in saying this, West said, but I dont think South Carolina can handle more data centers. The House provision on data center utility rates was quickly struck in a Senate committee, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported. The bill ultimately stalled between chambers, Lynn Teague, vice president of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, said that change was made with no public discussion. Teague, who lobbies the legislature, said South Carolinians, including more than 700,000 people living in poverty, shouldnt have to pick up the tab for tax or utility breaks for major data center firms. We have companies like Google with over $300 billion in revenues a year wanting these folks to subsidize their profit margin at the same time that theyre putting intense pressure on not just our energy, but our water, she said. Lawmakers saw data centers as a possible successor to South Carolinas declining textile industry when they approved the data center incentives in 2012, The State reported at the time. One Republican bill sponsor, then-state Rep. Phyllis Henderson, also cited North Carolinas success with data center incentives, saying South Carolina was just losing projects right and left to them. But on the Senate floor this year, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, a Republican, described data centers as electricity hogs that arent really providing a whole lot of jobs. Rippling effects Virginia has been a hub for data centers for decades, touting its proximity to the nations capital, inexpensive energy, a robust fiber network and low risk of natural disasters. Now, Virginia lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing the industry. Thats in part because data centers have moved into traditionally residential areas, said Republican state Del. Ian Lovejoy, who represents a Northern Virginia district. He sponsored two pieces of legislation this year affecting data center land use issues. One would have prevented data centers from building too close to parks, schools or neighborhoods; another would have altered land use disclosure rules for developers. Theres no way to power the data center inventory thats being proposed and is likely to be built without substantial increases to the power infrastructure and power generation, he said. And thats going to have rippling effects far away from where the data centers are being sited. Aaron Ruby, spokesperson for Dominion Energy in Virginia, the states predominant electric provider, said data centers, like other classes of customers, pay for the costs of their electric generation and transmission. He said the company predicts consumers monthly bills will grow by less than 3% annually over the next 15 years. That increase, he said, is due to the companys significant investment in renewable energy projects. While Dominion is all in on renewables, Ruby said it doesnt foresee being able to meet increasing demand with only renewables. Thats just not physically possible, he said. Dominion has pointed to data center growth as a key driver of its increasing electricity demand. In one state filing, the company said Virginias data centers had a peak load of almost 2.8 gigawatts in 2022.That was 1.5 times the capacity of the companys North Anna nuclear plant, which powers about 450,000 homes. It is heart-stopping just the scale at which these things are growing and the power theyre sucking up, said Kendl Kobbervig, the advocacy and communications director at Clean Virginia, a well-funded advocacy group pushing for renewable energy, campaign finance reform and greater oversight of utilities. She said the state must address how data centers could undercut its clean energy goals and how the industry is affecting the utility bills of everyday households and small businesses. Over the past two years, Clean Virginia has tracked more than 40 proposed bills related to data centers. Most of those efforts stalled this session as some lawmakers elected to wait on the results of a study announced in December by the states Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. The lack of action frustrated many lawmakers and residents. I dont know exactly what the study is going to say that we dont already know, said Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam, who sponsored a bill that would have required data centers to meet certain energy efficiency and clean energy standards to be eligible for the states lucrative sales tax exemptions. I think we already know that data centers take up a lot of power and present a lot of challenges to our grid. Maryland Matters reporter Josh Kurtz contributed to this report in Annapolis. The post Some states rethink data centers, as electricity hogs strain the grid appeared first on Maryland Matters. ALMATY, Kazakhstan, June 28. The Eurasian region should begin manufacturing its own irrigation equipment, Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Vice Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Economist Evgeny Vinokurov told Trend during a press conference on the sidelines of the bank's Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan. "It's high time our region rolled up its sleeves and started producing irrigation equipment in-house," he said. Vinokurov noted that the region is currently experiencing "water stress," which becomes particularly severe during low-water years, occurring roughly 2 out of every 6 years. "According to our estimates, around 20282029, the region will enter a period of chronic water deficit, meaning water will be scarce not just in low-water years but consistently. This is perhaps the most serious challenge facing the region here and now," he added. He emphasized that to reduce water losses, it is necessary to implement digital water accounting throughout the entire cycle in all countries in the region. "Digital water accounting must be applied everywhere, from transboundary rivers to the fields, covering the entire chain in all countries. Efficient irrigation is crucial. For example, Israeli technologies like advanced drip irrigation cost $3,000$4,000 per hectare. A Kazakh, Uzbek, or Kyrgyz farmer cannot afford to spend that much. Therefore, we need to focus on simpler, more affordable measures," the EDB official said. The EDB believes the region should produce its own irrigation equipment, he added. "The region spends $150-300 million annually on purchasing irrigation equipment. We need to attract small and medium-sized enterprises, leveraging global technologies to establish a regional cluster of irrigation equipment production," he said. Note that the Annual Meeting and Business Forum of the EDB was held on June 2728 in Almaty. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court's right-wing majority on Friday ruled that cities can enforce laws against sleeping on sidewalks and other public property even when homeless people have nowhere else to go, the Los Angeles Times reported. The conservative justices disagreed with a lower court's ruling that such prohibitions violate the 8th Amendment, which prohibits "excessive" fines as well as "cruel and unusual punishments." Homelessness is complex, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the majority . Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it." The three liberal judges harshly disagreed, arguing that the court has effectively made it illegal to be extremely poor. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is cruel and unusual under the 8th Amendment. Sotomayor noted that, on any given night, hundreds of thousands of people across the country sleep on the street because they do not have anywhere else to go. "It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles," she wrote. "Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested." GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The Michigan State Police has launched Stop a Plot, a new initiative that works to prevent acts of mass violence by teaching people about the warning signs. Weve had some recent violence, especially dealing with gun violence that took place here in the state of Michigan with the splash pad incident in Rochester Hills, Col. James F. Grady II, director of MSP, told News 8. Multiple people were injured earlier this month when a shooter opened fire at a splash pad in Rochester Hills, a Detroit suburb. Weve seen enough mass attacks, attacks dealing with firearms, happen across this country, going all the way back to (the shooting at) Sandy Hook (Elementary in Connecticut in 2012). Those things are traumatic, very tragic, and things that we dont want to see, Grady said. At this point, especially here in the state of Michigan when you take into consideration what just happened here, you want to make sure that there are preventative measures in place. Thats why MSP is introducing the Stop a Plot campaign, which aims to forestall acts of violence by offering information and resources. Grady told News 8 that many acts of mass violence are preceded by warning signs. Based on the research thats been done over the course of time, weve noticed that its pretty normal (that) six months in advance, there are signs that this could occur. Because someones mental state has changed, their behavior has changed, he explained. We ask for family members, coworkers, friends to pay attention to those things. The Stop a Plot website provides a list of risk factors, which may include substance abuse, domestic violence and stressors. It also gives some common warning signs, like threats of violence, admiration for previous attackers and newly aggressive behavior. But the campaign isnt just about education. More importantly, (it offers guidance about) who to get ahold of, to utilize as a resource to stop or prevent something massive from happening, Grady said. We often say: If you see something, say something. Thats very true. These are things that you have to take seriously. The webpage directs people to a wide variety of resources. You can report suspicious behavior to police, submit tips about potential harm directed at schools, get connected with mental health services and more. Some people dont necessarily trust the police. We always, in this line of business, try to bridge that gap with the people that we serve but I understand also that people may not want someone in the uniform to show up, Grady said. They might want actually a subject matter expert, in mental education or in that field, to provide that assistance. And so this webpage also provides those resources as well. Sign up for the News 8 weekly recap newsletter If you notice a potential warning sign, police say its best to tell someone even if youre not sure that its worth reporting. I always like to say how important it is that we need our members in the communities across this state to step up. Dont stand against the wall. Get out there, let us know, utilize this webpage, utilize the resources, Grady said. Dont be afraid to call any law enforcement agency. Here at the MSP, you can contact any post. We will do everything else. We will put that in our hands, and we will do the investigation and find out. Its better to be safe than to be sorry. To visit the Stop a Plot page, 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 WOODTV.com. Steve Bannon will have to go to prison even as he awaits an appeal of his contempt of Congress guilty verdict, the Supreme Court ruled Friday, denying his application for release. BREAKING: The Supreme Court rejects Steve Bannons request to stay out of prison pending any remaining appeals of his contempt of Congress conviction. He is due to report to prison for a four-month sentence by Monday. pic.twitter.com/0jknenvAbI Chris Law Dork Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 28, 2024 The onetime Trump adviser and host of the War Room podcast on Real Americas Voice has desperately been trying to avoid prison ever since his conviction by a federal jury in 2022 for refusing a subpoena from the House January 6 committees investigation into the Capitol insurrection. Several Republicans have gone to bat for Bannon in recent days, attempting some outlandish legal maneuvers. Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders formally disavowed the January 6 committee in a secret vote Tuesday night, in an attempt to allow lawmakers to file a legal brief for Bannon on behalf of Congress. In a subsequent move, Representative Barry Loudermilk filed a brief with the Supreme Court arguing that if any witness in a congressional investigation thinks a subpoena isnt valid, they can ignore it. Their cumulative efforts appear to have failed. Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered Bannon to report to prison after the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld his conviction. The Supreme Court was a long shot, last-ditch effort for Bannon. Because he faces charges in the state of New York over a border wall fraud scheme, Bannon is not going to go to a minimum-security Club Fed facility, as he would prefer, but a less cushy low-security prison for nonviolent offenders. In prison, Bannon wont be able to continue his usual activities, such as interfering in other countries politics as well as the upcoming U.S. election. He wont be able to host his podcast and let far-right Republicans rant about whatever they want. Now, after escaping prison once thanks to a Trump pardon over the border wall fraud scheme, he will soon be behind bars. UPDATE: Steve Bannon, the podcast host, former Donald Trump adviser and former Hollywood producer, began a four-month prison sentence today. Bannon arrived at a federal correctional facility in Danbury, CT, to serve his sentence, after his legal team exhausted appeals. Bannon was found guilty in 2022 to two counts of contempt of Congress, as he refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the January 6th Committee. More from Deadline Joined by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Bannon said, I am proud to go to prison, arguing that he was standing up to tyranny. Bannon had claimed that he was relying on the advice of counsel in resisting the January 6th Committee subpoena. He also has claimed that there are unresolved issues of executive privilege, although the subpoena covers a period well after Bannon left the White House. He had served as Trumps chief strategist, but left that position in August, 2017, about eight months into the term. PREVIOUSLY: Steve Bannon, the podcast host and former top adviser to Donald Trump, must report to prison on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected his effort to sideline a four-month prison sentence. The application for release pending appeal presented to The Chief Justice and by him referred to the Court is denied, the Supreme Court order read. Bannon was sentenced in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress, as he refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the January 6th Committee. Bannon had pursued an appeal, but that was rejected and, earlier this month, a district judge ordered him to prison. Bannon had claimed that he was relying on the advice of counsel in resisting the January 6th Committee subpoena. He also has claimed that there are unresolved issues of executive privilege, although the subpoena covers a period well after Bannon left the White House. He had served as Trumps chief strategist, but left that position in August, 2017, about eight months into the term. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Steve Bannon is going to prison. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a last-ditch bid by the longtime Donald Trump ally to stave off a four-month sentence for defying subpoenas from the Jan. 6 select committee three years ago. The high courts decision a one-sentence denial without explanation means the influential right-wing podcaster will head to prison on July 1, with his release date just days before the November 2024 election. Bannon had sought an emergency order from Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles such requests if they originate in Washington, D.C. Roberts referred the request to the full court, which rejected it without any public dissents. Bannon will become the second former Trump aide to serve prison time for blowing off a subpoena from the House panel, established by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi to investigate Trumps bid to subvert the 2020 election and the pro-Trump riot that threatened Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Peter Navarro is nearing the end of his own four-month sentence in a federal prison in Miami. The courts decision came despite last-minute efforts by congressional Republicans including Speaker Mike Johnson to intervene on Bannons behalf. Johnson and other House GOP leaders agreed Tuesday to submit a legal brief supporting Bannons bid to overturn his criminal conviction. And Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) submitted his own brief to the Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon. Bannon had argued that his decision to blow off the Jan. 6 committees subpoena was rooted in the advice of his lawyer at the time, Robert Costello, as well as a belief that Trump wanted him to assert executive privilege. However, the Jan. 6 committee repeatedly warned Bannon that most of the topics it intended to query him about were not related to his conversations with Trump and therefore could not be privileged. They urged him to submit a list of documents he believed were privileged and to appear for a deposition to answer questions on topics that were unquestionably unprivileged. Bannon refused to do either. The panel intended to query Bannon about his efforts, along with Navarro, to strategize with Republican members of Congress to challenge the election results on Jan. 6. They also wanted to ask him about comments he made on his War Room podcast the day before the riot, warning that all hell was going to break loose on Jan. 6. The House held Bannon in contempt for his defiance in October 2021, and the Justice Department indicted him several weeks later. A jury convicted Bannon of the two misdemeanor charges the following July, but the judge in his trial agreed to permit Bannon to remain out of prison while he pursued his appeal, agreeing that the appellate courts might want to reconsider some of the standards for contempt of Congress charges. But the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals roundly rejected Bannons appeal, so Judge Carl Nichols opted last month to rescind Bannons release, ordering him to prison on July 1 unless the appeals court or Supreme Court intervened. Bannon recently got an extension from the appeals court allowing him to ask for the courts full bench to take up his appeal. But the Supreme Courts action Friday means Bannon will be in prison before the appeals court decides that request. He could also ask the Supreme Court to review his conviction and sentence, but he will likely have completed his prison term before that petition would be acted on by the justices. Steve Bannon is finally headed to prison for refusing to answer for his role on January 6th. After a busy day of gutting executive authority, criminalizing homelessness, and protecting January 6th rioters, the Supreme Court denied a last-ditch effort from Steve Bannon to avoid a prison sentence, setting him up for a July 1 report to jail. Bannon was charged with contempt of Congress after denying to answer a subpoena from the January 6th select committee, and sentenced nearly two years ago to a four-month stint before a deluge of appeals set his sentence back. In the one-page order, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts denied Bannons plea for release pending another round of appeals, exhausting his options ahead of the sentence. The Muslim ban architect must report to a Danbury, Connecticut federal prison on Monday. The podcaster and former Trump advisor has gone to great lengths to avoid accountability, enlisting House Speaker Mike Johnson in his crusade to overturn his sentence. The speaker, who was prepared to file an amicus brief in support of Bannon, previously blasted the January 6th committees contempt order as tainted. Bannon, whose previous legal troubles stemming from a fraudulent border wall fundraising scheme were squashed by a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, has been assigned an inmate number by the federal Bureau of Prisons. He is slated for release a week ahead of the November election. Steve Bannon says he has no regrets as he heads to prison Steve Bannon says he has no regrets as he heads to prison On Monday, Steve Bannon will be behind bars in federal prison, but the ex-Trump White House adviser said Friday he's feeling great and has no regrets about defying Congress to avoid talking about his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. In fact, Bannon told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl that he considers himself a "political prisoner" and that his four-month sentence will only make his influence grow. PHOTO: Steve Bannon speaks to ABC News. (ABC News) "I'm a political prisoner ... It won't change me. It will not suppress my voice. My voice will not be suppressed when I'm there," he told Karl. MORE: Steve Bannon to report to prison after Supreme Court denies his request to delay sentence Bannon is set to report to federal prison on Monday after the Supreme Court denied a request Friday to remain out of prison while he continues to appeal his contempt of Congress conviction. Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison in October 2022 after being found guilty of defying a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. PHOTO: Steve Bannon at the 'Turning Points: The People's Convention' on June 15, 2024 at Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images) After Bannon was sentenced, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols agreed to postpone the jail term while Bannon appealed the conviction. Last month the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his conviction and Nichols ordered Bannon on June 6 to report to prison on July 1. Watch more of Jonathan Karl's interview with Steve Bannon on Sunday's episode of "This Week." Bannon told Karl he still has no regrets about defying the House Jan. 6 committee's subpoena and is looking to appeal the court decision. MORE: Judge orders ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon to report to prison by July 1 "If it took me going to prison to finally get the House to start to move, to start to delegitimize the illegitimate J6 committee, then, hey, guess what, my going to prison is worth it," he said. The January 6th committee was established by a House resolution that passed along party lines in 2021 by a vote of 222-190. Two Republicans, Illinois' Adam Kinzinger and Wyoming's Liz Cheney, joined Democrats in supporting the measure and later served on the committee. Steve Bannon says he has no regrets as he heads to prison originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti (Photo: John Partipilo) If there were ever any doubts about the partisanship of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, they can be dismissed. The jig is up, the news is out, they finally found me. The AGs Office has pretended, at least, to be nonpartisan for decades. But Skrmettis office ripped off the Band-Aid last week with a refusal (non-refusal?) to answer an inquiry by Democratic state Rep. Vincent Dixie, who had the temerity to ask whether a convicted felon can be placed on the Tennessee ballot as a presidential candidate. In short, Dixie wanted to know if Donald Trump would be allowed as the Republican nominee after being convicted on 34 counts of breaking New York state laws for covering up hush-money payments to porn star Storm Daniels before the 2016 election. Regardless of where you stand on Trump vs. Biden, its an interesting question, because felons arent allowed to vote or hold office in Tennessee. And if youre convicted of a felony here, in order to regain voting rights, you have to restore all of your freedoms, including the ability to carry a weapon. The Secretary of States Office decided without legislative action to etch that in (sand)stone. Apparently, the state elections division wants to make sure everyones packing heat when they go to the ballot box. An effort by Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson of Memphis to amend the policy failed in the House this year. Nashville Democratic Rep. Vincent Dixie says the state election office is "drunk with power." (Photo: John Partipilo) Adding insult to injury, Elections Coordinator Mark Goins sent letters to 14,000 people this year warning them that when they received their drivers license they might not have been U.S. citizens and would not be allowed to vote. The letters note that voting illegally is a felony punishable to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, which also would require them to have their gun rights restored before they could vote again. Goins letter comes with a prepaid mailing option to submit proof of citizenship, but some people reportedly remain confused about whether theyll be able to vote in August and November, even with the right paperwork. Critics say at the very least this is a case of voter intimidation. Its also making folks such as Dixie question whether the election office is drunk with power. But getting back to Skrmettis office which must be too busy trying to overturn President Joe Bidens policies to answer Dixies question Solicitor General Matt Rice told him the AGs authority is limited to giving legal opinions sought by officials in the discharge of their official duties. In this case, state election officials not lawmakers enforce the state law involved in Dixies question, according to Rices letter. What if a lawmaker wanted to sponsor an election-related law? Are they entitled only to the Secretary of States bills? Heres the state law at the center of the question: 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. Skrmetti and Rice could have said the offense Trump was convicted on in New York wouldnt have applied in Tennessee. But I would be wrong. Instead, they determined only an election official can ask a question about an election-related law. They also despite saying they couldnt give an official opinion found that Dixies letter rests on an incorrect premise, that a public office in this state includes the U.S. presidency. They further argue that the state cant add new qualifications to the presidency because that would raise serious constitutional questions. In other words, states rights count only when playing horseshoes and hand grenades. Granted, Dixie could be accused of trying to put the AGs Office in a predicament. Theyre not going to diss Donald Trump, after all, not in a state where hes likely to win 65% of the vote. They have heard of the Electoral College, though (we hope), which uses each states electoral votes, based on population, to elect the president. We sure wouldnt want to waste 11 measly votes. Even though elections are run by counties at the states direction, with the Legislature setting the rules, except, of course, the policy for restoring voting rights, the feds suddenly hold the ultimate bag? Based on the AGs non-response, theyre willing to let federal rules take precedent, even as the AGs Office tried to overturn the 2019 presidential election (under Herb Slatery). Skrmetti would never do that. Rices letter also points out state-imposed restrictions would conflict with the principle of representative democracy, which allows the people to pick the people who govern, in this case a felon who wouldnt be allowed to vote or run for office in Tennessee. Or carry a gun. Do you reckon Skrmetti and Rice would have given the same response to the Republican House or Senate speakers? Likely not, but then they wouldnt be asking. Digging up support Fresh off amending his federal campaign finance reports to show he didnt have as much money as he claimed in 2022, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles is shoring up backers for another two great years in D.C. Ogles held a fundraiser in Franklin this week with special guests, (and they are special) Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald and Reps. Kip Capley of Summertown, Scott Cepicky of Culleoka, Jake McCalmon of Franklin and Gino Bulso of Brentwood. If youre worried about PRIDE flags in classrooms which we were assured turned up at a Williamson County school and, thus, a state law was needed to ban them its a great group. In addition to several creative legislative attempts, Ogles latest effort is to force President Joe Biden to take a drug test to make sure he isnt taking anything to pep him up before public appearances. The question is whether this will prohibit folks from tapping a cup of Joe every morning to clear out the cobwebs. Will it eliminate a Monster break too? Metro Nashville Councilmember Courtney Johnston is challenging incumbent Andy Ogles for the Republican nomination to the 5th Congressional District. (Photo: Submitted) Top competition for the gerrymandered 5th Congressional District seat is Republican Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who claims as a conservative, she had to fight the radical left and its Nashville tax increases. Among other things, Johnston calls Ogles weak and says hes accomplished nothing. Well, he did help cause upheaval in House leadership in an effort to win a better committee appointment. But Ogles skirts the truth on just about everything hes ever done. He didnt earn a degree from Vanderbilts Owen Graduate School of Management, and hes not an economist, as he claims. In short, his resume has more holes than the Albert Hall. Its not surprising, then, to see some Tennessee lawmakers support his re-election. Looking for replacements CoreCivic, the publicly-traded company that runs four Tennessee prisons, recently announced it received word from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that it was terminating its contract with the company to hold as many as 2,400 undocumented immigrants at the South Texas Family Residential Center, according to a Gimme Credit report. CoreCivic, which has come under fire in Tennessee for failing to have enough staff to monitor prisoners, suspended its 2024 stock report as a result, according to the report. If anyone is concerned about CoreCivics bottom line, the Texas facility alone generated $157 million in revenue last year, 8.3% of the companys total revenue. Because of the closing, CoreCivic earnings per share will be reduced to 38 to 41 cents from 66 to 76 cents, according to the report. Its enough to make a grown man cry, because theyll to fill the void. And Tennessees General Assembly is more than willing to oblige with harsher sentencing laws for adults and minors. Despite a bad audit that showed persistent personnel shortages at CoreCivic-run prisons, the Tennessee Department of Correction increased payments to the vendor by $7 million for fiscal 2024-25, pushing its total state contracts to $233 million. CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger is considering a run for governor in Tennessee. Correction Commissioner Frank Strada told lawmakers this year the increases are tied to inflators, comparable to a cost-of-living increase. He told the Lookout hes very comfortable with CoreCivic and the strides theyre making to try to improve their operations. Maybe they can send some of the personnel from the Texas facility to Tennessee. Or not. Those personnel expenses can be bad for shareholders. Oh, good grief Former state Rep. Chris Crider of Milan stepped down from the Tennessee Human Rights Commission in early June after an investigation found he made several unseemly remarks about the LGBTQ community and minority groups, according to a Nashville Banner report. Lawmakers tried to get rid of the Human Rights Commission this year, and this could be a good reason to do it. After all, when the vice chairman is saying stuff such as people need to speak English if theyre driving on my roads, and telling co-workers to ask an LGBTQ group if it knows where babies come from, the group could be called the Anti-Human Rights Commission. Based on those comments, Crider isnt really connected to reality, either. First, dangerous driving is more likely tied to drinking alcohol and even more prevalently, to texting and cell-phone use. See someone driving erratically in the middle of the day? Odds are theyre looking at their phone, not the road, which is a good reason to have a rocket-launcher attached to your hood (not that I recommend violence). Second, everyone knows how babies are made. The question is whether they can get someone to help make one and then take care of it. My hairs still curly and my eyes are still blue / Why dont you love me like you used to do. * ( * Why Dont You Love Me, Hank Williams) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Storm sets record for the farthest north a severe thunderstorm warning has ever been issued in US Severe thunderstorms moved through the Cape Krusenstern National Monument, 500 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska, Thursday morning with lightning, high winds, small hail and a shelf cloud worthy of a storm in the Plains. A powerful area of low pressure swirling just north of the Aleutian Islands on Thursday aided in pumping warm and humid air well up into northern Alaska, AccuWeather Regional Expert Brandon Buckingham said. A low pressure system swirls in the Bering Sea on June 27, 2024. (NOAA/CIRA) A low pressure system swirls in the Bering Sea on June 27, 2024. (NOAA/CIRA) "As the warm air clashed with cooler air to the north, powerful thunderstorms featuring wind gusts over 50 miles per hour and hail up to 1 inch in diameter prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fairbanks, Alaska, to issue severe thunderstorm warnings well up into northern Alaska," Buckingham explained. "To date, this is the farthest north a severe thunderstorm warning has ever been issued by the NWS." More than 23,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the 36 hours preceding Friday morning in Alaska and western Canada. LYON COUNTY (KSNT) Stormont Vail Health issued a strongly worded reply to a recent decision by Lyon County Commissioners Thursday, which could delay the construction of a new medical facility. MollyPatt Eyestone, spokeswoman for Stormont Vail Health, issued a press release on the decision on Friday, June 28. The hospital expressed disappointment in the county commissioners decision to place a six-month moratorium on reviewing building permits for medically related or associated structures. Stormont Vail Healths plan to build a $40 million new medical facility in the county to serve residents could be delayed because of this, Eyestone said. The moratorium is cited as county commissioners singling the hospital out in its construction plans. What new laws go into effect in Kansas on July 1, 2024? The Lyon County Commissions action not only impacts Stormont Vails planned medical clinic, but may also have a detrimental ripple effect on other economic development efforts in Lyon County. Stormont Vail has invested significant resources already in the design and development of the new clinic. The delay caused by the Commissions action will result in undue hardship to Stormont Vail, not only in continued development of a new facility, but also with respect to the expiring lease arrangement Stormont Vail has with Newman Regional Health for inadequate and outdated space Stormont Vail utilizes. It is unfathomable how an elected body charged with improving the healthcare and economic environment of Lyon County could take this step without any input from the local healthcare community, the business and patients who will be significantly impacted by these actions. Stormont Vail Health statement excerpt The moratorium, dubbed Resolution 06-24 in the Lyon County Commission action session on Thursday, establishes a moratorium and provides for the suspension of certain types of zoning, land use and building permit applications on land in the countys unincorporated area. It also directs that potential land development and zoning regulations be reviewed and developed. In November last year, the hospital accused the commission of favoring Neman Regional Health, owned by Lyon County, to shut rival healthcare organizations out of the county. 57-year-old swims nearly 14 miles across Kansas lake 27 KSNT has contacted the county clerk for feedback from the commissioners. The countys website does not provide contact information for the commissioners. 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. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that no one could be forced to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Getty Images) I teach eighth grade West Virginia studies. Im tasked with covering practically everything about our state, from the Adena mound builders up to the latest flood or mine collapse. However, theres only so many days in a school year. Every year, some things get left on the cutting room floor. This past year, we were lucky to get to the Mine Wars. On the last day of school, with other classes playing games, watching movies, or going outside, I taught a lesson. There was something I hadnt gotten to yet, and I felt like I wasnt doing my job if I sent students to high school without mentioning it. Show of hands, I said. How many of you think you have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? Most hands went up. Based on recent news, it seems like some school administrators would also put their hands up. I proceeded to show my students a short video discussing the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. In short, in 1942, two young girls, the Barnett sisters, were expelled from a Kanawha County elementary school because they refused to recite the pledge. The girls father, Walter Barnett, sued the state board and the case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. On Flag Day in 1943, the court issued its 6-3 decision, ruling that [i]f there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. At the time of their expulsion, Marie and Gathie Barnett werent even teenagers. Still, they had the courage to stand up for their beliefs, if not the pledge. In doing so, their actions changed the very definition of American patriotism. Today, a recent survey from Tufts University suggests rural youth feel disconnected from the political process. In West Virginia specifically, voter turnout for 18-29 year olds, volunteerism among 16-29 year olds, and engagement in political discourse on social media for 16-29 year olds, all fall below national averages. According to the survey data, one key way to get young people more involved is by ensuring they have experiences in high school in which they can express their voices and beliefs. Among students who strongly agreed that they had high school experiences in which they felt their voices and opinions mattered, 81% said they are extremely likely to vote in the 2024 election, the report stated. Every student should know the story of Marie and Gathie Barnett. Their story is a potent reminder that even the youngest among us can and should exercise their voice. Their story is a reminder that when young people do exercise their voice, change is possible. This coming school year, Ill make sure to cover the Barnett case. In fact, I think I even know when Ill teach it. Day one. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX What is that stuff spreading across Lady Bird Lake? AUSTIN (KXAN) Whats all that stuff growing on top of Lady Bird Lake? According to the Austin Watershed Protection Department, these pervasive plants are Cabomba Caroliniana also known as fanwort. The plant lives in Austins waterways year-round, but it grows when the temperatures get hotter. We try to paddleboard and kayak quite a bit, we dont really do it out here as much anymore because we get stuck right here, said David Ward, who pointed to a large patch of the fanwort near Lamar. The fanwort has grown a lot in the last few weeks, and in some areas, it stretches across Lady Bird Lake which makes it a challenge to get through for anyone out on the water. It wasnt a problem when I first moved here and I feel like each year it has gotten worse, said Maci Marullo, who was out walking the trail. The City of Austins Watershed Protection Department tells us they dont use any treatment or remove the plant. However, the plant is dispersed naturally when there is a large rain event. City begins treating Lady Bird Lake to reduce toxic algae The plant should be avoided, as it serves as a natural habitat to a lot of aquatic life. It can also pose a danger, as it can entangle anyone who falls in. Although the fanwort plant is not poisonous, it can collect toxic blue-green algae which can be deadly for dogs. It looks like something out of a sci-fi film like literally, said Gerardo Gomez, who was visiting from Boston. It does not look pleasing. I would not swim in it whatsoever. No first dates here. The plant can grow to about 15 feet underwater according to experts. I would love for it to be gone honestly, Ward said. Despite many people wanting the plant removed, The city explains its a sign of the lakes ecological health. Businesses along the lake can hire a contractor to remove the plant mechanically as long as they get a permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The attacks between President Biden and former President Trump turned personal at Thursday night's debate. Biden started the name-calling, recounting what a military general reportedly told him: that Trump called veterans "a bunch of losers and suckers." "My son was not a loser. He's not a sucker," Biden said, referring to his late son, Beau, who served in the military in Iraq. Then, jabbing his finger in the air at his opponent, Biden added, "You're the sucker. You're the loser." Trump said the quote was a lie: "To think that I would, in front of generals and others, say, 'Suckers and losers,'" Trump said. "He made up the suckers and losers. So he should apologize to me right now." Read more: Biden stumbles amid fierce attacks from Trump Biden and Trump then sparred over the criminal cases that have embroiled the former president and Biden's other son, Hunter. A jury recently found Hunter Biden guilty of three counts: lying on a federal background check form, giving a false statement and possessing a gun while using drugs. When he talks about a convicted felon, his son is a convicted felon. At a very high level. His son is convicted, going to be convicted probably numerous other times, should have been convicted before but his Justice Department let the statute of limitations lapse, the Republican candidate said, before adding that Biden could be convicted once he leaves office. This man is a criminal. This man, you're lucky. You're lucky. I did nothing wrong. We have a system that was rigged and disgusting. I did nothing wrong. "Only person on this stage [who] is a convicted felon, is the man I'm looking at right now," Biden said at another point, speaking of Trump, who was recently convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. A jury found that Trump authorized hush money payments to his personal lawyer to prevent the publication of a story alleging that Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels, an adult film actor. "And think of all the civil penalties you have ... for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star ... while your wife was pregnant," Biden said. "What are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat." Trump reiterated his argument that he did not have sex with Daniels and that the case, which he is appealing, was politically motivated. He noted that he raised a record-breaking amount of money after the verdict came down. Because the public knows it's a scam. And it's a guy that's after his political opponent because he can't win fair and square, Trump said. Read more: Trump says millions of immigrants are criminals. Biden says he's lying Trump told moderator Dana Bash that he would accept the 2024 results if they were "fair." "You're a whiner," Biden said to Trump, of his refusal to accept the 2020 election results. "I doubt you'll accept it because you're such a whiner. ... Something snapped in you when you lost last time." Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former President Donald Trump wrapped up Thursdays debate in Atlanta, Georgia, and heads to Chesapeake, Virginia on Friday. When he gets there, he will be greeted not just by supporters in red MAGA hats: The Democratic National Committee plans circle Trumps rally armed with a mobile billboard displaying his disrespect toward the country's veterans. "Donald Trump thinks Americans who died in war are 'losers' and 'suckers,'" DNC spokesperson Tracy King told Salon. With the mobile billboard, "voters will remember the disrespect and pain he inflicted on service members and their families as he callously mocked them while serving as commander in chief not only through his words but through his disastrous and costly policies." The presumptive GOP nominee has called U.S. soldiers and veterans losers and suckers in the past, a point that President Joe Biden brought up several times during Thursdays night debate. Trump's quote was first reported by The Atlantic, which said Trump made the comments while in France, when sources said he decided against visiting a cemetery for U.S. soldiers because the rain that day would mess up his hair. "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers," he said, later referring to the more than 18,000 Marines buried at Belleau Wood as "suckers." Former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, confirmed last year that the former president made the remarks, saying the presumptive Republican nominee is someone who "has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about." MOHAVE VALLEY At the corner of King Street and Aquarius Drive, on a dilapidated structure used for farmworker housing, a piece of a particle-board sign patches up a hole in one window where an air conditioning unit likely used to be. Whats left spells out the words Energy Efficient. This building nestled among dusty alfalfa fields is now the closest residence to the new proposed location for the Mohave Energy Park, Mohave Electric Cooperatives natural gas peaker plant project that has been fueling unrest across Arizonas Mohave County since the beginning of the year. Last December, senior residents of the Sunrise Hills neighborhood in nearby Fort Mohave found out about plans by local electricity distributor MEC and its regional provider AEPCO, the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, to construct two quick-start turbines half a mile from their homes. The retirees spoke out against what they saw as deceitful skirting of zoning and notification procedures that left them mistrustful of the utilities intentions. MEC vowed to search for another location. But on March 18, the cooperatives CEO, Tyler Carlson, told the Mohave County Board of Supervisors they had been unable to find a suitable alternative site for the peaker plant, which the utility partners say is essential to maintaining energy reliability as this rural desert region south of Las Vegas continues to grow. Weeks later, after coverage of the dispute by The Arizona Republic following months of interviews and inquiries, MEC pivoted and announced on April 12 to an invite-only group of member ratepayers and elected leaders that they had shifted plans for the natural gas facility to a site a few miles away. Read the full first chapter here: A solar ban, a gas power plant and the rural retirees firing back at dirty energy Now, people living near the new proposed location a lower-income agricultural area close to tribal lands and several schools are echoing Sunrise Hills residents concerns about how the peaker plant may endanger human and environmental health, but fear theyre up against an energy Goliath with renewed determination. The utilities' unwavering push for a new gas facility despite local opposition and viable clean energy alternatives is also raising questions about potential hidden profit motives for individuals aligned with these not-for-profit cooperatives. New location, same impacts On a sun-drenched afternoon in early May, Kim Qualey walks hand-in-hand with her 7-year-old granddaughter Scarlet, half a block down the dirt road and across Aquarius Drive from their Mohave Valley home. She points northeast to the patch of farmland less than a mile away where MEC and AEPCO now want to site two natural gas turbines with a 98 megawatt generating capacity or maybe four turbines with a 196 MW capacity, according to updates to the project brochure since the utility quietly opted to relocate and expand the power plant. Qualey has a certificate in agricultural science and has raised chickens and pigs at the family homestead since she and her husband, Sean, a former director of operations at the local high school, moved on Dec. 27, 1990, into the property they call their Christmas present to themselves. She said she understands the need for energy reliability and shes not necessarily against the use of natural gas. But she doesnt see why it needs to be so close to homes and schools. Theres 7-plus miles of desert behind that are unoccupied, and theres a substation on Polaris and Willow, Qualey said. Couldnt they move it back a little farther to protect people and animals? If MEC insists on solving its stated 30 MW electricity shortage at the site near her home, Qualey would prefer solar panels for neighbors. Though the utility has promised to use upgraded air filtration and more efficient engines, experts say peaker plants are still one of the dirtiest ways to produce electricity after coal and diesel. The resulting carbon dioxide emissions and common methane leaks also worsen climate change. Standing in her yard on that bright 94-degree day, Qualey said she worries about how air pollution from the peaker plant might affect Scarlet and her 11-year-old brother, Zane, as well as all the children attending Mohave Valley Junior High and River Valley High School, both within about 3 miles of the new project site. Children are known to be at greater risk of health complications from breathing fossil fuel emissions. Theyll also be the ones saddled with future climate warming consequences. Theres always kids around, people have their grandchildren here in the neighborhood all the time, she said while Zane, disguised as a desert bandit with a bandana over the lower half of his face, snuck up behind her with a loaded squirt gun. (MEC and AEPCO) could engineer a beautiful future that we all could live in amicably and be a leader in innovative technology to help save the planet, she said, dodging Zanes aim with practiced calm. They could do the right thing. They know the consequences to the environment and the members they serve by building a peaker plant that close by. Member-funded scare tactics In Americas sunniest state, these utilities are quick to dispute the idea that theyre anti-solar. MECs commercial solar fields in Mohave County currently make up about 14% of its energy portfolio. AEPCO received board approval last October to install a large solar-plus-storage project near its coal plant at the opposite corner of the state that will get them closer to their goal of a 30% solar energy mix by 2026. The cooperatives are also applying for an array of federal grants to help fund more batteries and renewables. But they have simultaneously pushed hard to gain public acceptance for this fossil fuel facility in Mohave County, sponsoring local newspaper ads and billboards claiming that Natural gas power generation supports hospitals and Natural gas power generation supports cooling centers, a summer necessity in this hot desert environment. The not-for-profit, member-owned utilities declined requests from The Republic for records of how much ratepayer money they have spent on this advertising. Instead, Patrick Ledger, CEO of AEPCO, responded that when we are developing special projects, the communication budgets may be higher in order to properly inform the public. A billboard that went up in Fort Mohave in March 2024 claims local hospitals require electricity generation from natural gas. Many residents and experts view the billboards as not only a waste of co-op members money, but as dangerously misleading. By definition, peaker plants are designed to fire up to meet surges in electricity demand during peak hours, not to power essential services. The hospitals have all been here for many, many years now and they all have backup generators. That is the truth, said Kris Schoppers, a local real estate agent who opposes the project and has been working with Qualey to organize with Mohave Valley neighbors. They're using scare tactics to make us think this is for our local benefit. In emails with The Republic, Allison Ellingson, MECs Chief Communications Officer, defended the advertisements, saying hospitals would prefer to rely on electricity from the peaker plant than from their diesel generators during a major outage. But Ledger told The Republic in February that the peaker plant would not have helped much with past outages in MEC's service area, most of which have been caused by faulty or damaged transmission infrastructure, not insufficient energy supply. The answers underscore Schoppers' questions about who the construction of this gas plant would really serve. Politics casts a shadow over solar Similar pro-gas, anti-solar sentiments in the region date back to at least October of last year, when Mohave County Supervisors, all Republican, voted to ban new renewable energy projects on privately owned land until a better process could be worked out for managing impacts. Email records obtained by The Republic reveal that MEC employees weighed in with elected officials on the wording of the moratorium before it was passed to ensure it wouldnt derail their own renewable energy projects. Ledger has pointed to this exception for local utilities to make the point that the solar ban, which expired in early June and was replaced with more stringent zoning restrictions on renewables projects, has nothing to do with our (gas) project. But Supervisor Jean Bishop told The Republic in late April she thinks the existence of the solar moratorium has facilitated both the formal approval and the public acceptance of fossil fuel energy generation in the region, potentially quelling more widespread resident opposition. Thats no accident, according to Autumn Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association. She thinks elected officials stoke fear about excessive development in this rural-by-choice community to win votes. If anything, the locals are worked up about it because their policymakers have gotten them worked up about it, Johnson said. I dont know what percentage of (solar) projects are going into Mohave versus other counties, but I certainly dont think theyre being inundated. Most of the concern and fear is just based on misinformation, not based on what is actually happening with solar or wind development. Solar panels are indeed harder to spot in recent aerial images of Mohave County than the turbines and settling ponds of natural gas facilities. And the projects keep coming. By the Sierra Club's count, at least 36 new natural gas turbines are progressing through the state permitting pipeline, slashing at environmental regulations as they go. Unisource Energy, the other major utility serving Mohave County, has a 200 MW natural gas expansion project that the company recently used to successfully lobby state regulators to ease rules around environmental assessments for gas turbines. The site for that project is farther into the desert away from homes than MEC's, close to a prison, one small solar field and the 653.8 MW Griffith Energy plant, which pulls its fuel from El Paso Natural Gas through the Transwestern Gas Pipeline and sells the electricity to Nevada Power. In response to questions from The Republic about local energy development, Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter expressed support for gas projects in the name of a strong Mohave County. He views the solar moratorium as an important counterbalance to efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to site more solar projects throughout the West to meet clean energy goals. He said Arizonas renewable energy standards, which were eliminated in 2022, have cost residents money on their energy bills. Arizona will now let the invisible hand of the free market decide how electricity is produced towards saving Arizonans money on their utility bills, Lingenfelter wrote in an email. (Electricity in Arizona is cheaper than the national average, according to recent reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.) Supervisors Hildy Angius and Buster Johnson did not respond to emailed inquiries about the moratorium or these gas projects. Residents who spoke with The Republic have long suspected Angius of being overly sympathetic to MECs interests given public interactions they view as excessively friendly. She has not filed campaign finance disclosure forms with the county since 2017, so there is little evidence of incentives. But email records obtained by The Republic reveal that a letter purportedly from Angius to state utility regulators in support of AEPCO's gas project was written and sent to her by Carlson, MECs CEO. Her emails also show her exchanging complaints about resident opposition to the peaker plant with MECs COO, Jon Martell. Reacting to Sunrise Hills neighborhood organizer Mac McKeevers requests for information, Martell told Angius I feel like he is setting us both up. She replied minutes later that the situation was too political and she was getting pissed off. This embedded content is not available in your region. All five supervisor seats are on the ballot in November, with Angius vacating in favor of a state Senate run. But it seems unlikely the countys stance on solar will shift. One notable contender for Johnsons spot is Mohave Countys current term-limited State Sen. Sonny Borrelli. Borrelli introduced legislation in 2024 to let counties impose a 12.5% tax on solar generation, which failed after overwhelming opposition from statewide climate and public health groups. His county supervisor campaign will carry over more than $76,000 in campaign contributions made during his state senate run, including from natural gas provider Southwest Gas and political action committees representing Arizonas primarily gas-based electricity providers, including UNS Energy Corporation, PNW PAC and AzACRE, which is affiliated with AEPCO. As a local representative, Borrelli may find his ideas more likely to gain traction. Emails to supervisors reviewed by The Republic included a half dozen from residents expressing support for the peaker plant based on the local energy generation and lower costs MEC and AEPCO have promised. And when The Republic connected with Danielle Ohle-Keck, a resident who started a petition last fall in support of the solar moratorium, she shared views that the economic benefits of solar projects are not enough to offset their disruption to open desert landscapes. A report prepared for Johnsons organization, AriSEA, estimated an example solar project would generate $30.9 million in tax revenue for Mohave County over its lifetime. Mohave County Economic Development Director Tami Ursenbach declined to provide The Republic with real numbers, but echoed the perspective of many of her elected officials and neighbors when she replied that completed solar projects offer little to the community in terms of taxes, jobs or energy reliability, since much of the electricity is exported for use out of state. Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli on the Senate floor at the state Capitol in Phoenix on June 15, 2024. '2008s answer to the energy problem' To clean energy advocates, the fact that electricity generated by solar panels gets sucked out of sunny Mohave County via the regions veiny tangle of transmission lines connecting Los Angeles, Las Vegas and beyond is evidence not of a need for local generation, but that northwest Arizona is incredibly well-positioned to tap into the grid for its future energy needs. It doesn't matter where the plant is because this goes on a grid, said Amanda Ormond, a professor at Arizona State University and an expert on the regional transition to post-coal-dependent economies with three decades of experience working in Western energy and public policy. I think it's more that this is what makes utilities feel comfortable, to have a peaking plant. It's the old hammer they know," Ormond said. "They can turn it on when they need it. The world of wind, solar and battery takes a lot more active management. Ledger responded to The Republics initial story on the peaker plant project by underscoring that, as not-for-profits, AEPCO and MEC work solely for the benefit of their co-op members and that building a natural gas facility now is an essential bridge to the overall clean energy transition. As our (Integrated Resource Plan) demonstrates, and as every other utility in the region has similarly concluded, combining solar and battery storage with small efficient emission-controlled dispatchable peaker facilities is the lowest cost, most reliable, and most responsible option available, he wrote. But environmentalists dont see it that way. Bill McKibben, a well-known climate activist and environmental author, told The Republic the idea that building another fossil fuel facility in 2024 is in anyones best interests is absurd, especially given the trend of renewables becoming cheaper and more reliable every year while natural gas prices are notoriously volatile in response to international conflict. He views MECs 14% renewable energy generation (and Unisources 17%) in one of the countrys sunniest spots as a huge missed opportunity. Truthfully, utilities have a pretty good track record for being lazy thinkers about these things, McKibben said. A gas-fired power plant is 2008s answer to the energy problem. If you build one now, youre an absolute sucker because youre putting yesterdays technology in place for the next 40 years and its hard to imagine a bigger waste of money or a bigger way to contribute to the climate crisis that is liable to render Arizona uninhabitable. Bill McKibben is an environmentalist and frequent international speaker on the importance of the clean energy transition. Energy experts assembled for a recent panel hosted by Canary Media came to a similar conclusion, calling nationwide efforts to build new gas peaker plants a knee jerk reaction by utility CEOs sticking to the old energy playbook. As data centers and other electricity-intensive industries are welcomed into communities based on projected economic benefits a major factor metro Phoenix, which was recently ranked fifth globally on data center development meeting skyrocketing energy demand with fossil fuel generation is incompatible with long-term benefits to consumers and with U.S. commitments to power sector emissions reductions, the experts said. I think its a tough job right now to be a utility load forecaster or planner because its such a critical moment, said Maggie Shober, a research director at Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. But its so important that we get it right, right now. AEPCO has emphasized that the electricity from its Mohave peaker plant will benefit the environment by facilitating the closure of its coal unit. Given the long queue of proposed renewable energy projects waiting to connect to nationwide grid infrastructure not fully ready for this shift, its a reality that there are obstacles to moving immediately into renewables. But some Arizona-based clean energy experts would prefer to see existing coal plants stay active slightly longer while those details get worked out which energy companies are being paid to do in other parts of the country than support investments in new fossil fuel facilities. I would say, for my money, I'd rather have that coal plant temporarily running for three months out of the year than to go build that new gas plant, Ormond said. Power outages during storms in Texas showed us that natural gas is not as reliable as they want to believe, or as clean, especially when you dont count upstream methane emissions. Its just the good ole boy network saying, This is the way we do things. Ormond would urge MEC to pursue more aggressive energy efficiency options to balance increasing demand. In response to questions about the utilitys efficiency efforts, Allison Ellingson, MECs communications officer, told The Republic theyve had good member participation on offers for home energy audits, weatherization, more tree shade and rebates for items like LED light bulbs, heat pumps and rooftop solar panels. But MEC has seen little member interest in smart thermostat programs to reduce demand during peak times and has had to abandon other efficiency initiatives due to lack of staff, funding or approval by the state regulatory body, she said. Ellingson represented MEC and the Mohave Energy Park project at two recent community meetings in Mohave Valley, on May 3 and June 4. At both, she stressed that Mohave County needs this peaker plant to ensure the utility can generate the additional 30 MW necessary to meet the communitys projected energy demands and support essential services. She also echoed Ledgers points that solar panels are unreliable on cloudy days. But documents accessed by The Republic show that MEC and AEPCO jointly submitted an application to the Arizona Corporation Commission on April 17 for approval of an electric energy services agreement with Nucor Steel in Kingman, a local steel manufacturer seeking to expand its operations and energy use. In it, the utilities propose to develop a 50 MW battery storage system and future solar project to serve the expected Nucor peak load, all of which raises the question of why the same approach cant serve the expected peak load of Mohave County residents. 'No profit motive' So why build a gas-fired peaker plant that nearby residents oppose given costly risks to a livable environment and increasingly promising energy alternatives? After The Republic published the first story chronicling local opposition and expert perspectives on the project, Ledger sent the reporter an email: We really are a totally different organization than most of the big utilities no profit motive, democratic, member-owned, community based so the usual script about us being motivated by profit and whats good for us vs. whats good for the consumer really doesnt cut it, he wrote. Ledger also called ASU law professor Troy Rule, who was quoted in that first story casting doubt on the benefits of peaker plants, and offered to help clarify some of his misunderstandings. Rule is an expert on solar energy markets and author of the books Solar, Wind and Land: Conflicts in Renewable Energy Development and Renewable Energy: Law, Policy and Practice. He has followed what he calls a recent nationwide disinformation trend undermining renewable energy projects. We are a not-for-profit cooperative, so we have no profit motive, Ledger wrote in his email to The Republic. Had you or Professor Rule conducted appropriate research, you would have discovered that we do not have shareholders, we have no connections to the fossil fuel industry, and in fact that we serve lower-income rural communities. CEO of Arizona Generation and Transmission Patrick Ledger (left) and CEO of Mohave Electric Cooperative Tyler Carlson (right) wait for the start of the town hall meeting on Feb. 12, 2024, at Los Lagos Golf Club in Fort Mohave. Rule declined the offer from Ledger, but followed up with The Republic to clarify that he thinks the push for this peaker plant likely is profit motivated, and not in service of lower-income rural communities. Theres a lot of transmission infrastructure relatively close to their site, which means they can ship this power throughout the Southwest at peak times and sell it for a lot of money, Rule said. And thats an attractive thing for them because they have significant debts and stranded cost problems and are looking for a way to improve their financial situation. Sandy Bahr, who directs the Sierra Clubs Grand Canyon Chapter, agrees. These things are not cheap so once they invest in building these turbines theyre going to want to run them and keep running them, Bahr said. And if we move away from fossil fuels faster than they expect, they could end up with significant stranded assets. In a February interview with The Republic, Ledger mentioned the anticipated closure of AEPCOs coal plant, the Apache Generating Station, as a reason they needed to bring this gas plant online before the Biden administrations new rules about carbon emissions from fossil fuel plants take effect. To Ormond, the expert on transitioning away from coal, that argument doesnt add up either. Were at this really interesting period when the economics have completely changed, she said. Solar combined with battery storage is the lowest cost resource available. But change is difficult and systems are getting more complex. Smaller, rural co-op utilities are typically slower to adopt newer technologies. Utilities are projecting huge load growth in the West, creating resource adequacy problems. If you can build a peaker plant in Arizona, you can turn it on, sell excess energy and make some really good money. That really good money is not officially counted as profit, since MEC reports $0 in net income most years. But the utilitys accounting on executive salaries raises questions. Tax filings reviewed by The Republic reveal that Carlson, MECs CEO, was paid $1.35 million by the utility in 2022, with an additional $267,535 in other compensation. Thats more than the $1.2 million that SRP, Arizonas much larger, urban utility company, paid its CEO. Ledger explained its not unusual for rural utilities to offer higher salaries to recruit the necessary talent to manage the dynamic challenges of providing electricity to far-flung consumers. At other times, he said employees of utility cooperatives accept lower salaries because they believe in the work. Tax filings show Ledger was paid $740,947 by AEPCO, also a rural electric cooperative, in 2022, with an additional $90,760 in other compensation. What is unusual and hard to explain, according to not-for-profits expert Robert Ashcraft, who directs ASUs Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, is the dramatic fluctuation of Carlsons salary year to year, which bounces from $1.66 million in 2017 down to $617,483 in 2018, back up to $1.24 million in 2020 and then down to $658,030 in 2021, before doubling again in 2022. Read more from this reporter: The latest on climate from Joan Meiners at azcentral The fact that MEC zeroes out its net income on tax filings each year, matching large revenue numbers with expense numbers, is also odd. In 2022, for example, MEC reported revenue and expenses to exactly match at $96,009,131. Ashcraft said this begs the question of where the surplus revenue is spent in order to even out the financials each year. That salary fluctuation rollercoaster is quite fascinating, Ashcraft said. You normally dont see that in nonprofits. You might see it in for-profit shareholding companies, depending upon CEO performance contract details. Carlson also received between $27,000 and $42,000 annually for his participation on AEPCOs board during those years, while his additional other compensation at MEC was listed at between $115,009 and $267,535. Neither Carlson nor Joe Anderson, who oversees executive salary changes as the president of MEC's board, responded to The Republics requests for an explanation of how Carlsons compensation is determined or for copies of meeting minutes when those decisions were made. Over the phone, Ledger explained that other compensation packages, which include items like retirement benefits, company cars and annual bonuses, sometimes reflect performance on project goals, if I do well. After a good year, the utility might also issue checks to some of their partners. AEPCO reported a net income of $3.15 million in 2022 and $9.65 million in 2021. Ledger estimated his own performance bonus last year at less than $40,000, then called The Republics line of questioning grotesque before abruptly ending the call. Later via email, he clarified that No employee of Arizona Electric Power receives any direct or special pecuniary gain from the development of new resources. We have a smart goal program that provides small incentives for performance linked to our strategic plans and goals. But to not-for-profit experts, this closed-door practice suggests the potential for individual profit motives for executives who successfully push through profitable projects. When you think nonprofit, its really a tax status, Ashcraft said. There are so many types of nonprofits and not all are charities. Some of them are billion dollar enterprises. It doesnt speak to purpose, mission, results, all the rest, which can have bearing on CEO compensation packages. This embedded content is not available in your region. An energized community, divided Questions about profit motives came to a head in Mohave Valley at a community meeting about the peaker plant in early May. Out of more than 70 attendees, almost everyone who spoke opposed the project, including several enrolled members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, which had not yet publicly taken a stance on the project. Were just the Indian people, half of you dont even know were here, said Beatrice Jacobo, a tribal member speaking as an individual at the meeting. But were all in this together and Im going to stand up and fight. The project site is less than 800 feet from tribal land. Ashley Hemmers, the tribal administrator responsible for management of public services on the reservation, later told The Republic the land is one of vanishingly few options where the tribe may want to build future homesteads. She spoke against the project on behalf of the tribe at a Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting a few days after the community gathering. As of early May, five months into AEPCO's public push for the project, Hemmers said she was not aware of any attempts by either utility to consult with the tribe on environmental or community impacts of the project. MECs Ellingson said the utility sent an email to tribal chairman Tim Williams but never got a response. Hemmers responded by saying she thinks MEC is putting out a lot of misinformation. AEPCO has since restated its intention to consult with the tribe, but Hemmers remains wary. They put billboards up because they think they can just buy land and tell us what to think and well put up with it, she said. The only person not employed by MEC to speak in support of the project at the community gathering in May was Ted Martin, the Mohave Valley Fire Department chief. Martin stood at the front of the room for much of the meeting, offering impassioned counterpoints in support of the project to other speakers' concerns. His behavior rubbed some attendees the wrong way. Hemmers told The Republic Mohave Valley has struggled with funding, recruiting and maintaining firefighters in recent years. To help ensure fire services are available, the tribe has contributed funds. Now she feels Martin should be respecting their position on the project. When The Republic connected with Martin, he called his neighbors' suspicions about his motives sickening and said he supports the project because he believes it to be in the best interests of the community, especially lower-income residents who would struggle if electricity prices went up. He feels that misunderstandings of the risks have drummed up emotional responses. But Pastor Roy Hagemyer, who ministers at the nondenominational Way Christian Church in Fort Mohave, isnt buying it. He lives about a mile from the proposed site for the plant in Mohave Valley. Nobody, as a private citizen, wants a peaker plant in their backyard if there isn't something in it for them," Hagemyer told The Republic, adding that Martin seemed "far too zealous." Along with community organizer Kris Schoppers, Hagemyer also has questions about Chip Sherrills personal interests in the project. Sherrill is a prominent local farmer, land and business owner and the current chairman of the Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District. Hagemyer said Sherrill was in the room at MEC's invite-only meeting announcing the new project site in Mohave Valley on April 12. On its website, the district says it has the right to subcontract its entitlement to entities and individuals within its management area. It determines which farmers, subdivisions and facilities get access to water. In an agricultural community with restricted pumping and fallowed farm fields due to lack of water, the idea that a commercial project might be cutting in line is quick to raise hackles. In February, Ledger told The Republic he was not yet sure where the peaker plant would get the water it needs to run, which he estimates at around 9 million gallons per turbine per year, for a potential annual total of 36 million gallons if four turbines are eventually installed. He noted this is less than would be used for farming at the site and that they will comply with water quality standards set by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. After the site relocation to Mohave Valley, Ledger said in May that AEPCO is working to purchase and rezone the land, and that the sale will include water rights. The utility has submitted its rezoning request to the county but did not respond to recent requests for updates on the land sale. ADEQ told The Republic in late June that the agency had not received any applications for the required air or water quality permits related to this project. Since the site is in a rural area without water restrictions for industrial facilities, Bahr of the Sierra Club said she isn't holding out hope the eventual permits would "include anything strong," meaning the peaker plant could potentially run continuously without concern about air pollution or water use limits. As far as Sherrill's potential control over water the project still lacks, The Republic found documents that confirm his ownership of land near the new project site and others that show the transfer of a portion of water rights in 2014 between Sherrills company and a Delaware-based LLC named WPI-919 AZ Farms, which is the current owner of the land parcel proposed for the gas facility. On different pages of that transfer agreement, Sherrill signed as both the General Partner of Sherrill Ventures, LLLP and as the Chairman of the Mohave Valley Irrigation District. WPI-919 Farm AZ, owned by New York City-based water asset manager Marc Robert, was previously accused by a CNN investigation of buying up land in the West so as to hoard water rights in a practice known as drought profiteering. Its not illegal, but is viewed by many as an unfair foreign power grab as the West teeters ever closer to the water wars. Sherrill did not directly respond to requests for details on his interest in the peaker plant or influence over its water access. His secretary, Kerri Hatz, told The Republic Sherrill is not currently involved with any projects with MEC. Speculating on water and quality of life On a sunny Saturday morning in May following the community meeting in Mohave Valley, Robert Jacobo loads his yellow lab, Bo, into his red Jeep Grand Cherokee and bumps down a sandy road to the banks of the Colorado River where it separates Arizona from California. He scopes out a few spots before parking and unloading his fishing gear. Jacobo, an enrolled member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe who is the son of Beatrice Jacobo and cousin to Ashley Hemmers, was born and raised in this area and feels a deep connection to the river and the landscapes viewable from its best fishing spots. Getting out on the water reminds him of his dad, who passed away two years ago. Culturally, fishing is a big thing, Jacobo says as he works a worm onto his hook. If you talk to tribal elders, theyll tell you stories about when the river was five miles wide. I would think thats a little exaggeration, but definitely, you look at the lands around here and you can tell, oh this used to be underwater for sure. And then you realize, yeah, youre a fisherman at heart. Jacobo has spoken out alongside his relatives at both community meetings about the power plant in Mohave Valley. He also wrote a recent opinion piece about being stewards of this land, which he views as incompatible with allowing a new gas plant to be built here. He reels in a striped bass just as a family speeds by on their motor boat towing a raft with screaming kids in its wake. Bo is ecstatic. Thirty miles upriver in Bullhead City, where MEC is headquartered, Mohave County residents used to celebrate their location along the Colorado River with an annual river festival. But in 2019, the event was canceled for being too divisive. The cracks caused by drought and water restrictions ripple far and wide throughout this community. Recent water use limitations frustrate locals like Steve Arnold, who runs a hay distribution business and grows shrinking quantities of fruit for sale near the original site for the peaker plant in Fort Mohave. Arnold opposed that location for MECs Mohave Energy Park primarily because of uncertainty surrounding how much water the plant would use and where it would come from. MEC has done two solar plants, which I have no problem with, Arnold told The Republic during a tour of his property. They're fairly passive, there's no threat of explosions, they're not really unsightly and they dont use water (after construction). But (natural gas) power plants, they have to pump water. Its like, Hey, lets just forget about the farmers. Steve Arnold feeds his cattle on Feb. 13, 2024, at his B-Y Ranch located in Fort Mohave. Four miles south from Arnolds land, at the new proposed project location in Mohave Valley, Kim Qualey drives her ATV past fallowed farmlands and the farmworker housing with the Energy Efficient sign patching up a broken window. Given how agriculture has already been squeezed dry, she and her neighbors do not think a peaker plant is a reasonable use of the regions liquid gold, or a reason to sully its clean air. When she reaches the corner of the project site, Qualey pauses and looks out over rusty irrigation canals filled with sand that fan out through desiccated alfalfa fields like spokes of a forgotten wheel. In the distance, the two towering natural gas turbines of Calpines South Point Energy Center, built at 530 MW with peaking capacity in 2001, pump electricity onto the grid for sale throughout the tri-state area. This report was made possible in part by a grant from the Fund for Environmental Journalism of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Read more of her coverage at environment.azcentral.com. Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly climate and environment newsletter. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Profit motives and political influence plague Mohave gas plant project After news broke that the Supreme Court would allow emergency abortions again in Idaho, a message went out to the entire staff of St. Lukes Health System on the organization's intranet. If a very sick pregnant patient comes to the emergency room or labor and delivery triage, the message said, staff will no longer have to send them out of state for an abortion, according to Peg Dougherty, deputy general counsel for the health system. Doctors could once again terminate a patient's pregnancy to protect her health, not just to save their life, Dougherty said. Dougherty believes the court's decision will allow physicians, with confidence, to provide abortions when they're necessary to stabilize a patient. Idaho doctors say they're relieved by the decision, but they worry that many urgent care scenarios fall outside the narrow guidelines set by federal law. They fear the slim protections back in place could soon be stripped away by the lower courts. VPC SCOTUS ABORTION DECISION Idaho is among more than a dozen states that restricted abortion after the high court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Since then, doctors have said they cannot provide abortions for a patient facing serious health consequences - including the risk of losing an organ or the ability to reproduce - unless their life is clearly at risk. After the Supreme Court allowed Idaho to enforce its near-total abortion ban in January, the state's "largest provider of emergency services had to airlift pregnant women out of Idaho roughly every other week, compared to once in all of the prior year," Justice Elena Kagan wrote. On Thursday, the Supreme Court reversed its decision to halt emergency abortions in the state, however, the justices did not weigh in on whether strict abortion bans like Idaho's trump the federal requirement under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) for emergency rooms that receive federal funding to provide stabilizing care. "We are encouraged and applaud the decision that the Supreme Court came down with today in the EMTALA case, we believe this is a significant step forward to ensuring that our hospitals and physicians can offer critical care without government interference, ultimately, improving health care outcomes for pregnant women in the state," said Greg Morrison, vice president of external relations at the Idaho Hospital Association said in a statement Thursday. "However, Idaho's abortion law still needs added clarity to protect the health and well being of Idaho women outside of the emergency room or emergency department." Duncan Harmon, a maternal fetal medicine specialist with St. Lukes, said not only is there confusion about how sick someone needs to be before they can get an abortion, but outside of the emergency room, he still can't provide an abortion for patients who are facing serious health complications down the line. "There are clinical scenarios and medical health conditions (for which) EMTALA may not provide me coverage in providing appropriate medical care or evidence-based medical care," he said. Caitlin Gustafson, a family medicine doctor who provides obstetrical care in rural Idaho, echoed that sentiment, saying it's a relief to be able to care for patients she wasn't able to before, but she's frustrated by the court's failure to issue more substantial protections. "Our hands are tied when our patients need us most," she said. "This was the bare bones, minimum that we needed, and the court didn't jump on the opportunity to establish that, indeed, emergency abortions for health-saving, fertility-saving measures were going to be the law of the land." Gustafson, president of the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare Foundation, said her hospital system has "gone above and beyond" to communicate with employees about the current legal landscape. She said the system has pledged to support employees if a prosecutor were to challenge their medical decisions but they can't provide a criminal defense and "we would be on our own in that scenario." Gustafson noted she's heard the support and communication she's received is not always offered to her colleagues around the state, which she thinks may be part of the reason Idaho has lost 22% of its OBGYNs since the states ban went into effect in August 2022. Harmon said three of his colleagues have left due to the state's abortion restrictions and the ongoing uncertainty they face carrying out their work. "It's a very chilling environment to practice in," Gustafson said. "My impression is that physicians will still continue to err where they're able to on sending the patient out of state if it falls anywhere along that line of whether it's stabilization or not." Contributing: Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Supreme Court Idaho abortion ruling, doctors want more clarity The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling Friday that affects communities hit hard by the homelessness crisis. It will allow local governments to enforce bans on people experiencing homelessness sleeping outside even if there is not enough shelter space. >> Perkins restaurants to change name, update restaurants and menus The case stems from Grants Pass, Oregon where officials fined people for camping and sleeping outside. Advocates argued it was cruel and unusual punishment if there werent beds available at shelters. But the majority of the Justices found these kinds of penalties are not a violation of the Constitution and can continue. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy, wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch. The Supreme Courts decision today unfortunately allows that to be criminalized and for people to be put in jail for something that is entirely out of their control, said Jake Faleschini, Justice Program Director at the Alliance for Justice. This isnt going to help people. This is just going to make it even worse for the folks that are in that temporary position. Republican and Democratic state leaders have warned about the need to be able to clear encampments. >> 16-year-old drowns in river at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Earlier this year, Florida was the first state to pass legislation to ban people from sleeping or camping on public property. Doing the San Francisco and New York model is not a way to get the job done, said Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in March when signing it into law. The Supreme Court ruling was a 6 to 3 decision. The liberal-leaning Justices disagreed with the decision. Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime, wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor in the dissent. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment. In the wake of Fridays decision by the Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, commentators will have a field day picking apart the cases implications for separation of powers, the future of the regulatory state, and the upheaval of administrative law professors syllabi. Im left, however, with a different immediate thought: about the late Justice Antonin Scalia, and the French proverb that every revolution devours its own children. Scalia, more than anyone else, was the architect of the conservative counterrevolution that swept the federal bench during the Reagan era and reached its apotheosis in the 2022 Dobbs decision that overruled Roe v. Wade. For Scalia, a social conservative who railed against Roe every chance he got, a ruling like Dobbs was a consummation to be devoutly wished. But, strikingly, in many other areas of the law, the courts current right-wing supermajority has moved far beyond, and in some cases torn down, the judicial goalposts that Scalia erected. Todays conservative justices purport to celebrate the philosophies Scalia championedtextualism and originalismbut he might not even recognize them as they are now being practiced. Start with Loper Bright. On the surface, the case concerned an obscure federal regulation requiring commercial fishing operations to pay for observers to board their vessels and monitor their compliance with conservation goals. Not content to challenge that regulation, the fishermen plaintiffs in Loper Bright cast their nets wider, hoping to deep-six a foundational principle of administrative law known as the Chevron doctrine. Chevrondecided 40 years ago, and one of the most frequently cited Supreme Court decisions of all timedeclared that when an administrative agency exercises authority pursuant to an ambiguous federal law, the agency may interpret that law in any reasonable manner. The plaintiffs contended that Chevron violated the separation of powers by allowing agencies rather than the courts to say what the law is. On Friday, the court agreed with the plaintiffs and overruled Chevron. It based its decision largely on a provision of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act that calls upon courts to decide all relevant questions of law and interpret statutory provisions when reviewing agencies handiwork. Yet that provision, like many in the vaguely worded APA, is question-begging: It doesnt preclude judges from deferring to reasonable interpretations offered by agencies. Scalia recognized all of this decades ago, deriding as a quite mistaken assumption the notion that courts must construe regulatory statutes from scratch. Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion never wrestles with that point, or with Scalias other oft-repeated defenses of Chevron, dismissing him as an early champion of that decision who later saw the light. The outcome in Loper Bright was unsurprisingconservative justices have been telegraphing their antipathy to Chevron for years, and the doctrine was already on its last legs. My own view is that the court was wrong to reject Chevron, because the specialists who staff agencies are better equipped than generalist judges to figure out how laws should apply in new and unforeseen circumstances. And if Congress thought the court had been mistaken for the past 40 years, it could always uproot Chevron by revising the APA. But, regardless of the merits of the case, Loper Bright signals how thoroughly the courts right wing has turned its back on Scalia, its erstwhile avatar. Scalia wasnt on the court yet when Chevron was decided, but he soon became an unabashed superfan of the Chevron doctrine, defending it in public remarks as well as in majority and dissenting opinions. Depending on how cynical one wants to be, one can identify both principled and unprincipled justifications for Scalias Chevron fandom. The principled justification is that when Congress leaves a statutory silence, it would prefer to have that gap filled by agency decisionmakers who answer to a democratically accountable president, as Scalia insisted they must. Somewhat less principled was Scalias confession that Chevron rarely required him to accept results he personally abhorred. The son of a formalist literature professor, Scalia was what Harold Bloom might have called a strong reader (or misreader?) of statutory texts. That meant that he almost always found enough clarity in the underlying statute to happily ignore the agencys interpretation of it, even under Chevron. The most cynical explanation for Scalias cheerleading for Chevron is that, in the 1980s and early 1990s, judicial deference offered a convenient cover for Republican agency officials deregulatory interpretations of broadly written public interest statutesas happened in the Chevron case itself. The flipside of that explanation may also underlie the current majoritys hostility to Chevron: during the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, the doctrine of deference has made it harder for business-friendly judges to dismantle agency rules that protect workers, consumers, and the environment. Indeed, as the chief justices Loper Bright opinion notes, even Scalia himself appeared to sour on Chevron in the last year or so of his life. Abandoning deference, one might argue, proved a small price to pay for the deconstruction of the administrative state. But it isnt only Chevron that marks the divide between Scalia and his conservative acolytes. In 1990, Scalia wrote the seminal decision in Employment Division v. Smith, holding that the First Amendments free exercise clause doesnt give religious practitioners a license to ignore neutral, generally applicable laws. To be clear, Smith was unpopular from the start, including among liberals; lopsided majorities in both houses of Congress attempted to overturn it within a few years. But the decision drew especially harsh scorn from religious conservatives. Indeed, the story goes that the feisty Scalia used to ask prospective law clerks to identify their least favorite decision of his so that he could spar with thembut told them not to bother naming Smith because everyone hated it. For my money, Smith got it right: As Scalia wrote, a system in which the government has to justify applying general laws to everyone threatens to become a system in which each conscience is a law unto itself. But recent decisions make clear that the current conservative supermajority, in their zeal to undermine antidiscrimination law and the separation of church and state, will soon part ways with Scalia and overrule Smith. And consider Scalias most famous legacies: textualism and originalism. In the landmark Heller case from 2008, Scalia held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to own firearms, unconnected to the amendments reference to militia service. Im not here to defend Heller; Scalia almost certainly got the text and history wrong and, more fundamentally, neglected the need for law to respond to changing realities. But at least the Heller court signaled its acceptance of longstanding regulations barring guns from being carried by dangerous people or in sensitive places. In its 2022 Bruen decision, however, the court blew past that reassurance and drove Second Amendment law to a precipice from which the jurisprudential foundations laid by Scalia were barely visible. According to Justice Clarence Thomas majority opinion, gun control measures are presumptively unconstitutional, and can be rescued only if the government can show a tradition of analogous restrictions from some unspecified era in the 18th or 19th century. This reasoning is reckless and unworkableand has virtually nothing to do with Scalias brand of textualism or originalism. Its no wonder that Scalia once remarked of Thomas style of judging, Im an originalist and a textualist, not a nut. In last weeks Rahimi case, the court retreated to some extent from the heights of Bruens absurdity, but the chief justices incoherent majority opinion, and the spate of dueling concurrences, showed that the court misses Scalias steadying hand. To cite one more example, early in his career Scalia recognized that public employees can be required to help fund the unions that, in turn, have a legal duty to represent them. Yet in the 2018 Janus decision, Justice Samuel Alito unceremoniously discarded this insight in the course of holding that so-called fair share fees violate the First Amendment. (A disclosure: as Illinois solicitor general, I represented the losing side in the Janus litigation.) The point of all of this is emphatically not to retrospectively laud Scalia as a justice. His jurisprudence all too often relied on tendentious readings of history and rigid parsing of legal texts to prop up a stagnant and exclusionary constitutional order. The point, instead, is to show the extent to which Scalias conservative successors have broken free of the philosophical moorings established by his decisions. Its not unusual for zealots to compete with one another to be plus catholique que le pape. But the current court, in seeking to serve the partisan interests of the Republican Party by any means possible, has taken the law to places even the archconservative Scalia was too intellectually honest to go. Scalia, at least some of the time, stopped short of acting on his ideological preferences thanks to an overriding commitment to judicial restraint; todays conservative justices rarely have such qualms. The doctrine of deference to administrative agencies is only the latest of Scalias edifices to topple. Perhaps the real lesson is that every revolution devours its own fathers. 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!) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 28. KazMunayGas (KMG), Kazakhstan's state oil and gas company, denied speculation about a potential sale of its 50 percent stake in the Atyrau oil refinery to China's Sinopec, Trend reports. During a recent visit on June 12, 2024, Sinopec specialists exchanged insights with the oil refinery's officials on enhancing operational efficiency. Sinopec had previously collaborated on projects at the refinery between 2010 and 2016. KMG stated that discussions on selling its stake were not held. The company also denied receiving any inquiries or offers from Sinopec regarding the sale or valuation of its stake in the Atyrau oil refinery. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has been cooperating with Sinopec for a long time. In particular, Kazakh KazMunayGas signed an agreement in the field of geological exploration of the subsoil of the country with China's Sinopec in May 2023. The document assumes a joint study of 17 exploration sites located within the main and poorly studied sedimentary basins. China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, or Sinopec, is a Chinese oil and gas enterprise based in Beijing. It is listed in Hong Kong and also trades in Shanghai. Sinopec Limited's parent, Sinopec Group, is the world's largest oil refining, gas, and petrochemical conglomerate, headquartered in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Supreme Court said laws that charge those who sleep in public do not constitute cruel or unusual punishment (AFP via Getty Images) The Supreme Court will allow thecriminalization of homelessness after a majority ruled to allow laws that allow police to ticket, fine or arrest those who sleep in public areas. On Friday, the conservative majority of the justices disagreed with a group of unhoused people in the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, who argued that a series of laws punishing people for sleeping outside was considered cruel and unusual punishment and in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses, he wrote. It does not. The series of laws, which have become known as camping bans, allows police to charge people for sleeping or camping on publicly-owned property. That can include using a blanket or pillow to sleep outside. Several cities and states have already passed laws targeting those who sleep outsidde as they try to reduce their homeless populations. Supreme Court said laws that charge those who sleep in public do not constitute cruel or unusual punishment (AFP via Getty Images) In her dissent with the courts two other liberal justices, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the courts conservatives ignored the humanity and dignity of people experiencing homelessness and instead almost exclusively sided with the interests of local governments. Their decision leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested, she wrote. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, Sotomayor added. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. Gorsuch said the liberal justices were gravely mistaken. We hold nothing of the sort, he wrote for the courts majority. As we have stressed, cities and States are not bound to adopt public-camping laws. They may also choose to narrow such laws, he added. Beyond all that, many substantive legal protections and provisions of the Constitution may have important roles to play when States and cities seek to enforce their laws against the homeless. Gorsuch also appeared to agree that the US is experiencing a crisis of homelessness but suggested that local governments and residents were equally impacted because they are forced to navigate around unhoused people. Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside pm the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22 in Washington, DC. A Supreme Court ruling allows states and cities to pass laws that ban sleeping in public places (Getty Images) Grants Pass officials argued the laws, enacted in 2013, were created to make it more uncomfortable for people to sleep outside after locals raised safety concerns. In the city of less than 40,000 people, as many as 600 people experience homelessness per day in part due to its lack of affordable housing, low vacancy rate and high barrier for individuals to stay in a homeless shelter. Despite the obvious challenges, the city still chose to impose a $295 fine for using blankets, pillows or cardboard boxes to sleep within the city and added a $242 charge for not paying the fine. They also implemented a rule that allows police to ban a person from city property if they receive two citations that punishment carries a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine. Several cities and states are already speeding through similar legislation targeting unhoused people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law earlier this year that bans public camping or sleeping including the presence of bedding or pillows on any public property, such as public parks. David Wilson sits outside his tent at Riverside Park on Thursday, March 21, in Grants Pass, Oregon. Grants Pass officials argued the laws, enacted in 2013, were created to make it more uncomfortable for people to sleep outside after locals raised safety concerns (AP) We know the court was never going to solve homelessness, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. The best way to combat growing criminalization is to go on the offense and ensure that everybody has housing that meets their needs. During oral arguments in April, attorneys for the city said that local governments should have the authority to regulate homelessness, not courts. Many of the justices raised concerns about the plaintiffs in the case have standing or the authority to challenge a law. Hannah Lebovits, a researcher from the University of Texas at Arlington studying homelessness, said that such deterrence logic designing laws around the idea that homelessness needs to be uncomfortable in the hopes that people will end their own homelessness only exacerbates the crisis. It is hard to imagine a starker example of excessive punishment than fining and jailing a person for the basic human act of sleeping, according to Scout Katovich, staff attorney in the Trone Center for Justice and Equality at the ACLU. Fridays decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free rein to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, according to Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. At a time when elected officials need to be focused on long-term, sustainable solutions that are grounded in evidence including funding the affordable housing and supportive services that their constituents need this ruling allows leaders to shift the burden to law enforcement, she added. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future. The Supreme Court issued a ruling on Friday essentially criminalizing homelessness by ruling in favor of the city of Grants Pass, Oregon. In a 6-3 decision that followed the usual ideological lines, the high court ruled that it is not cruel and unusual punishment for local governments to issue citations or jail people for sleeping outside even if there is nowhere for them to go. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorcuch quoted Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed to make the point that the 9th Circuit had previously overstepped and was limiting local governments from utilizing full panoply of tools in the policy toolbox. The case is a major win for Grants Pass, which has no public homeless shelters, but effectively banned homelessness by imposing escalating fines starting at $180 on those who sleep outside. Previously, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that cities must be able to provide and offer shelter to homeless individuals before they can impose fines and criminalize individuals for the act of sleeping outside. The Justice Department also intervened to say that the Ninth Circuit was correct in saying that the Eighth Amendment prohibits the effective criminalization of homelessness. This was the most significant homelessness case to come before the Supreme Court in nearly 40 years, and the high courts ruling opens up a portal of callousness toward the homeless, as right-wing think tanks and politicians work to craft laws across the country punishing those sleeping outside. Where do we put them if every city, every village, every town lacks compassion and passes a law identical to this, where are they supposed to sleep? asked Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in a hearing on the case earlier this year. Are they supposed to kill themselves not sleeping? She echoed those same points in a brutal dissent on Friday, noting, Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. The Grants Pass ruling is dark, but it also bears a reminder that it doesnt stop cities and states from doing the right thing: creating affordable housing to address the root cause of homelessness. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued the final decisions of its term, including the highly anticipated ruling on former President Donald Trump's claims of immunity from criminal prosecution. From rulings on social media moderation to abortion pill access, here's a look at some of the major cases the 6-3 conservative-majority court has heard this term. Presidential immunity for Trump Case: Trump v. United States Decided: July 1, 2024 Case argued: April 25, 2024 Read more: Key takeaways from Supreme Court hearing on whether Trump has presidential immunity that shields him from criminal trials ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The ruling: In a 6-3 decision, the court held that a former president has absolute immunity for his core constitutional powers. Former presidents are entitled to at least a "presumption of immunity" for their official acts. However, there is no immunity for unofficial acts. Ultimately the justices left it to the lower courts to decide what, exactly, constitutes an official act versus an unofficial act. This is considered a strategic win for Trump because it will likely delay the Jan. 6 federal election interference case until after the November election. If Trump wins the election, as president he could either pardon himself in this federal case or appoint an attorney general who would drop the case. What it means: The Supreme Court ruled that Trump may have immunity for some of his alleged conduct in his federal election interference case because it falls under "official acts." Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's opinion, "The president enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is official. The President is not above the law. But Congress may not criminalize the President's conduct in carrying out the responsibilities of the Executive Branch under the Constitution." However, the judges rejected Trump's more general immunity claim over acts that fall under the category of what they called "unofficial" or private acts. Roberts wrote, "Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized." The Jan. 6-related charges against Trump won't be dismissed as a result of this decision, but the court ruled that Trump is immune to prosecution for actions that qualify as official acts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read the opinion here. Social media and the First Amendment Cases consolidated into one: NetChoice, LLC v. Paxton; Moody v. NetChoice, LLC Decided: July 1, 2024 Case argued: Feb. 26, 2024 The ruling: In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court declined to rule on the laws in Florida and Texas that would require social media platforms to keep up posts they would otherwise remove for violating content guidelines. The justices sent both cases back to the lower courts for review. However, the court said that government interference with what social media platforms publish can pose a threat to the platforms' First Amendment rights. What it means: The Florida and Texas laws in question argued that social media sites should not be able to moderate posts or ban someone, especially when it comes to political candidates. Justice Elena Kagan said in her opinion that the Supreme Court could not rule that Florida and Texas' laws were broadly unconstitutional. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read the opinion here. Obstruction charges for Jan. 6 defendants and Trump Case: Fischer v. United States Decided: June 28, 2024 Case argued: April 16, 2024 The ruling: In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled that because there was no proof the rioters tried to tamper with or destroy documents, they did not qualify for the obstruction charge. What it means: The Supreme Court has made it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction a charge that was also brought against Trump following the events of Jan. 6, 2021. More than 750 people have been sentenced for their involvement in the Jan 6. riots. Out of that number, around 50 have been convicted with obstruction as the only felony count, which means they will likely be most affected by the ruling. Read the opinion here. Rights of homeless individuals Case: City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Decided: June 28, 2024 Case argued: April 22, 2024 The ruling: In a 6-3 decision, the justices reversed a ruling from a San Francisco-based appeals court that found public sleeping bans were a form of cruel and unusual punishment. What it means: It is not a violation of the Eighth Amendment to criminalize those who are involuntarily homeless from camping and sleeping in public, even when shelters are full or unavailable. Read the opinion here. Abortion in health emergencies Cases consolidated into one: Moyle v. United States; Idaho v. United States Decided: June 27, 2024 Case argued: April 24, 2024 The ruling: In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court allowed Medicare-participating hospitals in Idaho to perform emergency abortions when a woman's health is at risk, overriding the state's near-total abortion ban. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement What it means: Pregnant women in Idaho can now access emergency abortion care. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan noted in her concurring opinion that because of the state's ban, Idaho's largest emergency services provider has had to airlift women out of state roughly every other week for medical assistance. The justices, however, did not answer the question of whether the Biden administration's interpretation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act a federal law that the administration argues must allow doctors to provide emergency abortions conflicts with Idaho's state ban. The case will now continue to play out in lower courts. And with key questions unanswered, the issue could end up before the Supreme Court again. Read the opinion here. Social media and misinformation Case: Murthy v. Missouri ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Decided: June 26, 2024 Case argued: March 18, 2024 The ruling: In a win for the Biden administration, the justices decided in a 6-3 ruling that the White House did not violate the First Amendment when it urged major social media companies to take down what the government considers misinformation about the 2020 election and public health. Read more: Supreme Court sides with Biden administration over conservative states in dispute over social media posts What it means: The Supreme Court ruling has established boundaries regarding free speech online and ruled that the government can call on tech companies to remove misinformation and falsehoods on its platform to serve the public interest. Read the opinion here. Gun access for alleged domestic abusers Case: United States v. Rahimi Decided: June 21, 2024 ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Case argued: Nov. 7, 2023 The ruling: In an 8-1 ruling, the justices upheld a 1994 federal ban on firearms for domestic abusers under restraining orders to stay away from their partners. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that, 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." Since the founding, our nations firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms," Roberts added. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented. What it means: It's a win for gun control advocates. The justices ruled in favor of a ban that aims to protect victims of domestic violence. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearms have been the most common weapon used in the homicides of domestic partners and family members in recent years. Read the opinion here. Ban on bump stocks Case: Garland v. Cargill ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Decided: June 14, 2024 Case argued: Feb. 28, 2024 The ruling: In a 6-3 ruling, the court struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, which are rifle attachments that increase the speed at which bullets are fired. Justice Thomas, who delivered the opinion, said that bump stocks do not make semiautomatic rifles into fully automatic machine guns. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the majority opinion would have "deadly consequences." What it means: The court found that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority by enacting the ban on bump stocks when it determined that the devices were classified as machine guns. Civilians now have access to bump stocks again. In the aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that killed dozens of people, the ATF issued a rule that said rifles equipped with bump stocks should fall under the legal definition of machine guns, which have been banned since 1986. The Supreme Court decision did away with the bump stock ban, eradicating one of the few existing gun control measures in the U.S. Read the opinion here. Abortion pill access Cases consolidated into one: FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine; Danco Laboratories, LLC v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Decided: June 13, 2024 Case argued: March 26, 2024 The ruling: In a 9-0 unanimous decision, the justices tossed out a lawsuit that challenged the Food and Drug Administration's guidelines allowing mifepristone, a widely used abortion drug, to be prescribed via telemedicine and accessed through the mail. What it means: If the Supreme Court would have ruled against the FDA, restrictions on mifepristone would have reverted back to what they were when the drug was approved in 2000. But since the Supreme Court tossed the case, prescriptions will still be allowed during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy and the medication can still be prescribed over telehealth visits and be delivered by mail in states that allow it. The ruling comes nearly two years after the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion established by Roe v. Wade. As a result of that historic decision, over a dozen states now have near-total abortion bans in place. Read the opinion here. If voters of every gender dont make abortion rights their No. 1 issue this November, our country is headed down a dark road from which it will take decades to recover. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision on Thursday to formally dismiss an appeal on Idahos abortion ban is only a temporary delay in the far-rights attempt to completely ban abortion in America, and keep women and pregnant people under the thumb of conservative moral values, instead of providing them desperate, life-saving medical care. Opinion The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or the EMTALA, requires federally-funded hospitals to provide emergency, stabilizing care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. However, the federal law was in direct opposition to the total abortion ban passed by the state of Idaho after the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Everyone should have access to the care they need in an emergency, and that includes abortion care. Idahos abortion ban left hospitals and patients without this option, in direct violation of the EMTALA. For 40 years, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act has played an essential role in helping to stabilize pregnant people facing medical emergencies. With as many as 15% of pregnancies experiencing potentially life-threatening conditions, it is critically important that states with abortion bans are not allowed to endanger the lives of pregnant people by denying them the emergency care they need, wrote the California Medical Association in a statement. The Biden Administration sued Idaho and the state appealed to the Supreme Court this week, where it was decided in a 6-3 judgment that the justices would not hear the case. The decision effectively prolongs a lower courts decision to overturn the states ban until the matter can be settled, meaning abortions can be performed in Idaho despite the states ban. On its face, this decision looks like a win for abortion rights. But it isnt. It merely kicks the issue back to a lower appeals court where the ban will almost certainly be reinstituted, and Idahos pregnant population will once again soon need to find proper medical care many miles from home. Hospitals must be able to provide emergency abortions, and that decision must be the right of a pregnant person and their doctor not politicians. Anything less than total reproductive rights for Americas pregnant people is unacceptable. Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson said it best in her scathing dissent: How long must pregnant patients wait for an answer? she wrote. Will this Court just have a do-over, rehearing and rehashing the same arguments we are considering now, just at a comparatively more convenient point in time? Or maybe we will keep punting on this issue altogether, allowing chaos to reign wherever lower courts enable States to flagrantly undercut federal law, facilitating the suffering of people in need of urgent medical treatment. In the meantime, the Supreme Courts decision provides no clarity to Idaho doctors, as they work under shifting laws and legalities. The previous order from a trial judge that had blocked enforcement of Idahos abortion ban in medical emergencies will go back into effect, and pregnant people in Idaho with potential medical complications from their pregnancies will hopefully find some relief. But it will be short-lived. Because yet again, women and pregnant people have become the casualties of partisan politics and policies ultimately designed to give a clump of cells more rights than a living, breathing human, in the name of a religion that many do not even believe in. Americans are living in a theocracy when it comes to reproductive rights. If we do not elect a Congress that is willing to bring forward protections for its people, then this nation is destined to kill many more women and pregnant people in the coming years. That the text of the decision was leaked (yet again) on the Supreme Courts website on Wednesday before it was officially announced the next day just hours before the first presidential debate is surely not coincidental. Reproductive rights must be the top issue for voters in every state this election year. Make no mistake about it: The hell that pregnant people now find themselves in is a direct consequence of former President Donald Trumps first-term policies and the federal and supreme court judges his administration appointed. A second Trump term would be devastating for women, for mothers, for pregnant people and for families. A vote for Trump this November is a vote against mercy and sanity. Voters need only look to Idaho and Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas and Indiana, to name just a few to see the deadly limbo that awaits us if we continue in this way. Capitol rioters could get convictions overturned and reduced prison sentences now that the U.S. Supreme Court decided Friday that federal prosecutors should not have charged defendants under a certain federal law unless they destroyed or attempted to impair necessary records or documents. Three Sacramento-area defendants were convicted on the felony charge at the center of the arguments, obstructing an official proceeding, in connection to disrupting the certification of 2020 presidential election results. One of the Sacramento-area rioters is also serving time for impeding police officers on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of former President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced Congress to evacuate and delay certifying the 2020 election for about six hours. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision Friday that included conservatives and liberals, ruled that the felony charge at the center of the case should only be applied to destroying or attempting to destroy records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding. The case, Fischer v. United States, questioned whether federal prosecutors should have used the obstruction charge which, before being used against Jan. 6 rioters, was mainly used against people tampering with business records. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. He was joined by most conservatives and Biden-appointee Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson who, in a separate opinion agreeing with the majority, said Jan. 6 defendants could still face charges under the law if they attempted to impair the availability or integrity of things used during the January 6 proceeding, such as electoral vote certificates. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the dissent, joined by two of the courts liberals, in which she said the majority did textual backflips to narrow the scope of the federal law in question. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Overall, however, Roberts wrote, Prosecutors have to prove that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects or other things used in an office proceeding, or attempted to do so. More than 355 of the 1,424 Capitol riot defendants have been charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Sacramento-area defendants convicted on obstruction Jorge Aaron Riley, who was among the first to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, was sentenced in September 2023 to 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Riley, 46, pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding last year and did not appeal his conviction or sentence, in accordance with his plea agreement. A federal judge also ordered him to pay a $100 fine and $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol. The Sacramento Army veteran has a release date in November, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Tim Zandel, a veteran Sacramento defense attorney who represented Riley, said in a phone call on Friday that he would be working to get Riley out of prison and ask the court to overturn his conviction. Sean Michael McHugh, who used bear spray on police officers and encouraged rioters onward with a megaphone, was sentenced to 78 months 6 years in prison, a federal judge decided in September 2023. McHugh, 37, also got three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol. McHugh, a construction worker from Auburn, has a release date in December 2026, according to BOP. He appealed. His case was on hold pending the outcome of this Supreme Court case. The federal defender listed for his appeal did not respond to an email for comment when the court heard arguments in April, nor did she immediately respond after the court released its ruling on Friday. McHugh was convicted in April 2023 of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon and obstruction of an official proceeding. He was held in custody since May 27, 2021, with some of that time served offsetting his prison sentence. Tommy Frederick Allan, who scaled the Capitol on a rope and stole an American flag and documents from the Senate chamber, was sentenced in December 2022 to 21 months in prison and three years probation. A federal judge also ordered him to pay a $100 fine and $2,000 to the Architect of the Capitol. Allan, 56, was released from prison in May, according to BOP. He had pleaded guilty in August 2022 to obstructing an official proceeding and waived his right to appeal. Lawyers who had represented him didnt respond to an email seeking comment in April. They did not immediately respond after the court released the decision on Friday. What was the Supreme Court case about? Fischer v. United States got its start in March 2022 when a district court judge dismissed federal obstruction charges against three Jan. 6 defendants, including Joseph W. Fischer, a former police officer from Pennsylvania. Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, said the charge only applied if the defendant took action against a document, record, or other object to impede an official proceeding. The charge of obstructing an official proceeding became law through the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The law was written in response to major U.S. accounting and corporate scandals notably when the Enron energy companys auditing firm destroyed potentially incriminating documents about widespread fraud within Enron. That statute carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, all appointed by Democratic presidents, in a 2-1 decision reversed the the district courts opinion, saying the text broadened past the destruction of records. The defendants appealed that decision to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, in its decision on Friday, directed the lower court to hold further proceedings on whether Fischer could still be prosecuted under its interpretation of the law. A lawyer for the Jan. 6 defendants, Jeffrey T. Green, had argued before the Supreme Court in April that the law narrowly applies to the destruction of records, documents or other objects not physically disrupting Congress. Meanwhile U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, on behalf of the government, said the ask and answer was simple: Did people obstruct an official proceeding? Yes, she said. Prelogar said that lawyers for the Jan. 6 defendants was trying to limit the scope of the statute by combining two adjacent parts of it. While the Supreme Court was considering the case, some federal judges delayed sentencing Jan. 6 defendants. The ruling might affect Trump in the federal case that accuses him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. | Julio Cortez Efforts to prosecute the men and women who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, grew more complicated on Friday when the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the law being used in many of the cases against protesters is likely being misapplied. The law in question prohibits destroying official records in the process of disrupting an official proceeding. The court has now said that if theyre going to cite this policy in a case against protesters, prosecutors must establish that the protesters actually impaired the availability or integrity of physical evidence. The new ruling ensures that the policy is not overinterpreted into a one-size-fits-all solution to obstruction of justice, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion. Roberts was joined in the majority by four of his fellow conservatives and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote a dissent, which was joined by liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Barrett argued that the majority opinion is illogical, since the protester at the center of the Supreme Court case, Joseph Fischer, is believed to have done almost exactly what the statute in question describes. Barrett wrote, The Court does not dispute that Congresss joint session (on Jan. 6, 2021) qualifies as an official proceeding; that rioters delayed the proceeding; or even that Fischers alleged conduct was part of a successful effort to forcibly halt the certification of the election results. Given these premises, the case that Fischer can be tried for obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding seems open and shut. So why does the Court hold otherwise? To be clear, the Supreme Court did not give Fischer a get-out-of-jail-free card on Friday. His case, as well as cases against others believed to have violated the law when they rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, is still active. But now, it will be reconsidered by the lower courts in light of the majoritys narrower interpretation of the obstruction law. Fridays ruling will likely affect an ongoing case against former President Donald Trump who, among other charges, has been accused of obstructing the certification of the 2020 election, as the Deseret News previously reported. The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Courts decision in Fischer v. United States : https://t.co/VpQleUTKPa pic.twitter.com/mlABwQG71Z U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 28, 2024 In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he was disappointed by the courts ruling but added that most cases against Jan. 6 rioters will not be affected. The vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged for their illegal actions on January 6 will not be affected by this decision. There are no cases in which the Department charged a January 6 defendant only with the offense at issue in Fischer. For the cases affected by todays decision, the Department will take appropriate steps to comply with the Courts ruling, Garland said. He continued, We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy. TALLAHASSEE The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld an Oregon citys ordinance that criminalizes people for sleeping in public spaces, and advocates fear it paves the way for jailing homeless people in Florida under a law that takes effect this year. Grants Pass, Oregon, adopted an ordinance fining or jailing people who camp on public property or sleep in their cars overnight in parks. In a 6-3 decision, justices ruled that those penalties do not amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment, regardless of whether a city has enough beds for homeless people. The ruling was one of the courts biggest decisions on homelessness in decades and could upend how states and communities grapple with a growing crisis caused by a lack of affordable housing. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers this year passed their own solution to homelessness. HB 1365 forbids cities and counties from allowing people to sleep or camp in public spaces beginning Oct. 1. While the law doesnt include a criminal penalty for homeless people, it also doesnt tell counties what to do with homeless people who are in violation. Under the law, it does tell counties they can create camps for homeless people away from neighborhoods and businesses approved by the Department of Children and Families. Most communities would have to offer security, sanitation and behavioral health services to people staying at the camps. The courts decision means counties can fine, arrest and jail homeless people in order to comply with the law, said Jesse Rabinowitz, communications and campaign director at the National Homelessness Law Center, which advocates to end homelessness. The decision, for Florida, paves the way for Florida to cause even more harm for homeless residents, Rabinowitz said. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, agreed. The U.S. Supreme Court has basically ruled that it is ok to punish poor people for being poor, Eskamani wrote on X. The House sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, said he doesnt believe the decision will lead to criminalizing homeless people. We will continue to work with all 67 counties in our state to support innovative solutions that simultaneously protect public spaces and respect the dignity of every human being, he said in a text message. The law has already prompted police action. For more than two months, the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office has led a multiagency effort to track where people are sleeping outside and the number of people at each location. Officers and social workers are using the list to approach homeless people to educate them and provide them with legal options, a spokesperson said. Homelessness has become a national problem attributed to a lack of affordable housing. Communities in Florida have taken different approaches to address it, including blasting public parks with annoying music and banning panhandling. Last year, Miami Beach started arresting homeless people who refuse to go to a shelter. That effort has ramped up this year amid growing pressure from elected officials to decrease the citys unsheltered homeless population, the Miami Herald reported. The legislation DeSantis approved this year was supported by the Texas-based Cicero Institute, a think tank created by the Austin, Texas-based venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale, who supported DeSantis failed presidential campaign. Critics of the Florida legislation noted that it didnt come with much money to help counties deal with the issue. Lawmakers assigned an additional $10 million to the effort, but DeSantis also vetoed $4.2 million in various homeless programs across the state from the upcoming budget. Ed Johnson, the lead counsel in the Oregon case, said arresting people creates more homelessness, and he urged local officials not to start arresting people after Fridays decision. Telling people that youre going to police your way out of this crisis is a phony fix, Johnson said. It gives elected officials something to tell impatient voters, but I dont think anybody really believes itll work. The Supreme Court just ended Chevron. What does that mean and how far will its impact reach? The Supreme Courts decision to scale back the authority of federal agencies means regulations and rules for the environment, health care, financial services, food safety, transportation and more could be dramatically altered moving forward. Fridays decision, ushered by the conservative arm of the court, overturns a 40-year precedent that allowed federal agencies to defer to their own expertise when interpreting ambiguous language, known as the Chevron deference. Now, agencies will have to turn to Congress or the courts for guidance. Experts are expecting far-reaching repercussions that could cause large delays in implementing rules and regulations since Congress will now have to understand complex issues and decide how to proceed. In the past, the agencies could decide how to handle enforcement or regulatory issues themselves. Organizations that rely on federal agencys guidance are warning about the potential for their respective industry. Environmental Policies set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at reducing climate change will most likely see a significant rollback under the new standard. Already, the federal agency has faced difficulties implementing rules to reduce air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions in Congress and the courts. This is yet another blow to the EPAs ability to tackle emerging problems like climate change, Cara Horowtiz, an environmental lawyer, said in a statement. She added, By eliminating the duty of federal courts to defer to agencies in areas where the law is ambiguous about how to handle new or emerging threats, the Supreme Court takes more tools out of the toolbox of our federal regulators." Policies set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency aimed at reducing climate change will most likely see a significant rollback under the new standard from the Supreme Court (Getty Images) Public health Healthcare organizations fear that without the protections of Chevron could cause significant disruptions to publicly-funded health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid by allowing courts or Congress to decide how those programs are funded or administered. Large health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, as well as issues related to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, are extremely complex, so it is key that decisions about how to interpret and implement relevant laws are made by experts at government agencies, a statement from the American Public Health Association and 17 other groups said. Yet todays majority opinion explicitly ends the use of this sensible doctrine, the statement continued. Agencies that have been subject to political controversy like the Centers for Disease Control or Food and Drug Adminstraiton will be forced to listen to Congress when determining what they can or cannot do. Healthcare organizations fear that without the protections of Chevron could cause significant disruptions to publicly-funded health programs (AFP via Getty Images) Financial sector The elimination of Chevron could open the door for a slew of legal challenges to financial regulations set by the Securities Exchange Commission, IRS, Treasury and more. For example, the decision could lead to challenges in IRS oversight, according to Kiplinger. The new regulations could make IRS tax compliance and enforcement more difficult as the agency will have to seek Congressional guidance on how to handle those issues. Some financial groups that advocate for a more fiscally conservative agenda welcomed Fridays decision. The National Taxpayers Union Foundation said in a statement that it would level the playing field for taxpayers and government agencies. Unreasonable IRS interpretations will no longer automatically win in court, which is as it should be, and reasonable interpretations will still have the force of law, Joe Bishop-Henchman, vice president of the group, said. The courts decision could also make it more difficult for regulatory authorities to quickly enact rules that address timely issues - such as cryptocurrency regulation. Some financial groups that advocate for a more fiscally conservative agenda welcomed Fridays decision to limit agency oversight, such as those from the IRS (AP) Labor unions Labor boards have relied heavily on Chevron to issue guidance and enact protections for workers. But under the new ruling, workers boards such as the National Labor Relations Board will most likely have to turn to judges to issue case decisions and interpret rules. The American Federation of Teachers, the countrys second-largest educators union, blasted the decision. The Supreme Courts shameful decision turns democracy on its head. It fundamentally changes the role of unelected judges from interpreters of law to makers of lawand there is nothing in the Constitution that warrants that. By eliminating deference to public agencies, the court has undermined the ability of experts to set strong rules to protect consumers, workers and the public from corporations and other lawbreakers, President Randi Weingarten said. This decision has real-life consequences for American families. It shifts power away from agencies with public-focused missions toward courtrooms and corporate lawyers adept at poking holes in regulations. It injects legal uncertainty into areas like workplace safety rules, overtime pay policies and collective bargaining rights interpretationsall of which have long relied on agencies Chevron-backed expertise. It will make it easier for employers to steal wages from their workers, and it could stop the Department of Health and Human Services from directly negotiating prescription drug prices for Medicare. The Supreme Court just made it easier for governments to remove unhoused people from public spaces The Supreme Court just made it easier for governments to remove unhoused people from public spaces The Supreme Court overturned a Ninth Circuit ruling restricting the removal of homeless encampments. Governments can now bar people from sleeping on the street, even when shelter beds aren't available. Homeless rights advocates argue that criminalizing homelessness won't solve the issue. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that it's constitutional for local governments to make it illegal to sleep in public places, even when there aren't sufficient shelter beds. The case City of Grants Pass v. Johnson is the most consequential the court has decided dealing with homelessness in decades. The majority opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was joined by the Court's five other conservatives. The three liberal justices dissented. The case comes out of Grants Pass, Oregon, where local officials were prevented from clearing a homeless encampment by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rulings in Martin v. Boise and Johnson v. Grants Pass requiring local governments to have sufficient shelter beds available before forcing unhoused people off the streets. The appeals court which controls nine western states, including California decided in both cases that barring people from sleeping in public spaces without providing alternative shelter violates the Eighth Amendment's protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court's conservative majority disagreed. Gorsuch argued that policy responses to homelessness should be left up to policymakers and voters, writing that "a handful of federal judges" cannot "begin to 'match' the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding 'how best to handle' a pressing social question like homelessness." In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, called criminalizing unhoused people for sleeping outdoors "unconscionable and unconstitutional." They argued that not having a place to call home is a state of being, rather than a choice. "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option," wrote Sotomayor, who read her dissent from the bench. "The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless." State and federal court cases on the legality of clearing homeless encampments reflect a debate between some governments who say they need more authority to protect public safety and address homelessness and advocates who argue authorities are exacerbating the problem by criminalizing homelessness. Homeless rights activists held a rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court on April 22, 2024, the day the court heard oral argument in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images While conservatives have led the charge in pushing to overturn the Ninth Circuit's decision, some prominent Democratic leaders, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also pushed to overturn the 9th Circuit ruling. California which is home to 12% of the US population has struggled to deal with rapidly rising homelessness and is now home to 30% of people experiencing homelessness and half of the unsheltered population in the US. In an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court, Newsom argued that the 9th Circuit ruling forces local elected officials "to abandon efforts to make the spaces occupied by unhoused people safer for those within and near them." An increasing number of cities and states across the country have passed laws often anti-camping ordinances similar to that in Grants Pass. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in March that bans people from camping in public places. Critics say the state isn't providing enough funding for services, including shelters and addiction treatment. Critics say criminalizing homelessness doesn't address its root causes and actually makes the problem worse. "If you are living outside and are impoverished, a ticket or a fee is probably something you can't afford, and then you have unpaid tickets, which impacts your credit rating, which makes it harder to find a place to live," Jesse Rabinowitz, communications director at the National Homelessness Law Center, previously told Business Insider. "Or you get arrested and then you have a criminal record, which both makes it harder to get a job and harder to get an apartment." There are several proven pathways to alleviating homelessness, including, most importantly, building more housing. Researchers say other key policy solutions include removing barriers to shelter construction and tenants' rights, creating crisis response systems that don't involve the police, strengthening housing and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people, and increasing government support of public spaces. Read the original article on Business Insider BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 28. The Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Parliament has approved a draft law in its first reading to ratify agreements with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the "Financing Affordable Housing According to Sharia Standards" project, Trend reports. These agreements were signed on April 26, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sanzhar Bolotov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce, presented the project, emphasizing its aim to construct housing and offer mortgage products based on Islamic financing principles. These will benefit citizens of Kyrgyzstan participating in the state housing program "My Home 2021-2026." Bolotov noted that Kyrgyzstan has secured concessional financing of $79 million from the IsDB. These funds are earmarked for constructing 112,000 square meters of housing across all regions of the country. The State Mortgage Company will manage the allocated financial resources, ensuring land plots and financing the construction of affordable housing nationwide. This housing will be available for lease with an option for subsequent purchase, along with issuing mortgages based on Islamic financing principles to Kyrgyz citizens. The cost of mortgage housing under this initiative is set at $650 per square meter. The Supreme Court on Friday disrupted the balance of power in Washington, D.C., by overturning a 40-year-old precedent protecting federal agencies work. The precedent, called the Chevron doctrine, instructed judges across the country to defer to federal agencies interpretation of the laws passed by Congress even when the agencies rules had no clear basis in the written text. Fridays ruling puts the onus on Congress to pass clearer, more specific policies, and gives individual Americans, as well as companies or religious organizations, more power to challenge the federal rules they take issue with. But it also gives more power to judges to interpret challenged policies on everything from health care to natural resources to religious freedom, judges who typically wont know nearly as much about these topics as federal officials. Supreme Court overturns Chevron doctrine The Supreme Courts six more conservative justices formed the majority in the courts two Chevron cases, while the three more liberal justices worked together on a dissent. Justices in the majority said that, as its been applied over time, the Chevron doctrine has led the legal system further and further away from the true meaning of the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the work of federal agencies. The deference that Chevron requires of courts reviewing agency action cannot be squared with the APA, wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion. The dissent from Justice Elena Kagan, which was joined in full by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and in part by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (who had to recuse herself from one of the two cases because she heard it while serving on the D.C. Circuit), argued that Fridays ruling will make the federal government less effective. Congress knows that it does not in fact cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes. It knows that those statutes will inevitably contain ambiguities that some other actor will have to resolve, and gaps that some other actor will have to fill. And it would usually prefer that actor to be the responsible agency, not a court, Kagan wrote. Kagan added that Fridays ruling will disrupt four decades of legal work, potentially throwing all sorts of past rulings related to Chevron deference into question. Shifting views about the worth of regulatory actors and their work do not justify overhauling a cornerstone of administrative law, she wrote. Roberts attempted to address this concern in the majority opinion, arguing that the courts new interpretive methodology does not justify reopening old debates. We do not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron framework. The holdings of those cases that specific agency actions are lawful including the Clean Air Act holding of Chevron itself are still subject to statutory stare decisis despite our change in interpretive methodology, the majority opinion said. Roberts also reflected on the concern that Fridays ruling will take power away from policy experts and give it to judges who may know a lot about the law but little about the ins and outs of the fishing industry or the Food and Drug Administrations approach to vetting new drugs. He said that, moving forward, judges role will not be to create new laws but to decide whether federal agencies have stayed within their lane. When a particular statute delegates authority to an agency consistent with constitutional limits, courts must respect the delegation, while ensuring that the agency acts within it. But courts need not and under the APA may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous, the majority opinion said. Fishermen lawsuit Fridays ruling resolved two cases brought by commercial fishermen. The fishermen had challenged the Chevron doctrine as they fought against a rule requiring them to transport and pay researchers who were tasked by the government to research overfishing, as the Deseret News previously reported. The fishermen lost at the appellate level because of the 1984 Chevron ruling. Judges cited it while deferring to federal officials interpretation of a fishing-related law called the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The fishermen appealed to the Supreme Court, asking them to overturn the Chevron doctrine and rule in their favor. On Friday, thats exactly what the court did. The Supreme Court issued three more opinions on Friday, marking the first time the justices have weighed in on the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Chief Justice John Roberts also announced that this coming Monday, July 1, will be the final day the court will issue opinions for this term including the highly anticipated decision on former President Donald Trumps claims of immunity from criminal prosecution Heres a roundup of the decisions that dropped today, June 28. Supreme Court makes it harder to charge Jan. 6 defendants with obstruction Case: Fischer v. United States How the justices ruled and what it means: The Supreme Court has made it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction a charge that was also brought against former President Donald Trump following the events of Jan. 6, 2021. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled because there was no proof the rioters tried to tamper with or destroy documents, they did not qualify for the obstruction charge. This is the first time the justices weighed in on the events associated with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. More than 750 people have been sentenced for their involvement in the Jan 6. riots. Out of that number, around 50 were convicted with obstruction as the only felony count, which means they will likely be most affected by the ruling. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito declined to recuse himself from this case and former president Trumps presidential immunity case tied to Jan. 6 after Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin called on him to do so following reports that flags were flown at his homes that symbolized support for Trumps challenge to the 2020 election. Some background: Joseph Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer, attended the rally outside of the Capitol building on Jan. 6 and was subsequently prosecuted for obstructing a Congress proceeding as well as assaulting a police officer. However, Fischer and several other defendants claimed they did not qualify for the charge under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the federal law that criminalizes efforts to obstruct any official proceeding. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act was initially intended for financial misdeeds, but the DOJ argued Jan. 6 rioters violated this law when they attempted to impede Congresss certification of electoral votes on Jan. 6, which it considers an official proceeding. Hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who have already been convicted and sentenced under the federal law challenged in the case the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will have to be resentenced. Every Jan. 6 defendant currently charged under the obstruction statute is also facing charges for other crimes, so the Justice Departments cases wont be completely upended for any individuals, according to the New York Times. Trump has also been charged with two counts of obstructing and conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding under this same federal law, which means Trumps legal team can now dispute the charges against him in the federal Jan. 6 criminal case. Notable opinion quotes: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said in her concurring majority opinion that despite the shocking circumstances involved in this case, the Courts task is to determine what conduct is proscribed by the criminal statute that has been invoked as the basis for the obstruction charge at issue here. Cities can punish homeless people for sleeping in public places Case: City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson How the justices ruled and what it means: In a 6-3 decision, the justices reversed a ruling from a San Francisco-based appeals court that found public sleeping bans were a form of cruel and unusual punishment. They found it is not a violation of the Eighth Amendment for localities across the country to criminalize those who are involuntarily homeless from camping and sleeping in public, even when shelters are full or unavailable and theres nowhere else for them to go. Some background: The case stems from ordinances in the city of Grants Pass, Ore., which has up to around 600 homeless people out of a population of about 38,000. The number of homeless people also exceeds the amount of shelter beds, forcing people to sleep in parks or on public property. The city ordinances prevent the homeless from using a pillow, blanket or cardboard box inside the citys limits to protect them from the elements. Violations of these ordinances can lead to hundreds of dollars in fines. Multiple violations can ban individuals from city property and they may be criminally charged if found trespassing. The city of Grants Pass argues that other cities nationwide rely on such ordinances and camping laws to protect its public spaces. The challengers, who are three people homeless in Grants Pass, argue that those who are involuntarily homeless face criminal punishment based on their housing status. The Associated Press reported in December that the U.S. reached record-high numbers of homelessness, due to factors like soaring rents and the decline of pandemic financial assistance. Read more from Yahoo News: Should cities be allowed to punish people for sleeping on the street? Notable opinion quote: Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority, Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. A handful of federal judges cannot begin to match the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding how best to handle a pressing social question like homelessness. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of three dissenters, wrote, It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people and our constitutional principles. Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. Court overturns 1984 ruling that weakens federal regulators Case: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo How the justices ruled and what it means: In a 6-3 vote, the justices overturned a 40-year-old ruling colloquially known as the Chevron deference that made it easier for federal agencies to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety and consumer protections when laws are considered too ambiguous. Some background: In 1984, a unanimous 6-0 Supreme Court decision found that in the case of Chevron v. The Natural Resources Defense Council, when a statute is ambiguous, the courts should defer to reasonable federal agency interpretations of what it means. Congress would enact broader regulatory rules and those federal agencies would fill in the gaps. Chevron isnt invoked often in the Supreme Court, the last time being in 2016. The case was brought on by a group of commercial fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged daily fees that could cost up to $700 a day to pay for government-mandated officers to track their fish intake. These officers would monitor the collections and data on board the fishermens boats which would ultimately help shape regulations. The fishermen argued in their case that Congress never told federal regulators to enact this extra fee to pay for third-party monitors on the boats. Read more about the fishermens case from the Associated Press: Justices to consider case involving fishing boat monitor pay Environmental and health advocacy groups are among those that have urged the court to leave the decision in place. Gun, e-cigarette, farm and timber groups were among the businesses that supported overturning and will probably financially benefit from the courts decision. Notable opinion quotes: Justice Elena Kagan, part of the dissent, wrote that the 1984 Chevron deference has become part of the warp and woof of modern government, supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds to name a few, keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe and financial markets honest." Kagan added: "In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden involving the meaning of regulatory law. The Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities can ticket homeless people for camping in public even when there is no alternative shelter available, a decision that could drastically alter the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans without a permanent place to live. The justices sided 6-3 with the Oregon city of Grants Pass, which had asked the high court to review a lower courts decision blocking the enforcement of a public camping ordinance after determining that banning camping where shelter beds were limited amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Grants Pass officials argued that the restrictions imposed by the decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals prevented them from implementing common sense laws against camping in certain public places. The justices agreed. Yes, people will disagree over which policy responses are best; they may experiment with one set of approaches only to find later another set works better; they may find certain responses more appropriate for some communities than others, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority. But in our democracy, that is their right. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy, he continued. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, sharply rebuked the majoritys decision, suggesting it focused almost exclusively on local governments needs while leaving the most vulnerable in our society with a choice between staying awake or being arrested. She read her dissent from the bench. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless, Sotomayor said of the citys law. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment. Justice Clarence Thomas, in a brief concurring opinion, wrote that modern public opinion is the wrong metric with which to interpret the Eighth Amendment clause, claiming that many of the high courts other precedents under the amendment make the same mistake. The Grants Pass anti-camping law would fine homeless people $295 per night for sleeping in the citys public parks. Attorneys representing the citys homeless population had argued that allowing the rule to stand would essentially criminalize the existence of homeless people. During oral arguments in April, the justices acknowledged the complicated issue of homelessness in the U.S. Sotomayor raised that sleeping is a biological necessity and that some people may be forced to do it outside if other shelter isnt available, a concern she reiterated in her dissent. Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether ticketing people for sleeping outside helps solve the issue if there isnt an alternative. And Justice Neil Gorsuch pointed to the sanitary risk posed by allowing encampments to stand. Theane Evangelis, who represented Grants Pass, said in a statement that the Supreme Courts decision delivered urgent relief to communities that have struggled to address the growing problem of dangerous encampments. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Rates of homelessness remain at record-high levels as housing prices continue to soar. There are about 650,000 homeless people in the country, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with about a third of them living on the West Coast. The justices previously declined to consider a similar appeal of the lower courts 2019 ruling, which found that sleeping outdoors on public property when there is no option to sleep indoors cant be criminalized on the false premise they had a choice in the matter. The Associated Press contributed. Updated at 10:43 a.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 Queen City News. Sleeping on public property can be a crime if you're homeless, Supreme Court says Advocates for unhoused people warn the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in a major case on camping bans will make the homeless crisis worse, forcing more people into a cycle of jail, debt and living on the streets. On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Grants Pass, Oregon, a small city with a large homeless population. The justices said the town can go ahead with its ban on sleeping in public with bedding, which will prohibit unhoused people from living in public parks, according to lawyers supporting Grants Pass who spoke with USA TODAY. People who violate the ban will face fines and possibly jail time. In their 6-3 decision, justices said enforcing a camping ban is not equal to cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling overturned a lower court ruling that kept the ban from being enforced. This is a pretty hard blow and its devastating, said Helen Cruz, 49, who gives meals to unhoused people in parks in Grants Pass and has advocated against the sleeping ban for years. She's been homeless herself for most of her adult life, she said. Recently, she has been able to live in a church where she does volunteer work. Speaking after the ruling's release Friday, Cruz told USA TODAY the decision was the worst possible outcome the hundreds of people living outside in Grants Pass could have imagined. These people who have had nothing had one glimmer of hope, and now its been stripped from them. How far down can you beat somebody who has nothing? I dont understand," Cruz said, speaking through tears. National homelessness advocates also said Friday the court's ruling was a huge disappointment. "We are incredibly disappointed and we're worried about how quickly some communities will move to enact local ordinances that are now legal under this ruling," said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Since 2018, cities in much of the western U.S. couldn't enforce 24-hour bans on sleeping in public, a dilemma they said made it harder to clear large tent encampments. Now, some of the cities with the largest numbers of unsheltered homeless populations in the country Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle are free to pass new laws to prevent people from sleeping outside. Theane Evangelis, the lawyer who argued the case for Grants Pass, said Friday the court's ruling comes as "urgent relief" for cities struggling to control homeless encampments. "Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis," Evangelis said in a statement. Policy experts who supported Grants Pass in the case said the Supreme Court's decision was a victory for local governments across the country. "The court made the right decision to not become micromanagers of local homeless policy across the entire United States of America," said Judge Glock, director of research at the Manhattan Institute, a think tank supporting individual freedom and the rule of law that submitted documents to the Supreme Court in support of Grants Pass. In Oregon, a 2021 state law means unhoused residents in Grants Pass and throughout the state will have some protections in the face of 24-hour sleeping bans, but cities can still move forward with stricter camping rules after the Supreme Court on Friday reversed a low court decision. Oral arguments What justices said in court as they heard Grants Pass v. Johnson The town of Grants Pass is at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case over whether unsheltered, unhoused people can be criminalized for living outside in situations where their city/town/municipality lacks enough shelter beds for everyone. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments for the case, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, on April 22, 2024. Grants Pass Mayor Sara Bristol said she is glad the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city. She told USA TODAY she and the city council will begin reviewing the decision and state law to figure out how to move forward. "I'm relieved that Grants Pass will be able to reclaim our city parks for recreation," Bristol said. She also said she acknowledges homelessness is a "complex issue" for which her city has "been trying to find solutions." One solution was to launch a sanctioned campsite or open a new shelter, but both received pushback from the city. Ruth Sears, who owns a dance studio building next to what was a planned shelter in downtown Grants Pass, said the court's ruling won't do anything to solve homelessness in her city. I dont see how its really going to help, unless their thought is theyll go someplace else, which is obviously not a real good answer for the homeless people," Sears, 72, said. Legal experts on the side of homeless plaintiffs in the case worry that more cities will pass similar bans, leaving unhoused people with fewer jurisdictions where they can legally live outside. "What if every jurisdiction passes these laws? You'll probably see them sweeping across the nation," said David Peery, a lawyer with the National Coalition for the Homeless in Florida. The fines that will come as a result of camping and sleeping bans will only prolong people's homelessness because debt and a criminal record will make it harder for them to secure jobs and housing, Oliva said. We know they cant pay those tickets," Oliva added. Make them cook. Make them do laundry. They dont know what it feels like, said Kimberly Morris who puts away her dishes in her tent in Tussing Park on April 10, 2024 in Grants Pass, Ore. Homeless in Grants Pass How one woman's homeless story fits into the national debate Grants Pass had already been issuing fines and enforcing a law that prohibits people from setting up tents in the same spot indefinitely, and now officials have more leeway to crack down on people living outside. This decision by the Supreme Court will only make the homeless crisis worse, said Eric Tars, the Legal Director for the National Homeless Law Center. "Harmful approaches like criminalization are a crutch to avoid dealing with their affordable housing problems," Tars said. Similarly, Oliva called camping bans a "fake solution" to the crisis playing out in homeless encampments nationwide. Advocates say cities should focus on affordable housing On Friday, Oliva said local mayors and city councils across the country must remember that they serve the needs of unhoused communities, as well as housed constituents who want the homelessness crisis solved. Local elected officials should build more shelters and connect unhoused people with more services through outreach, Oliva said, rather than crack down harder on people in encampments by passing new sleeping bans. "Housing-focused shelter and outreach will keep people safe and healthy as possible while we are building more affordable housing for people that's the path forward," Oliva said. Tars called the court's ruling "heartbreaking." "But we are not done fighting," he told USA TODAY. What did the court debate during oral arguments? During oral arguments on April 22, the justices wrestled with the question of whether being homeless is an unavoidable status, or if sleeping outside is conduct that comes as a result of not having a home. The justices said it would make more sense for local and state governments to make choices about homelessness policy, rather than having the country's highest court wade into the debate. In April, some of the justices also wondered if the court could narrowly decide the issue by saying that the Grants Pass sleeping ban isn't allowed under a new Oregon law prohibiting 24-hour bans. What was the Grants Pass case about? Grants Pass v. Johnson pitted the homeless population of Grants Pass, Oregon, a town of about 40,000 against local officials, who said they wanted to regain control of public parks, where about 600 unhoused people live in tents, under tarps and sleep on tables and benches. Most of the unhoused people living outside in Grants Pass first became homeless as the price of homes skyrocketed over the last couple decades, according to the public defender who first took the case, Ed Johnson, who is not related to the named plaintiff in the case, Gloria Johnson. The city wanted to permanently clear people out of parks, but said it couldn't because a 2022 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision ruled homeless people in places without enough shelter beds have an Eighth Amendment right not to face punishment for living outside and protecting themselves from the elements. There is no city-run shelter, only a church-run program for homeless people that includes a shelter that requires residents to work. Transitional housing, in the form of a tiny home village, opened in 2021, but there are only 17 slots. Due to a lack of affordable housing in Grants Pass, turnover at the facility is low, service providers said. The mayor of Grants Pass and some city council members worked hard to try to launch a sanctioned campsite and open a new shelter, but multiple plans received too much pushback from the community and went sideways. As of this spring, the town had no more funds to try to create the shelter space needed for its unhoused population, Bristol previously told USA TODAY. "We need to help establish a place where people can legally sleep, and it's been a real uphill battle with all kinds of different challenges," Bristol said in April. To solve the problem of homeless encampments in public parks, lawyers for Grants Pass asked the Supreme Court in April to overturn the Ninth Circuit decision that protected unhoused people from facing punishment for sleeping outside. "The Ninth Circuit ties cities' hands by constitutionalizing the policy debate over how to address growing encampments," Evangelis said in April, arguing before the Supreme Court for Grants Pass. Contributing: Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court decision on homeless could lead to more criminalization Supreme Court makes prosecution of Trump on obstruction charge more difficult, with ruling to narrowly define law used against him and Jan. 6 rioters The indictments and in some cases, the convictions of hundreds of people charged with participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, will have to be reconsidered, and possibly dropped, because of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 28, 2024. Among those charged using a broad interpretation of the obstruction law now narrowed by the high court: former President Donald Trump. In its decision in Fischer v. United States, the Supreme Court held that a federal statute that prohibits obstructing an official proceeding may not apply to three defendants who were charged with participating in the U.S. Capitol riot. Although former President Donald Trump is not a defendant in the case, special counsel Jack Smith has charged him separately with violating the same statute. As a law professor who teaches and writes in the fields of constitutional law and federal courts, Ill explain what the courts decision means for Jan. 6 defendants and for Smiths case against Trump. Charges against Capitol rioters According to their indictments, Joseph Fischer, Edward Lang and Garret Miller were present at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors say that all three men entered the Capitol building and assaulted police officers during the riot. One of the men, Lang, brandished a bat and a stolen police shield, and another, Miller, later called for the assassination of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on social media. Federal prosecutors charged the three men with various crimes, including assault on a federal officer, disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds and obstructing a congressional proceeding. That last charge is the one at issue in the Supreme Court appeal. Before trial, the defendants argued that the law the prosecutors had used to charge them with obstruction applied only to evidence tampering, not the violent disruption of a congressional proceeding. The district court agreed and dismissed the charge, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed and sent the case back for trial. The Supreme Court then agreed to hear the case, putting the trial on hold while it considered the dispute over the scope of the obstruction law. Defining a catch-all term In a 6-3 opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Supreme Court agreed with the defendants and held that the statute prohibits only evidence tampering. It then sent the case back to the appeals court to decide whether the defendants violated the law under that narrower reading by trying to prevent Congress from receiving and certifying the states true electoral votes. The court began with the text of the obstruction law. The law penalizes anyone who alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object or who otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding. The government argued that the defendants had otherwise obstruct(ed) proceedings in Congress to certify the results of the 2020 election. But the court rejected that argument, holding that the phrase otherwise obstructs refers only to obstruction that like altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing a record, document or object impairs the availability or integrity of evidence for use in an official proceeding. The laws catch-all for otherwise obstructing an official proceeding must be read in common with the list of actions that precedes it, the court explained. Otherwise, the list would be redundant. The court also pointed to the laws historical background. Congress, the court explained, enacted this specific obstruction law in 2002 in the wake of the Enron accounting fraud scandal. Its aim was to fill a gap in the nations existing obstruction laws, which at the time prohibited directing a third party to destroy incriminating evidence but not destroying the evidence oneself. The governments reading of the law, the court explained, would stretch it far beyond that purpose, prohibiting forms of obstruction that had nothing to do with evidence and that Congress never intended to criminalize. What this means for Jan. 6 defendants and for Trump The Supreme Court, from left in front row: Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan; and from left in back row: Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Alex Wong/Getty Images The Supreme Courts decision does not end the case against the Fischer defendants, who will likely stand trial on their assault and disorderly conduct charges. But it may lead to the dismissal of obstruction charges, or reversal of obstruction convictions, for other Jan. 6 defendants. According to an NPR database, federal prosecutors have charged at least 250 other defendants with obstruction of an official proceeding, and 128 have been convicted. The ruling may also undermine special counsel Jack Smiths case against former President Donald Trump, whom Smith has charged with obstruction under the same law. If that case survives a separate pending Supreme Court appeal, the former president will likely seek dismissal of that charge. Trump may not succeed, however, as the obstruction charge against him is based in part on the allegation that he organized slates of electors to certify false election results to Congress. That may amount to impairing the integrity of the evidence used in the certification proceedings. And the obstruction charge is also not the only count the former president faces. But the ruling may narrow the case and make it more difficult for the special counsel to present evidence to the jury concerning the violence that occurred on Jan. 6. Under this new ruling, that violence alone may not count as obstruction. The Fischer case also shows how sometimes, especially in high-stakes cases, the justices can use methods of legal reasoning that they are quick to criticize in other contexts. In the opinion, members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority cited the legislative history of the obstruction law evidence that conservative jurists such as the late Justice Antonin Scalia often called unreliable. The Supreme Courts decision in the Fischer case may have a profound effect on the special counsels historic prosecution of former President Trump. But even if it does not, it still sheds important light on the courts inner workings and the federal governments power to safeguard the integrity of its proceedings. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Riley T. Keenan, University of Richmond Read more: Riley T. Keenan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The Supreme Court has made it harder for the government to charge participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection with obstructing an official proceeding. The decision, handed down on Friday, casts uncertainty over hundreds of charges brought against insurrectionists. Joseph Fischer, a now-former police officer who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, challenged a charge against him brought under a provision of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley accounting reform law that makes it illegal to obstruct an official proceeding. He argued the provision was meant to apply only to the obstruction of a proceeding by altering or destroying documents, and thus should not apply to the events of Jan. 6. The courts majority agreed. In a 6-3 ruling authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court declared that the government had an obligation to prove that a defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding, or attempted to do so. The ruling, however, saw something of an unusual ideological split: Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch joined the majority opinion, with liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson writing a concurrence. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, meanwhile, joined liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor in dissenting. The courts decision will likely lead to the dismissal of similar charges brought against other participants in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. About 170 participants in the attack have been convicted for obstructing an official proceeding. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, could also see his charge under this statute dismissed in the case brought by federal prosecutors for his role in and leading up to the events of Jan. 6. Trump would still face three other federal charges related to his effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump supporters occupy the West Front of the Capitol and the inauguration stands during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Bill Clark via Getty Images The decision hinged on the definition of the word otherwise in the statute in question. The full provision reads (emphasis added): (c) Whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. Fischer argued that otherwise should be read to mean similar to, while the government stated that otherwise meant in a different manner. If the word is read to mean similar to, then the provision about obstruction of an official proceeding should be read as flowing from and connected to the document-related language of the preceding line. This would require charges be brought only when a person obstructs an official proceeding by altering, destroying or mutilating records or documents. The governments reading of the statute, however, rejected the connection between the two lines. This had allowed charges to be brought against anyone who obstructed an official proceeding in any manner, regardless of whether it involved documents. The court ruled in favor of Fischers definition, saying the law was meant to close loopholes in criminal law banning evidence destruction, and that prior court precedents have defined otherwise in a similar manner. Guided by the basic logic that Congress would not go to the trouble of spelling out the list in (c)(1) if a neighboring term swallowed it up, the most sensible inference is that the scope of (c)(2) is defined by reference to (c)(1), Roberts wrote. If, as the Government asserts, (c)(2) covers all forms of obstructive conduct beyond Section 1512(c)(1)s focus on evidence impairment ... there would have been scant reason for Congress to provide any specific examples at all. The sweep of subsection (c)(2) would consume (c)(1), leaving that narrower provision with no work to do. The decision also questioned the potential ripple effect of the governments interpretation. [The governments] novel interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison, Roberts wrote. As the Solicitor General acknowledged at oral argument, under the Governments interpretation, a peaceful protester could conceivably be charged under 1512(c)(2) and face a 20-year sentence. In her concurring opinion, Jackson pushed a similar point. She wrote that it beggars belief that Congress would have inserted a breathtakingly broad, first-of-its-kind criminal obstruction statute (accompanied by a substantial 20-year maximum penalty) in the midst of a significantly more granular series of obstruction prohibitions without clarifying its intent to do sonot in the text of the provision itself, nor in the surrounding statutory context, nor in any statement issued during the enactment process. In a dissent joined by Kagan and Sotomayor, Barrett disagreed. While the dissent acknowledged that admittedly, events like January 6th were not its [the statutes] target, Barrett argued that it was understood that laws applied more broadly than the individual circumstance that had prompted their creation. She wrote that statutes often go further than the problem that inspired them, and under the rules of statutory interpretation, we stick to the text anyway. Fischer is not entirely off the hook. He still faces multiple charges for his Jan. 6 actions, including assaulting a police officer and disorderly conduct. The vast majority of insurrectionists charged under the statute also face other charges. The dismissal of Trumps charge could be complicated by the fact that he was directly involved in a scheme to obstruct documents: A key element of his attempt to overturn his reelection loss was the replacement of the real electoral votes cast in six swing states with fake elector slates during the counting of the votes on Jan. 6. Federal prosecutors could argue that Trump was explicitly involved in an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding by altering documents with the intent of impairing their availability during that proceeding in a way that individual insurrectionists were not. Trump claims the fake electors scheme was not a crime since states have sent multiple elector slates in the past when the outcome has been disputed. He also argued to the Supreme Court that he has an absolute immunity from prosecution for any official act done while he was in office. State prosecutors have charged 25 fake electors in three states for making false claims and submitting fraudulent documents. The Supreme Court on Friday narrowed an obstruction charge that had been used in the prosecution of hundreds of Jan. 6 insurrectionists and in the pending case against Donald Trump with an unusual configuration of justices. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority and Justice Amy Coney Barrett for the dissenters. In a twist, liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the rest of the conservatives in the majority, while Barrett was cabined with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. The case rested on a myopic, close reading of a statute used against Joseph Fischer, who allegedly breached the Capitol on Jan. 6. It reads: (c) Whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so, shall be finedor imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. The case hinges on the otherwise obstructs clause. The government argued that that section sweeps broadly enough to nab Fischer for attempting to prevent Congress certification of the Electoral College votes. The majority on Friday read the statute much more narrowly, ruling that it only applies to similar evidence destruction as described in the first clause. Jacksons joining with odd bedfellows in this case may speak to her background as a public defender and her inclination to read statutes used against criminal defendants narrowly. Here, it beggars belief that Congress would have inserted a breathtakingly broad, first-of-its-kind criminal obstruction statute (accompanied by a substantial 20-year maximum penalty) in the midst of a significantly more granular series of obstruction prohibitions without clarifying its intent to do so not in the text of the provision itself, nor in the surrounding statutory context, nor in any statement issued during the enactment process, she wrote. She added, though, that the certification of the Electoral College votes certainly involved records and documents, including the votes themselves. If Fischer attempted to impair those, she wrote, his conduct may still fall under this law even within the confined reading. Notably, this is similar to the argument Special Counsel Jack Smith made in his Trump case when the Fischer one was coming down the pike; even under a narrow reading of the obstruction statute, Trumps slates of fake electors put him squarely within this laws reach, he argued. Barrett comes down differently. Yes, the second section of the statute is sweeping, and Congress likely didnt imagine this use of it when it was legislating in the wake of the Enron scandal (who could blame Congress for that failure of imagination? she quipped). But thats how it is, she argued, and the Court doesnt get to retroactively change legislative intent just because the breadth of a statute makes it squeamish. There is no getting around it: Section 1512(c)(2) is an expansive statute, she wrote. Yet Congress, not this Court, weighs the pros and cons of whether a statute should sweep broadly or narrowly. The Court sent Fischers case back down for the lower courts to reexamine with this new understanding of the statute. How exactly itll intersect with the Trump case is yet to be seen; with one last decision day of the term, the Court has yet to release its ruling on the extent that Trump can claim presidential immunity to duck Smiths case. Read the ruling here: This embedded content is not available in your region. The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a serious blow to administrative law and overruled the Chevron doctrine, a long-standing safeguard for clarifying ambiguous laws. In a 63 decision, with all liberal justices dissenting, the court overturned decades of precedent, stripping power from federal agencies and empowering the judiciary. The Chevron doctrine, or Chevron deference, is a legal framework where courts traditionally defer the authority of interpreting an ambiguous federal statute to the federal agency in charge of overseeing that statute on the basis that the agency, not the courts, know best. Only when an agencys recommended interpretation of a vague statute passed by Congress fails to be a reasonable interpretation, under Chevron, do courts get to alter the law. Chevrons survival was brought to the Supreme Court in two cases heard jointly. Both cases deal with a regulation from the National Marine Fisheries Service that requires professional observers on fishing boats, with a vague statute that seems to state the owner of the fishing boat has to pay for those required observers. The cases seek to clarify that statute and to overturn Chevron, after lower courts upheld the rule and determined it was a reasonable interpretation. The Supreme Court during oral arguments seemed poised to throw out the Chevron doctrine or possibly limit its scope, which led tax experts to believe Chevron would get axed, according to the Journal of Accountancy. Speaking to the Journal, tax and technology attorney Andrew Leahey predicted the end of Chevron would prompt a sea of regulatory tax frameworks to be put on hold and litigated, with the added complications of expecting Congress to pass incredibly specific statutes, adding, This will be difficult in the current political environment, as getting anything done in Congress is a chore. Justice Brett Kavanaugh argued that the interpretation of agency regulations varies every four to eight years when a new administration comes in, causing shocks to the system. In the decision delivered on Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts delivered a lengthy history of administrative law before arguing that federal agencies with specific expertise about the best way to implement unclear laws have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do. Opposing the decision, Justice Elena Kagan issued a strong warning about the Supreme Courts judicial overreach in overturning the Chevron doctrine. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law, wrote Kagan. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar. It defends that move as one (suddenly) required by the (nearly 80-year-old) Administrative Procedure Act. But the Act makes no such demand. Todays decision is not one Congress directed. It is entirely the majoritys choice. And the majority cannot destroy one doctrine of judicial humility without making a laughing-stock of a second. The Supreme Court building of the United States of America in Washington, D.C. Credit - Ross LewisGetty Images As another season of last-minute U.S. Supreme Court opinions are handed down, Americans are faced with a perennial question: how much compliance is obligatory and how much room is there to disagree? Its critical to keep in mind that the Supreme Court never has the last word, the people do. And thanks to structural concepts like federalism, differences of opinion on matters of fundamental importance such as equality are not only encouraged but essential to popular self-government. One thing is certain: jurisdictions can be more committed to equality than the justices themselves, a valuable fact to remember as the courts priorities and ideological orientation are increasingly out of step with those of many citizens. Consider one of the bleaker moments in court history: the 1987 case of McCleskey v. Kemp. In the early 1980s, a study revealed wide racial disparities in Georgias administration of the death penaltyincluding that people charged with killing white people were 4.3 times more likely to receive a death sentence than those charged with killing Black people. Lawyers introduced this evidence in the case of Warren McCleskey, a Black man convicted of killing a white police officer, to try to persuade the Justices that Georgia was denying Black citizens equal protection under the law. Read More: The Supreme Court Weighs Whether South Carolina Targeted Black Voters in Redistricting Instead, the Justices ruled 5-4 against McCleskey, a ruling that tried to insulate the criminal justice system nationwide from structural inequality lawsuits. To most observers, this looked like a resounding defeat for the cause of racial justice. In fact, Justice Lewis Powell told his colleagues privately that they had to find a way to avoid statistical jurisprudence that encouraged others to cast doubt on other aspects of the justice systemcausing Justice William Brennan to accuse his colleagues of exhibiting fear of too much justice. Thus, despite the study demonstrating disturbing racial disparities in the administration of the death penalty, the court ruled that additional evidence of bias was needed to set aside a persons conviction. McCleskey couldnt satisfy this high standard and was ultimately executed. Justice Powell protected the prerogative of prosecutors because he believed that racial disparities were inevitable in any system that entailed discretion. In the wake of McCleskey, advocates could have acquiesced to the courts exceedingly narrow concept of equality, one that refused to see structural inequality, but recognized only isolated acts of individual wrongdoing. Instead, realizing the Supreme Court was not going to protect their clients from exposure to unequal justice, some advocates doubled down on a more robust notion of racial equality. They ramped up their efforts to document structural inequality by demanding access to prosecutors files and shamed prosecutors and judges for eliminating people of color from jury pools. The Southern Center for Human Rights was at the center of this next stage of the struggle for racial justice. Bryan Stevenson, who later founded Equal Justice Initiative, was then a young staff attorney at the Southern Center. Stevenson was heartbroken about McCleskey and couldnt believe that the same institution that had decided Brown v. Board of Education had just said that racism was inevitable in the legal system. But after talking to Executive Director Stephen Bright, Stevenson and the rest of the staff formulated a plan. Read More: The Supreme Courts Decision on Affirmative Action Must Not Be the Final Word Bright agreed that McCleskey was an everlasting blight on the Supreme Court and akin to Plessy v. Ferguson by tolerating one kind of justice for white people and another for Black people. He advised his staff to turn a ruling that created a shield for prosecutors into a sword for the defense. They began filing so-called McCleskey motions, demanding opportunities to probe whether judges and prosecutors were capable of treating defendants fairly, insisting upon hearings to document forms of societal and official racism, and asking for access to other case files to look for patterns of bias against poor people and racial minorities. The strategy worked. In the 1987 retrial of George Dungee, a Black man charged in the slaying of a white family in Georgia, the Southern Center insisted that a judge recuse himself because he had used the N-word in open court when referring to a defendant, had supported a segregationist for governor, and was complicit in prosecutorial efforts to remove Black jurors. Accused of being part of a local system of white dominance, the judge was forced to step aside. When prosecutors saw that their judicial ally was no longer on the case, they offered Dungee a plea deal that ensured a life sentence. The same thing happened in the retrial of Willie Gamble: Southern Center lawyers called the judge a rubber stamp racist, and shortly after he recused, the state folded and took the death penalty off the table. In the 1988 case, Berryhill v. Zant, the Southern Center successfully challenged a policy of allowing only upright and intelligent citizens onto master jury lists because it proved highly subjective and allowed local officials to disqualify women disproportionately. And during the retrial of William Anthony Brooks, a Black man accused of killing a white woman, the Center argued that Brooks could not get a fair trial because two of his prosecutors, who later became judges, had rigged an all-white jury and then made lynch mob-like arguments. They demanded a judge from another circuit. Instead of giving up on statistical evidence to prove racial discrimination, the Center continued to develop empirical evidence of structural inequality in two ways: first, by proving that particular counties still grossly underrepresented women and racial minorities in jury pools; and second, by showing how specific prosecutorsand sometimes an entire prosecutors officemanufactured all-white juries. The biggest payoff from this strategy came in 1991, when the Eleventh Circuit ruled in Horton v. Zant that a prosecutor had systematically used peremptory strikes to eliminate Black jurors from his cases, particularly in cases involving a Black person charged with killing a white person. The painstaking work of SCHR staff to document the states unequal valuation of Black and white lives over time convinced the court to order a new trial for Horton. In his ruling, Judge Frank Johnson wrote emphatically: a prosecutor has a duty to do justice. With the Horton decision, racial justice advocates finally had a legal victory that showed how prosecutors exploited the system of unequal justice. Importantly, the Southern Center never accepted the Supreme Courts assumption that racial disparities were caused by bad apples, but insisted that an overlapping set of practices led to injustice. Beyond litigation, some have engaged in legislative defiance of the Supreme Court by seizing on stories of racial injustice and persuading elected officials to openly repudiate McCleskey. On these occasions, legislators have rejected Justice Powells advice to become comfortable with the inevitability of racism and insisted that ignoring racial disparities exacerbates a crisis of faith in the rule of law. A few states have enacted racial justice acts, none more far-reaching than one passed in California. Enacted during the pandemic, the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) authorizes individuals to challenge their convictions based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Proponents of this civil rights law described it as a countermeasure to address a widely condemned 1987 legal precedentnamely, McCleskey. We simply cannot accept the stark reality that race pervades our system of justice, lawmakers indicated, because discrimination undermines public confidence in the fairness of the states system of justice. Renouncing McCleskey for the people of California, the law empowers a person to introduce statistical evidence that might show that the prosecution more frequently sought or obtained convictions against people who share the defendants race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law goes further than the Supreme Court by making it easier to show that a prosecutor used race-based peremptory strikes. Could the Supreme Court reverse itself and overrule McCleskey some day? Perhaps, but persuading the Justices that they made a grievous error would be easier with additions to the institution who are open to criminal justice reform. It will also take incremental gains to expand the peoples commitment to racial equality in the several states so that Justices sense that their decisions represent an outlierat that point, they may feel pressure to adjust their thinking and join the rest of the political community. Robert L. Tsai is Professor of Law at Boston University and author of Demand the Impossible: One Lawyers Pursuit of Equal Justice for All (Norton 2024). Made by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors. Write to Made by History at madebyhistory@time.com. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, June 28. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be visiting Kyrgyzstan on July 13, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Muratbek Azymbakiev said, Trend reports. "As part of the visit to Cholpon-Ata, bilateral negotiations are planned with President Sadyr Japarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev, as well as a visit to one of the UNDP projects. The parties will discuss the state and prospects of cooperation within the UN, exchange views on current issues on the international agenda," he said. In addition, Guterres will attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 34. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Supreme Court Overturns 40-Year Precedent You Didn't Know Existed: 'You Could See Things Descend into Chaos' The "Chevron deference" has long been the backbone of how corporations are regulated. The new ruling strips federal agencies of their power to determine what's best for Americans OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty The current United States Supreme Court A new Supreme Court decision could have sweeping implications over federal agencies' roles in clarifying the very laws they are meant to enforce, effectively allowing judges in lower federal courts to craft policy for agencies that govern everything from environmental protection to human health. On Friday, June 28, the court ruled 6-3 in favor of overturning the "Chevron deference," a backbone principle for how the federal government keeps corporations in check. Chevron is the practice by which federal courts defer to federal agencies when sorting out ambiguities in a law. The three liberal justices dissented. Related: Supreme Court Protects Access to Abortion Pill in Surprise Ruling Anthony Moffa, an associate professor of law at the University of Maine, explains to PEOPLE that the Chevron deference was established in 1984 by the Supreme Courts ruling in Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council. He says the doctrine applies to the latitude federal judges give agencies like the EPA over how to interpret a statute when a dispute arises. But how agencies like the EPA or the Department of Education operate is sometimes in flux. That's because, as Moffa explains, most agencies are operating "under laws that are not perfectly clear." "Using environmental law as an example, most statues use words like 'pollutant' or 'human health' or 'environmental health' or even words as seemingly straightforward as water,' " he says. But the way those words are defined might differ between a large corporation that doesn't want their factory runoff to be regulated, and the agency meant to enforce human health. In those cases, when a company or person takes a federal agency to court, the court sides with the agency itself. "Congress doesn't always write statues that are hyper-specific they don't have the time, or the staff, or the expertise," Moffa says. "The way that our federal government functions depends on entrusting expert agencies with the ability to take reasonable actions." Without the Chevron deference, experts warn that judges and not federal agencies themselves could determine certain environmental regulations. "If you uproot Chevron, what youre doing is ... saying the agency tasked with doing something let's say, controlling pollution, or improving K-12 education they can go ahead and do what they think is best, but if someone doesn't like what they did, and they bring the agency to court, theres no assurance the court will side with the agency," says Moffa. Moffa continues: "[Undoing Chevron] is destabilizing to how we do government ... You would run into a lot of problems, as most statues are relatively broad in the tasks they give to agencies." Skyhobo / Getty Images The EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Offering up a specific example of how the undoing of Chevron could play out, Moffa explains how the fuel economy of vehicles sold in the U.S. is currently regulated, by the EPA and the Department of Transportation. "One of the justifications in the law that empowers those agencies [to regulate fuel economy] has to do with air pollution," Moffa explains. "The particular pollutant of concern is carbon dioxide, or greenhouse gases. The EPA has said carbon dioxide is a pollutant, and the Supreme Court endorsed that reading of the Clean Air Act. Without Chevron deference, you might have a higher chance of a rogue federal court who says, 'We dont think this is a pollutant.' " As a result, Moffa warns, harmful chemicals could be subject to less stringent regulation, and corporations could determine how certain laws are enforced, rather than the agencies themselves. Consumers could suffer as a result. "If you buy a new car today, its much more fuel efficient than it was 10 years ago," Moffa says. "The reason for that is environmental regulation." 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. But some corporations could also be hurt, he adds. "The auto-makers have depended on those regulations, too. When the Trump administration threatened to roll back some of those regulations, a lot of auto makers were upset because they have billions invested in research and development and technology to improve fuel economy, based on the certainty that those regulations would be in place." Moffa continues: "The legal argument for undoing Chevron is that courts are the only ones who get to decide what the law is. But the Constitution says that Congress passes laws, which are then signed by president. Nowhere in the Constitution does it describe the regulatory state we have now. That is a creation of Congress, which has passed statues empowering agencies to make rules." "Removing the Chevron deference creates a situation where you could see things descend into chaos," he says. "Its kind of unimaginable what the regulatory space looks like in a world where administrators and regulators can't be confident that their reasonable interpretations of their mandates are respected by courts." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Supreme Courts conservative supermajority upended decades of precedent governing the ability of federal agencies to set regulations in a ruling on Friday. The courts decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, which overturns its 1984 finding in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, will cause a sea change in how federal agencies are able to regulate everything from climate change to artificial intelligence to labor and workplace practices. It marks a huge win for corporations, as it will be significantly harder for the government to write rules. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, Roberts wrote. The decision is also a major power grab by the judicial branch, which will now play a bigger role as the final arbiter over which new regulations are allowed to stand and which will be struck down. The ruling concerns two cases, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce. Jackson joined her liberal colleagues, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, in dissenting in Relentless, which was a 6-3 decision, but recused herself from Loper Bright Enterprises. The issue of whether to overturn Chevron came before the court after two fishing companies Relentless and Loper Bright Enterprises challenged regulations imposed in 2020 by the National Marine Fisheries Service that required fishing boats to pay the salary of the federal inspectors who ride on them. Lawyers for the fishing companies argued that the court should not only overturn the regulations, but also eliminate the deference afforded to agencies to write such regulations by the courts precedent in Chevron. In Chevron, the Supreme Court crafted a doctrine that granted the federal government broad deference to enact regulations without judicial interference. It effectively stated that agencies had the power to enact regulations without having to wait for the courts to weigh in, unless the regulation was an unreasonable interpretation of the underlying law enacted by Congress that delegated regulatory authority to that agency. But, Roberts wrote, agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do, he added. The Framers anticipated that courts would often confront statutory ambiguities and expected that courts would resolve them by exercising independent legal judgment. Chevron gravely erred in concluding that the inquiry is fundamentally different just because an administrative interpretation is in play. Roberts also took issue with the view that interpretation of ambiguous statutory provisions amounts to policymaking suited for political actors rather than courts, as a misconception of the judicial role. By forcing courts to instead pretend that ambiguities are necessarily delegations, Chevron prevents judges from judging, Roberts wrote. The courts new doctrine provides significantly less deference to agencies, while granting judges more power to strike down regulations if the court determines that Congress did not explicitly delegate authority to enact the specific regulation in question. The decision is a product of the changing ideological and partisan makeup of the courts and the executive branch. By overturning its 1984 precedent in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, the Supreme Court has seized more power over regulations that govern the economy. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Still, Roberts noted that despite overruling Chevron, we do not call into question prior cases that relied on that framework. The holdings of those cases that specific agency actions are lawful including the Clean Air Act holding of Chevron itself are still subject to statutory stare decisis despite our change in interpretive methodology, he said. When the court ruled in Chevron in 1984, conservatives were a minority within the judiciary, especially the district and appeals courts. That decision gave deference to the Environmental Protection Agency to loosen environmental regulations, at a time when Republicans dominated in presidential elections and more often controlled the federal agencies issuing regulations a way to empower the more conservative executive branch to issue deregulatory rules for corporations. Today, the dynamic is reversed, with conservatives in firm control of the judiciary and Democrats having won the presidential popular vote in eight out of the past nine elections. By ending Chevron, the Supreme Court is making it harder for Democratic presidential administrations to enact regulations, while placing the power to strike down those regulations in the hands of a far more conservative judiciary. The conservative justices made this clear during arguments in the Relentless and Loper Bright cases, when Justice Samuel Alito alluded to the fact that conservative interpretations of law are more prevalent in the judiciary today than they were when Chevron was decided. Would you agree that one of the reasons why Chevron was originally so popular was concern that judges were allowing their policy views, consciously or unconsciously, to influence their interpretation of the statutes? Alito asked Roman Martinez, the lawyer for Relentless. Martinez agreed, saying that the fear the judges would use more liberal modes of legal interpretation has diminished over time, thanks to the very salutary developments in how conservative justices have made originalism and textualism the dominant form of interpretation. The court had already begun to move away from applying the Chevron doctrine in cases involving certain important executive branch actions. In cases like West Virginia v. EPA in 2022 and Biden v. Nebraska in 2023, the courts conservatives tossed out new carbon emissions rules and student loan debt relief, respectively, for violating the so-called major questions doctrine which supposedly forbids the adoption of executive actions on questions of vast economic and political significance without express congressional assent. Now, the judiciary will have even greater leeway to strike down agency actions across the board. The decision will likely have monumental effects on the future of regulatory actions across the entire economy, as courts will have wider latitude to strike down everything from climate change regulations issued by the EPA to competition rules issued by the Federal Trade Commission to net neutrality rules laid out by the Federal Communications Commission. In her dissent, Kagan said the reversal of Chevron effectively means the majority has turned itself into the countrys administrative czar. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, Kagan wrote in her dissent. Related... The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a participant in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot should not have been charged with obstruction of an official proceeding a decision that could affect some Idaho defendants. It was a 6-3 decision and did not perfectly follow ideological lines, and the majority opinion said the government interpreted the obstruction statute too broadly. Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented, according to Supreme Court documents. The peaceful transfer of power is a fundamental democratic norm, and those who attempted to disrupt it in this way inflicted a deep wound on this Nation, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurring opinion. But todays case is not about the immorality of those acts. Instead the question before this Court is far narrower. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that the Justice Departments interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison. Seven people with ties to Idaho were charged with crimes after a group of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the day that President Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election was being certified: Theo Hanson, Josiah Colt, Michael Pope, Yvonne St Cyr, Duke Wilson, Pamela Hemphill and Tyler Tew. Hanson and Pope were charged with obstruction, among other crimes, according to Department of Justice documents and previous Statesman reporting. Colt and Wilson pleaded guilty to the charge of obstruction. Wilson also pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Idaho referred the Statesman to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington D.C., which prosecuted the cases. That office referred the Statesman to a statement from Attorney General Merrick Garland. None of the 1,400 Jan. 6 defendants were charged solely with obstruction, according to that statement. Typically when people plead guilty via a plea agreement, they waive their right to an appeal, other than having ineffective counsel, said Wendy Olson, a former U.S. attorney in Idaho. But sometimes in the past, when the Supreme Court has reversed a statute, they say it has retroactive application, Olson said. Im sure all of that will play out here. The ruling means that the case of Joseph Fischer, a former police officer, returns to lower courts, and it could affect other defendants who might seek to challenge obstruction convictions. Defendants were either not charged or never convicted of obstruction in 82% of the Jan. 6 cases, according to the United States Attorneys Office. The Supreme Courts decision will have no impact on those cases, according to the Justice Department. I dont think its the death knell for the Jan. 6 prosecutions, Olson said. Tents that serve as shelter for homeless people line the sidewalk along Fifth Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) The Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities in California and the West may enforce laws restricting homeless encampments on sidewalks and other public property. In a 6-3 decision, the justices disagreed with the 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco and ruled that it is not "cruel and unusual" punishment for city officials to forbid homeless people from sleeping on the streets or in parks. "Homelessness is complex," Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote for the court. "Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the 8th Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not." Gorsuch said the 8th Amendment "does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this nations homelessness policy." He was joined by the other conservative justices, while the three liberal justices dissented. "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in dissent. "For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional. Punishing people for their status is 'cruel and unusual' under the 8th Amendment." The ruling is a significant victory for city officials in the West and a setback for homeless rights advocates. Since 2018, the advocates had won rulings from the 9th Circuit that held it was unconstitutional to enforce anti-camping laws against people who had no home and nowhere to sleep. Many city officials said those rulings led to the growth of tent encampments in Los Angeles and most cities on the West Coast. They joined an Oregon city's appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to clarify their authority over public property. Nothing in Friday's decision requires cities or their police to take stronger enforcement action against homeless people, but it will free some of them to do so. California Gov. Gavin Newsom hailed the decision: Todays ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities." Los Angeles lawyer Theane Evangelis, who represented the Oregon city that had appealed, said the court "delivered urgent relief to the many communities that have struggled to address the growing problem of dangerous encampments." Ann Oliva, chief executive of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, condemned the decision. "This decision sets a dangerous precedent that will cause undue harm to people experiencing homelessness and give free reign to local officials who prefer pointless and expensive arrests and imprisonment, rather than real solutions, she said. "At a time when elected officials need to be focused on long-term, sustainable solutions that are grounded in evidence including funding the affordable housing and supportive services that their constituents need this ruling allows leaders to shift the burden to law enforcement. This tactic has consistently failed to reduce homelessness in the past, and it will assuredly fail to reduce homelessness in the future. The case before the court arose in Grants Pass, Ore., a city of 38,000 people. It was estimated to have between 50 and 600 people who were homeless and only a few shelters, which lacked space for all of them. Homeless advocates said the city police were using fines and threats against people who were living on the sidewalks or in their cars. They said the city's aim was to "banish" these homeless people from the town. They sued and won before a federal judge who struck down the anti-camping ordinance because the city was essentially punishing people for being homeless. A divided 9th Circuit agreed by a 2-1 vote. Judge Roslyn Silver said the "city of Grants Pass cannot, consistent with the 8th Amendment, enforce its anti-camping ordinances against homeless persons for the mere act of sleeping outside with rudimentary protection from the elements, or for sleeping in their car at night, when there is no other place in the city for them to go." The full 9th Circuit then split 14 to 13 to uphold that ruling. Newsom and city attorneys from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Phoenix were among two dozen government and business groups that urged the high court to hear the appeal in Johnson vs. Grants Pass and overturn the 9th Circuit. Only once before and 40 years ago did a case on homelessness come before the Supreme Court. A group called the Community for Creative Non-Violence sought a permit in 1982 for a homelessness-awareness demonstration in Lafayette Square across the street from the White House, and their request included a symbolic tent city where about 50 people would sleep. The National Park Service approved the permit to demonstrate but refused the request for sleeping in the park. The advocates sued, contending the ban on camping violated the 1st Amendments protection for free speech. They lost before a federal judge, won in the U.S. appeals court and finally lost, 7 to 2, in the Supreme Court in 1984. Writing for the court, Justice Byron White said the 1st Amendment permits reasonable limits on the time, place and manner of demonstrations. We have very little trouble concluding that the Park Service may prohibit overnight sleeping in the parks involved here, he wrote. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Supreme Court rules on criminalization of homeless camping. What it means for Kentucky Signs warning about trespassing at a homeless encampment on Nelligan Avenue. The city cleared out the camp on Monday, May 15, 2023 Can cities criminalize camping by homeless people who have nowhere else to go? Yes, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday in a 6-3 decision. Though the case originated thousands of miles away in Oregon, it has implications for the Bluegrass State. The Supreme Court ruling means Kentucky will likely be able to implement a law criminalizing homeless camping that takes effect July 15. The new law is part of the Safer Kentucky Act, a wide-ranging criminal law reform bill adopted by the legislature earlier this year over Gov. Andy Beshear's veto. The Supreme Court's ruling ignores decades of precedent protecting Kentuckians from the cruel and unusual punishment of criminalizing homelessness, said Kevin Munch, a fellow at the ACLU of Kentucky. Homelessness can happen to anyone, and we are disappointed the Court has taken the extraordinary step of ignoring precedent to support punishing unhoused people simply for existing. Heres a look at what the U.S. Supreme Court decision says and what it means for Kentucky: What is City of Grants Pass v. Johnson about? Grants Pass is a city of around 38,000 residents in Southern Oregon that passed an ordinance to punish people with fines and jail time for sleeping in public. Attorneys for several homeless people among them Gloria Johnson, for whom the case is named challenged the ordinance, saying it criminalizes homelessness because people sleeping in public had nowhere else to go. At issue in the case was whether criminal punishments for camping in public constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution's Eighth Amendment. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of plaintiff Johnson, saying the Grants Pass ordinance did constitute cruel and unusual punishment and blocking the city from enforcing it. That conflict led to the current Supreme Court case. Attorneys for the Oregon city say unless they can enforce the ordinance, homeless encampments will overrun the citys sidewalks and parks. What does the Supreme Court's decision say? The majority opinion, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, holds that the Grant Pass regulations criminalizing camping by homeless people do not violate the Eight Amendment. That's in part because a first offense of the Grants Pass camping law garners only a civil fine, Gorsuch wrote, and a person would be imprisoned under the law only after multiple violations. "At the end of the day, the fact that thousands of municipalities supported Grants Passs methods was probably compelling to the majority of justices," University of Kentucky law professor Raquel Wilson told The Courier Journal. Justices Sonia Sotmayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. "Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option," Sotomayor wrote, terming the Grants Pass law "unconscionable and unconstitutional." What does the Grants Pass decision mean for Kentucky? State lawmakers this year passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill called the Safer Kentucky Act, which would criminalize homeless camping like Grants Pass did. The Safer Kentucky Act outlaws unlawful camping on public or private streets, in parks and in many other locations without permission. The first offense is a violation, which can be punished with a fine. Subsequent offenses are Class B misdemeanors, which can be punished with fines and prison time. The Supreme Courts decision means the Kentucky law will likely take effect as planned next month. Louisville city leaders have taken an aggressive stance against homeless camps, clearing them even when local shelters are full and as temperatures reach dangerously high levels. What are Kentuckians saying about the Supreme Court's decision? Kentucky advocates for unhoused people said the decision will not help solve the problem. Solving homelessness requires an increased supply of affordable housing, Adrienne Bush, executive director of the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, said in a statement. "The Supreme Courts opinion that fining and jailing people for being homeless is legal still doesnt make it right or effective," Bush wrote. "Attempts to pathologize individuals for failing in a housing market in which too many of us are struggling are a cruel distraction from the real solutions that start with abundant housing supply." Maurice Noe, a leader with VOCAL-KY, a grassroots advocacy group for low-income people, added resources used for arresting homeless people would be better spent helping them find housing or providing other services. "As someone who has lived on Louisvilles streets, I can confidently say this will only harm our friends and family struggling to get off our streets," Noe said in a statement. Other Kentuckians hailed the court's decision. "What we have been doing in Louisville is neither safe nor compassionate, so the legislature passed the Safer Kentucky Act this year to protect our people and their property and to actually work to treat the homeless," said Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville. He said the new law will help push homeless people into mental health or addiction treatment. Those views were echoed by Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, the Safer Kentucky Act's main sponsor. He said the decision "embodies a compassionate approach towards our homeless population" and praised the Supreme Court for recognizing "the public safety and private property interests involved in this complex issue." Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, also approved of the decision. He said the new Kentucky law will allow judges to divert people charged with unlawful camping into mental health or addiction treatment. "That could be "the 'nudge' that ultimately saves their lives," Hodgson said. He also pointed out the Kentucky law allows local governments to designate "temporary camping zones" that must include clean water and toilets. Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, opposed many provisions of the Safer Kentucky Act, even though many in the Republican Party supported it. On social media, he said he was "disappointed" in the court's ruling, and he hopes next year's General Assembly will "enact compassionate legislation that aims to cure homelessness instead of criminalizing it. Im disappointed in the SCOTUS ruling in Grants Pass, though I understand its reasoning. As the dissent simply writes, [s]leep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The majority got one thing right for sure, that Whitney Westerfield (@KyWhitney) June 28, 2024 How many people are homeless in Kentucky? Around 4,800 people were homeless in Kentucky as of January 2023, according to an annual count led by the Kentucky Housing Corporation. Of those, 1,470 were unsheltered. Others were staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Many of those unsheltered people are here in Louisville. Just under 600 people were living without shelter during a point in time count in Louisville in January of this year, with another 1,133 staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing. That data is a snapshot of just one night. The total number of people who experience homelessness each year is much higher. For example, during a one-year period ending in September 2022, more than 11,000 people sought homeless-related services in Louisville, according to data from the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless. Louisville has five emergency homeless shelters open to most homeless adults, but those are almost always full or nearly full, data from the Louisville Coalition from the Homeless shows. Reach Rebecca Grapevine at rgrapevine@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @RebGrapevine. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: What a Supreme Court ruling on homeless camping means for Kentucky The Supreme Court ruled Friday that an obstruction law used to charge scores of Jan. 6 rioters and former President Trump was improperly applied, spelling trouble for the Justice Departments far-reaching prosecution of the Capitol attack. The justices sided 6-3, not along ideological lines, for Joseph Fischer, a former police officer accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, who challenged one of several counts he faces: obstruction of an official proceeding. The law, Section 1512(c)(2), makes it a crime to corruptly obstruct, impede or interfere with official inquiries and investigations by Congress and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Its been used to prosecute rioters who interrupted Congresss certification of the 2020 presidential election results, but Fischer and scores of other rioters claim the Justice Department retooled a charge that once criminalized document shredding to encompass the conduct of those who stormed the Capitol that day. It would be peculiar to conclude that in closing the Enron gap, Congress actually hid away in the second part of the third subsection of Section 1512 a catchall provision that reaches far beyond the document shredding and similar scenarios that prompted the legislation in the first place, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. The better conclusion is that subsection (c)(2) was designed by Congress to capture other forms of evidence and other means of impairing its integrity or availability beyond those Congress specified in (c)(1), he continued. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the high courts conservative majority, while conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined liberals Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in the dissent. Barrett wrote that her fellow justices failed to respect the prerogatives of the political branches in their decision and questioned how Fischers case did not fit squarely into the parameters of the charge. She accused the court of completing textual backflips to find some way any way to narrow the subsections reach. The case that Fischer can be tried for obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding seems open and shut. So why does the Court hold otherwise? Barrett wrote. Because it simply cannot believe that Congress meant what it said. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that he is disappointed by the decision, but that the vast majority of rioters charged for their role in the attack will not be affected by this decision. The DOJ will take appropriate steps to comply with the high courts ruling, he said. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy, Garland said. The justices expressed skepticism of the Justice Departments use of the charge during arguments in April, though U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar insisted that the law had been used to prosecute different kinds of unlawful conduct, not just the actions of rioters on Jan. 6. Prelogar contended that Congress meant for the law enacted in 2002 after the Enron accounting scandal, where top executives at the energy company were imprisoned for fraud to serve as a classic catchall for unlawful acts that did not include the destruction of records, documents or other objects. The Supreme Courts decision could have profound implications on the Justice Departments years-long prosecution of the Capitol attack. More than 350 rioters were charged with obstructing an official proceeding after mobbing the Capitol on the day Congress was set to certify now-President Bidens win against Trump. Several members of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups were convicted of the charge, including the leaders of each group, Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes. Though most also faced other felony counts, 50 rioters were sentenced with the obstruction law as their only felony, according to Prelogar. Nayib Hassan, an attorney for Tarrio, said his team intends to file a brief regarding the impact the Fischer decision has on the ex-Proud Boys national chairmans case. It is our position that the SCOTUS made the correct ruling on the 1512(c)(2) obstruction charge and we look positively toward our appeal, Hassan said, adding that the lawyers plan to thoroughly review Tarrios sentence and any collateral consequences of the high courts decision. Jackson signaled in a separate opinion that she believed it is possible for Fischer and the other defendants to still be prosecuted under the charge. That issue remains available for the lower courts to determine on remand, Jackson wrote. Trump himself also faces the charge in his federal election interference case being prosecuted in Washington, D.C. That case is indefinitely paused as the Supreme Court weighs Trumps presidential immunity challenge, but the justices decision to gut the obstruction law will inevitably undermine that charge. The former president was recently convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan, as well. Its unclear how the Supreme Courts imminent decision on immunity will impact that case, or the other two cases against him. Updated 12:01 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In a major opinion affecting how cities can address homelessness, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that an Oregon city's enforcement of a public camping ban against the "involuntarily" homeless does not violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on "cruel and unusual" punishment. "The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what 'method or kind of punishment' a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place," wrote Justice Neal Gorsuch for the majority in the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Because the penalties attached to violating Grants Pass' camping ban only involved warnings, small civil fines, and at most 30 days in jail, Gorsuch reasoned they did not amount to "cruel and unusual" punishment. The five other conservative justices sided with Gorsuch, while the court's three liberals dissented. Homeless advocates have roundly condemned the opinion, arguing it will give cities a blank check to criminalize homelessness and lock up people with nowhere else to go. "Cities are now even more empowered to neglect proven housing-based solutions and to arrest or fine those with no choice but to sleep outdoors," said the National Homelessness Law Center in a statement. The Grants Pass case arose from a lawsuit filed by two homeless individuals against Grants Pass, Oregon, over its enforcement of a local public camping ban. The plaintiffs argued that since the town had no "available" shelter beds, its enforcement of the camping ban against people sleeping outside or in their vehicles effectively criminalized the "status" of homelessness in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The plaintiffs relied on a prior ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, which had ruled in the 2018 case Martin v. Boise that cities can't enforce camping bans when there are no available shelter beds. A U.S. District Court in Oregon, relying on the Martin decision, blocked Grants Pass' enforcement of its camping ban. In 2022, the 9th Circuit upheld the district court's injunction, prompting Grants Pass to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Earlier this year, the court agreed to take the case. A bipartisan collection of state and local officials and interest groups has long argued that the 9th Circuit's Martin ruling effectively tied their hands when trying to address homelessness; leaving them effectively powerless to maintain order in public spaces and get the homeless into shelter. Everyone from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the free market Goldwater Institute had urged the Supreme Court to overrule the Martin decision. Gorsuch's opinion gave great weight to cities' complaints that they're unable to address the multi-faceted issue of homelessness so long as the Martin limits on enforcement of public camping bans remained on the books. "Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not," he wrote, saying those decisions should be left up to the people and their elected officials. Writing for the three liberal dissenters, Justice Sonya Sotomayor argued that the sweeping nature of the Grants Pass camping ban did qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. The city "jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use as little as a blanket to keep warm or a rolled-up shirt as a pillow. For people with no access to shelter, that punishes them for being homeless. That is unconscionable and unconstitutional," she wrote. Gorsuch's majority opinion cited heavily from local government associations who argued that the Martin decision had contributed to an explosion in unsheltered homelessness, a crisis they were severely restricted from responding to. (These same taxpayer-funded associations are frequently the biggest opponents of legislation that would remove local regulatory barriers to new housing construction.) Sotomayor also took issue with Gorsuch's heavy citations of these local government associations, writing "the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested." The post Supreme Court Rules That Punishing the Homeless for Sleeping Outside Isn't 'Cruel and Unusual' appeared first on Reason.com. A woman gathers possessions to take with her before a homeless encampment was cleaned up in San Francisco last August. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that cities in California and the West may enforce laws restricting homeless encampments on sidewalks and other public property. The justices disagreed with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and ruled it is not cruel and unusual punishment for city officials to forbid homeless people from sleeping on the streets or in parks. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and city attorneys from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Phoenix were among two dozen government and business groups that urged the high court to hear the appeal in Grants Pass vs. Johnson and overturn the 9th Circuit. While Newsom and others welcomed the ruling, it's been a controversial topic that's differentiated the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party from the progressives. How will this ruling change the way California officials deal with homeless encampments? The 9th Circuit Court, whose jurisdiction covers nine states in the West, has recognized constitutional protections for those who are homeless and have no place to sleep. It remains the only federal appellate court in the nation to do so. In a series of rulings, the court has held that cities violate the 8th Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment when police arrest or fine people who have no access to shelter. The Supreme Court ruling is a significant victory for city officials in the West and a setback for homeless rights advocates. Since 2018, the advocates had won rulings from the 9th Circuit that held it was unconstitutional to enforce anticamping laws against people who had no home and nowhere else to sleep. While nothing in the decision requires cities to take stronger enforcement action against homeless people, it will free some of them to do so. Is it really up to local governments to decide how to deal with this? Yes. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote that people will disagree over which policy responses are best. Cities might experiment with one set of approaches only to later find that another set works better and might find certain responses more appropriate for some communities than others. "But in our democracy, that is their right," he added. Homelessness is complex, he wrote. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the 8th Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not. Newsom said in a statement that the ruling provides state and local officials "the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets." "This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities," he said. What is the view from L.A. City Hall? Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass slammed the Supreme Courts ruling, calling it "disappointing" and arguing that it should not be used to jail homeless residents or drive them from city to city. Bass, who declared an emergency on homelessness on her first day in office in December, signaled the ruling will not alter her approach to the crisis, which has focused heavily on moving unhoused Angelenos out of encampments and into hotels, motels and other forms of temporary housing. Arresting homeless people or pushing them out of a community and into another city is more expensive for taxpayers than actually solving the problem, Bass said in a statement. The only way to address this crisis is to bring people indoors with housing and supportive services, she said. In the city of Los Angeles, we will continue leading with this approach, which helped move thousands more Angelenos inside last year than the year before. Bass made homelessness her top priority upon taking office in December 2022. Her Inside Safe initiative has tackled some of the citys largest and most entrenched encampments. Inside Safe is billed as a voluntary program, with homeless residents given a choice from outreach workers on whether to move indoors. However, the city also has a law, Municipal Code 41.18, that prohibits homeless people from sleeping or setting up tents in certain locations. Under the law, homeless people can be cited if they set up tents within 500 feet of schools or day-care centers. It also bars encampments from coming within two feet of a fire hydrant, five feet of a doorway or 10 feet of a driveway. The city law also prohibits encampments from blocking wheelchair access. And it allows the City Council to designate certain sensitive areas, such as libraries, senior centers and freeway overpasses, as off-limits to encampments. What are officials in other cities saying? In a phone interview, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said the high court "finally made a good ruling" and said the city plans to "be much more aggressive." Parris added that he's not concerned about "appropriate encampments," but is concerned about those "who camp next to neighborhoods, next to shopping centers." "We're going to be moving them really fast," he said. He added that the city has a "state-of-the-art homeless shelter" with beds available. "Admittedly, our issues are different than downtown L.A., because we have 96 square miles and only a third of it is developed. There's a lot of places these people can camp, it doesn't have to be in our frontyard," Parris said. "In L.A. that might not always be the case, you don't have a lot of options." He added that "that is not an invitation for them to send their homeless to us." Parris agreed with Gorsuch that the decision should be in the hands of city officials, stating, "that's called democracy." "It's a local government decision," he said. "If the federal government would stay out of our way on most of the decisions we have to make, it would be so much easier." In San Diego, one of the cities that urged the Supreme Court to hear the appeal, Mayor Todd Gloria said the ruling "brings much-needed clarity to how the city can enforce our laws against unsafe encampments." However, he added that "it will not change our strategy on homelessness." "It is clear that the 1,000 new shelter opportunities weve added in the past three years is working to reduce street homelessness, and we intend to continue to pursue additional beds," he said in a statement. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who had welcomed the Supreme Courts review of the case in her broader effort over the last year to crack down on crime and homelessness in the city, said the decision will help cities like San Francisco manage our public spaces more effectively and efficiently. Breed has long lamented that, despite the city funneling more resources into temporary housing and treatment services, those on the streets often refuse shelter. An estimated 8,323 people are homeless in San Francisco, a city of about 808,000. The growing number of tents and visible homelessness in neighborhoods such as the Tenderloin or South of Market has become a focal point in Breeds uphill battle for reelection this November against four other serious challengers, including two centrist candidates who have largely based their campaigns on blaming Breed for the worsening street conditions. San Francisco has made significant investments in shelter and housing, and we will continue to lead with offers of services from our hard-working city employees, Breed said in a prepared statement. But too often these offers are rejected, and we need to be able to enforce our laws, especially to prevent long-term encampments." Breed said the city will now adjust its policies in alignment with the ruling, which she says will help city departments and outreach workers more effectively do their jobs. The mayor said those who refuse help or already have shelter will no longer be allowed to camp on our streets. In Sacramento, Mayor Darrell Steinberg has similarly struggled to rein in homelessness and mitigate deteriorating downtown street conditions. In a statement after the ruling, Steinberg said unsheltered homelessness had fallen 41% between 2022 and 2024 "due to our strategy of combining more shelter, housing and services with an insistence that people cannot live in large encampments and violate ordinances protecting sidewalks, parks and other critical spaces." "This court ruling should not change our balanced, compassionate approach," Steinberg said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 28. Qatari companies and Tajikistan discussed the continuation of investment projects emphasizing that projects in the construction and urban infrastructure sectors play a crucial role in strengthening the ties between the two countries, Trend reports. According to the Tajikistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tajikistan's Ambassador to Qatar, Nurmurod Mahmadali, met with Eid al-Qahtani, the Director for Development and Project Implementation of the Qatari Diar, and Jean Elias Akari, Executive Director of Urbacon Trading & Contracting Company (UCC). During the meeting with Urbacon Trading & Contracting's leadership, the sides discussed cooperation in energy, mining, agriculture, and construction, as well as ways to enhance business relations and invest in tourism infrastructure and Tajikistan's economic potential. The parties agreed on the necessity of regular meetings between industry entrepreneurs from Tajikistan and Qatar to explore mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities. The Supreme Court ruled that cities can fine or arrest unhoused people who lack other shelter and camp in public areas, allowing California and other Western states to more easily clear or ban homeless encampments. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, said fining and arresting homeless people does not violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The ruling could spur anti-camping policies around the country, but especially in Western states where lower court rulings had prohibited officials from enforcing them. California officials had a strong interest in the case, City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, as the state grapples with some of the highest rates of homelessness and housing costs in the United States. The case is the most important to reach the Supreme Court concerning homelessness in 40 years, housing advocates have said. The courts decision, siding with the Oregon mountain town of Grants Pass at the center of the case, opens the way for officials to limit homeless encampments and fine and arrest unhoused people sleeping outside with as little as a blanket. The number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. rose a record 12% from 2022 to 2023, with estimates exceeding 653,000 people in January 2023, according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Developments most recent annual report. In California, more than 180,000 people were experiencing homelessness at any given point in January 2023. Gov. Gavin Newsom and others have said lower courts, relying on broad interpretations of judicial decisions that led to the Supreme Court case, have prevented officials from evicting homeless encampments even when shelter beds were available. Todays ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets, Newsom said in a statement on Friday. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities. He added, California remains committed to respecting the dignity and fundamental human needs of all people and the state will continue to work with compassion to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with the resources they need to better their lives. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville, a frequent critic of Newsom, too agreed with the ruling in a statement on Friday. Homelessness in California is a crisis and a tragedy, but today is a new day, Kiley said. A misguided lower court decision has caused the problem to grow much worse in recent years by tying the hands of local communities with an unworkable rule that exists nowhere else in the country. Today, he said, the Supreme Court gave our communities back the ability to regulate homeless encampments in a commonsense way. Housing advocates warned that fining and arresting homeless people for sleeping outside with as little as a blanket could perpetuate poverty and worsen homelessness. Arresting or fining people for trying to survive is expensive, counterproductive, and cruel, the National Homelessness Law Center said in a statement. This inhumane ruling, which goes against the values of nearly three-quarters of Americans, will make homelessness worse in Grants Pass and nationwide. Cities are now even more empowered to neglect proven housing-based solutions and to arrest or fine those with no choice but to sleep outdoors. Judicial skepticism Liberal and some conservative justices appeared skeptical at arguments in the case of the towns ordinances, which effectively banned homeless encampments in Grants Pass. But the overarching question justices returned to was whether courts should be involved in the decision-making of how municipalities regulate homelessness. The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, decided that local governments should regulate homelessness as they see fit and that barring camping did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority with all the conservatives concurring. The three liberal justices dissented. Yes, people will disagree over which policy responses are best; they may experiment with one set of approaches only to find later another set works better; they may find certain responses more appropriate for some communities than others, Gorsuch wrote. But in our democracy, that is their right. Nor can a handful of federal judges begin to match the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding how best to handle a pressing social question like homelessness. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for the dissenters, saying that the decision would criminalize homelessness and harm vulnerable populations. This court, too, has a role to play in faithfully enforcing the Constitution to prohibit punishing the very existence of those without shelter, she wrote. I remain hopeful that someday in the near future, this court will play its role in safeguarding constitutional liberties for the most vulnerable among us. What is Grants Pass v. Johnson? The question at the center of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson is whether penalizing people for camping in public areas from a parked car to a tent at the park or a blanket on the sidewalk when they have nowhere else to go violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishments. The case originated from Grants Pass, a southwest Oregon town of about 40,000 people, which over a decade ago attempted to ban unhoused people from sleeping in public spaces. The city council instituted fines for people camping outside, even those using as little as a blanket or cardboard box, that could lead to criminal charges. Grants Pass has one overnight shelter for adults with 138 beds. But the shelter, the Gospel Rescue Mission, has a Christian focus and strict restrictions such as no pets, drugs or alcohol and required attendance at twice daily religious services that make it unpalatable or inaccessible to many. There are about 600 people experiencing homelessness in Grants Pass. Judges have written that there is no adequate shelter for unhoused people there. In 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Western states, decided in Martin v. City of Boise that the Eighth Amendment prohibited local governments from criminalizing sitting, sleeping, or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter. The appellate court relied on a 1962 Supreme Court decision that said the Eighth Amendment prevented criminalizing someones status in this case, homelessness. The 1962 case, Robinson v. California, specifically regarded the status of being addicted to drugs. Following the Ninth Circuit decision, lawyers representing unhoused residents sued Grants Pass over the ordinances. A federal judge in an Oregon court ruled in 2020 that due to the lack of shelter, punishing homeless people sleeping outside with makeshift bedding violated the Eighth Amendment. In 2022, the Ninth Circuit agreed. Civil fines that were intertwined with criminal punishments, like the ones in Grants Pass, were blocked there and in Western states, including California. The Court overturned both Ninth Circuit rulings in the decision released Friday. What did California lawmakers want the court to do? Since the Ninth Circuit rulings, some judges have blocked cities from evicting encampments unless there are enough shelter beds for its entire homeless population. Legislators have said the appellate decisions were confusing and did not properly distinguish what is voluntary versus involuntary homelessness. Newsoms lawyers had urged the Supreme Court in a brief toward a narrow interpretation that sided with neither Grants Pass nor lawyers for that citys unhoused people. Officials should be allowed to restrict where encampments are and clear them if there is a health or safety threat, Newsom and other lawmakers argue, while ensuring there are services available to unhoused residents. Advocates and progressive California lawmakers argued in a separate brief that restricting camping when there are no or limited shelter options is inhumane and costly. Advocates say fining, ticketing and jailing people who cant afford housing increases homelessness, perpetuates poverty and criminalizes the status of being unhoused. Instead, they say, officials should focus more on bolstering affordable housing and addressing poverty, which disproportionately affects Black, Latino and Indigenous people. Some California lawmakers had wanted Martin v. Boise overturned, including Republican members of Congress and Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho, who argued in his own brief that the decision failed to chart course for determining if an individual is involuntarily homeless. The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Justice Department overstepped in charging hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters with the crime of obstruction of an official proceeding. The decision could force prosecutors to reconsider some of its pending cases against rioters. In a ideologically mixed 6-3 vote, the court ruled in Fischer v. United States that the Justice Department needs to raise the burden of proof for such charges, with prosecutors needing to demonstrate defendants were actually trying to disrupt the Electoral College count, not just enter the Capitol. Nothing in the text or statutory history suggests that (the law) is designed to impose up to 20 years imprisonment on essentially all defendants who commit obstruction of justice in any way and who might be subject to lesser penalties under more specific obstruction statutes, Chief Justice John Robetts wrote in the majority opinion. Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the majority, while conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the other two liberals in dissenting. Its unclear how the decision will affect the Justice Departments prosecution of Donald Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, although as Politico points out, Special Counsel Jack Smith has argued that Trump is guilty of the charge even under its most narrow reading. The Justice Department responded soon after the court handed down the decision. January 6 was an unprecedented attack on the cornerstone of our system of government the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next, Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a statement. I am disappointed by todays decision, which limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences. The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Courts decision in Fischer v. United States : https://t.co/VpQleUTKPa pic.twitter.com/mlABwQG71Z U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 28, 2024 Trump also responded, on Truth Social. BIG WIN!! he wrote. Joseph Fischer, a participant in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol, was charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, assaulting a police officer, and disorderly conduct. In March 2022, Trump-appointed D.C. District Court Judge Carl Nichols dismissed the obstruction charges against Fischer and two other Jan. 6 defendants. Nichols argued that the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, through which the crime was first defined, had been incorrectly interpreted and applied by the Justice Department. The D.C. Court of Appeals later reversed the ruling, leading to its escalation to the Supreme Court. Last August, the Justice Department charged Trump with obstructing an official proceeding, as well as conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States. The charges relate to Trumps efforts to undermine his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden, and his role in fomenting the riot that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. The court is also considering whether Trump is immune from prosecution for actions taken while he was still in office. If they rule he was, it would sink the Justice Departments case against him. The court is expected to hand down its decision on Monday. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone The Supreme Court on Friday killed off a judicial doctrine that has protected many federal regulations from legal challenges for decades delivering a major victory for conservatives and business groups seeking to curb the power of the executive branch. The 6-3 decision divided the court along ideological lines. Its fallout will make it harder for President Joe Biden or any future president to act on a vast array of policy areas, from wiping out student debt and expanding protections for pregnant workers to curbing climate pollution and regulating artificial intelligence. Known as Chevron deference, the Reagan-era doctrine required judges to defer to agencies reasonable interpretations of ambiguous federal laws. Now, judges will be freer to impose their own readings of the law giving them broad leeway to upend regulations on health care, the environment, financial regulations, technology and more. The high courts about-face comes after more than a decade of campaigning from conservatives including some of the Republican-appointed justices themselves looking to rein in the so-called administrative state. And it lands just two years after the justices used a ruling on a climate case to limit regulations that pose major implications for politics or the economy. Chief Justice John Roberts was crystal clear in the majority opinion: Chevron is overruled. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, as the [Administrative Procedure Act] requires, Roberts continued. Careful attention to the judgment of the Executive Branch may help inform that inquiry. And when a particular statute delegates authority to an agency consistent with constitutional limits, courts must respect the delegation, while ensuring that the agency acts within it. But courts need not and under the APA may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous. Chevron deference has become an impediment to judges deciding the law, Roberts added. Chevron was a judicial invention that required judges to disregard their statutory duties, he wrote. And the only way to ensure that the law will not merely change erratically, but will develop in a principled and intelligible fashion is for us to leave Chevron behind. But the courts liberal wing warned that the majoritys latest decision will allow unelected judges to strike down rules based on their own policy preferences. Until now, a court had to let the agencies interpretations stand as long as they fell within the realm of reasonability, even if the judge didnt think it was the best reading. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the dissenting liberal wing. Kagan who took the rare step of reading part of her dissent from the bench, a signal of extreme disagreement with the ruling blasted the majority for overriding agency decisions in recent years that she argued should have been left to agencies, including the 2022 decision restricting EPA's climate authority over power plants, as well as decisions against Biden administration actions on vaccine mandates and student loan relief. But evidently that was, for this Court, all too piecemeal, Kagan wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar. Kagan also argued that the courts decision to cast aside its 40 year old precedent was unjustified and she predicted large-scale disruption as the effects of the courts action ripple through the federal government. During Januarys oral arguments, Justice Elena Kagan cited AI as one arena where courts could be ill-suited to overturn agencies expert judgments, among other countless policy issues that are going to confront this country in the years and decades ahead. Will courts be able to decide these issues as to things they know nothing about? asked Kagan. Or are people in agencies going to do that? What actions can be taken to address climate change or other environmental challenges?...What rules are going to constrain the development of A.I.? In every sphere of current or future federal regulation, expect courts from now on to play a commanding role, Kagan wrote. It is not a role Congress has given to them.It is a role this Court has now claimed for itself, as well as for other judges. Brett Kavanaugh, one of the conservative justices who joined Fridays ruling, complained in January that doctrine was allowing new administrations to make sharp changes in how agencies interpret laws, resulting in extreme instability. Chevron itself ushers in shocks to the system every four or eight years when a new administration comes in, whether its communications law or securities law or competition law or environmental law, Kavanaugh said at the time. But the impact of Fridays ruling will be much more chaos in the lower courts, predicted David Doniger, a top attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council who argued the original Chevron case on behalf of the environmental group in 1984. That case involved a legal battle over a Clean Air Act regulation. You're going to have decisions that turn on the policy preferences of the judge, which could often align with that of the president who appointed them, Doniger told the POLITICO Energy podcast ahead of the Supreme Courts ruling. Even more than you already do, you'll have companies or even environmental groups shopping for the best forum, and you'll have a lot of inconsistent judgments, he added. And actually, the Supreme Court would have more work to do they would have more disagreements among the lower courts to resolve. And in the meantime, everyone from environmentalists to companies would be less certain about what the rules of the road are. All of Biden's recent regulations will be at greater risk in legal challenges, said Rafe Petersen, an attorney with the law firm Holland & Knight. Especially things where he's attempting to regulate greenhouse gases and advancing climate goals. Theres no clear statement in the underlying acts that was the intent of Congress, said Petersen. Meanwhile, Republicans cheered the ruling. "Its the best news for the nation since they applied the major questions doctrine" against EPA's climate authority over power plants, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) texted POLITICO. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement that Congress had weakened its power through a "willingness to outsource legislative responsibilities" to the executive branch. "The days of federal agencies filling in the legislative blanks are rightly over." Democrats and their allies trashed the ruling and cited recent ethics controversies involving some justices. As long as industrys preferred politicians are on the Court, without any real ethics requirements, we can expect decision-making to continue to serve the favored few rather than the best interest of the American people, said Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the House Natural Resources Committees top Democrat. Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said in a statement that the court's "MAGA supermajority" has "granted themselves blanket authority to rewrite the rules in favor of the billionaires and major corporations while leaving the American people to pay the price." Even before Fridays ruling, some judges have become increasingly assertive in overturning even long-standing regulatory decisions, showing less deference to agencies expertise. One example was last years ruling by a GOP-appointed federal judge in Texas later overturned by higher courts rejecting the Food and Drug Administrations decadesold approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. When the Supreme Court first adopted the Chevron doctrine almost 40 years ago to the day it was embraced across the ideological spectrum. Conservatives applauded the doctrine for reining in what they considered to be activist judges who had been striking down Reagan administration rules. Liberals, meanwhile, praised it for giving more decision-making power to agencies policy experts, including on issues where Congress is slow to act. But conservatives thinking about Chevron deference has shifted in the past 15 years. With deadlock on the Hill only getting worse, administrative agencies have more frequently stepped in to fill the void by interpreting old statutes in new ways to issue regulations on climate change, the financial sector, telecommunications and more. The Chevron doctrine has benefited agencies facing challenges to their regulations, no matter who is president. A 2017 study found that agencies won 77 percent of court cases that were reviewed under Chevron deference. When courts applied a less deferential standard, those victories fell to 38 percent. Prominent conservative legal thinkers including Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Kavanaugh have argued that the courts were abdicating their power to decide the law. Although Chevron remained the rule for lower courts, the Supreme Court has shifted in recent years toward a new, much more stringent test for agencies: the so-called major questions doctrine, which the Supreme Court formally defined in a 2022 ruling limiting the Environmental Protection Agencys authority to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants. Under that test, any agency action that involves a novel use of power and has significant economic or political impacts must have clear authorization from Congress. The justices have never spelled out what sort of regulations count as significant, however, and the lower courts are working through that issue case by case. But the Biden administrations opponents immediately sought to use the 2022 ruling to handcuff the executive branch on a range of policy areas ranging from hot-button issues like abortion and immigration to more parochial rules such as a proposed ban on asbestos and anti-tampering rules for amateur car races. Fridays decision could have an even more sprawling cascading impact. The Supreme Court has repeatedly reined in Chevron over the past decade or so, but until now it had always stopped just short of explicitly overruling it. That irked legal conservatives on and off the high court, and created a broad movement on the right with the goal of burying the precedent altogether. The ruling comes just one day after the Supreme Court ruled, again 6-3, to limit agencies power by requiring civil enforcement seeking penalties to be heard by federal courts and not through administrative processes. Experts say the ruling could have widespread effects on some agencies ability to go after violators. Ben Lefebvre contributed to this report. Violent insurrectionists loyal to Donald Trump storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Minchillo / Associated Press) The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the most severe charges lodged against more than 300 of the violent insurrectionists who broke into the U.S. Capitol three years ago. In a 6-3 decision, the court's conservative majority said the rioters may not be prosecuted under a financial recordkeeping law that criminalized destroying evidence and obstructing an official proceeding. But the vote was not entirely along the usual ideological lines. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson agreed with the majority to limit the use of the obstruction law while Justice Amy Coney Barrett dissented. While Friday's ruling wipes out the felony obstruction charge against some of the insurrectionists, it does not free them from all charges. The court's conservatives said prosecutors overstepped their authority when they relied on part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which arose from a corporate accounting scandal and made it a crime to conceal or destroy documents or other crucial evidence. Justice Department prosecutors said that since the law also refers to obstructing an "official proceeding," it could be read broadly to punish those who stormed the Capitol to obstruct Congress when it met in joint session on Jan. 6, 2021, to confirm President Biden's victory. Read more: In big win for business, Supreme Court dramatically limits rulemaking power of federal agencies Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said criminal laws should be read narrowly. "Rather than transforming this evidence-focused statute into a one-size-fits-all solution to obstruction of justice," he said, the court read it as a law forbidding the destroying of documents. He said the government's "novel interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison." If that view were adopted, he said, "a peaceful protester could conceivably be charged" with obstructing a proceeding and face 20 years in prison. Jackson agreed. "There is no indication whatsoever that Congress intended to create a sweeping, all-purpose obstruction statute," she said. In the dissent, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, Barrett said the defendant in the case, a Pennsylvania police officer, did just what the law prohibits. "Joseph Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that forced the delay of Congresss joint session on January 6th," Barrett wrote. "Blocking an official proceeding from moving forward surely qualifies as obstructing or impeding the proceeding by means other than document destruction." Friday's ruling may also undercut the indictment of former President Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 mob attack. Two of the four charges lodged against him are based on the antiobstruction provision. Special counsel Jack Smith said these charges should remain valid because Trump and his allies conspired to send a false slate of electors to Congress. The Supreme Court has sided with Trump and his supporters on three fronts this year. In February, it temporarily blocked prosecutors from trying the former president on charges that he conspired to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election. The justices agreed to rule on his claim of immunity, which is still pending. In March, the court ruled that state judges may not remove Trump from the ballot for "engaging in insurrection" in violation of the 14th Amendment. Friday's ruling throws out the felony charges against many of Trump's supporters. More than 1,200 of the rioters were arrested in connection with their actions on Jan. 6. Most were charged with assaulting police officers who were on duty or with disorderly and disruptive conduct. Some were also charged with carrying dangerous or deadly weapons. Read more: Supreme Court divided on homelessness case that will affect California encampment policy The FBI looked into the backgrounds and motives of those who came to the Capitol. Based on those investigations, about 330 of the rioters were also charged with seeking to obstruct an official proceeding. Fischer, the police officer in the case, encouraged rioters to "charge" and "hold the line," and had a physical encounter with at least one law enforcement officer on Jan. 6, prosecutors said. Prior to that day, he had sent text messages stating: "If Trump don't get in we better get to war"; "Take democratic [C]ongress to the gallows", "I might need you to post my bail. ... It might get violent. ... They should storm the capital and drag all the democrates into the street and have a mob trial." When Fischer was arrested, he was charged with six counts of assault and disruption as well as a seventh charge of obstruction, a felony charge that could send him to prison for several years. A federal judge rejected the obstruction charge in his case, but the U.S. Court of Appeals restored it in a 2-1 decision. The Supreme Court agreed to hear his appeal in Fischer vs. U.S. The Sarbanes-Oxley law was adopted by Congress in 2002 after the collapse of energy firm Enron in an accounting scandal that also took down the Arthur Andersen accounting firm. Congress wanted to make clear that shredding documents could be prosecuted as a crime. The law said it is a crime if someone "corruptly alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. In Fischer's case, U.S. Solicitor Gen. Elizabeth Prelogar had argued the prosecutions relied on a straightforward application of the law as written. A violent mob stormed the United States Capitol and disrupted the peaceful transition of power, she said. In plain English, the fundamental wrong committed by many of the rioters, including [Fischer], was a deliberate attempt to stop the joint session of Congress from certifying the results of the election. That is, they obstructed Congresss work in that official proceeding. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Laws prohibiting public sleeping do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment of the homeless community, the Supreme Court said Friday in a 6-3 decision. Justices in the majority ruled that cities can pass generally applicable laws addressing homelessness without violating the Eighth Amendment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it. At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not, wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch for the majority. Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a scathing dissent, which was joined by the courts other two more liberal justices. She argued that the majority opinion overlooks the experiences of homeless men and women. It is possible to acknowledge, Sotomayor wrote, and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles. Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. Case background Like many communities, the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, has responded to its homelessness crisis in multiple ways. It has put resources toward shelters serving homeless men and women and also passed laws addressing issues associated with large numbers of people sleeping outside, including health and safety concerns. In the Supreme Court case, the justices considered whether the citys ordinances on public sleeping, which ban sleeping in tents or on benches on city property, among other behaviors, turn homelessness into a crime. The ordinances impose a $295 fine for violations, with the fine increasing to more than $500 if it is unpaid. After two citations, police officers can issue an order that bans the individual from city property; a violation of that order exposes the individual to conviction on criminal trespass charges, which carry penalties of up to 30 days in jail and a $1,250 fine, according to SCOTUSblog. The members of the citys homeless community who filed the lawsuit argue that the citys restrictions on public sleeping violate the part of the Constitution that deals with cruel and unusual punishment. They say city officials cant prohibit sleeping outside if there arent enough shelter beds to go around. For their part, city officials argue that the policies promote public safety and help them connect homeless men and women to important services, as the Deseret News previously reported. The lower courts, including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled against the city, deciding that Grants Pass public sleeping ban violated the Constitution. The Supreme Court has now overturned those decisions, determining that Grants Pass policies do not single out members of the homeless community for mistreatment. Under the citys laws, it makes no difference whether the charged defendant is homeless, a backpacker on vacation passing through town, or a student who abandons his dorm room to camp out in protest on the lawn of a municipal building. In that respect, the citys laws parallel those found in countless jurisdictions across the country, the majority opinion said. A woman weeps at the Nova Healing Concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday, June 27, 2024. This was the first Tribe of Nova mass gathering since the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas that left hundreds at the Nova music festival dead or kidnapped to Gaza. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) In the months since Hamas surprise attack sent them scattering across fields or hiding in desert brush, thousands of survivors of a massacre at a trance festival in Israel have come together as a community to heal. They have found solace in massage therapy, ice baths, yoga or surfing with the only people who could truly understand what they had been through. And they have built a robust support network for themselves as the Israel-Hamas war rages on and authorities struggle to provide services to devastated communities. For some, the way back has come through dancing again. On Thursday, thousands of people attended the Nova Healing Concert in Tel Aviv, the first Tribe of Nova mass gathering since the Oct. 7 attack. We understood that people needed to be together, and were a community that takes care of itself, said Omri Sasa, one of the founders of the Tribe of Nova, which organized the festival last October. Im in trauma, and I wanted to be with people who also went through this. He was among around 3,000 people dancing through the night in a field just miles from Gaza when rockets lit up the sky at 6:29 a.m. Heavily armed Palestinian militants rampaged through the festival, killing at least 364 people and taking more than 40 hostage. Many of them are still held in Gaza. Hila Fakliro, a communications student who was tending bar at the festival, escaped by zigzagging through fields, hiding and running for over five hours, until she reached the safety of a village some 20 kilometers (12 miles) away. Six of her friends were killed and another three were taken hostage. Someone asked me if I can dance again, and in the beginning I said no, she said. At a memorial in January for one of her friends, she tried to dance, had a panic attack, and then tried again. I was crying and dancing at the same time, she said. But after attending events organized by Nova survivors, she was once again able to find solace in the trance music she loves. At a recent event, she slid into an ice bath while others attended yoga and art classes in a cluster of tents. Omri Kohavi, 35, one of Nova's founding organizers, said they had felt abandoned by Israels security forces, who took hours to respond to the Oct. 7 attack. Now director of community programming for the Nova Foundation, Kohavi said organizers realized within days that if we dont care for ourselves, no one else will. Survivors began to gather to deal with the trauma they had experienced together. On the first day, 500 showed up. That number doubled the following day. After three months, they shifted to weekly Community Day events and encouraged survivors to return to their regular lives and jobs. At those events in Tel Aviv, survivors meet with therapists, lawyers, social workers or just spend time with one another. The Nova Foundation connects survivors to opportunities for horse therapy, surfing and massage. Some have completed trainings in peer therapy to help others, and the organization recently began providing support to the families of those killed. Earlier this month, Israel rescued four hostages who were snatched from the festival, which Sasa said was the biggest present anyone could imagine. The daytime rescue killed over 270 Palestinians. The gathering Thursday was to raise money to support the volunteer network and to call for the release of the remaining hostages. To appeal to a broader audience, it featured electronic music and mainstream artists as well as the Nova mainstay, trance. We need a lot of money, and the only way we know how to raise money is through events, Sasa said. Nova provided a separate area at the Nova Healing Concert for survivors and family members of victims, and two hostages who were released during a ceasefire in November addressed the crowd. A chorus of mothers who lost their children performed. The war ignited by Hamas attack is far from over. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel on Oct. 7, and another 250 were taken hostage. Israels massive offensive in Gaza has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Fears of another all-out war, this time with Hezbollah in Lebanon, have people on edge. Sivan Cohen, 30, said ahead of the event Thursday that she would be dancing for two. Her partner of six years, Yaniv Sarudi, 26, was killed while trying to drive a car filled with nine festivalgoers to safety. Cohen was shot in the leg and, at first, she wasnt sure if she would ever walk again, much less dance. My friends and I have grabbed this with both hands and we come every week, Cohen said of Nova's Community Days. She said its hard to explain to those who werent there what it means to reunite with someone who was in that car or whose injuries she helped to treat. On Thursday, tens of thousands danced in the humid June heat, the beat pulsing as the sun set over the Nova stage. Quiet corners for reflection with mandalas and photos of the victims gave way to a massive party at the center stage. The only way to really commemorate these people is through living what they lived, which is dancing. Thats what they came there to do, Eyal Porat said as he entered the festival. Moran Stella Yanai, who was snatched from the Nova festival and held hostage for 54 days, took the stage and invited audience members to close their eyes. Imagine, imagine that all of the hostages are standing in a line, holding hands, imagine them strong, imagine them smiling, imagine their families standing before them, imagine the happiness that is beginning to well up inside, Yanai said. Raise your hands up to the sky, high and strong, she told the crowd. Open your eyes, believe, and dance! ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Suspect found hiding in trash can after breaking into elementary school A Thurston County Sheriffs Office K9 unit was dispatched to Grand Mound Elementary School in south Thurston County after a burglar alarm went off early Friday morning. According to a Facebook post by Sheriff Derek Sanders, deputies found a smashed window upon arrival. A female suspect was found hiding in a trashcan on school property after the K9 tracked her location. She was booked into jail on suspicion of burglary. The incident took place before 2 a.m., according to a spokesperson for the Thurston County Sheriffs Office. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, June 28. Amonatbank, Tajikistan's state savings bank, and the China Development Bank (CDB) discussed cooperation issues, Trend reports. According to the Tajik bank, the issues were discussed within the frame of the meeting of the Board of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) Interbank Consortium in Astana. Alidzhon Salimzoda, Chairman of Amonatbank, presented the institution's financial achievements and highlighted the CDB as a significant and reliable partner within the SCO. In response, Executive Vice President of China Development Bank, Zhang Hui, expressed satisfaction with cooperative efforts, emphasizing Amonatbank's unique history of successful collaboration with the CDB. Moreover, the banks' leaders expressed readiness to further expand cooperation across various banking sectors. On June 25, 2024, a meeting of the Board of the SCO Interbank Consortium was held in the capital city of Kazakhstan, during which initiatives of member banks to expand and enhance cooperation within the SCO Interbank Union were discussed. Additionally, following the event, leaders of the SCO member banks signed a meeting protocol and a memorandum of understanding on financing environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives among member banks. Another powerful Democrat in Sacramento has broken ranks with party brass and endorsed a November ballot initiative that would increase prison sentences for retail theft and drug crimes. State Sen. Dave Min, who is running for Rep. Katie Porters open House seat in Orange County, told POLITICO that he will support the initiative to roll back parts of Proposition 47 a decade-old law that reduced penalties for some non-violent felony crimes. Mins stance puts him at odds with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders in the Legislature, who oppose the crime ballot initiative sponsored by district attorneys. Min had previously been ambiguous about his stance on the initiative, saying he hadnt reviewed the language a stance that was criticized by his Republican opponent, Scott Baugh. While well intentioned, Proposition 47 has resulted in a wave of unintended consequences that have plagued our communities with a dramatic rise in retail theft and smash-and-grab robberies, Min said in a statement. Mins announcement comes at a crucial moment, as Newsom tries to rally Democratic lawmakers behind a potential rival initiative that hes hoping to put on the ballot in November. Newsoms counter-proposal would likely increase some penalties for theft, but would be less far-reaching than the initiative sponsored by DAs and likely wouldnt touch sentences for drug possession. The Legislature could vote on the new measure next week, and the margin is expected to be especially tight in the state Senate, where Democrats have fewer seats. Such a constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds vote in each house. It wasnt immediately clear if Min would also support the Newsom-led measure. Dave Min is committed to fixing Prop 47, said Dan Driscoll, Mins campaign manager. Democrats in the Legislature are also rushing to pass their own package of anti-crime legislation. Republicans have criticized Democrats over poison pill amendments they made to several of the bills, so they would be repealed in the initiative to roll back Prop 47 passes. Min also said that he plans to remove amendments from his retail-theft bill that would nullify the law if the ballot measure passed a major point of contention. His measure would increase penalties for offenders who start fires in retail stores. After President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off during the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, swing state voters were quick to weigh in on the candidates' performances. Dan Olszewski a self-proclaimed socially liberal and fiscally conservative Republican entrepreneur from Wisconsin said he was the kind of voter who helped secure a victory for Biden in his home state during the 2020 election. Olszewski said he supported Nikki Haley in the GOP primary this election cycle and won't support Trump after Jan. 6, however, he reached out to ABC News Thursday night to vent over Biden's debate performance. "This is an unmitigated disaster for Biden. Shockingly bad," he wrote. Olszewski said the debate didn't change how he plans to vote, but he doesn't think Biden has done himself any favors. "Doesn't change my perspective since inept is better than evil but not sure how it can help any undecided go toward Biden," he told ABC News. PHOTO: President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participate in the CNN Presidential Debate, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) In the swing state of North Carolina, voters were sharply divided on the candidates' debate performances. At a watch party organized by the Biden campaign, some voters were adamant that Biden had a strong debate performance, while others expressed reservations to ABC News. MORE: What do swing state voters want to hear at the debate tonight? "It's obvious he's old. He's over 80 and that's obvious throughout the debate. However, he's had several amazing moments," said Garrett Warner. When asked by ABC News which moments particularly stuck out to Warner, he said, "I can't remember any in specific, but there were several moments where Donald Trump said an outrageous thing." At a GOP watch party in North Carolina, River Collins told ABC News that Trump won the debate, "You see how articulate he is. He's very disciplined. President Biden is all over the place. He's losing his words. He's saying the wrong words. He's confused." Shannon Flemming, a Biden supporter, told ABC News, "I can tell he's being very careful with how he speaks and some people might interpret that as being feeble, but we have to remember he has a speech impediment, and therefore, take that into consideration." MORE: Biden, Trump asked about voter concerns about their age Speaking with ABC News' White House correspondent MaryAlice Parks, a former Nikki Haley caucus leader in Iowa, who said she once laughed out loud at the idea of voting for Trump, but thought Biden's performance was a "disaster," quipping, "I mean wow." Thaila Flores from New Hampshire walked away from watching the debate disappointed and confused, telling ABC News "The RNC and DNC are to blame for this," Flores said. "All they are doing is arguing over who was the worst president. Biden can't process his thoughts and Trump has not answered a question." With less than a five-month countdown to Election Day, and recent projections from 538 placing the candidates at a near-tie among polled voters, the presidential debates are poised to be make-or-break events for Biden or Trump. The CNN debate marked the first of two debates in the general election season, the second will be hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. ABC News' MaryAlice Parks, Selina Wang and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report. Swing state voters react to presidential debate, Bidens weak performance originally appeared on abcnews.go.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) After a large pile of an estimated 500 syringes was found on a pedestrian bridge that is frequented by Albuquerque students, KRQE News 13 began looking into how syringes end up on the streets and who is responsible for picking up them across the city. CDC report sheds light on HIV cases linked to vampire facials at former Albuquerque spa While many public health officials would like individuals who use syringes to properly dispose of their used ones, that is not always the case in many cities across the country, including Albuquerque. Anytime that folks are congregating in an area, theres going to be litter, and sometimes if theres substance use, theres going to be syringes related to that substance use litter there, said Joshua Swatek, Hepatitis and Harm Reduction program manager at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). Story continues below NMDOH is just one of the entities that helps collect and dispose of syringes across the state. In Albuquerque, NMDOH has drop boxes at its Midtown, Southwest Valley, and North Valley public health offices where people can dispose of their used syringes. If you dont have access to a sharps container, there are other options. So basically you take, again, a heavy plastic, a thick plastic bottle, put your syringes in there, tape it up, mark it sharps, close it, and make sure its tightly sealed, and then you can put it in with your household trash, Swatek said, adding that personal sharps containers can only be disclosed in the trash in Albuquerque. In addition to its own efforts, the NMDOH also works with other groups and harm reduction providers, like the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative in Albuquerque, to collect syringes and provide safe injection and smoking supplies. The New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative receives funding from NMDOH to hand out supplies including, but not limited to, syringes, pipe covers, tin foil, safe sex items, and naloxone, which is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. The New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative gives out the items for free at its location at 5500 Domingo Rd. NE in the International District. The organization also delivers supplies out of its Westside satellite office. We have such a large community of people that use drugs. And because of the fact that we do have this very large community, and they have needs, we want to make sure to provide them with the safest possible options, said Ashley Charzuk, executive director of New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative. Providing something like, you know, sterile syringes is, you know, something that a lot of people usually can understand because of bloodborne illness. But something like smoking foil or injection alternatives, we provide those because we want people to have autonomy over their situation. Syringes given out by the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative in Albuquerque. (Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Smoking pipe covers and mouthpieces given out by the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative in Albuquerque. (Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) When people visit the New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative, they can dispose of their syringes in a bin and also receive a free sharps container. Thats one of the most important things that we provide. We provide several different sizes, shapes, types of sharps containers because of the fact that, number one, its a city expense and its a state expense to have to clean up syringe waste, and also because we cant always be there to like, you know, go pick up every syringe in the area, Charzuk explained. Charzuk said that her organization often does syringe cleanups around the neighborhood. Sometimes we can even give incentive to our participants to help us look for syringes. So they can help out, make a few bucks, and we get the syringes cleaned up, she said. The City of Albuquerque has also made an effort to keep syringes off the streets. Parks and Recreation Department staff respond to 311 reports about syringes found on the ground and staff also empty public syringe kiosks/dropboxes at Bel-Air and Tower Park. NMDOH detects Xylazine in fentanyl samples KRQE News 13 accompanied Parks and Recreation Department staff on June 26 as they removed syringes in an alley in the International District. While in the alley off of Central Avenue that spans about one-tenth of a mile between Louisiana Boulevard and Indiana Street, the crew picked up 53 syringes. Javier Delgado with the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department places a syringe in a sharps container while in an alley located off Central Avenue between Louisiana Boulevard and Indiana Street. June 26, 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Alex Placencio with the City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department picks up a syringe in an alley located off Central Avenue between Louisiana Boulevard and Indiana Street. June 26, 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) A syringe left on the ground in an alley off of Central Avenue near Louisiana Boulevard in Albuquerque on June 26, 2024. (Credit: KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Parks and Recreation Department employees Alex Placencio and Javier Delgado found the syringes in trash piles on the ground, next to rotting food and feces, on cinderblock walls, behind fences, and even stuck in a telephone pole. We do use our hands. Its a lot easier, but we do a double pair of gloves on. And we always pick them up with the back part of the needle. Sometimes we use grabbers, depending where the needle is, said Placencio. The duo noted that the most syringes they found in the alley at one time were 200 to 250. After finishing at the first alley, the crew responded to a 311 report of needles in an alley between La Veta Drive and Alvarado Drive off of Lomas Boulevard NE. There, Placencio and Delgado picked up 20 syringes scattered in the dirt and bushes. Placencio and Delgado placed the syringes in safe collection bottles and planned to bring them to a container at their office so they could be disposed of. Its important because its something thats going on, not just here in our city, but everywhere else, Placencio said. And we just want to make it safe for our community, and of course kids, and everybody else. Parks and Recreation Department Associate Director Shay Armijo said the department receives reports about syringes in all areas of the city. I wouldnt say theres really one area of town thats worse than others. We find them throughout the whole city, unfortunately, Armijo explained. Armijo said if people find a syringe in a public area of Albuquerque, they can report it by calling 311 and providing a detailed description of its location. Another alternative is using the 311 app. Its really helpful because you can get a GPS coordinate, a picture, and a description associated with it. So it helps us to find the sharps and pick them up faster, said Armijo. Armijo also noted that people should not touch random syringes on the ground and should wait for city staff to come to pick them up. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Nine people complained to Action 9 about Backyard Leisure in Concord. They say they ordered hot tubs and got them much later than expected or not at all. Rebecca Reynolds says she and her husband went to Backyard Leisure and signed papers for one in September. They said it would be around Christmas we could expect it, she said. Action 9s Jason Stoogenke went to her house in March and it still wasnt there. MORE ACTION 9: What to know about reshipping fraud, and how to catch it The business emailed him at the time, [W]e are running a bit behind on our spa deliveries right now. We expect to have their spa delivered by the middle of April... But, at last check on Friday afternoon, Reynolds says they still didnt have it. I feel stupid because I didnt do more research before I bought it from them, she said. I cant keep my cool its been so long. Reynolds says they didnt put money down, they lined up a loan instead. She told Action 9 on Friday that they were still trying to get out of that. We just want to wash our hands of it really, she said. Others shared similar stories with Action 9. In most cases, they say: - They bought a hot tub last summer or fall. - The hot tub costs $10,000-$20,000. - They paid in full or financed. - The store promised delivery in about four months tops. - They got the runaround and had to wait as many as 10 months for their hot tubs, if they got them at all. Reynolds says she filed a complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General. The A.G.s office told Stoogenke that 34 other customers did as well. MORE ACTION 9: Customers say landscaper took money but didnt do work Stoogenke reached out to the company multiple ways again this week. No one responded about Rebecca Reynolds case or the others in time for this report. Advice for buying any big ticket item like this: - Try not to pay too much upfront. - Use a credit card if you can. You usually have more recourse that way. In fact, one person told Stoogenke he disputed this with his card and did win. VIDEO: Drivers say they ended up with car trouble after Take 5 oil change or other maintenance The Councils advice: The Council noted that if residents must travel to these regions, they should avoid getting involved in or discussing sensitive issues and affairs, photographing ports, airports, military exercise venues, and carrying books on politics, history, religion. China-Taiwan tensions: China has intensified pressure on Taiwan since President Lai Ching-te's inauguration last month, branding him an obstinate separatist. Lai has stated that Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other." Beijing has not ruled out using force to assert control over the island, which it claims as its territory. While most countries do not recognize Taiwan as independent, the U.S. opposes any forcible takeover and is legally obligated to supply Taiwan with defensive weaponry. TAMPA Seated at a long conference table inside the citys downtown municipal office building, Mayor Jane Castor reflected on the recent burst of senior officials resigning from her administrations housing and economic development teams. Does she see a connection between the departures? No, she said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times last week. Theyre a coincidence? Yes. She remained upbeat: We wont miss a step. A day later, city planning director Stephen Benson resigned, according to records reviewed by the Times. I remain grateful to the City of Tampa for giving me this opportunity to serve, Benson, who worked for the city for five years, wrote in his resignation letter. His final day is July 11. Benson, a third-generation Tampa native, is the latest of several departures that have hollowed out senior leadership in areas of Castors administration where the city faces some of its most pressing concerns. Senior Planning Coordinator Andy Mikulski is resigning after about three years with the city, a spokesperson confirmed to the Times on Friday. No details beyond his last day, July 5, were provided. In April, the mayors top staffer overseeing economic development, Nicole Travis, announced she would be leaving July 1. Less than two months later, the deputy administrator for development and economic opportunity, Alis Drumgo, handed in his resignation. Days later, the director of the citys community redevelopment agency, Erica Moody, announced she would be leaving after just a year of working for the administration. In mid-June. Kayon Henderson, director of housing, left her position. In the interview last week, the mayor said a variety of professional and personal reasons prompted these recent exits, which come a little more than a year into her second term. I know that it makes a good story to connect all of these because they were all in close proximity but there is no connection, she said, adding that the cluster comprises a slim proportion of the citys overall workforce. The mayor pointed to the advisory teams she convened early in her first term teams that gave reports and recommendations Castor said offered roadmaps to keep the city moving forward. Those advisors focused on five areas: transportation, development services, workforce development, housing affordability and sustainability and resilience. We have well-laid plans, Castor said. In a written statement provided to the Times on Friday by a city spokesperson , the mayor wrote: I appreciated Stephens good work for the City of Tampa and wish him the best in his next chapter. Benson joined the citys Mobility Department in 2019 after working in the private sector and at the Florida Department of Transportation. During his time with the city, he spearheaded a land-use study for transit-oriented development, worked to push the long-discussed streetcar extension forward and helped launch the mayors Crosswalks to Classrooms initiative, which covers intersections near schools with colorful murals to boost pedestrian safety. The strategy is part of Tampas Vision Zero efforts, an international pledge to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries from city streets. Last summer, the Mobility Department, praised by Castor as a core component of her vision to unlock more of downtown for reinvestment, witnessed high-profile exits and allegations of a hostile workplace. Four senior female staff members left the department within a matter of weeks. Benson, who declined to comment when reached by phone Friday morning, served as the citys chief planner for a year before he became the director of the planning department in November 2021. From day one, I have remained laser-focused on an agenda that produces a better Tampa for the next generation, he wrote in his resignation letter this week. I have dedicated myself to filling organizational gaps, promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration, and advocating for effective and visionary solutions to our most urgent challenges. Tattoo shop prepares for event where all proceeds will go towards Ruidoso relief Tattoo shop prepares for event where all proceeds will go towards Ruidoso relief EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A local tattoo and piercing shop, Mesa St. Tattoo, will be hosting a Ruidoso fire relief aid fundraiser on Saturday, July 6 where 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Community Foundation of Lincoln County Shelter Fund. What it means to me is just being able to give back to the community thats given so much to us El Pasoans and myself personally, said owner and tattoo artist, Mark Perez. Numerous artists and piercers will be available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 6 at the shop located at 6409 N. Mesa St. giving 33 flash tattoos for $100 and offering all ear, nostril and septum piercings for $30. Perez said because the team participating in the fundraiser wants to get in as many people as possible without compromising on quality, all flash tattoos will be black ink only with no alterations. He said artists will also not be tattooing necks. The event comes just in time as Ruidoso Mayor Lynn D. Crawford said the Village needs more monetary donations. Right now, our immediate need is that were trying to find people to get them money across the table, because even with FEMA and other sources, theres like a week delay before people can get actual cash, said Crawford. The mayor added: Our mind is on economic recovery. We dont want to turn one tragedy into a financial tragedy for all our businesses and people that live in this community. Im hoping that everyone can just come out and show their support. Were going to have a couple of food trucks, were going to have plenty of tattoos, plenty of piercings going on. Just come out here and show support for our sister Ruidoso that we all love so much and just try to give a little bit back if you can, said Perez. More information on which artists and piercers will be participating in the fundraiser can be found on their Instagram page. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An 18-year-old suspect has been indicted on several charges after a shooting in a Gresham neighborhood left one person injured, according to Gresham Police Department. On April 28, Gresham police responded to a reported shooting in the Rockwood Village neighborhood on Southeast 185th Avenue. On the scene, officers found multiple apartments were struck by bullets, with one person suffering minor injuries. Vancouver police seek suspects in early morning car prowling spree On June 14, authorities later arrested suspected shooter Jeremy Skelley, who was indicted on several charges including second-degree attempted murder, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon, second-degree assault with a firearm, 12 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and urge anyone with information on the shooting to contact Gresham 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 KOIN.com. Editors Note: (6/27/24) Since this story was published in August 2023, the case against Nathan James Cruz was dismissed due to a missing witness, according to court records in Bexar County, Texas. The teenage cousin of the gunman responsible for the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, school shooting was arrested Monday on suspicion of threatening to do the same thing to a school, according to court documents obtained by CNN. Nathan James Cruz, 17, was arrested on a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to a public place and a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat against a family member, according to Bexar County Central Magistrate records. Nathan James Cruz - Bexar County Sheriff's Office Cruz is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who fatally shot 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in May 2022, San Antonio police Sgt. Washington Moscoso told the New York Times on Monday. CNN has sought comment from San Antonio police. Ramos stormed into Robb Elementary last year armed with an assault rifle and tactical vest and opened fire on two adjoining classrooms perpetrating one of the deadliest school shootings in modern US history. Law enforcements response has been heavily scrutinized, as officers waited outside the classrooms for more than an hour before entering and fatally shooting Ramos. Cruzs mother contacted police on Monday after her daughter reported that Cruz said he planned to do the same thing as his cousin, according to an affidavit obtained by CNN. His mother told investigators she was especially concerned because the suspect is currently on probation, was intoxicated at the time and because the family lives across the street from an elementary school, the affidavit states. Cruzs sister told investigators that while she was giving her brother a ride, he threatened to shoot her in the head and stated he would shoot the school, according to the affidavit. The mother allegedly overheard a phone conversation in which Cruz was attempting to illegally acquire an AR-15-style assault rifle the same style used by Ramos to carry out the Uvalde shooting, according to the affidavit. Following his arrest, Cruz denied making any threats when interviewed by a detective, the document states. CNN has been unable to confirm whether Cruz has an attorney. His charges carry a combined $160,000 bond, according to the magistrate records. CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Tenn. police chief, former APD deputy chief indicted over residency, lying on documents Now-former Chattanooga, Tennessee Police Chief Celeste Murphy has been indicted and charged over residency claims. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says they began looking into questions over Murphys residency in April. Murphy, 56, was accused of lying about living in Chattanooga. The TBI says she falsified several government documents. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A grand jury returned a 17-count indictment that charges her with illegal voter registration, false entries on official registration or election documents, three counts of false entries in governmental records, three counts of forgery, three counts of perjury and six counts of official misconduct. She was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and released on a $19,000 bond. According to documents from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Murphy spent nearly 25 years with the Atlanta Police Department. TRENDING STORIES: She began as a sergeant in May 1997 before working her way up to deputy chief in January 2020. She retired from the department in March 2022. Murphy became the Chattanooga Police Chief in April 2022. According to POST, she was listed in good standing at the time of her retirement. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) One step at a time, a group of seven students are seeing if they have what it takes to join the Tennessee Army National Guard. Theyre participating in a week-long boot camp summer program put on by the Tennessee Army National Guard at Lincoln County High School. Wake Up for Wishes: Braylyns wish to go to Disney World gets granted! We just wanted to make sure we had something for the kids in the area to do something over the summer, said Specialist Bree Bailey, a Recruiter with the Tennessee Army National Guard. She said that it is rewarding to see the students eyes open to new career opportunities within the military because of the camp. You see a light bulb go off, thats for sure, she said. They realize that its not all about getting deployed and going overseas and all the scary things and the stories that they hear.Youre able to kind of educate them a little bit further on what the military actually is and what it does have to offer, opportunities, doors that can be opened . Throughout the week, the students, who range from 12 to 18 years old, have learned basic medical skills, weapons systems, squad movements, and more. Specialist Bailey said, Pretty much by the end of the week, they will be able to run a full mission from start to finish. Get breaking news, traffic and weather alerts directly to your smartphone. Download the News 19 App On Thursday, a Deputy from the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office gave the students a hands-on lesson on basic combative skills. That included foot positioning, how to throw a punch and protect yourself. Were going to be soft with it, Bailey said. Were not here to hurt each other, but just to give them a little bit of taste. This is the first year that the Tennessee Army National Guard has put on this camp in several years. Specialist Bailey said she looks forward to growing their presence in Lincoln County and hopes next years camp is double in size. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tens of billions: What McConnells move for Appropriations would mean for Kentucky The list is an impressive one: $65 million dollars for an animal research lab at the University of Kentucky. Another $4 billion for the US Army storage depot in Richmond. Plus, $260 million for opioid prevention and treatment programs that dot every region in the commonwealth. These are some of the biggest pots of cash Sen. Mitch McConnell has reeled in for Kentucky, engineered by his 31 years on the Senate Appropriations Committee. And back home, the recipients of the largesse dont mince words about the potency of that prized perch. If you dont have a member on that committee that money goes to other states, said Eric King, who runs federal relations for the University of Kentucky, the states largest. Now, as McConnells time as GOP leader enters its sunset, hes contemplating whether to pull rank and transition in 2025 to leading the coveted committee that directs federal discretionary spending if Republicans reclaim the Senate majority after Novembers election. A former aide to McConnell said while hes talked about a prominent role on Appropriations, hes also seriously weighing the chairmanship of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations in order to punctuate a legacy of imperishable investment in the U.S. military. Either role would allow McConnell to steer hundreds of more millions, if not billions, to Kentucky in his final years in the Senate. You could probably expect a boost in federal infrastructure in our state, King said. Its hard for McConnells own office to quantify just how much federal money McConnell has sent back to Kentucky during his 39-year tenure. Tens of billions, is how a spokesman characterized the staggering bounty. Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics Newsletter A must-read newsletter for political junkies across the Bluegrass State with reporting and analysis from the Lexington Herald-Leader. Never miss a story! Sign up for our Bluegrass Politics newsletter to connect with our reporting team and get behind-the-scenes insights, plus previews of the biggest stories. Just this week, McConnells office announced the procurement of $3 million for improvements to the roads surrounding the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, after the senator contacted the US Department of Transportation. Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore dubbed the funding transformational for more efficient travel and economic development around the transportation hub. But much of McConnells capital is directed toward a pair of entities: The University of Kentucky and Kentucky military installations. The Blue Grass Army Depot, a storage facility located about 40 miles south of Lexington, has received more than $4 billion to complete one of its missions of destroying dangerous chemical materials. As a major employer of 1,450 people that pays some of the highest wages in the region, the army depot is crucial to the economic vitality of Madison County. We have been fortunate to have a champion in Sen. McConnell, said Reagan Taylor, the Madison County judge executive. At the University of Kentucky, McConnells clout landed the school $65.9 million for a federal Department of Agriculture facility, where scientists and researchers will study the nutritional value of grass and forage and how they impact animals. The research lab will help establish central Kentucky as a leading hub for high-tech agricultural research and will prove integral to the all important beef-producing and livestock sectors. Construction on the 52,600-square foot facility is underway, with completion targeted for 2026. If he wasnt there, King said, that project could go somewhere else. Millions of investments to KY McConnell doesnt need to make a decision on whether to make a move for the Appropriations chairmanship until after Election Day. He wants to wait and see how the Senate battlefield pans out and what the state of global affairs looks like. But if he was to make a move for the gavel, hed have to pull his ranking seniority and bump the current ranking member in line to lead the committee, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, doubts McConnell will actually go through with it. I dont think Mitch McConnell, out of respect for Susan, would become the chairman of Appropriations, said Cramer. I dont think that would go over well with Susan, and I think he cares too much about Susan to do that Particularly with Susan, I would have to put her in the top three of Mitchs confidantes, and maybe the top one. The other most bandied about option: Taking reins of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations. At a recent event in Washington on the state of Ukraine, military generals were overheard speaking about the dire stakes of Russian gains and pointed to McConnell as someone who understood that the state of geopolitics is one of the most dangerous in history, according to the former aide. In that role, McConnell would oversee budgets for the military branches as well as the CIA and National Security Agency and steer Congress toward his goal of a $25 billion top-line increase in defense spending. Of course, hed also make sure that the Blue Grass Army Depot, Fort Knox and Fort Campbell are continually blessed with millions of investments. As long as Sen. McConnell is serving in Congress, he will continue to be one of the most effective and influential figures in Washington, which means Kentucky will continue to punch above its weight when it comes to federal policy and appropriations, said Ashli Watts, president of the Kentucky Chamber. Shameful insanity: Pauls spending gap with McConnell is large, but is it healthy? The Department of Justice said Friday that Professor Hoau-Yan-Wang was indicted by a Maryland grand jury for an alleged $16 million fraud against the National Institutes of Health. According to the indictment the scheme involved falsifying data for grant applications related to a potential Alzheimer's treatment. Photo by St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office/Wikimedia Commons June 28 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice said Friday that a Maryland grand jury indictment against Professor Hoau-Yan Wang alleges he defrauded the U.S. National Institutes of Health of approximately $16 million. A Justice Department statement said Wang was a tenured professor at a public university and also served as a aid adviser and consultant for a publicly traded Texas biopharmaceutical company. "From approximately May 2015 through approximately April 2023, Wang allegedly engaged in a scheme to fabricate and falsify scientific data in grant applications made to the NIH on behalf of himself and the biopharmaceutical company," the DOJ said in a statement. According to the DOJ fraudulent grant applications using the false data sought funding from the NIH. The funding requests purported to be for "a potential treatment and diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease and resulted in the award of approximately $16 million in grants from approximately 2017 to 2021, part of which funded Wang's laboratory work and salary. " Wang faces one count of major fraud against the United States, two counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements. The penalties if convicted are 10 years for the major fraud, 20 years per count for wire fraud and five years for making false statements. "Wang's alleged scientific data falsification in the NIH grant applications related to how the proposed drug and diagnostic test were intended to work and the improvement of certain indicators associated with Alzheimer's disease after treatment with the proposed drug," the DOJ said. In the turnaround of the century, Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass reopened to traffic today, June 28th, 2024 via a temporary detour merely three weeks after a catastrophic landslide took out a hairpin turn near Milepost 13. The Teton Pass 'Big Fill' collapse as seen on June 8th, 2024 Courtesy WYDOT Much of the Jackson Hole workforce lives in Idaho and commutes over the pass every day, with residents giving a huge sigh of relief that their normal commuter route was reopened. On Saturday, June 28, 2024, following unseasonably heavy rains and warm temperatures, the road collapsed, making the main road connection between Jackson, Wyoming and Victor, Idaho impassable. That left commuters with no other option but to take a two-hour detour through Idahos Swan Valley and the Snake River Canyon. Road construction crews immediately began repairing the damaged road section to restore the vital link between the two communities. The damaged section, nicknamed the Big Fill, was constructed by dumping soil and fill material in the 1960s to flatten the grade of the road. Diagram depicts the location of the temporary detour and its impact on water drainage. Courtesy WYDOT Geologists and engineers had been monitoring that particular slope for years, even installing equipment last fall to monitor any changes, knowing that it had the potential to move. A small crack had been repaired several times in the turn, but nobody expected such a large collapse to occur. According to statements made at a media conference on Tuesday, no movement was detected by the equipment until just a few days before the collapse. Two days before the collapse, a motorcyclist was injured when they hit a new crack that had opened in the road in the same section, which forced the highway to close for a few hours. The following day, a large mudslide crossed the highway further down the hill, requiring additional repairs. With the temporary repair closures lifted, the highway was open to traffic at the time of the catastrophic collapse. Despite initial fears that the road would be closed for many months, project managers decided to build a temporary detour around the landslide to allow traffic to pass while crews repaired the damage. This 600-foot-long section of road was cleared on the inside of the collapsed turn and subsequently paved. Contractors worked around the clock and moved an estimated 30,000 cubic feet of dirt to build the new road grade. Simultaneously, contractors built a new culvert to allow water to cross below the highway at the point where mudslide occurred at milepost 15. WYDOT crews put the finishing touches on the temporary roadway. Courtesy WYDOT Some community members have voiced concerns about safety on this section of road, questioning why the detour wouldnt just collapse as well. WYDOT engineer James Dahill explains that the new section is built on more stable native soil, and WYDOT will install new equipment to monitor any movement in real-time, especially as construction continues on the permanent fix. That is expected to be completed and open to traffic this fall. The new two-lane road section has a speed limit of 20mph and is open to all vehicles, which will likely slow down traffic across the Pass. But, locals say, a few extra minutes of sitting in slow traffic beats the two-hour detour each way they were forced to endure before. Related: Strava Is Turning Off Fatmap - What That Means For Skiers Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos. The Texas Supreme Court will allow the state's controversial ban on gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect, ruling on Friday that the law does not unconstitutionally infringe on the rights of parents and physicians who are seeking medical care for transgender children. In a majority opinion approved by eight of the court's nine Republican justices, the ruling tosses aside a previous Travis County District Court injunction that placed Senate Bill 14 on hold in August and led to the Supreme Court considering the law's constitutionality. Passed by lawmakers last year after a series of contentious legislative proceedings, SB 14 prohibits gender modification surgeries for minors as well as the prescription of "puberty blockers," or medications meant to effect the developments that occur during puberty. While the law's ban on gender-affirming care and medication for minors has been the impetus for the handful of plaintiffs challenging SB 14, other concerns voiced in court filings focus on the rights of parents to seek care for their children, the ability for physicians to provide care without fear of losing their medical licenses and concerns that he ban violates the equal protection rights of transgender Texans. Justice Rebeca Aizpuru Huddle, who authored the majority opinion released Friday, wrote that parents do have a right to seek care and exercise authority in raising their children, but those parental rights are not absolute. LGBTQ activists cheer after SB14 was delayed in the House of Representatives at the Texas Capitol Friday, May 5, 2023. SB14 would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children. The court ruling also acknowledged the state Legislature's standing and leeway to determine what medical treatments can and cannot be made available in Texas. "When developments in our society raise new and previously unconsidered questions about the appropriate line between parental autonomy on the one hand and the Legislatures authority to regulate the practice of medicine on the other, our Constitution does not render the Legislature powerless to provide answers," the majority opinion states. On each of the three fronts presented to challenge the law parental rights, physicians rights and the potential for discrimination based on sex the court rejected the plaintiffs' arguments, writing that the constitutional concerns heard by the court do not warrant relief. "We conclude the Legislature made a permissible, rational policy choice to limit the types of available medical procedures for children, particularly in light of the relative nascency of both gender dysphoria and its various modes of treatment and the Legislatures express constitutional authority to regulate the practice of medicine," the majority opinion reads. Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, reacts to debate over Senate Bill 14 before the final vote in the Texas House of Representatives Friday, May 12, 2023. SB14 would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children. Plaintiffs in the case as well as a consortium of LGBTQ+ legal advocacy groups disagreed, calling the court's ruling Friday a devastating prohibition on life saving care and medication that will hurt those seeking treatment for gender dysphoria. Our government shouldn't deprive trans youth of the health care that they need to survive and thrive while offering that exact same health care to everyone else," said Ash Hall, policy and advocacy strategist for LGBTQIA+ rights with the ACLU of Texas. "Texas politicians obsession with attacking trans kids and their families is needlessly cruel. We will not back down until our trans youth have the health care they deserve and our state is a welcoming place to all. More: Transgender care 'whistleblower' indicted by grand jury, set to appear in federal court In a lone dissenting opinion, Justice Debra Lehrmann echoed a similar sentiment, pointing to the case as a "foundational issue" of whether the state can usurp parental authority and physicians' advice. "The parents at issue are thoughtful, conscientious caretakers who are doing the best they can to deal with serious health conditions with which their children have been diagnosed," Lehrmann wrote. "They certainly are not mistreating their children. To the contrary, they are facing this challenge with extraordinary courage, fortitude, and perseverance." Acknowledging the Legislature's general authority to pass laws, Lehrmann wrote that SB 14 exceeds its constitutional limits of authority and invades the privacy and protections guaranteed to individuals in the Bill of Rights. LGBTQ activist Morgan Davis reacts before Senate Bill 14 is voted on in the Texas House of Representatives Friday, May 12, 2023. SB14 would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children. "The law is not only cruelit is unconstitutional," Lehrmann wrote in dissent. Following the court's order Friday morning, Attorney General Ken Paxton in a statement on X reiterated his commitment to enforcing SB 14. "Today, the Texas Supreme Court upheld SB 14, a law protecting children from dangerous gender confusion procedures by prohibiting puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and mutilative surgeries on minors," Paxton said. "We will always defend children in Texas from these irreversible procedures." Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing five cities including Austin to block their ordinances decriminalizing low-level marijuana possession. (Credit: Mikala Compton/American-Statesman) 'Every tool at our disposal' Paxton's office has sought the medical records of transgender youth who left Texas to seek gender-affirming care out of state. The Seattle Children's Hospital in December sued Paxton to block his demands a month earlier for those medical records. Later, Paxton's office made a similar request of PFLAG National, a nationwide LGBTQ+ organization, sending a civil investigative demand seeking information on alleged "misrepresentations regarding Gender Transitioning and Reassignment Treatments" and statements from the group pertaining to the court challenge of SB 14. Paxton's office has since dropped those records requests. "My office will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that doctors and medical institutions follow the law," Paxton said Friday. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Supreme Court OKs SB 14, allows ban on gender-affirming care The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday to allow the states ban on nearly all gender-affirming care for minors to remain in effect. In an 8-1 decision, the all-Republican court overturned a lower courts order that blocked implementation of the law, known as Senate Bill 14, while a challenge to its constitutionality was heard. The ruling marks the courts second opinion in favor of the same law in a year after it allowed the ban to take effect as scheduled in September. The law bars Texas health care providers from providing gender transition surgeries, puberty-blocking medication or hormone therapies to those under 18, although exceptions are provided for intersex patients. The ban was passed by the states Republican-controlled legislature in May 2023 after days of protest and procedural delays by Democrats, which led to a provision that allowed those who had started receiving treatment to wean off. Under the law, which was signed last June, health care providers who offer such care would have their license revoked. Texas ban is similar to restrictions in nationwide as GOP-led states have moved to curb gender-affirming care for minors, expressing concerns over the long-term effects of such treatment though major medical associations have deemed it clinically appropriate. More than 20 states have enacted restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors. LGBTQ advocacy groups slammed the ruling Friday, with Lambda Legal one of the parties involved in the original lawsuit against the bill saying, It is impossible to overstate the devastating impact of this ruling. Instead of leaving medical decisions concerning minor children where they belong, with their parents and their doctors, the Court here has elected to let politicians in blatant disregard for the overwhelming medical consensus determine the allowed course of treatment, threatening the health and the very lives of Texas transgender youth, Karen Loewy, senior counsel for Lambda Legal, said in a statement, vowing to continue to fight against such measures. Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbotts office celebrated the decision, arguing that the ban protects children from making permanent, life-altering decisions before they have the mental capacity to do so. Passed by a bipartisan majority in the Texas Legislature, this law ensures access to appropriate and medically necessary services, Abbotts press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement shared with CNN. Governor Abbott will continue to work with the legislature to do everything possible to protect Texas children and their bright futures. Gender-affirming care for minors has become a political flashpoint, with Democrats criticizing Republicans for introducing record number of anti-LGBTQ bills and arguing that medical decisions regarding minors should be left to their parents. The Biden administration directly challenged Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and the US Supreme Court announced this week that it will hear the appeal, which will determine whether states can restrict such care. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Jack Forrest and Chris Boyette contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - The Texas Supreme Court on Friday dealt LGBTQ rights advocates a blow by refusing to block a Republican-backed state law that bans transgender minors from being provided gender-affirming medical care, such as puberty blockers and hormones. The court on an 8-1 vote rejected arguments by families with transgender children and doctors that the law was discriminatory and deprived parents of their rights under the state constitution to make decisions concerning their children's care. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider the legality of a similar ban in Tennessee and address an issue that has become a focal point of lawmaking in Republican-led states. Twenty-five states have enacted laws or policies that ban or restrict gender-affirming care for minors, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank. The Texas law took effect on Sept. 1 after Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed it in June 2023. It bars doctors from providing minors under the age of 18 procedures and treatments for gender transitioning or gender dysphoria. Several parents of children with gender dysphoria, along with doctors and advocacy groups, sued to block the law's enforcement, and a judge last year concluded the law likely violated the Texas Constitution and enjoined its enforcement. The Texas Supreme Court, though, allowed the law to take effect while Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton's office appealed, and on Friday concluded the law was constitutional. Justice Rebeca Huddle, writing for the majority, said that while parents have a fundamental interest in directing their children's care free from government interference, that interest was not absolute and the legislature was not powerless to regulate medicine. She said the legislature made a "permissible, rational policy choice to limit the types of available medical procedures for children, particularly in light of the relative nascency of both gender dysphoria and its various modes of treatment." Karen Loewy, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Lambda Legal, said in a statement it was "impossible to overstate the devastating impact of this cruel and arbitrary ruling on Texas transgender youth and the families that love and support them." The Texas Supreme Court comprises only Republicans, and only Justice Debra Lehrmann dissented. She called the ban "cruel" and warned of the consequences of denying transgender children treatment, citing data showing a high risk of suicide among that population. "Surely the right of parents to make medical decisions, in consultation with their physicians, regarding the welfare of their children is worthy of more constitutional protection than the Court recognizes today," she wrote. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Richard Chang) During a visit to London with her husband, Empress Masako of Japan wore an unexpected "accessory" that is remembered from the coronavirus pandemic. The 60-year-old Japanese woman covered her face with a medical mask when she spoke to Britain's Queen Consort Camilla. ADVERTISIMENT She did not immediately use the protective mask but appeared with her mouth and nose covered during a horseback ride. According to a royal reporter, the reason was not that the empress was afraid of getting sick. The unexpected reason was reportedly Masako's allergy. She did not expect her body to have an allergic reaction while being close to horses, so she was forced to wear a mask. Canceling the horse-drawn carriage ride apparently seemed like a rude gesture to the Japanese guests. All along the way, Masako and Camilla talked, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Texas Woman Charged with 1 Murder, But Police Say She Might Be Connected to 20 Deaths According to the Arlington Police Department, investigators have identified more than 20 clients who have died since September 2022. Arlington Police Department Regla "Su" Becquer Police in Texas are investigating at least 20 deaths they allege may be linked to an assisted living care facility and its operator. In March, Regla "Su" Becquer, who operated "Love & Caring for People LLC," was charged with abandoning/endangering an individual in imminent danger of bodily injury. The charge followed numerous allegations of neglect, not providing adequate care, theft, fraud and abuse at Becquers allegedly illegal home-based healthcare company that provides care to multiple community living homes around Texas, police said. Since then, the probe has expanded. "After everything we've learned, I think it's clear to say she did not love or care for anyone," said Lt. Kimberly Harris of Arlington police, per CBS News. "We were deeply concerned about what we saw in these homes and what we had heard up until that point. I am here to tell you that's just the tip of the iceberg." According to the Arlington Police Department, investigators have identified more than 20 clients who have died since September 2022. 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. Police said the departments Behavioral Health Unit has been working with the Homicide Unit over the last few months to look into the deaths and to see if any of them are suspicious. Most of the clients had already been cremated, buried, or had their bodies donated to science. However, two had autopsies, CBS News reported. "Its important to note that many of the deaths occurred months or in some cases, more than a year before our investigation began and so most of these clients have already been cremated, buried, or had their bodies donated to science, making it challenging for us to investigate their deaths more thoroughly," Arlington PD spokesperson Tim Ciesco tells PEOPLE. On Thursday, June 20, police announced that Becquer, 49, was charged with one count of murder in connection with the death of Steven Kelly Pankratz, one of the two bodies autopsied. Authorities allege Pankratz died from mixed drug toxicity while under Becquer's supervision. "We believe she knowingly gave Mr. Pankratz medication he was never prescribed, leading to his death," Ciesco says. Becquer remains in custody at the Tarrant County Jail. Her bond has been set at $1.5 million. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The former president's keepsake is being featured in an exclusive exhibit at the Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill Heritage Art/Heritage Images/via Getty; NPS Theodore Roosevelt (left); a photo of Roosevelt's 126-year-old silver pocket watch Theodore Roosevelts beloved silver pocket watch is back at his Sagamore Hill family home 37 years after it was stolen. As of Thursday, June 27, the watch which was given to the 26th U.S. president by his sister Corinne and brother-in-law Douglas Robinson in 1898 will be available for free public viewing, and is being featured in an exclusive exhibit at the Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill for three months, a news release on the National Park Service (NPS) website confirmed. Per an FBI release, a Florida auctioneer realized who the watch belonged to after being asked to auction it off in 2023. Before that, the watch had been missing for almost 40 years. NPS A photo of Theodore Roosevelt's silver pocket watch Related: Bob Dylan Rare Painting Sold at Auction for Nearly $200K On July 21, 1987, the keepsake which was inscribed THEODORE ROOSEVELT FROM D.R. AND C.R.R. was stolen while on loan from the NPS to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site in Buffalo, New York, the FBI added. It had been in Sagamore Hill National Historic Site's possession since Roosevelt died at age 60 in 1919. NPS Director Chuck Sams was joined by Roosevelt family members on Thursday at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site as they held a special event to celebrate the watch's return. The NPS got the item back with some assistance from the FBI. It is an honor to have a role in preserving American history for current and future generations to learn from, Sams said, per the news release. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Recovering and returning this remarkable piece of presidential history, a cherished personal item of President Theodore Roosevelt, to its rightful home here at Sagamore Hill reflects the dedication and hard work of NPS and partners in the spirit of preservation, he added. Today, we are honored to return this extraordinary piece of Americana to its rightful owner, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division continued, per the release. Despite the passage of time, in this case, almost four decades, the FBI is committed to working with our partners to recover and preserve important pieces of our cultural heritage that help bring history to life, Nordwall said. Related: How an Impossibly Glamorous Photo of Audrey Hepburn Was Lost Then Rediscovered NPS A photo of Theodore Roosevelt's silver pocket watch 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. Per the NPS, then-future president Roosevelt who was in office from 1901 to 1909 took the watch with him "on some of his most famous adventures, including charging up San Juan Hill in Cuba, hunting wild game in Africa, and exploring the Amazon in South America." The stories this watch could tell over the last 126 years include colorful and profound moments in American history, Superintendent Jonathan Parker of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site said of the keepsake. Historic objects are powerful because they are literal participants in historic events, and in the case of this storied watch, it is also a beloved family heirloom of a renowned American president. Almost 40 years have passed since the public had last seen President Roosevelts watch and were excited to place this watch back into the light on public display, Parker concluded. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Theodore Roosevelt served as president more than a century ago, but relics from his life remain intact to this day. One item of his, a silver pocket watch engraved with his name, was stolen from a museum display case nearly 40 years ago. But after almost four decades at large, the watch has finally been recovered. The National Park Service confirmed the find in a June 27 statement. The watch was a trusty timepiece for Roosevelt, who kept it with him during many key points of his life, including his famous charge up San Juan Hill and his travels to Africa and the Amazon. It was loaned to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in 1971 for a six-year term to show it in an exhibition; the loan was extended but the watch was reported stolen from the site in 1987. It will now be available for free public viewing for the next three months at the Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Roosevelt's longtime home in Cove Neck, New York. "This watch was a fairly pedestrian Waltham 17 jewel watch with an inexpensive coin silver case," FBI art crime special agent Robert Giczy said in a statement of the artifact. "It's a 'Riverside' grade and model '1888' with a hunter-style case, meaning it has a lid on either side which fold and encase the dial and the movement." The piece was discovered to be the real deal when a Florida auctioneer was asked to auction off a pocket watch from the late 1800s and he realized it might have real historical ties. He was likely tipped off by it being engraved with Roosevelt's full name as well as the initials "D.R. & C.R.R." for his younger sister Corinne Roosevelt Robinson and brother-in-law Douglas Robinson Jr. It wasn't just a practical item for Roosevelt, as he had a sentimental connection to it. "Darling Corinne, you could not have given me a more useful present than the watch; it was exactly what I wished," he wrote to his sister in 1898, per the NPS. "Thank old Douglas for the watchand for his many, many kindnesses." Sagamore Hill National Historic Site superintendent Jonathan Parker celebrated the watch's long-overdue return. "The stories this watch could tell over the last 126 years include colorful and profound moments in American history," he said in an NPS statement. "Historic objects are powerful because they are literal participants in historic events, and in the case of this storied watch, it is also a beloved family heirloom of a renowned American president." Needless to say it's about time it was returned. A screen-grab shows Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he participates in his own debate, called The Real Debate, that streamed alongside the CNN debate. Credit - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are slated to duke it out at the CNN debate on Thursday night, but there are still four other candidates vying for the presidential office in 2024. Despite the two front-runners being the only candidates to qualify for the televised face-off, these other candidates have plans of their own for debate night. Heres what they intend to do. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The independent presidential candidate didnt meet the threshold for both state ballot qualification and necessary polling that were required to be eligible to participate in the debate in Atlanta. On Tuesday, he announced that he will participate in his own debate, called The Real Debate that will stream live on X and TheRealDebate.com at the same time as the CNN debate9 p.m. ET. Kennedy plans to answer the same debate questions that Biden and Trump will be asked during the CNN debate and is the only candidate to be holding a debate at the same time as the CNN event. Former FOX host John Stossel, now host and creator of Stossel TV and a self-proclaimed Libertarian, will moderate Kennedys debate. Im going to be on that debate stage with or without their permission, Kennedy said in his video announcement. Kennedy will also be on NewsNation directly after his debate to answer questions and respond to the Biden-Trump debate. NewsNation said it also plans to livestream Kennedys debate responses online. According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist College poll released June 18, Kennedy receives the support of 11% of registered voters nationally in a multi-candidate field. Read More: These Are the Rules of the CNN Presidential Debate Jill Stein The Green Party presidential candidate will be live-tweeting the Biden-Trump debate once it starts. At 10:30 p.m. ETor whenever the CNN debate endsStein will stream a live response to the debate on her Facebook, X, and YouTube accounts. CNN and the Biden and Trump campaigns locked Jill out of this sham debate, but they cant silence her voice for people, planet, and peace, Steins campaign said in a press release. According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist College poll, Stein receives the support of 1% of registered voters nationally in a multi-candidate field. Cornel West The independent presidential candidate will join theGrio for a post-debate analysis, part of its Black America Must Vote specials, at 10:30 p.m. ET. According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist College poll, West receives the support of 3% of registered voters nationally in a multi-candidate field. Chase Oliver The Libertarian presidential candidate will also be live-tweeting the Biden-Trump debate once it starts, and then plans to do media interviews after the debate ends. According to the NPR/PBS News/Marist College poll, Oliver receives the support of 1% of registered voters nationally in a multi-candidate field. Get alerts on the biggest breaking news stories here Contact us at letters@time.com. A third of shark species face extinction. One man is trying to change that Diego Cardenosa has loved sharks ever since he was a child. The Colombia native was never afraid of them when he visited his beloved beach. Instead, he was fascinated with how sharks move through water using their multiple fins. Its no surprise he became a marine biologist. As soon as I realized they were going through a conservation crisis, I wanted to help what I love the most, said Cardenosa. Sharks need him more than ever. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature reports 35% of all shark species are threatened with extinction. That number has grown nearly 50% in a decades time. The primary reason is overfishing; shark meat and fins are highly sought. They are being killed at a rate that cannot be sustained in the future, said Cardenosa. Scientists worry the sharks dwindling numbers could bring ecological collapse as they play a number of key roles in the ocean. Unlike many fish, sharks take a long time to reproduce. Fisheries kill about 100 million sharks a year, according to the non-profit Save Our Seas. Many sharks end up as bycatch when long lines and gill nets unintentionally catch them. The largest demand that drives the international trade is shark fin soup. Shark finning is problematic because when you remove the fins from a shark and you put it back in the water, its just like a rock or a log just falling to the bottom of the ocean, said Cardenosa. If they cannot swim, they will suffocate to death. Hammerheads are one of the of the most critically endangered sharks- having lost 80% of their population in just the last three decades. Their fins are big and really good quality, said the scientist. That means theyre thick and they have these cartilaginous filaments that are used in the shark fin soup. In recent years, demand has also risen for shark meat- a cheap protein consumed throughout Europe and South America. A small DNA tool makes a big difference Today Cardenosa is fighting the illegal trade of endangered sharks as a Distinguished Postdoctoral scholar at Florida International University in Miami. The marine biologist is using molecular and forensic tools to combat smuggling that stretches from Hong Kong to Latin America. One of the biggest challenges for law enforcement at ports around the world is determining whether shipments of shark fins and meat are violating CITES- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. A lot of the fins look the same, explained Cardenosa. How can you tell whether a shark fin that is coming into the country is legal or illegal, is from a species that is regulated or not regulated? Cardenosa, along with fellow FIU adjunct professor Demian Chapman, came up with a portable DNA kit that looks like a small red cube. It identifies species and country of origin of shark fins and meat coming into ports. Seized shark fins at a Hong Kong news conference in 2018. - Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images We take a little piece of this fin, we run it through a machine for two hours, and were able to tell what species it is without sequencing very cheaply, very quickly. For years, port authorities were sending samples off-site to labs for testing that came back days if not a week later- slowing down the seizures. Their technology is now used in the shark trades busiest ports: Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Spain, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Cardenosa said it has helped Hong Kong authorities go from seizing an average of five tons of shark fins annually before 2018 to one hundred tons since they started using the tool. His DNA toolkits have also helped stop illegal shipments of European eels and South Americas matamata turtles, earning the marine scientist Interpols Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol medal. A decade of pounding pavement leads to international shark protections Cardenosa and a team of Hong Kong scientists have surveyed fish markets for a decade to determine the source of their shark meat and fins. Using DNA, theyve tested more than 15,000 samples in Hong Kong and mainland China and discovered a whopping two-thirds of whats being sold in those markets are from threatened shark species. Were removing and trading some of the ones that are the most critically endangered in the ocean, said Cardenosa. That research has helped expand the number of shark species now regulated by CITES. Governments that sign on to the agreement must require permits for every shipment of shark products that moves through their ports, ensuring the trade is legal, traceable and sustainable. Cardenosa said when he got started in the field, there were only five or six shark species regulated by the CITES agreement. Today there are more than 150 sharks and rays covered. Marine scientist Diego Cardenosa working with fisheries in South America to monitor shark catches. - Courtesy Diego Cardenosa Cardenosa also discovered through genetic tracing that 85% of the fins at those markets belong to sharks caught in the Eastern Pacific, which stretches from Baja, California south through Central and South America to Peru- including Cardenosas home country, Colombia. The vast majority of the markets and the fisheries for sharks around the world are unsustainable, unmanaged, unregulated and sometimes illegal, said Cardenosa. The scientist is working with fishermen in South America some of whom rely on fishing all kinds of marine life for their livelihoods. Hes teaching them ways to fish sustainably without dangerous long lines and gillnets and how to protect known endangered shark populations. What were trying to do is to identify areas where those hammerhead sharks spend the majority of the time and make agreements with them to not fish those locations. Cardenosa says good management of shark fisheries is a really hard task to do. Everybody is trying to find a way to do it. He also enlists those local fishermen to help him. We teach them how to collect data and bring them in as part of our projects to help. The shark scientist is also trying to convince more countries to sign on to the CITES convention on sharks. How you can help sharks One of the easiest ways to help sharks and all marine life is to try to consume seafood from sustainable sources. There are a number of online resources and apps for that including the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Just 4% of global shark catches are sustainable so its generally not a good idea to consume sharks. Additionally, their dense meat often contains a lot of mercury. That will go to our lab and our programs to fund these projects and really have an impact on a global scale. You can also donate to the research Cardenosa is conducting through the FIU Foundation. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Third suspect arrested in Lee County homicide DANVILLE, Va. (WJHL) A third suspect has been arrested in connection to a homicide in Lee County. Virginia State Police on Friday announced the arrest of Virginia Redden, 41, of Ewing, in Danville. Redden is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. On Thursday, state police announced two arrests related to the death of Jerry Lee Wheet, whose remains were found near ATV trails in Lee County in April. Fun Fest Store opens in Kingsport ahead of festival Amos Lee Leebo Hall, 39, of Rose Hill, Va., was arrested Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Christopher N. Holeman, 33, of White Springs, Fla., was arrested Monday on a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Three is set to fall short of rural coverage targets as a deadline for tackling so-called mobile signal not spots looms. Mobile network operators have until July to expand their coverage to reach 88pc of the UKs landmass in the first part of a 1bn government project. Vodafone has said it will hit the deadline while it is understood Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) is also on track. Smaller rival Three said it was working hard to meet the targets but failed to confirm it would do so. It comes after BT struck a rural coverage deal with some of its rivals to help meet the deadline. The Telegraph has learned that BT, which owns the EE network, reached agreements with VMO2 and Vodafone to provide access to some of its mobile masts in remote locations. EE, which has more mobile masts than its rivals and is contributing to the initial phase of the rural coverage project separately, reached its initial target earlier this year. The last-minute deals underscore the rush to upgrade rural mobile signals after the Government rejected pleas for an 18-month extension. Three could now be at risk of a fine if it fails to complete the first phase of the project, which is focused on partial not spot areas where at least one operator provides coverage but not all of them. Ofcom has the power to fine companies up to 10pc of their global turnover, though officials have insisted that any response would be reasonable. It is understood that Three will meet with Ofcom in the coming weeks. Any delay to the project, known as the Shared Rural Network (SRN), would also deal a blow to local communities waiting for an upgrade to their critical telecoms infrastructure. Analysis by consultancy FarrPoint, commissioned by EE, this week revealed that 4G connectivity had delivered economic benefits of up to 6.9m over 15 years for rural communities. The second phase of the SRN project, which will be funded by the Government, will target total not spot areas, where no operators currently provide 4G services. Ministers have set out a target of covering 95pc of the UKs landmass by the end of next year and to the entire country by earlier 2027. A spokesman for Three said: We are working hard to meet the interim deadline and are on track to deliver the overall January 2027 target for 4G geographic coverage under the SRN programme. A BT spokesman said: Weve been in discussions with a number of other mobile networks in recent months to share sites to support their own coverage efforts and well continue to collaborate with them on the next phase of the project. A spokesman for Ofcom said: Were responsible for assessing mobile network operators compliance with their coverage obligations, and we expect to receive data about their progress soon. Over the summer we will carry out our own analysis, including tests where well drive to certain locations to check that coverage has been delivered. An update on our findings and next steps will then be published in due course. 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. SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero is calling out doctors and others who have been selling access to a special medical lane designed to get patients across the border quickly. The lane was set up years ago as an incentive to get people to visit Tijuana for medical and dental procedures. Caballero says some doctors and police officers have been selling access to this lane to those who dont receive or need medical attention south of the border. We have doctors who are selling these medical passes, cheating the system, something they shouldnt be doing, Caballero said. We are launching an investigation, those caught doing this will lose their privilege to provide this service, well keep doing this in the future. Bathrooms needed for border crossers forced to wait in line, Tijuana chamber says The mayor also said the sale of illegal passes has led to longer waits in the special lane intended to get patients across the border faster. This is a form of corruption on behalf of doctors, police and other public servants, she said. We are adding special chips or sensors to the passes, but I know they will ultimately find other ways to carry on with this corruption. The mayor told reporters earlier this week of a case where one person said he bought a pass from a doctor for $10. This is actually less than what they go for, she said. Almost all cosmetic procedures in Tijuana are done on American women The passes are normally sold to doctors at Tijuanas Economic Development office. These passes are supposed to be handed out to patients who cant sit in line for long periods. Abraham Sanchez Frehem, president of Tijuanas Medical Cluster, says the practice needs to stop as it is hurting legitimate physicians and their patients. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Unfortunately, the clandestine sale of these passes goes on, authorities have not been able to stop this, he said. We insist the Economic Development office demand an accounting of where these passes are going, anyone not doing this should be reprimanded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Joe Biden has had a great presidency. By any objective metric, he has excelled as president. One of his top aides, who worked closely with him in the Obama White House, said to me last year, I had no idea when he was vice president that he would be so effective as president. He has exceeded my expectations in every way. Now Biden has an opportunity to produce the perfect capstone for his presidency, an act of wisdom and leadership that will seal his legacy as being among the best of this countrys chief executives. He can pass the torch to a new generation of leaders. He can look to his effective and talented vice president and say, It is your turn now. He can work with other party leaders, including ex-presidents Obama and Clinton, to ensure her victory. By far the most undeniable message of the debate that took place on the evening of June 27 between Biden and former President Donald Trump was that neither America nor the world can risk a Trump victory. Trump, already established as having the worst record of any president in U.S. history, as a convicted criminal, a fraud, a rapist, and a traitor, must not win in November. On Thursday night, Trump made it clear that if hes reelected we could expect even worse than we got the last time around. We understand the patterns of his lies because lies are all he ever offers, and during this debate he unleashed an endless stream of them. But when the lie is that we have to stop post-birth abortions (which are not even a thing) and leave the choice about the future of abortion to the states, we know that means that neither he nor the MAGA GOP will stop at gutting Roe v. Wade.When he equivocates about whether he will accept election results in November or dodges questions about whether he will weaponize the justice system to attack his enemies and then offers an absurd list of Biden crimes, we know a Trump win will usher in a police state in America. When he promises to end the Ukraine war even before he is sworn in and then adds the outrageous assertion that it was Bidens fault the war took place and that millions died needlessly, without a hint of condemnation of Putin, we know what it means. If Trump won, Ukraine would be finished and so too would be NATO, the undoing of which, according to members of his own Cabinet, was on the unfinished business from his term in office. Despite a deeply flawed format that made Trumps lies and threats to the future of the United States seem equivalent to Bidens earnest if sometimes garbled responses, the debate made two things crystal clear. One was that if Trump were to win reelection, he would usher in an era of authoritarian hate-fueled fascism that would be the end of the United States as we have known it. The other was that the only person who stood between us and that outcome was not the ideal man for the job. Biden has not only been an excellent president but he is a good man. His decency shines when placed aside Trumps manifest corruption and odiousness. But we could barely see those core Joe Biden virtues during the debate because he was clearly not himself. It is not just that he stumbled or sounded hoarse or appeared halting or that he failed to effectively fact-check Trump. It was that it was hard to watch Biden and imagine that for the remaining four and a half months of this tight race, he was going to be up to giving Trump the sound and convincing beating that his record and the menace he poses warrant. This was not about, as some pundits and reflexive Biden defenders would have it, a bad debate performance. It was not just that somehow Biden was falling victim to the history incumbents have of lousy first debates. Because this situation is not like any other. There has never before been a threat to our country or system so grave or imminent as the reelection of Donald Trump. We cant afford to leave any aspect of the campaign against him to chance. We cant afford an effort against him that is anything less than the best that can be given, that is compromised in any way. What is more, the concerns about Biden were not just about his debate performance. They were about how risky it would be to assume that somehow he was just having an off night and that he would regain his mojo and finish strong over the course of the next grueling four and a half months of campaigning. That might be possible. But because it was not assured and because the menace of Trump was so apparent, the side-by-side imagery offered last night was, in the view of one of the most senior Democrats in Washington, confiding in me, terrifying. Like many others here in D.C., I was inundated with calls and texts and emails last night from friends who were active Democrats, among the strongest Biden supporters you will ever find, people who you would assume were the presidents first line of defense. All of them without exception expressed deep fear at what might happen if Biden continued as the candidate. Many speculated as to how he could be encouraged to step aside. One suggested the right path was to first convince Jill Biden that he should not run. Others said that a group of leaders including top Democrats on Capitol Hill or former presidents should do it. But all, without exception, said there is no time to spare; we must act now. Indeed, one of the compelling arguments for urgency and how difficult a handover might be has to do with election logistics. Ohio has, for example, set a deadline for candidates to get on the ballot that is before the Democratic convention. Dems had figured out a workaround to have Biden officially declared the candidate even before then. Could that be done for anyone else? Quickly enough? It is unlikely Biden will step down as the candidate. But it is undeniable that better candidates exist and that if it is critical Trump be defeated, Democrats must field the very best possible candidate. There is a long list of Democrats who could do the job and beat Trump handily. In my view, Kamala Harris has grown in office to such a degree and is so effective on what should be the essential issues of this racelike defending the basic freedoms of women that are under assault from the MAGA rightthat she is the natural candidate. No one would better carry forward the Biden legacy. And stepping away from her would be hugely and dangerously divisivea battle the party can ill afford for all the reasons cited above. (Whether Biden stays or goes, Harris must have a much larger and more central role in the campaign than many envisioned. She is its strongest asset.) Indeed, a Harris-Whitmer ticket, two women, two proven leaders, two voices of a new generation in American politics, two people with links to vital aspects of the coalition that can deliver a big electoral victory for Democrats, would be immensely powerful. It would win, and that victory would assure the continuity of the work of the current administration and that the election held this November will not be the last in U.S. history. But such debates are not for the idle speculation of columns like this one. Rather, in the wake of last nights debate, it is essential that Democrats begin by acknowledging they have a problem. Next, a deeply serious discussion about whether Biden is the candidate must take place. If a change can be made at the top of the ticket, then do not hesitate to make it. The clock is ticking. And if that is not a possibility, then find a solution that recognizes Bidens limitations. That could mean running not behind one man but as a movement, as the Democratic Party, as a coherent team of people with a clear vision for the future, a stake in that future and the ability to frame the peril posed by Trump for what it is. I know which course I and many of the other senior Democrats with whom I have spoken would prefer in the wake of last nights debate. But in either case, that debate can ultimately be seen as a positive if it forces the Democrats to reassess, reorganize, and recommit themselves to meeting that historic and consequential challenge that lies before us allpreserving our democracy and the freedoms so many have fought for so many generations to create and preserve. Tamayo Perry is an actor in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. On Stranger Tides" Tamayo Perry, who died as a result of a shark attack, was close to death many times in his life. His dangerous hobby of surfing helped the rescuer pull people out of the water, but at the same time endangered his own life. ADVERTISIMENT No matter what tragedies and injuries Perry faced, a shark attack was the last thing he feared. This was told by the widow of the former actor, the New York Post reports. The deceased believed that being afraid of dying in the water is the same as being afraid of getting into a car. An accident may or may not happen, but people still drive. This belief guided the rescuer in conquering high waves. He had been surfing for over 15 years and worked on some of the most dangerous beaches in the world. During this time, the American has repeatedly faced life-threatening situations. Once, his surfboard accidentally fell and sliced Tamayo's head a few centimeters from his temple. ADVERTISIMENT On another bad day, he surfaced with a deep wound on his leg millimeters from his femoral artery. However, sharks were never a serious concern for Tamayo. He believed that a predator attack was too unlikely. "We had so much fun. It was incredible. He had a wonderful, full life. He had a lot of lives saved. He pulled out his best friends. He pulled out strangers. None of this is easy. It's a very heroic job," recalled the rescuer's widow, who met him 26 years ago. ADVERTISIMENT This time, the celebrity's body was also pulled out by friends who noticed his disappearance right away. The surfer was missing one arm and one leg. The injuries were incompatible with life. The news of Perry's death, who had long ago given up his career as an actor, broke all over the world not because of his participation in Pirates of the Caribbean, Hawaii Five-0, or Charlie's Angels, according to his grieving lover. In her opinion, it was the surfers, whose community is very friendly in the world, who helped to tell as many people as possible about the deceased. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Now-former Tennessee Titans sales executive Mary-Kate Wichalonis has decided to resign from her position with the team after being arrested recently. Per E.Z. Emerson of Scoop Nashville, Wichalonis was charged with public intoxication and assault after an alleged altercation with a security guard at Whiskey Row on June 18. Here are more details, per the article: 23-year-old Model & Tennessee Titans Sales Executive Mary-Kate Wichalonis had an altercation with a security guard, Noah Williams, at Whiskey Row around 11:12 p.m. on June 18th. When officers arrived, they located Wichalonis on the ground, detained by security. Officers asked security to back up so they could speak with Wichalonis. While officers walked with her to their patrol car, they noticed she showed several signs of impairment and reeked of alcohol. Then, officers spoke with Williams, who stated he witnessed Wichalonis attempting to sneak her boyfriend into the bar. Williams added that when he went to remove Wichalonis, she became aggressive and struck him six times in the head before other security guards took her down. Another security guard corroborated Williams statements. Then, when officers asked Wichalonis about the occurrence, she stated she tried sneaking her boyfriend in because he had lost his ID. Initially, Wichalonis qualified for a citation but refused to give officers her fingerprints, so they detained her. Wichalonis was taken into custody for public intoxication and assault on June 19th. Wichalonis, who was hired by the Titans just five months ago, revealed to Joe Kinsey of Outkick that she has resigned following the incident. Story originally appeared on Titans Wire New TN law allows law enforcement to continue to use drones without a warrant NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Tennessee law enforcement agencies will continue to be able to use drones without a search warrant in various investigations following the approval of a bill earlier this year. In 2021, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a new set of laws regarding law enforcement use of drones. The provisions would have ended on July 1, 2024. However, during the latest legislative session, lawmakers voted to extend them. New bill would extend drone use by law enforcement in TN The bill extending the provisions was sponsored by Sen. Becky Duncan Massey (R-Knoxville), who told News 2s sister station WATE, It really is a very useful tool in public safety, and I think the more tools we can give law enforcement to help keep us safe, the better. Prior to 2021, law enforcement agencies were allowed to use drones, but it required a search warrant signed by a judge. Under the current law, there are a few different scenarios where agencies can use drones without a warrant, as long as they stay in compliance with federal aviation administration rules. Authorities dont need a warrant when using drones to investigate a crime scene, provide aerial coverage of natural disasters during a state of emergency, or to enhance security on private property with the owners consent. Several law enforcement agencies across Middle Tennessee have employed drones in various capacities over the past few years. In July 2023, the Sumner County Sheriffs Office said a drone helped deputies save a mans life during a tense welfare check. Sumner County authorities use drone to save mans life While responding to the call, authorities said they spotted a razor blade and a blood trail leading into a 50-acre cornfield. The 5-foot-tall crops were so dense that deputies could not see the man. Minutes after launching a drone, they found him in the middle of the field. Officials said deputies were able to provide life-saving care and the man ultimately survived the ordeal. According to the sheriffs office, drones are also used to search for missing children, runaways, Silver Alerts, and individuals inflicting harm. Drones were deployed to help search for 22-year-old Riley Strain after he went missing in Nashville during a fraternity trip in March. In Putnam County, the devices have been useful in helping deputies track suspects and during drug investigations. When a man crashed his car and ran into the woods in February, deputies launched one of their tracking drones to quickly take the man into custody. Putnam County deputies using drones to fight crime Drones, as well as our K-9 [team], you put both of those together in an area where we can use both of those especially this time of year with no foliage its very difficult to elude law enforcement, Putnam County Sheriff Eddie Farris told News 2 following the arrest. However, the law does have some provisions limiting what can be used in court. Any data obtained by law enforcement must be deleted within 15 days, unless the data is needed in a criminal prosecution. Under the statute, data is not admissible as evidence in a criminal prosecution if it was obtained unlawfully, and it may not be used as probable cause to obtain a search or arrest warrant or detain a person if collected unlawfully. In an interview with WATE, Knoxville Assistant Fire Chief Mark Willbanks emphasized that officials dont want to overstep privacy with these tools. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com We want to think about that, no matter what we do we think about peoples privacy and protecting any right that they can, he said. We want to make sure that we are doing everything we should do to make people feel comfortable in how we operate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Florida Black History Task Force is set to hold its final meeting in Tallahassee on Friday. The group has recommended Saint Johns County for the site of the Florida Museum of Black History. It was a decision that shocked leaders in Eatonville, who were fighting for the museum to be built there. PREVIOUS: State panel recommends St. Johns County over Eatonville for site of Floridas Black History Museum Now, its up to the task force to finalize that decision, which will be sent to the state legislature for consideration. Todays meeting is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. The public can register to attend virtually by clicking here. Stay with WFTV.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ATLANTA Joe Bidens top campaign staffers tried to quickly and forcefully project calm in a private, previously scheduled meeting with donors and bundlers Friday following a disastrous performance in his first debate against Donald Trump. They argued it wasnt a campaign killer. Staffers touted grassroots fundraising numbers. Bidens campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon told them that there was no easy way to get Biden out of the race or name a new nominee. The private gathering the campaigns first critical attempt at damage control in the immediate aftermath of the dismal debate failed to calm all the attendees. Some were cheered by the presentation. Others felt that the staffers were chastising them for being anxious hand-wringers, ignoring the reality in front of them. Donors said the campaign acknowledged that they have to sharpen their message. But at least one said there appeared to be no change in strategy. One donor even directly asked campaign officials if Biden was going to drop out. Theyre saying, We just had one bad night, said a prominent Democratic donor familiar with the event. What theyre missing, a vital point theyre missing, is its not just one bad night. Theres no fixing this. This article is based on interviews with more than a dozen Democratic donors, operatives and White House staffers. Many were granted anonymity to freely discuss Bidens debate performance and the campaigns attempt to quiet fears. Fridays meeting which featured OMalley Dillon, campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks was an effort to reassure the only group of people, besides the president himself, with the power to pull the plug on the campaign. Theyre forcefully rejecting calls that he will step aside, pointing to the campaigns small-dollar fundraising success as proof that theres still energy behind Bidens candidacy. And theres particular concern for how the donor community may react. The biggest problem is donors. If the money dries up, everybody will start to panic, said one Democratic operative and close adviser to several members of Congress. Major Democratic donors received inquiries from senior White House officials, soliciting input for what to do following the debate a sign of traditional donor management. I do think its incumbent on the campaign to acknowledge that this was a mistake to do a debate the way they did, to do it before the convention, to do it in a format hes not good in, said one Democratic donor who described the texts from senior officials. There have to be some repercussions, and the sooner someone in campaign leadership accepts responsibility for last night, the sooner other questions about Biden as the nominee will quiet down. The unease permeated Capitol Hill, where one House Democrat said theres a strong desire to find a way out of it. We just dont have consensus on what that would mean, the lawmaker said. Inside the White House and Wilmington campaign headquarters, officials privately acknowledged that the president fared poorly in his showdown with Trump, not only missing a chance to quiet doubts about his age but returning them to the very forefront of the campaign, according to four people. But their instinct was to fight, with surrogates fanning out on the airwaves to dismiss talk of Biden bowing out while campaign officials reached out to nervous Democrats to try to quiet any public calls for a replacement. He didnt have the best night on the debate stage. But youd rather have one bad night than a candidate with a bad vision for where he wants to take the country, campaign communications director Michael Tyler told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. He said Biden was committed to participating in a second debate in September and that there are no conversations about Biden stepping aside. He also said the campaign was not considering any staffing changes. And over the next two days, Biden will appear at three major fundraisers in New York, including the largest LGBTQ+ fundraising event, according to the campaign. Biden staffers and outside advisers dismissed the post-debate chatter as Democratic hysteria that would pass in the days ahead. Still, those closest to the president believe that the next three to four days would be crucial in determining whether Biden would face a groundswell of calls to step aside that the campaign would be unable to endure, according to the people. If that were to happen which officials continued to doubt the list of people who could hold sway over Biden is small and, the people said, begins with his family. The loudest voice belongs to first lady Jill Biden, who delivered a fiery defense of her husband in the hours after the debate Thursday night and repeated that sentiment to confidants on Friday, according to three of the people. Other members of Bidens family and friends blamed the presidents poor performance on the debate preparations, believing it was too focused on statistics and not enough on performance, according to one of the people. Others said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could have sway with Biden if he made the argument that Biden remaining at the top of the ticket could cost Democrats both houses of Congress, according to two of those not authorized to speak publicly. Bidens sister, Valerie, as well as a few other key figures including Barack Obama and Rep. Jim Clyburn also could be among those whom the president would have to listen to if one of them approached them about reevaluating his future. But Biden officials strenuously pushed back at the idea that any of that would happen, believing that in a largely static race, the post-debate polling hit would be fairly slight and recoverable and that Biden was still positioned to beat Trump. Both Clyburn and Obama put out statements of support on Friday. And Biden delivered a stronger performance at his Raleigh rally acknowledging that I dont debate as well as I used to but insisting he knew right from wrong and how to get things done. But Bidens poor showing at the debate now puts even more pressure on a series of upcoming events that will further shape the campaign, beginning with the NATO summit in Washington in two weeks. That will be followed by Trump's criminal sentencing on July 11 and then both parties conventions the Republicans in Milwaukee in mid-July, the Democrats a month later in Chicago as the summer winds down. And, assuming both candidates honor their commitments, the second and final scheduled debate between the two men is set for eleven weeks from now, kicking off the final two-month sprint until Election Day. Holly Otterbein, Adam Cancryn, Jennifer Haberkorn and Daniella Diaz contributed reporting. The News Prominent liberal columnists are calling for President Joe Biden to step aside following a widely-panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Before the debate concluded, New York Times columnist Nick Kristof said he hoped Biden would step aside and allow another Democratic politician to be nominated and challenge Trump. Others echoed Kristofs message. Edward Luce, the Financial Times US national editor, pointed out that the two months between now and the August convention was plenty of time to nominate another candidate. Jacob Weisberg, the former CEO of Slate, similarly called for Biden to allow someone else to take up the nomination. MSNBCs Joy Reid said that she had heard from people circulating the convention nomination rules: The New Republic had a simple headline: Ditch Biden: They join a small group of liberal commentators who have raised serious concerns about Bidens candidacy in recent months. New York Times opinion columnist Ezra Klein dedicated a series of episodes on his popular Times podcast to why Biden should step aside, and how it would work. CNNs David Axelrod has also drawn ire from Biden allies over his criticisms of the presidents campaign strategy, and doubts about his ability to win the race. Maxs view Over the past several years, the White House, Bidens communications team and the Democratic party have done an effective job pushing back and tamping down on stories about Bidens age. They complained that a Wall Street Journal story about the presidents age and what lawmakers think of him behind closed doors was a partisan hit-job and did not include enough quotes from Democratic politicians who believe that Biden has not lost a step. They chastised the White House press corps for having collective memory problems" themselves that prevented them from remembering Bidens strong qualities and past rightwing age attacks. Theyve argued to reporters that Trumps old age effectively negated the subject. That battle will be much more difficult after Bidens debate with Trump, and will ignite a fresh round of questions about whether Biden will or should be the nominee. The presidents primary surrogates took a relatively short stint in the spin room, before ceding much of the spin room to Trumps surrogates. Bidens poor performance also overshadowed one of the strongest complaints Democrats and left-leaning media pundits had: CNNs failure to fact-check President Donald Trumps numerous misstatements. Before the debate began, Semafor asked California Gov. Gavin Newsom whether it would put to rest the question of whether the Democrats would replace the former president. One hundred percent, said Newsom. Enough. I mean, honestly enough! The View From CNN In a brief interview after the debate, CNN CEO Mark Thompson said he felt that the entire point of debate was to let the American voters, the American public and the world see the two candidates, setting out their visions for America, and also critiquing each others versions of America. And I thought that the program succeeded at doing that. The CNN chief said that the debate largely went according to how the network game-planned it, saying that in general most of the answers to the questions and the sort of political points and the repartee between two candidates was very close to the way we prepared for it before and thought about it, though there were a few surprises. Asked about criticism that the moderators shouldve done fact-checking, Thompson chuckled and said it shouldve been your first question and walked away. The View From The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal faced the fury of the White House and criticism from other media after reporting that people who had met Biden privately said he was slipping. I asked Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker whether she felt vindicated by the debate. Very much so. The reporters took a lot of grief for covering a story that needed to be covered and that no other main stream publishers were willing to touch. I am very proud of them. Notable America debated Joe Bidens age for years before Thursdays presidential debate, as a Semafor Signal details. Texass Supreme Court on Friday upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for minors, dealing a blow to a group of medical providers, national LGBTQ organizations and families with transgender children that sued to block it. The 8-1 ruling leaves in place a law that has upended care for an estimated 30,000 transgender Texans for nearly a year. The states highest court in August denied a motion to block enforcement of the ban, after an appeal from the state attorney generals office automatically paused a lower courts injunction. Texas District Judge Maria Cantu Hexsel, a Democrat, wrote in the Aug. 25 ruling granting the injunction that the law, Senate Bill 14, likely violates the states constitution by infringing on the right of parents to make health care decisions for their children and by discriminating against transgender youth based on sex and transgender status. It also violates the ability of health care providers to follow well-established, evidence-based standards of care under threat of losing their medical license, Cantu Hexsel wrote in August. Gender-affirming health care for transgender adults and minors is considered safe and medically necessary by every major medical organization, though not every trans person chooses to medically transition or has access to care. Texass law, signed last year by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, bars transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers, hormones and transition surgeries, though the latter is generally not recommended for people younger than 18. Twenty-four other Republican-led states have passed laws similarly restricting care, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit organization that tracks LGBTQ laws, though federal court orders are blocking enforcement of bans in Montana and Ohio. A federal judge earlier this month struck down a Florida law barring access to gender-affirming health care for minors and certain adults, and a similar Arkansas law was ruled unconstitutional last year. The Supreme Court this week said it will decide during its next term whether state bans on gender-affirming medical care for minors are constitutional, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown over transgender rights. We do not attempt to identify the most appropriate treatment for a child suffering from gender dysphoria. That is a complicated question hotly debated by medical experts and policy makers throughout this country and the world, Justice Rebeca Aizpuru Huddle, who was appointed to the court by Abbott, wrote Friday in the courts decision. And, to be sure, neither this Court nor any party to this proceeding suggests that children suffering from gender dysphoria are undeserving of treatment and support. Huddle emphasized Friday that the question before the court whether Senate Bill 14 violates Texass Constitution is a distinctly legal one. We conclude the Legislature made a permissible, rational policy choice to limit the types of available medical procedures for children, particularly in light of the relative nascency of both gender dysphoria and its various modes of treatment and the Legislatures express constitutional authority to regulate the practice of medicine, Huddle wrote Friday. Legal advocates who sued to block the law last summer slammed Fridays ruling as needlessly cruel. It is impossible to overstate the devastating impact of this cruel and arbitrary ruling on Texas transgender youth and the families that love and support them, Karen Loewy, senior counsel and director of constitutional law practice at Lambda Legal, said in a statement. The courts decision to reject safe and affirming care will have lasting impacts on all people in Texas, said Lynly Egyes, legal director at Transgender Law Center. All Texans, no matter what they look like or the neighborhood they live in, should know that we will continue to work alongside our partners to fight for the rights of trans Texans and their families. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Homeless people across the country can now be penalized for sleeping outside, but the Supreme Court says it should be up to each local government. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted 6-3 Friday morning that it is constitutional to ban people from sleeping outside. 27 News spoke with Topekas City Attorney Amanda Stanley about what this means for Topeka. The ability to have every tool in our toolbox is what the Supreme Court gave us, Stanley said. I think thats really helpful when you look at such a hard problem. No one solution is going to fix it. Stormont Vail Health extremely disappointed by decision made by Lyon County officials Earlier this year, Topeka began its homeless abatement process. Current city ordinances claim its unlawful to camp near public infrastructure. So far, crews cleared more than 200 tons of trash along the Kansas River and other public areas. You have to think about the community as a whole, Stanley said. Which is why you need to try to get people in housing, but also in neighborhoods, kids need to be able to walk down the street and not deal with feces or other issues. With the SCOTUS ruling, Stanley says it gives the city free rein to continue their work. Those conversations can continue, Stanley said. The court made a big point of saying federal judges are not the best people to decide how we fix homelessness, we should look to the people on the ground and thats what the City of Topeka is already doing. Topeka hotel fire damage results released 27 News received a press release from the Topeka Rescue Mission (TRM) shortly after the decision was made public. Below is a excerpt from their full statement and response to the ruling: While we as a ministry respect and appreciate the time the court put in to assessing and discussing this situation, we also recognize that the number of people finding themselves experiencing homelessness continues to rise and the needed services for rehabilitation and restoration are not able to meet the increasing demand. TRM Excerpt For more Homeless Issues news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) The City of Topeka is releasing the details of a recent hotel fire which prompted an evacuation Thursday night. Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka said in a press release that firefighters were called around 10 p.m. to the Quality Inn at 1240 SW Wanamaker Road. The Topeka Fire Department found smoke coming from the north side of the hotel and identified the cause of the fire as an A/C unit. This embedded content is not available in your region. Firefighters extinguished the flames and evacuated all three floors of the hotel with no injuries reported. The fire was likely caused by an electrical issue from the A/C unit. Total estimated losses put the damage at $8,000 with $5,000 attributed to structural damage and the rest to content loss. Stormont Vail Health extremely disappointed by decision made by Lyon County officials 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. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Topeka Regional Airport is set to receive $2.2 million as part of a Biden administration program to improve the nations airports. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportations (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced $123 million would go to improving 235 airports in 35 different states. The funds come from the second round of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The Biden-Harris Administration continues to make our aviation system safer, more accessible, and more resilient through initiatives like the Airport Improvement Program, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The grants were announcing today will help modernize hundreds of airports across the country and better meet the current and future demands of the flying public. Funds will be used for various construction projects to repair runways and taxiways, improve lighting and signage or purchase needed equipment. The funds going to the Topeka Regional Airport will be used to reconstruct the pavement on Taxiway A for improved safety. Kansas gun show organizers talk ATF rule change This $123 million investment helps airports across the Nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world, said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta R. Griffin, P.E. For a list of approved FAA grants, click here. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Sharlene Cooper was just rolling out of bed in her Topeka home when she felt something brush across her face. To her surprise and alarm, it was a spider and it had already delivered a bite that would start a painful ordeal lasting for days. KSNT 27 News spoke with Cooper about her miserable experience which started the morning of Saturday, June 8 in Topeka. She said she thought it was just her hair on her face at first but was shocked to find a spider was there. Her gut reaction was to swat it away though she quickly realized it had bitten the eyelid on her right eye. I felt a little tiny sting, Cooper said. At first, it was so mild, I thought it was just my imagination. Then it started itching. Cooper said she and her husband had been cleaning out the basement of their home earlier in the week and noticed the presence of brown recluses, a spider which can deliver a painful bite which sometimes results in a long road to recovery. Certain this was the type of arachnid that had bitten her, though she was unable to locate the specimen to confirm this suspicion, Cooper decided a trip to the emergency room was necessary. I went to the ER because I had been bitten by a brown recluse on my hand before and it blistered and I did not want that on my eye, Cooper said. Plastic company leaves Topeka for Kansas City area Doctors gave Cooper a steroid shot and antibiotics as her eye and right side of her face began to swell. By the following day, she was feeling a lot worse. Sunday June 9, my whole face was swollen and my head was pounding, Cooper said. My nasal passages were so swollen I couldnt breathe out my nose. My throat was scratchy. (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) (Photo Courtesy/Sharlene Cooper) Coopers doctors were concerned with the swelling and possible damage that could happen to her eye, including a chance for an infection to spread. She was kept in the hospital for days, eventually being released on Thursday, June 13. It was very, very painful, Cooper said. It was the throbbing pain. Though more than two weeks have gone by since the initial bite, Cooper is still feeling its impact. Pain remains in her face which may take days or even weeks to eventually fade away. My eye is sore to touch, Cooper said. It feels like somebody punched me in my eye. It still itches. Im doing a lot better now. I was surprised at how fast everything reacted and Im glad I decided to go to the ER when I did. Stormont Vail Health extremely disappointed by decision made by Lyon County officials While Cooper is moving past the hospital visits and the worst of the swelling issues, she is now trying to warn others of the dangers which come from possible spider bites like the one she has been forced to endure. She encourages people who even suspect theyve been bitten by a spider, like a brown recluse, to take a trip to the hospital for a checkup. If someone was bitten or suspects they were bitten, they should go right away, Cooper said. Brown recluse bites can wreak havoc on your body. I would just say, dont put it off. If you even suspect that it could be that, dont put it off. KSNT 27 News reached out to Kansas State University Professor of Entomology Raymond Cloyd to get his comments on the situation. Cloyd said he doesnt believe a brown recluse was responsible for the bite, because there would have been tissue damage present and halo markings near the bite location. Cloyd also emphasizes a visit to a doctor following a bite for treatment and examination. However, he did say most people on average shouldnt fear the presence of dangerous spiders like brown recluses in their homes as even if they bite you there is a chance there wont be any venom. Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive, they arent out there looking for people to bite, Cloyd said. You can be in a house with a brown recluse and not be bitten by not threatening them. Kansas insect expert warns people to watch out for black widow, brown recluse infestations Brown recluse spiders can deliver a venomous bite that can lead to a bleeding, ulcerous wound which is slow to heal, according to Kansas State University. People who are bitten by brown recluses may have different reactions depending on factors like their health, spider size, bite location and so on. In rare instances, this bite can lead to a life-threatening systemic illness. The spiders are found throughout Kansas and many other states in the Midwest and southern U.S. hiding in boxes, piles of paper or books and furniture. They are more common in older homes which have developed cracks that allow them to enter freely. K-State recommends removing clutter from your home first in areas like the attic and basement to get rid of places for the spiders to hide. Frequent cleaning will help eliminate habitat, egg cases and prey for the spiders. Glue traps and insecticides are also an effective way to reduce or monitor brown recluse infestations. 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. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Ukrainian musician and member of the famous KAZKA band Dmytro Mazuriak congratulated his countrymen on the Constitution Day, mentioning one of the key articles of the document. In this way, the artist said that he has been serving in the Armed Forces for two months. ADVERTISIMENT "Article 65. The defense of the Fatherland, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the honoring of its state symbols are the duty of Ukrainian citizens. Citizens perform military service following the law," the post on Instagram reads. The serviceman added that he had previously undergone training and promised to talk about his service later. "As for the concerts, I can't promise anything yet, but I think I'll see you again. I serve the Ukrainian people!" Mazuriak said. The musician added photos of himself in military uniform to the post. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Torn to Shreds: Man Might Lose Leg After Woman Backs Boat Propeller into Him in Alleged Drunken Accident Kelly McCandless has been arrested in connection with the incident that seriously injured Kyle Lively Go Fund Me Kyle Lively A Texas man has suffered severe injuries after a woman allegedly backed a boat propeller into him while intoxicated, authorities claim. The incident took place on Saturday, June 22, when a boat driver allegedly backed over the man and struck him with a propeller prop, the Azle Fire Department tells PEOPLE. The department did not confirm the identity of the alleged victim, but according to a GoFundMe set up by his family, he is Kyle Lively, a father of two, who was in Eagle Mountain Lake near Fort Worth, Texas. His family says Lively was unexpectedly thrown off the back of his boat in the incident, an account the Azle Fire Department confirmed with NBC DFW. He was backed up over and his thighs and knees were torn to shreds by the propellers, the family said in the fundraiser. He was able to get himself to the surface of the water using his arms and will to live. When he called for help, Lively was reportedly saved by three people present at the scene who tied tourniquets around his legs and called emergency services, per the fundraiser. Tarrant County Jail Kelly McCandless Lively's sister, Marie Lively, told NBC DFW that her brother's left leg might be amputated. We just found out actually that theres a high percentage that he might actually lose his left leg," she told the outlet. In the GoFundMe, Lively's family expressed hope that he will recover, but they said the family will need financial help. "The doctors hope he will be able to walk again, and we know that he will," they said in the fundraiser. "We also know this is going to be a long recovery, an uphill battle and a huge financial struggle for Kyle and his family." 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. Kelly McCandless was arrested in connection with the incident, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirms with PEOPLE. McCandless, of Kennedale, Texas, was arrested on a charge of boating while intoxicated, according to Tarrant County jail records. It wasnt immediately clear if she has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Its been a tough year. NC farmers look for solutions as corn crop withers in field. The knee-high field corn at David McKees farm in Rougemont is green but stunted this week, its roots clinging to hard, red clay webbed with half-inch cracks and its leaves curled and twisted like day-old party streamers. This time of year, field corn, grown for animal feed, ethanol and processed foods, like corn syrup and snacks, should be at least 7 feet tall and ready to sprout tassels and set ears. It could start growing again with a good steady rain, and so could the grass, which the cows have eaten to a nub, McKee said. He put out a few hay bales for them this month, but that cuts into winter feed stores, and his soybeans could also take a hit if he misses Sundays planting deadline. Insurance already covers only some of his losses, and the amount is reduced if the plants go in late. If you put soybeans in the ground now, theyre going to bake in the ground and they will never sprout, McKee said. Most North Carolina farmers expect weather extremes, but the Piedmont and coastal areas havent seen rain in more than a month. It will take a lot to replace what they missed, McKee said. Climate and economic experts agreed the repercussions could affect farms and consumers next year and into the future. Its been a tough year, and its not even over yet, McKee said. On an afternoon when the Triangle region was broiling under record breaking temperatures, Orange County farmer David McKee walks among fields of corn stunted from the lack of rain over the last month on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in Rougemont, N.C. Farmers need rain, cooler nights Orange County is in its second-driest June on record since 1891, with 0.45 inches of rain reported at the Chapel Hill weather station, said Kathie Dello, director of the State Climate Office of North Carolina. The driest was in 1913, when 0.05 inches of rain fell, about 4 inches below the countys normal precipitation level, she said. On Thursday, the Drought Monitor posted a new update: 99 of 100 counties were experiencing dry conditions, with 57 upgraded to moderate drought and 42 designated abnormally dry. Most reported getting less than an inch of rain in June. While summer vegetables can tolerate some heat, daytime temperatures over 90 and nights over 70 for a week or more can wilt and dehydrate plants, affecting pollination, production and flavor, N.C. Cooperative Extension officials said. A recent spate of scattered showers brought temporary relief to some farmers across the state, but not enough to help crops recover. In eastern North Carolina, some farmers have given up, mowing their cornfields to start over, state field agronomists reported. Smaller and local farms that can irrigate are getting by, said Cathy Jones of Peri-winkle Farm in Chatham County. There are a lot of farmers working like crazy to save tomatoes this summer, she said. Were irrigating 24-7. Its a nonstop process of getting water to different areas of our farm, Jones said. Her 33-acre farm produces flowers and seasonal vegetables each week for the Carrboro Farmers Market. They also plant cover crops, including buckwheat, cowpeas also known as black-eyed peas and sunflowers, in between vegetable rotations, but thats next to impossible right now, Jones said. The heat, especially at night, is a double whammy, she added. Plants mature faster, flowers cant sleep, and tomatoes dont set their fruit. They are rushing to get the potatoes out of the ground before they bake in the hot soil, she said. The 2020 N.C. Climate Science Report says 2019 set the record for the warmest nighttime lows in North Carolina, capping off five years of the warmest overnight lows in 120 years of state historical records. Climate change picking up steam Researchers expect the global food supply to take more hits as the climate changes. The 2020 report noted overall crop yields could fall 3% to 7% in the Piedmont and mountain regions if carbon emissions arent cut. Coastal areas could see more extreme weather. Climatologists also expect more extreme heat days (above 95 degrees) and more frequent extremes in precipitation, from severe droughts to storms, Dello and others said. Change could also bring new pests and more heat-related illnesses, especially for farmworkers. North Carolina was behind the climate curve until the 1970s, warming by 1 degree from the 1890s to the 1960s, compared to 2 degrees globally. It has picked up in response to the changing climate, rapid deforestation and land-use changes, Dello said. While that may not sound like much, its already a different North Carolina than our parents and grandparents knew and could result in a major agricultural shift, she said, affecting a $77 billion state industry and over 700,000 jobs. That doesnt mean were doomed, Dello said. Folks really recognize that something is happening, and the conversation has changed quite a bit, at least over the past five years, from is this real to what can we do about it, and theres been a lot of emphasis on resilience, she said. David McKee has experienced an unusually dry June on his Orange County farm. It has delaying his soybean planting, and is hampering the growth of corn, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in Rougemont, N.C. Finding new crops, ways to grow Research is underway statewide to find fruits and vegetables that grow better in heat and humidity and to tap regenerative farming, which uses different crops and methods to reverse climate change and build healthier soil. The nonprofit Utopian Seed Project near Asheville is growing a variety of traditional and native Southern plants, aquatic plants and temperate tropical plants on micro-farms to build a resilient, diverse food supply. At N.C. State University, researchers are also involved in multiple projects, including crop rotation using sesame, which can be used to produce oil, food and cosmetics. Smaller, local farms are exploring heat-tolerant crops, no-till soil management, climate-controlled hoophouses, high tunnels and shade covers, and other techniques to extend their seasons and increase food production. In Bladen County, which produced over half of the states 38 million pounds of blueberries in 2022, one farmer is trying to find the best berries for a shorter, more challenging season. Joseph Williams, manager of Blue River Legacy Farms, is consulting with Tim Glotfelty, a researcher with the State Climate Office, to grow 22 different varieties in a 2-acre test plot to find what grows best with reduced chill hours, but still has flavorful berries. Blueberries go dormant in the winter and need a period of 32- to 45-degree weather to recharge, so they can develop new blooms and fruit when the days start getting longer. Winter heat spikes lasting more than a day or two disrupt chill hours, reducing the fruit. The plants also dont like highs above 70 degrees or humidity above 80%, he said, noting long, hot, dry summers and milder winters are reducing the traditional May to July season. That forces N.C. farmers to compete with regions on a traditionally early schedule, creating market oversupply and cutting prices. Were starting to see some impact of that, but the market will adjust to when fruit is available, Williams said. They just right now are in a state of confusion, and its a real struggle. We had some of the worst pricing probably in North Carolina ever. Cost to farm, buy food going up? Triangle farmers markets reported theres been no effect yet on the prices their farmers charge, but N.C. State University professor emeritus Mike Walden thinks consumers will be especially hard hit next year with a 25% increase in food costs, including for meat. Other hard-hit crops could include tobacco, soybeans and peanuts, he said. Farmers who see profits reduced will have to charge more for what they send to market to cover the cost of doing business next year. When youre dealing with nature, theres not much you can do, so this is a good example of a situation in my opinion where we really need to understand our farmers and appreciate what they do, because theyve got a tough job, Walden said. Orange County farmers McKee and Joe Phelps said its tough to get into farming or stay in business without a second income or a lot of land. Phelps, a part-time farmer and full-time Realtor, sells most of his corn to Durhams Mystic Brewing for whiskey. The rest goes to granaries for animal feed. Rain this week could save some of the local crop, Phelps said, but otherwise, this year could be a total loss. A good, heavy dew will relieve the corn some, but most mornings, the grass is still dry, he said. McKee plans to sell off his calves, which are bringing more money than theyve ever brought in my lifetime, to cut costs. And by July 30, he needs to plant the next cornfield, in time to grow the McKee Cornfield Maze, which attracts thousands of people to the farm. If that corn doesnt grow tall, his wife Vickie has a plan. It may not be a cornfield maze, Vickie McKee said. It may be a labyrinth. In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting. Under protest, school leaders in a popular coastal tourism are dropping their plans this year to defy North Carolinas school calendar law. The Carteret County school board approved Friday a new calendar for the 2024-25 school year that complies with state law by starting classes on Aug. 26. The board also dropped its appeal of a court order that had challenged the districts efforts to not follow the calendar law. The boards decision came a day after a Superior Court judge rejected Carterets request to stay the June 5 court ruling that voided their plan to start classes on Aug. 13. Carteret County is home to popular summer beach tourism areas such as Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle and Morehead City. We recognize that an appeal would take time, and we cannot hold our students and their families in limbo this summer over when the school year will start, said school board member Dennis Goodwin. Therefore under protest in compulsion of an order and judgment of the court and without waiving our position that the calendar statute is unconstitutional, I move the adoption of the attached calendar. As part of the vote Friday, the board said it would encourage individual board members and the superintendent to explore all options to give our students equal opportunities with those students in schools that dont have to follow the calendar law. Tourism industry fights back State lawmakers have regulated school calendars for 20 years, since the tourism industry raised concerns about classes starting earlier in August. The states traditional public schools cant open sooner than the Monday closest to Aug. 26 or close later than the Friday closest to June 11. The calendar law doesnt apply to private schools, charter schools, year-round schools and early college high schools. Carteret County had been among 29 school districts cited in a recent state report as defying the calendar law. Statewide, a quarter of North Carolinas school districts plan to ignore the school calendar law for the upcoming school year. In December, the Carteret County school board unanimously approved a 2024-25 school year calendar that would run from Aug. 13 to May 22. School leaders cited academic benefits such as allowing high school students to finish fall semester exams before winter break. But in April, the owners of Atlantic Beach Surf Shop, Marshs Surf Shop and Sanitary Fish Market & Restaurant filed a lawsuit to block the calendar. The business owners said the loss of revenue from shortening the summer season would be significant. Located about 150 miles from Raleigh, Carteret County is flooded with visitors during the summer months. We are pleased that the school board finally adopted a legal calendar, though it was forced on them by a Court order, Mitch Armbruster, the attorney for the businesses, said in an email Friday. These school board members took an oath to follow the law, and they violated it. The students and parents of Carteret County deserve better. Is the calendar law unconstitutional? The school board had argued that the school calendar law violates the state Constitutions call that equal opportunities shall be provided for all students. The calendar statute is not fair to our students and puts them at a disadvantage when competing with peers in schools with calendar flexibility, Goodwin said. We believe the start and end dates in the calendar statute do not comport with the guarantees of our Constitution. The districts argument hadnt worked with the trial judge. But school leaders had been prepared to make their constitutional claims to the N.C. Court of Appeals. If the school board thought their frivolous claims that the school calendar statute is unconstitutional had any merit, they would not have dropped their appeal, said Armbruster. The newly adopted calendar will run from Aug. 26 to June 5. High school students will take their fall semester exams in January after returning from winter break. For the first time in four years on the board, I truly feel were about to make a decision thats not in the best interests of our students, said school board vice chair Katie Statler. It will be the first time walking out of here that I have felt that. Tracing African ancestry fascinating and, it's hoped, will lead to more blood donors On a work trip to Kenya nearly three decades ago, Cecelia Gore was bombarded with questions about her African ethnicity. Her tall, statuette frame prompted guesses about whether Gore was Maasai, an ethnic group from Kenya's northern, central and southern regions. When she said she was from the United States, Gore was often greeted with welcome home. Learning her African ancestry was never a priority for Gore, an east side resident who grew up in Milwaukee. She knew her family hailed from South Carolina on her fathers side and New Jersey and Pennsylvania on her mothers. But that changed when presented with a chance to trace her ancestry beyond the United States through DNA matching. The results left her speechless. Gina Paige (left), co-founder of African Ancestry, Inc. presents Cecelia Gore with her ancestry results before a luncheon at Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee on Friday, May 31, 2024. With a swab of the inside of her mouth from a DNA kit from African Ancestry, Gore learned her roots trace to the Temne people of Sierra Leone. It actually leaves you speechless for a moment, she said. It's also a chance to learn. I feel like it is actually a wonderful opportunity to learn more about who I am and where I came from, she said. I imagine it would reveal more as I look into this country, the people and impact they have. Gores ancestry reveal was part of Versiti on Kings "Remember Who You Are" fundraiser luncheon last month. The event celebrated African heritage and ancestry while stressing the importance of blood donation among people of color. Dr. Gina Paige, president and co-founder of African Ancestry, keynoted the event and provided Gore with her results in a private meeting before the luncheon. African Ancestry is a genetic tracing company that helps connect people with their African country of origin. With the worlds largest database of African DNA lineages, African Ancestry can pinpoint a persons lineage not only to a specific present-day country but to a specific tribe or ethnic group. It's done through either maternal or paternal DNA testing. Using DNA is part of unraveling the mystery surrounding people of African descent. Blacks in America are the only group of people in this country who dont know their ethnic origin beyond the Americas or the Caribbean, Paige said. While Blacks know they're from Africa, thats a continent with over 50 countries, with thousands of languages and cultural traditions. Gina Paige (left), co-founder of African Ancestry, Inc. presents Cecelia Gore (not pictured) with her ancestry results before a luncheon at Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee on Friday, May 31, 2024. I liken it to us being the original victims of identity theft, Paige said. When our ancestors were stolen from Africa, they lost their names, their languages, their freedom to honor their ancestors and of course, our families were torn apart. So, we dont know who we are because we dont know where we're from." DNA tracing can answer that question where historical records stop for Black people. We werent recorded as humans with names and languages and identities until the 1870 federal census," Paige said. "So, we cant do like everybody else and rely on our last names or look at census records or marriage records beyond a certain point. This is where DNA fills the gaps. Every person inherits mitochondrial DNA from their mothers mothers side that never changes. That means if an individual's maternal line has roots in Africa, this would show through the mothers DNA. Paternal ancestry tests through the Y-chromosome. (African Ancestry destroys DNA samples collected to trace lineages, unlike other companies doing DNA tracing.) Of the people tested by African Ancestry, when tracing maternal lineage, 92 percent get an African result and 8 percent dont. On the paternal side, 65 percent get an African result while 35 percent get European results. Paige attributed the higher prevalence of African ancestry on the maternal side to the institution of slavery. The white men involved in the business of slavery had their way, at will, with African women, Paige said. Cecelia Gore shows her certificate after being presented with her ancestry results before a luncheon at Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee on Friday, May 31, 2024. Though African Ancestrys database contains African DNA lineages from 35 countries and 400 ethnic groups, Paige is often surprised how little people know about that continent. There are all these misconceptions we have been conditioned to believe for 400 years, Paige said. Its humbling to give people a new way of looking at their heritage and a new way of looking at the places where they come from. That's what Versiti on King is trying to accomplish. An extension of Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, Versiti on King is the first-of-its-kind permanent blood center and community resource center on the citys north side. Missioned to encourage blood donations among communities of color, the site also aims to educate about diseases like sickle cell, diabetes, cancer and lupus. Versiti on King is part of the broader Thrive On initiative, a collaborative effort among philanthropic, medical and community stakeholders to address inequities in health. At 2153 N. Martin Luther King Drive, Versiti on King officially opened during the city's Juneteenth celebration. The center focuses on sickle cell, which predominantly affects African Americans. Sickle cell disease affects about 100,000 people in the US, but more than 90% are Black, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diversity of blood donation is needed to treat this disease. Blood that closely matches the recipient is critical. Patients experience better outcomes receiving blood donations from individuals of similar ethnic backgrounds. But Black and Brown people donate blood at lower rates than other races, says Chris Miskel, Versitis president and CEO. He noted 44% of African Americans have a rare RO trait that's needed to fight sickle cell disease. We're trying to be intentional about educating that the community needs the blood and that it's more likely to help sickle cell patients if it comes from people that look like us, Miskel said. The genetics of African Americans of people of African descent are very special, Paige added. We have more genetic variation than any other population white or Asian so each of us is very unique. Thats why there's a push to get more Blacks into clinical trials. Some drugs werent created with Black people in mind, Paige said. It is gonna take us to heal us, she said. By donating blood, you are providing something very special that people of other races may not be able to help with in the same way. That is why sickle cell is a focus of Versiti on King. We are the ones who get sickle cell. Were the ones that are gonna have to help the people with sickle cell. LaRisa Lynch is a community affairs reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Email her at llynch@gannett.com This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Versiti on King hopes tracing African ancestry leads to blood donors Home improvement and agriculture chain store Tractor Supply is eliminating its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and climate goals after weeks of conservative backlash. In a statement released Thursday, the company said it works hard to represent the values of the communities and customers we serve. We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart, the Tennessee-based company said. It added that the company will no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign an LGBTQ advocacy organization; eliminate DEI roles and retire all current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment; and withdraw its carbon emission goals to focus on land and water conservation efforts. Much of the criticism Tractor Supply faced came from Robby Starbuck, a film director who ran for Tennessees 5th congressional district as a Republican write-in candidate in 2022. In a post on X earlier this month, Starbuck criticized the company for its diversity training, funding Pride events and climate change activism. He also criticized investors, saying in a post earlier this week the forced woke values by these entities must end. In its statement on Thursday, Tractor Supply said it would now redirect its focus on the priorities of rural America including ag education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor and stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns. Rural communities are the backbone of our nation and what make America great, the company added. We are honored to be a part of them. But Tractor Supply is already facing backlash for its decision. Tennessee state Sen. Charlene Oliver (D) criticized the companys decision late Thursday. Imagine being headquartered in the 9th wealthiest county in the nation while saying youre the largest supporter of rural America where poverty is the worst, she posted on X. Also choosing hate and bigotry by announcing this the same month of Juneteenth and Pride is nasty work. California state Sen. Scott Wiener also accused Tractor Supply of giving in to the right wing outrage bully machine. The mob rule continues, at the expense of anyone who doesnt fit into their 1950 whitewashed version of America, said Wiener. Tractor Supply did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Train blocks traffic in Seattles SoDo after collision with possible DUI driver A collision between a freight train and a car blocked traffic in Seattles SoDo neighborhood Friday morning. The crash at Third Avenue South and South Holgate Street happened shortly after 10 a.m. The 2-mile-long BNSF train blocked the intersection but traffic was able to cross over at South Lander Street or Edgar Martinez Drive South. Seattle Police said the driver who collided with the train may have been under the influence. Luckily, no one was hurt. The scene was cleared at around noon. Travelers say Qatar Airways has the best business class, thanks to its QSuite with sliding doors and double beds: See inside Skytrax has named Qatar Airways the world's best airline for business class for nearly a decade. Introduced in 2017, the QSuite sports industry-first double beds and fan-favorite sliding doors. Qatar is expected to unveil an updated "QSuite 2.0" later this year. Every year, the aviation ranking website Skytrax compiles and analyzes thousands of customer satisfaction surveys to determine the best of the best among some 350 airlines. Qatar Airways stole Singapore Airlines' crown as the 2024 world's best airline this year. It was also named the best airline for business class for the ninth time since 2014. The win is no surprise given Qatar's reputation for luxury at the front of the plane. Qatar revolutionized premium flying when it introduced its famous QSuite, its first suite-style business class with fully closing doors. Several cabin layouts are possible, too, including first-of-its-kind double beds and quad-seating. QSuite was an industry-changing design that raised the bar for premium seating worldwide. Other airlines, like Air India and British Airways, have since adopted their own hotel-like cabins and multi-person seats. Still, it appears travelers prefer the original and Qatar is evolving it even further with the unveiling of its "QSuite 2.0" later this year. Qatar has equipped all of its Airbus A350-1000s, some of its Airbus A350-900s, and most of its Boeing 777s with the QSuite. Qatar Airways QSuite comes with linens like pillows and blankets. David Slotnick/Business Insider Qatar's narrowbody planes don't have QSuite, nor do its Boeing 787 Dreamliners or Airbus A380s, though the mammoth quad-jets have an inflight lounge and bar. Without major changes, QSuite wouldn't fit on the narrower Dreamliners, so Qatar created a different version. The 787s sport a 121 business class with sliding doors and similar soft products but without the QSuite's versatility. The seat comes with the regularly expected business-class perks, including a giant television, power, gourmet meals, and storage. The door is fully closeable. David Slotnick/Business Insider QSuite food is rated the region's best, and it won Skytrax's 2024 Best Business Class Onboard Catering in the Middle East award. Qatar's business class is also staffed with specially-trained flight attendants, though the airline's entire crew earned praise this year for being named the best cabin crew in the Middle East by Skytrax. Its 1x2x1 configuration means there are no middle seats and every passenger can get up as they wish. The QSuite on a Qatar A350 displayed at the Farnborough Airshow. Business Insider/David Ibekwe This freedom has become the standard in airline business class, though a few outliers, like Air India and Germany's Lufthansa, still fly some cramped planes without direct aisle access. The latter, however, has recently introduced a new and improved "Allegris" business class on its widebody planes. However, the seat is award-winning for its convertible beds, quad-seating, and privacy. Qatar's QSuite on display at a 2017 trade show in Berlin. ullstein bild/Contributor via Getty Images In order, Singapore, All Nippon Airways, Emirates, and Cathay Pacific were the other top five winners behind Qatar. Delta was number eight, while United was number 17. American didn't make the list. Qatar's QSuite was the first airline business class with a double bed. Qatar is one of the few airlines in the world with double beds in business class. David Slotnick/Business Insider The bed is created by combining two lie-flat seats into one, and closing both privacy doors creates a small pod making it perfect for families and couples. Big beds on airplanes are rare, meaning Qatar has a special edge helping it draw in customers willing to pay for the space. The QSuites come with linens, an amenity kit, pajamas, and slippers. Taylor Rains/Business Insider Singapore has refreshed its Airbus A380 business class with seats that combine into a double bed. It also offers double beds in its first-class suite, and Etihad Airways does in its three-room "The Residence." Cabin designer Ameco was shortlisted for the Crystal Cabin Awards for its concept of a double bed but as a sleep option for economy. The QSuite's versatility also draws customers, especially since it uniquely accommodates up to four people in one conjoined space. The QSuite quad dining setup on a Boeing 777. AFP Contributor/Getty Images Qatar has several seating configurations. Next to the window, there are front-facing and rear-facing single seats. The center section has double suites and four-person spaces, though they can also be used individually and blocked off by raising a middle divider. The quad-seating is achieved by dropping the partition between two rear-facing and two front-facing center seats. It's good for families or colleagues traveling together who need to work, meet, dine, play games, or watch a movie together. This multi-person seating has gained traction, with more business class buddy seats popping up across the industry. JetBlue Airways Mint Studio has space for two people to sit. Jordan Parker Erb/BI JetBlue Airways has offered a second seat in its Mint Suites for years, while Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and German leisure carrier Condor also offer the option. Air New Zealand is adding a companion seat to its new Business Premier Suites cabin launching next year. Sliding doors like Qatar's have become the most noticeable new business-class trend. The door closes completely for each Qsuite. Rachel Dube/Business Insider Doors revolutionized privacy. JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines were among the first to offer this feature when their Mint and Delta One suites launched in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Delta is the only Big 3 airline to offer doors in business class, but American will join once its new door-equipped Flagship Suites debut later this year. United's Polaris business class remains door-free. Carriers, including Air France, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, and Malaysia Airlines, have all added privacy doors. A view of British Airways door-equipped Club Suite. Taylor Rains/Business Insider The list continues: Air India, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Cathay Pacific Airways have added the perk. Notably, five-star carriers Singapore and Emirates lack sliding doors in business but offer them in first-class suites. For US-originating travelers looking for a QSuite, Qatar flies it between Doha and seven cities. One of the window seats in the QSuite. Taylor Rains/Insider According to Qatar's website, the QSuite flies nonstop to New York-JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Boston. Read the original article on Business Insider A Kennewick doctor failed to meet the standard of care for five patients, one of whom died, when he prescribed ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 in 2021, the Washington Medical Commission concluded after a three-day hearing. Dr. Michael K. Turner has been fined $5,000 and ordered to take continuing education courses, write a paper about what he learns and stop prescribing ivermectin for COVID-19. The Washington Medical Commission has made clear that it relies on U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of medications to treat COVID as the standard of care, and ivermectin has not been approved by the FDA for COVID treatment or prevention. Turner has the right to file a petition of reconsideration with the medical commission. Turner told the Tri-City Herald that he questions whether less than two years into a pandemic with a rapidly changing virus it was even possible to determine a standard of care robust enough to result in the prosecution of doctors. Even if it were possible, using the FDA as the basis to issue a standard represents an unwelcome intrusion from a distant federal bureaucracy with its own tangled web of special interests into the doctor-patient relationship, he said. Turner disputes that the death of a patient 16 days after his initial care had anything to do with his prescription for ivermectin. In the March 2024 hearing, the commission gave great weight to the testimony of Dr. Dawn Nolt, of Portland, Ore., who has reviewed articles for peer-reviewed journals, according to the written findings of the commission. She said that Turners care harmed the patient who died and increased the risk of harm to four other patients Turner testified in the hearing about his understanding of research regarding COVID-19 in 2021. However, the commission did not find his testimony credible, according to the commission. There is overwhelming evidence that the respondent failed to practice evidence-based medicine with respect to COVID-19, the commission said in written findings. The respondent either knew or as a reasonably prudent physician should have known that his practice was below the standard of care. COVID patient death Turner, who has had a license to practice medicine in Washington state since 2019, advertised on a website in 2021 that he provided COVID telemedicine visits for patients interested in ivermectin and other treatments. Patients seeking a virtual COVID visit were required to fill out a form with information about medical conditions and medications and to sign an acknowledgment that ivermectin is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID. A 74-year-old man, who Turner had not treated before, filled out the form in September 2021 saying he had COVID, was having symptoms and wanted ivermectin for treatment. During a phone conversation with Turner, the patient reported being tired, achy and sweaty. Turner prescribed ivermectin, a corticosteroid and a medication that helps with breathing, but did not discuss other treatments, according the medical commission. Six days later the patient was admitted to a hospital with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID. The patient had elevated liver enzymes, which is a possible side effect of ivermectin. That disqualified him from receiving remdesivir, an antiviral drug approved for COVID treatment by the FDA in 2020, according to the medical commission. The patient died of respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia 10 days after being admitted to the hospital, according to the medical commission. The medical commission said that the patient was at high risk of becoming seriously ill and that such patients should be offered monoclonal antibodies within 10 days of becoming ill. Turner did not discuss monoclonal antibodies with the patient, according to the medical commission. Turner told the Tri-City Herald that the first two doctors that treated the patient at the hospital wrote in the patients medical records that his liver problems were due to his COVID infection. Turner quoted the National Institutes of Health as determining that possible liver injury associated with ivermectin is mild. He also said that the patient was given medications with known liver toxicity during his treatment at the hospital. The commission also criticized Turner for not establishing a patient-physician relationship with the patient before prescribing ivermectin. Other COVID patients The other patients listed in the medical commissions final order, most of them in their 70s, had requested ivermectin to take as a preventative or to have on hand in case they became ill with COVID. All were generally healthy people and they experienced no harm, Turner said. Turner said patients for whom he prescribed ivermectin did not complain to the Washington Medical Commission. Complaints instead came from other doctors and family members, he said. Two of the patients prescribed ivermectin for prevention or to keep on hand indicated on the forms they filled out for Turner that they had liver disease, which could have been made worse by taking ivermectin, according to the medical commission. The medical commission said Turner also failed to discuss vaccines or other treatment operations with patients prescribed ivermectin. Just one of the patients saw Turner in person and Turner failed to establish a patient-physician relationship with the other patients before prescribing ivermectin, the commission said. Two of the patients told Turner they were already using ivermectin manufactured for animals suffering with parasites, sometimes called horse paste. The commission said Turner did not advise against its use, but Turner said he did tell them to stop using the veterinary product. Just one of the patients saw Turner in person and Turner failed to establish a patient-physician relationship with the others before prescribing ivermectin, the medical commission said. Turner said off-label use of medications is common and appropriate in the right context. The FDA has approved ivermectin to treat people with parasitic worms. Another Tri-Cities doctor, Dr. Wei-Hsung Lin, also was fined $5,000 this spring for prescribing ivermectin related to COVID-19 in 2021. He reached an agreed order with the Washington Medical Commission. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Three people are facing charges after police say they are accused of multiple smash and grabs at a Cordova Ulta beauty store, taking more than $27,000 worth of items. Zylandria Jordan, 24, is charged with theft of property $2,500-$10,000, two counts of burglary, two counts of theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000, and three counts of vandalism $1,000-$2,500. Martavis Love, 30, is charged with two counts of burglary of a building, two counts of theft of property $2,500-$10,000, two counts of theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000, and four counts of vandalism $1,000-$2,500. (JULY 1) Cristephon Johnson, 26 is charged with two counts of theft of property $2,500-$10,000, two counts of theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000, and three counts of vandalism $1,000-2,500. 2 teens, 1 adult arrested after crime spree involving multiple carjackings Police say they burglarized the store at least four times twice in April and the latest happening on Thursday. On April 11, police say that a white Nissan sedan and a silver Nissan sedan pulled in front of Ulta Beauty at 2273 North Germantown Parkway. Five men got out and ran inside the business. The men reportedly smashed display cases and took multiple brands of fragrances, totaling $7,264. They caused $1,700 in damages. On April 15, a shoplifting call was reported at Ulta Beauty involving a white Nissan again. One man held the door while the other men went into the business and smashed display cases, causing $1,700 worth of damage. The men took a total of $9,905 worth of fragrances, police say. $1K worth of items stolen from Walgreens, suspects at large On April 16, detectives say they were able to trace the tags on the silver Nissan Altima from the first shoplifting call back to Zylandria Jordan. On May 9, another burglary was reported at the same Ulta Beauty. Reports state that three men broke the front glass of the business to get inside. That is when they smashed display cases. Police say $9,954 worth of fragrances was taken and $1,500 worth of damage was done. Later that day around 7 a.m., detectives say they received information from a GPS tracking company informing them that Ulta Beauty merchandise was located at the Greenbrier apartments in Frayser. Detectives say the items were shown to be in a silver Nissan Altima parked in front of Madewell Street, according to the tracking app. Man carjacked after picking up his friend: MPD When detectives arrived at the scene, they saw a man walk from an apartment to the Nissan and then back to the apartment. Detectives then knocked on the same apartment door but were unsuccessful in getting anyone to answer. A search warrant was executed at the time. A fugitive team arrived and opened the door using a key the apartment complex manager gave them. Police say that is when Zylandria Jordan, Martavis Love, and Cristephon Johnson were detained inside the apartment. Several clothing items from recent burglaries were also found inside. A Juicy Couture bag with a black pair of Nike Jordan sweats was reported stolen from Ulta Beauty. Six Mented foundation makeup sticks were found in the living room closet. Multiple fragrances in two separate bedrooms were found along with bottles hiding a blanket on the closet floor, reports state. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. The suspects were then taken to the Appling Farms General Investigation Bureau for further investigation. That is where investigators say Jordan and Love gave a statement admitting to their involvement in the burglaries. Johnson was positively identified as one of the suspects from surveillance photos from the scene of the thefts. Martavis Love and Cristephon Johnson are scheduled to appear in court on July 1. Last month, Jordan and Love were charged with burglary of a building and theft of property from a previous case. Johnson was charged with burglary of a building and evading arrest. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Tropical Storm Beryl closed in on hurricane strength Saturday afternoon as it approached the Windward Islands, where it is expected to cross as a Category 1 hurricane Sunday and Monday. No impacts are expected in South Mississippi within the next week and the National Hurricane Center has warned it is far too early to tell if it will make landfall in the United States. Forecasters, though, are warning that the storm will reach major hurricane strength, with current projections calling for maximum sustained winds of 115 mph within three days. Those same projections, though, also call for a subsequent weakening back to winds of 90 mph. As of the 1 p.m. Saturday update, Beryl is about 785 miles east-southeast of Barbados and moving west at 23 mph, swift for a storm. A relatively quick westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days, the hurricane center said. On the forecast track, the system is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday. Forecasters spotted another tropical wave deep in the Atlantic that has a 60 percent chance of development within seven days. A third system is in the southwestern Gulf and could bring heavy rain to Central America and Mexico. Neither system is expected to affect Mississippi within the week. Tropical Storm Beryl strengthened overnight, now boasting maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The beginnings of Hurricane Beryl? Tropical Storm Beryl is poised for development, forecasters said. It is still far from land. Record warm water in the Atlantic could fuel the system as it moves west toward the Caribbean, Rick Knabb, the former National Hurricane Center director, told The Weather Channel. Forecasters will closely monitor the system as it moves into the Caribbean Sea near the middle of next week. Hurricane Hunters will fly into the system on Sunday, Knabb said. If Beryl becomes a hurricane on Sunday, it would be the farthest east a June hurricane has formed in the historical record. Only one other hurricane has formed anywhere nearby in June, and that was in 1933. Will storm reach South MS? Forecasts show the system will move west through the Caribbean toward the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it is unclear how far north or south it might turn. Strength and direction of the storm are impossible to predict this early, according to Weather Channel Meteorologist Jim Cantore. Those are things we just have no way of having a high confidence in at this point in time, Cantore said on The Weather Channel. Beryl is the second named system this year after Tropical Storm Alberto pounded the southeastern Mexican coast last week and sent storm surge through Texas and even brought minor flooding to low-lying areas of the Mississippi Coast. Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris contributed to this report. IKEA has not confirmed that it has already decided to open a store in Ukraine. The main condition for the resumption of work is the ability to ensure the safety of employees and customers. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in IKEA's response at OBOZ.UA's request. "Our top priority in reopening the store in Kyiv is the safety of our employees and customers. We also need to ensure all other operational aspects, including the supply of products, so that we can ensure the functionality of retail or online stores. At this time, we cannot say when this will happen," the company said. The company also promised that as soon as they "have any news, they will be happy to share it." Earlier, several Ukrainian media outlets reported that IKEA was going to return to Ukraine. It was said that the company's only outlet in Kyiv was allegedly undergoing preparatory work. However, IKEA has not yet disclosed the date of the reopening. The decision to return to Ukraine was made by the company's central office in May, according to Forbes sources. ADVERTISIMENT It is noted that the decision of IKEA, which did not want to return to Ukraine until the end of hostilities, was influenced by the opening of stores of the Inditex conglomerate, including Zara and Bershka, as well as the return of the H&M chain. Technical work, according to media reports, has already begun. This includes preparations for the opening of the IKEA store in Kyiv. Sources say that they are removing signs from the facade for repairs. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man who killed three motorcyclists while driving on the wrong side of the road earlier this year could get probation as part of a plea deal, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned. Claude Rafiki, 29, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless driving resulting in death. The crash took place on March 23 on State Route 163 near Laughlin. Rafiki originally faced DUI charges, which prosecutors later dropped as test results did not show alcohol or drugs in his system. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors could argue for Clark County District Court Judge Joe Hardy to sentence Rafiki to a minimum of four to a maximum of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is always at a judges discretion, but most judges go along with a negotiated sentence. In this case, since prosecutors can argue for the sentence, but the prison term is not part of the deal, sentencing will be solely up to Hardy. The crash killed Owen Hart, 22; Athena Faye Taylor, 21; and Jeremy Gebo, 44; all of St. George, Utah, according to the coroners office. Claude Rafiki, 29, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to three counts of reckless driving resulting in death. (NSP) Rafiki was driving in the No. 1 travel lane the one closest to the centerline and not in the No. 2 lane as required for semis, a Nevada State Police Highway Patrol trooper told a grand jury. Rafiki then drove on the wrong side of the road for 25 seconds, documents said. Rafiki told police the wind caused him to go the wrong way, documents said. He said he was not impaired and took medicine for seizures, documents said. A trooper testified there was definitely wind at the time he arrived at the crash scene. Nevada law stipulates a person convicted of reckless driving resulting in death could serve a prison sentence between one to six years per count. The felony is probationable. As part of Rafikis plea deal, he would serve the sentence concurrently, meaning it is unlikely Hardy would sentence him to more than 10 years of total time if he chooses prison time over probation. Claude Rafiki, 29, had a valid commercial drivers license out of Michigan at the time of the March 23 crash, but his medical certification was due to expire March 24 the day after the crash, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained (Michigan Secretary of States Office/KLAS) Rafiki had a valid commercial drivers license out of Michigan at the time of the crash, but his two-year medical certification was due to expire March 24 the day after the crash, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. Drivers in Michigan are required to submit an updated medical clearance before the expiration date, officials with the Michigan Secretary of States office confirmed. Because he did not submit updated medical certificate information, Rafikis license was downgraded and his CDL has not been valid as of March 24. In response to the 8 News Now Investigators reporting in May about Rafikis license, several truck drivers responded saying Rafiki could have obtained an updated medical clearance at a Nevada truck stop and did not necessarily have to return to Michigan. However, it was unclear it was feasible since Rafiki was on seizure medication. State police never released any information about why they believed Rafiki was impaired other than what was in the documents. Rafiki remained in custody Friday on $500,000 bail. His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 7. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. In the first ever debate between a president and former president, Joe Biden and Donald Trump attacked each other over abortion Thursday night on CNN, with both distorting their opponents positions. Biden claimed Trump would ban abortion outright, even though Trump has said on the campaign trail that he would not. Trump said Biden would allow doctors to kill babies after birth, repeating a falsehood that he has said in recent months. To support the claim, Trump made a reference to the former governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, whose 2019 comments in a radio interview have been distorted for years by abortion hardliners to say that Democrats support infanticide. In the interview, Northam was discussing legislation in Virginia and a hypothetical situation in which a mothers life was in danger during delivery involving a severely deformed or non-viable fetus. Hes willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby, Trump said at the debate. But doctors and experts say babies arent aborted after birth. And while abortions do take place into the third trimester due to medical emergencies even in states with strict laws, federal data shows that they are incredibly rare. In Trumps home state of Florida, the question of how late abortions should be allowed to take place has been key to the debate over a November ballot question that would enshrine access to an abortion up to viability in the state constitution. The proposed constitutional amendment would give doctors broad leeway to decide whether abortions should be prescribed. Responding to Trump, Biden on Thursday said that he does not support unfettered late-term abortions, but that the decision should be left to doctors and mothers. Roe v Wade does not provide for that, Biden said about Trumps characterizations. Thats not the circumstance. Only when a womans life is in danger, when shes gonna die, thats the only circumstance where that can happen. But we are not for late-term abortion. Trump, who successfully nominated three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court during his four years as president, also claimed victory for the overturning of Roe v Wade. The 2022 decision by the high court returned the power to comprehensively regulate abortion to the states. Everybody wanted to get it back to the states, said Trump. President Biden said, as he has claimed before, that he would support reinstating Roe v Wade. The idea that the founders wanted the politicians to be the ones making decisions on womens health is ridiculous, Biden said. A doctor should be making those decisions; thats how it should be run. If Im elected, Im gonna restore Roe v Wade. Biden said that if his opponent gets elected and Republicans control Congress they would pass a universal ban on abortion, and that Trump would sign it. At six weeks or seven or eight to 10 weeks; something very, very conservative. Trump, however, said in April that he would not sign a national abortion ban. During the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election, President Joe Biden repeated his long-standing claim that he was inspired to run for the presidency four years ago after witnessing the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017. What got me involved around the first place after my son had died, Biden said in response to CNN moderator Jake Tapper asking if a vote for former President Donald Trump is a vote against democracy, I said I wasnt going to run again until I saw what happened in Charlottesville, Virginiapeople coming out of the woods carrying swastikas on torches and singing the same anti-semitic bile they sang back in Germany. He said, I think theyre fine people on both sides, Biden recounted of Trumps response to the rally, which was known as Unite the Right and saw violent clashes between protesters and counterprotesters and led to the death of 32-year-old paralegal Heather Heyer after a man drove his car into a group of counterprotesters. This is the guy who says Hitlers done some good things, Biden added, referencing a claim by Trumps former chief of staff. Id like to know what they are, the good things Hitlers done. Thats what he said. This guy has no sense of American democracy. Read More: These Are the Biggest Moments in the First Presidential Debate That story has been totally wiped out, Trump shot back. He says he ran because of Charlottesville, the 78-year-old Republican candidate said of his 81-year-old Democratic counterpart, who defeated him in 2020. He didnt run because of Charlottesville. He ran because it was his last chance. Hes not equipped to be President. He made up the Charlottesville story, and youll see its debunked all over the place, Trump claimed. Just the other day it came out, where it was fully debunked, he addedlikely referencing a recent article by fact-checking site Snopes that was headlined No, Trump Did Not Call Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists 'Very Fine People' and has been widely-circulated on social media among the right. Snopes clarified that its ruling of false was strictly in reference to whether Trump explicitly labeled neo-Nazis and white supremacists as very fine people when, in fact, he said in the same statement that he wasnt talking about those specific groups, which he said should be condemned totally. Nevertheless, Trump did say that there were very fine people on both sides. Debunked? It happened, Biden responded. All you have to do is listen to what was said at the time. And the idea that somehow thats the only reason I ran? I ran because I was worried a guy like this guy could get elected. Contact us at letters@time.com. Trump on Bidens foreign policy: The whole world is blowing up under him Trump on Bidens foreign policy: The whole world is blowing up under him Former President Trump hit President Biden on foreign policy, pointing to Russias war in Ukraine and Israels war against Hamas as the whole world blowing up under him. Trump briefly addressed policy questions, saying Russian President Vladimir Putins terms to end the war are unacceptable and encouraging Israel to finish the job against Hamas, but he largely avoided explaining how he would handle the major wars if he were elected in November. Instead, Trump pointed to Irans funding of terrorism and Biden overseeing a chaotic and deadly pullout of Afghanistan as encouraging global conflict. Trumps attacks were widely expected, and he also criticized U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and repeated complaints over NATO allies who have yet to meet their commitments to defense spending although more than 70 percent of NATO allies are on track to meet their spending commitments in 2024. Biden responded to Trump calling it malarkey and foolishness, pointing to Trump dismissing the seriousness of attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq by Iranian-backed militias and that the former president encouraged Putins violence. Thats exactly what Trump did to Putin, encourage him, do whatever you want, Biden claimed. In February, Trump said he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to NATO allies that had not met their defense commitments. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Former President Trump on Friday piled on President Biden over his widely criticized debate performance, suggesting it could be a big moment in moving undecided voters in his direction. Trump rallied supporters in Virginia, which a Republican presidential candidate hasnt won since 2004 but that his campaign has argued is in play in November. The former president used his debate with Biden from a night earlier to slam his rival with familiar attacks on immigration and the economy and insulting him as a stupid, stupid, stupid man. Despite the fact that crooked Joe Biden spent the entire week at Camp David resting, working, studying he studied very hard. He studied so hard that he didnt know what the hell he was doing, Trump told supporters in Chesapeake. He got the debate rules that he wanted. He got the date that he wanted. He got the network that he wanted with the [moderators] that he wanted, Trump continued. No amount of rest or rigging could help him defend his atrocious record. Its not defensible. Trump and his allies spent the hours after the debate basking in headlines about Bidens flop and the subsequent panic among Democrats over whether he should be replaced atop the ticket. Bidens campaign had requested the June debate, seeking a jolt to what had been a stagnant presidential race thus far with Trump narrowly leading in most battleground states. But the debate was largely a disaster for Biden, whose voice was raspy for much of the 90 minutes. His delivery was frequently halting and at times he lost his train of thought or struggled to make his point clearly. Democrats speculated after the debate about whether Biden could or should step aside, though Trump said Friday he did not think that would happen. Joe Bidens problem is not his age, its not his anything, really, hes got no problem other than his competence, said Trump, who at 78 is just three years younger than Biden. Hes grossly incompetent. Trumps debate answers were frequently littered with falsehoods or misleading statements, and he did not commit to accepting the 2024 election regardless of the outcome. But the former president mostly avoided the kind of repeated self-inflicted wounds that have plagued him in past debates, and his missteps later in the evening were overshadowed by Bidens stumbles. On Friday, Trump aimed to translate the momentum from debate night into enthusiasm in Virginia, a potential pick-up opportunity in November, and his campaign as a whole. I think last night was a big moment for people with common sense that want to see American be great again, want to put America first, Trump said. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) addressed the crowd roughly an hour before Trump arrived. Youngkin mostly kept his distance from Trump during his successful 2021 campaign for the governors mansion, and he generated buzz as a potential alternative to Trump in the 2024 presidential contest. But Youngkin opted not to launch a presidential campaign, saying he was committed to serving the remainder of his term as governor. On Friday, he delivered a full-throated endorsement of Trump, praising his four years in office and attacking Biden as weak and hitting him on issues like immigration, the economy and foreign policy. Mr. president, eight years ago you left your business career and you built a great America. And in Virginia we are going to work to reelect Donald Trump back into the White House, Youngkin said in remarks delivered before Trump arrived at the rally site. Trump returned the favor by recognizing Youngkin during his own remarks and inviting him on stage. Polling has shown Virginia could be a much closer race than it was in 2020, when Biden carried it by 10 percentage points over Trump. A Fox News poll of Virginia registered voters conducted June 1-4 showed Biden and Trump tied with 48 percent each. A Roanoke College poll conducted in mid-May showed the two candidates tied in a head-to-head match-up, and it found Biden leading Trump by 2 percentage points when third-party candidates were added. Biden on Friday held a postdebate rally in North Carolina, where he attacked Trump as a liar and sought to quiet concerns from some in his own party about his future on the ticket. Folks, I dont walk as easy as I used to. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to, Biden said at a campaign rally in Raleigh. But I know what I do know, he continued. I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. And I know what millions of Americans know: When you get knocked down, you get back up. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Trump claims he could end Ukraine war before January if re-elected US President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump participate in the first 2024 presidential election debate at CNN Atlanta studios. Jason Getz/TNS via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Former US president Donald Trump has blamed incumbent Joe Biden for the war in Ukraine and called on Europe to up spending to support Kiev. Russian President Vladimir Putin "would have never invaded Ukraine" if the United States "had a real president," Trump said as he was facing off against Biden in the first televised debate ahead of November's razor-close presidential election. Trump again claimed he would be able to "settle" the war if re-elected, even ahead of January 20, when he would be inaugurated if he won the presidency. He did not say how he would achieve that, however. Trump also demanded that Biden pressure European allies to spend more on supporting Ukraine. When asked whether Russia's terms for ending the war were acceptable, Trump said they were not. When it was his turn, Biden called Putin "a war criminal," as he has repeatedly done before. "He's killed thousands and thousands of people," the 81-year-old said, warning that the Russian leader would not stop after taking Ukraine. People watch US President Joe Biden and former US President Donald Trump participating in the first 2024 presidential election debate at CNN Atlanta studios. Sue Dorfman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa People watch former US President Donald Trump participating in the first 2024 presidential election debate with US President Joe Biden at CNN Atlanta studios. Sue Dorfman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Donald Trump claimed during Thursday nights debate with President Joe Biden that Russias invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin wouldnt have happened on his watch. Trump claimed that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was so chaotic that it encouraged Putins decision to invade Ukraine. When Putin saw that, he said, You know what? I think were gonna go in and maybe take my This was his dream. I talked to him about it. His dream, Trump said. Did Putin actually speak to Trump about attacking Ukraine, or is this Trump being braggadocious? But Trump has made no secret of his close, sometimes subservient relationship with Putin. Trump also blamed Hamass October 7 attack on Israel on Biden, claiming that Iran was broke during the Trump presidency and couldnt fund Hamas. Watch Trumps bizarre recollection here: "You had no terror at all under my administration. ... The whole world is blowing up under him." Trump hits Biden over the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, arguing they never would have happened if he was president. pic.twitter.com/lAqObQsmHn The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2024 People watch former US President Donald Trump participating in the first 2024 presidential election debate with US President Joe Biden at CNN Atlanta studios. Sue Dorfman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Donald Trump has defended pulling his country from the Paris Climate Agreement during his presidency, calling the pact "a rip-off of the United States." "I ended it because I didn't want to waste that money, because they treat us horribly," Trump said while facing off against US President Joe Biden in a first televised debate ahead of November's presidential election. The international climate treaty was a "disaster," Trump said. Biden rejected the claims, stressing that the US would only be able to fight climate change as party to the agreement. He added there wasn't "any indication" that Trump was "concerned about pollution and about climate." Biden has made the fight against climate change a priority. Trump withdrew from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement right at the beginning of his term of office in 2017 and is considered a denier of man-made global warming. In one of his first acts after taking office in 2021, Biden re-entered the United States to the climate accord. On June 28, Constitution Day, activists held a patriotic flash mob in the temporarily occupied Donetsk and Melitopol. They reminded the Russian occupiers that these cities will certainly be liberated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The action was organized by activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement. In the heart of the occupied Donbas, they once again reminded us of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit. Patriotic posters and leaflets symbolizing the desire for freedom and the unwavering belief that Donetsk will be liberated appeared in Shcherbakov Park, near the Kalmius River, and on Pushkin Boulevard. This flash mob demonstrates that even after ten years of occupation, Ukrainians do not give up and continue to fight for their city. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement held a similar flash mob in Melitopol, where they also distributed symbols of resistance and patriotism. Posters and leaflets appeared near memorial sites, including Korvatsky's grave, the local monument "Chereshchatyi Oak" and one of the local supermarkets. Activists of the Yellow Ribbon movement emphasize that the fight for the city continues and it will never surrender. "Melitopol is Ukraine! We will never give up in the fight for it and will bring the moment when the Ukrainian flag will be raised over the city closer," they said. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that on Constitution Day, the flag of Ukraine flew in the temporarily occupied Crimea. It was raised on the top of the Petrovsky Rocks. This was part of the flash mob "This is Ukraine", which reminds us of the invincibility of Ukrainians in the struggle for the unity and freedom of the nation. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Former President Donald Trump reveled Friday in his debate success against current President Joe Biden, saying their primetime showdown watched by nearly 50 million Americans demonstrated that the Democratic incumbent is simply not up to the job. Man, that was a big one, Trump told thousands of supporters who trekked to a farm in southeastern Virginia, a state Trump hopes to take from Biden in November. Trump constantly mocked Biden shortly after his Democratic rival, during a North Carolina rally, said that voters will ultimately hold the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee accountable for his many lies about the country. In his Virginia speech, Trump made fun of Biden over his intelligence, honesty, and economic policies; at one point, Trump joked that age was not Bidens problem. Its his competence, Trump said. Trump also praised the Supreme Court ruling that requires a lower court review into how the Justice Department applied the law to bring obstruction charges against hundreds of the Jan. 6 rioters. He called for release of defendants affected by the ruling. Free the J6 hostages now, said the former president, who is also facing four federal criminal counts tied to his efforts to try and overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Biden. Supporters cheer as Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at the Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake, Virginia, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) A busy July ahead: Sentencing, VP, and RNC Trump's Virginia rally also came before a series of pivotal events for the former president. He's scheduled on July 11 to be sentenced for his conviction in the New York hush money trial. In the weeks ahead, Trump plans to pick a running mate and headline the Republican nominating convention, to be held July 15-18 in Milwaukee. The Biden campaign, under criticism from fellow Democrats over Thursday night's debate performance, sought to change the narrative by focusing on Trump's repeated lies on issues ranging from border security to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In a memo to the media, the Biden team said independent voters were turned off by Trump's attacks on the president. "The more voters heard from Donald Trump, the more they remembered why they dislike him," the memo said. During his speech in Raleigh, N.C., Biden rejected calls that he step aside. His remarks focusied on Trump's lies during the debate, on everything from the circumstances of the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, to his culpability in the four sets of indictments against him. "I don't know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on the stage debating a guy who has the morals of an alley cat," the president said. CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 28: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for campaign rally at Greenbrier Farms on June 28, 2024 in Chesapeake, Virginia. Last night Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden took part in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Is Virginia in play in November? Trump and his allies say they believe they can flip a few Biden states, though their list includes long-time Democratic bastions like New York and New Jersey. Virginia (and Minnesota) seem more realistic given large pockets of Republican voters. Virginia also elected a Republican governor in 2021, Glenn Youngkin. Trump and his aides are even more confident about Virginia - and other states - in light of Bidens struggles during the debate. The (Virginia) race is now tied, said senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita. Right after the debate, LaCivita said Biden's struggles in the debate will be part of future ads: "I discuss ad strategy but ... duh." He added: "Clearly there's a lot of material that the debate produced, and we'll obviously utilize a lot of that material." Democrats are seeking to counter Trump's efforts in Virginia, including an appearance in the state just before the debate on Thursday by First Lady Jill Biden. Barbara Nesbitt, a member of the Virginia Democratic Party, agreed that Virginia is a "purple state" that could be won by either party. She also questioned whether Trump could get the job done. Hes a felon, why is he even allowed to run?" she said. "I dont get it. Republicans have a long way to go, if thats their choice, it does not say a lot for them. Charles Charlie Stanton, 69, chair of the Norfolk City Democratic Party, called Youngkin's narrow victory a "lightning strike" that Trump will not able to repeat. Trump and his folks are going to try to make it so, but its not going to happen." he said, adding that most Virginia voters have "buyer's remorse" about Youngkin. In an earlier interview with Fox News Digital, Trump said he still believes Biden "will be the nominee," despite Democratic suggestions that the president give up the race. As for Thursday's debate against Biden, Trump said: "No one else would have been better." A young listens as Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake, Virginia, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) 'Taking advantage of this old guy' Trump backers who braved a hot afternoon to see Trump speak at the local farm told USA TODAY they thought the Republican won the debate, especially given Biden's troubles. There were times when he did not seem like he was fully present and that he was really struggling," said Elizabeth Skertic, 37, a Virginia voter who attended Trumps rally on Friday. If they keep with Biden, I think its going to be a pretty easy win [for Republicans] for most of Virginia, she said. Rhonda Kundrat, 51, a resident of Chesapeake, said she was thrilled by Trumps performance during Thursdays debate. It was also said, because Im definitely not a Joe Biden fan but hes the same age as my dad and the fact that theyre [the Democratic Party] taking advantage of this old guy who clearly has all kinds of problems for their political gain is extremely sad, she said. Emmanuel Martinez, 26, from Richmond City, said he considers himself to be more of a center-right Republican. He described Thursdays debate as brutal. I always considered Joe to be a good guy, he said. Just as an American, not as a Republican or Democrat it was hard to watch, and it was hard to not make Trump look good. Ed Hendrickson, a military veteran and Virginia resident said he watched part of the debate. He wished Trump had answered more of the questions posed to him by the moderators. I dont think either one of them hit the mark, he said. Too much catty-ness, going back and forth. Contributing: Zac Anderson from Atlanta. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump assails Biden's 'competence' at first post-debate rally Trump Loses It in Biden Debate Over His Own Suckers and Losers Quote Donald Trump just took offense during Thursday nights debate at the revival of his infamous quote where he allegedly described American World War I veterans as suckers and losers. Trump said, It was a made-up quote by a third-rate, failing magazine, referring to The Atlantic, after Biden confronted him with it. But the truth is that the quote is corroborated by multiple sources, including John Kelly, Trumps former chief of staff and a retired general himself. Trump demanded that Biden apologize for bringing up the quote, and Biden refused, saying that it was corroborated by a four-star general on his staff, referring to Kelly. In 2018, Trump refused to visit the graves of American soldiers buried near Paris because the cemetery is filled with losers, and he also said that 1,800 U.S. Marines who died in the Belleau Wood were suckers for getting killed. Kelly later confirmed the story in an October 2023 interview with CNN, and Biden put out a pro-veteran ad highlighting Trumps comments earlier this month. Watch the exchange here: Trump: He made up the suckers and losers, so he should apologize to me right now Biden: A four-star general standing by your side who was on your staff said you said it. Period. pic.twitter.com/KW68B9ml9N Acyn (@Acyn) June 28, 2024 Donald Trump was back on his regular antics in Thursday nights presidential debate, claiming Joe Biden was to blame for Russias invasion of Ukrainea war Trump promised hed have settled as president-elect should he win in November. I will have that war settled between [Vladimir] Putin and [Volodymyr] Zelensky as president-elect, Trump said. Before I take office on Jan. 20, Ill have that war settled. Trump, 78, didnt specify how hed bring the years-long conflict to a screeching halt, but he took his fair share of shots at Biden and Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky. "You had no terror at all under my administration. ... The whole world is blowing up under him." Trump hits Biden over the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars, arguing they never would have happened if he was president. pic.twitter.com/lAqObQsmHn The Recount (@therecount) June 28, 2024 Every time Zelensky comes to this country he walks away with $60 billion, Trump said. Hes the greatest salesman ever. Trump has long aligned himself with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, claiming their relationship was the reason there was relative peace in the Middle East and Europe during his lone term in office. Biden, 81, responded by calling Putin a war criminal and criticized Trump for commenting at a rally earlier this year that, as president, hed encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want. The fact is that Putin is a war criminal. Biden said. He wants all of Ukraine. Thats what he wants. And then you think hell stop there? Do you think hell stop if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland, Belarus? What do you think happens to those NATO countries? In the same rant where he claimed hed end the war in Ukraine, Trump also faulted Biden for the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel last year. That attack, which sparked a war in Gaza thats left more than 37,500 Palestinians dead, would not have happened in a million years if Trump were president, he claimed. Bidens Gaffes Hand Trump a Weapon: Finally Beat Medicare In the same breath, Trump accused Biden of being too soft on Iran and claimed his alleged lack of pressure on them had emboldened Hamas into launching an attack on Israel. He also criticized Biden for how he pulled troops out of Afghanistan, saying that gaffewhich saw the Taliban return to power within daysis what proved to Putin that the U.S. was too weak to stop him from invading Ukraine. You had no terror at all under my administration, Trump said. This place, the whole world is blowing up under him. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump went head-to-head during the first presidential debate on the 2024 election Thursday night, Portland, Oregon, is once again being put in the spotlight. Trump and Biden face off in 2024 presidential debate The mention of Portland came after CNNs Jake Tapper asked Trump a question on if he violated his constitunional oath during the January 6 insurrection. Trump responded by talking about how people are looking at America if they were a bunch of stupid people, once Biden took office. After Biden responded by saying that Trump encouraged those folks to storm Capitol Hill, Trump replyed You ought to be ashamed of yourself. What you have done. You have destroyed the lives of so many people. When they ripped down Portland, when they ripped down many other cities. You go to (Mineepolis), what they have done there. With the fires, all over the city. If I didnt bring in the National Guard, that city would have been destroyed. Trump is presumbly referring to the many 2020 protests in Portland that garnered national attention. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott waving to the crowd at the Florida Freedom Summit on Nov. 4, 2023, a week before exiting the presidential race. Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks during the Florida Freedom Summit at the Gaylord Palms Resort on Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Florida. Scott announced during a TV interview Sunday, Nov. 12, that he was suspending his campaign. (File/Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump did not announce his running mate Thursday night as hed teased. But he did give an on-stage shoutout to one of the top contenders: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Trumps praise of Scott during his 90-minute televised debate with President Joe Biden came after the former president was asked about climate change. Trump instead circled back to a previous question to Biden on how the economy has impacted Black Americans, touting a program he and Scott worked on together. Tim Scott was incredible and did a great job. Great senator from South Carolina, Trump said. He came to me with the idea, and it was a great idea. Its one of the most successful economic development acts ever in the country, Opportunity Zones. And the biggest beneficiaries are Blacks. Trump went on to say the program was the reason behind his growing support among Black voters although as a whole, Black voters still favor Biden by a wide margin. Opportunity Zones have become Scotts signature policy victory a bipartisan proposal signed into law in 2017 by Trump that provides tax breaks for investors who put money into designated low-income areas. According to Scotts page on the policy, more than half of the 31.5 million people in Opportunity Zones are not white. SO proud of the work President Trump and I did on Opportunity Zones. *takes bow* Scott posted on X, formerly Twitter, during the debate. During an interview aired on Fox News earlier Thursday, Scott said the proposal grew out of a conversation he had with Trump after criticizing the former presidents handling of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Scott said Trump invited him in for a conversation. He listened, Scott said. And after we finished talking, he said, Help me help those I have offended. Thats how Opportunity Zones was born. The effectiveness of Opportunity Zones has been a matter of debate, with some Democrats criticizing it as chiefly benefiting wealthy investors. A 2023 review by the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, found mixed-to-no impacts on employment and job creation in the zones. Scott also ran for the Republican presidential nomination for 2024 but dropped out in November before a single vote was cast. There was immediate speculation on Scott as a vice presidential pick, partly because his relationship with Trump never soured. Trump said good things about Scott when he jumped in, and Scott never went after Trump while he was running. Speculation ramped up significantly after Scotts on-stage endorsement of Trump in January. During the runup to the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, Scott appeared with Trump frequently throughout the state. And hes continued to be a top surrogate nationally. Scotts been such an enthusiastic supporter, Trump has said the senators a better campaigner for him than Scott was for himself. He was right, Scott told FOX and Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt in the interview aired Thursday morning. This year, Scott also launched a video series called Americas Starting Five, with the four other Black Republicans in Congress. When Scott, then a congressman representing the coastal 1st District, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in December 2012, he was the only Black Republican in Congress and became the Souths first Black Republican senator since Reconstruction. Earlier this month, he announced that the Great Opportunity PAC, a political action committee associated with Scott, will spend $14 million before Election Day with a focus on turning out Black voters for Trump. After the debate, South Carolinas senior senator, Lindsey Graham, said Scott would be a great choice for vice president. I dont think he could have a better pick. Hes qualified to be president, which matters to me, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity, who interviewed Scott and Graham together. What you see with Tim, is hes the same way when nobodys looking. The post Trump praises SC senator during debate, raising VP speculation appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, sharing a debate stage with the incumbent Joe Biden for the first time in four years, said Russias terms of keeping Ukrainian land its occupied are not acceptable. In a historic debate that focused little on foreign policy, no specific plans for reaching peace in Ukraine were mentioned by either partys front runner. Entering a debate where many view the presidential rematch unfavorably, the leading candidates, standing just eight feet from each other on a CNN stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27, preferred to focus on domestic issues like inflation and immigration. Featuring no opening statements and 90 minutes of back-and-forth, the debate which reopened discussion among Democrats about Bidens viability as the partys candidate in response to his shaky performance was the first time in history a sitting U.S. president debated a former president. Foreign policy played almost no role in this debate, Kurt Volker, the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO said to the Kyiv Independent following the debate. It will play almost no role in the election. Its worth noting, Volker said, that Ukrainians were frustrated with the Biden Administration going into this debate for restrictions on U.S. weapons in Ukraine. [Biden] seems a little confused and lost and they look at that and say were going to have four more years of that being the basis of support for Ukraine? said Volker, who also served as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019 until he resigned amid the whistleblower report surrounding the infamous Trump-Zelensky phone call. I think Ukrainians are going to feel very concerned. Trump was asked, twice, Are Putins terms acceptable to you, even the territory of Ukraine? The 78-year-old responded, No theyre not acceptable, before quickly repeating without evidence that the full-scale invasion wouldnt have happened under his presidency and criticizing the aid given to Ukraine under the Biden Administration. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, US on June 27, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Although the CNN moderators question wasnt specific, Putin recently demanded that for peace talks to begin, Ukraine must withdraw from the entire territory of its four regions that are currently under partial occupation by Russia. Anyone who is worried about Ukraine didnt come away from this debate with any new information or new perspectives, Volker said. However, in a campaign where Trumps repeated mentions of Ukraine fail to include details of how he would end the conflict before taking office, his brief rejection of Vladimir Putins interest in keeping Ukrainian land is more insight than typically shared. People getting killed so needlessly, so stupidly, Trump said, answering the question of whether Putins terms are acceptable. I will get it settled and I will get it settled fast before I take office. Unless Ukraine agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia, the U.S. should halt military aid, according to two of Trumps former National Security Council advisors who recently proposed the plan. Trump again laid the blame for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine at Bidens feet, saying Putin was encouraged to invade after watching the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. When Putin saw that he said I think were going to go in, Trump said. This was his dream, I talked to him about it. Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, US on June 27, 2024. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Before saying that it is so sad how many people Ukraine has lost in Russias war, Trump doubled down on his message that Russia didnt invade during his presidency. I get along with him very well but he knew not to play games with me. When the debate which featured no audience and muted microphones pivoted to discussing Israel, Trump seemingly realized he forgot to repeat one of his main arguments about the war in Ukraine. Europe needs to put up the money the former president made sure to mention. President Biden, who defended NATO throughout the debate and even asked without receiving an answer if Trump would withdraw from the alliance, sought credit for uniting countries around support for Ukraine. However, that isnt likely what his party or the independent voters hes hoping to sway in November will remember. In addition to his demeanor and repeated throat clears that offered no reassurances to voters, 81-year-old Biden pivoted away from abortion, one of his best issues to unite his party, to immigration, one of his worst issues that Trump wants to highlight. As the debate barreled through a raspy-voiced Biden and factual inaccuracies by Trump, the former presidents campaign blasted emails to supporters. Under President Donald J. TrumpRussia was under control, one read. We are in a little bit of a calm before the storm, Emily Channell-Justice, a program director at Harvard Universitys Ukrainian Research Institute said ahead of the debate. I think Ukraine is going to become a hinge point for political platforms, Channell-Justice said, adding that shes particularly watching the anti-support for Ukraine gaining popularity on the far right. For a historically early debate that was largely about temperament and looking presidential as the candidates both have records to examine, president Biden didnt do himself any energizing favors less than five months out from the election. Ahead of the debate, nearly 50 percent of voters said they didnt want a Trump-Biden rematch, according to an Economist/YouGov poll. The lead up The likely Republican nominee and the incumbent president took vastly different approaches to preparing for the debate. Biden was hunkered down with over a dozen aids in the northern woods of Maryland at Camp David, the presidential retreat. Trump held a rally in Philadelphia days before the debate where he suggested without evidence that Biden would be taking performance-enhancing supplements before the debate. The candidates debate in Atlanta, Georgia like their consistent appearances in Pennsylvania highlighted the importance of the southern swing state that went for Biden by just 11,779 votes in the 2020 presidential election. Despite being convicted of 34 felony charges last month, Trump has united his party behind him more efficiently than Biden has Democrats, according to a New York Times and Siena College poll released on the eve of the debate. Nearly 90 percent of Republicans view Trump favorably after the convictions, the poll shows, with over two-thirds of voters saying their vote didnt change after the trial. A gag order placed on Trump following his 34 convictions in Manhattan was partially lifted days before the debate, allowing him to verbally degrade people involved in the trial. However, Trump largely avoided a spotlight on his convictions. Since Trumps foreign policy plans have been consistently vague for months, many have turned to the Republicans congregating around the former president either hopeful of influencing him or joining his administration should he win in November. Robert OBrien, Trumps fourth national security adviser most recently said Trumps unpredictability would lead to negotiations with Russia and that future aid to Ukraine would come from Europe, not the U.S. Trump wasnt the only national star from the Republican party in Atlanta, he brought with him the three leading candidates for his vice presidency: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, a leader in the Democratic party, was also in Atlanta speaking with journalists and defending Bidens record. Biden, who first stepped onto the presidential debate stage in 1987, is set to debate Trump again on Sept. 10. The candidates gave viewers a parting indicator of their priorities when they each were granted closing remarks. Trump rattled through topics from Afghanistan and respect from the U.S. military to Palestinians and Ukraine, repeating the full-scale war should have never happened, while Biden looked into the camera and discussed changes to the tax system. Read also: Political divide over Ukraine manifests in Pennsylvania, crucial US swing state Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. US presidential candidate Donald Trump has said during a debate with current US President Joe Biden that the proposals put forward by Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin as conditions for ending the war against Ukraine waged by Russia are "not acceptable." Source: European Pravda with reference to CNN Details: Trump initially evaded answering the journalist's question about Putin's conditions, but she asked again later: "Are Putin's terms acceptable to you?" Quote from Trump: "No, they [Putin's proposals ed.] are not acceptable." More details: Trump reiterated that he would end the war in Ukraine if re-elected, as he regularly does on the campaign trail, but did not provide any specifics on how he would do so. Background: On 14 June, Putin made up new "conditions for the start of peace talks": Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all four Ukrainian oblasts (Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk), and Kyiv must declare that it had no plans to join NATO. It is also worth noting that Trump's advisers presented him with their plan to end the war in Ukraine. It outlines that Trump may cut off military aid to Ukraine if it refuses to hold peace talks, while Moscow will be warned that any refusal to negotiate will lead to increased support for Kyiv. Support UP or become our patron! Trump says Biden has become like a Palestinian in debate exchange over Israel Trump says Biden has become like a Palestinian in debate exchange over Israel Former President Trump blasted President Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war during Thursday nights debate, saying Biden has become like a Palestinian because of his criticism of Israel. During a lengthy exchange about foreign policy, Biden outlined his administrations push for a cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Biden argued Hamas is the one keeping a deal from being reached, something Trump disputed. Israel is the one. And you should let them go and let them go finish the job. He doesnt want to do it, Trump said. Hes become like a Palestinian, but hey, dont like him because hes a very bad Palestinian. Hes a weak one, Trump added. Ive never heard so much foolishness, Biden responded. The president, in late May, announced a three-phase plan that included an initial pause in fighting, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7. It also included parameters for internally displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and reconstruction efforts of the devastated coastal enclave. Biden has sought to balance support for Israel in its war against Hamas with his frustrations over the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza in the fighting. His approach to the war has hurt his poll numbers with young voters and some minority voters in particular. Trump has said Israel should finish the problem in Gaza, though he has warned that the Israelis are losing the public relations battle. Trump has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, telling Time magazine in an April interview that the prime minister rightfully has been criticized for what took place. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Trump says Biden has become like a Palestinian in debate exchange over Israel (The Hill) Former President Trump blasted President Bidens handling of the Israel-Hamas war during Thursday nights debate, saying Biden has become like a Palestinian because of his criticism of Israel. During a lengthy exchange about foreign policy, Biden outlined his administrations push for a cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Biden argued Hamas is the one keeping a deal from being reached, something Trump disputed. Israel is the one. And you should let them go and let them go finish the job. He doesnt want to do it, Trump said. Hes become like a Palestinian, but hey, dont like him because hes a very bad Palestinian. Hes a weak one, Trump added. Ive never heard so much foolishness, Biden responded The president, in late May, announced a three-phase plan that included an initial pause in fighting, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7. It also included parameters for internally displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, and reconstruction efforts of the devastated coastal enclave. Biden has sought to balance support for Israel in its war against Hamas with his frustrations over the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza in the fighting. His approach to the war has hurt his poll numbers with young voters and some minority voters in particular. Trump has said Israel should finish the problem in Gaza, though he has warned that the Israelis are losing the public relations battle. Trump has been critical of Netanyahu in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, telling Time Magazine in an April interview that the prime minister rightfully has been criticized for what took place. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Former President Trump and President Biden during Thursday night's presidential debate hosted by CNN. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press) The first presidential debate of 2024 featured former President Trump's usual assertions on immigrants, calling them criminals and saying mental asylums were being emptied in foreign countries for people to come here. President Biden pushed back, calling Trump's statements lies and "malarkey." Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the U.S., studies show. Read more: Biden stumbles amid fierce attacks from Trump Trump, echoing comments he makes at his rallies, accused Biden of supporting open borders. "I'd love to ask him: why he allowed millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails and mental institutions to come into our country, and destroy our country," Trump said. "These killers are coming into our country. They are raping and killing women. It's a terrible thing," Trump said later. Biden responded: "That's simply not true. There's no data to support what he said. Once again, he's exaggerating. He's lying." Trump tried to frame the border as a free-for-all and chaotic, and Biden pointed out that under Trump, children were being separated from their families after crossing the border. "When he was president, he was taking, separating babies from their mothers, putting them in cages, making sure that families are separated," Biden said. "That's not the right way to go." This month, the Biden administration raised the legal standard for asylum claims and restricted access to asylum for those crossing the border illegally when arrests average higher than 2,500 a day, as has been common. Read more: Biden signs order tightening border with Mexico when crossings surge Biden noted that congressional Republicans, at Trump's urging, scuttled a sweeping bill that would have beefed up border security and revamped immigration policies. Trump did that, he said, because he wanted to make immigration a campaign issue rather than address the problems on the southern border. Biden also said border crossings are trending downward. After record-high arrests at the end of last year, Border Patrol said preliminary data since Bidens announcement showed arrests had fallen by 40%. May figures show arrests fell to the third lowest of any month throughout his presidency. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported that agents recovered remains of 895 migrants in fiscal year 2022, three times as many as were discovered in 2018. Advocates say the number is a vast undercount. Trump has called for the mass deportation of immigrants in the country without authorization. He was asked how he would achieve that and whether such a policy would apply to the spouses of legal residents. He never directly answered the question, reiterating his claims about immigrants coming into the country. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Starting July 1, Poland will change the conditions of support for Ukrainian refugees. In particular, this will affect the provision of assistance for schoolchildren, housing, and benefits for newcomers to the country. ADVERTISIMENT This became possible due to a law signed by President Andrzej Duda earlier in June. Among other things, the authorities extended the status of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until September 30, 2025. OBOZ.UA has figured out what other changes Ukrainians in Poland need to know about. What will be canceled? The amendment to the law provides for the abolition of the one-time social assistance of 300 zlotys previously received by Ukrainian refugees. Funding for accommodation and food allowance for Ukrainian refugees in difficult circumstances will be provided only under the condition of an agreement with a local voivode or local government. Grounds for revocation of residence permits expanded The Polish authorities will now have more grounds to revoke the residence permits of Ukrainian citizens: the permit may be revoked for reasons of national defense or security or if a Ukrainian citizen leaves the territory of Poland for at least 6 months. Such changes, according to the government, are aimed at ensuring Poland's national security. ADVERTISIMENT The rules for obtaining a PESEL have been changed In addition, to obtain a PESEL personal identification number, a valid document podrozy issued by the voivode at the place of residence will be required. Also, the deadline for applying for a PESEL number with the status of UKR will be immediately after arrival in Poland, and not 30 days later, as before. Polish language lessons The maximum period of participation in additional free Polish language classes for students has been limited to 36 months. This decision will apply to those who started classes in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years to facilitate the adaptation of Ukrainian children in Polish schools. Conditions for granting child support payments Payments under the "Good Start" program, which provides a one-time payment of 300 (3 thousand UAH) per year for the purchase of school supplies, will now depend on whether the child is enrolled in a Polish educational institution. Additionally, the appointment and payment of the child-rearing allowance of PLN 800 (UAH 8 thousand) will also depend on the child's enrollment in a Polish educational institution. The new rules on child benefits will come into force on June 1, 2025. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, the deadline for applying for a conditional right to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse, and midwife, as well as for the recognition of the identity cards of a country that has terminated the international agreement on their mutual recognition, has been extended by 4 months. Access to medical, family, and social benefits and allowances paid by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), as well as the possibility of staying in collective accommodation facilities, has also been expanded. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Trump says he will not block access to mifepristone Former President Trump said Thursday he would not block access to the abortion pill mifepristone if he returned to the White House. The Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill, and I agree with their decision to have done that, and I will not block it, Trump said during the CNN presidential debate in Atlanta when asked if he would block abortion medication. Its the most explicit the former president has been to date on the issue of mifepristone and access to the abortion pill, as hes largely avoided the topic. Trumps remarks also came on the same day that the Supreme Court ruled that emergency abortions could continue in Idaho in hospitals that receive federal funding. The high court ruled earlier this month that it would separately uphold access to the abortion pill. Trump has said he would not support federal restrictions on abortion, and he has argued that the issue should be left up to the states. At the same time, the former president has taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade after he nominated three conservative justices that would form the majority opinion in overturning the 1973 landmark decision. Trump reiterated some of these views while on the debate stage against President Biden. Trump has largely sought to carefully maneuver around the issue given its been an energizing issue for Democrats. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trump says US was respected all over the world on Jan 6 as hes challenged by Biden over Capitol attack Joe Biden confronted Donald Trump for the first time in person about his role on January 6, asking him to denounce the far-right Proud Boys gang and the other rioters who attacked the US Capitol. In their first debate ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Trump refused to say whether he would condemn the deadly attack. He failed to respond to questions about voters who are concerned that Trump violated his oath to accept elections as they prepare to cast their ballots in the next one. CNN moderator Jake Tapper tried to ask him twice. Let me tell you about January 6, said Trump, rattling off claims that we had a great border and we were respected all over the world on that day. And then he comes in and were not laughed at like a bunch of stupid people, he said, referring to Biden. Near the end of the 90-minute debate, moderator Dana Bash asked Trump three times whether he would accept election results. Trump demurred and said that hell accept the results of a fair, legal and good election, then raised baseless claims of fraud that cost him the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump refuses to condemn the January 6 attack during a debate with Joe Biden on June 27 (AP) Earlier, he repeatedly falsely claimed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Pelosi turned down National Guard troops that he had offered on January 6, 2021, which are under the command of the president. He claimed that Pelosi is on tape saying that she takes responsibility, but the clip he references includes the California lawmaker saying that she takes responsibility for not having them just prepare for more that day. Trump also insisted that he told protesters to act peacefully and patriotically. What theyve done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, he told Biden. The former president has called the hundreds of criminal defendants accused of participating in the Capitol attacks patriots and hostages. He has promised mass pardons, if elected. The idea that those people are patriots? Cmon, Biden said. Will you denounce the people who attacked the Capitol? What are you going to do? The moment marked the first time that Biden or any Democratic official directly asked the former president about his role on January 6. Trump is criminally charged with leading a national conspiracy to overturn the results of election in states he lost to Biden, and then failing to stop the mob that sought to do it by force. A mob of Donald Trumps supporters broke through barricades and into the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. (REUTERS) He had pleaded not guilty to cases against him in Washington DC and in Georgia. I did nothing wrong, Trump said on Thursday. Wed have a system that was rigged and disgusting ... He indicted me because I was his political opponent. During a September 2020 debate, Trump told the neo-fascist Proud Boys gang to stand back and stand by. Months later, members of the gang conspired to attack the Capitol during a joint session of Congres to certify election results, then clashed with law enforcement and broke through the building. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and three of its members were found guilty of treason-related charges in connection with the iolent riots. Tarrio and three lieutenants were convicted of seditious conspiracy last year. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Tarrio, as the groups leader, organized and directed a mob towards the Capitol, where Proud Boys dismantled barricades and broke windows to breach the halls of Congress, then bragged about their actions on social media and in group chat messages that were later shared with jurors. The Supreme Court is imminently expected to decide whether Trump is immune from criminal charges for actions taken while he was in office. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump participate in the first Presidential Debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday. Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images Donald Trump stood up for rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, yet again on Thursday, this time from the national debate stage. When President Joe Biden made a comment about how Trump wanted to forgive and commute the sentences of Jan. 6 convicts, Trump didnt deny that. Instead, he took the rioters side. What theyve done to some people that are so innocent You ought to be ashamed of yourself, what you have done, how you have destroyed the lives of so many people, he told Biden, presumably referring to federal prosecutions against Capitol rioters. Then, he launched into a tangent about calling in the National Guard on Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020. Trumps comment was significant: It was yet another instance of him standing up for Jan. 6 defendants, who sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power between presidents by sacking Congress. The vast majority of more than 1,400 defendants have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty at trial, an NPR tally shows. Many await trial. Just three have been acquitted of all charges. Trump has repeatedly said he supports freeing some or all Jan. 6 rioters. In January 2022, he pledged to treat Jan. 6 defendants fairly, and that if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons. The following month, he said many Jan. 6 defendants were patriots, theyre soldiers, theyre policemen, and added that he would absolutely be prepared to issue pardons to some of them. A few months later, he said he would be looking at them very, very seriously for pardons, saying Jan. 6 defendants were having their lives totally destroyed and being treated worse than terrorists and murderers. These are hardly the onlyexamples. Trump has called for the release of Jan. 6 hostages and political prisoners, and has played a song recorded by jailed Jan. 6 defendants at campaign rallies. He pledged in March this year: My first acts as your next President will be to Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned! Trump began his answer to a question about Jan. 6 on Thursday by deflecting. Asked by CNN moderator Jake Tapper if he violated his oath of office that day, Trump instead spoke generally about his administrations track record on the border, energy, taxes and other issues. Pressed by Tapper for an actual answer, Trump said he had virtually nothing to do [with Jan. 6]. They asked me to go make a speech. This is laughably false. Trump hyped the event for weeks, inviting his supporters to Washington, D.C., with tweets like, Be there, will be wild! In the months leading up to Jan. 6, he promoted multiple rowdy events in the city, praising his supporters who answered his call. Multiple criminal Jan. 6 defendants have said their actions were in response to Trumps calls. In a speech before his supporters breached the Capitol, Trump told them: We fight like hell. And if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. Also in his answer Thursday, Trump claimed to have offered then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) 10,000 soldiers for security on Jan. 6, and claimed Pelosi had admitted to turning them down. This is simplyfalse. Related... Donald Trump celebrated his debate night thrashing of President Joe Biden with a campaign rally Friday in Democratic-leaning Virginia, relishing his performance the night before as a sign of increasingly bright prospects for reclaiming the White House. Clad in his signature red Make America Great Again cap, Trump piled insults onto a weakened President Joe Biden, calling him grossly incompetent, and a train wreck, while framing the election as a choice between strength and weakness, and competence and incompetence. The question every voter should be asking themselves today is not whether Joe Biden can survive a 90-minute debate performance, but whether America can survive four more years of crooked Joe Biden the White House, he told the crowd. In fact, I don't know if we can really survive five more months. The location reflected the Trump campaigns belief that it can compete in traditionally Democratic strongholds given his national polling advantage. He has campaigned this spring in blue states such as Minnesota, New Jersey and New York. While Biden is still expected to win those states, the president continues to lag Trump in key electoral battlegrounds. That includes North Carolina where the president held his own rally in Raleigh on Friday and Nevada, a state Trump lost in both 2016 and 2020, and where Vice President Kamala Harris also campaigned earlier in the day. Trumps rally in Chesapeake was just 20 miles from the North Carolina border. He opened his speech asking the crowd if they watched a debate that most commentators believe he dominated. That was a big one, he said to cheers, immediately launching into criticism over Bidens performance. He studied so hard that he didnt know what the hell he was doing, Trump said, noting that Biden had secured his desired date, rules and television network for the debate. Trump said he didnt believe that Democrats would replace Biden as their nominee, as some officials in both parties have speculated, pointing out that the president polls higher than Democratic alternatives name-checking California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama. The Virginia rally was the first attended by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has largely kept Trump at arms length to woo suburban moderates. Youngkin, who recently met in private with the former president, took the stage twice Friday to rally the crowd. Mr. President, this is the best Trump rally that you have ever had, and you're doing it in Virginia, he said. The governor pledged to go to work and get you back in the White House. Trump focused his 90-minute speech on economic, public safety and national security issues when he wasnt bashing Biden. At one point, he veered off to appeal to his far-right, election-denying base when he called for the release of defendants facing charges for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He celebrated the new Supreme Court decision that is expected to undermine the prosecution of hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, people he said have been horribly treated and whom he has pledged to consider pardoning if reelected. "Free the J6 hostages now, Trump said. They should free them now for what they've gone through." Trump also used the appearance to urge his supporters to take advantage of early and mail-in ballots, even as he continues to bash the integrity of both. Our case to Virginia is very simple, Trump said. We will seal the border, we will make the American dream affordable again, but we will bring back the American dream something you don't hear about anymore. (Bloomberg) -- Shares of a Chinese company whose local-language name sounds like Trump wins big jumped by their daily limit during the first debate between the two candidates in this years US presidential election. Most Read from Bloomberg Wisesoft Co., whose Chinese name Chuan Da Zhi Sheng sounds like Trump wins big to Mandarin speakers, surged 10% in Shenzhen on Friday. The stock gained as President Joe Biden appeared to falter in his exchanges with Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump in Atlanta. Chinese investors are known for speculative trading based on such homophones. Their interest in the US vote has been piqued by geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing. These small-cap Chinese meme stocks related to US elections may start to get the attention of retail investors as the US election rhetoric heats up, said Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Marvin Chen. The stocks may see large volatility in the coming months based on the perceived chances of Trump or Biden winning. Software and equipment maker Wisesofts shares saw a similar bump when Trump won the 2016 election, while a stock that sounds like Barack Obama enjoyed a four-day rally of 43% in October 2008. Of course shares of smaller companies can move a lot on any given day on a variety of factors. For reference, two stocks that call Bidens name to mind for Chinese people, Huaiji Dengyun Auto-Parts Holding Co. and Shandong Denghai Seeds Co., rose by less than 3% each Friday. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Former President Donald Trump on Thursday refused to commit to taking any action to address the climate crisis. Asked during the first 2024 presidential debate if he would take any action as president to slow the climate crisis, Trump first spoke about how police groups are supporting his campaign. Next, he falsely claimed that President Joe Biden had called African Americans superpredators, adding that Biden has also done a horrible job for Hispanics. CNN gave Trump another opportunity to name any action he would take as president to slow the climate crisis. So I want absolutely immaculate clean water, and I want absolutely clean air, Trump responded. And we had it. We had H2O, we had the best numbers ever. And we did. We were using all forms of energy, all forms everything. And yet, during my four years, I had the best environmental numbers ever and my top environmental people gave me that statistic just before I walked on the stage. Actually, that is true. Trump has reportedly called on oil and gas executives to donate $1 billion to help fund his presidential campaign, and promised those executives a host of policy favors in return including a rollback of Bidens environmental regulations and faster corporate mergers. Biden argued that Trump as president didnt do a damn thing for the environment, and wants to undo all that Ive done. He noted that Trump pulled out of the Paris climate accord, which Trump then called a rip off. Fossil fuel cash has been pouring into Trumps super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc. Last month, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren donated $5 million to MAGA Inc., and the oil and gas company Continental Resources, Inc. donated $1 million to the super PAC in April. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone A rescue worker with a dog searches for victims in a damaged apartment building after it was hit by a Russian bomb in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on June 22. (Andrii Marienko / Associated Press) In the presidential debate former President Trump insisted repeatedly that if he had still been in the White House, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine and Hamas would not have invaded Israel. Both claims are unprovable. But Trump repeated the assertion again and again in his debate Thursday night with President Biden. It is true, foreign policy analysts have said, that Trump might have been able to discourage Putin from invading Ukraine but, they've asked, at what cost? Read more: Biden's verbal stumbles, Trump's 'morals of an alley cat': 6 debate takeaways Trump, a vocal admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, might have made concessions to Moscow such as sacrificing Ukrainian territory that many in the West would find unpalatable. After the Russian invasion in 2022, Biden was able to rally and fortify NATO in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. It seems unlikely Trump would have had that influence, given that the largest of NATO countries were generally contemptuous of Trump during his administration. Trump's claim that Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both militant groups backed by Iran, became emboldened because Biden's policies built up Iran are also not completely true. The Obama administration did unfreeze some Iranian assets in foreign banks as part of the landmark Iran nuclear deal in 2015, which curbed Iran's nuclear aspirations. It was Trump's decision in 2018, however, to abandon the nuclear deal he said it didn't go far enough that sent Iran on a major quest to enrich uranium, which has now brought the Islamic Republic closer than ever to being able to produce a nuclear bomb. Trump, whose support for Israel essentially eliminated Palestinian statehood aspirations from the picture, took a swipe at Biden in the debate for what he described as failing to supply Israel with the weapons it needs to fight Hamas. Biden said that is not true. The Biden administration held up a single shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to prevent them from being used in the overly crowded Gazan city of Rafah during an offensive earlier this month. Robust weapons shipments have continued, the Pentagon says. Trump attacked Biden for his bungled handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. To be sure, it was a chaotic disaster that killed 13 American service members and dozens of Afghans. Read more: Biden vs. Trump: Where they stand on Israel, Palestinians, Middle East It was one of the darkest stains on Biden's foreign policy record. However, he was fulfilling the agreement that Trump executed in rare negotiations with the Taliban before leaving office. Trump also revived a lie he told in the months leading up to his first impeachment over attempts to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on the Biden family. He said Biden, as vice president, had sought to get fired a Ukrainian attorney general who was targeting his son Hunter Biden. In fact, the prosecutor was blacklisted by the European Union, the U.S. and other groups because of his refusal to tackle corruption, which international entities had established as a task for Kyiv before it could be considered for EU membership and other benefits. On the Ukraine war, Trump said he would be able to "get it settled fast" before he even took office on Jan. 21. In other venues, he has also said he could get Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich freed from Russian authorities who arrested him on what the U.S. says are trumped-up espionage charges. In both cases, Trump is making claims impossible to test. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday he did not rule out a possible meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to help restore bilateral relations between the neighbours. Turkey severed ties with Syria after the 2011 Syrian civil war and supported rebels looking to oust Assad. It has carried out several cross-border military operations against militants it says threaten its national security and formed a "safe zone" in northern Syria where Turkish troops are now stationed. However, amid a regional charm offensive aimed predominantly at normalising ties with Gulf countries, Turkey has also said it may restore ties with Damascus if there is progress on the fight against terrorism, on the safe and voluntary return of millions of refugees hosted by Turkey, and on the political process. Asked by reporters about Assad's reported comments that his government was open to normalisation initiatives as long as they respected Syria's sovereignty and contributed to counter-terrorism, Erdogan said Ankara and Damascus could act to restore ties. "There is no reason for it not to happen," Erdogan said, and added Turkey had no intention of interfering in Syria's internal affairs. "Just as we kept our ties very lively in the past - we even held talks between our families with Mr Assad - it is certainly not possible (to say) this will not happen again in the future, it can happen," he said after Friday prayers. Syrian officials have repeatedly said that any moves towards normalising ties between Damascus and Ankara can only come after Turkey agrees to pull out thousands of troops it has stationed in the rebel-held northwest. In April 2023, the defence ministers and intelligence chiefs of Iran, Russia, Syria and Turkey held talks, as part of efforts to rebuild Turkey-Syria ties after years of animosity. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Daren Butler and Alison Williams) Gov. Shapiro and a growing number of legislators from both sides of the aisle are calling for changes to the way cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania are funded and operate. And more importantly, once you know the truth, you should, too! Despite what the ads say, cyber charter schools are not free. School districts and their taxpayers are required to pay tuition to the cyber charter school for every student that enrolls. Each of the 500 school districts in the state pay a different rate - up to $26,500 for a non-special education student. Yet, the cyber charter school provides the same education no matter where in the state a student comes from and receives the same funding as brick-and-mortar charter schools despite having only a fraction of the same costs. Rob Gleason Larry Feinberg When it comes to special education, cyber charters receive a flat, one-size-fits-all tuition payment for the student regardless of the student's needs, which results in millions of dollars in overpayments. Heres how it works - a student requiring speech therapy as part of their special education program costs the cyber charter an extra $5,000, yet the school district is forced to pay as much as an extra $40,000 for that student. No one is suggesting that these students receive less funding or services. But districts and taxpayers should be paying fairly based on a students needs. Cyber charter schools claim that they only receive 75% of the funding of traditional public schools. But thats simply not true. In the 2021-22 school year, charter schools received $19,455 per student while school districts received $20,646 per student. Thats only 6.1% less less than a quarter of what is claimed. When you consider the fact that school districts have numerous expenses and mandates that do not apply to charter schools, such as paying tuition to charter schools (which was a $2.6 billion expense in 2021-22) this difference in funding makes perfect sense. By no means is this a suggestion that parents and students should not have the option of enrolling in a virtual or online school. Some students may thrive in the virtual setting or may need to take a break from in-person learning for any number of valid reasons. However, nearly every school district in the state offers students that same opportunity, but at a significantly lower cost. Cyber charter schools have come out strong against any attempts to reform them and its easy to understand why. The status quo benefits them greatly and they dont want to see any changes to the system that has allowed them to amass huge budget reserves, accumulate vast real estate holdings, accrue millions of dollars in profits, and create a powerful lobby in Harrisburg. For example, the states largest cyber charter school reported profits of $111 million and $122 million for the last two years on their latest federal organizational tax return and has purchased 29 properties since 2018. Another large cyber charter school maintains an unassigned reserve fund of over $100 million, which is nearly six times the recommended level based on the schools expenses. Contrary to what some might say, this is not about eliminating or limiting school choice. This is about the effective and efficient use of limited resources for public education. This is also not a new issue. Leaders in traditional public school districts have been begging for changes to the cyber charter funding system since cyber charters were established in 2002. Its time to look at the facts and when you do, the case for cyber charter reform is clear. Lawrence Feinberg is the director of the Keystone Center for Charter Change. A longtime advocate for public education at the county, state and federal levels, he served for 24 years as a member of the Haverford School Board in Delaware County. Robert Gleason was elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party in 2006 and served in that capacity until 2017. He is currently the president of the Westmont Hilltop School Board in Cambria County. He previously served in Gov. Thornburgh's cabinet as secretary of the commonwealth, on the Pennsylvania Transportation Commission under Gov. Ridge and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission under Gov. Casey. Gleason also served as a member of the Catholic Advisory Committee of the Republican National Committee. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Your Turn: Setting the record straight on cyber charter reform Russia is maintaining the pace of offensive operations in the Toretsk sector after enemy troops intensified their activities in the area on June 18. The occupiers are seeking to reduce the Ukrainian-controlled advance in this area, but they have deployed too few forces and have had too little success for Russia to achieve this goal in the near future. ADVERTISIMENT In the Toretsk sector, the invaders are conducting a so-called creeping offensive, which is quite satisfactory to the Kremlin. Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) explained what the Russian government is betting on in a new article. Russian troops began more active offensives in the Toretsk sector on June 18. They launched frontal offensives by large infantry groups against small settlements south and east of Toretsk. At the same time, the invaders have never conducted a significant mechanized assault in the area. Analysts attribute the intensification of the invaders' activity in the Toretsk area to the offensive operation of Russian troops in the north of Kharkiv region, which required the Ukrainian command to deploy additional forces there. The invaders decided to take advantage of this to try to achieve success in other critical frontline areas, particularly in the Donetsk region. ADVERTISIMENT Analysts have speculated on the reasons for the choice to activate the Toretsk direction, which had been an inactive section of the frontline until June. "The further Russian forces advance in the Chasiv Yar area and northwest of Avdiivka without making similar gains in the Toretsk sector, the deeper the Ukrainian advance in the Toretsk sector will become, offering Ukrainian forces a zone for conventional fire on the immediate Russian rear in the Chasiv Yar and Avdiivka sectors. A deeper advance in the Toretsk area would also make Russian forces more vulnerable to significant Ukrainian counterattacks on the southern front of the Chasiv Yar direction and the northern front of the Avdiivka salient. The Russian offensive operations near Toretsk are likely intended to reduce the threat posed by this Ukrainian salient, while Russian troops continue to pursue objectives in the Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar directions," analysts tried to explain the motives of the Russian command. ADVERTISIMENT The ISW also noted that Russian offensive actions in the Toretsk sector indicate that the Russian military command does not consider a large-scale offensive on Kostyantynivka from several operational directions to be appropriate. Compared to April of this year, when the Russians made relatively quick tactical gains northwest of Avdiivka, their advance has slowed considerably. They have failed to capture Chasiv Yar in order to enter the Toretsk area from there and create a threat of encirclement for Ukrainian forces. "Continuation of Russian offensive operations to the west and southwest of Avdiivka and further concentration of Russians on advancing northwest of Avdiivka towards the T0504 (Kostiantynivka-Pokrovsk) highway, rather than further north of the Avdiivka salient, suggests that Russian forces are currently seeking to advance west toward Pokrovsk rather than pursue operations that could support a broader operation to capture Kostyantynivka from the south and east. The Russian military command may intend to use operations in the Toretsk sector to support the envisioned offensive from Chasovyi Yar to Kostiantynivka in a narrower offensive to capture the city. On the other hand, Russian forces may not intend to achieve significant tactical success in the Toretsk sector and hope that offensive operations in this area will put pressure on Ukrainian forces on the broader front in Donetsk region and contribute to success in the Chasiv Yar and Avdiivka areas," the article says. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the Russian command has sent forces with limited combat power to the Toretsk direction: units of the so-called "DPR" and units of the Russian territorial troops (which are less combat-ready than units of the regular Russian army) are fighting there. Therefore, analysts believe that it will be difficult for them to achieve significant tactical success without serious reinforcements. The forces that the occupiers have accumulated near Toretsk are not enough to capture the city. "The arrival or dispatch of Russian reinforcements to the area would be an indicator that Russian troops intend for operations in the Toretsk area to be more tactically significant than sabotage. Even if Russian forces were able to capture Toretsk, advancing beyond the city would be equally, if not more difficult given the open terrain and large bodies of water to the north and northwest. ISW currently assesses rapid tactical successes by Russia in the Toretsk sector as unlikely. However, Russian troops may intend to conduct successive offensive operations in the area to achieve creeping tactical successes, as is the case throughout the theater," the report says. ADVERTISIMENT The tactic of a creeping offensive, analysts say, is fully consistent with the theory of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who believes that Russian troops will be able to continue their gradual creeping advance indefinitely, prevent Ukraine from conducting successful counteroffensive operations, and win the war by depleting Ukrainian forces. The ISW believes that the current pace of Russia's advance suggests that Russian troops can pursue individual operational objectives for many months, if not years, so the occupiers may well agree to several months of attacks to capture Toretsk and move on to Kostiantynivka. Analysts have also noted that the Russian command probably hopes that pressure on the Toretsk direction will help prevent Ukraine from amassing troops and resources that would help seize the initiative on the battlefield. This desire may be driving the Russians to conduct offensive actions near Toretsk even more than the desire to grab another piece of territory or occupy an operationally important city. ADVERTISIMENT "The West should actively provide Ukrainian forces with the necessary equipment and weapons on the scale, time, and regularity that Ukrainian forces need for operations that liberate large areas of occupied Ukraine and challenge Putin's belief that he can gradually conquer Ukraine if a quick, complete victory seems unattainable," the analysts summarized. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! The first debate face-off (of the 2024 election cycle, at least) between President Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump drew a big audience but not nearly as big as their 2020 debates. The 99-minute debate, produced by CNN but aired on 16 other networks, averaged 51.27 million viewers, according to final same-day ratings from Nielsen. Thats down by 30 percent from the candidates first debate in 2020, which drew 73.13 million viewers. (Thursdays Nielsen-measured audience doesnt include streaming.) More from The Hollywood Reporter The debate, which most commentators said went poorly for Biden (with a few caveats), is the earliest general-election forum since televised debates debuted in 1960, taking place even before the two major party conventions. It was also the first general-election debate since 1988 that wasnt organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates. CNN drew 9.53 million viewers, better than its performance for either Biden-Trump debate in 2020, and narrowly beat Fox News (9.28 million viewers) and ABC (9.21 million) for the lead among individual outlets. Including simulcasts on Fox broadcast network (3.68 million viewers) and Fox Business (397,000), the Fox feed accounted for about 13.4 million TV viewers, the most for any media company ahead of NBCUniversal (5.39 million on NBC, 4.12 million on MSNBC and about 900,000 on Telemundo) and Warner Bros. Discovery, which got about 300,000 additional viewers on HLN and CNNe. CBS averaged 5.01 million viewers; the remaining 3.45 million or so viewers watched on Scripps News, Univision, BET, Newsmax, NewsNation and PBS. CNN also says an additional 2.36 million viewers saw the debate on its digital platforms, including 864,000 on Max (whose figure includes 21 minutes of post-debate coverage). Thursday was the biggest day ever for CNN on Max. Prior to Thursday, the first general-election debates of an election cycle averaged about 63.8 million viewers each (excluding 1980, for which figures arent available). Only two, in 1996 (46.1 million viewers) and 2000 (46.6 million), have come in under 50 million viewers. June 28, 11:25 a.m. Updated with audience figures for NBC, CBS and Fox Business. June 28, 2:37 p.m. Updated with final ratings figures. Best of The Hollywood Reporter When the Supreme Court ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday, June 27, it incurred the ire of many analysts. At issue in the case of Ohio v. EPA was whether the agency can implement a plan to limit cross-state air pollution via the Clear Air Act while affected states challenge its legality. By ruling that the EPA lacks this power, the Supreme Court according to University of Michigan law professor Rachel Rothschild "reflects two longstanding trends in his environmental law jurisprudence: deep skepticism of agency experts and emphasis on state authority over environmental protection." California Democratic Party Executive Committeewoman Christine Pelosi was more blunt, tweeting that "polluters pay big money, win big rulings." While it is bracing for the Supreme Court to act like this, it is sadly not a new trend. Both of these trends denying scientific expertise and siding with "big money" over common sense began in the early 21st century, when powerful political leaders realized humanity's excessive release of greenhouse gases was dangerously overheating the planet. More than 20 years ago, a historic battle within the White House over how to classify carbon dioxide had profound reverberations that humanity still feels today in the form of climate change worsening and science denialism increasing. It took place during the height of the George W. Bush Administration, when the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was a famously moderate Republican, former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman, who eventually left the agency out of frustration. If the saga of human-caused climate change could ever be boiled down to a single moment, one that foreshadowed the dark future that lay ahead, it was the dramatic story that culminated in Whitman's resignation. Whitman understood that carbon dioxide needs to be regulated as a pollutant, and anti-environmentalists could hardly argue that she felt this way because she is a tree-hugging hippie. Descended from a dynasty of New Jersey Republicans, she had worked for the Republican National Committee and helped found the Republican Leadership Council (then known as the Committee for Responsible Government). As New Jersey's governor she had a reputation as a centrist, and when Whitman agreed to be Bush's EPA head, she did so from the understanding that the Texas governor had characterized himself as a fellow moderate, particularly on environmental issues. George W Bush; Christine Todd Whitman Being a moderate included an ability unusual in politicians namely, to admit to their own mistakes. Whitman did this years after leaving the EPA by apologizing for incorrectly claiming the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe after the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. When she departed the EPA, environmentalists criticized Whitman's tenure by alleging she was too pro-business, as well as too willing to delegate powers to the states. However, criticisms also came from her own party because she did things like follow scientific data. As Whitman told Salon, among individuals like Cheney "there was just a questioning of the science, of how real is this, and aren't we being a little Chicken Little?" Whitman was adamant about heeding her science advisers' warnings about climate change, who insisted that carbon dioxide emissions were overheating the planet. Whitman's stance on that issue and, as a consequence, about air pollution overall is what would ultimately lead to her decision to leave the Bush administration. "As governor, [Bush] had put a cap on carbon, and it was in his campaign platform," Whitman told Salon. He made it clear from the beginning that he would not take bolder steps, such as joining the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions by extending the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. At the same time, Whitman "made sure with the White House that it was okay to say that, while we weren't endorsing Kyoto, we would be regulating carbon. But when I got back, that was when the pushback happened." Cheney took a letter up through Capitol Hill that had been composed by senators opposed to regulating carbon emissions. California had been in the throes of widespread brownouts due to an energy crisis when Bush took office in 2000, and continued to grapple with that crisis during his first year in 2001. People worried there would be blackouts. Bush set up an energy task force and assigned Cheney as its chair. "It was evident from the very beginning that the focus was on the EPA and regulation," Whitman recalled. "They tried to take the Clean Air Act enforcement away from the agency and give it to [the Department of Energy], which obviously I pushed back on, and they did not do it. But [Cheney] was still not a big fan, shall we say, of regulating the energy industry." Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. Yet the Cheney-Whitman feud over energy regulation didn't end there. As Whitman explained, it wasn't easy implementing the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide pollutants because it made an exemption for emissions caused by routine maintenance, repair and replacement for businesses trying to comply with reforms. Under Bush's predecessor, President Bill Clinton, the EPA had "pulled in a lot of the small power companies that had been doing things they thought were the right way. Actually, they had been; it was the big guys who were gaming the system. So we needed to have a definition of what was routine." Whitman recalled the next two-and-a-half years, going "back and forth on numbers, on what the scientists could come up with that was reasonable, which would capture the bad actors but recognize those small guys that were just repairing or replacing and weren't secretly increasing their output, which is what a lot of the big guys were doing." Unfortunately for environmental protection efforts, the two sides couldn't come to an agreement and matters eventually reached a climax. "Finally, the administration handed me a set of numbers and they said, 'This is where we should set it,'" Whitman said. "I went back to the agency and said to our scientists, 'Can you justify this in any way? And they said, 'No.' So I went back to the administration and said, 'Look, this is your policy, your administration, I can't see this regulation and I can't enforce it. So you need somebody there who will.' And that's what happened." Whitman was replaced by another former Republican governor, Mike Leavitt of Utah, who served for an additional two years. "The reason I left was over the Clean Air Act and a definition within that, but also I was getting to the point where I was losing more than I was winning, and certainly climate change was one of [those issues]," Whitman said. Her setbacks did more than harm the environment in the immediate sense they also helped normalize the outright denial of climate science within the mainstream Republican Party. As University of Pennsylvania climatologist Michael E. Mann previously told Salon, "in terms of like the party's official stance being the rejection of environmental science climate science, ozone depletion, what have you that really hit its stride during the George W. Bush years. That is the transition when Dick Cheney and the energy industry took over energy and environmental policy for the George W. Bush presidency. That's where they really veered sharply in the direction" of outright denialism. Michael Oppenheimer, a Princeton University professor of geosciences and international affairs, elaborated on the ecological consequences of this denialism. "From the a point of view on the climates issue alone, it is not only that was there no progress; there was regression," Oppenheimer told Salon, pointing to the spike in carbon dioxide emissions that occurred since the advent of the 21st Century. As long as Bush deferred to Cheney on energy policy, which he did through his entire eight years in office, the pro-science and centrist approach of people like Whitman was subordinated by the belief that environmentalists stood in the way of energy industry profits. The situation did not change until Bush was succeeded by President Barack Obama in 2009. At that point, Obama could appoint EPA leaders who supported regulating carbon dioxide and could fall back on a recent Supreme Court case, 2007's Massachusetts v. EPA, which argued that the EPA was required to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act. "Obama benefited from the Supreme Court having made the decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which gave the federal government the authority, without even changing a word, within Clean Air Act to control carbon dioxide, initially from motor vehicles and later across the whole economy," Oppenheimer said, adding that both this and subsequent Supreme Court and lower court decisions "validated efforts by California and other states to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as air pollutants and applied that finding first to automobiles, and later to electric power plants and other human made sources. For this and other reasons, particularly the declining price of natural gas, U.S. emissions of CO2 and total GHG emissions peaked in 2007 and began to fall, partly because industry anticipated more state and federal regulation now that CO2 was classified as an air pollutant." Yet when President Donald Trump took office, these Obama regulations were either weakened or completely reversed. Now the Biden Administration is in the process of restoring these regulations, in a somewhat different form, Oppenheimer explained, "While at the same time pairing the rules with ample subsidies and tax breaks with the goal of electrification based largely on carbon-free generation." "Other countries took note, particularly when the U.S. and China signed a bilateral agreement in 2014 with specific emissions targets," he continued. "This helped create the international consensus that developed the Paris Agreement in 2015. Since then, many countries, but not all, have put serious plans to cut GHG emissions in place, even if implementation has been slower than the original intent indicated in those commitments." In his opinion, Oppenheimer said that without "the state actions to treat CO2 as an air pollutant, the 2007 [Supreme Court] decision, and the subsequent Federal regulations, much of the progress since 2007 on U.S. emissions, and to a lesser extent on turning around the growth of global emissions, would not have occurred." One of the two defendants (L) and his lawyers Thomas Domanski (R) and Felix Deutscher await the start of the trial in the courtroom in the criminal justice building. A German court has sentenced two men to several years in prison in the first trial of members of the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah in Germany. Christian Charisius/dpa-Pool/dpa A German court has sentenced two men to several years in prison in the first trial of members of the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah in Germany. Judge Petra Wende-Spors from the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court in Hamburg said that it had been proved in court that Hezbollah was a terrorist organization abroad in the criminal sense, and that the two defendants were members of this organization. "The answer to both questions is a crystal-clear yes," said the judge. A 50-year-old Lebanese man was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, and the second defendant, a 56-year-old German-Lebanese man, to three years. They can appeal. The two defendants were detained on May 10 last year. The 50-year-old had regularly appeared as a preacher and "travelling sheikh," for example at the al-Mustafa community in Bremen, which was banned in 2022. According to the court, the 56-year-old was also active as a foreign functionary of Hezbollah. From 2009, he was a member and from 2012 chairman of the al-Mustafa community. Hezbollah, literally "party of God" in Arabic, has been banned from operating in Germany since April 2020. Two men were rushed to the hospital early Friday when a robbery in Times Square turned into a bloody brawl between the victims and the suspects that left one man stabbed, cops said. Four people were taken into custody for the violent after-midnight fight on Broadway near W. 46th St., according to police. Charges against the suspects were pending. The violence began a half-hour earlier when a 23-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl were mugged by four men at the corner of W. 43rd St. and Seventh Ave. After being attacked and robbed of their property, the two were joined by a friend, a 24-year-old man. They began searching the area and found the muggers hanging outside at Broadway at W.46th St. A second fight erupted, during which the 24-year-old friend was stabbed near the left armpit. His younger friend was beaten, cops said. Officers rounded up and arrested the alleged muggers, all men between 24 and 27 years old, and took them into custody for questioning. The teenage girl with the two men was not harmed, cops said. The brawl was the latest in a recent rash of violent incidents at the Crossroads of the World. On May 30, a man was stabbed with a machete during a Times Square turf war among CD vendors near the corner of W. 45th St. and Broadway. A suspect was apprehended and charged. Also in May, a school chaperone visiting the city from western Pennsylvania vowed to never return to the city after she was randomly knifed in the chest in the area. Amber Lohr, 36, and the students were shopping for souvenirs as they neared the corner of W. 43rd St. and Eighth Ave. around 6:15 p.m. on May 11 when 61-year-old Cyril Destin allegedly attacked her, cops said. Lohr, whose teen daughter was among the group, had never visited New York City before. The woman survived the attack and Destin was arrested and charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Two US service members charged with sexual assault in Japan Two U.S. members of the armed services have been accused of sexual assault in Japan, spurring Japanese officials to speak out against what they have called troubling behavior. One U.S. airman is charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl in December while this month a Marine was accused of assaulting a woman and attempting to sexually assault her. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, who coordinates policy for the executive branch in Tokyo, said the cases are deplorable. This should [be] taken very seriously, he said at a Friday press briefing. The airman, 25-year-old Brennon Washington, was indicted in March on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old-girl. Washington allegedly asked her to a park on the island of Okinawa in December and then invited her to his car. Washington then allegedly drove her to his home and sexually assaulted her, according to Japanese media. Okinawa hosts around 70 percent of U.S. bases in Japan. Okinawa Vice Gov. Takekuni Ikeda met on Thursday with Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, and the local U.S. consul to ensure measures were being taken to prevent further action. The Hill has reached out to the 18th Wing for comment. In a separate incident also in Okinawa, Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 21, was indicted this month for allegedly choking a woman and attempting to sexually assault her on May 26, Japanese media reported. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told local reporters on Friday that he was outraged by the alleged crimes. A vile crime has come to light once again, causing strong concern to the people of Okinawa, he said, according to remarks carried by several Japanese media outlets. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two Vermont senators are suing Gov. Phil Scott over his controversial appointment of interim Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. In a lawsuit filed on June 19, Sens. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Chittenden, and Richard McCormack, D-Windsor, accused Scott of violating the Vermont Constitution when he selected Saunders to serve as interim Secretary of Education after the Senate blocked her permanent appointment to the position. The lawsuit argues that Scott is constitutionally obligated to obtain the advice and consent of the Senate before filling a secretary of state agencies seat. The governor cant strip away the power granted to the senate by both the VT constitution and state law, Vyhovsky said in a Facebook post about the lawsuit on June 21, but by disregarding our unambiguous decision to reject his appointment for Secretary of Education he did exactly that. Zoie Saunders Scott, however, said back in April that he had followed historical precedent, contending that former Gov. Howard Dean also bypassed Senate opposition to appoint his nominees, according to VTDigger. VTDigger, however, pointed out that none of the nominees Dean reappointed held cabinet positions. More: Vermont Legislature makes history, overrides six vetoes Scott spokesperson Amanda Wheeler disparaged the lawsuit as another example of legislators focusing more on partisan political maneuvering than the hard work to help schools, kids and taxpayers. And make no mistake, its no coincidence this was announced the same week the legislature imposed a 14% property tax increase, Wheeler said, referencing the yield bill Scott has consistently lambasted for being economically irresponsible. Theyd like nothing more than to change the subject and distract Vermonters and the press. Vyhovsky denied any ulterior motives for the lawsuit, calling accusations that she and McCormack are trying to divert attention from their legislative actions not just incorrect but wildly off-base. She also rejected claims that they filed the lawsuit because of political parties or divides. Sen. McCormack and I are doing this because its the right thing to do, not because of the letters after our names, and because we both took an oath of office to protect and uphold the Vermont Constitution, Vyhovsky wrote on Facebook, adding that she believes the overreach of executive power leads us away from democracy to authoritarianism unless its challenged at every point. Gov. Phil Scott criticizes the Vermont lawmakers for nullifying six of his eight vetoes for the year during a press conference the afternoon after the legislature's June 17 veto override session. What led to the lawsuit? Scott announced on March 22 that he had selected Saunders a former education administrator from Florida to serve as secretary of education from a pool of candidates recommended by the state Board of Education. When Saunders took office on April 15, her position had been vacant for roughly a year, with Deputy Secretary Heather Bouchey serving as interim in the meantime. Scotts pick immediately came under fire from critics both constituents and lawmakers who expressed concern about Saunders work experience. For instance, Saunders had only spent three months in public school leadership prior to accepting the secretary of education role in Vermont. She also had never served as a teacher, principal, school district administrator or superintendent like past secretaries of education had. Additionally, some Vermonters questioned Saunders charter school experience, especially her connection to Charter Schools USA, whose founder emerged from the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. Scott defended Saunders in a March 28 statement, accusing critics of spreading or believing misinformation, making assumptions and levying attacks on her character before even getting to know his nominee. Despite Scotts admonishment, the Senate voted 19-9 to reject Saunders as secretary of education. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the Senate heartily endorses the appointee, but in this case a majority of the Senate found Zoie Saunders' resume a mismatch with the current moment, said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden, in a statement. Immediately following the Senate vote, Scott named Saunders the states interim secretary of education the reason for Vyhovsky and McCormacks lawsuit. "Zoies professionalism, grace, and class throughout this process, despite the unfair, ill-informed treatment, has been truly remarkable and honorable, Scott said in a statement. Im very proud of her and how she has handled these hurtful, false attacks, which makes me and my entire team more confident than ever that she is the right person for the job. Vyhovsky reiterated on Facebook that the Senates feelings about Saunders is not why she and McCormack filed the lawsuit. This is not about the person Gov. Scott submitted for appointment nor is it about the work that shes done, Vyhovsky wrote. Its about the governors decision to overrule the senate and make that appointment without our legally required consent. Its about making case law that tells any governor who comes after Scott that Vermont enforces the separation of powers. What are the plaintiffs goals? In the lawsuit which also lists Saunders as a defendant Vyhovsky and McCormack are asking the Vermont Superior Court to rule that Scott cannot circumvent the Senates authority by appointing a candidate they rejected to an interim version of that cabinet position. (The statue referred to in the lawsuit does not explicitly state interim appointments must be approved by the Senate, just secretary of state agencies appointments in general.) The plaintiffs are also asking the court to declare that the Senates rejection of Saunders is the chambers final act on the matter for the 2024 session, since Scott did not resubmit his nominees name for consideration on or before the day the Legislature graveled out. Vyhovsky and McCormack are asking the court to rule that Saunders has not validly functioned in her role as secretary of education due to the reasons above thereby nullifying any actions shes taken since she assumed the position at the end of April. Who is paying for the lawsuit? Vyhovsky told the Free Press in an email that Vermonters across the political spectrum have stepped up to donate over $11,000 toward the plaintiffs attorney fees. She and McCormack plan to fund the rest, assuming the donations dont already cover everything, Vyhovsky said. Its unfortunate that two Senators needed to use private resources to sue to enforce the separation of powers as defined in both the VT constitution and state law, Vyhovsky wrote, but added that retaining private counsel was the only viable option as she and McCormack needed to take immediate legal action. All donations will be paid directly to a IOLTA trust account belonging to one of the plaintiffs lawyers. Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont senators sue Gov. Scott over interim secretary of education Greek authorities have extended the detention of two officers, charged on suspicion of triggering a wildfire on the island of Hydra by shooting off fireworks from a luxury yacht last Friday. The remaining 11 crew members of the yacht were released on bail. They remain banned from leaving the country and are required to appear monthly at their local police station. According to the lawyers, seven crew members had their bail set at 10,000, while the remaining four had to pay 20,000. The passengers a group of Kazakhstan nationals reportedly including oligarchs were allowed to leave Greece. Some 3,000 acres of pine forest were destroyed in the blaze overnight on the popular tourist island some 40 nautical miles south of Athens, domestic media reported. Six aircraft and two firefighting teams were sent to the Bisti area on the island, forcing the authorities to shuffle responders fighting other fires raging elsewhere in Greece. The authorities claim to have determined the culprit after collecting the Hydra Port Authority traffic data and Coast Guard patrol reports from the area. Witnesses from another boat also came forward, reportedly filing a complaint about the fireworks from a yacht in the same area where the fire broke out. The captain claimed that no fireworks were discharged from the yacht and that, on inspection by the Coast Guard, all the boat's emergency flares were intact and in place. He also stated that he was the one who informed the Hydra Fire Department of the fire that had broken out. The United States dispatched an amphibious warship, the USS Wasp, to the eastern Mediterranean Thursday as a deterrent. Conflict is heating up between Israel and Hezbollah, prompting concerns Israel will soon be involved in a second war. Photo Courtesy of: U.S. Navy June 27 (UPI) -- The United States has dispatched a warship to the eastern Mediterranean Sea in a show of force as tensions mount between Hezbollah and Israel along the Lebanese border, officials said Thursday. Officials said the USS Wasp and the Marines onboard are not any indication that the United States is planning to move citizens out of Lebanon, but to act as a military deterrent as the conflict between Israel and Hamas wages on. The United States took similar action after Iran-backed Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, sparking the latest spasm of violence and killing in an age-old conflict between the two sides, a battle that has largely evolved around land. Not long after that attack, the United States deployed amphibious USS Bataan and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford following Hamas' attack against Israel. The Wasp will be joined in the eastern Mediterranean by the USS Oak Hill and the USS New York. Together, the three ships comprise the Wasp's Amphibious Ready Group. Some 2,000 soldiers are trained as part of that group, and are capable of a wide variety of missions, including evacuating large numbers of American citizens from conflict zones. "Each of our ships is capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations on their own, but there is no substitute for the type of combat power we bring to the fight when we constitute as an Amphibious Ready Group," said Capt. Nakia Cooper, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 4, aboard Wasp. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, have increased in recent weeks, prompting concerns that Israel could soon be engaged in a second war, and defensive rhetoric from the Israel Defense Forces is starting to emerge. "We will not accept Hezbollah troops and military formations on the border with Israel," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters on Tuesday. "We will not accept threats to our northern communities." "We are willing to do everything in our power to protect our people," he added. "We don't want to get into a war because it's not good for Israel." Israel is already under increasing pressure to lessen the severity of its attacks on Gaza, where nearly 40,000 people have been killed as part of the Middle Eastern country's response to the Hamas terror attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said "the most intense" phase of that war was coming to an end, although he stopped short of agreeing to a cease-fire. He said he would work to free Israeli hostages and has stuck by his stated goal of destroying Hamas. U.S. efforts to slow the pace and scale of the attack in Gaza have seemingly failed, and similar pressure has also fallen short as tensions ramp up with Hezbollah. Two of three motorcyclists killed in a fiery chain-reaction crash on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton on Thursday morning were active-duty sailors, the Navy confirmed Friday. The pair were riding southbound on the 5 Freeway shortly after 3 a.m. when they and two other motorcyclists struck other vehicles that had crashed, the California Highway Patrol said. For reasons still to be determined, the driver of a Jeep Wrangler lost control on the southbound side of the 5 Freeway, veered off the highway and hit a guardrail near Las Pulgas Road. The vehicle was then disabled on the side of the road, according to CHP Officer Jake Sanchez. Shortly after, a driver in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van crashed into the Jeep and overturned onto its side. Thats when the four motorcyclists following behind crashed into the van and Jeep. The ensuing crash set off a fire, according to authorities. Three of the four motorcyclists were killed, the CHP said. Two were sailors based in Southern California, according to Navy Public Affairs Officer Brian ORourke. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The names of the victims have not yet been released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Slovenia, like other countries of the world, strives for peace, but Ukraine must decide for itself when and under what conditions it will negotiate with Russia. In the war with Russia, Ukraine is defending not only its rights but also the rights of all nations. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by the President of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, on June 28 during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. In particular, she said that Ukraine is defending not only its rights but also the rights of all nations in the current war. Russia "was the country that attacked Ukraine," and international law should ensure security and order on the planet, Natasa Pirc Musar said. "I am very happy about the progress at the first Peace Summit in Switzerland. Slovenia participated there. And we all who participated in this conference understand that we are defending international law and the UN Charter. And we agreed with the President (Volodymyr Zelenskyy Ed.) that no politician does not want peace. We all understand the risks, but Ukraine is the country that has to decide when and under what conditions it will negotiate. And here we are on your side," the Slovenian leader said. ADVERTISIMENT She added that Ljubljana provides support and participates in meetings on the seven points of the Peace Formula. "And we will continue to do so," the politician promised. NEW YORK (PIX11) A retired U.S. Navy rear admiral from New York is one of fewer than 200 women in history to achieve that rank. More Local News Now, decades after serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, this veteran is battling a new challenge: cancer. Mr. G recently sat down with Danelle Barrett, whose positivity will inspire you. Its a G Thing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The Supreme Court of the United States (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court deals blow to federal regulatory powers in case involving N.J. fishing operators appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom). The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. This is a developing story that will be updated. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Missouri Independent. The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court likely will not issue their opinion on the use of mifepristone until late spring. Oral arguments are set for March 26, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. Its an issue Utahs congressional House delegation spoke about in a panel discussion in Salt Lake City early month, saying the potential fall of Chevron deference would be an opportunity for Congress to reclaim power after 40 years of overreach. But they also acknowledged a post-Chevron nation would require more careful lawmaking once lawmakers can no longer rely on agencies to fill in the blanks on vague legislation. Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis, who is on track to become the states next U.S. senator, issued a statement Friday praising the ruling. For too long, Washington bureaucrats have bypassed Congress to enact federal rules, a practice not intended by our founders, Curtis said. Congress must now step up to legislate effectively. This is particularly significant for Utah, where nearly 70% of our land is federally owned and represents a major victory for those of us who feel many federal agencies are enacting rules beyond the intent of Congress. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on SC Daily Gazette. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Jane Norman | States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden involving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water, and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections, and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration, or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20 percent of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden involving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Minnesota Reformer. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has refused to be part of the country's delegation to the NATO summit to be held in Washington in July. The head of state does not agree with the commitments that Sofia should make to help Ukraine in the war with Russia. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the President's Office on Thursday, June 27, according to the Bulgarian service of Radio Liberty. They noted that the reason for this decision "is the side he has to defend regarding assistance to Ukraine." According to the publication, a day earlier, the Bulgarian government made a decision in which it invited Radev to lead the country's delegation to the NATO summit. It also mentioned that he should "present the framework positions" adopted by the government and, on their basis, "approve and/or endorse" the documents. "The head of state does not accept some of the provisions of the framework positions adopted by the Council of Ministers on the commitments assumed by our country regarding the war in Ukraine," Radev's press service said in a statement. At the same time, neither the president nor the government of Bulgaria voiced what exactly these framework positions are. ADVERTISIMENT The journalists write that Radev has long defended those who share the Kremlin's position on the war in Ukraine, namely that sending military aid to Kyiv allegedly prolongs the war, and that supporters of helping the Ukrainian resistance are "warmongers." This contradicts Bulgaria's official position. Previous regular governments, as well as the parliamentary majority, have supported Kyiv's efforts to defend itself against Russian military aggression and have voted for several decisions to provide military assistance to Ukraine. The article also says that the dispute over the Bulgarian delegation to the NATO summit has been going on for the past few days. Last week, the government decided to send acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev to the summit alongside Rumen Radev. Glavchev suggested that Radev should lead the country's delegation to Washington. ADVERTISIMENT Bulgaria's constitution stipulates that the country should be represented at the international level by the executive branch, which is currently headed by Dimitar Glavchev. As reported, earlier, NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg said that the leaders of the Alliance should support long-term financing of assistance to Ukraine in the war against the aggressor country Russia at the summit in Washington. He emphasized that the top priority will be to strengthen support for Ukraine. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court likely will not issue their opinion on the use of mifepristone until late spring. Oral arguments are set for Tuesday. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. The U.S. Supreme Court, pictured, issued a decision on a case dealing with a legal precedent that gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference. That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute. The courts six conservatives reasoned that courts routinely confront statutory ambiguities that have nothing to do with the authority of regulatory agencies, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. Of course, when faced with a statutory ambiguity in such a case, the ambiguity is not a delegation to anybody, and a court is not somehow relieved of its obligation to independently interpret the statute, Roberts wrote. Under the 40-year-old precedent, courts gave up their interpretive role and deferred to agencies, Roberts wrote. But they shouldnt, he added. Judges should apply their own legal reasoning to reach a sound decision. Courts instead understand that such statutes, no matter how impenetrable, do in fact, must have a single, best meaning. 1984 ruling overturned The decision overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 Supreme Court ruling that said courts must defer to federal agencies expertise when considering legal challenges to a rule. The 1984 ruling significantly raised the bar for overturning an agency rule. The precedent strengthened the executive branch under presidential administrations of both parties, but experts worry its reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues including clean air and public health. In a dissenting opinion, the courts three liberals not including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in one of the cases, after she recused herself because shed heard the case as an appeals court judge before joining the Supreme Court said the majority erred by misunderstanding the roles of three branches of government. Congress knows it cannot write perfectly complete regulatory statutes, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent. Interpretation of those statutes is a given, and Congress usually prefers a responsible agency instead of a court. Agencies are more politically accountable and have greater technical expertise in a given issue than courts, she wrote. Put all that together and deference to the agency is the almost obvious choice, Kagan wrote. Kagan went on to criticize the decision as a power grab by the judiciary at the expense of agency experts. A rule of judicial humility gives way to a rule of judicial hubris, she wrote. In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Liberals see a weakening of safeguards Liberal groups and elected Democrats worried the reversal will strip agencies of the power to enact strong regulatory safeguards across a broad spectrum of issues, especially climate and environmental regulations. It weakens our governments ability to protect us from the climate crisis, threats to worker safety, public health, clean air and water, safe medicines and food, a sound financial system, and more, Manish Bapna, president of the environmental group NRDC Action Fund, wrote in a statement. Todays reckless but unsurprising decision from this far-right court is a triumph for corporate polluters that seek to dismantle common-sense regulations protecting clean air, clean water and a livable climate future, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. Rachel Weintraub, the executive director of the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, a group that advocates for strong federal regulations, said in an interview before the decision was released that Chevron deference has allowed a host of regulations affecting consumer safety, labor, environmental protections and other issues. The important role that government plays in ensuring the health and safety of our families and the fairness of our markets could be undermined here, she said. The ruling takes power away from the experts on a particular subject of a federal regulation traffic engineers at the Department of Transportation, disease experts at the Food and Drug Administration or scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency, for example and gives it to the federal judiciary, Weintraub said. U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat who is the ranking member on the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee, called the ruling a gift to polluters and the fossil fuel industry. For 40 years, Congress has passed laws with the understanding that the interpretation of those laws is for the courts, but the implementation laid in the hands of the scientific and policy career experts at our federal agencies, Grijalva said in a statement. But now, thanks to this extremist power-grab, our most fundamental protections will be at the whim of individual judges many of whom are far-right ideologues regardless of their lack of expertise or political agenda. Conservatives applaud rollback Republicans in Congress and conservative activists praised the decision for weakening the administrative state, saying it would return power to the legislative branch. The Constitution vests Congress with the sole authority to make law, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. After forty years of Chevron deference, the Supreme Court made it clear today that our system of government leaves no room for an unelected bureaucracy to co-opt this authority for itself. Rep. Bruce Westerman, an Arkansas Republican who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, said Fridays ruling should spur Congress to write more prescriptive laws. Congress has sidestepped our legal duties for far too long and todays ruling puts us back in the drivers seat when it comes to rulemaking and regulatory authority, Westerman said in a written statement. Were no longer going to let federal agencies fill in the details when it comes to the policies we enact. Roman Martinez, an attorney who argued on behalf of the Rhode Island fishing operators, called the ruling a win for individual liberty and the Constitution. The Court has taken a major step to shut down unlawful power grabs by federal agencies and to preserve the separation of powers, Martinez said in a statement distributed by the conservative public relations firm CRC Advisors. Going forward, judges will be charged with interpreting the law faithfully, impartially, and independently, without deference to the government. No plans to reopen old cases In the majority opinion, Roberts said the court did not plan to reopen cases that had been decided by Chevron despite our change in interpretive methodology. Even prior to Fridays decision, the court had used Chevron less often. During the oral argument, Roberts cited a study that the court had relied on the precedent sparingly over the past 14 years. The courts conservative majority has shown a willingness to move away from deference to agency decision-making, demanding more explicit congressional instruction. In West Virginia v. EPA in 2022, for example, the court ruled that the EPA lacked the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Daniel Wolff, an administrative law attorney at the law firm Crowell & Moring, downplayed the effect the ruling would have on the administrative state. Congress at times explicitly directs agencies to craft regulations, and those rules will still be subject to the same standard that they were written reasonably, Wolff said in an interview prior to the decision. Rules with solid legal and statutory foundations would survive under either standard, he said. Rolling back Chevron is simply going to mean agencies dont get the benefit of the doubt in the case of a tie, Wolff said. They have to come into the court and persuade the court that they have the better reading of the statute. Fishing operators The cases decided Friday was brought by herring fishing operators from New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a NOAA rule requiring the operators to pay for the federal monitors who regularly join fishing boats to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The fishing operators said the rule forced them to hand over up to 20% of their profits. After a lower court relied on Chevron deference to rule in favor of NOAA, oral arguments at the Supreme Court in January focused almost entirely on Chevron. Thousands of former President Donald Trumps supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases of potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who faced the same charge as well as a portion of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smiths four-count indictment alleging former President Donald Trump schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election. But Attorney General Merrick Garland said following the ruling that he anticipates the decision will not affect the vast majority of Jan. 6 cases. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that the charge Fischer faces a subsection of an early 2000s obstruction law can only be applied to tampering with physical records. To prove a violation of Section 1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so, Roberts wrote. The judgment of the D. C. Circuit is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a concurring opinion. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented. Impact on Jan. 6 defendants, Trump The ruling has the potential to affect more than 355 Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with the same felony statute, which carries a fine and not more than 20 years in prison. Dozens, including leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have already been sentenced on the charge, according to the Department of Justice. The case, Fischer v. United States, centered on whether Jan. 6 defendant Joseph W. Fischer broke the obstruction law when he joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress, and Vice President Mike Pence, from certifying the 2020 presidential election results that declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner. Trump also faces the obstruction charge as part of his four-count federal indictment that alleges he worked with others to overturn the election results in seven states, pressured Pence to join him and whipped his base into a frenzy that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump will almost certainly challenge the charge, as his legal team has already argued he is completely immune to it. Trump attorneys D. John Sauer and William Owen Scharf did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Rather, Trumps 2024 campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded to the email with a link to Trumps post on his social media platform Truth Social. The post, published at 11:41 a.m. Friday, read BIG WIN! The cases against those who participated in the Jan. 6 riot have become a rallying cry for Republicans leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump, the GOPs presumed nominee, has repeatedly promised to pardon the defendants. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told reporters Friday that the Supreme Court decision says, effectively, the court agrees that a number of the defendants in the January 6 proceedings have been overcharged. And that is something that I also think many people have recognized for some time, and now the highest court in the land has declared that to be so, Johnson said during a wide-ranging press conference. How the charges came about The obstruction provision examined by the high court is contained in section 1512(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted after the 2001 Enron accounting scandal. The scandal erupted after revelations that the energy company doctored its financial records to inflate its value. The provision targets whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. Fischer, and hundreds of other Jan. 6 defendants, as well as Trump, are charged with the second subsection, cited in court documents as 1512(c)(2). Significant time during Aprils oral arguments centered on whether the second portion of the statute hinged on the first clause, meaning the law could only be applied if physical evidence was involved. The government argued the two parts are separate and that Fischer, who sent texts leading up to the riot and is shown on police camera footage inside the Capitol, intended to disrupt an official proceeding of Congress. Fischers team argued that he didnt actually enter the Capitol until Congress had already paused the proceeding, and that he didnt stay very long. A lower federal court agreed last year with Fischers motion to dismiss the felony charge. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., did not. Judge Florence Y. Pan who also sat on the panel in Trumps presidential immunity appeal wrote in the lead opinion that the statute is unambiguous in its meaning of what constitutes obstructing an official proceeding. Other charges The obstruction charge is not the only count brought against Fischer after his participation in the Jan. 6 riot. The original indictment against him also included charges of civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, among others. Fischers attorney Jeffrey Green, who spoke to States Newsroom in person following Aprils oral arguments, told the outlet in an emailed statement Friday that his team is ecstatic. The various opinions offer a particularly clear window into different statutory interpretation modalities among the Justices on todays Court. And the impact of the opinion on other prosecutions remains to be seen, but we are happy to have driven this criminal statute back to its proper evidence-tampering turf, the Bethesda, Maryland-based attorney wrote. Frederick Fritz Ulrich, a federal public defender for Pennsylvanias Middle District and attorney for Fischer, told States Newsroom in a written response Friday that the Supreme Court construed the scope of 1512(c) consistent with Congress aim and our argument that its an evidence impairment offense, not some form of omnibus obstruction offense. And at the end of the day, the government has plenty of offenses that it can charge to capture the conduct at issue. As for Mr. Fischer, the D.C. Circuit should ultimately remand to the district court for a trial, Ulrich wrote. DOJ reacts Garland said in a statement Friday that he was disappointed by the courts decision, which he said limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences. However, Garland doesnt anticipate the ruling will affect a significant swath of the hundreds of Jan. 6 cases, he said. The vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged for their illegal actions on January 6 will not be affected by this decision. There are no cases in which the Department charged a January 6 defendant only with the offense at issue in Fischer, Garland continued. The department will take appropriate steps to comply with the Courts ruling for any cases that will be affected, he said. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy, Garland said. He described the riot as an attack on the cornerstone of our system of government the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. Majority justices question governments claim Writing for the majority Friday, Roberts disagreed with DOJs position that the two parts of the obstruction law could be applied completely separately. Although the Governments all-encompassing interpretation may be literally permissible, it defies the most plausible understanding of why (the two subsections) are conjoined, Roberts wrote. Given that subsection (c)(2) was enacted to address the Enron disaster, not some further flung set of dangers, it is unlikely that Congress responded with such an unfocused and grossly incommensurate patch, he wrote, quoting the federal appeals courts dissenting opinion by Judge Gregory Katsas. In her concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Jackson wrote the high court properly interprets the statute and rightly vacates the judgment below and remands this case for further proceedings. Jackson wrote that Congress certification of the presidential election results on Jan. 6, 2021, plainly used certain records, documents, or objects including, among others, those relating to the electoral votes themselves. And it might well be that Fischers conduct, as alleged here, involved the impairment (or the attempted impairment) of the availability or integrity of things used during the January 6 proceeding in ways other than those specified in (c)(1), she wrote, quoting the first subsection of the obstruction law. If so, then Fischers prosecution under 1512(c)(2) can, and should, proceed. That issue remains available for the lower courts to determine on remand, Jackson concluded. In her dissenting opinion, Barrett argued against the majoritys narrowing of the subsection. There is no getting around it: Section 1512(c)(2) is an expansive statute, she wrote. Congress, when writing the law, set the outer bounds of liability, she continued. (T)he Executive Branch has the discretion to select particular cases to prosecute within those boundaries. By atextually narrowing 1512(c)(2), the Court has failed to respect the prerogatives of the political branches, Barrett concluded. States Newsroom reporter Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report. The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. Thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. The protesters stormed the historic building, breaking windows and clashing with police. Trump supporters had gathered in the nation's capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over Trump in the 2020 election. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images WASHINGTON A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases of potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who faced the same charge, as well as a portion of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smiths four-count indictment alleging former President Donald Trump schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that the subsection in question of an early 2000s obstruction law can only be applied to tampering with physical records. To prove a violation of Section 1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so, Roberts wrote. The judgment of the D. C. Circuit is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a concurring opinion. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented. Impact on Jan. 6 defendants, Trump The ruling has the potential to affect more than 355 Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with the same felony statute, which carries a fine and not more than 20 years in prison. Dozens, including leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have already been sentenced on the charge, according to the Department of Justice. The case, Fischer v. United States, centered on whether Jan. 6 defendant Joseph W. Fischer broke the obstruction law when he joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress, and Vice President Mike Pence, from certifying the 2020 presidential election results that declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner. Trump also faces the obstruction charge as part of his four-count federal indictment that alleges he worked with others to overturn the election results in seven states, pressured Pence to join him and whipped his base into a frenzy that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump will almost certainly challenge the charge, as his legal team has already argued he is completely immune to it. The obstruction provision examined by the high court is contained in section 1512 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted after the 2001 Enron accounting scandal. The provision targets whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. Physical evidence Significant time during Aprils oral arguments centered on whether the second portion of the statute hinged on the first clause, meaning the law could only be applied if physical evidence was involved. The government argued the two parts are separate and that Fischer, who sent texts leading up to the riot and is shown on police camera footage inside the Capitol, intended to disrupt an official proceeding of Congress. Fischers team argued that he didnt actually enter the Capitol until Congress had already paused the proceeding, and that he didnt stay very long. A lower federal court agreed last year with Fischers motion to dismiss the felony charge. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., did not. Judge Florence Y. Pan who also sat on the panel in Trumps presidential immunity appeal wrote in the lead opinion that the statute is unambiguous in its meaning of what constitutes obstructing an official proceeding. The obstruction charge is not the only count brought against Fischer after his participation in the Jan. 6 riot. The original indictment against him also included charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Michigan Advance. Thousands of former President Donald Trumps supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images). WASHINGTON A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases of potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who faced the same charge, as well as a portion of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smiths four-count indictment alleging former President Donald Trump schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that the subsection in question of an early 2000s obstruction law can only be applied to tampering with physical records. To prove a violation of Section 1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so, Roberts wrote. The judgment of the D. C. Circuit is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a concurring opinion. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented. Impact on Jan. 6 defendants, Trump The ruling has the potential to affect more than 355 Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with the same felony statute, which carries a fine and not more than 20 years in prison. Dozens, including leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have already been sentenced on the charge, according to the Department of Justice. The case, Fischer v. United States, centered on whether Jan. 6 defendant Joseph W. Fischer broke the obstruction law when he joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress, and Vice President Mike Pence, from certifying the 2020 presidential election results that declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner. Trump also faces the obstruction charge as part of his four-count federal indictment that alleges he worked with others to overturn the election results in seven states, pressured Pence to join him and whipped his base into a frenzy that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump will almost certainly challenge the charge, as his legal team has already argued he is completely immune to it. The obstruction provision examined by the high court is contained in section 1512 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted after the 2001 Enron accounting scandal. The provision targets whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. Physical evidence Significant time during Aprils oral arguments centered on whether the second portion of the statute hinged on the first clause, meaning the law could only be applied if physical evidence was involved. The government argued the two parts are separate and that Fischer, who sent texts leading up to the riot and is shown on police camera footage inside the Capitol, intended to disrupt an official proceeding of Congress. Fischers team argued that he didnt actually enter the Capitol until Congress had already paused the proceeding, and that he didnt stay very long. A lower federal court agreed last year with Fischers motion to dismiss the felony charge. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., did not. Judge Florence Y. Pan who also sat on the panel in Trumps presidential immunity appeal wrote in the lead opinion that the statute is unambiguous in its meaning of what constitutes obstructing an official proceeding. The obstruction charge is not the only count brought against Fischer after his participation in the Jan. 6 riot. The original indictment against him also included charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Missouri Independent. Thousands of former President Donald Trumps supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) WASHINGTON A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases of potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who faced the same charge, as well as a portion of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smiths four-count indictment alleging former President Donald Trump schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that the subsection in question of an early 2000s obstruction law can only be applied to tampering with physical records. To prove a violation of Section 1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so, Roberts wrote. The judgment of the D. C. Circuit is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a concurring opinion. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Rhode Island Democrat and ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence, issued the following statement on Fridays Supreme Court ruling on January 6th rioters: On January 6th, 2021, domestic extremists violently attacked the U.S. Capitol and the police officers guarding it in an attempt to stop the legal counting of votes cast by the American people and to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. Todays decision by the Supreme Court will let many of these dangerous individuals free instead of facing consequences for their actions. This is deeply concerning, and as we head further into the election season, I encourage law enforcement to be on high alert for individuals plotting election-related violence. Impact on Jan. 6 defendants, Trump The ruling has the potential to affect more than 355 Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with the same felony statute, which carries a fine and not more than 20 years in prison. Dozens, including leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have already been sentenced on the charge, according to the Department of Justice. The case, Fischer v. United States, centered on whether Jan. 6 defendant Joseph W. Fischer broke the obstruction law when he joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress, and Vice President Mike Pence, from certifying the 2020 presidential election results that declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner. Trump also faces the obstruction charge as part of his four-count federal indictment that alleges he worked with others to overturn the election results in seven states, pressured Pence to join him and whipped his base into a frenzy that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump will almost certainly challenge the charge, as his legal team has already argued he is completely immune to it. The obstruction provision examined by the high court is contained in section 1512 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted after the 2001 Enron accounting scandal. The provision targets whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. Physical evidence Significant time during Aprils oral arguments centered on whether the second portion of the statute hinged on the first clause, meaning the law could only be applied if physical evidence was involved. The government argued the two parts are separate and that Fischer, who sent texts leading up to the riot and is shown on police camera footage inside the Capitol, intended to disrupt an official proceeding of Congress. Fischers team argued that he didnt actually enter the Capitol until Congress had already paused the proceeding, and that he didnt stay very long. A lower federal court agreed last year with Fischers motion to dismiss the felony charge. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., did not. Judge Florence Y. Pan who also sat on the panel in Trumps presidential immunity appeal wrote in the lead opinion that the statute is unambiguous in its meaning of what constitutes obstructing an official proceeding. The obstruction charge is not the only count brought against Fischer after his participation in the Jan. 6 riot. The original indictment against him also included charges of civil disorder, assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. This is a developing story and will be updated. The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Thousands of former President Donald Trumps supporters storm the U.S. Capitol building following a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. Spencer Platt/Getty Images WASHINGTON A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases of potentially hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who faced the same charge as well as a portion of Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smiths four-count indictment alleging former President Donald Trump schemed to overturn the 2020 presidential election. But Attorney General Merrick Garland said following the ruling that he anticipates the decision will not affect the vast majority of Jan. 6 cases. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, wrote that the charge Fischer faces a subsection of an early 2000s obstruction law can only be applied to tampering with physical records. To prove a violation of Section 1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or as we earlier explained, other things used in the proceeding, or attempted to do so, Roberts wrote. The judgment of the D. C. Circuit is therefore vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, Roberts wrote. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered a concurring opinion. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented. Impact on Jan. 6 defendants, Trump The ruling has the potential to affect more than 355 Jan. 6 defendants who were charged with the same felony statute, which carries a fine and not more than 20 years in prison. Dozens, including leaders of the extremist Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have already been sentenced on the charge, according to the Department of Justice. The case, Fischer v. United States, centered on whether Jan. 6 defendant Joseph W. Fischer broke the obstruction law when he joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress, and Vice President Mike Pence, from certifying the 2020 presidential election results that declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner. Trump also faces the obstruction charge as part of his four-count federal indictment that alleges he worked with others to overturn the election results in seven states, pressured Pence to join him and whipped his base into a frenzy that culminated in the Jan. 6 attack. Trump will almost certainly challenge the charge, as his legal team has already argued he is completely immune to it. Trump attorneys D. John Sauer and William Owen Scharf did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Rather, Trumps 2024 campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded to the email with a link to Trumps post on his social media platform Truth Social. The post, published at 11:41 a.m. Friday, read BIG WIN! The cases against those who participated in the Jan. 6 riot have become a rallying cry for Republicans leading up to the 2024 presidential election. Trump, the GOPs presumed nominee, has repeatedly promised to pardon the defendants. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana told reporters Friday that the Supreme Court decision says, effectively, the court agrees that a number of the defendants in the January 6 proceedings have been overcharged. And that is something that I also think many people have recognized for some time, and now the highest court in the land has declared that to be so, Johnson said during a wide-ranging press conference. How the charges came about The obstruction provision examined by the high court is contained in section 1512(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, enacted after the 2001 Enron accounting scandal. The scandal erupted after revelations that the energy company doctored its financial records to inflate its value. The provision targets whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the objects integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so. Fischer, and hundreds of other Jan. 6 defendants, as well as Trump, are charged with the second subsection, cited in court documents as 1512(c)(2). Significant time during Aprils oral arguments centered on whether the second portion of the statute hinged on the first clause, meaning the law could only be applied if physical evidence was involved. The government argued the two parts are separate and that Fischer, who sent texts leading up to the riot and is shown on police camera footage inside the Capitol, intended to disrupt an official proceeding of Congress. Fischers team argued that he didnt actually enter the Capitol until Congress had already paused the proceeding, and that he didnt stay very long. A lower federal court agreed last year with Fischers motion to dismiss the felony charge. A federal appeals panel in Washington, D.C., did not. Judge Florence Y. Pan who also sat on the panel in Trumps presidential immunity appeal wrote in the lead opinion that the statute is unambiguous in its meaning of what constitutes obstructing an official proceeding. Other charges The obstruction charge is not the only count brought against Fischer after his participation in the Jan. 6 riot. The original indictment against him also included charges of civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, among others. Fischers attorney Jeffrey Green, who spoke to States Newsroom in person following Aprils oral arguments, told the outlet in an emailed statement Friday that his team is ecstatic. The various opinions offer a particularly clear window into different statutory interpretation modalities among the Justices on todays Court. And the impact of the opinion on other prosecutions remains to be seen, but we are happy to have driven this criminal statute back to its proper evidence-tampering turf, the Bethesda, Maryland-based attorney wrote. Frederick Fritz Ulrich, a federal public defender for Pennsylvanias Middle District and attorney for Fischer, told States Newsroom in a written response Friday that the Supreme Court construed the scope of 1512(c) consistent with Congress aim and our argument that its an evidence impairment offense, not some form of omnibus obstruction offense. And at the end of the day, the government has plenty of offenses that it can charge to capture the conduct at issue. As for Mr. Fischer, the D.C. Circuit should ultimately remand to the district court for a trial, Ulrich wrote. DOJ reacts Garland said in a statement Friday that he was disappointed by the courts decision, which he said limits an important federal statute that the Department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences. However, Garland doesnt anticipate the ruling will affect a significant swath of the hundreds of Jan. 6 cases, he said. The vast majority of the more than 1,400 defendants charged for their illegal actions on January 6 will not be affected by this decision. There are no cases in which the Department charged a January 6 defendant only with the offense at issue in Fischer, Garland continued. The department will take appropriate steps to comply with the Courts ruling for any cases that will be affected, he said. We will continue to use all available tools to hold accountable those criminally responsible for the January 6 attack on our democracy, Garland said. He described the riot as an attack on the cornerstone of our system of government the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. Majority of justices question governments claim Writing for the majority Friday, Roberts disagreed with DOJs position that the two parts of the obstruction law could be applied completely separately. Although the Governments all-encompassing interpretation may be literally permissible, it defies the most plausible understanding of why (the two subsections) are conjoined, Roberts wrote. Given that subsection (c)(2) was enacted to address the Enron disaster, not some further flung set of dangers, it is unlikely that Congress responded with such an unfocused and grossly incommensurate patch, he wrote, quoting the federal appeals courts dissenting opinion by Judge Gregory Katsas. In her concurring opinion, Supreme Court Justice Jackson wrote the high court properly interprets the statute and rightly vacates the judgment below and remands this case for further proceedings. Jackson wrote that Congress certification of the presidential election results on Jan. 6, 2021, plainly used certain records, documents, or objects including, among others, those relating to the electoral votes themselves. And it might well be that Fischers conduct, as alleged here, involved the impairment (or the attempted impairment) of the availability or integrity of things used during the January 6 proceeding in ways other than those specified in (c)(1), she wrote, quoting the first subsection of the obstruction law. If so, then Fischers prosecution under 1512(c)(2) can, and should, proceed. That issue remains available for the lower courts to determine on remand, Jackson concluded. In her dissenting opinion, Barrett argued against the majoritys narrowing of the subsection. There is no getting around it: Section 1512(c)(2) is an expansive statute, she wrote. Congress, when writing the law, set the outer bounds of liability, she continued. (T)he Executive Branch has the discretion to select particular cases to prosecute within those boundaries. By atextually narrowing 1512(c)(2), the Court has failed to respect the prerogatives of the political branches, Barrett concluded. Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report. A picture of a Purdue sign in reference to the hundreds of opioid settlements the company is embroiled in. Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, and its owners, the Sackler family, were among those who faced hundreds of lawsuits across the country related to the opioid epidemic. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday derailed a $183 million payment to Washington that was part of a broader bankruptcy plan for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma. The deal involved the Sackler family, which owned and controlled the company, paying up to $6 billion to help states, cities, and tribes address the harms of the opioid addiction epidemic. But the court ruled 5-4 that a key element, shielding the family from related opioid lawsuits, was not allowed. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling today invalidated the bankruptcy plan, Brionna Aho, a spokesperson for Attorney General Bob Fergusons office said in an email. This means that our $183 million settlement is invalidated too. No money was paid to Washington while this appeal was pending. The states case against the company will now head to mediation, Aho said. Ferguson applauded the ruling. The Supreme Court was right to remove the shield blocking my office from holding the Sackler family directly responsible for their role fueling the opioid epidemic, he said in a statement. My legal team is preparing a lawsuit against the Sackler family if the upcoming mediation does not lead to significant resources for Washington, he added. Apart from the Purdue case, litigation brought by the state attorney generals office has yielded $1.1 billion for Washington from companies involved in the opioid industry. Purdue began selling OxyContin in the mid-1990s. The drug and the company are blamed for playing an early role in igniting the opioid crisis. A Purdue affiliate pleaded guilty in 2007 to a federal felony for misbranding the drug as less addictive and less subject to abuse than other painkiller medications, leading to a flood of civil lawsuits. Washington was among 48 states that sued the company. And Ferguson was among nine attorneys general who challenged a 2021 bankruptcy plan for Purdue where the Sacklers wouldve paid only $4.3 billion. As lawsuits loomed and piled up between 2008 and 2017, the family siphoned away between $10 billion and $11 billion roughly 75% of Purdues total assets. Court filings note that about $4.6 billion of these distributions from the company to the family were used to pay taxes. The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling upends $183M opioid settlement payment for WA appeared first on Washington State Standard. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. A person is shown sleeping on the steps of a church in Newport, Rhode Island on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Janine L. Weisman/Rhode Island Current) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argues its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split over ideological lines, with the conservative justices siding with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Rhode Island Current. Ukrainian scientist and member of the Plast scouting organization Lubomyr Romankiv died on June 28 in the United States at the age of 93. He was a leading scientist at IBM, the world's largest computer manufacturer, and helped invent thin-film magnetic heads for hard drives that completely changed the computer industry and accelerated the recording of information by millions of times. ADVERTISIMENT Together with the IBM team, Romankiv produced the world's first hard disks, which were acquired by Apple, and soon presented the first desktop computer. Ukrainian historian and public figure, Plast member Yurii Yuzych, reported the loss on his Facebook page. "Tonight (Ukrainian time), Ukrainian inventor Chief Scout Lubomyr Romankiv died in the United States. He was the third Ukrainian Chief Scout who raised and invested at least $500,000 in the development of Plast in the 1990s. He professionalized the central office of Plast in Ukraine," he said. It is largely due to the efforts of Liubomyr Romankiv that Ukrainian scouting has become the most massive youth movement in Ukraine, added Yurii Yuzych. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Mr. Romankiv is the author and co-author of more than 65 patents. In particular, it was he who, while working as a leading computer engineer, came up with the idea of recording and reading information from hard disks. "Every time we turn on the computer, at least seven inventions of Ukrainian Romankiv start working. His name is in the US Hall of Fame," the historian said. Liubomyr Romankiv was born on April 17, 1931, in the city of Zhovkva, Lviv region. At the age of 12, he became a member of the then-secret Plast, which under the Nazi occupation operated under the legal name of the Educational Communities of Ukrainian Youth (ECUY). After the Second World War, he continued his scouting, joining Plast in 1946 in the Bavarian city of Berchtesgaden. He was also a member of the "Wolves" group in the Sviatoslav the Conqueror hut. He completed the entire youth Plast educational program, achieving the degree of Plast Scout. ADVERTISIMENT For over ten years, he devoted a total of ten years to educational work in Plast, working with children. After moving to the United States in 1958-1961, he worked as a youth educator in Boston. In 1957, he received his bachelor's degree from the University of Alberta. Later he completed his master's degree. He went on to earn a PhD in metallurgy and materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1962. He has authored more than 150 articles and edited ten volumes of proceedings of various technical symposia. In 1993, he was awarded the Perkin Medal, the highest honor of the U.S. Chemical Society, for his outstanding achievements. In 1994, the Electrochemical Society of the United States awarded Lubomyr Romankiv the Vittorio de Nora Medal. In the same year, he received the Morris Liebman Memorial Award from the IEEE. ADVERTISIMENT In 2000 and 2001, he was named Inventor of the Year. The scientist has received 13 awards for outstanding inventions and contributions to science from IBM and 25 awards for inventions and achievements. In March 2012, Lubomyr Romankiv was inducted into the U.S. National Hall of Fame. He is one of only ten inventors (along with Steve Jobs) to receive this honor. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Laura Olson/States Newsroom). WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argues its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split over ideological lines, with the conservative justices siding with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. A similar ban in Missouri was struck down last year by the state Supreme Court for violating a section of the state Constitution that prohibits legislation from containing multiple unrelated subjects. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Missouri Independent. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. (Jub Rubjob/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. Homelessness crisis The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. (Photo by Jub Rubjob/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. The Kentucky legislature this year made unlawful camping a crime punishable by fines and jail. The provision is part of the sweeping House Bill 5 which expands crimes and length of punishments in Kentucky. The Republican legislature enacted the new law, which takes effect next month, over Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears veto. The ACLU of Kentucky released a statement Friday criticizing the Supreme Court decision. The Supreme Courts ruling ignores decades of precedent protecting Kentuckians from the cruel and unusual punishment of criminalizing homelessness, said ACLU of Kentucky Legal Fellow Kevin Meunch. Homelessness can happen to anyone, and we are disappointed the Court has taken the extraordinary step of ignoring precedent to support punishing unhoused people simply for existing. The ACLU and the ACLU of Kentucky submitted a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that punishing people for sleeping outside when they lack access to shelter violates the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment and conflicts with Supreme Court rulings that the government cannot punish people in ways that are disproportionate to the crime. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argues its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split over ideological lines, with the conservative justices siding with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Getty Images WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that effectively bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argues its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split over ideological lines, with the conservative justices siding with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendments prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Michigan Advance. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. (Jub Rubjob/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. Homelessness crisis The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. (Photo by Jub Rubjob/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. This sets a dangerous precedent and will only worsen homelessness in cities across the country. Chelsea Haring-Cozzi The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. The Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention said Friday it was disappointed in the ruling. This sets a dangerous precedent and will only worsen homelessness in cities across the country, said Executive Director said Chelsea Haring-Cozzi. Homelessness is not a criminal issue and should not be addressed as such. We call on our local and state officials to focus on housing solutions and to not be swayed by this ruling. We must do the smart and right thing here in Indiana for our most vulnerable Hoosiers. This decision makes it easier to jail or fine homeless people for sleeping outside, which opponents believe will exacerbate homelessness. The increase of Hoosiers experiencing homelessness is directly correlated with the rising cost to afford rent, which takes $22.07 per hour in 2024, up $3 in just the past year. At the same time, the supply of affordable and available rental housing has declined in Indiana to only 34 affordable and available units for every 100 extremely low income households, the second lowest rate in the Midwest, said Andrew Bradley, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy at Prosperity Indiana. Homelessness crisis During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle. U.S. Supreme Court allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors. What will Utah do? A person experiencing homelessness sits on the side of a street in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 25, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. Homelessness crisis The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. Will ruling impact Utahs homeless? In Utah, homeless officials and advocates are weighing what the ruling means for the state as it grapples with maxed out shelter space and increased pressure from Gov. Spencer Cox on service providers to produce results or lose funding. Wayne Niederhauser, Utahs state homeless coordinator, issued a statement Friday saying state officials will take the necessary time to assess how the Grants Pass decision impacts our efforts at both the state and city levels. Niederhauser said the Utah Office of Homeless Services prioritizes the need for shelter and housing for those experiencing homelessness. They are our family, friends and neighbors and deserving of human dignity, Niederhauser said. No one should have to live in a place not meant for human habitation, and it is essential to enforce local laws for the safety of all in our communities. Utah cities have adopted their own anti-camping ordinances, but enforcement can vary depending on jurisdiction. In Utahs capital of Salt Lake City where the vast majority of homeless services are located and where on-street camping has been the most concentrated city leaders have come under fire from business owners accusing them of not adequately enforcing its anti-camping ordinances against unsheltered people. A group of Salt Lake City business owners recently sued the city, claiming it was allowing public nuisances, but a judge in March tossed out the lawsuit, ruling the plaintiffs failed to establish that (Salt Lake City) owes them a special duty to remedy or control unsheltered encampments beyond that owed to the general public. In past challenges to enforcing camping ordinances in other cities, lower courts have ruled that its cruel and unusual to punish people for sleeping outdoors if they have nowhere else to go. Fridays ruling upends that precedent. Homelessness advocacy group Solutions Utah also issued a statement Friday in reaction to the ruling. While still processing the entirety of the ruling, Solutions Utah agrees with the Supreme Courts decision to uphold a citys right to enforce anti-camping laws, said the groups chair and vice chair, Dale Keller and Dave Kelly, in a joint statement. With this enforceable authority, cities can keep their parks, streets, sidewalks and other public places open, safe, clean and accessible for their intended uses. Solutions Utah was recently rebranded, formerly known as the Pioneer Park Coalition, which was originally founded as a coalition of business owners advocating for revitalization in the downtown Salt Lake City neighborhood thats had a long. history of homelessness issues, including public camping. Fridays decision, the group said, should empower and encourage city and state leaders to enforce anti-camping laws and find other ways to help people experiencing homelessness. Now the state of Utah, with its communities, cities, and counties has the legal responsibility to enforce anti-camping and related laws and we encourage all to do so, Keller and Kelly said. It also removes the ambiguity created by Martin vs. Boise and the Ninth Circuit Court decision. It challenges the notion that homeless camping in public spaces is humane and compassionate. This should also spur cities and states to pursue effective alternatives to solve this humanitarian crisis. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. Utah News Dispatch reporter Katie McKellar contributed to this report. The post U.S. Supreme Court allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors. What will Utah do? appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not constitute the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. (Photo by Jub Rubjob/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. Homelessness crisis The ruling, which was split along ideological lines, reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 file, and if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. But the city, and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January of 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. U.S. Supreme Court upholds public camping ban, and with it, part of Kentuckys crime law When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Oregon citys ban on public camping by homeless people on Friday, it undermined a planned legal challenge to a similar ban in Kentucky that will take effect July 15. House Bill 5, dubbed the Safer Kentucky Act by its sponsors, was a sweeping anti-crime law passed in March by the General Assembly. The Kentucky laws most controversial section created a new offense, unlawful camping, which can result in arrest and fines for people who are trying to sleep in specified public and private spaces that are not designated for camping, including on sidewalks or roadsides, under bridges, or in parks, parking lots, garages or doorways. The Kentucky law requires local governments to enforce this ban or face sanctions from the attorney general. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a similar ban on public camping in the Oregon city of Grants Pass did not violate the Eighth Amendments protection against cruel and unusual punishment, even when a community had no available beds in its homeless shelters. As the number and size of these encampments have grown, so have the challenges they can pose for the homeless and others, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the courts majority, sympathizing with the city of Grants Pass. Bans on homeless encampments encourage their inhabitants to accept other alternatives, like shelters, drug treatment programs and mental health facilities, Gorsuch wrote. Given this decision from the nations highest court, theres not much room to challenge the ban in Kentuckys House Bill 5, homeless advocates said Friday. It takes the wind out of everything. Its kind of heart-breaking, said Ginny Ramsey, director of the Catholic Action Center, a privately run shelter on Industry Road in Lexington. Several lawyers had planned to file a lawsuit to challenge Kentuckys public camping ban in July once someone was arrested for violating it, making a plaintiff available, Ramsey said. The really sad part is that our Supreme Court does not think that its cruel and unusual punishment to put people in jail for sleeping outdoors when they literally have nowhere else to go in their communities, she added. VOCAL KY, an advocacy group for low-income Kentuckians, said in a statement: The decision sets a precedent to incarcerate, fine and ticket the unhoused just for trying to survive rather than going to the root of the issue, which is that housing is unaffordable for millions of Americans. However, the primary sponsor of House Bill 5, state Rep. Jared Bauman, praised the Supreme Court for recognizing why local and state governments might want to restrict where homeless encampments exist. Illegal street camps can lead to violent crime and destruction of property, said Bauman, R-Louisville. Kentuckys new law allows local governments the option of establishing an authorized place for public camping away from residential and commercial neighborhoods, he said. I applaud the Courts ruling today, an opinion which, despite what critics will say, underscores the importance of providing the homeless with opportunities for treatment and shelter, Bauman said. The opinion also highlights how crucial it is that homeless individuals participate in such services, the lawmaker said. Further, the opinion recognizes that we cant ignore the public safety and private property interests involved in this complex issue. Critics say KY House bill criminalizes poverty with penalties for homelessness KY lawmakers pass crime bill targeting violent felons, fentanyl, homeless, shoplifters As UAW 'is being watched with a microscope,' new investigation puts Fain in crosshairs The UAW and its president, Shawn Fain, have ridden a wave of positive press and momentum since last years strike against the Detroit Three and the new contracts that came at Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Jeep- and Chrysler-owner Stellantis. Fain, who came to power following last years first direct election of top UAW leaders, appeared well-positioned to continue leading the unions more aggressive posture at a time of great change in the auto industry with a command of powerful rhetoric and a sense of showmanship on display during the strike. Time even named him to its list of 100 most influential people of 2024. The unions image had also regained some of the luster lost in recent years, particularly after the successful campaign to organize the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this year. UAW president Shawn Fain sits at his office desk for a portrait at the UAW Solidarity House in Detroit on Friday, December 1, 2023. But earlier this month, the independent monitor overseeing the union put a spotlight on divisions in the highest ranks of the UAW as he announced that Fain and Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock were under investigation following a shake-up within the leadership. In separate instances, Mock and Vice President Rich Boyer had duties stripped, including Boyers oversight of the Stellantis Department. Fain took action directly against Boyer; the International Executive Board took a vote in Mocks case. Both defended their own actions, and both cases involved allegations of retaliation and financial misconduct, according to the monitor. In the frame capture from video, UAW President Shawn Fain, left and UAW Vide President Rich Boyer, close their speech saying, "remember UAW family, an open hand can be broken, but a closed fist in unity cannot," after giving an update on the details of the tentative agreement the UAW announced with Stellantis during a Facebook Live event on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Despite the monitor emphasizing that no conclusions had been reached and that the claims remain allegations, the situation puts the UAWs leadership in an uncomfortable spot and reminds the world in clear terms that the union remains under federal oversight stemming from the wide-ranging corruption scandal that landed former top union leaders and auto executives in prison. The scandal even led to a conviction for FCA US, the U.S. operating arm of Stellantis. 'It raises the specter of corruption again' Experts whove watched the UAW closely in recent years came to relatively similar conclusions following the release of the monitors report: that this is a serious matter for those involved in fact, it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the monitor could demand Fain's removal. The labor experts also say the fact of the investigation will hamper the UAWs efforts to organize nonunion auto plants, a push that came up short in the recent loss at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama, where the company was accused of aggressively fighting the union effort at the same time Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was disparaging this threat from Detroit. It plays into the hands of those who want to block the UAW from becoming more powerful in the auto industry. It takes the wind out of the sails, said Marick Masters, professor emeritus and labor expert at Wayne State University. It raises the specter of corruption again, which is something they really just got over. Masters said that without supporting evidence of wrongdoing being presented publicly, Fain should be given the benefit of the doubt. He said its unfathomable that Fain would not have been aware of the consequences of retaliation within the union. But the existence of the investigations cant be ignored. A cloud looms over until you get these things resolved, he said. Fain has defended himself, painting the situation as a reaction to someone who would rock the boat from those who support the status quo. We encourage the monitor to investigate whatever claims are brought to their office, because we know what theyll find: a UAW leadership committed to serving the membership, and running a democratic union. Were staying focused on winning record contracts, growing our union, and fighting for economic and social justice on and off the job, according to a recent statement from Fain. But Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business, said that even if one assumes Fain hasnt done anything wrong, its serious to go through an investigation. No one, he said, enjoys the process, although individuals typically put on a brave face. Gordon compared the exercise to having someone go through your sock drawer. Has the UAW really moved away from its authoritarian past? And he reiterated the seriousness of the situation. Its a big step to name somebody individually. You wouldnt want to take that step unless you had some reason to believe that that particular person did something wrong. Its different than looking at sloppy practices, Gordon said of the monitors decision to reveal who is being investigated. If you say youre investigating a particular person, thats really focused. Gordon also described the situation as it unfolded as sort of a surprisingly bad public relations move given Fains past adeptness in getting his message across. His skills were on display, for example, with the use of a wastebasket for certain automaker contract proposals during Detroit Three bargaining. It also raises questions about the environment within the organization, Gordon said. The UAW traditionally is authoritarian with vindictive leaders and as much opaqueness as you can get away with. Some of the rank and file were hoping thered be less of that going forward, he said. Powers of the UAW special monitor What it ultimately means will, of course, depend next on the conclusions drawn by the monitor. At this point, its not clear when any follow-up report or action will take place, although the monitor said in a footnote that he will report further about the impact of these divisions within the union in a report concerning his compliance mandate that is anticipated to be filed shortly. The monitor communicates with the public on his actions primarily through federal court filings, although his office does have a webpage that provided regular updates during the UAW leadership elections, which his office oversaw. The Free Press has made numerous requests none granted over the years, including following the release of the latest status report, to interview the monitor, Neil Barofsky, a former assistant U.S. attorney and current partner in the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block. The consent decree stemming from the union's corruption scandal sets in place a six-year term of oversight by the monitor. Barofskys appointment was OKd by U.S. District Court Judge David Lawson in May 2021. The monitors charge is broad, with the consent decree giving him the authority and duty to remove fraud, corruption, illegal behavior, dishonesty and unethical practices from the UAW and its constituent entities. The oversight by the independent monitor means that internal divisions and disagreements in addition to specific actions are much more likely to be brought to light. Masters described the situation as a fishbowl. Monitor has power to demand that Fain be removed It makes it abundantly clear that the UAW is under government scrutiny and everything the UAW does is being watched with a microscope, Masters said. The investigations could find no wrongdoing on the part of Fain or others. The moves to shift responsibilities on the International Executive Board could instead be found to be more in the vein of management disagreements.But if not, the consequences could be significant. The full range is a very full range. It could result in a recommendation that some practice be ended or that some new practice be started. It could result in some form of admonition, a smack on the hand with a ruler. It could result in a demand that Fain step down, according to Gordon. If, during the course of the investigation, something is found that involves criminality, it could be turned over to the Justice Department, he said. The monitors latest report noted, for instance, that two of the 24 investigations into post-consent decree misconduct have already been referred to the Justice Department. The report also said an embezzlement probe had been opened into an unnamed regional director, with the monitor referencing investigations of three members of the International Executive Board: Fain, Mock and the regional director. The monitor could also pursue disciplinary charges through either the UAWs constitutional process, which uses a trial committee, or the court-approved adjudications officer, currently Gil Soffer, who is chair-elect and managing partner in the Katten Muchin Rosenman law firms Chicago office. The adjudications officer, like the monitor, is an independent position stemming from the consent decree with the power to dole out discipline up to and including expulsion from the union. Referral of cases to the UAWs ethics officer is an option, too. Remaining divisions within the union Whatever is decided, Masters noted that the recommendation of the monitor is going to carry a great deal of weight not only with the adjudications officer but also with the International Executive Board, a group where loyalties are likely now being tested. Board control had been with candidates who ran as reformers in the election that wrapped up last year, but the election results created a divided board from the get-go. The divisions that have emerged are interesting in light of the fact that Fain, Mock and Boyer all ran on the same slate, opposing the administration caucus that controlled the UAW for decades. UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock signs a strike sign for General Motors Corporation CCA Parts Division employee Amy Ross of Flint as workers stand on strike outside of General Motors Corporation Davison Road Processing Center in Burton on Friday, September 22, 2023. Despite the contested nature of the election that included a lengthy runoff process, the two sides did strike a united tone during last years special bargaining convention in Detroit as the union set its sights on then-upcoming talks with the Detroit Three. Election controversies didnt die with the declaration of Fains win, however. Just recently, Judge Lawson breathed life into a challenge by Will Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker who had been one of the unsuccessful candidates for UAW president in the initial round of the election. Lehman had sued the Labor Department and acting Secretary Julie Su in July over the departments handling of a complaint he filed seeking to have the election rerun. Lawsons opinion filed Tuesday called the departments dismissal of 30 of 34 grievances listed by Lehman arbitrary and capricious, denied a motion for dismissal of the Lehman complaint and remanded the case back to the department for further proceedings, which, at a minimum, must consist of the production of a supplemental statement of reasons. Lehman was highly critical of how the election was run, highlighting low participation that he said was intentionally suppressed, and he has been outspoken in his disdain for the UAW bureaucracy and its leadership. Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Investigation of UAW leaders clouds organizing efforts The actions of the Georgian authorities are leading to a virtual halt in the process of joining the European Union. We are talking about recent legislative initiatives (the so-called law on foreign agents) and harassment of citizens and activists. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the final document of the EU summit, published on the website of the European Council. Politicians expressed "serious concern" over the recent events in Georgia. The law on the alleged "transparency of foreign influence," which copies the Russian law on foreign agents, is a deviation from the recommendations of the European Commission. The European Council called on Tbilisi to "clarify its intentions by reconsidering the current course of action, which undermines Georgia's European path and de facto halts the accession process [to the EU]." Europe also called on the Georgian authorities to stop intimidation, threats, and attacks on civil society representatives, political leaders, civic activists, and journalists. After all, it is important for every country that wants to become part of the EU to respect European values and principles. ADVERTISIMENT On October 26, 2024, parliamentary elections are to be held in Georgia. The European Council reminded that the process should be free and fair. It is also necessary to have observation missions from partner countries. At the same time, the European Council emphasized its commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity and "strong solidarity with the people" and its readiness to continue to help the country on its way to a European future. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The University of Dayton is mourning the loss of a student. Braden Balser is one of the few UD students on campus for the summer. He checked his university email Friday and found the tragic news about one of his classmates. Yeah. I saw there was a 21-year-old that sadly passed down in Italy studying abroad. Its very sad news, Balser said. Friday morning UD announced that 21-year-old Connor DiNapoli died Thursday while studying abroad in Rome. >> 83-year-old Ohio man arrested after riding lawnmower chase This was the summer between his sophomore and junior years at UD. University officials did not offer many other details in a statement that read in part, we extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to Connors family, friends faculty, staff, and our entire campus community. UD said DiNapoli was a marketing major. Balser said he didnt know Dinapoli but he does know what the UD community will do to help after this tragedy. And UD, they have the best people, the best campus. And I know that every single person around is going to be praying for him and supporting him and his loved ones, he said. UD said they will hold a memorial service for Dinapoli in the fall and are assisting the other students who were a part of that study abroad group. UK intelligence has analysed the strike by Ukrainian forces on a military training ground in the Russian city of Yeysk, where various types of drones were stored. Source: a review by UK Defence Intelligence on 28 June Details: UK intelligence reiterated that after Ukraine successfully deprived Russia of the opportunity to establish control over Ukraines airspace, Russia has been limited in its ability to use its aircraft. To overcome this disadvantage, Russia has become heavily dependent on the widespread use of relatively inexpensive drones, which are used to suppress Ukrainian air defences and attack military and civilian targets beyond the range of Russian artillery. On 21 June, Ukraine reported a strike on the Russian 726th Air Defence Training Centre at the Yeysk airfield. This base is one of at least five from which Russia has been conducting drone attacks on Ukraine. The strike reportedly destroyed 120 UAVs of various types and injured nine people. UK intelligence suggested that in the short term, these strikes would cause some disruption to Russia's ability to use UAVs to strike targets deep inside Ukrainian territory from these locations. However, Russia is likely to disperse its vulnerable bases for UAV operations, and thus this impact is likely to be temporary. "It is likely that Ukraine will exploit its recent successes and continue with its counter-UAV campaign to the detriment of Russia," UK intelligence added. Background: UK intelligence marked the first anniversary of the Wagner Group's "March for Justice" in its intelligence review of the Russo-Ukrainian war on 24 June. They also assessed the risks to the Russian government in connection with the practice of sending prisoners to war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- The British Business Bank has warned officials it could cost as much as 1 million ($1.3 million) to hire a manager for its flagship investment fund unveiled last autumn, setting the scene for a potential clash with a likely Labour government after the July 4 election. Most Read from Bloomberg The state-owned lender a 600-strong organization invests public and private cash to support sustainable growth, the green transition and small businesses. In last years autumn statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt promised a 7 billion capital injection to help create the Growth Fund. Its aim is to co-invest with UK pension funds in the nations most promising businesses and turbocharge the $3.1 trillion local economy. Executives at the bank have spent the last few months talking to officials about the logistics of setting up the fund, which would be the largest on the lenders books, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. The discussions included market rates for hiring a portfolio manager to oversee it. The talks have featured illustrations showing that the market rate for such a manager of a similarly sized fund with a similar profile would be around 1 million, largely made up of a bonus, the people said. One of them stressed that the British Business Bank had not made any formal or firm proposal on the pay. Written Agreement Like other organs of the state, the British Business Bank has a cap on how many executives can earn more than the Prime Ministers salary of about 170,000. They cant exceed that limit without prior written agreement from the Secretary of State. The latest public figures, from December 2022, show the bank had permission to pay 24 executives more the PMs salary. Chief Executive Officer Louis Taylor has a maximum pay package of just under 500,000, including a base salary of 330,000, according to its latest annual report. The British Business Bank believes that investors will want to see the interests of the portfolio managers aligned with those of their funds, which means the managers must have the potential to earn large bonuses. It has also argued that it must pay competitively if it wants to attract top talent to manage such an important project, one person said. Still, the issue is likely to be a contentious one with Labour if the party returns to power next month after a 14-year stretch in opposition. The British Business Bank had high level talks with key Labour figures before the announcement of the elections on May 22 heralded a quiet period for political engagements. Since then, executives have been working with officials at Treasury and the Department for Business & Trade which owns the British Business Bank on a plan to present to the next Chancellor and Business Minister once they are appointed. Labours Priorities Incoming ministers will be invited to re-brand the fund, and to include new aspects that speak to Labours priorities, the people said. References to Conservative ambitions like leveling up will be expunged, one of the people said. Labour has previously spoken about its desire for the British Business Bank to increase funding for female-led businesses. The initiative will be kept separate to other government investment vehicles, including the UK Infrastructure Bank, the people said. Representatives for the British Business Bank, which advanced 1.2 billion of loans and invested 419 million in companies last year, declined to comment, citing the quiet period. Spokespersons for Treasury and the Department of Business & Trade also declined to comment. --With assistance from Katherine Griffiths. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Ukrainian defense forces destroyed a Russian space surveillance and communications center in occupied Crimea this week, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on June 28. "(The center) is an important military component in the Russian satellite communications and navigation system," the ministry said, without specifying the date of the attack. A series of explosions was reported in several settlements in Crimea overnight on June 23, including the town of Yevpatoria and the village of Vityne. Neither Ukrainian nor Russian officials commented on the attack. Satellite images, published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigative project Schemes the next day, showed traces of fires on the territory of a military facility in Vityne. The 40th Separate Command and Measurement Complex (Long-Range Space Communications Center), part of Russia's Aerospace Forces, is reportedly located there. Ukraine has carried out several successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Ukrainian forces struck around 15 Russian air defense systems in occupied Crimea over the past two months, Ukrainian military reported on June 17. Over 15 radar stations and more than 10 control centers stationed on the peninsula were also reportedly hit. Read also: Satellite images show Russias Shahed warehouse destruction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Video has emerged of what may be the first M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) destroyed by Russia. The M270s, which can fire 227mm artillery rockets, as well as Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles, have been a bane to Moscows war efforts. Most recently, they were reportedly involved in a deadly ATACMS strike on Crimea earlier this week. The 69-second video, posted by the Russian The_Wrong_Side Telegram channel on Friday, showed a drone view of the M270 pulling out of a tree line then heading down a road. The drone followed the vehicle as it entered a building located in Shevchkove, a small village in Mikoliav Oblast about 40 miles north of the frontlines. Russian Forces seem to have successfully hit a Ukrainian M270/MARS II FARP(Forward Arming and Refuelling Point). The fires indicate possible fuel and missile reserves being stored there, as for once, we saw the MLRS drive into the facility.However the aftermath is again bad. pic.twitter.com/tzgKYCrXuW WarVehicleTracker (@WarVehicle) June 28, 2024 After cutting to a wider view, the video then showed what was claimed to be an Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile striking the building. A huge ball of flames erupted as a result. The building where the M270 was parked erupted in flames after a Russian missile strike Twitter screencap A superimposed arrow purportedly points to the burning M270, where nearby secondary explosions can be seen. A superimposed arrow claims to show the location of the M270 Twitter screencap The War Zone cannot independently verify the claim that the M270 was destroyed. However, the conflagration caused by the missile certainly seems powerful enough to have ruined whatever was inside the building, which appeared to have been a forward arming and refueling facility. Stored weapons and fuel would certainly add to the intensity of any explosion resulting from such a strike. The footage shows the result of another successful work of Russian intelligence officers, The_Wrong_Side bragged on Telegram Friday. For unknown reasons, the equipment did not carry out launches (probably a technical malfunction occurred), after which it was tracked to its home base. According to the already established tradition, the Iskander sent its greetings to Western equipment, completely destroying it, the escort vehicle, as well as at least 25 Ukrainian Armed Forces specialists working in the hangar, The_Wrong_Side claimed, which we also cannot verify. Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles are among Russias most valuable precision-guided standoff weapons. They are now being used for fast-reaction strikes for exactly these kinds of time-sensitive targets. Its really the only major precision strike munition Russia has capable of reliably hitting these kinds of high-value targets on very short notice as the Russian Air Forces has not achieved air superiority. We have seen repeated examples, for instance, of air defense systems found by Russian drones behind the front lines that are then struck by an Iskander-M. A Russian Telegram channel claims a building housing an M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) vehicle was destroyed by an Islander-M short-range ballistic missile like this one. Russian MoD Russian MOD There have yet to be any M270 losses recorded by the Oyrx open-source tracking group, however, they only tabulate things they can verify visually so it is possible that this was not the first. These vehicles have proven valuable on the battlefield because they can achieve devastating long-range effects. They are also highly mobile, enabling crews to fire, quickly move away to hide, and return to the battlefield rearmed. A large building like the one seen in the video would be an ideal location, close enough to the front to put GMLRS in range of targets but also away from Russian FPV drones and artillery, for such clandestine activities. The M270s feature a launch system mounted on a tracked chassis derived from the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Like its wheeled cousin the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, it can fire several different munitions. The aforementioned ATACMS can hit targets either 100 or 186 miles away depending on the variant. Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) rockets can strike up to about 50 miles away. It can also fired shorter-range unguided rockets. A single M270 can be loaded with two of the standard ammunition pods at a time, allowing it to fire up to 12 rockets or two ATACMS missiles before needing to be reloaded. Ukraine has received several of these weapons. U.S.-made M270s have been turned over to Ukraine by both the United Kingdom and Norway. The German government has provided five MARS II systems, a country-specific derivative of the M270. France has donated at least a half dozen LRU (Lance-Roquette Unitaire) MLRS, a French version of the M270. Russia claims to have destroyed an M270 MLRS like the one in this photo. Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin The loss of one M270 is a blow to Ukraine. It is likely that GMLRS rockets were stored there and even possibly some of Ukraines limited supply of ATACMS, as well. The video also points to another issue. That a drone could loiter unmolested for so long over such a key piece of equipment and especially a rearming/storage, shows the challenge that Ukraine faces when it comes to air defenses. The drone operating so far from the front lines would have required a relay or a large mast to keep in contact with its controller. Stil, Kyivs forces have so far been very fortunate when it comes to these donated MLRSs. According to information compiled by Oryx, there has only been one HIMARS destroyed and two HIMARS damaged. However, as we noted previously, that figure could be higher. You can read about repair efforts for one damaged HIMARS in our story here. Regardless, some equipment is bound to be lost in such a fierce conflict, even highly valued ones like M270s. Considering how big of a menace these vehicles have been to Russian forces, its impressive that so many have been able to survive for so long, especially as drone operations have expanded significantly beyond the front lines. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com View comments Ukrenergo, Ukraine's state-run national energy company, has reported that it has received new high-voltage equipment from the Energy Community that will help Ukraine's power system recover from large-scale Russian strikes. [The Energy Community is an international organisation bringing together the EU and a number of non-EU neighbouring countries, to create an integrated regional energy market on the basis of a legally binding framework ed.] Source: press service of Ukrenergo Details: Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat, handed over shunt reactors valued at 4.4 million for Ukrenergo's substations to Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, Chairman of the Board of Ukrenergo. "This equipment was purchased using funds from the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community. The Energy Community has provided 34.2 million in assistance to Ukrenergo since the beginning of the full-scale war. These funds have been used to purchase high-voltage equipment, including high-voltage transformers, batteries and specialised vehicles. Shunt reactors are critical for regulating the voltage in the high-voltage network, which is one of the key tasks to ensure stable power grid operation after large-scale Russian attacks," Ukrenergo said. "We are sincerely grateful to the Energy Community for their support and cooperation. Thanks to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, managed by the Energy Community, we are able to quickly repair high-voltage facilities after Russian attacks and prepare for the next heating season," Kudrytskyi said. Support UP or become our patron! Key updates on June 28: Kremlin claims 'provocations' from US drones over Black Sea, prepares potential response Drone hits oil depot in Tambov Oblast, Russian official says Russia hits nine-story residential building in downtown Dnipro, killing at least 1, injuring 5 Another Russian Su-25 downed, Ukraine's National Guard claims Finland announces $170 million in new military aid for Ukraine Moscow's defense minister has ordered the Russian army to develop measures to deal with what the ministry called "provocations" from U.S. strategic drones operating over the Black Sea, saying they are increasing the risk of a "direct confrontation" between Russia and NATO. In a statement on June 28, the Russian Defense Ministry said the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were being used to conduct reconnaissance and find targets for "high-precision weapons supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by Western states." "This indicates the increasing involvement of the U.S. and NATO countries in the conflict in Ukraine on the side of the Kyiv regime," the statement added. NATO drones operating over the Black Sea are no secret and can be followed using publicly available flight-tracking websites. The Black Sea has become one of the main theaters of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Kyiv having multiple successes striking Russia's naval forces in the region. Any country can fly drones over the areas of the Black Sea designated international waters, so long as they enter over the territorial waters of a country that gives its permission. NATO drones operating in such a manner are not breaking international law and do not enter Russian airspace. However, Russia claimed that "such flights greatly increase the likelihood of incidents in the airspace with aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which increases the risk of direct confrontation between the alliance and the Russian Federation," adding that "NATO countries will be responsible for this." Read also: Trump rejects Putins peace terms while Biden unnerves Democrats at historic debate Drone hits oil depot in Tambov Oblast, Russian official says A fire broke out at an oil depot in Russia's Tambov Oblast following a drone strike, Governor Maksym Yegorov said on June 28. The drone hit the facility at 4:35 a.m. local time, Yegorov said. The attack caused "a small fire," which has since been localized. Emergency workers are extinguishing the fire and there are no casualties, according to the governor. The nearest settlement, located three kilometers from the site, is prepared to evacuate if necessary, he said. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia's oil industry, whose profits fuel Moscow's war efforts. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) previously targeted the Platonovskaya oil depot in Tambov Oblast in an overnight operation on June 20. Read also: Updated: Ukraine attacks 4 refineries, Shahed drone storage sites in Russia, military says Russia hits nine-story residential building in downtown Dnipro, killing at least 1, injuring 5 Russian troops carried out a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on June 28, damaging a nine-story building, Governor Serhii Lysak said. At least one person was killed and five others were injured, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. The number of casualties can increase as the rescue operation is ongoing. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared photos showing four destroyed floors. He urged partners to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems. "That is why we constantly remind all our partners: only sufficient quantity and quality of air defense systems, only sufficient determination of the world can stop Russian terror. We need these solutions, we need a reliable air shield for Ukraine," Zelensky said. People are trapped in their apartments, according to Klymenko. One man was rescued from a car which was covered with debris from the destroyed building, he said. Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth-largest city located in central-eastern Ukraine, has served as a key logistics and humanitarian hub during the full-scale war. Russian forces have carried out a number of deadly attacks against the city and the surrounding region since 2022. The attack on downtown Dnipro on the morning of April 19 partially destroyed a five-story building and damaged the railway station. Three people were killed and 24 injured, according to the State Emergency Service. Another Russian Su-25 downed, Ukraine's National Guard claims Ukraine's National Guard claimed on June 28 that it had downed another Russian Su-25 fighter jet in embattled Donetsk Oblast. In a post on Telegram, the unit said the aircraft was on a combat sortie when it was hit by a "well-aimed shot" from a portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS). The video of the incident, released by the National Guard, shows grainy footage of the reported incident accompanied by the triumphant shouts of Ukrainian troops. The National Guard post did not specify when the incident occurred or in which part of Donetsk Oblast. The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed "Frogfoot" by NATO, is a heavily armored ground-attack aircraft that provides close air support for Russian ground troops. Russia is carrying out intense attacks in multiple sections of the eastern front, including in Donetsk Oblast, after it captured the city of Avdiivka in February. This is the second Russian Su-25 jet that Ukraine has claimed to have shot down this month. Last month, the claimed total was sixUkraine claimed that it destroyed Su-25s on May 25, May 23, May 4, May 11, May 13, and May 18. The General Staff said on June 28 that Russia has lost 360 planes since the launch of the full-scale invasion. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these figures. Read also: Russias Su-57 hype vs. reality Finland announces $170 million in new military aid for Ukraine Finland announced its 24th package of military assistance to Ukraine on June 28, consisting of defense material valued at around 159 million euros ($170 million). The total amount of military assistance Finland has provided Ukraine now stands at 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), the Finnish Defense Ministry said. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Finland has also provided 239 million euros ($255 million) in humanitarian and financial support as of the end of April 2024. "Finland is committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's unjustified attack. This is not only about Ukraine, but ultimately about the right of all free peoples to exist," said Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. "We Finns have learned from our own history how important this issue is." The ministry said that for security reasons, the specific contents of the aid package and the time of its delivery could not be specified. Finland and Ukraine signed a 10-year security agreement in April, which President Volodymyr Zelensky called a "strong document that proves Finland's readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression." Read also: Ukraine, Finland sign long-term security agreement Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have noted that the defence of Ukraine is the matter of the entire Ukrainian people. They released their addresses on the occasion of Constitution Day, which Ukraine marks on 28 June. Source: video address by Zelenskyy; Syrskyi on social media Quote from Zelenskyy: "Our Constitution's first article begins with the word Ukraine. And from the first minutes of the war, millions of people proved that Ukraine really comes first for them. Everyone who thought, first and foremost, not of themselves, who understands that in times of war, a key duty comes to the fore. Article 17 of the Constitution. Protecting Ukraine is the most important function of the state and a matter of concern for the entire Ukrainian people." Quote from Syrskyi: "While respecting the rights, we must not forget the duties. It is only us who will defend Ukraine! Therefore, I urge all citizens to join the ranks of the defence forces!" Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine's DTEK energy company assures all power plants will be repaired, although it may take years Ukraines DTEK energy company states that all power plants damaged during the war would be repaired, but this may take years. Source: Ildar Salieiev, CEO of DTEK, on Facebook Details: According to Salieiev, the corporation now does not even consider any infrastructure "unrepairable". All of the operations will be restored eventually. The Russians attacked DTEKs thermal power plants over 180 times. Overall, 90% of generating capacity was lost. "Because of the scale of the destruction, repairs will take years rather than months. This is primarily a matter of timing and the availability of the necessary equipment. Orders for the fabrication of equipment are placed in companies on every continent," Salieiev stated. According to preliminary corporate estimates, the losses amount to US$350 million, with DTEK Energy alone spending UAH 4 billion (about US$98 million) this year on thermal power plant maintenance. "This is our main strategy for the year. Our people worldwide are looking for more equipment that can be acquired, moved, and installed," the CEO explained. He also indicated that information on thermal power plant repairs was kept hidden for security reasons. Background: Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Military Administration, recently stated that the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant, which was severely damaged during Russian bombardment, cant be repaired. Support UP or become our patron! Ukrainian Defence Ministry confirms destruction of Russian Space Surveillance and Communications Centre in Crimea on 23 June Consequences of strikes on a military facility in Crimea on 23 June. Photo: Skhemy, a Radio Liberty project The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the defence forces destroyed a Russian Space Surveillance and Communications Centre during an evening missile attack on temporarily occupied Crimea on 23 June. Source: Ministry of Defence on Facebook Quote: "The Ukrainian defence forces continue to reduce the enemy's combat potential and capabilities. In particular, this week was marked by the destruction of the Russian Space Surveillance and Communications Centre in temporarily occupied Crimea, which is an important military component in the Russian satellite communications and navigation system." Details: The ministry also reported the destruction of an Osa anti-aircraft missile system, a Su-25 attack aircraft and 2 BM-21 Grads by the Ukrainian defence forces last week. Background: A satellite has documented traces of fires at a Russian military facility in Vityne near the city of Yevpatoriia in Crimea where explosions occurred on 23 June. OpenStreetMap shows that the 40th Separate Command and Measurement Complex (Deep Space Communications Centre), which is part of the Aerospace Forces of Russia, is located here. This is an important military unit within Russias space communications and satellite navigation system. Support UP or become our patron! On June 27, the first debate between the two presidential candidates, the current head of state Joe Biden and his predecessor in office, Donald Trump, took place in the United States. During the debate, they touched upon the issue of Russia's war against Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT And in the course of discussing this issue, a dispute arose between the opponents. It was shown during the live broadcast of the debate. Thus, during his remarks, Trump accused Biden of being responsible for the beginning of Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. "If we had a real president, Putin would never have invaded Ukraine," said Trump, who obviously does not consider Biden a "real president." He also reiterated his common thesis that he can "end the war in Ukraine" even before he is "elected president." He plans to achieve peace by making sure that "Zelensky and Putin get along." At the same time, Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy too, saying that he returns to Ukraine with $60 billion "in his pocket" after every visit to the United States. And, according to the Republican presidential candidate, "this has to stop." ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Trump criticized Biden for the chaos during the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, saying that this was allegedly the reason for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine. When Biden took the floor, he called Putin a war criminal. He also critisized Trump's words that Putin could attack anywhere if NATO allies did not increase their defense budget. "Trump wants the United States to withdraw from NATO. But the strength is in our alliances. We could not have avoided a major war in Europe if it were not for our alliance," Biden said. The Democratic candidate emphasized that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, he will expand his aggression to other countries, including NATO members such as Poland. Meanwhile, Trump accused Biden of leading the United States to World War III and said that "Ukraine will not win the war" because of the current US president's "stupid policies." Trump also emphasized that Russia occupied Ukrainian lands during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Biden, not his. ADVERTISIMENT "I want to say that Russia took a lot of land under Obama and Biden. Under me, it didn't. Putin knew that he couldn't play with me. The war in Ukraine should not have started, and now he will take over Ukraine. Biden has put us in a bad position with Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine will not win the war. They are running out of people. It's sad, they have lost so many people... Because of Biden's stupid policies," Trump said. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Ukrainian partisans claimed on June 27 that they had located an air defense system covering the skies above Russian President Vladimir Putin's luxury dacha in Sochi. In a post on Telegram, the ATESH group said they had discovered a Pantsir-S1 system a few kilometers along the coast from the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Pictures and video accompanying the post show its spinning radar by the side of a road but concealed by a tall fence. "ATESH discovered an air defense system that covers Putin's dacha in Sochi," they wrote. "It is designed to protect against air threats and includes missiles, anti-aircraft guns, as well as a radar for detecting and tracking air targets." The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims. #ATESH discovered a "Pantsir-S1" air defense system in Sochi, 15 km from Putin's residence. The complex protects against aerial threats, includes missiles, anti-aircraft guns, and detection radars. Coordinates: 43.534815, 39.813225 pic.twitter.com/gIyX6f7wkQ ATESH_eng (@atesh_eng) June 27, 2024 While Putin is believed to have access to several luxury residences across Russia, the one that would be protected by an air defense system in this location is Bocharov Ruchey, a summer residence of Russian presidents built in 1955. Last year Putin hosted Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan there when they discussed simmering tensions in the Black Sea. The ATESH movement is highly active in both occupied areas of Ukraine and inside Russia itself. Earlier this week it claimed one of its agents successfully infiltrated a Russian air base and hinted at carrying out sabotage operations. In a post on Telegram on June 22, the group said it had scouted the Baltimore airfield in Voronezh, around 220 kilometers north-east from the border with Kharkiv Oblast and home to Russia's 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment. Pictures and videos accompanying the post show several aircraft including a helicopter and what ATESH say are Su-34 fighter bombers, a plane Russia frequently employs to launch missiles at Ukrainian cities. "In some of them, Russians now have surprises waiting for them," the post reads. On June 12, the group said a Russian satellite communication station was destroyed in a sabotage attack in Moscow Oblast. In a video posted by Atesh partisans on Telegram, an Atesh agent is seen pouring a flammable liquid on an R-441 Liven communications satellite. The communications station is seen subsequently catching fire. The incident allegedly occurred in the Klin district of Moscow Oblast approximately 85 kilometers (over 50 miles) northwest of the Russian capital. Read also: Ukraines partisans claim infiltration of Russian air base, leave surprises for pilots Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. On Friday 28 June, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba visited Warsaw and met with his Polish counterpart Radosaw Sikorski. Source: Kuleba on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: During the meeting, the parties welcomed the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, stressing that Poland has consistently supported Ukraine's membership in the European Union for many years. In Warsaw, I met with @SikorskiRadek. We welcomed the beginning of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations. Poland has consistently supported Ukraine's EU membership over the years. The practical start of talks is a success for Ukraine, Poland, and all of Europe. We discussed pic.twitter.com/sKAZNk6HVP Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 28, 2024 Quote: "The practical start of talks is a success for Ukraine, Poland, and all of Europe," the Ukrainian minister said. He also stated that he spoke with the Polish Foreign Minister about various ways to unblock European Peace Fund support to Ukraine with weapons, as well as "negotiations with third countries about providing Ukraine with additional air defence capabilities". Kuleba did not specify what was at stake. However, according to media sources, the United States, Israel, and Ukraine are negotiating equipping Kyiv with up to eight Patriot air defence systems to protect against Russian assault. "We also talked about the finalisation of a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland," Kuleba concluded. On 28 June, Polish PM Donald Tusk announced that he would soon meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw. Support UP or become our patron! Russian troops have been increasing their offensive pace since the beginning of the day on 28 June. The number of combat engagements between Ukrainian and Russian forces along the entire war zone has increased to 102, with the hottest spot being the Pokrovsk front. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook; information as of 16:00 on 28 June Details: On the Kupiansk front, the Russians stormed Ukrainian defensive lines six times near the settlements of Stepova Novoselivka, Stelmakhivka, Synkivka and Kruhliakivka. Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the line. Five Russian attempts to advance have been repelled, one combat engagement is still in progress. On the Lyman front, Russian forces carried out 16 attacks on Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Nevske, Makiivka, Torske and Serebrianka Forest during the day. Russian troops have encountered failure in 14 of the attacks, with 2 more currently underway. The Russians are continuing to look for weaknesses in Ukrainian defence on the Siversk front. Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 Russian attacks near the settlements of Bilohorivka, Spirne, Verkhnokamianske, Ivano-Darivka, Rozdolivka and Vyimka. Four combat engagements are still in progress. On the Kramatorsk front, Russian forces mounted three unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Nove and Ivanivske. Another combat engagement is underway. The number of Russian attacks on the Toretsk front has increased to nine. The Pokrovsk front witnessed the highest number of combat engagements. The Russians have made 28 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their positions near the settlements of Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Novoselivka Persha and Umanske since the beginning of the day. Ukraine's defence forces are holding back the onslaught, having repelled 21 Russian attacks, with 7 more combat engagements still ongoing. On the Kurakhove front, fighting continues near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Kostiantynivka and Paraskoviivka. So far, Ukrainian defenders have repelled seven Russian attacks in the area, with two more ongoing. On the Vremivka front, a combat engagement is taking place near the village of Vodiane. The situation is tense. Ukraine's defence forces are taking measures to prevent the Russians from advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory. The situation on the fronts has not changed significantly. Support UP or become our patron! Soldiers serving in the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) have shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft conducting a combat mission in Donetsk Oblast. Source: NGU press service; Ukraine's Interior Ministry on Telegram Details: The NGU told Ukrainska Pravda that the event occurred on 23 June. A unit from the 31st Brigade of the NGU successfully used an Igla man-portable air defence missile system to accurately engage the Russian aircraft. The NGU troops moved to their defensive positions in Donetsk Oblast, which they have been holding since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. They spotted a Russian Su-25, also known as Grach (NATO reporting name Frogfoot), on a combat mission. With an accurate shot, they successfully brought down the aircraft. Background: A report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dated 28 June stated that a Russian warplane had been destroyed without providing further details. Support UP or become our patron! With Florida A&M Universitys licensure exam pass rates remaining lower than benchmarks and goals, Florida Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine says he is ready to get rid of the programs if there is no turnaround. This comes as FAMU falls short of hitting the marks in all of its professional licensure programs law, nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy. Im prepared to vote to take these programs away if we cant do it the right way, Levine said. This is a disservice to those students and to the taxpayers who are paying for this, and the result they are getting is they cant pass their boards to go practice what they went to school for. Florida Board of Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine. Levine expressed his concerns during the boards Strategic Planning Committee Thursday on the University of Central Floridas campus, where the accountability plans of the State University Systems 12 institutions were reviewed ahead of Friday mornings full board meeting. FAMU's exam pass rates show that only 41% of the university's College of Law students passed during their first attempt in 2023 an outcome that falls 39% short of the university's 80% approved goal, according to a 2024 FAMU accountability plan. The programs 2023 pass rate is also a 12% decrease from 2022's results, and the program has not met the national benchmarks average in five years. In February 2024, FAMU was still well below the benchmark but hit a 47% first-time passage rate of the Florida Bar exam, which was a better passage rate than Florida State University's 40%. Most students take the Bar exam in the summer. In July 2023, FSU had a 83.4% passage rate while FAMU had a 41.7% rate. See Florida Bar Exam Results Comparisons over the years here. Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando The poor passage rates for the law school were not the only issue for Levine. Although FAMUs nursing pass rate was 82% in 2023 a 14% increase from the year prior it falls 8% short of the 90% approved goal. In addition, licensure exam passage rates in FAMUs College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences program fell 22% below the 92% approved goal in 2023 a 15% decrease from 2022 while the universitys physical therapy program was 13% short of the 92% goal. Im a huge fan of the work thats been done at FAMU, and Ive been a huge advocate for giving everybody the opportunity to correct these things, Levine said. But not hitting our threshold for pass rates is completely unacceptable. Its table stakes. This is a must-do. To have a plan, and then to go backwards from the plan, theres no excuse for it, he added. Florida Board of Governors member Ken Jones chair of the Strategic Planning Committee urged the university to review what it is and isn't doing and says the results are troubling as the university programs are at a tipping point right now. I think youre really at an inflection point, to be candid, Jones told FAMU President Larry Robinson during the board meeting. The rates are continuing to go down, and what happens when that happens is you start to get into that spiral where the rates go down, you get less students, the rates go down, you get less students and then you have less students wanting to be there because they see statistics like this. Ken Jones is a member of the Florida Board of Governors. Robinson says the university submitted fairly comprehensive improvement plans for its four programs and is fully implementing them. But he explained how the university is not yet at the level where results will put the programs in yellow or green anytime soon, with yellow indicating scores within 5% of a goal and green reflecting results that either meet or exceed a goal. We really have to pay attention to our at-risk students, perhaps in a way that we havent been doing, Robinson said, referring to the universitys College of Law. FAMU President Larry Robinson. He says the university is reviewing the College of Laws curriculum to ensure it more closely aligns with what students will be tested on during the Florida Bar examination. I think making a stronger correlation between the curriculum and the exam itself, as well as making the test prep a mandatory part of the student experience is going to make a significant difference. Earlier this year, the FAMU College of Law's former Dean Deidre Keller resigned amid the schools long trend of worsening bar exam passage rates. The College of Laws Associate Provost for Academic Programs Cecil Howard is filling in until an interim dean is appointed. Keller's resignation letter alleged that the university was micromanaging her attempts to turn around the program. Her objections to "constant board interaction" fell on deaf ears" and she wrote that the university's vision for the College of Law no longer resonated with her vision for sustained success at the school. More: Former FAMU law dean says in resignation letter 'abusive' oversight was reason she quit Besides FAMUs four licensure programs, Florida Atlantic Universitys nursing program is also in the red, and Levines warning about taking away unsuccessful programs addressed the Boca Raton-based institution as well. The 2023 passage rate of the nursing program at FAUs main campus in Boca Raton was 81% in 2023, and on its satellite campus in Davie, Florida it was 69%, according to an FAU accountability plan. Both rates fell below the 86% approved goal. Jones says a lot of hard looks need to be done. If we cant get the right metrics in place and the right curriculum to get these students to pass these exams, then we need to think about things more holistically. Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: State says Florida A&M law, nursing, pharmacy programs in jeopardy The summer season in New York City is informally marked each year by the hoisting of Pride flags on The People's Beach, a queer haven tucked away on the far eastern corner of the city's Jacob Riis Park in Queens. "When I was a runaway, when I had no community at all, I came and I witnessed something that I never even knew existed: that was a sense of family," said Ceyenne Doroshow, activist and founder of LGBTQ advocacy group GLITS. "People fed me, people dressed me." This has been a popular gathering place for the LGBTQ+ community since the 1940s, shaped by its beachgoers into more than just a spot to sunbathe and swim. It's a place of direct and indirect social activism, where queer joy is at the heart of the jumble of music, umbrella and bodies packed tightly along the shoreline each weekend. PHOTO: Since in the 1940s, Jacob Riis Beach has been an LGBTQ safe haven for queer beachgoers. (Richard Peckinpaugh via The LGBT Community Center National History Archive) But the land directly surrounding the beach is drastically and quickly changing. The recent demolition of an abandoned building, a $50 million building restoration plan and erosion threaten the future of this safe haven, some activists and beachgoers told ABC News. Beachgoers are concerned it could become the next in a long list of lost LGBTQ+ spaces across the nation. "This fight is bigger than just me. It's bigger than just us. It's about us fighting for our space in New York City," Doroshow said. "This is considered our Mecca. This is our Fire Island, our Hamptons, our Boca Raton -- this is the place where we can celebrate this as a space where you don't have to [spend] out of your pocket to celebrate life." PHOTO: Ceyenne Doroshow is an activist fighting to create a community center with health, wellness and beach essentials readily available for LGBTQ beachgoers and beyond. (ABC News) Gentrification inches toward The People's Beach The People's Beach was once shielded from the rest of the world by the hulking Neponsit Beach Hospital, which was opened in the early 1900s. Local beachgoers say it acted as a barrier between queer beachgoers and any disapproving, discriminatory glares from beyond the park's boundaries. PHOTO: An abandoned hospital used to block the queer section of Jacob Riis beach from onlookers. (Chris Berntsen) Even when the building had blocked the beach from view, the NYC LGBT Historic Site Project found that queer beachgoers long reported being harassed and given citations by Parks law enforcement for violations such as men's bathing shorts being too short. In 2023, NYC Health + Hospitals demolished the building, leaving the beachfront barren and open to the gawking eyes of all nearby. The loss of the seemingly protective barrier is a reminder of those historical tensions, and has stoked concerns about increased surveillance over the area. PHOTO: Queer beachgoers have historically reported disproportionate scrutiny from law enforcement. (Richard Peckinpaugh via The LGBT Community Center National History Archive) The demolition came hand-in-hand with the announcement that the nearby historic park bathhouse about a quarter of a mile away would undergo a $50 million restoration, with plans to revitalize the landmark with restaurants, a bar, pool, event spaces and 28 hotel rooms. Beachgoers fear a high-end restoration will usher in a new era of gentrification on a beach known for its economic accessibility, pushing out lower-income and queer beachgoers. "I want to make sure that the beach is accessible for the poor and working class of New York to come," Berntsen said. "It would be great if we could build more of this infrastructure to the beach. My hope is that it's not at the cost of it being an accessible beach financially to the people that go there." PHOTO: The historic bathhouse on Jacob Riis Beach is undergoing $50 million renovations that have stoked concerns about gentrification on the working class, queer beach. (ABC News) However, the National Park Service said it's excited for the renovation: "The Bathhouse is emblematic of over half a century of the quintessential NYC seaside experience," said Jen Nersesian, the NPS superintendent of Gateway National Recreation Area, in the 2023 announcement. She continued, "Its restoration will connect beachgoers with this heritage and provide a new suite of visitor opportunities for generations to come." All of this is happening as erosion causes closures on parts of the beach -- including the main strip of The People's Beach where the LGBTQ community is known to gather on Bay 1 and 2. PHOTO: An abandoned hospital used to block the queer section of Jacob Riis beach from onlookers. (Chris Berntsen) In 2023, the NPS placed about 360,000 yards of sand on the beach. One year later, much of the sand has since been washed away due to intensifying weather conditions, creating unsafe conditions for beachgoers. Some feel as though the beach is both literally and figuratively being pulled from under them. "The problem really becomes about the uneven development," said Jah Elyse Sayers, founder of research and archival group The People's Riisearch Group. "Whatever erosion will be naturally happening, it's not also accompanied by the usual accretion of sand ... Our literal beach is shrinking. The building that really defined the space and held the space is gone." The National Park Service, which manages the park, has not yet responded to ABC News requests for comment on beachgoer concerns. PHOTO: Since in the 1940s, Jacob Riis Beach has been an LGBTQ safe haven for queer beachgoers. (Richard Peckinpaugh via The LGBT Community Center National History Archive) Taking care of their own Historical marginalization has routinely forced the LGBTQ+ community to take matters into their own hands -- a trend reflected in the actions being taken by Riis beachgoers. "It's queer to take care of each other," said Gabriel DeFazio, a Jacob Riis beachgoer who has helped raise funds to improve the beach. Local activists say they are raising money and have gathered more than 6,000 signatures to form a community land trust on the empty, former Neponsit Beach Hospital lot right in front of the queer part of the beach. The soon-to-be renovated bathhouse is far enough away that it provides little benefit for LGBTQ beachgoers on the eastern side, who only have a single food stand and a handful of porta potties despite the beach's popularity. Instead, they hope to build a health and wellness community center with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community in the hospital lot that offers services like therapy and hosts essential beach functions like bathrooms, changing rooms and food vendors. "People need to feel that they have some self-determination and a place where they can go and celebrate community and develop the rules that they feel are appropriate to govern both their actions and the use of the land and their relationship to this overall environment," said Petr Stand, a leader at Project Abigail, which designs sustainable solutions to gentrification. The People's Beach also didn't have a wheelchair accessibility mat or extra wheelchairs available for beachgoers, hindering the ability for some patrons to get on the beach. Within 24 hours of asking the LGBTQ community of beachgoers, advocates say the funds were raised to buy these materials. "We deserve concession stands. We deserve all the accommodations, we've had to create our own safety around wheelchairs," Doroshow said. "That's community taking care of community." Project Abigail, GLITS and urban planning, design and development nonprofit Hester Street are working together to create a plan for the center and other community initiatives around policing, wellness, and more. Amron Lee, a project associate at Hester Street said a community policing strategy with trainings on de-escalation and harm reduction can will address some of the expected tensions that may come with new developments: "What you start to see, when that happens in any space is more surveillance, more harassment, maybe different populations, or different groups of people being in much more tension with each other." NYC Health + Hospitals told ABC News that "engagement with City partners on the future of the site beyond the current lifeguard complex remains ongoing," but did not respond to requests for comment on the community's involvement in future plans. PHOTO: Two men embrace in the waters of Jacob Riis Beach. (Chris Berntsen) A world without The People's Beach Sayers, who grew up by the beach in South Jersey, didn't think they would feel comfortable on the beach after coming out as trans. That changed when they came to Riis beach. "I got out here and immediately could see just other visibly trans people, people who didn't seem to care how their gender was being perceived. People all different kinds of bodies, like shirtless, not shirtless, like tiny bottoms, big bottom, whatever, just like people were wearing whatever, doing whatever talking, playing," Sayers said. Slowly, they went from going to the beach in a tank top and long shorts to feeling comfortable in beachwear once again. They felt at home alongside the Riis community -- a feeling they hope can one day extend beyond Bay 1 and 2 for the LGBTQ+ community. "I would love for this beach to feel less important, but that would require that we felt safe everywhere," said Sayers. "If there's a safe space, it also means that there are unsafe spaces." Berntsen is staying positive amid the developments, focusing on the community's historical ability to stand strong against change. "This has been a space of joy and liberation, long before then," said Berntsen. "Witnessing the shifting landscapes, both literally, because of climate change, and social and economic landscapes of Rockaway over the last 20 years, I felt it's really important for the community to understand that this is a community that can withstand these changes." To do so, Sayers urges community members to keep coming despite concerns. "The only reason we're able to be here is because people came here. Another reason people will be able to continue coming here is if we keep coming here," Sayers said. The uncertain future of a historic LGBTQ+ safe space: New York City's People's Beach originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Thai Senate candidates cast their votes at a convention center near Bangkok on June 26, 2024. Credit - Lillian SuwanrumphaAFP/Getty Images Taking part in an election is seldom a walk in the park. But the Thai Senate race, which culminated this week, has put its candidates and voters through the shrubbiest of hedge mazesand raised questions about the still-evolving state of democracy in the Southeast Asian nation of 72 million. Thailands 2024 Senate election is the first of its kind after the upper legislative body was created by the countrys 2017 constitution that was implemented after successive coups had ousted former Thai governmentsthough the first group of Senators was not elected but rather appointed by the military in 2019. As the country has slowly begun to cast aside its military leadersin general elections last year for the National Assemblys lower chamber, voters overwhelmingly supported parties that ran on a pro-democratic platformthe fact that the military-appointed Senate (nicknamed the juntas senators) remained in power until this year seemed a vestige of the past. Last year, the Senate thwarted the progressive and most popular candidate for Prime Minister from taking the premiership, handing it instead to the more moderate Srettha Thavisin, who formed a coalition with the military- and royal-linked conservative establishment. Now, even as those Senators leave office, the process for choosing their replacements has been described as the most complicated election in the world and slammed by critics as unnecessarily convoluted and undemocratic. Heres what to know about the Thai Senate electionand where Thailand goes from here. A closed vote behind closed doors On Wednesday, nearly 3,000 senator candidates met at a convention center near Bangkok to vote on one another. Over the next few hours, they were whittled down until 200 emerged as the next batch of senators. By Thursday, an unofficial list of winners was out, marking an end to what has been mostly a quiet race, devoid of overt campaigning or much public discussionhardly a surprise, as non-candidates were not allowed to vote. The election was anything but straightforward. According to the rules, Senate candidates have to be at least 40 years old; be born in or have stayed at least two years in the district theyre representing; and possess a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in one of 20 stipulated sectorsranging from education to public health to women and the artsthat they would also represent. There was also an entry fee of 2,500 baht (about $68). After six rounds of intra- and inter-group voting among the thousands of candidates, 10 senators from each of the 20 categories would make it into the Senate. Why such a complex process? One interpretation is that this system was designed from the ground up to be deliberately confusing and to yield an incoherent body, Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, tells TIME. Basically, its a way of diluting the possibility of changing the political system through a parliamentary process. The pro-democracy group Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw) noted that while the Senate election only permitted independents, the race has been dominated by powerful political dynasties, which have managed to field their family members and allies in almost every category. The group also criticized the Election Commission for the limited broadcasting of the voting on Wednesday, which made it difficult for the public to observe the process. The other, more charitable, interpretation, Napon says, is that the drafters of the Senate election law simply did not fully think it through. Mixed results According to the preliminary results, which will be made official on Tuesday, some prominent conservative names emerged as senators-elect, such as former army general Kriangkrai Srirak, an ex-classmate of deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul; and veteran politician Premsak Piayura, who is linked to the royalist Democrat Party and was convicted in 2018 of abusing a reporter over an unflattering story. (Notably, also on the list were several human rights activists, academics, and journalists.) The Senate race is not really an election, per se, says Napon. Its a self-selection process where it allows patronage politics to run rampant at every stage. Nevertheless, there had been some grassroots efforts to even the playing field: civil society groups including iLaw had campaigned to get pro-democracy representatives to run in the Senate race and divert votes from dynasty-linked candidates. But pushing back against such a flawed process, says Mark S. Cogan, associate professor of peace and conflict studies at Japans Kansai Gaidai University, is only going to have limited effectiveness. We say its a Senate election. Its not. Its a Senate appointment. It was never fair to begin with, he tells TIME. To a certain extent, the dam has broken, and youre saying, Lets put our fingers in the dam, and maybe we can prevent some of the water from escaping. No, its broken. The current crisis of Thai democracy It cannot be worse than the last lot of 250 senators appointed by the military during the coup era, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, tells TIME. But, he still caveats, the Senate election is not democratic because the people dont have a vote. Thailand, after two decades dominated by conservatives, can only be described as semi-autocratic at best, says Thitinan. It cannot be considered a democracy when election winners are repeatedly kicked out and dissolved either by military coups or judicial interventions. Cogan is more blunt in his assessment: Thailand, he says, is simply an authoritarian regime which has the illusion of democracy. That true democracy is still lacking in Thailand is apparent to the Thai public. According to a survey by the Asia Foundation, conducted last year and published earlier this month, 58% think that Thailand is either undemocratic or only a little democratic (compared to somewhat or very democratic), while 84% said democracy is always the best way (compared to 15% who said the country needs strong leadership whether elected or not). Among those under 40, the numbers are even more pronounced. They came of age during the Prayuth era, says Cogan of Thailands youth, referencing former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who seized power during the 2014 military coup and oversaw a period of suppression of human and civil rights. They know what democracy does not look like. I think that the broader general public in Thai society have become distrustful of the supposedly democratic process in Thailand, says Napon. There is an election, but there is no accountability; there is a selection process, but it doesnt seem to produce something that would be reflective or responsive of the publics needs and preferences. Where does Thailand go from here? Unlike their predecessors, the new senators will not be able to vote on the next Prime Minister. They will, however, have the power to veto constitutional changes. The Senate also oversees membership to institutions like the Constitutional Court, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Election Commissionbodies that have all been accused of bending to conservative interests. The key mechanisms through which conservative forces in Thailand exercise their power is through so-called referee bodies, explains Napon. Still, observers maintain that democratization looks to be inevitable, in the long run, for Thailand. Last years general election delivered a clear mandate for progressives who dare to defy the repressive military and royal establishment, and former activists have begun to make their way into the halls of power. Looming over conservative forces decadeslong hamfisted domination of Thai politics, which has clearly become unpopular, is an expiration date. The fear is, what else will happen before then? Human rights activists have continued to be jailed and prosecuted, many on trumped-up charges of royal defamation. Napon also warns, in the face of such societal change, theres a danger of Thailand suffering an authoritarian backlash as the old guard grows desperate to preserve its waning influence. If the incoming Senate fails to function in ways that pander to the interests of conservative forces, he says, the only means to influence the political system would be through other meansthrough outside means, more coercive, more repressive means. And thats not good for Thai democracy either. Even the dying embers of a regime, when you think that regime is dead, its like a wounded animal, says Cogan. Its gonna fight with its last breath for its life. Contact us at letters@time.com. Under the Dome: President Biden, first lady in Raleigh today for campaign rally Good morning! President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be in the Raleigh area today, and The News & Observer will have reporters and photojournalists in and outside the rally. The event comes just hours after Biden had his first presidential debate with former President Donald Trump in Atlanta. North Carolina has been a focus of Bidens reelection campaign with the launch of television ads and visits from Vice President Kamala Harris and other Biden surrogates, Danielle Battaglia reports. Check newsobserver.com for updates later today. Heres what else you need to know about North Carolina politics today, from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder. MASK CHANGES AMONG NC LEGISLATURE VETO OVERRIDES State lawmakers on Thursday overrode Gov. Roy Coopers vetoes of three bills, one of which is a controversial law to change the states masking laws. The masking law also includes a modification allowing action to be taken against protesters who block traffic and a campaign finance provision. The House voted 70-46 on Wednesday to override Coopers masking and campaign finance bill vetoes. The Senate voted 30-13 on Thursday afternoon on the masking bill, completing the final step to enact the bills despite Coopers objections. Get the full story from Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here. OUTSIDE NEWBY HOME, FLAG WITH JAN. 6 TIES The Appeal to Heaven Flag, which has been linked to the Jan. 6 insurrection, was seen flying outside a home owned by N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newbys wife. Newby, a Republican, said the flag was a gift prior to Jan. 6, 2021, and he flies it during national holidays, not as a political statement. Its not the first time the flag has been seen at an officials home or office. The flags also have been seen at a home owned by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and outside the office of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here. NC LAWMAKERS PASS CHILD CARE FUNDING State lawmakers passed provisions Thursday to extend child care funding and formally authorize pay raises for North Carolina teachers and other school employees to go into effect. The GOP leaders in both chambers agreed to pass standalone bills allocating $67.5 million in funding for child care centers until the end of the year. On Wednesday, Capitol police arrested protesters outside the Senate and House chambers calling for the funding. Without the funding, many day care centers were expected to close or raise tuition costs. The teacher and school employee raises passed in last years two-year budget and will go into effect in the fiscal year beginning on Monday. The bills have been sent to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature. Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai here. CITIZENS-ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT ADDED TO BALLOT North Carolina voters will be asked to decide in November whether they want to add a new amendment to the state constitution to clarify that only citizens are allowed to vote. State law already requires residents to be citizens to register to vote. It also is a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. GOP lawmakers who sponsored the amendment believe it will prevent municipal governments from letting noncitizens vote in local elections and end any ambiguity in the constitution. Critics disagree, claiming the new amendment is just a Republican attempt to drive conservatives to vote and only serves to fuel anti-immigrant conspiracy theories. Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here. CAN ELECTION BOARDS WORK WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS? A new bill that would require the State Board of Elections to work with election integrity groups to update voter rolls has been passed by North Carolina House Republicans. Rep. George Cleveland, an Onslow County Republican and the bills sponsor, said the integrity groups seek out mistakes in voter rolls something he says needs to be done before the November election. Democrats like Rep. Allison Dahle, of Wake County, disagree with the bill because they feel it could ultimately force the state board to disqualify eligible voters. Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here. Thats all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news. You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters. Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up. We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter . Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com Dont forget to follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments. SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Next week, the Unified Police Department and Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office will officially part ways a year after a bill passed requiring the separation. The split is slated to take place on Monday. According to a joint press release, UPD was created in 2010 to assist in law enforcement efforts in Salt Lake County and operated under the sheriff. However, in 2023, H.B. 374, titled County Sheriff Amendments, was signed into Utah law requiring a major change. PREVIOUS STORY: 2023 interview on Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office split from UPD Sheriff Rosie Rivera spoke with ABC4 at the time saying while she initially opposed the bill, she supported the substitute bill which had important changes from the initial version because the separation of the agencies had been brought up every legislative session for years. She said she felt it was time to address the issue head-on. Rivera said the bill required that the sheriff no longer act as the CEO over Unified Police Department and all duties that UPD does for the sheriff will return to the sheriffs office. For example, UPD patrols unincorporated Salt Lake County and provides services such as the Metro Gang Unit, DEA Taskforce, and Search and Rescue. These services will now be the responsibility of the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office. UPD will continue to patrol Midvale, Millcreek, Magna, Kearns, Holladay, Emigration, Copperton, and the Town of Brighton as those communities chose to continue with their interlocal agreement rather than create their own police departments, according to the press release. UPD Chief Jason Mazuran expressed optimism about the change, saying the realignment will allow them to focus our resources on the specific needs of our member communities. Officials say they do not anticipate the separation will cause disruptions to services and both UPD and SLCSO are committed to a seamless transition and ongoing collaboration to keep residents safe. According to the press release, law enforcement operations in Salt Lake County will appear much like they did before the creation of UPD in 2010, and resemble sheriffs offices from around the country. While UPD and the joint partnership between Salt Lake County and municipal agencies have enjoyed for decades is evolving with this separation, we all remain committed to maintaining effective collaboration with all agencies for the benefit of our entire community, Rivera said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Waxhaw doctor was indicted Thursday on charges related to providing controlled substances outside of legitimate medical purposes. The U.S. Attorneys Office reported that in September 2023, 52-year-old Henry Ronald Emery Jr., MD, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and 10 counts of distribution of a controlled substance outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Driver charged with DWI in head-on crash that killed Cherryville woman: Troopers The action came as part of a National Health Care Fraud Enforcement action that resulted in 193 defendants charged totaling more than $2.75 billion in false claims. It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable, said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a statement. The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits. According to the charges, from no later than September 2018 through in or about 2022, Emery allegedly conspired with other persons to intentionally and unlawfully prescribe, dispense and distribute, and unlawfully prescribed, dispensed and distributed the medications. They were a mixture containing a detectable amount of buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance. Buprenorphine is used to treat pain and opioid use disorders, according to the National Institute of Health. It is also alleged that Emery engaged in the illegal distribution of buprenorphine on multiple occasions. He practices family medicine out of his office in Weddington. In addition to these offenses, the superseding indictment charged Emery with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully use a registration number. Can you bring fireworks on a plane? What to know before July 4th travel If convicted, Emery faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on each count in the indictment. Emery is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick J. Miller and William Bozin of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Incumbent US President Joe Biden will not drop out of the election race after the debate with his rival Donald Trump. Commenting on his performance, he said that it was "hard to debate a liar." ADVERTISIMENT In particular, Biden's campaign staff has rejected the possibility that Biden will withdraw his candidacy for the US presidential election in favor of another Democratic candidate. This was reported by the American newspaper The Hill. "Of course, he (Biden Ed.) will not refuse to participate," Biden's campaign spokesman Seth Shuster wrote in a text message. Commenting on the debate, Biden himself, stopping at a Waffle House diner, deflected talk of whether he should withdraw. "No. It's hard to argue with a liar. The New York Times said he lied 26 times," he said, referring to Trump. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on the evening of June 27, a debate took place in Atlanta, during which Biden and Trump clashed over many hot topics. Both politicians did not greet each other either before or after the meeting. ADVERTISIMENT Biden's performance with "stumbling, repeated lines, coughing, misstatements" raised concerns about his "physical fitness and visual acuity" and caused panic among Democrats. The party has resumed discussions about whether the 81-year-old politician should be a candidate at all, according to the American media. During the debate, Biden and Trump, among other things, touched on the war in Ukraine. Trump once again accused Biden of launching Russia's full-scale aggression and promised to end the war "before he is elected," allegedly by making sure that "Zelensky and Putin get along." Trump also lied again about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly bringing $60 billion to Ukraine after every trip to the United States, which, according to Trump, "has to stop." Biden, for his part, called Russian dictator Vladimir Putin a war criminal and warned that Moscow could expand its aggression, in particular to Poland. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The University of Idaho will have until next spring to negotiate its purchase agreement with the University of Phoenix. The Idaho State Board of Education approved an amendment to the purchase asset agreement with the University of Phoenix and Apollo Global Management, its hedge fund owner, that would extend the closing time until June 10, 2025. The extension gives the University of Idaho more time to work with lawmakers after they left the deal in limbo during this years legislative session. Lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have created more legislative oversight and aimed to address concerns about taxpayer liability in the purchase. The agreement between the University of Idaho and Phoenix initially had a deadline of May 31 to finalize the sale, but negotiators had agreed not to end the agreement through June, according to previous Idaho Statesman reporting. An amended transaction must be approved by the State Board, which serves as the universitys Board of Regents, and the agreement includes no commitment to closing, according to documents from the State Board. The merits of this affiliation have never been stronger, University of Idaho President C. Scott Green said in a news release. The value to Idahos educational system, adult learners and Idahos industries is transformational. The affiliation also diversifies revenue streams and strengthens our financial future. Under the agreement, the University of Idaho would drop the exclusivity terms, so the University of Phoenix could consider other offers during that time. In exchange, Phoenix would pay Idaho $5 million when the agreement is signed by all parties. If the University of Phoenix sells to another entity, the University of Idaho would receive more money. During the meeting, board member Kurt Liebich pointed to four key factors that he said made the Phoenix purchase important. Over the past decade, there have been upticks in online learning and adult learning. The state also expects to see a drop in traditional aged college students in the coming years and has seen a decline in the interest to invest in higher education. I think I said it when we approved it a year ago I said I think its the most transformational thing that could happen to the state of Idaho and our education system, Liebech said. I said that then. I believe that more strongly now. Earlier this year, Attorney General Raul Labrador sued the State Board of Education, alleging it violated open meeting laws in the sale agreement. An Ada County judge ruled in favor of the board, but Labrador appealed the ruling to the Idaho Supreme Court. Liebech said given whats happened over the past year with legal challenges and concerns over the deal, he believes the only path forward is to work with the Legislature to make the transaction happen. Lawmakers have said they wanted to be partners in the process to develop a solution that protects Idaho taxpayers, he said. Will a deal happen? That will be up to the legislature at the end of the day, he said in a news release. This gives us time to work with legislators and try to come up with a potential solution. Last session, lawmakers tried to pass a bill that attempted to restructure the U of Is $550 million purchase of the University of Phoenix, but it failed to get through the process. We think we had a bill that was pretty close to what people wanted, Green told the Statesman last month. The sellers are still very interested, as are we. Ian Max Stevenson contributed to this report. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man who shot four people, killing three at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, had an erectile dysfunction drug and oxycodone in his system, a Clark County coroners report said. Blood tests revealed that Anthony Polito, 67, had tadalafil, also known as Cialis, in his system. Tadalafil (Cialis) is [] used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It has antihypertensive properties and can lead to a drop in blood pressure, the report stated. Additionally, Polito had 15 nanograms per milliliter of oxycodone in his system, according to the medical report. The usual adult dose of oxycodone is five milligrams every six hours, the report noted. Polito had been denied a job at the university approximately nine times and opened fire on campus grounds on December 6. The full report from the Clark County Coroners office describes the shooting scene, Politos gunshot wounds and his belongings. There was a cardholder, a case with cigarettes in it, and an apparent laminated index card with apparent room numbers and names listed, the report stated. The 8 News Now Investigators previously reported Polito had the list of his targets. The coroners report also described Politos weapons and ammunition, which included a Taurus 9-millimeter handgun located on the ground near Politos body, one expended cartridge casing located in the chamber of the handgun and six live cartridge casings located in the magazine of the handgun, two separate magazine pouches on his waist, four loaded magazines in a pouch on his left side and five loaded magazines in a pouch on his right side. UNLV officers shot and killed Polito outside the Frank and Estella Beam Hall building just before noon. The coroners report details six gunshot wounds to Politos face, neck, chest, abdomen, elbow, and leg. Three of the bullets exited Politos body, according to the report. Polito shot and killed Lee Business School professors Dr. Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Dr. Patricia Navarro Velez, and College of Liberal Arts professor Dr. Naoko Takemaru. A fourth professor who was shot survived. The coroner ruled Politos death a homicide. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. While EASE is a step in the right direction, its benefits cannot be fully realized without addressing the underlying issue of digital inequality. (John Lamb/Getty Images) Imagine being completely cut off from the world during a critical moment. Youre on a long flight with no Wi-Fi, anxiously wondering about an important family event. That feeling of helplessness and disconnection is what many Tribal members and rural communities experience daily due to the digital divide. Unlike the temporary inconvenience we might face, their lack of reliable internet access is a persistent barrier, impacting every aspect of life, including the freedom to vote. Nevadas Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE) recently expanded to allow Tribal members of federally recognized Tribes or Bands residing on reservations or colonies to register to vote and cast their ballots using the electronic voting system. This system has been a vital tool for many Nevadans, including members of the armed services, their spouse and dependents, and Nevadans residing overseas. In 2021, EASE further expanded to include Nevadans with disabilities, a measure that passed the Nevada State Senate unanimously. Despite this progress, concerns about election security have surfaced, particularly as access to the ballot box expands to one of the most underserved, underrepresented, and disenfranchised communities Indigenous peoples. Tribes and county clerks are hopeful about this expansion. However, Chairman Andrea Martinez of the Walker River Paiute Tribe has stated that internet access is spotty on the reservation, as is electricity due to aging utility poles. These infrastructural issues create significant barriers to utilizing systems like EASE effectively. According to the Federal Communications Commission, approximately 35% of people who reside on Tribal lands lack access to broadband services, compared to 8% of the general population. The issue of election security is often cited as a reason to scrutinize and potentially hinder the use of electronic voting systems. Yet, 31 states, including those with longstanding histories of voter disenfranchisement, such as Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, and North Dakota, have successfully used similar systems. So why are these concerns heightened now, as we expand access for Tribal members? This pattern of increased scrutiny when extending rights to Indigenous and other marginalized communities is not new. However, the real barrier that must be addressed is the digital divide that disproportionately impacts Tribal and rural communities. Without reliable internet access, the very systems designed to increase voter participation become inaccessible to those who need them most. The digital divide is a significant issue affecting many aspects of life in Tribal and rural communities. Lack of internet access hampers education, economic opportunities, and political participation. For instance, a student in an urban area can easily access online resources, submit assignments, and communicate with teachers. Meanwhile, a student on a reservation may struggle to complete homework due to unreliable internet, perpetuating educational inequities. Similarly, for voters, the inability to access online voting systems means that many Tribal members remain disenfranchised. While EASE is a step in the right direction, its benefits cannot be fully realized without addressing the underlying issue of digital inequality. To bridge this digital divide, significant investments in infrastructure are needed. This means expanding broadband access to ensure quality, high-speed internet is available in every corner of Nevada, from urban centers to the most remote reservations. Additionally, providing digital literacy programs can empower Tribal members to navigate and utilize these technologies effectively. By addressing the digital divide, we can ensure that every voice is heard, and every eligible vote is counted. The participation of Indigenous voices is crucial for a representative democracy. Expanding digital access will not only enhance voting rights but also provide opportunities for education, economic growth, and overall community well-being. As we celebrate the expansion of voting rights through EASE, we must also commit to bridging the digital divide. This means recognizing that access to reliable internet is a fundamental right in the digital age. It is not enough to simply grant access; we must ensure that access is equitable and effective for all. Indigenous communities have long fought for their rights and recognition. By investing in the necessary infrastructure and education to bridge the digital divide, we take a meaningful step toward rectifying historical injustices and building a more liberated future. The promise of democracy is only fulfilled when every eligible voter can participate fully and fairly, and it is our responsibility to make that a reality for all. Hunger is making a comeback. The UN estimates that almost 300 million people are acutely food insecure, nearly double the number at the start of the decade. Updates about the looming threat of famine in Gaza and Sudan, horrific pictures of malnourished children, and ever-more desperate humanitarian funding appeals commonly intrude into our social media feeds. It is hard to think that only a decade ago, hunger was on the decline, and that the worlds governments even committed to eliminating it by 2030. Longtime aid workers like me have had a nagging sense that many of the places weve worked in are getting worse. Why have the tables turned? Our world has become a more dangerous place, for one. A decade ago there was nothing like the concurrent wars that have erupted in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine and that have triggered large-scale food emergencies. Right here in Haiti, in the fertile and troubled Artibonite Valley, I visited a farming community where piles of mangoes were rotting on the ground because armed men controlled access roads, while just a few kilometers away, young children were wasting away for lack of food in a hospital ward. And it is more than the impacts of conflict. The pandemic brought hunger back to places where it had been forgotten, including my own country, the USA. In 2020, after the wave of Covid-19 layoffs, we all saw on our screens the lines of cars snaking around parking lots to receive food handouts, a scene we thought we would never witness in such a rich country. The specter of widespread white-collar hunger pushed the USA to spend more than a trillion dollars in pandemic relief for individuals and households. The pandemic food crisis revealed that hunger is a common experience, not one that only afflicts countries we think of as poor. If hunger is back, it is also because the era of cheap food that prevailed on global markets is gone. The dramatic global food price spikes we now face on a recurring basis have harmed peoples ability to afford a square meal, famously igniting the Arab Spring. The worlds smart money from private equity to sovereign wealth funds - is now vying to purchase farmland in poorer countries as a hedge against food scarcity, even if it means dispossessing small farmers in the process. We live in a food risk society, where recurring food crises are a very real prospect. If hunger is man-made and most experts believe it is we can also end it. There is reason to be hopeful: the current resurgence notwithstanding, the systems we have built have substantially reduced hungers toll in the past century. The aid industry is now abuzz with talks of emerging technologies that promise to boost both food production and famine prevention efforts. Drones may enable delivery of assistance to difficult places, and artificial intelligence could make food production and distribution systems much more efficient. But these advances raise difficult questions, especially in risky humanitarian contexts. While we should embrace innovation, we need to ensure technology does no harm, and serves the needs of the worlds most vulnerable people. How can we move forward? Humanitarian responses must enable grassroots responses to hunger, even during active conflicts. Here in Haiti, much of the relief the World Food Programme provides is in cash, boosting the local economy. For its hot meals program targeting people who have had to flee their homes, WFP exclusively uses locally grown. This ensures those in need receive a vital meal, while supporting the nations beleaguered farmers. In southern Haiti, aid agencies are promoting the use of breadfruit flour a neglected tree crop for the local school lunch program. The program delivers nutrition and taste, while supporting the emergence of a local value chain. Government and civil society have been calling for such programs for years. Hungers unsettling resurgence cries out for global action. We must charge the norms of war and ensure that starving out civilians to achieve military objectives forever lies beyond the pale of whats acceptable in a conflict. Governments must allocate more predictable financial resources for frontline agencies. Because humanitarian aid remains a short-term fix, our societies need to broaden their safety nets to avoid the ad hoc responses we saw during the recent pandemic-induced food crisis. What is at stake is nothing less than our social fabric. History teaches us that unaddressed hunger is not only a predicament for those who suffer from it, but also corrosive for the societies that allow it to bloom. Jean Martin Bauer is a humanitarian with over two decades of frontline experience working to reverse the causes and impacts of hunger from Asia to the Western Sahel and Central Africa to the Caribbean. Mr Bauer is the author of The New Breadline: Hunger and Hope in the Twenty-First Century, published by Knopf and Profile Books which chronicles his personal views, experiences, challenges, and motivations as a life-long aid worker dedicated to the global fight against hunger. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. US 50 bridge over Blue Mesa will be open for July 4, in a limited capacity DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Department of Transportation anticipates being able to meet its goal of partially reopening the U.S. 50 Blue Mesa middle bridge ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The news was released Thursday, only a week before the nations birthday but months after the April 18 closure. The agency said the first phase of repairs for the cracked steel has been completed. AAA: Denver a top destination as almost 71M Americans travel for Fourth Emergency and smaller vehicles will be allowed to start crossing the bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3. That means passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, motorcycles and emergency vehicles are approved to cross the bridge. CDOT will require larger vehicles, including RVs and campers, motorhomes, trucks pulling trailers, semitrailers and buses to take the County Road 26 detour. We continue to work towards completing needed repairs ahead of winter, said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew in the reopening announcement. Over the course of the holiday weekend, the bridge will be open for 12 hours a day, which we hope encourages tourism in this area as these communities are still very much open for business. Starting on July 8, we will settle into a twice-a-day opening schedule to allow crews to continue to work on repairs throughout the day. Because of U.S. 50s limited reopening, CDOT crews are also looking at potential repair work on the Lake Fork Bridge, on the west side of Sapinero, leading to lane closures this weekend. Crews will be installing strain gauge sensors, among other pre-construction work. CDOT is planning single-lane closures on the Lake Fork Bridge beginning Friday, June 28, through Monday, July 1, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Detours, overweight and over-width load routes Because of the limited reopening of U.S. 50, County Road 26 will remain open and maintained as a detour for local public travel. CDOT noted that Kebler Pass is also open as a seasonal route; however, vehicles on that road must be less than 30,000 pounds, less than 50 feet long and carry no hazardous materials. See the latest traffic conditions in Denver on FOX31 Drivers who are not heading to Colorado destinations are asked to use alternate detours one is on Interstate 70 to the north and the second is on U.S. 160 to the south. On Wednesday, County Road 26 began allowing overweight and over-width traffic. These loads require special permitting for state and county roads and are allowed only on Wednesdays. Eastbound release times are 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and westbound release times are 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Each release window is 30 minutes. During the long holiday weekend, one bridge lane will be open. Pilot cars will lead single-direction traffic at slow speeds between 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Beginning July 8, pilot cars will lead single-direction traffic daily from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. During the Wednesday opening, CDOT plans to give refreshments and cookies to motorists who line up at the closure points as a show of appreciation. What repairs has CDOT been working to complete? Officials closed the bridge in southwest Colorado because of cracking in a particular type of steel, T1, used in the bridges construction. The bridge was built in 1963 and state inspectors found a defect at milepost 136.3, and during a second inspection crews identified anomalies in the bridge. US 50 bridge crossing the Blue Mesa Reservoir near Dillon Pinnacles (Colorado Department of Transportation) Inspectors continue conducting work on the US 50 middle bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir. (Courtesy the Colorado Department of Transportation) Identified crack on US 50 bridge near the Dillon Pinnacles, located west of Gunnison. This photo shows the crack after further investigation. (CDOT) Inspectors are removing paint and conducting ultrasonic testing on the underside of the bridge while tarps prevent debris from falling into the reservoir Identified crack on US 50 bridge near the Dillon Pinnacles, located west of Gunnison. This photo shows the crack found during initial investigation T1 steel is used in two Colorado bridges, both spanning portions of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Elbert County bans all types of fireworks ahead of Fourth of July CDOT crews have since completed the first step of critical repairs on the bridges bottom flange, the horizontal portion of an L-shaped beam. Crews completed the repairs while suspended on temporary scaffolding on the side of the bridge, CDOT reported. Crews began bolting four plates in four locations on Wednesday, June 12, during the first phase to address areas that posed an imminent risk to structural integrity. Each plate was described as 23 feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 2.5 inches thick, weighing approximately 9,000 pounds each. CDOT said the plates required over 200 bolts to secure each of them in place. As of Thursday, CDOT crews were reportedly modifying the bridges expansion joints to prepare for traffic on July 3. Over the weekend, crews will prepare for quick deck access to allow repairs on the top flange beginning July 8. The bottom flanges global repairs will start in August, CDOT 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 FOX31 Denver. The Pentagon has sent the Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp with Marines aboard to the eastern Mediterranean amid rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel along Lebanons border, U.S. European Command confirmed Friday. The Wasp and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit which includes about 2,200 personnel entered the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday on a scheduled deployment to the US Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, the command said in a Thursday statement. The ship is intended to serve as a deterrent in the region and keep the Israel- Hamas war from becoming a broader regional conflict, EUCOM added. Asked Friday about the ships movement, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh stressed that the deployment was scheduled and that the US was not preparing any noncombat evacuation of American citizens out of Lebanon. The purpose is not to conduct a type of military assisted departure, she told reporters. It is there to ensure regional stability and deter aggression. It has many other capabilities one being, if there was a need for any type of departure, it can be there to assist in that. The Wasp will be joined in the eastern Mediterranean by the USS Oak Hill, which is already in the waterway, and the USS New York, which is currently operating in the Atlantic Ocean. The three ships make up the Wasps Amphibious Ready Group, Singh said. Amphibious Ready Groups and Marines are trained for a wide variety of missions that include the evacuation of U.S. citizens from war zones. After trading fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border for nearly nine months, fears are growing of a full-blown conflict. The animosity stems from Hamass attack in Israel on Oct. 7, which set off a brutal Israeli air and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip to defeat Hamas. Both Israel and Hezbollah have recently ratcheted up the rhetoric, with an escalation in the clashes and the Israeli government earlier this month announcing it had approved a plan for a military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group, meanwhile, has published propaganda videos showing drone footage over Israeli military sites and communities. The U.S. has attempted to secure a diplomatic resolution to the skirmishes but has so far been unsuccessful. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with senior Biden administration officials on Wednesday in Washington, where he discussed the threats from Hezbollah. But he also said increasing tensions between the U.S. and Israel was emboldening Israels allies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Members of the United Nations Security Council vote on a Gaza resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire, in New York By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States, Britain, France confronted Russia at the United Nations Security Council on Friday over accusations it is violating an arms embargo on North Korea by using missiles and munitions from Pyongyang in its war against Ukraine. Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusations as "completely false." The council meeting came after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact last week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in which they agreed to provide military assistance if either faces armed aggression. The United States also called out China On Friday, saying it should use its influence with North Korea and Russia to protect regional and global security and end "this increasingly dangerous military cooperation" between the pair. "I appeal to my Chinese colleagues to understand that if indeed the situation on the Korean Peninsula continues on the trajectory it's going, the United States and its allies will have to take steps to defend their security," deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood told the council, without elaborating. China strongly rejected a U.S. accusation that it was emboldening North Korea by not condemning Russia's actions. "The current situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to be tense. How did this come about?" said China's deputy U.N. ambassador, Geng Shuang. "The U.S. should reflect deeply especially on its own actions instead of blaming others and shirking its own responsibility as it habitually does." 'NO REASON' FOR CONCERN 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 U.N. sanctions. Russia, China, the U.S., Britain and France are permanent veto-wielding council members. Nebenzia dismissed the council meeting - called by the U.S., France, Britain, South Korea and Japan - as a bid to "disseminate baseless accusations in order to detract attention from their own destructive actions." "Our cooperation with Pyongyang is exclusively constructive and legitimate in nature and this is exceptionally important. It does not threaten anybody, unlike the military activity of the United States and their allies," Nebenzia said. North Korean U.N. Ambassador Song Kim also sought to give reassurances, adding that unless anyone was planning to invade North Korea or Russia, "there is no reason whatsoever to be concerned about development of their bilateral relations." "The DPRK, Russia relations are completely peace-loving and defensive in nature as they do not target a third party, but promote progress and well being of the people of the two countries," he told the council. China reacted guardedly last week to the pact between Moscow and Pyongyang. It made no reference to it during the Security Council meeting on Friday. 'MORE DANGEROUS' WORLD U.N. sanctions monitors said in April, 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. Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian state prosecutors said in May they had examined debris from 21 of about 50 North Korean missiles launched by Russia between December last and February this. The U.S. has also accused Russia of firing "a total of four possible North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles toward Ukraine" in mid-June. "Russia's actions are making the world a more dangerous place for all countries," Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council. 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 unanimously strengthened over the years. "The Russian Federation has opted to prioritize the pursuit of its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine to the detriment of the international non-proliferation regime. It has imperiled regional security and our collective security," said French U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere. For the past several years the 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 as it would fail. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Alistair Bell) US is disconnecting troubled Gaza humanitarian pier for a third time in anticipation of heavy seas, officials say The US is once again dismantling the troubled humanitarian pier to Gaza because of anticipated heavy seas and bad weather, two US officials said, marking the third time it will halt operations since it began working six weeks ago. The pier was constructed to bring much needed aid to civilians suffering as the Israel-Hamas war continues, especially as land crossings frequently closed. It will be towed back to the Ashdod port in southern Israel on Friday until conditions are calmer. Its unclear how long the pier will be disconnected, the officials said. As always, the safety of our service members is a top priority, and temporarily relocating the pier will prevent potential structural damage that could be caused by the heightened sea state, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said Friday. The latest setback comes two days after GOP Rep. Mike Rogers, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to senior Biden administration officials in which he said the temporary pier has been riddled with setbacks, sidelined more often than operational, and can only be classified as a gross waste of taxpayer dollars. Earlier this month, GOP Sen. Roger Wicker, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee,was even more blunt. This needs to end immediately, he said in a statement. And on Thursday, the Pentagon and USAID Inspectors General announced they were launching coordinated reviews of the humanitarian mission and pier. This is the second time the pier has been disconnected intentionally as a precautionary measure to avoid damage in bad weather. One week after the pier began operations in May, it was damaged in heavy seas, forcing the military to tow it to Ashdod for repairs. Since the $230 million pier was first anchored in May, it has delivered 8,831 metric tons, more than 19.4 million pounds, of humanitarian aid, according to one other officials. That aid, however, has begun piling up on the beach as the World Food Programme has suspended distribution as it reviews the security situation on the ground in Gaza. CNN previously reported more than 6,000 pallets of aid are currently awaiting distribution on the beach. Singh said during a news conference on Friday that the marshalling yard where that aid is being held is pretty close to full in terms of how much aid is there. She also said USAID has been having ongoing conversations with the WFP over its pause in operations. We want to see distribution pick back up. We want to see aid delivered to the people that need it most. We certainly know and understand and are monitoring the dire humanitarian situation on the ground, she said. CNN previously reported that conversation about setting up a maritime corridor to bring aid into Gaza began near the end of October, following Hamas attack and the resulting offensive by Israeli forces in Gaza. The White House began exploring options including the feasibility of the temporary pier, which was deemed too risky at the time due to the weather conditions at that time of year and ongoing IDF operations. The idea was revisited in January and February as the need for humanitarian aid in Gaza became more dire. The pier was officially announced in March by President Joe Biden, who said in his State of the Union address that he was directing the military to build a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza. Within days, US Army watercraft had departed the US. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former U.S. President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump has called the Russian dictator's "peace" proposal for Ukraine unacceptable to Washington. At the same time, he assures that as soon as he becomes the country's leader once again, he will end this war, probably "through negotiations between the parties." ADVERTISIMENT He said this during a 90-minute debate with the current American leader Joe Biden, which was monitored by OBOZ.UA. The candidates came face-to-face on CNN, talked about the key points of their programs, and answered questions, among which the topic of the war in Ukraine was one of the first. "No, they (Putin's conditions after the end of hostilities Ed.) are unacceptable. But this war should not have started," Trump said. He did not answer specifically whether he would agree to Russia keeping the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories if it would end the war. Instead, the Republican assured that he "could have ended the war" before he took office. ADVERTISIMENT "Biden gave Ukraine $200 billion. Every time Zelenskyy comes, he comes back with $60 billion, he is the best entrepreneur. Thousands of people died, these victims were not needed. I will make Zelenskyy and Putin agree before I get into office in January 2025," Trump said categorically. In his opinion, if he were the leader of the United States at the time of the outbreak of a full-scale war, Putin would "fear and respect" him, and therefore allegedly would not even dare to invade. "As for Russia and Ukraine, if we had a real president, a president that Putin respected, he would never have invaded Ukraine," the US presidential candidate added. In addition, he repeated his previous statements that Europe spends much less on supporting Ukraine than the United States. However, he did not say whether he would oppose Ukraine's accession to NATO. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new 'fire and forget' missile for the first time in the Pacific, striking a moving vessel A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new 'fire and forget' missile for the first time in the Pacific, striking a moving vessel A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired a new missile towards a moving sea target in the Pacific. It marked a first for the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile. The JAGM faced earlier testing challenges, but it is considered key to boosting the lethality of US attack helicopters. A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new missile in the Pacific earlier this week, striking a moving target vessel and marking a first for the weapon. The test is a notable moment in the development of the precision missile, which faced struggles in its initial testing. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit announced the strike exercise on Friday, revealing that two days earlier, an AH-1Z Viper "fired a live AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), striking a towed moving training vessel during a training mission at sea." The training occurred in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Okinawa. A video shared by the unit showed the test, beginning with preparations and the crew loading ammunition onto the attack helicopter. Then, the AH-1Z flies off from Okinawa Air Base toward the Philippine Sea, where it fires the JAGM at a moving sea vessel. The JAGM then hits the target, destroying it on impact. During this week's exercise, a UH-1Y also participated, at one point unleashing a hail of bullets from a door gun at other moving targets, such as something that looked like a fast boat, before returning to base. U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey and AH-1Z attack helicopter pilots with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arm and fire an AGM-179 joint air-to-ground munition (JAGM), as well as refueling at a forward arming and refueling point, during an expeditionary (EXPO) strike training mission. US Marine Corps video by Cpl. Christopher Lape According to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, "this EXPO strike launched the first live JAGM from an AH-1Z in the Indo-Pacific region, and employed a variety of munitions against a high-speed towed target." The JAGM is a precision-guided munition able to be used against both stationary and moving land and sea targets. Determined to be an upgrade from other missiles, like Hellfire and Maverick, the weapon's initial development and testing was slightly troubled, including a year-long delay for full-rate production approval and several failed operational tests. It achieved initial operating capability with the Marines in 2022. The US #Marine Corps has declared Initial Operating Capability #IOC for the AGM-179A #JAGM Joint Air-to-Ground #missile to be used on AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. The weapon is an upgrade over Hellfire, TOW and Maverick missiles https://t.co/ORutyMy1ND pic.twitter.com/VOGeY5abLz Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) March 15, 2022 The Marines' initial tests in 2019 went south when two missiles fired didn't reach their targets. And the Army's first trials with the JAGM featured a host of problems, including munitions missing their targets and failing to detonate. Across the board, both the Marines and the Army have said that they were able to resolve these issues in subsequent testing. The JAGM features a dual-mode seeker and guidance system providing precision strike and "fire and forget" capabilities, meaning the launcher doesn't need to intervene or dictate the missile's flight towards its target once it's been fired. The JAGM can also strike multiple targets and features better precision strike capabilities in varied weather conditions. When the Marines achieved initial operating capability with the weapon, Col. Vasilios Pappas, the Marine Corps H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter program manager, said that "incorporating systems such as JAGM on the AH-1Z is essential in keeping the platform at the forefront of warfighting capabilities." Correction: June 28, 2024 An earlier version of this article misidentified the other participating helicopter. It was a UH-1Y. Read the original article on Business Insider A Patriot missile system, which Ukraine says its needs desperately to fend off Russian air strikes - Sean Murphy/AP Photo The United States is considering moving some of its Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine to help shore up its air defences against Russia, it has been claimed. Under the proposed deal being discussed, up to eight Patriot missile defence systems in Israel would be transferred to the US and then on to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. It follows an announcement by Israel In April that it would start retiring its eight Patriot batteries, which are more than 30 years old, to replace them with more advanced systems. A recent statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the system was a significant positive force when it was first deployed in 1991, but added that it would soon end its service in the Israeli air force. According to the Financial Times, which cited five sources familiar with the talks, the broad outline of the deal has been discussed by senior officials and ministers in Israel, the US, and Ukraine. Ukraine has stepped up lobbying of its Western allies for more air defence systems as it struggles to intercept Russian missiles, such as the powerful Kinzhal. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was in Brussels on Thursday to discuss further support for Ukraine and to sign a pact with the EU on defence cooperation, a step that would have been unthinkable before the Russian invasion in 2022. The United States is also working to get more air defence systems into Ukraine, having paused the delivery of Patriot batteries to other allies so that the war in Ukraine can be prioritised. It was not immediately clear how effective the ageing Patriot systems would be against Russian missiles if they were deployed to Ukraine. They continue to be deployed in Israel to defend against air attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon, amid concerns that a fresh Israel-Lebanon conflict could break out in the coming months. Allowing the supply of Israel-based air defence systems to Kyiv would be a major step for the Israeli government, which for years has resisted calls from the West to provide high-powered defence systems such as the Iron Dome to Ukraine. There had been fears such a move would cause problems in Russia, a country with which Israel has a delicate relationship. Russia has a large Jewish population and a growing problem with anti-Semitism. Moscow also wields huge influence in Syria, where the Israeli army frequently launches air strikes on Iranian-backed targets, such as Hezbollah forces and other militia groups. However, the decision by Iran Israels sworn enemy to provide huge quantities of missiles and drones to the Russian army has heaped pressure on Israel to lend Kyiv greater support. It would be fortuitous if these older Patriot missiles were put to good use in another theatre before they aged out...especially given the levels of US military aid to Israel, Tom Karako, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the Financial Times. Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, did not confirm the deal when approached for comment by the Financial Times but acknowledged that Kyiv was working to secure further deliveries of Patriot systems from its allies. Ukraine continues to work with various countries around the world on obtaining additional Patriot systems. We once again urge all countries that have such systems to provide them to Ukraine, he said. 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. The US is moving forces closer to Israel and Lebanon amid concerns of escalating cross-border fire, according to two US officials, including forces able to carry out an evacuation of American citizens. The USS Wasp and its Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which includes the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), moved into the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday, the Navy said. The deployment was part of a long-planned effort, one official said. But the concerns of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah led the US to move the ships further into the eastern Mediterranean, the second official said, as Israeli officials have said they are prepared for intense action in southern Lebanon. On Thursday, the State Department once again urged American citizens to strongly reconsider travel to Lebanon, warning that the security environment remains complex and can change quickly. The US has not ordered an evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon called a non-combatant evacuation but the White House has planned for the possibility. The Wasp ARG, which deployed at the beginning of June, includes the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, and dock landing ship USS Oak Hill. The Oak Hill was already in the region after transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on June 18, the Navy said Thursday. NBC first reported the movement of US forces. The 24th MEU, which operates from the USS Wasp, is capable of carrying out special operations, and one of its mission essential tasks is its ability to execute an evacuation. In 2006, during the last war between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department ordered a non-combatant evacuation for American citizens in Lebanon, ultimately evacuating approximately 15,000 Americans in about two weeks. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Tim Reid and Gram Slattery (Reuters) -A group of U.S. voters who were unable to choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump before Thursday's presidential debate delivered their verdicts after the contest and it was almost universally bad news for Biden. Of the 13 "undecideds" who spoke to Reuters, 10 described the 81-year-old Democratic president's performance against Republican candidate Trump collectively as feeble, befuddled, embarrassing and difficult to watch. Gina Gannon, 65, a retiree in the battleground state of Georgia, voted for Trump in 2016 before ditching him for Biden in 2020. "Joe Biden looked very weak and confused right from the start. It concerns me that our global enemies see Joe Biden in this manner. I was shocked and dismayed. I hate to see our president acting that way on TV and in front of the world," Gannon said. She added: "I am absolutely voting for Donald Trump now." Presidential debates typically have limited influence on voters, but Biden and Trump are in a tight race and the election will likely be decided by just thousands of votes in a handful of swing states. Both candidates need to win over the relatively small number of voters who have not yet decided who to vote for. Biden delivered a shaky, faltering performance while Trump battered him with a series of often false attacks. Biden's poor showing rattled his fellow Democrats and will likely deepen voter concerns that he is too old to serve another four-year term. Seven of the nine voters who were dismayed by Biden's performance told Reuters they were now leaning towards Trump, because they no longer believe Biden can perform his duties as president. Three of those said they would definitely vote for Trump in his Nov. 5 election rematch with Biden, even though two of them said they do not like the former Republican president. Meredith Marshall, 51, who lives in the Los Angeles area and is self-employed, said the debate left her in shock. She voted for Biden in 2020, but is now leaning toward Trump, given by what she described as Biden's lack of mental acuity. "God forbid if my choices are as they stand right now based on this debate. Hands down I would vote for a liar and a convict over a person who doesn't seem to be all there mentally." About 20% of voters say they have not picked a candidate in this year's presidential race, are leaning toward third-party options or might not vote at all, according to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Reuters interviewed 15 such voters ahead of Thursday's debate, and they agreed to be interviewed again after the event about whether the debate changed their views. It was not all bad news for Biden. Ashley Altum, a 28-year-old mental healthcare manager from South Carolina, had been torn between Biden or a third-party candidate before the debate. Now she is leaning more towards Biden. She said she was satisfied with Biden's responses, given he was more willing than Trump to address questions directly. "I did see Biden slipping up quite a bit, but I'm always surprised more people don't in these situations," she said. "I think that anybody could go up there and speak eloquently is impressive to start with." Biden pointed out in the debate that Trump, at 78, is only three years younger. "But Trump was just Trump. From a cognitive decline perspective I didn't see that in Trump," said Tom Reich, 36, a software engineer from South Carolina. The issues of age and mental capacity exploded onto the campaign trail in February following a report by a Department of Justice special counsel that suggested Biden was suffering memory lapses. "What a disaster for the Democrats," Scott Harrington, 63, a fishmonger in Massachusetts, said after watching the debate. "I was basically undecided but was hoping Biden would have been good enough so I could vote for him. I dislike Trump intensely. I was worried Biden would show he's not up to the job, but he was even worse than I feared. I might just abstain." (Reporting by Tim Reid and Gram Slattery in Washington; Additional Reporting by Helen Coster and Alexandria Ulmer; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis) A meeting of the U.N. Security Council on June 28 will see the U.S. confront Russia over violating a North Korea arms embargo, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to UN Robert Wood told Reuters. Pyongyang has since 2006 been under a U.N. ban from importing and exporting weapons. For nearly two decades, Russia, as part of the U.N. Security Council, supported the sanctions, aimed at restraining its nuclear ambitions. But facing reduced military stocks and production capacity simultaneously hampered by its own Western sanctions since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has increasingly turned to North Korea. New internal Russian trade data obtained by the Washington Post showed Russia may have received 1.6 million artillery shells from North Korea over the course of six months, and the U.S. has previously accused Moscow of firing North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine. The relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang was cemented last week when Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un to sign a mutual defense agreement between the two countries. Speaking to Reuters, Wood said Washington will confront Russia over the issue at the U.N. Security Council meeting on June 28. "This should be of great concern to the entire global community," Wood said, accusing Russia of "in essence siding with a rogue state to violate countless U.N. Security Council resolutions." "This is unprecedented, and we need to call it out for what it is," he said. Wood said the issue would also be raised with China to see what Beijing "has to say about this growing military cooperation between DPRK and Russia." "They cannot view this as a positive development," he added. On June 19, the two signed a mutual defense agreement during the first in decades visit of Putin to North Korea. The pact declared in part: "In case any one of the two sides is put in a state of war by an armed invasion from an individual state or several states, the other side shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay." The agreement also covers trade, investment, political and security cooperation. In response to the announcement, South Korea said it would reconsider supplying weapons to Ukraine. Read also: Rather desperate 5 key takeaways from Putins North Korea visit Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court raised the legal bar on Friday for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges in the federal election subversion case against Donald Trump and defendants involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The justices ruled 6-3 to throw out a lower court's decision that had allowed a charge of corruptly obstructing an official proceeding - congressional certification of President Joe Biden's 2020 victory over Trump that the rioters tried to block - against defendant Joseph Fischer, a former police officer. The court, in the decision authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, took a narrow view of the obstruction statute, saying that prosecutors must show that a defendant "impaired the availability or integrity" of documents or other records related to an official proceeding - or attempted to do so. Roberts was joined by fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, as well as liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Roberts rejected the Justice Department's more expansive reading of what constitutes obstruction, calling it "a novel interpretation (that) would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison." Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote a dissent, joined by liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Fischer had challenged the obstruction charge, which federal prosecutors brought against him and hundreds of others - including Trump - in Jan. 6-related cases. The lower court was directed to reconsider the matter in light of Friday's ruling. The ruling was a potential boost for Trump, the Republican candidate challenging Biden, a Democrat, in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. Trump was hit with two obstruction-related charges as part of a four-count criminal indictment in a case brought last year by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The crime falls under the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a federal law passed after the accounting fraud scandal at now-defunct energy company Enron. Federal prosecutors have accused Trump of pressuring government officials to overturn the 2020 election results and encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol on Jan. 6 to push Congress not to certify Biden's victory, based on false claims of widespread voting fraud. On the day Congress met to certify the results, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, broke through barricades, attacked police officers, vandalized the building and forced lawmakers and others to flee for safety. Trump and his allies also devised a plan to use false electors from key states to thwart certification. George Washington University Law School professor Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor, said Smith might not be deterred from pursuing the obstruction charges against Trump despite the new higher bar. "The court recognizes that submitting false evidence could still violate the statute, so it seems like with the fake electors scheme the charges should still survive," Eliason said. The Supreme Court is expected on Monday to issue its ruling on Trump's bid for immunity from prosecution in the federal election subversion case. Trump has pleaded not guilty. 'TRUMP THINKS OTHERWISE' Biden's campaign said Friday's ruling "does not change the fundamental truth that Donald Trump will always put himself over our democracy." "Violent insurrectionists and those who encourage them must be held accountable, but Donald Trump thinks otherwise," a campaign statement added. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed disappointment in the ruling. "January 6 was an unprecedented attack on the cornerstone of our system of government - the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next," Garland said, adding that Friday's decision "limits an important federal statute that the department has sought to use to ensure that those most responsible for that attack face appropriate consequences." The charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though Jan. 6 defendants convicted of obstruction have received far lesser sentences. 'JAN. 6 HOSTAGES' Addressing a campaign rally in Virginia, Trump cited Friday's ruling and called for people prosecuted on charges related to the Capitol attack to be released. "Free the Jan. 6 hostages now," Trump said, as the crowd cheered. Fischer was accused by prosecutors of charging at police guarding a Capitol entrance. Fischer, at the time a member of the North Cornwall Township police in Pennsylvania, got inside the building and pressed up against an officer's riot shield as police officers attempted to clear rioters, according to prosecutors. He remained in the Capitol for four minutes before police pushed him out, they said. Fischer has been awaiting trial on six other criminal counts, including assaulting or impeding officers and civil disorder, while his obstruction challenge played out. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, granted Fischer's request to dismiss the obstruction charge, ruling it applies only to defendants who tampered with evidence. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed that decision, prompting Fischer's Supreme Court appeal. Federal prosecutors estimate that about 250 of the roughly 1,400 people charged in the Capitol attack could be impacted by the ruling. According to Justice Department data, about 50 Jan. 6 defendants were convicted and sentenced on the obstruction charge with no other felony. Of those, about half are currently serving a sentence of incarceration, less than 2% of all charged cases. The legal issue in the case involved how two parts of the obstruction law fit together. The first provision prohibits obstructing an official proceeding by destroying "a record, document or other object." The second part makes it a crime to "otherwise obstruct" an official proceeding. Barrett said Congress had written the obstruction statute to be "expansive." "Joseph Fischer allegedly participated in a riot at the Capitol that forced the delay of Congress's joint session on January 6th," Barrett wrote in dissent. "Blocking an official proceeding from moving forward surely qualifies as obstructing or impeding the proceeding by means other than document destruction. Fischer's alleged conduct thus falls within (the law's) scope." Trump in a separate case in New York state court was convicted by a jury on May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying documents to cover up hush money paid to a porn star to avoid a sex scandal before the 2016 election. Trump also has pleaded not guilty to election-related charges in state court in Georgia and federal charges involving classified documents in Florida. (Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Tim Reid in Chesapeake, Virginia; Editing by Will Dunham) By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - A U.S. Supreme Court ruling eliminating the deference that courts owe to federal agencies in interpreting the laws they administer could sharply limit the National Labor Relations Board's ability to enforce federal labor law, experts said. Most federal agencies craft policies through traditional rulemaking, and Friday's decision is expected to have a widespread impact on every corner of the federal government. The case is part of a broader effort by conservative groups to rein in the powers of administrative agencies. The NLRB rarely adopts broad rules, and instead interprets laws protecting workers' rights to organize and join unions through decisions issued in individual cases. The agency has for decades relied on courts to uphold its decisions by largely deferring to the board's unique expertise in the complexities of labor law. But the Supreme Court in Friday's 6-3 ruling nixed a doctrine it adopted 40 years ago known as "Chevron deference", in a case involving oil company Chevron, which had required courts to defer to agencies' interpretations of ambiguous laws as long as they are reasonable. "Agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. Much of the focus about Chevron's demise has been centered on how it will hamper the ability of federal agencies to adopt new rules such as environmental and securities regulations. But legal experts said the ruling is also likely to result in federal courts increasingly overturning decisions by the labor board and will invite challenges by businesses to labor policies that were upheld by courts decades ago. "Removing the thumb from the scale would leave reviewing courts with more traditional tools of statutory interpretation, which is precisely why labor law might experience massive change," David Broderdorf of the law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius, who represents employers, said before the decision was released. Some unions and worker advocates are concerned that giving courts more discretion in reviewing NLRB decisions will prevent the board from tweaking its interpretation of labor law to keep up with changes in the workplace, such as new technology or an increase in the use of temporary contract labor. "Future NLRB decisions would likely be subject to heightened scrutiny ... making it more difficult for (the board) to effectively protect American workers rights," Jeevna Sheth, a policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, said before the decision was issued. Several recent board rulings widely seen as favoring unions may now be more vulnerable to legal challenges. Those include decisions that allow unionizing outside of the longstanding formal election process and extend legal protections to workers who advocate for non-employees, such as interns or ex-coworkers who quit or were fired. POLICY SWINGS But other experts, including many management-side lawyers, say the change could temper the board's oft-criticized tendency to revisit many of its key policies each time control of the agency changes hands. Just in the last decade, the board has shifted its positions numerous times on various issues, such as when businesses must bargain with contract and franchise workers or when labor law protects vulgar or profane statements by workers in the course of a labor dispute. The rulemaking and adjudications in which the NLRB engages are not based on any sort of technical expertise, but rather are based on the agency's political makeup," leading to extreme swings in policy, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation said in an amicus brief it filed in the Supreme Court case. The group represents workers in disputes with unions. The five-member board is typically made up of three members from the president's party and two from the opposing party. Members' terms are staggered, so control of the board may not change hands for a year or more into a presidential administration. NLRB cases are heard by administrative judges and then the board, whose decisions can be reviewed by federal appeals courts. Businesses often appeal NLRB rulings and the agency also frequently turns to appeals courts to enforce its decisions, such as orders requiring companies to bargain with unions or reinstate workers who were illegally fired. The board's website says it wins about 80% of the roughly 65 appeals the agency is involved in each year. The high victory rate is rooted in a 1944 U.S. Supreme Court decision involving Hearst Publications that is seen as a predecessor to Chevron, lawyers said. The court held that board decisions should not be overruled if they have a "reasonable legal basis." But Roberts in Friday's decision said the Hearst decision involved "fact-bound determinations" by the board and not the interpretation of legal questions. That may embolden federal judges to overturn board decisions they disagree with, something that courts have long avoided because of Hearst and Chevron. In February, for example, a Washington, D.C.-based appeals court upheld a longstanding board policy requiring employers that acquire other companies to bargain with their workers' unions. But one judge in a concurring opinion suggested that he disagreed with the board and that the policy could be wiped out if the Supreme Court eliminated Chevron deference. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Alistair Bell) Someone with a very powerful estate and whose identity remains a secret has settled a tax debt worth millions of euros with authorities in Alava, in Spains Basque Country. And this individual partly did so by donating more than 200 engravings by Francisco de Goya as well as 87 other works of art among them, Aurelio Artetas outstanding anti-war manifesto Triptych of War, which has been compared with Picassos Guernica and was completed just a year later, in 1937. All this art, which was valued at 4.3 million, came from the collection of a private institution, the Juan Celaya Letamendia Foundation. The provincial authority of Alava has confirmed that the rest of the owed amount it did not provide a specific figure was paid for with a money transfer. It also noted that just receiving Artetas masterpiece in itself justifies the operation, according to the head of the culture department of Alava province, Ana del Val. Payment in kind to cancel a tax debt is accepted by public treasuries in Spain. In the case of the Basque province of Alava, the system has been used on 20 occasions since 2001, and on seven of these it was done through artworks, the head of the Alava treasury, Itziar Gonzalo, explained in June at a public parliamentary appearance. But never before had it involved such a high amount of money. The uniqueness of the case begs the question: what is the total fortune of a person who has accumulated a wealth tax debt of more than 4 million ($4.28 million)? And there are other question marks, such as how can an individual settle a personal tax debt by handing in works of art that supposedly belong to a private foundation? The artworks belonged to an institution named after Juan Celaya, a Basque entrepreneur who died in 2016 and who was known for his ties to the battery manufacturer Cegasa and Solac appliances; he was also a patron of Basque culture and sports. In 2018, this foundation signed an agreement with Alava provincial authorities that included the transfer of artworks to the Museum of Fine Arts of Alava for a period of four years, extendable to more. The collection, valued by insurers at 2.3 million ($2.46 million), was made up of paintings by renowned local authors, and also included several engravings by Francisco de Goya. All of this artistic material and several other works of great cultural value are now in the hands of the provincial authorities after being delivered as payment by a delinquent taxpayer. Nobody knows this persons identity. The provincial treasury refuses to reveal the name, citing privacy laws. The sources consulted by this newspaper were adamant that the foundation itself did not have any outstanding tax debt. The foundations cultural advisor, Gorka Basterretxea, told the media that he did not know how a collection belonging to a foundation has been transferred to an individual, who has then immediately delivered it to the provincial treasury to settle his or her tax debt. It is a set of artistic assets of great value due to their quality, and which we would not have been able to acquire otherwise, says Del Val on behalf of the Alava institution. It is now no longer in private hands, but will be put up for the enjoyment of all. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition People rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court as they wait for rulings in Washington, U.S. People rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court as they wait for rulings in Washington, U.S. By Jonathan Allen and Liya Cui (Reuters) -Civil rights groups warned that Friday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of punishing people for sleeping outdoors would exacerbate homelessness, while some politicians welcomed the power to clear the tent encampments that are being seen increasingly across the country. The court's six-strong conservative majority found that ordinances that punish people for sleeping rough even when there are no shelter beds available do not violate the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on "cruel and unusual" punishments. Organizations that advocate for homeless people said the ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which also cited and criticized a related case known as Martin v. Boise, criminalized homelessness and poverty in the many American cities that have a dearth of affordable housing. Some 600,000 people are homeless on any given night in the U.S., according to government estimates. As the court noted, the states with the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness California, Oregon, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada lie in the West, where both the Grants Pass and Boise cases originated. "Today's ruling is shameful and it will undoubtedly make homelessness worse," Jesse Rabinowitz, the campaign director of the Washington-based non-profit the National Homelessness Law Center, said in an interview. "We know that throwing homeless folks in jail or giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in tickets keeps them forever trapped in a cycle of poverty and homelessness." He said that just because the Supreme Court said cities and lawmakers could punish homeless people for sleeping outdoors it does not mean that they should. In the court's majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote: "Nothing in today's decision prevents states, cities and counties from going a step further and declining to criminalize public camping altogether." Gorsuch said jurisdictions have a range of policies with which to address homelessness, including building more affordable housing and shelters as well as enacting camping bans. Ashley Hanson, 29, grew up in Grants Pass and lives in one of the city's parks. She was upset with the Supreme Court's ruling, and is considering moving to the hills on the city's outskirts to avoid getting tickets from police. "It means that we're not going to be able to be in the parks much longer," she said. "And they're going to start fining us and ticketing us more." Some politicians who contend with large encampments in western cities said the ruling brought legal clarity to the policies they could use to clear encampments they viewed as unsafe. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, was among the leaders who had supported officials in Grants Pass, a small city in Oregon, as they sought to defend their policy of fining people $295 for sleeping in public with a blanket or pillow, and jailing repeat offenders for up to 30 days. "This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities," Newsom said in a statement. In contrast, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, said the ruling was disappointing, and echoed calls by advocacy groups for more affordable housing. "This ruling must not be used as an excuse for cities across the country to attempt to arrest their way out of this problem or hide the homelessness crisis in neighboring cities or in jail," Bass, the mayor of California's largest city, said in a statement. In his statement welcoming the court's opinion, Newsom also noted his state's spending aimed at getting people out of "dangerous encampments" and into housing. Irma Esparza Diggs, the federal director at the National League of Cities, an advocacy group for municipal officials, said the ruling will allow city officials to make decisions in the best interest of both non-homeless and homeless residents. "This means they don't have to abandon public parks and can work to make sure that people who are unhoused, that where they are living temporarily is safe," Diggs said. She said city officials with whom the league has spoken are not interested in criminalizing homelessness, but rather in helping homeless people find shelters, social services and long-term housing. The National Homelessness Law Center said it was urging the U.S. government to invest $365 billion on increasing access to affordable housing, including rental assistance for the poorest households. Ed Johnson, the litigation director of Oregon Law Center who represented the people suing the city of Grants Pass, said the only solution to the homelessness crisis was affordable housing. "The legal fight on this issue will continue today and every day until cities stop punishing their homeless residents for trying to survive," he said. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Liya Cui in New York; Additional reporting by Deborah Bloom in Portland, Oregon; Editing by Donna Bryson and Daniel Wallis) The U.S. Supreme Court said in a 6-3 decision on Friday, June 28, 2024, that the enforcement of local laws that regulate camping on public property, including by people without homes, does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Jub Rubjob/Getty Images WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not violate the Eighth Amendments prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it, he wrote. The Constitutions Eighth Amendment serves many important functions, but it does not authorize federal judges to wrest those rights and responsibilities from the American people and in their place dictate this Nations homelessness policy. The case originated in Grants Pass, a city in Oregon that argued its ordinance is a solution to the citys homelessness crisis, which includes fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders who camp or sleep outdoors. Attorney Theane Evangelis, who represented the city, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the ruling would provide relief to local communities trying to address the issues of encampments of homeless people. The Court has now restored the ability of cities on the frontlines of this crisis to develop lasting solutions that meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of their communities, while also keeping our public spaces safe and clean, she said. Years from now, I hope that we will look back on todays watershed ruling as the turning point in Americas homelessness crisis. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a dissent arguing that the ordinance against camping and a separate ordinance against using blankets on public property targets the status of being homeless and is therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Grants Passs Ordinances criminalize being homeless, she wrote. The Ordinances purpose, text, and enforcement confirm that they target status, not conduct. For someone with no available shelter, the only way to comply with the Ordinances is to leave Grants Pass altogether. During oral arguments, the justices seemed split along ideological lines. The conservative justices sided with the town in Oregon, arguing that policies and ordinances around homelessness are complex, and should be left up to local elected representatives rather than the courts. The liberal justices argued the Grants Pass ordinances criminalized the status of being homeless and criticized the citys argument that homelessness is not a status protected under the Eighth Amendment. The Biden administration took the middle ground in the case, and U.S. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler offered partial support for the city. Its the municipalitys determination, certainly in the first instance with a great deal of flexibility, how to address the question of homelessness, he said during oral arguments in late April. Homelessness crisis The ruling reverses the 9th Circuits decision that previously blocked the local law because it found the ordinance criminalized the status of being homeless and was therefore a violation of the Eighth Amendments bar on cruel and unusual punishment. The Grants Pass ordinances prohibited people from camping and sleeping in parks and on public property and barred those people from using blankets, pillows or other materials to sleep outdoors. A violation carried a $295 fine that, if not paid, could be increased to $530. Repeat offenders could also risk jail. But the city and a coalition of leaders from red and blue Western states, including Montana and California, petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. Cities across the West report that the Ninth Circuits involuntariness test has created intolerable uncertainty for them, Gorsuch wrote. Cities across the U.S., particularly in the West, are grappling with an increasing homelessness crisis. Its estimated that 650,000 people were homeless on a single night in January 2023, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD data indicates that the rise in overall homelessness is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, according to the agency. States with the highest rates of homelessness include California, Oregon, Washington and Montana, according to five-year estimates in the American Community Survey. Gorsuch argued that the case the 9th Circuit relied on in Martin v. City of Boise had a poor foundation for using the Eighth Amendment as its basis. In that case, homeless plaintiffs sued the city of Boise, Idaho, after it fined them under a camping ordinance. The Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause focuses on the question what method or kind of punishment a government may impose after a criminal conviction, not on the question whether a government may criminalize particular behavior in the first place, he wrote. The Court cannot say that the punishments Grants Pass imposes here qualify as cruel and unusual. Sotomayor argued that the ruling focuses only on the needs of local officials and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested. The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused, she wrote. This Court must safeguard those rights even when, and perhaps especially when, doing so is uncomfortable or unpopular. A crime to be homeless Advocacy groups expressed their frustration and disappointment in Fridays decision, and raised concerns that it could lead to homeless people being criminalized for sleeping outdoors when they have nowhere else to go. The president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Diane Yentel, strongly condemned the Courts decision and argued it would only worsen the crisis. It gives cover to elected officials who choose political expediency over real solutions by merely moving unhoused people out of public view rather than working to solve their homelessness, Yentel said in a statement. These ineffective and inhumane tactics exacerbate homelessness by saddling unhoused people with debt they cant pay, while further isolating them from the services and support they need to become stably housed. The Southern Poverty Law Centers deputy legal director for economic justice, Kirsten Anderson, said in a statement that the ruling will set a precedent for criminalizing homeless people. The Supreme Court held that it is a crime to be homeless at a moment in which housing is unaffordable for half the people in the country proving that it continues to be out of touch with the American public, Anderson said. Rosanne Haggerty, the president of Community Solutions, a nonprofit that works to end homelessness, expressed disappointment in the decision. Arresting or fining people for experiencing homelessness is cruel and it wont solve the problem, Haggerty said in a statement. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The News The US Supreme Court on Friday struck down a 40-year-old precedent known as the Chevron doctrine that empowered agencies to interpret ambiguous laws. The decision could lead to future challenges to a slew of agency rules on different issues, from emissions to wildlife conservation. The 6-3 ruling means that judges will be responsible for giving the final interpretation of legislation, though Chevron-based precedent will remain valid. The 1984 Chevron deference, named for the courts 1984 decision in , gave federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency discretion to interpret statutes when Congressional legislation was ambiguous. Supporters of the doctrine said it gave the government the ability to consult non-political and often scientific experts on subject matter to properly implement legislation. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Ruling shows courts rightward tilt and growing hostility toward agencies Sources: Semafor, The New York Times, NBC News, Politico Undoing Chevron notched another win for the conservative legal movement, which largely believes that liberal-run federal agencies have used their power too broadly and need to be reined in. Conservatives lauded the decision as a major step to preserve the separation of powers and shut down unlawful agency overreach. Several other rulings this term have taken aim at federal agencies power, though none so severely as this. The courts ruling could be one of the most destabilizing decisions that this court has issued, one leftwing think tank analyst said. Thats because so many other cases depend on Chevron: Its one of the most-cited decisions in all of American law. Ruling could undermine US attempts to be global leader in AI regulation Sources: Wiley Law, Institute for the Study of Democracy The Chevron deference has been criticized in the past not for allowing federal agency overreach, but for enabling a deregulatory agenda over emerging technologies. Now, its overruling risks leaving such technologies particularly artificial intelligence in legal limbo, a group of legal experts argued for Wiley Law. Worse, regulatory frameworks could vary widely across different states, which is particularly incompatible with the cross-border nature of technologies like AI. Tech companies could wind up favoring some regions of the US over others, and the lack of a united regulatory stance in the US could undermine the countrys efforts to engage on AI with countries like China, a columnist wrote for the Institute for the Study of Democracy. The ruling could leave industry groups freer to pollute without constraint Sources: The Washington Post, E&E News Despite being handed a defeat by the original 1984 ruling that established the Chevron Doctrine, many environmental groups urged justices not to overturn it, The Washington Post reported. A weaker executive branch could leave industry groups freer to pollute without constraint, although President Bidens Inflation Reduction Act, which gave the Environmental Protection Agency more authority to curb harmful emissions, could act as a safeguard, a director at the National Resources Defense Council who argued the original Chevron case told the outlet. But the ruling could also make yet-to-be-enacted environmental regulations less ambitious by forcing agencies to preemptively consider how courts might interpret ambiguous statutes, a columnist noted in E&E News. USPS seeing more dog attacks: What you can do to help GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The United States Postal Service in Grand Rapids is warning about attacks involving dogs as the number of animals biting mail carriers is on the rise. Weve had 5,822 dog bites in the last year with the Postal Service, 17 of them in Grand Rapids, which is up 10% from last year, Grand Rapids Postmaster William Rowe said. Parents of fatal dog attack victim push for dangerous dog law There was an attack just this week. Just Wednesday we had a dog attack with a Rottweiler that was out in Kentwood and the dog actually came over the top of the fence. The owner had no idea that the dog could even jump that high, Rowe said. The mail carrier involved is OK. On Friday, at the USPS Northwest Grand Rapids Station, local carriers gathered for dog awareness training. Dog bite prevention expert Hector Hernandez and Kent County Animal Control both were in attendance. Carriers learned techniques to defend against an attack. My mantra is hands are for love and the reason why that is is because a lot of dogs bite people in the hands and face because we still have a tendency to use hands as a weapon and we cant do that, Hernandez said. Rowe said following a similar training session a few years back, he saw a noticeable drop in dog bites locally. Sign up for the News 8 weekly recap newsletter But he and Hernandez emphasized prevention, and that comes from owners ensuring their dogs are inside when mail is delivered. The dog most of the time is just doing its job. Its the owner not being responsible for the dog, Hernandez said. Typically, we deliver the houses from 9 a.m. until 6 oclock at night, but we can even be out later during our busy seasons, Rowe said. If you want your mail on time, the community is asked to help keep carriers safe. We tell them if theres a dog in the yard or the dogs attacking, then we will not be delivering mail until thats resolved, Rowe 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 WOODTV.com. Power lines lead into the coal-fired Intermountain Power Plant on March 28, 2016 outside Delta, Utah. The IPP generates more then 13 million megawatt hours of coal-fired energy each year to Utah and Southern California. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) After the Supreme Court temporarily halted an Environmental Protection Agency rule that would regulate air pollutants across state lines, Utah environmentalists warn of the effects such a block could have on both the environment and on Utahns health. Under the 2015 EPA policy, also known as the Good Neighbor plan, states had to design their air quality plans considering how air currents could transfer air pollution from factories and power plants across state borders. The Supreme Court sided with Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia in challenging the rule. Utah had won its own legal challenge to the rule in a separate case in 2023, in which a court paused the rule in the state. Thursdays 5-4 decision said that the EPA had failed to adequately explain why it needed to regulate the pollution so tightly. The justices said industry groups and the 12 states that sued to block the rule entirely were likely to prevail in court, so the Supreme Court agreed to pause the rule while the challenges work their way through lower courts. Utah environmental advocates had been worried about the looming decision from the Supreme Court for months, saying less strict air quality standards would cause health problems nationwide. Essentially, the Supreme Court has made another ruling that ties the hands of federal agencies in protecting the public, Dr. Brian Moench, president of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, said on Thursday. The issue of unhealthy ozone levels downwind from pollution sources has been more pronounced in eastern states. However, Moench said, it also affects western states, like Utah, where pollution from major coal-fired plants has drifted towards states like Colorado, affecting its air quality. That poor air quality has significant effects on children, pregnant women and fetal development, among other problems, Moench said. The courts action to delay any sort of reasonable increase in the pollution controls of these power plants is going to cost people lives, he said. Its undoubtedly going to cost thousands of lives. Its going to affect the health of hundreds of thousands of children, or maybe even more. Utah also has big issues with air quality. Salt Lake City doesnt meet federal standards for particulate matter pollution, and its residents suffer from several health problems, including respiratory concerns. We now know that air pollution affects the functioning of every single organ system. It can even penetrate every single organ system, including individual cells within all critical organs, the brain, the heart, the lungs, kidneys, liver, etc, Moench said. Moench also described the court action as a huge setback for climate protection, since lowering the pollution control standards would be financially beneficial to coal-fired plants, a financial gift that many of them will exploit to stay in business longer. And we know that the carbon emissions from coal fired power plants are major contributors to the climate crisis, he said. Gov. Spencer Cox, who has been vocal in his opposition to the EPA policy, also known as the Ozone Interstate Transport Rule, lauded the Supreme Courts decision. The EPAs proposed Ozone Transport Rule is yet another example of federal overreach. This is one that would have dire consequences for energy security and reliability in Utah, Cox said in a statement. Let us know what you think... In a letter, also signed by the governors of Wyoming and Idaho, Cox told EPA Administrator Michael Regan that the Good Neighbor rule threatened power plants necessary to ensure reliable power generation. We are determined to avoid the painful and economically destructive power outages that other states have experienced as a result of poor energy decisions over many years, but this rule makes that effort far more difficult, the governors wrote. The governors added that the rule violated the principles of cooperative federalism, and cited modeling and data issues and a timeline too short for an energy transition. The federal plan will result in power plant shutdowns, adverse impacts to non-(electric generating units), the nationwide loss of jobs, and exacerbation of the grid reliability crisis, they wrote. Though the rule had been temporarily blocked in Utah already, other states had to comply with the standard until Thursday. I am thrilled to see the U.S. Supreme Court today halt the implementation of the rule for other states impacted, Cox said in his statement. While Cox described the rule as federal overreach, Moench characterized the Supreme Court action as legal overreach. Its hard to state how frustrated and disappointed we are that they continue to make these kinds of rulings in basically undermining decades of public health research, regulatory experience and decades of climate science, Moench said. Its inexplicable. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Utah environmentalists worry about consequences of Supreme Courts good neighbor suspension appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. The U.S. Capitol dome is seen from the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo by Timothy Epple via Getty Images) They had seen it coming. And when the U.S. Supreme Court dropped an anticipated ruling Friday overturning 40 years of precedent allowing federal agencies to establish regulation, Utah Republicans heralded what they called an end to decades of federal overreach. The high court on Friday overturned the principle known as Chevron deference, ruling in favor of fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island in two cases challenging a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule. Since 1984, the Chevron deference principle has given federal agencies broad discretion to fill in gaps left by Congress in federal statute and limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations. Its an issue Utahs congressional House delegation spoke about in a roundtable discussion in Salt Lake City early month, saying the potential fall of Chevron deference would be an opportunity for Congress to reclaim power it lost 40 years ago. But they also acknowledged a post-Chevron nation would require more careful lawmaking once lawmakers can no longer rely on agencies to fill in the blanks on vague legislation. Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis, who is on track to become the states next U.S. senator, issued a statement Friday praising the ruling. For too long, Washington bureaucrats have bypassed Congress to enact federal rules, a practice not intended by our founders, Curtis said. Congress must now step up to legislate effectively. This is particularly significant for Utah, where nearly 70% of our land is federally owned and represents a major victory for those of us who feel many federal agencies are enacting rules beyond the intent of Congress. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared a video on X Friday that was shown at the roundtable and called the ruling great news for all of us skeptical of federal authority and focused on individual liberty. In the video, Cox said the precedent has empowered federal agencies to grow their missions and expand their power in ways that are consistently bad for state authority, bad for economic growth, and bad for individual liberty and human flourishing. Instead, Cox insisted the best policy experimentation comes from the states. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, praised the ruling in a statement as restoring the balance of power. We in Utah, anticipating a favorable ruling, had the foresight to pass legislation authorizing state agencies to identify and report state government functions adversely affected by Chevrons deference to the Attorney Generals Office. This information will be vital as we rectify unconstitutional federal regulations that have significantly harmed our state and citizens, Adams said. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said in a post on X that federal overreach has devastated Utahs lands, economy, and people. With Chevron deference out of the way, the Utah Legislature and state agencies can now begin to challenge and dismantle these unchecked policies imposed by unelected federal agencies, Schultz said. The post Utah Republicans celebrate toppling of federal agencies rulemaking power appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. Families could get some justice now that criminal charges have been brought against a pair of Uvalde shooting responders who took over an hour to jump into action. The police chief of a Uvalde, Texas, school district and an officer who worked at Robb Elementary School have been charged by a Texas grand jury with abandonment and child endangerment after their botched response to a mass shooting at an elementary school left over 20 dead. Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo and Robb Elementary school resource officer Adrian Gonzales were charged on Thursday, Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell told Uvalde Leader-News, who expected Arredondo to surrender later that day. The shooting, which devastated the Texas community, killed 19 children and 2 teachers as law enforcement took more than 77 minutes to enter the building where a gunman unloaded an AR-15. The indictments come despite a controversial city finding that cleared officers of wrongdoing in March, which found that officers acted in good faith, contrary to federal and state analyses. After civil charges against the city came to an end in May, with families settling for a $2 million payout and agreeing to turn their efforts to more responsible parties, officials went after the responsible officers, while a legal rep for the victims' families said they would pursue the Texas Department of Public Safety for its role. A January Department of Justice report that attributed several deaths to a lack of urgency from law enforcement detailed the cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy, and training within the department, as well as individual failures in judgment. Robb Elementary School memorial in May 2024 - Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images The former Uvalde schools police chief and another former district officer have been indicted by a grand jury for their role responding to a gunman who opened fire inside Robb Elementary School, killing 19 students and two teachers in May 2022. Pete Arredondo, the former chief who served as police commander, is in custody and accused of abandoning and endangering a child individual, the San Antonio Express-News reported on Thursday. Adrian Gonzales, a former district police officer was also indicted on Thursday, according to multiple reports. The Austin American-Statesman reported the two former officers could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted of the felony charges. More from Rolling Stone The new indictments arrive after a half-year grand jury investigation that involved in-person testimony. The response of law enforcement officials to the 2022 massacre has been described as a major failure by both the Department of Justice and the Texas House of Representatives, following lengthy investigations. Officials infamously waited outside Robb Elementary for over an hour before finally entering and confronting the gunman, who was killed inside a classroom. The indictment news comes just over a month after the families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting reached a $2 million settlement with the City of Uvalde, and filed a lawsuit against law enforcement officers who responded to the shooting. The late May settlement damages will be distributed to the families of the 17 children killed, as well as the families of two children who were wounded. The agreement also includes several items aimed at improving the Uvalde police force. The lawsuit against 92 Texas Department of Public Safety officers accuses the officers of not doing enough to stop the gunman during the massacre. The lawsuit also names as defendants the Uvalde School District and several employees, including the principal and school district police chief at the time. The families have alleged the schools lockdown procedures, such as turning off the lights and locking the doors, exacerbated the damage as it left them fully reliant on law enforcement to respond. Best of Rolling Stone The indictment comes two years after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, killing 19 students and two teachers Austin American-Statesman-USA Today Network/Sipa USA The former Uvalde, Texas, school district police chief and a district police officer have been indicted by a grand jury more than two years after the Robb Elementary School shooting, in which 19 innocent children and two teachers were killed, according to news sources. Pete Arredondo, Chief of Police at the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department, was indicted on 10 charges of child endangerment in connection with the police response to the 2022 shooting, according to the San Antonio Express-News, Uvalde Leader News and Texas Tribune. Arredondo, who was placed on administrative leave a month after the massacre before being fired, turned himself into the Uvalde County jail before being released on $10,000 bond, ABC News and the San Antonio Express-News reported. Former school district police officer Adrian Gonzales was also indicted on 29 counts of child endangerment one count for each child in the classroom, according to the outlets. Gonzales, who had SWAT training, was the instructor for active shooter training for the Uvalde school police, according to the San Antonio Express-News. It's not immediately clear if either suspect has entered a plea or retained an attorney. Dario Lopez-Mills/AP/Shutterstock Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo, third from left, stands during a news conference outside of the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Related: Uvalde School Shooting: Heartbreaking Photos Show the Aftermath of the Tragedy The Uvalde District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. A lawyer for Arredondo and Gonzales has not been listed. The indictment comes after the U.S. Justice Department released its incident review in January that heavily criticized the response of police. The review found that leadership failures and the officers delayed response in attempting to neutralize the gunman 77 minutes transpired before Border Patrol officers ultimately shot him prevented more lives from being saved. Most of the 380 officers from two dozen local, state and federal agencies who responded to the incident had never trained together, the report found. Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images Law enforcement work the scene after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School where 19 people, including 18 children, were killed on May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas. Related: A Year After Uvalde School Shooting, Murals Honor 21 Victims: 'Art Has the Power to Help These Families Heal' Arredondo and Gonzales were reported to have been among the first officers that arrived on the scene after the 18-year-old gunman began opening fire at around 11:30 a.m. on May 24, 2022. Arredondo had been listed as the incident commander on the school districts active shooter response plan, though he previously told The Texas Tribune that he did not consider himself to be the commanding officer on the scene that day. Other officers told the publication that they disagreed with his decision to wait for more equipment and more officers before breaching classroom doors. 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. ALLISON DINNER/AFP via Getty Sheriff crime scene tape is seen outside of Robb Elementary School as State troopers guard the area in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. - An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children at an elementary school in Texas. Family members of the victims have said they would like to see more indictments against other responding officers. Im really hoping this is just the beginning of indictments that may be coming down, Jesse Rizo, whose niece Jacklyn Cazares died in the shooting, told the Texas Tribune. There are a lot of officers that need to be held accountable. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. VP Kamala Harris will be in Utah on Friday Democratic vice presidential candidate California Sen. Kamala Harris is greeted by her husband, Douglas Emhoff, at the end of the vice presidential debate, moderated by Susan Page, at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Vice President Kamala Harris plans to be in Utah on Friday. She will be accompanied by her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff. She is expected to arrive on Air Force Two, landing at approximately 2 p.m. and will depart close to 5 p.m. During this window, Harris will travel to a Park City home for a fundraiser. We are happy to host Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in our state, and we hope that theyll appreciate the beauty, which I know they do already, Scott Howell, the former Utah State Senate minority leader and the Biden-Harris surrogate in Utah, told the Deseret News. But more importantly, he said, Harris and Emhoff will be at the home of where the 2034 Olympics will be in Park City. Howell expects prominent Democrats and a few Republicans to attend. He said it remained unclear whether the event will have any media access. Additional details werent released for security reasons. The former state senator warned Parleys Canyon might be blocked off to drivers during some times Friday afternoon. The Deseret News reported two weeks ago of the possibility of Harris coming to Utah. A motorcade escorts vice presidential candidate and California Sen. Kamala Harris to Kingsbury Hall for the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Her visit comes a day after the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Atlanta. Most of the questions that are going to come (Friday) will be based upon the performance of the president in the debate, Howell predicted. This means showcasing mental acuity, touching on the most pressing issues the crisis at the southern border and the economy while touting a low unemployment rate. Not only does Bidens performance affect securing votes, it also impacts the outcomes of the fundraiser, Howell said. He cannot let President Trump get under his skin, Howell said. Trump was scheduled to visit Utah for a fundraiser on June 27, but it was postponed due to a scheduling conflict with Thursdays debate. This marks the third Biden-Harris campaign fundraiser in Utah. The first one with Biden was held last August. In January, first lady Jill Biden attended another Park City fundraiser. These events raised more than a million dollars, outpacing Trump, who has raised $750,461 in the state. Beth Gray holds a Welcome Kamala! sign as she and other Biden and Harris supporters line South Temple waiting for a motorcade to escort vice presidential candidate and California Sen. Kamala Harris to Kingsbury Hall for the vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Harris last visit to Salt Lake City was in 2020, a month before the presidential election. She participated in a vice presidential debate at the University of Utah and toured This Is the Place Heritage Park. Her husband, Emhoff, was in town in March and unveiled the Biden-Harris administrations investment in Utahs water infrastructure at the City Creek water treatment plant. Before this, Emhoff, while on a tour of southwestern states, traveled to Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah in 2021. Harris has a low favorability rating in Utah. In the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll from early June, roughly 22% of Utahns approve of her performance. According to KTNV, Las Vegas, Harris also plans to stop by another Las Vegas campaign event Friday to bolster Latino voters support. Yorgos Lanthimos, on the red carpet at the last Oscars. Michael Blackshire (Los Angeles Times / Getty) If the Yorgos Lanthimos who directed Kinetta (2005) his first film which was considered personal, cryptic and sordid in its depiction of sex and violence, with barely any dialogue, no music and no clear narrative had been told he would be doing virtually the same thing 20 years later and just as boldly, but now in Hollywood, working with stars like Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe; that his movies would have emerged from their niche, would be praised not only by most critics but also by the public, and that his work would collect 22 Oscar nominations and five statuettes, he would have collapsed laughing. The few movie-goers who watched his first forays into the exploration of cruelty, even before Dogtooth (2009) the movie that brought him international status in festivals and theaters would also have been nothing short of aghast. This is one of the most outstanding virtues of this 50-year-old Athenian, director of the award-winning The Favourite and Poor Things, who has just released Kinds of Kindness, starring Stone, Dafoe and Jesse Plemons: to have been faithful to his postulates, to his boldness, to his singularity, to his wild power of agitation, changing certain formal aspects along the way to return to the essence of the language forged in Dogtooth. To evolve by being the same. To provoke first a few and then a few more, to end up subjugating everyone to a twisted cinema that does not have to deal with shame. It is as if the Spanish-Mexican director, Luis Bunuel, who went to the U.S. in 1930 to try to break into Hollywood after causing a sensation in France with the surreal one-hour comedy Age of Gold, had been given the opportunity to work freely, with the best actors and the most prestigious professionals in the realms of art, photography, music and production design, not to mention having all the money in the world at his disposal, and had ended up making movies right there such as The Exterminating Angel, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz, Simon of the Desert, Viridiana or Belle de Jour. Well, that is just what Lanthimos has achieved, albeit in a different era. Emma Stone, in an image from 'Kinds of Kindness', by Yorgos Lanthimos. In Kinds of Kindness, Lanthimos has returned to his pure, uncut beginnings without having left home at all. It is a movie consisting of three independent stories of approximately 55 minutes each and filmed during the tempestuous digital post-production of Poor Things, though written over almost a decade with Lanthimos main co-writer, Efthymis Philippou, and casting the same actors in different roles. Above all, Lanthimos has returned to the kind of rigorous framing and camera movements found in Dogtooth and Alps, while leaving behind his famous wide-angle shots that he experimented with in the magnificent The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, which reached their zenith in The Favourite and Poor Things, with viewers invited to watch the action through a peephole. The distorted view offered via a lens here gives way to the simple internal distortion of his characters. These are men and women who must deal with control and violence, with the hatred of a conventional life and with the radical excesses of fanaticism. Lanthimos movies are contemporary allegories of the human condition in which, despite their strangeness, they manage to find parallels in our everyday life: in the horror of gender violence, in sex as a natural impulse and as an almost physiological need, in the family as a false representation of comfort, in our upbringings as physical and psychological prisons from which we cannot escape, and in submission to any kind of power. Emma Stone, in an image from 'Poor Things.' In Kinds of Kindness, Lanthimos characteristic surrealism is center stage; his search for a super-reality inspired by the absurd; his meeting of the conscious and the unconscious. Once again, he does it with almost Brechtian distancing, as if the script was being read from a phone book. It is a technique common to his Greek films, fabulously understood by the excellent Colin Farrell in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and here embroidered by Jesse Plemons in the first of the stories and the best of the three a formidable vignette in which the director and his writing partner Philippou reconstruct their Greek origins for modern times: that of the classical tragedy in which the gods control everything here, represented by the boss played by Dafoe who compels, massacres, manipulates, orders and decides as though resurrecting as an adult the disturbing teenager played by Barry Keoghan in The Killing of a Sacred Deer. It is a game of Greek masks shaped by the decision to have a handful of performers change their roles in each of the three stories. And so, they are always different while being the same; and are always the same while being different. Different costumes for an analogous dramatic framework. Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad, as the proverb says. Lanthismos is the cinema of the cruelty of an author who bequeaths a series of dialogues that will stay with us, perhaps driven by that line uttered by Daniel played by Jesse Plemons, I want you to cut off a finger, maybe your thumb, and cook it for me as dinner, and a set of indelible images and sensations, accompanied by music composed by Jerskin Fendrix. An image from 'Canino.' Inspired by Albert Camus Caligula, and divided into episodes in the manner of Bunuels The Phantom of Liberty, Kinds of Kindness will lead viewers to look at empty swimming pools in a new light. And the more artistically disturbed among us, as the director himself contentedly admits to being, will be reduced to convulsed laughter in places. Lanthimos is for wise audiences who are not afraid of anything because art is free and must subjugate, even to the point of annoyance. It is a brand of cinema where the film will be distributed, curiously by none other than Disney Lanthimos absurdity, as both tragedy and comedy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Heart surgeries were paused at the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Aurora, Colorado, for more than a year in 2022 and 2023 as a result of changes made by leaders who cultivated a "culture of fear" at the hospital, the VA Office of Inspector General has found. Two reports released Monday by the VA's top watchdog found that the facility paused cardiac surgeries from June to July 2022 and again from September 2022 to October 2023. Leadership told their regional directors of the first pause but did not inform them or the VA's Central Office in Washington, D.C., of the second, longer suspension. The VA OIG said the pauses did not directly contribute to patient harm, but the toxic work environment, explored in a separate investigation, jeopardized patient safety. Read Next: Army Makes It Harder for Commanders to Deny Soldiers Leave for Abortions "Senior leaders failed to utilize High-Reliability Organization principles, undermined the stability and psychological safety of service leaders and staff, and created a culture of fear," Dr. John Daigh, the VA assistant inspector general for health care inspections, wrote in a report. According to the investigations, five adult critical nurse practitioners who worked in the hospital's surgical intensive care unit left in April 2022 as a result of changes made to their jobs by leadership. Following those departures, the hospital paused heart surgeries for a month, resuming them only after increasing physician coverage of the intensive care unit at night by bringing in the former chief of surgery, former interim intensive care unit director and another surgeon who also worked during the day to provide care. The facility was forced to pause heart surgeries again two months later after continued efforts to attract permanent personnel failed. During the second pause, the hospital's entire cardiac surgical staff left. The hospital was able to resume procedures only 13 months later after it contracted with the University of Colorado to provide surgical teams. The staffing issues and changes to the surgical intensive care unit were part of a larger problem investigated by the VA OIG in a separate report also drafted by Daigh. In that investigation, the office found a workplace climate in which leaders belittled staff publicly and dismissed their concerns, leading to resignations and transfers, as well as an environment where staff was unable to express concerns over procedures or patient safety. "The resulting moral distress has led to an exodus of skilled staff at all levels, which in turn harms veteran care," one employee told OIG investigators. Shortly after the investigations began, the hospital director and chief of staff were temporarily assigned elsewhere, and two other leaders resigned. Hospital Director Michael Kilmer was sent to another regional directorate, although his LinkedIn profile still lists him as director and CEO of VA Eastern Colorado Health. Dr. Shilpa Rungta, the former chief of staff, is serving as interim physician adviser to the VA assistant under secretary of health for clinical services. "VA recognizes that a negative employee culture can have a negative impact on patient experience, and the interim leadership at VA [Eastern Colorado Health Care System] is focused on creating a psychologically safe and healthy environment for staff," facility leaders said in a release Monday. The Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center is one of the VA's newest, most modern facilities, opening its doors in 2018 five years behind schedule and $1 billion over budget, with a total cost of nearly $2 billion. Last month, roughly 500 surgical procedures were canceled or delayed at the facility after staff found a mysterious black residue on reusable medical equipment needed for some surgeries. The exact source of the residue, which appears to be plastic, according to news reports, has yet to be determined but is likely linked to sterilization equipment. The IG reports made several recommendations to VA leaders at both the local and headquarters level to improve the facility's workplace environment and patient services. Those included a complete review of the facility's operations, staffing, leadership and retention, and a focus on the regional office, known as a Veterans Integrated Services Network, or VISN. The VA OIG recommended standardization of the VISN directors' roles and responsibilities and an investigation into the circumstances that kept the VISN director in the dark about a 13-month pause in cardiac surgeries. The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing Wednesday on the VA's regional structure, focusing on its lack of standardization and ability to provide continuity of care. During the hearing, Dr. Julie Kroviak, the VA's principal deputy assistant inspector general, described the disbelief her office had when they investigated the Aurora hospital. "When you have that type of exodus of clinical staff, when you have closure of a cardio-thoracic program ... how that noise doesn't make it to the higher level for an immediate intervention, rescue, whatever, our team was appropriately baffled by that story," Kroviak said. Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Support Services, Veterans Health Administration, Al Montoya assured lawmakers that the VA has responded, with the under secretary of health's office sending a team to Aurora to ensure that the department was "appropriately resourcing" the facility. "I personally have a staff member out there from my team this week; I'll be personally making a trip out there next month to make sure there is progress, to make sure we are holding them accountable to moving forward," Montoya said. Sunaina Kumar-Giebel, director of the Rocky Mountain Network, said the facility is committed to "prioritizing a culture of safety." "Allegations of unsafe patient care or misconduct are taken seriously. These investigations will help ensure veterans, employees and stakeholders have full confidence in the quality and integrity of the leaders and care delivery provided," Kumar-Giebel said in a statement Monday. Related: Nurses Rally at VA Headquarters in DC to Protest Staffing Reductions VCs Jonathon Triest and Brett deMarrais see their ability to read people and create longstanding relationships with founders as the primary reason their Detroit-based venture firm, Ludlow Ventures, is celebrating its 15th year in business. It sounds silly, attributing their longevity to whats sometimes called Midwestern nice. But is it crazy? Maybe not. Before Ludlow, neither Triest nor deMarrais had much operating experience. They also had no investing experience. Triest was fresh out of school when he first stood up the firm in 2009. When deMarrais joined him three years later, it was after winding down his first job, which was running a wedding videography outfit. Fast-forward and Ludlow today has $250 million in assets under management, including a new $50 million fifth fund that the duo just closed in recent weeks with commitments from billionaire Dan Gilbert; the financial services company Northern Trust, the Israel-based venture firm Vintage Investments; and the fund of funds outfit StepStone, which anchored the new vehicle. Its certainly hard to know what else Ludlow offered at the start other than a lot of heart and good instincts about people. In 2012, for example, while on a trip to Los Angeles, Triest and deMarrais met with entrepreneurs Ryan Hudson and George Ruan about a Chrome extension that helped customers score deals. The young investors had trouble getting excited about what the founders were building. But George and Ryan were so good, Triest tells me during a phone conversation while he's at a networking event in Detroit, an announcers voice booming in the background. Ludlow wrote the very first check to Hudson and Ruan, who soon went more public with their shopping and rewards platform, called Honey. In 2020, when Honey sold to PayPal for $4 billion in a mostly cash deal, that payout returned six times the $15 million Ludlow fund from which that investment was made. I see my peers out diligence themselves, when in reality you can only look at the people, says Triest. Our biggest miscalculations have come when we invested in verticals or ideas that we loved but the people were not exceptional. Its not novel, of course, to invest in people. Most VCs claim to do the same. There was also a bit of luck at the start of Ludlow Ventures. Triest kicked off its $15 million inaugural fund with a $1 million loan from friends and family. Not everyone can access that kind of getting-going money. But even luck doesnt sustain a business this long -- and certainly not through a market thats become comparatively harsh as institutional investors run out of patience with newer outfits in particular. While General Catalyst, Kleiner Perkins and other heavyweight venture firms are locking down billions in capital commitments, newer firms are increasingly pulling the plug right now owing to a lack of investor interest. Indeed, when Triest talks about relationships, he convincingly argues that he means business. Ludlow has maintained such a strong bond with Hudson that earlier this year, the venture firm wrote a $3 million check into a $5 million round for Hudsons newest, still-stealth startup, even though Hudson could have had anyone lead that round -- it was so stacked with top VCs, says Triest. (Triest also notes that Hudson is married to another founder who Ludlow has backed, Lumi founder Jesse Genet. He admits, too, that he cant take credit for the match; they surprised him after they began dating.) As for other differentiators, Triest eschews them. The firm doesnt have a geographic focus. It doesnt have a sector focus. As for its marketing, it largely relied on a video series called Carpool VC that Triest and deMarrais once posted irregularly on YouTube, wherein the two shared silly unscripted banter while beaming in another, better-known VC via the cars speakerphone. The shows, mostly recorded in 2015 and 2016, now make their kids cringe, says Triest, whose oldest child is 15. They also served their purpose, he adds, saying hes still surprised by the number of times that people get on a call with us, and they feel like they know us a little bit, In fact, he adds, Plenty of people have opted out, saying they dont want to work with clowns like us. But plenty of people opt in. Clearly. Ludlow, which invests in around 25 companies with each fund, has funded hundreds of startups over time, some of which have gone to zero, while others have been marked up considerably since the firm funded them. Among these is Flex, a flexible payments platform that currently promises to break ones monthly rent into smaller installments and has plans for other verticals. Ludlow is also an investor in the workplace analytics company Density, which was valued at $1 billion when it last raised a round in 2021; Captions, a video editing app that raised $25 million in Series B funding last year; Notarize, an online notary network valued at $760 million by investors last year; and Backbone, a startup that turns iPhones into gaming devices and which raised $40 million in Series A funding in 2022. Asked about unifying threads amid the wide-ranging companies, Triest again turns to squishy stuff. The thread throughout our portfolio is that the people who founded them are people who we want to spend time with, who make us want to quit Ludlow so we can go to work with them. We have to believe that what they are working on is viable, but it doesnt have to be the thing. Dont all VCs say some variation of the same? I hate all this founder-friendly chat that other VCs espouse, answers Triest. There is no genuineness behind it. At Ludlow, he says, if we are not standing up in [a founders] wedding, weve failed. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita has received a new state-of-the-art Da Vinci 5 Surgical Robot. St. Francis is the first hospital in Kansas to receive the new robot, which manufacturer Intuitive calls its most advanced and integrated robotic surgery systemever. The new system has more than 150 enhancements from previous versions of Da Vinci. Some of these new features include a first-of-its-kind force sensing technology, allowing surgeons to actually feel the push and pull forces at the tip of the instrument, which can help decrease tissue damage during surgery. Along with improved accuracy and precision, Via Christi says the new system has a new 3D display and image processing capabilities, along with 10,000 times more computing power compared to its predecessor, the Da Vinci Xi. Purchasing this new equipment reects our commitment to providing state-of-the-art technologies that increase our patients quality of care and experience at our hospital, said Roddex Barlow, President of Via Christi St. Francis. Our surgeons and care teams look forward to utilizing the systems capabilities to improve the health of those in our community who need it most. Via Christi St. Francis receives new Da Vinci surgical robot (courtesy Via Christi St. Francis) Dr. Noel Sanchez trains on new Da Vinci 5 surgical robot at Via Christi St. Francis Dr. Noel Sanchez trains on new Da Vinci 5 surgical robot at Via Christi St. Francis Dr. Noel Sanchez trains on new Da Vinci 5 surgical robot at Via Christi St. Francis Dr. Noel Sanchez trains on new Da Vinci 5 surgical robot at Via Christi St. Francis Inside view of Da Vinci 5 surgical robot training simulation. (courtesy Via Christi St. Francis) The Da Vinci 5 will be used for a variety of robotic-assisted procedures, including bariatric cardiac, colorectal, general, gynecological, thoracic and urologic surgeries. The da Vinci 5 will enhance our ability to provide minimally invasive surgeries for our patients, said Noel Sanchez, MD, who is the rst Via Christi surgeon to use the new system. This means patients will likely go home from the hospital faster and can experience a decreased recovery time. McPherson College receives $2.1 million for rural health initiative The Da Vinci 5 received FDA approval for use in March. Dr. Sanchez, is the first doctor at Via Christi to use the robotic system for a procedure, which happened on June 20. For more information about Via Christi St. Francis, 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 KSN-TV. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Kern County health officials said residents serviced by Victory Mutual Water Company should boil their water. Kern County Public Health said the notice is in place for residents on Shirley Lane to Redbank Road east of Fairfax in Bakersfield. Houchin Blood Bank facing severe blood shortage Health officials said they are notifying the public of the formal boil water notice because of conflicting information. Kern County Public Health does not regulate or oversee the water system. The boil water notice comes following a water outage for residents serviced by Victory Mutual Water Company on June 22. Residents in the area were without water for days as temperatures surpassed triple digits. Water began flowing through residents taps on Tuesday evening through an emergency contract with East Niles Community Services District. RELATED: East Bakersfield community without water for days after wells shut down Officials said residents should boil their water until testing results of a new water source show the water is safe to drink. Residents should boil their water for one minute before using it, and to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth or cooking until further notice. You can read the notice written in English and Spanish at this link. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Vienna has become 'Russia's new espionage hub,' intelligence officials tell WSJ Vienna has become the "base for Russian clandestine operations," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on June 28, citing unnamed European and U.S. intelligence officials. While Vienna has a long history of being a hub for spies dating back to the Cold War, there have been a number of recent espionage scandals in the country, such as the arrest in April of former Austrian intelligence officer Egisto Ott on suspicion of espionage. The month before, Austria expelled two Russian diplomats over actions "incompatible with their diplomatic status." Austrian intelligence officials told the WSJ that the number of Russian diplomats in Vienna has almost doubled since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, increasing from around 300-400 to over 500. Around half of them "operate as spies," the officials said. Russian operatives based in Austria have been suspected of involvement in high-profile intelligence operations, such as the assassination of Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine and was later shot dead in Spain in February 2024. Intelligence officials told the WSJ that the alleged assassins "were criminals paid with cash provided by Russian state employees from Vienna." "We are now becoming a liability for our neighbors because Russia is using us as an operational base," an Austrian intelligence official said. Read also: Chancellor: Moscow used spy in attempt to undermine democracy in Austria Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The hosts of The View typically tape their Friday morning show on Thursday. But they were more than ready to go live after Thursday nights debate and mostly came to the conclusion that the incumbent president should step down, as his performance was stunningly worse than expected. While moderator Whoopi Goldberg declined to switch up her schedule to appear on a Friday like she did when Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, and Alyssa Farah Griffin were ready to carry the torch with spicy commentary. Haines kicked off the conversation, calling the debate hard to watch and adding that Joe Biden should step down if we want to defeat Donald Trump in November, for humanity, for his integrity, for his legacy. She also said Democrats should stop spinning the age problem. Griffinwho previously worked as White House Communications Director in the Trump administrationagreed, adding that Biden should put country before his own ambition and step aside and pass the baton. Ive had concerns for a couple of years about Bidens age, Griffin also said, [His performance] was stunningly worse than I expected. Though she said, Donald Trump was a messhe lied his way through, she also thought that Joe Bidens performance was so bad that it eclipsed everything that Donald Trump said. She later quipped that she felt duped: I feel like they told me [Biden] was doing back flips, she said in reference to messaging from Bidens camp about his mental and physical fitness. Hostin agreed, adding, Biden lost that debate. I think that is an accurate depiction of what happenedblame it on a cold, blame it on his stuttering, blame it on over-preparation, whatever, but he did lose. Maybe he needs to go, maybe he needs to be honest with himself and the American people. She said if Biden were to make room for a new Democratic nominee, he could bow out with grace and dignity, [as] he has a record he can be proud of. However, she pointed out the irony of Democrats calling for a new nominee and not Republicans. I think its really ironic, she said. The party that should be pressuring their candidate to step aside is the Republican party. Their nominee is a convicted felonhes facing hundreds of charges for criminal activity, and has been proven to be a racist, a business fraud, liable for sexual abuse, an insurrectionist, and as Biden said, He has the morals of an alley cat, Hostin continued. Though the calls for Biden to step down were pretty loud, Navarro remained convinced that Biden can still do this thing. I never saw Joe Biden like I saw him last night. It is worrisome, [but] Im not giving up on Joe Biden, she said. He looked elderly, he sounded elderly, he is elderly. [But] it is a very old man versus a very bad man, she added, also pointing out that replacing Biden wouldnt be feasible. Behar seemed to agree, pointing to a clip of Biden post-debate where he seemed more lively: Suddenly no cold, suddenly hes 63, she said. Unmoved, Haines doubled down on her earlier point that Biden isn't the best choice to defeat Trump. If the Democratic voice pieces do not pivot, they will lose in November, she said. I hope that the people that love [Biden] will step in, because I guarantee you if that was someone I loved, Id be up in his ear now. Jon Stewart Begs for Recreational Drugs to Cope With Debate Disaster Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Vigil held one year after Layla Santanello was reported missing KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Community members gathered Thursday for a vigil marking one year since Layla Santanellos disappearance. The then-20-year-old was reported missing to Kingsport police on June 27, 2023. LIST: Fourth of July 2024 celebrations in and around the Tri-Cities On Thursday night, a candlelight vigil was held at Borden Park to show support and remind others that she hasnt been forgotten. Santanellos mother, Jennifer Santanello, organized the event. Weve spent an entire year endlessly searching for my firstborn child, and its exhausting and its tiring, and it wears you down and the thing that really keeps you going is the public support, the support of people who care, Jennifer Santanello said. Kingsport police said earlier this week that it has no plans to stop looking for Layla Santanello. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Brothers Nick and Jarred Lange sat Friday in an El Dorado County courtroom, hearing what they had waited so long to hear: the exoneration of their departed mother, Connie Louise Dahl. Dahl under duress of what the district attorney called deceitful and aggressive law enforcement interrogations falsely implicated her then-boyfriend, Ricky Davis, in the July 1985 slaying of Janet Hylton in El Dorado Hills. In her false confession, Dahl also implicated herself in the murder and spent a year in county jail after testifying against Davis. Davis, who always maintained he was not involved in Hyltons murder, spent more than 15 years incarcerated and wrongfully convicted for her death until DNA evidence revealed another man killed Hylton. Davis was cleared of all wrongdoing in the murder case four years ago and freed. Dahl, however, died in 2014. She never got to see Davis walk as a free man again. But her name was cleared Friday morning, when El Dorado Superior Court Judge Larry Hayes vacated Dahls August 2005 voluntary manslaughter conviction under factual findings of her innocence. After Hayes offered Dahls family a chance to speak in court, Nick Lange stood up and said his mother struggled in life for most of the time that he spent with her. He said her exoneration shouldve happened sooner and she shouldve received the help she needed. I just wish she couldve been here for this, he said. Shes been gone for more than 10 years now. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, whose office filed the motion to toss out Dahls conviction, also stood in the courtroom Friday and apologized to the womans sons and the rest of her family for what he called a tragic mistake, telling the judge that Davis and Dahl had nothing to do with this. Pierson said in court his office is working to train detectives differently, so the interrogation tactics used to obtain the false confession from Dahl are never used again. He had said investigators should use a rapport-based, information-seeking approach in interviews with suspects and witnesses because the scientific research shows its more effective. Since 2020, Pierson has hosted training sessions on these interview techniques for 107 different California law enforcement agencies and seven other agencies in the United States and Canada. In September 2022, Pierson announced his office will limit the filing of criminal charges on any case in which the primary evidence against the suspect consists of a confession obtained through the use of threats, deception or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics. There has been an urban myth within policing for decades that the only way to obtain information is to use interviewing tactics that employ pseudoscience and psychological coercion, and that urban myth is finally being debunked, Pierson said Friday in a news release. El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson announces Ricky Leo Davis was exonerated in the 1985 cold case murder of Janet Hylton at the El Dorado County District Attorneys office, Feb. 13, 2020, in Placerville. Davis girlfriend, now-deceased Connie Dahl, had her voluntary manslaughter charge vacated Friday in court. Wrongfully convicted man speaks in court Davis, who was freed from custody in February 2020, also attended Fridays court hearing. He stood up and told the judge that his and Dahls wrongful convictions were not simply some judicial mistake as characterized by prosecutors. He said the investigators who obtained Dahls false confession were nefarious people who were out to take away his and Dahls lives. Hes glad to see changes to law enforcement interrogations are being made, but he believes not enough changes have been made to ensure this doesnt happen again. Its nice to see Connie vindicated, finally, Davis said Friday in court. The initial murder investigation The murder investigation began July 7, 1985, when Hylton, who covered social events for the Foothills Times newspaper, was found dead inside the El Dorado Hills home. Davis, then 20 years old, lived in the house where Hylton was slain, as did his then 19-year-old girlfriend, Dahl, according to the Northern California Innocence Project, which is part of the Santa Clara University School of Law and worked extensively on Davis case to free the wrongfully convicted man. Davis and Dahl told investigators they went to a party that night and returned home at 3:30 a.m., when they found Hyltons daughter outside, according to the Innocence Project. Hyltons daughter told the couple she had been out with a group of boys and was afraid her mother would be upset for being out too late. The three of them entered the home. Davis saw blood in the hallway outside the master bedroom and found Hyltons body on the bed, according to the Innocence Project. Davis and Dahl called 911. All three of them maintained they were not involved in the murder and didnt know who killed Hylton. The case went unsolved until detectives reopened it in late 1999. The Innocence Project said detectives interrogated Dahl four times over the following 18 months, using techniques known to increase the chances of false confessions. At a 2020 news conference announcing new findings in Hyltons murder case, Pierson partly blamed Davis wrongful conviction on two El Dorado County sheriffs detectives who interrogated Dahl. Pierson said the detectives asked Dahl if she ever bit anyone and told her that Hylton had been bitten on her left shoulder during the attack in which Hylton was stabbed 29 times. At the time of the 2020 announcement, the detectives had long since retired. Dahl eventually changed her story for the detectives, implicating Davis as the killer and implicating herself in the crime, telling the detectives she bit the Hylton during the attack. The Innocence Project said Davis conviction was based almost entirely on Dahls false testimony. Ricky Leo Davis is released from custody and hugs mom Maureen Klein, right, and another family member at the El Dorado County Jail after he was exonerated in the 1985 murder of Janet Hylton on Feb. 13, 2020, in Placerville. Davis girlfriend, now-deceased Connie Dahl, had her voluntary manslaughter charge vacated Friday in court. DNA evidence led to exoneration The bite evidence, however, turned out to be crucial in clearing Davis and identifying the man who killed Hylton. The Sacramento County District Attorneys Office crime lab analyzed remnants of Hyltons nightgown. Analysts were able to pinpoint a saliva and blood spot on the left shoulder of the nightgown. For years, that evidence had not been usable, but improvements in technology led to the ability to separate the blood and saliva samples, and gave authorities a DNA result that proved Davis was not the attacker. Sacramento DA investigators then used entered that DNA evidence into a genealogical website and got a list of potential relatives, then started building family trees to get to a suspect whose DNA matched. They used the same investigative techniques a few years earlier to arrest James DeAngelo, the suspect convicted in the Golden State Killer/East Area Rapist case, and Roy Waller, the suspect convicted in the NorCal Rapist case. Then Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said the Davis case was the first in California history and second nationally to both exonerate a wrongfully convicted person and identify a different suspect. The evidence in 2020 led investigators to identify Michael Eric Green, a Roseville man suspected of stabbing Hylton to death 35 years earlier. Green in July 2022 pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in Hyltons death. In September 2022, Judge Suzanne Kingsbury sentenced Green to 15 years to life in prison for the deadly stabbing. Green, 56, remained incarcerated Friday at San Quentin State Prison. He will become eligible for parole in January 2029. In court on Friday, Assistant District Attorney Lisette Suder said the detectives who questioned Dahl more than 20 years ago used deceit and manipulation, tactics that widely accepted in law enforcement circles get people to talk. And now, she said the DAs Office was asking the court to legally undo a wrong that was committed against Dahl and Davis. Suder told the judge that they cant give back the time Dahl spent in jail, they cant relieve the trauma she and her family suffered and they cant even give Dahl herself the satisfaction that justice has finally been served. But the prosecutor said what they could do for Dahl Friday is to finally clear her name. Until October 6, 2023, Luis Har, 71, was an anonymous citizen who divided his life in Israel between two kibbutzim near Gaza: Urim, where he settled after emigrating from Argentina in 1971, and Nir Itsjak, where his partner, Clara Marman, lived. That day, they were both enjoying the holiday with two of Claras brothers and one of Claras nieces and decided to stay the night. At dawn, a group of militiamen burst into the house, violently put them in a vehicle and took them to Gaza while a Hamas militiaman fired shots into the air and shouted Allah is great. The family became five (all with dual Argentine and Israeli nationality) of the more than 250 hostages who were taken by the Palestinian militias on October 7. Their captors took them through a dark tunnel for three hours (one of the memories that marked Har the most) and they were held together in an apartment. Until November 28, when the three women were freed in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a week-long ceasefire, the only ceasefire in eight months of war. Back then, Luis and his brother Fernando thought that they would be next. So much so that the five said goodbye with the phrase: See you in two or three days, said Clara Marman after her release. From the left, the Argentine-Israeli Gabriela Leimberg, Fernando Marman, Carla Marman and Luis Har, in their reunion in the hospital near Tel Aviv after the two men were rescued by the Israeli army in Gaza, last February. Hospital Sheba/EFE That didnt happen. On December 1, the ceasefire ended, without an agreement to extend it. When we started hearing the [Israeli] bombings at 7:00 a.m., Fernando and I looked at each other and said: Were not leaving here. We understood that the agreement had ended, and we were a bit depressed. From that moment on, at the end of the day, we said: One day less in prison. We knew it was one less. Not how many were left to go, but it gave us hope. They were to be held for 76 more days. What scared them most was hearing the Israeli planes. We didnt know where they were going or where they were going to bomb [...] Sometimes we could hear the hum of the bombs passing nearby, I dont know if above us, or next to us. Glass in the windows shattered several times. It fell 200 or 300 meters and you could feel it. Everything was shaking like an earthquake. The floor was moving all over. First we felt the tremor and then the explosion. That really puts you on edge, he recalls Har cooked for everyone, including his captors, when he had the means. With an intact sense of humor, he remembers how on the first day the Islamist militiamen approached the oldest woman (Clara, 61 years old) with potatoes and told her to cook. She responded: If they want to eat, Luis had better cook. That was when there was everything needed to make dishes. But soon, due to Israels obstacles on the entry of humanitarian aid which has left areas of Gaza on the brink of famine there were days when they barely got pita bread to share. When the two men were left alone, they fantasized half jokingly, half seriously that an Israeli special forces commando would appear and rescue them. And thats exactly what happened on February 12, amid heavy bombing that caused dozens of deaths. Har asked one of the soldiers to confirm that he was not in a movie. It is, he says, how he still feels today. Hes treated like a celebrity; everyone waves and smiles at him in the Tel Aviv building where he greets this newspaper. The building is the headquarters of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main lobby calling for negotiated return of the 129 remaining hostages in Gaza, at least a third of whom have died. The issue is now at the center of Hars life: he is wearing a T-shirt with the message: Bring them back home and the yellow ribbon that identifies the movement. Har is still unable to return home to Kibbutz Urim because the so-called safe room to shelter from rockets fired from Gaza is still not finished. Today, rockets fall more sporadically, but more than 3,000 were launched in just a few hours on October 7. During his captivity, Luis Har who is one of only seven hostages rescued by the Israeli army in eight months , did not feel that his captors hated him. They accepted us as we are. There was no intention to kill us, but it was a strange situation for them and for us, he describes. Although they never said so, Har felt that they would have been happy to have handed the hostages over on the second day. But time passed, without any prisoner swap agreement, and the captors and the hostages developed a kind of implicit pact based on trust. Im here now also because they felt they didnt have to fear us. That there was a certain trust that we were in the same thing together. [...] They didnt see their family either, they didnt see anyone. They were there with us [] We tried to show them trust. That we were not going to escape, or challenge them. Luis Har, during the interview. Avishag Shaar-Yashuv The captors never hit them. Sometimes they all ate together. But Har never wanted to forget their place in the equation. We knew that if they received the order to kill us, they would not hesitate. They would kill us on the spot, he says. Nor did he forget the limits on what to say or how. They avoided talking about politics. He dared to once and it didnt turn out very well. [The owner of the house] told us: What are you doing here? You are Argentines. Go live in Argentina. This is Palestine. And there was no way to convince him otherwise. I tried to talk a little, but I saw that there was no point. Luis distinguishes between the owner of the house where they were kidnapped with whom he ended up developing a sort of trust and the militiamen who would pass by and were more aggressive and always armed. With the former, they came to exchange thoughts as they could. Hands, legs, eyes Anything goes as long as you understand yourself. I dont understand Arabic. He [the owner] didnt understand much Hebrew. A few words here or there, in English. In the end we understood each other and with him, we were able to reach a certain dialogue about different things. They even joked. Once I told him, whats going on here!? There is no flour, there is no meat There is nothing. He looked at me like, laughed and told Fernando: just protest. I told him: You know what? Im leaving. Do you know what he did? He opened the door for me and did this [imitates an invitation to leave with his hand]. No, no, Im staying. Thank you. Going out there with everyone... That explains the situation a little. That in spite of everything, he knew how he was with us. However, along with the jokes, there was psychological warfare. The captor, for example, told them: Why are you going to return to the kibbutz if in two or three years we will bomb it again? Or he asked them to keep their voices down, so that the Israeli drones flying over Gaza would not detect them and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would send the fighter-bombers to destroy the building, because he preferred the hostages than able to being used in a prisoner swap. Every time the army knocked down a building in Gaza, they were told that many Israeli kidnapped people had died. Although they lacked access to cell phones and news, they were aware that they were not the only hostages and were even proudly told that the real number was more than 250. With the militiamen, he clarifies, you had to take more care. He never saw them smile, and the only interaction he had was when one approached him after eating and said, in passing and quietly so that others would not hear: Thank you for the food. Har insists twice that he was not afraid, which is not the word. It was take care of yourself, survive. He says being held captive led to low mood, and they supported each other depending on who of the five was the most healthy. You can only be sitting or lying down. You cant decide or do anything. We didnt have a piece of paper or a pencil. Nothing. And so the days passed by As time seemed eternal, Luis passionate about theater, folk dancing and cooking tried to kill it by telling stories. They also imagined trips (we were talking about returning to Bariloche, to the Iguazu Falls, to Ushuaia) and shared recipes for an uncertain future. They did not know that tens of thousands of Israelis were demonstrating for their release. Nor that their images decorated streets, squares, overpasses and even the countrys main airport. He had come to terms with the idea that he could die in Gaza, and he was at peace with that. He felt that, at 71 years old, he had lived long enough and that he had left his signature as he described it on his four children and 10 grandchildren. We didnt think that [the authorities] forgot about us, but rather that time was passing and nothing was happening [] We didnt even know if we were important enough. Thats why it was a surprise that they took us out of there how they did. He says that he doesnt want to talk about politics, but in the end he can. He believes that the experience has changed his way of seeing the Middle East conflict. Har no longer believes there is anyone to live with, nor does he want to see his Gazan friends who worked in the kibbutz again. He returned one day to the other kibbutz, where he was kidnapped, and was deeply affected: I couldnt even get into the house. It was like I was paralyzed. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Russian hackers have caused chaos in the NHS and put patients in danger. This month, one of the most serious cyber attacks we have ever faced hit London hospitals and GP surgeries by locking pathology service providers out of their own IT systems. This has forced more than 1,100 operations to be postponed, including cancer treatments and organ transplants. Thousands of outpatient appointments have been cancelled and vast numbers of patients records stolen, some of which have been published on the dark web. They include results of blood tests for cancer and HIV. Make no mistake. This is a terrorist attack on the UK, which has already resulted in widespread suffering and may cause deaths. The hackers, who call themselves Qilin, operate out of Russia. They were first known to be active in 2022 and their activities have so far been thought to be criminal, using cyber attacks to extort large sums of cash from their victims. But Qilin claim they carried out this attack in which a 40 million ransom was demanded over Britains role in an unspecified war. That may or may not be the motive, but it is far from implausible. Vladimir Putin seeks to create chaos in the West, to undermine support for Ukraine by demonstrating the high costs of that support. He has reportedly recruited criminal gangs to carry out sabotage against Western factories supplying arms to Ukraine, including cyber attacks. We have already seen indications of such action in Britain, the US, Germany and Poland. Links between freelance hackers and Russian intelligence services have been growing since the 2022 invasion. It is possible Qilin is run and directed by one of the Kremlins agencies, and that it is provided with encouragement, information and technology. As a minimum, Russian law enforcement are turning a blind eye on these cyber gangs. For that, Putin is culpable. It must be a priority to shut down Qilin, which has expanded into the largest Russian enterprise of its kind. That wont be easy, although the National Crime Agency did manage to inflict serious disruption on another large-scale ransomware gang this year. We need to go further in dealing with such an attack on our country. Unless we respond vigorously to this sort of aggression, we will face continuing escalation. Our relative inaction in the face of a nerve agent attack on British soil in 2018 helped solidify Putins impression of Western weakness. This may well have contributed to his calculations on invading Ukraine. Words of outrage are not enough. In a face-to-face meeting in 2021, Joe Biden warned Putin against cyber attacks on critical US national infrastructure. That was ignored, and we have seen numerous attacks since on American facilities, including hospitals. We should certainly be considering retaliatory cyber attacks, not against Russian hospitals but against military targets and armaments factories. But the most immediate and effective step we can take is to demonstrate to Putin that aggression against our country will have the opposite effect to what he intends, by ramping up our supply of long-range weapons. Not only should we allow President Zelensky to use them against Russian soil, but we should encourage him, and provide the intelligence to help with targeting. Only then might Putin get the message. 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. Insights from Politico, The Parliament, Euronews, and Euroactive The News EU leaders struck a deal to secure Ursula von der Leyen a second five-year term as president of the European Commission on Thursday, but a surprise abstention from Italys far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatens to derail her chance of winning final approval from the European Parliament. Melonis snub comes a week after she was excluded from talks between six leaders on names to put forward for the EUs top jobs despite her right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists bloc becoming the third-largest party in the European Parliament following elections earlier this month. Von der Leyen needs to secure at least 361 votes out of 720 in the European Parliament in a ballot scheduled for the week of July 15 to confirm her role. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Meloni may still be kingmaker Sources: Politico, The Parliament Von der Leyen clinched the Commission presidency by just nine votes in 2019, but she may be squeezed further this time: Insiders expect at least 10% of her coalition bloc to either rebel or abstain in the secret ballot, Politico reported. That means Meloni could play kingmaker by giving von der Leyen a significant number of MEP votes, though choosing the Italian nationalist over the Greens would risk hurting von der Leyens chances of securing liberal and center-left support, The Parliament noted. Meanwhile, instability across the EU could act as a disciplining force on MEPs harboring second thoughts about another von der Leyen term, who may not want to create another political crisis by rejecting her, the director of the Atlantic Councils Europe Center argued. Italian PMs European allies could be splintering Sources: Euronews, Euroactive, Chatham House Meloni may have abstained from nominating von der Leyen to reflect splits within her own governing coalition, Euronews reported. And with two new right-wing formations rumored to be in the making, the Italian firebrand leader will need to prevent her European Conservatives and Reformists bloc from fragmenting during crunch negotiations next week if she wants to influence the EUs agenda going forward on issues such as migration and green policies. However, the European Parliaments far-right wing remains divided over support for Ukraine as well as fiscal responsibilities, and its MEPs have in the past shown low engagement in the Parliament, often failing to show up for votes, Chatham House noted. VSP: One dead after crash on I-81 in Washington County, Virginia WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) One person is dead and another was seriously injured after a crash on Interstate 81 in Washington County, Virginia Wednesday evening. According to Virginia State Police (VSP), a 2006 Pontiac Minivan was driving northbound on I-81 and hit the rear of a 2020 Kia Forte, which was stopped due to traffic from a previous crash. The Kia was then pushed into a 2018 Toyota Camry, resulting in the Camry being pushed into a 2015 Buick Encore. PREVIOUS: VSP: One dead following crash on Interstate 81 in Washington County The driver of the Pontiac, identified by police as Robert W. Nipper, 51, of Saltville, died at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt, VSP reported. The driver of the Kia suffered serious injuries. VSP stated the driver was wearing a seatbelt. The drivers of the Camry and Buick were uninjured in the crash. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Will Wade Wilson get death sentence? How Florida's death penalty works Wade Wilson, a Fort Myers man convicted of murdering two Cape Coral women in 2019, is facing the death penalty. After weighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the jury in Wilson's trial recommended he receive death sentences for the brutal slayings of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz in Cape Coral. While the jury voted in favor of the death penalty, it will be up to trial Judge Nicholas Thompson to impose the sentence. Wilson's sentencing is scheduled for July 23. Here's what to know about the death penalty in Florida and Wade Wilson's sentence: Capital felonies eligible for death penalty in Florida Capital felonies, including first-degree murder and rape, are punishable by death or life imprisonment in Florida. Punishment is decided during the penalty phase of a trial where aggravating and mitigating circumstances are considered. DeSantis 2023 law makes child rape eligible for Florida death penalty In May 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill making convictions for sexual battery or attempted sexual battery with injury of a child under 12 eligible for the death penalty. "In Florida, we stand for the protection of children," DeSantis said. "We think that in the worst of the worst cases the only appropriate punishment is the ultimate punishment." Jury votes don't have to be unanimous for death penalty in Florida Florida juries were required to vote unanimously for a death sentence recommendation until April 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis lowered the threshold by signing into law a bill allowing juries to recommend death with as few as 8 votes. Wilson's jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 in favor of the death sentence. Lethal injection or electric chair? Florida death row inmates have choice Persons sentenced to death in Florida can choose between two execution methods. Death sentences are executed by lethal injection by default, but the person sentenced has one opportunity to choose death by electrocution instead. Once the Florida Supreme Court affirms the sentence, the condemned must deliver a written request for electrocution to the warden within 30 days. Where is Florida's death row? Male death row inmates are housed on death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, 45 miles southwest of Jacksonville. This embedded content is not available in your region. Female death row inmates are imprisoned at Lowell Annex in Ocala. This embedded content is not available in your region. Where does Florida carry out executions? Florida executions by lethal injection and electric chair take place at the execution chamber at Florida State Prison in Raiford. The executioner is a private citizen who is paid $150 per execution. Florida law allows for the executioner to remain anonymous. Wade Wilson murders Kristine Melton, 35, of Cape Coral, was murdered Oct. 7, 2019, by Wade Wilson, 30. Kristine Melton, 35, grew up in Illinois and moved with a friend to Cape Coral where she worked as a waitress. Melton and her friend Stephanie Sailors met Wilson, then 25, at a Cape Coral bar on Oct. 7, 2019. That morning, the trio ended up at Melton's duplex. After Sailors left, Wilson strangled Melton to death as she slept in her bed and stole her car. Diane Ruiz, 43, was a mother, engaged to be married and worked as a bartender. Diane Ruiz's body was found in a field in Cape Coral on Oct. 10, 2019, four days after she was reported missing. A short time after killing Melton, Wilson saw Ruiz walking along a Cape Coral street and asked her for directions to a nearby school. Wilson lured her into the car and when she tried to leave he beat and strangled her before pushing her out of the car and running her over 10 to 20 times. Her body was found in a field three days later, as vultures circled overhead. Wade Wilson sentence On June 12, 2024, Wilson was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, grand theft, battery, burglary and petty theft. During the penalty phase of the trial, the jury voted 9-3 and 10-2 in favor of the death penalty for the murder convictions. Judge Nicholas Thompson will decide whether to impose the death sentence. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23. Where is Wade Wilson now? Wilson is currently being held at the Lee County Jail. Once he is sentenced and other unrelated charges are resolved, he'll be transferred into the Florida prison system. If the judge in his case confirms the death penalty, Wilson will join the 276 men on death row at Union Correctional Institution. Contributing: Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Wade Wilson murders: Florida death penalty explained NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Waldens Puddle animal rescue is the primary wildlife rehabilitation center in Middle Tennessee. They rescue, rehabilitate and release wild animals back where they belong. They take in a range of species, but theyre seeing an alarming trend in one especially: foxes. When it comes to foxes, Jerry Vandiver will tell you its a passion that found him. I started out as a volunteer doing laundry, feeding turtles and catching hawks and owls. And then the need for fox rescue has risen so sharply, that I just stepped in it at that point, a fox with a beautiful animal that I really knew nothing about. His love for foxes runs so deep, he even wrote a song about them, its called Free at Last, and it was co-written with Caitlin Edmonson, who also performs the song. Waldens Puddle continues legacy of saving wildlife It perfectly describes Vandivers mission for these animals, which he says are in crisis in Davidson County. In 2019, we admitted five foxes with mange, in 2020, we admitted 47. And its been about that level ever since last year and we were closing on 70, said Vandiver. (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) He said its due to the usage of rodenticides or rat poison. What happens is when the rat or mouse eats the poison, it doesnt kill them immediately. But it slows them down and makes them for easy prey. The fox comes and catches the slow mouse and that poison goes into foxes body, its immune system breaks down and the mites that cause mange are on the fox and they take over, he said. Critters help educate Middle Tennessee on wildlife protection Theres no natural cure for mange, but it is very treatable. That is, if you can catch them, which is where Vandiver comes in. If they are seeing hair coming out or seeing see the eyes or squinting, those are typical symptoms of mange. First thing is call us, call us, call us, call us, he begged. We can come out, we can help, we can set a trap, we can try to catch them and we can bring it in here and treat them. It doesnt matter what time of day, when a fox is in need, hell be there. Its almost like a full-time job and they joke that Im the only full-timer here thats not getting paid, Vandiver said, smiling. (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) (Courtesy: Waldens Puddle) What is it about the foxes that he loves? Their fluffy tails? Their eyes? For Vandiver. its simple: Theyre families, unlike any other animal Ive seen, mother and father raised together. Theyre happy, beautiful families. Now he has dedicated his life to restoring and maintaining that family unit. I wanna see them thrive. I care because theyre beautiful, said Vandiver. What to do if you find a baby bird on the ground? For him, its all worth it in the end. (Its) A joyful experience. If you come to a release where theres some time bring Kleenex. Yeah, its very emotional, said Vandiver. When the doors to the cage open, the fox runs out and theyre free at last. Waldens Puddle is currently raising money to build a fox enclosure because the need is so great. If youd like to help, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Hokyoung Kim for HuffPost Washington states prison officials forcibly removed a transgender woman from the womens prison where she had lived for three and a half years and transferred her to a mens facility last week, marking the first time the agency has removed a transgender person from gender-affirming housing. Last Friday afternoon, Amber Kim was removed from her cell at the Washington Corrections Center for Women and placed in waist restraints. When her requests to see paperwork authorizing the transfer and to speak to her lawyer were denied, she refused to continue walking, Kim told HuffPost. Guards slammed her to the ground, she said, tied her ankles and wrists together and threw her in the back of an SUV, and drove her to Monroe Correctional Complex, a mens prison about 70 miles away. There, she was placed in solitary confinement as punishment for refusing transfer, she said. Kim has been on a hunger strike since last Friday, she said, demanding to be transferred back to WCCW, the womens prison. Speaking from solitary confinement in the mens prison earlier this week, Kim expressed fear and desperation. Im just scared its gonna get a lot worse before it gets better. Kim was previously the subject of a HuffPost story about her 15-year fight for gender-affirming health care and housing in prison, an environment in which the state exercises near-total control over the people in its custody. The story documented Kims struggle to access a legal name change, hormone therapy and finally, a housing placement among other women. After multiple denials, some of which relied on transphobic rationale, Washingtons Department of Corrections finally allowed Kim to move to a womens prison in 2021. Last October, the DOC reached a settlement with the nonprofit organization Disability Rights Washington that dramatically improved the prison systems trans health care policies. DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange hailed the landmark agreement as another step in the right direction toward improving gender-affirming care in the states prisons. After years of fighting for basic rights, Kim felt she could just do her time. But that feeling of relief was short-lived. In March, the National Review published an inflammatory story about a leaked disciplinary report describing Kim having sex with another woman. The story, which deadnamed and misgendered Kim, included no allegations of assault or non-consensual activity, but suggested that transgender women are male inmates who identified as women to sexually exploit incarcerated women. DOC policy regards incarcerated individuals gender identity as confidential information. After the National Review story was published, DOC media relations manager Tobby Hatley told HuffPost in an email that the agency was concerned that someone disclosed private medical information about Kim and that the leak was under investigation. When HuffPost asked for an update on the status of the investigation 10 weeks later, Hatley said on June 4 it would be finalized this week. The following Monday, Hatley said the investigation is ongoing and that there is no specific time for the investigation to conclude. Asked what had changed since he said the investigation was nearly complete, Hatley said he did not know. The act of engaging in a sex act with another person(s) is a violation of DOC rules. Kims initial punishment for the so-called 504 infraction was being moved to a different, more restrictive unit in the womens prison, which she expected would be temporary. Earlier this month, she received shocking news. Her counselor told her that prison officials had recommended she be moved out of the womens prison. When she asked for the reason for the recommendation, she could not get an answer. But she strongly suspected it was related to the 504 infraction. Cis women get caught having sex all the time and nothing happens. Maybe they get moved to a different cell or pod, Kim told HuffPost after she learned about the transfer recommendation. I just want to be treated the same as every other woman here, she said, noting her previously clean disciplinary record during her three and a half years in the womens prison. A week after the transfer, Kim has yet to receive an explanation for it. DOC policy allows individuals to be removed from gender-affirming housing if there are documented, objective safety and security concerns. But it also states that transgender individuals own views about personal safety will be considered when making housing recommendations, a requirement echoed in federal law. When I first asked the DOC why Kim was recommended for transfer, officials declined to say, citing confidentiality restrictions. After Kim signed authorizations for DOC to provide me with information, DOC communications director Chris Wright wrote that the housing review was initiated because of Kims most recent sexual contact with another incarcerated individual. Both individuals were infracted and Kim admitted multiple times to the consensual sexual contact. DOC policy does not permit any sex, even if consensual, in prison, Wright wrote. In a follow-up email, Wright said he should not have used the word consensual, since there technically is no such thing. The other woman involved in the incident, whom HuffPost is declining to name to protect her privacy, did not respond to a request for comment. Despite DOCs rules against physical intimacy, consensual sex in prison is absolutely commonplace, said Starr Lake, who was incarcerated at WCCW for more than 20 years and briefly overlapped with Kim. Life doesnt stop because people are in prison, Lake said. People facing long prison sentences really do their best to live their life as normally as they can within the confines of the institution theyre in and so that means having relationships, making connections and behaving as any healthy adult would. When Lake first got to prison, the DOC used to allow brief hugs, but eventually banned that, too. They were like, No hugging. No touching. I cant imagine who I would be today if I spent 24 years in prison and never had a hug. I cant imagine. Much of the intimacy in prison goes undetected by prison staff, but there have been 33 so-called 504 infractions at WCCW since January 2021, around the time Kim arrived. This is the only one that resulted in a transfer to another facility, Wright told HuffPost in an email. We can plainly see that while DOC is actively parading around its progressive stance towards trans people, what we can see in practice is that its extremely tenuous, said A.D. Lewis, an attorney who used to work with trans people incarcerated in Washington state and now runs the Prison Law Offices Trans Beyond Bars project. And that if a trans person allegedly breaks a prison rule, they will be treated differently and punished more harshly than non-trans people. Amber Kim spent three and a half years at Washington Corrections Center for Women before she was forcibly transferred to a men's prison. courtesy of friend of Amber Kim Trans people face disproportionate rates of incarceration, and once locked up, they are disproportionately likely to be the victims of violence. Many prisons, which tend to be located in rural areas, attract conservative staffers with transphobic views. Each state and the federal government treat trans prisoners differently, but most places house people in prisons that match the sex they were assigned at birth. When Kim first got to prison in 2008, she was placed in a maximum security mens facility where she did not feel safe coming out as trans. I was scared all the time that if somebody figured out I was trans, Id be done for, she previously told HuffPost. She privately disclosed she was trans to prison staff in 2013, hoping it would lead to gender-affirming health care and housing. But for years, her requests were repeatedly denied. The denials didnt come with an explanation. Eventually, Kim filed a public records request, paying 20 cents per page for documentation of the denial of one of her requests to move to the womens prison. The paperwork revealed that prison officials deadnamed and misgendered her and leaned on baseless assertions that as a trans woman, she posed an inherent threat to cis women even though the prisons own classification system labeled her as a potential victim rather than assailant. In 2020, the DOC released its first trans housing policy, and the following year, it allowed Kim to move to WCCW. Of the approximately 250 openly trans men and women in DOC prisons, 11 are currently in gender-affirming housing, Wright said. Although most transgender people in DOC custody are not in gender-congruent housing, the state has never previously removed a trans person from such a setting. DOCs own policies have come to recognize that trans people exist in prisons and have faced significant danger and their own decision to transfer Amber to a womens prison [in 2021] indicates their recognition that she is, in fact, a trans woman who faces danger in mens prisons, said Dean Spade, a professor at Seattle University School of Law. So their current position to transfer her to a mens prison is out of line with their own policy requirements and the most basic requirements they are under to prevent grievous harm to her. Nothing changed about who she is, Spade said. Kim has been in the Intensive Management Unit, or solitary confinement, since she arrived at the mens prison last Friday. It took a day and a half for prison staff to provide her with gender-appropriate undergarments, and two days until she had phone access. She has spent the past week locked in her cell nearly 24 hours a day. On some days, she has been allowed out briefly to use the phone or go outside. She is allowed to shower three times a week. Wright said Kim was placed in segregation after she refused to follow the lawful direction of staff and attempted to assault them. Kim says that although she did refuse transfer, she was not violent. In response to a request for the video footage of the transfer, Wright directed HuffPost to file a formal public records request. While at WCCW, Kim made friends, finally got clothes that fit, and recently completed a one-year computer programming degree. She is a few credits away from completing her associates degree, with high honors. On Monday, Lisa Kanamu, who has been incarcerated at WCCW for 18 years, showed up for her weekly peer support meeting with Kim. When Kim wasnt there, Kanamu learned what had happened from other prisoners who had witnessed the transfer. She was devastated. I love Amber dearly, Kanamu said, describing her as smart, dry funny, and exceedingly generous, volunteering her time to help others learn math. It felt like only a matter of time until Kim referred to her as Mom, Kanamu said. Thats how we are here though. Because we are not with our families. Were with each other. We celebrate our wins together, our triumphs, we mourn our losses together. Birthdays, holidays, we do it all together. So we become a familial unit. And Amber was quickly growing into my family unit, Kanamu said. She didnt deserve this. Related... The last mammoths were isolated on Wrangel Island, north of Siberia, when sea levels rose due to melting ice. In the image, the tusk of one of the mammoths found on the island. About 9,200 years ago, when the ice had retreated for several millennia from most of the northern hemisphere, a herd of woolly mammoths no more than 10 were isolated in the far north of Siberia. The melting of ice raised the waters and what was previously connected to the continent became an island, today called Wrangel. It was the last refuge of this imposing animal. Being so few, the laws of evolution condemned them to be wiped out. But the study of their genome shows that the group overcame the profound inbreeding, and grew bigger: in just 20 generations, there were 300 mammoths, a number that would have given them a decent shot at survival. However, just as they had mysteriously thrived for 6,000 years after disappearing from the rest of the planet, they mysteriously vanished. Now, a genetic analysis of two dozen Mammuthus primigenius has provided clues about what could have happened to them, but it does not solve the mystery. While human empires such as the Assyrian or Egyptian empires prospered, the last woolly mammoths lived on Wrangel Island. Found throughout the northern hemisphere during the Ice Age, their numbers fell millennium after millennium. The fact that the animals demise coincided with human expansion, as well as the end of the Ice Age, has divided scientists on the cause of their extinction. While some blame climate change, others believe it was human hunters. Today, advances in genomics and ancient DNA (which is better preserved in the tundra than in tropical rainforests) are opening new windows to the past and trying to find an answer to this question. One of the most ambitious efforts has just been published in the scientific journal Cell. A group of researchers who have been excavating in Wrangel for years analyzed the genome of 21 mammoths. The genetic material belongs to specimens from more than 50,000 years ago, when the species lived in times of splendor, until just 4,300 years ago. Fourteen of them were on the island during the 6,000 years that were isolated. By comparing the islanders with each other and with those on the mainland, the researchers confirmed that, as expected, there was a very small genetic pool. All mammoths throughout that time descended from a single matriarch. The scientists estimate that the herd would have had about eight members. With this profound founding effect, inbreeding was inevitable. This resulted in a sharp decline in genetic diversity. Given this problem, the expectation would be for the species to be driven to extinction. But this was not the case. Separated from the rest of the planet, hundreds of mammoths thrived for millennia on an island no larger than the Madrid region only to disappear in just 300 years. Beth Zaiken The population was very inbred. Its hard to give an exact number or compare the amount of inbreeding with another species because this depends so much on the type of method or filtering you use. But if we compare the Wrangel mammoths with their direct ancestors from the mainland, we find that they had four times higher levels of homozygosity, a measure of inbreeding, says the first author of the research, Marianne Dehasque from the Center for Palaeogenetics, a joint agency of the Swedish Museum of Natural History and Stockholm University. Her colleague David Diez del Molino adds: We are the first to be surprised. When we look at the variability within each individual, the genetic variability, the index we use is heterozygosity. That value was 0.75 before Wrangel. And it is very stable in mammoths of very different periods, 50,000 years ago, 20,000 years ago, 12,000 years ago. By the time we have mammoth 0 on the island, i.e., less than 10,000 years ago, the diversity value plummets to 0.42. Thats 43% less. Another of the results that has confused the scientists concerns mutations. In very small groups, with inbreeding, an increase in these genetic changes, some potentially harmful, is expected. In fact, they observed a 30% increase in deletions (mutation due to loss of genetic material). But again, that wasnt what led to the woolly mammoths extinction. Following classical models, we thought that, when a population is small, it accumulates mutations that are harmful, deleterious, because you cant make them disappear. You have so few individuals that they have to reproduce, otherwise the population disappears, says Diez del Molino. When populations are larger, it is easier for the mutation to disappear, because when there are thousands of individuals, if one that has a negative mutation does not reproduce, nothing happens, he explains. But what the researchers found is that while the most harmful mutations were purged, others that were not so harmful built up. They found confirmation of this immediately: from a small herd, the woolly mammoths population grew to be between 200 and 300. That is a considerable population for an island that is a bit larger than Spains Basque Country. Whats most striking is that this growth occurred in just 20 generations. If comparisons to todays elephants are valid, that means it took them only about 600 years to reach those numbers. Furthermore, for the next 5,000 years, the size of the population remained relatively stable. Love Dalen, senior author of the research, who is also from the Center for Palaeogenetics, states in a press release: We can now confidently reject the idea that the population was simply too small and that they were doomed to go extinct for genetic reasons. In fact, he believes that this means it was probably just some random event that killed them off, and if that random event hadnt happened, then we would still have mammoths today. After millennia of relative stability, genetic data reveal that it took only 10 generations (about three centuries) for woolly mammoths to completely disappear. But the researchers were not able to identify why. The climate could not have been responsible for such a sudden disappearance. And according to Diez del Molino, There is no evidence that humans hunted mammoths on the island. In fact, the human species only appears in the fossil record about 300 years after the last mammoth died. Given that our results show that the population was demographically stable until its extinction about 4,000 years ago, we think that what caused the final disappearance of the mammoth must have been something brief and sudden, says Dehasque. This is where we enter the realm of speculation, but, for example, a disease outbreak, extremely bad weather affecting food availability or other catastrophic events could have caused the collapse. At least one clue supports the pathogen hypothesis: the Wrangel mammoths had very low diversity in a set of genes known as the major histocompatibility complex, which is usually very stable and plays a key role in the vertebrate immune response. This may have made them more vulnerable to diseases. Juan L. Cantalapiedra, a paleobiologist at Spains National Museum of Natural Sciences, who did not participate in the research, highlights how much new information is becoming available thanks to the field of genetics. With respect to the studys findings, he points out that extinctions are very complex processes in which several factors are usually involved. He is interested in the idea of a virus or bacteria being responsible for the extinction, but recalls that pathological agents do not fossilize, meaning researchers would have to look in the animals frozen in the permafrost. Although the mammoth genomes analyzed in this study span a long period of time, they do not include the last 300 years of the species existence. However, researchers have recently unearthed fossils from the last period of their history on the island and plan to perform genomic sequencing in the future. Perhaps then the mystery of the last mammoths will be unraveled. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) It might seem especially daring to try to get away from police on your motorcycle, but it took some help from a helicopter to track down one such motorcyclist in West Michigan this Thursday. Said motorcyclist drove away from an attempted traffic stop with Wyoming Police Department on Thursday, Michigan State Police Sixth District said in a social media post. MSP had the Trooper 3 police helicopter in the area and began following the motorcyclist from the sky, which the unit recorded in a video that they later posted online. A snapshot from MSP Trooper 3 helicopters video of a motorcycle fleeing Wyoming Police Department. (MSP Sixth District) The video shows motorcycles path over side streets and parking lots as it fled, with state troopers eventually attempting a second stop, at which point the driver finally pulled over. Troopers arrested the motorcycle driver and took them into custody, later turning them over to Wyoming police. You can see the video of the pursuit, taken from the sky, showing that even with motorcycle agility, its hard to escape on the ground when the cops are in the sky. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Watch: A shaky and mumbling Biden freezes in first debate Joe Biden stumbled over his speech a number of times during the debate Joe Biden froze, stuttered and lost his train of thought on stage during a disastrous first 2024 debate against Donald Trump, raising serious questions about his ability to continue his re-election bid. The 81-year-old presidents voice was faint as he rambled and struggled to coherently answer questions in the first of two set-piece live debates. The poor performance allowed Mr Trump to claim the night, although the Republican candidate also delivered a string of clumsy responses and failed to say he would accept the results of Novembers vote. Mr Biden frequently paused to cough and looked down at his notes on the podium, rather than into the camera, as millions of Americans tuned in to watch his first encounter with his Republican rival in four years. In the middle of the debate, the White House started to brief the media that the president was suffering from a cold. I have a sore throat, Mr Biden told reporters later. The debate in Atlanta, Georgia, opened with questions on the US economy, but Mr Biden repeatedly paused to correct himself as he confused millions and billions and percentage figures. In one particularly damaging moment, Mr Biden lost his train of thought completely and froze on stage. His response drifted from an answer on tax policy to health policy, bringing up Covid-19 before saying, excuse me and trailing off again. Donald Trump was prevented from talking over Joe Biden with microphones that moderators switched on and off - Justin Sullivan Look, we finally beat Medicare, Mr Biden finally said, referring to health care for over 65-year-olds before being cut off by moderators. Trump was quick to deliver a riposte: Thats right, he did beat Medicaid, he beat it to death. And hes destroying Medicare. I really dont know what he said, I dont think he even knows what he said, Trump added after another confused answer by Mr Biden. Ugly attacks The historic night the first time a sitting US president and a former president have debated each other on stage came with strict rules imposed by host CNN that limited the two mens responses during the two-hour debate. It prevented the chaotic scenes that marked the pairs encounter in 2020, but did not stop the two mens jousting over pointed personal attacks. Mr Biden told his opponent he was a sucker and a loser. He branded his GOP rival a convicted felon, and a criminal. He turned to Trump and accused him of having the morals of an alley cat, referencing his prosecution over a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who alleged an affair. I did not have sex with a porn star, replied Trump. Trump, in turn, told Mr Biden he was the worst president in history. Trump frequently flipped questions on the economy into responses on the US-Mexico border crisis. The only jobs he created are for illegal immigrants, he said of Mr Bidens immigration policies. We are living right now in a rats nest He rewarded the wealthy, Mr Biden hit back, as he raised Trumps tax cuts. Trump said in response: They spent money like a bunch of people that dont know what theyre doing. The question of abortion access was raised just minutes into the debate, a political vulnerability for Trump, who installed the Supreme Court that overturned the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v Wade that enshrined abortion access nationwide. Trump took an ambiguous stance on where he drew the line on restrictions, saying abortion was complex, but not really complex. The CNN moderators were able to turn of the candidates microphones at will - Gerald Herbert Trump said he supported exceptions to abortion bans in cases involving rape, incest and the life of the mother. Mr Biden shot back: Its been a terrible thing, what youve done and promised to restore Roe v Wade. The president claimed his opponent and his Republican backers in Congress would pass a universal ban on abortion. Ill veto it, hell sign it, he said. Trump claimed that Vladimir Putins terms for peace in Ukraine were not acceptable. But suggested he would drastically curtain US spending in support of Kyivs defences against Russias war, calling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky the greatest salesman ever. Im not knocking him. Im only saying the money that were spending on this war... it should have never happened, Trump said. Youve got to ask these people [in Europe] to put up the money, he said. Trump went on to claim he would have the war settled before he takes office on Jan 29 next year if he wins back the White House. Discussing Israels war in Gaza, Trump said the conflict had broken out because Biden was perceived as weak on the global stage. This place, the whole world, is blowing up under him, Trump said. Hes become like a Palestinian, he said at another point. But they dont like him because hes a very bad Palestinian. Hes a weak one. I never heard so much malarkey in my whole life, Biden retorted. Trump said violence during the election on Nov 5 would be totally unacceptable, but he also declined to commit to accepting the results regardless of the outcome. Asked three times whether he would accept the results, Trump said: If its a fair and legal and good election, absolutely. The 81-year-old president's voice was faint as he rambled and struggled to coherently answer questions - Justin Sullivan Biden hit back: He says that if he loses again, such a whiner that he is, that this could be a bloodbath. Trump, pressed on his actions during the Capitol riot on Jan 6 2021, was unapologetic. On Jan 6, we were respected all over the world, all over the world we were respected, Trump said. The debate descended into farce towards the end, with the two presidential candidates trading boasts over their golf handicaps. Viewers react during the debate - Carolyn Kaster Supporters of Joe Biden look subdued - EDWARD M PIO RODA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Trump used an answer on his mental and physical fitness to brag about his skill on the course. Joe Biden was laughing through much of the rambling answer and made a jibe about his rivals weight. He said: Just look at what he says he is and compare it to what he is. Mr Biden then went on to talk up his own golfing skills, telling Trump he was happy to play against him if you carry your own bag. Lets not act like children, Trump said. Biden replied: You are a child. Joe Biden was quickly joined by first lady Jill Biden after the debate - Evan Vucci Mr Biden was joined by his wife Jill, who watched from a green room. Trump walked straight off the stage alone, after the debate. His wife Melania did not accompany him to Atlanta. According to a CNN poll, 67 per cent of viewers thought Mr Trump won the debate, versus 33 per cent for Mr Biden. The presidential election is on Nov 5. 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. A video has emerged showing a low-flying Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter pop-up and lob munitions downrange using a toss bombing technique. The weapons in question are said to be a French-made rocket-assisted Hammer precision-guided bomb, which is designed to be used in exactly this way, among other modes of delivery. They could also be another kind of weapon, including a Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (ER) glide bomb, as this method of employment can be used with any bomb to minimize the launch aircrafts exposure to enemy defenses The footage of the toss-bombing MiG-29 emerged on social media earlier today. An additional video is said to show the weapons that were lobbed hitting a border crossing point between the Kharkiv and Belgorod regions of Ukraine and Russia, respectively. Kharkiv has been the focus of a major new Russian offensive since May. Footage reportedly showing Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet firing French-supplied AASM-250 Hammer guided bombs at a target in Belgorod Oblast of Russia.Notice the very low altitude from which the munitions are being launched.Geolocated impact point: Nekhoteevka border crossing, pic.twitter.com/mGGuqRAmyK Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) June 27, 2024 Reportedly the first footage of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 lobbing a pair of French-supplied AASM extended range bombs.The Ukrainian Fulcrum flies at low altitude, pitches up, releases the guided bombs, literally tossing them, before completing the turn and heading home. pic.twitter.com/THBwfZpgi7 OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 27, 2024 Location (50.3412155, 36.2936313) pic.twitter.com/RoYe8bsurM OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 27, 2024 The War Zone cannot immediately verify that the two videos are linked. The MiG-29 clip is also low resolution, making definitive confirmation that a Hammer bomb is indeed what is seen being launched difficult. It cuts to footage showing what appear to be two smoke trails, which could also point to Hammer. Ukrainian Fulcrums, along with Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack jets, are known to carry the bombs, which French authorities first announced they would be supplying back in January. Ukraines MiG-29s, as well as Su-27 Flankers, are also now able to launch JDAM-ERs thanks to special pylons and other modifications. Low pass by a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29, armed with a French-supplied AASM 250 HAMMER extended-range guided bomb. pic.twitter.com/FlibJ9VZfm OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 15, 2024 Hammer is a precision-guided bomb that is really more of a conversion kit, being created by attaching a nose-mounted guidance section and tail-mounted range-extension kit (REK) to a standard iron bomb. This is similar in some broad strokes to the JDAM-ERs that Ukraine has also received. Hammers come in a variety of sizes, but Ukraine is understood to have gotten 500-pound (250-kilogram) class types, also sometimes referred to AASM-250s. Upclose footage of AASM 250 in Ukrainian service https://t.co/Ceq3tkkDLA pic.twitter.com/ENTdQquAh8 Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 26, 2024 Its worth noting that the basic idea of toss bombing, also known as loft bombing, is many decades old. By lobbing bombs at targets indirectly, launching aircraft can stay further away or otherwise avoid enemy defenses. During the early years of the Cold War, the U.S. military also notably trained to use toss bombing as a way for smaller and/or slower U.S. military aircraft to get nuclear bombs on target while giving them more time to escape the blast radius. With unguided munitions, a toss/lofted technique significantly reduces accuracy. Hammer and JDAM-ER both come standard with GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance packages that would allow them to zero in on set coordinates even when employed indirectly. Much more importantly, the French precision-guided munitions have the REK, which is a solid-fuel rocket booster designed to extend the weapons range. This is already a very useful additional capability when employing these weapons in level flight at higher altitudes, giving 500-pound/250-kilogram class versions the ability to hit targets up to 43 miles (70 kilometers) away. That is similar to the stated maximum range of the unpowered JDAM-ER with its pop-out wing kit. However, any air-dropped precision-guided bombs maximum range depends on altitude, with it generally decreasing the lower the launch platform is at the time of release. Hammers REK is specifically designed to give low-flying launch aircraft a unique option for getting the bomb to targets at extended ranges via a lofted trajectory, including up and over rough terrain with the help of rocket assistance. The manufacturer Safran says that the weapon can still hit targets at least nine miles (15 kilometers) away when released at low altitudes and it can do so with the weapon impacting at a higher-energy state than its glide bomb counterparts. Safran This graphic gives a very rudimentary look at the different employment options for Hammer, including launching it up and over terrain at its target. Safran That being said, Ukraines unpowered JDAM-ERs could still also be employed using a toss/loft bombing technique. This was something The War Zone explicitly noted when it first emerged that Ukraine was set to get those glide bombs. I dont want to get into the exact tactics but obviously, the lower you are, and the further away from the surface to air missiles that can detect you because of the curvature of the earth affect how far the bomb can travel, U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker, head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), as well as NATOs Allied Air Command and U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA), said while speaking about Ukraines use of JDAM-ER back in March 2023. There are tactics where you can go in low and do some things and get back. That Ukrainian jets would be lobbing Hammers or JDAM-ERs makes sense given the multi-layered air defense threats that both sides of the conflict continue to face. Even after more than two years, neither side has been able to establish any form of air superiority. Russian and Ukrainian helicopters have already been lobbing barrages of unguided rockets indirectly using a lofted technique for some time now due to these threats. An interesting segment from a newly released Russian MoD video that shows VKS Mi-28NM attack helicopters conducting very low-level loft attacks with 80mm S-8-series folding-fin aircraft rockets (FFARs). pic.twitter.com/KxWOYcFFKn Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) December 28, 2023 Insane footage of Ukrainian helicopters buzzing the landscape in Eastern Ukraine and firing rockets. Very brave and talented pilots h/t @UkrArmyBlog pic.twitter.com/e1Htt46Tde Hugo Kaaman (@HKaaman) September 12, 2022 Since January 2023, Russian fixed-wing aircraft have also been employing their own increasingly larger stand-off glide bombs with pop-out wings to help reduce how exposed they have to be to Ukrainian air defenses, especially longer-range Western-supplied systems like the U.S.-made Patriot. 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 Ukrainian MiG-29s use of toss-bombing munitions, whether they be Hammers specifically designed to be used this way or something else, is a critical tactic that allows for precision strikes beyond the front lines while giving the pilot and aircraft a good chance of surviving to do it again the next day. Contact the author: joe@twz.com View comments The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. (Download it here.) Hosted by Jane Pauley. WATCH THE FULL JUNE 30 BROADCAST! COVER STORY: Election 2024 post-debate: The road ahead for Biden and Trump | Watch Video CBS News chief election & campaign correspondent Robert Costa examines the political fallout from Thursday's debate between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, and talks with New York Times White House reporter Katie Rogers, Democratic Party strategist Faiz Shakir, and Republican Chris Sununu, governor of New Hampshire. For more info: Katie Rogers, New York Times White House correspondentFaiz Shakir, Institute of Politics & Public Service, Georgetown UniversityGov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire ALMANAC: June 30 (Video) "Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date. Photos of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who was one of the most photographed women in the world, until her tragic death, along with her husband and sister, in a 1999 plane crash off Martha's Vineyard. / Credit: CBS News; Getty photos by Jeff Kravitz, Patrick McMullan, Monique Stienstra BOOKS: The timeless fashion style of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy | Watch Video From the moment she first began appearing at the side of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, a fashion industry publicist, became one of the most photographed women in the world. Correspondent Erin Moriarty talks with Sunita Kumar Nair, author of "CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion," and with Washington Post columnist Robin Givhan, about the impact that Bessette's personal style continues to have 25 years following her death. For more info: "CBK: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion" by Sunita Kumar Nair (Harry N. Abrams), in Hardcover and eBook formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgsunita-kumarnair.comRobin Givhan, senior critic-at-large, The Washington Post Victor Montalvo (a.k.a. B-Boy Victor) will be representing the United States at this year's Paris Olympic Games in the breaking competition. / Credit: CBS News SPORTS: The origins of breaking, the newest Olympic sport Breaking (or breakdancing), an acrobatic dance style with its roots in New York's hip hop culture, is making its Olympic debut in this year's Summer Games in Paris. Correspondent Luke Burbank talks with Victor Montalvo (a.k.a. B-Boy Victor), who will be competing for breaking gold; and with founding members of the b-boy group New York City Breakers, who came up with some of the sport's original moves in the Bronx back in the late 1970s and early '80s. For more info: Victor Montalvo (a.k.a. B-Boy Victor), Team USANew York City Breakers (Instagram)London Reyes (a.k.a. B-Boy London) (Instagram) HEALTH: Redefining old age (Video) CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook talks with experts about the distinctions between normal and abnormal aging as it affects memory issues, a workforce continuing beyond traditional retirement age, and the testing of surgeons who currently work without age limits. (This story was originally broadcast on February 18, 2024.) For more info: louisearonson.com"Elderhood: Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimagining Life" by Louise Aronson (Bloomsbury), in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgMark Katlic, chief of surgery, LifeBridge Health Systems, BaltimoreThe Aging Surgeon Program PASSAGE: In memoriam (Video) "Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week, including comic actor Martin Mull. HISTORY: Students making history (Video) At a time when educators may face restrictions on what they can teach, a contest sponsored by the non-profit organization National History Day offers students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to explore significant topics of history. Correspondent Faith Salie talks with some of the young people using writing, performance art and documentary filmmaking to tell stories of the past that resonate today, proving that history never gets old. For more info: National History DayContest Process The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney launches Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles in response to increased Iranian-backed Houthi malign behavior in the Red Sea, Feb. 3, 2024. / Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Lau, U.S. Navy WORLD: USS Carney returns from a Middle East deployment like no other | Watch Video For the crew of the USS Carney, the war between Israel and Hamas turned a routine seven-month deployment to the Middle East into a fight against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who launched drones and missiles in support of Hamas. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin talks with commanders of the destroyer that patrolled the Red Sea, defending commercial ships transiting to and from the Suez Canal. For more info: USS Carney (DDG-64) (Official site) A self-portrait taken by Paul McCartney during The Beatles' first trip to America, as featured in the book, ART: Rediscovering Paul McCartney's photos of The Beatles' 1964 invasion | Watch Video Paul McCartney recently uncovered photographs he'd thought were lost ones he took during The Beatles' first tour of America in 1964. The pictures candid shots from the vantage point of newly-anointed superstars are the basis of the book, "1964: Eyes of the Storm," and an exhibition currently on view at the Brooklyn Museum. Correspondent Anthony Mason gets a private tour with McCartney, who talks about documenting the astonishing welcome that the "lads from Liverpool" received in the U.S. (This story was originally broadcast on June 18, 2023.) For more info: "1964: Eyes of the Storm" by Paul McCartney (Liveright), in Hardcover, eBook and Spiral-bound formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgExhibition: "Paul McCartney Photographs: 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm" at the Brooklyn Museum (through August 18)Paul McCartney Supreme Court justices pose for an official portrait on Friday, Oct 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. / Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images JUSTICE: The ethical quandary facing the Supreme Court (and America) | Watch Video Polls show Americans' trust in the Supreme Court has never been lower, especially in light of ethical lapses that lead observers to question the impartiality of justices. Correspondent David Pogue talks with experts who explain why initiatives at the nation's highest court -- from a code of ethics to term limits to the nuclear option of impeachment -- are unlikely to restore respect and trust in SCOTUS any time soon. For more Info: Cliff Sloan, professor, Georgetown Law SchoolJudge Nancy Gertner (ret.), senior lecturer on law, Harvard Law SchoolRobert Ray, Zeichner Ellman & Krause LLPSupreme Court of the United States COMMENTARY: The Biden-Trump debate was held. Now what? | Watch Video At this year's first presidential debate, one candidate stumbled, the other repeatedly lied. CBS News correspondent John Dickerson, anchor of "The Daily Report," considers the next steps in an election in which President Biden has declared democracy itself is on the ballot. NATURE: Bison in South Dakota's Custer State Park (Extended Video) We leave you this Sunday in South Dakota's Custer State Park, with bison young and old home on the range. Videographer: Kevin Kjergaard. WEB EXCLUSIVES: GALLERY: Notable deaths in 2024 A look back at the esteemed personalities who left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity. GALLERY: Summer music heats up 2024 Live performances are in full swing this summer. Scroll through our concert gallery, featuring pictures by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton. EVENTS: LIVE TALKS: Mo Rocca in Conversation with Candice Bergen The "CBS Sunday Morning" correspondent talks with Emmy Award-winning actress Candice Bergen about her career, and also discuss Rocca's new book, "Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs," at the 92nd Street Y in New York City on July 15. For more info: Ticket info: Mo Rocca in Conversation with Candice Bergen The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison. DVR Alert! Find out when "Sunday Morning" airs in your city "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET. (Download it here.) Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on CBSNews.com, CBS.com and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox. Follow us on Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; TikTok; and at cbssundaymorning.com. You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Play.it. Now you'll never miss the trumpet! California announces largest land return in state's history Students making history Redefining old age SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A West Valley man is facing federal drug charges after police say they seized large amounts of heroin and fentanyl from both his car and home. Florentino Ramos-Salazar, 29, has been charged with possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. According to Trina Higgins, U.S. Attorney of the District of Utah, Ramos-Salazar became the center of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation in June 2024. During the investigation, DEA agents attempted to stop a silver Jeep Cherokee that left a West Valley home they were watching. The driver of the Jeep, later identified as Ramos-Salazar, allegedly attempted to flee from the agents in a parking lot before stopping. Investigators say the recovered 1,000 blue M-30 pills inside the Jeep and took Ramos-Salazar into custody. Upon his arrest, agents searched Ramos-Salazars West Valley home and allegedly found over 950 grams of heroin and over 4,400 grams of fentanyl pills. Ramos-Salazar made his first appearance on the indictment on Thursday, June 27 in downtown Salt Lake City. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Ayahuasca, a sacred drink made from the stem and leaves of a tree vine, has many names: psychedelic brew, hallucinogenic tea, mood medicine and more. It is even known as a teacher or a healer for its reported ability to help a person turn inward and come into alignment with past traumas. The plant and the rituals associated with it have deep roots in South American shamanic traditions. But in the past few decades, stories about the spiritually enhancing magic of ayahuasca have made their way to Europe and North America. Lauded for its transcendent healing powers by celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, athletes such as Aaron Rodgers and successful businessmen such as Elon Musk, the psychotropic allure of the plant now calls to hundreds of thousands of non-Indigenous consciousness-seekers globally. More and more ayahuasca retreats are popping up around the world. Indigenous peoples in South America primarily in Peru, Brazil and other parts of what is considered the Upper Amazon have been using ayahuasca for medicinal and religious purposes since at least 900 B.C.E. Hieroglyphic paintings depict the use of the sacred brew in a ceremony from the period of 900-250 B.C.E. Western interest in ayahuasca, however, has created some challenges for local Indigenous communities. As a medical anthropologist, I have spent the past quarter century studying the ways in which culture affects how people view and make decisions about their bodies. Through researching the connections between sexuality, drugs and cultures, I have come to understand the role of plant medicines like ayahuasca for individuals and communities. Dying to awaken Anthropologist of shamanism Michael Winkelman describes ayahuasca as a psychoindicator, a substance that integrates emotion and thought processes. According to Western scientific interpretations, the primary function of the substance allows a stripping away of a persons egocentric, conscious understanding of the world. Seekers die unto themselves, is what a shaman told me. In an altered state of consciousness, it is believed that the person can tap into their true wants and experiences and begin the process of deeper healing, awakening or spiritual cleansing. Traditionally, anthropologists note that ayahuasca has been used in South America to unlock information coming from unseen realms. Specifically, it was often called upon for divination, artistic inspiration, strategic insights, healing and shamanic journeys. Plant medicine While thousands of tourists flock to South America from all over the world each year in search of an authentic ayahuasca ritual, the exact tenets of the ritual today are somewhat under debate, though a few common themes do emerge. Most scholars and Indigenous and non-Indigenous healers agree that the plant should be cared for and treated by a plant expert called an ayahuascero, who after a lengthy eight- to 10-hour brewing process prepares a mudlike tea for consumption. The medicine is brought to the seekers during a ceremony, typically held in the evening around a sacred fire. A healer called a curandero calls to the spirit worlds for protection at the start of the ceremony. The healer then faces the four directions of north, east, south and west and uses a branch of the vine along with a rattle made of the ayahuasca tree to sing the icaros, or healing songs. Healers of the Indigenous Siekopai ethnic group take part in an ayahuasca drinking ceremony in Peru. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images Typically, purging begins after 20 minutes to an hour. For some people, this purging takes the form of vomiting or bowel voiding. The purging of energy that some experience physically, others experience emotionally in the form of laughter, crying, shaking or screaming into the wind. This is then sometimes followed by a movement into hallucination or a connection with the inner self where the outer world starts to fall away. And while each person describes slightly different experiences, recurring themes include ego death wherein people see themselves without attachment to material things or status visions of past selves and lives, waves of healing energy, and painful moments of reckoning with past wounds. Cultural quagmire In the spring of 2018, a double murder in the Peruvian Amazon rocked the ayahuasca shamanic community and cast a dark shadow on the hallucinogenic brew. Olivia Arevalo, a beloved 95-year-old curandero, was killed by a Canadian ayahuasca tourist named Sebastian Woodroffe. The death of Arevalo, heralded as the grandmother of the Shipibo-Kobibo tribe, caused outrage among the community, and Woodroffe was lynched by a mob. These incidents sparked widespread debates about non-Indigenous tourists flocking to the Amazon to imbibe the psychedelic tea: Spiritual seekers dont always respect boundaries and processes set by local healers the above incident being an extreme example. Namely, as anthropologist Veronica Davidov points out, as the use of ayahuasca increases among non-Indigenous individuals, the creation of entheogen tourism travel for the purposes of spiritual awakenings raises questions about the importance of spiritual contexts in these ceremonies. As Peruvian archaeologist and healer Ruben Orellana argues, ayahuasca rituals were developed within particular cultural contexts for Indigenous peoples. Without context, non-Indigenous seekers can veer into the territory of cultural appropriation at best, while also exposing themselves to the mental and physical health risks of the psychedelic brew. Spiritual tourism critics also note that many of the lodges are not owned by locals and that the influx of tourists has had a negative effect on the ecosystem. Local economies dont always benefit from the capital flowing into the area when outsiders become the middle man, even while local resources are being consumed. Not only are the intricacies of the cultural experience not always respected or appreciated, but the ecosystem suffers from this entheogen tourism when demand for the plant results in overharvesting of the Banisteriopisis caapi vines of the ayahuasca trees. Harmonizing and healing While worries about cultural appropriation are not necessarily misplaced, scholars such as Mark Hay note that none of this means that Westerners need to avoid the plant medicine altogether. Hay and others note that the mental health benefits of the plant are many and can be combined with Western approaches to illnesses such as treatment-resistant depression. Similarly, the healing powers of ayahuasca can be harmonized with Western approaches to mental health treatment and spirituality. This harmonization is not unlike the many urban Catholic Brazilians who combined Indigenous rituals with Christianity. In the early 20th century, at least three new and distinct ayahuasca religions were born in Brazil: The Santo Daime, the Barquinha and the Uniao do Vegetal came to areas where shamans had been practicing ayahuasca rituals for hundreds of years before Christianity arrived. These religions fused Christianity with earth-based spirituality as they emphasized the role of the Holy Trinity in giving humans healing plants. Church leaders also emphasized that the plants allowed them to get closer to God, noting that Christ spoke to them through the psychedelic brew. As a result, the practices took root with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities living in South America. These adaptations can provide a road map to approach ayahuasca with the appropriate reverence for its cultural and spiritual grounding. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Pardis Mahdavi, University of La Verne Read more: Pardis Mahdavi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. State Rep. Kelby Timmons. (Photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly) A western North Dakota legislative candidate has declined to demand a recount, Secretary of State Michael Howe said Friday. Rep. Kelby Timmons, R-Watford City, came in third place in the June 11 District 26 House primary with 13 fewer votes than Republican challenger Roger Maki. The margin did not qualify for an automatic recount but was close enough for a demand recount, which would have been at his campaigns expense. Timmons notified the Secretary of States Office that he would not challenge the result, Howe said. Timmons has served in the state House since 2023. Rep. Jeremy Olson, R-Arnegard, was the top vote-getter in the District 26 Republican House primary. No Democrats ran for the position. The post Western North Dakota legislator declines to seek recount appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. The future home of a fast-food chain Chik-fil-A location is under construction on Gateway Street in Springfield. Project: A location of the popular fast-food franchise, Chik-fil-A. Location: 3450 Gateway St. in Springfield, Oregon. A new business is preparing to establish a home on the corner of Gateway Street and Randy Pape Beltline where the Springfield Flame, a bright red sculpture, stands tall. Springfield plans to welcome the fast-food chain Chik-fil-A to this lot in the coming months. Construction on this project began this past spring. This location will mark the eleventh Chik-fil-A in Oregon and the first in Springfield. This well-trafficked junction of Gateway Street and Randy Pape Beltline could get a lot busier with the arrival of Chik-fil-A. The buildings approved design includes a two-lane drive-through with canopies overhead to keep orders flowing quickly. Before Chik-fil-A procured the property, a GuestHouse Inn and Suites and an Elmers Restaurant were located there. Fellow fast-food chain In-N-Out also had eyes on the location before Chik-fil-A made the official move-in. Construction is underway now and is expected to conclude before the end of the year. Size: 4,987 sq. ft. Sources: City of Springfield Development and Public Works permits, Lane County Property Records, state of Oregon ePermitting System. Is there something under construction that youd like to learn more about? Contact growth and development reporter Hannarose McGuinness at hmcguinness@registerguard.com This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Chik-fil-A to open restaurant in Springfield, Oregon Medical marijuana companies will soon be able to operate in Fayette County. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve licensing and new zoning regulations for medical cannabis operators. The state will likely start issuing licenses to those companies as early as July 1. Companies will then be able to operate starting Jan. 1, when medical marijuana becomes legal in Kentucky. Those licenses will be granted through a lottery system. Under the state law, local governments can choose to prohibit medical cannabis operators or allow them. Many local governments are scrambling to either ban or regulate those businesses before July 1. Some cities and counties have opted to ban them, including Boone and Campbell counties. The ban only applies to companies not the use of medical marijuana. No one has spoken against Fayette Countys decision to allow medical cannabis businesses since the city began debate about the regulations in March. Under Lexingtons ordinance, all medical cannabis businesses will be charged an annual licensing fee of $500. Where dispensaries and cultivators will be allowed The types of medical cannabis operators under the law include: Cultivators (growers) Processor Producer Safety Compliance Facility Dispensary State law says no cannabis operation can be within 1,000 feet of a school or daycare. The zoning ordinance restricts where certain types of operations can go. Heres what the ordinance says: Cultivators or growers would be allowed in industrial and economic development zones. It would be a prohibited use in all residential, business and mixed-use zones. Depending on the size of the growing operation, it would be allowed as a conditional use meaning it would have to get special approval in some agricultural zones. Those growing operations have to be in an enclosed, locked facility, according to the law. Processors, which take the raw materials and turn it into a product, would be allowed in industrial and economic development zones but would be prohibited in all other zones. Producers, which can process and market the product, also would be allowed in industrial and economic development zones but would be prohibited in all other residential and business zones. Safety compliance facilities, which test medical cannabis among other activities, would be allowed in some business zones including professional office space, the two primary business zones, industrial and economic development zones. It would be prohibited in residential areas. Dispensaries, which sell medical marijuana to the public, would be allowed in many of the citys business zones and mixed use zones. They will be prohibited in residential zones, industrial and economic development zones. The Biden administration will host digital creators at the White House for the first-ever Creator Economy Conference in August, the director of digital strategy announced Friday. The conference, which will be held Aug. 14, will bring together creators, industry professionals and senior administration officials to discuss issues like artificial intelligence (AI), fair pay, privacy and mental health, said Christian Tom, who leads the White House Office of Digital Strategy. It will be the first-ever event to take place on the White House campus that is focused specifically on the creator economy, Tom told the audience at VidCon, an annual convention for influencers. What this is, is an opportunity for everyone here for the thousands and thousands of attendees at VidCon, for the thousands and thousands of creators and industry professionals who think about the creator economy every day to really have a seat at the table, he added. While the event will be invite only, Tom noted that creators can express interest in attending via an online form. I think there is a need and an opportunity for the creator community to have its voice heard around some of the unique needs that the creator economy demands and an opportunity for my colleagues and for the White House to really hear some of these things directly from you all for the first time, he said. The announcement comes the day after a shaky debate performance by President Biden on Thursday night. Amid chatter among Democrats about replacing him ahead of Novembers election, the White House and Biden campaign have pushed back Friday, emphasizing that the president does not plan to drop out. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Joe Biden is ready to fight. In front of a devoted audience, the U.S. president said he is determined to run for re-election, despite calls for him to step aside following his disastrous performance in Thursdays debate against Republican Donald Trump. Biden appeared Friday at a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, a state which he lost to Trump in the 2020 election, but not by a wide margin. Im here in North Carolina for one reason because I intend to win this state in November, he said, trying to strike a defiant tone. We win here, and we win the election. I know Im not a young man, to state the obvious, he continued. I dont speak as smoothly as I used to. I dont debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done. Its hard to debate a liar, Biden told reporters on Thursday after the debate. But the presidents main problem was not the difficulty of refuting the lies of Trump who emerged victorious from the debate with his apocalyptic and demagogic messages it was his stuttering performance, filled with lapses, hesitation and incomplete sentences. He coughed frequently, his voice was strained, and he couldnt shake off a certain hoarseness, which was apparently due to a cold. On Friday, he appeared in better shape, but still had some coughing. As Bidens followers chanted four more years, the president read from the teleprompter, harshly criticizing Trump for spouting misinformation. At the rally, Biden said that Trump set a new record for the most lies told in a single debate and that he had the morals of an alley cat a line he also used in Thursdays debate. President Joe Biden, right, and first lady Jill Biden, left, walk to the stage to speak at a campaign rally, joined in background by Eric Fitts, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. Evan Vucci (AP/ LaPresse) Lock him up It was a supportive audience. Donald Trump isnt just a convicted felon. Donald Trump is a one-man crime wave, said Biden as the crowd chanted Lock him up, in an echo of Trump supporters chants about Hillary Clinton in 2016. Biden once again presented Trump as a threat to democracy, the economy and the future of the country, some of his usual arguments. His speech was short and direct, much more effective than his performance in Thursdays debate. The choice in this election is simple. Donald Trump will destroy our democracy, I will defend it, he said. First lady Jill Biden who has been called on to convince her husband to throw in the towel also took part in the campaign rally, wearing a black dress covered with the word Vote. She said that right now Biden he is the best person to take on Trump. What you saw last night on the debate stage was Joe Biden: a president with integrity and character, she told the crowd. He told the truth. And Donald Trump told lie after lie after lie. Bidens campaign billed the Raleigh event as the biggest rally of his re-election bid in North Carolina, which Trump won by the narrowest margin in 2020. The president will then travel to New York for a weekend of fundraising, with his campaign more in need of donations than ever. The Biden campaign announced that it raised $14 million on the day of the debate and the morning after, while the Trump campaign said it raised more than $8 million between the start of the debate and the end of the night. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition GREENFIELD, IOWA - MAY 22: Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through town yesterday afternoon on May 22, 2024 in Greenfield, Iowa. Multiple deaths and injuries have been reported from a series of tornadoes and powerful storms that hit several Midwestern states (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills passed earlier this year. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that the supplemental request builds on a similar ask that the Biden administration sent to the Hill last October. I write today to reiterate the October request and submit revised estimates of an additional $4 billion for certain disaster needs, including funding to help respond to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the devastating fires on Maui last summer, and tornado survivors in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and throughout the Midwest, Young wrote. Particularly as we enter what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is describing as an extraordinary hurricane season, the Administration urges prompt congressional action on this request, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), to ensure that we can uphold the Federal Governments responsibility to both rebuild from past disasters and respond to future events, Young added. Problems ahead The request is unlikely to gain full approval by the Republican-controlled House and may face headwinds in the Democratic-controlled Senate as well. Leaders in both chambers of Congress are already working on the 12 annual funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, and are increasingly focused on campaigning ahead of the November elections. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, released a statement saying she looked forward to working with the other leaders on the committee in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver this much-needed relief. Families whove lost homes, workers whove lost their livelihoods, and communities who are working to rebuild are counting on Congress to step up and provide the help they need and its critical we do just that, Murray wrote. A senior administration official, speaking on background on a call with reporters, didnt set a specific timeline for Congress to approve the supplemental request, but said the Biden administration hopes they do so as swiftly as possible. And we are going to work with the Hill and obviously many, I think, legislators on the Hill recognize that urgency to achieve that goal, the official said. Bridge rebuild, road repair The updated spending request includes an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship barreled into the bridge earlier this year, destroying the structure and killing six construction workers. The transportation funding would also go toward repairing other Federal-aid highways and federally-owned roads across the Nation that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes, according to a summary of the request. The U.S. Coast Guard would receive $79.5 million to address costs related to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including the response and recovery efforts as well as its salvage operation. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $33 million, should Congress approve the request. That funding would go toward replenishing accounts that were used to remove parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to help reopen the shipping channel. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would get an additional $700 million for disaster relief and other recovery needs that stemmed from major disaster declarations in 2023 as well as this year. An additional $25 million would go to the Labor Department for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to make awards for reconstruction and recovery needs caused by multiple large disasters, including typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a summary of the request. Increase from earlier request The original $56 billion domestic supplemental request, released in October, included $23.5 billion for disaster response needs for several federal departments and agencies, including the Small Business Administration and FEMA. The October proposal, which was again requested on Friday alongside the new spending proposals, included $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for child care subsidies. It included $6 billion for the Federal Communication Commission to extend free and discounted high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. An additional $1.55 billion would address fentanyl abuse through HHS opioid response grants, while slightly more than $1 billion would go toward the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food for Peace program. Another $220 million was requested for the USDA and Department of Interior to avoid cuts to wildland firefighter salaries. The October request for emergency assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which Congress did later act on, also included $13.6 billion for border security efforts. The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through town on May 22, 2024 in Greenfield, Iowa. Multiple deaths and injuries were reported from a series of tornadoes and powerful storms that hit several Midwestern states (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills passed earlier this year. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that the supplemental request builds on a similar ask that the Biden administration sent to the Hill last October. I write today to reiterate the October request and submit revised estimates of an additional $4 billion for certain disaster needs, including funding to help respond to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the devastating fires on Maui last summer, and tornado survivors in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and throughout the Midwest, Young wrote. Particularly as we enter what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is describing as an extraordinary hurricane season, the Administration urges prompt congressional action on this request, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), to ensure that we can uphold the Federal Governments responsibility to both rebuild from past disasters and respond to future events, Young added. Problems ahead The request is unlikely to gain full approval by the Republican-controlled House and may face headwinds in the Democratic-controlled Senate as well. Leaders in both chambers of Congress are already working on the 12 annual funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, and are increasingly focused on campaigning ahead of the November elections. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, released a statement saying she looked forward to working with the other leaders on the committee in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver this much-needed relief. Families whove lost homes, workers whove lost their livelihoods, and communities who are working to rebuild are counting on Congress to step up and provide the help they need and its critical we do just that, Murray wrote. A senior administration official, speaking on background on a call with reporters, didnt set a specific timeline for Congress to approve the supplemental request, but said the Biden administration hopes they do so as swiftly as possible. And we are going to work with the Hill and obviously many, I think, legislators on the Hill recognize that urgency to achieve that goal, the official said. Bridge rebuild, road repair The updated spending request includes an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship barreled into the bridge earlier this year, destroying the structure and killing six construction workers. The transportation funding would also go toward repairing other Federal-aid highways and federally-owned roads across the Nation that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes, according to a summary of the request. The U.S. Coast Guard would receive $79.5 million to address costs related to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including the response and recovery efforts as well as its salvage operation. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $33 million, should Congress approve the request. That funding would go toward replenishing accounts that were used to remove parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to help re-open the shipping channel. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would get an additional $700 million for disaster relief and other recovery needs that stemmed from major disaster declarations in 2023 as well as this year. An additional $25 million would go to the Labor Department for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to make awards for reconstruction and recovery needs caused by multiple large disasters, including typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a summary of the request. Increase from earlier request The original $56 billion domestic supplemental request, released in October, included $23.5 billion for disaster response needs for several federal departments and agencies, including the Small Business Administration and FEMA. The October proposal, which was re-requested on Friday alongside the new spending proposals, included $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for child care subsidies. It included $6 billion for the Federal Communication Commission to extend free and discounted high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. An additional $1.55 billion would address fentanyl abuse through HHS opioid response grants, while slightly more than $1 billion would go toward the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food for Peace program. Another $220 million was requested for the USDA and Department of Interior to avoid cuts to wildland firefighter salaries. The October request for emergency assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which Congress did later act on, also included $13.6 billion for border security efforts. The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on Kentucky Lantern. Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through town on May 22, 2024 in Greenfield, Iowa. Multiple deaths and injuries were reported from a series of tornadoes and powerful storms that hit several Midwestern states (Scott Olson/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills passed earlier this year. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that the supplemental request builds on a similar ask that the Biden administration sent to the Hill last October. I write today to reiterate the October request and submit revised estimates of an additional $4 billion for certain disaster needs, including funding to help respond to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the devastating fires on Maui last summer, and tornado survivors in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and throughout the Midwest, Young wrote. Particularly as we enter what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is describing as an extraordinary hurricane season, the Administration urges prompt congressional action on this request, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), to ensure that we can uphold the Federal Governments responsibility to both rebuild from past disasters and respond to future events, Young added. Problems ahead The request is unlikely to gain full approval by the Republican-controlled House and may face headwinds in the Democratic-controlled Senate as well. Leaders in both chambers of Congress are already working on the 12 annual funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, and are increasingly focused on campaigning ahead of the November elections. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, released a statement saying she looked forward to working with the other leaders on the committee in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver this much-needed relief. Families whove lost homes, workers whove lost their livelihoods, and communities who are working to rebuild are counting on Congress to step up and provide the help they need and its critical we do just that, Murray wrote. A senior administration official, speaking on background on a call with reporters, didnt set a specific timeline for Congress to approve the supplemental request, but said the Biden administration hopes they do so as swiftly as possible. And we are going to work with the Hill and obviously many, I think, legislators on the Hill recognize that urgency to achieve that goal, the official said. Bridge rebuild, road repair The updated spending request includes an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship barreled into the bridge earlier this year, destroying the structure and killing six construction workers. The transportation funding would also go toward repairing other Federal-aid highways and federally-owned roads across the Nation that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes, according to a summary of the request. The U.S. Coast Guard would receive $79.5 million to address costs related to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including the response and recovery efforts as well as its salvage operation. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $33 million, should Congress approve the request. That funding would go toward replenishing accounts that were used to remove parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to help re-open the shipping channel. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would get an additional $700 million for disaster relief and other recovery needs that stemmed from major disaster declarations in 2023 as well as this year. An additional $25 million would go to the Labor Department for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to make awards for reconstruction and recovery needs caused by multiple large disasters, including typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a summary of the request. Increase from earlier request The original $56 billion domestic supplemental request, released in October, included $23.5 billion for disaster response needs for several federal departments and agencies, including the Small Business Administration and FEMA. The October proposal, which was re-requested on Friday alongside the new spending proposals, included $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for child care subsidies. It included $6 billion for the Federal Communication Commission to extend free and discounted high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. An additional $1.55 billion would address fentanyl abuse through HHS opioid response grants, while slightly more than $1 billion would go toward the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food for Peace program. Another $220 million was requested for the USDA and Department of Interior to avoid cuts to wildland firefighter salaries. The October request for emergency assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which Congress did later act on, also included $13.6 billion for border security efforts. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through town on May 22, 2024 in Greenfield, Iowa. Multiple deaths and injuries were reported from a series of tornadoes and powerful storms that hit several Midwestern states. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Residents go through the damage after a tornado tore through town on May 22, 2024 in Greenfield, Iowa. Multiple deaths and injuries were reported from a series of tornadoes and powerful storms that hit several Midwestern states. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills passed earlier this year. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that the supplemental request builds on a similar ask that the Biden administration sent to the Hill last October. I write today to reiterate the October request and submit revised estimates of an additional $4 billion for certain disaster needs, including funding to help respond to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the devastating fires on Maui last summer, and tornado survivors in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and throughout the Midwest, Young wrote. Particularly as we enter what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is describing as an extraordinary hurricane season, the Administration urges prompt congressional action on this request, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), to ensure that we can uphold the Federal Governments responsibility to both rebuild from past disasters and respond to future events, Young added. Problems ahead The request is unlikely to gain full approval by the Republican-controlled House and may face headwinds in the Democratic-controlled Senate as well. Leaders in both chambers of Congress are already working on the 12 annual funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, and are increasingly focused on campaigning ahead of the November elections. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, released a statement saying she looked forward to working with the other leaders on the committee in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver this much-needed relief. Families whove lost homes, workers whove lost their livelihoods, and communities who are working to rebuild are counting on Congress to step up and provide the help they need and its critical we do just that, Murray wrote. A senior administration official, speaking on background on a call with reporters, didnt set a specific timeline for Congress to approve the supplemental request, but said the Biden administration hopes they do so as swiftly as possible. And we are going to work with the Hill and obviously many, I think, legislators on the Hill recognize that urgency to achieve that goal, the official said. Bridge rebuild, road repair The updated spending request includes an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship barreled into the bridge earlier this year, destroying the structure and killing six construction workers. The transportation funding would also go toward repairing other Federal-aid highways and federally-owned roads across the Nation that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes, according to a summary of the request. The U.S. Coast Guard would receive $79.5 million to address costs related to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including the response and recovery efforts as well as its salvage operation. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $33 million, should Congress approve the request. That funding would go toward replenishing accounts that were used to remove parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to help re-open the shipping channel. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would get an additional $700 million for disaster relief and other recovery needs that stemmed from major disaster declarations in 2023 as well as this year. An additional $25 million would go to the Labor Department for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to make awards for reconstruction and recovery needs caused by multiple large disasters, including typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a summary of the request. Increase from earlier request The original $56 billion domestic supplemental request, released in October, included $23.5 billion for disaster response needs for several federal departments and agencies, including the Small Business Administration and FEMA. The October proposal, which was re-requested on Friday alongside the new spending proposals, included $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for child care subsidies. It included $6 billion for the Federal Communication Commission to extend free and discounted high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. An additional $1.55 billion would address fentanyl abuse through HHS opioid response grants, while slightly more than $1 billion would go toward the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food for Peace program. Another $220 million was requested for the USDA and Department of Interior to avoid cuts to wildland firefighter salaries. The October request for emergency assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which Congress did later act on, also included $13.6 billion for border security efforts. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. Gov. Jim Pillen and Col. John Bolduc of the Nebraska State Patrol flew above the tornado damage Monday, April 29, 2024, including above Elkhorn. (Courtesy of the Nebraska State Patrol) WASHINGTON The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve billions in emergency funding for domestic priorities it says are essential, including border security, emergency preparedness and child care. The $4 billion in new emergency spending requested Friday calls on lawmakers to approve more funding than was included in the dozen annual government funding bills passed earlier this year. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that the supplemental request builds on a similar ask that the Biden administration sent to the Hill last October. I write today to reiterate the October request and submit revised estimates of an additional $4 billion for certain disaster needs, including funding to help respond to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, the devastating fires on Maui last summer, and tornado survivors in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and throughout the Midwest, Young wrote. Particularly as we enter what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is describing as an extraordinary hurricane season, the Administration urges prompt congressional action on this request, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), to ensure that we can uphold the Federal Governments responsibility to both rebuild from past disasters and respond to future events, Young added. Problems ahead The request is unlikely to gain full approval by the Republican-controlled House and may face headwinds in the Democratic-controlled Senate as well. Leaders in both chambers of Congress are already working on the 12 annual funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1, and are increasingly focused on campaigning ahead of the November elections. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, released a statement saying she looked forward to working with the other leaders on the committee in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver this much-needed relief. Families whove lost homes, workers whove lost their livelihoods, and communities who are working to rebuild are counting on Congress to step up and provide the help they need and its critical we do just that, Murray wrote. A senior administration official, speaking on background on a call with reporters, didnt set a specific timeline for Congress to approve the supplemental request, but said the Biden administration hopes they do so as swiftly as possible. And we are going to work with the Hill and obviously many, I think, legislators on the Hill recognize that urgency to achieve that goal, the official said. Bridge rebuild, road repair The updated spending request includes an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportation to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship barreled into the bridge earlier this year, destroying the structure and killing six construction workers. The transportation funding would also go toward repairing other Federal-aid highways and federally-owned roads across the Nation that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic failures from external causes, according to a summary of the request. The U.S. Coast Guard would receive $79.5 million to address costs related to the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including the response and recovery efforts as well as its salvage operation. The Army Corps of Engineers would receive $33 million, should Congress approve the request. That funding would go toward replenishing accounts that were used to remove parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to help re-open the shipping channel. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would get an additional $700 million for disaster relief and other recovery needs that stemmed from major disaster declarations in 2023 as well as this year. An additional $25 million would go to the Labor Department for the Dislocated Worker National Reserve to make awards for reconstruction and recovery needs caused by multiple large disasters, including typhoons, wildfires, and hurricanes, as well as cleanup and recovery efforts following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a summary of the request. Increase from earlier request The original $56 billion domestic supplemental request, released in October, included $23.5 billion for disaster response needs for several federal departments and agencies, including the Small Business Administration and FEMA. The October proposal, which was re-requested on Friday alongside the new spending proposals, included $16 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services for child care subsidies. It included $6 billion for the Federal Communication Commission to extend free and discounted high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program. An additional $1.55 billion would address fentanyl abuse through HHS opioid response grants, while slightly more than $1 billion would go toward the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food for Peace program. Another $220 million was requested for the USDA and Department of Interior to avoid cuts to wildland firefighter salaries. The October request for emergency assistance for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which Congress did later act on, also included $13.6 billion for border security efforts. The post White House seeks emergency funds for Midwest disaster relief, Key Bridge in Maryland appeared first on Nebraska Examiner. The White House on Friday submitted an emergency supplemental funding request to Congress seeking billions of dollars to cover the costs of the collapse of a major bridge in Baltimore and other needs. White House budget director Shalanda Young wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) outlining the ask, which includes $33 million to replenish Army Corps of Engineers funds used to remove wreckage in the Baltimore Harbor after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March. The overall request totals nearly $4 billion and includes some items previously requested in an October supplemental funding submission. Fridays ask includes $79.5 million to cover unplanned costs from the Coast Guards response to the bridge collapse. The money includes personnel, as well as vessel, aviation and boat maintenance. The White House is asking Congress to provide an additional $3.1 billion for the Department of Transportations Emergency Relief Program. That money would cover the cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge at a 100 percent federal cost share and repair other federal highways and federally-owned roads that have been damaged by natural disasters. The administration is also seeking $700 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address disaster relief efforts. That ask dates back to 2023, when the administration sought funding to replenish disaster relief funds needed after wildfires in Maui and devastating storms across the Midwest. I urge the Congress to take action as soon as possible, and the Administrations stands ready to work with you to fund these urgent needs, Young wrote to Johnson. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March after a massive shipping vessel struck it, causing the Port of Baltimore to close until it was fully reopened earlier this month. President Biden promised at the time that the federal government would foot the bill to rebuild the bridge, but that suggestion was met with some backlash from Republicans. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in an interview earlier this month that the cost to repair the Francis Scott Key Bridge could range between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion. The reason that we are urging a federal cost share, and a 100-percent cost share, is just simply because we have to move quickly. And I need to get this done on time and on budget. We know that in order to move fast, weve got to get that 100-percent cost share, Moore said on CBSs Face the Nation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHICAGO Six and a half decades ago, a young man from Chicago witnessed the horror of the Vietnam War. He earned two Purple Hearts and on Thursday, his family, including his son-in-law WGNs Patrick Elwood, along with the White Sox, honored him for his service. At just 18, Chicago born and raised Frank Zawaski, found himself in combat boots in a battle just outside of Saigon. Zawaski earned a Purple Heart that day before returning to the fields in Vietnam where his platoon found themselves in the middle of a VC basecamp, where he would earn a second. More: White Sox infielder and Naperville native hosting charity softball tournament with family Zawaski returned to Chicago where he married Joanell, his wife now of 54 years. Together they raised three daughters. The tight knit family wanted to see Gramps get the honor they felt he deserved. So when they heard the White Sox honor veterans during home games, they put his name in. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. President of the United States Joe Biden (Right) and Former President of the United States Donald J. Trump (Left) participate in the first Presidential Debate at CNN Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on June 27, 2024. | Kyle Mazza / SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Newscom President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump had a lot to say about America's place in the world at the debate last night. And very little of it was honest. Neither man wants to level with the public about the serious tradeoffs this country faces on the global stage. Biden insisted that the United States can still dominate the entire world, fighting slow-burn proxy wars forever without any real cost to Americans. Trump offered the flip side of that vision, promising to end the wars on favorable terms without taking any risks or making any compromises with rival countries. Their attacks on each other were often incoherent and contradictory because neither one could offer a straightforward vision of foreign policy. And when it came to a real achievement that both presidents had a hand inpulling U.S. troops out of the Afghan warneither one seemed to want the credit. Trump, who negotiated the agreement to withdraw, called the withdrawal "the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country." Biden, who had forcefully defended the case for withdrawing two years ago, shied away from Trump's attack, quickly noting that "we got over 100,000 Americans and others out of Afghanistan" and then moving on. Instead, Biden staked his reputation on the war in Ukraine. He claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to take Kyiv in five days, but has lost "thousands and thousands of troops," thanks to U.S. military aid for Ukraine. "All that money we give," Biden bragged, goes right back to American weapons manufacturers. "And by the way, I got fifty other nations around the world to support Ukraine, including Japan and South Korea, because they understand that this kind of dislocation is a serious threat to the whole world peace," Biden said. "No major war in Europe has ever been able to be contained just to Europe." The Japanese and South Korean support was more a sign of desperation than success. The war in Ukraine has burned through American and European munitions stocks, and despite huge influxes of taxpayer money, weapons manufacturers have not been able to keep up with demand. Desperate for ammunition, the Biden administration began borrowing antiaircraft missiles from Japan and artillery shells from South Korea. Trump, on the other hand, could not give a coherent answer on the war. He said that Putin's terms for peace are "not acceptable, but look, this is a war that never should have started," and promised to "get it settled" before even taking office. Trump claimed that, because he had convinced European countries to contribute more to NATO in a "very secret meeting," he could similarly get European funding for the war in Ukraine. Although Trump is right that European countries should be spending more on their own defense, and are moving in that direction, he did not make it happen simply by waving his hands. Europe's defense spending began to increase in 2014, after the first Russian incursions into Ukraine, before Trump took office. And Trump himself was the first one to send lethal American weapons to Ukraine. The same pattern went for the Middle Eastern portion of the debate. Biden bragged that "we saved Israel. We are the biggest producer of support for Israel in the entire world. Hamas cannot be allowed to continue." Biden sending U.S. forces to get directly involved in Iranian-Israeli combat last April was another point for him to brag about. "I'm the guy that organized the world against Iran," he said. Four years ago, Biden had criticized Trump for being too aggressive against Iran. In January 2020, when Trump assassinated an Iranian general and Iran retaliated by bombarding an American airbase, Biden criticized Trump for putting the countries on "a collision course" and argued that the "only way out of this crisis is diplomacy." But on the debate stage last night, Biden complained that Trump wasn't willing to continue risking war. Trump "did nothing" about the Iranian bombardment in January 2020, he argued. Biden also falsely claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted his Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire proposal. (In fact, Netanyahu has publicly rejected the proposal.) "The only one that wants the war to continue is Hamas," Biden argued. "Actually, Israel is the one and you should let them go and let them finish the job. He doesn't want to do it," Trump said. "He's become like a Palestinian. But they don't like him because he's a very bad Palestinian. He's a weak one." Again, Trump avoided saying how he would actually end the war. Asked point blank whether he would support an independent Palestinewhich was, in theory, part of Trump's own 2018 peace planhe dodged the question and started talking about trade. As with the Ukrainian war, Trump claimed that the Hamas attacks on Israel simply never could have happened on his watch. "You know why? Because Iran was broke with me. I wouldn't let anybody do business with them," Trump said. "They ran out of money. They were broke. They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for anything. No money for terror. That's why you had no terror at all during my administration." Trump, like Biden, is selling a bill of goods. The world suffered more than 400 terrorist attacks every single month of the Trump administration. Many of the militants in the region, including Hamas, don't take direct orders from Tehran. And many of America's enemies are Iran's enemies, too. Even if there were a magic button that stopped Iran from funding militantswhich Trump's economic pressure on Iran did not achieveit wouldn't end all the violence in the Middle East. The United States cannot have its cake and eat it too. There will be costs and risks no matter which path the country takes. Doubling down on global U.S. dominance means spending more resources on foreign wars, and ultimately putting American lives in danger. Getting out of those wars means compromising with rivals and accepting that there are things in the world that Washington cannot control. None of these things are popular to say. But the longer politicians avoid admitting to the existence of foreign policy tradeoffs, the more painful those tradeoffs will become. (China's claim to Taiwan, which promises to be an even more volatile issue than the Russian-Ukrainian and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, was notably absent from the debate.) The longer these conflicts fester, the higher the odds that America will have to choose between fighting an unwinnable war or making unacceptable concessions to an enemy. Americans are not mentally prepared for that outcome. And neither, it seems, are their elected representatives. "We are the United States of America," Biden said on stage. "Nothing is beyond our capacity." The post Why Can't Americans Have an Honest Foreign Policy Discussion? appeared first on Reason.com. Donald Trump greets Viktor Orban at the West Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, May 13, 2019. Credit - Andrew HarrerBloomberg/Getty Images 2024 is a make-or-break election year, with seemingly existential democratic contests in many parts of the globe. In Europe, ballooning support for parties of the political extreme was confirmed by the recent European elections. In France, the results pushed Emmanuel Macron to dissolve the national assembly and call for snap elections, which could usher in a radical shift in the political direction of the country and its relationship with the E.U. In Austria, the Freedom Party is on course to take office in autumns national elections. Italys Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is now widely feted as a kingmaker in the next E.U. parliament, following the inexorable rise of her Brothers of Italy party. In Germany, the electoral growth of Alternative for Germany is eroding the authority of the governing center-left SDP-led coalition. And this precedes the anticipated return of Donald Trump, who The Economist forecasts has a three-in-four shot at beating Joe Biden come November. Read More: Calls for Biden to Step Aside Are About to Get Deafening Electoral success for the far right is one thing, maintaining power is quite another. But in Hungary, with the premiership of Viktor Orban, todays populists have a live case study of how to solidify gains into long-lasting influence. Perhaps no one is paying closer attention to Orban than MAGA Republicans. Orban has been Prime Minister of Hungary, with a constitutional majority, for 14 years straight. This has given him extraordinary influence to reshape the country according to his personal visionand his tenure atop the political system reveals a lot about how democratic institutions can become vulnerable to the authoritarian far right. When we speak of Orban, we should first identify the essential characteristics that modern populists on the right must possess to achieve success. These two dimensions are: charismatic appeal and an ability to address people with simple, convincing messages about national pride, prosperity, and their capacity to defend against external threats, whether perceived or real. And, more discreetly, their expertise in building-out political infrastructure, which allows them to take control of their countrys political, legal, and media institutions. Few of todays populists exhibit both traits. Jarosaw Kaczynski of Polands Law and Justice party succeeded in capturing state infrastructure (2015-2023), but ultimately lacked the charisma to retain office. Leaders like Trump possess the first quality, but struggle with organization and system-building. Recognizing this, the former Presidents team has since launched the Agenda 2025 program and made strategic hires in preparation for a more effective second term. The influence for this work seems to stem from Hungary. On an almost daily basis, supporters and media allies of the MAGA Republicans laud Orban. Senator J.D. Vance, who is widely seen as a prospective running mate for Trump, recently stated that the U.S. could learn a lot from Hungary. While Trump, himself, has proclaimed: Theres nobody thats better, smarter, or a better leader than Viktor Orban. He's fantastic. This praise exemplifies the growing appeal of what I call the Budapest Playbook and the roadmap it provides to others on the populist right about how to keep power. It includes gaming the electoral system and districts to favor the ruling party; subordinating intelligence services to political control, aligning the prosecutors office with political will, undermining judicial independence, hollowing out the constitutional court and filling it with party loyalists, and seizing control of the media through a propaganda ministry. These measures, taken together, can yield near-unlimited power, and help an aspiring autocrat maintain their influence over the long-term, while democratic institutions are hollowed out. Orbans success on these fronts owes much to his ability to avoid unpopular measures while erecting a political infrastructure and new economic elite based on personal connections. Today, in Hungary, every major institution is now led by a person hand-picked by Orban. A new class of billionaires like Lorinc Meszaros, a childhood friend of Orbanwho has risen from a humble background to become the countrys richest man and a facilitator of Russian funding for allied populists, including Marine Le Penare also beholden to Orban. Casting himself as a heroic protector of the people, Orban often claims that Hungary is locked in an existential struggle with Brussels and other international forces, and uses national consultation surveys to support his stance. These consultations, which give the illusion of democratic inclusion, invariably contain leading questions and shift blame for government failings to figures like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the liberal Hungarian American billionaire businessman George Soros, the latter being a frequent target of state-backed smear campaigns. No doubt, elements of this rhetoric are familiar to populists, but a fully developed power-factory is still just an aspiration for most. A possible inflection point for the populist right in Europe, and the looming return of Donald Trump in the U.S., is why voters and state apparatuses the world over should pay attention to the Budapest Playbook. Orbans subversion of Hungarian democracy in little over a decade speaks to the speed at which state capture can be achieved. The great hope is that the Budapest Playbook never becomes an international bestseller and eventually fades into irrelevance, even in Hungary. Contact us at letters@time.com. Why this summer probably wont be an anomaly for the Great Salt Lake Water crashes onto rocks at the Great Salt Lake State Park in Magna on June 15. The lake has lost half a foot of water in the past few weeks and could lose another 2 feet in the coming months, experts say. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News Editor's note: This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake. SALT LAKE CITY The Great Salt Lake typically rises in the winter and spring as more water flows into the lake from snowpack runoff and fewer upstream diversions; it then drops in the summer and early fall as evaporation and irrigation season diversions pick up. It dropped to record lows in 2021 and 2022 after this delicate balance fell apart over about two decades, resulting in more losses than gains. Even after the lake rebounded from its record low last year, its southern arm lost about 2 feet from its springtime peak. But last summer was also an "anomaly," says Tim Davis, Utah's Great Salt Lake deputy commissioner. The berm separating the lake's southern arm from its northern arm was closed, and it wasn't particularly hot and dry for that long throughout Utah. That's why Davis isn't surprised the lake is dropping quickly after its southern arm the side of the lake most people think of when they talk about the lake peaked at 4,195.2 feet this year, its highest in five years. The southern arm has lost about half a foot over the past few weeks, and the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner expects the lake will at least drop the normal amount of 2-2.5 feet before it starts to rebound in October or November. "People shouldn't be surprised. We'll still see the lake probably fall down another 2 feet from where it is today," Davis told KSL NewsRadio on Thursday. Experts believe the lake could drop more this summer than last summer because of two key reasons. First, Utah leaders agreed to open the berm so more water could flow into the northern arm, thus spreading out the water the lake gained this year more than last year. The lake's northern arm remains at 4,192.1 feet elevation, close to its peak this year and nearly 3 feet above where it was this time last year. Second, June has been quite hot and mostly dry and there aren't signs of that changing this summer. With an average temperature of 77.3 degrees through Wednesday, Salt Lake City is on pace to produce its fourth-hottest June on record, but this month still has a shot at placing as high as second, per National Weather Service data. Utah's capital city, named after the lake, has only gained rain from one storm that dropped 0.31 inches last week. Long-range outlooks indicate the region could get some precipitation over the next week, but odds are pointing in favor of hotter- and drier-than-normal conditions persisting throughout most of this summer. Since the Great Salt Lake's water is spread out over more areas, the lake isn't very deep along its edges. These shallow and warm edges then become more prone to evaporative loss, Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed explained in April. For this reason, Steed wasn't thrilled when the long-range outlooks started to lean toward hotter and drier conditions setting up along the Great Salt Lake Basin. "If that continues into the summer, we would anticipate to see a higher evaporation loss, which is something that would concern us," he said at the time. Evaporation is generally something that is out of the control of the commissioner's office, but there are ways to combat this something the state is still trying to figure out. There are ongoing efforts to send more water to the lake during the irrigation season through donated water, water leasing or simply cutting back on water consumption. Davis said the commissioner's office continues to meet with municipalities, farmers, mineral companies and other groups to figure out the best way to reduce upstream diversions and other factors that play into the lake's demise. The agency also encourages residents to find ways to conserve water while it works on a more detailed 30-year plan for the lake. The message of cutting back, Davis adds, has just as much to do with the uncertainty of the next water year as it does with the current evaporation. Nobody knows if Utah will get a third straight wet winter after a slew of dry ones over the past two decades. "Conservation is no longer just a warm, dry year thing that we have to do. We really have to conserve water and dedicate it to the lake every year," he said. "It'll take every sector and everyone in the basin to do that." Contributing: Adam Small Its hard to overstate how bad this week has been for (among many other things) environmental regulations. On their own, the Supreme Courts rulings on either Ohio v. EPA or Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo would be bad news. Together they spell out a new reality where our countrys robed clericsguaranteed employment until deathhave final say over how and whether government agencies can do their job. On Thursday, the justices ruled in favor of Ohio and several other states that challenged the Environmental Protection Agencys plan to bring them into compliance with ozone pollutioncontrol requirements. The justices ruling allows the EPAs plan to remain paused as the states challenge proceeds through the courts. Laying out the context for that decision, Justice Neil Gorsuchwho authored the majority opinionnoted that the EPA set as its target the reduction of the emissions of one ozone precursor in particular: nitrous oxide, going on to explain that the agency sought to impose nitrous oxide emissions control measures that maximized cost-effectiveness. Nitrous oxide is a colorless, odorless gas used for sedation and pain relief, commonly referred to as laughing gas and administered by dentists. Its also a greenhouse gas and ozone precursor that can be generated by industrial activity, but Gorsuch presumably meant to refer to nitrogen oxides, the broader category of nitrogen-oxygen compounds that the EPA is trying to regulate through the Good Neighbor Plan. In total, Gorsuchwriting on behalf of the courts conservative majoritymistakenly referred to nitrous oxide rather than nitrogen oxides five times in his decision. Thats an easy enough mistake to make; Ive written about nitrogen oxides a small handful of times insofar as they relate to federal environmental regulations, and had to look them up again to write this story. Like most people, and most judges, Gorsuch does not have specialized knowledge of chemistry or environmental science. His expertise is a fairly conventional one for Supreme Court justices: Georgetown Friends to Columbia and then on to Harvard Law, capped off by a Ph.D. in jurisprudence from Oxford. Despite these credentials, Gorsuch seemingly didnt look closely enough at case documents to get the name of the chemical compound in question right. He didnt google it. Opinions are circulated multiple times among the justices before being released to the public, and none of themor their clerksseemed to catch the mistake, either. In just about any other document, mixing up nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides would be an innocuous, even trivial typo; the Supreme Court eventually corrected the error. But on Friday morning, the man responsible for that error also effectively awarded himself and his colleagues veto power over ozone regulations and a whole bunch of other shit they know nothing about and dont bother looking up. On Friday, the Courts right-wing majority decided in Loper Bright v. Raimondo to overturn something called the Chevron doctrine or Chevron deference, which granted federal agencies the authority to interpret the laws that Congress passes. In one fell swoop, Justice Elena Kagan summarized in her dissent, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issueno matter how expertise-driven or policy-ladeninvolving the meaning of regulatory law. Heres how the Chevron doctrine is supposed to work. Sometimes Congress will use language that says, Put together a system that requires companies to install systems of pollution control, Sambhav Sankar, senior vice president for programs for the environmental law firm Earthjustice, told me by phone. What does system mean? What Chevron said was, when that comes up, the agency gets to take a shot at explaining what system means. When a judge isnt sure of what something means, the judge defers to the agencys definition. By removing Chevron, what Justice Roberts is saying is, When you see that word system, judge, youve got to figure out what that means. When members of Congress write laws, they employ their own staffers as well as those of committees and independent bodies like the Congressional Research Service, which is tasked with providing timely, objective, and authoritative research and analysis on a nonpartisan basis. Even with those resources, lawsand complex regulatory statutes, especiallyare written to contain significant ambiguities, allowing for future developments and for agencies to put their considerable resources to work in determining how best to implement federal policy priorities. It has historically been up to the EPA, for example, to determine that when the Clean Air Act refers to stationary and moving sources of pollution, that specifically means smokestacks, cars, and a number of other devices. Judges have no relevant expertise to make such determinations but are now entrusted with that power should they hear a case concerning those definitions. Judges are by design isolated from society. Their staffers are, at best, recent law school graduates, Sankar said. They have no ability to do research. Theyre stuck with what the parties to a case tell them. Agencies employ hundred and thousands of scientific experts who do years of research and stakeholder outreach to learn about the impact of their regulatory decisions. Agency heads are also subject to the control of the democratically elected politicians who appoint them, who can be at least theoretically held accountable for their decisions and those of their appointees come Election Day. Judgeson the Supreme Court, most infamouslyare comparatively insulated from democratic accountability. Whats worse is that right-wing operatives like Leonard Leo have spent years stacking the judicial branch with activist, ideological appointees churned out of outfits like the Federalist Society, fueled by donations from corporate polluters and other industries with a vested interest in seeing certain regulations kneecapped. The silver lining in the courts ruling on Friday is that the justices opted not to call into question every single decision made on the basis of the Chevron doctrine. Sankar emphasizes that the ruling isnt automatically deregulatory. Agencies are still supposed to be trying to figure out the best reading of statutes. Now Congress is taking risks whenever it writes a law. If the statute isnt clear they cant be sure what a court is going to think of it, especially with some of these aggressively deregulatory judges. If youre an agency now you know that you are not going to get the benefit of the doubt anymore. Chevrons destruction may well also be seen as an invitation to well-resourced industries and political actors to bring cases that can chip away at whatever rules they dont like, particularly if theyre heard by judges who share their friends and/or politics. The worst, in other words, is yet to come. The Wilson County School Board has formally approved changes to the district's handbook to comply with a new state law that requires school officials to notify parents about transgender students. The law was signed this spring by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Making sure all Wilson County teachers and school board employees, parents and students are aware of the new law and its responsibilities were paramount Thursday, when the board voted to put the guidelines into multiple handbooks, school officials said. Ive had some people reach out to me, why are we putting this in the handbook? Wilson County Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell told board members at a work session Thursday, just before the regular meeting when the policy change was approved. Its important we notify our employees of what the law says that theyre required to do." Wilson County Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell. The new law mandates that when a student requests an accommodation from a school employee to affirm a different gender identity or the intent to transition to a different gender identity than what is listed at the time of birth the employee must report that to a school administrator, who must then report it to the student's parents. "It is the law, and as a board, we are tasked with upholding the law, thus the unanimous vote to approve the new language," board member Carrie Pfeiffer said. "At this point, it will be in the hands of students and parents to challenge the rule, and of the judicial branch to determine if the law is constitutional or not." Board chair Jamie Farough said it is not unique for the board to formally add state law requirements to district handbooks. I believe it is our responsibility to make sure employees know when a law passes that will impact their role and responsibility in our school system, Farough said. 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: Tennessee transgender law becomes part of Wilson Schools guidelines Since its founding in 1872, The Eagles mission has been to keep residents informed of what is happening in our community. Over the past few years weve continued that tradition. Weve exposed underhanded dealings by local officials and shone a light on problems and possible solutions in public safety as well as marked and celebrated what Wichitans have achieved in a range of areas, from downtown revitalization to high school and college sports. That work happened at the same time as an accelerated upheaval in how people want the news delivered to them. Nearly 28 years ago The Eagle took an important step toward the digital future when it launched what is now Kansas.com. Later this year were taking another important step. Our award-winning journalism and our commitment to Wichita is unchanged, but beginning the week of Sept. 2 we are transitioning to a 24/7 digital product with three days of high-quality print editions. The print editions will publish Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and, as they are now, be delivered by mail, arriving in most cases on the same day as publication. The Sunday newspaper will arrive on Saturday because of the U.S. Postal Services delivery schedule. Single copies also will be available at select retail locations in the Wichita area. Edition will continue to publish seven days a week at Kansas.com and in our digital app and well continue to publish news digitally throughout the day, every day. Why are we doing this? The simple answer is that while some people still think of us as a newspaper, the reality is that more than 90% of our readers on any given day now read us digitally rather than in a printed paper. That percentage keeps growing, not only for us, but for most traditional media outlets. Earlier this year the Pew Research Center conducted a study of where people find local news. They found that a growing share of Americans prefer to get local news online, while fewer are getting news on TV or in print. And newspapers are no longer primarily consumed as a print product the majority of readers of local daily newspapers now access them digitally. The same is true for large advertisers, who have followed consumers to digital spaces. Because of these trends, weve become much more digitally focused and have intensified that approach to where readers of Kansas.com see our best work before our print readers. For The Eagle to continue to provide you with essential coverage of our community and unsparing investigative reporting, we must continue to transform our business in order to thrive in 2024 and beyond. As part of this evolution, were also improving your digital experience. We just introduced a new community calendar and portal for submissions, launched more-robust commenting on our stories and, based on feedback from readers such as you, improved our Edition navigation. In the next few months we plan to hold in-person Tech Support events, where Eagle journalists will help our subscribers learn how to best use our digital products. Weve come a long way in our 152 years, from children hawking newspapers on street corners and on horseback to residents getting their news from their phones, tablets and computers. And we plan to be here for decades to come. One thing that isnt changing is our award-winning journalists commitment to the Wichita community. They will continue to deliver in-depth reporting and investigative work as well as tell the captivating stories of our citys people and places. Our work over the past several months from extensive reporting on school closures and the cyberattack on Wichita to our Emmy-nominated documentary on the Marion newspaper raid and the death of its co-owner wouldnt be possible without your support. If youre already a subscriber, thank you for supporting the work we do and investing in local journalism (be sure to activate your digital access at kansas.com/activate). If you arent a subscriber, please consider being a part of the solution. A thriving community deserves a strong, independent local news source. The future of our community depends on it. In the coming days, subscribers will receive correspondence from our customer service team regarding next steps. That team can be reached at 800-200-8906. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Sedgwick County judge has handed down a sentence of 44 years to a Wichita man who shot and killed Adraine Kenney in Sept. 2023. The Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office told KSN the judge followed the plea agreement and sentenced Matthew Alexander III, 30, to 528 months in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and aggravated burglary on May 10. The shooting happened on Sept. 21, 2023, in the 800 block of S. Mission St. Officers responded to investigate a shooting just before 11:30 p.m. and found Kenney and one other woman shot. Another mysterious monolith appears this time in Colorado Kenney was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other woman was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Police found Alexander III in the 600 block of S. Mission St., and after a brief standoff, he was taken into custody. The judge also required Alexander III to pay $3,748 to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation fund. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wichita park honoring civil rights leader is up for peoples choice award. How to vote Wichita may gain international accolades for the first government-funded artwork that shows an African American in downtown. CODAworx, an international arts organization based in Wisconsin, selected the Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park as one of the top 100 successful projects integrating art into the community. Those projects are open for peoples choice voting. On Thursday, the Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park had around 400 votes, putting it in sixth place behind works such as the Anti-Soviet Partisans Memorial in Poland, which had 3,800 votes. Were in great company, said Matthew Mazzotta, one of the projects artists. Im glad people are voting because other projects arent getting the votes that were getting, so its exciting. Unveiled in September 2023, the urban park honors Wichita-based civil rights attorney Chester I. Lewis, Jr., an influential civil rights attorney and leader. Lewis was a local civil rights leader who served on the legal team that argued the landmark 1954 Brown v. Topeka Board of Education case before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also worked with Wichitas NAACP Youth Council during student sit-ins at the Dockum Drugs Store lunch counter in 1958. It was the first successful student-led sit-in of the civil rights movement, leading the drug store chain to desegregate all of its Kansas lunch counters 19 months before the better known Woolworths sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. CODAworx builds its platform on connecting artists to industry collaborators. In Wichitas case, the city and the Department of Parks and Recreation commissioned two artists to create the artwork tribute to Lewis. Ellamonique Baccus, a Wichita-based artist and art therapist, used her skills in drawing, painting and glass to create parts of the parks artwork. Baccus said since the projects completion, its been a catalyst for conversation about improving the country. Its the first time that, you know, taxpayer dollars, city funding has been used to depict the African-American perspective, Baccus said. And that feels so different, right? Its like when you see somebody that looks like you, you feel like Oh, its okay for me to be here. Mazzotta said the works impact doesnt stop at the city level. This work is more important than people know, both locally but also nationally, Mazzotta said. Its making space and acknowledging people that shaped our lives, which can get, you know, put away into the dustbins of history. But this is saying No, this will be remembered, and we will speak about this. Voting for the Peoples Choice category in the 2024 CODAawards Top 100 is currently open and closes July 2 at 11:59 p.m. To vote, visit shorturl.at/I3ogg. No login is required. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officially opened its new Wichita regional benefits office at 9111 E. Douglas Avenue on Thursday with the aim of giving staff more space to process an increasing number of Kansas veterans seeking healthcare and other benefits. The Wichita VA office announced in September it would move from its old space in the basement of the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center on Kellogg. Veterans have been able to schedule appointments and make claims at the new office since October. McDonough said 30% more Kansas veterans applied for healthcare last year compared with the year before. He said the new space will improve morale among VA employees processing new claims. As we get more and more veterans in relationship with us, we need more room to process those plans, McDonough said. This facility allows us to do that. McDonough attributed much of the increase in VA claims to the 2022 Honoring our PACT Act, which improved healthcare access for veterans exposed to toxic substances during military service. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who advocated for the PACT Act in Congress, said the new facility could increase the efficiency of the VA department. No one wants to wait months or years for an outcome. They want to know the answer to the question, Do I qualify for benefits?Moran said. And so this center is designed to make certain that that process works better, works more quickly, helps us retain and recruit employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs who do that work. Wife found fatally shot in car behind cemetery, Indiana cops say. Husband arrested A passerby knocked on the window of a car parked behind a cemetery on June 26 hoping to get the attention of the man and woman inside, Indiana deputies said. Neither responded, so the person called 911. When deputies arrived at the cemetery in Summitville, they found 47-year-old Michela Hinson dead in the drivers seat with multiple gunshot wounds. Her husband Jeremy Hinson, 47 was sitting in the passenger seat, the Madison County Sheriffs Department said in a June 27 news release. The husband was immediately taken into custody on a murder charge, deputies said. He was denied bond. Deputies said they recovered a handgun at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, officials said. Summitville is about a 70-mile drive northeast from Indianapolis. Young kids found abandoned in filthy apartment as mom goes on cruise, Texas cops say Woman stabbed while walking dog, Chicago cops say. Then, 2 good Samaritans step in 19-year-old vanishes on date. Then severed leg is found in park, Wisconsin cops say Firefighters battle a wildfire from the ground as a helicopter drops water above them in Springville on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. The fire started when a man tried to burn a spider with a lighter. Officials are warning to be on alert for wildfire danger ahead of the July Fourth celebrations. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Maricopa County, Arizona, was issued an evacuation order Thursday night due to the growing Boulder View Fire, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management announced in a post on X. As the nation grapples with extreme heat, wildfires have become increasingly prevalent. The Boulder View fire has expanded to 3,200 acres with 0% containment by early Friday, according to the U.S. Forest Services InciWeb alert system. The evacuation order was for the southeastern edge of the fire. Approximately 60 residents are currently at risk, in a county of 4.5 million people. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that there are a total of 58 large fires currently active in the U.S., burning a total of 270,135 acres. California, New Mexico and Oregon have all experienced multiple large wildfires. However, Alaska has suffered the worst with 33 current wildfires, burning 179,602 acres. Growing number of wildfires in Utah The National Weather Service issued a warning on June 23 about dangerously hot temperatures across southern Utah. Other areas of west-central Utah are also under a heat advisory. Utah has experienced over 350 wildfires in 2024, according to Utah Fire Info, with 262 of those fires being human-caused, accounting for about 74%. This years wildfire count is comparable to 2020, when Utah experienced a record-breaking 1,482 wildfires that burned over 328,000 acres, per KSL NewsRadio. By this time in 2020, about 366 wildfires had been reported. The wildfire risks have prompted a $66 million package from the Department of Agriculture to improve forest health nationwide, according to KSL-TV. Of the package, $3.5 million from the fund was allocated to the U.S. Forest Services Intermountain Region, which includes Utah. Its very important, Ben Newburn, the U.S. Forest Services Intermountain Region fire manager, told KSL-TV. This is another example where we can lean in and effect changes to how those outcomes will happen when we do get a wildfire. Despite the aid, officials across the state remain concerned about the unfavorable conditions they have observed. We are very concerned this year that we have a lot of potential for a very busy fire season, Newburn said. The Little Twist Fire near Beaver has burned over 2,530 acres and is 25% contained, a recent update from KUTV reported. A firefighter was seriously injured June 23 while working to contain the fire, according to KSL.com. Daniel Burns, part of the Bonneville Hotshot crew, was hit by a falling tree and rushed to a hospital via helicopter. A GoFundMe page was set up to assist in his recovery. Murray City Fire Capt. Steven Roberson demonstrates how to safely extinguish fireworks by thoroughly soaking them in a dousing bucket, using protective gloves, ahead of Pioneer Day, at Maceys Grocery Store in Murray on Thursday, July 21, 2022. Most of Utah is in extreme drought and at high risk for wildfires. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Caution advised ahead of Fourth of July With fires so prevalent and July Fourth approaching, it is important to take proper fire safety precautions to avoid increasing the wildfire risk. Even a single spark can ignite dry brush. A recent fire in Parleys Canyon, caused by fireworks, burned over an acre before being brought under control, according to ABC4. The thing that is unique about this year and fireworks season, specifically right now, its been ridiculously hot, Capt. Tony Barker of Unified Fire Authority told ABC4. Weve had a large amount of overgrowth in vegetation that has completely dried out. Fireworks can be used from July 2 to 5, between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., and until midnight on July 4. For Pioneer Day, fireworks can be used from July 22 to 25 during the same hours. KYODO NEWS - Jun 28, 2024 - 14:46 | All, Japan The Japanese government decided Friday to appoint Naomi Unemoto, the 61-year-old top prosecutor of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, as the first female prosecutor general next month. The appointment as of July 9 will leave the Supreme Court as the only body of legal professions in Japan that has never had a female head since the Japan Federation of Bar Associations already has its first female president, Reiko Fuchigami, who was elected in April. Unemoto will replace 64-year-old Yukio Kai, who will retire. "It is important to secure diversity in terms of female empowerment and in decision-making. We will facilitate efforts to recruit and appoint female public servants," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi in a regular news conference. Hailing from Chiba, near Tokyo, Unemoto became a prosecutor in 1988 after she graduated from Chuo University. She worked at the Justice Ministry for a relatively long time, during which she held posts, including the director general of its rehabilitation bureau, and also served as the trial department director of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office. After becoming the top prosecutor of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office in January 2023, Unemoto led investigations including a slush funds scandal of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and a bribery case of offshore wind power projects. She also gave up filing a special appeal against the Tokyo High Court's decision to reopen a high-profile 1966 quadruple murder case in which Iwao Hakamata was sentenced to death. ATLANTA One of the most dramatic presidential debates in decades unfurled over more than 90 minutes here Thursday and it left Democrats reeling. A hesitant, halting and hoarse President Biden struggled badly in a clash that he had sought in an effort to change the trajectory of a campaign he appears to be narrowly losing. Team Biden hoped a strong performance would restore the president to parity, at least. The opposite happened. Afterwards, there was fresh speculation as to whether Biden would be replaced as the Democratic nominee. Incumbent presidents have struggled in the first debates of their reelection campaigns before. GOP challenger Mitt Romney was widely seen as getting the better of then-Present Obama in 2012, for example. But Obama was 51, not 81, at the time. And he recovered in a second debate soon afterward. There wont be a second Biden-Trump debate until September. Bidens struggles left the field largely clear for Trump, despite the former president displaying his usual tendencies toward hyperbole and belligerence. Here, for once, virtually no one outside of the most hardcore partisans disagreed on who the principal winners and losers were. WINNERS Former President Trump Trump won because Biden lost. Thats the brutal math of a presidential debate, an inherently gladiatorial contest. From a performative standpoint, Trump was far sharper and more vigorous than Biden. He also turned potential attacks to his advantage, as when he contended that his propensity to fire former members of his administration was a good thing. This guy [Biden] hasnt fired anybody, Trump said. He should have fired every military man that was involved with that Afghanistan [withdrawal] horror show. He also got off the hook from harder questions with almost no pushback either from Biden or from the debate moderators, CNNs Dana Bash and Jake Tapper. On abortion, Trump sought to position himself as someone who merely wanted to leave the question with the states. Asked about the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, he talked about the state of border security and tax policy at the time. Trump was conspicuously equivocal when asked whether he would accept the results of the election. He claimed he did nothing wrong despite his recent conviction of 34 felonies and the three other indictments he faces. Yet, for all that, Trump and his allies will be thrilled with how the debate went. He leaves Atlanta more likely to win back the White House than when he walked onto the stage. Alternative Democratic nominees Its hard to overstate the degree of the Democratic panic that spread across social media and into text messages with reporters within a half hour of the debate starting. It is a testament to the scale of Bidens stumble that talk of replacing the president as the Democratic nominee has instantly become mainstream. No other potential nominee can seem to take glee from the presidents performance. But in the brutal business of politics, Thursday was a good night for Democratic figures such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom who was a big presence in the spin room here and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Vice President Harris, who braved a tough interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper soon after the debate, is another possibility, though she has her own weaknesses. Former first lady Michelle Obama is a dream candidate for many Democrats but the fantasy is unlikely to become reality, given her adamant opposition to ever seeking elected office. CNN CNN pulled off a coup in getting the debate in the first place. There are plenty of questions about the moderators conduct, in particular their reticence about fact-checking. There was also a media kerfuffle about the networks refusal to permit a White House pool reporter in the room where the debate was taking place. But still, any network that hosts a debate hopes it will be a headline-grabber. Thursday nights clash easily hit that mark. It will be discussed years from now and CNNs name is all over it. MIXED Jake Tapper and Dana Bash The spotlight is unforgiving on any moderators in a presidential debate. Tapper and Bash avoided any single negative moment, and the debate never evolved into chaos. But Tapper and Bashs reluctance to take a stronger line over questionable, or false, claims drew plenty of criticism, including on social media. I wish the CNN moderators did more fact-checking, letting the audience know when things are said that are flatly false. Not sure how it helps for a platform to transmit falsehoods disguised as facts, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote on social media. LOSERS President Biden It all went pretty wrong pretty fast for the president. From the outset, he was meandering and indistinct. He claimed to have capped the cost of insulin for seniors at $15 per shot, when the actual cap is $35 per month. The worst moment of all came next. In an answer that began with Biden confusing millionaires and billionaires, the president then lapsed into pauses and outright incoherence. Making sure that we are able to make every single solitary person eligible for what Ive been able to do with the with the COVID. Or excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with. Look, if. We finally beat Medicare, Biden said. It was painful to watch, for Bidens supporters most of all. And it is guaranteed to be replayed on conservative TV, radio and social media for days to come. At other times, Biden let clear opportunities slip through his fingers. His comments on abortion perhaps the strongest political issue for his party dissipated into a confusing riff on the three trimesters of pregnancy. An attempted attack on Trump for allegedly demeaning veterans as suckers and losers ran aground because of the lack of energy with which it was delivered. Biden arguably improved a bit as time went on. But by then the damage was done. A debate that the president sought had turned into a disaster. Facts It was not a good night for the truth. Spin is par for the course in debates. But the amount of actual falsehoods uttered was striking. Trump said a relatively small number of people went to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. As an Associated Press fact check noted, more than 1,400 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes and more than 1,000 have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial. Trump said Biden had in the past used the racially charged term superpredators. There is no evidence the president ever used that phrase. There was, of course, also hyperbole. Trump insisted he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine before he even took office. He claimed that a universal 10 percent tariff on imports would not raise prices for American consumers, an assertion economic experts overwhelmingly disagree with. But the misstatements and exaggerations were not all from Trump, by any stretch. The president said the Border Patrol union had endorsed me, endorsed my position. The union did back a deal on border security that Biden also pushed earlier this year. But it took to social media to note it had never endorsed him. And as mentioned above, Biden bungled his description of a cap on insulin prices. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers. (Baylor Spears | Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that an order against an anti-abortion protester barring him from coming close to a Planned Parenthood nurse violated the protesters First Amendment rights. The order was issued in 2020 by a Trempealeau County judge against Brian Aish, who was prevented from being near nurse Nancy Kindschy for four years. Kindschy sometimes worked at a small family planning clinic. Aish would regularly protest outside the clinic, but began focusing his comments against Kindschy, saying bad things would happen to her and her family if she didnt quit her job. According to court records, in October 2019, Aish told Kindschy, it wont be long before bad things will happen to you and your family and you could get killed by a drunk driver tonight. After the initial order was made in 2020, an appeals court upheld the decision in 2022, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Aish who argued the comments, made from a public sidewalk, were protected speech under the First Amendment. While the case was pending, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that in order to prosecute someone for making violent threats, prosecutors must show the defendant had some subjective understanding of the threatening nature of his statements and that the defendant consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence. The Court said in a majority opinion written by Justice Rebecca Dallet that Aish had consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence. Aishs statements could not be true threats of violence because he disclaimed any desire for violence to befall Kindschy, Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in a separate opinion. The post Wisconsin Supreme Court rules order against anti-abortion protester violated First Amendment appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner. A Woman Bought a Used Vase for $3.99and It Turned Out to Be an Ancient Mayan Treasure A Maryland resident purchased a vase for about $4 on a clearance rack at a local thrift store, and kept it in her home for a few years. Upon visiting the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, she recognized that many of the artifacts resembled the vase she had at home to a remarkable degree. An authentication process confirmed her vase to be roughly 1,200 years old, and from the height of the Mayan reign. A $4 vase sitting on a Maryland thrift store clearance rack looked interesting to Anna Lee Dozier, so she decided to make the purchase. It took about five years for Dozier to discover that this inexpensive addition to her household collection was in fact a roughly 1,200-year-old Mayan artifact. She was a bit surprised, but not so much so that she was unsure what to do, promptly returning the vase to the Mexican government for its inclusion in the countrys museum collection. Dozier, who works with communities in Mexico as a human rights advocate for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, saw the vase in the 2A Thrift Store near the checkout counter and was drawn to the Mexican-feeling design. It did look old to me, but not old-old, like 20 to 30 years old, maybe, Dozier said of the original find, according to NPR. I could see that it had some kind of link to Mexico, in terms of what it looked like, and since its a country that I work on and its really important to me, I thought it would be just a nice little thing to take home and put on the shelf and to remind me of Mexico. That reminder took a real turn when, a few years later she visited the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City while on a work trip. Some of the things I was looking at looked awfully like what I had at home on my shelf, she said. Thats when she started the process of looking into authenticationfirst talking to skeptical museum staffers before they asked her to contact the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C. She stuck with it, sent photos and measurements of the vase to the embassy team, and was told via email that it was the real deal. I got an email saying, Congratulationsits real and we would like it back, she said. Experts believe that the vase dates between 200 A.D. and 800 A.D., during the height of Mayan influence. Dozier was more than happy to put such a find in its rightful place. Giving it back feels so much better than it would if I put it on eBay and I got a bunch of money, she said. Dozier told WUSA that shes thrilled to have played a part in its repatriation story. Esteban Moctezuma Barragan, ambassador of Mexico to the United States, posted on X, (formerly Twitter) that a valuable witness to our Mayan history returns home, and that thanks to Dozier, the historical gem will get integrated into the countrys museum collections. I would like it to go back to its rightful place and to where it belongs, she told WUSA, but I also want it out of my home because I have three little boys and [] I was petrified that after 2,000 years I would be the one to wreck it. You Might Also Like NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) A woman was shot and killed overnight in the New Orleans East area. The New Orleans Police Department reported the shooting was called in around 11:02 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. It was initially reported that the shooting happened in the 7800 block of Wales Street, but that location was later changed to the 7800 block of Bass Street. FBI New Orleans Operation Clean House results in 155 arrests The Orleans Parish coroner identified the victim as 28-year-old Sade Jones on Monday, July 1. Further details werent released. Additional information about the fatal shooting can be reported to the NOPDs Homicide Division at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Woman Who'd Been Mortally Wounded in Shooting that Also Killed Mom Names Suspect in Final Moments: Her Husband In recent weeks, Marcia McGrath had taken steps to distance herself from her husband Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Robert Alan McGrath in June 2024 mugshot. Several weeks ago, the Arizona woman reportedly filed a police report alleging that her husband had threatened to kill her. Then, a week before Marcia McGraths killing, the 53-year-old woman filed for divorce. Now, her husband, Robert Alan McGrath, 60, is charged with murder in connection with the deaths of his wife and her mother, Thea Merlino, 77. At 3:07 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about a man with a gun in Sun City, Ariz., the agency said in a press release. A neighbor reported hearing a loud noise from a nearby apartment, and, while trying to check on the residents well-being, came upon an individual, later identified as Robert McGrath, in the doorway with a handgun, the release alleges. Robert pointed the gun at the complainants, ordered them to the ground and threatened to shoot them if they moved, the release alleges. Robert then went back into the apartment and the callers fled back into their own residence. Deputies arriving on the scene heard someone yelling for help within the apartment, and, pushing their way inside, found that the older woman had been shot dead and Marcia had been severely injured in the shooting, according to the release. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Marcia was pronounced dead. But before her death, she provided law enforcement with the name of her alleged killer, per court documents obtained by News 12 and Fox 10 Phoenix. As first responders rendered her aid, she told them, per Fox10 Phoenix, that Robert McGrath, had shot her, adding Im divorced and that her ex lives in El Mirage. 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. News 12 and Fox 10 both report that Marcia had filed for divorce in the week ahead of her fatal shooting. Alluding to the police report Marcia recently filed, a state prosecutor, cited by News 12, confirmed that the homicide case included a violation of a prior court order not to physically abuse or threaten the victim in this case, which as alleged occurred shortly after that court order was issued. Robert was arrested later on the day of the shooting, at his El Mirage home on two first-degree murder charges, along with one count of burglary, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed robbery. The double-homicide case was not yet filed online in Maricopa County Superior Court as of Friday afternoon. It was not immediately clear if Robert who is held on a $2 million cash-only bond, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 5, per Fox 10 Phoenix had entered a plea or retained a lawyer. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. We wont be bullied; Business owner says she wont back down after restaurant broken into Business owners are fed up after they found their shops smashed. As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Nina Wheat said she and her husband Troy arrived at their restaurant Thursday, All Seasons Catering, to find police out front and a smashed door. >> Woman accused of causing deadly crash while running from police facing additional charges We seen the door smashed... everything was ransacked, vandalized, Nina said. A police report obtained by News Center 7 confirms that the business was ransacked with the front door smashed and the back door left open. No money was taken and there are no charges at this time due to a lack of suspect information. We are thankful that we have a community here that supports us. So with God, the community, and just our resilience between me and my husband, we wont be bullied by anybody, Nina said. Red Lava Vape next door was also broken into. We checked the back of it. I seen four guys. One was trying to cut through the back door. The other guy was taking the electricity power off, so the cameras and the alarm system goes completely off, Karam Atwa, owner of Red Lava Vape said. All Seasons Catering customer Holly Roberson said she was sad to hear about the break-ins. I cant sit by and watch somebody continue to do this to them, she said. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for the Global South to have a greater say in international affairs, stepping up his efforts to challenge US influence around the world. Most Read from Bloomberg Developing nations should be at the forefront of promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said in a speech Friday in Beijing. The countries need to work together to be a stabilizing force for peace and contribute to resolving conflicts around the world, he said, according to a transcript of the remarks posted online by the government. In a veiled swipe at the US, Xi said the world should never be allowed to listen to whoever has a strong arm. The comments underscore Xis campaign over his roughly 12 years in power to revamp the global governance system to free it from what his diplomats frequently refer to as US hegemony. A key aspect of that drive has been forging a stronger friendship with Russia and expanding BRICS. BRICS, which is named after members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, doubled in size this year by luring Global South nations. It offers access to financing and also provides a political venue independent of Washingtons influence. Membership to the grouping is also a way for nations to signal increasing frustration with the US-led order and key institutions that remain firmly in the control of Western powers, like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. China has spearheaded a push to expand the bloc in recent years. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently declared his intention to apply for membership to the bloc, and Thailand, a US treaty ally, has announced its own bid. Chinas push to lead that challenge coincides with it taking a more aggressive approach in its diplomacy and territorial claims, especially regarding Taiwan and the Philippines, which are both backed by the US. Beijing is engaged in escalating tensions with the Philippines over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. A clash on June 17 saw Chinas coast guard wielding axes and a Philippine sailor lose his thumb in a confrontation that underscored Beijings willingness to see how far it can push Manila and its allies in Washington. Xis government has also offered diplomatic and economic support to Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, much to the frustration of the US and European Union. Moscows trade with China hit a record $240 billion in 2023, propelled by Russian oil and gas sales, and purchases of electronics, industrial equipment and cars. Xis speech Friday came at an event to mark 70th anniversary of China formulating its Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which Beijing holds up as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. In his remarks, Xi said his nation was willing to discuss free-trade arrangements with Global South countries. He also pledged to open a Global South Research Center, and offer more educational opportunities to people in developing nations. He signaled that he understood working with the US was necessary, saying that efforts to seek decoupling run against the trend of history, and will only harm the common interests of the international community. Those comments come after the US said it was considering more limits on Chinas access to high-end semiconductors. Xi also urged all nations to align with China in standing against interference in others internal affairs, and to oppose forcing other countries to choose sides. (Updates with more details of Xis speech and context.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Years after Idaho college students were stabbed to death, judge eyes 2025 trial for suspect It could be another year or more before a man accused in the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students goes to trial. A judge and attorneys discussed Thursday starting Bryan Kohbergers trial sometime in June 2025, nearly three years after the killings shocked the small university town. Idaho Judge John Judge said he wants to set aside two weeks for jury selection, two months for the trial and two weeks at the end for sentencing and other matters if Kohberger is convicted. I think already were about 13 months from the arraignment, and I think at this point ... were getting to a point of diminishing returns, Judge said after he sent a proposed schedule to attorneys last Friday. Lawyers for both sides generally agreed with the schedule. A motion to move the trial from Moscow, Idaho the small college town where students were killed was tabled until August. Kohbergers attorneys fear publicity would prevent a fair trial in Latah County. Kohberger, a former criminal justice student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington, faces four counts of murder in the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. They were killed sometime in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022, in a rental house not too far from the University of Idaho campus. Police arrested Kohberger six weeks later at his parents home in Pennsylvania, where he was spending winter break. Investigators said they linked Kohberger to the crime using DNA found on a knife sheath at the scene, surveillance videos and cellphone data. Kohbergers defense lawyers have said in court documents that he was out driving alone the night of the killings, something he did often. They also intend to call a witness in cellphone and cell tower data to show that the night of the deaths, he did not travel east of the main road connecting Pullman and Moscow. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted. Miss Shoshnone-Bannock Queen Develynn Hall takes the stage during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson) Yellowstone National Park officials said Friday a rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans has not been seen since its birth on June 4. The birth of the white buffalo, which fulfilled a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, was the first recorded in Yellowstone history and is a landmark event for the recovery of buffalo, said park officials in confirming the birth for the first time. It is an extraordinarily rare occurrence: A white buffalo, also known as bison, is born in the wild once in every 1 million births, or even less frequently, the park said. Whether the calf named Wakan Gli, which means Return Sacred in Lakota is still alive is unknown. The park's statement mentioned that each spring, about one in five calves die shortly after birth due to natural hazards but officials declined to directly respond to questions about whether they believed it has died. They confirmed the birth of the white buffalo after receiving photos and reports from multiple park visitors, professional wildlife watchers, commercial guides and researchers. But since June 4, park staffers have not been able to find it and officials are not aware of any other confirmed sightings in the park, one of the last sanctuaries for free-roaming American bison. Rangers that regularly work in the more accessible areas of the park, as well as its backcountry, have not seen the animal, park spokesperson Morgan Warthin said. Native American leaders earlier this week held a ceremony to honor the sacred birth of the animal and give the name. Lakota members caution that the prophecy tied to the birth of the white buffalo is also a signal that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals. Suspicion about the calf's fate has grown as weeks have passed without another sighting since its birth in the Lamar Valley, a prime spot for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone. Young buffalo can fall victim to predators, river currents, illness and other hazards. Mike Mease, a co-founder of the Buffalo Field Campaign, a conservation group that works with tribes to protect and honor wild buffalo and hosted this weeks ceremony, said he thinks the calf is alive somewhere in the park, away from the roads and walkways most visitors stick to. He said a grizzly bear seen by Yellowstone visitors earlier this month with five cubs, an unusually large brood, has not been seen since either. But the most important thing about the white buffalo is that a prophecy, which is both a warning and a blessing, has been fulfilled, Mease said. Whether its dead or alive, the message has been relayed from the heavens and times are different now. We have to make changes for the future, he said. Youngkin to reestablish maternal health data task force, after vetoing bill that would have done so Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaking to a crowd in Richmond on April 8, 2024. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a new executive order to reestablish a maternal health data task force a little over a month after vetoing legislation designed to accomplish the same goal. Executive Order 32 reestablishes the Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures Task Force, which was first established in 2021 and ran through the end of last year. The goal was, and is, to collect maternal health data that can inform future policy but the report with recommendations from the previous task force was not published in time for the 2024 legislative session. So, Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, filed House Bill 781 this year to reestablish the board and it cleared both chambers with bipartisan support. Youngkin then pursued a shorter substitute, which Herring said gutted her bill. Youngkins proposal also removed the term birthing people. Pregnancy is most common in cisgender women. Meanwhile, for transgender and nonbinary people who are pregnant, finding competent medical care can be a challenge, PBS News reported. When the legislature reconvened in May, they rejected Youngkins proposal and he vetoed the bill. Unfortunately, the proposed legislation politicized an otherwise noncontroversial issue, Youngkins veto statement had said. I offered an amendment to address this, but unfortunately the General Assembly did not adopt it. Herring feels it was Youngkin doing the politicizing of an otherwise bipartisan bill. It seems like this is truly being politicized by the executive order, Herring said. A spokeswoman for Youngkin did not respond when asked if Youngkins veto statement was in reference to Herrings inclusion of birthing people. The new task force will include various health care and maternal health care officials such as OB GYN doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as representatives from various state agencies and nonprofits related to health care information. I dont know who hes going to appoint but he did keep some of my structure for the task force in the executive order, Herring said. Unlike his shorter substitute, Youngkins executive order is longer and includes details from Herrings bill such as examining the quality of care and barriers that prevent collection and reporting of timely maternal health data. The cohort will develop recommendations for standard quality metrics on maternal care and report findings to both the governor and state legislature by Dec. 1, 2025. There is also a Dec. 1 deadline this year for the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to provide a report with recommendations for ways to address maternal mental health and substance use issues to help eliminate disparities in care. Meanwhile, the previous task forces existing proposals are to mandate a year of postpartum coverage for commercial insurance plans, identify reimbursements to incentivize social determinants of health screenings, and to develop a fetal and infant mortality review team a bill from this year that was tabled until next year. The infant mortality review team was among a slate of maternal health bills this session, carried primarily by Black women lawmakers; while some advanced, others were vetoed by Youngkin. Herring said in a Thursday interview that shes been in touch with the administration about composition of the new task force. This week, she spoke with John Littel, who is Youngkins new chief of staff and former head of the department of health and human resources. Its not yet clear when the new task force will be up and running or if previous members will rejoin it and a representative from the state health department could not be reached by the time of this publication. Despite divergence on details of the task force, lawmakers in both parties have worked on various measures to enhance maternal health outcomes in recent years. Youngkin has supported maternal health hubs as part of the Partnership for Petersburg initiative. He also signed a bill this year to require health insurance coverage for doulas. Mothers play an incomparable role in the lives of their children and families, and it is imperative that we do the necessary, collective work to ensure they are receiving the care they deserve, Youngkin said in a release announcing his order. This begins with knowing where we need to improve, so that we can better maternal health policies throughout the Commonwealth and promote the well-being of women, children and families. The post Youngkin to reestablish maternal health data task force, after vetoing bill that would have done so appeared first on Virginia Mercury. KYODO NEWS - Jun 28, 2024 - 19:02 | All, Japan ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co. said Friday they will respond to customer harassment under their jointly drawn-up guidelines as part of efforts to prevent their staff from quitting due to abusive customers. The two biggest Japanese airline operators said the guidelines address customer behaviors such as badgering staff, irrational demands and physical violence, among other typical issues. The guidelines also cover responses to unauthorized access to workspaces and property damage, according to the airlines. The move comes as so-called kasu-hara, Japanese slang for customer harassment, has become a social issue in recent years in Japan, a country known for its hospitality culture. The two carriers follow convenience stores and railway companies in taking measures to protect their employees from such abuse. ANA and JAL said they will call on other airlines to take similar steps. Related coverage: Japan service-sector staff set to get protection from abusive customers Japan's transport ministry warns JAL over recent safety incidents You're probably missing out on this international travel hack that saves time at the airport and costs nothing You're probably missing out on this international travel hack that saves time at the airport and costs nothing Mobile Passport Control lets travelers skip customs lines with a free app on their phone. The app, available since 2014, is underused despite being available at 33 major US airports. Global Entry is faster and more widely used but costs $100 and requires an interview. Global Entry isn't the only way international travelers can skip long lines at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The popular program that allows travelers reentering the US to breeze through customs has a $100 application fee and requires an in-person interview at an airport or government building for approval, according to the CBP website. "It's a great option for those who frequently travel internationally, but it doesn't make sense for everybody," Sean Cudahy, an aviation reporter at The Points Guy who has Global Entry and has already flown 65,000 miles this year, told Business Insider. For occasional international travelers, there's a free way to save time at CBP, and no application or interview is required all you need is your phone. Mobile Passport Control International travelers use Mobile Passport Control to get through customs. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Mobile Passport Control is an app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. It allows many travelers to submit their CBP forms electronically and enter a shorter customs line upon arrival in 33 major international US airports, including John F. Kennedy, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Dallas Fort Worth, according to the CBP website. "On any given day, you might see a 30-minute line for customs, and most of the people that are standing in that line are eligible for the Mobile Passport Control line, which is sometimes only a couple of people at any given moment." Cudahy, who recently reported on the program, told BI. "It's available to a wide range of travelers." US citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, Canadians with a B1/B2 visa, and permanent citizens of the 41 countries included in the Visa Waiver Program who have been to the US before can use the app when arriving in the US. It's not exactly Global Entry "Nothing is as fast as Global Entry," Cudahy said. "I've been through Global Entry probably a dozen times in the last eight or nine months, and on most of those occasions, it's so fast that my feet barely even stop moving." While Mobile Passport Control users access a shorter line to talk to CBP officers, Global Entry members don't talk to an officer at all. "You get off the plane, go right to a kiosk, it recognizes your face, and you're on your way in a matter of seconds," Cudahy said of Global Entry. A Global Entry passenger uses a kiosk to get through customs. Chris Hondros/Getty Images Global Entry is also available in twice as many US airports as Mobile Passport Control, and it includes TSA PreCheck access for the duration of the membership. While it's a more useful perk than Mobile Passport Control, not every international traveler wants to pay $100 and go to the airport for an interview. But they can still avoid long wait times. An underrated hack Mobile Passport Control has been available since 2014, but not many people use it especially compared to Global Entry. According to a CBP press release, 4 million travelers used Mobile Passport Control in 2023. Meanwhile, more than 10 million travelers either enrolled in or renewed their Global Entry memberships in the same year, according to the CBP. And the regular customs line remains long. Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control lanes. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Cudahy told BI that CBP wants more travelers to use Mobile Passport Control. How to use the app Once your flight lands in the US, open the Mobile Passport Control app. The app will ask you to select the airport you've arrived at. Next, you'll be prompted to add travelers to your trip. Up to 12 travelers in your household can enter their information on the same phone, making it easier and more efficient for families traveling together. Each traveler will scan their passport, enter their personal information and customs declaration forms, and take a selfie. Once you submit the forms through the app and deplane, follow the signs for Mobile Passport Control to the shorter customs line. Customs lanes for Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control. Joe Raedle/Getty Images A customs officer will take only one traveler's photo to pull up everyone's information in your group. First-timer tips The process is simple, but Cudahy has a few tips for first-time users. First off, download the app before your trip rather than after landing. "Sometimes, when you take a phone off airplane mode, it could be a little wonky at first," he said. When you download the app in advance, Cudahy suggests getting comfortable with it before your trip. "Don't submit any declarations on the application until you're ready, but you can play around with it and familiarize yourself so you're ready to go when you land," he said. The Mobile Passport Control app presented on an iPhone. Joey Hadden/Business Insider And lastly, if you're traveling with family, make sure everyone knows about the selfie. "Just have them all aware of the fact that everybody's going to need to take a selfie on the one person's phone," he said. "That way, you can do it in an efficient manner once the plane lands." Once you deplane and see that short line next to rows of travelers in the regular customs line, you'll be glad you're in on this underrated hack. Read the original article on Business Insider What you need to know Huawei will move away from the Android Open Source Project for HarmonyOS Next. The next version of the companys mobile operating system will be built on its own custom architecture. The move will drop support for Google apps, but it will improve performance and efficiency on Huawei devices. Huawei will be fully moving away from Android apps on its devices with the next version of HarmonyOS, called HarmonyOS Next. The new version of Huaweis in-house operating system was previewed this week at HDC 2024, the companys developer conference. As reported by GizmoChina, HarmonyOS Next will leave behind the Android Open Source Project, and will instead be built on Huaweis custom architecture. The decision comes with some significant consequences. After losing support for Google apps a few years ago due to economic sanctions, Huawei devices will now lose support for Android apps altogether. A big benefit to using the Android Open Source Project is compatibility with Android apps. Developers can tweak the AOSP as they see fit, but still benefit from the exhaustive list of apps built on AOSP architecture. As extreme examples, both the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 are built on the AOSP architecture. Theyre not Android devices in the conventional sense, but they use the AOSP codebase. That means they are technically compatible with Android apps. Its how tinkerers were able to crack the Rabbit R1 and load up Android launchers and apps on the device with no translation, emulation, or other extreme efforts required. Since HarmonyOS is built on AOSP, it can download and install Android apps. That will change when HarmonyOS Next releases with Huaweis custom architecture. Developers will need to be ported to the Hongmeng kernel and system, according to GizmoChina. This process has been underway since 2023, but its unclear how many apps are available on HarmonyOS Next right now. The company says that popular apps Taobao, Yiche, and Bilibili are all running natively on the platform. The move might work in China, as many apps are consolidated and offer many functions in the same place. For example, WeChat is the worlds largest standalone mobile app and serves as a messaging service, social media platform, and mobile payments provider. Its effectively WhatsApp, Facebook/Instagram, and PayPal all in one if were comparing WeChat to its Western equivalents. So, if Huawei got a handful of core apps on HarmonyOS Next, it could be successful even without Android app support. Due to sanctions from the U.S. and other governments, Huawei phones havent been a viable consideration for most people outside of China for years. That becomes even more true now that Android apps will be left behind completely when HarmonyOS Next launches. However, its not ready yet. Huawei says that HarmonyOS Next is currently in the beta testing stage and is looking for roughly 3,000 developers and beta testers. Its been a slow and steady development process for HarmonyOS Next, and thats unsurprising. This will be a significant Huawei and comes with a lot of risk. Huawei needs to pull every bit of performance it can out of its devices Huawei P60 Pro Looking at the broader circumstances Huawei is facing, the move to build HarmonyOS on its own architecture over the Android Open Source Project actually makes a lot of sense. The aforementioned sanctions have limited Huaweis ability to source equipment needed to create cutting-edge processors. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), which designs and fabricates Huawei chips, cant import equipment due to U.S. sanctions and treaties with other countries. Something called an Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUV) machine allows chipmakers to produce faster and better chips than they could using older Deep Ultraviolet Lithography (DUV) equipment. Thats why Huaweis latest smartphone chip was made using the 7nm process, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has already developed mobile chips using the 3nm process. There are reports that SMIC may be able to make 5nm chips using the DUV equipment it has, though it would be costly and inefficient. Either way, Huaweis chips would still be behind the competition. Moving to a custom HarmonyOS Next version built on its own architecture could increase efficiency and make the most out of its meager microprocessors. In fact, thats exactly what Huawei is hoping for. The company says HarmonyOS Next will bring 30% faster performance overall and a 20% lower power draw. Ditching AOSP, then, could be a good thing. If Huawei can deliver top-notch performance using HarmonyOS Next and get crucial developers onboard, Huawei users in China might not miss Android apps. Still, this decision highlights the difficulties Huawei has faced since it was sanctioned massively by the U.S. government and others. If the company had access to state-of-the-art equipment, international sales, and Google apps, perhaps it wouldnt need to move away from the Android Open Source Project. However, when you consider what Huaweis options are, choosing competitive overall performance and battery life over expanded app support may be the right move. NASA simulated an incoming asteroid impact, and the biggest roadblock to action was penny pinching NASA simulated an incoming asteroid impact, and the biggest roadblock to action was penny pinching NASA conducted a new tabletop simulation of discovering a large asteroid headed for Earth. Experts feared Congress wouldn't fund a mission to an asteroid with a 72% chance of impacting Earth. This hypothetical scenario highlights a challenge in addressing any future impact threat: politics. NASA recently brought together about 100 experts to pretend that an asteroid was heading for Earth. The tabletop simulation presented a hypothetical scenario in which cities like Dallas, Washington, DC, and Madrid were at risk of a large asteroid impact. "A large asteroid impact is potentially the only natural disaster humanity has the technology to predict years in advance and take action to prevent," Lindley Johnson, a NASA planetary defense officer emeritus, said in a press release. But it wasn't clear that they could prevent such a catastrophe even with 14 years to figure it out. The simulation revealed that technology wasn't the problem that could ultimately doom a city, region, or entire country. It was politics. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the Capitol on December 12, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images "I know what I would prefer [to do], but Congress will tell us to wait," one participant said of their asteroid-response plan, in a selection of anonymized comments in NASA's summary of the exercise, published on June 20. "The most important item of the morning was the discussion involving the political nature of the decision-making," another participant said. Congress may not move fast enough NASA has conducted nearly a dozen tabletop simulations since 2013. This one happened in May and included participants from the US State Department, FEMA, and the space agencies of Europe, the UK, Japan, and Canada. Representatives from NASA, FEMA, and the planetary defense community participate in the 2024 Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise. NASA/JHU-APL/Ed Whitman Past exercises showed that, in order to save the world, NASA would need at least five years' notice that an asteroid was headed toward us, maybe even 10 years. This time the simulators learned that, even when they had plenty of time, they might not be able to launch their preferred anti-asteroid offensive. That's because they didn't think Congress would approve funding for a critical space mission to study the asteroid "unless impact became certain," NASA's summary said. A major part of the simulation was figuring out how to impress the "seriousness" of the situation upon Congress and other leadership, Johnson said. What's more, the 14-year timeline spanned multiple budget cycles and presidential elections. At any of those junctures, the president, Congress, or NASA's own leadership could change priorities and disrupt the asteroid plan. The most likely incoming asteroid scenario Here are the hypothetical conditions the participants were given in this year's exercise: Scientists have determined a 72% chance of this asteroid impacting Earth in 14 years. It could strike anywhere across a swath of North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The asteroid's size was unclear. It could be anywhere from 60 to 800 meters (half a mile) wide possibly big enough to devastate an entire country. All that uncertainty made this "a very realistic scenario," Richard Binzel, a planetary scientist at MIT who specializes in potentially hazardous asteroids, but did not participate in the simulation, told Business Insider. "In fact, it's the most likely type of scenario we will face, where an asteroid is discovered and we have limited information," Binzel said. Options for preventing an asteroid impact include shooting the asteroid with lasers, launching a nuclear bomb at it, or simply smacking a space probe into it to nudge it away from Earth. NASA has tested one of those options in a mission that punched an asteroid and dramatically changed its path in 2022, just to prove the technique could work. Footage from the NASA DART spacecraft's camera shows the mission's views as it approached, then smashed into, an asteroid. NASA Live In the simulation, experts wanted more information to understand their anti-asteroid options. Unfortunately, the fictional space rock was about to pass behind the sun and disappear from view for seven months. To avoid wasting precious time, scientists would have to send a spacecraft to the asteroid to learn more about it. That's where they feared politics would get in the way. Participants weren't sure Congress would fund the mission unless the asteroid was a certain threat not a 72% chance of threat. So far, NASA has not discovered any large asteroids on track to impact Earth. But scientists have identified fewer than 11,000 near-Earth asteroids that are at least 140 meters (460 feet) wide big enough to crush a city. They believe there are 15,000 of them in our vicinity, meaning more than a quarter of city killers remain undiscovered. NASA could plan a mission just in case Binzel says NASA could get political and bureaucratic barriers out of the way now, before any asteroid threats are identified, by developing a reconnaissance mission to have on standby. "It's an adult thing to do that can protect us from becoming surprised," he said. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine made a similar recommendation in its last decadal survey of planetary science priorities. In that 2022 report, the Academies said that NASA should "develop an approach for a rapid-response, flyby" spacecraft to closely study newly-discovered threats. That way, it could launch a reconnaissance mission in less than three years if it became necessary. The Academies also recommended a demonstration to practice reconnaissance on a real asteroid. So why isn't NASA working on that right now? "It's not in the budget," Binzel said. First NASA has to make a proposal for such a mission, with a thumbs up from the White House, and then Congress would have to authorize and fund it. "If there's an asteroid out there with our name on it, it's already there," Binzel said. "Fortunately, the chance in the next century or so is incredibly small. But it's not zero." Read the original article on Business Insider Many tech figures were less than impressed with Joe Biden after his debate with Trump. Venture capitalists queried Biden's fitness for office, while joking the country was in danger. Other responses ranged from sharp criticism to mockery and despair. Several Silicon Valley figures have offered their thoughts on President Joe Biden's performance in Thursday's presidential debate and it's not a pretty picture. Many believe that the night simply could not have gone worse for the president. The event triggered no shortage of hot takes from tech personalities and influencers, who took to social media to mock Biden's performance against Donald Trump. Over the course of roughly 90 minutes, Biden's fitness for office was questioned as he fumbled several lines, appeared to forget what he was saying, and was dragged into a battle of vindictive personal attacks with his Republican nemesis. "We have a 1,000 trillionaires in America I mean billionaires in America," the sitting president said at one point while commenting on the country's tax system. Some Silicon Valley figures have warmed up to Trump Heading into Thursday's debate, the election was clearly splitting opinion among Silicon Valley figures. Biden had earned public support in tech circles from the likes of LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman and Vinod Khosla, a billionaire venture capitalist who hosted the president at his home for a fundraiser last month. Reid Hoffman publicly backed Joe Biden before the first election debate. Kimberly White/Getty Images But he had also drawn sharp criticism from powerful tech figures like Elon Musk, who wrote on X in April that Biden "is just a tragic front for a far-left political machine" who "obviously barely knows what's going on." After the debate, Musk chose to focus on the blizzard of memes that had been circulating rather than the candidates' performances. Tonight was a clear victory for memes Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2024 Plenty of other tech figures did not hold back when discussing Biden's performance, however. While there's been a deafening silence from Biden supporters like Hoffman and Khosla have shared a deafening silence following last night's broadcast, ardent Trump supporters were vocal. David Sacks, an influential entrepreneur and investor who officially endorsed Trump this month, took to social media to lay into the president's blunders on live television. "If Biden can't handle a debate, how can he handle the most dangerous foreign policy situation since the Cuban Missile Crisis? It's time to pull back from the brink," Sacks wrote on X in the aftermath of the debate. If Biden cant handle a debate, how can he handle the most dangerous foreign policy situation since the Cuban Missile Crisis? Its time to pull back from the brink. David Sacks (@DavidSacks) June 28, 2024 Jason Calacanis, an angel investor who cohosts the "All In" podcast with Sacks, also took to X to comment that wrote on X that a "hot swap" is coming, suggesting that the Democrats were getting ready to replace the incumbent president as their candidate. "This is unfair to Biden let him retire and enjoy his twilight years," he said while adding during a live blog that "he objectively seems out of it." It's notable, though, that he was not positive about Trump's performance either. He accused the former president of rambling and said the fact-checkers would likely "savage" his claims. Some tech figures leaned into mockery. Nikita Bier, a Los Angeles-based founder, seemed to excoriate the president's performance, writing that "it's crazy that the entire future of the country was changed by a single intern forgetting to bring the Adderall to Atlanta." Meanwhile, Shaun Maguire, general partner at venture capital firm Sequoia, said: "If Biden was that bad when maximally prepped," it's worth asking what America is getting "behind closed doors." Others expressed their dismay more broadly. Delian Asparouhov, partner at Founders Fund, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, kept things more straightforward, writing: "Every American citizen tonight," alongside a screenshot of Ralph Wiggum from "The Simpsons" carrying the simple caption: "(chuckles) I'm in danger." every american citizen tonight pic.twitter.com/5qOOf777SR delian (@zebulgar) June 28, 2024 Startup investor Sarah Guo also lamented the situation, saying simply, "This is not the best America has to offer." Still, others sounded positive notes for the Democrats as a whole. Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham posted on X that "Biden bombing the debate" was good for the party as a better candidate would emerge. Biden bombing in the debate is actually good news for the Democrats. It means we'll get a new candidate who can win. Paul Graham (@paulg) June 28, 2024 While speculation swirls around whether the Democrats will indeed replace Biden as their nominee ahead of the election, it's clear that a growing percentage of Silicon Valley has decided who their preference is. Read the original article on Business Insider KYODO NEWS - Jun 28, 2024 - 20:46 | All, Japan, World A U.S. Marine in his 20s in Okinawa Prefecture was arrested in May on suspicion of injuring a female while attempting to rape her, investigative sources said Friday, sparking strong opposition from local communities where anti-U.S. base sentiment runs deep. The disclosure of the incident comes days after it was also revealed that a U.S. Air Force serviceman in Japan's southernmost prefecture was indicted in March for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in December. Critics say Okinawa bears an unreasonable burden in hosting U.S. bases. The island prefecture is home to the majority of U.S. military facilities in Japan, almost 80 years after the country's defeat in World War II. Okinawa was returned to Japan from U.S. control half a century ago. Crimes committed by U.S. service members and nonmilitary personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals. The decision by local police not to disclose the two incidents involving U.S. military personnel, citing the need to protect the privacy of the victims, has also angered local residents. "A vile crime has come to light once again, causing strong concern to the people of Okinawa. I cannot help but be outraged," Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters on Friday, adding rules on information sharing by police should be reviewed. According to local prosecutors, Jamel Clayton, a 21-year-old Marine, was indicted on June 17 for allegedly choking the victim, unbuttoning her pants, and attempting to have sexual intercourse with her in Yomitan on May 26, though he was unsuccessful. The victim sustained injuries, including to her eyes, which required around two weeks of treatment. Clayton fled after the incident, but the prefectural police, who received a report, arrested him outside the base area the same day, the investigative sources said. In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi described the incident as "extremely regrettable." The top government spokesman said Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano conveyed Japan's dismay to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel regarding the recent spate of sexual crimes believed to have been committed by U.S. service members. Okano urged Emanuel to take thorough measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents, Hayashi, who also served as the minister in charge of mitigating the burden of U.S. forces in Okinawa, said at a regular press conference. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara also told a press conference, "It is extremely regrettable. It causes a great deal of anxiety to the local residents and should not have happened." In Okinawa, the rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen in 1995 prompted a wave of public outrage. Other cases include the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman in 2016 by a former U.S. base worker who was later sentenced to life in prison. Related coverage: U.S. serviceman in Okinawa indicted over sexual assault of minor Okinawa marks 79th anniversary of end of WWII ground battle Bloc backing Okinawa's anti-U.S. base governor fails to win majority by Xinhua writers Gao Shan, Li Chenxi, Yu li LOS ANGELES/Chengdu, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, arrived in California, the United States, Thursday morning on a chartered flight from China, for a 10-year international giant panda protection cooperation with San Diego Zoo, marking a new round of giant panda protection cooperation between China and the United States. Yun Chuan, a 5-year-old male, and Xin Bao, a 4-year-old female, were selected from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). The black-and-white bears departed from the Bifengxia Panda Center at Ya'an City in southwest China's Sichuan Province Wednesday evening. The duo, which transited through Hong Kong and arrived in Los Angeles International Airport, were accompanied by five experienced breeders and veterinarians during the journey. The panda pair, the first to enter the United States in over two decades, will travel to San Diego Zoo soon after their arrival in Los Angeles. They will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days, per standard procedure, and the public debut date will be announced after the animal care team feels the bears are ready to meet visitors. The CCRCGP has conducted scientific research cooperation with San Diego Zoo for over 25 years, with fruitful results in the protection, breeding, and disease control of giant pandas, and related public education. Giant pandas are one of the world's most endangered species. Nearly 1,900 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi in China, rising from 1,100 in the 1980s. As one symbol of the cooperation, Yun Chuan is the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007, and the grandson of Bai Yun, who lived at the zoo for more than 20 years. Then-27-year-old Bai Yun and her son, Xiao Liwu, San Diego Zoo's last two giant pandas, were sent back to China in 2019 as the zoo's last conservation agreement with China ended. Many San Diego residents, tourists, as well as park officials were reluctant to say goodbye to those giant pandas, which have long been envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples. They have been looking forward to welcoming the beloved zoo icon back. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo family," said Paul Baribault, the president and chief executive officer for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, in a press release, noting that the nonprofit conservation organization's long-standing partnership with its Chinese partners "has been instrumental in advancing giant panda conservation, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the survival and thriving of this iconic species." Baribault told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Sichuan earlier this week that the whole organization is excited to welcome the pandas and has "been doing quite a bit to get ready" for their arrival. "We are getting their spaces all set and expanded the space for them, making it even better than it ever was before," he said, adding, "We've also been preparing all their food. Our scientists have been getting ready. Our teams have been coming over here to get to know the pandas. So that transition is smooth and easy for them." San Diego Zoo, one of the most visited zoo in the country, is the first U.S. zoo to have a cooperative conservation program with Chinese partners. Located north of downtown San Diego in Balboa Park, it is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals representing over 680 species and subspecies. "San Diegans can't wait to see these amazing animals!" wrote Todd Gloria, mayor of San Diego, on social media platform X, who attended a farewell ceremony in Ya'an, where the pandas had been residing. In an interview with Xinhua, the mayor described the panda pair as "wonderful ambassadors from China," noting their arrival is "the opportunity to have not only the giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo, but to really showcase Chinese culture, Chinese people, Chinese traditions, and symbols and icons." "One thing I know about Chinese and Americans is our shared love of the beautiful creatures. This exchange is a wonderful way to tie our two communities closer together and that kind of tying together is a way to promote understanding and mutual respect," he added. According to Gloria, the pair could attract more visitors to San Diego Zoo. "We anticipate a 20 to 40 percent boost in attendance ... because we know people love these creatures," he said. The first scheduled direct flight from Guangzhou arrived in Budapest on Thursday. The launch of the new direct flight is in line with Hungary and Chinas efforts to bolster relations based on mutually beneficial cooperation, Boglarka Illes, the foreign ministrys state secretary for bilateral relations, said after the Boeing 787-9 aircraft operated by China Southern landed at Budapests Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Bilateral economic and trade ties are developing steadily, Illes told a press conference, adding that China was Hungarys ninth most important trading partner last year and its most important one outside Europe. Bilateral trade turnover exceeded 17 billion US dollars and China brought the largest volume of FDI to Hungary in 2023, she said. Illes said the government trusted that the Chinese businesses already present in Hungary would further expand their investments and that even more leading Chinese companies would choose Hungary as their European investment destination. Hungary has more direct flights with China than any other country in the central and eastern European region, Illes said. She said the launch of the new flight put an especially important region within reach, noting that Guangzhou was the capital of the economic powerhouse of Guangdong province. Illes said South China was a particularly important region in Hungarian-Chinese economic relations, with more than 85% of Chinese investments in Hungary coming from there. Francois Berisot, the CEO of Liszt Ferenc International operator Budapest Airport, said the China Southern flight would create countless opportunities for Hungarian economic players, business travellers and the tourism sector. The flight will increase the number of seats on flights between Budapest and major Chinese cities by about 56,000 to over 400,000 this year, he said. Qu Guangji, executive vice president of China Southern, welcomed the launch of the new flight, saying it was not only important for the airline industry, but also a milestone in the two countries relations. Gong Tao, Chinas ambassador to Hungary, said the growing number of direct flights between Budapest and major Chinese cities made bilateral cooperation more comfortable. China Southern will operate the Budapest-Guangzhou flight four times a week. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! Francois Berisot is the new CEO of Budapest Airport Zrt., as of 6 June 2024. Mr. Berisot has more than two decades of international aviation experience, having spent the last five years as the CEO of Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade, part of VINCI Airports. Francois Berisot is a highly qualified professional in the airport industry, covering operations management, commercial and market development, infrastructure renewal and expansion, strategic planning, finance and construction. He brings extensive knowledge of airport operations gained through multiple relevant roles and experience, most recently as the CEO of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Prior to that, he served as the deputy managing director and chief financial officer of TAV Construction in Turkey. Earlier, as business development project director at VINCI Airports, he was responsible for supervising major airport projects (PPPs, airport acquisitions and privatizations). Before joining VINCI Airports, he held several operational positions, including the chief operating officer of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman (Jordan). Mr. Berisot succeeds Kam Jandu, the former CEO of Budapest Airport Zrt. who joined BUD in 2009, and previously worked for the company as aviation director and then as chief commercial officer. The company would like to thank Kam for his immeasurable contributions to BUDs achievements. Source: Budapest Airport ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here! COLOMBO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government disbursed nearly 12 billion Sri Lankan rupees (39 million U.S. dollars) to the bank accounts of people selected as beneficiaries under Aswesuma welfare benefit payment program, the president's media division (PMD) said on Friday. The PMD said money was deposited in the accounts of 622,495 beneficiaries for payments due in June. In the first phase of the program, eligible beneficiaries in the vulnerable category received 5,000 Sri Lankan rupees (11 dollars) monthly from July 2023 to March 31, 2024. Those beneficiaries selected under the transitional category received 2,500 Sri Lankan rupees (5.5 dollars) from July 2023 to December 31, 2023. In response to the current economic situation, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the welfare benefits board to extend the payment period of special allowances for beneficiaries in the transitional and vulnerable categories until December this year, the PMD said. The existing payment system for the extremely poor and poor categories will continue without changes, the PMD said. The Sri Lankan government introduced the welfare benefit program to cover 2.4 million families under different categories because of the difficult economic situation in the country earlier. New Delhi: Netflix and Sanjay Leela Bhansalis series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' has reached another milestone, with its hit song Sakal Ban being showcased at the Royal College of Music (RCM) Museum's exhibition 'Awaken: Sufi Music and Women of South Asia' in London. The exhibition will run in the UK until October for three months. This inclusion places 'Heeramandi' alongside iconic and legendary Sufi music from films like 'Mughal-E-Azam' and 'Zeenat', solidifying its status as a groundbreaking work in Indian musical history. In its launch week, 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' became the most-viewed Indian series on Netflix, trending in 43 countries. It is the first Indian series to feature a globally acclaimed music album, highlighting Indias rich musical heritage on an international stage. The Royal College of Music Museum's exhibition, 'Awaken: Sufi Music and Women of South Asia', brings to light the often overlooked contributions of women in the traditionally male-dominated Sufi musical landscape. Opened on June 18, the exhibition showcases the invaluable contributions of Sufi women through a display of items from collections around the world. It reveals the voices, performances, and instruments of Sufi women in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, spanning from the Mughal period to present-day London. The inclusion of 'Sakal Ban' in this exhibition underscores the song's cultural and musical significance. On Sakal Ban featuring at the Royal College of Music Museum exhibition, Prerna Singh, CEO, Bhansali Productions, expressed her delight, It's a great honour to see SLBs work being recognised at such a prestigious platform, we are thrilled to share this with the audience worldwide". 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' continues to highlight India's rich and diverse musical heritage on the global stage, celebrating Sufi music and the pivotal role women have played in its history. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the eight-part series is now streaming on Netflix in 190 countries. U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican challenger, Donald Trump, will face off Thursday in the first general election debate of the 2024 season. This event offers both candidates a crucial opportunity to influence the political narrative and win over undecided voters. According to Associated Press, U.S. President Joe Biden arrived at CNN in Atlanta for Thursday's general election debate, accompanied by his wife, Jill. The 81-year-old Biden, the Democratic incumbent, has the chance to reassure voters that he is capable of leading the U.S. through various challenges. Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Trump could seize this moment to move beyond his felony conviction in New York and persuade an audience of tens of millions that he is temperamentally fit to return to the Oval Office, reported Associated Press. Thursday's debate in Atlanta will set a couple of precedents it will be the first time two presidential candidates of such advanced ages face off, and it will be CNN's debut in hosting a general election presidential debate. U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived at CNN in Atlanta for Thursday's general election debate, accompanied by his wife, Jill. (With inputs from AP) As operations at Delhi airport's Terminal 1 are suspended in the wake of the roof collapse incident, the civil aviation ministry asked airlines on Friday to make sure there is no unusual spike in airfare for flights to and from the nation's capital. At least six people were hurt and one person died when a canopy at Terminal 1's (T1) former departure forecourt partially collapsed on Friday morning at around five in the morning. There have been flight cancellations and operations have been temporarily moved to T2 and T3, as the T1, which manages IndiGo and SpiceJet's domestic flight operations, has been closed. Given this context, the ministry has requested that airlines make sure that there isn't an unusual spike in the cost of tickets for travel to and from Delhi. In a series of posts on X, the ministry stated that airlines have been advised that flight cancellations and rescheduling due to the incident are permitted without penalty. "In view of the unfortunate incident at Terminal T1D IGIA, Delhi, all airlines are advised to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Delhi and take necessary action regarding the same," according to the announcement. According to a source, IndiGo has cancelled 62 flight departures and 7 flight arrivals, while SpiceJet has cancelled 8 flight departures and 4 flight arrivals as a result of the T1 incident. New Delhi: The rain of relief on Friday turned into havoc as the canopy collapse at Terminal 1 of Delhi airport claimed one life while injuring six others. Many areas of the city were flooded, with water entering homes, submerging vehicles, and causing miles-long traffic jams. The national capital recorded 228 mm in Delhi between 2.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m.. The rain, which began around 3 a.m., has whipped the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to tidy up their last-minute touches as the full-fledged monsoon is likely to enter the capital city by the end of this month, said Skymet, a private weather agency. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the national capital could experience heavy to very heavy rain over the weekend. No later than last year, Delhi faced one of its most severe flood-like situations in various areas due to incessant rainfall, resulting in the evacuation of over 25,000 people from the flooded regions, so the question remains this year too: as the monsoon arrival nears, can Delhi beat the looming waterlogging issues? Pahli Baarish Brings Devastation To Delhi The Delhi government called an emergency meeting in the afternoon to assess the situation, attended by all cabinet ministers and senior government officials. New Delhi faced power outages in multiple locations, including Dwarka and Jangpura, whereas key stretches such as the Minto Road and Azad Market underpasses were closed due to waterlogging. Many locals in residential areas waded through waist-deep water. The collapse of the roof sheet and support beams of the canopy at Terminal 1 of IGI Airport resulted in one fatality and six injuries. The incident also caused damage to cars in the pick-up and drop-off areas of the terminal, leading to extensive rescue operations. #WATCH | Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu visited Delhi airport's Terminal-1, where a portion of canopy collapsed amid heavy rainfall today, killing one person and injuring several others. pic.twitter.com/2Skd7nvaKp ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Several labourers were feared to be trapped when an under-construction wall collapsed. The exact number of trapped individuals is yet to be confirmed. The rainfall brought in sharp political reactions, with the BJP criticising the ruling AAP government for waterlogging. The party leader shared images of water entering Delhi minister Atishi's residence on Mathura Road. Reports have emerged of dilapidated roads in Rohini Sector 18, where parked vehicles sank into holes. #WATCH | Visuals from outside the residence of Delhi Water Minister Atishi. The area around her residence is inundated following heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/GCs9ec4VpW ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Traffic police have advised alternative routes in areas like Kartavya Path, ITO, Vir Banda Bairagi Marg, Outer Ring Road, Azad Market underpass, Dhaula Kuan Flyover, and Minto Road. #WATCH | Drone visuals around AIIMS in Delhi show the current situation in the area as it remains waterlogged due to incessant heavy rainfall. (Visuals shot at 10:30 am) pic.twitter.com/GCRpNxJ0vb ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024 Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed entry and exit gates at Yashobhoomi, Sector 25, Dwarka. Shuttle service from Delhi Aerocity Metro station to Terminal 1-IGI Airport was suspended. Municipalitys Preparedness Based on feedback from the public and traffic police officers, the civic agency has identified five key areas prone to water stagnation: Africa Avenue, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, Panchkuian Road, Purana Quila Road, and Lodhi Estate. The NDMC has established six control rooms along with 160 pumps to avoid waterlogging in Lutyens' Delhi. As per an official quoted by news agency PTI, CCTV cameras have been installed at all waterlogging hotspots in the area. Officials stated that the feed from these cameras will be monitored throughout the day at the Integrated Command Control Centre at Palika Kendra. "The drainage control rooms have been set up at Sangli Mess, Khan Market, Netaji Nagar, Malcha Marg, Mandir Marg, and Connaught Place," an official told the agency. There are 99 permanent pumps and 62 temporary pumps for water drainage; however, the agency is prioritising the desilting of the drainage system, which is expected to be completed by June 30. (With inputs from PTI) Delhi, known for its bustling streets and vibrant culture, found itself submerged in chaos today as the first monsoon rains transformed its roads into rivers and underpasses into ponds. What was supposed to be a relief turned into a nightmare for Delhiites, with scenes reminiscent of Venice emerging across the city. As the rains poured down relentlessly, Delhi's infrastructure struggled to cope. Roads became impassable torrents, cars were seen floating like boats, and underpasses turned into waterlogged traps. It was a sight that underscored the city's vulnerability to heavy downpours and exposed the inadequacies of its drainage systems. In today's DNA, Zee News' Anant Tyagi analysed why the national capital was completely submerged in rainwater despite the Delhi government and Municipal Corporation's tall claims. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), entrusted with the task of managing such crises, found itself on the receiving end of public ire. Just days ago, MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi had promised that Delhiites would enjoy the monsoon this yeara promise that quickly dissolved into irony as the city drowned. Amidst the deluge, BJP councillor Ravinder Singh Negi made headlines by unabashedly boating through the flooded streets of Vinod Nagar in East Delhi. His actions drew sharp criticism, with many pointing out the irony of a municipal councillor enjoying the chaos he was supposed to mitigate. "The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs both the Delhi government and the MCD, shares responsibility for this debacle," remarked a disgruntled resident. "They promised to fix Delhi, yet here we are, with our streets under water." Water Minister Atishi, once hailed for her water satyagraha, now faces backlash as social media erupts with memes mocking her efforts. "Atishi's satyagraha paid offwe now have water everywhere, for free," read one viral meme, highlighting the frustrations of Delhiites. As Delhi grapples with the aftermath of the monsoon deluge, questions linger about the city's preparedness for future rains and the accountability of its elected representatives. Watch Friday's episode of DNA for a detailed analysis of reasons behind chaos in Delhi after monsoon flooding: Hours after the High Court granted him bail, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Heman Soren on Friday claimed that he was falsely implicated in a money laundering case and was forced to spend five months in prison. The executive president of Jharkhand's ruling JMM attacked the BJP (without naming it) and expressed concern about how political leaders, social workers, and journalists' voices were being silenced across the country. "I was falsely implicated. "A conspiracy was hatched against me, and I was forced to spend five months in jail," Soren told reporters after being released from Birsa Munda Jail. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in the money laundering case linked to a land scam. "I respect the judiciary. The court delivered its order and I am out (on bail). But the judicial process is long," Soren said. He alleged those who raised their voice against the central government were being suppressed. "I will finish the task I started, the war I waged," Soren said. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31. Soren left the jail on Friday evening, accompanied by his wife and party members. Kalpana Soren, the JMM leader's wife, expressed her gratitude for the bail order, saying, "This day has finally arrived after a long time." Thank you so much. JMM leaders gathered outside the Birsa Munda Jail to catch a glimpse of the tribal leader who was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges of alleged land fraud and money laundering. What Is The Money Laundering Case Against Soren? The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren's FIR. Soren claimed that the ED's searches of his homes were intended to tarnish his reputation and harass him because he was tribal. The ED claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and investigation-related documents, alleging that Soren acquired 8.5 acres of land fraudulently. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in shady property deals. The High Court dismissed Soren's petition to attend the Jharkhand Assembly's budget session on February 29. He resigned as CM after being arrested in a money laundering case under the PMLA. Delhi Airport Canopy Collapse: The blame game began among the political party after the canopy in Delhi Airport Terminal 1 collapsed on Friday due to the heavy rainfall. The tragic incident caused the death of one cab driver and several others were also injured. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge challenged the Prime Minister's claims of creating "World Class Infrastructure" while citing the canopy and other past incidents of collapse. "Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt," Kharge shared a post on social media X. While citing the incidents-- Delhi Airport T1 roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram Mandir leakage, Cracks in Mumbai Trans Harbour Link road, 13 new bridges falling down in Bihar in 2023 & 2024, Pragati Maidan Tunnel submerging and Morbi bridge collapse tragedy in Gujarat, Kharge questioned the Prime Minister's claims of creating "World Class Infrastructure." Corruption and criminal negligence is responsible for the collapse of shoddy infrastructure falling like a deck of cards, in the past 10 years of Modi Govt. Delhi Airport (T1) roof collapse, Jabalpur airport roof collapse, Abysmal condition of Ayodhya's new roads, Ram June 28, 2024 Priyanka Gandhi Slams BJP Government Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi criticised the BJP-led government, stating that BJP's corrupt model of "take the donation and give business" has now been exposed. She also mentions the incident of the Jabalpur airport roof coalbed, which was inaugurated 3 months ago by PM Modi. "Delhi Airport Terminal-1, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in March, suffered a roof collapse today, resulting in the tragic death of a cab driver," she wrote in Hindi. She further raised a question Prime Minister and asked them to take responsibility for this poor construction. Priyanka further said, "This is BJP's corrupt model of "take donation and give business" which has now been exposed. The question is, will the Chief Inauguration Minister take responsibility for this poor construction work and this corrupt model?" BJP's Amit Malviya Counters To Congress BJP leader Amit Malviya counters Congress leader and said that the part of T1 that collapsed was opened in 2009 when Congress-led UPA was in power. "Condition of Terminal T1, which collapsed this morning, in 2009, just months after it was inaugurated. We are still cleaning the mess of colossal corruption and shoddy infrastructure built in the UPA era. The Congress should just shut up. It has blood of innocents on its hands," the post read. The Vijayanagar Empire was considered one of the strongest empires of the Indian subcontinent then, as they defeated all the existing empires of that time. Founded by Harihara 1 and by his brother Bukka Raya 1, the empire had its influence and remained in constant competition and conflict with the five Deccan Sultanates. The Empire is considered to have reached its zenith during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya. Krishna Deva conquered or subjugated territories on the east of the Deccan that belonged previously to Orissa. Many of the greatest architectural monuments are dated to be of his reign. The different aspects of the Vijayanagar Empire which show its strength are: Geographical location The empires capital Hampi, located on the bank of the Tungabhadra River was one of the main beneficial geographical aspects, as it provided the natural fortification to the capital city and a major source of water. The Tungabhadra River not only provided water but also was a natural barrage for the north Indian Sultanates to directly attack the city. The empire's access to both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal further blessed its maritime trade, enhancing its economic strength. Administrative System The administrative system of the Vijaynagar Empire was further divided into several stages which was a certified way of proper administrative management of social and economic activities. The kingdom was divided into provinces called Rajyas or Mandalam, each governed by a Nayaka or provincial governor. This decentralized administrative structure allowed local governance to flourish and to maintain overall imperial control. The empire also maintained detailed records and employed an effective bureaucracy, which contributed to its long-term stability and efficient tax collection. This efficient method of tax collection made the empire financially stable and powerful in terms of wealth. Military Power The empire maintained a large and well-trained standing army, which included infantry, cavalry, and war elephants. The use of advanced military technology, such as archery and artillery, gave the Vijayanagar forces an edge over their opponents. The empire's military strategy also involved building a network of fortresses, which acted as a defensive wall against invasions, particularly from the Bahmani Sultanate and later the Deccan Sultanates. Realizing the value of cavalry and well-trained archers, Krishna Deva Raya imported many horses from Persia and Arabia. Diplomatic Alliances The diplomatic alliances made by the Vijaynagar Empire were one of the key factors behind the empires supremacy over other kingdoms. In about 1510, Goa, which had been under the rule of the Sultan of Bijapur, was captured by the Portuguese, possibly with the approval or connivance of Vijayanagara. Commerce between the Portuguese and Vijayanagara became very important to both sides. This shows the important diplomatic ties between the Portuguese and the Vijayanagara Empire. Diplomatic ties followed by strategic alliances with neighbouring kingdoms and engaged in diplomatic marriages to strengthen their position. The Vijayanagar Empire's status as the strongest power in the Indian subcontinent during its time was a result of strategic geography, robust administration, military prosperity, economic prosperity, cultural patronage, and strong diplomacy. The legacy of Vijayanagar continues to be celebrated in Indian history for its contributions to the culture, governance, and the arts. The ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, show the timeless architecture, economic prosperity and ultimately their immense strength in the Indian subcontinent in that era. A video of an Indian woman performing her mom duties went viral on the internet. The woman was captured hanging her clothes out in the sun to let them dry, netizens leaving various reactions in the comment section calling her Desi Mom in Dubai. The video was posted by Pallavi Venkatesh on Instagram showing her mother hanging clothes on the balcony of luxurious Atlantis, The Palm Hotel in Dubai. The video was dropped with the tag, Moms just momming at Palm Atlantis. In the video, Pallavi also shows the view from her hotel, she pans her camera on another balcony of the hotel with clothes left hung in the balcony to dry. The video has received more than 1 lakh 50 thousand likes and nearly one thousand comments including laughter and criticism. One user commented, Bwahahaha! Moms are such cutiesss Another commented, I think its not allowed in Dubai to dry clothes outside A debate arose on the internet on the matter. One commented, This is bad manners in other countries. Respect the rules of the hotel that you are staying in. Another user defended the saying leading to a verbal argument in the comment section. As per Dubai Municipality post in 2021, it asked its residents not to hang clothes on the balcony and maintain the citys beauty. In line with #DubaiMunicipalitys keenness to raise the communitys awareness of the requirements and standards for a sustainable environment, it urges all UAE residents to avoid distorting the citys general aesthetic and civilised appearance. pic.twitter.com/PmQRs7iJL8 | Dubai Municipality (@DMunicipality) December 27, 2021 However, the official account of Atlantis, The Palm Hotel also commented on the video, Mom duties. We hope you enjoyed your stay! It further informed the visitors, We include a retractable drying cord in every bathroom so that you can dry your clothing over the bath. Press Release June 28, 2024 CHIZ: SENATE TO FOCUS ON EASING DAILY BURDENS FOR FILIPINOS Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero wants the Senate to focus on crafting laws that alleviate the daily burdens of Filipinos, guided by his vision, "Hayahay ang Buhay, Bayang Matiwasay." Escudero said that while the upper chamber will continue to pass business-friendly bills like the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) and tax cuts for the stock market, it will also ensure that laws benefiting the poor are passed concurrently with these initiatives. "I have noticed that we have been passing a genre of laws that ease the burden on big business, pati ease of unloading bad loans of banks, may batas tayo diyan," Escudero pointed out. "It is time to reframe our work and pivot it to laws that make life easier for our people," Escudero added, setting a clear directive for the Senate's legislative agenda. Escudero posed critical questions to emphasize his point: "Why only ease of doing business? Why not ease of finishing school, ease of finding work, or ease of getting healthcare when one is sick?" Escudero made these statements following his first Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting as Senate President last Tuesday, where he met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Speaker Martin Romualdez, Cabinet officials, and other leaders from the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to Escudero, there is a need for legislation that addresses essential aspects of everyday life, ensuring all Filipinos have access to education, employment, and healthcare. These new legislative priorities, he said, would focus on creating tangible benefits for the Filipino people. "'Yan ang mga pagtutuunan ng pansin ng Senado. Para ang resulta ay Hayahay na Buhay, Bayang Matiwasay," he declared. Meanwhile, Escudero reaffirmed the Senate's commitment to passing critical legislation while maintaining rigorous scrutiny. He assured that each measure listed in LEDAC's Common Legislative Agenda would be thoroughly reviewed and moved forward to the President's desk for signature. "Let me assure you that each one of these bills in the common agenda will see the light of day on the Senate floor, so those passed can be sent to the President's desk for his signature," Escudero said. Escudero stressed that the Senate will never sacrifice scrutiny for speed. "For the Senate, the phrase 'deliberative body' is not a slogan routinely spoken but a style of work religiously observed," he said. He detailed the Senate's comprehensive process in handling proposed laws, which includes trimming lengthy provisions, reducing projected costs, testing for constitutionality, and addressing stakeholders' concerns. This process ensures that proposed laws are ready for implementation and can withstand any potential vetoes, he explained. "Through this rigorous process, the Senate ensures that proposed laws are implementation-ready and veto-proof, especially on bills that have budgetary impacts, fiscal repercussions, and economic implications," he said. He cited the CREATE Law as an example of how legislative haste can lead to missed opportunities, underscoring the importance of thorough review. Escudero pledged that the Senate would act diligently on LEDAC priority bills while also embracing innovation. "But with industry comes innovation. Expect the Senate to make amendments," he noted. He emphasized the Senate's responsibility to not only process bills from other branches but also to initiate measures and generate solutions. "We will also invoke our right, nay our duty, to initiate measures, because the people expect us not to be mere processors of bills originating from the outside, but incubators of ideas and solutions," Escudero said. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers on Friday voted to adopt the law on rural collective economic organizations and other bills as the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its 10th session. At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt the newly revised law on emergency response, a revised frontier health and quarantine law, a decision to amend the accounting law, and a decision on official appointment and removal. Lei Haichao was appointed as director of the National Health Commission, replacing Ma Xiaowei, according to the decision. President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the laws and the decisions. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 10th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the closing meeting. Lawmakers also voted to adopt a decision on adjusting the application of the food safety law in the Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as two decisions concerning the Minamata Convention on Mercury and an extradition treaty between China and Panama, respectively. In addition, the session approved the central government's final accounts for 2023 and adopted personnel-related bills. Addressing the meeting, Zhao highlighted the quality of the oversight by people's congresses, urging lawmakers to exercise appropriate, effective and lawful oversight. He called on lawmakers to uphold Party leadership, especially the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and practice whole-process people's democracy when exercising oversight. Oversight should be exercised to serve the country's overall interests and should focus on solving problems, Zhao said. He also stressed the importance of carrying out oversight in accordance with statutory mandates and procedures. Zhao chaired a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting, and presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting. New Delhi: The INDIA bloc leaders are set to press for adjournment motions in both houses of Parliament today to initiate a debate on the alleged irregularities in the 2024 National Eligibility Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG). The INDIA bloc parties reached this decision during a meeting held at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence on Thursday. The decision comes a day after President Droupadi Murmu mentioned the paper leak issue during her address to the joint sitting of the parliamentarians. Here are the top developments on the NEET row: Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam fainted during the protest in Parliament and was immediately taken to the hospital. She was demonstrating in the Well of the House regarding the NEET issue when she began to feel lightheaded. She has been admitted to Delhi's RML Hospital. The LoP Rahul Gandhi on Friday called upon the Prime Minister to participate in the debate, highlighting that such issues concerning the youth deserve comprehensive attention and bipartisan cooperation. Gandhi stressed the need for Parliament to convey a unified message that both the government and the opposition are committed to addressing students' concerns collectively. After the opposition raised the issue of alleged irregularities in NEET examinations, a ruckus erupted in Parliament, leading to the suspension of session until Monday. During her speech to the joint session of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu said that the government's dedication to conducting a fair investigation. "Even before this, we have seen paper leaks in different states. Rising above partisan politics, a nationwide concrete solution is needed for this. Parliament has formed a strict law against irregularities in examinations." In response, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge remarked, "The Modi government cannot shirk its responsibility by merely suggesting that 'we should rise above partisan politics'The youth are demanding justice." Opposition leaders have stated that if the NEET issue is not addressed in Parliament today, they will hold a protest inside the House. On Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made its first arrest in the NEET UG paper leak case by apprehending two individuals in Patna. Reports indicate that Manish Kumar and Ashutosh Kumar, the arrested suspects, allegedly facilitated accommodation for medical entrance exam candidates prior to the exam and provided them with leaked question papers and answer keys. The CBI team probing the NEET UG irregularities case will visit Beur Jail in Patna on Friday (June 28) to question the 13 suspects arrested earlier by the Bihar EoU. Earlier, a team of eight CBI members visited the primary branch of the State Bank of India in Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand, where the bank manager reportedly held custody of the NEET-UG 2024 exam question papers. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abolish NEET, the national-level medical entrance exam introduced in 2013, and return to the system where states conduct their own exams, following the recent paper leak controversy. According to PTI, the CBI also took statements from three candidates in Gujarat who were reportedly seeking assistance to pass the exam. As per reports, the NEET question papers have been leaked on May 3, two days prior to examinations. Meanwhile, the papers were transported from Ranchi airport to a courier company Blue Darts office in Patna and then to Hazaribagh branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) with the help of employees of either the transport company or the courier agency. In connection with the NEET-UG paper leak case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested the vice principal and principal of a school in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. The National Testing Agency (NTA) named Ehsanul Haque, the principal of Oasis School, the city coordinator for Hazaribagh for the medical entrance exam on May 5. Officials said that Vice Principal Imtiaz Alam was designated as the NTA's observer and the centre coordinator at the Oasis School. They also mentioned that five additional district residents are being questioned by the CBI regarding the paper leak case. Following extensive questioning, the federal probe agency reportedly took Haque and Alam into custody. Both accused were under investigation by the Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit (EOU), which had previously investigated the case. During a raid on the solver gang's hideout, the team discovered burnt NEET-UG question papers, officials said. The EOU claimed in a statement that the notorious Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya gang obtained the "leaked" NEET-UG question paper from the Oasis School in Hazaribagh. It asserted that the investigators had matched a partially burned question paper discovered in the Patna safe house with the NTA's reference question paper, confirming the leak's origin. However, officials said they were unable to determine who was behind the alleged paper leak. The investigation also revealed that the authorities in Hazaribagh did not properly follow the established guidelines for opening the question paper boxes. In media interviews, Haque claimed that the box containing the question papers could not be opened because the digital lock, which was supposed to unlock automatically, malfunctioned. According to Haque, he then contacted the NTA, who instructed him to open the box with a cutter. The boxes containing question papers have two locks: a manual one that must be opened with a key and cutter, and a digital lock that opens with a beep 45 minutes before the exam. The CBI filed six FIRs in the NEET-UG paper leak case, including its own FIR based on a reference from the Union Education Ministry and five from the states where it took over the investigation. The investigation agency has taken over one case in each of Bihar and Gujarat, as well as three in Rajasthan. On Thursday, the CBI made its first arrests in the NEET-UG paper leak case, detaining two people in Patna and recording statements from three candidates in Gujarat who allegedly asked for help to pass the exam. NTA conducts NEET-UG for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses at government and private institutions across the country. This year's exam took place on May 5 at 4,750 locations in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. Over 23 lakh candidates took the test. The first CBI FIR was filed on Sunday, a day after the ministry announced that it would hand over the investigation into alleged irregularities in exam administration to the central agency. A group of protesting students demanded an investigation by the CBI. New Delhi: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday alleged that a female leader of his party's Minority Morcha was trashed by TMC supporters in the Cooch Behar district. Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, said he has written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and National Commission for Minorities (NCM) about the incident, urging them to investigate the incident that happened on June 25. "A female leader of BJP Minority Morcha was beaten up by TMC goons in Gokhasdanga. Her clothes were also torn in public. She is at present admitted to a hospital. The police are not taking any action against the accused," he alleged. Adhikari expressed hope that teams of the NHRC, NCW, and NCM would soon visit the area. The victim told reporters from the hospital, "TMC goons said they were punishing me for being associated with the BJP." The TMC dubbed the allegations as baseless, claiming that the incident was the fallout of a property dispute. "The TMC has nothing to do with the incident. This incident is the result of a property dispute. The allegations are baseless and politically motivated," a party leader from the district said. Police said they were investigating the matter. New Delhi: Sensex breached the historic 79,000 level for this first time yesterday while Nifty closed at 24,000, its new peak amidst buying in blue-chip stocks. The BSE Sensex soared 568.93 points or 0.72 percent to close at new peak of 79,243.18 while the NSE Nifty ended at a new record high of 24,044.50. Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd said, "Indian equity indices registered strong gains, hitting fresh record highs during the F&O expiry day. The Nifty IT index witnessed strong rally and advanced 2.03% to end at 36,124. Technically, the index has achieved short term consolidation breakout target of 24,000 levels, and managed to close above it. If the index holds above 24,000 levels, then rally could extend towards 24,250-24,500 in the short term." Meanwhile, ahead of the market opening today, as per Zeebiz Bank of Baroda, HCL Technologies, KIMS, Defence stocks, Telecom stocks, are likely be in focus today. 1. HCL Technologies As per news reports 0.46 percent equity stake HCL Technologies is likely to be sold at Rs 1,757 crore through a block deal. 2. Bank of Baroda Bank of Baroda shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend on June 28. The board of directors of the bank had in may recommended a dividend of Rs 7.60 per equity share of face value of Rs 2 each for the Financial Year ended March 31, 2024. 3. KIMS The board of KIMS (Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences Ltd) is scheduled to meet on Friday to consider a)Sub-division/split of existing 1 (One) Equity Share of the face value of Rs 10 each fully paid up into 5 (Five) Equity Shares of the face value of Rs 2 each fully paid up. b) Reclassification of the persons from the ''Promoter Group' Category to the ''Public'' Category. 4. Defense Stocks Zeebiz has reported that Defense Shares will be in focus as the 'centre has allowed an extension in customs duty waiver on the import of some of the components.' 5. Telecom Stocks Telecom Stocks of companies like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea will be in focus. Reliance Jio, India's top telecom operator, yesterday announced a 12-27 percent hike in mobile tariffs -- the first in two and half years, setting the stage for other telcom operators to raise charges. New Delhi: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is widely regarded as one of the finest actors in the industry, consistently delivering impeccable performances. His ability to deeply embody diverse characters has earned him acclaim, and with each role, he continues to evolve, leaving a lasting impression with his memorable portrayals. Nawazuddin 's variety of roles in projects like 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'The Lunchbox', 'Talaash', 'Manto', 'Badlapur', 'Sacred Games' and many more have been striking and received thunderous responses from audiences now the versatile actor is getting a lot of praise from the audiences and critics alike for his new movie 'Rautu Ka Raaz'. Once again Nawazuddin's versatility shines through in his portrayal of police officer Deepak Negi in 'Rautu Ka Raaz', showcasing his ability to captivate audiences with nuanced facial expressions and impeccable dialogue delivery. His performance resonates deeply, further solidifying his status as a powerhouse in the Indian film industry. Netizens are buzzing on social media, praising Nawazuddin Siddiqui as one of the few actors capable of delivering phenomenal performances in any film he takes on. Here are Netizens reaction on the actor's stellar performances A die-hard fan says, " Every time I watch Nawazuddin, I'm amazed by his range. He's so good as an actor that he always stands out with his natural style, no matter the role or scene! Every time I watch Nawazuddin, I'm amazed by his range. ____ He's so good as an actor that he always stands out with his natural style, no matter the role or scene! _ Chandra _ (@krchandra38) June 28, 2024 Another fan says, "Nawazuddin is so good that you can put him anywhere, and he'll always deliver a phenomenal performance that makes him the highlight of any project " Nawazuddin is so good that you can put him anywhere, and he'll always deliver a phenomenal performance that makes him the highlight of any project __ Sathish Nanban VS ___ (@sathish_offical) June 28, 2024 A die-hard admirer says,"Watching Nawazuddin act is a treat! You may put him anywhere he will always act on point" Watching Nawazuddin act is a treat! You may put him anywhere he will always act on point _ She__ _ (@diwani_shetl) June 28, 2024 Another admirer says, " Nawazuddin never disappoints! He's a brilliant actor who shines every time he comes on screen, shattering expectations with his incredible versatility'' Nawazuddin never disappoints! He's a brilliant actor who shines every time he comes on screen, shattering expectations with his incredible versatility _ Roshani singh (@roshani_singh10) June 28, 2024 A fan shows his excitement and says- " Nawazuddin is simply the best! He's a genius who completely owns every scene with his powerful performances'' Nawazuddin is simply the best! He's a genius who completely owns every scene with his powerful performances ____ Rahul (@imRahulDasGupta) June 28, 2024 Nawazuddin Siddiqui's renowned versatility allows him to masterfully portray complex characters, exemplified by his captivating portrayal of Dev Negi, winning the hearts of millions of fans. Directed by Anand Surapur, 'Rautu Ka Raaz' is now streaming exclusively on Zee5. New Delhi: Bandhan Bank on Friday announced that it has launched the facility to collect direct taxes, online from its customers, as well as non-customers across India. "The Bank is now live for collection of Direct Taxes through TIN 2.0 platform of Income Tax. As an Agency Bank appointed by the RBI, BandhaUnder this licence, Bandhan Bank customers can now pay their Direct Taxes in a fast, seamless and convenient manner through the Banks Retail Internet Banking, Corporate Internet Banking and Payment Gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card and Internet Banking). They can also pay taxes at any of the Bank branches using Cash, Cheque or Demand Draft. This service will facilitate hassle-free payment of Direct Taxes for Bandhan Bank customers and non-customers across the country. Under this licence, Bandhan Bank customers can now pay their Direct Taxes in a fast, seamless and convenient manner through the Banks Retail Internet Banking, Corporate Internet Banking and Payment Gateway (Debit Card, Credit Card and Internet Banking), the bank said. They can also pay taxes at any of the Bank branches using Cash, Cheque or Demand Draft. This service will facilitate hassle-free payment of Direct Taxes for Bandhan Bank customers and non-customers across the country, it added. We take immense pride in commencing operations as an Agency Bank for the Central Board of Direct Taxes. This is yet another addition to our Banks product suite comprising solutions powered by cutting edge digital capabilities. As the digital ecosystem is proliferating across the country to bring forward a hassle-free superior convenience, we as a Bank are aligned with the Governments initiative of e-Governance plan, Debraj Saha, Head Government Business Group, Bandhan Bank said. New Delhi: The first US Presidential debate session between President Joe Biden and his Republican opponent, Donald Trump concluded. The first general election debate season of 2024 offered an opportunity for both candidates to shape the political narrative. The debate season included the topic of the January 6 Capitol attack, the Russia-Ukraine war, terrorist entry, Withdrawal from Afghanistan and others. Here Are The Key Points Discussed In The 2024 Debate Season -Former US President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden voice out over their foreign policies, especially concerning the Russia-Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. Reportedly, Couting to Trump's Ukraine remark, Biden said that Russia has lost thousands of troops and has not succeeded in its aim to capture Kyiv. -Former US President and Republican challenger in the 2024 US Presidential elections, Donald Trump has declined to take any responsibility for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and said, "On January 6, we had a great border, nobody coming through--very few. On January 6, we were energy independent. On January 6, we had the lowest taxes ever, we had the lowest regulations ever," ANI reported. -During the first presidential debate, the US election nominee debated over the issue of migrants entering the country. President Biden claimed that his policy has reduced the number of immigrants arriving by 40 per cent. -US President Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump during the debate session in 2024 and asked how many billions he owed in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public. "The crimes that you are still charged with - and think of all the civil penalties you have. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public?" Biden asked. RIYADH, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China emerged as the leading destination for Saudi Arabia's exports in April this year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday. Citing the preliminary international trade data released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, the report said China was the largest importing nation for Saudi Arabia in April, contributing to 16.6 percent of the kingdom's total goods exports valued at around 16.9 billion Saudi riyals (about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars). According to the data, Japan and India ranked second and third places, with shares of 9.2 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively. Saudi Arabia's trade balance recorded a surplus of about 41.4 billion riyals in April, the highest this year, registering a 36-percent increase from March and an over 48.5-percent rise since the beginning of this year, showed the data. The kingdom's goods exports totaled 101.7 billion riyals in April, with non-oil exports reaching approximately 16.2 billion riyals, making up 16 percent of the total exports. Between 2019 and 2023, the value of Saudi non-oil exports to China exceeded 176 billion riyals, with significant contributions from the sectors of chemicals, polymers and metals, said the SPA in a separate report on Thursday. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Li Pengxin, a former senior official of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has been arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said in a statement on Friday. Li, formerly served as deputy secretary of Xinjiang's regional committee of the Communist Party of China, was expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws earlier this month. The case was transferred to the procuratorial authorities for review and possible prosecution after the National Commission of Supervision concluded its investigation, the SPP statement said. Further investigation into this case is still underway. LUSAKA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Friday called for continued consolidation of ties with Zambia in order to achieve prosperity desired for future generations. In remarks delivered during his address to the National Assembly of Zambia, the Mozambican president, who arrived here Thursday for a two-day state visit, said there was a need for the two countries to cultivate reconciliation, tolerance and constructive debate through assemblies or parliaments and other platforms for democratic dialogue at different levels. "We are here to reaffirm that Mozambique and Mozambicans will always continue to stand by Zambia and the brotherly people of Zambia on this journey and, now, for the economic development of our countries, jointly harnessing the comparative advantages in the areas of mining, agriculture, transport and logistics, shared water courses, environment, trade, among other areas," he said. He thanked Zambia for the friendship and solidarity shown for the just cause of freedom and peace for the people in the southern African region and in particular the people of Mozambique. According to him, the visit signifies the vitality of the historical and cultural ties that bind the peoples of the two countries, adding that the two countries have currently many issues in common such as the decentralization program aimed at reducing regional imbalances by maximizing local potential. He also commended Zambians for their commitment to building the rule of law based on the values and principles of democracy and justice as well as for being a good example of a thriving democracy in the southern African region. During the visit, Nyusi held talks with his Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema and both agreed to invest in joint ventures in the energy sector such as the development of a gas pipeline from Mozambique to Zambia. The Mozambican president also pledged that his country was ready to supply fuel to Zambia to help the country tackle the current electricity deficit through increased exports of power. TOKYO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Friday started the seventh round of release of nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. Despite opposition among local fishermen, residents as well as backlash from the international community, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the plant's operator, started releasing the radioactive wastewater in the morning, the third round in fiscal 2024. The same as the previous rounds, about 7,800 tons of wastewater will be discharged from about a kilometer off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture via an underwater tunnel until July 16. According to TEPCO, the company will begin dismantling the empty storage tanks after the wastewater has been discharged around January next year. There are approximately 1,000 storage tanks at the Fukushima plant because of its continued production of wastewater. TEPCO's plan is to dismantle 21 of these tanks over a period of about one year starting next January, which will free up space of about 2,400 square meters. There is still uncertainty when it comes to the decommissioning schedule at the Fukushima plant and the measures to deal with contaminated wastewater, Masahide Kimura, a member of a Japanese anti-nuclear campaign group, told Xinhua. The collapse of houses, the destruction of roads and the ground uplift along the coast caused by the recent Noto Peninsula Earthquake have warned us that nuclear power plants should not be operated in Japan, an archipelago prone to earthquakes, Kimura said. Hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and an ensuing tsunami on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns that released radiation, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. The plant has been generating a massive amount of water tainted with radioactive substances from cooling down the nuclear fuel in the reactor buildings. The contaminated water is now being stored in tanks at the nuclear plant. Despite furious opposition both at home and abroad, the ocean discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water began in August 2023. In fiscal 2024, TEPCO plans to discharge a total of 54,600 tons of contaminated water in seven rounds, which contains approximately 14 trillion becquerels of tritium. LA PAZ, June 27 (Xinhua) -- As many as 17 people, mostly members of the military, have been arrested in Bolivia for their role in a failed coup, Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo said Thursday. On Wednesday, hundreds of soldiers led by Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga marched on Murillo Square, the epicenter of Bolivia's political power, and forced their way into the old Government Palace, in a failed bid to oust President Luis Arce from office. Investigations show the planning of the coup began in May and it was orchestrated by three well-defined groups, including the "preparation and planning group" led by Zuniga and Vice Admiral Juan Arnez, who were arrested on Wednesday night, according to del Castillo. Members of the second "organization and coordination" group were arrested Thursday and the third group, described by Del Castillo as "the most violent," was responsible for entering Murillo Square with tanks and deploying military weapons against the Bolivian people. Police are still looking for three soldiers who are currently fugitives. Ammunition and heavy-caliber weapons were found in the home of one of the soldiers, pointing to the seriousness and meticulous preparation of this insurrection, the official said. JAKARTA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Seventy years ago, an idea featuring mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among nations, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, was put forward by China, and has since guided its relations with neighboring countries and served as the basis for China's participation in international affairs. Experts say the five principles, namely mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence, have been widely recognized by the international community over the decades and become a basic principle in international relations and a basic guideline for international law. Looking ahead, as the world is facing grim new challenges toward peace and development, it is even more relevant to promote the five principles, they say. NEW PARADIGM After World War II, many Asian and African countries gained independence from colonial rule. These newly independent nations aspired to build an international relationship based on equality. It was in this context then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai first proposed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in 1953 during negotiations with the Indian government over border issues regarding Xizang. In June 1954, Zhou visited India and Myanmar, and issued joint statements with leaders of the two countries respectively, affirming the five principles as the cornerstone for guiding relations between China and the two countries. The five principles, which stress peaceful means to resolve disputes, gradually gained traction beyond Asia. The Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 further solidified their importance, leading to the emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement. Samuel S. Kim, a senior research scholar at Columbia University, said the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit not only helped newly independent countries establish a new model of international relations but also provided valuable guidance for finding independent development paths in the era of globalization. Former Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said the five principles reflect the common ideas and goals of nations in the region. "Thus, they were formally established as common principles guiding state relations during the Asian-African Conference," he said. BALLAST FOR WORLD PEACE Given the current complex international security situation, observers deem the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to remain the key to safeguarding world peace and stability, as it provides a clear and enduring framework for handling international relations. "Peace and stability are prerequisites for sustainable development and prosperity in our region," said Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "As we strategically navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, it is essential to uphold the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as to continue enhancing mutual trust and understanding through dialogue and diplomacy, cooperation and collaboration, consultation and engagement." Tri Basuki Joewono, president of the Catholic University of Bandung, Indonesia, emphasized that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence embody Chinese wisdom on handling relations between countries. "Like the Bandung Spirit, it is a significant and lasting policy declaration that teaches human society how countries should coexist harmoniously with equality and mutual respect. As long as human society exists, it will never be outdated," he added. NEW CONTRIBUTION Despite ongoing conflicts and turmoil in some parts of the world, the universal desire for peace and development persists. While consistently adhering to developing friendly cooperation with all countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China has creatively put forth new ideas and provide new approaches to security challenges. Former Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso noted that China's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative demonstrated its role as a responsible major country and provided inspiration for countries to engage in dialogue on an equal footing and achieve peace and development. Sykhoun Bounvilay, a retired senior diplomat of Laos, said China's global initiatives and the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind embody the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and demonstrate consistent efforts to contribute China's wisdom and Chinese solutions to addressing current international disputes. Oh Ei Sun, principal advisor for Malaysia's Pacific Research Center, said the Global Security Initiative proposed by China was an epoch-making and forward-looking framework. "China has acted as a peace broker in the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which is an important achievement under China's Global Security Initiative," the expert said. UNITED NATIONS, June 27 (Xinhua) -- An agreement for a roadmap to a 2025 accord to peacefully resolve a border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria was hailed on Thursday by a UN spokesperson. "The extraordinary session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission reached a milestone today (Thursday) toward the peaceful completion of the border demarcation," said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The accord was reached at the sixth extraordinary session held in Yaounde, Cameroon, on June 26-27. The commission was first established in 2002 by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the request of the leaders of Cameroon and Nigeria to address sovereignty claims over the Bakassi Peninsula. Dujarric described the agreement as "an example that diplomacy takes time, but this is part of a peaceful resolution of conflict, and it is good news." A staff member from DJI introduces thermal imaging for drone forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows the real-time distribution map of drones for forest patrolling at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows a drone for forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) A staff member monitors drones for forest patrolling at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) Staff members control drones for forest patrolling via an intelligent inspection system at the control room of Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 27, 2024. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) This photo taken on June 27, 2024 shows a drone for forest patrolling at Dailing forestry bureau in Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Recently, the Dailing forestry bureau has integrated advanced technology to enhance forestry management. By deploying drones, the bureau has achieved intelligent and automated forest patrolling, significantly reducing disaster risks and improving patrol efficiency. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang) MANILA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday said it has signed a 15-million-U.S. dollar loan with Bogd Bank JSC to finance micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Mongolia. The financing package comprises 14 million dollars from the ADB, half of which is earmarked for MSMEs led or owned by women, and 1 million dollars from the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II (CFPS II), which is administered by the ADB. The CFPS II concessional loan will be blended with the ADB's financing to fund climate finance initiatives for MSMEs, including purchasing energy-efficient equipment and small-scale renewable energy installations. According to the ADB, MSMEs are the backbone of Mongolia's economy, playing a vital role by accounting for most of all registered businesses and jobs. Their contribution of 18 percent to the nation's gross domestic product underscores their significance. However, access to credit is a significant barrier to their growth, with MSMEs accounting for less than a third of the total outstanding bank loans as of 2023. Established in 2014, Bogd Bank operates 16 branches nationwide, and has provided financial support to nearly 12,500 borrowers across multiple sectors. Bogd Bank's lending to MSMEs accounts for over half of its portfolio, with a growing focus on women's trade, agriculture, and healthcare businesses. In 2021, Bogd Bank became the first publicly listed bank on the Mongolian Stock Exchange. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the next Secretary General of NATO, expressed his concerns and hopes regarding Georgia's path to the European Union during a media briefing at the European Council summit in Brussels.Rutte highlighted his worries over recent developments in Georgia that may affect its EU aspirations. "I am worried about Georgia's path to the European Union because of the recent decisions. I spoke briefly with the president [of Georgia], I think she is a great leader, but she failed, the veto was overridden by the parliament, unfortunately," said Rutte.Despite these concerns, Rutte remains hopeful about Georgia's future within the European Union. "We, of course, are waiting for Georgia and we hope that Georgia will return to the road to the European Union," he added.When questioned about NATO, Rutte, who will assume the role of Secretary General in October, refrained from commenting extensively but expressed pride in his election to the position.Addressing expectations from the European Union towards Georgia, Rutte emphasized that the primary responsibility lies with the Georgian government. "First of all, we should expect from Georgia, from the government, now it depends on you," he stated.When asked about the potential for sanctions, Rutte was cautious but reiterated his hope for Georgia's alignment with EU values. "We'll see, we'll see, but we certainly hope that you, Georgia, will return [to the EU path]," he concluded.Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, to discuss the strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries.The discussions emphasized the robust and friendly ties between Georgia and Azerbaijan, confirming both parties' commitment to further developing their strategic partnership. Key topics included bilateral and multilateral relations, the importance of the Middle Corridor for the transportation of energy resources, and significant transport and energy projects, such as the Black Sea submarine cable project.The meeting also underscored the importance of regional peace, with a focus on the ongoing negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding a peace agreement. Papuashvili reiterated Georgia's readiness to support regional stability and peace through parliamentary diplomacy.Both sides expressed a mutual interest in enhancing cooperation and addressing common challenges to ensure continued development and prosperity for both nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and delivers an important speech titled "Carrying Forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended and delivered an important speech at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence on Friday in Beijing. Xi said 70 years ago, national independence and liberation movements swept across the globe, and the colonial system around the world crumbled and collapsed. At the same time, the world was overshadowed by the dark clouds of the Cold War and menaced by the rampant clamors that "might is right." Newly independent countries aspired to safeguard their sovereignty and grow their national economy. The Chinese leadership specified the Five Principles in their entirety for the first time, namely, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. They included the Five Principles in the China-India and China-Myanmar joint statements, which jointly called for making them basic norms for state-to-state relations, Xi said. "Over the past 70 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement, showing robust resilience and everlasting relevance. They have become open, inclusive, and universally applicable basic norms for international relations and fundamental principles of international law," Xi said. He added that they have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law, served as the prime guidance for the establishment and development of relations between countries with different social systems, been a powerful rallying force behind the efforts of developing countries to pursue cooperation and self-strength through unity, contributed historic wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international order, and made indelible historic contributions to the cause of human progress. Xi stressed that today, challenged by the historic question of "what kind of world to build and how to build it," China has answered the call of the times by proposing a community with a shared future for mankind. Noting that the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi said the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind is the most effective move to sustain, promote and upgrade the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new circumstances. The vision sets a new model of equality and coexistence for international relations, responds to the world's prevailing trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, and inspires new ways to achieve development and security, he added. "At this historic moment when mankind have to choose between peace and war, prosperity and recession, unity and confrontation, we must champion more than ever the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and we must always strive tirelessly for the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said. Xi called on the world to uphold the principle of sovereign equality, cement the foundation of mutual respect, turn the vision for peace and security into reality, unite all forces to achieve prosperity, commit to fairness and justice, and embrace an open and inclusive mindset. Of all the forces in the world, the Global South stands out with a strong momentum, playing a vital role in promoting human progress, Xi said, adding that standing at a new historical starting point, the Global South should be more open and more inclusive, and join hands together to take the lead in building a community with a shared future for mankind. He called on the Global South to be the staunch force for peace, the core driving force for open development, the construction team of global governance, and the advocates for exchange among civilizations. To better support Global South cooperation, Xi announced that China will establish a Global South research center, provide 1,000 scholarships under the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Scholarship of Excellence and 100,000 training opportunities to Global South countries in the coming five years, and also launch a Global South youth leaders program. Noting that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been written into China's Constitution long before, and are the bedrock of China's independent foreign policy of peace, Xi said that China will continue to champion the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, work with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. Around 600 people including former leaders of Vietnam, Myanmar and other countries, representatives of international and regional organizations, diplomatic envoys from more than 100 countries, Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, and media and business representatives attended the conference. Chinese President Xi Jinping communicates with guests prior to the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi attended the conference and delivered an important speech titled "Carrying Forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" here on Friday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and delivers an important speech titled "Carrying Forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and delivers an important speech titled "Carrying Forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao) Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China stands ready to work with Peru to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, voicing active support for the success of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be hosted by Peru. Xi made the remarks while holding talks in Beijing with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China. Xi said that Peru is one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic ties and a comprehensive strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China, and is the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China. Hailing the fruitful outcomes of bilateral cooperation in various fields, Xi said Chinese enterprises have played an important role in Peru's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood through major cooperation projects. China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Peru, and stands ready to work with Peru to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, promote mutual learning between civilizations, and enhance multilateral coordination, thereby advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Peru to new heights, said Xi. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, jointly witness the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. They jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents after their talks. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) MACAO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng expressed gratitude on Friday on behalf of the Macao SAR government for the central government's newly introduced measures to increase duty-free allowance for personal luggage items brought in from Macao to the Chinese Mainland. He pointed out that the new measures would stimulate tourism consumption growth and benefit more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Macao, injecting new momentum into the SAR's overall economic development. A notice jointly released by the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and State Taxation Administration said the new policy will apply to adult residents and visitors entering from Hong Kong and Macao whose personal belongings obtained overseas have a total value of no more than 12,000 yuan (about 1,683.8 U.S. dollars). At ports with duty-free shops, the cap will be raised to 15,000 yuan, the notice said. Ho remarked that this is an important measure taken by the central government in response to the demands of Macao society, once again demonstrating the central government's attention and care for Macao. He added that the increase in the duty-free allowance would help promote tourism consumption growth and boost the local economy. This will benefit SMEs, including the retail sector, and aid the steady forward development of the overall economy of the Macao SAR. Ho emphasized that the SAR government will continue to work hand in hand with all sectors of society to effectively implement the series of measures introduced by the central government, making the international metropolis of Macao's "golden name card" shine even brighter in gratitude for the central government's care and support. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China has allocated 150 million yuan (about 21 million U.S. dollars) from the central budget to flood-stricken Guangxi, Anhui and Hunan, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday. The commission said the funds will be used to support the restoration of damaged schools, hospitals and flood control facilities in those regions to promote the recovery of normal production and lives. Persistent rainstorms have recently lashed parts of the country's southern areas. On Friday, the National Meteorological Center issued a red alert, the most severe in the country's weather warning system, warning of mountain torrents in Anhui and Hubei from Friday to Saturday evening. The center also renewed an orange alert, the second-most severe weather warning, for torrential rains in Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan and Xizang from Friday to Saturday evening. JAKARTA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has called for a 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 million rupiah (approximately 30,600 U.S. dollars) for former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo on charges of extortion and corruption. During the trial on Friday, prosecutor Meyer Simanjuntak revealed that Limpo is also required to repay 44.27 billion rupiah (about 2.71 million U.S. dollars) and 30,000 U.S. dollars, the total amount he allegedly received between 2020 and 2023. This sum was amassed with the involvement of his secretary-general and a director. Limpo, who served as the agriculture minister from 2019 to 2023, was accused of misappropriating 20 percent of the ministry's budget for personal and family expenses, as well as for donations to his political party. Simanjuntak said that Limpo was found guilty of violating the Anti-Corruption Law in conjunction with the Criminal Code. ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh cast his vote in the regular parliamentary elections here on Friday, emphasizing the importance of active voter participation. "Establishing a parliament requires everyone's efforts. Therefore, it is important not to neglect voting in the parliamentary elections," Khurelsukh told media after casting his vote, urging citizens to actively go cast their votes. The voter turnout in the elections of the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, amounted to over 20 percent by 11:40 a.m. local time on Friday, according to the General Election Commission (GEC). Mongolian people are participating in their ninth parliamentary elections since the first one held in 1992, the president said, adding that the elections feature a largest number of participating parties, coalitions, and independent candidates to date. A total of 1,341 candidates from 19 political parties and two coalitions, as well as 42 independents, are competing 126 seats in the parliamentary elections, said the GEC. The commission revised that Mongolia, with a population of 3.5 million, has 2,063,924 eligible voters registered this year. Voters can cast their ballots at 2,198 polling stations across nine districts of the national capital Ulan Bator and all 21 provinces of the country, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. In May 2023, the State Great Khural passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. The elections are being conducted under a mixed electoral system, with 78 legislators elected through majority representation and 48 through proportional representation, according to the GEC. The Asian country's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's transportation sector maintained steady operation in the first five months of the year, with multiple indicators including passenger and freight volume registering growth, according to official data released on Friday. In the January-May period, the country's road network facilitated approximately 25.23 billion passenger trips, up 7.4 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport. Some 103.97 million passenger trips were made via China's waterways during the same period, an increase of 6.7 percent year on year, according to the data. Freight volume via road rose 4.4 percent from the same period last year to more than 16.22 billion tonnes while cargo transported via waterways increased 7 percent year on year to 3.86 billion tonnes, the data showed. In the first five months, China's port cargo throughput went up 4.9 percent year on year to nearly 7.08 billion tonnes, and the container throughput increased by 8.8 percent year on year to 132.84 million twenty-foot-equivalent units, said the ministry. A man casts his vote at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, June 28, 2024. Iranian nationals residing in Syria started casting their votes on Friday for Iran's 14th presidential election just weeks after their former president died in a helicopter crash. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian nationals residing in Syria started casting their votes on Friday for Iran's 14th presidential election just weeks after their former president died in a helicopter crash. Among approximately 12,000 Iranian residents in Syria, over 6,000 are eligible to vote, according to Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari. To accommodate the voters, seven polling stations and a mobile ballot box for special circumstances have been established in Syria, Akbari told reporters at the Iranian embassy, one of the polling stations in Syria. Voting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (0500 GMT to 1700 GMT) on Friday, with provisions for extending hours if necessary, according to the ambassador. "The citizens are participating in these elections with full freedom to vote for their preferred candidate," said Akbari. People cast their votes at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, June 28, 2024. Iranian nationals residing in Syria started casting their votes on Friday for Iran's 14th presidential election just weeks after their former president died in a helicopter crash. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, on Thursday called on all parties concerned to strictly abide by the UN Charter, and avoid misinterpreting and misusing international law and Security Council resolutions or creating new tensions in the Red Sea waters. Since the end of last year, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters, disrupting the normal order of international trade and negatively affecting regional stability, Geng said in his explanation of vote on the UN Security Council draft resolution on the Red Sea situation. China abstained in the voting on the draft resolution. "The Red Sea is an important transport corridor of goods and energy products," he said, stressing that China has on multiple occasions called on the Houthis to respect the right of navigation of merchant vessels in the Red Sea waters under international law, heed the call of the international community, and comply with relevant Security Council resolution by ceasing attacks on civilian vessels and ensuring the safety of the Red Sea shipping lanes. Noting that in January this year, when the Security Council adopted Resolution 2722, China abstained in the voting, Geng said China's main concern was that the resolution's ambiguity on some key elements could have negative consequences and lead to further escalation of regional tensions. "We observe that after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2722, certain countries have taken military actions in Yemen, which have not only resulted in infrastructure damage and civilian casualties, but also heightened security risks in the Red Sea waters," he said. According to Geng, Thursday's resolution was a technical rollover of Resolution 2722, and considering the continuity of its position and the development of the situation since January, China had to abstain in the voting once again. The current tensions in the Red Sea are one of the spillover manifestations of the Gaza conflict, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza will help cool down the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea, he said. China stands ready to continue to work with the Security Council and the international community to promote an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, search for a political solution to the Yemen issue, and work together for peace and stability in the Middle East, the envoy said. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po leads sutra chanting at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 28, 2024. Panchen Rinpoche on Friday visited Jokhang Temple, the most revered monastery in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. During his visit, which lasted about an hour, Panchen Rinpoche participated in religious services and performed head-touching rituals for monks at the temple. (Xinhua/Lodro Gyatso) LHASA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po on Friday visited Jokhang Temple, the most revered monastery in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. During his visit, which lasted about an hour, Panchen Rinpoche participated in religious services and performed head-touching rituals for monks at the temple. He arrived at the temple around 5:30 a.m., and was greeted by lamas holding Tibetan incense and Buddhist prayer flags. In the major hall of the temple, he bowed in salute three times, presented a hada -- a scarf-like white silk used by Tibetans for respect and blessings -- and applied gold powder to a statue of the Buddha. According to historical records, the statue was brought to the temple by Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After that, Panchen Rinpoche led sutra chanting at the temple, praying for peace, prosperity and people's well-being, joined by over 100 monks from the Jokhang Temple and the Tashilhunpo Monastery. He then performed a head-touching ritual. Panchen Rinpoche is a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body. He is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association's Xizang branch. He arrived in Lhasa on June 25. During his stay, he will perform his duties at the Xizang branch, carry out social research, and attend a series of religious activities. Panchen Erdeni Chos-kyi rGyal-po performs head-touching rituals for monks at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 28, 2024. Panchen Rinpoche on Friday visited Jokhang Temple, the most revered monastery in Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. During his visit, which lasted about an hour, Panchen Rinpoche participated in religious services and performed head-touching rituals for monks at the temple. (Xinhua/Lodro Gyatso) CCTV: President Xi Jinping this morning attended and addressed the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which received wide attention from the international community. Can you give us more details on the conference? Mao Ning: On the morning of June 28, the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. President Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important address. Premier Li Qiang moderated the conference. Foreign leaders, representatives from international and regional organizations, diplomatic envoys from over 100 countries, renowned experts and scholars, friendly personages and representatives of the media and business communities attended the conference. A total of around 600 Chinese and foreign guests were at the conference. A luncheon was held after the conference and four sub-forums are being held as we speak. President Xis address is visionary and profound. It touches on the history, present and future and, in this turbulent and changing world, sends out the strong message of seeking common ground while shelving differences, taking good care of our home planet, and treating each other with mutual respect for mutual success. The address will have major far-reaching influence on promoting global efforts for a better shared future. The gist of President Xis address can be summarized in a few sets of numbers. First, the address summarizes the four historic contributions of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have transcended time and space and overcome estrangement, showing robust resilience and everlasting relevance. They have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law and have served as the prime guidance for the establishment and development of relations between countries with different social systems. They have been a powerful rallying force behind the efforts of developing countries to pursue cooperation and self-strength through unity and have contributed historic wisdom to the reform and improvement of the international order. Second, the address provides an insightful analysis of how the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are embodied and elevated in the Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. The Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind is the most effective move to sustain, promote and upgrade the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in the new circumstances. The Vision captures the reality that all countries have a shared future and intertwined interests, and sets a new model of equality and coexistence for international relations. The Vision responds to the worlds prevailing trend of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, and opens up new prospects for peace and progress. The Vision keeps pace with the historic trend toward multipolarity and economic globalization, and inspires new ways to achieve development and security. Third, the address puts forward six proposals on jointly ushering in a better future for humanity. At this historic moment when mankind has to choose between peace and war, prosperity and recession, unity and confrontation, countries in the world need to uphold the principle of sovereign equality, cement the foundation of mutual respect, turn the vision for peace and security into reality, unite all forces to achieve prosperity, commit to fairness and justice, embrace an open and inclusive mindset, and strive tirelessly for the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Fourth, the address advocates that the Global South can become a strong force for four endeavors. China belongs to the Global South and speaks with one voice with the Global South. With the overall development of the world in mind, President Xi said that the Global South should be more open and more inclusive, together be the staunch force for peace, the core driving force for open development, the construction team of global governance, and the advocates for exchange among civilizations, and join hands together to take the lead in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Fifth, President Xi announced eight measures to support cooperation of the Global South, which cover areas of training, youth exchange, economic development, free trade, agricultural cooperation, digital economy, green development and ecological conservation. China will work with all parties to provide stronger impetus for the common development, solidarity and cooperation of the Global South. China will always remain a staunch champion and faithful practitioner of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. At the new historical starting point, China will remain firmly committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, seek peaceful development, carry out friendly cooperation with all countries, follow the opening-up strategy of win-win cooperation, and work with the rest of the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind and open up an even brighter future for humanity. AFP: The US said that Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell held a call with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. During the call, Campbell said that the USs defense commitments to the Philippines were ironclad and raised serious concerns about Chinese actions in the South China Sea. What did Ma Zhaoxu say on that call? Mao Ning: On June 27, Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu had a phone conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the current China-US relations and issues of mutual interest. Ma Zhaoxu elaborated on Chinas just position on issues related to Taiwan, Xizang, the South China Sea and Ukraine, and asked the US to act on President Bidens five-noes commitment, earnestly respect Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests, and play a positive role for the steady development of China-US relations, rather than doing the opposite. Ma Zhaoxu stressed that the Taiwan question is at the core of Chinas core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations. Taiwan independence is a dead end, and connivance and support for Taiwan independence will backfire. The US should fully see through the separatist nature of the DPP authorities and its grave harm to cross-Strait peace and stability, abide by the three China-US joint communiques, stop arming Taiwan, and act on its commitment of not supporting Taiwan independence. Xizang-related issues concern Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US should stop emboldening the Tibetan independence forces in any form and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs taking Xizang-related issues as an excuse. The root cause of the current tension around Renai Jiao is that the Philippines has abandoned the consensus reached with China and challenged Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending a large amount of construction materials to the illegally grounded vessel in an attempt to achieve permanent occupation of Renai Jiao. The US side should stop emboldening and supporting the provocations of the Philippine side and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is objective and just. The US side should stop groundlessly smearing and scapegoating China, and stop obstructing the normal trade and economic exchanges between China and Russia. China firmly opposes the abuse of illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction by the US side, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese entities and individuals. Hubei Media Group: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Venezuela. How would China comment on the growth of China-Venezuela relations in the past five decades? What does China envisage for the future growth of China-Venezuela relationship? Mao Ning: Today marks the 50th anniversary of China-Venezuela diplomatic ties. President Xi Jinping and President Nicolas Maduro exchanged messages of congratulations to commemorate this important day. Over the past 50 years, both China and Venezuela have traversed an extraordinary journey. No matter how the international landscape has evolved, the two countries have always given each other understanding and support on issues involving our respective core interests and major concerns, jointly upheld international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries, and have forged an ironclad friendship. Last September, President Nicolas Maduro paid a successful state visit to China. The two presidents jointly announced the elevation of our bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership, which opened a new chapter for bilateral relations. As China and Venezuela begin the next 50 years of bilateral relations, we are ready to work with Venezuela to cherish the bond that goes back to the beginning of our diplomatic relations, build on the traditional friendship, and continue to enrich the China-Venezuela all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership to deliver more benefits for the peoples of both countries and contribute more to world peace and development. CCTV: Its reported that TEPCO started to dump the 7th batch of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean on June 28. The discharge is expected to last through July 16 and reaches nearly 7,800 tonnes. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: Japan has still not addressed international concerns about the discharge of the nuclear-contaminated water, including its safety, the long-term reliability of the treatment facility and the effectiveness of monitoring arrangements and so on. Meanwhile, Japan continues to unilaterally dump the water into the ocean and transfer the risk of nuclear pollution to the world. This is a blatant disregard for the health of humanity, the global marine environment and global public interest. China firmly opposes it. We would like to stress again that, the Japanese side should respond to the legitimate and reasonable concerns from home and abroad with all seriousness and properly handle the issues of the discharge in a responsible and constructive way. We urge the Japanese side to provide full cooperation in setting up an independent and effective long-term international monitoring arrangement with substantive participation of Japans neighboring countries and other stakeholders, so as to avoid irrevocable consequences stemming from the ocean discharge. NHK: Hu Youping, the Chinese woman who bravely stepped forward to stop the suspect who attacked a Japanese woman in Suzhou passed away due to heavy injuries. Witnesses said that if it were not for her, more people would have been injured. Do you have any comment on her bravery? Anything you would like to say about her passing? Is there any latest progress you could share on the investigation of the incident? Mao Ning: Weve learned this sad news as well. We extend deep condolences over her passing and our thoughts are with her family. The government of Suzhou has decided to posthumously confer the title of Role Model of Righteousness and Courage upon Hu Youping. She is a shining example of the kindheartedness, bravery and everyday heroism in Chinese people, who would not hesitate to stand in harms way to help others. For updates on the investigation, I would refer you to future press release of the local police. WASHINGTON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has recently attended a gathering of member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS), where he elaborated China's concept of forging a new type of international relations in the context of China's relations with Latin American countries (LAC). Xie, who was attending the 54th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the OAS also in his capacity as the permanent observer to the OAS, said Wednesday at a dialogue session that China is committed to mutual respect and trust, and advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world. "Global affairs should be discussed by all, and the future of the world should be decided by everyone together. China and LAC need to show mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, make our voices heard to champion an equal and orderly multipolar world, and pool our strengths to foster an international environment for peaceful development," Xie said. He said China puts development first, and upholds a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. "Developing countries should not be kept forever at the low end of international industrial chains. We need to jointly oppose any containment and suppression on the pretext of 'democracy,' 'human rights,' 'rules' and the 'overcapacity' narrative, and work together for an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for development," Xie said. China, the ambassador said, will always be a steadfast member of the Global South, and a crucial force for the development and prosperity of the Global South. "We will actively import more from fellow developing countries, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in various forms, help implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and jointly make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all." Xie said China upholds inclusiveness and mutual learning, and is committed to building a community with a shared future. Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future, China has promoted global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, advocated the common values of humanity, advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and implemented the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, so as to bring countries together to meet challenges and achieve prosperity for all, he said. On China-LAC cooperation, Xie said such cooperation is the independent choice of both sides. "Such cooperation meets our needs, does not target any third party, and should not be affected by any third party." China has no geopolitical considerations in Latin America, he said. "We will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, pursue the greater good and shared interests, and take further steps to forge a China-LAC community with a shared future." In conclusion, Xie said China will, as always, enhance dialogue and exchanges and engage in friendly cooperation with the OAS, share weal and woe and pursue common development with regional countries, so that together we can usher in a brighter future for the world, where peace, security, prosperity and progress prevail. This year's regular session was held in Asuncion, capital of Paraguay. SHANGHAI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- As China strengthens its commitment to protecting intellectual property rights (IPRs), multinational corporations are increasingly enthusiastic about investing in the country. In April this year, the Shanghai Third Intermediate Court announced a landmark ruling, imposing a fine of 600 million yuan (about 84.2 million U.S. dollars) and sentencing five individuals to imprisonment for up to nine years for infringements of LEGO toy sets. "We are extremely pleased with this conviction," said Robin Smith, vice president of the LEGO Group and general counsel for China and the Asia-Pacific region. Smith emphasized that the Chinese government's persistent and robust efforts in IPR protection and enforcement, exemplified by this case, are instrumental in fostering a level playing field for all businesses operating in China, including but not limited to the LEGO Group. "In general, in comparison to other countries, I would say China is doing very well," said Smith, reflecting on his six years of working experience in Shanghai, overseeing the company's legal affairs across the Asia-Pacific. The LEGO Group is not the sole beneficiary of China's enhanced IPR protection. "Robust IPR protection for innovative drug patents is crucial for the business environment and encourages multinational companies to invest more in China, bringing innovative medicines to the Chinese market alongside global releases," said Liu Hongqiang, vice president of intellectual property at Bayer (China) Ltd. Liu highlighted the substantial investment of time and capital required to develop new pharmaceuticals, contrasting it with the minimal cost of imitation, thus making the selection of research and development (R&D) centers a cautious decision for multinational pharmaceutical firms. China, particularly Shanghai's ongoing advancements in IPR protection, have bolstered Bayer's confidence. Earlier this year, the company's consumer health division pledged a 20 million euros (about 21 million U.S. dollars) investment to establish the China Center for Innovation & Partnership in Shanghai, according to Liu. Shanghai's relentless improvements in IPR protection have significantly influenced the Britain-based firm Reckitt's decision to establish its latest Global R&D Centre of Excellence in the eastern Chinese metropolis. On Tuesday, the company announced an investment of over 300 million yuan in the R&D center, marking a major milestone in its development in China and underscoring its enduring commitment to the country. Spanning over 8,000 square meters, this new center will join the ranks of the company's nine global centers of excellence and is slated to become operational by 2026. "If you are not delivering in China, you're not delivering in the world. If you're not in China, you can't deliver in 'China Speed,'" noted Arjun Purkayastha, senior vice president of Reckitt Greater China, adding that China is at the core of the company's long-term strategy, not just as a top market but also as an innovation hub. Shanghai has instituted an IPR protection mechanism specifically for foreign-funded enterprises, aiming to build the city into a global IPR protection hub. According to the municipal intellectual property office, Shanghai is steadfast in providing equal protection for both domestic and international market entities, consistently enhancing the IPR protection system, and rigorously combating infringement and relevant illegal activities. Over the past three years, Shanghai has addressed over 60 administrative rulings concerning foreign-related patent disputes and investigated and handled more than 1,000 cases of foreign-related trademark infringement. The proportion of Chinese patent holders experiencing infringement remained relatively low at 6.7 percent in 2023, indicating an enhanced capability among patentees to defend their rights and the ongoing strengthening of IPR protection, according to the latest patent survey report released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration. Data from the Ministry of Commerce indicates that the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises in China increased by 19.2 percent year on year in the first four months of 2024, maintaining a robust growth trajectory. A total of 16,805 foreign-invested enterprises were established across the country during this period. ISTANBUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that there is no reason not to re-establish relations with Syria, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. "Just as we were together in the past in developing relations with Syria, we will act together in the same way," Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul. The Turkish leader was also quoted as saying that Turkiye has no intention of meddling in Syria's internal affairs. "Because the Syrian people are a community with whom we have lived together as brotherly nations," he said. Erdogan recalled that Turkiye maintained vibrant relations with Syria in the past, noting, "There is no doubt that such engagements could resume in the future." On Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that his country remains open to initiatives regarding its relationship with Turkiye. After the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, Turkey's relations with Syria have become significantly strained. Ankara has aligned itself with several opposition groups against the Syrian government. Since 2015, Turkiye has launched several military operations in Syria, accusing the Syrian government of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, a Kurdish rebel group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye. SYDNEY, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The International Symposium on AI and the Future of Screen Industries was held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney on Thursday and Friday. The symposium, hosted by UNSW in collaboration with Emerging Media Journal and the Asia-Pacific Communication Alliance (APCA), brought together leading scholars, industry experts and practitioners from around the world to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the screen industries. Scholars from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong and Taiwan joined their counterparts from other countries at the conference, which was presided over by Prof. Elaine Jing Zhao of UNSW. Liangwen Kuo, editor-in-chief of Emerging Media Journal and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Prof. Changfeng Chen, president of APCA from Tsinghua University, delivered welcome speeches on behalf of the organizers. The symposium featured a robust program, including keynote sessions, roundtable discussions, and multiple thematic sessions that delved into various aspects of AI influence on media and communication. Highlights of the event included keynote addresses from distinguished speakers such as Prof. Dal Yong Jin of Simon Fraser University from Canada, who provided a comprehensive historiography of AI in the audiovisual industries. Participants engaged in insightful discussions on topics ranging from the integration of AI and virtual reality for mobile screens in Asia to the ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content. Sessions such as "AI Imaginaries and Philosophies," chaired by Prof. Paul Gladston, and "Institutional Innovation and Cultural Production," chaired by Prof. Liangwen Kuo, offered deep dives into the philosophical and practical implications of AI in media. The symposium showcased a diverse array of research, with presentations covering AI's role in everything from public opinion and media trust to creative production and cultural heritage preservation. Notable presentations included Yimin Xu's comparative analysis of gender, AI, and morality in Chinese science fiction films, and Paul Gladston's exploration of contemporary arts and AI. Interactive sessions allowed participants to explore real-world applications of AI in media. For instance, Xiao Yang's presentation on the influence of recommender algorithms on consumer behavior sparked lively debates about the future of digital marketing and content consumption. A key objective of the symposium was to foster the next generation of scholars in the field of AI and media studies. The event featured dedicated sessions for early career researchers and PhD candidates, providing them with a platform to present their work and receive valuable feedback from established experts. The symposium concluded with a vibrant roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Stephanie Hemelryk Donald of University of Technology Sydney. The roundtable synthesized insights from the event and highlighted future research directions and collaborative opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of AI and media. This symposium underscored the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI. As AI continues to reshape the media landscape, such events are essential for fostering innovation, ethical considerations, and informed discourse, participants said. Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum (C) speaks during the presentation of her future cabinet members in Mexico City, Mexico, June 27, 2024. Sheinbaum, who is scheduled to take office Oct. 1, unveiled the names of more members of her future cabinet on Thursday. At a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum presented her appointments to the ministries of energy, health, public service, communications and transportation, and agrarian development. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua) MEXICO CITY, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who is scheduled to take office Oct. 1, unveiled the names of more members of her future cabinet on Thursday. At a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum presented her appointments to the ministries of energy, health, public service, communications and transportation, and agrarian development. In addition, she confirmed that the current minister of finance and public credit, Rogelio Ramirez de la O, who was not able to attend the press conference, will continue to serve in that post. At the event held at the Interactive Museum of Economics in the downtown area, Sheinbaum touted the extensive experience of her cabinet picks. Last week, she announced the first six appointments to the ministries of economy, foreign affairs, environment, agriculture, science, as well as her legal advisor. Sheinbaum, 61, won the presidential elections in early June by a landslide. Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum (3rd R) poses for a group photo with some of her future cabinet members in Mexico City, Mexico, June 27, 2024. Sheinbaum, who is scheduled to take office Oct. 1, unveiled the names of more members of her future cabinet on Thursday. At a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum presented her appointments to the ministries of energy, health, public service, communications and transportation, and agrarian development. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua) Samdech Techo Hun Sen (C), president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), attends the celebration of the party's 73rd founding anniversary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 28, 2024. The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Friday celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its birth, vowing to continue protecting peace and political stability for further socio-economic development. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Friday celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its birth, vowing to continue protecting peace and political stability for further socio-economic development. In a speech to thousands of party members and supporters at the CPP's headquarters in Phnom Penh, CPP's President Samdech Techo Hun Sen said that for 73 years, the CPP has been the only political force that has always lived with the people despite the very complex and changing national situation. The CPP has ruled the Southeast Asian country since 1979. Hun Sen said the CPP has led the country from a low-income country to a lower-middle income country and has been working hard towards achieving the vision of an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050. "Cambodia has been moving forward on the right path, namely the path of peace, democracy, rule of law, and development towards a very bright future," he said. Hun Sen, who is also president of the Senate, said the CPP is committed to doing everything in its power to strengthen national solidarity and unity, to maintain peace and political stability, to protect independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, to protect the constitutional monarchy, and to accelerate the development of the nation. "I would like to express my deepest respect and gratitude to our compatriots everywhere who have supported and trusted in the CPP's leadership, enabling the party to successfully fulfill its mission for the nation for over the past 45 years," he said. At the event, artists also performed traditional dance, and doves were released into the sky as a symbol of peace and freedom. Samdech Techo Hun Sen, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), speaks during the celebration of the party's 73rd founding anniversary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 28, 2024. The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) on Friday celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its birth, vowing to continue protecting peace and political stability for further socio-economic development. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. The samples were handed over to the Chinese research teams at a ceremony held in Beijing. The researchers will carry out the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned and initiate scientific research work. The return capsule of the Chang'e-6 probe, carrying the world's first samples collected from the far side of the moon, landed in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25. A reception ceremony for Chang'e-6 lunar samples is held at the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, preliminary measurement by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) showed Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container and sample certificate to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. "We have found that the samples brought back by Chang'e-6 were more viscous compared to previous samples, with the presence of clumps. These are observable characteristics," Ge Ping, deputy director of the CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, who is also the spokesperson for the Chang'e-6 mission, told the press at the ceremony. Researchers will then store and process the lunar samples as planned and initiate scientific research. The lunar samples, which were collected from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history, hold unique scientific significance as they will further enhance the understanding of lunar evolution, accelerate the pace of peaceful exploration and utilization of lunar resources, and serve as an important asset for all humanity, the CNSA said. The CNSA vowed to uphold the spirit of lunar exploration, characterized by "chasing dreams, daring to explore, collaborating to overcome challenges, and achieving win-win cooperation," to ensure the proper management of the samples. The CNSA said it will organize scientific research on the samples and share China's lunar exploration achievements with the international community. Based on the lunar sample management rules released by the CNSA and the experience in dealing with the applications for lunar samples collected by the Chang'e-5 mission, applications for the Chang'e-6 samples are expected to open to domestic research institutions and scientists in about six months, Ge said. Regarding international applications, Ge noted that China has always maintained a positive and open attitude and welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications following relevant procedures. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the handover ceremony. Zhang stressed that the lunar samples be well managed and elaborate scientific research carried out to produce a number of world-class original scientific results, making new achievements in exploring the mysteries of the universe and enhancing the well-being of humanity. Zhang added that China will continuously strengthen international cooperation in space missions, boost the innovative development of space science, technology, and applications, and promote the coordinated development of commercial and traditional space activities. Later on Friday, Ding Chibiao handed the lunar samples to the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS (NAOC). "We will handle the samples with utmost care and ensure they are safely unsealed, scientifically processed, properly stored, and distributed according to the established management protocols," said Liu Jifeng, director of the NAOC. "The sampling site of the Chang'e-6 mission is in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, which is a gigantic impact crater. This presents an exceptional opportunity for us to gain insights into the early impact processes on the moon, thereby contributing to our understanding of the early evolution history of the solar system," Liu said. "The scientific significance of the lunar samples is immense. We will organize scientists to conduct meticulous research, ensuring that not even the tiniest amount of the samples is wasted, to fully explore their profound scientific value," he added. Previously, significant scientific achievements have been made through in-depth research on the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission in areas such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering, and resource utilization, the CNSA said. Researchers have published more than 80 achievements in important domestic and international journals, including the discovery of the new lunar mineral Changesite-(Y), the sixth discovered on the moon, and the "youngest" basalt on the moon, which was determined to be about two billion years old and extended the "life" of lunar volcanism 800-900 million years longer than previously known. The Chang'e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3. On June 25, its returner, carrying the lunar samples, landed precisely in its designated area in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking the mission's complete success. The Chang'e-6 returner safely arrived in Beijing later. Researchers opened it and successfully collected the lunar sample container on Wednesday, according to the CNSA. Staff members transfer Chang'e-6 lunar samples to the lunar and deep space exploration laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Ding Chibiao (L), vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), issues a responsibility letter to Liu Jifeng, director of the National Astronomical Observatories, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Staff members transfer Chang'e-6 lunar samples to the lunar and deep space exploration laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows the container of Chang'e-6 lunar samples at the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Staff members place the container of Chang'e-6 lunar samples at the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. A ceremony was held on Friday at the National Astronomical Observatories under the CAS to receive the lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e-6 probe. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side, the China National Space Administration announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Zhang Kejian (L), head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), and Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), unveil the sample container during the Chang'e-6 lunar sample handover ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Staff members prepare for the Chang'e-6 lunar sample handover ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers weigh the Chang'e-6 lunar samples during a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Staff members transfer the container of Chang'e-6 lunar samples in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers put the container of Chang'e-6 lunar samples into a protection case after a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers load the Chang'e-6 lunar samples onto a vehicle after a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers weigh the Chang'e-6 lunar samples during a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers weigh the Chang'e-6 lunar samples during a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Researchers prepare to weigh Chang'e-6 lunar samples during a returner opening ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with the sample certificate at a ceremony held in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) LA PAZ, June 27 (Xinhua) -- An attempted coup against Bolivian President Luis Arce was foiled by the immediate and spontaneous response of the people, social organizations and political leaders, a senior Bolivian official said Thursday. Speaking at the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Asuncion, Paraguay, Bolivia's ambassador to the agency, Hector Arce, said the "brave and determined" stance of President Arce, who personally confronted the coup leader, former army commander Gen. Juan Jose Zuniga, was also decisive in quashing Wednesday's insurrection. In addition, he noted the general lack of support from the military for Zuniga, firm international condemnation and the immediate backing of presidents and governments of various countries and of international organizations. The Bolivian ambassador expressed his deep gratitude to the international community for its determined support and highlighted the Bolivian public's strong commitment to democracy. President Arce on Wednesday denounced the attempted coup, emphasizing "democracy must be respected." Immediate measures by the new army commander, Jose Sanchez, who ordered the troops to return to their units and reaffirmed support for the government, was crucial to stabilizing the situation. PHNOM PENH, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Samdech Techo Hun Sen, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), on Friday called on major powers to restore their cooperation for the sake of regional and global peace, stability and development. His appeal was made in a speech during the celebration of the CPP's 73rd founding anniversary held at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh, with thousands of participants including foreign diplomats to the Southeast Asian country. "In the current situation, where the world state of affairs is evolving in a very complex and menacing manner, I would like to call on the nation-states, especially the major powers, to restore cooperation and find solutions to hot issues through negotiations for peace, security and the lasting existence and prosperity of all mankind," Hun Sen said. "Sanctions, violence, and wars are not good solutions; rather, they only further increase the risks for humanity," he added. Hun Sen, who is also president of the Senate, said the CPP continues to promote the implementation of its independent foreign policy based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter to protect all of Cambodia's core interests and to increase participation in international affairs for the cause of peace, security, cooperation and prosperity of the region and the world. From AI to new energy, China's emerging industries a boon for the world Xinhua) 08:15, June 28, 2024 Participants chat outside the Dalian International Conference Center, venue of the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Jianfeng) * The 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, concluded on Thursday in the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province. * China's high-quality development amid its drive to foster new quality productive forces has been a boon for countries and multinational companies across the globe. * In promoting emerging industries, China has achieved its own economic growth and also made significant contributions to global innovation and sustainable development. DALIAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Five years on, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions brought worldwide business gurus, political leaders and academic elites back to northeast China's coastal city of Dalian, exploring new horizons for future growth. Many dialogues at the event, also known as Summer Davos, led to a consensus that China's high-quality development amid its drive to foster new quality productive forces had been a boon for countries and multinational companies across the globe, helping them weather the predicament of the world economy. In various domains, ranging from technological development represented by artificial intelligence (AI) to green innovation spearheaded by new energy technologies, industry insiders at the event recognized that China is among the flagbearers, eyeing more spillover effects from China's progress. China's continuous recovery and long-term improvement, as well as the transformation, upgrading and profound changes in its economy, will surely provide new and broad space for the development of global enterprises, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang, when attending a symposium for foreign business representatives at the event. NEXT FRONTIERS WITH AI According to Chen Liming, chair of Greater China of the World Economic Forum, future growth points will revolve around technological innovation and green low-carbon exploration, creating new engines for growth amidst global transformations. Rapid advancements in areas including AI and energy transition are set to provide unprecedented momentum for the high-quality and steady development of the global economy, Chen noted. For many distinguished panelists at the event, China serves as a prominent trendsetter and a second-to-none magnet for related industries amid the trend of exploring new frontiers of AI and new energy sectors. "China's AI industry remains at the forefront globally. As a strategic technology that will lead the future, AI is considered a crucial engine for creating new quality productive forces," said Cai Wei, chief strategy officer of KPMG China Advisory, noting that the rapid development of AI in China is empowering various industries, enhancing efficiency and providing new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. China is leading the way in AI spending and serves as a significant contributor to the world economy growth brought by AI-related sectors, said Jessica Zhang, senior vice president, APAC at Automatic Data Processing Inc., an American provider of human resources management software and services, regarding China as one of the major global players in AI sector. Speaking to Xinhua, Zhang said that China's development opportunities, openness and massive data resources are surely benefiting both domestic and foreign companies. "We also see these great opportunities in China, and will continue investing in China and building our own channels to AI and AI tools." For Kang Xi, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University in the United States, AI technologies advanced in China will benefit other countries. "The technology advancements in many countries including China are open-sourced, with a spillover effect benefiting other developers globally," Kang told Xinhua. "China's computing power and its vast consumer data are going to refine the foundation of AI models and also help create customized smaller models that can be implemented in other countries." A girl interacts with an artificial intelligence (AI) robot at the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) SHARING GREEN DEVELOPMENT Besides AI, China has been vigorously developing the new energy sector to meet its dual carbon commitments and help fight the climate crisis. China provides 50 percent of the world's wind power equipment and 80 percent of global photovoltaic equipment. It has driven down the cost of renewable energy and helped some other countries obtain clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Espen Mehlum, head of Energy Transition Intelligence and Regional Acceleration, World Economic Forum, spoke highly of China's green transition and highlighted its reference significance. "We need to make sure that the clean energy revolution touches all countries of the world. That's where China is playing a leading role," Mehlum said, adding that China's related industries are effectively reducing the cost of clean energy for consumers in many countries and providing them access to this green technological revolution. Benoit Boulet, associate vice principal, Innovation and Partnerships, at McGill University in Canada, also hailed China's vigorous energy transition efforts. "We have to move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible to renewable energy," Boulet said. "China is really pushing hard right now, and I think that's a signal to the world." Workers demonstrate the installation of solar photovoltaic panels in central Tunisia's Kairouan Province, May 8, 2024. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua) CHINA OPPORTUNITIES Business leaders from across the world reaffirmed their commitment to China's opportunities at the event, applauding the country's rapid progress in new energy and AI as well as its open and expansive market. China's innovations in the new energy sector, such as photovoltaics and lithium-ion batteries, have captured the world's attention, and there is also ample room for growth in AI, according to Martin Franc, chief executive officer of Invesco Australia. Franc said the new sectors offer opportunities for multinationals and international organizations, and the company looks forward to future innovation and cooperation opportunities in China. Premier Li Qiang said at the opening plenary of the event that the rapid growth of new industries and new drivers has buttressed the sound and sustained development of the Chinese economy. China has the confidence and capability to achieve the growth target of around 5 percent for this year, Li said. Gaven Chai, vice president of Honeywell Industrial Automation and general manager for China, emphasized that China's opening up brings growth opportunities and new growth points, which is the reason why the country has attracted a huge amount of foreign investment. Chai added that China's vast market offers diverse application scenarios for testing innovative solutions. "For Honeywell, the Chinese market serves as an ideal testing ground to validate our innovative solutions," he said. In promoting emerging industries such as new energy vehicles and AI, China has achieved its own economic growth and also made significant contributions to global innovation and sustainable development, said Cai Wei, suggesting businesses should fully seize these opportunities and work together to achieve a win-win situation for economic growth and global development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) JOHANNESBURG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has made significant progress in cracking down on and curbing priority crimes in the country, a senior official said Friday. The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya cited recent arrests and convictions as evidence of the progress. Briefing the media in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, on the progress achieved during the fourth and last quarter of the financial year 2023/2024, Lebeya said that great strides had been made in tackling some of the country's serious crimes. "The DPCI has made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high-profile cases, thus ensuring accountability and justice for the victims," he said. The DPCI, also known as Hawks in South Africa, is mandated to prevent, combat and investigate national priority offenses, focusing on serious organized and commercial crimes and serious corruption. Lebeya said 547 suspects representing 526 natural persons and 21 juristic persons were secured before the country's various courts. "Of these natural persons, 421, which is 80 percent, are South Africans while 105, which is 20 percent, are foreign nationals," Lebeya said, adding that fraud contributed the most to the arrests made in the financial quarter. He also stated that 182 convictions, including seven juristic persons were secured. Among these, 84 convictions were related to serious organized crime, 61 to serious commercial crime, and 37 to serious corruption. "Of these convicts, 120 are South Africans, while 55, which represents 30 percent, are foreign nationals," he noted. Meanwhile, 736 firearms, 1,159 ammunition and 69 explosives were seized, according to him. Lebeya revealed that 22 police officials -- 17 off duty, five on duty -- were murdered during the period. He also said that, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the DPCI was successfully disrupting criminal networks operating in the country. According to him, drugs valued at 47,224,231 rand (about 2.59 million U.S. dollars) were seized and a total of 68 suspects were arrested during the period. SYDNEY, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Australian police commenced an investigation on Friday after a man presented himself to a hospital in Sydney's south-west with a gunshot wound. According to New South Wales Police, emergency services arrived at Bankstown Hospital in the early hours of the day. Paramedics treated a 37-year-old man at the scene before he was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a serious condition. Police confirmed that the injured man remains in a stable condition. The incident came merely days after another man was admitted to the venue sustaining a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Local media reported that a 23-year-old male was dropped off outside Bankstown Hospital at about 10:35 p.m. local time on Tuesday night, while he was driven there in a white car by a 30-year-old companion. "We suspect it has occurred within the Bankstown area and between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. We want to know who was involved and who was the shooter. At this stage, the men aren't assisting us, which is very frustrating," Detective Acting Superintendent Darren Sly was quoted as saying. The 30-year-old driver was charged with hindering police, disqualified driving, and concealing a serious indictable offense, with police continuing to probe into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated that Bankstown has a population of 186,245, with more than 46,00 families dwelling inside the suburb. Usually, it takes 30 minutes by car to travel from Sydney's central business district to Bankstown. People fill in ballots at a polling station in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, June 28, 2024. Mongolians are voting in the regular parliamentary elections on Friday morning to elect 126 legislators. In May 2023, the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. Mongolia's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. (Photo by Suriya/Xinhua) ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolians are voting in the regular parliamentary elections on Friday morning to elect 126 legislators. In May 2023, the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. A total of 1,294 candidates from 19 political parties and two coalitions, alongside 42 independents, are competing in the parliamentary elections. The elections are being conducted under a mixed electoral system, with 78 legislators elected through majority representation and 48 through proportional representation, according to the General Election Commission (GEC). The GEC said that Mongolia, with a population of 3.5 million, has 2,238,360 eligible voters registered this year. Voters can cast their ballots at 2,198 polling stations across nine districts of the national capital Ulan Bator and all 21 provinces of the country, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, more than 30,000 domestic observers, along with 259 foreign observers from 40 countries and 21 international organizations, are monitoring the parliamentary elections, according to the commission. Additionally, all paper ballots in the parliamentary elections are expected to be counted by hand to prevent misrepresentations and disputes associated with voting machines. Mongolia's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, June 28, 2024. Mongolians are voting in the regular parliamentary elections on Friday morning to elect 126 legislators. In May 2023, the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. Mongolia's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. (Photo by Suriya/Xinhua) Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh casts his vote at a polling station in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, June 28, 2024. Mongolians started voting in the regular parliamentary elections on Friday morning to elect 126 legislators. In May 2023, the State Great Khural, the country's parliament, passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. Mongolia's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. (Photo by Suriya/Xinhua) NANJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Hu Youping, a resident of the Chinese city of Suzhou who lost her life after attempting to stop a knife attack that injured two Japanese nationals, will be honored for her heroic deeds, local authorities have said. Hu, who was seriously injured in the attack that occurred at around 4 p.m. on Monday at a bus stop in the Suzhou New District in Jiangsu Province, died in hospital on Wednesday. Two Japanese nationals were also injured in the attack. One is receiving hospital treatment but is not in a life-threatening condition, and the other was discharged following treatment on the day of the attack. One Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant, allowing the Japanese woman's son to escape. The attacker then turned to Hu, stabbing her before being subdued by passers-by and police patrol rushing to the scene. "If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," one eyewitness told Xinhua. The attack has sent shockwaves through the city, with many residents condemning the assailant and expressing concern for the victims. "This kind of violence is extremely rare here. We all respect the brave woman who stood out against the attacker and are deeply saddened by her death," said Sun Jing, a resident of Suzhou. According to the municipal government of Suzhou, Hu will be given the title of "Righteous and Courageous Role Model." A representative of the Suzhou Japanese Society of Commerce and Industry said the incident was very regrettable but he believes it was an isolated case. He added that the local government's fast response and care for the victims have been reassuring. The government of Suzhou has pledged effective measures to ensure the safety of every person living in or visiting Suzhou, and to continue building an open and inclusive city. Visitors select jewelry at the booth of Pakistan during the 8th China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 27, 2024.(Xinhua/Chen Shuo) URUMQI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- When I walk around the exhibition halls of the 8th China-Eurasia Expo, currently ongoing in Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, I feel like a historical scene has come alive. The region, historically known as a crucial hub on the ancient Silk Road, is again welcoming a flood of entrepreneurs from across the globe. In front of me, the crowded and bustling halls are piled dizzily with commodities and state-of-the-art equipment, and business representatives come here with the same purpose -- to forge more partnerships, collaborations and exchanges. Xinjiang's current prosperity cannot be achieved if not for the painstaking efforts to safeguard its stability. Leveraging its unique geographical advantages, the region has committed to expanding high-level opening up, building itself into an important corridor linking Asia and Europe and a gateway for China's opening up in the west. At the expo, I met Ralko Katsiaryna, a representative from a Belarusian dairy enterprise. "Our products are very well-received by Chinese clients," Katsiaryna told me with satisfaction. Expressing her hope to establish partnerships with more Chinese companies at the expo, she added: "There's a fruitful future to cooperate." When we parted, the Belarusian representative proudly displayed her Chinese language skills, expressing her desire to frequent China for future expos and cultivate longstanding friendship with the country. Katsiaryna's company is one of over 1,900 participants at the expo, themed "New Opportunities of Silk Road, New Vitality for Eurasian Cooperation." Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the expo has attracted participants from 50 countries, regions and international organizations, showcasing over 6,000 varieties of products. It is a microcosm of Xinjiang's broader efforts to open up to the world. Over the past decade of Belt and Road cooperation, Xinjiang has engaged in economic and trade cooperation with 192 countries and regions, established 51 international sister-city relationships, and achieved air connectivity with 23 cities in 19 countries. At the expo, Khanati Bektmubayev, from Kazakhstan, told me that as China and Kazakhstan deepen bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, transportation between the two countries has become much more convenient, boosting trade and personnel exchanges. "My business partners in neighboring countries are looking forward to more convenience and opportunities when the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project is completed," said Bektmubayev, who has attended the expo four times. Since 2011, seven sessions of the China-Eurasia Expo have been held, yielding fruitful results and becoming a key platform for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Today, the expo has become an important platform for businesses seeking to explore new opportunities in both the domestic and international markets. Xinjiang itself is a beneficiary of such exchanges. Over the past two years, Xinjiang's total import and export volumes have surged by 57 percent and 45.9 percent, respectively. The potential is still huge. Established in November last year, the Xinjiang pilot free trade zone, along with various international trade fairs held regularly in Xinjiang, will further open the region to the global market, unleashing more business possibilities. As Li Xuan, an official at the regional department of commerce, stated at the expo, "Xinjiang is opening its arms to welcome global enterprises to share the vast Chinese market." SHANGHAI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The sensational French musical "Mozart-L'opera Rock" made its dazzling return at the Shanghai Culture Square on Thursday night. The show's new Shanghai run began with the premiere's curtain call, delighting audiences with its unique fusion of classical and contemporary music. Since its inception in 2009, "Mozart-L'opera Rock" has captivated audiences with its innovative portrayal of the life of the legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The musical masterfully intertwines his classical compositions with original pop-rock music, creating a timeless narrative that resonated with audiences in Paris, France, at its debut and continues to enchant viewers worldwide. In 2018, the musical made its Chinese mainland debut at Shanghai Culture Square, receiving a warm reception that led to a successful tour across Chinese cities like Tianjin and Xi'an. The anticipation for its return to Shanghai is palpable, not only among the audience but also within the cast. In preparation for the new tour, the cast and crew have meticulously selected a mix of original cast members and fresh talents, aiming to elevate the viewing experience for audiences. The show's return to Shanghai this year coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, as well as the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, making the musical a significant cultural event. "Mozart-L'opera Rock" is set to run in Shanghai until July 14, with a total of 22 performances. ISLAMABAD, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the country has been focusing on the best agricultural practices to enhance productivity and food security. "Food security is a major global challenge today, and Pakistan has a special focus on agriculture, which has formed the backbone of the national economy," the minister said while chairing a meeting on agriculture on Thursday. He said that efforts are underway to incorporate research and modern technology into the agricultural sector to boost per-acre yield, noting the improvements in agricultural output and ongoing technology transfer efforts and collaborations with countries, especially China. "Plans are in place to send students to China and double the per-acre yield," he added. Hussain said that several initiatives have been undertaken for farmers, including the provision of subsidies and funds, adding that fixed prices for crop production would be guaranteed and outstanding payments to the farmers would be made. "Steps are being taken to bring more land under cultivation, including making barren land arable. Billions of rupees in loans have been provided to farmers, and other schemes are underway," the minister added. RIGA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian meteorological authority issued a hot-weather alert on Friday as air temperatures are expected to surge above 30 degrees Celsius. The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center said on its website that temperatures on Friday would range from 30 to 33 degrees Celsius, with a slightly cooler weather forecasted only along the seaside. Medics have urged people to take precautions when venturing outside in the unusually hot weather, such as drinking plenty of water and wearing light clothing. Roberts Furmanis, head of the emergency medicine department at the Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital in Riga, warned on public television on Friday that heatstroke can be especially dangerous for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, as it can cause damage to various organs, particularly kidneys. Due to reports of several drowning accidents in recent days, people have also been advised to carefully assess their swimming skills before taking a dip on hot days. NEW DELHI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- India's Federal Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Friday said his ministry will probe the roof collapse incident at the Delhi airport that killed one and injured six others. Kinjarapu described the roof collapse as a "very serious incident" and said the aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will look into the matter thoroughly. On Friday morning, amidst heavy rains, the canopy and support beams at the terminal collapsed, causing damage to four cars parked in the pick-up and drop-off area. BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese government announced Friday to raise the duty-free shopping quota for mainland visitors to Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The Chinese mainland has consulted with Hong Kong and Macao under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) to reach the decision, which will be included in the CEPA's trade in goods items, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong signed the CEPA on June 29, 2003, followed by the CEPA between the mainland and Macao signed later that year on Oct. 17. A notice jointly released by the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs and State Taxation Administration said that the new policy will apply to adult visitors entering from Hong Kong and Macao whose personal belongings obtained overseas have a total value of no more than 12,000 yuan (about 1,683.8 U.S. dollars). At ports with duty-free shops, the cap will be raised to 15,000 yuan, the notice added. The measures will first be implemented at six ports, including Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay, on July 1 of this year. Starting from Aug. 1, the measures will be extended to all entry points, except Hengqin port, the notice said. Relevant provisions on carrying luggage items by passengers who travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao multiple times in a short period of time, as well as other existing provisions, remain unchanged, it said. Ulviyya Shahin Azerbaijan has put forward a range of pioneering investment initiatives for its recently liberated territories, aiming to revitalise regions that have endured prolonged occupation, Azernews reports. Among these ventures is a leading project to establish a modern facility producing decorative porcelain kitchenware. This state-of-the-art plant, estimated at 25 million manats (around $14.7 million), is projected to manufacture an impressive 18 million units annually. Another significant proposal involves the construction of a sanitary ware manufacturing facility with an investment of 20 million manats ($11.8 million). This initiative addresses a critical shortfall in Azerbaijan's domestic market, where currently all sanitary ware is imported. In 2022 alone, imports totaled $20 million. Located in the Aghdam Industrial Park, a new facility is slated for the production of personal hygiene products. With an investment of 17 million manats ($10 million), this project will utilise local raw materials and meet local demand, thereby reducing dependence on imports and stimulating domestic industry. SANAA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes of the U.S.-British coalition launched four airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah airport in western Yemen on Friday, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. The television did not provide further details, but residents said the strikes hit Houthi military mobile targets inside the airport. The airport has been closed since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. The coalition has not made any comments on the matter yet. Earlier in the day, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported five missiles landed near a cargo ship in the Red Sea, about 150 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah. The fresh airstrikes came hours after previous strikes launched by the coalition that destroyed a Houthi drone and bombed a Houthi radar site in the adjacent province of Taiz, according to the Houthi television and the U.S. Central Command's statement on social media platform X. Since November last year, the Houthi group has been conducting drone and missile attacks on ships, which it said were related to Israel, in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, to show solidarity with the Palestinians under attack by Israel in the Gaza Strip. In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets, which led to an escalation of Houthi attacks. A visitor looks at local products during an event to promote tourism of China's Qinghai Province in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 28, 2024. A delegation from China's northwestern Qinghai Province introduced its national parks and cultural charm to Bulgarians on Friday, welcoming tourists from the Central European country. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) SOFIA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from China's northwestern Qinghai Province introduced its national parks and cultural charm to Bulgarians on Friday, welcoming tourists from the Central European country. At a promotion conference held in the China Cultural Center in Sofia, the audience enjoyed a photo exhibition, an exhibition of unique local products such as embroidery, and traditional Chinese medicine consultations. "When we talk about friendship, the role of tourism is particularly significant," Zahari Zahariev, chairman of the Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, said at the event. Referring to the personal travel experience, he said the direct connections of the Chinese regions with the Bulgarian public, with Bulgarian regions and cities, can most effectively improve the Bulgarian-Chinese ties. "We strongly hope that through this conference for the promotion of culture and tourism, more Bulgarians will come to know and love Qinghai," Guan Xin, cultural counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria said. Prospective visitors to the region will be able to experience Qinghai's majestic natural landscapes, local folklore and customs, social development, and environmental protection, Guan said. Located on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, Qinghai Province boasts rich mineral, cultural and tourism resources. It is renowned for the Kunlun Mountains and the Sanjiangyuan area, from which three main Chinese rivers - the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers - originate. Sanjiangyuan National Park, covering a total area of 190,700 square km and with an average altitude exceeding 4,700 meters, is under construction in the province. People listen to an introduction to local products during an event to promote tourism of China's Qinghai Province in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 28, 2024. A delegation from China's northwestern Qinghai Province introduced its national parks and cultural charm to Bulgarians on Friday, welcoming tourists from the Central European country. (Photo by Marian Draganov/Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China stands ready to work with Peru to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights, voicing active support for the success of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be hosted by Peru. Xi made the remarks while holding talks in Beijing with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China. Xi said that Peru is one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic ties and a comprehensive strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China, and is the first Latin American country to sign a package of free trade agreements with China. Hailing the fruitful outcomes of bilateral cooperation in various fields, Xi said Chinese enterprises have played an important role in Peru's economic development and the improvement of people's livelihood through major cooperation projects. China attaches great importance to developing its relations with Peru, and stands ready to work with Peru to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, promote mutual learning between civilizations, and enhance multilateral coordination, thereby advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership with Peru to new heights, said Xi. Noting that China supports Peru in following a development path suited to its own national conditions, Xi said China is willing to work with Peru to firmly support each other and advance friendly cooperation. Xi urged better synergizing China's eight actions to support the Belt and Road cooperation with Peru's development needs, coordinating bilateral cooperation in mining, energy, manufacturing and agriculture, and expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence and digital healthcare. "We welcome more high-quality Peruvian products into the Chinese market and hope Peru will provide a sound legal and policy environment for Chinese investment and long-term cooperation," said Xi. Xi also urged joint efforts for the completion of Chancay Harbor on schedule, and promised more scholarships for Peruvian students to study in China. He called for enhanced cooperation in education, culture, tourism, youth and media, among others, to lay a more solid foundation of public support for the development of bilateral relations. Noting China and Peru are both important emerging markets of the Pacific Rim and important members of the Global South, Xi said the two countries should enhance coordination and promote the common development of the Global South. China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Latin America and is willing to work with Peru and other Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote the overall cooperation between China and Latin America, said Xi. Hailing the important contributions made by people of Chinese ancestry in history, Boluarte said that in recent years, bilateral exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade and culture have yielded fruitful results. In particular, investment and cooperation involving Chinese enterprises in Peru have not only created a large number of jobs for Peru, but also brought advanced technology and experience. Boluarte said Peru admires China's great achievements, and hopes to learn from China's successful experience and expand pragmatic cooperation with China for Peru's better development. More Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Peru and strengthen cooperation in such areas as infrastructure, green development and clean energy. Peru is willing to provide a favorable business environment for Chinese companies, she said. Peru sticks to the one-China principle, supports global initiatives proposed by President Xi, said Boluarte, expressing willingness to strengthen communication and coordination with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and APEC to jointly safeguard multilateralism and promote an open world economy. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Joint Action Plan of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Peru (2024-2029), and multiple bilateral cooperation documents regarding economic and trade relations, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, inspection and quarantine, and news media, among others. The two sides announced the completion of negotiations on upgrading their free-trade agreement. Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Boluarte. A welcome banquet was also held in the evening. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, jointly witness the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. They jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents after their talks. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, who is on a state visit to China, at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People prior to the talks between Xi and Boluarte, in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. Xi held talks with Boluarte at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) DODOMA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced on Friday that the government has allocated 787 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 296.3 million U.S. dollars) for education loans to students in higher learning institutions. Majaliwa said that 250,000 students will benefit from the education loans during the 2024/2025 financial year, which starts on July 1, 2024, and ends on June 30, 2025. Adjourning the 56-day parliamentary budget session in the capital Dodoma, Majaliwa assured that the education loans will be disbursed to eligible students. During the 2023/2024 financial year, 743.2 billion shillings (about 282 million dollars) worth of education loans were provided to 224,056 students in higher learning institutions, he added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing on Friday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that the political mutual trust between China and Peru has become more solid and practical cooperation has been expanding since the two sides established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013. Zhao said that the Congress of Peru adopted a decision recently, designating Feb. 1 as the Peru-China Fraternity Day, which once again shows that it is the consensus of all sectors of Peru to enhance China-Peru friendship. China is willing to work with Peru to firmly support each other and deepen cooperation to promote the in-depth development of China-Peru and China-Latin America relations, Zhao said. The National People's Congress of China is willing to work with the Congress of Peru to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, increase exchanges at all levels, carry out exchanges on governance and legislative experience, and create a sound legal environment for bilateral cooperation. Boluarte said Peru and China enjoy a long history of friendship. Peru is willing to strengthen legislative exchanges with China to provide a sound legal environment for bilateral practical cooperation and push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides, Boluarte said. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) People attend the China-Spain Dialogue on Urban Planning and Cultural Development in Madrid, Spain, on June 28, 2024. Spanish and Chinese architects and officials convened in Madrid on Friday for the China-Spain Dialogue on Urban Planning and Cultural Development, exploring innovative approaches to integrate urban planning, cultural heritage and sustainable development. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) MADRID, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Spanish and Chinese architects and officials convened in Madrid on Friday for the China-Spain Dialogue on Urban Planning and Cultural Development, exploring innovative approaches to integrate urban planning, cultural heritage and sustainable development. Innovation played a crucial role in enhancing city services and leveraging technology for the benefit of people, Maria Reyes Maroto, former Spanish minister of industry, commerce and tourism told Xinhua at the forum. "Through collaboration with Chinese companies, we have much to learn," she added. She emphasized that technology can facilitate mobility for people with disabilities and enhance emergency services to reach those in need: "This requires a digitalized city to make use of technology more effectively." Maroto, now a councilor at the Madrid City Council, also highlighted electromobility, expressing her hope for more investment from Chinese companies in Spain, particularly in electrification and broader smart city initiatives. At the event, Liu Shilin, head of the Institute of Urban Science at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, detailed Shanghai's transformation process of urban renewal and cultural revitalization. Over the past decade, areas along the Suzhou River and other parts of the Huangpu River have evolved from a "rusty industrial strip" and a "decayed old neighborhood" to a "scenic life strip" and an "innovation space." Meanwhile, Spanish architect Maria Rosa Cervera underscored the influence of natural forms like rose petals, water lilies and tree trunks on architectural design. Stressing that Chinese civilization has long stressed harmony between humans and nature, a concept she believes is particularly relevant today, Cervera expressed her hope that urban planning can integrate more designs inspired by the natural environment, such as creating forest parks, urban green corridors, orchards and utilizing roofs and facades of buildings for planting vegetation. According to Spanish architect and university professor of architecture Jose Luis Esteban, the concept of "mutual learning" between cities in Spain and China has significantly evolved over the years. Spain offers a framework based on historical evolution that enables cities to be planned with a balance of past heritage and future aspirations while China offers new opportunities to think on a large territorial and urban scale, he added. The professor emphasized that in this planning approach, there is a return to recovering architecture from the perspective of nature and the inner experience of human beings, reconceiving cities based on human perception rather than merely constructing spectacular buildings. Zhang Yingle, a professor at Southeast University's Department of Architecture and visiting professor at the Technical University of Berlin's Faculty of Architecture, highlighted that the revitalization of urban historic neighborhoods is now a key focus of China's urban renewal efforts. He emphasized that these historic areas are no longer seen merely as relics to be preserved but as an integral part of the cultural, social and economic development of modern cities. Maria Reyes Maroto, councilor at the Madrid City Council, speaks at the China-Spain Dialogue on Urban Planning and Cultural Development in Madrid, Spain, on June 28, 2024. Spanish and Chinese architects and officials convened in Madrid on Friday for the China-Spain Dialogue on Urban Planning and Cultural Development, exploring innovative approaches to integrate urban planning, cultural heritage and sustainable development. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned the Israeli cabinet's move to legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank and advance plans to build thousands of new units across the occupied territory. The ministry said in a press statement that it "views with extreme seriousness that the Israeli government continues to commit the crime of settlement expansion and deepening apartheid, with the aim of closing the door to any opportunity to materialize a Palestinian state." The statement held the Israeli government responsible for the results of settlement expansion and its dangerous repercussions on the conflict arenas and the entire region. It called for international intervention to stop the Israeli government's "unilateral, illegal actions and to exert real pressure on it to stop settlement activity and submit to the international will for peace." On Thursday, the Israeli security cabinet approved Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's plan to address several countries' recognition of a Palestinian state and measures taken against Israel in international courts, according to Israeli state-owned Kan TV. Kan TV said the plan is to take measures against the Palestinian Authority, legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank, and issue tenders for building thousands of housing units in the settlements. According to Smotrich's proposal, five settlement outposts will be recognized and legalized as a response to the five countries that recognized a Palestinian state after the onset of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. Some of the ministers and military personnel who attended the meeting expressed their opposition to Smotrich's plan, according to Kan TV, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not express his position on the plan, but he temporarily suspended the session for consultations. Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and has since established settlements there, which are considered violations of international law. TEHRAN, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Friday condemned recent "meddlesome" remarks by a U.S. official about Iran's 14th presidential election. Kanaani made the remarks on social media platform X, reacting to a series of posts by U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley on his X account on Wednesday. Paley claimed that Iran's elections were "not fair and free" or conducive to any "fundamental change in the country's direction," hurling a number of accusations against the Iranian government. Kanaani said Paley's remarks were a "flagrant interference and absurd," adding the U.S. officials would achieve nothing by making such "worthless" statements. He stressed that "the Iranian people in this election will respond firmly to such meddlesome remarks through their effective participation and spirited presence at the polling stations." Kanaani said peoples worldwide had witnessed the impacts and results of the "American diplomacy" inside the United States and in other parts of the world and have tasted its "bitter flavor." He added the people's "direct and genuine" role in deciding their political fate in Iran had always been proved in practice, stressing that the validity and health of the elections in Iran had been proved in the country's previous voting processes. Iran's 14th presidential election, initially set for 2025, was rescheduled following the unexpected death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage in a helicopter crash on May 19. Paley claimed the candidates in Iran's election had been "hand-picked" by the country's Constitutional Council and the Iranian people "lack access to even the most basic freedoms; necessary features of any democracy." The four candidates competing in the election are Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the parliamentary speaker; Saeed Jalili, the former top negotiator for nuclear talks; Mostafa Pourmohammadi, a former interior minister and justice minister; and Masoud Pezeshkian, a former health minister. This photo taken on Dec. 27, 2022 shows a view of Guadalupe in Extremadura, Spain. The village has been selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the "Best Tourism Villages of 2022". (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua) Spain should invest more in renewable energies, artificial intelligence and education, a leading Spanish economist said. BARCELONA, Spain, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Since the end of the COVID pandemic, Spain's economy has been expanding thanks largely to the recovery of its tourism sector. However, the country should now focus on diversifying its sources of growth by, for example, investing more in renewable energies, artificial intelligence (AI) and education, a leading Spanish economist told Xinhua in an interview on Friday. In 2022 and 2023, the economy grew a lot driven by a post-COVID tourism boom. But now this type of growth is reaching a plateau and "we see stagnation, which means (we must) find other sources of growth," said Sergi Basco, associate professor of economics at Barcelona University. "Unlike countries such as Germany, Spain has a high number of sunny hours, so it would make sense to invest more in solar power and the production of renewable energy for export. There are industries and sectors other than tourism that could be promoted," he added. Tourists are seen near the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, June 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) Although Spain's economy grew by 0.8 percent in the first three months of this year, almost tripling the Eurozone average of 0.3 percent, Basco warns it grew "for the wrong reasons," including tourism and investments by the government, "which is still spending the European recovery funds." GDP growth for 2025 and 2026 is projected to shrink to 1.8 percent because the tourism dividend and the special European funds are running out, Basco noted. This, he said, is very low, but the decline could be reversed by shifting focus to such areas as renewable energy and AI and investing more in education. Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2021 shows the IE Tower (R) in Madrid, Spain. The IE Tower, a new teaching building for IE University, was inaugurated in Madrid on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) Investing in education and making efforts to reverse recent trends that show falling grades in Spanish schools, particularly in mathematics, will ensure that young people will be better prepared to work in new industries, "meaning that when they enter the job market they will be more productive," Basco said. He also said he expects companies -- both foreign and Spanish ones -- to play a key role in boosting the level of productivity through investing in new business projects throughout the country. SARAJEVO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A conference on the accession of Western Balkan (WB) countries to the European Union (EU) was held in Sarajevo on Thursday. Ministers of justice from several WB nations, ambassadors of EU countries to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), legal experts, and representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations came together for talks that centered on the expectations for BiH's accession negotiations. Johann Sattler, head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU special representative in BiH, acknowledged the positive developments achieved three months ago, when EU member states consented to the initiation of accession negotiations with BiH. BiH's Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza said the country is on a favorable trajectory towards EU integration, but stressed the need for accelerated, more effective progress. Bunoza emphasized the difficult path ahead, but said he hoped that exchanging experiences with nations currently in negotiations would facilitate BiH's accession journey. Nazrin Abdul Aydin Karimov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Shusha, announced plans to establish a professional tourism centre during his speech at the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Build Garabagh Together" in Shusha, Azernews reports. He confirmed that the location for the vocational centre has been selected and that the first phase of the project is now complete. Additionally, Karimov disclosed that construction has commenced on a permanent gas filling station for "SOCAR Petroleum" CJSC in Shusha. Providing further updates, Karimov mentioned the presence of a modular gas station operated by "Azpetrol" in Shusha. He also mentioned that in Shusha, so far, about 20 entrepreneurs, both individuals and legal entities, have been provided with favourable conditions for their activities. He explained that the construction of 10 buildings on "Garabagh" street in Shusha, initiated by President Ilham Aliyev and developed through public-private partnerships, is progressing rapidly: "Eight of these buildings are being constructed by private investors, while the Shusha City State Conservation Department is overseeing the construction of the remaining two. It's important to note that not a single manat of state funds has been used for this investment project. By the end of the year, the plan is to establish accommodations, public catering, and trade services within these buildings." He also highlighted the nearing completion of several public catering facilities, cafes, and restaurants in the area, which are expected to open in the coming weeks. New applications for further developments are currently under consideration. ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) won a majority in the regular parliamentary elections on Friday, according to the provisional results from the General Election Commission (GEC). Voting began at 7 a.m. local time (1500 GMT) and lasted 15 hours at approximately 2,200 polling stations nationwide. A total of 1,341 candidates from 19 political parties and two coalitions, along with 42 independents, competed in the parliamentary elections. Live streaming by the GEC on provisional election results indicated that the MPP secured more than half of 126 seats in the State Great Khural, the country's parliament. Official results of the parliamentary elections are expected to be announced after all paper ballots are counted by hand to prevent misrepresentations and disputes associated with voting machines. Voter turnout in the ninth parliamentary elections of the Asian country was estimated to be around 70 percent, according to the commission. In comparison, turnout for the previous parliamentary elections in 2020 was 73.65 percent. In May 2023, the State Great Khural passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. The elections were conducted under a mixed electoral system, with 78 legislators elected through majority representation and 48 through proportional representation. The Asian country's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. ULAN BATOR, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's ruling party, the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), declared victory in the parliamentary elections held on Friday after provisional results from the General Election Commission (GEC) showed that the party had won a majority. "I would like to thank all the voters who actively participated and voted in the 9th parliamentary elections. According to preliminary results, the MPP won at least 68 seats," Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, chairman of the MPP, told media early on Saturday. A total of 1,341 candidates from 19 political parties and two coalitions, along with 42 independents, competed for 126 seats in the State Great Khural, the country's parliament. Official results of the parliamentary elections are expected to be announced after all paper ballots are counted by hand to prevent misrepresentations and disputes associated with voting machines. In May 2023, the State Great Khural passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. The elections was conducted under a mixed electoral system, with 78 legislators elected through majority representation and 48 through proportional representation. The Asian country's parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term. UNITED NATIONS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on Friday calling on member states to redouble efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Expressing concern about the reports of a dramatic increase in missing persons in armed conflict, the council unanimously adopted the presidential statement aimed at reversing the trend by advancing measures set out in a resolution adopted five years ago. In 2019, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2474 on persons missing as a result of armed conflict. Noting that this year marks the 75 anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the 25 anniversary of its progressive consideration of "the protection of civilians in armed conflict" as a thematic issue, the Security Council stressed "the enduring need" for the council and member states to redouble efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It called on parties to armed conflict to "take all appropriate measures to actively search for persons reported missing, to enable the return of their remains, to account for persons reported missing without adverse distinction, and to put in place appropriate channels enabling response and communication with families on the search process," emphasizing that "utmost attention" should be paid to cases of children reported missing in armed conflict. The council urged the parties to "collect, protect and manage all relevant data and documents on missing persons as a result of armed conflict," and called on states to take appropriate measures to "ensure thorough, prompt, impartial and effective investigations and the prosecution of offenses linked to missing persons" under national and international law. In the presidential statement, the Security Council also stressed the critical role of the International Committee of the Red Cross and its Central Tracing Agency in addressing the issue of missing persons, the need to include humanitarian elements in peace negotiations and agreements, and the role of truth, justice and accountability mechanisms in reconciliation and conflict resolution processes. This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Khiam, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national were killed and four civilians were wounded on Friday in two separate airstrikes on Lebanon's southeast villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIRUT, June 28 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national were killed and four civilians were wounded on Friday in two separate airstrikes on Lebanon's southeast villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said an Israeli warplane fired four air-to-surface missiles at a house on the northern edge of Kafr Kila, killing a Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national and destroying a three-story house. They added that in another incident, an Israeli warplane fired four air-to-surface missiles in Khiam, wounding four civilians who were taken to the Marjayoun Governmental Hospital for treatment, destroying seven homes and damaging 15 others. One of the Israeli raids targeted a Hezbollah military center in the Jabal Safi area, which is judicially affiliated with the Jezzine City, deep in southern Lebanon, they said. The sources noted that Israeli warplanes carried out on Friday six airstrikes on four towns and villages in the eastern and central sectors of the border area, and Israeli heavy artillery fired about 30 shells on 11 border towns and villages in southern Lebanon. For its part, Hezbollah said they attacked on Friday several Israeli sites with rocket shells and drones, hitting them directly. During the past few days, the border areas in southern Lebanon witnessed an unprecedented escalation between Hezbollah and the Israeli army after Israel assassinated four Hezbollah cadres, including prominent leader Talib Abdullah, on June 11. Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. Since the start of the confrontations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel, from Oct. 8, 2023, 546 people have been killed, including 351 Hezbollah members and 100 civilians, according to party statements and Lebanese security and medical reports. This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Khiam, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national were killed and four civilians were wounded on Friday in two separate airstrikes on Lebanon's southeast villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Khiam, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national were killed and four civilians were wounded on Friday in two separate airstrikes on Lebanon's southeast villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Khiam, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and a Palestinian national were killed and four civilians were wounded on Friday in two separate airstrikes on Lebanon's southeast villages of Kafr Kila and Khiam, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. (Photo by Taher Abu Hamdan/Xinhua) BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China urges the United States to act on President Biden's "five-noes" commitment, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and play a positive role for the steady development of China-U.S. relations, rather than doing the opposite, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to brief on the phone conversation between Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Mao said that on June 27, Ma had a phone conversation with Campbell. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the current China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest. Ma elaborated on China's just position on issues related to Taiwan, Xizang, the South China Sea and Ukraine. According to Mao, Ma stressed the following during the phone conversation with Campbell: Ma said that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, and connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" will backfire. The U.S. should fully see through the separatist nature of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and its grave harm to cross-Strait peace and stability, abide by the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop arming Taiwan, and act on its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence." Ma said that Xizang-related issues concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. should stop emboldening the "Tibetan independence" forces in any form and stop interfering in China's internal affairs taking Xizang-related issues as an excuse. Ma said that the root cause of the current tension around Ren'ai Jiao is that the Philippines has abandoned the consensus reached with China and challenged China's sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending a large amount of construction materials to the illegally grounded vessel in an attempt to achieve permanent occupation of Ren'ai Jiao. The U.S. side should stop emboldening and supporting the provocations of the Philippine side and take concrete actions to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Ma said that China's position on the Ukraine issue is objective and just. The U.S. side should stop groundlessly smearing and scapegoating China, and stop obstructing the normal economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia. Ma said that China firmly opposes the abuse of illicit unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction by the U.S. side, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese entities and individuals. Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara (R) welcomes Angolan President Joao Lourenco at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, June 27, 2024. Cote d'Ivoire and Angola signed 14 agreements on Thursday to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The deals were signed in Abidjan during a visit to Cote d'Ivoire by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua) ABIDJAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire and Angola signed 14 agreements on Thursday to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The deals were signed in Abidjan during a visit to Cote d'Ivoire by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. The agreements cover cooperation in such fields as agriculture, mining and hydrocarbons, sports, water resources management, health, culture, and industry. The signing of the agreements demonstrates the mutual interest of the two nations, said Lourenco during a joint press conference with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. "We want to learn from the experience of each other and develop our economies in the interest of our people," he said. Ouattara welcomed the revitalization of bilateral relations, with the inaugural session of the joint Ivorian-Angolan cooperation commission in April, and the holding of an economic forum with businessmen from both countries. "This gives a strong signal for the connection between the Ivorian and Angolan business communities which will contribute to further increasing trade and investments between the two countries," he said. Angolan President Joao Lourenco (L) and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara attend a joint conference held at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, June 27, 2024. Cote d'Ivoire and Angola signed 14 agreements on Thursday to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The deals were signed in Abidjan during a visit to Cote d'Ivoire by Angolan President Joao Lourenco. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua) LUSAKA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia called on Friday for the creation of a special fund dedicated to the development of the forestry sector in Zambia. In its proposal submitted during a consultative forum for the country's 2026 national budget, WWF Zambia suggested that the government establish a forestry sector fund using resources collected from the carbon tax to recapitalize the forestry sector and ensure the full operationalization of the green economy. According to the conservation organization, the current practice of depositing carbon tax revenues into a central government account disadvantages the forestry sector, which manages the carbon sink at a very low capacity despite generating substantial funds. It noted that the money collected through the carbon tax is not being allocated to the sector, which is essential for achieving the nationally determined climate targets. "The carbon tax was introduced to support the operations of the forestry sector, which sequesters 90 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The forestry sector is Zambia's biggest climate change safety net, crucial for maintaining the rain cycle and growing the green economy," WWF Zambia said. Creating a dedicated forestry sector fund would enhance the sector's capacity in terms of human resources, financial resources and necessary tools and equipment, enabling it to operate at full scale, it added. NAIROBI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- African ministers on Thursday launched the Regional Maritime Transport Policy for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa to boost maritime security. Salim Mvurya, Kenya's cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, told a forum in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the policy provides procedures to address emerging maritime security threats such as illicit drugs, piracy and armed robbery at sea by enhancing surveillance. "The policy will help to foster a secure and safe maritime environment through regional collaboration and sustainable practices," Mvurya said during the third meeting of ministers responsible for shipping and maritime affairs of countries in eastern, southern and northern Africa. According to Mvurya, the safety of the shipping sector is a key priority, given that ocean freight facilitates global trade by handling over 90 percent of worldwide commerce through the transportation of goods and resources. Uganda's Minister of Works and Transport Edward Katumba Wamala said that the policy prioritizes increased investments by governments to expand satellite monitoring and technology for real-time threat detection. The strategy will guide the region in addressing the scarcity of specialized search and rescue vessels and boats in navigable lakes, rivers and the Western Indian Ocean area, which undermines efficient rescue operations and often necessitates the use of unsuitable vessels, Wamala added. Frank Museba Tayali, Zambia's minister of transport and logistics and chair of the Assembly of Ministers of the Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa, said that the policy proposes the establishment of a regional maritime security information-sharing platform to improve interagency collaboration. Tayali also called for the formation of a task force to oversee maritime safety and security during pandemics, with a focus on vulnerable coastal regions, shared waterways and exclusive economic zones for blue economy exploitation. CAIRO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Egypt will deport foreigners without documents required to obtain residency permits, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported on Friday. Foreigners will also be deported if they commit crimes that require expulsion or forced removal under the law, said the report, citing a high-ranking security source. The official source said Egyptian law enforcement authorities adhere to the legal and legislative framework in their dealings with refugee data, adding that these procedures are carried out with no discrimination between one nationality and another. With a population of over 106 million people, Egypt currently hosts nearly 9 million foreign residents from more than 130 countries, including hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly from Sudan, Syria, and Palestine, according to the Egyptian government. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a recent report that over 600,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers from 62 different nationalities now reside in Egypt. NEW DELHI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed and four others injured Friday after a mini-bus crashed into a stationary truck from behind in the southwestern state of Karnataka, police said. The accident took place near Gundenahalli cross in Byadgi taluk of Haveri district, about 326 km northwest of Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. "Today early morning a mini-bus carrying 17 people hit a stationary sugar-laden truck from behind on Pune-Bangaluru highway in Byadgi. Following the crash 11 people were killed on the spot and two others succumbed to their injuries in hospital taking the death toll to 13. Four others injured in the accident were hospitalised, where their condition was stated to be critical," a police official said. The victims were returning home after offering prayers at a Hindu temple in a neighbouring district. According to police, the bodies were stuck in the mangled remains of the mini-bus because of the impact of the collision and the rescuers from the fire brigade and police had a difficult time extricating them. The deceased were identified as seven women, four men, a young girl and a child. The bodies have been shifted to the district hospital for post-mortem. Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash. Reports said police suspect the driver behind the wheel had dozed off resulting in the accident. Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Around 150,000 people are killed every year in about half a million road accidents across India, officials said. Nazrin Abdul The challenges and opportunities surrounding the implementation of the international strategy on "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) will be a key focus at COP29 in Baku this November. Elshad Farzaliyev, Director of Public Relations for the Eurasian region at Coca-Cola Company, highlighted this during his address at the international forum "Green World Solidarity: Waste to Value for a Sustainable Future", Azernews reports. He explained that the strategy involves incorporating all environmental costs associated with a product's lifecycle into its market price. E. Farzaliyev emphasised that this approach, applied in waste management, prompts manufacturers to integrate rigorous environmental standards into product design. "In Azerbaijan, companies are deeply committed to implementing this strategy," he noted, pointing out that Azerbaijan is advancing towards a "green" economy and will intensify its efforts in this direction. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan's capital this November. The decision to host COP29 in Baku was made during COP28 in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku is expected to host around 70-80 thousand international guests during the two-week event. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, aims to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. COP (Conference of Parties) sessions convene annually, unless otherwise decided by the parties. The inaugural COP was held in Berlin in March 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn. WELLINGTON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand households have benefited much from cost-effective and high-quality Chinese products, according to a recent report. Despite recent economic headwinds and changing demographics, China has the policy tools, labor, and innovation expertise to maintain manufacturing strength for the foreseeable future, New Zealand China Council Chair John McKinnon said on Friday. "Amidst all the focus on China as our largest export market, it is sometimes forgotten how a supply of quality-made, cost-effective imports from there benefits our economy, household budgets and quality of life as well," McKinnon said. There are very few strategic risks to New Zealand from our current levels of exposure to imports from China, according to a new report from the New Zealand China Council, "Sourcing from the World's Factory: Our Import Relationship with China." "And even if we were to diversify our sources, China is now so embedded in regional supply chains that we would often in effect still be sourcing from China through an intermediary," the report said, adding that diversifying from China imports is neither necessary nor feasible. The report pointed out that goods such as electrical equipment, machinery and textiles from Southeast Asia will still typically include a 10-20 percent contribution from China through raw materials and other inputs. Even electronics from Mexico include 27 percent contributions from China. There are some clear benefits from importing from China, for example, potential cost-effective contributions to New Zealand's decarbonization through the import of Chinese environmental tech products, it said. New Zealand's import of electric vehicles rose to over 10,600 in 2023, up from just 752 in 2020, the report said, adding that China also supplied 89 percent of New Zealand's solar PV panels and components last year, up from 49 percent in 2014. YANGON, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized over 780,000 stimulant tablets in southern Myanmar's Kayin state, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police searched a suspect's house in Hpa-an Township, Kayin state, on Wednesday and confiscated 55 stimulant tablets. Further investigation revealed an additional 3,194 stimulant tablets, 100,000 stimulant tablets, and 680,000 tablets from the suspects' houses. The total amount of seized drugs was 783,249 stimulant tablets worth over 2.34 billion kyats (about 1.1 million U.S. dollars) and three suspects were arrested, the committee said. The suspects who were involved in the case were charged under the country's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law, it added. KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's total fertility rate (TFR) fell below replacement level, declining from 2.1 children per woman in 2010 to 1.6 in 2022, an official told the country's parliament. Among the reasons for the decrease are linked to marriage age decisions and infertility issues, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri said in a parliamentary reply on the country's fertility trends on Thursday. "The TFR for all major ethnic groups in Malaysia shows a declining trend. Between 2010 and 2022, the TFR for Malays decreased from 2.6 children to 2.0 children, Chinese (from 1.5 children to 0.8 children), and Indians (from 1.7 children to 1.1 children)," she said. "The TFR for the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups has been below replacement levels since 2003 and 2005, respectively," she added. Nancy said the ministry's National Population and Family Development Board has implemented various initiatives to address infertility issues. "These initiatives include offering affordable fertility treatment services for subfertility since 1979. All married couples are eligible for treatment, and as of 2023, over 6,000 successful pregnancies have been recorded," she said. Nancy added that a men's health and wellness clinic offering health screening tests, sexual issue counseling, healthy lifestyle practices, and medication to improve male fertility to address increasing male infertility issues has also been established. TASHKENT, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan and Russia recently have signed a protocol on executing a contract for construction of a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, according to UzAtom on Thursday. Recently, a ceremony was held between UzAtom, agency for development of nuclear energy of Uzbekistan, with Russia's state nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom. The agency stated that the construction of the nuclear power plant, which is based on a Russian design, will carry out in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan. "Work for construction of infrastructure for the future six-unit nuclear power plant will begin in months," the statement noted. The capacity of the facility will be 330 MW, consisting of six reactors with a capacity of 55 MW each. Rosatom will act as the general contractor for the construction, and local companies will also be involved in the construction. ULAN BATOR, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's ruling party, the Mongolian People's Party, won a majority in the parliamentary elections on Friday, according to provisional results from the General Election Commission. SEOUL, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The Workers' Party of Korea started the 10th enlarged plenary meeting of its 8th Central Committee on Friday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday. The meeting was designed to "review the work done in the first half of the year, and discuss and decide a series of important immediate issues," the report said. According to the KCNA, the meeting was presided over by 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 (DPRK). Five items were placed on the agenda of the plenary meeting, and discussion related to the items is underway, the KCNA reported. This photo taken on June 28, 2024 shows a press conference after a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) EU leaders agreed on top EU posts after complex political bargaining and discussed issues such as military support to Ukraine, Middle East developments, security, defense, competitiveness, and the EU strategic agenda for the next five years during the European Council summit. BRUSSELS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- EU leaders reached agreements on Thursday regarding key leadership positions during the European Council summit. The leaders agreed on nominating Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for the second term as president of the European Commission. They also agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as president of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. While Costa will assume his position on Dec. 1, both von der Leyen and Kallas still need to secure majority support in the European Parliament to get re-elected. Suspense remains until mid-July when the parliament is scheduled to meet. At this summit, EU leaders also discussed other issues, including the EU's military support to Ukraine, the regional developments in the Middle East, security and defense, competitiveness, and adopted the EU strategic agenda for the next five years. POLITICAL BARGAINS Since the European Parliament elections on May 9, many high-level consultations have been held on top EU posts, with each political group bargaining for their own greatest benefit. Six EU leaders from the three major political groups reached consensus on the EU's top jobs on the eve of the summit. As the nomination validation needs the majority support of the leaders of the 27 states members at this summit, this extremely "sensitive" topic was arranged as the last item for discussion, to avoid delaying other agendas. Attendees prepare for a group photo before a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Although the president of the European Parliament is elected by 720 members, the post is also regarded as part of political bargains. Roberta Metsola from the European People's Party Group (EPP) was nominated to serve another two-and-a-half-year term, and then a candidate of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) will take over. In addition to considering the results of the European Parliament elections, EU leaders need to balance multiple factors such as politics, geography and gender when choosing candidates. Among the four, von der Leyen, Kallas and Metsola are all women. German von der Leyen and Maltese Metsola are both from the EPP, the largest political group in the European Parliament, and are supported by members of the group, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk; Costa is Portuguese and comes from S&D, the second largest Party group, and is supported by members of the group, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; Kallas comes from Renew Europe, the fourth largest political group, and is supported by French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Costa and Metsola represent southern European countries, von der Leyen represents western Europe and Kallas represents eastern Europe. The current nomination on top EU jobs was criticized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the third largest party group in the European Parliament, and is unhappy about being excluded from decision-making and indignant that her right-wing group was not included in the nominations. At the summit, Meloni voted against Costa and Kallas while she abstained on von der Leyen's re-appointment. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted against von der Leyen, in favor of Costa and abstained on Kallas, Euronews reported, citing diplomatic sources. SUSPENSE REMAINS According to EU regulations, only Costa can take office directly among the four nominees, and the other three still need to go through certain procedures, among which the most important position of the President of the European Commission requires a vote by the European Parliament. But even so, von der Leyen's re-election is still uncertain. In the European Parliament vote to be held on July 18, she needs to obtain 361 votes out of 720 votes to be re-elected. According to the current seats held by the major party groups in the Parliament, the traditional European Parliamentary Alliance composed of EPP, S&D and Renew Europe Group currently holds 399 seats out of the 720 seats in the Parliament. But not all members of the alliance will vote in favor. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at a press conference after a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, June 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) An article published by "Politico Europe" pointed out that in the first two votes for the President of the European Commission, 13 percent of the members of the alliance did not vote in favor of the nominees, which means that relying solely on the support of the three-party alliance may not be enough for von der Leyen to get the required votes. This means that von der Leyen may also need the support of the group formed by the Greens/European Free Alliance or Brothers of Italy Party (the right-wing European Conservative and Reform Party Group) led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to ensure a majority vote in the parliament. But the group formed by the Greens/European Free Alliance with 54 seats may not be enough for von der Leyen to win in the parliament, and cooperating with them may cause von der Leyen to lose the support of the EPP, her own party group. At the same time, if von der Leyen agrees to promise one of the vice president positions of the European Commission to Italy, she is expected to get the support of Meloni's Brothers of Italy with 24 votes, but the S&D has repeatedly warned that cooperating with Meloni or other far-right parties will make her lose their support. Analysts pointed out that this will be a "very delicate balance" that von der Leyen must grasp. According to the rules, if the candidate for the European Commission nominated by the European Council fails to obtain the required majority vote in the parliament, the president of the Parliament will invite the European Council to nominate a new candidate for voting within one month according to the same procedure. People visit the 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair in Ta' Qali, Malta, June 27, 2024. The 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair kicked off here Thursday, with about 100 exhibitors showcasing their goods, products, and services. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) People visit the 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair in Ta' Qali, Malta, June 27, 2024. The 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair kicked off here Thursday, with about 100 exhibitors showcasing their goods, products, and services. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) People visit the 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair in Ta' Qali, Malta, June 27, 2024. The 65th edition of the Malta Trade Fair kicked off here Thursday, with about 100 exhibitors showcasing their goods, products, and services. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) MOSCOW, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has directed the general staff of the Russian armed forces to propose a plan responding to U.S. drone operations over the Black Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defense said Friday on social media. The ministry highlighted an increase in the frequency of U.S. strategic drone flights over the Black Sea, which are conducting reconnaissance and targeting for high-precision weaponry supplied to Ukrainian forces by Western countries. These drone flights heighten the risk of incidents involving Russian Aerospace Forces' aircraft, thereby increasing the likelihood of direct confrontation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia, said the ministry. "This indicates a growing involvement of the United States and NATO countries in the Ukraine conflict on the side of the Kiev regime," it said, adding that "NATO countries will bear responsibility for these actions." BRUSSELS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- EU leaders reached agreements on Thursday regarding key leadership positions during the European Council summit. The leaders agreed on nominating Germany's Ursula von der Leyen for the second term as president of the European Commission. They also agreed to elect former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa as president of the European Council, while nominating Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU's foreign policy chief. While Costa will assume his position on Dec. 1, both von der Leyen and Kallas still need to secure majority support in the European Parliament to get re-elected. Suspense remains until mid-July when the parliament is scheduled to meet. At this summit, EU leaders also discussed other issues, including the EU's military support to Ukraine, the regional developments in the Middle East, security and defense, competitiveness, and adopted the EU strategic agenda for the next five years. POLITICAL BARGAINS Since the European Parliament elections on May 9, many high-level consultations have been held on top EU posts, with each political group bargaining for their own greatest benefit. Six EU leaders from the three major political groups reached consensus on the EU's top jobs on the eve of the summit. As the nomination validation needs the majority support of the leaders of the 27 states members at this summit, this extremely "sensitive" topic was arranged as the last item for discussion, to avoid delaying other agendas. Although the president of the European Parliament is elected by 720 members, the post is also regarded as part of political bargains. Roberta Metsola from the European People's Party Group (EPP) was nominated to serve another two-and-a-half-year term, and then a candidate of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) will take over. In addition to considering the results of the European Parliament elections, EU leaders need to balance multiple factors such as politics, geography and gender when choosing candidates. Among the four, von der Leyen, Kallas and Metsola are all women. German von der Leyen and Maltese Metsola are both from the EPP, the largest political group in the European Parliament, and are supported by members of the group, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk; Costa is Portuguese and comes from S&D, the second largest Party group, and is supported by members of the group, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; Kallas comes from Renew Europe, the fourth largest political group, and is supported by French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Costa and Metsola represent southern European countries, von der Leyen represents western Europe and Kallas represents eastern Europe. The current nomination on top EU jobs was criticized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the third largest party group in the European Parliament, and is unhappy about being excluded from decision-making and indignant that her right-wing group was not included in the nominations. At the summit, Meloni voted against Costa and Kallas while she abstained on von der Leyen's re-appointment. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted against von der Leyen, in favor of Costa and abstained on Kallas, Euronews reported, citing diplomatic sources. SUSPENSE REMAINS According to EU regulations, only Costa can take office directly among the four nominees, and the other three still need to go through certain procedures, among which the most important position of the President of the European Commission requires a vote by the European Parliament. But even so, von der Leyen's re-election is still uncertain. In the European Parliament vote to be held on July 18, she needs to obtain 361 votes out of 720 votes to be re-elected. According to the current seats held by the major party groups in the Parliament, the traditional European Parliamentary Alliance composed of EPP, S&D and Renew Europe Group currently holds 399 seats out of the 720 seats in the Parliament. But not all members of the alliance will vote in favor. An article published by "Politico Europe" pointed out that in the first two votes for the President of the European Commission, 13 percent of the members of the alliance did not vote in favor of the nominees, which means that relying solely on the support of the three-party alliance may not be enough for von der Leyen to get the required votes. This means that von der Leyen may also need the support of the group formed by the Greens/European Free Alliance or Brothers of Italy Party (the right-wing European Conservative and Reform Party Group) led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to ensure a majority vote in the parliament. But the group formed by the Greens/European Free Alliance with 54 seats may not be enough for von der Leyen to win in the parliament, and cooperating with them may cause von der Leyen to lose the support of the EPP, her own party group. At the same time, if von der Leyen agrees to promise one of the vice president positions of the European Commission to Italy, she is expected to get the support of Meloni's Brothers of Italy with 24 votes, but the S&D has repeatedly warned that cooperating with Meloni or other far-right parties will make her lose their support. Analysts pointed out that this will be a "very delicate balance" that von der Leyen must grasp. According to the rules, if the candidate for the European Commission nominated by the European Council fails to obtain the required majority vote in the parliament, the president of the Parliament will invite the European Council to nominate a new candidate for voting within one month according to the same procedure. Nazrin Abdul UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced his intention to visit Baku for COP29, Azernews reports, citing the TASS. "I always attend COP conferences, participating in both the opening and closing sessions," he emphasised. Guterres underscored the importance of COP29, scheduled for November in Baku, stressing the need for decisive actions to ensure equitable climate decisions that consider the interests of developing nations. He highlighted recent scientific warnings that global warming could surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius in the near future but remained optimistic about the potential for positive change. Humanity, he remarked, stands at a critical juncture in history. "I hope for significant measures at this conference, with fair decisions in climate policy crucial for developing countries. This includes small island nations grappling with rising sea levels and African countries devastated by drought." Guterres underscored the responsibility of developed nations to take effective action and support developing countries facing the pressures of climate change. maintenance services as it focuses on personalized service delivery. This growth was driven by innovative solutions, a client centric approach, and value-added service offerings, which have resulted in increased revenue generation across different sectors, attracting more customers and thereby leading to a broadened customer base. Additionally, the company has expanded its operations beyond its initial focus regions liketo cover more areas in other states, says Aajay Koul, Partner.Weecare Facilities offers a wide range of maintenance services for residential and commercial clients, with a flagship comprehensive maintenance package. With a focus on janitorial work, electrical and plumbing maintenance, HVAC systems, landscaping, security services and general building upkeep, the company ensures smooth day to-day operations through a team of skilled professionals and multi-skilled technicians. The company prioritizes clients' needs with a client-centric approach, effective communication, proactive maintenance, and technology toWeecare Facilities stands out in the maintenance industry by ensuring clients can rely on a single provider for all their needs. The company emphasizes sustainability, using green cleaning products, energy efficient tools, and sustainable waste management practices to help clients reduce costs. Leveraging the latest technology, the firm enhances service delivery with advanced service tracking and maintenance management software, enabling proactive and predictive maintenance. Adhering to strict safety protocols and regulatory standards, the company prioritizes the safety of both clients and staff. The firms exceptional customer service includes responsive communication, transparent reporting, and a dedicated support team. The company uses structured surveys and questionnaires every two months to gather customer feedback, direct feedback via emails, phone calls, in-person meetings, and resident interactions during morning and evening walks.Weecare Facilities' future roadmap includes expanding service areas, integrating advanced technology, enhancing customer experience, and investing in staff training and development. The company plans to introduce building automation systems, comprehensive waste management, and health and safety services. By focusing on these areas, the company aims to stay competitive, meet evolving client needs, and drive long-term growth in the facility management sector. Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating the technology sector right now, and one company that stands to benefit greatly is e-commerce and cloud computing leader Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). Roughly halfway into 2024, shares of Amazon have soared by 23% -- handily topping the 15% year-to-date gain of the S&P 500 and the 19% rise of the Nasdaq Composite. Yet even in the wake of this strong performance, Doug Anmuth of JP Morgan Chase thinks Amazon stock could rocket by another 28% over the next 12 months. Amazon's cash-flow empire Two of the most closely followed institutional investors are Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood. Admittedly, Wood and Buffett don't have a lot in common when it comes to their investment styles. Buffett's portfolio is dominated by blue chip businesses with consistent cash flows. By contrast, Wood often takes positions in companies that operate in emerging technologies such as genomics, space exploration, and different aspects of the tech realm. One stock that they both own, though, is Amazon. While those positions are relatively small compared to their other holdings, I'm intrigued that these two have any overlap across their respective portfolios. One of the reasons that I think both Buffett and Wood own Amazon has to do with its cash flow. Many growth companies (especially in technology) burn cash for long periods in pursuit of accelerated revenue growth. Amazon, however, now generates a staggering level of profit. For the 12-month period that ended March 31, the company increased its operating cash flow by 82% year over year to $99 billion. Moreover, Amazon's free cash flow over that duration was a whopping $50 billion. While it's the company's robust free cash flow that likely attracts an investor like Buffett, it's how management is investing these excess profits that I think piques the interest of Wood. Image source: Getty Images. These AI investments should not be overlooked Like many of its big tech peers, Amazon has been aggressively pursuing all things AI over the last year or so. The first major move the company made on that front was a $4 billion investment in Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI. In addition, Amazon is an investor in machine-learning start-up Hugging Face. Moreover, back in April, the company announced an $11 billion infrastructure project to build out data centers in Indiana. I see all of these moves as pieces of a larger puzzle. Namely, all of these assets should play important roles as the company begins rolling out additional AI features across its ecosystem. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform stands to benefit greatly from these AI investments, as do its legacy e-commerce business and fast-growing advertising operation. Story continues Should you invest in Amazon stock right now? While Anmuth's price target of $240 might tempt you to buy Amazon stock, I wouldn't get too hung up on particulars. Instead, investing in Amazon should be rooted more in a strong conviction that AI represents a new frontier for the technology sector at large. Moreover, allocating a position of your portfolio to Amazon would suggest that you're optimistic the company can emerge as a leader in the AI landscape. As I've expressed in previous articles, given Amazon's diverse set of businesses and its ability to leverage AI across its ecosystem, I think the company is going to dominate for years to come. AMZN Price to Free Cash Flow Chart If you look at the chart above, you'll notice something interesting about Amazon's price-to-free-cash-flow (P/FCF) multiple. Namely, the metric surged to excessive levels and then disappeared during 2022 and part of 2023. That is because Amazon was burning cash during this period, thereby rendering P/FCF meaningless. However, as the company currently generates consistent cash flow, the multiple has started to normalize. What I find most intriguing about the trend above is that the company's P/FCF multiple of 43 is about half its 10-year average. This is hard to believe. Amazon is a much different, larger, and more sophisticated business today than it was a decade ago. However, the valuation trends above would imply that Amazon stock is more reasonably valued today at its current price. Considering the long-term tailwinds AI represents, as well as the company's numerous investments in the space and the impacts these could have on its future prospects, I think buying Amazon stock right now is a no-brainer. Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now? Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Amazon wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $759,759!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Cathie Wood and Warren Buffett Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Before It Surges 28%, According to 1 Wall Street Analyst was originally published by The Motley Fool The artificial intelligence (AI) race is in high gear. Much of the attention is focused on the investing-world darling Nvidia, and for good reason: The chipmaker is growing at lightning speed and reporting massive earnings. Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) was representing AI well before it became more or less compulsory for every company in tech. Derived from The Lord of The Rings, the company's name provides a clue as to what it does. A palantir is a magical object that allows a user to see everything happening at once across a vast swath of land -- in other words, magical intelligence gathering. Just trade magic for AI, and that is essentially what Palantir does. Its software-as-a-service (SaaS) products enhance information-gathering efforts for enterprise clients and, crucially, the U.S. government. The company's government contracts are essential to its success Before we consider any numbers or try to place a valuation on the company, we have to acknowledge the enormous advantage of Palantir's relationship with the U.S. government. In general, this tends to be a boost to any company's bottom line not just because the contracts themselves are lucrative in straight dollar value (and indeed, they usually are), but because the government also is resistant to change. Getting it to work with you is hard; it can take years and is not a cheap process. Once you do, however, Uncle Sam doesn't want to have to go through the same process again to find a new vendor if it doesn't have to. There's a lot of inertia in government contracts; once you win one, it's going to be mighty hard for a competitor to take it away from you. The real threat to a government contractor is a budget cut. But Palantir isn't working with the Department of Education, it's working with the military and spy agencies; that's a whole different ball game. The vetting to work with such sensitive information would be astronomically more intensive than a normal process, and the Department of Defense doesn't want to repeat that anytime soon. As for budget cuts, for better or worse, defense is not an area that sees too many significant ones. It's safe to say that money drying up for counterterrorism efforts isn't happening anytime soon. Don't get me wrong: Financials are important, but sometimes a company has a qualitative advantage that can't be underestimated. I think Palantir has a huge one here. It's not just government contracts -- business demand is high Government contracts aren't the only thing going for the company. Its enterprise arm has contracts with major multinational companies around the globe, and its growth looks to be taking off. Story continues The company reported 40% year-over-year growth in U.S. commercial revenue for the 2024 first quarter and had nearly 70% more U.S. commercial clients compared to the prior-year period. It is now working with clients as diverse as the AARP and Northrop Grumman. It appears that its technology's usefulness is becoming more apparent for enterprise clients, and this momentum builds on itself. To further drive this momentum, the company hosts an annual conference in which its new clients demonstrate how Palantir's technology benefited them. This year will feature, among others, United Airlines. Current valuations may seem high, but future potential justifies it At present, Palantir has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of more than 200. That's astronomical, but at least it has one. It's not uncommon for a tech company to run in the red for years or barely turn a profit, propped up by venture capital investors who see its potential. Once the company settles in and figures out how to most effectively run its business, or its technology proves itself in the market, growth can happen at lightning speed, and all of a sudden its P/E comes back down to earth. It's better here to look to the future -- say, the end of this fiscal year. Palantir has a forward P/E of 75. Now, this is still high, but it's a more reasonable mark for a company that is still in somewhat early days and growing rapidly. To be sure, Palantir still has a lot to prove, but recent momentum, the endless uses for its technology, and its cozy relationship with the U.S. government make this a solid pick. Should you invest $1,000 in Palantir Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Palantir Technologies wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $774,526!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Top Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool The paradigm shift brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the face of the technology landscape. If you're looking for evidence of this trend, nowhere is it more apparent than the list of the world's largest companies when measured by market cap. Microsoft, at the forefront of AI-powered assistants, boasts a market cap of $3.37 trillion, ahead of the previous champ. Apple, at $3.27 trillion, has dabbled in AI for more than a decade and recently announced sweeping AI updates for many of its devices. Nvidia has been the poster child of AI chipmakers and the third company to sport a market cap of more than $3 trillion. The leaders are followed closely by Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta Platforms -- all leaders in generative AI -- with market caps of between $1.31 trillion and $2.29 trillion. With a market cap of roughly $891 billion (as of this writing), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), often referred to as TSMC, is on track to join this elite group of businesses, probably sooner than later. The adoption of AI continues to gain ground, buoying demand for chips used in the process. As the world's largest semiconductor foundry, TSMC seems destined to join this exclusive fraternity. Image source: Getty Images. A chip off the old block After years of operating in relative obscurity, it appears TSMC's time in the limelight has come. The company describes itself as the "world's largest and best semiconductor foundry," occupying an enviable position in the AI revolution. More specifically, AI processing requires state-of-the-art semiconductors, and TSMC is the chipmaker to the stars. Its biggest customers include Nvidia, Arm Holdings, Advanced Micro Devices, and Apple, among many others. However, the trajectory of the business has shifted in recent years. TSMC once relied on smartphone chips for the bulk of its revenue, but high-performance computing (HPC), which includes specialized chips used for processing AI, has become the company's biggest moneymaker, recently representing 46% of sales. TSMC's growth is accelerating. Revenue grew 16.5% year over year to $18.9 billion in the first quarter, while earnings per share (EPS) of $1.38 crept 5% higher, as the company boosted research and development (R&D) spending to keep up with evolving technology. The company is expecting this growth spurt to continue. Management's outlook is calling for second-quarter revenue of $20 billion at the midpoint of its guidance, or growth of about 28%. That forecast could end up being conservative. In April and May, the company reported revenue growth of 60% and 30% year over year, respectively, far outpacing management's projections. Story continues The path to $1 trillion TSMC occupies a noteworthy space in the AI ecosystem. Since its processors are used by many of the biggest names in the space, TSMC stands to benefit from the accelerating adoption of generative AI -- which has created much of the buzz over the past year or so. Furthermore, its accelerating revenue provides evidence that management is leaning into this opportunity. As such, it should soon vault TSMC into the company of trillionaires. According to Wall Street, TSMC is poised to generate revenue of $85.17 billion in 2024, giving it a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of roughly 10.5. Assuming its P/S remains constant, TSM would have to grow its revenue to roughly $95 billion annually to support a $1 trillion market cap. What's even more intriguing is that Wall Street is already forecasting revenue growth of 32% and 22% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. If the company clears those relatively low hurdles, it will likely achieve a $1 trillion market cap sometime in 2025. However, given the excitement surrounding AI, it could happen even sooner. The runway for growth ahead is compelling. During the first-quarter earnings call, CEO C.C. Wei said, "For the next five years, we forecast [AI-related revenue] to grow at 50% CAGR [compound annual growth rate] and to increase to higher than 20% of our revenue by 2028." Estimates regarding the continued proliferation of AI support his conclusions. Generative AI is expected to add between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion to the global economy annually over the next 10 years, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. It's worth noting that even the most conservative estimates have been trending higher as new use cases for AI are discovered. Finally, at 27 times forward earnings, TSMC's valuation is compelling, offering a less-pricey way to invest in the massive opportunity represented by AI. Should you invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now? Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $774,526!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Danny Vena has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Unstoppable Stock That Could Join Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta in the $1 Trillion Club was originally published by The Motley Fool Growth stocks haven't received the same love from investors recently that they did during the early days of the pandemic. As the bull market has roared to life, some stocks have responded in a similar fashion while others are still trailing the market. Ultimately, stock price is not the main factor that should determine whether or not you decide to invest in a business. While price is obviously part of the picture, you need to understand the business behind that stock, its financials, its moat, and long-term growth story. If you have the risk appetite to invest in growth-oriented businesses, there are plenty of great choices ripe for the picking. Here are two such stocks to consider adding to your buy basket right now. 1. Innovative Industrial Properties Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE: IIPR) is something of a unicorn in the cannabis space in the sense that it's not technically in the business of growing or selling the actual product. The company operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), and utilizes a sale-leaseback model. It purchases regulated cannabis facilities from licensed operators across the country, then leases them back to those operators under long-term, triple net lease arrangements. Innovative Industrial Properties currently has 108 properties in 19 states in its portfolio. This REIT only operates in the medical cannabis industry, a far more widely legalized and regulated market compared to the recreational one. Its structure accomplishes multiple goals. With the triple net lease arrangement, the cannabis operator and not the REIT pays rent and utilities, along with other aspects of keeping up the property such as insurance and maintenance. As of the recent quarter, the average term of Innovative's leases is 14.8 years, with 95.2% of its portfolio leased. No tenant represents more than 17% of its annualized base rent, and multi-state operators account for approximately 90% of annualized based rent for the business. If you're wondering why a cannabis operator would commit to a sale-leaseback model, the answer is simple. This is a common arrangement in the cannabis space, primarily because it enables the operator to use more capital to run the actual business. And, because cannabis use is still prohibited by federal law for either medical or recreational purposes, most banks and other financial institutions are extremely hesitant to lend credit to cannabis operators. In the recent quarter, Innovative Industrial Properties generated total revenue of around $76 million, while net income totaled $39 million. Those figures were down slightly from one year ago, but investors shouldn't worry. The company took on some costs for property management fees it had to pay for properties it took back possession of, as well as costs associated with reclassifying leases on two properties. Story continues Adjusted funds from operations, which are a more accurate metric to gauge a REIT's profitability, came in at $63 million, just a hair down from one year ago, but up 17% from two years ago. Management is being prudent in a tough operating landscape, and the business as well as its financials look solid. Moreover, Innovative Industrial Properties has a debt ratio of just 11%, an exceptional figure for a capital-intensive business. As a REIT, it is required to pay out around 90% of its earnings in the form of dividends. The company has been consistently profitable, in addition to executing notable top-line growth, so dividend payouts have risen significantly through the years. Over the trailing-five-year period alone, Innovative Industrial Properties has grown its dividend by more than 200%. That yield is currently just shy of 7%, an impressive figure by any measure and about 4 times higher than what the average stock trading on the S&P 500 pays. If you have the risk appetite to invest in cannabis stocks, this is one that pays a dividend, is profitable, and has a rock-solid balance sheet overall. Its resilient revenue model is driving growth forward even in an uncertain environment, and as legalization expands the opportunity for the company is considerable. Investors might find it worthwhile to scoop up at least a few shares. 2. Shopify Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) is trading down double-digits from the beginning of this year, and is almost touching its 52-week low. While investors seem to be nonplussed about the company's near-term growth prospects -- management is guiding for year-over-year revenue growth in the high-teens in the second quarter -- there's a lot to like about this business if you're looking at a long-term investment horizon. The company made waves last year when it decided to sell its logistics business. It's still in the process of divesting this part of its operations, and that is expected to impact revenue by 300 to 400 basis points in the upcoming quarter. So, investors will need to be patient through this readjustment period. Certainly, Shopify isn't delivering pandemic-era growth figures, but expecting that long-term wasn't reasonable. You're looking at a much more mature business than four to five years ago, too. In the first quarter of 2024, Shopify processed $61 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV), a 23% increase from the same quarter in 2023, with gross payment volume totaling $36 billion. Revenue rose 23% year over year to just shy of $2 billion, $1.4 billion of which came from merchant solutions revenue with $511 million being derived from subscription solutions revenue. Merchant solutions revenue includes sources like payment processing fees and point-of-sales hardware, while subscription solutions are the recurring fees merchants pay to use the platform. That merchant solutions revenue figure was up 20% year over year, while subscription solutions rose 34%. The company was free-cash-flow-positive, bringing in $232 million in the three-month period. It ended the quarter with $5.2 billion in cash and investments, and it's raked in operating cash flow of $1.1 billion over the trailing 12 months. Shopify Payments has now penetrated 60% of the company's GMV, which means more and more merchants are choosing this seamless payment processing solution for their store rather than a third-party offering. Its checkout service, Shop Pay, processed 56% more GMV in the first quarter of 2024 than it did in the year-ago period, accounting for 39% of overall GMV. Management is also actively working to integrate artificial intelligence into its suite of offerings for merchants. For example, its AI assistant, Shopify Magic, helps merchants write, edit, and create content for email campaigns, product descriptions, and other key aspects of marketing to customers. In this writer's humble opinion, it seems shortsighted to suppose Shopify's day in the Sun is over. Investors who agree might want to consider an investment in this stock sooner than later while it's trading on sale. Should you invest $1,000 in Innovative Industrial Properties right now? Before you buy stock in Innovative Industrial Properties, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Innovative Industrial Properties wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $759,759!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 Rachel Warren has positions in Shopify. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Innovative Industrial Properties and Shopify. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Unstoppable Growth Stocks That Are Screaming Buys in June was originally published by The Motley Fool The global mobility market is on the brink of immense transformation as electric vehicles (EVs) are more widely adopted, and the potential applications of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and drones are more thoroughly explored. The pace of the market has been slow in recent years, hampered by supply chain issues, including a worldwide shortage of semiconductors that limited the number of automotive vehicles put out to market. However, as technological advancements pick up their pace the market is expected to experience new growth. Notable for its growing significance in the global mobility market is the Middle East. Historically the priority of energy and defence investment, countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are redefining themselves as world-leading innovation hubs, keen to put the latest tech developments into practice. With a regulatory environment that aims to facilitate AV, EV, and drone testing and adoption, Dubai is at the forefront of the new mobility wave, with innovative economic zones such as Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) providing the ideal environment for disruptive entrepreneurs in the mobility sector to scale their businesses. The global mobility market in 2024 In the EV market, growth has been rapid. BEVs accounted for 9.4% of all new light vehicle production in 2022, a huge leap from 0.8% in 2017. By 2025, GlobalData forecasts that global BEV production will hit 28.3 million units, 28% of the total light vehicle market. This growth is set to be driven by increasing government regulation as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) legislation becomes more stringent. EV production will accelerate in line with demand, as EV charging infrastructure increases and businesses and consumers choose to purchase new electric models over outdated petrol ones. GlobalData forecasts that the global EV market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1% to reach 53.9 million units by 2028 as the desire for lower emissions vehicles drives high sales. Within this same timeframe, it is predicted that battery electric vehicle (BEV) production will overtake that of hybrids (HEVs) to become the leading electrified driving option on the market, with BEVs holding a 54% market share by 2028. China currently leads in EV production, but the adoption of electric-powered mobility is increasing worldwide, driven partially by government incentives. In Dubai, for example, EV drivers can charge their cars for free, park without charge, and benefit from lower interest rates on EV loans. Meanwhile, GlobalData intelligence finds that the AV market experienced growth of 15.3% in 2023 and is expected to record a CAGR of 5.2% from 2023-28, with 274.2 million units predicted to be sold in 2028. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to boost vehicle design and testing through simulation, sensor fusion, system learning, and risk assessment. AI will also be critical in analysing the huge datasets amassed through autonomous test drives, helping to analyse performance and improve reliability. AI software can learn from daily operations to improve advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including collision detection, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and parking assistance. Generative AI has a further application in creating a vast range of real-world driving conditions and scenarios to test AV performance. Story continues Source: GlobalData Another tech innovation changing mobility across the world is drones. GlobalData predicts that the global drone market will reach $89.6 billion by 2030, up from $13.7 billion, largely driven by commercial rather than military applications. Revenue from these commercial drones will surpass military sales by 2025 thanks to a favourable regulatory environment and the technical capabilities of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Drone transport has the potential to revolutionise mobility by transforming how deliveries are carried out, and in the future will even be able to carry passengers. MEA region shows significant mobility market potential Asia-Pacific currently leads the global autonomous driving systems market, accounting for 93.3 million units in 2023, followed by Europe (64.3 million units) and North America (46.4 million units), according to GlobalData. However, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is set to be the fastest-growing region for the sector, with a CAGR of 7.8% forecast for the period of 2023-28. Source: GlobalData The Middle Eastern territories commitment to reducing carbon emissions and diversifying transport options is set to be a key factor in this growth. According to GlobalData, new vehicle registrations among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) formed 46% of the MEA regional total, illustrating the areas growing importance to the global automotive market. Ahead of the curve is the UAE. In Dubai, the aforementioned legislation is already doing much to facilitate EV adoption across the city. Hansan Negriz, managing director of the Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Co., headquartered in Dubai, notes that the UAE EV market is expected to grow at a rate of 30% annually until 2028, which represents a significant growth and market potential. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) aims to enable this by growing the citys network of public charging stations by 170% over the next three years. On the autonomous vehicle front, Dubai has instituted a world-leading Autonomous Transportation Strategy. With the aim of transforming 25% of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous by 2030, Dubai is trialling autonomous taxis in the Jumeirah district under the authority of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Drone uptake is also increasing in Dubai, where a healthy regulatory environment has allowed for multiple real-word tests involving pilot passenger drones as well as drone deliveries. Dubais Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been key in setting out an innovative testing framework. A world-first partnership between the RTA, Skysports, and Californian drone startup Joby Aviation will see passenger taxis take flight over Dubai in 2026. Such drone flights could slash travel times across the city, with a journey from Dubai International Airport to Jumeriah potentially taking 10 minutes by drone rather than 45 minutes by car. Building the mobility industry of the future in Dubai While EVs are hitting the roads in their thousands, AVs and drones remain in an experimental stage. However, all three areas of mobility require more dedicated innovation and testing to improve as far as technology allows. The lithium-ion batteries that currently power EVs are expensive and susceptible to supply chain disruption, while AVs and drones need to be piloted more extensively and across a variety of environments to test the limits of the tech and build public trust. Here to help startups, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), and multinational corporations (MNCs) innovating in the mobility area is Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). As a member of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones (DIEZ), DSO is a gateway for companies seeking to benefit from the UAEs supportive regulatory environment and groundbreaking funding programmes. DSOs unique testing spaces provide the ideal arena for trialling transport. The Dubai Experimental Zone has already been used to trial a variety of projects, including a series of autonomous buses in 2023s Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport. Moreover, July 2023 also saw the pilot of drone delivery, with medicines successfully delivered from DSOs Fakeeh University Hospital to the Cedre Villas residential estate several kilometres away. In partnership with Talabat UAE, DSO also hosted a trial of their talabots, robots capable of delivering food within a 3 kilometre range. Of the trial, DSOs Director-General Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi said, Smart mobility is one of the six pillars of DSOs Smart City Strategy, which is at the core of piloting carbon-neutral delivery robots in a closely monitored and controlled environment within our hi-tech park. With purpose-built offices, co-working spaces, and accommodation, DSO provides a place for entrepreneurs to live, work, and collaborate. The campuss dedicated Future Mobility cluster provides a collaborative nexus for companies within the sector, providing businesses with networking events and workshops to foster further innovation. Events such as the MENA EV Show, hosted annually at DSO, give a platform to leading speakers and exhibits from across the region to harness the development of sustainable vehicles. Access to funds such as DIEZs dedicated Venture Capital fund, Oraseya Capital, further provides future mobility businesses and other tech industries based in DSO with the tools they need to scale. Support for innovative mobility solutions has also been bolstered through DSOs partnership with Schneider Electric. Schneider and DSO have come together to build a new EV charging station at Schneiders Gulf headquarters, a facility that is expected to provide more than 300,000 km of driving distance every year to all EV owners and thus save an estimated 40,000 kg of carbon dioxide in car-direct-emissions. We are delighted to welcome Schneider Electric to our range of partners in this effort, to collectively contribute to the realisation of the UAEs goal for Net Zero by 2050, says Nawaf Al Khater, Senior Director of Planning and Design at DIEZ. As a testbed for innovation and technology, we are keen on playing an active role in the ongoing transition to electric mobility by enabling conducive infrastructure. To learn more about scaling your business and investing in DSO, download the free whitepaper below. "2024 global mobility in numbers: Dubai set to rise as market accelerates" 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. pixdeluxe / Getty Images Affordable travel is all the rage these days, so finding more ways to satisfy your wanderlust in the most economical way only makes sense. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) engines like ChatGPT, Gemini and similar platforms is now helping many world travelers plan epic adventures while saving money in the process. Check Out: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy If you want to learn how to use AI to plan your next vacation without breaking the bank, here are some prompt ideas to get you started. 1. Plan a Trip For a Large Group If youre traveling with a large group, youll want plans that include getting everyone around in the least expensive way possible. When using this prompt, you should be specific about how much you want each person to spend per day and the kind of accommodations your group will consider, such as hostels or transportation modes like tour buses or public transport. Sample prompt: Plan a trip to Florence, Italy, for a group of students who dont want to spend more than $85 a day for a 10-day excursion. Include inexpensive lodging options like hostels or a large BnB mansion everyone can share. Learn More: 8 Tips To Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy 2. Create an Economical Restaurant and Dining Guide If youre a traveling foodie, planning your food stops is a must. You can ask ChatGPT to compare food costs between locations in a given country or find affordable options for your must-have dishes. For instance, enjoying afternoon tea in London at the Four Seasons will be much pricier than at a local cafe off the beaten path. Sample prompt: Provide a list of Frances best, most affordable bistros in Paris, along with top-rated restaurants within a 50-mile radius of Paris. Include cities where the cost of lodging in general is lower as well. 3. Get the Best Flight Deals Different destinations will have varying high and low seasons. Plus, pricing may depend on your departure city. If youve some flexibility, you can ask ChatGPT to help you choose a location based on your budget availability, and departing city. Sample prompt: What is the best time to leave Floridas International Airport for a 14-day trip to Southeast Asia? Include ideal countries to fly into along with neighboring countries to visit via inexpensive flights. Include options for the off-season, too. 4. Find Affordable Yet Walkable Cities For many travelers, the intersection of affordable and walkable travel destinations is ideal, as it allows them to save money on getting around while paying lower prices for accommodations. This means that getting to dining, shopping, nightlife, and other attractions is easier and less expensive. Sample prompt: Name the top walkable, affordable cities in Germany for a 7-day vacation for a family of 4. Include family-friendly locations with amenities like parks, pools, etc. 5. Draft an Itinerary for Free (or Inexpensive) Activities Cities around the world offer plenty of budget-friendly experiences, from free museums and guided tours to outdoor adventures and cultural festivals. When creating an itinerary, ask ChatGPT for a mix of activities that cater to different interests and age groups to ensure everyone enjoys the trip. Sample prompt: Create a 5-day itinerary for a trip to Tokyo, Japan, focusing on free or low-cost activities. Include visits to parks, markets, and cultural sites like temples or traditional craft demonstrations. The Bottom Line There are plenty of other capabilities to explore when planning a trip to AI. You can cal create queries surrounding travel topics like: Discount passes and coupons. Packing tips. Travel insurance comparisons. Local currency tips. Bespoke experiences and excursions for specific groups like architects, the elderly, missionaries, etc. The key is knowing what you want from your experience and adding as much detail as possible. Since some AI engines use data that can be 1-2 years behind, fact-check all outputs to ensure that all recommendations are still valid and up-to-date. From here, you should be able to create great, wallet-friendly travel plans for plenty of locations, interests and budgets. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Save You Money on Your Next Vacation DjelicS / iStock.com Everyone makes mistakes including your parents. And some mistakes are more expensive than others. For You: Heres How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every State Check Out: 3 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money Growing up, I saw my parents make some big financial mistakes, said Rhett Stubbendeck, founder of Leverage Planning. They lost a lot of money and wiped out a significant portion of their savings. What are the most common mistakes that can ruin generational wealth? Avoid these pitfalls if you want to pass an inheritance on to your own children. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Too Little in Emergency Savings Everyone needs an emergency fund. Exactly how much depends on the stability of your expenses and the stability and security of your income. Set aside too little for emergencies and theyll derail your finances when they inevitably strike. Andy Ellis from Posh UK saw this firsthand with his parents. The main lesson I have learnt from my parents and their financial mistakes is to always have savings, even if its just a little bit to fall back on when times get tough. My parents werent bad with money, per se, but they lived life to the fullest and didnt really think about savings or backup plans, he said. They didnt think about how things could go terribly wrong and we enjoyed a comfortable life. They worked for themselves and they worked hard and what they made they used to make our lives good and give us the things they didnt have. But when my father got sick, it changed everything, Ellis said. My mother and father did equal amounts of work for the business they had, but they had only just hit their very early 30s and suddenly, my father was going to be bedridden for the remainder of his life, with no hope of getting better. It turned everything upside down for all of us and it financially ruined my family for a long time. They had no savings or backup plans and everything fell apart pretty quickly, he said. Explore More: The 50 Happiest States in America and How Much It Costs to Live There Loaning Money to Family Members Far too many people fail to save enough for retirement. They spend up to the limit, living paycheck to paycheck. But not always. Some people simply give too much of their money away. Dont get me wrong, my parents were great people, says Nojan Rahimi, mortgage broker and director of Blutin Finance. However, one mistake they made was to be too generous in trusting other people. They lent a lot of money to my relatives, were always there in need and supported everyone financially, so often they didnt have money for themselves, Rahimi said. While I think its great to be altruistic, one must also keep their own needs and wants in mind because spending on others completely threw their budget out of the window and we had to face many hardships because of this. Story continues Bad Investments Even when you save enough of each paycheck, you can still lose everything on bad investments. Rahimis parents ran afoul of this as well. When we were young, I remember my father invested a lot of money into a business his distant cousin suggested. Although its a good idea to invest the mistake my dad made was that he didnt do any research or homework regarding the business and blindly trusted the cousin, Rahimi said. The business didnt turn out to be that successful and we lost a huge amount of money. This could have been avoided if a little research had been done beforehand and they would have known that the product had no target audience. Of course, investing in nothing at all can be just as costly as making mediocre investments. After the business debacle, my parents became so risk-averse that they didnt even invest in anything, they were too afraid of losing the little money that they had. I think generally, boomers are risk averse and do not try out different investment avenues that could have yielded great returns, Rahimi said. This is one of the reasons why I became a financial expert. I wish there had been a financial advisor who could have advised my father on how to spend his money. Inadequate Insurance Ellis blames a lack of insurance for part of his parents financial woes. There was no life or disability insurance to fall back on when my father became sick. While my mother (who is an incredible woman and a credit to mothers everywhere) was able to bring the family back to stability and general comfort, it took a very long time to get back there, he said. Stubbendeck saw the same calamity take place in his own family growing up. Another mistake was not having enough insurance coverage. When my father had a severe health crisis, the medical bills piled up quickly. Without proper health and life insurance, the financial burden was heavy on our family. This taught me the importance of comprehensive insurance, he said. Lack of an Estate Plan If you dont create an estate plan, you leave your children with a tangled mess to clean up on their own. Renee Fry, CEO of Gentreo, spells out the scope of the problem. If your parents didnt write a will or otherwise plan their estate, there is a good chance you lost a significant portion of your inheritance to court and legal fees. The amount one will lose depends on the size of your inheritance and the estates complexity, but you could lose anywhere from 3% to 8% of what could have been yours. Plus, you have to wait until probate is over to access assets, which can take months, or even years, Fry said. The lesson learned should be to get your parents to do their estate planning no matter what their net worth is, so as to save you time and money. If you want to build wealth for generations of children and descendants, plan in terms of decades, not months or years. Set aside at least six months worth of living expenses, Stubbendeck said. This buffer provides financial stability during tough times. Protect against unexpected events by having good health, life and disability insurance, he said. Follow that simple advice and youre well on your way to avoiding the mistakes your parents made. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Mistakes Your Parents Made That Wasted Your Inheritance (Reuters) - Pershing Square USA, a fund managed by billionaire Bill Ackman, said on Friday it plans to offer shares at $50 each in its initial public offering in New York. Ackman is launching a new investment portfolio that will be available to anyone who can invest in the United States, including retail investors. Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital/ (Reuters) The fund did not reveal the exact number of shares it will offer. Potential investors need to purchase at least 100 common shares of Pershing Square USA in order to participate in the offering. Ackman's new fund will mimic his existing Europe-listed hedge fund Pershing Square Holdings (PSH.AS), but offer lower fees and quicker access to capital. The fund, which will invest in 12 to 15 large, undervalued North American companies, will charge a flat 2% management fee, which would be waived for the first 12 months. In June, Ackman's hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management raised $1.05 billion by selling a 10% stake in a deal that valued the firm at more than $10 billion ahead of a potential IPO that could happen next year or in 2026. Roughly $500 million of the proceeds from that stake sale will anchor Pershing Square USA, with the rest of the money to be used in funds that Ackman plans to launch in the future. Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management, which oversees $19 billion in assets, generally invests in roughly a dozen stocks such as Google parent Alphabet (GOOG), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), and Universal Music Group (UMG.AS). Pershing Square USA will list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PSUS". Citigroup Global Markets, UBS Securities, BofA Securities and Jefferies are the underwriters for the offering. (Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty) In a guest opinion piece, we heard from Scott Brown, the CEO of Nexeon, a battery start-up making big claims about new materials for anodes. Theres no doubt that the global automotive market is trending towards electric with increasing consumer adoption and charging infrastructure implementation. In fact, around 1.6 million EVs were sold in the U.S. in 2023 increasing 60% from 1 million sold in 2022. As consumers demand better mileage and cost efficiency out of their vehicles with 77% of consumers citing saving money on fuel as the top reason theyd consider purchasing an electric vehicle automotive manufacturers are striving to integrate the most efficient, durable and compact battery available to stay ahead of the competition. The answer to these demands isnt in traditional lithium-ion batteries with graphite anodes, its in silicon-based anodes delivering increased energy density in a smaller, more compact battery. Battery cell and automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are increasingly looking towards implementing Gen 2 silicon-anode technology to solve some of the historical challenges associated with silicon battery production and materials. Gen 2 silicon-anode technology enables dramatically higher energy density, while mitigating silicon expansion. Inclusive mobility 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. 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. China rethink call The European Unions (EU) decision earlier this month to hike import tariffs on Chinese made battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by up to 38% has rattled the Chinese automotive industry, both domestic manufacturers and foreign joint ventures, with many companies calling for retaliatory duties to be imposed on European imports. A meeting was hosted in Beijing last week by Chinas Ministry of Commerce to discuss the EUs decision with the countrys leading domestic automakers which is understood to have included SAIC Motor, BAIC Group and BYD Auto as well as with representatives of foreign automakers such as BMW and Volkswagen. The higher EU import tariffs are scheduled to go into effect on 5 July, after the European Commission (EC) claimed that Chinese BEV manufacturers have unfairly benefited from substantial government incentives for over a decade. An investigation launched last October by the EC found that government subsidies were pervasive throughout Chinas entire BEV production process, from the production of raw materials for battery cells through to vehicle manufacturing and shipping, with batteries often supplied at below market prices. Story continues Baby EV Hyundai has launched the Inster, a new A segment subcompact EV, at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. It is positioned between traditional A segment subcompact city cars and larger B segment compacts. With Inster, weve taken the small SUV image to a bold new place for the global audience, said Simon Loasby, head of the Hyundai Design Center. Technology includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster plus 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and a wireless charging dock which forms part of a compact centre console designed to create a greater sense of spaciousness. Rimac robotaxi Croatian luxury automaker Rimac Group has unveiled a fully electric two seat autonomous taxi with plans to launch on public roads by 2026, starting with the firms home turf, Zagreb. It has plans for cities in the UK, Middle East and Germany to follow. CEO Mate Rimac wants to tap Mobileyes autonomous driving platform for the vehicle, in addition to its camera and LiDAR tech, Bloomberg reported. Zeekr surge Sales of Zeekr EVs have jumped in Russia in the last year, according to data from Russian analytical agency Autostat. From May 2023 to April 2024, 20,500 new EVs were sold in the country, an increase of 350% on the previous year, with Chinese brands accounting for over half of sales, Reuters reported. In comparison, Russian automakers sold fewer than 4,000 new EVs in that time. Chinese automakers have rapidly filled the gap left by western automakers in Russia, since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent economic sanctions imposed by the EU. (Another) Cybertruck recall Tesla said it was recalling most model year 2024 Cybertrucks in the US over issues with the windshield wipers and exterior trim. This brings the number of recalls for the Blade Runner inspired truck this year to four, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 11,688 Cybertrucks were affected by the windshield wiper recall due to the wiper motor controller failing due to excessive electrical current which could increase the risk of a crash in wet weather. UK supercar hub The CEO of McLaren Automotive Michael Leiters has said the UK faces a golden opportunity to lead the electrification of supercar production, if it can attract investment into the domestic supply chain. According to Leiters, the existing UK supply chain is currently not equipped to meet the unique performance requirements of electric supercars and he called on any future government to provide a strategic roadmap for investment in future powertrain technology. A clear industrial strategy, led by investment in the domestic supply chain, will deliver growth, support jobs, help decarbonise the economy and secure a vibrant future for the UK performance car industry. Have a nice weekend. Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, Just Auto "New anode materials, inclusive rides, China rethink call the week" 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. Fatime Letifova The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, is paying an official visit to Hungary, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry. Within the visit, Colonel General Z. Hasanov is scheduled to meet with the Hungarian military and political leadership in Budapest and to attend defence industry companies. The official visit of the Defence Minister will continue until June 29. Michael Stolarski is CEO of VLSI Technology LLC. Intel was ordered to pay the company $2.18 billion after losing a patent-infringement trial. Its important for people to have a clear picture of the kind of company Intel really is as it prepares to take up to $8.5 billion in handouts from U.S. taxpayers through the CHIPS Act. Renderings show what Intel's Ohio One campus will look like when it is finished. While nobody can fault Patrick Tiberi for advocating for the interests of Intel, a dues-paying member of his lobbying group, the Ohio Business Roundtable, there is more to the story of Intels recent behavior to assess than Tiberi shared in his June 12 guest column. As Tiberi noted, Intel is in the midst of a protracted attempt to avoid paying more than $2 billion in jury-awarded and court-ordered payments for patent infringement. These verdicts were reached by two different juries made up of American citizens who found that Intel had improperly taken and used in its products technologies developed by NXP, a semiconductor industry leader and a significant contributor to the U.S. economy in its own right with large workforces in Arizona and Texas. These verdicts represent some of the biggest jury verdicts against Big Tech in U.S. history and they arent large because juries are arbitrarily generous the verdicts are large because the patented technology at the center of this case is valuable, and Intel has sold more than a billion products that use this technology. (Full disclosure: The company I lead, VLSI Technologies, is the current owner of the intellectual property in question, having bought it from NXP. VLSI partnered with NXP to license this technology so NXP can focus on technology development and manufacturing.) Patrick Tiberi: Intel being targeted by patent trolls. We need to know who holds the purse strings. In his Column, Tiberi dismissed our legal claims against Intel as frivolous and suggested that the patents are poor quality. But in doing so, Intel supporters like Tiberi risk doing real damage to the publics understanding of the U.S. patent system, which exists to promote and reward innovation. When companies like Intel choose to infringe and refuse to pay fair value for their infringement, the patent owners only recourse is to go to court. The patents at issue in these cases were granted by the U.S. Patent Office for major advances in the development of microprocessors used in computers and mobile devices, and two juries rejected Intels claims to the contrary. Michael Stolarski is CEO of VLSI Technology LLC. Intel was ordered to pay the company $2.18 billion after losing a patent-infringement trial. The issue here is not whether Intel, a company worth well over $100 billion dollars that is set to receive massive taxpayer support, should be protected from proceedings like ours, as Tiberi seemed to suggest. Story continues The real concern is whether inventors will continue to be protected when large powerful companies like Intel take their inventions and sell them as their own. That should matter to anyone who cares about American innovation and the future of the American economy. Michael Stolarski is CEO of VLSI Technology LLC. Intel was ordered to pay the company $2.18 billion after losing a patent-infringement trial. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Intel owes my company $2 billion and is getting $8.5 billion handout A new case study explains how Artistic Milliners is leveraging 3D and material digitization technology. The Karachi, Pakistan-based vertically integrated denim manufacturer teamed with Vizoo, a German provider of material scanning and digitization solutions, to speed up sample production and to improve the quality of its 3D assets. Artistic Milliners implemented Vizoos material digitization technologies at its Pakistani headquarters in 2022. More from Sourcing Journal Using a combination of Vizoos xTex A4 scanner for visual properties and physX Platform for fabric drape properties, the manufacturer is creating accurate digital twins that are compatible with Browzwears apparel CAD software, VStitcher, and CLOs 3D fashion design software. We wanted a smooth automated workflow that would give us accurate results that are true to life and photorealistic, Amber Isaac, DPC lead at Artistic Milliners and Star Fades International, stated in the case study. She added that first-hand experience of other clients already benefiting from Vizoo technologies were the reasons for Artistic Milliners final decision. Vizoo reports that the technologies have significantly accelerated Artistic Milliners texture creation processes, enabling them to deliver superior-quality 3D assets to their clients in record time. Target, Gap, Kontoor Brands and Macys are among the companys brand partners using the digital materials. Levis, Walmart and Express will onboard the technology next. New acquisition Artistic Milliners Limited is growing its footprint in Pakistans renewable energy sector. The denim manufacturers acquisition of Tenaga Generasi Limited was approved by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), Pakistan Today reported. Established in 2004 by a Malaysian company in Pakistan. Tenaga Generasi Limited operates a 50 MW wind power plant. Tenaga Generasi was allocated 1200 acres of inter-tidal land for setting up of the plant in KhutiKun area, District Gharo, Sindh. A 75 percent stake was sold to Dawood Lawrencepur Limited in 2008 with the remaining shares held by the International Financial Corporation. Following the purchase, Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) increased the land allocation to 4,881 acres, or enough land for a 100MW wind farm. With the acquisition, Pakistan Today reports that Artistic Milliners will grow its renewable energy market share in Pakistan from 5.38 percent to 8 percent. Story continues In 2018, Artistic Milliners launched Artistic Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary for solar and wind investments. In an interview with Rivet in 2022, Gibran Khaliq, the companys marketing lead, said industries in Pakistan are resilient and prepared, particularly in terms of supply chain and fuel challenges. This makes the textile industry in particular fairly shock-adaptive, Khaliq said. Power shortfalls are not new challenges, and that is why Artistic Milliners have had our infrastructure in place for decades, only strengthening with time, investment and technology. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia on Friday gave the go-ahead for ANZ Group's A$4.9 billion ($3.26 billion) buyout of Suncorp's banking business, clearing the deal to proceed after almost two years of scrutiny by financial regulators and treasury. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the deal can proceed subject to enforceable conditions and had come after careful consideration, and consultation with treasury, regulators and the unions. "Following this lengthy and robust process, I received clear advice ... that it would not be in the national interest to prohibit this transaction," Chalmers said in a statement. "The conditions I have imposed are legally-binding and ensure Australians continue to have access to vital banking services (and) employees aren't left behind." The conditions prohibit ANZ to close Suncorp's regional bank branches and cut jobs across Australia for three years, Chalmers said. Chalmers said the deal will help Suncorp to focus on its insurance businesses, at a time when the sector faces a range of specific challenges, including access and affordability. The deal was originally blocked by Australia's competition regulator in August on the grounds it would limit competition in the banking sector. But the Australian Competition Tribunal in February cleared the deal after the two companies appealed the decision. ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said the deal will allow it to add scale to its retail and commercial businesses, enabling ANZ to more effectively compete in the Australian market. "Our plans for the integration are well advanced, and we are confident of the substantial benefits that will flow," Elliott said. ($1 = 1.5044 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney and John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Aurora Ellis) Azentio Software has announced that Banque Populaire de Mauritanie (BPM), one of the largest financial institutions in Mauritania, is now live with iMAL Business Intelligence (BI), a strategic BI platform that empowers banks to take more effective decisions, faster. The solution's advanced analytics will help BPM to simplify its data management processes and extract valuable and relevant insights for data-driven business outcomes. BPM's continued growth pivots on the banks' ability to effectively address multiple opportunities such as assessing high-margin revenue streams, ongoing innovation in Islamic banking products, reducing customer churn, improving customer-centricity and capitalising on high-growth opportunities. Data insights will give BPM quick and easy access to the essential data which is critical to their success and will offer the bank real-time insights while also significantly improving analysis, storage and data collection. iMAL BI offers a variety of customised interactive reports, dashboards, and data visualisation options to identify trends, patterns, and insights to take effective and proactive actions. BPM can expect a comprehensive view of data from multiple platforms Limam Ebnou, CEO of BPM, stated: "BPM has continuously endeavoured to stay ahead of the curve in our markets and with our customers. Azentio's domain expertise and business know-how has undoubtedly been a contributing factor in achieving this over the years and we are proud to continue to grow and strengthen this relationship with them. We chose iMAL BI as we can see that it has sophisticated data mining, benchmarking, analytical and visualisation capabilities to empower our teams with the data they need to make decisions, with speed, that drive real change." Sanjay Singh, Group CEO of Azentio, commented: We are proud of our long association with the leading Islamic bank in Mauritania. BPM has successfully transformed the banking segment in the region by reimagining their approach across the business, their technology and operating model. With iMAL BI, our objective is to help them with the right tools to access the right data, at the right time, to effectively reshape business and drive growth while improving operational efficiency. The platform will provide BPM with state-of-the-art problem-solving capabilities to reduce process inefficiencies and strengthen their customer engagement practices." "Banque Populaire de Mauritanie strengthens partnership with Azentio Software " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. Story continues 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. Bed Bath & Beyond board members were concerned Ryan Cohen was getting insider information. Sue Gove, the company's CEO, said in a deposition that she was concerned about Cohen's relationship with board members. "I didn't trust him. I didn't trust what was taking place," Gove said of Cohen in her testimony. Bed Bath & Beyond board members were concerned Ryan Cohen received insider information before making $60 million selling the company's stock, according to a deposition by CEO Sue Gove. "I certainly had questions about that," said Gove, who was named CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond in October 2022. "Probably most" other board members were also concerned that some on the board were funneling insider information to Cohen, Gove added in her testimony as part of a shareholder lawsuit against the activist investor, who is the current CEO of GameStop. Ben Rosenzweig, one of the directors on Bed Bath & Beyond's board, was known to have private contact with Cohen, the deposition said. Their conversations revolved around the personalities of other board members and whether Cohen's nominees for Bed Bath & Beyond's board were let in on calls, according to the testimony. In a conversation with Gove, Rosenzweig indicated he was "representing Ryan," Gove said. She believed Rosenzweig's conversations with Cohen were inappropriate due to his role as an "independent director." Gove said she did "not completely" trust Rosenzweig or Cohen. In particular, she said she was in a "concerned state" when Rosenzweig suggested he was acting as "Ryan's agent." "I didn't trust him. I didn't trust what was taking place," Gove added of Cohen. "There was a lot of things that had taken place between, you know, him and and Ben and the whole process that always left me uncomfortable. We were very careful with our conversations with him." Rosenweig and other directors, though, have said in their testimonies that they've never given insider info to Cohen. Cohen was given non-public information on one occasion but under an agreement that prevented him from trading on it, Rosenzweig said in his deposition. Lawyers for Cohen and Gove did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Cohen was accused in a shareholder lawsuit of insider trading and misleading Bed Bath & Beyond investors after making a fortune on the stock in 2022, when he sold his stake in the struggling retailer before the stock tanked. Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2023. Read the original article on Business Insider Black Families Priced Out Of Starter Homes In Most Major U.S. Cities A new study finds that Black families can afford starter homes in only 10 of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, indicating persistent racial disparities in homeownership across the country. The report, released by Redfin, found that typical Black households can afford starter homes in just one-fifth of major U.S. metros, based on the standard that families should spend no more than 30% of their income on monthly housing costs. In contrast, white families can afford starter homes in 32 metro areas. Don't Miss: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it ? Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." This high-yield real estate fund, offering an 8% yield, makes earning passive income easier than ever. "Starter homes have become increasingly difficult for everyone to afford, with prices up 8% in the last year alone," Elijah de la Campa, a senior economist at Redfin, said in the report. "That has pushed buyers who earn more money to buy starter homes and pushed lower-income buyers out of the market altogether and many of those lower-income buyers are Black." According to the report, Detroit is the most affordable major metro area for Black families seeking starter homes, where they would spend about 16% of their earnings on housing costs for a median-priced starter home. St. Louis, Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia rounded out the top five affordable metros for Black families. On the other end of the spectrum, San Francisco stood out as the least affordable market. There, a Black family earning the local median income would need to spend 104% of their earnings on a starter home effectively pricing them out of the market entirely. Trending: Private credit offers up to 20% APY to potential accredited investors looking to capitalize on this growing asset class. The other least affordable markets for Black families were all in California: San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Anaheim. The affordability gap is closely tied to income disparities. The estimated median income for Black households nationwide is $57,129, compared to $90,995 for white families. The income gap, combined with less generational wealth and a history of discriminatory practices in the housing market, contributes to the difficulties Black families face in purchasing homes, the report noted. Nationwide, a Black family earning the median U.S. income would need to spend 41% of their earnings to afford the typical U.S. starter home, which costs $250,000 and comes with a monthly payment of $1,960 at current average mortgage rates. For comparison, a white family earning the median income would spend 26% on the same home. Story continues The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported last year that while overall U.S. homeownership had increased to 65.5% in 2021, the rate for Black Americans stood at just 44%, compared to 72.7% for white Americans. Despite modest gains in Black homeownership, the 29-percentage-point gap has widened since 2011. Beyond affordability, Black mortgage applicants face higher denial rates 20% compared to 11% for white applicants. Even those who secure financing often find themselves more cost-burdened, with nearly 30% of Black homeowners spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs, compared to 21% of white homeowners. The Redfin report does note some positive trends, however. The share of U.S. mortgages taken out by Black homebuyers has recently increased, and the racial wage gap is narrowing. Still, the road to equitable homeownership remains long, with wide disparities persisting nationwide. Keep Reading: "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Black Families Priced Out Of Starter Homes In Most Major U.S. Cities originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Ulviyya Shahin Ambassador Khazar Farhadov of Azerbaijan in Islamabad held discussions with Pakistan's Minister for Privatisation, Board of Investment, and Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, regarding Azerbaijan's trade and business activities with Central Asian countries, Azernews reports, citing the Associated Press of Pakistan. Abdul Aleem Khan expressed Pakistan's commitment to enhancing bilateral trade and business relations with all Central Asian nations, noting that concrete efforts have already begun towards this goal. During the meeting with Ambassador Farhadov, Minister Abdul Aleem Khan highlighted the potential benefits for Central Asian states from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), emphasising its role in boosting regional economic activities, as per a ministry press release. Ambassador Farhadov thanked the minister for promoting bilateral cooperation and acknowledged Pakistan's significant potential in various professional fields, expressing readiness to welcome initiatives in this regard. Farhadov reaffirmed his determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan across diverse sectors, underscoring the upcoming visit of Azerbaijan's President to Pakistan as a pivotal event. Block (NYSE: SQ) was once the subversive fintech innovator, launching revolutionary new products that changed how people shop and spend. It sparked a transformation in merchant payments with its little square credit card reader that attached to a smartphone, and it has since created multiple convenient solutions for merchants and consumers. However, it might have gone too far for some investors, and it's been dealing with other problems, too. Block stock is down as much as 76% from its highs. Is this a bargain buy or a value trap? Let's lay out some of the story and decide. Buy: Block is growing and has a long runway Block has demonstrated incredible growth over the past few years in both of its businesses, Square sellers services and Cash App. Merchants continue to join the sellers platform, which automates and connects services across a business and simplifies management. It's targeting more mid-market accounts, moving up from the small businesses that are its bread and butter, and enterprise users are higher-paying. Cash App targets individual users with financial services including bank accounts and credit cards and is one of the most popular peer-to-peer payment services. Square revenue increased 11% year over year in the 2024 first quarter and Cash App revenue increased 23%. Total revenue rose 19%. Management sees a way to bring these businesses together, offering more banking services for merchants. It also sees a large market opportunity in targeting families for Cash App. It forecasts a combined opportunity of more than $200 billion, and it has many exciting innovations planned. Block has a track record of dreaming up real solutions for financial services that are easy to use and solve real pain points, and I would be confident in its ability to keep this up. Sell: Investors don't love Block stock right now As I've said many times, Jack Dorsey's seeming obsession with Bitcoin is rubbing some investors the wrong way. The initial enthusiasm made sense, and many companies have invested in Bitcoin or cryptocurrency capabilities. But few companies have made such a splash about it or incorporated it into its main business the way Block has, including changing its name from Square to reflect its commitment to blockchain technology. Dorsey addressed this is in his most recent shareholder letter, but his message wasn't different from before. He sees Bitcoin as a native internet currency, but he did try to reassure concerned shareholders that Bitcoin-related projects account for less than 3% of total resources. Story continues Even if that's the case, Bitcoin has a strong impact on the financial results. Without Bitcoin, total revenue increased 14% year over year in the first quarter -- it slices off 5 percentage points of the total increase. Bitcoin also took up most of Dorsey's thoughts in the letter, indicating that it's going to continue to be a strong influence on the overall business direction. Another issue is Block's profitability. It has invested in creating a world-class platform and changing the landscape for merchants and users, but that's coming at a heavy cost. Investors will only tolerate soaring expenses and losses for so long. Block has addressed this by reducing headcount and moving toward more automation, and it's made some progress. Operating income was $250 million in the 2024 first quarter, and net income was $472 million, after several quarterly losses. Warren Buffett has quipped that you don't have to make your money back the way you lost it. If you've lost confidence in Block stock and there are better opportunities elsewhere, there's nothing wrong with closing your position. Hold: It's likely to rebound There's merit to holding onto dropping stocks that have the potential to make a comeback. If you've done your due diligence and feel confident in Block's turnaround story, you could hold onto Block stock. Holding great stocks through thick and thin and not panic selling is the key to great long-term investing. What do I think? I think that if you don't own Block stock, now isn't the best time to buy. It's definitely cheap, trading at only 1.7 times trailing-12-month sales. But that just underscores what the investing community thinks about its prospects right now. There's always some contrarian investor who makes a load of money on these kinds of bets, but it's really kind of like betting. There's risk here, because it isn't clear that Block can sustain improving profits, and it's still focusing outside of its core business. I would watch and wait to see if the investing thesis becomes more solid. Should you invest $1,000 in Block right now? Before you buy stock in Block, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Block wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $774,526!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 Jennifer Saibil has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and Block. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Block Stock: Buy, Sell, or Hold? was originally published by The Motley Fool Key Insights The projected fair value for ISEC Healthcare is S$0.40 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity ISEC Healthcare's S$0.39 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate ISEC Healthcare's peers seem to be trading at a higher discount to fair value based onthe industry average of 27% How far off is ISEC Healthcare Ltd. (Catalist:40T) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for ISEC Healthcare The Calculation We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (SGD, Millions) S$10.6m S$10.0m S$9.66m S$9.49m S$9.43m S$9.45m S$9.52m S$9.63m S$9.77m S$9.93m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -9.31% Est @ -5.88% Est @ -3.49% Est @ -1.81% Est @ -0.64% Est @ 0.18% Est @ 0.76% Est @ 1.16% Est @ 1.44% Est @ 1.64% Present Value (SGD, Millions) Discounted @ 5.8% S$10.1 S$8.9 S$8.2 S$7.6 S$7.1 S$6.7 S$6.4 S$6.1 S$5.9 S$5.7 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = S$73m 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 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.8%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = S$9.9m (1 + 2.1%) (5.8% 2.1%) = S$275m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= S$275m ( 1 + 5.8%)10= S$157m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is S$230m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$0.4, the company appears about fair value at a 3.6% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the 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 ISEC Healthcare 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 5.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for ISEC Healthcare Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Healthcare market. Opportunity Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine 40T's earnings prospects. Threat No apparent threats visible for 40T. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For ISEC Healthcare, we've put together three pertinent factors you should further examine: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for ISEC Healthcare you should be aware of, and 1 of them is concerning. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Singaporean stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Multinational packaging company DS Smith has collaborated with Carlsberg Poland to launch the trial of its Round Wrappackaging solution. The DS Smith Round Wrap, which incorporates Arcwise technology, is currently being trialled by Carlsberg Poland across its Carlsberg, Garage, and Somersby beer product ranges. The multipack packaging solution is fully recyclable and is expected to save up to 224 tons (t) of carbon dioxide (CO) annually for Carlsberg in Poland. It is designed to reduce the environmental impact of pallet shipments. The fibre-based design with rounded corners enhances protection during transportation and also offers new branding opportunities. The wrap's rounded shape is expected to benefit Carlsberg Poland in terms of branding and design. It allows for increased brand visibility with the option to display identity and illustrations on the rounded corners and the entire 360-degree side surface of the packs. This design innovation has been well-received by consumers, with a DS Smith and Toluna survey indicating a preference for the Round Wrap's 'enhanced wraparound design' and its 'stand out on the shelf' appeal. DS Smith's design team employed the company's proprietary Circular Design Metrics (CDM) tools to assess the sustainability impact of the new packaging solution for Carlsberg Poland. These tools leverage eight key indicators, including carbon footprint and materials utilisation, to measure and enhance the sustainability performance of packaging designs. DS Smith East Europe packaging division regional managing director Reinier Schlatmann said: We are proud to partner with Carlsberg Poland for a trial launch of the DS Smith Round Wrap. This sustainable packaging innovation was developed using our Circular Design Metrics, offering durability, supply chain advantages and branding opportunities. This is aligned with our company-wide commitment to Redefining Packaging for a Changing World and our Now & Next Sustainability strategy and mission as we help our customers to design out waste and move towards a circular economy. Last month, DS Smith announced that it had replaced 1.2 billion pieces of plastic a year ahead of schedule. "Carlsberg Poland trials DS Smith Round Wrap packaging for beer ranges " was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, 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. (Bloomberg) -- A little more than a year ago, a cyberattack forced the city of Dallas to shut down its computer systems, including one that the local fire department relies on to track emergencies. For four days, firefighters resorted to moving magnets around on a map to keep tabs on incidents and manage their crews. Most Read from Bloomberg Some systems were offline for weeks. Sensitive information on some 30,000 people was stolen. The gang behind the attack was called Royal, a relatively new and aggressive cybercriminal group that was originally known as Zeon. But these werent amateurs: Some of Royals members hailed from one of the most notorious hacking groups ever, Conti. Such is the nature of hacking gangs, which researchers say are incestuous and difficult to track (by design). Theyre continually rebranding themselves and resurfacing with new names and new members. In fact, not too long after the Dallas attack, Royal re-emerged as BlackSuit the gang thats now being blamed for the devastating cyberattacks against software provider CDK Global earlier this month that has paralyzed computer systems at thousands of car dealerships across North America. Since it was first discovered in May 2023, BlackSuit has named 96 victims on the dark web page it uses to expose extortion victims, according to Allan Liska, a threat analyst at the security firm Recorded Future Inc. The group has likely attacked dozens more victims who werent named on the site because they paid an extortion fee, he said. The emergence of BlackSuit illustrates a frustrating reality in cybercrime: even if one hacking group goes away, as a result of internal strife or law enforcement action, its members often form new criminal groups that continue to extort victims of cyberattacks. Law enforcement in the US, the UK and elsewhere have gotten more aggressive in recent years, sanctioning some of the hacking gang members and disabling their computer infrastructure. But arresting them and stopping their activity is difficult because many live in countries such as Russia that provide safe haven. Theres this whole ecosystem thats built up around ransomware now, Liska said. They dont fear retribution. Many details about BlackSuit and its members arent known. But Liska and others described the group as low-key and businesslike. Story continues Where other hackers have sought to cultivate public personas or attract attention for their extortion efforts, BlackSuit has maintained a lower profile. Theyre not flashy, Liska said. Theyre circumspect. Theyre trying to operate a business. The group has typically made ransom demands from $300,000 to $5 million, while remaining open to negotiation with its victims, said Shane Sims, chief executive officer of the cybersecurity firm Kivu Consulting, which has investigated several breaches by BlackSuit this year. The hackers behind BlackSuit specialize in double extortion, a ransom technique that involves locking companies systems with ransomware and stealing data, which they threaten to sell or leak. They have broken into targets using phishing attacks and valid login credentials, which are often stolen and sold on the dark web, Sims said. The group also engages in social engineering the art for tricking someone into providing information that can be used for illicit means, like breaking into a computer network. CDK, for instance, said the hackers were posing as employees to trick customers into helping them access the companys systems. They have tools they know how to use, and they use them quickly, said Dustin Childs, head of threat awareness at Trend Micros Zero Day Initiative, a program that pays security researchers for privately disclosing vulnerabilities to the affected vendors. As an example, Childs said BlackSuit has stolen between 100 gigabytes and 200 gigabytes which he likened to the download size of 40 DVDs in under two hours. Roughly 70% of the groups victims are based in the US, while most others are from the UK and Canada, said Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at cybersecurity provider Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. In one recent attack, BlackSuit managed to steal data and block access to every file on a companys devices, one executive at the company said, asking not to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. The hackers, one of which communicated in fluent American English, left a file with instructions for how the victim could negotiate a ransom payment with them on the dark web, the executive said. BlackSuit attempted to intimidate the executive and others at the company with calls and texts when they appeared to walk away from negotiations, the executive said, adding the company ultimately paid the group less than $1 million to recover its data. Researchers have traced BlackSuits roots to the gang Royal, which in turn has roots in Conti, a Russian-based criminal group that was accused of hacking Irelands Health Service and the government of Costa Rica, among others. The FBI estimated that as of January 2022 Contis malicious code was used in attacks on more than 1,000 victims, and the research firm Chainalysis reported that the group extorted $180 million in ransoms in 2021 alone. Royal demanded more than $275 million in ransom fees from at least 350 victims in 2022 and 2022, according to the FBI and CISA, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security. Dallas was one of the last if not the last target of Royal before it re-emerged as BlackSuit. In the aftermath of that hack, Dallass technology team was forced to work round-the-clock for six weeks to recover. Its not a group of kids in a basement, said Brian Gardner, chief information officer of the City of Dallas, in an interview. This is real. --With assistance from Jake Bleiberg. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (AP) Federal rules that impact virtually every aspect of everyday life, from the food we eat and the cars we drive to the air we breathe, could be at risk after a wide-ranging Supreme Court ruling Friday. The court rejected a 40-year-old legal doctrine colloquially known as Chevron, effectively reducing the power of executive branch agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and shifting it to the courts. The doctrine, named after a 1984 case involving the energy giant, has been the basis for upholding thousands of federal regulations but has long been a target of conservatives and business groups, who argue it grants too much power to the executive branch, or what some critics call the administrative state. Here are some takeaways from the court ruling and its implications. One less tool for governing The Chevron decision essentially gave federal agencies the authority to issue rules to implement laws that weren't clear. And that deference to the executive branch has enabled presidential administrations from both parties to use rulemaking to create policy, especially in times of deep partisan division in Washington. Friday's Supreme Court ruling means that the federal government could have a harder time defending those rules in federal court. Writing for the court, Chief Justice John Roberts said Chevron gave too much power to experts who work for the government. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, Roberts wrote. The ruling does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron doctrine, he added. Cara Horowitz, an environmental law professor and executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law, said the decision takes more tools out of the toolbox of federal regulators. By definition, statutes typically dont clearly define how agencies should tackle new and emerging threats, like climate change, that werent well understood when these decades-old statutes were written, she said. Potential impacts on the environment, public health The decision could set back efforts to reduce air and water pollution, restrict toxic chemicals or even take on new public health threats like COVID19, environmental and public health advocates said. Horowitz called the ruling yet another blow to the EPAs ability to tackle emerging problems like climate change. And Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, said, It undermines vital protections for the American people at the behest of powerful polluters. Story continues Carrie Severino, a lawyer and conservative activist, called the decision a big victory for the rule of law. Good riddance to Chevron deference, which put a two-ton judicial thumb on the scale of government bureaucrats against the little guy, she said. If regulators want to win in the future, they need to do a more careful job and resist the urge to push their own agendas, Severino said. The ruling follows a Supreme Court decision Thursday that blocks enforcement of EPAs good neighbor rule, intended to restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution. Increased role for Congress? Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said the ruling restores appropriate balance to the three branches of government. Congress will now be under extreme pressure to be more specific when writing legislation, so that a bills plain text can be clearly interpreted by the courts & fed agencies when legislation becomes law, Grassley posted on the social media site X. But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, said the courts conservative majority just shamelessly gutted long-standing precedent in a move that will embolden judicial activism and undermine important regulations. New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the decision comes at the expense of everyday Americans who depend on federal agencies to look out for their health and safety, not the bottom lines of giant corporations. What's next? Craig Segall, vice president of the environmental group Evergreen Action, said the ruling opened the door for large corporations to challenge a host of federal rules. The dismantling of the Chevron doctrine grants every Trump-appointed judge the authority to overrule agency experts interpretation of the law and substitute their ideological viewpoint for the informed determination of career public servants, Segall said. Jeff Holmstead, a lawyer and former EPA division chief under President George W. Bush, said it will now be up to federal agencies to decide what Congress actually wanted them to do. "The days of federal agencies filling in the legislative blanks are rightly over,'' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey said the ruling creates "a regulatory black hole that destroys fundamental protections for every American.'' He and other Democrats pledged to push for legislation to restore the Chevron doctrine, an effort that faces long odds in a closely divided Congress. Auto safety rules imperiled? In the short term, the decision is likely to limit government actions on auto safety, making the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration second-guess itself about new regulations, said Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, a watchdog group. Its going to be harder for NHTSA to put forth rules that are ultimately going to mandate better safety, Brooks said. But the Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents companies that make specialty vehicle parts, said the decision will free small businesses that have been hurt by federal regulatory overreach. Earlier this year, NHTSA proposed a requirement that automatic emergency braking be standard on all new U.S. passenger vehicles in five years, calling it the most significant safety rule in the past two decades. Automakers already are petitioning the agency to reconsider the rules, saying the performance standards are nearly impossible to meet with current technology. ___ Associated Press writers Tom Krisher in Detroit and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this story. The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended granting marketing authorisation for Pfizer and BioNTechs Omicron JN 1-adapted monovalent Covid-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY JN 1. The vaccine is intended for active immunisation against the infection in people aged six months and above. The World Health Organization's Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition and the European Medicines Agency's Emergency Task Force (ETF) recently advised updating vaccines to address the JN 1 variant for the 2024 to 2025 vaccination campaign. The ETF highlighted that "evidence indicates that targeting JN 1 will help maintain the effectiveness of the vaccines as SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve. The European Commission (EC) is set to review the CHMP's positive opinion and issue a final decision. Post the receipt of EC approval, the updated vaccine will be made available across European Union member states. Pfizer and BioNTech proactively produced the Omicron JN 1-adapted vaccine to ensure immediate availability for the anticipated higher demand during the autumn and winter seasons of 2024 to 2025. The CHMP's endorsement is based on comprehensive clinical, non-clinical and real-world data supporting the efficacy and safety of Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccines. The application comprised data demonstrating the JN 1-adapted vaccines potential to elicit a significantly enhanced response against Omicron JN 1 sublineages, surpassing the response from their Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine. The companies are initiating rolling submissions with the US Food and Drug Administration seeking approval for Omicron KP.2-adapted vaccines in people aged six months and above. BioNTech is the marketing authorisation holder of the COMIRNATY vaccine and its variants in regions including the US, the EU and the UK. "CHMP recommends authorisation for Pfizer-BioNTechs Covid-19 vaccine" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. By Saeed Azhar and Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -Citigroup urged a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by a former managing director who accused the bank of firing her in retaliation for her refusal to lie to regulators about its risk management practices. The third-largest U.S. bank said it terminated Kathleen Martin in November because she lacked leadership and engagement skills for her job as interim data transformation chair, according to a Thursday night filing in Manhattan federal court. Citigroup also said Martin's allegations were not true, and that even if they were her whistleblowing was not protected activity under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley governance law. Martin's lawyer Valdi Licul, from the Wigdor law firm, rejected Citigroup's defense. "It is astounding that Citi can take the position that they are legally permitted to fire an employee who has made complaints about false statements to regulators," Licul said. Chief Executive Jane Fraser told investors on June 18 that the bank was stepping up efforts to "modernize" its automation and data reporting to address regulatory concerns, and acknowledged that "progress has been too slow" in some areas. Martin said Citigroup hired her to "clean up its unlawful data maintenance practices and avoid further legal liability" in 2021, a year after the bank agreed to pay $400 million to federal regulators because of risk management shortfalls. But she said Chief Operating Officer Anand Selva wanted her to falsify and hide key information about the bank's metrics from one of its regulators, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), because it would "make us look bad." In seeking a dismissal, Citigroup said Martin did not explain which Sarbanes-Oxley provision she believed it violated, and the law does not protect employees who simply "push back" against supervisors. Citigroup also said Martin made no allegations that it committed fraud or intended to deceive shareholders. The New York-based bank declined additional comment on Friday. Selva is also a defendant, while Fraser is not. Martin is seeking reinstatement, back pay and benefits, and damages for reputational and emotional harm. The case is Martin v Citibank NA et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-03949. (Reporting by Saeed Azhar and Jonathan Stempel in New York, editing by Lananh Nguyen and Chizu Nomiyama) Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, Ohio, and global medical technology provider Masimo have entered into a collaboration to enhance hospital-based remote patient monitoring (RPM), such as TeleCritical Care. This alliance aims to integrate Cleveland Clinic's critical and non-critical care monitoring platforms with Masimo's Hospital Automation platform, providing advanced tools for clinicians to improve patient care. The integration is expected to enhance the capabilities of hospital remote patient monitoring by leveraging predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms, particularly in cardiac care. Cleveland Clinic's existing platforms monitor vital signs for intensive care units (ICU) and non-ICU patients across more than 2,000 beds. Its hospital-based RPM programms cater to 11 hospitals, offering intensivist monitoring, round-the-clock critical care nursing, and patient management. The non-profit medical centres programmes are claimed to have reduced patient mortality and the length of stays in the ICU while improving caregiver satisfaction. With this partnership, Masimo and Cleveland Clinic expect to bring patient benefits to other healthcare systems in the future. The focus of the programme is to increase awareness and enable triage with quick responses to changes in the condition of patients, thereby improving patient care and saving lives. Masimo stated that its Hospital Automation platform offers a suite of technologies, including medical device integration, data visualisation, monitoring and wearable devices, surveillance applications, and AI capabilities. These tools support intelligent patient prioritisation and the efficient identification of changes in patient conditions. Integrated into Masimo Hospital Automation platform, Halo engine uses technology to detect deterioration patterns in real-time. Halo tools, including Halo ION, provide a continuous early warning score to aid in patient assessment to streamline clinical workflows. In their joint efforts, Masimo and Cleveland Clinic are developing an additional Halo-based decision-support tool. This tool also focuses on assisting clinicians in the early detection of adverse events, thereby managing and improving patient outcomes across various levels of patient acuity. Cleveland Clinic ICU Operations medical director Chiedozie Udeh said: We see great opportunities to enhance remote care, particularly for critically ill individuals. By combining our technical and clinical expertise, we aim to improve situational awareness for clinicians and continue to improve outcomes for patients. Story continues "Cleveland Clinic and Masimo partner to improve remote patient monitoring " was originally created and published by Hospital Management, 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. 12875116 / iStock.com Although you may have heard the real estate mantra location, location, location, it never rings more true than when a climate change risk threatens your real estate investments. Joanna Frank, the president and CEO of the Center for Active Design, said that the climate change real estate bubble refers to the millions of properties across the country that are either exposed to extreme weather now or will be short, at which point their valuations will fall drastically. Check Out: If You Live in One of These 20 Housing Markets, Consider Selling While Its Still Hot Read Next: Become a Real Estate Investor for Just $1K Using This Bezos-Backed Startup It is predicted that in three decades, more than 100 million Americans will live in an extreme heat belt where at least one day a year, the heat index temperature will exceed 125, Frank said. We talk a lot about climate change prevention, but we are at a point now where we must discuss resilience. The true costs of climate change can only be understood when looking through a public health lens, and going forward, we know that the real estate industry must prioritize the reduction of carbon emissions while adapting our built environment to be resilient to climate changes many threats to people. Keep reading to learn more about the climate change real estate bubble. Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week. Things To Know Before Purchasing Real Estate Frank said that while the business of real estate is based on responding to the needs of society, today, the pressing need is how to adequately adapt to climate change. Adaptation will not only save untold lives but also mitigate the most severe financial risks to the industry, Frank said. The real estate industry needs to invest in properties that prioritize human health in the face of extreme heat, flood risk and poor air quality, both indoors and out, in order to adequately protect against the possibility of a market failure. Success for the real estate industry over the next decade will be determined by meeting this demand by using evidence-based strategies that have already been demonstrated as effective solutions. Trending Now: 5 Worst Florida Cities To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years, According to Real Estate Agents Frank added that the climate change real estate bubble doesnt have a one-size-fits-all solution. We need to understand the unique risk per each specific asset, and then use tailored, evidence-based strategies to address those risks, she said. Then, we can measure and quantify the impact those solutions have on the people who live, work and play in those properties. Story continues Heres what you should know before purchasing a property. Analyze the Local Infrastructure Daniel Rivera, the owner of Proactive Property Management, said you should analyze the local infrastructures ability to withstand extreme conditions. From my experience managing properties in Northern New Jersey, Ive seen that areas investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, like stormwater management systems and reinforced construction, tend to offer more stable long-term investments, he explained. For instance, properties in Hoboken have seen proactive measures to mitigate flooding risks, making them a more secure investment compared to less prepared nearby areas. Be Aware of Local Real Estate Regulations Rivera said that many locations are starting to implement stricter building codes and disclosure laws regarding climate risks. When managing properties, I always advise clients to stay informed about local regulations that might affect property values, he said. For example, new zoning laws in Jersey City now require more rigorous flood-proofing standards, which could impact both construction costs and property values. This proactive approach can help investors make more informed, strategic decisions. Assess the Climate Risks Scott Friedson, a multistate licensed public adjuster and CEO of ICRS LLC, said that before purchasing a property where climate risks are a concern, you should thoroughly assess the specific climate risks involved. For example, if considering a coastal property, scrutinize the frequency and severity of past hurricanes and the areas storm surge history, he suggested. Use tools like FEMA flood maps and local climate projection data. In my experience, inadequate weather-proofing, such as not having storm shutters or proper drainage systems, can lead to devastating losses during severe weather, as seen with clients who faced underpaid claims after property damage from hurricanes and floods. Assess the Strategies Used To Mitigate Climate Change Risk Frank explained that when youre considering purchasing a property, you should not only be aware of all of the climate risks in the location, such as flooding or extreme heat, but you should also understand how the property and the surrounding community have addressed this risk. She said, for example, if a property is located in an extreme heat zone, you should question how the building and surrounding neighborhood are able to maximize shade. Strategies to mitigate extreme heat include trees and external sunscreens, light-colored or green roofs, and native vegetation rather than paved surfaces, she explained. Frank added, According to the US Department of Energy Shading and evapotranspiration (the process by which a plant actively moves and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 6 F. Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25F cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop.' Understand the Insurance Landscape Friedson said that many properties in climate-risk areas have expensive, high-deductible policies, or in some cases, limited coverage. During the Texas Freeze of 2021, I dealt with numerous claims where policyholders did not fully understand their coverage limits until it was too late, he said. Always review and fully comprehend insurance policies, focusing on exclusions and required preventive measures like weatherization standards as noted in Senate Bill 3. These could significantly impact both the cost and the feasibility of insuring homes in these risk-prone areas. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is a Climate Change Real Estate Bubble? 5 Things To Know Before Purchasing Property Nazrin Abdul During this year, migration is scheduled to occur in the centre of the newly rebuilt city of Jabrayil, as well as in several villages within this region. Vahid Hajiyev, the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts, disclosed this information at the event "New Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Let's Build Garabagh Together" in Shusha, Azernews reports. He mentioned the ongoing construction of new settlements in Zangilan and Gubadli districts, with plans for migration into these areas: "Each new settlement brings forth fresh business opportunities. We have created favourable conditions for both relocating residents and entrepreneurs to conduct business activities." Hajiyev highlighted the ongoing successful construction efforts in Jabrayil, Gubadli, and Zangilan districts under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, illustrating ongoing restoration and construction projects. He noted the active community life in Agal? village of Zangilan district, celebrated as the first address of the "Great Return." Agal? was swiftly developed as a "Smart Village," complete with essential infrastructure for its residents. Currently, 871 residents from 175 families have settled in Agal?, living prosperously under the auspices of the First State Program on the "Great Return." (Bloomberg) -- Dealerships that rely on software from CDK Global are coming back online and services are being restored after a devastating cyberattack caused widespread disruption. Most Read from Bloomberg Unit 42, the threat intelligence arm of Palo Alto Networks Inc., is working hand in hand with CDK and their partners to restore operations, said Sam Rubin, vice president and global head of operations for the cybersecurity company. Dealerships are quickly coming online and services are being restored. CDK confirmed that its working with Unit 42 to restore operations. We are continuing our phased approach to the restoration process, the company said in a statement. CDK has successfully brought two small groups of dealers and one large publicly traded dealer group back online on its dealer management system, or DMS, it said. CDK also is working to bring additional applications, such as its customer relationship management and service solutions, back online. In the meantime, we have created a Dealer Resource Center with commonly used documents and forms to support their sales and service efforts, the company said. The cyberattack began on June 19, creating havoc at some of the 15,000 dealers that rely on CDKs management software. A hacking gang called BlackSuit has been blamed for the ransomware attack and has demanded tens of millions of dollars in ransom, Bloomberg News reported. CDK previously told dealers the outages could persist for some dealers until June 30. We understand and share the urgency for our customers to get back to business as usual, and we will continue providing updates as more information is available, the company said Friday. (Updates with CDK statement in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. As an undergraduate, I worked full-time at a hospital in downtown Boston. Once, my supervisor needed to fill a few shifts and so I volunteered and was told no. If I took the extra hours, the hospital would have had to pay me time and a half something not in the budget. Well-intended labor regulations kept me from earning more. The unintended consequences of government policy have been my focus ever since. Those first jobs in Boston were a great classroom. I learned how to take orders and to be managed. I learned how to deal with anxious patients and difficult surgeons. My time spent working in the emergency ward and on patient floors taught me to navigate stressful situations. Most significant and I cannot stress this enough to my daughters I learned the importance of showing up for work on time. These memories resurfaced while reading the book Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life by David Bahnsen. Bahnsen extols not only the importance of work for the role it plays in the larger economy, but the role it plays in giving each of us purpose. He writes: With purpose, the need is not to receive honor or respect, but to be honorable and respectable. It addresses the issues not only of our time, but also of our character, by requiring service and sacrifice. Bahnsen also points out that the labor participation rate for 16- to 24-year-olds dropped from 65% in 2000 to 55% in 2010 and despite a spike downward during the pandemic hangs just above that level today. He argues that young people are missing out on life skills, experiences, resilience, rejection, success, development of mutual cooperation instinct, the basic practice of showing up, having responsibilities and expectations exactly the things I learned from my first jobs. All of this brings me to the tragedy of the minimum wage. It is another well-intended policy meant to boost worker pay. But just like my experience trying to pick up extra hours at the hospital, it is a policy that harms the working poor. Labor is often the highest cost of any organization. When the cost of something increases, we buy less of it as true for labor as it is with groceries, housing and recreational activities. The result of higher wages: Employers hire fewer people, give workers fewer hours, invest more in technology such as automated check-out lanes or touchscreen ordering kiosks or a combination of all three. The minimum wage means that while some may be paid more, fewer will have jobs. The effect is that the real minimum wage if you consider the jobs lost is $0. Story continues The heartbreak is that young people at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder have fewer opportunities today to get that first job and learn those important things I did and that Bahnsen praises. Unfortunately for poor kids in Kansas City, thats just the beginning of their problems. Missouris minimum wage is $12.30 per hour. In Kansas it is $7.25. Does that mean kids in Kansas are earning less? No, because workers can easily cross the border to work in Missouri, Kansas employers must pay more to compete. And because that border is porous, Missouri employers may be more likely to employ kids from Kansas who have access to their own transportation meaning fewer opportunities for poorer Missourians. The result: A policy meant to help the working poor does no such thing. By reducing available jobs and increasing competition for them, it actually makes them worse off. Even Christina Romer, who led President Barack Obamas Council of Economic Advisers, conceded there were questions about whether a higher minimum wage will achieve better outcomes for the economy and reduce poverty. Minimum wage laws reduce the number of jobs available and therefore rob younger workers of the very skills they need to be productive and purposeful. If we want to help the working poor, we need to create jobs at all income levels and incentivize workers to develop skills and climb the socioeconomic ladder. Government intervention, despite good intentions, often results in the opposite outcome. Patrick Tuohey is co-founder of Better Cities Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on municipal policy solutions, and a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Missouri state policy work. Shareholders might have noticed that IG Design Group plc (LON:IGR) filed its full-year result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 3.2% to UK2.25 in the past week. It looks like a credible result overall - although revenues of US$800m were what the analysts expected, IG Design Group surprised by delivering a (statutory) profit of US$0.36 per share, an impressive 331% above what was forecast. Following the result, the analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. So we gathered the latest post-earnings forecasts to see what estimates suggest is in store for next year. Check out our latest analysis for IG Design Group After the latest results, the four analysts covering IG Design Group are now predicting revenues of US$824.2m in 2025. If met, this would reflect a modest 3.0% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to dive 45% to US$0.21 in the same period. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$832.9m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.21 in 2025. The analysts seem to have become a little more negative on the business after the latest results, given the minor downgrade to their earnings per share numbers for next year. Althoughthe analysts have revised their earnings forecasts for next year, they've also lifted the consensus price target 18% to UK3.02, suggesting the revised estimates are not indicative of a weaker long-term future for the business. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on IG Design Group, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at UK3.45 and the most bearish at UK2.35 per share. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await IG Design Group shareholders. Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. We would highlight that IG Design Group's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 3.0% annualised growth rate until the end of 2025 being well below the historical 7.5% p.a. growth over the last five years. Compare this against other companies (with analyst forecasts) in the industry, which are in aggregate expected to see revenue growth of 5.6% annually. So it's pretty clear that, while revenue growth is expected to slow down, the wider industry is also expected to grow faster than IG Design Group. Story continues The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although forecasts imply they will perform worse than the wider industry. We note an upgrade to the price target, suggesting that the analysts believes the intrinsic value of the business is likely to improve over time. With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on IG Design Group. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for IG Design Group going out to 2027, and you can see them free on our platform here. And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for IG Design Group you should know about. 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 Image source: Getty Images The world is in a pickle. More than 100 years of scientific research have shown that trapped gasses have slowly and systematically raised the Earth's temperature, leading to record high temperatures, drought, rising seas, and severe flooding. Further, research shows that the average internal combustion engine emits around 24 pounds of global-warming gasses for every gallon of gasoline burned and that approximately one-third of all U.S. emissions are due to gas-guzzling cars. We know there's a problem, and we know what's causing it, yet we've been slow to adopt potential solutions, like switching from combustion engines to electric vehicles (EVs). And yet, who can blame us? To date, there haven't been enough charging stations to assure us that there will be somewhere to stop and charge our EVs when we're on the open road. If you'd like to do your part for the planet and your bank account by driving an EV but are concerned about the hassle of making sure a charge is available when you need it, help appears to be on the way. While we can't give you a specific date as to when there will be enough charging stations, we can share what the experts are saying. Picking up steam Corporations need assurances that they can turn a profit before investing the money and resources needed to build charging stations. According to Stable Auto, a company dedicated to quickly adding new EV charging networks, a single charging station must pump electrons around 15% of the time to turn a profit. In other words, there needs to be a vehicle plugged in and charging 3.6 hours a day. EVgo Inc. operates around 1,000 charging stations in the US and reports that almost one-third of them were busy charging cars at least 20% of the time by September 2023. That's good news for companies looking to build profitable stations and may help explain why the number of U.S. fast-charging stations not operated by Tesla doubled last year, from 9% to 18%. Better yet, by the end of 2023, every fast-charging EV cord in the U.S. was in use for an average of nearly five hours a day, more than required to make charging stations profitable. In other good news for those who would like to transition from a combustion engine to an EV, 1,100 new fast-charging stations were installed in the second half of 2023. That means that there is now one quick-turn EV station for every 16 gas stations in the U.S. When can we expect more? As companies like Stable Auto and EVgo are busy expanding the number of EV charging stations, corporations are also doing their part to make it easier for drivers to find the chargers they need. For example, Tesla is beginning to open its network of chargers to vehicles manufactured by other automakers. Given that approximately two-thirds of all charging cords in the U.S. are currently designed for Tesla ports, opening them up to other types of EVs will provide the country with a sudden rush of charging stations for non-Tesla vehicles. Story continues In 2021, when it became clear that drivers weren't budgeting to buy cars that might be difficult to charge, the Biden Administration got a bipartisan bill through Congress called the Nation Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The commitment is to build a nationwide network of at least 500,000 public charges by 2030 and to have high-speed charges spaced no less than every 50 miles along major roads, freeways, and interstates. As of today, urban dwellers have easier access to existing charging stations than those living in rural areas, and some states are further ahead than others. For example, fast-charging stations are in use in Illinois, Connecticut, and Nevada eight hours a day. NEVI aims to make charging cords equally accessible to drivers in other states. With NEVI's $7.5 billion investment, it's fair to say that the next few years will see a jump in the number of EV charging stations and a drop in the number of people worried that they won't be able to charge an EV. While we can't provide a precise timeline for the switch, we can safely predict that it will be far easier to find a charging station in 2030 than it is today. Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Dana George has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. If Electric Vehicles Are Truly the Future, When Will There Be Enough Charging Stations? was originally published by The Motley Fool Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Shutterstock.com Earlier in 2024, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was bumped out of the No. 1 richest person spot by French fashion magnate Bernard Arnault, according to Forbes. Currently, Musk is worth about $195 billion while Arnault reigns supreme at $233 billion. After $1 billion, does it really matter how many more billions the wealthiest people on the planet amass? To the average person, probably not, but to these power players, being top dog comes with status and the ability to make changes the average person could only dream of. Read Next: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: 5 Stocks You Shouldnt Sell Find Out: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money Musks billions have been negatively impacted by his takeover of Twitter (now X), whose value has plummeted since he took the helm, and Teslas falling shares, perhaps in light of its much-scorned new Cybertruck. What could Musk do to reclaim his seat at the top of the billionaire heap? Experts offer their theories. Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them. Brain Chips for All According to Neal Shah a neurotech expert, the CEO of health tech startup CareYaya and a former hedge fund manager one pathway to Musk reclaiming his richest person status may be through his company Neuralink. The company is developing brain chip implants to enable people to connect, cyborg-like, to their devices, as well as support areas of brain disease. A test subject has already been fitted with a chip, in fact. The neurotech market will rapidly become worth $1 trillion over the next decade, he explained, because brain-computer interfaces are the next phase of tech. In addition to nonessential needs, like connecting your brain to your smartphone with a thought, Neuralinks implantable neurotechnology has many potential applications, according to Shah. With the worlds rapidly aging population, and skyrocketing rates of dementia and Alzheimers, along with ALS and other neurological disorders, there is going to be a trillion-dollar market for brain disorders. The dementia population alone is going to grow from 50 million to 150 million in the next two decades, he said. Combined with the rapid improvement in implantable neurotechnology, Shah believes Neuralink could easily become a $100 billion-plus company. The neurotech sector is in the early innings, just like electric cars were in 2008 in the early days of Tesla, he said. If Elon Musk continues to pour resources into Neuralink, Shah believes it will hold a dominant leadership position in implantable neurotech and let him regain the title of richest person. Story continues Learn More: 10 Valuable Stocks That Could Be the Next Apple or Amazon Banking On Tesla If Musk has any hope of regaining his reign, according to Abid Salahi, co-founder of FinlyWealth, a credit card recommendation platform, Tesla is the ticket. This is because the companys market cap is intrinsically linked to Musks wealth, given his substantial ownership stake, Salahi said. A surge in Teslas valuation, fueled by increased vehicle deliveries, advancements in autonomous driving technology or expansion into new markets, could significantly boost Musks net worth, he said. Of course, given Teslas poor performance of late, its hard to see how this could come to pass immediately. To the Stars and Beyond Another area of improvement, Salahi said, is through SpaceX, Musks ace in the hole. SpaceX has already made initial contracts with NASA, and further lucrative government contracts could clinch the companys value. [Even] a groundbreaking space tourism venture could send SpaceXs valuation soaring. This would exponentially increase Musks wealth, as SpaceX is valued at over $100 billion, Salahi said. Monetizing X Musks purchase of Twitter and renaming it to X has been little more than a financial drain on the company, Salahi said. However, he pointed out that monetizing X effectively through advertising, subscriptions or other revenue streams could turn it into a cash cow. This would directly benefit Musks finances and improve investor sentiment towards his ventures. Musk might first have to prove to the many users who jumped ship when he took it over that its a place worth returning to. Leveraging Innovation Salahi also suggested that Musks penchant for innovation could be his trump card, since new ventures in artificial intelligence, renewable energy or even neurotechnology could create new revenue streams and valuations, catapulting his net worth beyond current estimates. Elon Musk is not one to shy away from bold moves. He could potentially leverage a combination of these strategies or even unveil an entirely new venture to reclaim his title as the worlds wealthiest individual, Salahi said. Green Energy Initiatives Though Tesla seems, at times, to be a vanity project for Musk, he has expressed serious commitment to sustainability for the future and is on record stating that he sees Tesla as an energy company, not just an electric vehicle company. Thus, according to Adam Garcia, financial expert and founder of The Stock Dork, With his dominating position in renewable energy, Musk can easily invest or initiate projects in any trending arena of green energy solutions that may gain huge interest in investments globally. As climate change continues to wreak havoc, a billionaire like Musk can become ever more valuable to societys changing needs. While the average person isnt going to lose sleep over whether Elon Musk becomes the richest person in the world again, if Musk can utilize his billions for the good of humanity, he might just find more people rooting for him. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Elon Musk Is No Longer the Richest Man in the World: Experts Explain How He Can Reclaim the Position Eni has entered into a binding agreement to sell its entire stake in the Nikaitchuq and Oooguruk oil fields in Alaska to US energy company Hilcorp. The financial details of the transaction have not been revealed. According to Reuters, financial analysts have projected that the sale could yield between $428m (400.14m) and $855m, with indications from some sources leaning towards the upper limit of this range. The Nikaitchuq field, which commenced production in January 2011, is expected to operate for more than 30 years with peak production estimated at 28,000bpd. Eni gained full ownership of the Oooguruk field in 2019. In 2023, these fields collectively produced around 20,000bpd, accounting for approximately 1.2% of Eni's total consolidated production. Eni said the sale aligns with its strategy to streamline its upstream activities and focus on assets that are core to its portfolio. This transaction is consistent with Eni's strategy focused on the rationalisation of the upstream activities by rebalancing its portfolio and divesting non-strategic assets, the companys statement read. The company has outlined a financial strategy to generate a net inflow of 8bn over the 202427 period, with plans to high-grade its upstream portfolio, reduce its stake in high-equity ownership exploration discoveries and leverage new capital sources to support its transition businesses. The completion of the Alaska asset sale is contingent on regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Last week, reports emerged that Eni is considering selling up to 30% of its exploration operations in Ivory Coast, which could potentially bring in around 1bn for the company. "Eni agrees to sell Alaska upstream assets to Hilcorp " 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. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Lonza Group fair value estimate is CHF453 With CHF487 share price, Lonza Group appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Our fair value estimate is 23% lower than Lonza Group's analyst price target of CHF586 Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Lonza Group AG (VTX:LONN) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. 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. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for Lonza Group Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) -CHF156.5m CHF66.7m CHF338.1m CHF645.2m CHF950.0m CHF1.18b CHF1.39b CHF1.56b CHF1.69b CHF1.79b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x6 Analyst x6 Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 24.62% Est @ 17.29% Est @ 12.16% Est @ 8.57% Est @ 6.05% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 4.6% -CHF150 CHF61.0 CHF295 CHF539 CHF758 CHF903 CHF1.0k CHF1.1k CHF1.1k CHF1.1k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF6.8b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (0.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 4.6%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = CHF1.8b (1 + 0.2%) (4.6% 0.2%) = CHF41b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF41b ( 1 + 4.6%)10= CHF26b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CHF33b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CHF487, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Lonza Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 4.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.960. 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 Lonza Group Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Life Sciences market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Swiss market. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Lonza Group, we've put together three essential elements you should further examine: Risks: Take risks, for example - Lonza Group has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does LONN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Swiss stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Key Insights The projected fair value for Zehnder Group is CHF48.71 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With CHF53.40 share price, Zehnder Group appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value The 67.46 analyst price target for ZEHN is 38% more than our estimate of fair value Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Zehnder Group AG (VTX:ZEHN) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Zehnder Group Is Zehnder Group Fairly Valued? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 43.0m 37.4m 38.5m 33.8m 30.9m 29.0m 27.8m 27.1m 26.5m 26.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ -12.34% Est @ -8.58% Est @ -5.95% Est @ -4.11% Est @ -2.82% Est @ -1.92% Est @ -1.28% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.2% 40.8 33.8 33.1 27.6 23.9 21.4 19.5 18.0 16.8 15.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 251m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.2%. Story continues Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = 26m (1 + 0.2%) (5.2% 0.2%) = 522m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 522m ( 1 + 5.2%)10= 314m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is 565m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of CHF53.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf 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 Zehnder Group 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 5.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.093. 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 Zehnder Group Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Building market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Swiss market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Swiss market. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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. For Zehnder Group, we've compiled three additional factors you should explore: Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for Zehnder Group you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does ZEHN'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 SWX 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 By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI could face an EU antitrust investigation as regulators singled out their exclusivity clauses while Google's artificial intelligence deal with Samsung also triggered scrutiny. EU antitrust regulators will seek additional third-party views, EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said on Friday. The moves underscore the unease among regulators worldwide on Big Tech leveraging its dominance into the new technology, echoing the companies' market power in other sectors. Vestager in March sent questionnaires to Microsoft, Google, Meta's Facebook and ByteDance's TikTok as well as other big tech companies related to their AI partnerships. "We have reviewed the replies, and are now sending a follow-up request for information on the agreement between Microsoft and OpenAI. To understand whether certain exclusivity clauses could have a negative effect on competitors," she told a conference. Reuters was first to report that EU regulators were building a case that could lead to an investigation into the partnership between the two companies. "We stand ready to respond to any additional questions the European Commission may have," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI will not be subject to EU merger rules because of the absence of control, Vestager said. While OpenAI's parent is a nonprofit, Microsoft has invested $13 billion in a for-profit subsidiary, for what would be a 49% stake. Vestager also cited concerns about Big Tech blocking smaller AI developers from reaching users and businesses. "We are also sending requests for information to better understand the effects of Google's arrangement with Samsung to pre-install its small model Gemini Nano on certain Samsung devices," she said. Google in January reached a multi-year deal with the South Korean company to embed its generative artificial intelligence technology in Samsung's Galaxy S24 series smartphones. Vestager also said she was looking into "acqui-hires," where one company acquires another mainly for its talent, as exemplified in Microsoft's $650-million acquisition of startup Inflection in March that allowed it to use Inflection's models and hire most of its staff. "We will make sure these practices don't slip through our merger control rules if they basically lead to a concentration," she said. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Rod Nickel) Our neighbours, their lobbyists and lawyers are very touchy, don't say a word - they are offended. But you can't take offence at the truth, you should draw conclusions from the truth and re-educate yourself. We don't really count on the fact that Armenian lobbyists are amenable to reeducation. And this was clearly demonstrated by Adam Schiff, a long-time and loyal admirer of the Armenians. This congressman, following ANCA, took offense at the Trend International Information Agency. Azerbaijani journalists did not intend to offend anyone, they just wrote the truth, which the diaspora and the lobby did not like terribly. On the eve of Trend, he presented a material concerning the active fuss of pro-Armenian congressmen on the eve of the US elections. Nothing in the article is far-fetched, everything is based on facts suggesting that the American Armenians have put their votes up for auction in the upcoming elections. The Diaspora has long turned elections in the United States into an auction. This process is coordinated by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), which actively intervenes in the politics of the country of residence. Armenians generally behave in America like in a Yerevan bazaar, and the lobby provides them with the best "prices". So, the Trend agency reported that one of the best servants of the American Armenians, Adam Schiff, broke out in a letter signed by 47 more congressmen, calling on the White House to increase support for Armenians who voluntarily left Karabakh. The article mentioned the ugly swing state project, which allowed Democrats and Republicans to see in which states they could enlist the support of Armenians. In addition, Mr. Schiff's unscrupulous biography was pointed out. Armenians are trading their votes, and in return, some congressmen are literally putting their reputation on the line in order to get at least some voters, the Trend article says. What's wrong with that? That's the way it is, and in reality, it looks even less plausible. ANCA wants to present this as an exercise of their democratic rights. But everyone understands that this is nonsense. Everyone knows why Mr. Schiff holds on so tightly to the "mother's hem", that is, to the diaspora. He made a career out of it, enriched himself. Schiff is embezzling funds allocated to charity. And this is also not a secret - the American media, among others, write about it. if he finds it offensive, let him stop stealing, let him stop shaming himself in his old age, pelting the administration with stupid messages. In recent years, the lobby has failed to get funding for Armenian separatists, and now Schiff and Co. hope to rip off dollars for vacationers in the "historical homeland" of Armenians. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will not step down from her role on the global advisory council of Coinbase despite joining President Bidens reelection campaign as a senior adviser, the cryptocurrency giant told The Hill. Coinbase is the largest U.S. crypto exchange and one of the industrys leading advocates in Washington. The company spent nearly $2.9 million last year to lobby the federal government on issues including digital asset regulation and the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, a sweeping crypto bill passed last month by the House over the objection of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. In a statement to The Hill, Bottoms said she is working to address the systemic issues that impact communities of color who are disproportionately unbanked and underbanked in America. Crypto and the blockchain economy are evolving the financial system empowering Black-owned businesses in Atlanta and unlocking opportunity, Bottoms said. More than ever, crypto is a nonpolitical and unifying issue that has received bipartisan support and gaining the attention of voters across the country. Bottoms and Coinbase declined to say on the record whether the former mayor would be paid by the company. The Biden campaign also did not answer questions about whether it would pay Bottoms. The company established the global advisory council last May to help navigate the complex and evolving landscape of the crypto industry, and strengthen relationships with strategic stakeholders around the world. Lance Bottoms left her role as senior adviser for public engagement at the White House in March 2023 a couple of months before the board was established. Bottoms joined a star-studded council of political insiders in April that includes former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.) and former Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.) and Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.). The former mayor headlined a Stand With Crypto event Wednesday in Atlanta, the day the news broke that she would advise for the Biden campaign. Coinbase helped launch Stand With Crypto, a 501(c)4 nonprofit that describes itself as grassroots champions for clear, common-sense regulations for the crypto industry, last August. This nonpartisan issue is receiving the attention and support of elected officials across the country, with cities and small businesses improving and expanding services through the use of crypto and blockchain technology, Bottoms said at the Wednesday event. Story continues From a legal perspective, the arrangement does not present a conflict of interest, Danielle Caputo, legal counsel on the ethics team at the nonpartisan nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, told The Hill. Generally there really arent many rules that apply to advisors of campaigns, Caputo said, noting her organization does not have an opinion on the ethics of the situation. But good governance advocates and lawmakers have long decried the revolving door between public service and the private sector, which they say can give companies and organizations an edge when it comes to tweaking legislation, securing government contractors or swaying policymakers in their favor. An inaugural member of the global advisory council, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) stepped down from his position earlier this year amid concern from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) about a potential conflict of interest after he was nominated by Biden as U.S. representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Warren, who Stand With Crypto rates as strongly against crypto, said she secured unprecedented ethics commitments from the former congressman including his immediate resignation from private sector advising upon confirmation, recusal from OECD decisionmaking on crypto and digital assets policy and a four-year ban on working for a crypto or digital assets company after his tenure as OECD ambassador. A Coinbase spokesperson pointed out that Maloney stepped down for an official government job, not a role on a campaign. The number of crypto advocates double the number of votes Biden won by in Arizona and triple the number of votes he won in Georgia. Last nights rally and todays 1,400+ planned watch parties around the country show that the crypto voter is real and ready to make an impact this November, said Sabrina Siddiqui, spokeswoman for Stand With Crypto. Coinbase and the broader crypto industry have been highly involved in conversations around digital asset regulation in Washington, and they have positioned themselves as key players in the upcoming presidential election on which Bottoms would be advising. The leading pro-crypto super PAC this cycle, Fairshake, raised $177.9 million from Jan. 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024, including $76.5 million from Coinbase and $1 million from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. Fairshake has poured $70.9 million into federal House and Senate races so far this election cycle, and its $10 million effort opposing Rep. Katie Porters (D-Calif.) Senate bid in California has been cited as a factor in her loss in the Democratic primary. A CNBC analysis found the super PACs preferred candidate has won in 33 out of the 35 primary races it has entered, including Westchester County Executive George Latimer who ousted Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) in New Yorks 16th Congressional District Democratic primary this week. Bottoms joined Bidens campaign while it is focused on gaining ground in swing states and with Black voters, two areas that have been a struggle this cycle against former President Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. Georgia is a key battleground state and Lance Bottoms, who was a key surrogate for Biden in 2020 and was largely considered a top contender for a running mate before he named Vice President Harris, brings a boost of star power to his team. She also discussed Black involvement in crypto against the backdrop of the upcoming election at the Wednesday Stand With Crypto event. Atlanta has a thriving Black-owned blockchain community. Crypto offers an opportunity for communities that are often unbanked and under banked to strengthen their financial freedom, Lance Bottoms said at the Stand With Crypto event. Stand With Crypto also says 19 percent of Georgians own crypto and that the number of crypto advocates in the state is three times the vote difference between Trump and Biden in 2020. The event also featured musical performances by Dem Franchize Boyz and Bow Wow, who said Atlanta voters understand the power of community and thats why theyre standing with crypto now and on Election Day. Atlanta will host the first presidential debate of this cycle between Biden and Trump on Thursday. Trump has been positioning himself as the pro-crypto presidential candidate, pitching himself as the crypto president at a fundraiser in San Francisco earlier this month hosted by tech venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, according to Reuters. He also took to his social media platform Truth Social last month to tout his support for crypto and bash the Biden administrations approach to the industry. I AM VERY POSITIVE AND OPEN MINDED TO CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPANIES, AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO THIS NEW AND BURGEONING INDUSTRY. OUR COUNTRY MUST BE THE LEADER IN THE FIELD. THERE IS NO SECOND PLACE, Trump wrote. The crypto industry has clashed with the Biden administration, particularly SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Coinbase sued the SEC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Thursday for Freedom of Information Act requests for information related to digital asset investigations and enforcement actions. This is no way to regulate. And this is no way to operate a transparent government. Today we demand better from our financial regulators, Paul Grewal, chief legal officer at Coinbase, wrote on the social platform X. Updated at 4:40 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. Amidst a backdrop of cautious interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada and a pause from the Federal Reserve, Canadian small-cap stocks find themselves in a complex economic landscape marked by consumer fatigue and uneven wealth distribution. Despite these challenges, rising stock market values and resilient consumer spending continue to support economic expansion, setting an intriguing stage for investors looking at undervalued opportunities in this segment. In such an environment, identifying small-cap stocks that are not only undervalued but also exhibit positive insider actions could provide potential resilience and growth prospects against broader market uncertainties. Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying In Canada Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Dundee Precious Metals 8.0x 2.7x 47.65% Nexus Industrial REIT 2.4x 3.0x 17.97% Calfrac Well Services 2.3x 0.2x 1.56% Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust 11.1x 2.9x 36.10% Russel Metals 9.2x 0.5x 13.28% Guardian Capital Group 10.6x 4.1x 31.07% Sagicor Financial 1.2x 0.4x -95.19% Hemisphere Energy 6.7x 2.4x 2.77% Bragg Gaming Group NA 1.4x 18.13% Freehold Royalties 15.3x 6.6x 47.37% Click here to see the full list of 31 stocks from our Undervalued TSX Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks. Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Exchange Income is a diversified corporation operating primarily in the manufacturing and aerospace & aviation sectors, with a market capitalization of approximately CA$1.60 billion. Operations: The company's gross profit margin has shown fluctuations over several periods, with a recent figure of 34.55% in the latest quarter ending March 2024. This indicates a slight increase from the previous year's same quarter, which recorded a gross profit margin of 34.46%. PE: 18.1x Exchange Income, a lesser-known entity in the Canadian market, recently showcased its financial resilience with a consistent dividend payout of CA$0.22 per share across recent months, reflecting stable cash flow despite slightly reduced net income from CA$6.86 million to CA$4.53 million year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024. Insider confidence was bolstered as they recently purchased shares, signaling trust in the company's prospects amidst forecasts predicting earnings growth of 22.72% annually. This blend of insider activity and solid financial performance positions Exchange Income attractively for discerning investors looking for overlooked opportunities in the market. TSX:EIF Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Hammond Power Solutions specializes in the manufacture and sale of transformers, with a market capitalization of approximately CA$729.61 million. Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of transformers, with a recent recorded revenue of CA$729.61 million. Over time, it has experienced a gross profit margin increase, reaching 32.49% in the latest period reported. PE: 23.6x Hammond Power Solutions, a notable player in its industry, recently filed a Shelf Registration and reported a significant increase in annual sales to CAD 710.06 million, up from CAD 558.46 million the previous year. Despite a dip in quarterly net income to CAD 7.95 million from last year's CAD 15.73 million, insider confidence remains strong as evidenced by recent share purchases by insiders, signaling their belief in the companys potential growth and stability. With an earnings forecast projecting an annual growth of nearly 18.59%, Hammond Power Solutions showcases promising prospects amidst its funding strategy reliant solely on external borrowinga testament to its strategic financial maneuvers within the competitive landscape. TSX:HPS.A Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Russel Metals is a company involved in metal distribution and processing, operating primarily through its Metals Service Centers, Energy Products, and Steel Distributors segments with a market capitalization of approximately CA$1.54 billion. Operations: The company generates the majority of its revenue from Metals Service Centers, contributing CA$2.95 billion, followed by Energy Field Stores and Steel Distributors with CA$982.20 million and CA$429 million respectively. Its gross profit margin has shown an upward trend, reaching 0.213% in the most recent quarter from a lower percentage previously. PE: 9.2x Recently, Russel Metals demonstrated insider confidence with a notable purchase of 300,000 shares for CA$15 million. This move aligns with the company's strategic expansion, including the acquisition of seven service centers from Samuel, set to finalize in Q3 2024. Despite a dip in Q1 sales to CA$1.06 billion and net income falling to CA$49.7 million from higher levels last year, the firm raised its quarterly dividend by 5% to $0.42 per share and redeemed all outstanding senior unsecured notes using its robust cash reserves of CA$629 million. These actions underscore a proactive management approach amidst challenging market conditions. TSX:RUS Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Next Steps Delve into our full catalog of 31 Undervalued TSX Small Caps With Insider Buying here. Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive. Enhance your investing ability with the Simply Wall St app and enjoy free access to essential market intelligence spanning every continent. 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 TSX:EIF TSX:HPS.A and TSX:RUS. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Automation and digitalisation have been hot topics in the mining industry for some time, with different companies further along in their digitalisation journey than others. It is well understood that deploying machines underground to work 24-7 can create operational efficiencies and improve safety but there is another important benefit to be gained from underground automation: lowering project GHG emissions. In EYs 2024 annual survey of mining executives, environmental, social and governance (ESG), capital, licence to operate and climate change filled the top spots. When asked what ESG factors are facing the most scrutiny from investors in 2024, 46% said attaining net-zero emissions. It is clear that reducing operational emissions is becoming a major focus for miners. As outlined in an OECD report, Mining and Green Growth in the EECCA Region, underground autonomous mining equipment has a key role to play in improving the sustainability of mines. For example, it highlights that automated ventilation systems at underground mining sites can save up to 40% of energy costs, in turn lowering operational emissions. Another report, produced by academics in Canada and looking specifically at underground copper mining, is similarly positive. Its mine life cycle assessment finds that the reductions in CO emissions from using automated equipment, and increasing efficiency and displacing diesel trucks, could decrease global warming potential by 17.9kg of CO equivalent per tonne of ore. This is significant given that global copper demand, driven by AI and the energy transition, is expected to increase by 29% by 2030, according to GlobalData. Autonomous haulage systems move underground Surface mining has been quicker to adopt automation than underground mining. This is because it is easier to install communications and GPS systems, which underpin automation, above ground than below. However, investment in automation for underground mining is increasing and looks set to pick up pace, says Ben Moens, managing director at ENGIE Impact, a consultancy that works with companies to meet their sustainability goals. Underground mining is becoming more challenging as time goes on because much of the low-hanging fruit has mostly been done, so mines are getting deeper or more remote, he says. This will put greater emphasis on the automation of underground mining to ensure that mining can be done in an efficient, safe and sustainable way. Recent investments in an autonomous haulage system by Canadian gold producer Alamos Gold at its Young-Davidson mine in northern Ontario are illustrative of this trend. Story continues As part of a lower mine expansion in 2020, the company installed a 600m electric conveyance and hoisting system to transport ore out of the mine. The system, which is digitally managed by a single hoist operator above ground, replaced six diesel haul trucks, reducing the mines overall fossil fuel requirements. It is also powered by the Ontario grid, which is majority supplied with low-carbon power. An operator above ground operates an underground conveyance and hoisting system. Credit: Alamos Gold. As such, the system has halved the mine sites GHG emissions intensity compared with 2020 (before the expansion), says Luc Guimond, chief operating officer at Alamos Gold. The conveyance system, compared with the diesel trucks, requires less maintenance, personnel and ventilation. The motivation for switching from diesel haul trucks to an electric conveyance system was to lower the mines overall cost profile and to achieve higher throughputs with the expansion but also reduce GHG emissions. They are really all intertwined, he says. We are now well set up for the long-term benefit, both from a cost perspective as well as a GHG emission intensity reduction perspective. The site is also transitioning to electric personnel carriers (it has three, with two more on order) and hybrid underground scoop trams. A similar expansion is also under way at its Island Gold operations, also in Ontario. The current ramp system will be replaced with an electric-powered mine shaft, which will enable the mine to double production to 2,400 tonnes per day and displace around 12 diesel trucks. Mine haul fleet electrification is one of the most effective and realistic ways to reduce CO emissions in mining and help the industry reach its sustainability targets, says Jan Nyqvist, product manager for automation underground mining at technology provider ABB Process Industries. Nyqvist points to one of the worlds largest pieces of mining industry infrastructure, the 13km Takraf belt conveyor system installed at Codelcos Chuquicamata underground mine project in northern Chile. The belt removes the equivalent of 120 large haul trucks for the transportation of copper ore, reducing CO emissions by 70%, according to the mining operator. ABB employs 11 x 5MW gearless conveyor drives to move the belt, overcoming an altitude of 1.2km. The 13km belt conveyor system at Codelcos Chuquicamata underground mine is one of the worlds largest pieces of mining industry infrastructure. Credit: ABB. Automation is a key contributor to reducing emissions, says Nyqvist. This is demonstrated by the automated, demand-based ventilation system we installed at Bolidens mines in Sweden that returns annual energy savings of more than 50% compared to other systems ventilating an entire mine can often cost half of the operating expenditure each year. In addition, working with Boliden and mining machine equipment provider Epiroc, with funding from Swedish innovation agency Vinnova, the three companies have developed, tested and demonstrated the worlds first fully battery-electric trolley truck system for underground mining. This has enabled the ABB Ability eMine trolley system to work underground after successful deployment in open-pit mines. Integration challenges and new opportunities for interoperability Integrating autonomous technology into a mine site can be challenging, however. Common issues include a lack of expertise within the company, the upfront capital cost and prioritising the investment and trust in the technology readiness. Adapting new automation technology requires personnel who are ready to change the way they are working, with established mining countries and those with high labour costs adapting quicker to automation, explains Nyqvist. In the future, new opportunities from digitalisation and automation will come from interoperability and the sharing of data across different autonomous equipment and between mines, says Moens. This can further drive efficiencies and carbon savings; with this data, and the leveraging of advancements in industrial computing as well as the use of algorithms, companies will have access to automatic identification and corrective action to solve a range of problems from production and maintenance to safety, he added. Sustainability drivers to adopt this technology will certainly become more acute. Many miners already have net-zero ambitions and face mandatory emissions reporting. If they are to deliver the insatiable demand for new energy metals and minerals between 2017 and 2022, demand for lithium tripled, demand for nickel rose by 40% and cobalt 70% they will need to embrace the technology. However, it is crucial for companies to not weigh up decarbonisation efforts against other initiatives they must be thought of as a business imperative, alongside things like lowering costs or driving revenue, says Moens. In the mining industry, to ensure that companies stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market, as well as retaining the trust of stakeholders and customers, operating both efficiently and sustainably must be considered of utmost importance, he concludes. "Exploring the environmental benefits of autonomous underground mining equipment" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. In recent trading sessions, the Hong Kong market has shown resilience, with the Hang Seng Index gaining modestly amid mixed economic signals from China. This backdrop sets an intriguing stage for investors to explore undervalued small-cap stocks, particularly those with recent insider buying activity, which can be a positive signal about a stock's future prospects in current market conditions. Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying In Hong Kong Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Wasion Holdings 11.4x 0.8x 29.31% Xtep International Holdings 11.1x 0.8x 41.21% Far East Consortium International NA 0.3x 40.18% Sany Heavy Equipment International Holdings 7.9x 0.7x -22.07% Nissin Foods 14.4x 1.3x 38.69% China Leon Inspection Holding 10.5x 0.8x 22.84% China Overseas Grand Oceans Group 2.9x 0.1x -3.79% China Lesso Group Holdings 4.0x 0.3x 8.51% Transport International Holdings 11.0x 0.6x 45.79% Giordano International 8.6x 0.8x 36.59% Click here to see the full list of 21 stocks from our Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies. Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: iDreamSky Technology Holdings is a company primarily engaged in the provision of game and information services, including SaaS and other related services. Operations: Game and Information Services, including SaaS and related services, generated CN1.92 billion in revenue. The gross profit margin stood at 35.14%, reflecting the cost of goods sold at CN1.24 billion and gross profit at CN673.46 million for the latest reported period ending December 31, 2023. PE: -9.4x iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited, with its notable rebound in financial health, reported a significant reduction in net loss to CNY 556.35 million for the year ending December 2024 from CNY 2.49 billion the previous year. This improvement is underscored by a robust forecast of earnings growth at an annual rate of 104%. Despite challenges from high-risk funding sourcesentirely from external borrowingthe company has not diluted shareholders over the past year, maintaining stability in share value. Recently purchased shares by insiders signal confidence in the firms trajectory, aligning with its promising prospects amid Hong Kong's undervalued entities. Story continues SEHK:1119 Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Kinetic Development Group is a company involved in various business operations, with a market capitalization of approximately CN1.27 billion. Operations: The company's gross profit margin has shown a notable increase, rising from 9.66% in June 2013 to 59.07% by June 2024, reflecting improved efficiency or pricing power over the period. This growth trend is supported by revenues that escalated significantly from CN79.13 million in June 2013 to CN4745.07 million by June 2024, indicating substantial expansion in its business scale and operational scope. PE: 4.1x Kinetic Development Group, a lesser-known entity in Hong Kong's vibrant market, recently showcased its financial prudence by declaring a modest final dividend of HK$0.05 and a special dividend of HK$0.03 per share, reflecting a strategic distribution despite the broader economic context. With amendments to its corporate governance structures approved at the latest AGM, the firm signals robust internal confidence and adaptability. Notably, insider confidence was evident as insiders recently purchased shares, underscoring their belief in the companys potential despite external funding risks highlighted by 100% reliance on higher-risk external borrowings. This combination of financial actions and insider activity suggests Kinetic is poised for thoughtful growth in challenging markets. SEHK:1277 Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Value Rating: Overview: Abbisko Cayman is a company focused on the development of innovative medicines, with a market capitalization of approximately CN19.06 million. Operations: The company's gross profit margin has consistently been 1.0%, reflecting full conversion of revenue to gross profit due to the absence of reported COGS. However, significant operating expenses, primarily from R&D which reached CN433.74 million in the most recent period, have led to consistent net losses, with the latest being CN431.58 million. PE: -4.6x Abbisko Cayman, a company with a focus on innovative pharmaceuticals, recently authorized a significant share repurchase on June 18, 2024, reflecting strong insider confidence and commitment to enhancing shareholder value. Despite facing revenue challenges with CN19M and projected earnings decline over the next three years, the firm is poised for substantial revenue growth at an annual rate of 38.51%. This growth potential is underscored by their recent Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for their novel drug irpagratinib, aimed at treating Hepatocellular Carcinomaa market with urgent unmet needs. SEHK:2256 Share price vs Value as at Jun 2024 Make It Happen Gain an insight into the universe of 21 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying by clicking here. Shareholder in one or more of these companies? Ensure you're never caught off-guard by adding your portfolio in Simply Wall St for timely alerts on significant stock developments. Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor. 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 SEHK:1119 SEHK:1277 and SEHK:2256. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com The Government of the Falkland Islands has begun a public consultation on the environmental impact of the Sea Lion Field Northern Development Area, located 220km to the north of the small island group. The talks, which have just started and will last until Monday 5 August, come after a recent sitting of the extraordinary Executive Council, the policy body for the islands. According to local media outlets, the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Sea Lion Field Northern Development Area, Phase 1 and 2, has already been submitted by Navitas Petroleum Development and Production. According to its website, Navitas Petroleum focuses on investing in projects on the verge of final investment decision, while reducing time and risk to first oil. Development of the oil resource involves drilling 23 wells and expected production of more than 300mbbl of oil over approximately 30 years. Exraction will come via a floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO). Navitas is planning several public engagement sessions across the islands during the consultation period. Sea Lion is part of exploration licence PL032 in the North Falkland Basin and is 100% owned by Rockhopper Exploration, a UK-based oil and gas exploration and production company with key interests in the Falkland Islands. The company has successfully completed the drilling of an exploration well at the field and is planning to drill an appraisal well. The field is estimated to contain recoverable contingent resources of 242mbbl of oil, with the average recoverable resources standing at 291mbbl, according to figures from GlobalData, Offshore Technologys parent company. Sea Lion was discovered in 2010, and if all approvals are given, is expected to start commercial production in 2026, with the final development cost expected to be $2.5bn (NIS9.39bn). The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory, or a region that has a strong historical link with the UK while being formally part of the nation. "Falkland Islands begins environmental consultation on Sea Lion field" 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. The Government of the Falkland Islands has begun a public consultation on the environmental impact of the Sea Lion Field Northern Development Area, located 220km to the north of the small island group. The talks, which have just started and will last until Monday 5 August, come after a recent sitting of the extraordinary Executive Council, the policy body for the islands. According to local media outlets, the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Sea Lion Field Northern Development Area, Phase 1 and 2, has already been submitted by Navitas Petroleum Development and Production. According to its website, Navitas Petroleum focuses on investing in projects on the verge of final investment decision, while reducing time and risk to first oil. Development of the oil resource involves drilling 23 wells and expected production of more than 300mbbl of oil over approximately 30 years. Exraction will come via a floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO). Navitas is planning several public engagement sessions across the islands during the consultation period. Sea Lion is part of exploration licence PL032 in the North Falkland Basin and is 100% owned by Rockhopper Exploration, a UK-based oil and gas exploration and production company with key interests in the Falkland Islands. The company has successfully completed the drilling of an exploration well at the field and is planning to drill an appraisal well. The field is estimated to contain recoverable contingent resources of 242mbbl of oil, with the average recoverable resources standing at 291mbbl, according to figures from GlobalData, Offshore Technologys parent company. Sea Lion was discovered in 2010, and if all approvals are given, is expected to start commercial production in 2026, with the final development cost expected to be $2.5bn (NIS9.39bn). The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory, or a region that has a strong historical link with the UK while being formally part of the nation. "Falkland Islands begins environmental consultation on Sea Lion field" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has given the green light to Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) LNG project in Louisiana, despite objections related to climate change. The approval allows the construction and operation of the CP2 LNG plant and its associated 137km pipeline. The decision by FERC to approve the CP2 LNG project comes amid a broader discussion on natural gas exports and their impact on both local consumers and global climate change, according to Reuters. Venture Globals project is awaiting a separate permit from the Department of Energy for exporting the gas, reported Politico. It is set to include 18 LNG blocks, four storage tanks and two marine docks. Methane, a key component of natural gas, is known for its significant contribution to global warming when released into the atmosphere. However, it remains a critical source of energy for electricity generation and heating in the US and other parts of the world. The CP2 LNG terminal is expected to have a nameplate export capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with the potential to reach around 24mtpa at its peak. The proposed facility, which would be situated adjacent to the existing Calcasieu Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, has become a contentious issue in the ongoing debate over fossil fuel reliance and energy infrastructure. Environmental groups have expressed concerns that the project could lead to increased pollution and further global warming. Despite these concerns, Venture Global has secured 20-year sales and purchase agreements with several major energy companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron and JERA. The company has also signed a heads of agreement with DTEK of Ukraine and is in talks for the remaining capacity. Meanwhile, substantial off-site construction work on the project has already commenced, the company said. Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel said: "Venture Global applauds the Commission and FERC staff for their independent and thorough review and approval of CP2 LNG. This project will be critical to global energy security and supporting the energy transition, as well as provide jobs and economic growth across Louisiana and the US. "FERC approves Venture Globals Calcasieu Pass 2 LNG project in Louisiana " 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. According to a recent Vontobel global study, a higher percentage of financial advisers (62%) are including ESG offerings and business into their client interactions, up from 53% in 2021. The outcome demonstrates that, in spite of the challenges and political pushback that sustainable investment has faced over the past two years, sustainable services are nevertheless becoming more and more significant in the advice market. The Vontobel Advisor ESG Study 2024 evaluates the perspectives of 300 financial advisers and wealth managers from 15 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific to better comprehend their perspectives on the many aspects and problems of ESG investing. When asked how much of their overall book of business is invested in ESG, 54% of advisers worldwide answered less than 10% is now invested this manner. European advisers were prone to have a larger book of business in the field, with 24% spending at least a quarter of their overall book in ESG, as opposed to 16% in APAC and 11% in North America. Growing ESG business With ESG continuing to gain traction in every location surveyed, this number is anticipated to increase in the upcoming years. Over 63% of advisers in all three markets anticipate that their clients will have invested 10% or more in ESG by the end of the next three years, indicating that this is a booming sector. Nonetheless, advisers with minimal or no ESG allocations, the most common rationale (80%) given was that ESG is simply a passing trend. Moreover, earlier worries about how ESG might have affected financial results seem to have subsided in all markets. Nowadays, the majority of advisers (65%) think that ESG investing has no negative effects on investment performance and instead has a neutral to positive influence. 76% of advisers think it has a neutral to positive impact, with Europe having the highest prevalence of this. Even with this increasing self-assurance, advisers still encounter a number of difficulties when suggesting ESG investments. Inconsistent standards, measurements, and taxonomies are the main barrier; according to 88% of advisers, this made it very or extremely difficult. The availability of insufficient sustainable products across all asset classes (82%), the evolution of ESG rules (81%), and the lack of ESG data, research, and knowledge (80%) were among the other reasons given. Moreover, the study indicates that advisers use various information sources, including financial institutions, industry reports, whitepapers, and financial news, to provide better advice on ESG products. Story continues Christoph von Reiche, Vontobels head of institutional clients, commented: Although ESG has been facing several headwinds recently, our study shows that it is set to continue to rise in popularity among investors in the coming years to the extent that Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that global ESG assets will rise to $40trn by 2030. With their knowledge, competence and closeness to clients, financial advisers and wealth managers play a key role in helping the ESG sector to grow further and enabling investors to benefit from this important trend. "However, there still are significant hurdles and the whole investment industry needs to provide greater support in helping advisers overcome these obstacles. On the perceived lack of suitable ESG products across asset classes, a closer and more open dialogue between both parties could help ensure that advisers needs, and those of their clients, are met appropriately. "Financial advisers foresee higher book of ESG business in future years" was originally created and published by Private Banker 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. Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints) and Valid have partnered in developing a biometric payment card for the Brazilian market. Valid is a global payment technology provider and integrator of secure solutions for identification, mobile and payment ecosystems, The cards, manufactured by Valid, will feature Fingerprints' second-generation T-Shape (T2) sensor module and software platform. The card, which features Fingerprints proven biometric technology, will offer new levels of contactless security, convenience and hygiene. The card supports Brazil's concerns over consumer security Despite consistent and significant contactless payment growth in Brazil since the pandemic, there are still consumer concerns around security. The regions preference for contactless, combined with its familiarity with biometric technology, demonstrates the ecosystems readiness for the next generation of payment cards. According to Brazils National Monetary Council Resolution 3694/09, financial institutions must ensure the integrity, reliability, security and confidentiality of transactions, services and products. By leveraging a unique physical characteristic to authenticate payments, new levels of security are achieved with biometric payment cards. This can help banks align with regulation and reduce in-store payment fraud, and the associated costs of both. Banks that lead the way in payment innovation are also afforded an attractive brand image. Adam Philpott, Fingerprints CEO, comments: Brazil and the wider Latin America region is increasingly being recognised as a hub for payment innovation. Im very pleased that Fingerprints can support Valid in adding this biometric payment card to its product portfolio. The cards high level of security will help reduce fraud while enhancing the user experience, thereby aiding banks in customer acquisition. We anticipate that several banks in the region will soon adopt biometric payment technology. Recently Fingerprints partnered with Money Carer and Tag Systems to release a biometric payment card for vulnerable users in the UK. "Fingerprints to assist Valid in biometric card rollout in Brazil" 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. The Baimsky projects first of four floating nuclear power plants are set to be commissioned in 2028, according to Vladimir Aptekarev, the deputy head of Rosatoms engineering division. The plants will supply energy to mining projects in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. In the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, a mining and processing plant for copper is currently being constructed. It will derive its power from the floating power plant. The investments required for the project are estimated to be 900bn Rubles ($10bn). The mines annual ore processing capacity is expected to be 70m tonnes, with the field estimated to contain 9.9m tonnes of copper and 16.6m ounces of gold. The floating nuclear power plant will be specifically designed for operation in the far north and the far east of Russia. The plant will be made up of RITM-200S reactors that have a service life of 40 years, needing to be refuelled every five years. Rigid mooring devices will hold the units in place to mitigate the ebb and flow of the water on which the units will sit. 50 high-voltage cables will transmit the power generated to shore. RITM type reactors are used in a series of low-power power plants. Two RITM-200 reactors are being used in the icebreaker project and are currently operating on the North Sea route. The worlds first floating nuclear power plant is in Pevek in the Chukotka region of northeast Russia. The plant, named Akademik Lomonosov, supplies heat and power to the town and is based on two KLT-40S reactors generating 35MW each. Akademik Lomonosov became operational in December 2019. At the time, the reactor was seen as a pilot project for a future fleet of floating nuclear power plants and onshore installations based on Russian-made small modular reactors. Due to their functionality, they are intended for deployment in disparate areas of Russias north and far-east. "Floating nuclear power plant to provide energy for Russian mining" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, 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. Many countries have played a mediating role in the long-standing Garabagh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. At times, these mediator states have adopted a neutral policy, while in other instances, they have taken a pro-Armenian stance, exacerbating the conflict. However, times are changing. Events over the past four years, such as the 44-day Patriotic War, local anti-terror operations carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Garabagh, the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers in Almaty, and the return of four villages by Armenia to Azerbaijan, indicate that a peace treaty in the region is inevitable. The normalisation of Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, which once seemed impossible to many, is now on the agenda of both countries. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, talked about the signing of a peace treaty and its inevitability during his visit to Georgia yesterday. During his visit, Bayramov discussed border issues with his Georgian counterpart, Ilia Darchiashvili, suggesting positive steps in the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. It is also important to note that next month, a commission will hold its next meeting to determine the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia. During this meeting, the delimitation and demarcation of new areas will take place, as announced by Bayramov yesterday. Currently, the main obstacle to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia is the territorial claim against Azerbaijan enshrined in the Armenian Constitution. This means that an agreement on border determination and the opening of transportation and communication lines between the two countries are expected. Bayramov's statements have also been echoed by the Armenian side. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, during a joint press conference in Tallinn with his Estonian counterpart, stated that "Yerevan is ready to finalise and sign the peace agreement with Azerbaijan within a month". But what is the main reason for Armenia, which has pursued a provocative policy for many years, now showing such determination to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan? It is worth recalling that until the Second Garabagh War and the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the West largely ignored the events in the South Caucasus and Armenian terrorism in the region. This was due to the West's Christian bias and the belief that weakening Russia was impossible. Consequently, pro-Armenian policies were pursued in the West, led by the US and France. Now, the power dynamics in the South Caucasus are changing. Western forces believe it is now more feasible to pressure Russia out of the South Caucasus, leveraging the Kyiv-Moscow conflict. The US, in particular, has a clear stance on signing a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Washington has brought Armenia under its influence and is planning to remove Russian forces from Armenia, especially from Gyumri, and eventually from the entire South Caucasus. It is evident that the incompetence of French policy has not gone unnoticed by US officials. Macron's administration openly promotes war in the region and continues to arm Armenia, which is counterproductive to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the broader Western goal of putting pressure on Russia in the South Caucasus. Recognising the failure of the French approach, the US is proceeding cautiously in its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Washington does not want to be seen as a provocateur and an obstacle to peace, as France has been. The recent visits of US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O'Brien, to Yerevan and then Baku reflect this cautious approach. The former American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, James Warlick, also criticised France in an interview with Armenian media, reflecting the US's anti-French sentiments. This indicates that Washington supports the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, even at the cost of sidelining Paris. Clearly, the US's strategy regarding Russia compels it to tread carefully with Azerbaijan. Baku's position is well known: stability and sustainable development in the region are Azerbaijan's main goals. The current focus is on Armenia retracting its territorial claims against Azerbaijan, signing the peace treaty, and continuing with new projects, infrastructure, and reconstruction in the region. However, Baku justifiably demands concrete and fundamental changes and guarantees to prevent the resurgence of war in the future. Tony Kirik operated Dallas Logistics, based in Rochester, New York, but concealed ownership and affiliation with another company to hide negative safety ratings.(Photo: Audio und werbung/Shutterstock) A former New York trucking company owner was convicted by a federal jury of making false statements to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Tony Kirik, who also goes by Anatoliy, operated Rochester-based Dallas Logistics, which had millions of dollars in revenue. He submitted false documents regarding the safety rating of his business to the FMSCA during compliance reviews and safety audits, even though the company had many safety violations, the IRS said in an announcement. To dupe the FMSCA, Kirik created companies under family members names to make it look like the new companies were independent and not associated with the existing business that had received negative safety ratings. In reality, the new companies were extensions of the prior company, which Kirik was required to disclose but didnt. This weeks legal news: OOIDA sues EPA over greenhouse gas emissions standards PayCargo collects $16M from CargoSprint in FreightTech trademark case Werner driver trainees lose on pay issue again in lengthy litigation NFI CEO Brown indicted in sweeping New Jersey case against political giant California trucking industry backs curbs on PAGA citizen-initiated labor lawsuits A criminal complaint filed in November 2020 says FMSCA examiners discovered that Dallas Logistics was falsely registered as being operated out of Dallas and was wrongly listed as being owned by someone identified as J.Z. When examiners questioned the discrepancy, they received a letter signed by someone identified as A.B. stating that J.Z. was planning to relocate to Dallas when his mother got seriously ill and his father developed health ailments. Examiners learned that Dallas Logistics was actually owned by Kirik and was a reincarnation of Orange Transportation Services, which was owned by Kirik and received a negative safety rating, the complaint says. Kirik is scheduled to be sentenced in October in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The post Former New York trucking company owner convicted of lying to FMCSA appeared first on FreightWaves. High Arctic Energy Services Inc. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW CALGARY, Alberta, June 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Arctic Energy Services Inc. (TSX: HWO) ("High Arctic" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that the Court of King's Bench of Alberta has granted the final order in connection with the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") between the Corporation and High Arctic Overseas Holdings Corp. (SpinCo) providing for the spin-out by the Corporation of its Papua New Guinea focused energy services business to SpinCo. As previously announced, the Arrangement was approved by the Corporation's shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on June 17, 2024. The Arrangement remains subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the approval of each of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange. Assuming that the conditions to closing are satisfied, it is currently expected that the Arrangement will be completed on or about July 31, 2024. For more information on the Arrangement, please see the management information circular of the Corporation dated May 9, 2024, available on the Corporation's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. About High Arctic High Arctic is an energy services provider. High Arctic is a market leader in Papua New Guinea providing drilling and specialized well completion services and supplies rental equipment including rig matting, camps, material handling and drilling support equipment. In western Canada, High Arctic provides pressure control and other oilfield equipment on a rental basis to exploration and production companies, from its bases in Whitecourt and Red Deer, Alberta. For further information, please contact: Lonn Bate Interim Chief Financial Officer 1.587.318.2218 1.800.668.7143 High Arctic Energy Services Inc. Suite 2350, 3305th Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L4 website: www.haes.ca Email: info@haes.ca Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Corporation's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Corporation's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this press release. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this press release as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Specific forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements pertaining to the following: the Arrangement; receipt of stock exchange and other regulatory approvals and satisfaction of conditions to the closing of the Arrangement; and the anticipated timing of the closing of the Arrangement. The Corporation's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors set forth above and elsewhere in this press release. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are given only as of the date of this press release. The Corporation does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law. Story continues By David Kirton SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) - Packed into a small room, a drone, bipedal robot, supermarket checkout and other devices showcase a vision of China's software future - one where an operating system developed by national champion Huawei has replaced Windows and Android. The collection is at the Harmony Ecosystem Innovation Centre in the southern city of Shenzhen, a local government-owned entity that encourages authorities, companies and hardware makers to develop software using OpenHarmony, an open-source version of the operating system Huawei launched five years ago after U.S. sanctions cut off support for Google's Android. While Huawei's recent strong-selling smartphone launches have been closely watched for signs of advances in China's chip supply chain, the company has also quietly built up expertise in sectors crucial to Beijing's vision of technology self-sufficiency from operating systems to in-vehicle software. President Xi Jinping last year told the Communist Party's elite politburo that China must wage a difficult battle to localise operating systems and other technology "as soon as possible" as the U.S. cracks down on exports of advanced chips and other components. OpenHarmony is now being widely promoted within China as a "national operating system" amid concerns that other major companies could be severed from the Microsoft Windows and Android products upon which many systems rely. "This strategic move will likely erode the market share of Western operating systems like Android and Windows in China, as local products gain traction," said Sunny Cheung, an associate fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, a U.S. defence policy group. In the first quarter of 2024, Huawei's HarmonyOS, the company's in-house version of the operating system, surpassed Apple's iOS to become the second best-selling mobile operating system in China behind Android, research firm Counterpoint said. It has not been launched on smartphones outside China. Huawei no longer controls OpenHarmony, having gifted its source code to a non-profit called the OpenAtom Foundation in 2020 and 2021, according to an internal memo and other releases. But both the innovation centre and government documents often refer to OpenHarmony and HarmonyOS interchangeably as part of a broader Harmony ecosystem. The growth of HarmonyOS, expected to be rolled out in a PC version this year or next, will spur adoption of OpenHarmony, analysts said. "Harmony has created a powerful foundational operating system for the future of China's devices," said Richard Yu, the chairman of Huawei's consumer business group, at the opening of a developer conference last week. Story continues Huawei did not respond to a request for further comment. SELF-SUFFICIENCY Huawei first unveiled Harmony in August 2019, three months after Washington placed it under trade restrictions over alleged security concerns. Huawei denies its equipment poses a risk. Since then, China has stepped up its self-sufficiency efforts, cutting itself off from the main code sharing hub Github and championing a local version, Gitee. China banned the use of Windows on government computers in 2014 and they now use mostly Linux-based operating systems. Microsoft earns only about 1.5% of its revenue from China, its president said this month. Originally built on an open source Android system, this year Huawei launched its first "pure" version of HarmonyOS that no longer supports Android-based apps, in a move that further bifurcates China's app ecosystem from the rest of the world. A report from the Jamestown Foundation last month said OpenHarmony's owner OpenAtom appeared to be coordinating efforts among Chinese firms to develop a viable alternative to U.S. technologies, including for defence applications such as satellites. Beijing-based OpenAtom did not respond to a request for comment. OPEN SOURCE OpenHarmony was the fastest-growing open-source operating system for smart devices last year, with more than 70 organisations contributing to it and more than 460 hardware and software products built across finance, education, aerospace and industry, Huawei said in its 2023 annual report. The aim of making it open source is to replicate Android's success in removing licensing costs for users and to give companies a customisable springboard for their own products, said Charlie Cheng, deputy manager of the Harmony Ecosystem Innovation Centre, when Reuters visited. "Harmony will definitely grow into a mainstream operating system, and will give the world a new choice of operating system besides iOS and Android," he said. "China is learning from the West." Google, Apple and Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment. The Harmony ecosystem has seen strong support from Huawei's home city of Shenzhen, a city historically used as a trial site for policies later adopted across China. Along with a Harmony centre that opened in the southwestern city of Chengdu, 10 more are expected in a further 10 cities, according to a Shenzhen centre presentation. Key OpenHarmony developers include Shenzhen Kaihong Digital, headed by Wang Chenglu, a former Huawei employee known as Harmony's "godfather", and Chinasoft. Both have worked on infrastructure software, at Tianjin Port and for mines in China's top coal-producing province Shaanxi. While OpenHarmony is largely confined to China, Brussels-based open-source group the Eclipse Foundation said it was using it to develop a system called Oniro for use in mobile phones and internet-of-things devices. China's previous efforts to build major open-source projects have struggled to gain traction among developers, but Huawei's growing smartphone market share and extra work to develop a broader ecosystem gives Harmony an advantage, analysts said. More than 900 million devices, including smartphones, watches and car systems are running on HarmonyOS, while 2.4 million developers were coding in the ecosystem, Huawei's Yu said this month. "OpenHarmony will need more time and iterations so that these developers will be more confident to work with OpenHarmony," said Emma Xu, an analyst with research firm Canalys. "But the reputation, behaviour and confidence that HarmonyOS has achieved will definitely bring a positive effect." (Reporting by David Kirton; Editing by Jamie Freed) (Reuters) -Software firm HubSpot said on Friday it is investigating a cybersecurity incident that targeted its customers. "On June 22, we identified a security incident that involved bad actors targeting a limited number of HubSpot customers and attempting to gain unauthorized access to their accounts," a HubSpot spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement. The company said the hackers were able to gain unauthorized access to less than 50 HubSpot accounts and there were no new instances of a hack in the last 24 hours as of 1600 ET on Friday. HubSpot is taking steps to protect its customers and their data, it added. The news was first reported by TechCrunch. HubSpot makes marketing software for small and medium-sized businesses, and specializes in customer relationship management. (Reporting by Priyanka.G in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) Exterior of a me and all hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hyatt Hyatt has bought the me and all hotels brand from Germanys Lindner Hotels, a minor expansion of its European portfolio. The deal for the lifestyle hotel brand, which closed Friday, adds a 29th brand to Hyatts collection of hotel, resort, and timeshare brands. Deal Highlights: The brand currently comprises six hotels with 1,000+ rooms in Germany The pipeline includes 1,000 additional rooms, with openings slated in Berlin in 2024 and in Hamburg, Leipzig, and Stuttgart by 2026. Plans include expansion outside Germany. Why It Matters Adding a brand with a core German following helps Hyatt, which has weak contacts there. Hyatt will now be able to bring Me and All Hotels guests into its loyalty program. It will also give Hyatt customers more places to stay in Germany, offering new locations to its 46 million loyalty program members, said Felicity Black-Roberts, SVP development EAME. Hyatt also hopes the move will enhance the cross-selling of its all-inclusive resorts in Greece, Spain, and Bulgaria. The idea is that while guests stay at Me and All Hotels and through post-trip emails, Hyatt would have the opportunity to pitch their all-inclusive properties to them as a great spot for their next vacations. Germany is the number-one feeder market for the Balearic Islands and the number-two feeder market for the Canary Islands, where Hyatt has built up an all-inclusive resort presence since its 2021 acquisition of the all-inclusive resort company Apple Leisure Group in a $2.7 billion deal. The Backstory In 2022, Hyatt entered an exclusive strategic marketing deal with Lindner Hotels, a family-run German business. It added about 30 hotels across seven European countries to the Hyatt brand portfolio and its World of Hyatt rewards. Me and All Hotels was a brand that was part of that deal. Until now, Me and All Hotels was still owned by Lindner but was marketed under the JdV by Hyatt soft brand, a collection of independent hotels. This deal makes Me and All Hotels a standalone entity in Hyatts lifestyle hotel portfolio, which has grown fivefold in room count since 2017. The Me and All Hotels brand properties are all centrally located in cities and feature lobbies with furniture, food-and-beverage offerings, and eye-catching furniture. By 2025, lifestyle hotels are expected to make up 23% of the hotel development pipeline worldwide, according to STR. Over the past decade, lifestyle hotel average daily rates achieved a $33.60 premium over non-lifestyle hotel average daily rates, STR reported. Between 2018 and 2023, the compound annual growth rate of revenue per available room at lifestyle hotels has exceeded that of all other branded hotels by approximately 50 basis points, STR said. Story continues Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian Links Empathy With Hotel Growth Full Video Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian Links Empathy With Hotel Growth Full Video Hyatts Mark Hoplamazian said fostering human connections will drive the groups growth. But he said the hotel company has learned from digital innovation, such as how his team applies software development techniques to create brands. Fascinating. Read More Accommodations Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date What am I looking at? The performance of hotels and short-term rental sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets, including international and regional hotel brands, hotel REITs, hotel management companies, alternative accommodations, and timeshares. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more hotels and short-term rental financial sector performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com. Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies Dialog Group Berhad's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions The top 7 shareholders own 52% of the company Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business Every investor in Dialog Group Berhad (KLSE:DIALOG) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 47% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Dialog Group Berhad. Check out our latest analysis for Dialog Group Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Dialog Group Berhad? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that Dialog Group Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Dialog Group Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Dialog Group Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia with 16% of shares outstanding. With 11% and 8.0% of the shares outstanding respectively, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan and Wide Synergy Sdn. Bhd. are the second and third largest shareholders. We also observed that the top 7 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. Story continues Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Dialog Group Berhad The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. 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. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Dialog Group Berhad. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own RM528m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership With a 30% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Dialog Group Berhad. 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. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 18%, of the Dialog Group Berhad stock. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Dialog Group Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. I always like to check for a history of revenue growth. You can too, by accessing this free chart of historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com It hasn't been the best quarter for Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 14% in that time. While that's not great, the returns over five years have been decent. The share price is up 99%, which is better than the market return of 94%. Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns. Check out our latest analysis for Watts Water Technologies 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. Over half a decade, Watts Water Technologies managed to grow its earnings per share at 16% a year. This EPS growth is reasonably close to the 15% average annual increase in the share price. This indicates that investor sentiment towards the company has not changed a great deal. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). It is of course excellent to see how Watts Water Technologies has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Watts Water Technologies, it has a TSR of 107% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Watts Water Technologies provided a TSR of 2.3% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 16% a year, over half a decade) look better. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Watts Water Technologies better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Watts Water Technologies that you should be aware of. But note: Watts Water Technologies may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Ministry of National Defense's response to US threats and intimidation: Never work on us China Military Online) 08:24, June 28, 2024 Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular news conference on Thursday. Question: Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command said that the US military has a plan called "hellscape" to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hell using a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles, surface vessels and underwater systems in response to "attacks from the Chinese mainland". The US Naval News website also detailed the plan recently. What's your comment on this? Wu Qian: Those who clamor for turning others' homeland into hell should get ready for burning in hell themselves. In order to contain China with Taiwan, some individuals in the US are making crazy and inhumane plans to turn the Taiwan Strait into a hell. This once again shows that the separatists who are delusional about using US support for "Taiwan independence" will ultimately be abandoned as a useless pawn. Taiwan belongs to China and China brooks no division. The PLA is able to fight and win in thwarting external interference and safeguarding our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Threats and intimidation never work on us. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Hongyu) By Alimat Aliyeva The Republic of Korea has decided to impose sanctions against five organizations, four ships and eight individuals due to the ongoing arms trade between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, Azernews reports. The ministry noted that the strengthening of military and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK as a result of the conclusion of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement poses a threat to the interests of the national security of the Republic of Korea. "Therefore, it was decided to impose sanctions on July 1 against five organizations, four ships and eight individuals from Russia, North Korea and third countries in connection with illegal actions related to the transportation of weapons between Russia and the North, oil supplies and the development of nuclear weapons and missiles," the statement said. The five organizations included Transmorflot (Russia), M Leasing (Russia), IBEX Shipping (Cyprus), Euromarket (South Ossetia) and the DPRK Missile Control. All four vessels are named Russian: Patriot, Neptun, Bella, Bogatyr. Eight individuals are citizens of the DPRK. If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out 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. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. So when we looked at TransDigm Group (NYSE:TDG) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. To calculate this metric for TransDigm Group, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.17 = US$3.3b (US$22b - US$2.2b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024). Therefore, TransDigm Group has an ROCE of 17%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 9.8% generated by the Aerospace & Defense industry. Check out our latest analysis for TransDigm Group roce In the above chart we have measured TransDigm Group'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 TransDigm Group . So How Is TransDigm Group's ROCE Trending? Investors would be pleased with what's happening at TransDigm Group. Over the last five years, returns on capital employed have risen substantially to 17%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 20% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at TransDigm Group thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. The Key Takeaway All in all, it's terrific to see that TransDigm Group is reaping the rewards from prior investments and is growing its capital base. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. TransDigm Group does have some risks, we noticed 3 warning signs (and 2 which make us uncomfortable) we think you should know about. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity. Story continues 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 Cotton Campaign, which seeks to end forced labour for Central Asian cotton workers wrote to both the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) to cancel their commercial visit to Turkmenistan on 24-28 June but claimed neither organisation responded. It explained that instead, it wished for the organisations to "use their leverage to pressure the government of Turkmenistan to end its forced labour system." The global coalition is urging all associations, textile machinery manufacturers, brands and supply chain actors to stop investing in Turkmenistan's textile and apparel industry due to its alleged state-imposed forced labour within its Turkmen cotton production industry. Allison Gill, legal director at Global Labor Justice, which hosts the Cotton Campaign, said: The Italian co-hosts of this commercial delegation and the companies that are already doing business with Turkmen textile entities have failed to conduct even the most basic human rights due diligence in their selection of partners and are profiting from the forced labour of Turkmen workers. "To comply with responsible business conduct guidelines and regulations, and stop contributing to the exploitation of workers in Turkmenistan, all companies should terminate their direct and indirect business relationships with Turkmenistans textile industry. Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ITA and ACIMIT had not responded to Just Style's request for comment at the time of going to press. Ahead of the delegation trip ACIMIT's president Marco Salvade explained: "The purpose of this institutional mission is to create a favourable context for collaboration between our industry and the Turkmen textile sector. He added: "During this mission, we intend to showcase our technological offerings to textile operators, but above all, deepen contacts with local institutions, which have a strong influence in defining supply chain strategies. The ACIMIT also pointed out that for the Italian textile machinery industry, the Turkmen market has high growth potential. It stated: "Cotton is the third largest export product of the country, and local authorities aim to develop a robust textile industry capable of processing the locally grown raw material. Significant investments in new equipment will be necessary for the success of this development programme. To achieve this goal, the demand for textile machinery and technologies is rapidly increasing." It also pointed out that demand for Italian textile machinery from Turkmen companies went up substantially in 2023 with Italian exports increasing from 600,000 in 2022 to approximately 13m in 2023. Story continues However, the Cotton Campaign alleged that all cotton in Turkmenistan is produced by the state, with the systematic and widespread forced labour of state employees, and sometimes child labour. It claimed: "Turkmenistan does not import cotton, all machinery and equipment supplied to spinning mills, fabric mills, sewing units and other manufacturing facilities in the Turkmen textile industry facilitate the production of Turkmen cotton, which is entirely harvested with forced labour, into (semi-) finished goods." The Cotton Campaign also referred to the Italian delegation visit coinciding with the annual EU-Turkmenistan Human Rights Dialogue in Ashgabat with the presence of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Olof Skoog. It maintains the EU should use this platform to urge the elimination of forced labour and the development of an enabling environment for labour rights which is essential to fostering sustainable economic development. The Cotton Campaign identified that due to state-imposed forced labour in the cotton harvest and other human rights violations committed by the government of Turkmenistan, the EU Parliament did not ratify the EU-Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 2019, a decision which was reiterated in January 2024, when the Parliament emphasised that Turkmenistan needs to demonstrate an improvement in its dire democracy and human rights record in order for Parliament to reconsider its position and ratify the PCA. The Cotton Campaign alleged the credibility of the EU's position is undermined by the Italian Trade Agency, which is an Italian government agency, facilitating business engagement between Italian machine manufacturers and Turkmenistans textile industry. In May global fashion brands and retailers were asked to prohibit the use of Turkmenistan cotton after a new report alleged state employees were subjected to forced labour during the 2023 harvest. "Italy textile machinery sector criticised for Turkmenistan trade visit" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sweet Peachers Cobblers started as Denisha Jones attempt to guess her grandmothers cobbler recipe. After figuring out the missing ingredient and getting a shout-out on Facebook after a family dinner, more people wanted to taste it for themselves. But because of a lack of finances, Jones initially took only small steps to grow her business, which sells the desserts in grocery stores nationwide. In 2022, she won a grant through Kansas City G.I.F.T. Generating Income For Tomorrow, a program that provides financial assistance to Black-owned businesses. Along with the $25,000, she received support for creating a business plan, refining elevator pitches and working with an accountant. Because of that help, Jones said she was able to know how to educate herself on her business and present ideas to investors. Schools should require not only personal finance classes, but entrepreneurial skills like these to encourage students to develop ideas and know how to pursue them. In the beginning, I invested almost 50 grand myself, and I maxed out all of my credit cards, Jones said. I didnt realize it was gonna come back to bite me. Banks were hesitant to work with her because of the lack of credit, something she didnt know would be a problem. UnitedWe, a local nonprofit championing womens leadership, released a report from a focus group of 10 entrepreneurs. They found common barriers among them: bias, securing capital and accessing credit from banks. Jones is not alone in her confusion of the banking system. We should be preparing our high school students to face the banking system. On Tuesday, I attended an event where Kansas City-area entrepreneurs celebrated their success with UnitedWe and Takes Heart, an organization to bring women-owned businesses to the community. I spoke with the women about some of their biggest challenges: money and banks. There were terms I genuinely did not understand, Allie Lohman, co-founder of local nonprofit All For Moms Foundation, told me. She wrestled between paying someone to help her learn about funding or saving it for her nonprofit. How do you balance between $120 an hour to educate me, or do you save that for your community? she said. Lohmans organization aids mothers and their families by resetting their homes and cleaning clutter. But having taken one accounting class in college, she didnt know how to navigate the requirements for nonprofits to apply for grants. Neelima Parasker, the founder of SnapIT Solutions which creates learning and employment opportunities in the information technology field, said she would have benefited from more knowledge of funding from banks. Initially, Paraskers clients helped her sending early payments and continuing to use the service during COVID-19 when she wasnt getting funding from banks. She fronted her own money too, like many other entrepreneurs, because she didnt know how banks could assist her. Story continues What I came to know later is, the banks should have funded us, normally for other businesses, they are funding, Parasker said. Gender and racial biases are already barriers against women starting businesses. Their knowledge of banking and finance issues should not be another. In 2022, entrepreneurs and small businesses generated 66% of all new jobs in Kansas city, with an upward trend from recent years. Its not news that entrepreneurs help drive our economy. So we need to provide our current students with the skills to navigate some of the challenges with starting a business. Surprisingly, there are differences in how Missouri and Kansas approach K-12 financial education. According to the American Public Education Foundations Report Card, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education gets an A grade on financial literacy education. Kansas received a C. Kansas plans to implement a one-semester financial literacy graduation requirement starting with this years high school freshman, something Missouri has had since 2018. The required class is set to cover income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit and risk, similar to Missouri. But both states should include entrepreneurship in the curriculum. Entrepreneurs, especially women, experience barriers in attaining capital and support for their businesses, and would benefit from education on what they need to be successful. Knowing how to create a business plan and a pitch are important skills that will support the success of not only our future entrepreneurs, but all students. The South Korean stock market recently halted a two-day winning streak, reflecting a mix of pressures and supports within key sectors such as financials, chemicals, and automobiles. Amidst these fluctuations, the KOSPI index now hovers just above the 2,780-point mark with potential for varied movements depending on upcoming economic data releases. In such a market environment, growth companies with high insider ownership can be particularly compelling as they often signal strong confidence from those closest to the company's operations and future prospects. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In South Korea Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth ALTEOGEN (KOSDAQ:A196170) 26.6% 73.1% Fine M-TecLTD (KOSDAQ:A441270) 17.3% 36.4% Global Tax Free (KOSDAQ:A204620) 18.1% 72.4% HANA Micron (KOSDAQ:A067310) 20% 93.4% Park Systems (KOSDAQ:A140860) 33.1% 35.9% UTI (KOSDAQ:A179900) 34.1% 122.7% Vuno (KOSDAQ:A338220) 19.5% 103.8% Seojin SystemLtd (KOSDAQ:A178320) 26.4% 48.1% INTEKPLUS (KOSDAQ:A064290) 16.3% 77.4% Techwing (KOSDAQ:A089030) 18.7% 118.2% Click here to see the full list of 86 stocks from our Fast Growing KRX 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: Intops Co., Ltd. is a company based in South Korea that specializes in manufacturing and selling information and communication devices, with a market capitalization of approximately 393.82 billion. Operations: The firm specializes in the production and sales of information and communication devices. Insider Ownership: 34.8% Revenue Growth Forecast: 19.1% p.a. Intops, a South Korean company, is trading at 21% below its estimated fair value and shows promising growth with earnings expected to increase significantly over the next three years. Despite a slowdown in revenue growth to 19.1% per year, it still outpaces the local market's average of 10.5%. However, profit margins have dipped from 6.5% to 4.2% over the past year. Recent financials reveal a robust net income increase in Q1 2024 compared to the previous year, suggesting resilience amidst challenges. KOSDAQ:A049070 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Seegene, Inc., a global manufacturer and seller of molecular diagnostics products, has a market capitalization of approximately 924.88 billion. Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from the sale of diagnostic kits and equipment, totaling approximately 367.27 billion. Story continues Insider Ownership: 35.7% Revenue Growth Forecast: 13.1% p.a. Seegene, a South Korean biotech firm, is navigating a challenging phase with a shift from net income to a loss in Q1 2024 as sales slightly declined. Despite this, the company is poised for recovery with expected profitability and revenue growth surpassing the local market's average over the next three years. However, its recent dividend seems unsustainable given current earnings. Insider transactions have been minimal in recent months, indicating stable insider confidence amidst financial adjustments. KOSDAQ:A096530 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: i-SENS, Inc. is a South Korean company specializing in the development, manufacture, and sale of chemical and biosensors, with a market capitalization of approximately 518.69 billion. Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from the sale of diagnostic kits and equipment, totaling approximately 272.88 billion. Insider Ownership: 25.7% Revenue Growth Forecast: 16.1% p.a. i-SENS, a South Korean company, experienced a significant drop in net income to a loss of KRW 261.44 million in Q1 2024 from a substantial profit last year, despite nearly doubling its sales to KRW 413.85 million. The firm recently raised KRW 50 billion through private placements, indicating strong investor confidence and strategic growth funding. Forecasts suggest robust revenue growth at 16.1% annually and profitability within three years, although its return on equity is expected to remain low at 7.5%. KOSDAQ:A099190 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024 Make It Happen Reveal the 86 hidden gems among our Fast Growing KRX Companies With High Insider Ownership screener with a single click here. Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly. 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.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 KOSDAQ:A049070KOSDAQ:A096530KOSDAQ:A099190 and . Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com This inaugural event shone a spotlight on wealth management ecosystems both in Malaysia and Labuan IBFC KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Labuan IBFC Incorporated Sdn Bhd (Labuan IBFC Inc.), the official marketing agency for Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Malaysia (STEP Malaysia) hosted an event yesterday on wealth management and estate planning structures and solutions in Malaysia and Labuan IBFC, Asia's premier international financial hub at the Sime Darby Convention Centre. Datuk Iskandar Mohd Nuli, Labuan IBFC Inc. Executive Chairman cum CEO presenting his opening remarks at the event Themed Navigating Succession and Estate Planning in Malaysia and Labuan IBFC, the symposium witnessed the participation of more than 200 stakeholders comprising practitioners, investors and professional service providers from the wealth management and estate planning industry as well as representatives from regulatory bodies, government agencies and the media. The event comprised seven informative sessions captained by industry leaders across various segments in the wealth management and estate planning industry, comprising presentations and panel discussions. In his welcome address, Datuk Iskandar Mohd Nuli, Executive Chairman cum CEO of Labuan IBFC Inc. highlighted the potential of Labuan IBFC as a wealth management and estate planning hub. "Labuan IBFC possesses a complete ecosystem to support estate wealth management and estate planning. This includes a robust regulatory framework, adherence to international standards and best practices as well as wealth management service providers that are ever-ready to cater to the needs of HNWIs and families." He further added, "Labuan IBFC's most attractive proposition is the jurisdiction's cost-efficient structures to manage wealth." 2023 was a stellar year for Labuan IBFC's wealth management and estate planning segment. The segment witnessed the establishment of 25 new foundations, with the sector's assets under management experiencing a significant increase to USD817.9 million, corresponding to a 66% rise. Labuan IBFC is currently home to 226 foundations and 11 registered trusts, which highlights the jurisdiction's rising prominence as the region's preferred wealth management and estate planning domicile. "Malaysia and Labuan IBFC offer unique wealth management and estate planning solutions. Our dual legal system caters to the diverse needs of wealth owners of local and international origin, blending both legislative framework with Shariah and common law principles. Our multi-cultural and religious background and strong adherence to family values form the backbone for this rich diversity in our legacy planning considerations to serve the needs of families across generations" said Ms Farah Deba Mohamed Sofian, Chair of STEP Malaysia. Story continues The conference closed after engaging and fruitful discussions on estate planning fundamentals and taxation considerations to issues and strategies for family businesses, multi-generational wealth transfer practice in Malaysia, along with highlighting Labuan IBFC's unique wealth and estate planning and management offerings. The event also served as a platform for professionals to have meaningful exchanges on the benefits, challenges and prevailing trends in the wealth management industry. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/labuan-ibfc-inc-and-step-malaysia-jointly-host-wealth-management-and-estate-planning-event-302185462.html SOURCE Labuan IBFC Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise, advocated for scalable long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions to support the global energy transition at the Reset Connect conference in London on 25 June. According to the LDES Council, wind, solar and other renewables are becoming the most cost-effective power generation forms, but they require storage to align supply with demand. Meanwhile, grids have not kept pace with the exponential growth of renewables in Europe. Unable to manage new capacity, they have served instead as a bottleneck to expanding green power. LDES has often been broached as the solution. LDES can facilitate the transition to renewable energy in an affordable, reliable and sustainable manner. The RheEnergise CEO said at the conference that LDES will win out with a $4m market opportunity on the horizon, but it currently faces the challenge of low market awareness and rejected project proposals. However, Crosher told Power Technology that in terms of energy storage, we are just at the very beginning, we are just scratching the surface of the scaling challenge that is so phenomenally big. He considers energy storage an asset class instead of a generation or consumption asset, as it currently works as a counterfactual type of technology. However, when there is lots of demand on the grid, it is supplying your supply; when there is lack of demand on the grid, it is absorbing the excess generation, which is why recognition is what they seek, he clarified. According to the CEO, deploying demand in cleaner technologies like LDES can make thousands of sites available for projects and grid-scales, pushing up to 100MW of duration support. Today, there is [around] 200GW of energy storage capacity in the world. Most of the factories are rapidly deploying, but pump hydro [is] still the vast majority. To meet the demands of the energy transition, we need to increase this capacity to 2TW. This means we need to build ten-times the amount of energy storage, said Crosher, adding that the deployment rate needs to be 100-times faster than what we have now. RheEnergies recently announced a 10MW grid-scale project that could operate within two years. In May, the company announced the development of a new and advanced form of long-duration hydro-energy storage system and a first-of-a-kind demonstrator at Sibelcos mining operations at Cornwood, near Plymouth. The company reported that the storage system, paired with its High-Density Hydro demonstrator, which has a peak power production of 500kW, will assist Sibelcos mining operations during periods of high energy demand and contribute to the company's efforts to decarbonise its operations. Story continues Public and private investments To support LDES projects in the country, the UK Government announced more than 69m ($87.3m) of capital funding available across two competition streams in January 2024. This could reduce the amount of fossil fuel and low carbon generation that would otherwise be needed and optimise the output from renewables (rather than paying to turn off generators when there is excess supply), the statement said. It is always helpful to have a bankable market structure, Crosher says. However, according to the CEO, the mechanism is still very broad for energy assets like LDES, which scale largely. When you get longer hours, the number of times you can cycle those additional hours becomes quite small. So if the grid needs them, you [must] find mechanisms to pay for that longer duration, he added. When asked about the LDES market's expectations for big companies like bp and Shell, Crosher said that he feels sorry for them because they do not care about where they are getting their investment returns from in a timescale that is beneficial for them. He also feels sorry for them because they don't have a solution. According to the CEO, these companies know of battery or pumped hydro storage as solutions for preserving energy, but RheEnergies provides more options, he says. I can see viable. We can roll out at scale globally. Our job is to enable the energy majors to transition. "Long-duration energy storage a game-changer for net zero, says RheEnergise CEO " was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, 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 Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, PLS Plantations Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.59 With RM0.70 share price, PLS Plantations Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Industry average of 79% suggests PLS Plantations Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of PLS Plantations Berhad (KLSE:PLS) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for PLS Plantations Berhad The Method We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. 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) RM15.0m RM14.8m RM14.8m RM15.0m RM15.3m RM15.6m RM16.1m RM16.6m RM17.1m RM17.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -3.34% Est @ -1.27% Est @ 0.18% Est @ 1.19% Est @ 1.90% Est @ 2.39% Est @ 2.74% Est @ 2.98% Est @ 3.15% Est @ 3.27% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 8.6% RM13.8 RM12.5 RM11.6 RM10.8 RM10.1 RM9.5 RM9.0 RM8.5 RM8.1 RM7.7 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM102m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.6%. Story continues Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM18m (1 + 3.6%) (8.6% 3.6%) = RM359m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM359m ( 1 + 8.6%)10= RM157m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM259m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.7, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at PLS Plantations 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 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for PLS Plantations Berhad Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Opportunity Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine PLS' earnings prospects. Threat No apparent threats visible for PLS. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For PLS Plantations Berhad, we've put together three important factors you should further examine: Risks: Take risks, for example - PLS Plantations Berhad has 2 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad fair value estimate is RM1.65 Current share price of RM1.45 suggests Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value Peers of Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad are currently trading on average at a 127% premium Does the June share price for Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad (KLSE:POHUAT) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad The Model We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM39.1m RM38.7m RM38.8m RM39.3m RM40.0m RM41.0m RM42.1m RM43.4m RM44.8m RM46.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -3.13% Est @ -1.13% Est @ 0.28% Est @ 1.26% Est @ 1.95% Est @ 2.43% Est @ 2.76% Est @ 3.00% Est @ 3.16% Est @ 3.28% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM35.1 RM31.1 RM28.0 RM25.4 RM23.2 RM21.3 RM19.6 RM18.1 RM16.8 RM15.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM234m The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. 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 12%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM46m (1 + 3.6%) (12% 3.6%) = RM601m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM601m ( 1 + 12%)10= RM202m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM436m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM1.5, the company appears about fair value at a 12% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Poh Huat Resources 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 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.255. 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 Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad Strength Currently debt free. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat No apparent threats visible for POHUAT. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad, we've compiled three relevant items you should explore: Risks: As an example, we've found 2 warning signs for Poh Huat Resources Holdings Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does POHUAT's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Lundin Mining is weighing the potential sale of its Zinkgruvan and Neves-Corvo zinc mines in Sweden and Portugal, respectively, reported Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter. The sale forms part of the companys efforts to raise funds to invest in its copper assets in Argentina and Chile. Discussions are still preliminary and there is no guarantee that the company will move forward with a sale, the people said. Operational since 1857, the Zinkgruvan underground mine is located in the south-west of Stockholm. It reported production of 76,349t of zinc in 2023. The Neves-Corvo mine reported production of 108,812t of zinc and 33,823t of copper. The two mines together contributed 19% of Lundin's revenue in the previous year. The potential divestment also comes as Lundin Mining has been undergoing leadership changes and refocusing its business strategy. Lundin CEO Jack Lundin was cited by the news agency as saying: We have a strong balance sheet today, and we are not in a position where we need to divest out of any of our assets in our portfolio. We are not required to make a sale to make our ambitions in South America a reality. Lundin Mining was reportedly in talks to divest a stake of between 40% and 50% in the Josemaria mine in the San Juan province of Argentina to Japanese trading houses and large miners. The Josemaria copper-gold-silver project is wholly owned and operated by Lundin Minings Argentinian subsidiary Desarrollo de Prospectos Mineros. "Lundin Mining explores sale of Sweden and Portugal zinc mines" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. By Alimat Aliyeva South Korea will add another 243 items to the export control list for the supply of goods to Russia and Belarus, Azernews reports. Thus, the list of prohibited goods will expand to 1,402 items. It is expected that the changes will take effect by the end of August after completing the necessary procedures. The new restrictive measures will affect parts for optical devices and sensors, as well as metal-cutting equipment. It is noted that the general rule will be a ban on supply, but the government is ready to consider individual cases, including if the deal was concluded before the announcement of new sanctions measures. South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho Jin announced the expansion of export controls against Russia the day before. Jin cited the signing of the comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea as the main reason for this. The document was signed during the official visit of President Vladimir Putin to the DPRK on June 18-19. Cruise prices may look higher as of next week but that doesnt mean they are. California Senate Bill 478 also known as the Honest Pricing Law or Hidden Fees Statute will take effect Monday. The law bans businesses from listing or advertising a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges other than certain government taxes and shipping costs, according to an FAQ page from the states Office of the Attorney General. The statute does not change what price a business can charge or what may be included in that cost, the attorney general's office said. The law simply requires that the price listed include all mandatory charges. That is changing how many major cruise lines display their prices, and not just for travelers in the Golden State. The Norwegian Viva ship Which cruise lines will change how their pricing is listed? Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will update the way they display pricing in the U.S. Customers will now see pricing that is inclusive of their selected cruise fare and all required taxes and fees, a spokesperson for the brands parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. We are also supporting our travel partners across the country ahead of this upcoming change. Norwegian Cruise Line will do the same, incorporating applicable taxes, fees and port expenses into advertised prices in the U.S. and Canada by Monday.This change will only impact the way we display our prices and will not affect the prices that our guests pay to enjoy a cruise with us or the portion of the cruise fare that is commissionable for our travel partners, a spokesperson for the line said in an emailed statement. We are committed to delivering exceptional vacation experiences at every step of the cruise journey and we hope this change will provide our guests with a more satisfying booking experience. MSC Cruises added government fees and taxes to advertised overall prices for U.S. bookings on Wednesday. These costs are now seamlessly integrated into the total advertised price, providing a simple and transparent booking experience that will not impact the overall price paid by our guests, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. What are junk fees?: Travelers are drowning in them during the summer of surcharges Disney Cruise Line plans to comply with the law. Carnival Corp., which operates major lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and others, also made the change nationally to ensure consistency in advertised pricing, according to a spokesperson for the company.The great news is that the final price paid hasn't changed, simply the way it is displayed, they said in an emailed statement. Our cruise lines still deliver the same great, affordable value and unforgettable cruise experiences vacationers love.Several others already wrap those costs into their advertised prices, including the high-end Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises also part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Viking and Explora Journeys, the luxury brand from the MSC Group. Story continues Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why these major cruise lines are adding fees to displayed prices Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. Although, when we looked at Mandarin Oriental International (SGX:M04), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Mandarin Oriental International is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.033 = US$102m (US$3.7b - US$625m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023). So, Mandarin Oriental International has an ROCE of 3.3%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Hospitality industry average of 4.5%. Check out our latest analysis for Mandarin Oriental International roce Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Mandarin Oriental International's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Mandarin Oriental International's past further, check out this free graph covering Mandarin Oriental International's past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What Does the ROCE Trend For Mandarin Oriental International Tell Us? In terms of Mandarin Oriental International's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 6.3% over the last five years. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run. On a related note, Mandarin Oriental International has decreased its current liabilities to 17% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. Story continues What We Can Learn From Mandarin Oriental International's ROCE Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for Mandarin Oriental International. In light of this, the stock has only gained 3.1% over the last five years. So this stock may still be an appealing investment opportunity, if other fundamentals prove to be sound. Mandarin Oriental International does have some risks, we noticed 2 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about. For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity. 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 NCC has revealed that the Mariestad correctional facility project in Sweden is now progressing into the production phase. The construction company is building the project, which is part of a strategic framework agreement with Specialfastigheter signed in 2019. The Mariestad correctional facility is an investment by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service to address the growing demand for prison spaces in the country. The project is expected to include an additional Skr250m ($23.48m) beyond the initial Skr900m that was announced in 2022. NCC Building Sweden head Niklas Sparw said: Correctional facilities comprise large projects in which many societal functions must be contained within a limited area, which requires careful planning and advanced logistics. NCC always strives for synergies in our various assignments and brings valuable experience from projects similar to the Mariestad facility. The latest announcement follows a period of joint design and planning with Specialfastigheter and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. Set to be a closed institution, the facility will consist of three buildings, each housing 48 cells. Construction of the building is anticipated to be completed in early 2027. The additional funds for the Mariestad project will be recorded in the second quarter of 2024 under the NCC Building Sweden business area. This month, NCC has also entered into a long-term strategic partnership with LKAB, focusing on construction initiatives in the Malmfalten region of the country. LKAB is preparing for what is anticipated to be one of the largest industrial projects in the country's history. "Mariestad correctional facility project enters production phase" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, 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. Japanese beauty and healthcare retailer MatsukiyoCocokara has partnered with digital brand experience company Revieve to implement AI customer solutions. The three solutions, powered by Revieves beauty platform, are the digital skincare advisor, virtual try-on (VTO) and the digital haircare advisor. Shoppers can access skin, face, and hair analysis along with personalised product suggestions, to transform the online and in-store shopping experience into an immersive, interactive and seamless journey. The solutions have already been implemented in a two-phase rollout. The first phase saw the introduction of the skincare advisor and VTO at the MatsukiyoCocokaras Shibuya store in Tokyo. In the second phase, the solutions were released on the retailers new website, alongside the launch of the haircare advisor. MatsukiyoCocokara store staff will be equipped with tablets to offer personalised assistance to customers. The experience can also be accessed by scanning a QR code. MatsukiyoCocokara senior managing director Takashi Matsumoto explained: Historically, customers in Japan have primarily purchased cosmetics through physical stores. Our shared vision is to make online buying the new norm [and] for a more convenient purchasing method to become commonplace in Japan. GlobalDatas retail intelligence finds that of Japans key retail segments, the health and beauty sector is expected to record the fastest growth rate by 2027. "MatsukiyoCocokara leverages AI to transform Japanese beauty retail" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, 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. WASHINGTON (AP) Executive branch agencies will likely have more difficulty regulating the environment, public health, workplace safety and other issues under a far-reaching decision by the Supreme Court. The court's 6-3 ruling on Friday overturned a 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron that has instructed lower courts to defer to federal agencies when laws passed by Congress are not crystal clear. The 40-year-old decision has been the basis for upholding thousands of regulations by dozens of federal agencies, but has long been a target of conservatives and business groups who argue that it grants too much power to the executive branch, or what some critics call the administrative state. The Biden administration has defended the law, warning that overturning so-called Chevron deference would be destabilizing and could bring a convulsive shock to the nation's legal system. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the court, said federal judges must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority. The ruling does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron doctrine, Roberts wrote. Here is a look at the court's decision and the implications for government regulations going forward. What is the Chevron decision? Atlantic herring fishermen sued over federal rules requiring them to pay for independent observers to monitor their catch. The fishermen argued that the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act did not authorize officials to create industry-funded monitoring requirements and that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to follow proper rulemaking procedure. In two related cases, the fishermen asked the court to overturn the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine, which stems from a unanimous Supreme Court case involving the energy giant in a dispute over the Clean Air Act. That ruling said judges should defer to the executive branch when laws passed by Congress are ambiguous. In that case, the court upheld an action by the Environmental Protection Agency under then-President Ronald Reagan. In the decades following the ruling, Chevron has been a bedrock of modern administrative law, requiring judges to defer to agencies reasonable interpretations of congressional statutes. But the current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch have questioned the Chevron decision. Ironically, it was Gorsuch's mother, former EPA Administrator Anne Gorsuch, who made the decision that the Supreme Court upheld in 1984. Story continues What's at stake? With a closely divided Congress, presidential administrations have increasingly turned to federal regulation to implement policy changes. Federal rules impact virtually every aspect of everyday life, from the food we eat and the cars we drive to the air we breathe and homes we live in. President Joe Biden's administration, for example, has issued a host of new regulations on the environment and other priorities, including restrictions on emissions from power plants and vehicle tailpipes, and rules on student loan forgiveness, overtime pay and affordable housing. Those actions and others could be opened up to legal challenges if judges are allowed to discount or disregard the expertise of the executive-branch agencies that put them into place. With billions of dollars potentially at stake, groups representing the gun industry and other businesses such as tobacco, agriculture, timber and homebuilding, were among those pressing the justices to overturn the Chevron doctrine and weaken government regulation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief last year on behalf of business groups arguing that modern application of Chevron has fostered aggrandizement'' of the executive branch at the expense of Congress and the courts. David Doniger, a lawyer and longtime Natural Resources Defense Council official who argued the original Chevron case in 1984, said he feared that a ruling to overturn the doctrine could free judges to be radical activists who could effectively rewrite our laws and block the protections they are supposed to provide." The net effect will be to weaken our governments ability to meet the real problems the world is throwing at us big things like COVID and climate change, Doniger said. More than just fish This case was never just about fish,'' said Meredith Moore of the environmental group Ocean Conservancy. Instead, businesses and other interest groups used the herring fishery to attack the foundations of the public agencies that serve the American public and conserve our natural resources,'' she said. The court ruling will likely open the floodgates to litigation that could erode critical protections for people and the environment, Moore and other advocates said. "For more than 30 years, fishery observers have successfully helped ensure that our oceans are responsibly managed so that fishing can continue in the future,'' said Dustin Cranor of Oceana, another conservation group. He called the case "just the latest example of the far right trying to undermine the federal governments ability to protect our oceans, waters, public lands, clean air and health.'' West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey called the decision a fitting follow-up to a 2022 decision in a case he brought that limits the EPAs ability to control greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The court held that Congress must speak with specificity when it wants to give an agency authority to regulate on an issue of major national significance. Morrisey, now the GOP nominee for governor, called Chevron a misguided doctrine under which courts defer to legally dubious interpretations of statutes put out by federal administrative agencies. A shift toward judicial power The Supreme Court ruling will almost certainly shift power away from the executive branch and Congress and toward courts, said Craig Green, a professor at Temple Universitys Beasley School of Law. Federal judges will now have the first and final word about what statutes mean, he said. Thats a big shift in power. In what some observers see as a historic irony, many conservatives who now attack Chevron once celebrated it. The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was among those who hailed the original ruling as a way to rein in liberal laws. "Conservatives believed in this rule until they didn't,'' Green said in an interview. In recent years, conservatives have focused on "deconstruction of the administrative state,'' even if the result lessens the ability of a conservative president to impose his beliefs on government agencies. "If you weaken the federal government, you get less government,'' Green said an outcome that many conservatives, including those who back former President Donald Trump, welcome. The ruling will likely gum up the works for federal agencies and make it even harder for them to address big problems. Which is precisely what the critics of Chevron want," said Jody Freeman, director of the environmental and energy law program at Harvard Law School. US-based virtual care clinic Midi Health has entered into a partnership with Keck Medicine of USC to enhance access to specialised midlife care for women in the Los Angeles region. This collaboration aims to address the unmet healthcare needs of millions of American women experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms. The joint initiative will offer tailored care plans, leveraging protocols developed by experts in the field. Midi Health's patients will receive customised care plans based on their individual symptoms and health histories, with the added convenience of all services being covered by insurance and accessible via telehealth consultations. Hormonal changes during the menopause transition can lead to significant life disruptions for countless women, yet 75% of those who seek medical assistance fail to receive adequate advice and treatment. Keck Medicine of USC and Midi Health noted that they will reduce this number by providing top-tier care to the women of Los Angeles dealing with such issues. The partnership ensures that Midi's virtual clinic patients maintain a strong connection to the care and expertise of their Keck Medicine-affiliated physicians. USC Care and Keck Medicine of USC ambulatory services CEO Smitha Ravipudi said: We know there is a great need for expanded access to specialised perimenopause and menopause care for women, and we look forward to working with Midi Health to deliver customised care plans that address women's unique health needs at this stage of life. Midi Health CEO and co-founder Joanna Strober said: We are excited to collaborate with Keck Medicine of USC as we work to address the unmet needs of millions of women who experience symptoms of menopause. This programme gives women access to the care they deserve, at a crucial stage in their lives. In April this year, Midi Health secured $60m in a Series B funding round to facilitate its efforts to improve womens healthcare. Emerson Collective spearheaded the funding round, which included contributions from Google Ventures. The investment took the companys total funding to $100m since its founding in 2021. "Midi Health and Keck Medicine partner to improve midlife healthcare for women" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, 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. A Texas millennial is making six figures by secretly working two remote jobs, but he said it's taken a toll on his health and relationships. The worker in the story is not pictured. nicolesy/Getty Images A Texas millennial is on track to earn nearly $350,000 this year secretly working two remote jobs. Despite holding two jobs simultaneously, he typically only worked about 50 hours a week. He's considering giving up overemployment because it's taken a toll on his health and relationships. In 2021, Phil saw the workload at his software engineering job reduced considerably. He began wondering what he could do with the extra time on his hands. Soon, an idea came to mind: He might be able to juggle two remote roles simultaneously. "Since many jobs were remote at that time, I thought of trying my luck," Phil, who's in his 30s and based in Texas, told Business Insider via email. His identity is known to BI, but he asked to use a pseudonym due to fears of professional repercussions. After a couple of months, he landed a second full-time role and didn't tell either employer about his "overemployment." Secretly working two jobs has made a big impact on Phil's finances. He's on track to make nearly $350,000 this year, according to documents viewed by Business Insider. Roughly $150,000 of this would come from his second employer a subsidiary of a US-based company that pays him in a foreign currency. He said being overemployed made it possible for him to allocate nearly $75,000 to his retirement funds last year. Having a second gig has also provided Phil with valuable job security. Last year, he said he was among the thousands of IT and tech workers who were laid off, but he had another paycheck to rely on until he found a new "job two." What's more, he said he hasn't typically worked more than 50 hours a week across his two jobs. But despite all these benefits, Phil is considering quitting his second job sometime this year, in part because he said job juggling has taken a toll on his physical and mental health, as well as his personal life. "Overemployment definitely helps as far as financial security is concerned," he said. "But that comes with a cost." Phil is among the Americans who have secretly worked multiple remote jobs to boost their incomes and job security. BI has interviewed over 20 of these job jugglers, many of whom work in the IT and tech industries. These people have made as much as $1 million a year across their jobs and used their earnings to pay off student debt, save for retirement, and afford expensive vacations and weight-loss drugs. While some companies may be OK with their workers taking on a second job, doing this without approval could have negative repercussions. Additionally, intense competition for remote roles, return-to-office mandates, and burnout have led some job jugglers to question whether overemployment is sustainable. Story continues Phil shared his top tips for managing two full-time jobs, the biggest downsides of this lifestyle, and why he might give it up. Doing the "bare minimum" and limiting meetings are keys After he started job juggling in 2021, Phil said he began looking for information online about whether secretly working multiple remote jobs was legal and whether anyone else was doing the same thing. That's when he first learned about the "overemployed community." There are over 300,000 members of the subreddit r/overemployed where workers share tips for finding jobs and avoiding detection. "To my surprise, I saw that people were doing up to five parallel jobs, netting home over $1 million," he said. Over the past few years, Phil has maintained the same primary job or "job one" but cycled through a few secondary roles. He quit one because he needed a break and was laid off from another. For a couple of months, he said he tried juggling three jobs at once until the workload proved to be too much. When it comes to finding remote jobs, Phil said he's generally used LinkedIn and the remote-specific job board We Work Remotely. When it comes to managing multiple jobs, Phil said there's one big key: time management. Phil's strategy has been to do the "bare minimum" at both of his jobs, which he said has been necessary from a time management perspective. He said he avoids meetings he thinks are "useless" and sometimes double-books these meetings across both employers to save time. "Having two 40-hour-a-week jobs doesn't mean you have to work 80 hours a week," he said. "You have to be smart enough to do more in less time." If you want to advance in a career and stay at a company for a long time, overemployment isn't for you, Phil said. "If you consider work to be just a means to get financial security and are happy to see others get promoted while you are just meeting the expectations at both the jobs, then it's a good idea." Why overemployment might not be sustainable Phil said overemployment has come with a few big costs. First, he's found it difficult to focus on any single job, which he thinks has affected his work quality. "I was more worried about doing the bare minimum at both the places to survive," he said. Second, he said the longer working hours which have occasionally extended to as many as 60 or 70 hours a week have been draining and left him with less time to focus on his relationships. "It takes a toll on your health," he said. "Anything up to 50 hours a week is sustainable for me and that is what I would suggest for most people." It's for these reasons that Phil said he's considering giving up overemployment this year. Before anyone starts job juggling, he recommends they consider the impact it could have not just on their finances but also on other areas of their lives. "Look at your life as a whole and not just from a work-money point of view," he said. Are you working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to provide details about your pay and schedule? Are you a manager who has experience with overemployed employees? If so, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider In this article, we will reveal the most futuristic city in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to the 25 Most Futuristic Cities in the US. The most futuristic cities in the US are leading the way in using new technologies to improve urban living. They are using Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), green energy, and smart infrastructure to build sustainable cities. These cities connect buildings, vehicles, and devices through IoT networks, promote electric vehicles, and use smart public transportation systems. The push for green energy solutions like electric vehicles is important, as the United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that an average passenger vehicle emits approximately 4.6 metric tons of CO2 annually. This estimate is based on the assumption that the average gasoline-powered vehicle currently on the road achieves about 22.2 miles per gallon and travels around 11,500 miles per year. Each gallon of gasoline burned produces about 8,887 grams of CO2. Recognizing the harmful effects of pollution, cities worldwide are moving towards sustainable solutions to protect the environment. According to Business Fortune Insights, the worldwide market for Green Technology and Sustainability is expected to increase from $19.76 billion in 2024 to $89.9 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.9% throughout the forecast period. The growth in green technology is driven by the increasing use of Green AI across various sectors. For instance, a data center can consume as much electricity as 50,000 homes, but Green AI enhances energy efficiency by adjusting cooling systems based on real-time data analysis. An example is Google's DeepMind AI, which optimizes data center cooling by analyzing data from multiple sensors. This can help reduce energy consumption by up to 40%. Furthermore, this growth is supported by key industry players developing sustainable solutions. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is a popular example, producing electric vehicles and solar panels through its Tesla Energy Solutions division. Heres what Baron Funds said about Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) in its Q1 2024 investor letter: Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles (EVs), related software and components, and solar and energy storage products. Shares fell 29.3% in the first quarter as the core automotive segment is facing headwinds due to a complex macroeconomic environment, factory shutdowns, growing competitive risks in China, and vehicle price reductions which are pressuring gross margins. During the first quarter of 2024, production was also negatively impacted by the Red Sea maritime supply[1]chain interferences, sabotage in a Tesla factorys power supply in Berlin, and a factory closure for the launch of the refreshed Model 3. We remain shareholders. Tesla commenced delivery of its highly anticipated Cybertruck pickup, which features new technologies within the car and its manufacturing lines. Tesla also launched version 12 of its Full Self Driving product, which shows significant progress from prior versions and increases the probability that Teslas data collection at scale, and verticalized software and hardware approach will position Tesla as a leader in the future for autonomous driving and shared mobility. We also expect energy storage sales to continue to grow over the coming years as the adoption of renewable energy continues. Lastly, we believe Teslas core automotive segment will recover with the company remaining a leader in the EV market, which continues to expand with EVs still accounting for only around 10% of vehicle sales globally. Story continues The Most Futuristic City in the US A futuristic multi-server data center, symbolizing the advanced multicloud services. Our Methodology To shortlist the 25 most futuristic cities in the US, we used a consensus methodology and consulted various sources such as Business Insider, BDC Network, Earth.Org, and WealthManagement. We collected information across various metrics related to sustainability, technology, and advanced infrastructure for each of the cities. Following the shortlisting of the cities, we assigned a score to each city based on the number of times it appeared across our sources. In the case of cities having the same score, tiebreaking was done on the basis of which city was outranking the other in our sources. The most futuristic cities in the US have been ranked in ascending order of their scores. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). The Most Futuristic City in the US San Francisco, California Score: 4 San Francisco has approximately 119 B corporations, featuring prominent apparel companies such as Birdies Inc. and Athleta. The city also recorded an increase in its median download speed from 92.3 Mbps in 2022 to 133.4 Mbps in 2023, reflecting an increase of 44.5%. The city supports sustainable transportation with 443 EV charging stations, one of the highest numbers in the area. Moreover, all residents in San Francisco have access to a park within a 10-minute walk, and 20% of the city's land is dedicated to parks and recreation. These factors highlight San Francisco's commitment to sustainability, urban livability, and a business community that values environmental and social responsibility. Discover which city secured the second spot. You can visit the 25 Most Futuristic Cities in the US here. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the most futuristic cities in the US to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Disclosure: None. 25 Most Futuristic Cities in the US is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we will reveal the most technologically advanced city in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to the 20 Most Technologically Advanced Cities in the US. The United States is a leader in technological advancement, with trends such as Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain gaining popularity. The tech industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy. It is valued at approximately $1.6 trillion and contributes over 10% to the countrys GDP as of 2024. The tech industry is the second-largest industry in the U.S., with 56% of its market comprised of hardware, software, and services. As of 2019, the U.S. was home to 557,000 tech firms and 13,400 startups, which has driven the net tech employment rate to 7.9% of the total American workforce. The industry is projected to grow by 5% in 2024. The growth of the tech industry is leading to many benefits for the workforce. In 2023, the median annual salary for a tech employee was $104,000, significantly higher than the median of $48,060 for other jobs. The demand for computer and information technology jobs is expected to rise significantly over the next decade. From 2022 to 2032, an estimated 377,500 positions in this field will become available each year. The roles experiencing the fastest growth include information security analysts, with a projected 32% increase, software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers, anticipated to grow by 25%, and computer and information research scientists, expected to see a 23% rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 3% increase in employment across all occupations in the U.S. from 2022 to 2032. However, the computer and information technology sector is predicted to grow at a much faster rate of 14%. Within this sector, information security analysts are projected to have 16,800 job openings annually over the next decade, while software developers and related roles are expected to record 153,900 annual job openings. According to PwC's 2023 global workforce survey, tech employees also report greater job satisfaction compared to workers in other fields. While 56% of the overall respondents expressed satisfaction with their jobs, the figure rose to 64% among those working in the tech industry. The United States is home to some of the major tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta, with a combined worth of over $4 trillion. In the first quarter of 2024, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.53, higher than the estimates of $1.51. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has managed to beat the EPS estimates in the consecutive last 4 quarters. Story continues Here's what RiverPark Advisors said about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in its Q1 2024 investor letter: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL): Apple shares were a top detractor in the quarter. The companys stock was pressured by negative news items including a government antitrust case, an Apple Watch patent dispute, and slowing China iPhone sales. Ultimately the companys fiscal 1Q24 earnings report delivered a slightly better than expected quarter, but with guidance that disappointed investors. 1Q24 revenue and gross margin were better than feared, buoyed by stronger than expected worldwide iPhone sales which grew 6% despite a slight decline in China iPhone sales. Services revenue in the quarter was as expected and signaled the third quarter in a row of accelerating growth. Gross margins were also stronger than expected at 45.9%, the highest level in more than a decade. Guidance of $90 billion of revenue for 2Q24 was light however, due to weaker than expected iPhone sales in the current period and year-over-year declines in other hardware products facing difficult year-over year comps. Although near-term trends are a bit muted, Apple is carrying lean inventory into an iPhone refresh cycle later this year. With an installed base of 2.2 billion active devices and significant growth of the companys recurring revenue Services segment, we believe that Apple remains one of the most innovative, best positioned, and most profitable companies in the mobile technology industry. The Most Technologically Advanced City in the US Copyright: melpomen / 123RF Stock Photo Our Methodology To shortlist the 20 most technologically advanced cities in the US, we began by identifying cities with a population greater than 500,000. Then, we evaluated cities based on various metrics such as their technology infrastructure, including broadband access and smart city initiatives. Cities were assessed for the presence of innovation hubs, research institutions, and incubators/accelerators to gauge the innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, we also looked at the presence of tech companies, IT job openings, and tech events and conferences across cities. For the purpose of ranking, we opted for a consensus-based approach. We assigned a score to each city based on the number of times it appeared across our credible sources, including CBRE, Business Insider, Digi International, and WeAreDevelopers. In the case of cities having the same score, tiebreaking was done on the basis of which city was outranking the other in our sources. The most technologically advanced cities in the US have been ranked in ascending order of their scores. The Most Technologically Advanced City in the US San Francisco, CA Score: 4 San Francisco, CA hosts influential companies such as Salesforce and Udemy, which have made significant global impacts. Silicon Valley, located approximately 40 miles south of the San Francisco Bay Area, is renowned as the epicenter of tech innovation, housing 38 Fortune 500 companies including Apple, Google, and Intel as of 2020. For the 10th consecutive year, the San Francisco Bay Area maintains its leading position in CBRE's 2022 Scoring Tech Talent report as the top market for tech talent. The tech labor market in the San Francisco Bay Area is the largest, with 378,870 workers, reflecting a 13% rise since 2016. This region leads in tech talent employment as its tech industry employs two-thirds of the workforce, beating the 41% national average by a significant margin. Discover which city secured the second spot. You can visit 20 Most Technologically Advanced Cities in the US here. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the most technologically advanced cities in the US to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion Opportunity for NVIDIA and Jim Cramer is Recommending These 10 Stocks in June. Disclosure: None. 20 Most Technologically Advanced Cities in the US here is originally published on Insider Monkey. Laman Ismayilova The 187th birthday anniversary of Hasan Bay Zardabi, a prominent figure in Azerbaijan's history, is celebrated today, Azernews reports. His name is associated with the creation of the Azerbaijani theatre, the press, an advanced educational system, and the first charitable society. Known as the founder of Azerbaijan's national press and a distinguished educator, Zardabi's legacy continues to be honoured with deep respect and admiration. Born on June 28, 1837, in the village of Zardab in the Goychay district, Zardabi's early education began in a mollakhana and later continued in Tbilisi, where he completed his secondary education before graduating from Moscow University. For many years, Hasan Bay Zardabi tried to implement his idea - publishing a newspaper in the Azerbaijani language. He brought the necessary equipment from Istanbul and after some time, having overcome all difficulties, on July 22, 1875, "Akinchi" was published in the provincial printing house in Baku - the first newspaper in the Azerbaijani language, writing about a variety of news from local life and giving advice in the field of agriculture and medicine , hygiene. Although short-lived, this publication marked a significant milestone in Azerbaijani journalism. One of the main tasks of "Akinchi" from the first day was the dissemination of knowledge in the field of agriculture, various information about the latest methods of soil fertilisation, and the use of improved agricultural tools. In addition, the publication gave a lot of advice on medicine, hygiene, and physiology. But most importantly, serious articles were published about the reasons for the backwardness of the population. The newspaper received a great response: in a matter of days, its first issue was distributed not only in Azerbaijan, but also in Russia. The newspaper was initially published twice a month with a circulation of 300-400. Collaborating with Najaf Bay Vazirov and Asgar Agha Adigozalov, Zardabi played a pivotal role in staging Mirza Fatali Akhundzade's comedies "Haji Kara" and "Lankaran Khan's Vizier" in 1873. Notably, in 1901, he played a crucial role in establishing the first school for Azerbaijani girls in Baku. On July 22, 1875, Zardabi made history by launching the first national newspaper in Azerbaijan, "Akinchi." Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, Zardabi continued to contribute scholarly articles in Azerbaijani and Russian languages to various newspapers, including "Ziya," "Kashkul," "Kaspi," and "Novoye obozreniye," published in Baku and Tbilisi. In his later years, Zardabi dedicated his efforts to the educational department of the Baku City Duma. He passed away on November 28, 1907, and was laid to rest near the Old Bibiheybat Mosque. In 1957, his grave was relocated to Fakhri Alley, a testament to his enduring legacy. Today, institutions such as the Azerbaijan Museum of Natural History and the Ganja Pedagogical Institute proudly bear his name, ensuring that Hasan Bay Zardabi's contributions to Azerbaijani culture and education are remembered for generations to come. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Edith Wanjiku holds onto one of the few photos shes left with of her teenage son Ibrahim Kamau. His life was cut short by two gunshot wounds to his neck that were sustained during Kenyas deadly protests on Tuesday in which more than 20 people were killed. The 19-year-old Kamau was among thousands of protesters who stormed parliament while calling for legislators to vote against a finance bill that would increase taxes. Police opened fire and several people were killed on the spot. Kamau had just completed high school and planned to study electrical work. He was operating a motorcycle taxi while he waits to join college, Wanjiku told The Associated Press during her sons funeral on Friday. Kamau was the first victim of Tuesday's protests to be buried in a Muslim ceremony that was attended by hundreds, including the area's member of parliament, Yusuf Hassan. As Wanjiku stood outside the Muslim cemetery in Nairobis Kariakor neighborhood, she was overwhelmed by emotions and had to be whisked away to sit down. It is so painful. Im still in disbelief and keep hoping he will wake up, she says. The mother of four struggled to educate Kamau and his older sister by doing menial work while living in Nairobis Biafra slum. I dont even have many photos of him, because I lost them when our house burned down some years back, she says. Tuesdays deadly protests were called by young people who felt let down by legislators who voted for a controversial finance bill during its second reading. They had hoped to convince the legislators not to pass the bill in the final vote and when it sailed through, they stormed into parliament and burnt part of the building. Human rights groups have accused police of brutality and killings during the protests. The policing oversight body IPOA on Wednesday released preliminary findings on investigations into police conduct during the protests that showed plainclothes officers shooting at protesters. The body has summoned some officers to record statements. Another victim of Tuesdays shooting, Ian Keya, has undergone surgery at a hospital in Nairobi but he may never walk again, his brother told the AP on Friday. Keya was shot in his back three times by a plainclothes officer, according to witnesses who told his brother. The shots were close range, and one may have damaged his kidney while the other hit the spine, his brother, Edward, told the AP. The discontent among young people is growing despite President William Ruto saying he wouldn't sign the contentious bill and sending it back to parliament for deletion of clauses that would increase taxes on common goods like imported eggs, sanitary towels and diapers to meet a budget deficit. Story continues Ruto was elected in 2022 on a platform of change and hope for young people. He promised to lower the cost of living, but his move to increase taxes in the 2023 finance bill and this recent one has made him unpopular. His deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, on Wednesday questioned how a government that was a darling of the people became so unpopular to cause an assault on parliament. The president and his deputy are now banking on dialogue to provide an opportunity for young people to express their concerns and make suggestions. But the Generation Z movement that called the protests is leaderless and it remains unclear how the dialogue will be had. Ruto on Wednesday announced austerity measures that include the cutting down of his own travel and hospitality budget, which has been a major concern for the young people struggling to get by. For Wanjiku, all she wants is, justice for my son and for the president to ensure no one else is killed in this country. (Bloomberg) -- Nokia Oyj has agreed to buy Infinera Corp. in a $2.3 billion deal that will expand the companys networking products for data centers and increase its presence in the US, a potentially key source of growth as the boom in artificial intelligence drives demand for server capacity. Most Read from Bloomberg AI is driving significant investments in data centers at the moment, and one of the key attractions of this acquisition is that it significantly increases our exposure to data centers, Nokia Chief Executive Officer Pekka Lundmark said in a call with reporters on Friday. Infineras exposure to server-to-server communications inside data centers is particularly attractive because that will be one of the fastest growing segments in the overall communications technology market. The takeover will value the optical telecommunications makers equity at $6.65 per share, the companies said in a statement late on Thursday. At least 70% of the deal will be paid in cash, with the rest consisting of Nokias American depositary shares, according to the statement, which confirmed an earlier report by Bloomberg News. Infineras stock had risen 15% over the past 12 months, giving the company a market value of about $1.2 billion. The shares, which closed Thursday at $5.26 each, jumped about 20% in premarket trading on Friday before exchanges opened in the US. Nokia shares rose 1.1% to 3.54 at 12:11 p.m. in Helsinki. Sales at Nokia and its rival Ericsson AB have been hit by a dramatic pullback in mobile network spending as the industry struggles to recoup investments. Nokia also suffered a major blow when Ericsson secured a $14 billion contract with AT&T Inc. in December to build an OpenRAN network, a technology thats more cloud friendly and opens networks up more than previous, heavily integrated solutions. This deal, Nokias biggest since the 10.6 billion ($11.4 billion) takeover of Alcatel-Lucent in 2016, will help build up the fixed network business that the company expects will drive a pickup in the second half of the year as customers increase orders for technology used in cloud infrastructure. Infinera and its competitors have also been suffering from weaker spending. The company reported that revenue fell by about a third between the fourth quarter and first quarter this year and it swung to a net loss, missing analysts estimates in its May financial results. Larger rivals Cisco Systems Inc. and Ciena Corp. also reported contracting revenue in the most recent quarter. Story continues Still, Infinera said it won a significant new customer and CEO David Heard said the business is positioned to take advantage of key shifts in the industry, including the proliferation of data centers and AI workloads. This is optimal timing, buying something just before the market starts to recover, Lundmark said in an interview on Friday. The optical market has been weak, for the past two years though Nokia and analysts are predicting the market will recover in 2025, he said. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says: Ciena and Cisco may face stiffer competition in the high-speed data-center interconnect market from a Nokia-Infinera combination. The deal gives Nokia market-leading high-speed optical technologies that position it better with cloud accounts, while alleviating Infineras balance-sheet concerns, giving it resources to acquire telecom and cloud customers. Woo Jin Ho, BI Senior Industry Analyst for Technology Nokia also said in a separate statement on Thursday that the French government planned to purchase its Alcatel Submarine Networks unit, which has an enterprise value of 350 million. The company, which largely operated independently and had a much longer sales cycle, did not fit well into the rest of Nokias operations, Lundmark said in an interview on Friday. The sale allows the company to focus and strengthen the network infrastructure unit. PJT Partners served as financial adviser to Nokia, while Infinera was advised by Centerview Partners LLC. --With assistance from Dinesh Nair, Kati Pohjanpalo and Michelle F. Davis. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. When armed Houthi rebels first descended from a helicopter to hijack the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on 19 November, few could have pre-empted the global fallout in freight rates, shipping routes, and crew safety that would follow. Seven months of Houthi attacks later, western shipping companies are frantically pursuing alternatives to the Suez Canal and Red Sea route, which saves more than a week in voyage time between Europe and Asia. Circumnavigating the Cape of Good Hope has been the most common approach, with container journeys around Africa skyrocketing since last October. But adding roughly 11,300km to already considerable distances is far from a feasible long-term solution. Russia has looked to take advantage of the Red Sea disruption to turn the Northern Sea Route (NSR) into a new Suez Canal. For years, NSR activity has been rising. In 2021, around two million tonnes of cargo passed through the NSR, a record level of international transit until all shipping in the Arctic came to a complete halt following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent US and European sanctions. For the first time in 15 years, there were no international transits through the NSR, even by Chinas state-owned COSCO. Arctic routes are now returning, driven by Russian and Chinese momentum and a global obsession with the regions vast untapped natural resources; an estimated 13% of the worlds undiscovered oil and 30% of undiscovered natural gas. Earlier this month, Russian state nuclear agency Rosatom signed an agreement with Chinese line Hainan Yangpu New Shipping to potentially operate a year-round NSR through the Arctic Circle. The deal also involves collaboration in the design and construction of new ice-class container ships. According to the Russian Governments plans, if companies follow through on projects involving liquefying natural gas, precious metals, gas condensate, coal, oil, and other commodities, 80 million tonnes of cargo per year could be shipped via the NSR between Europe and Asia by the end of 2024. All of this comes amid Moscows wider plans to invest around 20bn ($21.39bn) up to 2035 on the NSR development project. A route suited for Russian icebreakers Three shadows linger over the NSRs commercial viability: ecology, geopolitics, and cybersecurity. Ecologically, there are physical challenges the Arctic Circle poses to vessels attempting to traverse its icy terrain. In the North Pole, sea ice covers the largest area at the end of winter (in March), and thaws to its smallest area in September each year. Story continues Climate change, however, is occurring four times faster in the Arctic Circle than anywhere else on the planet. Vast chunks of Arctic ice are melting due to rising temperatures, a phenomenon that the shipping industry plays its own part in, accounting for 3% of global carbon emissions. Even as the Arctics annual ice-free window for transits elongates each year, the NSR is not yet a viable alternative, according to Isabel Hilton, visiting professor at Kings College London. Ships must travel more slowly in the Arctic environment and strengthened hulls and ice-breaker escorts remain important despite the rising Arctic temperatures and the rapid melting of the sea ice, Hilton tells Offshore Technology. Despite its potential, most of the commercial traffic so far on this route has been LNG heading from Russian facilities to Japan and China in specialist vessels. Russia's single-deck icebreaker Mudyug in the ship fairway of Kanonersky Island, St. Petersburg. Credit: Artem Priakhin/Getty Images Icebreakers are still a necessity in the Arctic. Russia has consolidated its monopoly over the NSR by growing its fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers the only such fleet in the world. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has openly recognised the gulf in icebreaker capabilities compared to Russia, which boasts at least 28 icebreakers to Washingtons two. Last year, Russian authorities docked the nuclear-powered Sevmor, a 34,600-deadweight tonnage (dwt) vessel carrying up to 1,324 TEU. The ship will serve on the NSR, while Russia has also commissioned a new nuclear-powered icebreaker Ural (7,154 dwt) alongside it. The sheer size of the Arctic shorelines along the NSR poses a separate issue, as does the inhospitable nature of the region. Part of Russias investment has funded an increase in the number of Arctic ports of call from four to 11, authorities say, with the NSR extended to the far eastern city of Vladivostok. Between Murmansk and the Bering Strait, however, the NSR passes along 2,500 miles of nearly desolate Siberian tundra, where the lack of port infrastructure along the route results in ships being unable to receive assistance in the case of a breakdown or damage. Operating in such remote regions under harsh conditions also results in higher insurance premiums for cargo ship operators, albeit not to the extent of Red Sea freight prices. The NSR is a Sino-Russo-dominated theatre The second cloud lingering over the NSRs internationalisation is geopolitical. With Russian officials still divided over legislature which would authorise foreign flagged vessels transit, will the NSR ever become commercially viable for shipping companies harking from Western countries at odds with Moscow and Beijing? Amid Russias sustained offensive into Ukraine and increasing ostracisation from the US and European nations, the likelihood is low. In a similar expansionist spirit, analysts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies say Russian President Vladimir Putin personally identifies with Russias Arctic ambitions, seeking to use the narrative of man conquering nature as a cornerstone of contemporary Russian nationalism. To do so, Russia looks to its allies: primarily China. Chinese premier Xi Jinping has made no secret of his interest in the NSR, says Hilton, who is also the founder of China Dialogue. Chinas interest has been further fuelled by the blockage of the Suez Canal by the stranded Ever Given in 2021 and the recent upsurge of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Hilton tells Offshore Technology. China, with its close connection with Iran, has suffered less than others, but accidents can happen. Russian and Chinese state energy, shipping and logistics companies have struck various NSR deals under the guise of allies Vladimir Putin (left) and Xi Jinping (right). Credit: Alexey Druzhinin/Getty Images While Putins tactics have been explicit and offensive, bulking out Russias vast icebreaker fleet and building ports along the NSR, Beijings approach has been subtler. Geographically speaking, Chinese coastlines do not border the Arctic. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) does not claim sovereignty on under-continental shelves or water in the region but defines itself as a Near-Arctic State in a push for governance. Chinas access to the Arctic waters is also closely connected to its relationship with Russia, which is currently warm but historically a mixed picture, Hilton adds. China is playing a long game in its strategic thinking as an observer in the Arctic Council and an active participant in polar research and in discussions on fishing and mineral extraction, and although a year-round NSR is still some years away, China aims to be well positioned when it happens. Such dominance is unlikely to see equivalent involvement from the US or Western allies, although some Russia and China-friendly states will look to benefit from the two powers NSR project, as seen last year when Dubais DP World struck an NSR shipping deal with Rosatom. A hotbed of Forest Blizzard cyberattacks The predominant doubts around the NSR are ecological and geopolitical, but a third issue lies in the murky world of cybersecurity. So far in 2024, there has been a drastic spike in cyberattacks targeting vessels in the Barents Sea, the boundary of which (the Kara Strait) marks the start of the NSR. The Russian Military Intelligence Services (GRU) Forest Blizzard is a primary threat actor. According to Norwegian cybersecurity firm NORMA Cyber, cyber espionage operations in the region are targeting the logistics, transportation, and energy sectors. A high concentration of maritime infrastructure-targeting cyberattacks have been focused on the Barents Sea, which borders the Kara Strait and the start of the NSR. Credit: NORMA Cyber's Annual Threat Assessment 2024 Also known as Fancy Bear or APT28, Forest Blizzard is built around network reconnaissance, using port-scanning, brute force, or password spraying activity to identify vulnerabilities or steal credentials for further cyber operations. Much of this activity, particularly GPS jamming, has reportedly originated from bases in the Gulf of Finland, likely from the Russian island of Gogland. This data is based on government tracking and reports by ship operators, which belong to the Norwegian Shipowners Association, a NORMA Cyber official tells Offshore Technology. A NORMA Cyber official analyses the cybercrime groups targeting shipping companies with ransomware attacks in Oslo, Norway, on 12 June 2024. Credit: Alex Blair While serious incidents have largely been avoided, this hotbed of hostile cyber activity on the southern edge of the NSR may be enough to make cargo operators think twice before jetting off into its already hazardous waters. Should melting ice and Red Sea turbulence continue or escalate shipping firms will be forced to find alternatives to the Suez Canal. But, while Russia and China continue to convert grand NSR ambitions into action, the routes commercial viability, at least globally, remains limited by ecological obstacles, geopolitical tensions and uncurbed cyber threats. "Will the Northern Sea Route become commercially viable in the near future?" 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. NovaGold Resources Inc. (AMEX:NG) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript June 27, 2024 Operator: Thank you for standing by. This is the conference operator. Welcome to the NOVAGOLD 2024 Second Quarter Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast. As a reminder, all participants are in listen-only mode, and the conference is being recorded. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to turn the conference over to Melanie Hennessey, Vice President, Corporate Communications. Please go ahead. Melanie Hennessey: Good morning, Ashia. We are pleased that you have joined us for NOVAGOLD's second quarter financial results and also for an update on the Donlin Gold project. On today's call, we have NOVAGOLD's President and CEO, Greg Lang; and David Ottewell, NOVAGOLD's Vice President and CFO. At the end of the webcast, we will take questions by phone. Additionally, we will respond to questions received by e-mail. I would like to remind you, as stated on Slide 3, any statements made today may contain forward-looking information, such as projections and goals, which are likely to involve risks detailed in our various EDGAR and SEDAR filings and forward-looking disclaimers included in this presentation. I will now turn the presentation over to our President and CEO, Greg Lang. Greg? Greg Lang: Thank you, Melanie, and good morning, everyone. Let's begin today's call by highlighting why both we and our shareholders regard Donlin Gold as a Tier 1 asset. I want to emphasize our investment thesis and why assets, such as Donlin, are increasingly vital to the industry. Let's discuss the impressive attributes of the Donlin Gold project, as shown on Slide 5. First, the project boasts almost 40 million ounces of gold and a grade of over 2 grams per tonne, which is more than double the industry average. The projected mine life is almost three decades based on -- only on our current resources. This ensures a long-term, stable operation. Moreover, Donlin Gold is set to produce around 1 million ounces a year at a low cost, solidifying its position as one of the top producers in the industry with landholdings that offer significant exploration potential for future growth. Supported by an experienced management team with a strong track record in mine development across the Americas, Donlin Gold has secured all federal permits required for the development and the majority of the state permits, demonstrating our readiness for successful advancement. Situated on privately designated land in Alaska, the project benefits from the state's supportive mining regulations provide a stable regulatory environment. Our long-standing partnerships with Calista and The Kuskokwim Corporation further strengthened our social license to operate. These factors collectively position Donlin Gold as a cornerstone project with robust potential and significant long-term value. It's essential to outline Donlin Gold's journey from the early 1900s as it origins, as shown on Slide 6, to the strategic reorganization initiated over a decade ago under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Kaplan, our Chairman, and myself. Story continues Since NOVAGOLD's restructuring, our primary objective has been crystal clear: to advance Donlin's development, our prized asset in Alaska, to its fullest potential. We have maintained a steadfast commitment to the pursuit of this mission. The next logical and critical step for the project is to update the feasibility study with the goal of positioning Donlin favorably for a construction decision when the market conditions align. Our dedication to advancing this flagship project underscores our unwavering loyalty to our stakeholders, long-term shareholders, ensuring their trust and investment are met with tangible progress and value creation. On Slide 7, we emphasized the crucial role of Calista and TKC as private landowners in the development of Donlin Gold. Their commitment aligns closely with the elders' vision of responsible growth contributing to job creation and economic prosperity and the preservation of cultural heritage within the local communities. With land designated for mining activities over 50 years ago, their stewardship demonstrates a steadfast dedication to sustainable development. Throughout the permitting process, sustainability initiatives, community engagements and Calista and TKC have offered invaluable expertise and guidance, leveraging their deep understanding of the land and its economic significance to bolster community well-being. Their enduring partnerships and steadfast support are critical to ensuring the responsible and progressive development of Donlin Gold across all phases. These collaborative efforts underscore Donlin Gold's potential to become a cornerstone of lasting and responsible economic development in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region to serve future generations. Looking at Slide 8, Alaska is established as a world-leading mining jurisdiction, ranked third out of 120 global jurisdictions and only one of 12 to achieve an AA rating in the World Risk Report by Mining Journal Intelligence. It is renowned for its robust and secure environment, particularly in mining and stands out globally for its safety and its well-defined permitting processes. As the second largest gold producer in the United States, Alaska has facilitated the success of numerous companies underpinned by a government that actively supports and recognizes the importance of responsible natural resource development. Turning to one of Donlin Gold's distinctive qualities as currently envisioned, it ranks among the world's largest and highest grade undeveloped open pit gold reserves when compared with other development projects in the Americas, as shown on Slide 9. As global gold production trends downward, the industry faces a scarcity of high-quality development stage projects. Demands for projects characterized by scale, grade and longevity becomes increasingly critical for navigating multiple gold cycles effectively. Moreover, with the grade of almost 2.25 grams per tonne, easily exceeding the industry average for open pit projects, as indicated on Slide 10, Donlin is positioned to emerge as one of the most cost-effective producers in the industry. Turning to Slide 11. The bar chart illustrates Donlin Gold's post-tax net present value across various gold price scenarios. Today's gold price is positioning toward the higher end of the chart, indicating a potential value exceeding $25 billion with no discount rate applied or approximately $15 billion at a 5% discount rate. Significant exploration opportunities exist beyond the defined resources in the ACMA and Lewis deposits, as shown on the graphic in the upper right-hand corner of Slide 12. With the current resources covering only three kilometers of an eight-kilometer belt, there is substantial potential to expand the reserves and extend the mine life through further exploration of the land. Slide 13 highlights NOVAGOLD's 2023 achievements across environmental stewardship, health and safety, social engagement and corporate governance. Our latest sustainability report published in April thoroughly assesses NOVAGOLD's ESG performance in all of these critical areas. We extend our sincere appreciation to Donlin Gold, our Alaska Native Corporation partners and local community stakeholders for their excellent collaboration in shaping and achieving our ESG objectives. Their invaluable contributions have been pivotal in the planning, execution and success of these initiatives. The safety and well-being of our workforce remain of the utmost importance, exemplified by our decade-long record without a lost time incidents at the Donlin Gold site, where a significant proportion of our team comprises of local hires. Together, these efforts reinforce our pledge to uphold the highest standards of sustainability and responsibility as we advance toward our future goals. I will now discuss some of the milestones achieved at the Donlin Gold project in the second quarter as well as our ongoing activities. Moving to Slide 13. The significant progress we've made in the Donlin Gold project is easily demonstrated. With the strong backing from the owners and the Donlin Gold Board, we've made notable advancements. Our resource model is being actively enhanced and updated through efforts led by an independent third-party. Significant progress has also been made in our metallurgical test work at a pilot plant in Ontario, Canada. This work aims to validate optimizations to the flow sheet, which we expect to complete later this year. We have been updating our groundwater and surface water models, incorporating the latest field data from geoscience hydrology and continuing to collect data to update the geochemical characteristics for future mine closure planning. An aerial view of a gold mining claim in the Kuskokwim region of southwestern Alaska. Moreover, our efforts to support regional infrastructure have continued, focusing on narrowing the scope of work and advancing regional energy opportunities. These ongoing technical endeavors are all geared towards positioning Donlin Gold favorably for future development. Turning to Slide 16, our ongoing collaboration with Calista, TKC and local leaders in education, health, cultural preservation and environmental stewardship continued in the second quarter across 62 Y-K communities with the goal to build strong relationships. Donlin Gold signed its 17th Shared Value Statement, emphasizing our agreement and engagement with local communities to address their specific needs. The third Subsistence Community Advisory Committee meeting was held in Aniak in the second quarter, fostering a structural platform for communication, dialogue, problem-solving and gathering community input on substantive issues. The project team has been actively monitoring the salmon fisheries in the Kuskokwim and Yukon River watersheds and with local tribes have identified opportunities to enhance salmon population's health with Alaska Native Corporation's to plan and launch a juvenile salmon monitoring initiative in the George River, a significant tributary to the Kuskokwim River. Additionally, educational initiatives, including sponsoring the Lower Kuskokwim School District's annual college and career fair, remain key for the project. Furthermore, Donlin Gold traveled with the Crooked Creek Traditional Council to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the Donlin Gold project, directly engaging with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Alaska Congressional Delegation. In April, U.S. Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with U.S. Representative, Mary Peltola, submitted a joint amicus brief in the Federal Court, referring to Donlin as one of Alaska's most important and necessary economic development projects in one of the most impoverished regions in the state. These efforts underscore the importance of engagement and preparedness throughout the rigorous permitting process, supported by a bipartisan outreach and the U.S. Department of Justice. Donlin Gold is a federally permitted project situated on private land designated for mining activities under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act over 40 years ago. This is a distinct feature setting Donlin apart from many other mining ventures in Alaska. Slide 17 details all the federal and state permits and certificates obtained to-date. We recognize the critical importance of jurisdictional safety, particularly amongst global variations in permitting standards. Alaska stands as one of the world's safest environments for free enterprise, both politically and socially stable, offering investors peace of mind. This eventually underscores our commitment to navigating the complexity of today's world with diligence and foresight. Looking at Slide 18, in the second quarter, the Dam Safety Certification preliminary design packages were submitted to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources on June 17. In federal litigation on the Joint Record of Decision, including the 404 permit, opening briefs were submitted in February. Donlin Gold, Calista and the State of Alaska filed their intervenors' briefs on April 16. Amicus briefs supporting the project were filed by the village of Crooked Creek and the Alaska Congressional delegation. Oral arguments were held on June 24, and a decision is anticipated in early 2025. We recognize the importance of meticulous preparation and organization in navigating the rigorous permitting processes in both the United States and in Alaska. Our dedication remains steadfast as we continue to collaborate closely with federal and state agencies to navigate this comprehensive project. We highly value the bipartisan support and engagement for the Donlin Gold project, both in Alaska and in Washington, D.C. With that, I will turn the call over to David Ottewell to review our second quarter financial results. Dave? David Ottewell: Thank you, Greg. Slide 20 highlights our operating performance. We reported a net loss of $13.7 million in the second quarter, a $0.9 million decrease from the prior-year quarter, primarily due to lower Donlin Gold project costs with no field program this year, partially offset by increased interest expense on the promissory note and increased general and administrative costs due to promotions and hiring additional staff along with professional and consulting fees related to our evaluation of options to advance the Donlin Gold project. Cash flows are highlighted on Slide 21. In the second quarter, cash and term deposits decreased by $4.9 million, primarily for corporate administrative expenses and our share in Donlin Gold funding, partially offset by interest income and working capital changes. Our net use of cash and term deposits was $2.3 million lower than the prior-year quarter due to lower Donlin Gold funding requirements, partially offset by increased administrative costs. On Slide 22, we note our strong treasury. Our financial position includes cash and cash equivalents of nearly $53 million and term deposits of $60 million. For the year-to-date, Donlin Gold funding and corporate G&A are in line with our budget. For the full year, we expect to spend approximately $31 million, including $17 million for corporate G&A and $14 million for Donlin Gold. I will now turn the presentation back over to Greg. Greg Lang: Thank you, Dave. And I'm sure as most people saw the announcement, Dave has been our CFO for 12 years, and he's moving on to the next stage in life and retiring. And we want to thank Dave for being a valued member of the team at NOVAGOLD for over 12 years, and we are deeply grateful for his many contributions to NOVAGOLD during his tenure. Last December, the Donlin Gold Board approved a $28 million budget for the year, as shown on Slide 23. This budget includes ongoing resource modeling, mine planning, metallurgical test work, regional infrastructure support, hydrology work, closure planning, and importantly, the advancement of dam safety certificate applications, as well as ongoing support for pending litigation, government affairs, community engagements and our various sponsorships. Discussions with Barrick are ongoing to continue advancing Donlin Gold up the value chain as we remain fully committed to its development. Additionally, on behalf of the NOVAGOLD team, I would like to extend again our sincere appreciation to Dave Ottewell as he moves on to retirement. We would also like to welcome and congratulate Peter Adamek, who will assume the role of CFO in July. With resolute confidence, NOVAGOLD views the Donlin Gold project as a prime investment in the gold market that epitomizes an exceptional opportunity for leveraging scarce and high-quality assets in safe jurisdictions. Appreciative of our shareholders' staunch support and valuable guidance, we remain committed to enhancing shareholder and stakeholder value, responsibly acknowledging their crucial presence and long-term interests. Their decision to invest in our company and their continued solidarity and engagement are deeply valued. As custodians of the company, we are focused on executing our strategy and advancing the value of the Donlin Gold project in a safe and responsible manner to yield substantial progress and create value. Operator, we are now prepared to take questions. *** While we acknowledge the potential of NG 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 NG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. *** To continue reading the Q&A session, please click here. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), smart investors know that there are many lucrative opportunities outside of big tech. One company emerging as a highly coveted name in the AI realm is C3.ai (NYSE: AI). Yet despite the company's progress, its shares are basically flat through the first half of 2024. Could now be a good time to pounce on an underappreciated AI opportunity? How is C3.ai performing? C3.ai develops a host of enterprise software solutions that it sells to both the public and private sectors. The company has an impressive roster of strategic partnerships with cloud network providers Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. Moreover, C3.ai works closely with high-profile consulting company Accenture, as well as defense specialist Raytheon. AI Revenue (Quarterly) Chart The chart above illustrates some important financial metrics for C3.ai over the last several years. On the positive side, revenue is beginning to show some meaningful acceleration. However, some issues come to light when looking at the company's gross margin profile. For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, C3.ai reported gross margin of 57%. By comparison, the company's gross margin was 68% for fiscal 2023. Unsurprisingly, the deterioration in margin has contributed to mounting operating losses. Despite the company's newfound revenue growth, these increases have come at a steep price. What does the competitive landscape look like? C3.ai competes with other AI enterprise software developers including Palantir (NYSE: PLTR), Databricks, and Alteryx. Palantir has an enormous presence in the federal landscape, working with many U.S. defense agencies and other government institutions. Furthermore, as I expressed previously, Palantir's recent alliance with Oracle could unlock even further growth across both the public and private sectors. On top of that, Palantir is consistently profitable. The company now has posted positive net income for six consecutive quarters. This provides Palantir with a high degree of operating leverage and an enviable level of financial flexibility. The reason is the company is able to reinvest its profits back into the business and double down on research and development efforts, as well as customer acquisition strategies. Moreover, Databricks is one of the most valuable start-ups in the world. With investor support from Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, and more, Databricks is well-positioned to fend off competition in the AI and data analytics markets. Image source: Getty Images Is now a good time to buy C3.ai stock? C3.ai is an interesting company to analyze. On the one hand, the company is demonstrating some real momentum and has proven that it can compete in the AI environment. Story continues But on the other hand, the company's growth is coming at a steep cost, and this dynamic doesn't appear to be changing. While management is guiding for up to 27% annual revenue growth in its current fiscal year, it's also forecasting operating losses of up to $125 million. As long as C3.ai continues to burn cash, I'm hard-pressed to understand how the company can compete in the long run. Alternatively, competitors like Palantir are already consistently profitable, while Databricks has the luxury of strong institutional support from some of the tech sector's largest constituents. Right now, I'm sitting on the sidelines when it comes to investing in C3.ai. I think there are more opportunities in the AI realm with established players. While C3.ai is building a respectable business, growth investors have far better options. A prudent approach could be to monitor C3.ai's earnings calls and assess if the company is building a path to profitability and continuing to penetrate its target markets. Should this be the case, there'll be ample opportunity to scoop up shares for investors with long-term horizons. Should you invest $1,000 in C3.ai right now? Before you buy stock in C3.ai, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and C3.ai wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $774,526!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Accenture Plc, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool recommends C3.ai and RTX and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $290 calls on Accenture Plc, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2025 $310 calls on Accenture Plc, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Now a Good Time to Buy C3.AI Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has probably been the most watched stock on the planet over the past several months. This is because the company dominates the artificial intelligence (AI) chip market, and its soaring revenue has prompted the stock to skyrocket. In the first half, the shares soared more than 150% -- and that's after already gaining more than 1,300% in the previous five years. In fact, this momentum pushed Nvidia stock past the threshold of $1,000, a level that may be a psychological barrier for some investors -- and in other cases makes it difficult for small investors to buy without relying on fractional shares. So Nvidia launched a stock split recently to bring down the price of each individual share. Investors welcomed the news, and the stock rallied nearly 30% from the split announcement through the actual operation. Now, though, the big question is whether Nvidia's momentum will continue post-split and whether this top chip designer will soar in the second half. Let's look to history for some answers. Image source: Getty Images. Looking at historical patterns First, it's important to note that just because a certain pattern occurred in the past doesn't guarantee the same pattern will continue in the future. So, any conclusions we draw may guide us -- but they aren't set in stone. The market or a particular stock may surprise us. That said, patterns do replicate frequently enough to make them worth our consideration. They may offer us an idea of what generally happens after a certain event, making us aware of likely possibilities. Let's move on to the idea of stock splits and what history shows. A stock split, through the issuance of new shares to current holders, lowers the price of each individual share -- but without changing the market value of the company or the valuation of the stock. So, the operation hasn't changed anything fundamental about the particular company or stock. But the split accomplishes one major thing: It opens the investment opportunity up to a broader range of investors. This is positive for you and me because it makes it easier for us to invest in a company like Nvidia, and it's positive for the company because it offers it a whole new audience of potential investors. So it's a win-win situation. Nvidia's 10-for-1 stock split brought the stock price down from more than $1,000 to about $125. Stock splits in and of themselves, since they're just mechanical operations, aren't catalysts for stock performance -- you wouldn't buy a stock just because the company launched a split. But, as you can see in the chart, below, history shows that stock split players tend to outperform the S&P 500 in the 12 months following the stock split announcement. Story continues Data source: Statista. The chart shows that stock split companies have generated an average total return of more than 25% in that 12-month period. That's compared to less than 12% for the S&P 500 as a whole. This is based on Bank of America's Research Investment Committee data from 1980 through today. Nvidia's past stock splits Now we can dig deeper by looking at Nvidia itself after its past two stock splits, in 2007 and 2021. After both, the stock declined in the 12 months that followed -- but first, the shares advanced in the two to five months after the operation. Nvidia stock climbed more than 60% in the five months following the 2021 split and added about 17% in the six-week period following the 2007 split. So, what does all of this tell us about what may happen today? It's important to keep in mind that Nvidia's business has greatly evolved since the past stock splits. Then, it mainly served the video gaming industry and progressively was moving into other areas, such as AI. Today, the high-growth field of AI is the company's main business, making the stock significantly more attractive to investors. So Nvidia may have stronger momentum today than it did after previous splits -- and that might make a lasting rally possible. This can happen if Nvidia continues to report impressive earnings growth and deliver on product launch goals. And things look promising. Nvidia has reported quarter after quarter of record revenue and says demand for its soon-to-launch Blackwell architecture and chip surpasses supply. And speaking of Blackwell, this launch, too, could be a positive catalyst for the stock. All of this means it's very possible Nvidia stock will soar in the second half, thanks to the company's leadership in a high-growth market and solid revenue prospects. And the best news is this: Even if history is wrong and Nvidia doesn't rally in the coming months, this top stock still has what it takes to deliver big returns to investors over the long term. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $774,526!* Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 24, 2024 Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. After Nvidia's Stock Split and 150% First-Half Gain, Will It Soar in the Second Half? Here's What History Says. was originally published by The Motley Fool The number of legal short-term rentals in New York City has plummeted since strict regulations were enforced in September. Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Last year, New York City began enforcing its near-ban on short-term rentals, including Airbnbs. As of June 24, there were just 2,276 legal short-term rentals, according to the city government. City officials say the law aims to ease the housing-affordability crisis and boost the hotel industry. Last September, New York City began enforcing its strict new regulations on short-term rentals. Since then, the number of legal short-term rentals listed on Airbnb and other platforms has plummeted. Less than a year into the city's policy, known as Local Law 18, it's not clear whether the near-ban is achieving one of its central goals: relieving pressure on the city's severe housing shortage. But as summer tourism heats up, the dearth of rentals and rising hotel-room prices mean visitors to the city are in for an even pricier trip than they probably bargained for. Under LL18, someone can rent out their home for less than 30 days only if their unit is in an approved building, they rent to a maximum of two guests at a time, and they stay in the home with their guests, among other restrictions. Potential hosts have to apply for approval from the Office of Special Enforcement under the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. The city opened its application portal in March last year, and as of June 24, it had received 6,395 total applications for short-term rentals, according to OSE. The city has approved 2,276 of these, denied 1,746, and asked 2,269 applicants to submit additional information, the office said. That small number of approvals has led to a dramatic decline in short-term listings since last year, according to AirDNA, a collector of industry data. From August to September of last year, when the city began enforcing LL18, Airbnb listings for stays of less than 30 days plummeted from 22,246 to 8,039. They fell again to a low of 2,646 in October but have slowly climbed since then to nearly 4,000 in May, about 82% below the level last August. We want to hear from you: Are you an Airbnb host in NYC who's been impacted by the new regulations? Have you been affected by a loss of income? Have you converted a short-term rental to a long-term one? Are you still finding ways to rent unlisted? Tell us about how the new rules are affecting you in this form. At the same time, the number of Airbnb listings for stays longer than 30 days rose rapidly. Many of these new medium-term rentals were simply converted from short-term, AirDNA's chief economist, Jamie Lane, told Business Insider. "When we actually looked at the total number of listings on Airbnb, from October, once the dust had settled, to pre-law going into effect, it was only about a 14% decline," Lane said. Story continues Lane said the vast majority of New York City's short-term rental inventory was listed on Airbnb, while a small portion of it was on Vrbo and Booking.com. The city hasn't begun fining hosts for violating LL18. It's working with Airbnb and other short-term rental companies to ensure they're in compliance before it begins cracking down. "That's resulted in a massive reduction in illegal listings across the major platforms," Christian Klossner, the executive director of OSE, told BI. "This law was not about new fines for people. This law was about preventing it at the source, and that's what we've done." The city won't say how many short-term rentals it's found that violate LL18, but it says it'll publish that number in its annual report in September. But Klossner said the city was continuing to conduct inspections based on complaints and issue fines for violations of long-standing rental regulations. The city has long barred homeowners from renting out entire units for less than 30 days, but it didn't have the power to enforce these regulations until LL18 was passed. Impacts of the near-ban LL18 was motivated by the city's housing-affordability crisis, caused in large part by a severe housing shortage. Pro-housing supporters of LL18 argue New York City needs to prioritize homes over hotel rooms. "Illegal short-term rental operators hurt our hospitality industry and make it harder for New Yorkers to find affordable housing, and we must ensure we are holding them accountable," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement this past March. Short-term rentals, including Airbnbs, can take homes that would otherwise be lived in full time off the market, potentially exacerbating the housing shortage. The city's home-vacancy rate is 1.4%, the lowest in more than 50 years, according to a recent city report. It can also help inflate home prices and rents. The main lobby of New York City's Waldorf Astoria hotel. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty Images The former city comptroller Scott Stringer found in a 2018 report that for every 1% of all homes in a New York City neighborhood listed on Airbnb, rent in that neighborhood went up by 1.58%. "Between 2009 and 2016, approximately 9.2 percent of the citywide increase in rental rates can be attributed to Airbnb," the report said. But Airbnb and other critics say the near-ban won't do much to address the housing crisis and will hurt homeowners who relied on the rental income and visitors who couldn't afford sky-high hotel costs. There is a slew of factors including new housing construction and migration patterns that impact housing costs and vacancy rates. But there's some evidence, including from Irvine, California, that restricting short-term rentals can reduce rents. It's not clear how much of a role LL18 has played so far in changing these conditions. The hotel industry has seen its revenue soar recently. Occupancy rates hit 82% last year, while the national average sits at 63% after falling to 47% in 2020. The average room price reached a record $301 a night, up 8.5% since 2022. The vacancy decline and price surge are probably both a result of the disappearance of so many short-term rentals and the fact that about 20% of city hotels are being used to shelter migrants, among other factors. "It's not surprising to me that you remove 20,000 short-term rentals, and all of a sudden, hotel rates are going up by 10%," Lane said. Airbnb sued the city to prevent LL18 from going into effect but lost in court last August. "New York City's short-term rental rules have significantly reduced accommodation options for visitors and contributed to higher hotel prices that are making it more expensive to visit the Big Apple," Nathan Rotman, Airbnb's Northeast policy lead, said in a statement to BI. "More importantly, the rules haven't improved housing affordability in the city rents continue to rise and housing stock has reached historic lows." Some Airbnb hosts say the measures go too far, choking small-time hosts who rely on the extra income, even though the original target was much bigger empires. One New York City host told BI that they considered the ban a "slap in the face" and were continuing to rent illegally even with the threat of the new fines. "I see these buildings on Central Park with penthouses that are empty because nobody can pay millions for apartments like that," the owner, who remained anonymous for privacy reasons, told BI. "But here I am fighting to stay in New York in my pre-war walk-up building." Correction June 26, 2024: An earlier version of this story misstated a statistic on New York City hotel rooms being used to shelter migrants. Twenty percent of New York City hotels are being used to shelter migrants, not 20% of New York City hotel rooms. Read the original article on Business Insider Im Brian Gordon, tech reporter for The News & Observer, and this is Open Source, a weekly newsletter on business, labor and technology in North Carolina. Apple broke three years of silence this week on its planned $552 million campus in North Carolinas Research Triangle Park. The company intends to pause the project for four years, it said, and has asked the state to extend the incentive deal the two sides entered in April 2021. In many aspects, it already felt like this project was on hold. Construction has not begun and the only indication of a possible opening date has been a traffic impact analysis in which Apple representatives noted a target of 2026. So, will Apple instead open an RTP campus in 2030? Later, sooner, never? Its not like companies are racing to add more office space at the moment. But Apple owns the site land, 281 acres along N.C. 540 near Cary and Morrisville, and its immense wealth (it has the worlds second largest market cap at $3.2 trillion) allows it to move at its own pace. It may be a while before the public hears from the company again on the campus, given Apples secretive track record. And the extension request leaves North Carolina with a choice on what to do next. In 2021, the state awarded Apple a special transformative grant that set two parallel timelines for the Cupertino tech giant one timeline for hiring; the other for building. Under the deal, Apple committed to create 140 local jobs by the end of last year. By 2031, this hiring threshold will scale to at minimum 2,700 positions. Apple is leasing a building on MetLifes technology campus in Cary as it waits to build its own Research Triangle Park offices. Apple provided North Carolina its first performance report this winter, which the state Commerce Department is reviewing. Every indication is that Apple has met its initial hiring obligation; the company currently leases offices at the MetLife campus in Cary and shared this week it has grown its Raleigh-area headcount by around 600 in recent years. Apple is also the tenant of an office building under renovation near the RDU airport. As for completing its campus, Apple pledged to invest at least half a billion dollars in the Wake County site by the end of 2031. North Carolina tied incentives, up to $845 million through the year 2061, to the company first hitting these hiring and spending goals. So, will the state push back Apples deadlines by four years? North Carolina statute says the Commerce Department can only extend an agreement up to 24 months if a company misses its targets. And the law states under no circumstances may the Committee extend the base period by more than a total of 24 months. Story continues Open Source There is a lot of time, however, for the two sides to work something out. And Apple has not formally submitted a request to have the terms of its incentive agreement adjusted, said North Carolina Department of Commerce spokesperson David Rhoades. If the state believes Apple truly intends to establish a massive RTP campus, the powers that be in the Commerce Department and North Carolina General Assembly may be able to design a new agreement or pass statutes enabling more time. North Carolina created the special transformative incentive grant in 2017 with the ambition of luring Apple, so gearing policies towards the company wouldnt be without precedent. Apple is set to receive its first state incentive payment this fall. This money could be a bargaining chip for the state, though for a company of Apples size, giving up a single incentive payment on less than 200 jobs would be more a symbolic gesture of good faith than a financial sacrifice. In one sense, Apple has already come to the Triangle. Its added hundreds to its local workforce and displays its corporate logo outside its Cary office. But many are interested in the physical campus and what having that in the heart of the RTP could mean for workers, home prices, and the regions overall national prestige. Missing out on that would be tough, and the state might not be quick to give up the opportunity even with a wait. The house that Wegovy built From a nebulous campus to one that already exists and is poised to get much bigger. On Monday, the Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk committed to add $4.1 billion and around 1,000 jobs to its manufacturing facilities in the Johnston County town of Clayton. Its the largest North Carolina jobs news of 2024 so far and the largest private biotech investment in state history. Again, $4.1 billion. Novo Nordisk plans to open its new space in stages between 2027 and 2029. It has already begun construction, which isnt a shock given the site produces one of the hottest medicines in the U.S at the moment., the weight-loss drug Wegovy. Each week, around 25,000 people in the U.S. start taking it, Novo Nordisk says. The company also makes the buzzy obesity treatment Ozempic as well as its traditional insulin treatments. Its been in Johnston County for more than 30 years and the rest of the decade should be very busy. The entrance to one of Novo Nordisks two manufacturing facilities in Clayton, North Carolina on June 24, 2024. Securing future foreign investment Top North Carolina economic leaders were in Washington, D.C., this week to court foreign businesses (and be courted themselves) at the SelectUSA Investment Summit. This annual event saw record attendance this year, with every U.S. state and territory there to meet and greet potential investors from 96 international markets. Of course, North Carolina had a suggestion on where foreign businesses should expand. Our meetings during the Summit are with companies that have either expressed interest in learning more about North Carolina and/or that we have identified as being attractive (foreign-direct investment) targets for the state, said Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the states lead business recruitment organization, in an email. Four of the five largest jobs announcements in North Carolina so far this year have been made by foreign-based companies: Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Boviet Solar (Vietnam), Fujifilm (Japan), and Siemens Energy (Germany). Expect more. Clearing my cache The latest on the VinFast factory project in Chatham County: On May 30, the county approved a permit for the Vietnamese EV maker to build a general assembly structure. But before it will issue this permit, Chatham needs VinFast to name its contractor. VinFast said the Chicago-based firm Clayco remains top contractor on the stalled project but that subcontractors still have to be finalized. The ball is in the car companys court, 11 months after VinFast ceremonially broke ground at the site. TruLab, which makes tech for clinical trial oversight, has relocated its HQ from downtown Durham to Frontier RTP, which is part of Research Triangle Parks emerging office, retail and residential hub. A detail view of a VinFast electric car at the new Leith VinFast dealership in Cary Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The Vietnamese automaker announced in March 2022 that it would open an electric vehicle assembly plant in North Carolina. National Tech Happenings To compete with upstart Temu, Amazon intends to launch a service for shipping cheap products directly from Chinese warehouses. Will be interesting to see what that portends for the companys U.S.-based warehouses. Amazon is the largest private employer in Wake County with a massive fulfillment center in Garner. Theres only one Al Michaels. But NBC will use an A.I. version of the famous broadcaster to narrate some of its Summer Olympics highlights. Meta, owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, is facing a lawsuit under a Civil War-era rule from a software engineer who claims the company didnt hire him because it desired adding less expensive foreign visa workers. Thanks for reading! Enjoy Triangle tech news? Subscribe to Open Source, The News & Observer's weekly newsletter, and look for it in your inbox every Friday morning. Sign up here. Palm Beach property owners and taxpayers continue to feel the aftereffects of the recent real estate boom that sent values of mansions, houses, condominiums and commercial buildings soaring like a Fourth of July bottle rocket. The latest evidence? Total market values in town jumped about 10.6% to $54.68 billion last year, according to a just-released summary of preliminary estimates from the Palm Beach County Property Appraisers office. That means the town could add $5.24 billion in value to its 2024 property tax roll, if the estimates hold. The new figures also show that the property appraisers estimated market values in Palm Beach have more than doubled since the coronavirus upended the islands real estate market about four years ago. For the 2020 tax rolls, which were based on 2019 property data, the preliminary value estimates for Palm Beach real estate clocked in at $24.7 billion. The latest market values to be finalized this fall are the starting point for figuring taxes. The values were assigned by Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks staff to each real estate parcel based on market conditions as of Jan. 1 of this year, according a statement accompanying the estimates released by the agency. The preliminary value estimates include nearly $200 million worth of new construction projects in Palm Beach that were completed in time to meet the Jan. 1 cutoff. The year before, Jacks office surveyed $160 million in new construction in town. A five-bedroom house, developed on speculation at 240 Mockingbird Trail in Palm Beach was completed in 2023 and has been added to the in-the-works tax rolls for 2024. In July 2023, the North End house sold for a recorded $16.9 million. The increase in construction estimates mirrored a trend seen throughout the county. For the first time our countys history, new construction topped $5 billion, Jacks said in a statement accompanying her June 26 report. This is new value that is being taxed for the first time this year, adding revenue to many districts. Jacks office released the preliminary estimates in time to meet a July 1 state deadline. Town officials and those in other municipalities and taxing authorities will use Jacks figures to help estimate potential property tax revenue as they prepare budgets for the coming year and set tax rates accordingly. The increase in market value in Palm Beach was far lower than the 21% year-over-year hike in the estimates released last year at this time, when estimated values jumped from $40.77 billion to $49.45 billion. The estimated hike in value had been even higher for the previous year a record-setting jump of nearly 46%. Across the county, the latest combined estimated market value of properties rose 5.65%, year over year, from $486.6 billion to $514 billion, the report shows. Thats an increase of about $27.5 billion. Story continues But by the time the final figures were compiled, the countywide market value for the 2023 tax rolls had dropped to $485.98 billion. Palm Beach is essentially a bedroom community and that helps boost values As usual, residential properties make up the vast bulk of the Palm Beach parcels included in preliminary value estimates. In the latest round, Jacks office shows Palm Beachs overall residential values including single-family homes, multi-family buildings, condominiums and cooperative units total $48.77 billion. A year ago, that figure was $44.4 billion, up from $36.22 billion the previous year. The residential figures do not include vacant land zoned for residential use. In making their residential valuations, Jacks analysts focus partly on comparing sales within individual neighborhoods and then adjusting values as a result. Were looking at the general overall trend, based on a range of sales, Jacks previously has said about the process. Total residential sales volume on the island hit $1.9 billion in 2023, down slightly from from the $2.25 billion seen in 2022, according to a sales report issued in January by the Frisbie Palm Beach Real Estate Group. Palm Beachs developed commercial property, excluding vacant properties, has an estimated value much lower than the towns residential real estate. The latest preliminary estimates gave commercial properties an overall value of $3.198 billion, compared to $2.96 billion the previous year. 'Taxable values' for properties figure in exemptions, tax caps The new tax rolls wont be figured on the overall market values but on so-called taxable values, which start with the market-value figure and then factor in homestead exemptions, other discounts and tax caps. In Jacks latest report, Palm Beachs estimated taxable values jumped 10.6%, year over year, from about $29.08 billion to about $32.15 billion. Once the tax rates were finalized last year, the towns taxable value settled at about $28.89 billion, according to Jacks office. For property owners who take a homestead exemption and thus declare their homes to be their primary residences annual tax increases are generally capped at 3% under Florida law. The so-called value cap is limited to a 10% increase for non-homesteaded properties. In the preliminary estimates just released by Jacks office, estimated taxable values countywide jumped about 9.99% to $318.01 billion, compared to last years final figure of $289.127 billion. The new summary of estimated preliminary values follows a more informal report released by Jacks office at the end of May, which also showed values were up in Palm Beach and across the country. Fashion designer Tom Ford acquired this landmarked house at 195 Via Del Mar in Palm Beach in a 2023 house-swap deal valued at $100 million, according to sources familiar with the transaction. Palm Beach's budgeting process for new tax year begins in July The Palm Beach Town Council will hold a budget workshop at 9:30 a.m. July 11 at Town Hall, when it will set a proposed tax rate. Once all of the countys municipalities, the County Commission and other taxing authorities settle on their proposed tax rates, estimated tax bills are expected to be mailed to taxpayers in mid-August. In Palm Beach, the Town Council will discuss the proposed budget and tax rate at a special meeting tentatively set for Sept. 11, with another scheduled for Sept. 19. The new budget and tax rate could be adopted at the second meeting. Tax rates countywide are expected to be finalized by the end of October. State law requires final tax bills to be mailed to property owners by Nov. 1. * This story was updated from a previous version. Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: New estimates show 10.6% annual hike in Palm Beach's property values By Mathieu Rosemain PARIS (Reuters) - Paris's La Defense business district is betting that modernising more than 300,000 square metres (3.2 million sq. ft) of offices into greener and more flexible work space will lure back companies and ease record high vacancy rates. With brutalist architecture and modern skyscrapers dominating the skyline to the west of the Arc de Triomphe, La Defense is considered Europe's largest purpose-built business district. As in commercial city areas elsewhere, offices emptied during the pandemic and deals collapsed. The vacancy rate jumped above 15% from less than 10% pre-pandemic, far higher than the 2% vacancy rate in central Paris, according to property agents. Many of its towers are dated and environmentally unfriendly, but it would be too expensive to demolish or convert most of them for other uses. The head of Paris La Defense, the public body that runs the area, told Reuters the plan was to renovate in the next few years for tenants wanting less, but greener, space. The plan will start with 300,000 sqm, almost a tenth of La Defense's entire footprint. One selling point is that average rents of about 550 euros ($588.61) per sqm are half those in supply-squeezed central Paris, agents estimate. Before the pandemic, central districts were about 40% more expensive than La Defense. There are tentative signs of improving demand. Vacancy rates slipped from a record of nearly 16% last year to 15% in early 2024. French IT services company Sopra Steria has moved into eco-friendly offices in a 1970s building that was reconfigured two years ago. It now boasts a Parisian-style restaurant-filled interior street. "If you want to attract the best talent, you have to have very modern, very functional premises that facilitate teamwork, Sopra Steria's Chief Executive Cyril Malarge told Reuters. "You want to make sure [people] want to stay in the office as long as possible." It will not be easy to fill cavernous offices. Aymeric Le Roux, an executive at property agent Savills, said newer buildings remain easier to rent than older sites, citing the rapid leasing of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield's (URW) Trinity tower. Some big projects have been axed. URW said in February it was pausing the planned twin towers "Sisters" project. France's upcoming snap election could further rattle confidence if it produces a eurosceptic, far-right government. "There are fewer big corporates taking on leases," Savills' Le Roux said. "But it's not as bad as it looks," he added, with today's tenants wanting cutting-edge buildings that "the stock in [central] Paris is not offering" at scale. Story continues URBAN PARK The concept of La Defense, today home to CAC 40 companies including Vinci and Societe Generale, dates to the 1950s when plans were drawn up for a business district to replace run-down housing and small factories in the area. The first skyscraper topped out in 1966. The metro, shopping centres and the vast office complex of Coeur Defense followed. Supporters say La Defence has weathered previous downturns and can do it again. Paris La Defense now selects property projects on their energy and environmental credentials and is turning the main concrete public esplanade into a five-hectare urban park to be opened in 2027. Lower-carbon and some renewable energy is used to meet part of the local power needs, and building management systems automatically switch office lights out at night and maintain temperature control. "We're starting from a neighbourhood model that is extremely energy-intensive, extremely monofunctional," Paris La Defense CEO Pierre-Yves Guice told Reuters from his office overlooking the area. "Despite what people may say, our ideas are still very rational, very adaptable to the needs of companies, and we can accommodate both large and small companies," he said. That gives it an edge over central Paris where buildings are smaller, many of them from the 19-century and built of brick, limiting the use of more energy-efficient building materials. La Defense will soon house France's tallest skyscraper, the 242-metre tall The Link, which opens next year to house long-time La Defense resident TotalEnergies. The cost of renovating 300,000 sqm of offices to modern-day green standards will reach hundreds of millions of euros, experts estimate, shouldered mostly by big developers such as URW and Vinci. To attract younger workers and companies, developers are building more apartments and transforming some older buildings into student housing or trendy hotels. That resembles efforts in other cities hit by a downturn like London's Canary Wharf. The challenge for La Defense now will be catering to smaller firms and the big companies wanting less space. Luxury groups Kering and LVMH's Christian Dior, for example, recently shifted parts of their back offices there. Typical buildings in La Defense have been occupied by one or two companies but that could rise to 10 to 15, said real estate agency JLL France's Yannis De Francesco. "It's a completely different way of marketing from the one we used to have and, incidentally, it takes a little longer, because you have more contracts to sign," he added. ($1 = 0.9344 euros) (Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Susan Fenton and David Gregorio) Amidst a backdrop of modest declines in Japan's stock markets and heightened uncertainty around the Bank of Japan's monetary policy directions, investors continue to seek stable opportunities within this complex environment. Companies like PeptiDream, which exhibit high insider ownership, often reflect a commitment by those who know the company best, potentially aligning with investor interests during turbulent times. Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Japan Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth SHIFT (TSE:3697) 35.4% 26.8% Kanamic NetworkLTD (TSE:3939) 25% 28.9% Hottolink (TSE:3680) 27% 57.3% Medley (TSE:4480) 34% 28.7% Micronics Japan (TSE:6871) 15.3% 39.8% Kasumigaseki CapitalLtd (TSE:3498) 34.8% 44.6% ExaWizards (TSE:4259) 24.8% 91.1% Soiken Holdings (TSE:2385) 19.8% 118.4% AeroEdge (TSE:7409) 10.7% 28.5% freee K.K (TSE:4478) 24% 81% Click here to see the full list of 99 stocks from our Fast Growing Japanese Companies With High Insider Ownership screener. Here we highlight a subset of our preferred stocks from the screener. Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: PeptiDream Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of constrained peptides, small molecules, and peptide-drug conjugate therapeutics, with a market capitalization of approximately 321.43 billion. Operations: The firm primarily generates revenue through its biopharmaceutical projects focused on novel peptide therapies and small molecule drugs. Insider Ownership: 26.1% Earnings Growth Forecast: 22.3% p.a. PeptiDream, a Japanese biotech firm, is experiencing robust growth with its revenue and earnings projected to expand at 10.5% and 22.3% per year respectively, outpacing the broader Japanese market. Despite a recent dip in profit margins from 25.9% to 8.7%, the company's strategic advancements, including a significant new collaboration with Novartis and promising early-stage clinical studies in cancer diagnostics, underscore its potential in both development pipelines and market expansion. These elements suggest a dynamic growth trajectory supported by high insider ownership which aligns leadership interests with shareholder value creation. TSE:4587 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: Rakuten Group, Inc. operates in e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications sectors serving customers globally with a market capitalization of approximately 1.83 trillion. Story continues Operations: The company generates revenue through its diverse operations in e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications sectors. Insider Ownership: 17.3% Earnings Growth Forecast: 83.9% p.a. Rakuten Group, a prominent Japanese e-commerce and internet company, is positioned for significant growth with its revenue expected to increase by 7.4% annually, surpassing the Japanese market's average. Despite challenges in achieving high return on equity, which is projected at a modest 9.1% in three years, the company has demonstrated strong financial maneuvers through recent activities such as securing $1.99 billion from a fixed-income offering. Furthermore, Rakuten anticipates double-digit growth in consolidated operating results for FY2024, excluding its securities business impacted by market fluctuations. This outlook is bolstered by insider confidence reflected in stable ownership rather than recent buying or selling. TSE:4755 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Growth Rating: Overview: BayCurrent Consulting, Inc. offers consulting services across various sectors in Japan and has a market capitalization of approximately 495.07 billion. Operations: The firm operates in consulting across diverse sectors, generating revenues entirely from these services. Insider Ownership: 13.9% Earnings Growth Forecast: 18.4% p.a. BayCurrent Consulting, a consultancy firm in Japan, is trading at 59.1% below its estimated fair value and has shown a solid performance with earnings growth of 17.2% last year. Expected to outpace the Japanese market, its forecasted annual revenue and profit growth are both above market averages at 18.3% and 18.4%, respectively. Despite high volatility in its share price recently, the company's commitment to shareholder returns is evident from a recent share buyback program totaling 3,600 million. TSE:6532 Ownership Breakdown as at Jun 2024 Summing It All Up Reveal the 99 hidden gems among our Fast Growing Japanese Companies With High Insider Ownership screener with a single click here. Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive. Maximize your investment potential with Simply Wall St, the comprehensive app that offers global market insights for free. Ready For A Different Approach? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years. Companies discussed in this article include TSE:4587TSE:4755 TSE:6532 and Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com Quorn Foods is supplying its fungi-based mycoprotein for use in products containing meat that are available in the UK. The company, one of the most prominent meat-free businesses in the country, is working with the UKs National Health Service, which has put the so-called blended products on menus. Quorn, which, according to owner Monde Nissin has seen sales come under pressure in recent quarters, is also teaming up with unnamed catering customers to develop similar products. Reduction in meat consumption is not happening fast enough or with enough scale to have the impact we need it to, Quorn Foods CEO Marco Bertacca said. This is about looking for new solutions to reach more consumers and make a meaningful difference to the fight for our planet. Last year, it emerged Monde Nissin had set up a division to sell the mycoprotein ingredient behind Quorn to other food manufacturers. Bertacca told Just Food today (28 June) the company was still in the development stages of our catering partnerships. We are working with one of the largest catering companies in the world, and the opportunity will see us feed millions of consumers every day with these options, he said. Asked what products are being worked on and when they would hit menus, Bertacca added: Our partners who are making the products control the timings, but we expect to see items on menu by the end of the year. There are already blended solutions on NHS menus and we will continue to build on these. This project will see us support the partner as they develop their own staple menu items, such as burgers and sausages, that contain a blend of Quorn and meat. Quorn Foods sells its range of branded meat-free products into retailers across the UK, as well as in select markets in Europe and North America. The company also supplies foodservice customers inside and outside the UK, with some tie-ups allowing the business to market the Quorn brand on menus. Bertacca underlined that the companys work to develop the hybrid products was on a B2B basis. Nothing will be produced under the Quorn brand. The new products will be made by our catering customers, we will be working with them to supply our product only. Quorn branding will not go on menu or on pack, but mycoprotein will of course be referenced in the ingredients, he said. "Quorn works with foodservice clients on blended NPD" 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 Shariq Khan NEW YORK (Reuters) - Spanish oil major Repsol plans to sell a minority interest in its Eagle Ford shale assets in South Texas, in a deal that could value the assets at up to $2 billion, three sources familiar with the talks told Reuters. The sources said Repsol has hired Scotiabank to assist with the process, and aims to bring in a partner or partners to hold so-called non-op positions, earning a cut from sale of hydrocarbons while paying a share of operating costs. The non-op partners are not responsible for oil and gas extraction or other day-to-day operations. Repsol is open to selling as much as a 49% interest in the assets, which include over 800 producing wells spread across about 80,000 net acres with production of about 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, the sources said. The company plans to maintain a majority stake and operate the asset, one of the sources said. The sources cautioned a transaction of any kind is not guaranteed, and spoke on condition of anonymity as the talks are confidential. Repsol and Scotiabank declined to comment. Oil and gas companies have enjoyed bumper earnings in the post-pandemic years, as demand for fossil fuels surged to new records. Yet some estimate that global oil consumption will peak as soon as this decade, as the world transitions toward greener sources of energy. Major energy companies have been selling non-core oil and gas assets while bringing in non-op partners on the profitable positions, allowing them to cut costs and raise cash that can be used to bolster shareholder returns and invest in alternative energy sources like biofuels. Repsol in February detailed plans to focus its upstream portfolio on areas of 'competitive advantage and higher value' to prepare the business for a public offering in the U.S. by 2027. It identified the Eagle Ford as one of the core growth areas. Also in February, it laid out a plan to return 4.6 billion euros of cash to shareholders through dividends and buy back shares worth up to 5.4 billion euros through 2027. Repsol expects to support that plan by raising around 1.5 billion euros this year through divestitures, stake sales and rotations. Reuters reported last month that Repsol and its partner Santos are exploring the sale of a minority stake in oilfields they jointly own in Alaska. (Reporting by Shariq Khan and David French in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) US drugstore chain Rite Aid is seeking approval for its bankruptcy restructuring plan, aiming to reduce its debt by $2bn. The plan would transfer company control to a group of lenders. In a court filing, the company stated that the restructuring is the optimal path to repay its creditors and successfully exit bankruptcy. The hearing, presided over by US bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan, is scheduled to take place in Trenton, New Jersey. Rite Aid has shut down numerous stores during its bankruptcy. It has divested its pharmacy business, Elixir, and reached settlements with lenders including drug distributor McKesson. These creditors include parties involved in lawsuits accusing the company of contributing to the US opioid crisis. If Judge Kaplan approves the plan, Brigade Capital and HG Vora, among other investment funds, will assume ownership of Rite Aid post-Chapter 11. The proposed restructuring would allocate $47.5m to creditors, encompassing individuals and local governments that have sued Rite Aid regarding opioid sales. Before bankruptcy, Rite Aid was contending with 1,600 opioid-related lawsuits, including a federal case alleging negligence in dispensing opioid prescriptions. The companys bankruptcy proposal is also being challenged by insurers, the state of Maryland and some of its opioid claimants, who criticise the handling of opioid lawsuits within the plan. Rite Aid, which declared bankruptcy in October 2023 after a fiscal year in which it made $750m in losses on $24bn in revenue, operated 2,000 pharmacies at the time of filing. Post-restructure, the company anticipates a reduced retail presence, having closed 600 stores, including all outlets in Ohio and Michigan. In March 2024, a US judge authorised the commencement of the voting process on Rite Aid's bankruptcy restructuring plan. "Rite Aid asks US bankruptcy court to approve restructuring plan" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, 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. Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Artem Geodakyan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Discounted Russian gas is hitting European markets, the Center for European Policy Analysis said. The markdowns come as the Kremlin seeks to win back Western buyers, the think tank explained. It could also sway support for the continued use of a major transit route through Ukraine. Russia has unleashed discounted gas onto European markets, working to keep countries hooked on its energy supply, the Center for European Policy Analysis said. It's a strategy meant to incite support for a key transit deal between Russia and the West, the think tank explained. In under six months, the contract on a major pipeline will expire, ending a historic trade corridor that runs through Ukraine it's in Kyiv's hands to renew it. "The stakes are high. The Ukrainian transit decision will affect not just that country's long-term security, but also the whole of Europe's future energy policies and ultimately the fate of the Russian gas business itself," non-resident senior fellow Aura Sabadus wrote. After Moscow launched its war on Ukraine in 2022, an unexpected pullback of European buyers wreaked havoc on Russia's gas industry. State-run gas giant Gazprom went on to announce its biggest loss in 25 years, and is unlikely to recover lost gas sales for at least a decade, according to an internal estimate. While alternative markets helped trade recover somewhat, Russia looks poised to try and win back European customers, CEPA said on Wednesday. Although the Ukrainian route has continued supplying Western markets through the war, its January expiration would likely be enough to risk a Gazprom bankruptcy. For this reason, gas markdowns of at least 10% are already hitting Central and Eastern European markets, and buyer interest is starting to show. Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria are among examples CEPA cited as customers for Russian gas. Discounted prices and the availability of different routes is beneficial to European firms, offering potentially bigger profits, Sabadus explained. It could be enough to rebuild Gazprom's lost market share. Already, Southern European traders are profiting by buying cheap Russian gas pumped through a Turkish pipeline and then selling it at a premium in Western European markets, she suggested. "Since Turkey's export capacity is limited for now, and the Ukrainian transmission system can transit more than 100billion cubic meters annually, buyers no doubt see a chance to replicate the model on a much larger scale," Sabadus said. For its part, Ukrainian politicians have asserted they will not renew the contract, though Kyiv's war-battered energy infrastructure has pressured it to lean more towards gas supply ahead of the winter. Story continues However, this could instead come from suppliers such as Poland, CEPA suggested. Read the original article on Business Insider Saint-Gobain has announced a definitive agreement for the acquisition of global construction chemicals company FOSROC for $1.025bn. The deals mark a significant step in Saint-Gobain's expansion in the construction chemicals sector, which is anticipated to report combined sales of 6.2bn ($6.63m) in 73 countries post-acquisition. The acquisition aligns with Saint-Gobain's strategy to expand its global reach in the construction chemicals market. It is also anticipated to enhance the company's footprint in emerging markets, particularly in India and the Middle East. The transaction is projected to generate value for Saint-Gobains shareholders and customers, with significant synergy potential. Saint-Gobain chair and CEO Benoit Bazin said: The acquisition of FOSROC is perfectly aligned with our 'Grow & Impact' strategic plan: it is a unique opportunity for Saint-Gobain to further reinforce its worldwide presence in construction chemicals, and to strengthen its presence in high-growth emerging markets, in particular in India and the Middle East. FOSROC, with a significant presence in India, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, is set to generate sales of $487m with an estimated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margin of 18.7% in 2024. The company operates 20 manufacturing facilities and employs around 3,000 staff, offering a diverse range of solutions for the construction sector. FOSROC provides solutions for concrete and cement admixtures, adhesives, sealants, waterproofing, concrete repair, and flooring products. The acquisition price is a multiple of nearly 11.3 times FOSROCs estimated 2024 EBITDA of $91m. The transaction will be paid in cash and is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending customary conditions. Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals CEO Thierry Bernard will lead the integration process and the business will be part of the High Performance Solutions segment. Morgan Stanley serves as the financial advisor while Freshfields acts as legal counsel to Saint-Gobain for this transaction. This acquisition follows previous purchases such as Chryso in 2021, GCP in 2022, and 33 others since 2021. "Saint-Gobain agrees to acquire FOSROC for $1.025bn " was originally created and published by World Construction Network, 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. (Bloomberg) -- Rain AI has recruited an Apple Inc. chip executive to lead hardware engineering, the second high-profile hire this month for a startup trying to design a new type of semiconductor for artificial intelligence. Most Read from Bloomberg Jean-Didier Allegrucci, who helped oversee the development of processors that replaced Intel Corp. in iPhones and Macs, will steer Rain AIs efforts to create more energy-efficient chips. Hell work with lead architect Amin Firoozshahian, who moved over to the startup after five years at Meta Platforms Inc. Backed by OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Y Combinator, San Francisco-based Rain AI is one of a growing cohort of startups looking to develop new hardware for AI platforms. Its exploring a technique known as in-memory compute, modeled on the way the human brain works, which promises to save on power consumption by processing data where its stored. Rain AI joins Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. in researching in-memory computing, which still faces questions around economic viability and environmental impact. But in the long run, more efficient chips are essential to adding AI to a wider range of devices. Our novel compute-in-memory technology will help unlock the true potential of todays generative AI models, and get us one step closer to running the fastest, cheapest, and most advanced AI models anywhere, Rain AI Chief Executive Officer William Passo said in a statement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (From left) NBC's Lester Holt interview OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky at the Aspen Ideas Festival on June 26, 2024. YouTube/Skift Airbnb boss Brian Chesky has a ton of experience with regulations. The company faces a ban in Barcelona in a few years, was nearly erased from New York City, and has to deal with countless other regulatory battles around the world. On a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival earlier this week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman credited fellow panelist Chesky with some key advice: Youre not thinking enough about politics and policy, and what thats going to mean for how the world thinks about AI, Altman said, paraphrasing Chesky. The two have been friends since Chesky arrived in Silicon Valley in 2008. During the discussion, moderated by NBC News Lester Holt, Altman said Chesky advised him how to hire a public policy team, how to map out a regulatory strategy, as well as offering dos and donts. Brian was the person who would just sit down with me for three hours every other week, and give me a list and say, Heres the five things you got to do. Now, heres where youre behind. Heres what youre screwing up. Heres what you got to proactively do. Heres what you got to think about. And its basically almost always right. And I learned to just always shut up and follow the advice. OpenAI Built a Public Policy Team Earlier Than Other Tech Firms Chesky said Altmans OpenAI has created a public policy and stakeholder management team much earlier than big tech companies did years ago. We didnt think these platforms would have the impact on society that they now know they have, Chesky said. And so I think the mindset that Sam has, and even the questions youre asking him, probably werent asked of tech leaders 15 years ago. I think the whole industrys changed. Ana Makanju has headed global public affairs at OpenAI for the past year. This technology will profoundly transform how we live, and we can guide its trajectory, limit abuse, and secure broadly beneficial outcomes, she said, according to the OpenAI website. Airbnb had to staff up to deal with public policy, as many cities try to reduce its footprint in the name of affordable housing and quality of life. The public policy team numbered around 200 before the pandemic. An Alternative to a Hodgepodge of Regulations? Airbnb has long argued for consistency so it doesnt have to deal with regulations that vary wildly depending on the jurisdiction. Chesky and Altman, a former Expedia Group board member, said nations should collaborate on regulatory frameworks for AI. They both called for a transnational group or body to help sort out the many issues. Its not a race, its not going to be done in secret, Chesky said referring to the development of AI. But I think nations can collaborate together. And there could be a transnational group or body that could really align to make sure were all on the same page. Story continues Chesky said that would be best for society and probably best for entrepreneurs, so they dont have to comply with 200 different laws. He commented on the challenge of dealing with rotating elected officials and stakeholders in cities around the world. Altman agreed that a global regulatory framework would be best for society and entrepreneurs. I think were really going to need that. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com. US-based The Simply Good Foods Company has announced plans to snap up local protein products peer Only What You Need (OWYN). Simply Good Foods has signed a "definitive agreement" to buy the plant-based shakes and powders group for $280m. The Denver-headquartered business will be taking over OWYN from majority shareholder United Nutritional Brands, a subsidiary of the investment firm Purchase Capital LLC. Explaining the rationale behind the deal in a statement, Simply Good Foods said the move would give the company "further diversification" in its portfolio and also help it build its presence in protein shake RTDs. It added that the OWYN brand "is the fastest growing RTD protein shake brand in the market", based on multi-outlet dollar sales for the 52 weeks ended March 24. Located in New York, OWYN manufactures RTD plant-based protein shakes made with blends of pea and pumpkin seed proteins. Its products are sold across the US to major retailers such as Sprouts, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Kroger, Whole Foods, and 7-Eleven, among others. Commenting on the news, Geoff Tanner, president and CEO of Simply Good Foods said he expected the business would bring the company $120m in net sales in 2024. Tanner added: "OWYN reaches a new, incremental consumer segment which strengthens our category-leading presence with retail customers. "We are confident our go-to-market capabilities will accelerate profitable growth through accelerated distribution gains, increased household penetration and leveraging our cost-efficient supply chain. "We'll also look to leverage the knowledge of our collective R&D teams to continue to enhance core product performance and unlock white-space growth opportunities in other forms." He added that OWYN's "strong relationships with blue-chip customers" in "measured and natural channels" would also help Simply Good Foods expand its reach, as well as its "impressive, profitable and growing Ecommerce business." Mark Olivieri, current president and CEO of OWYN, is expected to remain in his role at the company under Simply Good Foods' umbrella. Just Food has asked Simply Good Foods to confirm how the acquisition might affect OWYN's other employees. Simply Good Foods produces a range of protein-based RTD drinks, snacks bars, savoury and sweet snacks under the brands Quest Nutrition and Atkins. Atkins merged with the Conyers Park Acquisition firm under Simply Good Foods in 2017. Quest Nutrition was snapped up by the holding group for $1bn in 2019. Story continues "The Simply Good Foods Co. to acquire protein peer Only What You Need" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. The Simply Good Foods Co. has reassessed its spending plans for Atkins to boost the return on investment from the brand. Atkins retail sales fell in the three months to 25 May, although the publicly listed US group said the brands performance had improved sequentially. Simply Good Foods' overall third-quarter retail takeaway rose 5% as a 13% jump in sales of its Quest brand offset a 5% decline from Atkins. Speaking to analysts after the company reported its third-quarter financial results, president and CEO Geoff Tanner said the company had reviewed the make-up of its portfolio, which now includes protein products business Only What You Need (OWYN). We look at across the portfolio. Quest [is] a scaled growth driver. We now have OWYN in the mix. So, a component of the decision on Atkins is taking a step back and evaluating investment through a portfolio lens, Tanner said. As we dive deeper into Atkins, its clear that to some extent weve overinvested in marketing and trade as a percentage of sales. Weve looked with more of an ROI lens and identified some low-performing ROI trade events, low-performing marketing events. As we work to build Atkins to be a long-term sustainable business, we believe that we have an opportunity to take a harder look at some of these investments. Simply Good Foods reported higher third-quarter sales and profits, which contributed to increases for the first nine months of its financial year. The third-quarter results also led the company to tick up its forecast for adjusted EBITDA, which it now sees increasing by about 8% versus an earlier prediction of 6-8%. In the three months to 25 May, Simply Good Foods generated net sales of $334.8m, up 3.1% on a year earlier, helped as higher Quest retail sales offset the decline in Atkins sales. Net income stood at $41.3m, against $35.4m in the third quarter of the previous financial year. Nine-month sales increased 3.6% to $955.6m. Net income reached $110m, against $96.9m. Tanner said Simply Good Foods still believes in Atkins, adding the company is still very confident in the future growth of that business, especially given the increased focus on weight management. Simply Good Foods announced the acquisition of protein-shakes business OWYN in April. OWYNs products are sold across the US to major retailers such as Sprouts, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Kroger, Whole Foods and 7-Eleven. OWYNs growth is outpacing the category and we expect the brand to benefit from continued distribution and velocity gains given our go-to-market scale, capabilities, and category adviser relationships with almost all top retailers, Tanner told analysts. OWYN reaches a new consumer segment for Simply Good, namely consumers thinking plant-based, allergy-free, simple ingredient options. Story continues The Simply Goods Food chief said the company could add products to the OWYN range. I like to think about OWYN and the growth of OWYN in three concentric circles. The first is growth of the core and that's largely driving distribution of existing products. The second circle would be continuing to appeal to mainstream consumers, he said. And then I'd say the last circle would be expanding into new forms or formats, such as bars, potentially chips. In a note to clients TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow said he supported Simply Goods Foods moves to think again about its investment strategy for Atkins. Simply will cut spending on the Atkins brands underperforming trade and marketing events with a disproportionate impact on the club channel. This will hurt Atkins' volume in FY25 but we agree with the approach given the strong reinvestment opportunity for Quest and our concerns about ROI on the Atkins brand. New advertising for Atkins will increase the focus on weight management messaging, Moskow said. "Simply Good Foods reviews Atkins investment" 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. (Bloomberg) -- SoftBank Group Corp. raised about $1.86 billion via dollar and euro bond sales in one of the biggest foreign-currency deals by a Japanese company this year, as the tech firm moves to expand investment in artificial intelligence. Most Read from Bloomberg In its first non-yen debt offering since 2021, billionaire Masayoshi Sons company priced two dollar tranches totaling $900 million and two euro tranches raising 900 million ($964 million), according to the firm. SoftBank said the funds will be used to retire debt and fund operations. Its shares also climbed on optimism toward its AI investments. SoftBank joins a bond bonanza by issuers from Asia and elsewhere including even bigger deals from fellow Japanese borrowers such as Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and Rakuten Group Inc. Investors are trying to lock in elevated yields before central banks outside of Japan start cutting interest rates, while the Bank of Japan is likely to raise rates further this year from rock-bottom levels. Japanese companies are increasing overseas debt deals because the large size of markets like the US enables more borrowings including via junk notes. Bond investors are injecting money in SoftBank Group in anticipation of future growth potential in AI-related fields, said Takashi Nakagawa, senior credit analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Co. Its financial flexibility has been greatly enhanced by large issuance of bonds since the beginning of this year. SoftBank and its founder Son have made major AI investments recently that underscore expectations they will quicken their pace of activity in that area. The Japanese firm this year directly invested $200 million into Tempus AI Inc., a startup that analyzes medical data for doctors and patients to come up with better treatments. More recently, it backed Perplexity AI at a $3 billion valuation, betting on a firm that aims to use AI to compete with Alphabet Inc.s Google search. Longer term, SoftBanks working on a plan to deploy some $100 billion into AI-related chips in a project dubbed Izanagi, Bloomberg News reported in February. SoftBank, with a BB+ rating from S&P Global Ratings, priced $400 million of five-year dollar bonds at a 6.75% coupon in one of its tranches. That compares with 2029 notes sold in April by domestic rival Rakuten Group Inc., which S&P rates one step lower at BB: the debt was yielding around 8.9% in Tokyo on Friday, Bloomberg-compiled data show. Story continues SoftBanks shares, meanwhile, gained as much as 3.5% on Friday. Tokai Tokyo raised its price target for the company to 12,000 from 9,750 on expectations that its AI investments will increase its net asset value in the coming year, Nakagawa said. --With assistance from Min Jeong Lee. (Adds other big Japanese foreign-currency bond issuers in third paragraph and bond details throughout.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Possible talks between China and the Philippines about their dispute in the South China Sea may not result in a breakthrough even if they do help to build trust between the two sides, observers say. Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo told a senate hearing this week that a working group had discussed the proposals earlier this month and Manila was hoping the talks could take place in July. Manalo said Manila was committed to working with Beijing on developing "confidence-building measures" following a series of clashes in recent months. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. On Wednesday, Philippine ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez also said Manila wanted talks to take place "early next month", adding: "I don't think China wants to have a major conflict. And definitely we do not want to have one. And so, that's a good starting point." China has not confirmed if the talks will go ahead and the foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. China claims most of the South China Sea but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all have competing claims over the resource-rich waterway. In recent years Manila has been the most assertive in countering Beijing's claims and there have been a series of clashes around disputed reefs in recent months. The presence of Philippine troops on the BRP Sierra Madre, a decrepit World War II-era ship that was deliberately grounded on the reef in 1999, has resulted in a series of confrontations between the Chinese coastguard and ships carrying supplies. Last week, a sailor lost a thumb after Chinese coastguards armed with knives, machetes, and other weapons intercepted troops on a resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, according to the Philippine military. In a phone call with Chinese foreign vice-minister Ma Zhaoxu, US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell "raised serious concerns" regarding China's "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea, including at the Second Thomas Shoal. According to the US State Department, Campbell also reiterated that US commitments to the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty remained ironclad. Ding Duo, an associate research fellow at China's Hainan-based National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said: "At present, it is hard to say whether significant results can be achieved [in the talks]. It will mainly depend on whether the two sides can reach a certain consensus on controlling maritime differences." Story continues He added that both Beijing and Manila wanted to try to calm the situation, which he said was "overheating". "The Philippines does not want to go as far as a large-scale conflict with China or even war," he said. Ding also said Beijing wanted to "manage differences, de-escalate the situation and maintain peace and stability". However, he warned there was "very little consensus and very little mutual trust" but added that talks may be of "some help in enhancing mutual trust and keeping the [negotiating] mechanism running". On Sunday President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said the Philippines should "refuse to play by the rules that force us to choose sides in a great power competition." He added that Manila would seek to "settle all these issues peacefully" but its "calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence". Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo says Manila is committed to building confidence. Photo: EPA-EFE alt=Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo says Manila is committed to building confidence. Photo: EPA-EFE> The most recent high-level talks between China and the Philippines in January made little progress. Beijing later said Manila had agreed to a "new model" for resupply missions in the Second Thomas Shoal only to break its word. Last month Bloomberg reported that Beijing had threatened to release a transcript of phone conversations to support its claims. Ding said the Philippine armed forces may now be hoping for time to adjust to the situation. "The consultative mechanism between China and the Philippines, to some extent, is being used by the Philippines as a kind of palliative to put off [conflict] and buy time for the next move," he said. But Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said a major challenge for the potential talks was to reach an acceptable modus vivendi, not including "the regular employment of coercion and unilateral imposition by China upon the Philippines". "Unless China recognises that the Philippines has its own individual national interests and removes the obstacles, the Philippines will naturally and logically keep turning to its allies, partners and friends in the international community to address the coercive pressures from China," he said. Since coming to power, Marcos has moved to strengthen military ties with the United States, a long-term ally. Although Washington "welcomes the Philippine tilt towards the US", it was mindful of broader regional sensitivities, said Dylan Loh, an assistant professor in the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. "I think Washington will certainly welcome any talks that reduce the risk of the situation from deteriorating even further and it certainly does not want to see conflicts in the [South China Sea] that may eventually entangle itself," Loh said. Last week Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, told the BBC that Beijing and Washington were talking more regularly to avoid a conflict in the South China Sea despite their "contentious and competitive" relationship. He added that "the last thing we want is an accident, a misunderstanding that leads to conflict". This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. US Supreme Court Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in the case stripping the Securities and Exchange Commission of some powers. Drew Angerer/Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/BI The Supreme Court stripped out some of the SEC's financial-fraud enforcement powers. It ruled that defendants in those cases have a right to a jury trial. Critics say the court is seizing power from federal agencies and making it harder to enforce fraud laws. The Supreme Court dealt a blow to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in a ruling Thursday, sharply limiting the way it pursues financial fraud cases. Until Thursday, the SEC had two ways of pursuing fraud cases. It could sue in federal district court. Or it could bring an "administrative proceeding" in its own in-house court, where it appoints its own judges and the cases have no juries. In Thursday's SEC v. Jarkesy decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the latter method violated the Seventh Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects the right to a jury trial. "A defendant facing a fraud suit has the right to be tried by a jury of his peers before a neutral adjudicator," Roberts wrote. The ruling stripped out part of 2010's Dodd-Frank Act, which was passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and gave federal agencies more enforcement mechanisms. In this case, the SEC accused George Jarkesy Jr. and his financial firm, Patriot28, of lying to investors about the firm's value and about the identity of its auditor and broker. Critics of the decision argue that the SEC's in-house courts worked much-more efficiently than federal district courts. The SEC hired its own judges, who were presumably knowledgeable about financial-fraud laws and could handle cases relatively quickly. And they could be predictable and consistent, unlike trial juries. By contrast, there are fewer than 700 federal district-court judges. They handle all sorts of cases, not just financial fraud. And each one must be appointed by the president of the United States and approved by the US Senate, a process that can take months and is often held up by partisan fighting. Critics have also argued that such a ruling is part of a larger project among conservative judges to dismantle the "administrative state" of government regulation, despite the wishes of a democratically elected Congress and president. The ruling was decided 6-3, with appointees of Republican presidents all in the majority and Democratic appointees dissenting. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote the dissenting opinion, wrote that the majority decision disrespected the separation of powers between the different branches of government. She said that throughout the country's history, the federal government had frequently delegated enforcement mechanisms to individual agencies. Story continues "Make no mistake: Today's decision is a power grab," she wrote. She added that the decision could have ramifications for other agencies, such as how the Department of Labor could resolve workplace issues or how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration could handle safety concerns. "By giving respondents a jury trial, even one that the Constitution does not require, the majority may think that it is protecting liberty," Sotomayor wrote. "That belief, too, is deeply misguided. The American People should not mistake judicial hubris with the protection of individual rights." Read the original article on Business Insider The US Supreme Court has obstructed a settlement that would have shielded the OxyContin producer, Purdue Pharma from future litigation over its hand in the opioid crisis. The courts 5-4 verdict reversed a previous ruling that allowed the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma, to gain immunity by paying a $6bn settlement for thousands of lawsuits surrounding the companys role in the opioid epidemic. If approved, the settlement money would have been sent to opioid treatment programs and victims of the opioid crisis. Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh voted in favour of the settlement and said that the courts decision would have a devastating impact on victims of the opioid crisis. On the other hand, Justice Neil Goursch did not support the settlement, writing in an opinion, The Sacklers seek greater relief than a bankruptcy discharge normally affords, for they hope to extinguish even claims for wrongful death and fraud, and they seek to do so without putting anything close to all their assets on the table. A US Congressional committee report had accused the family of playing a central role in the opioid crisis, generating over $35bn in revenue since OxyContins market entry in 1996. As per the report, the family has withdrawn $10bn from the company since the drug launched. In 2007, while facing felony charges for misbranding Oxycontin, the company admitted its guilt and paid a $600m fine. However, the family confessed that it continued to commit crimes during the following decade. The same committee accused Purdue Pharma of running an incredibly destructive, reckless campaign that targeted high-volume prescribers to boost its opioid sales. The pharma company also evaded safeguards to promote false narratives about their products to steer patients away from safer alternatives and deflect blame toward people struggling with addiction, said the former congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, at a 2020 House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Hearing. The Biden administration challenged Purdues settlement after the pharmaceutical company filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The US government has opposed several pharmaceutical companies in opioid-related litigation during the last two decades. The National Opioid Settlements List names Janssen, Teva, Walgreens, and other companies as businesses that have reached agreements with the US government over their roles in the opioid crisis. Alongside legal action, US regulators are tackling the opioid crisis in several different ways. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the over-the-counter use of Narcan (naloxone) to reverse opioid-related overdoses. In recent years, the US Drug Enforcement Agency has also launched Drug Take Back Days to safely dispose prescription drugs. Story continues "Supreme Court votes against Purdue Pharmas opioid settlement" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Friday upended a 40-year-old decision that made it easier for the federal government to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety and consumer protections, delivering a far-reaching and potentially lucrative victory to business interests. The court's six conservative justices overturned the 1984 decision colloquially known as Chevron, long a target of conservatives who have been motivated as much by weakening the regulatory state as social issues including abortion. The liberal justices were in dissent. The case was the conservative-dominated courts clearest and boldest repudiation yet of what critics of regulation call the administrative state. Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in challenges that could be spawned by the high courts ruling. The Biden administrations top Supreme Court lawyer had warned such a move would be an unwarranted shock to the legal system. The heart of the Chevron decision says federal agencies should be allowed to fill in the details when laws aren't crystal clear. Opponents of the decision argued that it gave power that should be wielded by judges to experts who work for the government. Courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court. Roberts wrote that the decision does not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron decision. But in dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the assurance rings hollow. The majority is sanguine; I am not so much, she wrote. Kagan called the latest decision yet another example of the Courts resolve to roll back agency authority, despite congressional direction to the contrary. Just a day earlier, the same lineup of justices stripped the Securities and Exchange Commission of a major tool used in fighting fraud. The court ruled in cases brought by Atlantic herring fishermen in New Jersey and Rhode Island who challenged a fee requirement. Lower courts used the Chevron decision to uphold a 2020 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that herring fishermen pay for government-mandated observers who track their fish intake. Conservative and business interests strongly backed the fishermens appeals, betting that a court that was remade during Republican Donald Trumps presidency would strike another blow at the regulatory state. The courts conservative majority has previously reined in environmental regulations and stopped the Democratic Biden administration's initiatives on COVID-19 vaccines and student loan forgiveness. Story continues The justices hadnt invoked Chevron since 2016, but lower courts had continued to do so. Forty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled 6-0, with three justices recused, that judges should play a limited, deferential role when evaluating the actions of agency experts in a case brought by environmental groups to challenge a Reagan administration effort to ease regulation of power plants and factories. Judges are not experts in the field, and are not part of either political branch of government, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in 1984, explaining why they should play a limited role. But the current high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has been increasingly skeptical of the powers of federal agencies. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas all had questioned the Chevron decision. They were in Friday's majority, along with Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Roberts' opinion took direct aim at what Stevens wrote 40 years ago. That depends, of course, on what the field is. If it is legal interpretation, that has been, emphatically, the province and duty of the judicial department for at least 221 years," Roberts wrote, quoting from the Marbury v. Madison decision that established the Supreme Court as the last word in interpreting laws and the Constitution. Kagan, though, said that in getting rid of Chevron gives courts control over matters they know nothing about. She read a summary of her dissent aloud in the courtroom to emphasize her disagreement with the majority. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor joined Kagan in dissent. Opponents of the Chevron doctrine argue that judges applied it too often to rubber-stamp decisions made by government bureaucrats. Judges must exercise their own authority and judgment to say what the law is, the court said Friday, adopting the opponents arguments. Bill Bright, a Cape May, New Jersey-based fisherman who was part of the lawsuit, said the decision to overturn Chevron would help fishing businesses make a living. "Nothing is more important than protecting the livelihoods of our families and crews, Bright said in a statement. Reacting to the decision, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the ruling is yet another deeply troubling decision that takes our country backwards. Republican-backed special interests have repeatedly turned to the Supreme Court to block common-sense rules that keep us safe, protect our health and environment, safeguard our financial system, and support American consumers and workers. Federal agencies and the Justice Department had already begun reducing their reliance on the Chevron decision in crafting and defending new regulations. Environmental, health advocacy groups, civil rights organizations, organized labor and Democrats on the national and state level had urged the court to leave the Chevron decision in place. "The Supreme Court is pushing the nation into uncharted waters as it seizes it seizes power from our elected branches of government to advance its deregulatory agenda, Sambhav Sankar, a lawyer with the environmental group Earthjustice, said after the ruling. The conservative justices are aggressively reshaping the foundations of our government so that the President and Congress have less power to protect the public, and corporations have more power to challenge regulations in search of profits. This ruling threatens the legitimacy of hundreds of regulations that keep us safe, protect our homes and environment, and create a level playing field for businesses to compete on. Gun, e-cigarette, farm, timber and home-building groups were among the business groups supporting the fishermen. Conservative interests that also intervened in recent high court cases limiting regulation of air and water pollution backed the fishermen as well. The fisherman sued to contest the 2020 regulation that would have authorized a fee that could have topped $700 a day, though no one ever had to pay it. In separate lawsuits in New Jersey and Rhode Island, the fishermen argued that Congress never gave federal regulators authority to require the fisherman to pay for monitors. They lost in the lower courts, which relied on the Chevron decision to sustain the regulation. The justices heard two cases on the same issue because Jackson was recused from the New Jersey case. She took part in it at an earlier stage when she was an appeals court judge. The full court participated in the case from Rhode Island. ___ This story has been corrected to show the spelling of the justices name is Ketanji, not Kentanji. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (KLSE:TAKAFUL) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 46% over a half decade. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. Check out our latest analysis for Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 1.7% per year. So it doesn't seem like EPS is a great guide to understanding how the market is valuing the stock. Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS. Based on these numbers, we'd venture that the market may have been over-optimistic about forecast growth, half a decade ago. Looking to other metrics might better explain the share price change. Revenue is actually up 1.3% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We know that Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was -37%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad shareholders are up 17% for the year (even including dividends). But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it is certainly better than the yearly loss of about 6% endured over half a decade. So this might be a sign the business has turned its fortunes around. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: many of them are unnoticed AND have attractive valuation). 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 (Reuters) - German software company Teamviewer said on Friday it was the victim of a cyberattack earlier this week and accused the Russian hacker group APT29 of being behind the attack. The group, also known as "Cozy Bear" or Midnight Blizzard, is alleged by Western intelligence to act on behalf of Russia's foreign spy agency. In March, Alphabet's Mandiant cyber unit said it had caught the hacking group trying to trick "key German political figures" into opening a phishing email. The German software company, which specialises in cloud-based technologies, said in a statement that the group gained access to its corporate IT environment but not to its product environment or customer data on Wednesday. Shares in the company were down 10% at 1152 GMT, on track for their worst day since November 2023 (Reporting by Paolo Laudani and Alexander Huebner; Editing by Miranda Murray) Uses of new technologies are having a significant influence on the development of medical devices. If utilised correctly, development timelines can be reduced, and devices can enter the market more quickly to achieve cash flow. In the development space, few technologies are enabling greater possibilities than 3D printing. This high-tech manufacturing tool can dramatically reduce timeframes and allow greater levels of individualisation with devices to meet the exact needs of patients. 3D printing has been extensively adopted by the medical industry with applications including surgical planning, by providing a physical model of the operation area; training; and orthotics and prosthetics, among others. This adoption rate is due to this methods quick turnaround compared to the traditional methods, explains Emma Sturdee, associate analyst for GlobalData Major benefits of 3D printing include customization, lower costs, speed of production, and waste reduction. Due to these advantages, companies are investing more in their 3D printing technology and even forming partnerships with other companies in the 3D printing space. Another key market trend is patient monitoring devices, which are becoming more common and increase the treatment possibilities for patients. Wearable device uses are growing in monitoring health levels. At the same time, the rise of smart implants such as pacemakers is expanding the possibilities for gathering precise data from within the body with the right coating essential for the performance of such devices. The patient monitoring market will experience tremendous expansion, adds Sturdee. Several factors are driving the growth of the patient monitoring market such as ageing populations, technological advancements, the increasing adoption of telehealth, and the demand for home monitoring. There has also been an increase in regulatory support. The vital role of coatings in reducing development timelines for medical devices While technology can help to reduce the development timelines for a medical device, so too can the right coating. However, with increasing specialist requirements for advanced devices, selecting the optimal coating requires the knowledge of industry specialists. Formacoat is one such specialist that is establishing itself as the go-to solutions provider for medical device coatings. Based in Minnesota, the family-run company offers expert guidance on the right coating to meet the exact needs of specific medical devices, stocking a diverse range of around 100 coatings from more than 40 trusted vendors. Story continues The company has also been using 3D printing within its highly innovative R&D department. The team can start to determine the optimum coating based on the technical drawings before the device may even have been completed. Such technologies allow coatings for complex geometries or niche materials to be figured out well in advance and avoid delays later down the development timeline. If they have this device, or they want to see coatings, we can take all that information and do it in one quick shot just two to four weeks. Boom, boom, boom. We're done, and we're on with the coating, then moving on to the next phases. We can really help them validate the coating process, explained Todd Paulsen, vice-president of Formacoat in a recent webinar hosted by GlobalData. We can give customers all the opportunities, everything right off the bat. We take a look at what we've got, work out what works best for the customers, and we put them back in the driver's seat with their development, added Paulsen. That in itself is a huge time saving an average of six months off a design process. For further market analysis of the medical devices and to learn more about the work of Formacoat, view the on-demand version of the recent webinar titled How a Diverse Coating Selection Can Help Accelerate Development of Medical Devices enter your details on this link. "The tech trends in medical devices and the impact on timelines" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. The retirement crisis in America needs close attention and action from state policymakers and legislators. But it doesnt need the kind of attention and action its been getting from policymakers in Tennessee and beyond. Patsy Writesman Instead of encouraging savings and investment, and strengthening state pensions, lawmakers here and in other states are trying to tell their professional investment advisors how to invest the money thats supposed to grow into secure retirement savings. Its not surprising when politicians do political things, but they ought to let the experts do what theyre hired to do which is drive returns full stop. Lately, much of the news has been all about politics, and not about retirement security. The political class is stirred up about whether the investment firms hired to invest pension savings and sell bonds are investing in things the politicians like or dont like. ESG considerations environmental, social, and governance factors being included in investment decisions are a particular hot topic for many leaders. Some states have decided not to do business with investment firms that supposedly employ ESG. Others wont do business with the firms that allegedly dont. And most of those states ignore the evidence that many of the advisors hold extensive investments in both kinds of enterprises through diversification of investments. Thats because the advisors are trying to maximize investment returns, just like they were hired, and legally required, to do. Tennessee lawmakers have been looking at legislation that would mimic similar laws that have been adopted in Texas, Oklahoma and others, barring public funds from making investment decisions that are based on climate goals or governance criteria. Before they make that leap, they should study the consequences. The Texas law blacklists companies the state deems hostile to energy businesses including oil and gas. Those investment advisors cant bid on public finance projects or invest state pension funds, even though most of them have significant investments in oil and gas companies in Texas. The law will cost the state over $668 million in lost economic activity, over $180 million in decreased annual earnings, as well as a loss to state jobs and tax revenue. Directing government investments to political favorites and away from political rivals might sound good in campaign ads, but it is not sound finance. And at a time when most Americans believe there is a retirement crisis in the country, and that they and their neighbors wont have enough money to retire when theyre eligible, sound financial decisions are critical to drive returns. Story continues Everyone has hopes for a secure retirement. Poking political programs into retirement and pension portfolios wont get us there. Pension investments should be about maximizing returns, safe investments, and finance and nothing else. Tennessee lawmakers can help, but only if they keep their attention on the real issue: Safe, secure retirement and maximizing returns for retirees and pensioners. Patsy Writesman is a nationally recognized corporate benefits consultant, health care speaker, consultant and owner of ManageHealthCareCosts.com. This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Tennessee lawmakers should ignore fads, focus on the retirement crisis Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Shutterstock.com Tesla shareholders voted this summer to approve Elon Musks $48 billion compensation package as CEO of the EV manufacturer. The package includes 303 million options to buy shares at a reduced price, according to HCAMag.com. Check Out: In 5 Years, These 2 Stocks Will Be More Valuable Than Apple Read Next: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money In the shareholder meeting, Musk likened Teslas future to not just a new chapter, but starting a new book. The saga will begin in Texas, which will be the new legal home for the company, as well as the site of its headquarters and a key factory. In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Texas Governor Greg Abbott congratulated Musk and said, Welcome to the Lone Star State. During the meeting in Austin, according to WSJ.com, Musk acted jubilant, dancing on stage and telling the crowd, I love you guys. For investors, it could mean a stronger company with an active CEO at the helm. In recent times, Musks attention has been divided between Tesla and his other ventures. In early 2024, Musk requested 25% of corporate shares of Tesla, to increase both his voting power and his equity. Early in June 2024, Musk faced two lawsuits in Delaware, including one related to his efforts to create a separate AI company that could compete with Tesla, WSJ.com reported. The $48 billon paycheck seems to come as a means of ensuring Musk remains loyal to Tesla and also devotes more of his attention to the company. During the shareholder meeting, Musk claimed its possible for Tesla to achieve a $30 trillion valuation someday, roughly 10 times its current value. One investor asked if that goal would be possible to achieve without Musks leadership. I think I am a helpful accelerant to that future, Musk replied. Not all investors were in favor of the pay raise or in support of Musks renewed enthusiasm for Teslas future. Investor James McRitchie, during a pre-vote presentation, said, Tesla is Musks liquid piggy bank, since its publicly traded; his other companies are not Either he sticks around long enough to use our shareholder capital to fund his other ventures, or he shifts his attention sooner if we reject his pay package and turn off the money tap prepare for a future that doesnt depend on a superhero dictatorship. In the past two weeks since the shareholder meeting and announcement of Musks pay raise, Tesla stock has risen from $178 per share to $196. In the past month, the stock price has jumped by roughly 10%. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Tesla Is Spending $48 Billion on Elon Musk What New Investors Should Know Over the past year, India's market has shown remarkable growth, surging by 45%, despite a recent flat performance over the last 7 days. In this context, dividend stocks can be particularly appealing for investors looking for steady income streams, especially when earnings are expected to grow by 16% annually. Top 10 Dividend Stocks In India Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Balmer Lawrie Investments (BSE:532485) 4.06% Bhansali Engineering Polymers (BSE:500052) 3.20% D. B (NSEI:DBCORP) 4.10% Castrol India (BSE:500870) 3.70% ITC (NSEI:ITC) 3.23% HCL Technologies (NSEI:HCLTECH) 3.57% Indian Oil (NSEI:IOC) 8.56% VST Industries (BSE:509966) 3.78% Redington (NSEI:REDINGTON) 3.40% PTC India (NSEI:PTC) 3.71% Click here to see the full list of 19 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener. Let's explore several standout options from the results in the screener. Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited is a company that manufactures, markets, and trades lubricants for the automobile and industrial sectors in India, with a market capitalization of approximately 56.80 billion. Operations: Gulf Oil Lubricants India Limited generates its revenue primarily from the sale of lubricants, totaling 33.01 billion. Dividend Yield: 3.5% Gulf Oil Lubricants India has shown notable growth with earnings increasing by 32.6% over the past year, and its Price-To-Earnings ratio of 18.4x is attractive compared to the Indian market average of 32.8x. The company has a history of raising dividends over the last decade, supported by a reasonable payout ratio of 57.4% and cash payout ratio of 62.7%, ensuring dividends are well-covered by both earnings and cash flow. However, its dividend track record has been marked by volatility, reflecting some inconsistency in payments despite recent performance improvements and strategic financial management decisions evident from recent shareholder communications and executive changes. NSEI:GULFOILLUB Dividend History as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: ITC Limited operates in various sectors including fast-moving consumer goods, hotels, paperboards and paper, packaging, agriculture, and information technology both in India and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately 5.31 trillion. Story continues Operations: ITC Limited generates revenue from several segments, including 33.67 billion from FMCG - Cigarettes, 21.00 billion from FMCG - Others, 16.12 billion from Agri Business, 8.34 billion from Paperboards, Paper & Packaging, and 3.10 billion from Hotels. Dividend Yield: 3.2% ITC Limited reported a revenue increase to INR 795.68 billion for FY2024 from INR 784.99 billion in the previous year, with net income also rising to INR 204.59 billion from INR 191.92 billion. Despite a growing dividend, declared at INR 7.50 per share for FY2024, concerns persist as the dividend coverage by cash flows remains low with a cash payout ratio of 126.1%. The Price-To-Earnings ratio at 26x is below the Indian market average, indicating potential value relative to peers despite challenges in sustaining dividend payments without adequate cash flow support. NSEI:ITC Dividend History as at Jun 2024 Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: Overview: PTC India Limited operates in the trading of power across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, with a market capitalization of approximately 62.24 billion. Operations: PTC India Limited generates revenue primarily through its power trading segment, which brought in 160.12 billion, and its financing business, contributing 7.67 billion. Dividend Yield: 3.7% PTC India Limited's recent financial performance shows a decline in quarterly net income from INR 1,165.9 million to INR 862.6 million, despite stable yearly revenue growth to INR 168.05 billion. The company declared a final dividend of INR 7.80 per share, supported by earnings with a payout ratio of 54% and robust cash flows evidenced by a low cash payout ratio of 9.4%. However, the dividend track record over the past decade has been volatile and unreliable, raising concerns about future stability despite current coverage levels. NSEI:PTC Dividend History as at Jun 2024 Summing It All Up Unlock more gems! Our Top Dividend Stocks screener has unearthed 16 more companies for you to explore.Click here to unveil our expertly curated list of 19 Top Dividend Stocks. Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive. Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors. Want To Explore Some Alternatives? This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NSEI:GULFOILLUB NSEI:ITC and NSEI:PTC. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com TotalEnergies has finalised a deal to offload its entire interest in its West of Shetland assets in the UK to the Prax Group. The financial specifics of the agreement between the French energy giant and the Prax Group have not been disclosed. Included in the sale are the Laggan, Tormore, Glenlivet, Edradour and Glendronach fields, alongside the Shetland Gas Plant and adjacent exploration licences. The current production from these assets stands at approximately 7,500 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day, predominantly gas. The deal also entails the transfer of relevant TotalEnergies employees to Prax, adhering to the applicable legislation. TotalEnergies, with a history of over 60 years in the UK, employs more than 1,800 individuals across various sectors of the energy industry. The company is said to operate around 30% of the UKCS gas production. In 2023, TotalEnergies' daily production averaged 142,000boe. TotalEnergies senior vice-president Europe for exploration & production Jean-Luc Guiziou said: This transaction is in line with TotalEnergies strategy to continuously adapt its portfolio by divesting mature non-core assets. TotalEnergies remains committed to the UK through both its upstream portfolio in the North Sea (Elgin-Franklin, Culzean and Alwyn fields) and its integrated power and renewables portfolio. Recently, TotalEnergies entered into an agreement to obtain a 60% interest and operatorship in Block STP02, situated offshore Sao Tome and Principe. This stake is being acquired from the National Petroleum Agency of Sao Tome and Principe (ANP-STP), with existing licence holders Sonangol and ANP-STP retaining the rest of the shares. Block STP02, located approximately 60km from the coast of Principe, covers an area of 4,969km within a prospective basin. Furthermore, last week, TotalEnergies announced the divestiture of its wholly owned subsidiary in Brunei to Hibiscus Petroleum for $259m (242.16m). "TotalEnergies to divest interests in UKs West of Shetland gas fields to the Prax Group " 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. True Religion is expanding its universe. The denim brand entered into licensing agreements with NES Group for mens jewelry and K&M Accessories for womens jewelry. More from Sourcing Journal Both collections will be available for Holiday 2024 in True Religion stores and online. The collections will also be available at select wholesale doors where the brand is sold. Both jewelry collections will retail for $28-$62 Womens and mens jewelry are key lifestyle categories which are important to True Religions expansion strategy, said Michael Buckley, True Religion CEO. We know that our customer loves to stand out and look their best. With this jewelry collection, we know they wont be disappointed. True Religion Jewelry styles will include necklaces, bracelets, charms, and earrings for women and chains, charms, and bracelets for men. The collections will feature gold and silver finishes, embossed and enameled logo details, accent stones, and braided fabrications. Licensing has played a large role in Buckleys strategy to reposition the brand for a wider audience. True Religion has licensing agreements for belts, footwear, childrens wear, pet accessories and more. K&M Accessories portfolio spans 38 licensed and owned brands including Guess, Vince Camuto and Juicy Couture. We are thrilled to partner with True Religion, one of the most recognizable brands in the world, said Todd Marcus, K&M Accessories president. Its an honor to bring their vision for a jewelry collection to life. NES Group touts successful retail and brand partnerships with Target, Marshalls, Kohls and more. True Religion has such an iconic status in the apparel world, and we are looking forward to helping them expand into jewelry, said Michelle Cohen, NES Group VP and creative director. We are thrilled to partner with the True Religion team to continue their growth trajectory in the accessories market. (Repeats story to fix GMF link in paragraph 4) By Anisha Sircar and Divya Chowdhury (Reuters) -Commodity markets face greater fragmentation and supply disruptions if former U.S. president Donald Trump wins the Nov. 5 election to return for a second term, an HSBC economist said on Friday. A weak start by U.S. President Joe Biden in the first the U.S. presidential debate on Thursday has led to heightened speculation over the potential return of a Trump presidency, including the implications of his trade policies and proposed tariffs on China. Commodity markets, already contending with high prices driven by structural supply constraints, also face uncertainties from geopolitical tensions, said Paul Bloxham, HSBC's chief economist for Australia, New Zealand and global commodities. "A rise in global trade protectionism or a shift in the pathway of that trend is a global macroeconomic risk we are watching out for," Bloxham told the Reuters Global Markets Forum (GMF). "This would increase the risk of greater fragmentation of commodity markets and create a supply disruption supporting commodity prices." Geopolitics, climate change, and the energy transition are combining to drive a global commodity market "super-squeeze", said Bloxham, who previously worked with the Reserve Bank of Australia's economic analysis department. HSBC's statistical model in May indicated a shift to a 'super bull' from a 'weak bull' phase in commodities, despite already elevated prices. According to HSBC, commodity prices are unlikely to return to their previous trend, and are set to stay "permanently higher". Bloxham expects large producers, particularly those involved in the energy transition materials such as copper, will benefit. He also said that Latin American economies, the U.S., Australia, and Indonesia were also potential winners. (Join GMF, a chat room hosted on LSEG Messenger, for live interviews: ) (Reporting by Anisha Sircar in Bengaluru and Divya Chowdhury in Mumbai; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Two soon-to-be-opened businesses in Gardner are currently looking for employees. Five Below, which is scheduled to open a location at 370 Timpany Plaza over the summer, will hold on-the-spot interviews at the store this weekend. The hiring sessions will take place Friday, June 28, through Sunday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Among the positions the store is looking to fill are those for sales associates, according to the chains website. Perfect candidates have an undying passion for delivering amazing customer service, while also driving high sales results, the website reads. Key traits include having amazing people and selling skills, a keen eye for ensuring merchandise is on the floor in an organized fashion, keeping the floor stocked-up flawlessly and providing super smooth transactions at the register. The Five Below store at Timpany Plaza in Gardner, which is scheduled to open over the summer, will hold on-the-spot interviews for employees this weekend. The chain, which is popular with tweens and teens because of its treasure hunt style of shopping, offers customers trendy products, with most items priced between $1 and $5. The retailer, which is famed for its large selection of candy, carries more expensive items in its "Five Beyond" section. More: Five Below coming to Gardner - what we know Applicants can also apply at fivebelow.com/jobs or by texting "5" or "five" to 242424. Jersey Mike's Jersey Mikes, the sub sandwich shop, is also looking for employees to join their location at Timpany Crossroads. Candidates can apply at jerseymikes.com/careers or by emailing their resumes to jobs@ttgroupco.com. Jersey Mike's is currently seeking employees to work at its Gardner location at Timpany Crossroads, which is scheduled to open by mid-August. We are hiring for all levels, from crew members to assistant manager, with a focus on those who are passionate about customer service and connecting with their local community, said franchise owner Tyler Tombs, who added that he expected to hire between 15 and 20 employees to work at the location. More: Jersey Mike's is coming to Gardner - when you can get those subs that are 'a cut above' One of the benefits of working at Jersey Mikes is the opportunity to grow with the company, Tombs said. Many of our store managers have started as part-time crew members and have worked their way up the ladder, he said. Every team member is valued and we provide training to reach full potential." Although relatively new to the New England market, Jersey Mikes has over 2,500 locations nationwide, and is considered to one of the fastest-growing fast-casual brands in the country, he said. The Gardner location is expected to open by mid-August. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Five Below and Jersey Mike's in Gardner MA looking to hire staff Union Pacific denied all allegations of race-based discrimination and retaliation made by the plaintiff. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) A federal judge has dismissed a discrimination lawsuit against Union Pacific Railroad Co., stating the plaintiff failed to prove he was a victim of racial discrimination and retaliation. Judge Stephen P. McGlynn in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois issued a summary judgment Wednesday dismissing the case brought by LeMon Bass. Background Bass, an African-American employee of the company, accused Union Pacific of racial discrimination and retaliation after the company had not promoted him in 26 years. A complaint he filed June 9, 2022 noted Bass had previously alleged racial discrimination and retaliation at Union Pacific. The complaint states that Bass began working at Southern Pacific Railroad in May 1994 and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1996. After the acquisition of Southern Pacific, he began working for Union Pacific in November 1998. Bass has held the position of locomotive engineer for approximately 26 years, despite numerous attempts to advance. In May 2004, Bass filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights alleging racial discrimination and retaliation were behind his lack of a promotion. Since then, he has repeatedly reported racial discrimination. In February 2019, Bass was removed from service by Union Pacific due to fitness for duty claims. After requesting to come back to work in June 2019 with his doctors approval, Bass accused Union Pacific of failing to process his return in a timely manner and delaying his return to work. Similarly situated non-black employees were not treated in this manner and were given reasonable accommodation in order to return to work, the complaint alleges. The complaint lists over 40 positions that Bass applied for at the company since 2005. Of all the positions he applied for, he was interviewed approximately four times. The plaintiff filed another charge of discrimination with the Illinois Department of Human Rights on Jan. 29, 2021. On March 14, 2022, the department mailed Bass a notice informing him of the right to sue. The allegations The complaint Bass filed in June 2022 stated he was: Denied a promotion in retaliation in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discriminated against based on race in violation of the same law. Retaliated against and discriminated against in violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act. He sought damages to be determined at trial and requested that Union Pacific take such affirmative action as is necessary to ensure that the effects of these unlawful employment practices are eliminated and do not continue to affect Plaintiffs employment and promotional opportunities. Story continues Bass asked the court to direct Union Pacific to place him in the position he would have been promoted to if not for alleged discriminatory and retaliatory treatment. He also asked for all earnings he would have received, including wages and other lost benefits. Defense responds In a court order filed Nov. 15, 2022, 31 of the 43 listed positions that the plaintiff applied for since 2005 were stricken from the complaint because they fell outside the 300-day time frame for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission/Illinois Department of Human Rights charge of discrimination. In UPs answer on Dec. 6, 2022, the railroad agreed that the plaintiff had applied for the remaining 12 positions but denied all allegations of discrimination or retaliation. Union Pacific said its actions with regard to Bass employment were taken for legitimate and nondiscriminatory, nonretaliatory reasons. Furthermore, UP said it has a widely disseminated anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy. Defendant has at all times exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any alleged harassing or discriminatory terms and conditions of employment and Plaintiff unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventative and/or corrective opportunities and procedures provided by Defendant, or to otherwise avoid the harm about which he now complains, Union Pacific stated, requesting that the case be dismissed. Conclusion In granting dismissal of the case, McGlynn concluded that a reasonable jury could not find that Bass was qualified for the positions he sought as he did not have the prerequisite qualifications. McGlynn stated that while the court had empathy for Bass frustration about not being promoted, he had not met the burden of proof demonstrating he was discriminated against. Attorneys for Bass and Union Pacific did not immediately respond to FreightWaves request for comment. The post Union Pacific defeats racial discrimination lawsuit appeared first on FreightWaves. Key Insights United Internet's estimated fair value is 15.22 based on Dividend Discount Model Current share price of 20.00 suggests United Internet is potentially 31% overvalued Our fair value estimate is 47% lower than United Internet's analyst price target of 28.85 Does the June share price for United Internet AG (ETR:UTDI) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. 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 would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you 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 United Internet Crunching The Numbers As United Internet operates in the telecom sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.7%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 4.4%. Relative to the current share price of 20.0, the company appears reasonably expensive at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = 0.6 / (4.4% 0.7%) = 15.2 dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at United Internet as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 4.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Story continues SWOT Analysis for United Internet Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Telecom market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the German market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the German market. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For United Internet, we've put together three further items you should look at: Risks: Be aware that United Internet is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about... Future Earnings: How does UTDI'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 XTRA 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 In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But the risk of stock picking is that you will likely buy under-performing companies. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) shareholders, since the share price is down 35% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 19%. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. See our latest analysis for United Parcel Service To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the unfortunate three years of share price decline, United Parcel Service actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 5.2% per year. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. It's worth taking a look at other metrics, because the EPS growth doesn't seem to match with the falling share price. Given the healthiness of the dividend payments, we doubt that they've concerned the market. Revenue has been pretty flat over three years, so that isn't an obvious reason shareholders would sell. So it might be worth looking at how revenue growth over time, in greater detail. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on United Parcel Service What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, United Parcel Service's TSR for the last 3 years was -28%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in United Parcel Service had a tough year, with a total loss of 19% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 25%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 9% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with United Parcel Service (including 1 which shouldn't be ignored) . United Parcel Service is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of small cap companies at attractive valuations which insiders have been buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com (Reuters) -The U.S. auto safety regulator said on Friday it has opened a recall query into over 120,000 Honda Ridgeline U.S. vehicles over rear-view camera (RVC) failures. The U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the query concerned the model year 2017-2019 of Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The RVC wire harness was manufactured with a material which was susceptible to breakage upon repeated opening and closing of the tailgate, which ultimately leads to a complete loss of RVC function, the NHTSA said. Honda has identified a replacement harness manufactured by a new supplier with improved material properties to withstand wear from bending, the regulator added. (Reporting by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Warren Buffett. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fortune/Time Inc Warren Buffett revealed he owns about $600 million of assets apart from Berkshire Hathaway stock. The investor said his Berkshire A shares, worth $127 billion, represent 99.5% of his net worth. He likely keeps most of his remaining wealth in his private portfolio of stocks and bonds. Warren Buffett just revealed he has about $600 million of personal wealth outside of his Berkshire Hathaway stock. The famed investor and Berkshire CEO announced on Friday that he's donated another $5.3 billion of his company's shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four of his family's foundations. He noted that the gifts, based on their value when received, total around $55 billion over the last 18 years. "I have no debts and my remaining A shares are worth about $127 billion, roughly 99% of my net worth," he added. Buffett's comment suggests the remaining 0.5% or about $600 million of his fortune is in other assets. The financial guru owns about $1 million of Berkshire's cheaper B shares, and his Omaha home is worth an estimated $1.4 million. Even if Buffett possesses other physical assets worth a few million dollars, it seems likely his private portfolio of stocks and bonds accounts for the bulk of his non-Berkshire wealth. After all, he's personally owned at least $80 million worth of just three stocks Wells Fargo, Walmart, and Johnson & Johnson in years past, ProPublica reported last year based on leaked Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data. Buffett also sold at least $466 million of stock between 2000 and 2019, and disposed of bonds worth much more, ProPublica said. The story pointed to a private portfolio worth hundreds of millions of dollars just a few years back. The investor's latest hint supports that idea. It also helps explain how Buffett can afford to only collect a $100,000 salary from Berkshire, and return half that amount to the company each year. Buffett likely earns meaningful amounts of stock dividends and bond income from his personal holdings, which spares him from having to sell Berkshire shares to pay his bills. Read the original article on Business Insider Humana, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in downtown Louisville, is a major part of the city and state's economic success. A new study published by the University of Louisville College of Business found Humana's direct employment supports tens of thousands of other jobs across the commonwealth, community investments surpass $50 million annually, and financially, the company adds roughly $14 billion to the state in economic output. "I think this study shows what having a $100 billion company means to Kentucky and the impact we have on the community," Jeb Duke, president of Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, told the Courier Journal. With Humana having exited the private insurance market to focus on Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and TRICARE insurances, recent "limited layoffs," and the February announcement the company would move from its iconic Humana Tower and consolidate into its Waterside property in downtown Louisville, skepticism of the company's commitment to Louisville has been on the rise. Despite this, Humana executives have continued to reiterate the company's commitment to Louisville and point to soon-to-be CEO Jim Rechtin, a native Kentuckian who is returning home to lead the business. "The heart of it remains headquartered in Kentucky," Duke said. The Humana Waterside Building in downtown Louisville. March 1, 2017 "We talk about the horse industry; we talk about the bourbon industry; but the mystery that occurs in those buildings downtown with the 11,000 associates we have ... it's unique to Kentucky and it's something we need to continue to cultivate," he continued. While the emptying of office space downtown may prove challenging for the city, retaining Humana and its employees physically in Louisville is a win for the local economy. According to Thomas Lambert, a professor of economics at the University of Louisville who conducted the recent study on Humana at the company's request, keeping Humana local is a necessity. "Let's put it this way, whenever a major corporation puts down its roots, so to speak, or whenever it does hiring, there are ripple effects ... throughout the local economy," Lambert said. "That also works in reverse if a business leaves." Duke sees the ripple effects of Humana play out daily. From the other local businesses the company supports to volunteerism and community engagement, Humana is essential to the commonwealth. "If you think about what the study shows is that to ... have the things that build a metropolitan, and to build that broader community, you need job creators, and you need the infrastructure to drive that engine," Duke said. "Humana has been that engine for the last 30 years. We have other great organizations like UPS and YUM! [Brands], but absolutely Humana has been at the center of those conversations, and it needs to be at the center with that commitment to continue." Story continues Here's a look at the impact Humana has in Kentucky: Employment and jobs support at Humana Humana directly employs 11,000 workers statewide but supports more than 50,000 additional jobs across the state. These additional jobs come from companies who do supplier and vendor work for Humana as well as the medical industry. While Lambert said some of these would exist without Humana, he noted there would be significantly less jobs operating in these adjacent industries within Kentucky. "While we look at Humana and we love the salaries that we can provide to our associates, we really have to think about what that means to the community, and what that means to the community is 51,000 more jobs throughout the commonwealth," Duke said. Community investment from Humana A look at the renovations made to the Humana headquarters and Waterside buildings for the return of employees following the pandemic. March 9, 2022 Lambert's study found that on average through the company, its employees, and the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, Humana contributes $51 million annually to philanthropy. Naturally, this community investment generates income for the philanthropic beneficiaries and job creation for the organizations as well. Duke said supporting the community through volunteerism and philanthropy is an important part of the company culture. Recently the company supported projects such as internet installation in Lyon County and spent more than $60 million in charitable contributions over the last four years. "I think you have to think holistically of how we support community, and that's a ... large way in which we do that," Duke said. In August, Humana is launching its "Month of Impact" an initiative aimed at generating $10 million in the local community through financial contributions and volunteerism. Financial benefits of Humana in Louisville Humana's financial benefit to the city and state extends across many facets and is needed to sustain a healthy local economy in the metro, according to the study. Of Humana's roughly $6.2 billion spent on supply chain operations, roughly $23 million is spent annually on locally owned minority businesses, boosting regional employment, the study found. Humana's federal contracting related to TRICARE, its military insurance branch, ranks Kentucky in the top 10 states nationwide based on U.S. Department of Defense contract spending per capita. Another large financial contribution from Humana comes in the form of tax revenue. The insurance company directly contributes $673.7 million in tax revenue with the majority staying in Kentucky. "What that means is, that means roads, that means public support, ... when you need a police officer, or you need a social worker, that requires taxes," Duke said of the roughly $428 million in tax revenue that returns to the state and local government. Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_. More: 4 Louisville companies score 100 on Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ+ equality ranking. Here's the breakdown This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Why is Humana important? How the company adds $14 billion to Kentucky Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And while active stock picking involves risks (and requires diversification) it can also provide excess returns. For example, the ZEAL Network SE (ETR:TIMA) share price is up 77% in the last 5 years, clearly besting the market decline of around 0.1% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 4.5%, including dividends. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for ZEAL Network There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. ZEAL Network's earnings per share are down 16% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years. Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Because earnings per share don't seem to match up with the share price, we'll take a look at other metrics instead. It is not great to see that revenue has dropped by 2.9% per year over five years. It certainly surprises us that the share price is up, but perhaps a closer examination of the data will yield answers. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that ZEAL Network has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling ZEAL Network stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of ZEAL Network, it has a TSR of 123% 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! A Different Perspective ZEAL Network provided a TSR of 4.5% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 17% over five years. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand ZEAL Network better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with ZEAL Network , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: many of them are unnoticed AND have attractive valuation). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on German 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 As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But if you try your hand at stock picking, you risk returning less than the market. We regret to report that long term Zhulian Corporation Berhad (KLSE:ZHULIAN) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 28% in three years, versus a market return of about 22%. And over the last year the share price fell 26%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted. Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns. Check out our latest analysis for Zhulian Corporation Berhad To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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. Zhulian Corporation Berhad saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 16% per year, over the last three years. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 10% compound annual share price fall. So, despite the prior disappointment, shareholders must have some confidence the situation will improve, longer term. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Zhulian Corporation Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Zhulian Corporation Berhad, it has a TSR of -7.1% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective Investors in Zhulian Corporation Berhad had a tough year, with a total loss of 20% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 24%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 8% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Zhulian Corporation Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Zhulian Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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 Christian Womens Noon Connection will be having a noon luncheon at the Midland University Dining Hall, Ninth and Pebble streets, in Fremont. The theme for the luncheon is The Right Path to the Future. A program will be presented about ASPIRE, a group that mentors youth and meets at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fremont. Music will be provided by Myra Pruss. Marla Reynolds from Baltic, South Dakota, will speak on Embracing the Sunshine After a Storm. She has two adult children and one grandson. The cost of the luncheon is $15. Call Pat at 402-720-3847 by Tuesday, July 2, to make a reservation. Honoring your reservation is necessary. The Fremont High School Theater program has had a five-year run of success under former director Caitie Hays, which included vying for a NSAA state title in one-act plays in 2022-2023 school year. Hays resigned from her role as director of the theater program effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year to take a new job in the Gretna Public Schools district, leaving a void that needed to be filled. Now, the school and students have a new director of theater arts with the hiring of Chase King. Hes coming from Waverly (Public Schools), said Mark Harman, vocal music director at FHS. Hes really had experience at just about every school size level in Nebraska, you know, starting at the smallest of schools and working his way up. This will be his first opportunity to run a theater program as a full-time theater guy. Harman said King was previously a dual English teacher who also doubled as a theater teacher because the districts he has worked in did not have large enough theater programs to justify a full-time theater teacher/directors. He hasnt had a school that had theater as a full-time option for him. But hes, hes directed one act and had some pretty good success along the way and, and I was excited to come take over the theater program and gotten a chance to meet some kids now and that sort of thing, Harman said. In an interview with the Fremont High School student online newspaper, The Tigers Eye, King expressed his excitement to join the FHS staff. I am very excited. I have only heard positive things about the community and the school. I am excited to work with a group that has an appreciation for theater, King told student reporter Allie Voecks. According to the profile, King is a Wayne State College graduate, with a masters degree from Peru State University in Kansas. Harman said he was grateful for Hays dedication, passion and impact on the theater students at Fremont High School in her five-years at FHS. During the May graduation ceremonies for the 2024 senior class, Hays impact was celebrated by senior theater-standout Alexis Frank, who gave a tear-inducing tribute to Hays. I would be remiss to not talk about one Ms. Caitie Hays, she said. I met Ms. Hays during my freshman year when I joined the one-act play team. I wanted to be a part of it. However my nerves got in the way of what I wanted, Frank stated. I needed help, so, I reached out to Ms. Hays. There wasnt a single time she let me down. I know she was the one person I could always turn to. She would be there to catch me every time I fell down. She taught me to not care what others think. I am so proud to have had Ms. Hays as a teacher and a mentor. Harman said due to the large size of the FHS theater arts program, which has almost 100 students involved across four grades, the director of theater arts position is really important for theater arts because its the only one in the whole district. For students who are looking for theater arts opportunities that doesnt include the musicals all the one-act, the fall play, the spring play, all those things are specific to the theater apartment, Harman said. Those high school theater arts experiences for students are all connected to that position. So it is really, its crucial. Not every school district has a theater teacher devoted to teaching theater during the day we do. Were really fortunate to have that. Harman also said he was personally and professionally elated to have King join the FHS staff and bring his own passion and experience to the theater arts program. Chases addition is an important one, you know, and, and him continuing the trajectory of what Caitie started is great for us so were looking forward to it, he said. Craft beer fans thirsting for WestFax Brewing Company suds, fresh from the tap in Colorado Springs, will have to wait a little longer. The much-anticipated soft grand opening of the taproom at 31st Street and Pikes Peak Avenue, originally planned for Friday, has been postponed, according to an announcement from the Lakewood-based brewer. The brewery attributed the delay to unforeseen circumstances and setbacks with several vendors, after a remodel and build-out that began in 2019 under a different Colorado beer brand, WeldWerks Brewing Co. of Greeley. WestFax took over in late 2022, after WeldWerks pulled out of the project. WestFax didnt set a new date for the soft opening of its taproom, at 3043 W. Pikes Peak Ave., but said the announcement would come soon. While we're just as bummed as you are about having to delay our opening just a bit longer, we are still committed to giving you the best WestFax Springs experience possible and can't wait to open our doors soon, according to the statement. WestFax opened in Lakewood in 2016, and the Springs taproom is its first expansion. Nearly two years after a collection of firearm owners and gun rights groups sued Boulder County and three of its municipalities over their respective ordinances, a federal judge on Monday signaled she was prepared to dismiss the lawsuit due to a lack of standing. A Colorado man is suing a Colorado Springs police officer, alleging the officer's "negligent" driving caused a traffic collision that left him with unspecified injuries. In a four-page lawsuit filed in El Paso County district court on April 29, plaintiff Jason Hansen, a Parker resident, alleges he was driving westbound on East Platte Avenue at its intersection with North Union Boulevard at about 9:14 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2022. He claims Colorado Springs police officer Connor Wallick, who was driving his police cruiser northbound on Union, failed to stop at a red light at the intersection and ran into Hansen's vehicle. "Defendant Wallick was driving negligently in driving aggressively, failing to keep a proper lookout and otherwise failing to operate (the police) vehicle in a safe and prudent manner," therefore causing the collision and bodily injury to Hansen, the plaintiff claims. Hansen seeks compensatory damages for physical pain and suffering, temporary loss of the enjoyment of life, physical impairment, temporary loss of capacity to perform household work, and inconvenience, according to the lawsuit. He also seeks additional fees, costs and interest. The city and the Colorado Springs Police Department, also named as defendants, are vicariously liable for Hansen's injuries, he states in court documents. In a six-page answer filed May 23, city attorneys deny Hansen's claims. Featured Local Savings Hansen "was comparatively negligent" and his "damages, if any, may have been caused by the actions or inactions of third parties over whom city defendants have no control or right of control," they argue. City attorneys also argue Hansen "may have failed to mitigate his damages, if any, as required by law," and that his alleged injuries and damages "may have existed before the incident" or "may have resulted from injuries incurred after the incident." Recovery of Hansen's claimed injuries and damages should, then, "be precluded or diminished as required by law," city attorneys state. In a June 25 memo from the City Attorney's Office to the Civil Action Investigation Committee, city attorneys did not confirm or deny Hansen's claim that Wallick ran a red light at the intersection. "(Hansen) was traveling westbound on East Platte Avenue at a speed of around 30 mph. Plaintiff entered the intersection on a green light. At about the same time, the officer entered the intersection at about 15 mph and collided with plaintiff's vehicle. The accident caused damage to both vehicles," the memo states. City attorneys said in the memo both Hansen and Wallick declined medical assistance after the crash. The City Council informally agreed Monday that the city represent Wallick in the case, as recommended by city attorneys and as required by the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and the Peace Officer's Liability Act. The Colorado Springs Police Department has released the footage of the officer-involved-shooting in the early hours of June 9 that left one man with gunshot wounds and a charge of first degree assault. Just before 1 a.m., three CSPD officers with the downtown area response team were on foot patrol in front of a business located at 18 South Nevada Avenue. While on foot patrol, they heard a disturbance to their north. Officers proceeded to move toward the disturbance when they saw a woman fall to the ground after appearing to have been assaulted. Nearby business security cameras captured footage of the altercation that occurred between the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Al'Morion Germany, and the woman. Germany is seen pointing a gun at the woman before hitting her in the head with the weapon, but did not fire at her. At this time, Officer Benjamin Hengel, who has been with CSPD for five years, drew his taser and identified himself as a police officer. Hengel began to move closer to the disturbance when another man stepped in front of the officer and proceeded to chase Germany, who was fleeing. Security footage shows that the man suddenly stopped and put his hands up when Germany pointed a gun at him. Hengel began to move toward the man's left when he saw the weapon pointed at both himself and the man. At this point, he alerted the other officers by shouting "gun" and then ordered Germany to drop the weapon while drawing his department-issued handgun. Featured Local Savings Germany turned away and ran north along South Nevada Avenue, then turned onto Pikes Peak Avenue, running west toward a parking lot. Officers continued to pursue Germany while identifying themselves as police and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon. As Hengel turned on to Pikes Peak Avenue, he dropped his taser and fired three rounds at Germany, two of which hit him. Following the suspect being shot and hit twice, he continued to run across Pikes Peak Avenue before following officer commands to get on the ground. From there, Germany was taken into custody and arrested for first degree assault. Once the suspect was in custody, emergency medical aid was rendered until paramedics arrived. While receiving aid, the video shows Germany telling the officers repeatedly to "please don't let me die, bro," while officers reassured the suspect he would be okay. Germany was transported to a local hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Besides the suspect, one other community member suffered minor injuries during the incident. Officers recovered a loaded 10 mm Glock handgun from the area of where the suspect was shot. In accordance with Colorado Law, the EL Paso County Sheriff's Office responded to the shooting and initiated an investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be sent to the Fourth Judicial District for a a ruling on whether the officer's use of force complied with state law. After a failed attempt to sue the city of Fountain to leave an annexation agreement over water accessibility, the developers of a property called Kane Ranch have pivoted from home construction to using the land for a solar farm. The city of Fountain approved the use as part of a new 30-year annexation agreement with the land developer Corundum Properties V for the 2,400-acre parcel on the eastern edge of the city. The new agreement provides the company an "out" from its inclusion into the city if utilities cannot be provided at the end of the agreement's term in the 2050s. "Right now if Kane Ranch were to try to develop homes ... we really wouldn't have the processed water for them at this point," said Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson. In the agreement, the city allowed the developer to pursue a solar lease option with German energy company JUWI Inc. within the next two years. The agreement term, 30 years, is the typical life cycle of a solar farm. The agreement leaves room for a 10-year extension if a solar contract is renewed for longer. Fountain City Attorney Troy Johnson said that the city had not yet seen a plan for a solar farm, but that the annexation agreement allows the developer to pursue that option. Water problem Some councilmembers hope the city could provide water for a housing project in the future. "I hope in 30 years we have a solution to our water problem," Fredrick Hinton, a councilman, said at a meeting. "I think that we will." A solar farm is one of a short list of development opportunities open to the land without access to water in the short term, however. The site was originally planned as the southern portion of the large residential development Amara, a project in current talks with the city of Colorado Springs for "flagpole" annexation into the city without a current connecting border. That 3,200-acre parcel is owned by developer La Plata Communities and would call for the construction of up to 9,500 homes. The possibility of annexing the Amara parcel into Fountain to join Kane Ranch was axed in 2022 as developers cited concerns with the city's capability to plan water access. Featured Local Savings While the original annexation agreement with Fountain provided that the Kane Ranch development would be on the list to receive water when it became available, that list has grown long. In 2022, Corundum sued the city in El Paso County District Court for the right to leave the annexation agreement and return to El Paso County. The suit failed for a lack of jurisdiction and action for the court to take. In the suit, Corundum claimed that the city agreed to a master plan to provide water when the land was first annexed in 2008. The city has said that the master plan was dropped in response to the economic recession and a reduction in building. The suit claimed Fountain would have to build a $212 million reservoir to serve the property in addition to other infrastructure. The new agreement is a compromise, said Evans. "Were just looking for a win-win for everybody," he said. While the agreement provides that the developer can choose to leave the city at the end of the term, the decision will still be incumbent on a future city council. Evans said that the City Council was not able to bind future councils to their decisions, but that the new agreement was "reasonable." A solar future If a lease with JUWI is signed, the property will not be the first solar energy producer in the area. The Pike Solar project, the largest solar farm in the Pikes Peak region, is located south of Fountain and went operational in 2023. The site provides 175 megawatts on more than 1,000 acres to Colorado Springs Utilities. The farm plus other renewable energy projects currently account for 27% of Utilities' energy portfolio, according to CSU. JUWI has also been involved along with other energy companies in the construction and maintenance of Pike Solar. A spokesperson with Utilities said they were unaware of any plans for the Kane Ranch project or any current contracts with JUWI on the property. Corundum Properties V founder Ron Johnson did not respond to a request for comment. Switzerland Returns Three Confiscated Assyrian Artefacts to Iraq One of the Assyrian reliefs from the eighth century BC that were returned to Iraq by Switzerland. (AFP) -- Switzerland on Friday returned to Iraq three important Mesopotamian objects seized during a criminal procedure, Bern said. During a ceremony at the culture ministry in Bern, Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider handed over a partial statue and two Mesopotamian reliefs to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. The three works, which are 1,700 to 2,800 years old, are "of great significance" to Iraq, the ministry said in a statement. They were confiscated during a criminal procedure in the Geneva canton last year, it said. The main person accused in that case was handed a prison sentence for document forgery and for violating the Cultural Property Transfer Act, which bans the transfer of stolen or looted cultural goods, the ministry said. An additional 43 cultural items had been confiscated by Swiss authorities in the case, it added. The three objects returned Friday were discovered and documented during official excavations in Iraq in 1846/47, 1959 and 1976. They all originated in Mesopotamia, today's Iraq. "They were subsequently removed from Iraq at an unknown date and possibly illegally," the ministry said. They include two large Assyrian reliefs from the 8th century BC that were found at the major archaeological site Nimrud-Kalhu. There was also the fragment of a royal bust, wearing a pleated tunic and a royal mantle adorned with pendants, from the ancient city of Hatra in the second to third centuries AD. Cultural items from Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilisation, are among the most endangered categories of Iraqi cultural goods, the Swiss culture ministry said. They are particularly affected by illegal excavations, smuggling and illegal trading, leading UNESCO to add three sites in Iraq to its list of World Heritage in Danger, including the Hatra site. Switzerland and Iraq are parties to a UNESCO convention aimed at protecting cultural heritage by banning and preventing illegal imports, exports and transfers of cultural property. Friday's restitution was the fifth from Switzerland to Iraq since 2005 and "by far the most significant", the ministry said. While the objects were officially returned to Iraq on Friday, the ministry said they would remain in Switzerland for now to feature in an exceptional exhibit at the ministry through June 7. OKLAHOMA CITY State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting that public school districts will be required to incorporate the Bible in their curricula effective immediately. Citing a state statute that directs the Oklahoma State Board of Education to adopt academic standards that include the study of important historical documents, Walters made the announcement at the beginning of Thursdays meeting. He said each school district will be required to incorporate the Bible in its curriculum and ensure that a copy is kept in every classroom. My staff has been looking at Oklahoma state statutes, he said. Weve been looking at the Oklahoma Academic Standards, and its crystal clear that the Bible is a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, the basis of our legal system and is frankly one of the most foundational documents for the Constitution and foundation of our country. Although Walters said repeatedly that Bibles must be kept in every public school classroom in the state, a memorandum from Walters to superintendents, Oklahomas congressional delegation, Gov. Kevin Stitt, House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat states that the edict applies only to grades five through 12. The memorandum also states that OSDE may supply teaching materials for the Bible, as permissible, to ensure uniformity in delivery. Walters did not say what version of the Bible would be authorized. By law, the state establishes Oklahoma Academic Standards, which serve as expectations for what students should know and be able to do by the end of the school year, but what curriculum and materials are used to meet those expectations is decided by locally elected school boards. When reached Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office said state law already allows teachers to have Bibles in the classroom and incorporate them into instruction. After the meeting, Walters told reporters that the biblical instruction would be strictly from a historical perspective and would focus solely on its role in American history. However, he did not provide a timeline on when guidance on the memo would be released. The earliest Tulsa-area schools to start the 2024-25 academic year begin classes on Aug. 7. Weve got to make sure that our kids look back at our founding and can have an understanding of the role the Bible and the faith of the founders played, said Walters. And were going to make sure Oklahomans understand that. The announcement was met with sharp criticism Thursday from several members of the Oklahoma Legislature, as well as from some of the communities that would be directly affected by its implementation. State Reps. Melissa Provenzano and John Waldron, Democrats from Tulsa who are former public school educators, in a shared statement advised district leaders to carefully review and follow existing state law when it comes to religious instruction in schools. In 2016, Oklahoma voters rejected a state question that would have amended the state constitution to remove language barring the use of public funds for religious purposes. We know from the outcome of SQ 790 that Oklahomans are overwhelmingly against using public dollars to fund religious purposes, Provenzano said. The Oklahoma Constitution is very clear on what is allowed when it comes to public education. Waldron called the directive ridiculous and unconstitutional with no connection to the academic goals set for state public schools. Sen. Carri Hicks, another former classroom teacher, also released comments on the directive from Walters, saying, This new order does not provide solutions to the real problems facing our schools, and yet again, more taxpayer dollars that could have better supported our students and teachers will likely be diverted to address legal challenges. In an email Thursday morning, Adam Soltani, executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also condemned the announcement. Religious freedom, as outlined in the Constitution, allows for the academic instruction of religion in subjects such as geography, social studies and history, Soltani wrote. To require religious scripture, regardless of which one it may be, to be incorporated into lessons in our schools, however, is a clear violation of the establishment clause of the Constitution and infringes on the rights of our students and their families. Ryan Walters should reconsider his actions of using his position and influence to promote what appears to be a personal Christian Nationalist agenda, as it does not contribute to the advancement of our childrens education. Walters announcement was also denounced by the Oklahoma Education Association, whose members would be among those expected to carry out the directive. In a written statement, the organization pointed to a recent Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling upholding Edmond Public Schools inclusion of The Kite Runner and The Glass Castle in its library as proof of school districts right to decide what materials to include in their curricula rather than the state superintendents. Teaching about the historical context of religion (and the Bible) is permissible; however, teaching religious doctrine is not permissible, the OEA said in the statement. Public schools cannot indoctrinate students with a particular religious belief or religious curriculum. The State Superintendent cannot usurp local control and compel education professionals to violate the Constitution. The Tulsa World is where your story lives Photos: Ryan Walters announces Bible directive in OSDE meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting 062824-tul-nws-maryside-p1 OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting 063024-tul-nws-ejohnson-p1 OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting 082224-tul-nws-title1-p1 OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting The Tulsa World is where your story lives OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting OSDE monthly meeting Ministry of National Defense: Lai Ching-te and his like will be condemned by history and punished by law China Military Online) 08:30, June 28, 2024 Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular news conference on Thursday. Question: At the centennial celebrations for the Whampoa Military Academy in Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region, claimed that he does not accept the idea of "the first battle is the final battle", and the biggest challenge for Taiwan's troops is the Chinese mainland aiming for "Taiwan's annexation and the elimination of the Republic of China". He also touted on many occasions absurd narratives in support of "Taiwan independence" such as "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other." What's your comment, please? Wu Qian: The Whampoa Military Academy is a historical memory in the heart of all Chinese people and a witness to the arduous journey of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Guided by the patriotic and revolutionary Whampoa Spirit, graduates of the academy have a glorious tradition of dedicating themselves to patriotism and revolution, and are an important force for national reunification and rejuvenation. Lai Ching-te and his like who attempt to falsify history and split our nation will surely be condemned by history and punished by law. There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The one-China principle is a prevailing consensus in the international community. No matter how the DPP authorities try to distort or deny it, this basic fact will not change, nor will the family bonds between compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait be severed. It needs to be emphasized that each time "Taiwan independence" separatists make provocations, they will be responded with stronger countermeasures from the PLA. These responses will pave the way for the resolution of the Taiwan question. For the PLA, defeating military elements of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces is like shooting fish in a barrel. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Hongyu) CHICAGO City officials this week reached a deal with protest organizers that will allow demonstrators to march along Michigan Avenue, adjacent to Grant Park, before the kickoff of the Democratic National Convention in August. The ACLU of Illinois filed a federal lawsuit against the city last month on behalf of a coalition of LGBTQ+ and abortion rights groups, Bodies Against Unjust Laws, that sought a protest permit during the DNC. Wednesday, the ACLU announced the coalition was granted a permit to march south along Michigan Avenue from Wacker Drive to the statue of Union Army Gen. John Logan near 9th Street. The march is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 18, the day before DNC activities begin in earnest. We are pleased that our demands for comprehensive and inclusive health care policies that affirm the needs of trans & queer people will be within sight and sound of people on and around Michigan Avenue, Kristi Keorkunian, of Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws, said in a statement Wednesday. Delegates and others gathering for the DNC need to hear this message not just around the convention but every day. The Logan statue, which sits at the top of a hill across the street from the Hilton Chicago hotel, was the site of the violent clashes between Chicago police officers and demonstrators during the 1968 DNC. This matter continues to be the subject of ongoing litigation, and the city has no comment, a spokesperson for the citys Law Department said. Thousands of demonstrators are expected to descend upon Chicago while the DNC is held between Aug. 19-22, with the conventions official events to be held at the United Center and McCormick Place. Earlier this month, a separate group of organizers said Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration planned to offer another protest route closer to the United Center. That route, which has not been unveiled, will be accessible to multiple protest groups that have applied for permits, a city attorney previously said. Australias national science agency, CSIRO, has worked with Dell Technologies to build a high-performance computer (HPC) system which will speed up scientific discoveries and help grow Australias industry and economy. Virga is a fast, powerful and energy-efficient accelerated computing cluster that will help grow Australias science, industry and economy. Named Virga, the HPC system is built on state-of-the-art Dell PowerEdge XE9640 servers and is the first deployment of its kind in Australia, designed to optimise artificial intelligence (AI) workflows while also being power-efficient using direct liquid cooling. Professor Elanor Huntington, CSIROs Digital, National Facilities & Collections Executive Director, said Virga will provide the critical computing infrastructure needed for machine learning and AI to grow Australias industry and economy. CSIRO is proud to be a steward of some of Australias most important pieces of research infrastructure, Professor Huntington said. AI is used in practically all fields of research at CSIRO, such as developing world-leading flexible printed solar panels, predicting fires, measuring wheat crops and developing vaccines, just to name a few. High-performance computing systems like Virga also play an important role in CSIROs robotics and sensing work and are crucial to the recently launched National Robotics Strategy to drive competitiveness, and productivity of Australian industry. The HPC cluster, which is housed at CDCs Hume Data Centre in Canberra, is named Virga after the meteorological effect of rain that evaporates before it reaches the ground and was named in recognition of CSIROs decades of research into cloud and rain physics. Dr Jason Dowling from CSIROs Australian e-Health Research Centre said the increase in medical imaging data coupled with the growing complexity of diagnostic techniques has led to an urgent need for advanced computational power and data processing for medical image analysis. The new HPC facilities will allow researchers in our Australian e-Health Research Centre to train and validate new computational models, which will help us develop translational software in medical image analysis for image classification, segmentation, reconstruction, registration, synthesis, and automated radiology reporting, Dr Dowling said. One collaborative project with the Queensland Childrens Hospital that will benefit from the new cluster is the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models to diagnose pathology from MRI scans of the lungs in children with cystic fibrosis. The Virga cluster features: NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs to support deep learning, machine learning and AI. 94GB of high-bandwidth memory per GPU 94GB of high-bandwidth memory per GPU Transformer Engine - significantly speeds up AI performance and capabilities and helps train large models within days or even hours. 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors Hybrid direct liquid cooling to reduce the need for energy intensive air cooling Angela Fox, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Dell Technologies Australia and New Zealand said the Virga AI system can examine large volumes of scientific data and then help researchers improve the models they build. Dell Technologies provides organizations with solutions and expertise that accelerate AI and bring value to their data, Ms Fox said. With Dell PowerEdge servers as the foundation, Virga will help create new Australian scientific breakthroughs using its AI capabilities, all the while being both more sustainable and more energy efficient than previous generation clusters. The Nebraska Court of Appeals has affirmed the convictions and sentence of man convicted of stabbing a Lyman police officer. Jeremy Torres appealed his felony convictions on charges of attempted first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and tampering with a witness. Torres had been convicted in the Sept. 19, 2022, stabbing of Officer Robert Gleim in Lyman. Gleim had responded to an area west of P Street and Huntley Avenue in Lyman upon receiving reports of shots having been fired in the area. He was investigating that report when he made contact with Torres and Torres mother. As Gleim returned to his patrol car, Torres followed him, taking out a knife and stabbing him in the neck behind his left ear. Despite the attack, Gleim was able to reach his Taser and subdued Torres. While in jail after his arrest, Torres called his girlfriend, who had reported the gunshots to police, and told her to recant her statements to police. As the result of a plea agreement in July 2023, Torres pleaded to amended charges in the case, resulting in his conviction. However, the state had reserved the right to seek a habitual criminal enhancement, which it had filed in November 2022. Torres had been sentenced in October 2023 to 25 to 30 years in prison on a charge of attempted first-degree murder; 10 to 20 years imprisonment on a charge of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; 10 years for witness tampering and 10-20 years in prison for second-degree assault on an officer. The sentences for attempted first degree murder, second degree assault on an officer, and tampering with a witness were ordered to be served concurrently with each other, but consecutively with the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony conviction. As such, Torres was sentenced to an aggregate sentence of 35 to 50 years imprisonment. In his appeal, Torres alleged a Scotts Bluff County District Court judge erred in accepting his pleas without first determining his competence, in failing to order a 90-day evaluation as part of a pre-sentence investigation and in imposing an excessive aggregate sentence. He also alleged he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel. After pleading in the case, Torres had sought a 90-day mental health evaluation, which the judge denied. Torres argues that the judge should have ordered the evaluation and that the sentence passed down was excessive. He asserts that his trial counsel should have argued that he was not guilty by reason of insanity. The Court of Appeals found that the record didnt indicate any reason for the judge to doubt Torres competence to enter his own no contest pleas. Neither Torres nor his defense counsel ever raised the question of the mans competence in court. Though counsel argued his mental health should be considered as a mitigating factor in sentencing, Torres counsel also never provided any indication of any concerns that his mental health affected his ability to enter valid pleas and he provided appropriate responses indicating he understood the proceedings. In his plea agreement, he also indicated he was mentally and legally competent. As part of his pre-sentence report, Torres did submit to evaluation and indicated he had received some treatment since the incident. However, neither he nor his attorney explained how further evaluation would have changed the courts sentencing determination. The Court of Appeals found that Torres sentence was within the statutory limits as he had been found to be a habitual criminal. As such, each of his felony convictions carried a mandatory minimum term of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of 60 years imprisonment. The appeals court found that the sentencing judge considered all relevant sentencing factors in its determination. It found the record insufficient to adequately review his claim that his counsel was ineffective. Top Journal Star photos for June 2024 Nebraska Congressman Mike Flood on Friday called for members of President Joe Biden's Cabinet "to invoke the 25th Amendment for the good of our country" after Biden's shaky performance in Thursday night's debate with former President Donald Trump. In a string of social media posts Friday morning, Flood, who represents Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, became one of the country's first federal officeholders to call for Biden's removal from power over his uneven debate performance. Tweeting from his official congressional account on X, formerly Twitter, Flood said the president's debate performance "revealed the current state of Bidens mental acuity for all the world to see" and said he "has shown an unwillingness to let go of power" before calling on Biden's Cabinet to invoke the never-before-used 25th Amendment. Established in 1965, the amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the president's Cabinet to vote to declare a president unable to discharge the powers and the duties of his office and give the vice president the duties of acting president. Flood's endorsement of such a move first called for by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas who serves as the policy chair for the far-right House Freedom Caucus drew stinging backlash from Democrats in Nebraska, where Flood has cast himself as a bipartisan dealmaker through his first two years in Washington, D.C. "Flood, of course, is being over-the-top and reckless, calling for the 25th Amendment because someone had a bad debate performance, when his candidate (Trump) has 34 felonies and is a convicted criminal," said Jane Kleeb, the chair of Nebraska's Democratic Party. "I mean, let's get serious." Flood, who was not available for an interview Friday, said in a follow-up statement that his "call for the 25th Amendment does not come lightly." "Last night was not just tough to watch, it highlighted growing concerns about President Bidens ability to carry out his presidential duties," Flood said in the statement. "He couldnt formulate words to express himself during the debate, and if you were the CEO of a major company, youd get fired." Flood was one of the first GOP members of Congress to publicly back Roy's call for Biden's ouster Friday morning. By Friday afternoon, Roy had formally filed a resolution urging Vice President Kamala Harris to convene Biden's Cabinet and and declare the president unable to carry out his duties, while House Speaker Mike Johnson asked Cabinet members to "search their hearts" amid this "alarming situation." Biden, 81, was marred particularly early in the debate by raspy and sometimes halting answers, engendering the concerns many Americans already had over his age and ability to serve. Trump, meanwhile, was vigorous as he made repeated false claims, refused to denounce those who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and warned that the members of the congressional committee that investigated the insurrection could face criminal charges. It was Biden's performance, though, that prompted a wave of internal panic among Democrats and reopened discussion of whether he should be the party's presidential nominee, The New York Times reported Thursday night, but the party appeared united behind the president Friday. In Nebraska, Kleeb, who has been the state party's chair since 2016, acknowledged that Biden's debate performance marked "a bump in the road" for his campaign, but was emphatic about her and the party's continued support of the president. "Our party is not talking about a new nominee," she told the Journal Star. "We are not gonna abandon the president after one bad debate performance. We all knew his age when we nominated him as president. "And anybody on the bench that could be the next president in 2028 also knew Biden's age, and if they thought they had a path to victory, they would have won. So we are all rallied and strong behind the president. There is not an inch of room we're giving to considering having a brokered convention." Kleeb, too, said November's election still presents a "total black and white choice for voters," casting Trump as the "chaos" candidate who "cozies up with Russia and North Korea." "Voters are not shallow," Kleeb said. "They know how much is at stake. "And then to have a member of Congress in our state be so extreme and so MAGA to call for to invoke the 25th Amendment is absolutely a snapshot of where the Republican Party is in our state," she said, accusing the GOP of having "no ideas and they go to the extreme because they think that's how we win elections." Flood's quick embrace of the invocation of the 25th Amendment on Friday made him an outlier among Nebraska's congressional delegation. Neither Rep. Adrian Smith nor Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska's 3rd and 2nd congressional districts, respectively, immediately weighed in on Roy's resolution Friday. In a social media post Thursday night, Bacon called the debate "the most lopsided" he had ever seen, declaring "Trump dominated tonight." Flood's call for Biden's ouster comes less than a month after he stood alone among Nebraska's federal officeholders when he called for "respect (of) the rule of law" following Trump's conviction, which the state's other GOP officials widely cast as "political" and unfair. The congressman's social media posts Friday were met with mixed reactions among his followers, one of whom called on Flood to "get with Chip Roy and make it happen" while another suggested he should "call for (Trump) to withdraw from the race." Democratic state Sen. Carol Blood, who is seeking to unseat Flood in November, said Flood "should worry more about doing his job and representing people than participating in hyper-partisanship shenanigans." In a phone interview Friday, Blood pointed to the federal government's continued reliance on stopgap funding bills as evidence of a dysfunctional Congress while she largely declined to offer political commentary on Biden's debate performance or her opponent's response to it. "I'm mostly worried about the people who point fingers who aren't even doing their own jobs. It's hard to take anything they say seriously if they can't do the work that they've been assigned to do," she said, later adding: "We've got to stop the hyper-partisanship. I'm just not gonna participate in it." Top Journal Star photos for June 2024 Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, one of the state Legislatures most powerful Republicans, will not face a recall election this fall, the Wisconsin Elections Commission decided Thursday. In a 4-2 vote, the bipartisan commission determined that close to 200 signatures submitted by the group seeking to force a recall election against Vos, R-Rochester, were collected after the deadline set in state law and should be deemed invalid. The decision prompted the Racine Recall Committee, led by Republicans frustrated with Vos for not pursuing impeachment of the agencys nonpartisan administrator Meagan Wolfe, to call for the immediate dismantling of the commission. Democratic commissioner Carrie Riepl joined her Republican colleagues Don Millis, Bob Spindell and Marge Bostelmann in the decision, which brought the total number of valid signatures down to 6,678, below the 6,850 needed in Vos old 63rd Assembly District to force a recall. Organizers behind the recall effort had 60 days, or until May 26, to collect signatures. However, that period ended the Sunday before Memorial Day, meaning the holiday weekend pushed the date that petitions had to be turned in to the following Tuesday, May 28. The four commissioners determined that roughly 188 signatures collected on May 27-28 can not be counted, with Democratic commissioners Ann Jacobs and Mark Thomsen opposed. Thomsen argued the motion to reject the signatures made by Millis, Vos appointee to the agency was based on a technicality and essentially gives the most powerful person in the Assembly a free pass. If we just do that, this whole state is going to think this whole thing is just rigged to keep power, and we cant do that, Thomsen said before the vote. Millis said recall organizers were notified that signatures collected after the 60-day window would not be counted. I disagree with the idea that were giving Rep. Vos a pass, Millis said. I dont think were denying anyones right to recall. It certainly is a close call in terms of the number of signatures. Recall organizers said in a statement after the vote the commission has demonstrated that it is set up to protect those in power rather than to fairly administer elections and uphold election laws. The group in March submitted more than 9,000 signatures seeking to recall Vos, but the elections commission denied the request after determining only 5,905 signatures were valid. Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson earlier this year said her office had fielded numerous calls about possible identity theft from electors who said their names had fraudulently been added to the first recall petition effort. The recall drive was launched by Republicans frustrated that Vos refused former President Donald Trumps request to overturn Wisconsins 2020 presidential election. Overturning the election is not something the speaker is empowered to do under state law and the state Constitution. Vos further angered the group by not pursuing impeachment of the election commissions nonpartisan administrator Meagan Wolfe, as some Republicans have demanded. Photos: Tiempo Libre performs at Concerts on the Square Wisconsin Democrats sought to move past President Joe Biden's halting performance in his debate with former President Donald Trump Thursday, saying the 81-year-old candidate remained their best hope to defeat Trump in the battleground state this November. Biden's uneven performance, particularly early in the debate, sparked a fresh round of calls by some within his party to consider a different candidate to lead the charge against Trump's bid to reclaim the White House, but Wisconsin Democrats remain undeterred and instead focused on both candidates' records. Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, told reporters Friday "the fundamental choice in this election is the same today as when we woke up yesterday." "Last night, one guy needed a lozenge, and the other guy needed a reminder that hes not running for dictator of North Korea," Wikler said, in reference to the former president's authoritarian rhetoric at times. The debate covered a wide range of topics and included a former president 78-year-old Trump not backing down from his vows to prosecute members of Congress and even the man he was debating. But the overarching theme was the difference between the candidates performance. Tonight was not about Joe Biden's ability to get through an hour-and-a-half debate. "Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said in a statement. "It was about whether he can make it through another four years as Commander in Chief. Biden demonstrated he is incapable of either." Wikler downplayed concerns raised by some within the party that Biden is too old for a second term and instead touted the president's record while noting that he continues to "light up big rooms over and over" in Wisconsin. Biden has made four trips to Wisconsin this year, while Trump made his third trip to the battleground state earlier this month. "President Biden is the only person who has actually defeated Donald Trump before and Donald Trump didnt give voters any reason to vote for him last night," Wikler said. "He lied over and over and over, he doubled down on his terrible positions. The stakes in voters lives are evidently clear. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, a Democrat, also dismissed concerns raised over Biden's age and debate performance. "I think this rhetoric is coming from cable news, because what we saw in the hour after the debate is the Biden campaign had some of its best grassroots fundraising numbers, period," Godlewski said. Longtime Democratic adviser to former President Barack Obama and CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod said immediately after the debate the earliest televised debate in American history that Biden appeared "a little disoriented," but added the president "did get stronger as the debate went on." "But by that time, I think the panic had set in, Axelrod said. "And I think youre going to hear discussions that, I dont know will lead to anything, but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN Thursday Biden had "a slow start" in his first debate with Trump this election cycle, but said the 81-year-old president finished "strong." Despite Biden's performance, many Democrats have focused their attention on Trump's remarks during the 90-minute debate, including the former president's refusal to condemn the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as well as his unwillingness to emphatically commit to accepting the results of this Novembers election. "Donald Trump is a five-alarm fire for American democracy, thats the shocking reality," Wikler said. Biden and Trump remain dead even in Wisconsin, with both candidates receiving support from 50% of registered voters in the latest Marquette Law School Poll released Wednesday largely mirroring results from Marquettes previous polling. Biden leads Trump 51% to 49% among likely voters, well within the polls 4.6% margin of error. All told, the latest survey underscores that voters opinions are largely unchanged from April, when Marquettes poll found 51% of respondents backed the Republican Trump, while 49% supported the Democrat Biden. "We expect his race to be extremely close, because this is the land of the nail-biter," Wikler said. But while the race remains close, voter enthusiasm continues to be a concern for Democrats. Among those who said they are very enthusiastic to vote in the June poll, 61% support Trump, compared with 39% for Biden. Respondents who are somewhat, not very and not at all enthusiastic to vote this November lean in Bidens favor. This race is a big question about turnout and what matters here, because Biden has real strength among the voters who are not that engaged, poll director Charles Franklin said Wednesday. Trump has real strength among the people who are really excited to participate, so how does this balance out? Of voters who say they are very enthusiastic to vote, 98% say they are absolutely certain to cast a ballot this fall. Among somewhat enthusiastic respondents, 87% say they are certain to vote, while that certainty drops to 73% for those not too enthusiastic and 67% for those not at all enthusiastic to vote. Heres a path to Joe Biden to lose this election pretty badly, in that hes failed to inspire his supporters, theyre unenthusiastic about him and his campaign, and theyre much less likely to vote than those who are very enthusiastic who overwhelmingly are for Trump, Franklin said. Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by 20,682 votes in 2020, while Trump won the state in 2016 by securing 22,748 more votes than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Standing under a giant LED dome, visitors to Hunan Museum in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province, immerse themselves in a journey of the immortals dominated by mythical creatures imagined by people from about 2,100 years ago. In the underground world, two colossal whales swim in dark waters while a towering giant hoists the entire earthly plane. Above, in the human realm, mourners gather for solemn burial rites, praying for the departed to transcend into celestial beings. Meanwhile, in heaven, mythical guardians stand vigilant, illuminating the path forward. Welcome to the digital exhibition, The Art of Life: Multimedia Exhibition of Mawangdui Han Culture, where you can experience the vivid imaginations and artistic expressions regarding the universe and life of people from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). It's an innovative, digital endeavor by Hunan Museum to showcase its archaeological findings of the Mawangdui Han Tombs, where 3,000 pieces of treasured artifacts and a well-preserved female body dating back over 2 millennia were unearthed in 1972.Recognized as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in China in the 20th century, it has attracted widespread attention both domestically and internationally. "The digital exhibition tells ancient stories by employing the language of contemporary art," says Duan Xiaoming, director of Hunan Museum. "I'm a little nervous about whether visitors will like it or not. It's rare for a museum to present an archaeological exhibition in such a way." The exhibition, opened on June 8 and running until next February, uses technologies such as naked-eye 3D and holographic projections to offer an immersive experience and a visual feast inspired by artifacts found in the tomb of the Marquis Dai's wife, Xin Zhui, whose un-mummified body was so well-preserved that medical experts were able to perform a full checkup, gynecological examination and autopsy. Many exquisite items, such as embroidered silk, lacquerware, musical instruments and wooden figures, were also unearthed from the tomb. The digital exhibition features patterns and art designs inspired by Xin Zhui's tomb, but does not display any actual relics. In three years, the museum has created about 1,800 3D digital models of the artifacts and taken nearly 60,000 photos of the relics. The exhibition consists of three sections. Space and Time features a digital layout of Xin Zhui's tomb, a central coffin chamber surrounded by four compartments and all the items buried in her tomb; Ying and Yang focuses on the imaginative patterns painted on the four nested lacquer coffins; and the Life section re-creates the painting depicted on a T-shaped silk banner laid on the surface of the innermost coffin. "I think it's an exploration for a museum's future archaeological exhibitions. Transforming from viewing real relics to an immersive, theatrical and virtual experience, digital exhibitions can break the boundaries of time and space," Duan says. "It's easy for such exhibitions to tour across the world." The exhibition took three years to prepare and is co-organized with the Digital Library of China and US' Massachusetts-based Harvard FAS CAMlab, an art team established by Eugene Y. Wang, an art professor at Harvard University. "Life is a question that humanity has been pondering for thousands of years. The Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) people's concept of the cosmos and life, to some extent, are from the same perspective as those in the 21st century," says Wang, explaining why they chose "life" as the theme of the show. The tomb of Xin Zhui offers a glimpse into the funerary practices and cosmological beliefs of the Han Dynasty. The elaborate burial goods and the design of the tombs reflect the importance of the afterlife and the desire for immortality. Apart from the painting on the T-shaped funeral banner mapping out an ascending journey to heaven, symbols, patterns and paintings on the four nested coffins also show vivid imagination regarding a safe passage to the afterlife. The painting on the third coffin used bright colors to depict the sun, mountains and auspicious animals, such as the dragon, tiger and deer. It illustrates the journey of a soul traveling through darkness into the eternal realm. The innermost coffin is adorned with feathers, symbolizing the hope that they would aid the deceased in ascending to immortality. The exhibition used all these elements and turned them into a visual feast, "an artistic and abstract way to tell the stories of the Han Dynasty tombs", says Lyu Chenchen, associate director of Harvard FAS CAMlab. "It is a distillation of the Western Han Dynasty's cosmology and view of life. We aim to enable audiences to look beyond the surface and engage more deeply with the conceptual world of early Chinese civilization, to glimpse the spiritual world of the people of that era and their artistic imaginations," Lyu says. The Han Dynasty was an era of grand tomb construction. Nobles began building their tombs while they were still alive, making it one of the most significant undertakings of their lifetimes. Even though people knew living forever was just a fantasy, their strong belief in eternal life and an everlasting soul kept them determined, as they saw "death" as just another form of "life" and believed life continued in a different way. Since the excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tombs in the early 1970s, the rich relics found within have been exhibited both in and out of China, attracting large numbers of visitors. With the opening of the digital exhibition, Duan says that it is more convenient for the museum to hold exhibitions outside China without the complicated transportation of the actual relics. A global tour is currently being planned. He adds that it will also help them to attract more young visitors. "We used the traditional way to exhibit our relics for years. It's time for us to change and employ the way adored by the younger generation," Duan says. Jia Yan, an art professor at Peking University in Beijing, came to the show on its opening day with her 14-year-old daughter. They went to the third floor of the museum first, where the relics of the tombs are displayed. However, her daughter found it a little bit difficult to engage, failing to feel the connection with the artifacts that her mother hoped for. When the daughter entered the digital exhibition on the first floor, she immediately responded and told Jia that everything in the digital show related to the artifacts she viewed on the third floor. When Jia asked her daughter whether she would like to go back to take another look at the real relics, the teenager quickly said, "Yes." "The show provides us with another way to present relic-related exhibitions. The three sections of the digital exhibition are like a typical three-act drama. It brings people from a state of shock back to one of tranquility or delight," Jia says. Gangju Sunflower Festival (Gyeongnam province) The Gangju Sunflower Festival, showcasing a stunning array of sunflowers and zinnias across a sprawling 37,000 m in the Gangju Village area of Beopsum-myeon, Haman-gun, will run until July 14th, although it may conclude earlier depending on the blooming schedule. Nestled at the foot of Beopsusan Mountain, Gangju Village welcomes visitors with vibrant fields of sunflowers and zinnias. The festival also offers a variety of additional events and activities. Visitors can enjoy a food market, an art gallery, a direct trading market for agricultural and specialty products, and a village market. A photography event will take place within Sunflower Complex 1 on July 6th and 7th from 2 to 4 p.m. In front of the Sunflower Center, attendees can enjoy busking performances by G-Sevience on June 29-30 and July 6-7 at 2 p.m., and by Lee Yi-kyung on July 6 at 11 a.m. To accommodate the influx of visitors, five event parking lots have been established, with two additional temporary parking lots available on weekends. Shuttle buses will operate every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, with the boarding point located at the 2nd parking lot (1092 Gangju-ri, Beopsu-myeon). U.S. service members wearing hanbok, Korean traditional attire, in Jeonju Hanok Village. (Photo by Hyemin Lee) If youre new to Korea or have been here a while but still havent experienced its true colors, seize the opportunity to explore the country through the ROK Cultural Immersion Program. This free tour program is for United Nation Command and U.S. military communities and is meticulously designed to enhance your comprehensive understanding of Korea. Check out this video from my recent trip to Jeolla-do Province with members of the U.S. military community. See how we enjoyed exploring Koreas top destinations, food, culture, history and security through this program. And then sign up for your own trip! A stretch of heavily traveled road in La Crosse wont gain additional capacity, but improved intersections can make the thoroughfare safer, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. State transportation officials came to La Crosse on Wednesday to gather public input on the 4.3-mile Highway 53/14-61 corridor from Interstate 90 to West Avenue. The DOT set up displays that mapped out traffic flow, problem intersections and portions of the road that need pavement repair or replacement. There are no expansion plans as part of the studies, said Michelle Howe, DOT project manager. Safety is our primary need. Howe said the project will focus on intersection improvements. The DOT identified more than half the intersections along the route, which includes Third and Fourth streets downtown, as areas of safety concern. According to the DOT, there were 90 crashes at the Clinton Street intersection from 2015-19. During that same period, there were 59 crashes at La Crosse Street and 53 crashes at Cameron Street. The entire corridor has averaged roughly 300 crashes per year from 2015-22. Collisions involving bikes or pedestrians account for 3% of the total. DOT also identified intersections at La Crosse, Cameron and Market streets as areas where traffic backs up. A major part of the project involves Third and Fourth streets through downtown. Howe said the 4.3-mile project includes a full reconstruction of one-way streets on Third and Fourth streets from La Crosse Street to Cass Street. Howe acknowledged that a total replacement of pavement on the citys main downtown thoroughfare will be disruptive. Construction staging will be a big part of the project, she said. Howe said the proximity of two colleges in the area creates a significant amount of pedestrian traffic and the DOT is studying a wide range of proposals to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles. DOT estimates 60% of the corridor will need either pavement replacement or reconstruction. The three bridges along the route will need minor repairs prior to 2050. The Highway 53/14-61 project is being reviewed along with the Highway 35 and Highway 16 corridors through the city. DOT has no expansion plans for any of the thoroughfares. A plan to build to a new north-south corridor through the La Crosse River marsh was abandoned in 2021. DOT engineers will spend the rest of the year studying and developing alternatives before selecting a preferred plan. That will be followed by another public meeting in spring 2025. Howe said the earliest construction could begin is 2030. Federal food safety regulators this week said they warned a top U.S. bakery to stop using labels that say its products contain potentially dangerous allergens when they don't. U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found that Bimbo Bakeries USA which includes brands such as Sara Lee, Oroweat, Thomas', Entenmann's and Ball Park buns and rolls listed ingredients such as sesame or tree nuts on labels even when they weren't in the foods. Under FDA regulations, such products are "misbranded," FDA officials said in a warning letter sent to officials at the company's Horsham, Pennsylvania, headquarters earlier this month. "Food labels must be truthful and not misleading," officials said. The warning followed inspections late last year at Bimbo plants in Phoenix, Arizona, and Topeka, Kansas, that make Sara Lee and Brownberry breads. FDA officials also indicated allergen labeling is a "not a substitute" for preventing cross-contamination in factories. Advocates with the nonprofit group FARE Food Allergy Research & Education said such labeling "does a disservice" to the estimated 33 million people in the U.S. with food allergies. Those consumers have to be constantly aware of foods that can cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, said Sung Poblete, FARE's chief executive. "Our community relies on accurate product labeling for their health and safety," Poblete said in an email. "These findings about Bimbo Bakeries' products undermine their trust and further limit their choices." Bimbo, a Mexico City-based food giant, bills its U.S. operations as the largest commercial baking company in the country. In an email, company officials said they "take their role in protecting consumers with allergen sensitivities very seriously" and are corresponding with FDA to resolve the issue. Concerns over labels at Bimbo and other companies followed a law that took effect in 2022, which added sesame to the list of major allergens that must be listed on packaging. Because it can be difficult and expensive to keep sesame in one part of a baking plant out of another, some companies began adding small amounts of sesame to products that didn't previously contain the ingredient to avoid liability and cost. FDA officials said that violated the spirit, but not the letter, of federal regulations. Some companies, including Bimbo, began listing allergens such as sesame on labels as a "precaution" in case of cross-contamination. FDA officials acknowledged Tuesday that statements that a product "may contain" certain allergens "could be considered truthful and not misleading." Bimbo officials have until July 8 to identify steps taken to remedy the issue or to explain why the labeling doesn't violate FDA standards. 5 common nutritional deficiencies that could be affecting your day-to-day life Getting the right nutrients Vitamin B12 Vitamin D Calcium Protein Residents buy pork at a wholesale market in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] Officials and industry insiders in the European Union (EU) called for dialogue with China, after China's Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-dumping investigation into pork imports from the bloc. The year-long probe was initiated on June 17 at the request of the China Animal Agriculture Association. EU is China's largest source of pork imports, exporting 3.3 billion U.S. dollars worth of pork and related products to China last year. EU officials and pork producers have voiced their worries about China's possible anti-dumping duties on the bloc's pork exports, saying such measures could deal "a heavy blow" to the sector. Ksenija Simovic, senior policy adviser for trade at Copa-Cogeca, Europe's largest farmer lobby, said "The European Commission should ensure that our sector does not bear the burden for disputes involving other sectors." Chinese producers hurt In its petition submitted to the Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese association said the prices of EU pork exports showed a significant downward trend from 2020 to 2023, falling 8 percent during the period. The continuous price decline has forced domestic pork producers to slash their prices by 20-50 percent, which has undermined the interests of the domestic industry, it said. Pork is the main source of animal protein for Chinese people, accounting for nearly 60 percent of residents' meat consumption. As the world's largest producer and consumer of pork, China has been expanding imports from the EU, which accounted for 54 percent of the country's total pork imports from 2020 to 2023. According to the EU's 2023-2027 mid-term budget, the bloc pays 194 billion euros in agricultural subsidies directly to its member states, averaging 38.8 billion euros per year. Of the total, 82 percent could possibly go to high-emission livestock industries, including pig raising and related sectors, said the petition. "The large amount of subsidies provided by the EU and its related member states has seriously distorted the market environment of fair competition," said a source from the association. EU suppliers' worries Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas told reporters in Madrid that he hopes and expects that "there will be room for understanding, for negotiation, and to avoid the imposition of tariffs on agricultural and food products." Spain is the biggest EU pork supplier to China, followed by the Netherlands, Denmark and France. Spain exported 560,488 tonnes of pork products worth 1.2 billion euros to China in 2023, representing 20.3 percent of its total pork exports by volume and 13.7 percent by value, according to Interporc, Spain's pork producers' association. The anti-dumping measures could impact Europe badly because a large portion of the bloc's pork exports to China are pig ears, noses, feet and offal that are rarely consumed by Europeans. "It is not easy for the bloc to find an alternative market in a short time," said Zhao Yongsheng, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics. As many pork producers in the EU rely heavily on export markets, losing the vast Chinese market would result in "significant losses for EU pork traders," said Bai Ming, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce. Calls for dialogue The European Commission has proposed to levy provisional additional tariffs of up to 38.1 percent on China-made EVs starting from early July, after initiating an anti-subsidy investigation last year. "The commission initiated the investigation on its own. But such an ex officio initiation without having received a complaint is more likely to be politically inclined," said Sun Lei, a lawyer and senior partner with Dentons, a law firm. Industry specialists said that the strong export of China's NEVs is well underpinned by its industrial chain, which has built up its strength under full market competition, not state subsidies. If the EU could impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars citing the excuse of unsubstantiated subsidies, it would be justifiable for China to levy taxes on the EU's heavily-subsidized agricultural sector, they said. Amid strong opposition from China and some EU member economies, the bloc has agreed to start talks with China on the planned imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. During a meeting with German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Saturday, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said China is willing to consider the reasonable concerns of both parties to avoid the escalation of trade frictions in a rational and professional manner. Mauro Portela Lorenzo, trade officer from the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Shanghai, told Xinhua that all Spanish manufacturers involved are keen to collaborate and proactively provide all necessary information in seek of a favorable investigation outcome. He said he hopes "there will be a positive solution to this investigation." Zhao believed that the door for trade negotiations between the two parties is open. "China, which has the initiative in terms of market access, technology, industrial chains, and logistics, is willing to accommodate the interests of both sides during negotiations," he said. Bassas Romeu Gerard, chairman of Salomei, a Spanish manufacturer of sausages, said he hoped China and the EU can lower tariffs to boost bilateral trade. The company set up a subsidiary in the city of Xuanwei, southwest China's Yunnan Province, in late 2023, and uses pork from both China and abroad as raw material. "Dialogue and consultations are definitely the right way to solve disputes and avoid a vicious spiral of trade friction escalations," he said. Delegates attend a discussion during the 2024 Summer Davos at the Dalian International Conference Center in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] China's northeastern coastal city of Dalian currently finds itself at the nexus of world attention, as the host of the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions. Running from June 25 to 27, the ongoing event, also known as Summer Davos, has drawn over 1,700 representatives of the political, business, academic and media communities in more than 100 countries and regions to explore new frontiers in revitalizing the sluggish global economy. Amid discussions among the leading figures, several keywords have emerged, shedding light on the economic trends commanding the world's attention. Economic growth & cooperation The global economy is facing challenges such as complex and volatile geopolitical landscapes and increased economic uncertainty. According to the World Bank, global economic growth is projected to slow for the third consecutive year, declining from 2.6 percent in 2023 to 2.4 percent in 2024. The period from 2020 to 2024 is set to become the slowest five-year span for global economic growth in the past 30 years. The question of how to stimulate global economic growth and make the economic pie bigger has become a topic of discussion among participants at the three-day grand gathering. At this year's forum, Chinese Premier Li Qiang provided a feasible solution. When meeting with Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab at the event's opening plenary, Li called on all nations and regions to maintain an open mindset, enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly seek new frontiers of economic growth. Echoing Li's remarks, Schwab highlighted the necessity of global cooperation and innovation. "To drive future economic growth, we must embrace innovation and foster collaboration across sectors, regions, nations and cultures to create a more peaceful, inclusive, sustainable and resilient future," he noted when addressing the opening plenary. Delegates communicate during the 2024 Summer Davos at the Dalian International Conference Center in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, June 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] Next frontiers & AI As a term included in the theme of this year's forum, "next frontiers" for development in the future have been observed as a major topic of several sub-forums. Future growth points will revolve around new growth engines from technological innovation and green, low-carbon exploration amid a global transformation, said Chen Liming, chair of Greater China of the World Economic Forum. Among the frontier sectors widely discussed by one panel after another lies the most powerful engine for economic growth: artificial intelligence (AI). Recent breakthroughs in AI, such as deep learning, generative AI and foundational models, have catalyzed remarkable progress in enhancing human innovation and driving economic development. "The world is on the cusp of a scientific discovery revolution driven by AI," proclaimed the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report released at this year's Summer Davos. China This year marks the 15th occasion that the Summer Davos has been held in China. When the inaugural event convened in Dalian in 2007, China's GDP was approximately 3.5 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for about 6 percent of the global economy. By 2023, China's economic output had surged to nearly 18 trillion U.S. dollars, representing over 17 percent of the global share and establishing China as a primary trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions. This substantial economic scale and steady growth trajectory have consistently placed "China" among the top buzzwords at both winter and summer Davos in recent years. In an increasingly contentious geopolitical environment, China, as the largest emerging economy, plays a vital role in promoting international cooperation and multilateralism, said Elizabeth Ingleson, assistant professor of international history at the London School of Economics. Meanwhile, in various domains, ranging from technological development represented by AI to business-model innovation spearheaded by internet platforms, industry insiders participating at the event recognized that China is among the flagbearers, eyeing more spillover effects from China's development of new quality productive forces. "We're bullish about China going forward," said Shin Hak-Cheol, CEO of LG Chem. The chemical giant from the Republic of Korea has built over 10 production bases in China since it entered the market over three decades ago. "We're not downsizing here, and we're really investing for the future." Denmark will tax farm animals such as cattle and pigs for releasing methane, a kind of greenhouse gas, starting in 2030. Some scientists think that greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earths atmosphere causing rising temperatures. The European country is the first in the world to agree to such measures targeting greenhouse gas emissions. Taxation Minister Jeppe Bruus said the aim is to reduce Danish greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent from 1990 levels by 2030. Danish farmers will be taxed about $43 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. However, because of an income tax deduction of 60 percent, the actual cost per ton will start at $17.30 and increase to $43 by 2035. Carbon dioxide usually gets more attention for its part in climate change. But the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says methane traps about 87 times more heat over on a 20-year timescale under some conditions. Methane is emitted from landfills, oil and natural gas systems and farm animals. Scientists say it has increased quickly since 2020. The United Nations Environment Program says 32 percent of human-caused methane comes from farm animals. Bruus said, We will take a big step closer in becoming climate neutral in 2045. He added that Denmark will be the first country in the world to introduce a real CO2 tax on agriculture and hoped other countries would follow. New Zealand passed a similar law that was to take effect in 2025. However, the legislation was recently removed after farmers criticized the measure. There was also a change of government following the 2023 election. New Zealand said it would not include agriculture in its emissions trading policy and would look for other ways to reduce methane. In Denmark, the center-right government reached the tax agreement after meeting with farmers, business representatives, labor organizations, and others. Denmarks move comes after months of protests by farmers across Europe against climate change measures. The rules, they say, could drive them out of business. The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, an environmental group, took part in the talks. It described the tax agreement as a historic compromise. Maria Reumert Gjerding, head of the organization said, We have succeeded in landing a compromise on a CO2 tax, which lays the groundwork for a restructured food industry - also on the other side of 2030. An average cow in Denmark is believed to produce the equivalent of about six metric tons of CO2 yearly. The government of Denmark said that there were nearly 1.5 million cattle in the country in 2022. The Scandinavian country is a large dairy and pork exporter. Denmark also will tax pigs although they produce far less emissions than cows. The tax is to be approved in the 179-seat parliament. The bill is expected to pass. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Jan Olsen reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted the report for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story emissions n. (pl.) substances, such as gases, that are release into the air by some process equivalent adj. having the same effect, amount or result to something else that is more or less similar deduction n. a value that depends on other values and which, after calculation, results in the reduction of a sum landfill n. a place where waste and garbage are buried in the ground groundwork n. the first steps in producing a larger and more substantial result dairy n. related to the industry of producing milk and milk products We want to hear from you. Our comment policy is here. The coastal Nigerian community of Ayetoro was founded in 1947. Often called a Happy City, it was meant to be a Christian utopia, or perfect place. But now its remaining people can do little against the rising sea. Sunken buildings are an increasingly common image along West Africas at-risk coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Pieces of wood stick out from the waves. Broken structures line the shore. Waves break against old electrical poles. For years, low-lying nations have warned the world about the threat of rising seas. And Nigeria, Africas most populous country, struggles to find an answer. Thompson Akingboye is a church leader in Ayetoro. He said prayers against the rising sea are on the lips of everybody at Sunday services. But they know the solution will require far more. Even the church has been moved away from the sea, two times. The present location is now also threatened, with the sea just 30 meters away, Akingboye said. Thousands of people have left. Among those who remain, Stephen Tunlese can only look at what is left of his clothing shop from a distance. Tunlese said he lost $5,500 to the sea. Now, with water everywhere, he repairs canoes. I will stay in Ayetoro because this is my fathers land , he said. In the past 30 years, Ayetoro has lost more than 10 square kilometers to the sea. Researchers studying satellite imagery of Nigerias coast say several things are responsible for Ayetoros disappearance. Olusegun Dada is a marine geologist at the Federal University of Technology in Akure. He said one of the reasons for the losses is underwater oil operations. As oil is removed, the ground can sink, he said. But he and his colleagues note other reasons, including the deforestation of mangroves that help protect the earth. Erosion from ocean waves is another problem. When we started coming to this community, then we used to have fresh water, Dada said. Today, the freshwater ecosystem is becoming a salty, marine one. The change is costly in Nigeria. The World Bank in a 2020 report estimated the cost of coastal degradation in three nearby Nigerian states, Lagos, Delta and Cross River, at $9.7 billion, or more than two percent of the countrys gross domestic product. It looked at erosion, flooding, mangrove loss and pollution, and noted the high rate of urbanization in the country. Nigeria only pays attention to coastal communities, from time to time, when the yearly flooding happens. But the people of Ayetoro cannot turn away. Ayetoro was like a paradise, a city where everyone lived joyfully, happily, said Arowolo Mofeoluwa, a retired civil servant. She estimated that two-thirds of the area had been slowly swept under the waves . This is the third house we are living in, and there are some living in the fourth house now, and we do not have enough space for ourselves again. Four or five people living in a small room, you can just imagine how painful it is, Mofeoluwa said. If you look where the sea is now, that is the end of the former Ayetoro. For Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, the communitys traditional leader and head of the local church, the pain is not only in the loss of land. He says the community is losing in our socio-cultural and religious identity. Early this year, the Ondo state government said it would find lasting solutions to the threat to Ayetoro - a promise, people say, has been made before. It might be too late for efforts to be effective, Dada, the marine geologist, said. For years, he has hoped for an environmental study to be carried out to better understand what is causing the communitys disappearance. But nothing has been done. The Niger Delta Development Commission, a government body meant in part to deal with environmental and other issues caused by oil exploration, did not answer questions from The Associated Press about efforts to protect the communitys coastline. The commissions website lists a coastline protection project in Ayetoro. The project was awarded some twenty years ago and the website describes it as ongoing. But local people say the project never started. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story location - n. place marine - adj. relating to the sea geologist - n. a person who studies rocks, soils... to learn about Earth and its life sweep - v. to move quickly and forcefully China emerged as the leading destination for Saudi Arabia's exports in April this year, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday. Citing the preliminary international trade data released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, the report said China was the largest importing nation for Saudi Arabia in April, contributing to 16.6 percent of the kingdom's total goods exports valued at around 16.9 billion Saudi riyals (about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars). According to the data, Japan and India ranked second and third places, with shares of 9.2 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively. Saudi Arabia's trade balance recorded a surplus of about 41.4 billion riyals in April, the highest this year, registering a 36-percent increase from March and an over 48.5-percent rise since the beginning of this year, showed the data. The kingdom's goods exports totaled 101.7 billion riyals in April, with non-oil exports reaching approximately 16.2 billion riyals, making up 16 percent of the total exports. Between 2019 and 2023, the value of Saudi non-oil exports to China exceeded 176 billion riyals, with significant contributions from the sectors of chemicals, polymers and metals, said the SPA in a separate report on Thursday. We have all heard many times that there is food that is not even safe to try. However, in the menus of the most exotic restaurants, you can find rotten cheeses, unusual fruits, and poisonous creatures. ADVERTISIMENT These foods are eaten to feel the adrenaline, but some of them can even cost you your life. The FoodOboz editorial team has compiled a list of dishes from around the world that are dangerous. 1. Expired foods If your homemade food is already expired, it's best to get rid of it. Since mold, for example, on bread can be extremely dangerous, you can also often get poisoned even in a good restaurant and cafe. 2. Dangerous exotic dishes If you are traveling to exotic countries such as China or Japan, keep in mind that what the indigenous people eat there can be extremely dangerous for you, since your body is not used to such food. ADVERTISIMENT In China, for example, you can eat poisonous wasps, bumblebees, and scorpions served as barbecue, but you can only imagine how you will feel after such exotic food. And in Japan, a very popular and extremely dangerous dish is fugu fish. Everyone knows perfectly well that a person can die after eating it if it is not properly cooked. You can also try the giant jellyfish, which contains a lot of poison and can be fatal. Octopus meat itself is not dangerous to health, but nevertheless, more than 9000 people die every year by choking on tentacles. If the tentacles remain alive, they suck on the esophagus and nasopharynx, blocking the air supply, and the person dies. ADVERTISIMENT Another dangerous delicacy is the bullfrog, which is most often cooked in Namibia. In France, the French favorite frog legs are considered dangerous due to the content of dangerous toxins. 3. Dangerous plants In Jamaica, for example, they eat the aki fruit, which is very poisonous before it ripens or until it is boiled in water. ADVERTISIMENT In Africa, flour is made from the cassava root, but other parts of this plant contain a large amount of hydrocyanic acid, and if it gets into the flour, it can even be fatal. 4. The most dangerous dish In Sardinia, there is a dish called "Casu Marzu" rotten cheese with fly larvae. It has a terrible flavor because real fly larvae live in it. The cheese is made from sheep's milk and then put out in the open air for flies to land and lay their larvae. ADVERTISIMENT Scientists believe that eating this delicacy can cause allergies and, of course, poisoning. It is important that if the larvae survive in the stomach, they can easily even drill through the thin walls of the intestine. It is worth noting that dangerous food is not only the food that instantly leads to malfunctions in the body, but also the food that you have been eating for years junk food fatty foods, fast food, too salty and sweet foods, as well as sweets, sodas, sauces, spices, vinegar. ADVERTISIMENT The United States has handed power back to the Iraqi people at a low-key ceremony in Baghdad. US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi judge at a handover brought forward two days in an attempt to prevent the occasion being marked by bloodshed. Mr Bremer flew out of the country shortly after. His departure ends 15 months of US control in Iraq. Iraqs interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who attended the handover in the citys heavily-guarded Green Zone, said it was an historic day for Iraq. Mr Allawis cabinet were sworn in at a later ceremony, also held in secret. The new prime minister made a televised address after formally taking office. He told Iraqis: I call on our people to stand united to expel the foreign terrorists who are killing our children and destroying our country. Although power is back in Iraqi hands, US President George Bush said American troops would remain in the country as long as they were needed. The president added that US presence would also be at the request of the newly-formed interim government. Mr Bremer defended his countrys reasons for being in Iraq, referring to recently discovered graves where thousands victims of Saddam Husseins regime are believed to be buried. The former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator said: Anybody who has any doubt about whether Iraq is a better place today than it was 14 months ago should go down and see the mass graves in Hilla. Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a much better place. The power handover was welcomed by world leaders. The European Union and Nato alliance both pledged their support for Mr Allawis government. Mr Bush and Mr Blair were apparently the only leaders at the current Nato summit who knew the transfer of sovereignty would take place early. The news was revealed by Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking after talks with the UK prime minister. Courtesy BBC News In context Bringing the handover forward and holding it in secret meant the transfer of power was not marked by attacks by insurgents. But frequent attacks on US and UK forces as well as on Iraqi civilians have continued to take place in the country. Neither the US nor Britain have yet committed to a date when troops will be removed. Iraq held its first multi-party elections in 50 years in January 2005. An interim democratically elected government was sworn in on 3 May 2005 with Shia Ibrahim Jaafari as prime minister. But finding an acceptable balance of power in the government between Iraqs national groups has proved difficult. In December 2005 Iraqis voted for the first full-term government since the American-led invasion. In January 2006 the Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance emerged as winners of the elections but without an absolute majority. After four months of deadlock, President Talabani asked Shia compromise candidate Jawad al-Maliki to form a new government. Electric motorcycle batteries catching fire have raised concerns among the public about the safety of these vehicles. However, the Business Association of Environmentally Friendly and Electric Motorcycles in Macau has provided reassurance and proposed measures to address the issue. According to the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA), there are over 9,000 electric motorcycles in Macau, including around 2,500 heavy motorcycles and 1,000 light motorcycles. The association believes that the governments subsidy scheme, which encourages motorcyclists to replace their diesel bikes with electric vehicles, has been successful. The association acknowledged that the main reason behind many e-bike fire accidents is due to illegal modification of the devices, such as replacing the original batteries with oversized or substandard ones, or tampering with the regulators to increase the horsepower. This can make the batteries more prone to problems and safety issues. To address this, the association proposed that the authorities aid in enforcing the law by issuing special labels on the batteries. This would make it easier for law enforcement officers to identify when a vehicle has been modified with non-original batteries, allowing them to take appropriate action. Howard Tong The Times has learned that some local representatives of major electronics brands continue to have a mainland-tourists-only approach to sales, disregarding other markets such as the local market. In the initial report, a reader reported to the Times that the local branches of technology company Apple would not help local customers acquire customized products and, instead, would only sell the companys standard products in Macau. The Times has confirmed this report. The sales representative added that Apple Macau also will not help local clients place orders in the neighboring region of Hong Kong. According to several salespeople, Apple Macau does not have an online store and only runs physical stores that can only provide the standard products they have in stock. To learn more about the reasons behind this a commercial decision, the Times has reached out to a former employee of Apple Macau who agreed to give an anonymous interview. This former employee explained that the sales policy of Apple Macau is solely oriented to cater to mainland visitors and, because of that, are very focused on small devices such as mobile phones, smart watches, tablets and laptops. The same person noted that, while the stores must provide aftersales assistance to all Apple clients in Macau, including products acquired from other official retailers, they purposely avoid sales of larger items such as desktop computers and do not assist in purchases of customized products or orders from Hong Kong, contrary to what happens with other local Apple retailers. A representative at Apple Hong Kong was surprised to learn that Apple Macau does not provide such a service. The service is common in any Apple Store in Hong Kong and Macau clients can place customized orders through the Apple Hong Kong online store, but these orders need to be collected at a Hong Kong store and are not shipped to Macau. ORDER FROM MACAU TO DELIVER IN MACAU After several inquiries made at local Apple retailers in Macau, the Times also learned that local customers could place customized orders in Macau and collect them locally if they use local retailers. Sales representatives explained to the Times that the procedure is simple and uses the Apple Hong Kong online store. Clients can choose and customize an Apple product on the website and then inform the local retailer of the specifications. The same representative also explained that such an order usually takes from two to three weeks to be delivered in Macau. When the order is placed, the local client needs to pay a deposit to secure the order, settling the remaining cost of the product when it is delivered. The solution, although time-consuming, seems to be the only way for local customers to overcome the lack of integration between the Apple Stores in Macau and Hong Kong, which, as the former employee told the Times, is an intentional commercial decision by the company. According to the retail sales representative, the sale prices are as stated on the Apple Hong Kong website, with the local companies not charging any extra fee for the service or shipping. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland. The partnership has boosted the value of exports of Hong Kong products to the mainland by more than six-fold so far with zero tariffs from 860 million yuan ($118.5 million) to 6.11 billion yuan benefiting nearly 9,000 types of Hong Kong-made products, according to Shenzhen authorities. In value terms, Shenzhen Customs processed nearly half of the goods the SAR exported to the mainland under the CEPA, ranking first nationwide. Related Chinas space officials said yesterday they welcomed scientists from around the world to apply to study the lunar rock samples that the Change 6 probe brought back to Earth in a historic mission, but noted there were limits to that cooperation, specifically with the United States. Officials said at a televised news conference in Beijing meant to introduce the missions achievements that any cooperation with the U.S. would be hinged on removing an American law that bans direct bilateral cooperation with NASA. The source of the obstacle in US-China aerospace cooperation is still in the Wolf Amendment, said Bian Zhigang, vice chair of the China National Space Administration. If the U.S. truly wants to hope to began regular aerospace cooperation, I think they should take the appropriate measures to remove the obstacle. The Wolf Amendment was enacted in 2011 and prevents direct U.S.-Chinese bilateral cooperation except in cases where the FBI can certify that there is no national security risk to sharing information with the Chinese side in the course of work. Still, China could cooperate with scientists of other countries. It worked with the European Space Agency, France, Italy and Pakistan in the Change 6 mission. China welcomes scientists from all countries to apply according to the processes and share in the benefits, said Liu Yunfeng, director of the international cooperation office of the China National Space Administration. Meanwhile, little information about the global first achieved Tuesday was announced. Chinese officials declined to reveal how many samples they actually gathered or any preliminary findings. Im afraid this matter will not be revealed until tomorrow, so I hope everyone can wait patiently for another day, Change 6 chief designer Hu Hao said at the news conference. On Monday, Chinese scientists said that they anticipate the returned samples will include 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock and other material that scientists hope will answer questions about geographic differences on the moons two sides. The mission had aimed to gather two kilograms (more than four pounds) of material. The near side of the moon is what is seen from Earth, and the far side faces outer space. The far side is also known to have mountains and impact craters and is much more difficult to reach. The probes journey to the far side of the moon was historic in that it was the first time a probe had successfully taken off and brought back samples from the far side directly. Previous samples thought to be from the far side of the moon are from meteorites found on Earth. The probe had landed in the moons South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater created more than 4 billion years ago. The samples scientists are expecting will likely come from different layers of the basin, which will bear traces of the different geological events across its long chronology, such as when the moon was younger and had an active inside that could produce volcanic rock. Officials did announce some future plans, with a planned Change 7 probe to explore resources on the moons South Pole. Further down the line, they have planned Tianwen-3 for around 2030 to carry out a Mars sample return mission and a Tianwen-4 Jupiter exploration mission. HUIZHONG WU, BANGKOK, MDT/AP The Legislative Assemblys Second Standing Committee continued discussions this week on a bill aimed at combating illegal gambling activities. Committee chairman Chan Chak Mo said some members raised concerns about the measures against illegal operation of mahjong gambling establishments, such as whether restaurants and clubs could face legal consequences for simply providing venues for people to play recreational mahjong. According to Chan, the government has explained that the relevant laws are targeted at unauthorized profit-making gambling operations. If a venue only allows mahjong for fun without allowing opportunities to gamble, it would not be committing a criminal offense. However, the committee is urging the government to provide further clarification on this matter. The proposed bill also includes provisions that would allow law enforcement to search homes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. without the time restrictions outlined in the Criminal Procedure Code, but only for cases related to illegal online or offline betting operations. When questioned as to why these exceptions were limited to gambling crimes and did not extend to other serious offenses like money laundering, terrorism or organized crime, the government stated it would consider expanding the measures. Authorities remained open to potentially amending the Criminal Procedure Law to apply the same search allowances more broadly. Additionally, the bill aims to crack down on the counterfeiting, alteration or unauthorized use of gambling chips. This measure is not limited solely to casino chips, but encompasses all chips used for gambling activities, including mahjong. Howard Tong In yet another blow to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, the 27-member bloc imposed sanctions on 19 Chinese companies on Monday, alleging that they have supplied components and equipment to Russias military industry. A list published in the European Unions Official Journal includes several Chinese companies located in Hong Kong as well as two global satellite giants, which are now subject to strict restrictions over sales of dual-use goods and technology that the European Union claims could be used for the enhancement of Russias defense and security sector. The unilateral move the EU has made targeting Chinese companies, which has no evidence to justify it and has no legal basis in international law, undermines the trust that has been the foundation for ties, and creates more uncertainties for the already fragile bilateral relations. The mutually beneficial China-EU trade relationship is experiencing a difficult time as politicians in Brussels are turning to protectionism to safeguard European industries, with the bloc deciding recently to impose extra duties of up to 38.1 percent on imported Chinese electric cars from July on the grounds that they have received excessive and unfair government subsidies. By pushing ahead with more punitive measures against Chinese enterprises rather than seeking constructive dialogue to properly handle their differences, the EU has shown it is intent on pursuing short-term political gains in disregard of long-term and stable relations with China. That Head Aerospace Technology, one of the 19 Chinese companies hit by the latest EU sanctions, was already placed on a United States sanctions list in 2023 for allegedly selling satellite images to Russia, reflects the readiness of the EU to toe Washingtons anti-China line in cracking down on Chinese high-tech companies using their unsubstantiated links to the Russian military as an excuse. China, which is not a direct party to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has actively worked to promote talks for a political settlement. The Chinese government has always strictly monitored the exports of dual-use articles in accordance with the laws and regulations, and has never fanned the flames of the hostilities or sought selfish gains in the ongoing conflict. Thus the EU is barking up the wrong tree by trying to smear the normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian businesses and pointing an accusing finger at China for allegedly supporting Russias military-industrial complex. China and the EU, as two major forces advancing multipolarity and two major markets in support of globalization, are important trading partners to each other. Over the past two decades, the two sides have developed broad-based and all-dimensional cooperation, with two-way trade having grown by six times and two-way investment more than fivefold. Their daily trade volume is about 2.3 billion euros ($2.46 billion) on average, delivering tangible benefits to people on both sides. As Ursula von der Leyen, who is poised for a second term as president of the European Commission, has previously said, the China-EU relationship is far too important to be put at risk by failing to clearly set the terms of a healthy engagement. Hopefully, Brussels will be rational, exercise strategic autonomy and work with China to manage their relationship, which has a direct bearing not only on the interests of the people on both sides, but also concerns global prosperity and security. The EU should not let its concerns about Russia cloud its judgment or lead to paranoia. It should give full play to the role of dialogue to resolve any issues it may have with China instead of adopting the US discriminatory approach, which after all is intended to diminish China to the detriment of all. Editorial, China Daily China's Ministry of Finance said Thursday that S&P Global Ratings' report affirming an A+ rating for China sovereigns with a stable outlook showed the rating agency's recognition of the resilience and prospects of China's macroeconomy. The ministry made the remarks in response to media queries, stating that S&P Global Ratings' decision to maintain a stable outlook on China, in contrast to Moody's Ratings and Fitch Ratings' move to downgrade the country's sovereign credit rating outlook, also reflected the independence and professionalism of its rating team. China's multiple advantages, including a large market scale, solid development foundation, and the government's continuous efforts to optimize macro-control policies and strengthen counter-cyclical and cross-cyclical adjustments, have consolidated the country's economic recovery, said the ministry. The ministry said the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund recently raised their forecasts for China's economic growth, confirming the above views. S&P Global Ratings sent a team earlier to China for re-evaluation, communicated in-depth with relevant Chinese government departments, think tanks, and market institutions, and conducted research that supported objectively rating China's sovereign credit status. China hopes that international rating agencies will visit China more often to gain a deeper understanding of China and view China's economic development potential and sovereign credit rating level more comprehensively and from a developmental perspective, the ministry said. A fire at Block 14 of Areia Pretas Tong Wa San Chun estate has left at least six individuals seeking medical attention for smoke inhalation, local authorities reported on Wednesday. Approximately 30 residents were able to evacuate the premises independently, while an additional 16 individuals took refuge on the rooftop. Of those affected, 12 people reported feeling unwell, including six who suffered from smoke inhalation and were transported to the public hospital for treatment. Officials suspect that the fire was caused by a malfunctioning charging device. Related Former Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported yesterday. Li was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. Chinas former defense minister Li Shangfu has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and accused of corruption, likely setting up a trial that could lead to his getting life in prison. The Defense Ministry yesterday said Li had abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes and granting favors in violation of military and party discipline. Such charges have been leveled in past by numerous military leaders under the rule of President and party leader Xi Jinping, who also heads the armed forces as chairman of the Central Military Commission. Li dropped out of sight for almost two months last year before being removed from office. North Korea said yesterday it had successfully tested a multiwarhead missile in the first known launch of a developmental weapon coveted by leader Kim Jong Un to overwhelm U.S. and South Korean missile defenses. South Korea quickly dismissed the claim as deception to cover up a failed launch. North Koreas state media said the launch Wednesday tested the separation and guidance control of individual mobile warheads to ensure the capability of the Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles. It said the separated warheads were guided correctly to the three coordinate targets and a decoy that separated from the missile was verified by radar. If confirmed, it would be North Koreas first public launch event related to the development of a multiwarhead missile, though at a preliminary stage. South Koreas military said later Thursday that a joint analysis by South Korean and U.S. authorities assessed that the North Korean missile launch failed. Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon told reporters that the separation of warheads in MIRV tests happens in descending stages but the North Korean missile exploded in the initial stage of its flight. He said North Korean photos of the launch showed a weapon similar to a liquid-fuel Hwasong-17 ICBM that the country test-fired in March 2023. The South Korean militarys earlier assessment Wednesday was that a suspected solid-fueled hypersonic missile was launched and exploded off the Norths east coast, scattering fragments in the water. It said it detected more smoke than normal launches, suggesting a possible combustion issue caused by an engine fault. A multiwarhead missile was among the high-tech weapons systems Kim cited on his wish list during a ruling party meeting in early 2021, along with spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and submarine-launched nuclear missiles. North Korea has since performed a series of tests to develop such weapons systems. I had been anticipating a MIRV test for some time now, as this was one of the last remaining items on Kim Jong Uns modernization wish list from the 8th Party Congress back in January 2021, said Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Panda said Wednesdays test appeared to be an initial evaluation of some of the key subsystems to develop a workable MIRV. He expect successive tests of the technology to follow, leading up to a launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on a lofted trajectory. Panda said it appeared that South Korea misinterpreted the nature of this test initially. Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Koreas Science and Technology Policy Institute, said North Korea appeared to have begun testing individual technological elements of multiwarhead missiles. He said more tests are expected to perfect the separation and guidance control and other facets of multiwarhead missile technology. Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Seouls Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said the North Korean test hasnt yet proved it has sufficient MIRV controlling technologies needed for ICBMs. He said North Korea didnt release enough information to verify its MIRVs made successful atmospheric reentries and hit designated targets. HYUNG-JIN KIM, SEOUL, MDT/AP In a move to cut red tape, the Public Security Police (PSP) has introduced a new service to allow non-resident workers to renew their authorization to stay as a worker through the Macau One Account application. The new service, available to workers from countries or regions outside mainland China from yesterday, aims to simplify the renewal process. According to a statement from authorities, once an employers application for renewal of the authorization to remain as a worker has been approved, non-resident workers can handle confirmation formalities directly through the Macau One Account. This new online service eliminates the need for non-resident workers to physically visit a service desk or use self-service kiosks. Employers also no longer need to travel to handle the documentation, as the entire process can now be completed digitally. Additionally, the new service allows non-resident workers to check the expiration date of their blue card and non-resident worker data page in realtime through the Macau One Account. This feature provides workers with up-to-date information on the status of their authorization to stay. The PSP have emphasized that non-resident workers can present their blue card and the non-resident worker data page from the Macau One Account as identification documents when required by the authorities. The introduction of this streamlined renewal process is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic hurdles faced by non-resident workers in Macau. By leveraging digital tools and eliminating the need for in-person services, authorities aim to increase efficiency and convenience for this segment of the workforce. The number of people in Macau seeking help due to alcoholism-related mental illness is growing significantly, the president of the Association for Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau (ARTM), Augusto Nogueira said in an interview with public broadcaster TDM. Nogueiras comments came amid the latest report from the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), which noted a significant rise in drug consumption in Macau in 2023 when compared to 2022. The ARTM president noted that he is more concerned with the growing number of cases of alcoholism, as most recent cases of people seeking help from the association are related to this issue and not to other drugs. We must do something about this. [Cases] of alcoholism associated with mental health issues are pretty high, which calls for more effective and assertive work on this matter and thinking about new measures [to tackle it] as we are assisting a high number of people seeking help with this kind of clinical profile, Nogueira said. Commenting on the 40% year-on-year increase in drug consumption in Macau, Nogueira noted that it is a reflection of the reopening of the borders and circulation of people after the pandemic. Although the percentage increase may seem high when compared to 2022, the numbers were actually lower prior to the pandemic in 2019. As in earlier statements, Nogueira reaffirmed the need to treat the problem without resorting to increasing penalties for drug use, which he claims are disproportionate to the amount of drug use in Macau. According to a statistical trend report from IAS, ice (crystal methamphetamine) and cannabis are growing in consumption. Hillary Clintons next book is a collection of essays, touching upon everything from marriage to politics to faith, that her publisher is calling her most personal yet. Simon and Schuster announced Tuesday that Clintons Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love and Liberty will be released Sept. 17. Among the topics she will cover: Her marriage to former President Bill Clinton, her Methodist faith, adjusting to private life after her failed presidential runs, her friendships with other first ladies and her takes on climate change, democracy and Vladimir Putin. The book reads like youre sitting down with your smartest, funniest, most passionate friend over a long meal, Clintons editor, Priscilla Painton, said in a statement. This is the Hillary Americans have come to know and love: candid, engaged, humorous, self-deprecating and always learning. Clinton, the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary and presidential candidate, will promote her book with a cross country tour. Something Lost, Something Gained comes out two months before Bill Clintons memoir about post-presidential life, Citizen. Financial terms were not disclosed. Clinton was represented by Washington attorney Robert Barnett, whose other clients have included former President George W. Bush and former President Barack Obama. Clintons previous books include such bestsellers as It Takes a Village, Living History and What Happened. HILLEL ITALIE, MDT/AP The University of Macau (UM) and the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) have made significant advances in the latest global university rankings, reflecting the growing reputation of higher education institutions in the region. According to the 2024-2025 Best Global Universities rankings released by the U.S. News & World Report, UM has jumped to the 262nd position, up from its previous ranking of 379. MUST, on the other hand, has climbed to the 814th spot, a significant improvement from its previous rank of 1,002. The rankings, which evaluate more than 2,250 schools from over 100 countries, focus on academic research and reputation. China, with 422 institutions on the list, has the most representation among the top-ranked universities globally. UM and MUST have also performed well outside the U.S. News & World Report rankings. In the recently released Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025, UM has moved up nine places to the 245th position, while MUST has risen 41 places to the 464th spot. Furthermore, in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, UM broke into the worlds top 200, ranking 193rd, while MUST was placed in the 251-300 range. The consistent improvement in the global rankings of Macaus universities shows the regions commitment to enhancing the quality of higher education and positioning itself as a hub for academic excellence. VC As the Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative continues to drive economic integration and collaboration across southern China, Macaus Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CanCham) is positioning itself to play a key role in this dynamic regional landscape. The chamber sees opportunities for Canadian expertise and products in the GBA, particularly in areas like food production, accounting and education. Canadian chartered accountants are highly sought after, as well as Canadian teachers and educators, said Dr. Howard Stribbell, the president of CanCham, told the Times. Were Canadians, were a friendly bunch. Were not too political. I think Canada can play a role in bridging the relationship between China and the US, he added. The chamber plans to leverage its relationships with the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong to navigate the complexities of operating in the GBA. We can also work with the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong as well and help us navigate that, said Stribbell. So, in one way, our chamber partners with other Canadian chambers, like the Pearl River Delta (PRD) chamber in Guangzhou and the Hong Kong chamber which is the largest Canadian chamber in the world. By forging these inter-chamber connections, CanCham can offer its members access to a broader network of resources and networking opportunities across the GBA. We just did a joint event in Zhuhai last month, which was very successful, the president said. And then we work with all the other nationality chambers too, which provides a lot of synergy for us in doing events and building more networking going forward. The leadership also recognizes the potential of the Hengqin area. Were really excited about the work thats happening in Hengqin and the continued development in Macau, and how that will play a role in the greater GBA, the chambers president said. Earlier this year, lawmaker Wong Sai Man has urged the government to lower the obstacles faced by foreigners residing in Macau who desire to work or live in Hengqin. At the Legislative Assembly, Wong proposed that the SAR and mainland authorities simplify the travel restrictions for eligible foreigners by introducing a unique travel permit. This permit would allow them to conveniently cross to Hengqin using their passports. Wong emphasized the importance of collaboration between the SAR government and relevant mainland departments in issuing this travel permit for seamless travel between Macau and Hengqin. Howard Tong In the waning moments of Irans final televised presidential debate, one of the top candidates to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi invoked the name of the one person who perhaps has done more than anyone to change the trajectory of the Islamic Republics relationship with the wider world in recent years. The next president could be forced to either sell Iran to Trump or spark a dangerous tension in the country if economic problems arent solved, warned Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Irans parliament speaker and a candidate in todays election. President Donald Trumps decision in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw America from the Iran nuclear deal saw crushing sanctions reimposed and largely cut Tehran out of the worlds economy. That worsened the political climate within Iran, already beset by mass protests over economic problems and womens rights. An escalating series of attacks on land and at sea followed, while Tehran also began enriching uranium at near weapons-grade levels. Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israels subsequent war on the militants in the Gaza Strip only added jet fuel to a fire now threatening to burn nearly every corner of the wider Middle East. Irans support of an array of militias, including Hamas, Lebanons Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi rebels, and its unprecedented direct attack on Israel during the war, has made it a direct belligerent in the conflict. What happens in both the war and with Irans future may hinge directly on the U.S., denounced by the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as the Great Satan in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and still cursed at major events like a speech this week by the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite the vitriol, the U.S. has come up again and again in the campaign. Khamenei warned this week against supporting candidates who think that all ways to progress pass through America, a thinly veiled criticism of the only reformist running in the race, Masoud Pezeshkian, who has fully embraced a return to the 2015 nuclear deal. Among the six initial presidential contenders two of whom had dropped out by Thursday Trump has repeatedly emerged as a theme. One of them, former hard-line candidate Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, contended that if Trump wins the U.S. presidential election we can negotiate with Trump and impose our demands on him. That wasnt an opinion shared by Shiite cleric Mostafa Pourmohammadi, who warned Iran should take part in talks now with the U.S. before a second possible Trump presidency. However, his campaign also printed a side-by-side poster showing the cleric and Trump in profile, declaring: I am the one who can stand against Trump! Hard-line candidate Saeed Jalili also mocked his competitors as being scared of Trump, vowing to fight him. For his part, Trump has brought up Iran while campaigning in recent days. Speaking to the All In podcast, Trump repeated that he had wanted to make a fair deal with Iran while also trying to claim Irans theocratic government that long has called for Israels destruction would somehow have made a diplomatic recognition deal with Israel like the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain did during his presidency. A child could have made a deal with them and Biden did nothing, Trump asserted. Interestingly, President Joe Bidens name hasnt been mentioned during the Iranian election debates. Before Raisis death in a May helicopter crash, the U.S. under Biden had several rounds of indirect talks with Iranian officials. While broadly criticizing Iran, particularly in the wake of the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and the womens rights protests that followed, the Biden administration has opened the door to Iran accessing some frozen assets abroad. That includes a deal that saw a prisoner swap between the countries in September, less than a month before the Israel-Hamas war began. Then theres Irans oil sales. While technically sanctioned, Iran recently reported selling 2.5 million barrels a day with the lions share likely going to China, possibly at a discount. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who struck the nuclear deal under the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani and now supports the reformist candidate Pezeshkian, directly attributed those sales to the Biden administrations policies. That the crude sales have gone up was not a work by our friends, but when Biden came power they had a policy to loosen the bolt of sanctions, said Zarif, obliquely referring to hard-liners. Let Trump come and find out what our friends will do. While wider talks in Vienna with world powers to restart the nuclear deal collapsed, Biden may be trying to replicate a strategy from when he was vice president under Barack Obama quietly working indirectly with the Iranians toward a deal that later can be brought to the table. But much of whatever U.S. policy the Biden administration planned for the Middle East including a possible Saudi security deal that could see Riyadh diplomatically recognize Israel has been upended by the Israel-Hamas war. Meanwhile, the real wildcard for Iran comes Nov. 5 when the U.S. holds its presidential election. Bidens re-election likely would see a continuation of the carrot-stick approach wielded so far during his term. If Trump is re-elected, it could portend more discussions about a deal while also carrying risks. Trump in 2020 launched a drone strike killing Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani while still insisting he wanted a deal with Tehran. A war between Israel and Lebanon or the Houthis potentially getting a missile strike on an American warship amid their campaign also could drastically upend calculations in both Tehran and Washington. For now though, Iran and the U.S. remain intertwined in tension, much like the nations have for decades. JON GAMBRELL,DUBAI, MDT/AP The Public Security Police (PSP) in Macau has launched an investigation into the conduct of one of its officers who was seen on video appearing to drag a woman by the hair after she was involved in a fight at the Hengqin border checkpoint, authorities announced on Wednesday. The incident occurred around midday on Wednesday (June 26) on the Macau side of the Hengqin checkpoint, according to the PSP. Footage of the encounter has been widely shared on social media, which shows the police officer rushing over to the lady and grabbing her ponytail to forcibly drag her across the road by her hair. In a statement quoted by TDMs Chinese-language radio station, the PSP acknowledged that, upon initial analysis, the officers treatment of the woman appeared to be inappropriate. The police explained that the incident happened after the woman had been involved in an altercation with other individuals, and that the officer had chased and grabbed the woman by the hair in an attempt to prevent her from fleeing the scene. Authorities stated that, if the investigation determines the officers behavior was indeed inappropriate, the case will be addressed in accordance with the law. The PSP said the investigation will examine the circumstances leading up to and following the incident. While the statement did not provide further details of the initial fight that prompted the officers response, it emphasized that the polices primary concern is to ensure public safety and order. The PSP stressed that it takes such matters seriously and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation. The video clip circulating online has sparked discussions about the appropriate use of force by law enforcement officers, particularly in situations involving potential criminal activity. Victoria Chan The 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions was held in Dalian, Liaoning province, from June 25-27 under the theme "Next Frontiers for Growth." [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn] The 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, concluded on June 27 in northeast China's coastal city of Dalian. Under the theme "Next Frontiers for Growth," the three-day forum brought together more than 1,600 global leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society and international organizations, to explore new drivers and pathways for global economic growth. China's robust economic performance and prospects were key topics of discussion at the forum. China's economy is on an upward trajectory, said Peng Sen, president of the China Society of Economic Reform. "China's economic data in the first quarter of this year exceeded expectations, with GDP growing by 5.3% year on year," he said. He added that through the development of new quality productive forces and significant reform decisions expected at July's upcoming economic policy meeting, the second half of this year bodes well for China's economic development. "As Premier Li Qiang affirmed, we have the confidence and capability to achieve the growth target of around 5% for this year," Peng said. Aparna Bharadwaj, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, emphasized China's global economic importance: "Five percent growth will already add more to the global GDP than India, Indonesia and Japan combined," she said. "So even a so-called slowed down growth of China is actually incredibly relevant for the global economy." Sam Ramadori, CEO at BrainBox AI, supported this view, saying: "I think China is on a good solid track. Five percent growth is a good number. The most important thing is that it keeps stable and growing. China is so big now that it impacts the entire planet." New industries to cultivate new growth engines New quality productive forces has become a buzzword for China's growth. Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized in the meeting's opening plenary that "the rapid growth of new industries and new drivers has buttressed the sound and sustained development of the Chinese economy." Peng Sen said, "New quality productive forces are about advanced productivity and innovation." He also noted that by focusing on key projects such as AI, the country is cultivating emerging industries, preemptively laying out future industries, and using new technologies to empower and transform traditional industries. "In recent years, we have continued to promote high-quality development, accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces, and foster new drivers of growth," said Premier Li. "These efforts have provided strong dynamism for China's economic development, and created greater cooperation space for companies around the world." Li also identified artificial intelligence, green energy and biomedicine as potential multi-trillion-dollar pillar industries. Alex Zhavoronkov, founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, observed, "The premier's message this year is very clear, that China is becoming more open and prioritizes AI, biotechnology and green technology as key areas for economic growth." Sam Ramadori highlighted China's scale of green energy developments: "The amount of solar and renewable wind energy that you've built in China just last year was more than the rest of the planet combined. That 50% of every new car sold is an electric vehicle is impressive." Jin Keyu, professor of economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, pointed out that China's early start in industries like electric vehicles and solar panels has been key to its success. "China might be leading the way in EVs and batteries and solar panels, but they are all embedded in a global supply chain. It's going to involve everybody," she said. Alok Medikepura Anil, founder and managing director of Next Big Innovation Labs, expressed optimism about future explorations in China: "I have spent some time at Tsinghua University in Beijing, and there is amazing research work going on there in precision medicine. Hopefully, after this meeting, we can start making good relationships and explore together." Open collaboration to make the pie bigger "From the Chinese government's perspective, we have been doing our best to foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment within a sound legal framework," Premier Li said. "To that end, we have been abolishing regulations that limit market access and fair competition, so that enterprises can fully unleash the dynamism of innovation. China's large market is open." Alok Medikepura Anil appreciated this approach, saying, "It's very welcoming to see that there is an enhanced interest again for China to welcome global tech into the region and for better cooperation." Shahrukh Shamim, co-founder and CEO of EnviCore Inc. in the construction and mining sector, expressed optimism about expanding in China. "China is massive in manufacturing, and we believe in the value of collaboration for sustainable solutions in construction and mining. The fact that Premier Li emphasized openness and support for green tech companies gives us confidence in exploring business opportunities here." Mauricio Benavides, founder and CEO of Metabase Q, noted Premier Li's focus on technology and collaboration. "Global collaboration in new technologies is essential for economic growth." He added that it is important to avoid measures that complicate this process, such as ancillary taxes, which would hinder business operations and consumer choices. Eswar Prasad, professor of economics at Cornell University, emphasized the need for an environment conducive for globalization. "Governments need to ensure they have the right kind of environment in place to participate in the benefits of globalization. China has made significant efforts to maintain a rules-based international economic order, but it is crucial to convince the world of its commitment to fair competition and market access," he said. Prasad highlighted that such measures can help unleash economic forces that benefit both China and the global economy at large. The right choice is to approach development issues with a longer view and broader mind, and join hands with others to make the pie bigger while pursuing one's legitimate interests, according to the premier. Professor Jin echoed this perspective, saying we need to "make sure we keep China open for business, and keep the world open for China." The Cultural Affairs Bureau has announced that the cost to repair the old city wall next to Estrada de Sao Francisco will be up to MOP13 million. The project is expected to take 300 days to complete. Around two years ago, a landslide near Estrada de Sao Francisco caused a section of the wall to collapse. For safety reasons, authorities made the decision to demolish an additional portion of the aging city wall. A report by Macaus Civil Engineering Laboratory attributed the incident to heavy rainfall, inspection failures, and structural defects in the retaining wall. The authorities noted that the repair work will first require stabilizing the slope beneath the old wall. These preliminary consolidation efforts are scheduled to wrap up by the end of this month. The Cultural Affairs Bureau has launched a public tender for the restoration project, and a total of eight bids ranging from MOP2 million to MOP13 million have been accepted. HT A commissioning ceremony for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge will be held on Sunday morning (June 30). The bridge is scheduled to allow crossings from 3 p.m. on Sunday, after seven years of construction. The bridge, on which construction began in 2017, is a new 24-kilometer-long, eight-lane channel that will connect the cities of Shenzhen and Zhongshan in Chinas Guangdong province. It includes an underwater tunnel, artificial islands, and a cross-sea highway bridge. The new bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan from around two hours to just 30 minutes. It will better connect the cities in Chinas Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and support increased trade, logistics and tourism in the region. Fanny Yeung Shuk, executive director of the Travel Industry Council was quoted by The Standard as saying, the new bridge will better convenience travellers from Hong Kong heading north, as they will no longer need to pass through Fumun during their journey to Zhongshan. According to media reports, there are already five guided tours, involving over 200 tourists, which will be traveling through the sea crossing on the opening day. The tours will visit the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, have lunch and return to Hong Kong the same day via the bridge. Acceptance checks on the bridge were passed on June 16, which has a design speed limit of 100km/h. Nadia Shaw Sri Lankas President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan and China in a televised address to the nation Wednesday. The agreement marks a key step in the countrys economic recovery after defaulting on debt repayment in 2022. Sri Lanka is under an International Monetary Fund bailout program and the debt treatment deal is expected to reopen the doors to bilateral transactions and the resumption of foreign projects stalled when the island nation defaulted. This morning in Paris, Sri Lanka reached a final agreement with our official bilateral creditors. Similarly, we signed another agreement with Chinas Exim Bank today in Beijing. Sri Lanka won, Wickremesinghe said. Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and suspended repayments on some $83 billion in domestic and foreign loans amid a severe foreign exchange crisis that led to a severe shortage of essentials such as food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, and hours-long power cuts. Sri Lankas crisis was largely the result of staggering economic mismanagement combined with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, which along with 2019 terrorism attacks devastated its important tourism industry. The coronavirus crisis also disrupted the flow of remittances from Sri Lankans working abroad. Additionally, the then-government slashed taxes in 2019, depleting the treasury just as the virus hit. Foreign exchange reserves plummeted, leaving Sri Lanka unable to pay for imports or defend its beleaguered currency, the rupee. Wickremesinghe said with these agreements, Sri Lanka will be able to defer all bilateral loan instalment payments until 2028. Furthermore, Sri Lanka will be able to repay all the loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043. According to a previous presidents office statement, the agreements would cover $10 billion, but further details on the mode of restructuring were not immediately announced. By 2022, Sri Lanka had to repay about $6 billion in foreign debt every year, amounting to about 9.2% of gross domestic product. The agreement would enable Sri Lanka to maintain debt payments at less than 4.5% of GDP between 2027 and 2032. As Wickremesinghe addressed the nation, his supporters the watched the speech on a giant screen in the capital Colombo and celebrated the announcement by lighting firecrackers and partaking traditional milk rice. The economic upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in 2022. The Parliament then elected Wickremesinghe as president. Sri Lanka suspended repayment of its debt as it ran short of foreign currency needed to pay for imports of fuel and other essentials. Shortages led to street protests that changed the countrys leadership. The IMF approved a four-year bailout program last March. The economic situation has improved under Wickremesinghe and severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine have largely abated. But public dissatisfaction has grown over the governments effort to increase revenue by raising electricity bills and imposing heavy new income taxes on professionals and businesses, as part of the governments efforts to meet the IMF conditions. After Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy, all projects funded by foreign loans were also halted. on Wednesday, Wickremesinghe said the new agreements would pave way to resume the foreign funded projects such as highways, light railway and airport development and also initiate new projects too. BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI, COLOMBO, MDT/AP Thousands of doctors in England are staging their 11th walkout yesterday in a long-running dispute with the government over pay and working conditions, disrupting hospital services just days before the U.K. general election. The five-day strike by junior doctors those in the early years of their careers shines a spotlight on the troubles besetting the chronically underfunded National Health Service, Britains state-funded public health system, a topic that is a a top concern for voters going to the polls on July 4. Junior doctors, who form the backbone of hospital and clinic care, have been locked in the pay dispute with the government since late 2022. They went on strike for six days in January the longest in NHS history and hospitals had to cancel tens of thousands of appointments and operations. The latest strike begins Thursday and ends on Tuesday, just two days before voters cast their ballots to choose a new House of Commons. The British Medical Association, the doctors union, say their pay has dropped by a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% pay uplift. The union says newly qualified doctors earn about 15 pounds ($19) an hour the U.K. minimum wage is just over 10 pounds an hour though salaries rise rapidly after the first year. Dr. Sumi Manirajan, deputy chair of the junior doctors committee at the union, said that years of underinvestment has resulted in young doctors leaving in droves to countries that offer better pay, with those left behind seriously overworked and underpaid. Doctors that I trained with in London, some of the best in the country, have left to go to New Zealand. And actually what it makes me think of is why am I not doing the same? I want to be valued for the work that I do, she said. Manirajan, who recently graduated and works in obstetrics and gynecology, added that she sees many women waiting for more than a year for routine procedures. These patients are in pain, and it hurts us to see us see these patients come in again and again with the same problem that we know we could treat if we had enough doctors, she said. The Conservative government says it gave the doctors pay raises of between 8.1% to 10.3% last year and said that it was a generous settlement. It maintained that authorities cant make a pay offer during the preelection period but the union refused to call off the strikes. Manirajan said that it was unfortunate that the government chose to call an election while knowing that the dispute was unresolved. The medics union said it was ready to talk, and it has already had some discussions with the opposition Labour Party, which has a considerable lead in polls. It is difficult to comprehend how either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party can deliver on their manifesto commitment to recover NHS performance over the next Parliament without first ending the dispute, said Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The Kings Fund think tank. SYLVIA HUI, LONDON, MDT/AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Commander in Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Wednesday visited troops in the eastern Donetsk region who have weathered fierce Russian ground and air assaults in recent months. The Kremlins army has escalated its efforts to dislodge exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian forces holding eastern and northeastern areas. It aims to capture more land during spring and summer as muddy fields have dried out, allowing heavy military equipment to roll into key positions across the countryside. Russia illegally annexed parts of Donetsk and three other regions in 2022 shortly after it invaded Ukraine, and the Kremlin regards taking control of all of Donetsk as a priority. Moscow is looking to exploit its advantages in troops and weaponry before Ukraine can get promised additional Western supplies to the front. Civilians have also felt the force of Russias onslaught. Ahead of Zelenskyys visit, Russian forces dropped a powerful glide bomb on the Donetsk city of Selydove, causing extensive damage to 37 homes, six multi-story buildings and administrative infrastructure, regional authorities said Wednesday. They reported no injuries. Over the previous 24 hours, the Russian military shelled 20 Donetsk region settlements, killing one person and injuring at least nine, regional head Vadym Filashkin said. About 250 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Donetsk region since Tuesday, officials said. Zelenskyy also discussed with local officials the public drinking water supply, social issues, evacuation plans and the rebuilding of local homes, he said. Zelenskyy signaled he wants a better response from Kyiv officials overseeing those matters. He didnt elaborate on the perceived problems and which officials he would speak to. Zelenskyy has frequently visited front-line areas during the war. His said his trip to the Donetsk region was to introduce the new commander of the Joint Forces Command, Andrii Hnatov. Hnatov replaced Yurii Sodol, who had held the position since February 2023. Zelenskyy didnt give a reason for the change, but it came after the widely admired chief of staff of the Azov brigade, Bohdan Krotevych, released a statement rebuking an unnamed general for having killed more Ukrainian soldiers than any Russian general, in what was seen as a reference to incompetent management of troops. Several Ukrainian media outlets, quoting unidentified sources in the armed forces, said he was referring to Sodol. ILLIA NOVIKOV, KYIV, MDT/AP A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a former music director at St. Maria Goretti Catholic School after he was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting a minor while director of the Milwaukee Childrens Choir, according to online court records. Marco Melendez, 39, faces two felony counts in Milwaukee County Circuit Court of child enticement and one felony count of third-degree sexual assault for incidents that allegedly occurred in 2017 and 2019, before he was employed by the Diocese of Madison in 2020. Melendez was the director of the Milwaukee Childrens Choir until 2017, when St. Maria Goretti hired him to teach music at the school. He voluntarily left that job in 2023, according to a diocesan statement. Diocesan and parish officials were not aware of any prior sexual misconduct by the individual at the time of his hire, the diocese said in a statement, nor was any of them aware of any allegation of impropriety on his part during the time of his employment at the Madison parish. Melendez no longer lives in Dane County, diocesan officials said, and its unclear where he works now. Court records list a Milwaukee address for him. The Wisconsin State Journal was unable to reach him for comment Friday.